Saturday, Sept. 28th
Head-on Collision Near Anadarko Injures Two
An SUV and a car crash head-on in Caddo County sending two people to hospitals. 65-year old Lucille McMillan of Gracemont was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City and admitted in fair condition with internal and leg injuries. The driver of the other vehicle, 51-year old Terrie Dirickson of Anadarko, was taken by ground ambulance to a separate Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in fair condition with head, trunk, arm, and leg injuries. The accident happened about 8:00 p.m. Friday on U.S. Highway 281 near Gold River Casino. The highway patrol is investigating what caused Dirickson to cross the center line and hit McMillan's SUV. The accident shut down the highway for about an hour.
Anadarko Tag Office to Re-Open
Some concern in Anadarko recently as state officials discussed the possibility of permanently closing the tag office there. Long-time tag agent Marleita Marlett recently retired. The state tax commission met in Tulsa on Thursday, and State Representative David Perryman was there to speak in support of keeping a tag office open. He said the commission's long-term plan is to phase out local tag offices and have individuals re-new tags on-line. Perryman said while the Anadarko tag office is closed temporarily, it will re-open as soon as a qualified individual can be found and appointed. That could be several weeks. Perryman said it wasn't clear if the new tag agent would be at the same location. Perryman also said the tax commission voted to keep the Marlow tag office open. The tag agent there announced conditional plans to retire if a successor could be designated, however the commission did not accept the conditional resignation.
Tuttle Police Seek Suspects Who Stole SUV
Tuttle police are asking for the public's help in finding two suspects who stole an SUV from a local business. Officials posted on the department's Facebook page that a man and a woman rode up to the TH Rogers Lumber Company on bicycles and walked through the store. The man then drove away in a gray 2003 GMC Denali which belonged to a former employee. This happened just before noon on Thursday, September 26th. Both suspects are Caucasian and about 25 to 35 years old. The man has brown hair and a tattoo on his right arm. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, black jeans, and black shoes. The woman has short brown or black hair and was wearing a sleeveless gray hoodie, blue jeans, and black shoes and has a tattoo on her left arm. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tuttle Police Department, leave a tip on the Grady County Crimestoppers Facebook page or by calling 405-224-TIPS.
Tuttle Voters to Decide Tax Hike Proposals
Also in Tuttle, voters will decide a couple of tax increase proposals later this fall. One is a $2 million general obligation bond to build a new police department. The other is a 1/2-cent sales tax increase which would fund street improvements. City Manager Tim Young says the current police headquarters is an old house of about 1,800 square feet which is about 40 years old. If approved, property taxes would increase by two mils and would cost an extra $50 the first year on a home valued at $300,000. The cost would then decrease over the 20-year life of the bond. The sales tax would be for 10 years and Young says it would allow the city to fix every street that is at least 15 years old. It's projected to bring in $3 million. Young said if approved that it would be an additional nickel on every $10 spent. It would increase the Tuttle city sales tax from 4 percent to 4 1/2 percent. The issues go before Tuttle voters on November 12th.
Benefit Set for Fallen Volunteer Firefighter
The death of a Grady County volunteer firefighter has hit the family and his community pretty hard. Blaine Alexander was just 21-years old when he died in a traffic accident a couple of weeks ago. Organizers will hold a benefit barrel racing competition in a few weeks to help the family. It’s an open 5D barrel race that will be held at the Rafter D Arena near Marlow on Saturday, Oct. 26th. Organizers are looking for sponsors for prizes and added money, and they are also looking for items for silent auction. For information, contact Brittany Valentine by calling 580-951-0087.
Talk Show Topics
Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Domestic violence is a concern in almost every community. Eric Feuerborn with the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network, and Tracy Dorman with the district attorney's office are this week's guests on our KOOL Konversation program. They'll be talking about the Together We Heel walk to end domestic violence and other issues on our KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, Chickasha Police Chief Dee Rowell is the guest. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.
High School Football Scores
Chickasha 48, Elk City 14
Cache 43, Anadarko 14
Bethany 17, Blanchard 8
Tuttle 43, Tecumseh 7
Minco 32, Rush Springs 7
Dibble 29, Elmore City 23
John Marshall 48, Bridge Creek 7
Apache 15, Healdton 14
Lindsay 49, Tishomingo 0
Marlow 41, Douglass 2
Alex 50, Destiny Chr. 0
Cyril 46, Empire 20
Carnegie 18, Central 6
Newcastle 28, Clinton 21 (Thurs)
Friday, Sept. 27th
Police Chief Comfortable in Her New Surroundings
Chickasha Police Chief Dee Rowell is settling in just fine after about six months on the job. Rowell is the city's first female police chief. She came to Chickasha this spring after a lengthy law enforcement career in Ft. Worth, Texas. The Chickasha police force went through a period of time with a shortage of officers but Rowell said they are almost back to full strength. She says two of the newest officers are ready to hit the streets by themselves, with more officers either participating in or preparing for Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET).
After the academy, new officers spend several weeks with a Field Training Officer to get them familiar with the community and following proper procedures.
Five-Year Old Left Alone at Day Care
A five-year old is reported to have been left alone at an Anadarko day care. Authorities are investigating the incident that occurred at the day care run by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. The child's grandmother said the girl had fallen asleep before the day care closed and employees left the child by herself. Family members spent some frantic minutes contacting day care officials and getting back to the facility. The child was still asleep and unharmed when they returned about 45 minutes after closing. It's reported the day care self-reported the incident and that the state department of human services was notified. It's also reported that one employee was suspended.
Crash Shuts Down Highway Near Cement
A late-night crash near Cement forced the closing of State Highway 277 for quite a while last night. The highway patrol was dispatched to a non-injury accident about a mile west of the Grady and Caddo County line about 10:00 p.m. Thursday. The highway was re-opened about 11:30 p.m after wreckers were summoned to tow away the damaged vehicles. The OHP did not release any details about what happened.
First Oklahoma Case of Vaping Illness Reported
Oklahoma has its first confirmed case of a vaping-related illness. The state health department says a Tulsa county youth under the age of 18 has been diagnosed with a lung-injury believed to have been caused by using e-cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control says there are hundreds of lung-injury cases nationwide and that about a dozen deaths nationwide have been tied to the use of e-cigarettes. The state of Massachusetts has issued a temporary ban of the sale of all vaping-related products.
Natural Gas Pipeline Back in Business
An upgraded pipeline is again sending natural gas produced in the SCOOP region to Texas. Candor Midstream of Houston purchased the system this past January, and the website OK Energy Today reports the company successfully completed testing to certify the pipeline’s safe return to commercial service. Officials say the upgrades included new equipment and adding monitoring systems which exceed industry standards. The system consists of about 100 miles of 20-inch gas-gathering pipeline between Ardmore and processing facilities in Bridgeport, Texas. Officials say it has an initial capacity of up to 200 million cubic feet per day.
Chickasha Group Hosts Spaghetti Day
Today is a day of pasta at the Grady County Fairgrounds as Chickasha's Junior Social Workers (JSW) have their annual Spaghetti Day fundraiser. Mayor Chris Mosley signed a proclamation designating today as Spaghetti Day in Chickasha. There are two serving times - 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from Spaghetti Day fund a number of programs supported by JSW.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.41 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $62.74.
Natural gas is $2.42 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,501 and silver is $17.58.
Thursday, Sept. 26th
Group Formed to Battle Human Trafficking
and Find Missing and Exploited Children
An effort to raise awareness about human trafficking and also help find missing and exploited children is being held this weekend. Kevin Stewart is a former private investigator who has founded a non-profit group called World Wide Investigations - Missing and Lost, Inc. His hopes are to locate and rescue missing children and adults. Stewart also wants tougher laws on individuals caught trafficking humans.
The meeting is open to the public and Stewart has invited state lawmakers and several mayors. It will be held at The Station at 700 S. Broadway in Moore at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. For more information visit the website www.missingnlost.org
Man Jailed on Allegations of Child Sexual Assault
A Caddo County man is behind bars for the alleged sexual assault of an under-age girl. Prosecutors have charged 27-year old Chavez Wayne Kitchens Nail of Hydro with five counts of child sexual abuse. His bond was set at $250,000. Charges were filed following an investigation by the Caddo County Sheriff's Office after Nail wanted to turn himself in for the attacks on the 13-year old. Court documents indicate the assaults occurred between Aug. 1st and Sept. 16th of this year. Authorities wrote in the affidavit that Nail said he had a problem and needed help.
PSO to Lower Electricity Bills
There’s good news for Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) customers as lower electricity bills are in the near future. Starting next month, PSO is lowering its fuel cost adjustment fee. That's because PSO has realized lower costs for the natural gas it purchases to generate electricity. By law, PSO cannot make a profit on the fuel it uses to generate electricity, so when their fuel costs go down the savings are passed on to PSO customers. A press release from the utility indicates that a residential customer who uses about 1,100 kilowatts of electricity per month will see their bills go down by about $3.70 per month. For commercial and industrial users it will result in thousands of dollars in savings.
State Manufacturing Rep to Visit Chickasha
A state leader in the manufacturing sector will be in Chickasha next month to give an overview of the industry. Dave Rowland is the president and CEO of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance. He's part of a program which will be jointly sponsored by the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council. The program is set for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16th on the Chickasha Campus of the Canadian Valley Technology Center. Table sponsorships are $250, individual tickets for chamber members are $30, and tickets for prospective chamber members are $40. Contact the Chamber of Commerce by calling 405-224-0787 for more information.
Regulating Group to Provide Oil, Gas Info Update
An update on oil and gas rules and regulations will be held tomorrow by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The theme of the event is "Changing Dynamics in Oklahoma Oil and Gas Development: Looking Back to go Forward." A morning session will cover produced water while an afternoon session will have discussion about emergency order applications, saltwater disposal wells, and ethics. The program will get underway at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow at Oklahoma City University.
High School Cheer Team to Perform at College Bowl Game
A regional high school cheerleading team will get to perform at a college football bowl game in Florida. Cheerleaders from Marlow have been chosen to be part of the Citrus Bowl activities in Orlando on January 1st. The squad earned the trip at a three-day cheer camp this past summer. The team needs to raise about $5,000 for the trip.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.49 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $62.39.
Natural gas is $2.50 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,515 and silver is $18.00.
Wednesday, Sept. 25th
Grady County Sales Tax Revenue Nears Record Level
Grady County sales tax revenue was very healthy last month. The county received nearly $1.1 million in August which is believed to be the second-highest month ever for sales tax collections. Previously, the county received just under $1.1 million in sales tax revenue in October of 2018. The county sales tax rate is 3/4ths of a penny, which is about 7 1/2 cents on every $10 spent on taxable goods and services. The sales tax revenue goes to several voter-approved projects. In last month's distribution, the Grady County Fairgrounds received more than $360,000. It's the 10th time in the last 14 months for the fairgrounds to get more than $300,000. Also sharing in the sales tax revenue is Grady Memorial Hospital which received $320,000; each of the seven senior nutrition centers received more than $20,000; each of the 20 fire districts collected $7,500; Tuttle EMS picked up $33,000; and Rush Springs EMS collected more than $8,300.
State Representative Honored by Sheriff's Association
A state lawmaker is recognized for his support of law enforcement. State Rep. Brad Boles who serves House District 51 was presented a Legislative Award from the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association. Boles received the award during the association's regional meeting in Chickasha last week. Ray McNair, the director of the Sheriff's group, said Boles took on the task of setting a basic salary range for elected county officials in the legislative session this past spring. McNair said the award is meant to honor those who keep their commitment to support sheriffs when difficult choices must be made.
Felony Charges Filed in Ft. Cobb Lake Confrontation
Here's a follow-up to a story you may have heard last month about an incident at Ft. Cobb Lake. A couple of college students said they were harassed and their boat was damaged after a confrontation over where they were fishing. Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for one of two men alleged to have been responsible. Authorities are looking for 22-year old Austin Potts of Arkansas. Prosecutors have charged him with two felony counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; as well as acts of gross injury, failure to register a boat, and failure to have proper equipment. A second person believed to have been involved has not been identified.
More on Farm Bill Meeting
(EDITOR'S NOTE - The time of this meeting changed after we first published this story on Tuesday. This version and the previous version contain the correct time for the meeting)
Yesterday, we told you about a program for agriculture producers coming up next week which will provide updated information about the farm bill. Today, Mark Jackson with the Grady County Farm Service Agency has more about what to expect.
By the way, the time of that meeting has changed from what we reported yesterday. It will get underway at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30th at the Grady County OSU Extension Office.
Apache Stampede to Close Out PRCA Season
Professional rodeo returns to the region this weekend with the annual Apache Stampede. Among those competing is Blanchard's Blake Mindemann, a steer wrestler who grew up in Apache watching and learning the sport from his dad. Last year, Blake qualified for the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in his 15 years in the PRCA. He tells one reason he finally met that goal.
Blake is just out of the top 15 in earnings so far and has some work to do if he wants to qualify for the NFR a second straight year. This is the last week for cowboys and cowgirls to earn enough money to qualify for the NFR. Mindemann will be traveling to Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, and Utah this week before finishing up the season in Apache on Sunday. The Stampede will have slack and steer roping competition Friday night, with the Stampede set for Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. each day.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.29 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $63.10.
Natural gas is $2.50 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,536 and silver is $18.65.
Tuesday, Sept. 24th
One Dead, One Hurt When Pickup Hits Motorized Scooter
A Marlow man has died and a teenager is hospitalized in critical condition after a pickup hit a motorized scooter. 33-year old William Joseph Teshaw died in the accident that happened about 10:45 p.m. Monday. The highway patrol reports that Teshaw was on the scooter traveling west on Sandhill Road. The pickup driven by the teenager was headed east and struck the scooter, then the truck ran off the road and hit a tree. The unidentified 17-year old also from Marlow was pinned in the truck for almost two hours. He was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with head, leg, and trunk injuries. The trooper dispatched to the accident said it is still under investigation.
Second Victim Dies as a Result of Crash
A second person has died from injuries he suffered in a head-on collision near Elgin earlier this month. 36-year old Bradley Upshaw of Elgin died in an Oklahoma City hospital yesterday. The accident also resulted in the death of 83-year old Teresa Nelson, also of Elgin. That crash happened on Sept. 10th. An oncoming car crossed the center line and crashed into the car that Upshaw and Nelson were in. The driver of the other vehicle, 32-year old Nina Holden of Arizona, was last in serious condition in an Oklahoma City hospital.
Superintendent's Trial Now Set for Next Week
We reported last week that the domestic abuse trial for Ninnekah school superintendent Todd Bunch was going to start this week. Officials with the Garvin County Court Clerk's Office tell us that jury selection for Bunch's trial will instead start next Monday. Garvin County does have a docket of felony trials that started yesterday. Bunch is facing a felony charge of domestic abuse after it's alleged he assaulted a woman in Lindsay last year. The Ninnekah school board has allowed Bunch to keep his job, saying he was allowed due process and is innocent unless proven otherwise.
Woman Arrested on Assault, other Complaints
A Chickasha woman is behind bars facing charges of assault and violating a protective order. Chickasha police arrested 38-year old Misty Michelle Hillbolt last Friday afternoon. Information about Hillbolt's arrest wasn't immediately available. Prosecutors have charged Hillbolt with a felony for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor for violating a protective order. A judge set bond at $20,000 during her initial appearance in Grady County District court yesterday. She is to announce her attorney Oct. 17th and a preliminary hearing conference set for Nov. 6th.
Farm Bill Meeting in Chickasha Sept. 30th
(EDITOR'S NOTE - The time of this meeting changed after the initial publication of the story. This version contains the correct time)
A series of meetings regarding the farm bill are being held throughout the state with one of those meetings to be in Chickasha next week. USDA and Oklahoma State University are teaming up for these meetings for producers to get the most up-to-date information on federal farm programs. The meeting in Chickasha will be the only one of its kind in central Oklahoma. Speakers include J.D. Elwood with the Farm Service Agency out of Stillwater and county FSA and NRCS officials. Other presenters will be Amy Hagerman, OSU Assistant Professor of Ag and Food Policy, and area agriculture economists who will provide a market outlook update. The meeting will be held at the Grady County OSU Extension Office on Monday, Sept. 30th starting at 8:30 a.m.. Register by calling the extension office, 405-224-2216.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.64 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $64.77.
Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,528 and silver is $18.66.
Monday, Sept. 23rd
State Seeks Jobs to Support Aerospace Industry
The aerospace sector is the second largest employer in Oklahoma. Authorities are working to create more jobs in that area by attracting companies that would support those firms already here. Brent Kisling is the director of the Oklahoma Department ofCcommerce. He said with Tinker Air Force Base being the nation's largest maintenance repair and overhaul operation for the Air Force, and with American Airlines in Tulsa having the largest commercial aircraft maintenance facility, there is room for growth.
Kisling was in Chickasha last week discussing activities with the state department of commerce.
Crash Injures Rush Springs Man
A Rush Springs man was hospitalized following a weekend accident in southeastern Oklahoma. 23-year old Carson Clements was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after the Sunday morning crash near Allen, which is about 20 miles northeast of Ada. The highway patrol reports that Clements' pickup was nearly hit head-on by another truck which was trying to pass a third vehicle. Both drivers were pinned in their pickups for about 45 minutes. Clements was last in stable condition with multiple injuries. The driver of the other truck was air-lifted to a Tulsa hospital where he was last in stable condition.
Blanchard Residents Hurt in Accident
A Blanchard man and woman were taken to a Durant hospital after they were hurt in a crash near Madill. Shawn and Susan Dennis were injured in the accident that happened Friday night. Susan was admitted in stable condition with leg injuries. Shawn was treated and released. The trooper investigating that crash reported that another pickup had stopped in the southbound flow of traffic. The Dennis vehicle was northbound and attempted to take evasive action but hit the other vehicle. The Texas driver of the other truck was taken to a Dallas, Texas area hospital and was last in stable condition.
1st National Bank to Build New Tuttle Center
First National Bank and Trust has announced plans to build a new bank in Tuttle. It will replace the current structure and will be located just east of the current bank. First National President and CEO John Gorton said a new design will allow the bank to 'right-size' the facility for optimal use and convenience. The new bank will be a total of 5,000 sq. ft. with four drive-through lanes, an ATM, and a community meeting room. First National Bank and Trust Mortgage Company will also move into the new building. The design-phase is just getting started. It wasn't clear when construction might begin. The current First National Bank building in Tuttle was built in 1985.
USAO to Host Deaf Rights Advocate
The 2016 winner of the televised program Dancing with the Stars will be in Chickasha next month. Deaf rights advocate Nyle DiMarco will address the annual Ray and Mary Giles Symposium for Citizenship and Public Service. DiMarco was also named the 2015 winner of America's Next Top Model and in 2017 was named Deaf Person of the Year by DEAF LIFE Magazine. He also created the Nyle DiMarco Foundation to provide access to resources for deaf children and their families. He'll address the symposium at the USAO Ballroom on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day
Tomorrow is National Voter Registration Day. Officials with the Oklahoma State Election Board encourage all who are eligible to register to vote. Also, they say it’s a good time for current registered voters to update their status if they have moved, or have changed their name. You can register to vote at your local county election board, or go on-line to the state election board website www.elections.ok.gov.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.09 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $64.28.
Natural gas is $2.53 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,526 and silver is $18.43.
