Saturday, Feb. 17th
State's Energy Sector Job Number Steady
Employment in Oklahoma's energy sector is down a fraction. A study shows the state had just over 49,000 jobs in that area last month. That number ranks third in the country behind Texas with more than 314,000 jobs and Louisiana with nearly 54,000. The report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that nationwide the number of jobs was down less than one percent from December. Officials say the industry is being impacted by unprecedented attacks from federal regulations. But they are hopeful that as energy demand continues to grow the trend should be for the number of jobs to also increase.
Texas Man Suspected of Drug Trafficking
A Texas man is behind held in the Grady County Jail for alleged drug trafficking. 29-year old Daniel Lugo of Pearland, Texas - which is south of Houston - was arrested by a state trooper on Thursday. No details were available about why Lugo was pulled over or what prompted the arrest. On-line court records show that the Grady County District Attorney's office has charged Lugo with a felony for drug trafficking and a judge set his bond at $150,000.
Environmentalists Want Farmers to Report Emissions from Manure
Should farmers have to submit air emissions reports from manure? The Environmental Protection Agency is considering such a requirement. The website OK Energy Today writes that there is a bi-partisan effort to prevent it from happening. Nearly 50 members in the House of Representatives have signed a letter asking the EPA to not force producers to do so. None of the members of the Oklahoma delegation signed the letter. The letter states that it would be an unnecessary and unjustifiable burden to producers, that it would result in extensive paperwork backlogs, and divert resources away from actual emergencies. It also indicates that local and state emergency response officials say that receiving such reports is of no particular value. Former President Donald Trump exempted animal manure from a law that required reports on chemical releases. But environmental groups are now urging the EPA to revoke the exemption, claiming pollution from animal waste is making people sick in rural communities.
Talk Show Topics
On this week’s KOOL Konversation, Brenda Barwick with the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women is discussing the group’s effort to stop human trafficking. On Real Estate Today, Marcus Bilyeu and Dan Critchfield with the Chickasha Community Theatre (CCT) discuss CCT’s 2024 season which begins next week and Rainette Rowland with the Medicine Park Aquarium and Natural Sciences Center will talk about its programs. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.
Obituary
Jerry Gibson
Funeral service for Jerry Gibson, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked in the grocery business for many years.
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Friday, Feb. 16th
Death Penalty Sought for Caretaker of Child Found Dead
The Caddo County District Attorney’s office will seek the death penalty for Alysia Adams. She's one of the caretakers who authorities say was responsible for the death of Athena Brownfield two years ago. The body of the four-year old Cyril girl was found buried in a field near Agawam about two weeks after she was reported missing. Prosecutors are asking for the death penalty saying that Adams knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person, and that Athena's death was especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel. The state medical examiner's office reported that Brownfield died from malnutrition and pneumonia. Adams is currently being held in the Grady County Jail.
Hospital the Site of 'Active Shooter' Training Today
Grady Memorial Hospital will be the site of some active shooter training today. The Grady County Sheriff's Office and state troopers will spend much of the day working on several different scenarios. Officials say there will be simulated gun shots throughout the day and residents in the area will see a big police presence. Grady County deputy Phillip McCarthy says as many as 15 law enforcement officers are taking part in the training along with about 100 Grady Memorial Hospital employees. The exercise is in advance of an active shooter drill that will take place at the hospital next month.
Speakers Scheduled for USAO Symposium on Autism
A scientist whose life was the subject of an Emmy-award winning film will be one of the keynote speakers at USAO's annual Emerson-Weir Symposium next week. Colorado State University Professor Dr. Temple Grandin, a prominent speaker on both autism and animal behavior, was featured in HBO's award-winning film An Open Door last year. Also speaking will be Tim Herbel who founded a non-profit group called Not Your Average Joe which works to help autistic individuals find meaningful employment. Grandin and Herbel will discuss their work at the symposium in conjunction with USAO's Neill-Wint Center for Neurodiversity. The program will be held Friday, Feb. 23rd in Davis Hall at 6:00 p.m. The program is free but registration is required.
Southwest District Livestock Show Continues
Checking the results of the cattle and the broiler shows at the Southwest District Livestock Show.
Market Steers
The grand champion was shown by Madison Shout of Piedmont; the reserve-grand shown by Brett Sturgeon of Cordell; and the bronze shown by Paisley Visnieski of Canute.
Prospect Steers
Claire Collins of Tillman County had the grand champion; Maddox Shout of Piedmont had the reserve-grand; and Cierra Collins of Tillman County had the bronze.
Heifers
The grand champion was shown by Braden Buchwald of Chattanooga; the reserve-grand shown by Reagan Wilbourn of Tuttle; and the bronze shown by Kamden Fillipo of Rush Springs.
Broilers
The grand champion was exhibited by Drew Griffith of Clinton; the reserve-grand by Cassi Ray also of Clinton; and the bronze shown by Gage Stegall of Burns Flat-Dill City. The swine show will start today and will run through Saturday morning. The show will end about noon tomorrow at the Grady County Fairgrounds.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.03 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.86.
Natural gas is $1.58 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,018 and silver is $23.07.
Obituary
Ila Watson
A memorial service for Ila Watson, 82, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Epworth United Methodist Church. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
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Thursday, Feb. 15th
Power Outages Extend into Fourth Day
Utility crews are still working to restore power to areas that have been without electricity since Sunday night's winter weather. About 340 households and businesses throughout the CK Energy service area remain without power. The website which shows outages state wide (outages.oaec.coop) indicates CK Energy still has 233 outages in Caddo County; 58 outages in Canadian County; 38 in Washita County; and 12 in Comanche County.
Chix Chamber Seeks Nominees for Annual Awards
The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is now in its second century of serving the community and officials are preparing for the chamber’s 101st annual banquet. The organization is accepting nominations for a number of awards that will be presented. Among them will be an inductee into the Civic Hall of Fame, event of the year, business and small business of the year, citizen of the year, public servant of the year, volunteer of the year, and young professional of the year. Nominations need to be submitted by March 8th. The chamber banquet will be held April 12th.
City of Chix Dog Park Temporarily Closed
Chickasha city officials say the Badgett Dog Park will be closed for seasonal maintenance today and tomorrow. Crews sprayed a pre-emergent weed control chemical at the park earlier this week. The park is to re-open on Saturday.
Southwest District Livestock Show Underway
The first day of the Southwest District Livestock Show Wednesday featured the sheep and goat shows as well as the agriculture mechanics show.
Sheep Show
For the ewe lambs, LaRay Cox of Elgin had the grand champion; Sayde Allen of Canute had the reserve-grand; and Kobi Scroggins of Tuttle had the bronze.
For the wether lambs, Sayde Allen had the grand champion; Kobi Scroggins the reserve-grand; and Jack Thomas of Canute had the bronze.
Goat Show
For the doe goats, Kobi Scroggins had the grand champion; Jennica Williams of Ft. Cobb-Broxton had the reserve-grand; and McRae Waldon of Hinton had the bronze.
For the wether goats, Peyton Wimberly of Merritt had the grand champion; Sayde Allen had the reserve-grand; and Baylor Pearson of El Reno had the bronze.
Ag Mechanics
In Ag Mechanics, Elgin FFA had the grand champion; Stran Taylor of Canute had the reserve-grand; and Elgin FFA also had the bronze. The cattle show will be today at the Grady County Fairgrounds.
Big Band Era Music at USAO Tonight
USAO will have a night of big band music this evening as the World Famous Glen Miller Orchestra takes the stage as part of the Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series. The evening will get started with members of the Chickasha High School band opening the show. The concert begins at 7:30 at Te Ata Memorial Auditorium and tickets will be available at the door.
Darko Police Offers Unique Valentine's Day 'Gifts'
Anadarko police had an interesting way of encouraging individuals to turn in their exes on Valentine's Day. A post on the department's Facebook page said if exes had arrest warrants or are involved in illegal activities; the ex would get some limited edition platinum bracelets; free transportation with a chauffeur; glamour shots; and a room with dinner.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.64 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $81.60.
Natural gas is $1.61 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,007 and silver is $22.64.
Obituaries
Wilma Avant
A private memorial service will be held for Wilma Avant, 90, of Chickasha. She was a homemaker and worked at the Southern Plains Medical Clinic. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Pamela Doherty
A memorial service for Pamela Doherty, 75, of Yukon and formerly of the Dibble area will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Southgate Baptist Church in Moore. She worked at Tinker Air Force Base. Arrangements are with Ireland Funeral Home in Moore.
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Wednesday, Feb. 14th
Power Outages Linger
Members of Oklahoma's electric co-ops were hit especially hard with Sunday's snow storm. There were thousands of power outages and a lot them were in Grady, Caddo, Canadian, and Comanche counties. There are still hundreds of CK Energy co-op members without power this morning with some 812 members still in the dark. That's way down from the estimated 7,000 who were without electricity at the peak of the outage. CK Energy spokesman Boyd Lee –
About 120 poles and numerous cross arms were damaged or destroyed. Lee said that employees from several other co-ops and private contractors have been helping to restore power. As of this morning, CK Energy reported 423 outages in Caddo County; 29 outages in Grady County; 145 in Canadian County; 75 in Kiowa County; and 26 in Comanche County.
Mixed Results in Tuesday’s School Bond Elections
Tuttle
Voters turned down two bond issues totaling about $1.3 million. Each needed 60 percent approval to pass however more than half of the voters said no to both proposals. A $1 million proposal for roof repairs and the purchase of several items received 244 no votes and only 203 yes votes. A $250,000 proposal to purchase two buses failed by a similar vote with 239 voting no and only 208 voting yes.
Ft. Cobb-Broxton
It was a better result for the Ft. Cobb-Broxton school district as voters overwhelmingly approved a $21 million bond issue for school improvements. It was a more than 80 percent approval with four out of every five giving their approval, 204 to 49. It will allow the district to renovate the middle and elementary schools and build a couple of new classrooms. It's the largest bond issue in the district's history.
Central High
Voters in the Central High school district approved a $6 million bond issue to build a new Career and Technology Education Center. It passed with 62 percent of the vote 172 to 104 with a slim seven-vote margin.
School Board Primary Election Results
There were primary elections for board of education offices in a couple of Grady County school districts yesterday.
Ninnekah
Incumbent Delanie Berry defeated three challengers to avoid a run-off and keep her seat on the school board. Berry received nearly 62 percent of the vote with 76 tallies. Mark Fulton received 26; Damon Stephens collected 16; and Jeff Chadrick had 3.
Minco
A run-off election will be needed as none of four candidates received a majority of the vote. The top two were Mike Herrell and Jared Rumley. Herrell received 141 votes; Rumley picked up 131 tallies; Paige Teel collected 40 votes; and David Brummel received 31. Herrell and Rumley will meet in the run-off on April 2nd with the winner to fill the office currently held by Lance McKee who did not run for re-election.
Grady County GOP Convention is Tomorrow Night
Grady County Republicans will hold their county convention tomorrow night. It's an event that could allow one of the members to be an Oklahoma delegate at the National Republican Convention in Milwaukee this summer. County Chairwoman Carrie Bertrand says any registered Republican can attend and she would like to have representation from all 28 county districts. The convention is open to all registered Republicans who can help draft recommendations to be considered for state and national platforms. Attendees will need to have identification such as a driver's license or passport and will also need their voter ID cards. The county convention will be held at Chickasha's First Baptist Church at 4th and Colorado. Registration begins at 5:15 p.m. and a potluck dinner will be served. Precinct meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the county convention will follow at 7:00 p.m.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.87 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.77.
Natural gas is $1.67 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,005 and silver is $22.10.
Obituary
Robena Fuller
A memorial service for Robena Fuller, 60, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Epworth Methodist Church. She served in the U.S. Navy, was a professional driver for Union Pacific Railroad, and worked as a receptionist. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
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Tuesday, Feb. 13th
Power Outages Remain after Winter Storm
There are still hundreds families and businesses in the region dealing with power outages in the aftermath of Sunday's winter storm. Many of them are in Grady, Caddo, and Canadian counties. CK Energy was one of the co-ops bearing the brunt of the storm with more than 4,000 members still without power. As of this morning the count was 215 in Grady County; more than 2,100 in Caddo County; about 1,200 in Canadian County; and about 100 in Comanche County. CK Energy spokesman Boyd Lee said more than 120 power poles and as many or more cross-arms were damaged or destroyed. Lee said a total of 100 workers including those from CK Energy, other co-ops, and a few contractors are making progress today. He expects that power should be restored to most areas by the end of the day.
Some Voters to Decide School Bond Issues Today
Voters in a few regional school districts are going to the polls today to decide special bond issues. There are two bond issues in Tuttle – the first is for almost $1 million to repair and replace roofs at the elementary and middle schools; purchase new playground equipment, a truck for the high school ag department, equipment for the auditorium, and equipment for most of the sports teams. The second is a $250,000 bond issue to purchase two buses, including a 77-passenger bus and a 44-passenger activity bus.
Ft. Cobb-Broxton
Voters will decide a nearly $21 million bond issue to renovate both the elementary and middle schools and build new classrooms to house new art and music classes.
Central High
Voters will decide a more than $6 million bond issue to build a new Career and Technology Education Center. Polls are open until 7:00 p.m. tonight.
Chix Schools Host Parent-Teacher Conferences
Chickasha Public Schools are holding parent-teacher conferences throughout the district this week. For the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Education Center, conferences will be this afternoon from 3:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.; for Grand Avenue, they will be today and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.; for Lincoln Elementary they will be from 3:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. both tonight and Thursday (Lincoln school will also a fundraiser selling Bundt cakes along with a scholastic book fair at the library tonight); middle and high school conferences will be today and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There is no school for Chickasha students Friday or next Monday so they’ll have a four-day weekend. Teachers will have a professional development day Monday.
Southwest District Livestock Show About to Begin
Today is move-in day for the first of the youth who will be exhibiting animals and ag mechanics projects at the Southwest District Livestock Show at the Grady County Fairgrounds this week. About 1,500 youth from 14 southwest Oklahoma counties will be showing about 2,000 animals this year. Show chairman Jerry Renshaw talks about what will be coming in today.
More than $15,000 in prize money will be doled out by week's end. There will be more than 20 agriculture-related vendors on hand for the event which will run through Saturday.
Chix Library Chocolate Celebration Tonight
Everything is coming up chocolate for the Friends of the Chickasha Library chocolate celebration tonight. Thousands of servings of chocolaty goodies will be available. More than a dozen local groups are to have at least 200 servings each to choose from. Tickets are $6 with each ticket holder choosing six servings. There will also be a bake sale. The chocolate celebration will be held at the Epworth Methodist Church Life Center from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. tonight.
Disabled American Veterans Meet Tonight
Grady County DAV Chapter 17 will have its monthly meeting tonight. It's a Valentine's Day meeting and families are welcome. The meeting will get underway at 6:00 p.m. at the DAV headquarters downtown Chickasha at 6th and Chickasha Ave.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.92 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.00.
Natural gas is $1.77 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,040 and silver is $22.98.
Obituary
Christal Hopkins
Funeral service for Christal Hopkins, 48, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15th at New Life Christian Church. She was a substitute teacher and worked at Grady Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
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Monday, Feb. 12th
Three to be Inducted into Chix Schools Hall of Honor
Several long time educators will be inducted into Chickasha Public Schools’ Hall of Honor.
Jim Glaze
Glaze spent 30 years with the district as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. While serving as superintendent he was at the helm when the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Education Center and the Chickasha High School Activity Center were built.
Harly Day
Day coached several sports and guided boys basketball teams to two state titles in the 1950s. He was the high school principal for nearly 20 years and is already a member of the Grady County Administrators and the Oklahoma Coaches Association Halls of Fame.
Judy Duprez
Duprez was a high school English teacher for nearly 40 years and also served as an adjunct professor at USAO. She also was a member of the Oklahoma and the National Councils of English Teachers. All will be inducted into the Hall of Honor in April during the Chickasha Public School Foundation annual gala.
Study of Chix Public Pool Shows Upgrades will be Costly
The municipal swimming pool at Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park has had its share of problems over the last several years. The pool is almost 40 years old and a company recently completed an inspection of the pool to provide recommendations on upgrades and repairs. The study from Paddock Enterprises of Oklahoma City shows that among the major problems are mechanical issues in the pump room and the chemical feed is not working; that neither the pool nor the bath house are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; and the pool loses more than 15,000 gallons of water per day when its open. The study recommends that between $2 million and $3 million in repairs and renovations are needed which include the construction of a new bath house and the addition of a splash pad. The study is expected to be reviewed by the city’s parks and recreation board which will make its recommendations to the city council. Officials expect the pool to be open this summer.
Crimestoppers Seeks Info on Missing Chickasha Man
Grady County Crimestoppers is seeking information about a missing Chickasha man. 46-year old Richard Clarence Houston was reported missing August 29th of last year. He was last seen in the area of Life Skills Institute at 7th and Colorado. He had been working at Dairy Queen prior to his disappearance. He is Caucasian with short, brown hair and may have a slight moustache and goatee. He has a prosthetic right leg and often walks with a cane. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Richard Clarence Houston is asked to call Crimestoppers at 405-224-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip on the Grady County Crimestoppers Facebook page. A reward could be paid if the information leads to finding him.
Obituaries
Fred Wilcox
A memorial service for Fred Wilcox, 48, of Ninnekah will be held at noon Friday, Feb. 16th at First Church of Chickasha. He was a welder and drove modified stock and E Sprint cars. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Stanley Davis
A memorial service for Stanley Davis, 66, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Sevier Funeral Home. He worked in the oilfield and was a car salesman.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.89 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.19.
Natural gas is $1.85 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,034 and silver is $22.98.
Friend Boys Basketball Team Wins State Title
The Friend Falcon boys basketball team won the Organization of Rural Elementary Schools (ORES) Division III state basketball tournament over the weekend. The Falcons defeated Holly Creek 35-21 for the title in Shawnee Saturday night. Karson Surber was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Blaine Keeton and Gabriel Garcia.
Middleberg Girls have All Tournament Team Member
Middlelerg's Bentli Brantley was named to the ORES Division II all-tournament team. Middleberg advance to the semi-finals of the state tournament.
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Saturday, Feb. 10th
Senate Bill Would Toughen Penalties for Fentanyl Makers
Among the many bills considered during the first week of the legislative session at the state capital is one aimed at more severe punishments for those who manufacture fentanyl. SB 1280 is authored by State Senator Darrell Weaver (R-Moore) who has ties to Grady and Stephens counties. The bill calls for prison sentences ranging from seven years to life for those convicted of the crime. Weaver calls fentanyl a deadly scourge that is wreaking havoc on families and communities across the country. He said fentanyl-related deaths in Oklahoma have risen from 39 in 2019 to 619 in 2022. Weaver's bill received unanimous approval in the Senate Public Safety Committee and will be heard by the full senate later in the session.
Assault Suspect Jailed On $50,000 Bond
A 20-year old Chickasha man was arrested and charged in connection with an assault that took place this week. Chickasha police arrested Marcus Salazar after responding to a call in the 600 block of South 7th Street just before 9:00 a.m. Thursday. No details were provided on the Chickasha police blotter. Salazar has been charged with a felony count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and his bond was set at $50,000.
Police Take Plunge for Special Olympics
A few Chickasha police officers took a polar plunge for a good cause today. Law enforcement agencies across the state were challenged to take the plunge to support of Oklahoma Special Olympics. More than 12,000 athletes will take part in the state games in Stillwater in May. The Chickasha officers accepting the challenge are Assistant Police Chief Daiman Alexander, Lt. Gillian O'Brien, and officer recruits Martin Amerson and Eric Robledo. The plunge took place at Hurricane Harbor in Oklahoma City this morning. They’ll accept contributions through next week at the Chickasha Police Department.
Cheese-making, Other Workshops Offered at USAO
Have you ever tried to - or considered making your own cheese? It's one of three workshops to be held by USAO this spring. All are presentations with the Jean McLaughlin Outdoor Education and Research Center. The cheese workshop will be Saturday, Feb. 17th with a local dairy farmer providing the milk. Participants will explore various fermentation processes and craft their own cheese. There is a $30 registration fee.
Dye making
On Saturday, April 20th, participants can learn how to make their own dye from plants and use it to color fabric and create water colors for painting. The cost for that workshop is $10.
Bird watching and photography
The final workshop is Saturday, May 11th and is for bird watching and photography which is a free event. For information and to register for the workshops, visit the website usao.edu and scroll down to find the News and Events page.
Talk Show Topics
Lewis Knisley with the Chickasha Area YMCA is our guest on the KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today we have two segments. The first is with Jerry Renshaw from the Southwest District Livestock Show which will be at the Grady County Fairgrounds next week. The second is with Spencer Winzenried, the City of Chickasha's Parks and Recreation Director. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community Tab on this website.
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Friday, Feb. 9th
Drug Trafficking Suspect On Probation for Previous Charges
The suspect arrested by the District Six Drug Task Force for alleged drug distribution this week is currently on probation after pleading guilty to similar charges a few years ago. 46-year old Lacey Nicole Montgomery of Chickasha was arrested Wednesday after the task force served a search warrant at the Quality Inn Motel where she was staying. Agents say they found nearly 400 grams of meth in the room. A probable cause affidavit indicates Montgomery was later arrested at work where she had more meth in her car. Montgomery previously pleaded guilty to drug charges stemming from arrests in 2016 and 2022. She remains in jail on a more than a half-million dollar bond and prosecutors want to revoke her probation on the previous charges.
Anadarko Murder Suspect Found in Caddo County Jail
A murder charge has been filed against a Caddo County jail inmate in connection with the shooting death of an Anadarko man. 23-year old Davantae Winters is accused of last December's death of D'angelo Pollard. Pollard's body was found slumped over in a car parked at an Anadarko home the night of December 7th. Winters was arrested a couple of weeks later in a separate case of domestic assault and battery. The Lawton Constitution cites court documents that say Anadarko police received several tips that the two men were involved in a number of confrontations before the shooting and that Winters had threatened to kill Pollard. The murder charge was filed yesterday afternoon and Winters may have his initial appearance in Caddo County District Court today.
Controlled Burns Set for Wildlife Refuge
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will be conducting some controlled burns over the next couple of days. Officials say recent weather conditions have given them an opportunity to have the much-needed burns near the Lake Elmer Thomas Dam and on private lands along the western edge of the refuge. Traffic control will be implemented as needed and could cause some delays for area residents and refuge visitors. Authorities also say smoke from the controlled burns will likely be visible for several miles and residual smoke may hang around a for a few days.
Benefit for Fire Victims is Tonight
A fundraiser is set for a family that lost their home in a fire. The home of Billy King and Beth Riley in the Cement area was destroyed Jan. 20th. A benefit will be held at the Legends Pub House and Venue tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. with live music starting at 7:00 p.m. A silent auction will be held as well. Tickets are $10 with ticket proceeds going to family.
Monthly Chickasha Art Walk Resumes
After a winter hiatus the monthly Chickasha Art Walk resumes tonight. This is the first anniversary of the event which began in February of last year. Reyna Ponce is the coordinator for the art walks this year and talks about some of the artisans who will be on hand.
The art walk will be downtown and mainly around the Leg Lamp with a food truck on hand and some restaurants will be open. Live entertainment will be provided by Mitch Williams, AKA Piano Mitch. The art walk is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and it is free to attend. They will be held the second Friday of each month.
4Hers Learn Job-Related Skills
Youth who take part in 4H learn many of skills they'll need when they eventually enter the work force. Mesa Payne is the vice president of Grady County 4H. She says problem solving and teamwork are just two of the areas they focus on.
Payne says she has presented more than 65 speeches since she's been a 4H member.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.22 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $81.63.
Natural gas is $1.92 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,047 and silver is $22.72.
Obituary
Lareesea Callahan
Funeral service for Lareesea Callahan, 68, of Amber will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13th at the Amber Mission Holiness Church. She worked at Delta Faucet, Ken's Steakhouse, and Salt Creek Casino. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
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Thursday, Feb. 8th
Chix City Council Filings: Grayson Runs Unopposed for Mayor
Chickasha will have a new mayor and at least three new city council members this spring. The new mayor will be Zach Grayson who filed un-opposed for the post during this week's filing period which ended yesterday (Wednesday). Grayson, a businessman and a U.S. Army veteran, was first elected to the council in 2018 and currently serves as vice mayor. Grayson will take over for current Mayor Chris Mosley who did not run for re-election after serving six years as mayor.
Ward 4 Candidates
Grayson was serving in Ward 4 so there will be a new council representative in that post. Three candidates are in the field including Isaac DeLeon, John Smith, and Eric Anderson.
Ward 3 Has New Councilor
After serving 10 years on the city council Ward 3 councilman Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander did not run for re-election. His successor will be Erica Alexander who filed un-opposed for the seat.
Ward 2 Candidates
Daniel Terry and Charlie Burruss have filed for Ward 2. The winner will move into the office currently held by Chickasha School Superintendent Rick Croslin who was appointed to fill an unexpired term last year.
Ward 1 Incumbent has Challenger
Kea Ginn will face David Lucas for that post in the city council election which will be held April 2nd.
Drug Task Force Arrests Suspect After Serving Search Warrant
Law enforcement officials take down a suspected drug trafficker. The District Six Drug Task Force and the Grady County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at a Chickasha motel yesterday. A post on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page indicates the search warrant was served at the Quality Inn. Authorities seized nearly 450 grams of methamphetamine and suspected Psilocybin mushrooms. Arrested was 45-year old Lacey Nicole Montgomery of Chickasha who has a previous drug conviction. Late today (Thursday) she was charged with felony trafficking and bond was set at $550,000.
More State Highway 19 Upgrades About to Begin
Big improvements for State Highway 19 between Ninnekah and Bradley will get underway next week. Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) say the contractor for the project is expected to get started next Thursday. It's a more than $42 million project to widen the highway, add shoulders, reduce hills, and straighten curves. The improvements will begin near the Highway 19 and Dell Street intersection and run eight miles east to near the current project underway near Bradley. It's expected to take about three years to complete. ODOT officials say the contractor will have 930 working days to finish but Silver Star Construction officials have said they can do the work in about 700 days or about two years.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.89 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $79.21.
Natural gas slips below $2 to $1.97 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,047 and silver is $22.45.
Obituary
Vera Polson
A graveside service will be held for Vera Polson, 92, of Tuttle at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9th at the Amber Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
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Wednesday, Feb. 7th
Chix City Council OK's Healthy Food Task Force in Split Vote
KOOL News reported yesterday that the Chickasha City Council approved a resolution to form a Healthy Food Task Force this week. The task force came as a recommendation from the state's Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) program. The task force is to study the access that families have to both healthy and non-healthy foods. After the survey, the city will receive a $120,000 TSET grant which city officials say could be used to make improvements to city parks. AT Monday night’s city council meeting, Chickasha resident Tory Wise said the city has other things to worry about besides what families are eating-
In a split vote the measure passed 5-4. Mayor Chris Mosley cast the tie-breaking vote joining Oscar Nelson, Kia Ginn, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, and Zach Grayson in supporting the plan. Council members Kelly Boyd, Rick Croslin, Brian Gerdes, and Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander voted against it. The council unanimously approved all five members of the task force which includes health department employees Daryn Kirkpatrick and Zane Winters, Chickasha Police Chief G.G. Music, Public Works Director Jim Crosby, and Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Winzenreid.
Two Chix City Council Races Result After Day 2 of Filing
Two races have developed for the spring Chickasha City Council election. After the second day of filing for office Tuesday, three candidates have filed for Ward Four. They are Isaac DeLeon, Eric Anderson, and John Smith. Two candidates have filed for Ward Two - Charlie Burruss filed Tuesday and Daniel Terry who filed Monday. Vice Mayor Zach Grayson is still the only candidate to file for mayor and there have been no filings for the Ward One nor Ward Three offices up for election. Today is the final day candidates can file. Filing takes place at Chickasha City Hall until 5 p.m.
Former Firefighter Sought for Fire Station Break-in
A warrant for the arrest of a former Grady County firefighter has been issued after he allegedly broke into the fire department he used to work for. Authorities are looking for 29-year old Jordan Long of Oklahoma City who previously worked at the Tuttle fire department. KSWO-TV cites court documents which indicate that Long was identified through video surveillance at the station. A man identified as Long and an unidentified woman were seen rummaging through storage cabinets, fire trucks, and medical bags. The report says that a medical bag was found in a Chickasha motel room which was traced to a room rented by Long. It was reported that Long admitted to the fire chief that he broke into the station but didn't remember a lot of what happened.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.71 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $78.59.
Natural gas is $2.01 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,049 and silver is $22.31.
Obituary
Ila Watson
A memorial service for Ila Watson, 82, of Chickasha will be held at a later date. She was an award-winning artist and had some of her work displayed at the state capital. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chickasha Area Arts Council.
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Tuesday, Feb. 6th
City Council Reps Criticized for Missing too Many Meetings
A couple of Chickasha City Council members were recently criticized for missing a lot of council meetings over the past year. Ward 4 Councilman Kelly Boyd and Ward 3 Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander had not attended 75 percent of the council meetings as required by the City Charter. In last night’s meeting, Mayor Chris Mosley showed the attendance records of all city council members over the course of the last 12 months. Boyd and Ashanti-Alexander were not pleased and the two had this exchange with the mayor-
The charter calls for those with excessive absences to be removed from the council. The mayor said after the meeting that he does not expect that to happen.
Council Narrowly OKs Healthy Food Task Force
In a split vote, the council voted 5-4 to approve a resolution to establish a Healthy Food Task Force. It calls for a community assessment of the availability of healthy foods vs. fast food. The city will receive a $120,000 grant from the state's Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) program as part of the resolution which officials say does not include any new city ordinances or regulations.
City Council Filing Period off to a Slow Start
Only two candidates came forward to file for Chickasha City Council posts in the first day of filing yesterday. Ward 4 Councilman Zach Grayson filed to run for mayor. And Daniel Terry filed for the Ward 2 post. Terry owns and operates Pro Auto Care. Terry is filing for the post held by Chickasha School Superintendent Rick Croslin who was appointed to the post last year. Croslin said he will not be running for a full two-year term. The mayor's seat and one office in each of the city's four wards are up for election. The filing period runs through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7th at city hall.
USAO to Host Discussion to Battle Human Trafficking
USAO will host a panel discussion this week to help high school and college students become aware of the early signs human trafficking. The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women will present the program which is open to parents and anyone wanting to learn how to stop trafficking. USAO professor Dr. Tonnia Anderson says in most cases victims fall prey to predators who at first form innocent relationships with teens and young adults.
Panelists for this community conversation include professionals and experts on several aspects of human trafficking which is said to be a $150 billion a year industry. The discussion is the first of a two-part series with the follow-up being a statewide Not Me, Not My Community initiative. The USAO program will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 9th at the USAO Ballroom.
Recording Artist Toby Keith Succumbs to Cancer
Oklahoma and country music star Toby Keith passed away overnight. Keith had been battling stomach cancer since 2022. He had 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Music Chart including How Do You Like Me Now; Should've Been A Cowboy; As Good As I Once Was; and Beer for My Horses which was a duet with Willie Nelson. Toby Keith was 62.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.78 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $77.99.
Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,040 and silver is $22.36.
Obituary
Paula Fitzpatrick
A memorial luncheon for Paula Fitzpatrick, 71, of Lawton and formerly of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8th at Chickasha's First Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
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Monday, Feb. 5th
Law Enforcement 'Swatted' with False Call
The Chickasha Police Department continues its investigation of a fake crime call they received early Sunday morning claiming an individual had just killed his parents, wanted to blow up his home, and would shoot officers if they responded. But when officers and numerous first responders did arrive on the scene, they found no crime had occurred. Authorities say it’s called 'Swatting'. Police say they received call just after 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Among the agencies responding were the Chickasha Fire Department, Grady County Sheriff's Office, state troopers, Chickasaw Lighthorse authorities, and Ninnekah police. Investigators made contact with individuals inside the home who were safe and not involved in the call that was received. Authorities when to a second home that was reported to have been involved which was also cleared. Authorities say swatting calls are criminal offenses that violate state and federal laws and punishable by prison time and fines. Officials say in addition to the potential danger to first responders and residents, valuable resources are consumed during such calls. Anyone with information is asked to reach out to the Chickasha police department.
Filing Period Opens for Chickasha City Council
The filing period for Chickasha City Council is under way. Candidates will file their applications at city hall over the next three days. The mayor and four council seats are up for election, and Mayor Chris Mosley will not be running for re-election. Vice Mayor and Ward 4 Councilman Zach Grayson has announced his intentions to run. One council seat in each of the city’s four wards are also up for election. In Ward One it’s the office currently held by Kea Ginn, In Ward Two it’s the seat that Rick Croslin holds, and in Ward 3 its Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander. The filing period ends at 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 7th. The city council election will be April 2nd.
Council to Get Capital Project Update
The city council meets tonight and will be getting an update on capital projects from City Manager Keith Johnson and Public Works Director Jim Crosby. The panel will also consider a resolution to form a Healthy Food Task Force and appoint members to that panel. The panel will also consider accepting a donation to make some upgrades to the Badgett Family Dog Park. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall. The meeting can be viewed on the city's YouTube channel accessible on the city's website and will be televised on Optimum Cable Channel 3.
Darci Lynne Gets Chickasha Help for New Venture
A talented Oklahoma teen has released her first record. You might remember Darci Lynne Farmer of Edmond wowed the country by winning America's Got Talent as a 12-year old ventriloquist in 2017. She also co-starred in the movie 'A Cowgirl's Song' with Cheryll Ladd that was filmed mainly in Chickasha. Now nineteen years old she is plying her talents in the music industry. The single called ‘Push Our Luck' was released today. She's been working on this latest artistic journey for a while.
‘Push Our Luck’ is a country-rock song with a lot of energy. The song was co-written by Maggie McLure and Shane Henry (who are The Imaginaries) and they play on the song as well. Chickasha filmmaker Reagan Elkins produced the music video. It premiered today on People.com
Obituary
Bill 'BJ' Hartis
A memorial service for 'BJ' Hartis, 34, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked the last few years in the oil and gas industry. Memorial contributions may be made to First Tee.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.28 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $77.33.
Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,04
