Saturday, March 9th
Two Hospitalized After SUV Hits Semi
Two Chickasha residents suffered life-threatening injuries after their SUV crashed into a semi north of the city yesterday. 80-year old Joey Tannehill and 83-year old Wanda Tannehill were taken to an Oklahoma City hospital and were last in critical condition. It was raining when the accident happened just before 3:00 p.m. Friday on U.S. Highway 81 near CR 1300 about four miles south of Pocasset. The highway patrol reports that the Tannehill vehicle went left of center and hit the semi which was driven by 57-year old Lonnie Coleman of Arapaho. He was not injured. Joey Tannehill was pinned in the SUV for about 20 minutes before being freed by the Chickasha Fire Department. The accident closed the highway for five hours.
Congressman Responds to President's Speech
Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole (R-Moore) had some harsh criticism for President Joe Biden after the president’s State of the Union Address Thursday night. In a prepared statement, the Cole said the Biden administration has been plagued with crisis after crisis over the last three years yet the president tried to persuade American people into believing the country is stronger today than when he took office. Cole said those who are bearing the brunt of his failed policies know better. Cole said inflation is up nearly 18 percent; over eight million illegal immigrants have come into the country; and the president’s anti-domestic energy policies have not been good for the country.
'Spring Forward' Into Daylight Savings Time
Oklahoma and much of the country return to Daylight Savings time this weekend. It's time to turn any analog clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed tonight, since the transition is at two o'clock tomorrow morning. Most digital items like computers, cell phones, and watches will automatically make the switch. You'll get one hour less of sleep and it will be darker in the morning with more light in the evening.
Talk Show Topic
The three candidates running for Ward 4 Chickasha City Council are this week's guests on the KOOL Konversation. They are Eric Anderson, Isaac DeLeon, and John Smith. There is a podcast of the interviews under the Community tab on this website.
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Friday, March 8th
Fugitive Back in Custody After Stand-off
A wanted man who reportedly told people he was not going back to jail and threatened to harm anyone who might turn him in - was taken into custody without incident this week. 49-year old William Earl Bitsche was arrested Tuesday south of Lake Chickasha along the Grady and Caddo County Line. According to a post on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, officials received information on Monday regarding Bitsche's location. The sheriff's office task force, state troopers, and Caddo County deputies went to the site where Bitsche was reported to be but he wasn't there. Tuesday, officials got another tip about where Bitsche might be which was a few miles south of the previously location and they did find him. Sheriff Gary Boggess said Bitsche was armed and held officials at bay for about an hour but eventually put down the weapon and was taken into custody. Bitsche was wanted for a 2022 arrest for having a firearm after former felony conviction. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
Amber Fire, Police Host Community Appreciation Dinner
Tomorrow is a big day in Amber as the police and fire departments combine efforts for the second annual Boots and Badges Community Appreciation Dinner. It’s a way for the agencies to thank area residents for their support. It is free, but patrons are asked to donate funds which can be used for needed equipment and supplies. Police Chief Daniel Fulton said they've receive a lot of support from business in and around the Amber and Chickasha areas.
It will be held at the Amber-Pocasset High School Cafeteria from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, and there will be also be a silent auction of several items. There will be a free bounce house and pony rides for the kids and the fire department and Grady County Sheriff's Office will have vehicles on the display.
Chix High School Robotics Team Competes at Regionals
The Chickasha High School robotics team is in Sedalia, Missouri for a regional competition. Team 3931, also known as the Cockadoodle Dominators, are part of the international FIRST Robotics program. FIRST is an acronym meaning For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Teams across the country have spent the last two months designing and building robots. The machines must meet size and weight specifications. You can watch the competition on-line at:
www.thebluealliance.com
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.93 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.96.
Natural gas is $1.82 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,174 and silver is $24.73.
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Thursday, March 7th
Bill Calls for Digital Communications Between Students
and Teachers to be Shared with Parents
A proposal designed to require all electronic and digital communication between students and school officials to be shared with the student's parents is being considered at the state capital. HB 3958 is authored by State Rep. Sherrie Conley (R- Newcastle). She said the bill is intended to protect students from receiving anything inappropriate from an educator. Conley said it stipulates that school personnel should make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems, or applications which allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians. Conley also said it also protects educators from potential accusations of impropriety. The bill calls for school personnel who reportedly violate the measure to be placed on administrative leave while school officials investigate the complaint. The bill has passed in the house and now heads to the senate for consideration.
Man Bitten by Dog While Walking to Work
A man walking to work is attacked and bitten by a dog. Chickasha police were called out to a home in the 200 block of West Minnesota about 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities say the medium-sized dog broke free from its chain and charged at the victim. The victim and a second man were able to gain control of the animal until police arrived. The victim was taken to the hospital and was treated for minor injuries and released. Officers sedated the animal to prevent further injuries and minimize the risk of the animal attacking someone else.
U.S. Rep Tom Cole Lauds Passage of Bill
4th District Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole (R-Moore) has scheduled a visit to Chickasha later this month. Cole will be in town on Monday, March 25th to meet with business leaders at the Chamber of Commerce. In his recent media column, Cole discussed the passage of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill out of the House. Cole said the measure promotes economic development, ensures the safety of transportation systems, and cuts spending on programs he says have been recklessly over-funded in recent years. He said the measure also maintains housing assistance for the elderly, disabled, and military veterans; supports homeless assistance programs, which includes initiatives to provide shelter to victims of domestic violence and homeless youth; and provides essential funding to the Federal Aviation Administration to make air space safer and works to minimize flight delays.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.13 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.96.
Natural gas is $1.93 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,165 and silver is $24.40.
Obituaries
Peggy Thurston
Funeral service for Peggy Thurston, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 8th at the Alex High School. She was a teacher and school librarian. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Micaela Avila
Funeral mass for Micaela Avila, 63, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 8th at Holy Name Catholic Church. She was a Certified Nurse Assistant. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Marieta Raasch
Funeral service for Marieta Raasch, 80, of Cement will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9th at Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha. Her family operated a dairy farm and she also worked in the banking industry. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
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Wednesday, March 6th
Trump, Biden Dominate Presidential Primaries
In what was considered a low turnout, just over 400,000 Oklahomans went to the polls in the state's presidential primary elections yesterday. Former President Donald Trump collected more than 82 percent of the more than 310,000 voters in the Republican primary. Nikki Haley was next with only 16 percent of the vote. Trump was the overall winner in all of yesterday’s Super Tuesday primaries across the country causing Haley to end her campaign for the GOP nomination. President Joe Biden won Oklahoma's Democratic primary with 73 percent of the more than 91,000 ballots cast. Chase Oliver picked up just over 61 percent of the vote among the 929 Libertarians casting ballots in that race.
Grady County Results
Trump received nearly 86 percent of the more than 5,500 Republicans who went to the polls. Biden received just over 62 percent of the nearly 900 Democrats who voted; and of the 16 Libertarians in the county, Oliver picked up 12 votes.
Veterans' 'Families First' Bill Advances
A bill that would allow military veterans who need long-term care to stay in a local nursing home instead of a distant state veteran's center was approved by the State House of Representatives yesterday. HB 3747 is called the Veterans' Families First bill. It calls for veterans who need long-term care to have the option of staying in a local nursing home - if they are located more than 100 miles from a state center. State Rep. Jim Grego is the author of the bill who said he worked with the State Department of Veterans Affairs on the proposal. He said he wanted to make sure that veterans have the option to remain close to their homes. He said family members should not have to drive a long way to visit their loved ones. The bill will now head to the senate for consideration.
USAO Readies for Big Day
USAO is preparing for an onslaught of campus visitors. The sidewalk chalk art festival draws students from dozens of school districts across the state to the university the first Thursday of every April. And there’s a new addition which should bring more high school students to campus that day. It’s designed specifically for high school juniors. They'll get an overview of campus life, an inter-active mock lecture from faculty members, and explore the campus through tours. Both events, along with the annual Droverstock concert will take place on Thursday, April 4th at USAO.
Grady County Fairgrounds Seeks Bidders for Paving Project
The Grady County Fairgrounds is accepting sealed bids for a paving project. It calls for asphalt paving and resurfacing over an existing 70’ X 400' asphalt entry and parking area. The fairgrounds Trust will accept sealed bids at the administrative office through 4 p.m. Monday, March 25th with the bid opening to be held at 5:00 p.m. To acquire bid packets and for further information call 405-224-2031.
Caddo County Citzens Police Academy to Start Next Week
Caddo County law enforcement groups have a few openings remaining in their upcoming citizens’ police academy. The Anadarko Police Department, Caddo County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are jointly hosing the eight-week session. It's for individuals 18 and older, although 16- and 17-year olds may attend with parental approval. The program will run every Thursday night beginning next Thursday, March 14th and run through Thursday, May 2nd. Applications are available through the Anadarko police department.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.15 perbarrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.04.
Natural gas is $1.91 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,135 and silver is $23.93.
Obituaries
Diana Stewart
A graveside service for Diana Stewart, 79, of Ninnekah, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday March 7th at Fairlawn Cemetery in Chickasha. She worked part-time as a substitute teacher. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Jerry McCorkle
A memorial service for 87-year old Jerry McCorkle of Lindsay will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 7th at the Alex High School gymnasium. He was an evangelist for more than 60 years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
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Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Driver Critical After Head-on Crash with Semi
A Caddo County woman is in critical condition after a head-on crash between a semi and an SUV. 42-year old Mindy Cates of Cyril was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital to be treated for head, leg, and trunk internal injuries. The accident happened just after 7:30 p.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 277 south of Cyril. The highway patrol reported that Cates was northbound on the highway and for some reason went left-of-center and collided head-on with the semi. Cates was pinned in her car for about 25 minutes before being freed by the Cyril Fire Department. The driver of the semi, 71-year old Curtis Jackson of Chickasha, was taken by ground ambulance to a Lawton hospital where he was treated and released.
Chix Council OK's Sipuel-Fisher Resolution
The Chickasha City Council unanimously approved a resolution to ask the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to name a bridge on I-44 in honor of Ada Sipuel-Fisher. She was a graduate of Chickasha's Lincoln High School in the 1940s and was the first black student to attend the OU School of Law. The resolution reads in part – ‘whereas she was a pioneering figure in the de-segregation of higher education in Oklahoma; and her commitment to equality and justice continued throughout her life as she became an influential civil rights activist, educator, and community leader; and the city recognizes the importance of preserving and celebrating her legacy for future generations; that a turnpike bridge over the Washita River should be named in her honor.' The OTA will address the resolution in a future meeting.
Tribal group seeks grant for Alzheimer's program
The council heard from Diane Hugar with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, regarding the tribe's Alzheimer's Disease Program Initiative. The tribe is seeking a grant to provide services to tribal citizens in a 10-county area including Grady, Caddo, Comanche, and Stephens counties.
Panel OKs payment for water distribution work
During the Chickasha Municipal Authority session the panel approved a payment of nearly $65,000 to Marsau Enterprises of Foster, Okla. for water distribution improvements. In the Municipal Airport Authority session the panel approved one of the exhibitions that will be part of the city's annual Wings and Wheels Air Show and Car Show in June. The panel authorized spending $9,500 for the NexGen Eagles which was one of the groups that performed last year.
Meet-and-Greet Set for Chix City Council Candidates
Chickasha residents will be able to meet all the candidates running for city council in one location. The Chickasha Lions Club will host the meet-and-greet on Thursday March 14th at the Canadian Valley Technology Center. Lions Club member Joseph Nieto announced the program during last night's city council meeting. He said the candidates will not debate, but rather have materials on display and have casual discussions with residents. The forum will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Oklahomans Vote in Presidential Preferential Primary Today
Super Tuesday has arrived as Oklahoma joins several other states to choose presidential candidates for the November general election. There are Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian ballots. On the Republican ballot there are eight candidates including former President Donald Trump and the only GOP challenger remaining in the race in Nikki Haley. There are six candidates on the Democratic ballot including President Joe Biden, and there are two candidates on the Libertarian ballot in Chase Oliver and Jacob Hornberger. Polls are open until 7:00 p.m. tonight.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.74 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $83.56.
Natural gas is $1.92 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,130 and silver is $24.12.
Obituary
Mike Austin
A graveside service for Mike Austin, 67, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 6th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He owned and operated a construction company. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
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Monday, March 4th
Chix City Council to Consider Resolution to Request
Naming Turnpike Bridge in Honor of Dr. Ada Sipuel-Fisher
The Chickasha City Council will consider a resolution tonight to ask the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to name a bridge over the Washita River northeast of the city in honor of Dr. Ada Sipuel-Fisher. Fisher was the first black student to attend the OU Law School after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in her favor in Fisher's 1946 lawsuit against OU. Fisher grew up in Chickasha and was a valedictorian at Lincoln High School. The ruling led the way for future decisions by the nation's high court to eliminate segregation in public schools and universities.
Equipment purchase, Lake Chickasha project also to be reviewed
The council will consider spending more than $145,000 on a John Deere compact track loader from state contract; and spend another $30,000 to remove some of the dilapidated docks at Lake Chickasha. The bid is from Washita Construction to remove all the poor structures was higher than anticipated and officials are asking to use the $30,000 budgeted to get started.
Date may be set to auction leases for mineral rights
The panel will consider publicizing a proposed auction date for some oil and gas mining leases for just over 3 acres of property on two sites in the downtown area; and consider scheduling city-wide garage sales for May 9th-11th and waiving permit fees for those dates. A new officer for the police department, Logan Bonds is expected to be sworn in. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall. The meeting will be video streamed on the City of Chickasha’s YouTube channel which is available on the city's website. It will also be televised on Optimum Cable Channel 3.
Teen Critical Following ATV Crash
A Tuttle teenager was critically injured in an ATV accident. The unidentified 15-year old was a passenger on a 2023 Polaris driven by a 13-year old Tuttle teen who was not injured. The accident happened about 10:30 a.m. Sunday on private property in Caddo County seven miles east of Binger. The Highway Patrol reports that the driver hit an uneven area in a pasture, overturned, and pinned the passenger underneath.
Prescribed Burning Group Schedules Meeting
While the damage from devastating wildfires in northwest Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle is still mounting, a local group will have an upcoming meeting to help minimize the risk for wildfires in this region. The Caddo and Grady County Prescribed Burn Association will be having its first meeting of the year on Tuesday, March 26th. The group will meet at the Grady County OSU Extension office in Chickasha at 6:30 p.m. that night. For information contact Don West through the Grady and Caddo County OSU Extension offices for a phone number and e-mail address.
Grady County Ag Producers Meet Tomorrow Morning
OSU Extension breeding and reproductive specialist Dan Stein is tomorrow's speaker at the Grady County ag producers meeting. That will get underway at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning at the extension office.
Friend Fire Department has Benefit Tonight
The Friend Volunteer Fire Department is having its community appreciation dinner tonight. It will be held at the Friend School Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.97 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $83.56.
Natural gas is $1.84 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,092 and silver is $23.36.
Obituary
Larry Roberson
Funeral service for Larry Roberson, 75, of Alex will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9th at Sevier Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Military veteran and worked in the oil field.
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