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Mollman Media News

2019, Feb 18th - 25th

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Today Let’s meet Canadian Valley Technology Center “Spotlight person of the week’” Samuel Morris. Samuel was Home Schooled, and is now studying Auto Service Technology at CV Tech. Tune in Friday the 15th, to KOOL 105,5 FM, (the 7AM and 8AM News) to hear the story.

 

 

 

 

Monday, Feb. 25th

 

One Dead in Weekend Crash near Blanchard

A fatal crash near Blanchard claims the life of an Enid man. 64-year old Gregory Skinner died in the accident that happened Friday night on South MacArthur Avenue. Skinner died at the scene. The highway patrol says the accident remains under investigation. Skinner was driving a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup. The roadway was wet at the time of the accident.

 

New Public Works Director on Board for City of Chickasha

The City of Chickasha's new public works director has hit the ground running. David Buchanan has about 20 years’ experience in municipal projects. He's a native Oklahoman who has worked in water and waste water treatment for a number of years, working in Muskogee with a private contractor, and also working in Puerto Rico for a time before taking a post in Georgia. The last few years he's been working for the city of Bethany. Buchanan is re-directing the city's use of inmate labor, concentrating on big projects instead of several smaller projects at one time.

 

               

 

The city is planning on some additional street improvement projects this summer, and is also planning for upgrades for Shannon Springs Park.

 

Pursuit Suspect Could Face Formal Charges Today

A woman arrested for leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase last Friday could hear any potential charges against her today. 26-year old Shelby LaFontaine was arrested after the pursuit started on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike in Grady County near Newcastle. Speeds reached nearly 150 miles per hour before she eventually pulled over in the Norman area. She was arrested on complaints of attempting to elude; driving without a license; receiving, possessing or concealing stolen property; having a firearm after adjudication; and possession of contraband in a penal institution. Prosecutors will decide what, if any formal charges to file.

 

City Council Candidate to Hold Meet-and-Greet

A Chickasha city council candidate has scheduled a meet-and-greet to get to know the community. Devin Gagliardo is one of three candidates running for Ward 4. He's lived in Grady County nearly his entire life and has lived in Chickasha for seven years. He'll will hold the meet-and-greet session next Monday, Feb. 4th at Paradise Donuts from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m.

 

Grady County Spring Stock Show Begins

The annual Grady County Junior Livestock Show gets underway today. This is the 83rd year for the event, which showcases the work of local youth caring for sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs. Many exhibitors spent the weekend moving their animals into pens at the Grady County Fairgrounds and Events Center. The swine show gets underway at 11 o'clock this morning. The judge is Kelly Chrisman of Pauls Valley. More than 200 students wil be showing animals over the course of the next four days. The top 125 animals will go up for bid in the premium auction Thursday night.

 

Arts Council Meeting to Discuss Garage Sale, Festival

A benefit garage sale and information about a fall arts festival will be among the topics of discussion during this month's meeting of the Chickasha Area Arts Council. The group will meet at the 7th Street Arts Connection Center at 7th and Arkansas at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night. The proceeds from the garage sale will help with the 11th annual Rock Island Arts festival coming up in October. The garage sale is this Friday and Saturday at the Arts Connection Center. The Arts Council's new consignment shop will also be open during the garage sale.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.26 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $67.12.

Natural gas is $2.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,332 and silver is $16.02.

 

 

Saturday, Feb. 23rd

 

High-Speed Chase Leads to Arrest

A pursuit on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike Friday reached speeds of nearly 150 miles per hour. State troopers did manage to safely get the car pulled over and arrest the driver, who will be in the Grady County Jail all weekend. The chase started about 3:00 p.m. Friday near mile marker 102 in the Newcastle area. KFOR TV reports that a trooper saw two men on the side of the turnpike and then a Cadillac sedan sped away. It’s reported the trooper thought drugs were being dumped from the car. The pursuit went into the Oklahoma City area before the driver pulled over near State Highway 9 and May Avenue. The driver, 26-year old Shelby LaFontaine, was arrested on complaints of attempting to elude, driving without a license, receiving, possessing or concealing stolen property, having a firearm after adjudication, and possession of contraband in a penal institution. Prosecutors will decide what, if any formal charges to file against LaFontaine. Her initial appearance could be as early as Monday.

 

State Rep Oppposes 'Mineral Rights Owner' Bill

It's a wolf in sheep's clothing. That's how Chickasha State Representative David Perryman feels about what's being called a "mineral rights owner" bill under consideration at the state capital. In his media column this week, Perryman says HB 2150 would be more beneficial for big oil companies that own a growing percentage of Oklahoma's mineral rights. He writes that campaign contributions from big energy companies could be more influential to lawmakers than what is actually best for Oklahomans. Perryman says in the last few years lawmakers have passed bills that are more suitable to oil companies instead of protecting state residents. He says cities that have tried to protect residents from encroaching oil companies have either been sued, or, threatened with lawsuits from some energy firms.

 

1st National Names New Board Member

Chickasha businessman Blake Elliott has been named to the board of directors for the First National Bank and Trust. Elliott is vice president of finance with Standley Systems, which was founded by his great-grandfather, Fred Standley. A Chickasha High School and Oklahoma State graduate, Blake has held many posts with the family business, managing service, warehouse, inventory, installation teams, and contracts. He's a former city councilman, a graduate of Leadership Chickasha, has served with The Festival of Light and Chamber of Commerce. He was also honored by the Journal Record with one of its 30 under 30 awards.

 

Antique Fire-Fighting Equipment May Head to Lawton

In Lawton, officials are hoping to bring two historic pieces of firefighting equipment back to southwest Oklahoma. City officials will ask the city council for permission to accept an offer from the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum to bring an 1850s era horse-drawn hose cart and a 1913 fire truck home. The Lawton Constitution reports the restored units were donated several years ago to the state museum, but it has limited room and an expanding collection that prevents some items from being displayed.

 

Warrant List

Each week, the Grady County Sheriff’s Office releases a list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here’s Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett

 

               

 

If you have information regarding any of these individuals you’re asked to contact the sheriff’s office by calling 405-222-5085.

 

 

Friday, Feb. 22nd

 

Bond Denied for Murder Suspect

A murder suspect will remain behind bars after bond is denied during his initial court appearance. 18-year old Malcolm Jackson was in Grady County District Court this week for his arraignment on a first degree murder charge. He is one of six individuals implicated in the shooting death of Trey Adams which took place outside Adams' Chickasha home last month. On-line court records indicate that Jackson is to announce his attorney by March 29th with a preliminary hearing conference scheduled for April 17th.

 

Arrest Made in Hate Crime Report               

A Chickasha man is behind bars accused of a hate crime. 37-year old Trent Proctor faces felony charges for allegedly beating a man because of his sexual orientation. Police say the victim was nearly beaten beyond recognition. He suffered a broken jaw, a fractured eye socket and lost several teeth in the attack that happened the early morning hours of New Year's Day. A police affidavit indicates the victim told investigators he had gone to a  friend's home to celebrate the new year, when he was approached by a known individual. The victim was hit in the face and head more than a dozen times with a metal pole, because the victim said he was gay. Proctor is charged with felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon  and maiming. Proctor remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

 

Ft. Sill Soldiers Return from Deployment

A homecoming ceremony held for about 70 soldiers returning home from a deployment to the Middle East. Troops with the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Ft. Sill were greeted by family and friends. The unit spent the last nine months in the Persian Gulf region with the Headquarters Battery to the U.S. Central Command area. The group included Col. Lisa Bartel who took command of the brigade just three days before the deployment. Brig. Gen. Randall McEntire is the director of the Air and Missile Defense Cross Functional Team. At the homecoming, McEntire praised the soldiers for their work, which included the re-organization of the air defense units there.

 

Ninnekah FFAers Among those Celebrating FFA Week

Youth throughout the region and the state who wear those recognizable blue and gold jackets are celebrating their organization's work. This week is National FFA week. FFA chapters provide many opportunities for their members to develop practical skills they'll use throughout their lives. Bruce Trammell is the vice president of the Ninnekah FFA.

 

               

 

Trammell is in a supervised agriculture experience project for swine entrepreneurship and works for a local farrier.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Lisa Johnson is the director of the Adult Basic Education program which serves the Grady, Garvin, and McClain county areas. She's this week's guest on our KOOL Konversation program. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, guests are Chickasha City Manager John Noblitt and new Public Works Director David Buchannon. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.96 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $67.07.

Natural gas is $2.69 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,325 and silver is $15.91.

 

 

Thursday, Feb. 21st

 

Anita Hill to Speak at USAO Benefit

Anita Hill, whose testimony during the confirmation hearings of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas made national headlines in 1991, is a guest speaker for a weekend event to benefit USAO.  Hill is now a professor of social policy and law at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. Her presentation will benefit USAO's Center for Social Justice and Racial Healing. USAO President John Feaver says more than 150 people are expected at the event. He says Hill was eager to be the guest speaker.

 

               

 

Hill's presentation will be held at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow night. The USAO Center for Social Justice and Racial Healing is a program geared toward educating and inspiring individuals who are dedicated to the pursuit of social justice and advancing the common good.

 

2018 a Good Year for Continental Resources               

Continental Resources net income for 2018 fell just short of $1 billion. The company reports that earnings were about $2.60 per diluted share. Chairman and CEO Harold Hamm said 2018 fiscal year production was just under 300,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day, an increase of 23 percent from 2017. He also said 2018 was a breakout year for his Oklahoma City-based company with significant cash flow generation and debt reduction, and corporate returns that compare favorably with peers and are competitive with other industries. Hamm said Continental will  continue to deliver strong corporate returns in 2019, coupled with growth that can adjust to various market conditions.

               

96th Chickasha Chamber Banquet Scheduled

The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual banquet. 2019 marks the 96th anniversary of the business-oriented group. The event will feature highlights of chamber activities over the past year and goals and objectives for the coming year. Several awards will be presented including Civic Hall of Fame, Community Advocate of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Manufacturer of the Year. Nominations are being sought for each of these awards. The chamber banquet will be Friday, March 8th at the USAO ballroom. Tickets are $75 per person and corporate sponsorships are available.

 

Swine Winners from Southwest District Stock Show

We have some left-over news from last week's Southwest District Livestock Show. The two-day swine show had nearly 1,500 animals pre-registered. For the barrows, Jolie Davis of Walters had the grand champion, Garrison Straka of Yukon had the reserve, and Laramie Thetford of Merritt had the bronze. For commercial gilts, Hadley Cooper of Ampo 4H had the grand, Bryson Whisenant of Yukon had the reserve, and Andrew Ford of Alex had the bronze. For the pure bred gilts, Hadley Cooper of Ampo also had the grand, Kade Pendley of Cyril had the reserve, and Gage Winters of Altus had the bronze. Also, the Vernon Crose Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Bruce Trammell of Ninnekah FFA.

 

Funerals are Saturday for Train Crash Victims

A double-funeral will be held for a Ninnekah man and his son who died when their truck was hit by a train last week. Funerals for 97-year old Max Thomas and 64-year old Pat Thomas will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Epworth Methodist Church. Max was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for Parkinson's research.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.92.

London-based Brent is $67.08.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,337 and silver is $15.97.

 

 

Wednesday, Feb. 20th

 

Murder Suspects Caught in Lawton

The two primary suspects wanted in connection with the shooting death of a Chickasha teen last month are in custody. Malcolm Jackson and Dmillion Williams were caught by Lawton police Monday night. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported on its Facebook page that authorities found them while patrolling for suspects in an armed robbery that had occurred there. There was a short foot pursuit before they were taken into custody. Both were wanted by the OSBI in connection with the shooting death of 18-year old Trey Adams which occurred just outside Adams’ home a little more than three weeks ago. Jackson, who is 18, was taken to the Grady County Jail. Williams, who is 16, is being held at the juvenile detention center in Lawton. They are among six teenagers and young adults arrested in connection with Adams' death. The others are Troy Jennings, Brooklyn Nelson, Vivian Sanders and Montana Simpson. All six are from the Oklahoma City metro area.

 

One Hospitalized Following Ninnekah Crash               

A traffic accident in Ninnekah sends one man to an Oklahoma City hospital. The accident happened at U.S. Highway 81 and Highway 277 about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Ninnekah Police Chief Scott Miller says a pickup was southbound on Highway 81 and tried to turn east on Old Highway 277. The driver failed to yield to a northbound pickup driven by Gerald Farmer of Marlow. Farmer suffered a head injury and was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital.  A woman in the pickup with Farmer was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital to be treated for less serious injuries.

 

Anadarko Woman Faces Child Abuse Charges               

A teenager calls Anadarko police to tell them her mother was being abusive to her and her 3-year old sister. Authorities have arrested 44-year old Jennifer Lynn Tartsah, and she is facing two felony counts of child abuse by injury. Court documents from Anadarko police indicate that Tartsah is alleged to have thrown a chair at her three-year old daughter and punched her teenaged daughter in the face. The Lawton Constitution reports the teen told police that Tartsah had been drinking prior to the abuse. Tartsah remains in the Caddo County jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond.

 

Former Councilman Warns of City Expenses

in Light of Infrastructure Repair Needs

A former Chickasha city councilman warns the current council about using funds for economic development projects, when the city needs tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure repairs. Mark Keeling attended this week's council meeting, and addressed the council's recent approval of about $500,000 in matching grants awarded to make improvements in the downtown area. Keeling said with some $200 million infrastructure repairs needed, the council should be guarded about tax fund use because they'll need the community's support should they seek a tax increase for the infrastructure repairs.


               

 

Keeling stepped down from the council last month, as he is moving his permanent residence out of the city limits.

 

Advice to Use Tax Refund to Start Savings Account

For individuals and families who hope to get refund from the IRS, many will use their windfall to splurge on things they can't normally afford.  Some financial advisors say it's a good time to put that money away for future use. They say that saving money for the long-term starts with having a goal in mind. Beth Armstrong with Grady County 4H has tips from OSU Extension.

 

               

 

Armstrong says to talk to your bank or credit union about savings accounts that may pay higher interest rates than traditional accounts. However, some of those premium accounts have restrictions or fees for early withdrawal.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.09 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $66.45.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,346 and silver is $16.03.

 

 

Tuesday, Feb. 19th

 

BREAKING-

Two murder suspects wanted in connection with the shooting death of a Chickasha man last month are in custody.

 

One Arrested in Multi-County Theft Probe

Patience has paid off for a couple of law enforcement groups in separate investigations which have been on-going for several months. The first resulted in the arrest of a Chickasha man in connection with a multi-county theft ring. We first reported on this investigation a couple of weeks ago, when the Grady County Sheriff's Office discovered a lot of stolen oil field equipment, heavy machinery, and other items near the Winter Creek Golf Club. Investigators have 40-year old Justin Paul Anderson in custody after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Anderson was wanted in connection with thefts from Lindsay to Kingfisher. Grady County Undersheriff Phil Blevins says they picked up Anderson from the Oklahoma County jail last week, after he was arrested on another theft complaint. Anderson is facing five charges in Grady County alone, including possession of stolen property, false insurance claims, and possession of a firearm after conviction. Anderson is being held on a $50,000 bond.

 

Task Force Investigation Nets Arrest of Suspect

The second investigation was with the Caddo County District Attorney's Task Force. 32-year old Eric Casey Zeiset of Amber is in custody, accused of crimes ranging from having explosives, to possession of  drugs, firearms, and a stolen vehicle. Zeiset is facing nearly 20 charges in Grady County. It’s a case the task force has been working on since last May. Our partners at KWTV News 9 report that investigators had tapped Zeiset's phone and that more than 80 percent of 133 subscribers had confirmed criminal histories.  Authorities got a break in the case in December, when Verden police made a traffic stop on a man found to have methamphetamine in his car. He is reported to have said he got the drugs from Zeiset, saying he distributes them on a large scale. Zeiset is jailed on a $250,000 bond.

 

Chix Council OKs Pact with Chickasaw Nation               

An agreement between the City of Chickasha and the Chickasaw Nation may lead to better streets in the city. Last night, the city council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the tribe which may provide federal funds for street improvements. City Councilman Oscar Nelson questioned if the use of the funds would be tied to federal rules and regulations. City Manager John Noblitt said the city has previously adopted projects with both federal and state regulations. The streets listed on the agreement are based on where tribal members live. The council also approved waiving field rental fees at the sports complex for both Chickasha and Dibble schools for upcoming tournaments. The panel also waived fees for Grand Assembly of God to use Shannon Springs Park for its annual Easter egg hunt on April 20th. In other council considerations, after a 30-minute closed door meeting, the council took no action on an unidentified economic development project.

 

Optum Energy to Expand Work Force with Job Fair

An energy company with operations in Chickasha is expanding its local workforce. Optum Energy develops products that reduce drag in oil pipelines, which allows the oil to move through the lines faster. The company has a number of openings and will be having a job fair at the Grady County Fairgrounds tomorrow.  On-site interviews will be held for a variety of positions. Potential employees will be required to work weekly rotating shifts. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. The job fair will be from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Grady County Fairgrounds Community Building. Get more information about the company on its website: www.optumenergy.com.

 

Scholarships Offered by Wichita and Affiliated Tribes

The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes will be offering three scholarships to tribal students this spring. These scholarships are $4,500 each and will be offered through the American Indian College Fund. Two of the scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing an under-graduate degree, and one is for a student pursuing a graduate degree. Applicants must be an enrolled Wichita tribal member. The scholarships will be for classes that will start this fall. Application deadline is May 31st. Students can fill out an application on-line at www.collegefund.org

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $55.59 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $66.25.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,331 and silver is $15.78.

 

 

Monday, Feb. 18th

 

Semi Involved in Fatal Crash

One person has died and another is hospitalized after a weekend crash involving a semi and a passenger vehicle near Tuttle. Authorities have not yet identified a woman who lost her life.  Injured was 25-year old Jonathan Kyle Jones of Lindsay who was initially hospitalized in critical condition. Jones has been upgraded to serious condition this morning. Jones and the woman were both in a vehicle that collided with the semi. It wasn’t clear who was driving. The driver of the semi, 27-year old Dalton Charles Galliton of Randlett, was not injured. The accident happened just after 11:00 p.m. Friday on Highway 92 just southwest of Tuttle. The highway patrol is still looking into what happened. The accident blocked the highway for more than five hours.

 

Alleged Intruder Shot, Hospitalized

Also in Tuttle, the OSBI is looking into the shooting of an alleged intruder. No details are available, but KOCO-TV reports that an unidentified individual was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. Officials have not said how serious the injuries are.  Tuttle police were called to a home to investigate just before 9:00 a.m. Sunday.

 

Binger Man's Death Considered a Homicide

The death of a Caddo County man is being called a homicide. The body of 57-year old Randy Joe Gathers of Binger was found in his home Saturday morning. Binger police were asked to do a welfare check on Gathers after he hadn't been seen for some time.  The OSBI has been called in to lead the investigation. Authorities did not release any information about how Gathers may have died. Officials are asking anyone with information to call the OSBI Tip Line at 800-522-8017 or e-mail information to tips@osbi.ok.gov

 

Amber Police Officer's Condition Upgraded

An Amber police officer hospitalized after a shootout in Del City last weekend is improving. Marvin Ashe was working security at a store in Del City. He suffered a serious arm injury and was also shot in the stomach in a confrontation with a shoplifting suspect. We checked this morning, and Ashe has been upgraded from critical to serious condition.

 

Chickasaws May Help Fund Chickasha Street Upgrades

The City of Chickasha may get some help from the Chickasaw Nation to pay for street improvements. The city council tonight will discuss a possible Memorandum of Understanding with the tribe to add the streets to the Tribal Transportation Program of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribal officials may provide funding for upgrades under a separate agreement if money is available. City Manager John Noblitt said the tribe would not be taking the streets into tribal trust and they would not be identified as tribal land. The city would still have to maintain the streets. The council will go behind closed doors to discuss an economic development proposal which could include the transfer of property, financing, or the creation of a proposal to entice a company to remain or locate in the city. The panel will also review an ordinance regarding the city's ban on smoking in public places. The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, or TSET, is recommending some changes that could allow the city to be eligible for up to $120,000 in grants. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $55.59 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $66.25.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,324 and silver is $15.78.


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