Week of May 30^th, Through July 2^nd

Governor to Decide Grady County Lawmaker's Bill on drones.

                     A bill designed to give property owners more rights regarding drones made it through last week's hectic schedule at the state capitol. HB 1326 from Tuttle Senator Lonnie Paxton says it’s similar to a hunter who is on private property and shouldn't be. Anyone with a drone would have to get a rural landowners permission before flying over the property. Paxton said the bill does need some tweaking, and plans on adding guidelines to include property owners in metropolitan areas. Paxton said the legislation would not give a landowner the right to shoot down a drone if it was flying over their property without their permission.

Impact of State Legislative Session.

            The energy industry took a hit from state lawmakers during the recently completed legislative session. The oil and gas sector faces more $140 million in new taxes in the coming year. Officials say it’s the third straight year for the industry to see tax hikes. The increase comes in the form of the repeal of some tax breaks. The wind energy also saw some tax breaks disappear.

Scammers return due to Storm Damage in Oklahoma

            Tornadoes have caused millions of dollars in damage in Oklahoma, a lot of that in the devastating storms that hit Elk City earlier this month. It's a good time to remind you of unscrupulous contractors who are out to make an easy buck. If you're ever in a situation where your home or business needs repairs after any disaster, make sure to check the backgrounds of individuals you come in contact with. Susan Routh with Grady County OSU Extension.

Get a written estimate from several contractors. Most will give you a free estimate, though some do charge. When you choose a contractor, get a written contract that shows all aspects of the work, who is paying for materials; and who is applying for any necessary permits. Don't pay for the entire job up-front.

Grady County Farmers Market is Open.

Stop by and Get your Farm fresh produce from local growers at 7^th and Choctaw North of Sevier Funeral Home. They have Local honey, cabbage, early-spring greens; turnips, green onions, potatoes, maybe some carrots.

Open = 7AM – Noon Tuesdays and Saturdays

             3PM – 6PM    Thursdays

Venders call: 224 - 2216

NYMEX

July Crude oil e just under $50 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude just over $52.

Natural gas opens the week at $3.23. per million BTUs.

Gold down Friday, but up for the week, $1,266.

Silver steady Friday, and up for the week, to $17.31.

Week of May 22^nd, Through 26^th

Chickasha's Airport Industrial Park in Hopes of Creating New Jobs!

            More than $1 million has been spent on improvements at Chickasha airport industrial park. The City of Chickasha and the Economic Development Council has been working to develop city-owned property west of the airport to attract expanding companies.

            Christy Elkins has been the CEO of the economic development council for five years. She talks about the recent work in that area.

Elkins says officials are working on plans to build a shell building at the park in hopes of recruiting firms that can bring 50 to 100 new jobs to the region. She says it has an issue, since an economic development sales tax was discontinued last year, and an increase in the city's hotel-motel tax set aside for economic development hasn't made up the difference.

Click it, or Ticket Campaign

             Law enforcement agencies across the country, watching for buckled up motorists for the next couple of weeks. The nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign begins today and runs through June 4th. That includes the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. Officials say 223 people lost their lives in auto accidents in Oklahoma in 2015...because they weren't wearing a seat belt. 87 of those victims were ejected from their vehicles. Officers won't accept any excuses if you're not buckled up. So as the campaign slogan says...Click it, or Ticket.

Livingston Machinery’s 30th

            A big anniversary celebration in Chickasha today, as one of the region's oldest farm equipment dealership reaches a milestone. Livingston Machinery is marking its 30th anniversary today. The profile on the company's website indicates that Earl and Sharon Livingston opened a small shop to buy and sell used equipment locally, and a year later, was awarded the Hesston contract for the region. By 1996, Livingston expanded his company to the Fairview area; and in 2009, offered employees a stock ownership plan. And just three years ago, Livingston expanded to the Texas panhandle town of Muleshoe. The company employs more than 165 workers in its three locations. You're invited to stop by the Chickasha location Monday from 10-2 for an open house and celebration.

Top CV Tech Students

            Two CV Tech students recognized for their achievements. Angelica Herrera and Cameron Smiley are both recipients of the school foundation's outstanding scholar award. Herrera came to CV Tech last year, when Wright Business School went bankrupt. CV Tech gave her credit for much of the nurses training she had received, and now is ready for her state licensing exam for LPN. Smiley was named post-secondary recipient of the outstanding scholar award,. He attended the schools automotive service technology program.

NYMEX

Crude oil up 11 percent over the last two weeks, $50.33

London-based Brent crude is $53.60.

Natural gas was higher Friday, but down for the week at $3.25 per million BTUs.

Precious metals higher Friday, and up for the week, gold up to $1,255.

Silver just under $17.

 Week of May 15^th, Through 19^th

Request to Expand an RV Park to be heard Monday Night by the Chickasha City Council.

            Owners of the Pecan Grove RV Park have purchased property next to their business. They are asking to re-zone the property as commercial, in order to grow their company. The RV Park is also asking for an exemption to the city's facilities requirement for the construction of a second service building that would reduce the number of toilet facilities for the park. The council will also hear a request to rezone property near 15^th and Missouri from residential to commercial use.

            The Salvation Army is asking the city to let it use siding to make improvements to its new location in the 2400 block of South 16th. The church wants to use a material called AG Panel, which is a metal product with a painted durable finish. It's a material that is not listed as an approved material in city codes. The planning commission recommended approval of all of these requests; and the city council is expected to approve them all when the group meets this afternoon.

            The council is also to go behind closed doors to discuss on-going negotiations with the police union. The talks regarding the 2017-18 contract for the Fraternal Order of Police, Local 129. The panel will also appoint a new vice-mayor to serve for the next year. John Toland, who served as vice mayor the last couple of years, was defeated in his re-election bid.

            The council is also expected to approve an emergency repair to the city's main water line from the Ft. Cobb reservoir. Officials detected a leak near the water plant on April 24th, and officials had three contractors give their opinion on repair or replacement. Officials had to replace nearly 20 feet of the main water line at a cost of just over $33,000.

Grady County officials are looking to help families of autistic children.

            The sheriff's office wants to create a registry for the youth that deal with the issue. Grady County Sheriff Jim Weir said it's an easy process. Parents are asked to fill out a four-page questionnaire that asks if the child responds to certain songs or toys; or if they have a fascination with certain objects or places. Weir said the questionnaire can be a handy tool in case a child does go missing, officials have the information readily available, instead of having to ask numerous questions if a parent would ever have to call.

            Right now, a temporary data base will just be a hard copy of the questionnaire. He hopes it will eventually be transferred to a digital database, which can be uploaded to a national registry to help find lost children.

Caddo County wins Lawsuit

            A Caddo County community has won a lawsuit filed against it by a wind energy company wanting to expand. A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Next Era Energy, against the town of Hinton. Next Era was wanting to expand its operation in the Minco and northern Caddo County region. Earlier this year, Hinton officials created an ordinance that bans wind farms within two miles of its city limits. While the lawsuit by Next Era was dismissed, the company can still re-file or amend its original lawsuit.

Josh White places in Lexington, KY.

           One member of the state champion archery team from Chickasha High School took part in the National archery in the schools program in Lexington, Kentucky over the weekend. Josh White finished 54th out of 458 high school seniors in the competition. The numbers are posted on the national archery competition in the schools program website. His score of 287 included 19 bulls-eyes. He was listed as 173rd out of more than 2,400 competitors in high school boys.

NYMEX

Crude oil at $47.84 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $50.84 a barrel.

natural gas up to $3.42 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,231

Silver is $16.60.

 Week of May 8^th, Through 12^th

Developers are Planning the Next Phase of Retail Venue in Chickasha.

      More than $60 million in new construction is underway in Chickasha. City building inspector Gene Winsett says that includes the nearly completed indoor arena at the Grady County Fairgrounds and the surgery suite at Grady Memorial Hospital. Just last month, Winsett signed off on more than $4 million in new projects, including another new motel. That's a $3.5 million project going in right next to the Byford GMC-Buick dealership. Winsett says developers of the newest retail sector, the Shoppes at Chisholm Trail, may consider its next project soon.

Winsett is anticipating another big project in the next couple of months. A Best Western Plus has been eyeing a location near the county fairgrounds for some time.

Rezoning Public Hearings.

            Plans to expand an RV park and to re-zone some residential property to commercial use are among a number of public hearings for the Chickasha Planning Commission tomorrow. The Pecan Grove RV Park on Almar Drive will have two hearings. Winsett said the owners have purchased property adjacent to their park, and hope to add more spaces.

            One of the other hearings will be held to re-zone property at 1418 Missouri from residential to general commercial.

            The planning commission will also consider a variance for the Salvation Army to replace existing siding with material that is not listed as an allowable material. The planning commission meets at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at city hall.

            One more matter of Chickasha city hall business this morning. Garage sale permit fees are being waived for this coming weekend. The waivers are in conjunction with the Chickasha Antique auto club pre-war Swap Meet that will be this Thursday through Saturday. Normally, individuals are supposed to obtain a $5 permit to hold a garage sale, but that won't be necessary this weekend.

A lot going on this coming week.

          In addition to the Pre-War Swap meet, Chickasha's Stewart and Beth Ann Meyer will begin their annual walk to Stillwater. The couple makes the 125-mile trip on foot every year to support Special Olympics. Thursday afternoon, they'll start with Craig's Walk, which is a memorial for their son, which also raises money for Special Olympics. And a new book about Craig has just been published, and that will be available Thursday. Craig's walk will be from 5-8 p.m. at the high school football field. Ahead of Craig's Walk will be a Law Enforcement Torch Run, from 4^th and Country Club to the football field. Sign up for that on-line at letr.org. The walk to Stillwater starts Friday morning.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

            Letter carriers nationwide are asking for your help to feed hungry families in your hometown. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a one-day effort by the National Association of Letter Carriers to fill local food pantries. Steve Riggs is the state spokesman for the letter carriers.

Riggs says they hope to collect 100 million pounds of food nationwide on Saturday. You will receive a plastic bag in the mail on Wednesday or Thursday. Letter carriers ask that you put some non-perishable items in them. Put them by your mail box, on Saturday, and they'll pick them up on Saturday.  

OHCE Celebrates its 102nd

           This week is Oklahoma Home and Community Education week throughout the state. Grady County OHCE celebrates its 102nd birthday this year.

NYMEX

June crude oil up Friday, but down for the week, $46.22.

London-based Brent crude is just over $49.

Natural gas for June is $3.26 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,236

Silver is $16.39.

 Week of May 1^st, Through 5^th

Silver Alert has been Issued for a Missing Lawton Man.

             Lawton police are looking for an 87-year old man who went missing last night. A Silver Alert has been issued for 87-year old Louis Encalade. He was last heard from about 11 o'clock last night. Authorities say relatives said he was on his way to Oklahoma City, and that he was on I-44. But the family did not know which direction he was traveling. The only description available is that he is African-American, and that he may be wearing blue jeans and a blue jacket. He may be driving a maroon, 2017 Chevy Silverado; Tag No. HV 647. If you have information, you’re asked to call local law enforcement, or Lawton Police.

In Cyril,

A public meeting will be held next week regarding the continuing efforts to clean up of a former oil refinery that's been closed for 30 years. Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency and the state department of environmental quality will discuss the former Oklahoma Refining Company. The company was among numerous sites across the country that were part of the EPA's Superfund program to clean-up closed energy-related sites that were blamed for contaminating the area. The Cyril refinery opened in 1920, and was in operation through 1984. There were intermittent attempts to re-start its operations over the next 10 years. However, the site was added to the Superfund list in 1988. The public hearing will include information about recent sampling, and any progress being made on contamination on the northern section of the site, and impact on surface and ground water. The public hearing will be at Cyril City Hall Tuesday night starting at 6 o'clock.

A Caddo County man died in a weekend pick up crash near Elgin.

            Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Bain was killed in a crash that happened about 8 o'clock Saturday morning. The highway patrol reports that Bain was southbound on Trail Road southeast of Elgin. It was raining at the time. The report shows Bain's pickup veered off the road and hit a fence. It traveled another 350 feet into a pasture, hit a creek bed and rolled several times. The roadway was shut down for nearly three hours.

Ninnekah High School students will be Traveling this Summer.

A group of Ninnekah High School students are learning about natural resources and will be putting their knowledge to the test at an international event this summer. The Enviro-thon team has been doing research on the areas of soil wildlife, forestry, and aquatics. The group recently won the state Enviro-thon competition. Connie Taylor is the instructor.

The Enviro-thon competition is supported by the Grady County Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service. A lot of the funding is provided by the Noble Foundation..

NYMEX

Crude oil for May at $49.33 a barrel.

Price dipped about 2 percent for April.

London-based Brent crude is $51.73.

Natural gas was up for April, starts this month at $3.27 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,246 fairly steady over the last month.

Silver down 5 1/2 percent last month, it’s at $17.14.