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Mollman Media News

2019, June 10-15

Saturday, June 15th

 

State Agency to Review Train-Delay Law

A new state law designed to prevent trains from blocking railroad crossings for an extended period of time will be reviewed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission next week. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed HB 2472 last month. It allows local law enforcement agencies to fine railroads up to $1,000 if a train blocks an intersection for more than 10 minutes. The new law won't go into effect until November. The Corporation Commission will take comments and vote on a proposed emergency rule next Thursday. The law states that when a violation is believed to have occurred, the law enforcement agency should file it with the corporation commission. The website www.okenergytoday.com reports that the complaint must be filed within one calendar year  of the alleged violation, otherwise the case will be dismissed.

 

Fly-in, Juneteenth Activities in Chickasha Today

There is a lot going on in Chickasha today. The city hosts a Wings and Wheels Fly-in and Car Show at the airport. Pilots from the region will be participating, landing at the airport around mid-morning. A car show is part of the festivities, along with drone and radio-controlled aircraft demonstrations. The featured aircraft is a B-25 bomber that survived 15 bombing missions in World War II. Youth 8 to 17 years old can get free airplane rides from local pilots. Food trucks will be on site. The event is free and open to the public. Also today, Chickasha celebrates the time when slavery officially came to an end in the United States. It's called Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, and it commemorates the day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to finally give slaves the news that they were free. It came two years after Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. There is a parade from Lincoln School to Washita Valley Park followd by a formal ceremony that includes guest speaker Adj. Gen. Michael Thompson with the Oklahoma National Guard. There's live music, free food, and games and activities for the entire family at Washita Valley Park.

 

OKC Thunder Event Supports El Reno Storm Victims              

The Oklahoma City Thunder basketball organization is always reaching out to support many worthy programs across the Sooner State. Last night, representatives from the team were in El Reno to help residents who are re-building their lives after a killer tornado and devastating flooding hit that community this spring. Rumble the Bison and the Thunder Girls were on hand for a Thunder Up event to support not only storm victims but to honor the first responders who spent many hours helping those affected by Mother Nature. The event at Jenks-Simmons Fieldhouse helped to relieve a lot of stress storm victims have been dealing with, and to lift their spirits during their lengthy recovery.

 

Amtrak Celebrates Anniversary

2019 marks the 20th anniversary of Amtrak, when passenger rail service returned to Oklahoma. Dubbed the Heartland Flyer, Amtrak service has run daily between Oklahoma City and Ft. Worth, Texas. It was created by federal funds received by the state department of transportation. ODOT and the Texas Department of Oklahoma provide funds for the rail service each year. Amtrak service in Ft. Worth connects to lines to Austin and San Antonio as well as Little Rock, Arkansas and St. Louis, Missouri. More than 1.4 million passengers have been served by Amtrak since it was created in 1999.

 

Sheriff's Office Updates Warrant List

The Grady County Sheriff's Office has updated its 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 405-222-6085.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Kyle Perry, who is a double-organ transplant recipient, is this week's guest on our KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, we're talking to State Representative David Perryman of Chickasha. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

 

Friday, June 14th

 

Consumer Spending Strong,

But Down from Record Levels

Consumer spending numbers still remain strong at Grady County retail outlets but it's not at the record levels that were seen last summer. The most recent numbers available show consumer spending in April was $119 million. That's up about 5 percent compared to March. The biggest month for consumer spending in the county appears to have occurred in August of last year, when it hit about $148 million. We estimate consumer spending when we see sales tax revenue at the county level. Sales taxes paid on this past April's consumer spending at the county level was about $890,000. The county received more than $1 million in sales tax revenue from that big month of consumer spending in August of last year. For the City of Chickasha, consumer spending in April was estimated at $26.7 million. The city's sales tax sales tax revenue from that consumer spending was just over $1 million.

 

WWII Bomber Remains on Display

A B-25 bomber that saw action during World War II is on display at the Chickasha Airport. The plane affectionately known as 'Maid in the Shade' flew a number of missions in the latter part of the war. Paul Hlavaty of Marlow is part of the Commemorative Air Force. He says the plane rolled out of a Kansas City factory in 1944 and was put into service in June of 1945.

              

              

 

Hlavaty said on one of those bombing missions, three planes went out but ‘Maid in the Shade’ was the only one that returned. The bomber is on display until Sunday. It will be one of the main attractions at the Wings and Wheels fly-in and car show tomorrow, a family event that's free and open to the public. Children ages 8 to 17 can get free airplane rides on private planes starting at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.

 

Crews Work to Clear 'Discolored' Water             

Some Chickasha residents are complaining of discolored water. City officials and the city's water treatment contractor are working to resolve the problem. USW is the company responsible for treating the water. Officials say the water is safe to drink. Crews are flushing water lines by running water through fire hydrants. Residents can get updates on the water on the city's Facebook page.

 

Man Arrested on Two Indecent Exposure Complaints

A Chickasha man has been arrested twice in the last few weeks on indecent exposure complaints. 35-year old Matthew Sorter is now charged with two felonies in connection with those arrests. Details weren't available this morning. What we've learned from the Chickasha police blotter is that Sorter’s most recent arrest about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 700 of Grand Avenue. Police previously arrested him on a similar complaint on May 21st. On-line court records indicate Sorter was released on a $10,000 bond after the first arrest. On his most recent charge, he remains in jail on a substantially higher bond of $250,000.

 

Ft. Sill Soldiers Deployed 

Soldiers from Ft. Sill are headed overseas. Troops with the 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery took part in their deployment ceremony Thursday. They’ve spent the last year training for their mission. Over the next nine months, the troops will support the U.S. Central Command by providing air and missile defense to protect U.S., allied, and partner assets from ballistic missile attacks and unmanned aerial systems.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $52.28 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $61.31.

Natural gas is $2.33 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,358 and silver is $15.04.

 

 

Thursday, June 13th

 

Ft. Sill to House Migrant Children from U.S. Border

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans on placing as many as 1,400 unaccompanied children from Central America at Ft. Sill. The Office of Refugee Resettlement says it is dealing with a dramatic spike in the number of children without parents who are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Oklahoma's congressional delegation said the action is needed to address an increasing problem on the southern border. 4th District Congressman Tom Cole said the usual facilities and resources used to handle the surge of migrants are being overwhelmed. While the announced use of Ft. Sill is temporary, Cole said it highlights the need for a permanent solution to manage the border crisis. Sen. Jim Inhofe said he's confident there is an organized, responsible plan in place which will not have an adverse impact to Ft. Sill’s readiness or missions. Sen. James Lankford said its further proof that the crisis at the border needs the immediate attention of Congress to address the growing humanitarian need, and to fix the loopholes in America's immigration process. Ft. Sill was previously used as a shelter for migrant children five years ago.

 

Two Charged with Alleged Trailer Theft

Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with a theft in the Tuttle area. 28-year old Bryan Cason and 24-year old Kyndra Cason are facing charges which include grand larceny and knowingly concealing stolen property. They were arrested by Grady County authorities last Sunday, when a flatbed trailer stolen from a business was seen on their property. The trailer was stolen in early May. A probable cause affidavit indicates that Bryan Cason admitting stealing the trailer. Cason told investigators that he took the trailer to haul scrap to make money to feed his family. Both Bryan and Kyndra Cason are out of jail after posting $5,000 bond each. They are to announce their attorneys by June 27th with preliminary hearing conferences set for July 10th.

 

Lawmakers Praised for Supporting Youth

State lawmakers from this region get good marks for their support of Oklahoma youth during the 2019 legislative session. Report cards for all state lawmakers were released by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy which is led by Rush Springs’ native Joe Dorman. In the House, State Rep. David Perryman of Chickasha and Rep. Toni Hasenbeck of Elgin were among a few getting a perfect score of 100. State Rep. Brad Boles of Marlow scored a 92. In the Senate, Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle scored 100 and Darcy Jech of Kingfisher, who represents Caddo County, scored a 96. Overall, Dorman said state lawmakers got a B. He said lawmakers were rewarded for passing a budget that includes funding for more immunizations at county health departments, and more services for children with disabilities. He also credited lawmakers for restoring a tax credit for families with foster children, and the adoption of a healthy-relationship curriculum in public schools.

              

Chix School Employees Earn Recognition

Several employees of Chickasha Public Schools were recognized at this week's school board meeting. Glenda Smith was honored as the district's Support Employee of the Year. She worked as a para-professional at Bill Wallace School for a number of years, and recently retired. Crystal Beach was recognized as the Support Employee of the Quarter. She's a bus monitor for special needs students. Chicken Express selected Elizabeth Richardson as its Teacher of the Month. Richardson is a first grade teacher at Bill Wallace. And Lacy Broyles is the Chicken Express Support Employee of the Month. She also works at Bill Wallace.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $51.14 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $59.97.

Natural gas is $2.38 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,340 and silver is $14.81.

 

 

Wednesday, June 12th

 

 Chix School Board, Superintendent Part Ways             

Chickasha School Superintendent Jack Herron is heading down the road. Herron and the Chickasha Board of Education signed off on a 'separation agreement' during last night's school board meeting. The agreement was reached following a more than two-hour, behind-closed-doors meeting of the board. The panel voted 4-0 to accept the agreement. School board president Zach McGill issued a short statement after the vote.

 

              

 

Herron will step down from his post on July 1st. He had just signed a two-year extension of his contract earlier this spring. The agreement calls for the district to pay Herron nine month's severance pay, or about $120,000. Herron's salary and benefits package combine to about $160,000 a year. Herron said the district is poised for success.

 

              

 

Herron said his health was one of the factors in accepting the agreement. He recently had cancer surgery and faces another surgery in the future. The school board also gave its approval to contract with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association to recommend potential candidates to serve as the next superintendent. The school board named assistant superintendent Jennifer Stegman the district’s interim superintendent, until a new administrator can be found.

 

School Board Member's Resignation Approved

The school board also formally accepted the resignation of board of education member, Doug Brown. Brown stepped down last month, expressing disappointment with new board members whom he said wanted to dismiss Herron. The school board said they'll take applications and seek recommendations for Brown's replacement for Office No. 5. The candidate will serve only a few months, as the office comes up for election next spring. The board of education could appoint a replacement at its next regular school board meeting in July.

 

Tuttle Schools Also Seeking New Superintendent

The Tuttle school district is also looking for a new superintendent. Bobby Waitman has stepped down to accept a similar position in Tishomingo. Waitman's resignation was approved by the Tuttle School Board earlier this week. Waitman said it was a family decision to move to southeast Oklahoma. Waitman spent six years at Tuttle. He's worked in education for 24 years, including stops in Milburn, Oklahoma and in Wichita Falls, Texas. Waitman recently worked to pass a $35 million bond issue for the district to include new construction, and the installation of artificial turf for the football, baseball, and softball fields.

 

Chix Voters Sign-off on PSO Franchise Extension

In a very light turnout, Chickasha voters approved the extension of a franchise agreement with Public Service Company of Oklahoma in yesterday's special election. The measure passed by an 8-to-1 margin, with less than 300 people casting ballots. The measure passed 249 to 37 and extends the  agreement for 25 years. The agreement will allow PSO to continue providing electricity to the community, and the utility will continue upgrading the city's electrical system, repairing damage that occurs during severe weather and ice storms, and investing in a tree management program.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $53.27 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $62.29.

Natural gas is $2.40 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,339 and silver is $14.79.

 

 

Tuesday, June 11th

 

Chickasha School Superintendent May Step Down

Chickasha School Superintendent Jack Herron is more than likely on his way out. On the agenda for tonight's Chickasha Board of Education meeting is the consideration of a separation agreement between the board and Herron. Herron was first hired in January of 2018 following the resignation of Dave Cash, who brought in a controversial curriculum which led to a lot of uproar from parents and school patrons. Herron was awarded a two-year contract earlier this year, but the school board has three new members since that contract was approved. A fourth school board member who voted to extend Herron’s contract has since resigned. That was Doug Brown, who stepped down prior to last’s month’s special school board meeting in which Herron’s employment was discussed in a two-hour closed-door meeting. In his resignation letter, Brown said Herron was man of integrity, and that Brown did not want to have his name associated with his possible dismissal. In addition to Herron’s possible separation agreement, the board will discuss naming an interim superintendent, and may take action on searching for a new administrator. The school board is also to formally accept Doug Brown's resignation from the school board, and may take action to appoint an individual to fill the vacancy. The school board is also expected to re-new an agreement with the Grady County Sheriff's Office for a school resource officer. The school board meets at 6:30 tonight at the school administration building.

 

Chickasha Voters to Decide PSO Franchise Extension

Chickasha voters are going to the polls to decide whether to extend the City of Chickasha’s franchise agreement with Public Service Company of Oklahoma. It calls for the city to continue paying the PSO for providing electricity. The agreement also calls for PSO to continue to upgrade the city's electrical system, mitigate damage following severe storms and other inclement weather, and invest in tree management. If approved, the agreement would be extended 25 years. The election is for residents inside the Chickasha City limits. Polls are open until 7 o'clock tonight.

 

Two Face Burglary Charges for Alleged Break-in

Two men face burglary charges after allegedly breaking into a Chickasha business. Both were arrested after a break-in at an oil field company on Honda Lane west of downtown Chickasha late last Thursday. Police were summoned to the business when a company official viewing video surveillance spotted two men inside. A police affidavit indicates the suspects had loaded numerous tools into a vehicle which officials say may have been stolen. 46-year old Samuel David Turner, IV - who is listed as homeless – has been formally charged with burglary, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and resisting arrest. He's being held on a $255,000 bond. 40-year old Dustin Bruce Pierce of Chickasha is charged with burglary. His bond was set at $100,000. Both have criminal histories.

 

Library Offers Free Access to Thousands of Films
The Chickasha Library has a new service which allows its patrons free access to thousands of films and educational programs. It's called Kanopy, and works much like subscription services like NetFlix and Hulu, however it’s free. Brande Bradford with the library-

 

              

 

The New York Times calls Kanopy "a garden of cinematic delights," with more than 30,000 of the world's best films. The only requirement to take advantage of Kanopy is to have a library card and there's no charge to be a library patron.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $53.26 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $62.29.

Natural gas is $2.35 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,325 and silver is $14.67.

 

 

Monday, June 10th

 

More Oklahoma Counties OK'd Federal Aid

Seven more Oklahoma counties have been added to the growing list of areas which qualify for federal help because of the severe weather over the last few weeks. In central Oklahoma, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the state's request for disaster assistance in Canadian County and the El Reno area, as well as Logan County and the Guthrie area. Most of the counties approved for the federal relief are in the northeastern part of the state. What that means is that residents are eligible for federal assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing. Plus, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to residents and businesses to repair or replace damaged property. Disaster unemployment assistance is also available. Gov. Kevin Stitt said the state will continue to ask that additional counties be added to the declaration as damage assessment continues. To apply for disaster assistance go on-line to www.disasterassistance.gov

FEMA also has disaster assistance teams in the designated counties to help victims register for help.

 

Pothole Sends to Motorcyclists to Hospitals

Two motorcyclists are taken to hospitals and one of them was last in serious condition, when they collide after one of them hits a pothole. 23-year old Lane Berten of Ninnekah was airlifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after the crash Saturday afternoon southeast of Rush Springs. A second rider, 23-year old Mason Freeman of Chickasha, was taken to a Duncan hospital where he was treated and released. Neither was wearing a helmet. The highway patrol reports both men were eastbound on a county road when Berten hit the pothole and crashed. Freeman, who was following, then crashed into Berten's bike. The trooper on the scene said the condition of both men appeared to be normal and that they may have been driving at an unsafe speed for the type of roadway.

 

Crash Sends Anadarko Woman to Hospital

An Anadarko woman was hospitalized in serious condition over the weekend after her van rear-ended a pickup. 72-year old Brenda Pulis was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with numerous injuries. An un-named 16-year old girl riding with her was not hurt. The accident happened just before 10:30 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 62 in Caddo County between Verden and Anadarko. The Highway Patrol reports that a pick-up driven by 53-year old Tammy Carpenter of Cement failed to yield at a stop sign and pulled into the path of the van. The trooper investigating the accident reported the condition of both drivers appeared to be normal and everyone was buckled up.

 

Sink Hole Repairs Continue

Traffic on 4th Street near downtown Chickasha is still down to one lane in each direction, as crews wrap up their work to repair a sink hole. The sink hole opened Thursday afternoon near 4th and Colorado Avenue. Crews for the City of Chickasha worked over the weekend to replace about a 20-foot section of a 12-inch sewer line and a man hole. The two northbound lanes of traffic on 4th are closed from about Iowa Avenue to Kansas Avenue. There is one lane of traffic in both directions in the southland lanes of 4th Street.

 

Public Hearings Set for Planning Commission

Proposed changes regarding height regulations in some of Chickasha’s commercial areas will be heard during a public hearing of the city’s Planning Commission tomorrow. It's not clear what the proposed changes are. The Planning Commission will also hold public hearings regarding variances for the maximum size of storage buildings in residential areas. One request is for a home at 3303 Pondridge and the other is at 1401 S. 9th. Both property owners are requesting the installation of storage buildings larger than the 599 square feet allowed. The Planning Commission meets at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.

 

WWII Bomber to be in Chickasha All Week

An historic World War II bomber arrives in Chickasha today. The B-25 was used mainly as a low-altitude strafe and skip bomber. The plane is one of only 34 B-25s still flying out of the 10,000 such planes that were produced. The plane was purchased by the Arizona Commemorative Air Force and is flown around the country to be put on display at numerous air shows. The plane will be at the Chickasha Airport all week, and will be the featured plane of the Wings and Wheels event at the airport on Saturday, June 15th. By the way, the monthly Coffee and Cars show by the Chickasha Antique Auto Club set for the same day has been canceled, to allow members to take part in the car show at the airport.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $53.99 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.29.

Natural gas is $2.33 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,332 and silver is $14.72.

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