Saturday, Oct. 5th
Energy Sector Shows Signs of Slowing
More news seems to indicate that the energy industry is slowing not only in Oklahoma but across the country. The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas is down again in the last week. Oklahoma's rig count fell by three to just 63 locations which is less than half the number from the same time a year ago. Nationally, the rig count slipped to 855 which is about 200 fewer compared to a year ago. There is still exploration taking place in the SCOOP and STACK, although not at the level seen in the last few years. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission did approve at least three permits to drill in Grady County this past week. Continental Resources was awarded two permits to drill northeast of Tabler just off Highway 62. They are both in in Section 23 of Township 7 North and Range 6 West. They are called the Lowers No. 3 and No. 5 wells in the Goddard formation. Newfield Exploration was awarded a permit to drill not far from that location - just southwest of Middleberg in Section 7 of Township 7 North and Range 6 West. That is the Ricks No. 7 well in the Woodford formation. State revenues from the energy industry are down. Gross production tax revenues last month were off $2 million from August, and those tax revenues are down 30 percent compared to September of last year.
Two Recommended for Election Board Secretary Post
Two candidates are being recommended to serve as the next Grady County Election Board secretary. Grady County commissioners are submitting the names of Janna Titler and Katrina Hughes as candidates for the post. The recommendations were made during a special meeting of the county commissioners on Friday. State Senator Lonnie Paxton will recommend one of those candidates to the state election board, which has the final decision on the county post. The post came open when previous election board secretary Joanne Hames was fired after just a couple of months on the job. Denise Robinett is currently filling in on an interim basis.
Rock Island Arts Fest Continues Through the Weekend
The Rock Island Arts Festival is underway and there's a wide variety of events and activities to go along with some 50 vendors on hand with paintings, jewelry, clothing, photographs and art works for sale. There's live entertainment on three outdoor stages around Chickasha's historic Rock Island Railroad Depot where the festival takes place. Local musicians, youth dance groups and more are scheduled and the featured artist tonight is Travis Linville. There are even activities inside the depot plus numerous children's activities with inflatables, pumpkin painting, free art classes, face painting and a sand pit treasure dig. There are pottery and yarn-spinning demonstration and food trucks on site. Piggy-backing on the arts festival is the second annual Oklahoma Food Truck competition, with about 20 registered to take part. Creek Bottom Burgers of Verden won the inaugural competition last year. The festival runs through Sunday.
High School Football Scores
Cache 38, Chickasha 20
Blanchard 34, McLoud 0
Anadarko 24, Newcastle 17
Tuttle 55, Madill 7
Minco 39, Watonga 12
Dibble 33, Rush Springs 7
Bridge Creek 37, Mt. St. Mary 6
Apache 27, Walters 21
Alex 70, Empire 12
Central 44, Cyril 26
Mt. View-Gotebo 64, Corn Bible Academy 14
Thursday
Shattuck 49, Carnegie 6
Friday, Oct. 4th
Jury Finds Superintendent Not Guilty of Domestic Violence
Ninnekah school superintendent Todd Bunch has been found innocent of charges in connection with a domestic violence arrest from last year. A Garvin County jury found Bunch not guilty after a 3 1/2 day trial in Pauls Valley yesterday. The jury spent two hours in deliberations before returning the verdict. Bunch was accused of assaulting a woman at a Lindsay home during the summer of 2018. He was originally charged with a misdemeanor but prosecutors changed it to a felony. We tried to contact Bunch and his attorney for comment but we did not hear from them.
More Public Opinion Sought Regarding
Chickasha School Superintendent Opening
The consulting group that is seeking candidates for the vacant Chickasha school superintendent post continues to seek public input. The Oklahoma State School Boards Association has an on-line survey available. Anyone participating can do so anonymously. The survey will run for two weeks, starting Monday, Oct. 7th and ending Friday, Oct. 18th. The survey is on the website: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020ChickashaSuptSearch
Salvation Army to Offer 'Pathway of Hope'
A program designed to help poverty-stricken families become self-sufficient will be getting underway in the Grady and Caddo county areas soon. The Salvation Army's Pathway of Hope is a national program designed to provide families with the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty in their lives. The local Salvation Army has set an ambitious goal of raising $100,000 to get the program started in the Chickasha and Anadarko area. A recent fund-raising kick-off brought in nearly $30,000 of that goal, including a $10,000 contribution from the First National Bank. Lts. David and Amanda Brittle with the local Salvation Army say they will partner with the Life Skills Institute and the Resurrection House to offer training and guidance to the individuals and families willing to commit to the program which is offered at no cost to the participants.
Rock Island Arts Festival Opens
Chickasha's Rock Island Arts Festival opens at the city's historic Rock Island Railroad Depot this morning. Dozens of artisans and crafters from around the state are featuring their work, there's live entertainment on three stages, and even roaming performers to entertain the masses. This is the 11th year for the festival hosted by the Chickasha Area Arts Council. There are many free activities for families to take part in. Local bands performing include First Look and Travis Linville. In addition to the festival, the third annual Rock Island Ride for bicycle enthusiasts is tomorrow, with nearly 150 riders pre-registered. And the second annual Oklahoma Food Truck Competition has about 20 vendors competing. The festival opens at 10:00 a.m. today and tomorrow, and at noon on Sunday. Admission and parking are free.
Chickasha Elks Host Car Show, Concert
Another event drawing a crowd to Chickasha will be the Elks Lodge car show. There's free admission for spectators from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. tomorrow at the lodge. After the car show, Matt Boone will be in concert at 7:00 p.m. Saturday. Tickets to the concert are $15.
Library Challenges Residents to 'Walk Around the World'
The Chickasha Library has an interesting community challenge - to walk a combined 25,000 miles. The walking challenge has been issued to have residents combine their steps and walk around the world. The actual distance is 24,901 miles. It's a project from the State Department of Libraries, with a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The library has selected four books in which the characters go on journeys that require walking. Those who sign up for the challenge can either use their own device to keep track of their steps, or the library will give them a free pedometer. The community is asked to walk a combined 49,802,000 steps by August of next year. Sign up at the library any time during its regular hours.
Talk Show Topics
Here’s what we’re talking about this weekend. Chickasha City Planner Gene Winsett and Building Inspector Darren Martin are guests on our KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, our guests are with Canadian Valley Technology Center, including Superintendent Gayla Lutts and Chickasha Campus Director Ronnie Bogle. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $52.45 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $57.51.
Natural gas is $2.33 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,514 and silver is $17.63.
Thursday, Oct. 3rd
Woman Accused of Shooting Her Ex-Boyfriend
A Grady County woman is jailed for allegedly shooting her estranged boyfriend. 28-year old Keeley Dawn Palmer of Tuttle was arrested last Sunday. A probable cause affidavit from the Grady County Sheriff's Office indicates that Palmer and the victim recently broke up, and that the victim had gone to Palmer's home to collect some belongings. It's alleged Palmer got a gun and chased the victim from the home and shot at him. The victim suffered a non-penetrating injury to his right side and was having chest pains. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Prosecutors have charged Palmer with one count of shooting with intent to kill. She remains in jail on a $100,000 bond.
Police Chief Hails Dispatchers for Their Work
The unsung heroes of every police emergency are the police dispatchers who are the ultimate multi-taskers. Chickasha Police Chief Dee Rowell says it’s a stressful job and credits the skills of those charged to handle 9-1-1 calls and coordinate emergency responders. Rowell says many times dispatchers don't get to see the end result of the crises they are charged with handling.
Rowell says she’s added a few part-time dispatchers to provide relief to the full-time workers in the police department’s communications center.
Applications Being Accepted for Anadarko Tag Agent
The search for a new tag agent in Anadarko is underway. The state tax commission is accepting applications for the post through next Friday, Oct. 11th. Interviews will be held later this month, but officials would not pinpoint a particular date when the appointment will be made. The tax commission meets weekly. The Anadarko tag office closed recently when the previous tag agent retired. Candidates will have to pay a $100 non-refundable application fee. Applicants do have to pay a $100 non-refundable application fee. Anyone interested in applying can contact the state tax commission through its website www.tax.ok.gov
Chickasha Schools Adjust Schedules
Parents of students in Chickasha schools need to be aware of some early-release times scattered throughout the year. There are four days when students will only be going to school in the morning. A news release from the district says the afternoons will be for extra professional development for teachers. The first early release day is next Wednesday, Oct. 9th. High school and middle school students will be released at 11:45 a.m. while students at Lincoln, Grand, and Bill Wallace will be released at 12:30 p.m. Day care at Grand will start at 12:30 p.m. All school sites will serve both breakfast and lunch. The other early release days are Wednesday, December 4th; Wednesday, February 26th; and Wednesday, April 15th. The district has also decided to remove two snow days. May 1st and May 8th will now be regular school days. Contact your child's school if you have any questions.
Toni Hasenbeck Announces Re-Election Bid
Oklahoma State Representative Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) has announced she will be running for re-election next year. Hasenbeck represents House District 65 which includes Rush Springs, Apache, Elgin, and parts of Stephens, Comanche, and Cotton counties. A campaign kick-off will be held Tuesday, Oct. 15th at the Happy Hollow Animal Hospital in Elgin at 6:00 p.m. Helping with the kick-off will be House Speaker Charles McCall.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $52.64 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $60 to $57.69.
Natural gas is $2.24 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,505 and silver is $17.58.
Wednesday, Oct. 2nd
September New Construction in Chix Tops $1 Million
Two construction projects on the USAO campus helped to push new construction in Chickasha over the $1 million mark in September. New indoor practice facilities and locker rooms for the university's baseball and softball programs were approved by the City of Chickasha's community development department last month. Both are $400,000 projects. Only eight construction permits were approved last month. In addition to the work at USAO, the Grady County Fairgrounds was issued a permit to build an 8,000 sq. ft. storage facility valued at $90,000. A couple of industrial expansions were approved including a $75,000 project at LSPI (the former Delta Faucet plant), and $40,000 for Bordwine Development for additional offices for the Strike pipeline related firm on Pikes Peak Road. Authorities also approved a $20,000 remodel permit for Venture Pipe and Supply in the 1100 block of East Choctaw, the former longtime location for Albright Heat and Air. Officials also approved a $4,500 remodel for new electronic menu boards at the McDonald’s restaurant on the turnpike. Through the first nine months of 2019 Chickasha officials have approved nearly $10.5 million in commercial and residential construction.
Cole, Inhofe Attend BAE Systems Expansion Ceremony
An expansion of the BAE Systems plant in Elgin is expected to speed up production of a new, state-of-the art tank for the U.S. Army. The more than 52,000 sq. ft. expansion should increase the rate of the final assembly for the Paladin self-propelled howitzer. It's the Army's primary vehicle for indirect fire support. BAE officials said it was critical that they triple the size of the facility to keep up with the Army's increased demand for howitzers. Two members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation were on hand for the ceremony. 4th District Congressman Tom Cole said the safety of the country's soldiers depends on machinery like what BAE produces. He said the expansion is a giant step in making sure the U.S. isn't out-gunned. U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe said the country had previously fallen behind Russia and China in military capabilities but that the U.S. has dug out of that hole and looks to once again surpass those countries in military might.
Poachers Believed to Have Killed Elk at Ft. Sill
A disturbing discovery at Ft. Sill this past weekend as the carcass of an elk was found. Authorities believe the animal was killed by poachers. A graphic photo of the carcass was posted on Facebook. The animal was found on the Quanah Range near West Cache Creek on Sunday. Authorities ask anyone with information to call the Ft. Sill game warden hotline, 580-442-6050.
Grady County Teen Hired by Ship Builder
A Grady County teen will soon be working for what is believed to be America's largest ship builder. 19-year old Falcon McDoulett of Tuttle will be heading to the east coast soon. He was hired by Huntington Ingalls Industries which is the sole builder of aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy. It’s also one of two contractors building nuclear powered submarines. McDoulett, who studied at Canadian Valley Technology Center, finished 12th in a national contest this past summer. While he was there, he attended a career fair and dropped off his resume with a Huntington Ingalls representative. McDoulett was soon sent a formal application and offered a machinist position. McDoulett says he's both excited and nervous about the opportunity.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $53.62 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $60.75.
Natural gas is $2.28 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,490 and silver is $17.32.
Tuesday, Oct. 1st
What You Can Do to Avoid the Flu
Flu season is just getting underway across the country and health officials are recommending individuals get a flu shot. The State Health Department will be offering free flu shots at a number of locations next week. Officials say it’s a full-scale exercise with local county health departments to test the state's ability to respond and provide mass immunizations to communities in the event of a public health emergency. All next week there will be more than 20 locations providing these free flu shots. On Tuesday, October 8th one will be held at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. On Thursday, Oct. 10th they will be available in El Reno at Redlands Community College and in Norman at the Cleveland County Health Department. Flu shots are also available at many pharmacies and doctor's offices, although a fee may be charged (Medicare patients can get free flu shots from their primary care physician). The health department recommends that individuals six months and older get a flu shot, especially young children and senior citizens with chronic health issues who may be severely impacted by flu symptoms.
Effort Continues to Reduce Domestic Violence
Nearly 100 people died in Oklahoma in 2016 as a result of domestic violence. That's according to a report from the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Review Board which is a division of the state Attorney General's office. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and officials are calling attention to the issue in hopes of preventing future deaths and injuries. In the Chickasha area the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network (ICAN) provides a number of immediate services for domestic violence victims. Eric Feuerborn is the director-
ICAN has offices in Grady and Canadian Counties. Each office has a 24-hour crisis line. In Grady County the number is 405-222-1818. In Canadian County it’s 405-262-4455
Anadarko Voters to Decide ONG Franchise Extension
Anadarko voters will go to the polls next week to decide if Oklahoma Natural Gas should be awarded an extension of its franchise agreement with the city. Voters will consider extending the agreement for 25 years. ONG pays the city a 4 percent franchise fee as part of the agreement. The election will be held next Tuesday, Oct. 8th.
Bison Expands Water Disposal Work
In energy news, Oklahoma City-based Bison has announced a multi-year agreement for water disposal in the STACK region. The website www.okenergytoday.com reports the 15-year agreement will put Bison in charge of disposing water needs with Houston's Palamo Operating Company. It covers 325,000 acres in Canadian, Blaine, and Kingfisher counties. Bison is a four-year old company that previously announced the acquisition of S and S Star Water Solutions and Cobalt Environmental Solutions. Bison also has a 15-year agreement for water disposal with Marathon Oil Co. Bison operates more than 35 commercial water disposal facilities in the SCOOP, STACK, and MERGE plays in the Anadarko basin.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $54.07 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $60.78.
Natural gas is $2.33 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,474 and silver is $17.14.
Monday, Sept. 30th
Caddo County Resident Dies in Pickup Rollover
A Cyril man has died when his pickup runs off the road and overturns near Elgin. 62-year old Frank Gutierrez, Jr. died in the crash that was discovered Sunday afternoon. The highway patrol reported it wasn't clear when the accident may have happened. The pickup was found about a mile and a half northwest of Elgin. The trooper dispatched to the area reported that the pickup ran off the road and hit a guard rail, then rolled down the embankment several times.
Threats Close Ft. Cobb-Broxton Schools
Threats made toward a Caddo County school will force the closure of a school district today. Officials at Ft. Cobb-Broxton have canceled classes for today. A post was made on the district's Facebook page late last night, saying all classes and activities will be cancelled today. There's no word on the threat that was made. The Caddo County Sheriff's Office is looking into the threats.
Chickasha CV Tech Campus on Lockdown as 'Precaution'
The Chickasha campus of the Canadian Valley Technology Center was placed on lockdown as a precaution this morning due to a threat at another technology center. Grady County Sheriff Jim Weir would not identify the school that was threatened, but did say the sheriff’s office where the school is located is investigating. It wasn’t clear if the threat was connected to the one made at Ft. Cobb. Weir said that a student who had been dismissed from the technology center made a threat on Facebook that students should not attend classes today.
Search for Chix School Superintendent Starts Today
The official search for a new superintendent for Chickasha schools begins today. It's the first day that a consulting group hired by the local school board has posted the position to accept resumes and applications. The consulting group is with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association which will conduct a nationwide search. The post will be advertised over the next five weeks after which the consultants will recommend anywhere from four to eight candidates for the Chickasha school board to interview in November and early December. The timeline is for a new superintendent to be named is January or February, although the new administrator may not be on board until July.
State House Candidate Kicks Off Campaign
A candidate who has announced he is running for a seat in the state house of representatives is kicking off his campaign. Randy Talley will hold the kick-off in his hometown of Anadarko tonight. He is a Republican. Talley is seeking the House District 56 post which includes Chickasha, Anadarko, Ft. Cobb, Carnegie, and a portion of Kiowa County near Hobart. The post is currently held by David Perryman of Chickasha, who is not running for re-election (he will retain his seat through 2020). The Talley kick-off will be held at the Ridge Event Center west of Anadarko from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. today. It's open to the public and no RSVP is necessary. Talley will hold a similar campaign kick-off for the Chickasha area at a later date.
Rock Island Arts Festival Set This Weekend
A lot of people are anticipating the Rock Island Arts Festival that will converge on downtown Chickasha this weekend. It's three days of arts, music, food, and family activities hosted by the Chickasha Area Arts Council. It opens on Friday, with all the events centered around and near the city's historic Rock Island Railroad Depot. In addition to live entertainment and dozens of vendors with items for sale, there is the second annual Oklahoma Food Truck Competition, the third annual Rock Island Bike Ride, and the Together We Heel walk to end domestic violence. Admission to the festival is free. See the Rock Island Arts Festival Facebook page for information.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $55.91 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $61.91.
Natural gas is $2.40 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,493 and silver is $17.32.
