Saturday, Nov. 5th
Legal Aid Helps Sort Health Care Options
We are hearing and seeing a lot of commercials about the open enrollment period for Medicare as well as the Healthcare Marketplace for non-senior citizens. A non-profit group is offering assistance to low-income residents to help Oklahomans sort through the numerous options that are available. Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma offers assistance from individuals they call 'navigators'. They are individuals who have received training and are certified to help. The program was made possible by a federal grant. Navigators can help with SoonerCare, the state's Medicaid program, and Medicare. Help is available in all 77 Oklahoma counties. Individuals can call or text 405-313-1780 to see if they qualify.
State Senator Named to National Women's Panel
A regional state senator will represent the Sooner State as a director for a national all-women panel. Sen. Jessica Garvin (R-Duncan) whose district includes parts of Grady County will serve on the non-partisan Women in Government board of directors. A press release indicates that directors are 'go-to' ambassadors for women in public office. The panel is a non-profit group based in Washington, D.C. which provides leadership opportunities, expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve public policy issues.. Garvin said with more women getting elected to offices across the country the organization helps them become strong leaders who can drive sound policy. She said she looks forward to learning how she can be a better leader and be successful in advancing policies to improve the lives of Oklahomans and to make the state better.
Daylight Savings Time Returns Tonight
The first weekend in November brings with it Daylight Savings Time. Most of the country will be adjusting clocks backward one hour tonight. The actual time change will be at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. Newer watches, clocks, and computers will change time automatically but analog clocks will have to be adjusted manually. That means an extra hour of sleep for most but there will be an extra-hour of work for those who are on the overnight shift. It also means more daylight in the morning and less in the evening. Sunset on Sunday night will be about 5:30 p.m. Triple A of Oklahoma says motorists should be extra careful especially when driving in the early evening. They say the time change can have a negative impact on sleep patterns. Officials cite studies indicating that drivers who get less than five hours of sleep are comparable to someone driving drunk. The time change is also a reminder to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Fire officials say to change your clocks and change your batteries in those devices.
Obituary
Dennis Horn
A graveside service for Dennis Horn, 78, of Gracemont will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 8th at the Carnegie Cemetery. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.
High School Football Scores
Elgin 49, Chickasha 27
Tuttle 14, Blanchard 13
Anadarko 54, Kingfisher 14
Minco 53, Hobart 13
Elk City 28, Newcastle 14
Perkins-Tryon 47, Bridge Creek 0
Dibble 35, Wynnewood 27
Healdton 48, Rush Springs 14
Marlow 57, Tishomingo 18
Lindsay 32, Comanche 15
Apache 44, Carnegie 8
Empire 54, Cyril 8
Mt. View-Gotebo 54, Thackerville 6
Thursday
Strother 37, Alex 8
Friday, Nov. 5th
OBN: State Leads U.S. in Number of Black Market Pot Farms
The Sooner State leads the country in the number of black market suppliers of illegal marijuana. That's according to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN). Agency officials say there are 8,500 medical marijuana grow licenses in the state which is more than double the number of licenses in California. Authorities believe that one out of every four of Oklahoma’s grow facilities are run by criminal organizations from China, Mexico, and Russia. Authorities say that buyers from those countries (and others) are making offers for land that's up to 10 times the asking price - and they want to pay cash and want a closing within two weeks. The OBN says true ownership of medical marijuana farms is hard to determine because illegal operations use ghost owners. That’s where shell corporations hide the true ownership of farms even though it may be listed under the name of an Oklahoman.
Centerpoint Energy Says Expect to Pay More for Heating Bills
Centerpoint Energy customers may be paying higher home heating bills during the upcoming cold weather season. Company officials announced that if even if Oklahoma has normal winter weather that heating bills could increase nearly $25 a month on average over the next several months compared to last year. Officials say monthly bills from November of 2020 through March of 2021 averaged about $71. The estimate for the similar period during the upcoming winter months is expected to average about $95 per month. Centerpoint officials say they expect their fuel costs to be higher than in recent years because of increases in wholesale natural gas prices. Representatives said actual bills will vary based on the size and age of homes, the level of insulation, the number of gas appliances, and thermostat settings.
First National Bank Receives National Award
First National Bank and Trust receives some national recognition for its long-time service to the region. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, Kansas presented its Community Leader Award for 2021 to First National. The award was presented to the bank for its 129 years of service to community needs. The award was announced at a reception for stakeholders last month. State Senator Lonnie Paxton and State Representatives Dick Lowe and Brad Boles presented a resolution honoring the bank for its efforts in building community life and economic development throughout central and southwest Oklahoma. In addition, the Federal Home Loan Bank issued a $5,000 award to Life Choices of Chickasha as a salute to First National's long record of service to non-profit groups.
Caddo County In-Person, Absentee Voting Ends Today
Today is the final day of early voting for residents in Caddo County who want to cast ballots ahead of next Tuesday's elections. All county voters will decide a proposal to extend a one-quarter of a penny sales tax with proceeds funding county ambulances services. If approved, the sales tax would be extended through June of 2027. Also, residents in Ft. Cobb and Hydro will decide on extending franchise agreements with Public Service Company of Oklahoma for an additional 25 years. In-person, absentee voting can be done until 6 p.m. today at the Caddo County Election Board at the county courthouse. Otherwise, voters will cast ballots at their normal precincts on Tuesday, November 9th. In Anadarko, residents who normally vote at the Anadarko hospital will instead cast ballots at the OSU Extension Service.
Talk Show Topics
Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Whitney Palesano with Chickasha's Festival of Light is this week’s guest on the KOOL Konversation. State Senators Lonnie Paxton and Darcy Jech are this week’s guests on Real Estate Today. Find links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.81 per barrel.
London-based Brent Crude is $80.54.
Natural gas is $5.71 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,795 and silver is $23.85.
Obituary
David Malone
A memorial service for David Malone, 70, of Chickasha will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Thursday, Nov. 4th
Patient Arrested After Alleged Attack on Paramedics
Chickasha paramedics treating a patient for low blood sugar were attacked by the patient this week. Grady County sheriff's deputies were called to assist paramedics after they responded to a call Monday night. A probable cause affidavit indicates that the Chickasha Fire Department was dispatched to meet a vehicle that was on the way to the hospital with an individual who was having a medical problem. The ambulance met the vehicle on U.S. Highway 62 about a mile east of the Tabler Y and a man with no pants on jumped out of the passenger side and told the paramedic he was having a low-blood sugar issue. The paramedics thought the man might be on meth. When the EMTs asked if he could start an IV the patient said ‘yes’, but when the needle was displayed he became irate and a scuffle began. That's when sheriff's deputies were called to help. The patient was eventually subdued and taken to the hospital where he was treated with insulin and then cleared to be taken to jail. The paramedics were not seriously injured. 38-year old Daniel Ryan Palmer has been charged with two felony counts of assault on a medical care provider. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $25,000 bond. It's the second time Palmer has been arrested in the last few weeks. He was picked up last month for having firearms after former conviction.
Suspect In Custody for Brandishing Knife at Dispensary
A Chickasha man is arrested for pulling a knife on an employee at a dispensary. Chickasha police were called to the Merchants of Marijuana on West Choctaw Avenue Tuesday afternoon. Court document indicate that employees asked the man to leave the premises and they began arguing. The man pulled out a knife and threatened to stab the employee. The man eventually left the store. Employees called police who found the man a few minutes later. Officers arrested 19-year old Jimmy Don Rogers who is facing a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon. He remains in jail on a $7,500 bond.
Early Voting Underway in Caddo County
Early voting is underway in Caddo County today as voters decide on a measure that would extend a county-wide sale tax. There is also a special municipal election for Fort Cobb residents. In-person, absentee voting will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today and tomorrow at the election board office in the Caddo County Courthouse. Regular precincts will be open next Tuesday and officials say one precinct in Anadarko has changed due to last month's tornado. Individuals who normally vote at the Anadarko hospital will instead cast ballots at the OSU Extension Office.
Bridge Work to Delay Traffic East of Chickasha
A reminder that traffic will be slow-going at the Washita River Bridge east of downtown Chickasha today. Crews will be installing a large bridge beam on the second bridge that is being built near the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. Flaggers will be on site and traffic may be stopped from time-to-time. The on and off ramps of the turnpike will be open but officials say motorists should expect congestion.
Congressman Sets Telephone Town Hall Meeting
Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole (R-Moore) will hold a telephone town hall meeting next week. Constituents in the state's 4th Congressional District throughout southwest Oklahoma will hear Cole discuss current events in Washington, D.C. and he will also take questions. The town hall will be streamed on the website cole.house.gov/telephone-town-hall The telephone town hall will be Tuesday, Novemver 9th from noon to 1 p.m.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.86 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $81.99.
Natural gas is $5.67 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,777 and silver is $23.69.
Obituary
Billy Ray McLean
(A previous version of this obituary included some incorrect information. This is the corrected version. We apologize for the error.) Funeral service for Billy Ray McLean, 44, of Cement will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 6th at Ferguson Funeral Home.
Wednesday, Nov. 3rd
Details Released Regarding Chickasha Homicide
Investigators have released some details regarding the death of a Chickasha man last month. Authorities say the man's son beat his father in the head with a concrete block. The FBI identified the victim as Charles Ray. His son, Phillip Ray, was arrested at the residence the night of October 19th. Our partners at KWTV-News 9 cite court documents indicating that Phillip Ray told investigators that his father stared at the moon and didn't suffer. Authorities say Phillip Ray has a history of substance abuse and mental illness. A motive has not yet been determined. Federal officials are prosecuting the case as Phillip Ray is a member of a federally-recognized Native American tribe.
Robbery Suspect Faces New Drug Charges
A Chickasha man who was arrested for robbery earlier this year is back in jail for allegedly selling counterfeit pain pills. 26-year old Trevan DeSaun Brown was taken into custody last Friday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics say a confidential informant purchased pills laced with fentanyl from Brown on two occasions this past summer. His previous arrest was this past April. Brown is facing a felony robbery charge in connection with that arrest after two women alleged he held them at gunpoint while they were trying to buy two expensive puppies. Brown was out of jail on a $75,000 bond in connection with that arrest. He is now being held on a $100,000 bond in connection with his most recent arrest where he faces two felony drug charges.
Churches to Again Deliver Free Thanksgiving Dinners
Thanksgiving is just three weeks away - and a couple of Chickasha churches are again combining efforts to serve free Thanksgiving dinners. The First Presbyterian Church and New Life Christian Church will provide meals throughout the community on Thanksgiving Day. For many years the churches combined efforts to serve the dinner at one of their locations but that changed with the pandemic last year. The churches will again deliver meals to anyone who would like them. You can call either church to get meals delivered and the deadline for orders is Tuesday, Nov. 23rd. The numbers to call are 405-224-6205 and 405-222-5433. The meals will be delivered Thanksgiving Day between 10:30 a.m. and noon. The meals are free but donations will be accepted.
Continental Resources to Produce More Natural Gas
A new report shows Continental Resources is focusing on natural gas development in the Sooner State. The website OK Energy Today cites Chief Executive Officer Bill Berry as saying that's due to favorable market conditions. Natural gas prices surged to more than $6.00 per million BTUs in recent weeks. Continental generated more than $1 billion of cash flow from operations and a company record of nearly $670 million of free cash flow for the third quarter. Company officials have scheduled a conference call to discuss third quarter earnings tomorrow morning.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.91 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $84.72.
Natural gas is $5.55 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,782 and silver is $23.58.
Obituaries
Neil O’Neal
Funeral service for Neil O’Neal, 78, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 5th at Southern Oaks Church of Christ. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
Hearl Mink
Funeral service Hearl Mink, 82, formerly of Cement will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 5th at the Assembly of God Church in Cyril. He was a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Tuesday, Nov. 2nd
Chix City Council OK's Lease for New Park
The Chickasha City Council gives its unanimous approval to lease land near the Rock Island Railroad Depot to the Chickasha Community Foundation (CCF) to build a new city park. The Council ok'd a 15-year lease with the CCF to develop nearly seven acres south of the depot. Pat Brooks is the president of the foundation board of trustees and said the goal of the park is to generate tourism with a permanent version of the World's Tallest Leg Lamp. An inflatable version of a 40-foot leg lamp debuted in the downtown area during the Christmas season last year. Brooks echoed comments made by the city’s Economic Development Council President Jim Cowan during the October 18th city council meeting that private money and grants will be used the develop the park. While the council unanimously passed the lease agreement Ward 4 councilman Kelly Boyd was hoping to see some preliminary designs.
Brooks said officials are meeting with architects later this week to come up with some preliminary drawings which will be presented to the council at a later date. Brooks said they hope to create a downsized version of places like Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City and The Gathering Place in Tulsa to hold outdoor events to increase tourism to the city.
Council Votes Down Sign Variance Request for Starbucks
Chickasha residents hoping that a new Starbucks coffee shop would be locating in the city got their hopes shot down during last night's council meeting. The panel unanimously approved a re-zoning request for the coffee shop to build south of 4th and Grand Avenue at the former location of the Ranch House Motel. However, the council then voted unanimously to deny a special exemption to allow a variance on the height of the sign developers were asking for. A representative of Vaquero Ventures of Ft. Worth said Starbucks needed an 80-foot tall sign so it would be visible from the turnpike. The city has a 45-foot height limit for signs. Kaylee Huryck with Vaquero Ventures said developers indicated the taller sign was a requirement for them to bring open a location in Chickasha.
Grant Reimbursement, ARPA Library Funds Approved
The city council approved a $50,000 grant reimbursement to Cody White for his remodeling of a downtown building which is now a new bicycle shop. The grant comes from economic development funds and was recommended for approval by the Economic Development Council. The city council also approved the receipt of more than $21,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds for the library which will include the purchase of WiFi hot spots and children's computers. The council also recognized the retirement of Robert Jackson, Jr. after 19 years of service with the park's department.
Festival of Light to Expand with December at the Depot
The Festival of Light is adding some new features for the upcoming season. Officials have created some weekend activities at the railroad depot downtown. They are calling it December at the Depot with events every Friday and Saturday nights in December. There will be pop-up shops, food trucks, amusement park rides for children, and photos with Santa. In addition, downtown visitors can purchase $2 tickets to take a shuttle to Shannon Springs Park and will not have to wait in line.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $84.05 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $84.38.
Natural gas is $5.18 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,795 and silver is $24.04.
Obituaries
Courtney Otey
Funeral service for Courtney Otey, 31, of Alex will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 3rd at the Southern Baptist Chapel in Alex. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to help the family with funeral expenses at the First National Bank of Alex.
Janice Wehling
Funeral service Janice Wehling, 82, Chickasha will be held at 10:30 Thursday, November 4th at Ferguson Funeral Home.
Amanda Mahsetky
A graveside service for Amanda Mahsetky, 32, of Minco will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 4th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Delgado Gutierrez
Viewing and visitation for Delgado Gutierrez, 57, of Oklahoma City will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6th at Sevier Funeral Home. A memorial mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13th at 2 p.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church.
Monday, Nov. 1st
Chix City Council to Consider New Park
A plan to build a new park near Chickasha's Rock Island Railroad depot will be reviewed by the city council tonight. The panel heard a proposal about the idea during its October 18th meeting to lease a portion of seven acres to two separate groups. One proposal would lease just over 6 1/2 acres to the Chickasha Community Foundation and a second proposal would lease just over 1/2-acre to the USAO Foundation. The proposed lease with the Chickasha Community Foundation would be for 15 years at a cost of $10 per year with the understanding that the first phase of the park construction would be completed by this time next year. The proposed lease with the USAO Foundation would provide an area for a university arts plaza with construction to begin within one year and completed within two years following. Jim Cowan with the Economic Development Council says the park could include a number of things-
Cowan said no public money would be used as it is to be provided by a combination of private funds and grants. During the Oct. 18th meeting Ward 3 Councilman Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander said that if the park becomes a reality that it needs to represent the Black community as well-
Ashanti-Alexander said the in the late 1950s, Chickasha had one of the few integrated Little League baseball teams in the country. He said the team had played a championship game in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1958 but were denied a chance to play for the Southern Regional championship because a team from Mississippi would not play an integrated team.
Starbucks to Open Chickasha Location
It looks like Chickasha will be getting a Starbucks. The city council will hold a public hearing tonight to re-zone the area where the old Ranch House Motel sits to allow the construction of the coffee shop. The Planning Commission has recommended that the property be rezoned from residential to commercial use for that purpose. Another public hearing will be held to allow a special exemption for the store’s sign. Current regulations limit the height to 45 feet but officials are asking for an 80-foot sign in order that it would be visible from the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The council will also consider using $50,000 in economic development funds to reimburse Cody White for the remodeling of a downtown building which is now Legendary Bicycles. The panel is also to consider accepting the development contracts to install water and sewer lines for the Shadow Valley housing development. The lines would run on the north side of Country Club Road between 16th and 25th Streets. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.
Washita River Bridge Work to Slow Traffic Thursday
Traffic on U.S. Highway 62 east of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike will be slow going on Thursday. Crews with the State Department of Transportation say a large bridge beam will be installed on the new bridge under construction over the Washita River. Traffic could be stopped from time to time and motorists should expect delays and might plan alternate routes. The ramps on and off the H.E. Bailey Turnpike will be open but congestion will be likely. Hours for the work will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weather permitting.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.57 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $84.38.
Natural gas is $5.42 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,789 and silver is $23.96.
Obituary
Linda Richards
A graveside service for Linda Richards, 78, of Maysville will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 2nd at the Bradley Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
