Saturday, April 9th
Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Vehicle
A pedestrian trying to cross I-35 in Norman is struck and killed by a car. 42-year old Christopher Paxton of Blanchard was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit near mile marker 106 just before 11 o'clock last night. The highway patrol said Paxton was hit by a southbound car driven by 64-year old Jerry Sims of Norman who was not hurt.
Source of Mystery Illness at Courthouse Still Unknown
Crews will be working through the weekend to solve some problems associated with a remodeling project at the Grady County Courthouse. The courthouse closed early Thursday and all day Friday after several courthouse employees suffered some respiratory issues while a contractor was doing some work in the courtroom of Judge Gina Lowe. Late yesterday, Grady County Assistant Emergency Management Director Amanda Wilkerson said officials were still trying to determine what caused the employees to fall ill and that the work will continue through the weekend. Officials are hoping the courthouse can re-open on Monday.
USAO 'Giving Day' Successful
A one-day fund-raising campaign for USAO resulted in more than $100,000 in contributions to the university. Simply called 'Giving Day,' university supporters, alumni, faculty, employees, and students pledged the funds that will benefit numerous programs. USAO Vice President JP Audas said it was inspiring and energizing to see the outpouring of support. The $104,000 was well above the $75,000 goal set for the day. There were more than 327 individual contributions. The Division of Science and Physical Education received the highest dollar amount of donations while the Division of Arts and Humanities had highest number of contributions.
Kiowa Tribe Chairman Won't Seek Re-election
The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma will have a new chairman this summer. Current chairman Matt Komalty will not be running for re-election. In a statement, Komalty said the reason is due to illness. Komalty said he's been diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder which causing his health to suffer and forcing him to work remotely. Komalty was elected to the post in June of 2018. In 2020 he faced impeachment over allegations that included the mishandling of CARES Act funds, wrongful termination of Kiowa gaming employees, the wrongful and unapproved appointment of an executive director, and giving salary increases without approval. He also survived a recall election that year. Among those who filed for the post during this week’s filing period are tribal vice chairwoman Rhonda Ahhaitty, Lawrence Spottedbird, and Charles Eisenberger. A complete list of candidates will be available on Monday.
New Kiowa Indian Council (KIC) Coordinator Elected
Kiowa Tribal members have elected a new Kiowa Indian Council Coordinator. Kristi Wolf-Norris of Tulsa was elected to a two-year term last week. She picked up nearly 54 percent of the vote out of five candidates on the ballot. Wolf-Norris received 110 votes; Deborah Schrock Wilson, 39; Modina Waters, 30; Hanley Short, 15; and Bryan Womack, 10. Wolf-Norris is a retired federal employee who worked with the Department of Homeland Security in areas of administration, policy, and procedure.
Obituaries
Cathey Ann Jester
A memorial service will be held at a later date for Cathey Ann Jester, 68, of Alex. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Sara Mostajabi
Funeral service for Sara Mostajabi, 37, of Tuttle will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 14th at Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.
Friday, April 8th
Grady County Courthouse Closed for 'Mechanical' Issue
The Grady County Courthouse is closed today as officials determine the cause of what was called a mechanical issue. County Commissioner Kirk Painter said a contractor was taking up some carpet on the second floor of the courthouse and a number of courthouse employees began coughing near the close of business yesterday. Painter said they hope to re-open on Monday but will wait to make a decision.
Caddo County Mother Faces Child Abuse Allegation
An Anadarko woman is arrested for allegedly abusing her 10-year old son. 43-year old Franda Franklin, also known as Franda Camargo, was taken into custody after police were dispatched to her home. The Lawton Constitution cited court documents saying the boy initially called his father and told him his mother was going to hurt herself. The suspect's sister actually called police and said Franklin was threatening suicide. When police arrived they found the boy bleeding from a head injury suffered when Franklin allegedly pushed him against a door. It was also alleged that Franklin choked the youth. The child was taken to the hospital for treatment. Franklin has been formally charged with child abuse and abuse by strangulation. She remains in jail on a $50,000 bond.
Bid for U.S. Highway 81 Improvements in Minco Approved
A portion of U.S. Highway 81 in Grady County will be getting some upgrades this summer. The State Transportation Commission approved some resurfacing work for nearly five miles of the roadway in the Minco area. The project was awarded to The Cummins Construction Company of Enid for its bid of nearly $2.4 million.
New Superindent Named for Marlow Public Schools
Marlow Public Schools will have a new superintendent next year. Corey Holland has been hired as the new administrator. He'll take over the post from George Coffman who is retiring after a 20-year career at Marlow and a total of 35-years in education. KSWO-TV reports that Holland is currently the assistant superintendent at Cache. Holland will spend the next three months transitioning to Marlow with his start date expected to be July 1st.
Ft. Sill Soldiers Return from Deployment
A number of Ft. Sill soldiers have returned home after serving a deployment in southeast Asia. Members of the 313th Battalion of the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, known as the Red Dragons, were re-united with family and friends after spending the last nine months in South Korea. The soldiers worked with the 210th Field Artillery Brigade practicing their war-fighting skills with various live-fire exercises.
Movie Makers Have 24-hours to Produce Short Films
Can you produce a five-minute film in 24-hours? If so, you could win as much as $1,000! Local film producer Reagan Elkins and Intellego Media is teaming up with USAO's Wrecking Ball Art Studio for the competition. Today is the final day to sign up with the last call being from 5:30 to 10:30 tonight at the Art Wrecker Studio downtown Chickasha. The 24-hour period begins at 11:59 p.m. tonight and ends at 11:59 p.m. tomorrow night. Producers will have some props and prompts to use in their videos. The top three short films win cash prizes with first place receiving $1,000; second place will receive $500; and third place receives $250. On Saturday, April 16th the inaugural Wrecking Ball Film Festival will feature the top 10 films at the Wrecking Ball Art Studio. The event sponsors include Itellego Media, the Art Wrecker Studio, USAO's Nesbtit Gallery, the Chickasha Economic Development Council, and The Canadian River Brewery.
Talk Show Topics
Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Michael Pettijohn with the OSU Research Station will be on our KOOL Konversation discussing the Wheat Field Day that will be held later this month. On Real Estate Today, Jim Cowan with the Chamber of Commerce and Zach Boles with Life Skills Institute will discuss the new community alliance that has been formed as well as upcoming events in the city. Find links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $96.03 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $100.58.
Natural gas is $6.36 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,936 and silver is $24.81.
Thursday, April 7th
Suspect Arrested for Transporting Illegal Marijuana
Authorities in Union City arrest a man for transporting illegal marijuana. A post on the Union City Police Department's Facebook page indicates that officers pulled over a vehicle and found about 36 pounds of illegal pot. The social media site indicates the driver, Yu Gen Weng of New York, had not been issued a license from the state medical marijuana authority and was transporting the drugs outside of the state agency's rules. Weng was taken to the Canadian County Jail on complaints of drug trafficking and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. It wasn’t clear why Weng was pulled over.
Semi Driver Hurt When Wind Blows Big Rig Off Highway
High winds are being blamed on a semi being blown off the highway in Grady County yesterday. The truck driver was rushed to a hospital. The accident happened on State Highway 19 just west of Alex about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The driver, 37-year old Jack West of Ada, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was admitted with head and leg injuries. He was last in fair condition. The trooper called out to the accident said Davis lost control of the big rig and it ran off the highway and hit an embankment.
Evening Crash Closes Tuttle Highway
An injury accident shut down State Highway 4 south of Tuttle last night. The highway patrol was dispatched to investigate a two-vehicle crash with injury just before 9:00 p.m. The accident happened about two miles south of Tuttle. There was no information available about the accident other than it closed down the highway for a little over an hour.
Droverstock Returns to USAO
Hundreds of high school and junior high students from across the state are in Chickasha today for what's called the biggest one-day event of the year at USAO. For most, the event is simply called Droverstock – an featuring live music, art, food, games, and a huge sidewalk chalk art competition. The sidewalk chalk art event kicked the event off this morning. The music festival will start about mid-day and run through the evening. In the past the event also included an academic competition but that event is not taking place as officials still have concerns about the coronavirus. There is a new event called Junior Day which gives high school juniors and others the opportunity to explore the campus, interact with students, faculty, and staff and enjoy all the activities taking place. Admission is free.
Group to Resume 'Keep Chickasha Beautiful' Campaign
With temperatures warming up there are a lot of spring cleaning projects underway for residents and businesses. An effort to support a community beautification program in Chickasha last year will look to continue in 2022. The Chickasha Economic Development Council will host a meeting tomorrow for residents who would like to serve on its Keep Chickasha Beautiful Committee. Officials say preliminary plans are to have some activities for Earth Day (April 22nd) and a city-wide clean-up campaign the first week of May. Those attending tomorrow’s meeting will be asked to suggest other activities that could be held and what areas of town need attention. Local businesses are encouraged to send a representative to the meeting. It will be held at noon tomorrow at the Chamber of Commerce. Anyone wanting to participate should RSVP the chamber by calling 405-224-0787.
Anadarko City-Wide Clean-Up April 11th-16th
The City of Anadarko will have its city-wide clean-up next week. Residents are asked to have debris bagged or contained and placed on the curb for pick-up. City crews will only make one pass in each neighborhood. Large items like furniture, appliances, and other bulky items can also be placed on the curb or taken to a central roll-off site at 201 NE 1st Street. Large items can also be taken to the Alex landfill at no charge as long as residents have a copy of a recent utility bill and a photo ID. For other information check out the City of Anadarko's Facebook page or reach out to city hall.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $96.23 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $101.07.
Natural gas is $6.03 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,930 and silver is $24.53.
Obituaries
Veronica Wilson
A funeral service for Veronica Wilson, 83, of Indiahoma is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.
Barbara Ann Lewis
Funeral service for Barbara Ann Wilson, 68, of Oklahoma City will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 9th at the Divine Wisdom Worship Center. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.
Wednesday, April 6th
Kea Ginn Wins Seat on Chix City Council
It was a light turnout at many of the polls yesterday for municipal and school elections. Less than 300 voters turned out to elect a new Ward 1 representative on the Chickasha City Council. Kea Ginn defeated David Lucas by a wide margin, 196 to 82. Ginn will take the post currently held by David Sikes who did not run for re-election. Ginn will be sworn in next month.
Aaron McElroy Re-elected as Tuttle Mayor
In Tuttle, Aaron McElroy was re-elected as mayor. McElroy defeated Judy Preston, 261 to 100. And Dewey Buck won a close race for an unexpired term on the Tuttle City Council winning by just 17 votes over Darrell Alcorn, 54 to 37.
Trio Elected to Lindsay City Council
In Lindsay, The top three candidates in the city council election were Bart Drennan (242), Tom Inman (228), and Bev Barker (171).
Blanchard Voters Nix Two Bond Issues
In school elections, Blanchard voters overwhelmingly turned down two bond proposals. Proposition 1 was a $35 million plan which failed by a two-to-one margin - with 708 no votes and only 451 yes votes. Proposition 2 was a $1 million transportation bond issue which failed with 54 percent of the voters casting ballots against the issue - 637 no votes and 522 yes votes. In the Blanchard school board election Justin Smith won with 54 percent of the vote over Kristi Mitchell, 602 to 504.
Pioneer School Bond Issue Passes Easily
Pioneer school district voters approved a $635,000 bond issue for school upgrades by a landslide with 93 percent of the vote, 62 to 5.
Other School Board Election Results
At Amber-Pocasset, DeAnn Middlestaedt was re-elected to the school board defeating Jeanette Parham 52-39. At Bridge Creek, Danielle Epps defeated Jeana Ely, 162 to 56. At Dibble, Brandon Hedrick won a by a wide margin over Jason Ott, 110 to 41. At Cyril, Derek Cocheran defeated Kenny Gray, 152 to 112. At Carnegie, Shannon Ware defeated Brad Holsted, 180 to 124. At Marlow, Mark O'Neal won defeated Gena Webb, 178 to 59.
Events Supporting Ken Singleton Set
The support for Chickasha Funny Car champion Kendall Singleton continues to grow. Singleton faces a long recovery after suffering burns when his car caught fire at the Texas Motor Speedway last month. He has already undergone a number of skin grafts after suffering second and third degree burns. A big fund raiser has been scheduled for Saturday, April 16th for an event called Coffee and Cars for Ken. It will feature a car show and live music from The T.A. Brauer Band and Dallas recording artist Scott Sturgeon. Another event is this Sunday, April 10th as Bible Baptist Church will hold a blood drive and donors can pledge their donations to Singleton. The blood drive will be after Sunday's service from noon to 2:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome or donors can schedule appointments by contacting Beverly Sales by calling or texting 405-779-5374.
OSBI Seeks Info About Missing Caddo County Man
The OSBI is hoping the public can help provide information about a missing Caddo County man. 50-year old Billy Joe Lange went missing in March of 2016. He worked as a ranch hand and surveillance video showed him making a routine stop at a convenience store in Binger. His abandoned Chevy Trailblazer was found the next day along I-40 near the Caddo and Canadian County line. The agency’s authorized Facebook page says agents have followed numerous leads but have not yet determined what happened to him. Anyone with information can contact the OSBI anonymously via e-mail: tips@osbi.ok.gov
Energy Prices
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $101.96 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $106.64.
Natural gas is $6.03 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,933 and silver is $24.47.
Tuesday, April 5th
Suspect Wanted for Ramming State Trooper's Car Arrested in Chickasha
In a joint effort by numerous law enforcement groups officials arrested a man in Chickasha yesterday who is accused of ramming into a state trooper's vehicle and exchange gunfire with authorities. Chickasha and Oklahoma City police, U.S. Marshals, and state troopers were on hand for the arrest of 35-year old Gabriel Yeatman yesterday. Authorities say Yeatman was arrested about 1:00 p.m. Monday in a Chickasha neighborhood and was allegedly holding a homeowner against his will. No information was available about why Yeatman was in Chickasha or how officials tracked him down. Yeatman was wanted for crashing into a state trooper's car in Oklahoma City early Friday morning. Yeatman was driving the wrong way on I-240 and shots were fired. The trooper involved in the crash was not injured. Authorities say Yeatman may also face kidnapping charges in Grady County as a result of taking the homeowner hostage.
Some City Council, School Board Elections Today
Today is election day in Oklahoma but not everyone is going to the polls. There are a few city council elections and a number of school board or school bond elections in the area. Chickasha voters are electing a new Ward One city councilman. David Lucas and Kea Ginn are both seeking the seat. There are also city council elections in Tuttle and Lindsay. There are school board elections in Amber-Pocasset, Blanchard, Dibble, Bridge Creek, Cyril, Carnegie, and Marlow school districts. Pioneer School district voters will be deciding a $385,000 bond issue. Polls are open until 7 o'clock tonight. We’ll post some results on our Facebook page tonight.
Chix City Council OKs Advertising for Bids For Festival of Light Expansion
Last night, the Chickasha City Council gave officials the OK to go out for bids for a project to expand the Festival of Light. The Festival wants to expand into the area north of the dam at Shannon Springs Park. The Festival will donate $120,000 to the city for the installation of several electric panels and a control box to add even more lights to the holiday spectacle which will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. The city council also approved the purchase of a John Deere Gator from P and K Equipment for just under $9,000 from state contract, bypassing normal bidding requirements. During the meeting, Councilman Oscar Nelson asked about the city having a spring clean-up day. Jim Cowan with the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council said he is working with the city's community development department and Waste Connections to coordinate the event which is expected to be held the first full week of May.
Chix Parks and Rec Director Steps Down
The City of Chickasha is looking for a new parks and recreation director. Kyle Marks has stepped down from the post to take a similar position in Newcastle. Chickasha City Manager Tyler Brooks informed the council during last night’s meeting that Marks was leaving. Marks has been with Chickasha for the last two and a half years. He tells KOOL-RANCH News that he'll start his new job next week.
Single-Vehicle Accident Shuts Down Turnpike
Traffic was shut down on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike southwest of Chickasha for a short time yesterday. State troopers responded to a non-injury accident involving one vehicle. Both the westbound and eastbound lanes were blocked. The accident happened just after 5:00 p.m. between mile markers 76 and 77 about four miles southwest of the city. The roadway was shut down for about 30 minutes. No information about the accident was available.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $103.28 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $107.33.
Natural gas is $5.71 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,933 and silver is $24.81.
Obituaries
Geary Green
A graveside service for Geary Green, 80, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 7th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to The Treehouse in Wichita, Kansas.
William Thomas
Funeral service for William Thomas, 86, of the Snyder area and formerly of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 9th at the First Baptist Church of Snyder. Survivors include his son Casta Thomas of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.
Monday, April 4th
Chickasha's Festival of Light Looks to Expand
The Festival of Light is looking to grow. The festival, which is one of the state's top destinations for families in November and December, wants to expand their displays to the open area north of the dam at Shannon Springs Park. The group is asking the city council to expand electrical service to that area with nine new electrical panels and one control box. The Festival of Light is donating $120,000 for the work and the city will not have to pay for the installation. The only cost to the city is the electric bill. Officials say the average cost of electricity during the Festival is $30 to $40 per month. The Chickasha City Council is to consider going out for bids for the project when the panel meets tonight. Background information indicates that the city will not recommend a bid until the Festival of Light's contribution is received.
Purchase of UTV, Airport Engineer to be Considered
The city council is also to consider waiving the bidding process and purchase a John Deere UTV from state contract with P and K Equipment. The cost of the Gator is just under $9,000. The panel will also consider awarding a contract to Parkhill Engineering for services at the city airport. The Federal Aviation Administration requires the city to review design services every five years and submit their selection for approval. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.
Caddo County Woman Hospitalized After Rollover
An Apache was woman taken to the hospital after crashing her pickup over the weekend. 60-year old Sophia Vasquez suffered head injuries and was last in fair condition at a Lawton hospital. The accident happened five miles north of Apache about 2:30 Saturday afternoon. The trooper investigating the accident said that Vasquez was driving at a high rate of speed when she lost control of the truck, ran off the road, and overturned. The trooper reported that Vasquez may have been driving under the influence.
Grants Help Museum with Artifact Preservation
The Grady County Historical Society and Museum has been able to take advantage of a number of grants over the last few years. Museum curator Pat Cunningham says some of the grants came from the Oklahoma History Center-
She says they get phone calls and visitors from all over the country as individuals trace some family history to the Grady County area. She says she recently received a call from Canada. Cunningham said the museum entrance will soon have a buckboard on display.
USAO Schedules Summer Food Camp
Parents in search of activities for the kids to take part in during summer vacation might check out a unique camp that will be hosted by USAO. 8th and 9th grade students will learn about where food comes from and get hands-on experience in food preparation during the university's food camp. It's a free camp that will have the student follow the progress of food from the garden to the kitchen and the pantry, learn basic cooking techniques, the nutrients in food, visit local farms and farmers markets. It’s a residential camp meaning the students will stay on campus the entire week. The camp is run by USAO biology professor Jeanette Loutsch. There are two camps with the first being June 20th through 24th and second is July 11th through 15th. For information go on-line to usao.edu/foodcamp
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $99.27 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $107.67.
Natural gas is $5.72 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,930 and silver is $24.84.
