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Mollman Media News

2022, June 6th-11th

Saturday, June 11th

 

OSBI Investigates Murder-Suicide 

Agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) are looking into fatal shooting that took place at a home east of Tuttle yesterday. Grady County Undersheriff Gary Boggess tells KOOL-RANCH News that the initial investigation by deputies is that it is a murder-suicide. Boggess said an elderly couple lived in the home east of Tuttle near Morgan Road and East Rock Creek Road. The OSBI hasn't released any details about their investigation and no names have been released.

 

Child Drowns at Ft. Cobb Lake

A family outing turns tragic after a five-year old child drowns at Ft. Cobb Lake. Authorities were called out to the Deer Run Splash Pad and playground just after 7 o'clock last night. The highway patrol reports that a five-year old boy wandered away from his family and went to an area bordered by water that surrounded a play area. The child was found in about three feet of water and individuals began CPR. The child was transported by private vehicle to meet an ambulance which took him to the Carnegie hospital where the child was pronounced dead.

 

One in Custody After Raid on Chickasha Homes

A Chickasha man is behind bars after law enforcement officers raid a couple of homes early Friday morning. 58-year old Trent Lyle Johnson was arrested after agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Grady County Sheriff's office special response team activated search warrants simultaneously in the 1000 block of South 1st and the 900 block of South 2nd. Undersheriff Gary Boggess said about 15 law enforcement personnel met about 4:30 Friday morning to discuss what he called the high-risk search warrants. The team, which did use the sheriff's office armor-plated MRAP vehicle, struck the houses about 6:00 a.m. Johnson was arrested on a drug trafficking complaint at the home on South 1st Street. Boggess said the house on South 2nd Street was abandoned and was what he called a ‘stash’ house. Boggess said Johnson has had several prior drug arrests .

 

New Casino Allowed to Open in Spite of Lawsuit

A federal judge will allow a new Caddo County casino to open in spite of a lawsuit that has been filed against the operation. The Warm Springs Casino west of Anadarko was built by the Ft. Sill Apache Tribe. However, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Comanche Nation have filed a joint lawsuit saying the casino would violate federal laws and harm their own gaming operations by taking business away. The Oklahoman reports that U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin turned down the Kiowa and Comanche tribes' requests to the delay the opening while the lawsuit works its way through the legal process. The casino is built on land originally allotted to a Kiowa citizen. The Ft. Sill- Apache Tribe acquired it in 2001 and built the convenience store then spent $2 million building a 3,000 sq. ft. casino next door. It wasn't clear when the casino might open.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Cathy Nestlen with the Regional Food Bank is on our KOOL Konversation program. Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley and City Manager Tyler Brooks are on Real Estate Today. Find podcasts to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Friday, June 10th

 

Reports: Restaurant Fire Caused 'Significant' Damage

That fire at a Tuttle barbecue restaurant Thursday morning caused a lot of damage. Tuttle fire crews were called out to B-Ray's Barbecue just before 7 a.m. Thursday and they called in several other departments for assistance. A post on the Tuttle Fire Department's Facebook page indicates they quickly had the fire under control. A post on B-Ray's Facebook page says the restaurant had significant damage but gave no details. B-Rays thanked the fire department, the Tuttle community, their customers, and Taco Mayo for their help. The business began out of a food truck and the restaurant just opened in August of last year.

 

H.E. Bailey Turnpike's 'Cashless' System to Start Soon

The H.E. Bailey Turnpike is expected to go to a cashless pay system by the end of the month. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority approved new PlatePay rates for the highway from Lawton to Oklahoma City. For motorists who don't have a PikePass here is how the system works - a camera will take a photograph of the vehicle tag and then a bill will be mailed to the owner the vehicle. It will be more expensive than PikePass. Right now, a one-way trip from Lawton to Oklahoma City with a PikePass is $3.50. The same trip is $4.25 for those who pay cash. The cost using the PlatePay System will be $7.45. The action by the turnpike authority moves up the transition to the cashless system by about five weeks.

 

TwisterFest Among Numerous Weekend Events

Here are a few of the activities going on in the area this weekend. Chickasha's Muscle Car Ranch will be hosting its 8th annual TwisterFest. More than 40 bands from the Oklahoma and Texas region will be playing on five stages scattered throughout the nearly 100-acre ranch. Rock, blues, indie rock, country, and hip hop bands are all scheduled. The three-day, family friendly, outdoor concert runs through Sunday. RV and primitive campsites are available near any of the five lakes on the ranch. Day and weekend passes are available. Muscle cars are welcome and drivers of the muscle cars get free admission.

Legends Event Center

The Legends Event Center will host Cody Hibbard with Chickasha native T.J. Wicks tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. That is for individuals 21 and older.

Chickasha Community Theater

The Chickasha Community Theater is presenting another weekend of Disney's The Little Mermaid Junior. Performance times are 7:30 tonight and tomorrow night and the final performance will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday.

St. Luke's Art Appreciation, Wine -Tasting

St. Luke's Episcopal Church will host an art appreciation, sale, and wine-tasting event. That will be both tonight and tomorrow night from 6:30 to 10 p.m. with wine provided by the Shakespeare Wine Company. It’s free and open to the public. The church is known for its 120-year old auditorium that is still being used today.

Elks Lodge Fishing Derby

The Chickasha Elks Lodge holds its annual fishing derby tomorrow morning at Shannon Springs Park. They will be giving away four lifetime Oklahoma fishing licenses - one for each of four age groups. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. with fishing from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $121.51 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $123.07.

Natural gas is $8.96 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,845 and silver is $21.54.

 

Obituaries

Tiffany Swafford

No public services are scheduled for Tiffany Swafford, 50, of Tuttle. A Gofundme account has been established to help the family. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

Trevor Rivera

Funeral service for 25-year old Trevor Rivera of Norman is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

Thursday, June 9th

 

Fire Crews Battle Flames at Tuttle Restaurant

Firefighters from multiple departments are working to douse flames at a Tuttle restaurant this morning. The Tuttle Fire Department was dispatched to B-Ray's Barbecue at 151 East Main Street just before 7:00 a.m. Tuttle officials called in nearby fire departments for help. Listen to KOOL/RANCH News for upates.

 

Gas Prices Continue Historic Climb

Gas prices have hit an all-time high in Oklahoma as well as across the country. Gasoline prices broke the $5 a gallon mark for the first time in the Sooner State this week. A gas station in southern Oklahoma near Davis posted a price of $5.03 per gallon and a station in southwest Oklahoma had its price at $4.99. The highest price we've seen in Chickasha is nearly $4.90 a gallon. The average price for a gallon of gas in Oklahoma is up to a record $4.54 per gallon in the most recent report from Triple-A. That's 33 cents higher than just a week ago and $2.75 higher than the same time one year ago. The national average is $4.95 per gallon.

 

Trafficking Suspect Also Faces Attempted Escape Charge

A Chickasha man is facing a drug trafficking charge after authorities say they found him with more than 300 tablets laced with fentanyl. The tablets are highly addictive and fatal overdoses have occurred locally and nationally. 33-year old Tyler Celeste Miller was taken into custody following a joint operation involving the Grady County Sheriff's Office and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. The sheriff's office reports that Miller was taken into custody May 26th. Miller admitted swallowing 20 of the pills and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Authorities say Miller tried to escape while at the hospital but was quickly taken back into custody. After treatment, Miller was taken to the Grady County Jail. He is charged with drug trafficking and attempted escape. His bond was set at $300,000.

 

Pursuit Suspect Formally Charged

The suspect accused of leading Caddo County law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit this week has been formally charged in connection with the incident. Prosecutors have charged 37-year old Dustin Lee Beard of Cyril with eluding or attempting to elude, obstructing an officer, and driving with a suspended license. Beard was arrested Tuesday after the chase that had speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. He remains in the Caddo County Jail on a $15,000 bond. That includes bond on a previous felony burglary charge Beard is facing in connection with a break-in that occurred in Cyril in July of last year.

 

Ex-Con Faces New Charge of Domestic Violence

A Marlow man with a history of domestic violence is facing more allegations of assault. 39-year old Eddie Lewayne Hall, Jr. is accused of assaulting his estranged wife in connection with his most recent arrest. The Lawton Constitution reports that Hall has previous felony convictions, including a 2015 conviction out of Stephens County for domestic abuse. Hall is now facing another felony charge of assault.  He is out of jail after posting a $50,000 bond.

 

Chix Officials Schedule Annual Ward 4 Meeting

Residents in Chickasha's Ward 4 can meet with their city council representatives next week. Residents can share their concerns about city issues and talk about what they'd like to see in the city's future. Council representatives Zack Grayson and Kelly Boyd will be on hand for the meeting which will be held Monday, June 13th at 6:30 p.m. at the Chickasha Police Department. Questions can be submitted ahead of time by sending an e-mail to info@chickasha.org

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $122.11 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $123.58.

Natural gas is $8.70 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,851 and silver is $22.01.

 

Obituary

Annie Williams

Funeral service for Annie Williams, 90, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Wednesday, June 8th

 

Chix Officials Address Lack of Care at Cemeteries

Some city officials received complaints about the appearance of Chickasha's cemeteries over the Memorial Day weekend. City Councilwoman Georgianne Hebbelthwaite brought up the issue during this week's city council meeting.

 

              

 

City Manager Tyler Brooks says he has already had discussions about whether to hire another contractor or hire more city employees to do the work.

 

              

 

Brooks also said he has asked the Parks and Recreation Department to assist the Public Works Department in maintaining the cemeteries.

 

Storms Damage Grady County Jail

The Grady County Jail sustained some minor damage in the strong thunderstorms that moved through the area yesterday morning. Some of the building's exterior was ripped from the structure. Jail administrator Jim Gerlach said a large patch of the 22-year old jail's external insulation and finishing system (EIFS), which is an alternative to stucco, was blown off the outside of the second story of the four-story jail. No inmates had to be moved as the area where the damage occurred is secured. Gerlach had no estimate of damage.

 

Robbery Suspect In Custody Following Pursuit

A Cyril man wanted for robbery out of Texas is in custody after leading police on a high-speed pursuit in Caddo County. 37-year old Dustin Beard was arrested following a joint effort of Apache and Cyril police departments and the Caddo County Sheriff's Office. According to a post on the Apache Police Department's Facebook page, Beard led authorities on a pursuit that topped 100 miles per hour, endangering others throughout the chase. The post indicates that Beard jumped out of the vehicle while it was still in gear which resulted in the vehicle hitting a bridge. Beard then fled on foot down a creek but was eventually taken into custody and then to the Caddo County Jail where he is being held on complaints of felony eluding, obstruction, and driving under suspension.

 

Grady County Sheriff's Staff Honored for 20 Years of Service

Some long-time employees with the Grady County Sheriff's Office are recognized for their service. Lts. Chuck Berryhill and Carrie Boggess, and Deputy Dale Thompson were honored for 20 years of service. Sheriff Jim Weir and Undersheriff Gary Boggess say 20 years in law enforcement is a big milestone. All three individuals have sacrificed thousands of hours to serve and protect Grady County residents and have made the sheriff's office reserve program one of most elite programs of its kind in the state.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $119.41 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $120.57.

Natural gas is $9.29 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,853 and silver is $22.04.

 

Obituary

Dwain Boothe

Obituaries today include Dwain Boothe, 87, of Edmond and formerly of Chickasha. He was a pharmacist, a missionary, and a U.S. Army veteran. Viewing will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. today at Sevier Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 13th at Quail Springs Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hope Pregnancy Center in care of the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children in Oklahoma City.

 

Tuesday, June 7th

 

Morning Thunderstorms Cause Flash Flooding

Strong thunderstorms bring flooding rains and hail to much of Grady, Caddo and surrounding counties as well as parts of the Oklahoma City metro area. A flood warning was in effect until 10:30 this morning for northern Grady, western McClain, and Cleveland counties. Main roads in Chickasha were flooded including 3rd and 4th Streets from Choctaw south to Idaho Avenue and residential areas prone to flooding also had high-water issues. The flood-warned area included the H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Chickasha and Newcastle. Mesonet sites recorded more than one inch of rain in Chickasha and nearly two inches of rain in Minco. In northern Caddo County the town of Hinton recorded the heaviest rainfall total in the region at more than 4 inches of rain.

 

Concerns Arise over Planned Drilling Rigs in Chickasha

An energy company looking to drill oil and gas wells in the Chickasha city limits gets some criticism. Camino Natural Resources has obtained drilling permits from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to drill at least two wells on property near Sooner and Cottonwood Roads. The permits were on the agenda for last night’s Chickasha City Council meeting for consideration. Chickasha businessman and resident Jacobi Jarnagin expressed concern that company officials were pretty aggressive in getting property owners to sign off on the drilling.

 

              

 

Jarnagin said Camino has plans to drill four wells on a single pad at that location. Mayor Chris Mosley said he supported the drilling but that he is concerned about the road damage that will occur.

 

              

 

The company is to pay a $25,000 bond on each of the permits to the city. The council voted 7-1 to approve the permits. Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander cast the only no vote.

 

Proposed Budget for City of Chickasha to be On-line

The council spent about 15 minutes discussing the proposed 2023 fiscal year budget for the city during a public hearing last night. No residents came forward during the hearing. Officials said while only a brief summary of the plan is currently available for public view on the city’s website, the entire proposal – more than 20 pages long - will be posted on the city’s website within a view days to allow for more public scrutiny. The $48 million plan will be placed on the agenda for the council's June 20th meeting to give the budget final approval.

 

Chickasha Seeks New Public Works Director

The City of Chickasha is looking for a new public works director. David Buchanan resigned from the post last month. City Manager Tyler Brooks said Buchanan left for personal reasons. Buchanan spent more than two years in that post. Last night, the city council approved a contract with Oklahoma Municipal Management Services to bring in an interim public works director. His hourly rate will be just over $35 an hour. Brooks says a candidate has been selected and will be on the job this morning. His name has not yet been made public.

 

Chix Fire Department to get Two New Ambulances

The Chickasha Fire Department will have two new ambulances in service later this year. The city council approved the purchase of a new ambulance and cab-and-chassis for the fire department during last night's meeting. The vehicles are being purchased from Emergency Vehicle Sales and Service of Oklahoma. The price tag for the 2022 model ambulance is just under $244,000. The cost of the 2022 Dodge Ram 5500 is about $65,000. The costs of both vehicles will be reimbursed by the county's 522 EMS District. The fire department will build the second ambulance onto the cab-and-chassis that is being purchased. Fire Chief Tony Samaniego said the new ambulance is expected to be delivered in October.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $118.50 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $119.51.

Natural gas is $9.32 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,852 and silver is $22.09.

 

Obituaries

Josephine Guererro

Funeral service for Josephine Guererro, 83, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 10th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

‘Dale’ Riddle

A private family service will be held at a later date for Quenton "Dale" Riddle, 82, of Chickasha. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Monday, June 6th

 

Public Hearing to be held Tonight

for Proposed City of Chickasha Budget

A proposed budget of nearly $49 million for the City of Chickasha for fiscal year 2023 will be discussed during a public hearing that will be held the Chickasha City Council tonight. After the public hearing, the council will consider a resolution to adopt the budget which would go into effect next month.

Energy Company Seeks Drilling Permits

The council will also consider approving drilling permits for Camino Resources to drill two wells in the southeast part of the city near Sooner and Cottonwood Roads.

Purchase of New Ambulances to be Considered

The council will also consider purchasing a new ambulance and a cab-and-chassis for the fire department. It's proposed that the council purchase a 2022 ambulance at a cost of just under $244,000 and a 2022 Dodge Ram 5500 cab-and-chassis at a cost of no more than $65,000 from Emergency Sales and Service of Oklahoma. The fire department will use the cab-and-chassis to build a second ambulance. The city would be reimbursed for the cost of both vehicles by the 522 EMS district.  Also to be discussed is a proposal to retire K9 officer Jax and sell him to his handler at a cost of $100. The group will also consider a request for the temporary closing of the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue the evening of Saturday, July 2nd for a multi-class reunion celebration. The group will also consider a proposal to allow the Chickasha Area Arts Council to use the Rock Island Railroad depot area from Friday, September 30th through Sunday, October 2nd for its annual Rock Island Arts Festival.

 

Oklahoma to Participate in Kid Governor Program

Oklahoma is the 4th state in the country to participate in what's called the Kid Governor program. It's a civics lesson project for 5th grade students. Joe Dorman with the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy gives a brief description.

 

              

 

Seven finalists will be selected and then ballots will be sent to participating 5th grade classes across the state who will vote and elect a Kid Governor for the following year. For information about the program teachers can visit the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy's website: www.oica.org

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $118.87 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $119.72.

Natural gas is $8.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,857 and silver is $22.37.

 

Obituaries

Hazel Taylor

A graveside service for Hazel Taylor, 96, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 7th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Beth Kizzia

Funeral service for Beth Kizzia, 61, of Chickasha will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 7th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

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