Saturday, Aug. 20th
(Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Garvin, Stephens, and Comanche counties)
Two Die in Fiery Head-on Collision
A horrific accident south of Tuttle late yesterday claimed the lives of two people and sent a third person to a hospital. The accident involved three vehicles on State Highway 4 about a mile south of Tuttle. Killed in the crash were 64-year old Larry Ballinger of Oklahoma City and 36-year old Derek Thomas of Moore. Their bodies were pinned in their vehicles for more than 2 1/2 hours before the Bridge Creek Fire Department to get them out. 39-year old Shannon Burnside of Tuttle somehow survived - she was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where she was treated and released. The accident happened about 5:30 Friday afternoon. The trooper investigating the deadly crash said Thomas was northbound on the highway at a high rate of speed when his pickup crossed the center line and struck a southbound sedan driven by Ballinger. Burnside was also southbound and rear-ended Ballinger's car after the initial collision.
Trooper Finds 50+ Pounds of Illegal Pot in Traffic Stop
A traffic stop leads a state trooper to the discovery of more than 50 pounds of illegal marijuana. Trooper Zach Wallis was patrolling in the Amber area Wednesday afternoon when he stopped a motorist for speeding. Wallis stated in a probable cause affidavit that as he approached the vehicle he could smell marijuana. The driver said there wasn't any marijuana the van but Wallis said he was going to perform a probable cause search. Wallis said he found about 53 vacuum-sealed bags of pot, each weighing about a pound. The driver did have a medical marijuana transport card but no manifest. Wallis spoke with a representative from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Association who said the driver was in violation of state law. 38-year old De Kang Jiang of Amber was arrested on a drug complaint. Prosecutors have charged him with felony drug trafficking. Jiang is out of jail after posting a $25,000 bond. He's to announce his attorney Sept. 1st with a preliminary hearing conference set for Sept. 14th.
Rural Firefighters to Benefit from New State Law
A new law will go into effect later this year that is designed to give rural fire departments more help when it comes to addressing emergency situations. A bill signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt will remove the red tape that restricts rural fire department services. It will allow area governing bodies to enter into agreements with first responder agencies. State lawmakers worked with the state department of emergency management to develop the legislation. The law will go into effect Nov. 1st.
Talk Show Topics
Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Michelle Skinner with the Chickasha Library and Wendi Ilacolbello with the Friends of the Library are this week’s guests on our KOOL Konversation. And Jamie Jones with the Grady County Fairgrounds is on Real Estate Today. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.
Obituaries
Mary Stephenson
Funeral service for Mary Stephenson, 87, of Chickasha will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 21st at the Main Street Church in Alex. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
Helen Greenroyd
Funeral service for Helen Greenroyd, 95, of Tuttle is pending with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.
---
Friday, Aug. 19th
(Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Garvin, Stephens, and Comanche counties)
Grady County Fair set Next Week
The 107th Grady County Free Fair is next week. The main events will be Aug. 25th-27th but some activities begin early in the week. The Fair Princess contest is on Monday however the winner won't be announced until the opening night of the fair Thursday. There is also a Little Miss contest. On Tuesday, individuals can submit items for the still and farm mechanics exhibits at the fairgrounds from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. Exhibitor numbers and tags can be picked up at the OSU Extension Office today and Monday. Wednesday is the day that commercial vendors can set up their displays. The fair opens to the public at 10:00 a.m. Thursday. The carnival will have arm bands available all three days and a high-octane tractor pull will be Friday and Saturday nights. County OHCE groups will serve home-made meals in the community building and Indian tacos in the north exhibit building.
USAO Students Return
USAO is getting ready for a big weekend. Returning students have been moving back to campus this week with many more arriving over the next couple of days. About 350 freshmen are going through orientation today which will be capped off with a celebration on the USAO Oval. Tomorrow night, the university is inviting all of Chickasha to welcome students back to the area. Jim Cowan with the Economic Development Council says-
USAO classes begin on Monday.
In-Person, Absentee Voting Continues
Early voting continues today ahead of next Tuesday's primary run-off election. Voters can cast in-person, absentee ballots at their county election board and don't need a special reason to do so. In-person, absentee voting is available until 6 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Registration Open for Rock Island Ride Bicycle Tour
As we look at the calendar the Labor Day Weekend is just a couple of weeks away. Not long after that will one of the busiest weekends in town. Sept. 30th through Oct. 2nd is the Rock Island Arts Festival which will also include the Rock Island Ride Bicycle Tour and the Oklahoma Food Truck Championship. Johnny Trammel is one of the organizers for the bicycle tour and says it has become of favorite of bike enthusiasts.
There are family-friendly rides in town and rides of more than 60 miles throughout the county, including a couple of routes on gravel roads. The ride is on Saturday, Oct. 1st and proceeds benefit local charities. Riders can sign up in advance by going to the website: www.bikereg.com/Chickasha
Blanchard Hosts Bluegrass Festival
Bluegrass music fans will be in Blanchard this weekend for the town’s annual bluegrass festival. The festival runs over two days at Lions Park and the music begins at 5 o'clock this afternoon and at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. On stage will be The Hunt Brothers Band, Cliff Top, Bazemore Bluegrass, Graystone Music Revival, Bluegrass Express, The Horn Family, Southbound Mule, and there will be a jam session. Admission is free and organizers recommend individuals take lawn chairs and blankets. Food trucks will be on hand.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $90.50 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is 96.59.
Natural gas is $9.19 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,763 and silver is $19.23.
---
Thursday, Aug. 18th
(Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Garvin, Stephens, and Comanche counties)
Early Voting Begins Ahead of Next Tuesday's Election
Oklahomans can cast their ballots before next Tuesday's primary run-off election if they want to. Voters can go to their county election boards for in-person, absentee voting from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today or tomorrow or 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. In Grady County, there are bond elections for voters in Chickasha, Alex, Dibble, Middleberg Bridge Creek, and Newcastle school districts. The District 3 Grady County Commissioner race between incumbent Ralph Beard and challenger Gary Bray is only on the Republican run-off ballot for residents in District 3 of Grady County. In Caddo County, there are school bond propositions for voters in Cyril and Ft. Cobb Broxton school districts. Polls on Tuesday, Aug. 23rd will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Caddo County Wildfire Burns 4,500+ Acres
A huge wildland fire burned thousands of acres in Caddo County. The fire charred about 4,700 acres west of Apache in the area of State Highways 58 and 19. Volunteers from Grady County Volunteer Fire Departments were among the more than 230 firefighters and 80 trucks that were dispatched. The Grady County Task Force says part of the battle included back-burning deep canyons which could not be accessed by fire trucks. Comanche County Emergency Management officials said there were no reports of injuries or structure damage.
Kiowa Housing Authority to Build New Homes
It's been more than 20 years since the Kiowa Housing Authority has been able to build new homes for tribal members. That will be changing soon as the authority has received a $5 million federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD officials reported that the Anadarko area was in great need for new homes saying the region was 1,200 homes short for its population of Kiowa Tribe members. Housing Authority Executive Director Billy Komacheet told KSWO-TV that they have done a lot of work over the last three years to get the grant and they look forward to the new construction. Tribal Development Consultant Brandi Liberty said it was a group effort by working with county commissioners and others. She said the plan is to have even more homes built for low-income Kiowa families through other funding sources they will apply for over the next five years.
4Her Shares Internet Safety Tips
A Grady County 4Her is sharing some Internet safety tips. Matthew Lam is with the Rock Island 4H Club.
He also recommends not clicking on any links, or opening attachments, or accepting gifts from people you don't know. They can contain spyware which allows others to see the same thing the user is seeing or even access the camera and literally spy on you.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $88.11 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $93.65.
Natural gas is $9.24 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,783 and silver is $19.88.
Obituaries
Charles Eldon Self
A private family memorial service will be held for Charles Self, 86, of Chickasha and previously from Texas. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Gary Burns
Funeral service for Gary Burns, 57, of Chickasha is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.
---
Wednesday, Aug. 17th
(Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Garvin, Stephens, and Comanche counties)
DEQ Probe of Hand Sanitizer Storage
Began Days Before Fire Erupted
A state agency began looking into concerns of large amounts of hand sanitizer being stored at the former Chickasha Manufacturing company last month - about two weeks before a massive fire destroyed the plant and 1 1/2 million gallons of hand sanitizer that was being stored inside. Records on file at the Grady County Courthouse show that the State Department of Environmental Quality issued an injunction against Bordwine Development Company on July 22nd. DEQ investigators allege they saw sanitizer stacked at three locations, all in the area of the former Chickasha Manufacturing Company. The document also indicates investigators saw an area near the road where a pit had been dug and liquid was standing in it; and officials determined that sanitizer had drained down the ditch at a distance of more than 700 feet which is the length of 2 1/2 football fields. Bordwine Development officials said the pit had been dug to expand the drive area into the property to make it easier to accommodate semis, but they encountered ground water and decided not to expand the drive area. KFOR-TV reports that officials have taken a lot of soil and water samples and that those samples are currently being analyzed. After the fire, DEQ investigators said they found two manholes to the City of Chickasha's sanitary sewer main were open and that there was a presence of the sanitizer in the sewer line. The DEQ also said the company has a history of previous environmental violations and non-compliance. Bordwine Development's attorney told KFOR that recycling hand sanitizer does not require hazardous waste permits and protocols for transportation, storage, and recycling.
$1 Million Bond Set for Woman who Shot Two People
The woman accused of barricading herself in a deputy sheriff's SUV and shooting at deputies has been formally charge with three counts of shooting with intent to kill. Rachel Zion Clay was arraigned on the charges in Grady County District Court yesterday and a judge set her bond at $1 million. Clay was arrested last Friday at a home in rural Bridge Creek. Authorities were called to the home to do a welfare check on a woman. Deputies detained Clay, put her in handcuffs, and in the back of the deputy's SUV. She managed to get free of the handcuffs and get an AK-47 that was inside. Clay fired 10 rounds through a window of the SUV at two deputies and a bystander. The bystander and one deputy were injured and taken to a hospital but neither were seriously injured. Clay is to announce her attorney Sept. 1st and a preliminary hearing conference is set for Sept. 14th.
Mom Arrested For Not Sending Child to School
A Grady County woman is arrested for not making her child go to school. An arrest warrant was issued last week for 38-year old Kelly Ann Robisch of Blanchard. A probable cause affidavit filed at the Grady County Courthouse indicates that Robisch was contacted three times during last school year because her young child was missing too many days. The last contact was just before school was released in May and the child had missed 58 days and 48 of them were unexcused. Robisch told investigators the child had been sick and one time went 36 hours without sleeping. Robisch was arrested earlier this week and was formally charged with two misdemeanor counts of neglect or refusal to compel the child to attend school. She is out of jail after posting a $1,500 bond. The case has been scheduled for disposition Sept. 9th.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $86.53 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $92.34.
Natural gas is $9.33 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,788 and silver is $20.00.
Obituary
Eddie Juarez
A memorial service for Eddie Juarez, 58, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 27th at Southern Oaks Church of Christ. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
---
Tuesday, Aug. 16th
(Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Garvin, Stephens, and Comanche counties)
Waste Connections Seeks Contract Revision with Chickasha
The company that provides trash pickup services for the City of Chickasha is asking for larger price increase than is allowed in its current contract. Brittany Eagleston of Waste Connections told the city council last night that the reason for the request is due to an increase in the Consumer Price Index. She said the current contract allows for a maximum 3.5 percent increase. Based on the current CPI, Eagleston said they are operating at a deficit of about 6 percent. The company said the price increase, if approved, would be spread out over a five-year period. The council will consider the proposal in a future meeting. It wasn’t clear if an increase in the contract price would mean an increase in costs for residents and businesses.
Approval Given for New Internet Service Provider to Offer Services
The council approved a non-exclusive franchise agreement with Dobson Technologies to allow the sale of broadband data, video services, and voice-over Internet service in the city. The panel postponed decisions two issues related to the Badgett Dog Park. One was to accept the project as complete and the other to make a final payment of more than $41,000 to the park’s contractor Brannan Bordwine. Officials say a maintenance bond and other needed documents to consider the project complete have not yet been received. The panel also approved a proposal to publicize the public sale of mineral rights on more than 3,700 acres of land the city owns at Lake Chickasha. This was a house cleaning measure which combines several tracts into one document.
Apache Man Dies After Being Injured in July Crash
A Caddo County man who was critically injured in an accident between a UTV and an SUV last month has died. 29-year old Chandler Pettit of Apache died last Thursday as the result of the injuries suffered in the crash. The accident occurred Thursday, July 28th on State Highway 58 about eight miles south of Carnegie. The highway patrol reported that Pettit was driving a UTV and failed to yield from a stop sign on a country road and his UTV was hit by the SUV.
Former Ampo Superintendent W.L. Jackson Dies
Longtime Amber-Pocasset school superintendent W.L. Jackson has died. Jackson was 87 when he passed away on Sunday. He spent more than 30 years at Ampo. He was born in Burns Flat and went to high school there where he helped his baseball team win back-to-back state titles in 1950 and 1951. He attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University on a baseball scholarship and set several records, some of which are still intact. Jackson was a 60-year Mason and a member of the Oklahoma Association of Retired Administrators. Survivors include his wife of Gwen. The couple would have celebrated their 66th anniversary in a couple of weeks. Funeral service for W.L. Jackson will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 18th at the First Baptist Church of Pocasset. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Grady County Burn Ban Extended
Grady County Commissioners have extended a burn ban. Officials signed a resolution at their meeting Monday to continue the ban through August 29th. The ban was first implemented July 18th due to extreme heat and drought. Much of the region had significant rainfall last week, however the region continues to be very dry, afternoon temperatures still hover around the 100-degree mark, and minimal rain chances are forecast over the next week. Burn bans also remain in effect for Comanche, Stephens, and Garvin counties.
Grady County Fire Board to Consider Equipment Purchase
A proposal to purchase gas sniffers and monitors for volunteer fire departments will be discussed during tonight's Grady County Fire Board meeting. The panel will also get an update on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and grants, and will welcome Dustin Wynn as the new Farwell Department board member. The group will go behind closed doors to discuss applications for new firefighters at Ninnekah, Farwell, and Cox City and to release one fire fighter from Farwell. The fire board meets at 7 o'clock tonight at the Grady County Emergency Management Office community room.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $89.41 per barrel.
London-based Crude oil is $95.10.
Natural gas is $8.73 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,791 and silver is $20.17.
Obituary
Shirley Bozarth
Funeral Service for Shirley Bozarth, 77, of Tuttle were held at 10:30 this morning (Tuesday, Aug. 16th) at Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.
---
Monday, Aug. 15th
(Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Garvin, Stephens, and Comanche counties)
EPA Joins Work in Sanitizer Fire Aftermath;
Several Agencies to be Part of the Investigation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been called in to help with the removal of any of hand sanitizer that may be remaining in the aftermath of the massive fire that destroyed a former manufacturing plant in Chickasha last weekend. In addition, District Attorney Jason Hicks announced a joint investigation to include city, county, and state agencies to look into the matter. The agencies include the DA's office, Chickasha Police and Fire Departments, Chickasha City Hall, the Grady County Sheriff's Office, the State Fire Marshal, the State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the OSBI, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. Hicks said there are multiple issues that must be resolved. As the result of the initial investigation, The DEQ issued an emergency order to immediately cease receiving hand sanitizer and all transporting, or the causing to transport sanitizer unless it is in accord with state and federal law, and to immediately cease all improper disposal of sanitizer. The order was directed to Brannan Bordwine, Bordwine Development, and any unknown affiliated entities - requiring that no sanitizer be moved or accepted. Chickasha Police Chief Dee Rowell served the order on Bordwine last Friday night. The EPA is currently at multiple sites assessing the situation and will then begin the process of moving the sanitizer. All efforts are to ensure the safety and well-being of Grady County citizens.
Weekend Crash Kills Two People Near Ft. Cobb
A deadly traffic accident claims the lives of two people near Ft. Cobb over the weekend. 45-year old Benjamin Horse and 38-year old Robin Gomez, both of Anadarko, died in the crash. The accident was discovered about 8:30 a.m. Sunday. The accident happened at The Washita River Bridge near State Highway 9 and CR 1330 north of Ft. Cobb. The highway patrol reports that the vehicle left the roadway, hit a guardrail and embankment, went airborne and landed upside down in the river.
Deputy Shot in Friday Confrontation Identified
A Grady County sheriff's deputy who was injured in a confrontation with a woman who barricaded herself inside a deputy’s car has been identified. Deputy Keith Williams suffered a superficial wound on his neck during the stand-off which occurred near Bridge Creek last Friday. Williams was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was treated and released. Grady County Undersheriff Gary Boggess said a bystander was shot in the chest and suffered an injury believed to be from shrapnel as no bullet was found. The unidentified bystander spent the night in the hospital and was released the next day. Authorities were initially called to the home to do a welfare check on a woman. They found her acting strangely and detailed her, handcuffing her and placing her in the back of a deputy’s car. Somehow she got out of the handcuffs, retrieved a firearm, and began shooting at people from inside the car. The woman, identified as 36-year old Rachel Zion Clay of Tuttle, was arrested on a complaint of shooting with intent to kill and taken to the Grady County Jail. She could have her initial appearance on the complaint in Grady County District Court today.
Lake Chickasha Mineral Rights may be Auctioned
The Chickasha City Council will consider holding a public auction to lease the mineral rights on hundreds of acres of land the city owns around Lake Chickasha tonight. The panel will also go behind closed doors to discuss negotiations with the Chickasha Firefighters Association and the on-going search for a new city manager. The panel will also hear a presentation from a representative of Waste Connections which is the private contractor hired by the city for trash disposal. The council will also consider accepting a nearly $3,000 First Responder grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall and the meeting can be viewed on the City of Chickasha’s website or on Optimum (Suddenlink) Channel 3.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $92.77 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $98.15.
Natural gas is $8.77 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,792 and silver is $20.43.
