Saturday, July 15th
Anadarko Stand-off Ends Peacefully; Suspect in Custody
Law enforcement agencies were summoned to an Anadarko home yesterday where a man pointed a gun at utility crews working near his home. The incident led to a stand-off where it was reported the suspect barricaded himself inside his home in the area of Southwest 2nd Street and Alabama Avenue. The Caddo County Sheriff's Office and state troopers were called in to assist. The suspect kept law enforcement at bay for about two hours. Our partners at KWTV-News 9 reported the suspect attempted to escape out of a back window of the home but he was quickly taken into custody. Authorities arrested Jeremy Jonhammadi who was taken to the Caddo County Jail on unspecified complaints. Formal charges could be filed on Monday.
Driver Hospitalized Following SUV Crash
A driver had to be air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after his SUV crashed and rolled between Verden and Anadarko. 34-year old James Parrot suffered head and trunk injuries and was last in stable condition. The accident happened on U.S. Highway 62 five miles east of Anadarko about 3:30 yesterday afternoon. The highway patrol reports that Parrot was westbound at a high rate of speed, veered off the highway, drove through the median and hit a guard rail on the other side of the highway, then flipped end-over-end twice. The trooper investigating the crash said there was an odor of alcohol inside the SUV.
Woman Arrested for Alleged Threat with Broken Lamp Bulb
A Ninnekah woman is out of jail on bond after being charged with attacking a man with a broken heat lamp bulb. Ninnekah police arrested 25-year old Esperanza Ramirez Machen after they were called to a home Wednesday afternoon to investigate a domestic disturbance. The alleged victim said he and Machen were arguing when she broke a heat lamp bulb and threatened to stab the victim with the broken end. A probable cause affidavit indicates that the suspect admitted threatening the victim but did not intend to hurt him. Machen is facing a felony count of domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and was released after posting a $15,000 bond. She is to return to court August 2nd.
Suspect on Probation Back in Custody After Short Chase
A man who recently pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug charges is in more touble with the law after leading a deputy on a short vehicle pursuit through a Chickasha neighborhood. 47-year old Donald Muerice Long, III of Ninnekah was arrested late Thursday night. A Grady County deputy tried to pull Long over for not having a valid tag on his vehicle. A probable cause affidavit indicates that Long did not stop for several blocks until he pulled into the driveway of a home near 12th and Kansas. While questioning Long the deputy saw marijuana and drug items in the vehicle. The deputy was also notified that Long did not have a valid drivers licence and that he had an oustanding warrant through the city of Ninnekah. He was taken to the Grady County Jail and prosecutors charged him with misdemeanors which include eluding, drug possession, and not having a license. He remains in jail pending a $5,000 bond. This past March, Long pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug charges after being arrested by a state trooper. He was sentenced to a year in jail with all but 25 days suspended.
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day!
Tomorrow (Sunday, Jan 16th) is National Ice Cream Day. Braum's stores throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Missouri are celebrating with special sales on ice cream cones and frozen yogurt cones. As many of you know, the Braums family farm is just outside of Tuttle - but what you may not know is that all of Braum's ice cream and baked goods are also made there. Braums is one of the largest dairy operations of its kind in the world where crews milk 800 cows every 32 minutes.
Talk Show Topics
Here's what we're talking about this weekend. On our KOOL Konversation, Lt. Bobby McFarland with the Salvation Army serving Grady and Caddo counties is our guest. On Real Estate Today is Minco School Superintendent Kevin Sims. Find podcasts of both podcasts under the Community tab on this website.
---
Friday, July 14th
New Chix Leaders Discuss City's Future
New USAO president Kayla Hale and downtown Chickasha developer Chet Hitt join forces in a social media video discussing plans to unite the Grady County Fairgrounds and the Rock Island Railroad Depot. A more than two-minute video is posted on the USAO Facebook page with Hitt welcoming Hale to Chickasha and promoting two proposals. The first is to build a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks which runs between the two sites and the second is to construct what would be called the Drover Hotel.
Hitt talked about the proposal to have the university and hotel incorporate culinary and hospitality programs. Hitt continues work to build a distillery and renovate the former Savoy 1902 hotel into a barbecue restaurant. Hale was recently named the new president of USAO and will assume her duties on August 1st.
Grady County Fair Set Aug. 24th-26th
The 108th Grady County Fair will be here before you know it. The fair will be a three-day event running Thursday, Aug. 24th through Saturday, Aug. 26th. The theme this year is "The Place to be in 2023”. It will include the usual events like stock shows, a cake show and auction, a pet show, live music, and dozens of commercial vendors. Of course there will be a carnival and for the second straight year, a tractor pull with ear-splitting, high horse-powered tractors. Grady County OHCE will be serving their home-cooked meals and concessions to include sandwiches and Indian tacos. A couple of new events are a cornhole tournament and a mullet contest.
Downtown Chix Art Walk Tonight
The monthly art walk in downtown Chickasha will be held this evening. It's held the second Friday of each month and artists from all mediums will have items on display and for sale. It encompasses the area from the leg lamp and the Rock Island Depot to the Chickasha Art Center near 7th and Chickasha and the Shakespeare Wine Company near 6th and Kansas. Coordinator Dana Helms says at least one area community is envious.
The art walk is from 5 to 8 tonight. To enhance activities on the west end area Shakespeare Wine Company will have free hot dogs and water while Downtown Scoops and Jungle Ice food trucks are expected to have cool treats available. For information check out the Chickasha Art Walk Facebook page.
Fairgrounds Hosts State 4H Horse Show
The Grady County Fairgrounds is hosting the Oklahoma 4H Horse Show this weekend. About 100 youth from across the state are competing. The show coordinator is Kris Hiney who is an Extension Equine specialist with Oklahoma State University.
Winners this weekend can go on to compete in the National 4H Horse Show. This is the third straight year for the event to be held in Chickasha. The show runs through tomorrow and admission is free for spectators.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.89 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $81.36.
Natural gas is $2.55 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,960 and silver is $24.95.
---
Thursday, July 13th
Chix Voters to Decide How to Pay for Water Treatment Plant
The City of Chickasha has been ordered by the state department of environmental quality to make upgrades to the city's water. Chickasha residents will go to the polls next month to consider how to pay to build a new water treatment plant that has an estimated price tag of $74 million. Residents will decide if the city's sales tax should be permanently increased to pay for it. Otherwise, Mayor Chris Mosley says the city's water customers will see a huge increase in their water rates.
The tax increase would also help pay for additional street repairs as well as police and fire equipment. Voters will go to the polls August 8th to decide the sales tax issue which would go into effect the first of the year if it's approved. Details of the proposals are on the city’s website: chickasha.org
Onward Chickasha Project Seeks More Community Input
The firm leading the Onward Chickasha project has introduced the next part of its effort to get community input regarding the future of the city. Participants can now take part in a visual preference survey. It includes a number of images of potential development and design alternatives and asks individuals to choose the ones they like best. The information will be used to get an overall idea of what homes, stores, offices, and streets should look like. The Onward Chickasha project is an 18-month effort to get input from the community regarding the next 20-30 years of development in the city. For information visit the website: Onward Chickasha.org
New Principal Named for Lincoln School
Chickasha school officials have hired a new principal for Lincoln School but it's someone who has been with the 4th and 5th graders for some time. Angie Morgan, who previously served as the school’s assistant principal, was named to the post by the Chickasha school board this week. She is a life-long educator with more than 30 years in the field including 17 of those years with Chickasha schools. She taught at teaching at Lincoln, Grand, and the former Southwest Elementary school. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from USAO and a master's in education from Southwestern Oklahoma State. Morgan will assume the role previously held by Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander who retired from the district at the end of this past school year.
New Anadarko School Board Member Sworn In
A vacant post on the Anadarko School Board has been filled. Paul Tointigh has the story.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.75 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $80.11.
Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,964 and silver is $24.42.
Obituaries
Richard Welch
No service is schedule for Richard Welch, 85, of Chickasha. He was a life-long printer and established Richard's Printing Company. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Nelda Ross
Funeral service for Nelda Ross, 95, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 15th at the Verden First Baptist Church. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
---
Wednesday, July 12th
Deputy Killed in Accident to be Laid to Rest
Grady County Deputy Sheriff Chase Stinson will be laid to rest tomorrow. Stinson died in a weekend motorcycle accident in Norman. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning at the First Baptist Church of Blanchard. His body was escorted home yesterday by a number of law enforcement personnel. Stinson had an early interest in law enforcement in the Explorer program when he was a student at Blanchard High School. He was part of the Lions football and wrestling teams and graduated in 2015. He worked for the Blanchard Police Department for five years and worked with the sheriff's office for about three years and was the school resource officer at Bridge Creek. He also was a firearms instructor with CLEET.
Salvation Army, Utilities Join Efforts
to Provide Summer Cooling Assistance
Summer time temps are returning to the region and that means air conditioners will be kicking in to high gear. That can put a toll on needy families struggling to meet their summer cooling needs. The Salvation Army which serves Grady and Caddo counties is working with some utility companies to ask their customers to add a little extra to their monthly payments to help those in need. July is Home Energy Aid month, and utility companies like PSO, OG&E, and Oklahoma Natural Gas will match some of those donated funds. Last year, more than $530,000 in utility assistance was provided statewide to nearly 2,400 households and over 10,000 individuals through this program. Utility customers can submit monthly contributions simply by checking a box on their utility bill. Contributions may also be made at the Grady and Caddo County Salvation Army headquarters at 2402 S. 16th in Chickasha.
USAO Environmental Studies Students Serve Summer Internships
A number of environmental science students majoring in environmental studies at USAO are getting some real-world experience in summer internships. Savanna Rivera, who is also working a double major in psychology, is interning at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in California. Devonian Locke of McAlester is interning at an independent, research-based non-profit in Boston; Yeishka Reyes of Puerto Rico is interning with a pharmaceutical company in her home country; and Bea Bourland of Mustang is interning with the Oklahoma Water Survey in Norman. Dr. Rachel Jones says summer research positions are a great way for students to prepare for post college-career options, and for students to get exposure to a wider set of opportunities.
Chickasha Grad Scores Post With Texas Tech
A Chickasha high school grad will be working with a Big 12 conference basketball team this year. Chris Nottingham has was recently named video coordinator for Texas Tech. Nottingham held a similar position at Baylor when the Bears won a national championship and two Big 12 titles. Nottingham talks about his role with Texas Tech.
Nottingham earned both a bachelor's and master's degree at Baylor.
Obituaries
Seth Hoover
Funeral service for Seth Hoover, 29, of Cement, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 14th at Laverty Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Lila 'Jill" Clark
Funeral service for Jill Clark, 76, of Oklahoma City, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 14th at Chickasha's First Christian Church. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.83 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $79.40.
Natural gas is $2.73 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,940 and silver is 23.37.
---
Tuesday, July 11th
Grady County Deputy Dies in Motorcycle Accident
A motorcycle accident claims the life of a Grady County deputy sheriff. Deputy Chase Stinson died early Sunday morning while riding motorcycles with his brothers in Norman. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess says they were riding in the area of I-35 and Lindsay Street when Stinson hit the curb of the on-ramp to I-35. That made him lose control of the bike and it crashed into a concrete wall. Stinson was just 26-years old. He had only been with the sheriff's office for two years starting as a courthouse deputy and this past year he was the resource officer for Bridge Creek schools. Prior to that he spent five years with the Blanchard Police Department. Stinson leaves behind his wife Maria and their three-year old daughter. More than 180 comments have been posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page regarding Stinson's death. A funeral service has not yet been announced.
Bradley Community Under Voluntary Boil Order
Customers of Grady County Rural Water District Three in the Bradley area are under a voluntary boil order. Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson said there was a 4-inch water line break on Saturday and crews spent much of Saturday making repairs. When they turned the water pressure back on the water line broke again causing all the water to drain out of the tower. Officials brought in some potable and non-potable water for customers until the line could be fixed again. Thompson said the Oklahoma Rural Water Association helped with repairs on Sunday. District Supervisor Jamie Mainka said the voluntary boil order will be in effect until they get two consecutive clear water samples.
Rush Springs Burglary Suspect in Custody
A burglary suspect is in the Grady County Jail after being arrested in connection with a number of break-ins in Rush Springs. 23-year old Robert Capone Clemons was arrested by Rush Springs police Saturday morning. KSWO-TV cites court documents alleging that Clemons broke into several vehicles and took items that included boxes of ammunition, knives, a wallet, and even a couple of vapes. Prosecutors have charged Clemens with six felony counts of counts third degree burglary and he remains in jail on a $20,000 bond.
Contractor Seeks Zoning Change to Build Homes
A local contractor goes before the Chickasha Planning Commission today for a public hearing to request a zoning change for some property in the southwest part of the city. Brannan Bordwine is asking to re-zone a couple of acres of agriculturally-zoned property to residential use in order to build some homes. The property is in the 2300 to 2500 blocks of Country Club Road.
Home day care operation approval sought
The Planning Commission will also have a public hearing regarding a use-on-review request to operate a home daycare in the 900 block of South 13th Street. Kelsea Dobbins is the applicant.
Chix Police Department Offers Sign-on Bonuses
The Chickasha Police Department is now offering sign-on bonuses of up to $10,000 for certified applicants who join the force. The department's Facebook page indicates that non-certified applicants who are hired are eligible for up to a $6,000 sign-on bonus. Benefits include 10 paid holidays per year, paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, and paid training. Uniforms and equipment are provided and there is college tuition reimbursement assistance. Candidates can apply on-line at chickasha.org/jobs or applicants can send an e-mail to:
recruiting@chickashapd.org.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.99 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $77.69.
Natural gas is $2.67 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,943 and silver is $23.42
Obituary
Faybell ‘Fay’ Buchanan
A graveside service for Fay Buchanan, 85, of Verden will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 12th in the Verden Cemetery. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
---
Monday, July 10th
Truck Driver Dies in OKC Crash
A truck driver from Cement died after he was thrown out of his semi and pinned underneath when the big rig crashed last night. 29-year old Seth Hoover died in the accident that happed just after 8:00 p.m. near I-44 and I-240 Oklahoma City. The highway patrol reported that Hoover was northbound on I-44 when the truck went into a broad slide on a curve and rolled over onto its side. Hoover was ejected from the cab and pinned under the wreckage for nearly two hours. The trooper investigating the crash said Hoover was traveling at an unsafe speed. The semi's airbags did deploy but and Hoover was not wearing his seat belt.
More Changes Requested With CHS Upgrades
Another change-order is being requested in connection with the installation of the new field turf on the football field and related construction at Chickasha High School. The board of education will consider a more than $7,000 revision in the contract in order to improve water drainage along John Cowan Drive. The proposal from Field Turf USA includes removing an obsolete tin horn which blocks proper water flow and re-grading the roadway ditch. It also includes soil stabilization, installing manholes, junction boxes, storm drainage and concrete work, and sod or hydro-seeding. The school board will also consider an agreement with Canadian Valley Technology Center to provided advanced math and science classes, memorandums of understanding with the Delta Community Action Foster Grandparent program, and the South Central Oklahoma Workforce Board. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.
Library to Host Job Fair
There are dozens of employment opportunities in the Chickasha area. The Chickasha Library will be the site of another hiring event this Friday, July 14th with companies seeking military veterans. Among the companies and groups on hand will be Grady Memorial Hospital, the City of Chickasha, Wal-Mart, Amazon, Cherokee Temps, and Express Employment Services. The job fair will be from noon to 3 p.m. with the first hour reserved for veterans and their spouses including active or transitioning service members, and those serving in the guard or reserve. The event will be open to the public from 1-3 p.m.
Indian Expo Returns After Hiatus
The Anadarko American Indian Exposition is returning. It will be the first expo to be held since the pandemic. The last was held in 2019. This will be the 88th expo with many activities to take place at the Caddo County Fairgrounds. The expo began in 1935 to promote and retain Native American cultural life, art, and hand-made crafts. Officials have announced that Lane Factor of television series Reservation Dogs is this year's Celebrity Indian of the Year. The expo will be August 2nd through the 5th. Tanner Mahseet is the chairman of this year's expo.
OSU Extension to Offer Grilling Tips
It's grilling season and some people have the knack to always prepare the perfect cut of meat. If your barbecuing skills could use some improvement, Grady County OSU Extension is offering some help. Emma Lewis is the summer intern for the extension office.
Lewis will lead a lunch-and-learn program tomorrow to pass along some tips about beef selection and cooking and will even have some samples. The program is from 12 to 1 tomorrow at the Extension Office. If you are unable to attend the office has free booklets available.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.86 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $78.47.
Natural gas is $2.58 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,928 and silver is $23.24.
---
