Tuesday, Nov. 21st
Chix City Council Meeting Canceled
Last night's regularly scheduled Chickasha City Council meeting was canceled because not enough council members were present. Four of nine councilors were absent leaving only five members to conduct business including Mayor Chris Mosley. However the mayor does not count when it comes to having a quorum for the meeting. Mosley initially postponed the meeting and moved on to the agendas for two other arms of city government - The Chickasha Municipal Authority and the Chickasha Airport Authority - where the mayor does count toward the minimum five members needed for a quorum. Both of those meetings were over with quickly as there were only a few routine items on what's called a consent docket where all items can be approved with a single vote. Mosley anticipated that one of the four absentee council members would soon arrive but after about a 15-minute wait the meeting was canceled. Council representatives missing were Rick Croslin, Oscar Nelson, Brian Gerdes, and Kelly Boyd. The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 4th.
Downtown lamp shade controversy returns
A number of people attending had signed up to discuss issues during the citizen's communications portion of the meeting. Some were expected to talk about the weekend social media post regarding a lamp shade placed on a lamp post near the Leg Lamp in downtown area. Developer Chet Hitt had placed a lamp shade on a post in front of the Savoy 1902 Hotel he is remodeling. The lamp shade was similar to the one that is on the leg lamp, but without the fringe. In a Facebook video, Hitt said some Grinches didn't like the lamp shade and - after meeting with city leaders - he decided to take it down.
Lamp shade may violate copyright laws
About this time last year, there was controversy about replacing angels on the downtown lamp posts with lamp shades. At that time, the city attorney advised the council to not use the lamp shades as it might be a copyright infringement with the movie ‘A Christmas Story’. Hitt's post has had more than 12,000 views and an overwhelming majority support the lamp shade. Now, Hitt has posted a new Facebook video offering commemorative ‘The Grinch Who Stole Chickasha's Lamp Shade’ t-shirts for sale with proceeds going to the Salvation Army.
Grady County Jail to get Inmates from Comanche County
The Grady County Jail will be getting a few extra inmates from a neighboring county. Comanche County Commissioners say there is an overflow of inmates at their jail in Lawton and they have reached out to both Grady and Okmulgee counties to help out. Grady County could be getting as many as 15 prisoners and Okmulgee County as many as 20 if room is available. The agreements could last up to a year.
Non-Working Tag Light Leads to Drug Arrest
A woman is jailed on a $100,000 bond for having numerous drugs in her possession after she was pulled over on a traffic stop. 49-year old Kelli Little of Duncan was stopped by a Grady County deputy last Friday because the tag light on her vehicle was out. The deputy also was informed that her driver’s license had been revoked. Authorities found Fentanyl, methamphetamine and drug items in the vehicle. Little has been formally charged with a felony for aggravated drug trafficking and several misdemeanors. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 6th.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.60 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $82.32.
Natural gas is $2.88 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,009 and silver is $23.95.
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Monday, Nov. 20th
Driver Critical After Pickup Crashes into a Ravine
A driver is battling life-threatening injuries after his pickup crashed on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. 61-year old David Moore of Newalla suffered numerous injuries in the accident which occurred about six miles southwest of Chickasha about 7 a.m. Sunday. The highway patrol reports that Moore was eastbound on the turnpike near mile marker 74 when the pickup ran off the highway, went airborne for nearly 150 feet, then flipped end-over-end 1 1/2 times and landed upside-down in a ravine. Moore was pinned in the wreckage for an unknown amount of time before the Chickasha Fire Department was able to get him out using the Jaws of Life. The accident remains under investigation.
Chix City Council to Consider Cost Overruns on Project
It's going to cost the City of Chickasha another $56,000 to pay for a water line project. The city council tonight will consider the adjustment after the contractor said there had been some increases in costs since the project was awarded this past summer. The project is part of a Community Development Block Grant received for improvements in the 300 block of Missouri Ave.; on Virginia Ave. from Shepherd Street to Henderson Street; and on Henderson Street for a half-block from Virginia Ave. north.
Carpet for City Hall to be discussed
The council is also expected to approve spending nearly $14,000 to install new carpet in city hall. The city has been negotiating with OK Carpet of Chickasha for the work since no bids were received. The carpet will replace flooring that was damaged in the 2020 ice storm.
EDC Audits submitted
Under consent docket items on the agenda for tonight's meeting the council is asked to acknowledge the receipt of the audits of the Economic Development Council for the fiscal years ending in June of 2022 and June of 2023. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at City Hall.
Chix Community Thanksgiving Dinner is Thursday
Chickasha's annual community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held this Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23rd. A number of churches and organizations have hosted the event for many years. The meal will be held at the Chickasha Soup Kitchen at 6th and Pennsylvania Ave. from 11:00 a.m. to noon and will have all the traditional menu items. Meals will be delivered to homebound residents. Individuals who would like meals delivered are asked to call 405-222-5433 by the end of the day tomorrow. The meal is free but donations are welcome.
'Golden Ticket' Blood Drive Today
KOOL/RANCH radio stations, the YMCA, and the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) are again joining efforts for a community blood drive today. The OBI Bloodmobile will be in the YMCA parking lot at 7th and Chickasha Ave. from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. Donors at all OBI blood drives taking place in the region today receive a chocolate bar - one of which has a golden ticket - which can be redeemed for $250 Visa Gift Card. If you can't donate today find an upcoming blood drive in your area by visiting the blood institute's website: www.obi.org
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.89 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $80.61.
Natural gas is $2.96 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,976 and silver is $23.88.
Obituary
Buren Thompson
Funeral service for Buren Thompson, 95, of Cement will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 21st at the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Cement. He worked in the commercial trades sector and helped to build Grady Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
