Mollman Media News - KOOL 105.5

Mollman Media News Archives for 2019-04

Today Let’s meet Canadian Valley Technology Center “Spotlight person of the week is Justin Davis, He lives in Tuttle, and loves studying “Digital Media and Technology , at CV Tech. Tune in Friday the 26th, to KOOL 105,5 FM, (the 7AM and 8AM News) to hear the story.

Monday, April 29th

Minco Teen Dies in Deadly Crash

A deadly crash north of Chickasha last night claims the life of a Minco teenager. The accident happened about 7:45 p.m. Sunday at U.S. Highway 81 and County Street 1320, which is about a mile north of the Chickasha Airport. The trooper on the scene said the crash involved a pickup and a van and that the accident is still under investigation. The unidentified teenager who died was 17 years old. The Highway Patrol did not release his name. The agency has a policy of not identifying anyone under the age of 18. Minco School Superintendent Kevin Sims says the teen was a sophomore at Minco High School. The young man was a passenger in the pickup which was driven by 21-year old Aaron Lee Murray, also of Minco. Murray was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was treated for head and trunk injuries and released. The driver of the van was identified as 56-year old Rebecca Cook of Blanchard. She suffered external trunk injuries and was also treated and released from Grady Memorial. At Minco schools today, Sims said grief counselors and the local ministerial alliance will be on hand to help students and staff try and cope with the loss.

Newcastle School Bus Involved in Accident

Breaking news this morning as a Newcastle school bus has been involved in a traffic accident. The crash occurred just before 7:30 a.m. on State Highway 76 about five miles north of Blanchard near State Highway 130. Reports are that an SUV rear-ended the bus. It wasn't known if any children were on the bus or if there are any injuries. Reports indicate the SUV had considerable damage.

Chickasha Man Unhurt in Boating Mishap

A Chickasha man is OK after a strange boating accident in eastern Oklahoma this weekend. 53-year old Grady Harrell was operating his bass boat on Sardis Lake Saturday morning near Porum in Muskogee County, when the boat started to take on water. Harrell beached the boat and called for help to tow the damaged vessel. But while in tow, the bass boat capsized and got stuck on a stump. Harrell was able to swim safely to the vessel that was towing him. He did have a flotation device with him and was not injured.

New President on Board with Chickasha Chamber

The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce has a new president and chief executive officer. Cassandra Ersland was recently hired by the Chamber Board of Directors. She takes the post from Cody Mosley, who has been serving as interim president after previous chamber president Mark Rathe stepped down. Mosley keeps his post as the administrator of the Chickasha Economic Development Council. Ersland previously served as Director of Development at USAO and also worked in marketing, as well as political and non-profit fund-raising in Dallas, Denver, and Oklahoma City. She's a Chickasha native and holds a journalism degree from OU with an emphasis on marketing and advertising.

Barry Switzer Touts Scoreboard Project

Former OU and Dallas Cowboy football coach Barry Switzer will be back in Chickasha this week, promoting the new digital scoreboards that one of his companies is installing at the Chickasha Sports Complex. The scoreboards are being installed at no cost to the city. Switzer's company called Youth Scoreboards has already installed six new digital scoreboards at the complex with several more planned. Area businesses interested in placing ads on the scoreboards are encouraged to stop by and ask questions and get information about how the marketing plan will work. This come-and-go reception will be Thursday, May 2nd from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Regents Room on the USAO campus.

State Youth to Rally in Support of Green Energy

Oklahoma youth will rally in Oklahoma this week with hopes of protecting the environment. The group is called Youth Climate Strike Oklahoma, which is affiliated with an organization that coordinates nationwide strikes. The protest is endorsed by the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club. The youth are supporting the Green New Deal proposed in Washington, D.C. in hopes of ending climate change. The protest is set from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday in downtown Oklahoma City. The youth hope to enact legislation to combat climate change on local and state levels; adopt the Green New Deal to shift Americans to 100 percent clean, renewable, and net-zero emission energy sources through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers; and to declare the climate crisis a national emergency.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.30 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.15.

Natural gas is $2.56 per million BTU.

Gold is $1,284 and silver is $15.03.

Saturday, April 27th

WWI Vet's Unmarked Grave to Finally Get Marker

It was more than 100 years ago when Army Private Ulysses Grant Moore served during World War One. Living in Ardmore at the time, he was inducted into the Army in September of 1918 and was honorably discharged in December of that year upon the de-mobilization of the armed forces. Moore died more than a half-century ago. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Oklahoma City but because for a reason nobody knows, his military-issued grave marker never made it to its final destination. The marker was found in the yard of an Oklahoma City home several months ago. The Oklahoman reports that the home previously belonged to Moore's granddaughter - who said she inherited the home - but she has lived out of state for many years. The Oklahoma National Guard is helping to get the marker to the grave. Plus, Moore is eligible for military funeral honors, which includes a two-person honor guard detail to perform a flag-folding ceremony, the presenting of the flag to next-of-kin, and the playing of taps. There doesn't appear to be any record of any ceremony for Moore when he died in 1964.

Governor Signs 'Indigenous Peoples Day' Bill

Oklahoma will be celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day at the same time. Gov. Kevin Stitt put his signature on a bill this week that was supported by a coalition of Native American groups. Stitt is said to be the first governor in the country to be enrolled as a member of a Native American tribe. KOCO-TV reports that Stitt said the bill is a fair compromise that gives Oklahomans the opportunity to celebrate both Columbus and the state's indigenous people. Former governor Mary Fallin vetoed a similar bill last year, saying that combining the two holidays could be viewed as an intentional attempt to diminish support for Native American Heritage Month, which is in November. The news report indicated the veto upset many Native Americans who felt Fallin was insensitive to the issue. Many Native American say Columbus is symbolic of the colonial movement in the country that led to the death and forced assimilation of indigenous populations.

More County Road, Bridge Repair Funds OK'd

More state funds will be available to repair the state's decaying roads and bridges. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed HB 2676 this week, which provides an additional $30 million to what's known as the County Roads and Bridges Improvement Fund. The website www.okenergytoday.com reports the governor's action received glowing remarks from leaders in the energy industry. Chad Warmington with the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and the Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association said the funds will be used to fund critical repairs of improvements on roads and bridges used by the industry. He said the industry works to reduce the amount of heavy trucks on Oklahoma roadways, but the transportation of machinery - needed to drill for and produce oil and natural gas - means truck traffic will always be a part of the state's defining industry.

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Steve Riggs and Tommy Phillips with the National Association of Letter Carriers are guests on our KOOL Konversation, discussing details of the nationwide Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive set for May 11th. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, Jessica Hickok with the Oklahoma Association of Realtors is the guest. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

Sheriff's Office Issues 'Wanted' List

The Grady County Sheriff's Office has issued a new list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here's Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett.

If you have information regarding any of these individuals you're asked to contact the sheriff's office by calling 405-222-5085.

Friday, April 26th

Consumer Spending Rises in the Region

Retail outlets throughout the Grady County area collectively saw a little increase in business from January to February. Consumer spending across the county grew about 2.1 percent. It's estimated that some $121 million in taxable goods and services were purchased in the second month of 2019. Retail outlets in the City of Chickasha had about 25 percent of that total. Consumer spending in Chickasha for February was estimated at $29.3 million which is an increase of 5 percent from the previous month. It's about 6 percent higher that February of 2018. At the county level, a three-quarters-of-a-penny sales tax brought in about $905,000. That sales tax revenue funds several voter-approved projects, including improvements at the Grady County Fairgrounds, the surgery and imaging center added to Grady Memorial Hospital, senior nutrition centers, volunteer fire departments, and ambulance services in Rush Springs and Tuttle. For the City of Chickasha, the sales tax revenue was $1.1 million. Half of that goes to the city's general fund, part is for water and sewer services, and part goes toward capital improvement projects.

Silver Alert Canceled for Missing Woman

A Silver Alert has been canceled for an Elgin woman who was reported missing yesterday afternoon. The Comanche County Sheriff's Office issued the alert for 79-year-old Audrey Fowler, who was reported missing about 3 p.m. Thursday. News reports indicate that Fowler returned home.

Ex-con Faces Life in Prison for Spitting on Officer

A Marlow man faces up to life in prison after spitting in a police officer's face. 37-year old Brandon Ashley Malone has been charged with a felony of assault and battery on a police officer after a confrontation with the officer earlier this week. The Lawton Constitution reports that Malone has five felony convictions on his record already, and if convicted of his most recent offense, could be sentenced anywhere from four years to life in prison.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe to Open Tomorrow

In business news, Chickasha's new Tropical Smoothie Café will have its grand opening tomorrow. And a number of customers will be walking away with free smoothies for a year! The first 30 customers in line at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning - who purchase a combo - will receive free smoothies for a year. There will also be tastings, give-aways, and special menu deals. The cafe offers flat bread and toasted sandwiches. The Tropical Smoothie Cafe is just south of 4th and Grand Avenue, next to the Cotton Patch Cafe.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $65.21 per barrel.

London-based Brent is $74.35.

Natural gas is $2.51 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,282 and silver is $15.06.

Thursday, April 25th

Chickasha Schools to End 2018-19 Classes Early

There's one less week of classes for kids in Chickasha schools this year. The school board approved a plan to finish school on Friday, May 17^th instead of the 24th as originally planned. School officials say the reason is that the district is on a system which provides 1,080 hours of instruction, and there were some extra days built into the calendar. Since there were only a couple of snow days over the winter the decision was made to end classes early.

School Board Elects New Officers

Also at this week's school board meeting, the panel elected a new slate of officers for the upcoming school year. Zack McGill was elected president and will take the gavel from current board president Doug Brown. Robyn Morse was elected first vice president and Laurie Allen was elected 2nd Vice President.

'CERT' Team Members Sought

The Grady County Emergency Management Agency is looking to increase the numbers of its Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT). Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson says CERT members can help with damage assessment and other operations to support First Responders during times of storms and disasters. They can also lend a hand at community events to discuss disaster preparedness. Candidates undergo training that includes basic first aid, fire suppression which can be safely handled with a fire extinguisher, light search-and-rescue, and disaster preparedness. It also includes training on how to stop life-threatening bleeding. The training is free and can be completed in a few weeks - generally on Saturdays - or a combination of evenings and Saturdays. You don't have to live in Grady County to be part of the Certified Emergency Response Team but individuals need to be 18 and have a driver's license. If you're interested contact The Grady County Emergency Management office.

Anadarko Celebrates 'Honor the Child' Day

Hundreds of young children paraded through Anadarko this morning in celebration of Honor the Child Day. The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Child Care Services program hosts the parade and a big day of activities for youngsters in tribal and public schools and day care centers. As many as 300 kiddos ages 6 and under usually participate. First, a parade complete with police and fire trucks from the old bowling alley to the Oklahoma Street gym. Then, lots of fun and games for the children who pre-registered for the event. Kathy Hopen is the director of the child care program for the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. She says there's face-painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, an exotic animal display from Tiger Safari. Hopen says the tribe even has a portable planetarium called StarLab.

Hopen says there is great community support for Honor the Child Day, and thanks every group for making it a successful event each year. This is the 13th year for the event.

PSO Helps CHS, Lincoln School Robotics

A nice reward for the Chickasha High School Robotics team. Fresh off its best-ever showing at the FIRST world robotics competition, the group receives a grant to help further its mission. Public Service Company of Oklahoma presented a grant of just under $1,800 to be used for both the high school robotics program, and the Lego League robotics program at Lincoln School. Chickasha was one of 26 programs throughout the PSO service area in Oklahoma to receive a STEM grant to further science, technology, engineering, and math programs. PSO Community Affairs manager Tim Hushbeck says PSO is aware of the critical need for strong STEM education. He says he's proud to have the support of PSO's parent company, American Electric Power, in providing the grants.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $65.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.57.

Natural gas is $2.46 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,279 and silver is $14.92.

Wednesday, April 24th

Early-Morning Semi Crash Closes U.S. Highway

A traffic accident involving a semi shut down part of U.S. Highway 62 east of Chickasha early this morning. No details are available, but the highway patrol reports the accident happened about 3:30. It was seven miles east of Chickasha at the intersection of CS 2910, also known as Red Bird Road. That's about one mile east of Tabler Y. The trooper on the scene said westbound traffic was blocked for about an hour and a half, and was re-opened about 5 a.m. No one was hurt in the crash.

Governor Signs 'Purple Heart' Bill

Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed a bill designating Oklahoma as a Purple Heart State. SB 232 was passed unanimously through both the state house and senate within the last few weeks. The bill was co-written by Sen. Frank Simpson, a navy veteran and Rep. Tommy Hardin, a marine veteran. Simpson said becoming a Purple Heart State shows the world the pride and gratitude Oklahomans have for the more than 1,300 soldiers in the state who have received the award. The U.S. Military has awarded the Purple Heart since World War I. It's presented to servicemen and women who have been injured and to the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty. The bill goes into effect Nov. 1st.

State Veterans Office Schedules Chickasha Stop

Military veterans who may be having difficulties in obtaining the benefits earned from their time helping Uncle Sam will be able to get some assistance when representatives of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs stops in Chickasha. The agency's mobile service van will be at the Grady County DAV headquarters tomorrow. Officials will be on hand to answer questions and assist with paperwork from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25th. No appointment is necessary. The Grady County DAV chapter is in downtown Chickasha at 6th and Chickasha Avenue.

Lost Hikers Rescued from Refuge

First responders at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge spent several hours of their Easter Sunday morning rescuing a man who got lost while hiking. Officials say the man and his nephew became disoriented while on a trail early Saturday. The nephew did have his cel phone, but was unable to get a signal to call anyone. With just a couple of bottles of water each and very little food, the two men ended up spending the night in the refuge under the stars. It got a little chilly with temperatures dropping into the mid 50's Sunday morning. Chris Jones is the chief of the Indiahoma Volunteer Fire Department. He said the nephew finally got a signal early Sunday morning and he placed a 9-1-1 call to the Comanche County Sheriff's Office. Jones said the men were found about 3/4 of a mile from a parking area but the older man was too weak to walk. The rescue crew had a use a back board to carry him out. The job was made more difficult with the rough terrain. An ambulance was waiting when they got to safety, but both men refused treatment.

Salvation Army Provides Help Locally, Globally

The Salvation Army which serves the Grady and Caddo county areas stays active throughout the year. In addition to helping needy families in the region, the local church answers the call to help with national and international emergencies. Part of its local work includes what Lt. David Brittle calls the Second Saturday of Service. It’s held each month with the assistance of volunteers from other churches.

Brittle says USAO students also get involved in The Second Saturday of Service program. Other upcoming events include sending some local youth to the Salvation Army summer camp in Tahlequah.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $66.30 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.51.

Natural gas is to $2.45 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,274 and silver is $14.87.

Tuesday, April 23rd

Medi-Flight Closes Chickasha, Other Okla. Bases

The parent company of Medi-Flight, an air ambulance service in Oklahoma, is closing operations in Chickasha and several other bases in the state. Air Methods is the parent company for Medi-Flight. The company is based near Denver, Colorado, and made the formal announcement Monday. In addition to Chickasha, the company has closed operations at Seminole and in two locations in Tulsa. In a prepared statement sent to KOOL/RANCH News, Air Methods stated that nearly 75 percent of their transports are Medicaid, Medicare, self-pay, and uninsured patients, which all together only pay 30 percent of costs. While the Chickasha base has closed, Air Methods officials say the area will still be served by AirKids 1 in Oklahoma City for neo-natal trips. There is another air ambulance service in southwest Oklahoma. Air Evac has bases in Duncan, Weatherford, and Altus.

Newest Chix School Board Member to be Sworn In

The last of three new members elected to the Chickasha school board will be sworn in tonight. Robyn Morse will be taking her oath of office during tonight’s board of education meeting. She ran un-opposed for a five-year term on the panel. Tonight's meeting was originally scheduled for earlier this month, but was postponed for two weeks. The school will elect officers for the 2019-20 school year, including a president and vice president. Doug Brown is the current president. The group is to consider whether to post the entire forensic audit reviewed at last month's school board meeting on the district's website. The board will also discuss board policy regarding the naming of buildings and facilities throughout the district. In a closed-door session, the group will review the status of a proposal for the Chickasha Senior Nutrition Center, and the possible sale of surplus school land. The executive session will also include discussion of the collective bargaining agreements with the Chickasha United Teaching Association and the Chickasha Association of Support Employees.

Sheriff's Office Re-Opens

The Grady County Sheriff's Office has re-opened. The business office was closed all day last Friday and about a half-day yesterday as emergency repairs were made after some storm damage late last week. The business office closing did not impact the 9-1-1 or dispatch services.

CHS Robotics Team Excels at World Competition

The Chickasha High School robotics team turned in a good performance at the FIRST world robotics competition in Houston last week. Instructor Brandon Willis said the team had its best placing ever in the four years the team has qualified for the world event. Willis said the team won 6 of 10 games in its qualifying rounds, and ranked 24th out of the 68 teams in their division. For the first time in team history, they were part of the playoff round after being selected to join the 4th seed alliance. Earlier this month, the team was runner-up at the state FIRST robotics competition in Oklahoma City.

Container Gardening Good for Small Spaces

If you enjoy gardening but have limited space, you might consider container gardening. It's a good option if you live in an apartment or small home. You still have a lot of choices with container gardening, whether its flowers, vegetables, herbs, and even some fruits and small shrubs. Beth Armstrong with Grady County 4H is a state 4H ambassador working with Grady County OSU Extension.

Be sure to use quality potting soil from your local garden center and keep your containers fertilized and watered. The soil will dry out much quicker than traditional gardens or flower beds.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $65.70 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.04.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,275 and silver is $15.02.

Monday, April 22nd

USAO to Host State History Conference

A statewide conference for historians will be held on the USAO campus this week. The Oklahoma Historical Society will host its annual Oklahoma History and Preservation conference. The three-day event will include a number of guest speakers, tours, and the induction of several new members into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame. The featured speaker will be Ladonna Harris, a member of the Comanche Nation. She's an American Indian activist and founder of Americans for Indian Opportunity and an advocate for women's rights. Harris was an original member of the National Women's Political Caucus, and served as the United States representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. She also serves on the board for the Smithsonian insititute's National Museum of the American Indian. The historical society is partnering with the Chickasaw Nation to celebrate famed storyteller Te Ata, USAO's most famous alum who traveled around the world sharing Native American culture. The conference runs Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Membership to the state historical society is not required to participate. Information is available on-line at: www.okhistory.org

Sheriff's Office Closed for Second Day Due to Storm

Storm damage at the Grady County Sheriff's Office has forced officials to close the business office there for a second day. Storms Thursday night damaged an air conditioning unit on the roof and the office was closed Friday. Sheriff Jim Weir said the work does not impact the 911 or dispatch services for the office. Weir is hoping the repairs can be completed today.

Gas Line Repair to Affect 9th and Grand Traffic

A reminder that the intersection of 9th and Grand Avenue in Chickasha will be affected by a gas line repair project. Centerpoint Energy will be working to repair a gas line leak in that area. Southbound traffic on 9th Street off of Grand will be shut down for several days. Any traffic northbound on 9th Street from Country Club road will be detoured at Almar Drive. The work is expected to take about a week.

Rig Count Falls in Oklahoma and the Nation

In energy news, the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas was down both in the state and across the country last week. In Oklahoma, the rig count fell by two to 102. That number is also down from the same time a year ago. With the drop, the Sooner State falls to third nationwide for the number drilling rigs - behind Texas and New Mexico. Nationwide, the rig count fell by 10 to 1,012. That number is down by one rig from the same time a year ago, according to a report released by Baker Hughes of Houston.

Chix YMCA to Host OKC Thunder 'Hustle Camp'

Each summer, the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team joins YMCA programs across the state to offer what's called a Thunder Hustle camp. The Chickasha Area YMCA will be the first stop of the camp next month. Michelle Matthews is the manager of youth basketball operations for the Thunder and tells why Chickasha was selected.

The one-day camp will be Thursday, May 30th and is for youth 6 to 14 years old. There are a limited number of spots available. There is a $65 fee for the camp. Sign up on the Oklahoma City Thunder website: www.okcthunder.com/youth basketball.

Other camps are scheduled for the Lawton and Oklahoma City areas.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $64 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.97.

Natural gas is $2.49 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,280 and silver is $15.09.

2019, April 15th - 22nd

Posted About Five Years Ago by GP

Your News provided by

Today Let’s meet Canadian Valley Technology Center “Spotlight person of the week is Alex Junior Dustin Tolson. Who is from Rush Springs, and studying “Pre-Engineering, at CV Tech. Tune in Friday the 19th, to KOOL 105,5 FM, (the 7AM and 8AM News) to hear the story.

Monday, April 22nd

USAO to Host State History Conference

Sheriff's Office Closed for Second Day Due to Storm

Gas Line Repair to Affect 9th and Grand Traffic

Rig Count Falls in Oklahoma and the Nation

Chix YMCA to Host OKC Thunder 'Hustle Camp'

Other camps are scheduled for the Lawton and Oklahoma City areas.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $64 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.97.

Natural gas is $2.49 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,280 and silver is $15.09.

Saturday, April 20th

Cyclist Rides for Breast Cancer Research

He's a man on a mission. Bob Hood is spending nearly three months on a campaign to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research - while riding his bicycle across the country. Hood was in Chickasha this morning on the 31st day of his nearly three-month effort for what's called the Three Country Ride. Woods left Tijuana, Mexico south of San Diego, California on March 20th. His more than 4,000 mile trip is scheduled to end in Saint Stephens, New Brunswick, Canada on June 10th. Hood, who is the CEO of a California technology firm, is a former marathoner and tri-athlete and says he’s been training for this ride for a year. He's the volunteer executive director for Three Country Ride, which is a non-profit group working to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Hood says he's had family and friends stricken by the disease, and the ride is his part to help more than 300,000 women in the U.S. diagnosed with breast cancer every year. He said 40,000 women are expected to die from the disease this year. Hood is looking for cycling enthusiasts to join him for part of his journey. Each day, the group broadcasts three live videos - morning, noon, and evening. His first video today was with Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley at the Rock Island Railroad Depot. To help Hood with his cause, here is the link: http://www.3countryride.org/donate.html

Turnpike Crash Injures Two

A man and a 7-year old escape serious injury following a crash on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. 34-year old Dustin Bacon of Wichita Falls, Texas and the little girl with him were hurt when the SUV ran off the interstate, traveled up an embankment of an overpass and hit the underside of a bridge. Bacon was trapped in the vehicle for about an hour and a half. Bacon was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with leg injuries, where he was admitted in good condition. A state trooper drove the child to the hospital and she was treated and released. The accident happened about 11:00 a.m. Friday morning in the eastbound lanes of the highway near mile marker 58, not far from Fletcher. The trooper investigating the crash said the cause of the accident was driver inattention. Bacon was wearing his seat belt and the little girl was in a child restraint seat.

Suspect Arrested After Throwing Chair at SUV

There were some frightening moments in Anadarko for a woman and a child, when a man throws a chair at their moving SUV, shattering the window where the child was sitting. Anadarko Police were called out to investigate the incident Wednesday morning. Authorities issued a felony arrest warrant for 35-year old Raymond Horace Nibbs who was taken into custody Thursday. Nibbs has been formally with a felony for throwing or dropping an object onto a motor vehicle, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Nibbs previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of assault and battery in 2016 and domestic abuse in 2017. He remains in the Caddo County jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond.

Crews Align Headstones at Ft. Sill National Cemetery

The country's national cemeteries for military veterans are always kept in pristine condition. One of most detailed procedure is working to make sure that the headstones are as perfectly aligned as possible. At the Ft. Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, a two-man crew works on about 10 head stones per day. They carefully measure the distance between the monuments, the height of each one, and move it left or right if needed. Bill Rhoades is the director of the cemetery. He tells KSWO-TV that they take the process seriously. He said it’s a sacred trust, and a promise they made to the veterans that they would care for their gravesites. The process includes using a tape measure, a string, and a lot of muscle to adjust the 230-pound head stones.

Sheriff's Office Most-Wanted List

The Grady County Sheriff’s Office has released a new list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here’s Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett-

If you have information regarding any of these individuals you’re asked to contact the sheriff’s office by calling 405-222-5085.

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Lt. David Brittle with the Salvation Army which serves Grady and Caddo Counties is on our KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, guests are Lewis Knicely with the Chickasha Area YMCA and Michelle Matthews, the manager of youth basketball operations with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Part of that discussion is about a Thunder Hustle Camp for kids that will be held at the Chickasha YMCA next month. We have links to these programs under the Community tab on this website.

Friday, April 19th

Marking the 24th Anniversary of the Murrah Bombing

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. 168 people died in the bombing. A formal ceremony was held at the OKC bombing memorial this morning. Among the Grady County families forever changed by the tragedy was the Spurlin family. Mary Spurlin's daughter, Peggy Clark-Spencer was among those who died. Peggy was a veterinarian with the United States Department of Agriculture, whose office was on the 5th floor. Mary Spurlin wrote of her family's grief. Spurlin said it was 10 days before Peggy's body was found and that she one of the last victims to be recovered. She says the only items they found were her purse and wedding rings.

Rush Springs Voters to Decide Special School Bond Issue

A new gymnasium and the renovation of the school auditorium are part of a $17 1/2 million bond issue that will be decided by voters in the Rush Springs school district next month. Superintendent Robbie Burch says the new gym would seat about 1,200 spectators. The new gym would allow the school to host a number of basketball tournaments - including the Grady County tournament - as well as post-season basketball tournaments. Upgrades to the auditorium would include new seats and flooring, a new sound system and new lighting. The bond would also allow the district to build a new agriculture show facility, visitor vestibules for the high school and elementary school, and improve security features throughout the district. Burch said it’s a 10-year proposal and that ad valorem taxes would increase about 15 percent. He also said that most of the proceeds would be paid by outside entities like the oil and gas and wind energy sectors. Burch said those areas would fund 77 percent of the bond issue. Voters will decide the issue on May 14th.

Gas Line Repairs to Close Part of Chickasha Intersection

Part of a busy Chickasha intersection will be shut down for a few days next week. Traffic in the area of 9th and Grand Avenue will be congested, as crews with CenterPoint Energy repair a gas line leak. Officials with the City of Chickasha say the company will have to access the line on 9th Street just south of Grand, so southbound traffic will not be allowed. Northbound traffic on 9th Street from Country Club Road will be detoured at Almar Drive. Also, eastbound traffic on Grand Avenue will be narrowed to one lane starting at 10th Street and ending about 8th Street. The gas line repair will start on Monday, and the work is expected to take perhaps a week, but the exact time frame is not known. You'll be able to get updates on the City of Chickasha's Facebook page and its website: www.chickasha.org

Gov. Signs Bill to Increase Some Speed Limits

Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed a bill that increases the speed limit on some Oklahoma turnpikes and state highways. HB 1071 raises turnpike speed limits to 80 miles per hour in selected areas. It would increase the speed limit to 75 miles per hour on some state highways. Officials say while they wanted to increase the speed limit, they are also working to ensure the safety of drivers. Lawmakers worked with the state department of transportation on the proposal. Officials are to use traffic and engineering studies to determine where the speed limits could be safely increased. Parts of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike are included in the plan.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $64 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.97.

Natural gas is $2.49 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,276 and silver is $14.96.

Thursday, April 18th

Tuttle PD Investigates Attempted Abduction

A lot of extra eyes are in Tuttle neighborhoods this morning, after a report of an attempted kidnapping yesterday. Authorities say a 12-year old girl was walking to school Wednesday morning, when an older man asked her to come over to him. The girl refused but the man reached out and grabbed her sleeve. The frightened girl quickly got away and ran to school nearby, with the man chasing after her. Tuttle police say the man stopped when they got close to the school and saw other kids in the area. The suspect is said to be an older white male, perhaps in his 60s. He's about 5’ 8" tall with a medium build. He has short, light brown or perhaps gray hair. He's also said to have bad teeth. The suspect was wearing a dark hoodie with no markings, dark colored jeans and bright blue slip-on shoes. It was also reported that the man walks around the areas of the intermediate and middle schools almost every day. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tuttle Police Department by callnig 405-381-4467.

Mickey Edwards Named Verden School Superintendent

A new superintendent will take the reins at Verden Public Schools next year. Mickey Edwards will be the new administrator. Edwards has been an educator for 12 years, including a 10-year stint at Chickasha where he was a teacher and a coach. He also spent a year in an administrative role. Edwards left Chickasha for Verden just last year, and he has been working as a science teacher and the district’s athletic director. Edwards follows long-time superintendent David Davidson. Davidson has been the superintendent at Verden the last 14 years. For the last three years he has been splitting time between Verden and Cement schools. Davidson has now been hired as full-time superintendent at Cement. The changes at both schools will take affect the first of July.

Governor to Review School Bus Camera Bill

A lot of school districts have cameras to monitor the activities in and around school buses. State lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Kevin Stitt which would allow the installation of cameras in school buses to watch for drivers who unlawfully pass them. HB 1926 calls for anyone pulled over for driving through a school bus stop sign to be fined at least $100. Most of the money would go to a fund which would help school districts pay to install those cameras. The fund would be monitored by the state department of education.

Washed-Out Road Near Alex Closed for Repairs

A county road near Alex has been closed because of a washed-out tin horn. District 3 Grady County Commissioner Ralph Beard said it’s a two-mile stretch of CR 1470 between CS 2880 and 2900 which is southeast of Alex. Beard said he's notified schools and the sheriff's office about the road closure. Beard said the tin horn is nearly half the length of a football field long and 36-inches in diameter. He said county crews will use metal pipe they have in inventory to replace it. If things go well, Beard said the road could be re-opened in about a week.

Apache Welcomes Rattlesnake Festival Visitors

Some slithery activity in Apache over the next few days, as the annual Rattlesnake Festival gets underway. This is the 36th year for the event and it's estimated that 30,000 visitors stop by every year. The brave can head to the hills outside of town to hunt for snakes with the help of a trained professional. Serious hunters will try to bring in the largest snake. There's a rattlesnake den where fangmasters carefully stroll through a pit of rattlers and non-venomous snakes alike providing demonstrations. There's a huge flea market in town where the theme is ”if it's not here, you don't need it.” If you're squeamish, you don't even have to see the snakes at all. The event through through Sunday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is$63.76 per barrel.

London-based Brent is $71.62.

Natural gas is $2.51 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,277 and silver is $14.94.

Wednesday, April 17th

More Improvements OK'd for Shannon Springs Park

Tens of thousands of dollars in additional upgrades to Shannon Springs Park were approved by the Chickasha City Council this week. At the recommendation of the city manager, the council gave its blessing to an additional $64,000 to install some lights along the north trail of the park. The council approved a revised bid of more than $265,000 for electrical upgrades at the park, needed for the Festival of Light. The bid was awarded to Barrington Electric. The council also approved a bid for improvements at the bath house at Shannon Springs, but not without opposition. A more than $140,000 bid was awarded to Bordwine Development. Councilman Oscar Nelson voiced concern about Bordwine's work on other city projects. City Manager John Noblitt said he plans to have more supervision over the contractor on this project.

The bid was approved by a 6-2 vote, with Nelson and Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander opposed. Noblitt said some the work at the park could begin within a few weeks.

GOP Senator Responds to Dems Criticism

Regarding No COLA Increase for State Retirees

A state lawmaker from Grady County responds to criticism regarding a decision to postpone a cost-of-living increase to retired state employees. Republican State Senator Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle says despite the rhetoric of Democrats, senate Republicans are following the law and protecting those pensions. In a press release, Paxton says reforms by the GOP have been instrumental in saving the state pension systems from financial ruin, and are ensuring their long-term solvency. Paxton said for years, Democrats raided the pension funds to balance the budget or pay for pet political projects which severely left those systems underfunded. Paxton said that Republicans ended that practice and over the last seven years have invested more than $3.4 billion above and beyond the normal employer contributions to fix the Democrats' past mistakes.

Dispatchers Recognized for Their Work

Those who work behind the scenes in law enforcement get some recognition this week. It's Dispatchers Week, and the Grady County Sheriff's office provided their crew with some props on the agency's Facebook page. There are nine dispatchers for the sheriff's office. Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett says dispatchers are the voices that deputies and residents rely on in times of crisis. Undersheriff Phil Blevins posted a Facebook reply saying dispatchers do all they can to take care of deputies and that their hard work does not go unnoticed.

A Walk in the Park Upcoming for Grand School

Students at Chickasha's Grand Elementary School are preparing a morning of exercise and fund-raising. The third annual Grand "Go" Walk is coming up in early May. Teachers and the Parent Teacher Organization are putting together a walk-a-thon to raise money for projects for second, third, and fourth graders. Students are asked to get a minimum of $20 but any amount more or less is welcome. The Grand “Go” Walk will be on Thursday, May 2nd at Shannon Springs Park. The students who bring in the most money, and walk the most laps will receive prizes. There will also be games and activities while the kids are at the park. For information contact a teacher or administrator at Grand School.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $64.05 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.72.

Natural gas is $2.47 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,278 and silver is $14.97.

Tuesday, April 16th

Zoning Change OK'd for New Development

Plans to build another new hotel, some additional retail and office space, and residential properties for Chickasha were discussed during last night's city council meeting. Eric Fleske is the developer for the property south of Grand Avenue from 4^th Street to 9th Street. The city council approved a request to re-zone the property as a planned unit development, which Fleske says will give him needed flexibility in his proposal.

Fleske says he's already invested about $3 million in the area with plans to spend another $1.5 million to address the flood plain concerns along Congo Creek. No time-line was given on when any work might begin.

'Ladies Retreat' Home Passes Hurdle

The city council approved a use-on-review to operate a home-based business as a 'ladies’ retreat'. The panel unanimously approved the request from Marilyn Lawson, who owns an historic home in the 1100 block of South 8th. City Planner Gene Winsett said Lawson has not yet received an occupancy permit as she was awaiting use-on-review approval. Winsett said the fire marshal has visited the home several times and that other city officials have thoroughly checked out compliance concerns regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act.

'Road Rage' Led to Police Facebook Post

Here’s an update about that Facebook post by Chickasha police last weekend which led to an arrest. We've learned that officers were dispatched to the Gas and Go Convenience Store next to the Grady County Fairgrounds Saturday morning about a possible road rage incident. The victim was an older, vulnerable man. Court documents say the victim suffered a scrape on one side of his face and his glasses were broken. It's not clear what sparked the road rage, but a probable cause affidavit alleges the suspect jerked the car door open, pulled the victim out, pinned him against the vehicle, and at one point had his hand on the victim's throat. Authorities obtained video surveillance of the incident, and posted pictures on Facebook of the suspect and his SUV. It wasn't long before the suspect turned himself in. Authorities arrested 47-year old Eric Akins of Chickasha. He spent the weekend in the Grady County Jail and yesterday, prosecutors formally charged him with misdemeanor assault and battery. Akins is out of jail after posting bond. He's to announce his attorney May 23rd, with the case scheduled for the misdemeanor disposition docket Jun 7th.

One Arrested in Tuttle School Threat

A teenager is arrested after a couple of threats were reported at Tuttle High School. Tuttle police questioned three teens after two incidents of threats were alleged. The teen that was taken into custody is reported to have posted the threat on SnapChat. Two teens were questioned in connection with the other threat. It's reported that officers went to their homes and took them to the police department for questioning. Investigators were told one of them made a threat on social media. But after providing his on-line account information and an emergency disclosure request was sent to the social media platform, nobody could provide a screen shot of any threat. Officers even searched the teens’ backpacks, but they were released to their parents after no evidence was found. However, authorities say that the youths are still under investigation.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.40 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.78.

Natural gas is $2.59 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,286 and silver is $14.90.

Monday, April 15th

Former Chickasha School Employee Alleged

to Have Had Inappropriate Contact with Student

For the second time this school year, Chickasha school officials are dealing with situation where a former employee is alleged to have had inappropriate contact with a student. School administrators sent a letter to parents on Friday which stated they were looking into the allegations. The letter was on school district letterhead and indicated it was from Assistant Superintendent Kim Haney and High School Principal Rhonda Snow. The letter said they are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. Last fall, an unidentified school employee was terminated after a previous investigation of inappropriate contact with a student.

Social Media Credited for Assisting Police with Arrest

Chickasha police are crediting social media for the arrest of a suspect in an assault investigation. Authorities were looking for a man in connection with the assault of an older, vulnerable male. Police posted a photograph of the suspect and an SUV he may have been driving on the police department’s Facebook page Saturday morning. The photos were taken from video surveillance of an unidentified convenience store. Authorities say the suspect turned himself in. The identity of the suspect has not yet been released.

Car Dangles on Turnpike Overpass

A traffic accident northeast of Chickasha yesterday leaves a car dangling from an overpass on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The accident happened on County Road 2900, which is about five miles northeast of Chickasha. It's not clear how the accident happened. At least one person was taken to the hospital, but their name was not released and it wasn't clear how seriously they were injured. Debris from the accident fell on to the turnpike which caused a couple of minor wrecks, but officials did not have to shut down traffic.

Council Reps to be Sworn In

Four Chickasha City Council representatives will take their oaths of office in a special meeting of the council tonight. There won't be any changes to the panel. Ward 2 council representative Kim Loggins and Ward 4 councilman Jim Hopkins both won re-election to their posts earlier this month. Tom Rose in Ward 1 and Oscar Nelson in Ward 3 ran un-opposed. The special meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. tonight in the council chambers at city hall, ahead of the council's regular meeting.

Council to Discuss Park Upgrades

During the regular council meeting, the group will consider spending nearly $350,000 for improvements at Shannon Springs Park. About $200,000 is to upgrade electrical outlets throughout the park for the Festival of Light. It's the lowest of two bids received for the project, and it’s from local firm Barrington Electric. The higher bid was nearly $300,000. The group will also discuss renovations to the bath house at the park. A local company is expected to get that bid as well. Bordwine Development had the lowest of two bids at about $143,000. The higher bid was more than $300,000. The council will take a look at spending more than $200,000 to allow the police department to upgrade its Report Management System. The group will also consider a proposal to re-zone several acres of property south of Grand Avenue between 4th and 9th streets to allow for a planned unit development. The council will have a closed-door session to discuss two issues. One, a lawsuit filed against the city and two, an economic development proposal.

Employers, Job Seekers to Meet at Career Fair

Employers and individuals looking for work can meet in one location at an upcoming career fair hosted by Canadian Valley Technology Center's El Reno campus. Companies looking to hire employees can register at no cost for the event, which will be held on Thursday, May 2nd from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 40 businesses have already registered and more are expected. Registration deadline is this Friday, April 19th. Businesses reps should contact CV Tech Employment Specialist Mindi Mitchell in El Reno by calling 405-422-2205. Hundreds of students from the three CV Tech campuses in Chickasha, El Reno, and Yukon will be job searching at the event.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.55.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,289 and silver is $14.88.

2019, April 8th-13th

Posted About Five Years Ago by GP

Your News provided by

Today Let’s meet Canadian Valley Technology Center “Spotlight person of the week is Colton Botts. Colton is from Rush Springs, who’s studying “Auto Collision Technology, at CV Tech. Tune in Friday the 12th, to KOOL 105,5 FM, (the 7AM and 8AM News) to hear the story.

Saturday, April 13th

Mom Concerned After Child

Left Alone on School Playground

A four-year old girl is left alone on a school playground, and her family is not happy with how the school is handling the situation. The parents have filed a police report. The child's mother and grandmother say it happened at Cyril Elementary school back in February. Our partners at KWTV New 9 talked with the child's mother, Angel Comte. Comte said the child was playing hide-and-seek, and was hiding behind a tree but nobody found her. When she came out from behind the tree, she was on the playground alone. The grandmother said the girl wasn't discovered missing until after school. Michelle Barlow said she had gone to pick up her grand-daughter and other children, but her child wasn't there. A teacher brought the girl out and said she had been lost on the playground. A statement from school superintendent Jamie Mitchell said they have investigated the situation but could not comment on the findings. The statement did say that the safety of their students is their highest priority. The child has been taken out of the school system.

One Dead in Crash Near Lindsay

One person has died in a near head-on collision near Lindsay. 44-year old Thomas Powell of Mena, Arkansas died in the crash. The accident happened just after 6:30 a.m. Friday about two miles south of Lindsay on Highway 76. The trooper on the scene reports that Powell crossed the center line and hit a pickup driven by 40-year old Damon Combs of Lindsay. Combs was taken to the hospital in Lindsay where he was treated for arm and leg injuries and released. The accident remains under investigation.

Formal Charges Filed in Stabbing at Chix Apartment

The woman accused of stabbing her fiancee and her own mother is now facing formal assault and battery charges in connection with the attack. 32-year old Lauren Day faces two felony charges after the assault which took place at a Chickasha apartment complex earlier this week. It's alleged that all three were conducting a Bible study when something turned sour. Prosecutors formally charged Day with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Grady County District Court yesterday. Day remains in jail pending a $75,000 bond.

Youth Rodeo in Chickasha This Weekend

Teenage and pre-teen rodeoers are in Chickasha this weekend for the Oklahoma High School and Junior High School Rodeo Association competitions. The youth are competing for points in hopes of qualifying for their respective state rodeos later this spring. Jeff Todd is the president of the High School rodeo group.

There are about two dozen events, from barrel racing to bronc and bull riding. The groups are using both indoor arenas at the Grady County Fairgrounds today and tomorrow. Admission is free.

Chamber Concert Series Debuts Tonight

The families who are in town for the rodeo and the community at large will be treated to a free concert at the fairgrounds tonight. It's the first of a series of concerts scheduled by the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce. The concert originally was to be outdoors in the downtown area, but the forecast for rain moved the event indoors. There will be food trucks and lots of activities for kids, including face-painting, inflatables, and games. The indie-folk group Dawson Hollow from the Ozark Mountains of Missouri will perform. It's in the north exhibit building at the fairgrounds. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with the concert starting at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 12th

Bible Toting Woman Arrested for Stabbing Mom, Fiancee

There was a tense situation for law enforcement at a Chickasha apartment complex Wednesday night. Chickasha police and Grady County Sheriff’s deputies respond to a stabbing. Body cam video shows Grady County deputy Corey Loftice finding a man stabbed in the back outside an apartment at Winds of Oak Ridge Apartments. Here is some of the audio from that body cam recording-

The man reportedly was the suspect's fiancee. The suspect had barricaded herself inside the apartment, but Loftice managed to kick in the door in to find the knife-wielding woman. Our partners at KWTV News 9 showed the body cam video of the incident, including Lofitce using his belt to apply a make-shift tourniquet to the suspect's leg, who had been stabbed by her mom in self-defense. Grady County Sheriff Jim Weir praised Loftice's actions, saying he saved three lives. All three were taken to the hospital where they were treated and released. As for the suspect, 32-year old Lauren Brook Day, she was booked into the Grady County jail on complaints of attempted murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors may file formal charges against her today.

Pollution Bill Passes OK House Committee

A bill that would allow companies the legal right to hide pollution from the public gets overwhelming approval in a state house of representatives committee. SB 1003 would allow corporations - including all chemical and energy companies - to keep environmental, health, and safety audits from public or court view. The bill passed the house Energy and Natural Resources Committee by a 14-3 vote, and now goes to the full house for consideration. Called the Environmental, Health, and Safety Audit Privilege Act, it has already been approved by the state senate. It is facing opposition from journalists and environmentalists. The website www.okenergytoday.com says critics call it The Pollution Secrecy Act, or the Right to Know Nothing Bill.

Rain Forecast Cancels First Performance of Easter Pageant

The forecast of wet weather has forced officials to cancel tomorrow night's Easter pageant at the Holy City of the Wichitas. Up to an inch and a half of rain is forecast for the Lawton area throughout the day tomorrow and into tomorrow night. Director Alan Corrales said the conditons would not be suitable for the visitors who might attend the outdoor pageant, nor the cast. The pageant is still a go for next Saturday night, which will be the night before Easter. This is the 94th year for the performance which is held near the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge just north of Lawton.

Talk Show Topics

Here’s what we’re talking about this weekend. Chickasha schools robotics instructor Brandon Willis is one of our guests on our KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, guests are Dick Lowe with Canadian Valley Technology Center’s Business and Industry Services and Scott Smith with the Oklahoma Manufacturers Alliance. Look for links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.58 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $70.83.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,297 and silver is $15.01.

Thursday, April 11th

Missing Senior Citizen Found

A senior citizen reported missing from Chickasha is located minutes after authorities issued a Silver Alert for him. Chickasha Police issued the alert for 72-year old Barry Wetselline just before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday. Police said it had been determined that he was incapacitated. The Alert indicated the Wetselline went missing about 4:30 p.m. from the area of 29th Street and Highway 62. Authorities said there was reason to believe he might be headed to Anadarko. The Silver Alert was canceled about 5:15 p.m., when the Highway patrol reported that the Bureau of Indian Affairs had found Wetselline. It wasn't report where he was located.

Mineral Rights Owners Bill Ekes Past Senate Panel

A bill that would allow Oklahoma mineral rights owners to sue municipalities for restricting oil and gas use is narrowly approved by a senate committee. HB 1250 was approved by a 7-5 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and now goes to the full senate for consideration. An article on the website www.okenergytoday.com indicates the future of the bill might come down to negotiations between the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (which supports the bill) and the Oklahoma Municipal League (which supports municipalities and their rights to control oil and gas drilling within their city limits). The article cites a comment from Chad Warmington, president of the oil and gas group, saying the Municipal League has reached out to his group about working with city leaders regarding common-sense solutions to their concerns. Among those voting against the bill in the senate committee were Republicans Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle and Darcy Jech of Kingfisher.

Perryman Receives Alumni Award

Chickasha State Representative David Perryman gets a top honor from an Oklahoma college. Perryman was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Eastern Oklahoma State College. The award goes to alumni who have set themselves apart from their peers both professionally and through their service to the college. Perryman graduated from Eastern in the mid-1970s before attending Oklahoma State and then the OU School of Law. Perryman says he's humbled to be chosen for the award. He said he believes more students should take advantage of two-year colleges. Perryman said they provide a needed transition from high school to a four-year school or a career.

Weather Forecast Forces Concert Indoors

An outdoor concert scheduled for downtown Chickasha this weekend will be moved indoors. The threat of rain and cold temperatures Saturday night is not keeping the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce from holding the first performance of a spring and summer concert series. Officials have made arrangements for the activities to be moved to the Grady County Fairgrounds. The concert will feature Dawson Hollow out of Missouri. The event will be held in the north exhibit building of the fairgrounds. Doors will open for vendors about 6:00 p.m. with the concert starting at 7:00 p.m. There will be inflatables, face painting, and games for the kids. Admission is free.

Library Book Sale Begins

This is National Library Week, and what better way to mark the event than with one of the most popular events at the Chickasha library. A couple of times each year, the library and Friends of the Library clear out some of their materials make way for new ones. The book sale includes more than just books. There are also CDs and other items up for grabs, with many items just a dollar. The sale starts this afternoon, however, you must be a Friend of the Library member to take part in the preview. But memberships are only $5 to $10. The preview is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. tonight, with the sale open to the public Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $64.61 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.73.

Natural gas is $2.70 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,308 and silver is $15.12.

Wednesday, April 10th

Chix Public School Foundation Sets Annual Fundraiser

Since the mid-1980s, contributions to a fund set aside to help students and teachers in Chickasha public schools have topped $1.2 million. The money is under the guidance of the Chickasha Public School Foundation, a non-profit organization which uses the interest earned on this endowment fund each year to provide grants to teachers, college scholarships to high school seniors, and to pay for the school supplies for every student in every Chickasha school. Jen Jantzen is the director of the Foundation.

That $100 is the estimated per-student cost of the supplies they use in the classroom in a year. The foundation will hold its annual fundraiser later this month. It will be held on Tuesday, April 30th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the USAO Ballroom. Corporate sponsorships are available. There will be silent and live auctions, and a barbecue dinner. For information, check out the Chickasha Public School Foundation's Facebook page.

Conference to Tackle Underage Drinking

A conference targeting the problems of underage drinking will be held in Chickasha in a few weeks. The Too Much to Lose conference is for law enforcement and any interested community partners concerned about underage drinking. The one-day program will offer specialized instruction in areas such as tactical instruction in breaking up drinking parties, compliance checks of retailers which sell alcohol, and providing individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to help enforce underage drinking laws. The training is free, and law enforcement personnel can get eight hours of CLEET training. It also includes some CLEET continuing education hours on recognizing and handling mentally ill individuals. The conference will be Thursday, May 2nd at the Canadian Valley Technology Center. The training is offered through the state department of mental health and substance abuse services. Contact Julia Cochran with Red Rock Regional Prevention Services for information. E-mail: juliac@red-rock.com

CHS Robotics Team Going to a Worldwide Competition

The Chickasha High School robotics team has qualified to compete in a worldwide robotics competition in Texas. The team finished runner-up at the Central Missouri regional competition last week. In doing so, the team received a wild card bid to attend the world event, which is the international FIRST robotics program. FIRST is an acronym which means For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. In addition to the team’s runner-up finish last week, instructor Brandon Willis says the team's robot design received an Excellence in Engineering award. While team has its entry fees and most other costs for the competition paid for, the students need to raise $3,000 to pay for hotel expenses. If you can help, contact Willis through Chickasha High School. The Houston competition runs next week, April 17th through the 20th.

New Deputy on Board at Grady County Courthouse

Frequent visitors to the Grady County Courthouse are seeing a new face. The Grady County Sheriff's Office has welcomed a new deputy. Larry Schones has more than 20 years’ experience in law enforcement. He spent more than 22 years at the Midwest City Police Department working in the patrol division. He held the rank of sergeant at the time he retired. Schones holds an advanced peace officer certification from CLEET. Schones will be working security at the courthouse.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.98 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $70.61.

Natural gas is $2.69 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,308 and silver is $15.21

Tuesday, April 9th

Toddler Tests Positive for Meth; Mom Arrested

A child who is taken to a hospital emergency room tests positive for illegal drugs. Now the child's mother is behind bars on allegations of child neglect. Chickasha Police were summoned to the Grady Memorial Hospital emergency room last Saturday night, when the two-year old child was found to have meth in its system. The Chickasha Police blotter indicates that 25-year old Courtney Vaile Garcia of Denison, Texas was arrested on a child neglect complaint. She spent the weekend in jail, and yesterday prosecutors formally charged her with felony child neglect, and misdemeanors of drug possession and having drug paraphernalia. Garcia was also wanted out of Stephens County for failure to pay on a misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license after an arrest in Marlow last August. Garcia remains in the Grady County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Sup't. Faces Trial on Domestic Violence Charge

A jury trial has been scheduled for the superintendent of Ninnekah Public Schools, who is charged with a felony for domestic violence. The trial for Todd Bunch is scheduled for September 23rd in Garvin County District Court in Pauls Valley. Bunch entered a plea of not guilty to the charge at his arraignment yesterday. Bunch was arrested by Lindsay police last summer, after its alleged he entered a woman's home and tried to smother her with a pillow. Bunch was originally charged with a misdemeanor, but prosecutors changed that to a felony in January. Bunch has remained on the job at Ninnekah while the case goes through the legal system. The school board issued a statement saying Bunch is innocent unless proven guilty.

Chix Resident Named to State Transportation Board

A Chickasha businessman has been appointed to the State Transportation Commission. Steve LaForge is one of five new members named to the panel by Gov. Kevin Stitt. LaForge will represent District 7 which includes much of central and southern Oklahoma. LaForge is president and CEO of LaForge Properties, Ace Investments and has other real estate interests. He previously served for eight years on the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. LaForge currently is a member of the Chickasha Economic Development Council, Chickasha Industrial Authority, and the Chamber of Commerce. He's also a member of both the Oklahoma and the National Societies of Professional Engineers.

Concerts Galore Set for Chickasha

A couple of organizations are working to schedule more entertainment opportunities for the Chickasha area. The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce and USAO are bringing more music to the region for the spring and summer. The chamber kicks off its summer series this weekend with a concert in downtown Chickasha. Dawson Hallow, an independent folk band from Missouri will take the stage. There will be a food truck as well as face painting, inflatables, and games for the kids. It's the first of a series of free monthly concerts in downtown Chickasha. All the shows are scheduled to be outdoors. The show is Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at 3rd and Chickasha Avenue. USAO will be kicking off is second year of Listen Local at the Greek, also an outdoor concert series to be held at the Greek theatre on Grand Avenue. The USAO concerts will start in June.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $64.40 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.10.

Natural gas is $2.70 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,306 and silver is $15.26.

Monday, April 8th

Investigation of Officer-Involved Shooting Continues

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting which resulted in the death of a Chickasha man last month is still on-going. However, the preliminary autopsy from the state medical examiner's office has been released. The report only indicates that 47-year old Kevin Capers died from multiple gunshot wounds. At least two Chickasha police officers are on administrative leave as a result of Caper's death. They're names have not yet been released. Chickasha Police Chief Kathryn Rowell expects their names will be made public once the OSBI investigation is complete. Police were called to a domestic disturbance a couple of weeks ago, where it was alleged that Capers was threatening his girlfriend with a knife. It's alleged that Capers made a threatening move towards police, who opened-fire. Capers died at the scene.

Drugged Driver Alleged to Have Caused Crash

Two people, one of them a child, are hospitalized following a head-on collision southeast of Blanchard over the weekend. And the highway patrol alleges a man using illegal drugs may have caused the crash. The accident happened about 8:30 p.m. Saturday near the town of Cole. The Highway Patrol reports that 35-year old William Bottom of Blanchard went left of center and hit an on-coming car. The trooper investigating the crash alleges Bottom was under the influence of drugs. Bottom was not hurt. However, the driver and a passenger in the other vehicle were taken to separate hospitals. 64-year old Gerri Delozier of Purcell was last in fair condition at a Norman hospital. An un-named juvenile female was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where she was last in serious condition.

Hearing Set For Proposed Chickasha Development

The proposed new development between the 400 and 900 blocks of Grand Avenue and south of Grand is up for discussion at this month’s Planning Commission meeting. A public hearing will be held to review a request from a group called the Chickasha Development Company to discuss a plan to re-zone the area to allow for a planned unit development. Currently, much of the area is zoned for light industrial use, local commercial use to include a shopping center, and multi-family residential. The Planning Commission will also hold a public hearing regarding a request to allow a business to operate a home in the 1100 block of South 8th Street. The Planning Commission will meet at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.

Ward 4 Residents to Meet with City Leaders

Residents in Chickasha's Ward 4 will finally have their turn to meet with city leaders. It's an informal gathering for residents to discuss their concerns or talk about ways to make the city better. Residents will meet with Mayor Chris Mosley and City Manager John Noblitt, as well as Ward 4 councilmen Zach Grayson and Jim Hopkins. The meeting will be in the city council chambers at city hall at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9th. Similar meetings have already been held for residents in the city's other three wards.

Chickasha School Board Meeting Changed

There is a change for the date of the April meeting of the Chickasha school board. The panel normally meets the second Tuesday of each month, but officials have postponed the meeting for two weeks. The meeting is now scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd at the school administration building. An agenda has not yet been posted.

National Library Week to be Celebrated

If you're looking for something to celebrate this week, head to your local library. April 7th through 13th is National Library Week. While many thought the Internet would be devastating to public libraries, they continue providing important services to the communities they serve. As a matter of fact, the theme for the week is Libraries Equal Strong Communities. Oklahoma’s State Librarian Melody Kellogg says that almost 2 million Oklahomans have a library card. She also says that circulation, program attendance, and use of electronic library equipment are all on the rise. Lillie Huckaby is the director of the Chickasha Public Library. She says the library had more than 67,000 visits last year and has more than 5,100 individuals with library cards. The library has more than 100,000 items available, including 48,000 items in print and more than 43,000 electronic books, nearly 2,000 physical audio books and items, and more than 11,000 downloaded audio and video books and items.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.08 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $70.34.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,300 at $1,301 and silver is $15.14.

2019, April 1st - 8th

Posted About Five Years Ago by GP

Your News provided by

Today Let’s meet Canadian Valley Technology Center “Spotlight person of the week is Toby Sarrett. Toby is a Junor from Minco, who’s studying, “Auto Service Technology, at CV Tech. Tune in Friday the 5th, to KOOL 105,5 FM, (the 7AM and 8AM News) to hear the story.

Monday, April 8th

Investigation of Officer-Involved Shooting Continues

Drugged Driver Alleged to Have Caused Crash

Hearing Set For Proposed Chickasha Development

Ward 4 Residents to Meet with City Leaders

Chickasha School Board Meeting Changed

National Library Week to be Celebrated

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.08 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $70.34.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,300 at $1,301 and silver is $15.14.

Saturday, April 6th

Gov. Stitt Signs Veteran Guardianship Act

Oklahoma's disabled military veterans will get some needed help. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the Veteran Volunteer Guardianship Act into law this week and it goes into effect immediately. The new law will provide veterans with trained, court-appointed volunteers. The measure was requested by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The new law calls for guardians to be appointed under the current provisions of the state's Guardianship and Conservatorship Act. The guardians will have to have a bond if they are managing a veteran's property. About one in every 10 veterans who are fully or partially incapacitated don't have family or friends to serve as guardians. The law applies to disabled vets living in the state's seven veterans centers as well as those living in their own homes.

Two Men Face Drug Trafficking Charges

Two Anadarko men are accused of drug trafficking after being pulled over for running a stop sign. It happened late Monday night in Minco. A probable cause affidavit by the officer indicates he noticed a marijuana odor in the car, and one of the men admitted he had pot but did not have a medical marijuana card. The officer said he would be conducting a probable cause search of the vehicle, where a bag was found to contain about 144 grams, or about five ounces of cocaine. The two men were taken to jail and a juvenile was released to the custody of his mother. Prosecutors have charged both 35-year old Roddy Churchill and 39-year old Jeremy Janmohammadi with felony drug trafficking. Churchill's bond was set at $50,000 and Janmohammadi's bond was set at $25,000.

Duncan Model Train Group Has Open House

Model train enthusiasts can re-live their youth at an open house in Duncan today, with the Southwest Oklahoma Railroad Association. It’s a group of about a dozen members who gather at least once a week to work on their lifelong hobby. Rick Duncan says every member of the group is at least 60 years old, and they are looking for younger members to keep the interest in model railroading alive. Duncan is 73 and has had a train ever since he was five years old. He was an electrical engineer and spent some time in the Air Force. The group has four layouts set up in their building, and have layouts that include the large O gauge trains, the more popular HO gauge, the small N gauge and the even smaller Z gauge. On the larger layout, as many as 10 trains can operate at the same time. The open house is from 10 to 4 today. You can find the group at 1803 N. 5^th in Duncan which is east of Highway 81 and Plato Road. They also have a Facebook page.

Chickasha Library Continues Book Sale

The Chickasha Public Library and Friends of the Library are having their annual book sale through the weekend. It’s a way for the library to recycle some of its older material, and raise money to purchase new books and equipment. Today is half-price day, or you can get a bag of books for $3. Tomorrow everything is free, but donations are encouraged The library will be open from 10 to 2 today (Saturday) and from 1 to 4 tomorrow (Sunday).

Masons Flipping Flapjacks Today

The Chickasha Masonic Lodge is having another pancake benefit today. They're just getting started, with the flap jacks flipping until 11 o'clock this morning. There are regular and blueberry pancakes, sausage, orange juice, milk, and coffee. Kids four and under eat free. The Masonic Lodge is downtown Chickasha, just south of 6th Street and Chickasha Avenue.

Friday, April 5th

Chickasha Construction Numbers on the Rise

March was a good month for new construction in the City of Chickasha. The Community Development Department approved 26 building permits last month totaling about $900,000. That's more than the first two months of 2019 combined. In the commercial sector, Pecan Grove RV Park was approved for its expansion for a $150,000 project. Johhny Trammel with Trammel Construction was approved for a $130,000 remodel of the old Williams Shoes in downtown Chickasha, which will be the new location for the Crazy 8 Cafe. FPS Tech was approved for a $23,000 project in the 2500 block of West Frisco and Braum's was approved for a $10,000 remodel. In residential construction, Home Creations was approved for two more single-family homes in the Sleepy Hollow addition. One is valued at $164,000 and the other about $125,000. Jack Weaver was approved for a $100,000 remodel for a home in the 1300 block of South 8th. Nine storm shelters were also approved for installation. New construction in Chickasha for the first three months of the year is $1.7 million.

Man Faces Stalking Charge

A Chickasha man is jailed for stalking after it’s alleged he violated a protective order filed against him by his estranged wife. 36-year old Jonathan Ray Keith was arrested by police after the victim reported a confrontation with the suspect. Police were called to a home in the 600 block of East Ada Sipuel Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors have charged Keith with a felony for stalking and a misdemeanor of assault and battery for domestic abuse. Keith remains in jail on a $50,000 bond.

Police, Pharmacies Urge Safe Disposal of Meds

Chickasha police and other local law enforcement groups are teaming up with state and federal agencies to encourage individuals to safely dispose of unused prescription drugs. National Take Back Day is coming up later this month. Left over or old prescription meds can be taken to several locations where drop boxes are available. Among them are the Chickasha and Tuttle Police Departments and the Grady County Sheriff's Office. Several pharmacies also have the drop boxes, including Liberty Drug, Grand Care Pharmacy, and the Clinic Pharmacy in Chickasha, and Cedar Springs Pharmacy in Tuttle. All are combining efforts with Red Rock Prevention Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to encourage the use of the drop boxes, instead of flushing meds down the drain or throwing them in the trash. National Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27^th but the drop boxes are always available.

Talk Show Topics

Here’s what we’re talking about this weekend. Jen Jantzen with the Chickasha Public School Foundation is on the KOOL Konversation discussing the Foundation’s annual gala and fundraiser. Chickasha City Manager John Noblitt and Airport Advisory Board member Joe Green are the guests on Real Estate Today with John Mosley. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

Well Completions Reported

Here are some of the newest oil and gas well completions in the region. Continental Resources has two in Grady County. The first is three miles east of the Tabler Y off Highway 62. It's in section 24 of Township 7 North, Range 6 West. The other is about five miles south of Alex in Section 1 of Township 4 North, Range 6 West. Both wells are at a depth of just over 22,000 feet. In Caddo County, Daylight Petroleum has a completion in Section 9 of Township 5 North, Range 9 West at a depth of just under 7,000 feet.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $62.10 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $69.40.

Natural gas is $2.64 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,293 and silver is $15.15.

Thursday, April 4th

Friend House Fire Blamed on Lightning

Lightning is being blamed on a house fire which occurred in the Friend area early this morning. Strong thunderstorms were moving through the area at the time. Damage estimate is in the thousands of dollars, however the family managed to escape uninjured. The Friend Fire Department was summoned to the home of Michael and Sara Niece on Ballard Road just after 1:00 a.m. Buddy Myers with the Grady County Fire Department said firefighters Kimberly Copeland and Jason Knowles managed to quickly get the fire under control the fire and contain the fire to the roof. Estimated damage is $10,000 but Myers said the home is still habitable. Crews were on the scene for about an hour.

Anniversary of Teacher Walk-Out Marked with 'Walk-In'

A demonstration to support education was scheduled to take place at a Chickasha school this morning. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the statewide teacher walkout which lasted nearly two weeks. All this week educators and parents at Bill Wallace School have been marking the anniversary with various activities, including Wear Red for Ed(ucation). Renee Stallings, president of the Chickasha United Teaching Association, was encouraging all who support public schools to be part of a "walk-in" this morning. A demonstration scheduled outdoors at the Bill Wallace playground area was canceled because of wet grounds from the morning thunderstorms. State lawmakers have already missed one deadline for education funding this year.

Droverstock, Chalk-Art Fest is On Despite Morning Storms

It's going to be a wet start to the day’s activities at USAO as the university hosts its annual spring triad. It’s three events rolled in to one - including an academic competition, a sidewalk chalk art festival, and music. Hundreds of high school students converge on the University the first Thursday each April for the event. There's no parking in the oval today, as officials have marked off hundreds of squares for artists of all ages to display their talents. Later today, the outdoor concert Droverstock will get underway. Local and regional bands will play, with the featured local band Dollar 98 to perform about 9 o'clock tonight. There are food trucks on site and lots of activities for all who attend. Admission is free.

Sen. Inhofe Backs Trump on Border-Closing Threat

Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe says he supports President Trump's threat to close the U.S. border with Mexico. In an exclusive interview with KOOL/RANCH News, Inhofe says he backs the president's thoughts even though closing the border would have a big impact on the U.S. economy.

Inhofe said it was estimated that 76,000 people illegally crossed the border into the U.S. in February. He said that is an 11-year high and double the number of illegals that came into the U.S. in February of 2018.

Duncan Police Still Searching for Owner of Stolen Guns

Now a follow-up to the story we aired recently about some guns stolen from a Chickasha home more than 20 years ago. Officials with the Duncan Police Department say they've received a lot of phone calls and e-mails about the firearms, but so far the rightful owners have not been found. Duncan Police Capt. Joe Shoemake tells KSWO-TV that the guns were found in a car during a traffic stop. The owner reported the guns stolen to Chickasha police. Shoemake says Duncan authorities kept the firearms as evidence, and normally they would have been released after two or three years. Shoemake says Duncan police have had the guns longer than he's worked there. Shoemake says he's received about 40 phone calls or e-mails about the firearms, but no one has been able to describe them. He said they could be considered family heirlooms, and that having them would mean more than having the most expensive gun in the world.

Petroleum Building Schedules Open House

An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held today at the Petroleum Building downtown Chickasha. Owner Gail Bush invites the community to stop by to see all the businesses located in the building. The Chamber of Commerce will be on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 p.m. today. Door prizes will be given away and refreshments will be served.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $62.24 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $69.31.

Natural gas is $2.68 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,295 and silver is $15.06.

Wednesday, April 3rd

Hopkins, Loggins Win Re-Election to Chix City Council

Two closely contested races in Tuesday's Chickasha City Council election. In the end, the incumbents win re-election with just a few votes to spare. The tightest race was in Ward 4, where Jim Hopkins held off two challengers. Hopkins wins his second term by only 14 votes over Kelly Boyd, 274 to 260. Devin Gagliardo finished with 46 votes. Even though Hopkins did not get more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off will not be needed. Hopkins picked up 47 percent of the vote, with Boyd capturing 44 percent. In Ward 2, councilor Kimmy Loggins wins a third term, defeating Buddy Hector by only 38 votes, 313 to 275. Hopkins says he wants the council to deal with budget issues with the help of City Manager John Noblitt.

Loggins said the city continuously works on street and water improvements. In addition to the on-going infrastructure upgrades, she wants to work with residents to take steps to improve the city’s quality of life.

It was a light turnout for the election with less than 600 voters casting ballots.

Anadarko Mayor Re-elected in Landslide

In Anadarko, Mayor Kyle Eastwood easily wins re-election, receiving 87 percent of the vote over Patrick Michael Hayes. With just over 200 votes cast, Eastwood wins 184 to 30.

Incumbent Wins in CV Tech School Board Race

In one of the local school board races, it was also a good night for the incumbent on the Canadian Valley Technology Center board of education. Dean Riddell collected 54 percent of the vote in defeating George Fina.

Teen Injured After Falling Out of Pickup

A Blanchard teenager is hospitalized after being thrown out of a pick-up. The unidentified 17-year old male suffered leg injuries and was last in in good condition in an Oklahoma City hospital. The accident happened five miles south of Tuttle about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The highway patrol reports the pickup was driven by an unidentified 16-year old male. The trooper investigating the accident say that for an unknown reason, the passenger grabbed the outside door handle of the truck which caused the door to open, and he was thrown about 30 feet from the vehicle.

Stamp to Feature Mural in Anadarko Post Office

It’s quite the honor for the City of Anadarko. One of the historic Native American murals painted in the post office will be featured on a new stamp from the U.S. Postal Service. The murals were painted during the WPA days. Anadarko City Manager Kenneth Corn said they had been working with federal officials for about four years trying to get some badly-needed improvements at the post office in order to save the murals.

The work started last fall to include the installation of new windows, painting the lobby, repairing the driveway, and power washing the building. It was just last week that Corn said he was notified by the Postmaster General that one section of the mural will be featured on a stamp. While stamp will be unveiled nationally next Wednesday in Arkansas, it won't be unveiled in Anadarko until April 30th.

Students Rewarded for Perfect Attendance

Eight more elementary students in Chickasha Public Schools are honored for their perfect attendance. The Chickasha Rotary Club awarded the students with bicycles as part of an incentive program to keep kids in school. Winners at Grand Elementary were 4th graders Landon Miller and Jazmyne Kennell, and 3rd graders Preston Spain and Bryelle Kennell. Winners at Lincoln School were 5th graders Beckham Ingram and Jaidlyn Hammons, and 6th graders Tim Chauncy and Kaye McConnell.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $62.58 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $69.37.

Natural gas is $2.68 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,296 and silver is $15.13.

Tuesday, April 2nd

Chix City Council OKs Airport Expansion

A proposal to build dozens of new hangars at the Chickasha airport received unanimous approval from the Chickasha City Council last night. The panel approved the measure which allows the city manager to work with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding a public and private partnership to add 50 hangars to the airport. Additional hangars have been part of the long-range plan for airport development for several years. The council also scheduled a special election June 11th to ask voters to extend the utility franchise agreement with Public Service Company of Oklahoma. If approved, the agreement would extend the city's non-exclusive franchise agreement for 25 years.

City Council and School Board Elections Underway

Many Oklahoma voters head to the polls for city and town council elections today, and some have school board elections. In Chickasha, there are two seats to be decided on the city council, as well as a seat on the board of education for Canadian Valley Technology Center. For Chickasha City Council, Ward 4 Councilman Jim Hopkins has two challengers in Devin Gagliardo and Kelly Boyd. Ward 2 Councilman Kimmie Loggins is opposed by George "Buddy" Hector. For the Canadian Valley Technology school board, incumbent Dean Riddell is facing former school board member George Fina. There are town council elections in Verden and Rush Springs, and there are school board run-off elections in Rush Springs and Middleberg. There are also town council elections in Anadarko, where Mayor Kyle Eastwood is challenged by Patrick Michael Hayes. Other town council elections are underway in Cement, Ft. Cobb, and Binger. In Apache, there are both a town council election and school board run-off. Polls are open until 7 o'clock tonight.

Domestic Violence Suspect in Custody

A Chickasha man is behind bars after police respond to a report of a woman yelling for help and covered in blood. The Chickasha police blotter indicates the call came in about 3:00 a.m. Saturday from the 1800 block of West Idaho. Officers arrested 43-year old Delos Lonewolf on a domestic violence complaint. Prosecutors have charged him with two felonies, including domestic abuse and aggravated assault and battery. Lonewolf remains in the Grady County Jail on a $25,000 bond. He's to announce his attorney April 18th and a preliminary hearing conference has been set for May 1st.

Stolen Vehicle Suspect Behind Bars

A Chickasha woman is in custody after a warrant was issued for her arrest in connection with a stolen vehicle. 30-year old Heather Renae Tripp was found by Chickasha police yesterday and booked into the county jail. A felony arrest warrant was issued for Tripp last month following an investigation by Chickasha police. No details were available regarding the theft. Tripp may have her initial appearance on the charge today.

Fire Hydrant Repair to Leave Some Without Water

Here’s a reminder that a portion of Chickasha will be without water today. The area around the Winds of Oak Ridge Apartments east of 4th and Almar Drive will have no water much of the day, while crews repair a fire hydrant. This includes homes on Heatherwood Drive and Alli Circle as well as Southwest Youth and Family Services. The outage is expected to run until 3 o'clock this afternoon.

Bill Would Ban All Cel Phone Use While Driving

State lawmakers are working on a bill that would totally ban all hand-held cell phone use while driving. SB 17 has passed the Senate by a 38-8 vote and will now be considered in the House of Representatives. Triple-A Oklahoma supports the ban, citing a recent survey that indicates 74 percent of Oklahoma drivers support a law banning all hand-held cel phones while behind the wheel. The insurance group says it would be a significant step toward reducing distracted driving risks. Senator Lonnie Paxton voted against the bill while Senator Darcy Jech voted for it. The bill will now be reviewed by the house judiciary committee.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.59 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $68.35.

Natural gas is $2.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,292 and silver is $15.02.

Monday, April 1st

Airport Expansion to be Discussed by City Council

A proposed expansion at the Chickasha Airport is to be reviewed by the Chickasha City Council. Officials are working on a proposed public-private partnership that would add 50 hangars to the airport. The hangars would be leased to private individuals. Officials say new hangars are on the short- and long-range plans for the facility. The plan failed to get a majority vote by the Airport Advisory Board, 2-2. City administrators have begun preliminary studies for a taxiway project which would be funded with help from the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s anticipated that project would help to service new hangar development. The city council is also to take a look at going out for bids to make roof repairs at the Rock Island Railroad Depot, which has developed some leaks recently. The council is to honor Roy Maloney as the city's employee of the month. Maloney has worked for the city for 36 years, and is currently the Parks Supervisor. A closed-door session will also be held, as the council will discuss a sensitive issue dealing with an economic development proposal. Before the regular city council meeting, the panel will have a special work session which will start at 5:30 p.m. The formal meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. with both gatherings to be held in the council chambers at city hall.

Fire Hydrant Repair to Cause Water Outage

A neighborhood in the southeast part of Chickasha will be without water much of the day tomorrow. City crews will be repairing a fire hydrant east of 4th and Almar Drive. The area that will be without water includes the Winds of Oak Ridge Apartments, Southwest Youth and Family Services, and homes along Heatherwood Drive and Alli Circle. Water service will be off from about 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Truck Hits Semi Attempting a U-Turn

A Rush Springs man was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after his pickup crashed into a semi making a U-turn. 67-year old Reaford Charlson was admitted in critical condition after the accident that happened just before 10:00 p.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 81 about two miles north of the Grady and Stephens County line. The Highway Patrol reports that both vehicles were southbound on the highway, when when Charlson hit the semi which was trying to make a U-turn to go back north. Charlson was pinned inside the cab of his pickup for about 20 minutes. The driver of the semi, 61-year old Ronnie Hadley of Lindsay, was not hurt. The accident closed the highway for more than four hours.

Scouts Claim State KidWind Challenge

It was a good weekend for those Eagle Scouts competing at the Oklahoma KidWind Challenge. Kyle Main of Minco, Falcon McDoulett of Tuttle, and Nash Tabor of Newcastle took first place in the high school division of the competition held at the Oklahoma Science Museum. The team has been working on a wind energy project for the last several months. With the state championship in hand, the team from Boy Scout Troop 4338 qualifies for the National KidWind Challenge in Houston next month.

Droverstock, Chalk Art Festival Set for USAO This Week

Hundreds of high school and elementary school students from across the state will converge on USAO this week for its annual Spring Triad. The event features three events rolled in to one - an academic challenge, a sidewalk chalk art competition, and Droverstock, a concert featuring a number of local and regional bands. The scholastic event and chalk-art festival begin early Thursday morning with the concert starting in the afternoon. Local band Dollar 98 will be part of the Droverstock lineup. Admission to all the events is free and open to the public.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.14 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $68.39.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,294 and silver is $15.04.

2019, March 25th - 30th

Posted About Five Years Ago by GP

Your News provided by

Today Let’s meet Canadian Valley Technology Center “Spotlight person of the week is Michelle Jezioro. Michelle is studying “Surgical Technology, at CV Tech. Tune in Friday the 29th, to KOOL 105,5 FM, (the 7AM and 8AM News) to hear the story.

Saturday March 30th

College Students Concerned About "Climate Crisis"

Some USAO students walked out of class yesterday, marching on city hall to demand the city take action on what the students called a "climate crisis." Scot Godfrey was the spokesman for three students who delivered a one-page letter with their concerns. Godfrey, Paddy Loyer, and Luke Williams say they are part of a student coalition that includes Chickasha high school students who are concerned about not only a climate crisis, but environmental damage done by oil companies. The letter calls for city government to recognize that the climate crisis is caused by human activity and is an immediate threat to society, and asks for the implementation of policies that encourage renewable energy industries in Grady County. The letter also calls for policies that hold oil companies accountable for the environmental damage they perpetrate, and that any funds generated by those policies to be used for the benefit of people affected by the harm done to the environment. Godfrey says he hopes the effort will encourage others with similar thoughts have their voices heard.

In a prepared statement, Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley said it's encouraging to see a group of students advocate for a cause they believe in. City Manager John Noblitt said he appreciates the interest and concern shown by the students, and that their letter will be shared with the city council. The students' actions have caused quite a stir after we posted a picture of them on our Facebook page. It has had more than 2,300 views and issue has resulted in numerous comments on both sides of the controversial issue.

Crash Hospitalizes Marlow Man

A Marlow man is air-lifted to a hospital when his car rear-ends a pick-up. 26-year old Jack Berry was flown to an Oklahoma City hospital after suffering internal and leg injuries. He was last in fair condition. The accident happened on State Highway 7 about five miles east of Lawton about 2:30 yesterday. The highway patrol reports that both vehicles were eastbound on the highway, when, for an unknown reason, Berry slammed into the pack of the truck. Berry was pinned in the car for about an hour. The driver of the pickup, 62-year old Elmer Harriage of Elgin, was not injured.

Chickasha Schools Announce District Teacher of the Year

An instructor at Grand Elementary is the Teacher of the Year for the entire Chickasha School District. Raylee Butler was selected for the honor. Butler has been at Grand for the last six years, where she leads the L.E.D. program for special needs students. L.E.D. stands for Learn from Yesterday; Endurance for Today; and Dream for Tomorrow. It helps the students to learn in a traditional classroom setting. Previous to teaching at Grand, Butler helped to develop the first autism-exclusive high school classroom in Edmond Public Schools. Butler was selected for the honor by a committee of teachers and administrators in the district. She is now eligible to compete for the State Teacher of the Year, the winner of which will be named at the State Fair of Oklahoma this fall.

Longtime Banker Celebrates Career

His banking career spanned four decades. Sam Griffin retired yesterday as the branch manager for the Chickasha location of MidFirst Bank. The financial institution was called the Oklahoma National Bank when Griffin started there in 1981. Many customers, friends, and former co-workers were on hand for a retirement reception yesterday. The new branch manager will be Heather Roehrwick, who has been at the bank for the last eight years.

Sheriff's Office Issues Most-Wanted List

The Grady County Sheriff’s Office has issued a list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here’s Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett-

If you have information regarding any of these individuals you’re asked to contact the sheriff’s office by calling 405-222-5085.

Friday, March 29th

Fire Burns Outside Oil Field Supply Company
A huge fire west of Chickasha kept a number of fire crews from several departments busy late Thursday afternoon. The fire erupted about 5:00 p.m. outside the Bri-Chem Supply Corporation, just west of 29th Street and Highway 62. High winds helped to fuel the flames. The company's website says it warehouses and delivers products used for cementing, completing, and producing oil and gas wells. Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles as firefighters from Chickasha and the Grady County Fire Departments worked to put down the flames. Chickasha Fire Chief Brian Zalewski said pallets of dry organic materials caught fire, and while they were flammable they were not toxic. Damage estimate was not available and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Victim Identified in Officer-Involved Shooting

The man shot and killed by Chickasha police Wednesday night had numerous run-ins with the law for several years. 47-year old Kevin Samuel Capers had been arrested for burglary, assault, and drug charges. Most recently, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor vandalism charge in 2015. Police were called to a Chickasha home Wednesday night, where it’s alleged Capers was threatening his girlfriend with a knife. As officers confronted Capers, police say he made threatening moves toward them with the knife. The officers have been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is being reviewed.

Women Get Tips for Careers, Families, Service Work

It is said that if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. That's certainly the case with Jill Castilla, an Edmond banker who was the guest speaker at the first-ever Successful Women Series hosted by the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Castilla says you have to be focused and not let family, business, and community work interfere with each other.

About 70 people attended the program at USAO. The chamber will be holding one of these programs every three months.

Scouts to Compete in KidWind Challege

A team of Eagle Scouts from the area will put their knowledge of wind power to the test this weekend. The scouts will be among 50 students competing at the Oklahoma KidWind Challenge at the Science Museum of Oklahoma. Kyle Main of Minco, Falcon McDoulett of Tuttle, and Nash Tabor of Newcastle with Boy Scout Troop 4338 have been working on their project since last fall. All are seniors, and have been spending what little spare time they have designing and building mini wind turbines. In addition to school, they are already attending college classes or going to career tech and have jobs. Unfortunately, the team will be without Tabor for the competition. He suffered a serious spinal cord injury in a dirt-bike accident earlier this week. He has had surgery and is recovering in an Oklahoma City hospital. But he still has input on the project, and his two team mates are visiting with him in the hospital to continue trying to improve their work. Top placers at this weekend’s event will qualify for the National KidWind Challenge in Houston in May.

Local Banker Retiring

A longtime Chickasha banker is calling it a career. Sam Griffin, president of MidFirst Bank, is stepping down. A retirement reception for Griffin is being held at the bank from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Talk Show Topics

Here’s what we’re talking about this weekend. Jenna Cansler, Mary Kate Henson, Julia Cochran and Sarah Keef with Red Rock Prevention Services are this week’s guests on our KOOL Konversation. Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson is this week’s guest on Real Estate Today with John Mosley. Find links to these program under the Community tab on this website.

Enrgy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.30 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is$67.10.

Natural gas is $2.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,296 and silver is $15.06.

Thursday, March 28th

Chix Police Involved in Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting

A domestic violence investigation by Chickasha police ends badly when officers shoot and kill a suspect. Officers were called to a home near Centennial Park at 7th and Texas just before 10:00 p.m. Wednesday. When police arrived they found a couple arguing, and officers made their way inside the home. The situation got worse, and authorities allege a man charged at them, and police used deadly force. The Oklahoma State Bureau of investigation has been called in to determine what happened. Neither the names of the victim of the fatal shooting nor the officers involved have been released.

Relatives Seek GoFundMe Donations for Crash Victim

The Lindsay woman who died when her car hit a semi last weekend was a young mother who worked two jobs while her husband went to college and watched their two little girls. Cassandra Steakley died in the crash that happened near Alex last Sunday morning. Cassandra's mother-in-law, Karen Thompson, has set up a GoFundMe account to help the young family with funeral expenses. Thompson says Cassandra worked at a couple of restaurants. Her husband Christian also worked and would care for their three-year old and 15-month old daughters. Christian is also attending economics classes at USAO. The post says like most young parents, Cassandra and Christian had financial challenges. The car Cassandra was driving was their only vehicle, so Christian has no way to make the trip from Lindsay to Chickasha. Thompson said for the first time ever, Christian is asking for help to pay for Cassandra's final wishes of being cremated and her ashes taken to the mountains in east Tennessee. In just a few days, the GoFundMe account has cleared $1,700. The family hopes to raise $2,000.

Woman, Child Hospitalized in Crash Near Apache

A toddler was one of two people injured in a traffic accident near Apache last night. A woman, believed to be the child's mother, and the child were both admitted in fair condition in a Lawton Hospital. 37-year old Amber McLure of Apache suffered arm and leg injuries. The unidentified three-year old girl suffered head and arm injuries. The accident happened on U.S. Highway 62 just south of the Caddo and Comanche county line about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. The highway patrol reports that McClure became distracted and rear-ended a pick-up that was trying to make a turn. The driver of the pickup, 59-year old Robert Bernden of Marlow, was not hurt.

Early Voting Underway for City Council Elections

City council elections are coming up next week in several cities and towns. Early voting is getting underway in those elections. In-person, absentee ballots may be cast at the county election board in the county where your city or town is located. In Chickasha, there are two seats to be filled. There are three candidates running in Ward 4, including incumbent Jim Hopkins, Devin Gagliardo and Kelly Boyd. In Ward 2, incumbent Kimmie Loggins is being challenged by George "Buddy" Hector. Election board offices will be open until 6:00 p.m. today and from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. tomorrow. Regular precincts will be open next Tuesday.

Farm Restructuring Plans Due August 1st

Turning to farm news, officials with the farm service agency say this is a good time of year to notify them about any ownership changes on the farm. Anytime there is a change in ownership, or if leases take place, a farm reconstiution must be done. There four methods of farm re-constitution. Mark Jackson with the Grady County FSA office says the most popular is the cropland method.

Other options to reconstitute farms are the Estate method, the Designation by Land Owner method, or the Default method. Jackson says for the current year, farm combinations and farm divisions must be requested by the first of August.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.41.

London-based Brent crude is$67.83

Natural gas is $2.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,312 and silver is $15.24.

Wednesday, March 27th

Convicted Cop-Shooter Sentenced to 10 Life Terms

A Chickasha man is sentenced to 450 years in prison for shooting and injuring police officers. Alex Warren Klingler received 10 consecutive life terms yesterday. The sentence was handed down by Grady County District Judge Kory Kirkland. Last November, a jury convicted Klingler of 10 felonies in connection with the shooting which occurred in September of 2017. Klinger's attorney said he will appeal. Police were trying to serve a search warrant on Klingler’s home when he barricaded himself inside and shot several officers. District Attorney Jason Hicks said the sentence should serve notice that anyone who decides to harm an officer will be held accountable for their actions. Hicks also called the officers involved "heroes" and expressed his gratitude to them for putting their lives on the line. Klingler was convicted of charges of shooting with intent to kill against G.G. Music, James Weidenmaier, Eric Burkhart, Jason Myrko, Cliff Walker, and Derek Hunt. He was convicted of charges of assault with a deadly weapon and maiming against Sgt. Matt Schoolfield; and he was convicted of charges of assault with a deadly weapon against Colten Weger and Daniel Ramirez. Klingler will get credit for time served, which is about 18 months.

Deputy Nabs Wanted Man, Who's Now in More Trouble

A deputy sheriff with a keen eye arrests a wanted man and finds him with enough drugs to have felony distribution charges filed against him. Documents filed in Grady County District court indicate Deputy Jim Peek was servicing his patrol unit at Love's South in Chickasha early Monday morning when he saw the man ride up on a bicycle. Peek checked with dispatch and confirmed the man had a warrant for his arrest. The man had a sunglasses case that contained substances that tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine. The document indicates the man asked Peek to throw the drugs away because he was on probation. Instead, 40-year old Tyrus Jesus Gonzales of Cement was taken to jail. Gonzales had a 2015 warrant for order to appear on a felony bogus check charge. He was also on probation for a felony assault and battery conviction stemming from a 2016 arrest. Gonzales is being held on a $25,000 bond.

Is Route 66 Federal Grant Program Ending?

A federal grant program to preserve the historic Route 66 may be ending this year. The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program has issued what may its last call for grants that can be used to restore buildings and landmarks along the 2,400-mile route. The matching-grant program has been around for about 20 years but it is scheduled to end this fall. The Associated Press indicates there's no agreement in Washington, D.C. to extend it. Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe is co-sponsoring a bill which would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. It's a bi-partisan effort that would amend the National Trail Systems Act which is designed to help revitalize communities along the Route 66 corridor, dubbed The Mother Road. As it stands now, the current program is accepting grant applications through April 12th.

Chickasha School Foundation Schedules Annual Gala

The Chickasha Public School Foundation is preparing for its annual banquet and fundraiser. The Foundation continues to grow its endowment, which is now more than $1 million since it was created more than 30 years ago. Among the support the foundation provides for the district is annual grants to teachers, college scholarships for a number of high school seniors, and free school supplies all year for every student. This year's banquet will include a barbecue buffet dinner, live entertainment, and live and silent auctions. The theme for the banquet is "We Believe in the Purple and Gold." the fundraiser will be Tuesday, April 30^th, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the USAO ballroom. Individual tickets are $35 and numerous sponsorship levels are available. For information, contact director Jen Jantzen through the foundation’s website: www.chickasha4kids.org

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.94 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $67.97.

Natural gas is $2.74 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,324 and silver is $15.45.

Tuesday, March 26th

9-1-1 Call Leads Police to Sexual Assault in Progress

Chickasha police arrest a man in connection with a violent sexual assault that occurred at a Chickasha home. Authorities say dispatchers received an open 9-1-1 call about 11:30 a.m. Saturday. A press release from police say they first believed they heard an argument between an adult and a child. The call was pinged to a home in the area of 10th and Frisco, and authorities began a house-to-house check. When officers got to a home in the 700 block of North 11th, they heard a muffled female voice calling for help. As officers beat on the door, the cries for help became more intense and the woman could clearly be heard in distress. Police broke down the door and found a nude male sexually assaulting the woman. Officers took the suspect into custody, and the victim received emergency medical treatment. The victim also told investigators then man held a knife to her throat. Police arrested 46-year old Anthony Paul Torralba, who has a lengthy criminal record. Yesterday, prosecutors filed charges of first-degree rape and forcible sodomy against Torralba. A judge set his bond at $250,000.

Community Mourns Death of Accountant Jimmie Johnson

Longtime Chickasha accountant Jimmie Johnson who also was an outstanding high school and collegiate basketball player and high jumper has died. Johnson passed away Sunday at the age of 73 following a lengthy illness. Johnson won a state high jump title in 1963 while at Duncan High School. He was also named Mr. Oklahoma in high school basketball that year. He then went to the University of Oklahoma where started for the basketball and track teams. Johnson was one of the first high jumpers to clear seven feet while at OU. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he served in the Army where he represented the Fourth Army in both sports for two years. After his military service he returned to OU to earn his accounting degree. Johnson coached numerous high school high jumpers, including 15 state champions. Johnson had been a 45-year member of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants. Survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years, Ruthie; a daughter, Alicia and her husband Bill; and one son, Austin. Funeral for Jimmie Paul Johnson will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Epworth Methodist Church. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Solar Energy Losing Ground in Oklahoma

While oil and gas is tops in the energy sector in Oklahoma, there are alternative energy industries like wind and solar. But things aren't looking very good for the solar industry in the Sooner State. The website www.okenergytoday.com reported recently that solar lost several thousand jobs last year. The website also cites a report from the Journal Record. It indicates that while Oklahoma has the No. 6-ranked potential in the U.S. when it comes to developing solar power, the Solar Energy Industries Association indicates it is one of the worst for adding new solar capacity. The report says Oklahoma slipped from 31st in 2017 to 43rd last year in the installation of new solar projects.

Open Streets Program Set for First Weekend in May

With warmer weather finally here, many of us are heading outdoors to work in the yard, play with the kids at the park, or just walk around the block. Organizers are making plans to encourage us to be even more active. The third annual Open Streets program will be held in May. A number of groups are combing efforts to offer several activities in one place. Mary Kate Henson has worked on the project since its beginning a couple of years ago.

This is a free event and the community is welcome to walk, ride bikes, and roller skate. A number of groups will offer other activities and there will be demonstrations that include martial arts and Tai Chi. Food vendors will be on hand. Also that morning, the Chickasha Rotary Club will hold its annual 5K and fun run. Open Streets will be Saturday, May 4^th in downtown Chickasha.

Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge has New Manager

There's a new manager leading the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, but he's not new to the refuge. David Farmer has been serving as the interim manager for the last six months, following the retirement of Tony Booth. Farmer has been with the refuge for three years, serving as deputy manager and chief law enforcement officer.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.82 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $67.21.

Natural gas is $2.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,320 and silver is $15.47.

Monday, March 25th

One Dead in Crash Near Alex

A Lindsay woman died in a terrible crash on a Grady County highway. 24-year old Cassandra Steakley died when her car hit a semi head-on near Alex. The accident happened just before 10:00 a.m. Sunday on State Highway 19 about a mile west of Alex. The highway patrol reports that Steakley was westbound on the highway when she crossed over the centerline and crashed into the semi. It took two hours for crews from the Grady County fire department could get her out of the wreckage. The driver of the semi, 42-year old James Bish, Jr. of Anadarko was not injured. The accident shut down Highway 19 for several hours.

New Deputy Chief on Board at Chickasha Fire Dep't.

The Chickasha Fire Department has a new deputy fire chief. Tony Samaniego has been on board for about a month. Samaniego spent nearly 14 years at the Newcastle Fire Department, and says he's been on the road a lot over the last seven years working with the Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training program.

Samaniego will be working with a new training coordinator with the fire department who is expected to be on board soon.

Chix Library to Close for New Door Installation

The Chickasha Library will be getting some new doors this week. But the library will have to close for a couple of days in order for the doors to be installed. The library will be open for its regular hours today, but it will be closed all day tomorrow and Wednesday. Director Lillie Huckaby says the library should re-open for normal hours on Thursday.

Rig Count Down in Oklahoma, Nation

The number of rigs drilling for oil and natural gas are down across the state and around the country. The count in Oklahoma was down two rigs to 109 this past week. That number is also down about 10 percent from the same time last year. Nationwide, the rig count is down 10 locations to 1,016 - which is a little higher than for the same time a year ago.

CV Tech Campus Director to Receive Leadership Award

A top award will be presented to the campus director of the Chickasha site of Canadian Valley Technology Center. Ronnie Bogle will receive an Outstanding Leadership Award from the Oklahoma Career Tech Equity Council. Bogle was selected for the honor for his support of what is known as the PIVOT work-prep program. It helps students to set and reach career goals. The award to be presented at this week's Making it Work Day awards program in Oklahoma City. Bogle has been an educator for 17 years and has been with CV Tech for 14 years.

Regional Youth Get Top Dollar at Stock Show

A couple of regional youth did very well at the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) this month. Farm broadcaster Ron Hays tells us-

The largest amount paid was $85,000 for the grand champion steer shown by Sierra Collins from Tillman County 4H. The Grand lamb sold for $15,000 which went to Lydia Stryka of Yukon. Overall, more than $1.2 million was paid to more than 200 youth who exhibited the top animals at OYE.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.04 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $67.03.

Natural gas is $2.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,323 and silver is $15.52

Archives:

2024-04 | 2024-03 | 2024-02 | 2024-01 | 2023-12 | 2023-11 | 2023-10 | 2023-09 | 2023-08 | 2023-07 | 2023-06 | 2023-05 | 2023-04 | 2023-03 | 2023-02 | 2023-01 | 2022-12 | 2022-11 | 2022-10 | 2022-09 | 2022-08 | 2022-07 | 2022-06 | 2022-05 | 2022-04 | 2022-03 | 2022-02 | 2022-01 | 2021-12 | 2021-11 | 2021-10 | 2021-09 | 2021-08 | 2021-07 | 2021-06 | 2021-05 | 2021-04 | 2021-03 | 2021-02 | 2021-01 | 2020-12 | 2020-11 | 2020-10 | 2020-09 | 2020-08 | 2020-07 | 2020-06 | 2020-05 | 2020-04 | 2020-03 | 2020-02 | 2020-01 | 2019-12 | 2019-11 | 2019-10 | 2019-09 | 2019-08 | 2019-07 | 2019-06 | 2019-05 | 2019-04 | 2019-03 | 2019-02 | 2019-01 | 2018-12 | 2018-11 | 2018-10 | 2018-09 | 2018-08 | 2018-07 | 2018-06 | 2018-05 | 2018-04 | 2018-03 | 2018-02 | 2018-01 | 2017-12 | 2017-11 | 2015-02 | 2015-01