Saturday, Aug. 24th

 

Warrant Issued in Connection with Turnpike Death

Caddo County authorities have issued a felony arrest warrant for a man blamed for the traffic death of a woman earlier this year. Authorities are looking for 56-year old Guadalupe Martinez of Grand Canyon, Arizona. He's wanted for manslaughter in connection with the death of Darwina Clark back in May. The Lawton Constitution cites Caddo County Court records that allege Martinez was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when the accident occurred. Clark was in an SUV that had pulled over on the shoulder of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike when it ran out of gas. It was the opinion of the state trooper investigating the accident that Martinez ran off the road and hit the SUV, which resulted in Clark's death and injured a second individual.

 

Identity Theft Suspect Behind Bars

A woman wanted for identity theft has been picked up by authorities. 35-year old Heather Nicole Priest of Oklahoma City was wanted for numerous other alleged crimes as well, including violation of state statute with a computer and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. The warrant was issued out of Grady County earlier this month. No details were available about the charges. Priest was arrested by Chickasha police in 2017 and was charged with misdemeanors for having drug paraphernalia but has failed to show up for any court appearances in connection with that arrest.

 

Kiowa Tribal Members Going to the Polls Today

Kiowa tribal members are going to the polls today to consider legalizing medicinal and recreational marijuana use. It's one of several issues on the ballot, in which voters will also decide on the tribe's budget. Also to be decided is whether the tribe should approve a loan agreement to build a casino in Hobart. Polls are open until 5:00 p.m. today. Voters in District One cast ballots at the Kiowa Housing Authority in Anadarko; District Two voters cast ballots at the tribal complex in Carnegie; and District Three voters go to the Methodist Church in Apache.

 

Most-Wanted List

The Grady County Sheriff’s Office has released an updated 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.

 

Grady County Fair Wraps Up Today

There’s a flurry of activity today at the final day of the Grady County Fair. The poultry and rabbit shows are this morning, as is the tractor driving contest for the youth. The dairy and beef cattle shows are this afternoon, and there is a pet show for the youngsters as well. The carnival opens at noon, there is a kiddie pedal-tractor pull, and the featured band tonight will be Dollar 98. The cake auction this year brought more than $7,000 for the fair. More than 50 delectable delights were entered, with the Senior Division Grand Champion winner being a sour cream coconut cake entered by Sharon Horton. That cake brought $175. The Reserve Grand Champion entry was a yellow cake with coconut filling from Pam McCarty. The Junior Division Grand Champion cake was an Italian Cream from Chase Patterson, which sold for $225. The Reserve Grand was a chocolate cake from Hayden Terrell. Nine cakes sold for $200 or more, with the highest bid coming in at $300. Mindy Walker's Division Champion Italian Cream was bought by Joe Victery for that price. Another Italian Cream entered by Jill Rumley also sold for $300 to Joe Powell from Solutions Auto, with that money being donated to the American Cancer Society.

 

Blanchard Bluegrass Festival Resumes

A day full of music is set for Blanchard today, with the community's Bluegrass Music Festival. The event kicked off last night with a number of regional groups entertaining the crowd. Among the groups performing are Southbound Mule, The Pot County Stringslingers, Hanks and Company, and Honey Creek Pass. There's free admission to the festival at Lion's Park, which runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Food trucks are on site.

 

 

Friday, Aug. 23rd

 

Hospital Battles Blue Cross-Blue Shield OK

Grady Memorial Hospital is at odds with insurance giant Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) over the hospital's re-imbursement rates. Unless the two sides come to an agreement within the next couple of months, families with Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage will have to find another facility to get medical care. Hospital administrator Kean Spellman-

 

 

Spellman also said the hospital's trustees have the area's best interest in mind in the negotiations.

 

 

The most recent contract expired in July, but Spellman said they have until Oct. 28th to negotiate a new contract, and that trustees have every intention to come to an acceptable agreement. Spellman urged those with Blue Cross Blue Shield to call BCBSOK to say they want the keep Grady Memorial in-network. The number is 1-866-520-2507.

 

Teacher Sentenced for Drinking Alcohol at School              

Now, a KOOL/RANCH News follow-up to a story from this past spring, where a Chickasha teacher was arrested for drinking at school. Deborah Reed has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor public intoxication charge in Grady County District Court. Reed was arrested in May when it was alleged that she appeared to be drunk during the school day at Grand Avenue School. A police affidavit indicated she admitted consuming alcohol at school. Reed was given a two-year deferred sentence and fined $200.

 

City Crews Repair More Water Line Breaks

A few Chickasha residents spent much of Thursday without water. Households around 5th and Missouri were affected when a water line break was discovered. Public Works Director David Buchanan said crews were able to get the line repaired late yesterday afternoon. Crews were also called out to the area near 14th and Grand for another water line break. City workers were able to make quick work of that problem.

 

Chickasha Officials Hold Off on Water Restrictions              

Now an update to a story we had earlier this week, regarding potential water restrictions for the City of Chickasha. Officials said the city's water tower levels are beginning to rise. Two of the city's three towers lost millions of gallons of water due a large water line break recently, coupled with a huge demand due to the hot weather. City officials say they will continue monitoring the water levels, and should water restrictions become necessary, they will alert the general public through the media, along with the putting the information on the city's website and Facebook page.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here’s what we’re talking about this weekend. 4^th District Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole is this week’s guest on our KOOL Konversation. Chickasha High School Athletic Director and head football coach Jerry Don Bray is the guest on Real Estate Today with John Mosley. We have links to the programs under the Community tab on this website.

              

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on NYMEX is $55.35 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $59.22.

Natural gas is $2.16 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,506 and silver is $17.18.

 

 

Thursday, Aug. 22nd

 

Local Officers Help in Federal Narcotics Sting

Federal agents arrested a number of suspects alleged to have been involved in a nationwide heroin trafficking operation. 16 arrests were made in Oklahoma. Regional law enforcement agencies included in the investigation were the Grady County Sheriff's Office and the Duncan, Yukon, and El Reno police departments. Officials with the Western District of the U.S. Department of Justice announced the results of their investigation yesterday. Agents seized more than 16 pounds of heroin - enough for 30,000 doses. They also found three pounds of meth, a number of firearms, and $30,000 in cash. Officials say drugs would be shipped from several states to Oklahoma for re-distribution. Authorities are still looking for a couple of suspects. Officials say the investigation began in December of 2015 and involved more than 200 law enforcement personnel.

 

'Person of Interest' Sought for Questioning

in Connection with Weekend Shooting

Chickasha police still aren't saying much about last weekend's shooting of a bicycle rider. Authorities do say there is a person of interest but did not want to release the name since it could hinder their investigation. The victim suffered at least one gunshot wound to his chest. At last report he was in stable condition. Police have not yet released his name.

 

Cong. Tom Cole Visits Chickasha

4^th District Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole discussed the U.S.-Mexico border crisis, America's trade war with China, and national gun control legislation during a couple of stops in Chickasha yesterday. Cole said he's not a fan of the tariffs President Trump has implement against China, saying his constituents in the 4th District lose in a trade war. He also said that a trade agreement with Canada and Mexico should be completed this fall. The Moore Republican said that’s important because 40 percent of U.S. exports go to those countries. In an exclusive interview with KOOL/RANCH News, we asked Cole if he has much interaction with New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

 

              

 

You can hear our interview with Congressman Cole on our KOOL Konversation program this weekend.

 

Semi Topples, Hits Utility Pole

Two men were taken to the hospital after a semi ran off a Grady County road and hit a utility pole. 39-year old Tony Banks of Oklahoma City was a passenger in the big rig. He was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was admitted in good condition with internal and external injuries. The driver of the semi, 54-year old Anthony Clayton of Blanchard, was also taken to a hospital with arm injuries where he was treated and released. The accident happened a couple of miles east of Bridge Creek School just before 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. The highway patrol reports that Clayton tried to slow down due to traffic. He drove off the edge the road then over-corrected. The semi crossed the road and fell on its side before hitting the pole. The trooper on the scene reported that Clayton may have been driving too fast.

 

Kiowas To Decide Marijuana Legalization, Other Issues          

Kiowa tribal members will vote on legalizing the use of recreational and medical marijuana in a special election this Saturday. Other measures on the ballot include a loan agreement to build a casino in Hobart, and another is the tribe's budget. There are polling locations at the Kiowa Housing Authority in Anadarko, the tribal complex in Carnegie, and at the Methodist Church in Apache. Mail-in ballots must be received at the Carnegie Post Office by 10:00 a.m. Saturday

 

Grady County Fair Begins

The 104th Grady County Fair is underway. The first order of business is the livestock shows will be goats and sheep, both of which are this afternoon. The opening ceremony will be at 7:00 p.m. with fair honorees Marge McClaughlin and Shirley Burns recognized for their long time work with the fair. That will be followed by the cake auction, which brings several thousand dollars to the fair which is paid out to the many exhibitors. The carnival opens at 6:00 p.m., and there will be live music at 7:00 p.m. featuring Tim Brauer and First Look. The fair runs through Saturday.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $55.68 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $60.30.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,507 and silver is $17.13.

 

 

Wednesday, Aug. 21st

 

Energy Jobs Rise to Start Second Half of the Year

With the number of drilling rigs slipping in Oklahoma, there's been a decline in energy-related jobs over the last year. But there has been a short-term increase in that sector. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reports there was an increase of 400 jobs from June to July of this year. More than 53,000 people were employed in the mining and logging sector, which includes oil and gas. The number is down about 300 jobs from the same time a year ago. Overall, the Oklahoma employment picture is still in good shape. The jobless rate was steady at 3.2 percent in July, which is the same rate as July of last year.

 

Heat and Air Unit Bids to be Accepted for Chix City Hall

The heating and air conditioning units at Chickasha City Hall are aging, so the city council this week approved going out for bids to replace about a dozen mechanical units in the historic building. City Manager John Noblitt wasn't sure how old they are, but said a couple of the units have not been working properly for some time.

 

              

 

The council also approved going out for bids to replace heat and air units at the library and the wastewater treatment plant.

 

Incentive Grant Approved to Renovate Downtown Bldg

The council also approved awarding an incentive grant to a firm wanting to renovate the former Chickasha Star newspaper office. The grant is not to exceed $160,000 for Mark McPherson and the Great Plains Land and Cattle Company. The building does fall within the downtown historic district. McPherson hopes to create a number of small businesses within the building. He'll be investing more than $500,000 of his own money to develop the property. A couple of years ago, officials had talked about demolishing the building.

 

Purchase of Water Treatment Plant Pump Ok'd

The council also approved the purchase of a large pump for the water treatment plant at a cost of $97,000. Earlier this year, the council waived bidding requirements to authorize the emergency purchase of a pump for about $80,000. The city manager said the Department of Environmental Quality suggested that a larger pump was needed. The new equipment will be able to pump about 4,500 gallons per minute. In other council action, the panel met behind closed doors for nearly two hours to discuss a sensitive economic development project which was not identified. After returning to open session, the council took no action on the matter.

 

Congressman Tom Cole in Chickasha Today

4th District Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole will be spending some time in Chickasha today. He's scheduled to meet with business leaders around mid-day, and will have a town hall meeting tonight. The meeting with Chamber of Commerce members will be at the InterUrban Restaurant starting about 11:30 a.m. this morning. The town hall meeting will be at Canadian Valley Technology Center starting about 5:30 p.m. this afternoon. He's expected to discuss some current issues regarding the district and in Washington, D.C. and will also answer questions from those attending.

 

Grady County Fair Vendors Set Up Today              

It's move-in day for vendors who will have displays at the Grady County fair. Some of the more than 125 vendors can begin setting up their booth spaces for the three-day event which opens tomorrow. The judging of all the still exhibits will be done today and the hay show is set for this morning.

              

Part of Country Club Road Closed thru Thursday              

A traffic advisory for motorists in Chickasha who use Country Club Road. A portion of the road will be closed today and tomorrow for the installation of a water line. The road will be closed to through traffic between 16th Street and 29^th Street. The actual closing is for a couple of blocks between Caulder Drive and Flanders Drive. Local traffic will be able to access their neighborhoods from nearby streets.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.34 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $60.03.

Natural gas is $2.21 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,510 and silver is $17.08.

 

 

Tuesday, Aug. 20th

 

Water Restrictions Possible in Chickasha

A major water line break and equipment problems at the city’s water treatment plant may force Chickasha officials to implement water restrictions. City Manager John Noblitt said a recent water line rupture in the west part of town allowed a significant amount of water to be released from two of the city's three water towers. Coupled with the equipment issues, Noblitt said the towers aren't filling up as quickly as they normally do.

              

Noblitt said water usage has been up because of the recent stretch of extremely hot weather. He said they'll know tomorrow afternoon if any water restrictions may be necessary. Officials could possibly implement an odd-even water restriction.

 

Council OK's FEMA Funding for City Drainage Study              

The city council approved the funding for a major drainage study in its meeting last night. The council authorized the receipt of a matching grant from FEMA and the Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency to fund the study. It's a $300,000 project, with $225,000 provided through FEMA and $75,000 from the city. Background information regarding the study indicated officials would have up to three years to complete the work, but Fire Chief Brian Zalewski said it might be able to be completed in about six months. The study is expected to provide an overall plan to improve water drainage throughout the city.

 

Chix Airport to see Improvements

The city council also approved a big project for the city's airport. The city is combining with the Federal Aviation Administration to build a new taxiway and aprons. The project was awarded to Contech, Incorporated of Broken Arrow for more than $550,000. It was not the low bid, which was disqualified as engineers said it did not meet all the bid requirements. The FAA will provide 90 percent of the project’s funding .

 

Domestic Violence Suspect Allegedly Breaks Victim's Ribs              

In a brutal case of domestic violence, authorities say a man stomped on his girlfriend and broke her ribs - then waited several hours before taking her the hospital. And police say it wasn't the first time the man broke the victim's ribs. KOOL/RANCH News reported over the weekend that 44-year old Gary Lee Cabe, Jr. of Chickasha was taken into custody after a warrant had been issued for his arrest. The arrest warrant affidavit alleges Cabe got mad at his girlfriend because should wouldn't wake up to eat the food he brought home. It's alleged Cabe threatened the victim with a knife, then stepped on her torso. Authorities say Cabe took the victim's cell phone so she couldn't call 911. He eventually took her to the hospital about 12 hours later, then left her there, driving away in her car. Cabe was taken into custody last week. He has been charged with a felony for domestic violence resulting in great bodily injury. He remains in jail on a $75,000 bond.

 

Former Store Clerk Charged in Bogus Check Case

A former grocery store employee is behind bars after it’s alleged she cashed more than $4,500 in bogus checks. A Grady County judge issued an arrest warrant for 52-year old Susan Nicole Johnson of Oklahoma City. She was arrested yesterday and booked into the Grady County Jail. Tuttle police were called to the store in June after managers discovered that three large checks had been cashed, and the bank returned them as altered and fictitious. One check was for nearly $2,000 and the others were for nearly $1,300 each. Johnson told managers that she believed they were insurance settlement checks. Prosecutors have charged Johnson with one felony count of uttering a forged instrument.

 

Chickasha YMCA Closed One Day for Renovations

The Chickasha YMCA is closed today for some renovation work. A new front door is being installed along with new carpet and countertops, and improvements in the locker rooms. The upgrades are part of more than $50,000 of upgrades to the building, which at one time served as the headquarters for local National Guard troops. Some of the funds are from a grant from the Chickasha Community Foundation, which contributed more than $30,000. The Y will still have its after-school program this afternoon. The YMCA is expected to re-open for its regular hours on Wednesday.

 

Verden Student Named Fair Princess

The princess for the 104th Grady County Fair is Rylea Bennett of Verden. She was among 10 candidates vying for the title and will have a number of responsibilities at the fair. First runner-up was Morgan Matchen of Tuttle, second runner-up and Miss Congeniality was Cayden Copeland of Ampo, third runner-up was Miana Moon of Chickasha, and Miss Photogenic was Camryn Schroeder of Ampo. Today is the day that still exhibits need to be entered for the fair. That will take place from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.21 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $59.74.

Natural gas is per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,513 and silver is $17.00.

 

 

Monday, Aug. 19th

 

Bicyclist Injured in Drive-by Shooting

Chickasha police are looking into a shooting late Sunday night where a man suffered a gunshot wound while riding his bicycle. The shooting occurred in a residential near 10^th and Texas Avenue just before 10:00 p.m. The area is not far from the Chickasha Middle School. The victim, an unidentified 40-year old man, was shot in the chest and was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. Police have not released the victim’s name and his condition is unknown. In a written statement, police only said he was taken to Oklahoma City for advanced medical care. The victim told police he was riding his bicycle when vehicle drove past him and at least one shot was fired. No suspects are in custody. If you have information about the shooting, contact Chickasha Police by calling 405-222-6050 or the Chickasha and Grady County Crimestoppers at 405-224-TIPS. Anonymous tips may also be placed on the Crimestoppers Facebook page.

 

Dick Lowe Announces Candidacy for House Seat

Another candidate has announced his intentions of running for office at the state level. Dick Lowe will be seeking the House District 56 post next year. Lowe has long been involved in agriculture and wants to use that background to make urban lawmakers be more knowledgeable about issues impacting the field.

 

              

 

In addition to his agriculture background, Lowe is the Industrial Coordinator for Business and Industry with Canadian Valley Technology Center. Lowe is running as a Republican. He joins fellow Republican Randy Talley who also announced he’s running for the post. The office is currently held by Democrat David Perryman of Chickasha who recently he will not run for re-election next year.

 

City Council to Consider FEMA Grant for Drainage Study

Some federal monies have been approved for a master drainage study for the City of Chickasha. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has award the city a $225,000 hazard mitigation grant. The city will provide an additional $75,000 for the review, should the city council approve the matching grant program. The review is expected to take about three years to complete.

 

Firm Seeks City Grant to Refurbish Downtown Building

The council is also to consider awarding $160,000 toward the rehabilitation of the former Chickasha Star newspaper building. City manager John Noblitt said the funds come from an account that's earmarked for downtown redevelopment. The city's Economic Development Council is recommending that the funding be approved. The request is from Mark McPherson and the Great Plains Land and Cattle Company. The firm is investing more than $500,000 of its own money for the project. The company will have to submit a letter of occupancy before the city funds would be awarded.

 

Council to Consider Incentive Funds for New Jobs              

The city council will also consider awarding up to $100,000 to a company to bring some energy-related jobs to the area. The firm is Liquid Power Specialty Products, which recently purchased Optum Energy at the former Delta Faucet location. The council will consider issuing the company $2,000 per new employee, up to 50 workers. It requires the new workers to enter into a housing lease term of at least 12 months or purchase a home within the city limits. The incentive plan would expire next June. The city council meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight at city hall.

              

Grady County Fair Set This Week

The Grady County Fair starts later this week but tonight a princess will be selected to serve as ambassador and help promote the event. About 10 candidates will compete for the title. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top placers. The contestants will wear evening gowns during a reception which will be held at the fairgrounds community building starting at 5:00 pm. this afternoon. The competition starts at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the princess, judges will award a first- and second-runner-up, Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic. Fair officials will also be taking still exhibits from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and exhibitors can pick up their numbers and exhibit tags at the OSU Extension Office. The 104th Grady County Fair runs this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $54.87 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $58.64.

Natural gas is to $2.20 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,510 and silver is $16.90.

 

 

Saturday, Aug. 17th

 

Fire Officials Urge Caution

We told you yesterday about the increasing threat of wildfires in the western part of the state. A large grass fire erupted near Snyder Friday afternoon, closing down a highway and nearly resulting in the collapse of a power line. The highway patrol reported the roadway was closed for nearly eight hours after the fire broke out just after 4:30 p.m. It was nearly midnight before all the roadways were re-opened. PSO and other power companies worked to make repairs and were going to have to replace at least one utility pole. Buddy Myers with the Grady County Fire Department says that the long-range forecast from the National Weather Service indicates the hot and dry weather pattern may extend into September and October. And while there are no current burn bans, he recommends some common sense reminders to prevent fires from starting.

 

              

Drought conditions are developing in western Oklahoma, with an area south of a Lawton-to-Altus line in a severe drought designation. Much of Grady, Caddo, and Stephens counties are in the moderate drought category.

 

Violent Domestic Violence Suspect Jailed              

A Chickasha man is jailed after allegedly being involved in violent domestic violence incident. 44-year old Gary Lee Cabe, Jr. is being held in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond after his arrest. We don't have details about the allegations, but Chickasha police booked Cabe into the Grady County Thursday night. Prosecutors have charged him with two felony counts of domestic violence, including one for causing great bodily injury. Cabe is scheduled to announce his attorney Sept. 19th and a preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for Oct. 2nd.

 

American Indian Expo Ends Today

Among the many highlights of the Anadarko American Indian Exposition is the men’s fancy dance competition, and that event will be among the events at the final day of the expo today. Another parade will circle downtown this morning, with more activities throughout the day at the Caddo County Fairgrounds. The Ponca Tribal Exhibition Dance Team will open the final performance at the grandstand tonight. The Ft. Sill-Apache fire dancers will also perform, and the expo honorees will be recognized.

 

Antique Auto Club Hosts Coffee and Cars              

Antique car buffs are invited to share their fascination with older vehicles with the Chickasha Antique Auto Club this morning. The group’s monthly coffee and cars event features some magnificent restorations and rebuilds of cars and trucks from years gone by. There's free coffee and Paradise donuts while the supplies lasts and you're welcome to take as many pictures as you want and share your favorite stories. It’s a free, come-and-go event at Daniel Terry's Pro Auto Care in the Grandview Shopping Center, next to Stage.

 

Dairy Queen Hosts Ice Cream with a Cop              

It's going to be another hot day in Oklahoma, and you and the kids can cool off and meet with the men and women with the Chickasha Police Department. Ice Cream with a Cop will be held at the Chickasha Dairy Queen today. Kids 12-and-under will get free junior cones, and will be able to visit with police officers and parents can take pictures. You might even see some officers making the cones for the patrons. Ice cream with a cop is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. today at Dairy Queen.

 

Sheriff's Office Warrant 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, Aug. 16th

 

Wildfire Threat Increases

With searing temperatures and hardly any rain over the last couple of months, the threat of wildfires is growing in much of western Oklahoma. A fire near Lake Ellsworth yesterday was sparked by a discarded cigarette butt, but crews were summoned in time to douse the flames and prevent damage to vacant mobile home. The lack of rainfall is also leading to a return of drought conditions. All or parts of seven southwest Oklahoma counties are in a D-2 designation, which is considered to be severe drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That designation includes most of Comanche County and extreme southwest Caddo County. The rest of Caddo County and all of Grady and Stephens counties are in a D-1 drought designation which is considered moderate.

 

Randy Talley Announces Candidacy for State House              

There has been a lot of speculation about who might run for the state house of representatives in District 56, with the recent announcement that David Perryman would not seek re-election. The first to publicly announce his candidacy is Randy Talley of Chickasha. He posted the announcement on his Facebook page yesterday. Talley is currently vice president of marketing for the First National Bank and Trust and previously worked in marketing and communications at USAO. District 56 includes parts of Grady, Caddo, and Kiowa counties. It includes a portion of Chickasha west of I-44, through Verden, Anadarko and Carnegie and over to an area near Hobart. The filing period is not until next spring with the election set for November of 2020.

 

Oklahoman Tabbed for EPA Post              

A fifth-generation Oklahoman will be leading one of the programs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Scott Mason the 4th has been named the new director for the American Indian Environmental Office, as part of the EPA's Office of International and Tribal Affairs. Mason is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The website www.okenergytoday.com reports that Mason has nearly 15 years experiences in various capacities in local, state, and federal levels of government. Most recently he served as vice president and director of federal programs at OU. He also previously served on the staff of former governor Mary Fallin and has been a district field representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

Business Reps Sought for Career Day

With Chickasha schools just getting underway, officials at the high school will be hosting a career day in a few weeks. Assistant High School Principal Michael Wynne is asking professional and trade-related businesses in the region to share information about what they do. He says high school students will eventually be entering the work force in the next few years and wants to show  them a variety of employment opportunities. The event is called "It's Your Future" Career Day and will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the high school activity center. Wynne asks those wanting to participate to contact him by Friday, Sept. 6^th by calling 405-222-6550.

 

Two Concerts Set for Chickasha Saturday Night

Music lovers will be heading to Chickasha this weekend for a couple of Saturday night concerts. The monthly 3C concert hosted by the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce will feature local artists Travis Linville and Chris Foreman. The concert will be downtown at the corner of 3rd and Chickasha Avenue. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with games and activities for the kids and food trucks on hand. Admission is free. Also Saturday night, the Legends Pub House and Venue will host Copper Chief on its outdoor stage at 4204 S. 4th. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free until 7:30 p.m. After that, tickets will be $15.

 

Grady County Northern District Fair This Weekend              

As area residents get ready for the Grady County Fair next week, those in the northern part of the county will take part in the district fair at Amber Pocasset schools. All still exhibit and livestock show entries need to be in today, while the cake entries don't need to be in until tomorrow between 10:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. The stock shows start at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. The trophy presentations will be at 7:30 p.m. followed by the crowning of the District Fair Princess.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here’s what we’re talking about this weekend. Jamie Jones with the Grady County Fairgrounds will be on our KOOL Konversation program to discuss a lot of the activities at the 104^th Grady County Fair next week. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, guests are Chickasha Fire Chief Brian Zalewski and the department’s new training director, Major David Fincher. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $54.47 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $58.23.

Natural gas is $2.23 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,521 and silver is $17.11.

 

 

Thursday, Aug. 15th

 

West Coast Gang Member Arrested in Grady County

Federal officials say they've arrested a man in the Verden area on suspicion of sending firearms to fellow gang members in California. 23-year old Manuel "Flacco" Delatorre, Jr. was arrested Tuesday. Police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives recovered guns and ammunition in in Orange County, California - which were traced to Verden. The Associates Press cites a story published in the  Orange County Register that says Delatorre is a member of the Baker Street Gang who relocated to Oklahoma. Delatorre could face charges of unlawfully transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

 

Man Charged with Threatening OSBI Agent              

A Caddo County man is in custody on weapons charges after it’s alleged he sent threatening e-mails to the OSBI. 32-year old David McFarland of Carnegie is charged with a felony for possession a firearm after conviction. He’s also charged with a misdemeanor for threatening acts of violence. He remains in jail on a $50,000 bond. The Lawton Constitution reports that the Caddo County Sheriff's Office started an investigation last week after an OSBI agent allegedly received the e-mail threats from McFarland. Court documents indicate one of the e-mails said that agents publicly harassed him at school via satellite, having children and adults say things that interfered with his school work. He said those comments were meant to provoke him into hitting one of the children. In December of 2017, McFarland pleaded guilty to charges of eluding and vandalism in connection with an arrest in May of that year.

 

Financial Advisor to Serve with USAO Regents             

A Chickasha businessman will soon be the newest member of the board of regents for USAO. Cale Walker will be taking his oath of office during the Sept. 11^th regents meeting. He'll be taking over the post previously held by Mo Anderson whose term ended June 30th. Walker was appointed to a seven-year term  by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Walker is a financial advisor with Edward Jones. He previously served as a field representative for Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, and as a legislative assistant with the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. In the annual re-organization of the officers for the regents, David Ferrell will serve as chairman and Tom Cordell will serve as vice chairman for 2019-20.

 

Pipeline Firm Releases Financial Statement              

There is mixed news for the company building a $1 billion natural gas pipeline through the region. On the positive side, Cheniere Energy Partners based in Houston reported net income for the first half of the year of $617 million. That's $1 million more than for the same period in 2018. On the negative side, 2019 second quarter earnings were down compared to the April through June period of 2018. The firm reported the reason for the drop was an increase in total operating costs and expenses. The website www.okenergytoday.com reports that Cheniere's total revenues for the first half of the year were $3.4 billion - which was up from $3 billion for the first six months of last year.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $55.23 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $60 to $59.48.

Natural gas is $2.14 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,528 and silver is $17.20.

 

 

Wednesday, Aug. 14th

 

Two Injured in Cement Shooting; Suspect Hospitalized

A weekend confrontation in Cement leaves two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One of them is hospitalized and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. 44-year old Robert Jessie McClaflin of Chickasha was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital. Prosecutors have charged McClaflin with shooting with intent to kill. The Lawton Constitution cites documents in Caddo County district court that say McClaflin shot a man, and a third individual shot McClaflin. The third man was not arrested. The condition of the initial shooting victim is not known. McClaflin has previous convictions and is facing 20 years to life in prison if found guilty of this most recent charge.

 

Chix Schools Curriculum Director Steps Down

Chickasha schools are looking for another top administrator. Kim Haney, who had been the district's director of curriculum, has stepped down. Haney submitted her letter of resignation last week and the school board formally accepted it at its meeting last night. Haney had only been on the job about a year. Interim superintendent Jennifer Stegman said she believed Haney had been offered a job with Lawton public schools but it wasn't clear if Haney accepted that position. In addition to Haney leaving the district, former superintendent Jack Herron stepped down this past spring. The school board is in the process of filling that position.

              

New Chix School Buses With A/C Approved              

Chickasha schools will be getting some new buses for students and those buses will have air conditioning. Last night, the school board approved a lease-purchase agreement with Summit Bus Company of Oklahoma City to obtain five 70-passenger school buses. Many times, school districts will ask voters to pass transportation bonds to purchase buses. Interim superintendent Stegman said the cost to the district would be $14,000 per month for five years. The buses could be delivered in about 30 days.

 

Anadarko's American Indian Expo Begins              

The American Indian Exposition is underway in Anadarko. A parade kicked off the event this morning and activities will be held at the Caddo County Fairgrounds through Saturday. This is the 84th year for the Expo which is a joint effort of the Native American tribes based in the Anadarko area. Noted honorees this year are Harvey Pratt of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe and the featured artist is Calvert Nevaquayah of the Comanche tribe.

 

All-Day Hiking Resumes at Refuge

With a break in the extremely hot weather, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife refuge has lifted the hiking restrictions put in place last week. With dangerous heat advisories in effect last week the refuge had banned on- and off-trail hiking after 10:00 a.m. With afternoon highs now forecast to be in the mid-90s for the next several days, those restrictions have been lifted and hiking is now allowed from daylight until dusk. The refuge's Facebook page still urges visitors to be hydrated and to stop and rest in the shade along the trails often.

 

New USDA Program is for Dairy Producers

In agriculture news, The 2018 Farm Bill includes an option for dairy operations called the Dairy Margin Coverage program. Mark Jackson with the Grady County Farm Service Agency says it’s an insurance-type program.

 

              

 

The deadline to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage program is Sept. 20th. Jackson also said that Grady County farmers and ranchers who suffered damage from spring flooding and storms have a couple of extra days to sign up for USDA’s Emergency Conservation Program. The deadline has been extended until Monday, August 19th. Jackson said for Caddo County producers the sign-up deadline remains August 30th.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.10 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $61.30.

Natural gas is per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,518 and silver is $17.10.

 

 

Tuesday, Aug. 13th

 

One Hospitalized After Near Head-on Collision

Two pick-ups collide in a near head-on crash between Chickasha and Dibble. One driver was taken to the hospital. The accident happened just after 5:00 p.m. Monday, a mile east of the intersection of State Highway 39 and the Alex Highway. 25-year old Issac Comacho of Driscoll, Texas suffered arm, leg, and internal injuries. He was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was admitted in good condition. The Highway Patrol reports that Comacho's truck was hit by an on-coming pick-up driven by 40-year old Shaun Poor of Lexington. Poor was not injured. The OHP reported that Poor may have been sleepy and crossed the center line in a no-passing zone. After the collision, Comacho's truck ran off the road and rolled 1 1/2 times and landed upside-down.

 

Chix Teacher, Support Staff Contracts May be OK'd

Collective bargaining agreements for Chickasha school teachers and support staff are expected to be approved by the board of education when the school board meets tonight. The agreements with the Chickasha United Teaching Association (CUTA) and the Chickasha Association of Support Employees (CASE) are for the current school year. Bobb Gragg is the chief negotiator for the school board. Gragg and union representatives are expected to provide summaries of the agreements. The school board is also expected to approve agreements with USAO and Redlands Community College regarding concurrent enrollment of high school juniors and seniors. School board members will also discuss the possibility of getting some new school buses through a lease-purchase agreement. The group will also get an update on the search for a new superintendent. The school board meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the school administration building.

 

Deputy Awarded for Saving Lives             

A Grady County deputy sheriff is honored his heroics. Deputy Corey Loftice was presented with a Life Saving Award from the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association. Loftice was recognized for his response to a domestic violence situation where a woman stabbed her fiancee and her own mother. The suspect also suffered a knife wound. Loftice said he didn't panic when he arrived on the scene.

 

              

 

Loftice and a dozen other officers across the state were honored for going above and beyond the call of duty regardless of their own personal safety, to serve and protect lives. Loftice you may remember is the deputy who had a kidney transplant a couple of years ago. He says he's doing well, and that the number of his doctor’s visits are getting fewer and fewer.

 

More Back-to-School Events Today for Chix Students              

Here's the schedule for students heading back to Chickasha schools this week. Today, freshmen can take a tour of the high school if they haven't done so already and learn about some of the activities they can get involved in. Freshman roundup runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. this afternoon. At the middle school, 7th and 8th graders can stop by and pick up their schedules between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. tonight. At Lincoln School, a meet-the-teacher event for 5th graders will run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and 6th graders can to the same from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $54.93 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $58.57.

Natural gas is $2.11 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,543 and silver is $17.47.

 

 

Monday, Aug. 12th

 

Semis Collide Near Blanchard              

There have been a lot of traffic accidents involving semis in recent months and there were a couple over the weekend. Fortunately there were only minor injuries in both collisions. One occurred about two miles west of Blanchard on U.S. Highway 62 just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Buddy Myers with the Grady County Fire Department said a tanker truck had slowed to turn into a salt water disposal site, when a second semi came from behind and didn't notice the first semi slowing down. The second semi tried to pass and ended up hitting the first big rig. One of the drivers was taken to the hospital complaining of back and neck pain. The names of the drivers weren't available. The highway was closed for about two hours after the crash.

 

 Update on Turnpike Tuel Tanker Fire             

We have a little more information about that fuel tanker fire on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike from Friday. Myers tells us that a wrecker made a U-turn on I-44 at mile marker 71 and hit the tanker which was pulled over by a state trooper for an ODOT inspection. The tanker burst into flames but the trooper on the scene said there were no injuries.

 

First Responders Answer Numerous Sunday Calls              

Grady County volunteer firefighters and first responders were dispatched to several calls yesterday, according to Buddy Myers, who is the Public Information Officer for the Grady County Fire Department. Alex and Bradley fire crews were sent to a home southwest of Alex about 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Someone was burning trash when the fire got out of control, and the flames destroyed an outbuilding and about five acres of grassland. Damage was estimated at about $10,000. There were no injuries. Just before 3:00 p.m., Ninnekah first responders were sent to a single vehicle accident at State Highway 19 and CR 1430 where a driver lost control, ran off the road, and overturned. No one was transported. Ninnekah firefighters were also called to a farm west of Ninnekah when a hay baler caught fire. Myers said a bearing over-heated on the baler, and both the baler and the tractor were destroyed causing about $25,000 in damage. There were no injuries in that incident.

 

Free Back-to-School Haircuts for Chickasha Kids Today

Chickasha school kids head back to the classroom later this week. Today, students can get free haircuts as part of the community back-to-school outreach that was held this past weekend. Free haircuts are available until 5:00 p.m. today at the Washita Valley Park Community Building

 

Chickasha Schools Get Ready for Classes

Chickasha teachers and support personnel are meeting today for in-service training before school starts on Thursday, August 15th. Here’s the schedule for meet-and-greet and schedule pick-ups for students: At Grand Elementary, there is a meet-and-greet tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At Lincoln School tomorrow (Tuesday) 5^th graders can meet the teacher from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and 6^th graders can meet teachers from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. At the middle school tomorrow (Tuesday), middle school students pick up schedules from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the high school Freshman Roundup is also tomorrow (Tuesday) from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. At the high school on Wednesday - sophomores, juniors, and seniors can pick up schedules in the morning from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Grady County Fair Almost Here

The 104th Grady County Fair is next week. Fair honorees are Shirley Burns and Marge McGlaughlin, both of whom have spent many years volunteering their time for numerous fair projects. The fair princess contest is next Monday, and Liz Taylor with Grady County OSU Extension tells when the entries into all the still exhibit competitions will be.

 

              

 

Exhibitors can pick up their numbers and tags at the extension office through next Monday. The Fair itself runs Thursday, August 22nd through Saturday, August 24th at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

 

Biggest, Best Watermelons from Rush Springs Festival

Here are some leftovers from the Rush Springs watermelon festival from this past weekend. The biggest watermelon grown this year again goes to Miller Farms, who brought in the two heaviest exhibits, one at 151 pounds and the other at 150 pounds. The largest watermelon ever at Rush Springs was 214 pounds which was in 2012. The Grand Champion Black Diamond also belonged to Miller Farms while the reserve grand was belonged to LeeAnn Tumbleson.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $54.50 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $58.53.

Natural gas is $2.12 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,515 and silver is $16.93.

 

 

Saturday, Aug. 10th

 

Watermelon Festival at Rush Springs Underway

The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival is underway and thousands of visitors are expected in the town of 1,500 residents. This is the 75th year for the festival as the community celebrates its claim to fame as the one of the Watermelon Capitals of the World. Rush Springs is known for the Black Diamond watermelon which is not the kind of melon you typically see in grocery stores. The Black Diamond has a dark green rind and is more oval in shape than the oblong Jubilee melons found at local markets.  Local growers also find out who has grown the biggest and best watermelons this season. The largest local melon recorded is 214 pounds which occurred in 2012. Part of the fun of eating watermelon is spitting the seeds and there is a contest for that. The longest distance on record at Rush Springs is 52 feet which was first recorded in 2006 and then tied in 2011. There are dozens of arts, crafts, and food vendors, a carnival, an antique car, truck, and tractor show, and free watermelon after 4:00 p.m. The Rush Springs Lions Club hosts the annual event at Jeff Davis Park.

 

Tanker Fire Shuts Down Turnpike Traffic              

There were some scary moments on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike yesterday when a fuel-carrying tanker truck crashes and catches fire. It happened just after 4:00 p.m. Friday in the westbound lanes near Mile Marker 71. Chickasha and Grady County firefighters were summoned to the scene, and the entire interstate was shut down for about 2 1/2 hours while crews dowsed the flames. Part of the roadway was shut down well into the night, and the entire roadway was finally re-opened just after 11:30 p.m. Amazingly the highway patrol reported that no one was hurt. There was no word on what caused the accident and the highway patrol did not release the name of the driver. Some video of the scene is posted on the Grady County Fire Department Facebook page.

 

Church to Discuss Ways to Prevent Suicide

A local church will address the topic of suicide. Grand Assembly of God will host a seminar next month with Dr. Jeremy Lelek with Metroplex Counseling and Patrick Johnson with J-Star Ministries. The program is called Overcomer and the men will discuss how communities might work to prevent individuals from taking their own lives. The seminar is free and open to everyone, especially community leaders, mental health providers, youth groups, and medical, school, and church personnel. The program will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21st at Grand Assembly beginning at 8:00 a.m. Organizers ask individuals who want to attend to RSVP the church by calling 405-224-0968 or e-mail info@grandassembly.org

 

Inhofe Not Saying if He's Running for Re-election

Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe spent some time in Chickasha this week. He talked to area business leaders about his work as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and that Oklahoma stands to benefit from an increase in the new defense spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump. The Ft. Sill Army Base and the Air Force bases at Tinker, Enid, and Altus will see more funds, and all troops get a 3 percent pay increase which is the largest in 10 years. Inhofe is 84 years old, and has served in the Senate for 25 years. His term expires next year, but he has not yet announced plans to run for re-election.

 

              

 

Inhofe also said Oklahoma will get sufficient federal funding for highway projects as the Sooner State is set to collect more than $4 billion over a five-year period.

              

 

Friday, Aug. 9th

 

Developer Says An RV Storage Business

Would be Beneficial for the Chickasha Area

For the last three years, Kelly Boyd has been working to create a Chickasha location for owners of recreational vehicles to store their RVs. There is no such business in town right now. Boyd's effort to create the business on property he owns on 29th Street would be beneficial not only for the RV owners, but good for business as well. Boyd has run into opposition about the idea. Nearby property owners fear the business would decrease their property values. Boyd said that's not the case in other communities where similar businesses are located.

 

              

 

Boyd said the proposed location is ideal, because 29th Street is primed for commercial growth, since there is a nursing home and other medical offices just down the street. Boyd is asking the Chickasha City Council to re-zone the property from agriculture to commercial use in order that the project can get underway. The city council will have a public hearing on the issue at its Tuesday, September 3rd meeting.

 

Chickasha Back-to-School Outreach is Tomorrow

This is the last weekend of summer vacation for Chickasha school kids. Many teachers came back early this week to get their classrooms ready, as students will return next week. A local group will once again help out youngsters by providing free clothing and back packs while having a little fun as well. The community back-to-school outreach will be held at Shepherd Street Christian Church tomorrow. Supporters have collected items thanks to contributions from individuals and businesses. It's a celebration as well, with many games and activities for the kids with free hot dogs and popcorn. While the main event will be tomorrow, local hair stylists will be providing free haircuts for the children all day on Monday at the Washita Valley Park community building. The community outreach will run from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. tomorrow at Shepherd Street Christian Church.

              

Blanchard to Hold Back-to-School 'Bash'              

In Blanchard, a back-to-school bash will be held tonight with live music and a movie. There are inflatables for the youngsters, concessions, and live music with Mike Black and the Stingrays. All the activities start at 7:00 p.m. with the Disney movie Dumbo starting at 9:00 p.m.

 

Chickasha Public Swimming Pool to Close

The City of Chickasha’s public pool at Shannon Springs Park will be wrapping up its summer swimming season this weekend. Today and tomorrow are the final days for the pool to be open to the public. The pool is managed by the YMCA. Director Lewis Kniceley said with many of his employees being teenagers, staffing will be an issue as they go back to school. The pool still has a few private parties scheduled over the next few days, and some of the swimming programs are still on the calendar. However, tomorrow will be the last day for open swimming. Some of the on-going swimming programs will be moved to the indoor pool at USAO. While the pool will be closed, the kids can cool off at the city's splash pads, one of which is at Shannon Springs Park and the other at Washita Valley Park.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Pre-school education for small children is available through the Washita Valley Community Action Council's Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Mellisa Valley will be on our KOOL Konversation program to talk about what's available in the Grady and Caddo County areas. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, Mark Faulkenberry and Phillip Schaeffer with Western Farmers Electric Coop will talk about WFEC's new partnership with NextEra Energy to develop wind and solar energy and a new battery storage facility for those alternative energy sources. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $52.54 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $57.38.

Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,515 and silver is $17.04.

 

 

Thursday, Aug. 8th

 

Fatal Crash Occurs Near Lindsay              

A deadly car crash near Lindsay last night. The accident claimed the life of 35-year old Jessie Jones of Norman. The highway patrol reports that Jones was southbound on State Highway 76 when she ran off the highway and hit a tree. The accident happened about eight miles south of Lindsay just after 9:00 p.m. Wednesday.

 

Rush Springs Theft Suspects Arrested              

Authorities in Rush Springs believe they've solved a number of recent thefts with the arrest of two suspects. 21-year old Eric Tyler Goodson of Rush Springs and a juvenile were taken into custody early Monday. It's alleged they were caught trying to break into a vehicle owned by an EMS worker. A probable cause affidavit indicates the EMS employee held the teen at gunpoint and called the sheriff's office. En route to the call, a Grady County sheriff's deputy encountered a vehicle suspected of being involved in the theft. After a short pursuit, the driver identified as Goodson eventually pulled over was arrested and taken to jail. Goodson is facing felony drug and firearms charges, and a misdemeanor eluding charge. He remains in jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

 

Continental Resources Cuts Back 4th Quarter Rig Numbers

A report today indicates Continental Resources will be reducing the number of its drilling rigs in the SCOOP and STACK regions.  Company president Harold Hamm says that's because of how efficient the current rigs are working. The website www.okenergytoday.com reports that Hamm told analysts and investors this week that crude oil production growth is ahead of schedule. The company had planned to have nearly 20 drilling rigs in the SCOOP and STACK plays in the fourth quarter. The firm now plans on only having about a dozen rigs in the two regions during the last three months of the year. Hamm told the group that the company is on track to execute its 2019 plan to enhance shareholder value.

 

School Kids Returning to Classrooms

Schools in the region are already welcoming students back to the classroom from the summer break. Verden students are already in class, as school started this past Tuesday. Anadarko is getting started today, and many other school districts will follow in the next week. Chickasha schools will be opening on Thursday, Aug. 15th. New teacher orientation for Chickasha is today and tomorrow. Tonight, the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center will have an orientation for parents and a meet-the-teacher program. There are two sessions, one at 6:00 p.m. and the other at 7:00 p.m.

 

Rush Springs Readies for Rodeo, Watermelon Festival

A big weekend in Rush Springs begins tonight, with the annual rodeo kicking things off ahead of Saturday's watermelon festival. There are two performances for the rodeo, tonight and tomorrow at the Rusty Acres Arena at 8:00 p.m.. both nights. The rodeo parade will be downtown at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. The diamond anniversary of the watermelon festival will be all day Saturday at Jeff Davis Park. More than 200 runners have pre-registered for the 5K and 10K runs that morning, with opening ceremonies set for 9:00 a.m. There's 40,000 pounds, or 20 tons of watermelon being chilled ahead of time for the festival. A huge wedge of watermelon is just one dollar throughout the day, but after 4:00 p.m., it’s free.

 

Wildife Refuge Bans Some Hiking Due to Heat

Due to the recent stretch of hot weather, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge has temporarily banned most on- and off-trail hiking during the day. Officials say early morning hiking is OK, from sunrise until 10 a.m. But after that, visitors will have to leave the trails as well as the Mt. Scott roadway.  The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for much of the state again today. In Lawton, temperatures are expected to climb to near 105 degrees with heat index values to as high as 110 degrees. Limited hiking in established picnic areas and campgrounds will be allowed during the day. The roads through the refuge will be open to vehicles and bicycles, and there are no changes to activities like wildlife observation, fishing, and picnicking.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $51.09 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $56.23.

Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,508 and silver is $17.08.

 

 

Wednesday, Aug. 7th

 

School Bond Election Set for Blanchard Schools              

There's a special school bond election in Blanchard next month, as voters will decide a $31 million proposal for a couple of big projects. Superintendent Jim Beckham talks about one of them should the measure be approved.

 

             

 

The auditorium and performing arts center would seat about 1, 500 people. The building would include a band room which would double as a safe room that could hold all the high school students. The measure also calls for a new cafeteria to be built at the middle school which would also double as a safe room. Additional classrooms would be built at the high school, middle school and elementary school. The proposal would also allow the district to build a new football stadium at the high school. Beckham said it would be a natural grass field as the cost for field turf made the project more expensive. Beckham said property taxes would not increase if the bond issue is approved. The election will be on Tuesday, September 10^th and the deadline to register to vote in that election is Friday, August 16^th.

 

More Homes to be Built in Sleepy Hollow Addition              

There are plans for more new homes to be built in Chickasha. 65 new single-family homes could be built in the Sleepy Hollow Addition. This week, the Chickasha City Council gave its approval to a revised final plat for the project. The new homes would help in the effort to deal with what some call a housing crisis in the city. The development includes 48 patio-style homes on lots of about 4,700 sq. ft. An additional 17 homes would be located on lots of about 6,000 sq. ft. The plans were designed by the Yukon office of Crafton and Tull Engineering and are to be built by Home Creations which has recently built a number of new homes in the south part of Sleepy Hollow. Construction is not expected to start until later this year or after the first of next year. City officials say there are still two more phases of new home construction being considered in the Sleepy Hollow area. Other new home construction will be starting soon west of 16th and Country Club Road in what's being called the Shadow Valley development.

 

Teen Injured in Jeep Crash              

A Grady County teenager is hospitalized after crashing the Jeep he was driving. The 15-year old Tuttle youth suffered head and arm injuries in the accident that happened late Tuesday afternoon. He was first taken by a private vehicle to Grady Memorial then by ambulance to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was admitted in fair condition. The highway patrol said the crash is under investigation and did not release any details about what happened. The crash occurred about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday six miles east of Amber near the intersection County Street 1290 and County Road 2940. The name of the teen was not released as the highway patrol does not publicize the identities of juveniles involved in traffic accidents.

 

Alleged Child Predator Faces New Charge              

A Duncan man accused of lewd acts against children in Grady County is facing a similar charge in Stephens County. 20-year old Skylar Biby was arrested recently following an investigation by the district attorney's task force. In Stephens County, Duncan police were notified in June of allegations that Biby sexually assault a child. Biby is facing one count of sexual abuse of a child under 12 years old in Stephens County. He's facing four counts of lewd acts with a child in Grady County where he has a preliminary hearing conference scheduled for this afternoon.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $53.63 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $58.94.

Natural gas is $2.10 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,500 and silver is $16.79.

 

 

Tuesday, Aug. 6th

 

City Council Delays Action on RV Storage Re-zoning Issue

A proposal to re-zone some property for the development of an RV storage business was postponed during last night's Chickasha City Council meeting. Property owner Kelly Boyd is asking to re-zone about five acres of land from agriculture to commercial use to open the storage business. The proposal is being opposed by nearby residents. City Manager John Noblitt said the reason for the delay is because an important step in the process was not included on the agenda for last night's meeting.

 

              

 

The city manager said the notices need to mailed 20 days before that September 3rd meeting, but he is expecting them to be sent within the next few days.

 

Council OK's Police Union Contract

The Chickasha City Council and the Fraternal Order of Police Local 129 have agreed to a contract for the current fiscal year. Following a 20-minute closed door session last night, the council unanimously approved the agreement. City Manager John Noblitt said the contract calls for a 4 percent cost of living allowance and an extra vacation day for Christmas Eve. Noblitt said the total salaries, including retirement and other benefits, are about $1.8 million of the $2 million budget for the police department. He said there are about 20 officers on staff right now, and with openings for four more.

 

Inhofe Opposes Stricter Gun Control Laws              

Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe says stricter gun control laws may not prevent mass shootings which have been on the rise in the country. Inhofe was in Chickasha yesterday, and in an exclusive interview with KOOL/RANCH News, we asked him about the comments from some of the Democratic presidential candidates who want make it more difficult to purchase the weapons used in the horrific events that occurred in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio over the weekend.

              

A news report out yesterday said the number of people who have died in mass shootings this year is more than the number of days to this point in 2019.

 

ODOT Says State Highway Damaged by Heat

The heat is said to have caused damage to a portion of U.S. Highway 81. The roadway buckled in the southbound lanes of the highway near State Highway 19. Southbound traffic on Highway 81 is narrowed to one lane near Gorilla Bargain World while work crews repair the damage. ODOT estimates the project could take about 10 days.

              

Continental Revenue Falls Short of Estimate

The second quarter of 2019 wasn't what Continental Resources hoped it would be regarding the company’s earnings report. Officials say net income was off 20 percent of estimates. The website www.okenergytoday.com says Continental reported net income of just under $237 million, or 63 cents per diluted share. The quarterly adjusted profit was down due to weaker crude and natural gas prices which offset an increase in the company's overall production. The SCOOP region is where most of Continental's oil and gas was produced in Oklahoma with more than 71,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, while the STACK region produced about 57,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

 

Hay Entries Needed for County, State Fairs              

Hay producers in the region who want to submit entries into the Grady County Fair, and the State Fair of Oklahoma will need to get their entries together today. Entries will be accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Grady County Fairgrounds for both shows. For the county fair, producers need five small square bales, or one large square or round bale. For the state fair, only the small bales will be accepted. For information on the alfalfa shows contact the Grady County OSU Extension office.

              

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $54.69 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $59.81.

Natural gas is $2.09 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,476 and silver if $16.39.

 

 

Monday, Aug. 5th

 

Teens Charged with Murder to be in Court

(This is a correction version of the story we aired this morning, regarding the dates of the prelminary hearings. We apologize for the error.) 

All the suspects arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Chickasha father-to-be earlier this year are to be in a Grady County courtroom this week. Six teenagers, ranging from 15 to 19 years old, are accused of participating in the shooting that resulted in the death of 18-year old Trey Adams outside his Chickasha home. Dmillion Williams is reported to be the alleged gunman. Other defendants are Malcolm Jackson, Troy Jennings, Brooklyn Nelson, Vivian Sanders, and Montana Simpson. All have been charged with first-degree murder. The preliminary hearings will be held to determine if there is enough evidence for their cases to go to a jury trial. News accounts of what happened in the hours before Adams' death indicate that Williams wanted to rob someone of marijuana. Sanders is alleged to have set up a deal with Adams on social media. The suspects all met in Oklahoma City and they drove to Adams’ home near downtown Chickasha.  While Adams and Sanders spoke through the window of a pick-up, Williams is alleged to have stood up in the back of the truck and fatally shot Adams.

 

City Council to Discuss Re-zoning

for  Proposed RV Storage Business              
A Chickasha businessman is again looking to establish an RV storage business in the city, but the plan is meeting with opposition. Kelly Boyd is asking to re-zone five acres of property at 801 S. 29th from agriculture to commercial use to allow for the construction of the facility. City officials say a community plan identified 29th Street as a proposed secondary thoroughfare which would encourage commercial development. Authorities at city hall say they have received several e-mails and letters protesting the project. When the issue went before the Planning Commission recently, the group voted unanimously to not recommend the zoning change. A similar proposal was turned down by the city council in 2016.

 

Lawsuits, Police Union Talks also Set for Council              

Also during tonight's meeting, the council will go behind closed doors to discuss a couple of lawsuits, including one filed against the city by former City Manager Alan Guard. The council will also get an update on the lawsuit that the city filed against the owner of a Tulsa company who went back on his promise to move part of his operation to Chickasha. The city provided Tom Word of Word Industries a $250,000 economic development loan which was supposed to help pay for moving expenses, but the move never materialized. The city is suing to get that money back. Also part of the closed-door meeting is an update on negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police Local 129 regarding collective bargaining discussions with the union for the current fiscal year.

 

Verden Asks to Annex

Chickasha City-Owned Property

In addition to having a closed-door meeting tonight, the Chickasha City Council will consider a proposal from the town of Verden. Verden trustees want to annex some property owned by the City of Chickasha. In a letter Chickasha officials, Verden trustees plan to extend water, sewer, fire and police protection, and solid waste collection services to the area. The Verden town trustees will have a meeting tomorrow night to review the decision of the Chickasha City Council. The Chickasha City Council is expected to approve a request to close a portion of Shepherd Street this Saturday for the Shepherd Street Christian Church Chickasha community back-to-school outreach; and a request to close part of a city street in downtown Chickasha on Saturday, Aug. 17th for an outdoor concert hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. The council is also to recognize Rainbow Wilson the city's employee of the month. She is an administrative assistant at the fire department.

              

Okla. U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe in Chickasha Today              

Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe will be in Chickasha today, for a roundtable discussion with local business leaders. Inhofe will be at the InterUrban Restaurant for a luncheon organized by the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce. It's anticipated Inhofe discuss the mass shootings that occurred in El Paso, Texas  and Dayton, Ohio over the weekend, as well as his work with the senate armed services committee and other timely topics. Lunch is being sponsored by LaForge Enterprises.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $55.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $61.89.

Natural gas is $2.12 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,469 and silver is $16.52.

 

 

 

Saturday, Aug. 3rd

 

More Counties Approved for FEMA Help

to Pay for Damage from Spring Storms              

Caddo and Kiowa counties have been added to the list of areas eligible for public assistance as a result of damage from flooding and severe storms that occurred this past spring. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the state's request to help municipal, county, and state government offices, as well as  rural electric co-operatives, in their costs for infrastructure repairs. Also added to the list were Kay and Woodward counties. There are now 45 Oklahoma counties approved for FEMA assistance to help recover from the flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds that caused damage. Grady and Canadian counties had previously been approved for public assistance. Authorities estimate that spring storms caused more than $22 million in damage to infrastructure, debris removal, and response costs. FEMA has approved help for individuals and businesses in 27 counties, most of them in northeastern parts of the state. Residents and businesses in Canadian County are eligible and have until August 14th to register for aid through FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

Suspect Faces Multiple Lewd Acts Charges

A Duncan man is facing several charges of lewd acts with children. 20-year old Skylar Biby is alleged to have sexually assaulted several children at a Chickasha home. An arrest warrant affidavit indicates the victims were between 10 and 15 years old. Investigators with the District Attorneys Task Force say the assaults occurred over several days in November of 2017. Agents with the task interviewed Biby at the Duncan Police Department about the allegations back in June and a warrant was later issued for his arrest. Biby was booked into the Grady County Jail Friday but has not yet had his initial appearance in court. His arraignment could be held on Monday.

 

Man Charged with Abuse for

Spanking Child with Paddle

Grady County prosecutors have filed a felony child abuse charge against a Rush Springs man for spanking his son with a wooden paddle. Documents on file at the Grady County courthouse indicate that 39-year old Christopher Merino was arrested by Rush Springs police this week after interviewing the 10-year old child and his mother. The child was also alleged to have had bruises from the punishment, and also a bruised collar bone from where it was alleged he was “grabbed real hard." After spending the night in jail after his arrest, Merino was released after posting a $50,000 bond.

 

Woman Accused of Child Neglect

A Chickasha mother is alleged to have put drugs and alcohol in her toddler's backpack. Chickasha police arrested 18-year old Celsie Stuckey following a traffic stop Thursday. A probable cause affidavit indicates that Stuckey was a passenger in a car. Her two-year old son was in a child safety seat  in the back. The officer suspected there was marijuana in the vehicle. The driver alleged Stuckey put the marijuana and an open bottle of liquor in the boy's backpack. The arresting officer saw the child getting food out of the back pack. Prosecutors have charged Stuckey with felony child neglect. She is out of jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Jenna Cansler and Sarah Keeth with Red Rock Behavioral Health Services are this week’s guests on the KOOL Konversation. Trait Thompson with the Oklahoma State Capitol Restoration project is the guest on Real Estate Today with John Mosley. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

 

Friday, Aug. 2nd

 

DA Says Officers' Actions Justified in Fatal Shooting

In a KOOL and RANCH News follow-up, we had an exclusive interview with District Attorney Jason Hicks regarding the shooting death of a domestic violence suspect by Chickasha police. We reported earlier this week that Sgt. Jason Myrko and Officer Preston Hodge were cleared of wrong-doing. The officers had been on paid administrative leave for four months after the shooting death of Kevin Capers back in March. While the medical examiner said that Capers was shot seven times by police, Hicks said the officers did not use excessive force.

 

              

 

Both Sgt. Myrko and Officer Hodge returned to work this week.

 

Phone Scammers Pose as Law Enforcement Officer

Another telephone scam is making its way around the area. Callers are impersonating law enforcement officers, and demanding victims pay fines or other costs by purchasing gift or money cards. Grady County Undersheriff Phil Blevins said at least one person has been victimized. Blevins says the scammer-

 

                             

 

Blevins recommends that should you get such a phone call, simply hang up and do not give out any personal information. Report any suspicious phone calls and the number if you have it to the sheriff's office or other local law enforcement agency.

 

Power Outage Problem Diagnosed

Public Service Company of Oklahoma is explaining the reason for the power outages which affected thousands of customers in Chickasha and Grady County earlier this week. Authorities say it was a malfunction in the protective relay system for a transformer at the Cornville Substation southwest of Chickasha. Power was out for about 3,400 customers in the central part of Grady County on both Monday and Tuesday afternoon for several hours. PSO Spokesman Tim Hushbeck said at one time the utility had as many as 40 technicians trouble-shooting the problem. On PSO's Facebook page, officials say workers reviewed operational data and performed multiple tests on the transformer's primary and back-up systems to pinpoint the problem, then the transformer was returned to service.

 

Requests for Chickasha Building Permits Fall

July was a lackluster month for new construction in Chickasha. Only 10 building permits totaling $75,000 in new building projects were approved by the city's Community Development Department. Four of the permits were for commercial or industrial projects. The largest of the permits was for $35,000 for a 2,100 square foot expansion of T's Treasure re-sale shop at 11th and Choctaw Avenue. A $10,000 remodel for the YMCA was given the go-ahead; officials signed off on a $5,000 project for Bordwine Development for a possible medical marijuana growing facility on Pikes Peak Road; and a $2,500 permit was approved for Lance Snyder for a new awning for a building at 315 West Dakota Avenue. Since the first of the year, officials have approved about $8.5 million new construction. That's down from $17.8 million for the same time period from 2018; and down from more than $22 million from 2017.

 

USAO Baseball, Softball Programs

Getting New Training Facilities

Exciting news for the USAO baseball and softball programs. Groundbreaking is underway for new locker rooms and indoor, batting, pitching, and training facilities. Both teams will have two-story buildings constructed down the third-base lines at their fields at Bill Smith Ballpark. Construction crews are already moving dirt to prepare the baseball field for its new facility, with work on the softball team’s locker rooms to folow. Baseball coach Mike Ross is thrilled that the long-time efforts of the university, supporters, and coaches are paying off.

 

              

 

The facilities will include a large second-floor VIP seating area which will double as a study hall and recruiting center. Over $100,000 has been pledged to the projects, including two large contributions from the Chickasha Community Foundation and the First National Bank and Trust. Each contributed $40,000 toward the project. It's believed both projects may be completed by early November, with a possible ribbon-cutting and grand opening during USAO's Homecoming activities.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $53.95 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $65.19.

Natural gas is $2.20 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,448 and silver is $16.18.

 

 

Thursday, Aug. 1st

 

Chix Water Treatment Process Changing for August              

Some changes to the City of Chickasha's water treatment process may cause tap water to be cloudy and taste like chlorine. Officials say they will be modifying the disinfection treatment of the city's potable water over the next month. Starting today, the plant will be introducing free chlorine into the water distribution system instead of a combination of chlorine and other chemicals. Mike Jump is the regional manager for U.S. Water Corporation, the city’s private contractor which operates the water treatment facilities, and he explains the reason for the change.

 

              

 

The trihalomethanes are said to cause cancer according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Jump said tap water may be temporarily cloudy and taste like swimming pool water. If that happens, he said run your tap water for a few minutes and it should clear up. Officials will also be flushing the city's fire hydrants over the next several days in order to introduce the chlorine into the water distribution system faster.

 

Minco Issues Watering Ban              

An outdoor watering ban has been issued in Minco. Mayor Keith McMullen issued a proclamation this week saying the town's water system can't keep up with demand. McMullen blames the extreme heat, dry conditions, and high water usage over the last few weeks. No outdoor watering is allowed which includes watering yards, washing cars, and filling swimming pools. Residents may water their gardens with watering cans.

 

Pursuit Suspect Arrested              

A Chickasha man is behind bars after its alleged he led police on a high-speed pursuit back in June. 21-year old Justin Chance Knight was taken into custody earlier this week after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The pursuit began in a residential area while police were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle. The chase reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour as the chase went eastbound on Grand Avenue to Sooner Road, then south to Cottonwood Road. The chase ended when the car ran off Cottonwood Road and got stuck in the mud, but the suspect managed to elude police at that time. Prosecutors have formally charged Knight with a felony for endangering others while trying to elude. His bond is $100,000.

 

Anadarko Back-to-School Expo Tonight              

In Anadarko, kids will be heading back to school next week. Tonight, the school district and many community groups will take part in the 8th annual Back-to-School expo. More than 20 school and community groups will be on hand to provide information about their services. Among them will be student leadership programs, college and career opportunities, and preparation for ACT testing. There will be free physicals for student athletes, free haircuts for the first 80 students, free hot dogs and popcorn, and some nice door prizes will be given away. The expo is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. tonight at Anadarko's Warrior Fieldhouse.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.58 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $65.17.

Natural gas is $2.23 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,419 and silver is $16.07.

 

 

Wednesday, July 31st

 

Policemen Cleared in Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

A couple of officers with the Chickasha Police Department have been cleared of wrong-doing following a fatal officer-involved shooting that took place this past spring. Sgt. Jason Myrko and Officer Preston Hodge were suspended with pay after the deadly encounter. Chickasha Police Chief Dee Rowell said the investigation into the shooting was recently closed, after authorities received the results of the autopsy of shooting victim Kevin Capers. Rowell said that Myrko and Hodge were cleared by the district attorney. We tried to contact Jason Hicks for comment but our phone call hasn't been returned. Myrko and Hodge were called to investigate a domestic disturbance at a Chickasha home in March. When officers arrived it was reported Capers had a knife and that he had cut himself, then attacked the officers. The autopsy indicated Capers was shot seven times.

 

Crash Near Anadarko Sends Four to Hospitals              

Two senior citizens and two teenagers are taken to hospitals after an SUV slams into a small sedan outside of Anadarko. 89-year old Lester Kosechata of Ft. Cobb was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was admitted in serious condition. He was a passenger in the SUV driven by 74-year old Jennie Kosechata, also of Ft. Cobb. She was taken to a Norman hospital and was treated and released. Two 16-year old girls also from Ft. Cobb were in the other vehicle. They were taken to hospitals in Anadarko and Carnegie where they were treated and released. The names of the girls were not released as per policy of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to not release the names of juveniles. The accident happened about four miles west of Anadarko on State Highway 9, just after 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. The trooper called to investigate said the teens had stopped for traffic and the SUV crashed into the back of the car.

 

Injured Motorcycle Riders Still Hospitalized

The two motorcycle riders who were hurt when their bike hit a car in Chickasha Monday afternoon could face a long recovery from their injuries. The Chickasha Police Department identified the injured as 22-year old Sarah Files and 24-year old Benjamin Francis. Both were last reported in good condition at an Oklahoma City hospital.  The two were riding their motorcycle on Choctaw Avenue west of downtown when a car pulled out in front of them and the motorcycle slammed into the car.

 

Second Power Outage Affects PSO Customers

Parts of Chickasha and Grady County were hit with a power outage for a second straight day yesterday. More than 3,400 PSO customers had to deal with no electricity, some for four hours or longer as temperatures soared to the mid-to-upper 90s. The outage affected much of downtown Chickasha, all the area north of Choctaw Avenue, and much of the business and  residential areas east of 7th Street from Choctaw Avenue south to Pikes Peak Road. It also affected a large part of central Grady County, between Highway 81 and Highway 76 and south of a line from Pocasset to Blanchard. What's odd is that the areas affected by the outage on Tuesday were nearly identical to those that were hit on Monday. PSO officials said crews found a burned-up jumper at the Chickasha substation and made some adjustments to get power restored. Authorities said there was another malfunction at the substation yesterday but it wasn’t clear what happened.

 

Producers Face Deadlines to Apply for Flood Relief

Agriculture producers in the region who suffered flood damage this spring are facing deadlines to apply for USDA's Emergency Conservation Program. Mark Jackson with the Grady County Farm Service Agency says qualifying producers can get cost share levels of up to 75 percent of the eligible restoration cost, up to $500,000. Jackson discusses what repair projects might be considered.

            

 

 

Jackson said next Monday, Aug. 5th is the final signup date for Grady County producers. Caddo County producers have until Aug. 30^th to sign up.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.05.

London-based Brent crude is $64.72.

Natural gas is $2.13 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,443 and sliver is $16.50.

 

 

Tuesday, July 30th

 

Power Outage Affects Thousands in Grady County

It was a rough Monday afternoon for thousands of PSO customers when the power went out for a large part of Chickasha and central Grady County. More than 3,200 customers spent several hours without electricity starting about 2 o'clock. The outage affected homes, businesses, and government offices. The Grady County Courthouse was forced to close as a result of the outage. Chickasha City Hall was also without electricity but remained open. Tim Hushbeck with PSO described the problem as a burned up jumper at a substation, but what caused that to happen wasn't clear. Power for most customers was restored by about 5:00 p.m. yesterday but electricity for some didn't return until after 6:00 p.m.

 

Two Motorcyclists Injured in Crash

Two people riding a motorcycle suffer serious injuries when their bike hit a car that had pulled in front of them. Both passengers were air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. Their names were not immediately available and their conditions unknown this morning. The accident happened near the Chickasha Travel Plaza west of downtown Chickasha just before 4:00 p.m. Monday. Police say the driver of the car failed to yield at a stop sign, and the bike hit the car behind its left front tire.

 

Woman, Child Hospitalized After Semi Hits Car              

A woman and a child were hospitalized following that accident near Cyril involving a vehicle and a semi we reported yesterday. 41-year old Denise Harris of Cyril and a 10-year old girl in the car with her were both air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in fair condition. The name of the child was not released. The accident happened just west of Cyril on State Highway 19 Monday morning. The trooper dispatched to the crash said the driver of the semi - 31-year old Cody Weakley of Lawton - failed to yield from a stop sign and hit the car. The semi rolled onto the driver's side. Weakley refused treatment at the scene.

              

Gas Pipeline Rupture Causes Minimal Damage

A scare near Bradley yesterday when a natural gas pipeline was ruptured. Officials say the Bradley Volunteer Fire Department was called out about 3:00 p.m. Monday. Grady County Fire Department Spokesman Buddy Myers said the gas line was a tap to a farm that was hit and the pressure on the line was minimal. Myers said there were no injuries and damaged was estimated at $500.

 

Lawmakers Form State Panel to Review

Alternative to Medicaid Expansion              

State lawmakers say they are forming a bi-partisan group to discuss putting together an Oklahoma-specific plan to expand health care in the state. It would be an alternative to the Medicaid expansion plan offered by the federal government. Oklahoma is one of 14 states which do not participate in Medicaid expansion. The group will be led by Representative Marcus McEntire of Duncan and State Senator Greg McCortney of Ada, both Republicans. The 20-member group will include 18 elected officials, with half from the House and half from the Senate. The GOP will make up the majority while two Democrats from both the House and Senate will also serve. Gov. Kevin Stitt said he wanted to develop a state alternative to Medicaid expansion to improve health care and low-cost health insurance to needy Oklahomans. In the meantime, a group begins an initiative petition effort tomorrow to collect nearly 180,000 signatures of registered Oklahoma voters asking to put Medicaid expansion on a statewide ballot.

 

Wildlife Refuge to Hold Controlled Burns              

You may be seeing a lot of smoke in southwest Oklahoma the next few days. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will begin a number of controlled burns today. Officials say the smoke from the fires could cause delays for refuge visitors and residents who live nearby. Targeted areas are the Big Four and Black Bear Mountains and around Prairie Dog Town. The burns are expected to run through next Monday.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.87 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.71.

Natural gas is $2.11 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,441 and silver is $16.52.

 

 

Monday, July 29th

 

One Hurt in Car-Semi Collision

One person was hospitalized following a traffic involving a semi near Cyril this morning. The unidentified woman was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after the crash. The accident happened about 7:15 this morning at State Highway 19 and County Street 2760 which is about 1 1/2 miles west of Cyril. Details of the crash were not immediately available from the highway patrol.

 

Consumer Spending Steady              

Consumers continue spending at a good pace at retail outlets around Grady County. Estimates are that spending county-wide was up about 12.3 percent from April to May of this year, to about $132 million. The county received about $993,000 in sales tax revenue from that consumer spending. In the City of Chickasha, consumer spending was up a fraction, to about $29.3 million. The city collected about $1.1 million in sales tax revenues from that consumer spending. Use tax collections were up in both areas. In Grady County, use tax revenues were up more than 12 percent to $146,000. In Chickasha, use tax revenues were up a little more than 7 percent to $74,000. Use taxes are those paid on purchases made on the Internet.

 

Teamwork Rids Veteran's Property of Graffiti

The City of Chickasha and a local home improvement store team up to help a veteran whose property was vandalized with graffiti. Lt. Traye Alexander with the Chickasha Police Department, who leads the city's Code Enforcement Division, says a home in the 1100 block of South 1st had been painted with graffiti recently. The city teamed up with the Sherwin-Williams store on its Neighborhood Beautification Project to paint over the graffiti. Alexander said the veteran who owned the property was unable to do the work himself. On the city's Facebook page, Alexander said the project falls under what's called the Broken Window theory, which is that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior, and civil disorder create an environment that encourages further crime and disorder. Alexander praised the work of Code Enforcement employees Natalie Benoit and Angela Kerr for providing much of the labor and directing the project. Alexander also thanked the Sherwin-Williams management team of Zach Willis and Cody Englebretson for supplying paint and prep material.

 

Firm Seeks Grant Applicants from Area Counties              

An Oklahoma-based company will be distributing grants that focus on education and youth development programs in the region. The Gulfport Energy Corporation has operations in Grady, Garvin, and Stephens Counties. A press release from the company says the firm invests in the areas where they operate with a focus on education, health, human services, and the environment. The deadline to apply is Aug. 30th. For information visit the website www.cfok.org

 

World Champs to Compete at Lawton Rangers Rodeo

The Lawton Rangers rodeo is coming up in a couple of weeks, and some current world champions will be competing. Sage Kimzey, who has won five straight PRCA bull riding world titles will be among those thrilling the crowd. Bareback bronc world champion Tim O'Connell; saddle bronc champ Wade Sundell; calf roping champ Caleb Schmidt; steer wrestling champ Tyler Wagespack, and team roping header Clay Smith will headline the event. The Lawton Rangers Rodeo is set for Aug. 7th through 10^th at the Comanche County Fairgrounds.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.20 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.46

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,431 and silver is $16.39.

 

 

Saturday, Aug. 3rd

 

More Counties Approved for FEMA Help

to Pay for Damage from Spring Storms              

Caddo and Kiowa counties have been added to the list of areas eligible for public assistance as a result of damage from flooding and severe storms that occurred this past spring. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the state's request to help municipal, county, and state government offices, as well as  rural electric co-operatives, in their costs for infrastructure repairs. Also added to the list were Kay and Woodward counties. There are now 45 Oklahoma counties approved for FEMA assistance to help recover from the flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds that caused damage. Grady and Canadian counties had previously been approved for public assistance. Authorities estimate that spring storms caused more than $22 million in damage to infrastructure, debris removal, and response costs. FEMA has approved help for individuals and businesses in 27 counties, most of them in northeastern parts of the state. Residents and businesses in Canadian County are eligible and have until August 14th to register for aid through FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

Suspect Faces Multiple Lewd Acts Charges

A Duncan man is facing several charges of lewd acts with children. 20-year old Skylar Biby is alleged to have sexually assaulted several children at a Chickasha home. An arrest warrant affidavit indicates the victims were between 10 and 15 years old. Investigators with the District Attorneys Task Force say the assaults occurred over several days in November of 2017. Agents with the task interviewed Biby at the Duncan Police Department about the allegations back in June and a warrant was later issued for his arrest. Biby was booked into the Grady County Jail Friday but has not yet had his initial appearance in court. His arraignment could be held on Monday.

 

Man Charged with Abuse for

Spanking Child with Paddle

Grady County prosecutors have filed a felony child abuse charge against a Rush Springs man for spanking his son with a wooden paddle. Documents on file at the Grady County courthouse indicate that 39-year old Christopher Merino was arrested by Rush Springs police this week after interviewing the 10-year old child and his mother. The child was also alleged to have had bruises from the punishment, and also a bruised collar bone from where it was alleged he was “grabbed real hard." After spending the night in jail after his arrest, Merino was released after posting a $50,000 bond.

 

Woman Accused of Child Neglect

A Chickasha mother is alleged to have put drugs and alcohol in her toddler's backpack. Chickasha police arrested 18-year old Celsie Stuckey following a traffic stop Thursday. A probable cause affidavit indicates that Stuckey was a passenger in a car. Her two-year old son was in a child safety seat  in the back. The officer suspected there was marijuana in the vehicle. The driver alleged Stuckey put the marijuana and an open bottle of liquor in the boy's backpack. The arresting officer saw the child getting food out of the back pack. Prosecutors have charged Stuckey with felony child neglect. She is out of jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Jenna Cansler and Sarah Keeth with Red Rock Behavioral Health Services are this week’s guests on the KOOL Konversation. Trait Thompson with the Oklahoma State Capitol Restoration project is the guest on Real Estate Today with John Mosley. We have links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

 

Friday, Aug. 2nd

 

DA Says Officers' Actions Justified in Fatal Shooting

In a KOOL and RANCH News follow-up, we had an exclusive interview with District Attorney Jason Hicks regarding the shooting death of a domestic violence suspect by Chickasha police. We reported earlier this week that Sgt. Jason Myrko and Officer Preston Hodge were cleared of wrong-doing. The officers had been on paid administrative leave for four months after the shooting death of Kevin Capers back in March. While the medical examiner said that Capers was shot seven times by police, Hicks said the officers did not use excessive force.

 

              

 

Both Sgt. Myrko and Officer Hodge returned to work this week.

 

Phone Scammers Pose as Law Enforcement Officer

Another telephone scam is making its way around the area. Callers are impersonating law enforcement officers, and demanding victims pay fines or other costs by purchasing gift or money cards. Grady County Undersheriff Phil Blevins said at least one person has been victimized. Blevins says the scammer-

 

                             

 

Blevins recommends that should you get such a phone call, simply hang up and do not give out any personal information. Report any suspicious phone calls and the number if you have it to the sheriff's office or other local law enforcement agency.

 

Power Outage Problem Diagnosed

Public Service Company of Oklahoma is explaining the reason for the power outages which affected thousands of customers in Chickasha and Grady County earlier this week. Authorities say it was a malfunction in the protective relay system for a transformer at the Cornville Substation southwest of Chickasha. Power was out for about 3,400 customers in the central part of Grady County on both Monday and Tuesday afternoon for several hours. PSO Spokesman Tim Hushbeck said at one time the utility had as many as 40 technicians trouble-shooting the problem. On PSO's Facebook page, officials say workers reviewed operational data and performed multiple tests on the transformer's primary and back-up systems to pinpoint the problem, then the transformer was returned to service.

 

Requests for Chickasha Building Permits Fall

July was a lackluster month for new construction in Chickasha. Only 10 building permits totaling $75,000 in new building projects were approved by the city's Community Development Department. Four of the permits were for commercial or industrial projects. The largest of the permits was for $35,000 for a 2,100 square foot expansion of T's Treasure re-sale shop at 11th and Choctaw Avenue. A $10,000 remodel for the YMCA was given the go-ahead; officials signed off on a $5,000 project for Bordwine Development for a possible medical marijuana growing facility on Pikes Peak Road; and a $2,500 permit was approved for Lance Snyder for a new awning for a building at 315 West Dakota Avenue. Since the first of the year, officials have approved about $8.5 million new construction. That's down from $17.8 million for the same time period from 2018; and down from more than $22 million from 2017.

 

USAO Baseball, Softball Programs

Getting New Training Facilities

Exciting news for the USAO baseball and softball programs. Groundbreaking is underway for new locker rooms and indoor, batting, pitching, and training facilities. Both teams will have two-story buildings constructed down the third-base lines at their fields at Bill Smith Ballpark. Construction crews are already moving dirt to prepare the baseball field for its new facility, with work on the softball team’s locker rooms to folow. Baseball coach Mike Ross is thrilled that the long-time efforts of the university, supporters, and coaches are paying off.

 

              

 

The facilities will include a large second-floor VIP seating area which will double as a study hall and recruiting center. Over $100,000 has been pledged to the projects, including two large contributions from the Chickasha Community Foundation and the First National Bank and Trust. Each contributed $40,000 toward the project. It's believed both projects may be completed by early November, with a possible ribbon-cutting and grand opening during USAO's Homecoming activities.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $53.95 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $65.19.

Natural gas is $2.20 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,448 and silver is $16.18.

 

 

Thursday, Aug. 1st

 

Chix Water Treatment Process Changing for August              

Some changes to the City of Chickasha's water treatment process may cause tap water to be cloudy and taste like chlorine. Officials say they will be modifying the disinfection treatment of the city's potable water over the next month. Starting today, the plant will be introducing free chlorine into the water distribution system instead of a combination of chlorine and other chemicals. Mike Jump is the regional manager for U.S. Water Corporation, the city’s private contractor which operates the water treatment facilities, and he explains the reason for the change.

 

              

 

The trihalomethanes are said to cause cancer according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Jump said tap water may be temporarily cloudy and taste like swimming pool water. If that happens, he said run your tap water for a few minutes and it should clear up. Officials will also be flushing the city's fire hydrants over the next several days in order to introduce the chlorine into the water distribution system faster.

 

Minco Issues Watering Ban              

An outdoor watering ban has been issued in Minco. Mayor Keith McMullen issued a proclamation this week saying the town's water system can't keep up with demand. McMullen blames the extreme heat, dry conditions, and high water usage over the last few weeks. No outdoor watering is allowed which includes watering yards, washing cars, and filling swimming pools. Residents may water their gardens with watering cans.

 

Pursuit Suspect Arrested              

A Chickasha man is behind bars after its alleged he led police on a high-speed pursuit back in June. 21-year old Justin Chance Knight was taken into custody earlier this week after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The pursuit began in a residential area while police were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle. The chase reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour as the chase went eastbound on Grand Avenue to Sooner Road, then south to Cottonwood Road. The chase ended when the car ran off Cottonwood Road and got stuck in the mud, but the suspect managed to elude police at that time. Prosecutors have formally charged Knight with a felony for endangering others while trying to elude. His bond is $100,000.

 

Anadarko Back-to-School Expo Tonight              

In Anadarko, kids will be heading back to school next week. Tonight, the school district and many community groups will take part in the 8th annual Back-to-School expo. More than 20 school and community groups will be on hand to provide information about their services. Among them will be student leadership programs, college and career opportunities, and preparation for ACT testing. There will be free physicals for student athletes, free haircuts for the first 80 students, free hot dogs and popcorn, and some nice door prizes will be given away. The expo is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. tonight at Anadarko's Warrior Fieldhouse.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.58 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $65.17.

Natural gas is $2.23 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,419 and silver is $16.07.

 

 

Wednesday, July 31st

 

Policemen Cleared in Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

A couple of officers with the Chickasha Police Department have been cleared of wrong-doing following a fatal officer-involved shooting that took place this past spring. Sgt. Jason Myrko and Officer Preston Hodge were suspended with pay after the deadly encounter. Chickasha Police Chief Dee Rowell said the investigation into the shooting was recently closed, after authorities received the results of the autopsy of shooting victim Kevin Capers. Rowell said that Myrko and Hodge were cleared by the district attorney. We tried to contact Jason Hicks for comment but our phone call hasn't been returned. Myrko and Hodge were called to investigate a domestic disturbance at a Chickasha home in March. When officers arrived it was reported Capers had a knife and that he had cut himself, then attacked the officers. The autopsy indicated Capers was shot seven times.

 

Crash Near Anadarko Sends Four to Hospitals              

Two senior citizens and two teenagers are taken to hospitals after an SUV slams into a small sedan outside of Anadarko. 89-year old Lester Kosechata of Ft. Cobb was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was admitted in serious condition. He was a passenger in the SUV driven by 74-year old Jennie Kosechata, also of Ft. Cobb. She was taken to a Norman hospital and was treated and released. Two 16-year old girls also from Ft. Cobb were in the other vehicle. They were taken to hospitals in Anadarko and Carnegie where they were treated and released. The names of the girls were not released as per policy of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to not release the names of juveniles. The accident happened about four miles west of Anadarko on State Highway 9, just after 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. The trooper called to investigate said the teens had stopped for traffic and the SUV crashed into the back of the car.

 

Injured Motorcycle Riders Still Hospitalized

The two motorcycle riders who were hurt when their bike hit a car in Chickasha Monday afternoon could face a long recovery from their injuries. The Chickasha Police Department identified the injured as 22-year old Sarah Files and 24-year old Benjamin Francis. Both were last reported in good condition at an Oklahoma City hospital.  The two were riding their motorcycle on Choctaw Avenue west of downtown when a car pulled out in front of them and the motorcycle slammed into the car.

 

Second Power Outage Affects PSO Customers

Parts of Chickasha and Grady County were hit with a power outage for a second straight day yesterday. More than 3,400 PSO customers had to deal with no electricity, some for four hours or longer as temperatures soared to the mid-to-upper 90s. The outage affected much of downtown Chickasha, all the area north of Choctaw Avenue, and much of the business and  residential areas east of 7th Street from Choctaw Avenue south to Pikes Peak Road. It also affected a large part of central Grady County, between Highway 81 and Highway 76 and south of a line from Pocasset to Blanchard. What's odd is that the areas affected by the outage on Tuesday were nearly identical to those that were hit on Monday. PSO officials said crews found a burned-up jumper at the Chickasha substation and made some adjustments to get power restored. Authorities said there was another malfunction at the substation yesterday but it wasn’t clear what happened.

 

Producers Face Deadlines to Apply for Flood Relief

Agriculture producers in the region who suffered flood damage this spring are facing deadlines to apply for USDA's Emergency Conservation Program. Mark Jackson with the Grady County Farm Service Agency says qualifying producers can get cost share levels of up to 75 percent of the eligible restoration cost, up to $500,000. Jackson discusses what repair projects might be considered.

            

 

 

Jackson said next Monday, Aug. 5th is the final signup date for Grady County producers. Caddo County producers have until Aug. 30^th to sign up.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.05.

London-based Brent crude is $64.72.

Natural gas is $2.13 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,443 and sliver is $16.50.

 

 

Tuesday, July 30th

 

Power Outage Affects Thousands in Grady County

It was a rough Monday afternoon for thousands of PSO customers when the power went out for a large part of Chickasha and central Grady County. More than 3,200 customers spent several hours without electricity starting about 2 o'clock. The outage affected homes, businesses, and government offices. The Grady County Courthouse was forced to close as a result of the outage. Chickasha City Hall was also without electricity but remained open. Tim Hushbeck with PSO described the problem as a burned up jumper at a substation, but what caused that to happen wasn't clear. Power for most customers was restored by about 5:00 p.m. yesterday but electricity for some didn't return until after 6:00 p.m.

 

Two Motorcyclists Injured in Crash

Two people riding a motorcycle suffer serious injuries when their bike hit a car that had pulled in front of them. Both passengers were air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. Their names were not immediately available and their conditions unknown this morning. The accident happened near the Chickasha Travel Plaza west of downtown Chickasha just before 4:00 p.m. Monday. Police say the driver of the car failed to yield at a stop sign, and the bike hit the car behind its left front tire.

 

Woman, Child Hospitalized After Semi Hits Car              

A woman and a child were hospitalized following that accident near Cyril involving a vehicle and a semi we reported yesterday. 41-year old Denise Harris of Cyril and a 10-year old girl in the car with her were both air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in fair condition. The name of the child was not released. The accident happened just west of Cyril on State Highway 19 Monday morning. The trooper dispatched to the crash said the driver of the semi - 31-year old Cody Weakley of Lawton - failed to yield from a stop sign and hit the car. The semi rolled onto the driver's side. Weakley refused treatment at the scene.

              

Gas Pipeline Rupture Causes Minimal Damage

A scare near Bradley yesterday when a natural gas pipeline was ruptured. Officials say the Bradley Volunteer Fire Department was called out about 3:00 p.m. Monday. Grady County Fire Department Spokesman Buddy Myers said the gas line was a tap to a farm that was hit and the pressure on the line was minimal. Myers said there were no injuries and damaged was estimated at $500.

 

Lawmakers Form State Panel to Review

Alternative to Medicaid Expansion              

State lawmakers say they are forming a bi-partisan group to discuss putting together an Oklahoma-specific plan to expand health care in the state. It would be an alternative to the Medicaid expansion plan offered by the federal government. Oklahoma is one of 14 states which do not participate in Medicaid expansion. The group will be led by Representative Marcus McEntire of Duncan and State Senator Greg McCortney of Ada, both Republicans. The 20-member group will include 18 elected officials, with half from the House and half from the Senate. The GOP will make up the majority while two Democrats from both the House and Senate will also serve. Gov. Kevin Stitt said he wanted to develop a state alternative to Medicaid expansion to improve health care and low-cost health insurance to needy Oklahomans. In the meantime, a group begins an initiative petition effort tomorrow to collect nearly 180,000 signatures of registered Oklahoma voters asking to put Medicaid expansion on a statewide ballot.

 

Wildlife Refuge to Hold Controlled Burns              

You may be seeing a lot of smoke in southwest Oklahoma the next few days. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will begin a number of controlled burns today. Officials say the smoke from the fires could cause delays for refuge visitors and residents who live nearby. Targeted areas are the Big Four and Black Bear Mountains and around Prairie Dog Town. The burns are expected to run through next Monday.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.87 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.71.

Natural gas is $2.11 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,441 and silver is $16.52.

 

 

Monday, July 29th

 

One Hurt in Car-Semi Collision

One person was hospitalized following a traffic involving a semi near Cyril this morning. The unidentified woman was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after the crash. The accident happened about 7:15 this morning at State Highway 19 and County Street 2760 which is about 1 1/2 miles west of Cyril. Details of the crash were not immediately available from the highway patrol.

 

Consumer Spending Steady              

Consumers continue spending at a good pace at retail outlets around Grady County. Estimates are that spending county-wide was up about 12.3 percent from April to May of this year, to about $132 million. The county received about $993,000 in sales tax revenue from that consumer spending. In the City of Chickasha, consumer spending was up a fraction, to about $29.3 million. The city collected about $1.1 million in sales tax revenues from that consumer spending. Use tax collections were up in both areas. In Grady County, use tax revenues were up more than 12 percent to $146,000. In Chickasha, use tax revenues were up a little more than 7 percent to $74,000. Use taxes are those paid on purchases made on the Internet.

 

Teamwork Rids Veteran's Property of Graffiti

The City of Chickasha and a local home improvement store team up to help a veteran whose property was vandalized with graffiti. Lt. Traye Alexander with the Chickasha Police Department, who leads the city's Code Enforcement Division, says a home in the 1100 block of South 1st had been painted with graffiti recently. The city teamed up with the Sherwin-Williams store on its Neighborhood Beautification Project to paint over the graffiti. Alexander said the veteran who owned the property was unable to do the work himself. On the city's Facebook page, Alexander said the project falls under what's called the Broken Window theory, which is that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior, and civil disorder create an environment that encourages further crime and disorder. Alexander praised the work of Code Enforcement employees Natalie Benoit and Angela Kerr for providing much of the labor and directing the project. Alexander also thanked the Sherwin-Williams management team of Zach Willis and Cody Englebretson for supplying paint and prep material.

 

Firm Seeks Grant Applicants from Area Counties              

An Oklahoma-based company will be distributing grants that focus on education and youth development programs in the region. The Gulfport Energy Corporation has operations in Grady, Garvin, and Stephens Counties. A press release from the company says the firm invests in the areas where they operate with a focus on education, health, human services, and the environment. The deadline to apply is Aug. 30th. For information visit the website www.cfok.org

 

World Champs to Compete at Lawton Rangers Rodeo

The Lawton Rangers rodeo is coming up in a couple of weeks, and some current world champions will be competing. Sage Kimzey, who has won five straight PRCA bull riding world titles will be among those thrilling the crowd. Bareback bronc world champion Tim O'Connell; saddle bronc champ Wade Sundell; calf roping champ Caleb Schmidt; steer wrestling champ Tyler Wagespack, and team roping header Clay Smith will headline the event. The Lawton Rangers Rodeo is set for Aug. 7th through 10^th at the Comanche County Fairgrounds.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.20 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.46

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,431 and silver is $16.39.