Saturday, April 24th

 

Two Die as a Result of Separate Accidents with Semis

It's been a deadly 48 hours on southwest Oklahoma roads. Two people have died and one is hospitalized after three separate traffic accidents involving semis. Friday morning, an Anadarko man died after slamming into the back of a big rig near Verden. 37-year old Thomas Machahty-Ware was pronounced dead at the scene, about a mile east of Verden on U.S. 62. The driver of the semi, Galen Oliphant of Ft. Cobb, was not hurt. The highway patrol reports that both vehicles were eastbound on the highway. Machahty-Ware's vehicle was approaching the semi from behind at a high rate of speed when he suddenly switched lanes and crashed into the back of the truck. The trooper said the cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Marlow area              

In Marlow, a man died in a head-on collision with a semi Thursday afternoon. KSWO-TV reports Elton Colbert, whose hometown was not listed, lost his life in the accident that happened near the high school baseball field on U.S. Highway 81. Two others were injured but niether their names nor the seriousness of their injuries were reported. After hitting the car the semi ran off the road and also hit a car in a restaurant parking lot.

Medicine Park area              

The third accident happened north of Medicine Park on U.S. Highway 62 Friday afternoon. A truck driver was hospitalized after swerving to miss a vehicle that pulled out in front of him. 27-year old Joshua Lee Wood of Sterling was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where was admitted in good condition with head injuries. After missing the vehicle, Wood over-corrected, ran off the road and overturned. The driver of the other vehicle, 73-year old Elton Ware of Elmer, was not hurt.

 

10-Digit Calling in 405 Area Code Begins

If you have trouble making phone calls today, it's because the mandatory 10-digit dialing of local calls is now in effect for the 405 area code. The move is necessary to enable the addition of another area code for Oklahoma. A new area code is needed to ensure there will be enough telephone numbers for the central part of the state. Current users with the 405 area code will keep their same number and area code. Individuals and businesses need to check all devices that use phone numbers, such as security systems and fax machines make sure they are set up for 10-digit calling. The new 572 area code will be added to the region on May 24th.

 

Sheriff's Office Updates Warrant List

The Grady County Sheriff's Office has updated its list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here's Public information Officer Lisa Hatchett-

 

              

 

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

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Pam Ladyman with the Chickasha Optimist Club is on our KOOL Konversation discussing the group’s upcoming Project Graduation program for soon-to-be Chickasha High school graduates. Kyle Marks, the City of Chickasha's Parks and Recreation director is this week's guest on Real Estate Today talking a lot about Lake Chickasha. Find links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituary

Frankie Baxter

Funeral service for Frankie Baxter, 86, of Cement will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 29 at Laverty Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Friday, April 23rd

 

Fatal Crash Near Verden Under Investigation

The highway patrol is investigating a deadly crash near Verden. The accident happened about 6:30 this morning on U.S. Highway 62 one mile east of Verden. No details of the crash were available at the time of this posting. Get updates on KOOL News at 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. this afternoon.

 

Sales Tax Revenue 'Uptick' Ends

Sales tax revenues across Grady were down slightly in March. The decline followed three straight months of increases. The county collected just over $436,000 in sales taxes last month which were paid on consumer spending in January. That was down about 7 percent from February and off more than 28 percent from the same time a year ago. How is the sales tax revenue spent? It is divided among several voter-approved projects. The Grady County Fairgrounds received just over $152,000; Grady Memorial Hospital received about $135,000; the 20 county fire districts shared $76,000 with each one collecting about $3,800; each of the seven senior nutrition centers also shared $76,000 with each one benefitting from just under $11,000; Tuttle EMS received about $14,000; and Rush Springs EMS picked up about $3,500. The City of Chickasha collected $907,000 in sales tax revenues in March. That's down more than 17 percent from February and off about 1.8 percent from March of 2020. In use tax revenues, Grady County received $71,000 and Chickasha received $77,000. Use taxes are those paid on Internet purchases.

 

State House Re-Districting Plan Revealed

The boundaries of three districts in the state house of representatives in the region would see some changes if a proposal by the house gets final approval. In Grady County, Chickasha would remain split between two districts - those being in District 56 which is represented by Amber's Dick Lowe, and House District 51 which is represented by Marlow's Brad Boles. The plan would move District 56 north to include part of Tuttle on the east, as well as Amber and Minco, most of northern Caddo County, and the southwest corner of Canadian County. District 51 would move out of McClain County, and include the south part of Tuttle and much of Grady County southeast of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, and about the northern 1/3rd of Stephens County. House District 65, represented by Toni Hassenbeck of Elgin, will expand to about the southern half of Caddo County to Include Anadarko, Ft. Cobb and Carnegie, and the northeastern corner of Comanche County. The proposed changes are contained in HB 1198 which will be reviewed by both the state house and senate. Officials say there is still time for public input on the plan. The map can been seen on the state house of representatives website: www.okhouse.gov

 

Clean Up Chickasha Campaign to Begin

Chickasha residents are being asked to be part of a city-wide clean-up campaign. It's the start of a long-term effort in which city leaders hope to Keep Chickasha Beautiful. The City of Chickasha, the Economic Development Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and the city's private trash pickup contractor, Waste Connections are leading the way. The campaign will officially begin next week. Economic Development Director Jim Cowan says they want potential new businesses and visitors to have a good impression when they come to town. With the help of a grant from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, roll-off dumpsters will be placed at several locations to help residents get rid of trash and unwanted items. However, there are some items which cannot be accepted, and a list will be published on the Keep Chickasha Beautiful Facebook page, as well as on the EDC and Chamber Facebook pages. The dumpsters will be placed at Washita Valley Park, Centennial Park, Borden Park, 6th and Frisco, and at USAO at 18th and Grand Avenue. The dumpsters will be placed at those locations next Thursday, April 29^th through Sunday, May 2nd.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.43 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $65.40.

Natural gas is $2.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,785 and silver is $26.20.

 

Obituary

“Evelyn” Caples

Funeral service for Lea “Evelyn” Caples of Ninnekah was held at 10:30 a.m. this morning at  Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Thursday, April 22nd

 

Mom, Son Accused of Robbing Woman's Boyfriend

A Cyril woman and her 19-year old son are facing felony robbery charges. The two are accused of robbing the woman's boyfriend after he denied the woman a request for sex. The Lawton Constitution reports that 37-year old Olivia Sonnier and 19-year old Caleb Sonnier have both been charged with conjoint robbery. The paper cites a probable cause affidavit which indicates the woman and her boyfriend were at a Cyril motel when they got into an argument. The mother called her son who brought a friend and allegedly assaulted the victim then stole his cel phone, keys, and car. The victim claimed that his girlfriend was running from charges in multiple states but that has not been confirmed. In the meantime, the mother and son were arrested and are being held in the Caddo County Jail on $50,000 bond each. If convicted they could be sentenced from 5 to 50 years in prison. The other man alleged to have been involved in the attack has not been charged.

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in Anadarko, Chickasha

There are a number of walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the Chickasha and Anadarko areas today and tomorrow. In Anadarko today, the Caddo County Health Department will have the vaccines at Riverside Indian School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is for anyone 16-and-older and youth under 18 will have to have a parent or guardian with them. They will have the first and second doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available. Tomorrow, the Caddo County Health Department will also have the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at the old National Guard Armory from 9 a.m. until noon. Walk-ins are welcome, or individuals can schedule appointments on-line at www.vaccinate.ok.gov

Also tomorrow in Chickasha, Grady Memorial Hospital will have a walk-in clinic for the Moderna vaccine from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the hospital's main entrance.

 

Chix Chamber Begins 'Restaurant Rush'

A new promotion to support Chickasha area restaurants is underway. It's called Restaurant Rush and encourages patrons to visit restaurants which are members of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce. Restaurant Rush will feature a different restaurant every day with a special deal for that day only.  Anyone can get the deal of the day, however patrons must say they are there for the Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Rush. Find out which restaurant is featured on the Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram, or information is also posted on the Chamber's website. Restaurants that are chamber members that are not yet signed up can contact the chamber to participate. The promotion will run through the month of June.

 

Chix School Administrator Honored              

A Chickasha Public School administrator is recognized for his work. Dan Turner has been named the Assistant Superintendent/Central Office Administrator of the Year for District 14 which includes a number of school districts throughout central and southern Oklahoma.

 

Freshman Preview set for Chix High School

Chickasha High School will be hosting a freshmen preview for next year's freshman class tonight. Parents and students will get tours of the high school, meet teachers and get an idea of the extra-curricular programs available. There are information programs for parents every 30 minutes, and there are free snow cones and hot dogs for students who have vouchers. The program will get started in the high school activity center about 4:30 p.m. and will run until 6 o'clock tonight.

 

USAO Habitat Received Grant

USAO has received another generous grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation for the university's 140-acre habitat facility. The most recent gift of $50,000 will help purchase equipment needed for research as well as connecting the habitat to the main campus IT infrastructure. Associate professor Rachel Jones who oversees the habitat says the grant is a game-changer. They will be able to expand what they are currently doing and help in its future outreach to programs for high school students and local groups interested in the environment. The habitat, called the Jean McLaughlin Outdoor Education and Research Center, is just west of Chickasha.  The Kirkpatrick Foundation has now contributed a total of $75,000 towards the development of the habitat.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.35 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $65.32.

Natural gas is $2.69 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,789 and silver is $26.51.

 

Obituary

Floyd Reedy

A graveside service for Floyd Reedy, 84, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 24th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

Wednesday, April 21st

 

Hospital to Hold Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

Grady Memorial Hospital will offer a walk-in clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations later this week. The hospital will have the first doses of the Moderna vaccine available to anyone 18-years old and older. No appointment will be necessary, but you can make an appointment by calling 405-224-2100, ext. 9. The walk-in clinic will be in the main entrance of the hospital this Friday,  April 23rd from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 

Fundraiser Set to Purchase Hospital MRI

Grady Memorial and its Foundation have announced an aggressive fundraising campaign to purchase a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI unit. The cost of the new machine is about $1.5 million and officials want to raise $500,000 a year over the next three years. A hospital press release indicates the new MRI will include a breast coil which will provide a new way to treat breast cancer and perform surgical breast biopsies. The hospital also wants to establish an endowment fund to help in recruiting the future OB-GYN physician. The foundation's annual membership drive will run the entire month of May. The foundation will also be having a Cinco de Mayo on-line auction with numerous items up for bid including vacation destinations, electronics, and sports memorabilia. The items can be viewed on-line. Individuals can set up a bidding account right now by going to: YourCharityAuction.com/gradymemorial

 

State Re-districting Plan Goes Up for Review

At the state capital, house and senate leaders will have a joint press conference this afternoon to show a proposed re-districting plan. Sen. Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle, who chairs the senate select committee on re-districting, will be joined by his counterpart in the house, Rep. Ryan Martinez of Edmond. State legislative and congressional district boundaries are reviewed every 10 years following the national census. The press conference will be live-streamed on the state house of representatives Facebook page starting at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Previous meetings can be viewed on the websites www.okhouse.gov and www.oksenate.gov

 

Another Call for Blood Donations

The Oklahoma Blood institute is again issuing a call for blood donations. OBI president Dr. John Armitage says there is a nationwide shortage of blood and donations have fallen to their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic. Armitage said local blood supplies are being pushed to their limits by increased blood usage from hospitals. After battling COVID-19 for more than a year, he said they could never have expected the last few months would bring the organization's most critical need for blood. He said America is coming back to life but there is not a stable blood supply locally or nationally. For information about blood drives throughout the region go to the website: www.obi.org

 

CMS Willowbrook has 'Project Manager of the Year'

An employee for a Chickasha-based construction management firm is recognized at the state level for her efforts. Brenna Wells with CMS Willowbrook was named Project Manager of the Year by the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma. The award is presented to an individual who has shown skill and creativity in bringing a complex project to completion. Wells was recognized for her work at Bixby Public Schools for 155,000 sq. ft. of new construction which included more than 50 classrooms, two gymnasiums, a library, two elevators, 10 offices, a kitchen, and a cafeteria. The Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma is a non-profit organization for construction professionals. Member contractors perform 80 percent of all commercial and industrial construction projects in the state.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $62.44 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $66.57.

Natural gas is $2.73 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,779 and silver is $25.91.

 

Tuesday, April 20th

 

Earthquake Shakes Dibble Area

A lot of Oklahomans in the Dibble area reported feeling an earthquake yesterday. The U.S. Geological Survey confirms the quake hit about 5:11 p.m. Monday. One service measured the earthquake at 3.5 on the Richter scale at a depth of about one mile. The epicenter of the quake was about 5 1/2 miles southwest of Dibble. The Geological Survey says generally no significant damage follows a tremor of that low magnitude. Other areas where the earthquake may have been felt include Chickasha, Alex, Blanchard, Norman and Moore.

 

Chix City Council Members Sworn In

Four members of the Chickasha City Council were sworn in during last night's council meeting. Brian Gerdes, Oscar Nelson, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, and Kelly Boyd all took their oaths.

 

              

 

Mayor Chris Mosley recognized outgoing council representatives Kimmie Loggins and Jim Hopkins.

 

Grayson Elected Vice Mayor;

Firm Hired to find CM Candidates

The council elected Zach Grayson as vice-mayor. Loggins had served that post for the last three years. As expected, the group hired a search firm to find candidates for the vacant city manager post. The cost of the service from Strategic Government Resources of Texas is about $25,000. The panel also heard from representatives of Waste Connections which is the city's private contractor for trash pick-up services. Officials want to change the bulk pick-up days from the first and third Fridays of the month to sometime in the middle of the week. Details will be forthcoming and officials are estimating the change may occur the first of June or July.

              

Water, Sewer Line Installation Project Delayed

Councilors delayed action on a bid to install water and sewer lines at the development near Grand Avenue South and Ada Sipuel Avenue. The bid from W.E.B. Construction was misplaced on the city council agenda and officials say it should have been on the Chickasha Municipal Authority agenda. A special meeting has been scheduled for Thursday evening to deal with that issue. The council also voted to waive garage sale permit fees during the weekend of May 6th, 7th, and 8th in conjunction with the Chickasha Antique Auto Clubs’ spring swap meet.

 

Closed Street May Re-open Soon              

We have an update on anticipated repairs for a Chickasha street closed over the weekend due to a sinkhole. It’s 29th Street between U.S. Highway 62 and Frisco Avenue. Mayor Chris Mosley said officials are confident that city crews may be able to make repairs by the end of the week. Mosley said the ground underneath the street washed out but that the structure is stable. The plan is to replace the asphalt over that section of the street with concrete. Mosley said the estimated cost is expected to be about $10,000.

 

FNB Donates to Community Theatre              

The Chickasha Community Theatre will be renovating the historic neon sign that graces the front of the building. The theatre, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was awarded a $5,000 grant from the First National Bank and Trust. Funds will be used to make needed electrical repairs to the sign and the building. Bank officials say the contribution is part of its commitment to community re-investment.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.38 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $67.05.

Natural gas is $2.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,767 and silver is $25.88.

 

Monday, April 19th

 

Chix City Council to Get Two New Members

Two new individuals will join the Chickasha City council tonight. Georgianne Hebblethwaite and Kelly Boyd will be among those who will be sworn in to serve two-year terms on the panel. Hebblethwaite ran unopposed for the Ward 2 post and will take the seat held by Kimmie Loggins. Boyd ran unopposed for the Ward 4 seat held by Jim Hopkins. Also to be taking their oaths of office will be Ward 1's Brian Gerdes and Ward 3's Oscar Nelson. The panel will also select a new vice mayor. Loggins has served in the post for the last few years.

 

Items Posted on the City Council Agenda              

The council is expected to hire a firm to recruit candidates to interview for the vacant city manager post and approve a final payment of $71,000 to Greenbelt Turf Management for the emergency storm debris removal project. The group will also consider approving city-wide yard sales for the weekend of May 6th through 8th which is the same weekend the Chickasha Antique Auto Club will hold its annual spring Swap Meet. Typically, the city council waives garage sale permit fees for that weekend. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Portion of 29th Street Closed Due to 'Sinkhole'

A sinkhole has forced the City of Chickasha to close a portion of 29th Street indefinitely. The sinkhole was discovered early Saturday morning on the small bridge between U.S. Highway 62 and Frisco Avenue. Public Works Director David Buchanan says out of an abundance of caution they decided to close that section of the street. Buchanan said he'll be reaching out to a professional engineer to investigate the situation. The city temporarily filled the sinkhole however the street is impassable and barricaded in an attempt prevent traffic from driving over the bridge.

 

Turnpike Crash Sends Three to Hospital             

A crash on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike sends three people to the hospital with two of them admitted with head and trunk injuries. The accident happened just after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon near Mile Marker 73 southwest of Chickasha. The highway patrol reported that a pick-up rear-ended a car that was traveling at a reduced speed because of mechanical issues. Three people in the car were taken to an Oklahoma City hospital including the driver, 29-year old Britanika Thompson and an unidentified 16-year old boy, both of Lawton. The teen was last in fair condition and Thompson was reported in good condition. Another passenger in the car, 56-year old John Norwood of Lincoln, Nebraska, was initially air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital but was treated and released. The driver of the pickup, 35-year old James Thomas of Carl Junction, Missouri was not injured.

 

2nd Round of Moderna Vaccines  Available to Some

A second round of coronavirus vaccines will be available today for those who received their initial Moderna shots last month. Southern Oaks Church of Christ and Anadarko Indian Health Services will offer those second shots today. Individuals who received their first doses at the church on March 22^nd are asked to return today at the same time they received their vaccines last month. Individuals should also have their vaccination card with them.

 

Chickasha School Calendar Extended;

Freshman Class of 2025 Preview Scheduled              

Students attending Chickasha Public Schools will have a couple more days of classes this year. School officials say Friday, May 21st and Monday, May 24th have been added due to the ice storm from last October and the polar vortex that affected school time in February. Graduation for the class of 2021 will still be held on Friday, May 21st. Also, next year's freshman class at Chickasha High School can take a tour of the school and meet teachers in a special event this week. Students can visit with sports teams and other extra-curricular programs and parents can attend informational meetings every 30 minutes. There will be free hamburgers, hot dogs, and snow cones for those with vouchers. The preview for the Class of 2025 will be held Thursday, April 22nd from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Students and parents will first meet at the activity center.

              

Masonic Lodge Honors Three for Lengthy Service

Three men with a combined 170 years of service to the Masonic Lodge were recognized for their contributions this weekend. Carey "Cabo" Wilkerson of Chickasha and the late Delbert Jump of Cyril were both honored for 60-years of service to the organization while David Richardson of Pocasset was recognized for 50-years of service. The men were recognized by Grand Master Robert Davis and Grand Marshall Ron Minshall in a ceremony at the Chickasha Masonic Lodge yesterday.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.13 per barrel.

London-based Brent is $66.77.

Natural gas is $2.68 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,789 and silver is $26.25.

 

Saturday, April 17th

 

Police, Relatives Seek Missing Anadarko Woman

The sister of a missing Anadarko woman thinks her younger sibling may be in trouble. Anadarko police and relatives of Sierra Kay Hunter-Isaacs plea for any information on her whereabouts. She's only 19-year old and her 20th birthday just a couple of weeks away. Sierra's sister, Chelsey Hunter, tells our news associates at KWTV-News 9 that Sierra has been missing since Easter Sunday. Family members got a phone call from her about a week ago (Thursday, April 8^th) and Hunter says it sounded like her sister was hysteric. She said things that didn't make any sense and got the idea that Sierra couldn't tell them what she wanted to because someone monitoring her call. A private investigator traced the phone to Austin, Texas where it is registered to an individual who has a violent criminal history. A photo of Sierra is posted on the Anadarko Police Department's Facebook page. She's 5'9" and weighs about 100 pounds. She is a member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribe with Kiowa descent and has a light complexion. The photo shows her with dyed light brown hair, though she may now have a shaved head. She has green eyes and a rose tattoo on her right shoulder. Her case has drawn the attention of the Oklahoma Chapter of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. Anyone with information should call 9-1-1, Anadarko police, or local law enforcement.

 

Ida's Law Passed on to Gov. Stitt              

In the meantime, a bill sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt this week is designed to help in the search for missing and murdered Native Americans. SB 172 received bi-partisan support in the state house and senate. It's called Ida's Law, named for an El Reno woman who has been missing since 2015. The bill would create an Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. It would also have the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation work with federal agencies to obtain federal funds to help in their efforts. Officials say there are more than 200 Native Americans who are missing and due to a lack of data and the lack of communication between the agencies the cases haven't been able to get addressed. Officials are hopeful the governor will sign the bill.

 

Chix Street Closed Due to Bridge Damage

A damaged bridge has forced the City of Chickasha to close down a portion of a busy street. 29th Street between U.S. Highway 62 and Frisco Avenue has been shut down because of the problem. The Grady County Fire Department Facebook page indicates that a sinkhole has opened. Motorist will have to use an alternate route until repairs can be made but it's not known how long that might take.

 

Chix City Council to Again Consider Firm

to Find Candidates for City Manager Post

The Chickasha City Council will again talk about hiring a professional company to look for candidates to fill the vacant city manager post. At the group's last meeting April 12th a proposal to employ a head-hunting firm was tabled after Mayor Chris Mosley said he had received a good resume. The proposal is back on the agenda for the Monday, April 19th meeting. The council will have its newest members on board in Georgianne Hebblethwaite in Ward 2 and Kelly Boyd in Ward 4 after they are sworn in. Also taking their oaths will be Mayor Chris Mosley, Ward 1 Councilman Brian Gerdes, Ward 2 Councilman Zach Grayson, and Ward 3 Councilman Oscar Nelson.

 

Moore Firm Recommended for Chix Project              

The council is expected to award a nearly half-million dollar bid to a company to install water and sewer lines at the new residential and commercial development near the Grady County Fairgrounds. Engineers are recommending that W.E.B. Construction of Moore be awarded the project to install nearly a half-mile each of water and sewer lines near the intersection of Grand Avenue South and Ada Sipuel Avenue. It was the lowest of five bids submitted with the highest being nearly $1 million. The council will also consider approving the final plat for Phase Three of the Shadow Valley Development going on near 25th and Country Club Road.

 

National Lineworker Day set April 18th

It's time to salute the men and women who work in all types of nasty weather to make sure we have electricity to heat and cool our homes and businesses. Tomorrow (April 18^th) is National Lineworker Appreciation Day. The day was established in 2013 to honor those who put their lives literally on the line to keep power flowing. There are an estimated 115,000 employee and contract lineworkers across the country. In a press release, Public Service Company of Oklahoma says the company has about 700 employees and contract workers who keep electricity flowing in its service areas in the Sooner State. Officials say they are out in all weather conditions around-the-clock and they safely maintain PSO’s more than 22 thousand miles of distribution lines and more than 3,700 miles of transmission lines. You can honor lineworkers on social media by using #ThankALineworker

 

Friday, April 16th

 

McGirt Decision Impacts Dibble Murder Conviction

Oklahoma's attorney general is expected to file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the case of a man convicted in the 2010 killing of a Dibble family. Attorney General Mike Hunter is challenging a recent ruling in the case of Shaun Bosse. Bosse was convicted of the 2010 murders of Katrina Griffin, her 8-year old son, and 6-year old daughter. It's due to the McGirt Decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which indicates that state prosecutors lack authority to pursue criminal cases on Native American lands. Griffin and the children lived in an area considered to be part of the Chickasaw Nation and all were members of that tribe. The State Court of Criminal Appeals threw out Bosse's conviction as a result of the McGirt Decision. Hunter argues that the state should have jurisdiction over non-Native American defendants even if the crime occurred on Native American land. The Court of Criminal Appeals issued a 45-day stay on the state's case against Bosse who is on death row. The ruling keeps Bosse in state custody for now instead of transferring him to federal custody.

 

State Lawmakers Work to Help Oklahomans

Impacted by High Heating Costs During Polar Vortex

That polar vortex in February led to sky-rocketing heating costs in Oklahoma and many other states. In Oklahoma, state lawmakers are working on a plan to help consumers faced with those monumental bills. Senate Bills 1049 and 1050 would allow families and businesses to pay those costs over several months or even years. Officials estimate ratepayers are obligated to pay $4.5 billion in increased energy costs due to the sub-zero temperatures that lasted for about two weeks. One state lawmaker said the bills strike a good balance between protecting the interest of families and businesses, while ensuring the utility companies receive what they are owed. The measures would allow the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority to issue ratepayer-backed bonds, which would not increase bond indebtedness of the state or cause harm to the state budget.

 

Fletcher Animal Control Officer Faces Cruelty Charge

An animal control officer in Fletcher has been arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty. 54-year old Timothy Peek is accused of leaving several animals outside with no food and frozen water during the extremely cold weather that occurred in February. The charge has been filed in Comanche County District Court. The dogs were discovered by a passer-by and another individual took charge to rescue the animals. The Lawton Constitution reports that a video from a witness shows an excessive amount of urine and feces in the kennel. A police affidavit indicated there was no insulation or bedding, and kennel entrances had no covers to prevent snow and wind from blowing in. Peek admitted he could have sheltered the dogs elsewhere during the extremely cold weather. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Peek’s bond is set at $100,000.

 

FNB Assists Court Appointed Special Advocates

A group that helps Grady County children in DHS custody gets some unexpected assistance. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) was provided $1,000 from the First National Bank and Trust. FNB Vice President Randy Talley said grants to CASA have been reduced over the past year and First National and other groups stepped in to provide some needed funds. Donna Stamper with the Grady County CASA group was on hand to accept the contribution.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.46 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $66.84.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,774 and silver is $26.19.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here’s part of what we we’re talking about this weekend. Jake Grossnicklaus with the Grady County Cattle Producers Association is our KOOL Konversation guest as that group prepares for its annual meeting. Jen Jantzen with the Chickasha Public School Foundation will be on Real Estate Today. Find links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Thursday, April 15th

 

Chix Fly-in, Car Show set for June

The annual Wings and Wheels Fly-in and Car Show has become a big event at the Chickasha airport over the last few years. This summer, there will be a number of new activities which will wow spectators. Among the guests will be the father-son duo of Paul and Curt Richmond. The two have a unique airplane and motorcycle race. The City of Chickasha has posted a YouTube video of a previous race on the city’s Facebook page. The event is Saturday, June 19^th which is Father's Day weekend. It will include a radio control plane demonstration, free airplane rides for children, a car and truck show with the Chickasha Antique Auto Club, and food trucks.

 

Public Urged to Comment on Re-districting Effort

Among the work state lawmakers are charged with this year is re-districting the state house and senate districts. The House of Representatives will hold a public comment session this afternoon. The house received seven maps from the public for review and that will take place at 3 o'clock this afternoon at the state capitol. The session will also be live-streamed on the website: www.okhouse.gov Officials say the process will determine legislative and congressional districts.  State legislative districts have to be completed by May 28th. There is no deadline for Congressional re-districting though state lawmakers are expected to have a special session this summer to complete that work in time for the 2022 election cycle.

 

Salvation Army to Open Office in Anadarko

The Salvation Army which serves Grady and County counties will have a new social services office in Caddo County later this year. The organization is working with Bethel Baptist Church in Anadarko to make it easier for Caddo County families to get help. Sgt. Bryan Brinlee says crews are remodeling an office in the church right now.

 

              

 

Brinlee said they received donations to help with the remodeling. Initially, they plan on having the office open the first two Thursday's of each month and they hope to have the office open by summer. There is no phone in the office yet so anyone needing to reach out can call the Chickasha Salvation Army headquarters by calling 405-224-5647.

 

Apache Rattlesnake Festival Underway

There's a lot of excitement in Apache this weekend with the return of the annual Rattlesnake Festival. This is the 37^th year for the event which was canceled last year because of the pandemic. The four-day event is underway with one of the largest outdoor flea markets you'll ever see. There are guided rattlesnake hunts in the nearby Slick Hills, the snake pit is an interesting area to learn about snakes in general, you can try some deep-fried rattlesnake, and get your picture taken with one of the slithery serpents. There's a carnival, a rodeo, and live bands tonight, Friday, and Saturday nights.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $63.15 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $66.58.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,747 and silver is $25.67.

 

Obituaries

Fred Hill

Visitation for Fred Hill, 60, formerly of Verden, will be at McRay Funeral Home from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17th which will be followed immediately by the funeral service.

Molena Henderson

A graveside service for Molena Henderson, 87, of Tuttle will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 17th at Fairview Cementery in Tuttle. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Sandra Meeks

Funeral service for Sandra Meeks, 58, of Chickasha will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Wednesday, April 14th

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Effort Successful

A coronavirus vaccination clinic served about 50 people at Chickasha's Bullock Memorial Community Center yesterday (Tuesday). Charlotte Oliver with the Bullock Center was happy with the turnout. The shots were provided by the Anadarko Indian Health Clinic. They were supposed to have the Johnson and Johnson vaccine but before the clinic opened the Federal Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control put a pause on the vaccine due to a rare blood-clotting side effect. Those who received the Moderna vaccine received their vaccination card and were asked to return on May 11th for the second vaccine. Officials with Anadarko Indian Health Services will be back in Chickasha next Monday, April 19^th to issue the second round of the Moderna vaccine to those who received their first vaccination at Southern Oaks Church of Christ last month.

 

Blood Institute Nears Blood Emergency

Officials with the Oklahoma Blood Institute say they are nearing a blood emergency. Christi Chambers is the director of the institute. She says an emergency is issued when there is less than a one-day supply of blood available for the more than 150 hospitals they serve. Among the reasons for dwindling supply is that hospitals are using more blood for patients who are having voluntary surgeries that had to be delayed because of the pandemic. She also said some regular donors may be postponing their normal contributions because they received a COVID-19 vaccine. Chambers said the vaccine does not affect the blood.

 

              

 

Individuals who have never donated blood are asked to begin the life-saving process. Every unit of blood donated saves up to three lives. Find a blood drive in your region by going to the website: www.obi.org

 

Ida's Law Advances to Governor for Consideration

State lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Kevin Stitt designed to bring federal dollars to the state to address the issue of missing and murdered indigenous people. It's SB 172 which is called Ida's Law. It directs the OSBI to coordinate with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain federal funding to gather data. The legislation also would create an Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. Officials with the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native American Women say four out of five Native American women are affected by violence and face murder rates that are more than 10 times the national average.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.18 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.67.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,742 and silver is $25.37.

 

Obituaries

Stella Smith

A graveside service for Stella Smith, 89, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 15^th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Joshawa Moore-Shelton

Funeral service for Joshawa Moore-Shelton, 35, of Chickasha will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 16th at Full Gospel Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Ruth Tallent

Funeral service for Ruth Tallent, 89, of Chickasha will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Tuesday, April 13th

 

Driver in Fatal Crash Faces Manslaughter Charge

Grady County prosecutors have filed a felony manslaughter charge against a driver accused hitting and killing a pedestrian. We reported yesterday that 20-year old Brian McConnell of Tuttle had been arrested following a weekend accident near Minco. 77-year old Artemio Moreno of Anadarko died of his injuries at the scene. McConnell was initially arrested on a DUI complaint. A probable cause affidavit filed by the trooper investigating the accident indicates that McConnell admitted having a couple of beers several hours prior to the accident. The trooper said McConnell had a strong odor of alcohol about him when he arrived on scene to investigate. McConnell failed a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test and refused to take a field sobriety test. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital to get a blood sample drawn to determine his blood-alcohol content. The blood-alcohol level was not included in the affidavit. McConnell remains in jail on a $75,000 bond.

 

Woman Hurt in Rollover Accident

A Rush Springs woman is hospitalized in fair condition after her car runs off the road and overturns. 49-year old Cary Darr suffered arm injuries in the crash that happened on State Highway 29 near the Stephens and Garvin County line near Elmore City Monday morning. The highway patrol reports that the accident happened after Darr dropped her medication then unfastened her seat belt to reach down and find it.

 

Oklahoma Arts Institute Moves to USAO for 2021

The Oklahoma Arts Institute is moving from southwest Oklahoma to Chickasha this summer. The two-week summer camp for the state's budding artists will be held at USAO in July. For 40 years, the camp has been held at Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center. Arts Institute president Julie Cohen says they are still deeply connected to that facility but said that USAO’s 75-acre campus will allow the institute to safely serve the students by providing for a greater variety of housing, classroom, and rehearsal space to ensure social distancing. The Oklahoma Arts Institute is a private, non-profit organization that has partnered with the state for more than 30 years to provide high-quality fine arts training. World class artists are part of the camp to mentor hundreds of young Oklahomans in acting, chorus, creative writing and dance, drawing and painting, film and video, orchestra, and photography.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.70 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.28.

Natural gas is $2.56 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,726 and silver is $24.98.

 

Obituaries

Reginald Cates

Funeral service for Reginald Cates, 34, of Midwest City will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 14th at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Charla Mogg

Funeral service for Charla Mogg, 66, of Chickasha will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 16^th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Monday, April 12th

 

Man Arrested in Connection with Fatal Accident

A Tuttle man is in custody following a weekend accident in which an elderly man was struck and killed. 20-year old Brian McConnell was taken to the Grady County Jail on a DUI complaint following the accident that occurred early Saturday. 77-year old Artemio Moreno of Anadarko died in the accident. It happened just before 4:00 a.m. Saturday on State Highway 37 east of Minco. The highway patrol reports that Moreno was trying to hook up a car to a dolly behind his pickup. The trooper investigating the accident indicated that McConnell swerved but ended up striking Moreno and his two vehicles. There were two passengers in the pickup with McConnell. They were 19-year old Sadon Dunkle of Minco and 18-year old Erica Schuringa of Newcastle. None of them were injured.

              

Driver Hospitalized Following One-Car Crash              

A driver is hospitalized after her car runs off a southern Grady County road and hits two trees. 45-year old Anita Ward of Pauls Valley was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where she was admitted in fair condition. That accident happened seven miles south of Rush Springs about 12:30 this morning (Tuesday). The highway patrol reports that Ward initially went left-of-center, then over-corrected and ran off the road where the car crashed into two trees. The trooper said Ward may have been under the influence of illegal drugs.

 

Chickasha School Board to Consider

Opposing State Funding of Charter Schools

Chickasha Public Schools may be joining the list of other public schools in a fight regarding the state school board’s recent decision to fund charter schools. Chickasha Superintendent Rick Croslin has a resolution for the Chickasha school board to consider when that panel meets tonight. Croslin said the decision negatively impacts the district's gross production and mileage tax collections. He said the ruling requires funding to be shared for all students enrolled in any charter school if they live within the boundaries of the Chickasha school district. Croslin said attorneys for the state superintendent of schools and state department of education say that the state school board's ruling is unconstitutional. Croslin said over the last five years, gross production tax revenues in the distrtict are down $2.5 million. The local school board is also to consider a proposal to increase teacher pay from $20 an hour to $25 an hour, and a proposal to provide 5 percent incentive pay for math and science teachers. The school board meets at 6:00 p.m. at the high school auditorium.

 

Awards Bestowed During Chix Chamber Banquet

A number of individuals and businesses were recognized for their achievements at the 98th annual Chickasha Chamber of Commerce banquet last Friday night. The Binyon Family received the top honor of being named to the Civic Hall of Fame. The Binyons helped to jump start the Festival of Light in the mid-1980s. The Business of the Year award went to DeHart Heating and Air Conditioning which celebrated its 100th year in business in 2020. The Small Business of the Year is Grand Care Pharmacy; the Event of the Year is the Junior Social Workers Spaghetti Day; the Citizen of the Year is Heidi Harrison, who created Heidi Helping the Homeless; the Woman of the Year is Donna Elledge with Chickasha Monument Company; the Volunteer of the Year is Ashley Rayburn; and the Public Servant of the Year is Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley.

 

Blood Institute Calls Need for Blood Donations Urgent

Officials with the Oklahoma Blood Institute say there is an urgent need for blood donations. They say multiple local traumas have created an immediate need for blood donors of all types. There are two blood drives today. Badgett’s is holding a blood drive until 11:00 a.m. and KOOL-RANCH radio stations will have another from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-ups are welcome. To find an upcoming blood drive in your area visit the Oklahoma Blood Institute’s website: www.obi.org

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.32 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $62.95.

Natural gas is $2.53 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,741 and silver is $25.24.

Saturday, April 10th

 

Lt. Gov. Touts State's Recovery from Pandemic

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell is thrilled that the state's economy is beginning to rebound as the nation slowly recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Pinnell was the keynote speaker at the 98th annual Chickasha Chamber of Commerce banquet last night and said it was refreshing to be able to be face-to-face with people once again.

 

              

 

Pinnell’s main focus is tourism and says Oklahomans need to do better in promoting their home state.

 

              

 

Pinnell made reference to Chickasha's leg lamp which drew so much attention last Christmas. He credited Tim Elliott and others for thinking out of the box to create an attraction which brought so much national and even international recognition to the city and hopes it continues.

 

Chamber Banquet Award Recipients

A number of businesses and individuals were recognized for their achievements at the chamber banquet last night. The Binyon Family received the top honor which was being named to the Civic Hall of Fame. The Binyons helped to jump start the Festival of Light in the mid-1980s.The Business of the Year is DeHart Heating and Air Conditioning which celebrated its 100th year in business in 2020. The Small Business of the Year is Grand Care Pharmacy; the Event of the Year is the Junior Social Workers Spaghetti Day; the Citizen of the Year is Heidi Harrison who created Heidi Helping the Homeless; the Woman of the Year is Donna Elledge with Chickasha Monument Company; the Volunteer of the Year is Ashley Rayburn; and the Public Servant of the Year is Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley.

 

Refuge Home Restoration Complete

The finishing touches have finally been made on the years-long renovation of an historic home in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The final piece for The Ferguson home was a 3 1/2 ton boulder. The home was almost entirely destroyed in a wildfire in 2010 with the only remnants being its cobblestone walls and the foundation. The restoration work began in 2014. The Lawton Constitution reports that a group called the Friends of the Wichitas collected about $70,000 in donations for the project. Since the home was on the National Register of Historic Places, they had to coordinate the re-build with the state's historic preservation office. The group spent a year looking for just the right boulder to serve as a marker describing the history of the home.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Sgts. Bryan and Tracy Brittle with the Salvation Army serving Grady and Caddo counties are this week’s guests on the KOOL Konversation program. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell is this week's guest on Real Estate Today. Find links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Friday, April 9th

 

OHP Probes Fatal SUV Crash

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal SUV crash that happened near Rush Springs yesterday. The accident claimed the life of 35-year old Whitney Blakes of Chickasha. Two children - an 11-year old girl and an 8-year old boy whose names were not released - were air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in serious condition. The accident happened two miles north of Rush Springs on U.S. Highway 81 about 4:00 p.m. Thursday. The trooper dispatched to the crash reported that the SUV was southbound when it veered off the road and rolled several times. Blakes and the two children were all thrown out of the vehicle.

 

Man Arrested for Soliciting Illicit Photos from Teen

A Chickasha man is accused of soliciting x-rated photos on his phone from a teenager. Chickasha police arrested 31-year old Bryan Cody Snook Wednesday night. Prosecutors have charged him with a felony for soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $50,000 bond. A police affidavit filed in connection with the investigation provides graphic details of a teenager sharing a photo of male genitals with Snook. The teen's mother called police when she saw the photo on her son's phone. Snook told investigators he was only joking when he asked the teen to send him a picture but did not say why he continued to ask for the photo. The teen said the photo he sent was one he found on the Internet. Snook is to announce is attorney on April 15th with a preliminary hearing conference set for May 12th.

 

Chix Chamber Annual Banquet is Tonight

Tonight is the biggest night of the year for the Chickasha business community. The chamber of commerce is holding its 98th annual awards banquet. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell will be the guest speaker for the sellout event which will be held at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Among the awards to be presented are the Civic Hall of Fame, Small Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, and Event of the Year. A silent auction will also help serve as a fundraiser for the chamber.

 

Anadarko Road Project to Begin Soon

Construction will be starting soon on a road project in Anadarko. Petree Road between State Highway 8 and Mission Boulevard will be widened and a small bridge will be replaced. Reece Knight with the Anadarko Department of Transportation office says it’s a joint project of ODOT, Caddo County, and the City of Anadarko. The $836,000 project was awarded to Paradigm Construction out of Sapulpa. Construction is scheduled to start April 19^th and the contractor will have 120 working days to complete the project. When finished, it will be dedicated to the memory of the late Caddo County Commissioner Randy McLemore.

 

Steer Wrestling Event in Chix Tomorrow

Many of the top steer wrestlers in the country will be in Chickasha this weekend for a big jackpot competition. Longtime NFR cowboy Blake Mindemann of Blanchard is holding the event tomorrow at the Grady County Fairgrounds. He talks about some of the cowboys that he's been in contact with.

 

              

 

Mindemann said there is $5,000 added money to entice as many as 100 cowboys to be part of the competition. There will also be a junior competition with as many as 50 youngsters expected to participate. It will all take place at the outdoor rodeo arena at the Grady County Fairgrounds tomorrow (Saturday). The junior event will start at 9 a.m. with the open competition about 1 p.m. There is a $5 fee for spectators, and children 7-and under are free.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.60 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.20.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,744 and silver is $25.15.

 

Obituaries

Reginald Cates

Funeral service for Reginald Cates, 34, of Midwest City is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Charles Harrold

Funeral service for Charles Harrold, 78, of Lawton are pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

Thursday, April 8th

 

Blanchard Man Faces Assault Charges

A Blanchard man who has a long history of violence is in custody following a brutal attack on his ex-girlfriend. 34 year old Lance Emerson Adkins was taken into custody last weekend. He's been formally charged with two felony counts of assault and battery including one for using a dangerous weapon. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $100,000 bond. A probable cause affidavit filed by Blanchard police indicates the victim had a black eye and bruises all over her face and neck. She alleged that Adkins choked her and also put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger several times. She was able to get away and go to a neighbor's home and call for help. Just a few weeks ago Adkins was arrested in February and charged with a misdemeanor for domestic abuse. He was released from custody after posting a $2,500 bond. In 2006, Adkins pleaded guilty to assault and battery charges where he was given a one-year suspended sentence and 24 hours of community service.

 

Ninnekah Police Arrest Suspect with Stolen Car

A Ninnekah woman is facing a charge of having a stolen vehicle. 39-year old Jamie Wheeler was arrested by Ninnekah Police at the Washita Valley RV Park north of Ninnekah Monday. A probable cause affidavit indicates a police officer saw a car in the park with a lot of damage. The officer called in the New Hampshire tag on the vehicle and learned the car had been stolen out of Lawton last month. The officer stopped the car when it started to move and Wheeler was driving. Wheeler has been charged with a felony for being in possession of stolen vehicle and is out of jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

 

COVID-19 Clinic to Provide Choice of Vaccines

Here is an update to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic that will be held at Chickasha’s Bullock Memorial Community Center next week. Officials say both the single-dose Johnson and Johnson and the first dose of the Moderna vaccines will be available. The Anadarko Indian Health Services Clinic will be providing the vaccines on Tuesday, April 13th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bullock Memorial Center located at 917 S. 1st. This is for anyone 18 years old and older and no appointment is needed.

 

OSU Research Station to Host Annual Wheat Field Day

Area wheat producers can get an update about the commodity at the annual wheat field day coming to the region. Chickasha's OSU Research Station will hold the event on Friday, April 30th. Speakers include OSU wheat specialists Amanda Silva, Brett Carver, and Bob Hunger and OSU nutrient management specialist Brian Arnall. Individuals have the option of attending in person or via YouTube. Those who plan to attend in person are asked to wear masks. The Wheat Field Day will start at 9 a.m.

 

SPMC Hosts Blood Drive

A community blood drive will be held at the Southern Plains Medical Center today. The clinic is teaming up with the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) for the event. The OBI bloodmobile will be in the clinic parking lot from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and walk-ins are welcome. They can accept convalescent plasma from donors who have recovered from the coronavirus. Free t-shirts will be given to all donors.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.77 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.16.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,744 and silver is $25.33.

 

Obituaries

Paul Ernest

A memorial service for Paul Ernest, 48,  of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 10^th at Chickasha’s First Christian Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Mark Byrne

Funeral service for Mark Byrne, 69, of Alex will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 10th at Alex High School. He was the Public Works Director and the fire chief at Alex for many years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

Wednesday, April 7th

 

Election Results

Brian Gerdes Wins Chickasha City Council Post

In a light turnout in yesterday's Chickasha City Council election, Ward 1 councilman Brian Gerdes was elected to a full two-year term. Gerdes, who was appointed to the post about a year ago, picked up nearly 75 percent of the vote in his win over challenger David Lucas, 178 to 66.

Dennis Crawford tops Travis Posey in Close CV Tech School Board Race

In a very tight race for a post on the Canadian Valley Technology Board of Education, Dennis Crawford narrowly defeated incumbent Travis Posey. With more than 8,800 votes cast less than 50 votes separated the two candidates.

Jim Rice Appears to Win Tight Minco City Council Election

In Minco, only three votes separated the three candidates running for the Ward 3 city council post. Incumbent Jim Rice received 40 votes, Carrie McMullen received 38, and Christopher Meyers received 37 in the unofficial results. There will not be a run-off so Rice will be re-elected pending a recount. A recount request must be submitted to the Grady County Election Board by 5 p.m. Friday.

Holder, Patterson Win Posts on Verden Trustee Board

In Verden, David Holder and Don Patterson were the top two vote-getters of five candidates for the town board of trustees. Holder received 49 votes and Don Patterson received 44.

John Williams Takes Seat with Alex Town Trustees

In Alex, John Williams defeated Shelby Johnson 37 to 25 for a post on the town board of trustees.

Salyer Wins Re-election as Anadarko's Vice Mayor

In the Anadarko city council election, Tanner Salyer was re-elected vice mayor defeating Patrick Michael Hayes, 106 to 21.

Jeff Boren Tops Democratic Primary for Caddo County Commissioner Post

In the Democratic primary for District 2 Caddo County Commissioner, Jeff Boren received nearly 75 percent of the vote in a 3-person race. Boren collected 174 votes, while Jamie Williams had 49, and Darren Farmer had 19. Boren will now face Republican Belita Byrd in a special general election on Sept. 14^th. The winner will fill the post previously held by Randy McLeMore who died last year.

Newcastle School Bond Issues Fail by Narrow Margins

Two special bond elections for Newcastle Public Schools failed to get the 60 percent super-majority needed for passage with one of them falling short by just two votes. A $100,000 transportation bond failed 631 to 425 and it needed 633 votes to pass. A $1 million bond issue for capital improvements and instructional materials failed by 44 votes, 591 to 467. Among the capital improvements being sought were $400,000 for a heating and cooling system in the high school gym and $400,000 to install field turf on school athletic fields.

Lookeba-Sickles School Bond Issues Pass

Voters in the Lookeba-Sickles school district passed two bond issues totaling $490,000. Both passed with more than 84 percent approval. A $245,000 plan to upgrade security entrances and surveillance equipment, purchase maintenance equipment, and repair buildings passed 53 to 10. A second $245,000 bond to purchase school buses passed 54-10.

 

Earthquakes Shake Union City Area

A couple of small earthquakes rattled an area near Union City this morning. The Oklahoma Geological Survey indicated that a 3.1 magnitude tremor was measured southeast of Union City about 3:45 a.m. A smaller tremor which measured at 1.8 on the Richter Scale occurred at 4:25 a.m. at a location just south of the first earthquake. There have been no reports of damage.

 

Cost-Sharing Conservation Applications Accepted

Grady County landowners may consider applying for cost-share assistance to help improve their conservation efforts. The Grady County Conservation District is accepting applications for up to 50 percent cost-share assistance for projects which include brush management, cover crop, critical area planting, forage and bio mass planting, grade stabilization, prescribed grazing, range planting, water wells and other projects. Application deadline is April 23rd. Applications can be picked up at the Grady County Conservation District office or they can be downloaded from the district's Facebook page.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.33 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $62.74.

Natural gas is $2.46 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,739 and silver is $25.06.

 

Obituaries

Charles Johnson

No services are scheduled for Charles Johnson, 90, of Chickasha. He was a military veteran who served during the Korean War. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Shirley Werthen

Funeral service for Shirley Werthen, 74, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 9th at College Heights Baptist Church. Arrangements are also with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Tuesday, April 6th

 

City, Town Council, and School Elections Underway

There are a number of city council, town council, and school elections throughout the state today. In Chickasha there is one city council race where Brian Gerdes and David Lucas are running for the Ward 1 post. Gerdes was appointed to the seat last year. In other Grady County communities, there are town council elections in Alex, Minco, and Verden. In school elections, the Canadian Valley Technology Center has a post on its school board on the ballot. It’s in office No. 3 where incumbent Travis Posey is facing Dennis Crawford. In McClain County there are two seats up for election on the Blanchard City Council and Dibble Public Schools have a school election. In Caddo County, there is a Democratic primary for County Commissioner District 2 where Jeff Boren, Jamie Williams, and Darren Farmer are on the ballot. In Anadarko there is one city council election where Patrick Michael Hayes faces Tanner Salyer for vice mayor. There are also town council elections in Cement, Ft. Cobb, Apache, and Hinton. Also in Caddo County there are school board elections in Apache and Binger-Oney while voters in the Lookeba-Sickles school district have two propositions to decide. Polls are open until 7 o'clock tonight.

 

Mask Mandate Lifted on City of Chickasha Buildings

The mask mandate at Chickasha City Hall has been abolished. Last night, the city council voted 7-1 to repeal the mask requirement on all city-owned property with Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander the lone councilman to vote against it. The council also approved an emergency clause with the repeal which is effective immediately upon the signature of the city clerk. The council delayed a decision about hiring a head-hunting firm to help find a city manager. Mayor Chris Mosley asked for the delay because-

              

Mosley said he wanted to get more information about the individual and perhaps schedule an interview before considering the professional services. If it doesn't work out the council could have an emergency meeting to consider the proposed contract with Strategic Government Resources out of Texas.

 

Kennels, Concessions Vendor OK'd

The city council approved the purchase of some new kennels for the city's animal shelter. The vote was 8-0 to purchase the kennels from Shor-Line which will remove the old kennels and install the new ones. Some of the old kennels are 40 years old. The council also renewed a concessions services contract at the city's sports complex with JW Concessions. The vote to approve was 6-2 with councilmen Zack Grayson and Brian Gerdes recusing their votes.

 

CPD Earns Accreditation             

The Chickasha Police Department was recognized as being an accredited agency during last night's council meeting. Officials with the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Accreditation Program say the department has had its written policies and procedures evaluated to ensure they meet statutory requirements. The program is endorsed by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET), the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, The Oklahoma Municipal League, and the City Management Association of Oklahoma.

 

Bullock Center to Hold Walk-in COVID-19 Clinic              

A walk-in clinic for individuals who would like to get a coronavirus vaccine has been scheduled. Chickasha's Bullock Memorial Community Center is teaming up with Indian Health Services of Anadarko to offer the first of the two Moderna vaccines. The walk-in clinic will be Tuesday, April 13th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bullock Memorial Community Center located at 917 S. 1^st. The clinic is for anyone 18-years and older. No appointment is necessary but individuals might call the Anadarko Indian Health Clinic at 405-247-7989. Depending on participation the second round of the Moderna vaccine could be scheduled in about a month.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $58.65 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $62.15.

Natural gas is $2.51 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,732 and silver is $24.95.

 

Obituary

Carol Lister

Funeral service for Carol Lister, 88, of Chickasha will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 8^th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Monday, April 5th

 

OSBI Investigates Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

One person has died and a police officer is recovering from injuries as a result of an officer-involved shooting in Anadarko early this morning. The OSBI reports that officers were called out about 1:00 a.m. to look into a report of an individual suffering from a drug overdose at a home near the 100 block of Nixon Drive. The agency indicated that while officers were attempting to perform life-saving measures on one person another individual pulled out a gun. Gunfire was exchanged between police and the individual who was identified as 25-year old Sila Lambert was taken to the hospital where was pronounced dead. The unidentified officer suffered non-life threatening injuries. The unidentified individual who suffered the overdose also died.

 

Mask Mandate at Chickasha City Hall May be Lifted

A plan to remove the mask requirement at Chickasha City Hall and city-owned property will be considered by the city council tonight. The move is believed to be a result of the reduced number of coronavirus cases in the county and state. The council will also consider repealing the mask mandate as an emergency so if approved it would be effective immediately. Also on the agenda is a proposal to hire a firm to perform a national search for a new city manager. The recommendation is to use a company called Strategic Government Resources out of Keller, Texas. The anticipated cost is just over $24,000. The council is also to consider spending nearly $90,000 to purchase new kennels for the city's animal shelter. The bid is from a company called Shor-Line and includes removing the old kennels and installing the new ones. The council is also to consider creating a mobile app for the city. The proposal from a company called SeeClickFix would cost about $10,000 a year. The city council will also recognize firefighter Rodney Peters who recently retired after a 25-year career. The council meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight at city hall.

 

Chix Water Treatment Process Change is Underway              

Officials at Chickasha's water treatment plant say water users may be noticing a chlorine taste in the water the next few days but they say it should be temporary. City officials said last week that the drinking water is being treated differently the entire month of April. Instead of using a combination of chlorine and ammonia they are using free chlorine only to disinfect the water. The reason for the change is because free chlorine will remove sediment that has built up in the water lines. That sediment causes the water to fall out of compliance with state Department of Environmental Quality standards.  Officials say while the process started last week it takes a few days for the chlorine to make it through the water distribution system. Should you notice cloudy water, or water that tastes like chlorine, run all the taps in your home or business for a couple of minutes. You may also flush your toilets a couple of times and run one cycle of cold water through your washing machine. This free chlorine process will continue through the entire month of April and they'll return to the chlorine and ammonia treatment the first of May.

 

State Lawmakers Consider Bill Limiting

Foreign-ownership of Land in Oklahoma

Among the bills being considered at the state capital is HB1497 which would prohibit property ownership in Oklahoma by people from countries which ban the United States from owning property in their countries. State Representative Brad Boles of Marlow who represents parts of Grady, Stephens, and McClain counties says that non-U.S. citizens and foreign business groups can acquire titles to real property in the U.S. and says it has been taking place at an alarming rate in Oklahoma. In a recent media column Boles says it has the potential to threaten the security of the state and nation. Boles says he was among a number of lawmakers supporting Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter who wants to get information on questionable land purchases to see if illegal activity is occurring with these property transfers.

 

National Library Week Underway

This is National Library Week and the Chickasha Public Library has a number of activities scheduled. Patrons can enter drawings to win prizes by using the library's new book-tracking app or by dropping by the library. Tuesday is National Library Workers Day with patrons invited to give workers a round of applause in a special ceremony set for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday is National Outreach Day which will feature pop-up bookmobiles at Washita Valley Park and Shannon Springs Park. On Thursday the American Library Association encourages individuals to support the Build America's Library Act which is designed to raise funds for upgrades to the nation's library infrastructure. Friday is Volunteer Appreciation Day with a ceremony set for 3:30 p.m. to recognize those who serve on the library board and the Friends of the Library.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.45 per barrel.

London-based Brent Crude is $63.60.

Natural gas is $2.64 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,725 and silver is $24.85.

 

Saturday, April 3rd

 

Suspects In Custody After Shots Fired in Home Invasion

A Caddo County homeowner was involved in a shootout with two men that he says were breaking into his home. KWTV News 9 reports the home invasion took place in Lookeba on March 22nd. The report quotes Caddo County Sheriff Spencer Davis as saying the homeowner saw the two men circling around his home. The men approached the back door and kicked it in and the homeowner fired a shot in their direction but didn't hit either of the suspects. He chased them out of the home and as they drove away the suspects fired back. The men eventually crashed into a tree and got away on foot. With the help of citizens, Caddo County deputies were able to track them down. Both men were reported to be convicted felons out of Oklahoma City. They were arrested on complaints of burglary, shooting with intent to kill, and drug possession. The homeowner is not facing any charges. Sheriff Davis said he would not advise anyone to break into a home in rural Oklahoma because residents don't mess around and that somebody might end up getting hurt.

 

DUI Suspect Later Arrested For Officer Assault

A man accused of drinking and driving is also accused of assaulting an officer in separate incidents that took place just a few hours apart. This happened in Tuttle earlier this week. Tuttle police were called to investigate an accident where a car ran off the road, hit a concrete retaining wall, and a large pile of brush. A probable cause affidavit file by the officer said it appeared the driver was drunk and there was an open beer can in the car. The driver suffered a head injury and was taken to a Mustang hospital for treatment. The man's car was impounded. Later in the afternoon, after the man was released from the hospital, he went to the Tuttle police department and demanded to get the keys to his car. The man again appeared to be under the influence and got into a physical confrontation with two officers but was eventually taken into custody. Arrested was 41-year old Joseph Nimmo of Oklahoma City. He's facing felony charges of DUI and assault on a police officer and misdemeanors of public drunk and resisting arrest. He's in in the Grady County Jail pending a $10,000 bond.

 

Sheriff's Office Wanted List

The Grady County Sheriff's office has updated its list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here's Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett-

 

              

 

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

 

Friday, April 2nd

 

Former Restaurant Manager Accused of Arson

The one-time manager of a Chickasha restaurant is accused of starting a fire that destroyed the restaurant. 41-year old Nidal Nazih Al-Ghazawneh is accused of intentionally setting the fire at Sam's Southern Eatery last October. An arrest warrant was issued for Al-Ghazawneh this past Tuesday and he was booked into the Grady County Jail on Wednesday. A probable cause affidavit from the state fire marshal's office indicates that video surveillance shows that Al-Ghazawneh returned to the restaurant after it closed and turned on a deep-fryer that was partially filled with cooking oil. The affidavit states that the lives of firefighters were in danger while beating back the flames as the building began to collapse on them. Al-Ghazawneh has been formally charged with felony counts of arson and endangering life during arson. He is out of jail after posting a $50,000 bond and is to announce his attorney April 15th with a preliminary hearing conference scheduled April 28th.

 

Ninnekah Man Charged with Arson in SUV Fire

A Ninnekah man is also accused of arson following an un-related incident earlier this week. 27-year old Shaun McConnell was taken into custody after authorities say he set his SUV on fire. Ninnekah police and firefighters were called to a home on Quail Road late Tuesday night. A probable cause affidavit indicates a resident told authorities that McConnell threatened to burn everything down on the property. Police found McConnell a few minutes later, who threatened them with a weapon which turned out to be a pellet gun. Police managed to take McConnell into custody but not before he kicked an officer and tried to get away. Police also say they found drugs in McConnell's possession. McConnell, who has a long history with police, is facing new charges of arson, possession of an imitation pistol after felony conviction, and drug possession. He remains in jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.

 

Chickasha Schools Name District Teacher of the Year

A third grade teacher has been named Teacher of the Year for Chickasha Public Schools. Jennifer Phillips, who has taught in the district for 15 years, picked up the honor. The news was posted on the school district's Facebook page. Phillips has taught nearly every grade at Grand Avenue Elementary except second grade since starting her career in Chickasha in 2005. She has also served as a department chair, has served on the district's professional development committee, has worked as webpage trainer, and helped numerous student-teachers in their development.

 

Selecting the Right Easter Lily

Easter lilies are popular house plants this time of year. If you have yet to get yours for this Easter weekend, Ben Tindle with the Grady County 4H teen leaders has some recommendations.

 

              

 

Tindle says don't throw your Easter lilies away. You can plant them outside in either the spring or fall. They will need some morning sun and should be in soil that drains easily. Cut them back in late fall and put some mulch around them to protect them from cold winter weather.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.45 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.60.

Natural gas is $2.64 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,726 and silver is $24.95.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here is part of what we’re talking about this weekend. Ward 1 Chickasha City Council candidates David Lucas and Brian Gerdes are guests on the KOOL Konversation. Dr. Jeanette Loutch with USAO is the guest on Real Estate Today. Find links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Thursday, April 1st

 

Son Arrested for Improper Care of His Father

A Grady County man is in custody after a warrant was issued for his arrest for the improper care of his disabled father. Authorities issued a felony arrest warrant for 32-year old Derek Wayne Loyd of Rush Springs after a hospice worker found Loyd's father living in deplorable conditions. A police affidavit indicates that the man was lying in a urine-soaked bed, and there had been an instance where she saw maggots in the man's bed. The affidavit further states that the home had piles of clothes and trash in every room, that the house smelled of urine and feces, and there were soiled linens piled up inside and outside of the home. The arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday, March 30th and Loyd was taken into custody by a Grady County deputy sheriff Wednesday, March 31st. Loyd is charged with one felony count of caretaker abuse. He's expected to have his initial appearance on the charge in Grady County District Court today.

 

Two Candidates on Chickasha City Council Ballot

The annual Chickasha City Council election is coming up next week. There is only one race on the ballot where two candidates are seeking a post in Ward 1. Brian Gerdes currently holds that seat after being appointed to the city council last year. He said he would like to see the city implement the recent flood prevention plan the council adopted.

 

              

 

David Lucas is the other candidate. He says the city needs to be more transparent about what's being done and wants the public to have more time during city council meetings to discuss problems.

 

              

 

Both Gerdes and Lucas will be on our KOOL Konversation program this weekend.

 

Early Voting Underway for April 6th Elections

In addition to the Chickasha City Council election next week there are numerous other city and town council elections as well as school elections set for Tuesday, April 6th. Among them is a seat on the Canadian Valley Technology Center Board of Education. It's for Office No. 3 where incumbent Travis Posey is facing challenger Dennis Crawford. Early voting for all of next week's elections is now underway. Voters can cast in-person, absentee ballots at county election boards. The early voting is available until 6 p.m. today (Thursday) and again from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. tomorrow (Friday).  Unlike federal elections there is no early voting on Saturday. Most regular precincts will be open Tuesday, April 6th from 700 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

National Guard Bill Passes State Senate Panel              

A bill to honor Oklahoma National Guard soldiers killed in the line of duty gets unanimous approval from a state senate committee. HB 2374 would provide up to $10,000 for funeral expenses for guard members who are killed while on active-duty status. The bill was co-authored by State Rep. Dean Davis of Broken Arrow and State Senator David Bullard of Durant. Bullard said there is no way to properly thank or recognize those who make the ultimate sacrifice, but the state can help cover expenses when these heroes are laid to rest. The bill now goes before the full state senate for consideration and if approved would go to Gov. Kevin Stitt for final approval. The State House of Representatives has already passed the measure.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.16 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.54.

Natural gas is $2.61 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,715 and silver is $24.40.

 

Obituary

Johnny Wray

Funeral service for Johnny Wray, 69, will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 2^nd at Grand Assembly of God in Chickasha. He served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Verden for many years.

 

Wednesday, March 31st

 

One Hospitalized After Multi-Vehicle Crash

A three-vehicle accident which included a semi on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike sent one man to the hospital with leg injuries. Some Chickasha residents involved in the crash were fortunate to avoid getting hurt. The accident happened about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the westbound lanes of the interstate near Mile Marker 106 in Newcastle. The highway patrol reports a semi driven by Chad James of Chickasha had been parked on the shoulder. As James attempted to merge onto the highway a pick-up rear-ended the semi, and the pickup was hit by an SUV. The driver of the pickup, 60-year old Joseph Thompson of Edmond, was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in serious condition. James was not injured and two Chickasha residents in the pickup, Billy and Beatrice Trammell, were not seriously hurt.

 

Verden Police Find Drugs in Another Traffic Stop

Verden police have made another arrest which has resulted in a drug-trafficking charge being filed against an individual. It’s the second such incident in Verden within the last few days. An arrest affidavit shows an officer spotted an SUV with an expired temporary paper tag early Sunday morning. The officer tried to make a traffic stop but the SUV led the officer on a short pursuit through town before crashing into a ditch. Arrested was 32-year old Kathryn White of Oklahoma City. The officer stated he found nearly 250 grams of methamphetamine in the SUV. White has been formally charged with felony drug trafficking. She remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

 

Snack Foods with THC Found in Oklahoma              

You may have heard that snack foods containing medical marijuana products have made their way to Oklahoma. It was reported that the foods were packaged in California. Some of the packages have small markings on them showing they include THC but the markings may not be clearly visible. The State Bureau of Narcotics and the State Medical Marijuana Authority issued a joint statement reminding patients about medication safety. Officials said the ingestion of THC can send some people to the hospital. They also said dispensaries are required to refuse any products that don't meet packaging label requirements. The groups also said all medications and even medical marijuana products including edibles should be stored out of the reach of children and pets and recommend that medication lock-boxes should be used.

              

USAO to Hold In-person Graduation

For the first time since the pandemic started USAO will hold an in-person graduation ceremony. President John Feaver said he was happy to resume commencement activities in-person and invites all students whose final term in college was disrupted by the coronavirus. The ceremony will be held outdoors on the oval on Saturday, April 24th. Graduates will have four tickets to give to guests who will sit in socially-distant pods and everyone will be required to wear masks. Individuals who don't have tickets will be allowed to stand beyond the seating area. The ceremony will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend.

 

Dicamba Training Sessions Scheduled

Ag producers needing to update their Dicamba application certification will have a couple of opportunities for training over the next couple of weeks. The Grady County OSU Extension Office will offer the courses on both Thursday, April 8th and Thursday, April 15th. The training sessions will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on both days. Producers will only have to attend one of the sessions. Officials say there will be information about new testing and CEU requirements for private applicators. Individuals should contact the extension office by calling 405-224-2216. A limited number of spots are available.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.55 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $64.14.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,686 and silver is $24.10.

 

Tuesday, March 30th

 

Woman Charged with Trafficking Hides Meth in her Body

A woman arrested on a drug complaint has been charged with drug trafficking after authorities say she was found with drugs in her genitals. 28-year old Lorraina Nunez of Oklahoma City was arrested by Verden police Tuesday, March 23rd. An affidavit filed at the Grady County Courthouse indicates that while at the jail officials received word that Nunez had drugs in her private area. When asked if she had drugs hidden inside her body she said yes. A female officer took Nunez to a changing area where she produced some meth wrapped in plastic. The affidavit indicates it was enough to warrant prosecutors to file a felony drug trafficking charge against her. Nunez is also charged with a second felony for bringing contraband into the jail. Nunez remains in jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond. She's to announce her attorney April 15th with a preliminary hearing set for April 28th. On-line court records indicate that Nunez pleaded guilty to a previous drug trafficking charge three years ago after being arrested by Minco police. She received an eight-year sentence with all but 30-days suspended.

 

Alleged Speeder Faces Charge of Making False Bomb Threat

The man arrested for speeding through Rush Springs twice this month is back on the streets after posting bond in connection with the most recent charges he's facing. Deonta Hartsfield of Duncan has been formally charged with new felonies which include making a false bomb threat and threatening violence. That's in addition to a felony for endangering others while eluding which had previously been filed against him. Hartsfield was first arrested March 9th for driving more than 100 miles per hour through Rush Springs. He was arrested again last Tuesday after radar indicated he was driving 64 mph in a 55 mph zone. A probable cause affidavit indicates that Hartsfield became belligerent and combative, and in a profanity-laced tirade threatened to kill the officer and blow up the town of Rush Springs. Hartsfield is out of jail after posting a $50,000 bond and is to announce an attorney next week.

 

Head-on Crash Critically Injures One

A driver is in critical condition following a head on collision near Elgin. 35-year old Carl Red Elk of Cache was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with internal trunk injuries. The accident happened about 9:30 p.m. Monday near U.S. Highway 62 and Porter Hill Road. The highway patrol reports that Red Elk was southbound on Highway 62 and struck an on-coming pickup driven by 42-year old Aaron Deutch of Apache. Deutch was taken by a private vehicle to a Lawton hospital where he was treated and released. An un-named 12-year old boy who was a passenger in Deutch's truck was not hurt.

 

Football Team to Have Benefit for Cyril Fire Victims

A minor league football team will be hosting a benefit game to help victims of a recent apartment fire in Cyril. The Lawton Savages who play their home games at Cyril High School will take on the West Texas Scorpions Saturday, April 2nd at Cyril. The team will be taking donations of clothing, furniture, un-used appliances, toys, and money to help the victims. Some proceeds of the ticket sales will also be donated. Kick-off for Saturday's game will be at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for the students.

 

Congressman Cole to have Telephone Town Hall Meeting

4th District Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole will hold a telephone town hall meeting with constituents. Cole said between the on-going pandemic, work and family schedules, and other commitments he wanted to provide an easy way for Oklahomans to hear from him. Cole will give his thoughts on the first days of the Biden administration and answer questions. The telephone town hall meeting will be tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 31^st) from 6-7 p.m. Individuals can call 833-305-1727.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.56 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $64.98.

Natural gas is $2.59 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,695 and silver is $24.44.

 

Obituary

Nona Sue Sheerer

Funeral service for Nona Sue Sheerer, 88, of Norman and formerly of Chickasha, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday April 2^nd at the West Side Church of Christ in Norman. The service will be live-streamed on the church’s YouTube channel. A graveside service will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made Camp Lu-Jo KISMIF in Lawton, the SEARCH Television Ministry in Edmond, or the Westview Boys Home in Hollis.

 

Monday, March 29th  

 

Search Continues for New Chix City Manager

The Chickasha City Council continues its search for a new city manager. Mayor Chris Mosley said a potential candidate was offered the post earlier this month but decided against taking the job. Now, Mosley said the council will be working with a head-hunting firm to find qualified candidates.

 

              

 

Mosley said the short-term goal is to find an interim city manager who can assist with putting together a proposed budget for the 2022 fiscal year which begins in three months. Mosley has been serving as acting-city manager since John Noblitt stepped down from the post in January.

 

Contractor Completes Ice Storm Branch Pick-Up

The private contractor hired by the City of Chickasha to remove the brush piles leftover from the freak ice storm last October has finished its work. City officials approved a $171,000 contract with the company which took just over two weeks to wrap up the project. Public Works Director David Buchanan said the city will still have to take care of some smaller projects although the city's grapple truck is in the shop. The city will now charge residents on a case-by-case basis to pick up brush. The cost is $55 for the first four cubic yards and about $8 for each additional cubic yard. Residents can take limbs to the city’s public works headquarters for free as long as they show a current water bill.

 

Chix' Water Treatment Process to Temporarily Change

Also from Chickasha City Hall, officials say the contractor which treats the city's drinking water will be changing the chemicals used to disinfect the water. And they warn that some residents could notice a brief change in how the water tastes and looks. Normally, the firm uses what's known as chloramines, which is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. About once a year the firm switches to free chlorine only - which they say is needed to eliminate sediments that have built up in the water lines. Officials say the water could briefly taste like chlorine, comparing the taste to swimming pool water. They also say the water may also be cloudy and if that occurs, households and businesses can run tap water for a couple of minutes to move the chemical through those water lines. Crews will be flushing fire hydrants to help move the chemical through the water system faster. This process will begin Thursday, April 1st and will last for the entire month of April. The contractor will return to its regular way of treating water the first of May where residents may again notice brief changes in the water.

 

Area High School Bands Prepare for State Competition

The Chickasha High School concert band is gearing up for the Class 4A state competition. Director Kent Barker says the band has qualified for state for 18 out of the last 20 years. The 78 band members gather every morning to work on two selected songs as well as sight-reading - which is playing a selection they have never seen before. Among the band members is percussionist Rylan Burrows.

 

              

 

The band qualified for state by getting a Superior rating at the district competition earlier this month. They hope to get another Superior rating at state which will be held in Elk City tomorrow. Several other bands including Blanchard, Tuttle, and Newcastle were among the 12 which qualified for the 4A state competition.

 

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival to Return

The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival will be returning in 2021. The festival was canceled last year because of the pandemic. The festival is hosted by the Rush Springs Lions Club and the group has scheduled the event for August 14th. Organizers are looking for potential watermelon queen contestants. They must be 16 years old by July 1st and cannot be older than 21. Queen night is scheduled for May 21st. The 76th annual festival will include more than 100 arts and crafts vendors. The Rush Springs Rodeo will be held Thursday, Aug. 12^th and Friday, Aug. 13^th and the watermelon festival parade will be Friday, Aug. 13^th.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $64.57.

Natural gas is $2.55 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,725 and silver is $24.80.

 

Obituaries

Yvonne Brame

Funeral service for Yvonne Brame, 85, of Lawton is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Tony Maurice McCurdy

Funeral service for Tony Maurice McCurdy, 62, is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

Saturday, April 3rd

 

Suspects In Custody After Shots Fired in Home Invasion

A Caddo County homeowner was involved in a shootout with two men that he says were breaking into his home. KWTV News 9 reports the home invasion took place in Lookeba on March 22nd. The report quotes Caddo County Sheriff Spencer Davis as saying the homeowner saw the two men circling around his home. The men approached the back door and kicked it in and the homeowner fired a shot in their direction but didn't hit either of the suspects. He chased them out of the home and as they drove away the suspects fired back. The men eventually crashed into a tree and got away on foot. With the help of citizens, Caddo County deputies were able to track them down. Both men were reported to be convicted felons out of Oklahoma City. They were arrested on complaints of burglary, shooting with intent to kill, and drug possession. The homeowner is not facing any charges. Sheriff Davis said he would not advise anyone to break into a home in rural Oklahoma because residents don't mess around and that somebody might end up getting hurt.

 

DUI Suspect Later Arrested For Officer Assault

A man accused of drinking and driving is also accused of assaulting an officer in separate incidents that took place just a few hours apart. This happened in Tuttle earlier this week. Tuttle police were called to investigate an accident where a car ran off the road, hit a concrete retaining wall, and a large pile of brush. A probable cause affidavit file by the officer said it appeared the driver was drunk and there was an open beer can in the car. The driver suffered a head injury and was taken to a Mustang hospital for treatment. The man's car was impounded. Later in the afternoon, after the man was released from the hospital, he went to the Tuttle police department and demanded to get the keys to his car. The man again appeared to be under the influence and got into a physical confrontation with two officers but was eventually taken into custody. Arrested was 41-year old Joseph Nimmo of Oklahoma City. He's facing felony charges of DUI and assault on a police officer and misdemeanors of public drunk and resisting arrest. He's in in the Grady County Jail pending a $10,000 bond.

 

Sheriff's Office Wanted List

The Grady County Sheriff's office has updated its list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here's Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett-

 

              

 

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

 

Friday, April 2nd

 

Former Restaurant Manager Accused of Arson

The one-time manager of a Chickasha restaurant is accused of starting a fire that destroyed the restaurant. 41-year old Nidal Nazih Al-Ghazawneh is accused of intentionally setting the fire at Sam's Southern Eatery last October. An arrest warrant was issued for Al-Ghazawneh this past Tuesday and he was booked into the Grady County Jail on Wednesday. A probable cause affidavit from the state fire marshal's office indicates that video surveillance shows that Al-Ghazawneh returned to the restaurant after it closed and turned on a deep-fryer that was partially filled with cooking oil. The affidavit states that the lives of firefighters were in danger while beating back the flames as the building began to collapse on them. Al-Ghazawneh has been formally charged with felony counts of arson and endangering life during arson. He is out of jail after posting a $50,000 bond and is to announce his attorney April 15th with a preliminary hearing conference scheduled April 28th.

 

Ninnekah Man Charged with Arson in SUV Fire

A Ninnekah man is also accused of arson following an un-related incident earlier this week. 27-year old Shaun McConnell was taken into custody after authorities say he set his SUV on fire. Ninnekah police and firefighters were called to a home on Quail Road late Tuesday night. A probable cause affidavit indicates a resident told authorities that McConnell threatened to burn everything down on the property. Police found McConnell a few minutes later, who threatened them with a weapon which turned out to be a pellet gun. Police managed to take McConnell into custody but not before he kicked an officer and tried to get away. Police also say they found drugs in McConnell's possession. McConnell, who has a long history with police, is facing new charges of arson, possession of an imitation pistol after felony conviction, and drug possession. He remains in jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.

 

Chickasha Schools Name District Teacher of the Year

A third grade teacher has been named Teacher of the Year for Chickasha Public Schools. Jennifer Phillips, who has taught in the district for 15 years, picked up the honor. The news was posted on the school district's Facebook page. Phillips has taught nearly every grade at Grand Avenue Elementary except second grade since starting her career in Chickasha in 2005. She has also served as a department chair, has served on the district's professional development committee, has worked as webpage trainer, and helped numerous student-teachers in their development.

 

Selecting the Right Easter Lily

Easter lilies are popular house plants this time of year. If you have yet to get yours for this Easter weekend, Ben Tindle with the Grady County 4H teen leaders has some recommendations.

 

              

 

Tindle says don't throw your Easter lilies away. You can plant them outside in either the spring or fall. They will need some morning sun and should be in soil that drains easily. Cut them back in late fall and put some mulch around them to protect them from cold winter weather.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.45 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.60.

Natural gas is $2.64 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,726 and silver is $24.95.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here is part of what we’re talking about this weekend. Ward 1 Chickasha City Council candidates David Lucas and Brian Gerdes are guests on the KOOL Konversation. Dr. Jeanette Loutch with USAO is the guest on Real Estate Today. Find links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Thursday, April 1st

 

Son Arrested for Improper Care of His Father

A Grady County man is in custody after a warrant was issued for his arrest for the improper care of his disabled father. Authorities issued a felony arrest warrant for 32-year old Derek Wayne Loyd of Rush Springs after a hospice worker found Loyd's father living in deplorable conditions. A police affidavit indicates that the man was lying in a urine-soaked bed, and there had been an instance where she saw maggots in the man's bed. The affidavit further states that the home had piles of clothes and trash in every room, that the house smelled of urine and feces, and there were soiled linens piled up inside and outside of the home. The arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday, March 30th and Loyd was taken into custody by a Grady County deputy sheriff Wednesday, March 31st. Loyd is charged with one felony count of caretaker abuse. He's expected to have his initial appearance on the charge in Grady County District Court today.

 

Two Candidates on Chickasha City Council Ballot

The annual Chickasha City Council election is coming up next week. There is only one race on the ballot where two candidates are seeking a post in Ward 1. Brian Gerdes currently holds that seat after being appointed to the city council last year. He said he would like to see the city implement the recent flood prevention plan the council adopted.

 

              

 

David Lucas is the other candidate. He says the city needs to be more transparent about what's being done and wants the public to have more time during city council meetings to discuss problems.

 

              

 

Both Gerdes and Lucas will be on our KOOL Konversation program this weekend.

 

Early Voting Underway for April 6th Elections

In addition to the Chickasha City Council election next week there are numerous other city and town council elections as well as school elections set for Tuesday, April 6th. Among them is a seat on the Canadian Valley Technology Center Board of Education. It's for Office No. 3 where incumbent Travis Posey is facing challenger Dennis Crawford. Early voting for all of next week's elections is now underway. Voters can cast in-person, absentee ballots at county election boards. The early voting is available until 6 p.m. today (Thursday) and again from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. tomorrow (Friday).  Unlike federal elections there is no early voting on Saturday. Most regular precincts will be open Tuesday, April 6th from 700 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

National Guard Bill Passes State Senate Panel              

A bill to honor Oklahoma National Guard soldiers killed in the line of duty gets unanimous approval from a state senate committee. HB 2374 would provide up to $10,000 for funeral expenses for guard members who are killed while on active-duty status. The bill was co-authored by State Rep. Dean Davis of Broken Arrow and State Senator David Bullard of Durant. Bullard said there is no way to properly thank or recognize those who make the ultimate sacrifice, but the state can help cover expenses when these heroes are laid to rest. The bill now goes before the full state senate for consideration and if approved would go to Gov. Kevin Stitt for final approval. The State House of Representatives has already passed the measure.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.16 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.54.

Natural gas is $2.61 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,715 and silver is $24.40.

 

Obituary

Johnny Wray

Funeral service for Johnny Wray, 69, will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 2^nd at Grand Assembly of God in Chickasha. He served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Verden for many years.

 

Wednesday, March 31st

 

One Hospitalized After Multi-Vehicle Crash

A three-vehicle accident which included a semi on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike sent one man to the hospital with leg injuries. Some Chickasha residents involved in the crash were fortunate to avoid getting hurt. The accident happened about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the westbound lanes of the interstate near Mile Marker 106 in Newcastle. The highway patrol reports a semi driven by Chad James of Chickasha had been parked on the shoulder. As James attempted to merge onto the highway a pick-up rear-ended the semi, and the pickup was hit by an SUV. The driver of the pickup, 60-year old Joseph Thompson of Edmond, was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in serious condition. James was not injured and two Chickasha residents in the pickup, Billy and Beatrice Trammell, were not seriously hurt.

 

Verden Police Find Drugs in Another Traffic Stop

Verden police have made another arrest which has resulted in a drug-trafficking charge being filed against an individual. It’s the second such incident in Verden within the last few days. An arrest affidavit shows an officer spotted an SUV with an expired temporary paper tag early Sunday morning. The officer tried to make a traffic stop but the SUV led the officer on a short pursuit through town before crashing into a ditch. Arrested was 32-year old Kathryn White of Oklahoma City. The officer stated he found nearly 250 grams of methamphetamine in the SUV. White has been formally charged with felony drug trafficking. She remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

 

Snack Foods with THC Found in Oklahoma              

You may have heard that snack foods containing medical marijuana products have made their way to Oklahoma. It was reported that the foods were packaged in California. Some of the packages have small markings on them showing they include THC but the markings may not be clearly visible. The State Bureau of Narcotics and the State Medical Marijuana Authority issued a joint statement reminding patients about medication safety. Officials said the ingestion of THC can send some people to the hospital. They also said dispensaries are required to refuse any products that don't meet packaging label requirements. The groups also said all medications and even medical marijuana products including edibles should be stored out of the reach of children and pets and recommend that medication lock-boxes should be used.

              

USAO to Hold In-person Graduation

For the first time since the pandemic started USAO will hold an in-person graduation ceremony. President John Feaver said he was happy to resume commencement activities in-person and invites all students whose final term in college was disrupted by the coronavirus. The ceremony will be held outdoors on the oval on Saturday, April 24th. Graduates will have four tickets to give to guests who will sit in socially-distant pods and everyone will be required to wear masks. Individuals who don't have tickets will be allowed to stand beyond the seating area. The ceremony will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend.

 

Dicamba Training Sessions Scheduled

Ag producers needing to update their Dicamba application certification will have a couple of opportunities for training over the next couple of weeks. The Grady County OSU Extension Office will offer the courses on both Thursday, April 8th and Thursday, April 15th. The training sessions will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on both days. Producers will only have to attend one of the sessions. Officials say there will be information about new testing and CEU requirements for private applicators. Individuals should contact the extension office by calling 405-224-2216. A limited number of spots are available.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.55 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $64.14.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,686 and silver is $24.10.

 

Tuesday, March 30th

 

Woman Charged with Trafficking Hides Meth in her Body

A woman arrested on a drug complaint has been charged with drug trafficking after authorities say she was found with drugs in her genitals. 28-year old Lorraina Nunez of Oklahoma City was arrested by Verden police Tuesday, March 23rd. An affidavit filed at the Grady County Courthouse indicates that while at the jail officials received word that Nunez had drugs in her private area. When asked if she had drugs hidden inside her body she said yes. A female officer took Nunez to a changing area where she produced some meth wrapped in plastic. The affidavit indicates it was enough to warrant prosecutors to file a felony drug trafficking charge against her. Nunez is also charged with a second felony for bringing contraband into the jail. Nunez remains in jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond. She's to announce her attorney April 15th with a preliminary hearing set for April 28th. On-line court records indicate that Nunez pleaded guilty to a previous drug trafficking charge three years ago after being arrested by Minco police. She received an eight-year sentence with all but 30-days suspended.

 

Alleged Speeder Faces Charge of Making False Bomb Threat

The man arrested for speeding through Rush Springs twice this month is back on the streets after posting bond in connection with the most recent charges he's facing. Deonta Hartsfield of Duncan has been formally charged with new felonies which include making a false bomb threat and threatening violence. That's in addition to a felony for endangering others while eluding which had previously been filed against him. Hartsfield was first arrested March 9th for driving more than 100 miles per hour through Rush Springs. He was arrested again last Tuesday after radar indicated he was driving 64 mph in a 55 mph zone. A probable cause affidavit indicates that Hartsfield became belligerent and combative, and in a profanity-laced tirade threatened to kill the officer and blow up the town of Rush Springs. Hartsfield is out of jail after posting a $50,000 bond and is to announce an attorney next week.

 

Head-on Crash Critically Injures One

A driver is in critical condition following a head on collision near Elgin. 35-year old Carl Red Elk of Cache was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with internal trunk injuries. The accident happened about 9:30 p.m. Monday near U.S. Highway 62 and Porter Hill Road. The highway patrol reports that Red Elk was southbound on Highway 62 and struck an on-coming pickup driven by 42-year old Aaron Deutch of Apache. Deutch was taken by a private vehicle to a Lawton hospital where he was treated and released. An un-named 12-year old boy who was a passenger in Deutch's truck was not hurt.

 

Football Team to Have Benefit for Cyril Fire Victims

A minor league football team will be hosting a benefit game to help victims of a recent apartment fire in Cyril. The Lawton Savages who play their home games at Cyril High School will take on the West Texas Scorpions Saturday, April 2nd at Cyril. The team will be taking donations of clothing, furniture, un-used appliances, toys, and money to help the victims. Some proceeds of the ticket sales will also be donated. Kick-off for Saturday's game will be at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for the students.

 

Congressman Cole to have Telephone Town Hall Meeting

4th District Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole will hold a telephone town hall meeting with constituents. Cole said between the on-going pandemic, work and family schedules, and other commitments he wanted to provide an easy way for Oklahomans to hear from him. Cole will give his thoughts on the first days of the Biden administration and answer questions. The telephone town hall meeting will be tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 31^st) from 6-7 p.m. Individuals can call 833-305-1727.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $61.56 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $64.98.

Natural gas is $2.59 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,695 and silver is $24.44.

 

Obituary

Nona Sue Sheerer

Funeral service for Nona Sue Sheerer, 88, of Norman and formerly of Chickasha, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday April 2^nd at the West Side Church of Christ in Norman. The service will be live-streamed on the church’s YouTube channel. A graveside service will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made Camp Lu-Jo KISMIF in Lawton, the SEARCH Television Ministry in Edmond, or the Westview Boys Home in Hollis.

 

Monday, March 29th  

 

Search Continues for New Chix City Manager

The Chickasha City Council continues its search for a new city manager. Mayor Chris Mosley said a potential candidate was offered the post earlier this month but decided against taking the job. Now, Mosley said the council will be working with a head-hunting firm to find qualified candidates.

 

              

 

Mosley said the short-term goal is to find an interim city manager who can assist with putting together a proposed budget for the 2022 fiscal year which begins in three months. Mosley has been serving as acting-city manager since John Noblitt stepped down from the post in January.

 

Contractor Completes Ice Storm Branch Pick-Up

The private contractor hired by the City of Chickasha to remove the brush piles leftover from the freak ice storm last October has finished its work. City officials approved a $171,000 contract with the company which took just over two weeks to wrap up the project. Public Works Director David Buchanan said the city will still have to take care of some smaller projects although the city's grapple truck is in the shop. The city will now charge residents on a case-by-case basis to pick up brush. The cost is $55 for the first four cubic yards and about $8 for each additional cubic yard. Residents can take limbs to the city’s public works headquarters for free as long as they show a current water bill.

 

Chix' Water Treatment Process to Temporarily Change

Also from Chickasha City Hall, officials say the contractor which treats the city's drinking water will be changing the chemicals used to disinfect the water. And they warn that some residents could notice a brief change in how the water tastes and looks. Normally, the firm uses what's known as chloramines, which is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. About once a year the firm switches to free chlorine only - which they say is needed to eliminate sediments that have built up in the water lines. Officials say the water could briefly taste like chlorine, comparing the taste to swimming pool water. They also say the water may also be cloudy and if that occurs, households and businesses can run tap water for a couple of minutes to move the chemical through those water lines. Crews will be flushing fire hydrants to help move the chemical through the water system faster. This process will begin Thursday, April 1st and will last for the entire month of April. The contractor will return to its regular way of treating water the first of May where residents may again notice brief changes in the water.

 

Area High School Bands Prepare for State Competition

The Chickasha High School concert band is gearing up for the Class 4A state competition. Director Kent Barker says the band has qualified for state for 18 out of the last 20 years. The 78 band members gather every morning to work on two selected songs as well as sight-reading - which is playing a selection they have never seen before. Among the band members is percussionist Rylan Burrows.

 

              

 

The band qualified for state by getting a Superior rating at the district competition earlier this month. They hope to get another Superior rating at state which will be held in Elk City tomorrow. Several other bands including Blanchard, Tuttle, and Newcastle were among the 12 which qualified for the 4A state competition.

 

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival to Return

The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival will be returning in 2021. The festival was canceled last year because of the pandemic. The festival is hosted by the Rush Springs Lions Club and the group has scheduled the event for August 14th. Organizers are looking for potential watermelon queen contestants. They must be 16 years old by July 1st and cannot be older than 21. Queen night is scheduled for May 21st. The 76th annual festival will include more than 100 arts and crafts vendors. The Rush Springs Rodeo will be held Thursday, Aug. 12^th and Friday, Aug. 13^th and the watermelon festival parade will be Friday, Aug. 13^th.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $64.57.

Natural gas is $2.55 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,725 and silver is $24.80.

 

Obituaries

Yvonne Brame

Funeral service for Yvonne Brame, 85, of Lawton is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Tony Maurice McCurdy

Funeral service for Tony Maurice McCurdy, 62, is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.