Saturday, April 22nd

 

Consumers to Pay Billions for Costs Associated with 2021 Polar Vortex

More than $6.5 billion will be added to utility bills for many Oklahomans for decades. The reason - to allow electric companies to pay for fuel cost adjustments and related expenses that came about as a result of that polar vortex which impacted several states in February of 2021. This week, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission voted 2-1 to approve the adjustments which will be paid for by customers of Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO); Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG), and Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E). PSO sought more than $700 million; OG&E requested nearly $500 million; and ONG more than $320 million. The website OK Energy Today indicates the remaining $4 billion is for interest. Monthly bills are expected to increase as much as $5 per month for the next 20 to 30 years. Commissioner Bob Anthony voted against the proposal. He's been battling the plans since day one saying there has been over-charging, market manipulation, falsified records, and an overall lack of transparency. In a 180-page opinion against the proposal Anthony said the orders approved were the worst abuse against public utility ratepayers in decades.

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Retired Tuttle Assistant Fire Chief Dies

Longtime Tuttle firefighter W.J. Morgan has died. Morgan served as the assistant chief for the department for several years until his retirement. He was 53 when he passed away Thursday. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29^th at Life Church in Mustang. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle.

 

Awards Issued at 100th Chix Chamber of Commerce Banquet

One hundred years of service to the Chickasha community was celebrated during the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce annual banquet last night. The chamber organized in August of 1923. About 400 people attended the banquet at the Grady County Fairgrounds. A number of individuals and businesses were recognized. Kent Hibbard was posthumously honored with the Legacy Civic Hall of Fame award. He created the Resurrection House to help the homeless and was instrumental in creating Life Skills Institute which continues to help individuals get back on their feet. Longtime business owner and former State Representative Dan Ramsey was inducted into the Civic Hall of Fame; Cimarron Trailers was named Business of the Year; Shakespeare Wine Company was selected as Small Business of the Year; Interim Chickasha Police Chief G.G. Music was named Public Servant of the Year; Johnny Trammell was named Volunteer of the Year; Dr. Christy Clift received Volunteer of the Year honors; Jamie Jones with the Grady County Fairgrounds was named Woman of the Year; Marissa Moore of USAO was named Young Professional of the Year; and The Wrecking Ball Film Festival was named the Event of the Year.

 

Talk Show Topics

USAO history professor James Finck is this week’s guest on the KOOL Konversation. The guest on Real Estate Today is Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

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Friday, April 21st

 

Tornado Clean-up Continues

The death toll from Wednesday night's tornadoes In Oklahoma has climbed to three and  many communities continue to dig through the rubble of what was left behind. Governor Kevin Stitt issued a state of emergency for five counties, including McClain and Cleveland counties. The Grady County Sheriff's Office sent a team to aid McClain County officials in the town of Cole where two people died and numerous homes were destroyed or damaged. A post on the sheriff's office Facebook page indicated that deputies covered about a 15-square mile area, checking homes and businesses and offering assistance. Grady County Emergency Management officials encourage residents who had property damage from the storms to reach out. Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson said the information is used by state officials to better coordinate response and recovery efforts.

 

Man Hospitalized Following Turnpike Crash

We have information on that traffic accident that happened early Thursday morning on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. A Cement man was hospitalized after his truck became disabled and he pulled over on the shoulder. As he was checking under the hood an oncoming motorist struck the pickup, which sent the victim flying into a grassy area next to the shoulder. 64-year old Alvin Bottoms was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital with head and trunk injuries and was last in stable condition. The motorist who struck Bottoms’ truck, 29-year old Christopher Devashure of Perkins, was taken to a hospital where he was treated and released. The highway patrol said Devashure was trying to place a drink in a cup holder when the accident occurred.

 

New Grady County Deputy Sworn In

Another long-time Chickasha police officer has joined the Grady County Sheriff's Office. Scott Weaver was sworn in as a deputy this week. Weaver retired from the Chickasha Police Department after more than 20 years of service and has more than 25 years’ experience overall in law enforcement. Weaver will be assigned to the sheriff’s office courthouse division.

 

Chix Chamber of Commerce to Celebrate Centennial

It's a special day for the Chickasha business community as the Chamber of Commerce will mark its 100th year during the chamber's annual banquet. There will be a video review of the long history of the group including some of the pre-chamber days in the early 1900s. Chamber Director Jim Cowan said staff members have spent a lot of thought and time putting this historic event together.

 

              

 

A number of awards will be presented including the induction of one person into the civic hall of fame. Other awards will be the large and small businesses of the year, the woman of the year, and the handing over of the gavel to the new president of the chamber’s board of directors. The chamber banquet will be held tonight at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

 

Summer Camp Options Include 'Art Scope'

Summer vacation for school students will be here before we know it. Among the summer camps available is Art Scope which is hosted by the Chickasha Area Arts Council. This will be the 25th year for the two-week camp which will be held June 5th through 16th at USAO. It's for children 8 through 12 years old and includes a balanced program of theatre, visual arts, dance, and music taught by a professional staff of artists and instructors. The cost is just under $200 per student and scholarships are available. For information check out the arts council's website at: www.chickasha arts.org

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.29 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.10.

Natural gas is $2.25 per million BTUs.

Gold is just under $2,000 and silver is $26.40.

 

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Thursday, April 20th

 

Tornadoes, Powerful Storms hit State

The massive cleanup from last night’s tornadoes and strong thunderstorms is underway. Two people died when a large tornado hit the town of Cole east of Blanchard. Numerous tornado warnings were issued including some in Grady County.  The first was issued at 6:43 p.m. and a second followed about 30 minutes later at 7:15 p.m. Warnings were issued for the Amber and Blanchard area when storms with baseball-sized hail developed near the Chickasha Airport. The threat included areas of Bridge Creek, Newcastle, and the Norman area. A tornado also caused a lot of damage in the Shawnee area. There were reports that several people were trapped inside their storm shelters. The Red Cross set up an office in McClain County at the Goldsby Community Center to help victims. There are a few school closings today due to the violent weather which included Dibble Public Schools.

 

Early-morning Crash Closes Part of H.E. Bailey Turnpike

First responders were summoned to an early-morning traffic accident on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. Emergency crews were dispatched to the area near mile marker 82 just before six o'clock this morning. A witness said a car had flipped upside down in the eastbound lanes of the turnpike. Both eastbound lanes of the turnpike were closed. There was no immediate word regarding injuries.

 

Marlow Woman Dies Following Accident

A Marlow woman died in a crash in Stephens County. 32-year old Mary Jones perished in the accident that happened just west of Duncan on Plato Road about 4:00 p.m. Wednesday. The Highway Patrol reports that Jones’ vehicle left the road, hit a mailbox, then crossed the road and hit a fence. Jones was pinned in the wreckage for nearly two hours.

 

State Senate OK's Wind-Turbine-Blade Landfill Measure

A bill designed to put strict requirements on wind-turbine-blade junk yards gets near unanimous support in the state senate. HB 2359 was approved by the senate by a 46-1 vote. The senate added an amendment to the bill which would require operators of disposal sites to file annual reports with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and provide evidence of financial security. The bill will go back to the house where members will consider the amendment. The house bill was authored by State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) and State Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) is a co-author. Wind turbine blades are longer than the wing of a Boeing 747 with an average length of 120 feet and weigh five tons. Officials say it is very difficult to recycle the blades. One study estimates the world's wind industry would produce 43 million tons of blade waste each year by the middle of the century.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.16 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.12.

Natural gas is $2.22 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,012 and silver is $25.70.

 

Obituaries

Donald ‘Duck’ Williams, Sr.

A memorial service for Donald 'Duck' Williams, Sr., 79, of Chickasha will be held by the family at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 22^nd at Shannon Springs Park. He grew up in Verden and ran a mechanic shop in Chickasha. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Delbert Blaylock

Funeral service for Delbert Blaylock, 67, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday April 24th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked in the oilfield and started his own security company. He also served with a non-profit motorcycle group that searches for missing and endangered children.

 

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Wednesday, April 19th

 

Blanchard Police Officer Recovering from Gunshot Wound

The Blanchard police officer who was shot while investigating a domestic disturbance earlier this month continues recovering from his injury. Officer Mathew Thurston is on medical leave after having surgery on his right arm. Thurston was the officer injured in an incident which ended in the murder-suicide of a Blanchard couple which occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 8th. Blanchard Police Chief Steve Rhodes tells KOOL-RANCH News that Thurston was shot a close range – about five feet from the gunman – and was grazed by a bullet on his leg and near his groin. He said Thurston's surgery included getting some screws in his arm then put in a cast. Thurston, just 27 years old, has only been with the department about three months. He previously worked for the police department at Mid America Christian University for three years. He and his wife have one child with another on the way. Rhodes said the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation continues its probe of the incident.

 

Onward Chickasha Survey Data Being Analyzed

Coordinators of the Onward Chickasha long-range planning project say they are currently analyzing and reviewing the results of the initial community survey that was completed last month. Landon Jones with the Guernsey and Associates engineering firm said while survey participants recently received a notice that Phase Two of the survey is underway, there is no updated information available just yet. In an e-mail from Jones, he said that the results of the survey will be shared with the community in the near future. In the meantime, Jones encourages residents to continue adding ideas by visiting the website: www.onwardchickasha.org

Individuals can leave a general comment, view an inter-active map, and learn about the reasons for developing the plan.

 

Kiowa Language Recognized by State Dep't of Education

The Oklahoma Department of Education is recognizing a Kiowa language program. The Kiowa Tribe has been working for several years to develop a program that would allow the teaching of the Kiowa language in schools and to allow students to get credit for taking the class. Lillie Pinnell is the director of the Kiowa Language Department for the tribe. She tells KSWO-TV that the move is a pivotal step to revitalizing the language. So far 25 people have been trained and about half of them have received their teaching credentials. Among them is Ramon Granado who said he was raised in a Kiowa household and had basic understanding of the language but never heard it spoken in school.

 

Students Place High in Braille Challenge

A couple of visually impaired students in the region turned in good performances at a regional Braille challenge competition. Lillith Pederson of Anadarko won a gold medal in the sophomore category and Chris Sumner of Chickasha won a bronze medal in the freshman transitional category. The competition was held at the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee. The school is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. More than 30 students took part in the annual competition sponsored by the Braille Institute of America. The institute will invite the top 50 finalists from competitions in the U.S. and Canada to take part in the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles this summer.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.86 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.77.

Natural gas is $2.27 per million BTUs.

Gold drops below $2,000 to $1,987 and silver is $24.81.

 

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Tuesday, April 18th

 

State Insurance Commissioner Visits Chickasha, Anadarko

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready spent time in Chickasha and Anadarko yesterday in town hall-type settings. Mulready met with insurance agents to field questions and provide updates from his office. KOOL-RANCH News met with Mulready and he says his office takes about 15,000 calls every year from consumers who are having issues with a variety of disputed insurance claims.

 

              

 

Mulready said the office has a property casualty division which handle home owners, business, and auto claims as well as a life and health insurance claims division.

 

Chick Water Customers WON'T see Water-Meter Fee Hike

City of Chickasha officials say there won't be an increase in the city’s monthly water meter fee. The city council last night approved a change to a city ordinance regarding the fee for water users. Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley said a meter fee of about $1 per month was approved last fall and has been included in water bills for the last several months. City Manager Keith Johnson also told the council that the resolution considered last night would not mean another increase in monthly utility bills.

 

Crash Kills Two Adults; Sends Two Kids to Hospital

State troopers are investigating a traffic accident that killed two people and sent two children to the hospital. One of those who died was identified as 36-year old Christopher Moors of Fletcher. The name of the second person who died has not been released as relatives have not been notified. An 8-year old girl and a six-year old boy were both taken to an Oklahoma City hospital. The boy was admitted in fair condition and the girl was admitted in good condition. No details of the accident have been released. The crash happened just before 8 o'clock last night on State Highway 65 about seven miles south of Sterling in Comanche County.

 

Middleberg Voting Precinct Changing

Grady County voters who cast ballots at Middleberg School will have a new precinct to visit in future elections. The precinct has been changed to the Middleberg Baptist Church at 2341 Old Highway 62. The change is due to some upcoming construction at the school. The first election to be impacted by the change is June 13th. All registered voters in the precinct will be getting new voter identification cards in the mail.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.83 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.76.

Natural gas is $2.28 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,012 and silver is $25.14.

 

Obituary

Roberta Greenway

Funeral service for Roberta Greenway, 75, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 20^th at McRay Funeral Home. She spent nearly 50 years in education and taught physical education at Chickasha Intermediate School for nearly 30 years. Memorial contributions may be made to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA Voices for Children).

 

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Monday, April 17th

 

Water Meter Fees to be Discussed by Chix City Council

The Chickasha City Council tonight will consider implementing a monthly fee on water meters for residents and businesses that get water from the city. It's one of several resolutions regarding water usage to be discussed. It's not clear what the monthly fee might be. The resolution indicates the funds would go toward infrastructure repairs and upgrades.

Four Council Reps to take Oaths of Office

Several city council representatives will be sworn into their respective offices tonight. Ward 4 Councilman Kelly Boyd, Ward 3 Councilman Oscar Nelson, Ward 2 councilwoman Georgianne Hebblethwaite, and Ward 1 Councilman Brian Gerdes will each serve two-year terms. Gerdes, Hebblethwaite, and Nelson all ran unopposed for their posts while Kelly Boyd was re-elected earlier this month.

Other Council Topics

The council will also consider a proposal to go out for bids for oil and gas mining leases covering certain Grady County properties. The group is expected to approve a more than $35,000 reimbursement to the Moonlight Tea Company. That's part of a cost-share agreement between the company and the city to run a water line underneath 4th Street at 4th and Missouri for the new H-Tea-Oh store that is being built there. The panel will also consider replacing and upgrading fuel pumps at the airport at a cost not to exceed $50,000. Also, the panel will consider approving contracts with several performers who will be at the city's Wings and Wheels Fly-in on June 3rd. The group is also expected to authorize a town-wide garage sale for May 11th through 13th and waive garage sale permit fees for those days. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Gov. Stitt Shuts Down Homeless Council

Gov. Kevin Stitt is taking some heat after shutting down a state panel created to help the homeless. Over the weekend the governor dissolved the Interagency Council on Homelessness. The group has been around for 25 years but Stitt said that during his four-plus years in office he's never seen a report. Stitt said the focus needs to be shifted to mental health, drug treatment programs, and job creation. Our partners at KWTV News 9 talked with officials from the homeless alliance who say the council was created as a collaboration tool for state agencies and did not receive any state funds. Alliance officials said that homelessness is a complex issue and there is not a one-size-fits-all program. Officials also said that mental health and substance abuse alone aren't the only issues facing the homeless.

 

Emergency Planning Committee Meets this Week

Grady County's Local Emergency Planning Committee will hold its second-quarter meeting later this week. Undersheriff Kori Brewer is the guest speaker, there will be a review of the county hazard mitigation plan, and discussion of the county's emergency operations plan for 2023-24. The meeting will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Canadian Valley Technology Center.

 

Extension Office Welcomes New Ag Educator

The Grady County OSU Extension Office has a new agriculture educator. Denise Wood recently joined the staff. She'll be the speaker for the Grady County Agriculture producer's meeting tomorrow morning. The program is open to all ag producers throughout the county. It will get underway at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 18th.

 

OHCE Grant to Fund Youth Summer Kitchen Program

Grady County's Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) group has received a grant to hold a summer food preparation program for youth. The organization received an $800 grant from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Ambassadors. The funds will be used to hold a ‘kitchen basics for youth’ series, which is part of an OHCE state project to reduce childhood hunger. The classes will be held on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Registration begins May 1st.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.52 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.31.

Natural gas is $2.11 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,022 and silver is $25.57.

 

Obituaries

Doris Marshall

A graveside service for Doris Marshall, 91, of Amber was held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 17^th at the Amber Cemetery. She was a homemaker and she and her husband owned and operated a dairy farm for many years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Home for Children. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Amy Schoolfield

Funeral service for Amy Schoolfield, 49, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 18th at New Life Christian Church. She was a registered nurse. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

Saturday, April 15th

 

Teen Shooting Suspected to be Tried as Youthful Offender

A Caddo County judge has ruled that a Cyril teenager will be tried as a youthful offender for shooting his father. Defense attorneys for 17-year old Lance Moore had filed a motion asking that Moore be certified as a juvenile. Moore was arrested in October of 2021 for shooting his father in the back. Court documents show that Cyril police were called to the Cyril Village Apartments to investigate the shooting. At the time, Moore told police that his father came to the apartment looking for the teen's mother and the teen and his dad had a confrontation. Moore said his father threatened him prior to the shooting. A jury trial has been schedule Sept. 25th.

 

Wind Turbine-Blade Junkyard Bill OK'd by State Senate Panel

A bill designed to regulate wind-turbine-blade junk yards will be heard in the state senate. Earlier this week we reported on HB 2359 which would require junkyard operators to show financial security that the blades are being properly disposed of and to file annual reports with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The bill from State Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) and State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) passed out of the senate energy and telecommunications committee with a 9-1 vote this week with an amendment for junkyards to pay a $1,000 annual filing fee. It's not clear when the bill will be debated by the full senate.

 

80-mph Speed Limit on H.E. Bailey Turnpike Ok'd

Officials with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) have approved increasing the speed limit on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The Southwest Ledger reports that the speed limit will be increased to 80 miles per hour but it wasn't clear when that might go into effect. It will impact a nearly 50-mile stretch of the turnpike (I-44) between Newcastle and Lawton. A turnpike representative told the Ledger that cable barriers need to be installed on some sections and some resurfacing also must take place before the speed limit goes up. Last year the turnpike fully transitioned to a cashless tolling system which requires motorists to either purchase a PikePass or be sent a bill from the turnpike's PlatePay system. The PlatePay system takes a photograph of a vehicle's license plate and the OTA will mail a bill to the registered owner of the vehicle.

 

Apache Rattlesnake Festival Continues Through the Weekend

It should be a good weekend for the Apache Rattlesnake Festival. It's the 39th year for the event hosted by the Slick Hills Foundation and features a lot of events that don't even pertain to the slithering creatures which lurk in the Slick Hills just outside the town limits. There's a large flea market, a carnival, live music and entertainment (including a Native American fancy war dance competition), and a rodeo. Visitors can learn about the rattlers and other venomous and non-venomous snakes at the snake pit and can witness snake handlers walk within a den of dozens of snakes. There are even guided snake hunts and individuals may want a taste of some deep-fried rattlesnake. The festival is open until 10 o'clock tonight and runs from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. There's no charge to attend the flea market but there are fees for some of the activities.

 

Talk Show Topics

Anadarko City Manager Richard Rogalski and the city's neighborhood and community services director Corey Bowen are on the KOOL Konversation talking about the Great Anadarko Cleanup set for next week. On Real Estate Today the guests are Dan Turner and Jerry Don Bray with Chickasha Public Schools giving an update on the construction projects going on. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituaries

Doris Marshall

A graveside service for Doris Marshall, 91, of Amber will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 17th at the Amber Cemetery. She was a homemaker and she and her husband operated a dairy farm for many years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Home for Children. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Amy Schoolfield

Funeral service for 49-year old Amy Schoolfield of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 18th at New Life Christian Church. She was a registered nurse. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Friday, April 14th

 

Ex-Con Back in Jail After an OKC-to-Altus Trip

Takes Detour to Chickasha and Pocasset

A frightening situation occurred this week for a woman who agreed to help a man move some things from Oklahoma City to Altus. The trip took an unexpected turn to a rural area near Pocasset with the man threatening the woman with a handgun. A probable cause affidavit from the Grady County Sheriff’s Office indicates it started in Oklahoma City Monday morning. While driving down the turnpike in the woman’s van, she got nervous and pulled into the E-Z Go Convenience Store. The suspect pulled out a weapon and told her to keep driving and he threw her cell phone out of the vehicle. Then he told her to get off the turnpike at the Chickasha exit and they ended up near Pocasset. The suspect is alleged to have tried to push the woman out of the van and it got stuck in a ditch. The victim was able to run to a nearby home and called authorities while the suspect ran into a wooded area. On Tuesday, authorities got a call about a suspicious person in the Pocasset area. Deputies were told a man matching the suspect’s description was given a ride by an individual in a flat-bed truck. Deputies spotted the truck, made a traffic stop, and took the suspect into custody. Arrested was 39-year old Jarvis Earl Sanders, also known as 'Westside.'  Prosecutors have charged Sanders with first degree robbery and having a weapon after former felony conviction. Sanders has previous convictions of assault and battery with dangerous weapon and unauthorized use of a vehicle out of Oklahoma County from 2018. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

 

School Safety Bills OK'd by State House Panels

Two bills supported by a Grady County state lawmaker that would increase security in Oklahoma schools get unanimous approval by house committees. State Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) presented SB 100 to the house education committee and SB 101 to the appropriations and budget committee. Lowe reviewed the bills earlier this week on KOOL-RANCH News (see Monday, April 10th). SB 100 would require that every school district undergo a risk and vulnerability assessment and get recommendations for improving school security. SB 101 would require than the state department of education establish a school resource officer grant program which would provide rural and underserved schools with start-up grants to begin school resource officer programs. The bills passed their respective committees unanimously and will now be heard by the full house of representatives.

 

Chix 'Second Friday' Art Walk Tonight

Organizers of the monthly Second Friday art walk in downtown Chickasha expect tonight's event to be the best yet. More than 30 businesses and organizations will be open after regular hours and more than 25 artisans will have their works on display and many will have their items for sale. Organizer Dana Helms says to expect 'flash mobs' to pop up. She explains what a flash mob is-

 

              

 

 

The art walk will be mainly along Chickasha Avenue from the Leg Lamp to 8th Street but will also include some business on 4^th Street, 5^th Street, and Kansas Avenue from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight. The first flash mob will be at the Leg Lamp about 5:30 p.m. with a second flash mob at Shakespeare Wine Company about 7:00 p.m. There is no cost for families to stroll through downtown to visit with the local artists.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.16 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.09.

Natural gas is $2.01 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,055 and silver is $26.19.

 

Obituary

Terry Andrews

A memorial service for Terry Andrews, 62, of Chickasha will be held by the family at a later date. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, April 13th 

 

Wind-Turbine Blade 'Junkyard' Bill Proposed

What happens to wind-turbine blades when they are outdated? The life expectancy of the massive blades is about 20 years. State Senator Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) and State Representative Brad Boles (R-Marlow) are working on legislation regarding the disposal of wind turbine blades in Oklahoma. In recent years, the disposal of the blades has become an issue in other states. HB 2359 calls for operators of wind turbine junkyards to file annual reports with the corporation commission. The website OK Energy Today cites the bill as saying an owner of a wind farm operation who chooses to send old blades to a third party recycling facility in Oklahoma would have to use facilities that would be listed on the corporation commission's website. The measure is on today's agenda for the senate energy and telecommunications committee.

 

CHS Football Stadium Field Turf Project Ahead of Schedule

Construction crews are ahead of schedule for the renovations underway at the Chickasha High School football field. The field turf that replaces the natural grass surface was installed this week. School district operations director Dan Turner says crews now have the tedious task of detailing the field-

 

              

 

After that...crews have to insert the fill material needed to create a safe playing surface. Turner said crews are about two weeks ahead of schedule. The work is expected to be completed well before the start of football season this fall.

 

Driver Hospitalized After Car Hits Tree

An elderly Marlow driver was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after the car she was driving ran off the road and hit a tree. The highway patrol reports that 81-year old Cleo Ruth was last in poor condition with internal injuries. The accident happened just north of Duncan about 1:30 yesterday afternoon. It wasn't clear what caused Ruth to run off the road.

 

OSU Research Station Sets Wheat-and-Forages Field Day

Ag producers wanting to get the latest information on new wheat varieties might want to check out the annual wheat and forages field day at the OSU South Central Research Station in Chickasha later this month. A number of OSU professors and extension specialists will be on hand to discuss a wide range of topics. Extension specialists Brian Arnall, Amanda Silva, Alex Rocateli, Darrel Peel, and Bret Carver, the chairman of OSU's wheat genetics program are all scheduled. The program will be held on Friday, April 28th with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. and the program starting at 9:00 a.m. For information contact Michael Pettijohn at the research station or go on-line to: agriculture.okstate.edu

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.26 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $87.33.

Natural gas is $2.09 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,040 and silver is $25.69.

 

Obituaries

Stephan Boothe

No service is scheduled for Stephan Boothe, 65, of Edmond. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Shirley Akins

Funeral service for Shirley Akins, 79, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 15th at Northside Church of Christ. She worked in the Chickasha schools food service department for 30 years.  Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, April 12th

 

Tax Cut Bills Being Considered at State Capital

State lawmakers have discussed a number of tax cut proposals at the state capital during the current legislative session. State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) discusses some of the measures which have been approved in the House of Representatives and sent to the State Senate for consideration-

 

              

 

A house bill that would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries is supported by the governor. A similar plan approved by the house last year did not make it through the state senate.

 

PSO Proposes Purchase of Wind, Solar Farms

Which is Expected to Lower Rates, However...

A state utility says its ratepayers would eventually get a rate reduction if a proposed $2.4 billion acquisition of some solar and wind farms is approved.  Officials with Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) told the Oklahoma Corporation Commission yesterday that the 'benefits were immense.' However, before a reduction would take effect, PSO customers would see a monthly increase in their bills.  PSO calls it the Fuel-Free Power Plan - and say it is a balanced approach that enables the utility to continue providing reliable, affordable power and would reduce volatility in prices. PSO parent company American Electric Power wants to purchase six solar and wind farms in Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. If approved monthly bills would initially increase nearly $2 per month beginning in 2025 and then in 2026 the bills would be reduced nearly $2.60 per month - or about 64 cents per month less than current costs. The commission took no action on the proposal saying they will await a decision from an administrative law judge who attended yesterday's meeting.

 

Two Arrested at Vacant Apartment Complex

Two people were arrested last weekend after police were summoned to a vacant apartment complex to investigate an argument. Chickasha police were dispatched to The Palms Apartments at 17th and Alabama which has been closed and boarded up for several years.  A probable cause affidavit indicates that on Sunday police found an open door and announced they were there. A woman appeared and told officers that she was having a fight with her boyfriend. Officers walked through the area and discovered a man lying on the floor. The man told authorities his name was Mark but appeared nervous. The woman also identified the man as Mark but said he was not her boyfriend. The suspect then tried to run but he was caught after a short foot pursuit. Authorities found an identification card for a Clyde James Eldridge who was the man who tried to run. Police arrested both Eldridge and the woman, identified as Sara Danielle Files on complaints of obstruction.  Eldridge has been formally charged with a felony for false personation and a misdemeanor for obstruction and remains in jail on a $10,000 bond. Files, already on probation for pleading guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge following an arrest last December, was charged with a misdemeanor for obstruction and remains in jail on a $7,500 bond.

 

USAO 'Giving Day' Successful

Donors came through in a big way for USAO's recent 'Giving Day.' Officials say they surpassed their goal to raise $150,000 during the one-day event which was a tribute to longtime university president John Feaver who is retiring this year. More than 260 gifts accounted for nearly $160,000 in contributions. USAO Foundation Director JP Audus said it was remarkable to see the outpouring of support for everything Feaver has done. Feaver has been associated with USAO for more than 40 years which includes more than 20 years as a faculty member followed by his more than 20 years as president.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.78 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.61.

Natural gas is $2.15 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,025 and silver is $25.27.

 

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Tuesday, April 11th

 

Suspect Arrested for Assault; Attempting to Blow Up Home

A suspect is in custody facing felony assault and battery charges in connection with separate attacks last week. In one of the incidents he's accused of trying to blow up the trailer of his girlfriend's mother. 48-year old Jason Heath Annesley was arrested last Friday at a home in the Blanchard area. According to court documents, a Grady County deputy sheriff was called to the emergency room at an Oklahoma City hospital Friday where a woman alleged she had been beaten by Annesley. At one point, she said the suspect was beating her while they were driving down the turnpike and he told her to jump out of the vehicle while he was driving 90 miles per hour. He eventually pulled off the interstate where the victim did jump out of the car at a stop sign and ran away. A passerby picked her up and took her to the hospital.  It's also alleged that on Thursday Annesley turned on the gas burners at the mobile home of the victim’s mother, saying when she came in and lit a cigarette it would blow up. Annesley is charged with felony counts of assault and battery by strangulation and assault and battery with a deadly weapon and he remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

 

State Insurance Commish Schedules Chix, 'Darko Visits

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready will be making town-hall stops in Chickasha and Anadarko next week. He'll be at the Anadarko Public Library Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to meet with insurance agents and others in a town hall format. He’ll be in Chickasha for a similar meeting at the Chamber of Commerce from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for a town hall that’s open to the public. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP the Anadarko Library, the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce, or the state insurance commissioner's office.

 

City of Anadarko Schedules Clean Up Week

The City of Anadarko will have a clean-up campaign next week. Officials are encouraging residents and businesses to haul away brush, limbs, trash, and unwanted items and to clean up parks, streets, and neighborhoods. Roll-off dumpsters will be located next to the police department and at the city yard at 415 North Country Club Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Anadarko residents can take items to those locations at no cost as long as they show a city utility bill. No hazardous waste will be accepted but they will take passenger car and truck tires. They will accept debris from outside the Anadarko city limits however they ask that a $25 donation be made to the Anadarko Economic Development Authority. The Delaware Nation has arranged for a shredding day with a company coming in on Wednesday, April 19th which will be located at the former National Guard armory. Officials are also asking for volunteers to help clean up parks and plant flowers and trees. The city will provide bags, gloves, and protective vests. They'll finish up the week with a free cookout for the volunteers at Randlett Park on Saturday, April 22^nd which is Earth Day. For information contact Corey Bowen at Anadarko City Hall or go to: #trashtag

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.74 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.18.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,019 and silver is $25.19.

 

Obituaries

Howard Richardson

A graveside service for Howard Richardson, 79, of Amber will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, April 13th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He was a Millwright, a welder, and served as the acting chief of the Department of Environmental Quality at Ft. Sill. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

L.B. Carr

Funeral service for L.B. Carr, 91, of Alex will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 14th at the Alex High School gymnasium. He was a dairy farmer and rancher, worked for Grady County road maintenance, sold crop insurance, and was an adjuster. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, April 10th

 

Stand-off Ends with Murder-Suicide; Responding Officer Wounded

A stand-off at a home northeast of Blanchard over the weekend ends in tragedy. The McClain County Sheriff's office initially responded to a domestic violence call about 4 a.m. Saturday. Blanchard police also responded and the officers were met with gunfire when they arrived. A Blanchard police officer was shot in the arm and leg and was taken to a hospital with non-fatal injuries. The Grady County Sheriff's Office and OSBI were also summoned to the home where the stand-off lasted about two hours. At some point, officers entered the home and found the bodies of Ashley Pfannestiel and Konrad Pfannestiel. Investigators say Konrad fatally shot his wife then turned the gun on himself.  Authorities say Ashley had filed a victim's protective order against her husband about a week earlier.

 

One Teen Hospitalized, One Unhurt in Weekend Pursuit

A Ft. Cobb teenager was hospitalized following a weekend pursuit in Caddo and Washita Counties. The highway patrol reports that the Caddo County Sheriff's Office was in pursuit of a pickup driven by a 17-year old male driver just before midnight Friday. The truck ran off the roadway, crashed through fence and rolled four times, partially ejecting the un-named driver. The teen was taken by ground ambulance to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was admitted in good condition. A second 17-year old Ft. Cobb male who was passenger in the truck was not hurt. The crash happened on State Highway 152 about five miles west of Eakly in Washita County. It wasn't clear why a deputy was pursuing the teens.

 

State Lawmakers to Discuss School Safety Bills 

State lawmakers will be working on a number bills this week that supporters say are designed to improve school safety. Suspected threats last Thursday had Chickasha schools bring in extra security while Elgin and Clinton schools closed. And this morning, Yukon schools shut down due to a reported threat. State Representative Dick Lowe (R-Amber) discusses some of the legislation that will be debated-

 

              

 

Lowe said schools have spent a lot of money in recent years building safe rooms for tornado safety but that schools these days also need to be bullet-proof.

 

More Upgrades for CHS Football Field to be Discussed

Some additions to the Chickasha high school football field improvements underway will be considered by the Chickasha school board tonight. Authorities will discuss improvements that will add nearly $75,000 to the cost of the upgrades. One of them is to build a storage shed near the visitor bleachers at a cost of about $65,000; another is for fencing and gates for the track-and-field area for nearly $6,000; and a sidewalk at the cost of $5,500. If approved the projects would be paid for out of the safety and security bond issue.

Board to Recognize Employees

The board of education will honor the Chicken Express Employees of month. Operations Director Dan Turner is the certified employee of the month and bus driver Mke Kyees is the support employee of the month. Also to be recognized are Chickasha High School Art Teacher Allison Cofer as the District Teacher of the Year and Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center support employee who is the Support Employee of the Year. Also to be recognized is Cristy Cervantes as Support Employee of the Quarter who also works at Bill Wallace. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.70 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.12.

Natural gas is $2.01 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,016 and silver is $25.11.

Saturday, April 8^th

 

Drug Trafficking Arrests Continue

Grady County drug agents continue their efforts to get deadly counterfeit pain-killing drugs off the streets. Investigators made a couple of arrests this week - one after a Chickasha man reportedly died after taking a pain pill laced with Fentanyl. The investigation led authorities to a home in the Bridge Creek area where 31-year old Dustin Elllis of Norman was arrested for allegedly selling the pills which led to the man's death. Ellis has been charged with trafficking and is being held in the Grady County Jail on a  $100,000 bond. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess says more arrests could be made in connection with the investigation. Boggess also said Ellis could be facing additional charges since the drug sale led to a death. The sheriff also said he would be sending the information to the U.S. attorney's office to consider filing federal charges.

Suspected Trafficker Arrested Twice in Two Weeks

A second suspected drug trafficker was arrested this week - just two weeks after he had previously been arrested on a similar charge. Ace Ladon Shells, Jr. of Chickasha was arrested after a state trooper pulled him over for a traffic violation in a Chickasha neighborhood. A probable cause affidavit indicates that the trooper found Shells had 14 grams of a substance which field-tested positive as having Fentanyl. There were also weapons in the car. New charges against Shells include trafficking and possession of a firearm after former conviction. Shells was arrested March 15th by Ninnekah police and also charged with trafficking. At that time his bond was originally set at $250,000 but he was released after bond was lowered to $75,000. Now Shells' bond is set at $750,000.

 

Boy Thrown on to Bathroom Floor; Father Arrested for Child Abuse

A young father is charged with child abuse after its alleged he threw his little boy onto a bathroom floor and head-butted him. 24-year old Jason Christman of Lawton was arrested at the E-Z Go Convenience Store on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike northeast of Chickasha this week. A witness called 9-1-1 after he said he watched Christman throw the boy on the tile floor and give him several head butts. The witness also said Christman told the boy to 'shut the (expletive) up’. The age of the child wasn't disclosed. Christman has been charged with felony child abuse. Christman remains in the Grady County jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Jake Grossnicklaus and Harold Gillenwaters with the Grady County Cattle Producers Association are guests on the KOOL Konversation. And State Representatives Dick Lowe and Brad Boles are on Real Estate Today. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

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Friday, April 7th

 

Hospital Nurses Ask for More Security Due to Violent Patients

Attacks on health care workers are increasing nationwide and that includes here in Oklahoma. Two Grady Memorial Hospital nurses spoke at a recent Grady County Commissioners meeting about attacks that have occurred there. The Express-Star reports that the hospital's emergency department is seeing more problems with patients intoxicated on Fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. One patient who overdosed on Fentanyl tried to run away while they were hooked up to an IV. Another case involved a jail inmate who was in restraints and had two guards with him but he still attacked health care workers. Other incidents include patients spitting on employees, hitting them, biting them, and pulling their hair. Most of the attacks happen at night when there are fewer hospital employees on staff. County Commissioner Kirk Painter said the county may discuss hiring security officers with state funds counties are receiving which come from settlement agreements with the defendants in federal lawsuits against the makers and sellers of opioid prescription drugs.

 

Chix Police Arrest Alleged Arsonist

A Chickasha man is accused of arson in connection with several fires that occurred last week. 52-year old Ken Segotta was arrested after authorities were called to the 100 block of Minnesota last Saturday. A witness said he saw someone start a fire on some vacant property. It was the fifth time over previous three days that fire crews were called to the area to put out fires that officials say were intentionally set. A probable cause affidavit from Chickasha police indicates the witness confronted the suspect - but the man entered a detached apartment-type shed on the property and barricaded himself inside. While firefighters put out the fire police tried to get Segotta to come out of the building but he refused. Officers entered the building and took Segotta into custody. Segotaa said the government allowed him to live there. Segotta has been charged with one felony count of third degree arson and remains in the Grady County Jail.

 

Officials with State Film Office Visit Chickasha

Chickasha officials are hopeful that another feature-length movie could be filmed in the area. Representatives from the Oklahoma Film and Music Office were in Chickasha this week touring the area and discussing film opportunities. Chickasha is registered as a Certified Film Friendly city with the office. That came about with the filming of 'A Cowgirls Song' which starred Hollywood actress Cheryl Ladd and America's Got Talent winner Darcy Lynn Farmer of Edmond. The movie was filmed entirely in Chickasha between 2020 and 2021. Chickasha Economic Development Council (EDC) President Jim Cowan said state lawmakers are considering increasing a rebate fund for film producers from a total of $30 million a year to $50 million a year. Cowan wants to make sure that Chickasha is on the film office's radar. He said a documentary about the city's leg lamp is expected to be released to streaming for the upcoming holiday season and there are discussions of filming a Christmas movie in the city this fall. In his weekly media column, Cowan writes that there are still a lot of details to be worked out but the fact that the film office is interested in Chickasha is a positive sign.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.70 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.12.

Natural gas is $2.01 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,026 and silver is $25.09.

 

Obituary

Patrick Stapp

A memorial service for Patrick Stapp, 33, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 10th at New Life Christian Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was wounded in Iraq. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, April 6th

 

Droverstock, Chalk Art Fest Draws Hundreds to USAO

Hundreds of high school and junior high school students from across the state are spending time at USAO today. The university is hosting its Spring Triad which includes an academic contest, a sidewalk chalk art festival, and the Droverstock music festival. The day serves as a recruiting tool for the university. The chalk art competition takes place around the USAO oval. The academic competition features students from about 40 schools testing their knowledge in a number of subject areas through tests developed and overseen by USAO faculty. The Droverstock music festival features live bands playing a wide variety of music and there's even stand-up comedian performing. The music festival will run well into the evening. Droverstock is free and open to the public with games and inflatables on the oval and a number of food trucks.

 

City of Chix Begins Tree Limb Disposal Program

Chickasha residents needing to get rid of tree limbs will have a central location to dispose of them. Beginning Saturday, April 8^th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and then every Saturday until further notice, residents can take pickup or trailer loads of tree limbs only to the city's public works headquarters at 502 N. Genevieve Street (north of the city’s animal shelter) but officials say it won't be free. The cost of the disposal will vary - starting at $15 for five cubic yards or what can fit in a pickup bed. If the pickup bed is stacked above the cab of the truck the cost will be upwards of $25. A small trailer load is $50 and a large trailer load is $125. Users won't have to pay for the services immediately. Officials say it will be added to the user’s next utility bill. Officials say this is for trees and limbs only and not for trash, appliances, or other unwanted items. Users will have to show proof of Chickasha residency to drop off the limbs.

 

Group Seeks Recycling Videos for Earth Day

A spring clean-up campaign for the City of Chickasha is being developed. Officials are expected to announce details in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the Keep Chickasha Beautiful Committee has put together a youth competition for Earth Day which is coming up later this month. The committee is asking youth to record a 60-second smart phone video on the importance of recycling. There is no fee to enter and there are three age groups – 10-and-under; 11-to-16; and 17-to-college age. Videos need to be in by next Tuesday, April 11th and can be e-mailed to: office@chickashaedc.com

Finalists will be posted on the Keep Chickasha Beautiful Facebook page where viewers can vote for their favorites.  Winners will be announced on Earth Day which is Saturday, April 22nd. For information call 405-224-0787.

 

4H Helps Youth Develop Public Speaking Skills

Three out of every four adults suffer from Glossaphobia which is the fear of public speaking. The Grady County 4H program is helping youth develop their public speaking skills. One of them is Abby Pettijohn with the Alex 4H program-

 

              

 

Pettijohn said that the program also helps 4H'ers develop research and writing skills.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.61 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.99.

Natural gas is $2.15 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,034 and silver is $25.10.

 

Obituaries

Danny Lehman

Funeral service for Danny Lehman, 38, of Chickasha will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 8th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and also worked in construction.

Betty Jo Jacob-Shells

Funeral service for Betty Jo Jacob-Shells, 74, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 8^th at Shepherd Street Christian Church. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, April 5th

 

Security Tightened at Chix High School for Possible 'Threat' 

Chickasha schools are having classes today - after a social media post was shared about possible threats towards a school named ‘CHS’. Officials increased security with the help of the Chickasha Police Department and the Grady County Sheriff's Office. School Superintendent Rick Croslin said there have been similar social media posts about threats to other ‘CHS’ schools throughout the country but not specific to any particular district. Croslin met with the Chickasha Police Department late last night to discuss the issue. Officials traced the threat to a post that originated in New Mexico in 2018. The Chickasha Police Department posted on its Facebook page that while they are aware of that incident they are taking the threat seriously out of an abundance of caution. While Chickasha schools are open there was at least one “CHS” school in Oklahoma called off classes today. Croslin said that Clinton schools opted to close after receiving the identical statement. Croslin said the high school will be on a soft lock-down today and officials will monitor everyone coming and going.

 

City, Town Council Election Results

We have results from some of the city and town council and school board elections from yesterday. In a very low turnout, just over 200 voters went to the polls in the Chickasha City Council election. Ward 4 Councilman Kelly Boyd defeated challenger Eric Anderson by less than 20 votes, 115 to 97. In Blanchard, Ben White defeated Joseph Davis, 158 to 102. In Anadarko, Mayor Kelley McGlothlin was elected to a two-year term, picking up 76 percent of the vote over Patrick Michael Hayes, 92 to 29. In Alex, three people were elected to at-large officies - Amber Otey (57), Karen Johnson (55), and Jim Bisel (11); in Minco, John Chiles won a three-person race. Chiles received 62 percent of the vote (157) to defeat Rex Ramey (59) and Royce Addington (35); In Cyril, three were elected to at-large office -  Monica Jackson (66), Monica Cooper (59), and Nancy Vap (49) were elected;  In Lindsay, four candidates were elected to at-large offices - Mark Hall (220), Vern Roe 9213) ; Joshua Miller (140), and  Don Lough (139).

 

School Board Election Results

at Ninnekah, Russell Thompson defeated Mark Fulton, 56 to 28; at Verden, Norman Wood defeated Stevie McMillan, 42 to 22; at Middleberg, Josh Oaks defeated Glenda Fenimore, 28 to 11; at Dibble, Steve Long defeated Veronica Rivera, 75 to 19; at Bridge Creek, two school board posts decided. Terry Vincent defeated Sharita Hill, 178 to 38 for Office No. 3; and Robyn Esparza defeated. Micah Regier 135 to 82 to fill an unexpired term for Office No. 1; at Cement, Karen Glass defeated Steve Pelzer, 74-49; at Lindsay, Larry Winn defeated Jessica Parker by 9 votes, 204 to 195; and at Marlow, Larry Johnson, II defeated Chris Shelby, 192 to 93.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.71 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.94.

Natural gas is $2.10 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,041 and silver is $25.05.

 

Obituary

Margaret ‘Maggie’ Barnes

Funeral service for ‘Maggie’ Barnes, 64, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Frida, April 7th at Grand Assembly of God Church. She worked in her ministry at the church’s food pantry. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the food pantry.

 

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Tuesday, April 4th

 

Worker for Jail Contractor Charged for Having Sex with Inmate

A woman who worked as the manager of the kitchen staff at the Grady County Jail has been charged with rape for allegedly having sex with an inmate. 51-year old Pamela Middleton of Ninnekah was charged with second degree rape in Grady County District Court yesterday. Middleton was employed by Tiger Commissary which is a contractor for the jail. A probable cause affidavit alleges that Middleton and the inmate had sex in the kitchen freezer several times between March 8th and March 24th. Middleton told the investigator that she initiated the contact saying she was attracted to the inmate. A warrant was issued for her arrest last Friday. She appeared in Grady County District Court yesterday and was charged with second-degree rape. She was released after posting a $25,000 bond. If convicted, Middleton could be sentenced to 1 to 15 years in prison and fined up to $10,000.

 

Suspect Arrested in On-going Fentanyl Investigation

A Lawton man has been arrested in the most recent Fentanyl drug investigation in Grady County. 37-year old Michael ‘Chubbs’ Gaston was taken into custody Sunday morning. Authorities met with an informant Saturday night who said they were able to purchase counterfeit pain pills laced with Fentanyl from Gaston. He was taken into custody at home in the 1400 block of South Shepherd Street. A probable cause affidavit indicates some of the drugs were found under a bedroom floor. Gaston is facing felony charges of trafficking and distribution and remains in jail on a $125,000 bond. Gaston previously was charged with a felony for drug distribution in 2021 but the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. Gaston pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor and was sentenced to one year in jail.

 

'Medical Episode' Leads to SUV Crash

A Minco woman was hospitalized after her SUV ran off the road and hit a tree. 58-year old Rebecca Patterman was taken by Minco EMS to an Oklahoma City hospital and was last in fair condition. The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. Monday near the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and State Highway 152. The highway patrol reported that Patterman had an undetermined medical issue that caused her to run of the highway, hit a guard rail, and then hit the tree. She was pinned in the vehicle for about 10 minutes before being freed by the Minco Fire Department.

 

Some Volunteer Fire Departments Get ARPA Funds

Grady County Commissioners approved some - but not all requests - for ARPA (American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) funds requested by volunteer fire departments yesterday. Funds that were approved include $80,000 for the Pioneer station for a new squad truck; $80,000 for the Harold station to build on to its existing building; $30,000 for  the Rush Springs station to purchase an ATV with a trailer and a skid steer; and $30,000 to the Farwell station to build an office and a training room. Two large requests were denied including a $300,000 proposal for the Naples station to build on to its current building; and a $200,000 request from the Rush Springs station to purchase a used pumper-tanker. Commissioner Kirk Painter said some of the paperwork on those requests wasn’t property filled out but they could make corrections and re-submit them.

 

Some Oklahomans Voting in Council, School Board Elections

It's election day in Oklahoma. There are a number of city, town council, and school board elections on ballots throughout the region and state. Chickasha voters are casting ballots for one city council post. It's in Ward 4 with current councilman Kelly Boyd and challenger Eric Anderson seeking the office. There are also town council elections in Alex, Minco, and Cyril. Anadarko voters have a mayoral election between current mayor Kelley McGlothlin and challenger Patrick Michael Hayes. There are school board elections in Ninnekah, Verden, Dibble, Middleberg, Cement, Bridge Creek, and Marlow. Precincts are open until 7 o'clock tonight.

 

Chix City Councilman Steps Down

A Chickasha city councilman is stepping down. Ward Two councilman Nate McCalla recently submitted his letter of resignation. Mayor Chris Mosley made the announcement at the end of last night's city council meeting. McCalla has served two years on the panel after being appointed in 2021. McCalla said he was stepping down due to other commitments.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.42 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.93.

Natural gas is $2.09 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,000 and silver is $24.22.

 

Obituary

Randy Jackson

No funeral service is scheduled for Randy Jackson, 65, of Verden. He was an engineer and a welder. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, April 3rd

 

Grady County Fire Departments Request ARPA Funds

Grady County Commissioners will consider distributing hundreds of thousands in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to Grady County volunteer fire departments. In all the group will consider awarding more than $800,000. About $300,000 has been requested by the Naples Station to build an addition to the existing station for two bays, medical parking, bathrooms, a shower and a 23 X 30 room; Rush Springs is asking for $200,000 for a used pumper/tanker and another $30,000 for an ATV with a trailer and skid unit; Naples is asking for more than $80,000 for a  compressor and cascade unit; Pioneer has a nearly $80,000 request for a squad truck; the Harold Station is asking for about $80,000 to add-on to its existing building for truck parking; and the Farwell Station is requesting $30,000 to build an office and training room. Commissioners discussed the ARPA funds in their meeting this morning at the Grady County Courthouse.

 

Dilapidated Structures May Be Removed from Lake Chix

A proposal to remove dilapidated structures from Lake Chickasha will be considered by the Chickasha City Council tonight. The group will consider awarding a bid of nearly $47,000 to Washita Construction and Renovation. The group will also consider going out for bids to refurbish the fire protection system at city hall and to waive the bidding process and use a state contract to purchase two John Deere mowers for more than $25,000 from P and K Equipment. The panel will also consider a request from the Chickasha Rotary Club to hold a 5K on Saturday, May 6th; and a request from Western Farmers Electric Co-op to close the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue for a block party on Friday, June 9th. The group will also review a plan to allow some temporary street closures for a wind farm to move several wind turbine blades through town later this year. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Anadarko Police Officers Honored

Two Anadarko police officers are recognized for their work. Sgt. Travis Maloy and Officer Travis Carr were named Top Cops by the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and its Buckle Down Awards program. Sgt. Maloy was recognized for having the most traffic contacts and Officer Carr had the most DUI arrests for the department in 2022.

 

Women in Ag Conference to be held in Ft. Cobb

Agriculture and other groups throughout Caddo County will host a Women in Agriculture and Small Business conference this week. The event will be held Thursday at the Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center in Ft. Cobb. Jessica Walls with the Farm Service Agency in Anadarko talks about the guest speakers-

 

              

 

There will be several break-out sessions include ag marketing and ag advocacy, best management practices for livestock, estate planning and mineral leasing, and beekeeping. Registration is $20 and they'll get started about 8:15 Thursday morning. Contact the Caddo County Farm Service Agency or the OSU Extension Office for information.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.67 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.77.

Natural gas is $2.21 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,983 and silver is $23.97.

 

Obituaries

Sherri Amerson

A memorial service for Sherri Amerson, 58, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 4th at Parkview Christian Church. She was a health care worker. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Judy Duprez

A memorial service for Judy Duprez, 77, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 4^th at Chickasha’s First Christian Church. It will be followed by a come-and-go reception. She taught at Chickasha High School for nearly 40 years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry, the First Christian Church Memorial Fund, or the National Tuberous Sclerosis Association.

Saturday, April 1st

 

First Chickasha Public Schools Hall of Honor Members Inducted;

District Teacher of the Year and Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Named

The Hall of Honor at Chickasha Public Schools has inducted its first members. Two graduates and a retired teacher were recognized for their accomplishments during last night’s Chickasha Public School Foundation annual gala and fundraiser. Ada Sipuel-Fisher was honored for her pioneering civil rights work. The 1941 graduate of Chickasha’s Lincoln High School was the first African-American to attend the OU Law School, opening the door for future minorities to pursue their dreams of attending law school there. She graduated from the OU law school and also would eventually serve on the board of

regents for OU. Art Griffith was a 1915 graduate of Chickasha High School. He fought in World War 1 and would graduate from Oklahoma A and M. He would become the wresting coach at the university where his teams won eight national championships. He also coached the USA wrestling team which won a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics. Long-time speech and drama teacher Darrell Harms was also inducted. He spent 35 years as a speech and drama teacher and was the public address announcer at many high school and junior high football, basketball, and baseball games.

High school art Ttacher named district teacher of the year

Also during the gala, high school art teacher Allison Cofer was named the District Teacher of the Year. Cofer has been with the district for eight years with the last four being at the high school. Officials also inducted two new members in the district's athletic hall of fame.

Two new members inducted into the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame

Kirk Goss was two-time state golf champion and was part of the 1972 team which won a state title. He went on to be a four-year letterman for the Oklahoma State University golf team and played on PGA mini-tours in Arizona and Florida. Also inducted into the athletic hall of fame was businessman and philanthropist Steve Laforge. He has been a generous contributor to all the district's athletic programs and extra-curricular programs including the academic team, band, and robotics.

 

Regional Fires Erupt in Friday's High Winds

Regional fire departments were dispatched to several fires that erupted during yesterday's high winds. Grady County volunteer fire crews were summoned to a fire in the Bailey area near the Grady and Garvin County line, one east of Rush Springs, and assisted the Blanchard Fire Department on a grass fire. There were no immediate reports of structure damage with these fires. The Grady County Fire Department Facebook page indicated that Ninnekah, Friend, Naples, Alex, Bradley, Bailey, and Acme departments spent time beating back flames. The post also thanked the Rush Springs Fire Department for helping with the Bailey fire.

 

OKC Energy Firm Reports Well Completions 

Completion reports on some oil and gas wells south of Alex indicated they were combining to bring in some decent numbers. Gulfport MidCon of Oklahoma City said three Scr wells were producing 1,200 barrels of oil and 28,000 Mcf of natural gas per day. The wells are in section 30 of Township 4 North and Range 5 West. The wells ae in the Woodford formation and were drilled to a true vertical depth of more than 14,000 feet. The wells were spudded between December of 2021 and March of 2022.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Renee Sansom with the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is this week’s guest on the KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today, this week's guests are Chet Hitt of Towns End Still House and Grill, his marketing director Jennifer Hernandez, and Jim Cowan with the Chickasha Economic Development Council Both programs air tomorrow morning, after the 8 o'clock news. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituaries

Lavonne Tofpi

A wake service for Lavonne Tofpi, 75, of Chickasha will be at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 2^nd at McRay Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 3^rd at the First and Georgia Church of Christ. She worked at the Lawton Indian Hospital, was an officer with Head Start, and met Oprah Winfrey. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Sherri Amerson

A memorial service for Sherri Amerson, 58, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 4th at Parkview Christian Church. She was a health care aide. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Judy Duprez

Funeral service for Judy Duprez of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 4^th at the First Christian Church. She was a long-time English teacher at Chickasha High School. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Friday, March 31, 2023

 

First Members of Chix Schools Hall of Honor to be Inducted

A special celebration will be held tonight during the annual Chickasha Public Schools Foundation gala. Three people will be the first to be inducted into the Chickasha school district's Hall of Honor. The hall was established this year to celebrate individuals who have contributed to the welfare of humanity, brought unusually positive attention to Chickasha schools, and modeled high personal and professional qualities for students. They are Dr. Ada Lois Sipuel-Fisher - an early civil rights pioneer who broke the color barrier at the OU Law School. She attended Lincoln High School in the 1940s, graduated from the OU law school and practiced law in Chickasha and Oklahoma City. She also taught at Langston University and would serve on the board of regents for OU. Also being inducted is Art Griffith, who attended Chickasha schools more than 100 years ago. He served in World War I and would graduate from Oklahoma A and M, then eventually lead the A and M wresting team to eight national titles. In addition, he coached the USA wrestling team to a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics and is in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Also to be inducted is longtime speech and drama teacher Darrell Harms. The one-time rodeo clown taught for 35 years at Chickasha High School. Tonight's foundation gala will be held at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

 

Holy City of the Wichitas Ready for Annual Passion Play

Easter is just over a week away and once again this year The Holy City of the Wichitas will host its annual Easter pageant. This is the 98^th year for the Passion Play which follows the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Alan Corrales is the pageant director and says they were able to get a new sound system this year.

 

              

 

More than 150 volunteers take part in the Passion Play including Corrales. He’s been part of the pageant since he was eight years old and this is his 56th year. There are two performances – one tomorrow night (April 1^st) and one next Saturday night (April 8^th) starting about 8:30 both evenings. It is free and open to the public. Corrales encourages those attending to dress for the weather. The Holy City is just north of Lawton next to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

 

Ag Producers Encouraged to Apply for USDA Grants

Agriculture producers, producer groups, and ag businesses might consider applying for USDA funds from the agency's Value-Added Producer Grant program. USDA Rural Development has about $31 million available for programs nationwide. Grants must be used to develop new products or expand existing markets for value-added products. Applicants must produce at least 50-percent of the raw agriculture product to which value is being added. Two separate grants are available. First, planning grants of up to $75,000 are available for feasibility studies and business planning. Second, working capital grants fund up to $250,000 to cover marketing and producer development costs. Priority will be given to beginning, veteran, and socially-disadvantaged producers. Applicants need to register for a government identification number. It could take up to five weeks to activate the number so producers are encouraged to register early. On-line applications are due May 11^th through the website: www.grants.gov

Completed paper applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office in Stillwater by May 16th.

 

Cyril Teacher Honored for 50 Years of Service

There was a surprise party at Cyril Public Schools yesterday. Long-time teacher Becky Thompson was honored by students and staff. Thompson is in her 50th year of teaching and all have been at Cyril. She started as a kindergarten teacher and speech therapist and is currently teaching third grade students. Among the students she has taught are 10 current Cyril school employees.

 

Early Voting Ends Today Ahead of Next Week's Elections

Today is the last day for in-person, absentee voting ahead of next Tuesday's municipal and school board elections. Early voting can be done at county election boards until 6 p.m. today (Friday, March 31^st). Regular precincts will be open Tuesday, April 4^th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.37 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.27.

Natural gas is $2.10 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,994 and silver is $23.97.

 

Obituaries

Michael McAdoo

No service is scheduled for Michael McAdoo, 66, of Lawton. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Bobby Glen Rogers

A memorial service for Bobby Rogers, 62, of Pocasset is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, March 30th

 

Two Arrested Following Drug Sale to Informant

A man and woman who have long police records are back in custody for allegedly selling drugs and having illegal weapons and stolen property. 41-year old William 'BJ' DeHart, III and 41-year old Stephanie 'Nana' Eldridge were arrested by Grady County DEA agent Jim Peek and other law enforcement officers this week. A probable cause affidavit indicates that a confidential informant was give cash to purchase meth from the pair. A transaction was made at the Double B RV Park in the 700 block of North 13^th Street in Chickasha Tuesday afternoon. After the drug buy, agents obtained a search warrant where they found numerous drugs, a sawed-off shotgun and other weapons, and ammunition. The investigation also revealed the travel trailer the suspects were living in had been stolen from a deer lease in Garvin County last October. Both DeHart and Eldridge have been charged with multiple new felonies in connection with this week’s arrests and are in the Grady County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond each.

 

Onward Chickasha Survey Ends Friday

Chickasha residents have two more days to submit comments for the Onward Chickasha survey. The survey is gathering information to put together a long-range plan for improvements within the City of Chickasha. The survey has numerous questions about police and fire, parks and recreation, infrastructure, and other areas. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. The survey can be found on the website: www.onwardchickasha.org

The website has an inter-active map and a section that explains the reasons for creating a plan to make improvements in the city over the next 20 to 30 years.

 

Natural Gas Prices Drop

The price of natural gas has plummeted in the first quarter of 2023. Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation commission explains-

 

              

 

Here are the prices for crude oil and precious metals-

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.28.

Gold is $1,984 and silver is $23.84.

 

4Her Shares STEM Info

A Grady County 4Her enjoys sharing information he's learned in his research of STEM projects - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Shane Williamson with the Rock Island 4H club shares some information you may not know-

 

              

 

Williamson says there are 700,000 miles of power lines in the U.S. with nearly 8 million workers employed in nearly 123,000 power plants nationwide.

 

USAO Presents Weekend Musical

USAO performing arts students open a weekend performance tonight. The musical A Man of No Importance is a collaboration of Terrence McNalley, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty – all of whom won Tony Awards for Ragtime. It's based on a 1994 Albert Finney movie of the same name and tells the story of an amateur theatre group and their leader. Performances times are 7:30 tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night and a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee. It's open to the public and tickets are $20 while USAO students get free admission with ID.

 

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Wednesday, March 29th

 

Search for Next USAO President Begins

Regents for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) have officially begun the search to find the university's next president. Current president John Feaver previously announced plans to retire at the end of this calendar year. He has served as president for more than 20 years and has been associated with USAO for more than 40 years. An independent search firm has developed a profile which is being used to recruit highly-qualified candidates. Diana Ming is the regent who is chairing the presidential search committee. She said it is an exciting time in the more than 100-year history of the university and she's confident they will have a robust and diverse pool of candidates. Regents are working with the firm called Higher Education Leadership Search to help find candidates. The group held open forums with USAO faculty, staff, students, alumni, the USAO Foundation, and members of the community to develop the profile. Applications for the post will be accepted through April 28th.

 

Senior Citizen Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing Brother

A 75-year old man is arrested for allegedly stabbing his brother. Gary Stringfield was arrested by Chickasha police after they were called to the Whispering Pines Apartments on Frisco Avenue last Wednesday. Authorities received a 9-1-1 call from a man who said the victim came to his door bleeding. The victim had been stabbed in his neck and chest and he was taken to the hospital. A probable cause affidavit indicates police found Stringfield in another apartment and saw blood on his hands. Authorities asked him if he had been in an altercation with his brother to which Stringfield replied 'hell yeah we fought - we're brothers’. Stringfield told police he didn't know how his brother got hurt. Authorities found a folding metal knife with blood on it in the apartment. Stringfield has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and remains in jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond.

 

Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act Funds Now Available

Rural Oklahoma businesses looking to expand can now apply for loans to help them with their growth. Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce say that five certified participants have been authorized to infuse $100 million of capital to businesses in rural communities. The program was created through the Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act signed into law last year. Companies can use the funds to invest in equipment, purchase supplies, and hire employees when they have to opportunity to expand. Commerce department officials say the program is expected to create jobs in rural areas and help improve the state's economy.

 

PSO Receives Energy Star Partner Award

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) receives recognition from a couple of federal agencies. PSO was selected as an Energy Star Partner of the Year from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for what the agencies call 'sustained excellence.' In a press release, PSO officials say the award reflects the value and success of PSOs energy efficient programs for its customers - helping them save energy and money while improving the comfort of their homes. It's the seventh straight year that PSO and its parent company American Electric Power have received the award.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.20 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.60.

Natural gas is $2.03 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,985 and silver is $23.43.

 

Obituary

Cledia Rakestraw

Funeral service for Cledia Rakestraw, 94, of the Tuttle and Mustang area will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 30^th at the First Baptist Church of Mustang. She graduated with a class of nine students from Middleberg High School where she played basketball and softball. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

 

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Tuesday, March 28th

 

'Old Town Chickasha' Development Plans Revealed

California developer Chet Hitt formally announced his plans to invest millions of dollars in downtown Chickasha yesterday. Called Old Town Chickasha, Hitt unveiled his proposal in a 90-minute program at the Rock Island Railroad Depot with numerous city, county, and state leaders on hand. A lot of Hitt's plans had already been made public including a distillery, a restaurant, and a coffee shop.  Yesterday's plans went another step further as Hitt encouraged the building of a new hotel near the Grady County Fairgrounds, a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks linking the fairgrounds to the downtown area, and the development of Phase Two of the downtown park. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell was among those attending and said it's exciting to hear about the private investment Hitt is bringing to the city and that the state has a number of programs that can help.

 

              

 

Leaders from city and county governments, the chamber of commerce and economic development council, the Grady County Fairgrounds, USAO, and Canadian Valley Technology Center were on hand for the presentation as Hitt encouraged the cooperation of all of the groups to continue efforts to make Chickasha one of the state's top tourist destinations.

 

Anadarko Man Honored by Dep't of Rehab Services

An Anadarko man who serves as the tribal historian at the Kiowa Tribal Museum in Carnegie is the recipient of a state honor.  Dr. Phil Dupoint was named the client of the year for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. Dupoint has dual amputations and applied for the agency's services in 2021. The agency helped provide modifications to Dupoint's home to give him better access to his work room, office, and living areas. He says one of his proudest moments was obtaining his driver's license. Kiowa Tribal Chairman Lawrence Spottedbird and Vice Chairman Jacob Tsotigh were among those attending the presentation held during the People with Disabilities Day at the state capital.

 

USAO 'Giving Day' Aims to Raise $150,000

USAO has an ambitious fund-raising goal to celebrate President John Feaver’s more than 40-year affiliation with the university. This Friday the university will host Giving Day - a one-day campaign to raise $150,000 to celebrate Feaver's work. Feaver will be retiring at the end of this calendar year. JP Audus is the university's vice president for advancement and also is director of the USAO Foundation. He said devoting one day to all of what Feaver has done for the university is far from adequate, considering the impact he has had on so many people. The event will feature donor challenges and matching gifts to maximize the value of each contribution. Donations may be given to student scholarships, academic departments, athletics, and other programs.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.81 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.12.

Natural gas is $2.09 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,971 and silver is $23.05.

 

Obituaries

Thomas Julian

A graveside service for Thomas Julian, 81, of Chickasha will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 31st at Fairlawn Cemetery. He set two state track records and was an all-state basketball player for St. Joseph’s Academy in Chickasha and was a U.S. Army veteran. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Sammie Joe Williams

A memorial service for Sammie Joe Williams, 84, of Alex will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Alex High School gymnasium. He was a farmer and rancher and worked for the soil conservation service. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Eldred Jones

A memorial luncheon for Eldred Jones, 82, of Rush Springs will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Southern Baptist Church in Rush Springs. He was a truck driver and worked for a mobile home company. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, March 27th

 

Boyd, Anderson to Face Off in Chix City County Election

Chickasha residents will go to the polls next week to vote in just one race in this year's city council election. It’s in Ward 4 where current councilman Kelly Boyd will face Eric Anderson for a two-year term. Boyd has been on the council for two years. He discusses the council’s recent adoptions of some new regulations to give code enforcement more authority to make property owners clean up areas around town-

 

              

 

Anderson is retired from the U.S. Army who has seen the city grow over the years and would like to be involved-

 

              

 

The election is next Tuesday, April 4^th and all registered voters who live in the city limits can cast a ballot. In addition to the Chickasha City Council election there are other town council and some school board elections in the region. In-person, absentee voting will be available at county election boards this Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and regular precincts will be open Tuesday, April 4^th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

OHP Continues Probe of Fatal Caddo County Crash

The highway patrol continues investigating a deadly traffic accident that happened in Caddo County over the weekend. 48-year old Avery Swarts of Elgin died when his pickup ran off the road, hit a fence and rolled several times. The accident happened just before 4:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon west of Eakly near the junction of State Highways 59 and 152.

 

Anadarko-area Crash Victim Air-Lifted to Hospital

In a separate accident in Caddo County a driver was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after his car crashed near Anadarko. 36-year old William Shepherd of Mt. View was last in fair condition after the accident near CR1370 and Turnpike Road southeast of Anadarko about 5:00 p.m. Sunday. The highway patrol reports that Shepherd lost control of his car while driving across a bridge. He ran off the road and overturned and was pinned inside the car for about 10 minutes. He was taken to the hospital with head, neck, and trunk injuries.

 

Hinton Coach Charged with Child Abuse Appears in Court

The high school wrestling coach at Hinton was briefly in police custody last week after a felony warrant was issued for his arrest. Jacob Peck was arrested last Friday. Authorities issued a warrant for Peck's arrest March 10th for child abuse. An affidavit filed by Hinton police alleged that at least two girls complained that Peck was overly physical with them, with one of them alleging Peck placed her in a choke hold. Peck is out of jail after posting a $5,000 bond. A preliminary hearing conference has been scheduled May 26th in Caddo County District Court.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.26 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.99.

Natural gas is $2.21 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,973 and silver is $23.06.

 

Obituaries

Angeline ‘Angie’ Friskel

No funeral service is scheduled for ‘Angie’ Friskel, 75, of Chickasha. She was a scrub tech and owned an antique store. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Catherine Robinson

Funeral service for Catherine Robinson, 83, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Grady County Fairgrounds. She was a gospel singer and worked at Head Start. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

Saturday, April 1st

 

First Chickasha Public Schools Hall of Honor Members Inducted;

District Teacher of the Year and Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Named

The Hall of Honor at Chickasha Public Schools has inducted its first members. Two graduates and a retired teacher were recognized for their accomplishments during last night’s Chickasha Public School Foundation annual gala and fundraiser. Ada Sipuel-Fisher was honored for her pioneering civil rights work. The 1941 graduate of Chickasha’s Lincoln High School was the first African-American to attend the OU Law School, opening the door for future minorities to pursue their dreams of attending law school there. She graduated from the OU law school and also would eventually serve on the board of

regents for OU. Art Griffith was a 1915 graduate of Chickasha High School. He fought in World War 1 and would graduate from Oklahoma A and M. He would become the wresting coach at the university where his teams won eight national championships. He also coached the USA wrestling team which won a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics. Long-time speech and drama teacher Darrell Harms was also inducted. He spent 35 years as a speech and drama teacher and was the public address announcer at many high school and junior high football, basketball, and baseball games.

High school art Ttacher named district teacher of the year

Also during the gala, high school art teacher Allison Cofer was named the District Teacher of the Year. Cofer has been with the district for eight years with the last four being at the high school. Officials also inducted two new members in the district's athletic hall of fame.

Two new members inducted into the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame

Kirk Goss was two-time state golf champion and was part of the 1972 team which won a state title. He went on to be a four-year letterman for the Oklahoma State University golf team and played on PGA mini-tours in Arizona and Florida. Also inducted into the athletic hall of fame was businessman and philanthropist Steve Laforge. He has been a generous contributor to all the district's athletic programs and extra-curricular programs including the academic team, band, and robotics.

 

Regional Fires Erupt in Friday's High Winds

Regional fire departments were dispatched to several fires that erupted during yesterday's high winds. Grady County volunteer fire crews were summoned to a fire in the Bailey area near the Grady and Garvin County line, one east of Rush Springs, and assisted the Blanchard Fire Department on a grass fire. There were no immediate reports of structure damage with these fires. The Grady County Fire Department Facebook page indicated that Ninnekah, Friend, Naples, Alex, Bradley, Bailey, and Acme departments spent time beating back flames. The post also thanked the Rush Springs Fire Department for helping with the Bailey fire.

 

OKC Energy Firm Reports Well Completions 

Completion reports on some oil and gas wells south of Alex indicated they were combining to bring in some decent numbers. Gulfport MidCon of Oklahoma City said three Scr wells were producing 1,200 barrels of oil and 28,000 Mcf of natural gas per day. The wells are in section 30 of Township 4 North and Range 5 West. The wells ae in the Woodford formation and were drilled to a true vertical depth of more than 14,000 feet. The wells were spudded between December of 2021 and March of 2022.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Renee Sansom with the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is this week’s guest on the KOOL Konversation. On Real Estate Today, this week's guests are Chet Hitt of Towns End Still House and Grill, his marketing director Jennifer Hernandez, and Jim Cowan with the Chickasha Economic Development Council Both programs air tomorrow morning, after the 8 o'clock news. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituaries

Lavonne Tofpi

A wake service for Lavonne Tofpi, 75, of Chickasha will be at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 2^nd at McRay Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 3^rd at the First and Georgia Church of Christ. She worked at the Lawton Indian Hospital, was an officer with Head Start, and met Oprah Winfrey. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Sherri Amerson

A memorial service for Sherri Amerson, 58, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 4th at Parkview Christian Church. She was a health care aide. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Judy Duprez

Funeral service for Judy Duprez of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 4^th at the First Christian Church. She was a long-time English teacher at Chickasha High School. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Friday, March 31, 2023

 

First Members of Chix Schools Hall of Honor to be Inducted

A special celebration will be held tonight during the annual Chickasha Public Schools Foundation gala. Three people will be the first to be inducted into the Chickasha school district's Hall of Honor. The hall was established this year to celebrate individuals who have contributed to the welfare of humanity, brought unusually positive attention to Chickasha schools, and modeled high personal and professional qualities for students. They are Dr. Ada Lois Sipuel-Fisher - an early civil rights pioneer who broke the color barrier at the OU Law School. She attended Lincoln High School in the 1940s, graduated from the OU law school and practiced law in Chickasha and Oklahoma City. She also taught at Langston University and would serve on the board of regents for OU. Also being inducted is Art Griffith, who attended Chickasha schools more than 100 years ago. He served in World War I and would graduate from Oklahoma A and M, then eventually lead the A and M wresting team to eight national titles. In addition, he coached the USA wrestling team to a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics and is in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Also to be inducted is longtime speech and drama teacher Darrell Harms. The one-time rodeo clown taught for 35 years at Chickasha High School. Tonight's foundation gala will be held at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

 

Holy City of the Wichitas Ready for Annual Passion Play

Easter is just over a week away and once again this year The Holy City of the Wichitas will host its annual Easter pageant. This is the 98^th year for the Passion Play which follows the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Alan Corrales is the pageant director and says they were able to get a new sound system this year.

 

              

 

More than 150 volunteers take part in the Passion Play including Corrales. He’s been part of the pageant since he was eight years old and this is his 56th year. There are two performances – one tomorrow night (April 1^st) and one next Saturday night (April 8^th) starting about 8:30 both evenings. It is free and open to the public. Corrales encourages those attending to dress for the weather. The Holy City is just north of Lawton next to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

 

Ag Producers Encouraged to Apply for USDA Grants

Agriculture producers, producer groups, and ag businesses might consider applying for USDA funds from the agency's Value-Added Producer Grant program. USDA Rural Development has about $31 million available for programs nationwide. Grants must be used to develop new products or expand existing markets for value-added products. Applicants must produce at least 50-percent of the raw agriculture product to which value is being added. Two separate grants are available. First, planning grants of up to $75,000 are available for feasibility studies and business planning. Second, working capital grants fund up to $250,000 to cover marketing and producer development costs. Priority will be given to beginning, veteran, and socially-disadvantaged producers. Applicants need to register for a government identification number. It could take up to five weeks to activate the number so producers are encouraged to register early. On-line applications are due May 11^th through the website: www.grants.gov

Completed paper applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office in Stillwater by May 16th.

 

Cyril Teacher Honored for 50 Years of Service

There was a surprise party at Cyril Public Schools yesterday. Long-time teacher Becky Thompson was honored by students and staff. Thompson is in her 50th year of teaching and all have been at Cyril. She started as a kindergarten teacher and speech therapist and is currently teaching third grade students. Among the students she has taught are 10 current Cyril school employees.

 

Early Voting Ends Today Ahead of Next Week's Elections

Today is the last day for in-person, absentee voting ahead of next Tuesday's municipal and school board elections. Early voting can be done at county election boards until 6 p.m. today (Friday, March 31^st). Regular precincts will be open Tuesday, April 4^th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.37 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.27.

Natural gas is $2.10 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,994 and silver is $23.97.

 

Obituaries

Michael McAdoo

No service is scheduled for Michael McAdoo, 66, of Lawton. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Bobby Glen Rogers

A memorial service for Bobby Rogers, 62, of Pocasset is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, March 30th

 

Two Arrested Following Drug Sale to Informant

A man and woman who have long police records are back in custody for allegedly selling drugs and having illegal weapons and stolen property. 41-year old William 'BJ' DeHart, III and 41-year old Stephanie 'Nana' Eldridge were arrested by Grady County DEA agent Jim Peek and other law enforcement officers this week. A probable cause affidavit indicates that a confidential informant was give cash to purchase meth from the pair. A transaction was made at the Double B RV Park in the 700 block of North 13^th Street in Chickasha Tuesday afternoon. After the drug buy, agents obtained a search warrant where they found numerous drugs, a sawed-off shotgun and other weapons, and ammunition. The investigation also revealed the travel trailer the suspects were living in had been stolen from a deer lease in Garvin County last October. Both DeHart and Eldridge have been charged with multiple new felonies in connection with this week’s arrests and are in the Grady County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond each.

 

Onward Chickasha Survey Ends Friday

Chickasha residents have two more days to submit comments for the Onward Chickasha survey. The survey is gathering information to put together a long-range plan for improvements within the City of Chickasha. The survey has numerous questions about police and fire, parks and recreation, infrastructure, and other areas. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. The survey can be found on the website: www.onwardchickasha.org

The website has an inter-active map and a section that explains the reasons for creating a plan to make improvements in the city over the next 20 to 30 years.

 

Natural Gas Prices Drop

The price of natural gas has plummeted in the first quarter of 2023. Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation commission explains-

 

              

 

Here are the prices for crude oil and precious metals-

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.28.

Gold is $1,984 and silver is $23.84.

 

4Her Shares STEM Info

A Grady County 4Her enjoys sharing information he's learned in his research of STEM projects - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Shane Williamson with the Rock Island 4H club shares some information you may not know-

 

              

 

Williamson says there are 700,000 miles of power lines in the U.S. with nearly 8 million workers employed in nearly 123,000 power plants nationwide.

 

USAO Presents Weekend Musical

USAO performing arts students open a weekend performance tonight. The musical A Man of No Importance is a collaboration of Terrence McNalley, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty – all of whom won Tony Awards for Ragtime. It's based on a 1994 Albert Finney movie of the same name and tells the story of an amateur theatre group and their leader. Performances times are 7:30 tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night and a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee. It's open to the public and tickets are $20 while USAO students get free admission with ID.

 

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Wednesday, March 29th

 

Search for Next USAO President Begins

Regents for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) have officially begun the search to find the university's next president. Current president John Feaver previously announced plans to retire at the end of this calendar year. He has served as president for more than 20 years and has been associated with USAO for more than 40 years. An independent search firm has developed a profile which is being used to recruit highly-qualified candidates. Diana Ming is the regent who is chairing the presidential search committee. She said it is an exciting time in the more than 100-year history of the university and she's confident they will have a robust and diverse pool of candidates. Regents are working with the firm called Higher Education Leadership Search to help find candidates. The group held open forums with USAO faculty, staff, students, alumni, the USAO Foundation, and members of the community to develop the profile. Applications for the post will be accepted through April 28th.

 

Senior Citizen Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing Brother

A 75-year old man is arrested for allegedly stabbing his brother. Gary Stringfield was arrested by Chickasha police after they were called to the Whispering Pines Apartments on Frisco Avenue last Wednesday. Authorities received a 9-1-1 call from a man who said the victim came to his door bleeding. The victim had been stabbed in his neck and chest and he was taken to the hospital. A probable cause affidavit indicates police found Stringfield in another apartment and saw blood on his hands. Authorities asked him if he had been in an altercation with his brother to which Stringfield replied 'hell yeah we fought - we're brothers’. Stringfield told police he didn't know how his brother got hurt. Authorities found a folding metal knife with blood on it in the apartment. Stringfield has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and remains in jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond.

 

Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act Funds Now Available

Rural Oklahoma businesses looking to expand can now apply for loans to help them with their growth. Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce say that five certified participants have been authorized to infuse $100 million of capital to businesses in rural communities. The program was created through the Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act signed into law last year. Companies can use the funds to invest in equipment, purchase supplies, and hire employees when they have to opportunity to expand. Commerce department officials say the program is expected to create jobs in rural areas and help improve the state's economy.

 

PSO Receives Energy Star Partner Award

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) receives recognition from a couple of federal agencies. PSO was selected as an Energy Star Partner of the Year from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for what the agencies call 'sustained excellence.' In a press release, PSO officials say the award reflects the value and success of PSOs energy efficient programs for its customers - helping them save energy and money while improving the comfort of their homes. It's the seventh straight year that PSO and its parent company American Electric Power have received the award.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.20 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.60.

Natural gas is $2.03 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,985 and silver is $23.43.

 

Obituary

Cledia Rakestraw

Funeral service for Cledia Rakestraw, 94, of the Tuttle and Mustang area will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 30^th at the First Baptist Church of Mustang. She graduated with a class of nine students from Middleberg High School where she played basketball and softball. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

 

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Tuesday, March 28th

 

'Old Town Chickasha' Development Plans Revealed

California developer Chet Hitt formally announced his plans to invest millions of dollars in downtown Chickasha yesterday. Called Old Town Chickasha, Hitt unveiled his proposal in a 90-minute program at the Rock Island Railroad Depot with numerous city, county, and state leaders on hand. A lot of Hitt's plans had already been made public including a distillery, a restaurant, and a coffee shop.  Yesterday's plans went another step further as Hitt encouraged the building of a new hotel near the Grady County Fairgrounds, a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks linking the fairgrounds to the downtown area, and the development of Phase Two of the downtown park. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell was among those attending and said it's exciting to hear about the private investment Hitt is bringing to the city and that the state has a number of programs that can help.

 

              

 

Leaders from city and county governments, the chamber of commerce and economic development council, the Grady County Fairgrounds, USAO, and Canadian Valley Technology Center were on hand for the presentation as Hitt encouraged the cooperation of all of the groups to continue efforts to make Chickasha one of the state's top tourist destinations.

 

Anadarko Man Honored by Dep't of Rehab Services

An Anadarko man who serves as the tribal historian at the Kiowa Tribal Museum in Carnegie is the recipient of a state honor.  Dr. Phil Dupoint was named the client of the year for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. Dupoint has dual amputations and applied for the agency's services in 2021. The agency helped provide modifications to Dupoint's home to give him better access to his work room, office, and living areas. He says one of his proudest moments was obtaining his driver's license. Kiowa Tribal Chairman Lawrence Spottedbird and Vice Chairman Jacob Tsotigh were among those attending the presentation held during the People with Disabilities Day at the state capital.

 

USAO 'Giving Day' Aims to Raise $150,000

USAO has an ambitious fund-raising goal to celebrate President John Feaver’s more than 40-year affiliation with the university. This Friday the university will host Giving Day - a one-day campaign to raise $150,000 to celebrate Feaver's work. Feaver will be retiring at the end of this calendar year. JP Audus is the university's vice president for advancement and also is director of the USAO Foundation. He said devoting one day to all of what Feaver has done for the university is far from adequate, considering the impact he has had on so many people. The event will feature donor challenges and matching gifts to maximize the value of each contribution. Donations may be given to student scholarships, academic departments, athletics, and other programs.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.81 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.12.

Natural gas is $2.09 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,971 and silver is $23.05.

 

Obituaries

Thomas Julian

A graveside service for Thomas Julian, 81, of Chickasha will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 31st at Fairlawn Cemetery. He set two state track records and was an all-state basketball player for St. Joseph’s Academy in Chickasha and was a U.S. Army veteran. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Sammie Joe Williams

A memorial service for Sammie Joe Williams, 84, of Alex will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Alex High School gymnasium. He was a farmer and rancher and worked for the soil conservation service. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Eldred Jones

A memorial luncheon for Eldred Jones, 82, of Rush Springs will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Southern Baptist Church in Rush Springs. He was a truck driver and worked for a mobile home company. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, March 27th

 

Boyd, Anderson to Face Off in Chix City County Election

Chickasha residents will go to the polls next week to vote in just one race in this year's city council election. It’s in Ward 4 where current councilman Kelly Boyd will face Eric Anderson for a two-year term. Boyd has been on the council for two years. He discusses the council’s recent adoptions of some new regulations to give code enforcement more authority to make property owners clean up areas around town-

 

              

 

Anderson is retired from the U.S. Army who has seen the city grow over the years and would like to be involved-

 

              

 

The election is next Tuesday, April 4^th and all registered voters who live in the city limits can cast a ballot. In addition to the Chickasha City Council election there are other town council and some school board elections in the region. In-person, absentee voting will be available at county election boards this Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and regular precincts will be open Tuesday, April 4^th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

OHP Continues Probe of Fatal Caddo County Crash

The highway patrol continues investigating a deadly traffic accident that happened in Caddo County over the weekend. 48-year old Avery Swarts of Elgin died when his pickup ran off the road, hit a fence and rolled several times. The accident happened just before 4:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon west of Eakly near the junction of State Highways 59 and 152.

 

Anadarko-area Crash Victim Air-Lifted to Hospital

In a separate accident in Caddo County a driver was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital after his car crashed near Anadarko. 36-year old William Shepherd of Mt. View was last in fair condition after the accident near CR1370 and Turnpike Road southeast of Anadarko about 5:00 p.m. Sunday. The highway patrol reports that Shepherd lost control of his car while driving across a bridge. He ran off the road and overturned and was pinned inside the car for about 10 minutes. He was taken to the hospital with head, neck, and trunk injuries.

 

Hinton Coach Charged with Child Abuse Appears in Court

The high school wrestling coach at Hinton was briefly in police custody last week after a felony warrant was issued for his arrest. Jacob Peck was arrested last Friday. Authorities issued a warrant for Peck's arrest March 10th for child abuse. An affidavit filed by Hinton police alleged that at least two girls complained that Peck was overly physical with them, with one of them alleging Peck placed her in a choke hold. Peck is out of jail after posting a $5,000 bond. A preliminary hearing conference has been scheduled May 26th in Caddo County District Court.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.26 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.99.

Natural gas is $2.21 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,973 and silver is $23.06.

 

Obituaries

Angeline ‘Angie’ Friskel

No funeral service is scheduled for ‘Angie’ Friskel, 75, of Chickasha. She was a scrub tech and owned an antique store. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Catherine Robinson

Funeral service for Catherine Robinson, 83, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Grady County Fairgrounds. She was a gospel singer and worked at Head Start. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.