MIKE McCORMICK
Staff Writer Here is Part 2 of our review of top local news stories from last year.
June
In late June, a Chandler attorney was appointed the new district judge for District 23.
Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed Sarah L. Bridge to fill the vacancy created earlier this year.
Two people from Stroud have each been charged with drug and contraband felonies following their arrest in June by law enforcement officers.
Katelynn Pamela Gordon, 27, and Thomas Blake Cole, 35, were formally charged in Lincoln County District in June of this year with trafficking in illegal drugs and contraband into a jail/penal institution.
July
Contestants for this year’s International Finals Youth Rodeo began checking in Friday morning and must be in Shawnee by noon on Sunday in preparation for Sunday night’s first performance.
Area contestants in addition to Audry Fish and Rye Butler include: Averitt Hayden, McLoud, bull riding.
Kyndra Darphin, Carney, breakaway roping. Marcie Ferrari, Chandler, breakaway roping and barrel racing.
Emma Helmick, Meeker, breakaway roping.
Lexi Helmick, Meeker, breakaway roping.
Blake Huddleston, McLoud, steer wrestling. Brayle Miller, McLoud, barrel racing.
Rylee Moore, Chandler, breakaway roping. Rowdy John Pino, McLoud, team roping and tie down calf roping.
Dally Trussell, McLoud, team roping. Gavin Western, Meeker, team roping.
Lincoln County commissioners approved the language for a ballot proposition to submit to the people creating an Emergency Medical Service District to provide ambulance services to all county residents.
Their vote came during a special joint meeting in July between them and the Lincoln County Ambulance Advisory Committee.
A Harrah man facing a manslaughter charge or in the alternative negligent homicide has pleaded no contest to the lesser count and has been fined.
A formal charge of second degree manslaughter, a felony, or in the alternative negligent homicide, was filed in Lincoln County District Court Aug. 3, 2023 against Randy Eugene Orr, 50.
A two-vehicle traffic collision east of Meeker in Lincoln County has injured a Chandler man and resulted in the death of a Beggs resident, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.
State Trooper Eric Smith identified the Beggs resident as Robert Sumner, 31.
Meeker Town Board of Trustees in July voted to dissolve the Meeker Growth and Development Committee.
Trustee Lanny Thompson said, “We’ve been discussing the Meeker Growth and Development Committee ever since I came on this board. I’m sick and tired of talking about it. Let’s dissolve it,” he added.
Lincoln County commissioners this week authorized the bid process for the jail expansion by Flintco and also held off taking any action on a resolution regarding wind turbines.
The motion on the bid process for the jail expansion stipulated that the bids will be opened during a public meeting at the Lincoln County courthouse.
The project is estimated to cost around $4.1 million and will be funded with ARPA money.
Grant Koontz, a cyclist with Lincoln County roots, will be competing in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
Koontz’s parents originate from Stroud and Shawnee, while the 30-year-old is originally from Houston, Texas.
He now resides in Nederland, Co. with his wife and fellow professional cyclist, Daphne Karagiannis.
A Wellston attorney who was arrested and charged with multiple drug-related felonies in 2022, has drawn three suspended sentences after she entered no contest pleas to three of the counts.
Formal felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 6, 2022 against Debra Dawn Campbell, 59 at the time. They include trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of Controlled Drug with intent to distribute, acquire proceeds from drug activity and possess firearm during commission of a felony.
Campbell recently entered no contest pleas to a modified blind plea. District Judge John Canavan. received her pleas and scheduled her sentencing for Sep. 3.
Meeker Board of Education members in August voted to direct School Supt. Jeff Pruitt not to follow the State Department of Education’s memoranda issued in June and July regarding the acquisition and use of the Bible and those directives.
Pruitt informed the board members it was recommended by the board’s legal counsel not to follow those.
The voted unanimously to have Pruitt not to follow the June 27, 2024 and July 27, 2024 memorandums.
A Prague man who entered a guilty blind plea to four felonies with children under 16 has been sentenced to two life sentences plus 15 years in prison for committing those crimes..
Lou Earl Nelson, 43, was charged Oct. 25, 2023 in Lincoln County District Court with two counts of lewd acts with a child under 16, possession of child pornography and using access to computer to violate Oklahoma statutes.
Three more towns in Lincoln County have received grants from the Route 66 Commission for improvements before the Route 66 Centennial in 2026. Stroud was awarded $999,600, Wellston received $792,506, and Davenport was awarded $395,500, according to the Commission.
August
Meeker Town Board of Trustees in August voted to withdraw its request to increase the municipal water supply to 2,790 acre feet and instead retain the current water supply of 1,000 acre feet as part of the Meeker Lake dam rehabilitation process.
Voters in Lincoln County chose a new sheriff during the August primary runoff election and also selected a newcomer Jim Shaw over five-term legislative incumbent State Rep. Kevin Wallace in the House District 32 contest.
Shaw’s vote total was 3,291 to 2,764 for Wallace. Shaw had led Wallace in the June 18 primary.
Voters elected Kevin Garrett as the new sheriff over Aaron Bennett by 77 votes, 2,825 to 2,748.
Two area game wardens predicted good hunting for the upcoming deer seasons this fall and they say they’ve also seen lots of young turkeys.
But they also remind hunters to check some of the new rules and regulations that have been put in place this year as well.
Oklahoma Game Wardens Mike France and Jacob Harriet say that deer are plentiful everywhere in Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties. France is assigned to Pott County and Harriet is assigned to Lincoln County but both work closely with one another.
State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd has released the findings of a forensic audit of financial accounts of former District Attorney Allan Grubb who resigned in September of 2022.
While the audit doesn’t specify that any money was discovered missing, it appears to show mismanagement of public funds the District Attorney’s office received and distributed.
Current District Attorney Adam Panter said that he thinks it was more of a mismanagement issue than anything else.
District Judge John Canavan congratulated Sarah Bridge after he administered the oath of office swearing her in as a new District Judge in the first week of September in Lincoln County. Bridge was appointed to the position in June by Gov. Kevin Stitt to fill the vacancy created earlier this year by the resignation of former District Judge Traci Soderstrom. Bridge was an attorney with the law firm of Lenora, Upton and Bridge for 17 years. Among those attending the swearing in Tuesday were her husband Douglas and three children.
Kennedy Allen stroked a two-run double in the sixth inning and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to lead Chandler to a 2-1 win over Stroud in the finals of the 66 Conference fastpitch tournament at Prague.
It was the third 66 tournament championship in the last four years for the Lady Lions and the 10th in 16 years under head coach Bryan Herring.
September
A suspect who was arrested by a Wellston police officer for driving while under the influence of intoxicating alcohol, reportedly pulled a gun and attempted to shoot a Lincoln County Sheriff’s jailer who was patting him down in early September.
Jerry Louis Lorenz, 50, of Jones, who was transported to the Lincoln County jail after he reportedly was involved in single-vehicle collision, is facing three felonies and two misdemeanor charges.
Stroud went 97 yards on three plays in the fourth quarter for the winning score and beat Chandler, 21-14.
The victory snapped a four-year winning streak by the Lions in the ancient rivalry. It was the first win in the series as the head coach for Stroud’s Josh Presley and the first time for his seniors to take home the BancFirst Historic Route 66 Bedlam Trophy, presented annually to the winning team.
A Stroud man who entered a no contest blind plea to three felonies and pleaded guilty to two others, all of which were related to crimes with minors, has been sentenced to three life terms in prison.
Shamus Patrick Palermo, 49 at the time, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on July 17, 2023 with two counts of first degree rape and one count of soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology. He entered a no contest blind plea to those charges.
Pre-preliminary hearings have been continued for the Assistant Police Chief of Prague and his wife who are facing a total of 41 felony charges between them related to child sexual and physical abuse.
The charges were formally filed against Jeffrey Louis Frisbie, 55, longtime Prague police officer and his wife Kimberly Ann Frisbie, 50, in Lincoln County District Court on Sep. 25, 2024. The couple was arrested by officers on Sep. 10, and transported to the Lincoln County jail in Chandler where they immediately posted bonds of $100,000 each.
Last week, Griffith reportedly was arrested by authorities in Polk County, Fla., after calling 911 to report his mother was bleeding from a knife wound in her neck.
Investigators there reportedly do not believe what Collin Griffith has told them.
There isn’t much more terrifying than watching someone choke and not knowing what to do. There is the Heimlich, but even that has the potential to cause further injury, especially when a child is choking.
Chandler Public Schools is introducing a new device to help make their cafeterias safer and can be used by almost anyone effectively. It’s called LifeVac. It’s a simple device that more easily and safely dislodges food stuck in a child or adult’s throat.
“LifeVac is quite a marvelous little tool to use because, in all honesty, a lot of us, if you Heimlich, you have to get in the right place. You have to do it exactly the right way, but even then, you could injure somebody,” School Nurse Jacalyn Allen said. “And sometimes, some of use have short arms and we can’t exactly do it effectively.”
At a special meeting on Monday, Sept. 23, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority board unanimously voted to approve the construction contract award for the pavement widening and service plaza reconstruction project on Turner Turnpike by Stroud.
The $38.4-million contract was awarded to Becco Construction, which had the lowest bid, according to Darian Butler. There were four bidders for the project. Becco’s was still about 6.8 percent over the engineer’s estimate, Butler added. He estimated that the project will take about 425 days once construction starts, with a 90-day ex.
The board also approved a 15-day extension to award the contract in line with the Oklahoma Public Competitive Bid- ding Act. Bids were opened for the project on Aug. 15.
The Assistant Police Chief of Prague and his wife are facing a total of 41 felony charges between them related to child sexual and physical abuse.
The charges were formally filed against Jeffrey Louis Frisbie, 55, longtime Prague police officer and his wife Kimberly Ann Frisbie, 50, in Lincoln County District Court on Sep. 25, 2024. The couple was arrested by officers on Sep. 10, and transported to the Lincoln County jail in Chandler where they immediately posted bonds of $100,000 each.
They made their initial appearance before Special Judge Emily Mueller on Sep. 26. She scheduled their pre-preliminary hearings for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 21.
On that date, she continued the hearings for each of them until 9 a.m. on Jan. 23, 2025.
Specifically, Jeff Frisbie is accused of 16 charges of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, six counts of rape by instrumentation and two counts of first degree rape.
Kimberly Frisbie is accused of 17 counts of child abuse.
Two local marching bands kicked off competition season by attending the Ironhead Invitational Contest in Eufala on Sept. 28. The Pride of Chandler won first place in the prelims and second overall in the finals, among other awards. The Pride of Prague landed in fourth during the prelims.
A Stroud man whose trial on a first degree murder charge related to the distribution of Fentanyl, a Controlled Dangerous Substance was set has pleaded guilty to an amended count of second degree murder.
Formal charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court Dec. 6, 2023 against Dillon Young, 30.
October
Lincoln County commissioners in early October took no action regarding ARPA funded projects, the jail remodeling and expansion and a new building for the OSU Extension Center, after bids came in much higher than anticipated.
All six area marching bands competed in three competitions, with some making improvements on previous scores.
North Rock Creek High School marching band competed in the Sound of Southeast Marching Festival in Checotah on Oct. 5. In Class 4A Blue, they placed second and received first place in drum major, drumline and color guard. In the finals, they ranked fourth overall out of 16 bands.
A Stroud man who already was sentenced to prison recently after pleading guilty to a second degree murder charge, has also been sentenced on drug charges.
Dillion Young, 31, who last month was sentenced to 40 years in the Department of Corrections except for the first 20 years on an amended charge of second degree murder, was recently sentenced on two drug charges.
A Wellston woman who was scheduled to go on trial in October in the death of a Carney man has entered a guilty blind plea and her sentencing has been scheduled.
Janelle Bertha Brown, 39, was formally charged July 14, 2023 in Lincoln County District Court with first degree murder, accessory to murder, unlawful removal of a dead body and desecration of a human corpse.
Clyde Dean Clayton, 42, of Sioux City, Iowa was also charged in Lincoln County Court at the same time with the same counts.
Chandler got a no-hitter from junior Kennedy Allen in the first round and made it to the semifinals of the state tournament before falling to eventual state champion Lone Grove.
It capped a remarkable season for the Lady Lions, who finished 35-6. They peeled off 10 straight wins to start the season, won 17 straight in another stretch and shut out 18 opponents.
The thriller movie “Reverence,” which was filmed in Chandler last year, is finally finished. The cast and crew are holding a private premiere to finally watch the final product.
Producer Jacob Snovel with SafeHouse Films said everyone was excited to see it and to take it to festivals.
A Lincoln County jury has convicted a man from Sioux City, Iowa of first degree murder and three other felony counts in the death of a Carney area man.
The jury deliberated just a little over an hour before returning guilty verdicts against Clyde Dean Clayton, 42. The jury found him guilty of first degree murder, accessory to felony, unlawful removal of a dead body and desecration of a human corpse.
The jury has recommended punishment at life without parole.
Lincoln County commissioners were informed during their first meeting in November that the county had been included in a State of Emergency Declaration due to storms that struck the county early Sunday morning, Nov. 3.
Gov. Kevin Stitt declared the State of Emergency on Sunday for several Oklahoma counties.
Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Charlotte Brown advised the commissioners during her update that five homes were impacted, one of those lost, and there were two injuries.
Wildfires throughout Lincoln County in late October scorched thousands of acres and several structures but no injuries have been reported.
Charlotte Brown, Lincoln County Emergency Management director, noted, “In the last 10 days we’ve had 10 plus fires in Lincoln County. We lost two homes that were inhabited and two more that were not.
“The Southwest Fire alone burned more than 1,110 acres,” she said, adding, “that’s the fire where we lost the structures.”
November
A Stroud man faces two rape charges and a third felony following his arrest by the Stroud police chief.
Two counts of rape by instrumentation and one charge of pattern of criminal offenses were formally filed in Lincoln County District Court recently against Charles Douglas LeMaster, 61.
Lincoln County commissioners in mid-November began their discussion on setting up the 522 District that was approved during the Nov. 5 General Election two weeks ago.
Voters decided in favor of creating an Emergency Medical Service District to help provide more widespread ambulance service throughout the county.
Nearly 60 percent of those voting were in favor of creating the 522 District to less than 40 percent who were opposed.
Three students from Wellston placed at this year’s American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Central District Speech Contest in Tecumseh on Nov. 11.
Senior Josie Murray placed first in Senior Agribusiness, Paige Keeling placed fourth in Intermediate Agriscience, and senior Kaden James placed fifth in Senior Extemporaneous. Murray will continue to compete at State, according to a press release from the AFR.
The Chandler City Council voted to approve a Master Service Agreement– contingent on some changes– with a new firm to take over the McClanahan Park project in its monthly meeting.
City Manager Jason Orr said the firm the City has been using—Kimley Horn—hasn’t been moving as quickly as the City would like, considering the park should be completed for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026.
A woman from Paden and a man from Prague died in a two-vehicle, head-on collision west of Prague in Lincoln County.
State Trooper Nathan Jackson, who investigated the collision, identified the two who died as Lacey Collins, 38, of Paden and Norman Pyatt, 48 of Prague.
Jackson reported the collision occurred on U.S. 62 and Airport Road, approximately one mile west of Prague.
Pre-preliminary hearings have been continued for the Assistant Police Chief of Prague and his wife who are facing a total of 41 felony charges between them related to child sexual and physical abuse.
The charges were formally filed against Jeffrey Louis Frisbie, 55, longtime Prague police officer and his wife Kimberly Ann Frisbie, 50, in Lincoln County District Court on Sep. 25, 2024. The couple was arrested by officers on Sep. 10, and transported to the Lincoln County jail in Chandler where they immediately posted bonds of $100,000 each.
Lincoln County commissioners in the first week of December awarded a bid for the renovation of the county jail and discussed the use of remaining ARPA funds.
On a motion by District 3 Commissioner Lee Doolen and seconded by District 1 Commissioner Will Fine the commissioners awarded the bid to Ascend Commercial Builders for $2,440,270.43. That was the low bid submitted of six that were opened last week during a special meeting.
Time frame given for the project by Ascend is 12 months.
The other bids submitted included: A&K Construction, $2,830,000, 450 days. Lambert Construction, $2,856,000, 10 months. W.L. McNatt and Co., $2,730,000, 448 days. Jim Cooley Construction, $2,977,600, 365 days. Hoey Construction, $2,639,000, 360 days. A man from Sioux City, Iowa convicted by a Lincoln County jury in October of first degree murder and two other felony counts in the death of a Carney area man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Appearing for his sentencing before District Judge John Canavan, Clyde Dean Clayton, 42 at the time he was charged, was sentenced to life without parole on the murder conviction. That is what the jury had recommended as punishment.
A Wellston woman who entered a guilty blind plea death to first degree murder in the death of a Carney has been sentenced.
Janelle Bertha Brown, 39, was formally charged July 14, 2023 in Lincoln County District Court with first degree murder, accessory to murder, unlawful removal of a dead body and desecration of a human corpse.
Candidates for Boards of Education in Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties concluded filing for offices the first week of January. Those who filed and didn’t draw an opponent with their seat unopposed.
If more than two candidates filed for the same position, a primary election will be held Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. If one of those candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote, that candidate will be named the elected official.
In Lincoln County, those who filed include: Agra, Office No. 5, Keith Wright Carney, Office No. 5, Jacob Thompson. Chandler, Office No. 5, Joseph M. Irby. Davenport, Office No. 5, Dr. Dan Waters. Meeker, Office No. 5, Josh Elliott Prague, Office No. 5, Levi Lee, Katherine Sprague and Jason Reddick.
Stroud, Office No. 5, Eric Bradley and Aaron Grill. Wellston, Office No. 5, Jimmy Weathers and Christa Coover.
White Rock, Office No. 2, David Brockman. In Pottawatomie County, those who filed include: Dale, Office No. 5, Robin Wiley-Greene. North Rock Creek, Office No. 5, Kourtney Swan. McLoud, Office No. 5, Dustin Conley and John Stotts. Gordon Cooper Tech Center, Office No. 2, Keisha Coulter.
Gordon Cooper Tech Center, Office No. 5, Unexpired, Dennis Morris; Casey Wayne Bell.
Chandler Board of Education members this week voted to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.
Following an executive session, board members returned to open meeting and voted to employ Aaron Bennett the school resource officer for the Chandler School District.
Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with a rash of car burglaries that occurred overnight last week and a number of the items stolen have been recovered, Stroud Police Chief Clint Gaylord has confirmed.
Gaylord reported, “The stolen rifle, a .22 caliber Savage, a crossbow, and a number of other items stolen have been recovered. We are in the process of contacting victims who’s property has been recovered.”
The Stroud School Board voted in December to approve a $1.4 million visitor’s locker room to be located at the football field.
Superintendent Joe Van Tuyl said they’ve been working on the development for some time, and he doesn’t see it as a large undertaking.
“We had available finances. There was an evaluation of ‘Is this a need?’ And is it something to be positive? There’s some disagreement about that. But at the end of the day, it was approved to move ahead with it,” he said, adding that it was well-vetted.
The Chandler City Council approved the installation of eight new stop signs at their monthly meeting on Dec. 10.
Mike Keller, assistant director of public works, said the City’s focus on future growth inspired him to send a team out to find intersections that needed new stop signs. They returned with eight areas in need that Keller followed up on to determine the necessity of signs.
Lincoln County commissioners in mid-December approved a contract with Ascend Commercial Builders, LLC for the jail renovation. They also awarded a bid for equipment and outfitting of five 2024 Dodge Ram vehicles for the Sheriff’s Department.
A couple of weeks ago the commissioners awarded a bid for the renovation of the county jail to Ascend Commercial Builders for $2,440,270.43. That was the low bid submitted of six that were opened.