Last week we started a review of news in 2022. Here is part 2.
Chandler’s new City Manager Jason Orr has been in his position going on three weeks now and says, “I love it. It’s one of the most hospitable towns I’ve been in.
“You can hear it in people’s voices. I really like small town charm and I think it’s a good fit for me,” he added.
Orr, originally from Tennessee, took the reins as Chandler’s new city manager May 2.
“I am extremely blessed to have this opportunity to serve the Chandler community. I look forward to assisting the Council in their efforts to make Chandler a special place that citizens can be proud to call home,” Orr said.
Three former officials with the City of Tryon facing embezzlement and conspiracy charges as the result of a special investigative audit have made their initial appearances and their pre-preliminary hearings have been scheduled.
The audit was released in February of this year..
Bench warrants were originally issued for the arrest of the three. Each charge filed against the three is a felony.
Stroud’s top high school golfer Brice Wolff captured the State Class 2A individual golf championship recently during the state tournament in May.
Stroud Golf Coach Mason Baade said Wolff carded scores of 70, 69 and 75 for a total score of 214 through three rounds of golf to claim the individual title.
The 214 score put him four over par for the tournament that was played at Buffalo Rock Golf Course at Cushing.
Students from Chandler’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) high school chapter competed at The 2022 BPA National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, May 4-8.
The conference brought together an estimated 6,000 delegates from across the country to vie for top honors in business, finance, technology, marketing and health administration skills.
In late May, Lincoln County commissioners decided to reject and throw out all bids for the west wall and stem wall at the Fairgrounds.
Commissioners determined one bid lacked all the required documents and the other bid was too high.
Commission Chairman Lee Doolen noted after the vote, “We’ll just need to start over.”
A first degree murder charge against a Wellston man accused of shooting to death a 21-year-old last July 5 was dismissed by District Attorney Allan Grubb’s office on Tuesday.
During a hearing Tuesday morning before District Judge Cindy Ashwood, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Mixon moved to dismiss the case. The case had been scheduled to go to jury trial June 6.
The judge ordered the case dismissed without prejudice and the costs also were dismissed.
That means the first degree murder case could be filed again by a different prosecutor at a future date.
Seamster, at the time 38, was accused of fatally shooting 21-year-old Lucas Goss with a firearm in Lincoln County on July 5 last summer.
Seamster claimed he shot Goss in selfdefense.
He was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on July 12.
The family of the victim has expressed outrage at Grubb’s decision.
Andrea Vanderpool, fiance of the victim, after learning that the charges were going to be dismissed, asked, “Why are we not allowed our day in court? Lucas deserves that. All we want is our day in court,” she noted.
“He (Grubb) called Lucas’s mother Zina on the phone and told he was going to dismiss the charge against Seamster. The reason he gave, is he’s under an obligation that if he can’t get a conviction he should dismiss the case. It was kind of a shocker,” Vanderpool said.
Vanderpool said she was sitting right next to Zina when Grubb called her. She stated that Grubb called her on May 18 informing her of his decision.
“At least take it to trial. That monster was on our property,” Vanderpool commented.
A McLoud man who already had admitted a federal firearms count nearly two years ago and was sentenced, has also pleaded no contest to three state felony charges and drawn prison terms to run concurrently.
Christopher Steven Ledbetter originally was charged in Lincoln County District Court on Sep. 14, 2021 with five felonies. They included planning, attempt/ conspire to perform an act of violence; two counts of possessing a firearm during commission of a felony; endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude a police officer; and feloniously pointing a firearm.
Two of those counts had been dropped during the course of his preliminary hearing in which he was bound over to stand trial.
Recently appearing before District Judge Cindy Ashwood, and upon the state’s recommendation as the result of a plea bargain, Ledbetter withdrew his previous pleas and pleaded no contest to Count 1, endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude a police officer; Count 2, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony; and Count 3, feloniously pointing a firearm.
The state and defendant waived a presentence investigation. The judge received the pleas and the waiver.
The judge found him guilty as charged on all three counts.
In early June, bench warrants were issued for the arrest of three more persons from Prague in a chop shop operation reportedly connected to another person already charged.
Kaleb Burleson, 19, and Whitney Kristine Harrison, 34, are both wanted on $10,000 bench warrants. A $15,000 bench warrant has been issued for Kenneth Gale Simon, 37.
Burleson was charged in Lincoln County District Court with operating/ dealing with a chop shop, conspiracy and knowingly receiving or concealing property.
Simon faces charges of operating/dealing with a chop shop after former conviction of two or more felonies, conspiracy after former conviction of two or more felonies and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property after conviction of two more felonies.
Harrison is charged with conspiracy and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property.
All the charges against the three were filed May 26 in Lincoln County District Court.
Also in early June, Stroud city officials were seeking federal funds to help purchase a new vehicle to facilitate the needs of their Senior Citizens.
City Manager Bob Pearman explained, “We are seeking the grant for a 15-passenger bus or a 14-passenger van. The one we have now is in terrible condition,” he noted.
Pearman said, “The old bus is a 2010 model. The windshield is cracked, the air conditioner doesn’t work, there is a hole in the heater core and the wheelchair lift doesn’t function,” he stressed.
The city manager pointed out, “the bus is used to deliver meals to the homebound, to take homebound to doctor appointments, grocery runs, transportation to the Senior Citizens building and on occasion recreational outings.”
Pearman said the cost of the vehicle they are hoping to purchase runs from $80,000 to $104,000.
He indicated the estimated cost of the 15-passenger vehicle they would like to purchase is $102,000. The federal grant that Stroud is seeking from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation would pay for 85 percent of the cost with the remainder coming from the city.
“It would help us to better serve and provide mobility to elderly, physically and mentally disabled persons allowing them the accessibility to the benefits,” the grant application states.
For those who enjoy fishing, a new floating fishing dock has been installed at Chandler’s old lake, due to the efforts of the Chandler Lions Club.
Keith Duncan, president of the club explained, “We try to do something whenever we can for the community. We have an active Lions Club and haven’t done a major project for a couple of years,” he added.
Duncan said the old lake has become known as “Bell Calf Lake,” and is excellent for crappie and big catfish.
Bell Cow Lake, the newer lake, is more known for its bass fishing, Duncan said.
He noted the club came up with the idea of the new floating fishing dock last November.
“The old dock was dilapidated and closed for a couple of years. People love to go there and fish,” he said.
Duncan stressed, “This project didn’t cost the city of Chandler a penny. The maintenance costs will be zero, too,” he noted.
A Tulsa woman charged with first degree manslaughter and multiple other felony offenses whose trial was declared a mistrial earlier this year, will be retried again.
Candice Rene Conley, 29, of Tulsa, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on Jan, 2, 2020 with the manslaughter count following a collision that occurred on Jan. 1, 2020 that left an Edmond woman dead.
The week long trial began on Monday, Feb. 14 and jurors spent nearly four hours in deliberations on Friday, Feb. 18, when they returned and indicated they were unable to reach a verdict.
District Judge Cindy Ashwood, who presided over the case, then declared a mistrial and the jury was excused from the courtroom. She ordered Conley would remain on the $100,000 bond and the judge ordered a status conference for 2 p.m. on May 13, 2022.
During that status conference, the state announced it planned on re-trying the case. The judge set it for the felony disposition docket on Sep. 27 and scheduled a jury trial on Oct. 17.
In the first degree manslaughter charge, Conley was accused of recklessly driving on Jan. 1, 2020 on the Turner Turnpike at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, a misdemeanor, without regard for the lives or safety of others and colliding with a vehicle driven by Mercedes Rose Tyler, causing her fatal injuries.
In leaving the scene of a fatality accident count, she was accused of driving away from that fatal accident and then further fleeing her own vehicle.
In addition to the manslaughter count, Conley was originally charged also with leaving the scene of a fatality accident, a felony; assault and battery with a deadly weapon; six counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon after former conviction of a felony; and four counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury.
In mid-June, The Lincoln County News was presented the Sequoyah Award at the Oklahoma Press Association’s annual convention.
The award is for best-in-class journalism across the state and goes to the top eight newspapers among the press association’s 175 members.
The 13U Slam, which has players from Wellston, Chandler, Stroud and Meeker, won the Del City Softball Championship by sweeping five opponents.
The Slam beat Norman IntenCity 08 3-0 with Ruthie Capps, Rylee Capps, Elli Hilgenfeld, Alexis Fowble Brodie Chance, Blaklei Smith and Gabriella Murfin combining for nine hits. In the second pool game, the Slam beat Oklahoma Stingers Mayhem, 18-2. Ruthie Capps, Peyton Davis, Smith, Rylee Capps, Miyah Collier, Hilgenfeld, Fowble, Chance, Murfin and Sally Campbell adding to the throttling. In the third pool game, the Slam defeated the Next Level 2K8 7-2 with Davis, Smith, Ruthie Capps, Rylee Capps and Hilgenfeld leading the hitting.
In late June, winning not only her division but also the award for best lifter, Jimmie Brownfield competed in the United States Powerlifting Federation Teenage Nationals in Oklahoma An incoming freshman at Davenport High School, she has already set national records including the deadlift in 101 class, bench in the 114 class and holds the American record in the 105 class.
Also in late June, a Lincoln County jury has found a Choctaw man innocent of five felony charges that had accused him of first degree rape and lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16.
It was the only felony that went to trial during the recent two-week jury trial session that wrapped up June 17.
The jury deliberated only about an hour and 45 minutes before returning with the innocent verdict clearing Robert Charles Kessler, 35, of all the charges.
Kessler was first charged in Lincoln County District Court on April 3, 2019, with lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 and sexual abuse to a child under 12.
On Sep. 29, 2020, an amended information was filed by the District Attorney’s office. The charges included three counts of lewd of indecent acts to a child under 16 and two counts of first degree rape.
The jury trial started on Monday, June 13, before District Judge Cindy Ashwood and the four-day trial concluded Thursday afternoon.
The record shows the defendant, Kessler, took the stand during the trial.
Kessler was represented in the trial by his attorney Eric Bayat and prosecuting the case were Assistant District Attorneys Jeff Mixon and Jaime Ramos.
In late June, voters in Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties elected David Hammer as the new District Attorney in Tuesday’s primary election, ousting incumbent Allan Grubb.
He defeated Grubb and another candidate, Tanya Roland.
Hammer worked for former District Attorney Richard Smothermon and Roland worked for Grubb for a while.
With all 50 precincts reporting, Hammer was leading 6,854 votes to 2,543 for Roland and 2,387 for the incumbent Grubb.
Voters in Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties helped decide several political contests during Tuesday’s primary election and some races are headed to the Aug. 23 primary runoff.
Republican voters in Lincoln County Commissioner District No. 3 decided to keep incumbent Lee Doolen, of Meeker as he won a new-four term over challenger David Armitage, also of Meeker. No Democrat filed for that office.
With 19 of 19 precincts reporting, Doolen received 850 votes or 52.66 percent to 764 for Armitage which was 47.34. percent.
Current State Rep. Kevin Wallace won reelection to his House District 32 seat defeating Ryan Dixon. Wallace, of Wellston, garnered 3,030 votes to Dixon’s 2,361 votes. Wallace had 56.20 percent and Dixon got 43.80 percent.
In the crowded race to win the Republican nomination for Lincoln County District 1 commissioner, Will Fine led the pack of the six GOP candidates with 478 votes. He and Mike Snyder, who received 341 votes, will face off in the Aug. 23 primary to see who opposes the lone Democrat candidate Earl Glenn in the November general election.
The others receiving votes in that contest were J.R. Duvall, 187, Bobby Lee Norton, 148, Stroud, Matt Howell, 142 and Bob Wilson, 166.
Voters in both counties cast their ballots in the three-person, non-partisan contest for District Judge District 23 Office No. 1. where there will be a runoff. The candidates included Traci L. Soderstrom, Joe Dobry, Chandler, and Chad Moody, Wellston.
With all 50 precincts reporting, Soderstrom, Chandler, received 7,553 votes to Dobry’s 6,149 and Moody had 2,180.
In the crowded race for the District 28 State Senate seat, four Republican candidates and two Democrats are seeking to replace State Sen. Zack Taylor who decided not to run again.
With 44 of 46 precincts reporting, Grant Green with 3,477 votes and Jeff McCommas with 2,650 were headed to a runoff.
Karen Rackley with 1,699 votes appeared to have defeated Tony Wilson, 1,109 votes to win the Democratic nomination.
When the Prague Red Devils played their first home game of the 2022 football season, they played the contest on a new artificial surface.
Prague School Supt. Kevin Engle 2 explained this week, “The artificial turf will be put down in July and should be ready sometime in August.”
He noted, “The plan is to play our first home game of the season on the new turf against Meeker on Sep. 2.”
Engle 2 said that construction on the sub surface work began in late April.
“McKee Utility, LLC of Prague is handling all of the work in preparation for the turf. It’s being donated by McKee. All we have to pay for is the turf itself,” he added.
The Chandler Planning Commission voted not to recommend rezoning property for a sports center.
City Manager Jason Orr indicated Tuesday he’s not sure the property owner wants to pursue it any further.
The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing June 30 on the proposed rezoning of 13.64 acres located at Rozell and Park Streets next to Tillman Park. The current zoning classification is R-1, single family, and the zoning sought was C-2, commercial for a sports facility.
He explained the hearing would provide an opportunity for the public to express their support or opposition to the proposed rezoning.
This would allow the commission to determine if the public, the commission itself and the City Council are going to be supportive, Orr pointed out.
Orr said last week whatever the commission decided during the meeting would be forwarded to the City Council. “The Planning Commission just makes a recommendation to the Council,” he stressed.
He indicated the recommendation normally would go to the Council at its next meeting, July 12, but that’s not necessarily the case.
He said the property owner has looked at several different possibilities in the past and that he’s owned the property for 21 years.
Many of the communities in Lincoln County planned Independence Day celebrations over the weekend.
Prague’s, sponsored by Prague Chamber of Commerce and the City of Prague, starts off in Prague Park on July 3 with a children’s parade at 9 a.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 9:30. Frog, turtle and other races, such as piggyback and wheelbarrow, will begin at 10 a.m. There will be free food and giveaways around lunch, followed by horseshoe and volleyball tournaments.
At 1 p.m., $1 swimming will be available at the Prague pool. The 4th will feature softball tournaments held at Moon Field, along with a golf tournament at the golf course both starting at 1p.m. A fireworks show starting at dark will end the activities.
Meeker will be hosting its annual Independence Day Celebration at Meeker Lake with turtle races, bounce houses, a barrel train, karaoke music and a fireworks show after dark. There will be several vendors in attendance along with local entertainment for the whole family. The Meeker Fire Department will be providing a limited amount of food so be sure to arrive in time to claim your hot dog and ice cream.
On the 4th, Chandler will be having its annual celebration at Bell Cow Lake, starting the fireworks show at dusk.
Stroud’s celebration, cosponsored by GRDA and the Chamber of Commerce, will have its fireworks display in Foster Park starting at sundown and those living in Wellston will be able to light off fireworks in town on the 1st through the 4th until midnight.
Three days into July, newly elected District Attorney David Hammer suffered a heart attack and died on Sunday afternoon, July 3, just a few days after his election.
Hammer, 47, had defeated incumbent Allan Grubb and another challenger Tanya Roland, as he received more than 58 percent of the vote, winning the election without needing a runoff.
Lincoln County election Board Secretary Melissa Stambaugh said her county’s results were certified as of 5 p.m. last Friday, July 1 and Hammer was certified as the winner.
Pottawatomie County Election Board Secretary Trish Carter confirmed her county’s results were certified also at 5 p.m. July 1 and Hammer was certified as the winner.
On Tuesday, at 5 p.m., the State Election Board was to certify him as the winner.
An 18-year-old Chandler girl believes it’s a miracle that she will be competing on the same horse again at this year’s International Finals Youth Rodeo that she rode a year ago.
Kenzie Cowden, a recent graduate of Chandler High School who is college-bound, competed on her horse Peaches in the barrel racing and pole bending at last year’s IFYR.
Kenzie remembers well what happened three days after last year’s IFYR. She went out that Monday morning to feed the four horses as she normally does around 8 or 9 a.m. “I saw the cuts on Peaches’ legs and ran inside and told my mom. We called the Meeker Animal Hospital and took her there,” she said back then.
The attack possibly was from a mountain lion.
She said it took four weeks from the time Peaches was injured until she returned to Kenzie’s barn at her house. “She wouldn’t stay in the pasture where she was injured,” Kenzie noted, saying, “She still will not. She stays in a different pasture today.
“It took about four months for her to return to full speed. She had two very bad lacerations on her front right leg and lacerations to her neck,” Kenzie added.
A pre-preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a Prague man formally charged with intimidation of witness after already facing five felonies in two separate cases, among them operating a chop shop, now has been charged with a sixth felony.
Mick Devin Vancuren, 31, was formally charged June 3 in Lincoln County District Court with intimidation of witness after former conviction of two more felonies.
A $30,000 bench warrant was issued for his arrest the same day the new charge was filed.
A 15-year-old Stroud motorcycle driver was seriously injured Monday night in a two-vehicle collision and the driver of the other vehicle was transported to jail.
Stroud Police Chief Clint Gaylord said he isn’t able to identify the injured youth because he is a juvenile. Gaylord confirmed the youth was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and was in stable condition after suffering suspected injuries to his spine and neck area.
The chief reported the collision occurred around 9:30 p.m. Monday at SH 99 and E 850 Road. He identified the driver of the other vehicle as Hank Hunzicker, 51, of Drumright.
Gaylord said Officers Levi Bruder and Rickasha Gilley investigated the collision and they determined the motorcycle was northbound on SH 99 and making a right to go east on E 850 Road, when the 2011 Infiniti passenger car driven by Hunzicker, which also was northbound, struck the rear of the motorcycle causing the crash.
The chief noted that Hunzicker told the officers he had drunk “3 Tall Boy beers and the remainder of the beer was in the car.” He reportedly also told officers the blood alcohol test he had agreed to submit to would probably show that he was intoxicated.
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Agent Brandt Robbins, in an affidavit for an arrest warrant stated he had been conducting an investigation into the criminal activities of Yincong Li participating in violations of conspiracy to traffic a controlled dangerous substance.
In the affidavit, he relates that in the spring of 2021 the Drug Enforcement Administration Oklahoma City District Office was contacted by the DEA New York Field Division regarding the possibility that a cell of the Hanhe CHEN marijuana trafficking organization would soon be established in the Oklahoma City area.
Throughout 2021, the Oklahoma City Police Department opened an investigation regarding Chen. Based on traffic stops and GPS tracker data, OCPD was able to locate connections between 2720 SW 115th Street, Oklahoma City and 12800 SW 58th Street in Mustang and a marijuana grow located at 335568 E. 980 Road in Wellston.
In mid to late July, the State Department of Education concluded the Meeker School District had several violations concerning a student with learning disabilities and has ordered the district to remedy those.
A report dated July 11 this year, says a state-level complaint was filed on May 12, 2022 by Cassandra Beeson on behalf of her daughter, the student, a child with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
In mid-July, former State Sen. Ron Sharp was awarded $600,000 as a settlement in a suit with Epic Charter Schools.
Sharp, during a recent interview since the award was announced, commented, “Epic did a very good job of destroying my integrity and reputation. This is a vindication,” he added, noting, “I will get a check very soon and the current Epic Board President Paul Campbell publicly apologized to me.”
He said Campbell apologized for what Sharp had gone through.
Sharp further stated, “Epic Founders Ben Harris, David Chaney and Josh Brock are currently charged with embezzlement.”
Sharp said during the interview, “I knew something was wrong with Epic from the beginning. Former Gov. Mary Fallin had initiated an investigation with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in 2013.
“Epic was claiming they had an enrollment of 30,000 students. During the Pandemic they were claiming 60,000 students,” he noted.
Three former officials with the City of Tryon facing embezzlement and conspiracy charges as the result of a special investigative audit have made their initial appearances and their pre-preliminary hearings have been scheduled.
The audit was released in February.
Meeker’s Town Board of Trustees in July, meeting as the Public Works Authority, approved a rate increase from Central Disposal.
With the increase, the Town will pay $11.20 for one polycart with once a week residential curbside pickup and $1.25 for once a month curbside bulky waste collection.
Town administrator Jeff Wilbourn said the town is currently paying $8.30 for the once a week residential curbside pickup and $1.25 for once a month curbside bulky waste collection.
Also in July, former Guthrie and Chandler basketball coach Bob Griffin was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The patriarch of a family of coaches, Griffin was inducted at a banquet at the Southern Hills Marriott Hotel in Tulsa on a Saturday night.
Griffin coached from 1955 to 1986, including 14 years at Guthrie, where his teams appeared in three consecutive Class 3A championship games. They were runnerup in 1967 and won the state championship in 1968 and 1969.
His teams won 24 conference championships, including four at Chandler, and he was the Oklahoma basketball coach of the year in 1960. He was the Journal coach of the year in 1969, was inducted into the Guthrie Hall of Fame in 1993 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Griffin passed along the coaching genes to his family. His son David, is the softball coach at Perkins and has been inducted into the fastpitch and slowpitch Halls of Fame. His daughter, Cynthia Snider, is the cheer coach at Chandler and has been the coach of the year and All-State coach. His grandson, Chance Griffin, is the softball coach at North Rock Creek, where he coached the Lady Cougars to a state championship in their first year of competitive eligibility.
In late July, a Multi-County grand jury recommended that District Attorney Allan Grubb be removed from office and has requested the District Court order his immediate suspension.
The accusation for removal against Grubb accuses him of habitual or willful neglect of duty, oppression in office and corruption.
The nine-page report issued by the Multi-County grand jury was filed in Pottawatomie County District Court July 22.
An initial hearing on the accusation for removal and the grand jury’s request for immediate suspension has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 8 in the courtroom of District Judge John Canavan.
In late July, Chandler residents received a notice about the city’s drinking water, but City Manager Jason Orr on Monday assured them it’s completely safe to drink.
“Our drinking water is safe. It barely exceeded that 80 parts per million maximum allowed,” Orr emphasized.
“We went to only 85 parts per million and that is what triggered the notice to be sent out,” he noted.
Orr explained that lightning struck the water treatment plant within the past couple of months. “It did quite a bit of damage and we had to turn it into our insurance,” he said.
The city manager pointed out, “Quite a bit of the electronics were damaged. Parts were in short supply. We have received all the equipment to fix it, and we’re almost finished with it.
“This is not an emergency and our drinking water is safe,” Orr reiterated.
After moving around for more than half a century, a historical jail cell has finally made its way back to the site of its original location in Chandler.
Initially displayed in the basement of the original city hall, the cell was saved from disposal by city employee Peggy Walker during remodeling in the late 1960s.
Years later it was placed in the care of the Lincoln County Historical Society and moved to the south fence of the Williams Baseball Field where environmental conditions caused it to continually deteriorate over the course of several years.
A Stroud man has been arrested and faces two felony counts dealing with child pornography and is in the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler.
John Mack Byrd., Jr., 43, was formally charged July 29 in Lincoln County District Court with possession of child pornography and using access to computers to violate Oklahoma State statutes.
Byrd was arrested last week by agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The Stroud Police Department and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reportedly assisted with the investigation.
Byrd appeared July 27 before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk and she set his bond at $100,000. He was ordered to reappear on Aug. 1 and made his initial appearance at that time.
Chandler Wrestling had a special guest on Saturday, hosting 57 wrestlers from Chandler, Cushing, and Stroud in the Jerry Best Wrestling Clinic.
Best is a Chandler High School Alumni from the Class of 1991. He is the only 4-time undefeated State Champion for Chandler High School, winning in 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991 under former Chandler High School Head Coach Danny Harris.
Harris was in attendance along with his grandson, Fysher, who was attending the clinic.
In early August, Meeker High School’s FFA chapter once again was named a top 10 national finalist in the Model of Excellence competition.
It’s the second time in three years the Meeker FFA chapter, under the direction and guidance of Vo-Ag instructor and FFA advisor Logan Johns, has been named a national finalist.
“In 2020 the chapter was named national champions, the top FFA chapter in America,” Johns recalls.
He explained, “This is the entire chapter. The program of activities was planned by the chapter office but the activities were carried out by the entire chapter,” Johns noted.
He said this past school year the enrollment in FFA was 59. “It was those 59 that put it all together,” he added.
This coming school year he anticipates the chapter to number between 90-95 students.
Two area schools have new superintendents as the 2022-2023 school year begins this week with one of those taking the helm for his first time.
Scott Baade is starting his first year as Chandler School superintendent after being hired earlier this year to take over for retiring school chief Melody Toma. He officially began his duties on July 1.
Will Jones, who was hired in March to replace Ky Wilkins who retired as school superintendent at Dale June 30, also started his duties on July 1.
Fast pitch softball teams got their seasons under way, and area football teams began their practices for the 2022 season.
In mid-August, Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties District Attorney Allan Grubb resigned, submitting a letter to Gov. Kevin Stitt stating his resignation was effective Sep. 30.
His resignation comes on the heels of a Multi-County grand jury report issued last month recommending that Grubb be removed from office and that also requested the District Court order his immediate suspension.
In his letter, Grubb advised the governor, “I will be voluntarily suspending myself from office immediately so that a new interim District Attorney may be appointed after the death of the District Attorney-elect.”
On Monday, Grubb confirmed he has voluntarily suspended himself from the DA’s office and that First Assistant Corey Stone has taken over dayto-day operations.
Grubb cited some major health concerns that have arisen for both him and with family members.
He said Monday, “My family and I have had all kinds of medical problems just recently. I almost lost my wife three weeks ago due to complications following a surgery. My youngest child has to undergo two different kinds of surgery. And I have to have a vascular surgery.”
Grubb added, “And all of that is too much to effectively run the DA’s office. My term comes to an end Jan. 1 and a new DA will take over on Jan. 2.”
In early to mid-August, Meeker’s Riley Randall and Braxton Bussell took up where they left off last year, winning first and second at the Stroud cross country meet on a Saturday and leading the Meeker boys to an impressive win.
The Bulldogs had three of the top four finishers and four of the top 10.
Randall finished the two-mile course in 10:35.48 and Bussell finished in 11:40.30. Rylee Pryor finished fourth, in 12:01.89 and Bruce Bussell was 10th, with a 12:47.88 finish. Chase Massie from Chandler was 8th, running a 12:42.49 A year ago, Bussell won the meet and Randall took second. They established their supremacy the rest of the season and went 1-2 at the state cross country meet, with Randall winning his second straight championship and Bussell finishing second.
At the August meeting of Meeker’s Board of Trustees, they decided there will be no beer tent at this year’s Pumpkin Festival in October.
They also set the date for Trick or Treat night in October.
The Trustees briefly discussed whether to approve a beer tent for the annual Pumpkin Festival scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1.
In the final full week of August, voters in Lincoln County and Pottawatomie counties helped decide in the primary runoff election which candidates make it to the Nov. 8 General Election.
Republican voters in Lincoln County chose Will Fine as the District 1 nominee in the county commissioner runoff election over Mike Snyder Tuesday. Fine received 735 votes to Snider’s 570.
Fine will square off against Democrat Earl Glenn in the General Election.
Voters in Meeker and Davenport also approved propositions.
Republican voters in both counties and in Seminole County helped choose Grant Green as the State Senate District 28 Republican nominee over Jeff McCommas. Green received 4,500 votes to 3,865 for McCommas.
Green faces Karen Rackley in November. State Sen. Zack Taylor decided not to seek a new term.
Voters in the Davenport School District overwhelmingly approved a $1,370,000 bond proposition. Of the 302 votes cast on the issue, 216 voters favored it while 86 were against it.
In the final week of August, too, Lincoln County commissioners voted 2-1 to use ARPA funds for a water infrastructure project for a water line on U.S. 62 from Jacktown west to Fowler Road.
Commissioners briefly recessed the meeting to move it from the commissioners’ conference room to the courthouse lobby to take up the water line issue.
This was due to a large gathering that had shown up for the discussion on the issue.
Following the lengthy discussion between commissioners and those people who had shown up on the issue, District 3 County Commissioner Lee Doolen, who is also chairmen of the commission, moved to approve the water line.
A pre-preliminary was continued for one of three former officials with the City of Tryon facing embezzlement and conspiracy charges as the result of a special investigative audit have made their initial appearances and their prepreliminary hearings have been scheduled.
The audit was released in February of this year.
One charge of embezzlement and conspiracy was filed on May 10 in Lincoln County District Court against Jessica Turpin who served as the Utility Clerk and the Court Clerk in Tryon. A $7,500 warrant originally was issued for her arrest.
Court records show that Turpin made her initial appearance on June 30 before Judge Mueller and her pre-preliminary is set for Aug. 18.
The Town of Meeker Public Works Authority in late August received a $99,999 Rural Economic Action Plan grant from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
The grant is to help the Meeker PWA improve its water infrastructure.
Meeker Town Administrator Jeff Wilbourn said Tuesday, “We certainly appreciate the grant and we will be using it to improve our water infrastructure.”
McLoud City Manager Buck Day resigned effective in September and the City Council voted unanimously to have him terminate Police Chief Wes Elliott who already had submitted a letter of resignation.
Day, who was hired by the City Council in August of 2015 as the McLoud city manager, spent seven years in the position.
Looking for innovative techniques to maintain county roads, the Lincoln County Conservation District will work with the three county commissioners to initiate a pilot program, the first of its kind in Oklahoma.
Gary Bledsoe, a farmer and rancher, is chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lincoln County Conservation District.
He said a special training session has been scheduled for the three Lincoln County commissioners and their staffs for Wednesday, Sep. 7, at the Lake View Ridge at Bell Cow Lake.
Rural Wellness Stroud Hospital’s (Stroud Regional Medical Center) hospital management partner, Avem Health Partners, donated a new vehicle to Stroud Fire Department.
The fully equipped Ford F-150 will serve as the new command post for incident responses which the department has been without since losing one in a wildfire in 2020.
A collision in the parking lot on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County proved fatal for one man and injured a teenaged driver, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.
State Trooper Seijo identified the man who died as Joshua Hykeith Graves, 30, of Tulsa. He was transported and pronounced at Stroud Regional Medical Center.
The fatality collision occurred in the early morning hours on Sunday of Labor Day weekend at mile marker 166 in the Phillips 66 parking lot in Chandler, the trooper said.
Casmen Hill went over 5,000 yards rushing for his career and Chandler racked up 511 yards of total offense to take a 57-9 win over Lincoln County rival Stroud Friday night.
Stroud got off to an early 9-7 lead, but Chandler quarterback Alec Jackson ran for one score and threw to Kodey Pittman for another to make it 21-9 at the end of the first period.
Hill peeled off scoring runs of 44 and 47 yards before the half and scored on a 60-yarder to open the third period, sealing the game’s outcome.
For the game, Hill had a dozen carries for 273 yards and his three touchdowns.
“He’s had an impressive career, and he has shown that hard work pays off,” Chandler coach Jack Gray said of Hill’s 5,000 yards. “It’s a great accomplishment and couldn’t happen to a better person.
“He’s still got a lot of room to go, as well. Hopefully, he eclipses the 6,000yard mark.”
A felony charge filed in February this year against the owner of two Lincoln County marijuana growing operations after his facilities were seized and shut down in February has been dismissed.
Aformal charge was filed Feb. 25 in Lincoln County District Court against Dean Zheng, 51, of Chandler of trafficking in illegal drugs and a $20,000 warrant was issued at that time.
An assistant district attorney on Sep. 1, the date for Zheng’s preliminary hearing, moved to dismiss the charge without costs.
Special Judge Emily Mueller ordered the case dismissed.
Two felonies filed against the owner of a major illegal marijuana grow operation who was charged following her arrest by agents in June of last year has been dismissed.
Sai Ying Lin, of Tryon, 48 at the time, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court June 23, 2021. She faced felony counts of cultivation of a controlled substance and maintaining a place for keeping, selling a controlled substance.
Chandler stopped Bristow on fourth down in overtime Friday, putting a final exclamation point on a23-16 victory and capping a night of big plays, missed opportunities and a season’s worth of momentum changes.
It was not the best-played of games, but it was thrilling from the fi rst possession to the last snap and there was no questioning the effort on both sides.
“Both teams just kept giving each other a way to win,” Chandler coach Jack Graysaid.“We’dgivethem a way to win, they’d give us a way to win.
“My blood pressure has never been higher in my coaching career than it was tonight.”
In mid-September, Meeker police confiscated a sizable amount of marijuana right across from Town Hall and arrested the man residing there, they said, as they served a search warrant on his house and property.
Assistant Police Chief Scott Wilson identified the man arrested as John Henry Hagar, 34. Hagar was transported to the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler late Monday evening and booked on several drugrelated counts.
The Davenport Bulldogs grabbed their first win of the football season last Friday night limiting Yale to one touchdown while scoring four times themselves.
They defeated Yale 26-6 in Davenport’s home opener.
Senior quarterback Gage Keith threw four touchdown passes connecting on 6 of 13 attempts for 155 yards with one interception. He also rushed the ball for 44 yards on eight carries, had five tackle assists and returned an interception for 29 yards.
Chandler put on a strong second-half comeback Friday, but fell 30-21 to Class 4A Poteau.
Poteau, ranked No. 6 in 4Athis week by MaxPreps, bolted to a 30-7 lead, but Chandler dominated the second half and had the chance to cut the lead to a field goal or less in the final three minutes.
The preliminary hearing for one of several defendants charged in an alleged chop shop operation has been continued until November.
Kenneth Gale Simon, 37, was charged May 26 in Lincoln County District Court of operating/dealing with a chop shop after former conviction of two or more felonies, conspiracy after former conviction of two or more felonies and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property after conviction of two more felonies.
His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sep. 22 but has been moved to Nov. 10. He and Whitney Kristine Harrison, 34, both of Prague, were arrested following a brief pursuit on July 28.
He faces an additional charge of attempting to elude officers. Harrison, originally charged with conspiracy and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property, is now facing an additional count of harboring Simon.
Formal felony charges were originally filed May 26 in Lincoln County District Court against Kaleb Burleson, 19, Simon, 37, and Harrison, 34.
A Lincoln County District Judge has scheduled immunity hearings for two men charged in a shooting at an On Cue in Stroud on Oct. 9, 2021.
District Judge Cindy Ashwood heard motions Sep. 20 on eligibility of immunity hearings for Jeffrey Lee Battey, 57, Ponder, Texas and Ray Arnold Allen, 52, Krum, Texas, in connection with the shooting.
She has now scheduled the cause for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 14.
The two defendants are seeking immunity from prosecution.
Amanandwomanfacing multiple charges alleging sex crimes against a child have been bound over to stand trial.
During their arraignments on Sep. 20, Angela Renee Gordon, 42, of Claremore and John Joshua Bonner, 46, of Chandler, District Judge Cindy Ashwood scheduled their jury trials for 9 a.m. on Feb. 6, 2023.
Judge Ashwood also set their cause of the felony disposition docket at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2023.
The first week of October, Lincoln County commissioners implemented a countywide burn ban, meaning no outside burning will be allowed for 14 days beginning that day.
Their action came on a unanimous vote during an emergency meeting that was held at the conclusion of their regular meeting on Monday.
District 3 and Commission Chairman Lee Doolen was joined by District 2 Commissioner Marlon Miller and District 1 Commissioner Carl Munson in approving the burn ban.
A Meeker man was who was arrested after officers served a search warrant on his residence across from the Town Hall, faces two drug charges.
A formal felony charge was filed in Lincoln County District Court Sep. 23 against John Henry Hagar, 34. He is accused of possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the intent to distriibute.
Hagar also is facing a misdemeanor count of possession of CDS.
He appeared before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk Sep. 20. She set his bond at $20,000 and scheduled his initial appearance for 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 10.
Davenport’s head football coach John Greenfield garnered his 200th win as the Bulldogs cruised past Alex 36-0 last week in their homecoming contest.
Greenfield, who has coached the Bulldogs for 18½ seasons since their transition to eight-man football, was asked how it felt to reach that milestone.
“Pretty nice for the players,” the veteran head mentor replied. “There’s been a bunch of good players come through here,” he noted.
North Rock Creek’s offensive line staked out its turf at Mannford Friday night and led the Cougars to the first district win in the school’s football history.
“It was our best performance,” said NRC head coach Jason Murray. “We were able to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage, so we were able to use up a lot of clock, get firstdownsandkeepitaway from them.
“That was the difference. “It was an all-around team effort, but that’s the first time we’ve been able to establish the line of scrimmage and do that.”
The line cleared the way for 466 total yards, including 222 yards rushing by Caleb Hawkins.
The result was a 30-21 victory, the first district win in school history.
Stroud’s Tigers hammered Allen 55-0 Friday night and pushed their district record to 2-0.
After starting the season with losses to Class 2A Chandler and unbeaten Colcord, the Tigers have peeled off three straight wins a combined victory margin of 143-36.
“We’ve grown up a lot the past few weeks, growing as a team,” said Tigers’ head coach Josh Presley. “We’re still a young team, but we’re making fewer mistakes each week.”
Chandler bounded out to an early three touchdown lead, then held off the Meeker Bulldogs Friday night.
The win kept the Lions in a three-way tie with Jones and Luther for first place in District 2A.
The Lions are 4-1 for the season, going into Friday night’s game at Bethel.
Meeker dropped into a second-place tie with a 1-1 record in district play and will host Kellyville for Homecoming Friday.
Chandler Board of Education members this week, without taking any vote, discussed possible items for a bond issue.
Chandler School Supt. Scott Baade said among the possible items discussed, “Were a new gymnasium, football field house, track field house and dressing room, a Media Center for East Side Elementary School, classroom cameras with monitors and a new Vo-Ag truck.”
Baade explained, “The projected date would be a February vote. But we want to visit with the patrons to get their thoughts. We could have three different packages as one,” he noted.
A Harrah man awaiting a jury trial this month on a first degree murder complaint has been granted a continuance until February.
He also has waived his preliminary on five additional felonies he was charged with and his arraignment has ben scheduled forNovemberonthose charges.
It was a season’s worth of highlight reel plays for Casmen Hill Friday night.
The Chandler senior running back peeled off touchdown runs of 54, 82, 61 and 66 yards against Bethel and finished with an astounding 349 yards on just 16 carries.
In early October, Dale’s High School baseball team captured its second state championship under the guidance of Coach Eddie Jeffcoat, defeating Silo 18-11 in the finals played at Bricktown Ball Park in Oklahoma City.
“It’s pretty special, it feels great,” Jeffcoat said, noting, “especially when nobody really gave us a chance. To win it when no one expects you to is pretty special,” he reiterated.
The Pirates were ranked eighth going into the state tournament. “Silo was No. 1, Oktaha was No. 2 and Rattan was No. 3. We beat Rattan in the first game of the tournament and defeated Silo for the championship,” Jeffcoat added.
Stroud rolled off its fourth straight win and moved into a two-way tie for first place in DistrictA-6 by clipping the Hartshorne Miners 42-21 Friday night.
The Tigers and the Mounds Eagles sit atop the district with 3-0 league records and will meet at Jack Poskey Stadium in Stroud on Oct. 21.
Meeker pounded Kellyville 56-12 Friday to put an exclamation mark on homecoming and keeping pace in District 2A-2.
Sophomore Treyvon Compton replaced injured Ty Gabbert at quarterback against Kellyville and threw for five touchdowns and 260 yards.
Gabbert was 2-for-2 before leaving the game, giving the Meeker quarterbacks a combined night of 16 completions in 17 attempts.
Pre-preliminary hearings have been continued for two of three former officials with the City of Tryon facing embezzlement and conspiracy charges as the result of a special investigative audit have made their initial appearances and their prepreliminary hearings have been scheduled.
The audit was released in February.
A Carney man has been granted another continuance in his jury trial on a total of 13 charges.
Bobby Lloyd Johnston, 64, was arrested on Jan. 11 this year as officers served a warrant at 820575 S. 3330 Road in Lincoln County. Originally, he was charged with three felonies and four misdemeanors.
In mid-October, Meeker’s Town Board, meeting as the Public Works Authority, voted unanimously this week to increase the fees on water taps, water meter taps and sewer taps.
The water tap fees initially will begin at $400 per tap, water meter tap fees will start at $400 per meter tap and sewer tap fees will begin at $200 per tap, the Trustees said.
Stroud put a 54-6 whipping on Konawa Thursday night.
That win combined with Hartshorne’s 38-7 upset of Mounds left the Tigers alone atop District 7A. They are 4-0 in the district, while Hartshorne, Mounds and Allen are all 3-1.
Davenport’s Bulldogs won their second district game of the season last week, knocking off the Summit Christian Eagles 32-12 on the road.
They stay on the road again this week traveling to once-beatenWeleetka for a Friday night contest. Davenport Head Coach John Greenfield said kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Davenport is 2-0 in district and 5-2 on the season.
In later October, Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Adam Panter to serve as the district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District that includes Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties.
Associate District Judge Tracy McDaniel administered the oath of office to Panter early Monday morning this week at the Pottawatomie County Courthouse in Shawnee.
Panter will serve out the remainder of the term of Allan Grubb whose resignation became effective Sep. 30.
Panter previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for former DA Richard Smothermon from 2008-2016 following his graduation from law school. He was elevated to first assistant DA, serving in that capacity until the end of 2018.
He and his wife Jennifer live in Shawnee with their two daughters Corbyn and Adalyn.
Also in late October, the Chandler City Council recently adopted a resolution creating a new Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and is seeking citizens who are interested in serving on it.
City Manager Jason Orr said, “It helps for a community to have a plan in place and a road map for the future. It also helps me as a city manager and our council to determine where we want to be 20 to 30 years from now and make better decisions.”
During their second meeting in October, Lincoln County commissioners heard a proposal from OSU Extension Office officials about a new building and utilizing ARPA funds to pay for it.
Commissioners also approved a notification system proposal with Wave Plus System.
On the new building for the OSU Extension Office, commissioners were told the office needs to be out of the courthouse and in another place.
Stroud pummeled Mounds, 46-14, Friday and moved to within arm’s reach of a district championship.
Jordan Coody and Riley Randall won the individual championships at their cross-country regionals Saturday, and the Meeker boys brought home the championship plaque.
Randall, a two-time state champion,wonhisregional by a minute, clocking 17:06.73, and beat the top times at the other two regionals by almost a halfminute each.
The True Sky Credit Union and Central Oklahoma Federal Credit Union (COFCU) recently announced their merger has received regulatory approval and approval by a majority vote of the COFCU members.
According to a press release, the legal merger date for the two organizations was planned to be Nov. 1, 2022. The major change at this time is COFCU will become a division of True Sky Credit Union.
A mile into the state championship race Saturday, the question wasn’t if Meeker’s Riley Randall would win his third straight cross country state title.
It was by how big of a margin.
After that first mile, he’d already separated himself fromthepackandwasreaping the training benefits of the 50 miles he’d been running each week this season. He looked strong and chewed up the course at Edmond Santa Fe High School, steadily extending his lead until the finish line, which he crossed in 15:45.07, 45 seconds ahead of runnerup Brayden Cowden of Watonga.
Stroud won its district championship last week when Wewoka forfeited due to a lack of players.
That left the Tigers with an unblemished district record of 5-0 going into Thursday night’s game at Savanna.
It also gives them a home game for the fi rst round of the playoffs, which begin next week. The Tigers would host Chelsea, the No. 4 team in District A-5.
In the second week of November, voters in Lincoln County elected a new District 1 County commissioner and helped choose a new district judge and a new state senator in the General Election.
They also elected a new member of the Board of Directors for Lincoln County Southwest Fire District.
In early November, a Chandler woman was facing three felony charges, among them two for assault and battery upon a police officer, after her arrest a couple of weeks ago.
Cheryl Manning, 46, was formally charged in Lincoln County District on Oct. 12 with two counts of assault and battery upon a police officer and placing bodily fluids on a police officer, all felonies.
She also was charged with drinking an alcoholic beverage in a public place.
Chandler, Prague, Stroud and Davenport open the football playoff season Friday night, with all but Davenport having a home game.
A woman who was employed as a full time in-home nurse has been charged with child abuse following her arrest recently by Lincoln County deputies.
Candice Elizabeth Bootenhoff, 39, of Luther was formally charged Oct. 31 in Lincoln County District Court with felony child abuse.
In mid November, the Chandler Board of Education members selected four projects for a capital bond issue and will hold a special meeting to actually call the election.
School Supt. Scott Baade said the four projects the board members chose include a Media Center/ Library for East Side Elementary School; a track field house/public restrooms/ concession stand; Classroom cameras with microphones; and an Ag truck.
“It totals $3,880,000,” Baade noted. He said the bond, if passed, would pay off in six years.
The board also agreed to enter into a contract with Renaissance Architecture, LLC to provide architectural services for future 2022-2023 school year capital bond initiative. “No fees charged unless the capital bond is approved by voters,” Baade said.
Board members also approved a contract with RossGroupConstructionto facilitating and overseeing building construction for future 2022-2023 school year capital bond initiative. Again, Baade noted, “No fees charged unless capital bond is approved by voters.
The board voted to seek bids for installation of new bleachers for the Chandler Public Schools football bleacher project. Baade explained, “This will be paid for from funds left over from a current bond issue that expires on June 30.”
The Community of Chandlerisseekinganearly $1 million grant from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to help fund a 1.1 mile sidewalk that will connect with an existing one completed earlier this year.
Diann Herrmann helps head up the Safe and Healthy Lifestyles Committee in Chandler.
She said the pre-proposal wassubmittedtoODOTon Oct. 30 and the final grant proposal is due Nov. 30.
The Committee is seeking aTAPgrantfromODOT totaling $996,363.01. TAP is Transportation Alternative Program.
For the first time this season, Chandler’s offense bolted from the gate and then hung 20 first quarter pointsonHennesseyFriday night, setting up a 48-16 win that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score.
Stroud dominated the Chelsea Dragons, 52-14, in the first round of the playoffs Friday night to advance to this week’s game with Commerce.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Jack Poskey Stadium in Stroud.
The Tigers, now 9-2 on the season, racked up 436 yards of total offense and held Chelsea to 164, with most of that coming in the second half.
During a special meeting the third week of November, the Chandler Board of Education adopted a resolution calling for a capital bond issue that will fund at least four projects.
Chandler School Supt. Scott Baade said the action came during a special meeting late last week.
Hesaidthebondproposal will be voted on by Chandler School District patrons on Feb. 14, 2023.
The city of McLoud has a new city manager.
During their most recent meeting, City Council members named Cody Roe as City Manager and entered into a year-to-year contract with him.
A jury trial has been scheduled for a Meeker man facing a sexual abuse charge with a child under 12.
Two felony charges of sexual abuse with a child under 12 were originally filed April 4 against Jason Stuart Kirkwood, 42. A $100,000 bench warrant was initially issued for his arrest the same day the charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court.
Lincoln County commissioners have adopted a resolution calling for an election to renew the one cent county sales tax for another five years.
As they voted to adopt the resolution, they also changed some of the ballot language.
District 2 Commissioner Marlon Miller made a motion to take the overage from the courthouse improvement fund and put itineconomicdevelopment and leave everything else the same on the ballot.
Commission Chairman Lee Doolen explained that anything over the $120,000 the Lincoln County Extension Center receives from the sales tax will now go to the Economic Development fund.
The vote was 2-1 with Doolen dissenting. He wanted it to be split between Economic Development and the fire departments.
TheMeekerTownBoard, during its most recent meeting, gave the go ahead for a bicycle and horse trail at Meeker Lake with the signs to be posted by Jan. 1.
Brandon Lowe, who said he was raised and grew up in Meeker, first addressed the board during its September meeting about the proposal. He advised the board members at that time, “We had it (the bike trail) in 2017 but it got taken away by the horses. Now there are no horses either. It would be nice to have that, do a community agreement,” he noted.
In late November, Victory Christian came up with two massive fourthconversions in the fourth quarter and ended Chandler’s season in the state quarter finals, 46-35.
The first came with 8:42 left in the game and VC ahead 34-28 but facing fourth-and-20 at the Chandler 31. Crusader quarterback Ayden Hamilton hit Teyton Chandler for a 23-yard pass to the 8-yard line. The next play, the Crusaders were in the end zone and extended their lead to 40-28.
Also on the final weekend ofNovember,Fairview stymied a second-half Stroud comeback and beat the Tigers, 27-21, Friday night, eliminating them from the playoffs.
The loss snapped a 10game Stroud winning streak and finished the Tigers’ season at 10-3.
“We had our chance,” saidStroudheadcoachJosh Presley. “Nobody gave us a chance, but we gave Fairview all they wanted.”
In early December, A man awaiting a jury trial on a first degree murder complaint has pleaded guilty to five additional felonies in another case and drawn five prison terms to run concurrently with one another.
Cole Berginer Guy, 19 at the time, and now 20, was formally charged Feb. 22, 2021 in Lincoln County District Court, accused of shooting and killing Gabriel Chumley with deliberate intent on Feb. 10 of last year in Lincoln County.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s multi-billion dollarACCESS Oklahoma program that includes an extensive project on the Turner Turnpike through Lincoln County has been put on hold.
Two weeks ago, on Dec. 1, Seminole County Associate District Judge Timothy Olsen ruled the OTA violatedtheOpenMeetings Act during its January and February board meetings earlier this year.
As a result of that decision, the projects authorized during those meetings have been put on hold. Among them is the 68-mile continuation and completion of the reconstruction and widening that stretches fromI-35inOklahomaCity to SH 66 east of Bristow.
According to the OTA, the estimated cost as of March 25 this year was $1,290,000,000 for the project that would include adding lanes, improving/ adding interchanges and other safety features to include lights.
According to the OTA, the Turner Turnpike is a vital corridor that connects Oklahoma’s two metro areas. Improving safety and convenience on this road is a priority for OTA. This reconstruction/safety project will occur between I-35 and SH-66, east of Bristow. These projects will create an “urban turnpike corridor” with lighting, wider lanes and additional lanes. It will allow for the future addition of truck-specific and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes for quick and safe access. The design package includes interchanges at Post Rd, SH-102, SH-18 in Chandler, N 3503 at Davenport, SH-99 in Stroud, S 481st at Depew, SH-16 and SH-48 at Bristow, and SH-66, East of Bristow.
In early to mid-December, aWellston attorney and a reported accomplice face multiple drug-related felony charges after Lincoln County deputies recently served a search warrant on the attorney’s property and arrested her.
Formal felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court Dec. 6 against Debra Dawn Campbell, 59. The original charges included 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.
Blestin Miller hit a twisting jumper from the lane with one second left, lifting Prague to a 64-63 win over McLoud in the finals of the Bethel tournament Friday.
Miller led Prague with 23 points and found himself with the ball in his hands as time was running out.
“It was one of the options for our plays in transition,” Prague coach Nate Greer said of the winning bucket. “Usually it’s for a jumper, but he was able to make it into the paint.”
The game was a battle of unbeatens between Class 3A Prague and Class 4A McLoud,whichdidn’thave to wait long for a chance at revenge. The Redskins went to Prague Tuesday night to meet the Red Devils in a 66 Conference game.
Later in December, the Chandler Planning Commission scheduled a public hearing for early January concerning rezoning of property for a proposed hotel.
The Planning Commission will conduct the public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at Chandler City Hall located at 414 ManvelAve. to inform the public of the proposed zoning classification and use permitted upon review and to allow the public a chance to voice their comments and/or concerns.
TheChandlerCityCouncil will also conduct a public hearing tentatively set for 4:30 p.m.,Tuesday, Jan. 10, to inform the public of the proposed rezoning classification.
According to a legal published in this edition of the newspaper, the property is located at 621 N. McKinley. That property is currently zoned as R-1, single family residential and the current use is residential/ vacant.
The rezoning request sought by the applicant is C-2, General Commercial, and proposed use is for a hotel.
LincolnCountycommissioners this week held a lengthy discussion regarding a proposed addition to the county jail but took no official action.
Lee Doolen, District 3 Commissioner and chairman of the commission, said, “We held a meeting last week.”
Sheriff Charlie Dougherty said during the meeting, “We’ve been back and forth a whole bunch.”
In an interview following the meeting, Dougherty noted, “We began looking at this when we had a major sewer line problem with the black cast iron pipe that was put in when the jail was built in 1969. We’ve had some sewer problems with an eight-feet section of the line.”
The sheriff said, “Logan County took 14-16 inmates for a week, at no cost to the county, while a major repair was completed. We have to replace that whole line. We started looking to see what our best options are since we’ve had to make other repairs.”
He stressed, “We have one half of the jail that was built in 1969 and the other half in 2000. We’re trying to be good stewards of the county’s money.”
Dougherty pointed out, “I currently have three times the female inmates I’m supposed to have.”
He explained that a committee was formed to look at the jail issues, comprised of himself, District 2 Commissioner Marlin Miller, Virgil Wilson, in charge of maintenance and facilities, and others in the courthouse.
“I’m licensed for 80 inmates. I’ve had as many at 134 which is the record. I have 73 right now,” he said.
He pointed to being more selective since Covid.
“We’re looking at addressing the sewer line and replacing it with PVC pipe. We have ventilation issues in the north, south and maximum cells, too,” he added.
The sheriff pointed to remodeling everything with the exception of the 2000 version. “We’ve been transparent with this,” he remarked.
It’s estimated the option the committee is looking at will cost around $4 million. “A20-bedadd-onalong the south side of the courthouse where recreational area is now is where the addition would be,” he emphasized.
To fund the project the committee anticipates using left over ARPA funds.
“Part of the process would be to move the OSU Extension Center out of the courthouse and to the fairgrounds to a facility they’ve proposed.
“We’d move the District Attorney’s Office to where theExtensionCenterisnow and then my administrative offices would move to where the DA’s office is now. We would remodel the area where we currently are that would give us some more beds.”
Dougherty said that would give the jail a total of 34 additional beds to what it has now. “We’re still going to need the additional beds,” he said.
Dougherty’s office contracted with BKL, an engineering and architectural firm in Tulsa. They will begin the design process that is figured to take six to eight months.
Towards the end of December, Pottawatomie and Lincoln County District AttorneyAdam Panter was notified by Gov. Kevin Stitt that he officially had been appointed to serve the fouryear term of the late David Hammer.
Panter was appointed by the governor in October to serve out the term of former DA Allan Grubb who resigned effective Sep. 1.
Panter, after notification from the governor, said, “I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited and happy.
Hammer, who was elected over then incumbent Allan Grubb and another challengerTanya Roland in the June 28 primary election, suffered a heart attack and died July 3, just a few days after the election.
Panter said the term of Grubb he is now serving ends Jan. 1 and that the new term begins Jan. 2. “Associate District Judge Tracy McDaniel (Pottawatomie County) will swear me in on that date and then on Jan. 3, I will participate in the swearing in of all the DA’s across the state in Oklahoma City.”
Panter and his First Assistant District Attorney Adam Kallsnick have been working on hiring additional staff in terms of more Assistant DA’s.
“We have acceptances fromseveralAssistantDA’s out of Oklahoma County. All are very experienced in either sex crimes, child abuse, drug cases and violent crimes,” Panter noted.
Panter addressed a special investigative audit looking into the finances of former DA Grubb’s office by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd that began earlier this year.
According to a source, that audit reportedly is still ongoing.
Panter stated, “There’s a lot of money that was mismanaged. I would like to know what it was spent on. I’d like to know what my office will have to pay back over the years. We’re working closely with the State Auditor’s Office to still determine that.”
He believes that all of his new assistants will be here by Jan. 1.They’re all people that I know, and have trust in and know me and want to help turn things around and get it fixed. We need to get the DA’s office back to where it should be,” he stressed.
Panter pointed out that when the new assistant DA’scomeonboard,“we’ll have two new ones assigned to Lincoln County. Adam ( Kallsnick) and I will also help as needed.”
Currently, there is no District Attorney’s Task Force, he confirmed.
“The prior administration lost all the grant funding for it. I do intend to get it back up and running and it will be a more collaborative effort among all the law enforcement agencies in the two counties,” Panter explained.
“We’ve been going 100 miles per hour since the appointment earlier in the fall. We want to help supplement our support staff and get our grants back,” the DA emphasized.
“So far, the county commissioners from both counties, have been open to working with us and the willingness also. Everyone recognizes a strong district attorney’s office is a benefit to the two counties,” he thinks.
He also pointed out, “We’ve been working on a collection of older cases that hadn’t been reviewed or were dismissed and didn’t need to be.”
The District Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to revoke the bond or in the alternative strengthen the bond of a Wellston attorney facing multiple drug-related felony charges after Lincoln County deputies served a search warrant on the attorney’s property and arrested her.
Also, a $75,000 warrant has been returned and filed for a reported accomplice in the case, Michael Allen Kulp, 40, also of Wellston.
Formal felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court Dec. 6 against Debra Dawn Campbell, 59. The original charges included 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.
The motion to revoke the bond or in the alternative strengthen the bond was filed by the DAon Dec. 22. A hearing on the motion has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 6, 2023.
She appeared before Associate Judge Sheila Kirk who set her bond at $75,000. As a condition of the bond, Campbell is to have an ankle monitor and be on Pre Trial release bond supervision with the Oklahoma Court Services.
A Shawnee man wanted on 34 felony charges of sexrelated crimes with minors has been arrested and is in custody.
The 34 felony charges were formally filed in Pottawatomie County District Court on Dec. 15 against Danny Ray Weeks, Jr., 52.
A $550,000 bench warrant was issued for his arrest the day the charges were filed. Court records state, too, that once arrested that is the amount of his bond. It further states he is to have no contact with any person under the age of 18 and no contact with the alleged victims as a condition of the bond.
An official confirmed that Weeks is in the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center in Shawnee.
Court records show the warrant was returned and filed. His pre-preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 7.
Prosecutors allege the crimes occurred during several different time periods including from Oct. 12, 2019 to Oct. 11, 2021; Oct. 12, 2019 to Sep. 3, 2022; Aug. 4, 2020 to Aug. 22, 2022; Sep. 18, 2020 to Sep. 17, 2021; Aug. 4, 2021 to Aug. 3, 2022; and Sep. 4, 2021 to Sep. 3, 2022.