The City of Watonga Special Election will be Tuesday August 27 to decide on a one-half cent additional sales tax to be used for operation and maintenance of Watonga Municipal Hospital for 5 years.
July 31, 2002

Sheriff's Report

Blaine County Sheriff's Officers arrested 30-year-old Alan Rex Robinett Sunday after he allegedly struck his wife with an open hand then shoved her and dragged her down a gravel road in an attempt to force her back into a vehicle near Canton Lake. The victim escaped and was given a ride by a friend shortly thereafter; but then the suspect attempted to run them off the road while in Major County. Authorities there had been notified and the suspect was arrested. He was later released to Blaine County where he remains in jail in lieu of $5,000 bond. The victim, who had cuts on one arm and bruises on both arms had no medical treatment at the scene.

Officer say 8 mailboxes in the Southard area were vandalized Monday. The suspects apparently used a metal bar, which was recovered; but no arrests have been made. It is also a Federal offense and the proper authorities have been notified.

Sheriff's Officers took a report of a theft of $244 worth of blank cashiers checks taken from a vehicle while it was on the road near Longdale.


Highway Patrol

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a vehicle driven by 48-year-old Betty June Fields of McAlester was leaving the Sandy Cove Area at Canton Lake when the vehicle struck a concrete barrier in front of the guard shack. The personnel on duty reported the accident and gave a description of the car which had left the scene and she was stopped by the corps of engineers about 3 miles away near the Canadian camping area. No one was injured; however, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Blaine County Jail.

Firefighters

Watonga Firefighters were notified that a water line had broken inside a home in the 300 block of West 4th. The occupant of the house was at work, so firemen turned the water off at the meter.

July 30, 2002

Watonga Police

Watonga Police arrested 34-year-old Larry Shawn Lee early Saturday moring after they were called to the 200 block of 'A' street on a domestic dispute. The female victim was allegedly injured by the male suspect. It was not known if there was any medical treatment.

A $200 reward is being offered by the Watonga Police Department for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who are dumping dogs in the city of Watonga and at the dog pound. Call 623-7355 to report any information.


July 29, 2002

The Watonga, Geary and Cimarron Valley Conservation Districts will have a public forum to address Blaine County natural resources conservation needs and will include lunch and a tour. The forum will begin at 9 am at the Okeene High School Cafeteria Tuesday, August 6. Local residents will participate in the development of the conservation needs assessment. For information call 623-4740.

Story Time On the Porch will be Thursday, August 1 and August 8 at the Ferguson Museum in Watonga from 8:30 till 9:30 am for children 3 years old through 5th grade. There will be stories and games.

Wednesday, August 7 is pick-a-craft day at the Watonga Library for Kindergarten through 5th grade students. They will make a summer reading program 'craft' beginning at 2 pm.

Monty Harper will sing his wacky, witty, way-out songs at the Watonga Library Wednesday at 3 pm. The event will celebrate the end of this year's summer reading program. Everyone is welcome.


July 26, 2002

Blaine County Sheriff's Officers say a runaway child that was reported missing Wednesday returned the same day. The 17-year-old male was reported missing from his Canton address at 9 am Wednesday; but had returned before the end of the day.

Applications are now available for proficiency based promotion testing at Watonga High School. The test is available to students who have shown outstanding ability in reading, math, language, science, social studies and foreign language. For information contact Lanee Mahoney or Alexia White. Deadline for applications is Thursday, August 8. The test will be given Friday August 9.

Parent-Teacher Conferences at Watonga High School will be Thursday August 15, starting at 1 pm and again at 5 pm. Parents meet in the library, then go to each class for 8 minutes. Parents who attend will receive one free tardy pass for their high school student.

First day of classes at Watonga High School is Friday, August 16. The school will open at 8 am. Classes begin at 8:25. Students should bring their schedules, paper and pencil. Teachers will provide students with a list of supplies needed the first day. They will also get a student handbook, school insurance forms, applications for free or reduced lunches, and other forms. All students who return the forms by Tuesday August 20 will receive a free tardy pass. Student lunches are $1.20 and students need to bring lunch money the first day. Locks for lockers will also be issued. Students who drive will need to purchase a parking permit by the end of the first week.

High School enrollment will be Wednesday and Thursday August 7 & 8 in the High School Library. Seniors will enroll August 7 from 8:30 until 11:30; Juniors, August 7 from 1 pm until 3:30; Sophomores, August 8, from 8:30 until 11:30; Freshmen, August 8, from 1 pm until 3:30. New students must have their health records.


Firefighters
Watonga Firefighters were called to the 800 block of West Main Monday night where a vehicle had apparently struck a gas meter. The gas company was notified.

Firemen assisted the Watonga EMS Monday night when they were called to the 800 block of Mimosa Drive; however, they were able to perform CPR and it was successful.

Also, a false alarm was called in Tuesday after a fire was reported at a residence near the cemetery by an unidentified alarm company. Nothing was found.

Blaine County Sheriff's Officers continue to warn citizens that they should never give out credit card numbers, bank account numbers or even bank 'routing' numbers to unknown callers. A Canton woman said she had been asked all that information by a caller who said he was representing the 'Consumer Security Center' in Reno, Nevada when the victim refused to give the information, the caller became belligerent and told her if she didn't give him the information she would be subject to an $850 fine.

The victim hung up, and notified officers. Additional precaution would also include dialing star-57 immediately after hanging up from the suspect call and reporting the information to the telephone company as well as law enforcement.

July 24, 2002

Sheriff's Report
Blaine County Sheriff's Officers arrested 24 year old Jeffrey Gill early Monday morning. After a call to a domestic disturbance in Hitchcock. The suspect had allegedly hit his wife in the forehead using a board. The victim later went to Okeene Hospital where she was treated for a light concussion and released. The suspect was taken to Blaine County Jail.

Officers were told that a truck parked beside the road southeast of Okeene apparently had a welding rig stolen from it Monday. Loss was about $400.

A vandalism was reported to Sheriff's Officers Monday from northeast of Watonga. The suspects broke into the barn and damaged the door and a fence; but nothing was missing. The damage was estimated at $100.

Deadline for application for mail-in absentee ballots is Wednesday August 21. Any voter is permitted to vote absentee without stating any reason. Applications are available at the County Election Board Office.

Also, voters in Precinct 9 which used to vote at Testco have been absorbed into Precinct 12 which votes at the Watonga Library. Precinct 9 voters should have already received their new voter registration cards. The next election will be the Primary on August 27.

Blaine County Court Clerk Rebekah Haney says the Federal Government will raise the cost of passport fees effective Monday, August 19.

For Adults over the age of 16, the total cost will be $85 if the court clerk's office administers the application. Delivery of the passport is supposed to be within 6 weeks but that is not guaranteed. For expedited service, there is an additional $60 fee which does not include overnight delivery. Customers must arrange for overnight delivery to ensure receipt within 2 weeks.

For information, see the website travel.state.gov


July 23, 2002

Blaine County Sheriff's Officers say a Longdale victim reported several items stolen from a residence between July 13 and July 18 including a 12-guage shotgun, a 357-magnum revolver, a 22-caliber rifle, two speed-loaders for the 357, plus a state championship wrestling ring from Tuttle High School, walkie talkies, a CD player and stereo system. Total loss was $1700. The rifle may have already been recovered from the burglary ring that has been operating in Longdale.

The State Health Department says the West Nile Virus, spread by mosquitoes has been confirmed in Tulsa. The mosquitoes can infect birds and other animals who can pass the disease onto humans. One of the first indicators of the infection is a flock of dead birds. If you see this, contact the Health Department at their special hotline 800-990-CROW. Officials stressed that the disease can only be spread by mosquitoes not by infected animals or other infected humans.

In 99 per cent of the cases the only illness is a mild flu-like disease. Persons over 50 are most likely to develop the more serious complication, encephalitis.

Control of the mosquitoes is the best prevention by preventing water from standing, scrub birdbaths weekly, clean gutters, empty wading pools weekly, maintain pools and hot tubs properly, refill pets outdoor watering daily, use products in water gardens to kill mosquitoes and keep grass mowed.


July 22, 2002

Watonga Police say the owner of the Plant Place reported 25 wooden pallets that were stacked outside the store had been stolen sometime Thursday night.

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Watonga will be Friday August 9 at Eagle Stadium starting at 8 pm. The all-night event will begin with a cancer survivor lap and a 'luminary ceremony' at dark to honor survivors of cancer. Teams of 8 to 15 members will participate and when not taking turns at the track will have carnival-like activities, listen to music, have plenty of food to eat provided by sponsors. To register a team call 623-7822.

'Moms in Touch International' will hold an informational meeting Sunday August 11 at The First State Bank to kick off the new school year. All moms are encouraged to attend. They'll begin local meetings Wednesday August 14 at noon at The Ferguson Chapel. For information on the group call 623-2543. Moms In Touch desires to be a positive support and encouragement to schools. They meet one hour a week to pray for children and school personnel.

Watonga Firefighters assisted Greenfield in a structure fire Friday night. The residence was located 16 miles southwest of Watonga and was totally engulfed by the time Watonga personnel arrived. They spent 4 hours getting the blaze under control. The house suffered major damage and in all likelihood will be a total loss. One female occupant of the house was checked for injuries; but was not transported. Fire Chief Mark Huff told MY93 News that the cause of the fire was a defective ground fault on the air conditioner. The Hitchcock Fire Department covered for Watonga while they were at that fire. The Geary Fire Department was also assisting at that fire.

With the Cheese Festival just a few weeks away, the Cheese Festival Committee will begin meeting every two weeks starting in August. Their next meeting will be Monday August 12 at 5:30 at the Chamber Office.

The Cheyenne Quilt Club says they are ready to display their quilt at the Senior Citizens Center. They're also taking donations for a chance to win a beautiful sampler quilt in a drawing.

Other events at this year's Cheese Festival include a classic car show, "Laser Tag Tent", mechanical bull riding, a magic show, street dance, another stage of entertainment at the fairgrounds, a new food and cookware demonstration, a merchant's cheese food tour, a kid's rodeo scramble and medieval fair. Returning attractions include the cheese food contest, art show, parade, food and entertainment, plus hundreds of arts, crafts, commercial and antique exhibitors.