Chickashanews.com

Local News

Related Photos

  • Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has spent the last few weeks traveling across the state and educating citizens on the importance of insurance. capitolbeatok.com

    John+Doak.png

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
February 18, 2013

Doak comments on importance of insurance

James Bright The Express-Star

CHICKASHA — Tornado season will soon be upon us and Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak is making his rounds in the state, educating citizens on the importance of having property insurance.

"We just want Oklahomans to be prepared," he said. "It's not a matter of if it happens, it's a matter of when it happens."

Doak was traveling county-to-county last week when he stopped by the local Lion's Club.

"We've been promoting the importance of insurance in multiple facets all over Oklahoma," he said. "My office gets close to a million hits a year on our site, so we have a pretty good idea about what issues are affecting people."

In addition to the protecting property, Doak said he and his department have seen a massive rise in crimes and fraud geared toward exploiting the elderly. He said victims can contact local rep Amanda Riddle should they feel that they are being taken advantage of.

"She is a great conduit into our office for this area," he said.

Car insurance is another key issue Doak said he and his office plan to combat during this legislative session. He said there are roughly 560,000 uninsured cars in the state and this problem has reached something of epidemic like proportions. Currently, Doak is working on legislation that will give officers a new option when pulling over a driver that doesn't carry state minimum insurance.

He said the legislation would give officers the opportunity to place a yellow tag on the car instead of towing it and that would serve as state mandated insurance. Once the driver could prove that he or she insured the car appropriately the yellow tag would be removed and a fee for the time in which the driver had the state insurance would be assessed. Doak said this a more effective way of combatting the insurance problem than simply towing the vehicles.

"It's much like a lien holder on a house," he said.

Doak will continue his journey next week to the southwestern portion of the state to continue educating citizens on the importance of insurance.

Text Only
Local News
  • Dorman pushes for storm shelter bond

    Local State Representative Joe Dorman (D) called on legislatures yesterday to pass a bond issue to combat what he called " a lack of adequate storm shelters" in Oklahoma.

    May 21, 2013

  • VIDEO: Storms move into Grady County

    Large storms will move through Grady County this afternoon.

    May 21, 2013

  • tornado.jpg Chickasha's finest lend a hand to Moore tornado victims

    The Chickasha Police Department traveled to West Moore yesterday afternoon following the devastation from an EF-4 tornado that ripped through the community.

    May 20, 2013 3 Photos

  • DSC_2844.JPG Kittens coming along after dumpster dispair

    After being plucked from a dumpster on the north side of town, seven kittens now sit in a green carrier in the Chickasha Animal Shelter with a new found sense of hope.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • GCEM prepares for active shooter with excercise

    Preparation is the key to any emergency, according to Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson. Other emergency responders share the same sentiment, and are planning an active shooter tabletop exercise to kick the county’s potential crisis plans into high gear.

    May 17, 2013

  • riane tuthill.jpg Lincoln student champion archer

    Riane Tuthill, a fifth grade student at Lincoln Elementary in Chickasha, was on target at the National Archery in the Schools Program competition this spring. 

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Knife-point standoff ends in arrest

    A Chickasha man has been arrested on assault and abuse charges after holding his wife and son at knife point.

    May 17, 2013

  • 5-17 AubreyMcCoy-Pentagon.jpg Capitol gets real McCoy at 4-H Conference

    Tuttle's Aubrey McCoy rubbed shoulders with some of the nation's movers and shakers while also shedding light on an important subject when she was selected to attend the National 4-H Conference last month.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Water tops CIP list as tax deadline looms in near future

    The possible extension of the CIP three-quarter sales tax, which expires early next year and will require a vote, was the main topic of discussion for the CIP Tax Oversight Committee on Tuesday.
    The main focus of the meeting centered on city plans, mainly improvements, which will be implemented if the tax is approved for continuation.

    May 17, 2013

  • County reacts to NTSB blood alcohol suggestion for every state in union

    The possibility of lowering the blood alcohol legal limit from .08 to .05 was met with mixed reactions from the citizens of Grady County.

    May 16, 2013