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Above, a crowd of local citizens, public officials, law enforcement, drug counselors, and teens met to watch the “Crystal Darkness” documentary film shown above at the Canadian Valley Technology Center on Tuesday. Below, Chickasha Assistant Police Chief Elip Moore talks to some students from Chickasha before the program and discussion about the state’s meth addiction problem.
Discussion
Film sheds light on addiction problem
A crowd of local citizens, public officials, law enforcement, drug counselors, and teens met to watch the “Crystal Darkness” documentary film and discuss the negative impact of methamphetamine use in the city, county, and state at the Canadian Valley Technology Center Tuesday night.
What started off as a documentary film to address the escalating meth epidemic in Nevada, has now reached Chickasha and the entire state to help achieve some of the same positive results.
Throughout the 30-minute film audience members were seen turning their heads to the graphic and “tragic” photos displayed of the meth abusers and their living environments.
“It’s shocking to see what people put themselves and others through,” said one viewer as she left after the program was over with her two young children.
“Some people may be wondering why the mayor, the city, the chamber of commerce… are so passionate about this topic… we have a lot of poverty and other issues in Chickasha, and from a mayor’s perspective I think it is important to address the causes of these problems. And meth is a big problem that ties into these issues,” said Mayor Greg Elliott in a discussion after the program.
“And I want everyone to put Feb. 3 down on their calendars so that we can continue this discussion with a town hall style format and hopefully we can try to address this problem our community faces and do something about it,” added Elliott.
Apart from the mayor speaking, the Chickasha Police Chief, the District Attorney, the District 6 Drug Task Force Director, and Judge Richard VanDyke also shared their connection to the prevention and enforcement against meth use and users.
“We see meth everyday. Good people, all walks of life, but once they get on meth… it is all gone,’ said District Attorney Bret Burns.
Burns commended Judge VanDyke for his valiant effort to combat this issue and his dedication to “drug court”, a program that was created three years ago in the county to hold drug abusers accountable for their actions.
Burns introduced a former meth addict that shared a heartfelt story of her battle with the “darkness”.
“I lost my right to be a mother, because of it, and… if I can reach one person out there to not make the same mistake I did, then maybe I can make a change,” said Lisa as she went on to say how she decided to go back to school to become a dental assistant so that she could possibly help a former addict with “meth mouth”. “Meth Mouth” is when a meth addict has used meth to the point where they have either lost all of their teeth or are on the verge of such.
Lisa received several ovations for the courage to share her story and a personal “thank you” from the mayor.
It was evident after watching the documentary, the audience at the watch party agreed that something has got to change before America’s youth is taken away.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
