Local News
Dorman says losing cannon a blow
Staff and wire reports
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended cutting a mobile cannon that was to be partially assembled in Elgin but Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, will continue to work with leaders to find a replacement program for the are.
The high-tech cannon, which had been pushed by Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., was essentially a self-propelled howitzer with a two-man crew and a firing range of more than 18 miles.
A production facility for the new artillery system opened last year in Elgin on the outskirts of Fort Sill. The facility was for construction of initial components for the Non-Line-of-Sight, or NLOS, cannon vehicles.
A separate facility was planned at Elgin's Fort Sill Industrial Park to be used as the final assembly point for the vehicles. An estimated 100 people were expected to be employed in Elgin to work on the cannon.
Gates announced cuts in a number of weapon systems at a briefing Monday in Arlington, Va.
Dorman said Gates' announcement was a blow to local and state leaders who worked hard on the project.
"Many local and state leaders worked with our federal counterparts to secure the land and get this program started," he said. "I myself worked with several local individuals over 13 months to get the School Land Commission to allow this land to be sold for this plant."
But Gates said the cannons "do not reflect the lessons of counterinsurgency and close quarters combat in Iraq and Afghanistan" and do not mesh with mine resistant vehicles that have been used in those countries.
Inhofe, in a statement from Afghanistan, called the cuts "unbelievable" and "unconscionable."
"Never before has the president so ravaged the military at a time of war," the senator said. He vowed to fight the reductions, which come at a time President Obama has announced plans to increase troop strength in Afghanistan.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., whose district includes Fort Sill and Elgin, said he was not surprised by the cuts. He said Obama "cannot charm" the country's enemies out of their opposition to this country.
"The cuts announced today, however, take that naivete to a dangerous new level. I intend to do everything I can to make sure they do not actually occur."
Meanwhile, Dorman said he would work with Inhofe, Cole and others to "make sure a replacement program" is located in Elgin.
”Oklahoma has a long and proud history of defending our country and we currently have the second highest military recruitment in the nation per capita. We understand the sacrifice our local men and women make for their country here in our great state and these soldiers need the most up-to-date technology so they can best protect freedom, democracy and our nation,” Dorman said.
- Local News
-
-
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?
-
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.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Transformations
