Local News
Wrecker firms seek increase in towing fees
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Wrecker operators asked state lawmakers Wednesday for a 25 percent across-the-board increase in the fees, hourly rates and mileage they are paid when called to the scene of a collision or other incident by a law enforcement agency.
More than a dozen operators jammed into a Senate hearing as colleagues from across the state testified on legislation that would increase towing and recovery rates for the first time since 2004.
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, who called the hearing, filed the legislation last spring. The bill is pending in the Senate and can be heard on the Senate floor next year, said Barrington, chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
"Many wrecker operators are in dire straits," said Chris Puckett of Puckett's, Inc., Body Shop of Oklahoma City.
The costs of wrecker equipment, fuel and salaries have raised by close to 10 percent annually since their last increase five years ago, Lindy Johnson with Johnson's wrecker in Chickasha.
Jimmy Robertson of Lenox Wrecker Service, Inc., of Owasso said his costs have risen 36.8 percent since lawmakers last authorized an increase in wrecker rates. The cost of a wrecker now ranges from $72,000 for light-duty trucks to well over $500,000 for larger ones, Robertson said.
Insurance costs alone for one operator, Tommy Burrows of Liberal Area Radiator & Towing of Turpin, rose almost 29 percent between 2004 and 2008, from $37,244 to about $48,000.
Figures provided by the Oklahoma Wrecker Owners Association indicate Oklahoma has some of the lowest wrecker rates in the region and that only New Mexico has lower rats.
Wrecker operators can charge $65 for light-duty hookups in Oklahoma, but the rate for the same service is $150 in Arkansas, $85 in Kansas and up to $202 in Texas, according to the association's figures. In New Mexico, a light-duty hookup costs $55.
Although wrecker operators set their own fees for service calls requested by motorists whose vehicles breaks down or have a flat tire, rates for service calls ordered by law enforcement authorities are regulated by the Legislature.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and local sheriff's and police departments routinely call wrecker services to haul away vehicles involved in collisions or cases in which the driver is arrested for driving under the influence or some other offense.
While the state sets the minimum performance requirements for towing services, it does not pay wrecker operators, said Bryan Albrecht of Cavin Wrecker Service in El Reno. Most vehicle insurers offer coverage for towing services.
The proposed increase would raise the light-duty hookup charge — the maximum authorized rate for hooking up wreckers to vehicles 8,000 pounds or less, the size of most vehicles — to $80. The rate would be up to $120 for heavier vehicles.
Mileage rates would increase from $3 per mile to $3.75 per mile for vehicles 8,000 pounds or less and up to $8.45 a mile for heavier vehicles. An operator's hourly rates would rise from $60 to $75 for lighter vehicles and up to $270 an hour for heavier ones.
Wrecker operators proposed a 50 percent increase in hourly rates for vehicles weighing between 26,001 and 44,000 pounds, such as trucks and tractor-trailers, from $120 an hour to $180. They also proposed increases in daily outside storage rates for vehicles, the first since 1998, inside storage rates and labor costs for cleaning up accident scenes.
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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
