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Inhofe slams health reform
By Ellis Goodwin
Staff Writer
At a town hall meeting Wednesday Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) told Chickasha residents he does not need to read the 1,000 page health care reform bill, he will simply vote against it.
"I don't have to read it, or know what's in it. I'm going to oppose it anyways," he said.
Inhofe said public opinion and information provided by news media have helped him become a staunch non-supporter of the bill. He said he would prefer waiting until after mid-term elections in 2010 to enact reforms. He did not say nothing should be done. He simply feels that a topic as important as healthcare should not be rushed through the Senate or House of Representatives.
City Council Member Hank Ross agreed with Inhofe. Ross owns a medical care company in Chickasha. He said he does not believe the government would be efficient in providing care and would like to see reforms happen at a slower pace.
"I personally think Obama has over reached," Ross said. "I think we need to treat this with kid gloves and do it right."
Inhofe also spoke about the diminishing military budget and the closing of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, but healthcare was the hot button subject.
Inhofe took the opportunity to blame Democrats for a bevy of issues. He lashed out at democrats for overtaking the government and spending billions of dollars on unpopular packages. He said government is becoming too big and overreaching its boundaries.
"People are not buying these concepts that are completely foreign to America," Inhofe said. "We're almost reaching a revolution in this country."
Many in the meeting agreed and were vocal about their disdain for the current climate in Washington.
"No more compromise," Chickasha resident Ed Hicks said. "We're losing our country."
Inhofe's town hall meeting was much like others happening during the Senate's recess. Except there was no dissent, just concerns about change and what is happening in Washington. Health care reform was the main topic of discussion, but some voiced their worries that the Cap and Trade bill would hurt local oil producers. Others were worried about their Second Amendment right and their ability to own and carry firearms.
Inhofe tried to squelch the concerns, but until Republicans take control of at least one branch of the government it will be an uphill battle. He said he will do anything he can to keep fighting and promote the wants and needs of his constituents when he returns to Washington next month.
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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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Sooners' announcer to retire
NORMAN (AP) — Bob Barry Sr. announced Tuesday that he plans to retire as the radio play-by-play voice of Oklahoma football and men's basketball after the upcoming season.
Barry has been the radio voice of the Sooners for the last 20 years and he also had a 12-year stint in the job at the beginning of his career. In between, he handled the play-by-play for Tulsa basketball games and then for Oklahoma State football and basketball. -
NEWS BRIEFS
City offices close Monday
The City of Chickasha's offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 6 in observance of Labor Day. Regular city services will resume on Tuesday.
Waste Connections announced that they will be "business-as-usual" on Labor Day. Customers will receive sanitation services on the regular Monday route. -
GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
HCE Home
Management
Cross stitch or
Embroidery item
Meridian Happy Home - Mabel Pharis
Lucile-Blue Bonnet - Myrtle Elston
Rural Neighbors - Nona Sherer
Friend - Faith Andrus
Misc. needlework
Spring Creek - Deone Moskayitch
Meridian Happy Home - Mary Spurlin -
around the Areas
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.. -
NHS principal appreciates effort of law enforcement
To the Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank District Attorney Bret Burns and Chickasha Police Chief Lynn Williams for going above and beyond their job descriptions to help me with a situation that recently occurred at Ninnekah High School.
Chickasha Police Chief Lynn Williams helped in a matter that occurred in the Chickasha city limits, but affected Ninnekah School. I appreciate his assistance. The Chickasha School District is extremely lucky to have a police chief who will go the extra mile to support education and student safety. -
Lawmaker examines state questions
There are going to be 11 state questions on your ballot when you go to the voting booth this November. Last week I covered the first state question that was put on the ballot through the initiative petition process by the teachers’ labor union, therefore bypassing the state legislature, State Question 744.
All of the remaining 10 state questions were put on after being passed by the legislature, so that the people would have a voice in deciding these important issues. - More Local News Headlines
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