Local News
RONSON BUSH RECEIVES DEATH
Admitted murderer Ronson Kyle Bush received a death sentence on Thursday for killing his friend William Harrington.
Despite an unusually large crowd, there was virtual silence in the Grady County courtroom as District Judge Richard Van Dyck told the court that the state had met its burden of proof, sentencing Bush to die by lethal injection on Jan. 5, 2010.
Upon hearing the sentence, the Harrington family quietly rose and left the courtroom, leaving Bush’s family to grieve its loss.
“We had to put this in God’s hands, and He took care of it,” said Harrington’s mother Kathy Harrington after the verdict was read.
Both Families React
Bush’s ex-wife Kristin Renee Pickle sobbed openly as Ronson’s mother Tina Black held her in her arms. Other family members wept and hugged and tried to comfort one another.
While waiting for the judge to pronounce the sentence, Bush, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, shackled and handcuffed, wept silently while looking at his family.
“It’s a sad case for everyone involved,” said Grady County District Attorney Bret Burns. “Billy Harrington’s family lost a loved one and his daughter lost a father. We are glad this case is behind us; it has caused a lot of pain for the victim’s family.”
Burns said it was also a sad day for Ronson Bush’s family.
“But, to me, it was the only punishment that fit this situation,” Burns said. “The more I learned about Ronson Bush, the more I believed he deserved the ultimate punishment. He’s been in and out of our prisons for the last 10 years and has a pattern of manipulating everybody around him. He continues to commit crimes against the people who try to help him. Billy was his last friend. He was trying to help him - and his payment was death.”
Law Enforcement Effort
Burns said he is proud of the effort made by certain law enforcement officials.
“Cliff Walker of the Chickasha Police Department did an excellent job with Bush’s initial arrest and crime scene investigator Beth Green did a really thorough job,” Burns said. “ Assistant DA Leah Edwards really prepared and tried the case well.”
Burns also said he was impressed with Judge Van Dyck’s courage in the sentencing of the case.
“He conducted a firm but fair trial and he delivered the right verdict,” Burns said.
The week-long trial was an emotional roller coaster for both of the families involved and there were several altercations between families in the halls outside the courtroom, including rumors about someone having a gun in the courthouse.
As such, about 20 law enforcement officers lined the walls of the courtroom and surrounded Bush as the verdict was read.
Security was also beefed-up outside the courtroom as officers made sure those entering passed through a metal detector, a practice that had become somewhat lax in the preceding days of the trial.
Bush has the right to appeal the court’s decision.
What Happened
On Dec. 23, 2008, Bush shot Billy Harrington five times with a .357 Colt revolver as he sat in his recliner at his home. Harrington was able to walk outside into the freezing night, dressed only in shorts and a t-shirt, where Bush shot him again in the back. Then, though Harrington was still breathing, Bush tied a large rope to Harrington’s right ankle and dragged him with a pickup more than 200 yards into a pasture where he untied him and left him to die.
Bush then turned out the lights and locked the door of Harrington’s house, leaving the scene in Harrington’s truck.
Bush later spoke with Kathy Harrington several times, telling her Billy was busy and could not come to the phone. When she demanded to speak to her son, Bush made the chilling statement, “Billy can’t talk anymore.”
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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
