News

Scott Rains | For Southwest Ledger Construction on Lawton’s new animal welfare center at 1701 SW Lee, a former fire station that’s being enlarged and converted, is approximately 30% complete, city officials said last week. Almost all structural steel for the main addition has been erected, and electricity and plumbing are being installed in the interior of the existing building. The Animal Welfare Center will be triple the size of the animal shelter at 2100 SW 6th. The renovated building is designed to acco

Scott Rains | For Southwest Ledger Construction on Lawton’s new animal welfare center at 1701 SW Lee, a former fire station that’s being enlarged and converted, is approximately 30% complete, city officials said last week. Almost all structural steel for the main addition has been erected, and electricity and plumbing are being installed in the interior of the existing building. The Animal Welfare Center will be triple the size of the animal shelter at 2100 SW 6th. The renovated building is designed to acco

Fees recommended for redemption of animals from Lawton shelter

Mike W. Ray
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
LAWTON – Lawton’s City Council will soon be asked to decide whether all dogs and cats confined in the new animal welfare center must be vaccinated for rabies, spayed or neutered, and microchipped before they can be adopted.
Cotton County imposes 14-day burn ban

Cotton County imposes 14-day burn ban

Cotton County imposes 14-day burn ban

Mike W. Ray
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Cotton County commissioners approved a burn-ban resolution Monday, and Comanche County Emergency Management Director Clint Langford noted that the burn ban imposed last Monday still remains in effect this week.
Eric Swanson | Southwest Ledger From the left, Medicine Park Economic Development Authority members Noel Alsbrook and Rich Amadon listen to a discussion during the board’s Aug. 13 meeting. MPEDA, which is exploring the possibility of turning the dugout farm in town into a museum, is seeking a survey of the property.

Eric Swanson | Southwest Ledger From the left, Medicine Park Economic Development Authority members Noel Alsbrook and Rich Amadon listen to a discussion during the board’s Aug. 13 meeting. MPEDA, which is exploring the possibility of turning the dugout farm in town into a museum, is seeking a survey of the property.

MPEDA seeking property survey for dugout farm

Eric Swanson
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
MEDICINE PARK — The Medicine Park Economic Development Authority, which is exploring the possibility of turning a dugout farm within the city limits into a museum, wants to evaluate the property’s boundaries and features. The authority voted unanimously Aug.
Heat, drought prompt Chickasha council to adopt odd-even water rationing ordinance

Heat, drought prompt Chickasha council to adopt odd-even water rationing ordinance

Heat, drought prompt Chickasha council to adopt odd-even water rationing ordinance

Mike W. Ray
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
CHICKASHA – An ordinance imposing mandatory outdoor water rationing for customers of Chickasha’s municipal water system was adopted Friday evening during a special meeting of the City Council – and “boo birds” wasted no time in attacking it and the council’s motives.
Scott Rains | For Southwest Ledger A recent Ottawa County jail death verdict offers an ominous possibility as six similar lawsuits are pending regarding the Comanche County Detention Center.

Scott Rains | For Southwest Ledger A recent Ottawa County jail death verdict offers an ominous possibility as six similar lawsuits are pending regarding the Comanche County Detention Center.

Ottawa County $33M jail death verdict serves as warning to other counties

Mike W. Ray
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY – Terral Ellis, 26, voluntarily surrendered at the Ottawa County Jail in Miami, in far northeastern Oklahoma, on Oct. 10, 2015, in response to an outstanding arrest warrant. He would be dead before Halloween. According to District Attorney-elect Ben Loring and to the 10th Circuit U.S.
Recheck your numbers, Comanche County commissioners advise elected officials

Recheck your numbers, Comanche County commissioners advise elected officials

Recheck your numbers, Comanche County commissioners advise elected officials

Mike W. Ray
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
During a standing-room-only meeting Monday morning of the Comanche County Board of Commissioners, elected county officials were advised to revisit their calculators because of an $808,000 deficit in the proposed county budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27. The proposed budget is $12.
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