Justice Department announces funding opportunities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2026 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation Notice of Funding Opportunity for comprehensive funding to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to develop comprehensive approaches to public...

Lawton council pays bills for 3 D&D removals

LAWTON – Invoices totaling $40,470 for demolition of three dilapidated properties were paid recently by the Lawton City Council, which also put another house on the D&D list and tabled a decision on another to the next council meeting.Structures at 5333 NW Elm were inspected by city personnel and...

Supplemental payments to WSB engineers, consultants approved for bridge, street projects

LAWTON – During a 2025 inspection, 11 bridges in Lawton were identified as needing attention to prevent future failure.The City of Lawton is “preparing to advance” an 11 bridges project “into the next phase of design of repairs,” wrote Public Utilities Director Rusty Whisenhunt.

Election board secretary offers voting reminders

Voters in Comanche County should keep the election system’s integrity in mind when going to the polls Aug. 25, said Comanche County Election Board Secretary Amy Sims.While ballot selfies or taking photos of a marked ballot are legal, voters may not share or distribute the image through social media...

Early voting starts Aug. 20

Early voting starts Aug. 20 for voters in Comanche County.

Software provides street, fleet asset management

LAWTON – A contract on software that provides “integrated roadway asset management and fleet management” for the Public Works Department was approved recently by the Lawton City Council.The “OpenGov Transportation Domain” software will allow the department to maintain “a comprehensive inventory of...

Comanche County Commissioners accept paving funds, approve elevator maintenance agreement

LAWTON – An elevator maintenance agreement was approved Monday by the Comanche County Board of Commissioners, and they accepted payment by a developer for paving of another subdivision near Elgin.A 12-month agreement with American Elevator Solutions “to provide full maintenance service for both...

Verna Stafford, Sirloin Stockade murderer from 48 years ago, recommended for parole

Verna Stafford – who, along with husband Roger Dale Stafford and his brother, participated in the brutal executionstyle massacre of six employees at a steakhouse in downtown Oklahoma City 48 years ago – was recommended Tuesday for clemency.The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend...

CEDC collecting data to explain why Chickasha economy on upswing

The latest “Chickasha by the Numbers” report from the Economic Development Council showed “the highest sales tax collections in the town’s history,” EDC Director Jim Cowan announced.For the period of June 16-30 and July 1-15, sales tax receipts inside the city limits of Chickasha were $1,529,165.50.

December trial set for Lawtonians indicted in alleged $27M health care scam

A Lawton man and his son indicted in federal court in an alleged health care scam to defraud TRICARE of more than $27 million have had their trial date pushed back to December.Stewart Johnson, 72, and his son, Stephen Michael Johnson, 47, owners/operators of Johnson Medical Consulting d/b/a...