Memorial Day observed at post, national cemeteries

Maj. Lisa Northway, an ordained minister who is Fort Sill’s garrison chaplain, was the keynote speaker Monday at the Memorial Day Com-Ceremony at Fort Sill National Cemetery near Elgin.

Employers turn to second chance applicants as felony record stigma fades amid labor shortage

OKLAHOMA CITY – Joe Brantley had been incarcerated four times before finding his second chance at life with a dream job and a meaningful life of service to others.

Taxes withheld, warning letters issued over audits

The City of Lawton’s tardy audits of the city’s financial ledgers for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 are having financial repercussions and triggering warning notices from a bank and from state environmental monitors.

Lawton’s wastewater treatment plant plagued with 1 problem after another

LAWTON –The Notice of Violation that the state Department of Environmental Quality issued April 18 against Lawton’s wastewater treatment plant was blamed on a cascade of problems and an industrial user’s discharge of effluent “in excess of typical concentrations.

Lawton street repair, reconstruction projects underway

LAWTON – Mayor Stan Booker’s “10Wins for the Citizens” street repair program launched last fall quickly grew to 40 thoroughfares, and will continue to expand in the years ahead.

Lawton landfill to be enlarged with 2 new cells

A contract was awarded to construct two new cells at the municipal landfill, and the City Council listened to a report about bulk waste collection.Two more cells will be excavated at Lawton’s sanitary landfill under a $3.

For Hire: Seniors to outnumber younger workforce

The number of working older Americans has quadrupled since the 1980s and statistics show that trend isn’t cooling down as the nation’s workforce shortage heats up.Oklahoma’s labor participation rate of 52 available workers for every 100 jobs dovetails a nationwide trend.

Employment Statistics

The following statistics show the demographics of Oklahomans aged 60 or older:• 9% are employed.• 58% are married, while 42% are divorced, widowed or never married.• 56% live in family households, while 41% live alone.

Multistate theft ring leader sentenced to federal prison

A woman with a 20-year criminal record in three counties employed nearly two dozen individuals in a multistate retail theft ring that stole merchandise for resale out-of-state.Linda Ann Been, 51, also known as Linda A. Gann and Linda A.