Myth of ‘Old West’ Has Surpassed the Actual Era

The open-range cattle era lasted for barely a quarter of a century, 1866-1890, and the Old West era is technically defined as having lasted for 46 years, from 1866 (immediately following the Civil War) to about 1912 (just prior to the start of World War I), although the last stagecoach robbery in U.

CCRP to discuss Spring BBQ

Comanche County Republicans will hold their regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 10, at the Oklahoma Blood Institute, 211 SW A Ave., Lawton.  Topping the agenda will be the annual Spring Barbeque scheduled for Saturday, April 23 at Comanche County Fairgrounds, 920 SW Sheridan Road.

Violations of Clean Air Act admitted

OKLAHOMA CITY – The owner of a diesel engine repair company has pleaded guilty to violating the federal Clean Air Act by circumventing vehicle emission control systems.

Lawton hospital, 2 physicians pay $550K to settle federal claims about prescriptions

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Comanche County Hospital Authority, Dr. Troy L. Harden and Dr. Moncy Varkey agreed to pay a total of $550,000 to the United States to settle civil penalty claims related to prescriptions for various Schedule II controlled substances.

Great Plains Tech names new deputy superintendent

LAWTON – Joelle Jolly was named deputy superintendent of Great Plains Technology Center on Tuesday, the school announced.   “I am ready for the challenge and excited for this opportunity,” Jolly said in the news release.   Jolly will succeed retiring Deputy Superintendent Karen Bailey.

Lone Wolf audits result in criminal charges

HOBART – Embezzlement charges were filed last week against two former employees of the Town of Lone Wolf in the wake of an eye-opening state audit.

Kubota rolls out new compact excavators

Kubota Tractor Corp. recently added two new products to its excavator lineup.   The K008-5 conventional tail swing excavator and the U10-5 minimal tail swing excavator led the company’s product rollouts for 2022, the company said in a Jan. 18 news release.

County reinstates burn ban

LAWTON – Comanche County’s burn ban is back.   The Board of Comanche County Commissioners voted Monday to reinstate the ban, which will remain in place for two weeks. However, the commission could decide to extend the ban on a week-by-week basis.

OKC bank switches to state charter

OKLAHOMA CITY – The number of state-chartered banks in Oklahoma increased recently to 138 when a bank in northwest Oklahoma City switched its affiliation.

2 bills seek to end grocery sales tax

OKLAOMA CITY – It’s been done before. Every year for the past twenty years, a member of the Oklahoma Legislature has filed a proposal to eliminate the sales tax on groceries. It happens with regularity. And, with regularity, the bill dies before it reaches the governor’s desk. Until this year.