5 Day Forecast 5/14 a.m 5/14 p.m. 5/15 a.m. 5/15 p.m. 5/16 a.m. 5/16 p.m 5/17 The Madill Record ‘In the Arms of Lake TTexoma’exoma’ Vol. 125 — Number 46 Madill, Marshall CountyCounty,, OK 73446 — ThursdayThursday,, May 14, 2020 14 Pages in 2 Sections — $1 String of burglaries possibly tied to local man By Shalene White entering. Hanks and Watson located First-Degree Robbery. The suspect [email protected] the initial suspect, and questioned was cleared for any active warrants. him on his whereabouts during the Because Marques was unable to hear A string of recent burglaries could approximated time of the crime. The the prior conviction, and Whitney had possibly be tied to a local Kingston suspect informed Hanks that he was no outstanding warrants, the officer man. Nathan Whitney, a 27-year-old asleep, but somebody knocked on his drove Whitney back to his residence male from Kingston was recently ar- door at approximately 5:30 a.m. He in the 400 block of South Kemp Street. rested after an on-going investigation said he did not recognize the voice, Once Marques returned to the led police to his front door. so he pretended to be asleep. scene of the crime, Country Kitchen, The investigation began on May 6 Realizing that part of the inves- he noticed severe damage to the door when Kingston Officer Dakota Hanks tigation had hit a dead end, the frame to the employee entrance. The was flagged down by the owners of officers left. reporting party alleged that she was Jack Attack BBQ while on patrol at Even though the investigation working and heard a loud noise. When 6:30 a.m. The victims advised Hanks went dry, Kingston Police would get she went to investigate the noise, she that their restaurant had been bur- another chance to nab actual suspect was allegedly greeted by a man in a glarized via the window in the rear of on May 12. At approximately 2:45 green jacket and hat who shouldered the building. The suspect who broke in Tuesday morning, Kingston Officer his way into the door. the restaurant stole the cash register Brandon Marques contacted by Mar- Marques then found out that there and the items within it. shall County dispatch for a BOLO on was video footage of the encounter and Once Hanks entered the building a male subject wearing a green hat, watched it. According to Marques, to check things out, he noticed the and a jacket who attempted to break the video showed a male with a cap busted-out window with a small into Country Kitchen in Kingston. and black gloves on holding what amount of blood smeared on the Marques answered the call, and appeared to be a pry bar. When the Whitney window frame. Hanks then walked worked his way toward the location. pry bar did not allow the suspect his back because he was being arrest- The burglary that occurred at the the premises and located a pipe He did not notice anybody in the entrance into the building, the video ed. Even though Whitney complied Do-it-Best had missing items like that could have possibly been the immediate vicinity of the restaurant, shows him slamming his way through without incident, he was belligerent a cash drawer, a pair of black and instrument used to bust the window. but saw a man fitting the description the door, then immediately closing it by cussing and spouting insults to orange gloves, and pry bar. Due to Unfortunately, the pipe was rusted walking near North Main Street and and fleeing. the officers. the items stolen from one crime scene and would not have been conducive Second Street. Once the suspect was identified Whitney was taken to the Marshall being used and found at another crime for lifting finger prints. While questioning the suspect, as possibly being Whitney, Marques County Jail and booked. Initially, he scene, more charges were placed on Hanks, with the assistance of who turned out to be Whitney, and Bridgeman headed to the address was charged with First-Degree Bur- Whitney. Kingston Assistant Police Chief Marques noticed the suspect sweating on South Kemp to make the arrest. glary and Public Intoxication – the He is currently booked and facing Christ Watson, followed a trail of profusely, even though his breath Bridgeman noted he requested assis- burglary at Country Kitchen is listed charges for First-Degree Burglary, footprints that possibly belonged to was not staggered. He also noted tance from Marshall County Deputy as First-Degree because there was two counts of Second-Degree Bur- the suspect to get an idea on which that Whitney allegedly had slurred Steven King because the state of the somebody in the restaurant. Howev- glary, and Public Intoxication. There direction they might have fled. speech. residence was unknown. er, more break-ins would mount up is currently no bail listed for Whitney. The police duo began their inves- When dispatch returned the find- The officers had to knock a few against Whitney, An online search showed prior tigation by questioning a possible ings from the background check for times to rouse Whitney, but he even- At approximately 7:10 a.m. on May Oklahoma convictions for First-De- suspect. They reached the idea to Whitney, Marques was unable to hear tually came outside to speak with 12, dispatch informed the officers of gree Robbery, Possession and Public start with him because he has prior the priors due to traffic noise – the the officers. Bridgeman instructed a break-in at the Do-it-Best building, Intoxication. convictions for theft and breaking and suspect has a prior conviction for Whitney to place his hands behind using the same method of entry. MPS Board changes banks for FY21; renews teacher & support staff contracts By Matt Caban uncertainty brought on by COVID-19. [email protected] “With the CARES Act we’ll get $450,000 in aid,” Case said. “We’re The Madill Public Schools Board gonna lose more than that in state of Education held its monthly aid and losing kids.” meeting May 11 inside the Admin- Case said MPS should be good with istrative Center Conference Room. staffing for 2020-2021, but 2021-2022 Last month’s meeting was held at could be bring challenges. the Wildcat Den to accommodate “I’m very comfortable with our more space for attendees per CDC teachers that have left,” he said. “The and State of Oklahoma COVID-19 following year all schools will be faced pandemic guidelines. with some tough decisions.” Four of the board’s five members During his report, Case asked were attendance: Mike Mathis, Clay Stafford to speak about the May 15 Savage, Mark Glenn and Jeff Land- senior celebration. The event which graf. The fifth board member, Shan- runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. that night. non Williams, was not in attendance. Stafford said seniors will gather at Sitting near the board members Oakview Baptist Church and drive were Larry Case, MPS superinten- down Lillie around the square. dent and Carol Combs, MPS trea- “Right now, we’re looking at 118- surer. Two other MPS staff members 120 vehicles,” Stafford said. “Then, were in attendance: athletic director we’ll turn on the lights on baseball Matt Caban • The Madill Record Bink Stafford, and band director field and football field.”The event will Madill Public Schools superintendent Larry Case (center) speaks during the May 11 MPS Board of Education Kendal Hasty. also feature senior photos around the meeting at the MPS Administrative Center Conference Room. At left is Mark Glenn, board member, and at right Following approval of the consent square weather permitting. is Carol Combs, MPS treasurer. agenda, the meeting moved to Case’s Mathis moved the group to the next superintendent’s report agenda item: discussion and possible Case reported that the district action on the following contracts for d. Jostens contracts was made by Glenn with 125 Flexible Benefit Plan amendment is making progress on connectivity 2020-2021: e. OSSBA membership renewal a second by Landgraf. The vote was from American Fidelity as presented with students. This included the a. OKTLE – Employee Evaluation f. OSSBA policy subscription 4-0 in favor of the motion. following a motion by Glenn and a recent purchase of 500 hot spots and System service The group then unanimously ap- second by Savage. $100,000 worth of Chrome books. b. Municipal Accounting System – g. Dept. of Rehabilitation – School proved an Application for Temporary The board then accepted the res- Case said after the meeting that Accounting and Student Information to Work program Appropriations for FY21 as presented ignations of five employees: Shawn today’s schools need to be prepared to Software. h. Prohab Therapy Specialists after a motion by Landgraf and a McClellan, Josh Onstott, Rebecca connect with students digitally; such c. Barlow Educational Manage- i. Speech/Language Therapy second by Savage. Spaulding, Lorie Vargas and Randy as short-term closures for weather. ment Services – Federal Program Contract The board members present then He also touched on the financial Management A motion to renew the listed unanimously approved the Section (See BOARD, page 5A) Scams appear as area counties’ unemployment numbers skyrocket By Shalene White Before the shutdown, Oklahoma The hard data has not been [email protected] unemployment claims were only at completed yet, but Gray estimated 1,569 people for the week ending on the number of initial claims from At the end of March, almost the March 7.