RESS AS A P SO M C O IA H T A BETTER I L O K N O NEWSPAPER News CONTEST SEQUOYAH Source for 2 AWARD The 0 1 R E The 6 W I N N Heart of Oklahoma Purcell Register Thursday, June 15, 2017 purcellregister.com Vol. 130 No. 32 • 3 sections • 4036 pages 75¢ Since 1887 Grim discovery HOMICIDEruled Two suspects charged with first degree murder Jennifer Gilliland • The Oklahoma Publisher Milt Phillips winner Gracie Montgomery,.Co-Publisher.of.The Purcell Register,. was.honored.by.the.Oklahoma.Press.Association.last.weekend. with.the.Milt.Phillips.Award..Brian.Blansett,.President-Elect.of. the.OPA,.made.the.presentation.Saturday.night.at.the.Skirvin. Hilton.Hotel. Montgomery wins Milt Phillips Award Register named top weekly newspaper JenniferGilliland The Oklahoma Publisher in the largest weekly division. Montgomery, co-publisher Gracie Montgomery and of The Purcell Register, was The Purcell Register both selected by the OPA Board of were award winners at the Directors. Oklahoma Press Association Gracie and her husband, Annual Convention at the John D., purchased The John Denny Montgomery • The Purcell Register Purcell Register in 1990. In Additional photo 2005, Gracie became the third Homicide investigation woman to serve as OPA presi- Back page McClain County Sheriff.officers.investigate.a.homicide.on.Lilac.Road.near.Dibble..Sherry.Lynn.Lowe,.48,.of.Dibble.is. dent. She and John D. were facing.a.first.degree.murder.charge.in.McClain.County.District.Court..She.is.being.held.in.detention.at.the.McClain.County. the first husband-wife team Jail..Also.charged.with.first.degree.murder.is.Logan.Thacker,.20..The.victim.has.been.identified.as.David.Ray.Allen. Skirvin Hotel in downtown to have served as presidents. Oklahoma City last weekend. She was a member of the John D. Montgomery Montgomery was named original five-member panel The Purcell Register Sherry Lynn Lowe, 48, detention at the McClain girlfriend of David Ray Al- the 2017 winner of the OPA’s of the Oklahoma Ethics Com- of rural Dibble and Lo- County Jail. len, who has been missing H. Milt Phillips Award, the mission, appointed by Okla- Two people have been gan Thacker, 20, address Thacker was being held since last week. highest individual award homa Supreme Court Justice charged with first degree unknown, are facing first in Oklahoma County in Allen is the person given by the association. murder in connection with degree murder charges in connection with the crime, The Register was named a homicide in western Mc- McClain County District awaiting transfer here. OPA the Sequoyah Award winner Please see , back page Clain County. Court. She is being held in Lowe is reported to be the Please see Homicide, page 9A Thursday Henry Keeping Proof to Ketchum Day athletes the truth Whitten new Reception 2-4 p.m. today (Thursday) sound deputy warden Purcell Mayor Ted Cox has declared Thursday as Henry Purcell Public at LARC Ketchum Day. JeanneGrimes Ketchum, who worked at Schools wins The Purcell Register The Purcell Register for 51 years, has retired. 3-year pilot grant Rick Whitten says he’s A come-and-go retirement JeanneGrimes proof to the truth of a saying reception will be held for The Purcell Register in the Oklahoma Department Ketchum at The Register from of Corrections. 2-4 p.m. today (Thursday). The Purcell is among 150 Jeanne Grimes • The Purcell Register “If we get you for two years, public is invited to visit with school districts across four we’ve got you for life.” Henry and reminisce about his states selected to receive an Deputy warden And, no, it’s not about long and storied career with the athletic trainer grant through Longtime corrections employee. Rick. Whitten. convicts, repeat offenders or came.up.through.the.ranks..On.May.15,.Whitten. began. a. new. assignment. as. deputy. warden. at. Henry Ketchum Please see Henry, back page Please see School, page 9A Lexington.Assessment.&.Reception.Center. Please see Whitten, back page Inside Inside Find it... The Under the Summertime Opinion.................4A Purcell Register knife Oklahoma Midkiff thinks summertime Society..................6A ■ Deadlines ■ Contact us flat isn’t flat weather is in Neighbors.............1B at all. the forecast. • News: 12 noon, Tuesday Obituaries...... 10A.&.11A • Display Ads: 12 noon, Tuesday 405-527-2126 [email protected] • Classifieds: 11 a.m., Tuesday Classifieds............9B • Legal Notices: 2 p.m., Tuesday Pg..3A Pg..2A 2A-THE PURCELL REGISTER, Thursday, June 15, 2017 Cong. Tom Cole honored for dedication to cancer research Congressman Tom Cole on programs. Tuesday received the 2017 The Congressional Cancer Congressional Champion Champion Award is an honor Award from the One Voice bestowed by OVAC on fed- Against Cancer (OVAC) Coali- eral lawmakers who undertake tion in recognition of his leader- extraordinary efforts to enact ship in the fight against cancer legislation that advances the Hot heat and slight chances for showers and his unwavering support for nation’s fight against cancer. You will need to bring out as temperatures will stay the and thunderstorms exist for the weekend. cancer research and prevention “Congressman Cole is a the sunscreen this week. These in the low to mid 90s. Some Thursday and Friday, but those – Leah Hill funding through the National champion for the NIH, and next few days will be very hot slight chances for showers chances will not continue into Institutes of Health and Centers he understands that medi- for Disease Control. cal research conducted there The annual award is given pushes the boundaries of what by OVAC, a coalition of 50 is possible in treatment for national and community-based chronic and serious diseases PCCC to host organizations that represents such as cancer,” American NEWS researchers, physicians, pa- Cancer Society Cancer Action tients and families and many from the Candidate Forum others prioritize funding for cancer research and prevention Please see Honored, page 7A The Purcell Chickasaw will be provided by the City of Purcell Community Council will Council. Citizens attending host a Candidate Forum on are invited to bring a plate Working together we can beautify our community! Friday, June 16, at 6 p.m. of their favorite cookies or The City of Purcell may issue a citation in the amount of $249 at the Our Lady of Victory brownies, but we ask, due if you are in violation of any of the following: Catholic Church Parish Hall. to some members allergies, 1. Trash and or debris on your property. located on the corner of 4th that no nuts be included. 2. Tall weeds or grass. & Jefferson in Purcell. All interested Chickasaw 3. Inoperable and/or junk vehicles. All candidates running for Citizens are invited and 4. Trailers and autos in alleyways. any Chickasaw Nation office encouraged to attend this 5. Tree limbs over hanging the street with less than eight foot in the upcoming election are forum. clearance. invited to attend to present If you are needing more 6. Failure to trim trees, grass and weeds in the alley. their platforms and answer information call Carolee 7. Leaving grass in the street after mowing. questions. Maxwell at (405) 527-7676 8. Setting bulk trash to the curb sooner than three days before Refreshments will be or Angie Wallace at (405) pick-up. Bulk pick-up is the fourth Monday of every month. served. Ice cream and punch 615-8863. For more information call 527-6561. Tougher reading test means • Photo provided Congressional Champion Award more students could be held back Carrie Mayes presented Congressman Tom Cole with the 2017 Congressional Champion Award for his unwavering support for JenniferPalmer cancer research and prevention funding. Oklahoma Watch raised, and families will be- were tested under new, more “We can no longer accept gin to appreciate even more rigorous English/language arts that a student would not be pre- Oklahoma is raising the strongly the need to be reading standards, and from 2018, in pared and ready. They should PURCELL RURAL FIRE SERVICE bar on its pivotal, high-stakes earlier,” said state Superinten- which the higher proficiency be prepared and ready long reading test administered to dent of Public Instruction Joy level will apply, are likely to ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES third graders, which is likely Hofmeister. identify more students in need to leave more students at risk Results from 2017, which of reading support, she said. Please see Tough, page 7A of repeating the third grade. NOTICE Twelve percent of third grad- ers, those who scored “unsatis- factory” – the lowest level – did not meet criteria for automatic Rural Fire Service annual promotion in 2016. Beginning in 2017-18, stu- renewal dues $50.00 dents will have to score “pro- (due on or before July 1 each year) ficient” in reading to receive automatic promotion to fourth Membership dues provide for the purchase of rural fire equipment and grade — a level above what maintenance. If you are a member you will not received a bill for a “Fire Run” is required now. Twenty-eight on your property. If you are not a member a “Fire Run” on your property could percent of third grade students, be very costly. If you are within the city limits of Purcell, please contact us at or about 14,900, did not score the phone number below to be removed from the mailing list. proficient on the English/lan- guage arts exam, a portion of Payments may be made in person or by mail to: which determines their reading PURCELL RURAL FIRE SERVICE score. 1505 N Green Ave. A disproportionate number of low-income, black and Purcell, OK 73080 Hispanic students have scored (405) 527-4640 poorly on the test each year since 2014 and were subject to retention.