Southwest Ledger

09/13/2024

Aquatic center groundbreaking ceremony set for Sept. 17

From staff reports

09/13/2024

Lawton council agrees to interest rate reset on $40M loan

LAWTON – The City Council agreed to a future adjustment of the interest rate on a multimillion-dollar loan previously authorized for various public improvement projects, including the new aqu

09/13/2024

BREAKING NEWS! Judge denies DA's petition to overturn sheriff's runoff election results

LAWTON – After listening for nearly three hours to testimony, “about half” of which “hasn’t been relevant to this case,” Comanche County District Judge Jay Walker denied District Attorney Kyl

08/31/2024

BREAKING NEWS! DA Cabelka seeks new election in Comanche County sheriff’s runoff

District Attorney Kyle Cabelka filed a petition last Friday seeking a new election in the Republican Comanche County sheriff’s election.

08/31/2024

Booker, Hankins win third terms; Ward 2 contest headed to Nov. 5 ballot

“We are going to have three more years of progress!” an animated Stan Booker said at his watch party Aug. 27 while celebrating his re-election to a third and final term as Mayor of Lawton.

08/25/2024

He helped end WWII and all he got was a lake: The story of Sen. Elmer Thomas

As a kid growing up in and around Lawton, Oklahoma, we hung out like most people from southwest Oklahoma, in theWichita Mountains. One area we frequented was a beautiful, small impoundment called Lake Elmer Thomas.

08/25/2024

12 candidates vying for 3 Lawton council seats Aug. 27

LAWTON – Twelve candidates are vying for three City Council seats on the ballot this year: Mayor, Ward 1 and Ward 2. The nonpartisan primary municipal election is scheduled for Aug.

08/25/2024

American Civics 101: Enforcing the long-ignored Vesting Clause

By James Finck, Ph.D. Of all the sentences in the Constitution, Article I, Section I is the most important and today is also the most abused.

08/25/2024

New committee examining economic development proposals meets

From staff reports OKLAHOMA CITY – Robust economic development is the goal of a new act created through the passage of Senate Bill 1447 in the recent legislative session. The “Creating Oklahoma’s Modern Plan for Economic Transformation and Effectiveness (COMPETE) Act” was approved by Gov.

08/25/2024

Reviewing Matney’s “Blood on Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, and the Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty”

Starting as a struggling journalist, Mandy Matney found her way to international fame by creating a podcast focused on small-town corruption in South Carolina. In her book, “Blood On Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, and the Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty,” published Nov.

08/25/2024

Mayor Box to swim in shark-infested waters

JENKS – A world renown tourist attraction will hold a fundraiser for student education using an Oklahoma town mayor as bait. Jenks Mayor Cory Box, along with two other participants, will dive in a tank full of bull sharks Saturday, Aug.

08/25/2024

LEDC pursued 29 economic development ‘leads’ in FY 2024, exec reports

The Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation pursued more than two dozen prospective “leads” in Fiscal Year 2023-24. In fact, LEDC President Brad Cooksey huddled behind closed doors with the Lawton City Council last Tuesday to discuss an “ongoing industrial development proposal.”

08/25/2024

$40M debt to finance new aquatic center, improve lakes, streets, water/sewer lines

The City Council authorized the Lawton Industrial Development Authority to incur $40 million in debt to finance “all or a portion of the cost” of various capital improvement projects, including construction of the proposed new aquatic center, repaving Lee Boulevard, and infrastructure upgrades a...

08/25/2024

https://www.southwestledger.news/news/mayoral-candidates-discuss-homelessness-other-issues

LAWTON - With just a few weeks before the election, three candidates for Lawton’s recently made their pitches to voters. Mayor Stan Booker joined two of his challengers, Ron Ballew and Jacobi Crowley, for a mayoral forum Aug.

08/24/2024

08/20/2024

Candidate’s Lack of Candor over ODOC Record Must Concern Voters

On Aug. 27, Oklahoma voters will be asked to make informed decisions about various candidates across Oklahoma. They will cast their votes in runoff elections to decide who is going to craft policy and pass legislation. They will do so at a time when many Oklahomans contend we are treading water.

08/14/2024

Southwest Ledger editorial cartoon

The Ledger continues to call on Senate candidate Hines to be forthcoming and candid with the voters in regards to his appearance in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections database.

08/11/2024

Breaking News:
One candidate's lack of candor cause for concern as voters are left in the dark

On Aug. 27, Oklahoma voters will be asked to make informed decisions that will impact on our lives.

08/07/2024

Support grows for Lawton capital improvement plan

LAWTON – Voters will be asked to approve an extension of a special sales tax later this month to foot the bill for a slew of capital improvements and quality of life projects. Titled “PROPEL 2040,” the capital improvements plan will include improvements to streets and bridges, water and sewer ...

08/06/2024

Boynton sold lake to satisfy court judgment; water bill finally paid

The Town of Boynton was forced to sell a lake to satisfy a six-figure civil lawsuit judgment, and the community spent years paying off a long-standing invoice arising from its water purchases. The town; Willie Gary Hopkins, Boynton’s former water system operator; and Candace Renita Lang, Boynton.....

07/26/2024

A tribute to Barbara Curry

LAWTON – One day, photographer Chris Martin and community activist Barbara Curry were working on a photo project when Martin had an idea. The photographer, who was a friend of Curry’s, told her to take the pain she had experienced in her life, ball it up in her fist and let it go.

07/25/2024

Mayor Stan Booker favorable rating ‘strong’ in Lawton mayoral race

LAWTON – Mayor Stan Booker is in a comfortable position in his bid for a third and final three-year term, a recent survey commissioned by Southwest Ledger indicates. Results from the survey of Booker’s image were: • Very favorable: 49.3%.

06/12/2024

Comanche County Commissioner O’Brien pleads to misdemeanors, resigns from office

LAWTON – Former District 1 Comanche County Commissioner John Donavon O’Brien, who was suspended from office May 7 after a multicounty grand jury recommended his ouster, pleaded “no contest” to two embezzlement charges reduced from felonies to misdemeanors and resigned from office.

06/12/2024

Duncan sales tax vote highlights dispute between city, foundation

Southwest Ledger DUNCAN – In less than a week, Duncan voters will decide whether to renew the city’s quarter- cent sales tax for economic development and infrastructure projects for another five years. But there’s a major change this year: If voters approve the measure, the Duncan Area Economi...

06/04/2024

Logan appointed as Comanche County Commissioner

LAWTON – Comanche County District 1 has a new representative on the Comanche County Board of Commissioners. The new commissioner, Trent Logan, was sworn into office in a brief ceremony before the commission’s June 3 meeting.

05/21/2024

United Way of Southwest Oklahoma names Mark Woommavovah President/CEO

LAWTON – Southwest Oklahoma native Mark Woommavovah has been named president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma. Woommavovah succeeds former president/ CEO Lauren Ellis, who has accepted a position as CEO of United Way of Norman in Norman, United Way of Southwest O...

05/21/2024

Comanche County chairman, Josh Powers, questions overreach, pushes back against Tillman County jail resolution

LAWTON – During its April 29 meeting, the Tillman County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution stating that other counties must seek the board’s permission before building a jail in Tillman County.

04/09/2024

Breaking News story by Mike W. Ray: Report filed with DEQ say Lawton sewage claim wrong.

LAWTON – Rumors which gained traction last weekend, claiming that Lawton is dumping raw sewage into East Cache Creek, are inaccurate, according to a report filed with the Oklahoma

03/13/2024

Comanche County Commissioner O’Brien named in 5 criminal charges

By Mike W. Ray
Southwest Ledger

LAWTON – Five criminal charges were filed in Comanche County District Court here Wednesday against District 1 County Commissioner John David O’Brien.
O’Brien, 55, of Elgin, is named in two felony embezzlement charges and three misdemeanor offenses.
One embezzlement count accused O’Brien of using county-provided cell phone service to make unauthorized personal calls “and/or sending text messages personal in nature” between January and June 2023.
The other embezzlement charges alleges O’Brien used a county-provided pickup truck to drive to personal doctors’ appointments in Oklahoma City “and/or by hauling equipment for personal use,” and by using a county-provided PikePass during the trips to Oklahoma City.
A misdemeanor charge of computer crime accuses O’Brien of using a computer to “annoy and/or harass” a female former District 1 employee “by sending explicit text messages” to the woman between January and June 2023.
O’Brien also is named in two misdemeanor counts of outraging public decency by firing District 1 employees Mallory Geiger and road foreman Kenny Curry, who had worked for District 1 for 24 years when O’Brien let him go on July 31, 2023.
The maximum punishment for each embezzlement charge is 1 to 10 years in prison and a fine equal to triple the amount of money allegedly embezzled, plus restitution.
Conviction on each of the misdemeanor charges is punishable by a fine of up to $500 or incarceration in the Comanche County jail for up to one year.
The charges were filed by District 6 District Attorney Jason Hicks. District 5 District Attorney Kyle Cabelka recused himself from the case because he is the legal adviser for county officers. The office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond lateraled the matter to Hicks, the chief prosecutor for Stephens, Grady, Jefferson and Caddo counties.
Assistant District Attorney Charles Sifers from Duncan urged the court to set bond for O’Brien at $5,000.
Lawton attorney John Zelbst responded that O’Brien has exhibited a “lifelong dedication to the citizens of this county” and is a U.S. Army veteran. The purpose of setting a bond is “to ensure attendance at court hearings,” he said, and earlier said, “We look forward to hearing our story and getting this behind us.” Zelbst urged the court to release O’Brien on his own recognizance.
Special District Judge Christine Galbraith split the difference, setting bail at $2,500 cash, property or surety. She scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for 3:30 p.m. June 4.

Mike W. Ray | Southwest Ledger
Comanche County District 1 Commissioner John D. O’Brien, right, confers Wednesday with his defense attorney, John Zelbst.