2019 - The Year In Review

2019 was a busy year for news and events in Cordell and Washita County. Here’s a brief summary of 2019, from the year’s biggest stories in The Cordell Beacon.

JANUARY

Jan. 16, 2019 - County Voters Approve Tax Hike

Washita County’s voters took to the polls and overwhelmingly approved the reapportionment and renewal of part of the county’s two percent sales tax. The final tally was 727 votes in favor, with 171 against, with the reapportionment becoming effective Oct. 1, 2019, and remain in effect for five years.

The Washita County Justice Center will be the largest beneficiary of the changes, receiving 40 percent of the renewed tax dollars. The jail has a current annual budget of approximately $1.9 million, according to Washita County Clerk Kristen Dowell. Of that budget, roughly $900,000 is required for bond/debt service each year. The 40 percent allocation, combined with the current .75 percent tax commitment, should provide the jail with about $1 million annually, based upon average sales tax collections during the past three years.

The remaining 60 percent of the sales tax will be divided up between the county’s general fund (20 percent), the various county fire departments

(13.5 percent), the Oklahoma State University Extension Center (12 percent), county ambulance services (eight percent), senior citizens centers (4.5 percent), and the county free fair (two percent).

FEBRUARY

Feb. 20, 2019 - Parents

Look For Answers In

Wake of Student Assault

In the wake of an assault on the grounds of Cordell High School on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, the parents of the victim are calling for a change in the school’s policies regarding bullying and discipline.

The incident, which was captured on video and then shared on social media, depicts a juvenile boy following and pushing the victim, who clearly tells the aggressor, “No.” The aggressor then proceeds to push the victim to the ground and savagely strike him in the head, rendering him unconscious. According to the victim’s mother, Chasity Wootton, the victim suffered a concussion during the assault.

Wootton said she brought the video to the attention of school officials, who told her there was nothing they could or would do to discipline the students involved, since the assault occurred during a weekend and away from any school-related activity.

Cordell superintendent Brad Overton said there is nothing in school policy allowing him to discipline the student based upon the circumstances and timing of the assault, adding he believes the matter to be one for law enforcement instead of the schools.

MARCH

March 13, 2019 - Ward

4 Candidate May Be

Ineligible

Selena Gideon, a candidate for New Cordell City Council in Ward 4, may be ineligible for the April 2, 2019, municipal election because she failed to update her voter registration when she moved to her current address.

According to the candidate declaration Gideon filed with the Washita County Election Board, she resides on West First Street in Cordell, inside the boundaries of Ward

4. Her voter registration, however, indicates residence at an address on North Crider Street. The voter registration, Gideon’s first ever, was dated July 16, 2018, and places her residence in the city’s Ward 2.

Oklahoma law requires a candidate for municipal election to not only reside in the specific ward, but also to be registered to vote at an address within the ward in order to be eligible.

Gideon later withdrew her candidacy for office.

APRIL

April 3, 2019 - Beech

Elected As Cordell’s New

Mayor

The Washita County Board of Elections has announced the unofficial results of the Tuesday, April 2, 2019, municipal elections, and Jerry Beech has been declared the winner in the Cordell mayoral election. Also victorious in Tuesday’s election were city council incumbents Steven McLaughlin (Ward 1), Zetta Penner (Ward 2), Kelly Maddox-Tilley (Ward 3), and Cheryl Wedel (Ward 4). James Newman, Jr. was elected to the remaining two years on the Ward 3 seat vacated by Joseph Boecker in his unsuccessful challenge of Maddox-Tilley.

MAY

May 15, 2019 - Large

Tornado Hits Washita,

Kiowa Counties

A category EF-2 tornado touched down in Kiowa County Tuesday, May 7, 2019, and ripped a 20-mile path across pastureland and through the town of Rocky before dissipating just south of Cordell. While the tornado and accompanying storm caused severe property damage, no human injuries or deaths have been reported from the storm.

The town of Rocky lost power for a short time Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, but electricity was restored quickly. The towns of Rocky and Sentinel were without municipal water as of press time Monday, May 13, 2019. Washita County Emergency Management Director Sandy Settles said the outage was the result of two eightinch water lines breaking in Bechkam County. Those lines, he said, provide the municipal water to the towns.

JUNE

June 5, 2019 - Council

Approves Special Election To Assist Cordell

Memorial Hospital

The New Cordell City Council Monday instructed city attorney Johnny Beech to draft a resolution to call for a special election to enact a one percent sales tax to support Cordell Memorial Hospital.

June 14, 2019 - Council

Authorizes Utility Rate

Hike

Cordell’s utility rate payers will see a four percent increase in their utility bills next month. The New Cordell City Council met Monday, June 17, 2019, for its regular meeting and authorized the increase as part of the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget.

The city’s budget calls for a total of $6,854,576.57 in expenditures, while projecting $6,756,653 in total revenues. The lion’s share of both revenue and expenses come from the city’s so-called enterprise funds, the New Cordell Utility Authority’s purchase and resale of water, electricity, sewer services, and garbage collection and the New Cordell Development and Redevelopment Authority Board.

JULY

July 31, 2019 - Saying

Goodbye To A Legacy:

Erv’s Quik-Serv Closes

The shelves stood mostly empty, but it was standing room only on Friday, July 26, 2019, as patrons and friends wished a fond farewell to Cordell’s iconic Erv’s Quik-Serv. After 56 years in business, the second generation owners Dawn and Tim Steagall decided to retire and shut down the business.

AUGUST

Aug. 14, 2019 - Small

Plane Crashes At Cordell

Airport

A Cessna 150 crashed in a field while attempting to land at the Cordell Municipal Airport last week. The pilot, who was alone in the plane, was Cordell assistant fire chief and EMS director Devin Humphrey.

Humphrey was injured in the crash and transported by air to OU Medical. As of Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, he was in good condition and expected to be released soon.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s preliminary reporting system, the crash occurred at roughly 6:34 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. The incident is listed as still under investigation and the exact cause of the crash is still unknown.

A representative from the Cordell Fire Department and Humphrey’s family offered their sincere appreciation for the support and concern expressed by the community.

Aug. 28, 2019 - Embezzlement Case Raises

Questions About

Financial Controls

The arrest of former county employee Dalton Ball on a charge of embezzlement has raised questions about Washita County’s internal financial controls and supervision.

Ball, who was a fulltime District Two employee from Dec. 1, 2016, through May 2, 2019, has been charged with using a county-issued fuel card to fill his personal vehicle 59 times over span of nearly two years. In total, Ball is accused of stealing $2,843.80 worth of gasoline from the county.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 11, 2019 - Cordell Voters Approve Sales Tax

For Hospital

Cordell voters have overwhelmingly approved a one percent sales tax to provide much-needed financial support for Cordell Memorial Hospital. Unofficial results show the final vote count at 467 in favor of the proposition, with just 40 opposed.

Hospital CEO Kenny Downs said he was extremely grateful for the community’s support of the hospital.

“I think I speak for the entire hospital staff and board of trustees in expressing our gratitude to all of those who played a role in making this vote happen,” he said. “In particular I would like to thank the mayor, city council, and city manager for passing the resolution calling for the sales tax vote, also those who wrote letters to the editor, bought ads, or in other ways expressed their support through personal conversations and social media posts. This has been a community effort which culminated in a resounding vote of support for the hospital. Thank you citizens of Cordell for your continued faith in the mission of Cordell Memorial Hospital, which is to provide compassionate, caring medicine in your hometown.”

Sept. 18, 2019 - Abatement Costs To Be Added

To Utility Bills

The New Cordell City Council voted Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, to adopt a new ordinance that would allow the city to add the cost of abatement to the utility bill of the property owner, occupant, or both.

The ordinance allows city officers to order property owners or tenants to remove “any source of filth, cause of sickness, condition conducive to the breeding of insects or rodents that might contribute to the transmission of disease, or any other condition adversely affecting the public health and safety, including but not limited to dilapidated structures...” Should the property owner, agent, or tenant refuse to comply with such an order, the city may then undertake abatement measures.

Under current ordinance, when the city incurs an abatement expense on private property a lien can be placed on the property as a means of collecting on the expense. The problem arises, said city administrator J.C. Moser, when there are other liens in priority position on the property. If the property is foreclosed or sold at a sheriff’s sale, tax liens are paid first and any additional revenues are then used to pay off liens in the chronological order in which they were placed, making it extremely unlikely enough money will be collected to cover the city’s abatement costs. The new ordinance, Moser said, will give the city one more tool to help collect the costs from the property owner and/ or occupant and thereby keep the costs off the city and its taxpayers and utility customers.

OCTOBER

Oct. 16, 2019 - City

Court Issues Fine in

Public Nuisance Case

The saga surrounding the city’s efforts to force the clean-up of a dilapidated building on Cordell’s city square entered a new phase Monday evening. City Judge Jimmy Hines ruled that the building located at 106 South College constituted a public nuisance and issued a fine to the previous owner, with an ongoing fine until the nuisance is properly abated.

The hearing in Cordell city court was the result of a citation issued Aug. 5, 2019, to the building’s previous owner, Craig Holman. Cordell’s city attorney, Johnny Beech argued that Holman, who held title to the building from 2015 until October 2018, was liable under law for the public nuisance created by the lack of care and maintenance of the building. Beech cited Cordell city ordinance 5-3-5: “Every successive owner of property who neglects to abate a continuing nuisance upon or in the use of such property, created by a former owner, is liable therefor in the same manner as the person who created it.”

NOVEMBER

Nov. 6, 2019 - City Council Amends Marijuana

Ordinance, Again

The city council of New Cordell has once again amended the city’s medical marijuana ordinance. During the Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, regular meeting of the council, a new ordinance was passed that defined medical marijuana cultivation and processing, and repealed the city’s previous ban on such businesses within the city limits.

The ordinance amended Title 5, Chapter 9, Section 5-9-1 to define medical marijuana cultivation as “an establisment licensed under Title 63 O.S. Section 422 whereby the growing of medical marijuana is conducted on the premises and then sold to a licensed retailer or processor.” It further defined medical marijuana processor as “an establisment licensed under Title 63 O.S. Section 423 whereby marijuana plants are processed (packaged) into concentrates, edible, and other forms for consumption.”

The new ordinance allows for both cultivation and processing facilities within the New Cordell city limits, but includes certain requirements.

Nov. 13, 2019 - Cordell

Schools Honor

America’s Veterans

During Assembly

Cordell Public Schools hosted their annual Veterans Day Assembly on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, at the CPS Auditorium.

After the presentation of colors by Audrey Coughlan and Kadi Cameron, Gabby Giblet led the Pledge of Allegiance. Cordell Elementary’s Pre-K and kindergarten students performed a rousing rendition of “God Bless America” and “On Veterans Day.”

Kaytem Garmon then took the stage to give an emotional tribute to a Washita County veteran, her great-grandfather, Walter Swart. Swart, who turned 100 years old in September, served the United States in World War II.

Following Garmon’s tribute, Hannah Southerland introduced the event’s keynote speaker, her father and U.S. Army veteran Mike Southerland. Southerland spoke about the honor and sacrifice of America’s veterans, not only the combat veterans, but all men and women who put on the uniform and stand ready to make that sacrifice whenever they may be called upon to do so. He spoke about courage and heroism, and encouraged those gathered to also be ready to seize the opportunity to show heroism in their own lives.

“War is horrific,” he said. Veterans Day isn’t about celebrating war or victory, but about honoring those who were willing to sacrifice all for the freedoms we are now able to enjoy.

Cordell’s high school band followed Southerland with a tribute piece, “American Heroes,” a medley of the anthems of the U.S. military services. Veterans of each branch were invited to stand and be recognized when their anthem was played. The ceremony closed with the playing of “Taps” by Kaitlyn Rodrique.

DECEMBER

Dec. 11, 2019 - Marijuana Laws Impact Cordell City Council: Does Maddox-Tilley’s Application

Mistake Constitute

Perjury?

The proliferation of medical marijuana businesses has created confusion and controversy in Oklahoma, confusion and controversy that has now found its way to Cordell and involves two members of Cordell’s city council, one of whom may have committed perjury in her license application.

Council member Kelly Maddox-Tilley, using the business name College St Cannabis, was issued a commercial dispensary license in September of this year despite a law precluding municipal officers and employees from obtaining said license in a location within the municipality they represent. The proscription is spelled out in Oklahoma Municipal Code Title 310 §681-5-3, paragraph (c).

“The application for a commercial license made by an individual on his or her own behalf shall be on the Department prescribed form and shall include at a minimum: …

(8) an attestation that no individual with ownership interest in the business is a sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, prosecuting officer, an officer or employee of OMMA, or an officer or employee of a municipality in which the commercial entity is located…”

The statute, in §681-1-4, defines stipulates that “’officer of a municipality’ shall have the same definition as set forth in the Oklahoma Municipal Code, 11 O.S. §1-102, and ‘means any person who is elected to an office in municipal government or is appointed to fill an unexpired term of an elected office, and the clear and treasurer whether elected or appointed.’”

When asked about the attestation, Maddox-Tilley said the question was not on the form when she completed her application. She claimed the question was added some time after she applied. However, in response to a public records request from The Beacon, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority provided a screen shot of Maddox-Tilley’s electronic application which clearly indicates she falsely attested to not being a municipal officer or employee.

Dec. 18, 2019 - Statewide Manhunt Ends In Shooting Near Cordell

A statewide manhunt ended in an officer-involved shooting south of Cordell last Thursday evening. The subject of the manhunt, 30-year-old Cade Humphrey was shot and killed by Cordell police during the incident.

According to the statement issued by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Humphrey had been sought since the previous day when he missed a court date on two counts of assault and battery of a police officer in Union City. When deputies tried to locate him they discovered both he and Challan Bailey, a 26-year-old Garvin County woman, were missing. OSBI reported agents began searching for Bailey as soon as it was discovered she was missing.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. Thursday night Cordell Police and the Washita County Sheriff’s Office located the 2004 Grand Marquis reportedly being driven by Humphrey. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a short pursuit ensued southbound on Highway 183 out of Cordell. According to reports, Humphrey attempted to ram one county sheriff vehicle head-on and was ultimately stopped about three miles later when he crashed into a Cordell police vehicle.

Following the collision, Humphrey reportedly exited the vehicle brandishing a knife. He then reportedly attacked one of the officers while still in his vehicle, who shot him. Humphrey was transported to Cordell Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Bailey, the missing woman, was also taken to the hospital where she was treated and released. She told police Humphrey had beaten her and forced her to go with him.

Dec. 24, 2019 - Maddox-Tilley Resigns From

Council

The City of New Cordell will soon be seeking a new person to occupy the Ward Three city council seat. The seat was vacated Dec. 19, 2019, with the resignation of Kelly Maddox-Tilley following an investigative report in The Cordell Beacon highlighting a false statement made on her application for a commercial marijuana license. Documents obtained through a public records request show that Maddox-Tilley falsely attested to not being a municipal officer at the time she submitted her application.