25 Years Ago July 26, 1995
Bombers Grounded at Clinton-Sherman
Still waiting at Clinton Sherman Airpark in Burns Flat to be debombed are the two OA-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes involved in last week’s bombing tragedy at Fort Sill Army Base, where a man died after a bomb hit his jeep.
It was reported last week that the planes are parked at the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airport, waiting the arrival of a crew who are to take the remaining bombs off the planes. That was what airport officials were speculating last week. One plane has three 500 pound bombs remaining and the other has a full load, or four bombs. An Air Force representative from Barksdale Air Force Base, home of the two planes, said the bombs are not dangerous to the public.
In a press release, the Air Force said “all precautions are taken to ensure weapons are as safe as possible”. It went on to say,”the arming mechanism does not turn until the bomb has been released, therefore the pin which arms the bomb does not enable detonation until it has been released from the aircraft.”
The planes have been under armed guard, 24 hours a day and are tightly secured.
It is not known why the planes returned to Clinton-Sherman’s airport after the failed bombing maneuvers. As of this writing, the military is not releasing any information as to the future of the planes.
The military’s response to the plane situation is that it is “still under investigation”. Efforts to get an official response and future plans for the planes were unsuccessful. Army officials at the Pentagon refused to return calls from the Beacon. Officials from Ft. Sill directed calls to Air Force Captain Gerry Carruthers, of Strategic Air Command in Virginia. Carruthers, in return, said all questions concerning the planes must be handled by Ft. Sill representatives.
Sentinel Narcotics Sting Nabs Nine
Nine Sentinel residents were arrested on various drug charges after a year-long investigation last week.
District Attorney John Wampler said officers from six state and local agencies were involved in the round up on July 20th.
“The arrests and searches conducted last week were a result of an intensive investigation by state, federal, and local agencies that has been on-going for over one year into illegal drug activity in and around the Sentinel area,” Wampler said
Arrested were: Max Sullivan (endeavoring or offering to deliver or distribute a controlled dangerous drug); Timothy Barnette (endeavoring or offering to deliver or distribute a controlled dangerous drug); Johnny Chester (unlawful distribution of controlled drug - methamphetamine); Paul and Janice Rea (conspiracy to commit a felony distribution of amphetamine/methamphetamine). Mr. Rea, individually, was also charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled drug.
These five individuals were arrested inside Washita County. Sentinel residents arrested in the oklahoma City area were: Barry Leslie; Ronnie Bynum; Jimmy Jones and Nancy York.
Wampler said York is the girlfriend of one of the other defendants.
He said he wished to thank Sentinel citizens for contacting officials about illegal drug activity in their community. He said citizen cooperation with the investigation helped lead to the arrests.
50 Years Ago July 23, 1970
Cityans’ Kin, Missing in Vietnam, is Safe
A great grandson of Mrs. Elmyra Coynor of Cordell has turned up safe and well in Vietnam after being reported missing in action the first of July.
Sp. 5 Jerry Hughart of Tulsa was listed as missing in action after the Americans returned to Vietnam from the Cambodian operation.
He phoned his mother, Mrs. Jack Hughart of Tulsa, in Cordell last Thursday, July 16, to inform her that he was safe and well. Mrs. Hughart was here with her mother, Mrs. Jewel Record of Tulsa, to visit Mrs. Coynor who had been confined to the Cordell Memorial Hospital.
“It’s the best news we have had in a long time,” Mrs. Hughart explained.
City Cheerleaders Win Honors at Camp
The Cordell High School cheerleaders attended camp at the University of Oklahoma July 13, through July 17.
Cheerleaders are: Seniors-Suzzi Moffat and Karen Sewell; Juniors-Janet Sheperd and Kim Hunter; Sophomores-Nancy Price and Jane Ann Robertson.
In four completions at camp, the Cordell girls won one outstanding award and two honorable mentions.
Their sponsor is Mrs. Maxine Sewell.
Four Burglaries in Bessie, Foss
Four burglaries were reported at Bessie and Foss the last week, and sheriff’s officers arrested five suspects.
Oliver Herrin, Jr., 43, of Clinton was charged in district court Tuesday, July 21, with second degree burglary in connection with breakins last Wednesday night and last Saturday in Bessie. The Farmers Co-op station was burglarized last Wednesday night and again about 5:30 p.m. last Saturday. Officers reported the theft of peanut machines and some pennies in the cash register.
Dick’s Recreation Parlor in Bessie was broken into last Wednesday night and some cigarettes, a table radio, and beer were stolen.
Herrin was arrested by Sheriff Clifford Hines and Deputy Sheriff Bob Lee. He was arraigned on two burglary charges before Associate District Judge Charles Edwards and entered innocent pleas. Judge Edwards set bond at $1,000 and scheduled preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. July 28 on one charge and 1 p.m. the same day on the second count.
The other burglary occurred early last Saturday morning at Elsie Albrecht’s drive-in grocery at Foss. Cigarettes and Beer were stolen.
Sheriff Hines, Undersheriff Gerald Kupka and Deputy Lee arrested four Clinton youths in connection with this break-in. Three of them over 16 years old were charged with second degree burglary in district court Monday, July 20. They are Micheal Pothorst. Billy Steve Brinkley and Jim McGaughey. The fourth youth, 14 years old was turned to the juvenile court. All four were released in custody of their parents without bond.