News

Watonga School Board Votes to Beef Up Drug-Testing Policy

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WATONGA – The Watonga Public Schools Board of Education met on Monday, June 13, for a summertime session to prepare for the fall semester. The board had the minimum number of members available Monday, as Aaron Clewell, Dwight McGee and Mayra Flynn were present while Andy Wigington and Shawn Cox were unable to attend.

Astronomist Names Asteroid After Hometown

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Asteroid 115492 Watonga is named to honor the town in Oklahoma where I was born and raised. Watonga is located on former Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian Reservation lands that were allotted to individual tribal members and the excess opened to white settlers in the Land Run of 1892, and is named after Arapaho Chief Watonga, whose name means "Black Coyote.” Currently in Gemini lingering just above the setting Sun at magnitude 20.9, this object has a diameter of about 4 miles.

Lankford Makes Campaign Stop in Watonga

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WATONGA – U.S. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma visited Watonga last week during a campaign tour of the Sooner State as he prepares for primary elections later this month.

Soaking Rains Knock Western OK Drought Down a Peg

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WATONGA – Recent storms and showers have significantly eased western Oklahoma’s drought conditions, ending an abnormally dry spring and bringing much-needed moisture to the region. Watonga has received more than 6.5 inches of rain in the past two weeks, estimates show, and about 7.5 inches in the past month.

Geary to Vote on New School This August

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GEARY – A new Geary school building will be on the August ballot for voters in southern Blaine County after Monday’s meeting of the Geary School Board. The board voted to hold its election on Tuesday, Aug.

Former Hydro Police Officer Sentenced in Child Pornography Case

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HYDRO – A former Hydro assistant police chief was sentenced last week after his 2021 arrest for possessing child pornography. Tyler Davis, 37, ultimately pled no contest to four counts of possession of child pornography; one count of first-degree rape; and three counts of child sexual abuse.

Wheat Harvest Opens in Blaine County

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Andy Wigington and his son Turner (pictured bove) delivered the first load of wheat to Wheeler Brothers Greenfield on May 30. Test weight was 61.5, moisture was 11.9. (Photo provided by Tonya Dobrinski)