Feb. 23
January 5
Tim Curtin Passes Chester Timothy Curtin, whose family guided the Watonga Republican and other newspapers through decades of change, died on New Year’s Eve, his family said. He was 77 years old.
Along with his father, Gerald Timothy “Cowboy” Curtin, Tim’s family owned and published the Watonga Republican for 69 years, making them the most consequential figures in the paper’s long history since the founding Fergusons.
Watonga Burglary Linked to Kansas Thefts A Dec. 11 burglary in Hillsboro, Kan., may be linked to a similar crime that occurred in Watonga months before. It was strikingly similar to the one used on Aug. 24, when a thief busted through the glass front door of Swann Pharmacy in Watonga and stole about $3,300 in medication, including hydrocodone.
That Watonga break-in came just hours after another burglary at a Dodge City, Kan., pharmacy.
January 12
Geary Seeks Funds for Animals The City of Geary is seeking donations to help it complete a new animal shelter that it hopes will help reduce the stray animal population and reunite pets with their owners.
The partially completed shelter is located across the street from the city’s wastewater treatment plant in northeast Geary. Its construction has thus far been financed through a private foundation, but city officials say the structure will need a little more investment to get it operational.
Field House Floods It was just a few days before the Geary Invitational when disaster threw the whole thing in doubt.
With a stellar field of teams lined up, Geary was excited to host its first wrestling tournament since 2020. But the frigid New Year’s weather led to busted pipes that filled the Stegall-Long Fieldhouse with water.
Watonga Schools Pave Lot The Watonga Public Schools Board of Education voted Monday to accept a bid to build a new parking lot on the southwest corner of the middle school building.
Geary Council Seat Left Vacant Geary city council members agreed last week to seek applications for the council seat vacated in November by Cody Wright, who moved away that month.
January 19
Noriega Named Chief In December the City of Watonga hired John Noriega as its new chief of police, ending six months of interim leadership at the department.
Geary Grad Leaves Gift to District When Geary’s own Frank Austin died in November 2021, he left behind a passion for education and helping students achieve their academic goals. Austin left Geary schools nearly $222,000.
Bond Improvements Create Sense of Pride Ever since he arrived in Watonga in summer 2021, Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran has brought enthusiasm to his position as he oversees the day-to-day at Watonga Public Schools.
In early February, Hilterbran will face his greatest challenge yet – convincing at least 60% of Watongans to OK a slight property-tax increase to help finance a capital improvement project for the district.
January 26
Basketball homecoming Azha'Rae Richard is crowned Homecoming Queen before Watonga's basketball games against Okeene on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Devon Wilson won King.
City starts recycling program Until now, there has never been any option but to throw away materials like cardboard and plastic in Watonga, clogging up the landfill with bulky boxes, bottles and other recyclables.
But Watonga has now partnered with a program that will allow Watongans to recycle those materials – and earn some rewards for doing so, too.
Woman Accused of Running Over Sheriff’s Foot According to a Facebook post authored by Sheriff Travis Daugherty, officials were serving a search warrant in rural, southwestern Greenfield Monday afternoon when a car drove by slowly. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, and Daugherty ordered a woman out of the car, but she refused to get out.
Daugherty said she “accelerated the vehicle and took off from the traffic stop,” running over Daugherty’s steel-toed boot in the process.
Local Man Injured in Explosion A local man is recovering in an Oklahoma City hospital after an oilfield explosion near Fay left him severely burned.
Rowdy Blankenship, whose family operates Watonga’s Garden Spot Market and the Brody Gene Sims Memorial Benefit, was injured in the explosion last Thursday, Jan. 20, southeast of Fay.
No Location for New Jail Selected Ben Smith and Matt Groves of Principle Design. Contractor Kris Richardson was also present. They presented the commissioners with some preliminary studies showing how a jail facility might fit on various lots but said the commissioners will need to decide soon on a location in order to move forward.
The sheriff, commissioners and architects believe it might not be possible to build a new jail on the current jail site because of the size of the lot. They want the jail to be one story, if possible, and the current two-story facility has only 37 cells while a new one could have as many as 84.
February 2
Towns Brace for Winter Storm Meteorologists are predicting with increasing certainty that Watonga and much of Oklahoma will be slammed with a significant winter storm by the middle of this week.
The storm has locals making preparations, with possible impacts to utilities, road conditions, schools and services.
Slush Sends Car into Geary Pond Snowy roads were behind a slide-off wreck last Wednesday, Jan. 26, that sent a car into a private pond in Geary.
Tribe Adds Land to Trust The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ application to take land into trust south of Geary has been approved, the tribes announced last week.
The land comprises just over 6.8 acres off I-40 and was the former location of Rodeo Joe’s.
Voters Head to Polls Blaine County and area voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 8, with several important questions in the balance.
Watonga voters will decide on a proposition for new school facilities; Hinton voters will be asked whether to approve a sales-tax increase for infrastructure funds; and locals served by the Caddo Kiowa Technology Center will vote on a new building fund for the district.
February 9
Voters Approve Watonga Bond The voters of central Blaine County handed a victory to Watonga Public Schools on Tuesday, granting the district’s request for a nearly $20 million bond issue to finance construction of new athletics and cafeteria facilities.
The bond was approved by 465 voters out of 643 total votes cast, or 72.32%, according
to preliminary results released by the Oklahoma State Election Board. The district needed 60% approval for the bond.
Storm Dumps Snow, Town Loses Power Watonga residents lost power overnight into last Wednesday morning, Feb. 2, but regained it before the onset tof a prolonged winter storm that dumped inches of snow across the state and kept kids out of the classroom for three days.
Caddo County Fugitive Arrested Here A Caddo County man wanted for manslaughter was arrested in Watonga last week, along with a woman suspected of hiding him from law enforcement.
Shaun Tillman was booked into the Caddo County Jail on Feb. 1, four months after officials decided to charge Tillman with manslaughter and other counts in relation to a fatal car crash he allegedly caused in May 2021.
Burn Ban Remains in Effect Despite last week’s snowstorm, the Blaine County commissioners voted Monday to extend the countywide outdoor burn ban for at least another week, through Valentine’s Day.
Doyel leaves City Council Lindsey Doyel, the Ward Two council member, has resigned her post, Mayor Bill Seitter said. Seitter remains on the council along with Tina Willis, Travis Bradt and Allen Cowan.
Mooney Opens Geary Salon Shear Bliss Hair Salon opened on Feb. 1 and has already drawn a brisk walkin business and customers from throughout the area.
Makala Mooney is the stylist behind Shear Bliss.
Kays Charged with Gun Crime OKLAHOMA CITY – Former Watonga police chief Shawn Kays was charged earlier this month with illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment.
Geary Offers Fine Amnesty The City of Geary and Geary Police Department will run a two-month “amnesty” program this spring where locals can potentially save big on accumulated fines.
Geary Woman Shot to Death in OKC A woman from Geary was shot and killed last week in Oklahoma City.
Kayla Yates, who was days away from her 31st birthday, died on Feb. 14 in a car parked off Northwest 10th Street near Portland Avenue. Raymond Paddyaker, 40, was also found deceased in the car.
Burn Ban Lifted The Blaine County commissioners voted Tuesday to lift the countywide burn ban that had been in place since late December to avoid wildfires during the region’s ongoing drought.
March 2
Watonga Advances in Playoffs In a dazzling display of clutch shooting, Watonga’s Devon Wilson hit a buzzerbeating 3-point shot in the third and fourth quarter, both, to help lift the Eagles over Fairview on the Jackets’ home court Tuesday.
Watonga won 55-54 despite trailing by two in the final seconds after Wilson caught the ball on the inbounds pass with 4.5 seconds left to play, dribbled to the top of the arc, faked a pass and then uncorked a 3 as time expired. His game-winning shot left Eagles fans ecstatic as the team celebrated on the court, while the Fairview crowd and players looked on in disbelief.
Theater Unveils All Teen Play After the success of December’s “Shenanigans at the North Pole,” Watonga Community Theatre is back this weekend with two performances of “The Villain Wore a Dirty Shirt,” featuring a cast full of highschoolers.
Ukrainian Family Escapes Invasion A yearslong effort to bring a Ukrainian man to Blaine County full-time was finally successful last week – and not a moment too soon.
Todd Lafferty, co-Chief Executive at the Wheeler Brothers Grain Company, told the Republican that Alex and his wife and son arrived safely in Oklahoma last Tuesday, Feb. 22, after he was granted a green card to work full-time for the company.
Johnson Retires After 27 Years Dozens of Watonga employees and friends gathered Friday at the former Watonga City Hall auditorium to honor Jimmy Johnson, a 27-year veteran of the Watonga street department, and celebrate his retirement from the city.
March 9
Hussey Named Principal Ty Hussey, a longtime Watonga schoolteacher and former head basketball coach, was hired Monday as the new Watonga Middle School principal.
Human Traffickers Arrested in Watonga Two men were arrested in February after Watonga police pulled over a minivan in the city and found 17 men crammed inside.
Juvencio Martinez-Bautista, 40, has been charged with one count of conspiracy and 17 counts of transporting or moving an illegal alien, a felony. Officials say Jorje Acevedo, 36, was driving the vehicle when it was pulled over.
March 16
Bracket Madness Returns Thursday marks the traditional start of this year’s NCAA basketball tournament, which annually produces some great drama, high-stakes bets and bracket challenges. People across the country love to challenge their friends, co-workers and relatives to see who can fill out the best and most accurate
bracket.
Cold Case Victim Identified The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced last week it has identified a woman whose remains were found near Bridgeport, in far northern Caddo County, more than 25 years ago.
Katrina Bentivegna was only 20 years old when her dismembered body was found west of the small town on April 24, 1995. Her feet, hands and head had been removed, making Bentivegna nearly impossible to identify – at the time.
Watonga Teacher Lost Suddenly Beloved high school English teacher Michele Wood died unexpectedly on Friday, March 11. A memorial service is planned for Wednesday, March 23.
March 23
Greenfield Fire Department Dedicated The Greenfield community turned out on Sunday to tour the new fire department facility that has been built over the former location of Greenfield High School.
City Reactivates Boards Watonga city leaders agreed last week to work on revitalizing three committees that focus on growth and development in the town.
The Watonga Planning and Zoning Committee and the Board of Adjustments have both been inactive for some time, City Manager Karrie Beth Little explained, but could prove necessary as Watonga seeks to attract new businesses and development
March 30 Watonga Prom Flush with
Cash
A fundraiser for the upcoming Watonga prom could have a commode creeping into your front yard.
The “Flushed Away” fundraiser has toilets popping up around town for a good cause. When the toilet appears, the homeowners must chip in to have it relocated.
They can pay $10 to have the toilet removed, $25 to “flush” a friend or $50 as “insurance” to make sure the toilet never reappears in their yards.
Courthouse Display Raises Child Abuse Awareness A display of blue pinwheels outside the Blaine County Courthouse is coming soon to raise awareness about National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
Geary Revives School Foundation Last month Geary school officials announced their intention to revive the Geary Public Schools Foundation, to benefit student scholarships and other endeavors, with the aid of a large donation from the estate of Geary alum Frank Austin.
OSBI Investigates Swadley’s Contract An Oklahoma City barbecue chain that operates a restaurant at Roman Nose State Park is under scrutiny over its seemingly generous contract with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is reportedly looking into the state’s agreement with Swadley’s Bar-B-Q, which has operated Foggy Bottom Kitchen restaurants at Roman Nose and other state parks since 2020. The contracts included state money for renovations, management fees, and an agreement to reimburse Swadley’s for its losses at the parks.
Geary Board and Hinton Bond on Ballots Tuesday was another Election Day across Oklahoma, with big races in Geary and Hinton sending local voters to the polls.
In Geary, candidates vied to finish an unexpired term on the school board and city council, while Hinton Public Schools tried to pass a nearly $37 million bond primarily for athletics and event facilities.
Unofficial results Tuesday night showed Taylar Burns bested Lee Posey, 103 votes to 43, for the Geary School Board office. Cory R. Hicks also prevailed over Kim Lewis by a 17-vote margin, 54 to 37, for the Ward Four seat on the Geary City Council.
Geary Schools Hear Preliminary Cost Estimates GEARY — Representatives of Kerr 3 Architects were on hand Monday night at the Geary High School library to present options for the school board about new or renovated facilities.
The architects gave cost estimates for three different scenarios, but emphasized that the numbers are still preliminary and the discussions in early stages.
'The conclusion that we're going to show you tonight is not really a conclusion. It's a first step in a process that takes several months,' said James Kerr, president of Kerr 3.
Watonga Native Plays Extra in Film Curt Andrews, a 1971 Watonga High School graduate, spent part of 2021 working as a background performer on the set of ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’ The movie was filmed in Oklahoma and tells the story of the Osage Murders that occurred in eastern Oklahoma in 1920s.
April 13 Watonga Woman Turns 101 Watonga native Mae Hartfield celebrated her 101st birthday on Thursday, April 7, at the Cimarron Nursing Center in Kingfisher.
Woman Booked on Suspicion of Arson A Geary woman is in custody this week after a house fire and grass fires sprang up Thursday in the heart of town, decimating the home.
April Ibarra was arrested that day on suspicion of arson and was booked into the Blaine County Jail.
Two WHS Students Serve as Pages Two Watonga High School students learned the ins and outs of the Oklahoma Legislature last week as part of an exclusive program.
Senior Kaylee Roberts and junior Mason Estep served as pages for Rep. Mike Dobrinski, ROkeene, learning about his role at the capitol and about the lawmaking process in Oklahoma.
Broken Pipes Flood High School Watonga High School students had to work from home for one day last week after a burst water line flooded some areas of the campus.
The flooding started on Wednesday afternoon, April 6, and kept WHS students home for the day on April 7. Elementary and middle school students were not affected.
April 20 130 and Going Strong The City of Watonga celebrated its 130th birthday on Tuesday, April 19, hosting a party with cookies and refreshments at the new City Hall. Watonga was founded immediately after the land was opened to non-Indian settlement during a land run on April 19, 1892.
Kays Protective Order Hearing Former Watonga police chief Shawn Kays was back in town Thursday for a hearing about the emergency protective order that was filed against him last June and has been in effect ever since.
Blaine ADA Resigns Blaine County Assistant District Attorney Erik Roscom left his post for a different position earlier this month, leaving the county temporarily without a full-time prosecutor while other local prosecutors
work to pick up his caseload.
April 27 Prom Celebrated Locally Watonga and Geary each held prom this past Saturday, April 23, marking the near-completion of another school year in Blaine County.
Watonga celebrated at the Lucky Star convention center. Down in Geary, prom was held at the First Christian Church with promenade moved away from Main Street.
Swadleys Shut Down at Roman Nose The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has canceled its lease agreement with Swadley’s restaurants, it announced Monday, shuttering the Foggy Bottom Kitchen at Roman Nose State Park and the five other parks where it had opened.
Bikes and BBQ Return One of the biggest festivals in northwest Oklahoma is returning to Watonga Friday and Saturday, April 29- 30, for its second edition.
Bikes & BBQ will feature live music, a poker run, vendors and, of course, motorcycles and food.
Zoning Change Hearing Postponed A much-anticipated Monday meeting of the Watonga Planning and Zoning Committee had to be postponed after the committee didn’t have enough members present to proceed. Forty Watonga residents have filed a protest against the zoning request, City Clerk Verlen Bills told the Drugs Headed to Prison Intercepted Three people were arrested this week when drugs were discovered in their vehicle during a late-night traffic stop, Blaine County Sheriff Travis Daugherty said.
Big Crowd Shows for Watonga Bikes and BBQ Organizers say they’re extremely pleased after Watonga’s second Bikes & BBQ rally brought hundreds of bikers, vendors and families to town this weekend.
Geary Considers School Bond Again The Geary Public Schools Board of Education could decide to run a bond election at its meeting next month, board members indicated Monday, as the district looks to replace its aging facilities with a single K12 structure.
Lady Eagles Qualify for State Track The Watonga Lady Eagles are going to state after a second-place team finish at the Cherokee track and field regional Saturday.
May 11
Church damaged The tall northwest wall of the Watonga Church of the Nazarene toppled in the overnight hours before Wednesday, May 11, after thunderstorms rolled through the area.
Graduations set Geary’s graduation ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, in the Stegall Long Fieldhouse. Watonga’s will be held at the same time inside the Watonga high school gymnasium.
Fishermen hit the lake for Walleye Rodeo The Canton Lake Walleye Rodeo begins Thursday, May 12, and wraps up on Sunday, May 15. Featuring a 5K run, a parade, a ranch rodeo and more, the Walleye Rodeo is much more than just fishing. But for those who do cast a line, catching a big fish could turn into some big money.
May 18
Pot Guru Seeks Zoning Change After two meetings were set and then rescheduled, the Watonga Planning and Zoning Committee will finally convene on Monday, May 23 to consider a rezoning request from an incoming business.
Dr. Thomas Johnson III is the founder of Exalted Connoisseurs Inc. In a phone call Tuesday, Johnson told the Watonga Republican he wants his cannabis business to create jobs, investment and redevelopment in Watonga.
Police Pursuit with Child in Car No one was seriously injured Monday after an Ellis County man led deputies on a chase through Blaine County and flipped his vehicle in Geary with a woman and child on board.
Jason Looney was booked into the Blaine County Jail on suspicion of reckless driving, driving under the influence, kidnapping, and other counts.
May 25
Watonga Doctor Dies on Rainy Roadway A Weatherford man who saw local patients at Watonga's Mercy Clinic died unexpectedly on Tuesday when his vehicle left the road between Hinton and Geary. Garry T. Bull was 43 years old and had been practicing in Watonga since April 2021.
Local Crews Battle Caddo Blaze A large wildfire erupted last week west of Hinton, forcing evacuations and burning hundreds of acres before finally being controlled by the weekend.
The Hog Farm Fire started Thursday afternoon, officials said, and ultimately consumed about 845 acres. Watonga and Geary firefighters responded to the blaze blaze along with many other departments including Lookeba-Sickles, Hinton, Weatherford, Hydro and more.
Flashing Light Slated for Harvest The stoplight at the intersection of Clarence Nash and Russworm, one of the busiest in northwest Oklahoma, will revert to a flashing red light this June during the wheat harvest.
Memorial Day Remembrance Set The American Legion will host a Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30, at the IOOF Cemetery.
From Turf to Astroturf Crews last week began the process of replacing Watonga's grass football field with a sleek artificial turf surface built for yearround durability. The new turf field will be ready for games this fall.
Meth, Liquor Charges Land Men in Jail Two men are in the Blaine County Jail this week after officials say they discovered methamphetamine in their vehicle during an early-morning traffic stop.
Tracy Hornsby and Clifford Walls are being held on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine, while Walls could face additional charges.
Legislature Adjourns After Packed Session The Oklahoma Legislature used all the time it could in 2022, adjourning on Friday, May 27, minutes before the constitutionally mandated deadline, after passing more than 430 bills.
Those bills covered a wide range of issues, from the state budget to medical marijuana and education. But perhaps no issue was more publicized this session than abortion, especially after news that the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade.
With Republican supermajorities in both legislatures and a governor who has vowed to sign every pro-life bill he receives, Oklahoma passed several anti-abortion bills this session. One of them, House Bill 4327, bans abortions from the point of fertilization.
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the law last week; it went
into effect immediately.
June 8
Geary Seeks Bond For New Schools Again 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. 23, asking local voters for $30,720,000 for a new K-12 facility that would be built on the site of the current Geary High School.
Hydro Cop Sentenced on Child Porn 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. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the possession charges and 25 years for the sexual abuse; however, 13 of those years were suspended, the sentences run concurrently, and Davis will get credit for the year and a half he has spent in jail already.
Sheriff Seeks Tax Solution Court documents filed last week show that Blaine County Sheriff Travis Daugherty owes the State of Oklahoma more than $40,000 in unpaid personal income taxes, interest, penalties and fees. 'It's not going to hinder who I am as the sheriff,' Daugherty told the Republican on Tuesday. 'It's not going to ever be an issue … because I'm not a dodger. I'm just trying to get to a happy medium and get it figured out.'
First Load of Wheat in Greenfield Andy Wigington and his son Turner delivered the first load of wheat to Wheeler Brothers Greenfield on May 30.
June 15
Republican Cleans up at Annual Press Convention Watonga Republican staffers attended a two-day convention in Oklahoma City this past weekend with representatives of newspapers from across the state.
The Republican walked away with four first-place awards at the Saturday night ceremony that caps the annual Oklahoma Press Association convention, taking top honors for news content as well as design, sales and photography awards. The awards were for submissions from 2021.
Drug Test Policy Changes at Watonga Schools An item the board approved was a tougher drug-testing policy that includes a “three-strikes” approach for participation in extracurricular activities. Notably, all students who participate in extracurriculars like athletics, band and academic clubs will be drug tested this fall.
Testing will become randomized after that, except for students who test positive the first time. Students who test positive will receive drug counseling through the school.
Astronomist Names Asteroid After Town Asteroid 115492 Watonga is named to honor the town in Oklahoma where I was born and raised, wrote astronomist Loren Ball.
Family Dollar Donates to School Family Dollar presented Geary Public Schools with a check worth $11,100. Family Dollar raised the funds through a candy fundraiser at its stores. Superintendent Sean Buchanan said the donation will be put toward the district’s activity fund.