Home of the Great Salt Plains & the Selenite Hourglass Crystal
CHEROKEE
MESSENGER & REPUBLICAN Vol. 110 No. 2 – 12 Pages, 1 Section
No way to get a date
Cherokee, (Alfalfa County) Oklahoma
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Lewd pickup lines on note to Carmen clerk lands Arkansas man in hot water CARMEN – Writing lewd pickup lines on the back of a cash register receipt didn’t land an Arkansas man a date with a clerk at the Carmen Jiffy Trip. Instead, it resulted in a warrant for his arrest. Alfalfa County Deputy Sheriff Blake Trekell responded to a call just before 9 p.m. Nov. 21 from a juvenile female, who works at the convenience store, and her father, who presented the officer with two notes. One note contained the name “Hank” and an Arkansasbased phone number. Another note contained explicit language of a sexual nature and implied that the man would be back in Carmen in January 2012. The cashier said the first time the man came into the store, he asked her if she had a boyfriend. She told him, “Good day,” three times, prompting him to leave the store. He came back three more times talking about “nasty stuff,” according to Trekell’s report. The man also indicated that he knew where the girl lived. The girl’s step-mother was present at some point when the man was in the store and said he left in a grey Ford pickup with Arkansas tags. She gave Trekell the tag number, which he traced to Robert Hank Parks, 42. Trekell called the phone number listed on one of the notes See LEWD Page 3
Enid man accused of rape NESCATUNGA – A 50-year-old Enid man is facing criminal felony charges in two counties for admitting he fondled an 8-yearold female and a 9-year-old female during a camping trip this summer. Louis Buzz Bennett was charged Dec. 2 in Alfalfa County District Court with one count of first-degree rape and one count of lewd molestation. According to a report filed by District Attorney Investigator Steve Tanio, an Enid police detective contacted him in July saying he had investigated a case consisting of sexual offenses involving children from Enid. During the interview, the children told the police officer they were assaulted while camping with Bennett in July at Great Salt Plains State Park. Bennett was arrested and charged Aug. 9 in Garfield County District Court with five felony counts, including two counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, first-degree rape of victim under age 14, forcible sodomy and performing a lewd act in the presence of a minor. Bennett’s bail was set at $150,000. Bennett admitted to the Enid police detective and a social worker from the Department of Human SerSee RAPE Page 3
Inside today... Wheat Price.............................. 3 Opinion Page........................... 4 Lifestyles.................................. 5 Sports....................................... 6 Funerals................................... 8 Legals........................... 9, 10, 11 Classifieds............................. 11
ADMIRING THE Christmas breakfast table at Travis and Tammi Miller’s home Sunday are (from left) Shayla Highfill, Diane Highfill, Gayle Dorton and Reba Klick. The Miller’s home was one of six listed on the Holiday House
Tour sponsored annually by Farmerettes OHCE and Alfalfa County Extension Office. Almost 100 visiters toured the decorated homes.
County clerk, commissioners in standoff By KORINA DOVE Messenger & Republican Staff After County Clerk Bruce Martin refused to sign road crossing permits during the Nov. 30 regular Alfalfa County Commission meeting, commissioners Doug Murrow, Chad Roach and Toby Walker passed a policy resolution during Monday’s meeting requiring him to do so in the future. Martin, however, still did not sign documents during the Dec. 5 meeting, because he didn’t show up. “He had a doctor appointment today,” said Deputy Roberta Jamison, who filled in for Martin. Murrow said Martin has been absent a handful of times – probably five or six – since Murrow took office six years ago. Commissioners conducted business as usual but passed a resolution within three min-
Martin balks at signing road permits, commissioners counter with resolution utes of the opening of the 10 a.m. meeting that required the county clerk – or his replacement – to sign all official business items before meetings are adjourned. “THAT’S THE NEW POLICY” “That’s the new policy effective today,” Roach said. “I actually discussed this with the state auditor, Mr. (Gary) Jones, and he said this is just good policy for counties to have, … but it’s just a policy most counties do not require.” Commissioners added the resolution to the agenda after enduring a 40-minute standoff during the Nov. 30 meeting, when Martin refused repeated
requests to sign road crossing bring his stamp to the meeting permits during the meeting. is that he already toted enough Commissioners asked Martin items when he walked down to retrieve the flight his official of stairs “A lot of times I’ve got stamp from to join the his second- my hands full, and I’m weekly floor office, not going to carry everycommisand when sion meethe denied thing down here.” ings that their retake place – Bruce Martin in the Civquest and declined to ic Room on give them any reason why, com- the first floor of the courthouse. missioners stalled on adjourn“A lot of times, I’ve got my ing the meeting in hopes Mar- hands full, and I’m not going to tin would fulfill the request. carry everything down here,” He did not. Martin said last week when The only reason Martin would Roach asked him why he would give as to why he would not not bring his stamp to the meet-
ings. “Well, where’s it at, and I’ll go get it,” Walker offered. “Well, I’m not going to (let you) do that,” Martin said. Murrow said Martin used to stamp documents during the meetings. “I don’t understand,” Murrow said. “You stamped them before when we were upstairs, but you won’t stamp them down here. It makes no sense to me.” Murrow remarked that the stamp is small and would not be burdensome to bring along with Martin’s other paperwork the clerk totes to each meeting. “IT’S NOT A BIG THING” “We just want you to bring your stamp down here,” Murrow said. “It’s not a big thing. I don’t understand why it has to be a big deal. That stamp will fit in your pocket.” “I’m not even going to go See STANDOFF Page 3
Nine days left to enter No drought-breaker, but... your home in contest 5.48 inches of rain bring much-needed relief Cherokee’s Residential Christmas Lighting Contest, sponsored by Alfalfa Electric Cooperative, offers prize money totaling $275, with first place worth $100, $75 for second, $50 for third, and $25 for fourth and fifth. Those desiring a chance to win one of the five cash prizes in the contest should register at the Cherokee Messenger & Republican, 216 South Grand, or by calling the newspaper at 596-3344. Deadline for entering the contest is noon Friday, Dec. 16. Contest judges will tour the participating homes that evening to select winners. Homeowners are asked to leave their lights on that evening, as well as Saturday evening, so that the Messenger & Republican can photograph the winners. Those photos will appear in the Thursday, Dec. 22, issue of the newspaper.
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T’lake Grade School teachers and students show off their new tablets.
By STEVE BOOHER Messenger & Republican Staff No one was sand-bagging dikes in and around Cherokee and Alfalfa County during the months of September, October and November, but the so-called climatological fall season produced 5.48 inches of rainfall according to data from the Oklahoma Mesonet. Although far from a drought-breaker, the precipitation was welcomed by area farmers who have experienced one of the most severe droughts in county history. September's rainfall at the Cherokee Mesonet site, located a half mile southwest of town, totaled 1.36 inches. It increased to 1.89 inches for October and to 2.23 inches in November.
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Gary McManus, associate state climatologist with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, reported earlier this month that the state enjoyed its 12th wettest November since records began in 1895. The 2.23 November rainfall at the Cherokee Mesonet site was well received, but it came up short against the statewide average for November – 4.22 inches – and the county remains in the "extreme drought" category. It was the same with September, October and November totals; the statewide average for the three fall months was 8.61 inches – 3.13 inches more than the 5.48 recorded at the county Mesonet site. The statewide average was tempered by See RAIN Page 3
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Ray Troutt helped bring 8-man football to Northwest Oklahoma.