After last year’s contentious contract negotiations narrowly avoided a public safety problem
Oklahoma appears poised to allocate $312 million of cash reserves to purchase a Lawton prison owned by the GEO Group
which currently receives a per diem rate to house about 2,300 state inmates
in response to a draft purchase agreement that proposed a “non-refundable deposit” and some sort of April 15 deadline
“I want to convey our intent to purchase the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility,” Harpe wrote
I must be transparent about the proposed timeline and non-refundable deposit
Since we first received notification about the purchase offer
we have been in ongoing discussions with the executive branch and the Legislature about the proposal
Both see the value in the property and we all wish to retain the asset
Oklahoma’s Legislature is currently in session and working through the state budgeting process
we respectfully request a 60-day grace period beginning July 1
to allow continued collaboration with both the executive branch and legislative leadership
they have indicated that they would authorize a $60 per diem rate during the extension period starting July 1
A mandatory non-refundable deposit is not possible.”
A spokesperson for the GEO Group did not respond to a request for comment about the Lawton prison negotiations
which have built for months as the parties sought to avoid a repeat of 2024’s contentious confrontations
Kevin Stitt’s office also did not respond to a request for comment on the proposal
“Remember that (Lawton prison purchase) was not on anybody’s radar at the first of session, so it’s just being added to our radar and we’re trying to assess that as well,” said Paxton (R-Tuttle)
“I’ve probably been involved in it more than anybody (in the Senate) has since it came out of nowhere — myself and Sen
After ‘contentious’ negotiations, DOC and GEO Group revise Lawton private prison contract by Sasha Ndisabiye
“I’ve been aware dating back to last year when the governor vetoed the per diem rate increase (and) the GEO company was concerned about their ability to be able to carry on services
so I anticipated discussions would take place about whether or not they would renew that contract,” Hall said
“So I might have been a little bit more in the loop than the pro tem whenever it became apparent that there might not be a renewal of the GEO contract
and I immediately briefed the pro tem (and) brought him up to speed
We’ve had the director of DOC come in and speak to our caucus and give us all the information that we asked for.”
Hall said Harpe “certainly believes in and is advocating for the purchase of the facility.”
“We have three options as I see it,” Hall said
Two is to try to negotiate a per diem rate increase so that they would continue to provide the service
lose 400-plus jobs for those hard working men and women in the in the correctional system down there
and we relocate those prisoners to existing facilities.”
Hall said he is not necessarily “advocating” for the Lawton prison purchase
but he said Oklahoma’s aging prisons and the cost of building new facilities are factors worth considering
“The average age of Oklahoma corrections facilities is [more than 80 years old]
That’s our privates and the ones we own
the majority of which were never really designed to be prisons in the first place — that we’ve just retooled and fortified to be able to service the need
The GEO facility in Lawton is 27 years old
that to build a new prison to be able to handle that population would be in excess of $1 billion
and so bought right it may make some sense for the state to lower the average age of our facilities — to have a more modern facility that’s ready to go — and then we don’t find ourselves in a per diem-adjustment position on a facility that we don’t own
of lowering that average age down and having a more modern facility that’s ready to go to take care of this population.”
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“The House is for the position of purchasing (the prison),” Caldwell said
it’s a good deal being able to buy a prison of that type
kind and quality for the price that’s been offered
I think it’s a really good deal for the state of Oklahoma longterm.”
But with state coffers featuring strong savings while recurring revenues sag
Caldwell has asked Stitt’s office to do something relatively novel to help facilitate the purchase
I’ve advocated for the governor to declare it a state of emergency so we could access the [Rainy Day Fund]
This is a ‘rainy day’ type problem
This is why you have a savings account when something like this that’s beyond our control (comes up)
no longer wants to have a business relationship with the state of Oklahoma
I don’t necessarily agree with their reasoning why
and they’re more than willing to make that determination themselves
They don’t want to exit their contract early
They’re just saying they’re not going to renew their contract with the state
and so that means as the state we have a responsibility to the citizens of the state of Oklahoma to keep them protected and safe.”
Caldwell said Oklahoma has adequate capacity for housing minimum security inmates
but even after years of efforts to lower the state’s prison population
a need remains for medium and high-security prison space
“So it’s either pay some other state an exorbitant amount of money to house them for us
or to lease or find some type of prison,” Caldwell said
“But there aren’t really any other options across the state of Oklahoma when it comes to going out and leasing
There’s not an empty medium and maximum security prison just sitting somewhere that we could go lease.”
the population disparities among Watonga (2,600 residents)
Sayre (4,800 residents) and Lawton (90,000 residents) present significantly different value propositions when it comes to the Department of Corrections recruiting and retaining prison employees
that GEO has in southwest Oklahoma is the human capital,” Caldwell said
“And that’s one position that we’ve taken now since January — is if they send out the pink slips and they tell their employees that they’re leaving before we have an opportunity to come to a deal
but the fact that we can transfer the vast majority of those employees — every single one of those employees will be offered employment through DOC at the same wage or greater wage
saving those jobs is obviously important to southwest Oklahoma
it’s hard to (recruit and) train 500 DOC correctional officers.”
Diamondback in Watonga is not an option for us to lease
since that facility has not been operational in many years
it would take millions of dollars to make it so
Thompson said GEO’s asking price for the Lawton prison has dropped significantly over the past year
the GEO Group added the opportunity to purchase LCRF to our list of options for $500 million
We began communicating with the executive and legislative branches shortly after
The purchase was publicly discussed during the [Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety] meetings for both chambers (Senate Jan
24) and in the full Senate Appropriations (and Budget Committee) on Feb
“We also engaged [the Office of Management and Enterprise Services] to contract with an appraisal company to ensure this was an appropriate deal for Oklahoma taxpayers
Several states have built prisons in the last few years
the cost per bed could range from $286,000 (Indiana) to $500,000 (South Dakota)
Illinois and Georgia’s prisons cost approximately $300,000 per bed
The appraisal came in higher than the purchase price.”
emphasized that what to do “is ultimately the decision of the legislative and executive branches.”
“ODOC is dedicated to operating transparently and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” she said
“We look to the governor and legislators for guidance on the next steps and appreciate our positive working relationship with both chambers and the governor.”
(Clarification: This article was updated at 7:45 a.m
to clarify the operator of the Allen Gamble Correctional Center.)
Cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight
Several Lawton elementary schools perform in the opening number of the Lawton Public Schools Elementary Showcase 2024 World Tour last year at McMahon Memorial Auditorium
OK — Lawton elementary and early childhood students will have the opportunity to showcase their talents at the annual Lawton Public Schools’ Showcase this week
Lawton elementary and early childhood students will have the opportunity to showcase their talents at the annual Lawton Public Schools’ Showcase this week
said the event is an opportunity for all elementary schools and early childhood centers across the district to highlight their students
bucket drums and coordinated basketball dribbling
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TO WATCH: Each performance will be livestreamed on the LPS YouTube channel
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Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - Officials with Comanche County Emergency Management along with City of Lawton officials are lifting the voluntary evacuation notice impacting a number of areas in the city
That notice impacted the neighborhoods of Garden Village
Turtle Creek as well as 15th Street from Cache Road to Gore Boulevard
They say this is due to improvement of East Cache Creek water levels which they say no longer pose a threat to life or safety
Andrew Lawton was a member of the “clandestine” group chat used to coordinate convoy messaging on social media
One of Pierre Poilievre’s high-profile Conservative candidates was a member of a secret group chat used by Freedom Convoy leaders and their lawyers to coordinate messages on social media with right-wing alternative media personalities and far-right social media influencers
The group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app
is called “Canada Freedom Rights Movement” and includes over 50 names associated with the Freedom Convoy and the Canadian far-right
The group chat was first created around the time of the Emergencies Act Inquiry but remains operational today
Messages obtained by PressProgress suggest the group chat was created to give convoy leaders and their lawyers the ability to coordinate “media messaging / comms strategy” with “alt media / influencers,” who were cautioned that the “language we use … is incredibly important.”
An 88-page document with instructions on messaging and narrative control was made available to the alt media personalities and influencers by a lawyer with the right-wing Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Numerous group chat messages show its members exchanging information
debating ways to counter anti-convoy narratives and identifying tweets to share and amplify
The group chat’s description identifies itself as a “clandestine” group and new members are warned to “remember the first rule of Fight Club.”
The member list also includes the names of key Freedom Convoy figures
It also includes the names of dozens of far-right social media influencers and right-wing alternative media personalities from outlets like True North
Another name that appears on the list is currently running for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in the Southwestern Ontario riding of Elgin – St
Lawton was among the group chat’s most active members
In a number of cases during the Emergencies Act Inquiry in October 2022
tweets that appeared on Lawton’s Twitter feed could be traced back to conversations that originally began inside the secret group chat
Other messages show Lawton collaborating with and responding to suggestions from convoy lawyers
convoy lawyer Eva Chipiuk asked the group chat if someone “can get a clip out” from the testimony of Ottawa City Councillors Mathieu Fleury and Catherine McKenney
Lawton tweeted out the video clip in question with True North’s branding along with text aligned with the convoy lawyer’s suggested messaging
“Here you go Eva Chipiuk,” Lawton reported back
Neither Lawton nor the Conservative Party of Canada responded to requests for comment prior to publication about the candidate’s involvement in the Signal group chat
or whether Poilievre remains confident in Lawton as his candidate
Several individuals whose names appear on the member list confirmed to PressProgress that they were active members of the group chat
The Signal accounts of a number of its members also connect to their real phone numbers
describing it as a “terrific way to get organized” and “share information.”
“I love being part of group chats,” Pedersen told PressProgress
“I guess one of the challenges I have is that I’m part of too many group chats.”
one of Lawton’s former True North colleagues
confirmed she too was also a member of the Signal group chat between October 2022 and November 2024
recalling Lawton was particularly “very active” in the group chat
“I was just added to the group and I thought at first it would be a useful resource,” Subramanya told PressProgress
adding she eventually put the group chat on “mute” because she felt it became “completely useless.”
“There are a handful of messages I posted there mostly promoting stuff I was saying on social media,” Subramanya explained
“It was not a Signal chat group that Mike Waltz added me to or anything.”
In addition to coordinating messaging and social media content, the group chat also shows its members repeatedly mocking Ottawa residents for objecting to the Freedom Convoy’s three-week occupation of the city
one of the convoy leader’s lawyers at the Emergency Act Inquiry
circulated a conspiratorial video claiming Ottawa resident Zexi Li is a Chinese “psy-op,” variously mocking the inquiry witness as an “alluring
young sexually viable TikTok hottie” and as “Ottawa’s Jeanne d’Arc.”
Executive Director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network
notes the full group chat member list reads like a who’s who of right-wing media personalities and far-right activists
“Some of these people are quite extreme in my opinion,” Balgord told PressProgress
“Bethan Nodwell, for example, is a self-identified white nationalist who has denied the Holocaust,” Balgord pointed out. “Shadoe Davis, another member of the chat, promoted the neo-Nazi Holocaust denial documentary series ‘Europa: The Last Battle’
which is a spanning piece of propaganda that blames Jewish people for starting the Second World War as part of a larger plot to lead to the foundation of Israel
while Adolf Hitler’s Nazis were merely defending themselves and Europe.”
Balgord added other names on the group chat member list are “associated with the white nationalist network Diagolon.”
The group chat member list is also notable given some of the names were under court order to have no contact with one another at the time
The names of all three convoy leaders appear in the group chat
Neither Lich nor Barber responded to requests for comment from PressProgress
while Marazzo replied tersely: “Don’t email me again.”
says Lich and Barber’s presence in the group chat could potentially be construed as a breach of their bail conditions
“The ‘non-communication’ (order) is a problem,” Spratt told PressProgress
“If you’re in a group chat with a bunch of people who you’re not supposed to be communicating with
that is direct or indirect communication.”
“There’s definitely grounds to lay a charge,” Spratt said
“I’ve seen people get charged with breaches for less.”
On Thursday, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were both convicted of criminal charges in connection with their roles in the 2022 Freedom Convoy occupation of Ottawa
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms did not respond to multiple requests for comment from PressProgress about the involvement of JCCF-affiliated lawyers running or participating in the group chat
Update 1: Following publication of this story and reporting by other media outlets
Andrew Lawton issued a public statement characterizing his involvement with the secret group chat as being purely journalistic in nature:
As a journalist covering the Public Order Emergency Commission
I was part of a group to connect with sources and share my work
I authored the only journalistic account of the Freedom Convoy
which was cited in evidence by the Commission itself as a factual account of the…
— Andrew Lawton (@AndrewLawton) April 5, 2025
Update 2: The Signal group chat’s log shows convoy lawyer Eva Chipiuk shared a video titled “Who is Zexi Li
Regardless of the content of the video she says she shared without watching
Chipiuk maintains it is “not true” that she “promotes conspiratorial content,” nor that she “made or endorsed statements that were malicious
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This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors
rewritten or redistributed without permission
neutered and microchipped 3 year old Domestic Longhair gentle big boy has the chops to kick his way into your heart and home
He’s among the kennels full of pooches and pups
cats and kittens and all the other critters awaiting adoption at the Lawton Animal Shelter
Residents who want to meet Chuck Norris may visit the shelter during normal operating hours: 11 a.m
Mostly cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight
Lawton artist Ed Hoosier enjoys his featured artist status while set up for the 50th Annual Arts for All Festival last year at Shepler Square Park
He designed the image for the poster for this year’s event happening next weekend
The 2025 Arts for All Festival poster that shows the dates and attractions for the event and features art by Ed Hoosier that will also be on this year’s t-shirts for the event
OK — The 51st Annual Arts for All Festival returns next weekend to Shepler Park
Spring and Summer are many people’s favorite seasons because there’s no shortage of things to do
One Lawton community event that’s become a favorite taking place this time of year is this year's 51st Annual Arts for All Festival
with an event to honor the volunteers and contributors to the Festival
The Festival itself will officially begin Friday and run through May 11
Features 90 different artists and for the first time ever will feature a special gallery tent
Andrew Smith & Friend of Oklahoma City
The popular bison anatomy exhibit at the Museum of the Great Plains surrounded by buckets that catch dripping water caused by a severely leaking roof after this week’s storms
Hail from Friday morning’s storm damaged the siding of this office on Southwest 10th Street in Lawton
overnight rainfall returned into Friday morning in Lawton and Comanche County
rain chances are not expected to pick back up until Tuesday
Welcome to our Comanche County resource page
we have compiled links to county government offices and links to city resources for Comanche County’s largest municipalities
we wanted to compile our favorite and most frequently utilized resources for anyone searching for public information in Comanche County
We know this list is not comprehensive, so it will likely grow. If you think of an additional significant resource for public information in Comanche County or its municipalities, please let us know
Election results directory
Voter registration information
Check your voter registration
Absentee voting information
Polling locations
Election Board
Commissioner Gail Turner, District 1
Commissioner Johnny Owens, District 2
Commissioner Alvin Cargill, District 3
Comanche County Assessor
Comanche County District Attorney
Comanche County Treasurer
Comanche County Sheriff
Comanche County District Court Clerk
Comanche County Clerk
Many Oklahoma court records are posted on OSCN.net
a master resource for state courts around Oklahoma
so be sure to check and make sure OSCN can access the records you’re looking for
Comanche County District Court
Oklahoma State Courts Network search
District Judges directory
City Council
Cache Code of Ordinances
Cache City Clerk
Cache Municipal Court
Cache Police
Transparency
City Council
City Council Meeting Minutes
Elgin Code of Ordinances
Elgin City Policies
Elgin Emergency Services
City Council
Lawton Code of Ordinances
Lawton City Manager
Lawton City Clerk
Lawton Municipal Court
Lawton Police
Fort Sill
Comanche County Open Records
Open Records Act
The Oklahoma Open Records Act requires public bodies to respond to requests for documents or information. Such requests can be made by any citizen, not just journalists. The act has exemptions
Some Oklahoma state agencies have direct links on their websites
All Oklahoma state agencies are required to have a designated individual handling open records
But do us a favor: Don’t just flood agencies with broad requests fishing for random information
as a limited number of staff are processing everyone’s submissions
See what's catching the News 9 team's eyes on April 30
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Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAWTON
(KAUZ) - Some Lawton residents are being advised to leave their homes
and portions of the city are bracing for the impact of severe flooding if more rain falls throughout the evening and coming days
Comanche County Lawton Emergency Management and the City of Lawton are preparing in case East Cache Creek flooding exacerbates
with concerns it could “potentially [split] the City of Lawton in two sections” according to a release from the city
Emergency management personnel have pre-staged barricades at roadways near East Cache Creek
Voluntary evacuations are still in place for Garden Village and Turtle Creek in the area
Flooding has already reached much of the area though
and residents who want to leave are urged to call 911 for a water rescue
Lawton first responders are prepared to conduct water rescues with four total boats from Lawton and other state resources
“Floodwaters can be extremely dangerous and unpredictable - even shallow water can pose serious risks
don’t drown,” the release from the city said
FSU | Florida State University News
Florida State University News
The Official News Source of Florida State University
Home / News / University News / Esteemed psychologist named 2025-2026 FSU Robert O
An internationally acclaimed psychologist with an influential track record of research, teaching and service has been named Florida State University’s 2025-2026 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor
Pamela Keel, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology, has been recognized by FSU faculty members with the highest honor they can bestow upon one of their own. She is the fifth psychologist to receive the honor since the award’s inception in 1957.
Keel, who has been at FSU for more than 16 years, was thrilled when President McCullough called to share the good news.
“Joining this community of outstanding faculty at Florida State University is an incredible honor,” she said. “I believe in universities as institutions for growth and innovation. Florida State University fulfills this mission by supporting faculty focusing on problems where getting the answers will make a difference in somebody’s life.”
Keel, an expert on eating disorders and body image, has significantly influenced the field of clinical psychology. Her work has led to the recognition of purging disorder as a distinct condition in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), impacting the lives of millions globally.
“Pam is an incredible scholar and teacher who serves the university well in the community,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “She’s also a wonderful person and peer who cares a lot about her fellow professors, her department, her college and Florida State University. I couldn’t be more thrilled for her and proud that she is this year’s Lawton Professor.”
“One of the things that I’ve observed is that whenever I’ve received an award, there’s this little moment where you’re humbled by the appreciation, combined with this sense of, ‘I need to keep earning this recognition I received.’ The award inspires commitment to strive for the best I am capable of doing.”
– Pamela Keel, 2025-2026 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor
Keel joined FSU’s psychology department as a professor in December 2008 and was promoted to Distinguished Research Professor 10 years later. From 2013-2016, Keel led the department’s APA-accredited Clinical Psychology program, helping to attract significant federal funding to FSU.
She has been principal investigator on new external grants exceeding $20 million in funding to FSU, not including her role as co-principal investigator on the initial $15 million Military Suicide Research Consortium and its $20 million competitive renewal. Collectively, her total funding at FSU amounts to over $55 million.
Highly regarded in her field, Keel was elected a fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders (2006), Association for Psychological Science (2013), American Psychological Association (2014), a member of the Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) (2023) and received the Leadership Award for Research from the Academy of Eating Disorders in 2019.
Keel’s research has advanced the collective understanding of what eating disorders are and how to address their causes and consequences. Her work focuses on the clinical presentation, etiology, epidemiology and treatment of eating disorders, particularly purging disorder. She has published more than 240 peer-reviewed journal articles and authored four books, including “The Void Inside: Bringing Purging Disorder to Light” (Oxford University Press, 2020).
“Even from the perspective of someone from a different field…it’s self-evident that Keel’s accomplishments, even judged alongside those of past winners of this lofty honor, are mind-blowing,” Mark Winegardner, Burroway Chair and Distinguished Research Professor in FSU’s English Department wrote in his support letter.“Pam Keel is the platonic ideal of what a Lawton recipient should be.”
In addition to her groundbreaking research, Keel is known for her exceptional teaching and mentorship that extends to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students as well as other faculty members and researchers. Her graduate students have gone on to secure tenure-track positions at prestigious universities across the country.
“Professor Keel’s fierce intellect and support for fellow scientists shine through everything she does,” wrote Thomas Joiner, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and director of FSU’s Psychology Clinic, in Keel’s nomination letter. “At the same time that she expects rigor and excellence of her students, she cares deeply about them as people and as future psychologists.”
“It’s not my job to tell somebody what they want,” Keel said when discussing her approach to mentorship. “But as a professor, I’m really good at helping them figure out how to achieve what they want to achieve and at identifying whether I have the capacity to help them achieve that. And the next thing is to actually lay out what are the steps from getting from where they are to where they want to go.”
Keel has also made significant contributions to the university and the broader academic community through her service. She has served on numerous departmental and university committees, including the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Human Subjects Committee, promotion and tenure committees, as well as various search and advisory committees.
“While excellence is often equated with titles and accomplishments, Dr. Keel reminds us that greatness encompasses heart, passion and unwavering commitment,” said Eugenia Flores Millender, assistant dean for research at FSU’s College of Nursing. “She embodies these qualities in every aspect of her life, serving as an unsung hero whose contributions go beyond recognition.”
Keel also received external letters of support from colleagues at Harvard Medical School, University of Notre Dame, Imperial College of London, and Columbia University who lauded her exceptional achievements in research and contributions in mentorship and service throughout her career.
“One of the things that I’ve observed is that whenever I’ve received an award, there’s this little moment where you’re humbled by the appreciation,” Keel said. “Combined with this sense of, ‘I need to keep earning this recognition I received.’ The award inspires commitment to strive for the best I am capable of doing.”
The Lawton Distinguished Professor Award was first presented in 1957 as the Distinguished Professor Award. It was renamed in honor of the late Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert O. Lawton in 1981. Keel will be honored at events throughout the year and will give an address at fall commencement.
“Certainly, I hope that I’m leaving behind the next generation of leading scientists in the field of eating disorders,” Keel shared when asked about the legacy she aspires to. “I hope that I’m leaving behind individuals who excel as citizens in their departments, colleges and universities and beyond.”
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Oklahoma Department of Transportation shared several road closings due to flooding in the Lawton area Saturday
after 4-6 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time
News 9 Storm Tracker Tom Pastrano sent a video of a flooded building in Lawton
Pastrano reported the woman was rescued Saturday morning after being stuck in a veterinarian's office with some animals
Another picture shows water rising nearly halfway up a pickup truck
News 9 crews are working to confirm more information and will update this story as we learn more
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A resource center is set up at the First Baptist Church of Lawton at 501 SW B Ave
Disaster workers have assessed roughly 200 homes across the area that have been impacted by flooding
All Red Cross services are available to individuals
and it will never ask for payment to receive assistance
Help is available 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (733-2767)
Anyone interested in helping those recover can make a financial donation by visiting redcross.org
For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here.
(KAUZ) - The City of Lawton is no longer asking residents of the Garden Village
Turtle Creek and NE 15th Street areas to consider evacuating their homes
The city lifted the voluntary evacuation order due to floodwaters from the East Cache Creek receding
The city said after assessing the situation
there is no longer an “immediate threat to life safety.”
The city still encouraged residents to watch for debris and exercise caution on potentially unsafe roads, and to report flood damage at www.damage.ok.gov
If you have lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, long enough, you know that every few years intense rainfall can flood several areas across town! On Saturday, April 26, Lawton saw nearly seven inches of rain in a quick amount of time that caused dangerous flooding throughout town. More rain is expected Tuesday into Wednesday
To help residents prepare for the next round
the City of Lawton put together a comprehensive list of flood prone areas in Lawton
a massive severe thunderstorm struck Lawton early in the morning dropping several inches of rain, gusty winds and various sizes of damaging hail
It rained on and off throughout the day Saturday as emergency personnel responded to multiple stranded vehicles and rescued people who were trapped in their home by flooding waters
One fatality was reported Saturday from someone trying to drive through a flooded road way
READ MORE: Governor Stitt Issues State of Emergency for Comanche County
Below are the areas the City of Lawton identified as places in Lawton that are prone to flooding
be sure to take precautions when flash flooding is in the forecast
be sure to obey all road signs and always remember
"turn around and don't drown!"
READ MORE: Flooding Reminds Lawton City Officials of the Importance of Firefighters
More rain and significant flooding are expected in Lawton, Oklahoma, on Tuesday and Wednesday. To help residents prepare for the next round, the City of Lawton put together a comprehensive list of flood prone areas in Lawton.\nRead More
If you have lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, long enough, you know that every few years intense rainfall can flood several areas across town! On Saturday, April 26, Lawton saw nearly seven inches of rain in a quick amount of time that caused dangerous flooding throughout town. More rain is expected Tuesday into Wednesday
READ MORE: Governor Stitt Issues State of Emergency for Comanche County
READ MORE: Flooding Reminds Lawton City Officials of the Importance of Firefighters
ExpandThe Princeton Public Library announced a donation of $80,000 from the estate of Jean Lawton
which will significantly enhance the library’s educational programs
community outreach efforts and infrastructure improvements
The Princeton Public Library announced a donation of $80,000 from the estate of Jean Lawton
Lawton grew up in Princeton and will be remembered by many longtime Princeton residents
She was a lifetime reader who looked back fondly on trips with her mother to Matson Public Library in childhood
who later in life expanded her reading horizons through membership in a book discussion group
and who occasionally gave iPhone photography workshops at the Princeton Public Library on return visits to her hometown
The Princeton Public Library is committed to providing resources and programs that cater to the diverse needs of its community
In addition to a robust collection of print materials
The library building houses spaces for community programs
which welcomes visitors six days a week from 7 a.m
“We are incredibly grateful for this generous bequest,” said Director Julie Wayland
“This donation will allow us to expand services
It is a remarkable contribution that will have a lasting impact on our community.”
The funds will be allocated toward developing new multigenerational initiatives
and making necessary upgrades to the library’s facilities
ensuring it continues to serve as a vital community resource
For more information about the Princeton Public Library and how you can support its mission, visit the website www.princetonpl.org.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
The Lawton Police Traffic unit is currently working a death investigation after one body was recovered Saturday evening according to the Lawton Police Department
Authorities say the investigation began near 2nd and F
after emergency responders reported witnessing a car drive into standing water earlier today
The Lawton Police Department Dive Team arrived on scene to assist in the recovery of the victim after first responders were unable to safely get to the submerged vehicle
With the roads still flooded in areas of Lawton
police urges Oklahomans to stay off the roadway if possible
OKLA (KOKH) — Heavy rain and flooding in the Lawton area have caused highway closures
I-44 and SH-7 in Comanche County closed lanes
Eastbound and westbound I-44 were closed between just north of SH-49 near Medicine Park and US-62 in Lawton due to flooding
eastbound and westbound SH-7 lanes are reopened in Lawton between I-44 and Flower Mound Road following closures
do not drive around barricades and turn around when coming across high water
the Comanche County/Lawton Emergency Management issued a voluntary evacuation notice for Turtle Creek
and 15th Street from Cache Road to Gore Boulevard
A shelter is available at the Salvation Army Church at 1314 SW E Avenue
Lawton firefighters are warning Oklahomans to stay clear of deadly flash flooding
as the state braces for another stretch of rain
The city is still drying out from this weekend's storms
with rushing water powerful enough to carry vehicles away
“At the height of it we had over 60 rescue calls going on over the city
We rescued 73 citizens from the flood water Saturday,” said Chief Jared Williams
Issac Teran videoed the rain and hail that pelted his Lawton apartment
but I didn’t think it was going to be this extreme,” said Teran
Teran and his wife quickly realized the rain wasn’t letting up
“We knew it was going to be bad,” said Teran
showed just 20 minutes after rain started to fall — cars were partially submerged
“Her anxiety levels were through the roof,” said Teran
Teran's wife can be heard screaming as a car floats past their apartment
there was mud in the engine from how high the water rose,” said Teran
but we haven’t seen flash flooding quite this significant in town,” said Williams
“Our dispatch did a great job of handling 500 to 1000 phone calls in a short amount of time,” said Williams
The rushing water was a force to be reckoned with
“These cars looked like they've been in tornadoes
or turned around and it’s all just water and pressure moving them downstream
Firefighters and police divers recovered the body of an 81-year-old man from his submerged pickup
“Our heart goes out to him — his family,” said Williams
firefighters and wreckers worked to pull vehicles from a creek and said the images should serve as a powerful warning
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lost her courageous battle against a stacked deck of numerous health issues
While being comforted in the arms of her devoted husband Bruce
I am going now" as she slipped into the painless sleep
to mother Alice Louise Jenkins Peterson (Biberston) and to father Allen Dale Jenkins
She was raised in and around Salt Lake City with six siblings
She had been preceded in death by brothers Dale (Buck) Allen Jenkins and Michael Dean Jenkins and by sisters Judith (Bubba) Ann Smith and Vickie Lynn Reno
She is survived by husband Bruce Dendy Lawton
sister Marilyn Louise Barlow and brother Gary Allen Jenkins
children Troy Paul Duehlmeier and Gregory Christopher Duehlmeier
six grandchildren and two great grandchildren
as well as many nieces and nephews who always claimed her as a favorite
"I have always loved you." Peggy had this attribute
Those who knew her loved her without reservation
whether intimate today or estranged for years
but a 12-hour long Sunday drive was always welcome
She preferred the back roads because it was about the journey
Her favorite place to visit was the ever-awesome Redwood National Forest
but any destination was good if there were food
A celebration to memorialize the life of this vessel of love
will be held at a venue and date when her scattered tribe can gather and shed tears together
Notifications will be sent to all that knew and loved her
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His radiant personality left an indelible mark on all who knew him
Lawton was the cherished son of Chris Goethe and the late Julie Smith Goethe
and stepbrothers Joshua Hambrick and David Hambrick
He was also a proud grandson to the late William Lawton Smith
Robert is survived by his step-grandparents
A graduate of Oakbrook Preparatory School in Spartanburg
Lawton’s academic journey was marked by his enthusiasm
He later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Entrepreneurship from Samford University
Those who knew Lawton would describe him as a vibrant presence who could fill any room with energy
He had a unique ability to push the limits of fun
making those around him frequently roll on the floor with laughter
His spirited approach to life was contagious
inspiring others to live fully and love deeply
It lives on in the countless lives he touched and the memories he created through his joyful presence
we celebrate the life of a man who was truly one of a kind
his story will be told for generations to come— a story of a man with an unquenchable zest for life
to Angus Hamilton Macaulay and Margaret White Macaulay in Chester
After graduating from Chester High School in 1946 and Converse College in 1950
and intellectually curious: as a working adult
she earned a doctorate from the University of South Carolina
Besides her brief time as a classroom teacher in Georgetown and then Allendale (where
her high school students weren't much younger than she was)
a long-time member and chair of the Allendale Board of Education
State Board of Education; member and chair of the Converse alumna association; an assistant dean at USC-Salkehatchie; and a waterfront director at a summer camp
She is preceded in death by her parents and brother
Angus Hamilton Macaulay; her first husband Thomas O
to whom she was married for more than fifty years until his death in 2005; her second husband M
to whom she was married for some nine years until his death in 2015; and son-in-law L
She is survived by three children: Thomas O
GA; Margaret Macaulay Lawton (Paul Lund) of Mount Pleasant
S.C.; and Angus Macaulay Lawton (Sara Lawton)
Henry Alexander Sutin and Clara Li Bess Sutin
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM
2025 at The Chapel at The Village at Summerville
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, for employee assistance and appreciation, 2817 Ashland Road, Columbia, SC 29210. https://www.prescommunities.org/support-our-mission
Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation
A few showers early with overcast skies late
City of Lawton workers continue pump flood waters from the railroad overpass on Southwest 2nd Street at Southwest F Avenue
as travel continues to remain blocked following Saturday’s flooding
81 was recovered from a vehicle that was overcome with water
City officials said they will close the intersection to all traffic until rains clear the area
OK — Lawton police have identified the man killed Saturday after driving into flood waters at the train underpass on Southwest 2nd Street
Lawton police have identified the man killed Saturday after driving into flood waters at the train underpass on Southwest 2nd Street
The victim has been identified as 81-year-old Leo Rich
Lawton Police Department information officer
Lawton police’s dive team recovered his body from his submerged vehicle Saturday afternoon
By: Andrew Nelson 5:30 am on April 20
3601 Lawton Street view of the various rooftop decks
The 80-foot-tall complex will yield around 68,530 square feet
including 46,540 square feet of housing and 5,250 square feet of common open space
The development will contain around 46 apartments
Parking will be included for 23 cars and 46 bicycles
Kip Coleman Architecture is responsible for the design
Illustrations show a plain podium-style complex with a mix of beige and grey hues
The exterior will be clad with fiber cement panels
The developer filed a preliminary application in July of 2024
the city determined the application complete in mid-December and issued the Plan Check Letter a month later
which include some alterations to the overall floor area and parking capacity
The project application uses several Senate and Assembly bills
to streamline the approval process with increased density
The proposal achieves a 90% density bonus above base zoning
City records show the property last sold in 2014 for $1.2 million
Construction is expected to cost around $19 million
The timeline for completion has yet to be shared
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That this project has been in tne works since 2015 and is still probably two a years before construction begins says it all about trying to build housing in SF
“I hate that this blocks views!!” So rent an apartment in the building for an even better view from an elevation
Why someone would pay $4,500/mo to rent a 2 bedroom (I’m taking the current building in Noriega/44 as baseline)
where they can rent an entire single family home with a backyard for $4k
The entitlement of people not for here coming over and telling us how to live is mind blowing
Christopher Columbus would be proud of you
A single gas station takes up as much land as 46 apartments
despite the building being just 8 stories high
That was one of the motivations behind former Mayor Mayor London Breed’s “Cars to Casas” ordinance
which aimed to facilitate the conversion of car-centric properties like gas stations and parking lots into residential housing
since the developer and/or owner have been fiddly diddlying around with the proposal for this development for over nine years
I wouldn’t count on those 46 apartments actually appearing on the market until it actually happens
San Francisco’s developer community has a history of simply not building approved projects
makes it too easy to flip an entitled property
And this developer’s attempts to leverage the above-mentioned State legislation to get a project approved that they could have gotten entitled and built before now if they’d really wanted to leads me to believe that after the approvals are in hand
this project will magically appear on the market before ground gets broken
One of many steps towards a greener SF right here
It is not only a fixture to the housing crisis
but also to those complaining about noise and not having to deal with car traffic in and around that part of the sunset
“Then I have to go somewhere further to get gas.” Just buy an electric one
therefore 23 more cars (about the same amount of cars of a typical full block)
there are many reasons why people need cars
Where’s the rest of the 46,000 square feet
Nice that the bike parking has direct access to the street
I’m surprised that’s there’s not even a small commercial space
I’d have them at least design the ground floor units to be flexible
so that they could be remodeled as commercial in the future if desired
I love how all these people who aren’t from this neighborhood that didn’t grow up here
Things like this stuff is OK that’s not what this neighborhood is about
This is just unbelievably ugly and will block many views that people have had for many many years
I wish all you people that aren’t from here would go back home
I have zero problems with a building of this scale being built in this particular location
Buildings of this size were built in large numbers in the 1920s before the Stock Market Crash
It hurts my eyes…all those shades of greige and all of those busy little pop-outs
It looks like a hospital in Milpitas or something
But I suspect that others are correct that this is just a cheap design that the property owner can use to flip the property along with the entitlements
Probably 10 to 15 years before it is ever built
As a longtime resident of the Outer Sunset I don’t consider this plan for an eight story apartment building “unreal and ridiculous.” The apartment building that replaced another gas station at 44th Avenue and Noriega fits in well with the neighborhood and offers a vital asset: a great supermarket (Gus’s) which attracts many neighborhood residents
with the majority of shoppers walking to the store
The Shirley Chisholm Housing on 43rd Avenue is a much needed housing development for San Francisco school educators and employees who can now afford to work and live in the city
Its design and landscaping is quite attractive
I agree that the preliminary design for Lawton and 42nd Avenue is clumsy: the final design needs to be sophisticated and welcoming
The Gus’s market building is 4 stories tall
This one in Lawton doesn’t even have commercial space
in a block that’s supposed to be for commercial stores
The teacher’s housing: I’m of the idea that teachers should earn a living wage and be able to live wherever they want
The idea that the same city that underpays them might select a few of them to live in condos baffles me
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passed away peacefully on Wednesday March 26
Lawton dedicated 42 and a half years to PPL as a lineman
where he was known for his strong work ethic and commitment
He was a proud and active member of Millersville Lodge 476
Lancaster Lodge of Perfection and Harrisburg Consistory for 50 years and a member of the Zembo Shrine for nearly as long
Lawton and Carol camped throughout their years together with many cherished trips spent at Disney’s Fort Wilderness in Florida
Lawton and Carol always had a dog or two by their side
He also enjoyed spending time working on puzzles
Services will be held at the convenience of the family
donations may be made in Lawton’s memory to Masonic Charities
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Lots of areas around Lawton, Oklahoma, are experiencing significant damage from the recent heavy rainfall and flooding. One of the places that is having to bandage persistent leaks is the Museum of the Great Plains
The museum recently shared several images of all the leaks and citizens are taking to social media to call out city officials for not prioritizing repairs at the museum
Oklahoma has officially seen the wettest April in the state's history
Lawton and surrounding areas have seen over 17 inches of rain from April 1-30 this year
Most of that rain was received on Saturday
April 26 and through the final days of April
Several areas across town flooded on Saturday and on Wednesday
Damage was made to various homes and businesses
People lost their cars to swift flood waters
the Museum of the Great Plains closed on Saturday
The museum hadn't shared images of the museum's damage until Wednesday
Followers could see images of buckets filled with water
ceiling damage and water destroying archived history of southwest Oklahoma
The museum hasn't commented about the damage but has let the pictures speak for themselves
Several Lawton citizens have taken to social media to express their concern for the Museum of the Great Plains and have called out city officials for not taking care of the damage at the museum sooner. Hundreds of citizens have commented on the museum's Facebook posts expressing their unhappiness with the lack of support from city officials
The Museum of the Great Plains suffered significant damage to the museum's roof after a massive hail storm in 2023. In October 2024, the Lawton City Council approved a 5.7 million dollar project to repair the museum's roof that will be covered by the city's 2040 CIP
Guernsey
is handling the architectural and engineering services and will oversee the bidding process for construction
there has not been any updates on where the project is at since it was approved last year
Gallery Credit: Kelso
Gallery Credit: Kelso
The Museum of the Great Plains in Lawton, Oklahoma, recently shared several images of all the museum's leaks and water damage from recent storms, and citizens are taking to social media to call out city officials for not prioritizing repairs at the museum.\nRead More
Lots of areas around Lawton, Oklahoma, are experiencing significant damage from the recent heavy rainfall and flooding. One of the places that is having to bandage persistent leaks is the Museum of the Great Plains
Several Lawton citizens have taken to social media to express their concern for the Museum of the Great Plains and have called out city officials for not taking care of the damage at the museum sooner. Hundreds of citizens have commented on the museum's Facebook posts expressing their unhappiness with the lack of support from city officials
The Museum of the Great Plains suffered significant damage to the museum's roof after a massive hail storm in 2023. In October 2024, the Lawton City Council approved a 5.7 million dollar project to repair the museum's roof that will be covered by the city's 2040 CIP
Guernsey
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Saturday, April 26, 2025 12:00 PM EDT Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes Paw Paw Location 60900 Michigan 40 Paw Paw, MI 49079 (269) 657-3870 Driving Directions
Saturday, April 26, 2025 1:00 PM EDT Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes Paw Paw Location 60900 Michigan 40 Paw Paw, MI 49079 (269) 657-3870
Driving Directions
At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below
Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice
Van Buren Youth Camp 12370 45th St Bloomingdale, MI 49026 Web Site
Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home
Taylor's Florist and Gifts 215 E. Michigan Ave. Paw Paw, MI 49079 (269) 657-6256 Driving Directions Web Site
Ambati 1830 S. Westnedge Kalamazoo, MI 49008 (269) 349-4961 Driving Directions Web Site
Throughout a journey that spanned times of plenty and times of want
Thomas Sherman always held his loved ones close
and he was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others in any way he could
Nothing brought Tom greater joy than surrounding himself with his friends and family
he could also strike up a conversation or crack a joke with just about anyone
Tom will be forever missed by those who knew him best
The late 1940s were an exciting time to be an American
Following the end of WWII a short time before
countless servicemen were reunited with their families
As we started to heal as a country and a world
the economy was flourishing and the baby boom was underway
Warren and Margaret (McKee) Sherman of Paw Paw
were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby
Tom was a typical young man of his generation in many ways
He was raised in the family home alongside his two sisters
Tom remained close with a tight-knit group of friends from kindergarten
The bunch were often known to get into mischief when they were younger
then went on to pursue further education at Michigan State University
All who knew Tom would certainly agree that
Tom was delighted to become a grandfather to Trevor
Tom considered himself fortunate to once again find love with Jill Brindley
The two both lived on Pleasant Lake in Three Rivers
and they would connect their pontoon boats in the summer with other neighbors
Tom’s sense of humor won her over and their attraction to each other kept growing stronger
stepping into 15 wonderful years as husband and wife
Tom built a successful career that he could be proud of
He was the Vice President of Marketing at MI Gas
Tom’s work sometimes called him to Washington DC
A big part of his job was testifying on the new rate changes
Although the government committees made him nervous
and it allowed him to provide for himself and those who depended on him
He created a terrace outside the picture window in his home to show off his favorite plantings
Tom enjoyed watching game shows and sports on TV
and he was an avid golfer as long as his health permitted
His brother-in-law worked for the Miami Dolphins
so Tom and Jill were able to enjoy trips to their practice facility and games
Many blissful weekends were spent on the pontoon boat
soaking up the sun and the company of neighbors
Tom and Jill enjoyed traveling the country together
They took many cruises to Hawaii and Alaska
were some of their favorite places to visit
They also loved escaping to their home in Florida
Tom could always find someone to talk to (including Charlie)
When reflecting on the rich life of Thomas Sherman
it is easy to see that he understood the secret to making the most of every moment
He was a shining example of kindness and generosity
Tom always made sure his loved ones knew just how much they were treasured
His insatiable zest for life could be felt by everyone around him
and he was a blessing in the lives of all those who knew him
Tom leaves behind a priceless legacy that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps
1946 in Paw Paw to Warren and Margaret (McKee) Sherman
Jill Brindley; children: Cari (Jason) Haag and Tim Sherman; grandchildren: Trevor
and Lilly; siblings: Marilynn (Ron) Labadie
and Donald Sherman; and many nieces and nephews
Please join us at a Life Story Service on Saturday
at 12 PM at Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Homes
Celebrate Tom’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Buren Youth Camp
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