Elk City Man Accused of Raping Teen – Charged

SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is excited to announce the receipt of a major charitable contribution from Nicholas Rains, ‘02, and his wife, Judy, endowing the Nicholas & Judy Rains Computer

Weatherford, OK – Four people have filed a civil lawsuit against AirGas and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Weatherford after a massive anhydrous ammonia leak sent 34 victims to hospitals, including two in critical condition,

Elk City, OK – Western Oklahoma highways were busy for state troopers Saturday, with three separate crashes in Washita, Blaine, and Dewey counties sending multiple people to the hospital, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The first

Elk City, OK – State Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, says Oklahoma is starting to turn talk about space into real-world jobs and investment, and western Oklahoma is right in the middle of it. During a recent

Shamrock, Texas – A man wanted out of Elk City was arrested Wednesday in Shamrock, Texas after deputies found him hiding underneath a house and used a K-9 to take him into custody, according to law enforcement.

Sayre, OK – A Beckham County man convicted in the 2024 shooting death of Colter Jake Vaught has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Clayton Samson Hays, 38, of Carter, received the

Weatherford, OK – The family of the late Dr. Sara Nell (Bergstrom) Marquis, ’76 & ’03, has made a major charitable gift to the Bulldog Angels Fund at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU). The contribution was made

Sayre, OK – An Oklahoma City man is facing multiple felony charges after an alleged struggle with law enforcement at the Flying J truck stop off Interstate 40 in Sayre on Tuesday, according to a probable cause

Weatherford, OK – A recent study co-authored by Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Assistant Professor Dr. Liedson Carneiro has been published in New Phytologist, one of the world’s leading journals in plant science. The paper is titled

Oklahoma City, OK – Sales tax collections are in for the November 10, 2025 distribution, reflecting local transactions from September 16–30 and estimated sales from October 1–15. The report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission shows most area

Weatherford, OK – The spotlight belonged to freshman Selah Bentley on Saturday night as she was crowned Miss SWOSU 2026 in the annual Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant at the SWOSU Fine Arts Center. Bentley, of Laverne, is

Weatherford, OK – A Weatherford man has now been charged with manslaughter after investigators say he fatally shot a friend while handling a handgun at a Weatherford home last week. Jonathan David “Zombie” Bridges, 24, of Weatherford,

Custer County, OK – A Studio City, California woman has been charged in Custer County with trafficking methamphetamine after a November traffic stop, according to newly filed court documents. Prosecutors allege that Kristen Lea Chenoweth, 37, along

Weatherford, OK – Weatherford officials released new details following the major anhydrous ammonia leak that occurred late Wednesday night behind the Holiday Inn Express. The leak was reported around 9:58 p.m., prompting a large multi-agency emergency response.

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has proudly presented Bruce Magill, ’70, with the university’s prestigious Presidential Order of Merit. The award was presented by SWOSU’s Acting President, Dr. Janet Cunningham, during the recent Fall

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has proudly presented Carl Birdsong, ’83, with the university’s prestigious Presidential Order of Merit. The award was presented by SWOSU’s Acting President, Dr. Janet Cunningham, during SWOSU’s Homecoming football

Weatherford, OK – The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Alumni Association and the Washita Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) partnered this Fall to honor two outstanding SWOSU graduates with the DAR’s prestigious Women

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) proudly recognized longtime benefactor and SWOSU Alumni Association Past President Mike Wilkes, ’75, with the prestigious Presidential Order of Merit. The award was presented by SWOSU’s Acting President, Dr.

Clinton, OK – Clinton Regional Hospital has cleared a major hurdle in its effort to convert to a Rural Emergency Hospital, a move hospital leaders say is aimed at securing the facility’s long-term future. On Friday, CRH

Weatherford, OK – A 24-year-old Weatherford man is in custody after a fatal shooting at a home on Texas Avenue Thursday morning. According to the Weatherford Police Department, officers and medical personnel were called to 406 Texas

Elk City, OK – Elk City Meals on Wheels has been serving local seniors for 56 years. Today, the program is quietly feeding nearly 100 people a day and is asking the community for help to keep

Sayre, OK – Candidate filing for the Board of Education begins Monday, December 1, 2025, for four Beckham County school districts. Those who wish to file for a Board of Education office must submit a Declaration of

Ada, OK – Court proceedings are underway in the case of a Southwestern Oklahoma State University student who was found dead near Veterans Lake in Sulphur last month. According to court documents, Cameron Lewis, a SWOSU student

November 13, 2025 Weatherford, OK – Shelter in place orders were lifted Thursday morning in Weatherford after an overnight anhydrous ammonia leak from a tanker truck sent a toxic cloud across parts of the city, forcing evacuations

Weatherford, OK – The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Computer Club and SWOSU Esports hosted their annual Extra Life lock-in fundraiser, raising $1,000 to support the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. The funds help support needed medication, equipment, and

Greer County, OK — A 16-year-old Blair driver was injured Sunday after a rollover crash on State Highway 9, 9 miles west of Mangum, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Troopers say the vehicle left the roadway

Arapaho, OK – Candidates for the Board of Education in Arapaho-Butler, Clinton, Thomas-Fay-Custer and Weatherford Schools Custer County school districts will file Declarations of Candidacy beginning 8 a.m. Monday, December 1 2025. Ann Brown, Secretary of the

Sayre, OK – Beckham County deputies took part in intensive active shooter and emergency response training on November 4th and 5th, coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety’s School Security Institute. Sheriff Derek Manning said the

Beckham County, OK – Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning is warning residents to be on alert after reports of a phone scam involving local utility companies. According to Sheriff Manning, the scammers are posing as representatives from

Sayre, OK — Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning says his office is investigating a recent burglary at a farm just outside Sayre, where intruders forced entry into a barn and an outbuilding and took equipment. Manning said

Clinton, OK – A Clinton man with multiple prior felony convictions faces new charges in Custer County District Court after prosecutors say he assaulted a woman and set fire to a rental home earlier this month. According

Custer County, OK — A Cordell woman is facing felony charges after investigators say she embezzled thousands of dollars from her employer, a local company based in Clinton. According to a probable cause affidavit filed November 5

Arapaho, OK – A Tulsa man has been charged in Custer County District Court after investigators say he used a hidden GPS device inside a child’s stuffed unicorn to track his former partner’s location. Prosecutors filed a

Clinton, OK – An Alabama man faces felony and misdemeanor charges in Custer County after authorities say he abandoned a small, severely neglected dog outside a Clinton grocery store in late September. According to a probable cause

Sayre, OK — On Nov. 3, 2025, Beckham County deputies attempted to stop a blue motorcycle in Sayre for traffic violations. The driver refused to pull over and led deputies on a pursuit through town, then west

Clinton, OK — State Rep. Anthony Moore (R-Clinton), the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma House, says he will run for another term in 2026. Moore has represented House District 57 since 2020. The district includes Custer,

Elk City, OK – The Elk City Chamber’s Cupp runneth over with award-winning experience. Susie Cupp, Executive Director of Elk City’s Chamber of Commerce, was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives Hall of Fame.

Wheeler County, Texas — Wheeler County Judge Pat McDowell said he will not seek a second term as the filing period opens for the March primaries. McDowell called serving taxpayers “an honor, privilege, and a blessing,” but

Weatherford, OK – Weatherford Animal Control Officers are investigating a possible animal cruelty case after multiple cats were found sick or dead in the city, with evidence one may have consumed antifreeze. According to a Weatherford Police

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) student Rena Cole has been selected as a 2026 Brad Henry International Scholar, earning the opportunity to study abroad at Swansea University in Wales. The scholarship, administered by the

Kiowa County, OK – Beckham County deputies helped locate two women who became lost in Kiowa County during last week’s first cold snap, according to Sheriff Derek Manning. Manning said Kiowa County requested assistance after family reported

Clinton, OK – A Clinton man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly breaking into a home, assaulting a resident, and later being found driving under the influence with a firearm and drugs in his

Clinton, OK – A Clinton man has been charged in Custer County District Court with felony stalking after police say he repeatedly attempted to contact a woman despite being formally warned to stop. According to court documents

Beckham County, OK — An Erick man was arrested recently after allegedly making violent threats toward a family member and attempting to persuade a minor to help him harm her mother, according to a probable cause affidavit

Elk City, OK – Just days after announcing the Lincoln Teen Center would close its doors permanently, longtime director Chuck Hargrove says there’s renewed hope for reopening. In a new Facebook post, Hargrove said efforts to reinstate

Kiowa County, OK – A 55-year-old man from Ripon, California, was injured Saturday night in a crash two miles south of Snyder, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Troopers said the crash occurred at 10:39 p.m. on

Canute, OK — Firefighters from Canute and Elk City worked together Friday morning to extinguish a motorhome fire along the eastbound on-ramp at the 47-mile marker in Canute. According to Elk City Fire Chief Kyle Chervenka, his

Elk City, OK — Elk City police executed a search warrant Thursday, Oct. 30, at a residence inside the city limits and arrested two people in an investigation into unlicensed tattooing that allegedly involved minors, the department

Cordell, OK — The Washita County Sheriff’s Office is raising funds for a monument to honor county officers who died in the line of duty. The proposed memorial would stand in front of the Washita County Justice