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News

97th SFS awarded AETC’s Active duty Medium Security Forces Unit of the Year
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE - The 97th Security Forces Squadron received the 2012 Air Education and Training Command Active Duty Medium Security Forces Unit of the Year award. “It shows our young Defenders, the ones out there every day standing post and defending the base, that hard work pays off,” said Senior Master Sgt. Larry Mays, 97th Security Forces Squadron Operations Superintendent. This is the 97th SFS’s fifth time winning the award, with ...
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Altus lawmakers applaud selection for training unit
Sen. Mike Schulz and Rep. Charles Ortega said the selection of Altus Air Force Base for the first Formal Training Unit (FTU) for the Air Force’s new KC-46 air refueling tanker will have numerous benefits for the base and the city of Altus and Southwest Oklahoma. “Any time we can create new jobs, it’s great news for our local economy and for the state as a whole. The training unit means new construction jobs and add...
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School Board OKs reassignments, other personnel matters
The Board of Education of the Altus Public School District held a special meeting Thursday in the Conference room of the Administrative Building to discuss summer maintenance personnel and requests for use of the Altus High School game fields. After Board member John Thomas called roll, the Board approved the 2012-2013 Summer Maintenance list, with the addition of Dewey Runyan with a pay rate to be establish at a later time for trim paintin...
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Blair Fightfighters to have full-serve at All American
The Blair volunteer firefighters will be at the All American, 105 Zinn Ave, Blair, on Saturday June 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to raise money for the Blair City Park. They will be pumping gas, washing windshields, and checking tire and oil pressure on a donation only basis. They will also be handing out fliers for the next day’s lunch for Sunday June 2. All are invited to attend a delicious Sunday lunch at the Blair Fire Station from 11 a.m. to 3...
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Furlough numbers for AETC announced
5/15/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — Air Education and Training Command manpower officials announced furlough will affect 14,434 civilian employees throughout the command beginning July 8. On May 14, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined a furlough implementation plan, stating civilians will take up to 11 days of unpaid leave before Sept. 30, down from the 22 days that were originally estimated in February. The number of f...
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Recruitment firm to search for new hospital CEO
Dr. C. June Knight, Chairman of the CEO Search Committee, recommended to the JCMH Board of Trustees at last week’s meeting that they hire Witt/Kieffer as the recruitment firm to search for the CEO of Jackson County Memorial Hospital.The Board of Trustees, JCMH Authority, met in regular session on Monday. Also at the meeting, Kay Bolding reported from the Performance Improvement Committee meeting that was held on May 1, and Michelle Ford rep...
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Special School Board meeting set for Thursday
A special meeting of the Altus School Board will be held on Thursday at noon. The meeting will be held in the conference room of the administrative center at 219 N. Lee. Agenda items will include necessary action for summer maintenance, the use of the high school varsity and game fields on June 11-13 for a youth camp, and June 24-26 for a Junior High Camp. Other items on the agenda will include retirements, reassignments and new hires bef...
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First wheat of the harvest season received
Barney Trammell, with the Farmers Coop in Eldorado, reported to the Altus Times this morning that they have received their first load of wheat this season. The wheat came from Crowell, Texas and was brought in by Tom Adams. Moisture was 12 1/2, dockage was .6, test weight was 60, and yield was 20. Farmers Coop also took in wheat from Rule, Texas this morning. Trammell said that the wheat harvest is just starting, but just this morning the...
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THE ALTUS TIMES IS A DROP OFF POINT FOR ITEMS TO BE TAKEN TO THE TORNADO VICTIMS IN MOORE
Supplies suggested include sunscreen, batteries, flash lights, work gloves, knee pads, baby formula, baby diapers, wipes, non-perishable foods, feminine products, hygiene products, phone chargers, disposable razors, towels, wash clothes, sanitizer, water and Gatorade.
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Vann recognized for 25 years of service
The Altus Municipal Authority and City Council held their regular meetings on Tuesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex to consider items on each agenda. The AMA approved items on the consent agenda including minutes from the previous meeting and a purchase orders for the FY 2012-2013 for the Enterprise Fund for $1,104,257.30, and approved to award Bid #98600 for 20 fiberglass poles with 4 ft. arms, to be us...
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Memorial Day weekend tips for Quartz Mountain given
The long Memorial Day holiday weekend is about to begin. If you haven’t already brought up your RV/motor home over and you want to camp at Quartz Mountain Nature Park, call the Park Office at (580) 563-2238 and inquire about which campgrounds may still have availability. We do not yet take reservations and a lot of rigs were pulling in Sunday. While the level of Lake Altus-Lugert has not risen much recently, ...
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Groups gather to pray for rain
Around thirty people representing seven churches were present at the Jackson County Court House lawn this past Sunday night, May 19, to pray for rain. They were there at the request of the Jackson County Ministerial Alliance. The Alliance of local ministers has asked local churches and Christians to pray for rain and a spiritual community every Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. until the drought breaks. With Lake Luggart at 16 percent of capacity a...
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Commissioners designate Receiving Officer
The Jackson County Commissioners held their regular meeting Monday, May 20, in the Commissioners’ Office of the County Courthouse to discuss items on the agenda. Commissioners approved minutes from the last meeting, reports, and officer reports. Jackson County Treasurer Renee Howard presented receipts from the State of Oklahoma Tax Commission for the month if March. County Use Tax collections totaled $4,8023.85, County Sales Tax, $114,636.2...
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Pioneer Educators Honored
The Jackson County Retired Educators are happy to announce two new Jackson County inductees for the “Oklahoma Pioneer Educator” Award. Those achieving the honor are Gladys Foreman and Dorothy Maffry. For this award, retired educators must have reached their 90 th birthday and still be active members of OREA. Gladys Bradford Foreman grew up in Duke. While in high school there, one of her teachers told her that teaching would be her calling....
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WRP applications now being accepted
USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are currently accepting applications for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) according to Stacy Riley, District Conservationist with NRCS. Landowners interested in restoring and protecting wetlands that have been impacted or converted are encouraged to make application at their local NRCS office. The Wetlands Reserve Program’s primary objective is to restore former wetlands, re-estab...
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GRP funding availability announced
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are now accepting applications for the 2013 Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP). The Grassland Reserve Program is jointly administered by NRCS and FSA. GRP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to landowners and operators for the restoration and conservation of the nation’s grasslands. Enrollment of land in the GRP will have a ...
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Stephenson quits after allegations
Bob Stephenson, Altus City Chief of Operations, has been working for the City of Altus since March of 1999, but quit this week after he said the City accused him of not telling the truth. “I don’t like being called a liar,” said Stephenson. Due to ongoing discussions, talk and meetings about Altus’ water supply and restrictions due to drought conditions, Stephenson has been at the forefront of many of these meetings providing details and ...
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<p><span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: small;"><span>Kathy <span class="highlight">McMahan</span></span></span></p>

McMahan to perform Charleston on Chatauqua’s opening night
On Chatauqua’s opening night, Kathy McMahan will perform the Charleston. Born and raised in Altus, she is the wife of local attorney Robert McMahan, mother of Matthew and Cole, and grandmother of Luke. Her parents are the late Buck and Madelon Herring. Following her studies at WOSC, American University of Paris, France, Oklahoma State University, and Cameron University, McMahan was a teacher in the Altus Public Schools fo...
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1st annual Armed Forces Day Parade set for Saturday
The Altus Chapter 33, Disabled American Veterans, is sponsoring the 1st annual Armed Forces Day Parade this Saturday, May 18. The parade will line up at the old United parking lot in the Bunker Hill Shopping Center on N. Main. Lineup starts at 8:30 a.m., and the parade will start at 9:30 a.m., going south on N. Main to Commerce. The parade will be using the south bound lanes, so please line up on the west side of N. Main from Bradford to ...
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