PD)-- An Enid man has pleaded guilty on one count of sexual battery and one count of lewd molestation. Enid News and Eagle reports 63 year-old Jeffrey Curless pleaded guilty to the two charges Friday and received 25-year suspended sentences under the Oklahoma Department of Corrections’ supervision on both, which will run concurrently. He was charged after reportedly molesting the victim in September 2021, who has been diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability. Curless is subject to mandatory compliance with the Oklahoma Sex Offender Registration Act. He also was ordered to have no contact with the victim and to pay court costs and other fines.
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GC)--Organizers have announced a $1,000,000 Capital Campaign for a full renovation of Gaslight Theatre in downtown Enid. Gaslight: The Revival includes the renovation of the 100 year-old building in the 200 block of North Independence that houses community theater. Gaslight was began in 1966 as the Enid Community Theatre and has been in its current location since 1991. The renovation plan calls for the work to be done in four phases. For information about Gaslight Theatre’s capital campaign, go to gaslighttheatre.org/the-revival or call (580) 234-2307.
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BC)--The 4th Judicial District Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) will hold an awareness benefit concert on Saturday, March 18, at Settlers Brewing Company featuring Nashville artist Jake Gill. The 4th Judicial District CASA is a nonprofit organization that walks side by side with a child when they are removed from a home due to abuse or neglect. The group is seeking sponsors and monetary tax deductible donations to cover the cost of the Rock for a Cause event. The $500 title sponsor will get title event naming rights, VIP seating for six and a sponsor mention in all media. A $100 table sponsor receives VIP seating for six and sponsor mention in all media. A $50 sponsor receives sponsor mention in all media. Admission to the concert is free, and door prizes will be offered. To sponsor, contact (580) 242-1153.
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AF)--The Public Library of Enid and Garfield County is looking for participants for its annual Enid Author Fest. The event will be 1:00-5:00 p.m. April 15 at the library, 120 W. Maine. Local author festivals provide an opportunity for authors to display their work while developing connections in the area. The community also learns about authors publishing in their neighborhood. Attendees can meet some of the top writing talents in the region, sample their work and even take home an autographed book. Interested authors should visit the library’s website at enid.okpls.org/Enid-Author-Fest-2023 to view the author’s cover letter and to apply for participation. Authors accepted into the festival will be notified by March 4. Any questions should be directed to enidauthorfest@gmail.com.
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PV)--Pet owners can get their animals vaccinated and licensed for $10 next month during the city of Enid’s annual pet clinic. The citywide rabies shot clinic will be held noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 23 at Chisholm Trail Expo Center on the Garfield County Fairgrounds. Open to the public, including pet owners outside of Enid, the shot clinic will include pet vaccinations for rabies and issuance of pet licenses as required by local ordinance. A city pet license is required for every dog, cat or potbellied pig over the age of 6 months old. Registering animals allows for identification of their owners, should the pet become lost or stolen. For animals that already have been vaccinated, pet owners can bring their rabies vaccination certificate, and a city pet license will be issued for $2. City pet licenses are valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 in the year it is purchased. Payments can be made in cash or by personal check. No credit or debit cards will be taken at the event.
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JP)--A sales tax increase to expand and renovate the overcrowded Garfield County jail will reappear on ballots before Garfield County voters. The resolution, which Garfield County commissioners adopted and approved March 6 calls for a 0.30%, or 30 cents on every $100 spent, increase to the county sales tax rate for 15 years to fund the operation, maintenance, construction, equipping and improvement of Garfield County Detention Facility. It will appear on ballots in the May 9 special election, more than one year after jail administrator Ben Crooks first proposed the expansion and renovation to county commissioners and seven months after the first resolution was rejected by voters in an August 2022 election. The resolution last year called for a 20-year period instead of 15 years but otherwise remains the same, increasing the jail by 82 beds in dormitory-style housing, adding 16,000 square feet and renovating part of the current 45,000-square-foot building. The estimated cost is about $8.5 to $10 million. If the resolution passes, about $2.7 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds would be applied toward the expansion and renovation.
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