Published: April 13, 2009 09:57 pm         

News briefs for 4/14/09

City commissioners to

hold meeting Wednesday



By Robert Barron

Staff Writer



Enid city commissioners will have a special meeting Wednesday morning to interview city attorney candidates.

Two candidates have been listed, Cassandra Williams and Andrea Chism. Chism is the current assistant city attorney.

Commissioners have advertised for a city attorney since they voted in January not to renew Carol Lahman’s contract. Commissioners already have discussed a number of candidates, but have made no decisions. If no adequate candidate is found, a nationwide professional search may be started.

The meeting is an executive session and is not open to the public. It will be 11 a.m. in the city manager’s conference room at the city administration building, 401 W. Garriott.

Any decisions will have to be voted on in an open, public meeting.



Man pleads guilty to

false statement to bank



A Waynoka man has pleaded guilty in federal court to making a false statement to a bank.

Mark A. Nickelson, 53, faces up to 30 years in federal prison plus a $1 million fine. A sentencing hearing will be held in approximately 90 days. He is a former employee of Al-va State Bank & Trust Co.

According to John C. Richter, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, Nickelson admitted in November 2004 he drove Alva State Bank officials to various locations to conduct a cattle count. He was trying to verify the number of cattle he purportedly owned in an effort to influence bank officials’ decision to retain him and renew outstanding loans, Richter said.

Nickelson admitted he intentionally failed to disclose he did not own all of the cattle counted, Richter said.

Woodward man pleads

guilty to 3 drug counts



Woodward man pleads guilty to 3 drug counts



A Woodward man has pleaded guilty in federal court to three drug counts.

Michael Kelvin Douglas, 53, was charged with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute meth.

He faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison, in addition to a maximum of a $2,000,000 fine, according to John C. Richter, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. A sentencing hearing will be held in approximately 90 days.