sports, page 13A
After Hours
Ardmore Cardinals split home games with McAlester SINCE 1893
28 PAGES 75 ¢
w e d ne s d ay, J u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 1
118th YEAR — NO. 218
ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA
the long, hot summer
Will it equal the scorcher of ’80?
sports,
Page 13A
By Steve Biehn
steve.biehn@ardmoreite.com
Summer-like heat came to north Texas and southern Oklahoma early this year as triple-digit temperatures were reported in Wichita Falls, Texas, in April. Daily temperatures in the high 90s to the mid-100s have been the norm since early June, and there have been 21 days over 100 degrees so far this year, according to the website ardmoreweatherlive.com. With little relief in sight, some are comparing the current spell of hot weather to one
Box’s death ruled accidental
HEAT, Page 9A
DON ALQUIST/HE ARDMOREITE
failure to report a missing child
It can be a crime in Oklahoma
n Failing to report a
child missing can result in criminal charges, Page 1A nSplash pad at Ard-
more’s Douglas Park officially open, Page 1A nTishomingo breaks
ground for splash pad, These stories you’ll find only in today’s print edition of The Ardmoreite.
Briefs
Tucker Tower closing Tucker Tower at Lake Murray State Park will be temporarily closed starting Thursday. The iconic landmark of Oklahoma’s first state park will be closed to visitors for approximately four months while structural renovations are completed. To ask questions about the closure or Lake Murray State Park call Keli Clark, Oklahoma State Parks Marketing Coordinator at (405) 230-8385 or e-mail keli. clark@oklatourism.gov.
LG meeting postponed A public hearing for the proposed fire training center in Lone Grove, scheduled Thursday night has been postponed because of a scheduling conflict. The public hearing will be rescheduled at a later date.
index Classified 6B Lifestyles Comics 5B Obituaries Digest 4A Sports Food 1B Weather
of the more intense summers of the past — 1980. During that summer, the daily maximum temperature at Oklahoma City exceeded 100 degrees 50 times during the season. That year, a spokesman for the National Weather Service in Oklahoma City termed it the worst June heat wave since 1936. In addition, the state experienced the driest July in a century. The Ardmoreite reported city residents used more than 11 million gallons of Valerie McDonald of Kingston cheers on her team under an umbrella in water on July 3, 1980. 100-degree heat during a baseball game Tuesday in Lone Grove.
5A 2A 13A 2A
By Marsha Miller
marsha.miller@ardmoreite.com
The recent trial of Casey Anthony in the death/abuse of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, garnered national attention for weeks. Anthony, who failed to report her child missing, was acquitted except for four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to law enforcement. But the case remains controversial and under debate. One of the issues being discussed is whether failing to report your child missing is a crime. It can be in Oklahoma, according to District Attorney Craig Ladd. In a recent interview with The Ardmoreite, Ladd discussed the issue — Could failure to report a missing child be a consideration in filing child neglect charges under Oklahoma law? “The Oklahoma child neglect laws are clearly designed to penalize parents who fail to protect their children. The obvious inherent dangers that come with a missing child are too numerous to list. Therefore, failing to report a missing child to the authorities in a timely fashion in an effort to expedite the safe recovery of the child could certainly be considered a failure
Oklahoma District Attorney Craig Ladd says failing to protect one’s child can result in criminal charges. to protect one’s child and could thus, result in criminal charges for child neglect here in Oklahoma,” Ladd said. The district attorney said the factors prosecutors would consider in filing charges against a parent would include: the age of the child, the length of the delay in reporting the child missing, the purported reason for the delay in reporting the child missing and whether the child suffered any actual harm while missing.
The question then becomes — When a child, particularly a young child, disappears how long should parents, grandparents or caregivers search before dialing 911? Sgt. Ryan Hunnicutt, Ardmore Police Department Public Information Officer, said time is of the essence. “Check your home first. Make sure the child isn’t hiding or even fallen asleep under a bed or in a closet or behind the couch. As soon as you know the
douglas park
child isn’t in your house, garage or the yard we expect a 911 call,” Hunnicutt said. The next steps are also vital. “A time line is important. When officers arrive they need to know, at least an estimate, of when the child was last seen and where,” Hunnicutt said. Additional information parents or caregivers should be prepared to give immediately includes: n Recent photos child, Page 9A
Splash pad is officially open By Michael Pineda
michael.pineda@ardmoreite.com
For kids in the neighborhood of Douglas Park, the completion of a splash pad could not have come at a better time. As temperatures began a steady climb to the ritual 100-plus Fahrenheit, the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to open the new splash pad. The construction of the splash pad was part of a grant awarded to LW Development for the construction of 45 low-income houses. A construction project for the community was part The Ardmore Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting dedicating the new splash of the grant. pad, Page 12A pad at Douglas Park Tuesday morning. MICHAEL PINEDA/THE ARDMOREITE
Too much fun in the sun?
Page 6B
Page 10A
AFGHANISTan war vet given highest honor
WITNESS TAMPERING IN ANTHONY TRIAL?
IMMEDIATE Sunburn Relief!
Mon.-Sat. 8am - 8pm Sun. 8am - 6pm
580-226-7771
908 N. Rockford Rd. urgentcareofardmore.com