The Duncan Banner

Local News

October 2, 2012

Burn ban still in effect for Stephens, 32 other counties

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Gov. Mary Fallin’s burn ban is still in effect for 33 counties, including Stephens County.

Despite receiving 3.84 inches of rain in the past month, the burn ban remains in effect for Stephens County. But it isn’t a decision the Board of Stephens County Commissioners can make.

“We don’t have anything to do with that,” Todd Churchman, District 2 commissioner and board chairman, said. “That’s the governor’s deal.”

With the governor putting the burn ban in place, the affected counties cannot remove the burn ban themselves. Instead, it’s up to Fallin to make the final decision.

If the commissioners had put the burn ban on for the county, they could have removed it at any time. For instance, Caddo, Creek and McClain counties have put county-wide burn bans into effect for 30 days. But they can remove them if they feel the conditions are no longer conducive to high fire danger.

The latest version of the governor’s burn ban was filed Sept. 28, and included the 33 counties currently under the burn ban. The governor’s burn ban was previously approved Aug. 3 and Aug. 31 for all 77 counties, and Sept. 17, which was for 55 counties.

According to the burn ban proclamation, “It is unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands or marshes, or to build a bonfire or fire, or to burn or ignite fireworks, or to burn trash or other materials outdoors in any of the counties included in this proclamation.”

The counties included in the proclamation include Beaver, Bryan, Carter, Cimarron, Comanche, Cotton, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Haskell, Jackson, Jefferson, Kay, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Love, Marshall, Murray, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pontotoc, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

With the last approval of the governor’s burn ban proclamation taking place Sept. 27, it’s unknown when the proclamation may be amended to remove more counties. That final decision will rest with Fallin.

Text Only
Local News
  • Jack Braught 2013 Crossman winner.jpg Duncan's Jack Braught named 2013 Crossman Award winner

    Jack Braught was named the 2013 Crossman Award winner during an awards assembly Friday at the Duncan High School.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 3-28 Crossman Nominees.jpg Crossman Award presentation today

    Today, one of five nominated senior students at Duncan High School will be named the Crossman recipient. The awards event is scheduled for 12:45 at the DHS auditorium.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-17 Farm to You5230.jpg Farm to You visits area schools

    In Farm to You program’s fourth year to come to Stephens County, it made an appearance at Marlow and Plato elementary schools.
    A collaborative effort of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, OSU Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and Southwest Dairy Farmers, the primary focus is to teach children where their food comes from and how to eat healthy.
    “We were excited about this program coming,” said Cathy Duke, Plato teacher.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Vote reflects community’s attitude

    Disappointment.
    That’s the sentiment of city leaders following the defeated streets and road election Tuesday that only pulled in 1,507 registered voters in a city with 16,098 active voters.

    May 17, 2013

  • Agritourism bill provides protection

    Much recent state legislature has been focusing on helping out family-owned small businesses and the agritourism industry is in the process of being included in these measures.

    May 17, 2013

  • 5-17 Maple Crossing.jpg Maple RR crossing to stay closed

    The closed railroad crossing at Maple Avenue was a point of contention with two Duncan residents, when they spoke to the Duncan City Council on Tuesday.
    Norma and Marian Lennox discussed their concerns during the council’s regular meeting, and expressed their desire to reopen the railroad crossing.
    “We need that street back open,” Norma Lennox said.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Senator Inhofe key speaker at GOP Fish Fry

    Republicans from throughout Oklahoma will gather Saturday at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center in Duncan, for the 9th annual GOP Fish Fry. This year, they will get a chance to hear U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, as he is the keynote speaker and is expected to arrive just before 5 p.m. for the event.
    Inhofe, R-Tulsa, is a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and has been instrumental in the passing of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013, or S. 601. The measure passed 83-14 in the Senate on Wednesday and authorizes new projects for water infrastructure for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    May 17, 2013

  • Veterans hope to reach out to homeless peers

    Local veterans will be heading to Lawton Friday in hopes of connecting and helping homeless veterans.

    May 16, 2013

  • Tornado hits Granbury, Texas Tornadoes tear through East Texas; 6 people killed

    A pack of tornadoes killed at least six people and injured dozens more in East Texas Wednesday night.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • 5-16 FAME Art Show1.jpg FAME Academy students host art show

    Creative minds are at work at FAME Academy.
    And Wednesday’s art show was a display of those creative minds in action, as the students showed off the masterpieces they had created throughout the school year. The various art media ranged from fabric art to pottery to crochet.

    May 16, 2013 3 Photos