
August 3, 2023
By News Director Jared Atha
Funeral services were held for an American hero from western Oklahoma recently.
80-year-old Thomas Edmund Weichel Sr. of Colony, who passed away on July 18, was a Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree from Colony.
Weichel was born just south of Colony on November 24, 1942, to Edmund and Minnie Mabel Sappington Weichel. He grew up working on the family farm. He graduated from Colony High School in 1958. In the spring of 1964, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Math and Physics from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. That same year, he married Elaine Francis Willits of Oney.
Weichel accepted an offer of employment with NASA and he and Elaine moved to the Houston area where he worked on various unmanned and manned space programs, including the Apollo Program, which put men on the moon.
His last mission was work on Apollo 13, for which he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the team’s efforts to return the Apollo 13 crew to earth.
Weichel moved back to the Colony area to raise and provide his family by farming and ranching. He also worked for Southwest Oklahoma Development Association and taught Physics and Math at Caddo Kiowa Technology Center.
Copyright 2023 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

Canute Awarded Nearly $700K in Route 66 Revitalization Grant
Oklahoma City, OK – The Town of Canute has been awarded $695,000 through the Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program, state officials confirmed Thursday morning during the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission’s second quarter meeting. The funding will

Severe Storm Threat Rises for Western Oklahoma Thursday Evening
Norman, OK – Western Oklahoma residents should prepare for another round of potentially severe storms Thursday evening, with the latest forecast showing an increased threat for large hail and isolated tornadoes. According to the National Weather Service

Chicago Man Arrested in Elk City Rental Car Scam, Faces Multiple Charges
Elk City, OK — A 35-year-old man from Chicago, Illinois, has been arrested in Elk City after allegedly using a fake identity to claim a stolen rental vehicle. He now faces a series of felony charges. According

Local Librarian is Tennis Titan
By Landry Brewer Elk City, OK – Joni (Jordan) McConnell is the most successful Elk City High School tennis player of all time. McConnell’s parents, both teachers, played tennis and put her on the courts with them

SBA Offers Disaster Loans for Businesses in Collingsworth, Wheeler, Beckham, Ellis & Roger Mills Counties
Sacramento, CA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in parts of Texas and Oklahoma affected by extreme heat and winds

OSDH “Healthy” Awards Announced
Lawton, Okla. – The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has announced the 2024 Certified Healthy Oklahoma awardees, recognizing outstanding efforts in promoting health and wellness throughout the state. Among the honorees, schools and organizations from Beckham,

Severe Weather Possible in Western Oklahoma
Western Oklahoma – Western Oklahoma residents—especially those in Beckham, Custer, Roger Mills, and Washita counties—should stay weather-aware through the rest of this week. The Storm Prediction Center continues to highlight the region with ongoing risks for severe

High-Speed Internet Expansion Coming to Western Oklahoma, Including Custer, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties
Lone Wolf, OK — The Oklahoma Broadband Office is set to officially launch a series of broadband expansion projects that will bring high-speed internet to 14 counties, with a special focus on underserved areas in western Oklahoma

SWOSU Engineering Physics Banquet with Alumni Speaker Scheduled for April 26
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Department of Chemistry and Physics will host its annual Engineering Physics Spring Banquet on Saturday, April 26, at the Stafford Air & Space Museum in

Student Research from SWOSU Featured at Research Day at the Capitol
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Undergraduate researchers from the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences were recently selected to present their findings at the 30th annual Research Day at the Capitol,

Clinton Couple Charged with Burglary and Assault in Stabbing Incident
Clinton, OK – A Clinton pair is facing serious charges following a violent home invasion that left one victim hospitalized. Fifty-four-year-old William Lee Pedro III and twenty-one-year-old Lanie Marie Stratton were formally charged in Custer County District

Elk City Police Investigating Sayre Man for Internet-Related Child Crimes
Elk City, OK – The Elk City Police Department is conducting an investigation at the request of the District Attorney’s Office involving Mickey Ezell Jr. of Sayre, Oklahoma. Ezell was arrested Wednesday morning, April 16, 2025, at

Dobson Fiber Is Title Sponsor of SWOSU’s 2025 Everett Dobson Bulldog Golf Classic
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Longtime Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) benefactor Dobson Fiber will serve as the Official Title Sponsor of the 2025 Everett Dobson Bulldog Golf Classic. The Dobson Bulldog Golf Classic began in

SWOSU North Family Lecture Kicks Off 2025 Crowder Lake Season
SWOSU Press Release Crowder Lake University Park at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) kicked off the 2025 season on April 4 with the annual North Family Lecture and Friends of Crowder Lake Dinner. The event was held

SWOSU Rover Dawgs Compete at NASA’s 2025 Human Exploration Rover Challenge
SWOSU Press Release The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Rover Dawgs recently competed at NASA’s 2025 Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC), held April 11-12 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The event brought

Free Dumping Weekend at Shamrock City Landfill – May 2 & 3
Shamrock, TX – The City of Shamrock will offer free dumping at the City Landfill during the first weekend in May. Residents may bring household items and debris for disposal at no charge on Friday, May 2

Clinton Superintendent Tyler Bridges Announces Departure for Stillwater Post
Clinton, OK — After nearly five years leading Clinton Public Schools, Superintendent Tyler Bridges is moving on. The Stillwater Board of Education voted during a special April 15 meeting to hire Bridges as the next Superintendent of

Fatal Crash Claims Life of Arapaho Woman in Custer County
Custer County, OK – A fatal single-vehicle crash occurred Tuesday morning, April 15, 2025, at approximately 9:32 a.m. on OK-47 and N 2310 Road, about seven miles west of Thomas, Oklahoma, in Custer County. According to the

SWOSU’S LPN to BSN Program Ranked 2nd in Oklahoma
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU)’s LPN to BSN program has been ranked 2nd in the state for 2025 by PracticalNursing.org. PracticalNursing.org evaluates programs across the country that offer pathways for licensed

SWOSU Announces 2025 Distinguished Alumni
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has announced its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame honorees. Known as “SWOSU’s highest honor,” the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 1976 by

Elk City Announces Free Spring Cleanup Week at Municipal Landfill
Elk City, OK – Elk City residents can take advantage of free dumping at the Elk City Municipal Landfill from Monday, April 28 through Saturday, May 3, 2025, as part of the city’s annual spring cleanup effort.

Dayna Hardaway Named Assistant Vice President for Human Resources at SWOSU
Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), has announced the appointment of Dayna Hardaway as the institution’s next Assistant Vice President for Human Resources. Hardaway will officially begin her role on April 21, 2025, and will

Burns Flat Man Arrested on Felony Firearm Charges in Elk City
Elk City, OK — A Burns Flat man, Jerry Lee Wright, has been arrested after allegedly attempting to purchase a firearm despite being a convicted felon, according to documents filed in Beckham County District Court. Wright, 44,

Deadline to Request Absentee Ballot for May 13th Election Approaches
Cheyenne, OK – Voters in Roger Mills County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the May 13th Special County Election should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Kelly Tice said today. Absentee ballots are available

Elk City Man Arrested After High-Speed Police Chase
Elk City, OK — A high-speed police chase through Elk City ended in an arrest just after 2 a.m. Sunday, April 8, 2025, after a suspect refused to stop for officers and endangered multiple drivers along the