The Rotary Club of Chickasha met Thursday, October 24, 2024. Rotarian Mitch Williams led the club in singing "Salty Dog Blues".
Announcements
- The PolioPlus drive is active through the end of the year. Donations to Rotary International's PolioPlus fund will be matched 2x by the Gates Foundation. For more information, speak to Foundation Chair Ann Manchester.
- Points matching for Paul Harris Awards is also active.
- The Rotary Roll Call assembly at Lincoln Intermediate School is Friday, October 24, at 8:30 am.
Program
The Rotarian of the Day was Steve LaForge. The speaker was Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess, who recently secured re-election after filling Jim Wier's unexpired term.
Boggess provided updates on several drug-related matters. The office has been cracking down on illegal marijuana grow operations. Previously, Grady County led the country in illegal grow operations, but that statistic has decreased significantly. Fentanyl-related deaths have decreased. GCSO has also aided the Chickasha Police Department in taking street drugs out of circulation.
Boggess noted success in adding personnel. The office has gone from 22 full-time deputies when he started as undersheriff to 60. He remains open to calls, visits, or any feedback from the public. Asked about his biggest challenge going forward, he stated, "I want to keep going....I want to make sure the citizens of this county are taken care of." He stressed the importance of being able to pay deputies enough--to give them a place where they feel "comfortable and taken care of." He hopes to keep his personal health in a state where he can continue to drive operations at their current rate.