Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 106, No. 228, Ed. 1 Friday, December 31, 2004 Page: 1 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Altus Times-Democrat and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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See 2004, page 1B
Bush re-election top story of year
Local smokers not stocking up
Nov. 2 will raise the tax on cigarettes a resolving to give up the habit
least switch to a cheaper brand
Oklahoma's tobacco tax goes up on New
Inside
Index
Calendar.
.2 A
Suspect turns
Advice
3A
4A.5A
himself in
6A
7A
page 8A
Horoscope
7 A
6
Classifieds.....6B,7B
Want to subscribe to the Altus Times? Need to place an ad? Have a news tip? Call 482-1221
in Southwest Oklahoma
Friday,
December 31,
net 55 cents a pack to fund health pro-
grams.
or at
when
1171:1 1 ‘fl’ 1'1 -
While the war in Iraq dominated national news in the past
year, 2004 was an eventful year for Southwest Oklahoma. The
following are just a few of the stories that were topics of con-
versation in Altus.
tall
leal
e, it
Sports...
Opinion.
Comics..
NEW YORK (AP) — The Iraq war and
terrorism dominated the 2004 list of top sto-
ries in an annual Associated Press survey,
but it was President Bush's election victory
that editors and news directors chose as the
biggest story of the year.
The war itself was the No. =
2 choice, and four other sto-FM
ries in the Top 10 involved 4
either Iraq or terrorist attacks.
ner
s, a
ng
led
ion
an
dor
25
fl-
ing
Algae in the reservoir,
reopening of historic
theater made news
The election, in which i
Bush defeated Democrat John i
Kerry and the Republicans a
strengthened their hold on ,
both chambers in Congress, ■
received 137 first-place votes S
out of 234 ballots cast. Iraq,
voted the No. 1 story in both
2002 and 2003, was runner-up
tty
m-
ed.
aut
ral
to
the
Tie
Our 106th year
No. 228
Weather, page 2
D Chance of showers
relatively cheap
A referendum adopted by voters on
Proud of Southwest Oklahoma
Sandy Frazier
too pricey.”
Many other Oklahoma smokers are
January
Jan. 2 - An early morning New Year’s Day feud between
neighbors resulted two Altus residents being hospitalized and
one arrested. Kelly Golden and Christina Lopez were shot at
1405 Cottonwood according to the Altus Police Department,
and were treated at Jackson County Memorial Hospital
Jan. 7 The Altus City Council approved a contingency
fund to purchase new audio and video equipment for the five
patrol cars that lacked that equipment.
Jan. 13 - Tony Acosta, 24, of Altus, pleaded guilty to a fed-
eral charge of unlawful possession of a firearm with the serial
number removed. Acosta was spotted by a probation officer
who recognized him as a parolee with a pick-up order against
him. When approached by police, Acosta tied in his vehicle at
the corner of South Navajoe and East Nona. He then tossed a
bag from the vehicle. The bag was recovered containing a 40-
caliber semiautomatic pistol. Finally, Acosta was apprehended.
After his arrest, a small amount of rock cocaine was also found
in his vehicle.
Jan. 20 Altus residents voiced major concern over the new
veterinary hospital to be opened on l ast Tamarack during the
regularly scheduled January meeting of the city council In a
letter from nine residents to the council members, they cited
concerns about health and safety issues, property values and
quality of life being impacted by a large-animal clinic. The
clinic opened later in the year, but without large animals being
treated at the site.
Jan 21,22 - Twelve jurors and an alternate were chosen to
hear the Greer County case of accused murderer Ronnie
Passmore, charged in the death of Mangum resident Joni
Moore, who was killed Jan. 23, 2003. The next day, Passmore
entered a plea of no contest to manslaughter in the second
degree and no jury trial was held.
Jan. 22 - Employees and customers of businesses on West
Commerce were detained after a bomb threat was called in to
the Child Support Division of the District Attorney’s office.
The caller informed the clerk at the D.A.’s office that a device
George W. Bush wreaked havoc with car bomb-
ings and videotaped beheadings
this year, with 79 first place votes, of hostages; the death toll for U.S. military
Here are 2004’s top 10 stories, as voted forces passed 1,300, and the toll of Iraqi
by AP members: civilians was many times higher. Yet Iraq's
1. U.S. ELECTION: After vanquishing
See STOR/ES, page 8A
From staff and wire reports her brand of choice being the somewhat
Although smokers are going to see the more expensive Marlboros.
price of a pack go up 55 cents with the "I’ve already changed from Marlboro
new year, many Altus cigarette retailers cigarettes to a cheaper brand," Smith said,
say they are not being swamped by peo- “My New Year's resolution is to quit
ple stocking up while the prices are still smoking because they will have become
Howard Dean, John Edwards and other
Democratic rivals, Kerry seemed to have a
strong chance of ousting Bush. But the
Massachusetts senator struggled to explain
his stance on Iraq, underestimated the sting
_ of negative ads and in the end
narrowly lost the pivotal
" swing state of Ohio after a cam-
W paign in which Bush, over and
over, insisted he was best quali-
fied to be commander in chief at
A a time of complex challenges to
+ national security.
g 9 2: IRAQ: Throughout 2004,
P Iraq was a striking mix of bloody
4 turmoil and tantalizing promise.
Anti-American insurgents
According to Jim Thacker, owner of Year’s Day.
the Smoke Shoppe, 400 E. Broadway, "It makes more sense to quit, health-
there has been some increase in sales in wise and financially,” David Hensley said
the past few weeks at the store, but noth- while purchasing a pack of Marlboros at a
ing significant. Tecumseh smoke shop. But Hensley said
The United Supermarket on East he planned to stock up before the tax
Broadway reported no change in its increase takes effect, just in case.
tobacco sales in the past few weeks. Oklahoma expects to gain about $149
Melissa Smith of Mountain Park has million a year from the tax increase,
smoked cigarettes for the past four years, according the Office of State Finance.
1 183 176 00 002
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Andrews, Mike. Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 106, No. 228, Ed. 1 Friday, December 31, 2004, newspaper, December 31, 2004; Altus, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2181303/m1/1/: accessed June 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.