Purcell Register

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Purcell Register Your Best News Source For The Heart of Oklahoma The Purcell Register is one of the
oldest continually-published newspapers
in Oklahoma. Mangum. R. H. Jenks. James C.

There have only been nine owners
of The Register in its illustrious
existence. The Montgomery family has owned the
newspaper since January of 1990
when John D. and Gracie purchased
it from the Nance-McCurdy family,
who had published The Register
for 55 years. The newspaper got its start under
Ed P. Ingle when he came to
Purcell. Its first issue was Nov. 23,
1887. Ingle played a big part in the
ear

ly development of Purcell and
was a leader in the planning of the
town site. Ingle was also very instrumental in
the founding of the town of Norman. In July 1889, Ingle established
The Norman Transcript and sold The Register to R.Y. Later the newspaper was sold
to W.H. Walker, who quickly
established himself as one
of the greatest editors in the
southwest. Walker’s greatest achievement
was an almost singlehanded
editorial campaign that
ultimately led to the statehood. Walker’s chapter in The
Register history spanned
from September 1890 until
his death. Parham, former publisher
of The Pauls Valley
Democrat, purchased the
controlling interest in The
Register in 1910. He continued
with The Register until
he purchased The Norman
Transcript and moved there as
business manager of the paper. The fifth chapter in the rich
history of The Register was
when J. Guy Hardie gradually
acquired ownership of the
newspaper in 1916. His business
manager was D.C. Hardie, who died in 1934,
was an aggressive, ambitious
editor and publisher and
worked for the improvement
and expansion of Purcell. Nance, who at the
time was publisher of The
Walters Herald, purchased
The Register from Hardie’s
widow, Martha Hardie in 1935. Nance was already a very
prominent publisher and also
one of the state’s top political
personalities. He remains the only person
to serve as both Speaker of
the House of Representatives
and President Pro Tempore of
the Senate. Maxwell McCurdy joined
the newspaper staff in 1937
when he married Nance’s
daughter, Rosamond. Maxwell
eventually assumed the duties
as President, Editor and Managing
Editor. Tom McCurdy was named
publisher of The Register
in 1973 after working at the
newspaper from November
of 1967. He also worked at
the newspaper at an early age. Now the Montgomerys have
added another generation to the
staff with John Denny and Emily Montgomery working at the newspaper.

20/07/2026
Oklahoma State Auditor Cindy Byrd releases troubling audit results for Town of Washington ... http://www.purcellregister...
15/07/2026

Oklahoma State Auditor Cindy Byrd releases troubling audit results for Town of Washington ... http://www.purcellregister.com/stories/former-town-clerk-in-hot-water,200352?

Former Washington Town Clerk/Treasurer Susan Noel has been accused of misappropriation and/or unauthorized expenditure of $1,022,412 in town funds. That’s what a forensic audit by State Auditor and …

11/07/2026
Plane crash victims identified: FAA, NTSB investigation continues
01/07/2026

Plane crash victims identified: FAA, NTSB investigation continues

The NTSB and FAA are continuing the investigation into a fatal plane crash in Goldsby last Monday morning. McClain County Sheriff Landy Offolter said the two Wisconsin men killed in the crash were …

17/06/2026

Local Election results:

Cindy Roe — 2553 (53.10%)
Kaity Keith — 2255 (46.90%)

Jonathan Wilk — 3487 (68.80%)
Mike Fullerton — 1581 (31.20%)

Co. Commissioner Dist. 1
Terry Hillis — 429 (26.58%)
Glen Murray — 1185 (73.42%)

Co. Commissioner Dist. 3
Joe Southern — 1076 (55.87%)
Scott Carroll — 850 (44.13%)

All results are unofficial until certified by the state.

10/06/2026

OSBI ARRESTS OKLAHOMA MAN FOLLOWING OILFIELD THEFTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JUNE 9, 2026

PURCELL, OK - On October 2, 2023, the McClain County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of stolen oilfield equipment from a property in Purcell, Oklahoma. The equipment was identified as a pump jack.

During the investigation, deputies received information regarding a second oilfield theft on February 7, 2025, at a property near Cole, Oklahoma. Investigators learned a pump jack was stolen from this location as well, valued at over $40,000.

As the investigation continued, the McClain County Sheriffs Office requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to assist with the investigation. OSBI special agents determined that these thefts are part of a larger organized criminal enterprise that spanned multiple counties in Oklahoma, as well as other states.

OSBI special agents identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jonathan Stamper, who has stolen oilfield equipment from various locations and removed the manufacturers identification plate and serial numbers. Stamper would then create new serial number plates and add them to the equipment.

Based on the information and evidence obtained, on June 9, 2026, the OSBI and McClain County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at Stamper's residence in Washington, Oklahoma.

Stamper was arrested and booked into the McClain County Jail on two counts of Grand Larceny of Oilfield Equipment and one count of Trespass and Damage of Critical Infrastructure Facility.

This is still an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the OSBI tip line at [email protected] or 1-800-522-8017.

The OSBI appreciates the McClain County Sheriff's Office, Garvin County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kingfisher County Sheriff's Office for their continued assistance with this investigation.

*Charges are merely an accusation and the accused is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Address

OK

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+14055272126

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