(Published in the Tonkawa News, Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Thursday, June 22, 2023)Kay County Commission Monday, June 5, 2023 Newkirk, OklahomaThe Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) of Kay County, Oklahoma, met in regular session at 9:00 o’clock a.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023, the meeting was posted for public information on June 1, 2023, at 4:15 p.m. at the Commissioners Room, west entrance of the Kay County Administration Building in Newkirk, Oklahoma, and on the Kay County Website.Chairman Shane Jones called the meeting to order: Commissioners: Jason Shanks, Member, present; Jeff Kreger, Member, present. Others present were as follows: Brian Hermanson, Kay County District Attorney (DA); Billie Chrz, Kay County First Assistant District Attorney (ADA); Rob Davis, Kay County Assistant District Attorney (ADA); Vayden, Kay County DA Dog; Steve Kelley, Kay County Sheriff; Christy Kennedy, Kay County Treasurer; Rhonda Stephens, Kay County Treasurer-Elect; Marilee Thornton, Kay County Court Clerk; Brenda Medlock and Shannon Mallory, OSU Extension; Bailey Lee, Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs; Skyler Mathews and Paul Stocksberry, Kaw Nation; Donna Parker, Oklahoma Court Service; Everett Brazil, Newkirk Herald Journal; Claude Williams, Taxpayers for Transparency; Tammy Reese, Secretary/ Kay County Clerk.Chairman Shane Jones led the flag salute.Motion was made by Shanks and seconded by Kreger approving the regular meeting minutes of May 30, 2023. Motion carried: Kreger, aye; Jones, aye; Shanks, aye.Discussion on letting Vayden, the Kay County D.A. Dog be allowed to be in the Kay County Courthouse and other county buildings: DA Hermanson told those in attendance that Tulah was the DA Dog for a number of years and she is now retired; he said ADA Rob Davis is hosting the new DA Dog Vayden and recently spent two weeks in Dallas for training. ADA Davis said Vayden is a two-yearold half-black lab and half-golden retriever that has had nine months of professional training; he said Vayden is considered a facility dog but is trained in the same manner as a service dog. Vayden can open doors, turn lights on/off, etc., Davis said he is trained not to be noticed. ADA Davis said the two-week training was mainly to train him. He stated the dog will be great to have with the children and eventually will set in court with the children. DA Hermanson said Tulah was such a comfort to children in a courtroom when the person who victimized them was looking at them. He said Tulah would even put her ...
