From The Files of The Seminole Producer

District Attorney Roy Powell said today he will not file charges against any public official based on a Seminole County audit report which revealed alleged law violations.

Instead, Powell said, he will present the audit report and supportive evidence compiled by the State Examiner and Inspector’s office to the upcoming grand jury.

Meanwhile, agents of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation have been in Seminole County this week gathering additional evidence expected to be presented the grand jurors.

The agents, it was learned, returned to Seminole County at the order of the state attorney general’s office.

Powell, who will be probed by the grand jury himself, said be would not have time before the grand jury convenes Monday at Wewoka to study the evidence close enough to file charges.

“I’m still studying the evidence. I will present it to the grand jury and go from there,” Powell told the Producer when contacted this morning at his office in Ada.

“If I was going to do it myself, I couldn’t have it all analyzed before the grand jury convenes. I’ll present it to the grand jury.” Powell added.

Last week the district attorney had said he would probably file charges himself based upon the audit if supportive evidence was sufficient.

Powell said examiner and inspector officials presented him several pages of supportive evidence to the audit report Tuesday “There are a number of pages to it We had a conference here Tuesday that started at 10 a.m. and ended at 3:30 p.m.,” Powell said. “The state officials and me went over all the evidence.”

The audit report, released last week, revealed numerous law violations including alleged acts of splitting claims to avoid bid and deficit spending by the county commissioners.

A deputy county assessor also was allegedly found working in a private insurance and real estate office co-owned by the county assessor during courthouse working hours.

A former assistant district attorney’s travel claims allegedly paid for travel between his home and office also were questioned in the audit.

Powell said auditors of the examiner and inspector’s office would have to be the “expert witnesses” to go before the grand jury concerning the audit.

Asked if he was prepared for a grand jury probe of himself and his office, Powell said, “I have nothing to fear from any grand jury. I have a clear conscience.”

The district attorney added, “1 have no fear because in my own mind I have nothing to worry about. I know me, and I know what I have been doing for the last two years.”

Asked about a story in the Daily Oklahoman last week that he may seek legal action to quash the grand jury, Powell responded, “That’s the Oklahoman, they can write what they want. I have no plans to try to quash any grand jury.”

Sheriff Bill Merryfield circulated a petition calling for an investigation of Powell by a grand jury for alleged acts of “malfeasance in office, misappropriation of funds and criminal conduct.”

District Judge Frank H. Seay, who Powell criticized earlier this week as being sympathetic to Merryfield, called the grand jury which will convene in Wewoka Monday.

Seay said he is “neutral” concerning all parties involved in the upcoming grand jury probe.

When The Producer first attempted to contact Powell this morning, his secretary said he was not in the office, could not be reached by phone and refused to say where he was.

Asked by a reporter if the district attorney was working today, the secretary replied, “Yes.”

Powell later called the Producer and said he had been to the Ada jail looking over a cleanup operation which was in progress this morning.

“Your question to my secretary about whether I was working or not was out of line,” Powell told the Producer reporter. “I took it as a jab in the butt!” -oOo WASHINGTON (UPI) Democrat Fred Harris today announced he is dropping out of the remaining presidential primaries, citing as his main reason lack of money “made worse by the delay in reconstituting the Federal Election Commission.”

“I’m still a candidate for President,” he told a combination press conference and rally. “But our national effort in the primaries ends today.” “Neither I nor my campaign have come to the attention of enough people,” he said. “There are probably several reasons for this, the most important of which was lack of money, made worse by the delay in reconstituting the Federal Election Commission.”

Harris was the sixth Democrat to drop out of the race, following Terry Sanford, Lloyd Bentsen, Birch Bayh, Milton Shapp and Sargent Shriver.

Harris said in a telephone speech to supporters in San Francisco late Wednesday that an “acute lack of funds” will force him from active campaigning.

“I will continue to speak out on the issues,” Harris told the supporters.

The stocky, earnest westerner was expected to say, however, he will go to the July convention as a candidate and meanwhile try to attract as many uncommitted delegates as possible.

As of today he had won 13 delegates, with several more likely to come in from states still in the selection process.

Last month, giving up on the Illinois, Wisconsin, and New York balloting, Harris said be was putting his remaining personnel and money into the April 27 Pennsylvania primary in hopes of outpolling Morris Udall, frontrunner of the liberal candidates.

His withdrawal from active campaigning apparently will send his supporters to Udall’s camp. -oOo Winners of a kite-flying contest, recently held by Cub Scout Pack 439 at the Municipal Airport have been announced, according to Cubmaster Jack Morris.

Each boy was given two sticks, and using these completed a kite of his own design. Kites were judged in several categories, and first, second and third place winners named.

First kite up - 1st, Donnie Robertson; 2nd, Ross Wofford 3rd, Monte Rouse.

First crash after stable flight - 1st, Ross Wofford; 2nd, Donnie Robertson; 3rd, Chris Holland.

Largest kite - 1st. Jeff Knowles; 2nd, Ross Wofford: 3rd, Mike Hanson.

Smallest kite - 1st, Chris Holland; 2nd, David Morris; 3rd, Mike Holland.

Longest tail - 1st, Donnie Robertson; 2nd, Eric Myers; 3rd, Ross Wofford.

Shortest tail - 1st, Glen Miller: 2nd Jeff Knowles; 3rd, David Morris.

Most original tail - 1st, Ross Wofford; 2nd, Ronnie Everhart; 3rd, Monte Rouse.

Best paint - 1st, Eric Myers; 2nd, Glen Miller; 3rd, Donnie Robertson.

Best decorated - 1st. Ronnie Everhart, 2nd Chris Holland 3rd, Donnie Robertson.

Most original kite - 1st, Monte Rouse: 2nd, Mike Hanson; 3rd David Morris.

Highest flying kite - 1st, David Morris: 2nd, Chris Holland; 3rd, Donnie Robertson.

Most destructive crash - 1st, Donnie Robertson; 2nd, Chris Holland; 3rd, Monte Rouse.

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