Financial abuse spotlighted

The Oklahoma Securities Commission has announced it is dedicated this month to raising awareness about financial abuses involving the elderly.

Officials said financial abuse of people who are 65 and older is a growing problem in Oklahoma.

“Most the securities fraud cases involve some form of elder financial abuse,” stated Irving Faught, administrator of the commission.

“The scheme can be presented to anyone, but the elderly are more prone to trust an investment con man (because) they

come from an age when Oklahomans were more trusting and willing to forego skepticism, believing in the general goodness of people.

“The problem is ubiquitous, and I believe that most seniors are abused in some manner, certainly when it comes to taking their money,” he added.

Officials said the Commission participates in the national Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Program that works with Oklahoma’s medical, legal and social work professionals to detect cases in which seniors are being scammed or are in danger of being scammed by an investment con artist.

If you suspect that a friend or loved one has been

the victim of investment fraud, please alert the commission at www.securities. ok.gov.

Annual cattlemen’s conference set

ARDMORE — The Noble Research Institute will host its seventh annual Texoma Cattlemen’s Conference on June 15 at the Ardmore Convention Center.

This year’s conference theme is “The Road to Ranching Efficiency,” and the event includes several new features including a farm tour the day before the conference is held.

“Greater efficiency is always the objective for ranch operations, although it is seldom a stationary target,” Hugh Aljoe, a

producer relations manager, stated in a release about the event.

Officials said conference speakers include rancher Donnell Brown, animal science professor G. Cliff Lamb, livestock marketing analyst Jim Robb and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association government affairs specialist Colin Woodall.

Representatives from the Noble Research Institute, the Oklahoma Beef Council, the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will speak as well. The conference will be moderated by Ron Hays of the Oklahoma Farm Report.