A mask mandate that the Lawton City Council put into place July 17 is drawing mixed responses from residents and businesses.

The ordinance requires facial coverings while inside a commercial entity or other public building, structure or space open to the public, and on mass transit. It followed on the heels mask mandates already imposed by governmental entities for their facilities (including Lawton City Hall) and by some “big box” businesses for their customers, to include Walmart, Target and Kohl’s.

Sylvia Burgess, interim president of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, said at a July 17 council meeting that some small businesses were reporting that customers are afraid to come in because they are afraid of being around those who will not wear masks. Business owners and others who attended the July 28 council meeting to urge repeal of the…



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