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Local
News
Posted
March 10th, 2010
A van
owned by a 77-year-old southern Kansas man has been found in Oklahoma,
and police say they're investigating possible foul play in the man's
disappearance. Winfield police and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation
gave an update Tuesday on the search for Richard May. May was last
seen Dec. 10 near Pawhuska. Ranch hands found May's 2002 Ford minivan
late last week in a remote area of Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, also
in Osage County. There was no sign of May, and police believe the
van had been there for some time.
__________________________
Legislation approved by the state House is designed to protect Oklahomans
from the impact of runaway tax credits. The measure by Rep. Steve
Martin of Bartlesville would reduce state tax credits by the amount
of a federal tax credit that is allowed for the same investment.
Martin says Oklahoma offers income tax credits to encourage certain
investments because officials feel they are good for the economy
of Oklahoma. But when additional tax credits offered by the federal
government are added, the number of credits can multiply. Martin
says that could place the state in a financial position that was
never intended. The bill passed the House 87-12 Tuesday and now
goes to the state Senate for consideration.
__________________________
The Bartlesville City Council spent most of Monday night's meeting
discussing a resolution endorsing the Public Outreach Plan plus
goals for a West Bartlesville Redevelopment Plan. After a lengthy
discussion, the city council approved the resolution. Several members
of the Task Force were in attendance to hear the council's opinion.
David Settle, a member of the Task Force was pleased of the financial
part of the plan. Council member Dr. Erin Tullos read the entire
resolution to the crowd. Tullos along with council member Tom Gorman
is on the Task Force. She encouraged the other council members to
attend the meetings. The Task Force will be meeting several more
times going over the plan.
__________________________
A pair of GOP-backed bills dealing with charter schools and performance
pay for teachers have cleared the Senate. The Senate on Tuesday
passed both measures by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, a
Republican from Oklahoma City. The first bill would grant chartering
authority to mayors of Oklahoma City and Tulsa and remove caps on
the number of charter schools allowed. Currently, only a school
district, college or university can sponsor a charter school. Coffee's
second education bill would allow public school districts to institute
a performance pay program for teachers, principals and administrators.
Posted
March 9th, 2010
The
Bartlesville City Council spent most of Monday night's meeting discussing
a resolution endorsing the Public Outreach Plan plus goals for a
West Bartlesville Redevelopment Plan. After a lengthy discussion,
the city council approved the resolution. Several members of the
Task Force were in attendance to hear the council's opinion. David
Settle, a member of the Task Force was pleased of the financial
part of the plan. Council
member Dr. Erin Tullos read the entire resolution to the crowd.
After reading the resolution, Tullos gave her thoughts.
Tullos along with council member
Tom Gorman are on the Task Force. She encouraged the other council
members to attend the meetings. Councilman Mike McGrew presented
his opinion. The
Task Force will be meeting several more times going over the plan.
__________________________
The City
of Bartlesville received $1,145,238 in sales tax revenue from the
State of Oklahoma in the month of March 2010. The money is derived
from the City's 3% sales tax for sales occurring mostly in January
2010. The March 2010 receipts represent an 11.2% decrease when compared
to sales tax revenue from March 2009. For the fiscal year to date,
the City of Bartlesville's sales tax dollars have decreased by 8.69%
from the same 9 month period last year. For the fourteenth straight
month and the sixteenth out of the last eighteen months, the City
of Bartlesville's sales tax receipts have shown a decline from the
prior year. City Clerk and Finance Director Mike Bailey calls the
numbers disappointing because the 11.2% drop off occurred during
the final month of the holiday shopping season. The City is facing
the possibility of a near double digit decline in sales tax receipts
for the entire year, and while the City has made numerous budget
adjustments, Bailey says continuing declines of this size may require
further reductions. He says the city can only hope that this decrease
is attributable in large part to the excessive snow and inclement
weather.
__________________________
Oklahoma motorists who drive without insurance could have their
vehicles impounded under a bill approved in the Oklahoma House.
The House voted 87-8 on Monday for House Bill 2331 by Bartlesville
Republican Representative Steve Martin. Martin says the bill authorizes
police to utilize a new instant verification system that allows
them to determine if vehicles are covered by required liability
insurance. Under Martin's bill,
police would have the ability to have an uninsured vehicle towed
away immediately. Martin says some studies have suggested as many
as one-fourth of all motorists in Oklahoma are uninsured.
Some members expressed concern about the accuracy of the new verification
system and the fate of passengers in the vehicle, especially children.
__________________________
The Bartlesville City Council approved to rescind action they took
on February 1st of this year concerning an ordinance pertaining
to billing for fire services outside the city limits. Once that
item was approved, council members adopted a new ordinance establishing
a Rural Fire Service Program. Bartlesville Fire Chief Bob Hasbrook
explained the new program. All city council members voted for the
ordinance.
__________________________
Bartlesville’s mayor will continue to be chosen by the five
council members. The Charter Review Committee voted 8 to 2 last
night with Ron Nikkel and Vic Holcomb casting the no votes to keep
the current system. Council members would be elected in November
during even numbered years. The committee took no action on how
the terms of sitting council members would be extended from April
to November. The committee usually meets on the first and third
Monday afternoons of each month.
__________________________
During yesterday
morning's Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting, commissioners
agreed to all 10 requests from the Osage County Tourism Commission
for money to be spent for further promotion of the county. Commissioners
also agreed to donate of the use of the Ag Building for the Osage
Tribal Princess Sorority Dance on March 20th. Making the request
for the Ag Building was Anita Maker. She told commissioners that
prior to Clarence Brantley's passing; he had agreed to assist Osage
Nation's Chief Jim Gray in the donation of that facility. According
to Osage County Emergency Management Director, Mike Pattison, his
office has received an additional 50 NOAH radio's that he's still
offering the public at just $6.75 per radio. Pattison added, with
the upcoming tornado season, he expected that the radios will sell
out fast. NOAH radios can be purchased at the county's Emergency
Offices located a block west of the post office on 6th Street.
__________________________
Declining
enrollment and falling state funding stemming from the loss of students
has prompted school officials in Avant to consider a voluntary annexation
into either one of two nearby districts, Barnsdall and Skiatook.
Avant Superintendent Richard Harris said the drop in enrollment
at the K-8 school has trimmed state aid by $188,000 over the last
three years. "It's hard for a little school district to absorb
that," he said. "We've cut teaching positions and support
personnel to offset that, but we're still struggling financially."
Harris said Avant had 114 students two years ago. This year, there
are 87 students. He said residents of the district expressed mixed
feelings at a public meeting Thursday evening.
Posted
March 8th, 2010
The Osage
Nation's appeal of a federal court decision that rejected the tribe's
attempt to exempt members who live and work in Osage County from
state income taxes has been denied. The 10 th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals on Friday affirmed a lower court decision in the tribe's
lawsuit against the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The tribe argued that
Congress never affirmatively disestablished the 1.5 million-acre
Osage Nation reservation in northeast Oklahoma, and therefore taxing
its members violates federal law. The court wrote, that because
it concluded the reservation no longer officially exists, the judge
didn't have to address the taxation issue.
__________________________
Declining
enrollment and falling state funding stemming from the loss of students
has prompted school officials in Avant to consider a voluntary annexation
into either one of two nearby districts, Barnsdall and Skiatook.
Avant Superintendent Richard Harris said the drop in enrollment
at the K-8 school has trimmed state aid by $188,000 over the last
three years. "It's hard for a little school district to absorb
that," he said. "We've cut teaching positions and support
personnel to offset that, but we're still struggling financially."
Harris said Avant had 114 students two years ago. This year, there
are 87 students.
Posted
March 7th, 2010
The 28
th Annual Washington County Junior Livestock Show came to an end
Saturday night with the sale. Auctioneers Brian Little, Jimmie King
and Smokey Hand took the gavel as bidders supported local youth.
Gage Gardner of the Caney Valley 4H Beef Club saw his Grand Champion
Steer go to the Collinsville Livestock Market for a record bid of
$4.000. Dewey FFA's Bronc Finch's Grand Champion Sheep sold for
$2,200 to a group of medical professions including Bluestem Cardiology,
Regional Dermatology and Drs Robertson and Fessler. A bid of $2,300
from Collinsville Livestock Market was the price paid for Copan
4H's Tyler Layton's Grand Champion Goat. Caney Valley FFA member
Michael Sumner saw his Grand Champion Swine go to ConocoPhillips
for $2,000 and the 4 H Beef Club's Hayden Moses received $2,700
for his Reserve Grand Champion Steer from Collinsville Livestock
Market. Other winning bidders included D 7 Bar Ranch, Coffeyville
Livestock Market, Arvest Bank, Dewey Vet Clinic, P & K Equipment,
Buyers Club, Wal-Mart and the Copan Truck Stop, Doenges Ford, Lincoln,
Mercury, Toyota presented a $500 scholarship to each of the Showmanship
winners. The senior showmanship winners were Chase Hinkle, Sarah
Thompson and Tyler Layton who won in two categories – swine and
goat. The family of George Seals presented a scholarship to Cameryn
Parks of the Caney Valley 4 H Club in honor of George who passed
away this past year. More than 60 animals were included
__________________________
School officials in Avant
are considering a voluntary annexation into a nearby district, either
Barnsdall or Skiatook. Avant, which has 87 students, is dealing
with declining enrollment. Superintendent Richard Harris says the
enrollment drop at the K-8 school has trimmed state aid by $188,000
over the last three years.
__________________________
The Osage tribe's attempt to exempt members
who live and work in Osage County from state income taxes has been
denied. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday affirmed
a lower court decision in the tribe's lawsuit against the Oklahoma
Tax Commission. The tribe argued that Congress never affirmatively
disestablished the 1.5 million-acre Osage Nation reservation in
northeast Oklahoma, and therefore taxing its members violates federal
law. The court wrote that because it concluded the reservation no
longer officially exists, the judges didn't have to address the
taxation issue. Nation's appeal of a federal court decision that
rejected the
__________________________
Voters in Washington County
who want to have an absentee ballot mailed to them for the April
6,2010, Special Election for Caney Valley Public Schools, have until
Wednesday, March 31 to apply states Yvonne House, Washington County
Election Board Secretary. House urges voters who want to vote
by absentee ballot to apply early. Absentee ballot applications
forms are available at the County Election Board Office located
at 420 S Johnstone Ave, Room 101. For more information on
voting absentee, contact the election board at 337-2850.
Posted
March 6th, 2010
The
Bartlesville City Council plans action on a Public Outreach Plan
plus goals for a West Bartlesville Redevelopment Plan during its
meeting Monday night. Council members also plan to take up whether
to rescind action they took on February 1st of this year concerning
an ordinance pertaining to billing for fire services outside the
city limits. Once that is completed, council members plan action
on a new ordinance on the same topic that would establish a Rural
Fire Service Program. Monday night's Bartlesville City Council meeting
is set for 7 o'clock at the City Center Building.
__________________________
Bartlesville's
Charter Review Committee will take up how the city will choose its
mayor during Monday's meeting. Citing a lack of time for adequate
discussion of the issue the committee last week tabled Dr. Erin
Tullos's motion which called for the city council to appoint a mayor.
The action to appoint or remove a mayor would take a minimum of
three affirmative votes. Mayor Ron Nikkel expressed his disagreement
with the action and Vice Mayor Vic Holcomb said he wanted more than
the approximately ten minutes left in the meeting to talk about
the issue. The agenda also calls for action on moving the election
date and the mechanics involved the terms of existing council members
as they regard that new date. The committee also plans to take up
the office of Vice Mayor. Monday afternoon's meeting is set for
5:45 at the city center building.
Posted
March 5th, 2010
Day one
of the Washington County Junior Livestock Show is nearly complete.
The day's judging started with the breeding gilt show. There were
14 entries. Breed champions went to Lacey Gailey of the Caney Valley
4H for her Berkshire, Macy Wright of the Caney Valley 4H for her
Chester, Chase Brim of the Caney Valley 4H for his Crossbred, Gus
Hollingback for his Duroc, Blake Fogle of the Caney Valley FFA for
his Hampshire, and Erica Carpenter of the Dewey FFA for her Yorkshire.
Chase Brim won grand champion. In the swine show, Michale Sumner
of the Caney Valley FFA won Grand Champion and Bayli Brewer of the
Copan FFA won Reserve Grand Champion. In breed competition Brody
Peterson of the Dewey FFA won breed champion in the Berkshires with
Adam Fogle of the Caney Valley 4H picking up the reserve, Cooper
Eden of the Caney Valley 4H won breed champion in the Chester Whites,
in the Duroc show Mackenzie Prather of the Caney Valley 4H won breed
champion and Chase Brim of the Caney Valley 4H won the reserve,
Adan Parks showed the champion Poland, Aubree Ryan of the Caney
Valley 4H had the champion spot and Kaleigh Hinkle had the reserve
breed champion. Bayli Brewer of the Copan 4H won breed champion
and Chase Brim again had the reserve in the Hampshire show, Austin
Eden of the Caney Valley FFA won breed champion in the Yorkshire
competition followed by Bayli Brewer with the reserve. Michael Sumner
of the Caney Valley FFA won the Crossbreed show followed by Zach
Adams of the Swine Club. OSU Swine Herdsman Ken Brock also judged
the showmanship competition. Baili Brewer won Junior Showmanship,
Kaleigh Hinkle won Intermediate, and Chase Hinkle won Senior Showmanship.
Today's show starts with the goat show followed by sheep and cattle
competition. The livestock show continues at the Washington County
Fairgrounds in Dewey.
__________________________
A Bartlesville man has been arrested after allegedly pointed a gun
at a victim. 19-year-old Layton Urrich Vogeding was arrested on
a number of violations including possession of a firearm and possession
of drugs. Bartlesville police were called on a report of a man pointing
a gun at a victim while driving. According to a court affidavit,
the police caught up with the vehicle near Central Middle School.
The driver was identified as Layton Vogeding. Police searched the
vehicle and found a .22 cal revolver, marijuana, scales, and $1,100
in cash. The authorities also seized Vogeding's cell phone which
contained text messages of Drug sales. Charges are expected to be
filed against Voeeding by this afternoon. His bond was set at $30,000.
__________________________
Oklahoma is not among the 16 finalists selected for a federal education
grant - but Gov. Brad Henry says the state will apply again. Forty
states and the District of Columbia applied for a share of the $4.35
billion to be used to implement innovations in public schools. The
U.S. Department of Education announced the finalists Thursday and
said half the money will be held for a second round of applications.
Henry issued a statement saying state officials will review the
state's application and will make another bid for funding.
Posted
March 4th, 2010
Second District Congressman
Dan Boren says he would support a resolution calling for House Ways
and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel to step down from the
post. Boren thanked Rangel for his services in the House and for
his time as chairman of the House Committee that has had a direct
impact on some of the biggest issues facing the country. After a
preliminary report by the House Ethics Committee found that Rangel
took inappropriate corporate-sponsored trips, Boren says he felt
it was in the best interest of the House and the nation as a whole
for Rangel to step down. If a resolution on Rangel's removal comes
up for a vote, Boren says he would support it.
__________________________
1,397 Public Service Company customers in Nowata were without power
for about four hours Wednesday morning due to a blown breaker. PSO
Public Relations Spokesman Ed Bettinger says at about 8:30, a breaker
on a transmission line between Nowata and the Oologah power plant
failed. Crews tried to reset the breaker but instead had to replace
the part. Power was restored at about 12:23 in the afternoon. As
a result of the power outage, water customers saw a drop in water
pressure and some reported they were without water until lines were
re-pressurized.
__________________________
A $500,000 warrant has been issued for the arrest of a former restaurant
owner. 49-year-old Robert Michael Boyce had been considered a person
of interest in the arson case of the former May Brothers Building.
Robert's restaurant was one of several businesses located in the
May Brothers Building. All of the businesses were damaged or destroyed
by the fire that occurred on August 31st, 2009. According to a court
affidavit, authorities believed that Boyce was responsible for the
fire. Boyce's friend, 49-year-old John Pohrte has been arrested
and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.
__________________________
The Oklahoma House has defeated a bill to impose a $2 increase in
the co-payments Medicaid recipients are charged when they visit
a doctor. The House Wednesday voted 56-32 against raising the current
$3 co-payment to $5. The legislation by Rep. John Wright of Broken
Arrow would have allowed the co-payment to be partially or completely
waived by the physician. But opponents say it is wrong to increase
fees for health care services on poor Oklahomans who struggle to
meet their basic needs. Rep. Scott Inman of Del City called the
proposal a health care tax that would affect most of the residents
of his district east of Oklahoma City. Rep. Mike Shelton of Oklahoma
City says the proposal penalizes people who choose to go to the
doctor.
__________________________
A $60,000 bond has been set for a Bartlesville man who allegedly
struck a man with a metal pipe. 27-year-old Jeremy Wall has been
charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and domestic
abuse-assault and battery after a former conviction. A man and a
witness were leaving the home when Wall struck the man in the head,
back, and shoulder several times with a metal pipe. Wall reportedly
left the scene on foot. The victim was treated at Jane Phillips
Medical Center. The man sustained several bruises on the back and
shoulder. He also had a cut on his head that required six staples.
Court records indicate Wall is currently on probation in Washington
County. Wall's next court date is March 26th.
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