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Lake levels
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Bartlesville
flood prone intersections
Local
News
Posted
May 11th, 2008
A tornado
roared through the northeast Oklahoma town of Picher, killing at
least 6 people and leaving widespread destruction. Oklahoma
Emergency Management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten confirmed the fatalities
and says the death toll could go higher. Numerous injuries
were also reported in the town. Governor Brad Henry sent National
Guard troops and other emergency personnel into the area to help
with disaster relief efforts. The same storm struck near Seneca,
Missouri, about 15 miles away from Picher, killing three people
there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Oklahoma
Highway Patrol reports that 54 year old Stephen Melton of Coffeyville
died of injuries suffered in head-on collision on U S 75 north of
Copan at 9:50 p m Friday. Melton was northbound in the southbound
lane when he collided with a vehicle driven by Laura Heape of Independence,
Kansas. Heape and 2 passengers in her vehicle were taken to
Jane Phillips Hospital in fair condition. Melton died in a
Tulsa hospital.
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The Washington
County Commission will present a proclamation to 4-H educator Amy
Berg and 4-H Program Assistant Patty Underhill recognizing
the two 4-H livestock judging teams. The agenda also calls
for action on a proposal to repair areas of the judicial center
where radiators were removed. Roscoe Thornbury will make a
presentation on hiring a construction consultant for the county
jail project. Monday morning's Washington County Board of
Commissioners meeting is set for 9:30 at the Courthouse Administrative
Center.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Oklahoma
Highway Patrol reports fewer people are dying on Oklahoma roadways
in 2008 compared to the same time last year. The patriol reports
that 199 people have died on Oklahoma roads and highways so far
in 2008. That compares to 240 traffic-related deaths during
the same period in 2007. May also proved to be less deadly
in 2008. The patrol reports 8 traffic deaths so far in May
this year, compared to 18 deaths in this same period in May of 2007.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted
May 9th, 2008
Signs advocating
both yes and no votes in Bartlesville on Tuesday have been removed
from where they had been placed and it was a newly hired city code
enforcement employee who removed them. According to City Manager
Ed Gordon the signs -- both advocating yes and no votes -- had been
placed on the city right-of-way. That's a code violation but Gordon
says the city has not gone after improperly placed campaign signs
in the past. A total of about a dozen signs were removed. The signs
are being returned to their respective organizations.
A City Progress Committee Billboard advocating a "vote yes"
on Frank Phillips Blvd was hit by several paintballs and had to
be replaced. Dan Keleher, Jr. of Keleher Advertising says the damaged
sign has been taken down. A new "Vote Yes" billboard is
being printed and will be installed in place of the vandalized one.
See the damaged sign.
——————————————
Osage
County District Judge M. John Kane IV will hear from attorneys involved
in charges against Tulsa County judge Jesse Harris on Monday. According
to the Tulsa World, in a response to a request to have District
Attorney Rick Esser removed from the case, Assistant District Attorney
Cheryl Cerda referred to differences in filing practices between
Tulsa and Washington Counties that apparently led to controversy
over release of a police affidavit. Washington County treats affidavits
filed with the court clerk's office as a public record once bond
has been established in the case. While the Tulsa World article
doesn't specify the difference between the two counties, it does
state that practices are different. Judge Kane has been assigned
to hear the trial.
——————————————
A former
Washington County maintenance employee has been formally arraigned
on drug charges. 45-year-old Clyde Allan Walker has been charged
with conspiracy to distribute a controlled and dangerous substance.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge. He's accused of acting in concert
with former Washington County Treasurer Stan Stevens and former
Washington County Commissioners' assistant Kodi Lee Ferguson. The
investigation began following the apparent suicide of Ferguson's
husband, Jon Ferguson at his home on December 18th, 2007. Police
seized several electronic devices from the home which contained
phone records and text messages that allegedly tie Stevens, Ferguson,
and Walker to drug-related crimes. Walker and Ferguson are both
free on $10,000 while Stevens is free on a $25,000 bond and is currently
undergoing a six-month drug treatment program.
——————————————
You
can cast an absentee ballot in person at the election board office
today or Monday the 12th. There will be a two-member, bipartisan
absentee voting board on duty each day between 8 and 6 to assist
absentee voters. The polls will be open for 12 hours -- 7 to 7 --
on Tuesday. If you have questions on the absentee voting process
call the election board at 337-2850.
——————————————
OSU
Extension Agent Randy Pirtle will introduce Extension 4-H Educator
Amy Berg and 4-H Program Assistant Patty Underhill to the Washington
County Commissioners during their meeting Monday morning. The commissioners
plan action on a proclamation recognizing the accomplishments of
two 4-H livestock judging teams and will present the team members
with certificates. The agenda for Monday's commissioners meeting
also calls for action on a proposal to repair areas of the courthouse
judicial center where radiators were removed. Commissioners will
hear a presentation by Roscoe Thornbury on hiring a construction
consultant for the county jail project. Monday morning's Washington
County Board of Commissioners meeting is set for 9-thirty at the
Courthouse Administrative Center.
——————————————
18-year-old
James Dawson Eckhart of Bartlesville has been charged with negligent
homicide. According to a court affidavit, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol
investigated a two-vehicle accident that occurred on March 28th
on County Road 2400 approximately two miles south and one mile west
of Bartlesville that claimed the lives of two Chouteau residents.
Reportedly, 61-year-old Betty Day Ashley and 54-year-old Joana K.
Hanna were dead at the scene with head, arm, leg, trunk internal
and trunk external injuries. They were passengers of a 1998 Ford
4D driven by 64-year-old James W. Ashley of Chouteau, who was injured
in the mishap. According to the OHP's report, Eckhart's 2002 Ford
pickup was traveling southbound on a county road in Washington County,
failed to stop at a stop sign and struck Ashley's vehicle, who was
traveling westbound on a county road. Eckhart was also injured in
the mishap. Reportedly, Eckhart was not wearing a seat belt, but
all occupants in Ashley's vehicle were wearing seat belts. Eckhart
is free on a $1,500 bond.
——————————————
Since
the resignation of former City Attorney Bob Wilson, which took place
on Tuesday, a new City Attorney will be sworn in to take over the
position that Bob Wilson held for 36 years. The new City Attorney
is Jessie Worten. Since 1983, Worten has been a partner at Brewer,
Worten and Robinett with offices in Bartlesville and Pawhuska. Worten
earned his bachelor of science degree from Oklahoma State University
in 1972, and his jurist doctorate from Oklahoma City University
in 1976. Worten is a member of the Osage County, Washington County,
Oklahoma and American bar associations and a fellowship with the
American College of Trial Lawyers, which is an invitation-only organization
of trial lawyers comprised of not more than 1-percent
——————————————
Over the
past 6-weeks, nearly a dozen homes and automobiles have been broken
into, with a variety of items stolen. Several weeks ago, Benson's
Lumber Company was broken into, along with the Pawhuska Elementary
School. Nothing was taken at either of the locations, as police
believe the intruders were more than likely scared off by their
alarm systems. However, some businesses recently haven't been so
lucky. It appears that the latest rash of crimes were committed
sometime between late Sunday night and early Monday morning when
Moore's Hardware and Lumber and the Chuckwagon Café were
broken into. Terry Moore said that thieves pried open a side door
to his business… tore apart his office, and made off with a safe
containing more than $3,000.00. Jan Swan who owns the Shape N Style
Beauty Shop figures the burglars who broke into her salon were only
interested in cash, because expensive jewelry in her shop was left
untouched. However, Swan said, the burglars went through everything
evidently in their quest for cash.
Posted
May 8th, 2008
The Voter
Identification Bill sponsored by Senator John Ford of Bartlesville
requiring voters to show a form of identification at the polls was
defeated on a party line vote. To learn how people in Washington
County felt about an ID being required, a random
sampling of residents was taken and all felt some form of identification
should be required. Senator Ford had three legislative days to have
the bill reconsidered but Wednesday night he said he did not see
any indication of one Democrat choosing the support the measure
and it appeared the bill was dead. This is the third year Ford has
sponsored Voter ID legislation and support for the measure has grown
each year.
———————————————-
Monday morning
was a rude awakening for five business owners in Pawhuska, who found
their shop windows and doors smashed and stores ransacked by burglars.
Two of the victims, Moore's Hardware and the Chuckwagon Café,
had cash stolen, while the thieves apparently left the other break-in
locations empty handed. The burglars appeared interested only in
cash. At Moore's Hardware thieves ignored expensive items and at
the Shape-N'-Style, they left behind turquoise and other expensive
jewelry. Police Chief Harold Hughes told the City Council Monday
night that investigators have found an eyewitness to one burglary
and that the police have filed charges with the District Attorney's
Office against a suspect in that earlier break-in, but the District
Attorney's office needs more information before formal charges can
be filed in Osage County District Court.
———————————————-
After almost
36-years City Attorney Bob Wilson has resigned. During Monday nights
city council meeting Wilson announced his decision to resign his
position at 10AM on Tuesday, leaving the legal reins of the city
to Jessie Whorten. During his tenure as City Attorney, Bob Wilson
has been through eight city managers and 40 different city council
members. In Wilson's statement to the council he said that despite
all of the different personalities and agendas over the past 35-and-a-half
year the city of Pawhuska has always worked together and avoided
strife that is so common in other small towns.
———————————————-
Yesterday's
rainfall caused some flooding problems along Washington County roadways.
According to District 2 Commissioner Linda Herndon, there are two
sections of road that were washed away, causing a dangerous situation.
The affected areas are on County Road North 4010 south of West 1500,
just southeast of Bellco, and on Road West 1200 near the low water
crossing on North 4010. The Oglesby area showed some roadway flooding
yesterday. Herndon says you are encouraged to avoid areas that frequently
have water over the roadway and to take an alternate route. Herndon
says don't drive around barricades that have been set up along the
road, and also says please don't move the barricades. If you know
of a road that should be barricaded, Herndon says you should call
918-331-5119 or 766-5223.
———————————————-
Four
Bartlesville Mid-High students are getting ready to travel to Virginia
next week for the Team America Rocketry Challenge -- a national
level competition featuring the top 100 squads who will compete
for 60 thousand dollars worth of prize money. This is the first
year Bartlesville has had a rocketry team and the Mid-High students
are the only team from Oklahoma that qualified for the challenge.
The team is made up of Andrew Quinn, Daniel, Sauceda, Chris Heath,
and Sam Denyer. The four had to survive a qualifying competition
earlier this year in order to make it to the event. They were required
to build a rocket that was required to fly for 45 seconds, to a
height of exactly 750 feet, while carrying two raw eggs. The eggs
had to be returned to the ground unbroken. After a full day of launches
-- which will be held at the The Plains, Virginia, the winners will
be announced.
———————————————-
A parliamentary
move by a Democratic leader has blocked a Senate vote on the House-passed
bill to make English the official language of Oklahoma. Instead,
the bill is headed to a joint House-Senate conference committee.
Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan said yesterday the bill isn't
dead, but it will be difficult to get an agreement to permit another
vote on the legislation this session. Morgan made the motion to
send the bill to conference and instruct conferees to adopt a streamlined
version to be voted on at the next statewide election. Author of
the bill, Moore state Representative Randy Terrill, decried the
Senate action. He said it would force Oklahomans to pay for translation
services. The motion to send the bill to conference was adopted
on a 25-23 vote. Twenty-four Democrats and one Republican, Seminole
state Senator Harry Coates, voted for the motion.
Posted
May 7th, 2008
58-year-old
Gary Lee Tingler of Bartlesville has been charged with first degree
manslaughter. According to court records, the case involved a two-vehicle
accident that occurred in August of 2007 on a county road near Vera
claiming the life of a Ramona woman. According to the Oklahoma Highway
Patrol, Ashley Sue Hicks was eastbound when a westbound pick-up
truck crossed the center line at the top of a hill and crashed into
Hicks' 1996 Ford Taurus. Hicks was airlifted to a Tulsa hospital
where she later died. Tingler was also injured in the crash. He
was driving a 2007 Dodge pick-up. According to the information sheet,
Tingler was under the influence of intoxicating substances at the
time of the mishap. His next appearance in Washington County District
Court is May 23rd. Tingler was released on an O.R. bond.
———————————————-
Republican
state Senators expressed their disappointment that Senate Democrats
voted along party lines to kill a bill sponsored by Senator John
Ford requiring voters to show a form of identification at the polls.
Senate Bill 1150 received 24 votes in favor, and 23 votes opposed,
but 25 votes were required to pass the bill and send it to the governor's
desk. The leader of Democrats in the Oklahoma State Senate – President
Pro Tem Mike Morgan of Stillwater – skipped the vote despite being
on the floor moments earlier and voting for a procedural motion
that brought SB 1150 to a final vote. By skipping the vote, Morgan
prevented a tie that could have required Lt. Gov. Jari Askins to
break the tie. Senator Ford said he was disappointed that this bill
failed but was not giving up on passing
the bill. Ford gave several examples of known voter fraud in
Oklahoma including one time when a TV reporter registered
several pets. Ford can bring the bill back up for a reconsideration
of the vote within three legislative days.
———————————————-
According
to Osage County Sheriff, Ty Koch, County deputies have ended their
search in an area of the McClintock Boy Scout Camp. While it was
rumored the scene could have contained the body of a man who was
reported missing from Bartlesville several years ago, deputies along
with cadaver sniffing dogs and excavating equipment did not turn
up any human remains at the scene. Koch said the investigation has
come to a close.
———————————————
Law
Enforcement officers from across the state of Oklahoma have completed
a "Cyber Crimes" held this week at Bartlesville's Tri-County
Technology Center. According to Washington County district Attorney
Rick Esser, the conference featured Mark Davis of the University
of Tulsa CyberCops program and Investigator Pat Kennedy of the Oklahoma
State Bureau of Investigation. The presenters discussed the ways
officers can better understand computer crime. Esser says there
were around 40 officers signed up for the program that gave them
a hands-on overview of the forensics lab. The Washington County
District Attorney's office has scheduled another seminar for June
on drug interdictions.
———————————————-
24
Bartlesville students got a send-off in the form of a rally in front
of the high school this morning at 7 o'clock before they boarded
two school busses and headed to Stillwater. The 39th-annual Summer
Games for Special Olympics Oklahoma takes place through Friday on
the campus of Oklahoma State University. The Bruin Pom Squad, Marching
Band, National Honor Society and Student Council Members turned
out to be part of the send-off. School Board members and school
administrators cheered on the students who will compete in the annual
summer games. Superintendent,
Dr. Gary Quinn said it was great to get a good turnout to support
the competitors. The Bartlesville
students will be part of an estimated 4,300 athletes and more than
400 volunteers taking part in the event.
———————————————
Tallgrass
Prairie Nature Conservancy. The conference will include talks addressing
some of the problems Osage ranchers might encounter. In addition,
there will be discussion topics on such as the Osage Rangeland Youth
Corps, and how that organization can help. Other topics will include
Agriculture Tourism in the Osage and Federal Programs for Osage
Landowners to get involved in. Most of the presentations during
the day will be given during a bus tour of the prairie, with stops
at specific locations of interest that will demonstrate first hand
some of the discussion topics. After the bus tour, everyone will
meet back at the Nature Conservancy Headquarters to have lunch and
wrap up the conference with additional presentations and discussions.
There's no registration fee for the conference and breakfast and
lunch will be provided. Seating is limited for the bus tour Call
Julia Wright or Diane Daniels for reservations at 287-5333.
Posted May 6th,
2008
A
Bartlesville man who was arrested after his children told a teacher
and a school counselor he shot them with a BB gun has been charged
in the crime. 30-year-old Darrell Glenn Walker has been charged
with child abuse. According to a court affidavit, Bartlesville Police
went to the school to investigate of a possible child abuse case.
Police reports say Walker 's 8-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter
told school officials that he would shoot them in the arms, legs,
and hands when they got bad marks on schoolwork or got into trouble
at home. One of the victims told officers the weapon was a small
BB gun. Police say Walker's girlfriend later told officers Walker
also shot at her with the BB gun when he became angry. Walker denied
shooting the kids. His next appearance in Washington County District
Court is May 23rd. Bond was set at $20,000 with a condition he have
no contact with the victims.
———————————————-
Due to
a lack of a quorum, the Bartlesville City Council did not conduct
its monthly regular scheduled meeting last night. Council members
Ron Nikkel and Vic Holcomb were in attendance while council member
Julie Daniels, Vice-Mayor Eddie Mason and Mayor Tom Gorman were
absent. Because there was no quarum, city business couldn't be conducted.
A small number of citizens was disappointed that a meeting wasn't
held. Nikkel told the crowd he attended the meeting to hear what
the citizens had to say and he ended his comment saying "we've
been shut down."
———————————————-
Washington
County District Attorney Rick Esser is responding to allegations
of prosecutorial misconduct made by attorneys for a Tulsa judge
accused of exposing himself to two women in a Tulsa parking lot
last month. The D-A says cases are filed based on the facts that
can be proven, not on who the suspect or the victim is. That's why
he wants the case tried in open court and on the public record,
just like every other case. According to Esser, the public is welcome
to attend all court hearings and hear the evidence as it is presented.
He goes on to say that the pleadings in any case are only a small
part of the facts and not the complete picture. Esser indicated
that negotiations in criminal cases often start before the charges
are filed and the majority of criminal cases are disposed of by
a plea made instead of a trial because of discussions between a
prosecutor and the defense attorney. He says those discussions did
take place but the the defense wanted another month to reach a decision.
Once the press found out about the incident, Esser allowed full
access to the items that were a public record. When a Tulsa World
reporter asked for a copy of the probable cause affidavit, Esser
told them that if it was an item of public record, that they could
have it. Esser says that's what is done in Washington County in
all cases where a judge has to set bond. The affidavit was already
on file with the Tulsa County Clerk's office. Esser plans to file
a formal response this week. He says everyone is welcome to read
what he files because it is the facts of the case that will ultimately
decide the outcome.
———————————————-
A Tulsa man
is being given probation for the death of another Tulsa man in a
boating accident on Skiatook Lake. Jason Barthel pleaded no contest
in Osage County District Court to a charge of negligent homicide
in the death last July of Ronald Gildersleeve. Barthel was given
a one-year deferred sentence. Prosecutors say Barthel was driving
a speed boat when it crashed into a pontoon boat that was anchored
on the lake and killed Gildersleeve.
———————————————-
Bartlesville
High School juniors Scott Hull and Candace Grimes have been chosen
as the May Rotary Students of the Month. Hull is the son of Guylene
and Browning Hull. He is involved in Spanish club and baseball.
Grimes is the daughter of Terri Wadleigh. She is a member of National
Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Rotary Students of
the Month are juniors or seniors chosen by a committee of teachers
at Bartlesville High School They are selected on the basis of character,
initiative, and leadership capabilities. They must be good students
and active in their school and community.
———————————————-
Police
have arrested a Chelsea couple on drug complaints days after their
toddler was found dead. Arrested over the weekend were Patricia
Ann Folk and Richard Michael Card. They do not face charges in what
police have described as the suspicious death of their 23-month-old
son. His body was discovered in a Chelsea home on April 25. It could
take three months before the state Medical Examiners Office determines
a cause and manner of death. Three other children in the home were
later removed.
——————————————
The
Nowata City Commission and Municipal Authority seated three new
members and one incumbent from the last commission. The Ward 2 position
was declared vacant and a new commissioner will be appointed at
the next meeting. Tom Pierson was appointed mayor and Nancy Oglesby
was appointed treasurer. The current group of city appointees were
retained with the exception of the city manager. The city clerk
will serve as interim city manager until a new manager is hired.
The cemetery mowing contract was awarded and the commission decided
to mow the city parks with current city employees. There was a presentation
on the sewer line improvements and the commission approved continued
preliminary work pending the creation of a new budget that would
identify funding sources.
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