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River and Lake Level information: Caney River at Bartlesville Caney River at Ramona Bird Creek at Avant Hulah Lake levels Copan Lake levels Verdigris River at Lenapah Road Condition Reports: Oklahoma 1-888-425-2385 or at http://www.dps.state.ok.us/cgi-bin/weathermap.cgi or for traffic advisories http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/public-info/traffic-advisory.htm Kansas 1-800-511-5368 or http://511.ksdot.org/kanroadpublic/Ksys/KRDefault.asp Missouri 1-800-222-6400 or http://maps.modot.mo.gov/travelerinformation/TravelerInformation.aspx Arkansas 1-800-245-1672 or http://www.arkansashighways.com/Road/mapopt.htm Texas 1-800-4529292 or http://www.dot.state.tx.us/GIS/HCRS_main/viewer.htm Bartlesville flood prone intersections Local News Posted July 3rd, 2009 About 3,000 people from across the U.S. are coming to Oklahoma to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of North America's first Boy Scouts troop. John Forbes Mitchell founded the troop in Pawhuska in 1909. Mitchell was an Episcopal priest who had served as a chaplain for the world's first Boy Scouts troop, founded in Great Britain in 1907. In 1910, a year after the Pawhuska troop was formed, the Boy Scouts of America was founded. Scouts began arriving in Pawhuska on Friday and will camp along the streets near downtown through Sunday during what has been dubbed the Historic Trails Camporee. A parade that will include Boy Scouts troops will be held on Saturday night. ————————————— The Cherokee Nation's attorney general says it's likely the Tahlequah-based tribe will appeal a decision about its historical status made by the new head of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. In a letter, BIA head Larry EchoHawk said the tribe was not the historical Cherokee tribe, which he said no longer exists as a distinct political entity. That decision essentially put the Cherokee Nation and the smaller United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees, also based in Tahlequah, on equal footing concerning authority over the jurisdictional area of the historical Cherokee tribe. Cherokee Nation Attorney General Diane Hammons says EchoHawk's letter has no legal effect for now, but its contents are damaging to the tribe. She says the tribe will exercise its rights to appeal the decision and take every legal and political remedy available. ————————————— The Bartlesville City Council will hear the annual library board report on Monday evening. The council also plans action on a planned right of way and Pathfinder easement in conjunction with the Silver Lake road improvement project. Elected officials plan to vote on a proposal that would raise fees for mosquito spraying and street lights plus action on wastewater rates. Monday's city council meeting is set for 7 o'clock at the City Center building. ————————————— The state Board of Education has voted to make changes in student proficiency standards for third- through eighth-graders. The change raises the standards for the students taking math and reading tests. State Superintendent Sandy Garrett says the higher standards will likely mean a significant drop in the reported proficiency rate of students. Garrett says the change is needed to keep Oklahoma students competitive nationally and internationally. She says schools will have to increase efforts to help students become proficient in math and reading. ————————————— The state Board of Education has voted to make changes in student proficiency standards for third- through eighth-graders. The change raises the standards for the students taking math and reading tests. State Superintendent Sandy Garrett says the higher standards will likely mean a significant drop in the reported proficiency rate of students. Garrett says the change is needed to keep Oklahoma students competitive nationally and internationally. She says schools will have to increase efforts to help students become proficient in math and reading. Posted July 2nd, 2009 A rally is set for 11 this morning at Frank Phillips Park in Bartlesville just south of the Chamber of Commerce office. The event, billed as a Rally for the Declaration is a continuation of the grassroots political activism across the country through TEA parties on April 15th. Speakers include Jason Murphy and Senator Randy Brogdon. One of the event organizers, Randy Barnett wants participants to come away from the rally with a renewed understanding of the events and motivations that led to the Continental Congress approving the Declaration of Independence. The local rally will coincide with the presentation of a resolution in Oklahoma City calling on the Federal Government to abide with a strict interpretation of the 10th amendment which reserves all powers not specifically given to the Federal Government to the states. ————————————— The City of Bartlesville will observe the Independence Day holiday tomorrow. With the exception of police and fire protection, all city services will be closed. that means no garbage pick-up and the recycling location at Sooner Park will be closed. It will re-open on Saturday 8 until noon. Sooner Pool and the Splash Pad will maintain regular hours throughout the holiday weekend. ————————————— Nowata County has the 7th-highest unemployment rate in Oklahoma. According to data from the state employment security commission, Nowata County's May jobless figure stands at 9.6 percent. That's up from April's 8.5 percent. Osage County's unemployment rate is up as well. The May figure came in at 7.2 percent -- up by 6-tenths of a percent from the month before. Washington County's jobless figure rose by 4-tenths of one percent in May from 5.4 percent. The Bartlesville labor market area shows a preliminary 6.5 percent unemployment rate. 2 thousand 60 people filed unemployment claims out of an estimated work force of 32,270. Hughes County leads the state with 11.7 percent unemployment. Cotton County has the low with only 3.3 percent unemployment. ————————————— Bartlesville Community Foundation has announced a grant award for the Bartlesville District Science Fair. Foundation Director Lee Carvell says the fair provides an outstanding hands-on learning opportunity. Participants learn not only about the practical application of scientific theory but also gain experience in presentations. The grant was made possible through the Community Foundation's Science Education fund, originally established by Kenneth and Diana Adams. The BCF offers a number of already-established funds as well as the opportunity to customize a new fund to the donor's specifications. ————————————— Second District Congressman Dan Boren says a new Federal program will make college more affordable by making student loans easier to repay. The program sets loan payments at a percentage of the borrower's income. Certain eligible low and moderate income students taking out new federal student loans also see lower interest rates and higher Pell Grant scholarships. The benefits are a part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which Boren voted to enact in 2007. The legislation invested $20 billion dollars in college aid for families, at no additional cost to taxpayers. Boren says the bill is the single largest investment to help Americans pay for college since the G.I. Bill. The program took effect on Wednesday. Posted July 1st, 2009 All graduated seniors from the Bartlesville High School Class of 2009 can now collect their diplomas on the BHS campus. The diplomas will be available for pickup throughout the remainder of the summer Monday through Thursday between 8 and 3 at the high school office. An estimated 380 seniors were honored on May 22nd during commencement ceremonies for the class of 2009 at Custer Stadium. As they made their way across the stage, the graduates received diploma covers instead of their actual diploma. ————————————— Triple-A has announced that Oklahoma's pre-fourth of July gas prices are the second-lowest in the nation. According to Triple-A, Oklahoma's gasoline price average has dropped eleven cents over the last ten days. The state's gasoline average stands at $2.43 per gallon, which is $1.43 below the price from this time last year. Triple-A spokesman Chuck Mai says oil prices seem to be in somewhat of a holding pattern right now. Missouri's gasoline prices are lower than Oklahoma's which stands at $2.41 per gallon. Hawaii has the nation's highest gasoline prices at $3.11 per gallon. Triple-A projects July 4th highway travel to dip nearly three percent from last year's levels. ————————————— Oklahomans who are tardy on renewing their vehicle license tags will face higher fees under a new law taking effect Wednesday, the first day of the new fiscal year. Other new laws increase penalties for a variety of crimes and ban the tattooing of eyeballs. Motorists who are more than 30 days late on renewing the license plate tags used to pay 25 cents a day penalty. That is going up to $1 a day. ————————————— A Bartlesville man is free on a $15,000 bond after being arrested on a robbery complaint. 28-year-old Corey Lee Parrett has been charged with second degree burglary and leaving the scene of an accident. Dewey police were sent to the 800 block of 3rd Street in reference to a robbery. Police stopped a vehicle at 4th and Choctaw and noticed the vehicle was damaged. Parrett told the officers he hit a fence because a man yelled at him for being on his yard. According to a court affidavit, the victim told police Parrett allegedly took small tools and fishing equipment from the garage. Parrett reportedly told police he was looking for his dog. His next appearance in Washington County District Court is July 17th. Posted June 30th, 2009 28-year-old Corey Lee Parrett of Bartlesville has been charged with second degree burglary and leaving the scene of an accident. Dewey police were sent to the 800 block of 3rd Street in reference to a robbery. Police stopped a vehicle at 4th and Choctaw and noticed the vehicle was damaged. Parrett told the officers he hit a fence because a man yelled at him for being in his yard. According to a court affidavit, the victim told police Parrett took small tools and fishing equipment from the garage. Parrett told police he was looking for his dog. His next appearance in Washington County District Court is July 17th. He is free on a $15.000 bond. ————————————— 40-year-old David Edward Sayre of Bartlesville has been charged with cruelty to animals. Bartlesville police were sent to the 200 block of Northwest Woodrow to investigate shooting of an animal. The owner of a cat told police she heard two gun shots outside her home and saw Sayre standing near her backyard. She found her cat bleeding and hiding under a parked car near the alleyway behind Sayre's home. The owner took the cat to the vet and found the cat had two gun shot wounds. According to a court affidavit, the cat was euthanized at the owner's request. Sayre admitted to the authorities he shot the cat with a .22 caliber rifle. His next appearance in Washington County District Court is July 17th. He is free on a $5,000 bond. ————————————— Oklahomans who are tardy on renewing their vehicle license tags will face higher fees under a new law taking effect Wednesday, the first day of the new fiscal year. Other new laws increase penalties for a variety of crimes and ban the tattooing of eyeballs. Motorists who are more than 30 days late on renewing the license plate tags used to pay 25 cents a day penalty. That is going up to $1 a day. The legislation was enacted during the final days of the 2009 Legislature to raise $14.4 million for rural infrastructure projects. The bill was in response to a budget agreement that discontinued $15.5 million in funding for the Rural Economic Action Plan. ————————————— The preliminary tally from this year's American Cancer Society Relay For Life for Washington County raised in excess of $170,000. Relay officials say money continues to come in for several weeks following the event. The local Relay usually among the top fund-raisers for the cancer society in the state of Oklahoma. ————————————— A Ponca City man has drowned at a flooded rock quarry. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says divers recovered the body of 56-year-old Franklin Conner in 11 feet of water Monday morning at the quarry near Burbank in Osage County. The Highway Patrol says Conner had been missing since about 6:30 Sunday evening. ————————————— A $25,000 bond has been set for 19-year-old Solomon Alexander McCorvey, who has been charged with trafficking in illegal drugs and concealing proceeds of drug transactions. McCorvey is the son of Westside Community Center Director, Morris McCorvey. Bartlesville Police served a search warrant in the 1100 block of Southwest Keeler Avenue. Police searched McCorvey's bedroom and found a small amount of marijuana, a sock that contained a number of pills, and $155.00 in cash. According to a court affidavit, McCorvey was charged with possession of marijuana as a juvenile. His next appearance in Washington County District Court is July 20th. Meanwhile, Morris McCorvey was charged earlier this month on drug violations. His next court date is July 20th. ————————————— The Washington County Commission accepted notice of a contract award for a Community Development Block Grant for the town of Vera. Commissioner Mike Dunlap noted the contract will help Vera move forward in the process of sewer system improvements for the town. Commissioners also approved membership dues for the upcoming fiscal year with the Grand Gateway Economic Development Association in the amount of $3,600. Commissioner Linda Herndon said the Association is instrument in obtaining grant funding for small town projects in the county. ————————————— Those looking for creative ways to enjoy the “indoors” this summer have a “cool” option for tonight. Price Tower Arts Center is hosting their Summer Gallery Concert this evening featuring music from local trio Ann-Janette & the After Dinner Mints. Music and Art lovers are invited to browse the current exhibit “Centuries of Progress: America's World's Fair's 1853-1982” while enjoying complimentary appetizers, a cash bar, and live music, tonight from 6-8 in the museum's gallery. “Ann-Janette & the After Dinner Mints” includes Josh Howard on bass guitar and David Ray on drums. Audiences tonight will be treated to a mix of jazz tunes, pop favorites, and originals. As a special addition, Webster will welcome several guest vocalists including Tamara Walker, Ayngel Elmore, Josh Howard and Alex Rivera to sing songs from her recent musical project “LoveTown”. The “Centuries of Progress” exhibit will be on display in the Price Tower's Museum through July 19. Tonight's free Summer Gallery concert featuring “Ann-Janette & the After Dinner Mints” is from 6-8pm. Free admission, appetizers and a cash bar will be available. For more information visit www.pricetower.org/calendar or call 918.336.4949. Posted June 29th, 2009 The Washington County Commission accepted notice of a contract award for a Community Development Block Grant for the town of Vera. Commissioner Mike Dunlap noted the contract will help Vera move forward in the process of sewer system improvements for the town. Commissioners also approved membership dues for the upcoming fiscal year with the Grand Gateway Economic Development Association in the amount of $3,600. Commissioner Linda Herndon said the Association is instrument in obtaining grant funding for small town projects in the county. The next meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners is set for 9 next Monday morning in the Courthouse Administrative Center in downtown Bartlesville. ————————————— Oklahoma Indian Summer has named radio station owner Kevin Potter as the Honorary Chairman for this year's festival. Festival Chairman Dee Ketchum says the title of Honorary Chairman goes each year to someone who has given back to the community of Bartlesville. Potter serves on a variety of local boards, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Adult Chapter as its chair plus in addition to the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Foundation, Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bartlesville Development Corporation, and the Salvation Army. Indian Summer will recognize him with a ceremonial blanket as part of the pow-wow the evening of September 18th. ————————————— Authorities say a Chelsea man was killed in a single-vehicle accident on a Rogers County road. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 59-year-old Earl Wesley Wilson sustained head, external and internal injuries at the scene of the crash, about 9:45 p.m. Saturday in Rogers County. The patrol says Wilson's Goldwing Trike ran off the road and struck three trees, throwing him off the bike. Troopers say Wilson wasn't wearing a helmet. ————————————— The 53rd-annual Tulsa Regional Fly-in, scheduled for September 18th and 19th at Bartlesville Municipal Airport has been cancelled. The airport will undergo a complete 6200 foot overlay of its main runway beginning next week, which will cause the cancellation. The 2010 fly-in is set for September 17th and 18th. ————————————— Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. has filed a request with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for a $66 million rate increase. The announcement was made Friday by ONEOK, Inc., parent company of ONG. ONG President Roger Mitchell says the application seeks to move several line-item charges on customers' bills into base rates. He says that effectively reduces the proposed rate increase to $37.6 million. Mitchell says the company has invested more than $162 million in its rate base since 2005 when it received its last rate increase. He says operating expenses have increased during that time. The company estimates the proposed rate increase would raise the monthly bills of residential customers by an average of $5 a month. Posted June 28th, 2009 Cancer survivors and those who have been touched by cancer in the lives of friends, family, or co-workers gathered Friday night at Dewey's Bulldogger Stadium for the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Beth Bell of Barnsdall gave the survivor's presentation. Bell received her diagnosis of breast cancer 37 years ago. She spoke of a radical mastectomy and the first of a series of radiation treatments. Bell told her story of encouragement but also spoke as a strong advocate for early detection. She urged those in attendance to encourage friends and family to be tested regularly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Washington County Commission will discuss and take action on a contract labor agreement between the Washington County Health Department and D and H Contracting, LLC, for services from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Other agenda items include a vote on a CDBG contract award for the town of Vera, selection of an engineer for the Washington County CIRB project, and reception of a check for recovery from the ice storm. Monday morning's Washington County Board of Commissioner's meeting is scheduled for 9:30 am in the commissioner's meeting room at 400 S Johnstone in downtown Bartlesville. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Several resolutions will be voted on during Monday mornings Nowata County Commission meeting. According to the agenda, the commisisoners will vote on lease renewals, disposal of equipment, and authorising the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to use C.R.B. funds for the Bridge #29 project at California Creek. Commissioners will also vote on the county sales tax for fiscal year 2009-2010, the USDA Wildlife Service renewal contract, and the alcohol and drug testing contract for fiscal year 2009-2010. There will also be a discussion of the hancock Bridge project. The Nowata County Commission meeting is scheduled for 9 o'clock in the commisisoner's meeting room at the Nowata County Courthouse. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted June 26th, 2009 Barnsdall resident Clark Todd was assaulted as he rode a lawnmower up 3 rd Street at Vine. According to witnesses, four people in two pickup trucks drew up alongside Todd, jumped out, retrieved two metal bats from the bed of one of the trucks and attacked Todd in full view of at least three witnesses. One assailant who wielded the bat like an axe hit Todd on the top of the head. According to the eyewitnesses, his attackers kicked Todd after he fell to the ground. Todd was taken by ambulance to Bartlesville where his prognosis became so serious that he was flown by helicopter to Tulsa. Todd's four assailants have been arrested…however their names have yet to be confirmed. ————————————— The 53rd-annual Tulsa Regional Fly-in, scheduled for September 18th and 19th at Bartlesville Municipal Airport has been cancelled. The airport will undergo a complete 6200 overlay of its main runway beginning next week, which will cause the cancellation. The 2010 fly-in is set for September 17th and 18th. ————————————— Cherokee Nation officials are asking for people with artifacts relating to the Cherokee Nation to return them for use in a museum. Travis Owens of the Cherokee National Cultural Tourism office in Tahlequah says the tribe is targeting Oklahoma's border states, where there are high concentrations of Cherokee citizens. The Cherokee Nation is looking for items that have significance to the Cherokee National Supreme Court Building and would have been used from about 1844 to 1907. Those items could be court cases, personal artifacts of justices, photographs or day-to-day items indigenous to the Cherokee People. The artifacts will be used to showcase the soon-to-be-reopened Cherokee National Supreme Court Building Museum in Tahlequah.