City officials report that for the third straight month since the recycling program began in July, the percentage of Midwest City residential participation has been over 65 percent.
With the national average of residential participation at around 42 percent, officials are very pleased that Midwest City residents have chosen to participate at such a high level.
Two students at Rose State College are the recipients of a nationally awarded scholarship from Coca Cola and journalist Tom Brokaw.
The Coca-Cola/Tom Brokaw Military Veterans scholarship program awarded students Laura Surprenant and John Dirkson $2500 each for their educational expenses through the Spring 2014 semester. Both students are veterans.
"Too often we take for granted our liberties and we fail to recognize the sacrifices made by service men and women," Brokaw said. "By providing access to higher education for veterans, we are committing to their future, as they have committed themselves to us."
Midwest City Parks and Recreation will be hosting the 35th annual Midwest "Trick or Treat" City on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park. This will be a family-oriented event with a variety of activities for the whole family.
The Spirit of Midwest City playground will be transformed into Candy Village where children can wander through the fantasy land to collect candy from famous characters. Admission to Candy Village is free.
The Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public Schools Foundation is composed of educators, administrators, parents and concerned citizens that support the education of students within the Choctaw-Nicoma Park School District. The Foundation is the only district wide organization supporting education in the school district.
The group’s mission at the Choctaw/Nicoma Park Schools Foundation is to encourage and recognize academic excellence. The group is excited about the prospects for the future and confident that community involvement and support will enhance quality education. By investing in the Choctaw-Nicoma Park Schools, supporters help more than just students and faculty. Homeowners and businesses are attracted to communities with excellent academic opportunities that produce productive citizens for employment and growth.
Five Barnes Elementary teachers experienced Sonic’s "Happy Hour" all day long recently after they were handed checks totaling $3,039.40 to help them inspire students to learn.
Tina Rupe, Robin Bohot, Jessica Brandon, Lisa Doonkeen and Kim Carlon were the recipients of Limeades for Learning awards during a special awards assembly this month held at the school. The awards are presented by Sonic and are given out to educators across the country.
The State Auditor’s Office uncovered a "chaotic" situation during an audit of the City of Spencer that resulted in felony charges against three city employees.
On Oct. 10, the state office reported their findings to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office, who requested the audit. The DA’s office has charged Shenice L. Huff, 35, Andrew Payne Thompson, 32, and Lakeita V. Barbee, 40, with felony embezzlement by a public employee.
Huff and Thompson - both former employees – were listed as having received several "fraudulent" payroll checks totaling $6,277.79 between the two of them, auditors reported. Other checks for undocumented overtime and holiday pay for $5,256 also were found for Thompson
At first, the audit report was not made public but was the week of Oct. 14. It can be viewed online at www.sai.ok.gov.
The Oklahoma Central Parent Legislative Action Committee (PLAC) will meet for its second meeting, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the Mid-Del Administration Building, 7217 SE 15th Street, Midwest City.
They encourage all parents and patrons from metro area school districts to attend.
PLAC is a nonpartisan group with the goal of increasing parent and community awareness about legislative issues impacting public education in Oklahoma.
The federal government shutdown moves into its second week today.
However, most furloughed Department of Defense civilians have been recalled including the 2,900 workers at Tinker Air Force Base.
The process of returning DOD to work began when Congress passed H.R. 3210 also known as the Pay Our Military Act (H.R. 3210). The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives 423-0 on Sept. 29.
Larry Owsley had a vision of what he wanted the Shoppes at Del City to become when work on the development located on Sooner Road near Interstate 40 began.
And despite a few hiccups due to a faltering economy, that vision has become a reality with over 70 percent of the property developed and leased with more tenants on the way.
Owsley, owner of Del City Retail Development, LLC said he made a promise to Del City officials that the development would be completed despite a downturn in the economy.
"We lost a lot of retailers when the economy started to collapse," Owsley said. "That retail market stopped moving for several years. We were one with the city as far as our relationship. We promised them we were moving ahead. We would have this built and opened up three years ago had it not been for the economy."
Mayor Jack Fry received the results of Midwest City’s election just in the nick of time Tuesday.
He was about to adjourn the city’s Hospital Authority Trust meeting when he learned of the election’s outcome and was able to share the news with his fellow trustees and audience.
The news to report was that a small turnout of voters approved all five of Midwest City’s propositions Tuesday, including one that grants the Hospital Authority access to $50 million to bring a new lessee to Midwest Regional.
"This was a good night for the city," the mayor said. "It is exciting that voters granted access so we can begin to move forward. This is a credit to the council and city staff to the job they’ve done that the citizens gave us such a resounding message to move forward."
The University of Central Oklahoma Alumni Association will honor Ray Hardin as a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2013 Alumni Recognition Ceremony, 11:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 1 in the Grand Ballrooms of the Nigh University Center.
Hardin serves as president of Edgewood Homes, Inc. and is a former member of the Rose State College Board of Regents and its foundation. He currently serves on the Midwest City Memorial Hospital Trust Board of Grantors.
Throughout his professional career, Hardin has been an active member of the Manufactured Housing Association of Oklahoma (MHAO), serving as president, secretary and a board member for nearly 30 years. He also served as chair of the MHAO Political Action Committee and as the Oklahoma delegate to the Manufactured Housing Institute in Washington, D.C.
Midwest City residents who voted in the last two mayoral elections should have received a letter in the mail this week from the Citizens for a Better Midwest City committee.
The letter, supported by 15 community members, asked voters to approve five propositions the City of Midwest City has called for in the Tuesday, Oct. 8 election.
Co-chairmen former state Sen. Dave Herbert and former state Rep. Bill Case signed the letter. Other committee members listed included: Tom Blanton, Jack Fry, Pam Hall, Bobbie & Gene Howard, Jim Howell, Archie Huston Rella Johnson, Dara McGlamery, Bert Norton, Fred Quinn, Eddie Reed, Russell Smith, Pam Teply and Edea Young.
Approximately 2,900 civilian Tinker Air Force Base employees are awaiting word on when they can return to their jobs after being furloughed Tuesday because of the federal government shut down.
All of TAFB’s 14,000 civilian employees were required to report for duty as normal Tuesday morning, but were then notified if they were being furloughed or not, and then instructions on how to proceed followed.
TAFB military personnel will remain on regular duty status despite the lack of funding.
Public affairs released two media advisories Tuesday, one of which called the lapse of federal appropriation, as "extremely disruptive." They explained that base officials had been directed by higher headquarters to work through the process of "shutting activities impacted" by the funding lapse.
A spotlight will be shined on the Midwest City community next Wednesday, Oct. 2 when KOCO 5 comes to the city for a Salute to Service event.
From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the City of Midwest City, the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce and dozens of community sponsors will welcome KOCO 5. The event will be held in the Charles J. Johnson Central Park in Town Center Plaza.
The Midwest City Fire Department is in mourning this week with the passing of retired firefighter who lost his fight against cancer in the early morning hours Sunday, Sept. 21.
Don Mariano, 53, retired in February after 24 years of service. He also had been an EMT at Midwest Regional Medical Center for 20-plus years.
Midwest City polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Oct. 8 for individuals to consider five propositions proposed by the city.
One of those propositions is to grant the Midwest City Memorial Hospital Authority access to $50 million in funds to possibly negotiate or terminate the lease with Health Management Associates, LLC at Midwest Regional Medical Center.
The city decided to pursue the funds because of hospital staff and patient concerns about the quality of healthcare at the hospital. Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Harrah superintendent Paul Blessington is disappointed to say the least about the failure of Tuesday’s school bond issue, but he is not ready to throw in the towel yet.
The Oklahoma State Election Board reported that the $44.6 million bond proposal fell 6 percent short of the required 60 percent to pass. A total of 1,791 people went to the polls, of which 965 people (54 percent) voted for the bond and another 826 people (46 percent) voted against it, unofficial election results showed.
If passed, the bond proposal would have funded capital improvements such as remodeling, classroom additions and technology upgrades. The biggest portion of funds ($8.2 million) would have been an overhaul of athletic facilities, including a new multi-sports complex with a new football stadium complete with artificial turf, and new locker rooms, concessions stand and restrooms.
Property owners would have seen an $80 increase for every $1,000 to fund all of the projects and cover bond interest.
A new safety program made possible by a partnership between Mid-Del Schools and the Midwest City Police Department is underway at Midwest City High School.
This fall when students arrived back on campus, they were greeted by a new face, Sgt. Terry Tilley, who was hired this summer as the school district’s first School Resource Officer.
Tilley is not new to law enforcement. In fact, he previously served as the security officer at Monroney Middle School.
The Oklahoma National Guard is helping to lead a collaborative community-based effort to reduce the number of suicides among school aged children and young adults.
The pilot project titled "T3-Time to Talk" will launch in four area school districts, including Mid-Del Public Schools, to raise public awareness and providing tools for the prevention of suicides among young people.
The campaign officially kicks off Thursday night when the Southmoore Sabercats host the Carl Albert Titans in the season’s first football game in Moore.
Players from both teams will wear neon green socks, towels and wristbands with the "T3-Time to Talk " logo. It is hoped that the players’ actions on the field will be the first step toward raising awareness about this extremely important issue.
Congressman Tom Cole outlined his views on U.S. involvement in Syria during his final summer town hall meeting Sept. 3 at Rose State College’s Professional Training Center in Midwest City.
Cole, R-Moore, represents Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Midwest City.
He outlined a potential timeline of events regarding possible U.S. military action in Syria.
"Congress will probably act on it next week," Cole said in reference to the House of Representatives returning to Capitol Hill after the recent recess concludes Sept. 8.
Cole added that he had been in Washington, D.C. during the previous weekend for a classified intelligence briefing regarding the Syria situation.
The 27th Annual Renaissance Run is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 in Midwest City.
The 5K run and walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Midwest City Community Center. The race concludes with a pancake breakfast held at Midwest Regional Medical Center.
Pre-registration before Sept. 13 is $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Entry fee includes a short sleeve dri-fit t-shirt to the first 350 entrants and pancake breakfast held after the race. Registration on event day for all ages is $30.
Voters living in the Harrah school district will head to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 10.
At stake is a $44.6 million bond issue that, if passed, will fund improvements to all of the district’s school sites, including the consolidation of two schools, new safe rooms and a new multi-sports complex.
The Sept. 10 vote is the school district’s second attempt to pass a major bond issue. In February, voters turned down one of two bond proposals. A $600,000 proposal for transportation passed, while $36 million for capital improvement projects was voted down.
Even though statewide test scores for high school students in science and math are not where they should be, Mid-Del students have made huge strides and are receiving statewide attention for it.
On Tuesday, Mid-Del high school students attended a special press conference to celebrate their achievements at the State Capitol. Carl Albert senior Alex Tu and Midwest City senior Tashawnya Edwards were among the students attending.
The fellow seniors were joined by students from Eisenhower High School in Lawton to represent the first two school districts in the state to adopt the National Math and Science Initiative.
Representatives of the Special Olympics, including youth and Special Olympian Blake Reynolds, were on hand to accept a $12,000 check from the Nicoma Park Masonic Lodge. The Lodge recently held their ninth annual golf tournament. Last year the proceeds went to the Nicoma Park Fire Department.
Soldier Creek teachers received a big surprise recently from the American Red Cross, who provided assistance to the teachers in the form of money gift cards. The teachers pictured saw their classrooms damaged by flooding as a result of the May’s severe weather and tornadoes.
Students and teachers at Highland Park with Mid-Del Public Schools will experience learning in new and innovative ways thanks to a $40,000 grant to purchase new technology equipment and professional development for teachers valued at $25,000 from the Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust.
Established in 2001 by a $30 million contribution from AT&T; Oklahoma to Oklahoma public schools, the Trust has distributed over $13 million to date to 188 schools. The addition of two iPad carts for the elementary school will increase achievement in reading and math. Students will showcase their learning to adults during Technology Nights and will be hosted by the school with invitations extended to the entire community.
Gen. Bruce Litchfield doesn't consider the state of our nation's economy and how it impacts the military as completely disparaging.
In fact, he sees the challenges he faces as an opportunity for Tinker Air Force Base to be poised as a leader, prepped and ready for the next mission whatever that may be.
On Aug. 22, Litchfield addressed those attending the monthly Del City Chamber membership luncheon.
Tinker Air Force Base welcomed members of a national commission examining cost efficiency in the military on Tuesday.
The National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force conducted a site visit of TAFB in the morning and then a public hearing at the Reed Center in the afternoon. The visit was part of a tour of 13 Air Force locations.
The event was part of the Commission’s congressionally mandated mission to study the U.S. Air Force and its three components – active, reserve and Air National Guard - for an independent analysis. The information compiled will then help the Commission determine if and how the Air Force’s structure should be modified to best fill current and future mission requirements with available resources.
One month into Midwest City’s new curbside recycling program and the first report provided by the city’s contractor shows participation among residents is higher than the national average.
In their report, Republic Services revealed that 65 percent of Midwest City residents participated during the inaugural month of July.
This figure is well ahead of the city’s projections, said Environmental Services Director William Janacek.
"We had been told to expect somewhere in the area of 25 to 30 percent participation in the beginning of the program and we beat that percentage significantly," Janacek said. "Now, going forward, we want to keep up the momentum and continue to increase participation each month."
The national average of community participation in recycling programs is 42 percent.
Mid-Del school leaders are anxiously awaiting information they say could have a big impact on the school district.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Department of Education announced the results of a study looking into the disruption some students had while taking their state tests last year.
The independent study by HumRRO found that students did as well on the tests as students not involved in the disruption.
Based on this finding, State Supt. Janet Barresi has decided to retain all scores of impacted students who scored proficient or advanced, a press release stated.
Then, students with unsatisfactory scores will not be reported.
Next Friday, Choctaw Creek Park will become the center of the universe for German food and music loving fans when Oktoberfest takes over the park for nine days.
From Aug. 30 to Sept. 7, the festival, which is in its 23rd year, will once again be the place to be for homemade German cuisine, genuine German beers and wine, and of course live German music.
Mike Turek, the festival’s organizer and proprietor of Old Germany Restaurant, said work has been underway for weeks to be ready for the event.
Waiting for hungry festival-goers are more than 7,000 pounds of potatoes, 3,200 pounds of bratwursts, 1,600 pounds of red cabbage and sausage, and 1,400 pounds of hamhocks, he said.
American Legion Auxiliary Department of Oklahoma President Debra Densmore presided over the installation of officers for Clarence L. Tinker Midwest City Unit 170 Aug. 2.
Officers installed were: President Debra Yacko, 1st Vice President Jilian Smothers, Secretary, Dee Wilkes, Treasurer Nancy Lucas, Sergeant-at-Arms Cheryl Bothwell, Chaplain Mary Boaz and Executive Committee Members Sherree Bertolasio, Julie Dartez-White and Charlene Johnston.
Unit 170 members are in the process of collecting items needed for the Oklahoma City Homeless Veteran Stand Down scheduled to take place at the Homeless Alliance on 3rd & Virginia on Oct. 18.
Donations of warm winter coats, gently used clothing and shoes, new t-shirts, underwear and socks, and toiletries such as toothpaste, deodorant, soap and shaving cream are being accepted at the post beginning Sept. 6.
Midwest City firefighters paid tribute Thursday, Aug. 8. to Jim Clark, the department's only firefighter killed in the line of duty.
A low-key ceremony was held to honor Clark, who was critically injured while working an accident on Interstate 40 and died several days later on Aug. 8, 1999.
But after last year’s flooding, the headmaster of Christian Heritage Academy is sometimes playfully referred to as the respected Biblical figure.
It’s all because of what the school leader and his team went through after millions of gallons of water flooded the school when a pipe busted one week before classes started last fall.
Even though the damage was vast, CHA persevered and made emergency arrangements for students to attend school with minimal inconvenience. Although much progress has been made, one year later, a key part of the school is still not open to students.
Classes for the new Mid-Del school year will get underway Monday, Aug. 19.
New enrollment is currently going on at each of the school sites. This year, parents are asked to provide additional information in order to enroll their child, school officials say.
The new fiscal year for cities means new beginnings.
On July 1, the Midwest City Police Department assumed control of the city’s animal control department, signifying a fresh new start for those individuals charged with taking care of the city’s various critters.
Although the police department officially assumed control last month, they had actually been unofficially operating the facility for three months, starting in April.
As the state’s second largest EMS provider, Midwest Regional Medical Center EMS was recently named "Advanced Service of the Year" by the Oklahoma EMT Association.
Eight representatives from the EMS crew attended the association’s annual Medic Update educational conference July 11 where during a banquet, the hospital’s EMS was awarded the honor.
"I am very proud of this honor because I believe the foundation of this award is rooted in the courageous and selfless efforts of the EMS staff during the May 20th tornado response in the City of Moore and the May 31st response to the flooding disaster in the City of Midwest City and Eastern Oklahoma County," said Larry Terry, director of Emergency Medical Services. "I am humbled and blessed to work with such a committed group of medical providers and support staff."
The Del City Fire Department responded to a structure fire Monday, July 29 at 4705 SE 19th Street. The call was received at 8:23 a.m. and the first arriving unit reported heavy smoke and flames on arrival. A family of five, including two adults and three children, were home at the time of the fire and escaped without injury.
Upon making entry into the house, firefighters found one of the bedrooms completely involved in flames. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly, however, the house sustained heavy smoke and water damage.
Lifelong Midwest City resident Daniel McClure announced July 19 his intention to run for Midwest City’s Ward 1 seat.
The city post is being vacated by Jerry Maynard, who will term out next year. Other offices to be filled in elections next spring are council members for Wards 1, 3 and 5, as well as mayor.
The primary election will be on February 11, 2014, with the general election to take place on April 1, 2014.
"The decision is not something I’ve taken lightly, as I’m dedicated to serving the citizens of Ward 1," McClure said.
Beginning July 1, the City of Midwest City launched its new curbside recycling program in partnership with their contractor, Republic Services.
One month into the program, the city said there have been some issues to work through with their contractor including some neighborhoods not receiving pick-up on their scheduled day.
"I think things are getting better, but there have been some problems, as we expected there to be," city spokesperson Kay Hunt said.
The lessee of Midwest Regional Medical Center accepted a $7.6 billion merger agreement Tuesday, bringing an end to months of speculation that a deal was in the works.
At this time, Health Management Associates’ merger with Community Health Systems, Inc. reportedly has no immediate effect on MRMC and local efforts to address recent issues at the hospital are ongoing, hospital officials report.
The merger, CHS officials say, will take months to complete and is anticipated to be final by March 31, 2014, pending various approval levels.
Locally, the transfer of HMA’s lease of MRMC to CHS would be subject to approval by the Midwest City Memorial Hospital Authority.
Katherine Bolles, city attorney for Midwest City, in a previous interview with the EastWord News, reported that if HMA ever found itself in a situation like the present with a new third-party seeking to assume control of the hospital, the Authority would have to approve a new lease contract.
The company originally hired by the City of Choctaw to build the Choctaw Town Square development has filed a lawsuit against a new contractor brought into to work on the project.
This marks the third lawsuit filed related to the development on NE 23rd Street.
On July 2, Choctaw Town Square, LLC, filed suit against Wee Construction in Oklahoma County District Court.
The suit seeks $75,000 in reimbursement for concrete drainage pipe, CTS claims was purchased by them for the 39.3 acre project but the city never approved reimbursement.
A dedication ceremony of Midwest City’s new Veterans Memorial was largely attended, despite the roasting heat that revealed itself in full form July 12 in Joe B. Barnes Regional Park.
Event planners expected a meager crowd of maybe a few hundred, but were overjoyed to welcome 400 to 500 attendees.
Ice cold bottled water sufficed many attendees, including several World War II veterans, during the hour-long ceremony. Making comments during the event was the man that started the dream to build a memorial, Andy Cornelius.
In addition, Midwest City Mayor Jack Fry served as the keynote speaker.
Paul Jenson, CEO of Midwest Regional Medical Center, resigned from his post effective Monday.
He had been with the hospital since June 2012, replacing CEO Stan Holm.
Jenson’s resignation was announced via a memo by Melody Trimble, Southern and Western Division President of Health Management Associates, the company that leases MRMC. The correspondence was sent to the hospital’s board of trustees, medical staff and directors.
"It is with great regret that I announce the resignation of Paul Jenson at Midwest Regional Medical Center effective Monday, July 22, 2013. I thank Paul for his contribution at the Medical Center this past year and wish he and his family well in their future endeavors."
This fall, Midwest City voters will decide whether or not up to $50 million should be spent to try and oust Health Management Associates as lessee of Midwest Regional Medical Center.
On Tuesday, councilmembers unanimously voted to approve a resolution calling for an Oct. 8 special election. A total of five propositions will appear on the ballot, including one to grant Midwest City Memorial Hospital Authority trustees access to $50 million of the Compounded Principal in the trust’s account that currently holds some $71.2 million.
City Attorney Katherine Bolles said a vote of the people is one of only two ways the Hospital Authority can access trust funds. The other is if the hospital’s lessee terminated its lease and the Hospital Authority had to assume control of operations until another lessee could be named.
The Mid-Del Public School Foundation was one of two statewide selected as selected as recipients of the 2012 Outstanding Program Awards for Local Education Foundations sponsored by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.
The awards, which recognize innovative programs sponsored or administered by public school foundations in Oklahoma, will be presented at the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations and Youth Mentoring Programs on Oct. 23 in Norman. Receiving plaques and monetary awards of $1,000 each will be the 2011 Technology Initiative sponsored by the Claremore Public Schools Foundation and the Homeless Student Education Fund sponsored by the Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation.
If you are looking for a place to escape the heat and have some fun while you're at it, check out what's going on at your local library.
In July, the Summer Reading Program comes to an end on July 31 and this year's theme is Dream Big - Read! But the program is not the only thing going on at local libraries because there are also movie times, story times and book clubs, too.
The following is a list of events scheduled at Eastern Oklahoma County libraries this month:
These are all signs of construction, and currently in the Mid-Del school district, they are showing up everywhere as work progresses on numerous bond projects approved by voters in September.
The biggest projects included in the $90 million bond are two new elementary schools - one at Soldier Creek on SE 15th Street and Douglas, and another on Key Boulevard at East Side Elementary - both in Midwest City.
A judge sentenced a Del City father to 18 years in prison Tuesday after he was convicted of child neglect in connection with the deaths of his three children who were killed in a 2011 motor home fire. Monday, July 02, 2012
A group of Del City residents intend to protest a proposed halfway house for convicted felons during tonight's planning commission meeting.
The public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at city hall, 3701 SE 15th Street.
The commission will hear the proposed rezoning request that would allow up to 100 felons seeking rehabilitation to live in the vacant Howard Memorial Baptist Church, which is situated at the southeast corner of Reno Avenue and Sunnylane Road.
The California-based organization known as Center Point Inc. is seeking the rezoning to house the inmates. If the rezoning is approved, the church would issue a long-term lease to Center Point for 20 years for $1 each year.
As Oklahomans stock up on fans and other essentials to survive another sweltering summer, Mid-Del emergency crews are expecting the worst.
No heat-related calls have been reported to the Del City or Midwest City fire departments, but it's just a matter of time, said Midwest City fire department spokesman.
"While we haven't received anything yet, we do expect the calls to start ramping up this week," he said.
In order to prevent people from requiring the assistance of emergency crews, Richardson offered a couple of tips for handling hot weather.
"Do outdoor activities before 10 a.m.," Richardson said, "The heat peaks around 3 p.m. most days. Also, just use common sense. Drink plenty of fluids."
Del City fire department spokesman Brandon Pursell said medical calls have increased, but none of them can be attributed to the 100-degree heat.
Oklahoma Natural Gas' base rate may soon be going up, but even if it does, the company says most of its customers will pay less money in 2012 than they did in 2010 for service. Monday, July 02, 2012
