April is Autism Awareness Month. As a father of two children on the autism spectrum, this month holds a special meaning to me and other “autism parents.” As you can imagine we are very aware of autism and the challenges and gifts it brings into our lives. We get to see some of our children struggle to learn basic skills that often come as second nature to the child’s peers. Thursday, April 03, 2014
After spring break, high school seniors are now in the last haul to graduation. While for some that may be exciting, it can be just as equally stressful and scary as college stares you in the face. There are resources available to students that can take the load off, and sound advice can go a long way. Thursday, March 27, 2014
I barely qualify as an adult. I’ve been a college graduate for less than a semester (I still quantify things by semester). I still survive on a diet of fast food and ramen. I still live about 50 percent of my life the exact same as I did my senior year. Thursday, March 20, 2014
I have heard all my life and quite extensively since graduating, that the news blows things out of proportion. While this is obviously true in many areas I believe it is a generalization that could be put to rest. Thursday, February 27, 2014
Whether an athlete is gay or not shouldn’t matter in today’s America. Unfortunately, “shouldn’t” and “doesn’t” aren’t the same thing. It does matter that the New Jersey Nets made Jason Collins the first active gay athlete in one of the four major American sports on Sunday (look how many qualifiers we need to make it historic). Thursday, February 27, 2014
As I mentioned last week, this is my final hurrah as editor here as I’m leaving to take a position with the Midwest City Chamber to do community relations. I am very excited about the new job opportunity that awaits me at the chamber for various reasons; the most important being that I’ll get to spend more time with my family. Thursday, February 20, 2014
The national debt is atrocious, the State’s financial deficit is embarrassing, and current financial outlook for the United States of America is not exactly promising. Thursday, February 20, 2014
Like a person’s credit card limit, the debt ceiling is not meant to be reached or exceeded. If the nation approaches or reaches the debt ceiling, it should signal lawmakers and the president to deal with the debt, not add to it. Thursday, February 20, 2014
I recently joined several other state and local officials in offering support for a bill before the Legislature that would allow counties to prohibit horse slaughter operations within their boundaries, if the people vote that way. Thursday, February 20, 2014
We are a nation that embraces hard work and opportunity. Since our founding more than 237 years ago American trailblazers have shown time and again that success is possible in our great land — a promise that has been passed on to each and every generation.
In the midst of a broken economy however, our labor force is struggling and job creators are often unable to provide or generate new jobs. While there are numerous contributing factors to our poor employment situation and economic recovery, Obamacare continues to negatively affect both employers and employees.
We all remember the severe storms that thrashed central Oklahoma last May, but one often overlooked factor was the number of trees damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes and high winds we experienced.
According to the Tree Bank Foundation, central Oklahoma lost at least 3,500 trees last spring. They have launched a program called Tornado Re-Leaf to replace them. I have committed Oklahoma County District Two crews to help with planting on public lands.
Trees aren’t just attractive. They provide shade in hot weather, nesting spots for birds and environmental benefits as well. One area that was especially hard hit was Crystal Lake, a city park in western Oklahoma City where our SHINE community service crews spent months cleaning up illegal dumping and making the park useful again.
EastWord is proud to extend our congratulations to the City of Midwest City and its public safety departments.
You’ve done it again!
Midwest City has been reclassified as a community with the most sought after fire rating in the nation. Only 57 fire departments can boast a Class 1 rating and with that rating comes the promise for homeowners and business owners that their insurance costs can be lowered.
If you have not done so already, give your insurance agent a call to make sure they have your insurance rate adjusted to the appropriate ISO 1 discount.
In November 2013, my doctors told me two things I did not want to hear. They said I needed surgery and it would be best performed at the Midwest Regional Medical Center (MRMC). Thursday, February 06, 2014
This past week, EastWord heard numerous bits of information from various sources about what was going on regarding the Midwest Regional Medical Center takeover. City Attorney Kathie Bolles gave me an update, and during our brief conversation Tuesday I could tell she was extremely frustrated. Thursday, February 06, 2014
From the point of view of the United States this word applies to the terrorist organizations known as the Taliban and Al-Quada. It also is not a stretch to refer to Iran or North Korea as the enemy.
It does not however apply to publicly elected representatives.
President Barack Obama called the Republican Party the "enemies," the Tea-Party congressmen have been referred to as domestic enemies," and this week a local Republican congressman referred to the Democratic party as "the enemy" even going so far as to refer to them "surrounding us like wolves."
At 12:01 a.m. June 1, 1996, the Midwest City Memorial Hospital Authority handed off Midwest Regional Medical Center to its new lessee.
At that time, some 17 plus years ago, I can only assume that when Authority members reflected on their decision, they were pleased with themselves for choosing Health Management Associates to run the hospital.
And why not?
Today, we know that their decision ultimately paved the way for the thriving Town Square shopping district on SE 29th Street when HMA paid the Authority $80 million to lease MRMC. It also probably was a big relief for the Authority to pay off the debt they had accumulated over 34 years from operating the hospital and to turn over operations to a seasoned corporation that had been running hospitals the past 19 years.
Despite enthusiastic support for three upcoming passenger railroad trips between Tulsa and Oklahoma City in February, the Eastern Flyer could already be looking at the end of the line. Tulsa Republican Brian Crain was the Senate author of legislation passed in 2011 creating a task force examining restoration of passenger rail service between the two metros. Crain said he was extremely disappointed to learn that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), which owns the tracks, has set a January 30 deadline for bids to sell the rail line that will carry the Eastern Flyer.
"The three upcoming Eastern Flyer excursions have nearly sold out. That shows how much enthusiasm and support there is to bring back passenger service between Tulsa and Oklahoma City—something we haven’t had since 1967," Crain said. "This line represents tremendous economic development potential, not only for the two metro areas, but for communities along the line as well. I think it would be a huge mistake for ODOT to put the brakes on this remarkable project by selling the rail line."
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Midwest City firefighters and police officers.
Sunday, Jan. 12, when the winds were whipping around at 50 mph, my husband and I noticed smoke billowing above the trees in our backyard. My husband decided to investigate, and found an abandoned structure on fire directly to the south of our acreage. He immediately called 911.
A police officer arrived within three minutes, and less than two minutes later, three fire engines, from three different stations, showed up and immediately began working to put the fire out.
The Martin Luther King, Jr Prayer Breakfast has a special meaning to me.
This past Monday, I attended my third ever prayer breakfast and it brought back memories of my start here in Midwest City and my newspaper journey thus far.
I attended my first breakfast in Jan. 2004 and by the end of that week, I was working at The Midwest City Sun after meeting my future boss and editor, Heide Brandes, for the first time there.
I’m thankful for my time at The Sun, which made me realize how great of a city Midwest City is considering its large size. I left there, though, in September 2006 to pursue an opportunity to work at the newspaper in Newcastle.
I’ll never forget the day when I heard the news about The Sun shutting down, which was just about a year after I left. It really was a sad day for Midwest City and Eastern Oklahoma County but The Sun’s legacy still lives on because people still talk about it quite frequently.
In 2006, Pixar Animation Studios released the movie Cars and introduced us to Radiator Springs, an imaginary town along Route 66 that long ago had been bypassed by a freeway beyond the city limits. The characters are personified vehicles with names like Lightning McQueen, Sally Carrera, Mater the Tow Truck, Doc Hudson, Flo, Luigi and a whole host of other cars and trucks.
Viewers see a community where the slower pace and quality of life is enhanced by knowing and caring about one’s neighbors. The essence of the film is caught in a conversation between McQueen, a stock car literally lost in the rat race of society and Sally, a baby blue Porsche 911 who has intentionally escaped that world to pursue wholesomeness and harmony in Radiator Springs, a community where despite hard economic times, relationships matter.
I had the pleasure recently of hosting the first meeting of the Character Education Task Force.
More than 20 representatives of school districts, civic groups and faith-based organizations from throughout the state joined members of the state’s Parent Teacher Association in the initial meeting earlier this month. In doing so, we are laying the groundwork for something I hope will help in the development of character education in Oklahoma schools.
Everyone has vastly different ideas of what constitutes character education, but one thing is certain — while we focus on increasing academic rigor and ensuring our children are as prepared for college and career as are their national counterparts, none of it will matter if we are not also developing their character.
I noticed a particular phrase used, "The Authority," when dealing with choosing a new lessee.
Just who is "The Authority" (names)? Sounds like they’ll make the final decision on choice of the new lessee, and the people of Midwest City have a right to know their names.
This week, I attended an interesting Midwest City council meeting.
I listened to councilmembers talk and entertain public discussion for 30 minutes or more (I lost track) about a development.
During the comments, an attorney addressed councilmembers on behalf of his client in charge of the development. He pointed out that opposing homeowners were originally against street improvements, but had since changed their stance on the issue.
I’m in no way implying the residents against the development were in the wrong. It’s just that if they’re going to go up against something, they need to stay consistent because it benefits their argument more.
They also need to realize sometimes they are fighting a losing battle.
Knowledge is power, and safety is key so learning how to protect and serve alongside the "Boys in Blue" is an empowering experience.
Midwest City Police Department’s Citizens Academy is now accepting applications for the 2014 class. This session will be the 33rd Citizens Academy as has been a part of the Midwest City Police Department for sixteen and a half years.
"We have classes on every different aspect of the police department," Major David Huff, chief instructor for Citizens Academy, said. "At Midwest City, community based policing is our core. We want to interact with the citizens of our city instead of it being a kind of ‘us versus them’ mentality."
Why does anyone need a high-capacity rifle? It’s a question anti-gun proponents often posit. It stumps some gun owners and gun advocates because it’s difficult to answer. The answer is that nobody "needs" a high-capacity rifle in the technical sense of the word "need." But is the 2nd Amendment a "need" analysis? No, of course not.
I don’t need to write these opinion columns but I do and the things I say are protected by the 1st Amendment right of free speech. I don’t need to be secure from warrantless searches; I’m not a criminal. The 4th Amendment protects me from the State nonetheless. In fact, there isn’t a single protection in the Bill of Rights that I actually need.
Why then do gun owners allow themselves to be duped by this dishonest argument? It’s because they fail to challeng the presupposition that gun owners must justify and articulate a need.
If the 2nd Amendment isn’t based on need, what then is its purpose? Balance of Power. The 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was drafted for the sole purpose of balancing the power of the people and the power of the State. The "well-regulated militia" written about in the 2nd Amendment was no more than an assembly of the people. It stands to reason that the 2nd Amendment was intended to propel the people as a whole to a position of power so that government could not usurp their authority.
