City of Sand Springs announces Spirit Grant program

Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs announces the creation of the Spirit Grant program, a competitive grant program intended to boost economic development in Sand Springs. Spirit Grants are designed to enhance local retail sales, tourism and strengthen community development and beautification in Sand Springs. There will be a Spirit Grant workshop later this month, with grant applications becoming available on the City of Sand Springs website (www.sandpspringsok.org) August 1.

"We're not giving money away, however this program comes close as long as we have strong projects to consider. These grants will be a strong incentive for local citizens, clubs and business to make a positive impact on our community in a short amount of time,"  stated Grant Gerondale, Community Development Director for the City of Sand Springs.

Grant applications may be submitted by individuals, businesses or groups to partially fund programs or projects designed to attract people to Sand Springs to shop, dine or recreate in the City of Sand Springs. Applications can also be submitted to enhance the outward appearance of buildings, businesses or other places in the greater Sand Springs community.

Applicants will need to commit to a 20% cash contribution in order to potentially receive an 80% Spirit Grant award from the City, which combined, will create the total grant award amount. Once the project has been completed, the applicant may submit original invoices for reimbursement from the City. Grant applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis and reviewed by city staff.

The program is looking for new events or projects and expansions of existing events or projects to primarily generate sales tax and tourism in our community. Community beautification and quality of life projects in Sand Springs are also eligible.  Projects should have a positive financial impact on the City. Ideally, projects should add value to the community in light of the cost of the grant.

"We're looking forward to seeing some great concepts and ideas from our citizens," stated Gerondale, who invites the public to attend a Spirit Grant workshop happening at 7 p.m. on July 30, at the Case Community Center. 

Successful grant applicants (upon written notice by the city) will have one year to complete the grant project and submit for reimbursement. Projects can be completed before the one year deadline, however projects not completed within the deadline risk reimbursement of funds.

Spirit Grant projects can range from as little as $500 to projects costing $5,000 or more. With that range in mind, the grant amount (80% of the total project which is reimbursable to applicants by the city) will range from $400 to a maximum of $4,000 for any single grant award. 

An applicant may receive more than one award per fiscal year, and may submit an application over multiple years.

Examples of types of Spirit Grant awards include:

• advertising and marketing expenses designed to attract and draw tourism to Sand Springs
• group advertising campaign to support local merchants that results in more local sales
• community cleanup efforts
• special event designed to increase tourism to Sand Springs
• exterior building facade upgrade (awning/painting/landscaping/lighting of business workplace to improve outward appearance)
• group project to provide new community facilities or improvements to existing
• public art (murals, statuary, etc.)
• historical interpretation or other displays relating to Sand Springs

Grant applications will be reviewed by the City. Successful grant applications will be graded on many factors, with a focus on each grant's potential to add value to the community.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.sandspringsok.org or contact the Spirit Grant Team at (918) 246-2504 or spiritgrant@sandspringsok.org

New trail soon to begin along Highway 97 in south Sand Springs

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The Park Road Trail connecting Adams Road with the Sand Springs Lake is nearing completion. 

Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs announced Thursday that a new trail improvement project is scheduled to begin next week. The HWY 97 Trail Extension Project is funded in part by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and is designed to connect Sand Springs' vast trail network from 34th Street to 41st Street in south Sand Springs. All of the trail's routing will align on the eastern side of HWY 97.

"This is an important link for trail connectivity," stated City Engineer Derek Campbell. "As we move toward even greater trail synchronization with existing trail segments in Sand Springs, this link allows trail users to navigate in our town from north to south in a safe, well planned route."

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The trail's construction is slated to commence on Monday, June 4, and should last 120 calendar days, barring any weather delays. The trail surface will be ten (10') foot wide and will be constructed of concrete. During the trail's construction there will be temporary closures at some commercial entrance drives which are connected to HWY 97. The construction plans instruct the contractor to keep at least one lane of each entrance open at all times during the work.

Citizens may have recently noticed the nearly completed Park Road Trail project, which also serves to better trail access within the community.

For information, photos and project updates on this trail project and other improvements around the Sand Springs community please follow the City of Sand Springs page on Facebook.

Friday is voter registration deadline for State Primary Election

(Oklahoma City) – The deadline to register for the June 26 State Primary Election is fast approaching, Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said Tuesday.

Voters have until Friday, June 1 to register to vote, change their address or update other registration information before the Statewide Primary. 

Voter registration forms, used to change any registration information, can be downloaded from the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website at http://elections.ok.gov. They are also available at county election boards, post offices, tag agencies, libraries and some other public locations. 

Voters must either register in person or mail their registration forms and have them postmarked before the deadline. 

The State Primary Election will allow voters to pick the nominees for various federal, state and county offices for November’s General Election. State Question 788, which would legalize medical marijuana, is also on the Statewide Primary ballot. In primary races with more than two candidates where no one receives a majority of the votes, runoffs will be held Aug. 28.

Oklahoma’s primary system is typically closed, meaning only those registered in the party can vote in the party’s elections. But the law allows recognized parties to notify the State Election Board if they would like to let Independents vote in their primaries. Democrats have chosen to allow Independents to vote in their primaries and runoff primaries in 2018 and 2019. Independents cannot vote in Republican or Libertarian primaries.

Independent voters who want to vote a Democratic ballot will be able to request one at their polling location or by indicating they would like to receive such ballots via mail when they make an absentee ballot request.

Voters can check their party affiliation, polling place and other registration information, view a sample ballot and track absentee ballots using the Online Voter Tool on the State Election Board’s website. It can be accessed at http://elections.ok.gov. 

Cheers & Gears Auto Show returns to Charles Page High School for second year

The Second annual Cheer & Gears Auto Show will be held Saturday, June 23 at the Charles Page High School parking lot, 500 North Adams Road in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

All makes, models and years of cars, trucks, and motorcycles can be shown. Registration will be from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. with a $20 registration fee for each vehicle before June 10th, $25 the day of the show.

Admission is free for spectators not exhibiting a vehicle. Dash plaques and goody bags will be given to the first thirty entries. All of the entrants will receive a ticket for the door prize drawings. Awards will be presented at 1:00 p.m. The event has something for everyone, including food trucks, snow cones, face painting for children, t-shirts and hourly raffles.

Third-year CPHS Varsity Cheer Coach Carrie Schlehuber says a high school is the perfect venue for an auto show. “A lot of classic vehicle owners buy and refurbish that first car they owned while at school. What a great way to remember what it was like and have them bring their vehicle back to school.” The auto show supports the CPHS Varsity and Junior High Cheer teams.

Vendor parking spaces (or booth spaces) are available and sponsor opportunities.

For more show information, contact CPHS Varsity Cheer at cphsvarsitycheer@gmail.com.

More information about the CPHS Varsity Cheer team is available on its web site: https://www.facebook.com/SANDITE-VARSITY-CHEER-135822736440627/.

Click here for Vehicle Registration Form.

Click here for Sponsorship/Donation Form.

Click here for Vendor Application Form. 

Oklahoma Blood Institute offers free Safari Joe's tickets for summer donors

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May 14, 2018-  Oklahoma Blood Institute has an exciting adventure in store for donors who give blood to help patients in local hospitals!

Donors who give blood NOW through August 30 will receive a limited edition “Let the Adventure Begin” t-shirt, and a voucher for two free admissions to Safari Joe’s H2O Water and Adventure Park.*

Oklahoma Blood Institute is proud to partner with Safari Joe’s, which features the Reptile Rush Slides & Raptor Rapids Water Roller Coaster as well as one-of-a-kind reptile and animal attractions.

“With summer on the way, we want to give donors another extraordinary reason to give the priceless gift of blood,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute. “Patients need blood 365 days a year, but the summer months present a unique challenge since so many of us are busy with travel and activities, and we may get out of our normal donation routines.”

Donors will also receive a coupon for a free honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger and a chance to win Whataburger for a year.*

Only ten percent of people in the United States who are eligible to give blood actually do.  Blood donation takes just about an hour, and each donation can save the lives of up to three patients. 

Donors also receive free health screenings. If they opt not to take the t-shirt, Oklahoma Blood Institute will make a monetary donation to Global Blood Fund for blood center assistance in developing countries.

As a non-profit blood center, Oklahoma Blood Institute’s donors provide every drop of blood needed for patients in more than 160 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances statewide including all Children’s, Veterans & Indian Hospitals. Approximately 1,200 volunteer blood donors are needed each day to maintain the supply.

Appointments are not required but can be made by calling Oklahoma Blood Institute at 877-340-8777 or visiting obi.org.

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.  Blood donation not necessary to enter prize drawing.

Governor Mary Fallin Signs Bill Barring Sex Offenders from Living Near Their Victims

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed a bill that helps protect victims from their sex offenders.

Fallin signed House Bill (HB) 1124, which prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet and loitering within 1,000 feet from their victims’ homes.  Under current Oklahoma law, sex offenders are banned from living near places like schools and playgrounds, but it does not apply to a sex offender living near his or her adult victim.

The measure passed unanimously in both chambers: 92-0 in the House of Representatives and 44-0 in the Senate.

HB 1124, named the “Justice for Danyelle Act of 2018,”  takes effect Nov. 1. It is named after Danyelle Dyer, of Bristow, whose attacker moved next door to her last year.

Rep. Kyle Hilbert and Sen. James Leewright filed the legislation. In the meantime, Dyer and her family went to court and obtained a protective order, and the offender was ordered to move.

“Victims shouldn’t have to worry about their sex offenders moving in next door,” said Fallin. “I appreciate Representative Hilbert and Senator Leewright for responding quickly to this situation and coming up with a logical solution to this issue. If we have laws keeping sex offenders from parks and day care centers, it’s common sense that they shouldn’t be allowed near their victims.”

"I am incredibly proud of the courage Danyelle Dyer showed to bring this issue to light,” said Hilbert. “Thanks to her advocacy, no victims in Oklahoma will ever endure what her and her family went through ever again. Thank you Governor Fallin for signing HB 1124 and standing up for the rights of victims across the state.”

“Through her bravery to come forward, Danyelle helped bring this dangerous loophole to our attention as well as other states that also haven’t addressed this needed zone of safety,” said Leewright. “Her advocacy will help protect others from continuing to be victimized emotionally on a daily basis knowing their attacker is so close.”

Governor Mary Fallin Signs Human Trafficking Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin signed a bill targeted at preventing human trafficking Wednesday.

House Bill (HB) 2651 permits Oklahoma’s public safety commissioner to choose training material from Truckers Against Human Trafficking for education purposes for drivers applying for Class A, B or C commercial licenses. The material includes training on recognizing, preventing and reporting human trafficking. The public safety commissioner is required to regularly review and update the training to ensure it is up to date on changes and trends in human trafficking. 

HB 2651, authored by Rep. Steve Vaughan, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, and Senate Majority Whip Frank Simpson, passed unanimously in both the House of Representatives and Senate. It takes effect Nov. 1.

“This is an effective and efficient way to make our commercial drivers more aware about signs of human trafficking and how to report,” said Fallin. “By understanding the signs and symptoms of trafficking, they can help our law enforcement stop human trafficking on our highways and in our community. Our state’s location as a crossroads positions the Oklahoma City metropolitan area as a hotbed for human trafficking activity. The intersections of major interstate highways like I-35, I-40 and I-44 mean human traffickers move sex slaves and others involved in forced labor through Oklahoma City.”

“Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in our country and Oklahoma is a prime target,” Simpson said. “Truck stops are the perfect place for traffickers to move their goods and as transfer points for transporting their victims. If trained in what to look and listen for as well as what to do, truckers can be instrumental in recognizing and stopping these crimes.”

“Oftentimes we overlook the importance of how many trucks travel our roads and highways every day,” Vaughan said. “Because of this bill, inside every cab of those trucks is a trucker who has become more aware of human trafficking. It is great to have eyes in the cab and boots on the ground to help eliminate this problem. I was pleased to be asked to author this bill on the House side for the people of the great state of Oklahoma.”

Senate approves work requirements for Medicaid recipients

OKLAHOMA CITY – To strengthen Oklahoma families and the state’s economy, the Senate approved legislation Wednesday to establish work or training requirements to participate in the SoonerCare Medicaid program. House Bill 2932, authored by Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Glen Mulready, would instruct the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to seek waiver authority to modify Medicaid eligibility criteria to require documentation of the same education, skills, training, work or job activities currently required by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“This bill follows direction from the federal government to help those Medicaid recipients who are working-aged and able-bodied get back into the workforce and become a self-sufficient, contributing member of society. It will align SoonerCare qualification requirements with those already in place for Oklahoma’s SNAP,” said Pugh, R-Edmond. “I grew up extremely poor and my mom, who was a single parent, worked three jobs to support our family. I would work as many jobs as necessary to take care of my family. This will encourage Medicaid recipients to take some personal responsibility in getting the education or job training they need to support themselves and their families.”

The bill would mirror federal Medicaid law and SNAP by exempting from the new eligibility requirements those individuals who are 19 years of age or younger or over 60 years old, pregnant, medically-certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment, or who are a parent or caretaker of a dependent child under a year old.

According to the OHCA, there are approximately 106,600 Oklahomans who are a part of the parent/caretaker group receiving Medicaid coverage who are able-bodied/working-aged adults 19 to 64 who are not pregnant, disabled or blind. Thirty-two percent of those recipients were male and 25 percent were two adults living in the same home and both receiving Medicaid coverage. An analysis by the agency of SoonerCare members covered in FY’17 found that around 8,000 out of those 106,600 would not have met any of the exemptions outlined in the bill.

Currently, more than 600,000 Oklahomans receive SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) each month. In FY’17, there were more than one million Oklahomans enrolled in SoonerCare Medicaid with nearly 796,000 SoonerCare recipients in March 2018. OHCA also noted there are nearly 81,000 SoonerCare recipients who also receive SNAP benefits.

The coauthor of the measure, Sen. Paul Rosino has been a strong advocate for the federal government’s push to get states to create work requirements for eligible Medicaid recipients.

“I applaud the Governor for championing these work requirements and my colleagues in the Senate and House for supporting them. This will provide these individuals with the tools, whether through education or job training, to help better their lives to be able to support themselves and their families,” said Rosino, R-Oklahoma. “We must break the cycle of government dependence that is getting worse with each generation. Since getting into office, personal responsibility and work requirements for able-bodied adults 19 to 64 has been one of my top priorities. I will continue to advocate for and support any legislation that helps strengthen Oklahoma families and our economy by helping more people become independent and self-sufficient.”

The bill now returns to the House for final consideration. Besides being approved by the Governor, the new eligibility requirements would have to also be approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Sand Springs to unveil new downtown LED lights next Tuesday

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Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs will unveil its first LED (light-emitting diode) package during a commissioning event on Tuesday, April 17, in downtown Sand Springs. The LED lights will be put into service at 8:00 p.m. following a brief ceremony at 100 South Main Street at the US412 underpass. 

"This project was approved by our City Council a few years ago as part of our Vision 2025 community enhancement master project," stated City Manager Elizabeth Gray. "The Case Community Park was a major component of our overall project. With this light commissioning event we are pleased to offer this unique roadway lighting for our citizens and area businesses. This is another example of the Vision2025 funding program, which has enhanced quality of life efforts throughout Tulsa metro, and we wish to thank voters for their support."

The lighting system addresses one of the darkest underpass areas in Sand Springs.

It is designed to improve public safety at night, and will help bridge the pedestrian space between downtown Sand Springs businesses and the Riverwest shopping district.

"We're excited to bring this colorful, artistic light display to our community," said Community Development Director Grant Gerondale. "The LED lights have an automated calendar holding various lighting scenes which will reveal different colorized scenes throughout the year. For example you'll see red, white and blue for major holidays like Independence Day; red and green for Christmas; and the bridge underpass will go pink during Cancer awareness month in October. It's a creative way to add lighting safety and bring a splash of color to our town."

The last remaining round of Vision 2025 funding will be provide visual highway enhancements in Sand Springs. Following a vegetation clearing phase this spring, highway travelers can expect to see additional white vinyl rail fence installed around Sand Springs.

Candidate filing begins April 11

(Oklahoma City) – The 2018 candidate filing period for state, federal and nonpartisan judicial offices is scheduled for April 11-13 at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said Monday.

Filing will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday in the West Hallway on the Ground Floor of the State Capitol just inside the west entrance. Races on the ballot include all five of Oklahoma’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, statewide offices including Governor, dozens of state legislative races and judicial offices.

Large crowds are expected at the State Capitol during the week if teachers continue their demonstrations in and around the building. Although there will be limited parking available for candidates in the west parking lot, parking cannot be guaranteed. Candidates should consider arranging for someone to drop them off near the building and allow extra time to arrive. Space in the filing area will also be limited, and those accompanying candidates will be required to enter the building via regular public entrances.

Candidates will be allowed to enter at the State Capitol’s west entrance and should follow signs to gain entry. Ziriax strongly encouraged candidates to review the candidate filing checklist provided with the candidate filing packet online at http://elections.ok.gov.

“Candidates must be in line by 5 p.m. to submit their paperwork that day,” Ziriax said. “We cannot accept incomplete paperwork, so it is critical that candidates review that checklist to make sure they have everything they need when they arrive.”

County voters will elect assessors, treasurers and district 1 and 3 commissioners in 2018. Candidates for those offices will file at their respective county election boards.

OSDE extends testing window to give students opportunity for best performance

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 9, 2018) – As Oklahoma’s statewide teacher walkout has continued past one week and districts representing the majority of students have announced school closures into a second week, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister today announced the extension of the Oklahoma School Testing Program schedule, which began April 2. 

The adjustment of federally mandated assessments means the testing window for grade 3-8 general assessments and grade 11 science assessments are now extended by one week from the original deadline.

“Our schoolchildren must have the opportunity to confidently show their best work. This extension is essential to better support students and ensure an appropriate transition back into classrooms,” stated Hofmeister. “It is also critical that districts have the maximum opportunity possible to meet both state and federal requirements. Federal law requires states to assess 95 percent of the student population. This extension hopefully will prevent jeopardizing of federal funding or incurring penalty.”

For information on how this extension impacts specific required tests, click here.  

29th Annual Sand Springs Herbal Affair & Festival set for April 21st

Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs announces its plans for the 29th Annual Sand Springs Herbal Affair & Festival in downtown Sand Springs. The event occurs on Saturday, April 21, and runs from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This year's event showcases more than 100 plant, herb, arts, crafts, food and wine vendors from around the four-state area. In addition to all of the gardening enthusiast items, this Herbal Affair features a half-dozen live musical performers on the historical stage at Charles Page Triangle Park in the heart of the downtown district. 

SEE RELATED: Sand Springs 29th Annual Herbal Affair & Festival

"This year's event is slightly larger than in the past, with a few more vendors adding to the diversity of our event," stated Grant Gerondale, Community Development Director for the City of Sand Springs. "What began as a small gathering of gardening enthusiasts with Ruth Leib and Sandi Byerly in 1989 has grown into Oklahoma's premier herbal festival."

With the positive growth seen this past year at the City's Riverwest Development just south of downtown, parking options at that site no longer exist. Event goers should rely heavily on the free parking and shuttle service at Charles Page High School (500 N. Adams Road) and utilize on-street parking around the downtown area. The free shuttle service will run from 8:00 a.m. until shortly after 4:00 p.m.

Each year the Sand Springs Herbal Affair offers shoppers a unique variety of tomatoes, herbs, annual and perennial plants and an assortment of arts, crafts, foods and wines. Visitors also enjoy the announcement of the "Hometown Hero" award, presented to a deserving Sand Springs citizen each year on the stage.

"This year's event brings in some new items and also goes back to some of the traditional roots of the festival," Gerondale added. "We'll feature eclectic gardening features like worm soil casings, a soil amenity for your garden, and we'll also see trendy hydroponically grown tomatoes. On the musical side of things we'll have the traditional sounds of the Shelby Eicher Trio, but we'll also bring back Dulcimer Magic which played the event for years. To end the day we've added the Sand Springs Community Band which did a fantastic job during last year's Riverfest grand opening at the new Case Community Park. I really encourage locals to come out and enjoy this great live music."

When you do come out, you'll be joining nearly 30,000 other visitors who make the annual trek to Sand Springs to get their fill of outdoor gardening plants, arts, crafts, and good food. This year's event features nearly 20 food operations to satisfy hungry strollers. 

"Who doesn't like the Amish chicken and noodles, right?" asked Gerondale. "You'll find old standby herbal affair foods and treats like fresh roasted nuts, but you'll also see some offerings like succotash and pitas."

This is a family and pet (on a leash) friendly outing as folks mingle amidst the historic downtown triangle of Sand Springs. Parents will want to check out the kidz-zone on the west side of the event area. Church That Matters is again hosting a variety of activities including a Radio Control Car display, kids petting zoo, snow cones and the chance for some Home Depot wood building kit activities. All of those activities are free to children.

The Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum will also be open and offers a great walk-through for interpretative displays and features a fine example of 1920's art-deco architecture.  The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Is there a wine lover in your home? You won't want to miss the small wine-garden located immediately across from City Hall. Five area wineries will have small taster samplings on hand as well as a variety of their products for sale.

The City of Sand Springs encourages all event goers to step into the fun-filled shops that line the downtown streets of Herbal Affair. Unique and hard to find antiques, apparel and small treasures can be found in many of our small businesses in downtown Sand Springs.

Want to learn more? Check out our Facebook page in the days leading up to the April 21 event to find informative Herbal Affair event videos and details.

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit  www.sandspringsok.org and www.seesandsprings.com.

Oklahoma Legislature approves $40 million in new revenue for education

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Friday approved measures that will send millions of new dollars into Oklahoma classrooms.

The Senate gave approval to HB 1019xx, a bill that requires online marketplaces like Amazon to collect and remit sales tax to Oklahoma or comply with the state’s notification requirements. The Oklahoma Tax Commission estimates the bill will generate $20.5 million annually.

“The Oklahoma Senate has shown repeatedly its commitment to students and teachers first by passing the largest teacher pay raise in state history and now by approving measures providing millions of dollars in new funding for Oklahoma classrooms,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz, R-Altus.

The Oklahoma Senate last week approved a teacher pay raise bill, giving Oklahoma teachers a $6,100 pay raise on average. The pay raise bill already has been signed into law. To fund the teacher pay raises and provide millions of dollars in funding for textbooks and teacher health care benefits, the Senate also gave approval to revenue measures generating $530 million in new, recurring revenue to fully and perpetually fund the raises and increased education spending.

“Increasing average teacher pay in Oklahoma to the second-highest in our region and putting more dollars into the classroom will help us retain and recruit quality, professional educators to help our students and our state succeed. As we move forward, the Senate stands committed to considering additional ways to put more dollars into our classrooms, as wells as reforms that best serve students, parents and teachers,” Schulz said.

The Senate on Friday also gave approval to HB 3375, the so-called “ball and dice” gaming bill. For the current fiscal year, the Oklahoma Tax Commission cannot certify revenue generated by this bill. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the state’s gaming compliance agency, anticipates the measure will bring new revenue into the state.

Last week, the Oklahoma Senate approved the FY’19 education budget bill, only the second time the April 1 “Fund Education First” deadline has been met by the Legislature. The education budget, which has been signed into law, allocates more than $2.9 billion to Oklahoma schools, a 19 percent increase from the previous year.

Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, made the following remarks today after the passage in the Senate of House Bill 1019XX and House Bill 3375, which will add nearly $40 million in dedicated funding to common education:

“What we have seen at the Capitol this past week has been groundbreaking. Over the past several days, it has been my privilege to engage hundreds of teachers in face-to-face conversations and to witness firsthand their tireless advocacy to ensure that their students and classrooms have the resources for learning.

“On the heels of landmark legislation signed into law just last week, common education now has received an infusion of nearly $500 million in new revenue. I am grateful for the bipartisan efforts of legislators who have done the right thing to reverse a decade of funding challenges that failed to keep pace with student enrollment and need. The legislation passed this week is tremendous progress, but our students and their education will require continued investment and advocacy for years to come.

“Teachers, your stories have been heard at the Capitol and across the nation. These gains are the result of your fight for kids. I know your hearts are in the classroom. I am inspired by your years of dedication, humbled by your sacrifices and proud of your accomplishments.”

Tulsa Boys' Home 4th Annual Derby Dash 5K approaches

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The Fourth Annual Derby Dash 5K and Fun Run will be held on April 14, 2018 at the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Park in Tulsa. The race will benefit the Tulsa Boys' Home in Sand Springs.

The 5K race begins at 9:00 a.m. and is immediately followed by the fun run. Participation is $30 for the 5K and $15 for the one-mile fun run. Kids under twelve years of age pay $25 for the 5K and $10 for the fun run. Click HERE to register for the event. 

The Derby Dash pre-race packet pick up will be Friday, April 13th from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the New Balance store located at 2030 Utica Street, Tulsa. 

The course is a USA Track and Field certified route that starts and finishes at Turkey Mountain. Participants will run on paved trails and City streets. The park is located at 6800 South Elwood Avenue in Tulsa. 

Awards will be presented to the top three overall male and female 5K winners, and the top three finishers of the fun run. 

The Tulsa Boys' Home serves at-risk Oklahoma youth on a 150-acre facility in Sand Springs. The nonprofit provides a home, school, and positive learning environment for forty wards of the State and 24 privately-placed youth with substance abuse problems. 

SEE RELATED: Tulsa Boys' Home celebrates 100 years of miracles in 2018

Senate passes revenue package to fund teacher pay raises, Fallin pledges to sign bills

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday passed a historic revenue package to fund a $6,100, or 16 percent, pay raise on average for Oklahoma teachers. That increase moves Oklahoma from seventh to second highest in the region in average teacher pay and is the largest teacher pay raise in the history of the state.

“The Oklahoma Senate took a historic step that will have positive and long-lasting impacts on the success of our state," said Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz, R-Altus. "One of the most important factors in the success of our students is a quality, professional teacher in the classroom. Passing the largest teacher pay raise in state history moves us to No. 2 in the region in average teacher pay and will help Oklahoma retain quality teachers. It’s a significant investment in economic development because an educated workforce is essential to growing and expanding our economy. For more than 15 months, the Senate has worked tirelessly to fund a significant teacher pay raise. This is a responsible plan that answers Oklahomans’ call for the Legislature to find a solution to teacher pay. I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their dedication to finding a solution and seeing a teacher pay raise come to fruition.” 

HB 1010xx provides $447 million in revenue by increasing the gross production to 5 percent on all wells, increasing the cigarette tax $1 per pack, and increasing the gas tax 3 cents and the diesel tax 6 cents.  

The Senate also advanced HB 1011xx, which provides an additional $84.3 million for teacher pay by making changes to the state income tax code.

Governor Mary Fallin issued the following statement:

“This is an historic evening for the state of Oklahoma. I applaud the bipartisanship shown in the Senate tonight and in the House of Representatives earlier this week by passing House Bill 1010XX. Those voting yes answered the call from the public by voting teachers a pay raise and putting the state on a solid foundation for the future. I will follow through on their courage and action by signing House Bill 1010XX. I appreciate our lawmakers putting people over politics by approving this package of revenue measures to fund teacher pay raises as well as provide additional money for the classroom. This budget package also helps set us on a path to long-term sustainability and stability by making more recurring revenue available and helps us to stop balancing our budget with one-time funds.”

State Superintendent of Public Education Joy Hofmeister commended the bipartisan legislation, but noted there's more work to be done. "While this legislation is far from all that needs to be done to reverse years of education funding cuts, it is a tremendous step forward. There is no one more important than the teacher in classroom instruction, and House Bill 1010-XX will be critical in retaining and recruiting teachers. This vote is a bright light for public education in Oklahoma.”

“This is progress, but it should not be a one-time deal," said Senate Democratic Leader John Sparks. "Moving forward, we need to make sure that Oklahoma invests in education. This means we need sustainable revenues that will allow us to restore funding for our classrooms which has been cut for over a decade.

“We’re giving teachers a much deserved raise now, but we need to continue to improve teacher salaries in Oklahoma in coming years. We also need to continue working to provide much needed salary increases to school support personnel and state employees.

“The job is not done. We will continue working tomorrow and for the remainder of the legislative session to properly fund education in Oklahoma.”

Berryhill High School senior serves as State Senate page

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(SUBMITTED).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Berryhill High School senior, Courtney Buttler served as a Senate page for State Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, during the fifth week of the legislative session from March 5-8, 2018. Courtney is the daughter of Sand Springs resident Sheree Buttler.

Sand Springs Education Foundation Hall of Fame inductees announced for 2018

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Jerry L. Halcomb, Cathy Lynn Burdge, and Charles Marvin Hughes were recently announced as the Class of 2018 inductees into the Sand Springs Education Foundation Hall of Fame. The induction will be held at the organization's annual banquet on Thursday, April 26.

Hughes graduated Sand Springs High School in 1952 and was immediately drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played for the Cardinals' organization for two years before being drafted into the U.S. Army and serving in Germany.

After his Army discharge, Hughes attained his Master Instructor's license in cosmetology and helped write the first test requirements for the Oklahoma State Cosmetology Board. He opened Adam and the First Lady salon in Sand Springs, and later founded the Scissors franchise which grew to nearly a dozen locations throughout the Tulsa Metropolitan Area.

Hughes coached youth baseball and was a weekly fan in attendance at Sandite football games until his passing in 2013 at the age of 79. 

Halcomb graduated Sand Springs High School in 1957, then graduated with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Architecture from Oklahoma State University and received a diploma from Ecole des Beaux-Arts at Fountainbleau, France.  He founded HH Architects in 1971 and specialized in church design before retiring in 2013. He was inducted into the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2012, an honor available to only the top 3% of AIA members. After retiring from HH Architects, he founded Studio H Architects.

Also a musician, Halcomb previously performed with the Shadow Lake 8 Orchestra, which was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2013. His band, Texas RoundUp, has been performing for more than forty years. Halcomb is a deacon at First Baptist Dallas, which he has attended since 1965. 

Burdge graduated Charles Page High School in 1973 and has spent her life in service to Sand Springs. Burdge has been an active volunteer with numerous service organizations over the years, including the Civitan Club, Sand Springs Community Services, and the Sand Springs Youth Football Association, the latter of which she serves on as Board Secretary and Cheer Coordinator. She has helped organize the Mayor's Cup softball tournament and the Downhill Derby soapbox car race. She also works as the Attendance Clerk at CPHS. 

The Hall of Fame Banquet includes dinner and a silent auction, and is held at the Ed Dubie Field House at 500 North Adams Road. The SSEF is a 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible. All donations from SSEF events go to fund the "Grants to Teachers" program for Sand Springs Public Schools. For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or further information, please contact Foundation Director Tirita Montross at 918.245.6779.

Attorney General Hunter Sends Letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Ross, Requesting Reinstatement of Citizenship Question on 2020 Census

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter has led a coalition of thirteen states in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, requesting the agency reinstate a question on the 2020 Census regarding citizenship.

The citizenship question was omitted for the first time in decades in the 2010 Census, something the letter to Ross says creates less reliable data for state officials to use when determining districts based on population. The result is that legally eligible voters may have their votes diluted or distorted. 

Additionally, not including the question hurts districts with minority groups that have large non-citizen populations. The letter explains, good data in minority districts is necessary to ensure the citizen population is large enough to elect the minority group’s candidate of choice. Without accurate data, states cannot obtain certainty about whether they comply with the Voting Rights Act’s requirements.

Attorney General Hunter said the census is the only fair way to draw district lines and collect information about the nation. 

“Inaccurate counts harm the rights of United States citizens,” Attorney General Hunter said. “Additionally, billions of dollars in federal funds are at stake, which includes money for children’s health programs in under-served areas. Using incorrect numbers stands to disproportionately allocate these funds. We encourage the Department of Commerce to act by including the citizenship question in the 2020 census.”

In the letter, the state officials argue that the current method to collect data about citizenship, the American Community Survey (ACS), is substandard and less accurate than census data because it draws from only one in every 38 households. The smaller sample size translates to a larger margin of error.

“Citizenship still matters,” the letter concludes. “It is a privilege that is important and meaningful and not lightly ignored. Non-citizens can be valuable members of our community, but citizenship rightly confers benefits and responsibilities that must be taken seriously.

“Chief among them is the right to vote. Voting is the most precious right of every citizen – it provides the means to participate, to influence and to articulate his concerns to the government. Including a simple question in the census will impose a minimal burden on the government and the residents surveyed, but this small step will have a significant and positive impact on the policies and constitution of our great republic.”

In addition to Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, the letter was signed by the Attorneys General of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, as well as the Governors of Kentucky and Mississippi. 

Read the letter, here: http://bit.ly/2tQP682. 

Governor Mary Fallin Signs 2018 Fiscal Year Budget Bill

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Governor Mary Fallin, with Secretary of State, Education and Workforce Development Dave Lopez watching, on Tuesday signs House Bill 1020XX, the 2018 fiscal year budget bill.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed House Bill (HB) 1020XX, the Fiscal Year 2018 budget bill, into law. The $6.98 billion budget covers the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The measure cuts state spending by about $44.7 million and requires every state agency to cut about 2 percent from their budgets over the next four months. It is the result of two special sessions that Fallin convened after three health-related agencies were plunged into a $214 million budget shortfall last August when a proposed smoking cessation fee was struck down by the state Supreme Court.

Fallin urged lawmakers to pass revenue and reform measures to make up the funding gap. However, members in the House of Representatives failed to muster the required three-fourths majority necessary for certain revenue measures.

“Most House Democrats chose politics over people by refusing to vote for the budget package,” said Fallin. “Their no votes resulted in votes against a teacher pay raise, funding our health and human services and protecting our most vulnerable citizens, and against putting our state on a stable budget path forward. Unfortunately, House Democrats kept moving the goalposts and the people of Oklahoma are the ones who lost.

 “Developing a budget in this difficult fiscal and political climate is never easy. This budget keeps our government operating and, despite challenging circumstances, funds our core mission services. Passage of the Step Up Oklahoma plan, House Bill 1033XX that failed earlier this month would have helped fill our budget hole for the current fiscal year as well as put Oklahoma on a more stable budget path.”

The governor also signed HB 1021XX, which states legislative intent that a number of social service programs, mainly for the elderly and disabled, be kept at their original budgetary levels.

Governor Mary Fallin Says Measures in Place to Help Provide Safe Environment for Oklahoma Students

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today assured Oklahomans that measures are in place intended to keep Oklahoma students safe.

The Oklahoma School Security Institute, created under legislation signed into law in 2013 by Fallin, operates under the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security. The institute continues to offer schools training in numerous areas, and provides other services, such as security assessments at school campuses.

“The state of Oklahoma has a duty to do everything we can to keep our children safe. Every parent should have their child come home safely,” said Fallin. “The Oklahoma School Security Institute ensures that schools are well prepared for emergencies of all kinds. It also helps to provide more training and better coordination between law enforcement and education professionals.”

Kim Edd Carter, director of the Office of Homeland Security, said the institute’s staff of three also works with the State Department of Education to provide training it proposes schools obtain. More information may be found here.

 The Office of Homeland Security partners with Oklahoma’s fusion center to provide a free statewide tip line for school security reporting. Information reported to the tip line is forwarded to the appropriate school administrators and local law enforcement authorities.

Persons may email concerns to the tip line program, Tipline.OK.gov. It is available for anyone to report suspicious activity or a possible threat to any Oklahoma school. Reports may be made anonymously. Or persons may call (855) 337-8300.

“When parents send their children off to school, they expect their children to be safe,” Carter said. “The Oklahoma School Security Institute staff works with school officials to provide a secure environment for our students.”

The homeland security office also offers active-shooter training to law enforcement officers, he said. About 7,000 of the state’s law officers have undergone such training.

Carter said the Office of Homeland Security is launching a single-officer response course on active-shooter response.

Another major training course offered by the homeland security office is the law enforcement first-responder course, which trains officers how to use tourniquets, chest seals, and wound packing materials that are needed after a shooting.  When the officer graduates from this eight-hour course, he is given a small kit that contains the tools he had been trained to use. Those kits are purchased by the Office of Homeland Security with federal and state funds, Carter said.

A law passed in 2015 gives local public school boards the authority to allow school personnel with a concealed-carry license to attend an armed security-guard training program and be armed on campus.

State law allows private schools to make similar decisions. If a private school has a policy allowing the carrying of weapons, a person with a concealed-carry license may carry a weapon on private school property.

Certified law enforcement personnel, such as school resource officers, may carry firearms in public schools.

The Oklahoma School Security Institute and Rose State College are hosting a panel discussion on school safety at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Rose State College Community Learning Center in Midwest City.

School safety was discussed by Fallin and other governors attending the National Governors Association conference last weekend in Washington, D.C., during a meeting with President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Rick Scott.