Senate approves increased fiscal transparency for state agencies; bill enacts one of grand jury’s 2018 recommendations

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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate approved legislation to improve fiscal transparency and accountability of Oklahoma’s state agencies. Senate Bill 177, by Sen. Ron Sharp, was one of the seven recommendations made by the multi-grand jury in May 2018 following the discovery of financial issues at the State Department of Health.

SB 177 requires state agencies to provide a balance sheet and statement of revenues, expenditures and changes in fund balances as prescribed by the State Auditor and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).

“Not only was this a grand jury recommendation to prevent future misuse of funds and financial deception by state agencies, but Oklahomans have demanded more agency accountability and transparency of their tax funds.  These are their hard-earned dollars, and they deserve to know how every penny is spent.” Sharp said.

The financial information is to be published online by January 1, 2021.  The bill was written with input from the State Auditor, OMES and the State Comptroller.

“We must ensure that the deceit and financial mismanagement that occurred at the state Health Department a couple of years ago never happens in our state government again. By publishing the information online, the public can help the legislature hold our state agencies more accountable,” Sharp said. “Full transparency and accountability ensure that tax dollars are used efficiently to support the state services Oklahomans need.”

Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, is the principal House author of SB 177, which now moves to the House for further consideration.

Ten Best Sand Springs Snowmen - Submitted by Readers

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Sand Springs got a great little snow fall last week, and two days off of school gave our Sandites lots of time to work on some wonderful snowmen. Here are our ten favorite submissions:

Well-executed classic look with gloved hands and a little patriotism tossed in. Submitted by Rebecca Davis.

Creative tribute to one of Sand Springs’s best corporate citizens! Submitted by Wendy Susan Stanley McEntire.

Bonus points for nice clean snow and big ole eyes! Submitted by Cassie Hathaway.

Hard work makes Camden hungry. Photo submitted by Jill Nowlin Brewer.

Size isn’t everything, but if it was, this would be the winner. Huge snowman submitted by Megan Harris.

The straw hat snowman matches the house with a nice frontier look that perfectly represents Oklahoma. Submitted by Michelle Pearson.

Our only submission with a hat made of snow. Brilliant! Submitted by Angela Minney Turner.

Perfectly executed classic. Submitted by Jennifer Phillips Smith.

Pristine snow, well made, and the human lips sold it. Submitted by Erricka Stane.

A perfect Frosty, complete with a top-hat and pipe. Submitted by Ariel Casey.

Next time it snows, get creative and send in your photos to sanditepridenews@gmail.com or message us on social media!

Bill to improve school safety heads to House for final consideration

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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Senate passed legislation Wednesday to provide more local control for school districts to decide how to protect their students. Senator David Bullard, R-Durant, is author of House Bill 2336. The measure would allow a local board of education to voluntarily adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel who hold a valid reserve peace officer certification or possess a valid handgun license. School personnel will also be required to complete “campus-specific active shooter training” conducted by local law enforcement.

“This bill will let our local districts and boards decide what works best for their schools especially in rural areas where law enforcement can’t respond as quickly to incidents as in urban areas,” Bullard said.  “Currently, in order to carry on school grounds, personnel and teachers must be CLEET certified, which is unattainable for most because it’s so expensive and time prohibitive. For those districts that choose to authorize personnel to carry, this legislation will let them work with their local law enforcement for active shooting training in their own schools. This will be much more beneficial than being trained in a facility in another city should a real incident occur.”

Currently, teachers and school personnel must complete a 240-hour Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) certification to carry on school grounds. HB 2336 replaces the CLEET training requirement with ether the eight-hour concealed carry class or the 72 hours of armed security guard training along with the active shooter training.

“Most of our rural schools are vulnerable to these types of shootings because they can’t afford a resource officer or other security, and it takes local law enforcement too long to get to the schools,” Bullard said.  “Schools in my district strongly support this measure. They understand that other schools may have more options for security because of their finances, but for those schools who don’t have the money, they want to be able to properly protect their students.”

Rep. Sean Roberts is the House author of HB 2336, which was requested by the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association.

The amended bill now returns to the House for final consideration.

Oklahoma to resume execution by lethal injection

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OKLAHOMA CITY – State officials including Gov. Kevin Stitt, Attorney General Mike Hunter and Department of Corrections (DOC) Director Scott Crow announced today that the state has found a reliable supply of drugs to resume executions by lethal injection.

The state will use an updated version of the previous protocol that includes recommendations by the 2016 multicounty grand jury. The three drugs that will continue to be used are: midazolam, vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride. 

Additionally, officials with the Attorney General’s Office have complied with the notice provisions of the joint stipulations, thus enabling the state to request execution dates for inmates who have exhausted their appeals after 150 days.

“It is important that the state is implementing our death penalty law with a procedure that is humane and swift for those convicted of the most heinous of crimes,” Gov. Stitt said. “Director Crow and Attorney General Mike Hunter have worked diligently and thoroughly to create a path forward to resume the death penalty in Oklahoma, and the time has come to deliver accountability and justice to the victims who have suffered unthinkable loss and pain.”

Although the state previously announced the move to nitrogen hypoxia as the preferred method of execution, the 2015 law allowing the state to develop a method for nitrogen hypoxia specifically states death sentences shall be carried out by nitrogen hypoxia only if the drugs for lethal injections are unavailable.

“My commitment to Oklahomans who remain tormented by the loss of their loved ones has been that we would go any route necessary to resume executions as expeditiously as possible within the rule of law,” Attorney General Hunter said. “They have endured enough through the decades of waiting on the lengthy appeals process and the state’s attempts to get the protocol right. I appreciate Director Crow and his team for their tireless search to acquire the drugs from a reliable source. Because of these efforts, we can finally tell the victims their wait for justice is nearly over.”  

The updated protocol includes several of the recommendations by the 2016 multicounty grand jury, including a verification of execution drugs at every step in the process, more training for the execution teams, among others.

Also, consistent with the multicounty grand jury recommendations, the DOC continues to work on a protocol that will allow the state to proceed by execution through nitrogen hypoxia when appropriate.

“Under this enhanced protocol, Oklahoma Department of Corrections stands ready to resume executions recommended by a jury of peers, sentenced by an impartial judge, and mandated by law,” Director Crow said. “I thank Governor Stitt and Attorney General Hunter for their leadership, which helped create this improved process. Additionally, I am deeply grateful for the patience of victims’ families and loved ones as we worked to ensure Oklahoma’s executions resume and are carried out in a meticulous manner.”

To read the updated protocol, click here.  

Letter to Sand Springs from City Council candidate Justin Sean Tockey

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Residents of Ward 3 in Sand Springs will get the opportunity to vote for City Councilman Tuesday, February 11th. City Council is an unpaid position. Current Councilman Mike Burdge, 68, has been in office since 1996, including 13 years as Mayor and 6 years as Vice Mayor. His challenger is Justin Sean Tockey, 39. Both candidates have been invited to address their constituents directly. The following is a letter to our readers from Mr. Tockey.

“Hello Sandites!  I want to thank you for the opportunity to campaign for and, if elected, serve as a Sand Springs City Councilor.  I understand that this is an important decision for our town so I wanted to provide everyone with some background info on me, my values, and the vision I believe we can achieve to make Sand Springs the #1 place to live in Oklahoma.

Our family arrived in Sand Springs in 1959 where my Dad and Grandpa owned and operated Moon’s Paint and Body Shop on Charles Page Blvd.  My brothers and I attended Sand Springs public schools and I graduated from CPHS, class of ‘98. During senior year, it was my pleasure to serve as the varsity team mascot, the Minuteman, and help the Sandites go undefeated all the way to the semi-finals.  

After high school, I attended Tulsa Community College until September 11th, 2001 when I decided to join the U.S. Navy to help combat terrorism abroad.  Over the next 12 years, I met the most amazing person ever, Sarah Trzynka, and we ended up getting married and having two kids, Samantha and Gabriel. In 2013, I was forced to choose between another deployment or to separate from the Navy and spend more time with my family.  It wasn’t an easy choice and there was no wrong answer but I chose family.

When deciding where to live after the service, I couldn’t think of a better place, in all my travels, to raise our kids than in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.  The challenge was to somehow convince Sarah that my hometown was better than Wahiawa, Hawaii, where we were living at the time. It was a tough sell but because she’s from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, we both understand the tremendous value of midwest family culture and affordable cost-of-living!

We moved back to Sand Springs in 2014 where I lucked into a career in the financial industry and am happily serving as a Financial Planner for the Oklahoma Methodist Foundation.  Sarah was able to keep her clients from Hawaii and works as Landscape Designer from our home office. Our kids attend school in Sand Springs, including our third child, Archer, who graced us with his arrival last year.

I’ve watched this town grow for nearly 40 years and am very thankful to have the chance to continue our family’s roots here.  Sand Springs isn’t without its problems but the benefits far outweigh the costs and I intend to work hard to keep it that way.  With the help of our other amazing volunteers in the City Council, I want to see our schools flourish, our businesses boom, and every soul to be warm, safe, and fed.  That’s the legacy that Charles Page left for us and I’m excited to be able to carry that torch.

Please cast your vote for Justin Sean Tockey as your Sand Springs City Councilor, Ward 3, on February 11th.  For voter registration info or to check your polling place, visit:  

https://okvoterportal.okelections.us “

Keri Fothergill appointed as Tulsa County District 2 Chief Deputy under Karen Keith

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Earlier this month, Keri Fothergill was appointed District 2 Commissioner Karen Keith’s Chief Deputy. Fothergill replaces John Fothergill who moved to the Tulsa County Treasurer’s Office to serve as First Deputy.

Keri Fothergill comes to Tulsa County from the City of Tulsa where she most recently served in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development as Development and Constituent Services Liaison. In this capacity, Fothergill coordinated and facilitated business and land development procedures, projects, and programs for the City.

Throughout her career, Fothergill has served in numerous related functions including:

  • Community Involvement Coordinator for City of Tulsa Refuse and Recycling Department

  • Constituent Services/Real Estate for Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.

  • Commercial Project Manager/Government Liaison for Williams & Williams Auction

  • Council Legislative Aide for Tulsa City Council

  • Mayoral Aide for Mayor Bill LaFortune and Mayor Susan Savage

  • Event Coordinator for Tulsa Metro Chamber

The Sand Springs resident has also served as Commissioner for the Sand Springs Planning and Development Commissions. She was also a Tulsa Global Alliance Board Member.

“I’ve worked as a public servant since 2001, but this is the first opportunity for me to have my day job impact my own community,” said Fothergill. “Working for the City of Tulsa was wonderful; I look forward to working in District 2 with the people I call friends and neighbors. I will be their champion and help them make an impact not only in District 2 but through all of Tulsa County.”

Echoing Fothergill’s sentiments, Commissioner Keith said “The common thread through all Keri’s extensive experience, which I saw firsthand when I worked with her at the City, is her focus on serving as a liaison between the government and its constituents. This simply made her the best choice for my new Chief Deputy. The ease with which she can develop, coordinate, and implement initiatives that positively affect the community and the local government is just one of the many reasons I approached her about this position. I am so pleased she is on board and am looking forward to all she will accomplish.”

Jack Blair, Chief of Staff for Mayor G.T. Bynum, said of Keri’s movement to the County, “Keri is the most diligent and hard-working person I’ve worked with on a regular basis since I started working with the City. We were very sorry to lose her, but we know she’ll do an outstanding job for the County. The work she’ll be doing is the kind of work she was doing so effectively here—she solves problems for constituents, and she does that better than anyone else I know.”

Those in the development community have also noted how valuable Fothergill will be in her new role at the County.

“Keri is a highly accomplished and credible individual,” said Stacey Bayles, Director of Association Issues for the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Tulsa. “She will certainly be able to build upon what John did and what can be done in the future. She earned her nickname with us as ‘the fixer’ because of her ability to facilitate relationships. It’s what allows the ‘fixing’ to occur. She’s just tremendous at relationship building. We hated to lose her as a partner with the City, but this is an important step for the relevance of the County, and we see it as nothing but a positive move.”

Jeff Smith, Executive Vice President/CEO for of the HBA of Greater Tulsa, expanded on Bayles comments, saying “Honest and accessible, Keri Fothergill recognizes that the issues, problems, and misunderstandings that affect business are not only important for the businesses themselves, but for the public sector agencies that depend on private sector resources. For almost two decades, Keri has provided constituents with the highest level of customer service that is responsive and results driven. In particular, the HBA holds Keri Fothergill in the highest esteem for her industry knowledge and effective communication. Without a doubt, she is the right person to address the needs and concerns of Tulsa County constituents now and in the future.”

ONEOK donates $150,000 to repair Sand Springs park damaged in flood

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Sand Springs, OK- Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. has received a major donation from ONEOK to assist with the continued flood recovery at Case Community Park. ONEOK announced the gifting of $150,000 to Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. for work at the park’s heavily damaged softball complex.

Following the flooding events of May 2019, the entire 100 acre Case Community Park was submerged beneath six feet of flowing water. The impact leveled fences, uprooted large trees, ruined sports playing surfaces and pulled apart electrical connections buried within the sports complex.

Following today’s gift from ONEOK, the Parks Department will oversee repairs to the softball complex in the coming weeks, replacing it to a pre-flood condition in time for the opening of the 2020 softball season.

“We’ve built this wonderful park with great partnerships and community support over the years”, stated City of Sand Springs Parks Director Jeff Edwards. “We’re grateful for ONEOK and their support of our mission to rebuild the softball complex and deliver quality of life services to our citizens.”

Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. was created in 2007 by the City of Sand Springs City Council to help facilitate an easy, visible tool to generate philanthropic support and create improvements to the City’s parks system. Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization registered with the State of Oklahoma and the IRS to accept charitable contributions.

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Face Book and Instagram for the latest updates.

Sand Springs to host free Storm Spotter Training Class

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Nasty weather that endangers lives and damages properties can occur in Oklahoma at any time of the year. Understanding what is going on in the skies above can be a life or death proposition.

Trained citizen storm spotters play a critical role in providing life-saving information to local emergency managers and meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Tulsa.

If you are interested in participating in a free storm spotter training class, please plan to attend this year’s event. Hosted by meteorologists from the Tulsa office of the National Weather Service, the class will take place at the community room of the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center, 602 W. Morrow Rd. (south of Walmart) at the 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. No pre-registration is necessary.

The training benefits all citizens – from those affiliated with storm spotting organizations to those who just want a better understanding of what is happening around them when skies turn ominous. The class includes videos of severe storms, information on storm development and identification as well as statistics on severe storms and the damages they cause.

The training will help citizens discern between storms that have severe weather potential from those that only have menacing-looking clouds.

Although recent technology has greatly enhanced meteorologists’ abilities to provide critical and accurate storm information, trained storm spotters are irreplaceable for providing on-the-ground accounts of what is actually happening at specific locations. Many citizens have taken the class over the years to enhance their peace of mind, as well as possibly save the lives of others during a weather emergency.

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Face Book and Instagram for the latest updates.

Senator Nathan Dahm files legislation prohibiting traffic citation quotas

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State Senator Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed legislation prohibiting law enforcement entities from enacting policies that require officers, justices or judges to meet traffic citation quotas.

“It’s no secret that some jurisdictions may emphasize writing tickets at different times to try and generate more revenue,” Dahm said. “Our peace officers shouldn’t be pushed by their employers to focus on writing extra tickets or collecting extra revenue from citations.”

Senate Bill 1264 would prohibit any political subdivision or agency of the state to maintain, require or suggest policies that employee evaluations, promotions, compensation or discipline may be based on the issuance of a specified number of traffic citations by law enforcement officers, or the amount of revenue a court justice or judge collects from these citations.

The bill does not prohibit municipalities from obtaining budgetary information from the courts, including estimates of court collections in a budget year.

“Prohibiting quotas will allow our law enforcement officers to better serve our communities by keeping their focus on protecting our citizens, not bolstering revenue.” Dahm said.

Metal Forming Solutions Announces Company Transition

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Metal Forming Solutions Announces Company Transition

This new company, Metal Forming Solutions (MFS) is positioned to better represent the expansion and evolution of the organization and highlight who they are and how they intend to position themselves in the marketplace.

J&J Custom Bending was formed in 1986 and later incorporated in 1993 as Cust-O-Bend, Inc; a company which provided only Cold Bending services, with a niche servicing the tight radius and special metals bending applications. In 2000, with the acquisition of Hot Forming equipment, Cust-O-Bend, Inc expanded its product offerings to include Butt-Weld Fittings, Swage Nozzles and Reducers. Over the last 32 years, Cust-O-Bend has grown to become the leading and only manufacturer in the United States that provides Hot Forming and Cold Forming solutions for their customers.

The new company, Metal Forming Solutions (MFS), represents the successful outcome of a deep and focused reflection following the passing of Cust-O-Bend’s founder, Jerry W. Herrington, in October 2018.

Jeremy Herrington, the President of Metal Forming Solutions (MFS), made the announcement to customers on December 31st, 2018. MFS is focused on a mission to continuously provide innovative solutions in its industry, manufacture high-quality products and provide customer-centric service that exceeds the expectations of its clients.

32 years ago, Jeremy Herrington first began working in this industry with his father’s company. As his knowledge of their products and the industries they served grew and his personal leadership within his fathers’ company expanded, Jeremy became Vice President of Cust-O-Bend leading the company to become one of the most respected manufacturers of hot forming, cold forming and coiling solutions.

The name Metal Forming Solutions reflects our progression and intention, to design solutions/services beyond Cold Bending and represents Jeremy’s solution-oriented commitment to MFS’s customers and the markets it serves. Metal Forming Solutions will continue to serve customers across a wide range of industries and forming applications worldwide.

Jeremy Herrington states that “we have a unique niche in the marketplace as our Hot Forming, Cold Forming and Coiling capabilities give us the ability to serve customers with any of their forming requirements, kind of a ‘one-stop does it all’ from high-pressure and low-pressure fluid flow applications down to complex or simple structural forming requirements, and everything in between. I love this field for that reason, 99% invisible to us all is the shape and form of our world around us, everything has form.”

Metal Forming Solutions is fortunate to have talented, knowledgeable and highly experienced team members which allows them to service their customers like no others. Jeremy has always cited that service is his number one priority “if we are not consistently making our customers lives easier by doing business with us, then why do they need us?”.

Following substantial investments in operations, technology, its manufacturing facilities, product development, and its team, Metal Forming Solutions today, stands firm, tall and ready to dynamically move its business forward to achieve even more success in the years ahead.

Metal Forming Solutions represents the culmination of intentional effort to be a strong, unified and focused organization that better serves a wider-breadth of clientele.

With the organizational transformation efforts implemented, Metal Forming Solutions is now focused on providing innovative and exceptional custom-made solutions to the marketplace, building out its offering and expanding its portfolio.

About Metal Forming Solutions:

Metal Forming Solutions, is a family-owned and operated business which provides industry-leading Hot Forming, Cold Forming and Coiling solutions to clients worldwide; servicing many applications across various industries including, but not limited to, Power Generation, Boiler and HRSG Steam Energy, Electric Energy, Nuclear Energy, Coal-Generation, Bio-Mass and Renewable Energy, Heaters, Furnaces, Economizers and Shell & Tube, Chemical, Petro-Chemical and Ethanol Refining Fluid and Gas Circulatory, Transmission and Transportation; Pressure Vessel & Gas Distribution, Marine Vessels (PED) Automotive, Aero-Space, Commercial and Industrial HVAC, Commercial and Construction Structural and so much more.

Gilcrease Expressway project financing partnership authorized

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Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Jan. 6, meeting include commission approval of several Oklahoma Department of Transportation school zone safety projects and an item related to the agency’s partnership with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on the Gilcrease Expressway project in Tulsa. Commissioners also heard updates on federal transportation funding and the state’s first transit plan.

Commissioners voted to approve use of federal funds for several school zone safety projects, including installation of signs with solar-powered warning beacons near schools on SH-4 in Mustang and on US-77 and SH-19 in Pauls Valley. Other school zone signage locations approved include SH-48 in Bearden, SH-270 in McLoud, US-77 in Paoli and SH-66 in Stroud.

The commission voted to authorize Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz to negotiate an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to help finance the Gilcrease Expressway project in Tulsa using a loan through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. With ODOT’s assistance, OTA is seeking a TIFIA loan to provide the most favorable payment and interest terms to help the authority fund construction of the five-mile segment of the new highway between I-44 and US-412, which will be paid off with toll revenues. Other project partners include the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County, Indian Nations Council of Governments and the Federal Highway Administration. Gatz also leads OTA as its executive director. For more information about the project, including cost and schedule, visit the OTA’s project webpage at www.drivingforwardok.com.

“This segment of the Gilcrease Expressway has been challenging to fund and this arrangement is a great example of local, state and federal government entities working together to leverage their resources to bring a major project forward that would have never happened otherwise,” Gatz said. 

Gatz updated commissioners on the recently approved federal appropriations bill that authorizes funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2020. In December, Congress and the president agreed on a long-term appropriations measure that will provide certainty in federal transportation funding for the remainder of FY 2020, allowing ODOT to continue advertising projects for bid and awarding contracts with federal funds through the fiscal year.

Finally, Gatz reported to commissioners on stakeholder meetings taking place statewide as part of development of the Oklahoma Public Transit Policy Plan. The department and the Oklahoma Transit Association are hosting regional meetings in several cities to get local input on needs from transit providers and users to help shape the state’s transit program. Meetings in McAlester and Lawton occurred in December and upcoming meetings are planned for Pryor, Durant, Oklahoma City, Woodward and Ponca City. Meeting details and more information about the plan can be found at www.oktransitplan.org. 

The department also welcomed an award from the American Concrete Pavement Association for a pavement rehabilitation project on I-35 and I-40 in Oklahoma County that recently earned a National Gold Award for excellence in design and construction. The $10.5 million project designed by ODOT and built by Duit Construction, of Edmond, addressed sections of I-35 between Edmond and northeast Oklahoma City and I-40 on the city’s west side.

As is customary, no new highway projects were advertised for bid in December, so no construction contracts were awarded this month. Projects advertised for bid in January can be viewed at www.odot.org/contracts.

The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards monthly contracts for road and bridge construction. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3. Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.odot.org.

Sand Springs to begin Main Street expansion project with new Highway 412 on-ramp

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Sand Springs, OK - Road construction work will begin along south portions of Main Street as early as next week. ODOT’s $7.7M project is part of a cost share program, with 20% of the funding provided by the City of Sand Springs.

Main Street will be widened from 1st Street, southward to Morrow Road. Creation of the Lincoln On-Ramp Connector will provide traffic connection to eastbound HWY 412. Main Street, south of Morrow Road, will tie into HWY 97 from the east. A traffic signal light will be added to the new intersection of HWY 97 & Main Street.

The project includes $5.5M for roadway improvements, with $1.8 dedicated to storm water/sewer drainage. Remaining funds will be used for water line and sewer line extensions. Completion of the ODOT-managed project is estimated at 18 months.

“Sand Springs is growing, and we are committed to keeping pace with rising traffic needs in our community,” stated Mayor Jim Spoon. “We are very appreciative of the benefits the City will receive through participation in ODOT’s cost share program.”

“The Main Street Improvement project will upgrade the efficient flow of traffic during peak travel times,” stated City Manager Elizabeth Gray. “The traffic loop and additional traffic signal will also provide an alternative route for school buses and safety personnel.”

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

City of Sand Springs receives award for Water Fluoridation Quality

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Shell Lake is one of two water sources for Sand Springs, the other being Skiatook Lake.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) recently announced that 13 water systems have been awarded a Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the year 2018.

Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes those communities which achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent optimal level of fluoride in drinking water throughout 2018.

During 2018, a total of 1,656 public water systems in 30 states received these awards, including 13 in Oklahoma.

“The Oklahoma State Department of Health supports community water fluoridation and recognizes the practice as beneficial to all who drink and use the water,” said Dr. Jana Winfree, director of the OSDH Dental Health Service. “Preventive dental care programs, such as community water fluoridation, make a real difference in improving the health of Oklahomans.”

Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. CDC recommends water fluoridation as one of the most practical, cost-effective, equitable, and safe measures a community can take to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health.

“Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that a community can make in maintaining the oral health of its citizens. It is equally as effective in preventing cavities in children and adults,” said Casey Hannan, acting director of the CDC Division of Oral Health. “Fluoridation is also highly cost effective. Studies continue to show that for every $1 a community invests in water fluoridation, $20 are saved in dental treatment costs.”

The following water systems received awards:

  • Bartlesville

  • Chickasha Municipal Authority

  • Madill

  • Muskogee

  • Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority (OOWA) – Pryor

  • Oklahoma City – Draper

  • Oklahoma State University – Stillwater

  • Ponca City Municipal Water

  • City of Sand Springs

  • Stillwater

  • Tahlequah – Tenkiller

  • Tulsa – A.B. Jewell

  • Tulsa – Mohawk

Oklahoma Senate leaders announce bipartisan effort to encourage U.S. Census participation

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Both Republicans and Democrats in the Oklahoma Senate are joining the effort to get a full count in Oklahoma in the 2020 Census.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, announced on Wednesday that the Senate is forming a 2020 Complete Count Committee.

The U.S. Census Bureau encourages state and local governments, as well as community, business and faith leaders to form Complete Count committees to promote, through a variety of activities, the importance of a full and complete count in the census. Census data drives the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funds every year for infrastructure, including transportation, as well as education programs, health care and more. 

“It is incredibly important that each Oklahoman be counted in the 2020 Census. Increasing our participation rate in the census will provide a more accurate count and has the potential to increase the federal dollars for transportation, education, health care, and other important programs in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Senate and its members will work to encourage higher participation in the 2020 Census through the Complete Count Committee,” Treat said.

In 2010, Oklahoma’s census participation rate was just 75.5 percent. In Texas, the participation rate was 76.5 percent; in Arkansas, the participation rate was 77 percent; while in Kansas, the participation rate was 81.2 percent.

“A complete census count of all Oklahomans is critical for the future of our state,” Floyd said. “When Oklahoma taxpayers send their hard-earned dollars to Washington, they expect to receive a fair share of funding from federal programs in return, but that is not possible without an accurate census count in Oklahoma. This is why members of the Oklahoma Senate are working together on a bipartisan effort to encourage our constituents to participate in the 2020 Census.”

In Fiscal Year 2016, Oklahoma received more than $9.3 billion through 55 federal programs guided by 2010 census data. It is estimated that every person not counted in the census costs the state approximately $1,800 per year in lost federal funding for 10 years. An undercount of just 2 percent could cost the state up to $1.8 billion over a decade.

Census Day will be April 1, 2020, but Oklahoma residents can self-respond to the 2020 Census beginning in early March 2020, via the Internet, by phone, by traditional paper census questionnaire, or in-person with a U.S Census Bureau employee. The U.S. Constitution mandates a full count of the population in Article 1, Section 2. Decennial census counts are used when determining how to allocate federal funds.

For more information, check out the following links from the U.S. Census Bureau:

Senator Young files legislation to boost Oklahoma minimum wage to $10.50

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, has filed legislation to increase Oklahoman’s minimum wage requirement.

Senate Bill 1165 would require employers to pay their employees a minimum wage of $10.50 per hour, or match the federal minimum wage rate, whichever is greater. Oklahoma’s current minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, which is equal to the federal minimum wage.

“The spending power of a minimum wage paycheck has been significantly reduced since the last minimum wage raise more than a decade ago,” Young said, noting the last minimum wage increase in Oklahoma was in 2008 when the rate increased from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour.  

Thirty-one states have a minimum wage requirement higher than the federal minimum, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. While Texas and Kansas match Oklahoma’s $7.25 an hour minimum wage, Missouri’s minimum wage rate is $8.60 per hour and Arkansas’ minimum wage rate is $10 per hour. Both states have plans to further increase their rates in the coming years.

“Oklahomans deserve to be paid fairly so they can offset the rising costs of healthcare, housing and food,” Young said. “Closing the wage gap between the poverty line and middle class would have a tremendous impact on our economy by increasing consumer spending and generating more tax revenue for our municipalities and state.”

 

Sand Springs accepting bids for new visitor center at Keystone Ancient Forest

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Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs announces its plans to publicly bid construction documents for a planned 2,000-square foot visitor center at Keystone Ancient Forest nature preserve, just west of Sand Springs. The City-owned project is the result of public bond support from the Citizens of Sand Springs and major philanthropic support from the Sharna and Irvin Frank Family Foundation.

The 2-level structure is the result of several years of planning, fundraising, master planning and (most recently) architectural design work by Studio45 Architects of Tulsa. Upon completion, the new design will feature a glassed in multi-function observation floor and modern restroom facilities. Below the main observation floor and restrooms, space will be allocated for park maintenance, storage and mechanical building systems. The facility will serve as the formal gateway for visitors to hike and enjoy nearly ten miles of pedestrian hiking at the forest.

The City will advertise for public bids early this month. Interested bidders can contact Grant Gerondale, Community Development Director at (918) 246-2504 for plan set details.

Sealed bids will be received in the temporary office of the City Clerk at 217 N. McKinley Ave until 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. Sealed bids will then be opened at the Case Community Center at 10:15 a.m.

The Keystone Ancient Forest opened for public visitation in October of 2007 and has become one of Oklahoma’s premier hiking destinations. Thousands of hikers enjoy year-round trail hikes amidst the oldest publicly accessible, protected, Crosstimbers forest remnant in the United States.

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Sand Springs student Sean Kuehn selected to serve on Oklahoma Student Advisory Council

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Sean Kuehn (center) receives the August 2018 Sandite Spirit Award. Kuehn was recently selected to serve on the Oklahoma 2020 Student Advisory Council.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister recently announced that 104 Oklahoma high school students have been named to her 2020 Student Advisory Council, the fifth consecutive year the group has been convened to assist Hofmeister and the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) in matters of policy.

Charles Page High School student Sean Kuehn was among the selected representatives.

“As we continue to improve public education, it is imperative to gather feedback and insight directly from Oklahoma students,” Hofmeister said. “Each year I continue to be touched by the wisdom, hope and compassion of these amazing young people who represent their schools and communities.”

Dominant themes voiced by last year’s Student Advisory Council were the importance of personal financial literacy, increased awareness of student mental health needs, and how trauma affects chronic absenteeism and student success. Feedback from the Council has been instrumental in state-level initiatives to provide teachers more professional development in trauma-informed instruction, replace end-of-course high school testing with ACT or SAT, and pilot Individual Career Academic Planning (ICAP).

The students, recommended by their district superintendents, hail from across Oklahoma and represent rural, urban and suburban schools of all sizes. Twenty-four are returning members who have served on the council in previous years.

The first meeting of the Student Advisory Council is scheduled for 10 a.m., Jan. 29, in Room 535 of the State Capitol.

Senator Rob Standridge files bills to combat domestic violence in Oklahoma

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OKLAHOMA CITY – State Senator Rob Standridge, a Republican representing the Norman district, filed four bills Monday aimed to tighten sentences for domestic violence offenders, increase accountability for their actions and further protect their victims.

Headlining the domestic violence bill package is Senate Bill 1103, which cracks down on offenders of assault and battery with intent to cause great bodily harm by strangulation or attempted strangulation. According to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, strangulation victims are 750 percent more likely to be killed than victims who have never been strangled.

SB 1103 increases the penalties associated with strangulation or attempted strangulation by removing the mandatory minimum sentence of one year for a person found to have committed these crimes and increases the maximum term of imprisonment to 10 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC). Additionally, the measure increases the maximum fine from $3,000 to $5,000. Similarly, SB 1103 removes the minimum sentence of 3 years for a second offense, but increases the maximum sentence from 10 to 20 years of imprisonment.

“Strangulation is a gateway offense that can lead to grim outcomes for victims,” Standridge said. “National research says women who are the victims of homicide or attempted homicide are far more likely to have a history of being strangled, compared to abused women with no history of strangulation. There is no ‘pass’ when it comes to strangulation and I’m working to ensure we hold offenders accountable.”  

Standridge paired the strangulation bill with three additional domestic violence bills to further protect victims and increase the penalty associated with domestic assault and battery.

SB 1105 adds domestic assault and battery that results in great bodily injury to the list of 85 percent crimes, meaning a person convicted of this offense must serve 85 percent of his or her sentence before receiving consideration for parole. Additionally, the measure removes a provision requiring a person convicted on this charge to be sentenced up to one year in a county jail. A person convicted of this crime shall be sentenced up to 10 years in prison. Finally, SB 1105 defines domestic assault and battery that results in great bodily injury to the victim as a violent crime.

SB 1104 adds the crime of domestic assault and battery against a known pregnant woman resulting in miscarriage to the list of 85 percent crimes.

SB 1102 authorizes district attorneys to refer persons accused of domestic abuse or assault to a deferred prosecution program. This would require the accused to attend a batterers’ intervention program certified by the Attorney General or other certified treatment program as currently required for defendants with suspended or deferred sentences for the same or similar offenses. The accused would be required to participate in the counseling or treatment for a minimum of 90 days and could not reside with or be in contact with the victim or his or her family.

“We must send the message that domestic assault will not be tolerated in Oklahoma,” Standridge said. “We must do a better job to protect the victims of these crimes and hold those who commit them accountable for their actions.”

Standridge will host an open town hall meeting on Dec. 9 to address domestic violence issues in Oklahoma, discuss his proposed legislation and give an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the upcoming legislative session. The town hall will be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Redbud Room at the Norman Public Library, 103 W. Acres Street.

Sand Springs Assistant City Manager Mike Tinker Passes Away

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Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs is deeply saddened to share news of the passing of Assistant City Manager and longtime Oklahoma civic leader Mike Tinker. Tinker passed away this morning after an ongoing battle with cancer.

Tinker began his tenure with the City in November of 2018. While his service with the City of Sand Springs was short, he brought a wealth of knowledge and insight to the City’s organization.

“We have lost a valued member of our team and a wonderful friend,” stated City Manager Elizabeth Gray. “Mike set the standard for work in municipal government and our organization is better as a result of his time with us. Our staff is deeply saddened and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

Tinker invested nearly three decades of public service and governmental leadership to the Jenks, Collinsville and Sand Springs communities. Prior to his role as a City Manager for Jenks, Tinker served 13 years on the Jenks City Council with 9 years served as Mayor. Tinker also served on the Board of Directors with the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG). He also chaired both INCOG’s General Assembly and INCOG’s Transportation Policy Committee.

Tinker was well known in the region for his professionalism, compassion and dedication to every community in which he served. Services are planned at St. Bernard of Clairvaux with Rosary on Sunday, November 24th at 7:00 p.m. and a Funeral Mass on Monday, November 25th at 2:00 p.m. St. Bernard of Clairvaux is located at 4001 East 101st Street, Tulsa, OK.

*Correction: Service times have been changed from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Monday.

New sex offender reporting law takes effect in Oklahoma

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OKLAHOMA CITY – As of November 1, sex offenders residing with a minor child must now report to the statewide centralized Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) hotline. Previously, only the parent, stepparent or grandparent of a minor had to report to the hotline. Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, authored the bill at the request of DHS to better protect all of Oklahoma’s children.

“This was an oversight in our law that needed to be addressed to ensure law enforcement and DHS are aware of who sex offenders are living with when it comes to minors,” Pugh said. “Given changing relationships, financial or health circumstances, a sex offender may live in multiple locations but it’s important that the authorities always know if there are minors in the home. Having this information will help these agencies better protect those youth should the need arise and hold sex offenders more accountable.”

Offenders are required to report to the hotline within three days of moving. Failing to report to DHS is a felony offense punishable by one to three years in the Department of Corrections’ (DOC) custody.

According to DOC, there are currently 7,050 registered sex offenders in the state.

Click here to view a list of the 51 registered sex offenders in Sand Springs.