ID)--An illegally operated drone was reported Wednesday by Vance Air Force Base to Enid Police Department and shut down flight operations as law enforcement officers searched for the operator. According to a statement from Vance Air Force Base public affairs, the drone was seen by a T-38 pilot at 1,500 feet above ground level. The T-38 came within 1,000 feet of the drone and was "close enough that the pilot could spot the drone as he passed it," according to the Vance statement. The pilot reported the drone to the base supervisor of flying, and the base subsequently reported the incident to EPD and filed a report with the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command. EPD Lt. Eric Holtzclaw told Enid News and Eagle the 2 p.m. call reported a drone operating in the Vance flight path north of Enid in the area of Chisholm High School and Golden Oaks Senior Living within the flight path of Vance Air Force Base aircraft. EPD officers as well as deputies from Garfield County Sheriff's Office, were sent to the area but no one was found operating a drone. Federal Aviation Administration rules require drones to fly no more than 400 feet above ground level. There also are rules for operating drones near airports and military bases. Vance halted flight operations in the T-38 pattern for nearly two hours and "multiple training opportunities in the pattern were lost (practice landings and emergency patterns) due to this drone," according to the base statement. The statement from Vance also reiterated the danger of flying a drone in occupied airspace. "Flying a drone near a military installation is prohibited by the FAA," according to the Vance statement. "It endangers the lives of our aircrews and the citizens we fly over."
The FAA encourages the public to report unauthorized drone operations to local law enforcement or to the local flight standards district office for Oklahoma at (405) 951-4200.
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GS)--400 EHS seniors will graduate during Enid High’s virtual ceremony set for 7:30 tonight. The event will be broadcast on Enid Television Network, YouTube TV and Facebook Live. Enid High School also has an in-person graduation ceremony tentatively scheduled for June 18 at D. Bruce Selby Stadium, or at Chisholm Trail Expo Center should inclement weather occur. A third option has an in-person ceremony set for July 30.
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PF)--The Enid Fire Department responded Wednesday afternoon to a report of a fire between Atwoods Ranch and Home and Atwoods Distributing. Enid Fire Marshal Ken Helms said the call just before 1:30 reported burning pallets of cardboard in the area between the store and the distribution center on South Garland. According to the report, the waste cardboard had been bundled and was awaiting disposal when it ignited. Firefighters had difficulty reaching the area where the pallets were, but once they did, they had the fire extinguished quickly. No injuries were reported.
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MC)--The annual Memorial Day celebration at Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park will be a virtual event due to coronavirus safety precautions, but organizers are urging the public to watch the ceremony and reflect on the sacrifices made by America's service men and women. Elaine Johns, executive director of Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park (WWOH), said some aspects of the annual event, and some special events planned for the park's 20th anniversary, had to be postponed or cancelled because of the pandemic. But, she said there was no way they weren't going to honor veterans on Memorial Day, even if it has to be virtually. The Red Dirt Run of Honor 5K and half marathon still will take place Saturday, but with each runner participating separately, at a location of their choice. Registration is available at https://www.itsyourrace.com. WWOH staff will be available at the museum 8-9 a.m. Saturday for runners to pick up medals. The online Memorial Day ceremony was recorded Wednesday and will be shown on the WWOH Facebook page at 10:00 a.m. Monday at https://www.facebook.com/WoodringWall. Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park is located at 1026 S. 66th.
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BD)--The Oklahoma Blood Institute is urging all eligible Oklahomans to donate blood immediately due to harsh impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, more than a month’s worth of blood collections have been lost. Hospital usage is rising as surgeries return to normal levels, and without rapidly increased donation rates – blood supplies will soon hit crisis levels. The OBI Enid donor center, at 301 E. Cherokee, is partnering with Oklahoma Pork Council for the annual Pork Council Blood Drive, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. today and Friday. My Country KOFM will be broadcasting from the Enid drive today 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Every donor will receive a limited edition bacon-themed T-shirt, a pulled-pork sandwich and a chance to win a grill.
Any civic club, church or organization that would like to host a blood drive can contact OBI Enid at (580) 233-9323. Donors also can visit OBI.org or call (877) 340-8777 to schedule an appointment. Most people older than 15 and in good health can donate. The entire process takes about an hour.
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