TH)—Around 60 residents turned out for a town hall meeting Thursday night in the Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom in downtown Enid. Fourteen panel members, moderated by Demetrius Office, who planned the event, answered questions and listened to the concerns of those in attendance. Office planned this town hall in response to the death of George Floyd, a Minnesota man who died under the knee of a now former Minneapolis police officer May 25, and the protests that have followed. People shared their concerns over COVID-19, racism and education. Panel members included Mayor George Pankonin, City Manager Jerald Gilbert, and city commissioners Jerry Allen, Derwin Norwood, Jonathan Waddell and Rob Stallings. Also in the panel was State Sen. Roland Pederson, State Rep. Chad Caldwell, Enid Police Chief Brian O'Rourke NAACP chapter President Lanita Norwood, Enid School Superintendent Dr. Darrell Floyd, CDSA Executive Director Cheri Ezzell and others.
As a follow-up to a downtown demonstration earlier this week, a demonstration and call to action is planned for noon Sunday at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial at the city administration building, 401 W. Garriott. Forgotten Ministries and other churches are planning on being present at the protests, to offer guidance, water, and food.
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IA)--An Enid woman was injured Tuesday night when the motorcycle she was on struck a car on North Washington. Enid Police officials said 50 year-old Penny Bowen, who was a passenger on a 2001 Harley Davidson, was taken from the scene of the 8:00 p.m. collision by Life EMS to Integris Bass Baptist Heath Center where she was treated for a laceration to her head and a left arm injury. According to the report, 59 year-old Rick Chambers was riding the Harley north on Washington when a 2004 Pontiac pulled out in front of the motorcycle from Ash. According to Enid News and Eagle the driver of the Pontiac, 65-year-old Ricky Lee, told police he stopped at the stop sign and did not see the motorcycle coming when he turned north onto Washington. Chambers said he locked up his brakes trying to avoid the collision but was unable to avoid it. Bowen was ejected from the motorcycle following the collision. Lee was cited for failure to yield right of way.
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SC)--Enid's JCPenney store in Oakwood Mall will be one of 154 stores closed nationwide, the company announced Thursday. The company said closing sales are expected to begin June 12. Store closing sales for the first round of store closures are expected to take 10-16 weeks to complete. The company said it expects additional phases of store closings will begin in the coming weeks. The Enid location is one of six JCPenney stores that will close in Oklahoma. Others are in McAlester, Midwest City, Muskogee, Shawnee and Tulsa. --00-- 05 June 20 9a
SP)--Enid’s two splash pads likely will open Monday, while Champlin Pool is expected to open June 16, following delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic. City Manager Jerald Gilbert said limited hours for the free splash pads, expected to stay open every day, will be decided by Friday. The two pads are located at Hoover Park, 3000 W. Oklahoma, and Champion Park, 725 N. 9th. The pool, at 400 W. Cherokee, will open June 16 with limited hours, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. The first hour will be reserved for lap swimmers and water-walkers. The children’s area of the pool also will be open. To reduce the time cleaning the pool area, deck chairs will be removed and the concession stand will be closed.
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VR)--The deadline to register to vote, or update voter registration, for Oklahoma’s primary election is Friday. The State Election Board’s new voter registration "wizard" process makes it easier to complete a Voter Registration Application, according to state officials. State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said applicants who use the process will receive a transaction code they can use to check the status of the application with their county election boards. The new voter registration wizard allows you to complete your application online, then print, sign and mail the application to your county election board. By using the state election board’s website to fill out your application, you can be certain your personal information is safe and secure. Voters can access it at the OK Voter Portal, https://www.ok.gov/elections/OVP.html.
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BS)--Hospice Circle of Love will hold its spring book sale Friday and Saturday, with precautions in place to make the event a safe environment. The sale will be 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday at 314 S. 3rd. Although there will not be as many tables set up as in the past, in order to practice social distancing, thousands of titles still will be available in a variety of categories. Hardbacks will be $1 and paperbacks will be just 50 cents. There will be a sanitizing station that all patrons will need to use before entering the sale. In addition, people are encouraged to practice social distancing. There will be separate entry and exit points, all workers will be wearing masks, and those attending are encouraged to wear one as well.
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NS)--Enid Public Schools has announced new enrollment dates for students new to EPS for the upcoming school year. Dates are scheduled by grade for the following days: kindergarten enrollment will begin Monday, June 8, grades 1st-5th will begin on Monday, June 15, and all other grades will begin enrollment on Monday, June 22. Enrollment can be completed online or in person at the EPS Welcome Center, located at 500 S. Independence, between the hours of 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Students must be five-years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2020 to enroll. If a child is currently an EPS pre-kindergarten student, it is not necessary to attend kindergarten enrollment because their school has sent enrollment information home with the student to complete.
Parents enrolling their children as EPS students for the first time should bring the children’s immunization record, birth certificate (no hospital footprints, please), verification of address (such as utility bill), and guardianship papers, if applicable.
Online enrollment can be done by completing the following steps:
Visit enidpublicschools.org. Hover over the Enrollment tab and click on New Student Registration. Sign in or create an account and follow the prompts to enroll a new EPS student
Email the proper documents listed above to welcome@enidk12.org
EPS is taking precautions to ensure family’s safety and the safety of staff by assisting with the following if enrolling at the Welcome Center:
Limiting the lobby to five guests at a time and the Welcome Center to four guests at a time. If there are numerous people in the lobby, please wait at the front door. EPS will take contact information and call families when it is their turn. Please limit entry to one representative per family, if possible. Staff and guests are encouraged to wear masks. Enrollment kiosks will be sanitized by staff between each use. Restrooms are currently closed to the public. Please practice social distancing of at least six feet from non-family members.
For questions and more information, contact EPS Welcome Center at 580.366.7100.
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SC)--City of Enid officials announced progress has been made in the removal of tree limb debris, but much work remains throughout the city. To better manage the storm cleanup effort, Solid Waste officials are asking all residents to request a pickup of tree limbs and debris by Friday, June 12, or to discard them by utilizing the landfill. Residents can request a pickup of tree limb debris the following ways:
- Online: Submit a Request at: www.SeeClickFix.com; Choose “Tree Debris Pickup”
- Smartphone App: Download SeeClickFix and Choose “Tree Debris Pickup”
- Phone: Call (580)-616-7300 or (580)-616-7301
For those residents who wish to take their limbs to the landfill, please bring your last utility bill with the utility account number. City officials have asked residents to stack the tree limbs near the curb away from fire hydrants, mailboxes, trash cans and water meters to assist in the clean-up.
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VG)—For Enid High School’s 402 graduating seniors an in-person ceremony is planned for 7:30 p.m. June 18 at D. Bruce Selby Stadium. Of the class’ 402 seniors, 99 graduated with honors, having maintained a high GPA and taken advanced classes. Forty-three of those received valedictorian honors, having maintained a 4.0 or higher GPA.
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