DF)—An Enid man died Monday from injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle crash last month in Grant County. Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said 45 year-old Michael David Owens died at OU Medical Center just after 6:30 Monday evening. He was critically injured June 28 on US 64 about 6.5 miles east of Nash. According to the report, he was westbound on the highway when his Chevy Suburban ran off the roadway for an unknown reason before rolling 1.25 times. The trooper’s report listed Owens’ condition as odor of alcohol.
--00-- 28 July 20 2p
CV)--Thirteen new virus-related deaths and 1,089 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state since Monday, according to daily numbers released late this morning by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. A total of 33,775 Oklahomans have tested positive for COVID-19 and the total number of deaths went up to 509. A total of 2,987 Oklahomans have been hospitalized due to the virus with 596 patients currently in the hospital.
There have been 306 positive COVID-19 cases, and four deaths in Garfield County. 206 of those cases have been in Enid. In surrounding counties: Noble has reported 74 cases, Kingfisher County has reported 88 cases, Blaine County is at 34 cases, Major 22, Grant 10, and Alfalfa 3.
COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
07.28.20
|
Confirmed Positive Cases |
33,775 |
|
*Total Cumulative Negative Specimens to Date |
555,351 |
|
*Total Cumulative Number of Specimens to Date |
595,277 |
|
*Currently Hospitalized |
596 |
|
Total Cumulative Hospitalizations |
2,987 |
|
Identified Deaths in the Past 24 hours |
0 |
|
Total Cumulative Deaths |
509 |
*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. As of 2020-07-28 at 7:00 a.m.
--00-- 28 July 20 11a
BC)--Former Enid Public Schools Police Chief Michael Dods filed a lawsuit Friday in Garfield County District Court against EPS, Superintendent Darrell Floyd and Assistant Superintendent Randall Rader. The suit, filed by an Oklahoma Education Association attorney alleges retaliation for reporting threatening and/or violent student conduct to law enforcement in violation of state statute; breach of contract; violation of statutory due process; and violations of procedural and substantive due processes. According to Enid News and eagle, the suit does not seek a specific monetary amount and instead asks for an amount "to be determined at trial but that is in excess of the amount" required by statute for the filing, which is in excess of $10,000. The suit also seeks the costs of the lawsuit, attorney’s fees, back pay and benefits, future pay and benefits, reinstatement to his position, compensation for emotional harm, compensation for harm to his reputation and other damages the court "deems just and equitable" from the district, Floyd and Rader.
--00-- 28 July 20 7a
FS)--A grand jury indicted a man last week on 10 charges of conversion of property pledged to a farm credit agency. The indictment against 37 year-old Blake Lawrence Kretchmar alleges between March and Aug. 2016, Kretchmar knowingly concealed, removed, disposed of and converted to his own use and that of another, property pledged to and held by Farm Credit of Enid. Kretchmar reportedly deposited by check into his personal bank account the collateral and proceeds from selling collateral without remitting the property and proceeds therefrom that were pledged to Farm Credit of Enid. Enid News and Eagle reports the collateral and proceeds from sale reportedly totaled nearly $87,000. Each count of conversion of property pledged to a farm credit agency is punishable by no more than five years in prison, a fine, or both; or three years supervised release.
--00-- 28 July 20 12n
RC)--A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in downtown Enid Saturday to usher in an art project that has been on display since being completed earlier this month. "Under Her Wing Was the Universe" is a sculptural pavilion by Romy Owens and is located on land south of the Stride Bank Center. The lighted structure is designed to mimic the stars of a night sky, something that is becoming harder to see in urban areas of the nation. Although it faced a number of delays, due to finding the right materials, weather and permitting, the artwork was completed and opened to the public about three years after Enid City Commission approved the location and some funding for the project in a July 2017 meeting. The majority of funds for the project were raised privately. Owens said a large-scale celebration for the project will be held for several hundred supporters when it is safe to gather in public without masks.
--00-- 28 July 20 12n
YM)--As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, Visit Enid and the Garfield County Health Department are asking residents to “Show Us Your Mask” as we approach the third annual Enid Comic Con on Saturday and Sunday at the Stride Bank Center. The two departments have teamed up for a PPE Decorating Contest this week through Visit Enid social media channels on Facebook and Instagram. Show your creativity in designing your personal mask or face shield. Snap a picture and submit your mask using the hashtags #ShowUsYourMaskEnid, #VisitEnid and #EnidComicCon2020. Submission deadline is 5:00 pm Thursday and winners will be announced Friday morning on the Visit Enid social media pages. The winner will receive a large tray of chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. Go to VisitEnid on either Facebook or Instagram to enter.
--00-- 28 July 20 12n
LK)--Enid Public Schools is continuing to welcome its youngest learners at The Commons while updating procedures to keep students and residents safe. In years past, the intergenerational program would have volunteers from The Commons serve as “grandma” and “grandpa” buddies in the classroom. EPS offers one of only a handful of intergenerational programs known to exist nationally. EPS and The Commons celebrated 10 years of collaboration last year with an anniversary celebration. Due to COVID-19 regulations, instead of having a classroom at The Commons, students will have a classroom at Carver Early Childhood Center, located at 815 S. Fifth. Current plans are for students to continue to interact with Commons residents by creating artwork, writing letters, having virtual visits, and taking field trips to The Commons, to sing and interact from outside the facility, as CDC guidelines permit. EPS is continuing to accept enrollment for the intergenerational program. Parents can enroll students at the EPS Welcome Center, located at 500 S. Independence. Students must be four-years-old by September 1, 2020 to enroll. Parents enrolling their children as EPS students for the first time should bring the children’s immunization record, birth certificate (no hospital footprints, please) and verification of address, such as a utility bill. For more information, please contact our Welcome Center at 580-366-7100.
--00-- 28 July 20 4p
VR)--The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration for Oklahoma’s Aug. 25 runoff primary election is July 31. Garfield County Election Board Secretary Michael Frisbee said applicants can fill out an application using the OK Voter Portal’s voter registration wizard. The registration wizard makes it easy for voters to complete the application, then print, sign and mail it to their county election board. Voter registration applications also can be downloaded from the State Election Board website and are available at all county election boards. Voter registration applications must be received by the election board or postmarked no later than July 31. Garfield County has an Aug. 25 Republican primary runoff for sheriff between Jody Helm and Cory Rink. Fifty counties have an election scheduled for Aug. 25. Only 18 counties have a state or federal election. All counties with elections on Aug. 25 will have early voting available Thursday and Friday preceding the election. Voters can search the election list by county on the State Election Board website or view a sample ballot using the OK Voter Portal. Visit elections.ok.gov to learn more.
--00--
SG)--The Stride Bank Center is expecting the first ever celebrity guest appearance at an Enid Comic Con. Sam J. Jones, best known for his role as Flash Gordon, will be coming to the 3rd annual event August 1st and 2nd. Jones has over 65 films and hundreds of television shows to his credit, including comedic appearances in Ted and Ted 2.
--00--
IC)--Enid Public Schools has canceled planned immunization clinics for students due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 across the state. According to a statement on the district's website, www.enidpublicschools.org, due to the increase in the state Passport Health and the Oklahoma Caring Van have cancelled the upcoming immunization clinics for this year. Students who are needing immunizations will need to go to the Garfield County Health Department or their personal health care provider prior to school starting Aug. 13. The Health Department is allowing one parent/guardian, with a mask, to be present with the student. No appointment needed.
--00--
AC)--Autry Technology Center's first day of the new school year will be August 13th. They will have a detailed Covid-19 Plan as well measures in place. It will feature four color-coded statuses that the school could move into at any time throughout the 2020-2021 school year. The year will begin with Status Green, which includes on campus, hands-on training with in-person instruction, limited social interaction with peers and staff, and modified access to facilities and equipment. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, updates will be made on the district website, autrytech.edu, and social media pages.
--00--
