FV)--The Oklahoma National Guard is delivering doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to health care providers across the state including Enid. Adjutant Gen. Michael Thompson says shipments were delivered Tuesday to locations in Enid and Woodward. A number of front line workers at both Integris Bass Baptist Health Center and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center received the vaccine on Wednesday. Maggie Jackson, regional director of community engagement and planning for Oklahoma State Department of Health, said the Health Department has received about 2,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for front-line health care workers in the Northwest Region.
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TV)--Oklahoma teachers and schools support staff could begin to be offered COVID-19 vaccines as soon as early January. Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday announced K-12 teachers and other school employees that interact directly with students will move up a step in the state’s vaccine distribution plan. Teachers and schools support staff will move from phase three to phase two of the state’s vaccine distribution plan. The move coincides with a push from Stitt for all Oklahoma schoolchildren to return to in-person learning next year. Oklahoma Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye did not say specifically where teachers will fit into phase two of the distribution plan, but said many of the groups in phase two will be vaccinated concurrently. A priority will be placed on elderly teachers or those with comorbidities, who are at higher risk of facing severe complications from COVID-19.
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CS)--Applications are being accepted to fill an unexpired term for the Ward 6 vacancy on the Enid Mayor and Board of Commissioners. Former Ward 6 Commissioner David Mason tendered his resignation from the seat Tuesday night, effective at midnight. Mason said he and his family are moving out of the ward in northwest Enid, having finalized closing on their house this week. The Commission holds regularly scheduled meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month, as well as special meetings, as needed. Applications can be completed online at https://enid.civicweb.net/Portal/BoardApplication, and will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. local time on Monday, January 4.
Qualifications required of the applicant, in order to be considered for appointment are as follows:
Must be a registered voter
Must be at least twenty-five (25) years of age
Shall have been a resident of the City of Enid for at least two (2) years prior to appointment
Must be a bona fide resident of Ward 6.
It is intended that the appointment will be made by the Mayor and Board of Commissioners at their meeting of Tuesday, January 5. The City Commission may, at its discretion, conduct interviews with applicants prior to such appointment. Information may be obtained in the office of the City Clerk, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Municipal Complex, 401 West Owen K. Garriott Road, Enid, Oklahoma, 73701 or by calling 580-616-7275. Application forms can be filled out online at the City’s website: www.Enid.org/boards.
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CV)— Sixteen more virus-related deaths and 2,975 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state since Wednesday, according to daily numbers released late this morning by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The seven-day rolling average for new cases reported was 3,250. The health department said 31,770 cases are considered active in the state, with 1,699 people currently hospitalized for treatment of the virus.
COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
12.17.20
|
Cases |
248,204 |
|
*Total Cumulative Negative Specimens to Date |
2,158,637 |
|
*Total Cumulative Number of Specimens to Date |
2,403,117 |
|
Acute Care OSDH Licensed Facility Hospitalizations |
1,576 |
|
Other Types of Facilities Hospitalizations |
123 |
|
Total Cumulative Hospitalizations |
14,821 |
|
Total Cumulative Deaths |
2,144 |
*Due to technical issues experienced on December 16, 2020, OSDH was unable to report the new daily testing numbers. Cumulative totals reflect the totals as of December 15, 2020. Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. As of 2020-12-17 at 7:00 a.m.
There have been 4749 positive COVID-19 cases, and 41 deaths in Garfield County. 4196 of those cases and 38 deaths have been in Enid. In surrounding counties: Kingfisher County has reported 1159 cases, Alfalfa 816, Major 632, Blaine County is at 551 cases, and Grant 302.
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DD)--The Oklahoma Highway Patrol ENDUI team will partner with the Enid Police and troopers from OHP Troop J to conduct a sobriety checkpoint in Enid Friday night from 9:00 to 11:00. High visibility patrols will take place all evening. The goal is to make Enid and the surrounding area as safe as possible by getting impaired drivers off the road. Last year, 640 people were killed in crashes in Oklahoma, and more than half of those were drug/alcohol related.
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RC)--A portion of Rupe will be blocked off Saturday evening for the Christmas in the Park event at Meadowlake Park. City of Enid officials said Rupe will be blocked at Van Buren, Field, Wallace, Carter, Hudson and Pontiac. The closures will be 5:00-8:30 p.m. on Saturday. To access the north side of Meadowlake Park, attendees will enter Rupe from Cleveland. Eastbound Rupe at Johnson will be closed to through traffic and only used for park entrance. To access the event area in South Meadowlake Park, attendees will line up on Van Buren in the southbound outside lane.
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SD)--City of Enid officials have announced that progress has been made by contractors in the removal of tree limb debris. More work remains throughout the city. To better manage the storm cleanup effort, brush drop-off will be accepted at no charge at the landfill through December 31st. Residents can request a pickup of tree limb debris the following ways:
*Online: Submit a Request at: www.SeeClickFix.com; Choose “Tree Debris Pickup”
*SeeClickFix Smartphone App: Choose “Tree Debris Pickup”
*Phone: Call (580) 616-7300 or (580) 616-7301
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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IR)—The Downtown Ice Rink is open. As title sponsors, Jiffy Trip and Williams Media Group (My Country 103.1 and Talk 100.9 KGWA) are joining Main Street Enid, the Stride Bank Center and Visit Enid in bringing an outdoor ice rink to downtown Enid. It is located at 400 S. Independence in the parking lot between the Stride Bank Center and the art installation Under Her Wing was the Universe. The rink will be open to the public through January 3.
Operating hours will be 3:00 pm-9:00 pm Monday through Thursday, 3:00 pm-11:00 pm Friday, 12:00 pm-11:00 pm Saturday and 12:00 pm-9:00 pm Sunday. Single day tickets will be $12 for general admission, which includes skate rental. A $60 Season Pass and special group and holiday party rates are also available. Tickets are available through the Stride Bank Center ticket outlets including area Jiffy Trips, or on site. Stride Bank Center general manager Kevin Boryzcki adds the arena will provide concessions on site. Visit the ice rink website, SkateInEnid.com, or look for the ice rink on Facebook and Instagram at SkateInEnid.
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