BT)--City of Enid Code staff declared the Broadway Tower and a neighboring building in downtown dilapidated because of the broken windows during the private hearing Monday after the owners failed to appear. City Manager Jerald Gilbert told Enid News and Eagle Tuesday the city will have to find another way into the run-down Broadway Tower after its owners failed to appear at a code hearing Monday morning. Code Department staff were unable to ask property owners Johnny and Dana Peart, with B.H. Tower LLC, if they would board up broken windows on the second floor of an adjoining two-story building. On March 19, the city provided a required 10-day notice of the private dilapidation hearing. Notice letters were posted on all buildings owned by B.H. Tower LLC from 114-124 E. Broadway. Officials said the next step would be contractors entering the property and boarding up the windows themselves, or doing so from the outside. Though municipal code includes demolition as an option under dilapidation proceedings, Gilbert said the city does not intend to demolish the nearly 100-year-old historic tower, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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DP)--Five80 Coffeehouse has dropped previously announced plans to build outdoor amenities behind the downtown Enid business. Today’s City of Enid Board of Adjustment meeting to rule on an appeal objecting to Five80’s building permit has been canceled as a result. The Board of Adjustment was to decide if the planned area would have constituted a shelter, which would have violated downtown land use under current Enid municipal code. Officials said owner Jeremiah Herrian requested the permit be pulled Monday because he wouldn’t be proceeding with a project to build outdoor seating and a bathroom behind Five80, at 122 E. Randolph. Herrian, director of Forgotten Ministries, said outdoor seating had long been planned for Five80, but also would fill the gap for Enid’s homeless community left by the Breezeway area’s closure.
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CN)--27 more newly confirmed virus-related deaths and 390 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state since Tuesday, according to daily numbers released late this morning by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The state health department said 10,540 cases are considered active in the state, with 215 people currently hospitalized in Oklahoma for treatment of the virus. The seven-day rolling average for new cases reported was 318.
COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
03.31.21
|
Cases |
438,364 |
|
*Total Cumulative Negative Specimens to Date |
3,363,193 |
|
*Total Cumulative Number of Specimens to Date |
3,772,770 |
|
Acute Care OSDH Licensed Facility Hospitalizations |
211 |
|
Other Types of Facilities Hospitalizations |
4 |
|
Provisional Death Count (CDC/NCHS) |
7,873 |
*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. As a result, counts are subject to change. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. As of 2021-03-31 at 7:00 a.m.
There have been 7672 positive COVID-19 cases, and 84 deaths in Garfield County. 6773 of those cases and 74 deaths have been in Enid. In surrounding counties: Kingfisher County has reported 2018 cases, Alfalfa 1151, Blaine County is at 1013 cases, Major 949, and Grant 547.
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RW)--On Thursday, the northbound lane of South Garland starting at West Rupe and continuing 0.5-mile north, will be closed to traffic. The lane closure will allow construction crews to work in this area. This closure is expected to last through Monday, April 5. Motorists are encouraged to follow posted traffic control signs and the direction of the construction crew and to drive with caution in this area during this effort.
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AD)--During the month of April, nearly 250 wooden children will be displayed on the Garfield County Court House lawn to raise awareness about child abuse. Hosted by the Garfield County Child Advocacy Council, the wooden children display has been put out every year since 2013 to raise community awareness about the number of kids who are abused and/or neglected in the county. A community presentation will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the courthouse. Sponsors will bring the children to put them on display for the month.
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CF)--Enid Public Schools will host its annual Teacher Career Fair Tuesday, April 6 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Administrative Services Center board room, 500 S. Independence. EPS administrators will be available to speak with potential candidates, accept resumes, and schedule interviews for a later date. EPS provides a competitive starting salary, paying an average $3,800 more per step than the state scale, as well as a $2,000 signing bonus for secondary math, science, special education, and foreign language. For information on employment, please visit enidpublicschools.org/applytoday. For questions, call 580.366.7000 to be directed to the EPS Human Resources Department.
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LV)--The Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be moving from Oakwood Mall to the Garfield County Health Department on Monday. The mall’s clinic, which the Health Department has been utilizing since January, has seen a decrease in vaccination demand as Phase 4 opened Monday and as more Oklahomans have been vaccinated, prompting the move to the department. All Oklahomans who are 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Maggie Jackson, regional director of community engagement and planning for Oklahoma State Department of Health, said unless there is a need at some point for a large event in the future, officials can maintain at the Health Department from this point forward. Vaccinations at the Health Department next week will continue to be from 8 a.m. to noon, Jackson said. Appointments can be made using the vaccination portal, and for help registering for an appointment, people can call 211 or the Health Department at (580) 233-0650. The Health Department is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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FY)--Enid Public Schools will welcome its newest students this week during four-year-old enrollment for the 2021-22 school year. Families are asked to pick up enrollment packets at participating sites, complete them and bring them back with appropriate documents by April 9 or at their earliest convenience. Visit enidpublicschools.org/earlychildhoodenrollment for more information. District policy states all visitors wear masks covering the nose and mouth as well as social distance from others while on EPS campuses.
Fowler Early Childhood Center four-year-old program, located at 102 S. 30th near the NWOSU-Enid campus, will be accepting new student enrollment on April 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students from Adams Elementary School, along with other students, will attend Fowler Early Childhood Center on a first come first serve basis.
Enrollment for the full-day, intergenerational four-year-old program at The Commons, will be April 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Carver Early Childhood Center at 815 Pastor Alfred Baldwin Jr. Way (formerly 815 S. 5th). Students from Garfield Elementary School, along with other students, will attend Carver Early Childhood Center. Enrollment will be April 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Carver.
Enrollment for the four-year-old programs will be held at Coolidge, Eisenhower, Glenwood, Hayes, Hoover, McKinley, Monroe, Prairie View and Taft elementary schools on April 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students should enroll at their home schools. All EPS four-year-old programs focus on the social, academic, physical and emotional needs of children. Students must be four-years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2021.
Beginning May 10, full-day kindergarten enrollment for students who are new to EPS will be weekdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Parents should visit the Welcome Center located in the Administrative Services Center, 500 S. Independence to enroll their child. Students must be five-years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2021 to enroll.
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RW)--Construction on Southgate Road will begin April 5th. It will begin at 16th street and go to the landfill entrance. When this is done it will continue from the landfill entrance to the railroad tracks. This will be a complete rebuild of the road, road bed and drainage. Estimated time to complete 150 days.
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YW)--Green yard waste collection in Enid will transition to the spring and summer schedule beginning April 5. Residents are reminded to place the green polycart container containing yard waste at the curb, and at least four feet away from other containers, parked vehicles, street lampposts, trees, mailboxes and other obstructions, no later than 7:30 a.m. on Mondays. The city-issued green polycarts are used for yard waste such as leaves, twigs and grass. Because yard waste is placed in a different field for composting, the green polycarts will not be emptied if they contain household trash. Green polycarts may be purchased for a one-time fee of $60, which will be charged to the resident’s water bill after they receive the container. Those who wish to obtain a polycart or an additional polycart can contact Solid Waste Services at (580) 616-7300. For additional information on the guidelines, go to www.Enid.org/yardwaste.
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AG)--Youth and Family Services will host its 10th annual gala on April 10 at Stride Bank Event Center. The theme is “Home is Where the Heart Is,” and the event is sponsored by Edward Jones, BDK CPAs and Advisers and AT&T. The gala will be 6:30-11:00 p.m. Casino-style games will be provided by members of Enid’s AM AMBCUS. The fun begins with a steak dinner at 6:30 p.m. The event also includes a live auction and dancing. All proceeds from the event will benefit Youth and Family Services “Nights of Shelter” campaign. YFS provides shelter through three different programs, the emergency youth shelter, Thelma’s House for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds and transitional living for young adults ages 18-22. YFS also provides food, case management, therapy and access to a wide range of other programs that help children and youth achieve ongoing safety and stability. The gala is cocktail attire with an emphasis on western wear. Tickets are $75 per person. Table seating for up to eight people is available for $600. A half-table may be purchased for $300. Seating is limited. Tickets may be purchased online at www.yfsenid.org/gala or by calling Tree Perkins at (580) 366-4742 or email tper kins@yfsenid.org.
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CT)--The Enid Public Library will be resuming U.S. Citizenship classes, beginning April 7 and continuing until October 27th. The classes will assist students in the preparation for the Naturalization Test and Interview. Classes are designed for adults who have already obtained a green card and are studying for the exam. The class will meet every Wednesday from 6:00-7:00 PM, starting April 7th. For more information, contact the library downtown.
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