KC)--The Oklahoma Department of Corrections announced Wednesday that it plans to close the William S. Key Correctional Center by the end of the year. The minimum-security prison, located in Fort Supply, is closing its doors after the cost to repair the facility was deemed too high. The more than 50-year-old prison had housing units built in 1947 and 1951. ODOC determined after a yearlong review process that maintaining the infrastructure is untenable, to the degree necessary for safety. ODOC will transfer about 1,000 inmates currently housed in the facility to other minimum security prisons.
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RP)--Officials are warning area motorists about a stretch of roadway. Director of Emergency Management Mike Honigsberg sent the alert: APPROXIMATELY 200-300 YARDS EAST OF 150TH STREET ON BRECKENRIDGE ROAD, THE ROAD HAS BUCKLED. THE BUMP IN THE ROAD ISN'T REAL APPARENT UNTIL YOU'RE ALMOST ON IT. SEMI TRUCKS WILL DEFINITELY FEEL THAT BUMP AND IF YOU ARE TRAVELING FASTER THAN 55MPH, YOU WILL DEFINITELY FEEL IT TOO. COUNTY OFFICIALS ASK THAT YOU SLOW DOWN BETWEEN 162ND AND 150TH UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE ON HOW TO FIX THE ROAD. ROAD SIGNS WILL BE PLACED IN THE AREA.
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CC)—The Enid Mayor and Board of Commissioners Tuesday night approved a sales tax rebate incentive agreement with TLM Realty to bring a clothing store to Enid. The developer is eligible for a 2% sales tax rebate that will not exceed $1 million or 10 years, whichever comes first, to help offset the significant costs to renovate the remaining space in the former K-Mart building located at Garriott and Oakwood. The incentive was recommended by the Enid Regional Development Alliance (ERDA) Board of Directors last week. TLM Realty is the developer of the former K-Mart building whose current tenants include Tractor Supply and Harbor Freight. The tenant for the remaining 40,000 square feet of vacant space will be a department store that carries a wide range of goods including clothing, shoes, and household goods. “This retail clothing department store development in the old K-Mart building fills the top retail sales tax gap in the City while completing the redevelopment of the old K-Mart building,” said Mayor George Pankonin. Officials said the agreement results from team efforts by the City, the Enid Regional Development Alliance, and Rickey Hayes from Retail Attractions to fill retail gaps in the City to increase the local sales tax base and offer quality of life to residents.
In other business, A Chicago-based firm will audit the city of Enid’s franchise fees and hotel tax revenue from the last three years to look for any lost profits. City commissioners unanimously approved the agreement. The auditing firm, Azavar Government Solutions, will identify any possible underpayments, then work to recoup these funds on the city’s behalf. Audited franchise providers would include ONG, OG&E, Suddenlink and various landline phone companies, while hotels would be any lodging locations paying lodging tax revenue to the city of Enid.
Commissioners also on Tuesday unanimously approved a 2% pay increase to city employees, as part of an annual collective bargaining agreement with the local union of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
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CA)--Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce honored several people during its annual meeting and banquet Tuesday night. Six awards were given out:, Business Person of the Year (Kyle Williams), Civic Improvement Award (Enid Public Schools), Lifetime Achievement Award (Dan Dillingham) and Citizen of the Year (Janet Cordell), Ambassador of the Year (Keri Haines), Volunteer of the Year (Crystal Harmon).
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CN)— Five newly confirmed virus-related deaths and 216 new COVID cases were reported in the state since Tuesday, according to daily numbers released late this morning by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. There are 1,192 cases considered currently active in the state, with 130 people hospitalized I Oklahoma for treatment of the virus. The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases reported was 150.
Situation Update: COVID-19
06.16.21
|
COVID-19 Cases |
455,145 |
|
New Cases |
216 |
|
New Cases 7 day Average |
150 |
|
Active Cases |
1,192 |
|
CDC/NCHS Provisional Deaths |
8,551 |
There have been 7815 positive COVID-19 cases, and 139 deaths in Garfield County. 6914 of those cases and 128 deaths have been in Enid. In surrounding counties: Kingfisher County has reported 2058 cases, Alfalfa 1154, Blaine County is at 1047 cases, Major 955, and Grant 549.
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WW)--The westbound lane on West Willow Road between Heritage Trail and North Cleveland will be closed starting today, through Friday to allow Utility Maintenance crews to make improvements to the water system. In addition, the water will be off on West Willow from North Cleveland to Wagon Trail on Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Residents in the Heritage Trail addition may experience low water pressure as a result of this improvement. Motorists are encouraged to follow posted traffic control signs and to drive with extreme caution in this area during the construction effort.
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SC)—Summer Chautauqua is underway through Saturday. This year’s Chautauqua is a virtual event. The theme is “20th Century Visionaries: Catalysts for Change” and includes daily workshops in addition to the nightly performances. To register or for more information go to csrhc.org.
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JC)--The public is invited to attend the return of Enid’s annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday. The event, which has been hosted by Brothers and Sister With a Purpose for 15 years, was canceled last year due to COVID-19. Juneteenth is a nationally recognized celebration that commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally got word that the Civil War had ended, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had made them free. The celebration will kick off at noon Saturday at 226 E. Indiana in Enid’s Southern Heights Addition neighborhood and will last until 7:00 p.m. Snacks such as popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy will be available throughout the event, with the main meal, which will include fried chicken, ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, traditional sides and more, being served around 4:00 or 4:30 p.m.
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WT)--Enid’s Community Development Support Association’s wine tour benefitting its early childhood services program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Friday. The tour will feature wines and treats from the U.S.A., France, Montenegro, Italy and Switzerland. Each wine has been paired with an appetizer to match the wine’s specific flavors and notes. It will be hosted at the Non-Profit Center, at 114 S. Independence. After canceling 2020’s event due to COVID-19, CDSA executive director Cheri Ezzell said this year’s fundraiser was vital for its early childhood services, specifically CDSA’s free emergency diaper program, which provides diapers to parents and infants in need. Tickets for the event cost $75 and can be purchased at the CDSA website. Replacement tickets from 2020’s canceled event are also being issued.
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DL)--Singer and ventriloquist Darci Lynne will bring her national “My Lips Are Sealed (Except When They’re Not)” tour to Enid’s Stride Bank Center on Aug. 28. She is the youngest winner on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Tickets start at $29.75 plus applicable fees and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday in the Stride Bank Center office on the second floor of Convention Hall and online at StrideBankCenter.com. The show will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 28.
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PA)—Security National Bank of Enid once again will reward five lucky area students for their good grades with the SNB Pays for A’s program. Since 2002, thousands of report cards have been submitted. The bank sponsors the program twice a year, once for spring semester grades and once for fall semester grades. The program is open to students in grades 3 through 12. Public and private school students are encouraged to participate. Students will have until 5:00 p.m. June 18 to take their report cards to any of Security National Bank’s three locations. The bank will make a copy of the report card and place it in a hopper. Four cards will be drawn from the hopper. Those four students will receive $10 for each A and $5 for each B on their spring 2021 semester grades. Individual grades from each nine-week section will not be considered. All students entering their grades will receive a coupon for a frosted drink or milkshake from Chick-fil-A of Enid. In addition to the four students who will be “paid for their A’s,” one card will be drawn from the hopper for a $150 savings account with the bank.
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BR)--The City of Enid Parks and Recreation department will host the 2021 Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat Race on Saturday, June 26th at Champlin Pool from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The entry fee is $15 per team and includes a hot dog, chips and a drink for each team member. Boats and paddles must be made before the race and must be built from cardboard and duct tape. No additional building materials are allowed. For a full list of boat requirements, team racing rules, and registration form, go to Enid.org/BoatRace.
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SM)--Enid Public Schools is providing free daily meals for summer school students. Through June 30, EPS will offer nutrition programs at Enid High School and Adams, Garfield, Glenwood and Monroe elementary schools. Children 18 and younger will be able to come pick up breakfast and lunch Mondays through Thursdays. Meals may be picked up and taken home, and students must be present to receive a meal. Students not attending classes at the five host sites, including those at all three EPS middle schools, will be released from school 15 minutes early for meal transportation. Breakfast will be available from 7:30-8:30 a.m., and lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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