TF)--Lightning struck an oil tank battery in Enid Saturday causing a fire. The Enid Fire Department received a call just before 10:40 Saturday reporting the fire in the 1500 block of S. Imo, about midway through the mile section and a half-mile east off the roadway. Because of the contents of the tank, which were not pure crude oil, the well-site manager advised firefighters to not attempt to extinguish the fire but instead let it burn out. According to Enid News and Eagle, most of the liquid from the tanks did spill out, but was contained to the dike around the site built for that purpose. There were no other structures in the area and no injuries reported.
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MM)--An Enid man is facing charges of feloniously pointing a firearm or in the alternative, domestic assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping. 59 year-old Michael De La Cruz, a former Enid restaurant owner, was charged last week with the three counts. De La Cruz was arrested May 6, after police responded to a local apartment after a woman reported arrived at a residence unannounced. Police said De La Cruz had brought a black duffel bag with him, and at one point, De La Cruz reached into the duffel bag and pulled out a firearm, he allegedly pointed it at the woman. The woman said she didn’t leave the residence because she didn’t want to get shot and that De La Cruz threatened her. The officer who spoke with De La Cruz identified a duffel bag inside the apartment containing a firearm and a handwritten note. The affidavit states the officer took possession of the firearm. De La Cruz’s bond was set at $200,000. He was released from Garfield County Detention Facility on Thursday.
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FH)--You may have noticed the color-coded plastic rings on the outlets that have been added to local fire hydrants. This year, while conducting annual flow tests at the more than 2,600 hydrants within the city of Enid, the Enid Fire Department began placing reflective, plastic rings on the hydrants to show how many gallons per minute (GPM) of water flowed from them. Officials said conducting the flow tests helps residents have better water quality; helps the city of Enid’s water department identify any trouble areas; and helps EFD evaluate how firefighters can use its system efficiently. After conducting past flow tests, EFD would paint the bonnets, or the top portions, of hydrants a specific color to show first-responders how many GPM were available. Fire officials said switching to the plastic rings saves time and money.
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CC)—The Enid Mayor and Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday. During the meeting, commissioners are scheduled to approve the city’s FY 2022-2023 budget, and approve fee changes for building and other construction related permits. Prior to the regular meeting, commissioners will meet in study session where they will discuss the Garfield County Detention Facility’s needs and a possible Sales Tax Election, as well as discuss Parks an Rec’s 5-year plan. The study session will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6:30. Both meetings will be held in Council Chambers of the City Administration Building on West Garriott, and are open to the public.
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SA)--Garfield Elementary and Prairie View Elementary will host 10-year anniversary celebrations this week. Student-led tours are scheduled for Thursday with Garfield being at 10:00-11:30 a.m. and Prairie View at 12:30-2:00 p.m. The public is invited to tour the buildings to see how the schools have transformed and grown over the last decade. Thanks to Enid voters, with the passing of a school bond in 2010, a new Garfield Elementary was reconstructed and Prairie View was newly constructed to accommodate the growing district on both the east and west sides of town. Construction was completed in 2012 and the schools were opened to students that year. In addition to two new elementary schools, the 2010 bond plan included renovations to all school sites, technology improvements for every school, and new classroom space at Waller Middle School.
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