SH)--Residents of the Southern Heights neighborhood, city officials, representatives of state officials and others gathered at Grayson Baptist Church on East Garriott on Thursday morning for the Leona Mitchell water main and improvements groundbreaking ceremony. Residents of Southern Heights raised concerns last year about the conditions of their water supply, which included discolored water and low water flow, to city staff and elected officials. City Manager Jerald Gilbert said a few months ago, the city received a $4 million forgivable loan from Oklahoma Water Resources Board and later approved allocating $1.73 million of those funds to cover the cost of the Leona Mitchell project. The project is estimated to last for more than one year and will replace the main distribution waterline, feeder lines to houses and at least 200 water meters. Throughout the replacement of the Leona Mitchell waterline, Gilbert said there may be interruptions in service in Southern Heights, but that the city will do its best to notify residents and is considering placing a digital sign near Leona Mitchell and Garriott in an effort to keep people informed.
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BG)---An Enid man will serve 15 years in prison following his guilty plea on a charge of child sexual abuse. 38 year-old Jason Raye Williams received his sentence after pleading guilty Monday to one count of child sexual abuse, one count of failure to report child abuse and one count of threatening to perform an act of violence. Williams was charged after being arrested, and eventually admitting to inappropriately touching a 14 year-old girl on a number of occasions in 2021. Falen Rene Payne, who was arrested at the same time as Williams, previously pleaded guilty to with one count of enabling child sexual abuse and one count of failure to report child abuse. Upon his release, Williams will have to follow the special rules and conditions for sex offenders and was ordered to pay court and other costs.
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AN)--Enid Young Professionals have announced 26 nominees for the 11th annual 10 Under 40 for 2022. The 10 winners will be announced at the awards luncheon on Aug. 30, starting at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon be held at Stride Bank Center. Tickets are limited and may be purchased through Stride Bank Center or at the door.
Nominees for 2022 are Lincoln White, Dense Mechanical; Taylor Blasier, Chisholm Public Schools and Main Street Enid; Joey Armstrong, Equity Financial Group: Allison Miles, Northwest Oklahoma Orthopedic Clinic; Justin Hunt, Epic Charter Schools; Kat Jeanne, Enid News & Eagle; Jenna Spencer, Visit Enid. Eldon Campbell, Chisholm Trail Meats; Kandra Patterson, Soul Sisters Energy and Nutrition; Cory Rink, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office; Kristin Patzkowsky, SSM Health Dermatology; Evan Parrish, PT Coupling; Kurt DeVaney, Integris Bass Baptist Health Center; Linda Moau, Mitchell DeClerck, PLLC; Maggie Jackson, Oklahoma State Department of Health. Matthew Johnson, Enid Public Schools; Rachel Goodwin, RAE Creative Studio and Lippard Auctioneers; Shea Mercer, Coolidge Elementary School; Claye Hammock, Collins, Butler & Co. PC; Shuree Hix, Shuree Hix State Farm Agency; Steve Byrum, Byrum Electric; Tonya Snider, Tonya’s Massage and Wellness Spa; Whitney McClure, The Modern Thread; Trent Misak, Enid Regional Development Alliance; Amanda Arndt, Beyond Beauty Salon & Spa; and Brianna Kaupke, BK Beauty.
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CD)--Crazy Days will be held in Enid today and Saturday. The sales are held every year, usually in the last weekend of July, said Natalie Rapp, Main Street Enid executive director. Most shops across downtown plan some sort of sale, Rapp said. Depending on the weather, some stores will include outdoor stalls. Many other local retailers across the city will also have sales and specials.
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FD)--A free, family friendly event will take place this weekend with Saturday in the Park Summer Fun Day from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Meadowlake Park. Hosted by Rural Health Projects Inc., the event will provide health screenings, various tests, COVID-19 antibody testing for those 13 and older and children with parental consent, and COVID-19 vaccinations, all free of charge. The event also will include free hot dogs, free rides, including mini-golf and paddle boats, a petting zoo and more. While having the chance for some free family fun, the impact of providing free health-related tests is an important aspect of why Rural Health Projects is hosting the event.
Rural Health Projects is hosting this event with the aid of several partners. The event is sponsored by the Tri-County Health Improvement Organization, Evolution Foundation, city of Enid, Pope Distributing, Salvation Army, OG&E, Enid Civitan and Integris Bass Baptist Health Center. It also was sponsored through a grant with the Public Health Institute of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma’s CATCH-UP Oklahoma COVID-18 outreach efforts. Garfield County Health Department will provide the COVID-19 vaccinations, and Great Salt Plains Health Center and Bass will provide various free health screenings and tests. TSET Healthy Living paid for the paddle boats and OG&E will provide the first 500 ice cream cones for free.
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MC)--The Martial Combat League featuring fighters from Enid and Northwest Oklahoma will return to Stride Bank Center on Saturday. The card will have more than 20 fights with fighters partaking in MMA, kickboxing, jiu jitsu and combat jiu jitsu. Tickets are on sale and start at $37 for reserved seating. Those attending also will have the option to buy a regular table or VIP table. The VIP table will allow guests to order drinks from a server and an option of food for an extra cost. VIP tables are $800, and normal tables are $600. Those buying a table must buy the entire table and cannot purchase singular seats at a table. Tickets are available at www.StrideBankCenter.com, by calling (580) 616-7380 or at the Stride Bank Center box office.
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