March 11, 2010 - 9 Years of Online News from the Birthplace of Will Rogers - Call us at 918-443-2428
This Week's Headlines
BOOM! HIGH VOLTAGE MISHAP BLACKS OUT TALALA, NOWATA AREAS By CHRIS EDENS, City Editor
Over 2,500 customers in Talala and Nowata lost power last Wednesday morning (March 3) when an insulator failed on a Public Service Co. of Oklahoma line near Northeastern Station in Oologah. Many residents heard what sounded like a loud explosion or felt their homes rocked when the incident occurred.
The insulator that failed was on a 138,000 volt transmission line, according to PSO spokesman Ed Bettinger. He said the failure disrupted service to the substation in Nowata. Bettinger said 1,397 PSO customers were affected by the outage, which occurred just after 8:30 a.m.
Northwest Fire Department received calls about a grass fire at the same time on the north side of the PSO plant near Oklahoma 88.
"The line dropped down and made contact with a guide wire. That caused a short in the ground that went through three telephone boxes and set fires in three different places," Northwest Fire Chief David Puckett said.
All power was restored to PSO customers by 12:23 p.m. Bettinger said. Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative customers also were affected. VVEC spokesperson Kimberly Loffer said 1,269 members had blackouts when power was lost at the utility's Watova substation. She said all power was restored at 1:20 p.m.
AT&T officials did not respond to messages seeking more details on the damage to the phone system, but workers were at the site for several days making repairs.
MCCREARY IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT By CHRIS EDENS, City Editor
An Oologah junior has worked her way into an elite competition for actors and debaters. Kristy McCreary qualified last weekend for the National Forensic League's national speech and debate tournament.
McCreary finished in the top three in Humorous Interpretation out of 40 students who competed at Tulsa Community College on Saturday. She is now qualified for the national tournament in Kansas City in June.
McCreary performed a parody of the novel "Twilight" called "Nightlight." She made it through seven rounds of competition.
Oologah speech and debate coach Jennifer Denslow said she was extremely proud of McCreary's performance at the NFL district competition.
"It took a while for her to find the right piece," Denslow said. "Once she found it, she edited it and then she cut out her own material just like a mature, professional actress would have done."
At the national tournament, McCreary will compete against 200 students from across the country. She'll have to make it through six preliminary rounds to make the finals and Denslow likes her chances.
DIRICKSON NAMED CITIZEN OF THE YEAR, ELVIS RETURNS By JOHN M. WYLIE II, Editor
Oologah's Vice Mayor and "go-to man" John Dirickson was named Citizen of the Year Saturday night. Debi Hoffman announced the honor at the Oologah Area Chamber of Commerce banquet. The event also included State Rep. Tad Jones' humorous speech and President Amos Berry's challenge for members to get more involved in guiding community growth.
Dirickson
The big award of the evening is supposed to be kept secret. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. With Dirickson, it worked.
As Hoffman began reading the proclamation, Dirickson was just watching the stage. But after several sentences, he realized she was describing him. A gentle smile spread across his face, and he shook his head slightly in disbelief.
"I'm surprised and overwhelmed. I mean surprised," he said after hugging Hoffman and taking the microphone from her.
Dirickson was born in the area and is a product of Oologah schools. He served in the U.S. Army for three years in the Korean Conflict, then held jobs in several fields. He joined Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and retired as a shift supervisor at Northeastern Station.
He is a private pilot, Sunday School teacher at the Oologah Assembly of God, and a longtime public servant. He is currently Oologah vice mayor, and has served as mayor and also has overseen the city's sewage treatment plant.
"I saw a lot of things change in Oologah over the years. It has changed in ways I never thought it would. I know that a lot of people have really put forth a great effort for this area to grow like it has," he said.
He said he wishes he had taken his grandfather's advice and bought land when he was a young man. An acre that just sold for $35,000 would have cost just $3 or $4 back then.
In thanking the chamber for the honor, he concluded, "We have a great town and a lot to be proud of."
Jones
Jones has been in the spotlight since he was quarterback for the Oologah Mustangs. His wife Sammie likes to remind him that she has a state championship ring for her softball team but his football team didn't quite make it to the top of the mountain.
He got revenge in his first speech on the House floor, during the period when newly elected members introduce their families and friends who are in the gallery. He'd never been through the process, so he figured he would watch how other lawmakers did it.
Just one problem. Lawmakers were called on in numerical order based on their district numbers. Jones represents House District 9-and incumbents had won in the odd-numbered districts preceding him.
He was first up and had to wing it with no guidance. But he got through recognizing his mom and dad, his friends and other dignitaries. Only after it was over did he realize he had forgotten job one-introducing his wife.
Things have changed since then. At the banquet, Jones spoke without notes while recounting more than a dozen humorous moments from backstage at the Capitol.
Berry
As one of the few chamber presidents to serve a second term, Berry now has a fuller understanding than most about how much work is involved and how many hands are needed to keep a community thriving. The community is growing and more growth is coming, but chamber members need to step up and help guide that growth in positive directions.
He issued a simple challenge to those attending: "Will you help us?"
NEW STAFF SADDLES UP AT BIT-BY-BIT By CHRIS EDENS, City Editor
Three new cowgirls have joined the team at the Bit-by-Bit therapeutic riding center south of Oologah.
The program is now fully staffed and Director Jennifer England is excited about the future. The three new employees have a vast knowledge of horses and considerable experience working with people with disabilities.
"The staff may be new to the equestrian center, but we are all experienced therapeutic riding instructors," England said.
Elizabeth Capalbo is the new Head Instructor at Bit-by-Bit. She joined the team in early October. Capalbo has a bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Horsemanship and Program Management from St. Andrews College in Rhode Island. Capalbo teaches classes, works with volunteers and trains the horses.
Diana Schueller is the new Equine Coordinator. She cares for the horses on a daily basis, conditions them and trains them.
Schueller graduated from the University of Wisconsin with double majors in Animal Science and Equine Management. She's been riding horses since junior high school and she worked for ten years at a therapeutic riding program in Wisconsin before coming to Bit-by-Bit.
Shari Goff is the new Equine Center Assistant. She manages the office and helps out with the horses when needed. Goff graduated from Rogers State University with an associate's degree in Animal Science and Horse and Ranch Management.
Bit-by-Bit is working on gaining one of the highest accreditations from NARHA, the national organization which accredits therapeutic riding programs and instructors.
Bit-by-Bit is already accredited through NARHA, but they are now seeking Premiere Accreditation. Currently, Bit-by-Bit has to send instructors out of state for training. When the program obtains Premiere Accreditation, it will be able to train instructors and charge for the classes.
BOOM! HIGH VOLTAGE MISHAP BLACKS OUT TALALA, NOWATA AREAS
MCCREARY IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Dirickson
He said he wishes he had taken his grandfather's advice and bought land when he was a young man. An acre that just sold for $35,000 would have cost just $3 or $4 back then.
He was first up and had to wing it with no guidance. But he got through recognizing his mom and dad, his friends and other dignitaries. Only after it was over did he realize he had forgotten job one-introducing his wife.
NEW STAFF SADDLES UP AT BIT-BY-BIT
