The Green Country loop of Keystone State Park is one of the favorite destinations for members of the Wheeler Dealers Camping Club. This third campout of the season was hosted by Lee and Ellen Cobb and Terry and Vicki Blevins, Ponca City.
Read MoreWheeler Dealers Camping Club members began the camping season with a March campout at Hulah Lake between Pawhuska and Bartlesville.
Read MoreWheeler Dealers Camping Club members wearing their Christmas sweaters and shirts got in the Christmas spirit at the annual luncheon held at the McCord Senior Citizens Center in Ponca City.
Read MoreOKLAHOMA CITY - The Senate has voted in favor of legislation requiring standardized investigations following the sudden, unexplained death of infants in Oklahoma. Senator Stephanie Bice is principal author of Senate Bill 1893, which was approved unanimously on Wednesday.
Bice, R-Oklahoma City, said the bill was requested by Ali Dodd, an Edmond constituent whose baby died almost five years ago at a state-licensed day care center due to an unsafe sleep environment. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as unknown/undetermined. No information about the specific circumstances or contributing factors were documented.
“Her baby was only 11 weeks old and was left swaddled, unbuckled and unrestrained in a car seat for two hours on the floor behind a closed door, yet none of those risks were documented,” Bice said. “Oklahoma’s infant mortality rate is the third worst of any state in the country. Doing thorough investigations and documenting the findings can help us be pro-active with policies and laws that can save lives.”
SB 1893 directs the medical examiner to conduct a sudden unexplained infant death investigation (SUIDI) within 48 hours of the baby’s death. Information collected would include known medical histories, how the infant was found, how they are placed and other pertinent information.
Dodd said her main motivation in working with Bice to pass SB 1893 is to prevent other families from experiencing the loss and pain her own has endured.
“Between 70 and 75 percent of infant deaths in Oklahoma are listed as unknown or undetermined,” Dodd said. “Unknown and undetermined can’t help us save lives. Standardized death investigations will help us identify risk factors and do a better job of preventing infant deaths in the first place.”
SB 1893 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Editor’s Note: SB1893 passed unanimously 46-0, with District 37 Senator Ikley-Freeman voting in favor.
OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to continue growing the state’s economy and address the teacher shortage, the Senate approved two reciprocal licensing reforms Wednesday. Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the author of the measures to recognize the out-of-state occupational licenses and teaching certificates of qualified individuals moving to Oklahoma.
“We cannot grow our economy without getting rid of the barriers that are deterring professionals from moving to the state. Qualified professionals who are licensed, accredited or certified in other states shouldn’t have to prove their competency by taking repetitive exams that are both expensive and a waste of their time,” Pugh said. “As long as they are law-abiding citizens who hold an out-of-state license or certificate that is in good standing in their profession, we want them to know that we look forward to welcoming them and their expertise to Oklahoma.”
SB 1891 creates the “Universal Occupational License Recognition Act”. It directs occupational boards and commissions to issue an occupational license in the relevant profession to anyone who takes up residency in Oklahoma and holds an occupational license or certificate that has been in good standing in another state for at least one year. Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, is the principal House author.
SB 1125 will allow the State Board of Education to issue a teaching certificate to anyone who holds a valid out-of-state teaching certificate, with no other requirements except a criminal history record check. The teaching certificate will only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state certificate. The bill will go into effect with the governor’s signature allowing districts to begin accepting teacher applications for the upcoming school year. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, is the principal House author.
The bills will next be considered in the House.
Editor’s Note: SB1891 passed 36 to 9. District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman, representing Sand Springs, voted against the measure. SB1125 passed unanimously, 46 to 0. Ikley-Freeman voted in favor.
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Jan. 6, meeting include commission approval of several Oklahoma Department of Transportation school zone safety projects and an item related to the agency’s partnership with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on the Gilcrease Expressway project in Tulsa. Commissioners also heard updates on federal transportation funding and the state’s first transit plan.
Commissioners voted to approve use of federal funds for several school zone safety projects, including installation of signs with solar-powered warning beacons near schools on SH-4 in Mustang and on US-77 and SH-19 in Pauls Valley. Other school zone signage locations approved include SH-48 in Bearden, SH-270 in McLoud, US-77 in Paoli and SH-66 in Stroud.
The commission voted to authorize Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz to negotiate an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to help finance the Gilcrease Expressway project in Tulsa using a loan through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. With ODOT’s assistance, OTA is seeking a TIFIA loan to provide the most favorable payment and interest terms to help the authority fund construction of the five-mile segment of the new highway between I-44 and US-412, which will be paid off with toll revenues. Other project partners include the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County, Indian Nations Council of Governments and the Federal Highway Administration. Gatz also leads OTA as its executive director. For more information about the project, including cost and schedule, visit the OTA’s project webpage at www.drivingforwardok.com.
“This segment of the Gilcrease Expressway has been challenging to fund and this arrangement is a great example of local, state and federal government entities working together to leverage their resources to bring a major project forward that would have never happened otherwise,” Gatz said.
Gatz updated commissioners on the recently approved federal appropriations bill that authorizes funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2020. In December, Congress and the president agreed on a long-term appropriations measure that will provide certainty in federal transportation funding for the remainder of FY 2020, allowing ODOT to continue advertising projects for bid and awarding contracts with federal funds through the fiscal year.
Finally, Gatz reported to commissioners on stakeholder meetings taking place statewide as part of development of the Oklahoma Public Transit Policy Plan. The department and the Oklahoma Transit Association are hosting regional meetings in several cities to get local input on needs from transit providers and users to help shape the state’s transit program. Meetings in McAlester and Lawton occurred in December and upcoming meetings are planned for Pryor, Durant, Oklahoma City, Woodward and Ponca City. Meeting details and more information about the plan can be found at www.oktransitplan.org.
The department also welcomed an award from the American Concrete Pavement Association for a pavement rehabilitation project on I-35 and I-40 in Oklahoma County that recently earned a National Gold Award for excellence in design and construction. The $10.5 million project designed by ODOT and built by Duit Construction, of Edmond, addressed sections of I-35 between Edmond and northeast Oklahoma City and I-40 on the city’s west side.
As is customary, no new highway projects were advertised for bid in December, so no construction contracts were awarded this month. Projects advertised for bid in January can be viewed at www.odot.org/contracts.
The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards monthly contracts for road and bridge construction. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3. Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.odot.org.
The Class 6A No. 11 ranked Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team (7-2) took second place at the Enid Holiday Classic Saturday night at the Stride Bank Center, falling 49-45 to No. 12 Edmond Memorial (7-3). Sophomore Journey Armstead led the Sandites with 15 points and freshman Hailey Jackson posted her second double-double of the weekend with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Both were named to the All-Tournament team.
Coverage of the tournament is sponsored by Inkwell Printing, the official provider of all Sandite spirit wear and promotional merchandise. Visit them at their Prattville location, or in the Ed Dubie Field House Spirit Store during home athletic events.
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1 West 41st St,
Sand Springs, OK
74063
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Armstead was first on the board with a three-pointer, then Jackson made it 5-2 before Baylor Franz scored through a foul and tied it up with the and-one. Jade Shrum hit the next deep ball, then Armstead hit two from the charity stripe to double the Bulldogs.
Memorial came storming back, however, scoring fourteen unanswered points for a 19-12 lead early in the second period. Shrum and Bayleigh Cheney hit back-to-back threes to make it a one-point game, but foul trouble allowed the Bulldogs to maintain a 25-20 advantage at the half. The Sandites committed 15 fouls in the first half to the Bulldogs’ six.
Madison Burris kicked off the second half with a three, but Memorial maintained its lead and even pushed it as far as 34-27 before Jackson hit back-to-back twos and Cheney hit a three to tie it at 34-34.
Burris gave the Sandites their first lead since the first period, early in the fourth at 37-36, but Cayren Davis soon retaliated. Armstead tied it with a free throw, then took the lead with a two before Lexi Hensley and Franz scored back-to-back to make it 42-40. The Sandites would not lead again.
Sand Springs will return to action January 4th at 6:30 p.m. with a non-conference road game at No. 18 Ponca City (8-2), who they previously defeated 62-47 in the season opener. Memorial will travel to No. 4 Norman (7-1) for a conference battle January 7th at 6:00 p.m.
EM 49 CPHS 45
1Q: EM 15-12.
2Q: EM 10-8.
3Q: CPHS 14-9.
4Q: EM 15-11.
Free Throws: CPHS 6-of-16, EM 12-of-21.
Field Goals: CPHS 16-of-62. EM 17-of-49.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 13, EM 13.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 17, EM 33.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 30, EM 46.
Steals: CPHS 7, EM 2.
Blocks: CPHS 1, EM 0.
Fouls: CPHS 21, EM 15.
(Sand Springs stats)
Scoring: Armstead 15, Jackson 10, Burris 7, Cheney 7, Burris 7, Shrum 6.
Offensive Rebounds: Armstead 4, Jackson 4, Burris 2, Regalado 1, Shrum 1, Jordan 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Jackson 7, Regalado 3, Armstead 2, Burris 2, Shrum 1, Hampton 1, Cheney 1.
Total Rebounds: Jackson 11, Armstead 6, Regalado 4, Burris 4, Shrum 2, Jordan 1, Hampton 1, Cheney 1.
Steals: Armstead 2, Burris 2, Regalado 1, Shrum 1, J. Hughes 1.
Assists: Burris 3, Regalado 2, Armstead 1, Jackson 1, Jordan 1.
Blocks: Cheney 1.
Fouls: Jordan 5, Armstead 4, Jackson 3, Regalado 3, Burris 2, Shrum 1, Harris 1, Hampton 1, Cheney 1.
(Edmond Memorial partial stats)
Scoring: Langenberg 11, K. Davis 9, Franz 8, Hensley 8, Hjelmstad 6, C. Davis 5. Levings 2.
Fouls: Franz 4, Levings 4, Hensely 3, Langenberg 2, Hjelmstad 1, Hoppe 1.
The Charles Page High School varsity basketball teams are traveling to the Enid Holiday Classic Thursday, December 26th for a three-day tournament. Coverage of both boys’ and girls’ action is sponsored by Inkwell Printing.
Inkwell offers thousands of color combinations and design customizations for t-shirts, jackets, hats, jerseys, promotional merchandise, and more.
Inkwell Printing
1 West 41st St,
Sand Springs, OK
74063
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The Class 6A No. 6 ranked Sand Springs boys are still undefeated this season at 6-0, coming off a 59-46 win at Owasso. They will kick off the tournament at 11:00 a.m. Thursday against the Green Country Defenders (5-3). The only mutual opponent between the two teams is the Hoops For Christ Warriors. Sand Springs defeated HFC 69-50, while HFC beat Green Country 77-53.
If the Sandites win their first game they will play Friday at 5:00 p.m., and if they lose they’ll play at 11:00 a.m. Their second-round foe will either be the Oklahoma City Storm (13-5), or a rematch with HFC. Despite only being a homeschool team, OKC has notched wins against several large public schools, including Norman, 6A No. 19 Mustang, and 5A No. 18 Guthrie. They are riding a five-game win streak. HFC has won their last three games since falling to Sand Springs, including a dominant 70-46 win over 5A No. 10 Collinsville.
On the opposite side of the bracket are four unranked 6A teams.
U.S. Grant (2-6) vs. Bixby (2-4). Statistically speaking, Grant is the worst team in 6A, with their average game being a 14.9 point defeat. Grant’s only mutual opponent with CPHS is HFC, who they lost to 58-38. Bixby allows the second-most points in 6A, and their only mutual opponent with CPHS is Union. The Sandites beat Union 75-74, while Union beat Bixby 90-61.
The fourth quarterfinal pairing is Ponca City (3-5) vs. Enid (5-3). The Sandites beat Ponca 75-64 in their season opener. The Wildcats are coming off a 63-48 win over Guymon. Enid has won three-straight games, and is coming off a fifth-place performance at Woodward. They do not have any mutual opponents with the Sandites.
The Class 6A No. 11 ranked Sand Springs girls are 5-1 on the season, riding a four-game win streak that includes a Bishop Kelley Invitational Championship. Most recently they beat Owasso 62-45. They will play U.S. Grant (1-3) Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The two don’t have any mutual opponents, but Grant has the worst-ranked offense in 6A and their average game ends in a 27.5 point loss. The Sandites will be without Raegan Padilla for at least the first two games. She has been fighting sickness for weeks.
On Friday they will play at 12:30 p.m. following a loss, or 6:30 p.m. following a win. Their opponent will either be Enid (2-6) or Green Country (4-2). Enid went 0-3 at the Woodward tournament, but is coming off a 47-16 win over Grant. Green Country is coming off a 53-29 loss to NOAH.
On the other end of the bracket is 6A No. 12 ranked Edmond Memorial (4-3) vs. HFC (2-3). Sand Springs and Memorial are 16th and 17th, respectively, in 6A offense, and 11th and 13th in defense, making for a close match-up on both fronts. Edmond is coming off a 45-42 win over No. 20 Westmoore. HFC is coming off a 34-22 loss to NOAH.
The fourth quarterfinal pits Lawton (1-4) vs. OKC Storm (8-7). The Sandites and Storm have no mutual opponents, but OKC does have a 6A win against Enid. Lawton is riding back-to-back losses, including a 72-27 beatdown by Ponca City, who the Sandites bested 62-47 in the season opener.
Games will be played at the Stride Bank Center at 302 South Grand. The 5,000 seat arena is located in downtown Enid.
SUBMITTED
State Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, principal author of Senate Bill 383, and Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, principal author of Senate Joint Resolution 68, issued statements Wednesday about work on those measures which seek to modernize laws in Oklahoma’s statutes and constitution dealing with alcohol sales.
“Oklahoma’s alcohol laws are complex and impact a range of areas involving a variety of businesses. In order to be successful in modernizing our laws, all those entities must be a part of the discussions so that we ultimately bring forward measures that will be comprehensive, thorough, and enable us to bring this modernization to fruition. That’s why the legislative process we’re utilizing gives the greatest chance for success, and we are actively continuing to develop our proposals, both constitutionally and statutorily.”—Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City
“Polling data, feedback from the public and media interest all point to the fact that the majority of Oklahomans feel modernization of our laws is overdue. That’s why it is critical to get it right, and that means addressing all the aspects involved in the current system as we move to a modern one. You can’t just address one aspect of these laws—we have to address the entire structure and that’s what we’re doing through SB 383 and SJR 68. I believe working through the legislative process gives us the best shot of making modernization a reality.”—Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond
Sandite Pride News, LLC is a locally owned and operated Sand Springs, Oklahoma news source, serving the community since 2014.
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Sandite Pride is the only locally owned and operated news source for Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Sandite Pride News was founded in 2014 by Scott Emigh. The site is primarily focused on Sandite sports, Sand Springs city development, events, and community news.
