Sand Springs orders shut down of all restaurants, bars, massage parlors, gyms, etc.

The Sand Springs City Council voted Friday to to close numerous local business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: bars, restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues, tattoo and massage parlors, and private clubs. The proclamation will last until May 11th, 2020.

Below is the full text of the proclamation.

“WHEREAS, a proclamation declaring a state of emergency was issued by the Mayor of the City of Sand Springs on March 17, 2020, by virtue of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) global pandemic; and

WHEREAS, a proclamation requesting voluntary business closing was issued by the Mayor the City of Sand Springs on March 18, 2020, encouraging restaurants, bars and other privately owned gathering places to limit the number of patrons and to encourage the transition to “take-out” or delivery options.

WHEREAS, a number of local businesses have implemented changes that provide protection to the public; however, the Tulsa County Health Department has requested the City of Sand Springs take additional measures to protect the public, as the threat has not only continued but expanded within Tulsa County, resulting in additional exposure, illness and death.

WHEREAS, since the emergency declaration, the disease has continued to spread in multiple locations throughout the United States and the State of Oklahoma, resulting in additional protective measures imposed by Federal, State and local governments; and

WHEREAS, the state declared emergency for the State of Oklahoma is continuing; and

WHEREAS, the City of Tulsa and other municipalities have imposed executive orders with mandatory limits for certain businesses in an attempt to limit social contact; and

WHEREAS, additional direction to local residents and businesses will assist all in having an appropriate response to the continuing threat; and

WHEREAS, practicing methods such as social distancing is believed to slow the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 is a disaster affecting life, health, and safety of Sand Springs residents and non-residents alike; and

WHEREAS, the pandemic conditions constitute a threat to the safety and welfare of the residents of the City of Sand Springs, and create an emergency situation within the meaning of Section 683.3 of the Oklahoma Emergency Act of 2003, as amended;

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CITY CHARTER AND STATE LAW, I, JAMES O. SPOON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND DECLARE:

SECTION ONE: The previously declared state of emergency is continuing pursuant to the original proclamation.

SECTION TWO: All in-person gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes, including but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and similar activities are strongly discouraged until the expiration of this emergency declaration. Pursuant to directives from state and federal health authorities, all gatherings of more than ten persons are strongly discouraged.

SECTION THREE: All restaurants, bars, and other privately owned gathering places and other dine-in service areas shall be closed to the public until the expiration of this emergency declaration, although “pick-up” and delivery service may remain open to the public and is encouraged until the expiration of this emergency declaration.

SECTION FOUR: Local gyms and exercise facilities, entertainment venues, tattoo and massage parlors, and private clubs are prohibited from operating or opening to patrons until the expiration of this emergency declaration.

Additionally, tattoo and massage parlors, barber shops, haircut and styling shops, and spas can operate only under the following conditions: by appointment only with no walk-in customers; appointments cannot be scheduled and held withing 15 minutes of the preceding appointment; the individual client cannot bring any other persons, including children, to be present within the facility during an appointment; and that all workstations are hereby required to have a minimum of six (6) feet of space from the adjoining workstation, to promote social distancing. Cleaning between customers shall be required.

SECTION FIVE: To the extent possible during this emergency, the City of Sand Springs shall devote resources, as available, to assist not only local residents, but the business community to react and adjust to the continuing threat, including but not limited to assistance with continuing business operations as appropriate.

SECTION SIX: All persons are encouraged to take all precautions available to assist in alleviating the spread of the virus. All businesses should comply with all CDC and health department regulations and directives. Failure to comply may result in revocation of business license.

SECTION SEVEN: This proclamation shall become effective 11:59 P.M. Friday, March 20, 2020.

SECTION EIGHT: This state of emergency shall continue until 12:01 AM May 11, 2020, or terminated earlier by further proclamation.

PROCLAIMED THIS 20th DAY OF MARCH, 2020.”

Sand Springs to vote on order closing all restaurants, bars, massage parlors, gyms, etc.

Correction: We inaccurately reported that this measure had already been ordered by the Mayor due to a misunderstanding of the City’s press release. The measure will be voted on at the 2:00 p.m. meeting.

The City of Sand Springs will vote on an order to close numerous local business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: bars, restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues, tattoo and massage parlors, and private clubs. City Council will meet in an emergency session at 2:00 p.m. The proposed proclamation will last until May 11th, 2020.

Below is the full text of the proclamation.

“WHEREAS, a proclamation declaring a state of emergency was issued by the Mayor of the City of Sand Springs on March 17, 2020, by virtue of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) global pandemic; and

WHEREAS, a proclamation requesting voluntary business closing was issued by the Mayor the City of Sand Springs on March 18, 2020, encouraging restaurants, bars and other privately owned gathering places to limit the number of patrons and to encourage the transition to “take-out” or delivery options.

WHEREAS, a number of local businesses have implemented changes that provide protection to the public; however, the Tulsa County Health Department has requested the City of Sand Springs take additional measures to protect the public, as the threat has not only continued but expanded within Tulsa County, resulting in additional exposure, illness and death.

WHEREAS, since the emergency declaration, the disease has continued to spread in multiple locations throughout the United States and the State of Oklahoma, resulting in additional protective measures imposed by Federal, State and local governments; and

WHEREAS, the state declared emergency for the State of Oklahoma is continuing; and

WHEREAS, the City of Tulsa and other municipalities have imposed executive orders with mandatory limits for certain businesses in an attempt to limit social contact; and

WHEREAS, additional direction to local residents and businesses will assist all in having an appropriate response to the continuing threat; and

WHEREAS, practicing methods such as social distancing is believed to slow the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 is a disaster affecting life, health, and safety of Sand Springs residents and non-residents alike; and

WHEREAS, the pandemic conditions constitute a threat to the safety and welfare of the residents of the City of Sand Springs, and create an emergency situation within the meaning of Section 683.3 of the Oklahoma Emergency Act of 2003, as amended;

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CITY CHARTER AND STATE LAW, I, JAMES O. SPOON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND DECLARE:

SECTION ONE: The previously declared state of emergency is continuing pursuant to the original proclamation.

SECTION TWO: All in-person gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes, including but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and similar activities are strongly discouraged until the expiration of this emergency declaration. Pursuant to directives from state and federal health authorities, all gatherings of more than ten persons are strongly discouraged.

SECTION THREE: All restaurants, bars, and other privately owned gathering places and other dine-in service areas shall be closed to the public until the expiration of this emergency declaration, although “pick-up” and delivery service may remain open to the public and is encouraged until the expiration of this emergency declaration.

SECTION FOUR: Local gyms and exercise facilities, entertainment venues, tattoo and massage parlors, and private clubs are prohibited from operating or opening to patrons until the expiration of this emergency declaration.

SECTION FIVE: To the extent possible during this emergency, the City of Sand Springs shall devote resources, as available, to assist not only local residents, but the business community to react and adjust to the continuing threat, including but not limited to assistance with continuing business operations as appropriate.

SECTION SIX: All persons are encouraged to take all precautions available to assist in alleviating the spread of the virus.

SECTION SEVEN: This proclamation shall become effective 11:59 P.M. Friday, March 20, 2020.

SECTION EIGHT: This state of emergency shall continue until 12:01 AM May 11, 2020, or terminated earlier by further proclamation.

PROCLAIMED THIS 20th DAY OF MARCH, 2020.”

Sand Springs Mayor Jim Spoon declares State of Emergency

The following Mayor Proclamation was executed by City of Sand Springs Mayor Jim Spoon, Tuesday, March 17th.

“WHEREAS, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to be a global pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States of America has declared an infectious disease National Emergency Declaration to combat COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Oklahoma has declared a State of Emergency for all 77 counties in Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, health professional and researchers have determined COVID-19 is spread by human contact and interaction; and

WHEREAS, practicing methods such as social distancing is believed to stop the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 is a disaster affecting life, health, and safety of Sand Springs residents and non-residents alike; and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned conditions constitute a threat to the safety and welfare of Sand Springs, and create an emergency situation within the meaning of Section 683.3, Oklahoma Emergency Act of 2003, as amended;

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CITY CHARTER AND STATE LAW, I, JAMES 0. SPOON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND DECLARE: 

SECTION ONE: A state of emergency exists within the corporate limits of the City of Sand Springs, Tulsa County, Oklahoma.

SECTION TWO: This proclamation shall become effective 12:01 AM Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

SECTION THREE: This state of emergency shall continue until 12:01 AM May 11, 2020, or terminated earlier by further proclamation.

PROCLAIMED THIS 17TH DAY OF MARCH, 2020.

James O. Spoon - Mayor”

City of Sand Springs cancels Herbal Affair, closes Community Center and Museum

The City of Sand Springs announces revised operations in response to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tulsa Health Department and other agency advisories regarding the spread of the Coronavirus-COVID-19 virus. These revisions will take place immediately within the City’s operations.

To monitor real-time changes to the City’s plans, please follow any of the City’s Facebook pages including: City of Sand Springs; Sand Springs Police Department; Sand Springs Fire Department; Sand Springs Parks; Keystone Ancient Forest; Sand Springs Animal Welfare; Sand Springs Herbal Affair, Sand Springs Pogue Airport and the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum.

Generally, and unless previously arranged, all general business operations of the City of Sand
Springs will be conducted via phone and/or email to the greatest extent possible. Walk-in visits by vendors or the public will not be seen without an appointment. A detailed listing of operational revisions by department can be found further below.

Perhaps two of the most popular activities and sites to be impacted include the Case Community Center and the Sand Springs Herbal Affair. The Case Community Center will close to the public for general use, including rentals and meetings. The City’s Parks Department is prepared to work with existing rentals and uses, providing several options moving forward. For questions, please call the Parks Department at (918) 246-2561.

The Sand Springs Herbal Affair & Festival is cancelled. For the first time in 31 years this outdoor gathering, which attracts more than 25,000 visitors to downtown Sand Springs, will not be held. City staff are working with vendors to accommodate their plans to attend in 2021.

The regular meeting of the Sand Springs City Council and Sand Springs Municipal Trust Authority is still planned to occur on March 23, 2020 at the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Complex.

Below is a more detailed listing of impacts on the various City Departments and their operations:

Police/Fire:
• People with emergency situations should call 911 and an officer will respond. People with non-emergency situations should call (918) 245-8777 and an officer will call them back to take a report over the phone.

Municipal Court:
• Public court hearings are temporarily postponed pursuant to an order, which will be issued by the Municipal Court Judge. Mailings will be sent out to those on the docket. Court fines and payments should be made online or by phone.

Parks:
• Keystone Ancient forest is OPEN at this time, per schedule on website & Facebook.
• Case Center will be closed to the public.
• Museum will be closed to the public.
• Youth sports program operational plans are still being discussed at this time.
• Public parks are OPEN for public use with gatherings over 50 people discouraged. The restrooms WILL BE CLOSED at this time.
• Senior Citizens operations are closed, however meal provider Sodexo will continue to operate from the facility and offer carry-out and drive-thru meal options to their clients
• Long-range planning events like the “Movie in the Park” and fireworks display will be addressed later.

Customer Service:
• Payments to the City should be made online; via the payment kiosk located on the South side of the Sand Springs Municipal Building (100 E. Broadway) or at the night drop box also located on the South side of the building.
• Requests for new utility services may be established using instructions listed on the City’s website.
• Water service disconnects will be temporarily suspended for late payment

Community Development/Planning/Neighborhood Services:
• All applications for permits or licenses should be sent using forms found on the City’s website and delivered via email and can be discussed by phone.
• Payments can be made by mail or phone.
• Plan sets may be dropped off at the Community Development/Planning Department located at 110 E. Broadway.
• No approval of Special Events utilizing public property will be approved at this time.

Human Resources:
• All interviews for City positions will be held via phone with no vendor appointments at this time.

Animal Welfare:
• No public adoption events, with animal viewing by appointment only. Please call (918) 246-2543 for assistance.

Oklahoma Public Schools to remain closed till April 6th due to COVID-19 pandemic

The Oklahoma State Department of Education unanimously voted Monday afternoon to order all Oklahoma public schools to cease operations from March 17th through April 6th due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Board of Education met in an emergency session in Oklahoma City to vote on “an order for all accredited public schools to cease operations effective March 17th until April 6th. Cessation of operations to include all instructional services, grading, extracurricular activities, staff development, training, or conferences. Essential clerical and administrative activities such as business management, nutrition services, and maintenance may continue.”

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association recently announced that it would be indefinitely suspending all post-season tournaments such as the State Basketball Tournament, but that regular season activities like baseball, softball, and soccer would be left up to the individual school districts to decide if they want to continue the seasons.

The inclusion of extracurricular activities by the State Board of Education effectively ceases all regular season activities, and ensures that the OSSAA won’t be able to reschedule the State Basketball Tournament for at least three more weeks.

Bill to improve school safety heads to House for final consideration

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Senate passed legislation Wednesday to provide more local control for school districts to decide how to protect their students. Senator David Bullard, R-Durant, is author of House Bill 2336. The measure would allow a local board of education to voluntarily adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel who hold a valid reserve peace officer certification or possess a valid handgun license. School personnel will also be required to complete “campus-specific active shooter training” conducted by local law enforcement.

“This bill will let our local districts and boards decide what works best for their schools especially in rural areas where law enforcement can’t respond as quickly to incidents as in urban areas,” Bullard said.  “Currently, in order to carry on school grounds, personnel and teachers must be CLEET certified, which is unattainable for most because it’s so expensive and time prohibitive. For those districts that choose to authorize personnel to carry, this legislation will let them work with their local law enforcement for active shooting training in their own schools. This will be much more beneficial than being trained in a facility in another city should a real incident occur.”

Currently, teachers and school personnel must complete a 240-hour Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) certification to carry on school grounds. HB 2336 replaces the CLEET training requirement with ether the eight-hour concealed carry class or the 72 hours of armed security guard training along with the active shooter training.

“Most of our rural schools are vulnerable to these types of shootings because they can’t afford a resource officer or other security, and it takes local law enforcement too long to get to the schools,” Bullard said.  “Schools in my district strongly support this measure. They understand that other schools may have more options for security because of their finances, but for those schools who don’t have the money, they want to be able to properly protect their students.”

Rep. Sean Roberts is the House author of HB 2336, which was requested by the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association.

The amended bill now returns to the House for final consideration.

ONEOK donates $150,000 to repair Sand Springs park damaged in flood

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Sand Springs, OK- Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. has received a major donation from ONEOK to assist with the continued flood recovery at Case Community Park. ONEOK announced the gifting of $150,000 to Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. for work at the park’s heavily damaged softball complex.

Following the flooding events of May 2019, the entire 100 acre Case Community Park was submerged beneath six feet of flowing water. The impact leveled fences, uprooted large trees, ruined sports playing surfaces and pulled apart electrical connections buried within the sports complex.

Following today’s gift from ONEOK, the Parks Department will oversee repairs to the softball complex in the coming weeks, replacing it to a pre-flood condition in time for the opening of the 2020 softball season.

“We’ve built this wonderful park with great partnerships and community support over the years”, stated City of Sand Springs Parks Director Jeff Edwards. “We’re grateful for ONEOK and their support of our mission to rebuild the softball complex and deliver quality of life services to our citizens.”

Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. was created in 2007 by the City of Sand Springs City Council to help facilitate an easy, visible tool to generate philanthropic support and create improvements to the City’s parks system. Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization registered with the State of Oklahoma and the IRS to accept charitable contributions.

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Face Book and Instagram for the latest updates.

Senator Rob Standridge files bills to combat domestic violence in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Senator Rob Standridge, a Republican representing the Norman district, filed four bills Monday aimed to tighten sentences for domestic violence offenders, increase accountability for their actions and further protect their victims.

Headlining the domestic violence bill package is Senate Bill 1103, which cracks down on offenders of assault and battery with intent to cause great bodily harm by strangulation or attempted strangulation. According to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, strangulation victims are 750 percent more likely to be killed than victims who have never been strangled.

SB 1103 increases the penalties associated with strangulation or attempted strangulation by removing the mandatory minimum sentence of one year for a person found to have committed these crimes and increases the maximum term of imprisonment to 10 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC). Additionally, the measure increases the maximum fine from $3,000 to $5,000. Similarly, SB 1103 removes the minimum sentence of 3 years for a second offense, but increases the maximum sentence from 10 to 20 years of imprisonment.

“Strangulation is a gateway offense that can lead to grim outcomes for victims,” Standridge said. “National research says women who are the victims of homicide or attempted homicide are far more likely to have a history of being strangled, compared to abused women with no history of strangulation. There is no ‘pass’ when it comes to strangulation and I’m working to ensure we hold offenders accountable.”  

Standridge paired the strangulation bill with three additional domestic violence bills to further protect victims and increase the penalty associated with domestic assault and battery.

SB 1105 adds domestic assault and battery that results in great bodily injury to the list of 85 percent crimes, meaning a person convicted of this offense must serve 85 percent of his or her sentence before receiving consideration for parole. Additionally, the measure removes a provision requiring a person convicted on this charge to be sentenced up to one year in a county jail. A person convicted of this crime shall be sentenced up to 10 years in prison. Finally, SB 1105 defines domestic assault and battery that results in great bodily injury to the victim as a violent crime.

SB 1104 adds the crime of domestic assault and battery against a known pregnant woman resulting in miscarriage to the list of 85 percent crimes.

SB 1102 authorizes district attorneys to refer persons accused of domestic abuse or assault to a deferred prosecution program. This would require the accused to attend a batterers’ intervention program certified by the Attorney General or other certified treatment program as currently required for defendants with suspended or deferred sentences for the same or similar offenses. The accused would be required to participate in the counseling or treatment for a minimum of 90 days and could not reside with or be in contact with the victim or his or her family.

“We must send the message that domestic assault will not be tolerated in Oklahoma,” Standridge said. “We must do a better job to protect the victims of these crimes and hold those who commit them accountable for their actions.”

Standridge will host an open town hall meeting on Dec. 9 to address domestic violence issues in Oklahoma, discuss his proposed legislation and give an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the upcoming legislative session. The town hall will be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Redbud Room at the Norman Public Library, 103 W. Acres Street.

Sand Springs City Council names new commercial development

Vice-Mayor Patty Dixon presents Chamber of Commerce President Kristin Cepak with a Mayoral Proclamation recognizing Small Business Saturday.

Mannford Mayor Tyler Buttram thanks the Sand Springs City Council for their gift of a retired 1990 Fire Ladder Truck.

The Sand Springs City Council voted on the naming of the new commercial development on the site of the former Sheffield Steel Mill at their regular Monday meeting. The City has been prepping the 18-acre development for the past year since purchasing the land from OmniTRAX, and decided Monday to name the area Sheffield Plaza.

The commercial development was initially begun by OmniTRAX, who intended to spearhead the construction of a shopping center by the name of Sheffield Crossing. The company later decided to focus on the railroad and industrial development, but agreed to sell 18 acres of Highway 97 frontage to the City.

Because OmniTRAX owns the name Sheffield Crossing, and is still using it to refer to their operations immediately behind the development, the City had to find a new name. They were, however, given permission to use the word “Sheffield.” In a 5-1 vote, Council decided on Sheffield Plaza. Brian Jackson, Phil Nollan, Mike Burdge, Nancy Riley, and Patty Dixon were in favor, and Beau Wilson dissented. Mayor Jim Spoon was absent from the meeting.

Other names considered included “Sheffield Landing,” “Mill Landing,” “Mill Road Plaza,” “Mill Plaza,” and the “Shoppes at Sheffield Crossing.” “The Shoppes at Sheffield Crossing” was deemed inappropriate because the City is primarily hoping to attract a large box store, which wouldn’t leave much room for smaller shops. 

Council also voted unanimously on “Huskey Boulevard” as the street name for the Highway 97 entrance to the development. The name is in honor of former Assistant Chief of Police Jesse Huskey, who is the only Sand Springs Police Officer to ever lose his life in the line of duty. The entrance to the development is expected to be completed by November 30th.

Other names submitted included “Steel Mill Road,” “Mill Avenue,” “Sheffield Street,” “River Road,” and “Armco Avenue.” Those names will remain on the table for additional roads that will likely be constructed within the development in the future.

Sand Springs is hoping to attract a lumber/hardware store to Sheffield Plaza, but is open to any prospective businesses. The property is in the most highly-trafficked section of Sand Springs, with visibility from both Highway 97 and Highway 412.

Council also unanimously approved an amended agreement with Axon for police video services. The agreement will see a $40,950 increase to an existing contract over a four-year period, and will allow the Police Department to store all body camera and dashboard camera footage indefinitely. While the department does flag video for indefinite storage in cases where they expect there may be need of it, the bulk of the department’s video is deleted after six months.

“I think what’s very important is to at least keep (all footage) for two years, because that’s the statute of limitations on bringing a claim in federal court against the City if someone were to feel something we’ve done is wrong,” said Police Chief Mike Carter.

Carter painted a hypothetical scenario in which a parent or guardian might not become aware of a law enforcement interaction with their child until months after the fact, such as a minor traffic stop. He also pointed to a recent DUI case that the City lost in court due to footage that was automatically deleted.

“In this case that we lost, it happened that the person didn’t show up for court, there was a warrant out for awhile. It was a simple first offense DUI…the video got deleted because it wasn’t something that rose to the level that the officer felt that he needed to retain it.”

“That being said, that wasn’t the biggest reason that we wanted to do this,” said Carter. “We want the truth on every case to be shown. We don’t want people to feel that we’re ever not being open or transparent. In my estimation, video is one the of the great things that has happened in law enforcement.”

In other news:

Vice-Mayor Patty Dixon presented a Mayoral Proclamation to the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, proclaiming November 30th, 2019 as Small Business Saturday in Sand Springs. Small Business Saturday is a national movement encouraging holiday shoppers to visit small, locally owned operations on the weekend of Black Friday in order to stimulate the local economy. Chamber President Kristin Cepak received the proclamation.

Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement gifting a 1990 E-One Stratosphere Quint Fire Ladder Truck to the neighboring town of Mannford. Sand Springs recently purchased a new ladder truck and no longer has regular need for the 30-year old model. The agreement also allows for Sand Springs to request the truck in the event that extra help is needed. “I can’t thank you guys enough on behalf of the City of Mannford,” said visiting Mayor Tyler Buttram.

Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for an election in Wards 3 and 4. Those seats are currently occupied by Burdge and Riley, respectively. The filing period will be from December 2-4 and candidates can file their declaration of candidacy with the City Clerk between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.  – 5:00 p.m.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of 20 Motorola APX 900 Portable Radios for the Parks and Public Works departments, at a cost of $39,992.65.

Council unanimously approved a Utility Easement Encroachment Agreement with the Villas at Stone Creek Estates. McGuire Brothers Construction recently completed the installation of 1,447 linear feet of 8-inch SDR-35 PVC and 81 linear feet of 8-inch C-900 PVC sanitary sewer pipe at a cost of $103,429.

Council unanimously approved a Specific Use Permit to allow a Medical Marijuana Processing facility at an existing dispensary. Harvest Health Dispensary opened at 1104 West Wekiwa Road in April of 2019 and has been working toward processing in-house.

Council unanimously approved the Sand Springs Pogue Airport 5-year Capital Improvement Projects Plan, which is submitted annually to the Federal Aviation Administration and Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.

Council unanimously approved the City Council 2020 Meeting Schedule.

Council unanimously approved a resolution affirming dilapidation public nuisance administrative hearing findings and authorizing the demolition of a vacant residential building at 213 ½ North Industrial Avenue. The City has been working with property owners since February of 2018 to have the secondary building repaired, but work has not progressed. It is currently deemed unfit for human occupancy, and due to its location, is at risk of being occupied by vagrants.

Council unanimously approved an ordinance switching the collection of hotel/motel tax from City staff to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The City currently levies a 7% excise tax on hotel/motel gross receipts for the purpose of promoting economic development, cultural enhancement, and tourism. The OTC will assume responsibility for collecting the taxes on behalf of the city.

The Municipal Authority meeting convened following City Council. Trustees approved an amendment to an agreement for engineering services with Tetra Tech for the design and construction services for a second One Way Surge Tank in the Skiatook Raw Water Conveyance System. Sand Springs will fund 60% of the $31,500 contract, with Sapulpa funding 40%. Trustees approved a resolution authorizing the acquisition of five new easements to aid the Municipal Authority raw water line.

Trustees unanimously voted to award a $1,039,000 bid to GH2 Architects for renovations at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course clubhouse. The funding was approved by voters in a 2018 general obligation bond election. GH2 had the lowest of six bids.

Trustees also awarded a $570,402.84 bid to Heckenkemper Golf Course Design for the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge course improvements. Heckenkemper had the lowest of two bids. The funding for the project will also come from a 2018 GO Bond.

City of Sand Springs passes new ordinance on public toplessness

The City of Sand Springs passed an ordinance Wednesday afternoon designed to provide clarity on the subject of public toplessness for both men and women. In effect, it is still legal for both men and women to go shirtless in public, so long as it is not done “for the purpose of causing alarm or disturbance.”

Although Sand Springs Police will continue to respect the 10th Circuit ruling on female toplessness, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department, who also has jurisdiction in Sand Springs, has said they will continue to enforce State laws on the subject.

Ordinance No. 1344 amends the City Code of Ordinances on Outraging Public Decency to read the following:

“Every person who willfully and wrongfully commits any act which grossly injures the person or property of another, or which grossly disturbs the public peace or health, or which openly outrages public decency, including but not limited to urination in a public place, and is injurious to public morals, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Injurious to public morals shall be defined as:

• Knowingly engage or participate in any obscene performance made available to the public; or

• Any person to publicly expose to public view:

  • Their genitals, pubic hair, buttocks, perineum, anal region or public hair region.

  • Any device, costume, or covering, which gives the appearance of or simulates the genitals, pubic hair, buttocks, perineum, anal region or pubic hair region.

  • Display in view of the public, for the purpose of causing alarm or disturbance, of any portion of a person’s breast/chest at or below the areola thereof;

    • For persons 10 years of age and under.

    • For the act of breastfeeding a child

    • For the purpose of a medical emergency.”

The department had previously announced that they would be allowing women to go topless in public in order to offset potential lawsuits like the one filed in Fort Collins, Colorado.

In 2015 the City of Fort Collins, Colorado enacted an ordinance restricting public female toplessness, leading Brittiany Hoagland and Samantha Six to sue the City on behalf of the “Free the Nipple” movement. A district court sided with the plaintiffs in 2017, and the City appealed the decision. On February 15th, 2019, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s decision in a 2-1 vote.

In Free the Nipple v. City of Fort Collins, Circuit Judge Gregory A. Phillips states “we recognize that ours is a minority viewpoint. Most other courts, including a recent (split) Seventh Circuit panel, have rejected equal-protection challenges to female-only toplessness bans…None of these decisions binds us, though; nor does their sheer volume sway our analysis.” Judge Mary Beck Briscoe sided with Phillips.

Circuit Judge Harris L. Hartz wrote a dissenting opinion, saying the Fort Collins ordinance “does not discriminate against women on the basis of any overbroad generalization about their perceived ‘talents, capacities, or preferences.’ To the extent it distinguishes between the sexes, it is based on inherent biological morphological differences between them.”

Though the court’s opinion was rendered in February, it didn’t go viral till September when Fort Collins decided not to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The City had already spent more than $300,000 defending the ordinance, and did not want to spend additional public funds on a case they weren’t sure they would win.

“Free the Nipple” advocates have claimed that the ruling, and Fort Collins’s subsequent decision not to appeal it, in effect legalized public female toplessness in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, as well as portions of Yellowstone National Park extending into Montana and Idaho.

In reality, it’s not that cut and dry. Individual ordinances will still need to be challenged at the state and municipal levels, and local governments have the ability to continue enforcing those ordinances until they are ordered by the courts to stop.

The Oklahoma City Police Department issued a statement saying that they “will continue to enforce the law as outlined by City Ordinance and State Law as this preliminary injunction issued by the 10th Circuit Court is in reference to an appeal specific to the City of Ft. Collins in Colorado. Therefore, someone in OKC who is in violation of the law could be city and/or jailed as this is a misdemeanor crime.”

On the other hand, the Tulsa Police Department initially stated that the court decision did apply, and they would not be arresting or ticketing women who went topless in public areas. The Tulsa County Sheriffs Department also stated they would abide by the court’s ruling, even allowing toplessness at the Tulsa State Fair, since it is a public event. Both agencies reversed course following a statement from Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter saying that “the ruling does not automatically invalidate local and state laws in Oklahoma.”

"The Tenth Circuit’s preliminary decision in the Fort Collins case – a case that has now ended without a full adjudication – does not change local and state laws in Oklahoma on the subject,” Attorney General Hunter said. “The majority of courts around the country that have examined this issue have upheld traditional public decency and public nudity laws. These courts have recognized that states and political subdivisions have a legitimate interest in prohibiting public nudity as traditionally defined."

Hunter cited a May ruling by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a similar ordinance in Springfield, Missouri, and a 2017 ruling by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a similar ordinance in Chicago, Illinois.

“The 10th Circuit’s ruling made preliminary conclusions about the Fort Collins ordinance, but did not decide the law’s ultimate constitutionality. Because the Fort Collins ordinance was repealed, the 10th Circuit’s ruling likely cannot be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In conclusion, the 10th Circuit’s ruling is not binding on Oklahoma state courts.”

There is currently a lawsuit pending before the United States Supreme Court, challenging a ban on topless women in New Hampshire. The Court has yet to announce if it will hear the case.

Sand Springs Police to uphold Appellate Court decision legalizing female toplessness in public places

Public female toplessness has recently taken social media by storm following a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that initially appeared to legalize it in the six states under the Court’s jurisdiction. Now the waters have been muddied regarding where exactly the laws have changed.

In 2015 the City of Fort Collins, Colorado enacted an ordinance restricting public female toplessness, leading Brittiany Hoagland and Samantha Six to sue the City on behalf of the “Free the Nipple” movement. A district court sided with the plaintiffs in 2017, and the City appealed the decision. On February 15th, 2019, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s decision in a 2-1 vote.

In Free the Nipple v. City of Fort Collins, Circuit Judge Gregory A. Phillips states “we recognize that ours is a minority viewpoint. Most other courts, including a recent (split) Seventh Circuit panel, have rejected equal-protection challenges to female-only toplessness bans…None of these decisions binds us, though; nor does their sheer volume sway our analysis.” Judge Mary Beck Briscoe sided with Phillips.

Circuit Judge Harris L. Hartz wrote a dissenting opinion, saying the Fort Collins ordinance “does not discriminate against women on the basis of any overbroad generalization about their perceived ‘talents, capacities, or preferences.’ To the extent it distinguishes between the sexes, it is based on inherent biological morphological differences between them.”

Though the court’s opinion was rendered in February, it didn’t go viral till September when Fort Collins decided not to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The City had already spent more than $300,000 defending the ordinance, and did not want to spend additional public funds on a case they weren’t sure they would win.

“Free the Nipple” advocates have claimed that the ruling, and Fort Collins’s subsequent decision not to appeal it, in effect legalized public female toplessness in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, as well as portions of Yellowstone National Park extending into Montana and Idaho.

In reality, it’s not that cut and dry. Individual ordinances will still need to be challenged at the state and municipal levels, and local governments have the ability to continue enforcing those ordinances until they are ordered by the courts to stop.

The Oklahoma City Police Department issued a statement saying that they “will continue to enforce the law as outlined by City Ordinance and State Law as this preliminary injunction issued by the 10th Circuit Court is in reference to an appeal specific to the City of Ft. Collins in Colorado. Therefore, someone in OKC who is in violation of the law could be city and/or jailed as this is a misdemeanor crime.”

On the other hand, the Tulsa Police Department initially stated that the court decision did apply, and they would not be arresting or ticketing women who went topless in public areas. The Tulsa County Sheriffs Department also stated they would abide by the court’s ruling, even allowing toplessness at the Tulsa State Fair, since it is a public event.

On Monday, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter released a statement saying that “the ruling does not automatically invalidate local and state laws in Oklahoma.”

"The Tenth Circuit’s preliminary decision in the Fort Collins case – a case that has now ended without a full adjudication – does not change local and state laws in Oklahoma on the subject,” Attorney General Hunter said. “The majority of courts around the country that have examined this issue have upheld traditional public decency and public nudity laws. These courts have recognized that states and political subdivisions have a legitimate interest in prohibiting public nudity as traditionally defined."

Hunter cited a May ruling by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a similar ordinance in Springfield, Missouri, and a 2017 ruling by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a similar ordinance in Chicago, Illinois.

“The 10th Circuit’s ruling made preliminary conclusions about the Fort Collins ordinance, but did not decide the law’s ultimate constitutionality. Because the Fort Collins ordinance was repealed, the 10th Circuit’s ruling likely cannot be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In conclusion, the 10th Circuit’s ruling is not binding on Oklahoma state courts.”

Following Hunter’s statement, the Tulsa Police Department changed course, but not before dozens of women skated topless down the Riverside trail system Sunday evening. The department said, following AG Hunter’s guidance, they will continue to ticket or arrest women who go topless in public.

The Sand Springs Police Department, however, will continue to abide by the Appellate Court’s decision, according to Police Chief Mike Carter. Carter provided Sandite Pride News with the following statement Monday evening at 7:30 p.m.

“We respect the authority and jurisdiction of the 10th Circuit which covers the State of Oklahoma. If we encounter situations where the conduct crosses the line to be in a lewd and lascivious manner, we will still enforce the state statues or city ordinance. If the conduct is not done with the intent of being obscene or sexual in nature, we will not as the Court has ruled that women have an equal protection under the law. We hope that this is a passing issue as we would like to concentrate our time and effort on crimes that are worthy of our attention.”

For now, women seeking to go topless in public should reach out to their local police department to find out if local or state ordinances will be enforced. Additionally, displaying the breasts in a non-sexual manner may be protected in some areas, especially in regards to breastfeeding, but sexual activities will likely violate public lewdness laws in most jurisdictions.

There is currently a lawsuit pending before the United States Supreme Court, challenging a ban on topless women in New Hampshire. The Court has yet to announce if it will hear the case.

Sand Springs Police Department releases bodycam footage of deadly shooting incident

The Sand Springs Police Department held a press conference Monday morning at the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center to address a recent use of deadly force incident. On Sunday, September 1st at approximately 8:20 p.m., following a high speed pursuit, Lieutenant Kevin O’Keefe was the victim of a vehicular assault and fired his weapon at Robert W. Desjarlais Jr., killing the suspect.

Desjarlais was 49 years old and his only criminal record was a pair of speeding tickets in the 1990s. The department has yet to receive results from toxicology, and at present time it is unclear what his motivations were for fleeing or assaulting the officer. Police Chief Mike Carter declined to comment on whether Desjarlais was in possession of any illegal contraband.

At 8:12 p.m. Lt. O’Keefe was stopped at the intersection of West 41st Street and South 129th West Avenue when he encountered a white two-door sedan traveling east on 41st. He witnesses the suspect’s vehicle swerve and nearly hit the curb, causing the officer to attempt a routine traffic stop.

Desjarlais attempts to evade the officer and leads O’Keefe on a six-minute chase through several Prattville neighborhoods, reaching speeds in excess of 50 m.p.h. in residential areas. O’Keefe briefly loses sight of the vehicle on multiple occasions, but locates Desjarlais traveling southbound on 145th West Avenue, between the intersections of West 56th Street and West 61st Street.

O’Keefe blocks the southbound lane of 145th and partially exits his patrol car, using the driver’s side door for cover. He orders Desjarlais to stop the vehicle four times before the suspect rams the officer’s vehicle, pinning him between the door and the body of the car. Unable to move or breath, O’Keefe discharges his firearm four times into the suspect vehicle, causing the driver to break off and swerve into a drainage ditch.

O’Keefe maintained radio contact throughout the chase and immediately informs the officers en route that shots have been fired. Following the shoot, Desjarlais’s vehicle entered a drainage ditch and stops moving. The first reinforcements arrive approximately 30 seconds after the shoot, but officers don’t approach the vehicle till additional units arrive.

Full video has been provided to the media, but out of respect for his family, Sandite Pride News has elected not to post any footage of the deceased, or of officers breaching the vehicle.

Clearly shaken up, O’Keefe can be heard on camera reminding himself to breathe more than two minutes after the shoot. Officers are slow to approach the vehicle due to deployed airbags obstructing their view of the suspect. O’Keefe orders Desjarlais to turn off the vehicle and exit the vehicle, but he is non-responsive.

O’Keefe holsters his sidearm and transitions to a taser prior to approaching the vehicle. Officers approach the vehicle from the rear driver’s side and remove the deceased approximately eight minutes following the shoot. Officers are unable to find a pulse and immediately separate O’Keefe from the scene and remove his camera.

Per the department’s 2019 Policing Plan, the investigation has been turned over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, who will present their findings to the Tulsa County District Attorney. The D.A. will then determine whether there are any appropriate charges against the officer. SSPD has partnered with OSBI since 2016 for investigations into use of deadly force. This is the first time that partnership has been needed.

Following the OSBI’s report, an internal review will be conducted by the SSPD in tandem with the department’s Use of Force Review Board, which includes civilian representation.

This is the first fatal shooting involving a Sand Springs Police Officer since 2015. On average, the department only uses deadly force half a dozen times a year. Prior to 2015, the department hadn’t had a fatal shooting in over a decade.

Public Health Officials Encourage Personal Health Preparedness

One of hundreds of flooded homes in Sand Springs, Oklahoma during a historic flooding event in May of 2019.

September is National Preparedness Month and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) joins state and national partners in encouraging year-round personal and community preparedness for disasters and disease outbreaks. Oklahoma’s recent storms are a reminder that severe weather can strike any time of year.

Personal health preparedness is about people having the ability to care for themselves and their family in the immediate hours and days following an emergency or disaster. Oklahomans have seen numerous severe weather events where power outages affected thousands of residents across the state.

Scott Sproat, director of the OSDH Emergency Preparedness and Response Service, said personal preparedness is vital to being able to recover from a disaster or public health emergency.

“It’s important for a household to be able to sustain itself for at least 72 hours,” said Sproat. “More resilient households make more resilient communities who are better able to recover after a disaster.”

In addition to basic supplies such as non-perishable and ready-to-eat food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights and batteries; families should ensure they have enough personal items such as prescription medication for several days and a cooler or chemical ice packs to keep certain medications cold during a power outage.

OSDH Emergency Manager Darrell Eberly said those with disabilities or special medical needs should plan ahead for accessible transportation needed for evacuation or to seek medical care.

“Those who use medical equipment requiring electricity should talk with a health care provider about how to prepare for its usage during a power outage,” said Eberly. “If you have a communication disability, make sure your emergency information explains the best way to communicate with you. Those who rely on dialysis should discuss with your dialysis provider how to access service if the regular site is inaccessible.”

In addition, families should have easy access to important documents such as insurance policies and proof of identification in an electronic format on a flash drive or secure cloud-based service.

For more information, preparedness information is available in English, Spanish and American Sign Language by visiting the OSDH YouTube channel and selecting the Preparedness playlist.

Sand Springs arrests and court records - 7/25/19 - 8/4/19

Alex Houston Walker

Angie Renee West

Ann Marie Hellard

Anthony Quinn Bryant

Ashley Nicole Jones

Astion Denise Lucy

Daniel Edward Donalson

Delmar Lee Hooper Jr.

Heather Dawn Cummins

Henry Dewayne Hall

Howdy Carper

Jeff Rodney Graves

Jordan Lee Ross

Lauren Gail Whitaker

Miranda G. Jones

Nathan Daniel Hardin

Nathan Garrett O'Bryan

Nicholas L Brown

Regina Sean Ball

Ronald Dewayne Miller

Stephen Todd Alan Whitaker

Tony Bob Bettis

Vanessa Gene Hayes-Strahan

The following list includes both arrests by the Sand Springs Police Department, as well as arrests by other departments of individuals associated with Sand Springs addresses. An arrest is not a conviction, all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Seth Keith Warden, 35, Healdton, pleaded guilty to trespassing and was sentenced to 33 days in Tulsa County Jail with credit for time served.

Jeff Rodney Graves, 43, Sand Springs, was convicted on charges of public intoxication and resisting an officer. He was sentenced to 47 days in Tulsa County Jail with credit for time served.

Heather Dawn Cummins, 28, Tulsa, pleaded guilty to false impersonation and conspiracy to commit a felony and was sentenced to three years in the department of corrections with credit for time served.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Delmar Lee Hooper Jr., 63, Sand Springs, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery and was released on $5,000 bond. Jury selection will begin August 27th.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Henry Dewayne Hall, 53, Sand Springs, was sentenced to three years in the department of corrections after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of child pornography. He will also be fined $1,000 plus court costs and will have to complete three years of post-imprisonment supervision.

Miranda G. Jones, 38, Sapulpa, pleaded guilty to driving without proof of insurance and driving with a suspended license and was assessed $150 in fines. Jones was ticketed for the incident in November of 2016 but failed to appear in court and was arrested in July. She will now be transferred to Creek County to face another charge of driving under suspension in January of 2017.

Ashley Nicole Jones, 34, Tulsa, confessed to violating the terms of her parole and was sentenced to 60 days in Tulsa County Jail with credit for time served.

Cesar Delacruz Rosales 62, Sand Springs, pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, transporting an open container, driving without a valid drivers license, and unsafe lane use. He is being held without bond due to an Immigration Customs Enforcement hold. Jury selection will begin August 22nd.

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Alex Houston Walker, 49, Sand Springs, was arrested for two counts of uttering a forged instrument. He was released on $2,000 bond and will be arraigned August 9th.

Lauren Gail Whitaker, 33, Sand Springs, pleaded guilty to charges of obstruction, driving without a license, and operating a vehicle in unsafe conditions. She was sentenced to 45 days in Tulsa County Jail with credit for time served.

Nicholas Layne Brown, 25, Sand Springs, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and public intoxication. He was given a three-year suspended sentence and ordered to obtain an alcohol/substance abuse evaluation and a mental health evaluation.

Stephen Todd Alan Whitaker, 35, Sand Springs, pleaded guilty to obstruction, larceny, and forgery, and was sentenced to 30 days in Tulsa County Jail with credit for time served.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Regina Sean Ball, 37, Sand Springs, pleaded not guilty to charges of obtaining money property or signature under false pretenses, forgery, possession of stolen property, larceny, trespassing, and obstruction. She is being held on $2,250 bond and will return to court August 22nd.

Astion Denise Lucy, 32, Sand Springs, was arrested by TCSO for failure to appear and pleaded not guilty to a May charge of driving under the influence. She is being held on $3,000 bond and will return to court August 29th.

Friday, August 2, 2019

Howdy Carper, 27, Sand Springs, was arrested by TPD for pointing a deadly weapon with intent. He was released on $20,000 bond and will be arraigned August 9th.

Nathan Daniel Hardin, 37, Sand Springs, was arrested by TPD for larceny and is being held on $300 bond. He will be arraigned on August 5th.

Darren Lyn Summar, 42, Sand Springs, was arrested by the Owasso Police Department and is being held on a $4,000 bond for transfer to Osage County. He will be arraigned August 9th on charges of petit larceny, possession of burglary tools by a convicted felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving without insurance.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Tony Bob Bettis III, 27, Tulsa, was arrested by SSPD on application to revoke. Bettis pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia in April and was given a one-year suspended sentence. He is accused of violating the terms of his parole and failing to pay probation fees. He also has an outstanding charge of larceny. Bettis is being held on $1,750 bond and will return to court on August 5th.

Anthony Quinn Bryant, 57, Tulsa, was arrested by SSPD on application to revoke. Bryant was convicted on possession of meth and drug paraphernalia in December and given a one-year suspended sentence. He is accused of violating the terms of his parole and failure to pay probation fees. He will return to court August 8th.

Vanessa Gene Hayes-Strahan, 37, Sand Springs, was arrested by TPD for outstanding charges in Sedgwick County, Kansas. She is on probation for aggravated battery and is accused of violating the terms of her probation. She is being held without bond.

Nathan Garrett O’Bryan, 26, Sand Springs, was arrested by SSPD for driving under the influence. He was released on $1,000 bond and will be arraigned August 9th.

Ann Marie Hellard, 42, Sand Springs, was arrested by SSPD on application to revoke. Hellard pleaded guilty in 2018 to possession of meth and possession of paraphernalia. She was given a one-year suspended sentence and is accused of violating the terms of her parole. She is being held on $5,750 bond and will be arraigned on August 6th.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Daniel Edward Donalson, 32, Sand Springs, was arrested by TPD for grand larceny. He was released on $1,000 bond and will be arraigned August 12th.

Ronald Dewayne Miller, 24, Sand Springs, was arrested by SSPD for petit larceny and trespass. He is currently serving a suspended sentence for breaking and entering, which he pleaded guilty to in May. He is being held on $500 bond and will be arraigned August 12th.

Jordan Lee Ross, 33, Sand Springs, was arrested by SSPD for domestic assault and battery. He is being held without bond and will be arraigned August 5th.

Angie Renee West, 37, Sand Springs was arrested by TCSO for felony first degree murder and is being held without bond. She will be arraigned August 5th.

Sand Springs Fire Department rescues stranded boat with elderly pilot

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The Sand Springs Fire Department performed a successful water rescue late Sunday night, retrieving a stranded boat with a single passenger.

The boat’s pilot claims to have put into the Arkansas River before daylight Sunday morning and was stranded for most of the day. The 74-year-old man was without a cellular phone and his plight was reported by a third party who spotted him on the water.

The pilot says he recently purchased the boat and it was his first time putting it in the water. The vehicle began having motor problems early on and ultimately stalled out and partially flooded.

According to Captain Shelby Baughn, the Tulsa Police Department helicopter was unavailable to provide assistance, and the Tulsa Fire Department was called in to help. However, the Sand Springs rescue boat located the stranded vessel shortly before TFD arrived and the flooded boat was hauled out of the water just before midnight.

Sand Springs arrests and court records - 7/21/19 - 7/28/19

Angelica Hope Main

Antonio Morencio Velasco

Ashley Nicole Jones

Billy Joe Jackson

Carl Jacob Fisher

Claude William Davis

Colton Ray Greenwood

Dakota Wayne Kelley

Delmar Lee Hooper

Joyce Elaine Butler

Michael Edwin Williams

Michael Eugene Anderson

Miranda Gail Jones

Moura Anna Crouch

Tyler Lee Hammond

The following list includes both arrests by the Sand Springs Police Department, as well as arrests by other departments of individuals associated with Sand Springs addresses. An arrest is not a conviction, all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Cesar de la Cruz Rosales, 62, was arrested by the Sand Springs Police Department for driving under the influence of alcohol, transporting an open container, driving without a driver’s license, and unsafe lane use. He is being held without bond for Immigration Customs Enforcement, and is due in court July 30th.

Daniel Luke Bryant, 32, was arrested by SSPD for driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled drug, and child endangerment. He is being held on $27,000 bond and will report to court August 23rd.

Monday, July 22, 2019

The arraignment date for Carl Jacob Fisher, 37, was pushed to August 19th. He was arrested May 16th for meth trafficking and three counts of assault and battery upon a police officer. The trafficking charge was later dismissed by the State.

Jose Edilberto Lara-Jaimez, 43, was arraigned on charges of embezzlement and possession/receiving/concealing stolen property. His hearing is scheduled for August 14th.

Joyce Elaine Butler, 62, pleaded not guilty to trespassing. She is being held on $500 bond and her court date is set for August 15th.

Michael Eugene Anderson, 43, pleaded guilty to obstructing an officer and was sentenced to one year suspended and a $200 fine.

The arraignment date for Moura Anna Crouch, 22, was pushed to August 5th. Crouch was arrested by SSPD on May 17th for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of paraphernalia, and driving without a license.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Tyler Lee Hammond, 23, pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless driving and driving under the influence of drugs. A jury trial is set for August 22nd and Hammond is being held on $1,000 bond.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Delmar Lee Hooper, Jr., 63, was charged with one count of assault and battery.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Billy Joe Jackson, 43, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure and failure to register as a sex offender. He was sentenced to seven years with credit for time served and fines totaling $1,500.

Breanna Audrey Victoria Emberson, 22, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, and possession of paraphernalia. She was given a two-year deferred sentence.

Friday, July 26, 2019

Antonio Morencio Velasco, 19, was arrested by SSPD for tampering with a vehicle. He was released on $1,000 bond and is due back in court on August 2nd.

Colton Ray Greenwood, 22, was arrested by SSPD for driving under the influence. He was released on $1,000 bond and is due in court on August 2nd.

Michael Edwin Williams was arrested by SSPD for driving under the influence. He was released on $1,000 bond and is due in court on August 2nd.

Miranda Gail Jones, 38, was arrested by SSPD for outstanding warrants in Tulsa and Creek Counties. She was ticketed by the Tulsa County Sherrif’s Office for driving under suspension and failure to carry insurance, and failed to appear in court. She was ticketed by the Creek County Sheriff’s Department for driving under suspension and taxes due to the State, and failed to appear in court. She is being held on $755.50 bond and is due in court July 29th.

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Claude William Davis, 47, was arrested by SSPD for an outstanding warrant in Haskell County, where he is wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of stolen property, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and obstructing justice. He is currently on probation for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon. He also has an outstanding warrant for burglary in Muskogee County. He is being held on $43,000 bond and will report to court on August 5th.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Angelica Hope Main, 20, was arrested by SSPD for possession of stolen property, possession of a schedule II drug, unauthorized use/possession of a credit card, and uttering counterfeit currency. She is being held on $1,000 bond and is expected in court July 30th.

Ashley Nicole Jones, 33, was arrested by the Tulsa Police Department for application to revoke a suspended sentence. Jones pleaded guilty in August of 2018 to charges of burglary of an automobile and was given a four-year suspended sentence. She is accused of violating the terms of her parole, including: failure to provide monthly proof of residency, failure to provide monthly proof of employment, and failure to stay current on outstanding probation fees. She is being held on $10,000 bond and is expected in court on July 30th.

Dakota Wayne Kelley, 21, was arrested by SSPD for failure to appear. Kelley was arrested in February of 2017 for driving under the influence, possession of alcohol by a minor, failure to pay State taxes, driving a defective vehicle, failure to carry insurance, and driving without a license. He pleaded guilty in March of 2018 and sentencing was deferred to allow Kelley to complete the Youthful Drunken Driving program. He failed to appear at a February hearing. His bond is currently set at $5,000 and he is expected in court on August 1st.

Sand Springs arrests and court records - 7/14/19 - 7/20/19

Brent Michael Sloan

Brent Wayne Jacobson

Cody Jacob Clemons

Cortez DuJuan Page

Delmar Lee Hooper

Dominick Lee Shea

Dylan Dale Armstrong

Erin Lollis

Jacob Andrew Collins

Joshua Owen Cromwell

Joyce Butler

Micah Reuben Morgan

Michael Eugene Anderson

Ronald Pervin Lewis

Stephen Loyd Sponsler

Tabatha Marie McIntosh

Talmadge Shirlene Staggs

Teresa Marie Dickson

Tyler Lee Hammond

The following list includes both arrests by the Sand Springs Police Department, as well as arrests by other departments of individuals associated with Sand Springs addresses. An arrest is not a conviction, all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Stephen Loyd Sponsler, 49, was arrested by the Sand Springs Police Department on application to accelerate and is being held without bond for a transfer to Adair County. Sponsler was convicted in February of 2013 of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult and sentenced to a five-year deferred sentence. In June of 2015 he was found guilty of violating the conditions of his probation and sentenced to seven years with six years suspended and was released in 2016 with one year credit for time served. A motion to revoke his suspended sentence was filed and a bench warrant was issued in March of 2018.

Dominick Lee Shea, 32, was arrested by SSPD on charges of driving under revocation, parking in a handicap space, obstruction, and actual physical control. He was released on a $2,000 bond.

Joyce Butler, 61, was arrested by SSPD for trespassing and is being held on a $500 bond.

Monday, July 15, 2019

Teresa Marie Dickson, 32, pleaded not guilty to charges of petty larceny and unauthorized use of a debit card. Her bond is set at $1,500 and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 8th.

Joshua Owen Cromwell, 32, pleaded not guilty to charges of eluding, driving under the influence of drugs, obstruction, resisting, possession of paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license, operating a vehicle with an expired license, and failure to carry insurance. His bond is set at $10,000 and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 9th.

Micah Reuben Morgan, 27, was pulled over by SSPD on charges of speeding 15 M.P.H. over the limit and was arrested for an outstanding warrant. Morgan was previously charged with driving without insurance in November of 2018 and failed to appear at his January court date. He was released on $344 bond and is due in court July 23rd.

Cody Jacob Clemons, 25, was arrested by the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office for an outstanding warrant. Clemons pleaded guilty to larceny and carrying a weapon in February but failed to appear at his May court date. He is being held on a $4,500 bond with a July 25th court date.

Sharyl Lynn Ellis, 56, pleaded not guilty to a charge of public intoxication. A jury trial is set for August 12th.

Angel Sanfratello, 26, confessed to violating the terms of a deferred sentence. She pleaded guilty to possession of stolen copper and possession of meth in 2018 and was given a two year sentence. She will have until August 21st to regain compliance or face sentencing.

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Tyler Lee Hammond, 23, was arrested by SSPD for driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, failure to obey a traffic control device, and driving on the wrong side of the road. He is being held on a $1,000 bond and will be arraigned on the 23rd.

Cherice Leanne Ofield, 30, was arrested by SSPD and is being held for transfer to Adair County.

Brent Wayne Jacobson, 33, was arrested by TCSO for false declaration of ownership in pawn shop. He was released on $1,000 bond and will be arraigned on the 23rd.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Brent Michael Sloan, 27, was arrested by SSPD on charges of False Impersonation, Driving Under Suspension, and driving without insurance. He is also being held on an application to accelerate a deferred sentence. Sloan was given a one-year deferred sentence in February for resisting arrest, and is accused of violating the terms of his probation. He was released on a $2,050 bond and will be arraigned July 25th.

Jacob Andrew Collins, 21, was arrested by SSPD for assault and battery. He was released on $500 bond and will be arraigned July 25th.

Dylan Dale Armstrong, 25, pleaded not guilty to charges of leaving the scene of a collision, driving without a license, failure to carry insurance, and unsafe lane use. He is being held on $20,300 bond and will be arraigned July 23rd on application to revoke a suspended sentence. Armstrong pleaded guilty to forgery, knowingly receiving stolen property, eluding a police officer, possession of methamphetamine, driving without a license, and driving with an improper tag in 2016 and was given a three-year suspended sentence. He is accused of violating the terms of his probation.

Trevor Vanwinkle, 28, pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault and battery and was sentenced to 30 days in Tulsa County Jail and a $150 fine.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Michael Eugene Anderson, 43, pleaded not guilty to obstructing an officer. His court date is set for August 9th. He is being held without bond on an application to accelerate a deferred sentence for charges of stalking and violating a protective order. Arraignment for those charges is set for July 22nd.

David Wayne Usher, 45, was arrested by TCSO for failure to pay outstanding court costs. He was released Friday on $250 bond.

Tabatha Marie McIntosh, 38, was arrested by TCSO for possession of drug paraphernalia and released on $250 bond.

Erin Renee Lollis, 30, pleaded guilty to violating the terms of her parole from a 2018 forgery case, and was sentenced to 90 days in the Tulsa County Jail.

Cortez Dujuan Page, 25, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, and obstructing an officer. He was sentenced to 50 days in Tulsa County Jail.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Ronald Pervin Lewis, 42, was arrested by TCSO for contempt of court and is being held on a $17,622 bond. He will be arraigned July 22nd.

Talmadge Shirlene Staggs, 37, was arrested by SSPD for failure to appear. She was previously arrested for assault and battery and violating a protective order. Staggs is being held on $20,000 bond and will be arraigned July 23rd.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Delmar Lee Hooper, 63, was arrested by TCSO for domestic assault and battery. He is being held on a $25,000 bond and will be arraigned July 22nd.

Sand Springs arrests and convictions - 7/7/19 to 7/13/19

Angel Sanfratello

Ashley Minney

Barbara Ann Stevens

Billy Gene Fuller Sr.

Casey Rae Rice

Dylan Dale Armstrong

Jody Lane Gwin

Joshua Owen Cromwell

Michael Eugene Anderson

Steven Lynn Holder

Teresa Marie Dickson

The following list includes both arrests by the Sand Springs Police Department, as well as arrests by other departments of individuals associated with Sand Springs addresses. An arrest is not a conviction, all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Joshua Owen Cromwell, 32, was arrested by the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office for eluding, obstruction, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, speeding 41 mph or more over the limit, failure to stop for a red light, driving left of center, changing lanes unsafely, improper use of lane, driving under revocation, driving with an expired tag, driving without insurance, operating a motor vehicle without headlights, seat belt violations, and altering a license plate.

Cromwell pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of methamphetamine, failure to pay State taxes, and driving without a driver’s license in April of 2017. He was given a three-year suspended sentence but was issued a warrant in October for failure to report to his probation officer. He was also wanted for a separate charge of obstructing an officer from an incident in 2016. He is currently being held without bond for a transfer to Creek County.

Teresa Marie Dickson, 32, was arrested by the Sand Springs Police Department for larceny from a retailer in an amount less than $500, as well as for an outstanding warrant for unauthorized use of a debit card. She is being held without bond for transfer to Washington County.

Monday, July 8, 2019

Billy Gene Fuller Sr., 83, was convicted on four counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. He pleaded guilty to all four counts and was sentenced to 25 years in the department of corrections, with the first eight years to be served in custody and the last seventeen years to be suspended.

Angel Sanfratello, 26, was arrested by TCSO on an application to accelerate. Sanfratello pleaded guilty in 2018 to possession of stolen copper, possession of meth, and possession of paraphernalia. She was given a two-year deferred sentence. In the application to accelerate she is accused of failing to report to a supervising authority, failing to pay court fees, possession of burglary tools, destruction of property owned by IQ Carwash, and breaking and entering into a coin-operated machine at Wash World car wash. She is being held on a $5,000 bond.

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Dylan Dale Armstrong, 25, was arrested by TCSO for leaving the scene of a collision involving an injury, driving without a valid driver’s license, driving without insurance, and changing lanes unsafely. He is being held on $20,300 bond.

Barbara Ann Stevens, 62, was arrested by SSPD for possession of a stolen vehicle, driving without insurance, driving without a license, and unpaid State taxes. She was released Thursday after posting a $2,000 bond.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Ashley Minney, 29, was arrested by SSPD for driving with a suspended license, obstruction, and failure to pay outstanding court costs. She was released Thursday on a $750 bond.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Michael Eugene Anderson, 43, was arrested by TCSO on application to accelerate, and was also charged with obstruction and interference with a police officer. Anderson pleaded guilty to violating a protective order and stalking in 2016, for which he received a two-year deferred sentence. A bench warrant was issued in December for violating the terms of his probation.

Steven Lynn Holder, 22, was found guilty of one count of child neglect and sentenced to a five-year suspended sentence, supervised by probation and parole. Holder was assessed a $500 fine and ordered to complete parenting classes, obtain an alcohol/substance abuse evaluation, and will be subjected to random urinary analysis.

Friday, July 12, 2019

Jody Lane Gwin, 38, was arrested by SSPD and is on hold for the Pawnee County Sheriffs Office. She is wanted for failure to pay court fees in relation to an ongoing case where she is accused of harboring a fugitive from justice.

Casey Rae Rice, 34, was arrested by SSPD on a felony warrant out of Osage County. Charges were dismissed and he was released nine hours after booking.

Sand Springs City Council issues continuance on controversial Dollar General location

Possible future site for a Dollar General store.

The Sand Springs City Council took no action on a controversial ordinance to rezone a vacant lot at 2702 North State Highway 97. More than fifty local citizens showed up in opposition to a proposed Dollar General location that they feel is inappropriately located in a residential area.

Council was schedule to vote on rezoning the land from residential to commercial to allow the construction of a Dollar General store by AAB Engineering. Because the Council meeting was moved forward a week from its previously scheduled date, Dollar General representatives were unable to be present for the meeting, and requested a continuance.

Because of the lack of representation from Dollar General, and because of the absence of Vice Mayor Patty Dixon, Council voted 5-1 in favor of delaying the rezoning vote until the July 22nd meeting.

In the rezoning application, AAB Engineering points to the close proximity of a gas station, water tower, mini storage facility, church, and radio station as justification for the commercial zoning. Additionally, a 1981 plat of the land indicated that business or commercial operations would be allowed on the lot.

However, the property sits at the intersection of Pond Drive, which is entirely residential. Approximately 238 local residents signed a petition in opposition of the rezoning, citing their desire for a quiet, rural community, and fear that the construction of a Dollar General would lead to additional future development in the area.

The City of Sand Springs voted to annex the Osage County land on May 20th. The Planning Commission voted 2-2 on the rezoning application at their last week’s meeting, failing to recommend either approval or denial of the request. However, the City staff has recommended approval.

Mayor Jim Spoon remarked that he was impressed with the public turnout for the meeting, and hoped to see as many citizens at the next meeting. One citizen remarked that they would be bringing even more opposition to the next meeting.

Police Chief Mike Carter gave a presentation regarding the 2019 Policing Plan and took public comment on the subject. This is the fourth year the department has adopted a policing plan and last year’s version was awarded the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Community Policing Award.

All officers will be issued new business cards with their name, badge number, and a website address to file online compliments or complaints. Following an unscientific Facebook poll with 93% community approval, the department will no longer restrict the hiring of officers with visible tattoos.

The department recently purchased six new police bicycles. They have been used successfully to silently close in on late night burglary suspects, to patrol trails systems and crowded community events, and to teach children how to ride bikes safely.

As part of the department’s Community Policing and Crime Reduction Plan officers took 51 students from Sand Springs Public Schools to a Tulsa ropes course to participate in the Community Trust Champions project.

The 2019 Policing Plan also calls for increased traffic violation warnings in lieu of fines, an improved system of acknowledging community complaints and disciplining officers, increased training and certifications, increased transparency, collaboration with local businesses for economic development, participation in the Hispanic Affairs Commission, Autism Awareness Training, and Critical Incident Inoculation Training.

In Other News:

Council revisited a request by Councilman Brian Jackson to have a Masonic Cornerstone installed at the new Billie A Hall Public Safety Center. The motion was previously defeated at both May Council meetings.

More than a dozen Masonic Lodge members turned out in support of the resolution, and former City Councilman Dean Nichols spoke on their behalf. The measure was approved by unanimous 6-0 vote.

Council unanimously approved the Worker’s Compensation Plan through the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group with a yearly premium of $489,706.

Council unanimously approved a resolution clarifying the City’s rules regarding retention of certain public records. The resolution allows for the immediate destruction of emails, social media posts, text messages, voicemails, and browsing history, leaving their retention up to the sole discretion of the individual employees involved.

Council unanimously approved an agreement with Crawford & Associates in the amount of $50,000 for accounting and consulting services.

Council unanimously approved an agreement with Arledge and Associates in the amount of $35,875 for for financial statement audit services.

Council unanimously approved a continuance regarding a rezoning request at the former K-Mart building. Council will vote July 22nd on whether to rezone 1200 East Charles Page Boulevard from Commercial Shopping to Commercial General.

Council unanimously approved a ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding for participation in the Southwest Area Tactical Team.

Council unanimously voted to declare as surplus two 2007 John Deere backhoes for trade-in.

Council unanimously voted to purchase a Yanmar Vio-80 Compact Excavator from DitchWitch of Tulsa for $102,550, and an Interstate 50TDL Equipment Trailer for $27,750.

Council unanimously approved a resolution setting forth guidelines to assist the City in pursuing legal claims and in responding to legal claims against the City.

Council unanimously approved a resolution affirming a Declaration of Emergency following the May 2019 Flood Event. The declaration authorizes and affirms the execution of contracts, budget amendments, waivers of competitive bidding, and payments to the pursuant contracts to restore City property and equipment that was damaged during the flood. City Staff is currently estimating a budgetary impact of $1,581,600 in flood damages.

Council unanimously approved a Master Service Agreement with Motorola Solutions for recurring services related to Motorola MCC 7500 dispatch consoles.

Council unanimously approved the appointment of the following individuals to various boards and committees:

• Mike Burdge to Council Appointment Committee.

• Christine Hamner to Council Appointment Committee.

• Patty Dixon to Council Appointment Committee.

• Mike Burdge to Council Finance and Development Committee.

• Jim Spoon to Council Finance and Development Committee.

• Patty Dixon to Council Finance and Development Committee.

• Patty Dixon to Council Legislative Committee.

• Christine Hamner to Council Legislative Committee.

• Brian Jackson to Council Legislative Committee.

• Jim Spoon to Council Public Works Advisory Committee.

• Beau Wilson to Council Public Works Advisory Committee.

• Phil Nollan to Council Public Works Advisory Committee.

• Mike Burdge to the INCOG Board of Directors.

• Jim Spoon as Alternate to the INCOG Board of Directors.

• Jim Spoon to the INCOG General Assembly.

• Elizabeth Gray as Alternate to the INCOG General Assembly.

• Mike Burdge to the INCOG Legislative Consortium.

• Jim Spoon as Alternate to the Legislative Consortium.

• Derek Campbell to the INCOG - Tulsa Metropolitan Area Transportation Policy Committee.

• TJ Davis as Alternate to the INCOG - Tulsa Metropolitan Area Transportation Policy Committee.

• Phil Nollan to the Sand Springs Parks Advisory Board.

• Daniel Comer to the Sand Springs Parks Advisory Board.

• Harold Neal to the Sand Springs Planning Commission.

• Keri Fothergill to the Sand Springs Planning Commission.

• Phil Nollan to the Sand Springs Economic Development Authority.

• Troy Zickefoose to the Tulsa County Criminal Justice Sales Tax Overview Committee.

• Leia Anderson to the Pogue Airport Advisory Board.

• Rick Westcott to the Pogue Airport Advisory Board.

• Elizabeth Gray to the Sand Springs/Sapulpa Joint Board.

• Derek Campbell to the Sand Springs/Sapulpa Joint Board.

In the Municipal Authority meeting following City Council, Trustees unanimously approved a $31,551 Agreement Renewal with the Metropolitan Environmental Trust for administering and operating the Sand Springs Recycling Project.

Trustees unanimously approved a one-year extension to a contract with Talley Golf, who operates the pro shop, grill, golf cart rental, and other services at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge.

Flood damage cleanup day scheduled for Case Community Park

Sand Springs, OK - The Sand Springs Local Church Network and the City of Sand Springs is teaming up to create a special Case Community Park Cleanup event this Saturday, June 8, 2019.

The volunteer cleanup event is open to everyone and will be assisted by City of Sand Springs Parks staff. Volunteers should arrive before 8:00 a.m. Parking will be located at the south end of the Case Community Center parking lot (1050 W. Wekiwa Road, Sand Springs, OK). All volunteers will be asked to sign in, in order to help the community receive additional FEMA credit for their efforts.

Volunteers will split into several teams, covering much of the 120-acre park site, which was heavily damaged from the historical flood event this month. Workers are advised to wear work clothes, gloves, proper footwear, hat and sunscreen. The event is weather dependent.

All parties interested in helping out should monitor the City of Sand Springs Facebook page, which includes a “special event” posting on this gathering with real time updates including weather information.

Volunteers do not need to bring anything, however those who are able and willing to bring and operate small chain saws and gasoline powered backpack blowers are needed. Sweep brooms are also needed. Other tasks will include relocating metal bleachers washed away; picking up tree debris, operating pressure washers, sweeping and blowing off concrete walks, splash pads and more.