The Bartlesville Police Department is investigating two seperate reports of overdoses that occurred early Saturday morning, one of which was fatal. Police Captain Jay Hastingsgoes into further detail as to what occured.


The investigation is ongoing at this time and we will have updates as they become available. ​

Former Osage County Sheriff George Wayman has passed away at the age of 93. Wayman served as Osage County Sheriff from 1955 to 1989 and is credited with help organize the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association in 1970 and serving on the Oklahoma Crime Commission under three governors. Wayman was inducted into the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2015. Wayman was the youngest Sheriff ever elected and has served twice as long as any other Sheriff.


A post on the Osage County Sheriff's Facebook page quotes Wayman as saying, “I loved being in law enforcement because it was never like a job to me. I always treated people with dignity and respect and never lied to them.”


(Photo Courtesy of the Osage County Sheriff's Facebook Page.)

Any Native American over the age of 55 with a CDIB card is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this Saturday at the Osage Nation Cultural Center. The Osage Nation Health Center is hosting a drive-thru clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A current and active health chart with the Osage Nation Health Department is required to get the vaccine. In order to get that, go to osagenation.gov and access the, “new patient application.”   

Due to a rise in positive COVID-19 cases, Barnsdall Public Schools had went to virtual learning this week with the hopes of returning to school today. Reports indicate that students and staff members continue to test positive for the coronavirus, forcing the school to extend the virtual learning plan through Tuesday with plans to return to school on Wednesday. Basketball and wrestling matches scheduled for that Tuesday evening have been canceled.
Students in first through twelfth grade will be able to find classwork on Google Classroom, while those in Pre-K and kindergarten will do assignments not requiring parents to pick up packets at the school. Those teachers will be in communication with parents and guardians on how to proceed.
Lunches will be available at the elementary circle drive on Monday and Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. If you would like a lunch, call the school at 918-847-2271. 

Osage County and the surrounding area hasn’t gotten a significant amount of rain since the start of the New Year and Osage County Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts is beginning to get concernedabout the dry conditions across the area.
Roberts says any type of ignition source can start these grass fires, rather it be welding, burning trash or cutting trees. Roberts says one spark can start the fire and begin to spread it. Looking at the extended forecast from the National Weather Service, Osage County is expected to get some rain on Sunday night into Monday.

The Board of Osage County Commissioners will meet for a regularly scheduled meeting at the fairgrounds this Monday to discuss an assortment of items.
The commissioners will have continued discussion regarding the possibility of making amendments for the public entering the Osage County Courthouse or other county-owned buildings.
There will be discussion to possibly approve and sign a resolution to declare property as surplus. This property includes a snowplow, generator and vactor truck.
The commissioners will also review the second quarter nutrition 520 financial report and possibly sign a letter with Guy Engineering, allowing them to move forward with the completion of a project.
The meeting begins at 10 o’ clock in the morning for those interested in attending.  

A representative from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office was on hand at Tuesday’s Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting saying that it is nearing the time that two of their minivans get replaced. He cited one of the vehicles was about two months away from getting to 150,000 miles and the other was about six months away from hitting that mark. He explains what the tentative plan is when these vehicles get to that number.  
In the meantime, the commissioners approved the purchase of two 2011 Chevy minivans for the Sheriff’s Department for just over $25,000 per vehicle.

​The COVID-19 vaccine became available in Osage County nearly a month ago and it is currently available each Monday in Pawhuska and on Fridays in Skiatook. Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts says the rollout of the vaccine has been smooth.
 
Roberts says there is no guarantee that the vaccine clinics will be available each week, as several accommodations must be made. 
 
To register for a COVID-19 immunization, go to vaccinate.oklahoma.gov. You may also call the Osage County Health Department at 918-287-3740.  

In the final days while serving as President, Donald Trump had said that he would look to pardon several individuals. It was believed that Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, better known as Joe Exotic, may receive a commutation. As Trump left office Wednesday morning, that pardon never came.
Joe Exotic ran for Governor of Oklahoma in 2018, receiving just over 3,500 votes as a Libertarian candidate. As owner of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, he was arrested in 2018 as a result of an investigation by multiple agencies, in which it was discovered that he had attempted to hire an undercover FBI agent to murder his archenemy, Carole Baskin. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2019.    

Joe Biden was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to become the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday morning. Here is Biden taking the oath of office.
Kamala Harris is serving as Vice-President, making her the first female Vice-President in U.S. history.