The Board of Osage County Commissioners met Monday morning to discuss a wide array of topics, but at the top of the list was talks in regards to EMS Services around the Fairfax area.
Miller EMS has serviced the city of Fairfax, along with the surrounding area, for several years at a rate of $7,500 per month. Because equipment costs have went up and the company has hired extra personnel, they are having to up the price to $13,000 effective March, 1. The residents of Fairfax are the only ones affected by the price increase.
This is why the city of Fairfax is coming to the Board of County Commissioners asking if it is possible for the county to pay for the remaining $5,500 for the time being. After much discussion, the item was tabled until Thursday when a special called meeting will be held so that the commissioners will have more information to make the decision. That meeting will be at the courthouse in Pawhuska and will begin at 10 o' clock for those interested in attending
Larry Bergner, the Administrator for the Health Department, was on hand to give a report on what had been happening since the New Year. The health department is offering various fitness programs in Pawhuska and Bergner said the department is willing to go to other communities if there is interest. The department has also been putting on various programs at county schools.
The free county dump day was set for March 30.

Maurice Kent and Daniel Keene were back in the Osage County Courthouse Friday morning for a pre preliminary hearing for the alleged murder of John Adkins. Because their lawyer was absent, the two will now face a preliminary hearing, which is set for March 11 at 9 a.m. Toby Bighorse is also due back in court at that time.
The three are being charged with alleged first degree or second degree murder of the October 1 death of Adkins that took place north of Pawhuska. The four were believed to be traveling in a car north of Pawhuska when an argument broke out and Adkins was stabbed and killed. Adkins' body was found 17 days later approximately one mile north of Pawhuska.

The Board of Osage County Commissioners will meet Monday morning at the courthouse in Pawhuska.
Among other items the commissioners will be discussing include possibly setting a date for the county to have a free dump day and signing an independent contractor agreement with Guy Engineering.
Larry Bergner, the Administrator of the Osage County Health Department, will be on hand to give an update on how things are going and the commissioners will talk about EMS services in the Fairfax area. The Country Corner Fire Department will also be discussed.
The meeting begins at 10 o' clock for those interested in attending.
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The Osage County Livestock Show begins next Wednesday at the fairgrounds in Pawhuska and runs through Friday evening. Pigs, sheep, goats, steer and heifers will all be shown during the three day event. 4-H educator Stacey Dawson says this is something the kids have been working very hard for.
Judging will take place Friday evening, followed by a BBQ and auction. Any money raised during the auction goes back to the kids to help raise money for next year's show.
Dawson encourages the community to go out to the fairgrounds and support the kids throughout the week. 

Maurice Kent and Daniel Keene will be back in Osage County court Friday at 9 in the morning for a pre preliminary hearing. The two are being charged in the alleged first degree or second degree murder of John Adkins.
Kent and Keene, along with Toby Bighorse, are charged in the October 1 murder of Adkins that took place north of Pawhuska. The four were believed to be traveling in a car north of Pawhuska when an argument broke out and Adkins was stabbed and killed.
Adkins’ body was found 17 days later approximately one mile north of Pawhuska. Bighorse is scheduled to be back in court on March 11 at 9 a.m. for her preliminary hearing.   
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Bartlesville Police Officers will have an increased presence at the high school from Feb. 25 to March 8 and they will be cracking down on teenagers wearing seatbelts.
Bartlesville Police Department Captain Rocky Bevard said in a statement, “This special enforcement targets teen drivers and their occupants in an effort to increase awareness and help keep drivers, and younger drivers in particular, safe.”
Bevard added, “Bartlesville Police Department officers will increase patrols around the Bartlesville High School for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes immediately following school hours.”
The program is held in conjunction with the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the OK Safe Program. According to the OHSO, 38 teens aged 14-19 died in motor vehicle crashes on Oklahoma roads in 2016. More than 55 percent of those teens killed weren’t wearing seatbelts.   

It was a busy Tuesday morning at the Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting and Kelly Bland, Executive Director of Tourism in Osage County, was in the middle of a lot of the action.
Bland was on hand to give a report on how tourism is growing in Osage County. This past weekend, Bland was in Wichita promoting the county.
Bland got to meet with Representative Judd Strom last week and he later emailed Bland about a tourism bill that would affect Osage County in a positive way. Bland will also be a full-time county employee beginning July 1.
The County Commissioners approved funding in the amount of $2,000 going toward the Big Heart Days in Barnsdall and they also approved an interlocal agreement with Sperry Public Schools to haul rock to the parking lot to make repairs.
The next regular scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting is scheduled for next Monday at 10 o' clock in the morning at the courthouse in Pawhuska.

Things got a little contentious during Tuesday morning's Board of County Commissioners meeting when discussing the possibility of making Kelly Bland, the Executive Director of Tourism in Osage County, a full-time county employee.
Bland is currently a part-time employee who graduates from college in May. Bland's part time contract will expire in June. After hearing what Bland had to say in her tourism report Tuesday morning, Kevin Pasley, who represents District No. 2, was all for signing Bland on to a full-time contact.
Randall Jones, representative for District No. 1, had some questionson the matter, though.
Bland will be making $31.50 an hour, which is more than elected officials in the county. With that being said, she will be responsible for her own insurance, social security and will not be afforded any sort of retirement plan.
Board Chairman Darren McKinney wanted all three commissioners to vote yes on Bland becoming a full time employee, but Jones was unwilling to do so. 
With a 2-1 vote, the County Commissioners gave an offer sheet to Bland, which would make her a full-time employee effective July 1.

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Monday afternoon was too early to tell how much snow, if any will cause problems along Osage County roads, but Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts said his crew would be prepared for the worst.
Because of last weeks freezing precipitation, Roberts said his crews didn't have to worry about getting any extra sand or salt.
Roberts says the most snow is expected in the middle of the day.
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John Huckaby, spokesperson for the American Red Cross out of Tulsa, wants everybody to know this is an important time of the yearto give blood.
Aside from giving blood, the American Red Cross has various apps tohelp keep people safe.
Huckaby says that because fewer people come to the Tulsa center during the winter time, they will often have mobile blood drives in area towns. To know where the blood drives are, go to redcrossblood.org and type in your respective zipcode.
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