Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties are able to adopt laws or resolutions that prohibit or impede the enforcement of certain gun control measures perceived as a violation to the Second Amendment. These could include such things as universal background checks or assault weapons bans. There are currently 19 counties in Oklahoma that have adopted these measures, or something similar. Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden would like to see Osage county join the list as well.


Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher has requested a few weeks to properly research the proposed law. 

Program Director for the Harvest Recovery Ranch in Pawhuska, John Chinn, was at Tuesday's Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting and explained what his facility is and what he hopes it will become.


Chinn said his program is designed to last anywhere from 12 to 18 months, depending on the person and they are planning on having activities designed for kids as well.


On Saturday, March 7th, there will be a fundraiser for the group taking place at the Agriculture Building at the Osage County Fairgrounds in Pawhuska. If interested in attending, they ask that you RSVP by this coming Monday. The Harvest Recovery Ranch is located at 1228 S. Pecan Ave. in Pawhuska. For more information, you may call 918-397-5483.

The Vice President of OPEH&W Health Plan, Ross Naylor, was at Tuesday's Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting to show support of his services for county employees. Naylor explained what set their services apart from others.


Naylor said his plan offers free incentives for those wishing to receive counseling treatment or in need of medical equipment. A 30 day supply of preferred brand insulin would cost $25. The commissioners liked the presentation, but felt it would be necessary for the county employees to get more in depth information.


The county has a health plan lasting January 1st through December 31st. The health plan that OPEH&W offers goes July 1st through June 30th. This is one problem the two parties could face.

Kathy Tippin, a recruiting assistant for the United States Census Bureau, was at Tuesday's Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting saying that they are looking for volunteers to help with the census. As the largest county in Oklahoma, Tippin said it takes 500 people to count everyone in Osage County. She said they are currently about 100 volunteers short of that mark. Tippin first explainswhy it is so important to get everybody counted.


Tippin says she feels it is important for Osage County residents to be the ones doing the volunteering in the area. She went on to say what it takes to be a volunteer with the census bureau.


District one commissioner Randall Jones added that the amount of federal and state money the county receives is based largely off of this upcoming census.

There was more discussion Tuesday morning regarding what should be done concerning the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska. It is district two commissioner Kevin Paslay's desire to make a new courthouse in Pawhuska and add an annex in the city of Skiatook. District one commissioner Randall Jones and District three commissioner Darren McKinney see the need for the new courthouse, but are concerned about the budget shortfall the county is facing right now. Skiatook City Manager Dan Yancey knows there is a need for the new courthouse, but he was at the meeting expressing his concern if the sales tax were to go up any more in his city.


Pawhuska City Manager Dave Neely echoed Yancey's thoughts, saying Pawhuska residents would be against an increase in sales tax as well.


A person in attendance, Jerry Butterbaugh, has seen the courthouse and knows it is in need of repair. He says it is important to communicate this to the people of the county and then be fully committed to fixing the problem.


Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher gave an example of a problem courthouse employees and visitors of the courthouse face.


There will be continued talks on this matter as the weeks continue.

The Board of Osage County Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting in Pawhuska on Tuesday morning and the courthouse was a topic of discussion once again.


Last week, district two commissioner Kevin Paslay had shown interest in forming a committee to circulate ideas on the best way to go about generating support for the new courthouse in Pawhuska and the annex in Skiatook. This week Paslay felt it might be best to begin circulating a petition showing support of the idea.


Skiatook City Manager Dan Yancey was on hand saying he was hesitant about supporting the new courthouse because there were buildings in Skiatook such as the firehouse, police station and city hall that would need to be replaced in the near future. With an increase in sales tax, Yancey said it would be difficult to get these buildings replaced. He added that his residents would be against an increase in sales tax as well. Pawhuska City Manager Dave Neely said his residents wouldn't support an increase in sales tax.


Ross Naylor was on hand talking about the OPEH&W health plan his company offers to county employees. The commissioners opted to take no action and felt it would be best for a representative from his company to come talk to the county employees individually to better explain what this change would mean and compare it to the current plan that they are on.


The commissioners elected Dee Chambers, Sarah Hulse and Amber Roberts to the Directors of the Fair Board for 2020. They also decided to make April 18th the county-wide free dump day.


The commissioners elected to waive the $200 rental fee to the Agriculture Building at the Fairgrounds so that the Harvest Recovery Ranch can use it on Saturday, March 7th. The Harvest Recovery Ranch is a faith-based facility in Pawhuska to help those struggling with addiction. They will be putting on a fundraiser that Saturday. There was one utility permit signed for district one.


The next regularly scheduled Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting will be next Monday at 10 o' clock in the morning for those interested in attending.

Water, server and electric rates have been different for those living outside the city limits of Pawhuska than those who live within the city. City Manager Dave Neely said they have already made one exceptionto allow a group pay the same rates.


The city council believes it is only fair that everyone pay the same price for the same service. Councilman John Brazee gives his reasoning.


Citizens will see these changes in their next billing cycle.

The City of Pawhuska entered into a five year contract with Waste Connections, a waste management service in Osage County. The contract stated that they could raise sanitation rates on a year-to-year basis if they wish and that is what they are doing this year. This contract will be up in the fall and City Attorney John Heskett says City Manager Dave Neely is already looking at other services the city could use.


The council hopes to revisit this item in August or September.

The Tri County Tech Food For Thought series will be taking place this Thursday in Pawhuska at the Pawhuska Business Development Center.
Pawhuska City Manager Dave Neely and Hospital Administrator Jason McBride will be on hand to discuss the latest projects going on across the area and many growth opportunities for the city. 
The lunch and learn series is designed to share the latest information from local leaders across Pawhuska
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. and the program begins at noon. To make reservations, call 918-287-3357 or email [email protected]. 
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The Board of Osage County Commissioners will meet for a regularly scheduled meeting at the courthouse in Pawhuska next Tuesday in observance of President’s Day.
The commissioners will consider forming a committee to see how much interest there is across the county in making a new courthouse in Pawhuska and adding a courthouse annex in Skiatook.
Blaine Wood will talk about his OPEH&W health plan with the commissioners. They will then consider taking action regarding his presentation.
There will be an election of fair board directors and they will consider making the county-wide free dump day April 18th.
The meeting begins at 10 o’ clock in the morning for those interested in attending.