Pawhuska Police Chief Nick Mahoney has been relieved of his duties. Interim City Manager for the city, Tonya Bright, confirmed Mahoney was fired on Tuesday and didn’t want to elaborate further.
Lorrie Hennesy is currently serving as the interim police chief. 

The Pawhuska School Board will meet for a special called meeting on Friday and look to sign a resolution, which would grant emergency powers to Superintendent David Cash. These temporary powers would grant Cash the authority to take action on certain items without board approval. Cash explains why it is important the board gets this resolution passed.


That board meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Pawhuska Administration Building. Only 10 people will be allowed inside the meeting room.

Health officials are recommending that citizens stay indoors as much as possible during the coronavirus pandemic. Schools recently closed making it difficult for students to utilize workout equipment as well. Pawhuska Superintendent David Cash encourages students to be active, as long as they don't congregate in large groups.


In addition to being the Superintendent, Cash is also the girls basketball coach for Pawhuska, so he knows how vital it is for kids to remain active.


The OSSAA is scheduled to meet on Thursday to determine if they will continue with a spring sports schedule.

Pawhuska Public Schools, along with many other schools across the area, have began serving breakfast and lunch to students within their district. Initially, they had planned to serve these meals through April 6th, when school was set to resume.


When State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister announced on Wednesday that schools would be closed through the rest of the year, the districts had to make an adjustment. Pawhuska Superintendent David Cash plans to continue serving these meals throughout the year.


There is also a program in place allowing Pawhuska students to get meals on the weekends as well.


Students may pick up these meals at the elementary school circle drive and they are also delivered to several locations throughout town. 
(Photo Courtesy of Pawhuska Public Schools Facebook Page.)

The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced Wednesday morning that Osage County has its first confirmed positive test for the COVID-19 virus. Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts has little information on the case because the State Department of Health isn't giving out much information.


The State Health Department isn't releasing the information because they don't want to cause any panic across the county. Even after the first confirmed case, Roberts says he is still looking for critical supplies to keep his citizens safe.


Roberts continues to advise residents to avoid large groups and wash their hands as often possible. 

At a Wednesday afternoon board meeting, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Schools Joy Hofmeister and her six-member panel elected to close all Oklahoma schools for the remainder of the school year. Students will continue to take part in distant learning and Hofmeister believes this can be a learning experience for everyone involved moving forward.


Hofmeister had proposed the distant learning measure take effect through April 6th until Wednesday's meeting. We have specific information on how Bartlesville Public Schools is dealing with the news on our website, Bartlesvilleradio.com. 

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The coronavirus is forcing restaurants to temporarily close their doors, but some establishments are being creative about ways to continue serving the public. One such venue is Hideaway Pizza in downtown Bartlesville, as they are offering curbside pickup service. District Manager Kim Gray explains how it works.


Gray also wanted everyone to know that Hideaway Pizza is putting on a contest in which participants could win free pizza for up to a year for a first place finish. All you have to do is post a video to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag Hideaway Film Festival.


Even without a first-place finish in the two categories, contestants are still eligible for Hideaway Pizza gift certificates and T-shirts. Judging will be done by a panel of certified pizza experts and criteria is based on the creativity and clarity of the audio, message or story. The deadline to register is Tuesday, March 31st.

In this time of uncertainty and unrest, there are those in the community dire for supplies of all kinds. Mary Martha's Outreach of Bartlesville is a place to go for those supplies and Judy DuVall says this is a time those donations are most welcome.


As recently as Tuesday, the Wal Mart Distribution Center stopped by Mary Martha's Outreach to give donations. DuVall is thankful for that because she is seeing more people come into the Outreach Center on a daily basis.


DuVall said they are in the most need for meat products at the moment, but they are always accepting donations of other food items, furniture, clothing and other household goods. Mary Martha's Outreach is located at 1845 W. 4th Street in Bartlesville . For more information, you may call 918-337-3703. 

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is taking extra precautions in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. An executive order was put in place last week stating that officers were only to make arrests if major crimes were being committed. Deputies are trying to avoid making contact with others and reports are being taken over the phone. Sheriff Eddie Virden said they are doing what they can to keep everyone safe.
Virden said in order to stay safe, his employees have had to make their own hand sanitizer.
The employees will submit receipts later in an effort to get reimbursed by the county.  
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Spring break is over for many area schools, but you couldn't tell it as teachers and students alike continue to self-quarantine at home for at least the next two weeks. Following a teleconference call on Thursday, the OSSAA will give an update regarding the likelihood of playing the state basketball tournaments and getting spring sports underway. Barnsdall Athletic Director Kylee Sweeney says everything is in limbo right now. 


Sweeney, also the track and field coach at Barnsdall, says if they do go back to school on Monday, April 6th, the sports calendar would be very condensed unless they were to change it. 


Sweeney added that one thing that is getting overlooked in this is the fact that little-league athletics was about to start up, but because most facilities are shut down, they are unable to practice.