The Washington County Democratic Party held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning celebrating the opening of its headquarters in Bartlesville. Karen Wollman, who has helped lead the charge in getting to this day, says this has been a long time coming.
Wollman says democrats should be proud to represent their party and it is important to have individual thoughts on what our country should look like. Wollman encourages citizens to come in and volunteer, pick up T-shirts for local candidates, signs and buttons. Doors are open on Tuesday's and Thursday's from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday's from 9:30 a.m. to noon. After a convincing 64-24 victory over its Osage County rival Hominy last Friday, the Huskies are flying high heading into district play this week. The Huskies put up 52 points in the first half alone, something coach Matt Hennesy was glad to see.
Pawhuska now turns its sights to Commerce, a team that Hennesy says is always at the top of the district standings when the season comes to an end. Quarterback Bryce Drummond has studied Commerce on film and says they are a good football team, but adds if the Huskies come out and play like he knows they are capable, it should be a good night. Friday night's ballgame can be heard on Sportstalk KPGM FM 99.1. It can also be viewed on KPGMTV.com. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Back in July, it was announced that the path had been cleared for the Osage Nation to move forward with the construction of two new casinos. One of these casinos is set to be constructed two miles west of Bartlesville and the other is slated to be built just outside of Pawhuska on Highway 60. On Monday, Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear signed the official papers to make those sets of properties gaming status for Indian Tribes.
Standing Bear said there were some roadblocks that prevented this from happening sooner, but with cooperation from all involved, the day was finally able to come. The Osage Nation first filed an application with the U.S. Interior Department in 2014 seeking the transfer of 125 acres of land west of Bartlesville into federal trust for the purpose of building an Indian gaming casino and hotel. That application wasn't approved until July. Nearly 95 percent of Oklahoma residents have completed the United States Census, but only a week remains for those who have yet to fill out the form. There are still census workers going door-to-door to help individuals complete the census, but you can fill it out yourself at 2020census.gov or by calling 844-330-2020. Kathy Tippen with the Census Bureau explains why it is important to complete the form.
The last day to fill out the census in Wednesday, Sept. 30th. The Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce has announced that the downtown trick-or-treat event will continue to take place this year, as will the community-wide event.
Downtown businesses will be handing out candy on Saturday, October 31st from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and kids can roam the neighborhoods from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Constantine Theater will also be hosting a, “Spooktacular Halloween Walk Through,” for children under the age of ten on Saturday evening. That event is free to attend. An injury collision occurred just south of Pawhuska early Saturday morning involving a 2019 Harley Davidson Tricycle and three cows.
The 70-year old male was traveling northbound on Highway 60 when he struck the three cows. He was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and admitted in serious condition with arm, leg and trunk internal injuries. Reports show that the cause of the collision is a domesticated animal in the road. Barnsdall homecoming interviews continue this evening at 5:26 on KWON AM 1400 and FM 93.3. Samantha Miller and Keegan Sloan will be this evening’s guests, as the Barnsdall Nursing Home is bringing these interviews to you.
Tomorrow’s theme is, “100 years from now,” day at Barnsdall High School. Government regulations show that organizations such as Help Works Inc. of Pawhuska must be on commercial property. This is why nearly two months ago, the group came to the Board of Osage County Commissioners hoping to get a plot of land that the county owns so that they can continue its operation. While the commissioners are unable to donate the land to Help Works Inc, they do have the ability to surplus the property to the City of Pawhuska, something they did at Monday's meeting.
District one commissioner Randall Jones says he hopes Help Works Inc. is able to clean up that area. Tara Hendren with Help Works Inc. explains what they plan to do moving forward. Help Works Inc. is the only non profit organization in Osage County that helps adults with intellectual disabilities find employment, provide housing and assist in other ways as needed. During Monday's Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting, County Clerk Shelia Bellamy mentioned that she has noticed several employees aren't filing the proper paperwork when taking Family Medical Leave. She says this is something that must be done in most all scenarios.
Bellamy says it is important to do this because it protects the employees' job while they are away from work. She says if an employee were to come back and the county didn't know they had taken Family Medical Leave, they could face a pay reduction, if not worse. The Board of Osage County Commissioners took no action regarding making any policy changes for the public entering the courthouse or other county-owned buildings. The commissioners did inform the public that progress was being made regarding the addition of air purifiers to county-owned buildings to help stop the spread of COVID-19. County Clerk Shelia Bellamy and District One Commissioner Randall Jones explains where they stand at the moment.
The only concern the commissioners have about that is that it may cost more than $50,000 because they will have to install the units in so many buildings across the county. If they have to bid the project out, that will take a longer time as well. In talking about how to deal with public admittance to county-owned buildings, the commissioners were glad to see Osage County dip back into the yellow, or low risk category, but they said there is no reason to change what regulations they have in place. |
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