Miller EMS, who serves parts of Osage County, gave a report at Monday's Board of Osage County Commissioners meeting and reported that things have been slow. The Associate Director of Business Development, Jeremy McLemore said they have only had 19 phone calls and only had to transport 15 patients in the past month. McLemore said this is a trend he is seeing across the state since COVID-19 started. McLemore also said an agreement has been in place allowing them to be at all Barnsdall football games this year.
That was part of a monthly report that a constituent from Miller EMS gives to the commissioners. Heading into the 2020-2021 school year, Pawhuska’s Indian Camp Elementary School Principal Daniel McEntire was concerned how his teachers and students would respond to the COVID-19 protocols that have been put in place by the school. As we near the Thanksgiving holiday, McEntire says morale across his campus is high and mask wearing hasn’t been much of an issue at all.
McEntire added that parent interaction has been positive and they are doing all they can as a group to make this work. Pawhuska Superintendent David Cash recently gave a report as to how the school is doing financially a quarter of the way through the 2020-2021 school year. Cash reported that in comparison to this time a year ago, they are 160,000 dollars above their revenue marks. He added that the district should begin to see more revenue dollars in the coming months.
Cash said that in the last month the school has gotten some federal program money and expects to get another wave in the next month. Cash added that the school has spent about 25,000 dollars more than it at this time last year. He said things should flatten out for the month of November, putting them back on line where they were last year. A fear that Cash has is financial cuts that may be coming from the State level. Cash said he will keep the board up to date as to how to best deal with the potential financial cuts the school could be facing. The Pawhuska City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening and got a number of things accomplished.
There was a resolution to approve a resolution, which establishes a primary election for Tuesday, Feb 9th and a general election for Tuesday, April 6th. This election will be for the Ward Three and Ward Four seat held by Mark Buchanan and John Brazee respectively. An ordinance was passed expanding the areas where itinerant merchants can set up in town. The council discussed this same issue regarding food trucks, but tabled the issue to get more information. Department heads from around the City gave reports and were thankful for the support they received from fellow leaders during the ice storm. City Manager Tonya Bright said documents were ready if the ice storm is declared a disaster. The council also approved budget amendments for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The Board of Osage County Commissioners attempt to be as flexible as possible when different organizations come to them asking for some sort of assistance. Over the weekend, a benefit was held at the Osage County Fairgrounds and they were looking to get that fee reduced. District one commissioner Randall Jones said the group wasn't a 501 See Three, but it was a benefit and he said the organization did a great job cleaning up after it was over.
District three commissioner Darren McKinney was willing to assist the group, but he wants to be consistent with how they have handled these situations in the past. This is an agenda item that will be picked up at next Monday's meeting. The Board of Osage County Commissioners decided to leave things as they stand regarding procedures for those entering the courthouse and other county-owned buildings. There was discussion however concerning the installation of air filters in these buildings, which would be used to help kill COVID-19. District one commissioner Randall Jones tackles the issue.
Jones explains the process of acquiring these filters. In the meantime, there will continue to be various purification systems running throughout the buildings. The Osage Nation Museum will be hosting a COVID-19 related art exhibit from Friday, December 18th through Friday, February 12th. A virtual opening will be held on December 18th at 7 p.m. If you would like to submit a piece of art dealing with COVID-19 or something related to the pandemic, take your work to the Osage Nation Museum. You have until Saturday to do this and you must present proof of being an Osage Nation tribe member.
Artwork can range from photography, ceramics, drawing, printmaking, beadwork and much more. Pieces of work must have been completed after March 1st of this year. The Osage Nation Museum is a space to relate how the pandemic has affected you. For any questions, contact Marla Redcorn-Miller at 918-287-5222. The Department of Public Safety informs citizens that troopers will be putting emphasis on the, “Move Over,” law this week. This is part of the National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week.
This law states that when drivers are on a four lane highway, or more, and they see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road with their red and blue lights flashing, drivers must move over into the other lane or slow down if unable to move over. This includes tow trucks with activated lights and any other vehicle with flashing lights, including hazard lights. Failure to do so can result in a ticket and possible fine. There were 36 first responders who were struck by drivers and killed in 2019. On Sunday morning, officers were dispatched to the City of Dewey for a domestic disturbance already in progress.
A probable court affidavit states that upon arrival, officers met the female victim who stated that she and her boyfriend, Art Holtz had been arguing. She said that Holtz hit her multiple times and injuries on her person fit that description. These injuries were a small laceration on her right chest, which appeared to be scratches from fingernails. Swelling on her right eye was also observed. Swelling and a knot on the back of her head where Holtz allegedly hit her was also observed. When making contact with Holtz, he told officers they were sitting in the living room and arguing about the victim’s drug use. Holtz says he was very unhappy about the situation. Holtz attempted to get the victim out of the home, but she wouldn’t leave. Holtz said he was finally able to push her toward the front door and shove her out the door. When asked about the injuries, Holtz said he may have scratched her on the chest when pushing her out the door. When making his court appearance on Monday, Holtz was adamant that he never hit the victim. The bond for Holtz was set at $5,000 on the condition he has no contact with the alleged victim. He is due back in court on Wednesday, Dec. 9th. A Bartlesville man was arrested on Saturday morning and is being charged with being in possession of a stolen vehicle, amphetamine possession, marijuana possession and having narcotic equipment.
Early Saturday morning, Jasper County Missouri Deputies contacted Washington County in reference to a possible stolen vehicle in the City of Bartlesville. A probable cause affidavit states that the defendant, Kyle Jackson was in possession of a white 2010 Ford F-150 and his last known address was in Bartlesville. The affidavit states that officers observed the above-mentioned vehicle come to a stop in an alley and they made contact with the driver, later identified as Jackson. Officers read Jackson his Miranda Rights before they began questioning him in reference to the truck. Officers ran the VIN number and it came back as stolen. Jackson originally said he came in possession of the truck after borrowing it from a friend, but when attempting to get contact information for this person, Jackson was unable to provide any. Jackson then stated he didn’t know the vehicle was stolen and if it had been, Jackson said he wouldn’t have been driving it. He was then placed under arrest and two clear bags with a white crystal-like substance were found inside the vehicle. Both tested positive for methamphetamine. Three glass pipes and marijuana were also found. Jackson will be presented with formal charges tomorrow. |
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