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Thursday, 17 February 2011 18:38 |
HUGO — Dirt was turned in Hugo last week to officially mark the beginning of a new banking facility.
Owners and staff members of FirstBank were joined by family members and a number of community leaders as the new venture was officially launched.
The location of the new bank will be on one of the communities legendary properties, known since statehood as the “Leard property.” The property was owned by Wheeler and Katherine Leard and later by their son Terry, who mapped out and planted the numerous pecan trees on the site a half-century ago.
Several owners and officers of the BancFirst family were present Friday for the groundbreaking, including board chairman Steve Burrage, CEO, David Burrage, and Roberta Burage, who serves on the firm’s board of directors.
Also present were representatives of Hydco, Inc., the general contractor responsible for building the $3 million dollar structure. Hydco has completed more than 165 similar financial projects.
CEO David Burrage commented, “We are looking forward to bringing FirstBank to the City of Hugo. This will be a first-class banking center allowing convenient access to numerous services for consumers and businesses in the area.”
Burrage said the new facility would be completed in the first quarter of 2012, and that a temporary banking facility would be erected on the site in a few months. |
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Friday, 04 February 2011 21:45 |
Snow is falling across southern Oklahoma just days after a huge storm dumped up to 20 inches in parts of the state.
Hugo City Hall opened Friday morning and should remain open until 4 p.m. The city is coordinating highway improvement efforts with the state, but the majority of the equipment has been sent to Tulsa and surrounding areas.
City manager Jeff Rabon said he wanted to commend the city employees and the street crews for their efforts this week, “They have done an outstanding job,” Rabon said.
Choctaw County schools have been closed for four consecutive days and homecoming festivities planned for the weekend will be rescheduled due to the inclement weather.
National Weather Service meteorologist Cheryl Sharp in Norman said two inches had been recorded in Durant early Friday and that total accumulation could reach three to four inches. Sharp said the snow could reach as far north as Oklahoma City — but that accumulation would be less than one inch.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports roads in northeastern Oklahoma remain snow packed and slick from the storm that began Tuesday. ODOT says the snow is melting during the day then refreezing at night — making travel hazardous especially in the morning.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports roads are slick and hazardous in most of the eastern half of the state.
Four fatalities are attributed to the winter storm, according to the Oklahoma Office of the State Medical Examiner and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
A 20-year-old Moore woman died Tuesday following a sledding accident. Cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma to the head.
Three people died this morning after the vehicle they were occupants in went off the Spring River Bridge on the Will Rogers Turnpike. Five other occupants in the vehicle were injured in the crash.
Temperatures remain cold through Friday with a slight warm up over the weekend. Arctic air returns to the State on Monday. There is a slight chance of snow late this weekend with limited impacts. A more significant system is possible next which may impact next week.
For Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human service information, please contact your local 2-1-1. Services are available 24 hours a day by dialing 2-1-1 from your home or cellular telephone. Please only call 911 for emergencies. |
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Friday, 14 January 2011 19:46 |
By Krystle Taylor
Asst. Editor
HUGO — As his final days as Hugo city manager come to a close, David Rawls reflects back on his near decade of service to the community of Hugo. Rawls became city manager on April 23, 2007 and his last day is scheduled for Jan. 17.
Rawls stated his proudest accomplishment as Hugo city manager was helping bring the community and county together. “The city’s working relationship with the county commissioners, the council members, the hospital board, etc., is something that I hope continues in years to come,” Rawls said. “A lot of the credit is given to Hugo residents who elected great officials and commissioners who have made it their priority to help Hugo become the city that it is.”
According to Rawls, the Hugo Police Department has also turned a corner. The officers have seized a few vehicles and cash that will be going to the District Attorney’s office for aid in court cases. Rawls said a good portion of the money could be coming back to HPD upon closure of the case to help the police department with financial needs. There are also a few projects that the city is involved in and are nearing completion.
The council is waiting on estimates for the rehabbing of the restrooms at the Todd Whatley/Lige Hammock Arena. At this time, there is $75,000 remaining of the loan money from Choctaw Electric. This money must be spent by the first week of June. There is a wish list submitted by the PRCA committee that the council will take into consideration for making decisions on what to upgrade at the arena.
The second phase of the street project is underway. There are 47 blocks of streets to be reconditioned. The majority of the streets have been assigned to commercial contractors and the remaining streets will be prepared by the city of Hugo. Bids for the project have been published and city officials ars just waiting on the meeting with the contractors before beginning reconstruction.
The estimated open date for the Boys & Girls Club is March 15. The reconstruction of the old Glove Factory into the Boys & Girls Club has passed the original timeline of completion. Rawls said the contractor in charge of this renovation is suffering a $500 day penalty for being behind.
Also, the city has received a grant for $343,000 from The Department of Commerce for extending a sewer line from Lane Frost hospital east along the right-of-way to just in front of China Garden restaurant. These funds will also build a lift station at the low point of the right of way west of the USDA building and a line to the USDA building that will pump into the force main. The council is waiting for DEQ to produce the revised permit for the sewer line and lift station so that the project can be bid out.
Rawls reminded that the city of Hugo held public meetings several years ago so residents could openly discuss what they perceived the city’s greatest needs to be.
“The four things that were voiced at those meetings were reconditioning the streets, more activities for the children, school improvements and general clean up of the city,” Rawls said. He said he believed these meetings were a good thing and helped the council to determine what city officials needed to focus on as priorities.
Rawls believes the biggest challenge in front of Hugo is keeping the positive inertia with good relationships between the city and county and the ability to keep it going.
When asked his advice for the future public officials, Rawls stated, “You have to bend your will to the will of the people. You try to accommodate them to the best of your ability. You just have to remind yourself who you’re working for... the city of Hugo.”
Coming Monday, a look at Hugo’s present financial situation, and general city salary ranges for key positions. |
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Friday, 21 January 2011 19:29 |
Kiamichi Technology Centers’ (KTC) School of Nursing, the largest Career Tech Practical Nursing (PN) Program in the state, had 122 graduates take the national licensure exam in 2010 and pass, giving the KTC District a 100% pass rate for the year. Although the Oklahoma and national pass rate has not been published for 2010, the scores usually average 89.1 and 87.12, respectively. The licensure exam ensures public protection by requiring the graduate to pass the examination measuring competencies needed to safely and effectively utilize the knowledge, skills and abilities that are essential for the entry-level practical nurse to use in order to meet the needs of clients requiring the promotion, maintenance or restoration of health. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
A nursing program usually sets a benchmark goal of 92-94% pass rate.
“Often individual KTC PN programs have achieved 100% and our district pass rate has been in the mid to high 90s. But, to achieve a district pass rate of 100% indicates that multiple factors were successful over this school year,” said Shelly Hovis, KTC Director of Practical Nursing. (Refer to graph below).
Factors involved include structure, quality and high standards of the program; curriculum; lectures that engage students in critical thinking; clinical rotations and clinical facilities that support training future nurses.
KTC serves 13 counties in Southeastern Oklahoma and covers 11,200 square miles.
The KTC School of Nursing has 10 PN programs offered at nine campuses with a total capacity of 150 PN students. The PN programs are for adult students only (18 years of age and older) and are offered as either full-time option (11 months) or part-time option (18 months – day or evening programs). For a quality nursing education program, pickup an application today at a local KTC campus or visit www.ktc.edu to learn more.
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Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:49 |
The Hugo City Council met in regular session Tuesday evening to discuss the hiring of a new city manager.
After retiring into an executive session for 54 minutes, the council returned and Hugo Mayor Stan Payne made a motion to hire Jeff Rabon as the new city manager. After a second from Francine Morris, it was decided that Rabon would begin his term as the new city manager beginning Jan. 17, contingent upon contract approval.
Discussion as to whether or not to take action regarding vending machines for the city of Hugo was tabled due to the Coca Cola representative not present at the meeting.
The planning and zoning board has a vacancy due to one of its members being absent for three meetings. Chris Head’s seat on the board needs to be filled. The city council had no names to recommend to this position. No action was taken.
Larry Rudrow’s name was mentioned to fill Eddie Wood’s seat on the cemetery board. Wood’s position is available due to too many missed meetings.
Resolution No. 788 concerning notice of election for city council wards one and two was discussed. The election date will be April 5, 2011.
Hugo citizen Lloyd Pearl spoke during the citizen’s comments section of the meeting. Pearl was concerned about the street damage on Payne Street. The council agreed to look into the damage and possibly repair it.
The minutes from the Dec. 21 meeting, financial statements and purchase order lists were approved. Everyone was present.
Hugo
Municipal
Authority
meeting
The Hugo Municipal Authority met following the city council meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the industrial permit of Choctaw Finishing Plant and Seaboard.
Rawls stated that he had contacted the head of Department of Environmental Quality and asked for a 30 day extension to further discuss the contract’s approval. Rawls also suggested the item be tabled until more information can be obtained.
The water leak at Ninth and Grand has been repaired. A new valve has been inserted to mend the problem. The leak at Yerby has also been restored. For the cost of $3,500, a new valve has also been inserted to correct that problem.
The minutes from the Dec. 21 meeting were approved. All council members were present.
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