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THE SHAWNEE NEWS-STAR
75 CENTS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2011
COLUMN
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
IFYR
There was water falling from the sky
30-day burn ban
Contestant injured at rodeo
Exception declared for IFYR contestants
JASON SMITH william.smith@news-star.com
I
t has been too long. When that beautiful shower came through yesterday, it took me a moment or two to realize what was happening. At first I thought maybe alien invasions are real and this is the big one, but somewhere in my memory the word “rain” clawed its way to the top and I calmed down. You know it’s been a while when you confuse a summer storm with extraterrestrials. I wasn’t sure I would even remember how to turn on the windshield wipers on my truck. All was good, though — I only honked the horn twice and switched radio stations about six or eight times before I found the right knob. Ah, there’s nothing like the sound of rain pitterpattering on the roof after a long, l-o-n-g dry spell, and I love the smell of hot pavement as the rain cools it. I love the smell of dry dirt that is no longer dry, and I love watching the leaves on the trees bounce up and down as those big fat raindrops smack them. Even Charlie, my Chihuahua, got excited yesterday. Normally he grumps and groans about having to go outside and — you know — when it’s raining. But I guess he, too, thought it had been dry for far too long. I opened the back door so he could — you know — and he made a mad dash for the wide open, letting those tingly little drops pelt his fur. When he came back inside, he seemed to have a little more zip in his getalong. The look on his beadyeyed little face said “that was refreshing!” I know this is a little off-topic from the rain, but I just feel like saying it. Charlie confuses me. Many times, he despises going out in the rain, but if I take him to the lake, he turns himself insideout to go for a swim. Go figure. ——— Jason Smith is a sports writer and photographer for The Shawnee NewsStar.
Vol. 117 No. 74
07132011 A01.indd A1
An exposed dock at Shawnee Twin Lakes shows low water levels in one area. Lakes levels now sit at 1,069, which is five feet below the full stage of 1,074 feet. PHOTO BY LINDA AGEE
By Kim Morava kimberly.morava@news-star.com
Although some areas saw rain showers Tuesday afternoon, drought conditions still remain, prompting Pottawatomie County commissioners to enact a burn ban for another 30 days. Commissioners voted Tuesday for the 30-day ban after the county was placed under a seven-day burn ban one week ago.
Commissioners can remove the ban at any time and will review the matter weekly. With the ban, it is unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands, or to build a campfire or bonfire, or to burn trash or any other material that may cause a fire. Shawnee/Pottawatomie County Emergency Management Director Don Lynch said despite some rain
1.68 PERCENT
City sales tax rises slightly
Tuesday, it is still “very dry” and people are urged to use extreme caution as fire conditions remain. “We’re thankful for the little bit of moisture, but it doesn’t mean we’re out of the danger situation,” Lynch said. One exception to the burn ban, at least this week, is granted for bonfires held on the Heart of Oklahoma BAN, Page 5A
By Robby Short robby.short@news-star.com
An 18-year old contestant at the International Finals Youth Rodeo remains in critical condition after being injured Monday evening. Kelly Blanton, from Taylorsville, N.C., was taken by Medi Flight from the rodeo grounds to the intensive care unit at OU Medical Center and is currently listed in stable, but critical condition with severe back injuries. Blanton was injured after she was thrown from her horse while practicing in the practice arena on the rodeo grounds. A source close to the family said Blanton was placed into a medically-induced coma while doctors were continuing to run tests to determine a course of action. Blanton recently graduated from high school in North Carolina and was planning to attend college. A fund is being set up to help Blanton’s family provide for medical care and other expenses. Donations may be made by calling Jackie Davis, treasurer for the North Carolina High School Rodeo Association, 980-522-1865, or sent to 2827 Lake Front Drive, Belmont, NC 28012. ——— Robby Short may be reached by calling 2143934.
Up, up and away
By Mike McCormick michael.mccormick@news-star.com
Shawnee’s city sales tax figures for July are up over the same month a year ago, but still lag behind the amount received in July 2009. Cindy Sementelli, city of Shawnee finance director and treasurer, reported the July sales tax amount received plus interest totaled $1,361,273.21. She said that is about $22,472 or 1.68 percent above the budgeted total for the first month of the new fiscal year which began July 1. July’s check was $24,675 above the amount received in July of 2010. But it remained $31,792 or 2.28 percent below the check received in July of 2009. City Manager Brian McDougal said Tuesday “we’re not seeing any great increase, but we only budgeted about a two percent increase over what we received last year. It’s a little below what our average would be for the year.” He remains optimistic with the fact Kohl’s Department Store has taken out a building permit for part of the old Walmart building TAX, Page 5A
BIRTHDAYS
Chase Outlaw, Hamburg, Ark. bull rider, finds the going a bit much during Tuesday morning’s performance at the IFYR at the Expo Center. See rodeo coverage in Sports, Page 1B. ED BLOCHOWIAK STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Danney Billingsley Jr. Danny Duncan Judy Young Nancy Wright Josh Hatley Alton Lynam Janet Henson Laquita Hackett Jennifer Wells Sandy Hackney Jack C. Kieffer Austin Holliday Judy Mclin
Ferne Levin Jessica Ketchum Lana Butler Eric Blanchard Edwina Butler-Wolfe Kyle Stroder Kristen McKinley Denise Austin Sam Somner Hayley Larman Joyce Stewart Linda Wright Alta Lynam Pat Owens Sue Lane Glenna Parker Alta Lynam
Weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A Tri-County Calendar. . . . . 3A
Local news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3A Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
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Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Classifed. . . . . . . . . . . . 3B-8B
WEATHER Partly cloudy H: 100 L: 79 Forecast, 2A
LOTTERIES Cash 5 8-11-13-27-29 Pick 3 0-6-4 Pick 4 6-0-5-7 Mega Millions was not available due to early deadlines.
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B Scoreboard . . . . . . . . . . . . 2B
7/12/11 10:44:08 PM