DD)—Don’t spoil your Super Bowl party experience by drinking and driving. That’s the word from Enid Police Department officials who are asking those drinking during this year’s Super Bowl to designate a driver to save lives.
“If you are preparing to consume alcohol while you watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, the Enid Police Department suggests that you do it sensibly, by handing over your keys to a designated driver,” said EPD Lt. Mark Blodgett. He said the department also is asking all party hosts to discourage their guests from drinking and driving, and to be sure everyone who will be drinking has assigned a sober designated driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010, more 10,000 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – State Senator Patrick Anderson of Enid is praising a decision by the Council of Bond Oversight to take another look at a $25 million bond issue authorized in 2009 for improvements to a Tulsa County dam.    Anderson, a Republican, said he supports the council's decision last week to require that the Legislature pass another concurrent resolution in order to issue the bonds. Lawmakers approved a bill in 2009 to fund a $25 million bond package for improvements to the Zink Dam and other infrastructure projects along the Arkansas River in Tulsa County. But Anderson said lawmakers at the time were told the project would be matched with $50 million in federal funding that never materialized.

       (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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SP)—An Alva man was arraigned Thursday in Garfield County District Court on felony charges of indecent exposure and lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16. 28 year-old Derek Nicholas Washington appeared via video and is being held in lieu of $270,000 bond on the two charges. According to the Enid News and Eagle, Washington is accused of inappropriately touching a 10 year-old girl at a local residence on January 11^th, and exposing himself to a 9-year-old girl in the aisle of a local retailer in late November. Washington faces no less than 25 years imprisonment on the molestation charge and 30 days to 10 years and/or a fine of $500 to $20,000 on the indecent exposure charge. Washington was ordered to return to court Feb. 13 for a bond appearance. 

           Information from: Enid News & Eagle, http//www.enidnews.com 

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BD)--A man who led law enforcement officers on a two-county chase last week, was arraigned Thursday on three criminal charges. 37 year-old Ignacio Vasquez was arraigned on a felony charge of endangering others while attempting to elude a police officer, and misdemeanor counts of DUI and driving without a driver’s license. Vasquez is accused of leading area law enforcement officers on a pursuit that reached speeds up to 120 mph on U.S. 81 Jan. 26. He was arrested  after a Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office deputy disabled his vehicle about an eighth of a mile south of Dover. He faces one to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 if convicted. Vasquez, who has a hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is being held in lieu of $20,000, and was ordered to return to court Feb. 13 for a bond appearance.

           Information from: Enid News & Eagle, http//www.enidnews.com 

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Treasurer Ken Miller says low natural gas prices could slow the growth of state revenue in spite of rising income and sales taxes as well as other sources of revenue. Miller said Thursday that gross production taxes on oil and natural gas generated $68.7 million in January, a decline of almost $5.5 million from January 2011. He said the reason is natural gas prices are below estimates on which the state budget is based. The cost of natural gas was expected to be $4 per thousand cubic feet. But Miller said today's price is $2.50 per thousand cubic feet and prices are not expected to rise. He said other segments of the state's economy performed well in January and the economy showed overall growth for the 23^rd consecutive month. 

MIAMI, Okla. (AP) - A boat manufacturer is laying off 112 workers in northeast Oklahoma. Officials in Miami, Oklahoma confirmed the layoffs at Tracker Marine on Thursday. The Tulsa World reported company officials cited falling boat sales and the relocation of a boat manufacturing production line to Clinton, Missouri. Miami interim city manager, Tim Wilson, said the layoffs will happen in 60 days. That means the plant will go from 175 employees to 63 employees. Company officials said while boat sales are down, the Miami plant is a quality facility that will still be used to produce a saltwater personal watercraft line. The Miami plant is also being considered for the installation of high-tech robotic equipment that will be used in the production of the MAKO watercraft.

        (Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com) 

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele said he supports an initiative to require the Oklahoma Legislature to be subject to the requirements of the state's Open Records and Open Meetings Act. The Shawnee Republican said Thursday during The Associated Press' annual legislative forum in Oklahoma City that "the time has come" for a similar law to apply to the Legislature. Currently, the Legislature is exempt from laws that require state and local agencies and boards to be open and transparent. Fellow Republican state Representative Jason Murphey of Guthrie has introduced a bill to create a separate open meetings and open records act applicable to the Legislature.    Steele added that he believes the law should contain some exemptions for constituent correspondence and legislative caucus meetings. 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The chairman of the Senate Education Committee said he wants to restore a $5,000 stipend to Oklahoma teachers who complete the National Board Certification process. Sen. John Ford of Bartlesville said ensuring that educators get what was promised to them is a top priority for the 2012 legislative session that kicks off on Monday. Certification is a rigorous program that takes teachers up to three years to complete. State law allows educators who complete the process to receive an annual $5,000 stipend for 10 years, if funding is available. But the State Board of Education voted last year to withhold funding the bonuses after cash-strapped lawmakers slashed the public education budget. The board also eliminated funding for a scholarship program to help defray costs to teachers seeking National Board certification. 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is praising the U.S. Department of Labor's decision to modify its regulations regarding child farm labor. Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling says the original federal rules could have had a dramatic impact on the future of agriculture. Under pressure from farm groups, the Labor Department this week agreed to change its plan that's intended to keep children away from some of the most dangerous farm jobs. The proposal now will include broader exemptions for children whose parents are part owners or operators of farms, or have a substantial interest in a farm partnership or corporation. The rules would ban children younger than 16 from using most power-driven equipment and prevent those younger than 18 from working in feed lots, grain bins and stockyards.   

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Governor Mary Fallin wants two tribal leaders to dismiss their lawsuit against the state over tribal water rights in southeastern Oklahoma. Fallin sent a letter Thursday to Chief Greg Pyle of the Choctaw Nation and Governor Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation. Fallin asks them to dismiss their federal lawsuit and allow an ongoing mediation process to resolve disputes between the state and the tribes. In exchange, Fallin says the state will not file a separate state court action to determine the extent of tribal water rights in their historic territories. The tribes said in statement they hope a resolution can be reached at the negotiating table. The lawsuit asks a federal judge stop the state's plan to sell water storage rights to Sardis Lake to Oklahoma City. 

       (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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WH)—The Junior Welfare League of Enid is sponsoring the “Warm Your Heart 5K Run” in downtown Enid on Saturday. The race will begin at 10 a.m. at 121 N. Grand, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Entry fee is $25 for individuals, $45 for couples. Registration is being taken at JWL’s consignment store Return Engagement, 201 W. Garriott. Proceeds from the run will benefit JWL and American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women, a campaign to fight heart disease in women. Awards will be given to overall male and female winners, the top three male and female finishers in each age division and the top three best costumes. Pre-registered runners will receive a long-sleeved red T-shirt. For information on JWL, visit www.jwlenid.com. 

FR)--Zion Lutheran Church in Lahoma will have its annual groundhog supper 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday. Menu includes whole hog sausage, scalloped potatoes, green beans, sauerkraut and desserts. Cost is $7 per plate. A bake sale and bazaar will accompany the meal. Sausage will be available for purchase as well. The supper has been a tradition of the Men’s Club at Zion since the 1940s. For information, call the church at 796-2243.

FR)—The Nash Volunteer Firefighter’s Association will hold its annual ground hog supper 4:30-7:00 p.m. Saturday at the fire station. The fundraising supper is held to raise money to purchase equipment and help with operating expenses. The menu includes scrambled eggs, whole hog sausage, biscuits and gravy. All of the fire department’s vehicles and equipment will be on display the night of the supper. There are 20 members on the Nash Fire Department, which responds to calls throughout Grant, Alfalfa and Garfield counties and has sent teams to major disasters throughout Oklahoma and Kansas.

AP)--Chisholm High School After Prom Committee will have a fundraising dine-out night Monday at Chick-fil-A in Oakwood Mall. The event will be 5:30-8 p.m. Monday. Proceeds will benefit activities for this year’s prom.

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SA)--The latest Enid Public Schools information and news is now as close as your smartphone. EPS has launched a free mobile app for the district. School Connect specializes in the development of mobile apps for K-12 school systems and institutions. The company’s services are free to the school district, and there are no download charges for mobile users. Enid Superintendent Shawn Hime said he believes the app will enhance school-to-parent and school-to-community communication, especially since users can subscribe to the school news and announcements they would like to receive. “We’re living in a busy world. Parents, students, grandparents, and residents are always on the go, but they still want to keep in touch with school news, which we appreciate,” Hime said. "This app will give them a convenient way to stay informed. It’s free to the district and free to the user, but the benefits will be priceless.” The app, financially supported by school-friendly sponsors, will feature:

●       Push messaging from both the district and school-site levels,

●       GPS mapping and navigation,

●       Online gradebook access,

●       Tap screens for email for district staff,

●       Multiple language options, including Spanish,

●       Lunch menus, athletic information, and much more.   

WS)--All paths lead to progress in Enid and you can watch it as it happens. Becky Hodgen of the City of Enid said a page has been added to the City of Enid website which exhibits the progress of the new Master Trails Project. The page is complete with pictures and captions to help citizens orient themselves with the first two phases of the project. As more phases are complete, more pictures and descriptions will be added to the page. To see progress on the Master Trails Project, please visit www.enid.org/enidtrails. 

LC)—A fundraising campaign to raise $8 million for Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse officially is under way. Scott and Christy Northcutt are serving as campaign chairs for the “Expanding the FUN of Art and Science” capital campaign. Acting as honorary co-chairs are Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Joel and Kelly Champlin, Owen K. Garriott, Mike and Cara Jackson, Leona Mitchell and Jimmy and Abbey Stallings. Mike and Mary McCormick are leaders of the Grandparents Giving Circle. Funds raised are targeted for both endowment and improvement. Top priority is $2.5 million as an endowment to sustain the museum in the future. The rest will go for capital improvements. The third floor will be transformed into an education center, conference room and storage areas. The first floor will get new permanent exhibits on the north side, and the museum will be expanded to the second floor. The main entry will be relocated to the south side of the building and get a “child-friendly” new look. A Renaissance Man will be installed on the tower at the southwest corner of the building to visually join the museum with Adventure Quest. A storm shelter will be added on the west side of the museum, which also will include an expanded animals habitat. All floors will get updated restrooms. For information, contact Julie Baird, executive director at jbaird@leonardos.org.

ED)--Security National Bank of Enid is now offering the SNB Enid High School Debit Card.  The debit card features the Vision Seeker sculpture by artist H. Holden as photographed by Mike Klemme.  When bank customers select the Enid High School debit card, $5 will be given to Enid High School to be used for classroom technology. The high school themed debit card is the first of its kind in the Enid market. Security National Bank is launching the program with Enid Public Schools and Enid High School because it has the largest enrollment and alumni base in the area.