The Norman Economic Development Coalition held annual elections

The Norman Economic Development Coalition recently held its annual election of board members.

Bob Danner was re-elected to another one-year term as chairman as well as another three-year term on the board.

Nick Hathaway will remain vice chairman, Lois Lawler as treasurer and Joe Harroz as a member at large.

The core members, which consists of representatives from the three organizations that provide financial support to NEDC, made the nominations.

Anna-Mary Suggs, executive director of the Norman Chamber of Commerce, Andy Anderson, city manager, and Dan Davis, executive director of OU’s Office of Technology Development, represent their organizations as core members.

Other board members include Ted Greb and Lindy Ritz.

Danner is president and chief executive officer of Bio-Cide International, Hathaway is the vice president for Administrative & Executive Affairs at the University of Oklahoma, Lawler is a Coordinator for Education Leadership Oklahoma at the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and Harroz is the chief counsel for the University of Oklahoma.

Citizens Academy

On the heel of another successful Citizens Academy, city officials have scheduled the forth Academy to begin on August 26, 2004. Any Norman citizen can participate and with a class size that can range from 30 to 50, most people who are interested and willing to commit a few Thursday evenings should be able to join the class.

There is a need to educate people on the tenets of local government. The City of Norman Citizens Academy serves as a basic forum to provide this education. Not only are there different forms of municipal government, but also each city does things in their own special way. Through Norman’s Academy, residents are able to receive an in-depth look at each city department and its functions. In addition, interact with its elected and paid staff, thus better acquainting themselves with the level of government that impacts them most on a daily basis. This form of close examination and knowledge breeds a healthy respect and involvement that will only help perpetuate good government and good community.

The Academy meets on Thursday evenings beginning at 6:00 PM with a light snack and goes until 9:00 PM. Each session highlights a different city facility and department(s):

August 26 - Mayor/Council/Manager/Clerk
September 9 - Finance/Parks and Recreation
September 23 - Utilities
October 7 - Utilities
October 21 - Fire/Police/EMS
November 4 - Planning/Public Works
November 18 - Court/Legal/Human Resources
December 2 - Graduation

To participate in the next Citizens Academy please call 366-5446.

NPD to host shooting championship

The Norman Police Department will host the 2004 Dale DeBerry Regional and Oklahoma State shooting championships August 6 and 7 at the police pistol range on Jenkins Avenue.  The championships, which are sponsored by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Shooting Association, attract law enforcement competitors from throughout the Midwest and Southwest.  Competitors will be tested in areas of firearms proficiency at distances ranging from three to fifty yards in individual and team competition.

The Regional Championship, established as a memorial to Norman Police Sergeant and avid competitor Dale DeBerry, will be held on August 6.  The match will focus primarily on the use of various semi-automatic handguns relevant to Law Enforcement.

The Oklahoma State Championships will be held August 7 to determine the top individual and teams in the state and establish the “Governor’s Twenty,” an honor awarded to the top twenty Oklahoma Law Enforcement shooters.

Law Enforcement shooting competition was established as a means to develop the individual officer’s shooting proficiency and is used by many departments to choose and develop firearms instructors.

2004 marks the third consecutive year that the Norman Police Department has hosted the championships, which is largely due to the fine reception and support of Norman’s citizens and businesses.

To schedule an interview or ask questions, call for Master Police Officer Shon Elroy or Master Police Officer Harold Nicholson at (405) 321-1600.

City Council Agenda, July 27, 2004

For the complete agenda, please click here.

HealthPlex Offers Complete Diagnostic Imaging Services

Broken bones, heart disease, and many other health problems can all be accurately diagnosed at one location. Conveniently located on Tecumseh Road at I-35, HealthPlex offers the medical imaging tools you need in an outpatient setting.

And since its grand opening this summer, the HealthPlex has been making diagnosis as easy as a trip down the road.

“HealthPlex provides another method of accessing quality diagnostic imaging services for our outpatients,” says Sue Kazmierkiewicz, Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Norman Regional. “Also, there is room to grow and offer different services than those at the hospital’s main campus.”

WHY HEALTHPLEX?

When you need diagnostic testing, you want it fast. Thanks to HealthPlex, you can have accurate imaging exams in a timely manner and get back to life quickly.

Every aspect of HealthPlex assures a pleasant experience, from ample parking space to compassionate healthcare providers.

“For people living on the north side of Norman, HealthPlex is here to meet their routine diagnostic imaging needs,” says Bennie Riddles, Manager of Special Imaging at NRH. “When patients come to HealthPlex, they can take comfort knowing they will receive the same high quality care provided at Norman Regional.”

WHAT HEALTHPLEX OFFERS

Diagnostic imaging services available at
HealthPlex include:

• open MRI
• high-speed CT scanner
• two ultrasound machines
• general X-ray equipment

“At HealthPlex, we provide the cutting-edge diagnostic imaging technology and all diagnostic imaging services needed,” Riddles explains. “Our goal is to offer a complete outpatient diagnostic center with easy access for the community, and HealthPlex is doing just that.”

For more information on diagnostic imaging available at HealthPlex, call (405) 307-1000.

2005 Dates for Favorite Annual Events

Thousands of football fans gather in Norman each fall on home football game days to cheer on the Sooners, but folks also enjoy coming to Norman for a wide range of other family fun events and activities throughout the year.

The Norman Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce the 2005 dates for some of Norman’s favorite annual events. 
 
February 5, Chocolate Festival   As seen on the Food Network
A dessert lover’s dream, the Chocolate Festival allows visitors to indulge in a variety of sinful sweets, like brownies, cookies, cheesecakes and ice cream treats!  The event includes an exhibit of chocolate art and competitions for the best chocolate brownies and desserts.  Tickets are $12.00.  Call (405) 329-4523
 
April 1-3, Medieval Fair   Only festival in Oklahoma to be Named in the top 100 events in the United States
http://www.weather.com/activities/events/special/top100.html
This unique living history fair features more than 200 craft and food booths, games for all ages, educational exhibits and a vast array of colorful characters like minstrels, jugglers, dancers, knights and bagpipers.  See jousting tournaments, human chess games and other medieval merriment! Free admission. www.occe.ou.edu/medievalfair.
 
April 24, Kids For Kindness Festival  
The Little River Zoo’s Kids for Kindness Festival encourages children to promote humane education and care for the environment. Children graduate as Official Ambassadors for the Planet Earth. Free admission.  www.littleriverzoo.com
 
April 29-30, May 1, May Fair Arts Festival  
Experience a blend of visual arts, music, children’s activities and food from some of Norman’s favorite restaurants. For additional information, call the Assistance League, 405-366-7055, www.assistanceleaguenor.com.
 
June 23-25, Jazz in June  
When the sizzling sun dips behind the trees and evening breezes carry the sounds of wailing horns and toe-tapping drumbeats, true music buffs know it can only mean one thing: Jazz in June.  Join us for live, free music under the stars. www.jazzinjune.org 
  
Mark your calendars now for these fantastic events, and enjoy a family getaway weekend to Norman.  While in Norman, visitors will also enjoy affordable lodging, great antiques shopping and a variety of wonderful attractions.  See the world’s largest Brontosaurus at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, pet a porcupine at The Little River Zoo and take a horseback ride at Lake Thunderbird State Park.  For more information about Norman lodging, dining and activities, call 1-800-767-7260 for a free Norman Visitors Guide or go to www.visitnorman.com.

The Norman Economic Development Coalition and the OU Office of Technology Development to sponsor OCAST proposal workshop

The Norman Economic Development Coalition and the University of Oklahoma Office of Technology Development are sponsoring a free Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I proposal development workshop on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 in the University of Oklahoma Memorial Union.
 
Registration begins at 8:30 on both days.
 
Those interested in applying for a SBIR or STTR Phase I proposal are encouraged to attend. It will provide the necessary tools to develop objectives, work plans, a budget, and a comprehensive abstract. The workshop will help participants identify and understand the mission of government agencies that regulate contractors as well as government accounting requirements and necessary internal controls.
 
The first day of the workshop will provide a basic understanding of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs as well as a strategy for participating in these programs.
 
The second day of the workshop will provide intermediate level knowledge including instruction on government cost accounting and a logical process for developing a competitive proposal.
 
An agenda is available on the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology’s website, http://www.ocast.state.ok.us/.
 
Interested participants must register before Aug. 6.
 
Registration information can be sent to Michelle Gilliland at michelleg@meridian-technology.com. Include your name, company name, address, phone number and e-mail address.