Sooner Cinema Feature Film

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Sunday, October 3, 2 and 6 p.m. Rated R, Running time 108 minutes Tickets are $5

Joel (Jim Carrey) is stunned to discover that his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has had her memories of their tumultuous relationship erased. Out of desperation, he contracts the inventor of the process, Dr. Howard Mierzwaik (Tom Wilkinson), to have Clementine removed from his own memory. But as Joel's memories progressively disappear, he begins to rediscover their earlier passion. From deep within the recesses of his brain, Joel attempts to escape the procedure. As Dr. Mierzwiak and his crew (Kristen Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood) chase him through the maze of his memories, it's clear that Joel just can't get her out of his head.

October Films


• October 10 The Devil's Backbone
• October 17 Spellbound
• October 24 The Corporation
• October 31 Classic Horror Double Feature - Special 1:00 show time of Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931).
  
  The Red Cross will be outside the Theatre for blood donations. Free entry to the double feature after donating blood!

TICKETS ARE STILL ON SALE FOR BILL HALEY'S COMETS. CALL 321-9600.

ODOT Presents Future Outlook to Citizens; Requesting Feedback

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation wants to encourage citizens to take an active role in transportation planning policies and projects. The department is hosting a series of open house meetings across the state to receive feedback from communities for its updates of two important planning documents.

Citizens will have the ability to review and comment on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, a document listing projects to be undertaken over the next three years. Citizens will be able to discuss and provide comments on these and other projects they would like ODOT to consider for future programs.

Comments will also be taken on the Statewide Intermodal Transportation Plan update which will outline policies governing transportation planning for a minimum of 20 years into the future. It will contain information and policies for highways, airports, rural transit, waterways, rail and pedestrians/bicyclists. The plan will also identify highway corridors to be developed to accommodate the growing traffic volumes in the state.

If you attend a meeting you will have the opportunity to talk with engineers and planners and give your input on future transportation projects and policies. If you are unable to attend, you may contact ODOT's Planning & Research Division at (405) 522-1410 or email rsaunders@ODOT.org or dborelli@ODOT.org with questions.

All meetings are held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The nearest meeting location to Norman is listed below:

Monday-October 18, ODOT Central Office, Oklahoma City, 200 N.E. 21st St., 405-522-1410. Serving the metro areas.

National Severe Storms Lab Celebrates 40 Years

The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on Oct. 15 and 16 in Norman, Okla. The public is invited to attend free talks highlighting the organization's history, research accomplishments and current activities from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., followed by a celebration dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m., also at the Museum. Cost for the dinner is $25 and reservations are required by Oct. 6.

More information is available online at http://www.nssl.noaa.gov or by phone, (405) 360-3620.

The NOAA Weather Partners in Norman will join NSSL in hosting an Open House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. The Storm Prediction Center and NSSL at 1313 Halley Circle will be open to the public, along with the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office and the Radar Operations Center at 1200 Westheimer Dr.

More information about the NOAA Weather Partners is available online:
http://www.norman.noaa.gov/publicaffairs/backgrounders/backgrounder_nwp.html

The September Edition of the Norman Economic Development Coalition's E-Digest

On-line Survey

The Norman City Council and City Manager Search Committee are seeking your input. The City has established an on-line survey to solicit the opinions of Norman’s residents. The survey is temporary, but will assist the Council and Search Committee as they look for a new city manager. You can log onto www.cityofnorman.com to find the survey under the City Manager Search link.

Since the survey will only be available for a limited time, people are encouraged to log-on now and let their thoughts be known. In addition, there will be a paper version of the survey at the City Hall Information Desk and with city documents at the Library.

“Citizen input is vital to this process. The search committee seeks citizen opinions about the qualifications and experiences desired in a new city manager. In addition, we hope that citizens will offer their suggestions about the priority issues that a new city manager should address. As a committee, we will use this input to screen and evaluate applicants,” said Search Committee Co-Chair and Councilmember Cindy Rosenthal.

The first of a series of televised presidential debates is scheduled for 8 PM Thursday, September 30. A free kit of materials will help Norman residents turn the event into a party, a political party.

NIFty Debate Watch Party kits are available to registered voters at the Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster in downtown Norman, and at the Cleveland County OSU Extension Office, 601 E. Robinson during regular business hours.

The kits are a project of the Norman National Issues Forum, NIF, a group that encourages public debate and deliberation of issues of national importance.

“We hope these kits will inspire people to watch the televised debates with their friends and families and then to discuss the issues that are important to them. Our goal is to stimulate and encourage discussion, not to take sides,” explains Anne Masters, Associate Director of System Services for the Pioneer Library System and one of the developers of the NIFty Debate Watch Party kits.

Norman NIF will be sponsoring its own NIFty Debate Watch Party for the public. The non-partisan event will begin at 7:45 PM, Thursday, September 30, in the Lowry Room of the Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster in downtown Norman. Each person who attends the public party will receive a debate watch kit to use at their own party for future debates.

The kits are free and include: a booklet with suggestions for planning, decorating, and hosting a debate-watch party; information about the National Issues Forums and the Commission on Presidential Debates; a button for the party host or hostess; response cards that help participants identify and track important issues during the debate; and a list of related websites that offer more information including on-line voter registration.

Kits also include free samples of red, white and blue party snacks.

The Planning Group of the Norman National Issues Forums is a partnership of civic and service groups serving the members of the Norman community and Cleveland County, individuals representing City of Norman and Cleveland County service agencies, and individuals representing education institutions in or serving Norman and this area of the state. Current members are: Pioneer Library System and the Norman Public Library, University of Oklahoma Center for Leadership Development, Cleveland County OSU Extension Service, LINK Norman, the Norman Transcript, and the City of Norman.

For more information, contact Masters at 701-2678.

Town Hall Meeting

On the heels of a hugely successful joint ward meeting, Mayor Harold Haralson will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting to discuss code compliance issues, parking and the emerging issue of party houses. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 at 6:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The Mayor and Council are committed to addressing these challenges head-on, with the assistance of the University and larger Norman community.

At the ward meeting there was general agreement from elected officials, neighbors, students and OU officials that action must be taken. The Town Hall Meeting will serve as a larger forum to continue the dialogue and involve more people in this important process.

“The meeting is a good opportunity for the community, city and university to start a process looking into those issues that everyone can have some input on and come to a solution that most people can feel comfortable with,” said Mayor Harold Haralson.

“Our Ward meeting indicated that code and parking violations, as well as the increasing number of nuisance houses, are issues that negatively impact many neighborhoods. City Council and staff cannot resolve these issues without the input and assistance of the entire community. Only by listening to residence in these neighborhoods and joining with the various interests in the community to develop effective strategies to address these problems,” commented Councilmember Doug Cubberley.

Councilmember Cindy Rosenthal added, “In recent years, we have experienced an increase in a set of behaviors which are detrimental to the traditionally residential, family neighborhood. These issues are complicated and cannot be solved by the city alone. We look forward to working cooperatively with neighbors, students and OU officials to develop strategies in three areas: enforcement, education, and changing the environment.”

“The issue is that single family residential areas are experiencing a reduced quality of life due to an increase in disturbances by parties and noise, litter, and other code violations including parking violations and debris in yards,” said Police Chief Phil Cotten.

CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION

CONFERENCE ROOM – MUNICIPAL BUILDING
201 WEST GRAY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2004

5:30 P.M.


DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STORMWATER UTILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY.

Fall Clean Up

The City of Norman is happy to announce that once again it will be setting aside specific days for the citywide fall clean up this year:

Norman Collection Day Date of Fall Clean Up
Monday - October 2, 2004
Tuesday - October 9, 2004
Wednesday - October 16, 2004
Thursday - October 23, 2004
Friday - October 30, 2004

Residents may place items not normally picked up with their regular trash service, such as: couches, mattresses, refrigerators and air conditioners (the freon must be removed), etc. These items should be placed by the curb or in the alley, NOT in the poly cart. Employees will be using manual trucks and picking up the debris by hand or using large equipment, not the automated trucks. Items that will not be picked up include: construction debris, yard waste, tree limbs, brush, tires (must be taken to the transfer station), hazardous chemicals such as: oil, paints, freon, pesticides, herbicides, etc.

Residents may also dispose of their items at the Norman Transfer Station, located at 3901 S. Chautuaqua for no charge if they have a current utility bill, driver’s license or proof of residency on the five designated Saturdays. The Transfer Station will be opened on those Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Yard waste, tree limbs or brush smaller than 2 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet in length may be disposed of at the Norman Compost Facility, located at 3450 S. Jenkins. Citizens should access the Transfer Station by using Chautauqua Avenue.

Rural customers need to call the Sanitation Department at 329-1023 as soon as possible to schedule a time for pickup. Also, on the weekend of October 15, 2004, there will be large dumpsters placed at Denver Corner and the American Legion on 156th Street for residents to drop off appropriate items.

City Manager Search Forum

The City Manager Search Committee wants to hear from you. The Committee is going to hold a public forum on Monday, September 20, 2004 at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The forum will provide an opportunity for the Search Committee to hear from the community as they begin the hunt for a new city manager.

Through community dialogue, the Committee hopes to have a better understanding of the kind of person Norman’s needs to manage the city at this point in our history. Any and all citizens are welcome to attend.

Public Meeting on Road Improvements

The City of Norman in conjunction with Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is proposing to reconstruct a portion of Lindsey Street between Oakhurst Avenue and 24th Avenue SE and a portion of 24th Avenue SE between Lindsey Street and Imhoff Road. A public meeting will be to discuss and gather public input on the proposal to reconstruct the above referenced project. The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday, September 16, 2004, in the City of Norman Council Chambers at 201 W. Gray.

The reconstruction of the Lindsey portion to a five-lane road and 24th Avenue SE portion to a four-lane road with a new signal at 24th Avenue SE and upgraded signal at Oakhurst Avenue will provide a safer and more efficient road for the traveling public.

For further information please contact Lonnie Ferguson at 366-5454.

Hunter Safety Course

Once again, Pam Sharp at the Little Axe Community Center (168th Ave SE & Hwy 9, just south) will be hosting a Hunter Safety Course. The Course will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2004, from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

In addition to the one-day course there will also be a home study course offered. On October 2, 2004, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., time will be set aside to receive instructions and pick up home study packets. Two weeks later on October 16, 2004, from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. people will return to complete the course.

Both courses are free of charge and open to anyone that would like to participate. Both courses are limited to the first 75 people who register, so anyone wishing to enroll will need to contact Pam at 292-9770 as soon as possible. Be prepared to provide the name, address, phone number and social security number of the registrant. Happy & Safe Hunting!!!!!

City of Norman Agenda, Sept. 9, 2004

For the complete agenda, please click here.

Football Traffic Advisory for Saturday, Sept. 4

Porter Avenue, from Robinson Street to Rock Creek Road:
Drivers should avoid this area. The contractor is trying to finish the west half of the new roadway by this Saturday. If accomplished, traffic will be switched to the new pavement. If not, Porter will remain opened but drivers will be required to use the old pavement - which is in poor condition.

Gray Street, from Porter to Flood Avenue:
Paving activities continue on this project. Milling and paving have been completed between Porter Avenue and the railroad track. Work continues from the tracks to Flood Avenue. No work will be done on Saturday and all lanes will be open. Drivers may encounter areas with pavement edge drop offs if the milling operations are not completed by this Friday.

Lindsey Street between 24th Ave. SW and Berry Road:
As in the past, Lindsey will have two lanes for in-bound traffic before the game and two lanes for out-going traffic after the game.

Lindsey Street and Elm Avenue:
Officers will only allow persons who have a parking permit from the athletic department to continue east on Lindsey. All other traffic will have to turn either north or south on Elm Avenue.

Jenkins Avenue and Lindsey Street:
As in the past, this intersection will be closed for the game, with traffic detoured.

September OU Update

Click here to read University of Oklahoma updates and alumni and sports news.