Local students shadow Storm Prediction Center forecasters

Students from Norman and Moore Public Schools are participating in a Job Shadow program with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.

The program allows high school students interested in meteorology to spend a day interacting with operational forecasters and touring the facility. The students watch forecasters as they go about their typical daily activities, including issuing severe thunderstorm and tornado forecasts and watches throughout the contiguous United States.

Two students from the Moore High Schools will shadow forecasters Oct. 28 and 29, and two students from Norman High Schools will shadow on Nov. 3 and 4.

The program began last March when Marty Farris, a Norman North student, and Ryan Marx, a Norman High School student, each spent a day at the SPC. The program is coordinated by SPC forecaster Jeff Peters, who accompanies the students through the day and provides a comprehensive tour, along with a detailed slide show explaining the SPC operations, the organizational structure, and instruments used to obtain meteorological data for their suite of forecast products.

In addition, each student will attend a daily map discussion facilitated by both SPC forecasters and National Severe Storms Laboratory researchers.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center issues forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States. The SPC also monitors heavy rain, heavy snow and fire weather events across the U.S. and issues specific national products for those hazards. SPC meteorologists are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Part of the National Weather Service’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction, the SPC was established in Washington, D.C. in 1952, moved to Kansas City in 1954 and then Norman in 1997.

The SPC’s program is part of the national Job Shadowing 2004, a joint initiative of a coalition that includes America’s Promise, Junior Achievement and the U.S. Department of Labor. Job Shadowing 2004 is supported through national co-sponsors Monster and News Corporation.

Pat Mayes named Workforce Investment Area Leader of the Year

Workforce Oklahoma recently announced Pat Mayes, chairman of the board of directors of First American Bank, as the Cleveland County Workforce Investment Area 2004 Business Leader of the Year at its annual Workforce Oklahoma Alumni Celebration.

Workforce Oklahoma celebrates Oklahoma’s workforce system and seeks to recognize individuals who have made improvements to the systems as well as recognize individuals who utilize the system to increase their job skills.

Mayes has been an asset to the Norman community by serving on numerous boards and influencing the Norman business community for 48 years. He is the immediate past president of the Norman Chamber of Commerce and he currently serves as chairman of the Chamber’s Government Relations Council.

He served on the Norman Board of Education for 25 years, acting as president five times. He is the past chair of the Heart of Oklahoma American Red Cross and a member of the Norman Alcohol Information Center.

Mayes is a member of the Oklahoma Bankers Association and belongs to the State Chamber of Commerce, where he sits on the Small Business Council.

Also recognized during the event were Brenda Aflleje and Tony Saldana for utilizing the Workforce Oklahoma system to better their lives and careers.

For more information, contact Maureen Hammond at 405.573.1900 or e-mail her nedc@nedcok.com.

About Workforce Oklahoma
Workforce Oklahoma is the new workforce development system where business leaders, educators and employment professionals are working together to achieve job growth, employee productivity and employer satisfaction. Within this system is a network of statewide offices where employment, education and training providers are integrating services to assist customers in finding jobs and qualified workers, making career decisions and accessing training opportunities.

City Council Agenda for Oct. 26, 2004

Please click here to read the agenda.

Small Gift Makes a Big Difference

The City of Norman Fleet Maintenance Division has the large task of maintaining every city vehicle. Each year they go through hundreds of tires, gallons of oil and the other critical parts to keep Norman’s staff rolling. One such critical part is the oil filter.

The Wix Oil Filter Corporation has developed an ingenious way to promote their product and also do a good thing in the communities they serve. Before city crews dispose of the empty boxes that once held a Wix oil filter, they tear off the lid for safekeeping. Each box lid is worth $0.25 to the Corporation. After accumulating hundreds of the lids, the city returned them to Wix, which in turn wrote a check to a very deserving group of Norman students.

Recently Wix Filter donated $765 to the Norman FFA due to the extra care taken by Norman Fleet Maintenance staff. Thanks to diligence of city staff and the generosity of the Wix Oil Filter Corporation, Norman FFA students have received a wonderful gift.

Community Halloween Carnival

Looking for a safe and fun Halloween activity? The City of Norman has just the thing, a carnival. Whittier Recreation Center is hosting a Community Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 30th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Activates will include a Hay Ride, Haunted House and Moon Bounce.

Donations of Pumpkins, Halloween candy and decorations are needed to help make this event a success. If you have any items that you would like to donate please bring them to the Parks and Recreation office at 201 W. Gray, Building C, anytime Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or the Whittier Recreation Center Monday through Thursday from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Whittier Recreation Center is located at 2000 W Brooks. For more information please call 292-9703 or 366-5472.

Norman Receives Thirteenth Consecutive Financial Award

For the twelfth year in a row, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Norman by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement has also been awarded to the individuals primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR, Norman’s Finance Director, Anthony Francisco and Norman’s Municipal Accountants, Becky Masters and Clint Mercer.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 15,000 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Trick or Treat Night Scheduled for October 30th

Regional leaders in Central Oklahoma have recommended Saturday, October 30th as the night for Trick or Treat activities in the metropolitan area this year.

The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) Board of Directors, comprised of local elected regional officials, recommends scheduling Trick or Treat night from Halloween’s usual October 31st date to keep a uniform metropolitan-wide date that can be enjoyed by children and families.

The ACOG Board has helped schedule trick or treat night since the 1980s. A consistent date helps plan for the safety and welfare of children in the region and allows everyone to have fun around the area on the same night.

Years ago, when communities set their own schedules, it caused confusion and inconsistency, as trick or treaters and their families could visit several communities over a two or three-night span to take in Halloween festivities.

The Association also recommends several tips for a safe Trick or Treat night:

• Drivers should be aware of children running or crossing the street.


• Homeowners who distribute candy should keep their porch lights on and keep their yards free of items that could cause children in costumes to fall.


• Candles should be used with caution. Flashlights or light bulbs can replace candles in a variety of situations.


• Children should go out with their parents or older siblings.·Make sure eye and mouth holes in masks are large enough to see and breathe easily.


• Parents should check all candy to make sure it is safe.

The City of Norman is an ACOG member community.

CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION

CONFERENCE ROOM – MUNICIPAL BUILDING - 201 WEST GRAY

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2004, 5:30 P.M.


DISCUSSION REGARDING WASTEWATER DISCHARGE FOG PROGRAM – FATS, OILS, AND GREASE.

NOAA Events Friday and Saturday

The public is invited to participate in two free events this weekend in Norman in conjunction with the National Severe Storms Laboratory's 40th Anniversary Celebration, invited talks Friday afternoon and an open house Saturday morning.

*Invited talks* highlighting the Lab's history, research accomplishments and current activities will be presented from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Friday (Oct. 15) in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Auditorium, 2401 Chautauqua Ave.

The speakers and topics are:
*Historical Overview* 1:30-1:50 p.m. - Ed Kessler

*Weather Radar* 1:55-2:15 p.m. Past - Dick Doviak
2:15-2:35 p.m. Present - Dusan Zrnic

*Forecasting Impacts: Severe Weather* 2:40-3:00 p.m. Past - Chuck Doswell

*Break *3:00-3:20 p.m.

*Forecasting Impacts: Severe Weather* 3:20-3:40 p.m. Present - Harold Brooks

*Storm Chasing & Basic Understanding of Thunderstorms and Tornadoes* 3:45-4:05 p.m. Past - Joe Golden
4:05-4:25 p.m. Present - Lou Wicker
4:30 p.m. Future - Jeff Kimpel*

The NOAA Weather Partners in Norman will host an *Open House* from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 16). This includes the Storm Prediction Center and NSSL at 1313 Halley Circle, and the National Weather Service
Norman Forecast Office and Radar Operations Center at 1200 Westheimer Dr. Additional displays and the Warning Decision Training Branch will be in the NSSL building at 1424 Halley Ave.

We expect a lot of people to be interested in the Open House. This is the first one we've held since 2000, when 800 people attended.

More information is available online: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov

Free Car Seat Check

Have your car seat checked free of charge by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Specialist on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 3-6 p.m. at Bob Moore Cadillac, 2505 W. Main St.

Get answers to these troubling questions:

“My child can climb out of the car seat. What can I do?”

“Why doesn’t my car seat stay tight in the car?”

“When can I turn my baby’s car seat around to face forward?”

Results from previous safety seat checks have shown that four out of five car seats are used incorrectly.

Be sure yours is not one of them!

Health Officials Urge Use of Basic Hygiene and Other Precautions to Help Prevent the Spread of Influenza

The Oklahoma State Department of Health today urged Oklahomans to begin practicing measures to help prevent the spread of influenza as a result of the nationwide shortage of influenza vaccine.

As state and county public health officials work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, home health agencies, employers and others to try to determine where and how much influenza vaccine will be available in Oklahoma, they urged residents to consider other options to try to stay healthy during influenza season.

"Those simple, common sense measures - 'things mom told you' - really can make a difference in reducing the risk of colds and influenza," said State Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Crutcher.

"Since many of us will not be getting our flu shot this year, it is more important than ever that we all observe the following simple precautions," Crutcher noted.

• Wash your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, then use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers.


• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. l Avoid close contact with persons who are ill. l Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. l Stay home when you are sick. l Seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms of influenza: unusually high fever, sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, extreme tiredness, muscle aches, and dry cough.


• There is no such thing as the "stomach flu." Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and other stomach distress can sometimes be related to influenza, especially in children, but these problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza.

"Our top priority is to get any vaccine that will be available to those who will need it most," Crutcher said. Those high risk groups include:

• All children ages 6 - 23 months.
• Adults 65 and older.
• Persons aged 2 - 64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions.
• All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
• Children aged 6 months - 18 years who are on chronic aspirin therapy.
• Health care workers involved in direct patient care.
• Out of home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months.

A possible vaccination option for persons not considered at high risk is the intranasally administered, live, attenuated influenza vaccine, FluMist(tm). If available through private providers, FluMist(tm) is encouraged for healthy persons who are aged 5 to 49 years and are not pregnant, particularly health-care workers, first responders, and persons caring for children aged 6 months or younger. The Oklahoma State Department of Health's influenza surveillance system has not confirmed any cases of influenza thus far this influenza season.

"Although influenza can make you feel miserable, for most healthy people it is not a serious health problem," said Crutcher. "For those whose health conditions may make them vulnerable to complications from influenza, however, influenza can be very dangerous. That's why we need Oklahomans to make thoughtful decisions about whether or not they should get an influenza shot this year and to practice good handwashing and respiratory hygiene to prevent the spread of influenza."

Norman Employee Honored

Representatives of the Oklahoma Water and Pollution Control Association (OWPCA) will be on hand at tomorrow’s Norman City Council meeting in order to present the Outstanding Distribution Supervisor Award to David Hager, Utilities Supervisor.

David is being recognized by his peers for his efforts in replacing older, sub-standard water mains, maintaining the system integrity and addressing a growing problem of hot soils damage to distribution pipes.

The OWPCA is a professional organization of Waterworks and Wastewater operators who safeguard public health by providing safe drinking water and safe disposal of wastewater in Oklahoma. The City of Norman water distribution system safely transports water from the Water Treatment Plant to the residents and businesses of Norman. Included in the network are 481 miles of water lines, 4,211 fire hydrants and 5 water towers.

“David is the type of individual that will go the extra mile to see that the work is done right. He puts in extra time to make sure that Norman's Water Distribution System is operated in a safe and efficient manner, always emphasizing public health and employee safety,” stated Lloyd Davis, Utilities Superintendent.

Sign Installation

At the request of area residents, the City of Norman Traffic Control Division will be installing "No Parking Any Time" signs along the north side of Hoover Street, between Flood Avenue and Lahoma Avenue.

The Traffic Control Division has scheduled the work for the week of October 11, 2004.

City of Norman Agenda, Oct. 12, 2004

For the complete agenda, please click here.

UNIVERSITY NEWS

MEMORIAL DEDICATION: More than 630 veterans were honored in the dedication of a memorial to fallen Sooner veterans.

OU RESEARCH FUNDING EXCEEDS $200 MILLION: The University of Oklahoma received $210 million from outside sources for research in fiscal year 2004, marking the first time OU has crossed the $200 million mark for research programs in one year.

SCIENTIFIC SERVICE: Kelvin Droegemeier, Regents Professor of Meteorology and Roger and Sherry Teigen Presidential Professor, is waiting for approval to serve on the National Science Board.

SOONER SIBLINGS: Two brothers share Owen Field--one plays football and the other plays the drums.

ENROLLMENT REACHES ALL-TIME HIGH: President Boren recently announced 31,314 students are enrolled for the 2004-05 year, 24,569 of whom study on the Norman campus.

OU-TX GETS POLITICAL: Gov. Brad Henry rakes in the beef after winning the governors' bet on the Red River Shootout.

MORE TEXANS HEAD TO OU YEARLY: Recruiting prospective students south of the Red River pays off.

SISTER-TO-SISTER PROGRAM: Aiming to ease the tough teenage experience, the Women's Outreach Center at OU is launching its sixth year of Sister-to-Sister, a young women's mentoring and leadership program.

WISDOM WITH AGE: This past year, OU had more than 6,000 undergraduates over the age of 22.

ALUMNI NEWS
STUDENTS THANK ALUMNI: OU alumni clubs give scholarships to about 120 students.

OU GRADUATE PRODUCES NEW WB DRAMA: OU alumnus Mickey Liddell is the executive producer on the new WB drama "Jack and Bobby."

SPORTS NEWS
SOFTBALL: Oklahoma All-American Heather Scaglione was recently named to the USA Softball National Elite Team and will compete for the 'Stars and Stripes' in the first World University Softball Championship from Oct. 26-31 in Plant City, Fla.

SWITZER CENTER DEBUT: The Barry Switzer Center, which has re-opened following a $1 million renovation, pays tribute to OU football achievements and legends.

Q & A WITH OLYMPIAN GUARD YOUNG: OU assistant coach Guard Young is now an Olympic Silver Medalist after the U.S. won its first team medal since 1984.

LOOKING BACK
OU-TX 1971: You don't have to reach back far into the University's archives to pull out celebratory OU/Texas memories; however, this month, we looked all the way back to 1971, when OU beat Texas 48-27 while former President Lyndon B. Johnson watched from the sidelines.

LINKS OF INTEREST
ARCHITECTURE SERIES: Well-known names in architecture to speak at OU.

OU'S POLITICAL COMMUNICATION CENTER: The Department of Communication's Political Communication Center houses an internationally known collection of old and new political advertisements.

THE FABRIC OF MAYAN LIFE: The Pitzer Collection of Mayan textiles at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History demonstrates the diversity and beauty of the artistic, though inherently functional, Mayan textile tradition.

UNIVERSITY THEATRE'S 80TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON: University Theatre's 2004-2005 schedule.

Flu Shot Event Cancelled

Contact: Shari Kinney/Russell Brewer
Cleveland County Health Department
(405) 579-2261/579-2251


Flu Vaccine Shortage Prompts Exercise Cancellation
Cleveland County Health Department Prioritizes Vaccines

The Cleveland County Health Department has cancelled plans for a free influenza shot clinic scheduled for October 26, 2004 because of shortages in vaccine resulting from vaccine manufacturer Chiron’s inability to deliver vaccine this year.
“We are focusing on persons at high risk of influenza complications,” said Shari Kinney, County Health Department Administrator. “We are encouraging healthy people to remember that prevention is the best approach to influenza season. Covering your mouth when you cough and washing your hands often will greatly reduce the spread of influenza.”
The following are priority groups for vaccination:

• persons over 6 months of age with underlying chronic medical conditions;


• adults aged 65 years and older;


• all children aged 6–23 months;


• health-care workers involved in direct patient care;


• all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;


• out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of infants.

Oklahomans are encouraged to check with their private health care providers and clinics as alternative sources for getting the influenza vaccine.

The Cleveland County Health Department was part of an eight-county exercise by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The goal of the exercise was to prepare for the type of mass immunizations that might be required in the event of a terrorist attack, a naturally occurring disease epidemic, or other public health emergency.

National Police Shooting Championship Results

The Norman Police Department Pistol Team just returned from competing at the National Police Shooting Championships in Jackson, Mississippi. The competition involved approximately 450 of the finest competitive law enforcement shooters in the world. Officers from Germany, Venezuela, Canada and the United States shot in the weeklong competition. The competition involves shooting revolvers, semi-automatic handguns, and shotguns from 3 to 50 yards. All of the team members that competed are Firearms Instructors. They teach the lessons they learn during the competitions, to Norman Officers, once they return.

The Norman PD Pistol Team sent 7 members this year. They are Harold Nicholson, Jamie Shattuck, Shon Elroy, Blake Green, Eric Lehenbauer, David St. John, and David King. Our officers obtained several individual awards and titles in the various individual competitions. Harold Nicholson and Jamie Shattuck both received the coveted "President's 100 Award". This is only given to the top 15% of the shooters in the nation.

The 2004 NPD Pistol Team brought home its best ever team finish during the team competitions this year. Officers Shattuck and Nicholson took home first place in the High Master Division of the Two-Officer semi-automatic pistol competition. Officers St. John, Elroy, Lehenbauer and Green placed 3rd in the Four-Officer semi-automatic sharpshooter division.

The most prestigious team award at the NPSC is the Four-Officer team match. This is where the 2004 team's performance was truly outstanding. The Four-Officer revolver team of Shattuck, Green, Nicholson and Lehenbauer won the Master Class of this match. In addition their score placed them as 4th in the World. The only teams with higher scores were the United States Border Patrol, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the Los Angeles Police Department. Our team defeated every other agency represented including numerous federal, state, county, and municipal agencies. In addition they defeated all of the teams from Canada, Germany, and Venezuela.

The amount of personal time and expense that these officers provide the department is commendable. The fact that they are able to compete with and defeat the finest law enforcement shooters in the world is remarkable. Please join us in congratulating these exceptional officers.

October Channel 20 Schedule

Register to Vote By October 8th

Register to Vote By October 8th. The November 2nd election is just over a month away. Don't forget to register to vote. It's easy to do. Go by your local public library, county election board office, tag agency, or post office and pick up a registration form today.

Become a member of Norman's e-mail group, Norman News at www.cityofnorman.com

ODOT Public Meeting

All interested persons are hereby given notice that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) proposes to reconstruct State Highway 9 from 84th Avenue SE in Norman, Cleveland County to US 177 in Tecumseh, Pottawatomie County. ODOT has scheduled two public meetings to discuss the proposed project. The first meeting will be held in Cleveland County on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the gymnasium of Washington Elementary School located at 600 48th Avenue SE in Norman. The second meeting will be held in Pottawatomie County on Thursday, October 7, 2004 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Tecumseh City Hall Auditorium located at 114 N. Broadway in Tecumseh.

Exact design and right-of-way requirements for this proposal have not been determined. The purpose for the informal meeting is to request information from the public to further assist ODOT in the identification of critical social, economic, and environmental effects that may result from the project. Any information that may affect the design of the project is also requested.

ODOT strives to accommodate the needs of all citizens, including those who may be disabled. If you would like to attend this meeting but find it difficult because of a disability, architectural barrier, or another special need, please contact Howard Saxion at 290-7366, and we will make a sincere effort to resolve the problem. Other questions prior to the meeting may also be directed to Howard Saxion at 290-7366.

Fire Prevention Week

The Norman Fire Department is joining the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and other safety advocates this fall to remind children and adults about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week, October 3-9. This year's theme, "It's Fire Prevention Week: Test Your Smoke Alarms," highlights the importance of all families installing and maintaining smoke alarms in the home.

The Norman Fire Department will display a fire engine and the Fire Safety House for free tours and educational lectures at the West-side Wal-Mart. In addition, Norman’s seven fire stations will be holding “Open House” for tours and walk-in visits. All locations will be open from Monday October 4th through Friday October 8th, 2004 from 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m. each day.

Smoke alarms are the most effective early warning device available for the home. Since they were introduced to consumers in the 1970s, they have helped to reduce the home fire death rate by one half. Even though they are now widely popular, roughly 70 percent of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Fires can spread through a home rapidly, and in some cases, individuals may have as little as two minutes to escape to safety once the alarm sounds. The Norman Fire Department encourages residents to keep smoke alarms working and to leave immediately when a smoke alarm sounds.

Upon request, the Norman Fire Department will help residents to develop a home fire escape plan. Residents will learn to identify escape routes in the home and to choose an outside meeting place where everyone can gather after they've escaped. Practice ensures that everyone in the home knows the fire escape plan, they're familiar with the sound of the smoke alarm, and they know how to exit quickly.

Here are some key smoke alarm installation and maintenance tips:

· Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home and outside each separate sleeping area.

· Mount smoke alarms on ceilings or high walls.

· Test smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturers instructions.

· Replace batteries once a year or as soon as the device "chirps," indicating that the battery is low.

· Replace all smoke alarms after 10 years, even those that are hard-wired or smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries. Smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries also need to be replaced when the alarm "chirps" or fails to respond to periodic testing. The batteries in these units cannot be replaced.

· A qualified electrician should install alarms that are hard-wired to the home’s electrical system.
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit NFPA at www.firepreventionweek.org. NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. The campaign's purpose is to raise public awareness about the dangers of fire, how to prevent it and how to be protected from it. Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, in which more than 250 people died, 100,000 were left homeless and more than 17,400 structures were destroyed. Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record, according to the NFPA.

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically-based consensus codes and standards, research, training and education.