City of Norman

Storm Spotter Training

2005-01-29T10:21:00.000-06:00

In Oklahoma, it's not a question of if severe storms and tornadoes will threaten, but when. To help get ready for the upcoming severe weather season, the National Weather Service will conduct storm spotter training in Little Axe on Friday, February 11th beginning at 6:30 PM.

The training is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Little Axe Community Center.Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Norman Forecast office will conduct the training, which is designed to give storm spotters the information they need to be able to safely observe severe storms, and to report their observations to city officials and the National Weather Service. Even with radar and other technological advances over recent years, forecasters at the National Weather Service still rely heavily on trained storm spotters to provide ground truth information. The presentation will also include information on storm safety, severe weather climatology and other interesting facts related to springtime weather in Oklahoma.

One way for the National Weather Service to gather the information from trained storm spotters is through the local office of emergency management and the amateur radio volunteers that support emergency operations. The South Canadian Amateur Radio Society supports the local area. You can learn more about amateur radio by visiting their web page at www.w5nor.org or by calling the Norman Office of Emergency Management at (405) 292-9780.

David Grizzle, the City of Norman Emergency Management Coordinator, will also be available to address any questions or concerns regarding severe weather operations for the City of Norman and to provide information on how citizens can be a part of the severe weather operations effort.

For more information concerning the storm spotter training contact Pam Sharp at the Little Axe Community Center (405) 292-9770 or David Grizzle at the Norman Office of Emergency Management (405) 292-9780

January 25 City Council Agenda

2005-01-20T16:21:00.000-06:00

Sister City Plaza and Trail Dedication

2005-01-20T10:44:00.000-06:00

Leaders from across the globe will be coming together this Saturday at Andrews Park to dedicate Norman’s very own Sister City Plaza and Trail. A delegation from Norman’s sister city in France, Clermont-Ferrand, led by their Mayor, Serge Godard, are in town and will be on hand for the dedication.

Norman has had a sister city relationship with Clermont-Ferrand and Colima, Mexico for some time. The city is also in talks with Seika Town, Japan about developing a sister city relationship. The dedication will begin at 9:00 AM on the south side of Andrews Park. Norman’s Park and Recreation Department will have coffee and hot chocolate for all that attend. The dedication is open to the public and all are welcome to join in the festivities.

The plaza and trail were recently designed and built through the hard work and dedication of Norman’s Park and Recreation staff.

Chocolate Festival Plans Announced

2005-01-11T09:30:00.000-06:00

February 5, 200510:30 am - 3:00 pm
Presented by the Firehouse Art Center

Being held at the Norman North High School Commons, 1809 N. Stubbeman

TASTING SESSION
Linger over the selection of your ten delicious chocolate samples! Tickets are $18 ($15 for Firehouse members). It is advised that you purchase your tickets early, so you can get an entry time convenient for you. Premier Tasting tickets are available.

Premier guests receive 15 samples, Tupperware container and a drink!

Premier Tasting tickets are $30 ($25 for Firehouse members).

CHOCOLATE! Competitions
It's Chocolate, designed for the eyes! "CHOCOLATE! A Juried Exhibit" features art that mostly chocolate and mostly edible. Marvel at these creations vying for purchase awards. Then, cast your vote for the "People's Choice Award!"

Area cooks and bakers will be competing for cash prizes in the FAC Brownie Bake-off and the Most Delicious Dessert competitions. After judging, the brownies and desserts will become
samples for tasters -- and delicious they will be!

The Firehouse Art Center Chocolate Festival Tickets are now on sale! The Firehouse Art Center will have regular hours through Dec 22nd, 2004. Our hours of operation are 930am - 530pm Tuesday through Friday, 10am-4pm on Saturday, and 1pm-5pm on Sundays. Tickets for the Chocolate Festival as well as the Gala will available for sale online beginning in January.

On the 23rd of Dec the Firehouse Art Center will be open from 930am - 10pm! Chocolate Festival tickets are great stocking stuffers so beat the rush and buy your tickets before Christmas! We will be closed from Dec 24th through Jan 3rd. We will reopen at 930am on 4 Jan, 2005.

300 Premiere tickets are available for early tasting for one hour and include 15 samples, a container to carry them in, and a drink.

Premiere tickets are $30 for non-members and $25 for members.
Tasting time is from 1030am - 1130am

400 Traditional tickets are available for each 30 minute segment and include 10 samples!
Traditional tickets are $18 for non-members and $15 for members.
30 minute tasting sessions beginning at 1130am and ending at 300pm

The Chocolate Festival is the Firehouse's largest fundraiser of the year! The 23rd annual Chocolate Festival will be held 5 Feb, 2005 at Norman North High School. It has grown substantially over the years and includes many of Norman's most well known restaurants and business sponsors.

Events include:
Cooking demonstrations
$5 kid's area (which includes 4 activities and 1 chocolate sample)
culinary creations
brownie bake-off
chocolate sculpture competition
chocolate picture competition
chocolate gallery show

Entry forms for each of these competitions/contests are available online and at the front desk. Our address at the Firehouse is 444 S. Flood Ave, Norman, OK 73069. You may call us at 405.329.4523 or visit our website at www.normanfirehouse.com

All of the information regarding the Chocolate Festival is posted including prices and details regarding each event.

Light the Way: Reflecting upon Child Abuse & Neglect

2005-01-10T10:39:00.000-06:00

Every 11 seconds a child is reported abused or neglected in our nation.

A candlelight vigil, with special guest First Lady Kim Henry, will be held at Alcott Middle School gym on Monday, January 31st at 7:00. The school is located at 1919 W. Boyd.

This event is sponsored by

Bethesda

Center for Children & Families

Exchange Club

Junior League of Norman

Mary Abbott House

Norman Police Department

For more information contact 364-1420.

The Norman Convention & Visitors Bureau 2005 Calendar of Events

2004-12-27T16:30:00.000-06:00

Dates & events are subject to change without notice. Please call the number listed for the event for confirmation and additional information. Due to occasional rescheduling of events, we recommend that you dispose of last quarter’s mailing.

All telephone numbers are area code 405, unless otherwise indicated.

For additional craft fair information, you may call the Sooner Mall at 405-360-0360 or local community churches.

Channel 20 Programming for January

2004-12-21T11:55:00.000-06:00

City Council Agenda for December 28

2004-12-21T11:44:00.000-06:00

Increased Fines to Become Effective

2004-12-21T08:25:00.000-06:00

Almost a month ago, the Norman City Council approved increasing the penalty on parking fines. The increased fines become effective on Thursday, December 23rd.

One parking violation that received much discussion was parking on sidewalks. Imagine being in a wheelchair, elderly, or young and walking to school; and trying to get around on the sidewalks in Norman. It seems like a pretty easy thing to do with our extensive sidewalk system. Unfortunately for many it is not. Parked cars when blocking a sidewalk make it difficult, if not impossible, to continue down the sidewalk. The new fine for parking on a sidewalk is $50 initially. If it is not paid in 5 days, the fine goes up to $75, with a maximum penalty of $200.

Other parking fine increases are as follows:

Fine Amount

Violation Fine Amount After 5 Days
Expired Meter $10 $25
Excess of Time $10 $25
Private Property $50 $75
Fire Lane $100 $150
Handicapped Parking $100 $150
All Other Violations $20 $30

In addition to these increases, people can expect to pay $25 in court costs in certain instances. The vehicle registration fine did not change and remains at $50.

A majority of criminal fines in Municipal Court that had a maximum of $200 were raised to $500. Also, the state assessment on traffic and non-traffic violations increased by $2. If you would like to report a violation, please notify the Norman Police Department at 321-1600.

Holiday Sanitation Schedule

2004-12-16T09:21:00.000-06:00

This year, with Christmas and New Year’s being on Saturdays, there will be no change in sanitation service. The Sanitation Division will run regular service schedules during the holidays.

In response to many concerns about the capacity of the poly carts for extra holiday trash, Norman Sanitation crews will be picking up extra trash that is placed next to the poly cart. This extra pick-up will occur for two weeks from December 27, 2004, to January 7, 2005, on normal service days. Trash must be placed in bags. Only normal waste items will be picked-up, not hazardous waste or bulky items that would normally be picked up during spring and fall clean up. Citizens are encouraged to use one of Norman’s three recycling centers to dispose of their corrugated cardboard. They are:

Pratt Foods – Lindsey & 12th Avenue Southeast
Target Store – 24th Avenue & West Main
Hollywood Shopping Center – Lindsey & McGee

Christmas trees will be collected on regular yardwaste collection days. The city asks that all ornaments, tree stands and other plastic items be removed from the tree prior to placement at the curb. Also, trees more than six feet in height should be cut in half prior to being placed at the curb for collection.

Norman Finance Department Receives National Award

2004-12-10T10:46:00.000-06:00

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) is pleased to announce that the City of Norman has received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.

The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:

· A policy document
· A financial plan
· An operations guide
· A communications device

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories to receive the award.

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual or department designated as being primarily responsible for its having achieved the award. This has been presented to Anthony Francisco, Finance Director.

"Not only is this an award for our department, it is an award for all City employees who work very hard on our budget. We are very proud to receive this national award and recognition for our efforts. There are very few cities in the State of Oklahoma who receive this award, so we are exceptionally honored," said Suzanne Krohmer, Budget Analyst.

Since the inception of the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program in 1984, approximately 900 entities have received the Award. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional association serving 14,000 government finance professionals throughout North America. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.

City Council Agenda for December 12

2004-12-10T10:39:00.000-06:00

The Search is Over

2004-12-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

At their Tuesday night Executive Session, Norman City Council choice to remove the Interim part from Brad Gambill’s title and make him Norman’s new City Manager. Mr. Gambill has been serving in the capacity of Interim City Manager since Andy Anderson left to take a job in Bend, Oregon in July.

“I look forward to working with the city council and city staff as we tackle the many critical issues facing our city. The City of Norman has an exceptional workforce and this is a wonderful community to call home,” said Brad Gambill, Interim City Manager.

Norman’s Mayor Harold Haralson commented, “I am extremely pleased Brad succumbed to the council’s hints and decided to become the permanent City Manager, he will do an outstanding job. He brings a multitude of skills which will be a definite asset to our community.”

Brad most recently served as the city’s Utilities Director before retiring on July 31, 2003. Mr. Gambill joined Norman’s staff in 1994. Prior to that he served as the Director of Community Development for the City of Stillwater and Urban Planner for the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority. Brad has also worked as a private consultant doing work in the Southwest United States.

Prior to retiring from the city, Brad also completed a distinguished 40 plus year career in the Army National Guard, retiring from the United States Army in 2002. Upon his military retirement Major General Gambill was serving as Deputy Commanding General of the Fifth United States Army.

Brad was born in Pawnee and graduated with a B.A. from Oklahoma State University and a Masters in City Planning from the University of Oklahoma. He also received a Masters in Strategic Planning from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Brad and his wife Janet live in Norman, they have two children and four grandchildren.

Cleveland County receives National Emergency Grant for displaced Saxon employees

2004-12-08T11:15:00.000-06:00

The Department of Labor has awarded the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission a $283,430 National Emergency Grant (NEG) to allocate funds for displaced Saxon workers in Cleveland County.

On July 7, 2004, Saxon Publishers announced that Harcourt Publishing had purchased the company and 208 employees’ jobs would be affected.

The grant provides supplemental funds to the Cleveland County Workforce Investment Board (CCWIB) to respond to the needs of dislocated workers by providing financial assistance to workers so they can attend college or receive technical training in high demand occupations. Several workers have already enrolled in classes at Moore Norman Technology Center, the University of Oklahoma and other approved statewide vendors.

"Enabling members of our vital workforce to stay in Oklahoma is a good investment in our future,” Gov. Henry stated. “The training these individuals receive will help prepare them and our great state to continue to grow and embrace new opportunities."

Don Wood, executive director of the Norman Economic Development Coalition expressed similar sentiments.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the county to support those employees that have lost their jobs with the purchase and relocation of Saxon,” Wood said. “It allows many of these families to stay in Norman.”

Dislocated workers apply for assistance at the Workforce Oklahoma office located at 12th Ave. NE and East Main in Norman. Interested applicants should contact Jackie Irvin at 701-2035 to schedule an appointment.

“This grant allows the Cleveland County Workforce Investment Board to fulfill its purpose by assisting displaced workers,” stated George Skinner, Cleveland County Commissioner. “The board is grateful for this grant.”

The Workforce Oklahoma office provides Internet access where applicants can search the web and utilize the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s Oklahoma Job Link.

Some of the events that qualify a community for a NEG include plant closures, mass layoffs affecting 50 or more workers at a single site of employment and multiple layoffs in a single local community that have significantly increased the total number of unemployed individuals in a community.

For more information about the grant, please contact Joan Barker at 405.701.2057.

About The Cleveland County Workforce Investment Board
Appointed by the local elected officials of Cleveland County, and certified by the Governor, the members of the Cleveland County Workforce Investment Board are authorized to implement the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 – the purpose of which is to “…improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the Nation.

The Workforce Investment Board is part of the “Workforce Oklahoma” system, a public/private partnership of employers, community-based organizations, labor unions, and agencies involved in delivering workforce development service. The guiding principles of Workforce Oklahoma are having a local focus, being employer driven, using existing resources and being accountable for results.

December Programming Schedule for Channel 20

2004-12-08T09:07:00.000-06:00

Parents Night Out

2004-12-06T08:25:00.000-06:00

What are you to do when you need to find the perfect gift for you child or attend your office holiday party? Well the City of Norman Parks and Recreation Department has just the thing for you, Parents Night Out. For only $5 you can buy yourself some free time and insure you child has more holiday fun than you could imagine!

On Saturday, December 11th from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM at Irving Recreation Center, 292-9774 and Friday, December 17th from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM at Whittier Recreation Center, 292-9703; there will be pizza, movies, games and more! Space is limited, so pre-registration is a must.

City Sponsors Workshops to Outline New Discharge Requirements for Food Establishments

2004-12-02T10:24:00.000-06:00

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are a serious problem for sanitary sewer collection systems. When poured down the drain, these waste products cling to the walls of the pipes that make up the collection system and reduce the amount of sewage the system can transport. Many times FOG causes complete blockages of large sections of the collection system and results in sewage backing-up and overflowing from the system. When these overflows occur outdoors they pollute the environment, create health hazards and can result in Administrative Orders and fines issued by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. When they occur indoors the raw sewage creates a health hazard and can destroy property.

The City of Norman spends a great deal of time and money every year trying to keep the collection system open and flowing smoothly. Most of the problems occur in the collection lines that service the city’s restaurants. This is because the restaurants are where the largest amounts of FOG are used and disposed of.

In an effort to reduce sanitary sewer overflows and decrease maintenance costs from FOG accumulation in its sanitary sewers, the City of Norman adopted a FOG program. Any nonresidential facility connected to the sanitary sewer collection and treatment system involved in the preparation or serving of foods is subject to the conditions of the FOG program.

The City of Norman’s Utility Department is sponsoring free workshops to assist local businesses in complying with the new requirements for discharging fats, oils and grease. These workshops will be held at the Norman Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 201 W. Gray. The first workshop will be for businesses that service grease traps. It will be held Monday, December 6th at 11:00 AM. The second set of workshops will be for any business that prepares, cooks and/or serves food. These workshops will be held on Monday, December 13th at 5:30 PM and Wednesday, December 15th at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Each workshop will be about an hour and a half. Registration is required, but the workshops are free. To register for any of the FOG workshops please call Environmental Services at 292-9731.

Falling Debris from Vehicles

2004-12-01T13:03:00.000-06:00

The last time you were driving behind a large truck full of debris did you wonder if they had their load covered so that your car wouldn’t get dinged by a rock or gravel? Or maybe you thought there should be a law addressing such an issue. It just so happens an ordinance is on the books to deal with this very situation. City leaders recognized the problem years ago and have written language to address it. City Ordinance Section 20-518 Parts E and F states:

(e) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any roadway, unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking, blowing or otherwise escaping there from, except that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substances may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining such roadway.

(f) No person shall operate on any roadway any vehicle with any load, unless said load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent said covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the roadway. Any vehicle loaded with sand, cinders, or other loose material susceptible to blowing or escaping by reason of wind shall have such load covered or dampened so as to prevent the blowing or escaping of said load from the vehicle.

Fines for such an offense range from $35 to $200, plus court costs. As always, when traveling with loose debris make certain it is appropriately secured. If you see a vehicle that is in violation of the ordinance, please call 321-1600 to report the incident.

Winter Weather Preparedness Tips

2004-11-30T15:22:00.000-06:00

Even though some portions of the state have already experienced their first winter precipitation this season, it's not too late for all of Oklahoma to become winter weather prepared. Toward that effort, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) has joined the National Weather Service (NWS) in recognizing Wednesday, Dec. 1 as Winter Weather Awareness Day.
With winter weather comes the need to prepare your home, automobile and family to deal with the colder temperatures, as well as the possibility for snow and ice.
"It's especially timely to review winter weather travel safety plans since more people will be on the road during the holiday period," explained OEM Director Albert Ashwood. "Before setting out on a holiday trip we encourage families to make sure they have prepared their automobile. Packing blankets, emergency food and water, flashlights, a radio and cell phone with extra batteries will help you and your family, should you become stranded because of the weather," he said.
It's also important to remember to protect your home. Adding weather stripping and insulation, keeping furnaces clean and ready to use, and being aware of cold temperatures and vulnerable pipes that might freeze mark just some of the actions that can help prevent major and costly winter weather-related damage.
In recent years Oklahoma has experienced some devastating ice storms. The storms were responsible for nearly 40 deaths, power outages for hundreds of thousands and more than $250 million in damages to cities and towns. "By following some simple tips and monitoring the media during times of severe weather, Oklahomans stand their best chance at not becoming a victim of the weather" said Rick Smith, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS Office at Norman.
Winter weather watches and warnings will be issued by the NWS on NOAA Weather Radios and over radio and television stations so that Oklahoman's can stay aware of any hazardous winter weather conditions that may arise.
In addition, OEM is teaming up with local emergency management offices across the state in order to encourage winter weather preparedness activities in all Oklahoma communities. Individuals or groups who would like to host a program to help become better prepared for the next storm should call their local emergency management office.
Below are some winter weather preparedness tips. Citizens who would like more information on how to cope with winter weather should contact local emergency management offices in their area or visit www.srh.noaa.gov/oun on the Internet for more tips, safety guidelines and winter weather definitions.

Be Aware
· Know what winter storm and blizzard watches and warnings mean.
· A National Weather Service Winter Storm watch is a message indicating that conditions are favorable for hazardous winter precipitation to develop.
· An NWS warning indicates that a winter storm is occurring or is imminent, and could threaten life and property.
· A blizzard warning means sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 mph or greater and considerable falling or blowing snow are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.
· Depend on your NOAA Weather Radio, along with local radio and television stations for weather reports.

Plan for a Winter Storm
· Develop a Family Disaster Plan for winter storms. Discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are not together when a winter storm hits.
· Understand the hazards of wind chill. Cold temperatures are even more dangerous, and potentially deadly, when combined with strong winds. The lower the temperature and stronger the wind, the more at risk you are.
· Check on family, friends and neighbors -- especially the elderly. Make sure they are prepared.
· Don't forget about the pets. Make sure they have good food and water supplies and a place to seek shelter.
· Have your car winterized before winter storm season. During winter storm season keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
Protect Your Property
· Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary insulate walls and attic. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills.
· Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.
· To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of old newspapers. Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
· Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
· Know how to shut off water valves.
· Install and check smoke alarms.
· Keep safe emergency-heating equipment, such as a fireplace with wood. Always be cautious in using a portable space heater. Consider storing extra heating fuel.

If You Must Go Out During a Winter Storm:
· The best way to stay safe in a snowstorm is not to be out in it. Long periods of exposure to severe cold can result in frostbite or hypothermia. It is easy to become disoriented in blowing snow.
· Stretch before you do so. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. This will reduce your chances of muscle injury.
· Avoid overexertion, such as shovelling heavy snow, pushing a car or walking in deep snow.
· Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks. Slips and falls occur frequently in winter weather.
· Dress in many layers and wear a hat and mittens.
· Come inside often for warm-up breaks.
· If you start to shiver or get very tired, or if your nose, fingers, toes, or ear lobes start to feel numb or turn very pale, come inside right away and seek medical assistance. These are the signs of hypothermia and frostbite and need immediate attention.
· Let someone know your destination, your route and when you expect to arrive.
· If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle and hang a brightly coloured cloth (preferably red) on the radio antenna and raise the hood (after snow stops falling).

Make sure your Winter Storm Disaster Supplies Kit includes:
· A cell phone with extra battery or two-way radio
· Windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal
· Several blankets or sleeping bags
· Rain gear and extra sets of dry clothing, mittens, socks and a cap
· Non-perishable snacks like canned fruit, nuts and other high energy "munchies." Include non-electric can opener if necessary.
· Several bottles of water. Eating snow will lower your body temperature. If necessary, melt it first.
· A small sack of sand or kitty litter for generating traction under wheels, a set of tire chains or traction mats.
· Jumper cables
· A first aid kit
· A flashlight with extra batteries
· A brightly colored cloth to tie to the antenna if you get stranded.

WinterFest 2004

2004-11-30T08:20:00.000-06:00

The City of Norman Parks and Recreation is proud to present the 2004 WinterFest Holiday Celebration. This year’s celebration is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM on Friday, December 3rd at Andrews Park.

Attendees can look forward to some great live entertainment from the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Jefferson and Jackson Elementary School Choirs, and the Dazzler Drill Team. The annual tree lighting will be at 6:00 PM with a few holiday remarks from Mayor Harold Haralson. There will also be free photos with Santa for the first 200 families, free refreshments, a moon bounce, Funny Factory Clowns, and balloons.

For more information, please contact the Norman Parks and Recreation Department at 366-5472.

HOLIDAY SAFETY

2004-11-29T10:24:00.000-06:00

As the end of the year holidays approach people become busier, excited and at times a little bit careless. The Norman Police Department wants to remind everybody of a few crime prevention/safety tips to make your holidays safer and merrier. We have listed the tips below in various categories.

At Home
Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave your home, even for a few minutes.
Try not to display holiday gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway.
If you go out for the evening, consider leaving a light and radio or television on, so your home appears to be occupied.
Be wary of strangers soliciting for charitable donations. They may attempt to take advantage of people’s generosity during the holidays.
Avoid leaving boxes that gifts were in out on the curb for trash pickup (especially TV, computer, VCR, etc.).
Test your smoke detectors.
Never leave holiday lights on overnight or when you are going to be away from home.
Use only fire resistant ornaments and lights that are in good working order.
Be careful about leaving any pieces of gift wrapping, bows, and other small items lying around, these things can choke small child.
Never leave candles burning overnight or while you are going to be away from home.

Shopping
Always lock your car with the windows closed and take the keys with you.
Lock your packages and gifts in the trunk of your car where they can not been seen.
If possible, coordinate your shopping trips with a friend, so you will not be shopping alone.
Try to do your shopping before dark if possible, but if not, never park in an unlit lot or area, no matter how convenient.
To discourage purse-snatchers don’t overburden your self with packages.
Report any suspicious activity you notice to the police or store security.
When driving to and from shopping, drive careful and wear your seatbelts.
Watch for traffic while walking to and from stores.
Never leave your purse in a shopping cart and walk away.

*The Norman Police Department will have bike officers at major shopping areas and patrol officers will be providing as much visibility as possible.

Holiday Parties
Have non-alcoholic drinks available for party guests that may be designated drivers.
It is a great idea to have alternative transportation for intoxicated persons. Don’t let guests drink and drive!
Make arrangements ahead of time for any additional parking you may need or have the party at a location that has plenty of parking.
It is also a good idea to contact your neighbors if you are having the party at your home, to make sure they have no objections.
Be very careful with lit candles that may be knocked over by party guests.

Remember while driving, especially during the holiday season, to drive at a speed that is appropriate for the conditions and always wear your seatbelt. The Norman Police Department wishes everyone a very happy holiday season!

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

2004-11-24T08:57:00.000-06:00

Joint Ward Meeting

2004-11-24T08:56:00.000-06:00

Councilmembers Rachel Butler and David Hopper are pleased to announce their upcoming neighborhood meeting. The meeting will be Thursday, December 2, 2004, at 6:30 PM in the gym at Washington Elementary School (SE 48th, just south of Alameda).

The main topic of discussion will be the discharge of firearms in rural residential areas. Many people in east Norman have expressed concerns related to shooting near their homes. This will be an opportunity to discuss all the issues.

Also on hand will be City Manager Brad Gambill, Police Chief Phil Cotten, Manager of Current Planning Doug Koscinski, and a representative from the city’s legal staff.

Although residents of Wards 5 and 6 are specifically encouraged to attend, all citizens of Norman are invited and welcome to participate in the discussion.

Street Closure

2004-11-23T15:02:00.000-06:00

Weather permitting, Friday, November 26, 2004, Robinson Street will be closed west of the intersection of 48th Avenue NW. The closure will last for approximately three months. Haskell Lemon Construction will be performing paving operations in association with the Robinson Street Gap Paving project, which extends from 48th Avenue NW to Brookhaven Boulevard.

The detour route will be 60th Avenue NW (Western Avenue), Tecumseh Road and 48th Avenue NW.

Drivers who wish to avoid the construction on Robinson Street are encouraged to use alternate routes into the City, such as Tecumseh Road.

Thanksgiving Schedule

2004-11-22T15:12:00.000-06:00

Due to the holiday, all sanitation operations will be closed Thursday, November 25, 2004, Thanksgiving Day. Residential customers, whose sanitation service is on Thursday, November 25, 2004, will be picked up on Friday, November 26, 2004 and Friday customers will receive service on Saturday, November 27, 2004. Those once a week commercial customers that receive Thursday collection will be picked up another day of the week.

City offices will be closed Thursday, November 25, 2004 and Friday, November 26, 2004 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.