Oklahoma News Report

Flames shot out windows and the roof of Twin Hills School’s oldest building. The century old district has educated generation of students in rural Okmulgee County. It currently serves over 300 pre-k through 8th grade students. It had been set to celebrate its centennial next month, but today’s fire may necessitate pushing that back until at least June.

Flames broke out just after seven this morning and soon engulfed the entire building housing the school’s office and pre-k through second grade classrooms. The building dates back to the late 1930’s. Fortunately no one was in the building when the blaze broke out because the district’s staff and students had the day off. As soon as the fire burns itself out the State Fire Marshal Office can begin it’s investigation to determine the cause of the fire and establish a dollar amount for the loss.

Okmulgee Fire Chief, Rick Martin says more than a half dozen fire departments responded the fire. Despite that, three things hampered efforts to combat the flames. When the fire call first went out most of the volunteer fire fighters in the area were already at their day jobs. The building’s tar and metal roof helped spread the flames inside the building’s attic. And, the fire hydrant across from the school failed shortly after fire fighters began using it.

To get enough water to the building to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings on campus fire fighters had to set up temporary tanks to supply their water hoses.

The building that caught fire is a total loss. That had second grader, Austin Daniels, speculating the school would be closed for a long time. Superintendent, Bob Pinkston, tells us classes could resume as early as next week. He says temporary classes can be set up in the school’s gym and library. And adds, other schools in the area are offering Twin Hills the use of furniture and textbooks so it can keep its doors open. And he says, the school is insured so it can rebuild.

The historical significance of a depression-era bridge over the Verdigris River is complicating efforts to replace the structurally deficient span.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is still moving forward with plans to remove the bridge in 2012.

The 1936 steel truss bridge is part of historic Route 66, the Mother Road.
And is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
The structure is part of the twin bridges with its eastbound sister span being 20 years younger.

Deputy State Historic Preservation officer, Melvena Heisch says it’s not just about preserving this one bridge but it’s about Route 66 as a whole. Heisch says if we keep chipping away one piece at a time we’ll eventually take down the whole road.

ODOT is working with the State Historical Society and looking at alternatives for preserving some of the bridge. They are also taking input from the public.

Tulsa’s Webster High School cut the ribbon on its new broadcasting facility.

The studio and control room are key components in the school’s magnet program for Broadcasting and Digital Media.

The equipment allows students to learn studio production techniques in a hands-on environment.

It’s journalism curriculum integrates broadcast, print, and web-based media to give students the broadest range of practical skills.

In addition, Webster’s magnet program has courses in marketing, IT applications, and digital graphic production.

These pictures can’t tell the whole story of how fun it was to be at the Soul Food Festival 09 at the Grace Living Center in Northeast Oklahoma City.

Grace Living Center does the event every year and invites the community to eat with their residents in honor of Black History Month.

If you’ve never had Soul Food, you’ve never lived.

And it’s not just about the food. It really is about getting together, visiting and having a good time.

Please enjoy the pictures from this year’s Soul Food Festival.

With preparations for the digital switchover this year, new television sales skyrocketed.
And that’s left many people wondering what to do with the old tv’s.
Natural Evolution is an electronics recycling company in Tulsa.

They see about 7 to 10 tons of televisions a month but January was their busiest month ever.

I talked to Michael Patton with Metropolitan Environmental Trust or M.E.T and he tells me he’s working with city officials for solutions to this new challenge of an increased number of televisions that need to be disposed of properly.

“We’ll find a better solution soon. We’ll find a way to get some help we’re begging for money we’re asking elected officials to help fund the program where we can have a bigger collection maybe do a little volume savings and then do business with companies like this,” says Patton.

Patton says until they find a solution, they are encouraging folks to either take e-waste to recycling centers like Natural Evolution or hold on to it until they (M.E.T) can fund community events to properly dispose of the old sets.