Author Archives: Admin

ATF begins investigation: 800,000 chickens dead

staff report

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Office issued the following news release:  

The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with ATF special agents from Lubbock Field Office, Dallas Field Division, have entered the investigation of a large fire that occurred July 9 at the Cal-Maine Foods egg production plant in Farwell, located in far West Texas.  "The fire occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m., and it is estimated that 800,000 chickens were killed.  The NRT arrives at the scene today. The fire destroyed four of the nine laying houses at the site, as well as killing some hens at a fifth house. Damages are estimated at $20 million," said Ken Chisholm, assistant special agent in charge of ATF Dallas Field Division.

ATF is working with the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Parmer County Sheriff’s Office in the joint investigation.   The NRT is being brought into the fire investigation because of the difficulties presented when investigating a fire of this size.    

Five separate buildings, each approximately 24,000 square feet, were destroyed; and four fire fighters were injured from heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation during suppression efforts.  

In 1978, ATF developed the NRT to bring its expertise to federal, state and local investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant arson and explosives incidents. The NRT consists of four teams organized geographically to cover the United States. Each team can respond within 24 hours to assist state and local law enforcement/fire service personnel in onsite investigations.    In addition to investigating hundreds of large fire scenes, the NRT has also been activated to scenes such as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City federal building bombing and the Sept. 11, 2001, Pentagon crash site, as well as blasts at explosives and ammunition manufacturing plants, legal fireworks factories and illegal explosive device manufacturing operations.   

The teams are each composed of veteran special agents who have post-blast and fire origin-and-cause expertise; forensic chemists; explosives enforcement officers; fire protection engineers; accelerant detection canines; explosives detection canines; intelligence support, computer forensic support and audit support. The teams work alongside state and local officers in reconstructing the scene, identifying the seat of the blast or origin of the fire, conducting interviews, and sifting through debris to obtain evidence related to the bombing/arson.   Further complementing the teams’ efforts are technical, legal and intelligence advisers. Moreover, a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States is available to provide logistical support.   This investigation will be the 20th activation for fiscal year 2009 and the 678th activation since the inception of the program.  

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. More information on ATF can be found at http://www.atf.gov/

Oklahoma City bank robber arrested in Arkansas

FBI Oklahoma Field Office

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Investigation Oklahoma City Field Office issued the following news release:

James E. Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Oklahoma, and Rex Eskridge, Chief, Muskogee Police Department, announced the arrest of Roger Reed, Jr, 23, of Muskogee, related to the recent robbery of a Bank of Oklahoma branch in Muskogee.

At approximately 9 a.m. today, Reed was taken into custody in Alexander, Arkansas, near Little Rock.  Reed was arrested without incident by Officers of the Alexander Police Department.  The Bank of Oklahoma branch bank, located at 300 N. 32nd Street, Muskogee, was robbed at approximately 12:20 p.m. last Friday, July 10, when a black male approached a teller and demanded money.

No one was injured during the robbery.

Both the FBI and Muskogee Police Department received numerous tips from the public which assisted in identifying and locating Reed.

"The public and media play a huge role in assisting law enforcement in these types of cases," said Finch. "When we have good descriptions or photographs of a subject, and we get good media coverage, we usually get good results.  That was the case in this situation."

Reed faces Federal Bank Robbery charges in Muskogee. He is being held in the Saline County Jail, Benton, Arkansas.

Last Updated ( Friday, 17 July 2009 )

Oklahoma receives 31 million to boost economy, create jobs, and protect public health

EPA Staff Report

Wednesday, 15 July 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 office issued the following news release:

In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for the people in the State of Oklahoma, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded over $31 million to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.

"Investing in the economy and the environment is a win-win," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. "These funds will not only help our economic recovery, but they will help provide safe, clean drinking water for communities throughout Oklahoma."

The Recovery Act funds will go to the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements.

The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.

An unprecedented $2 billion dollars will be awarded to fund drinking water infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants.

At least 20% of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.

Since the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program began in 1997, EPA has awarded more than $8 billion in grants, which states have turned into $15 billion of financial assistance to fund drinking water projects.

The revolving nature of the program ensures drinking water projects will be funded for generations to come.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability.

To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 16 July 2009 )

A military welcome home

City Hall Staff Report

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

Join Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, the Blue Star Mothers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, the National Association for Black Veterans, Marine Corp League, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart for "Welcome Home Day!"

"Welcome Home Day" is a celebration to honor all veterans, service members and the families that support them! This event will take place on Saturday, July 18, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Centennial Park, 1028 E. 6th Street.

This event is FREE to the public and includes:

A live band

Blue Bell ice cream

Refreshments provided by Quick Trip

Military vehicles

Jupiter Jumps for the Kids

Climbing Wall provided by the National Guard

World War II Re-enactment

Tulsa Fire Department Fire Trucks

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials to answer any questions concerning VA benefits and healthcare

And much more.

Please join Mayor Taylor and celebrate all of our country’s heroes! For more information, please visit www.tulsaveterans.com.

Last Updated ( Friday, 17 July 2009 )

Starlight offers free concert Tuesday

Staff Report

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

HEEEEEEEEEEERE’S STARLIGHT BIG BAND!

It’s a familiar scene in many American living rooms—cue the lights, cue the band, as the multi-colored curtain opens and out steps the late night host for his monologue.

This scene was repeated over and over for 30 years as NBC televised The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. It started back in 1954 as Tonight! with Steve Allen as the host.  Then in 1957, Jack Paar took over The Jack Paar Tonight Show.  Carson took the reins in 1962 and remained at the helm until 1992.

Jay Leno hosted from that time until this year, when he stepped down to make way for
Conan O’Brien.

During all these transitions, music was, and continues to be, an integral part of the show.

The Tonight Show Band’s members came from such highly-acclaimed bands as Count
Basie and Duke Ellington.

They opted for recognizable tunes but hired the best arrangers in modern big band jazz to give them a unique take on each selection. Some of those arrangements even won Grammy awards.

Carson himself was a fan of big band music and he carved out time for the band to play full tunes, something that rarely happens on today’s late night shows.

The arrangements the Tonight Show Band made famous finally became available in 2008
and it sparked the idea for Starlight’s Big Band to play a tribute concert.

“It’s exciting to play music that is central to jazz, and is as well-known and well-loved as these selections,” said Scott Senter, Starlight’s Jazz Director.

Starlight’s Big Band will pay tribute to the Tonight Show Band in a free concert on Tuesday, July 21 at 8pm.

The concert will take place at the River West Festival Park, 2100 South Jackson.

“From Steve Allen through Johnny Carson, you will hear the big band sounds of Doc
Severinsen, Tommy Newsom and many more.

Local legendary vocalist Pam Van Dyke will be singing, and an exciting new Tulsa pianist, Jeff Newsome, with his band ‘Green Group’ will provide the intermission entertainment,” said Senter.

Some of the evening’s tunes will include The Tonight Show Theme, Saint Louis Blues, Bugle Call Rag and The Tonight Show arrangement of In the Mood.

The evening is dedicated to all the individual donors who gave to Starlight in 2009 and who help to keep the concerts free and open to the public.

Starlight will be hosting its annual silent auction, which also helps raise funds to produce the concerts. Those wishing to bid on prizes should bring cash or a checkbook.

Guarantor sponsors for the 2009 season include the Oklahoma Arts Council and the Treeman Family Foundation, in honor of Jeff Treeman.

Other major sponsors include: Cedar Creek, Circle Cinema, Creative State, Liberty Press, Local 94: American Federation of Musicians, the Music Performance Trust Fund, Public Radio Tulsa: KWGS/KWTU, Saied Music Company and The Jimmie & Helen Saied Foundation, Tulsa River Parks Authority, Universal Combustion Corporation, Waters Charitable Foundation and The Charles & Marion Weber Foundation in memory of Dr. Charles E. and Marion L. Weber.

For more information about Starlight Concerts, go online to www.starlightbands.net or call 798-STAR (7827).

Mark Your Calendars. Starlight’s Free concert “Tribute to the Tonight Show Band” will be held Tues., July 21st at 8pm.  The concert will take place at the River West Festival Park, 2100 South Jackson.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 July 2009 )