Monday, 25 February 2008
South 33rd W. Ave is now officially Darla Hall Blvd, renamed to honor the former-City Councilor who passed away last Thursday.  A crowd of over thirty people gathered Saturday February 23 to commemorate public activist Darla Hall, including Deputy Mayer Tom Baker, who filled in for the mayor.  Baker and Randi Miller both spoke, and Miller was overcome with emotion through most of her remarks.

Hall was the first councilor elected to represent District 2 as the City of Tulsa changed from the council to the strong-mayor form of government in 1989.  She was proud to be a voice for the people.

Current City Councilman Rick Westcott recounted some of what made Hall so well-loved.  Westcott currently represents District 2, but had even once supported a previous candidate running against Hall.  None of this prevented them from developing a relationship that made Westcott’s remarks poignant and moving.

Hall was a charismatic personality, and Westcott shared an anecdote that seemed to capture Hall’s perseverance when he joked that Darla had once convinced God to embark on a new public works program.

“Darla would take a stand regardless of party or business interests,” stated David Arnett, Tulsa Today publisher.  “She fought for the West Side and for all of Tulsa from the ground up.”  Arnett and Hall worked together on several campaigns over more than twenty years.  “I remember her leadership of the Westside Chamber of Commerce was consistent, reasonable, and to the benefit of all the people of her city.”

Crowd gathers for dedication
Hall’s commitment was to her district and to the City Council.  Westcott and others sited her devotion before, during, and after her time on the City Council as evidence of Hall’s dedication to public service.

Darla Hall Blvd now stands as a permanent reminder and testimony to the life and times of a beloved public servant.

About the Author:
Joshua Lease has made a living writing and editing for periodicals and publishers for seven years.  He brings his experience with the written word to the city/county editorial position with an eye for detail and a commitment to relating the facts.
Last Updated ( Friday, 07 March 2008 )

Sunday, 24 February 2008
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Friday a program to provide testing for formaldehyde in travel trailers and mobile homes at occupants’ request in federally declared disasters nationwide with open direct housing operations. This includes not only units in the Gulf Coast, but also New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Minnesota and California.

The contract for conducting the testing was awarded by FEMA to Bureau Veritas.  Bureau Veritas is the same company that recently tested 519 units in Louisiana and Mississippi under the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  CDC’s preliminary analysis of those tests found a higher than typical indoor exposure levels of formaldehyde and FEMA announced it would expedite ongoing efforts to relocate residents to apartments or other alternative housing and to remove any barriers preventing households from relocation.  FEMA will provide results of these tests to the occupants so that they can make informed decisions about relocating. Testing could begin as early as next week.

Occupants of FEMA-provided manufactured housing may contact the agency’s Formaldehyde Call Center at 1-866-562-2381 to discuss their testing options or request that their units be tested.  Health-related concerns may be addressed to CDC experts at 1-800-CDC-INFO.

Approximately 200 units will be tested per week.  Testing will begin in the units of Gulf Coast occupants who already have requested their units be tested.  Bureau Veritas will contact each of these occupants to schedule an appointment to conduct a test of formaldehyde levels, as it will with those who request testing in the future.

Since FEMA and CDC announced the preliminary analysis of earlier testing on Feb. 14, 2008, FEMA’s formaldehyde hotline has received 1,922 calls from occupants along the Gulf Coast.  Of these callers, 334 have requested that their units be tested.  All households have been offered an immediate move to a hotel or motel and, to date, 285 have accepted this option; 82 have moved into alternative long-term housing; and 133 have refused all options. The remaining households have been offered a variety of alternatives and are considering their options.
Last Updated ( Sunday, 24 February 2008 )

Thursday, 21 February 2008
The BOK Center announced today, country music star Kenny Chesney and LeAnn Rimes in their “Poets & Pirates Tour” will add to the opening of Tulsa’s fabulous new entertainment showcase September 10th, 2008.

Kenny Chesney is country music’s biggest drawing card selling over 1 million tickets per year for the last 6 years.  Chesney is the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year for 3 years running, and current Country of Music Association Entertainer of The Year.  To order tickets click here or call toll free (877) TULSA-CC.

LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes won her first talent contest at age five and at age seven she had recorded her first album.  Rimes has won two Grammy Awards, including the first Best New Artist accolade ever won by a country artist. She has sold more than 37 million records, won three Academy of Country Music honors and 12 Billboard Awards.

The entire 2008 tour will only play a total of 13 arena shows, with Tulsa being one of the chosen few.

Chesney is the second major music star announced to perform at the BOK Center.  Celine Dion was the first concert announced at the BOK Center and is scheduled for this November.  Her Tulsa performance is the only stop in Oklahoma for her “Taking Chances” tour.

Celine Dion
Dion started her world tour this year at a Valentine’s Day performance in Johannesburg, South Africa after a long running regular engagement in Las Vegas.  Dion’s show, "A New Day” played at Casars Palace and grossed more than $400 million and was seen by nearly 3 million fans. Dion said one fan had seen her Las Vegas show more than 100 times. Tickets for the final show sold on EBay for as much as $1,899.

Just before closing at Casars Palace, Dion released "Taking Chances" her first English-language album in four years, and she sang the title song on the album during the extra-long finale. The album was most recently the 12th best-selling in the U.S., according to Billboard magazine.

Many Tulsans are still rooting for Eric Clapton and JJ Cale to open the BOK Center, and that dream concert could still happen.  Clapton has a long history of affiliations with Tulsa native sons such as famous rock baseman Carl Radle.  Cale is a native Tulsan and best exemplifies what many professional musicians call the “Tulsa Sound” and by most accounts began that style.

Clapton and Cale’s most recent collaboration is the “Road to Escondido” which received a Grammy this month winning, “Best Contemporary Blues Album (vocal or instrumental).  

Clapton toured to promote the album and insiders tell Tulsa Today he wanted Cale to tour with him.  Cale refused saying, “Hell I gave him nine songs, what more does he want.”

Local gadflies still berating the success of Vision 2025 have hung their marginal credibility on questioning the BOK Center.  They have made so many statements now proven factually incorrect that we can not list them all here, but for the record, the arena is on time and on budget.

Significant private donations and sponsorships have added funds to enhance the facility which some claim is the best designed arena in America.  The Oklahoma Ford Dealers announced a 15-year Founders Partnership, which includes a 15-year commitment for two Founder’s Suites at Tulsa’s BOK Center, and other support totaling $4.875 million.

The announcement follows one earlier of $4.84 million in sponsorships and naming rights, and brings the total private investment at the center to $36 million.  Funds will help provide additional enhancements for the BOK Center. Ford will be the official vehicle of the BOK Center.  The Oklahoma Ford Dealers presented the facility with three Ford vehicles for use by its management team.

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor made the first BOK Center Founders announcement last August, which included Founding Sponsorships from ONEOK, the Williams Companies and Dollar-Thrifty Automotive Group – representing approximately $15.95 million in partnerships.  The Cherokee Nation Enterprises and Cox Communications signed on in mid-November.

The BOK Center is certainly architecturally striking and is promised to be functionally fabulous.  It has changed the skyline and on almost any sunny day, people can be seen photographing the building as it grows.

Voters approved the Vision 2025 sales tax in September 2003 that has allowed the BOK Center to be constructed in Tulsa.  Along with the public funds from Vision 2025, these private partnerships at the BOK Center are significantly enhancing public features and increasing Tulsa’s ability to attract excellent events.

Tulsa Today offices are one city block from the BOK Center and our staff often chats with construction workers on site.  The site is now open twenty hours per day working two shifts and the total number of workers is soon expected to swell to 600 within weeks.

Many construction workers have asked their companies to transfer them to the site from other projects.  It is a point of personal pride knowing that they will be able to tell their children and grandchildren they built this new Tulsa icon.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 March 2008 )

Wednesday, 20 February 2008
The University of Tulsa women’s tennis player, freshman Alexandra Kichoutkin won her second C-USA Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honor in two weeks after beginning the season unbeaten, 10-0, in singles play.  She won her first weekly honor for the week of February 15.

Kichoutkin has yet to lose a singles match in dual play with a record of 10-0.  Kichoutkin has played at positions one through three this season, 3-0 at No. 1, 2-0 at No. 2 and 5-0 at No. 3.  Kichoutkin has won three matches without dropping a game and has only dropped one set throughout the young spring season.  

Last weekend the freshman defeated Sam Houston State’s Irinia Sotnikova, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6) and Viviana Yrureta of Kansas State,  3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4), both at No. 1 position. Kichoutkin is also 8-1 doubles competition with partner Jie Zeng, including two wins last weekend.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 February 2008 )

Friday, 15 February 2008
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) Thursday offered three amendments to the Indian Health Bill, S. 1200.  The Senate unanimously accepted Coburn amendment #4032 that will give tribe members who have been the victims of rape or sexual assault the right to have the assailant tested for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The Senate defeated two other Coburn amendments. Amendment #4034 that would have given tribal members greater health care choices was defeated by a vote of 28 to 67.  Amendment #4036 that would have prioritized basic medical services over program expansions was defeated by a vote of 21 to 73.

“I’m pleased my colleagues took the common sense step today to give tribal members who may have been victims of rape or sexual assault the right to know if they have been exposed to HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases,” Dr. Coburn said.

“However, I’m disappointed my colleagues did not take the opportunity to address structural problems related to Indian Health Services that are causing tribal members to receive substandard health care.  Congress has a moral, and treaty, obligation to provide tribal members with quality health care.

"The amendments the Senate rejected today would have given tribal members the same health care choices members of Congress enjoy, while ensuring that essential services are funded ahead of non-essential program expansions.  Tribal members should not have to wait months to see a doctor.  The current system turns away those who are most in need, punishes innovation and rewards bureaucracies for non-performance.  I will continue to work with my colleagues who share my belief that the status quo at Indian Health Services is intolerable,” Dr. Coburn said.
Last Updated ( Friday, 15 February 2008 )