City of Edmond News Releases

Road Construction on Coffee Creek Begins Monday

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:14:07 -0700

Coltrane to Sooner set to close for 60 to 90 days

Road construction on Coffee Creek, from Coltrane to Sooner is set to begin Monday, August 30.

The road will be closed approximately 60 to 90 days dependent upon weather.

There are no formal detours set for this project; local traffic will determine the best alternate routes.

The one-mile road construction is a City of Edmond and Oklahoma County project.

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Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta Returns

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:11:00 -0700

Edmond to Host Second Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta August 28

City of Edmond’s Park and Recreation department will host the 2^nd Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, Saturday, August 28, in Edmond Park at Arcadia Lake, sponsored by Edmond Life & Leisure, Edmond Electric, and Edmond Active.

Check-in for participants begin at 8:00 a.m. and the competition starts at 9:00 a.m. Entries will be taken until 8:30 a.m. the day of the event. Contestants will compete for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places in One-Two person, Team and Corporate categories. Special award categories include the Titanic Award, Pride of the Fleet Award, Team Spirit Award, and Demolition Derby Award. The Award ceremony will begin directly after the race.

All boats must be constructed entirely of cardboard using only one-part substances such as glue and duck tape on the seams. For the full list of rules and regulations please visit edmondok.com/parks/rec.

Entrance to the event is free for participants and spectators. With at least 32 entries, the Parks and Recreation department anticipates at least 300 people to attend this year’s event, some even coming from as far as Missouri and Kansas.

For more information about this year’s event visit edmondok.com/parks/rec or contact Diane Self at 216-7635.

Edmond Park is located at Arcadia Lake approximately 2 miles east of I-35 on 2^nd Street.

The 3^rd Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta will be August 27, 2011.

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Proposed Inter-Local Agreement for a Competitive Swimming Pool Facility

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:22:00 -0700

City Council and Edmond Public Schools Board to meet August 23

For a number of years the City of Edmond and Edmond Public Schools have considered the merits of a partnership to provide for the school district and larger community a competition lap swimming pool. During separate meetings of the Edmond City Council and Edmond Public Schools Board of Education on Monday, August 23, consideration will be given to approval of an inter-local agreement that would define the nature and parameters of the proposed partnership.

Approval of the inter-local agreement will permit the entities to move forward with plans for the possible inclusion of an eight-lane, 50 meter pool and related facilities as part of a larger community recreation facility that is scheduled for construction as part of the City’s Mitch Park Complex. On Monday, August 23, the Edmond Public Schools Board meeting will be held at 6:00p.m. in the Board Meeting Room located at the EPS Administrative Center, 1001 West Danforth Road, and the City Council meeting will be held at 5:30p.m. at the City Council Chambers located at 20. S. Littler in Downtown Edmond.

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Edmond Residents Encouraged to Recycle Unused Electronics

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:52:00 -0700

Free ‘Ecycle’ Event to Take Place August 21 in Oklahoma City

Edmond residents will soon have an opportunity to get rid of old computers and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner and free of charge. Local communities, Waste Management Recycle America and LG Electronics have partnered to offer an eCycling drop-off event.

Edmond residents are encouraged to drop off and recycle any brand of electronic products or computers between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, August 21, at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. (Travel I-44, take the N.W. 10^th Street exit and follow signs to the drop-off site.)

The event is part of the LG Electronics Recycling Program, which is designed to provide consumers with a convenient way to dispose of their used, unwanted, obsolete or damaged consumer electronics products.

The eCycling drop-off location will help make recycling of electronic products easy and convenient. Residents don’t even need to get out of their vehicles. The eCycling crew members will collect all acceptable electronic products from trunks or pickup beds. Products not acceptable for eCycling will be left in the vehicles.

By recycling old electronics products, useful materials such as glass, plastic and metal can be re-used in the manufacture of other products. Recycling electronics minimizes the amount of hazardous waste in the landfills and the extraction of new raw materials from the earth.

“LG Electronics is taking a proactive approach to helping consumers responsibly dispose of end-of-life electronics by joining forces with the City and Waste Management to offer this free collection and recycling program to residents,” said Timothy McGrady, Environmental Manager for LG Electronics USA. “We encourage consumers to take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of unwanted electronics in an environmentally responsible manner. Life’s good when it’s green,” he said.

Acceptable items for eCycling are:

Computers- CPUs
Computer Monitors
Computer peripherals
Printers
Fax Machines
Keyboards
Photocopiers
Televisions
VCRs
Stereos
Home and Office phones
Cell phones
Consumer electronics

Unacceptable items for eCycling are:

Microwaves
Smoke alarms and detectors
Fire alarms and detectors
Thermometers
Dehumidifiers
Large appliances (refrigerators, etc.)
Non-decontaminated medical equipment
An unit with sludge or liquids

About Waste Management

Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. We are also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgree.com.

WM Recycle America is a subsidiary of Waste Management and is the largest residential recycler in North American. WM Recycle America’s business lines include processing many types of consumer-generated recyclables and finding the best markets for the recyclable commodities produced. In its capacity of providing processing and marketing services, WM Recycle America offers a wide variety of recycling options for municipal, manufacturing, commercial and residential customers.

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a global force and technology leader in home appliances, consumer electronics and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells stylish, innovative home appliances, home entertainment (consumer electronics) products, mobile phones and business solutions under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

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Volunteers Sought to Sweep Shoreline

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:34:00 -0700

Arcadia Lake to Host Thirteenth Annual “Lake Sweep” August 7

Arcadia Lake will host its thirteenth annual Lake Sweep on Saturday, August 7. Volunteers are needed to help sweep the lake’s shorelines and parks of unsightly litter and debris to create a more enjoyable environment for lake visitors.

Lake Sweep is a perfect volunteer project for everyone. Volunteers in past years have included boy scouts, girl scouts, church youth groups as well as individuals and families.

Those willing to lend a hand will meet at 9 a.m. at Spring Creek Park, located approximately two and a half miles east of I-35 on 15^th Street. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt (while supplies last), a hot dog lunch, and free access into Arcadia Lake for the remainder of the day. Volunteers should bring sunscreen, insect repellent, and their own gloves. Sturdy shoes and long pants are preferred.

Trash bags and assignments are given at the registration table. The clean-up event will conclude at noon. If necessary August 14, has been set up as a rain out date.

For more information about “Lake Sweep” or other events at Arcadia Lake, contact the park office at 405-216-7471.

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Edmond Bicycle Safety

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:11:00 -0700

Keeping Cyclist and Motorist Safe

Bicycling in Edmond is growing in popularity, and recently we have been reminded of how dangerous the roadways can be when shared by vehicles and bicyclist with the death of two bicyclists in the Oklahoma City area.

Edmond is proactive in promoting bicycle safety, and in 2008 adopted an ordinance modeled after the Oklahoma State Statute adopted in 2006 regarding overtaking and passing bicyclist.

The Municipal ordinance states that a person driving a motor vehicle passing a bicycle travelling in the same direction shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet (3’) until the motor vehicle is safely past the overtaken bicycle.

Violations of this ordinance causing serious injury to a bicyclists would result in a $500 fine.

Edmond also has a Bicycle Committee. The Bicycle Committee is a strong advocate of education for both bicyclists and motorists. In an effort to better provide that education to the public, 5 Edmond residents have become League Cycling Instructor’s (LCI’s) by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB).

If you are interested in learning more about cycling and motoring safety, there are currently two classes offered in Edmond:

Basic Bicycling: Als' Bicycles

2624 S. Broadway Court

3^rd Saturday of each month

9-11am

Class is free, but there is a $10 deposit required to verify attendance

Contact Craig or Henry

405-341-4331

Also offered:

Traffic Skills 101

9 hour class on vehicular cycling

Offered by the Edmond Bicycle Committee

For more information on this class contact Jan Ramseyer Fees at jan.fees@edmondok.com

405-359-4796

Both motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists have to obey the rules of the road and there are some safety tips to always remember for both motorists and bicyclists.

BICYCLISTS SHOULD REMEMBER:

Always wear a helmet
Obey traffic laws
Ride Predictably
Be courteous
Be VISIBLE AT ALL TIMES, with lights, reflectors and bright clothing
Scan for traffic and always signal lane changes and turns
Control your bike by practicing bike handling skills
Ride with a friend

MOTORISTS SHOULD REMEMBER:

Never leave the scene of an accident
Always give bicyclists at least three feet (3’) of room or more when passing
Give bicyclists the same courtesies as a motor vehicle
Avoid distractions while driving such as eating, texting, phone calls and animals in the vehicle
Especially in the hot summer months, watch for bicyclists on the roadways in early morning hours

We all have to share the roadways, and the best way to keep us all safer is to look out for one another. Be alert and courteous at all times, whether driving a motor vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle or jogging.

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National Night Out set for August 3

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:57:00 -0700

Neighborhood's join together to fight against crime

The “27^th Annual National Night Out,” a nationwide crime/drug prevention event has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 3, 2010. The Edmond Police Department is encouraging Edmond residents to take part in the event by organizing block parties and other neighborhood centered activities on this date. Simply contact the City of Edmond to register your event and Edmond Police officers will stop by to visit with residents, let kids check out their police vehicles and provide information on local crime prevention programs.

Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states. In all, over 36 million people participated in National Night Out 2009.

National Night Out is designed to:

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns, and neighborhoods “celebrate” NNO with a variety of events and activities such as:

Block parties
Cookouts
Visits from local police and sheriff departments
Parades, Exhibits
Flashlight walks
Contests
And youth programs

To receive additional information about National Night Out contact the City of Edmond at 359-4531 or check the City’s website at www.edmondok.com. For detailed questions, please call Officer Randy Payne at 359-4437. To register your neighborhood for National Night Out, please email rpayne@edmondok.com

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Fire Department to Host Children’s Safety Challenge

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:15:00 -0700

Safety Program Designed for Children Ages 4 to 7

Edmond Fire Department will host two Children’s Safety Challenge sessions on August 2-3 and August 4-5, with a special event for all participants on August 7 at the new Children’s Safety Village. The program is designed for children between the ages of four and seven years old and will provide safety education that could save a child’s life.

Many children aspire to be a firefighter- a hero saving lives, racing down the street with lights and sirens. At the Children’s Safety Challenge, a child can experience that dream.

Class time will be from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The session will include classroom discussion and hands- on experience. The classes will be held at 5300 E. Covell at the Fire Department Administration Building.

On the third day of the program, the children will participate in a safety course challenge at the new Children’s Safety Village. Child-sized firefighter suits are provided for participants to wear while going through various activities. Participants maneuver through an obstacle course, answering safety questions at each station. Parents are invited to observe their children go through the course.

The enrollment fee $20 includes a T-Shirt and snacks. Class size is limited to 50 participants.

For more information regarding enrollment, please call the Edmond Fire Prevention office at 216-7303.

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Family Circle Magazine Names Edmond Top City for Families

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:49:00 -0700

National recognition attests to Edmond’s strong values

Family Circle recently announced the results of its exclusive survey to identify the best TOWNS AND CITIES across the country FOR FAMILIES with Edmond ranked at the top.

Family Circle partnered with Onboard Informatics, a New York City research firm that provides real estate, demographic and other data, to assemble an initial list of 1,700 cities and towns with populations between 15,000 and 150,000. From that, nearly 800 localities were selected with a high concentration of households with an average income of $75,000. They then assessed which places best met their family-friendly criteria—including affordable homes, quality schools, access to health care, green space, low crime rate and financial stability—and ranked them from top to bottom. Family Circle then selected the ten winners from among the highest-rated towns.

“Edmond has always been and continues to be a great place to live and work so it is exciting to receive this national recognition. Being in the top 10 is an honor, credited to our strong community leadership and quality jobs that attract outstanding residents,” said City of Edmond Mayor Patrice Douglas.

The communities featured in the magazine’s annual roundup of perfect places to call home combine affordable housing, good neighbors, green spaces, strong public school systems and giving spirits. The results of the comprehensive survey appear in Family Circle’s August 2010 issue, on newsstands today.

Greatschools.net, a nonprofit website with a mission to improve education by inspiring parents to get involved, provided Family Circle with the public school ratings used in the town rankings.

About Family Circle

Published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation, with a circulation of 3.8 million and 20 million readers, Family Circle is one of the most widely read monthly magazines in the world. Family Circle provides smart relevant advice, sensible solutions, and inspiration in a voice that encourages and celebrates success in its pages and online at www.familycircle.com. Family Circle has always been committed to women’s issues and in 1973 became the first women’s magazine to fully underwrite a professional women’s sporting event, the Family Circle Cup, an annual women’s tennis tournament held in April in Charleston, S.C., at Family Circle Magazine Stadium.

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Gov. Henry Announces Individual Assistance Denied for Oklahoma County due to Flooding

City of Edmond, Oklahoma — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:19:00 -0700

Note: This message is being forwarded on behalf of Albert Ashwood, Director
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
(405) 521-2481 office
(405) 590-0110 (mobile)

Office of Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma
State Capitol – Oklahoma City OK 73105
405-521-2342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 2, 2010

Gov. Henry Announces Individual Assistance Denied for Oklahoma County due to Flooding

Oklahoma City -- Gov. Brad Henry announced today that the White House has denied his request for disaster assistance for Oklahoma County residents impacted by the June 13, 2010 deadly flooding and severe storms.

An especially difficult storm recovery continues for many Oklahomans because only two percent of the structures damaged by the flooding were insured through the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood damage is not covered by homeowners insurance. The primary reason for the low insurance coverage is most of the homes that sustained damage are located outside an identified flood zone.

Today’s word from the White House means FEMA’s grant programs are not available; however, the State continues to work with Oklahoma City on other means of assistance including the possibility of Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans to those impacted by the June storms.

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