Local/Area News

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Henryetta elementary students learned about a variety of careers Thursday. Booths showcasing everything from the medical field to finances, wildlife to fire departments were on hand with representatives from each telling what the youngsters can expect when they look at choosing a career once they leave school.

A bill that would ensure a quick and coordinated law enforcement response when a child is abducted got unanimous support in the Oklahoma Senate.
Senate Bill 1407 from Sen. Roger Thompson authorizes the creation of child abduction response teams that would rapidly engage all levels of law enforcement when a child age 15 or younger has been abducted. Under the bill, law enforcement would be required to contact the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center within four hours of receiving a verified report of a child abduction.
Although some child abduction response teams have been operating in an unofficial capacity in Oklahoma, SB 1407 would appropriate $300,000 so the state could hire someone to coordinate the teams and develop rapid-response strategies in conjunction with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Department of Human Services, local sheriffs, district attorneys, police, tribal law enforcement and other law enforcement entities.
Thompson said he came up with the idea after last year’s highly publicized search for 4-year-old Athena Brownfield, of Cyril. The weeklong search for the missing girl ended in tragedy when law enforcement officials discovered Brownfield’s remains. Thompson officiated Brownfield’s funeral.
“This bill aims to give law enforcement all the tools they need to find a missing child as soon as possible,” Thompson said. “A quick law enforcement response when a child is abducted can mean the difference between life and death.”
“SB 1407 does not make any changes to local jurisdiction, it simply deploys resources and encourages law enforcement entities to work in tandem when a child is abducted,” Thompson said.
Thompson said SB 1407, which would also authorize law enforcement agencies to utilize automated license plate readers in their search, is based on child abduction teams formed in Georgia. He said he’s discussed the bill with members of the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police in the hopes of coming to a consensus.
After passing the bill on the Senate floor, Thompson recognized child abduction survivors Corri and Jessica Patterson, who are both graduates of OSU-OKC. Georgia’s child abduction response methods led law enforcement to find Jessica Patterson within two hours of her disappearance. Her sister-in-law Corri was not so lucky. Corri Patterson is a human trafficking survivor who was abducted at age 13.
Thompson’s bill is now eligible to be heard in the House where it is co-authored by Rep. John George, R-Oklahoma City.

storm drain

A storm drain that lasted for nearly eight decades finally collapsed this past week. The drain located at the intersection of 12th and Broadway was made up of clay bricks covered with concrete. It was laid down sometime in the 1920s or 1930s but no records are available giving the exact date. City crews were busy replacing the break with a new poly pipe and repairs are expected to be made by the end of this week.

 When the new school year starts in August, a new superintendent will be greeting the students. Jason Price will start his new job July 1 following the retirement of current superintendent Dwayne Noble. Price was the guest speaker at the Henryetta Rotary Club meeting Tuesday and told about his career up to now as well as plans for the future with the Henryetta school system.

Even though there are still several weeks left in this school year, board members are getting the calendar in place for the start of classes next August. That calendar calls for classes to be held four days a week instead of five when the second semester starts in January 2025.
Henryetta board members said there has not been any input from the community on the plan. After the meeting, board member Wes George pointed out that this year the school will be in session four days a week after spring break until the end of school.
A concern was raised over the working parents as well as feeding students on the day they are not in class. Administrators pointed out the school provided meals to the students when COVID forced the classroom shutdown.
Board member David Molet said that would be a problem for working parents who would have to find child care on Fridays.
"I think we will get a lot of push back from parents," board member Pam Bealko said.
The second semester four day plan will be revisited again by board members.
In other business, the board heard band director Alan Montgomery talk about the third invitation to the National Memorial Day parade in 2025.
He said the trip is estimated to cost around $70,000 and requested some, "latitude for fundraisers," saying there may be some opportunities that needed to be held before submitting it to the board.
"This is the trip of a lifetime for a lot of kids," Bealko said.
The board hired Nabholz as construciton manager and BWA Architects to handle the repairs from storm damage that hit the school last September.
Superintendent Dwayne Noble said Nabholz has done some work for the school in the past and, in the event of problems, the school would be able to contact them quickly. BWA architects worked with the school when repairs had to be made form flooding at the gymnasium.
The school board accepted resignations from Patricia Dodson, Mike Hargrove and Morgan Lee. Hargrave resigned from his position of in-school suspension teacher. He will continue to drive a bus. Lee was a third grade teacher. Both of their resignations were effective at the end of the school year.