(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Aug. 27, 2010) — So you brought your pet from home to live with you while you are attending college. With the breaks between classes, you may spend more one-on-one time with your pet than you were able to at home.

To help you and your pet enjoy Stillwater, the Animal Welfare Division of Stillwater Police Department would like to share some information new residents may not be aware of.

Stillwater has a leash law for dogs. This requires dogs to be under restraint at all times—on or off their property, by a fence, a chain or a hand-held leash. The leash law is enforced in the parks as well.

Stillwater doesn’t have a city license; however, dogs and cats are required to wear their current rabies tag. The rabies vaccination must have been performed by a licensed veterinarian. An owner must be able to produce the documentation of the rabies vaccination at any time.

There is not a leash law for cats, but owners are responsible for the actions of their cat. A cat found to be a nuisance under city ordinance must be controlled.

Your dog or cat may be intact (not spayed or neutered), but they may not be kept outside or in a fence when in season. Public breeding is prohibited.

Wolf hybrids and dangerous animals are not permitted in the city limits of Stillwater.

To see the rest of the animal related ordinances which are located in chapter six of city code, view them on-line at stillwater.org.

Animal Welfare has pets available for adoption at their animal shelter located at 1710 S. Main. If you have lost your pet, contact the animal welfare shelter immediately. Adoptable pets can be viewed on-line on www.petfinder.com.

Stillwater has a unique relationship with the private organization the Humane Society of Stillwater by providing space for them in the same complex. This mainly volunteer organization also has pets for adoption as well as volunteer opportunities. If you miss your family pet that you left at home, come to the Karen Kay Mullendore Municipal Animal Complex to visit the animals.

For more information about the City of Stillwater Animal Welfare Division, visit stillwater.org/police/aw.php or call (405) 372-0334.

About Stillwater Animal Welfare Division:
Our animal shelter is unique in that there are two shelters located in the same complex. The Karen Kay Mullendore Municipal Animal Complex also houses the private organization, the Humane Society of Stillwater, giving Stillwatercitizens two places to adopt pets in the same location.

Policy and Mission Statement:
It is the policy of the Stillwater Police Department, through the Animal Welfare Division, to provide immediate response to emergencies concerning animals within the city limits to attempt apprehension, in a safe, humane manner, of any dog, cat or other domestic animal or fowl that has become a nuisance, or is a threat or danger to any citizen in Stillwater. Stillwater Animal Welfare officers are also charged with the protection of animals from inhumane treatment in the City of Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The leak, which caused a sheen and pools of oil, was reported to the Stillwater Fire Department after a resident noticed odor and oil deposits near her home late last night. The leak was identified by city staff and local oil company representatives.

To control the leak, a boom was placed downstream and a sand dike with an under-drain system was installed to collect oil and control the issue until clean-up can be completed by crews.

According to Cody Whittenburg, Stormwater Programs Manager, “The source of the leak has been found and stopped to prevent any additional volume of oil from being discharged into the creek. Clean-up and repairs are to follow.”

The owner of the pipeline is Heritage Petroleum, Inc.

City Manager Dan Galloway said all responsible parties are involved in correcting the problem.

Residents who notice poor air quality, oil in streams or odors in the vicinity of S. Duck St. between 12th and 19th should contact the City of Stillwater at (405) 742-8362 or news@stillwater.org.

The annual fireworks show was postponed July 4, due to rain and wind.

For more information, call (405) 742-8362 or visit the City of Stillwater web site at stillwater.org.

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / July 4, 2010) — Due to the extensive rainfall yesterday, crews are unable to park cars safely in the rain-saturated grass lots at Boomer Lake Park. To do so would cause significant long term damage to the grass areas of Boomer Park and potential damage to vehicles. Given this situation, along with the high winds and significant chances of additional rain today, the City of Stillwater has made the difficult decision to postpone the 4th of July fireworks until Labor Day weekend.

Wakeboard competition to continue as weather permits.

“Our young volunteers are an essential part of developing a successful children’s summer program,” said Sue Busch, children’s librarian.  “Not only are the volunteers a big help, but they also help the younger children get excited about coming to the library.”

Volunteers will be paired at the registration desk to assist with registering new reading club members, taking club member’s reading lists, and recording coupons earned by each club member.  Volunteers will also be given special tasks by the children’s librarians like shelving picture books and preparing story time crafts.

“It is a big responsibility,” said Busch.  “Volunteers need to be able to commit to a regular schedule of two hours per week for two months, but it also a lot of fun and full of rewards.”

Young adults who have completed the fifth grade can be pick up an application at the children’s Help Desk or downloaded a copy online.  Applications should be returned to the library as soon as possible so that work schedules can be arranged.

For more information, contact the children’s Help Desk at (405) 372-3633, ext. 108 or email us.

The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Ave.). Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In searching the city website for information on city-wide planning for bicycle routes and lanes, I found the Stillwater Multi-Use Trail and On-Street Bicycle Master Plan – presented in Nov 2007 and again presented for review in Feb 2009.  Beyond that, I found no other mention throughout the Stillwater.org website.

Its a great plan that would ensure Stillwater could offer cyclists safe travel throughout the city.  Aside from the proposed trails and routes, the proposal offers documented citizen responses that speak volumes to what ‘the people’ want.

You can find the plan at http://stillwater.org/content/2007/per/TTF-draft-Oct2007.pdf

Once I read through and found that there were only two mentions of the plan at Stillwater.org, I wrote to the Parks & Recreation department to find the status.  Here is the response from Eve Morgan (City of Stillwater, Park Planner):

The plan was approved as submitted in early 2009.  Currently, the City has received a stimulus grant to implement the on-street bicycle route portion of the plan.  A bicycle signage plan and cost estimate is being finalized with the hopes that it will be implemented this summer.  The multi-use trail plan portion of the master plan will be developed in phases over the coming years as funds become available.  Currently, the City has a transportation enhancement grant to complete the section from Boomer Lake Park to Parkview Estates.  This is the only section of the trail funded at this time.

Great information and I sincerely appreciated such a quick response from Ms. Morgan.

I am very glad to see that there is some direction in place.  The on-street portion of the plan would be a vast improvement over what we see today.  Of course, I question why the only portion of the multi-use trail that is being developed leads from Boomer Lake to Parkview Estates – a small residential community of up to 250 people.  It seems that any of the other listed options would better serve the community, but at least we are getting somewhere.

So for all you cyclists out there, whether spandex-clad racers or cruiser-riding families, there is hope for our city yet.

Powerline
The city’s Electric Utilities Department had 30 employees working through the evening to restore power. All customers within the city, who did not have damage to their service drop were restored by midnight. The customers located outside of the city along McElroy west of the city were restored by approximately 2 a.m.

According to Stillwater Utilities Authority Director Dan Blankenship, “The west end of the tornado damage area within city limits started at Lincoln Street, and it followed a path from west to east along the approximate alignment of Eskridge Avenue. The east end of the damage area stops approximately at N. Star Street, one block west of Perkins Road. The damage area is approximately 2.5 to 3 blocks wide.”

Blankenship said, “There was an eyewitness that reported the tornado on the ground in the area of the OSU cross-country track, which lies between Western Road and the damage area. Eyewitnesses at Will Rogers/Lincoln and Eskridge/Jefferson (approx. half block apart) reported a funnel cloud overhead that was not on the ground when it passed over the area. It appears that the tornado was not on the ground in the damage area as the damage appeared to be primarily to trees. The falling trees and tree branches resulted in damage to some structures and to the power lines.”

The main power problem occurred when a tree limb got into the power line in the 1000 block of N. Main (approximately one block north of McElroy).

Blankenship explained, “The limb caused the breaker for feeder 14 to open, which turned off the power for the entire circuit. The approximate boundaries for the circuit are Lakeview (north), HOF (south), Husband (west) and Manning (east).”

There are approximately 960 customers on the circuit that were out of power from approximately 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. (actual times will be confirmed later today). The total number of customers that were out of power due to problems with the electric distribution system is estimated to be about one thousand.

“There are still some customers who are out of power due to damage to their service drop. Damage to the service drop at the house requires the homeowner to make repairs before their service can be re-energized,” he said.

“The feeder 14 breaker would not close due to mechanical failure at the BLS substation. Had the breaker closed when the limb was cleared, the power would have most likely been restored by 8 p.m. The sub station is currently being upgraded, but the project will be delayed due to the lack of funding in FY11,” Blankenship continued.

Water Main
The second major event was the water transmission main break, which is located along W. 6th Avenue (west of Country Club Road) was reported at approximately 2:30 a.m.

Blankenship explained that crews were at the time repairing a major leak in the water system at a location on Husband Street. The booster pump station located at west 6th and Country Club had to be shut down to depressurize the water line and the water tower at 19th and Range is out of service until the repair can be made.

“The best case scenario is the line will be repaired and back into service sometime later this morning. Most likely scenario is that the line will be repaired and back into service later this afternoon. The southwest portion of the city is impacted by the water main break and some customers are already reporting that they have no water. The water main break is not related in any way to the wind/tornado damage,” Blankenship explained.

This amazing time lapse video was create Michael Biddy. LeBiddy on Twitter. Follow him.

It may sound crazy to outsiders but being so close to such a potentially destructive force of nature is a unique feeling.

I was able to capture a few photos, mostly after the storm. But many others around town have posted their photos. Some are just absolutely stunning. Cred goes to rob3atc, News9, and Spmag on Twitter for posting these great pics.

If there is more that should be added please let me know. You can also add them to the STWOK News Flickr Group.

This year my family has been doing our best to “go green.” Trying to do our part and not be as wasteful we took up recycling. Stillwater does not have recycling pick up. But they do offer local recycling facilities to take your paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass items to. You sort them yourself and put them in the appropriate  bin. Simple basic rules govern this area.

All materials must be sorted and placed inside bins. Mixed bags of material will be taken to the landfill…. Do not leave bags or loose materials on the ground.

However, as you can see in the photos above and below, all of these rules are being broken. Only #1 and #2 plastics are accepted. I don’t think lawn chairs are either. Metal lawn chairs also don’t qualify as tin or aluminum cans. Clearly there are some of us who are taking advantage of this site and using it as a free dump instead of disposing of these items properly. I’m guessing free and open sites like these attract those who do not pay there city trash bill and dump there trash here. Even though it’s illegal. Any law is pointless if it can’t be enforced. I would be curious to know if there has ever been any law enforcement watching for this illegal activity.

But beyond the abuse it seems the company responsible for managing this site, HEW Waste Recycling Inc., doesn’t seem to keep up with the demand by keeping these bins empty for us. The first time I came to the recycling center at the corner of Western Rd. and W 19th Ave. the bins were full but not over flowing. I was able to properly separate my recyclables and put them in their respective bins.

Today the recycling center was a complete dump. The bins were so full people were just putting their recyclables on the ground. The glass bin was not even there, so anyone with glass bottles just stacked them up. Trash had blown all over the area. It was such a shame. I had a car load of stuff to recycle. The only bins that were not overflowing were the aluminum and plastic bins. The cardboards bins were out of control. I decided to keep my broken down boxes in my trunk in hopes that these bins will be emptied soon.

In such a state of shock I pulled out the camera and took these photos hoping we can make a change. What’s the point of recycling if it’s just turning into litter?

I want to encourage a change.

• Please stick to the rules. Only bring stuff that qualifies for recycling.
• If the bins are full, don’t throw your stuff on the ground.
• If the bins are full call HEW, 405-377-3880 and let them know. Maybe this will encourage them to empty these more often.

These are all common sense rules that we as responsible adults have to follow ourselves and help others follow. Maybe some day the City of Stillwater can implement a curb recycling program but until then we need to do the best with what we got.