88,015 local and area names printed in 2008

As we begin a new year, we at the News-Star would like to reach out even more to our readers, subscribers and advertisers, both in print and online.
During 2008, as we have done for the couple years prior to it, each month we tracked the number of local and area faces and the number of local and area names which have appeared in the News-Star’s printed and online editions.
Last year, we printed 88,015 local and area names and printed photos which included 18,540 local and area faces. In this coming year, we would like to hear from you, so we can print and include online even more of these.
If you have a story you would like to contribute, or are planning to have an engagement, wedding, birth announcement, wedding anniversary placed online and in the paper, please go to http://www.news-star.com/your_story.
To submit photos, send them to newsroom@news-star.com.
We encourage our readers and subscribers to take advantage of our offering and send us stories about what is taking place at their schools, churches, clubs, organizations, or institutions.
If you are sending material directly to me now, feel free and continue to do so.
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Shawnee’s State Rep. Kris Steele, newly elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, spoke to the Shawnee Kiwanis Club this week during their noon meeting.
Steele gave the club insight as what to expect in the upcoming session. State lawmakers will have an estimated revenue shortfall of at least $310 million, and Steele has indicated that might soar to $500 million. He says with that much less money to spend, the legislature will have to trim most state agency budgets, some more than others.
Education takes up 55 percent of the state budget now. The legislature will have to balance the budget by the final Friday in May before they adjourn. Steele says that compared to other states, “we’re in pretty good shape.”
He explained some of his priorities this session include three big ticket items, among them an Alternative Energy Plan to use more of Oklahoma’s domestic fuel, compressed natural gas by focusing on how to establish more CNG stations across the state; economic development; and healthcare reform.
Steele says there are an estimated 600,000 Oklahomans without health insurance which cost every insured state resident to experience inflated health coverage costs. The state’s Insure Oklahoma plan is a model the federal government is looking at studying.
Another issue close to Steele is the children in Oklahoma who have autism. He says he will propose a bill to meet the needs of individual children afflicted with autism.
Another bill that Rep. Steele plans is a Silver Alert, a plan that will help locate senior adults who become missing or lost. It is similar to the Amber Alert for children.
Other issues Steele plans to address or be a part of this session include an audit of DHS and abuse oversight, and plans to reform the massive state agency. Also, a rewrite of Title 10, Child Welfare in Oklahoma. Steele says this legislation will contain approximately 1,000 pages.
Steele also discussed the urgency of the Comprehensive Water Plan for Oklahoma and getting a resolution put together before the federal courts step in and possibly rule against Oklahoma’s right to determine where this valuable resource should be allocated.
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Shawnee’s City Planning staff confirms that a Jimmy’s Egg Restaurant will locate at 1414 N. Harrison, the site of a former Taco Bell Restaurant.
Part of that property was rezoned, an official indicated, so the property would be in compliance with zoning requirements.
No other details have been made available.
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Georgia-based Angel Food Ministries has made it easier for people in the Shawnee area to order Angel Food for pick up at St. John Lutheran Church, 215 W. Wallace, Shawnee.
“Ordering online saves time and is much more convenient than trying to make it by the church during designated order periods,” said St. John Angel Food coordinator Trey Davis. “You can order online for pick up at St. John because the food purchased online arrives on the same distribution day as orders placed in person.”
 Customers ordering online may pay with either credit or debit card. Online orders are charged an additional $1 fee. Online orders have a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Sunday night, Jan. 11 (that is tomorrow night).
 “Of course, in person ordering is still available,” Davis said. “Just remember that for orders placed in person, Angel Food accepts cash, OK Access cards or food stamps. I anticipate that sometime in 2009 we’ll be able to take credit and debit cards as payment when ordering in person.”
 Orders may be placed in person at St. John Lutheran today from 10 a.m. to noon. Other order times are Sunday, Jan. 11, from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. and twice on Monday, Jan. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
 “Angel Food Ministries has opened a warehouse in Dallas and that means less wait time between the order period and distribution,” Davis said. “The plan for distribution in 2009 is for the food to arrive on the Saturday following the close of the order period. Distribution Day for January is Saturday, Jan. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.”
 For more information or to order Angel Food online, visit the St. John website at www.stjohnshawnee.org <http://www.stjohnshawnee.org/>  and follow the link on the Angel Food page.
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Wanda Hill passes this information along. The Shawnee Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary will meet Monday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. at 1115 Quail Hollow, in Shawnee. Members are encouraged to bring coffee and creamer for the shelter. The program will be Camp Hearet O’Hills.   
President Shirley Madden says that any woman interested in learning more about the Auxiliary is encouraged and is welcome to attend. The Auxiliary meets September through April with the Membership Tea in May.   
For membership information call 878-1810.
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If you have ideas or something of interest for this column, please call me at 214-3922 or e-mail me at michael.mccormick@news-star.com, but please include your name and a phone number for contact purposes.