State transportation officials are continuing their feasibility study for a possible new interchange on Interstate 40 and Bryan Street.
Shawnee’s city commission approved a resolution in May 2007, asking the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Department to conduct a study. Phil Tomlinson from Shawnee is the state Secretary of Transportation and a member of Gov. Brad Henry’s cabinet, and he said while the process has begun, it’s a long way from being completed.
A public hearing was conducted earlier this week in council chambers of Shawnee City Hall as part of the process to determine if construction of an interchange is warranted. Tomlinson said it’s the first of two which will be held if it appears the project might be feasible. The second could come next spring.
Some of the pre-engineering work has been completed, and several preliminary designs of the interchange were presented during the hearing, Tomlinson said.
More information, including traffic counts, and comments from local and area residents, will be collected as the process continues. Tomlinson estimates that by February of next year, information will be presented to the Federal Highway Administration office in Oklahoma City.
Eventually, if the project is deemed feasible, it will be reviewed by Federal Highway Administration officials in Washington, D.C.
Tomlinson said any interchange project on the interstate highway system must be cleared through officials at the top in Washington.
If it is deemed feasible, and there are “no bumps in the road,” Tomlinson estimated that the project could become reality within 2 1/2 or three years. He said it could take up to eight months to construct an interchange that size and bringing Bryan on south to 45th Street.
He described Shawnee’s cost as a few hundred thousand dollars, calling it minimal, and further pointing out that the federal funds would pay the overwhelming majority of it. He said the federal government would pay for extending Bryan at least 500 feet south of the interchange, and depending on the design, that might leave Shawnee with just a few hundred feet of roadway to construct to bring it to 45th.
He said Shawnee’s cost would be limited to some right-of-way acquisition possibly and constructing the remainder of the road to tie in to 45th.
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Ron Henderson, who owns and operates Demco Printing, is an alumnus of Wilson School. He and Johnny Kneisel, owner of the Brown Derby, are looking for old photos of Rose Garden School, which is part of Wilson School now, that can be copied and returned to the owner in the same condition. Ron says it is the older building at Market and Emmet streets.
He said there is a group of alumni starting efforts to restore and save this historic school building. Anyone with photos or who might know where some photos might exist are asked to contact Ron at Demco Printing, 273-8888, or Johnny Kneisel at The Brown Derby, 273-3087.
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I had a gentleman contact me this week with a rather unusual request. Recently, he found a significant sum of money and he said he would like to arrange its return to whoever lost it. He said if someone can provide the specific information requested as outlined here below, he will assume the person is the rightful owner and will arrange to return it. He asked that my column be the information conduit.
The reason I have agreed to assist him is I have known this gentleman for more than 35 years, and he is well-known, though not as actively involved in civic and community endeavors as he once was.
I have agreed that I will put him in touch with anyone providing me with the particulars concerning the lost money which include:
Where and when was the money misplaced or lost?
Identify the amount lost by denomination.
Provide full and exact description of how it was contained.
Provide the name, telephone number and mailing address of claimant. All of this information should be sent to me, Mike McCormick at The Shawnee News-Star, P.O. Box 1688, Shawnee, OK 74802. Or it can be e-mailed to me at michael.mccormick@news-star.com
The gentleman who is asking me to do this said if the rightful owner cannot be determined within three weeks, his intention is to give the money to charity.
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A question and suggestion was sent in concerning the horses in the city project by someone. The inquiry read, “When is some interested group/person going to make replica horses of our Shawnee animals, miniature ones for sale?” Then the person suggests “they (the miniature ponies) could be sold at various Shawnee events or event at the site of that particular horse.”
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A local resident came to see me last week claiming, “Our young residents of Shawnee who are making mistakes in life, some who are first time offenders, are getting destroyed by our judicial system.” He said they are not only getting convicted and paying for it, but said they are being loaded down with other restrictions that make it nearly impossible for them to stay out of trouble.
He acknowledged they have drug-related problems, yet said there is no mention of help for them, if they test positive they go to jail. He admitted to me his daughter is one of these people he is talking about, and that she has a problem with drugs.
He further said that these people have to call three times a week for drug testing, many are ordered to hundreds of hours of community service, plus visits to their probation officers. He said, “I don’t know how these young people are expected to make a living, taking care of their children, pay the enormous amount of county fines and still survive.”
I told the man there is a drug court program in this county, and it’s been in existence for some time now. It’s helped a number of people. I suggested he contact a local attorney here who works closely with the drug court program. I don’t have any statistics at hand on the success rate of the program, but I do believe it provides an alternative to being handed stiff prison sentences, and it gives the person a new lease on life if he or she is willing to work the program and follow the guidelines.
The rules are rigid, but they have to be. The program is dealing with alcohol and drug addicts, and I have seen statistics that show 70 percent or more of crimes are committed while the person is under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both.
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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.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
