The annual “March for Babies” is Saturday in Woodland Veterans Memorial Park. Registration begins 9:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 10 a.m.
This year’s Ambassador child is Jagger “Jag” Allen Shirey, son of Brian and Cassandra Shirey of Tecumseh.
“Helping babies be born healthy is vital to the hope and future of Shawnee,” said Kim Rawls, Arvest Bank, 2009 March committee member. “One day, all babies will be born healthy, but we’re going to have to walk to get there.”
She said walkers will be provided breakfast courtesy of Sonic, Dave’s Donuts and Hiland Dairy. There will be activities for kids. Door prizes will be provided as well. It is not too late to join the walk for healthy babies. Please contact any of the local committee members with questions.
Sponsors for the walk are First United Bank, First National Bank, Vision Bank, Shawnee Medical Center Clinic, Bancfirst, Arvest Bank, Unity Health Center, Pottawatomie Telephone, Exxon Mobil and Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Local committee members are Peggy Rider with Bancfirst, Molly Weaver with First National Bank, Kim Steen with Shawnee Medical Center Clinic and Rawls.
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Sustainable Shawnee has scheduled its Fall Harvest Dinner for Tuesday, Sept. 29. It will begin 6:30 p.m. in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall.
Tickets are $25 each, with student tickets $10. They can be purchased at GO Computers, 6 W. Main Street. The number is 275-0140.
Sustainable Shawnee officials said everything for the dinner is locally-grown produce and meat that comes from within 100 miles of Shawnee, and most will come from within Pottawatomie County.
Shawna Turner, a member of the organization, said “We’d like people to consider the value of eating locally as much as possible not only because we’re investing in our own farmers and ranchers but also the food is healthy and tastes better. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
She pointed out Sustainable Shawnee has been involved in several community projects, among them a grant awarded this spring for water conservation education in Shawnee.
“We will implement the program targeting fourth graders specifically and the general public about making wise water decisions in their daily lives in March 2010,” she said.
“We have also received a grant from the Junior Service League of Shawnee to begin an event recycling program in Shawnee. We conducted recycling programs at the SYSA baseball park this summer, the Wine Festival and most recently, Spotlight on OBU. We are also working with elementary science classrooms to assist with field trips focused on alternative energy and efficiency and other sustainability issues.”
All proceeds from the dinner will support these and other programs in the community. “We hope to raise awareness about eating locally, supporting our farmers and ranchers, and generally, preparing healthy, tasty meals for our families,” Turner said. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the Felix Blues Band.
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The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has scheduled a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, in the multipurpose room at DEQ’s Oklahoma City office, at 707 N. Robinson, to receive comments on a document aimed at improving water quality in the North Canadian River as it flows through the Oklahoma City metro area.
The federal Clean Water Act requires DEQ to develop plans for improving water quality where standards are not met by establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for each pollutant that exceeds the standards. TMDLs set levels for pollutants that allow water bodies to achieve their beneficial uses.
The North Canadian River study area included in this TMDL is in Pottawatomie, Oklahoma and Canadian counties. Samples collected from 1998 to 2008 from 12 stream segments were analyzed for fecal coliform bacteria, E. coli, and Enterococci.
The study indicates the North Canadian River study area is in violation of Oklahoma Water Quality Standards for pathogens, with the exception of Airport Heights Creek.
All comments for the record must be submitted either in writing or email before the end of the public comment period or orally at the Oct. 1 public meeting. DEQ will prepare a response to all comments received. Comments must be received by Oct. 31. Comments can be submitted to:
Karen Miles
Water Quality Division
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 1677
Oklahoma City, OK 73101
Karen.miles@deq.ok.gov. The public can view the study this TMDL was based on by visiting the DEQ Web site at
http://www.deq.state.ok.us/wqdnew/tmdl/n_canadian/n_canadian_bacteria_draft_tmdl_2009-07-29.pdf.
Residents can also pick up a copy of the study at DEQ’s Oklahoma City office. A document copying fee may apply.
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If you have ideas or something of interest for this column, call 214-3922 or e-mail michael.mccormick@news-star.com. Include name and phone number for contact purposes.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
