School Land Commission defers issue regarding local sports park

Shawnee City Manager Brian McDougal has advised that the School Land Commission has tabled an agenda item regarding land at I-40 and Kickapoo for the proposed regional sports complex.
McDougal attended the special meeting of the Land Commission on Monday and said the commissioners have directed Keith Kuhlman to provide more information about the property located at the northwest corner of I-40 and Kickapoo.
Kuhlman is the director of Real Estate Management for the Land Commission. On Monday’s agenda the item related to the sports complex called for Kuhlman’s discussing options for either selling the property or entering into a long term lease.
Recently, a 130-acre parcel of the property was appraised for $731,500 ($5,600/acre). A rental schedule reportedly was developed. The City of Shawnee evaluated the rental schedule and determined that they would prefer to have the opportunity to purchase the property at public auction, according to the School Land Commission agenda.
McDougal said following the meeting he is not sure when the School Land Commission will meet again to take up the issue.
•••
This past weekend I attended the summer conference of the Oklahoma Press Association at Western Hills State Lodge east of Wagoner and on Saturday evening the group traveled to west of Sand Springs to Discoveryland where we enjoyed the musical “Oklahoma.”
This summer’s rendition has a Shawnee connection. Trevor Mastin, who will be a sophomore at Oklahoma Baptist University in the fall, is spending his summer as a member of the cast. Trevor is the son of OBU track Coach Ford Mastin and his wife Terri, who also were in attendance during Saturday night’s performance.
This was the first opportunity my wife, Pat, and I had to visit Discoveryland, and it was an enjoyable evening.
I didn’t realize Trevor was part of the cast until I met up with Ford during intermission and at the same time met his wife. Ford, a proud father, informed me of their son being in it. He noted that Trevor was pretty to easy spot. At 6’6” inches, he’s the tallest and most slender in the large cast of characters.
Ford said his son is enjoying it and there are normally four to five performances a week through the early part of August.
•••
Gordona Rowell, executive director of the Shawnee Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau, said the deadline for supplying coupons, flyers and goodies for the International Finals Youth Rodeo packets is Friday, June 26. She says items should be dropped at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center office Expo Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and that 1,100 bags will be prepared.
•••
Shawnee’s Police Foundation is sponsoring its second golf tournament Thursday at the Elks Golf course. The four-man scramble format tees off at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the tournament will assist with purchasing equipment for the department.
Check-in is at 11 a.m. that day, with lunch from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. It’s a shotgun start.
Coordinators of the tournament are looking for sponsors and teams. Hole sponsors are $150. Four-man teams are $300, with individuals paying $75.
For more information call 275-3340.
•••
Shawnee’s Economic Development Foundation is expected to review and could take action on the 2009-2010 working budget when its meets today for its monthly meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in SEDF office at 131 N. Bell.
The board also will consider and possibly take action on a funding request from the Shawnee Chamber regarding an educational brochure. Updates on the current unit drive, rail line and aviation attraction are also listed as agenda items.
•••
Tom Terry passes along that the free tree distribution held Saturday at the Municipal Airport was another whopping success. He reports that people were lined  up by 7:15 that morning, and the 900th tree was gone before noon.
•••
Ninety-six SONIC crew members from across the state received scholarships totaling $96,000 from area SONIC Drive-Ins. Each recipient was awarded $1,000 as part of the Sonic Enrichment Scholarship Fund, which is comprised of contributions from drive-ins in the Central Oklahoma area. The scholarship program was created 15 years ago to encourage the pursuit of higher education among SONIC crew members and provide them an opportunity to obtain financial aid.
Several area students are among those who have received the scholarships, according to Sonic officials.
They include from Shawnee Kristin Baker, Sallye Countz, Shauna Grass, Donald Greenawalt; Haley Sheets, Chandler; Holly Sprinkle, Earlsboro; Sarah West, Harrah; Kelly Shields, Holdenville; Paige Sullivan, Prague; MaLynn Gilman, Taylor Hinds, Michael Knipp, all of Stroud; Sarah Oldham, Tecumseh; Andrea Maschman, Wellston; Melanie Wooden, Ushawna Vaughn, both of Newalla.
Congratulations to these Sonic crew members who are furthering their education and to the Sonic organization for having such a program.
•••
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.