Jet and Cord McCoy, McGee due induction into IFYR Hall of Fame

During this year’s International Finals Youth Rodeo, two former contestants and a rodeo announcer who was killed last month will be inducted into its Hall of Fame. The IFYR is scheduled for July 13-18 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
Mark McGee, from Valliant, who served as the “voice of the IFYR” for 16 years as announcer for the world’s richest youth rodeo, was killed last month when a vehicle struck the lawn tractor he was operating at his home.
McGee will be inducted into the IFYR Hall of Fame along with two former IFYR standouts, Cord McCoy and his older brother Jet, during a special ceremony on Wednesday evening, July 15.
Both Cord and Jet won the coveted IFYR All-Around Championship when they competed here.
Cord won the All-Around in 1997 and Jet captured it in 1998.
McGee had announced the rodeo since its inception in 1993.
The ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the foyer of the conference center at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. They also will be recognized during the 7:30 p.m. performance that evening and among the special guests attending will be Lt. Gov. Jari Askins.
•••
Authorization has been given to Shawnee city staff to request bids for the new terminal building at Shawnee’s Municipal Airport.
Assistant City Airport Manager Rex Hennen says the bids will be opened on July 20.
Funding sources for the project include a $325,000 grant from the Economic Development Authority, a $275,000 grant from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, $210,000 from the sale of OBU and Shawnee Little Theatre land and a $65,000 capital improvement loan from the city of Shawnee.
•••
Mike Jackson, operations manager at the Expo Center, passes along that Barrel Horse Magazine has named Shawnee and the Expo Center as one of the 13 top barrel racing venues in the nation.
The magazine says “Oklahoma has become a major player in the barrel racing industry, and there are several towns within the state competing for races and prestige. Shawnee more than holds its own in this struggle for dominance, thanks to the 52-acre Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
“The Shawnee Expo is home to the International Finals Youth Rodeo as well as year-round events, sales and championships produced by such groups as NBHA, ABRA and Central 4D.”
The article further states “Shawnee’s split personality seesaws between a historic downtown area and a large selection of new restaurants and entertainment venues.
Only 30 minutes east of Oklahoma City, it offers all the conveniences of a city wrapped in small town ambiance.”
•••
City commissioners, sitting as trustees of the Shawnee Municipal Authority, have approved a resolution for a grant seeking $2 million from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Aim of the resolution is requesting financial assistance from the OWRB through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, with the loan proceeds to be used for financing water system improvements, specifically a new raw water line for Shawnee.
City Manager Brian McDougal indicated the other night the estimated cost of the line is $13 million.
•••
The city of Shawnee and Pottawatomie County have entered into a memorandum agreement for the construction of Patterson Road from Hardesty Road extending 1 1/2 miles north.
According to the agreement, half of the roadway lies within the city limits and half of it lies within the boundaries of county commission district 2.
 It further states the county and city have determined roadway should be reconstructed from the base up and a new asphalt surfacing course installed for the benefits of their citizens.
The city’s only involvement, according to the agreement, will be to provide the county with $75,000 upon completion of the project.
That is the city’s sole obligation for the project and it stipulates that amount will not be exceeded.
The county will handle all plans and specifications for the project, advertising for construction bids, issuing bid proposals, receiving and tabulating the bids and awarding a contract for construction.
The county also will provide supervision and inspection of all the work.
•••
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.