Two resolutions will be considered by the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation board during its meeting this morning.
One deals with the TIGER grant application and the other is in connection with the possible I-40 and Bryan Street interchange.
The TIGER grant resolution urges Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe to support the application for $32 million for rail improvements between here and Oklahoma City and in Shawnee with the line running northward to the city’s north industrial park.
The other resolution calls for the SEDF board to support the city of Shawnee’s existing long range plans that call for the possible placement of an interchange and exit at the I-40 and Bryan Street junction.
Board members also will be provided with an update on the unit drive. According to SEDF board materials, the amount received as of Nov. 2 is $53,250 and the amount pledged for 2008/2009-2010 is $57,900. Current pledges outstanding are $4,650 and the total amount pledged through 2010 is $158,100.
An executive session also is scheduled to discuss several unnamed companies.
The meeting, open to the public, begins at 9 a.m. in the SEDF office at 131 N. Bell.
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Don Hoffman, a local veteran who lives north of Shawnee, passes along this information about the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima Feb. 23, 1945. He said according to the information he researched it shows the flag raising was first authorized by Lt. Col. Chandler Johnson of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Division when he gave three Marines a small flag to raise there.
Hoffman’s information shows the names of those were Sgts. H.O. Hanson, E.I. Thomas and Lt. H.G. Schrier. The first photo was taken by Combat Photographer Lou Lowery who died at the scene by throwing himself on a grenade. His camera was smashed, but his film survived.
The information claims the second raising of the flag occurred three hours later when Lt. Col. Johnson found a larger flag that when raised could be seen for miles from atop Mount Suribachi. He then sent six Marines and the Leatherneck Magazine photographer Joe Rosenthal up Mt. Suribachi to raise the larger flag.
These six included Sgt. Hanson and Sgt. Mike Strank, and Pfcs. Franklin Sousley, Ira Hayes and Renea Gognom and M. John Bradley. Hanson, Strank and Sousley died in the ensuing battle.
Hoffman believes most people are not aware of this information and believed it to be fitting in commemoration of today’s observance of Veterans Day.
•••
Commissioners of the State Land Office (CLO) hosted a number of auctions across Oklahoma in recent weeks, and among those was one held at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center.
CLO officials said there were 68 leases offered at the Shawnee auction and only three tracts remained unleased. The other 65 tracts brought $178,550 in contract rent, they reported.
For a complete listing of any unleased tracts or to get on the CLO lease auction mailing list contact REM Division 405-604-8100 or 1-888-355-2637.
All unleased tracts are available for leasing. If interested in leasing these properties, people can go look at the properties and send the minimum bid amount into the CLO Oklahoma City office along with name, address, phone number, Social Security Account number and driver’s license number.
Statewide, the CLO said 498 tracts were offered for lease between Oct. 19 and Nov. 3 at nine regional auction locations. Total dollars generated were $1,976,050.
This represents $247,950 in additional income over the appraised rental, CLO officials said.
•••
The Salvation Army is taking applications for families needing Christmas assistance in Pottawatomie County and will continue through today (Veterans Day).
Maj. Mike Barnhouse, of the local Salvation Army, said those needing assistance must appear in person at the Salvation Army office, 200 E. Ninth Street in Shawnee. Applicants will need identification for each family member and proof of income, he said.
There will be no mail notification this year, Barnhouse emphasized. Individuals applying after this time period will be helped during the Christmas season as resources become available, he said.
Also, the major extends an invitation for persons who want to participate with the annual kettle drive. Those wishing to volunteer may contact the Red Kettle Drive coordinator, Kendi Cox, 275-2243.
•••
Wanda Hill reminds about the kickoff for this year’s annual Angel Tree which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Arvest Bank, 201 N. Broadway here in Shawnee.
•••
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.
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Two resolutions will be considered by the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation board during its meeting this morning.
One deals with the TIGER grant application and the other is in connection with the possible I-40 and Bryan Street interchange.
The TIGER grant resolution urges Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe to support the application for $32 million for rail improvements between here and Oklahoma City and in Shawnee with the line running northward to the city’s north industrial park.
The other resolution calls for the SEDF board to support the city of Shawnee’s existing long range plans that call for the possible placement of an interchange and exit at the I-40 and Bryan Street junction.
Board members also will be provided with an update on the unit drive. According to SEDF board materials, the amount received as of Nov. 2 is $53,250 and the amount pledged for 2008/2009-2010 is $57,900. Current pledges outstanding are $4,650 and the total amount pledged through 2010 is $158,100.
An executive session also is scheduled to discuss several unnamed companies.
The meeting, open to the public, begins at 9 a.m. in the SEDF office at 131 N. Bell.
•••
Don Hoffman, a local veteran who lives north of Shawnee, passes along this information about the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima Feb. 23, 1945. He said according to the information he researched it shows the flag raising was first authorized by Lt. Col. Chandler Johnson of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Division when he gave three Marines a small flag to raise there.
Hoffman’s information shows the names of those were Sgts. H.O. Hanson, E.I. Thomas and Lt. H.G. Schrier. The first photo was taken by Combat Photographer Lou Lowery who died at the scene by throwing himself on a grenade. His camera was smashed, but his film survived.
The information claims the second raising of the flag occurred three hours later when Lt. Col. Johnson found a larger flag that when raised could be seen for miles from atop Mount Suribachi. He then sent six Marines and the Leatherneck Magazine photographer Joe Rosenthal up Mt. Suribachi to raise the larger flag.
These six included Sgt. Hanson and Sgt. Mike Strank, and Pfcs. Franklin Sousley, Ira Hayes and Renea Gognom and M. John Bradley. Hanson, Strank and Sousley died in the ensuing battle.
Hoffman believes most people are not aware of this information and believed it to be fitting in commemoration of today’s observance of Veterans Day.
•••
Commissioners of the State Land Office (CLO) hosted a number of auctions across Oklahoma in recent weeks, and among those was one held at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center.
CLO officials said there were 68 leases offered at the Shawnee auction and only three tracts remained unleased. The other 65 tracts brought $178,550 in contract rent, they reported.
For a complete listing of any unleased tracts or to get on the CLO lease auction mailing list contact REM Division 405-604-8100 or 1-888-355-2637.
All unleased tracts are available for leasing. If interested in leasing these properties, people can go look at the properties and send the minimum bid amount into the CLO Oklahoma City office along with name, address, phone number, Social Security Account number and driver’s license number.
Statewide, the CLO said 498 tracts were offered for lease between Oct. 19 and Nov. 3 at nine regional auction locations. Total dollars generated were $1,976,050.
This represents $247,950 in additional income over the appraised rental, CLO officials said.
•••
The Salvation Army is taking applications for families needing Christmas assistance in Pottawatomie County and will continue through today (Veterans Day).
Maj. Mike Barnhouse, of the local Salvation Army, said those needing assistance must appear in person at the Salvation Army office, 200 E. Ninth Street in Shawnee. Applicants will need identification for each family member and proof of income, he said.
There will be no mail notification this year, Barnhouse emphasized. Individuals applying after this time period will be helped during the Christmas season as resources become available, he said.
Also, the major extends an invitation for persons who want to participate with the annual kettle drive. Those wishing to volunteer may contact the Red Kettle Drive coordinator, Kendi Cox, 275-2243.
•••
Wanda Hill reminds about the kickoff for this year’s annual Angel Tree which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Arvest Bank, 201 N. Broadway here in Shawnee.
•••
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.
