Shawnee’s Economic Development Foundation will hold two meetings this morning. The first one is the annual unit holders meeting beginning at 9 a.m. It will be followed by the Foundation’s monthly meeting scheduled to start around 9:30.

When Shawnee city commissioners meet Tuesday evening, it appears they may be there a while and some of the topics they will tackle most likely will bring a crowd.
The meeting is Tuesday night because of the Labor Day holiday Monday. It begins at 6:30 p.m., is in the council chambers and, of course, is open to the public.

Pottawatomie County’s Free Fair is scheduled for next week, Sept. 10-12, at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. This year the County Fair reportedly has added a commercial booth competition for the best decorated booth. This year’s theme for the fair is “A Barnyard Blast.”
The prizes awarded will be free booth rent for next year’s County Fair and a first place plaque. Plaques for second and third place will be awarded as well.

Recently, I was elected to the Salvation Army Advisory Board of Directors. This past Saturday, we had a planning retreat, and during it I gleaned some information which shows the impact this non-profit agency has on this area. Majors Mike and Lori Barnhouse have been here for just about a year now.

Securing right-of-way for the Kickapoo Street reconstruction continues, and City Engineer John Krywicki is hoping he can give notice to proceed on utility relocation by the end of October.
He indicated the city still is on track where the Oklahoma Department of Transportation can let a bid possibly in early summer of 2010.

Shawnee Utility Director Jim Bierd brought some positive news to Monday night’s city commission meeting. During administrative reports, Bierd advised since the second week of July the city of Shawnee has been using water solely from Wes Watkins Reservoir and the city has been in compliance with TOC requirements as required by the Department of Environmental Quality.

This year’s United Way campaign will take on a little bit different flair. Casey Bell is drive chairman and already he has started forming a Young Leaders Society, a new twist to the effort this year.
The initial event for the Young Leaders group Thursday evening drew nearly 30 people under the age of 40.

Debra McGee, widow of longtime IFYR announcer and Vo-Ag instructor Mark McGee from Valliant, has advised me the  preliminary hearing for the driver charged in her late husband’s death has been set. Stacy Sloan Whiteley, 29, of Wright City, is charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection with Mark’s death.
The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4 at the county courthouse in Idabel.

Pam Robinson, president of the Salvation Army Advisory Board of Directors, reminds folks that volunteers are needed for the backpack distribution project this coming week.
She writes “how would you like to interject some fun into the week of Aug. 10? Have we got opportunities for you!

When Shawnee Board of Education members meet Tuesday evening, one of the items for discussion will concern a proposed fall bond issue. No action can be taken at the meeting, however, because it’s listed on the agenda for discussion only.

State Game Warden Mike France says he will conduct a hunter education safety education course in four weeks at the McLoud Public Library. France, who is assigned to Pottawatomie County, said the course will be Aug. 29, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The deadline is Monday for area merchants to enter “Shop the Greater Shawnee Area Campaign.”
To participate, call Geri Huston at the News-Star at 214-3970 by 5 p.m. Monday. She will coordinate with the merchants and the other media involved in the campaign.
The Small Business Council of the chamber is coordinating this effort once again, and its launch coincides with the statewide Tax Free Weekend, Aug. 7-9.

Shawnee Public Schools has set enrollment for Tuesday, Aug. 4, for the Early Childhood Center, elementary schools and Shawnee Middle School. Enrollment will begin at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. School begins on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
It will be held at Shawnee High School Performing Arts and Athletic Center on the Shawnee High School campus.

State Rep. Shane Jett says he is 95 percent certain he will make a run for the Fifth District Congressional seat being vacated by present Congresswoman Mary Fallin. Fallin, serving her second term in Congress, has indicated she’ll give up the seat to make a run for governor next year.

Tonight the International Finals Youth Rodeo will take a pause to honor two of its former champions and a man who served as the “voice of the IFYR” for 16 years.
Mark McGee, who announced the IFYR for the previous 16 years, was scheduled to be in the announcer’s booth once again this week.

Justin Erickson, Shawnee’s Community Development director, passed along some information this week concerning the cleanup campaign under way and the coordinated effort between the city and the Greater Shawnee Chamber of Commerce.

For those people who are looking for something to do on July 4, there is a variety of activities to choose from in Pottawatomie County alone.
Shawnee’s 17th annual Red, White and Blue celebration is scheduled for Saturday evening at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. The gates will open at 6 p.m., with musical performances slated by Uncalled Four and Randy Houser.

I’ve refrained from weighing in on the much publicized scuffle between an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper and a Creek County paramedic last month.
The incident took place near Paden and the ambulance was carrying a patient reportedly headed to the Prague hospital.

Residential and commercial users of the city’s water and sewer systems are sure to see a rate increase in the future. Exactly how much and when hikes might be put in place are still to be determined, but there’s little question they are coming.

In connection with the cleanup campaign which has been launched as a combined effort on the part of the city and the Greater Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, I checked the city’s Web site to determine the number of active cases and complaints on file.