Latest news with #Claremore
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Attorney general applauds city-county opioid abatement project
Claremore and Rogers County's joint opioid abatement project is "nothing short of remarkable," said Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Drummond's office granted the city and county about $500,000 last fall to combat the spread of opioids in the community. Using money the state received from 2022 settlements with pharmaceutical companies, the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Revolving Fund paid out $12 million to 85 entities last year and is getting ready for a second round of awards. The city and county have used those funds to hire a grant manager and two personnel to provide GED prep and testing in the county jail. The funding also buoys the Women in Recovery program offered through Tulsa Family and Children's Services. Drummond visited the Rogers County Courthouse May 30 to discuss the state of the abatement project. Fourteen people – from city and county leaders to Family and Children's Services personnel to people involved with the county's drug court – sat with Drummond around a rectangle of tables. "One of the takeaways I want you to get from this time together is that this involves a lot of people, a lot of directions, a lot of expertise, a lot of people that really, really care about tackling this opioid crisis," said Scott Greenland, hired by the county last December to manage the grant. Greenland said opioid deaths are increasing in Rogers County. Eight people died of an overdose in the county in 2019; that number climbed to 28 in 2022, then dipped slightly to 23 in 2023. Greenland said men are twice as likely to die of an overdose than women, and men aged 35 to 45 face the highest risk. In 2024, Greenland said, 116 overdoses occurred in Rogers County. Nearly all the overdoses occurred in residential areas, but other than that, Greenland said no common thread ties them together. He compared the geographical spread to the random locations of marbles dropped from a helicopter. "We don't know exactly how to tackle that yet, but we're working in that direction, realizing that it's not an easy, quick fix," Greenland said. "This is something that we've got to strategically look at." Claremore City Manager John Feary said he and District 3 Commissioner Ron Burrows had first talked about a joint opioid abatement initiative several years ago, but neither the city nor the county had the money then. Feary said he is thankful the state Legislature and Drummond had made funds available, and that partner organizations like Family and Children's Services and local recovery houses had joined the team to provide their expertise. The city and county have leaned on these partner organizations to provide high school equivalency exams and parenting classes to inmates in the Rogers County jail, help inmates find stable employment upon release and give those recovering from addiction a temporary place to live. Lani Burns, director of employment and education at Family and Children's Services, said a stable job and a gain in education level are the two biggest factors in decreasing recidivism. "If we combine expertise, and that's what this collaboration is all about, we allow for pathways and cycles to break within that familial cycle of addiction and incarceration," Burns said. The other part of the city and county's strategy of combating opioids is teaching kids why they're harmful. Greenland said school-based prevention is evidence-based and differs from past "just say no" approaches by showing students how drugs like fentanyl affect their bodies, brains and futures. He said about 1,215 of Rogers County's 13,500 public school students have received prevention education from local nonprofits Rogers County Youth Services or KeyChoices. Greenland said he aims to increase this percentage from 9% to 40% in the next few years. Burrows said school prevention is the heart of the project. "It starts with the youth," Burrows said. "We know we got an issue with adults, and how do you break the cycle?" The county introduced Drummond to Chantel Reben, two years sober after going through Rogers County's drug court and Family and Children's Services Women in Recovery program. Reben said she grew up surrounded by addiction and went to prison for drugs in Okmulgee County in 2012. A recovery program helped her get clean, and she established a life in Claremore for her and her son. But after a life-altering car accident injured her son, Reben relapsed, which culminated in 2022 with another arrest and the threat of 15 years behind bars. She said Judge Stephen Pazzo and Chrisie Stone, coordinator of Rogers County's drug court, saved her from prison because they understood she needed treatment for her addiction. She entered Women in Recovery and received trauma therapy. Reben said she graduated from drug court May 15. "I was given the opportunity to address my trauma, my loss, my addiction, my health, that reunification with my child, and I've returned to a truer version of myself," Reben said. "... I have a well-paying job — which I will be leaving to right after this — I'm supported in my community and my son is as well. I have fully reunified with him, and I'm actually in a healthy, loving relationship." After the meeting, Drummond said Claremore and Rogers County are deploying the opioid funds exactly how his office intended they be used. He said the city-county project should serve as a template for other entities seeking to combat opioid addiction in their communities. "We can invest money today with our youngest citizens and avoid this heartbreak as they become workforce-ready or not," Drummond said. "It's commendable ... to look at [Reben], truly, a wonderful young person that was on a path of destruction and lived hard years, but now I'm so proud of her in her sobriety, and she's got partnerships around her. They're gonna lift her up and keep her straight." Drummond said that regrettably, many local governments in Oklahoma aren't taking advantage of the settlement money. His office plans to distribute $28 million in its next tranche, for which applications close Friday. Claremore and Rogers County are asking for $2.4 million. From then on, the Attorney General's office will open grant applications every three years.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Claremore Class of 2025 graduates at drizzling commencement ceremony
Claremore High School awarded diplomas to the 331 members of its Class of 2025 Sunday at Lantow Field. Intermittent showers and a gloomy forecast prompted the district to move graduation a few hours ahead of its initially planned start time. Families and graduates alike huddled under umbrellas and ponchos as they packed into the football stadium. Rain continued to fall as the seniors framed the football field in red and white and watched their classmates' faces flicker one by one up on the Jumbotron. Each senior had recorded a "Senior Shout-Out" video to thank their friends, family, teachers and others who had helped them make it to graduation. After everyone had taken their seats, Principal Brooke Lee thanked the crowd for its patience with the weather. "I know everyone just got wet rear ends as they sat down, but it was just really important to me to keep this outside for you seniors so that as many of your family members could be here to celebrate this moment with you," Lee said. "I've heard in some cultures, rain on a wedding day is good luck. So maybe on graduation day, it's good luck as well." Lee said among the Class of 2025 are four valedictorians, 22 salutatorians, 33 Oklahoma Academic Scholars, one Academic All-State winner and one National Merit Finalist. The class earned a collective $2.8 million in scholarships, she said. Claremore's senior class helped propel the school to high honors this year in several sports and extracurricular activities. Lee said Claremore's girls track and field, boys golf, jazz band, academic bowl and Future Farmers of America agricultural communications teams had all won state championships. It took Lee more than five minutes to list all the groups that had achieved on the state or national level this year. "I'd say this group of seniors knows a thing or two about succeeding, and they've got the accomplishments to prove it," Lee said. Each of the four valedictorians gave a speech. Caroline Lee, who will study management information systems at the University of Oklahoma this fall, quoted "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" to remind her classmates to appreciate life because it moves so fast. Allison Wiseman, headed to Milwaukee School of Engineering to study biomedical engineering, advised people cannot control all their circumstances but can always control their perspective. The other two valedictorians, Kizer Ballard and Campbell Crum, will each pursue a political science degree. Ballard said many people had shaped her life, but especially her late grandfather and former Claremore Superintendent Keith Ballard. She said her grandfather dedicated his life to education and taught her to appreciate its value. "There will be smaller gatherings of classmates at reunions, weddings and other celebrations, but right now, this is the last time we will all be together," Ballard said. "Let's rejoice in what we have left and know that I am proud of each person here, and my grandpa would be, too." Crum thanked his parents, who both work at Claremore elementary schools, for orienting him toward education. Between jokes about the rainy weather and Claremore's attendance rates, Crum said he hoped the school would one day restore the block schedule it will replace next year with a seven-period day. This prompted his classmates to clap and cheer. Crum told the rest of his graduating class that though they're starting a new chapter, it's OK to look back once in a while because it's human nature. He referenced his favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, and how Vonnegut loved Lot's wife for looking back on Sodom. "I found there will always be good in the past if you look for it, and please do look for it because sometimes becoming a pillar of salt will remind you of your beginnings," Crum said. "... Love everyone because no matter what, they're human. Vonnegut once said, 'We're all here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it even is.'" Italya Lona, Claremore's senior class president, gave the last speech and received her diploma first. Lona thanked her family, friends, teachers, coaches and Jesus, and said she loved them more than Starbucks during finals week. Lona said her classmates should be proud of themselves for surviving high school and use that accomplishment to push them through future challenges. She counted the class down into a chant of, "We did it." "Class of 2025, here's to the memories we made, the obstacles we overcame, and the people who helped us along the way," Lona said. "I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. Now, let's go walk this stage and get out of here like we've been dreaming of since freshman year."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Light of Hope, Eastern Hills to commemorate first anniversary of May tornado
After a tornado ravaged Claremore last May, Eastern Hills Baptist Church became a gathering place of sorts. The church, which sits on a hill overlooking 4200 Road east of Claremore, sustained little damage compared to the ruined homes that surrounded it. Melissa Fullerton, the church's administrative assistant, said she had full faith God had planned to use Eastern Hills to help the community recover. For the next six weeks, people dealing with the tornado's aftermath would flock there for food, supplies and something to do besides ruminating on what they'd lost. One year later, the church will soon host "Hope after the Storm." It will run from 5 to 8 p.m. June 16 at the church, 16912 E. 480 Road in Claremore. Pastor Brad Taylor said the free event is an opportunity for people to rekindle the camaraderie they'd found in the wake of the storm. "We're at the anniversary of the storm, so there's anxiety because we're in another storm season," Taylor said. "... We can't fixate on the storm ... if another storm comes, it's OK because we can put back the pieces. God has put around us great resources of life and friends and family and neighbors that will help guide us." The church will offer food and raffle prizes, and News on 6 meteorologist Travis Meyer will give a presentation reflecting on the tornado. Eastern Hills is hosting the event jointly with Light of Hope. Nancy Phelps, the nonprofit's executive director, said the two formed a partnership "from about the first minute and a half after everything happened." Phelps said many other tornado recovery partners will come to the event to host breakout sessions and information booths, such as Claremore/Rogers County Disaster Assistance and Rogers County Emergency Management. "It's kind of like a reunion," Phelps said. "All the ones that started, and now everybody's coming back together." Phelps said the storm placed a burden on many people's mental health. She said mental health professionals and Sara Wallace, a Claremore yoga instructor, would come to the event to provide strategies for weathering the metaphorical storms disasters can whip up. Taylor said a tornado survivor had told him they were unsure if they could go to the event. He said they told him it would dig up painful memories they had deliberately stowed away. "The reality is, that's the person [who] needs to come because items undealt with is what brings about other issues in life," Taylor said. "This is an opportunity to face that fear, realize there is hope."
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City will raze pair of buildings if owner doesn't repair them
The city has given a Claremore property owner until July 20 to either fix up his buildings or see them demolished. City Manager John Feary issued an order April 21 to tear down the buildings at 503 and 505 E. Will Rogers Blvd., and Claremore City Council voted Monday to reject property owner Charles Polk's appeal to block the order. The city has declared the long-vacant buildings dilapidated and detrimental to public safety. At 503 stands a mostly intact cinderblock structure that last housed a U-Haul rental service called Bluestreak Automotive. Next door, 505 is less a building than a mostly hollow frame cluttered with junk and green debris. Polk and the city agree 505, which hasn't had electric service since 2001, must come down; Polk said he's about 75% through demolishing it. According to a faded sign facing Patti Page Boulevard, 505 once housed a used appliance store called Floyd's. But Polk maintains 503 harbors potential for future commercial use, and he has put it up for sale. His buildings occupy a commercial-zoned triangle of land in east Claremore bounded by Seminole Avenue and Will Rogers and Patti Page boulevards. "I'm willing to work with the city to get a mutual solution to the problem," Polk said. "I just don't think that you can forcibly come in with a hammer over my head and say, 'We're going to knock your building down because we don't like the way it looks' ... you're going to do what you're going to do, but I want to say it's against my will." Claremore City Attorney Adam Heavin said the city based its determination on the fire marshal and building inspector's judgments. Heavin said they found holes in the roof of 503 and broken windows that would pose a hazard to responders if a fire broke out. The city, under a previous fire marshal's order, cut off the building's electric utilities in 2020. Heavin said 503 also lacks proper security. A padlock protects the front door, but passersby can gaze directly inside through the big hole where an overhead garage door used to be. A 6-foot chain-link fence blocks its mouth, though the fence segments anchor to nothing and could be easily dragged aside. Light pours through the ruptured roof on sunny days, and birds can be heard chattering away somewhere. "Frankly, in the state it's in, there's not really any use for it," Heavin said. "It's going to cost you more to remodel it and get it back up to code than it would be to tear it down to build a new building." Heavin said if 503 E. Will Rogers Blvd. remains dilapidated past July 20, the city has the authority to pay to tear it down and assess that cost as a lien on the property. Mayor Debbie Long asked Polk if he had the financial means to get 503 up to code by July 20. Polk said he didn't know how much it would cost, and he remains unsure of what he will do with the building. Johnathan Cates, Claremore's fire marshal, said he'd need to request a structural engineer's report on 503, since the roof is missing and some of the cinderblocks appear cracked. Cates said code requirements var,y depending on the building's use. "I don't know what all the codes are, but the building will be inhabitable and useful if we're able to work on it without the threat of you coming in and tearing everything we do up," Polk said. Posters plastered to 503 advertise the building is for sale. Polk said he put the posters up because the property has great commercial value, but the city has tarnished that value by moving to demolish his building. Feary and Polk met April 17 for a hearing on the state of the two buildings. Feary said he noticed the "For Sale" signs go up the very next day. Polk said he began working in earnest on demolishing 505 and repairing 503 about two months ago, as winter warmed into spring and he hired a helper. Deputy Mayor Herb McSpadden said city records show the buildings have languished without power or regular maintenance for years now. "Before that, the windows were boarded up for more than 36 months," McSpadden said. "... I understand your concern and your passion for the building, but until these proceedings started, it didn't seem like you had a lot of concern for your buildings." "I can see your interpretation, but that's not true," Polk replied.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tibbetts earns All-Conference honors at Shangri-La; Tigers take third
Tahlequah boys golf's No. 1 Kaden Tibbetts played his way to All-Conference honors at one of the toughest courses in Oklahoma. Tibbetts led the way with a 76 for fifth place in the Metro Lakes Conference Wednesday, April 16. The Tigers' senior leader picked up his third straight All-Conference honors. Advertisement 'Kaden was even through 13 holes and had a couple of bad breaks,' THS coach Nick Baker said. Tibbetts trailed four players from Claremore in the MLC rankings. Out of CHS' top four golfers, no one shot over a 74. Tibbetts led the Tigers to a third-place finish with a total score of 340. Tahlequah only trailed Claremore (286) and Collinsville (339). '[Our guys] didn't have their best stuff but had some bright spots during the round,' Baker said. 'They aren't happy with third place and are determined to get things corrected for Regionals on April 30.' Before that, the Tigers are set for a 9 a.m. tee time at Bailey Ranch for the Skiatook Invitational.
