Misc. News -- July 23, 2012 -- Collinsville, OK -- www.cvilleok.com

First Meeting of Senate Veterans
Interim Study Scheduled

MEDIA ADVISORY
First meeting of Senate veterans interim study scheduled
Members of the Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs will be holding its first interim study meeting to find solutions to problems being reported about the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs' (ODVA) seven veterans' centers next month. The meeting will be held from 9:00 to 4:30 on Tuesday, August 21 at the State Capitol in Room 419-C.

The first meeting will focus on administration issues including the structure and responsibilities of the ODVA and the War Veterans Commission. Members will also be looking into the role of the War Veterans Commission and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in relation to oversight of the ODVA.

Members of the War Veterans Commission, Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs Gen. Rita Aragon and ODVA Executive Director Martha Spears are among those that will be invited to attend the meeting to discuss issues with Oklahoma’s veterans' centers.

The meeting will be open to the public and will also be streamed live online at www.oksenate.gov.

Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore, a Navy veteran, requested the study following reports of abuse in the state’s veterans' centers last year.

More information including a meeting agenda will be provided closer to the date of the meeting.

For more information contact:

Sen. Simpson - (405) 521-5607

7/18/2012
Oklahoma State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol Building, Office 309
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

Cool Collars For Summer Band

Nikki Glaus, Jan Issacson, Erica Caputo, Jennifer Wheeler and Janis Brown. -- Submitted Photo

The Collinsville Band Boosters have made over 100 Cool Collars for the marching band to use during the hot summer hours. The Coolers have specail beads in them that will puff up after being put in water, the band members will wear these around their necks to stay cool. We are so lucky to have Band Booster parents and family who are willing to go above and beyond to make sure our kids are taken care of.

-- Connie Collis (7/22/2012)

Changes In City Park

The black loose fill "'safety" fall protection material under the swings (near the splash pad and play equipment) in city park has worked "pretty well" when it stays under the swings. Unfortunately it has been a daily maintenance nuisance for city park staff to keep the material there. It has migrated to all the nearby play areas (often on wet feet) in the years since it was installed. City staff recommended it be replaced and with approval of the park board and city commission that transformation took place this past weekend (below).

By Friday the old material had been removed from the swing area by the city (although you may see bits and pieces of it for months in other areas).

By mid-day Saturday a contractor had applied a new black spongy subsurface.

Early Sunday morning the contractor was applying the final colored top spongy surface which will be similar to the surface under the two adjacent playground areas.

By Monday the transformation was nearly complete. The mats (from the top photo) should be placed again to extend the life of the new surface.

Recalled -- this odd "slide" has been recalled by the manufacturer and will be replaced with a safer type as soon as it arrives.

Note -- The park board and city commission have tentatively set a Tuesday July 31st (6pm) joint session to discuss park issues & ordinances.