VC)--A number of guests and dignitaries including some brass from AETC Command were on hand Wednesday for the ribbon-cutting at the newly renovated and reopened medical clinic at Vance Air Force Base. Lt. Col. Mark Batcho, Commander of the 71^st Medical Support Group at Vance, said the $4 million overhaul of the clinic began in 2002 and was just recently completed.

                             Batcho   :34   “…save money.”

Also this week, the pharmacy reopened in its original location, in the main lobby, on Monday. The pharmacy will keep some hours this month, despite being closed tomorrow for Wingman’s Day, and some next week for Thanksgiving.  

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CC)—A local restaurant had to close for business last night after being hit by a car. Enid Police said the car ran into the side of the building of the Sonic Drive-In in the 1600 block of South Van Buren just after 5:10 yesterday afternoon. No one was seriously injured, but the accident forced the restaurant to close for the rest of the evening.    

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NG)--Oklahoma consumers likely will not see their monthly utility bills fall much this winter, despite plummeting prices in the natural gas market in recent months, officials said Wednesday. That’s because Oklahoma companies that distribute natural gas are locked into unusually high prices on gas purchased during the summer months. Gas prices topped $13 per 1,000 cubic feet in July and have dropped about 50 percent since then. But the price declines recently are unlikely to translate into lower utility bills in the winter months because utilities are recovering the high cost of supplies purchased earlier. Oklahoma Corporation Commission spokesman Matt Skinner said the natural gas market “went nuts” this summer and consumers are paying the price. ONG customers, for instance, paid for service in October that was based on gas costing $11.06 per 1,000 cubic feet, compared to an $8.52 cost for the same month in 2007. The fuel cost also was up in November over the same month a year ago. Skinner said the commission has received complaints from consumers wanting to know why their gas bills have not gone down as market prices fall. 

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PD)--A Woodward man has been charged in federal court with eight felony child pornography offenses. 22 year-old Jesse Joe Marquez was charged with four counts of material involving sexual exploitation of minors and four counts of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children in U.S. Western District Court in Oklahoma City. Each count is punishable by no more than 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine or both. According to the indictment, Marquez was in possession of four videos and images depicting children between the ages of 3 to 12 engaged in sexual acts or showing the children nude. The indictment also stated Marquez was found with four cartoons depicting children in obscene and explicit sexual conduct on his computer. Authorities said the charges were filed through an unsealed indictment, and a warrant for Marquez has been issued.

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TL)--All high school juniors or home-schooled equivalents can now apply for Youth Leadership Oklahoma, Class IX. The program will be held June 7-12, 2009. The annual event accepts 50 students each year and selects applicants on a basis of leadership ability in activities such as student council, athletics and service clubs in school and community. Students also are selected with the goal of creating a geographic, racial and culturally diverse group. There is no charge for students who are selected to attend the program. Applications may be downloaded from www.leadershipoklahoma.com. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Dec. 1. 

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HL)--According to Sooner SUCCESS, hearing loss is the number one birth defect in Oklahoma. Officials say babies can be diagnosed with hearing loss and fit with hearing aids as early as 2 weeks of age. That’s why Sooner SUCCESS will host a free presentation on infant hearing loss 12:15-1:00 p.m. December 11 at Integris Bass Pavilion in first floor conference room. Patricia Burk, of Oklahoma State Department of Health, will make the presentation and discuss the importance of early identification and intervention for young children with hearing loss. Burk also will provide information on new, state-of-the-art screening equipment that soon will be coming to Enid, along with other resources available to assist families with a child who has been diagnosed with hearing loss. For information, contact Sooner SUCCESS coordinator Lisa Simmons at (580) 603-1580.

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