First Snow of the Season for OKC Area?

Possibility of snow next Monday/Tuesday 12/6-7. Current probability is 20%.

Cold, cold Thanksgiving Day evening

NWS is predicting lows Thursday evening in the 10s and 20s.

Test post

Testing


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

1887 US Dept of Interior map showing Verbeck

I learned about this from a Doug Loudenback blog entry. http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2010/10/maps-and-history-of-oklahoma-county.html

Stormy Wednesday for Oklahoma

It looking like things are going to be pretty intense weather-wise Wednesday 5/19. Here is what the NWS is saying as of this morning regarding Wednesday.

Reader

http://www.google.com/reader/i/?hl=en&gl=us#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Frethinkingtheus.com%2Ffeed%2F

Sent from my iPhone

Two Images from the OK-9/I-35 Interchange Meeting

Here are two images from the OK-9/I-35 interchange meeting I went to Thursday evening. They're of the District 3 2010 to 2017 Construction Program and Workplan poster the presenter, Mr. Paul Rachel Division Engineer for Division 3, had on display. I'll try and get an electronic copy.



This one is of District 3 overall showing the projects planned.



This one is a close-up of Cleveland and McClain counties.

As an aside, ODOT has a really nice collection of old State maps available on-line at
http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/ and maps in general of Oklahoma (city, county, legislative district, highway, tribal jurisdiction, you name it) at http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/.

ODOT talk about I-35/OK-9 bridge reconstruction

This is going to be very interesting I think, dealing with OK-9 as it runs along Riverwind and all.

(from the Norman Transcript April 4th, 2010, p. A3)

"ODOT schedules public meeting

"A public meeting with Oklahoma Department of Transportation representatives regarding current and upcoming ODOT projects in and around the Newcastle area and West highway 9 will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Newcastle First Baptist Church, 2945 SE 44th St. in Newcastle.

"State Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman, said the primary topic will be the reconstruction of the West Highway 9 bridge over Interstate 35.

"'This is a major project for District 46 that will benefit out citizens and keep them safe,' Martin said. 'I am very pleased with the efforts of ODOT, the Legislature and the community in helping us in the planning process and securing funding. I believe in safe roads and bridges and am committed to providing a safer transportation system for our citizens. I encourage the community to attend to discuss our progress.'

"Martin added, 'In addition, we will talk about the I-35 widening project and interchange reconstruction project in Norman.'"

Falls School, district 31

Now that the weather has turned nice, my first photo essay will be here, Falls School, district 31 in Cleveland county.

Rootsweb has this to say about it:(http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~okccogs/schools/schooldistricts-legals.htm)

"FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT 31: Northeast corner of Section 29-9N-1W. Now 1130 84th Ave NE, Norman. Name taken from the Little River Falls which were nearby."



Here's a picture of it at night.



And right across the road is a path or road to the inlet for the City of Norman's supply pipeline from Lake Thunderbird. Norman's water treatment plant is at 3000 E Robinson, literally just a few miles east of Falls School.

Look for the pictures to be up later this weekend or early next week.

Spring Creative Craft Festival

Spring Creative Craft Festival

Saturday, mar27, 9am - 4 pm

Free Parking & Admission, concessions available.

90+ Craft booths

Cleveland County Fairgrounds

615 E. Robinson, Norman

360-4721

www.clevelandcountyfair.org

Cole Announces Town Hall Meetings

(from the 3/21/10 Norman Transcript p. A3)

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, will hold 10 town hall meetings over the next few weeks. Cole will be available to answer questions and address concerns about federal legislation. members of Cole's staff also will be available to assist residents with federal casework.

"These town hall meetings are a great opportunity to get feedback from Fourth District residents, and I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's ideas and concerns," Cole said.

"With everything that's going on in Washington these days, these forums play a valuable role in shaping debate. I invite everyone to participate and share their views."

More information is available from Cole's Norman office 329-6500 for more information about the town hall meetings. The meetings include 5:30 p.m. March 31 at the Moore Norman Technology Center, Franklin Road Campus, in Norman; noon March 30 at the Murray County Expo Center, 4000 W Highway 7 in Sulphur; 5:30 p.m. April 1 in Lawton at the Comanche County Fairgrounds Annex; 5:30 p.m. April 5 at the Mustang Town Center in Mustang; noon April 6 at the Pauls Valley High School Auditorium; 5:30 p.m. April 7 at the McSwain Theatre in Adal; noon April 8 at the First Baptist Church in Madill; 5:30 p.m. April 8 in Ardmore; noon April 9 in Waurika and 5:30 p.m. April 12 at Rose State College in Midwest City.

Late Season Winter Storm Possible

Looks like Cleveland County may get one last bit of cold and wet weather before springtime.

Oklahoma Railway Through Moore To Norman

I took this from a 1947 map of the State of Oklahoma available at http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1947.pdf. In it you can see a) Robinson Ave in Norman is OK highway 74, and b) the path of the Oklahoma Railway Company (interurban) as opposed to the Santa Fe's track.

Something that I think is really neat in this also is the Farm to Market road just to the east of Moore. It's the road running due north from US-77 to US-270 and has "FM" in a diamond with an arrow pointing to it. Is that Sunylane? sooner? Bryant? I almost want to say it's Eastern. Thoughts anyone?

Oklahoma Railway Co Route ("Interurban") Through Moore And Norman

These are photos I took of reproduction UGSG maps I have.



Overview of the route between Moore and Norman. To me the path taken by the Interurban looks a lot like the path taken by I-35 to the US-77 junction and then the path taken by US-77 down towards Robinson Ave. Note there's no Lake Draper or Thunderbird.





Close up of path of Interurban and AT&SF RR through Moore. The dark line at "T.10 N." is S 4th St. The one above it just about the horizontally written word "AND" is N 12th St. And the one below it where the dark line, US-77, makes an S-curve is S 19th St. See the smaller RR line cutting through the left side of Moore? That's the Oklahoma Railway Co line. The path of the Interurban. Note how it's the path of current-day I-35? It's just slightly to the W of Telephone Ave. north of 12th, and about 1/4 mile E of Telephone Ave. by the time it get to S 4th St.





Path of Interurban and AT&SF RR just south of Moore. Here a few more things become visible. That Broadway Ave. used to be US-77 becomes obvious, for instance. Again though please follow the route of the Interurban. It stays 1/4 mile e of Telephone Ave for a few miles, between S 34th. and what would be S. 49th (S. 164th and S. 179th in OKC street names) it veers off to the east. S 179th. is Indian Hill Rd in Norman, and that's right before Indian Hill Rd is where I-35 veers east. The school name I have highlighted in yellow is where a school was located at that time. Going further south we see that by Franklin Rd. the path has moved almost all the way to the next section line road east (12th Ave NW in Norman in current terms), and that the AT&SF RR bisects the intersection of 12th Ave NE and Franklin Rd. It is between Indian Hill Rd and Franklin Rd where I-35 heads straight south, but where Flood Ave keeps going diagonal.





Closeup of Norman showing termination of the Interurban line and continuation of AT&SF RR through Norman. You can see there were a few more runways at Westheimer Field back then. See how Robinson Ave. is OK-74? It comes in from the west, and then turns south on 24th Ave W and goes down to cross the river, with OK-74A a spur off on Lindsey St to go to OU. Look up by North Campus and you see where the AT&SF RR and Interurban lines runs, but if you look closely you can see a spur off to the west Westheimer Airport. It looks like it continues to run alongside the AT&SF RR for a bit more down to just north of Acres St and current day Andrews Park in Norman. If you think about it the RR right-of-way north of Acres seems wider than south of it, no?





Finally here's info about when the originals of these maps were made. This is from the map showing Moore. The one showing Norman is from 1936 with "1951 corrections."

---

Grown-Up Games Night at the Norman Library

(From the 2/22/10 Norman Transcript, Front Page)

The Norman Library is having Grown-Up Games nights (i.e. Rock Band, Wii Sports, Halo, Left 4 Dead). The next one is April 23.

http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x568428266/Grown-up-games

County Extension offers gardening class

(This is from the 2/18/10 Norman Transcript, p. A5)

The Cleveland County extension will offer a free 'Backyard Vegetable Gardening' seminar, presented by horticulturalist Tracey Payton.

Topics will include general information on gardening, including planting seeds, growing transplants, caring for the garden, common insect and disease control, as well as what can be grown in Oklahoma.

The seminar will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. March 3 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds classroom at 601 E Robinson St. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by march 2 by calling the Cleveland County Cooperative Extension at 321-4774.

City Passes Tax Rebate For Target

"Chris Lundy, manager of public partnerships with the Target corporation addressed city council members Monday night to discuss building a store in Moore.

"The Moore Economic Development Authority voted unanimously for a sales tax rebate to Target."

Moore Target Store Is One Step Closer To Reality

From the Moore American article:

"Lundy asked for a sales tax rebate agreement between the Moore Economic Development Authority and Terry Fritts dba Teddy Bear Partners, LLC, as incentive to cause the development of a Target store on SW 19th Street west of Fritts Boulevard."

http://www.themooreamerican.com/local/local_story_034080037

Snow Depth Totals

Snowfall In Norman Near South Classen And East Lindsey

 

It's Not All About The Weather

I know as of late most of my posts have been about weather. Rest assured Gentle Readers that this isn't a weather-centric blog, I've been putting up the weather info because it's weather that's affecting the Verbeck/Norman area pretty hard.

To ease your mind, here are some of the topics I'm working on posting:

- history of the massive fire at Griffin Memorial Hospital
- tour of Peters from Robinson to Classen
- location of Oklahoma City Railway Co.'s stations in Verbeck and Norman
- what went through where I-35 is now in Verbeck before there was I-35
- why is Moore Public Schools district I-2 when originally I-2 was named Oak Grove and was out in R1E instead of over near Moore as I-62 is in R3W, both in T10N
- photo tour and what history I can find on Falls School, I-31, in R1W, T9N

Winter Storm Peaking This Evening

The Verbeck/Norman area can expect 0.5" to 1.0" of Glaze and 1"-4" of sleet/snow.

Tonight is a good night to stay in I think.

Here Comes The Storm

Winter Storm Peaking Thursday Afternoon & Night

Things are not looking good at all for OKC or the Verbeck/Norman area either one. 0.25" to 0.75" of "glaze" expected along with 1"-2" of sleet/snow. Forecasting is that it's going to hit hardest in the afternoon.

Revised Snowfall Totals Thursday Morning Through Friday Morning

Verbeck/Norman area is going to get 1/4" to 1/2" of ice and 1"-2" of sleet and snow is the latest forecast as of noontime Wednesday.

Update: Weather Thursday Morning Through Friday Morning

Gas up your car and lay in supplies, I don't think you're going to want to get out much Thursday evening or even Friday morning. We're looking at 0.25" to 0.5" of ice and 2"-6" of sleet and snow in the Verbeck/Norman area.

Weather Thursday Morning Until Friday Morning

1/4 inch of ice and 2-6 inches of snow and sleet for the Moore/Norman area. South of us will get hit worse with the ice. Of course the exact boundaries can still shift north or south and we won't know for sure what happens until it gets here.

2nd Friday Art Walk On Downtown Main

Reposting from Nompton's blog.

"The Norman Arts Council presents the first 2nd Friday Circuit of Art, 6-10 p.m., Feb. 13. Beginning at the parking lot at University St. and Main St. near Copelands, Oklahoma wineries will offer wine samples while CART will carry patrons to multiple stops in the Downtown and Campus Arts Districts for a night on the town. For more information, contact 405.360.1162."

Another Winter Storm Headed Our Way

Check http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/enhanced.php for the latest.

What Killed OKC's Downtown

In Wichita this weekend. From what little I've seen so far Wichita's
downtown kick's OKC's downtown's butt by far. The biggest thing I've
noticed is that downtown here is connected to the river directly, sits
along it and embraced it. So I think the decision decades ago to kill
the Oklahoma River by building Overholser dam and subsequent drastic
flood control of the river is what killed OKC's downtown.

Sent from my iPhone

"The Lost Ogle" On Why They Think Norman Sucks

The Lost Ogle lists out what they both like and don't like about Norman. It's a good read, they have good points, and the comments are thoughtful.

Second Wave Of Storms

Here's the second wave of storms.

Looks Like Another Wave Of Storms Will Hit Later Tonight

This is from the National Weather Service's Norman Forecast Office.

30 Minutes And It Has Passed

Typical of thunderstorms in these parts I think, short lived but intense duration.

An Unusual January Storm

I usually expect to see these in April or May or June, not January.

Norman To Become A Smart Grid Community

OG&E sent me a letter this past week announcing that Norman "will be one of the first comprehensive smart grid communities in America!"

They're going to replace out current meters with new ones featuring wireless communication to them which will allow:

- automatic notification to OG&E of a power outage
- remote meter reading
- remote connection and disconnection

There's also a link where we can sign up to be "part of a ground-breaking study" about energy usage. Enrollment in that part is limited, and there's a separate web site to go to for signing up to be in it. I'm guessing that they're going to have a program where you can see real-time how much electricity you're using or something along those lines.

I signed up to enroll in the program.

I would never have guessed somewhere in Oklahoma would be one of the pilot cities in the Nation.

Ozzie's Diner, OU Max Westheimer Airport, Norman, OK

Moore American Story on Incahoots Zoning Variance Request

The Moore American ran a story today, available on-line, about the Incahoots rezoning request. It was titled "City Denies Rezoning, Honors 25 Year Employees" and I won't reproduce it here, but you can get to it by clicking on the title of this post or by doing cut/paste on this URL: http://www.themooreamerican.com/local/local_story_006111220

Tea With Downtown On The Range

Met up with Nick Roberts, author of Downtown On The Range, this morning for tea and hot chocolate. It was a very pleasant and enjoyable meeting, we discussed downtown OKC, Cleveland County/Norman/Moore, and the rest of the metro area too.

I took three pics. The first is looking south on Broadway from N 9th, the second is of Nick as he's in his car about to pull away (he rolled down the window and waved if you can tell) and the third of where we had coffee.

2009 Regional Snow Routes - OCARTS Area

Snow routes in the Oklahoma City Area Regional Transportation Study area, courtesy of the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments.

2010 1 4 Moore City Council meeting livebolg

7:34 pm
Meeting adjourned.

7:30 pm
Back in the City Council meeting, no comments from citizens as a whole or from Councilmembers, City Manager introduces a new Parks and Recreation director, also that City learned from blizzard tips for how to handle the next blizzard (laughter).

7:28 pm
blogger's notes: small turnout, only 18 people in the audience and that's counting City staff who are attending (e.g. Chief of Police, Economic Director, Planning). Also the City Attorney is the same as when I received a traffic ticket in Moore about 20 years ago.

7:26 pm
Next item of business, contract with a company to handle subgregation (sp?) type services. Item passes. They then go into Moore Public Works Authority meeting, Risk Management Authority (?), etc.

7:24 pm
Motion to deny the request made and seconded. Unanimous vote to deny the request.

7:22 pm
New City Center rep says one of the reasons it's so attractive is that it's an existing structure and that with a new building that advantage is lost. They also say that its possible to have 10 people who loudly say they don't want it versus 100 who don't say much.

7:20 pm
Sixth Councilmember doesn't really have a problem with it, says it would be nice to have a club locally to go dance at, seems that hearing the folks who have spoken tonight maybe that's not the right location but that there's a desire for this sort of establishment. They also raise a concern if they will be able to find another tenant for the property. General agreement amongst the Council that this is a tough decision and many remark they have changed their minds a couple of times tonight.

7:19 pm
Fifth Councilmember says it's not the majority of people who will be attending it's the 5% or so who are going to be a problem that concerns them.

7:18 pm
Fourth Councilmember says Moore is known as a bedroom community and cites "culture and vaules" of the City and that isn't the image that's desired.

7:16 pm
Second Councilmember says they've thought of it a bit and says a use like that really has to be in the proposed location to be that kind of use at all.

7:14 pm
Third Councilmember who was on the 2020 land use planning committee says that the strong desire was to have retail and, they're asked by a different Councilmember where such a business should live and they don't have an answer.

7:12 pm
Second Councilmember says their inclination is to not overturn the Planning Commission, and that this they've heard more from citizens on this issue than anything else in their seven years on Council and that the citizens have made their desires known.

7:09 pm
General discussion amongst the Council. One Councilmember says many citizens have been saying that it's not a location thing, it's just that they don't want it in Moore.

7:07 pm
Mayor asks Chief of Police his opinion, he says there's no perfect bars and that it will generate more calls for service than a retail service and that the Sheriff's Deputies will be basically citizens in uniform since they will be out of their jurisdiction.

7:06 pm
New City Center rep says when they speak of CLEET certified they are looking at using OK County Sheriff Officers to work security.

7:02 pm
Councilmember asks the New City Center rep if the folks looked elsewhere like S 19th and he says no, and that of the required property notifications to the zoning request only three were residences. Councilmember asks Planning what traffic plans are for the area, Staff says that re-work of 5th and I-35 intersection is being considered but nothing specific yet. Councilmember also asks Planning how long spot has been empty, New City Center rep says Ace Hardware vacated January, 2009.

7:00 pm
Third citizen speaks, property owner of a car wash in the vicinity of the property. Concern seems ot be about the proximity of the 5th street park to the location as well as possible vandalisim problems.

6:57 pm
Second citizen speaks, says there's a big difference between CLEET certified security and CLEET certified police and that security officers would work for business and look out for those interests rather than interests of City as police do. Feels this type of establishment would increase likleyhood of traffic accident.

6:55 pm
Citizen input starts, first speaker is concerned about security and noise, business like this would be better situated where there is already security and lighting.

6:54 pm
Councilmember asks if permissive use goes with the applicant or the property, City Attorney responds it sticks with the property not the applicant.

6:51 pm
"High-Impact Recreational Use" is what Staff sees the proposed use not a Retail use and that should it be allowed is a community decision.

6:49 pm
New City Center rep says only about 450 people in club on busiest nights, and that's only about 150 cars, "that's not a lot of cars". So far the discussion reminds me of the one a while back in Norman over Kongo's.

6:45 pm
New City Center representative is saying 74% occupancy rate, only 3% growth forecast, that City lost ~$45,000 in tax revenue last year, and that CLEET sertified security will be provided.

6:41 pm
Architect representing the owner of New City Center speaks to the Council. Plans are to have dance floor in the center of 12,000 sq ft facility. Plan are to make it easy for groups traveling to/from play dates elsewhere to stop and play. Folks wanting this change own a bar in Bricktown and one in Tulsa, estimate ~$94,000 tax revenue to City of Moore in the first year based on ~$2 million sales.

6:38 pm
Staff recommends against, saying that the intent of the retail/commercial area C4 in the 2020 land use plan didn't include a high-density entertainment use, suggests that if Council approves there be additional parking required and CLEET certified security personnel on-site. Staff says Planning Commission denied based on traffic concerns.

Rezoning is C4 to C4 with permissive use for bar and dance hall. 621 I-35 Frontage Rd.

About to begin liveblogging the Moore City Council Meeting

City of Moore 2020 Land Use Map

The City of Moore has its 2020 land use map on-line for reference. The Planning Division also has zoning ordinance info available on their site at http://www.cityofmoore.com/Services/Community_development/Planning_division/

I mention this now because I'm hearing through the grapevine (actually Facebook) that tonight 1/4/10 at 6:30 in their Council meeting the City of Moore is going to be considering an application to let an Incaoots open in the former Ace Hardware location in the City of Moore Center. For those with really long term memories you'll recall that was a Humpty's long, long ago. Check out Mark Hamm's Facebook page for info and discussion: http://www.facebook.com/#/marks.hamm?v=feed&story_fbid=260837279401

I'm going to try and make the meeting and I will try and liveblog during it even.

Hobby Lobby Is Coming To Moore

I thought Moore already had a store but I guess they don't, the closest to them is probably the one at SW 89th and S Western Ave.

"Construction has begun on a 55,000 square-foot Hobby Lobby store in the Shops at Moore at 2650 Service Road. This is Hobby Lobby's 23rd store in Oklahoma.

"The store will open in the spring."

City of Norman Hosts Public Forum Series On Sustainable Water Resources

I'm glad to see them getting ahead of the curve at least some.

"The City of Norman will host a public forum series on sustainable water resources beginning 6 p.m. Thursday inside the Norman City Council Chambers, 201 W. Gray St.
(...)
"In 2009, the City of Norman joined other regional municipalities in the development of the 2009 Regional Water Supply Plan for Central Oklahoma. As part of the study, the City of Norman updated the annual average day water demand projections for the current service area to determine the necessary raw water supply augmentation for the entire region.

"The city says the study revealed that projected water demands for the region exceeded the sustainable yields of the potential source waters in Central Oklahoma."

Snow Sat Eve 1/2/10

Looks like we're going to be getting more snow, but not a lot of accumulation I'm not thinking.