President Issues Disaster Declaration for Oklahoma

Due to the devastation caused by the major ice storm that moved through Oklahoma last week, President Bush issued a major disaster declaration for seven Oklahoma counties. President Bush has ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by the severe winter storms.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storms in the counties of Cleveland, Lincoln, Mayes, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Tulsa, and Wagoner.

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

Utility companies across Oklahoma say they expect to restore electricity to most customers later today (12-19) or tomorrow.

Power Still Out Across the State

We have been lucky enough that we haven't lost power. Jenn's mom did and came and stayed with us for 2 days. Her car was literally frozen to a tree outside her apartment! I had to go to Norman and bring her back to OKC. Norman was completely dark. Wal-Mart was closed. There were 2 McDonald's open and busy, busy, busy.


Thousands in Dark After Huge Ice Storm (excerpts)

A massive storm that dropped sleet and freezing rain across the nation's
midsection, leaving nearly a million utility customers without electricity,
finally tapered off, but another wintry blast was forecast to develop Wednesday
over the southern Plains.

At least 24 deaths have been blamed on the storm since it developed
last weekend. Most resulted from traffic accidents. The 24 deaths blamed
on the weather include 15 in Oklahoma, four in Kansas, three in Missouri and one
each in Nebraska and Michigan.

The owner of a tree service in Tulsa, Okla. calls it a storm of "biblical
proportions." He estimates it will take six months to clean up the damage from
the ice storm affecting that city and many others across the nation's
midsection.

The power outage was the worst ever in Oklahoma, with more than 618,000
homes and businesses without electricity late Tuesday. Officials said it could
be a week to 10 days before power is fully restored.

"We're relying on people to look after each other," Oklahoma City Mayor
Mick Cornett said. "At the end of the day, this comes down to the strength of
your people. ... People who have electricity ought to be sharing it with people
who don't."


"We've got kerosene lamps and a fireplace," said Charita Miller of
Oklahoma City. "We're OK. We can't watch TV. Oh well, you can't have everything.
It's just me and my husband. My husband said, `there's food in the
freezer.'"

Sonya Kendrick, who spent Monday night at one of several American Red Cross
shelters set up in Oklahoma City, said a tree ripped the electrical box off the
side of her house, and she needed a warm place to take her three children until
repairs could be made.

Officials in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma had declared states of emergency. President Bush declared a federal emergency in Oklahoma on Tuesday, ordering government aid to supplement state and local efforts.

Crazy Ice!

We are iced in! There was some crazy storms this weekend and they are predicting snow now. Our office is closed and the boys school is closed. I haven't even tried to go out and scrape my car, yet. It is like a brick of ice! We tried to break off some of the ice that was on our front porch. I got a chunk and it was about 2 inches thick! I hope it all starts melting soon!

Getting Cold

Well, we have had the most beautiful weather the last few weeks. It is cold at night and in the early mornings, but it slowly gets up to around 70 F by afternoon and is just lovely. I have been taking the boys to the park a lot. They have played outside in the back almost every evening after I get home from work. They swing and slide and dig in the sandbox and they have a lot of bubble stuff that they have been blowing bubbles with. And don't forget sidewalk chalk!

Today, it is cold. (For Oklahoma, it is cold.) It was 40 F this morning and it still is around 50 F now, at noon. *sad* I am not ready to give up this wonderful weather we have been having. The meteorologist is saying we are in a freeze alert for tonight. It is supposed to be 30 F overnight. Wow.

I guess it is finally starting to be winter weather. It was so nice to actually have an Autumn. It has been years since we really have. It usually goes straight from summer to winter, with maybe 5 days of autumn-like weather. I am going to miss it.

Earn Free College Tuition!

I don't know if anyone will read this, but it is such a great program, I wanted to mention it here. It is called OHLAP (Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program). Eighth, Ninth and Tenth grade students (in Oklahoma), whose annual family income is $50,000 or less can earn free college tuition!

To enroll in the program, kids must:

• Be an Oklahoma resident,


• Apply during 8th-, 9th- or 10th-grade year, and


• Be the child of parents who earn $50,000 or less per year at the time of application.

Requirements:

• Graduate from an Oklahoma High School,


• Take 17 units of high school courses and acheive at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in those courses,


• Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5 for all courses in grades 9-12,


• Attend school regularly,


• Do your homework,


• Stay away from drugs and alcohol,


• Don't commit criminal or delinquent acts,


• Provide information when requested,


• Meet with a school official to go over your school work and records on a regular basis,


• Apply for other financial aid during your senior year of high school, and


• Take part in Oklahoma's Promise - OHLAP activities that will prepare you for college.

After you've completed the program's requirements, Oklahoma's Promise - OHLAP will help pay your tuition at an Oklahoma public two-year college or four-year university. It will also cover a portion of tuition at an accredited private college or university or for courses offered at a public technology center that qualify for credit from a public tw0-year college.

Parents must supply prove of income, sign the agreement and promise to help you successfully reach the goals of the program.

If you don't qualify for this program, see your counselor for information on additional scholarships, grants and student loans, or visit Oklahoma higher education's website.

'Oklahoma Rising' in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

OSU coach to represent Oklahoma on parade float

Wow... apparently the OSU wrestling coach John Smith will be on the Oklahoma float in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The float is called "Oklahoma Rising," and World Series hero Joe Carter, Olympic gymnasts Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci, basketball great Wayman Tisdale, B-M-X legend Matt Hoffman and gospel singer Sandi Patty are also going to be on it.

This float is part of Oklahomas centennial celebration, commemorating 100 years of statehood.

Not that I don't like Smith, he is an Olympian, but some of the choices. Why Nadia Comaneci? She is Russian, not Oklahoman? Weird! Matt Hoffman rocks and that is really cool. His daughter, G and son, J were in school with E a couple of years ago.

But Sandi Patty? Come on... we've got Vince Gill, Reba McEntyre, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith... Carrie Underwood, even.

We have several astronauts... I wonder why they couldn't get Gordon Cooper or Shannon Lucid? And what about Ron Howard, Brad Pitt, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Rue McClanahan, James Garner, and on and on....

Anyway, I love that we are going to have a float and we need to toute our famous Oklahomans, but I wish they could have more! :)