Transcript: The Community Focus Update (09/09/20)

The Community Focus Update Date: September 9. 2020

Note: This is a working document information may change (FSG)

Covid-19 Disclaimer (PPT Video/Chroma Key)

-:60 Opener/Lower third (Mike) (One shot) (Zoom in) Mike: Welcome to our 30th episode of the Community Focus Update. I’m Michael Woodruff. Location Unknown (One shot) Mike: In this week’s episode, we’ll learn about an upcoming celebration in Commerce. We’ll talk about a cleaning effort in Quapaw, and later in the program we will give the specifics of a recent city ordinance passed by the city of Miami to address the spike in utility bill issues. Before we get into the news, let’s talk about our sponsors. - Graphic Mike: Elegance Unleashed; Owner Deb Swank offers a full service salon for you and your family. They offer a wide variety of services from haircuts to pedicures. Due to easing of state and local Covid-19 rules Elegance Unleashed, will be taking one-on-one appointments. Children and the disabled can be accompanied by one adult. As a safety caution all clients are asked to wear surgical masks. If you don’t have a mask one will be provided. Deb wants to thank everyone for their past patronage and looks forward to serving returning and new customers. For an appointment call 918-544-6976.

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Mike: Do you or a loved one need home care? Then give Caring Hands Home Services a call at 417-825-5600. Caring Hands Home Services offers covid-19 compliant care in your home with light cooking and cleaning. With stay at home orders issued by state and local governments, Caring Hands Home Services is an essential business and offers grocery pickup from your favorite store! Caring Hands Home Services serves Ottawa County and the Joplin Metro area. -Graphic

Mike: We also want to thank Rachel's Marvelous Masks. In this current state of caution why not look trendy and wear a mask that suits your personality. With masks starting at $8, Local seamstress Rachel Sanda reminds you to spread love, not germs! For more information visit Rachel's Marvelous Masks on Facebook or call (918) 244-1049.

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Mike: The Ottawa County Farmers Market is now open and following CDC covid-19 guidelines to include “one way in, one way out” service, hand washing stations, social distancing, and all vendors wearing masks. The Ottawa County farmers market is every Thursday afternoon from 4 to7 at 225 B St NW behind All Saints Episcopal Church for more information visit OttawaCounty FM dot com.

-Graphic Mike: If you’d like to advertise or be a sponsor of The Community Focus Update it’s only $10 an episode during the covid-19 pandemic. Email me at Michael Woodruff Media Management dot com with the Word “advertising” in the subject line. (One Shot/Graphic) (Voter Registration Deadline) Mike: The deadline to register to vote is Friday, October 9th, 2020.

Oklahoma Voter Registration applications must be received or postmarked by October 9th to be eligible to vote in the General Election on November 3rd, 2020.

If an eligible voter will not turn 18 years of age until after October 9th but on or before November 3rd they can still submit an application to be eligible to vote.

Visit the OK Voter Portal to make sure you are a registered voter and all your information is up to date. https://okvoterportal.okelections.us/

Voter registration applications can be found through the Oklahoma State Election Board website or the Ottawa County Election Board office located in the Courthouse Annex at 123 E Central Ave, Suite 104. Download an application from the link on the screen or by visiting this shows transcript at WoodruffMediaManagement do com slash news https://www.ok.gov/…/doc…/Voter_Registration_Application.pdf.

(One shot/Graphic) (Commerce Mayors Race)

Mike: With the step down of Commerce Mayor Michael Hart a back in (Month), Commerce has an interm mayor until the community can elect a new one in November. -Graphic Mike: Currently The Interm Mayor Elijah Redden and Lifelong resident Jackie Smith are on the ballot for November 3rd’s election. We’ve reached out to both candidates and plan to feature both of them in upcoming Meet the Candidates segments.

(One shot/Graphic) (Commerce Celebrates Mexican Independence)

Mike: Coming up this Saturday September 12th, Commerce is celebrating Mexico's Independence from Spain that happened on September 16th, 1810.

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-Starting at 2 pm, art instructors will be available to teach the cultural meaning of the sombreo, children will have the option to make their own sombreo. There will be an art and craft stall where children can create their own art with colored pencils and paintings. An other art project featuring creating a chalk mural will also be created by celebration goers on the sidewalk that edges the sidewalk of historic Route 66

-Inflatable bounce houses and activities will happen from 2 pm to 6 pm. -Starting at 6 pm, Missouri's Mariachi Flor will take the stage and perform mariachi band favorites.

-At 8 pm, it’s the El Grito contest! While the contest is free to enter. Anyone under the age of 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Prizes will be awarded to 1st and 2nd place and the winner will be entitled to brag over the next year!

-Food vendors will line up in the center of the city, giving everyone the opportunity to try different traditional Mexican meals and desserts. There will be other food vendors available.

* If you have interest in demonstrating or showing your art, space is available for $ 10

If you have any questions, contact Commerce City at: 918-675-4373.

* Social distancing is encouraged; all booths and activities will be disinfected regularly during the day.

Mike: According to the US Census over 18% of Commerce residents are of hispanic or latin origins.

(One shot/ Graphic) (Covid at Miami High School)

Mike: Last week we reported Miami High school had it’s first reported case of covid-19 among students, according to another Faceboook post by Superintendent Jeremy Hogan, a swecond student has been tested for covid-19. Currently there are two students with reported cases in high school and a care provider who works at Will Rogers Middle school and Nichols Upper Elementary, this staff member had contact with seven students. On response to this families received a personalized correspondence from a team member. After consultation with the Ottawa County Health Department, and in an abundance of caution, these students will quarantine for 14-days and participate in distance learning. With that Mr. Hogan renterated the following,

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“Our greatest priority remains the safety of our students, staff, and community members. While I pray those quarantined do not experience symptoms, this decision is made to protect others, not in close contact with the positive case. We continue to encourage all parents to temperature scan and monitor students closely for any signs of potential illness. Students should remain home if they exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, new or persistent cough, headache, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, and/or stomach issues (diarrhea).

Mike: If you have any questions, please contact Miami Public Schools at (918) 542-8455. To watch a full presentation of Miami public Schools covid-19 plan you can visiting this shows transcript at WoodruffMediaManagement do com slash news.

MPS Community Update:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG3TDSc35u4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3mpviQu4qiLeOXUcFXCo1Mbsq3cc7i9GgG5jyoTEITK-oI_HZ6UxZWoL0

(One shot/Video) (Main Street Construction)

Mike: If you haven’t been to downtown Miami expect to be inconvenienced with street construction Starting Tuesday, September 8th the south-bound lane of North Main Street from 4th Ave to 3rd Ave will be closed for approximately 2 weeks for contractors to install a new water main. This is part of a bigger project as Miami Mayor Bless Parker explained to me recently.

Upper Third: Ottawa County Fair August ___,20

Lower Third: Bless Parker, Mayor, City of Miami

(One shot/Graphic) (Town of Quapaw Clean Up) Mike: Starting this week the town of Quapaw is having a citywide clean up until the 15th of September. A dumpster is provided for residents to drop off pretty much anything except tires, paint, chemicals or batteries. While you may be tempted to turn someones trash into your treasure, town officials say there is no dumpster diving permitted. Dumpsters will be located at 4th and White bird.

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(Free School Lunches at Wyandotte) Mike: On Friday September 4th, Wyandotte public schools announced ALL STUDENTS and children, 0-18 years of age, may receive free meals through the Wyandotte child nutrition program. Oklahoma has been granted a waiver through December 31st for this program or until federal funding runs out. WPS officials also stressed the importance for parents to fill out a free/reduced meal application. WPS also plans to provide lunches for students on "virtual days" with a drive-thru pickup. More information visit the Wyandotte Public Schools Facebook Page.

Mike: Coming up after the break, we’ll have more information about a recent ordinance passed by the Miami City council that address recent surprise fee increases on utilities. Trivia: The word “meme” (meem) was create by Richard Dawkins in 1976 which means something That is imitated or passed on.

Comercial Break Unity of Joplin (Paid)

(One Shot/Graphic)

(City Ordinance Passed)

Mike: For sometime now we've been reporting on Miami residents who got Utility bills in the mail that were higher than expected. While Miami Mayor Bless Parker, INterim City Manger Tyler Cline and everyone at the utilities department have been working diligently in figuring out the problem they are quickly learning everyone's problem with their bill is different. As Mayor Parker Explains in this recent interview.

-Interview at Ottawa County Fair August 15th, 2020 Lower Third: Bless Park, Mayor, City of Miami Mike: And that's what the Miami City Council did. They passed ORDINANCE NO. 2020-7 at last week's City Council Meeting which amends AMENDING SECTION 24-33 (INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE FOR FAILURE TO PAY AND DISCONTINUANCE AND FINAL BILLING) AND ADDING SECTION 35.1 (DEFINITION OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES) OF DIVISION 1 (GENERALLY) OF ARTICLE II (RATES AND CHARGES) OF CHAPTER 24 (UTILITIES) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Here's the entire conversation that led to the passage of this ordinance.

Lower Third: Ben Lorring, City Attorney, City of Miami

Mike: Ordinance 2020 dash seven was passed via Emergency Clause which is passed for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and takes effect immediately upon Two separate affirmative votes of at least ¾ of ALL the members of the City Council (currently 4 affirmative votes are required). While the city council did not provide a flat-out reason as required by 11 O.S. §14-103, it is the input by the public and continuous action taken by the city council to address the problem makes it obvious this ordinance required such a response. To read the ordinace in it's entirety visit this shows transcript at WoodruffMediaManagement do com slash news .

Mike: After the break we’ll tell you what’s coming up next week on The Community Focus Update. Here’s a piece of trivia you may not know. Trivia: Watch video for trivia

Commercial Break -Featherstone (Paid) Miami Chamber of Commerce interview

Mike: Well that’s it for this weeks program. Be sure to like and share this video and become our friend on Facebook. Thanks again for watching.We’ll see you next week!

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