Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz (left), Arkansas Waterways Executive Director Cassandra Caldwell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen. Christopher Beck, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority Chair Dewey Bartlett and Sen. Jim Inhofe Chief of Staff Luke Holland attended a 50th anniversary event Friday at the Port of Catoosa.
Credit Matt Trotter / KWGS
Tulsa Ports is marking 50 years since the Port of Catoosa opened.
President Richard Nixon was on hand June 5, 1971, to dedicate it and the 445 mile long McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System that connects northeast Oklahoma to the Mississippi River.
One of the largest projects in the U.S. to combine wind and solar energy with battery storage is right here in Oklahoma. This is the first of its kind not only in Oklahoma but in the United States, said Bryan Garner, with the Skelton Creek Project. It’ll have wind energy, solar energy, and it will have battery energy storage tying all of that together in one place. And that one place is Oklahoma – specifically in Garfield and Alfalfa counties, where farmers can take advantage of the energy. This is going to set a precedent not only for Oklahoma but for the whole region to see the benefits of green energy, Garner said.We all know the wind in Oklahoma is powerful, and this company is using that power to help make our carbon footprint a little smaller. This is a great opportunity to expand access to clean energy. Good for the environment and also good for the economy, Garner said.According to Garner, the Skelton Creek Project will bring a lot of new jobs to Oklahoma, which
Credit Matt Trotter / KWGS
After eight months, half-day furloughs every Friday have come to their expected end for hundreds of City of Tulsa employees.
The furloughs were implemented to help the city deal with with a $13 million budget shortfall. Mayor G.T. Bynum said current fiscal year revenue is staying within a range where extending the furloughs is not necessary, but he and the city council are gearing up for another budget shortfall in FY22. The goal for me and I imagine for my colleagues on the council, too is that we want to make those reductions and not do it through another furloughing. I think furloughs … are a necessary thing from an emergency standpoint, but they’re not a good, long-term budgetary option, Bynum said.
This is gift season.
A collection of items from Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer Jamie Oldaker is being gifted to the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture.
OKPOP, which is under construction and is expected to open in late 2022, will honor actors, artists, authors, musicians and other Oklahoma âcreatives,â including Oldaker.
A âTulsa Soundâ music figure who died in July following a battle with cancer, Oldaker was a drummer whose skills were coveted by legends in the music industry. In addition to touring or recording with Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, Bob Seger, Ace Frehley, Leon Russell and Stephen Stills, Oldaker was a founding member of the Tractors, and he played a major role in advancing Ronnie Dunnâs career.