Municipal Messenger

Spring break across Oklahoma is set for next week, March 16 – 20. Many parents and families will be looking for activities to enjoy with their kids throughout the week.

Oklahoma offers so many activities, close-to-home day-trips as well as over-night trips which offer that ‘get-out-of-town’ feeling we often need.

When Tim Rooney arrived in Mustang seven years ago as the new city manager, he was taking over a booming suburban community southwest of Oklahoma City that faced the usual list of challenges for any fast-growing town – a need for more housing, overworked infrastructure and a demand for more retail development.

Oklahoma’s state Capitol is again alive with activity as the second regular session of the 57th Legislature began Feb. 3. For the next four months, hundreds of bills will make their way through the legislative process, including many that could impact municipal governments across the state.

Housed in the 1912 Electric Park Pavilion, the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum, founded in the 1970’s, contains items as far back as the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run to present day memorabilia. The museum is also an important part of Blackwell’s popular Barn Quilt and Geocache Trail.

When Amy Brown received a call from newly elected Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum inviting her to join his team, she was slightly hesitant because she had recently completed her law degree and saw a different path for herself other than municipal government.

As a new year – and a new decade – has begun, municipal leaders across Oklahoma said 2020 will be a year of new developments and projects, continued discussions on ways to diversify revenue, observing new laws and state policies, and drumming up citizen engagement, especially in a big election year. 

As we approach Census Day, April 1, we will begin to see more and more promotion of the event.  Because the census is so important to our state as well as to our cities and towns, OML wants to encourage you to begin promoting it within your own communities.  To read more about why and how to promote the census, please View Article.

A fourth generation El Reno citizen, White said his work as mayor is built on the love he has for his hometown, population 19,000. The self described “classic El Reno guy” was elected to his fifth term in November and said he credits the victory to his ability to connect with El Reno residents who span the gamut from rough-and-tumble farmers to corporate titans working in downtown Oklahoma City, which is 25 miles east.

Hosted by municipalities, chambers or sometimes non profit organizations, cities and towns across the state are putting on holiday events including skating rinks, decorated downtowns, light displays and shopping festivals.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  The truth of this adage, which dates to the early 1900’s, is that a picture usually does convey an impression much quicker and more effectively than the written word.

Since 1956, Oklahoma Today has served as the official Magazine of Oklahoma.  It provides readers an up-close look at Oklahoma’s best: people, places, attractions, events, arts and culture, and so much more!

Since 2008, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma has been working with Oklahoma communities, through their Institute of Quality Communities program to help deliver environments that foster the quality of life that generations before took for granted.  In working with communities, IQC students evaluate and provide possible solutions in areas of revitalizing Main Street, public spaces, walkability issues, and many more.

Today, the rich history of this theater that began in 1929 is living on due to the love and care of many throughout the community and beyond.

Who is Norman’s sister city?

Norman has four Sister Cities:

-       Clermont-Ferrand, France (relationship started in 1987 and agreement signed in 1994)

-       Colima, Mexico (relationship started in 1995 and agreement signed in 1997)

-       Seika, Japan (relationship started in 1996 and agreement signed in 2005)

-       Arezzo, Italy (agreement signed in 2011)

On Saturday, October 26, the City of Anadarko, along with Caddo County, will host its first annual Kids, Kites, and Frights event 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 P.M. in downtown Anadarko and the surrounding areas.

Is the proper name of this community Pryor or Pryor Creek? That is a very interesting question and the answer maybe that it is both…