Notes from the Newsroom NewsOK.com Blogging Community

State wildlife officials are worried how much damage will be done to the new Evening Hole and Lost Creek project on the Lower Mountain Fork River as a result of flooding.

Broken Bow Lake on Monday reached its highest level ever (more than 26 feet above normal) and the flood gates have been opened for only the third time in its history, releasing water into the Lower Mountain Fork River and flooding popular trout fishing areas such as Spillway Creek and Evening Hole.

Beavers Bend State Park has been closed and more rain is forecast. Paul Balkenbush, southeast region fisheries chief for the state Wildlife Department, said some structural damage has already occurred around Lost Creek, a new trout stream that state wildlife officials constructed in 2006.

“We don’t know what it’s going to do to our project,” Balkenbush said of the flooding. “We are cautiously optimistic, but it could be a big deal if we get the rain that is projected.”

Balkenbush said several people have asked what will happen to the trout.

“I think the trout will find their way,” he said. “They will get dispersed around a little bit, but they will find places to hang out until it calms down.”

Trout anglers should keep their fingers crossed and hope all of the work the state Wildlife Department did to improve Evening Hole and to build Lost Creek will not be washed away.

Ed Godfrey, Outdoors Editor

Nothing will bring you down faster than figuring out it will take you multiple lifetimes to earn what OU coach Bob Stoops will earn this year. His total package amounts to $5.75 million in 2008, although he could earn more if he hits certain bonuses during the 2008 season.

So, if you’ve got some anti-depressants handy, why not check out our Bob Stoops Salary Calculator here at NewsOK.com.

Just enter your annual salary–to the nearest thousand–and see what Stoops earns for each year, month, week, day and hour compared to you. The calculator will also let you know how many years you’ll have to work to earn what Stoops will make this year.

For some added comparison, why not enter OU President David Boren’s salary (about $373,000 this year) or Gov. Brad Henry’s ($140,000) and see how they stack up next to Stoops?

Just don’t contact me for any follow-up counseling.

–Paul Monies, Database Editor

Not that anyone needs another reason to root against the New England Patriots as they seek to complete their perfect season, but here’s one you may not have been aware of: your wallet.

There is a strong correlation between the Super Bowl champion and the annual performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Index, the oldest, most prestigious stock index. When a team that was an original member of the American Football League wins the big game, the Dow slumps. When a member of the original National Football League wins, the Dow surges. It works about 80 percent of the time, a success rate the envy of any stock picker. Most recently, it worked last year when the Indianapolis Colts, an original NFL franchise, took the championaship and the Dow gained 6.4 percent.

So if you’re not already swayed by the Patriots’ cheating, slovenly, Machiavellian despot of a coach, their cheating (girlfriend, not football) quarterback or their cheating (drug policy violation) defensive back, then just vote your pocketbook. (And their uniforms are ugly.)

Back the Pack. Your portfolio will thank you.

Don Mecoy
Business Writer