Better plate than never
Oklahoma now has an official centennial plate.
The plate depicts two scissor-trail flycatchers – the state bird – flying around branches of the state tree, the redbud.
The handcrafted plates are made by Frankoma Pottery in Sapulpa. It’s the first commemorative plate made by Frankoma in about 15 years, said Crystal Merryman, owner of the pottery.
The numbered and signed plates come in prairie green and sell for $100 each.
They’re signed by Merryman and Murv Jacob, the artist who …
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Lovely Lauren Nelson
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye was clearly smitten with Miss America Lauren Nelson on Tuesday.
Nelson, of Lawton, testified before Inouye’s committee about protecting children from Internet predators, but, before she could even open her mouth, the Hawaii Democrat called her “lovely” twice.
Then, after she finished her statement, Inouye (pronounced In-O-Way) said he had heard “thousands” of witnesses give testimony in his years on Capitol Hill _ he’s been here since 1959 _ but that her statement was “one of …
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Oklahoma snapshots
After driving 60,000 miles in 20 months, Mike Klemme has put together a photographic essay of Oklahoma.
One of the hardest tasks, he said, was paring down the more than 20,000 images he shot to about 400 that are included in the coffee-table book.
‘That was quite an editing process,” said Klemme, who presented a copy of the book today to Gov. Brad Henry. The governor wrote the book’s foreword.
Klemme, a professional photographer from Enid, has spent the past 25 …
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Boren Being Followed
Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, is one of four lawmakers whose views on the Iraq war are being tracked in a special series by the Washington Post as Congress struggles with the issue.
Boren, the only Democrat in Oklahoma’s seven-person congressional delegation, has been frustrated for months with what he considers a lack of progress by the Iraqi government.
He opposed President Bush’s decision to add more troops this year in a “surge” meant to provide the security necessary for the …
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Farm Bill Chaos
The House Agriculture Committee’s three-day stint to write the new farm bill got off to a chaotic start yesterday, as the new Democratic majority showed it’s still getting used to being in charge.
Some people lined up for hours to get in the cramped hearing room and reporters covering the legislation were told to get there early.
But the committee staff kept the doors locked until just before the meeting began and then only a few people got in. The …
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West is not the best (entrance)
If you’re coming to the Capitol, avoid the west parking lot.
The west entrance – usually open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the best access for the handicapped - is closed as construction is ongoing on the west parking lot.
The southeast entrance now is open 24 hours a day, and is handicapped accessible.
Visitors also may use the east and north entrances during regular business hours.
Construction on the west parking lot is expected to be finished by Nov. 1. …
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Coburn Still Backs Iraq
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, has not changed his mind about the U.S. mission in Iraq, just because some of his Republican colleagues seem to be looking for a new direction.
Coburn said in an interview that it is premature to make judgments about how well the “surge” in military might is working since the deployment of more troops was just recently completed.
He said he was “aghast” that senators were coming out now to voice opinions that the Iraqi government …
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Bush Gives Purple Heart to Oklahoma Soldier
President Bush visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington today and awarded the Purple Heart to Sgt. 1st Class Andy Allen, from Elk City. A picture of Bush and Allen can be seen here.
Chris Casteel
Washington Bureau…
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State officials monitoring flooding, oil spill
Gov. Brad Henry today is looking at flood-ravaged areas of the state.
He left this morning aboard an Oklahoma National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to tour Washington and Ottawa Counties in northeastern Oklahoma.
The governor is expected to take a brief tour this morning in Miami. He is scheduled to meet residents affected by the flooding. He will also visit workers staffing the local emergency operations center.
Henry then will be given an aerial tour of the Bartlesville area, where more …
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