By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer
published Jan. 3, 2009

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a three-part series looking at the top stories of 2008.

The second half of 2008 brought a wave of change as Mustang Superintendent Karl Springer left for the top post in the Oklahoma City School District.

Bonnie Lightfoot took the reins as interim superintendent as Mustang School Board members started their search for a new superintendent.

Elections also brought a wave of change as state Sen. Steve Russell and state Rep. Leslie Osborn were sworn into the Oklahoma Legislature in November. In January, four new county officials will take top posts — Randall Edwards as sheriff, David Anderson as District 2 Commissioner, Shelley Dickerson as county clerk and Marie Ramsey as court clerk.

The Mustang community also celebrated local milestones as Canadian Valley Technology opened a new east campus and federal officials dug golden shovels into earth marking the beginning of construction of a National Guard armory.

July
Failures on a $1.5 million road overlay led to a war of words between the County Commissioners.

District 2 Commissioner Don Young said Commissioners Grant Hedrick and Phil Carson were “stabbing me in the back — this is a character assassination. Here they criticize my roads — why isn’t anyone going out to look at their roads? My roads are a lot better than any other in the county.”

The controversy began when questions arose about a 15-mile asphalt overlay project stretching from the south side of the El Reno Regional Airpark, running south to Union City and west from the airpark to Heaston. At that time, records obtained by the Mustang News showed Young spent more than $1.7 million since April 1 on maintenance and operations, more than twice the sum he expended the entire nine months prior to that time.

Young said the bulk of those monies were for the road repair. Records showed $1.5 million was paid to Schwarz Asphalt since April 30, the company completing the asphalt overlay. Young’s road crews completed the preparation work, he said.

Some officials questioned the timing of the “last minute” project, completed in the last months “unlimited funds” were available to the District 2 Commissioner. Because Young was not seeking another term, under state law he could not make any major purchases or dispose of any equipment after June 4, and he is limited in the amount of money he can spend as of July 1.

Oklahoma law dictates that outgoing commissioners can only spend 50 percent of the funds remaining in their coffers six months prior to the end of their term. County records showed Young had $639,537 as of June 30 — which means he will hand over $319,769 if he spends all of the money coming in to his district between now and Jan. 1.

Gayle Ward, director of the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, said the law was designed to prevent outgoing commissioners from wiping out their accounts in the last months of their term.

A crumbling strip of a $1.5 million asphalt overlay undertaken by District 2 Commissioner Don Young grew to about 100 feet, and two road construction experts say it is only the beginning.

Local Technical Assistance Program director Douglas Wright and local government specialist Mike Hinkston traveled from their office in Stillwater to the county July 2 to review the 15-mile strip of road. Wright said although he and Hinkston had heard reports of how the road was prepared and overlaid, he felt it was important to review the project in person.

“We had made comments about how to properly prepare a base and how it might not have been done in this case, based on the reports of failures after only a week,” he said. “We felt we needed to go look at the road to give him (Young) a fair shake.”

After reviewing the road in person, Wright said the $1.5 million spent by Young on the overlay project was not a wise investment, and it would become the next commissioner’s problem — a long-term and expensive one.

“Even if you just patch this, which I think would be very problematic, it’s going to be a constant project, and it certainly won’t be cheap,” he said. “The only way to really fix it is to dig all of it up and start over with the correct base. That could cost at least the amount he initially spent, if not more.”

When Kayla Balliew’s family came to Mustang, Rachel Synco was one of the first people she met — she never imagined two years later she would help prolong her new friend’s life.

Balliew donated her right kidney to Synco in June. Weeks later both young mothers said they are healing faster than they expected.

“This is an awesome opportunity for me, because what are the odds that I am even a match,” Balliew said. “This is an opportunity that God has given me to help, and that is pretty cool. I thought Eve and Naomi need their mom, and I can’t imagine my kids being without me; I can’t imagine her kids being without her.”

A familiar face in the Mustang real estate market is changing with the merger of Marolyn Pryor Realtors with two Coldwell Banker agents.

The merger will bring together about 750 realtors, Pryor said.

Pryor joined Tulsa-based Rader Group and agent Terry Gartside, who services Bixby, Jenks, Sapulpa and Sand Springs, Pryor said. Altogether, the group will comprise 20 offices, which she said is the largest real estate entity in Oklahoma.

“I want to be big-time and expand our Internet service, which is the wave of the future,” Pryor said. “This is good for us, good for our agents and good for our customers. Over 80 percent of buyers go to the Internet now — we need to be able to respond to that.”

Mustang School Board members chose Bonnie Lightfoot as interim superintendent July 14 after approving Karl Springer’s resignation.

Springer is taking over as Oklahoma City School District superintendent.

Board President Jeff Johnson said board members discussed the choice “at length,” and felt Lightfoot, who has worked as deputy superintendent for eight years, would give the district stability and leadership as the board starts its superintendent search.

A 35-year educator, Lightfoot came to the Mustang School District 10 years ago as assistant superintendent after 20 years in the Moore School District.

“I hope we will have a seamless transition,” she said. “I believe Mustang is the greatest district in Oklahoma, and I would not want to ever go anyplace else.”

County Sheriff Lewis Hawkins has put a “no vacancy” sign on the Canadian County jail, refusing to renew annual contracts with cities.

Hawkins said he was forced to take the action after a May 13 bond proposal for a $24.8 million facility failed, and a jail inspection report cited the facility for overcrowding, as well as electrical and water problems.

“When you haven’t got any space, you can’t renew contracts bringing in more prisoners,” Hawkins said.

Cities throughout the county must hold prisoners arrested on municipal charges until the district attorney has filed state charges, Hawkins said.

Mustang school buses burned through more than $12,000 per week in diesel fuel in May, and with prices still climbing, officials are looking to juice more miles out of each dollar spent.

There are no plans to cut bus routes or cancel school activity trips, a move recently taken by several Oklahoma districts to save money. Transportation Director Mike Brown said instead officials are updating route maps, tightening bus stops and trying to make the most of each trip.

As Mustang households cope with rising fuel prices, Brown said school officials are seeing more children riding the school bus. More than 4,000 students ride the bus each day school is in session, and the district’s buses travel 51 routes, or about 581,000 miles in the 2007-2008 school year.

Fuel costs for last school year reached $335,000, an increase of $98,000 from fuel costs in the 2006-2007 school year. A 77-passenger school bus averages about 4.5 miles to the gallon.

Fifty Mustang-area residents are working to form a local Elks lodge, but 25 more are needed before the group can receive its charter.

Elks volunteers gathered for a hot dog and barbecue cookout in Wild Horse Park to raise money for the Mustang Fire Department and awareness of their movement. Bud Englebretson said they raised about $400 for the department’s digital sign fund and drew in fellow Elks from across the state.

“We are a fraternal organization; we do a lot of things for veterans, kids and the community,” he said.

If formed, area resident Charlie Debus is elected to be the first exalted ruler for the Mustang lodge. Debus said he first joined a lodge when he lived in Sand Springs 12 years ago because he heard they partied. After joining he said he learned about their philanthropic missions and was hooked.

“We like to help people, and we like to have a good time doing it,” he said.

For the first time in 19 years Canadian County will have a new sheriff, after challenger Randall Edwards defeated incumbent Lewis Hawkins for the seat.

Edwards, a former sheriff’s deputy, garnered 4,436 votes — more than 61 percent of the total — in comparison to 2,790 ballots cast for Hawkins.

The county’s District 2 Commissioner race did not end, with Mustang contractor David Anderson and publisher Richard Engle living to “fight another day,” when the pair will face an August runoff election for the post.

Anderson topped out votes for the post at 1,042, followed by Engle’s 908 total. The slate was rounded out by county employee Theresa Ramsey at 554, former Commissioner Monty Keely with a total of 388 ballots and Mustang City Councilman Scott Gibson with 271 votes.

Young, who did not seek re-election, will serve until Jan. 2, when the winner of the runoff will take the seat.
Two seats vacated by retiring officers were also contemplated by voters. County Clerk Phyllis Blair’s seat will be filled by her employee Shelley Dickerson, who defeated El Reno legal assistant Barbara Haley, 4,360 to 2,716 votes.

Two of retiring Court Clerk Dee Ray’s employees remained standing in their bid for her post. Marie Ramsey walked away with the Republican bid, garnering 4,505 votes to Allen Arnold’s 2,546 total. The race between the office’s two Democrat candidates was closer — 1,758 to 1,352 votes, with Sherry Murray defeating Anna Hrdy. Ramsey and Murray will face each other in the Nov. 4 general election.

August
Mustang City Council approved the city’s participation in a countywide economic development effort in a 5-2 vote.

Drivers will continue to face traffic snarls at Interstate 40 and Morgan Road for years, while officials plan for a $30-million solution scheduled for construction in late 2009.

Laura Story, Oklahoma City assistant engineer, estimated officials are about 85 percent finished with buying rights of way near the intersection so a water line and entrances to area businesses can be moved to allow for the reconstruction of the interchange.

Construction is expected to take between two and three years, with estimated completion dates in 2011 or 2012, but Story said part of the delay in planning is related to making sure traffic can keep moving both on the highway and Morgan Road during work.

Mustang High School’s ACT scores slid back to 21.7 in 2008 after results cracked 22 last year for the first time in a decade.

Mustang was outscored by 28 other Oklahoma high schools. Oklahoma scores ranged from an average of 31.5 by Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics students to 14.1 scored by Riverside Indian School in Anadarko. Mustang students outpaced the 2008 national average at 21.1 and the state average at 20.7.

Almost 95 percent of Mustang teachers voted in support of the 2008 proposed contract, which includes a $250-per-year salary boost, in addition to a step increase.

Step raises depend on a teacher’s years of experience and can range from $380 per year to $1,000 per year.

Of 483 teachers and certified personnel who cast ballots, 462 voted in favor of the contract, and 21 opposed it.

While the $250 increase, which averages out to about $21 per month, is lower than the $375 boost in the 2007 contract, Greg Johnson, a Mustang Education Association negotiator, said Mustang faired better than Edmond and Mid-Del teachers, who are expected to receive a $175 increase.

Steve Russell called increasing the state income tax credit related to children one of his top priorities when he joins lawmakers in the Oklahoma Senate this February.

Russell won 67 percent of voters’ approval in the Republican primary runoff election to take the state Senate seat 45, which is held by Kathleen Wilcoxson, who could not seek re-election due to term limits.

Russell received 2,767 votes, while candidate Kyle Loveless receive 1,360. Voters in the seven precincts inside Canadian County also supported Russell, with 778 or 64 percent casting their votes for the candidate. Loveless received 436 votes in Canadian County.

David Anderson is the county’s new District 2 Commissioner, winning the runoff election with more than 60 percent of the vote. A Mustang contractor, Anderson, defeated Richard Engle 1,397 to 926 votes.

September
Mustang School Board members approved pay increases for teachers, support staff and administrators.

The district’s personnel costs are expected to climb $2.5 million this school year, Chief Financial Officer Kay Medcalf said, including new positions, experience step raise increases and changes to pay approved by school board members.

Interim Superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot said school officials tried to give support staff workers a pay increase that was fair with consideration given to the Mustang Education Association contract approved recently by teachers, counselors and media center directors.

Support staff will receive a 2-percent pay increase in addition to an experience step raise. Last October, school board members approved a similar pay increase for support workers of between 2 percent and 3 percent. Support staff includes custodians, maintenance workers, secretaries, cafeteria workers and bus drivers.

Medcalf said the pay increases will cost the district $112,269. Another $370,731 will go toward hiring 15 more support staff workers.

Administrators will also receive a pay increase of between 1 percent and 1.5 percent. In 2007, administrator pay increases ranged between 1.5 percent and 2 percent. Medcalf said the increase is expected to cost about $75,927.

Board members also approved the Mustang Education Association contract, which teachers approved earlier this month. Teachers will receive a pay boost of about $250 per year to their experience step increase, which ranges between $380 per year to $1,000 per year.

Fears that a teenager could be struck by a vehicle is leading officials of the Bridge AG Church to call for the closure of Ebeling Drive to traffic.

Bridge AG Pastor Jim McNabb said the stretch of road between state Highway 152 and Rancho Drive has become a concern because on some nights, hundreds of youth may cross the road between church facilities.

“I get complaints from the community they can’t drive through there — cars are blocking,” McNabb said. “Most of all, I have had three different phone calls where someone says, ‘I almost ran over a kid.’ That is when I came and talked to Mr. (City Manager David) Cockrell about crosswalks.”

Besides the pedestrian traffic, McNabb said heavy rains can obscure the path for drivers, leading them to drive off into a ditch. He said the church often has pickups with chains ready to go if needed.

In exchange for the closure, McNabb said his church is willing to build a new road to city specifications on property to the east of Ebeling at no cost to the city. The pastor said the church has already surveyed the properties it owns there and has determined there is enough room for a new street.

Vandalism to the city’s sewer system has left Mustang facing a $10,000 fine from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

City Manager David Cockrell said the two acts of vandalism were on the city’s north side in remote areas and led to two separate instances where the sewer backed up. The sewer overflow fed into residential ponds, causing fish kills, Cockrell said.

“The first was reported by a policeman who was on a routine patrol and patrolling that remote area,” he said. “The next was reported by a local developer who had gone out to check on his property.”

The incidents are leading Cockrell to issue a warning to potential vandals.

“There will be jail time for anyone caught in our sewer system — trying to vandalize our sewer system,” he said.
“Parents need to know and they need to educate their children as well that sewer systems aren’t a playground — they are very dangerous. There are gases that could cause great harm to someone.”

Mustang residents voiced worries if an Oklahoma Department of Transportation plan to abandon state Highway 92 becomes a reality, city governments’ will not keep the road repaired.

State Transportation Commissioners were scheduled to hear a proposal Nov. 3 to remove the roadway between state Highway 66 and state Highway 152 from the state’s system. The issue was tabled, and it has not yet resurfaced on the commission agenda.

Mustang Mayor Jeff Landrith asked transportation officials if their decision to abandon state Highway 92 is connected to costs of construction related to the state Highway 4 bridge over the south Canadian River connecting Mustang to Tuttle and state Highway 37.

Landrith said he is concerned because he has been told of conversations between Mustang city staff and transportation officials about a possible deal to approve the proposal in exchange for resolving about $735,000 in debt the city still owes, stemming from the construction of the state Highway 4.

The conversation about the remaining debt is not a trade-off, City Manager David Cockrell said, and has no bearing on state transportation officials’ decisions regarding Highway 92.

Cockrell explained when the state Highway 4 bridge was built Mustang agreed to pay approximately $980,000 in right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, engineering and construction costs for the project in a partnership with Canadian County. Mustang officials promised to pay off the debt over four years, he said, but so far the city has made one payment for about $235,000.

Adams said Mustang still owes $735,000 through its agreement with Canadian County, while the county owes about $30,000.

Mustang Valley Elementary teachers have 3,000 reasons to be disappointed that their students scored near perfect on the state Academic Performance Index.

The school received a 1498, two points shy of a perfect 1500 score and the state’s $3,000 per teacher incentive bonus.

It wasn’t Mustang Valley’s test scores, with an average 1526 in math and 1523 in reading, that fell short. Communications Officer Shannon Rigsby said it was likely the school’s attendance rate at 96.2 percent, which still led the Mustang School District, that cost them the two points and $3,000 per teacher reward.

It was possibly the worse than average flu season last winter dragged down attendance, Rigsby said, but added school officials still encourage sick children to stay home.

November
Construction is set to begin this month on a $37.7 million armory in Mustang after state and local officials held a groundbreaking ceremony.

The 180,000-square-foot facility will be built on about 40 acres of industrially zoned property east of Sara Road and south of state Highway 152, near the Industrial Gasket facility. It will take about a year and a half to build and is expected to be open by spring 2010.

Lt. Col. Bob Finigan, with the Oklahoma National Guard engineering department, told the crowd more than 1,100 soldiers will train at the Mustang facility, including the National Guard 45th Fire Brigade and elements of the 95th Reserve division. Earlier it was estimated about 100 employees would staff the facility full-time.

Xerox officials announced 100 workers at the Oklahoma City plant will lose their jobs by the end of December.

The move means only 70 employees will remain at the Interstate 40 and Mustang Road location.

Xerox spokesman Bill McKee said the move is part of the international corporation’s plan to trim 3,000 positions in the next six months as part of a $400 million restructuring proposal.

McKee said the company will cut 100 jobs in Oklahoma City by ending its production of black, crushed toner at the plant. He said the demand for black toner has diminished as more customers move to using color printers and copiers. The type of toner produced in Oklahoma City is also being replaced by a more environmentally friendly product.

He said there are no plans to retool the Oklahoma City plant to provide other products.

Personnel costs at the Gary E. Miller Canadian County Children’s Justice Center topped $4.48 million during the 2007-2008 fiscal year, more than the employee costs for all other county departments combined.

County personnel costs, excluding the juvenile justice center, were about $4.06 million, according to financial statements prepared by the county’s accounting firm, Yadon and Putnam.

Employee-related costs for the juvenile justice center have increased by more than $2.8 million since the 2000-2001 fiscal year, according to county financial records. Between July 2000 and June 2001, employee-related expenses totaled $1,625,939. Since then, costs have increased between $154,000 and more than $659,00 each year, with the largest increase — $659,526 — posted in the last fiscal year.

According to the 2008-2009 statement of needs certified by Commissioners on Sept. 30, juvenile justice center officials posted a $32,217 proposed increase in personnel costs for the current year.

The juvenile justice center has about 120 employees.

December
Three residents will vy for Mustang mayor in February. Political newcomer Cleo Springer will face incumbent Jeff Landrith and former mayor Chad McDowell.

Ward 1 incumbent Jay Adams, 43, will face challenger Henry Varenhorst, 43, again for the three-year term. Ward 1 seat. Councilman Scott Gibson did not seek re-election to the Ward 3 seat, and former Councilman Ben Green was the only resident who filed for the post.

No candidates filed for the Mustang School Board position 4 seat, which will be filled through appointment.

An election will be held Feb. 10 to decide the Mustang Council Ward 1 and mayoral election. If needed, a run-off election is scheduled for April 7 if no candidate garners more than 50 percent of the vote.

Mustang police made their second arrest Nov. 29 under the social host ordinance, which was adopted in October 2007.

Officers arrested an 18-year-old man after neighbors called in a noise complaint at 11:11 p.m. in the 600 block of South Highland Drive.