Norman — Jim Jones to give Josh Lee Lecture
Former Oklahoma Congressman and U.S. Ambassador Jim Jones has been selected to give this year’s Josh Lee Lecture at 3 p.m. March 25 in Meacham Auditorium in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
Jones, a congressman from Tulsa, served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. More information is available from OU’s Political Communication Center, 325-3114.
Collins: Casey Lewis Act will save lives
Drivers who risk their lives by making a left turn in the face of oncoming traffic also will be risking a traffic ticket under the terms of a bill passed Wednesday night in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Authored by Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman, HB 2706 reverses a policy dating to the early days of traffic laws, which allowed left turns despite oncoming traffic if the turning driver paused and signaled in the intersection, and required oncoming drivers to yield.
It was named the Casey Lewis Act in memory of a central Oklahoma man who died in a 2007 accident, after a car turned left in the path of his motorcycle. The driver of the car which killed Lewis was not cited, because the driver stopped in the intersection and signaled before making the turn, in compliance with the current law.
“The existing law dates to the time before cars had turn signals, when traffic moved more slowly,” Collins said. “These days, most drivers wait for all oncoming traffic to pass before attempting to make a left turn, and this will simply require that all drivers employ that common sense practice. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to be involved in making a change I am confident will save lives.”
The bill had the endorsement of the Department of Public Safety and received broad bipartisan support in a 93-3 vote in the House. It now goes for consideration by the State Senate, where it is sponsored by Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah.
Republicans honor Link
A near capacity crowd gathered at the J.D. McCarty Center in Norman Thursday night at the annual Cleveland County Republican Club Awards Banquet.
The Heroism Award went to Brent Link, in recognition of his bold action to stop a man who killed some members of the Link family, and was attempting to kill the entire family.
Link, though blind, and wounded by the gunman, moved toward the gunman as the gunman was reloading. Link disarmed and disabled the gunman and held him captive until Norman police arrived.
The award was presented to Link by Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn. Mashburn’s achievements were recognized by Chad Alexander, the keynote speaker.
State Rep. Scott Martin gave a report on the current legislative session, acknowledging that the Republican majority has had a difficult task putting together the state budget in the light of record revenue shortfalls, but noted they have done so without depleting the state’s Rainy Day Fund and without increasing taxes in a recession.
State Rep. Paul Wesselhoff of Moore was recognized for the rare accomplishment of getting seven of his eight proposed bills passed into law this session.
Bobby and Barbara Cleveland were applauded for their record-setting fundraising for Cleveland County candidates, and other achievements. Sharon Parker, former Cleveland County Republican chair, and her husband Bruce Parker were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Volunteer of the Year Awards went to John Ireland, founder of John M. Ireland Funeral Services in Moore, and to Cleveland County Republican Party Treasurer Melinda Daugherty of Moore. Daugherty is past president of the Helen Cole Republican Club and has directed numerous campaigns ranging from local races to county and state races.
Former OU football kicker Tim Lashar served as master of ceremonies at the banquet.
Burrage will speak at Friday luncheon
Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Steve Burrage will be the featured speaker at the Tyner Cornbread and Beans luncheon Friday at the Olive Garden in Norman.
The first CPA in 30 years to hold the office, Burrage earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1975 from the University of Oklahoma. He passed his CPA exam, returned to his hometown of Antlers and later formed the CPA firm Burgess and Burrage.
In l982 he became president and CEO of FirstBank of Antlers and began a second career. When Burrage took the reins of the bank it had 15 employees. Now the bank has two branches and employs more than 100 people.
Burrage is a member of the Choctaw Nation and a third generation Oklahoman. He is running for a full term as state auditor and inspector. Lunch begins at 11:15 a.m. with the speaker beginning about noon. Guests can order from the Olive Garden lunch menu. The meeting is open to the public.
— Transcript Staff
