Oklahoma

Nature Conservancy Works To Restore Oklahoma’s Blue River

Published

2 years ago

September 22, 2022

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Nature Conservancy Works To Restore Oklahoma’s Blue River

The Nature Conservancy is working to revive Oklahoma’s Blue River by planting 1000’s of native bushes close by.

The work, which has roots in Tulsa, is a part of a larger effort to guard the river for future generations.

The Blue River flows for greater than 140 miles by means of southern Oklahoma. It helps greater than 80 completely different species of fish. Different wildlife, and other people rely upon it, too.

And it is a part of John Moody’s yard. The land has been in his household for 4 generations.

“We’re very proud stewards of this little piece of what we predict is paradise right here on the Blue River,” Moody mentioned.

That paradise wants defending, says The Nature Conservancy, Chickasaw Nation, and different companions. Collectively they’re working to “restore” the river.

“It is really a really high-quality river. However we simply do not wish to see it get degraded or in poor high quality,” Jeanine Lackey with The Nature Conservancy mentioned. She is the mission director for the Arbuckle Plains and Blue River.

“Proper now, the higher portion of the Blue shouldn’t be in hassle, however let’s not wait till it’s in hassle,” Chickasaw Nation Director of Pure Assets Kris Patton mentioned.

Over the past 200 years, The Nature Conservancy mentioned native bushes have been lower down and the land across the river was remodeled into hay meadows, opening the door to issues like erosion.

Now The Nature Conservancy is taking steps to breathe new life into the river, by turning to historic roots within the floor.

TNC planted 4,001 bushes in 2020 alongside a small a part of the river. This was the bushes’ second summer season within the floor.

The Nature Conservancy was strategic about what to plant. Scientists and volunteers put 14 completely different sorts of bushes and shrubs within the floor. The entire crops got here from Southwood’s in Tulsa.

The nursery grew the seedlings and shrubs primarily based on a plant listing from TNC and the Oklahoma Organic Survey, exhibiting what would have been native to the land.

Lackey and TNC Watershed Well being Director Kim Elkin are ready for Cottonwood, Oak, Pecan bushes, and others to develop.

“Ultimately they will develop as much as be actually massive bushes,” Lackey mentioned. “And all these roots assist hold that soil in place. And that simply helps us restore that system to the best way it was once traditionally.”

And that, scientists mentioned, will finally have an effect downstream. The Metropolis of Durant depends upon the Blue River for all of its water. So does the Choctaw Nation. The Nature Conservancy expects the work it’s doing now to save lots of town cash as a result of the water will not want as a lot therapy.

However the actuality is that it’ll take a long time to see the influence.

“It is simply going to take a very long time,” Lackey mentioned. “However that is the enterprise we’re in, you recognize? We’re restoring ecosystems that took a long time to get degraded. And it will take a long time to turn into resilient.”

The Nature Conservancy is doing this work the place it may well, alongside one mile of the Blue River it owns. However many of the land alongside the river is owned by personal landowners.

“As you see the Blue immediately, it isn’t as blue because it usually is. It is received slightly little bit of a sediment load in it, from latest rains. And so it tells us we nonetheless have work to do right here. There’s work to be completed with landowners,” Patton mentioned.

Patton works with landowners straight to assist them handle their land.

“It isn’t a regulatory operate. We’re not telling the landowners what to do,” he mentioned. “We’re simply saying if there is a observe, a greatest administration observe that you simply wish to implement, we will work with you thru this group to determine the right way to get that funded.”

Patton factors to Moody for example of somebody main the best way.

“I feel the steadiness that ranchers, landowners, (and) land stewards should face is the expense of one thing as aggressive as planting bushes. Not all people can afford to try this,” Moody mentioned.

One factor he is doing is definitely eradicating some bushes from his property: the invasive Japanese Redcedar.

“There’s nothing rising right here; it is all cedar leaves which have died,” Moody mentioned whereas pointing to the bottom on a part of his property.

“Eradicating this and restoring it offers you extra grazable acres and it additionally improves the habitat throughout the riparian space,” mentioned Patton.

“That is precisely proper,” mentioned Moody.

Moody confirmed Information On 6 a part of his property the place he had cedars eliminated. The distinction within the land is apparent: it is lush and inexperienced, as an alternative of barren.

It is only one instance of what Moody is doing to enhance this ecosystem as a result of The Nature Conservancy cannot do it alone.

“I am hoping my granddaughters have a look at it the identical approach and take care with it when it turns into their flip to make choices,” Moody mentioned.

The Nature Conservancy mentioned the rationale it’s in a position to do that $3 million restoration mission is due to the Oklahoma Division of Transportation.

Federal laws, together with the Clear Water Act, requires transportation departments to revive wetlands and streams if any everlasting impacts have been made by building work from roads and bridges.

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Oklahoma

Firefighters Extinguish NE Oklahoma City House Fire

Published

2 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

Firefighters Extinguish NE Oklahoma City House Fire

Firefighters responded to a house fire in northeast Oklahoma City on Friday afternoon.

Friday, August 9th 2024, 1:38 pm

By:

News 9

Firefighters responded to a house fire in northeast Oklahoma City on Friday afternoon.

The flames were very active and caused heavy smoke in the area.

Oklahoma City Fire Department said the house was vacant and had burned before.

Jim Gardner and Bob Mills Sky News 9 flew over the scene near North Martin Luther King Avenue and Northeast 16th Street.

There were no injuries in the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.

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Three Oklahoma State football position battles to watch in 2024 preseason practices

Published

9 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

Three Oklahoma State football position battles to watch in 2024 preseason practices

STILLWATER — With nearly every job already spoken for by a returning starter, preseason camp has been uneventful from a position battle perspective for Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys are just over a week into the preseason, and just over three weeks from the opening game against South Dakota State at 1 p.m. Aug. 31 at Boone Pickens Stadium.

While the Pokes return roughly 20 starters, that leaves only a few starting positions to be won, but here’s a look at three important ones at this point of camp:

More: How Oklahoma State football QB Zane Flores grew during redshirt year: ‘He’s ready’

Safety

This might be the most unique position battle in preseason camp for the Cowboys because it primarily involves experienced players. Five different guys started at least one game at safety last year and all five are back, plus UTEP transfer Kobe Hylton has inserted himself into the discussion since arriving in January.

One aspect that remains unclear is just how frequently Kendal Daniels will line up at safety, a detail coach Mike Gundy continues to dance around. Even when Daniels is at linebacker, the safety group has plenty of experience to go around for the three starting jobs.

Trey Rucker seems locked into his spot once again, but the other two openings could go a variety of ways. Cameron Epps and Dylan Smith got good experience splitting time after Lyrik Rawls was hurt last year. Rawls is back to health and in the mix as well. Hylton has looked good, and less experienced backups like Ty Williams and Parker Robertson are fighting for spots in the two-deep.

More: Sean Snyder brings ‘refreshing’ experience to Oklahoma State football special teams

Tight end

It’s hard to tell how much of a battle this one will be, but it’s the most significant job opening on the offensive side of the ball, where basically every other starter returns. Tyler Foster, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound super-senior transfer from Ohio, looks like the frontrunner after stepping in during the spring. He has experience, as well as the versatility to be an effective blocker and pass-catcher.

Quinton Stewart is a veteran who has filled the role of an extra blocker the last couple years. Stillwater product Josh Ford has wowed coaches with his physicality as a true freshman, which could earn him some snaps. And Tabry Shettron continues to develop in the background.

The position has good depth, which is important at a spot that became more frequently used in a variety of areas last year.

More: Oklahoma State football’s Lyrik Rawls aims to reclaim starting safety spot after ACL tear

Placekicker

This is an interesting one, because it includes a late addition to the party. Drake Tabor, a journeyman who was an all-state kicker at Hoover (Alabama) High School, joined the program a week ago and has thrust himself into the competition with Logan Ward and Kason Shrum.

Still, Ward looks like the favorite and is enjoying his recent work with newly added kicking coach Sean Snyder. Ward, a walk-on from Deer Creek High School in Edmond, has filled many roles for the Cowboys. He took over as punter in 2022 when Tom Hutton tore his ACL. He was the kickoff specialist last year, and filled in on extra points at times.

Ward has proven to have a strong leg and is working this preseason to dial in his accuracy.

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Oklahoma college students say they were drugged at Cancun resort pool bar in vacation nightmare

Published

16 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma college students say they were drugged at Cancun resort pool bar in vacation nightmare

A dream vacation turned into a nearly fatal nightmare after two Oklahoma State University students were allegedly poisoned after ordering water from a poolside bar at a Cancun resort.

Disturbing photos shared by Zara Hull and her family show the moment Hull and Kaylie Pitze say they became unconscious after drinking the tainted water Aug. 1.

“I had called my mom at like 10 that morning to tell her how beautiful the resort was and how amazing it was. By 4:30, Jake called her and let her know that I was completely incoherent, like I was gone, like I was unconscious,” Hull told Fox 32 News.

Hull and a group of friends were in Cancun for a four-day trip that was quickly cut short after she and Pitze had a few drinks of the tainted water.

AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS ON SPRING BREAK TRIP CONFRONTED WITH ‘RIFLES IN THEIR FACES,’ GIVEN THREE OPTIONS

Oklahoma college students were allegedly poisoned while on vacation in Cancun. (Rilee Works via Facebook)

Stephanie Snider, whose son Jake is Hull’s boyfriend, said in a series of Facebook posts that Hull and Pitze were slipped a drug while they were at the resort in Cancun last Friday. She said it was in their drinks and caused both girls to pass out at the same time.

“Our son, Jake, and his girlfriend are finally back in the U.S. after the most horrific 48 hours of our lives,” Snider wrote in a post on Facebook. “What started out as a fun vacation with friends for them ended up as our worst nightmare.”

Jake also described what happened at the pool, adding that he believes a resort employee was responsible.

“They sit down, the bartender gives them water, which now we see a bubbling fizzing effect in the picture that I took of them in the water. So, something was in there. So, they take a sip of it and not even one minute or two minutes later they both drop at the same time,” Jake told Fox 32 News.

TROPICAL RESORTS POPULAR WITH AMERICANS NO LONGER ‘OFF LIMITS’ FOR CARTEL KILLERS: ‘THE RULES HAVE CHANGED’

A group of college students from Oklahoma had their vacation turned upside down after two girls were allegedly poisoned after drinking water from a resort pool bar. (Stephanie Snider via Facebook)

After leaving the pool, Jake explained that Pitze was taken back to their room in a wheelchair, while he carried Hull. Hull began throwing up and having what he thought was a seizure.

“Zara started having what the resort doctor called a ‘seizure’ and said she needed to be taken to the hospital. Once she was there, the hospital demanded $10K just to look at her to help her and start treating her. The money was sent. By the next morning, we were told more money was needed to continue treatment,” Snider said.

Snider said thankfully Pitze did not end up in the hospital, but he said she struggled for the following day after the incident.

“Neither of the girls have any memory of what happened after they took that last drink, which happened to have been a glass of WATER. We think it was whatever was put in that glass of water that did it. Both girls collapsed at the very SAME time. They both are battling feelings of not knowing what happened and ‘why them?’” Snider said.

CALIFORNIA WOMAN SHOT DEAD IN MEXICAN RESORT TOWN POPULAR WITH AMERICANS

Nearly 27 hours later and after spending thousands of dollars, Hull’s family was able to negotiate with the U.S. Embassy and have her flown to Dallas to continue medical treatment.

On Thursday, Snider posted that Hull was finally getting her appetite back and able to drink more fluids on her own instead of solely through an IV.

Snider said she hopes this is a warning for others traveling to resorts like this.

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“They did exactly like we told them. Don’t leave the resort. You have no reason to leave that resort. You stay there,” said Snider.

“Like people say, ‘Don’t leave the resort and you’ll be fine.’ It started at the resort. The resort was not safe,” Hull said. “They say the resort is the safest place; don’t leave it. That’s not true.”

Snider said the name of the resort or hospital is not being released at this time due to legal and privacy issues.

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