2015 YEAR END REVIEW
news-star.com Shawnee News-Star
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Sunday, December 27, 2015 • 1F
The Shawnee News-Star compiled a list of the most memorable stories this year, and asked readers — in an online survey — to rank the roundup in order of importance. Stories one through 10 feature a mix of new attractions or achievements, flooding and a Ward 1 seat. The top stories are summarized below:
1] Trooper killed, another injured PROVIDED PHOTOS
Trooper Nicholas Dees was struck and killed by a driver who was texting while driving on I-40 east of Shawnee and Trooper Keith Burch was seriously injured. That fatal accident resulted in the state’s texting and driving ban becoming law on Nov. 1.
Trooper Dees
2] The Shawnee Marketplace opens Hobby Lobby, Aldi, PetsMart, T.J. Maxx, Ulta, Famous Footwear, Hallmark and T-Mobile among other new businesses around the Marketplace, such as Chick-fil-A, are now open in that I-40 and Kickapoo area.
Trooper Burch
3] Shawnee opens new water parks The new Shawnee Splash water park and Boy Scout Park splash pad open.
4] Kickapoo construction wraps up After many delays and several years of work, Kickapoo construction is finally completed. There are still some final touch-ups being finished.
5] Sales tax passed for Pottawatomie County schools Pottawatomie County voters pass a nearly one-half cent sales tax for 14 county school districts. The 10-year tax begins in 2016.
6] Avedis grants contribute millions to county Avedis announces a $1.5 million grant to Shawnee Middle School for improvements; Avedis makes headlines throughout the year for contributions to many projects aimed at improving the quality of life in the area.
Honorable Mention Stories ranking 11 through 5 — the stories that didn’t 25 ake the cut, but were cermake inly well worth mentioning tainly — dealt with city/county/tribe onflicts, new construction confl nd personnel changes, as and ell as several crime-related well vents. events. 11] Pottawatomie County nhanced 911 Trust contracts Enhanced thee county’s 911 services to thee dispatch center at Citizen otawatomi Nation. Potawatomi 12] Kimberly Crain, a rmer McLoud teacher former ntenced in a sexual exsentenced oitation case involving her ploitation udents had her 45-year students ntence reduced 10 years sentence years, but Gary J. Doby, a retired arged, OBU professor also charged, on. A was denied a reduction. civil lawsuit filed on behalf ntary of 14 McLoud elementary school students in this matter settled for $1.4 million. sy in13] With controversy minatvolving the Judicial Nominatg just ing Commission sending uired two instead of the required ernor, three names to the Governor, n apthere was a delay in an watopointment for a Pottawatomie County judge. Thatt post hasn’t yet been filled. nsion 14] Major expansion projects continued in many
areas of Shawnee, including additions at Oklahom ma BapOklahoma tist University and a major expansion of St. A nthony Anthony Shawnee Hospital. 15] A pursuit suspe ect who suspect had burglarized a home was shot and killed b byy Pottawatomie County ssheriff’s heriff’s deputies near Shawne ee Twin Shawnee Lakes following a high h-speed high-speed chase. It was ruled the deputies were justified in n using deadly force. 16] The city of Sh hawnee Shawnee and Citizen Potawato omi NaPotawatomi tion were involved in tthe he land detachment debate. 17] Residents were suri d to h h a llocall prised hear that massage parlor was involved in an undercover sex x sting, with an employee a rrested arrested and charged with soliciting li iti prostitution. 18] City of Shawnee experiences big personnel changes — new city manager, new fire chief, plus retirement of the police chief at the end of the year. 19] Jerrod Murray, an Asher man charged in the killing of his ECU college classmate, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and must be evaluated each year.
7] Record rainfall brings flooding, damage 20] Aft After she had been missing fo for more than two years, the rremains of a Shawnee mother mother, Samantha Weaver, were d discovered buried at a local p property where her friend lived and that man is now in pris prison after pleading guilty to a m murder charge. 21] After years of planning, constructio construction began on the widening o of Gordon Cooper Drive betw between Shawnee and Tecumseh. 22] The year began with the area in a drought, with the city of S Shawnee enacting water rest restrictions for residents. 23]] A church van from Fresh Fire Outreach was involved in an accident while on a mission trip, with as many as 10 people, l mostt off them children, suffering injuries. 24] A May homicide was reported in south Shawnee. That investigation resulted in the arrest of five suspects now charged in connection with that case. 25] After much debate and controversy, the venue for Shawnee’s 2015 graduation remained at OBU’s Raley Chapel.
Record rainfall in the spring brought flooding and filled Shawnee Twin Lakes past the spillway. The flooding damaged many roadways throughout the county and prompted more than 20 water rescues. One woman was killed when her vehicle became submerged.
8] SHS baseball, golf teams win state Shawnee High School wins state championships in Baseball and Golf.
9] Ward 1 seat vacated, remains unfilled
Shawnee’s Ward 1 seat was vacated by Gary Vogel’s resignation earlier in the year and that seat still remains vacant after city commissioners couldn’t agree on an appointee to fill the seat. CPN offered to fund an election.
10] Family Justice Center plan underway Plans and fundraising continued to develop a Family Justice Center — a place where victims of domestic violence and abuse could find help and services under one roof — with temporary offices now in operation.
Photos taken by ED BLOCHOWIAK STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER unless otherwise noted