Author Archives: Admin

Tulsa native wins Sandra Day O’Connor Award

Staff Report

Monday, 03 August 2009
OKLAHOMA CAPITOL –Justice Antonin Scalia will present the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service to Catina R. Drywater, Esquire, of Tulsa on Oct. 17, 2009, during the Celebration of Excellence at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The American Inns of Court established the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service honoring an American Inn member in practice 10 or fewer years for excellence in public interest or pro bono activities.  Drywater’s peers nominated her for her efforts to expand access to justice.

“I am convinced that her efforts to simplify the law helped to empower many low income citizens with the information they needed to make intelligent decisions and protect their rights within our justice system,” wrote Gary W. Dart, Oklahoma Child Support Services Director, in Drywater’s nomination.

Drywater graduated in 1998 from the University of Tulsa College of Law and received Oklahoma’s first fellowship from the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL) in 1999.
Employed by OCSS, Drywater leads a Pro Se work project, developing procedures and instructions that help people file their own requests to modify child support orders.

“I am very honored to win this award and grateful for the support from the people who nominated me,” stated Drywater.

OCSS is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. OCSS enhances the well-being of children through its mission to establish, monitor and enforce a reliable source of support for the families it serves.

The division is responsible for more than 189,000 active child support cases.

Last Updated ( Monday, 03 August 2009 )

AG wants jury to hear new evidence in rape case

Staff Report

Monday, 03 August 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY-Attorney General Drew Edmondson today has asked the Pittsburg County District Court to empanel a grand jury to hear new evidence in an alleged child rape and sexual abuse case.

Edmondson’s application lists the focus of the grand jury as David Harold Eugene Earls.  According to the request, the proposed scope of the county grand jury will include the examination of "alleged lewd and lascivious acts against a child under fourteen."

"Earls is set to leave prison on his previous conviction for rape and forcible sodomy in just a few weeks," Edmondson said. "After reviewing Earls’ case file, I asked our investigators to look further into Earls’ history and to determine if other unprosecuted crimes existed."

The attorney general said investigators found a history of alleged sexual misconduct, as well as possible crimes that had not yet been prosecuted.

"Our investigators interviewed potential victims and witnesses in three different states," Edmondson said. "We gathered information of alleged sexual abuse going back about 30 years.

We also learned of more recent allegations that have not been charged."

At the same time, Edmondson said, attorneys were reviewing state statutes and state and federal case law, especially as they relate to statute of limitations, double jeopardy and double punishment.

"We have strong evidence to present to the grand jury and we stand on solid legal ground to pursue our allegations on these new crimes," Edmondson said. "Knowledge of Earls’ alleged history of abuse will bolster our argument that he is a continuing threat."

Further details of the attorney general’s investigation were filed today under seal.

earls grand jury.pdf (http://www.oag.state.ok.us/oagweb.nsf/0/4b23ccc9aaf29e988625760400708552/$FILE/earls%20grand%20jury.pdf)

Last Updated ( Monday, 03 August 2009 )

City Hall needs volunteers for removal of signs

Staff Report

Monday, 03 August 2009
TULSA, Okla. – Illegal signs litter the rights-of-way along city streets.  The City of Tulsa is seeking volunteers to help with regular removal of such signs.

A training session for the first 12 volunteers is scheduled at 9 a.m. on Aug. 21 at City Hall at One Technology Center, 175 E. 2nd Street.

Volunteers will get classroom instruction, then go to the field with professional inspectors. Tulsa Beautification Foundation and Quik Trip Corp. are providing refreshments and coupons for sandwiches at Quik Trips.

Volunteers must register by Aug. 14 in order to attend the training session.  It is the latest step in the City’s ongoing efforts to control illegal signage within city limits.
The City’s Inspection Services section has added a Sign and Site Administration program through the aid of a grant from the Tulsa Beautification Foundation.

However, due to the overwhelming amount of illegal signs, additional assistance is needed to control Tulsa’s nearly 200 square miles of land.

Volunteers are expected to:

* Complete volunteer training course

* Sign liability release forms

* Sign an oath to adhere to City ordinances, rules and procedures.

* Have a valid driver’s license

* Commit to a land area and number of daytime hours for working

* Submit to a background check.

Volunteers will be working with the City’s professional Sign and Site Inspectors in specific areas.

Application forms and additional information can be found on the City’s website:

Download Application (http://www.cityoftulsa.org/media/30435/sign_volunt_application.pdf)

Download Flyer. (http://www.cityoftulsa.org/media/30438/sign_volunt_flier.pdf)

Information can also be obtained by calling the Sign & Site Inspections supervisor at 596-9654.

Last Updated ( Monday, 03 August 2009 )

Farts heard as Woods wins Buick Open

Staff Report

In the final round, after shooting a 3 under par, Tiger Woods won the Buick Open this past weekend for an amazing third time.  

Woods was quoted as being in  "fine form" at Warwich Hills, where he was 20 under for the tournament, helping him claim his 69th PGA Tour victory.   Golf fans everywhere were elated over his most recent win, but it  the events that happened at the 18th green, that has everyone talking. 

Apparently, a loud fart was picked up by the microphones nearby while Woods and his caddy were there.  Controversy about who did it has been growing.     

Woods and his caddy Stevie Williams have both denied that it happened.  Interestingly enough, this is the second time a fart has been associated with Woods on the greens.    

View video replays of both events at these addresses:   Incident One   Incident Two

Farah calls on Obama to release birth certificate

Staff Report

WASHINGTON — The unauthenticated document purporting to be a Kenyan certificate of birth for Barack Obama has refocused the debate over his presidential eligibility. Released publicly yesterday by California attorney Orly Taitz as evidence in her court case challenging Obama to prove his constitutional qualifications to hold office, the document raises new questions about the president’s birthplace. 

WorldNetDaily.com is working with document experts in the U.S. and with sources in Kenya to determine its validity. 

"We’ve had less than 24 hours to consider its authenticity or non-authenticity,"  explains Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of the first news agency to publish the document.    "Our goal, as always, is to seek the truth. This is not our document. It is evidence that has presented in a high-profile court case. And, thus, I believe we had a journalistic responsibility to publish it — just as I think every other news organization does."     

Farah says there are many questions still to be answered about the certification of live birth that Obama has disseminated — including the fact that the Public Health Department of the state of Hawaii has refused to confirm is it an official Hawaiian document issued by that office. 

"This is why it is so important that Obama release his original, long-form birth certificate to end the speculation and the growing uneasiness Americans are increasingly feeling about his eligibility,"  explains Farah.  More and more, people are puzzled and mystified as to why he is refusing to release that document, as well as his school records, his college transcripts, his university papers and his travel records.  Farah says WorldNetDaily.com, which has led the way in investigating this story, will continue to do so relentlessly until it is resolved to the satisfaction of most Americans.  

For more information, visit this site: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105764

News Source: News release from WorldNetDaily