Tulsa District 4 crime rate went up last night

A newly elected city councilor had a personal lesson in policework last night when a thief ran away with her wallet during a victory party in downtown Tulsa.

Maria Barnes was celebrating her District 4 win over incumbent Eric Gomez at Casa Laredo, 403 S. Cheyenne Ave., when a man reached into her purse and made off with her billfold about 10:20 p.m., police said.

Barnes and a group of supporters chased after him to the 600 block of South Boulder, where officers took him into custody.

About five minutes later, officers arrested Jordan Lee Christ, 26. He was booked into the Tulsa Jail on complaints of petty larceny and public intoxication, according to his arrest report.

Police allege that Christ was extremely drunk and ran from the eatery after swiping the wallet.

Court records indicate that Christ has several previous convictions, including assault and battery, outraging public decency, peeping tom and larceny.

Tulsa NewsChannel 8's Burt Mummolo
was there and filed this report...

Tulsa State Lawmakers Form Tulsa (Mafia) Caucus In Legislature

Two state lawmakers from Tulsa, State Rep. Eric Proctor and State Sen. Gary Stanislawski are forming a bipartisan (Mafia) caucus to promote the interests of Oklahoma's second largest city. (ie How much State Tax $$ can we get)

Gary Stanislawski say the new Tulsa (Mafia) Caucus is open to all Tulsa-area legislators and elected officials. It will meet before the end of the year to review legislative priorities. (If you Look like a Mob & Sound like a Mob then you are a Mafia)

Proctor, a Democrat, says Tulsa's needs are being crowded out at the state Capitol. He says it's important that the city's infrastructure needs are met. (Hey Eric, How about Tulsa pay for its own city's infrastructure!)

Stanislawski, a Republican, says Tulsa has been the main economic engine for Oklahoma for over 100 years. But Stanislawski says the city has been a net donor to Oklahoma's treasury. (Come on Gary, talk about a SPIN JOB!)

He says the new caucus wants to make sure Tulsa's interests are not overlooked. (ie making sure that the Tulsa Metro Chamber will not be overlooked)

Brogdon Denounces Venezuela’s Takeover of Tulsa-based Williams Facilities

State Sen. Randy Brogdon said he was extremely concerned about this week’s take over of Tulsa-based Williams Cos. Gas compression facilities by a Venezuelan government-controlled company.

He also said there are direct parallels between that action and U.S. government bailouts and takeovers of American companies.

“Venezuela’s leader, Hugo Chavez, is a despotic dictator and an avowed enemy of America, and now he’s seized assets here in Oklahoma,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso. “People should be alarmed about what’s happening in our own state.”

But Brogdon said Oklahomans and citizens throughout the country should be concerned that their own government is moving to take over private businesses as well.

“People are beginning to realize that the federal bailouts and attempts to nationalize the auto industry, healthcare and our banks are detrimental to the free market economy.” Brogdon said. “The ramifications are more far-reaching than many people originally believed.”

Brogdon said that’s why he’s sponsored legislation to stop Washington D.C.’s power grab, and to prevent Congress from violating the 10th amendment and states’ rights. That legislation was approved by both the House and Senate, but was vetoed by Gov. Brad Henry.

“Any government that is big enough to give you all that you want is big enough to take away everything you have,” Brogdon said. “I am outraged that Chavez is taking over assets of a company in our state, but I am just as outraged that Washington insiders are trying to run Oklahoma’s businesses and our state budget. These are very real threats to our sovereignty and our freedoms.”

Oklahoma native Paul Harvey R.I.P.

Oklahoma native Paul Harvey grew up at 1014 E. 5th Pl. in Tulsa, the house is still there, went to Longfellow School at 6th and Peoria, and then Central High School, starting his radio career at KVOO when he was still in high school.

Paul Harvey page on Tulsa radio on Tulsa TV Memories

Paul Harvey, the news commentator and talk-radio pioneer whose staccato style made him one of the nation's most familiar voices, died Saturday in Arizona, according to ABC Radio Networks. He was 90.

Harvey died surrounded by family at a hospital in Phoenix, where he had a winter home, said Louis Adams, a spokesman for ABC Radio Networks, where Harvey worked for more than 50 years. No cause of death was immediately available.

Harvey had been forced off the air for several months in 2001 because of a virus that weakened a vocal cord. But he returned to work in Chicago and was still active as he passed his 90th birthday. His death comes less than a year after that of his wife and longtime producer, Lynne.

Known for his resonant voice and trademark delivery of "The Rest of the Story," Harvey had been heard nationally since 1951, when he began his "News and Comment" for ABC Radio Networks.

He became a heartland icon, delivering news and commentary with a distinctive Midwestern flavor. "Stand by for news!" he told his listeners. He was credited with inventing or popularizing terms such as "skyjacker," "Reaganomics" and "guesstimate."

"Paul Harvey was one of the most gifted and beloved broadcasters in our nation's history," ABC Radio Networks President Jim Robinson said in a statement. "We will miss our dear friend tremendously and are grateful for the many years we were so fortunate to have known him."

In 2005, Harvey was one of 14 notables chosen as recipients of the presidential Medal of Freedom. He also was an inductee in the Radio Hall of Fame.

Harvey composed his twice-daily news commentaries from a downtown Chicago office near Lake Michigan.

Rising at 3:30 each morning, he ate a bowl of oatmeal, then combed the news wires and spoke with editors across the country in search of succinct tales of American life for his program.

His fans identified with his plainspoken political commentary, but critics called him an out-of-touch conservative.

Harvey was born Paul Harvey Aurandt in Tulsa, Okla. His father, a police officer, was killed when he was a toddler. A high school teacher took note of his distinctive voice and launched him on a broadcast career.

Harvey began his radio career on KVOO-AM while in high school in his hometown of Tulsa, Okla.

While working at St. Louis radio station KXOK , he met Washington University graduate student Lynne Cooper. He proposed on their first date (she said "no") and always called her "Angel." They were married in 1940 and had a son, Paul Jr.

They worked closely together on his shows, and he often credited his success to her influence. She was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1997, seven years after her husband was. She died in May 2008.

Owasso council rejects Tulsa Bus line

The Owasso City Council rejected a proposal Tuesday night for a Tulsa Transit express route from Owasso to downtown Tulsa.

The move comes after a summer survey in which 75 percent of respondents said they would support the line, which could have started in March.

When the city surveyed residents three years ago, only 15 percent responded positively to the plan.

But Vice Mayor D.J. Gall pointed out that only 887 people — of 9,500 surveys solicited within the city’s fenceline — responded to the questionnaire this summer. He added that the constituents he spoke to were unaware of the cost of the service.

The proposed service, which Collinsville also was considering, would have been the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority’s second express line, after one that serves Broken Arrow.

The cost of the new single-bus line, which would have made weekday round trips from the local community center, at 301 S. Cedar Street, to the Cherokee Industrial Park and downtown Tulsa, was projected to be $30,015 annually. The city, which was to use Community Development Block Grant funds to pay for the service, had included that amount in the 2009 fiscal year budget.

Voting against the commuter service were Gall, Mayor Steve Cataudella and Councilor Doug Bonebrake. Councilors Wayne Guevara and Jon Sinex missed the meeting because of family and personal emergency medical issues, City Manager Rodney Ray said.

Speaking of the commuter line and citing the massive deficit of the federal government, Gall said he didn’t “think it is a wise use of taxpayer money.”

Respondents to Owasso’s mail and Internet survey had cited savings on gasoline and helping the environment as reasons for using mass transit.

Bus fare would have been $1.50 for a one-way trip, and commuters facing emergencies would have been covered under Tulsa Transit’s guaranteed ride-home program.

All three people who spoke during the council meeting’s public comment portion gave the proposal a thumbs-down.

D.J. Alexander said he was against subsidizing commuters and was for “keeping dollars in Owasso.”

Other residents fretted about possible low ridership and the city’s ability to keep up with costs that could increase.

Cataudella said the plan deserved a shot, adding that it is up to the council to provide opportunities for residents. He said the percentage of positive survey responses had sent the municipality a message and that gas prices likely will go back up.

However, he voted against the commuter line.

Although Bonebrake called the service a “noble” cause, he worried about rising costs over time and what he perceived as a lack of a mandate from city residents, given the low percentage who responded to the survey.

“There is a value to it, but how much can you invest?” he asked.