Beginning Thursday morning, contractors will close Edwards, which is just west of Broadway, to lay pipe to tie in the underground fire line for the Edmond Golf Shop to the new water main under Edwards. 

The work is not expected to take more than a day, depending on what is encountered as they dig across Edwards.  Contractors will reopen the street to traffic as soon as possible with a temporary gravel patch across the street.

###

Closed Lanes to re-open as construction continues

Monday afternoon, weather permitting, contractors will be placing an asphalt cap on the trench patch that is located east on Hurd at Broadway, once this is completed, the lane is scheduled to reopen Tuesday morning.

Also, Monday morning, contractors closed one lane of eastbound Main Street at Broadway, southwest corner by Othello’s, so the new water line can be tied into the old water line. Signs and barricades are in place to close the outside, southbound lane of Broadway, if needed.

This work is part of the Original Town Site Water Line Improvements Phase I Project with the work being done by Amis materials of Oklahoma City.  This project is being done to upsize waterlines in the downtown area with a total cost of $2,431,317.80.

###

The City’s Vehicle Maintenance Department to help put together toys for Christmas

Santa's workshop will be in full force Wednesday, December 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Downtown Community Center auditorium.

Vehicle Maintenance staffers will be available to put together toys for those who need assistance for assembling Christmas gifts for their little ones. "Our staff wanted to offer this time to help those who need assistance with toy assembly. Sometimes, this can be time-consuming and not everyone can do this and still keep the toy a surprise," said Bob Masterson, Vehicle Maintenance Superintendent.  

Masterson wanted to stress that this will be on first-come, first-serve basis and staff will adjust time according the 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. window.

Staff cannot work on those toys that require any type of fuel such as mini-bikes and R/C cars. All toys must be able to be assembled using normal hand tools.

Merry Christmas to everyone and BRING THOSE TOYS!

###

Curling comes to Edmond

The Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink will host an Oklahoma Curling Club demonstration Thursday, December 8 from 11:00am to 1:00pm. 

This event is a great opportunity for visitors to experience the Olympic sport that is growing in popularity. Those spectators interested in participating in the demonstration should wear loose fit clothing and rubber-soled shoes. This demonstration is free to the public and an opportunity to learn more about the activities of the Oklahoma Curling Club.

The City of Edmond continues to be excited to work with the Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink for providing a new recreational opportunity for the whole family. The rink is located at the Festival Market Place in downtown Edmond just west of Broadway off First Street. Skaters and spectators can enjoy the rink from Noon to 10pm each day. Cost is $8 with skate rental, $5 if you have skates, and $5 for those under 5 years old.

For more information about the ice rink visit expressice.com or call Ruth Green at 405-274-1638.

###

Contractors to begin overlay project

Wednesday, the contractor will begin overlay work on Kelly north of Edmond Rd. to Holly Hill. The contractor will set up work zones and traffic will be narrowed to one lane north and south bound until further notice. Expected completion is by the end of the week.

The contractor will move into the intersection of Kelly and Edmond Rd. to raise a couple of water valve boxes and a manhole. This work will be complete by December 16 dependant on weather.

###

Water line construction will continue starting Monday

Water line construction will continue in the intersection of Broadway & Hurd starting next week on the west side of the intersection that will impact south bound Broadway and Hurd west of Broadway.  As work progresses east across the intersection, the intersection will be closed to traffic in all four directions for forty eight (48) hours to take the water line across Broadway and to get temporary patches in place.  After that, there will intermittent lane closures to replace the temporary patches with permanent repairs.

While the intersection is closed, there will be formal detours set up for both Broadway & Hurd.  North bound Broadway traffic will detour east onto Main, then north on Littler to Campbell, then going west to Broadway.  South bound Broadway traffic will detour east on Campbell, then south on Littler to Main, then going west to Broadway. 

East bound Hurd traffic will detour west of the RR tracks onto Santa Fe Dr. south to Main, then east to Littler, then going north to Hurd.  West bound Hurd Traffic will detour south onto Littler to Main, east on Main to Santa Fe Dr. then going north to Hurd.

This work is part of the Original Town Site Water Line Improvements Phase I Project with the work being done by Amis materials of Oklahoma City.  This project is being done to upsize waterlines in the downtown area with a total cost of $2,431,317.80.

###

Skaters and spectators alike are all welcome

With holiday lights reflecting off the ice matching the twinkle in the eyes of joyful skaters, join us in creation new holiday memories at the Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink. The rink is open each day from noon to 10:00pm through Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Cost is $8 with skate rental, $5 if you have skates, and $5 for those under 5 years old.

For more information about the ice rink visit expressice.com or call Ruth Green at 405-274-1638.

###

Event Provides Opportunity to See National Bird in the Wild

An occasional perk for those who don’t mind winter fishing is the occasional sighting of our national bird, the bald eagle. Arcadia Lake’s annual Eagle Watch event provides the opportunity for others to see the majestic birds in the wild.

The annual Arcadia Lake Eagle Watch is set for January 6-8 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Eagle Watch visitors start at the Lake Park Office where they will be given maps of the lake. Spotters will help locate the eagles and lake staff will pass along information to guests about where the eagles have been spotted.

An eagle video and display of a mounted bald eagle will be available, along with informational displays about other birds frequently seen at the lake.

Nicole Offutt, Lake Recreation Specialist, recommends that participants bring comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, warm clothes that can be layered, binoculars, ear muffs or warm headgear, gloves and a camera.

Admission to the lake is half-price, $3 per vehicle, during the Eagle Watch event. The lake park office is located approximately 3 miles east of I-35 on 2nd Street.

For more information about Eagle Watch, call the Information Line at 216-7471 or the Park Office at 216-7470.

###

EDMOND, OK – The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce announced today its participation in the second annual Small Business Saturday on November 26, 2011. Small Business Saturday is a day for dedicating a portion of holiday shopping to local, independently-owned small businesses.

Small business advocate groups, public and private organizations, and elected officials joined American Express, the founding sponsor of Small Business Saturday, to launch the national program in 2010 in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: more demand for their products and services. The second event will build on last year’s inaugural program that drove millions of dollars to main street merchants.

The Edmond Chamber recognizes the importance of small businesses in Edmond, the jobs they create and the culture they instill in local communities. Small businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years and employ just over half of all private sector employees, according to the Small Business Administration.

Please join us in supporting Edmond’s small businesses and shop at local independent stores on Saturday, November 26, 2011.

The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice for business. We enhance economic opportunity and quality of life in Edmond. The Edmond Chamber is a hundred year-old, 1100 member organization working together to promote economic vitality and quality of life in the community. For more information on the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, please visit our website at www.edmondchamber.com, or contact Kristen Figart, Coordinator - Communications, at 405-341-2808 or email at kfigart@edmondchamber.com.

***Reposted from the Edmond Chamber of Commerce***

###

Edmond’s second Police Academy begins November 28

Monday, November 28 is a big day for the Edmond Police Department; this is the day the second Police Academy will begin. In this class there will be eight new Police cadets.

Five of the cadets are Edmond residents, one is from Guthrie, one from Mustang and one from Newcastle. All have attended college, four have four year college degrees and two have Associates Degrees. Two were current Police Officers with the Guthrie Police Department, and four have prior military experience. They range in age from 23 to 39.

They all bring a wealth of experience to the Edmond Police Department.

We would like to welcome this cadet class:

Matthew Richardson, 24, of Edmond, Cody Hash, 23, of Edmond, William Wright, 28, of Edmond, Colter Morey, 25, of Edmond, Roger Shortt, 39, of Edmond, Jason Lewellyn, 28, of Guthrie, Matthew Tipton, 25, of Newcastle and Jonathan Vincent, 24, of Mustang.

All have gone through an extensive hiring process and we are pleased to have such qualified individuals selected for the next Edmond Police Academy.

Edmond Police Sgt. Jeff Richardson says he is excited by the quality of the group, which he says consists of the “best of the best”.

The Police Department received 200 applications to fill these eight positions. While attending the Police Academy and throughout the field training program, the cadets will earn $41, 454. Once they are fully trained, and out on the streets, their pay will increase to $43,455.

###