OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 44 • One Section • 14 pages • April 4, 2025
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Village begins $1.3 mil update to city parks
Grant to update dispatch system
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer The Village Fire Department plans to purchase a new $65,000 ComputerAided Dis-patch (CAD) system with the help of a grant from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The federal share of the project is $32,500 and the remaining cost of the project is to be paid by the VFD. The City Council approved a resolution to add the CAD system during its March meeting. The project will facilitate the integration of Automatic Aid with The Village Fire Department and Oklahoma City Fire Department without compromising operations for the Village Police Department. The system was not projected in the FY 2024-25 Budget for Capital Outlay in the Fire Department; however, City Manager Dave Slezickey ensures there is adequate funding in the city’s Capital Improvement Fund for the $67,960 CAD project. In the Feasibility Study submitted to the See FIRE, Page 13
- Photo by Johnny Holland, jhollandphotography.com
Cyclones sweep Irish in soccer twin bill Casady’s Eddie Parra (11) tries to hold off McGuinness’ Robert Lehr (6) during last Friday’s soccer game. Parra and Jaxon Hutton scored goals in the second half to help the Cyclones to a 2-1 win. See Sports, Page 4.
The Village intends to spend over $1.3 million to improve five of the city’s seven public parks after the City Council approved plans presented by LAUD Design at the recent council meeting. LAUD Design also created the plans for the city’s new Civic Plaza Area that won the Outstanding Public Initiative Award at the recent Impact Awards presented by the Urban Land Institute Oklahoma. In February of 2022 voters approved $13.2 million for General Obligation Bonds with $9.9 million for streets, sidewalks and drainage and $3.3 million for park improvements. The city is now deciding how to allocate funds for city park improvements. With the council’s vote of approval, the city will now turn design plans presented by LAUD Design into bid specifications and include alternative bid options to distribute all of the funding for park improvements. A study done by LAUD Design to determine See VILLAGE, Page 13
Four servant leaders to be honored by OCU Societies Four Oklahoma women are to be recognized for their service to the community next month as new members of The Societies of Oklahoma City University. The 37th annual Awards of Excellence luncheon honor Charlotte Lankard with the Distinguished Philanthropist Award; Jill Trauschke with the Dulaney-Browne Library Society Award; Myrla Pierson with the Norick-Hulsey Gallery Society Award; and Peggy Kates with the KirkpatrickPetree Music and Performing Arts Society Award. A luncheon ceremony, chaired by Ashley Bowen Murphy, is set for 11:30 a.m. April 16 at the Oklahoma City Golf
OKC to host special collection of waste Oklahoma City is to host a special collection of unwanted computers, tires, ammunition and prescription medications from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the OKC Fairgrounds. The drop-off site is on the south side of the fairgrounds, east of the Jim Norick Arena. Enter the fairgrounds from May Avenue at Gate 5 on Gordon Cooper Boulevard. The collection is open to Oklahoma City residents only. To prove residency, residents must bring their current City of Oklahoma City water bill. Syringes, liquids, inhalers, tire rims, televisions and wheels will not be accepted. See OKC, Page 13
LANKARD
TRAUSCHKE
& Country Club with featured diamond sponsor Gerald and Jane Jayroe Gamble. Registration to attend can be made
FRIDAY’s Animals of the Week Join the Oklahoma Zoological Society and OKC Zoo for Zoo Lovers Day on April 8 and show your support for Team Dog (African painted dogs) or Team Cat (cheetahs) while unlocking awesome incentives along the way! All donations will be matched up to $10,000, doubling your impact for wildlife conservation and the OKC Zoo. Visit donate.ozsgiving.org/ campaign/657206/donate to learn more. Email Pet of the Week submissions with complete descriptions to: rose@okcfriday.com.
PIERSON
KATES
online at okcu.edu/awardsofexcellence. See OCU, Page 13