EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a two-part series looking at the top stories of 2007.

By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer
published Dec. 27, 2007

As the final minutes of 2007 tick away, the year for Mustang was fueled by hope, as city officials hammered out deals drawing promises from the federal government for a regional armory and the announcement that a Lowes Home Improvement Store would seed a retail hub at Sara Road and state Highway 152.

The possible development of parts of Wild Horse Park and future of Pebble Creek Golf Course were called into question.

While city officials hunted for economic growth, workers pieced together a 65,000-square-foot school, christened by its future students as Mustang Centennial Elementary — in honor of Oklahoma’s 100th year of statehood.

The first six months of 2007 also brought turbulent weather from severe sleet and ice storms in January to record floods in the spring and summer. A local dam broke, and firefighters rescued drivers from their cars, stalled in flooded intersections.

Mustang city officials also wrestled with decisions to improve the wastewater treatment plant, while their neighbors in the Central Oklahoma Water Resources Authority searched for possible future water sources for Canadian County.

January

Central Oklahoma Water Resources Authority, a group looking for a sustainable clean water source for Canadian County, signed a deal to drill test wells between Lake Stanley Draper and Lake Thunderbird in Cleveland County. The incentive to do so was a promise of $50,000 from the state legislature through the state Water Resources Board.

Mustang School Board members approved an elementary school redistricting plan, sending hundreds of children to different schools.

The plan shifts every existing elementary school boundary, in an effort to take pressure off elementary schools bursting at the seams with student growth. Mustang school officials expected to open a new elementary school on South Czech Hall Road in August with a little over 500 students.

Community Development Director Jim Turner’s strength was the ultimate testament of his character — in life and in death. Turner, 64, died Jan. 3 in Oklahoma City.

“Not enough can be said of the challenges Mr. Turner faced managing the tremendous growth in Mustang in the recent years. He worked tirelessly and performed his job with pride and professionalism,” City Manager David Cockrell said. “And now, when you see all the tremendous new things being built in Mustang, you’re witnessing Jim Turner’s hand of excellence.”

A change in membership rates at Town Center led to an increase in attendance, said one city official.
Parks and Recreation Director Justin Battles said December 2006 total memberships were up by 108 participants since December 2005.

A new rate structure took effect Dec. 1, 2006, which included those living in the Mustang School District as residents. For residents, the individual membership rate is $15 for deluxe memberships, and for families, it is $30 for deluxe memberships. Seniors pay $13 for deluxe memberships. The change came after city officials reported a $21,000 loss in revenue after City Council enacted a rate boost for nonresidents in June 2005, hoping to curtail the center’s bleeding red ink.

City Council members voted to issue the only bond measure that narrowly escaped defeat in December 2006.

A bond for Mustang Fire Department equipment, in the amount of about $960,000, was issued by Council members on a five-year note, which saved local tax payers about $116,000 in interest. However, it still cost about $17,000 more to issue the bonds, which includes fees paid to bond counsel and financial advisers, for just one bond issue than if all three had passed. Local counsel waived their fees — about $10,500 or 35 percent — opting to be billed by the hour — a move Cockrell said was not asked for, but appreciated. He said local counsel thought they would better serve Mustang by waiving this fee.

Two incumbent City Council members returned to their seats unopposed. Neither Kathleen Moon nor Keith Bryan drew opponents for their respective ward seats.

The number of reported auto thefts in Mustang tripled in 2006, with 20 vehicles still missing, according to police. Although police arrested two local teens in connection with two thefts, Police Capt. Willard James said the larcenies continued, and officers asked residents to look out for their neighbors.

Local resident Tanner Cole Daugherty rode away with IPRA’s Saddle Bronc World Champion and Rookie of the Year — becoming the first cowboy to win both titles in the same year.

The 21-year-old finished the 2006 season with more than $31,000, accumulated from more than 100 International Professional Rodeo Association rodeos against scores of older bucking horse riders with their share of grit. But Daugherty gripped the reins for his eight-second ride from each bucking bronco, falling only five times.

“I just got lucky I got a bunch of good horses in one year,” he said.

February

Larry Hunter held tight to his friends’ hands at the Mustang Church of the Nazarene for almost two decades through a roller coaster of life.

For 41 years, he baptized children and bonded couple’s love, but also wiped away tears as he watched families overcome hardship and face death.

Retiring was one of the hardest decisions he’s faced, Hunter said, but it is the right one for his family. He said he became more concerned for his own and his wife Nelda’s health, as the couple enters their late 60s, and he wanted them to spend more time together.

“In fact I wish I could work it out to where I could be a part of the tenure,” Hunter said, adding he will miss the church family deeply. “Probably the best is to step down and let somebody else step in and then go from there.”

Gang activity is on the rise in the Mustang-Yukon area, a juvenile probation officer told Canadian County parents.

About a dozen Mustang students, from elementary to high school age, are believed to be involved with the Gangster Pride Locos, Justin Smith, a juvenile probation officer at the Gary E. Miller Juvenile Justice Center, told parents at a safe schools meeting in El Reno.

“We’ve got a whole rank structure, everything, for the GPLs (Gangster Pride Locos) in Mustang, and it’s actually going into Yukon,” he said.

Local officials with the Mustang School District and Mustang Police Department said school resource officers noticed some drawings in notebooks and have confiscated a few items from students but didn’t believe it constituted an increase in gang activity or a problem.

“The few that we know about here in the city, they are self-proclaimed,” Capt. Willard James said. “(We) don’t know of any unlawful or illegal activity that they are involved in.”

Mustang City Council members considered stepping into the tee box to help decide the future of Pebble Creek Golf Course.

The course’s fate came into question after Mayor Jeff Landrith said the owner of the course may be willing to sell or give the facility to the city.

The mayor said local developer Robert Crout offered a couple of scenarios, including selling the course for less than $300,000, which could either continue to be run as a golf course, be converted into parkland or donate some of the land as a park while developing other parts of it.

However, Crout said the possibility of selling or donating the golf course was just part of “brainstorming ideas,” and there were absolutely “no plans to close the golf course.”

An effort to muzzle noisy animals in Mustang raised a squawk among City Council members leaving the measure unable to scratch out enough support for passage.

A 4-3 vote rejected an ordinance that would have granted the city authority to take action against loud animals in residential neighborhoods, excluding rural estates. The ordinance would have applied to small animals other than dogs — noisy dogs are already included under city laws — and large animals are not allowed in high-density residential neighborhoods.

Thirty minutes into Mustang’s first-ever chocolate festival, chocolatiers Jo Newton and Gigi Willison were sold out. From chocolate-covered peanuts to fudge to truffles, Town Center at that moment was a chocolate lover’s paradise. More than 400 people attended the event, and at $6 per person, it ranked as one of the Friends of the Mustang Public Library’s largest fund-raisers, bringing in $2,637.

Noreta Grady, who helped organize the event, said many people even bought more tickets, which assured them six chocolate samples and came back for a second go through.

“People said they loved it and couldn’t wait for next year,” Grady said. “I think it’s going to be an annual event.”

Whether developing a portion of Wild Horse Park is something city leaders want to do was still in question as City Council members directed Cockrell to go as far as he could — without spending a dime.

In a poll of City Council members, a majority said they thought city officials should keep an open mind and explore the possibility of developing an area of the park, specifically the park’s northeast corner.

Councilman Len Scott, a proponent of development, said it was the vision of city fathers to leave room for future development at the park.

Hundreds of Mustang Elementary students, attending the new school in August, learned they will find a familiar face as Principal Neil Womack moves with them.

The 20-year educator took the top post at the 65,000-square-foot elementary school under construction in the 700 block of South Czech Hall Road after seven years leading Mustang Elementary.

Construction of softball, soccer and vocational agricultural facilities were expected to start in March, as Mustang School Board members approved a $1.64 million bid.

Parents told administrators in January, they were concerned about the lack of progress on the projects.
Jim Burkey, director of bond projects and construction, said the delay was due partially to coaches’ last minute requested changes to plans.

City staff recommended funnelling some money into repairing necessary items at the city’s baseball fields, but at least one Council member wondered why a new facility couldn’t be built utilizing volunteer labor.

Landrith said the first baseball fields were built almost exclusively using volunteer labor, and he had a hard time with multi-million dollar price tags for the projects.

“It’s a fence. It’s dirt. It’s a backstop,” he said.
But Cockrell said the standard would be “way, way lower” than what he thought Council members expected. His recommendation was to funnel about $10,000 into the fields to take care of issues such as fencing.

March
Whoever was damaging and stealing rural road stop signs should beware, said District 1 County Commissioner Phil Carson.
“This is a felony, and it makes me mad,” he said. “If I can find them, I’m going to file charges against them.”

Parents and children named their new school Mustang Centennial Elementary.

The name for the school, which opened in August on the eve of Oklahoma’s celebration marking the state’s 100th birthday, rose to the top of 100 suggestions from 167 returned ballots, said Womack, the school’s principal.

The Mustang School Board adopted the new name as well as the school’s motto, “honoring our past and celebrating our future.”

Womack asked the 180 Lakehoma Elementary and 340 Mustang Elementary students expected to attend the new school to think of a name. Lakehoma students oohed and ahed as he described the new library, music and art rooms, stage area and streetlights which are expected to decorate hallways.

Lakehoma teacher Paula McCullough swooned as “Elvis” serenaded her and students cheered, celebrating her winning of the district’s top educator honor.

McCullough became the first Lakehoma Elementary educator to win the Mustang School District Teacher of the Year award, and Principal Sondra Bivens said the school wasn’t about to pass up a chance to celebrate.

Children cheered as McCullough donned a silver crown and red boa. Physical education teacher Dustin Flexico shook out a white sequined “Elvis” jumpsuit, glued on sideburns and serenaded McCullough with favorite “Love Me Tender.”

As McCullough received the award March 15 during a Town Center ceremony, she asked her co-workers to stand. “I have to say God has really blessed me in my life,” she said. “I have a family that is very supportive, and I have a Lakehoma family that is very supportive.”

Mustang City Council members moved forward on a plan to increase the city’s sewer capacity with an option to further increase it to coincide with community growth.

The vote to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant by 1 million gallons per day and construct new treatment equipment in the future passed 5 to 1. Landrith cast the dissenting vote.

Council chose to go with “Plan B” presented by Garver Engineers, which comes in two phases: the first phase increasing the wastewater treatment plant’s capacity to 2 mgd and the second phase adding an additional 1 mgd.

Canadian County saw a population increase of more than 15 percent in the seven-year period since the last census was taken, and for the first time, it surpassed 100,000 residents.

Figures show Canadian County continues in this decade to be the second fastest growing county in the state.

April

Over 70 percent of voters supported a $13 million bond proposal for Mustang School District. Only 8 percent of registered voters turned out for the bond election.
Mustang school officials talked with 25 civic and parent groups leading up to the election, urging residents to vote.

The bond vote was split into two propositions — the first for $12.1 million included $3.35 million for a multi-purpose health and wellness facility and $4.6 million to construct 20 additional elementary classrooms to help cope with growth. It also included $4.15 million to buy computers, maintenance vehicles, furniture and fixtures, freezers and food service equipment as well as to buy needed security, band and media equipment. The proposition also included funds to repair and replace heating and air-conditioning equipment, flooring and roofs, as well as remodel parts of Mustang High School.

Proposition No. 1 passed with 73.6 percent of voters supporting it, or 1,081. Of 1,468 voters participating, 387 voted no. The second proposition was for $900,000 to buy 10 to 12 school buses, passenger vans and a vocational agricultural truck. Of 1,467 voters casting ballots on the proposition, 1,081 supported it, or 73.7 percent. Voters cast 386 ballots against the measure.

Shovels scooped into orange mud as Canadian Valley Technology Center officials and area dignitaries broke ground on an $11 million facility between spring downpours.

The CVTC east campus at Czech Hall Road and SW 15th Street is expected to house pre-engineering and premedical college preparatory classes as well as health careers, computer and emergency medical technician training programs. The 57,000-square foot facility will also house additional industry training and meeting space.

Mustang Masons’ donations let two local men faced with potentially fatal diseases and risky medical procedures to know they weren’t alone.

Mustang Masonic Lodge 407 donated over $2,000 to Shriner Dennis Privett, who needs a heart transplant, and over $4,000 to Newcastle’s Kyle Kendrix, who is fighting Reflex Sympathic Dystrophy. Both donations were matched by the state Masons’ charity fund.

“It’s always a wonderful thing for us to be able to do this,” Worshipful Master John Walker said. “It’s what we are all about. We care about our brothers, we care about our neighbors, we care about our friends.”

Mustang Club of America officials called the Oklahoma Centennial Mustang Car Show a success during an awards ceremony, before organizers awarded over 250 plaques to attendees. MCA President Bill Johnson thanked the city of Mustang and its officials for hosting the show. He also praised Chamber President Becky Julian.

“She’s been working on this for I bet more than a year and has helped put together things that most of us would be envious to have happen in our own shows,” he said.

Show Chairman Steve Hendrix hugged Julian and thanked the local car club members for their hard work.

“I think I’ve got the best people in this world, and a lot of them are my best friends, my good friends here in this club,” he said. “And they’ve stepped up to this challenge, and I think they’ve done an outstanding job of making this happen.”

Plumbing problems stained a Canadian County Jail health inspection, which officials said have led to closure actions in other counties.

The inspection report found 17 cells have water problems, which Canadian County Sheriff Lewis Hawkins said would be costly to fix. Plumbing is one of many problems plaguing the jail — the most dire being overcrowding. On most days, Hawkins said the jail holds about 100 people when it was initially built as a 72-bed facility. That doesn’t include arrest warrants overflowing from file cabinets for those facing charges for lesser crimes, such as failure to pay child support or theft. The sheriff said he has to prioritize jail space.

Mustang Relay for Life raised over $60,000, almost $15,000 more than last year when it was honored as a top American Cancer Society youth event.

Chairwoman Sarah Bryan said over 500 people volunteered as team members taking turns walking the track from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, to parent and community chaperones.

“We have grown in every area possible from number of teams and number of survivors to number of corporate sponsors,” she said. “I am so proud and thankful for my committee. They did a first class job and every one of them deserves so much more thanks than I can offer.”

City officials announced Mustang was chosen as home to an approximately $40 million regional armed forces reserve center.

The armory will be located on about 40 acres of industrially zoned property in east Mustang — east of Sara Road and south of state Highway 152, near the Industrial Gasket facility, Mayor Jeff Landrith said.

The armory is expected to bring over 100 total workers and about 600 drilling Reserve and National Guard soldiers from across the state to town each weekend.

Canadian County commissioners signed an agreement that could be a first step toward a new county jail.

The agreement with Tulsa-based BKL Inc. allows the architectural company to begin designing a new jail facility in near downtown El Reno, north of the courthouse.

The plan calls for a 285-bed county jail, expanding the current 72-bed jail.

May

Parents and community leaders called for Mustang to strengthen ordinances relating to youth alcohol and drug use.

The Mustang prevention coalition invited city officials and police to its next meeting to discuss toughening ordinances and asked them how the community could support efforts to decrease underage drinking.
Parents voiced concern that police could be understaffed or laws don’t allow them to target teen parties.

“It’s frustrating to us as a community, participants and taxpayers, we don’t know what to do,” Brenda Johnson said.

Flood waters turned Ray Sherrill’s yard into a stream as the pond behind his home seeped into his garage. The Quail Lakes Estate resident rushed home after a neighbor’s phone call.

“It’s pretty amazing ... the driveway was a river, the water went around the house,” he said.

Cockrell said only one dam failed, one at Spitler Lake Estates, but no other damage was reported.

Temporary repairs to a sewer storage lagoon held, Cockrell said. Heavy rains in April caused damage, which he said could not be repaired until drier summer months.

Police and fire officials rescued eight drivers from their stalled cars in flooded areas along SW 59th Street and near West Elder Drive and South Heights Drive.

Winds tore off part of the roof at the Mustang High School Crafts Building. Sgt. Maj. Claude Arnold slopped through 5 inches of standing water in his classroom, and soaked ceiling tiles crumbled onto the floor, ruining textbooks and a computer.

Laughter mixed with tears as Joan Shipman told children her favorite Mustang Valley Elementary stories as their school marked its golden anniversary.

The retired teacher honored many of her former co-workers and local families who were gathered to celebrate the current Mustang Valley Elementary’s 50th year.

“Family is what makes this place special,” she said. “It makes it an excellent environment for learning. I taught here for a long time. When I walked in I felt welcome, and when I left I felt loved. This is family.”

June

It was announced a path could be laid for new walking and biking trails in Mustang now that the city was awarded a grant from the state transportation department.

Battles submitted the preliminary proposal in September and the final proposal in December.

Mustang was one of 35 projects awarded out of about 90 candidates.

The $500,000 project comes with a $100,000 match from the city, which was budgeted for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, Battles said.

The proposed trail would be 10-feet wide and over 3,017 feet in length, Battles said in the project description. The trails would also contain decorative lighting, with electrical services provided by a local electric co-op.

Friends of the Mustang Public Library raised $5,300 to buy computers during a golf tournament held at Surrey Hills Golf Course.

Sixty people in 15 teams competed in the annual event. The top scoring team was Bob Pigg, Keith Pigg, Jordan Wiggins and Matt Price.

The Fraternal Order of Police and city of Mustang officials agreed to a contract that would allow for a 2.75-percent cost of living adjustment and sick leave buyback for officers scheduled to retire.

FOP President Dennis Craig said while in negotiations there are always concessions on both ends, he is ultimately pleased with the final contract.
“It’s a good contract for the city and the officers,” he said

City Council approved a city operating budget of $14.8 million — an 8-percent increase over last fiscal year’s budget.

Richard Rolison is viewing Mustang with the “big picture approach,” which includes making the community the destination for businesses and families.

Hired in June as the city’s new community development director, Rolison came armed with a wealth of experience: 10 years worth of experience, a master’s degree in planning from the University of Oklahoma, previous experience in Oklahoma City’s engineering department and hailing most recently from Sapulpa where he served as urban development director.

Moving to full-day kindergarten could cost Mustang School District $4 million, a task force reported to Mustang School Board.

MSD would need 18 additional classrooms and teachers to implement a six-hour per day kindergarten program, said Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Cindy Schmidt, who served on a task force with 13 other administrators, teachers and parents.

State law requires Mustang to implement a full-day kindergarten program by the 2011-2012 school year.

Mustang City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Lowes Home Improvement Center. Lowes is building in Mustang after about a year’s worth of negotiations and after city officials offered a $1.76 million incentive package, paid annually in $352,000 installments for five years — as long as Lowes meets specific performance standards outlined in the agreement.

The store will develop at the southeast corner of Sara Road and state Highway 152 on about 22 acres of land. This part of Mustang was targeted by city staff and in the long-range comprehensive plan as being a commercial corridor.

Time ticked away for Canadian County wheat farmers who were unable to harvest grains after weeks of late June rain.

No one heard the clock louder than Mustang-area farmer Ray Bornemann, who said he still had about 840 acres, or two-thirds of his fields, left to harvest.

“This is a rare year,” he said. “I don’t ever remember being out of the fields this long with this much wheat to harvest.”

Everything that could go wrong with wheat happened, said Betty Weach at the Banner Co-Op. Predictions called for a golden year for wheat. However, a late Easter frost followed by rampant crop diseases and insects crippled Canadian County’s wheat crop. Then late May and June rains fell, drowning out wheat plants, flattening stalks and bringing weeds.