Marshall Stewart

A Christmas Classic and some of Broadway’s most popular recent musicals will make up the new Celebrity Attractions season in Tulsa. A little taste of what’s to come is played at the event at the Performing Arts Center today announcing the upcoming season. Celebrity Attractions President Larry Payton says the holiday favorite ‘White Christmas’ is included.

Shows also include The Blue Man Group, Chicago, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sister Act, and Wicked.

Tulsa holds it’s largest Martin Luther King Day Parade ever near the historic Greenwood area. Riding in the parade, and this year’s recipient of the Keeping the Dream Alive Honor, is community activist Nancy McDonald. She was instrumental in helping integrate Tulsa schools more than 40 years ago.

With three thousand participants and 247 entries, Tulsa’s annual event is one of the largest Martin Luther King Day Parades in the nation.

New jobs for Tulsa. Verizon today announced it’s adding 500 positions at its’ facility in the Cherokee Industrial Park. Verizon Vice-President Michelle Robinson says the company reviewed several locations across the country before choosing Tulsa for the expansion.

A special task force takes a look at improving intelligence gathering to help solve crimes like the recent quadruple homicide in South Tulsa. City, law enforcement, and citizen leaders gather for an initial meeting following the Fairmont Terrace killings. Police Captain Van Ellis talked to the group about the need to receive quality intelligence, not just a large quantity of information that may not be all that helpful.

The LaFortune Park jogging trail is getting new lighting. Tulsa County Parks Director Richard Bales says the new LED lights are brighter and more energy efficient, and they should make the area safer. County leaders voted today to seek bids on the project. Two new lights will also be added to the park’s picnic area along South Yale Avenue.

The lights were first installed in the 1980’s and haven’t been upgraded since. All the park’s 114 lights and light posts will be replaced.

In the wake of this week’s quadruple killings, Tulsa city leaders are looking at ways to deal with problems in low-income, high crime areas. City Council Chairman David Patrick says increased police presence is only part of the solution. He says more must be done to address the concentration of what are called Section 8 low-income multi-unit properties in certain locations.

Patrick says the council is considering a quicker process to demolish dilapidated housing that owners refuse to improve, and helping with tax credits for those who want to upgrade their properties.

Monday, the kids are heading back to class after the holidays, and Tulsa police will crack down on speeders and reckless drivers in school zones. Officer Leland Ashley says drivers need to be aware as classes resume after winter break. He says no warnings will be issued, if stopped in a school zone, you will get a ticket..and fines can be hefty, up to 500 dollars.

Ashley says the special enforcement is organized by the Mingo Valley division on Tulsa’s east side, but other divisions will also be focusing on school zone enforcement.

There’s been a last minute delay in opening the new east security entrance to the Tulsa County Courthouse, but it should happen this week or next. County Commission Chief Deputy Mark Liotta says they’re waiting on hand rails that need to be installed before the new Denver Ave. entrance can open, a requirement by the Fire Marshal.

The entrance will lead courthouse visitors directly to the escalators that provide access to the second and third floors, and hopefully reduce congestion on the first floor around the elevators. 

Tulsa County leaders elected in November are officially sworn-in to office today. Four elected officials take the oath at the courthouse. They include District 2 Commissioner Karen Keith, County Clerk Pat Key, Court Clerk Sally Howe Smith, and Sheriff Stanley Glanz. It’s his seventh term, making him the longest serving sheriff in county history. He says better communication between jurisdictions helps in the fight against crime, and that cooperation has been a hallmark of his administration.

Glanz vows to further the cooperation between law enforcement agencies.