The Journal Record

Oklahoma County Residential Sales: March 3, 2006

The following transactions were recorded over the past week with Oklahoma County Clerk Carolynn Caudill: $400,000 and above

Measure Clarifying Gift Certificate Law Approved by Oklahoma House

The state House unanimously approved a bill Thursday that attempts to clarify language to a measure passed last year regarding the sale of gift certificates by Oklahoma businesses. House Bill 2635 updates the Gift Certificate and Gift Card Disclosure Act by defining the language to ensure that warranties would not be included under the provisions under the original act, which took effect Nov. 1, 2005.

Wildfires Devour Thousands of Acres Across Oklahoma

No one bothered to ask Mother Nature if she was finished in Oklahoma Thursday. Apparently, despite cooler weather, she was just warming up. Pete Buist, lead information officer with the Oklahoma Department of Forestry's Incident Command Post in Shawnee, said firefighters across the state were catching up with various fires that started Wednesday, as well as tackling new blazes Thursday.

Bill to Expand Health Insurance Program Passes Oklahoma Senate

A bill to expand a program to help small businesses provide health coverage to their employees passed the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 33-12. Currently, Insure Oklahoma, backed by Gov. Brad Henry, covers only companies with 25 or fewer workers. The program was part of Henry's 2004 tobacco tax-funded health initiative.

Class-Action Lawsuit Bill Passes Ok House Committee, Draws Protest From Representative

A House bill that would place certain restrictions on class- action lawsuits passed out of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday, but drew an angry protest from one member. State Rep. Fred Morgan, R-Oklahoma City, committee chairman and principal author of House Bill 2030, brought up a committee substitute version that state Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester, said became available for amendment only seven minutes before Wednesday's 4:30 p.m. deadline. The deadline was imposed last session aft...

Oklahoma Businesswoman Judy Hatfield Sells 50 Percent of Equity Realty to Associate

Those who know Judy Hatfield weren't surprised to learn that she sold half of her business to associate Eric Fleske. That was the plan all along. Hatfield, principal of Equity Realty, a commercial real estate firm, sold 40 percent of the company's interest to Fleske, effective Jan. 1. Ten percent of the company had already been given to Fleske. Due to a signed confidentially agreement, neither party could discuss the financials.

Three Ok Energy Companies Make Fortune Magazine's 'Most Admired' List

Three state energy companies were listed among the most admired companies in the latest edition of Fortune magazine. Oneok and Williams Cos. Of Tulsa were second and fifth, respectively, in the energy category. Devon Energy of Oklahoma was fifth in mining and crude-oil production.

Home of Oklahoma Redhawks Renamed at&T Bricktown Ballpark

The home of the Oklahoma RedHawks baseball team has been given a new name and logo following the renewal of a branding contract with a recently renamed telecommunications giant. Signs for the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark were unveiled Thursday at the sports venue at the corner of Reno Avenue and Mickey Mantle Drive. The monetary value of the deal was not revealed.

Oklahoma Oilman Continues Pushing Early Childhood Education

George Kaiser, local oilman, banking executive and philanthropist, told Tulsa business leaders Thursday to continue throwing their clout and resources behind early childhood education as a way to tackle vexing poverty issues and stimulate the economy. Kaiser, who helped bankroll the $8.5 million, cutting-edge Tulsa Educare community center planned in the crime-ridden Kendall- Whittier neighborhood, said equal opportunity is the social contract of American life and that must be applied to publ...

Lafarge North America's Tulsa Cement Plant Receives Conservation Award

Lafarge North America's Tulsa Cement Plant received international recognition for contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council's 17th annual symposium. Lafarge demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship and increasing native biodiversity by achieving habitat certification at the Tulsa plant.

Tulsa-Based Helmerich & Payne Plans Stock Split

Helmerich & Payne's board of directors has approved a two-for- one stock split of common stock. The stock split must be approved by stockholders. A special meeting of the Tulsa-based company's stockholders is expected to be held during the second quarter.

Advanced Powerline Technologies of Woodward Delivers First Units

Advanced Powerline Technologies of Woodward delivered its first shipment of liquid crystal display televisions to A.A. Importing Co. in Missouri. A.A. Importing sold the units the first day. A.A. Importing is an import/export company of high-technology and related products for direct sale to the consumer.

Ok House Passes Bill Allowing Teaching of Evolution Alternatives

A bill to authorize the teaching of a full range of scientific views on the biological and chemical origins of life passed the state House Thursday on a vote of 77-10. The Academic Freedom Act is being considered in several states.

Oklahoma Chamber, Business Groups Protest Eminent Domain Ballot Proposal

Four business groups filed a protest with the Oklahoma Supreme Court Thursday challenging an initiative petition to restrict the use of eminent domain for private development. Among the protestants are The State Chamber, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the Oklahoma Professional Economic Development Council and the Oklahoma Association of Business and Industry.

Tulsa Developers Capitalize On Warm Winter Weather, Foresee Greater Profits, Price War

Many Tulsa area home developers sped up their construction schedules this winter to take advantage of the unusually warm weather. We're working like it's June, said David Alexander, owner of Eagle Custom Homes.

Tulsa Designer Debbie Standish-Hunter Uses Model Home As Second Storefront

After Brad Dunlap's Viking Builders finished its latest home in the Wind River subdivision, a 3,550-square-foot beauty at 11809 S. Oswego, Debbie Standish-Hunter filled it with fine rugs, leather chairs, tables, lamps, paintings, ornamentals - all the works, and for free. Didn't she do a marvelous job? said Dunlap, looking around the plush living room.

President Bush's Proposed Cuts Threaten Oklahoma Careertech Funding

A budget cut proposed by President George W. Bush would cause a serious blow to CareerTech, as well as mean the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education could lose 25 to 30 professionals, said Phil Berkenbile, state director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. The proposed 2007 presidential budget would redirect funding from the Carl D. Perkins program to fund new educational programs that have not proven their effectiveness, said U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R...

Okc Events: March 3, 2006

The 2006 goal of the Allied Arts fund campaign is a lofty $1,860,000, but volunteers working on the drive are so pumped up they're reaching for an even loftier goal of $2 million. At least, that's what campaign chairs David Thompson and Ann Johnstone are hoping for. The campaign cabinet, leaders of teams for the campaign, met for a report and luscious breakfast at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club to update the funds and pledges in hand. Listening eagerly was honorary drive chair Josephine ...

Irs Official to Discuss Small-Business Taxes at Minority & Women's Business Breakfast in Okc

Cicely Smith, a stakeholders' liaison with the Internal Revenue Service, will be the speaker at the Minority & Women's Business Breakfast at 7 a.m. Tuesday at Metro Tech in Oklahoma City. She will discuss and answer questions regarding small business taxes and filing annual returns. Smith has been an IRS employee since 1987.

Ok-Based Pre-Paid Legal Plans Stock Split

The board of directors of Pre-Paid Legal Services has authorized a reverse/forward split. The split was approved by shareholders at the 2005 annual meeting. March 17 is the effective date.