MIRANDA FLEMING/GDH This is just one of the animals located at the Guymon Animal Shelter located north of town. For more information on how to save a furry friend, please call 580-338-6461.
MIRANDA FLEMING/GDH Emergency personnel responded, during the noon hour wednesday, to an aircraft crash on the runway of Guymon's Municipal Airport. The pilot walked away with a minor head injury, treated and released on scene.
By MIRANDA FLEMING • Reporter
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
An emergency landing was made during the noon hour at Guymon's Municipal Airport Wednesday. According to the report made by Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Texas County Sheriff's office advised an aircraft had crashed on the north end of the runway. The aircraft, a 1953 Beechcraft D35, single engine, lost control upon approaching the runway. The pilot, Robert E. Buckinham III, 52 of Keller,Texas, attempted to land the plane, but crashed approximately 251 feet south of the north end of the runway, sliding off the east side, landing in the field. The pilot recieved only a minor head injury and was checked and released on scene. The incident was investigated by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. David Welch of the Beaver Detachment and was assisted by Texas County Sheriffs Office, Guymon Police Department, Guymon Fire Department, and Guymon EMS. The FAA was notified of the incident.
By MIRANDA FLEMING • Reporter
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Oklahoma House of Representatives, Media Division, released a study on Tuesday, August 31,2010, showing that requiring backup generators in assisted living facilities is needed in Oklahoma. "Today's study showed that about a third of the 139 assisted living facilities in the state do not have a backup generator,"said State Representative, Joe Dorman. He went on to say, "We also learned that moving residents to another facility or shelter in times of disaster is not the best way to look out for their safety." Dorman added that clear legislation is needed and intends to work with all parties as to not create financial hardship for assisted living facilities. According to the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association, Penny Ridenour, for facilities with less than 16 beds, the cost of the generator purchase would be burdensome, most likely passing the cost onto the consumer and the price can quickly get high, with the low-end of costs being $20,000. Dorman said, "There is a cost to providing this level of safety, but thee is also the necessary cost for ensuring protection for the safety of the residents." Dorman is currently looking at the law in Maryland, where facilities with 50 beds or more requires generators, with exemptions for facilities with financial hardships. According to the Assisted Living State Regulatory Review 2010, the only state requiring generators in these facilities is Maryland. "I am trying to find ways to help improve our response to natural disasters. One way is to require assisted living facilities to have alternate power sources so vulnerable residents continue to have access to important medical equipment requiring electricity and warmth,"said Dorman. A request from an individual, whose mother was living in a assisted living facility that experienced a power due to an ice storm earlier in the year, prompted this study. The recent study also found that even though it is highly suggested by various state entities, there is no requirement for plans of disaster and evacuation in Oklahoma. "I will certainly demand this be included in the legislation to require all facilities to have some type of disaster and evacuation plan filed with the local fire department closest to a facility, " said Dorman and added, "I am confident that reasonable legislation can be created and I look forward to working with the various interested parties to find some solution which will be cost effective for the facilites and protect their vulnerable residents."
