WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Good morning, good morning, good morning, and welcome, welcome, Welcome

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<v Speaker 1>to our special twenty twenty four Year in Review program.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm Tom Davis and I'm Nathan Thompson. You know, Tom,

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<v Speaker 2>twenty twenty four was a very busy year in our

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<v Speaker 2>listening area, and when I was compiling this list of

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<v Speaker 2>our top stories, I found our staff wrote more than

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<v Speaker 2>thirty five hundred stories so far in twenty twenty four.

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<v Speaker 1>That's an incredible number, with an average of more than

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<v Speaker 1>sixty two stories each week.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, thankfully for our listeners and our voices, Tom, I

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<v Speaker 2>whittled the list down just a bit for our Year

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<v Speaker 2>in Review. Now, of course, we need to start with

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<v Speaker 2>our top story of twenty twenty four. I don't think

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<v Speaker 2>there's anywhere else I can start except for the devastating

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<v Speaker 2>tornadoes that impacted Barnstall and Bartlesville in twenty twenty four.

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<v Speaker 1>Barnstall was first hit by a small tornado on April first,

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<v Speaker 1>which damaged a couple of structures. But then the May

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<v Speaker 1>sixth tornado occurred and we were I have on the

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<v Speaker 1>air during both tornadoes, providing advanced warning and the reports

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<v Speaker 1>of the damage.

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<v Speaker 2>We need to talk about this storm that is just

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<v Speaker 2>moving to the east of Harmony right now. That is

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<v Speaker 2>a tornado warnstorm, confirmed tornado. That storm is moving to

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<v Speaker 2>the northeast northeast now at forty miles per hour. Again,

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<v Speaker 2>this is confirmed by a spotterer on the ground. If

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<v Speaker 2>you are in Barnstall, a Vent, Talent, Wolco, you need

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<v Speaker 2>to be in your tornado shelters now, all right. So

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<v Speaker 2>for our chasers who are listening right now, I need

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<v Speaker 2>somebody to head toward Oceleda Ramona area and if somebody

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<v Speaker 2>can get ahead of that Barnstall storm, that would be

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<v Speaker 2>good as well. Confirmed tornado is on the ground though

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<v Speaker 2>we have a very dangerous situation right now. Just a

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<v Speaker 2>few minutes ago. Here are some of the times that

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<v Speaker 2>you need to be aware. Barnstay all about nine thirty seven,

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<v Speaker 2>Talent nine thirty eight, Woolcoe ninety nlogny nine, the Woolarock

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<v Speaker 2>area at nine forty six and Ocealeda Oceleda. You're not

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<v Speaker 2>in the tornado warning at this point that you need

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<v Speaker 2>to be watching this because that tornado warnstorm is knocking

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<v Speaker 2>on your doorstep right now.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm actually here in the using ranch where the towers

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<v Speaker 3>are moving buller Rock and Bartlesville looking to the southwest.

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<v Speaker 3>I can confirm with Chase kind of said, the winds

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<v Speaker 3>that picked up a little bit, a lot of rain,

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<v Speaker 3>and I think this thing's probably gonna come in rain round.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, So so just just be mindful if I tell

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<v Speaker 2>you to move.

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<v Speaker 3>Move if you can, if you feel like something's coming.

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<v Speaker 3>That's what it does. A lot of lightning right here,

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of lightning.

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<v Speaker 2>The storm we've been watching to the southeast of Barnstall

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<v Speaker 2>kevinis is heading kind of in that direction, so may

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<v Speaker 2>need to head heads south as well. If you run

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<v Speaker 2>the city of Bartolsville. This is a confirmed tornado warning.

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<v Speaker 2>A confirmed tornado to the south of the Barnstall area,

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<v Speaker 2>and maybe in you your tornado safe spots right now.

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<v Speaker 2>Tornado simons are now sounding. Tornado simons are now sounding

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<v Speaker 2>in Barlowsville. That's your signal. You need to be in

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<v Speaker 2>your tornado safe spots right now. We will stay here

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<v Speaker 2>with you online as long as we can. Here the

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<v Speaker 2>Gap Road area is where we're seeing the circulation. Caleb

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<v Speaker 2>Potter was just reporting from that area. But we do

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<v Speaker 2>need to be taking shelter now in the city of Barlowsville,

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<v Speaker 2>as well as in Dewey and then Evan far back.

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<v Speaker 2>We're getting all set up downstairs. Okay, let's go ahead

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<v Speaker 2>and head downstairs. And we are heading downstairs here at

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<v Speaker 2>KWN in downtown Barlosville. This is a situation that we

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<v Speaker 2>all need to take seriously, as this tornado warning had

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<v Speaker 2>confirmed tornado on the ground near the Barnstall area. And again,

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<v Speaker 2>if you are in city of Bartlesville, Judy, you need

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<v Speaker 2>to be taking your tornado precautions right now. I'm on

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<v Speaker 2>a portable microphone. Okay. Again, we are now in our

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<v Speaker 2>tornado shelters here at the radio station as the storm

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<v Speaker 2>continues to move on through.

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<v Speaker 1>We did evacuate our studios and we headed to our shelter,

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<v Speaker 1>but thanks to our technology, we were able to stay

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<v Speaker 1>on the air throughout and provide updates even those first

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<v Speaker 1>reports of damages.

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<v Speaker 2>One of our show trackers is heading to is actually

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<v Speaker 2>going to be heading back to his house because he

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<v Speaker 2>does have damage pretty good side his house in East Bartlesville.

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<v Speaker 2>So Chase, we're thinking much about it. Damage at Toxedo

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<v Speaker 2>and Queenstown, and we've got people out looking for damage

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<v Speaker 2>right now, so we'll be getting that over the next thing.

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<v Speaker 2>I know we have an additional damage in Tuxedo and

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<v Speaker 2>Avondale area as well. We're getting another I know we

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<v Speaker 2>have multiple reports of damage.

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<v Speaker 4>In our area.

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<v Speaker 2>I know Evan Farbach has been following that for us.

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<v Speaker 2>So Evan, tell me an update some of the storm

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<v Speaker 2>damager hearing.

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<v Speaker 5>The Yeah, a few of the things to mention again,

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<v Speaker 5>you've mentioned a few of them.

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<v Speaker 2>Toxedo and Avondale was a place we had confirmed damage.

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<v Speaker 2>Had a confirmed tree down over Old Highway seventy five

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<v Speaker 2>in between Oceanleda and Bartlesville, just north of Oceleda across

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<v Speaker 2>Silver Lake there had a tree down all right, Hanton

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<v Speaker 2>In reporting in Bartlesville, my goodness, taking a direct hit

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<v Speaker 2>from this tornado. Now we're also getting multiple reports of

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<v Speaker 2>structural damage now in Barnstall, multiple reports of structural damage

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<v Speaker 2>in Bartlesville and now confirmed tornado damage. With those early

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<v Speaker 2>reports coming from Barnstall, we had no idea at the

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<v Speaker 2>time how terrible and deadly this twister was. It was

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<v Speaker 2>rated an EF four and was the strongest tornado in

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<v Speaker 2>Oklahoma since twenty thirteen. Millions of dollars in damage was done.

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<v Speaker 2>Two people were killed and many people lost their homes.

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<v Speaker 1>For the most part, Bartlesville has been able to rebuild,

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<v Speaker 1>but there are a handful of businesses that are still

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<v Speaker 1>closed near the intersection of Frank Phillips Boulevard and Washington Boulevard.

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<v Speaker 1>Our friends in Barnstall, well, they've had it a bit

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<v Speaker 1>more difficult.

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<v Speaker 2>The wax plant was significantly damaged in the tornado, and

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<v Speaker 2>what's the town's largest employer. After an initial promise to rebuild,

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<v Speaker 2>the parent company backed out. Now in December, Mayor Johnny

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<v Speaker 2>Kelly says, the town is just barely hanging on there.

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<v Speaker 5>It is Christmas and there used to be Christmas lines

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<v Speaker 5>all over here and callers everywhere, and you know, people

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<v Speaker 5>preparing to have family get togethers in Christmas. And now

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<v Speaker 5>all you have is empty loss that can't be rebuilt

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<v Speaker 5>due to EhP, which is environmental historical preservation. We've been

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<v Speaker 5>going through the process of getting people to bid the

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<v Speaker 5>job of digging the test holes along the creek bank

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<v Speaker 5>to check for artifacts.

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<v Speaker 6>It's weird looking at nothing but flat landscape, but it'd

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<v Speaker 6>be all right.

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<v Speaker 1>Another story that has dominated our newscast this year is

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<v Speaker 1>the trouble at Bartlesville's iconic Price Tower, the Frank Lloyd

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<v Speaker 1>Wright design skyscraper, was purchased by a private firm in

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<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty three with promises to revitalize the property, but

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<v Speaker 1>those promises never materialized.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, Tom they've gotten markedly worse. Alarm bells first

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<v Speaker 2>came to fruition after the building's owner, Cynthia Blanchard, was

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<v Speaker 2>caught selling artifacts in the Price Tower in late April

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<v Speaker 2>and early May. She told us at the time quote,

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<v Speaker 2>she's tried to protect the tower. Well here she is

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<v Speaker 2>in her own words.

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<v Speaker 7>Stef we're protecting the tower because the other thing with

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<v Speaker 7>these people that are feeding this reporter false information is

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<v Speaker 7>behind the scenes, they're reaching out to me to try

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<v Speaker 7>to buy the tower.

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<v Speaker 8>I believe.

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<v Speaker 3>Yes, you've had yes as offer.

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<v Speaker 7>To as in this morning there was another one through

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<v Speaker 7>a third party acquaintance that they're trying to say, Hey,

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<v Speaker 7>we've got a buyer, but it's Craig. He's been calling me.

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<v Speaker 7>On Monday, this third party acquaintance said, hey, you got

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<v Speaker 7>a message from him. He wants to buy the tower.

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<v Speaker 7>Let's all be friends again. So what is you tell me?

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<v Speaker 7>What's going on?

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<v Speaker 1>That contract to sell the Price Tower reportedly fell through.

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<v Speaker 1>Multiple lawsuits have been filed claiming Blanchard signed the contract

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<v Speaker 1>but then failed to deliver on the property, and additional

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<v Speaker 1>lawsuits have been filed against Blanchard for selling the Frank

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<v Speaker 1>Lloyd Wright artifacts.

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<v Speaker 2>In August, Blanchard told us that she's not closing the

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<v Speaker 2>Price Tower, which was another falsehood.

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<v Speaker 9>We have had to sail back tremendously because we don't

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<v Speaker 9>have the business. In August, we don't out. I didn't

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<v Speaker 9>know that the employees were saying we were closing the doors.

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<v Speaker 9>We have had to let some at least temporarily, let

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<v Speaker 9>staff go. We've had to cancel reservres because we don't

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<v Speaker 9>have the staff. We can't afford to keep the staff on. So, yeah,

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<v Speaker 9>are we closing the doors. Not yet, but we don't

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<v Speaker 9>know what the future holds because we have been attacked.

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<v Speaker 2>Twelve days after that statement from Cynthia Blanchard, longtime tenants

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<v Speaker 2>received eviction notices and began moving out of the Price Tower,

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<v Speaker 2>including Bartlesville Monthly Magazine, which had office there for seven years.

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<v Speaker 2>Keith and Christy mcphaiel told me they were concerned over

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<v Speaker 2>the rhetoric that Blanchard was using and it had a

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<v Speaker 2>negative impact not only on them, but also on the

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<v Speaker 2>Price Tower itself.

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<v Speaker 10>Hopefully everybody can keep informed with the facts and not

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<v Speaker 10>all that you know, crazy yeah.

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<v Speaker 8>And that's really what we want, is just everyone to

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<v Speaker 8>get all the facts and let this play out like

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<v Speaker 8>a shit good because at the very end of the day,

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<v Speaker 8>we have to do what's best for the Price Tower

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<v Speaker 8>and what's best for the city, and that's what we

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<v Speaker 8>care about.

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<v Speaker 1>Following the lawsuits, the Price Tower has literally gone dark

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<v Speaker 1>and has been abandoned for months. The electricity and the

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<v Speaker 1>water service to the skyscraper have been turned off. At

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<v Speaker 1>least one of the lawsuits, the one for breach of

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<v Speaker 1>contract between Blanchard and the McFarlane group, might be close

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<v Speaker 1>to resolution. The next coordinata on that matter is just

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<v Speaker 1>a week away on January seventh.

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<v Speaker 2>On the education front, many great things occurred during twenty

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<v Speaker 2>twenty four. The Bortleshell Agricultural Education Center opened in September.

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<v Speaker 2>Voters approved a bond issue in twenty twenty one for

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<v Speaker 2>the new center, which includes classrooms, greenhouses, a show arena,

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<v Speaker 2>and animal barns for the school district's nationally recognized FFA program.

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<v Speaker 2>Superintendent Chuck McCauley says he's pleased with the community's support

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<v Speaker 2>of AG education and has plans to continue growing the program.

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<v Speaker 6>Exciting day for the community of Bartlesville. I'm so pleased

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<v Speaker 6>that we now have this opportunity within our school system.

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<v Speaker 6>I'm so thankful for the strong community support now that

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<v Speaker 6>we have, you know, three ACT teachers, two hundred and

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<v Speaker 6>forty students enrolled in the program in eight through twelve,

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<v Speaker 6>and we're also already making plans to continue to expand

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<v Speaker 6>the program. So thankful for our voter support for the

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<v Speaker 6>bond issue so that we can have this, and also

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<v Speaker 6>thankful for the Lion Foundation for helping us fund the

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<v Speaker 6>great houses. It's a great day for Marblesville.

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<v Speaker 1>Wait Side Elementary School expanded and another expansion is under

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<v Speaker 1>construction at Ranch Heights Elementary, showing the growth in Bartlesville

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<v Speaker 1>public schools. We also were able to celebrate the outstanding

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<v Speaker 1>students from across the entire listing area with the Patriot

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<v Speaker 1>Auto Knight of Scholars and Champions.

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<v Speaker 2>That's right. Tom Nowata High School senior Zach Long was

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<v Speaker 2>named the twenty twenty four Patriot Auto Group Student of

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<v Speaker 2>the Year during the eighth annual Night of scholars and

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<v Speaker 2>champions at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, presented by Truity Credit Union

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<v Speaker 2>in Bartlesville. Radio Long won a brand new twenty twenty

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<v Speaker 2>four hun day venue from Patriot Atto, payment of the

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<v Speaker 2>tag tax and title on the vehicle, a one thousand

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<v Speaker 2>dollars scholarship, and a five hundred dollars gas card from

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<v Speaker 2>Phillips sixty six.

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<v Speaker 11>Oh, it's a major bussing. I'm very big blessing. I'm

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<v Speaker 11>so excited for this opportunity. I'm just you know, I'm

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<v Speaker 11>glad that I can be a good leader for my

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<v Speaker 11>community and for all the communities around here. And I

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<v Speaker 11>just thank God for everything that He's done for me.

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<v Speaker 11>And this is a big blessing.

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<v Speaker 1>It was certainly a great night and congratulations Zach. Bartlesville

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<v Speaker 1>High School cross country star Gentry Turner was named the

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<v Speaker 1>Female Athlete of the Year and Candy Valley High School

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<v Speaker 1>multi sport female I'm Cooper Fogel was named the Male

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<v Speaker 1>athlete of the Year. Both received one thousand dollars scholarships

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<v Speaker 1>from Patriot Auto Group, Bartlesville Radio and Ascension Saint John

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<v Speaker 1>Jane Phillips.

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<v Speaker 2>On the political front, it was an election year, and

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<v Speaker 2>we all know how the national election worked out, but

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<v Speaker 2>it was particularly competitive in local races, especially for Bartlesville

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<v Speaker 2>City Council. Three of the five incumbents lost their reelection bid,

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<v Speaker 2>including Mayor Dale Copeland, Councilor Louren Roselle, and Quinn Shipper.

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<v Speaker 2>All three incumbents lost two challengers, Tim Sherrick, Larry East,

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<v Speaker 2>and Aaron Kirkpatrick.

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<v Speaker 1>In the candidate forum hosted by k one just before

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<v Speaker 1>the November election, it was apparent there was severe disagreements

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<v Speaker 1>over the handling of the city's comprehensive plan, flock traffic cameras,

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<v Speaker 1>and the city's homeless population, but by far a reaction

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<v Speaker 1>to drag shows in public during the Bartlesville Pride Festival

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<v Speaker 1>was the one that grew at least two candidates over

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<v Speaker 1>the finish line. Here's Tim Sherrick.

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<v Speaker 12>We just saw a lot of situations that we felt

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<v Speaker 12>like needed to be addressed. We wanted to make sure

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<v Speaker 12>that we properly represented the voice of the people and

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<v Speaker 12>served them well, that we were in a position to

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<v Speaker 12>protect the family values that have always been at the

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<v Speaker 12>heart of Bartlesville and to make sure that the needs

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<v Speaker 12>of the people are paramounts in front of.

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<v Speaker 2>The city council and Larry East.

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<v Speaker 13>I'd like to see adult entertainment to fush behind closed doors.

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<v Speaker 13>That was really one of the biggest things that encouraged

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<v Speaker 13>me to step up and try to get in here

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<v Speaker 13>to make some change there and the homelessness situation that

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<v Speaker 13>needs address.

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<v Speaker 2>The issue over whether or not public drag shows will

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<v Speaker 2>continue in Bartlesville is certainly not a settled matter. There

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<v Speaker 2>will be additional debate on whether or not drag performances

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<v Speaker 2>are considered adult entertainment or protected expression under the first Amendments.

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<v Speaker 1>We also lost several community icons during twenty twenty four,

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<v Speaker 1>including former Bartlesville City council Member Billy Rohan. She passed

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<v Speaker 1>away suddenly in April after a brief illness. Former Bartlesville

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<v Speaker 1>Assistant City Manager Tracy Rowles remembered.

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<v Speaker 14>Ron her and her late husband Tom were true public

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<v Speaker 14>servants who really cared about making things better, not just

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<v Speaker 14>for a select few, but for everyone, and so we

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<v Speaker 14>will really miss Billy and her contributions not only to

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<v Speaker 14>the city but as friends of so many that she

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<v Speaker 14>did it the right way, and then once she got

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<v Speaker 14>to that position, she continued to do things the right way,

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<v Speaker 14>always kept a community first approach, really cared about the

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<v Speaker 14>community and wanted this wanted the city of Bartlesville to

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<v Speaker 14>be the very best, So she'll truly be missed.

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<v Speaker 2>One of Billy Rome's lasting contributions was the creation of

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<v Speaker 2>the new Veterans Memorial at Veterans Park. The memorial opened

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<v Speaker 2>to the public in November. Here's former city Councilor Quinnshipper

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<v Speaker 2>on Rohan's contribution and where we.

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<v Speaker 4>Stand today was a vision of Billy Roan, who loved

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<v Speaker 4>this community, she loved her country, and if she had

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<v Speaker 4>to have baked sales every Saturday to raise the money

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<v Speaker 4>for this, whatever it was going to take, she was

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<v Speaker 4>determined to have this Veterans Memorial in place in this spot.

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<v Speaker 1>We also lost former Sheriff Pat Ballard, Va Zoo With

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<v Speaker 1>Service and Technology Corporation, former West Side Community Center Director

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<v Speaker 1>Morris mccorby, and Commissioner Mike Bouvier. But perhaps no one

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<v Speaker 1>was more loved by the community than the man known

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<v Speaker 1>as Bartlesville's Santa Ron Adams. He passed away on November thirteenth,

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<v Speaker 1>but just before he died, the community came into say goodbye.

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<v Speaker 2>He's been known as Bartlesville's very own Santa for more

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<v Speaker 2>than three decades, and on Saturday night, dozens of community

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<v Speaker 2>members showered Ron Adams with the blessings of love and

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas carols as he faces the final moments of his life.

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<v Speaker 2>Earlier this year, Adams was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer.

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<v Speaker 2>His health has rapidly deteriorated, and he is in hospice

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<v Speaker 2>care at the Journey Home between Bartlesviille and Dewey. Debbie Nie,

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<v Speaker 2>a friend of the family, says she received a phone

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<v Speaker 2>call from Adam's daughter Lindsay Saturday morning with a very

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<v Speaker 2>special request.

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<v Speaker 10>Well, Lindsay called me this morning and she said, I

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<v Speaker 10>have a big ask, a really big ask. And I said, Hey,

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<v Speaker 10>whatever you need, I'm here for you. And she said, well,

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<v Speaker 10>if you can want to say no, you can say no.

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<v Speaker 10>I said no, I want to say no. I'll make

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<v Speaker 10>it happen. And she said, I'd really love to have

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<v Speaker 10>carellrs here at six o'clock to night. I said done.

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<v Speaker 2>Adams was born in Bartlesville in nineteen forty seven. He

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<v Speaker 2>attended grade school and graduated from Call High in nineteen

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<v Speaker 2>sixty five. He attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with

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<v Speaker 2>a business degree. Professionally, he worked in banking for more

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<v Speaker 2>than forty years before he retired, but it was his

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<v Speaker 2>career in banking that helped Adams become Bartlesville Santa. He

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<v Speaker 2>also became involved in the Shriners organization and performed as

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<v Speaker 2>a clown bringing joy to children's lives, a tradition that

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<v Speaker 2>continued as Santa.

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<v Speaker 5>My mom always said I wasn't shy.

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<v Speaker 2>Adams is certainly not shy and certainly not lacking any

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<v Speaker 2>compassion children. In addition to his Santa duties, Adams was

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<v Speaker 2>the longtime president of the Bartlesville Playground Association, the nonprofit

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<v Speaker 2>group that operates the Kittie Park. He retired from that

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<v Speaker 2>in twenty nineteen, and following a stroke, he almost hung

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<v Speaker 2>up the Santa hadn cloak, but persevered, doming he still

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<v Speaker 2>had love and joy to spread. He has given countless

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<v Speaker 2>hours as a volunteer at the Dewey Hotel and continued

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<v Speaker 2>his portrayal of Santa for thousands of children at events

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<v Speaker 2>across the region. Following his cancer diagnosis in early twenty

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<v Speaker 2>twenty three, Adams received several immunotherapy treatments, but his family

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<v Speaker 2>says they knew what the outcome would be. In the

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<v Speaker 2>past few weeks, his daughter says, the cancer took over

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<v Speaker 2>and they made the tough decision to place him at

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<v Speaker 2>the Journey Home. Saturday's love from the community gathering and

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<v Speaker 2>singing more than twenty minutes of Christmas Carol's had a

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<v Speaker 2>profound impact on Ron, his wife, Debbie, and his daughter Lindsay.

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<v Speaker 2>Lindsay came outside and in tears thanked the gathered crowd.

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<v Speaker 2>Nie says she knows the impromptu carol singing was a

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<v Speaker 2>miracle for the family. She says she was not surprised

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<v Speaker 2>by the community support.

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<v Speaker 10>This is Bartlesville. Visit Bartlesville does this, this is our hometown.

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<v Speaker 2>A small blessing of Christmas music, a large outpouring of

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<v Speaker 2>love from the community, but not as large as Ron

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<v Speaker 2>Adam's heart and his devotion to bringing joy as Bartlesville

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<v Speaker 2>Santa at the Journey Home in Bartlesville.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for joining us for a year in Review

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<v Speaker 1>special from all of us at Bartlesville Radio. We wish

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<v Speaker 1>you a most prosperous new year. I'm Tom Davis.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'm Nathan Thompson. Our commitment to you, our listeners

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<v Speaker 2>will remain in twenty twenty five as we bring you

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<v Speaker 2>the stories that are important to you. Thank you for

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<v Speaker 2>allowing us to be k One, the one you trust