The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 118

Wesf Commentary 4 Tuesday, October 5, 1982 Thanks to police, watch groups WjY 'o i I'VE WARNED IJffow 1 HIM A THOUSAND Bethany Police Chief Bill Bowen also cites the assistance from neighborhood watch groups as a contributing factor to the reduction of residential burglaries. The number of burglary reports dropped from 316 in 1980 to 259 in 1981, he said. Warr Acres, which has the fourth highest crime rate among 11 suburban cities in the metro area, is making inroads against crime, Maj. Ed Vernon said. Quick response to crimes in progress and effective detective work helped Warr Acres police to make 17 arrests in connection with 23 robberies reported in 1981.

Vernon said neighborhood watch groups, once again, have helped curb neighborhood crime. Piedmont Police Chief Jess Leonard attributed the reduction of burglaries in his town to his experienced police officers and increased patrolling. So, to the police officers and active participants of neighborhood watch groups thanks, and keep up the good work! HURRAHS and cheers for the WESTnews area police departments. In recent issues of the WESTnews there have been many stories describing reductions in crime rates, reductions in the number of traffic deaths and so on. Most recently Mustang was noted for police patrols which have monitored speed zones and cracked down on speeders.

Lt. Mike Thompson said lowering of the speed limits in certain areas has done much to make streets safer. He added that the number of citations given to speeders has a direct correlation to the reduction of traffic accidents a statement reminiscent of the highway safety slogan "Speed Kills." Thompson said that in 1978, when 1,200 citations were given, there were 166 accidents reports. In 1979, there were 1,768 citations given and only 108 traffic accidents. Yukon Police Chief Sam Ervin said increased police patrol of areas with residential burglary problems, coupled with assistance from neighborhood watch groups, has helped reduce residential burglaries.

he does," the resident said. Schools getting a bum rap BETHANY Going through the arrest reports for the week, Detective Bill Shook found the report of an man arrested on a larceny charge. Noticing that the suspect's place of birth was listed on the report as China, he remarked, "That's just a wee bit out of our jurisdiction." Seen on a passing tow truck on West Reno: "Crash Collector." have; approved an ordinance' establishing a salary for the first time. "I don't like to be sued, especially when I'm wrong," she said. V.v MOORE A message displayed on the drive-in restaurant reads: "If an onion rings, answer it." FOREST PARK The battle of the sexes almost broke out anew at a recent Town Board of Trustees meeting during a discussion on whether a citizen oversight committee for the police and fire departments should be created.

Trustee Alma Pringle said she was for the idea while her husband, Lewis, who was sitting in the audience, said he wasn't. Mrs. Pringle said, "I hope thawe are on fipnipjetevopposite ends of the THE VILLAGE Daring recent discussion of problems before" the Traffic and Safety Commission here, parents noted, the conspicuous' absence of sidewalks along most of The Village's streets. The commission's chairman, A Dilis, praised the trend toward requiring sidewalks in new subdivisions. "I personally have been raised in an area with sidewalks, and I personally consider any area that doesn't have sidewalks rather primitive," AI Dilis, the commission's chairman, commented.

"They call me a Yankee," he added with a smile. lishment boasted: Pleasing you pleases us. Drop your pants here. A restaurant sign claimed: We move our buns for you Sometimes the removal (by winds or theft) can make a sign read better. A sign near NW 50 and MacArthur was missing a letter and read: Get a gift with the country (t)ouch.

Then there's the signs in front of churches. One read: To belittle is to be little. Another church sign philosophized: More money is spent now on children's toys, than for the parents' education. Drivers on May saw a fairly common sight recently a man selling flowers out of his car on a street corner. But the sign he was frantically waving around wasn't usual.

It read, "No, we're NOT Moonies." FOREST PARK At a recent town board of trustees meeting a resident was complimenting police for arriving in less than 3y2 minutes when he tested his burglar alarm. Mayor Eddie Jackson jokingly urged Police Chief Steven Bahm to improve the already speedy response time. "He'll get a $40 speeding ticket if- Other school systems, such as Mustang, Piedmont and Yukon, are offering similar innovative teaching ideas and programs designed to rekindle students' interest in learning. The programs are tied to a statewide campaign called the Oklahoma Year of the School, a campaign sponsored by Oklahoma Public Schools Public Relations Association and endorsed by other educational organizations. Every month the campaign is targeting areas in education and is communicating to everyone the good things of education.

School patrons should visit their schools, call their teachers and find out what's happening over at the ol' PEOPLE WHO SAY public schools aren't teaching any more need to take a look at their local systems. -The lastest edition of the WEST-lews section mentions several stu-lents from the Coronado Heights Elementary School, in the Putnam district. The kids said they en-Dyed reading books a lot of ooks. One student, Andrea Rahn, as read almost 90 books this year. The story belies reports that tele-ision is ruining the students' abili-y to read and learn.

In the Heights case, it seems the school doing much to turn that opinion Lround. A crowd of 200 persons attended the recent dedication of a new wing for Deaconness Hospital. The crowd, seated outside by the new wing, fidgeted as sprinkles of rain fell from the lead-gray skies. After hearing numerous speakers, several people donned raincoats and pulled out umbrellas. Then Gov.

George Nigh, the main speaker, came to the podium. The crowd rose to its feet to applaude the governor Nigh told them, "Sit back down. Sit back down. You don't want your chairs to get wet, do you!" Portable sign owners in the WESTnews area seem to be trying to outdo themselves for clever sayings. A sign in front of cleaning estab FOREST PARK At a recent Town Board meeting, Alma Pringle, explained, her reason for requesting' an attorney- general's opinion, on whether the board members could approve a salary for themselves, the town clerk and town treasurer.

State law states elected officials cannot vote themselves a pay hike that would occur before their term of office expires. Forest Park trustees Letters to WESTnews In writing to "Readers Speak Out," please use this Readers Speak Out, WESTnews, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Gl Joe. Water.

not turning it oh." Often the water is not turned on following repairs, he said, until someone is in the building. "If they have left their valves open or something, it could cause considerable Wednesday morning, he said. "I can't tell you for sure why Water wasn't turned pn Tuesday night," Ingraham said. "It may have been an oversight on the part of the maintenance crew, or they may have had a good reason for Continued well in Variety's five-state marketing area, which extends from upper Kansas to Austin, Texas. "This is the part of the country that the economy has hurt the toy industry the least," he said.

Hasbro officials predict G.I. Joe will produce $50 million in sales by the end of the Christmas season. That figure equals almost half Hasbro's total 1981 sales. Local retailers say G.I. Joe sales indicate Hasbro does not exaggerate its predictions.

Herb Bray, manager of Toys Us, 1119 SE 66, said he doesn't think Joe's sales have peaked. will be its big testing period," he said. Meyer, just back from a Dallas trade show, said Hasbro's spring line will include accessories for its toy soldier. He said other manufacturers, licensed under Hasbro's G.I. Joe trademark, will be introducing accessories such as Re- vell's model tank.

The new line features a missile battery, a motorcycle with a machine gun on a sidecar, a radio-controlled jeep and a one-man jet pod with launching platform. With the new G.I. Joe line, there are more characters to choose from. In his reincarnation, Joe is part of a nine-member elite Army anti-terrorist squad. Joe doesn't have to fight imaginary enemies this time.

Hasbro also provides bad guys in the form of two Cobra Command members. The outlaw Cobra Command seeks to dominate the world with its terrorist tactics. The Army may have its reservations, in real life, about women in combat duty, but Hasbro has no qualms about sending women into the fray. The new G.I. Joe line includes Scarlet, a redheaded whose forte is the crossbow and Chief.

Continued a minimum of $300, he said. "Wednesda'y is one of our best days in the doughnut business." It wasn't tob bad for the other businesses in the shopping center, Taylor said, because they are not open during the evening, "but that's when we work." And what worries Taylor most is that in addition to his walk-in customers, he also sells doughnuts to restaurants. "So not only did my customers here not have doughnuts, but those restaurant's customers didn't have doughnuts either." He said the incident could cause him long-range problems. The line was actually repaired Tuesday night, said Bill Ingraham, line maintenance supervisor, with the Water Department. The water, however, was not turned on until they received a call from a shop owner Staff photo by Dan Morrlman Team leader Jill Doyle checks the monitoring equipment.

Continued plained, and are not timed. The horse and rider must go through the routine or obstacle course with the least mistakes to win. "What a lot of this is," he said, "is showing how much trust the horse has in the owner if he'll do what his rider instructs with no hesitation." Monitor. meshed together. "These are just natural things a horse can come upon When he's out riding," Bowen explained.

"Things that test his nerve." And the rider's nerve too, he added. "But it's fun going to all the shows and the State Fair's probably the best." Publicviews requested Anyone wanting a hand in establishing 1983 goals for Oklahoma City is invited to attend one of two area luncheon meetings. The Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the meetings at noon Tuesday and Thursday at the Holiday Inn West. Call the chamber for reservations. Following the meetings, a drafting committee will be appointed to review suggestions and draw a work program for 1983.

Continued Mercy if necessary, Doyle noted. Remote cardiac monitoring was pioneered in Oklahoma in 1969. The system saves money and manpower for the remote hospitals, Doyle said, because the hospitals don't have to purchase the more expensive in-house monitoring equipment. "It relieves the nurses in the remote hospital from having to watch the monitors 24 hours a day," she added. "If you're going to monitor someone you need 24 hour coverage, and OU receives grant A grant of $27,500 was presented recently to the University of Oklahoma by Halliburton Foundation Dallas.

that's the way it is." Mercy public relations director Larry Van Hoose said the system also helps ease the nursing shortage. "It would be hard for them at any cost to bring in a nurse that's qualified." He also noted the patient's recovery can be helped if he can stay in more familar surroundings and be closer to friends and family. As part of the arrangement, the Mercy staff provides continuing cardiac education to staffs at the remote hospitals. Doyle said. There are now two beds at each of the three hospitals equipped for remote cardiac monitoring, Doyle said.

"But we find that those monitors are imeu up." Van Hoose said the three remote hosptials pay $250 a month for the service plus $7 per mile per month for the special telephone line. A qualified nurse's monthly salary and benefits could easily top 52,400. It cost Mercy about $8,000 for equipment at the remote facilities and in the monitor room. He said the system means a $10 to $40 daily saving in the remote hospital patient's bill, aside from avoiding the cost of a long and expensive ambulance ride. The setup aids Mercy's staff because a medical log is kept on each remote patient and it aids doctors in case the patient is later admitted to Mercy, Doyle said.

Westside trio pledges Three WESTnews area residents have pledged Alpha Gamma Delta sorority at Central State University. They include Pattie Israel, freshman commercial art major, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Israel, 580 Vermont; Stephanie Bingham, freshman marketing major, daughter of Floyd and Nina Bingham, 9905 Mashburn Blvd; and Amy Ford, sophomore computer science major, daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Leslie Sanders. 4104 NW 62 Terrace. Constant repetition is the key to training a horse for these shows, he said. "We practice at least two hours a day and do the same things over and over." The Bowens have ar-ranged a course behind their house similiar to an obstacle course run in the trail event, and they coach the horses there each day.

"We'll use anything that might be a little unusual," he said. "The trails are never the same." During the trail event, a horse will have to walk through tires or over plastic, back through a narrow hole or pick his way through trees Give us. a call between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays if you have news of your neighborhood, school or civic activities.

We're interested in recognizing all events, social activities and achievements of residents of west Oklahoma City. WESTnews office la Westpark Mall 6437 MacArthar NUMBERS TO CALL News Vince Hennigan, Managing Editor 728-4898 Robert E. Lee, Senior Editor 728-4899 Mick Hinton, Metro Editor 231-3300 Metro reporters 728-4898 Community News 231-3307 Society News 231-3382 Community Sports News 231-3314 To place a display advertisement. 231-3326 Call us to subscribe 239-7171 Seminar seeks career women A seminar for working women, will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct.

11 at Penn Square Mall. Topics will be career planning, fashion, hair design and makeup. Speaker will be Barbara Andrews of Corporate Resources Group Inc. For more information, call Sharon Lippert at 842-4424..