Five Oklahoma Army National Guard units were notified in May they should begin preparing for deployment to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.
The “notification of sourcing” (NOS) delivered to Oklahoma Guard officials here from National Guard Bureau in Washington affects some 448 Soldiers.
“The notification serves as an authorization to begin training in preparation for the possible mobilization and deployment of the unit, but does not constitute an official alert or mobilization,” said Lt. Col. Max Moss, a National Guard spokesman. “The soldiers in the effected units were told over the last couple days about the notice.”
In the meantime, some 3,200 Soldiers from Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) continue to prepare to deploy to eastern Afghanistan later this spring. The 45th IBCT is currently training for its mission at Fort Polk, La., and Camp Shelby, Miss., and received its NOS in December 2009.
Most of the troops notified this week are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 120th Engineer Battalion’s Headquarters Company and Company A, based in Okmulgee and Okemah respectively, may mobilize sometime next summer. The decision impacts 175 engineers from those two towns.
But they aren’t the only engineer units scheduled for possible deployment. The 1220th Engineer Company (horizontal construction) based in Muskogee and consisting of 164 Soldiers, may also deploy to Afghanistan in the spring of 2013. Additionally, some 39 Soldiers from the 1120th Engineer Team from Muskogee, that specializes in asphalt paving, was directed to begin preparations for deployment to Kuwait in early 2013.
Aside from the engineers, 62 soldiers from Detachment 1, Company C, 2-148 Aviation in Lexington were informed they may deploy in late 2012 in support of Operation New Dawn in Iraq. Additionally, eight soldiers from Oklahoma City’s Detachment 46 Operational Support Airlift were advised they may be heading to the Horn of Africa in the summer of 2012.
“These notifications aren’t really a surprise to those serving in the Oklahoma National Guard,” said Moss. “No one knows better than a guardsmen or a guard family that deployments are a reality. The notification marks the beginning of training and equipping phases that will ensure our men and women are prepared to accomplish their mission, wherever that might be.”
To date, more than 10,000 soldiers and airmen have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001.
Social Security funding will run out in 2036 - or maybe sooner.
The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2036, one year sooner than projected last year.
The DI Trust Fund, while unchanged from last year, will be exhausted in 2018 and legislative action will be needed soon. At a minimum, a reallocation of the payroll tax rate between OASI and DI would be necessary, as was done in 1994.
The trustees also project that OASDI program costs will exceed non-interest income in 2011 and will remain higher throughout the remainder of the 75-year period.
In the 2011 Annual Report to Congress, the Trustees announced:
• In 2036, there will be sufficient non-interest income coming in to pay about 77 percent of scheduled benefits.
• The point at which non-interest income fell below program costs was 2010. Program costs are projected to exceed non-interest income throughout the remainder of the 75-year period.
• The projected actuarial deficit over the 75-year long-range period is 2.22 percent of taxable payroll - .30 percentage point larger than in last year’s report.
• Over the 75-year period, the trust funds would require additional revenue equivalent to $6.5 trillion in present value dollars to pay all scheduled benefits.
“The current Trustees Report again reflects what we have long known to be true - we need changes to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security and to restore younger workers’ confidence in the program,” said Michael J. Astrue, commissioner of Social Security. “The report also highlights the more near-term shortfall in the Disability Insurance Trust Fund. Our disability programs are complex and there is a long history of well intended ‘reforms’ causing unintended consequences. The president sent to Congress our Work Incentive Simplification Proposal, which would be a good start for bipartisan debate. I urge the House and Senate to review this proposed legislation carefully and schedule hearings this year.”
Other highlights of the Trustees Report include:
• Income including interest to the combined OASDI Trust Funds amounted to $781 billion ($637 billion in net contributions, $24 billion from taxation of benefits, $117 billion in interest, and $2 billion in reimbursements from the general fund of the Treasury) in 2010.
• Total expenditures from the combined OASDI Trust Funds amounted to $713 billion in 2010.
• The assets of the combined OASDI Trust Funds increased by $69 billion in 2010 to a total of $2.6 trillion.
• During 2010, an estimated 157 million people - half of the population of the country - had earnings covered by Social Security and paid payroll taxes.
• Social Security paid benefits of $702 billion in calendar year 2010. There were about 54 million beneficiaries at the end of the calendar year.
• The cost of $6.5 billion to administer the program in 2010 was a very low 0.9 percent of total expenditures.
• The combined trust fund assets earned interest at an effective annual rate of 4.6 percent in 2010.
The Board of Trustees is comprised of six members. Four serve by virtue of their positions with the federal government: Timothy F. Geithner, secretary of the treasury and managing trustee; Michael J. Astrue, commissioner of Social Security; Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services; and Hilda L. Solis, secretary of Labor. The two public trustees are Charles P. Blahous, III, and Robert D. Reischauer.
The 2011 Trustees Report is posted at www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/TR/2011/.
Gov. Mary Fallin’s proposal to modernize the state’s vendor payment system was signed into law.
House Bill 1086 proposes to utilize electronic payments methods such as direct deposit to pay the state’s thousands of vendor invoices. The bill is sponsored by state Reps. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, Josh Cockroft, R-McLoud; and state Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond.
Fallin initially called on legislators to approve the reform during her State of the State address. Fallin proposed the change after the Office of State Finance indicated that the state could be spending up to $13.50 per vendor payment for each payment made using traditional paper conveyances such as payment warrants. This compares to electronic payments which cost the state approximately five cents per transfer.
Currently, approximately 230,000 checks are made with traditional paper payment conveyances. House Bill 1086 will require nearly all vendor payments to be made by electronic payment and could result in million dollars of taxpayer dollars being saved.
“This is an important reform,” Murphey said. “This should have occurred several years ago and I appreciate the leadership of Governor Fallin and Treasurer Ken Miller in introducing and supporting this innovative plan.”
“This legislation will help the Treasurer’s Office in putting the state’s checkbook online,” said Miller, who has pledged to provide the expanded financial transparency. “I appreciate Representative Murphey’s work on this issue. It’s a natural progression of the partnership he and I had in the Legislature and a step forward in providing government accountability.”
He noted that more than a dozen state treasurers maintain online checkbooks to track state spending.
In addition to the electronic payment proposal, House Bill 1086 represents an omnibus approach to using technology to enable taxpayer savings through efficiencies and spending transparencies. It includes Governor Fallin’s proposal for a shared state payroll system which is also estimated to save 2 million dollars each year, the placement of common education spending transactions on the data.ok.gov website and a one-stop shop for many state documents and annual reports to be located in a searchable format for easy purview by the taxpayers at the website documents.ok.gov.
The law will go into effect later this year.
(PRNewswire) - As Oklahoma families plan backyard barbecues or campouts in the woods, a local doctor and a firefighter are working to remind parents that gas and fire never mix.
Dr. James Johnson, a burn specialist, and Tulsa Fire Marshal Tom Hufford, who founded a summer camp for children with severe burn injuries, have partnered with the National Gasoline Safety Project.
An independent survey funded by the National Gasoline Safety Project found that most parents - 80 percent - do not use gas to start fires. But those who do use gas mistakenly think it’s something lots of parents do.
“Good parents don’t use gas to start fires. It’s as simple as that,” said Johnson, a burn specialist at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa.
Hufford, assistant fire marshal at the Tulsa Fire Department and a longtime safety educator who frequently performs as “Huffy” the fire-safety clown, said parents who use gas to start fires teach that unsafe behavior by example.
“Kids learn from what their parents do as much as from what they say,” he said. “If parents could come visit the kids in our summer camp, I know they’d think twice.”
Though gasoline burn data is not directly tracked, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates 1,500 children a year are injured or killed in gasoline fires. Approximately 14,500 Americans die each year from burn injuries and related infections.
The National Gasoline Safety Project aims to put an end to gas fires and burns through an initiative that includes a website, StopGasFires.org, where parents can view videos about a teenage gas burn survivor and connect with others parents though email, Facebook and Twitter.
The National Gasoline Safety Project also has placed hangtags on portable gasoline containers sold across the nation. The hangtags feature Johnson and Hufford as well as others who are working to stop gas fires in their communities.
The National Gasoline Safety Project is sponsored by the Portable Fuel Container Manufacturers Association (PFCMA) in partnership with Shriners Hospitals for Children and Safe Kids USA.
Local gas can maker Blitz USA is a member of the PFCMA.
National Guard retirees renew relationships at retreat
The Oklahoma National Guard and the National Guard Association of Oklahoma hosted their annual Retiree Retreat at Camp Gruber on May 13-15. The long-standing retreat is billed as a time for military retirees to get together with old friends and enjoy themselves swapping war stories as well as learn about the latest information that affects them.
The weekend’s events began with the annual golf tournament on Friday.
On Saturday morning, the retirees were welcomed by the Adjutant General of Oklahoma, Maj. Gen. Miles Deering, as well as Steve Jensen, the State Command Sgt. Maj. and Command Chief Master Sgt., John Waller. The guests received updates on the major commands in Oklahoma and the state of the current deployment of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) from Col. Mike Chase and Col. Percy Hurtado. They were also briefed on the most current benefits available to retirees.
There were a variety of events for the participants to enjoy, such as a bus tour of the grounds and facilities at Camp Gruber and helicopter tours of the area.
The retirees had an opportunity to learn about some of the newer weapons and equipment that the National Guard has and even got a chance tests their skills at one of the many firing ranges at Camp Gruber. Some of the guests tried out the new Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), an indoor weapons range simulator.
During the range fire activities, a number of the retirees participated in a “shoot-off” competition. First place went to retired Sgt. 1st Class Kirby Cordell and second place went to retired Sgt. 1st Class James Delozier, both of Broken Arrow. Retired Master Sgt. Christina Smith of Tulsa brought in third place.
On Saturday evening, the group was treated to a barbecue dinner at Green Leaf Lodge and the weekend’s festivities were brought solemnly to a close Sunday morning with the Fallen Comrades Memorial Service, which included a flag folding ceremony performed by the members of the Air National Guard, as well as the very moving POW/MIA Missing Man Table Ceremony.
When asked why they come to this retreat year after year, most of the participants had the same feeling as retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Richard Benesh, Morgan’s Point, Texas, “It’s about the friendships, the people. They’re part of my family.”
During his welcoming comments, Deering said, “You’re important to us, because you are where we came from. I’m glad you participate, because you are who our soldiers look up to. We’re just like a family and you’re part of us.”
During the day’s events, Deering took the time to speak about why the National Guard hosts this event every year. “The most important aspect of this retreat is connectivity with our ancestry and lineage in the Guard. Just like a family likes to know its background, we like to know ours. The National Guard is very history-oriented and these retired veterans represent our lineage as a guard; it’s important for us to maintain that connection to our past.”
When he was asked about his personal feelings concerning the retreat, Deering said, “I served with a lot of these people. Some I worked for, some worked for me. In the National Guard, we serve with a group of people for decades, not years. They are a part of my family and they’ve seen me grow up, not only as a soldier, but as a person as well.”
Even though they have retired from the National Guard, many of these veterans remain active with military related activities and organizations. Some volunteer their time and effort to support soldiers of today and yesterday, but all remain concerned about the National Guard’s current members and their needs.
Retired Capt. Preston Willoughby, Oklahoma City, spent 43 years in service to his state and country, retiring in 1996. He is the current vice president and general chairman of the 45th Infantry Division Association. “I do this for the camaraderie. I still miss the people I served with.”
Retiring, for these soldiers and officers, didn’t end their connection to the military. It simply opened up additional avenues through which they continue to serve.
Those in charge of the event are already making plans for the next retreat in May 2012. For more information, visit the National Guard Association of Oklahoma website at www.ngaok.org.
Taxpayers can designate monies for teaching supplies
Oklahomans will have a new way to financially support teachers thanks to an income tax checkoff program signed into law.
House Bill 1852, by state Rep. Jabar Shumate and state Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, creates the income tax checkoff and the “Public School Classroom Support Revolving Fund.”
“This new law gives Oklahomans a way to provide direct financial support for educational improvements in our school systems,” said Shumate, D-Tulsa. “I am pleased this legislation received such strong bipartisan support from lawmakers and the governor.”
Under the bill, money donated through the voluntary income tax checkoff would be deposited in the “Public School Classroom Support Revolving Fund.”
The State Board of Education, headed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, would use the money collected to provide annual grants to public school classroom teachers for supplies, materials or equipment.
Applications will be considered on a statewide competitive basis.
“The legislation was a request from teachers associated with Professional Oklahoma Educators, and in a tough budget year, this was an innovative way to provide extra funds for the classroom while also encouraging innovation,” Shumate said.
House Bill 1852 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 93-2 vote and passed unanimously in the state Senate before being signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin.
Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law measures to aid Oklahoma military personnel and families. House Bill 1603, House Bill 1343 and Senate Bill 115 all received unanimous support in the Oklahoma Legislature.
“As the legislative session comes to a close …, this is a fitting end to a constructive and historic legislative year,” said Fallin. “I’m proud of our lawmakers for working in a bipartisan manner to get these bills to my desk and ensure that we are honoring the brave Oklahomans in the United States military.”
HB 1343 grants college scholarships to the children of military personnel killed in the line of duty after January 1, 2000. Scholarships will be administered through the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP).
HB 1603 prohibits the use of military deployment as a cause for changes in child custody agreements, ensuring that military deployment cannot be used as a negative factor in determining custody.
SB 115 protects military voting rights by ensuring state election law complies with federal law relating to voting practices for active duty military personnel.
(PRNewswire) - In comments filed with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Gas & Electric said that the agency’s federally mandated plan to reduce haze in Oklahoma and neighboring states is flawed, contains numerous errors and would result in Oklahomans being saddled with billions of dollars in unnecessary utility costs.
The company added that the EPA rule should be rejected in favor of a state plan proposed by Oklahoma.
The OG&E comments were included in the utility’s formal response to a proposed EPA rule that, if adopted, would force the state’s two largest utilities to add costly scrubbers to their coal-fired power plants rather than adopt a more-sensible state plan.
“There seems little doubt that the EPA proposal does not follow the agency’s own rules,” said Patricia D. Horn, OG&E vice president for governance, environmental, health and safety. “It’s disconcerting to see the agency fail to follow its own rules and guidelines in establishing both the cost and visibility improvement estimates underlying the proposed rule.”
Should the EPA rule be finalized in its current form, it likely would trigger the largest customer rate increase in OG&E’s history with minimal, if any, impact on regional haze. The company estimates it could cost more than $1 billion to comply with the EPA proposal.
Horn added that OG&E is not alone in its opposition to the EPA on this issue. The Governor’s Office, Oklahoma Attorney General, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and others have voiced opposition to the EPA plan saying that the state has developed a plan that would be more effective than scrubbers and cost far less.
Instead of scrubbers, the Oklahoma plan calls for use of low-sulfur coal and gives affected utilities in the state flexibility of burning less coal and more natural gas on a timetable that achieves the goals of the Regional Haze rule while limiting the cost to customers. In addition to its cost effectiveness, the Oklahoma plan is just as effective in addressing regional haze, Horn said. She also noted the regional haze regulations pertain to visibility in national parks and wilderness areas and not to public health.
“It is our desire that the EPA rethink its position and adopt the Oklahoma plan,” Horn said. “Should the agency decide otherwise, we will explore options to ensure that we are doing what is in the best interest of all stakeholders. It’s our objective to seek compliance with the regulations while doing so in a reasonable and rational manner.”
A decision by EPA is expected later this year.
This summer, more than 23,000 students have made a decision to pay money out of their own pockets in order to help improve living conditions for people across the United States and Canada.
Almost 300 students from across the nation will be in Catoosa the week of June 27 working on a variety of assignments that range from painting houses to putting new roofs on homes.
The students come with their church youth groups, and on average pay $250 to take part in the week. This summer, 95 World Changers projects will take place in more than 85 cities from Alaska to Florida, New York to California, and many places in between. World Changers is in its 21st summer of operation and is an initiative of the North American Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention).
Following a six-session “how-to” study that participants complete prior to coming, students serving Catoosa will hit the ground running. The major work begins Tuesday of the project. The students will be staying at Catoosa Public Schools for the week. This initiative is in partnership with Tulsa and local agencies.
State Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, will speak at the June 8 meeting of the Tulsa Men’s Republican Club.
The club meets at noon at Hong Kong Restaurant at 73rd Street and Memorial Drive.
Stanislawski and Rep. Glen Mulready, R-Tulsa, will lead the interim taskforce to study the impact of Obamacare on Oklahomans.
Men and women are invited to attend the luncheon.
STILLWATER- Many Oklahomans are now faced with a massive cleanup job as several tornados recently ripped through the state. The storms left much destruction in their wakes, including houses, cars and trees.
Property owners are now forced to bust out the chainsaw and begin carving away.
However, proper preparation is necessary to ensure that the chainsaw does not mistake an arm or leg for a fallen tree. Not just the preparation of the saw is important, but also personal preparation of the saw handler.
“To prepare yourself, carefully study the operator’s manual so that you are thoroughly familiar with all aspects of safe operational procedures,” said Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Forestry Specialist Craig McKinley. “Before you operate a particular saw for the first time and periodically thereafter, you should carefully review the owner’s manual.”
New saws come with a manual, but if lost, a copy can be obtained from the manufacturer. Manuals offer proper operating procedures as well as detailed information about recommended maintenance practices to keep the saw running smoothly and safely.
Once the operator has sharpened his knowledge of the saw, the chain itself needs to be sharpened.
“When the chain is dull, you increase the effort needed to cut through a piece of wood,” McKinley said. “At the same time, you increase the possibility of injury to yourself and damage to the saw.”
Sharpening instructions are typically outlined in the operating manual and is a relatively easy task. However, the recommended filing and depth guides are essential to assure the proper angle on the cutters and cutting depth for maximum cutting efficiency.
Whenever a chain is being sharpened, gloves should be worn or a rag placed over the chain to protect your hands from the sharpened cutters. A sharp chain is only effective if there is proper chain tension and lubrication.
“Chain tension should be adjusted to ensure quick, smooth cutting action,” McKinley said. “Too loose a chain will derail, too tight a chain will bind.”
A cold chain should be tightened to where the chain hangs about one-thirty-second of an inch away from the bar rails at the center of the bar span. Warm chains should be adjusted to about a one-eighth inch gap.
While the saw is in use, be sure to pump the oiler frequently to prolong the life of the chain. Periodically stopping the engine and pumping the oiler while pulling the saw chain around by hand will provide a good, even oiling of the chain. However, the motor needs to be turned off and the spark plug wire disconnected for this process. Chainsaws with automatic chain oilers may need an extra squirt occasionally for proper lubrication. Many new saws do not have a manual oiler, so make sure the oiling port is functioning so that the oil is reaching the chain is recommended. The presence of smoke while the chain is operating is a good indication of lack of oil, and perhaps a dull chain.
With a properly prepared chainsaw, landowners need to switch gears back to themselves for safety precautions. A hard hat should be worn, along with safety goggles or eye glasses, ear muffs or ear plugs, light weight gloves, work boots or shoes and well-fitted clothing.
Clothes should not hang loosely from the body to avoid becoming tangled in the saw. Also, the use of nylon mesh protective leg chaps or kneepads can help protect your legs.
“Saw-related back-up equipment is also important,” McKinley said.
Back-up tools include an ax, sledgehammer, wedges, sharpening file, screwdriver and wrench for throttle and chain adjustments, chain oil, as well as a funnel and plenty of fuel. The availability of shovels and a fire extinguisher also should be considered.
With the proper safety gear, back-up materials and a prepared saw, you are now ready to begin cutting.
The saw should be started in an open, level surface as close to the work area as possible. Holding the saw firmly against the ground with one hand on the front handle and the inside of one knee on the rear handle,pull the starter rope as briskly as you can to give the engine a rapid spin.
“Don’t yank the cord out to the very end as this could damage the starter mechanism,” said McKinley. “Also, hold the grip and let the starter cord rewind evenly instead of letting it snap back.”
When carrying the saw, the chain should be in the rear with the muffler away from your body.
When operating the saw, keeping your balance is a must. A chainsaw is not forgiving when its operator makes mistakes. A solid grip with both hands, making sure fingers and thumbs completely encircle the handle will allow for greater control.
“Cut with the lower side of the saw as much as possible,” McKinley said. “This is the safest and least tiring position.”
Cuts should be made with the wood near the middle of the saw. With elbows and knees slightly flexed, the saw should be operated at the side of your body so that it will not swing into your body if it suddenly kicks back.
Kickback results when the saw jumps toward the operator after hitting a solid object with the front of the saw. The engine torque is transferred to the guide bar, which causes the saw to rotate in a rapid motion.
“Kickback is the most dangerous of all chainsaw hazards,” McKinley said. “The most common cause of kickback is that small, hidden limb that catches the upper quadrant of the bar nose.”
There are several scenarios that will cause kickback, however, the force will be increased by a dull chain, chain tension that is too loose and blind-cutting or boring with the bar nose.
“Kickback is responsible for about one-third of the serious injuries which occur each year with chainsaws,” McKinley said. “Avoiding kickback should be a major concern of all chainsaw operators.”
Once the cutting is complete, there are some recommended steps to proper storage of the saw, beginning with stopping the engine and draining the fuel tank in a safe area. Then, the engine should be restarted and run at idle to remove the remaining gas from the engine.
The chain can then be removed and stored in a container of oil and the spark plug wire should also be disconnected to reduce the possibility of accidental starting.
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