New Updates

Waiting for the Pitch

Mayor Kathy Taylor expressed concern about the state of the economy's effect on the downtown ballpark last Friday. Taylor said it is not yet known whether or not the ballpark will be completed in time for the Drillers to play their 2010 baseball season in the new stadium due to the market's instability.

She also stated that the economic crisis would impact anything the city decided to build, and that if the $700 billion bailout plan worked and credit came back, then building plans would resume as negotiated.

Of the $60 million proposed project, $30 million was pledged by private donors. Another $25 million would stem from revenue bonds and a downtown property assessment district, and the remaining $5 million would come from the Drillers' lease.

Taylor said the Stadium Trust, which will oversee the financing and construction of the ballpark and surrounding areas, will wait for bonds to be sold until the project gets too far underway.

The site for the project is along I-244, nestled between the Greenwood, Brady, and Blue Dome Districts.

Shows and Tell

The BOK Center has announced a new program geared toward enlivening downtown Tulsa. The Center announced the ONEOK Outdoor Concert Series, a festival spotlighting local musicians, will begin this week and run until November 30. Local act "Sundog" is scheduled to take the stage at 5:15pm on Mon., Oct. 13, prior to the NBA Exhibition Game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets.

"The BOK Center has an exciting line-up of acts scheduled for our opening season that will bring tens of thousands of guests to Tulsa. The ONEOK Outdoor Concert Series was developed to encourage patrons to visit downtown early, find great parking, and enjoy some incredible local talent on our plaza. With the support of ONEOK, the BOK Center promises to bring more wonderful local entertainment and a new energy to Downtown Tulsa," said John Bolton, General Manager.

A variety of music genres will be featured including rock, country, red dirt, and Christian contemporary. The free outdoor performances begin two hours prior to each evening's headlining act inside and include a live radio remote by a Cox Radio station and outdoor beer and refreshment sales.

The ONEOK Outdoor Concert Series is a partnership between the ONEOK, Inc., the BOK Center, SMG, Cox Radio, Inc., Tulsa Community College, and Downtown Tulsa Unlimited.

The full concert series schedule is available online at bokcenter.com. For more information, contact Jeff Nickler, special events manager, at 894-4254.

Stop, Drop, and Congratulate

Mayor Kathy Taylor announced that Tulsa Fire Chief Allen LaCroix has selected a new fire marshal and a new deputy chief of support services.

The new fire marshal is David C. Dayringer, a 28-year veteran of the Tulsa Fire Department. The new deputy chief of support services is Tim Cooper, who has served TFD for nearly 24 years. The two positions are equal in rank.

Dayringer joined the Tulsa Fire Department in 1980, and was promoted to fire equipment operator and chief's aide in 1984. He became a fire captain in 1987, and spent a year as a management intern, which included five months as an acting district chief.

Dayringer also served in leadership roles for the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 176: vice president, secretary/treasurer and three terms as president. He was promoted to district chief in 1999, and served as the training chief until 2002, when he became the deputy chief of support services. Early this year, he completed the state law enforcement academy as preparation for becoming the fire marshal.

As fire marshal, Dayringer plans, organizes and implements Fire Department activities related to fire prevention, fire investigation, and the regulation of hazardous materials. The fire marshal responds to major incidents and serves as acting fire chief when assigned.

The fire marshal manages the Safety Services section, which includes developing programs for fire safety, public fire education, hazardous materials, and arson suppression. Fire marshal responsibilities also include developing legislative and regulatory proposals regarding life and fire safety; providing fire prevention code interpretations; and enforcing ordinances, statutes, and regulatory requirements relating to fire protection.

Cooper joined the Tulsa Fire Department in 1985, and was promoted to fire equipment operator in 1991. He became a fire captain in 1995, was promoted to chief of emergency medical services in 2004, and has become deputy chief of support services in 2008.

As deputy chief of support services, Cooper plans, organizes, and implements specialized operations, as well as life and fire safety activities. He manages the Support Services section of the Fire Department, which consists of training, emergency medical services, finances, physical resources, safety and health. The deputy chief of support services responds to major incidents and serves as acting fire chief when assigned.