Observations...

Last week The Tulsa World reported that GRDA had given back nearly a half million dollars in Homeland Security Funding for security at Pensacola Dam and elsewhere, due to too many accounting responsibilities. GRDA now says they never had the money, and simply told Homeland Security they didn't want it. "GRDA simply did not feel that the cost benefit was enough to offset the added expenses that would result (additional accounting staff, greater workload for existing staff). GRDA simply does not have the resources at this time to monitor all the requirements that must be met by federal grant dollar recipients. However homeland security remains a top priority and the initiatives that began with the establishment of the GRDA Homeland Security Department in 2004 continue today," GRDA said in a statement…We can add that security at Pensacola Dam is a scary situation and that is all we are going to say about it…The August 7 joint meeting with Council and the P&Z Board on code revisions has been cancelled, as several council members will be out of town…Ivan Devitt, Jr. was promoted Tuesday morning to Police Chief, from Acting Police Chief, by City Manager Bill Galletly. Devitt's hiring was cleared by City Attorney Ron Cates, as this is a responsibility of the City Manager, not Council, Cates said. Galletly said Devitt "has done a good job, he is smart, very personable, and balances the facts." Devitt was with the Houston, Tx. police department for 30 years serving as a mounted patrol officer on both motorcycles and horses… Devitt was named acting police chief in May after Chief Mark Wall was fired by Galletly. Wall currently works for the District Attorney's office in Jay...Reminder: A Statewide Burn Ban is now in effect due to the dry and hot conditions, per Governor Henry...Larry Hestand, owner of Grove's KGVE, has purchased KGLC in Miami with FM station at 100.9 format changing to what was broadcast at KGND in Grove, 107.5, which was sold to KOSN in Stillwater and features classical music and NPR radio. The former KGND call letters were obtained by KITO-FM in Vinita which uses the country music format. Who said Radio was dull...