Jewel Box Theater Opens Season with “CATS”

Posted by Elizabeth Hurdon August 19, 2012M at 8:57 pm

http://blog.newsok.com/oklahoma-arts/2012/08/19/jewel-box-theatre-opens-season-with-cats/

Meow!  The Jewel Box Theatre opens its 55th season Thursday, August 23rd, with the hit Broadway musical “Cats”.  Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T. S. Eliot and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Cats” is the second longest-running show in Broadway history.  This production is choreographed by Susan Wedley Webb; the set decoration is by Dale Morgan; and the all-around amazing cast features the talents of former Miss Oklahoma, Makenna Smith, all under the direction of the inestimable Chuck Tweed.  Come out and enjoy “Cats”, the first delight in a hallmark season dedicated to the memory of Martha Knott.

Shows run Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 PM, through September 16th.  Call 521-1786, Tuesday through Friday, from 1:00 until 6:00 for reservations, or, to keep the fun going, why not buy a season ticket?  Your $50.00 not only buys you a ticket to “Cats”, but seats for five more shows to keep you entertained for the entire season.

Because of the expected response to “Cats”, all normal discounts will be suspended for this show only.

–J. Hester

Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber

Choreographed by Susan Webb

Musical Director Stephanie Moring

August 23 ~ September 16, 2012

The purr-fect musical! Based on ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ by T.S. Eliot,

Larger-than-life felines inhabit a metaphorical junkyard. Enjoy such classics as  ‘Memory’, ‘Mr. Mistoffelees’, ‘The Rum Tum Tugger’ and ‘Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats.’

THE CAST

Quincy Allen – Alonzo & Rumpus Cat

Kit Riffel – Asparagus & Macavity 

Trinity Goodwin – Bombalurina

Reed Bentley – Bustopher Jones & Mungojerrie

Taylor Jones – Demeter

Randall Hunter – Deuteronomy

Hanna Mccumber – Etcetera

Makenna Smith – Grizabella

Katherine Gates – Jellylorum 

Elizabeth Dragoo – Jennyanydots & Gumbie Cat 

Taylor Radke – Mistoffelees & Quaxo

Scott Hynes – Munkustrap

Bob Windsor – Old Gus

Thomas Efaw – Plato

Kristi Krempges – Rumpleteazer

Joshua Mccoy – Rum Tum Tugger

Megan Montgomery – Jemina

Paul Mitchell – Skimbleshanks

Emily Frances Brown – Victoria

Kennedy Spencer – Pouncival

Summer Webb – Tantomile

The Crew

Susan Webb – Choreographer

Stephanie Moring – Musical Director

Christine Lanning – Stage Manager

Richard Howell – Set Construction 

James Gordon Jr. – Lighting Design 

Billie Boston – Costume Advisor 

Mimi Finch – Costumes

Dale Morgan & Chuck Tweed – Set Design

Nick Backes – Program Cover / Set Painting 

Chuck Tweed – Program Layout 

Jim Beckel – Program / Publicity Pictures

Questions Raised About Second City Council Executive Session

Questions Raised About Second City Council Executive Session

By: Paula Peterson, Asst. to Editor

http://altustimes.com/bookmark/19765040/article-Questions+raised+about+second+City+Council+executive+session#.UCWj9y0eUbU.facebook

It has been brought to the attention of the Altus Times that some are questioning what could be an inadvertent violation of the Open Meetings Act during the Tuesday, Aug. 7 City Council meeting. During the meeting, shortly before the Council exited for the executive session, member Rick Henry asked to be able to introduce a new business item and asked for advice on when to do that. A new business item had just been given to him the previous day and needed to be discussed in an executive session. Henry asked Mayor David Webb if the matter should it be introduced in the executive session or reintroduced in new business and then have another executive session. Webb deferred to City Attorney Catherine Coke, who said to introduce the item in new business and they’d hold a second executive session. Webb verbally agreed with Coke’s decision.

The item was introduced in new business and the second executive session was held. No action was taken when the Council returned to open session.

The question involving the Open Meetings Act regards the new item, which generated the second executive session. Neither the executive session, nor the item was on the agenda.

According to the Open Meetings Act (Oklahoma State Statutes Title 25, Section 311, B.1.), all items are required to be listed on the agenda. But items that are in new business, by definition, cannot be on the agenda. As stated in Section 311, 9., “‘New business’, as used herein, shall mean any matter not known about or which could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the time of posting.”

Mayor Webb said, on Wednesday morning (Aug. 8), he “put the Council on notice of a possible violation of the Open Meeting Act.” He said he notified Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) Legal of the situation and asked for a statement of law or remedy, and has not heard back from them (as of press time today). Webb said it was fortunate that no action was taken on the second executive session item. If the Open Meeting Act was violated, that action (taken in the second executive session) would be invalid.

Webb also said that if any action or discussion regarding that item is brought before Council in the future, it would be properly posted on the agenda.

An Attorney General’s Office Public Information Officer told the Altus Times that their officers are allowed to conduct business within parameters. Officers may read the written law to a caller, discuss the written law with the public, but officers, because they are not attorneys, cannot interpret it. Officers may refer people to a local District Attorney’s office for cases requiring prosecution. The Public Information Officers are also able to provide legal research sources.

Council member Rick Henry said the item introduced in the second executive session was for Council information only. “I’d received the information just the previous afternoon, so it could not be on the agenda. Before I introduced the item, I sought the opinion of Mayor David Webb, who then asked Catherine Coke. Both of them said to introduce the item in new business,” Henry explained. “No action was taken on the item,” he added.

*Note: Mayor Webb explained the second executive session should be viewed as a separate meeting. If a violation occurred, it would not invalidate the City Council meeting, nor the payroll or other sections that were approved therein.

Police: Personal Cell Phone Records Fraudulently Obtained, Distributed

By: Paula Peterson – Asst. to Editor Altus Times | August 1, 2012

http://www.altustimes.com/view/full_story/19648878/article-Police--Personal-cell-phone-records-fraudulently-obtained--distributed?instance=search_results

Late yesterday, July 31, Altus Police Department revealed they are conducting an investigation on fraudulently obtained personal cell phone records. The phone records were for a personal cell phone, not a work-provided phone. Asst. Police Chief Mike Turner gave the following release regarding the crime:

“On July 12, 2012 the Altus Police Department received a complaint from victim, (recently reinstated City Electrical Superintendent) Dan Scott. Scott reported that a person or persons obtained his personal cell phone records without his consent and disseminated them to various people within the city. The Altus Police Department is currently conducting an investigation into this offense, and is in the process of obtaining subpoenas in an attempt to identify the persons responsible for this felony crime. The results of this investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for the consideration of criminal charges being filed against them.”

How easily could someone obtain cell phone records for any of us? It’s not that easy, according to leading cell phone companies.

U.S. Cellular

On the U.S. Cellular web site, “www.uscellular.com/privacy#cpni”, their company states, “Access to call detail or text message detail is available only by registering for online access to billing information through MyAccount, calling and requesting a copy to be sent to the customers billing address or obtaining a copy by visiting one of our company owned retail stores.” They stipulate that “You or your Authorized user will be asked to present a valid government issued photo ID when requesting information.”If the person obtained the records through an online process, the web site also states, “U.S. Cellular automatically collects information on those (customers) visiting the web site.” The information they collect includes “domain type, IP address and clickstream information”.

Verizon

Verizon collects even more information on their online visitors, even about those who do not have accounts with their company. According to their privacy page, “www22.verizon.com/about/privacy/policy/#infosecurity”, they state, “When you browse Verizon websites, information is collected about your device and your visit. We also collect data about your browsing, searching and buying activity as you interact with our sites. We may collect and use your IP address, mobile telephone or device number, account information, web addresses of the sites you come from and go to next and information about your connection, including your device’s browser, operating system, platform type and Internet connection speed. We use this information for operational and performance measurement purposes including monitoring statistics such as how many people visit our websites; which pages people visit on our sites; how much time is spent on each page or; which browsers are used to visit our sites.”

With these policies in force by major companies, it would appear that if cell phone records are fraudulently procured online, the carrier company has a good lead on how they were accessed. If someone attempts to obtain our phone records in the retail store, they will have to be designated as an authorized user and present a government issues photo ID.

Altus Concludes Employee Investigation

Altus Concludes Employee Investigation

Lawton Constitution | 7/28/2012 1:35:00 AM

By: Ryan Osborne, Staff Writer 

http://swoknews.com/main.aspSearch=1&ArticleID=44642&SectionID=11&SubSectionID=99&S=1 

ALTUS – A mayor-initiated investigation into one of Altus' highest-paid city employees eventually just resulted in the city having to pay the employee for 150 days of work while he sat at home before returning this week.

City council members voted 7-1 July 28 during a special hearing to reinstate Dan Scott, Altus' electrical superintendent. Scott was placed on paid leave Feb. 23 after Mayor David Webb made a recommendation for his termination. Scott also accrued vacation time during his absence, Ward 1 representative and Vice Mayor Rick Henry said.

Because the issue was an internal personnel matter, the initial cause of Scott's suspension, and any evidence found during the investigation will remain confidential, Webb said Thursday. Scott could not delve into details regarding the investigation or why he was placed on leave, as he still has to meet with his attorney, he said. He returned to work Monday.

The city's fourth-highest paid department head, Scott makes $85,072 a year, according to the Altus Human Resources Department. That means he earned close to $35,000 during his nearly five-month stay off the job.

In the end, the council felt a lack of consideration for due process resulted in Webb's recommendation being denied, Henry said.

“Dan Scott didn’t win – the process won,” Henry said. “Protecting the process was more important than anything. Never once did I fight for Dan Scott’s job, but I did fight for the process.”

The decision to reinstate Scott was made before any evidence from the mayor’s investigation was even produced, Henry said.

“The council found due process had really not been followed properly,” Henry said.

Webb disagreed. He said that he felt he had worked within the parameters of due process and that Scott was not put at a disadvantage during any point in the investigation.

“We (Webb and the council) definitely had differences in the procedural process, and I have sought legal advice all along the way,” Webb said. “Throughout the process, I was concerned about making sure at every procedural conflict that (Scott) was protected.”

Webb’s and the council’s differences hinged on the interpretation of two state statures under Title 11 outlining mayoral power and how those statutes related to Altus’ policy outlining mayoral power, Webb said. Neither Webb nor Henry would say what specific problems the council had with Webb’s investigation process.

The council had been notified previously of the investigation, but Saturday was the first time it was able to meet and discuss the issue. The council received a packet six weeks ago from the mayor outlining his investigation, Henry said. The investigation had not been brought up during previous council meetings, according to meeting minutes. Saturday’s hearing was arranged via email.

“We knew there was a big investigation going on,” Henry said. “We were told to internally stay out of it so that we could be a non-biased hearing panel.”

Henry has heard concerns from citizens regarding Scott’s paid absence, he said.

“Remember, we cut payroll 10%,” Henry said. “A bunch of good people that worked for the city don’t have their jobs today, and we have one of our highest-paid employees sitting at home getting paid?”

Henry could not comment on the specifics but did say it involved eight different issues. Saturday’s hearing was a learning experience for the city, Henry said.

           “It was evident that our rules are weak, and we have zero rules in how we handled the hearing for this,” Henry said. “We have to roll up our sleeves as to how we need to go do this in the future.” The council and Webb had differences regarding the outcome of the meeting, but Webb did say Thursday that he’s willing to move forward and work together as a community to ensure a similar technical incidence does not happen again.

          “What I’m committed to doing is having a public meeting reviewing the policies and procedures and recognizing what we have to do to maneuver within those guidelines,” Webb said.

As vice mayor, Henry was the head of the meeting until the council voted to bring in an outside attorney from Muskogee, Joseph Vincent, to mediate the proceedings.

“We hardly vote 7-1 on anything,” Henry said. “The council thought this was the only direction we could go.