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Msg From Sen. Brown PDF Print E-mail
Written by Bill Castello   
Friday, 25 April 2008

Oklahoma State Senate

Communications Division

State Capitol

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: 

Sen. Brown Disappointed that Majority of Senate
Put Fun Before Safety

OKLAHOMA CITY – A majority of the Senate shot down an attempt by state Sen. Bill Brown to make Oklahoma 's lakes safer on Tuesday.  Brown said he was extremely disappointed in his colleagues for putting recreation before safety.

            "I was approached by both the Lake Eufaula Patrol and my fellow members of the Lake Eufaula Marina Association about strengthening Oklahoma 's laws against driving a boat while intoxicated," said Brown, who owns a marina on Lake Eufaula .   "These are people that work on the lakes and have seen firsthand the tragedy that can happen when people drive over the legal limit.  I'm shocked that some of my fellow members are more concerned about people having a good time at the lake than being safe."

            Brown tried to amend HB 3076 with language from his SB 1140 that was killed earlier this year in committee.  The amendment was voted down 18 to 29.  His amendment, which mirrored the state's current laws on driving under the influence (DUI) would have added convictions of boating while under the influence (BUI) to a person's driving record. 

            "I don't drink personally, but I have no problem with a person drinking as much as they want on the lake as long as they're not behind the wheel and putting other lives in danger," said Brown, R-Broken Arrow.  "I just want people to be responsible when they're driving their boats."

            Statewide there have been 66 alcohol-related accidents on Oklahoma lakes in the last five years and 29 of those resulted in death.  Statistics from the National Conference of State Legislators also show that there were more water craft-related accidents, fatal accidents and fatalities caused by alcohol in our state in 2006 than over half the other states combined.

            During his debate, Brown pointed to the fact that in the last 18 months alone there have been three alcohol-related fatalities and numerous injuries at Eufaula Lake .  Last year, a young boy was literally run over by a drunk driver and killed and in another incident a drunk driver in a speed boat going an estimated 60 mph ran into a 52-foot house boat.  A passenger in the speed boat was killed.

            "What do I say after this shocking vote to those families who have lost loved ones because of the irresponsibility of others on lakes?  And what about those individuals who are in jail for murder wishing they hadn't had quite so much fun at the lake but now it's too late," said Brown.  "I want people to know that, for their safety and everyone else who comes across their path on the lake, they can't drive over the legal limit.  They can sit in their boat all day long and drink, but just have a designated driver.  The consequences are not worth it."

            According to the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; accounting for nearly twenty percent of all reported fatalities.  Nearly 150 people were killed in 2006 in alcohol-related boating accidents nationwide.   

            "I just hope we don't have any more deaths on our lakes before I can reintroduce this legislation next year.  I've had many calls from people in support of my bill and I hope those citizens and others will contact their legislators and demand that they help make our lakes safer."

For more information, contact:

Sen. Brown's Office:  (405) 521-5602
 
SOW Golf Message PDF Print E-mail
Written by Bryan Vest   
Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Lake Eufaula Golf Course Closing
SOW - Lake Eufaula
Dear Save Our Water members,  

Lake Eufaula Association needs your help to appeal to the State Legislature and the Tourism Commission to keep Fountainhead Golf Course open until an ownership transition can be made. Please call and/or email the attached Tourism & Wildlife and Natural Resources Committee members, Tourism Commission members as well as Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, chairman of the Tourism Commission and Speaker of the House Chris Benge before the March 26 Tourism Commission Meeting. 

State Tourism plans to close Fountainhead Golf Course by April 30, 2008 unless the Muscogee Creek Nation or private investors take it over.  Negotiations are underway with the Creek Nation but their National Council will not meet until the end of March.  We want you to let the legislators know that Fountainhead Golf Course is a vital part of tourism in the Lake Eufaula area.  We need time to negotiate a solution so we don't lose this golf course.  The first priority is to keep it open until a decision can be made by the Creek Nation.  The fiscal year for the state is July 1 to June 30 but if funding is needed in order for State Tourism to keep the course open during this time then we need to request it too.  We need you to email and/or call and tell these legislators that we want time and funding if necessary to keep the golf course open while a solution is put in place.  Tell them we've only known since the middle of February and we need time to have a smooth transition in ownership.

  •  Lt. Gov. Jari Askins - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 405-521-2161
  • Speaker of the House Chris Benge -  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 405-557-7340
  • Dale DeWitt, Natural Resources Chair - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 800-522-8502 X332
  • Terry Hyman Tourism & Recreation Chair - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 800-522-8502 X383 

Tourism & Wildlife & Natural Resources Committee

Senators

 

  • John Ford 405-521-5632 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Earl Garrison 405-521-5533 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Roger Ballenger 405-521-5588 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Don Barrington 405-521-5563 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Harry Coates 405-521-5547 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  
  • Judy Eason McIntyre 405-521-5598 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Ron Justice 405-521-5533 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Jeff Rabon 405-521-5614 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  
  • Jim Reynolds 405-521-5522 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Mike Schulz 405-521-5612 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Joe Sweeden 405-521-5535 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Charles Wyrick 405-521-5561 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Representatives

  • 800-522-8502RandyMcDaniel, Vice Chair X409 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Mike Brown X408 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  
  • Ed Cannaday X375 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Doug Cox X415 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • George Faught X310 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Ken Luttrell X355 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Skye McNiel, Vice Chair X353 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Don Armes X307 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Brian Renegar X381 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Phil Richardson  X401 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Dale Turner X306 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Purcy Walker X311 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Terry Harrison X376 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

 

Tourism Commission Members:

Melvin Moran, Vice Chair 405.382.6001

Tony Benson  - 580.286.1957

Jerry Dow -918.630.4621

Joe Harwood - 918.782.3292

Jim Schlimpert - 405.743.0133

Frank Sims - 405.214.9494

Becky Switzer - 405.573.9773

T.L. Walker - 580.762.1514 

 

Tourism is Big Business in Oklahoma and the No. 1 Industry for the Lake Eufaula area. As the No. 3 Industry in the state, we believe it’s time for the Legislature to fully recognize the importance of this industry to our state. The Tourism and Recreation Department is seriously underfunded. The state has built beautiful Welcome Centers ,  parks, lodges and golf courses across our wonderful state to invite people from all over the world to visit us. However, funding of the department that brings nearly $900 million in tax revenue to our state is extremely minimal. The Tourism Department only receives 44% of necessary funding from the legislature and self-generates the other 56%.   

 

All this information brings us to our immediate concern. The closure of Fountainhead Golf Course. Meetings have been held in Checotah and Eufaula. Concerns from area citizens have been heard but may be falling on deaf ears, or maybe on bankrupt budgets. Possible solutions have been presented but need time to transition. It has only come to our attention since the middle of February that the state is planning to close this facility. 

 

1st Scenerio: The Muscogee Creek Nation is proposing to take over Fountainhead Golf Course. However, their National Council must approve the proposal and will not meet until the end of March. In order to give the Creeks sufficient time to make a decision, we need legislators to take action to assure the citizens of the Lake Eufaula area that Fountainhead Golf Course will remain open. The Tourism Department has indicated the course could close as soon as April 30. We desperately need more time. According to Tourism Director Hardy Watkins an item will be on the Tourism Commission Agenda on March 26 for action concerning Fountainhead Golf Course. Tourism needs funding to keep the golf course open to make a smooth transition to the Creek Nation. 

 

2nd Scenerio: Should the Creek Nation not take the course, other private investors have shown an interest in purchasing or taking over the course. Again, more time is needed to make a transition. It is absolutely vital to tourism in the Lake Eufaula area to keep Fountainhead Golf Course OPEN until a transition can be made.  

Should Fountainhead Golf Course close it would absolutely KILL?IT! In a month’s time with no maintenance, the course would be lost.
Last Updated ( Friday, 25 April 2008 )
 
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