A good year for the Oklahoma Aquarium as it posts an increase in attendance numbers.  It is not bad for a state and nation in the middle of a economic downturn.  "We've been increasing the last three years," says Oklahoma Aquarium Executive Director Teri Bowers.  The facility closed the fiscal year, that ended on June 30th, about 7% ahead of the previous year.
"It will be interesting to track the numbers further and try to gauge whether we are drawing more and more people because we are growing or because they were not going to Disney," says Bowers.  The aquarium opened in Jenks 7 years ago.  Bowers has not had time to break down all the numbers and says there could be one or two reasons.  "It is really hard to say whether the increases that we are experiencing are the stay-cation phenomenon or if they are some of the more specific target marketing we are doing especially to out of state visitors specfically in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri because we have seen an increase in those visitors," says Bowers.  She adds the increase in visitors is a trend seen in other cities with tourism numbers and dollars up across the state.  (Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Aquarium)

TULSA, Ok. - Officials in Jenks, Bixby and Glenpool are tossing around the idea of having the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office operate their police departments. Officials say the cities would pay the sheriff's office for their service on a contract basis, the same as they pay an outside company to manage their wastewater treatment plant. The city leaders say the plan would be for all of their police officers to work for the sheriff, which would be a cost-saving measure for each city.

(Tulsa, Ok)--The winter storm plans in place in smaller communities seem to mirror the operation outline for street crews in Tulsa. Broken Arrow's Stephanie Higgins says when snow and ice hit, the priority is treating and clearing major streets. In Jenks and Sand Springs the Public Works directors of both cities say that is the plan they follow as well. Jenks' Roger Carr adds they have extra help waiting in the wings. Jenks has agreements with a number of construction contractors who will bring in heavy equipment to clear the streets if the storm proves to be severe and last a long time. In Sand Springs Derrick Campbell says his crews are divided into two groups. Each group will work a 12 hour shift and cover the city around the clock until the work is done.

(Jenks, Ok) -- In Jenks orange barrels are seemingly everywhere. An extra dose of patience is required. Road crews are widening Elm, south of the Creek Turnpike. And now work begins on Highway 75 at 111th.  The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is removing the stop light and building an overpass at that intersection. It's a $12 million dollar project. And it's expected to be complete by this time next year.

Tulsa, Ok)--Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Keith Ballard, believes the fact the President of the United States has chosen to address America's schoolchildren deserves attention and respect. However students can opt out of classes that will present President Obama's speech on September 8th as part of the class curriculum. Dr. Ballard is surprised that there has been so much objection voiced to showing the speech to students. He points out it is a first-of-its-kind speech and President Obama will urge kids to stay in school. The Superintendent indicates that is an important message no matter what side of the political fence you are on. Many school districts are offering the speech on a voluntary basis. Students are not required to watch it. A woman who has children in the Jenks district calls the speech an "intrusion...into the education of my children." The speech is not a required activity in any Jenks school.

It's going to cost a billion dollars, but Jenks will end up with another beautiful half square mile development that's just south of the Creek Turnpike and Aquarium Road by 2011. 

The development will include retail space, condos, a movie theatre, office buildings up to 15 stories tall, and even a surgical hospital, plus a $25 million fountain designed by the same company that designed the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas.

Jenks City Manager, Mike Tinker,  expects the River District to bring up to 6 million visitors a year to the area which is good news for Tulsa area revenue.

Developers hope to have the River District open in October of 2011.