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Tuesday, April 21, 2015 journalrecord.com $1.00 • Vol. 120, No. 78 • Two Sections What’s News State seismologist pins Fault lines quakes on disposal wells Bill would report lottery winners to SoonerCare BY SARAH TERRY-COBO The Oklahoma Lottery Com- THE JOURNAL RECORD mission could soon begin re- porting some winners to the NORMAN – Oil and gas waste- Oklahoma Health Care Au- water disposal wells are very thority as part of an effort to likely triggering the majority of reduce fraud and abuse of the earthquakes in northern and state’s Medicaid system. p3 central Oklahoma, said Austin Holland, state seismologist. Native Boutique co- However, due to the large owner sues wife, partner number of disposal wells and over clothing stores’ fi- earthquakes in that region, it’s nances Judge Rebecca B. difficult for scientists to prove Nightingale will consider a that a specific disposal well has temporary restraining order caused particular seismic Wednesday against Native swarms, according to a state- Boutique co-owner Michelle ment by the Oklahoma Geolog- L. Owens. The Tulsa County ical Survey obtained by The District Court hearing also Journal Record. may weigh arguments for Other scientists have naming a receiver over that pointed to the likely correlation Utica Square retailer. p7 between the Sooner State’s ex- ponential temblor increases. Orchids Paper an- The OGS statement represents nounces $110M plant Or- an evolution of scientific un- chids Paper Products Co. derstanding, Holland said. At intends to boost its produc- the end of 2014, the earthquake tion capacity by more than 50 percent with construc- See FAULT, PAGE 22 Austin Holland, state seismologist. FILE PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS tion of a $110 million-plus plant in Barnwell, South Carolina. p12 Oil-field service com- pany sues Sand Springs City officials worry gun ruling could kill festivals business An oil-field serv- ice company filed a lawsuit BY BRIAN BRUS not be prohibited, because that would vio- events permit and pays the fees,” Knighton in Tulsa County District THE JOURNAL RECORD late state law and infringe on constitu- said. “They organize the talent and do all Court against a Sand Springs tional rights. the work. The part of the ruling that says company in an equipment NORMAN – City officials are concerned The ruling creates a bigger issue, Nor- the city cannot give (up) control to public dispute. p13 about the wider ramifications of a judge’s man Assistant City Attorney Rick areas is problematic, because that means ruling that keeps music festival organizers Knighton said, because it effectively now the city’s in control. from banning guns at the event. forces the municipality to play a manage- “And if we’re in control, that means Follow the news Cleveland County District Judge Thad ment role in events organized by private we’re potentially spending tax dollars for all day at Balkman’s decision on Friday favored the organizations. all the functions we require: security, journalrecord.com Oklahoma Second Amendment Associa- “These types of events are put on pri- tion’s position that licensed firearms could marily by the entity that gets the special See GUN, PAGE 22 CONTENTS People on the Move . .18A Briefs . .4A At Your Service . .19A Opinion . .6A Classified Marketplace . .21A Finance . .9A Innovators . .1B Focus on Leadership . .16A Public Notices . .2B 2A April 21, 2015 ■ The Journal Record ■ journalrecord.com Polish for Park Avenue: Project 180 could renew retail options downtown BY MOLLY M. FLEMING THE JOURNAL RECORD OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this month, the city closed Park Avenue be- tween N. Robinson and N. Broadway av- enues to continue Project 180’s revitalization work. Weather permitting, the work is scheduled to be complete by early August. That hasn’t stopped the interest in growing the retail in the area, said Julie Kriegel, a broker with Wiggin Proper- ties. The company handles the leasing for about 1,900 square feet at 100 Park Ave. It also leases space in the 101 Park Avenue building. “There’s a lot of interest in the (100 Park Avenue building) and the location,” Kriegel said. “They’re not scared off by Project 180.” Project 180 seems to be the missing piece to developing Park Avenue, ac- cording to a the joint study by Down- town Works LLC and Kiku Obata & Co. that was commissioned by the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust. The project is a collaboration between the municipal Planning Department, the Al- liance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. The study looked at the devel- Pedestrians walk by signs advertising space for lease on Park Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS opment possibilities between Harvey Avenue and the Santa Fe Parking Garage. walks, landscaping, street lighting know it’s a temporary thing and the lo- have to come from the city’s general Throughout the study, the need for im- and benches, as well as new trash recep- cation is just too great.” fund. proved streetscapes was cited. tacles. The authors said Project 180 side- To get retailers to move to the area, Wiggin Property President Chuck “(Project 180) is a tremendous asset walks – being 10 to 15 feet wide – would Economic Development Program Man- Wiggin said he knows that retail can for Park Avenue,” the authors wrote. help attract foot traffic. The work will ager Brent Bryant said the Economic De- work on Park Avenue, referencing his “With continuing streetscape improve- also create a pedestrian plaza near Okla- velopment Trust would consider tenant BC Clark Jewelers. ments underway with (the project), Park homa Tower, at the corner of Park and offering incentives. “There have not been lots of retailers Avenue’s environment is poised to be- Harvey avenues. “I think we will take a serious look at flocking downtown,” Wiggin said. “I come something special.” This potential has kept people inter- (retail incentives) and consult with the think the consultant has it right that Once the east side is completed, the ested in the east side, Kriegel said. policymakers, including City Council, there’s untapped potential. We’ve all work will continue to Hudson Avenue, “Once Project 180’s done, the city is and see their interest in that option,” been used to thinking about downtown moving one block at a time. The com- looking at that as being the premier re- Bryant said. as historically quiet after hours. That’s pleted areas will have improved side- tail strip,” she said. “(Future tenants) Funds for a retail incentive would changing. It’s improved a lot.” Berkshire Hathaway unit buys 7 Tulsa-area newspapers BY D. RAY TUTTLE with the website http://neo.neighbor THE JOURNAL RECORD news.com/, provided local news in the communities surrounding Tulsa, CPI TULSA – The media group that owns CEO Steve Trolinger wrote in a statement. the Tulsa World bought a daily paper and Trolinger was not available for fur- six weekly papers in the Tulsa area from ther comment. Community Publishers Inc. The pur- Masterson said the purchase will be chase becomes effective on May 1. mutually beneficial to all the newspapers The BH Media Group, a unit of and customers. Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire “We think that the synergies be- Hathaway Co., made the announce- tween the Tulsa World, the weeklies and ment Monday. Financial terms were daily will help us improve the product,” not disclosed. Masterson said. “We believe in local BH Media acquired the daily Tulsa journalism and are committed to local Business and Legal News and weekly pa- journalism.” pers the Broken Arrow Ledger, Sand The offices of the Broken Arrow Ledger at 524 S. Main St. in Broken Arrow. PHOTO BY RIP STELL In a statement, BH Media Group Springs Leader, Coweta American, Wag- CEO Terry Kroeger said the company oner Tribune, Owasso Reporter and The “I do not know who approached us, There are about 35 employees at the looks forward to the opportunity to con- Skiatook Journal. but someone approached us,” he said. “We CPI papers, Masterson said. The addi- tinue the tradition of community- Bentonville, Arkansas-based Com- do not, historically, approach anyone.” tional employees will push total employ- minded journalism that the Community munity Publishers placed the assets on Dirks, Van Essen & Murray repre- ment to more than 400 at the World, Publishers team demonstrated. the market, said Bill Masterson Jr., Tulsa sented CPI in the transaction, according Masterson said. BH Media Group now owns 30 daily World publisher. to a statement by BH Media. Community Publishers Inc., founded and weekly newspapers and related “They have been on the market for No changes are expected at the in May 1982, purchased 19 northeast weekly newspapers in Oklahoma, Ne- some time,” Masterson said. newly acquired papers. Oklahoma publications in December braska, Texas, Iowa, Virginia, North Car- In fact, CPI approached BH Media, “There are no plans to discontinue 2005 from Retherford Publications. olina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida Masterson said. anything,” Masterson said. The Oklahoma publications, together and New Jersey. journalrecord.com ■ The Journal Record ■ April 21, 2015 3A Bill would report lottery Not cheating the system winners to SoonerCare BY DALE DENWALT “I have not heard of any specific in- THE JOURNAL RECORD stance,” Melendez said. However, there are ways that the OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma OHCA can check to see if someone is Lottery Commission could soon begin lying or wrong about their income. reporting some winners to the Okla- “Our online eligibility system is homa Health Care Authority as part of very advanced,” she said. “We’re able to an effort to reduce fraud and abuse of the do those cross-checks with other state’s Medicaid system.