No sense of urgency

There's just 10 days before a new deadline for broad, automatic government-spending cuts.

Health & wellness

Building a healthier community begins before birth. In Sunday's Progress Edition

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Enid, Oklahoma

Winter mix in forecast

NWS: Snow and sleet are likely
Staff reports The Enid area has a good chance of receiving some rain, snow or sleet today. National Weather Service gives the area a 90 percent chance of rain, snow and sleet through today and tonight. NWS said accumulation of snow and sleet today could be up to an inch, with 1-3 inches possible tonight. "Right THE ENID AREA now, it IS IN A WINTER looks as WEATHER though we ADVISORY will see UNTIL NOON winterTHURSDAY. type precipitation only while temperatures are low, and it will transition to rain as we warm up," said Mike Honigsberg, certified director of Enid/Garfield County Emergency Management. "Overall, we will be receiving muchneeded precipitation no matter how it falls." The forecast calls for snow

e fins ~ece
Commission to consider hotel agreement
gr.AF and Dave Mashburn told commissioners Feb. 5 they were prepared to go ahead with the development under OF When Enid City Commission either ownership scenario. In either convenes Thursday night, commiscase, LodgeWell would manage the sioners will consider a master develdaily operations of the hotel. opment agreement to build a downCity Manager Eric Benson said town hotel, the fmal piece in Enid city ownership is not a likely Renaissance Project. option, but it is one that needs to be OKLAH OMA Commissioners heard a proposal examined and kept on the negotiatFeb. 5 from LodgeWell LLC to construct a $14 ing table. million Hilton Garden Inn, adjacent to the new $18 "We are going to examine every option, and we million Enid Event Center and renovated will embrace the one that is in the best interests of Convention Hall. the citizens of Enid," Benson said. "I don't think Commissioners are expected Thursday to con- there is any support for public ownership, but if it's sider an agreement that would entail LodgeWell something that is in the best interest of the people developing, managing and operating the hotel. of Enid, it's certainly something we want to examLodgeWell previously presented the city with two ine. ownership options for the hotel: for the city to own "Hotel management is not a core service functhe hotel as a not-for-profit venture, or for tion of the city of Enid, but if it were a profitable LodgeWell to put up the development cost and option for the community and citizens, we'd be retain private ownership. foolish not to examine it." LodgeWell managing members David Owen Benson said a number of incentives will be up
By James Neal Staff Writer

C I TY

for negotiation with LodgeWell, including utility preparation, building fees, permit costs, infrastructure support and land ownership. Benson said negotiating options for the land on which the hotel will set include leasing the land to LodgeWell or deeding it to the developer. He said the monetary value of any incentives will not be known until after negotiations are complete with LodgeWell. "We will fairly examine the value of all the items up for negotiation," Benson said. Benson told commissioners Feb. 5 the LodgeWell proposal is the first proposal the city has received that met all of the city's guidelines, and did not require a cash incentive or equity investment from the city. He said previous proposals filed with the city required the city to put as much as $7.4 million in cash equity to attract a developer, and the least amount required before LodgeWell was about $1 million.

See PROPOSED HOTEL, Page A9

See WINTER MIX, Page A3

Tarrant leaving Integris Bass for Louisiana

Staff reports

Jeff Tarrant

Integris Bass Baptist Health Center President Jeff Tarrant, FACHE, will leave Enid at the end of March to take a position with Dallas-based CHRISTUS Health. Tarrant will become regional chief operating officer and administrator for CHRISTUS Health Central Louisiana, and will move to Alexandria, La. "It is with very mixed feelings that my family and I have reached this deci-

sion," Tarrant said. "For us, Enid has been not just a place to live, but truly a home during the past eight years. I have been blessed to have been part this great organization that is supported by an outstanding system. We will leave behind many friends, but take with us countless wonderful memories." He will continue with Integris Bass through March 27, and begin his new position April 1. Integris Bass will announce a successor following an extensive search.

Tarrant came to Integris Bass in 2005, with more than 20 years of hospital management experience. He previously worked at Integris Blackwell Regional Hospital, where he served as the hospital administrator from 2003-2005. Tarrant received his bachelor's degree in health care administration from Wichita State University in 1982, and a master's in health care administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 1994.

During his time at Integris Bass, the hospital has developed many new services to further its mission of health improvement. Among these are the Veterans Administration Health Clinic, Integris Sleep Institute of Enid, Integris Northwest Family Medicine residency program and Integris Heart and Vascular Institute of Northwest Oklahoma Significant technology and facility

See TARRANT LEAVING, Page A3

VIRTUAL TEXTING
Raquel Estrada sends a text Tuesday as she drives during an AT&T Virtual Reality simulation at Autry Technology Center Tuesday. AT&T and Autry Technology Center sponsored the event for nearly 200 students and staff, who pledged to not text and drive. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

North Star Award

Groendyke gets service honor from Boy Scouts
By Phyllis Zorn Staff Writer

The highest award given to a non-Scout was presented to an area businessman by Cimarron Council Boy Scouts of America during its Good Scout luncheon Tuesday. John Groendyke, once a Boy Scout himself and a lifelong supporter of the program, was given the North Star award, a national award for distinguished service to youth. Bud Smith, council vice president, called Groendyke to the front of the dining room at Oakwood Country Club, and gave him the award to applause from about 140 scouting supporters attending the luncheon. "John has been a consistent contributor

See SCOUT AWARD, Page A9

John Groendyke addresses guests Tuesday at the Cimarron Council Boy Scouts of America Good Scout Luncheon at Oakwood Country Club. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

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Today, rain/sleet/snow mix. Southeast wind at 10-20 mph. Tonight, sleet/snow. South wind at 10-20 mph.

Got a news tip? Call 233-6600 or (800) 299-6397 Email at enidnews@enidnews.com

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