A 638 square foot addition to the Sheriff’s Office Building in Oswego was taken off the planning board at Monday’s Labette County Commission meeting.

Sheriff William Blundell and 911 Director Brandy Grassl put their heads together that ended in utilizing the structure they have. “A rough estimate of the new addition would be $100 a square foot,” Sheriff Blundell said. “That’s a lot of money.”

The 911 dispatch department has to move from the basement, according to the latest not-up-to-code inspection by the Fire Marshall.

The county will use the existing building and put back an original wall that had been taken out in prior years and make room for two new offices.

The Emergency Operations Center can then move back downstairs where it was located earlier.

Once the renovation is complete, “it won’t take long to change the system over,” 911 Director Brandy Grassl said. “We will park the Labette County Emergency Operating Command Center trailer in front and work the calls from it,” Grassl said.

The prior addition would have cost around $638,000. “That amount would have been hard to pay for without the City of Parsons coming on board,” Commissioner Brian Kinzie said.

Commissioner Jerry Carson asked what additional components would be needed in the move.

“All the existing equipment is good,” Grassl said. “The office will be needing a dispatching console, something we never have had. Right now we are using the EOC’s countertop table. A console can accommodate dispatchers of all sizes, it adjusts to the controller. There is a place for the wire management and it is designed for 24-hour use. You can either stand or sit at it.”

Grassl also requested a laptop computer because the one she is using belongs to the EOC.

The commissioners gave approval for Sheriff Blundell and 911 Director Brandy Grassl to be the contact personnel for the renovation. “Get it down as quickly as you can,” Commissioner Kinzie said after Sheriff Blundell told of a leaking problem in the basement.

“We will just have to move two walls and it will not compromise any existing walls. Then we can deal with the leaking problem once dispatch is moved upstairs,” Blundell said.

See this week’s Labette Avenue for the complete story.

Justin McKee, a native of Edna who now resides on a ranch near Lenahpah, Okla., will serve as the speaker for this year’s Labette County High School baccalaureate services on May 11.

The service which serves to honor and encourage the class of 2008, will also feature student participation from members of the graduating class.

McKee has over the years became a household name, coming into your home each week as the voice of the Professional Bull Riders. For the last six years he has been the host and play-by-play announcer of the Professional Bull Riders tour which airs weekly on VERSUS (formerly known as OLN) and several times a year on NBC. His knowledge of the bull riders and the bulls they ride has given him a reputation in the business few announcers can match.

Besides being the “Voice of the PBR” McKee announces many rodeos including some of the biggest rodeos on the circuit, like Cheyenne, Pendleton and Ellensburg. During these rodeos Justin has been known to disappear from the announcer’s booth for a portion of the performance only to pop up in the arena as a contestant in the Steer Roping. When not announcing PBR events, Justin also has his PRCA announcers card and often is found at top PRCA events as well.

In his spare time you will find him team roping, a sport he has excelled at as well.

The ranch raised cowboy not only talks about bulls a lot, he raises his own. With the help of his wife, Jeannie, and young daughter, Kassidy, McKee Ranch raises purebred bucking stock selling bucking bull futurity prospects.

“I thank God everyday for blessing me with the opportunity to make a living at something I enjoy so much.” Justin’s enthusiasm for rodeo and life is contagious and genuine. He admits, “I am one of the biggest fans in rodeo, when I’m behind the mic, I’m having a great time and one of my main goals is that everyone there is having fun too.”

The public is invited to attend the event which is sponsored by the Citizen’s Baccalaureate Committee for USD 506.

Brock Allen Coppock is one of several students earning an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee’s Construction Technology – High Voltage Program.
Coppock, who is from Oswego, Kan., says the coursework is helping him master the technical and physical requirements of being a high voltage lineman. The OSU-Okmulgee High Voltage Program taught me how to work safely and properly in the electrical field.”
Coppock is on an internship with Custom Powerline Construction in Fairview, Okla.
Coppock graduated from Oswego High School in 2007 and is the son of Ben Coppock and Toni Coppock of Oswego.