Oklahoma Agriculture Blog

An investigation involving four Oklahoma law enforcement agencies has resulted in a total of 10 arrests involving stolen property and other crimes. Col. Mike Grimes, Director of the state agriculture department’s Investigative Services Unit, said the cooperation of the different agencies helped identify and apprehend the suspects.

Agencies involved included he Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; Canadian County Sheriff’s Office; Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office; and the Cleveland County DA’s District 21 Task Force. Grimes said the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Santa Fe IMPACT Unit Tulsa Police Metro Fugitive Task Force helped locate and arrest the final two suspects earlier today.

The suspects are accused of targeting rural residences, barns and farms and stole primarily items such as four-wheel ATVs, vehicles, zero-turn mowers, tractors and trailers. The initial suspects were Julie Lawton, 22; Mark Palmer 34; and Mathew Shrum, 34. All three are Oklahoma City residents.

Seven more people were arrested with the assistance of the OCPD Santa Fe IMPACT Unit during the investigation. Grimes said a variety of charges including possession of stolen vehicles and methamphetamine were filed against the seven.

The crimes were spread over a wide area of central Oklahoma.

The fifth annual Oklahoma Water Appreciation Day will be held February 9 at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) will host the event featuring state agency and organization booths and displays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Capitol’s 4th floor rotunda.

“Water Appreciation Day presents a unique opportunity for groups to demonstrate the importance of Oklahoma’s water resources as well as provide information on their water management, conservation, and educational programs for state legislators and other government officials,” says Duane Smith, OWRB Executive Director. “This annual celebration of Oklahoma’s diverse water resources not only focuses the attention of our state leaders on pressing water issues but serves to recognize those who strive to protect our most precious natural resource.”

Also on Water Appreciation Day, numerous dignitaries will gather in the House Chamber at 10 a.m. to recognize the event, including the OWRB’s water and wastewater financing programs, which collectively exceeded the $2 billion mark late last year. Helping to reach that milestone was the state’s participation in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) program, a cooperative effort between the OWRB, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that leveraged federal stimulus dollars with funding from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan programs. Newly-appointed EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz will contribute remarks at the event, which will be attended by many of the 44 communities who received ARRA water/wastewater funds.

Among other pertinent water issues that will be discussed in the House Chamber is the ongoing update of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan (OCWP). Major components of the Water Plan, which will be completed in 2011 and presented to the Legislature in 2012, include numerous ongoing technical studies of state water supplies, infrastructure, and issues as well as a water policy development effort strengthened through unprecedented public participation.