Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK) articles from July 2000

Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK) archives from July 2000

Ad Agencies Strive to Sell Oklahoma's Corporate Image.
July 30, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 30--"How would you sell Oklahoma's corporate image to attract industry, or to keep existing businesses from leaving?" That's the question posed to some of the larger advertising agencies in the Oklahoma City...

The Daily Oklahoman Business Briefs Column.
July 30, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 30--It was an awful week for the Nasdaq, a week reminiscent of April's wipeout. The technology-laden index was down 10.5 percent for the week. And similar to what happened in April, shares of viaLink Co....

The Daily Oklahoman Executive Interview Column.
July 30, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 30--Gary Nelson is an Oklahoma-born, Oklahoma-educated and Oklahoma-dedicated owner of one of the state's leading technology companies, Advanced Financial Solutions. While many other innovative "dot-com"...

Oklahoma City Accountant Discourages People From Withdrawing Money From 401k.
July 30, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 30--You've just changed jobs, and a tough question comes up: What to do with that 401(k) money? The temptation to cash in can be irresistible, but financial experts have simple advice: Resist that temptation....

ViaLink Firm Is Not Sure Whether Edmond, Okla., Office Will Remain Open.
July 30, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 30--A viaLink Co. executive said last week that the company's move to Dallas would take place in "waves," but no determination had been made as to whether the Edmond office would remain open. One company...

Development on Edmond, Okla., Street to Broaden Business Base.
July 29, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 29--EDMOND, Okla.-- Is Kelly Avenue becoming Edmond's next Broadway? Development of all kinds on Kelly from 33rd Street to Covell Road is certainly broadening the business base. Real estate pros say Kelly,...

GOP Speaker Hopes for Farm Support in Oklahoma,.
July 29, 2000... Byline: Sonya Colberg Jul. 29--A telephone call last week turned Gayle White, farmer's wife, into Gayle White, national speaker. Her thoughts are routinely on how to efficiently ferry around the children, keep books, feed work crews...

Stores in Oklahoma, Other States Sue Wholesale Grocery Giant.
July 29, 2000... Byline: Robert Boczkiewicz Jul. 29--DENVER--Wholesale grocery giant Fleming Cos. Inc. is facing five lawsuits similar to cases that have cost the company millions of dollars in recent years. Grocery stores in Oklahoma, in the Kansas...

Thirty Oklahoma Insurance Companies to Get Race Surveys.
July 29, 2000... Jul. 29--Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher is launching an investigation into the possible charging of higher life insurance premiums based on a policyholder's race. The issue first came to light in Florida where insurance regulators...

Oklahoma Panel Plans Royalty Rules Hearing Based on New Oil, Gas Tax Law.
July 29, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 29--The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has set an emergency hearing to amend its rules in light of a new law on oil and gas taxes and nonresident royalty holders. Rulemaking will focus on implementing...

Abandoned Refinery in Ardmore, Okla., Makes EPA's Cleanup Priority List.
July 28, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 28--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday placed the abandoned Imperial refinery in northeast Ardmore on the federal Superfund National Priorities List. Elevated levels of hazardous substances...

Oklahoma City's Unemployment Rate Goes Up 2.5 Percent.
July 28, 2000... Byline: Gregory Potts Jul. 28--The Oklahoma City area's unemployment rate inched up to 2.5 percent in June from 2.2 percent in April and May, according to preliminary data from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. Nonetheless,...

Net Income of Phillips Petroleum Is Up to $442 Million.
July 28, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 28--Phillips Petroleum Co. on Thursday reported second quarter net income of $442 million, way up from $68 million in the same period a year ago. Total revenues were $5.4 billion, up from $3.2 billion a year...

Oklahoma City-Based Educational Software Maker Reports Quarterly Gains.
July 27, 2000... Jul. 27--Oklahoma City-based American Education Corp. announced second quarter revenues and income increased for the three months ended June 30. Revenues increased 25 percent to $3.48 million vs. $2.78 million for the same period in...

Lewisville, Texas-Based Food Distributor Reports Earnings.
July 27, 2000... Jul. 27--Food distributor Fleming Cos. Inc. on Wednesday reported adjusted net earnings of $14 million, or 35 cents per share, for the quarter that ended July 8. That compares with adjusted earnings of $9.6 million, or 25 cents per share, in...

Oklahoma Lags in High-Tech Fields, Experts Say.
July 27, 2000... Byline: Sonya Colberg Jul. 27--High technology is a cash cow that Oklahoma is having a tough time milking as approximately 30,000 to 40,000 high-tech jobs in the state go unfilled. Oklahoma needs to take advantage of the technology...

Oklahoma Oil, Gas Industry Defends Record on Environment.
July 27, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 27--Oklahoma oil and gas industry leaders criticized Sierra Club officials Wednesday for accusing the industry and the Republican Party's likely presidential team of being against protecting the environment. ...

Oklahoma City-Based Petroleum, Chemical Firm Posts Record Quarterly Income.
July 27, 2000... Jul. 27--Kerr-McGee Corp. on Wednesday reported record income for the second quarter and first six months of 2000, largely due to increased oil and gas prices. The Oklahoma City-based company said its second quarter income was $217...

Stroud, Okla., Welcomes Launch of First 'Wireless Village'.
July 27, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 27--AARO Broadband Wireless Communications Inc. launched its first "wireless village" in Stroud on Wednesday, and officials are hopeful the new network will help the town recover jobs lost in a tornado last year....

Earnings of Holding Firm for Oklahoma Bank Are Up.
July 26, 2000... Jul. 26--Local Financial Corp., the holding company for Local Oklahoma Bank, announced Tuesday that second-quarter earnings were $6 million, an 8.5 percent increase over 1999's second quarter, when earnings were $5.5 million. Local...

Oklahoma College Graduates Can Take Pick of Job Offers, Report Shows.
July 26, 2000... Byline: Gregory Potts Jul. 26--A new national report says now is a good time to graduate from college, and Oklahomans agree. "There has never been a better time for a college graduate to get a job, particularly if they're technical...

Storms Put Oklahoma Insurers into Claims Emergency.
July 26, 2000... Jul. 26--Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher declared an insurance emergency Tuesday from heavy storms that rocked Oklahoma last weekend. The declaration allows Fisher to issue emergency insurance adjuster licenses should companies...

Petroleum Refiners EPA Agree to Air Pollution Pact.
July 26, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 26--Two of the nation's largest petroleum refiners have agreed to reduce 60,000 tons of air pollution which triggers childhood asthma and cancer, federal officials announced Tuesday. Environmental Protection...

Oklahoma City Businesses Feel Effects of Storm Winds.
July 26, 2000... Byline: Edward Klump Jul. 26--The storms that swept across the Oklahoma City metro area last week did more than down trees and knock out power. They also served as reminders that weather can interrupt business unexpectedly. A...

Dayton, Ohio-Based Company to Close Oklahoma City Plant, Fire 114.
July 25, 2000... Byline: Sonya Colberg Jul. 25--Reynolds and Reynolds, a company with deep roots in Oklahoma City, will close its local plant and move most of its work to Celina, Ohio. A total of 114 employees will lose their jobs, a company spokesman...

Oklahoma Energy Company Reports Lower Second-Quarter Earnings.
July 25, 2000... Jul. 25--OGE Energy Corp. reported Monday that largely because of increased operating expenses, its second-quarter earnings were 41 cents a share, down eight cents from the same period a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, earnings...

Oklahoma Farm Produce Vendors Face Challenging, Uncertain Job.
July 25, 2000... Byline: Sonya Colberg Jul. 25--The sun beat wicked criss-crosses over Donna Wilson's face as she looked out from under her straw hat. She stabbed a knife into a square of watermelon and held the piece toward a customer. Then Wilson...

Oklahoma City Vendors Avoid City Fees by Neglecting to Obtain Permit.
July 25, 2000... Byline: Sonja Colberg Jul. 25--Many Oklahoma City area vendors sell produce on the roadways without holding a city permit or collecting sales taxes. Most said they didn't realize a permit is required, or chose not to get one. They...

Tulsa-Based Company May Separate into Energy, Telecom Sections.
July 25, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 25--Williams Cos. Inc. hasn't put a "For Sale" sign on its telecommunications subsidiary, but the Tulsa-based company has taken a step in that direction. Williams' directors have given management preliminary...

The Daily Oklahoman, Charles Crumpley Column.
July 24, 2000... Byline: Charles Crumpley Jul. 24--PSST! Hey Legislature! Did you hear? ViaLink is leaving Oklahoma for Texas. Let's see, now. ViaLink of Edmond moves to Texas in July. Noble Affiliates of Ardmore decides to move to Texas in June....

Winston-Salem, N.C.-Based Doughnut Shop to Open Four Stores in Oklahoma City.
July 24, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 24--BRISTOL, Va.--What if Virginia hams were for sale everywhere, cluttering convenience store aisles like they do in Virginia? What if Maine lobsters were on the blackboard menu of every catfish joint? ...

The Daily Oklahoman Executive Interview Column.
July 24, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 24--Terry Hixon's run in the construction business has been a constant rise -- from the first stirrings of interest in eighth- grade wood shop to the front office of one of Oklahoma City's top commercial...

Texas Is Stealing Oklahoma's Businesses.
July 24, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain and Gregory Potts Jul. 24--Wes Stuckey's words come a little faster and with more passion when he talks about competing with Texas. Stuckey is president of the Ardmore Development Authority, and he's frustrated. ...

CEO of Oklahoma City-Based Natural Gas Firm Is Optimistic over Prices.
July 23, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 23--Mark Monroe isn't making bold predictions, but he is optimistic -- and for good reason. The price of natural gas has surged, and Monroe is the president and chief executive of a natural gas company --...

Oklahoma Commissioner Wants Meeting on Natural Gas.
July 22, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 22--Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode said Friday she hopes to get natural gas regulators in adjacent states to come up with ways to mitigate a potentially big problem this winter. States...

Liquidation Sales to Close Three Oklahoma Clothing Stores.
July 22, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 22--Hectic bankruptcy liquidation sales continue at three Stage clothing stores in Oklahoma. The Oklahoman incorrectly reported Friday that Oklahoma had ducked the nationwide wave of Stage closings. Of more...

Oklahoma City Teens Gain Valuable Experience in Job Shadowing Programs.
July 22, 2000... Byline: Rachael Myer Jul. 22--Bill Freeman recently finished a report two weeks early that normally requires him to spend three days barricaded in his office to complete. He was done with the report after nine hours. Freeman's...

Oklahoma City Airport Plans to Build Fire Station.
July 21, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 21--Construction on a larger fire station will begin in mid-August at Will Rogers World Airport, officials said Thursday. Airport trustees named Lambrecht Construction Inc. the lowest bidder on the $3 million...

Oklahoma City Christmas Tree Growers Are Already Busy Trimming Trees.
July 21, 2000... Byline: Sonya Colberg Jul. 21--Wind whisked a sweet scent across Robert and Alma Bierschenk's farm and sent pine needles rustling like taffeta. It looks, smells and sounds like Christmas at the Bierschenk farm. Even in July's...

Houston-Based Retail Apparel Chain's Store in Oklahoma City to Remain Open.
July 21, 2000... Jul. 21--Stage stores in Oklahoma have avoided a nationwide wave of closings by the retail apparel chain, the company revealed this week. Stage Stores Inc. has started closing 120 of its Stage, Bealls and Palais Royal outlets as part of a...

Parent of Oklahoma City Bank Reports Earnings Up from a Year Ago.
July 20, 2000... Jul. 20--BOK Financial Corp., the parent company of Bank of Oklahoma, announced Wednesday that second- quarter earnings were $24.2 million -- a 10 percent increase over the same three- month period a year ago. The diluted earnings per...

Parent Company of Oklahoma Bank Announces Second-Quarter Earnings.
July 20, 2000... Jul. 20--BOK Financial Corp., the parent company of Bank of Oklahoma, announced Wednesday that second- quarter earnings were $24.2 million -- a 10 percent increase over the same three- month period a year ago. The diluted earnings per...

Oklahoma City Realtor Notes Downward Trend in Retail Development.
July 20, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 20--"Soft," "struggle," "downward trend" -- Price Edwards & Co. had tough words for Midwest City and Del City in a recent assessment of the metro real estate market's retail sector. "Little or no retail...

Two Energy Companies Form Alliance to Mine Oklahoma Natural Gas.
July 20, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 20--Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Wednesday announced a joint venture with one of North America's largest diversified natural gas companies to develop coal bed methane reserves from a 2.2 million acre area in...

Oklahoma Gas Company May Not see Increased Insurance Rates Despite Fire.
July 20, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 20--An excellent fire and safety record means insurance rates may not rise for American Propane Gas Co., where a blaze destroyed a storage tank and a warehouse Wednesday, insurance agent Stan Alexander said. ...

Oklahoma City Propane Gas Store to Rebuild Burned Storage Tank, Warehouse.
July 20, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 20--An excellent fire and safety record means insurance rates may not rise for American Propane Gas Co., where a blaze destroyed a storage tank and a warehouse Wednesday, insurance agent Stan Alexander said. ...

Restoring Old Oklahoma City School Is a Work of Vision for Partners.
July 20, 2000... Byline: Edward Klump Jul. 20--As he walked toward a corner of the old Moore Public School auditorium, Joe Alexander almost could imagine the past. Although he never attended Moore schools, Alexander tried to visualize excited children...

Oklahoma Retailers Prepare to Weather Texas' Tax-Free Weekend.
July 20, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 20--The state Retail Merchants Association is already cringing as the first full weekend of August approaches. Even though back-to-school sales should make this one of their most profitable periods, Oklahoma...

Oklahoma Energy Company Enters Joint Venture with Texas Natural Gas Company.
July 20, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 20--Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Wednesday announced a joint venture with one of North America's largest diversified natural gas companies to develop coal bed methane reserves from a 2.2 million acre area in...

Edmond, Okla., Data Plant Bought from Chicago Company by Former Owner.
July 19, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 19--The former owner of SSI Custom Data Cards is buying the Edmond company he sold two years ago and keeping the plant's 130 employees on the job, he said Tuesday. Ron Goade sold the plastic card operation to...

Tulsa-Based Energy Company Purchases Privately Held Denver Firm.
July 19, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 19--Sapient Energy Corp. of Tulsa on Tuesday announced its acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of privately held Falcon Creek Resources Inc. of Denver. A majority of Falcon Creek's assets are...

Diseased Vermont Sheep Pose No Threat to Oklahoma Livestock, Residents.
July 19, 2000... Byline: Sonya Colberg Jul. 19--Residents and Oklahoma livestock face no risks from sheep in Vermont that tested positive to a mad-cow-related disease, state officials said Tuesday. The 65 sheep imported from Belgium and the...

Oklahoma City Petroleum Engineers to Discuss History of Oil Business.
July 19, 2000... Jul. 19--The history, the money and the politics of the world's biggest business will be the subject of a nontechnical program at the Oklahoma City Society of Petroleum Engineers meeting Thursday at Applewoods Restaurant, 4301 SW 3. Dr....

Effects of Paper Companies' Merger on Oklahoma Residents Unknown.
July 19, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 19--It is too soon to predict what effect, if any, there may be on the Oklahoma operations of Georgia-Pacific Corp. and Fort James Corp., which have agreed to merge, corporate spokesmen said Tuesday. ...

Brothers to Open Cutting Edge Hamburger Restaurant in Oklahoma City.
July 18, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 18--The entrepreneurs who decorated their City Bites sandwich shops with plastic rhinos and wrecking balls soon will test their next restaurant concept -- the Mad Cow -- in Oklahoma City. The Blevins brothers...

Oklahoma City Check Processing Software Firm Sets Annual User Conference.
July 18, 2000... Byline: Andy Parsons Jul. 18--Advanced Financial Solutions, an Oklahoma City company that develops check processing software, announced Monday it will hold its annual user conference Sept. 27-29 at the Renaissance Hotel and Myriad...

Pennsylvania-Based Pie Maker Expands Stilwell, Okla., Location.
July 18, 2000... Byline: Don Diehl Jul. 18--STILWELL, Okla.--It's a matter of all the right ingredients coming together at the right time in the right place. One of the nation's largest makers of fruit pies has completed a $60 million expansion,...

Oklahoma City Hotel Company Sued by Eatery for Breach of Contract.
July 18, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 18--Three Rings Inc., identified as owner of the trade name Three Rings Bar and Grill, has filed a lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Court asking to sever its contract with BLDG Oklahoma Hotel, Limited...

New Call Center in Lawton, Okla., Will Create More than 300 Jobs.
July 18, 2000... Byline: Gregory Potts Jul. 18--A new call center in Lawton will create more than 300 jobs with a total payroll of $7 million next year, executives said Monday. Atlanta- and Miami, Fla.- based Assurant Group broke ground Monday for...

Ada, Okla.-Based Legal Services Insurance Firm Posts Strong Results.
July 18, 2000... Jul. 18--A fast-growing membership base fueled strong second-quarter earnings for Ada-based Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. Pre-Paid's net income for the quarter ended June 30 was $12.7 million, a 28 percent increase from the same period a...

Numerous Setbacks Plague Lone Wolf, Okla., Lodge Restoration Project.
July 18, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 18--The state's Quartz Mountain Lodge in Lone Wolf was slated to open 10 months ago. Now, the construction contractor doesn't even have a deadline in mind for completion of the $12.2 million restoration project....

State Chamber to Survey Why Oklahoma Companies Migrate.
July 18, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 18--The State Chamber has seen the trend of Oklahoma companies migrating to Texas. Now, it wants to know why they're leaving. The Chamber has sent a survey to 200 chambers of commerce and economic development...

Oklahoma's Southwestern Bell Executive Leads Push in Technology.
July 16, 2000... Byline: Gregory Potts Jul. 16--James Epperson Jr. became president of Southwestern Bell Telephone's Oklahoma operations earlier this year at a busy time for the company. Southwestern Bell is ahead of schedule in a push to bring...

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Urges Greater Output of Natural Gas.
July 15, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 15--State and federal regulators should "get our act together" to encourage greater production and transmission of natural gas, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode said Friday. At a meeting of the...

Oklahoma City Valve Plant Continues Operations After US Customs Raid.
July 15, 2000... Byline: Sonya Colberg Jul. 15--An Oklahoma City business is operating as usual after being raided this week by U.S. Customs agents. Agents served a search warrant Tuesday at KF Industries, 1500 SE 89, where 398 employees assemble...

Oklahoma City Soon to Get a Double Dose of Wal-Mart.
July 14, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 14--Wal-Mart Stores Inc., arguably the mother of all retailers, is carrying twins for Oklahoma City. They're even due in nine months. The newborn behemoths won't be identical. One will be a Wal-Mart...

Oklahoma City-Based Computer Company Enters into New Vending Alliance.
July 13, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 13--Shortly after Norman-based Microm Computers Ltd.'s closing, its spin-off business has joined another area company in a vending alliance. Cole Computer Corp., Oklahoma City, has become the single-source...

Oklahoma Oil, Gas Officials Pleased with Increases in Drilling Permits.
July 13, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 13--Impressive increases in new oil and gas drilling permits and the active rig count in Oklahoma prompted optimism Wednesday among state Corporation Commission members. The commissioners say the numbers...

Oklahoma City-Area Home Builders Hurt by High Interest Rates, Wet Weather.
July 13, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 13--Alan Greenspan wasn't the only one raining on the Oklahoma City area home builders' slowing parade last month. Real rain fell many days in June, stalling some construction. The real rain and the symbolic...

Lawton, Okla., Cosmetics Firm Charged with Violations of Shipping Regulations.
July 13, 2000... Byline: Mark A. Hutchison Jul. 13--Federal authorities are recommending a $133,000 fine against a Lawton cosmetics company suspected of trying to transport 21 boxes of hair styling spray to Norway in violation of hazardous materials...

American Eagle Jets Still Serve Oklahoma City Airport Despite Criticism.
July 12, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 12--Even though sleek, new American Eagle jets started serving the Oklahoma City-to-Dallas route last week, passengers in Oklahoma City still have to pass through a covered walkway onto the tarmac to reach the...

Longtime Oklahoma City Restaurant Seeks New Home.
July 12, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 12--After 15 years at the same site, Applewoods Restaurant will close next month and owner Dick Stubbs will look for a new place to do business, he said Tuesday. Stubbs told employees and customers the...

Oklahoma Academy for State Goals Drops Education-Tech Trust over Politics.
July 12, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 12--Citing problems with politics and projected unreimbursed costs, the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals has dropped its proposed major role in the state's Education Technology Trust. Executive Director...

Baton Rouge, La., Ad Agency Buys Oklahoma City Billboard Owner.
July 11, 2000... Byline: Brian Brus Jul. 11--Hundreds of Oklahoma City billboards soon will lose the name Tyler Outdoor Advertising. City-based Tyler has been bought by Lamar Advertising, Lamar's general manager in this region, Brown Douglas,...

Ex-Chief of Winston Salem, N.C.-Based Doughnut Chain Has Had Good Life.
July 11, 2000... Byline: Andy Parsons Jul. 11--Mike Harding threads his fingers together, leans in slightly and begins the story of his life with these words: "I was baptized by immersion in the cold water of a mountain stream in North Carolina." ...

Ada, Okla.-Based Insurance Provider for Legal Services to Move to Southside.
July 11, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 11--A land deal to be signed today will seal Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc.'s future in Ada, where in 1972 Harland C. Stonecipher founded the provider of insurance for legal services. Dual transactions will...

Southwestern Bell Offers Free Computer to New Oklahoma DSL Internet Customers.
July 11, 2000... Byline: Paul English Jul. 11--Southwestern Bell on Monday began offering a free Compaq computer to customers who agree to pay $60 a month for two years for high-speed DSL Internet Service with Prodigy. Oklahoma is one of only five...

Change of Strategy in 1997 Pays Off for Oklahoma Energy Company.
July 9, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 9--For many, a company's annual report would be the perfect tonic for a sleepless night. Pages and pages full of words like pro forma and assets and liabilities. Plenty of dry reading. But for investors, the...

The Daily Oklahoman Executive Interview Column.
July 9, 2000... Byline: Jon Denton Jul. 9--Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport is preparing for a $100 million reconstruction project that owes much of its vision to Luther Trent, city airports director. Asked if he had inserted any personal...

Privately-Held Oklahoma-Based Energy Exploration Companies Merge.
July 9, 2000... Jul. 9--OPUBCO Energy Inc. and Ricks Exploration Inc. have merged, forming one of the largest privately held exploration companies in Oklahoma, said OPUBCO President E.K. Gaylord II. Gaylord said he thinks the merger "is a great asset for...

The Daily Oklahoman Real Estate Notes Column.
July 9, 2000... Byline: Richard Mize Jul. 9--NEW ORLEANS, La.--Si, the old homes built to the street with small courtyards hidden in back, away from tourists' prying eyes -- that's interesting Spanish-influenced architecture. Oui, our hotel, the...

Social Security Program Give Americans No Reason to Panic, For Now.
July 9, 2000... Byline: Charles Crumpley Jul. 9--There are at least two myths about Social Security. One is that when wage earners contribute to Social Security each month, their money goes into a trust fund for their retirement. The second is that...

Oklahoma Energy Companies Perform Well on Stock Market in First Half of 2000.
July 9, 2000... Byline: Mike Strain Jul. 9--They were the safe haven in a stormy stock market. Companies like Chesapeake and Noble and Devon. Companies like Louis Dreyfus and Parker Drilling and Syntroleum. Companies like Vintage Petroleum and Unit...

Lawton, Okla., Car Dealer to Pay Banks $1.65 Million in Fraud Case.
July 8, 2000... Jul. 8--A former Lawton automobile dealer was sentenced Friday to two years in a federal prison and ordered to pay $1.65 million in restitution to two Oklahoma banks. Earl Herring Sr., 48, pleaded guilty in Oklahoma City federal court in...