Andy Rieger

1 week ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

Projected cost overruns of more than $125 million are stalling efforts to build and open a new 200,000-square foot state mental health center west of the Oklahoma State fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. The facility would replace most of what is left of Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman. Media reports say the state broke ground and has spent more than $6 million. Lawmakers were asked for an additional $125 million on top of the $150 million initial cost estimate.

2 weeks ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

The spring issue of Boy's Life magazine gets folks excited about summer camp and the options Boy Scouts have now. It hasn't always been that way. I had the pleasure of camping with a local troop at Slippery Falls Scout Ranch new Tishomingo with my own son for a few days one recent summer. I wandered about and noticed a dining hall, showers and toilets. kAm(96? E96 42>A @A6?65 :? `hef[ $4@FED 4@@<65 E96:C @H? >62=D[ 2E6 @FE @7 >6DD <:ED 2?5 5F8 =2EC:?6D]k^Am kAms@H?

3 weeks ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

This past week’s column featured several early Norman denominations. Today, we feature a few more. Within a few years of the 1889 land run, there were seven churches in downtown Norman. Norman’s First Christian Church was one of the strongest early denominations in the frontier town. By the turn of the century, the church had more than 200 members. kAm%96 62C=J u:CDE r9C:DE:2? 4@?8C682E:@? 7:CDE >6E :? E96 9@>6 @7 |C] 2?5 |CD] uC2?< tDD6I :? `gh_[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 62C=J ?6HD C6A@CED] %96 9@>6 H2D :?

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

Former OU President David L. Boren was remembered as a passionate visionary who cared deeply about public education, racial and social justice and the inherent value of public service. Boren, who died Feb 20 at age 83, was an elected or appointed leader serving Oklahoma for more than 50 years. He was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole at a family graveside service on Feb. 24. kAm$6G6C2= 9F?5C65 42>6 E@ 9@?@C q@C6? 2E $2EFC52J’D AF3=:4 >6>@C:2= D6CG:46 2E $E] {F<6’D |6E9@5:DE r9FC49 :?

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

There was a brief period in Norman’s history that there was no hospital here to serve the community. An American Legion Hospital opened in 1925 and closed during the war years. A hundred years ago this year that hospital’s board asked Norman City Commissioners to help them meet bond indebtedness. They asked the commissioners to pay off a bond, cover some other debts and repay $12,850 to Norman citizens who had bought stock in the $50,000 hospital. It was completed in April of 1925.