OETA election night tops PBS stations

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Dec 30, 2002

Oklahoma Educational Television Authority election night coverage topped every Public Broadcasting Station nationwide, according to the latest ratings data from OETA.

The Oklahoma City coverage featured the entire OETA news team and utilized political commentators Pat Hall and Larry Stein to provide questions and insight of state Senate President Pro Tempore-elect Cal Hobson, Speaker of the House Larry Adair and Gov. Frank Keating.

"We both love politics," said Hall of Stein, "and since OETA was the only station that featured total election coverage and a couple of hotly tested elections, it was the logical place for those interested in the latest statewide election results to get the information they needed."

"OETA topped Baltimore and Atlanta ratings," noted Stein. "In Maryland, it was a hot gubernatorial race, and in Georgia a U.S. Senate contest was being watched by all the national media. It was a great job by all the OETA staff, and I'm glad that Pat and I were able to be a part of this successful wall-to-wall coverage in Oklahoma."

Hall and Stein have more than 40 years of media, political campaigns and communications experience in Oklahoma, the Southwest and nationally. They have appeared on OETA's election coverage and have presented their unique political perspective to groups in Oklahoma for more than two years.

Eateries sells nine Garcia's

Eateries Inc. has sold nine Garcia's Mexican Restaurants in Arizona to an Oklahoma City firm.

Oklahoma City-based Eateries, through its subsidiary Fiesta Restaurants, sold eight Garcia's in the Phoenix area and one in Tucson to Fiesta LLC of Oklahoma City. Included in the sale were the "Garcia's" and "Garcia's Mexican Restaurant" trademarks as well as all current and future franchising rights. There are currently six franchised Garcia's locations in the system.

"We believe that we are making the right move at the right time and allowing the company to refocus on the continuing expansion of company- and franchised-owned Garfield's locations throughout the U.S.," said Vincent F. Orza Jr., chairman and chief executive of Eateries. "Through this sale and related financing agreements we are positioning ourselves for a solid period of strategic growth beginning in 2003."

Eateries owns, operates, franchises and licenses 64 restaurants under the names of Garfield's Restaurant and Pub, Garcia's Mexican Restaurants, and Pepperoni Grill and Italian Bistro Restaurants in 21 states.

Liquor licenses

The ABLE Commission Licensing Division has issued seven licenses. Five licenses were issued for mixed-beverage establishments and two for package stores.

Receiving mixed-beverage licenses were:

* Country Corral, Hwy. 270 E., Arpelar 74501.

* Expressway Lounge, 20915 W. Eighth St., Sand Springs 74063.

* Riggs & Co., 36748 S. Hwy. 82, Langley 74350.

* Vardeli's, 582 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville 74006

* White Barn Estates, 2020 E. Lakeview, Stillwater 74075.

Receiving the package store licenses were:

* Route 66 Liquor, 8302 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany 73008.

* Vintage Wine & Spirits, 5701 N. Western Ave., #A, Oklahoma City, 73118.

Ten individuals and corporations have published their notice of intent to apply for licensing through the ABLE Commission. Those include two for caterer/mixed-beverage combination, four for mixed beverage, two for package store, and two for change of address.

Seeking caterer/mixed-beverage licenses were:

* Applewoods Restaurant, 2747 W. Memorial Road, Oklahoma City 73134-8034, Orchard Foods LP.

* Shortys, 3499 N. Wood Dr., Okmulgee 74447, MINNLO LLC.

Publishing mixed-beverage intents were:

* Garfield's Restaurant & Pub, 501 N. Main #68, Muskogee 74401, GRP of Muskogee LLC.

* Dave's Place, 2603 Hwy. 70 W, Lone Grove 73443, David Kettle.

* Naifeh's Steakhouse, 231 S. Mississippi, Ada 74820, Naifeh's Steakhouse of Ada Inc.

* Saddle Club, 625 SW 29th St., Oklahoma City 73109-2214, JB & IB Inc.

Package store intents were published by:

* Corner Liquor, 7101 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany 73008-2319, Long Xuan Le.

* Hinie Wine & Spirits, 5019 Hwy. 37 #B, Tuttle 73089, Danny R. Gibson and Bailey R. Miller.

Publishing their intent for a change of address were:

* Alibis, 2006 SW Lee Blvd., Lawton 73501, Frances Warren dba L.A. Townhouse Inc.

* Tom's Package Store, 709 W. Wilson, Valiant 74764, Tom's Package Store.

School funds adjusted

The state Department of Education has sent to school districts the fiscal 2003 state aid funding midterm allocation adjustment notices. These indicated the state "formula" funding schools are projected to receive this year, adjusted for enrollment and other data collections as well as for the state budget shortfall.

Superintendent Sandy Garrett noted the Office of State Finance projected a cut to the formula alone of more than $130 million, or 8.26 percent, while the total reduction of all common education funding totaled $158.1 million.

"This doesn't account for annual fluctuations in the various components of the state aid formula locally," she said. "So, while themed-term funding adjustment most years is not significant news to schools, this year it is a dramatic decrease from what was predicted in July, because of the state's revenue shortfalls."