DUNCAN Two years have passed since the Duncan City Council chose not to approve a resolution involving a Duncan Bypass south connector.

On Tuesday, council members approved the resolution, which will require significantly less of the City of Duncans funds to bring to fruition.

The funds are needed to move utilities in the south connector area, and the City of Duncan will be paying about 10 percent or $231,961.20 to make it happen. This number was a decrease from the original $385,000 the city would have paid, if the council had approved the resolution in November 2011.

A substantial amount of federal funding will be used here, City Manager Jim Frieda said.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation, which also will pay 10 percent to move the utilities, proposed the south connector from U.S. Highway 81 near Cherokee Road to the existing intersection at 27th Street.

Frieda said the project is intended to help with traffic flow on U.S. Highway 81. Although the City Council approved the citys involvement in the project, the project would not get underway until 2016.

The city would also not start making payments on the project until that same year, which Frieda said could be beneficial to the city, especially when it comes to budgeting for the project.

That would give us two budgets to being appropriating funds, Frieda said.

Frieda said the council appeared to have made the right call in 2011, when it chose to not approve the resolution.

Because the city was cautious and mindful of its funds, it all looks like it will work out favorably, Frieda said.

Originally posted here:
City Council approves bypass south connector resolution

DUNCAN Looking far healthier than the average 82-year-old, Dr. Kenneth Cooper brought some simple advice to Duncan on Tuesday to prolong everyones life -- keep moving.

Cooper, who coined the word aerobics when he wrote his first book in 1968, presented a rapid-fire Powerpoint presentation of statistics and studies that support a theory now embraced by all health professionals -- exercise and diet will prolong your life, improve your brain function and markedly decrease your chances of dying from cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

It wasnt a notion embraced by everyone when he was an unknown in the field of preventive medicine, but it quickly took hold as research and studies supported the theory.

Cooper intended use Aerobics as the title of only one chapter in his first book but his editor in New York suggested he make that the title of the entire book, he told a crowd that gathered at the Simmons Center Theater to hear his hour-long presentation.

The book became a best-seller and Cooper is now invited to China, Hungary and others points around the globe to speak on diet and excercise.

A native Oklahoman who was a champion miler at Putnam High School, he operates the Cooper Institute, a nonprofit organization in Dallas dedicated to health research and education, along with an array of other health-related enterprises that operate under the Cooper brand.

During his remarks in Duncan, he said he has almost given up working with adults in his crusade against obesity and its associated ills.

People dont want to take responsibility for their own health, he said.

Childhood obesity, however, has become a prime focus.

Cooper believes schools can play an important role. He gives Texas high marks because the state requires public schools to determine its students level of fitness and provide physical education.

Read more from the original source:
Aerobics guru: get off the couch to live longer and healthier life

DUNCAN Dr. Kenneth Coopers name may not known everywhere, but most folks have heard of the excercise phenomenon he created -- aerobics.

Cooper, the founder of aerobics, will speak to Duncan area residents at 7 p.m. today at the Simmons Center Theatre. Coopers program is titled Exercise Is Medicine. Coopers visit is part of the Duncan Regional Hospitals Health Week.

More than 40 years have passed since Cooper released his book Aerobics, which was aimed at encouraging people to exercise. There is no charge for Coopers talk, which will focus on revolutionizing health and fitness.

He is the creator of aerobics; he will talk about how you need to take care of yourself, Cyndi Crook, Duncan Regional Hospital Health Foundation director, said.

Crook said Cooper is well-known in his field and around the world. The Cooper Clinic, which has been a fixture in Dallas for the last 45 years, focuses on helping people prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyles.

For the DRH Health Foundation, the Cooper Clinics goals fall in line with those of the Health Foundation.

The goal of the hospital and the foundation is to provide information on how to have a healthy life, Crook said. He will provide some great information.

Cooper isnt the only attraction for this years Health Week. The week officially kicked off with the annual Give It a Tri Triathlon on Sunday.

At 8 a.m. today, Meridan Zerner, registered dietitian for the Cooper Clinic, will teach beginner Pilates. Zerner will also be the guest speaker for the ninth annual Ladies Luncheon, which will be from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Simmons Center.

For information about Health Week, call the DRH Health Foundation at 580-251-8211.

Read more from the original source:
Father of aerobics speaks tonight at Simmons Center

DUNCAN The City of Duncan will be changing its disinfectant at the Water Distribution System from chloramines to free chlorine for about 30 days.

The month-long change is aimed at decreasing nitrogen build-up, which could allow the growth of bacteria in the water, prompting the change in disinfectants annually, Duncan Public Works Director Scott Vaughn said.

Chloramines are weaker than free chlorine, Vaughn said. But chloramines are more stable.

By changing disinfectants, the city is able to purge the system, Vaughn said, which eliminates the potential for nitrogen to be released.

The goal is maintain safe drinking water, he said.

The appearance, taste and smell of the water may change during the 30-day cycle, but Vaughn said it will be safe to drink or use for other purposes, including bathing and washing clothes and dishes.

We used to only use free chlorine, he said. You can think of it as were temporarily going back to the way we used to do it.

In addition to changing disinfectants, the city also will be flushing fire hydrants. Vaughn said the flushing process will start on the extremities of the water system.

The water system is designed to flow east to west. That will be taken into consideration when the city begins the flushing process.

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City of Duncan to temporarily change water disinfectants