Tulsa World: Local, State Briefs

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

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Local, State Briefs

By Staff reports & NewsOK.com
Published: 8/14/2009 2:30 AM
Last Modified: 8/14/2009 4:35 AM

Mysterious explosion damages Tulsa apartment

A bizarre explosion gutted part of a Tulsa apartment Thursday evening and puzzled firefighters who were trying to pinpoint what caused the blast.

Two tenants were in a unit at Westminster Apartments when the explosion blew out the ceiling and walls about 5:50 p.m., Fire Department spokesman Bill French said.

The men were shaken up but unhurt when they came outside the apartment in the 7400 block of East 47th Street, French said.

Firefighters combed through shin-deep piles of insulation but had not determined a cause for the blast Thursday night.

French said the damage was estimated at $20,000 and that no other units were affected.

Capt. Spencer Yeager, one of the first firefighters at the scene, said there were no signs of flames or smoke after the "mind-boggling" explosion.

"Usually when we come in we've got a fire or something, but with this, there was nothing," he said. "It just looked like a tornado had been in that room."

— Matt Barnard, World staff writer

Tulsa County deputies seize 300 pounds of pot

Neighborhood complaints led to a large marijuana bust for the Tulsa County Drug Task Force on Tuesday night.

It was the second major marijuana bust in the Tulsa area on Tuesday.

Sheriff's Sgt. Bob Darby said neighbors had reported suspicious activity in the 4400 block of South 43rd West Avenue.

After obtaining a warrant, deputies searched

the attic of a house and discovered 300 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $250,000, Darby said.

They arrested Michael Ullrich, 49, and his son, Mitchell Ullrich, 24, on a complaint of trafficking marijuana, he said.

Both were released on bond Wednesday, Tulsa Jail reports show.

Police had arrested Jeremy Wiley Dennen, 26, on Tuesday afternoon after discovering a growing operation at his residence in the 4100 block of East 36th Street.

Police found 40 plants that they estimated were worth at least $10,000 each — or $400,000 total, Officer Jason Willingham said Wednesday.

Dennen was booked into the Tulsa Jail on complaints of cultivation and possession of marijuana with an intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was released on bond Wednesday morning, records show.

— From staff reports

Memorial set for missing people, homicide victims

A memorial service will be held Saturday in honor of homicide victims and missing people.

The service will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Southern Hills Baptist Church's gymnasium, 5590 S. Lewis Ave.

The service is in memory of all victims who have been lost to violent crime and will provide an opportunity for families to meet with others who have suffered similar losses.

Representatives from the Tulsa Police Department will speak at the event.

Refreshments and child care will be provided.

Fingerprinting kits will be available for children so they may be identified if they are ever reported missing.

— Nicole Marshall, World staff writer

Poteau airport official is killed in Tarmac accident

POTEAU — An airport manager was killed Thursday morning in an accident at the Robert S. Kerr Airport.

The preliminary investigation shows that an ultralight Pegasus Quantum 15 aircraft was being moved by Ellis Whigham, 66, of Poteau into a hangar for maintenance.

Assistant Police Chief Ronnie Branscum said the plane rolled across the Tarmac, veered to the right, crossed a patch of grass back onto the Tarmac and collided with the wing of another plane, which caught Whigham's head.

The plane Whigham was in was not outfitted with a canopy and he nearly was decapitated, Branscum said.

"We don't know exactly what happened," he said. "We are waiting for autopsy results. He (Whigham) could have had a stroke."

The plane is registered to Ronald Lynn Boyd of Humble, Texas.

City officials said Whigham had been the airport's manager since March 2003.

— Sheila Stogsdill, World correspondent

1-year-old girl drowns in mop bucket in OKC home

OKLAHOMA CITY — The mother of a 1-year-old girl who drowned in a mop bucket Wednesday afternoon left her four children, all younger than 5, at home unsupervised, police said.

When Vanessa Hernandez, 19, returned from a neighbor's house, she found that 1-year-old Trinity Hernandez had fallen head-first into a mop bucket, Police Sgt. Gary Knight said.

The other three children, including Trinity's twin sister, were taken into state custody.

Police are investigating the death and will turn their findings over to Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, who will decide whether to charge Vanessa Hernandez.

No arrests had been made, Knight said.

Knight said the death of Trinity Hernandez should serve as a reminder to parents of what can happen when they aren't watching.

— From The Oklahoman By Staff reports & NewsOK.com

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Eagle 4, Tulsa (8/14/2009 10:14:52 AM)

OMG, Nitro labs are replacing the Meth labs!

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