🌱 Construction Projects This Week + Massive Fire Investigation

Good morning, people of Oklahoma City! Helen Eckhard here with your brand-new issue of the Oklahoma City Daily.

First, today's weather:

Sunny; breezy in the p.m.. High: 69 Low: 45.

Here are the top four stories in Oklahoma City today:

1. This week, there are multiple construction projects going on on Oklahoma City's northwest side. The city will be building a protected turnaround at Memorial Road and the east side of Pennsylvania Avenue. Lake Hefner Drive north of the lake will be closed starting Feb. 14, and the dam road entrance at Britton Road and the road near the northeast parking lot will be blocked off. Workers will be repairing cracks; the road is expected to be closed until Mar. 31. (News On 6)
2. Oklahoma City firefighters have left the scene of the five-alarm luxury apartment fire that had been smoldering for four days. The 325-unit complex went from five stories to a steaming, flattened wasteland. Investigators are now able to go in and attempt to determine the cause of the fire, having to get creative by using security camera footage of businesses nearby due to the extensive damage caused by the blaze. (KFOR Oklahoma City)
3. For Black History Month, the Paseo Arts and Creativity Center is featuring some of Oklahoma City’s most talented African American artists. This is year two for the exhibit, and the artists are really excited about the opportunity. The exhibit is a collaborative effort of Poetic City and Paseo's arts association giving exposure to even the youngest artists. (News On 6)
4. On Thursday night, a 12-year-old took his mom's car for a joyride, leading police on a chase on Mustang Road. The juvenile driver crashed into a neighbor's brick entryway, continued through a small field separating the homes, and drove through fences surrounding the properties before coming to a stop. No one was injured, but the child was booked into a juvenile facility on multiple complaints, including eluding police. (news9.com KWTV)

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Today in Oklahoma City:

• Valentines Day Playdate With Mickey And Minnie - We Rock The Spectrum (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• How does one decide if a career in fire services is the right fit? A ride-along day can give a potential candidate an idea of how Oklahoma City firefighters meet the need on a daily basis. (Facebook)
• Join the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden in sending a love note to nature this Valentine's Day! Post a picture, tell a story, and share the love about your favorite natural areas in Oklahoma. (Facebook)
• Work was recently completed on rehabilitation of the US-77 bridge over the Washita River, just north of Pauls Valley. Major work on the deck and structural members will extend the life of this bridge that was built in 1966. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— Helen Eckhard

About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing assistant at Lightning Media Partners. She is a self-professed logophile who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in library science. Outside of work, you can find Helen constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels.