IN BRIEF: Heat company hiring spurs federal fines

Published: November 7, 2008

NORMAN

HEAT COMPANY HIRING SPURS FEDERAL FINES

A-1 Electric Heat and Air in Norman will forfeit $150,000 to the federal government for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. A-1 was convicted Thursday of encouraging illegal immigrants to reside in the U.S. after a guilty plea by President Steve Nievar. A-1 could be fined as much as $500,000 and will forfeit $150,000, the amount it earned by hiring illegal immigrants. Nievar, 45, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate federal tax laws by not paying taxes on overtime paid to his employees. The deceit cost the government about $400,000 in taxes, he acknowledged in a plea agreement. Nievar faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced in a few months.

OKLAHOMA CITY

CITY HOSTS WORKSHOP ON IMPROVISED BOMBS

Law enforcement and emergency management officials from Oklahoma and four neighboring states are gathered in Oklahoma City for a two-day workshop on improvised explosive devices. Don Hamilton, executive director of Oklahoma City’s Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, said terrorists have used bombs to kill a majority of their victims. He said federal officials are rightfully worried about a wave of terrorist bombings in the United States. The workshop, which ends today, is for Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas.

LAWYER LOSES LICENSE AFTER COMPLAINTS

Oklahoma City attorney Letitia Kinsey was disbarred Tuesday by the state Supreme Court after she failed to respond to complaints filed against her with the Oklahoma Bar Association. The court said she failed to comply with terms of an agreement drawn up after the bar association investigated client complaints against her. The bar had received six complaints against Kinsey in 2006, and she was privately disciplined and agreed to comply with a discipline agreement. During the year Kinsey was supposed to be complying with the agreement, the association received an additional seven complaints against her, according to the court ruling.

WESTERN STAYS CLOSED NEAR WHEELER PARK

Western Avenue from SW 5 to Wheeler Park has been closed for about a year for construction of the Interstate 40 relocation project. Residents can access Wheeler Park from Walker Avenue and SW 11 Street.

TULSA

TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT LEAVES WOMAN DEAD

Willetta Terry, 55, of Tulsa died Thursday morning in a north Tulsa crash, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. About 5:55 a.m., Terry was driving north on N Peoria Avenue when she turned into the path of an oncoming car at E 56 N, troopers said. She died at a Tulsa hospital.

RETROACTIVE CHARGES COULD BE FORGIVEN

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said city residents should not be forced to pay for unbilled sewer charges that resulted from a 2003 city accounting mistake. Taylor wants the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority to forgive $285,000 in back charges.

KONAWA

WOMAN’S CANCER SPURS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The Masonic Lodge of Konawa and Vamoosa Baptist Church will hold a fundraising barbecue dinner from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for a Konawa woman who has cancer and lost her health insurance. All proceeds will go to the Loretta Ingram Cole Medical Fund. The dinner is at the Walter Wise Legion Hut in Konawa. For ticket information, call (580) 925-2601.

OKMULGEE

TRIBAL CONSTITUTION MAY UNDERGO CHANGES

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will hold a first constitutional convention today and Saturday. It will allow tribal citizens to decide on more than 100 proposed amendments to the constitution. Proposals include a change to the constitutional preamble and the elimination of tribal rights and entitlements to current citizens who are less than one-quarter Creek Indian. The convention is not open to people who are not members of the tribe.

FROM STAFF AND WIRE SERVICES