Meanwhile in Texoma........

[Volkonski]

Saw a warning about flooding on the Red River. Took a moment to realize it was about the Red River of the North and not the Red River of the South that we live only a few miles from.

[MN-Skeptic]

Saw a warning about flooding on the Red River. Took a moment to realize it was about the Red River of the North and not the Red River of the South that we live only a few miles from.

The Red River up north is prone to flooding. I vividly remember the 1997 flood. Per Wikipedia -

1997 Red River flood

The Red River flood of 1997 was a major flood that occurred in April and May 1997 along the Red River of the North in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Southern Manitoba. It was the most severe flood of the river since 1826. The flood reached throughout the Red River Valley, affecting the cities of Fargo and Winnipeg, but none so greatly as Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, where floodwaters reached more than 3 miles (4.8 km) inland. They inundated virtually everything in the twin communities. Total damages for the Red River region were US$3.5 billion. The flood was the result of abundant snowfall and extreme temperatures.

Flooding in Manitoba resulted in over $500 million in damages. The Red River Floodway, an artificial waterway completed in 1968 and known as "Duff's Ditch", diverted some floodwaters around Winnipeg, saving it from flooding. As a result of the 1997 flood and its extensive property losses, the United States and state governments made additional improvements to the flood protection system in North Dakota and Minnesota. They converted former areas of development in the floodplain on both sides of the river to the Greater Grand Forks Greenway, providing year-round recreation areas for residents as well as a natural way to absorb floodwaters. A dike system was built to protect the twin Forks cities.

In Grand Forks, thousands of people, including Air Force personnel from Grand Forks Air Force Base, tried to prepare for the 1997 flood by building sandbag dikes. These dikes were constructed based on a 49-foot estimate of flooding set by the National Weather Service. The river crested at 54 feet in Grand Forks. Grand Forks mayor Pat Owens had to order the evacuation of more than 50,000 people, most of the population of the city, as a huge area was flooded. A large fire started in Grand Forks, engulfing eleven buildings and sixty apartment units before being extinguished.

The video of the Grand Forks fires were riveting. How on earth do you fight a fire when all the streets are covered by water several feet deep?

[Volkonski]

We will be just barely in the yellow zone.

[Volkonski]

[Volkonski]

Nationwide shortage of court reporters affecting Texoma courtrooms

https://www.newschannel6now.com/2022/04 ... ntent=kauz

The average pay for a court reporter in Texas is $60,000, with some reaching triple digits.

What’s interesting, however, is that the National Court Reporting Association estimated that there were only 32,000 court reporters nationwide in 2013. By next year, that number is expected to dip to 23,000, forcing places like Wichita County to new extremes when finding substitutes.

“A lot of times if we went on vacation, we’d have to get someone from the metroplex, or we’ve had them come and sub from Abilene,” court reporter Leslie Hash said.

Some reporters have made even farther trips.

[Volkonski]

Bathrooms vandalized at Lake Lawtonka

https://www.kswo.com/2022/04/28/bathroo ... ntent=kswo

Officials said sometime over the weekend someone went into the men’s restroom at the east campground and tore out the sink from the countertop.

They said they ripped the hot water line, leaving it running for hours.

The vandalism inconvenienced lake campers and officials alike according to City of Lawton Lake Supervisor Jim Bonnarens.

“Probably at least a half a day by the time we’re done not counting the time to get the quotes for the materials that are needed make sure nothing else is broke we’re not sure hot water wise I mean it ran continuously so elements if we find out water isn’t heating up enough could have burned up an element so some of those problems may occur later as to something that just somebody felt like ripping a sink out they stole the showerhead it’s it could have been worse but all of these little things add up,” he said.

[Volkonski]

[Volkonski]

Huge teacher shortage in Texoma. Lawton held a big teacher job fair yesterday.

City View advertising on Facebook. Many big North Texas districts (think greater DFW) are raising teacher pay as much as possible which puts pressure on smaller districts.

Also reports of the new Texas laws preventing teachers from talking about race or gender have caused some teachers to be fired and some teachers to quit.

[Volkonski]

Our younger daughter strolling among the bluebonnets.

[Volkonski]

[Volkonski]

Clay County is immediately to our east.

[Volkonski]

Near as I can tell all those let go are administrators, no teachers.

[Volkonski]

Once again predicted storms failed to happen here. Dry, dryer, driest.

[Volkonski]

The forecast for tonight is an 80% chance of rain. Well, we'll see. Rain mostly has been avoiding us for weeks.

[Volkonski]

We'll see. The last time the WFOEP issued such a warning a few days ago we got nothing.

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

We missed the storms, but got the cool, dry air after the front passage. How can you tell? Air conditioner turned on pre-front passage. Open doors and windows afterwards.

[Volkonski]

Our older daughter has been talking about taking a trip to France after school lets out this spring.

This passed Thursday our daughter and SIL both stayed home from work due to their allergies which are very bad this time of year.

Sometime Thursday our daughter convinced Mrs. V. to go to France with her. I get to stay home and take care of the cats.

Since then they have spent every free moment researching the trip, making reservations and watching travel videos on YouTube.

Right now they are closeted in our daughter's and SIL's bedroom with their laptops, phones and the ROKU-equipped wide screen TV making plans. (Our household of 4 people has 6 wide screen TVs but only two of them are 4K so it is not really extravagant. )

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

Who gets to tell the cats?

[Volkonski]

I got a GI tract upset yesterday afternoon so the rest of yesterday and most of today I was out of commission. Still nowhere near 100%.

Checking online we got almost no rain yesterday and this morning. The rain forecast for this afternoon which sent Mr. V out early to plant her 9 exchange plants still has not appeared.

Oklahoma continues to get pummeled.

We'll see. The last time the WFOEP issued such a warning a few days ago we got nothing.

[Volkonski]

Rain! Catching the SW end of a line of storms moving into Oklahoma.

[Volkonski]

Rain over but we had a good 15 minutes.

[Volkonski]

Promises, promises. Forecast of 90% chance of rain but no rain in sight.

[Volkonski]

[Volkonski]

We'll see about that.

[Volkonski]

Our SIL just came home early. He tells us that all county offices closed early because of the storm forecast.

Our newer cat was at the vet today. They called and asked us to pick up the cat early because of the forecast.



Meanwhile the forecast likelihood of rain has dropped from 90% to 50%. Talk about mixed messages.

Still nothing much on the NWS radar.