Business Watch 01-10-10

NewsPress Staff

Coat drive a success

Some Stillwater residents were a little warmer and some local children had a few more presents to open this year thanks to guests of Stillwater’s Three Amigo restaurants.

Eskimo Joe’s, Mexico Joe’s and Joseppi’s Italian Kitchen collected gently used coats and new toys from their guests for three weeks in December during their Merry Moolah promotion. The toys were given to the Salvation Army and the coats were taken to Northside Cleaners to be laundered and distributed during the holiday season.

Barrett SMC’s top employee

Steve Barrett was recently selected as employee of the year at Stillwater Medical Center. Barrett works in the facilities department.

Barrett grew up in the Payne County area, moved away as a young adult and moved back six years ago. He met his wife, Wendi, who works in Patient Financial Services, when he started working for SMC.

Barrett was Employee of the Month in August. All employees of the month are eligible for the employee of the year award.

Group sets volunteer day

The Young Professionals of Stillwater volunteer committee is organizing an event at the Stillwater Humane Society.

The group will be at the Humane Society, 1710 S. Main, from 11 a.m. to to p.m. Jan. 23. Volunteers will exercise and interact with the animals at the shelter and work on special projects for the organization.

Participants must fill out a release form at the facility, younger volunteers (under-18) are also welcome if their parents accompany them and a release form is filled out.

Anyone who would like to help out, but can't make it to the event can also donate goods to the Humane Society by dropping them off at Exchange Bank, 4301 W. 6th, or the Chamber of Commerce, 409 S. Main, during normal business hours. Items needed include: bleach, paper towels, hand soap, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, copy paper, leashes, collars and treats for dogs and cats.

For more information about volunteering, call 405-269-2096 or e-mail bstephenson@stillwater.org.

Joe’s hosts music festival

Eskimo Joe’s will be a host site for the Wakarusa Winter Classic, a popular traveling music festival.

Taking place inside Eskimo Joe’s, the event will feature four to five bands in a one night “Battle of the Bands.” The winner earns a spot in the Wakarusa Music Festival lineup in June.

The classic begins at 10 p.m. Feb. 8. Tickets are available at the door with a $5 cover. Must be 21 year of age or older to enter.

Eskimo Joe’s is located at 501 W. Elm in Stillwater.

Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is a four-day foot-stomping party in the heart of the Midwest.

Rig count up by 31

HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by 31 this week to 1,220.

Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday 781 rigs were exploring for natural gas and 427 for oil.

Twelve were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, the rig count stood at 1,589.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained 13 rigs, Louisiana and Oklahoma each gained three, Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota and Pennsylvania each gained two and New Mexico gained one. Wyoming lost one rig while Alaska, California and West Virginia were unchanged.

The rig count tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. The industry posted a record low of 488 in 1999.

Business After Hours set Jan. 28

January’s Business After Hours is set from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Eskimo Joe's Promotional Products Group, 3904 N. Land Run Drive. This event is free for all Chamber members. RSVP to 405-372-5573 or rsvp@stillwaterchamber.org

– Staff, Wire Report

Send information and/or photographs about new businesses, new employees or awards or honors received by a business, business owner or employee to cday@stwnewspress.com.