Stange News Story

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I've lived in Muskogee, Okla for near a year. All towns have their quirks but Muskogee beasts most. When I first moved here there was a stabbing in the mid afternoon at the mall. I was freaked out because I was shopping there just an hour before the mishapp but the odd thing was a guy stabbed his fiance on the way ouy with a screw driver! Much more has happened but here is a story that struck me as odd. Thu, Dec 14 2006 Currently 43 F Muskogee, OK High 70 F Low 37 F CLICK FOR MORE WEATHER Homepage Local News Sports Features Opinion Obituaries Life Celebrations Local Blogs Entertainment | Classifieds Career Builder Resources Print this story E-mail this story Post to del.icio.us Discuss this story Published December 13, 2006 10:23 pm - Missing 15-year-old found safe By D. E. Smoot Phoenix Staff Writer Authorities found a missing 15-year-old coed at about noon Wednesday asleep in a vacant trailer at a Wagoner trailer park. Muskogee Police Sgt. Ginny Bemo said the teen, who was reported missing Sunday from the Oklahoma School for the Blind was alone but safe. Bemo said she was able to track down Jessica Phipps after conducting a face-to-face interview with another juvenile who previously had provided false information. “We ended up going to Wagoner to personally confront this juvenile,” Bemo said. “After some questioning, she opened up and told us where we might find her (Phipps).” According to Bemo, Phipps made arrangements to have another person pick her up Sunday night from the Muskogee school. Bemo said Phipps said she spent the first night in a car with the unidentified person who picked her up. Phipps reportedly spent the next two days inside the vacant trailer. Bemo released Phipps to the custody of Muskogee County Council of Youth Services. The teen’s mother, Mary Phipps, said she believed her daughter was going to be returned to the school, where she likely will face disciplinary action. “All behaviors have consequences,” OSB Superintendent Karen Kizzia said Wednesday. “We have a discipline matrix we follow, and part of that matrix will include a review of her (Phipps’) behavior.” Kizzia, who has been affiliated with OSB 24 years and served as superintendent for the past seven, said this is the first time an event of this magnitude has occurred. Kizzia also expressed relief about the way things turned out. “We’re grateful Jessica was located and is safe,” Kizzia said. Jody Harlan, public information administrator with the state Department of Rehabilitation Services, said Kizzia, the school’s support staff and police “did an outstanding job” handling Phipp’s disappearance and recovery. “They didn’t hold back with the information they had and didn’t hesitate trying to find her (Phipps),” Harlan said. Mary Phipps of Midwest City said she lost a lot of sleep over her daughter’s disappearance but was glad her daughter is safe. “Jessica claimed the reason she left the school is because she was upset with some of the people there,” Phipps said. “But I think she just didn’t like to abide by the rules — they have strict rules, but they take good care of the students they have out there.” Thu, Dec 14 2006 Currently 43 F Muskogee, OK High 70 F Low 37 F CLICK FOR MORE WEATHER Homepage Local News Sports Features Opinion Obituaries Life Celebrations Local Blogs Entertainment | Classifieds Career Builder Resources Print this story E-mail this story Post to del.icio.us Discuss this story Published December 13, 2006 10:23 pm - Missing 15-year-old found safe By D. E. Smoot Phoenix Staff Writer Authorities found a missing 15-year-old coed at about noon Wednesday asleep in a vacant trailer at a Wagoner trailer park. Muskogee Police Sgt. Ginny Bemo said the teen, who was reported missing Sunday from the Oklahoma School for the Blind was alone but safe. Bemo said she was able to track down Jessica Phipps after conducting a face-to-face interview with another juvenile who previously had provided false information. “We ended up going to Wagoner to personally confront this juvenile,” Bemo said. “After some questioning, she opened up and told us where we might find her (Phipps).” According to Bemo, Phipps made arrangements to have another person pick her up Sunday night from the Muskogee school. Bemo said Phipps said she spent the first night in a car with the unidentified person who picked her up. Phipps reportedly spent the next two days inside the vacant trailer. Bemo released Phipps to the custody of Muskogee County Council of Youth Services. The teen’s mother, Mary Phipps, said she believed her daughter was going to be returned to the school, where she likely will face disciplinary action. “All behaviors have consequences,” OSB Superintendent Karen Kizzia said Wednesday. “We have a discipline matrix we follow, and part of that matrix will include a review of her (Phipps’) behavior.” Kizzia, who has been affiliated with OSB 24 years and served as superintendent for the past seven, said this is the first time an event of this magnitude has occurred. Kizzia also expressed relief about the way things turned out. “We’re grateful Jessica was located and is safe,” Kizzia said. Jody Harlan, public information administrator with the state Department of Rehabilitation Services, said Kizzia, the school’s support staff and police “did an outstanding job” handling Phipp’s disappearance and recovery. “They didn’t hold back with the information they had and didn’t hesitate trying to find her (Phipps),” Harlan said. Mary Phipps of Midwest City said she lost a lot of sleep over her daughter’s disappearance but was glad her daughter is safe. “Jessica claimed the reason she left the school is because she was upset with some of the people there,” Phipps said. “But I think she just didn’t like to abide by the rules — they have strict rules, but they take good care of the students they have out there.”