|
 |
|
Agua for the people
 | | Bringing Water to Thousands - TOM PARRISH, left, with the Mayor of Manuel Antonio, Sam Neighbors, and Zach Cory, dedicating the water line that will bring safe, clean water to the citizens of Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica. |
By PETER GILL
OKC FRIDAY
The citizens and visitors to Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica have something to be thankful for. They’ve got clean water.
And they have Fridaylanders to thank. Tom Parrish, Merrill Likes, and Steve and Fred Neighbors were able to partner with the Costa Rican government’s Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), and local contributors in the area to build a $700 thousand aqueduct expansion benefiting the Canton of Aguirre.
Even the head of state, President Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, came to say thanks.
The area is home to Manuel Antonio National Park, a world-renowned vacation attraction for naturalists known for it’s beaches, hiking trails, and wildlife. A popular tourist destination, the area had been lacking a reliable water system for the past five years. With tourism being Costa Rica’s largest industry, water was a matter of national importance.
But, water isn’t the only thing Oklahomans are bringing to Costa Rica. Parrish, Likes and the Neighbors brothers are building The Lighthouse, a $30 million development of just over 50 resort condominiums right off the beach in Manuel Antonio and next to the national park.
The secluded condos will offer luxury, privacy, and an incredible natural beauty. And in Costa Rica, it’s not easy to get that. The building permits alone took three years to get, Parrish said, because the Costa Rican government is focused on protecting its natural resources. Unlike other places in the world where resorts and condos line the beaches, Costa Rica is focused on maintaining its ecology, limiting development.
Despite limits for developers, Costa Rica is very friendly and open to foreign investment and travelers. Parrish said the country does not accept foreign aid from the United States, but will gladly partner with private parties when it comes to infrastructure improvements. Their laws are also friendly, allowing foreigners to own land without citizenship or residency, and offering them full rights.
Costa Rica is similar to Oklahoma, according to Parrish. The populations are similar, and their industries of tourism and agriculture are similar. “I’m trying to build a relationship with President Arias and the country of Costa Rica with those similarities,” Parrish said.
For information on The Lighthouse, visit www.thelighthousecostarica.com.Bond issue would create Aerospace Complex
Oklahoma County voters are being asked to decide Tuesday on a $55 million bond issue to allow county funds to acquire the more than 3.8 million-square-foot former General Motors facility and surrounding acreage adjacent to Tinker Air Force Base.
The site would be owned by Oklahoma County and leased to Tinker AFB in a long-term lease agreement.
Proponents of the issue say a YES Vote would ensure the long-term future of Tinker Air Force Base and the thousands of jobs it provides.
Tinker officials would use the facility to create the Tinker Aerospace Complex, which would host some of the current 76th Maintenance Wing operations, as well as other Department of Defense missions. The facility would provide the base with the flexibility to address future depot maintenance workloads and the jobs that go with them, including work on the C-17 engines, joint strike fighter engines, and core work on the new KC-X tanker.
Tinker is the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma, with more than 27,000 workers and an annual economic impact for the state of $3.4 billion.
Creation of the Tinker Aerospace Complex would allow Tinker to mothball, and eventually demolish, 2.2 million square feet of substandard buildings, reducing taxpayer cost for facilities maintenance.
The Air Force has committed to invest between $50-100 million over 5 years to transform the GM facility, which is a fraction of the cost of construction to meet those same needs.
In addition to the $55 million needed to acquire the former GM facility for Tinker, this County bond issue will also include four other propositions that would address flood control issues in the County, and construction and maintenance of County facilities. The total amount of all five bond issues is $84.5 million.
09.MAY.08 The Village Fair is this weekend
02.MAY.08 Town celebrates Earth Day
02.MAY.08 Small turnout advises board Super search
25.APR.08 Kiwanis pay tribute to B.C.'s 95th
25.APR.08 Fridayland doctor heading new digestive disease center
25.APR.08 Police still investigating daytime burglaries
18.APR.08 Nichols will give OCU $5 mil for Boathouse
18.APR.08 From Supreme Headquarters in Baghdad
18.APR.08 Flags flying in honor of those lost
11.APR.08 Cadets forge bond
11.APR.08 Police track Quail Creek day burglars
11.APR.08 Wise Phi Beta Kappa of the Year
04.APR.08 Crime can pay for library
04.APR.08 Our Wanda and Kelly are Mothers of the Year
04.APR.08 Downtown OKC will honor 3
28.MAR.08 Village proposes Town Center
28.MAR.08 OU scholarship honors Rainbolt
28.MAR.08 Hoopla to net awareness, funds for Parkinsons
21.MAR.08 Two fires ignite NHills
21.MAR.08 Lyric Theatre announces new season of musicals
21.MAR.08 Commission to honor Lt. Gen. Burpee
14.MAR.08 Watch DOGS watch over Ridgeview
14.MAR.08 ‘No hanky panky when I was there’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
