Lankford tours new Newcastle facilities

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Newcastle is a city with vision, and I’m grateful for the chance to see it all firsthand,” said United States Senator James Lankford, after a visit here in late August.

The Senator met with city officials before taking a tour of Newcastle Fire Station 1 and the new Wastewater Treatment Facility.

“It was great to spend the afternoon with Newcastle city leaders and see firsthand the investments residents have made in public safety and utilities,” Lankford said. “As the metro continues to grow, Newcastle is clearly focused on maintaining its reputation as a top-notch place to live.”

A group, composed of Lankford, Mayor Karl Nail, City Manager Kevin Self and Assistant City Manager Jeanette McNally, toured the new fire station, meeting with Fire Chief Todd Yates. As part of his on-going video series called “Oklahoma Works,” Lankford interviewed local Firefighter James Hampton.

Lankford’s office said the year-long video series is intended to highlight the people who make Oklahoma strong — everyday Oklahomans who show up, get the job done, and help their neighbors along the way.

The Hampton interview can be accessed on X at https://x.com/SenatorLankford/status/ 1960718132181377423.

“I had the opportunity to visit with Newcastle Firefighter James Hampton as part of my Oklahoma Works video series,” Lankford said. “James worked hard through his training and now serves in a job he loves — protecting his neighbors. He’s a great example of what it means to be an Oklahoman: we work hard, we serve others, and we get the job done.”

The Senator said Chief Yates and the firefighters have a fire station in which the community can be proud. He added that the facility “clearly lays the groundwork for the future growth of Newcastle.”

From the fire station, the group traveled south on Main Street to the future home of the Newcastle Medical Center, then over to the new Wastewater Treatment

LANKFORD TOUR on page 3 Facility at 1200 N.E. 16th Street.

“The Newcastle Medical Center will make a generational impact on the area,” Lankford said. “The partnership between the Chickasaw Nation and Indian Health Services aims to bring high quality medical services and thousands of jobs to Newcastle.”

Lankford said the new Wastewater Treatment Plant is another example of forward thinking in the Newcastle community.

“As one of the largest infrastructure projects in Newcastle’s history, it will provide the capacity needed for future growth,” he said.

Mayor Nail said, “It was great to have the opportunity to have the senator come to Newcastle and see what we are doing — especially what we are doing with the rapid growth that is here, and what is coming.”

Nail said he wanted to ensure the Senator understands that what Newcastle is doing is setting up the city to successfully address its future.

The Senator’s trip to the area was set up after visits by Steve Carson, a Lankford aide. Nail said Carson comes to Newcastle often and the mayor wanted to get the Senator here to see what Newcastle has done, and how city leaders “do things to deal with what is coming in the future.”