The Edmond Sun

Local News

Discussion

March 18, 2008

Airport manager to step down

James Coburn

EDMOND — Ron Groves, manager of the Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport, has announced his retirement. Groves has served as airport manager for two years.

“We want to keep him. He’s a great guy but he’s ready to, I think, spend some time with his grandkids,” said Janet Yowell, executive director of the Edmond Economic Development Authority.

This is the fourth year that Edmond and Guthrie have worked together on the joint airport board that includes three board members from Edmond, three members from Guthrie and the Guthrie city manager.

The Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport Web site lists qualifications for the airport manager to include “a bachelor’s degree with major course work in professional aviation, business administration or a related field, six years experience in airport operations including four years of administrative and supervisory responsibility.”

A salary range of $45,000-50,000 for airport manager is included in a full benefits package.

“We’re definitely going to miss the guy. He’s been the best,” said Richard Geib, an Edmond board member.

Groves’ retirement from the airport comes at a time of growth for the airport as many small- and medium-sized businesses and companies have their own aircraft stationed there. Less than 120 acres of the 440-acre airport has been developed. Improvements in runways now accommodate the use of corporate jets flying into south Guthrie.

“He came in and started at the starting line and has just done a wonderful job building up the airport,” Geib said.

The major concrete runway of the airport has been lengthened to 5,000 feet within the past two years. An additional 200 feet will be added once the Federal Aviation Administration provides money for a 10 percent match.

The past five years have brought nearly $11 million of investment from federal, state and city money going to the airport, Yowell said.

“Mainly Guthrie’s money, we’ve (city of Edmond) participated to the tune of a couple of hundred thousand dollars over the past four years,” Yowell said.



TO LEARN MORE about the Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport, visit www.cityofguthrie.com/Geoport/Geoport.htm. or call 282-2312.

Text Only
Local News
  • $6.8B budget crosses final hurdle

    House members found enough votes late Thursday afternoon to approve the state’s $6.8 billion budget for next year by a vote of 52-42. This came after an earlier vote failed by four votes in the House Thursday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • Santa Fe principal resigns

    Edmond Santa Fe High School principal Earl Kirkpatrick resigned Thursday to explore possibilities in the field of ministry. His last day is June 30.

    May 25, 2012

  • devin derrick 2012.jpg Hollywood dreams do come true: Edmondite develops film, music career

    It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
    At least that is what Edmond resident and 1990 Edmond High School graduate Devin Derrick will tell you about his rise to fame in the music and movie businesses.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • ASK A LAWYER: Trusts provide options for difficult heirs

    Q: We have a grown daughter who has a gambling problem. We want to provide for her in our will, but also want to protect her share from being wasted after we die. How can we do this?
    A: Your situation is not unusual. Most of us know at least one person who has difficulty handling money for one reason or another.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Pets

    This is a list of animals that have been found and are at the Edmond Animal Shelter, at Interstate 35 and Covell in the Cross Timbers Municipal Complex. Call the shelter at 216-7615 for more information.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Police and Fire

    Information in this column is gathered from city fire incident logs and police incident reports.

    May 25, 2012

  • Make-A-Wish Oklahoma hosts Lexus raffle

    Make-A-Wish Oklahoma will once again partner with Lexus of Tulsa and Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City to raffle off a new Lexus, raising funds to support the organization’s efforts to grant the heartfelt wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in Oklahoma.

    May 25, 2012

  • Edmond youth are encouraged to make a difference

    The Edmond Youth Council programs are opportunities for students 15-18 years of age to learn about municipal government and potentially impact future city policies.

    May 25, 2012

  • Hiebert graduates from Field Artillery training

    Army Pfc. Cody A. Hiebert has graduated from the Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton.

    May 25, 2012

  • arcadia lake 3.jpg Police: Comply with lake rules during holiday period

    Summer vacation, hot days and a holiday weekend spell heavier traffic on Arcadia Lake, and police want to remind guests about rules and what happens if you break them.
    May 23 was the last day of school for Edmond Public Schools and the long Memorial Day holiday period has come.

    May 25, 2012 6 Photos