WAGONER — A Wagoner County judge has reinstated the operating license of a Broken Arrow home day-care provider that faced being shut down for housing children during an ice storm-related power outage.
District Judge Darrell Shepherd on Tuesday issued an order overturning the state Department of Human Services' revocation of Krina Hendricks day-care license and reinstating it.
"I'm very relieved," Hendricks said. "I have no ill feelings toward the DHS."
DHS revoked Hendricks' license in April for alleged violations related to her keeping children during the widespread power outages after December's ice storm.
Hendricks kept children for several of her customers, who also did not have power and had no other alternative, for periods over more than a week during the outage.
In his ruling, Shepherd wrote that the decision to revoke her license did not give due consideration to the extreme hardships the power outage caused for everyone or the fact that Hendricks' record as a child care provider was unblemished.
Hendricks said she knew she should have stayed closed. "But it was a state of emergency, and I was trying to accommodate my parents, many of whom were in a pinch," she said.
DHS officials said Hendricks should have notified the agency and that she stayed open too many days without power.
Hendricks said she believed that her power was going to be restored any day based on updates from American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma or she wouldn't have stayed open.
Other allegations included Hendricks using her stove as a heating source and keeping fruit juice and milk on her front porch.
Hendricks said that without power, the frigid porch was the safest place for the beverages. She added that the kitchen was fenced off to keep children from going near the open stove.
"I'm just glad she got a fair hearing," Hendricks attorney, Bud Howard, said. "What they were trying to do did not make sense under the circumstances. Being open during the storm — it was a hardship on everybody, a state of emergency. And she's never had a problem before. The system worked."
The judge previously had issued a stay that allowed Hendricks to remain open until the hearing. DHS officials could not be reached for comment.
State News
Judge reinstates license
- State News
-
-
Women encouraged to put health first
It’s an unfortunate fact that more than 60 percent of Oklahoma women are overweight and obese, which contributes to heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
-
Chandler man reflects on being first black to enlist in the Oklahoma National Guard
Berton Zephaniah Lewis sat back in his easy chair reflecting on the day in 1958 he was asked to join the Oklahoma Army National Guard.
-
Oklahoma Blood Institute remodels, gets new advisory board
The Oklahoma Blood Institute celebrated its recently remodeled donor center Wednesday.
-
Inhofe comments on new ‘upside down’ plane, Korea, Obama
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe has a new plane.
-
AG’s Victim Services Unit certifies faith-based program for trafficking survivors
The Attorney General’s Victim Services Unit has certified Oklahoma’s first program to offer services to adult victims of human sex trafficking.
-
Legislators fine tune cultural center plan
Gov. Mary Fallin has asked the state House and Senate leadership this week for a plan to complete the $171.5 million American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. The state Centennial Project was supposed to be completed in 2007.
-
Funding approved for Capitol Fitness Center
Gov. Mary Fallin today applauded the board of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust for approving funds to create a fitness center at the state Capitol. Board members approved a $38,500 proposal submitted by the governor, which includes a $20,000 contribution from the Oklahoma Hospital Association. The funds will largely be used for exercise equipment.
-
‘Person of interest’ in Tulsa killing may be in Oklahoma City
Tulsa police believe a “person of interest” in a recent homicide may be in the Oklahoma City area.
-
Oklahomans, others learning importance of keeping tax refund cards secure
As Oklahoma prepares to issue thousands of tax refunds on debit cards, banking officials say it’s important to secure those cards to keep the money safe.
-
Insurance department apologizes for offensive language in email
The Oklahoma Insurance Department on Thursday apologized for what it described as “an unauthorized draft of an e-mail” that contained “offensive and unacceptable language” while promoting an upcoming tornado summit.
- More State News Headlines
-
Women encouraged to put health first
