Local News
County adds drug tests for new hires
Drug testing will be mandatory for new employees hired by Pittsburg County following action taken by Pittsburg County Commissioners recently.
The commission also adopted a drug and alcohol testing policy and updated the county’s personnel policy.
Commissioners updated the county’s approved policy, but Commissioner Kevin Smith said the mandatory drug testing for new hires is a new feature for Pittsburg County.
Commissioners selected a local company to do the testing for the county: Southeastern Drug Testing, of McAlester.
No fixed dollar amount was placed on the work at the time the selection was made, but the McAlester company had submitted rates. For instance, new hires for the county will have both urinalysis and breath alcohol testing, which together would cost $70 for each new employee. Smith estimated the county hires 25-30 people a year, bringing the potential testing cost to $2,000 a year. He said the county road crews have little turnover, but there are new hires in law enforcement.
Random testing will also be done with most of the existing county employees. Smith said employees who drive county-owned vehicles, who deal with inmates, or who handle drugs such as those at the county animal shelter are subject to drug testing. He estimated 70-75 percent of the county’s workforce would be tested, or 150-175 employees.
Commission Chairman Gene Rogers pointed out that under the new policy, an employee taking medication that would interfere with drug test results is responsible for informing the county of it.
John Yates is the news director for McAlester Radio.
- Local News
-
-
Final tally: Forest fire burns 2,500 acres near Wilburton
On Aug. 26, approximately 2,500 acres of land burned in Wilburton.
-
Cleanup under way at McAlester water holding tank
The cleanup of a clearwell — which city officials hope will be a huge step forward in eliminating the city’s problem with discolored or brown water — continues at the McAlester Water Treatment Plant.
-
McAlester students are seeing pink
It’s a win-win situation.
High schools all over the state, including McAlester High School, have designated Sept. 13-17 as Win-Win Week, taking on the battle to fight cancer. -
Okla. judge won’t drop count against warden’s wife
A state district judge has denied motions to dismiss a felony charge against the wife of a former Oklahoma warden accused of helping a prisoner escape 16 years ago.
-
Feds sue Arizona sheriff in civil rights probe
-
McAlester construction up for second month
Building permits issued by the city of McAlester in August had a combined estimated construction value of more than $3 million, marking what the city’s employee in charge of the building permits described as making two pretty good months in a row.
-
McAlester area police urge safe driving, boating over holiday weekend
Don’t drink and drive, and lock your vehicles – two pieces of valuable advice from area law enforcement for the upcoming holiday weekend.
-
Arrested coach, teacher accused in neighbor disputes
A McAlester public school teacher arrested on Tuesday and charged with stalking members of two McAlester families had previously signed a deferred prosecution document last February agreeing to have no contact with them.
-
Troops, families glad to hear end to Iraq combat
-
Some dig in, others flee coast as Earl nears US
Hurricane Earl blew toward the Eastern Seaboard this morning as a major storm with winds of around 145 mph as forecasters tried to pinpoint exactly how close the strongest gales and heaviest surge would get to North Carolina’s fragile chain of barrier islands.
- More Local News Headlines
-
