Group looks to change name of McAlester street

Wednesday, December 7th 2005, 5:56 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) The McAlester City Planning Commission votes 8-to-2 to change the name of a city street from Gene Stipe Boulevard back to its original name of Electric Avenue.

Stipe is the longtime state senator from McAlester who resigned amid a federal investigation into illegal campaign contributions. He was convicted of two felony counts in 2003.

The name change still must be approved by the City Council.

McAlester retiree Joyce Carlson helped organize a door-to-door petition drive to get the name change. She says she doesn't want a street in her city named after a felon.

Stipe says he doesn't know what all the fuss is about. He says he's done a lot for the city over the years and called Carlson's group ``naysayers'' and ``radicals.''