University Of Reno

El Reno police search for source of OU linebacker Austin Box's drugs

However, identifying a source may be difficult unless someone steps forward, Brown said.

“Unfortunately, this day and time, prescription drugs are easily attainable,” the police chief said.

Box's parents Monday released a one-page informational copy of a state medical examiner's report that indicated their son had five painkillers and the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam in his system when he died. The toxic combination of the drugs likely precipitated his death, the report said. The painkillers were identified as oxymorphone, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone.

Craig and Gail Box , of Enid , said their son experienced some discomfort from back injuries, but they were not aware of Austin , 22, having any prescription for the drugs. They said they thought Austin would have told them if he had a prescription or that they would have learned about it through the family's insurance plan paperwork.

Austin died after spending the night in El Reno at the home of a friend, J.T. Cobble, who called 911 in the morning after finding his friend unconscious and not breathing.

“He takes pain pills,” Cobble told the 911 dispatcher.

Brown said police officers found one pill in the home that had the appearance of a prescription drug, but said his department has not determined the type of drug through chemical analysis.

“No pill bottle was found,” he said.

Brown said there was also no indication of partying the night before. Austin apparently spent a quiet evening playing video games with a friend, the police chief said.

There is a prescription database in Oklahoma , and Brown said his department is working with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control to determine whether Austin had legitimate prescriptions for any of the drugs detected in his body after his death.

If no matches are found, it will be difficult to determine where Austin got the drugs unless someone comes forward with information, Brown said.

“We've never closed the investigation,” he said.

Other agencies

Brown said if Austin did consume illicit drugs, there is no indication at this point that he obtained them in El Reno, so there is a good chance the department will be forwarding whatever information it obtains to other agencies.

The police chief confirmed that investigators examined the call history on Austin's cellphone, but said they found nothing obvious that would point them toward a drug transaction.

University's Renewable Energy Center welcomes new director ...

RENO, Nev. – Miles Greiner, professor of mechanical engineering, has been named Interim Director of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Renewable Energy Center. Greiner has been a faculty member of the College of Engineering since 1986.

“The center needs an interim director in order to continue the pursuit of its strategic goal to contribute to the University’s national prominence in the renewable energy area,” said Manos Maragakis, Dean of engineering. “Dr. Greiner is an accomplished researcher and educator, with major contributions in energy related research. I am glad he accepted the responsibility and I am confident that, with his new ideas and energy, he will contribute to the achievement of the center’s goals.”

Greiner will fill the position during the 2011-2012 academic year while the Center searches for a new permanent director. He will be responsible for communication between the deans of the colleges of engineering, science, business, and agriculture as well as to University staff who teach, conduct research and provide professional service related to renewable energy.

“I’d like the Center to help Nevada utilize its natural renewable energy resources, develop a pool of local experts in the field, and attract people to the State who are interested in developing sustainable energy solutions,” said Greiner. “I hope the REC will encourage and facilitate larger groups of professors and outside professionals to come together to pursue interdisciplinary research projects. I believe that bringing together bright, dedicated people who don’t normally work together can bring new expertise and points of view to find solutions.”

The participating colleges and the Center expressed their thanks to the previous director, Mano Misra, for his contributions to the Center’s advancement over the past couple of years.

The University has conducted renewable energy research for more than 10 years. The Renewable Energy Center focuses teaching and service efforts and coordinates programs for competitive research with plans to increase Nevada’s national stature in the renewable energy field, including geothermal, biomass, hydrogen energy and solar. The REC collaboration primarily focuses on the work of four colleges within the university: Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources; Business; Engineering; and Science.

For more information about the Renewable Energy Center, go to http://www.unr.edu/energy/index.html .

University of Nevada, Reno, List of People Associated with the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Sagebrush, Nevada Wolf Pack, Jim Barker

University of Nevada Reno

University of Neveda Reno

Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Applying Empirically Supported Techniques in Your Practice

Insiders' Guide to Reno and Lake Tahoe, 5th