Alva Review-Courier -

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — A retired Army colonel is helping the city of Stillwater prepare to host dozens of refugee families from Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Col. Mike FitzGerald, a 20-year veteran and current operations manager for Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, says the first families are expected to start arriving Nov. 1.

"These are people that are asking for our help," he told Tulsa World. "They are young families with small children. These aren't the bad guys."

Accommodations are being provided by Oklahoma State University and private landlords, FitzGerald said.

"Stillwater is a very...