Shop. Eat. Play.
Injustice For All: Oklahoma Vs. Julius Jones Class Of 2020 Grad Shout Out Downtown Edmond Development Around Edmond Local Edmond Local Flavor Shop Edmond City Buzz
TableOfContents Vol.12 2020 Aug/Sept. 2020
Production Staff Sherri Hultner Trevor Hultner Advertiser Inquiries Sherri Hultner ads@edmondactive.com 405-315-7325
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Trevor Hultner Eriech Tapia
Press Releases Sherri Hultner sherrih@edmondactive.com
Social Media We’re at Facebook, Twitter & Instagram! Search for us there: @EdmondActive Digital Editions www.Issuu.com/ EdmondActive
AroundEdmond 04 EdmondDevelopment 06
More Content www.edmondactive.com
LocalEdmond 08 GradShoutOut 10 LocalFlavor 16 ShopEdmond 17
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CityBuzz 18
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AroundEdmond
Welcome back to EdmondActive Print! What a crazy ride the last 5 months has been. In addition, completely unexpected was the full shut down of the economy, i.e. every place that carried our magazine! The February/March issue was just being distributed the week before the full shutdown and so I made the decision that instead of creating digital magazines, which we have a healthy readership for, that we would just keep everyone updated and help small businesses through our social networks. You can see the photo of 5th Street in Downtown Edmond on the opposing page, on a Friday evening when this street is almost completely without parking available. My heart was broken for all businesses metro wide but for Edmond businesses that were trying so hard, and had to close for a short while. It is joyful to see them even operating on partial schedules, and my hope is that you will support locally owned businesses first – despite mask mandates that start August 26 lasting until October 12, 2020. I have gone to restart the print section of EdmondActive 4 times, and each time I couldn’t tell people to swarm to businesses struggling to figure out how to be safe and protect themselves, their employees and their customers. My conscience but science wouldn’t let me do it. As always, our content is specific and relevant, Edmond oriented and this provided the 4 redo’s of the content and layout to what we offer you this month. This issue really touches on the current social place we have all come to after Covid, but since the consistent protests over equality and police reform, as reflected in this month’s cover photo here in Edmond in late May. This conversation should never go away. Please read my article about Edmond businessman Paul Howell’s trial of the then boys who were arrested. One’s name was Julius Jones and his story about his journey through Oklahoma’s justice system is appalling, and soon life threatening, even though evidence is now discovered through DNA testing there is a highly strong preponderance he was not even at the scene of Paul Howell’s untimely death. It appears Chris Jordan, who the police bartered to allow leniency for testimony against Mr. Jones unlawfully, was the killer of Mr. Howell, and was released from prison, not 30 to life as the jury was informed but after 15 years without probation or anything attached to his release. Mr. Jones only hope for a fair trial, after the previous defense attorney failed to defend Mr. Jones on its face, is a clemency hearing with
the Pardon and Parole Board or considered of Governor Stitt. You can find over 70 graduate shout outs celebrating the Edmond High School’s graduations that occurred July 25! We also have an Epic graduate, 2 Guthrie High School graduates and a Columbia University Graduate who also graduated from Edmond North High School! Congrats to all of you, you’ll have the most interesting story of graduation of all of us! Eriech Tapia wrote a fantastic article this month highlighting all of the changes happening to Downtown Edmond, whether on Broadway or 5th & Littler, with some features of developments from Chris Anderson of the Grant Group. There is also information about the upcoming changes to Stephenson Park. Jill Castilla was the ultimate leader during the Covid shutdown helping consumer’s but also small and mid sized businesses navigate Covid resources for financial help. Jill, along with Sherry Jordan of the Edmond Chamber, Representative Kendra Horn and StitchCrew’s co founder Erika Lucas all rallied to help consumers, businesses and new start ups weather the hardest business and financial environment since the Great Depression. These amazing female leaders really rose to the challenge and exceeded all expectations! In Local Flavor, find information for newly opened Nashbird Chicken on 5th & Littler, and find the new location for Oops I Arted and Botanical Bar in Shop Edmond and the back cover, as well as some other interesting happenings around Edmond in CityBuzz. Thank you again for returning to pick up my community street zine, I appreciate all of you more than you can possibly imagine. Please support not only our advertisers this fall but all local businesses that may be able to help you with what you are in need of for back to school, home office operations, or anything at all. They are all so willing to provide everyone what they are in need of, especially now, as we are all in this thing together. See all of you online and at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sherri
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Stop by Emory Anne Interiors to see whats in store for the Fall! Fresh. Fun. Unique.
Company C for Norwalk furniture and coordinating fabrics are now in stock!
Emory Anne Interiors has a full Bridal Registry! Advertise your business and utilize Edmond’s largest online network of over 34,000 people to reach more local residents! Call Sherri at 315-7325
HOURS: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-5pm 405.753.4466 www.emoryanneinteriors.com 120 NE 150th Street, Edmond (at 150th and Santa Fe)
EdmondDevelopment
Downtown Edmond:
Coming Down the Rails
Story & Photos by Eriech Tapia Downtown development plans are being spurred on as city officials look to create the city’s first-ever tax increment financing district which may bring up to $530 million in development over the next two decades. “I want people here all times of the day,” said Chris Anderson, a principal developer with the downtown Edmond based Grant Group. Projects near Stephenson Park are underway and Anderson is lining up tenants to expand the Railyard District. While developer Matt Myers has proposed The Lark, a new cottage style living area west of the railroad tracks near the former Dolese concrete plant. “Rooftops in downtown, more than anything else, will be the catalyst for a massive leap forward,” Myers said. City officials are even lowering the speed limit and stopping right turns on red to make downtown more accessible to pedestrians. This comes years after multiple people have been struck by vehicles in crosswalks. “We have to learn that we are in an urban environment,” said Councilman David Chapman. “If you build it they will come.” Local businesses that were affected by the
Grant Groups Chris Anderson coronavirus are seeing a return in consumer spending after adapting to changes, including Urban Agrarian which saw an increase in sales over but owner Chelsey Simpson is hoping the community continues shopping downtown. “We have a desire to serve downtown Edmond,” Simpson said. Sales doubled during the first two months of the coronavirus. Railyard District Changes to the downtown landscape have been brought about with the Grant Group introducing the more than 20,000-squarefoot Edmond Railyard. That was the first phase as they look to expand.
This fall, Commonplace Books will be opening up a 1,500-square-foot location directly east of the Edmond Railyard, with multiple other businesses planned including a dessert store, vegan restaurant and an upscale salon. “We are filling up our spaces with everything,” Anderson said. “It is time for some nice sitdown restaurants in downtown Edmond too.” An upscale Italian or Mexican restaurant is Anderson’s hopes for the location of the former JC Swanson’s Fireplace and Patio Shop. He is also wanting an activity-based retailer such as a cycle bar or yoga studio in a portion of the building. However, housing options remain a part that developers and business owners want to see expanded in the area. As renters begin moving into apartments at Park17, Myers is pushing for a cottagestyle development between Fretz Avenue and Santa Fe Drive and north of First Street called The Lark. “It is hard to have a community without housing,” Chapman said. He believes the two key successes to downtown are people and amenities. The Lark, named after the songbird, will consist of roughly 40 modern luxury cottages ranging from one to three bedrooms. In total, the project will cost around $11 million, Myers said. However, there will be no garages for storing tools, bikes and other clutter, Myers said. “People are hungry for relationships,” Myers said. “We duplicate resources all the time and sharing is what a community is about.” Instead, community will play a key role in the development with a shared bike program, tool shed for all to use and garden space. The project will be nearly impossible without the TIF which allows for improvements to aging underground sewers,
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water and streetscape, according to both Myers and Chapman. Currently, the TIF is budgeted at $55 million and will either terminate once the funds are gone or the 20-year period. The area covered under the TIF extends from Thatcher to 9th Street, then roughly between Fretz Avenue and then University/Boulevard. Plans are for a community board to oversee the TIF district with around 13 public meetings to be held along with two community meetings. A final city TIF ordinance is planned to be voted on by the council in September. No new taxes will be incurred through the TIF and Edmond Public Schools will retain 10 percent of the revenue from the TIF.
He hopes to have the Stephenson Park open in the summer of 2021. While construction begins on Stephenson Park, Anderson is converting the former Parkway Cleaners into a mix-used conception. A 25-foot section of the current building will be demolished to make way for a covered alleyway on the west side of the building. The City will also be redoing the parking in front of the building this year to straighten in out. There will be around seven tenants total in the former Parkway building with a large portion being for office space. Dolci Paradiso will be opening up its second location at Park 17 with other tenants slated to fill the remaining spots.
Fifth Street Area
The Littler and Ayers Link
Construction on Stephenson Park is slated to begin this winter for a complete overhaul of the drainage network, along with new event lawns and sitting areas. The roughly $3 million projects will be an urban park setting that will feature the Rocketship as a monument on the corner of Fourth Street and Boulevard, Parks Director Craig Dishman said. “I am excited to see everything coming together,” Dishman said. While the tennis/pickleball courts will be removed the basketball court will stay in its current location. The pickleball courts will be moved to Kickingbird Tennis Center, Dishman said. While a general contractor not been picked, Dishman hopes that by October one will be selected. Improvements to Fourth Street may occur at the same depending on if the same contracting is selected.
Construction will begin this year on designated bike lanes along Ayers Street from Broadway to University Drive, then pick back up between Chowning and Bryant Avenues. Ayers will be narrowed to two lanes allowing for an entire lane of bike traffic in both directions. This link will allow a more pedestrian and bike-friendly community between the University of Central Oklahoma and the downtown area, Chapman said. The project, costing around $150,000, is mostly paid for through a grant from the Association of Central Oklahoma Government’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. The bike lanes are expected to be completed by January 2021. Recently the City completed a sidewalk behind Boulevard Academy to allow for a continuous path from Ayers to Fifth Street along Littler.
LocalEdmond
Injustice for All! Oklahoma v. Julius Jones By Sherri Hultner
I understand this topic is painful to some in Edmond and my intent is not to harm people with this discussion, nor influence anyone’s opinion, nor is it to inflame anyone who believes they aren’t racist but whose actions protect those who clearly are racist. I will be clear this article is at complete odds with another Edmond publisher of local media who published a scathing article regarding The Last Defense in 2018 that painted Bob Macy as a knight in white shining armor, who was in fact a prior Oklahoma County DA who has now had 50% of his cases reversed and who was forced to retire in 2001 for falsifying evidence. Also, for those who are rolling their eyes asking “What does this case have to do with Edmond?” I might add that beloved businessman Paul Howell was an Edmond resident and businessman who was murdered in July 1999 in his driveway, so the answer is everything. Mr. Howell’s sister and children witnessed his murder. Mr. Howell’s sister claimed at trial that the shooter screamed at her brother through a red bandana, to which this month no saliva at all was found in a red bandana claimed to have been Julius’, and over 4 sets of DNA were found with only 7 of 21 markers matching those of Julius, and she claimed the shooter
had over an inch of hair at his neck, which Mr. Jones did not per a time dated mug shot taken by the Edmond PD 9 days earlier. Yet, July 10, 2020, Mike Hunter, the current Attorney General, outright stated different statements conclusively determining it was all Julius, and everyone, including celebrities should stop talking about this matter. Stunning. This story should have ended differently, in a perfect world, in 2002. But for those who fit the description of young black men, Julius’ story has sadly become the norm. White Americans just don’t and can’t understand this, even if they try. It’s truly horrifying. When Mr. Howell’s murder occurred, the news media were provided with Julius’ photograph and they deemed him the presumed killer. I bring this up because not only is this media practice unethical and unfair, but it is a symptom of systemic racism, exacerbated by a naive society in general that believes the first thing they hear, without society considering the consequences of media purporting potentially false information that causes the loss of access to a fair trial or assumption of innocence rather an assumption of guilt, and we repeatedly see this happen when the accused is black. Everyone has the right to a fair trial allowing the defendant to have clear evidence presented by their public defender on their behalf (DA didn’t disclose case file to current defense attorney), to allow the defendant, and their family, to testify, and disallowing racism from any juror. Everyone. If one person loses this right, as did Julius, for a DA’s office win, we all do. This is what happened to Julius under Bob Macy. Three Appeals were sought, with a normal time of 6 to 18 months usually for review, and Mr. Jones appeals were denied each time after only 3 days, which is highly unusual due to the fact Mr. Jones time dated doughnut caused mug shot taken 9 days prior to the murder proved Mr. Jones didn’t physically match the eye witness description of the shooter with about an inch of hair
protruding from a stocking cap on the night of the murder and the witness description matched Chris Jordan almost to a tee. Julius Jones family paid a private defense attorney with everything they had at their disposal to represent Julius until his untimely heart attack and death, when Julius was provided an Oklahoma County Public Defender. This same Oklahoma County Public Defender, now a private attorney, admitted in the Special Edition of 20/20 July 14, 2020 of the Last Defense that he failed to allow the photo taken by Edmond PD 9 days earlier to be shown to the jury, showing Julius had a close shaven summer hair cut to be seen by the Jury or Judge, proving Julius did not have 1 inch or more of hair on his head at all much less at his neck (photo taken as a mug shot without charges or a ticket to Julius for doing doughnuts in a Mazzio’s parking lot). This Oklahoma County Public Defender also admitted he refused to let Julius speak on his own behalf, or allow his family to testify at all without cause, except for the defender stated he didn’t believe the family and did not know why he failed to produce the physical photographic evidence Julius didn’t match the eye witness description at all. This defense attorney still unbelievably has a license to practice law. Read that again. Then read on. Chris Jordan, one of the defendants in this case, was a repeat and convicted felon who faced the death penalty. It is not legal for his testimony to have been considered when he received benefit for it from the DA’s office or a Federal Judge. The jury was told Mr. Jordan, likely the actual murderer, based on clear and evident material evidence and eyewitness testimony that Mr, Jordan didn’t receive any benefit, but 30 to life. The truth was that before Mr. Jones trial, an Edmond detective wrote a letter to a Federal Judge seeking leniency for Mr. Jordan, again, which was unlawfully never disclosed to anyone. Mr. Jordan was released from prison in 2014, without costs or fines or even probation, exactly 15 years later. As the publisher of EdmondActive Magazine, a
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member of this community and as a human being, I find this appalling, and an injustice for all involved, loss of justice for the Howell family, and of course Julius Jones, his family, friends and community. Julius Jones was a star academic who attended John Marshall High School. He had a 3.9 GPA and was awarded a full academic scholarship to OU. This is the kind of young person our Edmond society celebrate, with determination to make something of himself. This young man was only one of two young black men who were in the John Marshall High School class top 10 percent, with his best friend Jimmy Lawson being the other, who also attended college on an athletic scholarship, and who is now a high school Coach. The night Julius had dinner with his family, celebrating his birthday with board games and a giant birthday cookie, 21 minutes from Edmond, Mr. Howell was shot down in his driveway by someone who shouted at him prior to shooting him through a red bandana and who had an inch of hair protruding from a stocking cap. Fast forward to DA’a testing in 2020 never performed over 20 years and current DA refusing to produce case file for new federal public defender Dale Baich. Friday July 10, 2020, Attorney General
Mike Hunter, announced Julius has the right to a clemency hearing but trial transcripts that in my opinion were flawed because a public defender threw the trial in favor of the prosecutors, and new first time DNA proved without a doubt Julius was Mr. Howell’s killer. Again, not mentioned by Mr. Hunter was the fact there were four sets of DNA in the bandana with only 7 of 21 markers matching Mr. Jones, NOT conclusively determining Mr. Jones guilt but adding serious question of fact so much so that clemency is at least deserved and possible commutation with time served is appropriate in this particular case. The statement that Mr. Hunter won’t consider pleas by celebrities was double speak and meant nothing except Mr. Hunter is protecting previous systemic injustice based in racism. And literally no trace of saliva from the screaming at Mr. Howell by the shooter, was found at all, meaning the bandana found in Mr. Jones room wrapping the gun with no fingerprints couldn’t have been the one used in the shooting, and only found by the police with Mr. Jordan as the informant the day after Mr. Jordan asked the Jones family if he could spend the night, the night before police destroyed the Jones home, because his grandma locked him out of her house. This is relevant and we can all understand this as we are all being asked to wear masks to trap our saliva droplets for Covid 19. Mr. Baich, Julius’ new Federal Public Defender, has asked to review the case file to which in 2019 Mr. Prater stated he would provide but will not part with the file at all, as of the date of this article. Along with Mr. Hunter providing only partial DNA information to the public with partial claims of the DNA results, and omitting clear evidence that Mr. Jones was not present at Mr. Howell’s home the night of the shooting per his mug shot vs eye witness description are acts that should concern every single person living in Oklahoma,
but especially young black men, with new actor’s continuing to protect those whom have had to retire due to falsifying evidence and have had over 50% of their convictions overturned. We can all do better. This is a referendum on Edmond, OKC and Oklahoma County, and how we choose to handle this one case determines our level of understanding of underlying systemic racism, the damage it causes our communities, the damage it causes police/community relations, which all affects our economies directly and indirectly, much less community perceptions. If the powers that be don’t want to look easily swayed by celebrities, don’t care or understand their ethics and integrity are on display currently and these issues are more important to them than a person’s life - then community conversation can never occur in an authentic way, and no change will be forthcoming anytime soon, should Oklahoma allow the act of a murderer to kill yet another man. Julius Jones. Without a clemency hearing that is fair without prejudice, the Jones family will have lost a beloved son who appears very much to be innocent. Our system let a murderer free after 15 years and that appears to have robbed the Howell family of their right to justice, as well. Our system is broken if this execution is allowed to occur at all, much less blatantly with reasonable doubt existing that Mr. Jones was even at the scene - existing on its face, which if presented to the Judge or Jury at the time would have disallowed capital punishment much less the trial to move forward against Julius. Our humanity requires this matter to be addressed before this young mans life is taken by the State of Oklahoma.
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Where Flowers bloom so does hope. Chloe White Edmond Santa Fe Class of 2020 Chloe will attend Lubbock Christian University in the fall studying ministry and playing softball
Alyson Lynch. She is Varsity Pom member at Edmond Memorial HS, class of 2020. She is funny, smart, genuine, inclusive, ambitious, determined and beautiful inside and out!
Alex Stone Alex, From walking to running to dancing to a graduation hindered by the ‘rona, your determination and resilience has stayed constant. Even though you may not be making that final musical curtain call on the EMHS stage, we are so excited to see you fly with a world full of firsts! We are so incredibly proud of the human you’ve become. Love, Mom & Gary
Sydney Noelle Biggerstaff Edmond North Senior 2020 Be Bold. Shine your Light. Achieve your Dreams. Be a World Changer. So proud of you! Love, Dad, Mom & Spencer
Kristina Elizabeth Villanueva
Lauren Belford Edmond North High School
Rhandall Freeman Edmond North High School to attend West Texas A&M pursuing a Nursing Degree
Kaylie Bennett We love you! Dad, Mom, Lindsay & Makenzie
Morgan Goerke Morgan is a graduate of Edmond North High School and will attend TCU in the Fall
Phillip Douglas – 2020 Graduate of Cornell University Phillip will graduate Cum Laude in May with an electrical engineering degree, minor in physics, from Cornell University. He went to Edmond North High School Grady Simpson Edmond North High School
Hayden Walls Edmond Memorial High School
Congratulations Lauren! Edmond Santa Fe High School
Allie Hall – 2020 Graduate of Guthrie High School Certified Nursing Assistant for two years at Willow Creek Healthcare. Positively amazing young woman!
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Ayla M. Saucier Edmond Santa Fe High School
Taylor Russell - Edmond Sante Fe
Bryce Helton Edmond North HS Class of 2020 He will attend OSU this fall in the professional pilot program
Lauren Larson- Edmond Santa Fe High School Good Job Lauren for making the best of this! Congratulations on your achievement!
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Olivia Castilla – 2020 Graduate of Edmond North High School Olivia is still deciding whether she’ll be attending the Naval Academy or Ole Miss.
Cameron May Edmond Memorial High School
Madelyn Puckett Deer Creek High School Senior Madelyn is thoughtful, kind, creative, and hard working. She has developed an entrepreneurial spirit as she has used her creativity to make beautiful hand designed cards sold in local stores and by commission through her growing small business, “Made By Madelyn.” We are so proud of the woman you have become! We are excited to see where the Lord will lead and how He will use you in this next season. You are ready! We Love You! , Mom and Dad
Andrew L. Reber Izzy Bellak, Edmond North High School “Congratulations Isabelle, we love you and you have a bright future ahead of you!”
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Brooke Guarry – Edmond Memorial High School Brooke Guarry will be attending OU in the fall My precious Brooke- Your joyful spirit and zest for life, brings forth great energy in all that you do; always inspiring effortlessly. “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Pablo Picasso I love you with all my heart, Mama Tammy Guarry
D’Anna Murray senior at Edmond Santa Fe High School.
Audrey Pumphrey, senior at Edmond North High School. Audrey plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall.
Jacelyn Stanley Edmond Santa Fe High School Jacelyn, this past year has been a difficult one for you but you have show such strength and determination. We love you And are so very proud of you! Love, Rick & Mom
Alexander Scott Dawson, Son of Alan and Kelly Dawson Edmond Santa Fe High School Will attend UCO in the fall and major in Professional Media
Brook Jones, Edmond Santa Fe High School
William Redman Edmond Memorial High School Keep Moving Forward Congratulations we love you!
Conner Millington Edmond Santa Fe High School completed the 2 year Criminal Justice program at Francis Tuttle. Plans to attend UCO in the fall.
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Paige Guarry will be attending OU in the fall My sweet precious Paige- It is from your gentle spirit and warm heart that lightens a moment, turns tears into laughter and spins pain into love. “Caring has the gift of making the ordinary special.” George R. Bach I love you with all my heart, Mama Tammy Guarry
Mena Gutierrez Edmond Santa Fe High School
Lexie Walker Santa Fe High School “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Leah Franklin Edmond Memorial High School Leah plans to attend Oklahoma Christian in the fall.
We are very proud of the young lady you have become and excited to see what your future holds at the University of Oklahoma. We love you-Mom and Dad
Katelyn “Kati” Millington Edmond Santa Fe High School; also completed the 1 year Early Care and Education of Children program at Francis Tuttle. Plans to volunteer helping children. Alexa Vance Santa Fe High School So very proud of you. May all your dreams come true.
Briley Wilson, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein
Madison Izer Epic Charter School ~ Class Of 2020
Aidan McCarty Edmond North attending UCO in the fall Congratulations, Aidan! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see all the greatness the future holds. We love you! Dad, Mom, Ryan, and Caleb
Parker Franz, Guthrie High School
Ainsley Grace Peck Edmond Memorial High School Take pride in how far you’ve come and have faith in how far you can go. Commit to the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed - Proverbs 16:3 We love you so much! Mom, Dad & Camden
Lauren Minnix, Edmond North High School, will be attending Oklahoma State University and majoring in Accounting and Finance And a member of the President’s Leadership Council. Lauren is a Valedictorian with Distinction, OSU President’s Distinguished Scholar, and North’s 2020 BALTO Co-Chair. Congratulations Lauren! We can’t wait to see what your future holds!
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Rielyn Glavan (Edmond North HS)-If you don’t get a proper HS graduation...we are so sorry, no one saw this coming. But don’t let this take away from all of the memories made and the impacts you have made! God has a plan for you! Jeremiah 29:11 We love you ~Mom and Dad
Abigale Eryn Wallace Edmond Memorial
Austin Van Meir Edmond Memorial
Luke McElhinny Edmond North
“Booyah!”(Stuart Scott, sportscaster and anchor on ESPN) I echo Scott’s exuberant catchphrase to describe your amazing efforts and feats, your entire school journey thus far... Booyah! for all the miles and memories in Maroon. So proud of you Noah Plum! Noah Plum Edmond Memorial
Ethan Blake Donaldson Edmond North
Allie Karnig
Brynne O’Connor. She is graduating from Edmond North. Congratulations on graduation, Brynne! We are so proud of you and know that you have so much to look forward to when things get back to normal. We love you, Mom, Dad, Kira and Lulu
Nixon Petitt Edmond Santa Fe 3.9 GPA 6A Baseball State Champion Attending OU to study Accounting.
Emma Kate Williams Santa Fe
Lily DeGrace - Edmond North- Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3. We love you Lily! Mom, Dad, Fred and Alex
Rachel A. Smith Edmond North High School Congratulations Rachel!! You are strong & courageous. We are so proud of you and know great things are in your future. Mom & Dad
Emma Kate Appling Edmond North High School Keep shining your light and making a difference. We love you more! Congratulations! Love, Mom, Dad, Will, Evan and Tate Colossians 3:2
Baile Willmon, Edmond Santa Fe High School. Baile is graduating with honors and will be attending the University of Central Oklahoma in the Fall
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Eden Dowell is a Senior at Oklahoma Christian School and has loved her 13 years there. She will continue her academic & athletic careers at OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY where she will study biology and play volleyball for the Eagles.
Jaxon Dowell is a Senior at Oklahoma Christian School and has enjoyed his 13 years there. He will continue his academic & athletic careers at the UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA where he will study business and play golf for the Sooners.
Jacee Minter Edmond North Lettered in Softball and Track Signed to play softball at University of Central Oklahoma. Congratulations Jacee on this accomplishment. We are beyond excited for you and cannot wait to see you soar the next 4 years. Love, Mom, Dad and Julia
Brie-Ann “Lexie” Austin Santa Fe High School Lexie, It has been such a pleasure to watch you grow into the beautiful young lady you have become inside and out! We are so proud of you Lexie!! Love, Dad, Mom, Sydney, Corbin, and Matt
Wes Robertson, Edmond North High School Congratulations Wes Robertson - So excited for you to continue your tennis career at Kansas Wesleyan! We love you, Mom, Dad, Anna and JD
Colby Entwistle Edmond North High School We are so proud of all your hard work! Congrats, and we can’t wait to see what your future holds. Love, Mom, Dad, and Matthew
Congrats to McCauley - our 2020 EMHS salutatorian. She is headed to OU to study pre med/biochem and is a Regent’s Scholar. Way to go- we are so proud of you! -Mom and Dad
Katrina Courtney Edmond Santa Fe High School Your family is extremely proud of you. Love, Mom, Dad, Aaron and Jacob
Tanner Steel Barnes Edmond Memorial Hgh School Your generation will be forever remembered for strength and perseverance; two qualities that you most definitely possess and exemplify daily. Go get ‘em, Cowboy. Love you bunches
Carley Davenport Carley - We are so proud of the young lady you have become. Dream big! Continue to spread your wings! We can’t wait to see what God has in store for your future. We love you! Dad, Mom and Cole
Madison Lynn Pollard Edmond Memorial High School There’s a wonderful future that’s waiting for you through the goals that you strive for, the dreams that you pursue. So discover the wonders the years ahead hold! Wishing you all the best on your graduation and always! Love, Daddy & Mommy
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LocalFlavor
Nashbird Chicken This OKC chef and family owned Nashville Hot Chicken, with its original space on 9th Street in Downtown OKC, has finally brought their fun fast casual hot chicken concept quietly to Downtown Edmond located at 5th and Littler when the arrival of the shutdown due to Covid 19 occurred. Located in the new Park 17 building, this fast casual chicken restaurant is a delight for Edmond, with over 17 chicken restaurants to choose from. You can choose the way you get it, whether dining in, pick up or delivery, and their hours are Sunday through Thursday 10:30 am to 9 pm and Friday through Saturday 10:30 am to 10 pm. Right now they are offering buckets starting at $20, that include sides, whether it’s the whole chicken, tenders or wings. Be sure to check out their full menu at Nashbirdchicken.com, where you can order for pick up and delivery conveniently, sign up for updates and join their loyalty program. We ordered a tender bucket with sides and their amazing caramel banana pudding by delivery for a Friday porch picnic, and it didn’t disappoint, with the banana pudding being the real deal!
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ShopEdmond Emory Anne Interiors is one of the trendiest stores in Edmond, with a fantastic selection of new high end to affordable pieces for your entire home, very unique home accessories, including a full line of Company C and Norwalk Furniture, Thibaut fine fabrics, wallpaper and custom furniture. and more! Emory Anne’s also offers fabric by the yard and design services in store. Be sure to stop by to visit this store first when redecorating on any budget. You can find Emory Anne Interiors at 150th & Santa Fe Open M-F 10 am to 6 pm and Sat. 10-5 pm. Be sure to follow at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for sales & inspiration and online at www.Emoryanneinteriors.com! If you have any questions, you can call the store at 405-753-4466.
Enjoy the arrival of Fall in the country at any one of the cozy cottages at Arcadian Getaways, formerly Aaron’s Gate, in Guthrie! Located just a few minutes north of Edmond, on a beautiful wooded 10 acre property, you can relax with the outdoor jacuzzi’s or just relax indoors in front of the fireplace and wake up to a beautiful candlelit breakfast of pumpkin pancakes and Martha’s World Famous Vanilla Butter Sauce. Be sure to check out the 4 and 7 day packages online at www. Aaronsgate.com to discover the cottages & to reserve your getaway, or call 405-282-0613.
Oops I Arted offers art classes to those of all ages. We create masterpieces in clay, acrylics, watercolor, mixed media and other child friendly mediums. We also offer classes in cardboard weaving, cardboard sculpture and a multitude of other creative and fun endeavors. oops i arted is now located at Cheyenne Crossing on Bryant just south of 33rd Street, which is easily accessible to Edmond , OKC and surrounding areas. You can visit online at OopsIArted.com for more information or to schedule a class call or text Risa at 405-476-9211.
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CityBuzz Four downtown traffic signal boxes recently received quite the facelift! Look out for these colorful Edmond illustrations next time you’re taking a stroll downtown!
Jill Castilla, CEO and President of Citizen’s Bank of Edmond joined forces this year with Mark Cuban for Good #CoronaKarma When the Covid shutdown’s first started, I remember the first thing Jill Castilla tweeted “Here we go, all hands on deck!”. The local community bank has lead the pack with creative solutions to banking while implementing proper social distancing, contactless banking and more including curbside banking that is still occurring at 1st Street and Broadway, in Downtown Edmond. If you at all know or have even met Jill, you know this meant something really serious was coming. The Edmond Mayor and City Council have announced that a mask mandate will take affect August 26, 2020 and will end after October 12, 2020 in their Monday August 3, 2020 City Council Meeting. The City of Edmond and the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) recently celebrated the opening of six new Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in the community. The Level 2 charging stations are free to use by the public and were funded through just over $50,000 in grants received from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. The public locations each include two chargers and include: Mitch Park (behind the large pavilion), the Service-Blake Soccer Complex, the City First Administration Building in downtown, and at two UCO Visitor Parking Lots. The station at the soccer complex is only available during soccer events, and a schedule can be viewed at http:// edmondsoccer.com. All Edmond locations can be found using the station locator tool at https://na.chargepoint.com/charge_point.
Starting with Citizen’s Bank customers, in March, Jill had started deferring overdraft charges in hopes that people’s stimulus funds would arrive in time to help. When that appeared at first to be three weeks or more out, Jill partnered with Mark Cuban, who was looking to cause banks to do more to help their customer’s. Jill jumped in, and they created a plan started at Citizen’s that then spread other banks around the country with a $900 credit to customers guaranteed by the customer’s stimulus check, and right out of the gate, Jill spoke to over 400 other banks who wanted to emulate this plan across the country. Then, PPP loans for small businesses to cover payroll and other operating expenses were announced. That SBA program had a coming forgiveness stipulation to which was harried to pursue by application, at best. Again, Jill Castilla got together with Mark Cuban and they bounced ideas off of each other to produce PPP.bank. This website is a non bank non governmental non industry owned site/application that helps small business owners out with the difficult task of applying for PPP loan forgiveness. It does not collect information, and the .bank site offers the ultimate in identity and information protection. If you are in need of help with your forgiveness application please visit PPP.bank for help, and if you need any help navigating help that is available due to issues with Covid, please visit MyCitizens.bank. We are so lucky to have Jill in Edmond’s corner!
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