February 13, 2020 Vol. 20, No. 38
In This Issue FOUR SEASONS
Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
Hey,
!
Check out our new feature all about baby! See Page 1B
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Sunny High 50° Low 39°
PHOTO PROVIDED
Next year Francis Tuttle will have its new $42 million Danforth campus, not too far from Interstate 35. It will also feature an Entrepreneur Academy.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Mostly Cloudy High 58° Low 43°
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Partly Cloudy High 64° Low 47°
By Mallery Nagle. Francis Tuttle Technology Center is helping to bring Edmond’s workforce and economy into a new era. The school’s new superintendent, Michelle Keylon, EeD, has big plans for the future. The Edmond resident has been with Francis Tuttle since 2005 and was named superintendent in July of 2019. The school’s two campuses boast 3,400 full-time students in their Career Training Programs for adults and for high school juniors and seniors and in their Career Academies for high school sophomores. In addition, there are shortterm adult development courses and training for incumbent employees. This, Keylon said, brings the enrollment grand total to 18,000-
20,000 students at any time. Popular courses of study include engineering, bio-sciences and medical studies and computer science for high school students and respiratory care and nursing for adults. “With the boom of eateries in the area, the demand for culinary courses has been significant,” Keylon added. Keylon pointed to three areas she will concentrate on as superintendent: tackling the skills gap, economic development in the Edmond area and helping local workers transition to the new economy. She defines the new economy as being anything technology based such as data sciences, robotics and artificial intelligence. “We’ve been part of the solution
to the skills gap already,” she said. Keylon discussed a study she read that predicted by 2028, there will be 135,000 new jobs in Oklahoma with a gap of 20,000 jobs that cannot be filled because the workers either don’t exist or they don’t have the correct skills. Francis Tuttle, she said, is training those workers. Examples of new technology companies that have recently moved into the area are Amazon, Google and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. These employers, she said, are looking for employees who can fill jobs in cyber security, software engineering and data sciences. “They are struggling to find people with those talents,” she said. continued on Page 5
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Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 3
Hundreds hear annual report by EEDA director
Edmond economic pulse quite healthy By Steve Gust One takeaway from the 2020 Economic Preview last week is that it's quite a job keeping up with commercial growth in Edmond. That is the challenge facing longtime Edmond Economic Development Authority director Janet Yowell. Before hundreds at the Edmond Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn, she outlined many projects. She also began her presentation with a look at demographics in Edmond. For instance, the city's population is now estimated to be just under 94,000. In 1990 it was more than 40,000 less with 52,000 residents. A nice chunk of the population growth has been fueled by the success of the Edmond Public Schools with 25,620 students enrolled for the 201920 year. Yowell pointed out the school district is adding approximately 450 new students each year and has plans to open two new elementary schools in the near future. Growth seemed to be the key word for the preview, as Yowell noted a $1.4 billion in sales for Realtors last year and an average sales price for a new home at almost $302,000. There also was expansion in the medical field, at particularly Mercy Hospital as well as Integris -- both off of Interstate 35. Yowell pointed out that those two facilities, as well as, OU Medical Center Edmond and Summit Medical Center accounted for 1,600 jobs. She was particularly impressed with development near the site of the Economic Preview in northern Edmond off Covell and I-35. "There will be a lot of activity here," she said. "We have the momentum and will continue to develop." Among the new development with be an Oklahoma AgCredit headquarters. A ground breaking was held for the financial business in December. The new building, ready sometime this year, will house executive and operations staff. Another major undertaking will involve Francis Tuttle's Danforth Campus, a $42 million project on Danforth. Among its focuses will be entrepreneur development. One of the conference center's neighbors is ShowBiz Cinemas Edmond. According to Yowell, the theater reported 500,000 visitors last year. The more businesses, especially builders, translates into more sales tax revenue for Edmond. "Sales tax helps our infrastructure needs as well as police and fire and the parks and trails that we like so much here in Edmond," she noted. Yowell, named last month by the chamber as the 2019 Citizen of the Year, also praised increased development in downtown Edmond. "Since 2000 there has been $30
PHOTO PROVIDED
Steve Hart, Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer with First Fidelity Bank; James Boggs, Edmond Market President with First Fidelity Bank; Janet Yowell, Executive Director of the Edmond Economic Development Authority; and Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell.
million invested in downtown," she explained. "I could probably talk about downtown Edmond for hours." She highlighted the Edmond Railyard, the converted lumber yard, now home to many eateries with 20,000 square feet of room inside. Another highlight is the Park 17 building with 17 apartments. "It should open in the next few weeks," she said. Other impressive highlights from her address include n $98 million in commercial permits issued the city has year. n Edmond total taxable sales at $1.9 billion. n An unemployment rate of 2.5 percent. n A multimillion dollar Edmond Tennis Center near 15th and Kelly. There will be 24 outdoor courts and six indoor. Completion is expected this year. n Yowell showed a slide of the new enlarged and revamped football stadium at Memorial High School. It is the third and final stadium added for Edmond's high schools. Prior to stadiums at the schools, the high schools had played at Wantland Stadium at the University of Central Oklahoma for decades. n The EEDA director called it an "active year," for real estate investors and cited the Highland 55 at Spring Creek as an example. It's a planned multifamily dwelling for citizens 55 and over. There will be 72 units upon completion. n There is a 99 percent occupancy at Bryant Square, Second and Bryant. n In 2019 there were 22 new
Lt. Governor urges crowd to help him market the state Lieutenant Gov. Matt Pinnell may be the top salesman for the state, as he reminded people “Oklahoma is much better than OK.” He was the main speaker at the Edmond Economic Preview last week sponsored by Edmond Economic Development Authority. Pinnell also would like to see the state’s license plate have more than “just a bird on it.” “Let’s start telling the world how great Oklahoma is,” he told hundreds at the event. He explained Oklahoma is the crossroads of the nation and that “millions,” of people drive through the state. He said the state needed to give those people a reason to stop. He said one of the attractions was Route 66, which crosses through Oklahoma and Edmond. Pinnell said he met a group of Czech Republic citizens who annually visit Route 66. “When they were growing up, their nation was under communist rule,” Pinnell said. “Route 66 means freedom for them.” He added that Oklahoma is home to many Country music entertainers and the state should capitalize on that. “Tennessee is doing that,” he said. “We should too. “Oklahoma is the hub of America. We offer the authentic American experience and that’s what attracts tourists here.” ----- STEVE GUST
restaurants opening in Edmond. "In 2020 we already have nine new restaurants, which will be opening soon,” Yowell added. n Edmond will have its first brewery in April when Frenzy’s Brewery Co. opens in the 103-year-old E.A. Bender building, 13-15 S. Broadway Ave. n Shoppes at Cheyenne Ridge at 33rd and Bryant "is quickly becoming a hot spot in a part of Edmond that has not had much commercial development," Yowell said. The $20.3 million, 27,481-square-foot shopping
center has Ellis Island, Joey’s Cafe, Cup Cakes To GoGo, a paint studio and an ultrasound location.downtown. n Medical marijuana's impact on Edmond’s commercial real estate: $1.4 million worth of investment made in alteration permits alone in 2019. Edmond has 54 licensed dispensaries, 34 growers and 18 processors (some overlap).
(Reporter Richard Mize and Oklahoman.com contributed to this report.)
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From the Publisher
Condolences to the Ogle family We got news late last week that the matriarch of Edmond’s own Ogle family, Ruby Ann Ogle, passed away. Her sons Kevin, Kent and Kelly are well known for their Ray Hibbard local news anchor position but they are well known for growing up and continuing to be a part of Edmond. The three sons graciously appeared on the first front cover of this newspaper 20 years ago. For a follow up on our first-year anniversary, their mother agreed to an interview to give us the insight as to the news skills of her sons. When asked which son she watched since they were on different stations, she said, “Well, I wear out a lot of remotes trying to watch them all.” It was easy to see that the Ogle family got much of their grace, humor and love of their community from their mom. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the Ogle family. Fun Facts about Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day can be tough on us guys. While the female population on this earth seems to know exactly what to do for their loved one at this confusing time of year, we men struggle a bit. Just when you think dating, marriage and communication can not get any more complex, along comes Valentine’s Day to really stir things up. The good news is that the women in our life are incredibly gracious. No matter how much we fumble our way through expressing our love and admiration for our better half, they let us off the hook and thank us for our efforts. Women have an incredible ability to build us up and make the people they love feel better no matter what the occasion. My wife, Lisa, is truly the love of my life and here is wishing her and all our readers a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Below are some fun facts you might have fun sharing: It seems the day did not start out in history as a day for romance and love. Historians believe Valentine's Day began in Ancient Rome as a pagan fertility festival called Lupercalia, with the celebration dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus. According to History.com, the day was celebrated with activities that included sacrificing animals and whipping women
with animal skins until they bled, signifying their fertility. The good news is that celebration changed by the 1300s. It officially became a holiday associated with love and romance. The holiday was Christianized, which meant no more animal sacrifices, when the Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared the date of Feb. 14 "St. Valentine's Day." The day then became associated with love because many believed that birds started their mating season on Feb. 14. Saint Valentine wasn't just one person. In fact, he might have been two or three. But the most common "founder" of Valentine's Day was the Saint Valentine who defied Emperor Claudius II. At the time, Claudius had banned marriage because he thought it distracted young soldiers. Valentine felt a bit differently. He illegally married couples until he was caught. After he was sentenced to his death, young couples would visit his cell and give him flowers and cards. And the day he died? Feb. 14. Allegedly. The first valentine was sent in the 15th century. This was the year that Hallmark cards were created. Not really, I just made that up. Hallmark produced its first Valentine’s Day card in 1913. The oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History.com, was a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415. Charles penned this sweet note to his lover while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London at just 21 years old. One of the lines in the poem? "I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine." Hallmark may not have been around but I’m sure they could have done better.
Not until the 1840s did we get the first mass-produced valentines. People started exchanging cards and handwritten letters to both lovers and friends during the 17th century, but it was in the 1840s that the first Valentine's Day cards were mass-produced in the U.S., sold by Esther A. Howland. Known as the "Mother of the American Valentine," Howland is credited with commercializing Valentine's Day cards in America, and she is remembered for her elaborate, crafty cards made with lace and ribbons. Today, it's big business. About 55 percent of Americans celebrate Valentine's Day and spend an estimated $19.6 billion a year, including more than $1.8 billion on candy alone. This year men say they expect to spend $338 on Valentine's Day. And the women? Just $64. I credit this with men not knowing what to pick for a gift and shopping late, so they overspend. Women know exactly what to get us and they make their choices early, so they don’t panic and overspend. Americans send 145 million Valentine's Day cards each year. Which makes it the second biggest holiday for exchanging greeting cards, after Christmas. And how sweet: Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards annually, followed by children, mothers, and wives. And they also spend nearly $650 million on gifts for their pets. More than five million American households gave Valentine's Day presents to their pet dogs last year, and more than 2 million picked up presents for their cats. But even though more Americans buy gifts for their dogs, people spend more on their pet kit-
ties, an average of about $96 per household, compared to $81 for dogs! The Valentine's Day gift that people spend the most on is jewelry. Candy and flowers might be the most common gifts for Valentine's Day, but according to the National Retail Federation, the category that we spend the most on for Feb. 14 is jewelry, at a whopping $4.7 billion. The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced in 1861. It was created by Richard Cadbury, son of Cadbury founder John Cadbury, who started packaging chocolates in fancy boxes to increase sales. He introduced the first heart-shaped box of chocolates for V-Day in 1861, and today, more than 36 million heartshaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That's 58 million pounds of chocolate. It wasn't until 1866 that we first got sweet printed messages on conversation hearts. It was Daniel Chase, who started printing sentimental messages on the Necco sweethearts, though these candies were bigger than the versions we have today and featured much longer printed sayings and phrases. Some of the first messages? "Married in white you have chosen right" and "How long shall I have to wait? Please be considerate." More than eight billion conversation hearts are manufactured each year. And Necco must start making them just days after Feb. 14 to have enough in time for the next Valentine's Day. That's almost 100,000 pounds per day. Each box has approximately 45 sayings including "True Love," "Hug Me," and "You Rock" but you can personalize your own, too. They have a shelf life of five years. Nearly six million couples get engaged on Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is one of the popular days to pop the question, with as many as six million couples getting engaged on Feb. 14. And according to the results of this survey, Valentine's Day was voted the best day of the year to propose than any other day. It's celebrated differently around the world. Many Latin American countries know the holiday as el día de los enamorados (day of lovers) or día del amor y la amistad (day of love and friendship). Though couples exchange flowers and chocolate on this day, the holiday's focus is also directed at showing gratitude to friends! (Ray Hibbard may be reached by email at ray@edmondpaper.com)
Check out what’s inside! n Obituary notice ............................................................................Page 7. n Why the rise in mass shootings? ................................................Page 10. n Weekend calendar of events ......................................................Page 11. n UCO concert on Saturday ..........................................................Page 13. n George Gust reacts to Oscar winners ........................................Page 15. n Crossword ..................................................................................Page 15. n Edmond Favorites ballots ................................................Pages 17 to 20. n Business news ............................................................................Page 21. n Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.
See if you can find ‘Four Seasons’ “Four Seasons” in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the University of Central Oklahoma campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Please e-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. Commissioned as a partnership between UCO, the City of Edmond and the Edmond Visual Arts Commission, “Four Seasons” was created by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on the campus on March 24, 2011. Kevin is a member of the National Sculptor’s Guild. His Box Studio LLC is a strong supporter of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle concept, using recycled metal as part of the casting process for his sculptures. All of his work is 100 percent recyclable. For more information on Edmond public art, please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php.
Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production Deanne York Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Account Executive Bryan Hallman bryan@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes and George Gust. Photographer Melinda Infante
Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2020 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved. Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 5
Cover From Page 1 “There is a significant demand for computer programmers. Every company can benefit from a programmer. We can’t produce enough of them.” Francis Tuttle is also helping “old economy” companies to transition to or incorporate new economy techniques into their operations. Old economy jobs, she said, are rooted in agriculture or energy. Large local employers that have sought retraining for their workforces include Nestle-Purina, Love’s Travel Stops and American Tissue. In addition to more technology-based skills, Keylon added that Francis Tuttle strives to instill abilities that computers and robots just do not offer. She pointed to talents such as critical thinking, problem solving, initiative, self-reliance, adaptability and innovation. A recent example of these abilities, she said, was a partnership between engineering and bio-medical students to create a method for fighting diseasecausing bacteria in airport waste bins. The students received a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Lemelson grant to devise a creative solution to the problem. In fact, Francis Tuttle students have been granted 14 patents to solve what Keylon called, “Real world problems with real world applications.” Another skills gap initiative is to support military veterans in connecting the
skills they have with what is demanded in the workforce. Keylon called veterans’ skills “valuable.” In the economic development realm, Keylon pointed to the growth in the Edmond area. A mile south of I-35 and Covell, Francis Tuttle has started a new $42 million, 155,000-square-foot campus on Danforth Road between Sooner and Coltrane. It will be the home of a new Entrepreneurship Academy, Design Thinking Studios and a Product Realization Lab, the first of its kind in Oklahoma. The aim is to keep talent and entrepreneurs in the state. Projected opening is in fall 2021. It will also have the present high school student academies — engineering, biosciences and medicine, and computer science. In addition to Edmond, Francis Tuttle serves the Deer Creek, Cashion and Crescent areas. Her goal is the share assets in these communities to attract new employers and to be able to retain existing businesses with a highly skilled workforce. These efforts, she said, will help the local economy face the challenges of transitioning from the old economy into the new. “I love being part of Edmond,” Keylon said. “There is a really great education system here. We want to be part of a bigger team that is helping Edmond be successful.”
EPS offering mobile app to keep patrons informed Edmond Public Schools has launched an official mobile app designed to enable parents, staff, students and the broader community to stay informed and up-to-date on important issues, information, and activities underway within the school community. The free app is available for download in the Apple and Android app stores by searching for Edmond Public Schools. Developed in partnership with Intrado Corporation, the provider of SchoolMessenger Solutions for education, the free app will provide families with 24/7/365 access to school and district news, district social media feeds, calendars, lunch menus, and more. The app also features push notifications so that users may be notified about important events, announcements, and news in real-time. One feature of the app is that users have the ability to choose which of the district’s 27 schools they would like to follow, making their app experience personal and school-specific. “When our former notification service, SchoolWay, abruptly ceased operations last summer, it made sense to partner with our current provider of parent emails and phone calls to develop an app for the district. Now, staff members are able to send various types of messages from one dashboard,” said Susan Parks-Schlepp, dis-
‘We are excited about how our new app will help us communicate more effectively, and hope it leads to a stronger, more connected school community.’ Susan Parks-Schlepp Public Information officer trict public information officer. “We are excited about how our new app will help us communicate more effectively, and hope it leads to a stronger, more connected school community.” The school’s new app is built on a communication platform that permits the district to manage, update and share content easily. Key features include: n Push messaging from both the district and school sites n News n Google Calendars n Online grade book and attendance n Lunch Menus n Athletic Information n Language Translations Highly secure and flexible, the app can be updated with additional content sources at any time.
ESA WINNER -- Bonniedaye a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s International Service Organization won the traveling basket this month at the Gamma Zeta meeting. The traveling basket is used by the club each month this year as a fundraiser for local nonprofits. Raffle tickets are sold and the winner is announced at the end of each meeting. The winner is responsible to restock the next month’s basket with goodies for the next lucky Gamma Zeta member. Gina Smith was a guest. ESA Edmond charities include UR Special, Coffee Creek Riding Stables, Boys Ranch Town, Free to Live, All Things Baby, and No Boundaries. The state projects are Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur, Oklahoma and Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee.
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GOP Women’s Club will UCO Dean’s Honor Roll host Commissioner Calvey for a commission in the The next meeting of the Army National Guard. the Edmond Republican He left the legislature in Women’s Club will be 2006 and was deployed to Monday, Feb. 17 at Iraq in 2007, during the Johnnie’s Charbroil on troop surge. His mission in 33rd St. in Edmond. Iraq was to prosecute alThe meeting will begin Quaida leaders and other at 11:15 a.m. for those terrorist in the Iraqi court wishing to order lunch system, at a courthouse in and then the business a hostile fire zone. meeting will begin at The Army awarded him 11:45 a.m. Kevin Calvey the Bronze Star for his The guest speaker this month will be Republican County service. Calvey received numbers awards Commissioner, Kevin Calvey. Members as well as guests are encouraged during his legislative service, from groups as diverse as the state chamto attend. ber of commerce, the Vietnamese The club will also be hosting a Community of OKC, Disabled AmerFifth District Republican Candidates ica Veterans and the Oklahoma InstiForum on Tuesday, April 28 at the Edmond Downtown Community Cen- tute for Child Advocacy. He is a member of the Rotary Club ter, beginning at 6 p.m. in downtown Oklahoma City and atKevin Calvey was raised in Oklatends church at St. John the Baptist homa City. He attained his law degree Catholic Church in Edmond. at Georgetown University in WashiingHe is currently in his second year ton D.C. and then moved home to as Oklahoma County Commissioner. Oklahoma City to practice law. Him and his wife Toni, live in OklaCalvey served 12 years in the Oklahoma City, and homeschool their homa House of Representatives. seven children, including infant Lydia, While in the legislature, at age 37, when the Iraq War began, he applied born Jan. 18.
Liz King
Club marks Black History Month For Black Heritage month, Liz King, (pictured) Gamma Zeta member, presented Marian Anderson’s biography for Epsilon Sigma Alpha. This year’s educational program has featured outstanding women in American history. Born in 1897, Marian Anderson had a vocal range of almost three octaves, from low D to high C, which allowed her to express a broad range of feelings and moods appropriate to the various songs in her repertoire. She was the first black artist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. She was an African-American singer and one of the most popular concert performers of the 20th century. For her first recital, she earned 50 cents. She and her sisters taught themselves how to play the piano and the violin. She was accepted into Yale University but did not have the
funds to attend; however, she did receive a music scholarship from the National Association of Negro Musicians. She made her European debut at Wigmore Hall in 1930 and was well received. She toured Europe. Anderson was invited by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 to the White House. She was the first black artist to perform there. In 1939 on Easter Sunday, Anderson performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to an interracial crowd of 75,000. Some see this incident and the concert as the opening of the civil rights movement. She did not choose political activism, but Anderson became a symbol of the struggle for civil rights. In 1963 Anderson sang again on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Last week the University of Central Oklahoma recently announced the students named to the university’s honor rolls, a distinction given to those who achieve the highest academic standards. For the fall 2019 semester, 1,454 students were named to the President’s Honor Roll, an honor achieved by those who recorded a “straight-A” or 4.0 GPA. In addition, 1,979 students were
named to the Dean’s Honor Roll, a list of those who achieved a 3.5 GPA or better for the semester and no grade lower than a B. To be eligible for the President’s or Dean’s lists, students must complete at least 12 hours of on-campus class credit for the semester. Last week the President’s Honor Roll was published, featuring students from Edmond. This week it’s the Dean’s Honor Roll and students from Edmond.
Edmond (Dean's Honor Roll) Skye Abbott; Mohamed Shabeel Abdul Samad; Marc Sidoine Abega Bitomo; Emily Ruth Adams; Samuel Joel Aduddell; Daniella Aguilar; Anum Ahmad; Kelli Ailey; Oluwaseun Adebayo Akande; Itohan Darnelle Akpiri; Adam Niema Albahadily; Gianella Albines Chavez; Thomas Nguyen Alcorn; Hussain Alfardan; Avery Randall Allsbury; Huda Karim Alshebli; Yusuf Amin Amighi; Alyse Judith Ammerman; Michaela I. Anang; Lauren Anderson; Maslin Belen Anderson; Yazin Andijani; Sierra Marie Ard; Hannah Nicole Ash; Noah Josiah Austin; Joshua Clay Autaubo; Tayana Marie Autaubo; Ji Hyo Bae; Tradd Everett Baggott; Christian T. Balaban; McKinley Cole Ballinger; Kathryn Christene Barber; Shiloniy Barlow; Martha Barnes; Joel Christian Barras; Brandon M. Barrett; Jonathan Kyle Barton; Maegan Renee Beam; Blake Becker; Kelsie L. Begansky; Hannah Mae Bell; Christopher Meshach Elmer Benson; Daelyn B. Bernard; Lakrisha Berry; Johnny F. Bizzell; MacKenzie L. Blake; Braeden Juwon Blakes; Garrett Thomas Blubaugh; Brandon Blue; Carlena Melissa Boike; Brooke A. Bowman; Breanna Branch; Natalie Anne Briand; Daniel Robert Brock; Jacee Danae Brown; Jennifer Brown; Jerome DonDray Brown; Sarah Brown; Sierra Brown; Ethan J. Bruegel; Chris Brungardt; Summer Lyric Bryant; Bao Han Bui; Tabor M. Burk; Taylor Jonecia Denae Burns; Jordan Nicole Byrd; Kassandra Lynn Cain; Alexander Keats Calhoon; Edward Callery; Christy Lynn Calvert; Lauren Carius; Mason Ford Carrier; Dylan Scott Carver; Charissa Mae Champion; William Thomas Chandler; Ryan Scott Chapman; Kelsey Chapuis; Mo Chen; Allie Elizabeth Clark; Beverly J. Clark; Donna Grace Clark; Madeline Marie Clark; Rebekah Grace Clemmons; Elizabeth Kaye Cloe; Stephanie BreAnn Clyde; Kylie A. Cocklin; Alexandra Marie Coleman; Cole Michael Collins; Chase Cole Compton; Alexia Renee Converse; Kendra Cassidy Coon; Anna K. Cornell; Aaron Clayton Cox; Hunter Crain; Joshua Mason Curry; Katherine Marie Dan; Alifa Nadhilah Darmawanti; Matthew Davies; Hannah Dawson; Tatyana Lashay Dawson; Kiara Day; Zehila Y. De Leon; Peyton Drew Decker; Porcia Lynnae Deeton; Rohit Deshpande Deshpande; DeLauren G. Diaz; Jessica L. Diaz; Shelby C. Dickerson; Judith Dimandja; Zlatina Yovcheva Dineva; Avani Dixon; Kelsey R. Dobbins; Jessica C. Dobey; Julian Dones; Huynh Xuan Nhat Dong; James E. Dongilli; Aron R. Dunsworth; Megan Rose Dwarshuis; Alex C. Eichler; Caleb Eldridge; Jessica Nicole Elliott; Kaylee M. Ellis; Laynie B. Ellis; Therese Ngamba Djiepkep Enanga; Alejandro Martin Endres; Benjamin Engel; Fatima A. Enriquez; Eunah Eom; Kaylee Fairless; Emily Claire Falcon; Emily R. Falls; Stephanie Mello Faria; Madison Farris; Marc David Felder; Yuhan Feng; Anna Beth Ferguson; Mackensie Diane Ferguson; Megan H. Fine-Thomas; Kiefer H. Fitch; Daniel Keith Flesher; Ryan Allen Flynn; Kyra Deangela Foreman; Abigail Elizabeth Forrest; Bradley G. Forsythe; Mariona Franco Martin; Kaylee S. Frank; Zachary Kellen Frederick; Zoe Corinne Freeman; William Patrick Freniere; Joshua Friscic; Erin Suzan Frizzell; Daniel Frye; Lisa Fulks; Han Gao; Emma Grace Gaona; Regel Sebastian Garcia Ames; Gabriella Grace Gardner; Ashley Garlitz; Haleigh Garrett; Kinsey N. Gary; Cheraden Hannah Gavlik; Taneika A. Gibson; William Colin Gilliland; Michael Patrick Gilmore; Nate M. Ginsterblum; Kaci Anden Godfrey; Amanda Wei Xuen Goh; Erin Lee Goldman; Shelbee McKinnley Goley; Jasmine Golshani; Deanna Catalina Gonzalez; Santiago Gonzalez; Tabitha Gail Goodwin; Jordan M. Gray; Travis Jun Gray; Peyton Trevor Green; Patricia Selina Gribi; Janie Marie Griffith; Sydney Grippen; Yue Gu; Jared Wayne Guffey; James Keenan DePablo Gurney; Trey Austin Guzman; Yeji Ha; Tracey Hamann; Holly Faith Hambrick; Ashley Starr Hamlin; Jiwon Han; Katelyn Marie Hand; Gavin Wesley Harmon; Derek Jamison Harris; Jacob Marshall Harris; O’Shay Malik Dequinn Harris; Hannah Hartzog; Aisha Hasanjee; Allison Faith Hastings; Connor Scott Hasty; Elijah Enrique Haswell; Ryan Matthew Hays; Perry Jake Heckle; Sheala Henderson; Taylor P. Hennen; Julia Lorelei Herberman; Eileen Andrea Hernandez; Marlie Shae Hibdon; Jordan D. Ho; Vy Thi Nhu Ho; Tat Thang Hoang; Jessica Hodges; Haley Marie Hogan; Jordan James Hommen-Roddy; Jacquelin Nicole Hopper; Disha Hossain; Emma Grace Howard; Restee Tyrone Howell; Keyi Hu; Lacy Huffman; Alana Fay Hughes; Jacqueline Zhuolin Hui; Leslie Marie Huizar; Hannah Camille Hulse; Hali ReAnn Humphrey; Bailey Humphries; Paulina Hunt; Marissa A. Hutson; Alexandra Jo Hutton; Jin Hee Hwang; Riko Inori; Shamiq Iqbal; Emma Sue Jackson; Elisha Diann JanesMartinez; Hangyeol Jeong; Si Hun Jeong; Christopher Clark Jester; Misty D. Jeter; Qi Ji; Shanglin Jia; Shiloh C. Jobe; Ameenah Johnson; Kinsey Elise Johnson; Paige M. Johnson; Emily Rose Jones; Justin Daniel Jones; Shelby A. Jones; Noelle I. Juengel; Mason Douglas Justice; Malia J. Kaaiohelo; Mutamuliza Cynt Kagambirwa; Precious Bola Kameni; Keerthi Kancherla; Chiadiemela Kanu; Alexander Cherian Kappen; Mahfuzul Karim; Isabella Maria Katery; Jamesson G. Keese; Ayesha Khaton; Ajita Khatry; Daria Khmelova; Emma Jane Kidwell; Siheon Kim; Yeeun Kim; Alexandra Claire King; Alexander Michael Kinzey; Madisyn A. Kitchell; Domenic Kolbeins; Kouakou Amoin Sesse Kotokou; Steven David Krager; Dalton L. Kramer; Brandon G. Krist; Marissa Christine Krusemark; James Daniel Kvicala; Eunkyung Kwon; Brogan Thomas Lamb; Lindsey Paige
Lance; Isaac Antonio Landrith; Katie Lane; Dominique Laraby; Jonathan Conley Latham; Jackson Thomas Lease; Donggeon Lee; En Yi Lee; Hannah Lee; Jinah Lee; Yeojin Lee; Qing Lei; Parker Michelle Lenon; Dara Lentz; Laura E. Leonard; Ryan Tanner Leonard; Rachel Nicole Leppke; Jezreil Sanchez Leslie; Addison Grace Lewis; Mark Leonard Lewis; Mateah Selah Lewis; Fengyi Li; Kong Hui Lim; Liangshu Lin; Yen-Tzu Lin; Jared Matthew Lindsey; Peijiao Liu; Skylar Caden Lockard; Paige LeAnn Locke; Loic Emilien E. Loiseau; Matthew Kyle Lore; Mason R. Lucero; Keyu Ma; Subin Ma; Yankai Ma; Kinley Dianne Mack; Ethan James Maestas; Mikayla Rose Maiahy; Valerie Renee Manriquez; Maria Crispina Marcos; David R. Martin; Mackenzie Darlene Martin; Meng Tsai Martin; Hayley C. Martini; Kohsuke Masuda; Isabella Christine Matthiesen; Tristan Mautz; Jonathan Barry May; Kaitlin M. McAuley; Carson Earl McCarty; Austin C. McCoy; Shona A. McDaniel; Grace K. McGinnis; Lillie Mcgirt; Laura McHam; Jacqueline Vanessa McMackin; Elijah Jordan McNabb; Madison Nicole Mefford; Braden Allen Melton; Brooke Alexis Metzger; Asheley Lynn Middleton; Samantha L. Miller; Savanah Milligan; Sarah G. Millwee; Breanna Noelle Mital; Sihui Mo; Kelly Margaret Monaghan; Nicollette Monaghan; Madison T. Monson; Sierra Ashleigh Montgomery; Kyuran Moon; Kyle A. Morales; Joshua D. Morgan; Carol L. Morgan-Braun; Shaun Luke Morris; Meghan Leighann Mosley; Yihao Mu; Anne Marie Myer; Dillon P. Myers; Fatima Naeem; Kazi Sameer Nafee; Amelia A. Nathan; Peyton Joy Neal; Christopher Newman; Tiffany W. Nge; Kim Ho Thi Thien Nguyen; Skylar T. Nguyen; Tho Nguyen; Thuy Le Minh Nguyen; Juan Ni; Tyler Dow Nicholson; Michael W. Nickerson; Madalyn Lee Nix; Madison Jaicee Nolen; Sai Hitesh Nookala; Kayvan Noori; Paula Binkley Nuxol; Esther Mogaka Nyarangi; Zavier T. Oates; Victory Ebunoluwa Ogunbanwo; Jonathan Olay; Precious Olayiwola; Jack Onarecker; Yannic Oppenheimer; Ivy Ellis Ott; Tori Alisha Overton; Alyssa Brooke Owens; Sagar Paneru; Caleb D. Parham; Jeongbin Park; Joohee Park; Yechan Park; Kristen Tayler Parker; Maleny Salinas Parks; Addison Lynn Parsons; Nicholas Alexander Pata; Divya Rajeshkumar Patel; Bechan May Paterson; Ashley Lynn Payne; Dru Lance Pearson; Noel Pendley; Swathi Penmatsa; Michelle R. Perry; Scarlet Estelle Petrucci; Thanh Pham; Kieu F. Phan; Soyoung Pilcher; Elizabeth Paige Piper; Madeleine Nicole Pitt; Anna Grace Platner; Hailey E. Platt; Kimberly Porter; Brittany N. Porterfield; Rylee Christine Pressgrove; Bente Jasmijn Pronk; Madilynn Faith Prough; Alexander Reed Pumphrey; Umesh Rana; Shashank Kumar Ranga; Dillon Justice Rasberry; Mathew E. Raugust; Megan Elizabeth Reed; Skylar Jo Reeves; Trevor Regier; Amrit Regmi; Jacob Thomas Rengstorf; Lynsey Rexwinkle; Samantha L. Reynolds; Ashlee Rich; Joshua Mario Richardson; Connor Seth Rightmire; Tori Renee Ritz; Ashley Nichole Roberts; Jessica D. Roberts; Brynden Dakota Robinson; Caroline Elizabeth Rogers; Dawson Rogers; Justin James Rogers; Nicklaus S. Rohde; Holly Ann Romero; Nichole Elizabeth Romich; Kourtney A. Ross; Regan Lee Rosson; Kennedy Lauren Rozneck; Akshay Narain Sadalge; Yosuke Sakurai; Jose Stanley Saldana; Jack Savage; Jacob Evan Saxton; Amber G. Scholl; Ericka N. Scholl; Palmer A. Scott; Sarah Andria Scott; David Eduardo Serrano; Bibek Shah; FNU Shahzaib; Mohmed Yaeesh Mohmed Yunus Shaikh; Kayla M. Shaw; Zazarena Binti Shazryl Eskay; Yein Shin; Jamie Lynn Shively; Rose Mary Shrestha; Ansab Siddiqui; Anya M. Siebert; Landon Mitchell Sikes; Alondra A. Silva Leon; Nelly Celia Sime Sime; Ashley Elizabeth Simmons; Diaman'te J. Simmons; Kayla R. Sinclair; Sarah Elizabeth Singletary; Arly Smart; Elliott James Smith; Jackson Alexander T. Smith; Madyson Smith; Kaytlyn Elizabeth Smock; Lindsey Danielle Smotone; Kum Bit Soh; Abigail Jeanette Spiers; Scout Presley Stanley; Jacob Staudt; Derek Austin Still; Noah Wisdom Stinson; Ashley Diane Strobridge; Stephen Struble; Ina C. Sukut; Nova Rae Sukut; Jianzhou Sun; Monica L. Surtees; William Blake Sutton; Joshua Myles Phillip Swann; Caleb Shane Swearingen; Amelia Elise Synan; Mackenzie Mae Tackett; Kyle Palabay Tangco; Ryan Cole Tanksley; Desaryn Chyann Taylor; Jason Donald Taylor; Kacey Taylor; Sara Nicole Taylor; Jordyn Lindsey Thomas; Meijing Tian; Zixuan Tian; Josiah Lok Teck Tie; Noah Gregory Tillman; Kaitlyn Marie Tinsley; McKenzie Tipton; Christopher Tobler; Millenna Alissa Toda; Alice Enuwa Tony; Sharon Too Too; Tayler Marie Totland; Kanesha Trammell; Gia-Lac Le Tran; Vivian Tran; Mikaela Faith Trenary; Katelyn Tullis; Briella Michelle Turner; Mary Katlyn Tynes; Tatiana Marie Ulate; Isabella Leigh Vander Putten; Kaitlyn S. Vander Putten; Elina Johanna Varmia; Connor Venne; Rolando Vigil; Erin G. Viviani; Chiaki Wada; David Wagner; Reanne Wagner; Caleb Duane Wakely; Levi E. Walker; Sean A. Wall; Kyle Davis Walters; Weiyi Wang; Ellie G. Warnock; Shelby J. Weaver; Breanna Michelle Wedde; Shu Ern Wee; Molly Ann Weed; Megan Wells; Aren Travis White; Haley Fallon White; Allison June Williams; Mason Thomas Williams; Dillon Williss; Alyssa Nicole Wilson; Hunter Mackenzie Wilson; Jeremy Alexander Wilson; Paige M. Wilson; Jordan L. Winkleman; Colleen Wolfe; Hunter Maxwell Workman; Kuan Chen Wu; L’Donn Kristopher Ybarra; Jyothsna Yenugu; Se Hoon Yoon; Dnia Nicole Young; Callie YoungBird; Xiating Zhang; Xueying Zhang; Qing Zhao; and Junhong Zhou
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 7
OU Medicine names Epic new health record vendor OU Medicine, Inc. and its academic partner, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, have signed a contract with Epic as their new electronic health record (EHR) vendor, marking a fiveyear, nearly $200 million investment in patient care. “The selection of Epic as our electronic health record vendor represents a significant milestone for OU Medicine and our strategic vision,” said President and CEO Chuck Spicer. “Epic will provide our healthcare professionals a single stop for clinical documentation across the clinic and hospital continuum and will give them the important tools they need to provide high-quality care to our patients.” Selecting a new EHR is the latest achievement for OU Medicine, Inc. since it became a locally owned and operated nonprofit healthcare system on Feb. 1, 2018. OU Medicine healthcare professionals will be able to seamlessly communicate about patient care across clinics and hospitals. In particular, the new EHR will be adopted across the OU Medicine enter-
prise, facilitating communication with Stephenson Cancer Center and OU Physicians-Tulsa. Each patient’s treatment history, such as imaging and lab results, will be available to all, improving clinical insights and leading to enhanced and efficient care. By fully integrating the clinical enterprise into one EHR, important patient information will be readily available, allowing OU Medicine to better serve patients, including those from rural Oklahoma who travel to the Oklahoma City metro to receive care. In essence, wherever patients go within OU Medicine, their health records will follow. “This comprehensive EHR will optimize our ability to provide exceptional care for individual patients and our patient population at-large,” said Jason Sanders, M.D., MBA, Senior Vice President and Provost of the OU Health Sciences Center. “As a unified EHR, Epic will allow our healthcare professionals to deliver research-based care found nowhere else, including nationally recognized clinical trials.”
Obituary notice
Ruby ‘Ann’ Ogle dies her family; especially her Ruby Ann Ogle passed three sons. away Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, She was preceded in death at the age of 85. At the end, by her parents, David and she was surrounded by her Katherine Bowman of Midthree sons, daughters-in-law west City; and brother, Billy and grandchildren. Frank Bowman of Texas. Ann Ann was born Aug. 30, is survived her sister Margie 1934, in Cache, Okla. to Kay Vogler and her husband David and Katherine BowAnn Ogle John Vogler of Greenville, Kenman. tucky; and her three sons, She married Jack Ogle in Kevin Ogle and his wife Ginger of Ed1954. Ann was a voracious reader and loved conversation with her fam- mond, Kent Ogle and his wife Suzanne of Edmond, Kelly Ogle and ily and friends as well as bridge in his wife Teri of Edmond. She will also various Edmond bridge clubs. Ann be missed by the grandchildren she was also a talented singer and atcherished, all of Edmond: Abigail tended The University of Oklahoma as a music major. She was a member Ogle Ewing and her husband Jeff Ewing, Kane Ogle, Katelyn Ogle, in the choir of her beloved Santa Fe Chandler Ogle, Jackson Ogle, Sayre Presbyterian Church in Edmond. A Ogle, Merritt Ogle Ellett and her husloving Christian community she deband Taz Ellett, and Avery Ogle; as scribed as a godsend. She also was a member of the church's Holy Smokes well as a great granddaughter Amelia Ann Ogle. cooking group. There will be a private memorial to Ann was witty, loyal, opinionated celebrate her incredible life. and strong. She absolutely cherished
Teacher candidates from Edmond
Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s Department of Education in Weatherford is sending out 44 teacher candidates to work in different schools around Oklahoma. The candidates are doing their practice teaching assignments from now through May 1. Additional information about the program at SWOSU is available by contacting Reggy Yount at 580.774.3146 or reggy.yount@swosu.edu. Among the teacher candidates from Edmond are (from left): Madeline Kimball teaching in Edmond; Katelyn Day teaching in Elk City; Sarah Gilkerson teaching in Newcastle; Aurica Rising teaching in Edmond.
Edmond Fact file The first public schoolhouse in Oklahoma Territory, completed in August 1889, is in Edmond. It still stands as a historic monument on 2nd Street between Boulevard and Broadway. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the first church opened after the land run,[14] was located on the southwest corner of East First and South Boulevard. The congregation still exists, although not in its original building or location.
Healthcare systems and entities across the state and country using Epic, or other interoperable EHR systems, also will be able to communicate directly with OU Medicine. This ensures treatment histories are available to the healthcare team before patients walk through the door and allows for improved coordination of care. As the comprehensive academic health system in Oklahoma with the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, OU Medicine provides quaternary care, a step beyond tertiary care, signifying highly specialized services and diagnostic and surgical procedures not offered anywhere else in the state. The EHR will facilitate a smooth transfer of information for patients coming into OU Medicine needing higher levels of care. Epic provides many other tools, including MyChart, a user-friendly patient portal. From their phone or on the internet, patients can exchange messages with the care team.
Page 8 • February 13, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure
City has a parking survey The City of Edmond is requesting input on challenges related to parking in and near the downtown area. A brief, six-question survey is currently open through Monday, Feb. 24, at http://edmondok.com/engage. The survey is part of an effort by the City of Edmond to complete a Downtown Strategic Parking Plan. The feedback and data received will be used to help inform and shape the new plan that is expected to be completed later
in the year. The City of Edmond’s Polco platform is being utilized to conduct the survey. To ensure the integrity of answers, participants will be required to create an account and provide a name, zip code, and email address before responses can be submitted. This information is not tied to individual responses and is kept confidential and secure by Polco, not the City of Edmond.
PHOTO PROVIDED
OC students Samantha King, left, and Chloe Sheasby rehearse for ‘Cabaret: Broadway Bound. The show featuring 26 famous Broadway songs will continue its run Feb. 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. in OC’s Judd Theater.
OC’s ‘Cabaret’ show continues on Feb. 13-15 Oklahoma Christian University invites the public to celebrate romantic and popular Broadway songs at the 31st annual “Cabaret: Broadway Bound” which began earlier this week and continues Feb. 13-15. Each performance of this wellknown and family-friendly OC tradition begins at 7:30 p.m. in Judd Theater. The OC Jazz Band will join the singers for the third year in a row. OC Vocal Instructor Terry Attebery is directing his fifth “Cabaret.” He is in charge of selecting the music, overseeing auditions, scheduling rehearsals and tightening the performances. Before teaching at OC, he directed high school choir for more than 20 years and performed with two theaters: Lyric and Summer Stock. Directing “Cabaret” is one of his favorite things about working at OC. “One of the most rewarding parts of ‘Cabaret’ is getting to see the performers grow in confidence on the stage,” Attebery said. “They are learning new performance skills, and it is exciting to watch them blossom as performers.” This year’s “Cabaret: Broadway Bound” features 26 songs, ranging from “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “Greased Lightning,” “Footloose,” “A Million Dreams” and many more. With group acts and solos alike, the show offers a wide variety of songs for everyone in the audience. The jazz band will also perform two numbers. Sophomore double major in mathematics and computer science Chloe Sheasby admires the dedication and community-building elements of “Cabaret.” “Even though it’s a lot of work,
music has become my outlet, and I find that I’m always so glad for the work I put into it,” Sheasby said. “I am really looking forward to the show and sharing it with everyone.” The cast received their music prior to Christmas break and came back to school with the music learned. They rehearsed nearly every weeknight from the beginning of the semester leading up to the performance week. Freshman music major Kelan Owen is debuting in “Cabaret: Broadway Bound” this year. However, Owen is no stranger to the OC stage, playing Prince Eric during OC’s fall homecoming musical “The Little Mermaid.” He worked hard to learn all of his music, especially preparing for and looking forward to his duet with Megan Deister on “Take Me As I Am.” “The best part of rehearsing is that feeling when you finally get a step in choreography down that you’ve been working on for what feels like an eternity,” Owen said. “Patience is key.” Senior music major Rebecca Whiteman is the stage manager for the show. Heath Jones, OC’s professor of music, will direct the jazz band, and Barbara Berard serves as the choreographer. Mike Turner, music accompanist at OC, will play the piano. Following the local performances, the cast, crew and jazz band will travel to Branson, Mo., to perform Feb. 20-23. Tickets for OC’s “Cabaret: Broadway Bound” are $12. The show will be Feb. 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. To order tickets, visit www.tinyurl.com/cabaretbroadwaybound or call the box office at 405425-6310.
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 9
‘Little Shop of Horrors’ coming to Edmond North Patrick Towne, director of Theatre Arts at North High School, has announced the upcoming musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ at North High School. The musical runs Feb. 27th at 7 p.m., and Feb. 28th at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 29, the musical has shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The production will be at Edmond North’s auditorium. General admission tickets are $10 and the show is rated PG.
Tyler Dunkleberger as Seymour and Gentrey Anderson as Audrey.
Page 10 • February 13, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side
A cultural decay? My church had a visiting priest last weekend discuss the problem of mass shootings. He said the tragedies have increased in recent years yet politicians didn't seem to ques- Steve Gust tion the root causes of such shootings. The usual response is gun control. I'm long on record as not having a lot of faith in gun control. There are thousands of laws on the books now and criminals seem to ignore most of them. The priest placed the blame with the content of shows, ads and video games people watch on television, our computer screens and at the movies. Specifically he labeled most entertainment as belonging in a sewer. He said the programs seem to send the message that violent behavior is acceptable. He also believes popular culture was sending the message that religion or people involved in religion were not important. "In other words, don't listen to them," he noted. He urged people to e-mail television networks and advertisers and
ask them to clean up their act. I tend to agree with most of what he had to say. Yet I think the problem goes even deeper. We could have all programming return to "Leave it to Beaver," and I’m pretty sure we’d still run into some anti-social types, who want to make life miserable for everyone. Then again not everyone who watches the movie "Die Hard," on television is going to imitate the behavior. Thank goodness for that. Our real problem is evil is loose in the world today and many in society have devalued human life. I don't believe all depictions of violence are necessarily bad. It gives us a good idea that evil does exist. It also shows us the horrors, and great sacrifice people, such as police and soldiers, endure for us all. The Old West shows could be violent also, but they generally had the lesson that crime doesn’t pay and people who follow the rules are respected and generally happier. Still, I do share this priest's concern. It's just a pity more people can't do the right thing.
(Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)
Governor committed to making state excel By The Oklahoman Editorial Board His second year in office looks to be much like the first for Gov. Kevin Stitt — a focus on changing how state government looks and works, with a goal of making Oklahoma a “top 10” state. Stitt’s address to lawmakers last week to begin the 2020 session of the Legislature struck a generally optimistic note — “Oklahoma is competing. Oklahoma is winning.” — and included a wish list of proposals, some of them sweeping. The greatest challenge facing the state, Stitt says, is government bureaucracy. His goal is to shrink it. Stitt noted that changes last year in the Department of Corrections and the state Pardon and Parole Board led
Lankford recalls Auschwitz liberation Last week, as a part of National Prayer Breakfast week, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)) spoke at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, discussing the need to combat antiSemitic hate and highlighting the work of their Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating AntiSemitism. Lankford was an honorary co-chair of the 2019 National Prayer Breakfast. “The Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, is a somber but powerful testament to the millions of lives lost in the Holocaust and our resolve to never forget the consequences of hate and apathy,” said Lankford. “During this important week of prayer and unity in our nation’s capital that culminated in the National Prayer Breakfast, I am proud to join Senator Rosen to continue to highlight the need for people everywhere to stand against anti-Semitism and pray for peace for our nation and world.”
“We must be the ones to ensure that the term ‘never again’ means never again for anyone,” said Rosen. “That's why last year, Senator James Lankford and I launched the first ever Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism. Together, with over 30 fellow senators, from both sides of the aisle, we're taking on one of the most disturbing trends of our time.” In January, Lankford and Rosen, along with Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Kevin Cramer (RND), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by Allied Forces during World War II. Last year, Lankford and Rosen launched the firstever Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism.
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to collaboration and streamlining that saved money, reduced the prison population and improved efficiencies. He’s seeking additional changes in that area this year. He also wants to combine some operations of the Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, and to merge the Office of Emergency Management and the office of Homeland Security. Stitt wants to move toward creating a central health care agency by 2022. His plan is to merge the Department of Health, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and others. He said Oklahoma has 10 agencies that pass money through the
state’s Medicaid program, and 18 state entities that license health care facilities and providers. “You cannot convince me that operating that many bureaucracies is an efficient way of doing business,” he said. Stitt is using an executive order to reduce Oklahoma’s bloated administrative code, asking agencies to remove two regulations for every new one created. He wants to reform the state’s merit protection system for public employees. In education, Stitt’s proposed budget doesn’t include a third round of teacher pay raises. Instead, he wants to look at the funding formula for potential reforms. “We should allow voters to unlock more local dollars,” he said. “With reform, we must also address any mechanisms that are preventing tax dollars from getting directly to today’s classroom.” Stitt asked for legislation to protect education funding that’s derived from tribal gaming fees, in case that pipeline becomes plugged temporarily during his legal dispute with the tribes over compacts. To help manage a teacher shortage, Stitt wants the state to be able to issue teaching certificates to anyone with a valid out-of-state teaching certificate. He struck a welcome chord for school choice, asking lawmakers to raise to $30 million (from $5 million) the cap on a fund that provides taxcredit scholarships for families to send their child to private schools. Stitt also used his speech to seek legislative support for his plan to reform Oklahoma’s Medicaid program by using federal block grants as part of a proposal announced last week by the Trump administration.
Stitt & President both want tax-credit stipends By Ray Carter President Donald Trump urged Congress to advance a federal tax-credit scholarship program during his State of the Union address last week, just one day after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt urged state lawmakers to expand Oklahoma’s version of the same program. Trump told assembled members of Congress that the “next step forward in building an inclusive society is making sure that every young American gets a great education and the opportunity to achieve the American dream. Yet, for too long, countless American children have been trapped in failing government schools. “To rescue these students, 18 states have created school choice in the form of opportunity scholarships,” Trump continued. “The programs are so popular that tens of thousands of students remain on a waiting list.” The president highlighted one of those students — Janiyah Davis, a fourth-grader from Philadelphia, who was in attendance at the State of the Union address along with her mother, Stephanie. After informing the mother and child that an opportunity scholarship had become available that would allow Janiyah to attend a private school, Trump called on Congress “to give 1 million American children the same opportunity Janiyah has just received. Pass the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunities Act, because no parent should be forced to send their child to a failing government school.” Oklahoma is among the 18 states highlighted by
See Stipend, Page 12
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 11
What’s Happening This Weekend Feb 13 to 16 Thursday, Feb. 13 ---- In the Gallery ---- Candygrams for a Cause ---- Cabaret ---- Adult Jewelry Design Class ---- Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Mexico de Silvia Lozano: Fiesta of Color ---- Black History Month: Black Love ---- Black History Month: We Got Your Back ---- Cupid’s Conservatory Friday, Feb 14 ---- In the Gallery ---- Candygrams for a Cause ---- Cabaret ---- Broadway Tonight: 10 Hairy Legs ---- For the Love of Pets, a Valentine’s Night Celebration! ---- Valentine’s Day with Phil Keaggy ---- Valentine’s Celebration Wine Dinners ---- William Shatner ---- Replay ---- Cupid’s Conservatory ---- Battle of Round Mountain Re-enactment ---- Pollard Theatre presents: Love Letters ---- Oklahoma Paint Horse Club Show ---- OKC Ballet presents: Romeo & Juliet
3rd floor, NUC Extra Info: 6 p.m.; sites.uco.edu/student-life/diversity/programsandevents/bhm.asp Broadway Tonight: 10 Hairy Legs Location: UCO – Mitchell Hall Theater Extra Info: 7:30 p.m.; https://calendar.uco.edu For the Love of Pets, a Valentine’s Night Celebration! Location: Paint Your Art Out, Edmond Extra Info: 7 – 10 p.m.; $45; for more information find them on Facebook Valentine’s Day with Phil Keaggy Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: 7 – 10 p.m.; $75; for more information find them on Facebook Valentine’s Celebration Wine Dinners Location: Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery Extra Info: 6 p.m.; claurenridge.com Learn to Curl with the Oklahoma Curling Club Location: Arctic Edge Ice Arena Extra Info: 5-7 p.m.; $25; squareup.com
Saturday, Feb 15 ---- In the Gallery ---- Valentine’s Celebration Wine Dinners ---- Learn to Curl with the Oklahoma Curling Club ---- Randy Rogers Band ---- Jeremy Studdard ---- Battle of Round Mountain Re-enactment ---- Pollard Theatre presents: Love Letters ---- Oklahoma Paint Horse Club Show ---- OKC Ballet presents: Romeo & Juliet ---- Monster Jam ---- Midwest Arms Collector Gun & Knife Show ---- Warhol and the West Factory Party
William Shatner Location: Riverwind Casino, Showplace Theatre Extra Info: 7 p.m.; riverwind.com
Sunday, Feb 16 ---- In the Gallery ---- Battle of Round Mountain Re-enactment ---- Pollard Theatre presents: Love Letters ---- Oklahoma Paint Horse Club Show ---- OKC Ballet presents: Romeo & Juliet ---- Monster Jam ---- Midwest Arms Collector Gun & Knife Show ---- Warhol and the West Factory Party
Pollard Theatre presents: Love Letters Location: Pollard Theatre, Guthrie Extra Info: thepollard.org
Extra Information on Weekend Happenings
Candygrams for a Cause Location: Downtown Edmond, Broadway north of 2nd Street Extra Info: downtownedmondok.com
In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featured artist is Stacy Haggard; edmondfinearts.com Cabaret Location: Oklahoma Christian University – Judd Theater Extra Info: 7:30 p.m.; https://www.oc.edu/events/cabaret Adult Jewelry Design Class Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: 6 – 8 p.m.; $50; for more information find them on Facebook Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Mexico de Silvia Lozano: Fiesta of Color Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: 7:30 p.m.; $31 ---- $71; armstrongauditorium.org Black History Month: Black Love Location: University of Central Oklahoma, Heritage Room, 326 Extra Info: 6 p.m.; sites.uco.edu/student-life/diversity/programsandevents/bhm.asp Black History Month: We Got Your Back Location: University of Central Oklahoma, Henry Bellmon Room, 314,
Replay Location: Riverwind Casino, River Lounge Extra Info: 9 p.m.; riverwind.com Cupid’s Conservatory Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens Extra Info: for information go to calendar.oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com Battle of Round Mountain Re-enactment Location: Hwy 51 & Hwy 18, Yale Extra Info: find them on Facebook
Monster Jam Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena Extra Info: chesapeakearena.com Midwest Arms Collector Gun & Knife Show Location: State Fair Park Extra Info: $14 & 12 & under free; Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; macshows.com
Jeremy Studdard Location: River Lounge, Riverwind Casino Extra Info: 9 p.m.; riverwind.com Randy Rogers Band Location: Showplace Theatre, Riverwind Casino Extra Info: 7 p.m.; riverwind.com Warhol and the West Factory Party Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, 7 p.m. & Sun 12 a.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org OKC Ballet presents: Romeo & Juliet Location: Civic Center Music Hall Extra Info: okcballet.org Oklahoma Paint Horse Club Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: oklahomapainthorse.com
Page 12 • February 13, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Upcoming college baseball events at Bricktown Ballpark The Oklahoma City Dodgers have announced two notable college baseball events will take place at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in 2020, including a marquee nonconference matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Arkansas Razorbacks March 17 and the annual Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship in late May. Tickets will be available to the general public this week, with prices ranging from $14-$45. The Razorbacks have appeared in back-to-back College World Series, and both teams are ranked in the Baseball America Preseason Top 25, with Arkansas at No. 11 and Oklahoma at No. 19. Tickets are available by calling (405) 218-1000
or can be purchased online here. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. All-session tickets for the 2020 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark will also go on sale Feb. 11. The championship will be played in a double-elimination format May 20-24, as the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Oklahoma City Dodgers will serve as the championship hosts for the 21st time. “The Big 12 Championship has always been one of the best weeks of baseball anywhere in the country,” said Oklahoma State head coach Josh Holliday. “It’s NCAA Regional-caliber baseball one
week before the tournament, always fierce and great preparation for the road to Omaha. Oklahoma City has hosted the event with tremendous class and hospitality. The people in Bricktown welcome the teams in and treat us like gold.” All-session tickets can be purchased by visiting Big12Sports.com/BuyTickets and include all games of the championship, including if-necessary games, totaling 15 contests. Tickets start as low as $69 for terrace seats, with field level at $99 and club seats available for $169. Tickets can also be purchased online here or by calling (405) 218-2180.
Stipends From Page 10 Trump in his speech. Trump’s proposed federal program is substantially the same as Oklahoma’s Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act. That state program provides a tax credit for donations to private scholarship-granting organizations. Scholarships funded by the program go primarily to low-income children or those with special needs. Senate Bill 407, by Sen. Dave Rader and Rep. Jon Echols, would raise the cap on Oklahoma’s taxcredit program from $5 million to $30 million to encourage more private donations to education and also incentivize donations to traditional public school programs. Polling has shown 60 percent of Oklahomans support raising the cap. In his State of the State speech this week, Stitt urged state lawmakers to “get across the finish line proven solutions to enhance learning opportunities for students.” “Now is the time to raise the cap on the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship to $30 million, to allow Oklahomans to be rewarded for investing their funds directly to our students and schools,” Stitt said. As with Trump’s State of the Union address,
beneficiaries of tax-credit scholarship programs were in attendance at Stitt’s State of the State address, including Alegra Williams and her sixth- and eighth-grade sons, Chaves and Sincere. Tax-credit scholarships allowed the boys to enroll in Crossover Preparatory Academy, a private, tuition-free, all-boys school serving low-income students in north Tulsa. In the boys’ first semester at Crossover, Chaves jumped three reading grade levels, and Sincere jumped two-and-a-half reading levels. When Sincere attended public school in Tulsa, Williams was told Sincere had learning disabilities and needed to be put on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for children with learning challenges. Sincere’s learning gains at Crossover occurred without the use of an IEP and Crossover officials later told Williams her son has no learning disabilities. “Chaves and Sincere were able to get the help they needed because of the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act,” Stitt said. “Increasing the tax credit cap will provide additional incentives for donors, resulting in more public-school grants and private-school scholarships.”
Stitt urged lawmakers to raise the cap on Oklahoma’s tax-credit scholarship program so other children can enjoy the same opportunities. “Let’s work together to make sure all students at all schools have access to an innovative, enriching curriculum, regardless of ZIP code.” The National Education Association and its state affiliates, including the Oklahoma Education Association, quickly came out against both Trump and Stitt’s efforts to aid low-income children—and the OEA even went so far as to tacitly criticize families who have benefited from school choice. The NEA Twitter account dismissed Trump’s proposal to help more students like Janiyah Davis as “fancy words and euphemisms.” When Stitt called for lawmakers to “join me and their mom in applauding” Chaves and Sincere’s “hard work this year,” the official Twitter account of the Oklahoma Education Association complained that Stitt had “called for a standing ovation of a family that left public schools for a private.”
Carter is the director for the Center for Independent Journalism with the Oklahoma Center of Public Affairs.
EPS reports having 16 named to scholar program Sixteen students from Edmond Public Schools have been named semifinalists in the prestigious 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. It’s believed the total is the highest ever for the district. The semifinalists were selected from more than 5,000 candidates expected to graduate from U.S. high schools. Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities. The student qualifiers are: Edmond North: Alisha Arshad Carson Confer Logan Hutchens Emily Murphy Carolyn Sutliff
Edmond Santa Fe: Rakin Hussain Fiza Sheikh Jessica White Joshua Zhu Edmond Memorial: Katherine Adkins William Hartman Keegan Leibrock Piper Turner Liberty Walton Oliver Wu Kevin Zhang 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.
Upcoming Jazz Lab concert Phil Keaggy is coming to the UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond Valentine's Day, Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. Considered by some as a top musicians, he has recorded over 50 albums and worked with countless top industry professionals. He was twice nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album and seven time recipient of the GMA Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year. For additional information, please e-mail suspendedtwo@gmail.com.
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 13
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The University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Fine Arts and Design will present a performance by Grammy Award winner Ashley Cleveland at 8 p.m. Feb. 15 at the UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond.
Grammy winner to be at UCO Jazz Lab Saturday The University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Fine Arts and Design will present a performance by Grammy Award winner Ashley Cleveland at 8 p.m. Feb. 15 at the UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond. Since her debut on Atlantic Records in 1991, Ashley Cleveland has recorded 10 critically acclaimed albums. She has won three Grammys for Best Rock Gospel Album (“Lesson of Love,” 1995; “You Are There,” 1998; and, “Before the Daylight’s Shot,” 2007). Cleveland was the first female to be nominated in that category and the only one to win the award three times. She was nominated again for her 2010 album “God Don’t Never Change.”
“The opportunity to bring a three-time Grammy Award winner to the Jazz Lab and introduce the UCO community to the powerhouse vocals of Ashley Cleveland was too good to pass up,” said Steven Hansen, M.F.A., dean of the UCO College of Fine Arts and Design. “Attending an Ashley Cleveland performance is like standing three feet from the tracks as a freight train thunders past at full speed.” In addition to multiple Grammys and Dove Awards, she has made television appearances on shows including “Austin City Limits,” “The Arsenio Hall Show,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Saturday Night Live” and a host of others. Cleve-
land is currently the subject of a new documentary from Big Branch Productions titled “Who’s the Girl?” “Her soulful, powerful blues vocal style has made her a staple of the Nashville music community, having contributed vocals to more than 300 albums, including work with John Hiatt, Steve Windwood and Jars of Clay. Her voice transcends genre,” Hansen said. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by calling 405-974-2100 or by visiting www.ucojazzlab.com. For a complete listing of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events and performances, visit cfad.uco.edu.
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Parents Helping Parents meeting Feb. 18 The Parents Helping Parents speaker on Tuesday, Feb. 18 is Dianne Holland LPC with Transforming Life Counseling Center. Her topic is “Letting Go: Perspectives from Both the Addict and the Parent?" ”The Edmond Chapter of Parents Helping Parents meets at McLaren's Pantry located at 3414
South Boulevard in the Boulevard Shopping Center located in the SE corner of 33rd and Boulevard in Edmond. The restaurant is closed to the general public at 6 p.m. The meeting is from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The group provides support, resources and hope for parents of addicted children (any age child). This is
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The 2018 Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma, hosted by OSU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, attracted visitors from across the state. This year’s Craft Beer Forum is scheduled for April 3-4 on the OSU campus in Stillwater.
Craft Beer Forum scheduled for April at Oklahoma State The second Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma will again bring together the state’s best craft breweries and lovers of all things beer and food for an educational experience for the taste buds at Oklahoma State University. The forum, held every two years, takes place April 3-4 on the OSU campus in Stillwater. This year’s Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma includes the addition of a dinner featuring paired beer and food and, as it did in 2018, a day of seminars for craft beer newbies and experts alike as well as tastings of more than 30 top craft beers from Oklahoma and beyond. 2020 Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma highlights: n A keynote address by nationally known brewmaster Jeremy Marshall of Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, California; n The Feast of Ninkasi (the Sumerian goddess of the harvest and brewing) dinner featuring Cajun-Creole cuisine prepared by Louisiana chef Nathan Richard and matched with the best beers to complement spicy foods; n Seminars covering topics from beer tasting to opening a brewery to the science of yeast health and fermentation and much more;
n The Pint-N-Tasting event highlighting beers from more than 30 breweries complemented by foods prepared by top chefs. Also, in conjunction with the Craft Beer Forum, the first Oklahoma Craft Beer Awards competition will be judged March 7 at OSU with results announced at the forum. Joel Irby, owner of Stonecloud Brewing Company in downtown Oklahoma City, will be the honorary chair for this year’s event. The Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma is planned and executed by students in OSU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) in the Spears School of Business. The event not only teaches students how to plan large events, but also raises money for scholarships. “The one thing that is unique about our event is the educational component,” said Tony Collins, director of the HTM Wayne Hirst Center for Beverage Education. “This is about having great discussions about beer and educating people and our students about the craft beer industry.” The forum is open to anyone 21 years old or older. Tickets and event information are available at https://craftbeerforumofoklahoma.com.
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 15
George’s take on the Oscars By George Gust The 92nd Academy Awards are officially in the books, and it was a historic night for director Bong Joon Ho and his film "Parasite." Becoming the first international film to win the Academy's biggest prize and the first Best Picture winner to not have anyone nominated in the acting categories, "Parasite" is an apparent forebearer for a new look Oscars going forward. After the much-maligned choice for Best Picture last year "Green Book" and the controversy of #oscarsowhite it appears the Academy has listened to their critics and decided to award a film and filmmaker with a unique perspective outside of the traditional American experience. “Parasite’ tells the story of the lives of a poor family and a rich family become intertwined, while another lower class interloper threatens the newfound symbiotic relationship between the two families. Outside of the massive success of "Parasite" much of the awards went to the odds-on favorites. Best Actor & Actress both went to transformative performances (Joaquin Phoenix “Joker” & Renée Zellweger “Judy”) in roles that reward the transformation. Brad Pitt won an unbelievably competitive Best Supporting Actor category beating out the two legends from "The Irishman" (Al Pacino and Joe Pesci), and my personal favorite from this category; Tom Hanks from "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," a movie which came and went too fast from our collective minds and well worth giving a look if you haven't already. Laura Dern won for her Supporting performance in "Marriage Story" which felt like the right decision, as she really stood out as the savvy divorce attorney, but not enough can be said for the emergence of fellow Supporting Actress nominee, Florence Pugh in "Little Women" who burst on the scene in 2019 with undeniable performances in both "Little Women" and "Midsommar." The future looks bright for Pugh who looks to co-star in 2020's "Black Widow" movie, but it'll be hard to top her fantastic performances in 2019. The real surprise for me in this year's Academy Awards was the near shut out of titans of the film industry Quentin Tarantino "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and Martin Scorsese "The Irishman" which goes to show the more inclusive look the Academy tried on for its 92nd ceremony. In years past the esteem and legendary status of these established film-
Brightmusic concert set The French Horn takes the spotlight in Brightmusic’s fourth concert of the season, “The Virtuoso French Horn,” featuring guest artist Adam Unsworth. The ensemble will present horn works by Robert Schumann, Joseph Haydn, W. A. Mozart and others on March 3 at 7:30 pm at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 N.W. 7th Street near downtown Oklahoma City. This season the Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble celebrates the contribution of women to the vast body of classical music, featuring a work by a woman composer in each program. In its next concert the ensemble will present a piece by Ukrainian-born Catherine Likhuta, an Australian-based composer, pianist and recording artist. Her music has been described as highly emotional, programmatic and rhythmically complex. The ensemble will be joined by Unsworth in presenting Likhuta’s intensely personal “Lesions for Horn, Clarinet and Cello.” The 2017 work is written in four parts, Likhuta explains, representing the four most common emotional stages of dealing with incurable illness: Sadness, Anxiety, Denial and Acceptance, inspired by her mother’s struggle with multiple sclerosis.Tickets are $20 for single admission at the door. If you would like more information, please call Sara Grossman at (405) 5501484 or email saragrossman100@gmail.com.
makers would be too high a mountain to climb for Korean director Bong Joon-ho to climb, but this year proved that the language of filmmaking transcends the one inch of subtitles on the lower third of movie screens. I will admit that prior to the Oscar lead up, the foreign language aspect of "Parasite" (and other non-English films) was too high a barrier with so many other movie options available, but now with its historic, well-deserving win, it's clear that these international films should not be ignored by American audiences.
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Laura Dern wins for her strong performance in ‘Marriage Story’ and Joaquin Phoenix wins for a transformative performance in ‘Joker.’ But Bong Joon Ho and the crew of ‘Parasite’ are the biggest winners from the 92nd Academy Awards.
Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACROSS 1. Sell illegally 6. Crime scene evidence 9. "From California to the New York Island," e.g. 13. Berth deck in relation to poop deck 14. Poetic over 15. Chocolate cake ingredient 16. Like Solitaire player 17. Go a-courting 18. Packing 19. *"Go Tell It on the Mountain" author 21. *South Africa's first black president 23. Bag, ‡ Paris 24. Schooner pole 25. #1 on Billboards Chart, e.g. 28. One way to memorize 30. *Civil rights activist and Ferguson opponent 35. Single pip cards 37. Give a shot of novocaine 39. Call forth 40. Long John Silver's walk 41. Sauna product 43. Dashing style 44. Pariah, for medical reasons 46. Back arrow key 47. As opposed to gross 48. Kane and Goldberg, TV characters 50. Georgia ____ university 52. Poseidon's domain 53. MXN, as in currency 55. Snowman Olaf's favorite thing 57. *2019 eponymous movie character 61. Errand runner, at court 65. Matter of debate 66. Harry Potter's Hedwig 68. Ineffectual vomiting 69. Giblets part
70. *Famous movie director, Spike 71. Ruhr's industrial center 72. Played at military funerals 73. Flow alternative 74. Nostradamus and such DOWN 1. Hunk of something 2. Flavored with kola nuts 3. Absent without leave 4. Gives a helping hand 5. Antebellum 6. Pillow filler 7. ____colonial or ____classical 8. Oven emanation? 9. Lady's man 10. Ne plus ultra 11. Famous Coward 12. Man Ray's genre 15. Back of a saddle 20. Popular Byzantine artwork 22. Nile viper 24. Reminder of times past 25. *First African American to win Best Actress Oscar 26. More slippery 27. Allegro and lento, in music 29. *Nobel Peace Prize
laureate, 1984 31. Like fair share 32. Arch and ball location, pl. 33. *On Debi Thomas' foot when she won Olympic medal 34. Busybody, in Yiddish 36. Work detail 38. Bid, past tense 42. Coffee shop order 45. D'Artagnan's weapon of choice 49. Get the picture 51. *Harlem Renaissance poet 54. Fur shawl 56. Canada flyers 57. Handle of #45 Down 58. Most populous continent 59. Invitation request 60. Regrets 61. Commoner 62. Diamond's corner 63. Walkie-talkie word 64. Japanese money, pl. 67. *Du Bois
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Exactly how is DNA preserved to solve cold criminal cases?
Dr. Stephen Prescott
Day after day, new stories pop up detailing how police are solving “cold cases” all over the country by using DNA evidence collected at crime scenes years — even decade — ago. Oklahoma even has a recent example, where individuals in Texas and Wyoming were arrested and charged in September for a murder that occurred in a Tulsa motel room 36 years ago. This has left many wondering exactly how decades-old DNA can still be used to solve crimes. A big key to solving cold cases, is, fittingly, cold storage, said Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Stephen Prescott, M.D. For example, he said, if a body remains exposed to the elements, its DNA will be useful for testing only for a few weeks. On the other hand, if it’s buried a few feet below ground, it will last 1,000 years or more. And if it’s kept cold and protected, it can last much, much longer: A sample of Neanderthal DNA found in a Belgian cave dates back 100,000 years. “Like all biological materials, human DNA has a
shelf life,” said Prescott. “But that expiration date varies wildly, depending on storage conditions. The keys are protecting it from heat, water, sunlight and oxygen.” Long before the advent of DNA sequencing technology, law enforcement investigators were collecting biological evidence from crime scenes in ways that would preserve it until technology could catch up. That means gathering dry samples, such as hair, dried blood or other bodily fluids, cigarette butts with traces of saliva, and so on, and placing them in separate containers. This avoids cross-contamination with other samples and, when stored in cool, dry spaces, prevents spoliation caused by the growth of organisms like mold or mildew. With certain pieces of wet evidence, forensics experts dry the samples, then store them in a similar way. For tissue or fluids, they’re typically collected in vials and stored in refrigerators or freezers. “Obviously, sample storage procedures vary among police departments and have changed over time,” said Prescott. “Still, so long as those methods keep samples dry, relatively cool, out of the sunlight and uncontaminated by other substances, that evidence should remain ‘good’ for DNA testing longer than anyone reading this will be around.” And this DNA technology isn’t just used to track down perpetrators of crimes, it has also been useful in exonerating individuals who were wrongfully convicted and for identifying missing persons. These technologies are also benefitting scientists and researchers in the fight against diseases. Cold storage has allowed for the long-term preservation of DNA and other biological samples to unravel the mysteries of disease. OMRF collects and stores samples from patients suffering from a variety of conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, sarcoidosis and multiple sclerosis, among others. “New technologies are being developed every day,” said Prescott. “As new research methods arise, we’re that much closer to making discoveries that will benefit patients.”
Genealogy meeting Feb.17 Americans have always been a moving people, coming from other places, moving to new places. Not only has the nation long attracted people from beyond its borders, it also claims high rates of internal migration. The Feb. 17 program at the Edmond Genealogical Society’s meeting is about Migration Trails and will be presented by Helen Lehman. Lehman’s quest to learn about the migratory patterns of her own English, Irish, Scottish and Dutch ancestors, and her husband’s German ancestors, as well as European research methods have become the norm for her. Learning who came from where and how they got here has become mesmerizing as she has read and studied about their trials and conquests from what we today would consider insurmountable difficulties. She is able to trace many ethnic groups from their voyage across the ocean to landing in the New World and dispersing from eastern shores into the interior of the country. Since her genealogical adventures began in 1981, she has filled 26 huge three-ring binders full of family papers and genealogical records. EGS meetings are free and open to the public, beginning with social time at 6:15 p.m. Programs start at 6:30 p.m. If you have genealogical questions an EGS member will be available at 5:30 p.m. Edmond Genealogical Society meetings are held the third Monday of the month at the Edmond Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 1315 E. 33rd Street, Edmond. Enter through the doors at the rear (north side) of the building. The church offers plenty of parking and is fully handicap accessible. For more information on EGS, go to: www.rootsweb.com/~okegs, or visit us on Facebook at Edmond Genealogical Society. The March 16, 2020 program is The Genealogy Gals Research in Washington D.C.
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D N O EDM
S E T I R O V FA 2020 VOTE ONLINE! EDMONDLIFEANDLEISURE.COM Simply answer each question below. Feel free to elaborate on a separate piece of paper! We will announce your Edmond Favorites in our March 5 issue. Ballots can be mailed to:
EDMOND FAVORITES, 107 S. BROADWAY, EDMOND, OK 73034
You are welcome to drop your ballot at our office (same address as mailing address above).
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 28
AT LEAST 50% OF BALLOT MUST BE COMPLETED FOR YOUR VOTE TO COUNT! PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY AND COMPLETELY.
FAVORITE FOOD / RESTAURANT: Asian Food
Italian Food
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Bakery
Lunch Spot
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Barbecue
Mexican Food
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Breakfast / Brunch
New Restaurant
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Burger
Night Spot
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Caterer
Pizza
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Coffee House
Sandwiches / Subs
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Desserts
Seafood
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Ethnic Food
Special Occasion Restaurant
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Food Truck
Steak
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Ice Cream / Frozen Yogurt
Sushi
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S E T I R O FAV 2020 FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY: Antiques
Home Decor
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Appliances
Jewelry
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Athletic Shoes / Apparel
Mattresses
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Books
Men’s Clothing
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Children’s Clothing / Accessories
Plants / Landscaping
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Consignment / Resale
Shoes
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Flooring
Sporting Goods / Outdoor Gear
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Furniture
Tires
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Gifts
Wine & Spirits
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Groceries
Women’s Clothing / Accessories
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Hobby Supplies __________________________
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DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 28 VOTE ONLINE! EDMONDLIFEANDLEISURE.COM Simply answer each question below. Feel free to elaborate on a separate piece of paper! We will announce your Edmond Favorites in our March 5 issue. Ballots can be mailed to:
EDMOND FAVORITES, 107 S. BROADWAY, EDMOND, OK 73034 You are welcome to drop your ballot at our office (same address as mailing address above).
PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY AND COMPLETELY.
FAVORITE BUSINESSES/SERVICES: Automobile Repair
Fitness / Health Club
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Barber
Florist
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Birthday Parties
Golf Course
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Car Wash
Hair Salon
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Chiropractor
Home Maintenance
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Custom Framing
Insurance Agent
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Dance Studio
Lawn Care
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Dentist
Live Music Venue / Live Music Spot
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Dry Cleaning
Massage
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Esthetician
Nail Salon
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Eye Care
Oil Change
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Financial Planner
Park
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S E T I R O FAV 2020 VOTE ONLINE! EDMONDLIFEANDLEISURE.COM FAVORITE BUSINESSES/SERVICES (CONT): Pet Grooming
Senior Living Community
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Pharmacy
Travel Agency
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Physician
Veterinarian
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Romantic Place To Stay The Night
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Locally Owned Business
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Most Attractive Building
Long Term Business
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Civic Organization
Public Art Piece
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Edmond Event Or Festival
Special Event Venue
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Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 21
CareerTech molding a world-class workforce
City releases audit on it water billing
businesses and industries. The Oklahoma Career and High school students can Technology Education Sysattend the technology centers tem focuses every day on dein their districts for free, veloping a world-class learning skills that will help workforce. them land good jobs after “Oklahoma CareerTech school and also position them partners with business and to continue their education educational institutions to after graduation. Certificaenhance career awareness, tions earned through Caincrease educational attainreerTech courses give ment and meet the needs of students entrance into higherour state,” said Marcie Mack, paying careers, which can Oklahoma Department of also help them pursue higher Career and Technology Edueducation without incurring cation state director. “Caexcessive debt. reerTech is an integral part of Adult students at technolOklahoma’s economy.” ogy centers can learn new The Oklahoma CareerTech skills and earn certificates and System is celebrating Cacredentials to get jobs, reerTech Education Month in change careers or advance in February. Gov. Kevin Stitt retheir current careers. In FY18, cently issued a proclamation PHOTO PROVIDED CareerTech students earned declaring this month as Ca19,566 industry-endorsed cerreer and Technical Education The state estimates CareerTech graduates add more tificates, showing that they Appreciation Month in Okla- than $3.5 billion to Oklahoma’s economy. have the skills Oklahoma’s inhoma. dustries need. Stitt has called Oklahoma CareerTech “a system that In Oklahoma’s comprehensive school districts, 35 perhas been nimble and robust in helping us train the workcent of sixth through 12th grade students -- and almost force.” half of ninth through 12th grade students -- enrolled in The CareerTech System delivers educational experiCareerTech courses: agricultural education; business and ences through a network of 394 PK-12 school districts, 29 technology center districts, 16 skills center sites in cor- information technology education; family and consumer rectional facilities and 32 adult basic education providers. sciences education; health careers education; marketing education; science, technology, engineering and matheIn fiscal year 2019, CareerTech’s enrollments totaled matics; and trade and industrial education. more than 550,000, and CareerTech System graduates More than 82,000 students also learned leadership added more than $3.5 billion to Oklahoma’s economy. The 29 technology center districts have 58 campuses See CareerTech, Page 22 that offer career training to high school and adult students, along with training and assistance for Oklahoma’s
The City of Edmond recently partnered with the accounting firm of Arledge & Associates to complete an independent audit of water billing accuracy and procedures for the summer months of 2019. This audit was undertaken in response to resident concerns related to their water bills during this time period. The results of the audit found there to be no systemic problem with water billing accuracy and no evidence of outside interference with the software. The audit also found opportunities for improving the complaint resolution process currently utilized by Utility Customer Service. City staff is working to implement the two process improvements recommended. “We understand the frustration that some of our customers had over the summer, and this outside audit was a key piece for us to determine how we can best serve the community in this area,” said City Manager Larry Stevens. “We were pleased to find that there were no system errors in our billing process. Moving forward, we are excited about the implementation of smart meters and additional educational resources to help residents best manage personal water use for their household in real-time.” To read the full three-page report, please visit http://edmondwater.com and click on “2019 Water Billing Audit Report” under the section titled “Quick Links.”
Gibbs new operations director for Evans & Davis legal firm Andrew M. Gibbs joined Evans & Davis as Operations Director. Prior to joining Evans & Davis, Andrew worked for Chesapeake Energy and Diamondback Energy as a revenue accountant. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Andrew attended Putnam City North High School. Andrew earned his B.B.A. in Finance from Oklahoma Christian University. During his time at OC, Andrew was involved in Freshmen Student Life and was a 2-year officer in his social service club (Chi Lambda Phi). Additionally, Andrew was the 2014 Finance Student of the Year and graduated as a member of Delta Mu Delta (national honor society in business administration). Andrew resides in Edmond and enjoys spending time with his wife, Marisa, and their 1-year old son, Porter. He also enjoys exploring the new culinary scene with friends, traveling, and attending Thunder and OU games. Evans & Davis has offices located in
Andrew Gibbs Edmond, Tulsa, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Denver, Albuquerque, San Francisco and Nashville. The firm offers a full range of legal services but focuses their practice on estate planning, business law, and wealth transfer. The firm’s attorneys and staff are active participants and leaders in their respective communities.
Watkins set as chamber speaker in 1999. Today, she Kari Watkins, Execuoversees the operative Director of the tions of the Oklahoma Oklahoma City NaCity National Memotional Memorial and rial and Museum; one Museum, will address of Oklahoma’s most the Edmond business visited sites and is community regarding Race Director for the the 25th anniversary Oklahoma City Memoof the Oklahoma City rial Marathon. bombing. The lunch This lunch is prewill be from 11:30 sented by AT&T with a.m.-1 p.m. on ThursTinker Federal Credit day, Feb. 27 at the EdKari Watkins Union as the Gold mond Conference Sponsor. Reservations should be Center, 2833 Conference Center made online at www.edmondchamDrive. ber.com. Kari Watkins, a third-generation The Edmond Area Chamber of journalist, became the Oklahoma Commerce is the voice for business. City National Memorial's first staff It is a hundred-year-old, 1,000-memmember as the Communications Diber organization working together to rector in March 1996. create a strong local economy. She was named Executive Director
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CareerTech From Page 21 skills as members of co-curricular CareerTech student organizations: FFA; Family, Careers and Community Leaders of America; SkillsUSA; Technology Student Association; Business Professionals of America; HOSA; and DECA. In addition, 3,356 CareerTech students in comprehensive schools and technology centers were honored for their work be achieving membership in the National Technical Honor Society. In 2019, CareerTech also expanded OK Career Guide, its statewide career development education system, to include Galaxy, which introduces career awareness to pre-K through fifth grade students. Oklahoma CareerTech helps provide qualified employees for the state’s businesses and industries by preparing state residents for successful careers, but it also provides direct services business and industry. CareerTech’s Business and Industry Services Division helped more than 8,000 companies increase their profitability in FY19 with increased sales, higher productivity, reduced costs and expanded operations and helped companies move to and start in Oklahoma and provided training for 2,527 new jobs. Also, the Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network helped state companies secure more than $550 million in contracts. CareerTech also has a presence in state correctional facilities through a partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Instructors in the Skills Centers School System teach inmates and juvenile offenders work and life skills that help keep them in the workforce and out of the corrections system after their release. In FY19, more than 2,000 people were enrolled in skills centers, and positive placement -- employment, continuing education or military -- was 89.21 percent. The CareerTech System also helps those who dropped out of high school earn diplomas and gain skills to enter the workforce through the dropout recovery program. In FY19, 367 people earned a high school diploma through the program. ODCTE also oversees Oklahoma’s adult basic education program, which includes 32 providers offering high school equivalency programs and tests along with English literacy and civics courses at 111 sites. In FY19, 12,647 students enrolled in CareerTech’s adult basic education programs.
Online sales tax revenues highlight State Treasurer’s collections report Collections of the use tax on out-of-state sales, including online purchases, set a record high in January, while total revenue remained relatively flat, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced today. January total monthly collections were $1.26 billion, up by $17.4 million, or 1.4 percent, from January 2019. Use tax receipts generated $83 million, up by almost 19 percent from the prior year. However, collections from six of the seven major revenue streams were less than the same month of the prior year. Only use tax and corporate income tax receipts rose above prior year levels during the month. Individual income, sales, gross production, and motor vehicle taxes saw decreases ranging from 11.8 percent to 0.1 percent. January sales and use tax collections reflect purchases made during most of December, a majority of the holiday shopping season. When combined, they are up by 1.7 percent from January of last year. “As Oklahoma weathers an ongoing slowdown in oilfield drilling activity, it is encouraging to see total consumption taxes remain positive,” said Treasurer McDaniel. “Retail sales, both at brickand-mortar stores and online, reflect healthy consumer confidence.” Sales tax collections for the month were down from the prior year – as has been the case in seven of the past eight months – but analysis shows most of the slowdown is spillover from reduced spending in the oil and gas industry. Gross production taxes on oil and gas production, at $88.3 million in January, were down by $11.8 million, or nearly 12 percent. January marked the fifth consecutive month of contraction in those revenues. Total receipts from the past 12 months were reported as $13.73 billion, an increase of $660.2 million, or 5.1 percent, over the trailing 12 months. Other indicators The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index for January rose above growth neutral for the first time since October of last year. January’s rate of 52.2 is up from 48.4 in December. Numbers above 50 indicate economic growth is anticipated during the following three to six months. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate for Oklahoma in December was unchanged from the prior month at 3.4 percent. The U.S. unemployment
rate in December also held steady from the prior month at 3.5 percent, according to figures released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. January collections January gross collections total $1.26 billion, up by $17.4 million, or 1.4 percent, from January 2019. Gross income tax collections, a combination of individual and corporate income taxes, generated $470.3 million, an increase of $10.9 million, or 2.4 percent, from the previous January. Individual income tax collections for the month are $412.4 million, down by $527,320, or 0.1 percent, from the prior year. Corporate collections are $57.9 million, an increase of $11.4 million, or 24.6 percent. Wide monthly variances are common for corporate income tax collections. Combined sales and use tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $498.3 million in January. That is $8.5 million, or 1.7 percent, more than January 2019. Sales tax collections in November total $415.3 million, a drop of $4.6 million, or 1.1 percent from the same month of the prior year. Use tax receipts, collected on out-of-state purchases including online sales, generated $83 million, an increase of $13.2 million, or 18.9 percent, over the year. Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas generated $88.3 million in January, a decrease of $11.8 million, or 11.8 percent, from last January. Compared to December 2019 reports, gross production collections are up by $14.1 million, or 18.9 percent. Motor vehicle taxes produced $66 million, down by $2.1 million, or 3.1 percent, from the same month of 2019. Other collections composed of some 60 different sources including taxes on fuel, tobacco, medical marijuana, and alcoholic beverages, produced $136.1 million during the month. That is $11.8 million, or 9.5 percent, more than last January. Twelve-month collections Gross revenue totals $13.73 billion from the past 12 months, February 2019 through January 2020. That is $660.2 million, or 5.1 percent, above collections from the previous 12-month period.
Against children only
Bill would eliminate statute of limitations for sex crimes The House Judiciary Committee yesterday passed legislation to remove the statute of limitations on the prosecution of child trafficking and sexual crimes against children. Rep. Carol Bush (R-Tulsa) authored House Bill 3024 to allow the prosecution against someone accused of committing sexual crimes against a child to be commenced at any time after the offense occurs. “Horrific events in early childhood, especially events like molestation or rape, have an adverse effect on a person throughout their entire life,” Bush said. “Unfortunately, it also often means that many of these survivors take years to come forward, especially when they face the daunting challenge of proving it happened, facing their abuser, and financing a yearslong legal battle.” Bush pointed out that trauma often leads survivors to bury the event in their minds until they’re emotionally mature enough to address it, which often doesn’t happen until 30 or 40 years later. CHILD USA, a national nonprofit focused on ending child abuse and neglect, reports that of child sexual abuse survivors that do disclose, on average, they don’t disclose until they are 52 years old. Bush said the change was brought to her when she was first elected, by a constituent whose father molested her daily beginning from the age of six, but didn’t come to terms with it until she was approaching 40. “The change proposed by House Bill 3024 gives victims the opportunity to come forward at any point in their lives, and it gives law enforcement the chance to prove a perpetrator’s guilt through due process and hopefully get these disgusting criminals off the streets,” Bush said. Bush ran similar legislation in her first session in 2017, but after edits, the bill instead updated the age the
Several states have already eliminated the statute of limitations for sex crimes against children in recent years. statute of limitation expired to the current age of 45. “Ever since I started talking about changing this policy in 2017, I’ve heard directly from dozens of other survivors across the state who emphasized the need to remove the statute of limitations,” Bush said. “Survivors of all ages deserve the chance to see their abuser tried, whether the crime was committed five or 50 years ago. Thousands of people across the country live through this, and because of disabilities resulting from the abuse or power dynamics between themselves and their abuser, they don’t come forward until our legal system says it’s too late.” Several states have already eliminated the statute of limitations for sex crimes against children in recent years, including Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Hawaii and Massachusetts. The state of New York created a window until August 2020 to give victims the opportunity to pursue prosecution. “I am appalled at the amount of our laws I’ve found that seem to be written to directly protect and shelter suspects rather than support survivors,” Bush said. “I hope that when this bill becomes law survivors across the state will come forward and use this as an opportunity to have their day in court, no matter how long ago the crime was committed.” House Bill 3024 passed the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 125. It is now available to be considered on the House floor. As it is currently written, the bill would go into effect in Nov. 2020
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Free dental care for kids Students from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry will offer dental care for children between the ages of four and 12 at no cost on Saturday, Feb. 29. During the college’s annual Kids’ Day Program, scheduled from 7:30 to 10:15 a.m., both dental and dental hygiene students – working under the supervision of trained dentists – will provide cleanings, fillings, crowns and caps as needed. “Kids’ Day is a wonderful opportunity for our students to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of others who may not normally have the opportunity to receive dental care,” said Tim Fagan, D.D.S., M.S., head of the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and faculty sponsor of the Kids’ Day program student group. Patients will be seen as quickly as possible, but those attending should be prepared to spend several hours at the event. Participants at the event are asked to bring necessary personal items such as medication, diapers, snacks, etc. A parent or legal guardian must accompany all children/patients. Free parking will be available. The OU College of Dentistry is home to the state’s only doctor of dental surgery program and baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene. The college provides general dental care and specialty care to Oklahomans through student, resident and faculty practice clinics. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required and will open on February 11. To pre-register, for more information or for accommodations on the basis of disability, call (405) 607-4755. Screenings will take place at the OU College of Dentistry on the OU Health Sciences Center campus, 1201 N. Stonewall Ave.
Campaign raises over $2.3 million to help needy The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Holiday Match campaign raised more than $2.3 million thanks to the generosity of Oklahomans and match partners APMEX.com, the Cresap Family Foundation and Chesapeake Energy Corporation. "We are so grateful for the generous commitments of our match partners," said Cassie Gilman, chief development officer of the Regional Food Bank. "Thanks to their generosity and leadership, they inspired others to support our mission." The Regional Food Bank's campaign partners matched every gift made between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31 to the Holiday Match. The campaign will help to provide more than 9 million meals for the one in six Oklahomans who live with food insecurity. “It is truly remarkable to see Oklahomans come together to help raise funds for the Regional Food Bank’s Holiday Match Campaign and the 2019 campaign was another big success,” said Scott Thomas, APMEX.com president. “Our community
really stepped up and made a difference for thousands of Oklahomans who struggle with food insecurity. However, the need continues year-round and I hope this success encourages more of us to donate and volunteer because our efforts do make an impact.” Oklahoma is the fifth hungriest state in the nation, with one in six residents lacking consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Campaigns like the Holiday Match help the Regional Food Bank distribute nearly one million pounds of food per week to its community-based partner agencies in central and western Oklahoma. “Hunger is widespread in our state and affects countless families, children, seniors and veterans,” said John Cresap with the Cresap Family Foundation. “We are immensely proud to partner with the Regional Food Bank, Chesapeake Energy and APMEX.com and provide incentive for others to join the fight against hunger.”
Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi Good Shepherd Anglican Church (Traditional Episcopal) 1000 N. Broadway, Edmond •314-8715 Sundays - Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00am Animal Friendly Parish “If you have people who exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have those who deal likewise with their fellow human being.” St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
www.anglicancgsedmondok.com 1928 Book of Common Prayer • anglicancgesedmondok.com
SCRIPTURE • TRADITION • REASON
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Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 1B
g n i r a e W y b a B
Piper Nard wearing her so
ger Cale Nard, 11, wearing his youn brother, Callaway, 1
n, Callaway
By Mallery Nagle Parents who have their hands full may find a centuries-old solution to help with their young children, right here in Edmond. Edmond mom Piper Nard founded her service, the Worn Baby, in 2006, which has come to the rescue of many a worn-out parent in the last 14 years. Nard teaches baby wearing or the use of soft carriers which are pieces of long cotton fabric that a care-giver ties around him or herself to create a pouch or sling on the chest, back or hip where the baby rests, leaving that person’s hands free. The baby’s weight is then distributed across the wearer’s shoulders or hips. “It was almost unheard of around here, but it’s been around for centuries in other cultures,” Nard said. Until recently, she noted the practice of baby wearing was seen as “hippy” or “crunchy,” a practice that is considered holistic and not mainstream. Despite this view, the science of baby wearing is based in extensive research, and Nard became a certified trainer in 2010. Her first priority in her classes is to teach safety in use of the wrap, she said. Class content is tailored to the group. Classes are usually taught in her home, but she has gone to hospitals, moms’ groups, and to state-sponsored Family Expectations courses. “The benefits,” she said “Hit home with all of us.” continued on Page 2B
Editor’s Note: We asked Mary Edwards of Cinnamon Bears what toys she’s seeing that are really popular for babies. Here are her suggestions. Look for these items and more at Cinnamon Bears, located at 610 S. Kelly Ave., Suite I in Edmond. Poppies They have little suction cups on both sides so they can stick to flat surfaces such as highchair trays, side of bath tub, etc. It is designed and marketed by a “dadpreneur” and made in the USA of BPA free silicone. It is for ages 3m+. From their website, “Inspired by Grandma’s soap saver, POPPIES developed from a real need for a better teether. We quickly realized the unique sensory play value from the suction cups and immediately went to work to develop the safest sensory toy for your child.” Dimpl Made by a company called Fat Brain out of BPA free silicone. These are for ages 10m+. It is great to keep your baby occupied pushing the Dimpls back and forth during trips. “Built safely into the sturdy ABS plastic frame are five vibrant silicone bubbles in varying sizes and colors. It’s so simple, yet oddly, so brilliantly fun, fascinating, and impossible to put down...for babies...or adults!”
Bolli Rattle This is designed to develop fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Made from food grade silicone. “Bolli is a new sensory development ball for kids AND babies that is great for stretching, manipulating, grasping, and teething. Open ball design is fantastic for shape exploration, fine motor skills, grasping, and hand-eye coordination.”
Page 2B • February 13, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Most Popular Baby Names for 2020
Girls
1. Adah 2. Reese 3. Mika 4. Paisley 5. Amina 6. Teagan 7. Nova 8. Aura 9. Pearl 10. Billie
Boys
1. Austin 2. Alva 3. Acacius 4. Tate 5. Diego 6. Easton 7. Lucius 8. Cash 9. Ash 10. Luca
by Nameberry, mother.ly
Wearing Baby The first benefit of baby wearing, Nard said, is a reduction in colic and reflux. She added that all three of her children were afflicted with serious reflux that went well beyond typical infant spit-up. The wrap holds the infant upright, thus alleviating much of the problem. Second, the use of a wrap offers hands-free infant care. Parents can still hold the baby, but retain use of their hands. “You can get something done,” she pointed out. “If you can get one thing done, whether it’s folding laundry or vacuuming one rug, you have an accomplishment, and that can help with post-partum depression,” she said. Yet another advantage to baby wearing is it allows the baby to bond with someone besides a primary care giver, because the baby feels safe and secure in the carrier even if someone else is wearing it. “Mom gets a break, and that’s good for your mental well-being,” she said, adding the wraps help with bonding in cases of adoption and foster care as well. “They’re for everyone. Any caregiver can use them, including siblings and grandparents,” she said. They can also facilitate holding for those with physical disabilities. “There’s no downside,” she said. In addition to teaching the use of wraps, Nard also assists with the choice of wraps. She pointed out that a wrap is a very individual product. She strives to help clients choose a wrap that will provide longevity,
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PHOTO PROVIDED
One of the benefits of baby wraps is that anyone can use them, including dads and siblings, giving mom a break. as the brands she sells range from $100-$250. All of her wraps are 100 percent cotton and are machine washable. Classes last for 2-3 hours and cost $15 per person, and she will conduct private consultations. Anyone interested in baby wearing may visit her new parents support group Facebook page, Baby Wearing Support OKC, her Worn Baby Facebook page, e-mail her at contact@ wornbaby.com or call (405) 4102320.
Make the dentist a fun experience for kids
PHOTO PROVIDED
Parents should begin to acclimate children to the dentist at a young age to make the experience fun and even enjoyable. Visits to the dentist for periodic cleanings and checkups are an important component of oral hygiene. Dentists also may be the first people to identify potential issues that can affect health elsewhere in the body. Many people are unaware that children should visit the dentist early in their lives. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child should visit the dentist by age one or within six months of the eruption of his or her first tooth. However, many parents wait until much later — age two or three — to take kids to the dentist, offers Delta Dental Plans. Hesitance to visit the dentist may stem from personal fears or perceived reactions by children. Primary teeth may eventually fall out, but they shouldn’t be ignored. They save space for permanent teeth and serve other functions. Therefore, parents should begin to acclimate children to the dentist at a young age to make the experience fun and even enjoyable. Lead by example Children who witness their parents putting off going to the dentist or being apprehensive about visiting the dentist may develop their own fears. Always paint the dentist in a positive light and keep appointments. Focus on the good aspects Talk up all the benefits of going to the dentist, such as having a squeaky
clean and fresh mouth. Many hygienists will hand out small toys after a successful visit, or at the least a great new toothbrush and other fun products to try. Get a tour of the office Ask the staff if your child can get a special tour of the office with explanations of all the tools and equipment. Understanding what to expect the next time around in a no-pressure situation can make the process much easier for everyone involved. The dentist may be able to also give a test ride on the exam chair, moving it up and down, as well as showing off the water fountain and oral irrigator. Avoid giving false hope Do not tell a child that “everything will be OK” at the dentist’s office. If a child needs treatment that may be uncomfortable, he or she may not trust you the next time a dental visit is scheduled, according to Joel H. Berg, D.D.S., M.S., Director of the Department of Dentistry at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Avoid words like “shots,” “pain,” “hurt,” or even “cavities.” Dentists, particularly pediatric dentists, may have their own vocabulary that can assuage fears and seem less alarming to kids. Over time, dental visits can become an easy routine with children, setting them up for a lifetime of healthy mouths and teeth. -MS
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 13, 2020 • Page 3B
Six essential child-proofing steps often overlooked by parents and caregivers
Safe Kids Worldwide shares life-saving tips to keep kids safe at home. Young children are born explorers – climbing, touching and, of course, putting things in their mouths. While it is important for kids to try new things, their curiosity, when left unsupervised, can lead to tragedy: Each year, more than 2,200 children ages 12 and under – or six kids a day – die from an injury in or around the home. That’s why Safe Kids Worldwide, with support from Tide, urges parents and hosts to take a few minutes to do some important childproofing around the home. When families are preparing to bring home a new baby, it’s a great time to look at the home from a child’s point of view to see potential hazards. For parents, it’s a perfect opportunity to review places your child can now reach that were outside their grasp just weeks ago. And for relatives not used to having kids around, it’s helpful to have a child-proofing checklist. Here are six spots you may have missed when child-proofing your home: BURNS AND SCALDS Each day about 300 children ages 0-19 years are seen in emergency rooms from burn or scald injuries, many of which come from the kitchen. Keep hot foods and liquids away from the edges of tables and counters.
BUTTON BATTERIES Each year, more than 3,300 button battery swallowing cases are reported to U.S. poison control centers. Keep items that may contain coin-sized lithium batteries, like key fobs and small remote controls, out of children’s reach and sight. LIQUID LAUNDRY PACKETS In 2018, there were 9,444 calls to poison centers related to laundry packet incidents involving young children. Keep liquid laundry packets in their original containers, up, closed and out of children’s reach and sight. POISONS Every minute a poison control center receives a call about a child getting into a poison. Keep all household cleaning products, personal care products and medicines in their original containers, out of children’s reach and sight. Save the Poison Help number in your phone and post it visibly at home: 1-800-222-1222. TELEVISIONS Every day, 15 children go to the ER because of a TV tip-over. Use brackets, braces, mounts or wall straps to secure unstable TVs or top-heavy furniture to prevent tip-overs.
TOYS In 2018, an estimated 165,000 children under the age of 15 were seen in emergency departments for toy-related injuries – 452 kids every day. When choosing a toy or game, carefully read age recommendations and warning labels. For little kids, check for small parts and other choking hazards. Use this interactive tool to take a 360° view inside a toddler’s home and spot these six risks. Visit https://www.safekids.org/childproofing360 More home safety tips for families can be found at SafeKids.org. ABOUT SAFE KIDS WORLDWIDE Safe Kids Worldwide is a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting kids from preventable injuries, the number one cause of death to children in the United States. Around the world, a child dies every 30 seconds from an injury that could have been prevented. Safe Kids is a go-to resource to help parents keep kids safe from car crashes, fires, falls, poisoning and more. Through more than 400 coalitions in the U.S. and partners in more than 30 countries, Safe Kids works with children’s hospitals, trauma centers, first responders and public health experts to get life-saving information to families. Together, we can help all kids grow up healthy and safe. Join our effort at safekids.org.
Page 4B • February 13, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure