February 22, 2018

February 22, 2018 Vol. 18, No. 39

In This Issue BELLY DANCER

Belly Dancer, in real life is located in front of On Cue at 33rd and Kelly but is hidden somewhere in our paper this week. Email contest@ edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information see page 4.

An American hero finally home from Korea See Page 17

PHOTOS BY MELINDA INFANTE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Scattered T-storms High 51° Low 42°

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Thunderstorms High 56° Low 33°

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Sunny High 62° Low 40°

This year’s edition of BALTO, or Bring a Light to Others, at North High School was called ‘Hugs for Hope.’ Needy children, mostly in the foster care system, were the beneficiaries. With matching grant funds added, the benefit raised $648,760. That was the second highest total in the 23-year history of BALTO.

By Steve Gust With a theme of “Hugs for Hope,” the annual Edmond North High School benefit, BALTO, ended up raising $648,760 - to help mainly orphans and foster children.

A packed Siberian Gymnasium Friday saw thousands of teens wildly cheer as the school ended up with the second highest total in the 23year history of BALTO, or Bring a Light to Others.

The “Hugs for Hope,” effort includes three nonprofits, Mother Huggers, Anna’s House Foundation and Peppers Ranch.

“The kids are amazing and this is so exciting,” said North principal Debreon Davis.

Leading the effort were co-chairs Sydney Schuppan, a junior, and McKay Beard, a senior.

“This is the most fun week of the year,” Schuppan said. “This brings the whole school together.”

Beard said she was very proud of how the student body pitched in and helped.

“I came here from Texas when I was 14, and they don’t do that there,” she said. “Oklahoma does and it’s wonderful.”

Both teens said they would spend the rest of their lives helping other communities and charities as well.

Beth Jansen is the founder of Mother Huggers, a group empowering needy women and children here and abroad. She said what was done

by North students is in stark contrast to what the nation saw earlier in the week.

“Instead of the sadness the world saw this week in Florida, you bring

hope and love,” she told the thousands of North students who filled the gym, with some sitting on the floor.

Before the assembly to announce the final figures, Jansen said most of the funds would be spent for facilities at Anna’s House Foundation in Luther, a group that helps foster children and Peppers Ranch Foster Care Community, helping abused and neglected children.

Jansen said whatever funds were left over, Mother Huggers would use for scholarships for teens 18, leaving the foster care system.

Peppers Ranch is looking to build a $1.3 million 22,000-square-foot learning facility on its Guthrie campus. Its executive director said it would have pet therapy as well continued on Page 3

Page 2 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 3

MELINDA INFANTE

Each year at BALTO, students shine their lights in the assembly using their cell phones.

Cover instruction in drama. Currently Peppers Ranch serves 110 children, said executive director Tonya Ratcliff. Recently they’ve purchased another 415 acres and will be able to serve 400 children once that is developed.

She also was grateful for the work done by North students.

“It’s just unbelievable,” she said.

“These are our future leaders. They’re engaged and make life better for all of us. They never cease to amaze me.”

In her remarks to the students, Anna’s House Foundation executive director Katherine Craig, said the students’ effort would make an impact on many foster children for years to come.

An estimated 180 BALTO prince and princess candidates were intro-

From Page 1 duced during the assembly. Those candidates by themselves were responsible for raising more than $240,000 for “Hugs for Hope.” Overall more than $300,000 was raised and that was doubled by matching funds to almost $650,000.

This year’s common thread cause for North, as well as Santa Fe and Memorial, is the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma. Each school will donate 5 percent of their respective grand totals to the group.

In North’s case that will be $324,380.

The next school benefit is Edmond Santa Fe’s Double Wolf Dare Week, Feb. 26 to March 2. The benefit season concludes March 12 to 16 with Swine Week at Memorial High School.

MELINDA INFANTE

The co-chairs of this year’s BALTO effort were Sydney Schuppan, left and McKay Beard.

The executive directors of each cause helped by BALTO, are, from left, Tonya Ratcliff, Peppers Ranch; Katherine Craig, Anna’s House Foundation and Beth Jansen, Mother Huggers.

MELINDA INFANTE

Page 4 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Edmondson has a budget plan It was a pleasure to have former Oklahoma Attorney General, Drew Edmondson, drop by the Edmond Life & Leisure office last week. He is now a candidate for governor of Oklahoma.

We don’t have an editorial board like many chain owned newspapers. Folks running for office or currently in office just Ray Hibbard stop by and visit with us. We like it that way.

Since my desk is the first you see when you enter our office, I am the one they usually visit with. If it sounds interesting to him, our editor and veteran journalist Steve Gust will come from around the corner and join the discussion. Gust will ask the hard questions, but most politicians seem to enjoy that about him. Gust always asks the hardest questions with a big smile on his face. It makes candidates feel at ease.

Our friend from Price Lang Consulting, Charlie Price, was with Edmondson. Charlie got a little upset when I told Edmondson that he was my favorite Democrat. “I thought I was your favorite Democrat,” he said. Yikes! I got caught. I like them both. When Charlie opened his office here in Edmond with business partner Emily Lang, it doubled the number of Democrats we have in town. That is really a Steve Kreidler joke that I have stolen and used over the years.

Kreidler was one of UCO’s best and brightest vice presidents until he was stolen away by Denver University. He swears that when he went to register to vote here in Edmond the lady gave him the form with Republican already marked.

When he pointed out the error and that he wanted to be registered as a Democrat, she said, “We don’t get many of those around here.”

Edmond has always been a heavily weighted Republican strong hold. By all scientific counts, it still is. So, what was a leading Democrat running for governor doing in Edmond? Over the last 17 years there have been statewide races where the Democrat never shows up in Edmond much less visits the locally owned newspaper. There may be no data to reflect it folks, but the lines have begun to blur, even in Edmond. A friend of mine who started as a young Republican and has been one through his adult life told me the other day that he doesn’t know what he is now. I think between the pitiful choices we had in the last presidential race and the failure of our state legislature to pass a budget that will operate our state core functions, a lot of Republicans and Democrats in Oklahoma are feeling that same way.

Hence the reason for Drew Edmondson to be looking to garner Edmond Republican votes in the general election.

He must get past the primary, and a seasoned candidate like Edmondson will stay focused on winning his party’s nomination. He won’t say so, but I think this is in the bag. Edmondson still has a stellar record as our State Attorney General. He is about as personable of an individual as you will ever meet and extremely knowledgeable on the issues at hand for Oklahoma. What I like best about him is that he knows how to get things done.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Former Oklahoma Attorney General and current gubernatorial candidate Drew Edmondson at the Edmond Life & Leisure office last week.

His values are rooted in his Oklahoma upbringing. The second son of June and Congressman Ed Edmondson and the nephew of former Oklahoma Governor J. Howard Edmondson, he learned the value of true public service early. In fact, he is running because of those values. He sees our state in trouble with lacking leadership and is willing to step up and get the state turned around. I was searching for the right word to describe what he is offering when he filled in the

blank for me. Adult Leadership, are the words he uses. That is about the best description of what this state needs as I have heard.

As a student at Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on scholarship, he met the former Linda Larason who would become his wife. After their first date, Drew famously asked Linda, “When are we getting married?” Having

See Publisher, Page 5

Check out what’s inside! n Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 7. n Editorial addresses poor voter turnout ..........................................Page 8. n Dave Farris recalls angry bankers in the 1930s ..........................Page 11. n A unique spring break program....................................................Page 11 n George Gust looks at movie ‘Black Panther’ ..............................Page 15. n Crossword ..................................................................................Page 15. n Sports ........................................................................................Page 18. n Business of the week ..................................................................Page 21. n Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.

Find the ‘Belly Dancer’ bear’ We are continuing the bear art for our regular weekly contest.

Belly Dancer, in real life is located in front of On Cue at 33rd and Kelly but is hidden somewhere in our paper this week. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Belly Dancer is by artist Joshua Tobey.

“We love that Edmond encourages business owners to purchase art. Beyond the aesthetic appeal of the artwork, our bear is friendly and greets our customers with a wave and a smile. Our bear has personality and has been known to dress up from time to time (we think he may be a Thunder fan). We encourage customers to take selfies with our bear and tag @oncueexpress and use the hashtag #MyOnCue.”- Laura Griffith Aufleger, VP Corporate Communications for OnCue

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com

Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC

Partner Christopher T. Hoke

Copyright © 2018 by Edmond Media Publishing

Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com

107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax)

Production April Burgess, Deanne York Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083

Contributing

All rights reserved.

Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, Anne Schmidt, George Gust.

Material contained herein may not

Photographer Anne Schmidt anne@edmondpaper.com

be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeaneleisure

Cover Design April Burgess

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Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 5

UCO ‘re-invites’ controversial speaker

By Carla Hinton NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham will speak at a local university after all, The Oklahoman has learned.

Last week, in his daily e-letter sent to university faculty and staff, University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz said he has invited Ham to make his presentation about creationism on campus on March 5, the date Ham was originally supposed to visit the campus before his invitation to speak there was rescinded.

Betz said the university also will present a session on the First Amendment and free speech, as well as a session on the process of scientific inquiry and evolution.

Controversy recently erupted when the president of the university's student association withdrew an invitation for Ham to speak, citing pressure from gay rights advocates on campus. UCO Student Association President Stockton Duvall said gay rights advocates objected to Ham's stance against gay marriage.

However, Rachel Watson, president of the Student Alliance for Equality, said members of her group did not participate in any discussions regarding Ham and the group is committed to upholding and safe-

guarding free speech.

In his letter last week, Betz said UCO will conduct a presentation on the First Amendment on the morning of Ham's presentation on March 5. The First Amendment session will be at 10 a.m. and Ham will speak at 3 p.m.

Betz said UCO will present a discussion on the contemporary processes of scientific inquiry and evolution on March 6, along with a panel discussion on freedom of expression and freedom of speech "as appropriate to UCO as a teaching and learning institution.

"This will include representatives invited from our campus communities who will share their perspective," Betz said in his letter.

Ham said he was pleased to receive Betz's invitation. Georgia Purdom, Ph.D., from Ham's Answers in Genesis, will join him in his presentation.

"I'm thrilled my talk at UCO is back on again. UCO officials have definitely heard from many concerned state legislators, several local residents, and alumni," Ham said in a news release.

Ham also will speak at Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond later on March 5. The Rev. Paul Blair, Fairview's pastor, had invited Ham to speak at the church after the initial invitation from UCO was with-

Publisher From Page 4 met Linda, I can tell you he was wise beyond his years and quick to recognize he better act fast. I am glad she has given him permission to run.

I also like that Edmondson is a decorated veteran of the United States Navy where he reached the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a teacher when he got out of the Navy, elected to the state legislature in 1974 and graduated from the University of Tulsa School of Law in 1978. He was named Chief Prosecutor for the Muskogee County District Attorney’s office in 1982 and was elected District Attorney the same year and served in that position for 10 years. Edmondson was elected Oklahoma State Attorney General in 1994. He continued to be elected to that position until he left in 2011 and has been in private practice of law since.

When we were visiting with Edmondson in our office, he related many of the issues we have today to experiences he had as a District Attorney. D.A.’s, especially in smaller communities, deal with so many challenges.

They balance the call for justice with exercising human kindness to those in need. It is a tough line to walk, but Edmondson never shirked his responsibility to the people and at the same time worked hard to help the people in need. It will be interesting to see how any of the Republican candidates will match up with this Oklahoma guy, with Oklahoma values and that has an unblemished record of public service.

There is a good chance that Edmondson will appeal to many Republican voters and that his time in Edmond was well spent.

His plan for fixing the fourth straight year of facing revenue shortfall is called Take Back Okla-

homa. “Our legislative leaders still have a chance to set Oklahoma back on solid financial footing to fund education, health care, infrastructure and services for seniors,” Edmondson said. “If they aren’t willing to stand up to their corporate donors and their corporate lobbyists and do what’s right, I’m prepared as governor to put a plan before the people and let them vote to secure these critical services and put Oklahoma Back on track,” he added.

He wants his governorship to be a partnership with the people. His plans call for him to tour the state, giving Oklahomans across the state an opportunity to help build the plan for Oklahoma’s future. “Our leaders have failed to stand up to corporate special interest lobbyists.

Our friends and neighbors and especially our children are paying the price. If the shadows from the tall buildings downtown loom too large over our legislature, as governor, I’ll bring the process into the light of day and let Oklahomans vote on a budget plan that supports the people’s priorities,” he said.

With that statement, Edmondson has distanced himself from our current leadership at the capital. We have called on our governor and legislative leadership to bring this budget process into the “light of day.” They have refused saying it doesn’t work to have “too” many people part of the process. They believe the back room; closed door policies of the past are the way to get a budget done. I got news for them. It isn’t working!

Our expectation of anyone running for governor of this state is that they will agree that shedding light on the process is not only good but the right thing to do for taxpayers.

(Ray Hibbard may be reached by e-mail at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Rotarians seeking teacher nominations Edmond Summit Rotary is going to award an Edmond teacher $1,000 at the end of the school year.

The teacher who most represents the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self,” as decided by the board of directors and based on an online survey from Edmond School students.

The nomination form is accessed by going to our website www.edmondsummit.org and clicking on the

Winner gets $1,000 menu bar “New Edmond Summit Rotary Teacher of the Year Award,” and answering the quick survey.

Club officials hope there are some great stories out there and that they’re able to honor a deserving instructor.

The deadline to enter is April 15 and the winner will be announced May 18.

drawn.

U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, weighed in on the matter.

"It is important that our society and institutions of higher learning maintain tolerance and respect for diverse views. Unfortunately, in college campuses across America, free

speech is not fully valued and all voices are not always heard on various issues," Lankford said in a prepared statement.

"I support President Betz and the University of Central Oklahoma for providing an opportunity for the free debate of ideas in a place where it should be encouraged."

Page 6 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Active Living Open House is scheduled for Feb. 28 The Center for Active Living and Learning, a program dedicated to health and fitness for people 60 and older, will host an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 28 at the University of Central Oklahoma's Wellness Center, Room 134, located on the northwest side of campus.

The event will showcase the program's new four-week class and highlight other classes, which focus on balance, agility, strength training and how to stay independent and active.

People who want to participant in the Feb. 28 class should wear attire that is breathable and allows for movement, and athletic shoes. The public is welcome with no RSVP needed.

The center is a learning laboratory operated by faculty and students in the UCO Department of kinesiology and health studies. Members are accepted year-round. For more information, call 405-974-5309 or go to www.ucocall.com.

Orange Peel OKC will raise scholarship funds The OKC Metro OSU Alumni Chapter is putting a new twist on an event many Cowboys will remember from the 1990s and 2000s — Orange Peel. All alumni and friends are invited to attend this concert event supporting scholarships for local students attending OSU. Orange Peel OKC will be at 8 p.m.

Feb. 23. Doors will open at 7 p.m. at the OKC Farmers Public Market.

The night will be headlined by live music from red dirt music stars Cody Canada and Mike McClure and feature comedian Spencer Hicks. In addition to the concert, there also will be live auction items scattered throughout the evening.

Also, local artist Zonly Looman will be creating an oversize custom OSU painting that will be included in the auction items. Other auction items will include trips, experiences and OSU-themed private tours.

Tulsa Orange Peel will take place Feb. 24 at Cain's Ballroom.

“We're excited to bring this new event format to Cowboys in our two largest chapter markets,” said Chris Batchelder, OSU Alumni Association president. “Everyone involved in these benefit concerts is a big supporter of OSU, and we know they will offer attendees an exciting evening and an easy way to give back to Oklahoma State.”

Tickets to Orange Peel OKC are $70 for Alumni Association members,who may buy unlimited tickets.

Ticket price is $75 for nonmembers. Beer and wine will be provided at the event, as well as a cash bar.

For more information, to buy tick- ets or to become a sponsor for the event, go to ORANGECONNECTION.org/orangepeel, or contact Gina Stanley at 405-919-8367 or gina.stanley@okstate.edu.

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State bridges need repair From NewsOK.com Decades of neglect to Oklahoma's aging transportation system have left thousands of bridges in desperate need of expensive replacement or repair.

Nearly 1 in 7 of Oklahoma's county bridges can't support the weight of a fully loaded school bus, said Randy Robinson, executive director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Circuit Engineering Districts Board. The board helps tackle transportation issues on the county roadway system.

Bridges can't support the weight of oil and gas trucks or agricultural equipment that need the structures to get their products to market, he said.

Despite spending billions on bridge repairs in the past few years, Oklahoma ranks third worst in the total number of structurally deficient bridges and ninth worst in the number of deficient bridges as the percentage of inventory, according to the annual analysis by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

More than 3,100 bridges are posted for load, which restricts the size and weight of vehicles using the bridges, the group said.

And transportation advocates said the problem isn't likely going to improve anytime soon.

In the past three years, the Legislature has redirected $230 million from the state's County Improvement Roads and Bridges fund to help finance other government priorities, Robinson said. Some of those funds were allocated to pay for county bridge rehabilitation.

Of the 23,071 bridges in the state, more than 3,200 are structurally deficient, the group found. About 85 percent of the state's deficient bridges are located on county roadways, Robinson said.

“That makes it tough,” Robinson said. “We're making headway. It's tough when you don't have good, consistent funding stream to make those types of improvements.”

A structurally deficient bridge isn't necessarily on the verge of collapse but has major defects in its structure that require replacement or rehabilitation, said Cody Boyd, a spokesman for the state's Department of Transportation.

“Even though they're not dangerous — they're not at risk of falling down — they're a huge drain on our maintenance budget just trying to keep them open,” Boyd said.

Replacing deficient bridges has been the top priority for the agency, Boyd said. Since budget year 2013, the state has spent $2.4 billion fixing many of the 6,800 bridges located on state and U.S. highways and interstates. On those roadways, only 251 deficient bridges remain.

Over the past decade, the 2,653 bridges have been replaced statewide and 389 have undergone major reconstruction, according to the transportation group.

Many of Oklahoma's bridges are decades old. They weren't designed to withstand the needs of Oklahoma's major industries, modern vehicles and traffic counts, advocates say.

But for nearly two decades until the mid-2000s, the Legislature underfunded the state's transportation system, so preventive maintenance didn't happen on the aging infrastructure.

That neglect exacerbated the problem's costs, Boyd said.

“With no money for any kind of preventive maintenance, they deteriorated to the point of having to replace bridges,” Boyd said.

Counties, meanwhile, are struggling to pay for costly repairs to bridges located on their roadways. The state Department of Transportation finances major highway repairs and larger municipalities fund those within city limits. However, the responsibility for maintaining 13,565 bridges — or about 66 percent of the inventory — falls to the counties.

“The counties, of course, have their own struggles getting the amount of funding versus the amount of needs that are out there,” Boyd said. “They have a huge challenge with just the large number of bridges they have on their system.”

Typically, the state pays about 75 percent of the cost. Tribes or the federal government pay the rest, Robinson said.

Over the past two decades, 4,161 county bridges have already been replaced or repaired, but it will ultimately cost about $1 billion to replace the rest, Robinson said.

Best of Books will host renowned Edmond author Best of Books has announced the upcoming book signing of nationally known Edmond author, Tammi Sauer.

Sauer will be signing copies of her new book, “Wordy Birdy,” and hosting a special storytime on Saturday, Feb. 24. The event will be from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. There will be treats in addition to the book signing and storytime.

“Wordy Birdy” is the story of a bird who loves to talk. While she loves to talk, she neglects to listen.

One day, while she is walking through the forest, her talking gets

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her into hot water. It is up to her long-suffering, heard-it-all-before pals Squirrel, Raccoon, and Rabbit to save their distracted friend.

Tammi Sauer is a full-time children's book author who presents at schools and conferences across the nation. She is the author of 28 picture books, including Caring for Your Lion, Chicken Dance, Nugget & Fang, and Princess in Training. Chicken Dance: The Musical is on a national tour and Your Alien, an NPR Best Book, has been published in French, Italian, Korean, and Spanish.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 7

More information on events

February 22 ---- Lewis & Clark Revisited ---- Unlocking the West

February 23 ---- In the Gallery ---- The Raise-the-Roof Gospel Musical with “Hattitude!”

---- DNA Galleries: Tawnya Corrente, Sarah Day Short & Claire/Art Opening ---- Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum ---- Do you See What I See? Painted Conversations by Theodore Waddell ---- A Few Good Men ---- Brian Gorell & Jazz Company ---- Dorothy and Wizard of Oz ---- Oklahoma City Blue vs. Austin Spurs ---- Leake Classic Car Show & Auction ---- State High School Wrestling Championships ---- Theater Company Spring Performance starring first to seventh graders ---- KC and The Sunshine Band

February 24 ---- In the Gallery ---- The Raise-the-Roof Gospel Musical with “Hattitude!”

---- DNA Galleries: Tawnya Corrente, Sarah Day Short & Claire/Art Opening ---- Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum ---- Do you See What I See? Painted Conversations by Theodore Waddell ---- A Few Good Men ---- Dorothy and Wizard of Oz ---- Leake Classic Car Show & Auction ---- State High School Wrestling Championships ---- Theater Company Spring Performance starring 1st – 7th graders ---- Creature Creations ---- Annual Mardi Gras Gala ---- OC vs LCU DH ---- Oklahoma City Blue vs. Delaware 87ers ---- Annual Motorcycle Show ---- Drive ---- Docent-Guided Signature Tour

February 25 ---- In the Gallery ---- The Raise-the-Roof Gospel Musical with “Hattitude!”

---- DNA Galleries: Tawnya Corrente, Sarah Day Short & Claire/Art Opening ---- Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum ---- Do you See What I See? Painted Conversations by Theodore Waddell ---- A Few Good Men ---- Dorothy and Wizard of Oz ---- Theater Company Spring Performance starring 1st – 7th graders ---- Annual Motorcycle Show ---- Forum on Power and Importance of Pollinators in your Garden ---- Docent-Guided Signature Tour

February 27 ---- Teaching American History: Westward Expansion Additional Information:

In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Brad McNeill

Unlocking the West Location: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Dub and Mozelle Richardson Theater Extra Info: 10:30am – 12:30pm (Six Thursdays) The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Glenn D. Shirley Western Americana Collection is a treasure trove of documents, photographs, movie memorabilia, books, and magazines. This series provides an overview about this fascinating collection in storage and online, and showcases the art of paperback book covers for Western tales of cowboys, villains, duels, and danger. Register online at education.okstate.edu/olli or by calling (405) 744-5868.

Lewis & Clark Revisited Location: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Dub and

Mozelle Richardson Theater Extra Info: 1:30 – 3:30 pm (Six Thursdays) The journey made by the Corps of Discovery, led by Lewis and William Clark, is looked upon as the opening of the American West. Explore the journey through journal entries, works of art, historical photos, and more. Register online at education.okstate.edu/olli or by calling (405) 744-5868.

The Raise-the-Roof Gospel Musical with “Hattitude!”

Location: Lyric Theatre Extra Info: This uplifting celebration of life connects the love affair African-American women have with their hats to tales that recount memorable occasions in the lives of six women. Crowns is an absolute joy, brimming with witty storytelling and rousing gospel greats, including “His Eye Is On The Sparrow,” “Just A Closer Walk,” “I Shall Wear a Crown” and, of course, plenty of “Hattitude.”

DNA Galleries: Tawnya Corrente, Sarah Day Short & Claire/ Art Opening Location: Plaza District Extra Info: Featured in our gallery for the month of February is the work of Oklahoma artists Tawnya Rene Corrente, Sarah Day-Short, and Claire Smith.

Join us during Live On The Plaza from 6-10pm.

Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Museums typically exhibit only a very small percentage of their collections. In the vast holdings of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, there are pieces that, for one reason or another, are rarely on view. 5pm A Few Good Men Location: The Pollard Theater Company Extra Info: by Aaron Sorkin If you can handle the truth, get ready for the electrifying original Broadway play that became the legendary Oscar-nominated film starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. This Broadway hit about the trial of two Marines for complicity in the death of a fellow Marine at Guantanamo Bay sizzles on stage.

Brian Gorell & Jazz Company Location: UCO Jazz Lab Extra Info: Doors open at 7pm – Show starts at 8pm, $10. Instrumental Jazz---- First come first serve seating Dorothy and Wizard of Oz, A participation play Location: Oklahoma Children’s Theatre Extra Info: Recommended for ages 3+ Will Dorothy and Toto ever find their way back to Kansas? Will her friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, ever find a brain, a heart, and the nerve?

Oklahoma City Blue vs. Austin Spurs Location: Cox Convention Center Extra Info: 7pm Leake Classic Car Show & Auction Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park, Bennett Event Center & Centennial Building Extra Info: 9am – 7pm State High School Wrestling Championships Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park, Jim Norick Arena Extra Info: 10:30am – 10pm Theater Company Spring Performance Starring 1st to 7th graders Location: Edmond Fine Arts KC and The Sunshine Band Location: Riverwind Showplace Theatre

Creature Creations Location: Sam Noble Museum Extra Info: What would a painting created by a bird look like? How could an Apatosaurus reach the paper to draw a portrait? Capture the wonder of the wild as we explore silly ways to make art like the animals do. We'll get inspiration from exploring the amazing animals in our museum galleries and investigate creative art techniques. This event is for children 5 and up with an adult.

10am – 12pm Annual Mardi Gras Gala Location: Gaillardia Country Club Extra Info: Sponsored by Edmond Women’s Club, 6:30pm OC vs LCU DH Location: Oklahoma Christian University, Lawson Softball Complex, Tom Heath Softball Field at Lawson Plaza Extra Info: 10pm Oklahoma City Blue vs. Delaware 87ers Location: Cox Convention Center Extra Info: 7pm Annual Motorcycle Show Location: The Pavilion, Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: February 24, 10am – 6pm & 25th 9am – 4pm Drive Location: Riverwind, River Lounge Extra Info: Free live music from this local band. A local performer is fea-

tured every Saturday night in the River Lounge.

Forum on Power and Importance of Pollinators in your Garden Location: Channing Unitarian Church Extra Info: Hosted by horticultural expert, Christopher Yoder. This interesting session will consist of a discussion on the power and importance of our native and nonnative pollinators.

9:30am – 10:45am. Free admission.

Docent-Guided Signature Tour Location: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Meets at Canyon Princess (cougar sculpture in West Hallway) Extra Info: 1:00 – 2:00 pm Teaching American History: Westward Expansion Location: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, S.B. “Burk” Burnett Board Room Extra Info: 8:45 am – 2:30 pm This professional development seminar for educators focuses on ideas and events including Manifest Destiny, the Monroe Doctrine, the Mexican-American War, and the growing problem of Sectionalism that threatened to drive the North and South apart. Participants will receive a reader of original documents sent via mail in advance of the program. Discussion Leader: Dr. Greg Schneider, Professor of History at Emporia State University. Register at https://qr166.infusionsoft.com/app/f orm/registration-okc2018spring.

Page 8 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Defeating evil tough

Just a few thoughts about the horrific Florida school shooting last week.

It was really sad reading in The Oklahoman Sunday about the lives of the people lost.

Steve Gust As usual thoughts now move on to preventing another such tragedy. I still find it odd so many people believe the federal government has the power to pass a law and voila the matter is fixed.

That’s just not realistic.

It would help if agencies like the FBI would act on tips they get.

It will take solid security measures to help fix the threat. Then again, if people with hate in their heart want to do something evil, I’m not sure what laws or security measures will protect 100 percent of the people, 100 percent of the time.

One issue that will have to be addressed is fire alarms. This isn’t the first time a school shooter has tripped a fire alarm to provide greater access to students.

It’s all a terrible situation and I find it a horrible pity that we all

haven’t been able to love each other like God asks us to do.

----Interesting program on cable last week called “He Lied About Everything.”

This first episode dealt with a foreign doctor who swept an American female network investigative reporter off her feet.

They had planned to get married.

He told her Pope Francis would marry them because he had been the Pope’s private physician for awhile. (That wasn’t true.)

Both people were divorced and the lady wasn’t even Catholic. Yet the doctor convinced her the Pope would conduct the ceremony with guests including the Clintons, Barack Obama and singer Elton John. Plus this lady spent $10,000 just sending out invitations.

Turned out the doctor was still married to a lady in Italy while he lived with his mistress in Spain.

Odd the reporter was fooled so easily. Yet I’m convinced that when people are in love or seeking wealth, they just aren’t objective enough to see the truth.

(Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)

A poor voter turnout

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board While voter apathy is a real problem, the random timing of many elections does nothing to improve turnout. The low share of voters participating in many elections last week only bolsters the case for those who want to reduce the number of election dates and increase the number of races on a ballot when elections are conducted.

A glance at any number of election results from across the state Feb. 13 suggests the current system isn't working — at least if the goal is greater civic involvement.

Take the Deer Creek school district, where voters chose a new school board member.

According to state records, the district is home to more than 23,700 people and has more than 5,600 stu-

dents. While the board race presumably involved about one-fifth of the district, fewer than 1,300 votes were cast in that race.

And that's in a district where the average income is more than double the state average and 60 percent of residents have a college degree. Presumably, those individuals are more likely to be informed and active voters, yet the turnout is far lower than what one would expect.

Similarly, more than 145,000 people live in the Edmond school district, and roughly 24,000 students attend school there. The district employs 2,770 people.

Yet a school board race drew fewer than 300 votes last week.

Likewise, votes on bond packages involving millions of taxpayer dollars draw relatively little voter interest across

Oklahoma.

When relatively few voters participate in school elections, it increases the likelihood the process will be dominated by special interests with a narrow focus — and in many cases, that focus will have little to do with improving the quality of education.

While some blame falls on citizens — there's a big gap between the share of people who cite education as a top issue in polls and the number who bother to participate in local school elections — that's not the only issue.

Voter awareness of local elections, including not only school elections but many county and municipal races, isn't helped when those elections are held on odd dates in the middle of February.

Most Oklahomans know to turn out for statewide general elections in November, and to a lesser degree for statewide primaries in the summer months. But February is not a top-ofmind month in terms of voting.

Thus, some reformers have called for moving more school and local elections to dates that correspond with higher profile races, such as statewide primaries and general elections. This would increase turnout and voter input in numerous races.

Research conducted in 2015 by SoonerPoll found 64.8 percent of Oklahoma likely voters favored moving school board elections to November, with nearly half strongly favoring it. Republicans, Democrats and independents all favored the move, as did liberals, moderates and conservatives.

Citizens have an obligation to stay informed and vote, of course. But elections should also be scheduled to maximize, not minimize, voter turnout.

Democrats show unwillingness to compromise

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board The defeat of the Step Up Oklahoma revenue plan last week could provide impetus to a proposal to lower the threshold needed for the Legislature to increase taxes, and showed that compromise is essentially four-letter word for Democratic leaders.

Under a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1992, revenue-raising bills must receive 75 percent approval in each chamber. Supporters say it has worked as intended — the Legislature hasn't approved a tax increase since that time.

The Step Up plan, proposed by business and civic leaders across Oklahoma, includes several potential reforms to go along with recommended tax increases to provide teacher pay raises and budget stability. One of the group's reform ideas is to ask voters whether to make 60 percent approval the bar that must be cleared for tax increases. This would be identical to what's needed to approve school bond issues in Oklahoma, and would still

be a considerable hurdle.

Last week's vote in the 101-member House of Representatives was 63-35 — 61 percent approval — for a bill to increase tobacco and fuel taxes, bump the initial gross production tax for oil and natural gas wells to 4 percent (from 2 percent), and put a $1-per-megawatt-hour tax on wind energy production. Republicans, who hold 72 seats, provided 53 of the “yes” votes, one shy of 75 percent of the caucus. Only 10 of 28 Democrats (36 percent) voted in favor.

The original revenue figure in the Step Up Oklahoma proposal was $790 million. Concerns about the proposed restructuring of income tax brackets resulted in that language being removed last week.

The bill voted on last week would have generated an estimated $581 million.

Republicans who voted in favor are likely to face criticism from constituents, and potential opponents in this election year, because many ran on a

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Send mail to Letter to the Editor, Edmond Life & Leisure, 107 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or fax to 340-3384 or e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com.

promise to keep taxes low. But after several years of budget deficits, they believed this move was needed and were willing to push the green button at vote time.

The Democratic caucus, meantime, is taking an all-or-nothing stance ladled heavily with class envy.

The bill rejected last week, caucus leaders said, “sought to mend some of our state's problems with taxes that asked working families to pay more while asking very little of those at the top and the oil & gas industry.”

House Democrats included a $1.50-per-pack tobacco tax increase in their own agenda last year, but now reject it as harmful to lower- and middleincome Oklahomans. The increase to a 4 percent gross production tax isn't high enough; it needs to be equal to “the current top income tax rate of 5 percent.”

But that income tax rate is too low, too, according to House Dems. They want it bumped back up to 5.25 percent “on high earners.” The list goes on.

Republicans even offered in the late going Monday to make $67 million available for state employee pay raises, something Democrats have wanted. It wasn't enough. Caucus leaders say they're ready to deliver all 28 Democratic House votes — but apparently only if all their demands are met. Those demands have been moving all along, however, suggesting the real goal was that no agreement could be reached, all for political gain.

Oklahoma teachers who flooded the Capitol last week and have been so critical of GOP leadership should take note.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 9

Bankers declared war on robbers in 1930s

By David Farris The Osage and Cookson Hills of Oklahoma had long served as sanctuaries for outlaw gangs well into the 20th Century.

Bank robberies in the state had been on the increase since 1922; but by the early 1930s, during the Great Depression, the numbers really spiked. Professional bank robbers, known as “yeggmen” or “yeggs,” drifted from gang to gang and their various robberies.

A seemingly endless supply of new recruits were released reguFarris larly from the state prison at McAlester, to replace any yegg unfortunate enough to be captured or killed. It was often behind bars where these professional criminals honed their skills, anticipating the day when they can put them to use.

In 1932, members of the Oklahoma Bankers Association asked Gov. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray to send in the National Guard to help combat the recent spree of bank robberies throughout the state. By November, 47 banks had been robbed and their insurance rates had doubled. Primarily, these brazen bandits targeted banks in small, rural communities, where 92 percent of these robberies occurred.

Gov. Murray’s approach to crime Gov. Murray took seriously the bankers' concerns, and in order to bring an end to such rampant lawlessness suggested, “I am in favor of establishing the whipping post and the stocks for bandits in this state. Criminals fear the whip more than any other punishment. I would lay it on. I would whip a criminal in public before he goes to the penitentiary and whip him again when he comes out. That will cure it.

“For the first offense of any kind of banditry I would sentence the man to the penitentiary for a long time and also 50 lashes on the bare back in public. For the second offense, I would give him a longer term and sentence him to stand in the stocks, in a public place, for several hours. For the third offense I would send him to the electric chair.”

Bankers Association offers bounties Members of the Oklahoma Bankers Association took the governor's comments to imply that it was open season on bank robbers. The group offered to pay a bounty of $100 for every bank robber captured alive, and $500 for everyone killed. On Nov. 20, OBA secretary Eugene Gum announced, “We are urging the bankers everywhere in the state to tell the people of their towns that we do not want bandits captured alive. We want them dead.”

By November 1932, the OBA had already paid

‘I am in favor of establishing the whipping post and the stocks for bandits in this state. Criminals fear the whip more than any other punishment. I would lay it on. I would whip a criminal in public before he goes to the penitentiary and whip him again when he comes out.’

-- Okla. Gov. ‘Alfalfa Bill’ Murray rewards on 216 bank robbers who had been captured or killed. At that time, there were many known bank robbers in Oklahoma, but none more infamous than Charley “Pretty Boy” Floyd and his partner, George Birdwell. As a result, anytime a bank was robbed, they were suspected. Even on Nov. 7, when the State National Bank at Marlow and the American State Bank in Henryetta, more than 100 miles away, were robbed within five minutes of each other. As it turned out, neither Floyd nor Birdwell were involved. Regardless, the two had pushed their luck for too long in the Sooner State.

On the day of the double bank robbery, Floyd's ex-wife, Ruby, was staying at her parents' house near Bixby, when she suffered abdominal pains.

Her father rushed her to the hospital in Tulsa, where she underwent an emergency appendectomy and remained for two weeks. When she recovered, the hospital refused to release her before the exorbitant medical bill was paid. Her family didn't have the money and her ex-husband was in Kansas City, Mo., visiting his girlfriend, Beulah Baird. Word of Ruby's dilemma reached Birdwell, in Earlsboro, who stepped-up to aid his partner's damsel in distress the only way he could.

A risky bank to rob Boley, Okla. in Okfuskee County was the largest entirely black town in the United States.

The type of place where a couple of white bank robbers would be noticed. Floyd had already “cased” the town's bank and decided that it was too risky and that he “didn't want anything to do with it.”

On the morning of Nov. 23, just three days after Gum's dire warning, Birdwell prepared to rob his first, and last, bank without Floyd. He and another white robber, C.C. Paterson, entered the Boley Farmers and Merchants Bank with their guns drawn; while a young black man who knew the area, Charley Glass, sat nervously behind the wheel of the getaway car. Upon seeing the two white men, bookkeeper, H.C. McCormick, ducked into the vault where a Winchester rifle was stashed.

Like a character in a “B” gangster movie, Bird-

Statewide teacher walkouts possible?

From NewsOK.com The idea of replicating the public school shutdowns seen across Oklahoma in 1990 is starting to circulate.

The superintendent and some school board members in Bartlesville are responding to teacher interest in the idea by visiting with local parents and conducting an online survey to gauge the opinions of district leaders across the state.

“I'm not orchestrating it. All different groups — parents, teachers, etc. — have come forward to say this is something we need to consider,” said Chuck McCauley, Bartlesville superintendent. “It's still very early, but this conversation needed to at least start happening now. If this gets legs, I really think it's going to take the parents in addition to teacher groups for this to be a possibility.”

In 1990, it took a four-day, statewide teachers' strike to force House Bill 1017 through the Legislature and then a vote of the people to sustain it.

The measure raised taxes for increased teacher

compensation in exchange for a series of policy changes, including class-size limitations, mandatory kindergarten, training for school board members and parent education programs.

Alison Clark is a Bartlesville school board member and founding member of Public Education Advocates for Kids, a year-old group of residents concerned about quality teacher retention and public education funding.

Clark said the idea of a 2018 walkout is something she has heard bandied about among teachers for months, but only as a last resort.

“Maybe we're just naive, but we knew there would have to be some bill for everyone to get behind or some other mechanism. We wondered if support would mobilize behind the Step Up plan,” Clark said. “Everyone wants to believe that their elected officials will do right by them. We talk to our legislators regularly, but two of them won't listen to any of it. “

‘Polar Plunge’ will benefit Special Olympics Oklahoma On Saturday, Feb. 24, hearty individuals will plunge into freezing water at White Water Bay for the annual Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Oklahoma. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the Polar Plunge begins at 10:30 a.m.

Many Polar Plungers arrive in costume to make the plunge an even more fun event.

The statewide goal for the 2018 Annual Polar Plunge is to raise $300,000 or more for Special Olympics Oklahoma. The goal for Oklahoma City Polar Plunge is $60,000. Every three plungers allows one athlete to compete in Special Olympics Oklahoma for an entire year!

“If you don’t get around to registering to plunge before Saturday, that’s

OK, because we will sign you up on the day of the plunge!” said Jennifer Lightle, Special Olympics Oklahoma Special Development Director.

“Last year, we had many people register on the morning of the plunge which makes my job so exciting. It’s only $75 to register and all of the money raised stays right here in Oklahoma to support programs for more than 11,500 Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes.”

The brave souls who are plunging created personal web pages to seek donations from friends and family.

To support one of these individuals, see how the pledges are accumulating, or to become a Polar Plunger, visit www.mysook.org/PolarPlunge.

Call 918-481-1234 for registration forms or to donate.

well announced, “We're robbin' this bank! Hand over the dough! Don't pull no alarm!”

Bank President D.J. Turner began handing over bills, then in defiance flipped the switch. “Did you pull that alarm!,” Birdwell shouted.

“You bet I pulled it!,” Turner courageously replied.

“I'll kill you for that!,” Birdwell shouted, before shooting Turner four times in the chest.

Then, McCormick aimed his rifle through the crack in the vault door and shot Birdwell in the back. “I'm shot!,” he said before collapsing to the wood floor. In a panic, Patterson quickly grabbed $700 and ordered a couple of bank customers to drag his dying partner to the car. When the men stepped outside, they were confronted by townspeople armed with rifles and shotguns who fired on Patterson, seriously wounding him. As Glass attempted to drive away, he was also fired on by the mob and killed.

The aftermath of a botched robbery Birdwell was a bank robber and finally a killer; but, he was also a stand up guy and a loyal partner. He had saved Floyd's bacon at least a couple of times, and lost his life in a selfless act to get Ruby back home to her family by Thanksgiving.

Ironically, one of Floyd's outlaw idols, Henry Starr, was also killed by a Winchester that had been stashed in a bank vault.

George Birdwell was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, in Seminole, Okla., on Nov. 25. Rumors circulated that Floyd had attended the funeral in disguise, and even in drag, but he knew that it would have been too risky. Instead, he stayed in Kansas City, where he was protected by his underworld contacts.

McCormick was paid $500 by the bankers association, who also gave $500 to be divided among the mob who killed Glass. The bookkeeper also received a letter of congratulations from Gov. Murray, in addition to numerous death threats from partisans of Floyd and Birdwell. McCormick kept the .45 caliber pistol that Birdwell had used on that fateful day, and wore it on his belt like a badge of honor. As it turned out, the souvenir proved to be more deadly than any death threats.

Years later, it accidentally discharged tearing a round into the hero's leg. The wound never properly healed, and was thought to have contributed to his death.

The violent death of George Birdwell should have served as a cautionary tale for any would-be bank robbers who were inspired by the legend of Pretty Boy Floyd.

That is, in addition to the sudden acceptance of mob violence and rewarding vigilante justice with cash. Unfortunately, these were hard times, and after all, Floyd was still “at large.” Banks in Oklahoma and throughout the midwest had not seen the end of the Depression Era yeggmen.

Page 10 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Frances M. Straughan

Frances Straughan turns 100 Congratulations goes out to new Edmond resident Frances M. Straughan. Earlier this month she turned 100 years young.

Frances has had a very interesting life.

She was born Feb. 11, 1918 in Cuero, Texas and grew up in Meridian, Texas.

She earned a bachelor of science degree from Texas Women’s University. Her field of study was in being a dietitian.

She has three children, Stephen A. Straughan of Rockwell, Texas; Nancy Mitchell of Edmond; and Sharon Devoto of Alexandria, Va. In addition the widow has been blessed with six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. In April that will increase to 11 great-grandchildren.

Frances moved to Edmond last November to be closer to family.

She’s already made one good friend, hair stylist Von Hobart.

“Frances is a wonderful person and has great hair,” she said.

Metro museum offering inaugural Murder Mystery Night & Sleepover The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is excited to announce its first-ever Murder Mystery Night and Family Sleepover at the Museum in conjunction with the new spring exhibition Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum.

On April 7 from 6 to 8 p.m., guests can enjoy a premiere dinner and date night extravaganza with the first “Murder Mystery Night: Rare and Wondrous Curiosities from the West.” While enjoying dinner, guests will participate as a speakeasy patron, sleuth, or suspect, and use their investigative skills and creativity to determine who committed the crime. Watch out! You could be accused of the crime. The event is limited to 120 players and is $50 per person. Child care provided on-site with a fun craft, movie, pizza, and popcorn for $10 per child. Children must be age 4 or older. Reservations can be made at nationalcowboymuseum.org/murdermystery.

On April 28 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., families are invited to explore the mysteries from the vault at the Museum’s first family sleepover. Trek through the galleries after dark for a fun, hands-on evening of discovery. Each child makes a craft, gets a button, T-shirt, flashlight, and miner’s helmet.

Bring a treasured object from home for “show and tell” and watch the film, Night at the Museum before enjoying a bedtime story, Another Night at

the Museum. An evening and morning snack is provided, but families are welcome to bring their own food (refrigeration is not available). Parent must accompany children and should bring sleeping bags. $35 per child for ages 4 and up, $20 per adult. Reservations can be made at nationalcowboymuseum.org/sleepover.

“We invite you to round up your family, some friends, or work colleagues and come to these new and sensational programs,” said Chief Public Experience Officer Inez Wolins. “The key ingredient can be summed up in one word — fun!”

Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum is on display through May 13 and exposes rarely seen artifacts from the Museum’s vault including a pair of Buddha sculptures from John Wayne’s personal collection and a sketch of a dinosaur on C.M. Russell’s own letterhead. The exhibition dives deep into the Museum’s vault of never-before-seen artifacts and gives visitors a unique look at what, why, and how museums collect.

For more information about the Museum’s upcoming exhibitions and related programming, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org or call (405) 4782250. Nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is located only six miles northeast of downtown Oklahoma City

Reminder on annual library book sale Book lovers, don't miss out on the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale, which will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 25 in the Oklahoma Expo Hall at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

Pick up books at low prices and help fund "community library programs, events and supplies," according to a news release. Over the years, the volunteer Friends of the Library have

Engagement, Wedding notices Do you have a wedding or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com. We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph.

Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

given more than $4.2 million in grants to the Metropolitan Library System.

Nonprofits also receive free books.

The sale is always the last weekend in February. This one offers up more than 700,000 books covering virtually every category and genre, plus music, DVDs and audio books, according to the release. Prices in the general section are a dollar per hardback and 50 cents for paperbacks.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 11

PHOTO PROVIDED

A child gets hands-on with slime at a 2017 Science Museum Oklahoma spring break camp.

Museum’s spring break camps foster creativity Fire safety, physics, engineering and tinkering are on deck for Science Museum Oklahoma's spring break camps set for March 19-23 at the museum, 2020 Remington Place.

“SMO's spring break camps really have it all — unique themes for every age group, hands-on learning, Science Live and Kirkpatrick Planetarium shows, and of course the museum itself,” said Annie Bewley, museum educator for Science Museum Oklahoma.

The museum's camps are for children in pre-K to sixth grade and feature a different theme for each age group.

“Camps are limited to 15 children per age group, which creates an ideal environment for one-

on-one and small-group instruction. Our camps make for a truly memorable week at the museum,” Bewley said.

Camp themes, times and dates are: n Earth, Wind & Fire, ages 4-5 (Pre-K and Kindergarten), 9 a.m. to noon, $100 for members, $125 for nonmembers. There is a lot of science to the spring season. Young scientists will plant seeds, explore the museum's gardens, catch a breeze with rotocopters, harness the power of the wind and explore the basics of fire safety.

Camp themes, times and dates are: n GO!, grades 1-3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers. Campers will get hands-on with physics and engineering during a week

that is all about force. Students will dissect a bicycle, build catapults, cardboard planes and zip lines, tour the museum's Pullman parlor car and more.

Camp themes, times and dates are: n Build & Destroy, grades 4-6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers. In this week of tinkering, campers will construct contraptions, take electronics apart, get hands-on with wrecking balls to take down a cardboard city, experiment with implosions and more.

Advance registration is required. Registration will close March 12 or when full.

For more information or to register, go to www.sciencemuseumok.org/spring-break-camps, or call 602-3760.

Early Explorers, Science Museum Oklahoma’s youngest scientists, handle playdough in the museum gardens.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Page 12 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Kuleshov Piano Festival & Competition starts The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music will host 16 top-tier competitors from across the nation for the second Kuleshov International Piano Festival and Competition Feb. 22-25 in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre in the Center for Transformative Learning building on UCO’s campus.

The four-day competition is split into high school and collegiate divisions and includes performances from guest artists Valery Kuleshov, Petronel Malan and Eugene Skovorodnikov, as well as a wellness seminar led by body-mapping specialist Kathrun Woodard and a master class taught by Kuleshov. This year, many high-quality applications were received, with six high school competitors and 10 collegiate competitors accepted into the competition.

Prizes include $4,000 per division, as well as additional prizes awarded for creativity and style, funded by contributions from the Jung-Springberg Foundation and the Brisch Center for Historical Performance Practice.

“The caliber of the contestants this year is phenomenal,” said Sallie Pollack, UCO School of Music faculty member and director of the competition. “Students from both coasts and many from the Midwest, Texas and Oklahoma will be in Edmond to compete for a coveted final spot. The excitement of hearing this level of young talent coupled with performances of top guest artists will make this weekend a highlight of the year for audiences.”

As the namesake of the competition, Kuleshov will host an opening concert and reception at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 22 in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre. Kuleshov, the UCO School of Music’s artist-in-residence since 1992, is an honored artist of the Russian Federation, has earned multiple awards and medals and has toured the world performing in some of the most prestigious concert halls.

South Africa’s Malan, a multiGrammy nominee and gold medalist

PHOTO PROVIDED

During the first Kuleshov Piano Competition in March 2016, UCO School of Music Director Brian Lamb, third from left, presents 2016 collegiate winner Yuan Liu with the top award. Also, pictured from left, are Provost John Barthell, former College of Fine Arts and Design Dean Pam Washington as well as jurors Alexander Korsantia, Alexander Kobrin, Tom Lanners and Valery Kuleshov.

of several international piano competitions, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre.

Malan’s career was launched after winning five gold medals in 2000, as she was featured as one of the “10 Most Inspirational Women in South Africa” and appeared on multiple magazine covers and fashion spreads.

Skovorodnikov will host a recital at 2 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre. Born in Ukraine, Skovorodnikov is widely recognized throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia and the former Soviet Union for his stylistic interpretation and his technical brilliance.

The winners of the competition will perform in a finale concert at 7

p.m. Feb. 25.

“We wanted to make the final round both a competition and also a concert,” Pollack said. “The jurors and audience, together, get to experience how the finalists shine as professional performers as opposed to just competitors. This gives these wonderful young artists a chance to perform the most daring of repertoire while expressing their personalities to an excited audience. It will be the Winter Olympics of Piano, in a way.”

The Kuleshov competition’s inaugural year in 2016 invluded 10 high school and nine collegiate competitors and more than $8,000 in total prizing. Yuan Liu, the first-place collegiate winner of the 2016 competition, has since become a prize winner

in the prestigious New York Piano Festival and Competition and also returned to UCO to perform a guest recital in January 2017.

Weekend passes and individual concert tickets can be purchased by visiting www.centralconnection.org/thekules hov or by contacting Pollack at 405974-5948 or spollack@uco.edu.

The Kuleshov is funded by the Harold and Juanita Swigeart Endowment and the Dr. Peter Springberg and Mrs. Lynnette Jung-Springberg Endowment.

For a complete schedule of events, visit thekuleshov.com For more information about UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events, visit cfad.uco.edu.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 13

More scenes from BALTO 2018 Edmond North High School

MELINDA INFANTE

Thousands of students and guests filled the Siberian Gym last week for the annual BALTO, or Bring A Light to Others, benefit.

MELINDA INFANTE

After a quick $2,000 was raised, there was a quick haircut given one of the students.

MELINDA INFANTE

BALTO lights flooded the gym as officials prepared to announce hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for foster care children.

Page 14 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Edmond Women's Club delivered meals to all of Edmond Mobile Meals clients during a day of Community Champions Week in 2017.

Part of March for Meals celebration

Edmond Mobile Meals allies with Meals on Wheels Edmond Mobile Meals announced last week it will be participating in the 16th annual March for Meals – a month-long, community-by-community celebration of Meal on Wheels and the vulnerable seniors who rely on the vital service to remain independent at home.

Edmond Mobile Meals’ celebration will include various activities throughout the month of March, including a “Dine Out” week with local participating restaurants, Denim Friday, Community Champions Week and culminating with a local student art exhibition and online auction in partnership with Café Evoke in downtown Edmond. ”The services that we provide the seniors of Edmond are critical and the need is rapidly increasing,” said Cristi Twenter, Executive Director of Edmond Mobile Meals. “Together, we can keep seniors living independently, healthier at home and feeling more connected to their community as they age.”

Last year Edmond Mobile Meals delivered almost 55,000 meals to the homebound elderly and disabled residents of the community, helping nearly 500 people remain living independently in their own homes. Demand for this service will continue to increase each year as the Baby Boomer generation ages.

The annual March for Meals commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older

PHOTO PROVIDED

Edmond Police deliver meals to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Brawner as part of 2017 Community Champions Week for Edmond Mobile Meals

Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older.

Since 2002, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need.

“This March, hundreds of local Meals on Wheels programs will rally their communities to build the

support that will enable them to deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to America's most at-risk seniors all year long,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “With the demand for Meals on Wheels increasing along with our country’s senior population, we need to ensure that seniors are not forgotten.”

For more information on how you can participate, volunteer, contribute or speak out for the seniors in Edmond this March, visit www.edmondmobilemeals.org.

About Edmond Mobile Meals: Edmond Mobile Meals in Edmond, Oklahoma is a non-profit charitable organization celebrating its 44th anniversary this year. It provides hot, nourishing meals to over 200 elderly and disabled persons who are unable to prepare meals for themselves.

The meals and daily contact by caring volunteers allow frail, homebound persons to remain independent and in their own homes. Edmond Mobile Meals is a team effort of approximately 400 volunteers of all ages, from retired to young adults.

Some help every week, while others volunteer once a month. Volunteers not only deliver meals to homebound disabled people, but perhaps even more importantly, they also show their concern, love and compassion by providing a daily wellness check. For many clients, volunteers are the only people they see each day.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Megan Gold, currently Miss Bethany, brightens Edmond Mobile Meals client’s day with a warm meal and a visit.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 15

‘Black Panther’ lives up to massive hype

By George Gust Here we go again; another Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and the obligatory hype leading up to the greatest superhero movie since the last greatest superhero movie.

For those keeping score at home, "Black Panther" is the 18th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while this film adheres to many of the tried and true elements of other films in the Marvel director and co-writer Ryan Coogler adds a refreshing filmmaking storytelling style that makes "Black Panther" feel different than any of its Marvel predecessors.

"Black Panther" follows T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who, after the events of "Captain America: Civil War," returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King and Black Panther. However, when an old enemy (Andy Serkis) reappears on the radar, T'Challa is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire fate of Wakanda and the world at risk.

One of the major drawbacks to Marvel movies is the continual pressure for each film to grab the baton from the previous film and setup the action yet to come. "Black Panther" bucks this trend and is given the space to take its time setting up the world of Wakanda and the characters who inhabit

that world without the looming specter of things to come. With Coogler's experience writing and directing character driven dramas like "Fruitvale Station" and "Creed" he was able to successfully blend his dramatic sensibilities with the colorful comic book world of Black Panther. The supporting characters around T'Challa feel fully developed with their own motivations and opinions in a way that other Marvel films failed to do, (looking at you “Thor”).

You can have all of the character development in the world, but unless you have the right actors in the roles the resulting movie can fall flat. In "Black Panther" the cast is outstanding and full of standout performances across the board; the most standout of which belongs to the performance of

Michael B. Jordan as the main antagonist. Jordan brings a youthful, charismatic and layered performance that makes the audience sympathize with his motivations, but abhor his villainous actions. On the other side of the coin, Danai Gurira as T'Challa's personal bodyguard and Letitia Wright as T'Challa's younger sister and technology genius have fresh takes on familiar character types. Both of these actresses bring an impressive amount of personality to the respective roles which normally take a back seat to the title hero character. The enjoyable performances across the board full of interesting characters and refreshing personalities make "Black Panther" one of the more memorable Marvel movies in recent memory.

Overall, "Blank Panther" is a striking and fresh entry in the well-established Marvel Cinematic Universe from a new and exciting director. And while the action sequences and Marvel-esque elements of the film feel retreading familiar territory, the fully developed characters and remarkable performances make this film feel like fun next step for superhero movies.

"Black Panther" is rated PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action violence, and a brief rude gesture.

4.6 out of 5 stars

The motion picture ‘Black Panther’ has been setting box office records since its release last week.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Concert scheduled On Tuesday, March 20 Oklahoma City’s Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble will present the fourth concert of its 2017-18 season, “Montage of Sound.” An ensemble of winds, accompanied by viola and piano, will present a collection of significant but rarely-heard shorter chamber pieces by an eclectic mix of 19th- and 20th-century European composers.

The works on the program are: Gaetano Donizetti, Trio for Flute, Bassoon & Piano Franz Schubert, Auf dem Strom, D. 943, (for tenor, horn & piano) Émile Paladilhe, Solo pour Hautbois (“Solo for Oboe” and piano) Ralph Vaughan Williams, Four Hymns for Tenor, Viola & Piano Madeleine Dring, Trio for Flute, Oboe & Piano Benjamin Britten, Canticle III, “Still Falls the Rain,” op. 55 (for tenor, horn & piano) The performance will take place at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, March 20 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7th Street (at Robinson). Individual concert admission is $20 per ticket. Children, students and active-duty military personnel are admitted free with ID. More information about this concert is available on Brightmusic’s website at http://www.brightmusic.org.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: ST. PATRICK'S DAY ACROSS 1. Salmon deposit 6. Old age, archaic 9. Bagpiper's garb 13. Hawaiian veranda 14. Big Island flower necklace 15. Helper 16. V.C. Andrews' "Flowers in the ____" 17. Uno ___ or one more 18. 4 x 4 race 19. *"Water of life" 21. *Shamrock 23. ____ Aviv 24. Rumpelstiltskin's weaver 25. Wildebeest 28. Mega Bloks competitor 30. *Outdoor St. Patrick's Day event 35. Starting point on way to riches 37. Clump 39. Dionysus' pipe-playing companion 40. *Ireland, once 41. Ox connector, pl.

43. Quartet minus one 44. Put out on a curb 46. *William Butler Yeats, e.g.

47. Cardinal vices 48. Bee's favorite drink 50. Russian mountain chain 52. Go gray 53. Period of illness 55. Workout unit 57. *These never lived in Ireland 60. *Hibernia 64. Musician's exercise 65. Flying saucer acronym 67. Cleveland's controversial chief 68. Villain 69. Decompose 70. Do penitence 71. Parting words 72. Pro vote

73. "Walk the Dog" toy, pl.

DOWN 1. Deli side 2. Beaten by walkers 3. Nay sayer 4. Middle measurement 5. Jefferson coin 6. Lined with elm trees 7. "Back To The Future" actress 8. ABBA's genre 9. Capital of Ukraine 10. Like some rumors 11. Shakespeare's tragic monarch 12. "Don't give up!"

15. Olfactory property, pl.

20. Funereal lament 22. Chop off 24. ____ tower 25. *"The wearing of the ____" 26. Evian, backwards 27. Finno-____ language 29. Lump of stuff 31. Refuse visitors 32. Skylit lobbies 33. Faulkner's "As I Lay

____" 34. Irregular or jagged 36. Religious offshoot 38. *Stout, e.g.

42. Liverpool star 45. Cursor-moving button 49. Wade's opponent 51. Wiggle room 54. Shylock's line of work 56. Socrates' famous pupil 57. Dog command 58. Classic art subject 59. Puts two and two together 60. Itty-bitty bit 61. Call to a mate 62. Unacceptable 63. "Nobody ____ It Better" 64. Flow alternative 66. *British to the IRA

See Answers Page 23

Answers Page 23

Page 16 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

College offering public cultural outreach The University of Central Oklahoma’s Office of Global Affairs has launched a program designed to add a little SPICE to life for interested businesses, schools and community groups.

UCO international students will share what life is like in their home country with any group wanting to learn more about a particular culture, said Jared Scism, manager of international programming.

Students Providing International and Cultural Experiences (SPICE) is a free service to help groups in the community become more globally and culturally competent and to dispel stereotypes.

“I grew up very culturally incompetent,” Scism said. “What I was surrounded by and what people said, I took that for fact.”

He wants students in metro-area schools to learn about countries and

cultures from “the actual source” — instead of what they might see on TV or the internet.

The 950 international students from 76 countries who attend UCO are a great resource, he said.

“Get it from the source, from someone who lives there. People who live right here in Oklahoma can do that for you,” Scism said. “Students are excited to share that with people and teach them about their culture.”

Multiple students will go March 7 to Adams Elementary School in Oklahoma City for a program, and other schools are calling, he said.

The students also can share cultural do’s and don’ts with companies seeking to do business in other countries or hiring employees from other countries, Scism said.

“People who need training in a particular culture, but they don’t know

where to go, they can reach out and I can find someone to come and do that training,” he said.

Little things can make a big impression.

Scism said, for example, it’s sloppy and impolite to offer your business card with one hand in Japan. Extend it with two hands and a slight bow.

In the Middle East, men shouldn’t sit with their ankle across their knee because showing the bottom of the shoe or foot is an insult, he said.

Businesses, schools and organizations that want a member of the SPICE program to come to provide training or a program, can contact Scism at jscism@uco.edujscism@uco.edu or 405-974-2131.

Opening the world SPICE is the latest program designed to connect UCO international students with their American counterparts and the community at large.

Scism also coordinates programs that pair international students with American students and with metroarea families, and a program that connects American students with international families. He serves as an adviser to the International Student Council and International Christian Student Organization.

He caught the international bug as a student at Oklahoma Christian University, where his first roommate was Chinese.

“I became really interested in his culture,” Scism said. “Then I started meeting African students on campus.

One thing led to another, and I just grew to love international students and their culture.

“That opened my world to a whole new life.”

He studied abroad in Japan his junior year.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” he said.

After graduation in 2011, he moved back to Japan and taught English for two years. During that time he married his Oklahoma sweetheart.

When the couple returned to Oklahoma, Scism wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. Then the opportunity came to combine his love of international cultures and education when the job at UCO opened.

“The times I’ve always been the happiest have been when I’ve been on a college campus,” he said.

Scism is president of World Experiences Foundation, a Norman-based nonprofit, and president of the Japan-America Society of Oklahoma.

From NewsOK.com

Bank announces milestone Arvest Bank announced last week its mortgage division originated more than $1 billion in purchase-money mortgage loans in 2017, the second year in a row it has done so.

Passing the $1 billion mark in purchase-money loans in 2016 was a milestone for Arvest, so topping the year-old record for performance a year later is particularly rewarding, said Steven Plaisance, president and chief executive officer of Arvest’s mortgage division.

“Arvest continues to show its commitment to home loan lending through its growing production and service to its communities,” Plaisance said. “Housing is healthy in our markets, and we are very privileged to be there for the customers that choose us. We have a dedicated team with experience and expertise ready to answer the call on these important financial transactions. We thank our customers and partners for the op-

portunity to be part of these important moments in their lives.”

As of Dec. 31, 2017, Arvest had closed a total of 6,684 purchasemoney loans with total loan value of $1,146,950,855. In 2016, Arvest closed a total of 6,222 purchasemoney loans with total loan value of $1,009,284,166.

“Mortgage rates continue to remain historically favorable even though the Fed has taken action to push short-term rates up,” Plaisance said. “Mortgage rates are derived from longer-term maturities (7-10 years), so mortgage rates do not always move in lock-step with the Fed action on short-term rates.

Arvest Bank is unique among most local lenders in that it services 99 percent of its mortgage loans, meaning that customers make their payments to Arvest and they work with Arvest on any needs after their loan closes.

OC basketball players honored Two high-scoring performances that led Oklahoma Christian to consecutive wins earned Oklahoma Christian's Addy Clift recognition earlier this month as the Heartland Conference's women's basketball player of the week.

Clift, a 5-foot-7 junior guard from Kiowa, scored 25 points apiece as the Lady Eagles won 63-50 at St. Edward's (Texas) and 76-63 at home against Rogers State on a weekend game. It was the first time this season that OC won consecutive Heartland games.

Against St. Edward's, Clift went 5 of 8 from 3-point range, becoming just the sixth player in Heartland history to record 200 career 3-pointers.

The Heartland's leading scorer hit five more 3-pointers and again scored 25 points as the Lady Eagles led most of the way en route to the win over Rogers State.

She also moved into the top 25 on OC's career scoring list during the week and now has 1,173 points.

Clift was named as the Heartland player of the week three times during the first semester, most recently after OC swept a pair of games in Washington state in December. She's received the league's weekly honor more than any other Heartland player this season.

She helped give OC a sweep of this week's Heartland hoops honors, as Jordan Box was named as the league's men's player of the week.

----Also two of the finest performances of Jordan Box's basketball career earned the Oklahoma Christian guard recognition earlier in the

Addy Clift of OC month as the Heartland Conference men's player of the week.

Box, a 5-foot-10 junior from McKinney, Texas, entered the week averaging 13.7 points per game, but he averaged 30 as the Eagles split a pair of games at St. Edward's (Texas) and at home against Rogers State.

With OC down two starters at St. Edward's on Thursday, Box poured in a career-high 33 points (the thirdhighest single-game total this season by a Heartland player) to stake the Eagles to a lead they held for nearly 30 minutes before falling 107-92.

He followed that by scoring 27 points (going 6 of 11 from 3-point range) in a 77-61 win over Rogers State. It was the Eagles' first win over the Hillcats since 2012.

Box is the second OC player this season to be named as the Heartland's player of the week, joining backcourt mate Elijah Strickland.

Box helped give OC a sweep of this week's Heartland hoops honors, as Addy Clift was named as the league's women's player of the week.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 17

CHRIS LANDSBERGER/NEWSOK.COM/THE OKLAHOMAN

After almost 70 years, Sgt. Alfred G. Bensinger returned to Oklahoma. A military honor guard removed his casket from a flight at Will Rogers Airport.

Remains ID’d & brought home

Korean War vet receives military honors

By Steve Gust After 67 years, remains of an Oklahoma City military hero finally returned home last week to a grateful son and well wishers who honored and remembered his military valor in Korea.

The ultimate sacrifice of Army Sgt. 1st Class Alfred G. Bensinger Jr. wasn't forgotten at Will Rogers World Airport with Patriot Guard Riders on hand to welcome him back to his home state.

This was a day his son, Gary Clayton of El Reno, was doubtful would ever take place.

"I really never thought this would happen," Clayton, 70, said.

Bensinger was born Feb. 16, 1925, in Oklahoma City. He was a highly decorated World War II and Korean War veteran. From 1943 to 46 he served in the South Pacific. He was captured in Korea during a massive Chinese offensive in the cold of November 1950. At that time he was a member Company D, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. During a retreat action, Bensinger was among 700 troops either killed or captured. Bensinger was listed as Missing in Action (MIA) Dec. 1, 1950. Freed American prisoners of war later told officials Bensinger died of starvation at a POW camp in January 1951.

All these years later, Clayton remains proud of his father's service and a legacy, which has shaped his own life.

"I never knew my father," he said. "I thought his life wouldn't affect me much growing up but it did."

Gradually he felt his father's influence in his life.

"I made a decision in my life to stand up for the U.S. Constitution," Clayton said. "If he could put his life on the line for his country than I could for the Constitution."

Sgt. 1st Class Alfred G. Bensinger Jr. Clayton, a futures trader, has been living in El Reno off and on, starting at age 3. At age 21 he left El Reno, but returned 18 years ago.

He recalled the series of events, which took place, which finally gave him the answers to his father's fate.

In 2005 remains of 32 individuals were recovered and submitted to a lab for extensive DNA testing, according to an official Army news release.

Last summer Clayton received notification the

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sgt. Bensinger also served three years in the South Pacific during World War II. He would have been 93 last week. Instead he died in his 20s serving the United States Army during the Korean War.

remains of his father had been positively identified.

The next step was to arrange a funeral.

"I decided I would have the service on his birthday, Feb. 16," Clayton said. He's been making arrangements with Smith & Turner Mortuary of Yukon.

"They have been excellent to work with," Clayton said.

Tim Ingram of Smith & Turner said it was a very unique experience for his funeral home to bring closure to a family after this many years. He said he's been impressed with the honor shown Bensinger by veterans, Patriot Guard riders and others.

"It makes you understand the sacrifice made by our veterans," he said. Although his business works hard at assisting grieving families every day, he called this situation "breathtaking." The funeral home is also placing Bensinger's death at Jan. 19, 1951.

Last Friday, a short military service was held at Smith & Turner before a second formal procession takes place from Yukon to Fort Sill National Cemetery at Elgin, Okla.

"He (Sgt. Bensinger) received full military honors," Ingram said.

The Army, in its release, said 7,710 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. They hope to identify even more soldiers, as was the case with Bensinger.

Meanwhile Clayton said it is just a coincidence the funeral is being held at the same time the Winter Olympics are being staged in South Korea.

"I'm not much a sports fan," he said.

Yet last week an American hero, who earned many medals of valor, did finally complete his trip home from Korea to his home state of Oklahoma

Page 18 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sports

51 Edmond swimmers qualified for state Fifty-one Edmond swimmers competed in individual events at the 6A State Championship Meet last weekend at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center, 33 of them swimming double events and two seeded first in both their events.

All of Edmond’s 18 relays also competed at the state meet.

Qualification for the state competition is based on times achieved during finals at both the west and east regionals. Qualifying athletes earned a top 24 time in their event. Advancing relays finished in the top 16.

“Edmond is fortunate to have strong state teams at each school,” said Edmond Head Swim Coach Heather Devoe. “Each team brings a unique perspective to the meet regarding size and talents, and each is a powerhouse in its own way.”

Edmond North took the city’s largest combined team with 24 athletes. The Lady Huskies qualified 13 swimmers for state, 10 of them in two events each. The boys have 11 athletes, six swimming double events.

“The size of North’s state team is a reflection of their performance at regionals,” said North Site Coach Erin Devoe. “Many kids stepped up and swam their best times, making sure that they got in for state. Having the majority of them in two events gives the team the opportunity to score even more points than originally expected.”

Memorial qualified 17 swimmers for the state championship, including two top seeds. Katie Callahan entered the championship meet as the No. 1 seed in the girls 200- (1:52.91) and 500yard (5:04.54) freestyle events. Luke Davis is the top seed in the boys 200-yard individual medley (1:54.39) and 500-yard freestyle (4:42.08) events.

The Lady Bulldogs took 12 swimmers, seven competing in two events each. The boys have five athletes with three swimming double events.

“The majority of Memorial’s team qualified for state, so it’s an exciting time to be a Bulldog swimmer,” said Memorial Site Coach Valerie Wingerson.

“We have many seeded in the top eight, looking for a chance to get on the winners’ podium. Having two swimmers going into the meet as the top seed in their events just makes it even more exciting.”

Santa Fe qualified 10 athletes for state in individual events. Seven boys qualified, including five swimming two events. Three girls competed, two in double events.

“While Santa Fe doesn’t have a large team going to state in individual events, we do have additional relay only swimmers who will compete,” said Santa Fe Site Coach Adam Collett. “When you add those swimmers to our individual event competitors, Santa Fe actually qualified a large majority of its team. That shows the talent Santa Fe will be bringing to the state meet.”

The 6A State Championship Meet was held last weekend at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center

Star Edmond Santa Fe swimmer Chloe Chase Individual Event State Qualifiers GIRLS Memorial Megan Adler (100 fly) Rachel Adler (100 breast) Riley Bushey (50 free, 100 back) Genna Callahan (200 free, 500 free) Katie Callahan (200 free, 500 free) Kellie Fischer (100 free, 100 back) Elizabeth McAnally (100 free) Kristen Nieves (100 breast) Krista Parker (200 free, 500 free) Sydney Parker (100 fly, 100 back) Angelina Rossi (200 individual medley, 100 breast) Allie Schein (500 free) North Hannah Brenning (50 free, 100 back) Claire Burton (100 breast) Sienna Cotton (200 individual medley, 100 fly) Trysta Duerson (100 fly) Brynnan Duncan (50 free, 100 free) Lindsey Fuchs (100 breast) Ryann James (50 free, 500 free) Reese Lugafet (100 free, 100 back) Riley Mills (200 individual medley, 100 breast) Ivy Ott (100 free, 200 free) Emma Reynolds (200 individual medley, 100 breast) Anna Savva (200 individual medley, 100 back) Erin Sylvester (50 free, 100 free) Santa Fe Chloe Case (200 free, 500 free)

Kierstyn Cleaves (500 free) Arrian Taton (200 free, 100 fly) 2018 Individual Event State Qualifiers BOYS Memorial Luke Davis (200 individual medley, 500 free) Denton David (100 breast) Samuel Hart (100 fly, 100 breast) Max Myers (50 free, 100 free) Logan Stafford (500 free) North Hayden Burchfield (200 free) Evan Drum (50 free, 100 fly) Noah Froese (50 free, 100 free) Brendan Healy (200 individual medley, 100 back) Matt Hutson (500 free, 100 back) Samson Patty (200 free) Alex Reynolds (50 free, 100 free) D.J. Scott (100 back) Chris Silva (200 individual medley, 100 breast) Jack Tichenor (100 back) Sam Valiant (500 free) Santa Fe Bryan Campbell (100 fly) Aaron Fiorazo (100 free, 200 free) Ryan Harris (200 individual medley, 100 fly) Leo Matteev (100 breast) Jacob Muller (50 free, 100 back) Braden Nicholson (50 free, 100 free) Ethan Reed (100 free, 100 breast)

Memorial girls finish second to Bartlesville

By Jacob Unruh NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Norman North has finally moved on from last year's mistake, and it took a celebration in the pool.

The Timberwolves won the Class 6A boys state championship Saturday night, edging Jenks 431-413 in at Edmond Schools Aquatic Center to atone for a disqualification last year that left them two points shy of a title.

And they got to celebrate with their tradition of throwing the coaching staff in the pool and jumping in with the trophy.

“I don't think there could have been another way to move past this,” Norman North's Alex Stamatin said.

Last year, Norman North was disqualified in the 400-freestyle relay during the prelims.

This time, Norman North won that event and used a huge win in the 200-yard freestyle relay. It swam in 1:25.05, passing Jenks' 2001 state record of 1:26.08.

“Last year was rough,” Norman North coach Kent Nicholson said.

“It's just been a battle since then trying to get back here and do it again.

And it was tight, so there was a lot of stress in the meet.”

Bartlesville's girls also rolled to a fourth straight championship, posting a whopping 465.5 points. Edmond Memorial was second with 247.5 points.

Fischer, Harris tie Edmond Memorial's Kellie Fischer was excited even if she doesn't get to take home a gold medal just yet.

Fischer, a senior, tied for first with

Bartlesville junior June Harris in the 100-yard freestyle at 51.87 seconds.

It's the second time in a few weeks she's tied in an event, the first coming in a club event.

“It's definitely crazy,” said Fischer, who later won the 100-yard backstroke. “I'm actually really happy we tied. June's such a sweet girl and I'm really grateful I got to race her.”

OSSAA rules state that a tie in the final round results in the points being split. Each team received 18.5 points.

But Harris got to take home the gold medal. The OSSAA will deliver a gold medal to Fischer at a later date.

Newby continues dominance McGuinness star junior Hanna Newby is one step closer to her goal.

With two more state records and gold medals, she's set state records in both individual events each year of high school with one remaining.

“My hard work is still having an effect on what I'm doing,” Newby said.

“Each year I'm not working any less hard than the year before because I want to ensure those records. I never want to stop getting better for myself and my team.”

She set the record in the 200-yard individual medley, beating last year's record of 2:04.98 by more than 2 seconds at 2:02.24.

In the 100-yard breaststroke, she swam 1:01.58, way ahead of last year's 1:03.05.

Flying solo Oklahoma Christian School senior Conner Hill found it a tad intimidating not having teammates. Tuttle freshman Hallie Sheffield took pride in being alone.

On a day where teams have a

chance at a title, two local swimmers were on their own.

Hill finished third in the Class 5A 100-yard breaststroke, setting a personal best. Sheffield finished fifth in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle.

“I get to represent my school and just be me,” Sheffield said. “It's hard being a freshman and being out there with them, but I love it. I love the competition. I feel like I did OK.” Tuttle does not have a team, so Sheffield is part of a co-op with Norman.

Hill has teammates, but the other qualifier was ill and unable to compete.

Record-breakers In addition to Newby's new marks and Stillwater's five records, several other state records were broken.

In Class 6A, Bartlesville's Kate Steward set the mark in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:02.27, passing the 2015 record by Edmond North's Rylee Linhardt (2:02.74), and in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.46), passing her own 2016 record. Bartlesville also set a record in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:35.88) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:27.11).

In Class 5A, a total of 11 records were set.

Tulsa Kelley's Patrick Callan, a Michigan signee, broke the 50-yard freestyle record, swimming in 20.78 to pass Chickasha's Isaac McKnight's 2011 mark of 21.11. Callan also passed McKnight (45.96) in the 100yard freestyle with a time of 44.32.

Callan also helped Tulsa Kelley set records in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.

j

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 19

Honored Sequoyah Students for February

PHOTO PROVIDED

These students were selected by their teachers as the February students of the month for Sequoyah because they have excellent work ethic, enthusiastic personalities and positive influence. On the back row are, from left, Ciara Wolfe, Allie Clift, Bernard Ammerman, Ryan Pojezny and Elizabeth Swindle. On the front are Frank Schenk, Joshua Jones, Anna Beth Turner, Layla Wilson and David Hudkins.

City Council denies new church permit

By Eriech Tapia NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman After weeks of back-and-forth discussion and demands, the city council voted against allowing a church to be built at Rankin and Third Streets.

In a 4-1 decision, the council stopped the new church on the grounds of its high density for the area, even though all requests had been fulfilled. Mayor Charles Lamb voted yes.

The decision surprised people on both sides of the issue.

Members with The Church in Edmond had appeared before three city council meetings, with neighbors objecting about issues on parking, drainage and windows on the second floor.

“It makes us feel good that the city council listened to the negotiations we had and what they were proposing,” said Patty Wagstaff, a nearby resident.

At the last meeting on Jan. 22, council members requested the church have its second story windows on the east and south sides either be opaque or have a way people could not look into neighbors' backyards.

Peter Morrical, a church representative, brought a window with opaque glass to show those in attendance at the city council meeting last week.

“We think this provides what the neighborhood is seeking and asking for in terms of privacy,” Morrical said.

Only four neighbors showed up to object to the project this week, and although they agreed the windows would work, they still had concerns about the size of the church.

In total, the church could have had 66 seats and 22 parking spaces, which is within the city code of one space for every three seats, said City Planner Randy Entz.

“At the point we outgrow this facility and the parking, our desire is to find another facility or another property,” said Tom Cochran, another representative from the church.

“This would always remain, in our view, a very important facility to serve the campus," he said.

However, church officials said the location would only be a short-term solution and would serve as a campus ministry if the church grew.

“I appreciate everybody's effort on this,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Waner, even though she voted no.

“We just do not know what else could happen here in the future.”

Two variances were being requested, including a change to part of a parking lot and a smaller landscape buffer. But Waner said those variances would make the property too dense.

“It is a very tight piece of ground,” said Lamb. He recalled that several items have been proposed at the location over the years and said this was a decent proposal.

City votes to double rates at Gracelawn

Rates at Gracelawn Cemetery have doubled as the city of Edmond looks to sustain the cemetery and future expansion.

The council approved the rate increase 5-0 last week. The cemetery also will no longer have burials after noon on Saturdays.

After a Jan. 29 article in The Oklahoman reporting the possible rate hike, the city saw an increased demand for plots, selling 108 burial spaces. On average 116 are sold in a year.

“So, the word got out,” said Mayor Charles Lamb.

At Gracelawn, only about 250 adult plots remain, and city officials

hope to expand the cemetery.

“The rates are still reasonably priced,” said Baggerley Funeral Director Matthew Boydstun.

Rates for a traditional adult plot are now $1,400 with a cremation plot costing $700.

Along with the increased cost of a plot, opening and closing fees have gone up to $900 during regular cemetery hours, and $1,400 for Saturday morning burials.

With the rate increase, 20 percent of the revenue will now go into a perpetual care fund toward upkeep of the cemetery.

---- ERIECH TAPIA

Page 20 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The dead pledge Mortgage protection through history

By Kenneth Wohl, RCB Bank Anyone who has ever closed on a mortgage may tell you it feels like you are signing your life away as you pen your signature on what seems like an endless stack of paperwork, Wohl but all that paperwork is for good reason, to protect you and the lender.

Three important documents you will sign at closing: n Closing Disclosure, an itemized list of closing costs, so there are no hidden fees. n Mortgage, a document that pledges the property as security for the loan. n The Note, or Promissory Note, which is the borrower’s “IOU” to repay the mortgage and outlines the legal contract between borrower and lender.

These documents protect not only the lender from borrower default of payment, but also protect the borrower from dishonest mortgage practices.

Borrower protection dates back to ancient civilization.

The earliest known Law Code of Manu from ancient India, circa 500 B.C., lists laws to protect borrowers from deceptive and fraudulent mortgage practices.

A little history lesson.

Before ink and paper, promises for property were often agreed upon by way of spoken pledges.

The term mortgage came into being around the 13-century, appearing in Old French texts. The word combines “mort” from Latin, meaning dead, and “gage” which means a pledge, more so a pledge to forfeit something of value if a debt is not repaid. Mortgage literally means dead pledge.

Hold on. The death by definition does not actually refer to a person’s

Mortgage Matters Column physical death, but rather the end of the debt at which time the pledge was considered dead. The pledge was dead once the debt was paid in full. Also, if the borrower didn’t fulfill the payment agreement, the property would become dead to the borrower.

Whew.

Almost all debts today do have collateral (valued object) attached to them for the lender to receive repayment if the borrower fails to pay the promised amount. The word mortgage though, describes liens where the collateral is a dwelling. That is why all other liens, like on a car or boat, are not considered a mortgage.

When you are at closing signing all the paperwork, remember, this is far better protection than our ancient ancestor’s verbal dead pledges.

When you decide to buy or refinance a home, first talk to a local lender. The more knowledge you have about the mortgage process, available loan options and your individual qualifications, the more satisfying your home buying experience will be.

I am here to help, even if you are not an RCB Bank customer. Feel free to call me, Kenneth Wohl, at 405-6085291 or email kwohl@bankrcb.net.

---Opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of Kenneth Wohl and meant for generic illustration purposes only. For specific questions regarding your personal lending needs, please call RCB Bank at 855-BANKRCB, RCB Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and member FDIC. RCB Bank NMLS #798151. Kenneth Wohl NMLS #453934.

Sources: Patrick Olivelle, Law Code of Manu, 2004 Oxford World’s Classics https://www.etymonline.com/word /mortgage

PHOTO PROVIDED

The EEDA presented T&S Online Marketing with a commemorative arrow for being a recent 2018 Featured Business in The Arrow newsletter.

EEDA features business The Edmond Economic Development Authority (EEDA) recently featured T&S Online Marketing in a recent 2018 issue of EEDA's newsletter, The Arrow. The Arrow is a monthly newsletter emailed to approximately 2,000 subscribers. Featured businesses also receive a commemorative arrow to recognize their participation.

"The featured business portion of The Arrow was created as an outlet for the EEDA to further support and promote the Edmond business community," said Janet Yowell, EEDA executive director. "T&S Online Marketing has been a part of the community for nearly 15 years and we were pleased to share their story."

T&S Online Marketing provides digital marketing, web design, social media management, email newsletter management, blogging and SEO. In an industry that can be challenging to keep on top of upcoming trends, the owners and staff pride

themselves on vetting different platforms, tools and tactics for their clients.

"My wife, Leann, and I wanted to live and work in Edmond after graduating from Oklahoma Christian University because we loved the area so much," said Tim Priebe, owner of T&S Online Marketing. "We are proud to be a part of the Edmond business community."

To read the full T&S Online Marketing feature in The Arrow, visit www.eeda.com/archives. To subscribe to The Arrow, visit www.eeda.com.

The EEDA exists to offer resources that stimulate the growth of Edmond's economy by creating and maintaining an optimum environment for both new and existing businesses, offering services that facilitate the growth and expansion of those businesses and generating opportunities to increase the sales tax base of the city of Edmond.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Bishop McGuinness senior Braeden McLaughlin signs a letter of intent to play football for Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa

Edmond player inks with college Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School senior Braeden McLaughlin recently signed a letter of intent to play football for Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Braeden is the son of Holly McLaughlin of Edmond.

Braeden is a three year starter for the Fighting Irish football team, playing right tackle. He is a member of the 2016 & 2017 state runner up football team, who also won the 2017 State Academic championship.

As a senior, Braeden was selected to the Big All-City first team roster, and

named to The Oklahoman All-State Second team. He also played center on the Irish basketball team.

Volunteer opportunities include Camp Shiloh, St. Eugene Catholic Church, Red Bud Classic Organization and the Irish Basketball camp. Braeden was also involved with the Bishop McGuinness Senior Service Project, hosting an “Olympics” Day for the students at the Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Oklahoma Hobbies include traveling and hiking. Braeden’s major is undecided.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 21

Strong energy forecast Urban and rural Oklahoma are both expected to make economic gains in 2018 thanks to an everimproving oil and natural gas industry.

Dr. Russell Evans, executive director of the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute, said the most recent Oklahoma Energy Index (OEI) points to strong economic gains across the state, with rural Oklahoma benefitting from increased activity in oil and natural gas fields and metropolitan areas boosted by the overall economic strength generated by increased employment and boost in gross domestic product provided by the energy industry.

“The current price levels and ability to hedge at higher prices are having a positive impact on the industry's cash flow. It creates a continued opportunity to address debt levels and develop assets in Oklahoma,” said Chris Mostek, senior vice president of energy lending for Bank SNB. “The sustained increase in employment levels within the industry is a positive trend for both the state overall and our fellow Oklahomans.”

The most recent Energy Index increased by just 0.6 percent but marks seven straight months of

See Energy, Page 22

Realtor statistics show vibrant home market The Edmond Board of Realtors (EBR) home sales statistics for January 2018 are now available online at http://www.edmondrealtors.com/stats.

The statistics provided are published monthly by EBR based on MLSOK multiple listing service data.

The statistics are based on residential properties in the City of Edmond.

The total housing inventory at the end of January 2018 rose to 1,314 existing homes available for sale versus last year’s 1,122 homes.

The market experienced upward momentum with the increase of median price this month.

Prices decreased to $242,000 versus the previous year at $236,100.

The median days on market decreased to 62 in January compared to last year’s 67.

The Edmond Board of Realtors was established in 1947 and currently represents over 850 Realtor members and 120 affiliate members serving the Edmond area.

Cox offering teachers grants Teachers in the OKC metro area can now apply for grants that will directly impact their classrooms thanks to Cox Communications employees.

Cox Charities Innovation in Education grant applications are available for public and private schools (grades pre-K-12).

Applicants can visit www.coxcharitiescentral.org to submit online. Applications will be accepted through March 1.

The Cox Charities Innovation in Education program provides grants of up to $10,000 each to OKC-area schools to fund classroom programs and curriculum that encourage and promote students’ academic success and enhance the educational experience.

“We know teachers must look for alternate resources to implement new or continue existing programs,” said Kristin Peck, vice president of public affairs. “Through Cox Charities, our employee funded giving program, we are able to support innovative classroom initiatives.

Each year, we look forward to the positive impact our educators make in the classroom. And we applaud

the teachers and staff who bring these exciting ideas to life.”

Cox Charities was created to strengthen Cox communities through the support of programs that positively impact Oklahoma City communities in the areas of education, technology, health and the arts. In addition to the Innovation in Education grants, Cox Charities offers Community Investment Grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and a portion of the funds help Cox employees in times of need.

Founded in 2005 through the annual contributions of nearly 1,800 statewide employees, Cox Charities has invested more than $6 million in Oklahoma and served more than 100,000 youths.

In 2018, the employees of Cox Communications pledged to donate more than $270,000 to continue fulfilling its mission of strengthening Cox communities through the support of programs that positively impact Oklahomans.

For Cox Charities Innovation in Education grant applications and more information about Cox Charities, visit www.coxcharitiescentral.org.

Neurologist joins OU Physicians the University of Oklahoma Board-certified Neurologist College of Medicine, includMichael A. Tribbey, M.D., of ing serving as chief Neurology Edmond, has established his resident. He earned his bachmedical practice with OU elor’s degree at OU in NorPhysicians. Neurologists diagman. nose and treat disorders of Tribbey is a Fellow of the the central nervous system American Academy of Neurolsuch as headache, seizure, ogy and the American Associstroke, dementia and ParkinTribbey ation of Neuromuscular and son’s disease and disorders of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. the peripheral nervous system Tribbey sees patients on the Unisuch as neuropathy or muscular disversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences ease.

Center campus. For an appointment Tribbey specifically sees patients with an OU Physicians neurologist, for electrodiagnostic studies such as EMG/NCSs. He has been a practicing call (405) 271-3635.

With more than 1,000 doctors and neurologist in Oklahoma since 1985. advanced practice providers, OU He is board certified in neurology Physicians is the state’s largest physiand electrodiagnostic medicine. He cian group. completed his medical education at

Bank giving its employees a $2,000 bonus Quail Creek Bank n.a., last week announced that its non-exempt employees will receive a one-time $2,000 cash bonus.

The bank is also making an additional long-term investment in all employees by increasing the 401(k) match to 100 percent of every dollar up to 6 percent of Fuller their annual salary.(formerly 4 percent match for maximum contribution of 5 percent of their salary). The announcement was made by Mark Davenport, Chairman of the Board and Doug Fuller, CEO and president of the bank after the February board meeting.

“Our board is proud that 2017 goes in the books as another record year for our bank as loans now exceed $500 million and earnings were $13.5 million. Our employee culture of service and relationship banking is the reason for this and we are glad to reward their commitment and dedication to our bank. For 46 years, we have always believed that the employee’s and officers at the Bank are all part of one big family. As such, we feel it is important to share our benefits of tax reform with our employees who are the ones that make it happen for us every day, ” stated Mark Davenport, Chairman.

The two new initiatives are a result of the recently enacted tax reform. President Fuller said, “We believe this tax reform will drive economic growth for our community and encourages us to invest in our employees, as well as in the technology which is rapidly shaping the U.S. banking industry.”

Quail Creek Bank continues to be one of the Independent Community Bankers Association “Top Performing Banks in the Nation.”

Page 22 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

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By Brian Attebery We are getting close to spring break and for many of us that started our fitness journey in 2018, this can be the start of losing focus.

Attebery It is difficult to stay motivated. I notice every years, many people fall of the wagon around spring break.

Should people just quit once they fall off? No way. What are the keys to maintaining their progress towards the fitness goals throughout the year?

In my experience there are many keys to maintaining motivation in fitness. The most important one is accountability. Statistically, members that invest in personal training do the best. I use the word “invest” because it is obviously a greater financial commitment as well. If you pay for training with a professional personal trainer then you should not only get a good workout but also learn more about your body for a lifetime.

That does not mean you have to actually train with the trainer for a lifetime though. I have clients that come in from out of town once a month or quarterly for years for periodic evaluations. I also have clients that personal train for years twice weekly as part of their lifestyle. That does not mean everyone does that long but a few months of sessions might mean the difference of you seeing the changes you would like to see versus getting frustrated and losing hope.

You might train with the trainer more often for the first few months and then maybe just once or twice a week from that point on to maintain some variety and accountability. In other words, you go through the process long enough that you actually give yourself a chance to succeed. You then can carry that motivation over into a lifestyle of fitness.

If you start to fall back off the wagon then schedule some more sessions with that trainer to get back on track and get a pep talk while you are at it.

Many people wonder how they can afford to have a personal trainer.

You may be able to do more than you think if you evaluate your priorities. If you are going to lose weight, eating out is not the best choice.

What would happen if you give up those restaurants you frequent 3-4 days a week to maybe just once a

week? Could you come up with money to train with a trainer then?

You also need to understand that while 3 days per week is the standard recommendation for general fitness needs, you do not necessarily need to be with the trainer all three days. You may just train one-on-one with the trainer 1-2 days per week and do the rest on your own. Use those 1-2 days per week as accountability and report to the trainer how you did on your own.

Time management is a factor with prioritizing your fitness as well. The length of each session offered can vary from facility to facility. While I do occasionally have 60 minute sessions with advanced clients, most clients love the idea of only 30 minute sessions done in an intense, effective way. Training with a trainer for 30 minutes can be harder than training by yourself for 60 minutes.

We do not waste time.

This allows the clients to then have time for cardio after the weight training and you get more accomplished in a short amount of time. This addresses the time constraints of most Americans and gives them an effective 30 minutes of workout with weights and leaves time for cardiovascular exercises afterwards.

Many times we struggle trying to “figure it out” when by the time a few months or weeks of that goes by then we are frustrated and burned out. Most people that quit coming to the gym are not the ones that are making progress. They are the frustrated people that feel as if they are wasting their time and not seeing the changes they would like to see. Personal training is a way to save time and frustration by hiring someone that knows how to help you the most efficient way.

Personal training is a great asset to consider. Beyond that, the ultimate key is your mindset. You must decide you are willing to change your fitness lifestyle. You must go when you do not feel like.

You must eat foods you do not necessarily want to and avoid foods you love. That treadmill can be boring and the weights can make you sore. Hire a trainer to push you through all that so you can see that although the process is not always fun the results can be a blast.

Good luck.

(Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com)

Energy

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upward movement in the index.

Using data collected in December, the Energy Index stands at 180.7, an 11.3 percent increase from one year ago.

The month's index gains were led by increases in crude oil prices and the Oklahoma Energy stock portfolio, a measurement of publicly traded, Oklahoma-based oil and natural gas businesses. Price gains complemented modest but consistent gains in employment in the exploration and production as well as the support sectors of the industry.

“The recent run-up in oil prices is a welcomed surprise,” Evans said. “While

we expect markets to give up some of those price gains in the first half of 2018, we do expect oil prices to stay above critical levels necessary to maintain activity in Oklahoma's oil fields.”

The Energy Index is a comprehensive measure of the state's oil and natural gas production economy established to track industry growth rates and cycles in one of the country's most active and vibrant energyproducing states. The OEI is a joint project of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OIPA), Bank SNB and the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 22, 2018 • Page 23

Lankford’s bill would give pregnant moms tax relief Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) last week introduced a bill to expand the Child Tax Credit to cover all families, including pregnant moms. The Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act builds on the Child Tax Credit provisions included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by supporting families and pregnant mothers with the many costs that accompany caring and planning for the care of a newborn baby.

“Parenting costs don’t just begin after a baby is born,” said Lankford. “As anyone with children knows, expecting parents have many expenses to prepare for the arrival of their newborn. It makes sense to expand the Child Tax Credit to cover the costs of that child whether they are incurred before or after birth. I hope it is brought for a vote

‘It makes sense to expand the Child Tax Credit to cover the costs of that child whether they are incurred before or after birth.’

-- U.S. Sen. James Lankford in Congress – it is an easy way to help families who are planning for the care of a newborn baby.”

“This is about putting more money into the pockets of pregnant moms,” said Daines, who was the lead sponsor of the bill. “Whether they are stocking up on diapers or taking time off work for their child’s prenatal care, pregnant

mothers begin to provide for their child and plan for the future as soon as they hear the good news. All mothers and all children deserve the same attention under the law. My bill recognizes this and will bring fairness to pregnant mothers as they grow their families.”

“Pregnancy is an exciting time for moms as they prepare for the arrival of their little one, but it also means new expenditures,” said Ernst. “By extending the Child Tax Credit to expecting mothers, we can help alleviate some of the financial stress so they can focus on preparing to welcome their newborn to the world.”

In the House of Representatives, Mark Meadows (R-NC), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Luke Messer (IN) introduced a companion bill.

Big 12 tourney tickets Single-Session tickets for the 2018 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship are on sale.

The women’s championship will be played March 2-5 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Single-Session tickets are priced at $25, $20 and $10, plus applicable fees. All active duty military, military veterans and teachers with a valid military or school ID can purchase a $5 general admission ticket for each session at the arena box office. All spectators beginning at age two must have a ticket to enter the arena.

One session will be played on Friday night with two sessions on Saturday and one session each on Sunday and Monday.

For tickets and more information, visit www.okcallsports.org/big12wbb. Tickets may also be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office Monday - Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CT.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

Matthew 10:16 “Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place.”

Proverbs 27:8

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24

Page 24 • February 22, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure