February 28, 2019 Vol. 19, No. 40
In This Issue DIRECTIONS
Directions, by Joe Slack, in real life is located in front of OnCue, at 15th and I-35, 4100 E. 15th Street, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email c o n te s t @ e d m o n d p a p e r. c o m with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
Navy band coming to metro See Page 16
FRIDAY, MARCH 1 Showers High 43° Low 40°
SATURDAY, MARCH 2 AM Showers High 54° Low 28°
SUNDAY, MARCH 3 Partly Cloudy High 36° Low 22°
By Susan Parks-Schlepp Edmond North High School art teacher Cara Bowerman has been selected as the 2018-2019 Edmond Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Bret Towne made the announcement Feb. 21 during the district’s Celebration of Excellence sponsored by the Edmond Public Schools Foundation. Bowerman was chosen by the district’s professional development committee following a comprehensive process which included an interview and a portfolio submission. Bowerman has been in her current position for six years. She teaches painting, drawing, design and 3D sculpture and also serves as the head coach of Girls’ Cross Country and Track. “In the classroom, Cara has created an atmosphere of trust and creativity where her students thrive and feel safe,” said Edmond North Principal Debreon Davis. “She takes the time to build relationships with each student she encounters and
believes in giving students a fresh start every day.” Bowerman started her teaching career at Edmond North. When she began, she was still healing from multiple fractures she sustained in a car accident when a driver going twice the speed limit hit her broadside. Having had to relearn how to walk following the accident, it was her students who gave her the motivation to press on through the daily pain. “The doctor healed my broken bones, but my students healed me. And that is why I am a teacher,” exclaimed Bowerman in her teacher portfolio. “Every step I took down the halls of Edmond North High School, the stronger I got,” she wrote. Although an elective, Bowerman says the art department at Edmond North High School functions just like any other core department, setting clear objectives for students and outlining expectations for behaviors
while in the art room. Bowerman says aligning curriculums among all five art teachers and abiding by the Professional Learning Community (PLC) model enables the art department to better meet the needs of students. “Being clear about our prerequisites, assessments, and regulations has resulted in numerous awards and more students choosing to advance through our program into Art and Design careers,” said Bowerman. Bowerman and other art teachers at Edmond North will attend the National Art Education Association Convention next month where they will learn even more PLC strategies and new lesson plans about how to integrate art into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The trip is being funded by a grant. “From seeking out grant opportunities to aligning curriculum to assisting students with career choices, Cara’s enthusiasm for her craft seems to continued on Page 3
Page 2 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 3
‘Edmond Teacher of the Year’ finalists Cara Bowerman (third from right), an art teacher at Edmond North High School, has been named the Edmond Public Schools 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year. Other finalists for the award included (left to right) Angie Debo Elementary first-grade teacher Randy Ceynar; Will Rogers Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jennifer Wright; Washington Irving Elementary fifth-grade teacher Natalie Wehmuller; Central Middle School social studies teacher Emily Busey and Edmond Santa Fe High School government teacher KC Williams.
Cover From Page 1 cation Teacher of the Year comhave no limits,” said Superpetition. intendent Bret Towne. “Cara Other Teacher of the Year fiis a profile of courage and nalists include Angie Debo Eleresiliency and a fitting reprementary first-grade teacher sentative of Edmond Public Randy Ceynar; Will Rogers EleSchools’ 1,500 teachers,” mentary fifth-grade teacher JenTowne added. nifer Wright; Washington Irving As Teacher of the Year, Elementary fifth-grade teacher Bowerman will receive Towne Natalie Wehmuller; Edmond $1,000 from Citizens Bank Santa Fe High School governof Edmond as well as the ment teacher KC Williams; and CenEdmond Public Schools Foundation. She also represents the district in the tral Middle School social studies teacher Emily Busey. Oklahoma State Department of Edu-
Two downtown buildings lost
No cause determined yet for weekend Guthrie fire GUTHRIE – A fire Saturday destroyed two businesses in historic downtown Guthrie. The fire reportedly started about 11:30 a.m. in the back of one of the businesses in the 100 block of E Oklahoma Avenue, fire officials said. Firefighters, including crews from Coyle, Crescent and Edmond, encountered strong winds as they battled the fire. Wind gusts above 40 mph were reported at the time, according the Oklahoma Mesonet weather network. Furrow Flowers & Gifts and Double Stop Fiddle Shop & Music Hall were severely damaged in the fire and are considered total losses. No injuries were reported in the fire. Double Stop Fiddle Shop is owned and operated by famous violinist Byron Berline, a member of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and an Oklahoma Ambassador of Goodwill. Berline moved from Los Angeles to Guthrie in 1995 to open the shop. Berline was out of town
at the time of the fire. Gov. Kevin Stitt on Twitter praised the firefighters at the scene for their efforts in putting out the blaze and offered thoughts and prayers for Guthrie. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell on social media described the fire and loss of the two businesses as terrible. “Guthrie is a special place and we will stand with them when they rebuild,” Pinnell wrote. The cause of the fire remains under investigation."The building is stable for now," Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow said. People on social media offered support to both businesses Sunday and praised firefighters. "Byron Berline and Double Stop Fiddle Shop have been tightly woven into the fabric of not only the Oklahoma music scene, but of the industry at large, for decades," The Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City tweeted. Traffic will remain closed around the building for several days. Harlow said.
Page 4 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
From the Publisher
Progress with Capital Projects It was great to see a presentation from City of Edmond City Manager Larry Stevens last week at the Edmond Rotary Club meeting. This city is lucky to have Stevens as he is one of the best city managers in the region if not the country. We like his upfront, transparent and businesses-like way of getting things done. Along Ray Hibbard with his top staff, they put ego aside and just concentrate on moving Edmond forward. Our entire team of administration are great stewards with the funds they are entrusted with here in Edmond. I will hit some of the highlights and then reprint a list of updates below of some of the items on the capital projects improvement list. All these projects are provided oversight by a citizen’s board called the Capital Projects Improvement Committee Task Force. You can also see weekly updates of projects on the City of Edmond web site. Just look or search for the City of Edmond Projects List on the site. The needed expansion and addition to the Edmond Animal Shelter is part of the line up of important projects. The design is nearly completed for the expansion located on the city property located at I-35 and Covell. The estimated construction costs should be around $4 million. It is a much needed and an important project for Edmond. Approximately 45 additional kennels will be added to the current 22 kennels to meet the current and future housing needs at the shelter. This project will also include a remodel of the current facilities, so they better meet the operational needs at the shelter. There are current projects happening in downtown Edmond to revitalize the area. It is part of a series of projects over many years to keep our downtown looking great and encouraging new businesses to settle here. Along with the efforts of Citizens Bank of Edmond including their Heard on Hurd events, the investments have paid off in Edmond having an active downtown. It is getting ready to become more active soon. The city has completed an important downtown drainage and streetscape project which added more street parking in downtown Edmond. They are finishing the Streetscape around the Stephenson Park area and they are finishing a design on a coordinated effort to improve downtown streetlighting, improve ADA accessibility and coordinate signal lights into the ITS system. We hope that the city will soon be able to implement the Quiet Zone along the railroad that runs through downtown Edmond which is a key to any housing development. The city is looking to expand and improve the park system with an increased splash pad facility. They are in the process of looking for acquiring a large parcel of property for future park development. They are also looking for the next Splash Pad location. It needs to be an effective water reuse application to conserve water resources. The current Splash Pad located at Kelly and Edmond Road has been a popular place for summer fun. The big news in development of Edmond’s sport facilities is the ground breaking on Feb. 6 of this
FILE PHOTO/MELINDA INFANTE
Mayor Elizabeth Waner at the groundbreaking for the new tennis center near 15th and Kelly.
year for the new Tennis Center. The project is in partnership with the Edmond Public Schools and the project is set to be completed in the summer of 2020. Public and private partnerships with the City of Edmond have been a key to making good use of funds for the City of Edmond administration. The competition pool housed inside the YMCA located in Mitch Park is just one of the examples. The new tennis center is near NE corner of 15th & Kelly. It has six indoor and 24 outdoor courts. Edmond’s most famous architect team of Hornbeek & Blatt completed design work. Construction contract was awarded to Key Construction in December 2018. The city owned Gracelawn Cemetery is two years away from being out of burial plots. To accommodate this need, the City Council purchased 21 acres directly north of the existing cemetery. A phased master plan was developed in 2016-17. The first two phases of this master plan will provide 30 years of in ground burial plots. The design contract was awarded in June 2018. Here are some other updates directly from the list of updates provided by the city: n Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF): NE corner of Danforth and Midwest Blvd., designed to increase wastewater treatment capacity from 6 million gallons per day (MGD) to 12 MGD and comply with new requirements from the ODEQ/EPA. Project is expected to be complete in November 2021. n Thomas Road Realignment: Thomas Road will be realigned and widened between Danforth and
Covell. This will allow the school parking lot to be contiguous and will eliminate the need for pedestrians to cross Thomas to get to the school property making it a safer environment for students and motorists. Construction started in July 2018. Originally completion was scheduled for mid-November, but consistent rain in September has pushed completion back to March 2019. n Historical Society Museum: Project is split into three phases. Phase I (drainage issues, lead paint abatement; replace, paint & waterproof windows) – complete. Phase II (restroom renovations, electrical upgrades, and installation of LED lighting) – complete. Phase III – HVAC replacement, additional electrical upgrades and ceiling tile replacement – museum closed from Oct. 1, 2018 to Feb. 19. n Danforth Water Tower: NE corner of Danforth and Thomas Drive, project is very similar to the NW Water tower in looks and size. It will hold two million gallons of water. Landmark Construction started construction in September 2018. Project is expected to be complete in January 2020. n Community Signage: The goal is to establish a consistent brand throughout town. The first monument signs with the new design will be constructed in the Broadway median, north of Comfort Drive, Carl Reherman Park, and Barnett Field (splash pad). Construction is expected to be completed in early 2019. Designs for the next phase of signs will take place in winter 2018. n Integris Trail: Quarter of a mile trail to connect to Spring Creek Trail. It will be accessible by parking in the Integris parking lot, located on the east side of the I-35 frontage road between Second & 15th. Construction began in September 2018 and will last 120 days. Open spring 2019 n Spring Creek Trail Extension & Parking Lot: Located near the fare booth on 15th & Midwest Blvd. Both the extension and parking lot will allow access to Spring Creek Trail without having to go through the fare booth. Construction began in September 2018 and will last 120 days. Open spring 2019. n Covell – Fairfax Boulevard to Griffen Boulevard: four lane, currently under design, a lot of easements to acquire, targeting spring 2019 to begin construction. n Intersection improvements at Second & Bryant: Adding turn lanes and medians, design work began in October 2017. City will self-fund and not seek federal funding assistance. Targeting FY 19-20 for construction. n Hafer Park – AC Caplinger Baseball Fields: The fields need to be brought up to “tournament quality” in order to capture more of the tournament market and provide a higher quality complex for our recreational league. Design complete in early 2019. Phased upgrades will occur shortly after. The next time one of your neighbors tells you that the City of Edmond doesn’t update residents on how our capital project funds are being spent, point them to the City of Edmond web site for a complete and updated list. It is a transparent process.
(Ray Hibbard may be reached by e-mail at ray@edmondpaper.com
Check out what’s inside! n Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 8. n History of presidential emergencies ............................................Page 10. n State senator seeks to help elderly ............................................Page 11. n UCO Faculty concert series ........................................................Page 13. n George Gust looks at Oscar winners ..........................................Page 15. n Crossword ..................................................................................Page 15. n Navy Band to be in area ............................................................Page 16. n Business News ............................................................................Page 21. n Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.
See if you can find ‘Directions’ “Directions,” in real life is located in front of OnCue, at 15th and I-35, 4100 E 15th Street, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. E-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. Local artist Joe Slack created the sculpture to draw the public in. “I just want to engage,” said Slack, “And for it to be part of the landscape.” At it’s
tallest point of 17 feet ‘Directions' is the largest sculpture Slack has ever attempted. It features three huge faces with a rust patina. Located along I-35 it is certain to draw travelers in to engage with just one of the pieces of public art Edmond is known for. For more information on Edmond public art please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php
Newcomers meeting will be March 6 Makailyn Dillon, Director of Marketing for the Oklahoma ER and Hospital will be Newcomers’ speaker on March 6 at the 10:15 am meeting at First Christian Church on the corner of East 2nd Street and Boulevard Avenue. This facility is classified as a micro hospital, an independently licensed facility that operates in a smaller space than traditional hospi-
tals. It is the first micro hospital in the OKC metro area. Dillon will explain the new mission of the facility, its services, availability, pricing, and medical coverage. This Newcomers’ educational is an open meeting for any interested persons in the Edmond community to a learn about this important topic. All are welcome.
Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production April Burgess, Deanne York
Cover Design April Burgess Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2019 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax)
Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com
Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083
Advertising Account Executive Chris Thomas chris@edmondpaper.com
All rights reserved. Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing.
Contributing Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, and George Gust. Photographer Melinda Infante
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Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 5
Some of the Made-in-Oklahoma products displayed.
Gourmet Gallery March event The Gourmet Gallery, located in Edmond at 1532 S. Boulevard and in the Shoppes at Northpark at 122nd & May in Oklahoma City will have a Customer Appreciation tasting event on Saturday, March 9 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Several Oklahoma vendors will be at each store sampling products complete with recipes.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Rep. Nicole Miller, a Republican, serves District 82 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes parts of Edmond, Oklahoma City and Deer Creek. Seen with her is Courtney Wilkinson.
SF student serves as page Courtney Wilkinson served as a page for State Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, at the state Capitol last week during the first session of the 57th state Legislature. Courtney is a senior at Edmond Santa Fe High School and is a member of Youth Leadership Edmond. She is involved in tennis and orchestra at Santa Fe and also serves as a freshman mentor. She plans to attend Brigham Young University in Utah and hopes to study nursing and Spanish. Courtney is the daughter of Kim and Rebecca Wilkinson. Her brother Conner served as Rep.
Miller’s page during the first week of session. The family resides in District 82 in Edmond. “I’m grateful for Courtney’s exemplary service at the Capitol this week,” Miller said. “She worked hard every single day and I know she’ll continue to do wonderful things in our community.” House pages run messages to legislators while they are in the chamber or committee meetings. Pages also participate in a mock session, in which they learn legislative procedure and how to write, present and debate legislation.
The exhibitors will be: Prairie Gypsies, Leonard Mountain and Trader Dave’s Gourmet Treats A 20 percent off storewide will be offered at both locations plus give-aways every hour and gifts to each customer while supplies last. For more information please contact The Gourmet Gallery at 7153663.
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Seniors to blame for millennial housing woes? From NewsOK.com WASHINGTON — Are senior homeowners preventing millennials from buying houses? Could the decisions of millions of older owners to "age in place" rather than sell their homes explain why millennials are lagging behind in homeownership? A provocative new study from federally chartered mortgage investor Freddie Mac suggests the answer may be yes. "Who is living in those homes that millennials might otherwise have bought?" ask the study's authors. Their answer: baby boomers, war babies and people born in the 1930s. By hunkering down longer than would have been typical of earlier generations — who would have sold their homes in greater numbers by now — today's seniors are effectively denying their houses to the real estate market. As a result, according to the study, roughly 1.6 million homes have been kept out of buyers' reach in recent years, sharply reducing the availability of houses
By hunkering down longer than would have been typical of earlier generations — who would have sold their homes in greater numbers by now — today's seniors are effectively denying their houses to the real estate market. nationwide that millennials could buy. "The most important fundamental in today's housing market is the lack of houses for sale," says the Freddie Mac study, which was conducted by the company's economic and housing research group. Does all this sound right? There's no question that tight inventories exert upward price pressure on properties that are available, and they make it tougher for many buyers to afford homeownership. And there's no question that millennials haven't opted for ownership at rates comparable to earlier generations. When the Urban Institute's Housing Finance Policy Center studied the matter last summer, it estimated that 3.4 million millennials are missing from the ranks of homeownership, based on the behaviors of boomers (born between 1946-1964) and gen X-ers (born between 1965-1980). Millennials are 8 percentage points behind earlier generations at the same age. But should seniors take the rap for the gap? Previous studies of millennial homebuying have pointed to multiple causes for differences in ownership rates. Last month, the Federal Reserve identified ballooning student-loan debt loads, now an estimated $1.5 trillion nationwide, as a key barrier to millennial home purchasing. It estimated that 20 percent of the decline in ownership among young adults
since 2005 can be attributed to student debt, which doubled in real terms during the decade ending in 2015. Last year's study by the Urban Institute highlighted other important factors in addition to student debt: n High rents that many millennials pay, which make it more difficult to save for a down payment. n Later ages for marriage and child-bearing, thereby postponing key traditional inflection points that stimulate homebuying. n Locational choices by millennials themselves, who often show a lifestyle preference for highercost urban centers. In an interview, Edward Golding, a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute, also noted that there are financial constraints on senior owners beyond simply wanting to age in place and enjoy their homes. Some seniors choose not to sell because they don't want to give up mortgages they have at favorable interest rates, the so-called "lock-in effect." Another factor the Freddie Mac study doesn't mention: Homes owned for many years often are not what millennials are shopping for anyway: They're too big and may have too many bedrooms, plus they might have interiors that require extensive updating. They're frequently priced for moveup buyers, not first-timers. Yet the study includes an example in which fictional older owners, Al and Rose, aren't selling, thereby forcing younger buyers, Alex and Rita, "to wait longer — and pay more." In an interview, Doug McManus, Freddie Mac's director of financial research, conceded: "That's a simplification." So is the entire study, available here: https://tinyurl.com/y3why5mh. Millennials have lower homeownership rates for a complex of reasons — some of them financial, some of them simply reflective of changing personal preferences. You can't blame it all on the old folks.
Too much of it harming youth?
What every parent needs to know about screen time According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in 1970 children didn’t start regularly watching TV until they were four years old. Today, they report that children begin interacting with digital media at four months old. One look around and it’s easy to see that many children have their own cell phone, tablet, television, or other type of screen that is occupying a lot of their time and attention. The problem with this is with all that screen time there are numerous ways that research shows it may be harming kids. From the smallest of toddlers who are glued to watching tablets and televisions, to teens who are using their devices almost constantly, it’s prompted concerns that every parent should be aware of. “There is no denying that technology plays a major role in our lives today, but when it comes to our children we need to be aware of the challenges it can cause,” explains Reena B. Patel, a parenting expert, licensed educational psychologist, and author. “Children’s cognition skills are still developing, so it’s imperative that we take that into account when it comes to their screen usage time.” In the same report, the AAP reports that 75 percent of children ages 0-8 have access to a mobile device, and that most one and two-year-olds are using a mobile device on a daily basis. This trend continues through every age group. The average 8-10 year old is spending around eight hours per day on various forms of media, and older children are spending more than 11 hours per day. A Pew Research Center report shows that 24 percent of teens go online “almost constantly,” and 92 percent of them report using their mobile devices on a daily basis. As many would suspect, all of this screen time coming from phones, tablets, and televisions, raises some questions about how healthy it is. In a separate AAP statement, they report that the cognitive impact of the media depends on the child ages, the kind of programming or games they are playing, and social context of viewing. They find that there are both negative and positive outcomes. When it comes to adolescents,
screen time can have a negative impact. The research shows that adolescents who spend more time on electronic communication and screens (such as social media, texting, and gaming) and less time on nonscreen activities have a lower psychological well-being. In addition, excessive media use has been associated with obesity, lack of sleep, aggression, sleep problems, and other behavioral problems. Most parents realize that children also engage in learning activities and even have homework assignments they need to use screens for. They are a part of life and a part of their learning experience, as well as their entertainment one. Rather than sheltering kids from social media and screens, parents should strive for teaching them healthier ways to use them, and how to maintain a balance. With screens here to stay, it’s important that parents take steps to help keep their child’s time spent on them in check. Here are some tips to do just that: n It’s recommended that children under the age of two not be exposed to screen time at all. For children over the age of two, it’s recommended that the screen time be kept to one to two hours per day at the most. n Discuss the screen time challenges with your children, especially when they are adolescents and teens, so they understand the concerns. Ask your child what are the pros and cons of unlimited or excessive use of devices. Devise a plan for using screens, which limits the amount of time they can be used each day. When children are involved with developing the plan, they are more likely to follow the rules they helped create. n Encourage kids to create a balance between screen time and nonscreen time. It’s important that kids of all ages engage in physical and social activities that do not involve the usage of screens. Encourage them to have real-life relationships, rather than their friendships being all online or done through electronics. n Create rules that will help give them boundaries about when they
See Screen Page 7
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 7
Edmond group joins in national ‘March for Meals’ effort Edmond Mobile Meals announced last week that it will be participating in the 17th annual March for Meals – a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meal on Wheels and our senior neighbors who rely on the vital service to remain health and independent at home. Edmond Mobile Meals’ celebration will include various activities throughout the month of March. ”The services we provide are a lifeline for seniors of Edmond and the need is rapidly increasing,” said Cristi Twenter, Executive Director of Edmond Mobile Meals. “Together, we can keep our senior neighbors wellnourished, feeling safer and more connected to our community as they age.” Edmond Mobile Meals was founded in 1947 and currently serves more than 210 meals each weekday to homebound seniors in Edmond with the assistance of over 400 dedicated volunteers. The annual March for Meals celebration commemorates the historic day in March of 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since 2002, community-based 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. “The month of March is a fitting time to not only celebrate the successful history of Meals on Wheels, but also bring us together to support a solution that will strengthen communities into the future,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “With 12,000 Americans turning 60 each day, now is the time to invest in these vital programs so that we can provide every senior in need with the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that will enable them to live healthier and independent in their own homes.”
For more information on how you can 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 45th anniversary this year. They provides hot, nourishing meals to over 200 elderly and disabled persons who are unable to prepare meals for themselves each weekday. 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 and represent their link to the outside world. Edmond Mobile Meals delivers over 55,000 meals each year.
Screen From Page 6 can use their devices. For example, no devices at meals, and no phones allowed in their bedrooms overnight. n Find non-screen activities that the whole family can engage in. This will help them create bonds and learn healthy social behaviors. n Use positive parenting techniques when working with kids to help teach them the limits of screen and social media time. n Be the example that you want them to follow. From young children to teens, they are watching what parents do when it comes to screen time. Parents who overuse screen time are setting that same example for their children. Having healthy screen habits will teach children to do the same. n Parents should be familiar with all the apps and devices their children
use. They should have access to the social media apps as well. Ex: Instagram can be created and monitored from a parents account and note on social media pages that it is “parent monitored.” Also, become familiar with Internet safety, including setting parental controls, and how to avoid giving too much personal information online. “This is an issue that we can’t ignore and hope that it gets better,” added Patel. “We have to take the time to address it, no matter how old our kids are. The technology may be newer to us, but it’s always been a part of their lives, it will continue to be part of their everyday lives and they need to know how to use it in a healthy and constructive manner. They need parental guidance to get there.”
Page 8 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Schools will host annual public forum March 14 Edmond Public Schools will host its annual public forum from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14 in the Board of Education Room at the district’s Administrative Center, 1001 W. Danforth. The forum is an opportunity for district and site level administrators and school board members to listen to ideas, accolades or concerns from parents, students and community members. “This is an opportunity for us to listen to feedback in an effort to improve our programs and services,” Superintendent Bret Towne.
Your Chance to be Heard There is no preregistration required. Patrons should sign up the night of the event and will be called to the podium in the order in which they are received. Each speaker is limited to five minutes. Board members and administrators take notes during the forum but do not engage in dialogue and no votes are taken. Due to state and federal privacy laws, patrons may not discuss personnel issues, student disciplinary actions and contract negotiations.
Eight Edmond students among finalists for Scholars Program Eight students from Edmond Public Schools have been named semifinalists in the prestigious 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the most of any comprehensive, open-enrollment school district in the state. The semifinalists were selected from more than 5,000 candidates expected to graduate from U.S. high schools. Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduat-
ing high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities. The student qualifiers are: Edmond North: Erin Carter, Jacob Garbrecht, Sharara Kasem, Emily Kennedy, Audrey Stavish, and Sophie Velasco Edmond Santa Fe: Michael Yu and Akash Guruswamy
“We congratulate these students on this tremendous achievement,” said Superintendent Bret Towne. “Their tenacious pursuit of academic and artistic excellence is commendable as is their willingness to give back to their respective schools and the community. We look forward with anticipation to what these students will accomplish in the future.” The 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education.
Thursday Feb. 28 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Transcendence: Contemporary Op Art by Jason Wilson ---- UCO Symphonic Band Concert ---- Spring Sing 2019 ---- The Bison as Popular Icon – Brown Bag Lunch Series ---- Almost, Maine Friday March 1 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Transcendence: Contemporary Op Art by Jason Wilson ---- Backwoods Hunting & Fishing Expo ---- Shortt Dogg ---- Spring Sing 2019 ---- Scotty McCreery ---- Almost, Maine Saturday March 2 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Transcendence: Contemporary Op Art by Jason Wilson ---- Watercolor with Krystal Hays ---- Spring Sing 2019 ---- Smilin’ Vic ---- Museums on Us ---- Special Exhibition Tours ---- Backwoods Hunting & Fishing Expo ---- The Art Sunday Show ---- Oklahoma County Junior Spring Horse Show ---- Oklahoma Gun Show ---- Almost, Maine Sunday March 3 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Transcendence: Contemporary Op Art by Jason Wilson ---- Rhea Lana’s of Edmond Spring/Summer 2019 Event ---- Museums on Us ---- Special Exhibition Tours ---- Backwoods Hunting & Fishing Expo ---- Oklahoma Gun Show ---- Made in Oklahoma Extra Information on Weekend Happenings In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Cody L Rains for February Featuring works by Zonly Looman beginning in March For information go to: http://www.edmondfinearts.com/ Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: Free Admission; an archaeological exhibition that will enable visitors to discover the history of ancient Judah’s most famous kingprophet pairing — a story which illuminates how Jerusalem escaped annihilation at the hands of King Sennacherib’s Assyrian army at the end of the 8th century B.C. For more information visit armstrongauditorium.org.
Transcendence: Contemporary Op Art by Jason Wilson Location: UCO – Mitchell Hall Theater, Krottinger Family Gallery Extra Info: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., these paintings, inspired by his grandmother’s quiltwork, take the eye into the transcendental world of highly constructed designs and color-field shapes. For more information visit them on Facebook. UCO Symphonic Band Concert Location: UCO – Mitchell Hall Extra Info: 7:30 – 10 p.m., a rich heritage of traditional symphonic and military band literature, this group is able to also explore the work of contemporary composers. For more information visit them on Facebook. Watercolor with Krystal Hays Location: Gathered Home Shop
Extra Info: 6 – 8 p.m., $80, beginners watercolor class, all supplies provided, including a personal set of brushes, luxe watercolors, and an exclusive workbook. For more information visit gatheredhomeshop.com. Spring Sing 2019 Location: Okla. Christian University – Auditorium-Garvey Center Extra info: Thurs, 7 p.m., Fri & Sat, 2 & 8 p.m., tickets available at oc.edu/springsing and for more information visit oc.edu Rhea Lana’s of Edmond Spring/Summer 2019 Event Location: Hilton Garden Inn & Edmond Conference Center Extra Info: Mark your calendars for the BEST Consignment Event in Edmond---- March 3-7 with Pre-Sale Saturday, March 2nd; for more information visit them on Facebook. Made in Oklahoma Location: Farmers Public Market, Oklahoma City Extra Info: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Admission is free with a non-perishable food item, $4 for ages 12 and up without donation, show-casing some of the best Oklahoma businesses, artists, products, from around the state, wine tastings from Oklahoma wineries, live music featuring "The Fonts Band," delicious food trucks, and more. For more information visit oklahomagypsyglam.com The Bison as Popular Icon – Brown Bag Lunch Series Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: noon – 1 p.m., visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Museums on Us Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Bank of America customers can enjoy the museum free of charge. visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Special Exhibition Tours Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 1 – 2 p.m., 45 minute tours of the spring exhibitions. visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Bison Film Fest: Bless The Beasts & Children (1971) Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 2 – 4 p.m., Theater Director Stanley Kramer brings to the screen the important story of six wealthy misfits who, while attending a summer riding camp, set out to free a herd of buffalo scheduled to be shot the next day. visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Backwoods Hunting & Fishing Expo Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for more information visit backwoodsshow.com Oklahoma Gun Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for more information visit oklahomagunshows.com The Art Sunday Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for more information visit them on Facebook Oklahoma County Junior Spring Horse Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park, Barn 8 Extra Info: 9 a.m., for more information visit oces.okstate.edu Shortt Dogg Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: 8 p.m., $10, for more info visit ucojazzlab.com Almost, Maine Location: Pollard Theatre Extra Info: for more information visit thepollard.org Smilin’ Vic Location: UCO – Jazz Lab
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 9
Mercy & national certification for spine surgery Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Spine Surgery Certification — the first in the state to receive this designation. To achieve the two-year certification, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City’s Spine Program underwent a rigorous, on-site survey by an evaluator from The Joint Commission, the leading health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation. The Gold Seal of Approval® reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. It reflects compliance with national standards and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. “We are extremely proud of this earned recognition from The Joint Commission and we hope patients undergoing spine surgery take comfort in the fact that they are receiving the safest and best care possible when they are at our facility,” said Jim Gebhart, president and regional strategy officer of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. Proven results Mark Wallace, 64, of Oklahoma City, is one of many patients who has nothing but positive things to say about the high-quality care he received before, during and after his spine surgery last fall. For more than 50 years, the metal rods placed in Wallace’s back to correct the curvature in his spine caused by scoliosis allowed him to live an active life. As he started to age, he felt more pain in his spine and he began to hunch forward. He also had to give up bowling, skiing, and playing golf and tennis. “I got to the point where I couldn’t stand for more than 10 or 15 minutes without pain developing in the lower area of my spine and radiating down to my hips,” said Wallace. “I couldn’t take the pain any longer.” In October 2018, Wallace underwent a spinal fusion surgery at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City to correct the
position of his spine. “It was a textbook example of how this was supposed to go,” he said. “I’m doing great and the recovery was faster than what everybody thought.” About the Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Spine Program Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City’s Spine Program features a team of specialized physicians, nurses, therapists and a dedicated spine coordinator who all work together with patients to create a care plan, answer questions and connect them with the right people and resources for a successful recovery, which includes rehabilitation. The team treats patients with all types of spine issues affecting the neck and back. Spine surgery can repair injuries, treat tumors, correct deformities like scoliosis, and alleviate back pain or other complex spinal issues. Prior to undergoing spine surgery, patients and caregivers are encouraged to attend a class offered every Tuesday at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City that outlines what they can expect during their hospital stay and after they return home. “We strongly believe that patients play a key role in ensuring a successful recovery, which is why we involve patients in every step of their treatment plan,” said Crystal Godfrey, a registered nurse and coordinator of the Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Spine Program. Wallace and his wife attended one of the pre-operative classes and said it answered a lot of their questions and gave them some peace of mind. He is thankful he had the surgery. “I can stand today with no pain and I attribute it to the good care that I had at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City and the Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital,” said Wallace. “I’m looking forward to staying active in the future.” To attend one of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Spine Program’s preoperative spine surgery classes or for more information, call (405) 4868737.
Lupus study volunteers needed Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists need volunteers for the first-ever lupus prevention study. Family members of lupus patients are especially encouraged to participate. The clinical trial, known as the SMILE trial, seeks to identify individuals at high risk for developing lupus and treat them with an immune-modifying medication before they ever transition into the disease. The goal is to delay the onset of lupus, lessen its symptoms and potentially prevent it altogether. Lupus is caused when the immune system becomes unbalanced, leading to the development of autoantibodies and chronic inflammation that damage the body’s organs and tissues. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. are living with lupus. The disease also disproportionately affects healthy relatives of lupus patients. For this reason, a team of researchers looked at relatives of patients over an eight-year period to see if they could discover a way to identify those at high risk before the disease ever begins. Once a person has a lupus diagnosis, many times the damage has already started, said Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., OMRF Vice President of Clinical Affairs and chair of OMRF’s Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program. “For some time, our lab has been interested in understanding the first things that go wrong in the body that lead to lupus.
To participate in the trial or receive more information, please call (405) 271-7221. Participants will be compensated $50 per visit for their time and effort. Now we want to find ways to identify people at high risk so we can offer help before the damage starts.” By studying relatives of lupus patients, James discovered that 89 percent of family members stayed healthy, while 11 percent developed the disease. Of those who transitioned to lupus, all displayed autoantibodies—inflammatory proteins that the body mistakenly unleashes against its own cells and tissues. For the trial, James and her team test participants for these specific autoantibodies in the blood and place them on a test medication. The trial is actively recruiting new participants who are at risk for developing lupus. In order to qualify, an individual must have a positive ANA test and at least one other lupus symptom. Symptoms of lupus include skin rashes, joint pain, joint swelling, anemia, extreme fatigue, mouth sores or sunlight sensitivity. To participate in the trial or receive more information, please call (405) 271-7221. Participants will be compensated $50 per visit for their time and effort. “This work holds a great deal of hope,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D.
Parents Helping Parents to meet The Edmond Chapter of Parents Helping Parents will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 at McLaren's Pantry, 3414 South Boulevard (SE corner of 33rd and Boulevard). The restaurant is closed to the public during the meeting. The group’s speaker is Patty Gail Patten, LPC, LADC. Her topic is "How to Avoid
Getting Caught in the Web of Co-Dependency." Parents Helping Parents provides support and resources for parents of addicted children (any age child). This is an anonymous meeting and no cost or reservations required. For more information please call 405642-8198.
PHOTO PROVIDED
A Mercy specialist studies an X-ray of a spine.
Page 10 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side
A look at Bob Barker A nice win for OSBI’s new cold case unit
Bob Barker is an interesting guy. In case you've forgotten, he was a longtime television game show host. Perhaps he's best known for hosting "The Price is Right," for more than 30 Steve Gust years. There was an interesting documentary about the show called "The Perfect Bid." It’s about a fan who made the show his life. He taped it for years and memorized the price of just about all the items. In 2008, after Barker left, this guy helped another contestant bid the exact price for the show’s bonus round showcase. There was concern by some whether there was cheating involved. There wasn't. The fan was just that good. What I found interesting were some of the interviews with Barker. Remember Barker is also a World War II veteran and 95. He seems to be a nice enough guy. He had one great quote during the documentary. The retired game show host noted the many tours done in Hollywood where the buses go view the stars' homes. Barker said he was probably the
only guy who actually talked the people who came by to look at the homes. He was asked by some why he greeted the tourists. His quote was something to the effect of "I had to thank these people for watching or else I would have had to have worked for a living." That's kind of a refreshing attitude by a Hollywood type. I'm not sure the current crop of entertainers would be as humble. ---One thing I try never to do is watch some of the Sunday morning national network news programs like "Meet the Press" or "Face the Nation." Usually their panels will have three liberals and one semi-conservative, who is a Never Trumper. They have to be a Never Trumper or they don't get invited to the cocktail parties in Washington. When watching, I generally am left scratching my head and wondering how these people possibly believe some of the crazy things they actually do. These programs probably shouldn't be called political talk shows, but "How the Swamp Weighs In," on issues of the day. (Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)
The Oklahoman Editorial Board Since June 2013 when Charles Nieman was shot to death outside a convenience store in Boise City, family and friends had been left to wonder who killed him, and why. Today they’re closer than ever to getting those answers. Work by a new cold case unit within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation led to the arrests recently of three men who now stand accused in Nieman’s death. OSBI Director Ricky Adams announced the formation of the unit effective Nov. 1. The OSBI identified a minimum of 1,276 murder or missing persons cases that had gone cold since 1950, a date chosen because of the likelihood the suspects might still be alive.
“These individuals have escaped justice and are, in some cases, posing as normal citizens who carry a horrible secret,” Adams wrote in The Oklahoman in October. “Somewhere out there are answers to what happened to those missing or murdered Oklahomans.” Nieman, 77, of Alva, was shot after he and his wife stopped for gas at a convenience store on June 12, 2013. The OSBI says a gunman demanded Nieman’s wallet. Nieman, who had hearing troubles, was shot when he asked his wife what the man has said (his wife, Yvonne, was not hurt). OSBI agents began reviewing Nieman’s case in December, initiating a meandering trail to the suspects. A break came when
an agent reran shell casings from the scene through a ballistics database. A match turned up from a stolen gun seized in Denver. The gun had been stolen from a Louisiana police chief’s vehicle at his home days before Nieman’s killing. A few houses down from that home, a charcoal gray pickup truck was also stolen. That pickup — recovered in Colorado two weeks after the Nieman shooting — could be seen in surveillance video from the attack in Boise City. Agents determined that Zachery Lee Wilson had traded the pickup to a Colorado man for methamphetamine. Agents also tracked down the stolen gun, which was found to be the same gun that fired the shell casings at the homicide scene. Earlier this month, Wilson was arrested and told investigators he was there when Nieman was killed. He said another man, Timothy Erish Dees, had gotten out of the pickup. Wilson heard two gunshots, according to an affidavit. Wilson, 28, and Dees, 24, were arrested in Mobile, Alabama. A third man, Jeremy Hugh Scott, 33, was arrested two days later in Colorado. All three are charged with first-degree murder in Cimarron County. This case involved law enforcement, and evidence, from Oklahoma, Colorado, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. “We’ve been all over the place. This has been a massive effort,” Adams said. It’s the first of what he hopes will be several “wins” for the unit. We join our good wishes to his as the OSBI pursues justice for victims, however belated.
The history of presidents & emergencies By James Finck President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency has caused a bit of a national emergency itself. The president has decided to make the southern border wall his legacy and if the democratic congress will not give him the money needed, he plans Finck to go around them with the use of a national emergency. A lot of information is flying around, and I am happy to see some of it is historical. Much of the focus is on past emergencies and if what Trump is doing is different. I have written several times on the issue of executive orders, and national emergencies are very similar. I believe most orders are against the spirit, if not the letter, of the Constitu-
tion and separation of powers. However, the question is have we seen similar circumstances in the past. The answer is yes and no. Recently we have all learned a great deal about national emergencies, and many have been surprised to learn they are in fact quite common. There have been 59 declared and, more surprising, 32 are still active. Republicans have focused on the twelve passed by President Obama. The Democrats have focused on the nature of Obama’s emergencies. None of which went against the wishes of Congress and were mostly sanctions against enemy nations, but they were still actions without congressional approval. The most talked about national emergency is the failed attempt of President Truman to nationalize the striking steel industry during the Korean War. The President believed the strike would hurt
Letters to the Editor policy We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, compliments or comments about what they read here. The rules, even for e-mail letters: 1) You must tell us your full name; 2) You must give us your complete address and phone numbers (but we will identify you only by name); and 3) We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity and taste (our taste). 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.
the U.S. war effort, which constituted a national emergency. The Supreme Court disagreed. During our current national crisis, the focus on Truman is obvious, but what about times when the president acted outside of Congress and the courts did not intervene. I will name two. Most Americans saw a canal across Central America as essential to our naval success. When a French firm in Panama failed in its attempt to build the canal, President Theodore Roosevelt jumped at the chance to purchase the project and complete it. The only problem was that Colombia, who at the time controlled Panama, did not want to sell to the Americans. For the sake of space, I need to simplify this greatly, but basically Panama declared independence from Colombia at the same time the U.S.S. Nashville sailed to Colombia and the U.S. recognized Panama’s independence. To no one’s surprise, the new Panamanian government turned around and offered America the canal project. The new problem for TR was that Congress had not approved any of this, including building the canal. Roosevelt saw the canal as a national emergency and knew that involving Congress would only slow things down, so he acted alone. Roosevelt said that if he acted properly, Congress would give many excellent speeches, but the project would be delayed 50 years, so instead TR said, “Fortunately the crisis came at a period when I could act unhampered. Accordingly I took the Isthmus, started the canal and then left Congress not
See Emergency, Page 11
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 11
Data entry error costs Chickasha Schools $2.1 million By Randy Ellis NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman It appears a simple data entry error caused Chickasha Public Schools to be shorted more than $2.1 million in property tax revenues over a threemonth span, state auditors have determined. An employee of the Grady County treasurer clicked the wrong line on a drop down menu on a computer screen, said State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd. The mistake caused revenues generated by a 35.78-mill property tax levy to be misdirected into the Grady County general fund instead of the Chickasha Public Schools general fund, she said. "We cannot determine the cause of the error,
whether it was an accident or intentional, but I know anytime there are menu drop downs on the screen to select ... I could see where mistakes could happen there," she said. The error has been corrected and the school district was given a check for more than $2.1 million to cover the amount it was shorted. Chickasha Public Schools Superintendent Jack Herron said he believes the school district should also be entitled to receive interest on the money for the time it was in the wrong account. "That probably is something that should be looked at," Byrd agreed. Byrd said auditors are still looking to see if mistakes were made in the way the county treasurer's office apportioned any other tax revenues.
Protecting our elderly patients who are inappropriBy Senator Stephanie Bice ately prescribed this medicaIf you have a loved one in tion are at risk for a nursing home, you want to over-sedation falls, accelerated make sure they are given apcognitive decline, and inpropriate care, especially creased risk of stroke and when it comes to safety ispneumonia. Antipsychotics can sues and medications. But actually increase delusions, agiwhat if your family member tation or other behavioral isis given powerful drugs Bice sues. For more than a decade, without your knowledge or the FDA has required warnings consent? These are drugs on these medications stating that that can pose a serious risk to a pathey can lead to higher mortality tient’s health, safety and cognitive rates. function. The truth is it happens far Not only can these drugs be dantoo often in Oklahoma. It’s somegerous, but it means other conditions thing I’m attempting to address this or illnesses like undiagnosed pain, desession through legislation I’ve auhydration, urinary tract infections or thored—Senate Bill 142. According to the Centers for Medi- serious cognitive issues may go undiagnosed. caid and Medicare Services, OklaMy legislation is all about informed homa is the worst in the nation when consent. Patients and their families it comes to the use of antipsychotic can’t do anything if they don’t realize drugs in nursing home patients. These are patients who have received these drugs are being prescribed. Under Senate Bill 142, patients, famno psychiatric diagnosis to warrant ily members or other caregivers the use of this medication, and the would have to be informed about results can be lethal. You might be shocked to learn that their treatment options. This past week, SB 142 was apone in five Oklahoma nursing home proved by the full Senate by an overresidents is given an antipsychotic whelming margin and with bipartisan drug without a psychiatric diagnosis. support. I’m hopeful the House will Often, they’re prescribed to patients work quickly to help us get this legiswith dementia. These drugs are basilation to the governor’s desk to be cally used as a pharmaceutical resigned into law. straint so that patients are easier for If you have any questions about nursing homes to handle. Even more shocking may be the fact that there is legislation or other issues dealing no requirement that the patient, their with state government, please contact me at 405-521-5592, or email family or other caregivers are inbice@oksenate.gov. formed about the use of these powThank you for allowing me to be erful drugs. your voice in the Oklahoma State Antipsychotic drugs can increase Senate. the risk of tremors and ticks. Elderly
Emergency From Page 10 to debate the canal, but to debate me.” A second example comes from the man considered American’s greatest president: Abraham Lincoln. In 1860, Lincoln ran his campaign on stopping the expansion of slavery, not outlawing slavery where it was. In his inaugural address, he claimed that not only did he have no desire to free the slaves, but he did not have the constitutional right to do so. Yet, two years later he had a change of heart. In 1862, Lincoln came to the conclusion that the best way to win the war was to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves in the rebellious states. Taking away the south’s work force would damage its war effort. As popular as Lincoln is today, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation was extremely unpopular. The Democrats in Congress were outraged at what they saw as tyranny. Lincoln was even attacked as a usurper of power, and that was from his own party. Even members of his cabinet saw his decision as unwise and tried to talk him out of it. Yet Lincoln went against his cabinet, the conservative members of his party, and the Congress and issued the Proclamation. Before the Courts could take up his decision, he pushed through the 13th Amendment, making the court’s decision on the Proclamation moot. The examples of Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Truman clearly show that Trump is not the first to make decisions based on what they saw as emergencies. You can claim that Lincoln and Truman acted during a time
a war and thus their actions were emergencies, but not Roosevelt. So if the answer is Trump is not the first. The no is because everything changed after 1976 and the passage of the National Emergency Act. Coming off the Vietnam War and the Nixon years, congress wanted to rein in the power of the president with the 1976 Act. With the Act, presidents need to justify the emergency to Congress and Congress can reverse an emergency with a joint resolution and an override of a veto if necessary. Congress is also supposed to review the emergency every six months, something that is rarely done. So how does all this answer our question? Is Trump the first president to use emergency powers to act against the wishes of Congress? No. Is he the first to act when many do not see a perceived emergency? No. Is he the first to do so since the 1976 Act? Possibly. Yet this Act does not say he can’t, just that Congress can stop him if they have the numbers. I am not saying Trump is right to divert money to build the wall. The precedent does seem dangerous. So make your arguments for or against the wall, but make sure your argument is correct.
Dr. James Finck is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and Chair of the Oklahoma Civil War Symposium. Follow Historically Speaking at www.Historicallyspeaking.blog or Facebook at @jamesWfinck.
Aguilar wins Six years ago, Cruz Aguilar had former Edmond Memorial wrestler Johny Hendricks sign his blue headphones. On Saturday, donning the same pair before the match, the junior Bulldog captured a state title of his own. Aguilar pinned Sand Springs’ Brendon Wiseley at 106 pounds in 2:58, becoming the first champion from Edmond Memorial since 2002. That champion was Hendricks. -- NewsOK.com
Whenever an employee is required to manually enter critical information, it is important to have someone else review the work to make sure mistakes are caught, Byrd said. When employees fail to do that and a mistake is detected by auditors, the office will be written up for having a lack of internal controls, Byrd said. In this case, the mistake wasn't detected until the school district's chief financial officer went to the treasurer's office to investigate after becoming concerned because school revenues for November, December and January fell well short of expectations. Herron said there was also a shortfall in the district's sinking fund last June, but Byrd said that was a separate issue.
Page 12 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Ryan Malone
Armstrong concert manager honored Armstrong Auditorium’s very own concert manager Ryan Malone has been awarded a highly commended accolade in the 2019 Composition Competition hosted by The Gesualdo Six – a vocal ensemble founded at Cambridge University’s Trinity College comprised of some of the United Kingdom’s most gifted young consort singers. “It is an honor to be recognized by such a distinguished panel of judges,” Malone, 43, said. “I’m glad the Gesualdo Six is encouraging new choral music, and I’m thrilled that they are planning to perform my work.” More than 300 entries were submitted into the competition from composers on six continents. The judges named a winner for composers over 22 years of age, and a winner for composers 22 and younger. In each age category, two “highly commended” compositions were noted. Malone’s “Evening Prayer” was awarded the first “highly commended” distinction in his age category. The Gesualdo Six has performed before international audiences since its founding in 2014, aspiring to entertain listeners and inspire future generations of consort singers. The ensemble held its inaugural Composition Competition in 2016. The group will perform the two winning entries in London next month, and they plan to perform the four “highly commended” works later in 2019. “We were tremendously delighted by the exceptional quality of the entries we received,” The Gesualdo Six Director Owain Park said. “Singing through the pieces has been an immensely enjoyable experience, and it is heartening to see composers writing so well for the ensemble’s specific requirements.” In addition to serving as the concert manager for Armstrong Auditorium, Malone is also the music director for Herbert W. Armstrong College, a four-year liberal arts college, and Imperial Academy, a private K-12 institution. The Edmond-based composer has written and produced four fulllength musicals, two oratorios and produced eight inspirational vocal/choral albums that include dozens of original works, arrangements of traditional hymns and show tunes. Throughout his composing career, Malone has also composed a variety of works, including instrumental works, art songs for his wife, as well as compositions for his many students and ensembles that he teaches. In 2010, he served as composer in residence for the Norman High School string quartet. His transcription of Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs for soprano and piano trio was premiered by the Eroica Trio along with his wife, soprano Paula Malone in 2011 and recorded in 2018 on the Xolo label by Tess Remy-Schumacher, Hong Zhu and his wife, Paula.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Game night winners were front row: Laura Howells, Kathy Roderick and Barbara Loruse. On the back row are winners Paul Robinson, Logan Gantz, Sue Rath, Beth Jackson, Steve Kukuk, Jacci Gantz, Shirley Moore and Jim Putnam.
Edmond’s ESA chapter holds social & game night International philanthropic organization Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s Gamma Zeta chapter recently held a game night as their February social. ESA’s purpose “is to inspire leadership and service by bringing people together to pursue programs and projects that make a positive difference locally, nationally and internationally.” Edmond projects include Project 66, UR Special,
All Things Baby, Free to Live, Mobile Meals, and Baptist Boys’ Ranch Town. State projects include Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur, Oklahoma and School for the Blind in Muskogee, Oklahoma. ESA’s national project is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If interested in joining this active group, please call Linda Coniglio at 405-919-2052.
Group held 59 blood drives last year recognized for their outThe American Farmers standing efforts. & Ranchers (AFR) Most New Donors: Women's Cooperative First - Coweta Insurance blood drive drives saved Agency, Second - Chero5,292 lives last year with kee Farmers Union, Third a total of 59 blood drives Hofschulte Insurance held across the state. This Services announcement was made Most Total ParticiFeb. 16 during the 2019 pants: First - Coweta InAFR Convention at the surance Services, Second Embassy suites Hotel and Cherokee County FarmConference Center in ers Union, Third - Ellison Norman. Group - Watonga OFU "This is simply amazLocal 504 ing," said Pam Livingston, Most Young Donors: 2018 AFR Women's CoFirst Cherokee County operative Chair. "We are Farmers Union, Second grateful for our blood Coweta Insurance drive hosts and donors Agency, Third tie who made this happen." Haskell Insurance Agency The AFR Women's Coand Detrick Insurance operative elected to partAgency ner with Oklahoma In addition to agency, Blood Institute to incounty and local blood crease awareness for the drives, the AFR Women's need of donating blood Cooperative hosted blood as their 2018 initiative. drives at the AFR ConvenAs the nation's ninth Tammy Neher, Oklahoma City, donates blood largest non-profit blood during the AFR Women's Cooperative blood drive tion, the Oklahoma Youth center, Oklahoma Blood Feb. 16. The blood drive was held in conjunction Expo, Oklahoma State FFA Convention and the Tulsa Institute relies solely on with the annual AFR Convention in Norman. State Fair. 1,200 volunteer blood Serving rural communities is a cornerstone of donors a day to meet the needs of patients at AFR. more than 160 hospitals and medical facilities "From our very beginning, more than 100 years statewide. This was made possible by AFR agenago, we have focused on serving rural Oklahoma cies, counties and locals hosting blood drives communities," Terry Detrick, AFR president, said. across the state. "Improving the lives of rural Oklahomans has alAt the Women's Cooperative awards program ways been our priority." the following agencies, counties and locals were
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 13
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The U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team, based at the University of Central Oklahoma was selected as the USA Volleyball’s Team of the Year for 2018. Pictured top to bottom, left to right Bill Hamiter, head coach; Lazaro Beltran, assistant coach; Nicky Nieves; Lora Webster; Monique Burkland; Katie Holloway; Jon Aharoni, assistant coach; Patrick Lawrence, athletic trainer; Jeff Hicks, technical coordinator; Whitney Dosty; Tia Edwards; Kaleo Maclay; Nichole Millage; Heather Erickson; Emily Clark, team psychologist; Jillian Williams; Bethany Zummo; Lexi Shifflett; and, Michelle Goodall, team manager.
UCO-based U.S. women’s sitting V-Ball team honored The U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team was selected as the USA Volleyball Team of the Year for 2018. The team trains at the University of Central Oklahoma, an official Olympic and Paralympic Training Site. The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team ended with a remarkable year by claiming silver at the ParaVolley World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The squad was one victory away from an undefeated season and adding a couple program firsts –
an undefeated season and an elusive gold in the World Championship. Team USA has now won silver in the last three World Championship events. “UCO has been the home of USA Sitting Volleyball for over a decade and we have had the honor of watching the U.S. Women’s National Sitting team become number one in the world,” said Leigha Pemberton, Central’s assistant director of marketing and partnerships.
“We are incredibly proud of the U.S. Women’s National Sitting Team and their many accomplishments. They are incredibly deserving of the title 2018 Team of the Year.” In addition, Central alumnus James Stuck was named U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team CoPlayer of the Year for 2018. For more information about USA Volleyball or the U.S. Women’s and Men’s Sitting Volleyball teams, visit www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball.
10th season of Faculty Artist Concert Series The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music will complete the 10th season of the Faculty Artist Concert Series with a trio of remarkable performances March 5, 12 and April 9 at the UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond. UCO’s School of UCO's Civilized Tribe Dixieland Band will perMusic continues form a Mardi Gras-inspired playlist of recognizathe Faculty Artist ble tunes for their “Fat Tuesday Celebration” at Concert Series with 7:30 p.m. March 5. The band features School ‘Music for Winds and Piano’ at 7:30 of Music jazz faculty and staff Jeff Kidwell p.m. March 12 at (trombone and tuba), Brian Gorrell (saxophone the UCO Jazz Lab in and clarinet), Dennis Borycki (piano), Clint Edmond. PerformRohr (trumpet) and David Hardman (drums). ers include from Central will present Chindarat Charoenleft: Dawn Lindwongse and Friends in "Music for Winds and blade, D.M.A.; Chindarat CharoenPiano" at 7:30 p.m. March 12. Charoenwongse, D.M.A; wongse, D.M.A., along with fellow faculty KaDee Bramlett, members Emily Butterfield, D.M.A., (flutist) D.M.A.; and, Emily Dawn Lindblade, D.M.A, (clarinetist) and Butterfield, D.M.A. KaDee Bramlett, D.M.A., (oboist) will perform pieces by Albinoni, Debussy, Gieseking and Saint-Saens covering musical styles from the Baroque period through the Romantic era and Impressionism. "Most of the pieces we chose because we like the musical styles and expressions. For me, they have such charming harmony and colors," said Charoenwongse, professor of piano and piano pedagogy. The "Tess and Friends" performance at 7:30 p.m. April 9 will serve as a celebration of a decade of the Faculty Artist Concert Series. Tess Remy-Shumacker, D.M.A., professor of cello, and fellow faculty members will perform pieces by Mozart, Weber, Nin and Colombier. "Music is sharing with friends for friends. This concert will be fun and full of surprises," said Remy-Schumacher. The concert will honor the pioneers of the Faculty Artist Concert Series, including former Director of the School of Music Keith White, Ph.D., his wife, Jerri White, and the decade of continued success enjoyed by everyone involved in the series. Proceeds from the series generate scholarship funds to support UCO School of Music students. Tickets are free for students with a valid UCO ID and $10 for all others. Tickets may be purchased at the door, online at www.centralconnection.org/facs or by calling 405-9745004. For a complete listing of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events and performances, As part of the 2019 UCO School of Music Faculty Artist Concert Series, Tess Remy-Schumacher, D.M.A., will perform ‘Tess and Friends,’ at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 at the UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond. visit cfad.uco.edu.
Page 14 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Cancer center adds expert to help reduce tobacco deaths The Stephenson Cancer Center at OU Medicine welcomes a new tobacco regulatory scientist, Amy Cohn, Ph.D., to join a growing team of researchers dedicated to reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths in Oklahoma. Cohn joins the Stephenson Cancer Center from Battelle Memorial Institute in Arlington, Va., where she served as a senior research scientist. She also held a faculty position as an adjunct associate professor in clinical oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She brings a wealth of experience in clinical psychology and tobacco and alcohol use and abuse. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cohn to our team,” said Jennifer Vidrine, Ph.D., director of the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center at the Stephenson Cancer Center. “She brings a deep understanding of tobacco use, policy and behavior change.” Cohn has been awarded multiple federal grants and brings several ongoing research projects to Oklahoma. They include measuring young adults’ appeal for menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products; couse patterns of tobacco with marijuana among young adults; and studying the implications of young adult exposure to flavored tobacco advertising. She has published more than 80 original articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Cohn earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Georgia and completed post-doctoral training in the assessment and treatment of alcohol use disorders and cigarette smoking. In addition to patient care and research, her career includes significant experience in educating the next generation of health professionals about mental health and substance abuse. At the OU College of Medicine, she will hold the faculty title of associate professor of research in the Department of Pediatrics. Cohn’s recruitment is supported by funding from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). An endowment created by the voters in 2000 to improve the health of Oklahomans, TSET is dedicated to reducing the state’s leading causes of preventable death – cancer and cardiovascular disease – caused by tobacco use and obesity. As a tobacco regulatory scientist, Cohn will join a team that is dedicated to helping policy makers better understand the impact of tobacco marketing, policies and regulations on tobacco usage, particularly among younger users. “Dr. Cohn’s expertise will play an important role in our mission to help end tobacco-related mortality in Oklahoma,” said Theodore Wagener, Ph.D., director of Tobacco Regulatory Science Research at the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center.
Sarcoidosis patient David Key in Ada
Disease caused tremendous pain
OMRF researcher spots patient’s rare condition By Ryan Stewart The stabbing pains in David Key’s armpits awoke him from sleep one night in 2006. “It was excruciating,” said Key, 53, who lives in Oil Center, about 10 miles northeast of Ada. He cycled through hospitals and clinics, his condition worsening. He developed uncontrollable tremors and neurological problems and gave up his business. After a pair of strokes, he was forced to go on disability. Years passed, yet still he had no answers. Finally, one physician thought he recognized Key’s condition. A subsequent biopsy of lymph nodes proved the hunch: sarcoidosis, a rare disease that causes lumps of immune cells – known as granulomas – to form in organs throughout the body. “Unless patients’ first symptoms are in the lungs, they’re usually misdiagnosed,” said Courtney Montgomery, Ph.D., who studies the disease in her lab at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Scientists know little about what triggers sarcoidosis. It seems to start in the immune system, eliciting rampant inflammation. The tumor-like lumps can appear in the eyes, liver, heart, skin and brain and, most often, in the lungs. The disease can strike anyone, but it disproportionately affects African Americans. And, said Montgomery, it can be fatal. “The most common causes of death are cardiac conditions,” she said. Heart complications claimed the disease’s two most famous victims – NFL Hall of Famer Reggie White and comedian Bernie Mac – at the ages of 43 and 50, respectively. For Key, doctors have largely managed to control his symptoms through steroids and long list of other medications for the tremors, pain, depression and neurological issues. Still, he continues to experience near-constant pain in his chest. “Sometimes, I can swear I’m having a heart attack,” he said. Last year, in an effort to help Montgomery and her OMRF scientific team better understand the disease, Key traveled to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Courtney Montgomery, Ph.D. to participate in a research study of sarcoidosis at the foundation. After filling out questionnaires detailing his disease and medication history, he donated blood for the researchers to analyze. “By studying what’s going on at a genetic level in patients with active disease, we hope to identify environmental triggers that initiate sarcoidosis,” Montgomery said. Ultimately, that work might point scientists to an effective treatment. Key understands that volunteering in OMRF’s research study likely won’t help directly. Still, he said, “If it can help somebody down the road, it’s worth it.” For more information about sarcoidosis or to participate in research studies of the disease at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, call (405) 271-2504 or email sru@omrf.org.
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 15
George reflects on 91st Academy Awards By George Gust The 91st annual Academy awards are in the books. This year’s festivities, like much of the other cultural touchstones these days, were shrouded in controversy and intrigue. After the Kevin Hart twitter saga full of false starts and public apologies, the Academy decided to go host-less for the first time in recent memory. For my money, their decision to go forward without a host was a revelation, gone are the forced comedic bits and awkward moments, making way for a briskly paced ceremony and a little less political grandstanding that can overshadow Hollywood’s night. Here are a few thoughts about the night’s big winners: Best Animated Feature Film: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” was the slam dunk winner of this category. While I really enjoyed the Pixar sequel “Incredibles,” “Spider-Verse” was far and away the best animated film released this year, with its attention to character and unique visual style will certainly challenge the status quo of animated films in the coming years. Actress & Actor in a Leading Role: Rami Malik winning the Oscar for his turn as legendary Queen front man Freddie Mercury was the safe choice for
the academy, if albeit an uninspired one. Malik’s performance is the best part of “Bohemian Rhapsody” however the film was woefully underwhelming, so it’s hard to feel enthused about rewarding such a mediocre film (which the film also won Oscars for Sound Editing, Film Editing and Sound Mixing). As for Actress in a Leading Role, it seemed as though it was a Glenn Close’s chance to win the Oscar after a rich and storied career. However, with the award going to Olivia Coleman for the star making role in “The Favourite” it was “Close” but no cigar for Glenn. Coleman’s acceptance speech was the surprise of the night and felt the most genuine and heartfelt of the speeches.
For me, the story of the night was the duel between “Roma” and “Green Book.” On a technical level, from direction, cinematography and writing standpoints, “Roma” was by far the superior film. “Green Book” on the other hand was an endlessly charming film featuring a couple of outstanding performances that leaves the viewer with a heartwarming sentiment. Ultimately “Green Book” took home the top prize of Best Picture, and maybe it was Netflix’s association and distribution of “Roma” that didn’t sit well with an Academy that revels in the dream of the movie theater experience of old. It’s likely that history will not be kind to the by-the-numbers win for “Green Book” and “Roma” will be a footnote and the subject of future internet columns about films that ‘should have’ won the Oscar.
Alfonso Cuarón director of ‘Roma’ celebrates his win.
Special ‘60s duo to be remembered “The Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel” will be March 1-2 at ther Civic Center Music Hall starting at 8 p.m. both nights. Theirs was the harmony of a generation. The classic songs of Simon and Garfunkel are brought to life through arrangements for orchestra performed by the OKCPHIL with guest vocalists A.J. Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle. Michael Krajewski conducts this tribute, featuring the beloved duo’s greatest hits, including “Sounds of Silence,” “Scarborough Fair,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “A Hazy Shade of Winter” and many more. It is sure to leave you Feelin’ Groovy! Tickets are available by calling (405) 842-5387, (405) TICKETS or online at okcphil.org Says Susan Webb, Marketing Director of The OKCPHIL “We are delighted to welcome accomplished vocalists A.J. Swearingen, Jonathan Beedle as well as conductor Michael Krajewski to the Philharmonic stage to share meaningful interpretations of Simon and Garfunkel tunes that defined a generation of musical storytelling. We know audiences will take delight in the rich musical experience we have prepared for them.” Known for his entertaining programs and clever humor, Michael Krajewski is a much sought after conductor of symphonic pops.
Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: MARCH MADNESS ACROSS 1. Trunk extension 5. Dojo pad 8. *Villanova ____ at end of each half in '18 championship 11. Away from port 12. Windmill blade 13. Key material 15. Hefty competitor 16. European sea eagle 17. Walnut ____, MN 18. *____ Sunday 20. Smelling tainted, as in meat 21. Soft and sticky 22. Giant bird of "One Thousand and One Nights" 23. *____-elimination 26. Making sounds like Babe 30. Beatle wife 31. Not absorb, nor repel 34. Twelfth month of Jewish year 35. Batman to Bruce Wayne 37. Elizabeth Gilbert's "____ Pray Love" 38. Cubic meter 39. Ghost of Christmas ____ 40. P in POI 42. Make work 43. Puffed up 45. ____ and effects 47. Mont Blanc, e.g. 48. Oddball's attempt? 50. Tropical tuber 52. *Penultimate NCAA round 56. Like cornflakes leftovers 57. Slavic version of John 58. Tangerine plus grapefruit 59. Chased up an elm 60. Blow off steam 61. Tear violently 62. Da in Russia
63. Before of yore 64. Pasturelands DOWN 1. Falls behind 2. Archipelago unit 3. Square one? 4. Good-for-nothing 5. Nobel Prize winner Curie 6. Bug 7. High school student 8. Rumpelstiltskin's weaver 9. Green-eyed monster 10. Tie ___ 12. Ruled against, as President can 13. Prod 14. *Fill-in-the-blanks 19. Pepsi and Coke 22. Part of human cage 23. Daytime entertainment, pl. 24. Spouse's parent 25. Neil Diamond's "Beautiful ____" 26. Tiny leftovers 27. Intestinal obstruction
28. N in RN 29. Mirths 32. *1 or 68, e.g. 33. Crew tool 36. *Automatic vs. ____ 38. Creepy one 40. *Coach's locker room talk 41. Similar to sextant 44. Andrew ____ Webber 46. *Hang a banner, e.g. 48. Abraham Lincoln bill, slangily 49. Lacking sense 50. Ruptured 51. Ice, dark, and middle 52. *Twelve's opponent 53. Type of molding 54. Forearm bone 55. Purges 56. Slovenly abode
See Answers Page 23
Answers Page 23
Page 16 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
PHOTO PROVIDED
Many times they play for the president and other high officials. On March 5, the U.S. Navy Band will put on a free concert in the metro.
Navy band making metro stop March 5 America's Navy is coming to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, one of 18 cities in nine states to host a performance by the United States Navy Band during its 2019 tour -- one of the signature outreach programs of the U.S. Navy. The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters performance is scheduled for March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, 1001 N.W. 25th Street.
The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters is the official chorus of America’s Navy. The ensemble performs a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including sea chanteys and patriotic fare, to opera, Broadway, and contemporary music. The Sea Chanters chorus is frequently found at the center of high-profile national events. At home in Washington, D.C., the group performs for the president, vice president, and numer-
ous congressional, military and foreign dignitaries. One of the U.S. Navy Band’s primary responsibilities involves touring the country. All of the band’s primary performing units embark each year on concert tours throughout specified regions of the country, allowing the band to reach out to audiences in areas of the country that do not have opportunities to see the Navy's premier musical ensembles on a regular basis. The concerts are family-friendly events, meant to be entertaining to veterans, families, individuals and those interested in joining the Navy. All Navy Band performances are free and open to the public. Quotes "For many years, Navy bands have been where it matters, when it matters, just like the rest of our Navy. Today, we have Sailors performing around the world, improving relations with our allies abroad as well as telling the Navy story here at home." –Capt. Kenneth Collins, U.S. Navy
Band commanding officer Quick Facts -The U.S. Navy Band is the flagship musical organization of the Navy, and one of 11 Navy bands located around the world. -The U.S. Navy Band is based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. -The Sea Chanters 2019 tour will cover 18 cities and more than 3,000 miles. -The Navy Band has been touring the country since 1925. -There are six performing ensembles in the Navy Band: the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Sea Chanters chorus, Commodores jazz ensemble, Country Current country/bluegrass ensemble and the Cruisers popular music group. -Ensembles from the Navy Band tour nationally 12-15 weeks each year. -Almost all of the Sailors in the Navy Band have undergraduate degrees in music, and most have graduate degrees.
PHOTO PROVIDED
A family friendly free concert will be held March 5 at the First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City starting at 7:30 p.m.
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 17
PHOTO PROVIDED
A one-of-a-kind mountaintop chalet that a $180 million lottery winner built is for sale and featured this week at TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
Man won $180 million in 2014
Lottery winner puts home on market Winning the lottery is a dream come true, especially when the prize goes over the $100 million mark. That was the case for a California construction executive in 2014 who had the winning ticket that brought him a brain-busting $180 million windfall. With no hesitation, he immediately worked a deal on a mountaintop property with a mansion that was already under construction. He enlarged the plans and finished building it and, at the same time, purchased more land totaling 865 acres, a buffalo farm, a steakhouse serving his grass-fed buffalo steaks and a Wild West saloon. Now that the last detail is complete on the elegant chateau-style mansion and the related business operations are thriving, he is in search of another project. Now for sale is one of the most interesting and beautiful properties in the United States, priced at $26 million. Sited on a ridgetop above Oak Glen, California with views from Little San Gorgonio to Mount San Jacinto peaks and the Salton Sea and Catalina Island, looking down over its 865 acres, it’s like sitting on top of the world. The 16,000-square-foot home is on a 9,000-foot peak on its own mountain with all-season trails for hiking or four-wheeler adventures through towering Sequoias and RedPHOTO PROVIDED woods, abundant wildlife sightings, The California mansion comes complete with a 17-seat theater. The total home is 16,000 square feet. waterfalls and far-reaching mountain, valley and city views. Just below at Glen Steakhouse and Wild West Saloon that inbedroom apartment with a separate entrance and 4,500 feet is a clearing for a future helipad. Mancludes an extra 2.5-acre undeveloped lot that was fully-equipped kitchen. Grounds include an outsion grounds also include an apple orchard, a intended for additional parking. door kitchen, two ponds and a stream. 4,100-square-foot, six-bay garage and carport. InA one-of-a-kind mountaintop chalet, the land, The buffalo ranch comes with a sustainable 45 side the five-bedroom home is a three-story elevaand three interrelated income producing businesses head of grass and apple-fed buffalo, a caretaker’s tor, great room opening to wrap-around deck, a house and two barns - one for equipment and one that the lottery built are now for sale, priced at 17-seat theater, fully-equipped gym, wine cellar, its for hay storage. Equipment that conveys with the $26 million. The listing agent is Craig Strong, Comown water source, sustained internet and solar sale includes several trailers, Toolcat Bobcat with a pass Realty, Los Angeles, California. power system. The state-of-the-art kitchen adjoins Visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com for more hiscommercial snowblower, Kubota Tractor, John the great room and the master suite has its own toric, spectacular and celebrity homes and real esDeere 701 Backhoe and an operating fire truck. deck and Jacuzzi. There is also an attached onetate news. Also included in the sale are the popular Oak
Page 18 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
State revenues top $8 billion for fiscal year The Board of Equalization, chaired by Gov. J. Kevin Stitt, last week certified $8,249,071,274 in revenues for FY 2020 appropriations, which is $574.5 million, or 7.5 percent, more than was appropriated for FY 2019.This amount is $37.8 million, or 0.5 percent, less than the December estimate. “Today’s report by the Board of Equalization is encouraging,” said Gov.Stitt. “Our state’s economy has remained strong because of Oklahomans who are working hard, opening businesses and creating jobs. Moving forward, my budget priorities for FY 2020 remain the same. My number one focus is on improving our state’s savings and delivering agency accountability. These are the keys to unlocking Oklahoma’s turnaround and putting us on a path to a stronger future. In order to accomplish this, we must invest in our savings account and recognize that true fiscal accountability and transparency is not possible until the governor has hire and fire authority over state agencies. I look forward to working with the Legislature this session to get this done.” All major tax categories showed growth between the board’s December meeting and its February meeting except personal income tax, which fell $27.9 million, or 1.0 percent, and gross production taxes on natural gas, which decreased by $53.2 million, or 11.4 percent. "It's important going into the next two fiscal years that we build a state budget that is sustainable. While we did not meet the threshold for money to be deposited into the new Revenue Sta-
See Revenues, Page 19
State accountant group reminds public April deadline is looming Many taxpayers dread the April tax deadline, but there are ways to make filing your return easier. The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) offers some timely tips to help you get started. n Get organized. By the end of January, you should have received tax forms from the organizations that paid you compensation last year. Even if you’re not planning to get started on your tax return immediately, open a file now and start storing these forms, as well as any other relevant documents related to income, deductible expenses or other tax considerations. You’ll be happy to have this information at your fingertips when you need it. Be sure to pull out last year’s tax return, as
well, in case you need any details from it or want to see how recent changes in tax law have affected your tax or financial situation. n Document your deductions. Throughout the year, it’s a good idea to keep records of deductible expenses, but be aware that the new tax law may have an impact on which deductions you can take. For most taxpayers, the standard deduction nearly doubled to $12,000 in 2018 for individuals and $24,000 for couples, so many taxpayers may find they no longer need to itemize deductions. As a result, those taxpayers will not need to document related expenses. If you’re not certain, based on the amount of your deductions last year, whether you’ll need to itemize or not, be sure to hold on to your receipts until you’re ready to file your return this year. You may need the record for state or local income tax purposes, as some federal deductions that were restricted – such as real estate taxes – can be taken in higher levels at the state level. This means that some people may want to take advantage of taking the standard Federal income tax deduction and itemizing in their state (which is allowed in some states). Your CPA can offer advice on whether to itemize and which deductions you qualify for.
n Review your retirement contributions. Tax time is a good time to review your financial plan, including your retirement strategy. Particularly, if you’re not taking full advantage of an employer match for your contributions to an employer-sponsored pension plan, now’s the time to reconsider that decision. The money your company chips in to your account is like a free bonus that will only grow over the years. In addition, the earlier you start saving in an individual tax-advantaged retirement account, such as an IRA, the more time your money will have to accumulate. Need some advice on retirement planning? Remember that tax filing time is a good point to talk to your CPA about setting and reaching your retirement goals. n Consider your goals for 2019 and beyond. Your tax return offers a good snapshot of where you stand financially. It can help you understand if your monthly budgeting is realistic, if you’re saving enough and if you’re taking advantage of all your tax-saving opportunities. Take some time now to think about your own financial goals, such as paying down debt or saving for a home, children’s education or retirement. Consider which ones are most important to you, then use the information you gather for
your tax return to decide whether you’re on track to meet your goals. If not, you can make some adjustments either in the expected timing of your objectives or in your current spending or saving habits. n Be prepared for changes in business taxes. The new tax law made some meaningful changes for small business owners and many independent contractors. They include a lowering of the corporate tax rate, a large deduction for small pass-through organizations, elimination of the corporate AMT, higher depreciation deductions and tougher requirements for some business deductions. Ask your CPA for more details. In light of the many changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act last year, this is an especially good time to be prepared to reexamine your tax planning, your withholding and your short- and long-term goals. Your CPA can help answer your financial questions and help use your tax return to create a financial plan. In Oklahoma, you can get a free CPA referral and free 30-minuted consultation from www.FindYourCPA.com . For more money tips, visit www.KnowWhatCounts.org, like Know What Counts on Facebook, and follow Know What Counts on Twitter.
Edmond Life & Leisure • February 28, 2019 • Page 19
Leads national trauma group
OCU’s American Spirit Dance Company
OCU Broadway Revue will take to the stage March 7-9 Oklahoma City University’s American Spirit Dance Company will celebrate American dance from Broadway to Hollywood as they present the spring Broadway Revue from March 7 to 9. This year the OCU Starettes will kick off the show with a routine worthy of a performance at Radio City Music Hall, said Director Jo Rowan. “Our dancers cut loose with an exciting tap dance using chairs to the music of the movie ‘Footloose’ and then the dance ‘Cool’ from ‘West Side Story,’” Rowan noted. The audience will get a taste of the “Wild West,” with a balletic number set to Aaron Copland’s iconic “Rodeo” score. Rowan said the number incorporates the strength
and determination of Oklahoma’s cowboys. “Summer Montage” presents a fast-paced tap and jazz competition which ultimately unifies the two styles into a dynamic duo before dancers get lost in a music video to the song “Melody,” an expression of the passionate connection humans have to music and how it can provide an emotional escape. In “The Pines,” show goers can take a lyrical fairy stroll in the moonlight and discover a moving mystery magical realm. In Act 2, “Never Enough,” a beautiful love story to music from the movie “The Greatest Showman,” tells the story of a woman who declares that her relationship is more important than all the fame and money in the world.
Rowan added that musicals with a Latin beat are the rage of Broadway. “Our couples dance to a sizzling Samba retro beat that is sure to ‘Spice Up Your Life,’” she noted. “Our dancers’ high-energy tap dancing to sensational music with fascinating rhythms is sure to get your feet tapping and your soul swaying to ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,’ ‘Sibling Rivalry,’ and the classic ‘Dr. Buster Brown’s Laura.’” The show also features disco with “Knock on Wood.” “Yes, jumpsuits, big hair and sequins,” Rowan noted. “More is more in this flashback to 1979.” The exquisite music composition of Justin Hurwitz from the movie “La La Land” is brought to life in “Lovely Night” as stunning dancers em-
Revenues From Page 18 bilization Fund this year, it is very likely that a large deposit will happen next fiscal year," said Secretary of Budget Mike Mazzei. “This deposit could be hundreds of millions of dollars, which means there could be no growth revenue in FY 2021." "We need to be cautious when allocating agency appropriations this year," Mazzei added. "If current trends continue, and we appropriate all available funds for FY 2020 operations, we could be setting ourselves up for some difficulty next year.”
Oklahoma state government builds a 5 percent cushion into every appropriated state budget to prevent mandatory budget reductions if revenues fall below the official estimate. If revenues are projected to fall more than 5 percent below the estimate for the remainder of the fiscal year, a revenue failure is declared and mandatory appropriation reductions must occur to maintain a balanced budget. The Board of Equalization packet is available on the OMES website.
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 submitted by noon Thursday.
body the night sky and create the romance that brings two reluctant young people together. All of these dances and more from film, ballet and musicals are part of this year’s Broadway Revue, featuring the professional performers of tomorrow. OCU’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment has been named the No. 1 BFA dance program in the nation by OnStage. Show times are 8 p.m. March 7 and 8 and 2 and 8 p.m. March 9. For tickets, call 405-208-5227 or visit okcu.edu/tickets.
OU Medicine orthopedic surgeon David C. Teague, M.D., is serving as president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, an organization that advances research, education and patient care for orthopedic trauma surgeons in the United States and Canada. At OU Medicine, Teague treats Dr. Teague injured patients at the Level 1 Trauma Center, Oklahoma’s only comprehensive trauma facility, and in the posttrauma reconstructive setting. He also serves as professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation in the OU College of Medicine, helping to train the orthopedic surgeons of tomorrow. Teague brings that experience to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, which has 2,500 members, including about 350 members from Europe, South America and Asia. “The Orthopaedic Trauma Association is a wonderful story of collaboration,” Teague said. “Our founding members were visionaries who established an organization dedicated to supporting the field and nurturing young orthopedic trauma surgeons in their research and clinical careers.” One of Teague’s initiatives while president of OTA is improving the process for orthopedic trauma surgeons to cross state lines to help their colleagues in the aftermath of a disaster. Because of states’ differing credentialing, licensing and liability laws, it is difficult for surgeons to travel to other states and help in the wake of a tornado, for example, Teague said. “We’re trying to make that process more straightforward so that, if Oklahoma has another F5 tornado, then we have a mechanism in place for our colleagues from Dallas to be on a pre-cleared list so they can come help if we need it,” he said. “States need to have a plan in place so they don’t have to address it in the aftermath of a horrible event.” Under Teague’s leadership, the OTA has established an “association of associations” called IOTA, the International Orthopaedic Trauma Association. The OTA joins about 16 similar groups from around the world to promote trauma education and resources. As a global group, they meet every three years. For its research focus, the OTA awards $750,000 a year to surgeons and residents to conduct research that moves the field forward. Those grants have been leveraged to attract millions of dollars in extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. Teague also recently represented OTA and OU Medicine at the Extremity War Symposium in Washington, D.C. Along with similar groups, the OTA is taking on an advocacy role on behalf of military veterans, who face distinct injuries from their time on the battlefield. “This year, we’ve been talking to Congress about the need for continued funding for wounded warriors and research-related gaps in our understanding of how to help them improve,” he said.
Page 20 • February 28, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Arledge Associates Q&A
What to do when adding a partner or a shareholder By LaDonna Sinning Arledge & Associates My small business has grown enough that it’s time to add another owner to help manage the business as well as to retain key personnel. What should I Sinning consider in doing that? First of all, congratulations! You have done a great job of building a business and are taking the right approach to retaining a key person. Nothing says I’ll stay engaged like owning a piece of the business. You are also right to ask questions and be thoughtful about increasing the number of owners. It is a big decision that is not easily reversed should it not work out. The overall key is finding the right person. Think of it like a marriage that will last the rest of your working career. Ask yourself if you would want to be in the foxhole with them. Are you certain they will always make decisions in the best interest of the business even if that conflicts with their own best interests? Can you trust them? Are their ethics and integrity above question? These questions may sound over-the-top, but they will have a major impact on your livelihood, your legacy, and ultimately, your life. If those things are in place, then ask yourself if it is a fit in other ways. Are your work ethics similar? Is this person’s business acumen and technical skills at an acceptable level for an owner? You mentioned that this isn’t a decision that is easily reversed. Could
you expand on that? Once they become an owner, in many ways they will be your peer, even if they are not a literal peer in ownership percentage. Your employees will see them as being your peer and it will be difficult to override decisions made by this new owner if they have already been shared with employees. The public will also see the new owner as your peer. Both make unwinding your relationship difficult. Of course, you can force them out and buy back their interest, but how will that be perceived by employees and customers? It’s best to be very sure about bringing in a new owner and avoid needing to unwind a bad situation. Thanks! I’ll slow down this process and give it more thought. Anything else I should consider? You may want to make sure the new owner’s spouse or significant other, if there is one, is on board with them becoming an owner. Their support is often key to ensuring the new owner can devote the time and attention that running a business requires.
LaDonna Sinning is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner and partner at Arledge and Associates, PC, an Edmond-based accounting firm. Arledge & Associates, PC is a recognized leader in the accounting industry offering practical solutions in the areas of tax planning, auditing, consulting, accounting advisory services and client accounting. The firm added Josh Mullins as a partner this year. The firm is passionate about selecting strong partners to continue the firm’s growth.
New VP of operations named eran’s coordinator at the UniPatricia “Trish” Ingram has versity of Oklahoma. been named vice president of Ingram received both a operations for Daily Living Master of Arts, Gerontology, Centers, Inc., the 45-year-old and a Bachelor of Science in adult day healthcare organiOrganizational Leadership zation that operates four profrom the University of Central gram facilities in the Oklahoma. metro-Oklahoma City area. About Daily Living Centers In her new position, Mrs. InIngram Founded in 1974, Daily Livgram will have responsibility ing Centers, Inc. is the oldest for overseeing operations in and largest adult day healthcare servEdmond, south Oklahoma City, ices program in the state of Oklanortheast Oklahoma City and homa. The four metro-Oklahoma City Bethany. Ingram joined Daily Living Centers, facilities serve 750 participants each week. Each facility provides frail eldInc. in 2017 after having served as erly and disabled persons with doorthe executive director of Full Circle to-door transportation and a safe Adult Day Center in Norman, Oklaplace to go on weekdays, for up to homa. She also has served stints as 10 hours each visit, where they can the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as assistant registrar, socialize with others, enjoy nutritious international student advisor, and vet- meals, play games, exercise and have their health monitored. erans coordinator; and as the vet-
State gaming industry worth almost $10 billion annually The Oklahoma casino gaming industry supports more than 75,000 jobs statewide and has an annual economic impact of $9.8 billion, the American Gaming Association (AGA) announced last week at a Get to Know Gaming event hosted in Oklahoma City following a previous reception the day before in Tulsa. AGA’s Get to Know Gaming tour aims to engage local leaders about gaming’s role as a community partner in 40 states across the country. Last week’s roundtable panel at the Petroleum Club Event Center included members of Congress, Rep. Tom Cole and Rep. Kendra Horn; Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Bill Lance; Choctaw Nation Senior Executive Officer Janie Dillard; Cherokee Nation Dep. Attorney General Chrissi Nimmo; and AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell moderated the discussion. The event also marked the release of AGA’s latest report, Casinos & Communities Oklahoma, an in-depth look at how the gaming industry supports local communities. According to the research, Oklahoma’s gaming industry supports 75,885 jobs and
$4.3 billion in wages in the state. “For nearly three decades, sovereign tribal nations and gaming companies have been engines of growth and opportunity in the state of Oklahoma, creating partnerships with local organizations, supporting small businesses and providing good jobs for workers of all backgrounds,” said Bill Miller, President and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association. “Today, we’re pleased to spotlight how the relationships between Oklahoma’s tribal nations, elected officials, small business owners and community leaders serve as a model of success for states around the nation.” About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.
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Castilla elected dean for bankers
Jill Castilla
Jill Castilla, President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond, has been elected as the Dean for Bankers of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation. The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) Foundation is a nonprofit educational foundation. It is one of the banking industry’s top sources for leadership development, bank management training and bank director training programs. Headquartered at the renowned Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, SWGSB Foundation partners with the American Bankers Association, state banking associations, and others to provide unparalleled opportuni-
ties for professional and personal growth. Through its year-round educational programs, the Foundation offers expert guidance to ensure a sound financial services industry that keeps communities strong, dynamic and well-funded. Its offerings are the gold standard for officer and director training. Several of Citizens Bank of Edmond’s own directors have attended the Foundation’s Certified Community Bank Director’s Programs and the Assemblies for Bank Directors. They always return with expertise and insight to share with their fellow community bank directors and industry peers. Castilla has served as a trustee on the SWGSB Foundation Board for the past three years, assisting in shaping the
Foundation programs while also serving as an expert on community banking. “Our board of trustees were unanimous in their praise for her leadership skills, social media initiatives, and unique community outreach,” said S. Scott MacDonald, Ph.D., president and CEO of SWGSB Foundation. “As a courageous advocate of community banking, Jill is also tireless in making the industry’s voice heard. These and her many other attributes will make her an extremely effective Dean for Bankers at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation.” The full list of SWGSB Board Trustees is available on their website at www.swgsb.org.
Oil production to increase in state & U.S. By Adam Wilmoth NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Oil production is set to increase in Oklahoma and throughout the country even as companies cut their drilling budgets. Oil and natural gas company executives over the past two weeks have begun outlining their 2019 drilling budgets to shareholders and analysts. A clear pattern is forming. Executives are lowering 2019 budgets following the fourth quarter of 2018, when oil prices tumbled, reigniting fear in the industry. Despite the spending cuts, however, increased efficiency and a better understanding of the rock they are drilling has led executives to increase their production forecasts. Devon Energy Corp. executives this week said the company will spend about 10 percent less in 2019 than in 2018 on drilling but that they plan on completing 15 percent more wells. The company spent about $2.6 billion on wells in 2018
and is expected to spend $2.1 billion to $2.3 billion this year. "The big question in the industry is with the fall of commodity prices, most people planned on $65 oil, but now it's at $55 or less. People are having to adjust to that," Devon CEO Dave Hager said in an interview with The Oklahoman last week. "We are delivering increased capital efficiency." Based on the results of the company's earlier drilling program, Devon officials have adjusted the number of wells drilled per section in northwest Oklahoma's STACK play. "We reduced the density, and now we're generating very strong returns," Hager said. Continental Resources officials last week also announced plans for decreased spending and increased production. Officials said the company has a 2019 capital expenditure budget of $2.6 billion, including about $2.2 billion for drilling and completion expenses. That spending compares to nonacquisition capital expenditures of $2.8 billion in
OC business programs draw high recognition Oklahoma Christian University accounting and marketing degrees named among the best in the nation Both degrees were praised for the quality of education provided to OC students Oklahoma Christian University faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with an excellent education, and college-planning organizations have noticed. Recently, OC’s accounting and marketing degrees were ranked among the best in the nation. College Factual, a leading provider of data analytics on college outcomes, ranked OC’s accounting program as the best in Oklahoma and among the top 10 in the U.S. Another provider of educational resources, Study.com, ranked OC’s marketing degree as the 18th best school for marketing. “We are honored that these two strong degrees have been recognized for being among the best in the nation,” OC’s Dean of the College of Business Jeff Simmons said. “We know we provide our students with a high-quality education, but it is great when organizations like these affirm that, too.” College Factual chose OC’s accounting degree as the best in the state, for the second year in a row, due to three factors: the average yearly cost, average time students take to graduate and the quality the school provides to students. College Factual also examined OC alumni pay data from PayScale, finding accounting graduates earned $45,000-$70,000 at the early and midcareer stages. “College Factual asserts that schools like OC that are highly ranked are offering a good value for the money for accounting students,” Simmons said. “We strongly agree.” Similarly, college-planning website Study.com selected OC’s marketing degree due to academic and career
resources offered to students, the quality of education in marketing and the quality of the faculty. The organization ranks colleges using public data from the Department of Education and other specific program outcomes. “Our accomplished marketing faculty work so hard to help prepare students and connect them with internships,” Simmons said. “It is an honor for that hard work to be recognized.” OC’s marketing degree was praised for its accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and for offering four emphasis options: advertising, professional selling, marketing management and technology-mediated marketing. OC partners with Fortune 500 companies in the Oklahoma City area to connect students with practical experience before graduation. OC’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Scott LaMascus, praised the business faculty for the quality of their work, which aligns with the tenets of a faith-based university. “These rankings are a reflection of the dedication and scholarship that our faculty and staff demonstrate every day,” LaMascus said. “The pursuit of excellence is a guiding value of the Christ-centered education provided to our inspiring students.” About Oklahoma Christian Oklahoma Christian is ranked as one of the best universities in the western United States by The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. A recent study rated OC as one of the best higher education values in Oklahoma, citing the university’s low net price combined with OC graduates’ high starting salaries. OC offers undergraduate programs in more than 80 fields of study.
2018, including $2.4 billion in exploration and development drilling and completion. While drilling is down slightly, oil production is likely to surge. Officials said they expect the company to produce between 190,000 and 200,000 barrels of oil per day in 2019, up from 168,177 barrels per day in 2018. "Our 2019 budget reflects our fiscal discipline, as we gauge rebalancing of oil supply," CEO Harold Hamm said last week during a conference call with analysts. Hamm also expanded on the company's larger plans for the next several years. "Our vision over the next five years is to deliver a unique combination of several billion (dollars) of free cash flow generation while simultaneously nearly doubling our 2018 production from our much larger current production base," he said. "We plan to deliver significant and sustainable value to our shareholders, driven by a strong free cash flow generation."
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Nominations accepted
At upcoming April event
State wants to honor Actor Kevin Costner among those those helping children due to get Western Heritage Award The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is accepting nominations for awards to recognize individuals and organizations for their demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to child abuse prevention in Oklahoma. Nominations are due by close of business on Wednesday, March 13. Interim Commissioner of Health Tom Bates said it is important to recognize those who are working to protect Oklahoma’s children from abuse. “We want to recognize those who are going above and beyond to reduce the incidents of child abuse in our state,” said Bates. “These awards are to honor those who work at multiple levels to help strengthen families and relationships.” The six categories for nominations are: Outstanding Home Visitor Award to recognize a professional working as a home visitor who has demonstrated a high commitment to quality service and tremendous dedication to those served. Outstanding Elected Official Award to recognize an elected official for distinguished service focused on the prevention of child maltreatment and/or support of vulnerable families. Marion Jacewitz Award to recognize an individual in Oklahoma who has made significant contributions to the prevention of child abuse and strengthening families on a statewide level. Mary Ellen Wilson Award to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions to the prevention of child abuse and strengthening families at a community level. Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention and Strengthening Families Program Award to recognize an exceptional program that focuses on the prevention of child maltreatment and supports vulnerable families. Julie L. Bonner Nurse Home Visitor Award to recognize a nurse home visitor who empowers parents to care for themselves while creating safe, healthy, nurturing relationships and environments for children. Nomination forms may be downloaded directly from the OSDH website at: https://go.usa.gov/xEQxk. Awards will be presented during a special ceremony, Tuesday, April 9, at 11 a.m. in the Great Room at the Oklahoma Judicial Center. Email completed nomination forms to sheriet@health.ok.gov, or mail a copy of the printed form to: Sherie Trice, Family Support and Prevention Service, OSDH, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299. For more information, or to request printed forms, call the OSDH Family Support and Prevention Service at (405) 271-7611.
Measles makes unwelcomed return Every year, the World Health Organization lists its top threats to global health. Alongside suspects like air pollution, cancer and heart disease, a newcomer has joined the 2019 edition: vaccine hesitancy. The anti-vaccine movement has gained momentum in recent years as parents refuse to vaccinate their children out of fear for autism and other side effects. “It’s causing outbreaks of communicable diseases like measles that had vanished from this country,” said Stephen Prescott, M.D., president of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Already in 2019, at least 10 states have reported cases of the measles, which were declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Outbreaks have recently occurred in New York, New Jersey and the Pacific Northwest. While usually not often life-threatening, measles brings a widespread rash that covers most of the body. It’s often accompanied by fever, cough, runny nose and other cold-like symptoms. “In some instances, it can be much more severe and require hospitalization, supportive treatment with fluids and oxygen,” said OMRF’s Prescott, a physician and medical researcher. “If complications become severe, measles can even result in death.” One complication is viral pneumonia. According to the Centers for Disease Control, as many as 1 in 20 children who get measles will get pneumonia, which can be lethal, especially in the very young. Also, about 1 in 1,000 will develop life-threatening swelling of the brain that can lead to deafness, mental disability and convulsions. “While severe complications are rare, the more cases there are, the greater the chance of these worst-case outcomes,” said Prescott. The vaccine is usually administered in two doses: one at 12 to 15 months, and the second between the ages of 4 and 6. The CDC reports this two-dose regimen is 97 percent effective. “The vaccine works, which is great news considering measles is one of the most highly contagious diseases in the world,” Prescott said, “It is a disease that is incredibly efficient at infecting people, especially young children.” When an infected person sneezes or coughs, the measles virus enters the air and can infect anyone who comes in contact with the airborne particles – or touches objects or surfaces where the germs have settled.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will host the 59th annual Western Heritage Awards, April 12 – 13, in celebration of creative works in literature, music, film and television that reflect the significant stories of the Western genre. The Western Heritage Awards also celebrate the induction of individuals into the Museum’s esteemed halls of fame. This year, legendary Hollywood actor Kevin Costner will be inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers along with notable musical and screen performer Howard Keel (1919 – 2004). Inductees into the Hall of Great Westerners for 2019 are Costner Clark McEntire (1927 – 2014), three-time world champion steer roper and father of country music icon Reba McEntire, and George McJunkin (1851 – 1922), a cowboy and former slave who discovered the first Folsom archaeological site. The 2019 Western Heritage Awards will also recognize Dave Stamey, cowboy entertainer and musician, with the Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award. Named in honor of the Museum’s founder, this award is bestowed on a living honoree who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Western values and ideals. Singer and songwriter Michael Martin Murphey will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his nearly 50 years producing celebrated Western music. “As the preeminent recognition of quality in Western-themed works for nearly 60 years, the Western Heritage Awards celebrates and encourages the creation of Western literature, music and film with true merit,” said Museum President & CEO Natalie Shirley. “We are excited to once again honor a group of creative individuals who hold steadfast to Western ideals while creating new and groundbreaking works.” Each award winner and inductee receives
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum a Wrangler, an impressive bronze sculpture of a cowboy on horseback created by Oklahoma artist Harold T. Holden, a 2017 Hall of Great Westerners inductee. The Western Heritage Awards festivities begin Friday, April 12 at 11 a.m. with a workshop featuring Emmy-winning makeup artist Michael F. Blake that is free to the public with Museum admission. This is followed by a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. and an autograph session with honorees at 6 p.m. On Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m. is the Western Heritage Awards Panel Discussion, which is also free to the public with Museum admission. The Western Heritage Awards Cocktail Hour begins at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner service and the awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m. Reservations are required for all evening events, with discounts available to Museum members. For additional information or to make reservations visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/westernheritage or contact Kaylia McCracken, Events Coordinator, at (405) 478-2250 ext. 218. Western Heritage Award sponsors to date include, Promoting Sponsors: The Chickasaw Nation, Compellier, IBC Bank and JE Dunn; Inductee Sponsors: Linda M. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Ingram, Mr. Brent Cummings, Mrs. Howard Keel, Robert A. Funk and Express Ranches and Wyatt and Lisa McCrea; Museum Partners: Devon Energy Corp. and E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation; and Community Sponsors: Allied Arts, Arvest Bank, Continental Resources, OG&E, Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau and MassMutual Oklahoma. Sponsorship opportunities remain available; for more information visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/westernheritage or contact Trent Riley, Membership Manager, at triley@nationalcowboymuseum.org or (405) 478-2250 ext. 251.
Oklahoma does fairly well in national tooth fairy poll Parents, do not be surprised if your kid holds on to a lost tooth until market conditions improve. It looks like the Tooth Fairy tightened her money bag by 43 cents nationwide this year, with an average gift of $3.70 for a lost tooth. The Southern region — the region in which Oklahoma resides — has an average that has also dropped in the last year, but not to its detriment. The South comes in second for highest regional Tooth Fairy gifts with an average payout of $3.91, 21 cents higher than the national average. “We are pleased to see our region’s results from this year’s Tooth Fairy Poll,” said John Gladden, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Oklahoma. “Delta Dental of Oklahoma is committed to improving the oral wellness of all Oklahomans, and monetary gifts from the Tooth Fairy are a great way to support this mission for our children locally.” The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically served as a good indicator of the economy's overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor's 500 index (S&P 500) for 14 of the past 17 years. While the national payout has decreased, a first lost tooth continues to impress. Parents recognize this monumental tooth with an average of $4.96, representing $1.26 above
the $3.70 average for subsequent teeth lost. Delta Dental has been gauging the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends for more than two decades. The South’s average gift of $3.91 was enough to surpass other regions as second-highest, only behind the Western region’s average payout of $4.19. The Northeast comes in third with $3.75, followed by the Midwest with an average of $2.97. Other Stats from homes visited by the Tooth Fairy: Joy: The Tooth Fairy gives kids something to be excited about, according to more than half of parents (56 percent). Bedtime: Children go to bed early when leaving out a tooth, say 30 percent of parents. Savers: Children choose to save their Tooth Fairy earnings say nearly half of parents (48 percent). Oral health: More than one-third of parents (34 percent) believe the Tooth Fairy instills good oral health habits. The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between Dec. 31 and Jan. 13 among a nationally representative sample of 1,058 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent.
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Celebration of Hope benefit to help The Salvation Army The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Women’s Auxiliary is hosting their 32nd annual Celebration of Hope fundraising event on Wednesday, April 10. The theme for this year’s event is “Broken to Beautiful” and will feature Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road. Dillingham is a world renowned fiddle sensation and Oklahoma Musical Ambassador with over 20 years of international experience and performances in 36 countries. Emceeing this year’s event will be Dean Blevins, News 9 Sports Director, who currently serves on the advisory board for The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma. The event begins with the Auxiliary’s popular silent auction beginning at 9:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon and program at 11:30 a.m. at Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur, Oklahoma City. The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary is comprised of women who have dedicated their time and talents to help transform lives through The Salvation Army’s programs and services. The goal for this year’s event is $70,000. All funds raised through this year’s event will benefit the ongoing programs and services at The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma including the shelter program, Client Choice Food Pantry, senior programs, summer camp sponsorships and The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club. Sponsorships ranging from $100 to $5,000 are currently available with various benefits. For anyone wishing to become a sponsor for the 2019 Celebration of Hope event, the deadline is Friday, March 15. Tickets for the event are $50. Reservations must be made by April 3. Both sponsorships and reservations can be made by contacting Jill Walker at 405-627-1334.
About The Salvation Army The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Over 183,000 Oklahomans receive assistance from The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyokcac.org. The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command is a proud partner agency of the United Way of Central Oklahoma.
Famed violinist Kyle Dillingham
Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi Good Shepherd Anglican Church (Traditional Episcopal) 1000 N. Broadway, Edmond •314-8715 Sundays - Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00am Animal Friendly Parish “If you have people who exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have those who deal likewise with their fellow human being.” St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
www.anglicancgsedmondok.com 1928 Book of Common Prayer • anglicancgesedmondok.com
SCRIPTURE • TRADITION • REASON
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