May 30, 2019
Vol. 20, No. 1
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.
OSU STAR REWROTE NORTH RECORD BOOK
Ex-North golfer makes U.S. Open
High waters close Arcadia Lake See Page 12
FRIDAY, MAY 31
Partly Cloudy High 84° Low 68°
PHOTOS BY COURTNEY BAY/OSU ATHLETICS
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Scattered Thunderstorms High 83° Low 68°
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
Isolated Thunderstorms High 86° Low 68°
Former Edmond North Husky golfer, Austin Eckroat, will be among the field at next month’s prestigious U.S. Open Tournament. He has already helped the Oklahoma State Cowboys win a national title last year. As a Husky, Eckroat won two state individual titles, including as a freshman -- the first golfer to accomplish that feat. Former Edmond North golf star and current Oklahoma State sophomore Austin Eckroat earned a spot in the field at the 119th U.S. Open Championship last week after advancing through sectional qualifying. Eckroat was one of 102 players vying for 10 spots in the field for the Open, which will be contested June 13-16 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. A native of Edmond, Eckroat posted a 65 at Northwood Country Club and a 72 at Bent Tree Country club to find his way into a threeman playoff with Cody Gribble and
Charlie Danielson. He delivered with a birdie to grab one of the final two qualifying spots. Eckroat will join Cowboy teammate Viktor Hovland in the field. Hovland earned his spot in the field via his victory at the U.S. Amateur Championship last year at Pebble Beach. Eckroat had a legendary career at Edmond North, becoming the first freshman to win to the Oklahoma Class 6A individual crown in 2014. He added a second individual honor his senior year.
The Huskies, during Eckroat’s time, also won three team titles. As a prep golfer Eckroat earned all state honors and was named conference Player of the Year,” three times. He ended his high school golf career with a 71.65 scoring average and 15 wins. At meets he was in the top 10 of golfers an astounding 41 times, including 28 finishes in the top three. Both of those are North high school records in a program which is probably considered the best boys golf program in the last 25 years.
Page 2 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 3
FILE PHOTOS/MELINDA INFANTE
One of the premiere events of June is the annual Touch-A-Truck benefit, sponsored by the City of Edmond Electrict Department. This attraction, on June 1, is at the University of Central Oklahoma parking lot. Attendees get a chance to get an upclose and personal look at many trucks.
Edmond Electric to host Touch-A-Truck event Edmond Electric is hosting the annual Edmond Touch-A-Truck on Saturday, June 1st from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the UCO parking lot off of Second Street and Baumann Avenue. Touch-A-Truck is a fundraising event that provides kids of all ages with the opportunity to experience life-size vehicles and interact with community support leaders like police officers, firefighters, electric linemen and many more. Families will have the opportunity for a hands-on exploration of many vehicles such as Edmond’s own fire trucks and police cars, an Edmond Electric bucket truck and even a solid waste truck. Admission for the Touch-A-Truck
event is a suggested $2 donation with the proceeds going to The HOPE Center of Edmond to benefit local residents in need. To accommodate those sensitive to loud noises a quiet hour takes place at the beginning of the event from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. During this time, no horns or loud music will be allowed. After 10 a.m., it is recommended that those sensitive to loud noises bring ear protection for the remainder of the event. To find out more about the event, visit www.edmondelectric.com/touchatruck or you can contact Jessica Lyle with Edmond Electric at 405-2167729.
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From the Publisher
Prime Time offers rare travel opportunity While many families are just now deciding what their travel plans will be for this summer, Prime Time Travel is offering a rare opportunity that only comes up once every 10 years. It will be an amazing trip and at a great price. The catch is that you need to call right now to reserve your spot even though the dates for travel are not until Sep- Ray Hibbard tember of 2020. My friend, and owner of Prime Time Travel, Victor Neal, and I have this conversation often. There was a time when folks waiting until the last minute to book travel got some of the best pricing. That usually had to do with air fare. As many of you know, that is no longer the case. Airlines run tighter and there are not the number of flights going each day. When was the last time you were on a mostly empty flight to anywhere? Sure, folks might get a great deal at times on last minute travel but there is usually a compromise involved with either timing, quality or location. For most of us, our travel budget for dollars and our time is too precious to take a chance. A really great trip comes from good planning and using a first-class travel agent of which Prime Time is guilty of being. The increased reason for booking now, and I do mean now folks, is that the trip is centered around the famous Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. They only do this play once every 10 years so the next chance to see it is 2030. This Passion Play is like none you have ever seen and has a unique history behind it. If, after you read the details and history, you are the least bit interested, call Mike at Prime Time Travel today. Their number is (405) 340-1120. You can also visit them on the web at www.primetimetrvl.com. If you wait, the trip will be sold out and good luck getting tickets to the Passion Play with one of those goofy booking sites. The gnome can’t help you here folks. The History: In the midst of the horror of the 30 years’ war, the dreaded plague swept across Europe. High in the Bavarian Alps, the citizens of Oberammergau attempted to seal themselves off from the outside world. When a homesick young man sneaked into the village and brought the pestilence with him, 84 residents died within 3 weeks. In desperation, the town council made a solemn vow that if God would stop the plague, out of gratitude, they would present a play depicting the life and suffering of Christ for the duration of their existence. Miraculously, the plague took no more lives in the town. True to their word, the villagers performed their first play in 1634, and have continued to do so to this day. Other than the fact that the villagers back in 1632 promised God that they would re-enact the passion of Christ every 10 years for all eternity, this is what I find fascinating about the Passion Play. According to the vow the village took, all the actors must be born in Oberammergau. The villagers wrote the score and designed and built the theatre. Long hair and beards are grown for years for the occasion. More than a thousand elaborate and colorful costumes add to the tradition and rich presentation. Tradition dictates that the play’s cast of thou-
A scene from the famous Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany.
sands is drawn from all walks of life from within the village. The coveted role of Christ could be the village postman, butcher or schoolteacher. The cast spends almost two years painstakingly rehearsing every detail of the story for a once only performance of a lifetime. The play takes place in a covered auditorium with an open-air stage, built in 1930 to insure performance regardless of weather conditions. The open-air stage design creates a backdrop of green fields, mountains and blue skies. Now, more than 2,000 citizens make up the actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians that bring the play to life in approximately six hours of playing time. The year 2020 marks the 42nd time the story will be presented in Oberammergau. Prime Time knows you will value and love the Passion Play but they are making a real trip out of it. This is a beautiful area of Germany. I spent time in Bavaria in 2014 and am going back to this area later in June. It is beautiful. Nestled in a high Alpine valley in Bavaria, Oberammergau provides a breathtaking setting. The village has a long tradition of wood carving. The streets of central Oberammergau have impressive buildings as well as dozens of woodcarver shops with items such as toys and religious objects. Travelers will see the Passion Play, Neuschwanstein and Oktoberfest all in one amazing trip. You will only be gone six days but will pack a lot into that time including five nights’ accommodations, nine meals and guided tours. The dates are Sept. 23 to 28, 2020 and the pricing starts at $2,900 per person. At Oktoberfest you will have guaranteed seats in the Lowenbrau Tent that includes two liters of beer and grilled chicken which also happens to be one of my favorite combinations. I don’t know why but grilled chicken and beer just go great together. Naturally your ground transportation is covered as well as Category B tickets to the Passion Play. The price doesn’t include airfare, gratuities or hotel taxes. You can get all these details on the Prime Time
Travel web site and my disclaimer is that I may have made a mistake but if you call Mike, he can give you all the details as well. On Sunday you'll be escorted on a special city tour of Munich followed by an afternoon at the Oktoberfest, where you have guaranteed seats in a major beer tent. Two-liter mugs of beer and a halfgrilled chicken included, of course! Highlights include Chiemsee Lake, which is Bavaria’s largest lake, Herrenchiemsee Palace, Fraueninsel Island village, Ettal Monastery, Linderhof Palace, Neuschwanstein Castle and more. Your knowledgeable tour director will make sure you get the background and historical information in all the locations. This will be a great trip for families or groups of friends. You don’t have to read my column often to know how much I love travel. I truly just fell into going to this part of the world five years ago. It was not a planned trip, but I found myself at loose ends and Victor suggested it. My son who travels for his work had always encouraged me to go to Germany. He traveled there for the first time when he was in college in France. I wasn’t so sure but fell in love with Germany from day one. The Germans are wonderful people. They are friendly, have our same work ethic and like most places I have been in the world, just want what is best for their families. You can bet the trains run on time in Germany and that the roads are first rate, but the people have a charm and warmth that you won’t find in other countries. We will share more about this part of Germany when Lisa and I get back from our trip but unfortunately, you will have to make a booking on this trip before then in order not to miss and must wait until 2030. This is also a trip you will want to use a travel agent to book and Prime Time Travel are the experts in the metro area at booking trips to Europe and many other places. A good travel agent can be your lifeline when you travel. (Ray Hibbard may be reached by e-mail at ray@edmondpaper.com)
Check out what’s inside! n Resident now in the U.S. Navy ....................................................Page 8. n National press and sloppy reporting ..........................................Page 10. n Weekend calendar of events ......................................................Page 11. n Flooding leaves Arcadia Lake closed ..........................................Page 12. n Scenes from Heard on Hurd........................................................Page 13. n George Gust reviews “John Wick” motion picture ......................Page 15. n Crossword puzzle........................................................................Page 15. n Business news ............................................................................Page 21. n Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.
See if you can find ‘Directions’ Editor’s Note: In the last edition, May 23, a technical difficulty prevented the publishing of the statue in the newspaper.
“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.” For more information on Edmond public art please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php
Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production April Burgess, Deanne York Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, George Gust.
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) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved. Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com
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Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 5
EPS Foundation pledges over $121,000 for program The Edmond Public Schools Foundation has pledged $121,982 to support Great Ideas of Edmond Public School teachers for the 2019 - 2020 school year. In February, Edmond Public Schools teachers submitted Great Idea proposals for any project or supplies that facilitates active student learning and participation in the classroom. Some examples of Great Idea proposals include: supplies and teaching tools for a robotics program, adaptive equipment for special needs students, science activity tubs, traveling labs for use by multiple classrooms, a coffee cart to teach interaction and money handling skills to children with autism, and so many more! Proposals with a high likelihood of impacting student learning with measurable outcomes are considered Great Ideas! All proposals must meet one of the five pillars of instructional learning adopted by Edmond Public Schools: Choice, Inquiry, Collaboration, Creativity and Reflection.This past year, a Great Idea was implemented through a mentorship between Memorial High School and Orvis Risner Elementary.The STEM Buddy project paired elementary and high school students together with the objective of inspiring student about STEM initiatives in Edmond Public Schools. The elementary and high school students both benefited through conducting experimentation with technology, probes, chromebooks and using inquiry based skills. Funding for over 40 Great Idea projects will be presented to teachers when they return in August for the 2019 - 2020 school year.If you would
like to support our Edmond Public School teachers and their Great Ideas, please visit our website at www.edmondpsf.org ABOUT EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION Edmond Public Schools Foundation connects the community and its resources with Edmond Public Schools teacher, student and school needs in pursuit of the highest level of academic excellence. The EPS Foundation is a recognized 501(c) 3 non-profit organization focused on the development and management of resources in support the Edmond Public School District. Originally founded as the Edmond Educational Endowment, the organization was created in the early 1980′s as one of the first education foundations in the state of Oklahoma. In 1999, the organization formally changed its name to the Edmond Public Schools Foundation. Since inception, the EPS Foundation has provided over $2.4 million in direct support to the district. These resources have funded: new technology, classroom curriculum, software, hardware, teaching aids, teacher trainings, student scholarships, playground equipment, textbooks, supplies, musical instruments, artwork, equipment, teacher awards, and numerous other educational aids. Moreover, the EPS Foundation has developed thousands in indirect support for the district though volunteer hours and organizational in-kind donations. For more information, contact Deanna Boston at deanna.boston@edmondschools.net or (918) 520-4962 cell.
Memorial class of ‘79 having reunion The Edmond Memorial High School Class of 1979 is planning its 40th Reunion for the weekend of Friday and Saturday, June 7 - 8. A golf outing is planned for Friday, June 7, at The Golf Club of Edmond (formerly Fairfax), 2905 North Sooner, with the first tee time between 10 a.m. and noon for the price of $75, including your round and cart. Contact Eddie Glass for details. 405-201-0251 or edglass03@att.net Following the golf outing, we’ll take a tour of Memorial High School at 5 p.m. Meeting location to be announced. A casual get-together for the whole family is planned from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Stephenson Park, located at the corner of Fifth Street and Boulevard. A few classmates will be grilling. Bring your own refreshments. All classes are welcome. On Saturday, June 8, Tom Purvis has elected to host a lunch-time pool
party at his home. Bring picnic lunch, drinks, lawn chairs or blankets, towels, etc. The Saturday Evening Reunion Social will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2833 Conference Drive, Edmond, from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be served from 7:30 – 9 p.m. Tickets are $75 ($140 a couple) in advance and $80 ($150 a couple) at the door. All classes are invited to the party. You can reserve your spot and pay by credit card through emhs79ers.myevent.com or to pay by check, mail to: Susan Henke dba EMHS79ers, 11475 S Bryant Ave., Edmond, OK 73034. For more information or details, visit our webpage at http://www.emhs79ers.com/ or our Facebook page, EMHS79ers. For more information, e-mail Susan Henke, susanhenke@sbcglobal.net; or Tom Purvis, tpurvisptrts@aol.com.
Trio of Girl Scouts get top honor Earlier this month, Shelby Dye (senior, Edmond Santa Fe High School), McKenleigh Kelly (senior, Oklahoma Christian Academy), and Mallory Simpson (junior, homeschool) completed the highest and most prestigious award that can be earned as a Girl Scout – the Gold Award. Each girl was awarded her Gold Award for her hard work and dedication to her project. The goal of the Gold Award is to set a foundation for active citizenship throughout a woman’s life by creat-
ing a self-sustaining solution for a societal grand change and is the culmination of her Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Girls have an opportunity to receive three awards throughout their Girl Scout career: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. To earn the Gold Award, each girl must identify an issue, investigate it thoroughly, build a team, create and present a plan, and act, educate and inspire others while making the project sustainable.
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How the new Integris Arcadia Trails Addiction Center for Recovery can help
The signs of alcohol abuse Some Sunday brunches might seem more festive with one or two mimosas. Sometimes a cold beer after a day of yardwork hits the spot. Going out on a Friday to share libations with friends can be an end-of-the-week tradition. But how do you know when your need for alcohol becomes abnormal? When does a craving for a drink signal an alcohol addiction? If you find yourself drinking more, in both quantity and frequency, to feel the same effects, you might be treading in dangerous waters. Additional warning signs include: Giving up important activities to drink instead. Spending more time drinking than with family or friends. Missing work due to drinking or hangovers. “Addiction is a process which develops in the brain over a period of time after consistent consumption of a substance. The brain cannot differentiate between a drug and food or water,” says Kimberlee V. Wilson, D.O., M.S., who is the medical director of Arcadia Trails INTEGRIS Center for Addiction Recovery. “The drug is a more powerful stimulator than natural substances, so the reward is sensed more intensely and more rapidly. Cravings for the substance and seeking the substance become the most important things. Specifically, alcohol is noticed by the brain as any other reward, like food or water, which are necessary for survival,” says Dr. Wilson. “Alcohol addiction is a type of true brain pathology, not a character or personality flaw. It took time to happen, and it takes time to repair.” Many people struggle to control their drinking at some time in their lives. Approximately 17 million adults ages 18 and older have an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and one in 10 children lives in a home with a parent who has a drinking problem, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The good news is that no matter how bad it may seem, most people with an AUD can benefit from treatment. What is alcohol addiction? When uncomfortable symptoms occur after someone stops drinking, the body has physically adapted to needing it. Medical experts call this “dependence.” “When cravings for alcohol are so intense that seeking it takes priority over other activities, and when it interferes with one’s functioning and affects home, family and work, then an addiction has developed,” says Dr. Wilson. “We don’t call people alcoholics anymore. Instead it’s a person with an alcohol use disorder. Nor do we use alcoholism as a diagnosis. It is now called AUD because there are varying degrees of alcohol use, from mild to moderate or severe,” she says. “Some may use alcohol in low-risk amounts,
while others are risky.” One standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. According to Wilson, risky drinking for males is 14 drinks per week, or more than three drinks per day. For women and those over age 65, it’s more than two drinks per day, or more than seven per week. “It’s important to recognize and keep track of the amount of alcohol you are consuming. Knowing the limits of low-risk drinking is an important part of staying healthy,” Dr. Wilson says. Effects of alcohol use disorders on the body Risky alcohol consumption interferes and impairs many physiological processes in the body. For instance, excessive alcohol use causes damage to the brain, so that a person who abuses alcohol might have trouble remembering, learning new things or making decisions that affect his or her everyday life. Prolonged abuse can result in encephalopathy, an altered mental state that include a loss of cognitive ability, subtle personality changes, inability to concentrate, lethargy, and progressive loss of consciousness. It can also cause nervous system issues such as peripheral neuropathy, tremors and gait disturbance. The heart and blood vessels are also affected, and the liver can experience cirrhosis and fluid retention. Excessive use of alcohol even affects your GI tract, causing esophageal tears and gastritis as well as clotting disorders. The warning signs of alcohol addiction There are several signs to look for when facing alcohol addiction. Some of the signs are subtle and may go unnoticed unless you’re really paying attention to them. Common signs of alcohol addiction include the following. n Drinking more in amount and frequency to feel the same effect n An increased amount of time spent seeking alcohol n Giving up important activities to drink n Spending more time drinking than with family or friends n Isolating from others to drink n Missing work, frequent tardiness or other problems occupationally n Legal problems, i.e. traffic tickets, DUIs or accidents n Falls or other accidental injury to self n Failure to maintain financial obligations n Depressed mood, anxiety, sleep disturbances or problems relating to others n Continued drinking despite adverse health conditions as a result of drinking New addiction treatments Can medications and personalized medicine help
treat alcohol addiction? New research and treatments suggest it might be a possibility. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three medications for treating alcohol dependence, and others are being tested to determine if they are effective. All medications approved for treating alcohol dependence are non-addictive. These include naltrexone, which can help people reduce heavy drinking, and disulfiram, which blocks the body’s ability to break down alcohol, causing feelings of nausea that could keep people from wanting to drink. Other treatments being studied by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism include the possibility of using Chantix, an anti-smoking drug, to curb cravings; the use of the pain and epilepsy medication gabapentin to reduce alcohol cravings; and using the anti-epileptic medication topiramate to curb problem drinking, particularly among those with a certain genetic makeup that appears to be linked to the treatment’s effectiveness. What should you do if you think you have an alcohol use disorder? Says Dr. Wilson, “First, you have to be willing to change. That’s the hardest part.” “Second, ask for help whether it’s from your friends, family, colleague, physician or a stranger. Third, go for an evaluation by a behavioral health or medical provider. Then, find a support person, group or system. That’s very important to help keep on track.” Arcadia Trails Center for Addiction Recovery Arcadia Trails, a 40-bed facility opening on May 28, is Oklahoma’s newest and most advanced residential drug and alcohol treatment center. Situated among the rolling hills and oak forests between Lake Arcadia and Edmond on the medical campus of INTEGRIS Health Edmond, addiction is holistically addressed at Arcadia Trails, along with its co-occurring and compounding issues – mental illness and trauma – while incorporating the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The evidence-based treatments at Arcadia Trails comprise one of the most comprehensive addiction programs the region has seen. It begins with thorough, in-depth clinical evaluations that inform the development of an individualized, integrated, intentional treatment plan for each patient. The program also includes medication-assisted treatment when appropriate, overseen by Dr. Wilson, who is the Arcadia Trails addiction psychiatrist and medical director. Though the program is built on the medical model of addiction as a disease, Arcadia Trails also offers varied spiritual paths as well as an integrated family program and comprehensive aftercare planning. To learn more, please visit the Arcadia Trails website.
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 7
Professionals grateful for new laws affecting vision health Oklahoma optometrists today thanked the Legislature and Governor Kevin Stitt for passing and signing legislation that will protect Oklahoma’s vision health standards while increasing convenience for consumers. Senate Bill 100, authored by State Representative Carl Newton, himself an optometrist, removes from statute a prohibition on the sale of eyewear in non-medical, retail settings. It would allow retail stores to sell frames and lenses. It would also allow retail stores to lease space to optometrists. However, unlike previous proposals (including the previously rejected State Question 793), SB 100 contains vigorous protections for patient safety, quality of care, and the independence of the doctor. Under SB 100, any optometry clinic leasing space from a retail store would need to be a separate legal entity owned and operated by an optometric physician licensed in Oklahoma. That optometrist cannot be an employee of the retail entity. Furthermore, the optometry clinic would be required to be physically separate from the retail space, with its own external entrance. The language maintains Oklahoma’s status as one of 16 so-called “two door” states, which include neighboring Texas and Kansas. Also unlike State Question 793, SB 100 clarifies that the independently operating Board of Examiners in Optometry regulates optometrists’ scope-of- practice, and that a corporate entity cannot restrict or influence how a doctor practices. Dr. Selina McGee, an Edmond optometrist and president of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, said the bill is a positive development for optometric physicians and their patients.
“Our primary concern as eye doctors is protecting Oklahoma’s very high standards for quality of care and patient safety,” said Dr. McGee. “To preserve those high standards, optometrists need to be operating independently, free of corporate control or interference, and governed by a medical board. SB 100 is consistent with those principles, where State Question 793 and other previous proposals were not.” SB 100 stipulates: That retail outlets may sell frames and lenses; That retail outlets may begin to lease space to optometric physicians in a phased-in, gradual manner with a timeline based on population density; That the doctor may not be an employee of the retail outlet; That the doctor will not receive any additional compensation for referring patients to the retail stores’ optical services; That the care given to the patient be the main concern of the optometric physician, or other physician providing vision care; That the doctor’s office be separate from the retail outlet’s optical shop; and That the current laws be followed in giving a patient a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. SB 100 also: Defines the responsibility of the doctor to his patients; Sets out penalties for infraction of the law; Includes language disallowing the retailer to sell below costs; and Adds new language that puts into law requirements for a contact lens prescription and requirements for the renewal of contact lens prescriptions by persons other than the prescribing doctor.
Gov. Kevin Stitt shows off his signature on Senate Bill 100, which helps to regulate vision health standards in the state. It was signed into law earlier this month before the legislature adjourned. PHOTO PROVIDED
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Dr. Caton Simoni
Ex-OU basketball player now physician at Lakeside Women’s Caton Simoni M.D. is the newest addition to Lakeside Women’s Hospital, but you probably know her as a member of another prestigious team – the Oklahoma Sooners. She was a former basketball star under Sherri Coale at the University of Oklahoma. “I feel honored to be joining such an elite team of medical professionals at Lakeside Women’s hospital. After 11 years serving my country as an Army physician and OB/GYN doctor, I am excited to come home to Oklahoma to take care of the women and families of the state that I love,” says Simoni. “My training and experience allow me to provide comprehensive women’s health care through all the different stages of a women’s life.” Simoni’s clinical interests include normal to high risk pregnancies, laparoscopic surgery, cervical dysplasia, and family planning. Simoni will officially begin her tenure at Lakeside Women’s Hospital, located at 11101 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 204 in Oklahoma City, on May 31. But she is currently accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call 405-936-1000.
Edmond native serving country in the Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Zachary Lobb, a native of Edmond, was inspired to join the Navy because his father served in the Navy before him. Now, five years later and half a world away, Lobb serves aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville, patrolling one of the world’s busiest maritime regions as part of the leading-edge of U.S. 7th Fleet.
Red Earth Parade June 8 A grand parade unlike any other in the world will celebrate the opening of the 33rd Red Earth Festival. The streets of downtown Oklahoma City will vibrate in Native American tribal spirit during the Red Earth Parade as hundreds of participants in authentic tribal regalia participate in what has been referred to as America’s most unique parade. Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation, will serve as Grand Marshal and will lead over 100 entries scheduled to participate. The Red Earth Parade has a new date and a new route. The parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 and travel a new route south from NW 6th Street on Walker Ave to Sheridan Ave. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early for good seats to witness what has been referred to as “America’s Most Unique Parade,” as it celebrates the Red Earth Festival.
Arcadia Farmers Market opens soon Parking spaces will be more plentiful when the Arcadia Farmers Market opens June 1 for its second season. Land to the west of the market at historic Route 66 and Division Street has been leased for additional parking, and a golf cart will shuttle patrons to the blue-roofed pavilion where most vendor booths will be located. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 24. Nearly 20 vendors have secured booth space, but there’s room for more, said Linda Simonton, who coowns the market with Jodee McLean. Once the pavilion is full, booths are set up beneath the shade trees. Growers and artisans will offer grass-fed and corn-fed beef, farm-fresh chicken and duck eggs, garden produce, succulents, wall hangings, cut flowers, decorative wreaths, homemade doughnuts and cinnamon rolls, peach cider, metal art, Frank’s Meat Sauce and Himalayan salt lamps. Tuckori Farm Commodities will be back for a second season with natural insect repellent and spa products such as beard balm, lotion and bath soaks made without water, alcohol or preservatives. Tyler Ashby, a Jones pharmacist, said he and his wife developed the products because she was having problems with her hands and nothing they found on the market was helping her dry skin. He said the Arcadia Farmers Market was a perfect sales venue, “and we’ve been able to show our kids the basics of business.” This year, their daughter Kendall, who is 8, will offer her handmade laminated bookmarks at the family booth in exchange for a donation to the Edmond Animal Shelter. “She’s not old enough to volunteer, but she is bound and determined to make a difference and give back to the Edmond Animal Shelter,” Ashby said. The Snow and Grow snow-cone and food truck will serve gourmet coffee and breakfast and lunch items made from locally raised meat and produce. Food bought from vendors can be enjoyed at the shaded picnic tables. The food truck opened May 2 and is open from 4 to 9 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in addition to market hours. Handcrafted items, meat and eggs are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side
National press fiction State senator reviews work On the national stage there are a few things I find irritating. One is the reporting of national politics and the other is a neverending presidential election. Concerning the Steve Gust former, it is amazing how wrong, how often the reporting is by the national press. If you're a Republican president, you have one of two options. You can take the press on, like President Trump does or you can let people snipe at you all day and never answer them, like President George W. Bush did. Both approaches seem to have drawbacks. Yet does amaze me how wrong the pundits are. They were wrong about polling for the 2016 election and then they were wrong about alleged Russia collusion. That never made sense to me. Seems to me, if the Russians were going to cause damage to America they would have helped Hillary and not Trump. And then, once Trump was in office, it's was a two-year investigation into collusion. The investigators had
unlimited resources to look into the matter. They found nothing and that doesn't appear to be good enough for the partisans. In the midst of this is a character named Michael Avenatti. He's a lawyer formerly representing a porn star in allegations against Trump. For months Avenatti flooded airwaves in an unrelenting attacks on Trump. Some liberal pundits on those stations were promoting Avenatti for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Now the guy is facing fraud and criminal indictments, which could land him in prison for 400 years. You'd think the press would come out and say. "Gosh folks we've been wrong quite a bit lately. We'll try to do better." That never seems to happen. Then we have all kinds of news about presidential politics. Egad, give it a rest. Most of the polls seem useless for now. I will say one thing. I've never seem the Democratic field for president so far to the left in my lifetime. A lot of their proposed programs sound good until people realize who has to pay for it all. It's all funded by taxpayers.
(Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)
of the legislative session ability to state governBy State Senator ment by giving the govStephanie Bice ernor authority to put As I review the acinto place the right complishments of the 2019 legislative session, leaders at state agenI believe it is one of the cies to turn Oklahoma around. most productive and n Honor and protect positive for our state in the $2.9 billion recent history. investment in our Back in Janustudents and ary, Senate Reteachers, and republicans store 5-day school unveiled a weeks, providing four-point for reasonable exagenda with emptions, to enspecific legislahance student tive goals outcomes and rewithin each of Bice pair Oklahoma’s those points. I am very proud and grat- national reputation. n Improve access to ified to report that and provide funding for every single one of diversion programs to those goals were met further criminal justice by the end of the sesreform. sion. These included: And at every single n Creation of a legislative budget office to point in our budget neprovide greater account- gotiations, those prioriability and transparency ties were reflected and supported. I believe the of taxpayer dollars. n Increasing account- budget we approved for
fiscal year 2020 will do the greatest good for the greatest number of Oklahomans, investing in our core services and at the same time helping us prepare for future downturns in the economy. Coupled with other budgeting reforms and measures approved in the past few years, we have undoubtedly emerged much stronger as a state, and this budget continues to build on that. We’ve made new and significant investments in all areas of education, in our transportation infrastructure, health and mental health, public safety and in criminal justice reform, which will ultimately save our state money, reduce prison overcrowding and reduce recidivism. I am also extremely grateful to my fellow members and to Governor Kevin Stitt for supporting so much of the legislation I authored. These measures address a range of topics from legislation protecting some of our most vulnerable seniors, public health, protecting the rights of parents and common sense criminal justice reform. At every turn and in every way, this was an extremely positive and productive session. I am also very grateful to the many constituents who reached out to share their views on issues as they moved through the legislative process. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of District 22 in the Senate. If you have any questions about legislation or other issues dealing with state government, please contact me at 405-521-5592, or email bice@oksenate.gov. Thank you for allowing me to be your voice in the State Senate.
It’s a new chapter for the county jail By The Oklahoman Editorial Board There are many unknowns regarding how financing and operation of the Oklahoma County jail might change under the oversight of a jail trust. One sure thing: The relationship between the sheriff and county commissioners isn't likely to grow warmer. Sheriff P.D. Taylor strongly opposes the idea of a jail trust, something that has long been used in Tulsa County and has been talked about locally for years. Among other things, Taylor has said trustees could force him to reduce the number of jailers and services, such as school resource officers, to direct more funding to operations. Earlier this month, deputies began warning resi-
dents in unincorporated areas of the county that patrols and services could be cut to fund a jail trust, and they distributed fliers urging residents to contact commissioners Brian Maughan, Kevin Calvey and Carrie Blumert. Deputies demanded that county officials guarantee they will fully fund the sheriff’s office law enforcement functions. The local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers even got involved via social media, urging its members to tell commissioners to fund county law enforcement. Maughan complained to Taylor that deputies had turned to scare tactics. Taylor, sheriff since 2017, also has sparred several times with Calvey, who led the push for a jail trust. Last week, the commissioners voted 3-0 to es-
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tablish a nine-person trust. Calvey and Taylor were both named to it. Other trustees include former Oklahoma City police chief M.T. Berry, former Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, former state Sen. Ben Brown and philanthropist Sue Ann Arnall. They will decide how the jail will be run — options include keeping the sheriff's office in charge, hiring an outside firm or turning it over to the trust itself. The commissioners’ vote came about five weeks after the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council, a group of community leaders and government officials headed by Oklahoma City Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett, voted 13-0 to endorse the idea of creating a jail trust. The group is rightly concerned about the long history of problems at the jail, which opened in 1991. These include crowded and conditions and violence that resulted in federal oversight in 2009, inmate deaths, extensive mold and bad plumbing. The inmate deaths have cost the county millions in settlements and court judgements in the past decade. The executive director of the advisory council has said creating a jail trust could help generate public support to build a new jail, an idea that hasn’t gained traction through the years. Calvey contends a trust will produce more transparency regarding jail operations. We shall see. Ultimately, this move is a clear sign that the commissioners want a change from the status quo. Given the jail’s history, and Taylor’s protests notwithstanding, it’s hard to fault them for that.
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 11
Some statistics on strokes What’s Happening This Weekend May 30 – June 2 Thursday May 30 ---- In the Gallery ---- Art in Public Places Tour ---- Concerts in the Park – Pop/Rock ---- Redbud Spectacular Horse Show Friday May 31 ---- In the Gallery ---- Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc. Central U.S. Championship ---- Redbud Spectacular Horse Show Saturday June 1 ---- In the Gallery ---- Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc. Central U.S. Championship ---- Edmond Electric Touch-a-Truck ---- Oklahoma Route 66 Corvette Round Up ---- Smilin’ Vic ---- 2019 Senior Championship ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- The 411 Band ---- Saturdays for Kids: Cowboy Life ---- Redbud Spectacular Horse Show ---- Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show ---- Star Spangled Salute Airshow ---- OKC Philharmonic presents: Dance of the Seasons Sunday June 2 ---- In the Gallery ---- Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc. Central U.S. Championship ---- 2019 Senior Championship ---- Redbud Spectacular Horse Show ---- Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show ---- Star Spangled Salute Airshow ---- Steve Martin & Martin Short Extra Information on Weekend Happenings In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Brad McNeill; beginning Jun 01 featuring works by Sabrina Sims, for information go to: http://www.edmondfinearts.com/ Edmond Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Market Place & Plaza Extra Info: Free admission; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; for more information go to edmondok.com Art in Public Places Tour Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: $10; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Tour is both driving and walking for more information visit edmondok.com. Concerts in the Park – Pop/Rock Location: Hafer Park Extra Info: Free; 6:15 – 8:45 p.m.; Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. For more information visit edmondokcom. Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc.
Central U.S. Championship Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: for more information visit them on Facebook Edmond Electric Touch-a-Truck Location: University of Central Oklahoma, parking lot #6 Extra Info: $2 donation; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; for more information visit edmondok.com Oklahoma Route 66 Corvette Round Up Location: Hafer Park Extra Info: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; for more information visit centralokcorvetteclub.org 2019 Senior Championship Location: Kickingbird Golf Club Extra Info: $135/player; 10 a.m.; for more information visit edmondok.com U-Pick Blackberries Location: Sorghum Mill Christmas Tree and Blackberry Farm Extra Info: During the month of June; call ahead for days and hours of operation; for more information go to Christmas-tree.com The 411 Band Location: Riverwind Casino; River Lounge Extra Info: 9 p.m.; for more information visit riverwind.com Saturdays for Kids: Cowboy Life Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; for more information visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Redbud Spectacular Horse Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for more information visit okqha.org Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for information go to repticon.com Star Spangled Salute Airshow Location: Tinker Air Force Base Extra Info: for information go to starspangledsalute.com OKC Philharmonic presents: Dance of the Seasons Location: Civic Center Music Hall Downtown Okla. City Extra Info: for information visit okcphil.org Steve Martin & Martin Short Location: Civic Center Music Hall Extra Info: for information visit okcciviccenter.com Smilin’ Vic Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: 8 p.m., $10; for more information visit ucojazzlab.com
Parents Helping Parents to meet The Edmond Chapter of Parents Helping Parents will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 at McLaren's Pantry, 3414 South Boulevard (SE corner of 33rd and Boulevard). The restaurant is closed to the public during the meeting. Our speaker is, Pat Nichols, Co-founder of Parents Helping Parents. His topic is, "Secrets
I've learned: Finding Recovery For Your Child and You!"?" Parents Helping Parents provides support, resources and hope 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.
Every year, 800,000 new strokes are reported in the U.S. Strokes happen all the time, and yes, it can happen to you. Approximately 20 percent of stroke victims are between the ages of 20 and 55. Knowing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can make the difference between saving a life and a tragic outcome. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. Unfortunately, few people know what a stroke is and how to recognize when a stroke is happening, according to the National Stroke Association. But what medical professionals call the “Golden Hour” when someone is having a stroke can make all the difference in the world. The reason the first hour is golden is because stroke patients have a much greater chance of surviving and avoiding long-term brain damage if they arrive at the hospital and receive treatment with a clot-busting drug called TPA within that first hour. “Time saved is brain saved,” says Mary Pinzon, who is a stroke education nurse at INTEGRIS. “Time lost is brain lost. That’s why recognizing the signs of stroke is so important. Immediately knowing what to do when someone is having a stroke can save someone’s life and help them avoid brain damage. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, the absolute first thing to do is call 9-1-1,” she says. According to a study from the American Heart Association, every minute in which a stroke is untreated, the average patient loses 1.9 million neurons, 13.8 billion synapses, and seven miles of axonal fibers. With each hour in which treatment fails to occur, the brain loses as many neurons as it does in almost 3.6 years of normal aging. “Time is of the essence. I can’t stress that enough," says Pinzon. Pinzon’s favorite saying is “Each
One, Teach One.” In that spirit, after you read this, learn the signs of stroke and what to do in those precious first minutes, pass it on. You just might save someone’s life. What is considered a stroke? A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, causing brain cells to be deprived of oxygen and die. A stroke can cause life-altering, devastating changes like loss of speech, movement and memory. “Stroke is a SUDDEN onset of symptoms when just a minute ago a person was fine,” Pinzon says. There are two major types of strokes, but each one is treated differently. The most common type of stroke is an Ischemic Stroke, which causes a loss of oxygen to the brain due to a blockage of a vessel in the brain. Roughly 85 to 88 percent of strokes fall under this category. “It’s so important to get treatment immediately for Ischemic Stroke because we now have a clot-buster called TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator). It’s an enzyme drug that can dissolve clots, and any stroke-ready hospital can administer it,” says Pinzon. A hemorrhagic stroke is rarer but is caused when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain. High blood pressure is the number one cause of hemorrhagic strokes. “When you arrive at the hospital, the ER will immediately order a CAT scan to see what type of stroke you are having,” Pinzon says. “That’s why you shouldn’t give someone having a stroke an aspirin. If they are having a brain bleed, it could make it worse.” BE FAST with signs of stroke Each year, about 185,000 people die from a stroke, but if you know the warning signs, you can help save a life. “Any one of these symptoms could indicate a stroke, which is still more reason to know the signs and why time is so important,” Pinzon says.
Page 12 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
PHOTO PROVIDED/CASEY MOORE/CITY OF EDMOND
The sign tells the sad story at Arcadia Lake where high waters have left many roads and camp grounds inaccessbile at the lake. The flooding occurred with heavy rainfall totals from last week. This closure is expected to last into June at the minimum, officials said.
Flooding shuts down Arcadia Lake All public access parks at Arcadia Lake are closed due to flooding from recent heavy rainfall and the ensuing runoff. This closure includes Central State Park, Edmond Park, Scissortail Campground, Carl Reherman Park and Spring Creek Park. Additionally, the Spring Creek Trail is also closed due to high water in multiple areas. As of last week, the lake elevation was still rising
over 1018 feet which is 12 feet above normal water elevation. The result is flooding of roadways, campsites and making docks inaccessible. Officials will continue to monitor the lake levels to make decisions about reopening the parks once waters recede and cleanup efforts have been completed. It is anticipated that these closures will last a
minimum of two weeks, but there is no current timetable for reopening and updates will be sent out when available. To view current lake levels, visit the Army Corps of Engineers Arcadia Lake page at http://www.swtwc.usace.army.mil/ARCA.lakepage.html. For information about Arcadia Lake, please contact 216-7470.
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 13
‘Three Minute Thesis’ contest winner
Broncho pitching ace Bailey McKittrick
All-America honors handed out to two Broncho softball standouts Record-setting slugger JoBi Heath and pitching ace Bailey McKittrick led Central Oklahoma to a sensational season in 2019 and both were rewarded with NCAA Division II All-America honors by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association recently. Heath was named to the firstHeath team at third base and McKittrick was selected a second-team pitcher in addition to earning Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year accolades. They become the 19th and 20th All-Americans in school history, with Heath just the fifth first-team honoree. The duo helped guide the Bronchos to a 48-8 record, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular-season and tournament titles and a berth in the Division II Central Super Regional this season. The two were recognized at the NFCA All-America Banquet that was held on the eve of the Division II World Series. "I couldn't be happier for JoBi and Bailey," head coach Cody White said. "They were amazing all season long and both are certainly deserving of being All-Americans. "JoBi was unbelievable for us, both with her bat
and her glove, and it's very rewarding to see her receive credit for the way she played. Bailey is one of the most mentally strong freshmen I've ever been around and I can't say enough about what she meant to our team." Heath started all 231 of UCO's games during her sparkling four-year career and saved her best season for the last, putting together a senior campaign that rivals the best in school history. The senior from Edmond Santa Fe High School batted .407, hit a single-season school-record 24 doubles, belted 15 home runs – the fifth-best at UCO – and drove in an amazing 77 runs, which ranks second on the school charts. She set UCO career marks for doubles (70) and RBI (226), with the RBI total also an all-time MIAA record. Heath hit safely in 48 of UCO's 58 games, putting together hitting streaks of 11, 13 and 16 games. She led the team in multi-hit (24) and multi-RBI (24) games, finished with a .786 slugging percentage and batted a staggering .583 (21-for-36) with runners on third base and less than two outs. McKittrick went 26-5 with one save and a 2.11 earned run average in 179.1 innings. She set a freshman school record for pitching wins and ended up third overall on UCO's single-season wins list while also finishing fifth in winning percentage (.839)
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS) hosted its fourth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Contestants must demonstrate the value of their master’s research to a panel of business community members in three minutes, using only one presentation slide. Speech-language pathology graduate student Stephanie Nutter won first place and a $1,000 prize at 3MT for her presentation titled “A Study on Voice Disorder Knowledge in High-Risk Majors.” Sarah Vrla, a biology major, took home second place, the People’s Choice Award and $750 in total prizes, with her presentation titled “Genetic Structure and the Potential for Hybridization in Populations of Peromyscus Spp. of Plateau Regions in Western Oklahoma.” Ahmed El Fatmaoui, a mathematics major, took third place and a $250 prize, with his presentation titled “Fibrin and Plasmin Reaction-Diffusion Model.” Local Edmond restaurants Othello’s, Around the Corner and The Zu sponsored the event and JCGS Assistant Dean Robert Mather, Ph.D., served as director. The 3MT contest was first held at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and prepares students to present their research and its relevance to a non-specialist audience in a clear, concise manner, whether in an interview, at a public event or in an advocacy setting.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS) hosted its fourth Three Minute Thesis competition, which challenges contestants to demonstrate the value of their master’s research to a panel of business community members, in three minutes, using only one presentation slide. Pictured left to right, Robert Mather, Ph.D., assistant dean of UCO’s JCGS; first-place winner Stephanie Nutter; and, Jeanetta Sims, Ph.D., dean of UCO’s JCGS.
Page 14 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
From left, Ava Stafford 7, Vivi Stafford 6, and Collier Brune 10, enjoy the food at Heard on Hurd street gala in downtown Edmond. The event is sponsored by Citizens Bank of Edmond.
The weather was perfect for the crowd at the recent Heard on Hurd as they enjoyed the variety of food trucks that included three new choices and music.
Eva Rollins, 2, checking out her look after getting her face painted at Heard on Hurd recently.
Photographs by Melinda Infante
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 15
Latest ‘John Wick’ film the best action movie of year By George Gust The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Sometimes the best things come out of the blue and develop organically, some studios try to shoehorn a movie franchise where there’s no appetite for more (see Dark Universe, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”), however some of the most exciting franchises going today have humble origins, exhibit A is “John Wick.” In 2014 “John Wick” hit theaters and appeared to be a straightforward revenge action thriller banked around the fading star of Keanu Reeves, but with top notch action scenes, strong performance from Reeves and the hint of a deeper mythology to an underground network of assassins. Now after a successful sequel that deepened underlying mythology, we’ve got “John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum” which continues to explore the history of this world they’ve created while providing some of the best action sequences in recent years. “John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum” picks up moments after the end of “John Wick: Chapter 2” adding to the phrenetic pace set by the previous
New release in theaters
films. Now John Wick (Reeves) is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin's guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head he is the target of hit men and women everywhere. “John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum” is a movie that knows exactly what kind of movie is and wants to be. From the jump the film delivers an excited action sequence that goes from one cool set piece to another. The filmmakers put their imagination hats on for this film as they take even the most mundane of settings and objects and turn them into compelling
settings and brutal weapons and showcasing the enduring success of the “John Wick” franchise-the clarity of the fighting and action. Often times it seems like other action films will edit around actors pretending to fight, but in this film you can clearly tell that Reeves and crew had put in the time and practice to give the fight scenes a weight and reality that sets this franchise apart from its competition. Overall, “John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum” is a satisfying continuation of an action series that is the height of a ‘one man versus the world’ movie. Clear action, slick visual style, and an expertly crafted mysterious underground world make “John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum” undoubtedly the best action movie of the year. “John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum” is rated R for pervasive strong violent scenes, and some language. 4.2 out of 5 stars
PHOTO PROVIDED
Keanu Reeves returns as the boogeyman assassin in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum’ along side newcomer to the series Halle Berry.
Accolade for Integris Edmond Integris Health Edmond is a proud recipient of the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award. The distinguished honor recognizes hospitals that provide an overall outstanding patient experience — delivering a positive experience for patients during their hospital stay — as reported by patients. These hospitals are top in the nation for overall patient experience. Healthgrades evaluates patient experience performance by applying a scoring methodology to nine patient experience measures, from a 32-question survey of the hospital’s own patients. The methodology uses Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: U.S. TRIVIA ACROSS 1. Des Moines native 6. *Cool ____ 9. Bid, past tense 13. Tire in the trunk 14. Eastern title 15. Provide food 16. Avian talker 17. Freight weight 18. "____ came a spider..." 19. *Calvin's best friend 21. *Internet celebrity ____ Cat 23. Urge Spot to attack 24. Not naughty 25. Smoker's lung residue 28. *Lioness of "Born Free" 30. Sweet dark purple plum 35. Sean Penn's "____ Am ____" 37. Wrong 39. Hawaiian veranda 40. Be charitable 41. Synagogue read 43. Officertraining program 44. Bodily swelling 46. Skier's balancer 47. Hiker's journey 48. Pierre-Auguste of Impressionism 50. Switzerland's folk hero 52. Encouraging word 53. Choir attire 55. Actress Thompson 57. *Cat of the Hundred Acre Wood 60. *T. S. Eliot's "Old ____'s Book of Practical Cats" 63. Last European colony in China 64. Female reproductive cells 66. Junk yard stuff 68. Oak fruit 69. "____ the season ..." 70. Pigpen sounds 71. Small body of water 72. He is 73. One born to Japanese im-
migrants DOWN 1. Philosopher's study 2. Moonfish 3. Chip and Joanna's hometown 4. Omani and Yemeni 5. Inexperienced newcomer 6. *Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony winner 7. Before now 8. T in NATO phonetic alphabet 9. *Pain-relieving Tiger ____ 10. At the apex 11. Refuse to accept 12. Energy unit 15. Relating to a tail 20. "Bravo! Bravo!" 22. "Maggie May" singer 24. Strangulating device 25. *Siegfried & Roy feline 26. Comment to the audience 27. Three-Eyed ____ in "Game of Thrones" 29. An equal exchange
31. Kwik-E-____ on "The Simpsons" 32. Accidental laughter accompaniment 33. Cowboy movie 34. *Little ____, famous cat clone 36. Boss' communique 38. New Haven University 42. *____ Kitty 45. Pneumatic weapon 49. Beluga yield 51. Tutor's offering 54. Soup component 56. Binary digits code 57. Meal in a shell 58. Painting in Orthodox Church 59. Pont du ____, ancient Roman aqueduct 60. Flirtatious move 61. Coffee dispensers 62. Manufacture 63. Picture in atlas 65. Contend 67. Tire measurement
See Answers Page 23
Answers on Page 23
Page 16 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
PHOTO PROVIDED/TRAVIS DOUSSETTE, OU MEDICINE
Surgeons Alisa and Brian Cross played a big role in saving the life of Thomas Hill, seriously injuried in an early morning wreck in 2016.
PHOTO PROVIDED/TRAVIS DOUSSETTE, OU MEDICINE
Thomas Hill is back to working in his chosen field -- personal fitness. A wreck in 2016 nearly killed him. The accident forced Hill to be hospitalized for six months including two of those in an induced coma.
Accident nearly claims fitness trainer
Husband-wife surgeons help man beat the odds It was a beautiful weekend when a routine commute to work almost ended an Edmond resident’s life and ultimately led to another medical discovery. Around 5:30 a.m., July 23, 2016, personal trainer Thomas Hill was on his way to see a client when he was involved in a freak accident that left him in a ditch off Interstate 44 and fighting for his life. An eyewitness called the paramedics, and Hill was rushed to the OU Medicine Trauma One Center. He saw more than 15 doctors, including Alisa Cross, M.D., a trauma surgeon who helped to stabilize him and performed life-saving surgery. “Thomas came in at the highest level of activation we have here at the OU Medicine Trauma One Center and was taken immediately to the operating room,” Cross said. The Trauma One Center at OU Medical Center is the only Level One Trauma Center in Oklahoma as verified by the American College of Surgeons. This is the highest national rating a trauma center can receive. Because his complex injuries required multiple surgeries, Hill was put in an induced coma for two months. It wasn’t until he woke up from the coma that he discovered the frightening details of his accident and realized that his left leg had been amputated. His once-muscular and fit body was now weak and foreign to him. He was angry and frustrated, but he worked hard to change his mindset. “My focus right now is just getting better, living a better life and focusing on what I can do,” Hill said. “I
was always telling my clients to ‘push through, push through. Don’t let anything stop you, don’t let anything break you.’ But now, I’m telling myself those words and motivating myself to change my ‘cant’s’ into ‘cans’.” Hill stayed at OU Medical Center for six months. He had just begun thinking about returning to his gym when he received shocking news. While doctors were conducting a CT scan to check his progress, they noticed something unusual in his kidneys. Shortly after, Hill was diagnosed with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, a rare hereditary condition associated with kidney cancer. A year after Hill’s trauma, Brian Cross, M.D., a urologic oncologist at Stephenson Cancer Center, and husband to Alisa Cross, removed 11 tumors from his right kidney and six months later, removed seven from his left kidney. “His attitude throughout this whole thing has been remarkable,” Brian Cross said. “It would be more than many people could handle, but Thomas has handled it with amazing perseverance and his prognosis is excellent.” Although Hill still needs assistance to move around, he is back at his gym, Next Level Fitness, training and motivating his clients and himself. He believes the car accident saved his life. “If the accident hadn’t happened, the cancer was eventually going to get me,” Hill said. Many people have taken note of Hill’s courage. For his determination and positive attitude, he was presented an award this month during OU Medical Center’s Trauma Survivors Reception.
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 17
Police & fire departments come together for Special Olympics
Pictured from left are Susan Scott, Ed.D., professor of educational sciences, foundations and research, and Mary Pease.
Pease is named a DaVinci Scholar The DaVinci Institute, Oklahoma's Creativity Think Tank, recently named a University of Central Oklahoma student as one of its 2019 DaVinci Scholars. Mary Pease, a senior elementary education major from Shelbyville, Indiana earned the recognition and a $1,000 grant for her project proposal that will introduce science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based learning to upper-elementary level students. "In my submitted project, I mention the importance of introducing STEM to upper-elementary students so they are able to get use to the idea of using their creativity and having boundless resolutions to challenges they are presented with, rather than searching for one right answer," said Pease. "The funding from this award will help in providing me with the necessary materials to make this happen.” Throughout her time at Central, Pease has been involved in numerous education service organizations and honor societies including Kappa Delta Pi and the UCO Prospective Teachers Academy. She graduated from Central in May and plans to pursue a teaching career in Oklahoma City Public Schools. The DaVinci Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing the arts, sciences, humanities and education in Oklahoma. They recognize the contribution and potential of higher education faculty members, promising pre-service teachers and in-service teachers. For a complete list of this year’s honorees, visit davinciok.org. To learn more about the UCO College of Education and Professional Studies, visit uco.edu/ceps
By Brian Attebery We can define “athlete” in many ways. Some of the most incredible athletes are those in our Special Olympics Organization. These athletes compete all over the world and in order to do the events, they depend on donations and fund raisAttebery ers. In 2018, Officer Joseph Wells of the Edmond Police Department approached me and asked if my gym, Results Fitness & Nutrition Center would host an Edmond Police vs. Fire Firefighter powerlifting competition and I was excited to accept that challenge. We had an incredible first event and February of 2018 raising around $4,500 and this year we held the event on Saturday, May 18 on one of our many rainy days. There were 12 police officers and firefighters that signed up to compete. The competitors were divided in “Under 200 Pounds” and “Over 200 Pounds.” They were tested with three attempts of a maximum effort in three categories of lifts. The lifts were: Bench Press, Squat, Bicep Curls and Deadlifts. If you ever doubt that you have capable men and women of service, just come watch the impressive displays of strength that some of our officers and firefighters have! Winning the over 200 pound Category was Brian Hale with the Edmond Fire Department. Brian totaled 1790 pounds with his three lifts. The only
The winners of the benefit competition, Josh Maguire and Brian Hale.
Joseph Wells competing.
thing larger than this man is his heart for the event. Brian curled 180 pounds! He is one strong guy. The Edmond Police has the most participants and winning the “Under 200l pound” category was Josh Maguire from the police department. Josh totaled an impressive 1,240 pounds in all his lifts. In addition, Josh had participated in the “Torch Run” to Stillwater for the Special Olympics games just a few days before and knocked out nine miles! He is a very capable member of our incredible police department! All the participants did an amazing job and we should be very proud of them for giving of their time for this great event. Edmond has an incredible community and the event could not have happened without the generous support of the following businesses: The F.O.P. (Fraternal Order of Police), Ripple Creek Homes, Valir Physical Therapy, Heavy Hitter Fitness & Nutrition Network, ODUM Chiropractic, Guys and Gals at Arms, Scheer Automotive, Pelco and Results Fitness & Nutrition Center. In addition, we had many people donate and contribute their time such as Official N.A.S.A. Powerlifting Official, Danny Harris. When the smoke cleared and all the proceeds came in, the event raised $9,800! This more than doubled our last year’s number. We should be so proud of our police and fire and the local businesses of Edmond for making these numbers have for the Special Olympics of Oklahoma. I can’t think of a better cause than to see our community come together for these athletes. We will see you next year! (Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond.
Page 18 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Teach kids about money this summer Summer vacation is right around the corner for thousands of Oklahoma kids. However, just because school is out doesn’t mean learning stops. The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants recommends using the time off to teach valuable life lessons in personal finance—in addition to having fun, of course. According to a T. Rowe Price survey, positive money management habits among kids positively correlated with parents’ good money habits and allowing their kids to decide how to save and spend money. However, the opposite is also true: When parents displayed poor financial decisions, their kids more frequently showed poor money management, too. The Simple Dollar suggests teaching the following topics during specific ages: n Ages 3-5: Introduce money (earning, spending, saving and giving); n Ages 6-10: How to spend money (needs versus wants and short- versus long-term goals); n Ages 11-13: Consequences (credit, debt, interest and budgeting); n Ages 13-15: Building wealth (working, banking and investing); and n Ages 15-18: Real world (good debt versus bad debt, credit scores and taxes). CPAs suggest using technology and teachable moments to show kids good money habits. Some popular ways among parents were: n There’s an app for that. Of course there are apps to help kids learn about money through games. U.S. News & World Report ranked seven apps for kids. One of the favorites included PiggyBot, which allows kids to save money digitally, keep track of their allowance, set savings goals and more. Similarly, FamZoo allows the family to keep track of allowances, chores and money-related activities. Everyone in the family is connected, making it simple to transfer money to each other. n Teach them money is a finite resource. If kids learn early money is something you need to work for, they will learn to value money more than if they constantly see their parents handing over cash or cards every time they ask for something. Even small children can earn allowances. Experts say it’s best to teach kids
they need to do certain chores (like make their beds or put dirty dishes in the sink) as productive members of the household. However, giving them opportunities to earn extra money will allow them to have a say in whether they will have any extra money to do fun things, like go to a water park with friends. n Discuss vacation plans. Families generally look forward to a planned trip together, but they may not all agree on where the family goes. Bring the kids in on the decision and talk about how the vacation fund is built and how it will be spent. For ex-
ample, if you line out a plan to take a trip to a theme park that’s across the country, you’ll want to include travel costs, lodging, ticket prices, meals and incidentals, like souvenirs. By allowing kids to see how quickly things add up, you can also give them the option to vote for a few family trips to closer locations allowing the family more fun times together. Additionally, if the family has discussed a large purchase, like a swimming pool, you can explain how a staycation will allow the family to put more money into the dream of having your own pool.
n Take them grocery shopping. Few activities teach kids more about money than taking them to the grocery store. For starters, they learn there’s a budget, so there are parameters. Second, they learn planning is key. Involving them in meal planning not only allows them to make healthy choices about what they eat, but it also shows them how to get the most value for the dollar because of the budget that’s already been set. This may include involving them in clipping coupons to help stay within the budget. Third, it teaches kids to compare prices. They may want name-brand cereal but seeing how much more they’ll have by purchasing generic—and maybe being able to afford a little treat later—could encourage them to try other brands that cost less. Finally, it teaches avoiding impulse buys because those usually are budget-busters. n Discuss the back-to-school budget. If you have teens or tweens who are swooning over designer clothes that won’t fit in your planned spending for back-to-school, then give them the option to work to earn extra money to buy the items they want. Meanwhile, visit thrift and consignment stores to show them other options. It may also be a good idea to tell them in advance what your set budget will be and let them make their clothing purchasing decisions. This could be a fast lesson in needs versus wants. n Go over your teen’s first paycheck. Lots of teens get summer jobs and are shocked when they receive their first paycheck to learn Uncle Sam gets a piece of it, too. Discuss the differences between gross pay and net pay and explain the W-4 form filled out when starting a job determines the amount of taxes that will be taken out of the paycheck. You should also explain what taxes pay for, like roads, libraries and schools. If you need help explaining taxes to your teen, turn to your CPA. He or she can offer expert guidance that will help address all your financial questions. If you don’t have a CPA, you can get a free referral and free 30-minute consultation at www.FindYourCPA.com. Get additional money tips from the free 2019 Financial Fitness Kit at a public library near you or online at www.KnowWhatCounts.org. You can also follow KnowWhatCounts on Twitter or like Know What Counts on Facebook.
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Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 19
McGuinness Valedictorian is from Edmond Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School has selected Cailin Harrington as the 2019 Valedictorian. Cailin will attend North Carolina State University this fall. She is the daughter of Pete and Lisa Harrington of Edmond.
Online school has Edmond grads Edmond Hospital Volunteers include Bailey Newton, Onelia Cochran, Tonya Newton, Staci Jakeway, Mark Arrasmith, Cherie Short, Peggy Pickle and Diane Wise.
OU Medical Center Edmond employees pay it forward with volunteer activity Employees of OU Medical Center Edmond proved that a few severe thunderstorms couldn’t keep them away from giving back to their community, recently. As part of the OU Medicine Live to Give program, hospital employees volunteered their time, Saturday, May 18, helping out at All Things Baby. The recipient non-profit organization provides
clothing and support resources to mothers and their children. Volunteers spent their day sorting donated baby clothes and creating seasonal packages for the parents and children who benefit from the organization’s services. For more information on All Things Baby, go to: www.Allthingsbabyok.com.
Oklahoma Connections Academy, a tuition-free online public school serving students statewide in grades K-12, graduated 127 seniors at a commencement ceremony on Saturday in Claremore. Hundreds of family members, friends, teachers and administrators gathered to celebrate the graduates, and Valedictorian Nikhita Panjnani and Salutatorian Madeline Simms delivered inspirational remarks. The class of 2019 spans the state, with graduates residing in cities and towns including Edmond, Muskogee and Oklahoma City. The 60 percent of graduates who plan to attend two- or four-year colleges or universities are headed to schools including Oklahoma City University and Connors State College. Online school graduates from Edmond include: Linville Grant Shipp Kristen Whitaker Reid Cocklin Alyssa Chandler Grady Krywicki Will
Busy sorting clothing were Onelia Cochran, Tonya Newton, Diane Wise, Bailey Newton, Staci Jakeway, Mark Arrasmith and Peggy Pickle.
Page 20 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
ConocoPhillips settles homeowners’ lawsuit
Courtney Griffin
Mark Coggeshall
Robert Pezza
Kenneth Humphries
Board members & scientists earn recognition by OMRF Last week, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation recognized 11 board members for their years of service. Four scientists also received individual awards for scientific achievement. OMRF board members honored, their hometowns and years of service were: Mark Funke, Edmond (10) Kim Henry, Edmond (15) Jerome Holmes, Oklahoma City (15) Gary Pierson, Oklahoma City (15) Greg Walton, Oklahoma City (15) Michael Carolina, Edmond (20) Burns Hargis, Stillwater (20) Jack McCarty, Newkirk (25) Richard Parry, Oklahoma City (25) Michael Carroll, Edmond (30) Ross Swimmer, Tulsa (30) During the meeting, OMRF scientist Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., received the foundation’s top scientific honor: the Edward L. and Thelma Gaylord Prize for Scientific Excellence. Griffin earned her B.A. at Harvard and her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences at the University of California San Francisco. Following postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina, she joined OMRF in 2008. Her work focuses on genes that regulate blood and lymphatic vessels, work that has implications for heart disease, aneurysms, cancer and toxic drug overdose. She also serves as scientific director of the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research. The Merrick Award for Outstand-
ing Medical Research was presented to Mark Coggeshall, Ph.D. Coggeshall holds the Robert S. Kerr, Jr., Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and for the last decade has dedicated his research to understanding the immune response to anthrax. His discoveries also have the potential to help treat other forms of sepsis, the blood poisoning that results from exposure to anthrax. Roberto Pezza, Ph.D. was given the J. Donald & Patricia H. Capra Award for Scientific Achievement. Pezza joined OMRF in 2008 from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., where he was a research fellow. In his lab at OMRF, he studies how chromosomes segregate during cell division and what causes errors in the process, which are the leading causes of birth defects. The Fred Jones Award for Scientific Achievement was presented to Kenneth Humphries, Ph.D. Humphries joined OMRF’s scientific staff in 2008. His work centers on the study of diabetes and how it affects the heart. He and his colleagues have identified a cellular switch in the heart that seems to malfunction in diabetes and are working to develop a way to control it. “Our scientists are doing innovative research to advance human health,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “Each of these researchers exemplifies a spirit of excellence. The discoveries they make are helping make our world a healthier place.”
By Nuria Martinez-Keel NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman A lawsuit alleging water contamination in northwest Oklahoma City has reached a settlement between a neighborhood of homeowners and ConocoPhillips. The energy corporation struck a confidential agreement recently with residents of more than 30 houses in the Clifford Farms subdivision who said the West Edmond Oil Field polluted the soil and water supply at their homes. The lawsuit, filed in Oklahoma City federal court, alleged the company failed to adequately dispose of saltwater runoff from the nearby oil field decades before the neighborhood’s construction. The West Edmond Oil Field was among the most significant oil operations in Oklahoma’s history, producing millions of barrels of oil a year through the 1940s, according to the state historical society. The homeowners argued ConocoPhillips allowed saltwater, brine and other substances from the oil field to flow into the land and groundwater beneath the future neighborhood site east of North May Avenue and directly south of NW 178. The plaintiffs said the neighborhood’s drinking water contained more chloride than the maximum amount recommended in Environmental Protection Agency standards.
The lawsuit also states the soil around the homes is too polluted to grow trees, flowers or other landscaping. “(The) plaintiffs own and reside at (their) property for the purpose of enjoying the unique character of their homes,” the lawsuit states. “In order to enjoy the unique character of their homes, plaintiffs require reasonable access to clean water and soil." Attorney Corey Neller said the neighborhood had no access to city of Oklahoma City water when the lawsuit was filed in 2016. The city utilities department confirmed the neighborhood originally depended on its own groundwater for service, but it is now connected to the city’s sewer and tapwater system. All of the homes have Edmond postal addresses but are contained within the boundaries of Oklahoma City. The plaintiffs argued ConocoPhillips failed to give any warning of possible contamination in the area from the oil field. The homeowners argued none of them knew of the poor water and soil quality before they built or purchased their houses, according to the lawsuit. A ConocoPhillips spokesman said the company “will not admit liability or responsibility” to the allegations in the case as a condition of the settlement. The lawsuit accused the company of causing damage to real property, trespass, negligence and unjust enrichment.
Governor appoints Fisher as regional regent for OU Gov. Kevin Stitt recently appointed Eric Fisher, of Oklahoma City, to the governing board of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. Fisher fills the position 8 seat which covers Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, McClain, Garvin, Murray, and Payne counties. Fisher replaces Mark Stansberry of Edmond, who retired from the regent board after serving nearly 20 years in higher education leadership positions, 13 as a RUSO regent. Fisher’s appointment began May 13. Fisher is an attorney with the law firm Crowe and Dunlevy. He serves as director in the Oklahoma City office focusing on business creation and development, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, operational and compliance matters. In addition to his law practice, Fisher is involved with the management of his family’s bank and real estate development firm which are located in Southeast Oklahoma. “During my career, I have helped clients focus on building and growing
Eric Fisher their businesses and appreciate the enormous importance of having an educated workforce,” Fisher said. “I hope my professional and personal experience will help me, as a RUSO regent, support and guide our regional universities as they evolve to meet the changing needs of students in a world where education is more important than ever.”
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 21
With degree in hand, it’s now time for a job
College and graduation can be fun, but for many their careers are now the top priority as they make their way in the work world.
This year, it is projected that nearly two million students will graduate with a bachelors degree. And many of them are going to be entering the job market and starting their careers. The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) offers the following financial guidance to help recent college graduates build a strong financial foundation. n Look past the salary when reviewing job offers. It may be tempting to select a job based solely upon the salary. However, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, benefits actually average 31.4 percent of a total compensation package. That means that it’s important to have a detailed understanding on what a prospective employer offers in terms of health insurance, sick and vacation time, 401(k) or other retirement savings match and any additional benefits. It’s possible that a job offering a higher salary and less competitive benefits may provide less total compensation than an offer with a lower salary, but more robust benefits. So, don’t be afraid to ask for specific and de-
tailed information about benefits when weighing a job offer. You should also consider your career growth prospects when comparing jobs. An employer with a promising future and a track record of encouraging staff development can provide superior opportunities to increase your personal value and move up as you build experience. Also, once you begin your job, make sure you’re taking advantage of all the perks being offered and understand the options available to you. It’s important to stay on top of any changes to your benefits – your HR department likely offers an annual open enrollment period when you can make changes to your benefits, such as the health insurance you’ve selected, and add or decline additional benefits, such as dental or vision insurance. Taking an hour or two to understand your options and choose the plan that is right for you can save a lot of money. n Come up with a plan for student loan
See Grads, Page 22
SF econ teacher honored as well as AP program By Paula Burkes NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Unbeknownst to one another initially, two students at Edmond Santa Fe High School lobbied hard a few years ago for an Advanced Placement (AP) economics class — which came to fruition last fall. As a sort of crowning achievement, the students’ beloved instructor, Megan Shadid, last week was named teacher of the year by the Oklahoma branch of the 65-yearold, New York-based Council on Economic Education. At the award presentation Friday, Shadid turned the attention to her 38 AP economics students. "I believe you guys deserve this award. You’re the ones who wanted to get the class started. You applied yourselves to a difficult topic, and I was just along for the ride,” she said. Amy Welch, executive director of the Oklahoma Council, applauded Santa Fe for "what hopefully will become a lasting legacy." AP economics classes are dwindling, Welch said. There are only 27 schools statewide that offer the class, but all three high schools in Edmond now do, she said. Said graduating Santa Fe senior
and advocate Boris Ganchev, “I’m into finances and politics, and economics is foundational to both of those.” Added junior and fellow advocate Joshua Zhu, “Economics should be as much a part of the basics, as reading, writing and math. If our society worldwide has a more intelligent understanding of economics, we can avoid a recession through education alone." Honoree Shadid, who’s moving to Olathe, Kansas, said she leaned on peers at Edmond’s two other high schools, College Board curriculum, and “super relevant” training from the Council on Economic Education. Council board member Chelsea Bradshaw of Citizens Bank of Edmond said her bank is proud to provide such training. “Otherwise, a lot of social studies or science teachers assigned to teach economics or personal finance may not have the knowledge or confidence to teach,” Bradshaw said. At the recent ceremony, Santa Fe Principal Jason Hayes thanked Shadid for her service and assured students that, despite her departure, AP Economics will be offered again at Santa Fe next year.
New chief banking officer
Citizens Bank of Edmond names Pape to position veloping innovative opJosh Pape has joined portunities in addition Citizens Bank of Edto ensuring the bank mond to serve as the remains best in class bank’s chief banking offor customer service. ficer, a position in which “I am thrilled to welhe will oversee the overcome Josh to the Citiall lending and deposit zens Bank of Edmond initiatives as well as the management team,” strategic direction, of said President and the bank’s global core CEO Jill Castilla. “His lines of business. extensive experience in “I’m very excited the banking industry and grateful to be a Josh Pape along with his abundant part of the team at one leadership skills will be an asset to of the most innovative community Citizens Bank of Edmond while workbanks in the country!” Pape said. ing with me to ensure future growth “Citizens’ engagement in, and comof the bank and the ultimate cusmitment to, the local community is tomer experience”. unparalleled. There is no better bank Prior to joining Citizens Bank of Edaround and I look forward to being a mond, Pape served as the Senior Vice part of the Citizens story.” With the mark Citizens Bank of Ed- President and Head of Commercial Banking Division at Bank2. mond is making in the community Pape holds a Bachelor of Science in banking industry in innovation, the business management from Western bank is able to attract talent like Governors University in Salt Lake Pape who will be assisting President City, Utah. and CEO, Jill Castilla, in further de-
Santa Fe teacher Megan Shadid, holding certificate was honored as a top economics teacher. Helping her celebrate were members of her class.
Page 22 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure
Grads From Page 21
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debt. For recent college graduates who earned a bachelor’s degree, the average student loan debt is $28,500. Once recent graduates get their first paycheck, they should develop a monthly budget that factors in their loan payments. You should also determine how much money you can save over time if you are more aggressive and put more than the minimum payment towards your loan balance. If you’re able to pay extra, check with your student loan provider to make sure that your payments are being applied to the loan principal—which means your overall balance will be reduced. Otherwise, your loan provider may just apply them to future payments and push your next due date back. The most important things are coming up with a plan that you are confident you’re able to stick to and making sure you don’t miss any payments. To help develop a repayment plan that works for you, the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program has a loan calculator that will help you understand your options for getting out of debt. n It’s never too early to start saving. For many young adults, their first job after college is the most money they’ve ever earned. It can be tempting to fall into the habit of spending the entirety of your paycheck. However, by instill-
ing the discipline of savings as soon as you start earning a paycheck, you’ll be setting yourself up for success. Recent graduates should aim to participate in their employers 401(k) plan, if one is offered. A good goal is to contribute enough to receive the full employer match, if one is offered. This money should be viewed as retirement savings only – because that is what it is intended for. Early withdrawals usually come with penalties and taxes and should be avoided if at all possible. As a parallel savings goal, recent graduates should begin building up an emergency fund. The best way to do this is to make regular contributions to a savings account with a rule that they can only be used in certain situations. Medical bills, mandatory car or home repairs or covering rent in the event of job loss are some examples of how the money can be earmarked. Experts recommend having three to six months of living expenses on hand in an emergency fund. Additionally, having these funds available in the event of an emergency means you won’t need to tap into your retirement savings or run up credit card debt with high interest charges. Establishing a financial plan is the best way to ensure your hard work is helping you get closer to your life goals.
Arledge Q&A
Changes in nonprofit reporting
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(Editor’s Note: Lindsey Williams addresses questions in this installment of Arledge Q&A by the Edmond CPA firm of Arledge & Associaties.)
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Does my nonprofit organization have to engage an independent auditor annually? While the requirements are different from state to state, in Oklahoma there is not a requirement for nonprofits to file an audit report with the state annually. For any nonprofit that has federal exWilliams penditures over $750,000, there is a requirement to be audited in accordance with the Uniform Guidance requirements. Also, if you have significant funding from a department of the State of Oklahoma then you might also have a separate requirement in your grant agreement to obtain an annual independent audit and furnish that to your organization’s granting agency. If none of the above applies to you, then it’s ultimately up to your bylaws, governing Board of Directors and management to decide if your organization should have an annual independent audit. What are some of the financial reporting changes affecting nonprofits in the next year? In terms of financial statement presentation, there have been quite a few new accounting standards put into place recently that might affect your nonprofit organization. First, you should be currently discussing these changes with your auditor. They can keep you informed on how new accounting standards will be impacting your organization’s financial statements and when the standards need to be implemented. Second, if you fall into the category of people in the previous question who may not currently have an auditor, there are plenty of resources out there to help you understand the new standards, but all the accounting standards updates can be found at www.fasb.org. The list of new standards might seem overwhelming, but keep in mind not all of them will apply to your organization. Are there any changes that impact broadly across the majority of nonprofit organizations? One of the key accounting standards updates (ASU) that we see affecting virtually all of our organizations is ASU 2016-14, Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities. This update
has been talked about in depth since 2016, but the implementation dates weren’t effective until recently. If your fiscal year end is Dec. 31, you need to apply this standard to your 2018 financial statements and if your fiscal year end is any other date, this standard applies to your 2019 financial statements. The key changes of this ASU involve changes to net asset classifications, functional expense reporting, liquidity disclosures and other minor changes to the statement of cash flows, underwater endowments, and net investment return presentation. How can I learn more about changes in nonprofit reporting and other requirements? Our firm hosts an annual Not-forProfit Accounting and Finance Seminar that covers a wide range of topics including audits, tax law changes and Financial Accounting Standards Board updates. This year, sessions will also cover employment law issues for nonprofits, donor relations matters and online marketing. The seminar is open to not-for-profit accounting and finance professionals and agency executives as well as board members. Up to six hours of CPE credit are available. When is the seminar and how do I register? The seminar is set for 9 a.m. June 4 at Francis Tuttle Technology Center’s Business Innovation Center, 2824 Progressive Drive in Edmond. The cost to attend the seminar is $50 and lunch will be provided. To register, visit jmacpas.com/seminars. For more information, contact Lindsey Williams, CPA, at lindsey@jmacpas.com or 405-3480615.
Lindsey Williams, CPA, is audit manager at Arledge and Associates, PC, an Edmond-based accounting firm. Arledge and 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. Though its Gateway Executive Solutions division, the firm offers outsourced CFO, controller and cloud-based accounting solutions. This article contains general information only and does not constitute tax advice or any other professional services. Before making any decisions or taking any action that might affect your income taxes, you should consult a professional tax advisor. This article is not intended for and cannot be used to avoid future penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service.
Edmond Life & Leisure • May 30, 2019 • Page 23
Panel will discuss infants & safe sleep Too many babies in the U.S. are lost every year to sleep-related deaths that might have been prevented. OU Medicine will lead a discussion with healthcare leaders to discuss strategies to help reduce the risk. While there have been dramatic improvements in the past decade, there are still more than 3,500 sleep-related deaths each year. OU Medicine presents Remarkable Conversations: Safe Sleep in Infants, Monday, June 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at The Children’s Hospital, 1200 Children’s Avenue, Oklahoma City. Speakers and panelists will include: n Ali Dodd, MPT, Founder of Shepard’s Watch n Kate Brashears, DNP, APRN, PC-PNP, community advocate and assistant professor of nursing at the University of Central Oklahoma n Elza Pollak-Christian, M.D., neonatologist at The Children’s Hospital n Tena J. Fry, DNP, IBCLC, APRN, Lactation Consultant, Women’s and Newborn Services, The Children’s Hospital n Representative from the Oklahoma State Department of Health
Event highlights fight against skin cancer In celebration of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the Miles Against Melanoma OK Foundation will host its third annual Tune Out Melanoma Benefit Concert on Friday, May 31 at Rocky’s Event Hall in downtown Oklahoma City. Presented by Saints Dermatology Center of Excellence, this family-friendly event will feature live music by Cody + Jess, dinner, dancing, refreshments, and a silent auction while also raising the much needed funds and awareness for skin cancer research, prevention, treatment, and education. “Events like Tune Out Melanoma are vital for bringing awareness and education to the community while also supporting cancer research in the state of Oklahoma,” said Ashley Watts, Executive Director. "This event is also a celebration of all the things we were able to help accomplish since our organization began, including the legislation that
went into law in 2017 that prevents minors from using indoor tanning devices. I'm excited to see what we will accomplish in the next year." Since 2014, Miles Against Melanoma Oklahoma has donated over $60,000 to support skin cancer research at the Stephenson Cancer Center, and provided $8,000 in family assistance. Additionally, Miles Against Melanoma OK partnered with the Stephenson Cancer Center and Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation to provide free to the public sunscreen dispensers to municipal golf courses and city parks. There are currently over 20 locations where community members can access free sunscreen. For more information about the Miles Against Melanoma OK Foundation and its annual Tune Out Melanoma event, contact Ashley Watts by phone at 405-706-5182 or email info@mamok.org.
OU Medicine’s Remarkable Conversation event series brings experts, community advocates and educators, together to lead thoughtful conversations on relevant topics that affect Oklahomans. For more information about Remarkable Conversations: Safe Sleep in Infants, contact Kelli Hayward-Walsh at kelli-haywardwalsh@oumedicine.com or 405-2718001 ext. 54021.
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
Page 24 • May 30, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure