June 6, 2019

June 6, 2019 Vol. 20, No. 2

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.

Teen stage star honored See Page 5

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Isolated Thunderstorms High 81° Low 66°

PHOTO PROVIDED

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 Mostly Sunny High 88° Low 71°

SUNDAY, JUNE 9 Sunny High 91° Low 66°

From left are Edmond moms Kylie Boaz, Brittany Decker and Ali Weaver. The babies are Peyton Boaz, Addie Decker and Alex Weaver. The toddlers are Blakely Boaz, Ava Decker and Logan Weaver.

Good things happen in threes.

Just ask Kylie Boaz, Brittany Decker and Ali Weaver. The three Edmond women have been the best of friends for years, but they have one thing in common that has to be more than just coincidence.

“My husband, Jay, and I had been trying to get pregnant for quite a while when Ali and Travis came over one night and said they were pregnant,” remembers Brittany Decker. “I was like you’re not going to believe this, but we are too!!! We just hadn’t told anyone yet.”

The two friends reveled in their joint excitement until a few weeks later when Kylie said she was pregnant, too. “When Brittany and Ali got pregnant I was so happy for them.

Then, Bryan and I conceived a month later. It was crazy. Everyone was saying we must have planned it, but we really didn’t.”

Weaver agrees, “Even though we are all the same age, we were in different stages of our family planning. I was in the middle of getting my masters, so it definitely came as a shock. The timing is just too perfect

to be anything but God’s plan.”

The three women enjoyed sharing the joys and anxieties that come with a first-time pregnancy. They almost even shared the same due date. All three delivered at INTEGRIS Health Edmond and they all three had baby girls.

Logan Weaver was born Dec. 30, 2016, Ava Decker was born Jan. 14, 2017, and Blakely Boaz was born Feb. 11, 2017. And if that wasn’t enough, fast forward two years and they did it - again. continued on Page 3

Page 2 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 3

PHOTO PROVIDED

The three friends pose while expecting their respective blessed events.

Cover From Page 1 “Honestly, I was even more shocked the second time because our due dates were even closer then. We all gave birth within two maybe two and a half weeks from each other the second time,” Boaz says.

“We were convinced one of us would have a boy this time and break the cycle,” admits Decker. “Ali was the last to find out what she was having. She and her husband, Travis, came over to our house for what he thought was just dinner, but it was actually a surprise gender reveal party. Ali shot off fireworks and low and behold they were pink!!! That’s when we knew we were all having girls again.”

All three returned to INTEGRIS Health Edmond to have their second babies. Peyton Boaz was born April 24, 2019, Addie Decker was born

May 2, 2019, and Alex Weaver was born May 9, 2019 – just in time for Mother’s Day. The three young families look forward to sharing their future together.

“Our friendship is a rock-solid foundation,” states Decker. “We just enjoy doing life with each other. The highs, the lows and all the craziness in between. No one can do this alone.”

When asked if they would consider trying for a three-peat, it may be too soon to tell. But you know what they say, the third time’s the charm.

“The Weavers will be having a third, I can tell you that,” Ali Weaver proclaims. “I’ll have to rally the troops for a third round though. Give them some time to forget the pains of pregnancy and childbirth. If we were able to do it again, now THAT would be a story.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

The trio developed a strong camaraderie during their pregnancies.

Page 4 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

75th anniversary of D-Day “They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate.”

— President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Today, June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of the great D-Day invasion when the United States and the Allied forces threw Ray Hibbard everything they had at the Germans. As tragic and difficult as the invasion was, it marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany and the Axis powers in their quest for world domination.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower described the importance of the battle when he said, “This operation is not being planned with any alternatives.

This operation is planned as a victory, and that’s the way it’s going to be. We’re going down there, and we’re throwing everything we have into it, and we’re going to make it a success.” This was his version of saying that failure was not an option. Beating back Nazi control of Europe had to begin with the liberation of France. The Allied troops knew it but so did the Germans. Beaches were fortified.

The operation was to be the largest seaborne invasion in history. There was an important element to the planning of the attack. Operation Bodyguard had been launched as a strategy of military deception. WWII had several elements of such deception through out the war that played key roles in the Allied success. Most of these stories have only been told in recent years. They remained classified for decades in case the strategy was ever needed again.

The great stories that remain from the D-Day invasion are about the regular guys who came to war to do what they had to do. They may have become heroes but to them it was part of defending their country and a job that had to be done. To top commanders, it was all just part of a plan but to the ordinary soldier landing on the beach from a landing craft, D-Day was more of a series of fragments that added up to pure chaos. The storm that was supposed to subside didn’t, leaving huge waves and the landing craft lumbering through them. Seasickness became a big problem. The soldier and his 70 pounds of equipment became wet.

What those cold and wet soldiers did not know was that the mistakes and failures on the Allied side were insignificant compared to the huge blunders by the Germans. They were bogged down in their own regimented system of giving orders.

Egos took the place of good decisions for the Germans. It was to the Allied benefit that the Luftwaffe had withdrawn all the planes that were needed in Normandy and that German armored regiments that should have been thrown into the defense of Omaha Beach could not move without direct orders from Hitler. His aides refused to wake him before 9:30 a.m.

Across the United States folks knew an invasion the size of D-day would be coming. The mood was solemn when it finally arrived. There was not the fear that came with the news in 1939 that the Germans had marched into Poland. Folks prayed but the American people were resolved in what had to be done. They went about their regular

Troops landing on the Normandy beaches faced hostile fire in June 1944.

business, stuck close to their radios and read the newspaper extras that rolled off the presses. Racetracks called off their programs for the day and some stores closed at noon. Information came at a snail’s pace by today’s standards.

Some of the greatest heroes from D-Day considered themselves very ordinary people. I once read that a hero is someone who is just too cold, too tired and too afraid to give a darn. Guys like Darrell “Shifty” Powers is a great example of how an average Joe became a hero that day. He was a soft-spoken machinist, married, raised a family and retired. He liked to fish and hunt. He also enjoyed raising vegetables in his garden. Powers began his time in war as a lowly private but ended the war as a squad leader. He never led a group larger than 12 men.

You may recognize his name from his association with the Band of Brothers. Powers was a soldier with the now legendary Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Powers was a good fit in this group of elite soldiers. His unit didn’t have snipers but if you were a good shot you got labeled as an expert marksman. Powers was one of only two men in the company of 140 soldiers who initially achieved that label. It was simple for Powers. He just hit what needed to be hit.

“He was an excellent shot, as well as an excellent friend. On patrols, he knew exactly what he was doing — that’s why he was one of the very few old-timers in the company who was never wounded. He had the best ears of any man in the company. He could hear anything, including enemy sentries, better than most men, so he would often lead our patrols. Shifty Powers was a great man, one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. I’ve never heard him say anything bad about anyone,” said fellow soldier Earl McClung.

By all accounts, Powers was a good friend to everyone. He was just an ordinary guy who trained for the job he would be asked to do and ultimately did extraordinary things. It was a difficult job, but Powers never called attention to himself. He lived his life in service to his country and then his family and community. It was a simple life and Powers enjoyed it.

Paratrooper Bob Nobles of the 82nd Airborne jumped into Normandy, France on D-Day. He

fought only six days before the Germans captured him. After receiving doughnuts and coffee from the Red Cross Doughnut Dollies at RAF Station Folkingham, Nobles and the rest of the men in the 508th 1st and 3rd Battalions strapped on their gear and weapons. They loaded onto a C-47 and were wheels up shortly before midnight heading for Normandy.

The flight over the English Channel was uneventful. “We were all thinking,” Nobles said. A lieutenant walked the aisle, talking to everyone, trying to both cheer the men up and calm them down, but Nobles did not appreciate it. “I almost told him to sit down.”

When the red light by the fuselage door lit up the cabin shortly after midnight, Nobles and his 16-man stick stood up and hooked their static lines to the anchor cable running the length of the cabin and checked the preceding man’s equipment. Then the red light went off, replaced by a green one, and the men charged out the door. Nobles could see tracers coming up and trees below him, but he did not have time to take it all in. “By the time my chute opened up, I was on the ground,” he said.

Nobles landed in a farmer’s field all alone and immediately unhooked himself from his parachute.

He then removed the reserve chute on his chest, which was blocking him from his rifle. He threw away his gas mask. He took off on foot until he came across another paratrooper. “Don’t shoot!

Don’t shoot!” shouted the man. “I’m from Kokomo, Indiana! I forgot the password!” Nobles just laughed.

Nobles had no idea where he was, but he was not alone. Most of the 508th paratroopers had missed their drop zone because the unit’s pathfinders had run into trouble. The 508th’s pathfinders had jumped into the midst of the German 91st Infantry Division and took heavy casualties.

The stories go on and on. The D-Day invasion was made by The Greatest Generation. They were soldiers that just did what had to be done. They were not seeking to become any kind of hero.

These brave young soldiers just wanted to do their job and get home to their families. Thank God they did just that.

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

Check out what’s inside! n n n n n n n n n

Scenes from Touch-A-Truck event..................................................Page 7.

Weekend Calendar of Events........................................................Page 8.

A look back at the legislative session..........................................Page 10.

Red Earth Festival this weekend ................................................Page 14.

George Gust reviews ‘Always Be My Maybe’ ..............................Page 15.

Crossword ..................................................................................Page 15.

David Farris & a look at man claiming to be outlaw ..................Page 17.

Business news ............................................................................Page 21.

Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.

See if you can find ‘Directions’ “Directions,” in real life is located in front of OnCue, at 15th and I-35, 4100 E 15th Street, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. E-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Local artist Joe Slack created the sculpture to draw the public in. “I just want to engage,” said Slack, “And for it to be part of the landscape.” At it’s tallest point of 17 feet ‘Directions' is the largest sculpture Slack has ever attempted. It features three huge faces with a rust patina. Located along I-35 it is certain to draw travelers in to engage with just one of the pieces of public art Edmond is known for.

For more information on Edmond public art please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php

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

Photographer Melinda Infante

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Cover Design April Burgess

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Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 5

Gourmet Gallery’s tasting event set Gourmet Gallery, located in Edmond at 1532 S. Boulevard and in the Shoppes at Northpark in Oklahoma City will host a tasting event on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring the product line, Terrapin Ridge Farms from Clearwater, Fla. Terrapin Ridge Farms produces a specialty food line that includes gourmet condiments, sauces, dressings, jams, dips, mustards & garnishing squeezes.

Mary O’Donnell, CEO & her team Arden Hearne LEFT --- Arden Hearne with her Kelli O'Hara Award for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role. She will attend the National High School Theatre Awards in New York City and see O'Hara perform in ‘Kiss Me Kate.’

SF grad wins trip to New York

Aspiring stage star wins inaugural Kelli O’Hara award

By Rose Drebes Arden Hearne, a winner of the inaugural Kelli O’Hara Awards, Oklahoma’s High School Musical Theatre Awards, says if you don’t love it, there’s no point in doing it.

The Oustanding Actress honoree and 2019 Edmond Santa Fe High School graduate definitely loves musical theatre. She got her start at age 8 and took part in her first professional show at age 10.

“It was so amazing,” Arden said. “I didn’t want to stop doing this.”t The Kelli O’Hara Awards were produced by OKC Broadway at the Civic Center Music Hall. Awards were presented for Outstanding Actor and Best Actress in a Leading Role, Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Musical Performance. The winners in each category received a trip to New York City to attend the National High School Music Awards, the Jimmy Awards.

In 2020, the winners of the Kelli O’Hara Awards will qualify for the Jimmy Awards.

Each of the 20 finalists in the Kelli O’Hara Awards performed during the ceremony.

A 2019 graduate of Edmond Santa Fe High School, Arden’s performance was a selection from her school’s production of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.”

“It was just a little taste of what it’s going to be like when I’m an adult,” she said.

Arden said she was humbled to be a finalist among such talented young people.

“It really could have gone to anyone else,” she said.

There wouldn’t have been a production of “A Gentleman’s Guide to

Love and Murder” had it not been for the cast and crew and, of course, SFHS choir directors Shermie Potts and Jeanine Gully and drama director Robin Robinson.

“It’s literally everyone’s hard work that makes it a show.”

While musical theatre does take a lot of hard work, Arden said it is really worth it.

“I love it so much, I don’t care,” she said. “If you love something, you will work hard for it.”

Over the years, Arden has performed with the Lyric Theatre and the Kismet Theatre which makes its home inside Special Care at Western and 122nd, among others. She also studies privately in the Studio of Dr. Robert Glaubitz and with Angela Polk at Kismet Theatre.

Arden is off to Oklahoma City University this fall to study musical theatre and vocal performance. OCU was one of 26 schools she applied to.

She was accepted into about half of those she applied to, but said the local university “made the most sense.”

“It’s in the top five in the nation for those programs,” Arden said.

“The double major is important to me.”

“I can be close to home and still grow.”

Kelli O’Hara, one of Arden’s idols, went to OCU. While in New York, Arden will go see O’Hara in her Broadway show “Kiss Me Kate.”

While starring on Broadway would be the ultimate experience, Arden said she just wants to perform once she graduates from college.

“I want to make art, tell stories and just work and have a roof over my head.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Arden Hearne performs in Edmond Santa Fe High School's production of ‘A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.’

Brief On Wednesday, June 19, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Oklahoma Historical Society will present a genealogy program entitled “Locating Early Oklahoma and Indian Territory Death Records.”

Genealogist Mahlon Erickson will share information about death records and resources pertaining to early Oklahoma, Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory.

This program is $5 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $10 for nonmembers.

We ask that you register in advance by calling the Research Center at 405-522-5225.

from Clearwater, Florida, will be at both locations sampling products complete with recipes, perfect for your Summer entertaining and Father’s Day ideas.

In addition, there will be a grilling demo by Gourmet Gallery Grill Masters. A 20 percent discount will be offered at both locations.

For more information contact: Janet McDonald or Cindy Utecht of The Gourmet Gallery. Their telephone number is 405-715-3663 and their fax is 405-715-5773.

Page 6 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sports

PHOTO PROVIDED

This past softball season Broncho JoBi Heath batted over .400 and drove in 77 runs. She also had 15 home runs.

JoBi Heath has All-American stats

Gritty senior turned in ‘unbelievable’ season put most players on

By Mike Kirk the sideline. A torn There were a numlabrum in both her ber of issues that in all right hip and right reality should have preshoulder along with a vented JoBi Heath bad back made everyfrom enjoying a proday play a real chalductive final season lenge. with the Central Okla“I’ve always had homa softball team. some injuries, but this First were the inwas the worst I’ve ever juries, ranging from a been,” Heath admitbalky back to a bad ted. “It was painful all shoulder to a painful year and I just fought hip. Add to that a JoBi Heath through it. This team daunting class schedule as a nursing major that caused Heath was different and they all helped me. to miss significant practice time every Everybody was pushing each other to be the best they could be and I week.

But nothing slowed the senior slug- wanted to be a part of that.”

The injuries didn’t keep Heath off ger or dimmed her passion for the the field, but a nursing practicum sport.

Heath started strong and never let schedule that required her to work long hours at area hospitals several up in putting together one of the times a week often did. best individual seasons in program “I usually missed two or three prachistory, capped by her selection earlier this week as a first-team All-Amer- tices a week,” said Heath, who will graduate in December. “It was all ican by both the National Fastpitch about staying active on the days I Coaches Association and the Confercould, getting reps on the field or in ence Commissioner’s Association. the batting cage any time I could.

“I just knew it was my last year “Coach White trusted me to get and I had to leave everything on the done what I needed to get done. He field,” Heath said. “I just went out knew I would get the work in. I’m there and played. Winning was the not sure many coaches would allow goal, that was the only thing that that and I really appreciate him for mattered, and I wanted to do everyit.” thing I could to help this team.”

A product of Edmond Santa Fe She did that and more in leading High School, Heath started every the Bronchos to a 48-8 record, the game (231) that UCO played during Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics her sensational career. She played left Association regular season and tournament titles and a spot in the sweet field her first two years before moving to third base as a junior.

16 of the national tournament.

Heath ended up setting school caHeath batted .407 with a singlereer records for doubles (70) and RBI season school-record 24 doubles (226), with both those numbers rankwhile also smashing 15 home runs and driving in 77 runs. She had three ing in the top 25 in Division II history. hitting streaks of 11-plus games, She’s also in the UCO’s all-time top came up with clutch hit after clutch 10 in homers (second with 43), at hit and also played near-flawless debats (fourth with 752), runs (fifth fense at third base.

“I don’t know if there’s ever been a with 168), hits (fifth with 274) and average (ninth at .364). player at UCO who had the season “I never really thought about going that JoBi did,” head coach Cody anywhere else,” Heath said. “I always White said. “She was just phenomewanted to be at UCO and I’ve loved nal for us all year, both offensively every minute. This year was just unand defensively. And to do what she believable.” did with all she was going through Unbelievable. That pretty much was really even more amazing.” sums up the season – and career – of Leading the list of obstacles were the injuries that would have probably JoBi Heath.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 7

Touch-A-Truck Event

The University of Central Oklahoma parking lot was the scene last weekend for the annual Touch-A-Truck event sponsored

by Edmond Electric. It gave all ages, especially youngsters, a chance to experience the big rigs up close and personal.

Above, Zachary Trumpp, 3, checks out the heavy equipment on one of the trucks.

One of the crowd favorites every year are the fire engines of the Edmond Fire Department. The event also was a benefit for the Edmond HOPE Center.

Families get a briefing on the Dolese cement mixer and the work it does.

Roxie Ortiz, 2, sitting in the driver’s seat.

Photos by Melinda Infante

Page 8 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Genealogical Society meets June 17 Many of us keep memorabilia, old family photographs, documents or heirlooms in a box in our attics, basements or garages. What’s the point of owning these items if they linger in a place where they can't been seen and appreciated?

Kristy We all have items we want to preserve. Maybe you have old documents that are getting faded. Maybe it's an award you won or a piece of memorabilia that means a lot to you or your family.

Or, maybe you have the wedding photo of your great-great grandparents. Truthfully, without a proper enclosure or frame of some sort, anything you own is going to fade or disintegrate over time. Plus, basements, attics and garages are not the ideal places to store your items without damaging them.

The Edmond Genealogical Society will meet Monday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the LDS Church, 1351 E. 33rd Street in Edmond. The group’s program, Photo Preservation and Framing, will be presented by Kristy Duarte, the manager of Framed in the Village framing shop in Oklahoma City. Framed in the Village is Oklahoma’s only Master Certified Picture Framer and framing gallery.

To reach that status requires a superior dedication to quality and a commitment to every aspect of the framing business. Kristy's program will discuss and demonstrate the many options available to preserve

and display your treasures. She will showcase techniques used in preserving and framing antique and fragile family photographs and other memorabilia items and how best to feature them in your home. All good things can be made even Duarte better and proper framing can enhance your artwork and special memorabilia, Your items can be encased in such a way that looks beautiful and can be preserved for generations, turning a neat document or item into a family heirloom.

They have thousands of different types of frames, display cases, and shadow boxes to display your newly preserved item! You can frame anything from your children’s artwork, special awards, jerseys, military memorabilia, canvases, cross stitches, embroidery, paper prints, photos and so much more. Everything is done to the highest preservation standards available. You won't want to miss this fascinating program!

The group’s July 15 program will feature Helen Lehman, past Director of the Family History Center in Oklahoma City. Helen will present Migration Trails.

Genealogical research assistance is available at 5:30 p.m. prior to the meetings. For information, visit our website: www.rootsweb.com/~okegs and find us on Facebook: Edmond Genealogical Society. The4 meetings are always open to the public and we invite you to join us.

Thursday June 6 ---- In the Gallery ---- Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc.

Central U.S. Championship ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- Concerts in the Park –Rock/Jazz ---- Holly Jones ---- 20th Annual UCO Endeavor Games Friday June 7 ---- In the Gallery ---- Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc.

Central U.S. Championship ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- 20th Annual UCO Endeavor Games ---- Movies in the Park – Mary Poppins Returns ---- Shortt Dogg ---- Anchors Aweigh Junior Theatre Production ---- Prix de West Opening Weekend ---- Prix de West Art Moments ---- An Affair of the Heart ---- Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival ---- Pollard Theatre presents: Disaster!

Saturday June 8 ---- In the Gallery ---- Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- Kids Day at the Farmers Market ---- Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc.

Central U.S. Championship ---- 20th Annual UCO Endeavor Games ---- Anchors Aweigh Junior Theatre Production ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- Eldredge Jackson ---- Kids All-American Fishing Derby ---- Beats and Bites Festival ---- Classic Country Revue ---- Prix de West Opening Weekend ---- Prix de West Art Moments ---- Art & Food Trucks ---- An Affair of the Heart ---- Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival ---- Pollard Theatre presents: Disaster!

---- International Dog Show Sunday June 9 ---- In the Gallery ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- 20th Annual UCO Endeavor Games ---- Prix de West Art Moments ---- An Affair of the Heart ---- Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival ---- Pollard Theatre presents: Disaster!

---- International Dog Show Extra Information on Weekend Happenings In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Sabrina Sims, for information go to: http://www.edmondfinearts.com/ Edmond Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Marketplace & Plaza Extra Info: Free admission; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; for more information go to edmondok.com Kids Day at the Farmers Market Location: Festival Marketplace & Plaza Extra Info: Free admission; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; learn about farming, food manufacturing and what good fresh food tastes like; for more information go to edmondparks.com Concerts in the Park – Rock/Jazz Location: Hafer Park Extra Info: Free; 6:15 – 8:45 p.m.; Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

For more information visit edmondokcom.

Movies in the Park – Mary Poppins Returns Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: Free; 8:30 – 11 p.m.; for more information visit them on Facebook Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc.

Central U.S. Championship Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: for more information visit

them on Facebook 20th Annual UCO Endeavor Games Location: University of Central Oklahoma Extra Info: for more information visit endeavorgames.com Anchors Aweigh Junior Theatre Production Location: Fine Arts Institute of Edmond Extra Info: for more information go to https://edmondfinearts.com Kids All-American Fishing Derby Location: Arcadia Lake, Spring Creek Park Extra Info: Free; 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.; for more information visit https://edmondok.com Beats and Bites Festival Location: Riverwind Casino Extra Info: food trucks and music featuring Shenandoah; for more information visit riverwind.com Prix de West Opening Weekend Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; for more information visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Prix de West Art Moments Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 1 – 2 p.m.; for more information visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Art & Food Trucks’ Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 12 – 2 p.m.; for more information visit nationalcowboymuseum.org 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 Classic Country Revue Location: Riverwind Casino; River Lounge Extra Info: 9 p.m.; for more information visit riverwind.com Holly Jones Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: 7 p.m., $15; for more information visit ucojazzlab.com Shortt Dogg Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: 8 p.m., $10; for more information visit ucojazzlab.com Eldredge Jackson Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: 8 p.m., $15; for more information visit ucojazzlab.com An Affair of the Heart Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park, multiple buildings Extra Info: for more information visit aaoth.com or on Facebook Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival Location: Cox Convention Center Extra Info: 7 – 9 p.m.; for more information visit redearth.org Pollard Theatre presents: Disaster!

Location: Pollard Theatre, Guthrie, Extra Info: for more information go to thepollard.org International Dog Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: For more information visit iabca.com

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 9

Perfect Attendance

PHOTO PROVIDED/SUSAN PARKS/SCHLEPP

Edmond student Jhenna Samara was recently recognized by Central Middle School for having achieved nine consecutive years of perfect attendance.

Jhenna has not missed a single day of school from kindergarten through eighth grade.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Members of the University of Central Oklahoma student organization Central Association for Responsive Educators (CARE) surprised metro teachers with classroom supplies as part of its Adopt-A-Teacher program. Kristen Weber (far left), a junior early childhood education major, and Mychaelon Mullins (far right), a junior elementary education major surprised Doni Hoover (middle), a pre-K teacher at North Highland Elementary in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with school supplies at a school assembly.

UCO education students surprise metro teachers with schools supplies University of Central Oklahoma College of Education and Professional Studies students surprised two metro teachers, both recent UCO education graduates, with classroom supplies as part of its Adopt-A-Teacher program.

The student organization, Central Association for Responsive Educators (CARE), is led by early childhood and elementary education majors at Central. Last year, CARE launched its Adopt-A-Teacher program as an opportunity to provide resources for recent UCO graduates teaching in the metro area.

Five metro teachers, all recent UCO graduates, were selected to receive the supplies. Two of the recipients were surprised during school assemblies when CARE students and faculty presented them with classroom resources including books, school supplies and other learning materials for students.

"We know that teachers spend so much of their own money to buy supplies and materials for their classrooms,” said Jill Davis, Ph.D., assis-

tant professor at Central and CARE faculty adviser.

“We want to give back to the teachers who have done so much for their students. The teachers get so excited about the supplies. We are honored to be part of helping the teachers and their classrooms."

The recipients of the Adopt-ATeacher program were Nicole Elias, Surrey Hills Elementary in Yukon, Oklahoma; Doni Hoover, North Highland Elementary in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ashley Kerr, Linwood Elementary in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ashley Miller, Windsor Hills Elementary in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and, Harlee Reed, Tinker Elementary, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For more information about CARE and the Adopt-A-Teacher program, contact Rachel Baugh at 405-9745408.

For more information about the UCO College of Education and Professional Studies, visit www.uco.edu/ceps.

Page 10 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

As independent as queen bees In the news recently there has been discussion of when human life starts and when it can exist on its own.

It's an interesting concept. I've been blessed to Steve Gust have become a father and a grandfather in this life. I do know that once a child is born, he or she still needs a great deal of help and care from parents and others to survive.

That continues for several years. We're not like horses. It amazes me to see a horse give birth and two minutes later the offspring is walking. Mother nature, and the instincts of most animals, is fascinating. With humans our offspring get many years of attention. In fact the ultimate goal for many children is to gain their independence.

That translates into not asking for money any longer from mom and dad. If a parent is lucky, the child does that at age 18. Usually it's more like age 22 or 23 after college graduation. Even then a lot of our young people may still

need help.

But to be fair, it's not just young people who need help. It's everybody. We all need each other.

A buddy of mine after college once told me he was independent. Like everyone in modern society, we're all about as independent as queen bees.

Outside of Rambo or criminal eccentrics like the Olympic Park bomber, most of us can not survive solely on our own. Without a grocery store people wouldn't be able feed themselves. A lot of people have gardens and grow vegetables, but they also go to the store for other food products.

Not too many of us can go hunting for all of our meat. Even if we could, not many folks want to take the time, or even know how, to clean and dress the game they've shot. You'd also need to know how to make a gun as well as ammunition.

It's not just that either. Who can find the materials needed to make a car and actually put a car together on their own? Even if you could, can you extract oil from the ground, refine it and make fuel? Let's say, by some mir-

acle you could. You would still need to drive the vehicle on a road. Can you make a road? Or could you even get all of your neighbors together and pave a highway?

People don't realize how we rely on others for our energy, our heat, our entertainment and a whole wide array of modern conveniences and devices that we simply take for granted.

Whether we like it or not, we're all in this thing together.

Reminds me of the Bible passage from St. Paul talking about many parts but one body. "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I do not need you.' Nor can the head say to the feet, 'I do not need you.'

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable."

That's a good lesson to learn.

Whenever you see someone doing a job, like road work, please realize how vital that person is to the overall mission.

And also be happy to help take care of a baby. Remember, someone had to do it for you at one time.

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

Trust created for the jail

By Kevin Calvey Okla. County District No. 3 Commissioner The Jail Trust is finally a reality!

The Board of County Commissioners made a historic vote on May 22 to create the Trust for Oklahoma County.

Numerous citizen groups have asked for citizen oversight for over 24 years, and their voices were finally heard.

I will be one of the two elected officials alongside Sheriff Taylor. The three District nominations are Francie Ekwerekwu, (District 1) Ben Brown, (District 2) and Todd Lamb (District 3). The other four citizen spots will be held by Jim Couch, MT Berry, Tricia Everest, and Sue

Kevin Calvey Ann Arnall. The County has excellent citizen leadership, and the Trustees necessary to see reform occur.

I give a special thanks to Commissioners Maughan for his long-time public stand for a jail trust, as well as all those who contributed, including the Criminal Justice Advisory Council, Bond Counsel John Michael Williams and Nate Ellis, Commissioner Blumert, and Presiding Judge Tom Prince. The other five elected officials, especially Court Clerk Rick Warren, County Clerk David Hooten, County Assessor Larry Stein, County Treasurer Butch Freeman, District Attorney David Prater, as well as Public Defender Robert Ravitz were also instrumental to success.

The Trustees will begin meeting soon to begin making steps to improve working conditions for our detention officers.

The Trust will release a Request For Proposal (RFP) no later than October for management of the jail, so planning will be another immediate priority.

While this is only the beginning of a new era in Oklahoma County, officials and citizens alike can “trust” that we have accomplished a necessary step towards justice reform, better jail conditions as well as a more responsible use of taxpayer money.

A look back at the recent legislative session ByThe Oklahoman Editorial Board There’s something to be said for a legislative session devoid, for the most part, of considerable rancor and this is what Oklahoma produced in 2019, when a flush treasury made for a much easier time than in recent years.

New Gov. Kevin Stitt brought the session to a close May 25 by signing a record $8.1 billion budget that he noted included a number of firsts.

The list includes providing public school teachers with a pay raise for the second consecutive year, fulling funding the Reading Sufficiency Act, fully funding roads and bridges, and adding to the state’s Rainy Day Fund without being forced to do so by law.

That last piece is particularly significant. Some Democratic legislators grumbled about putting $200 million into the state’s savings account, instead of directing it to other needs. Yet the deposit was the prudent thing to do on the part of the Republican-controlled Legislature, because it puts the state in a better position to handle the next economic downturn. Stitt has said he would like to see the savings account reach $2 billion – here’s hoping that happens one day.

Here is a look at some of the bright and not-sobright spots of the 2019 session: Teacher pay, education funding: The Legislature approved teacher pay raises averaging about $1,200, following through on a promise made by Stitt and GOP leaders that teachers would be a focus again. They were last year, too, receiving raises averaging $6,000, but those came in response to threats of a walkout if something wasn’t done (the walkout happened anyway and lasted

two weeks). Lawmakers funneled an additional $157.7 million to common education, including $74 million into the funding formula for classrooms.

The Legislature provided higher education with about $25 million, or 3.2%, more than the agency received last year. That wasn’t close to what higher ed requested, but represented progress nonetheless.

Lawmakers also gave CareerTech a boost of $18 million, or nearly 15%.

State employee raises: The Legislature approved pay raises of up to $1,400 for state workers, many of whom have gone several years without a boost.

Correctional workers will get raises of $2 per hour; those were badly needed. Overall, the appropriation to the Department of Corrections increased by about $38 million, or 7.4%, and now stands at $555.5 million.

Strengthening the governor’s office: Lawmakers approved one of Stitt’s top priorities when they voted to allow the governor to name the director of five of the state’s largest agencies – the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuses Services, the Department of Corrections and the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Oklahoma statutes leave the governor without much clout. This change was designed to change that, at least to some degree, instead of leaving so much power in the hands of the unelected board members who oversee these agencies.

Help for nursing homes: The Legislature wisely approved and sent to Stitt a bill that closes the gap between reimbursement rates for nursing homes and the actual cost of care. Under the bill, providers

must increase staffing and provide additional training and show that they have improved the quality of care. The coalition of elder-care advocates that pushed for this called it a “landmark reform” that will “dramatically increase the quality of care and quality of life” for nursing home residents.

Expanding the pool for justices: Stitt signed a bill that will expand the pool of applicants for the state Supreme Court and Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Previously, one justice was chosen from each of the nine congressional districts that were in place in the 1960s. Now they’ll come from the current five congressional districts, with four others being selected at-large from anywhere in the state.

Addressing four-day school weeks: Close to onefifth of Oklahoma’s school districts use four-day weeks, which have proven to help in recruiting teachers. However, in an effort to ensure kids in those districts are getting enough instruction, the Legislature approved Senate Bill 441, which requires schools to be in session for a minimum of 165 school days. Of those, 158 must be instructional days. Four-day districts will be able to get an exemption from the state by showing that they’re meeting school performance and cost-saving guidelines.

Setting LOFTy goals: The Legislature approved Senate Bill 1, which creates a Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency. LOFT, to be overseen by lawmakers from both parties, will conduct performance evaluations of agencies and programs, and make them available to the public. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat put it well when he said, “More transparency in agency spending and program performance will increase and enhance accountability of how tax dollars are used.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 11

PHOTO PROVIDED

Beware of high water when you drive. A car can be swept away by flood waters, possibly drowning the driver and passengers.

What to do next time storms pose a threat The American Red Cross of Oklahoma wants everyone to know what steps they can take to stay safe if dangerous weather is predicted for their community. Meteorologists are predicting severe weather and high potential for storms and tornadoes this afternoon.

How to Prepare for a Severe Thunderstorm If You Do Nothing Else n Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to select up to 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts on their mobile device.

The content includes expert guidance on what to do before, during and after different emergencies or disasters from home fires to hurricanes.

The app can be found in smartphone app stores by searching for American Red Cross, texting ‘EMERGENCY’ to 90999, or by going to redcross.org/apps. n Put together and emergency kit. n Know your community’s evacuation plan. n Create a household disaster plan and practice it.

Then, If You Can Do This n Purchase a battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible). n Discuss thunderstorm safety with members of your household. Be aware that a thunderstorm could produce a tornado. Tornadoes develop from severe thunderstorms along and ahead of cold fronts. n Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm. This should be a place where there are no windows, skylights, or glass doors, which

could be broken by strong winds or hail and cause damage or injury. n Learn how to crouch low to the ground on the balls of your feet.

Place your hands on your knees and your head between your knees. Minimize your body’s surface area, and minimize your contact with the ground. Lightning current often enters a victim through the ground rather than by a direct overhead strike.

Additional Steps to Protect Your Home n Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a severe thunderstorm, including things that may be broken or blown away in strong winds. n Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Strong winds frequently break weak limbs and hurl them at great speed. n Remove any debris or loose items from around your home and outbuildings and from pastures.

Branches and firewood may become missiles in strong winds. n Protect your animals. Ensure that any outbuildings, pastures, or corrals that house animals are protected in the same way as your home. n Consider installing permanent shutters to cover windows. Shutters can be closed quickly and provide the safest protection for windows. n Install lightning rods on your home and on barns or any other building that house animals. Lightning rods will carry the electrical charge of lightning bolts safely to the ground, greatly reducing the chance of a lightning-induced fire.

UCO student-athlete honored The Elite 90 is preThe University of sented to the studentCentral Oklahoma athlete with the rowing team's Bailee highest cumulative Thomas was awarded grade-point average the NCAA Elite 90 last participating at the fiweek ahead of the nals site for each of NCAA National Chamthe NCAA's champipionships. onships.

Thomas is a senior Eligible student-athPsychology major from letes are sophomores Wagoner, Okla. and or above who have two-year member of participated in their the No. 1-ranked Bronsport for at least two cho rowing program. years with their school.

She spent her first two They must be an acyears on campus as a Bailee Thomas tive member of the member of the UCO team, traveling and a track & field team. designated member of the squad size Thomas has a 4.0 cumulative at the championship. All ties are brograde point average – the highest ken by the number of credits comGPA of any student-athlete at the pleted.

NCAA Rowing national champiIt's the third consecutive year for onships.

The Elite 90, an award founded by the Bronchos to take the Elite 90 award in rowing. Trista Cripe won the NCAA, recognizes the true the award in both 2017 and 2018. essence of the student-athlete by Central Oklahoma has the tophonoring the individual who has rated Varsity 8+ boat and the topreached the pinnacle of competition rated Varsity 4+ boat in the country. at the national championship level in UCO is the defending national his or her sport, while also achieving champ after taking the crown last the highest academic standard season. among his or her peers.

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

Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

Page 12 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 13

PHOTO PROVIDED

The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music invites community, college and advanced high school musicians to join the Edmond LibertyFest Summer Band, an all-volunteer band under the direction of Brian Lamb, D.M.A., director of the School of Music. Pictured, Lamb conducts the summer band during last year’s LibertyFest Concert in the Park.

LibertyFest Summer Band seeks musicians The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music invites musicians from the surrounding community to join the Edmond LibertyFest Summer Band for the annual LibertyFest concert. Under the direction of Brian Lamb, D.M.A., director of Central’s School of Music, the all-volunteer band will perform patriotic works and popular songs for the 69th annual Concert in the Park at 7:30 p.m. June 28 on the lawn north of Mitchell Hall Theatre on the UCO campus.

The concert is a part of LibertyFest, Edmond’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

Interested musicians should be available for rehearsals from 7-9 p.m. every Monday in June beginning June 3. Band members do not need to sign up, email or call to participate but are asked to bring their instrument to the first day of practice in Central’s Music building, Room 104.

“The members of the band range in age from about 14 to 90. It’s very fun and rewarding to watch musicians make music that honors our great country. We’ve had married couples meet in summer band and we have several multi-generational families that participate in the band together. If

you play an instrument and love patriotic music, join us and be part of Edmond’s longest-running musical tradition,” said Lamb.

This year, the UCO Summer Band will be joined by co-director Edward Hudson, Jr., band director at Putnam City West High School and Central alumnus.

For more information, contact Kristi Cormack, administrative assistant for Central’s School of Music, at (405)-974-5004 or kcormack1@uco.edu.

For a complete listing of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events and performances, visit cfad.uco.edu.

Page 14 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The pageantry of Red Earth is back this weekend in downtown Oklahoma City. At left, a parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.

Red Earth Festival returning on Friday A cultural experience found nowhere else welcomes thousands when the 32nd Annual Red Earth Festival opens June 7 at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.

Native artists, dancers and singers from throughout America will gather to celebrate the richness and diversity of their heritage with the world, and for three exciting days, June 7-9, Oklahoma City will be at the center of western and Native art as Oklahoma’s Capitol City celebrates the Native cultures that make it unique.

The award-winning Festival opens at 2 p.m. Friday, June 7 with the Red Earth Art Market, featuring over 100 artisans and their original artworks.

Festival guests will experience the artistic creations of some of the country’s most celebrated artists as they offer for sale exquisite examples of contemporary and traditional paintings, beadwork, basketry, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, graphics and culture attire.

The Red Earth Art Market runs all three days of the Festival.

New for 2019 is Red Earth After Hours, a “Date Night” event from 5-8 p.m. on opening day featuring live music by the Smilin Vic Band, cash bars and light bites.

“We’ve created a ‘Party in the Art Market’ - a Friday night date night during opening day of the Red Earth Festival featuring the Smilin’ Vic Band,” said Eric Oesch, Red Earth co-director.

“For the price of a regular admission ticket you can not only shop over 100 amazing artists by party with live music, cash bars and lite bites. We can’t think of a better way to spend a summer night!”

To open day two of the Festival, a grand parade unlike any other in the world welcomes thousands as they line the streets for the Red Earth Parade, scheduled 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8.

Parade participants in colorful regalia along with tribal dignitaries, princesses, floats, classic cars, Clydesdales and other entries participate in the annual parade to delight of both children and adults. A new parade route travels south on Walker Avenue from NW 6th Street to Sheridan Avenue with ample opportunities for a close up view of what has been referred to as “America’s most unique parade.”

In addition to the beautiful artwork featured in the juried art market, the Red Earth Powwow scheduled Saturday and Sunday inside the 13,000 seat Cox Arena features hundreds of dancers in exciting dance competitions, intertribal dancing and exhibition dances. The spectacular Grand Entry of Dancers is a kaleidoscope of colors as participants dressed in stunning one-of-a-kind handmade outfits enter the dance arena in an ages-old ceremony held at noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.

Red Earth guests will hear the rhythmic beat of the most accomplished

Native drum groups in the world as both northern and southern style Native dancers compete for prize money during two full-days of highly competitive dance competitions.

Oklahoma is known for the 39 tribal headquarters located within its boundaries, making it home to more sovereign tribal nations than any other state in the country. In fact, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism & Recreation likes to point out that more languages are spoken in Oklahoma than in all of Europe since each tribe has its own distinct language. Sharing is what the Red Earth Festival is all about as representatives of dozens of tribal nations, bands and tribes gather in Oklahoma City to share their cultures during the award-winning Red Earth Festival.

Through the years, the Red Earth Festival has become one of the most respected visual and performing events of its type – setting the standard for many of today’s Native art shows. A recent USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Poll named the Red Earth Festival one of the Top Ten Art Festivals in America.

The Oklahoma Travel Industry Association has awarded its Redbud Award for Oklahoma’s Outstanding Event to previous Red Earth Festivals, and USA TODAY has named the Red Earth Festival one of 10 Great Places to Celebrate American Indian Culture. The American Bus Association has listed the Red Earth Festival a Top 100 Event in North America placing it alongside such greats as the Indianapolis 500, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Calgary Stampede as one of the very best events.

Tickets for the three-day festival can be purchased in advance online by visiting www.RedEarth.org. or at the door. All children 18 and under are admitted free of charge with a paid adult. General admission day tickets are $15 per day and include admission to the Red Earth Art Market, Red Earth After Hours on Friday, general admission seating to Saturday and Sunday’s powwow and access to all events and performances scheduled throughout the weekend. A three-day Festival Pass is available for $33.

Red Earth, Inc. is an Allied Arts member agency, an Adventure Road Travel Partner and is funded in part by the Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, Tinker Federal Credit Union, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Coca Cola Southwest Beverages and Oklahoma’s NewsChannel 4. Red Earth, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to promote the rich traditions of American Indian arts and cultures through education, a premier festival, a museum and fine art markets.

Visit www.RedEarth.org or call (405) 427-5228 for additional information.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 15

A charming comedy finds a niche within the streaming movie world

By George Gust As we enter an era of endless streaming options where we are being bombarded with a barrage of new content every day, there are bound to be unintended consequences and market corrections.

There was time in Hollywood when you could get a couple of charismatic up-and-coming TV actors or comedians put them together in a jaunty romantic comedy and the next thing you know you’ve got a couple of movie stars.

Think about the movie star origins of super stars like Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock. Now there appears to be no room for light romantic movies in a box office landscape that is dominated by superheroes, animated movie franchises, and bankable big budget genre movies.

But there is new life for this genre on streaming services like Netflix with movies like “Set it Up,” “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and their latest release: “Always Be My Maybe.”

“Always Be My Maybe” follows childhood sweethearts Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus, (Randall Park) who after having a falling out, don't speak for 15 years. They reconnect as adults when Sasha, now a celebrity chef opening a restaurant in San Francisco, runs into Marcus, a happily struggling musician still living at home working for his dad.

In addition to co-starring, Wong and Park are also credited as co-writers, bringing in their unique sensibilities and cultural life experiences. There will be parallels drawn between this movie and last year’s runaway romcom success “Crazy Rich Asians” as “Always Be My Maybe” comedically explores the generational differences and struggles of second generation Asian American families and the push pull between family and finding your own way. However, “Always Be My Maybe” takes on a smaller scale and doesn’t feature over the top locations and larger than life personalities. Instead this movie feels more familiar with the main conflicts being managing work/life balance and stepping out of your comfort zone.

As with any good romantic comedy “Always Be My Maybe” shines best when the two leads are playing off each other, which Wong and Park have a fun chemistry that only builds throughout the runtime. But the supporting cast is also exceptionally strong. Featuring strong supporting comedic performances by character actors Michelle Buteau and Karan Soni who steal a scene or two and add

Learn to quit smoking People who are interested in giving up tobacco are invited to an event June 12 at the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, a program of the Stephenson Cancer Center at OU Medicine. There is no cost to participate in this event.

Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center staff will offer informal consultations during the event, scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 12. It will be held at OTRC offices, 755 Research Parkway, Suite 150.

The OTRC offers a variety of options for people who want to quit smoking and other tobacco use. The program uses scientific treatments that have been proved in studies to help people quit using tobacco. The OTRC also conducts numerous tobacco cessation research studies, many of which are open for public participation.

The event on June 12 is come-and-go, and registration is not required, but requested by calling (405) 271-8000 ext.

43059. Free parking is available in the University Research Park garage. Refreshments will be provided, and OU Medicine will offer giveaways.

The OTRC is Oklahoma’s leading center for research on tobacco addiction and cessation.

For more information about OTRC, call (405) 271-7848.

to the light comedic tone of the movie. Also, in a surprising and wild cameo, is Keanu Reeves playing an entertainingly exaggerated version of himself, that is winning at first but almost outstays its welcome by the end of his scenes.

Overall, “Always Be My Maybe” is an easy movie to get into and is a great example of how talented people with a unique voice can still find a space to display their romantic comedy chops.

There’s no setup for an “Always Be My Maybe” movie franchise or best-selling novel fanbase, but this movie delivers a light and breezy romantic comedy that adds a unique cultural commentary to romcom tropes.

“Always Be My Maybe” is rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug use/references, and language.

3.8 out of 5 stars

Answers Page 23

Randall Park and Ali Wong, co-star and co-write the charming ‘Always Be My Maybe’ the next in Netflix's recent romcom renaissance.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: FATHER'S DAY ACROSS 1. Use elbow grease 6. Goody bag stuff 10. "_e_ _ect," song 13. Singer Lenya 14. Band's work-related trip 15. Capt.'s prediction 16. Assumed name 17. Debate side 18. Schumer or McConnell, abbr.

19. *Founding father with no biological children 21. Runs, as on TV 22. Last letter 23. *Dad's mom 25. Ready for confrontation 29. *This before becoming father?

31. Lakes in Scotland 32. Opposite of post33. Henry VI had 6 37. Not in port 38. Have a bug 39. ____ of faith 40. *Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor's dad 42. Layer 43. Ouzo flavor 44. Like farmto-table 46. Made 5050 47. Phony 50. "Wheel of Fortune" vowel request 51. Parts of play 52. *Dad to Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack 59. However, poetically 60. Coconut fiber 61. Dostoyevsky novel, with "The" 62. Once around 63. Japanese zither 64. It can be firma or incognita 65. Ill temper 66. Place at an angle 67. Ten of these before a

first down DOWN 1. BBQ side 2. Fizzy drink 3. "The Dock of the Bay" singer 4. Four Corners state 5. Turns large into medium 6. "All the world's a ____" 7. Refuses to 8. Grand theft target 9. Disparaging term for foreigners in Mexico 10. Pine product 11. Harsh 12. Popular annual flower 20. *Dad to Rod and Todd on "The Simpsons" 21. *Christopher Robin's father 24. Column's counterpart 25. Boring 26. Santa ____, CA 27. Tennis serving whiz 28. *Prince William's dad 29. *Dad's favorite cooking device?

30. Bank on

32. *The biggest bear 34. Tube in a body 35. Convenience 36. Hightailed it 41. ____Tube 43. Eagerness 45. Painful body spasms 46. Between NE and E 47. *What patriot and patriarch have in common 48. Autumn color 49. Ben Franklin invention 50. Found in a quiver 53. Cozy corner 54. Make a reference 55. Over head light?

56. 100 cents in Ethiopia 57. Master of his castle 58. #15 Across, pl.

See Answers on Page 23

Page 16 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The UCO crew team has gone back to back with national titles.

UCO wins title again The University of Central Oklahoma rowing team won the 2019 NCAA National Championship Sunday morning with a pair of dominant performances in the water at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park.

Central Oklahoma has now won back-to-back national championships as the Bronchos earned the university its 20th national title.

“I’m so proud of this team,” UCO head coach Montia Rice said.

“They’ve worked so hard all season, even before the season started, to make sure they were standing here in the end. They never quit working and they gave everything they had today in their last race of the season. It’s great to see their hard work pay off.”

Central Oklahoma earned 30 team points Sunday. The Varsity 4+ won first place to earn 12 team points and the V8+ followed that with a firstplace finish to earn 18 more points and send UCO to the stage as national champs.

UCO’s Varsity 4+ boat was up first and got off to a good start. Florida Tech inched ahead of the Bronchos in the first 250 meters, but Central was quick to overcome and led after 500 meters. UCO pulled farther and farther ahead over the next 1,000 meters, and in the final stretch, it was all Central Oklahoma.

The Broncho fours won first place over Western Washington, which passed FTU late in the race, and Seattle Pacific, in Sunday’s Grand Final.

It’s the first time in school history for

the Broncho fours to win a national championship. UCO got a crucial 12 team points for the win.

Led by coxswain Blair Johnson, Shelby Wackerly, Ali Nakvinda, Savanna Hammonds, and Lauren Wall put on a dominant performance in their final race of the season to claim the school’s first national title in V4+.

The Varsity 8+ followed 10 minutes later and followed a similar pattern as the fours. FTU got off to a good start and found itself a few feet ahead for the first 500-750 meters of the race. But the Bronchos had no intentions of losing Sunday.

Led by coxswain Madisyn Kitchell, the Broncho eights turned it on to take a lead at 1,000 meters and never looked back, pulling ahead by as much as 50 feet – one boat length – before cruising to the first place finish. Kitchell’s boat of Cameron Blunk, Laura Francis, Megan Dwarshuis, Eileen Anderson, Erica Mitchell, Bailee Thomas, Kiele Erickson, and Siobhan Quirke won the top honor in V8+ racing and gave Central a third consecutive V8+ national title. Darshuis, Anderson, Mitchell, and Erickson have rowed in all three V8+ national title boats for Central Oklahoma.

The UCO rowing team earned back-to-back national runner-up finishes 2016 and 2017 before getting over the hump and winning it all in 2018. UCO can now call itself backto-back national champs following Sunday’s performance. In 11 season of rowing, the Bronchos now have two national titles.

A trophy for Mitzi Hancuff Mitzi Hancuff is holding the glass trophy she received as the inaugural Edmond Arts Advocate recipient. The award was presented by the Fine Arts Institute of Edmond.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 17

Jesse James was just one of his names

By David Farris By the earlier 20th century, exciting tales from the American Western frontier became popularized thanks to the Hollywood movie industry.

Colorful characters, who in many cases were only known regionally, became famous from coast to coast in motion pictures where they were engaged in the most far-flung, heroic adventures that any screenplay writer could possibly Farris imagine.

One of the first ol' cowboys to capitalize on this newfound genre' was a lawyer-turnedtrain-robber from Woodward, Okla., named Al Jennings. After he was pardoned from his life prison sentence

by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, Jennings returned to Oklahoma and resumed his law practice.

In 1913, his highly embellished autobiography, entitled “Beating Back,” was published in The Saturday Evening Post to the delight of readers. That same year, Jennings played himself in a movie version of his memoirs and discovered his next calling. The following year, he moved to southern California and found work as a technical adviser on western movies for various studios.

During this time, Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, and Billy the Kid, were introduced to the movie- going public and characterized as protagonists in frontier melodramas after having been dead for decades. Of all of these legendary characters, arguably, the most popular was Jesse James.

By the 1940s, a number of aging gents came forward claiming to be one actual, living western legend, or another, who had for whatever reason faked their own deaths. Of course, this was before DNA testing, when people could rely only upon someone's physical appearance for identification.

With the growing popularity of the Wild West, one can only imagine the excitement that was felt in Oklahoma and then across the nation, on May 19, 1948, when the Lawton Constitution newspaper published a front page story under the headline, “JESSE JAMES IS ALIVE! IN LAWTON.” A 100-year-old man, known to locals as J. Frank Dalton, had convinced many people, including retired lawmen and even members of James' own family that he had faked his death in 1882, when a look-a-like was murdered in his place. He then headed straight to the Indian Nation, where he served as a U.S. deputy marshal. The article was complete with an affidavit signed by the old gent proclaiming himself to be Jesse Woodson James. Whomever Dalton was, he did seem to know a lot about the outlaw.

This bizarre story is, at best, a case of outright fraud, and at worst a sad example of elder abuse. It also involves a questionable man named

A 1948 edition of the Lawton Constitution newspaper allegedly reported that Jesse James was alive.

J. Frank Dalton, left, with Brushy Bill Roberts. Dalton allegedly went by the name Jesse James and Roberts allegedly Billy the Kid.

Orvus Lee Howk, who claimed to be Dalton's grandson; and a few other things. Howk often referred to himself as Jesse Lee James, in an earlier attempt to capitalize on the infamous outlaw's legend.

Howk promoted Dalton as the real Jesse James at public events, and, together, their macabre, traveling spectacle toured many midwestern American cities. This may have been a situation involving a destitute, centenarian who may have played along for his own welfare. Regardless of who he was, the old gent's exploitation seemed undignified.

Dalton's last appearance was August 1951, in Granbury, Texas, when he was 103 years old, blind, and suffering from a broken hip. He arrived by train in such a decrepit condition that an ambulance was dispatched to transport him to the home of Sam Rash, where the presentation was to occur. With the cash-paying audience assembled, Dalton displayed his maimed finger, burned feet and ropeburned neck which James was known to have suffered. Then, he removed his shirt so that slack-jawed gawkers could count the 32 bullet wounds to his body. James was known to have been shot no less than seven times.

Dalton died in Granbury, on Aug. 15, nine days after his appearance.

Before his death, he convinced many townspeople that he actually was James. His headstone in the town's cemetery boldly states, “Jesse Woodson James, born Sept. 5, 1847, died Aug. 15, 1951. Supposedly killed in 1882.”

During the same time that Dalton was touring with Howk, an old-timer from Hico, Texas, known as “Brushy” Bill Roberts came forward claiming to be Billy the Kid. Both Dalton and Roberts met and even posed for a photo. Ironically, James and The Kid did actually meet once in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1879.

After Dalton's death, the debate intensified regarding his true identity. It

An affidavit allegedly showing that J. Frank Dalton was actually the infamous outlaw Jesse James.

turned out that, originally, the old gent had claimed to be U.S. Deputy Marshal Frank Dalton, whose outlaw brothers, Emmett, Bob and Grat, made up the Dalton Gang. The problem with the old man's story is that Frank Dalton was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 27, 1887.

The legend that J. Frank Dalton was actually Jesse James continued to grow, and became the premise of at least two otherwise informative books: “Jesse James Was One Of His Names” (1975) by Del Schrader, and “Shadow Of The Sentinel” (2003) by Bob Brewer and Warren Getler.

After more than 100 years of controversy, Jesse James' grave, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, in Kearney, Mo., was exhumed during July 17-19, 1995. According to a forensic examination that included DNA testing, it was concluded that the grave contained all that remained mortal of the legendary outlaw. It also determined that the body had been buried face down, for some unknown reason.

On May 30, 2000, Dalton's remains were exhumed in Granbury for identification. The problem with cemeteries more than a century old is that they may not have been consistently maintained. Tombstones are sometimes moved or lost and, as a

result, bodies are buried alongside or even on top of earlier residents. The exhumation revealed two caskets located under Dalton's headstone. The one closest to the marker was retrieved and tested for DNA which revealed that the inhabitant was not related to the Jameses or Daltons.

It can be argued that the wrong body was examined, and that J. Frank Dalton has yet to be proven a fraud. The problem is that it would also have to be argued that James abandoned his family for 69 years, only to die alone without their comfort while being shuffled from town to town trying to prove who he was.

Occam's Razor, the principle that the simplest answer is usually correct, implies that the argument is pointless.

The historical record states that Jesse Woodson James was killed by Robert Ford on April 3, 1882. He was buried on his mother's farm so that she could watch over his grave, and then the body was reburied at nearby Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The evidence suggests that the sad story of J. Frank Dalton was nothing more than an impostor who presented himself as yet another deceased historical figure from the American West who had somehow cheated death.

Page 18 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sixty years of serving the Lord (Editor’s Note: The article below chronicles the last public Mass by the Rev. Marvin Leven, a longtime Catholic priest. During the 1980s Father Leven was pastor of Edmond’s St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the state’s largest Catholic church and the first church established after the 1889 Land Run. Father Leven was pastor when the church celebrated its centennial in 1989.)

By Carla Hinton NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman First Mass, last Mass.

The similarities between the two services led by the Rev. Marvin Leven were humorous and touching.

Leven was ordained into the Roman Catholic priesthood in May 1959, and his two 8-year-old nephews were given the honor of serving as altar boys for his first Mass as a priest.

He could hear the youths giggling about something, but he was never sure what it was.

Sixty years later, Leven, 94, once again was joined by his nephews — only this time they were as adult servers as he presided at his last public Mass.

Levity took center stage again just as it did in 1959 as Leven described his younger relatives as "boys." His joking manner caused an eruption of good-natured laughter to flow through the crowd looking on.

The priest's nephews, Harold Leven and Wayne Jackson, now 68, couldn't help but chuckle, as well.

The pair joined about 200 people who gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Leven's ordination and to mark his last time presiding at a public Mass.

The combination made the event particularly poignant.

"We've all been touched by Father Leven's presence in our lives," said Richard Amend, the center's mission and community director.

Several of the priest's family and friends agreed.

"He is just a person who is so knowledgeable and spiritual and so gentle and forgiving," said Leven's

The Rev. Marvin Leven, left, at the altar with the Rev. Mike Wheelahan before Mass on May 16 at St. Ann's Retirement Center in Oklahoma City.

cousin, Dianna Bewley, of Edmond. "The Lord has done so much through him."

His nephews said they didn't hesitate to come to the recent Mass when they learned about the special occasion. Jackson traveled from his home in Arkansas City, Kansas, while Harold Leven drove from Newkirk to Oklahoma City to be part of the event.

Jackson said he remembered going to his grandparents' home and seeing a chalice and other gifts awaiting his uncle on his ordination day.

"When I heard he was having his last Mass, I said 'I've got to be there,' " Jackson said.

Leven, a Newkirk native, served as pastor or associate pastor at nine parishes across the state. Most notably, he served at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond and Holy Trinity in Okarche, the home church of his late friend and fellow seminarian Blessed Stanley Rother.

Leven retired in 1999, but his friend Virginia Peters said he continued to serve as a chaplain at Mercy Hospital and as a priest for the Holland America cruise line. The Edmond woman said he also served as chaplain for the Sisters of Mercy and

the Sisters of Carmel of St. Joseph, plus he presided at Mass several times a week at St. Ann's after moving to the retirement center, 7501 W Britton Road, in 2013.

Leven asked for the crowd's understanding as he prepared to lead the liturgical service he had conducted countless times over the years. The priest said he had begun having trouble reading the liturgy so he read it in large font scrolling on a monitor placed nearby. He said he had problems with his memory, as well, among other troubles he called the "vicissitude of old age."

Still, he was upbeat in his homily as he shared stories of his life with humor and pragmatism while his family, friends and some fellow priests from around the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City listening on.

He said he remembered his ordination and how special the event was because his uncle, the Most Rev. Steven A. Leven, then-bishop of San Antonio, was given the honor of ordaining him. He recalled that youths had to be in third grade before serving as altar boys, but a special exception was made for his nephews, who were in second grade at the time.

He spoke about his time in the military before he answered a divine call to the priesthood and his love for his vocation.

"It has been a good life. That day of ordination was the greatest day of my life," he said.

The priest said slowing down after moving into the retirement community was difficult because his life had been so full. He said the Lord had been walking with him every step of the way through the transition.

"He is still in my life. In all these years, He has never ever loosed my hand," Leven said.

The priest seemed happy and grateful to see friendly faces smiling back at him as he brought the service — and another chapter of his life — to a fitting close.

"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you. That's what He's done for me. Thank you and God bless," Leven said.

Crime victim rights strengthen

‘Marsy’s Law’ signed Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed House Bill 1102, a bill to help fully implement the new Constitutional provisions within State Question 794, or “Marsy’s Law.” Marsy’s Law, passed by Oklahoma voters in November 2018, includes a new set of stronger Constitutional rights for victims of crime, granting them more information and input during the criminal justice process.

HB 1102, by Rep. Mike Osburn and Sen. Julie Daniels, works to ensure these new rights are reflected in Oklahoma law and properly implemented.

For instance, the bill clarifies a victim’s right to be notified of the release or escape of an accused perpetrator; it outlines the right of a victim, upon request, to confer with a district attorney; and it creates a requirement that law enforcement give victims written notification of all of their rights under Marsy’s Law. “Our mission has always been to substantively change and improve the criminal justice system to help victims,” said Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma State Director Kim Moyer. “HB 1102 is an important step in that direction, and we are thankful for the leadership and commitment to victims’ rights shown by the Legislature and Governor Stitt. Moving forward, victims and their advocates will be working with judges, court clerks,

prosecutors, public defenders and law enforcement officers to make sure these new rights are protected.

Thankfully, our lawmakers and law enforcement professionals continue to be enormously supportive as we work to successfully implement Marsy’s Law.” Oklahoma District Attorneys Council President Brian Hermanson said Oklahoma’s DAs continue to support the Constitutional rights outlined for victims within Marsy’s Law. “Working on behalf of justice means respecting victims, who are often dealing with enormously painful circumstances, and trying to bring them closure and healing,” said Hermanson. “That’s what Marsy’s Law is all about.”

Angela Wiles, whose teenage daughter Alyssa was tragically murdered in 2013, said that passing and implementing Marsy’s Law is something that will help future victims dealing with tragedy.

“When something awful happens to you and your family, it is important to feel valued and respected by the justice system, not ignored,” Wiles said. “Marsy’s Law gives victims the legal standing and Constitutional protections they need to have a voice in the process. I am glad our lawmakers are actively working to support and protect stronger crime victims’ rights in Oklahoma.”

Genealogy program set for June 19 On Wednesday, June 19, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Oklahoma Historical Society will present a genealogy program entitled “Locating Early Oklahoma and Indian Territory Death Records.”

Genealogist Mahlon Erickson will share information about death records and resources pertaining to early Oklahoma, Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory.

Researching deaths in early-day Oklahoma can be difficult, as official death records were not consistently kept until 1920. Erickson has compiled an extensive database with more than 600,000 entries for deaths found in sources including newspapers, cemeteries, county histories, census records, American Indian records and many more. This presentation will delve into these sources for early Oklahoma deaths and help

researchers understand where to find and how to use these materials.

This program is $5 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $10 for nonmembers. We ask that you register in advance by calling the Research Center at 405-522-5225. This program will be held in the Clark and Kay Musser Learning Lab, which is located inside the Research Center on the first floor of the Oklahoma History Center. The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.

The Research Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people.

Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 19

PHOTO PROVIDED

Summer can be a great time of year for teens enjoying their time away from the classroom. AAA warns however that summer has driving risks for teens.

Some of those risks have profound danger.

Summer can pose danger for teen drivers Over the past five years, nearly 3,500 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when the number of crash fatalities involving a teen driver historically rise. The average number of deaths from crashes involving teen drivers ages 15 to 18 was 17 percent higher per day compared to other days of the year, according to AAA. Over the past five years during the “100 Deadliest Days”, an average of almost 700 people died each year in crashes involving teen drivers. In Oklahoma, 3,194 crashes involving drivers ages 16 to 19 occurred during the summer of 2017. Twelve teen drivers died and, in all, 29 people were killed, according to the Oklahoma Highway Traffic Safety Office.

“While teens may make mistakes when first learning to drive, it is important to continue educating them about safety behind the wheel so they avoid the reckless behaviors that put themselves and others at risk on the road,” said Mark Madeja, AAA Oklahoma spokesperson.

AAA Foundation research found that nearly twothirds of people injured or killed in a crash involving a teen driver are people other than the teen behind the wheel. Crashes for teen drivers increase significantly during the summer because teens are out of school and driving more.

New crash data from 2013-2017 reveals major factors contributing to fatal teen crashes during the summer driving period include: n Speeding (28 percent) n Drinking and driving (17 percent) n Distraction (9 percent) Reckless behavior like drinking and driving, speeding and distraction are contributing to the alarming number of crash deaths involving teen drivers each summer.

In Oklahoma, 3,194 crashes involving drivers ages 16 to 19 occurred during the summer of 2017.

Twelve teen drivers died.

Speeding Speeding significantly increases the severity of a crash and is a growing problem among teen drivers. In the AAA Foundation’s latest Traffic Safety Culture Index, half (49.7 percent) of teen drivers reported speeding on a residential street in the past 30 days and nearly 40 percent say they sped on the freeway.

Drinking and Driving Despite the fact that teens cannot legally consume alcohol, one in six teen drivers involved in fatal crashes during the summer tested positive for alcohol.

Distraction- Underreported Problem More than half of teen drivers (52 percent) in the AAA Foundation’s latest Traffic Safety Culture Index report reading a text message or email while driving in the past 30 days and nearly 40 percent report sending a text or email. Some 59 percent of all teen crashes involve some form of driver inattention, and 12 percent of teen crashes involve cell phone use.

Drivers of all ages are urged to take AAA’s Don’t Drive Intoxicated. Don’t Drive Intexticated. pledge at Tulsa-area AAA locations Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to reinforce their commitment to never use an electronic advice while driving – even handsfree which still results in significant cognitive distraction. All taking the pledge will receive token reminders to display in their vehicles.

“Parents have plenty to be concerned about as their teens hit the road this summer,” said Madeja.

“They are the best line of defense to prevent deadly mistakes behind the wheel. Storing your phone out of reach, minding the speed limit, and staying away from impairing substances like alcohol and marijuana should be non-negotiable.”

To keep roads safer this summer, AAA encourages parents to: n Talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel, such as speeding, impairment and distracted driving. n Teach by example and minimize risky behavior when driving. n Make a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers.

TeenDriving.AAA.com has a variety of tools to help prepare parents and teens for the dangerous summer driving season. The online AAA StartSmart program also offers great resources for parents on how to become effective in-car coaches as well as advice on how to manage their teen’s overall driving privileges. Teens preparing for the responsibility of driving should enroll in a driver education program that teaches how to avoid driver distraction and other safety skills.

About AAA: AAA provides more than 59 million members with automotive, travel, insurance and financial services through its federation of 34 motor clubs and nearly 1,100 branch offices across North America. Since 1902, the not-for-profit, fully taxpaying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safe mobility. Drivers can request roadside assistance, identify nearby gas prices, locate discounts, book a hotel or map a route via the AAA Mobile app. To join, visit AAA.com.

Page 20 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Was formerly Metro First Realty

Firm joins Better Homes & Garden Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC recently announced that Metro First Realty of Edmond, a residential real estate brokerage firm serving the Oklahoma City metro area, is the newest member of its franchise network.

The firm, the brand’s first in Oklahoma, will now do business as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Paramount.

Growing up working with his father on home renovations, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Paramount Broker/Owner Rob Cowger gained an affinity for real estate at an early age. After earning both his agent and broker licenses, he eventually took charge of his own brokerage in 2007 – leveraging his more than two decades of knowledge and passion for the industry to grow his company’s agent count from three to nearly 150 today.

Rob Cowger’s decision to affiliate with the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand was prompted by his desire to proactively provide his agents with the best possible resources.

With access to the brand’s advanced tools and full-service support, along with increased referrals and lead generation, the brokerage can better position itself at the forefront of innovation and recognition.

Oklahoma City has become a hub of entertainment and growth attracting new residents with areas such as the Bricktown District and Plaza District, and professional basketball team the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Rob Cowger plans to leverage this, along with the added draws of affordable housing, strong economy, and top-notch education system, to expand the reach of his brokerage.

Customers have always been the top priority at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Paramount, and Rob Cowger believes that continually de-

PHOTO PROVIDED

Edmond Chamber officials and well wishers, recently marked the introduction of Better Homes and Gardens Paramount at 3636 E. I-35 Frontage Road. To know more please call them at (405) 348-9700.

livering the highest level of customer service has been a vital component of his brokerage’s sustained prosperity. His philosophy is built around traditional Oklahoma-style hospitality in which the brokerage is dedicated to maintaining a familial atmosphere and helping its neighbors. Rob Cowger and his team also give back to the community through volunteering efforts and hosting local events to bring residents and families to their office.

Welcoming Cowger to the franchise was Sherry Chris, president and CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

“Rob’s customer-centric philosophy and commitment to community echoes the values we cherish most. I have the utmost confidence that he and his team will be a natural fit within our network. Every brokerage within our brand plays a key role in our overarching success,” Chris said.

“We look forward to seeing Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Paramount leverage our extensive toolset, support system, and their own experience to take the lead in an up-andcoming market.”

Cowger was equally as glad to be joining the network.

“I’m excited to bring the Better

Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand to Oklahoma City metro area – not just for the city, but also for my affiliated agents,” Cowger, the broker and owner said. ”To be part of such a universally recognizable network will be key to future growth in the area. With a great brand behind us offering excellent tools and unparalleled support, we are on a path to be the leaders in real estate in this community.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is a real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers.

This Saturday at USAO

Civil War symposium set Three dynamic and insightful historians will converge on the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma June 8 for the 2019 Oklahoma Civil War Symposium. This free festival begins at 2 p.m. in the Davis Hall Little Theater.

Beginning with USAO’s own Dr. Lee Hester, the symposium will continue with St. Bonaventure University’s Dr. Chris Mackowski, at 4 p.m. and conclude with Dr. Geroge C. Rable, professor emeritus at the University of Alabama, at 7 p.m. A book signing featuring the presenters will follow.

“Each of our speakers this year bring a unique perspective on the Civil War as well as impeccable academic credentials and an engaging, conversational tone,” said Dr. James Finck, associate professor of history and symposium coordinator. “A good number of contentious issues debated today were also critical topics more than 150 years ago. This continuing discourse indelibly shapes American culture.”

Among several other awards, Rable’s 2003 book “Fredericksburg!

Fredericksburg!” received the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, which honors the best non-fiction work on the Civil War each year. Currently, he is studying the contentious relationship between President Lincoln and General

This free festival begins at 2 p.m. in the Davis Hall Little Theater.

George B. McClellan.

Mackowski’s blog, “Emerging Civil War,” provides fresh perspectives on this conflict and its continued relevance to America’s political and cultural situation. In addition to teaching and writing, he also serves as historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a portion of the Spotsylvania battlefield in Virginia.

A tireless advocate for the Native American community, Hester has served as president, chairman of the board and cultural committee chair for the Oklahoma Choctaw Tribal Alliance Inc. and received the Presidential Award of Excellence for Environmental Protection Services from Richard Nixon in 1973.

Initiated in 2012, USAO originally intended for its summer symposium to cover this conflict through 2017 before proceeding to other historical events. But in that year, the university decided to remain focused on the indepth examination of this earth-shattering part of the American story.

For more information contact Finck at 405-574-1229 or jfinck@usao.edu.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 21

Bridge conditions have feds concerned Oklahoma is home to the nation’s third-highest percentage of bridges in poor condition, according to the most recent data published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

This is one of the reasons many Oklahoma local officials recently joined over 1,000 other local government leaders from across the country -- including mayors, county engineers and public works directors – in delivering a letter to Capitol Hill asking policymakers to oppose any increases in truck size or weight, including longer double-trailer trucks and heavier single-trailer trucks. The letter, entitled "Bigger Trucks: Bad for America’s Local Communities," was delivered on April 18 to Capitol Hill and state and district offices. Letter can be found here.

FHWA also has provided a county-by-county breakdown of bridge conditions.

Helping some felons get jobs Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law recently a bill that could help non-violent offenders with felony convictions find high-paying jobs.

House Bill 1373, by state Rep. Zack Taylor, known as “Fresh Start Act,” will allow people with felonies on their records the opportunity to still seek occupational licensing for certain professions as long as the crimes do not substantially relate to the practice of the occupation.

Taylor said the bill accomplishes occupational licensure reform in conjunction with criminal justice reform.

“Our laws should encourage those non-violent offenders who have paid their debt to find work so they can be productive, provide for their families and reduce the likelihood of recidivism,” said Taylor, R-Seminole. “This bill gives those non-violent offenders hope that if they meet the qualifications for an occupational license they will have the opportunity to make a good wage and improve their lives and not be disqualified because of arbitrary language in the law.”

The bill becomes effective Nov. 1.

“Like so many rural communities, my county is hard pressed to find the next nickel to keep up with our road and bridge maintenance,” said Cleveland County Commissioner Rod Cleveland.

“Let me be clear, we’re nowhere close to being able to keep up now, but bigger trucks would incur such incredible infrastructure costs that I don’t see how we’d recover.”

Iowa leads the nation in the highest number of bad bridges, with 4,675 of that state’s bridges in poor condition. Pennsylvania ranks No. 2 in bad bridges, followed by Oklahoma, according to the National Bridge Inventory, while Illinois and Missouri round out the Top 5.

“We need more support for infrastructure, not more burden,” said Mr. Cleveland, “Perhaps some leaders in Washington should consider riding through a few of their local communities on un-

Price Lang firm awards scholarship Price Lang Consulting announced University of Central Oklahoma senior, JaNae Williams, as the Spring 2019 recipient of the Price Lang Scholarship for Communications Excellence.

“My passion for public policy and communication made winning this scholarship even more of an honor,” Williams said. “Price Lang is a company I’ve followed for a while. I’m inspired by their work in the industry and hope to work for a company with equally high standards in the future.”

Williams is a strategic communication and professional media major at UCO. The scholarship recognizes an outstanding junior or senior mass communication student and highlights the importance of communications and media in shaping public policy.

“We look forward to awarding this scholarship each semester,” said Charlie Price, a partner at Price Lang. “Like each of our recipients, JaNae exemplifies the character and work-ethic we are excited to welcome into our field.”

Founded in 2011, Price Lang is an Edmond-

FILE PHOTO/MELINDA INFANTE

The new Arcadia Trails residential treatment center has 40 beds and offers a comprehensive approach to helping patients with addictions.

New drug & alcohol treatment center is now open in Edmond Arcadia Trails, a 40-bed facility, which opened last week, is Oklahoma’s newest and most advanced residential drug and alcohol treatment center, situated among the rolling hills and oak forests between Arcadia Lake and Edmond on the medical campus of INTEGRIS Health Edmond.

Arcadia Trails is an intensive residential treatment center, and the first of its kind in Oklahoma, which means Oklahomans can be treated close to home. Studies show close-tohome treatment enhances aftercare and access to family support, which can be vital for continued recovery.

Addiction, which is the number one cause of death in Oklahomans ages 25 to 64, is holistically addressed at Arcadia Trails, along with its co-occurring and compounding issues – mental illness and trauma – while incorporating the 12 Steps of Alco-

even pavements and crumbled bridge decks, and then reconsider this bigger-truck fiasco.”

Companies leading bigger-truck coalitions are (1) Anheuser-Busch lobbying Congress for heavier tractor-trailers, and (2) Amazon, FedEx and UPS pushing Congress for longer double-trailer trucks.

The federal government has recommended against increasing the size and weight of trucks.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) studied truck size and weight laws over three years and in 2016 delivered its report to Congress, which recommended against any such increases and did not recommend any pilot projects. The USDOT study found that thousands of Interstate and other National Highway System bridges would not be able to accommodate longer or heavier trucks, costing billions of dollars in additional bridge costs.

holics 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 medical and psychological 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. Kimberlee 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 https://arcadiatrails.com/

PHOTO PROVIDED

JaNae Williams with Price Lang Founders, Charlie Price and Emily Lang

based communications firm that helps clients achieve communication related goals offers tailored solutions in the areas of public relations, community outreach, issue advocacy, development support and business branding. For more information about Price Lang’s services, visit www.pricelang.com.

Page 22 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Mortgage Matters

Accepting mortgage gift funds

By Kenneth Wohl RCB Bank If you plan to accept a monetary gift to help you cover homebuying costs, familiarize yourself with how funds may be used and who Wohl are acceptable donors.

May I use gift funds on all types of purchases?

Borrowers seeking a mortgage to secure a principle residence or second home may use funds received as a personal gift from an acceptable donor. Restrictions vary between loan types as to how gift funds may be used, for down payment, closing costs or reserves subject to minimum borrower contribution requirements.

Gifts are not allowed on an investment property.

Who can give a gift?

Gift funds can only come from acceptable donors. A gift can be provided by a relative, fiancé or domestic partner. A relative is more closely defined as the borrower’s spouse, child, dependent or any other individual who is related to the borrower by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship.

What documentation is required?

Gifts may be evidenced with a gift letter signed by the donor. The gift letter must specify gifted dollar amount, date funds were transferred, donor statement that no repayment is expected and donor identification, including name, phone, address and

relationship to the borrower.

How are gift funds verified?

Lenders will gather documentation to confirm sufficient funds are in the donor’s account or have been transferred to the borrower’s account.

There are three different ways to verify funds: Copy of the donor’s check and borrower’s deposit slip Copy of the donor’s withdrawal slip and borrower’s deposit slip Lender can document donor gave closing agent the gift funds in the forms of a cashier’s check, certified check or another official check.

Can equity be gifted?

Gifts of equity are allowed by the seller to the buyer on principle residences and second home purchases.

The gift represents a portion of the seller’s equity in the property, and is transferred Gift donors also should familiarize themselves with the IRS annual gift tax rules, as taxes may be owed if the gift amount exceeds the annual exclusion. Please consult with a tax professional.

We are to here to help, even if you are not an RCB Bank customer. Give us a call.

I am here to help, even if you are not an RCB Bank customer. Feel free to call me at 405.608.5291 or email me at kwohl@bankrcb.net.

Opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of Kenneth Wohl and meant for generic illustration purposes only. RCB Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and member FDIC. RCB Bank NMLS #798151. Kenneth Wohl NMLS #453934.

Upcoming Summer Kickoff helps Cleats for Kids’ youth program Cleats for Kids’ (C4K) sixth annual Summer Kickoff will celebrate the start of summer in the shadow of the Wheeler Ferris Wheel (1701 S Western Avenue) on Saturday, June 8.

This year’s event will be free to enter and open to the public from noon to 2 p.m. and features activities such as carnival games, face painting, local food trucks, a raffle filled with thousands of dollars’ worth of goods from local businesses and more.

This annual celebration of the beginning of summer is hosted by the organization’s Varsity Board: a group of 160 passionate student leaders from 20 metro area high schools. The Varsity Board seeks to be an active voice for young athletes in their community who, as a team, empower kids to find their passion.

All the generous sponsorship money raised at the Summer Kickoff goes directly to equip kids in need.

This year. the Varsity Board recognized a need in their own backyard as OKCPS begins its reconfiguration through the Pathway to Greatness.

“In OKCPS next school year there will be new PE classes and new sports teams so thousands of kids will have more opportunities to play and get physically active,” explained Varsity Board Co-President Mart Smith. “We have both played sports our entire lives and think it’s really shaped who we became as young adults,” explained Varsity Board Co-President Jack Griffin.

“And we think every kid should have the opportunity to play if they want to on account of how much of an effect it can have in their life.”

About Cleats for Kids (C4K): C4K empowers kids to learn important life lessons and live healthier lifestyles through sports.

For more information about the work C4K does visit okc.cleats-

County offers sewing camps for children ages 10 to 18 OSU Extension is conducting two sewing camps this summer, June 1012 (three-day camp) and July 17-18 (two-day) camp.

The camps will be held at the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Conference Center, located at 2500 NE 63rd Street. If you have kids ages 10 to 18 that want to learn how to sew or sharpen their sewing skills, then this camp is for them.

The camps will begin at 1 p.m. and finish up at 4 p.m. Machines will be provided for the class.

The workshop is limited to 10 participants so that individual and small group instruction can be emphasized.

Cost for the 3-day camp is $50 and 2-day camp $35. Also required is sewing supplies.

The sewing camps will emphasize group and one-on-one demonstrations that include the use of sewing machines, pattern preparation and layout, cutting and construction. Participants will focus on creating and

constructing their own elastic-waist pants, skirt or shorts, as well as a fleece blanket and pillow.

“This is a great opportunity for youth to get one-on-one, small group education in sewing,” commented Danielle Venable, Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension 4-H Educator. “The idea is for our students to come away from the camps having actually sewn a garment from start to finish,” Venable explained.

Pre-registration fee and supplies are required, and space is limited. To be considered registered you must send payment to OSU Extension Service, 2500 N.E. 63rd St., OKC, OK 73111.

All participants are asked to bring their own supplies and this list will be provided upon registration.

For more information about this and other youth summer workshops, please visit our website at http://oces.okstate.edu/oklahoma/y outh-workshops or feel free to contact our office at 405-713-1125.

DEQ offering free testing of well water The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering free bacteriological testing of private water wells that have been submerged in flood water for all 77 counties.

If your private well has been submerged in flood water, DEQ recommends that you not drink the water until you disinfect your well and sample analysis indicates that your well

water is safe.

For disinfection and sampling instructions and supplies, contact DEQ at (800) 522-0206. The free testing will be available until July 15.

Instructions on how to disinfect your well are available at www.deq.state.ok.us/factsheets/SELS /DisinfectIndividualWaterWells_012018.pdf.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 6, 2019 • Page 23

Regional Food Bank seeks 2,000 volunteers The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is seeking more than 2,000 volunteers for the month of June.

A variety of activities are available during shifts Monday through Saturday at the Volunteer Center.

Volunteers can help bag and box food for regular programs and disaster relief, sort and pack meat products in the Protein Packaging Center, as well as package meals in Hope’s Kitchen for the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids Summer Feeding Program.

In the wake of severe weather and flooding, The Regional Food Bank is working alongside the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, and other food banks and disaster relief organizations in the region, to ensure water and food is available to those who have experienced recent and on-going disasters.

The Regional Food Bank has also deployed staff members to assist relief efforts in impacted communities throughout the region. This is in addition to meeting the everyday needs of the one in six Oklahomans living with hunger.

"Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Regional Food Bank, especially when we are responding to disasters in our state and region. I encourage anyone who can help to sign up for a volunteer shift today," said Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer

of the Regional Food Bank.

Volunteers are vital to our response as we continue to support our network of more than 1,250 partners across the 53 counties we serve in central and western Oklahoma, in addition to the rising needs in impacted communities.

If you would like to volunteer at the Regional Food Bank, visit rfbo.org/volunteer With rain and more severe weather in the forecast, the Regional Food Bank and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma - the Oklahoma Food Banks - are monitoring the situation and working in a leadership role with the Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) to coordinate relief where it is needed.

VOAD is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membershipbased organization comprised of the Oklahoma Food Banks as well as disaster response organizations such as the American Red Cross, The Salva-

tion Army, Catholic Charities, and 2-1-1, with the mission of fostering more effective service to people affected by disaster. The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma also coordinates relief efforts as a member of the Feeding America network.

Monetary donations are the best way to help the Oklahoma Food Banks to efficiently meet specific needs as they arise. Disaster relief donations can be made to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma at okfoodbank.org/disaster-relief. Donations to the Regional Food Bank can be made by visiting rfbo.org/HelpOK. The Tulsa Community Foundation and Tulsa Area United Way have established the Disaster Relief Fund for Eastern Oklahoma which will aid nonprofits in helping residents impacted by the storms.

Donations can be made to the fund by visiting tulsacf.org/2019storms.

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 • June 6, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure