Edmond Life and Leisure - June 6, 2024

In This Issue

FOUR SEASONS

Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.

See Page 11

UCO hosting 25th annual Endeavor Games, June 6-9

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

AM Thunderstorms

92° Low 74°

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

Scattered Thunderstorms

88° Low 72°

The University of Central Oklahoma will host the 25th annual UCO Endeavor Games, an opportunity for athletes with physical disabilities to compete in various sporting events, June 6-9, on Central’s campus and throughout the Edmond, Oklahoma, community.

The UCO Endeavor Games is the nation’s largest multi-sport, multi-disability event. The 2024 games include 10 sports—air rifle, archery, cycling, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair softball.

“We are thrilled to welcome these athletes and their families for this great event,” said Leigha Pemberton, assistant director of partnerships and events at UCO.

“We look forward to celebrating the 25th year of community, sportsmanship and competition.”

The games will open Thursday, June 6, with a day of sports clinics and camps for aspiring athletes. The competition kicks off Friday, June 7, with powerlifting and wheelchair basketball in the morning, air rifle shooting throughout the day and an evening of swimming at the Edmond Mitch Park YMCA, 2901

Marilyn Williams Dr. Saturday’s events feature track and field at Edmond North High School, 215 W. Danforth Road, followed by sitting volleyball on Central’s campus. The games conclude Sunday, June 9, with wheelchair softball at the Hamilton Field House parking lot and indoor archery and table tennis at the UCO Wellness Center, both located on Central’s campus.

Competitions will be at seven sites across UCO and Edmond. All events are free and open to the public.

Central is an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site and host training site for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Sitting Volleyball teams.

For more information about athlete and volunteer registration or to view a complete schedule of events for the 2024 UCO Endeavor Games, visit www.endeavorgames.org/edmond/.

For more information about the UCO Endeavor Games, contact Pemberton at lpemberton@uco.edu or 405-974-3160.

See related story on page 3.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The University of Central Oklahoma will host the 25th annual UCO Endeavor Games, an opportunity for athletes with physical disabilities to compete in various sporting events, June 6-9, on Central’s campus and throughout the Edmond, Oklahoma, community.

Smag explains the joy of wrap sandwiches

From the Publisher

Father’s Day around the corner

Father’s Day 2024 is June 16th. I wrote about Father’s Day a few years ago pointing out that on Mother's Day folks spend three times as much on their mom over what is spent for gifts for their father. The truth is that it is perfectly fine with me. Dad’s do not want gifts on Father’s Day. All they want is to see their kids and give them a hug. It is as simple as that folks.

In fact, Father’s Day does not need to be an entire day. As a dad I can tell you that a couple of hours with your kids is a huge reward. We do not need you to take away your entire day to recognize us. Save that for moms who are the real heroes of the family.

I say that and yet I tell folks all the time how I would give anything to be with my dad for just one more day in this life. Nobody ever gets to the end of their life and says that they wished they had spent less time with their family. Once they are gone, we always want just a little more time, so the lesson is taking the time when they are still with us to spend time with them. If you are lucky enough to still have your dad this Father’s Day, go see him and spend some time together. Give him a kiss and tell him that you love him and that is all the recognition that we need. We are always there for you, but we do not need to be the center of attention.

Naturally, I can say that my dad was the greatest of all. He was tough but loving and his sense of humor would have you laughing until your sides hurt. I cannot say it was always what we would consider appropriate humor these days, but it made us laugh. Even when he would tell a joke from the construction site, my mom would laugh and through her laughter she would say, “Oh, Ray, that is terrible.” She would then go back to laughing.

Dad was a U.S. Marine, a combat veteran from Korea and had been wounded with a Chinese made grenade that he still carried shrapnel in his legs from having it go off near his fox hole. I appreciate all our veterans and certainly do not blame them for holding their combat service in front of them, but my dad just was not that way. All the things he did in life and issues he fought for his family he never led with his service, his combat experience or his wounds. In fact, you had to know my dad well and for a long time before you even knew he served.

It is interesting to me that Marines who served can tell without a word if they are brothers in arms. Darell Barton, who used to sell produce at our farmers market spotted dad right off the bat the first time he came to the market with me. “Hello brother,” Barton said. “Where did you serve,” he added. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between two old Marines that both served in combat. One Viet Nam and the other Korea but somehow, they just knew.

Dad was recovering in the hospital from surgery, and they wanted him to get up and do physical therapy, but he refused. A smart nurse sent down a nurse who was just recently out of the Marines.

The second the guy walked into the room my dad said, “Good grief, another jar head.” How dad knew I had no idea, but the nurse addressed him as brother and again they were long lost friends.

“I hear you are too lazy to get out of that bed and walk,” the nurse told him. The rest of the family was shocked. Nobody talked to our dad that way. Dad’s reaction was a flurry of curse words and then he added, “Lazy? You just hide and watch.” Up dad came and he did his lap around the floor. In fact, he did double what they wanted him to do. It took a fellow Marine to know just how to get the job done. As they walked, they talked, and we did not know what about, but it was one Marine to another and none of our business.

During that same stretch of time in the hospital there was a tornado that passed through the area. They were moving the patients to the center of the hallway and out of their rooms. I was there but could not exactly explain it but somewhere in the process, dad took over the move and had everyone centered away from windows and their beds all line up. The staff must have thought he knew what he was doing because they just let him take over.

There was a time that as adults we were on vacation with the entire family at Table Rock Lake in Missouri. We decided to try and rent a big boat. At the counter, the man asked dad if he had any experience with a boat that size. “Son, I was a Marine,” was dad’s answer. “Yes sir,” was the guy’s answer and he tossed over the keys to the boat.

When we got outside, I asked dad what he knew about a boat that size, “Not a damn thing but it got us the boat didn’t it” was his answer. In typical dad fashion he figured it out and within 30

---- City may buy water from OKC..................................................Page 4. ---- Weekend calendar......................................................................

“Four Seasons” in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the University of Central Oklahoma campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper.

Please e-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Commissioned as a partnership between UCO, the City of Edmond and the Edmond Visual Arts Commission, “Four Seasons” was created by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on the campus on March 24, 2011.

Kevin is a member of the National Sculptor’s Guild. His Box Studio LLC is a strong supporter of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle concept, using recycled metal as part of the casting process for his sculptures. All of his work is 100 percent recyclable.

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

minutes we were cruising the lake with dad at the wheel with his feet up and an ice-cold beer in his hand. We really do not know if this confidence came from being a Marine or if it just came from being a Hibbard. He had five brothers, and they were all just like him and they all were Marines. Not sure which came first. It is our chicken or egg thing.

Being a father is the best job in the world. The best part of being a dad is that you get to have grandkids. My oldest, Clark, just had his first baby. It is a girl, and she is as cute as she can be. Her mom had a difficult delivery, so Clark held her the most the first couple of days. All are good now but that little baby clung to holding Clark’s finger most of the time. My son was just beaming, and you could tell that he finally understood the joy of fatherhood.

I raised five all together and they are all champions folks. I often get asked how we did it and honestly, they came out fired up and ready to go. All I did was answer questions, drive them where they needed to go for their activities and occasionally toss a little money their way so they could get done what they needed to reach their goals. There were a lot of prayers as well.

It all worked. One is a mechanical engineer, one is in federal law enforcement, one is a speech pathologist, one manages a sports venue and the last one works in marketing. There are five undergraduate degrees, two master’s degrees and one PhD on the way. Go figure. I think the best thing we did was stay out of their way and just give encouragement.

Happy Father’s Day to all my fellow dads!

(Ray Hibbard may be reached for comment at ray@edmondpaper.com.)

Ray Hibbard

The Hibbard family grew again last month with the addition of Eloise.

he documentary “Endeavor” about the stories of athletes as they prepare for and compete in the University of Central Oklahoma Endeavor Games will premiere during the 24th Annual deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City. The film will be shown for free at 3 p.m., Sunday, June 9, at the Harkins Bricktown Auditorium 15 in downtown Oklahoma City. Pictured, Haven Shepherd, a swimmer from Missouri, talks to the “Endeavor” film crew in her home.

Endeavor Games part of film festival

A documentary film about the athletes behind the University of Central Oklahoma Endeavor Games premiere at the 24th Annual deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City. The documentary, “Endeavor,” shares the stories of several athletes preparing for and competing in the 2024 UCO Endeavor Games, June 6-9.

The film, directed by Bunee Tomlinson, will debut at 3 p.m., Sunday, June 9, at the Harkins Bricktown Theatre, Auditorium 15, in downtown Oklahoma City as part of the deadCenter Continuum Community Screenings. The showing is free and open to the public.

“Endeavor” follows the stories of adaptive athletes as they adjust to life-altering situations, come to terms with the mental health aspects of being adaptive athletes and compete in the annual UCO Endeavor Games.

“It has been amazing to watch this go from a conversation to a full-blown documentary in just a few months,” said Katrina Shaklee, assistant vice

president of Wellness and Sport at UCO and cofounder of the Endeavor Games.

“The fact that the ‘Endeavor’ world premiere will be at Oklahoma’s own deadCenter Film Festival, which is the same weekend as the UCO Endeavor Games, is the perfect way to promote this very special film and the amazing athletes it features.”

Athletes include Haven Shepherd, a swimmer from Missouri; Derek Loccident, a runner from Oklahoma City; Micah Campbell, a multi-sport wheelchair athlete from Wichita, Kansas; and, Lakisha McFadden, a multi-sport athlete from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“When I began to acquaint myself with these athletes, I learned to view the competitors and the competition in a whole new light,” Tomlinson said.

“As I looked to find the difference in these athletes, I realized there were no differences. They are people who have the same goals, the same ambitions and the same needs as any other athlete.”

Loccident, a UCO alumnus and former Broncho

Football player, has earned two silver and one bronze medal at the World Championships in Kobe, Japan, with the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field team. Loccident is expected to qualify for the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games held in Paris, France.

The documentary was produced by Citizens Bank of Edmond and Marisa Carlson and Lynzi Carlson of Simply Indie Film Fest. It was co-produced by the UCO Endeavor Games, Visit Edmond and Nick Hodge.

The UCO Endeavor Games is the nation’s largest multi-sport, multi-disability event. The 2024 games include 10 sports—air rifle, archery, cycling, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair softball.

Competitions will be at seven sites across UCO and Edmond. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information on “Endeavor” and to view the trailer, visit go.uco.edu/endeavordoc.

North’s spring state champs

Lawmaker salutes three top teams at Edmond North

Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, presented the state champion boys golf, boys tennis, and girls soccer teams from Edmond North with citations on the House floor.

"Congratulations to the Edmond North Huskies for their hard work and dedication," Harris said. "Winning a state championship is a testament to your perseverance, determination and teamwork. Your success is a source of great pride for the town of Edmond, and I am proud of all the teams for this amazing accomplishment."

The Edmond North boys golf team is comprised of the following members:

Coach Cody Murray and Coach EJ Pfister Hunter Baumann, Blake Berry, Chase Blaser, Blake Cathey, Nate Ingram, Griffin Klingman, Thomas Moore, Jake Mourning, Carson Nance, Slaton Nash, Cayden RosaBerrios, Tye Safi, Parker Sands, Bauer Sims and Tanner Smith.

The Edmond North boys tennis team is comprised of the following members:

Coach Duncan Fugitt and Coach Colby Brungardt.

Jack Franklin. JP Huston, Taytum Jones, Dylan Rainwater and Levi Solomon

The Edmond North girls soccer team is comprised of the following members:

Coach Ike Emegano, Coach Katie Almen, Coach Jeff Hock and Coach Natalie Raney.

Kaylee Ault, Ady Bechtel, Haley Bechtel, Adele Conkling, Ashton Conkling, Grace Due, Riley Fisher, Carson Grande, Kinzie Hazzard, Jordyn Heathcock, Morgan Higgins, Abby Lamar, Milliana Mack, Julia McBride, Hadley McLanahan, Rylee McLanahan, Makenna Meyers, Leslie Miller, Destiny Morris, Chloe Saggese, Olivia Waters. Jayden White and Olivia Wright.

City alerts public on possible water purchase from Okla. City

A potential purchase of water from the City of Oklahoma City could require Edmond residents who require the use of a home kidney dialysis machine to adjust their method of operation. Edmond’s water supply consists of two primary sources and a secondary source. The primary sources are surface water from Arcadia Lake and well water from the Garber-Wellington aquifer. The secondary source is treated water purchased from Oklahoma City and may be used during the summer months. Oklahoma City water, if necessary, will not be purchased any earlier than 30 days from the date of this notice. City of Edmond Water Resources officials want to advise residents of the potential purchase because some home dialysis machines may need adjustment due to the different disinfection system used by Oklahoma City.

Although residents typically do not notice any change, kidney dialysis machines may require a different method of operation. Oklahoma City uses chloramines and Edmond uses chlorine, which is termed “Free” chlorine, for disinfection. Both disinfecting processes meet all state standards and are accepted industry-wide.

When bringing in smaller amounts of Oklahoma City water, Edmond uses the connection located on the southwest side of town. Water is delivered to a large ground tank and then pumped back out as needed. The Oklahoma City water used from this location is diluted with Edmond “Well” water. In the event Edmond needs to bring in large amounts of water, there is a connection and pump station in northwest Edmond. This facility can accommodate up to 15 million gallons of water per day. If it becomes necessary to utilize this facility then Edmond can, if needed, convert the chloramine disinfectant back to the “Free” chlorine state, or use it as it is. Water Resources Department personnel are contacting hospitals and other medical facilities to advise them of the potential purchase of Oklahoma City water. Personnel are also calling residents that are known to use home kidney dialysis.

Residents are encouraged to advise the Water Resources Department if they have a medical condition that would warrant notification prior to a change. To report a medical condition, call 405-216-7811 between the hours of 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. MondayThursday and 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Friday.

Questions on DOC director’s $90,000 raise

Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, on May 29, sent a letter to Oklahoma Department of Corrections Executive Director Steven Harpe asking him again to provide verification of how his $90,000 pay increase was authorized.

Humphrey said in the letter that he's repeatedly asked Harpe for this information. He said he's even provided copies of the Oklahoma Titles and Statutes that outline procedures for increasing a director's pay.

"According to Oklahoma law, such raises must be approved by the Department of Corrections Board and compensation shall be determined by the governor," Humphrey said.

Humphrey said the director told legislators during a budget hearing that he had transferred his salary as director of the Office of Management and Enterprise services to his position as director of DOC. Humphrey said he asked House legal staff to examine the legality of such a move and was provided with statutes confirming the director's pay shall be approved and fixed by the DOC board after being determined by the governor.

"I'm once again politely asking you to provide tangible evidence that you received authorization for this $90,000 pay increase," Humphrey wrote in his letter to Harpe.

As chair of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee and as an elected official, Humphrey said he believes it is his duty to obtain straightforward and rational documentation on this matter. He said if he fails to receive a satisfactory response, he'll be compelled to prepare a probable cause affidavit and publicly request charges be filed for the crime of embezzlement.

State won’t abide from dictates issued by UN, WHO & others

Last week, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, presented Senate Bill 426 on the Senate floor on behalf of its author, Senator George Burns, R-Pollard. The bill to safeguard the liberties and rights of Oklahomans successfully passed through the Senate.

SB 426 prohibits the state from enforcing any mandates or recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), or the World Economic Forum (WEF). Specifically, it ensures that Oklahoma will not compel its residents to adhere to directives related to masks, vaccines, medical testing, or the gathering of public or private information.

“Senate Bill 426 is about protecting the sovereignty of Oklahoma and the freedoms of its citizens,” Bergstrom said. “By preventing the enforcement of external mandates from international organizations, we are affirming our commitment to the rights and liberties of Oklahomans. I was honored to present this important legislation on behalf of Senator Burns, and I am proud that it has passed through the Senate.”

SB 426 now moves to the House for further consideration.

Oklahoma Legislature Free genealogy workshop June 19

A look back at what State House did

The Oklahoma House of Representatives adjourned sine die May 30 after supporting Oklahomans' priorities and passing numerous pieces of conservative legislation.

"I have always said that the House is the body closest to the people, and we showed that once again this session by passing multiple pieces of legislation that were priorities of our constituents," said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, who is term-limited after serving as the longest-tenured speaker in state history. "Throughout my time in the Legislature I have taken service to my district, and the citizens all across our state, very seriously, and it has been an honor to serve as Speaker of the House for the past eight years. President Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Nothing worth having comes easy.’ I have seen that to be true through both highs and lows during my time in the House, but I am proud to say that without a doubt our state is in a better place now than it was when I was first elected. That is only possible through the effort of my Caucus, and I am thankful for their support over the last decade as we have made Oklahoma a better place to live, work and raise a family."

The Legislature sent over 430 bills to the governor this session, including bills to address illegal immigration, codify the Women's Bill of Rights and prohibit ranked-choice voting within the state.

The House also launched an easily accessible online budget dashboard that details appropriations for the previous fiscal year, state agencies' budget requests, and each chamber's official negotiating position.

"The House Budget Transparency Portal has given Oklahomans an unprecedented amount of access to the budget process,” McCall said. "Through the hard work of House staff, Oklahomans have been able to see every step of the budget process play out, and can see exactly where their hard earned tax dollars are being spent. Although the House would have preferred to see an income tax cut included, the budget passed by the Legislature is a good budget that funds core services and decreases government spending from last year. I’m proud of the House negotiating team for their hard work throughout the process, and confident that Oklahomans will be pleased with the result.”

The House Republican Caucus' major accomplishments throughout the two-year 59th Legislature include:

Education:

Invested a record $1.5B in new funding to public K-12 education between FY19-FY25, including $839.5M in FY24 and FY25 (HB1934, HB2901, HB2903, HB2904, SB1118, SB1119, SB1121, SB36X, SB1125, SB1122)

Established a tiered system of refundable tax credits for parents who choose to send their children to private schools or homeschool them (HB1934)

Invested $10M into a three-year program to employ a literacy instructional team in school districts (SB1118)

Created a three-year school safety pilot program (HB2903, HB2904)

Supported six weeks paid maternity leave for public school educators (SB1121)

Updated graduation requirements to require four years of math and six credits in subjects aligning with their Individual Career and Academic Plan (HB3278)

Required school personnel to include a student's parent or guardian in any electronic communications (HB3958)

Allowed class credit for students completing a religious or morality course from an independent entity as approved by the school board

(HB1425, sent to governor)

Tax Relief:

Eliminated the 4.5% state sales tax on groceries (HB1955), providing the largest single-year tax cut in state history

House Republicans also passed a slate of income tax (HB1954, HB1953, HB2285, HB1040X, HB1002XXX, HB2949, HB2950) and corporate tax reductions (HB2948), but the Senate did not act on the measures.

States' Rights:

Protected religious organizations from discrimination due to their religion (SB404)

Codified the Women's Bill of Rights (HB1449, sent to governor)

Ensured children do not undergo irreversible gender reassignment surgeries (SB613)

Extended the protest period in the initiative petition process to 90 business days (HB1105, sent to governor)

Kept Oklahoma's elections free and fair by prohibiting ranked-choice voting (HB3156)

Public Safety:

Created the crime of impermissible occupation when someone willfully and without permission enters and remains in Oklahoma without having first obtained legal authorization to enter the U.S. (HB4156)

Overhauled the state's outdated sentencing structure for felony offenses (HB1792, sent to governor)

Provided $18M for sheriff and deputy pay raises in the FY2025 budget (HB2914, sent to governor)

Increased the punishments for domestic abuse against a pregnant woman (SB1046) and for strangulation against an intimate partner (SB1211)

Expanded workers' compensation claims for law enforcement to include post-traumatic stress disorder (SB1457)

Created a task force to study the implementation of a business court system in Oklahoma (SB473, sent to governor)

FY2025 Budget:

$12.47B state budget for FY2025 (SB1125, sent to governor)

$25M additional funding into the school funding formula

$27.6M for CareerTech to address its waitlist

$240M for new engineering and science facilities at OU and OSU

$350M for the new Oklahoma Capital Assets Maintenance and Protection Fund to cover deferred maintenance at state properties, state parks and public colleges and universities

$30M to increase reimbursement rates for developmental disability service providers

$3M to provide 300 additional individuals with developmental disability services

$15M increase to provide services to pregnant women

$74M to complete the new DPS training facility in Lincoln County

$2.5M for DPS academy to train more Highway Patrol troopers

$27.5M for new OSBI headquarters building

$1.5M to address the rape kits backlog

$45M in disaster relief to help tornado-impacted counties

$200M to Rural Economic Transportation Reliability & Optimization (RETRO) Fund

$50M to DEQ to upgrade levees along the Arkansas River

$12.7M to Oklahoma Water Resources Board to leverage federal funding in community water supply

$41M for airport economic development projects

The 60th Legislature will be seated in November and convene for Organizational Day on Jan. 7, 2025.

Most people are very familiar with Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) but there are many other lineage societies. A lineage society requires that the applicant prove, with documentation, their connection to the ancestor and how that ancestor served their country, usually during a specific war. Tracing an ancestor back hundreds of years can be a daunting task, but there is much satisfaction to be found in completing that search successfully.

The Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) Genealogy Group will host M. LaNelle Shores as she shares information on The Continental Society of Daughters of Indian Wars and the United Daughters of the War of 1812 on Wednesday, June 19th, at the Oklahoma County Extension Center, 2500 NE 63rd St., Oklahoma City. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.

LaNelle is very familiar with lineage societies since she is a member of both the above organizations in addition to the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She is a past president of the OHCE Genealogy Group, past president of the Oklahoma Genealogical Society, past Regent of the Council Grove Chapter of the DAR in addition to numerous other positions in those groups. She currently serves as the Librarian and Acquisitions Chair for the Oklahoma Genealogical Society Resource Center.

More information can be found on the website: ohcegenealogy.com and on Facebook: OHCE Genealogy Group.

LaNelle

Weekend Calendar of events, June 6-9

Weekend Calendar of Events

June 6-9

---- In the Gallery

---- Kingdom of David and Solomon Discovered

---- Outdoor Edmond Farmer’s Market

---- Twilight Swim

---- Frenzy in June

---- Concert in the Park

---- VIBES: Downtown Edmond’s Art Experience

---- UCO Endeavor Games

---- Edmond Jr. Rodeo

---- Arcadia Lake Kids Fishing Derby

---- Board Game Day at Frenzy

---- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Events

---- Redbud Spectacular Horse Show

---- deadCenter Film Festival

---- First Friday Gallery Walk

---- Oklahoma Senior Follies Show

---- Cactus & Succulent Show & Sale

---- Round Barn Rendezvous

Extra Information

In the Gallery

Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute

Extra Info: Gallery Opening for Okie Colors: Thu, Jun 6: 5 – 7 p.m.; Featuring Okie Colors; free; Gallery is open Mon – Thu; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; edmondfinearts.com

Kingdom of David and Solomon Discovered

Location: Armstrong Auditorium

Extra Info: Mon, Feb 26 – Fri, Jan 17 2025; Free; Mon – Thu: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Fri & Sun: 10 a.m. –4 p.m.; closed Saturdays; armstrongauditorium.org

Outdoor Edmond Farmer’s Market

Location: Festival Market Place and Farmers Market

Extra Info: Sat, Apr 20 – Sat, Nov 2; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.com

Twilight Swim

Location: Pelican Bay Aquatic Center

Extra Info: Tue, May 28 – Thu, Aug 1; 7 – 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays twilight swim; pelicanbayaquatics.com

Frenzy in June

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Thu, Jun 6: Blake Bicker @ 6 p.m.; Fri, Jun 7: Kennedy Fine @ 7:30 p.m.; Sat, Jun 8: Scott Ryan and the Devilish Folk @ 7:30 p.m.; Free; frenzybrewing.com

Concert in the Park

Location: Hafer Park

Extra Info: Thu, Jun 6; Free; 6 – 9 p.m.; edmondok.gov

VIBES: Downtown Edmond’s Art Experience

Location: Downtown Edmond

Extra Info: Thu, Jun 6; Free; 6 – 9 p.m.; edmondvibes.org

UCO Endeavor Games

Location: University of Central Oklahoma – UCO Nigh Center

Extra Info: Thu, Jun 6 – Sun, Jun 9; events begin at 8 a.m.; Free; endeavorgames.org

Edmond Jr. Rodeo

Location: Edmond Round Up Club

– Carl Benne Arena

Extra Info: Fri, Jun 7 – Sat, Jun 8; Adults: $8; 18 & younger: $1; facebook.com

Arcadia Lake Kids Fishing Derby

Location: Arcadia Lake Spring Creek Park

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 8; Free; 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.; edmondok.gov

Board Game Day at Frenzy

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 8; Free; 12 p.m.; facebook.com

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Events

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Thu, Jun 6 – Sun, Jun 9: Choose Your Adventure!; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Fri, Jun 7 – Sat, Jun 8: Prix de West; Fri, Jun 7: No Severed Arm: Donald Teague’s Western Illustrations; 9:10 – 10:05 a.m.; Fri, Jun 7: Please, Don’t Just Look; 10:20 – 11:15 a.m.; Fri, Jun 7: The Evolving Character Head: Bringing Clay to Life; 1 – 3:30 p.m.; Fri, Jun 7: The Reading Roundup; 2 – 3 p.m.; Sat, Jun 08: Three Faces & Five Images: The Road to Saturday Morning; 10 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.; Sat, Jun 08: Prix de West Artist Demonstration – Daniel J. Keys; 1 – 2 p.m.; Sat, Jun 8: Prix de West Artist Demonstration – Huihan Liu; 1 – 2 p.m.; Sat, Jun 08 – Sun, Jun 09: Signature Tour @ 1 – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Redbud Spectacular Horse Show

Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park

Extra Info: Thu, May 30 – Sun, Jun 9; okqha.org

deadCenter Film Festival

Location: Various Downtown Locations, OKC Extra Info: Thu, Jun 6 – Sun, Jun 9; deadcenterfilm.org

OKC Zoo Gala: Roaring Forward

Location: Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

Extra Info: Fri, Jun 7: okczoo.org

First Friday Gallery Walk

Location: Paseo Arts District

Extra Info: Fri, Jun 7; 6 – 9 p.m.; thepaseo.org

Oklahoma Senior Follies Show

Location: Mitchell Hall, University of Central Oklahoma

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 8 – Sun, Jun 9; Sat: 7 p.m.; Sun: 3 p.m.; oklahomaseniorfollies.com

Cactus & Succulent Show & Sale

Location: Will Rogers Gardens

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 8 – Sun, Jun 9; Sat: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.; oklahomacactus.com

Round Barn Rendezvous

Location: Round Barn, Arcadia

Extra Info: Sun, Jun 9; 12 – 4 p.m.; arcadiaroundbarn.com

Pllease send items to infante318@cox.net

The State Senate’s take on 2024 session

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, ROklahoma City, Thursday released the following statement and highlights on the conclusion of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature’s regular session.

“As we conclude another legislative session, it is a time of reflection and looking forward,” Pro Tem Treat said. “I am confident that I am exiting my term on a high note and leaving my position as pro tem in a mindset of peace and gratitude. I have always wanted to leave my service with the Senate and state in a better place than when I came into office. I am appreciative to those in my district who have entrusted me to serve as their senator in District 47 over the last 14 years. They put their confidence in me and have allowed me to be here since 2011 and I could not be more thankful for them entrusting me in this role. I am also thankful to all of the members who voted for me to serve as pro tempore of the Senate since 2019. I would be remiss if I didn’t extend my gratitude to the love of my life, Maressa, who has been by my side during this entire journey, as well as our children, Mason, Cooper and Olivia. My family is the most important part of my life and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their love and support.

“Together, with my family by my side and my Senate family, we have many accomplishments that we can be proud of and I can be confident to say that I am leaving the Senate better than I found it.”

2024 Senate Legislative Accomplishments

Car Tag Legislation

Senate Bill 2035, the Mason Treat Act, creates a new system for temporary license plates on vehicles sold in the state, whether from a dealer or through private sale.

This change became Pro Tem Treat’s top priority after his 16-year-old son was involved in a neardeadly accident during a traffic stop on I-40 that was initiated due to there not being a tag on his car. While his car was legally owned and he had all the proper documentation, he didn’t have a tag on his car due to current law.

Transparent budget process

The Senate made history by implementing a new process to make crafting a state budget transparent from beginning to end.

This allowed the public and the press to have a behind-the-scenes look at every step in the Senate’s process, starting with discussing state agency budget requests and ending with negotiating with the House and the governor.

Immigration

House Bill 4156 cracks down on illegal immigration in Oklahoma at a time when the Biden administration has failed to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

This critical public safety measure makes it a crime for illegal immigrants to be present in the state and includes misdemeanor and felony penalties for those found to be in violation of the law.

Grocery Tax Cut

Senate Bill 1283 eliminates the state portion of the grocery tax. Oklahoma was one of only 13 states to still impose this tax.

Senate Bill 1283 is the largest tax cut in state history.

Once it goes into effect in the fall, Oklahomans will begin seeing immediate relief every time they go to the grocery store, saving average families 5.5 times more when compared to a 0.25% tax cut. City and county taxes still apply.

Survivors Act

The Survivor’s Act, or Senate Bill 1835, protects victims of domestic violence.

The measure directs a court to consider as a mitigating factor that the person has been abused physically, sexually, or psychologically by the person’s sexual partner, family member or member of the household, the trafficker of the person or other individual who used the person for financial gain when being sentenced.

Increasing Criminal Punishment f or Strangulation

Senate Bill 1211 increases the maximum time of imprisonment for strangulation offenses from three years to 10 years.

This legislation was necessary to offer protection

for victims of this abhorrent crime as strangulation is often a precursor to more severe or even fatal forms of abuse.

Tornado recovery funds

House Bill 2912 created a new revolving fund for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to help local governments in communities hit by tornadoes.

House Bill 2913 appropriated $45 million to help the state and storm-ravaged communities approved for FEMA assistance unlock federal disaster relief funds.

Public safety

Senate Bill 1457 ensures first responders are eligible for paid leave and mental health treatment if a physician diagnoses them with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of their work in the line of duty.

Senate Bill 1658 eliminates the statute of limitations in rape cases when DNA evidence emerges or a suspect confesses to the crime to ensure rape victims get justice, regardless of how much time has passed.

Increasing penalties f or retail thefts

Senate Bill 1877 allows law enforcement to aggregate the value of items stolen over a 180-day period in order to target repeat offenders and crack down on organized retail thefts.

In an effort to protect frontline employees and retailers, Senate Bill 1735 expands the definition of second-degree burglary to include entering areas of businesses commonly reserved for personnel.

Someone who enters such a restricted area with the intent to commit a crime may be charged with a misdemeanor for the first offense and a felony for subsequent offenses.

Criminal justice reform

Senate Bill 11 allows incarcerated Oklahomans to apply for tuition assistance and financial aid when they are close to completing their prison sentence.

This encourages inmates to learn new skills or trades while incarcerated and helps them enroll in a degree program that can make it easier for them to find a job.

Edmond DAR members honored

Edmond resident, Tammy Ross, was named the Outstanding Chapter Regent at the recent State Convention of the Oklahoma Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Ross, who served as the regent for the Cordelia Steen chapter the last two years, is also an organizing member of the chapter. During her term as regent, she led several projects supporting the three tenants of the DAR – Historical Preservation, Education and Patriotism. She was instrumental in placing two historical markers in Edmond: one at the historical Rodkey House and one at the Frank H. Collins American Legion Post. The Great Book Giveaways at Christmas and the end of the school year placed more than1300 books in the hands of Edmond children. Fourteen local veterans received Quilts of Valor during her term and thousands of American flags were handed out at schools and placed on the graves of our veterans.

Jan Beattie, also from the Cordelia Steen Chap-

ter, was selected as the Outstanding Volunteer Genealogist of the Year for her tireless efforts to assist women seeking to join the organization. In addition, she serves the chapter as scholarship chairman and is on the State Speakers Staff and State Application Team. She is the current president of the Oklahoma Home and Community Education Genealogy Group and secretary of the Oklahoma DeMolay Association Edmond Advisory Council.

Her other affiliations include Edmond Genealogical Society, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Colonial Dames.

The Daughters of the American Revolution is non-profit, non-political lineage-based women’s service organization founded more than125 years ago with nearly 200,000 members across the US. More information can be found about the Society at DAR.org.

Grace Ellsworth, State Vice Regent, Tammy Ross, Cordelia Steen Chapter Regent, & Nancy Lisle, Oklahoma State Regent

OMRF donors see generosity in action

More than 100 Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation donors now have a better understanding of the scientific discoveries their gifts make possible.

Last week’s annual gathering of OMRF’s Loyal Donors Society included tours of the foundation’s Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence and demonstrations of current research projects ranging from Alzheimer’s to cell regeneration to blood clotting.

OMRF’s loyal donors are those who’ve contributed for at least five straight years. Using that criteria, the foundation currently has 989 loyal donors, including 111 who met the five-year threshold for the first time this past year.

Combined, they have given nearly $80 million. The longest active streak belongs to the Oklahoma Association of Mothers Clubs, whose contributions date to 1956 – a decade after OMRF’s founding.

“Thanks to your generosity, our scientists make a worldwide impact on human health,” Vice President of Research Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., told the group. “We take great pride in being Oklahoma’s medical research foundation,”

Tuesday’s event was the first visit to OMRF for Peggy and Richard Geib, who’ve been giving to OMRF since 2019. “I can tell that everyone here is passionate about what they do,” said Peggy Geib, “and that they feel like they’re making a difference.”

The Geibs make an annual year-end contribution to the foundation, and they also make memorial gifts to OMRF following the death of a friend or relative. “Flowers are fine, but to us, the memorials are more meaningful,” Richard Geib said.

Sylvia Zimmerman, a donor since 2005, described the event as “an eye opener. I love that

OMRF focuses not only the cause of illness, but also on the treatment of it.”

Robert Tilghman enjoyed learning about cardiovascular health and OMRF’s cardiovascular biology research at the event. “I love the dedication of the scientists here and the constant effort to explore every avenue to solve a problem,” said Tilghman, who’s donated to OMRF for 12 straight years.

The consistent generosity of donors like those who attended Tuesday’s event has fueled OMRF’s research since its founding in 1946, said Vice President of Philanthropy & Community Relations Penny Voss.

“These donors are essential to our mission, which aims to help people lead longer, healthier lives,” Voss said. “If we can show our appreciation while giving them a better understanding of the research they make possible, this event is a success.”

OMRF scientist Jaya Krishnan, Ph.D., explains to donors her lab's work to understand how a certain species of fish has evolved to go months at a time without food. More than 100 people attended an annual reception for OMRF donors who have given for at least five straight years

The planned park has 62 acres of land.

City commits upwards of $15 million for park

During the May 28 City Council meeting, the City of Edmond, in collaboration with the French Family Charitable Foundation, has reached agreement that will provide a forgivable loan of $10 million dollars to help fund the proposed art park at the corner of 2nd Street and Coltrane Road.

That funding will be used to construct park infrastructure improvements. The city also agreed to waive plan review, permitting and inspections fees for the project.

Under the agreement, the French Family Charitable Foundation would develop the 62-acre park to provide a place to exhibit public art. The project master plan calls for the development of playgrounds, a dog park, water park, sports courts, fitness adventure course, multiple pavilions, trails, and City art.

The City agreed to fund public infrastructure work that may include

the construction of storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water distribution, street improvements, public parking, and construction of public trails to facilitate the construction of the park.

As well, the city has committed to reimburse the French Family Foundation and the Fine Arts Institute (FAI) for construction sales tax paid in the construction of the park and private FAI facility. Additionally, the City committed to drainage improvements, valued at $500,000, at the adjacent Huntwick Detention basin that will assist with stormwater control for the park and committed to fund, at a future date, Coltrane Road improvements estimated at $3 million.

Under the agreement, the 62-acre facility, when complete, would transfer ownership to the Park Conservancy Trust.

To fund the forgivable loan, the City will use funds from Edmond

City is seeking volunteers for short-term task force

City Council is seeking up to 25 volunteers to serve on a new shortterm task force. The General Obligation Bond Advisory Task Force will review and provide recommendations to the City Council regarding appropriate projects and funding levels for a potential General Obligation bond election.

The Task Force will serve until Dec. 31, 2024, or until its final recommendations are reached, whichever comes first. This is an intensive committee appointment that will require a firm commitment from all participants for the duration of the task force. The first three task force meetings will be held:

Monday, June 17, 6-8 p.m., Edmond Conference Center

Tuesday, June 25, 6-8 p.m., Edmond Conference Center

Monday, July 1, 6-8 p.m., Edmond Conference Center

Additional meetings, if needed, will be set by the Task Force.

The application is currently available at www.EdmondOK.gov/GObond and will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 7. City Council will approve appointments during a special meeting on Friday, June 14.

Residents interested in participating on the task force must:

Reside within the Edmond Corporate City Limits

Commit to attend all meetings for the duration of the appointment

Complete a brief application located at www.EdmondOK.gov/GObond

All Task Force meetings will be open to the public and subject to the rules of the Open Meetings Act. For additional information or questions, please contact Katy King, Assistant to City Council and City Manager’s Office, at 405-359-4577.

For additional information please call 405-359-4577.

Electric, Solid Waste Reserves, Field Service Reserves, Capital Improvement Plan tax revenues and revenues from the interest accrued in the Hospital Sale Trust fund.

The City will also provide pieces from its public art collection for display in the park. It already committed $180,000 toward the purchase of a piece installed at the corner of the park location. “Valley of the Horse” –a life-sized bronze sculpture of six

horses by renowned artist Paul Moore – was installed Jan. 5 at the northwest corner of 2nd Street and Coltrane Road. The statue is part of the 310 pieces in the City’s collection.

The park, upon start of construction, is required to be complete within 24 months. An operation and maintenance funding agreement will also be considered at an upcoming City Council meeting.

By Steve Gust

Unfortunately, we have some deep divisions in politics.

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Deep divisions Edmond lawmaker reflects on session Calls budget ‘fair and balanced’

The future may not hold a lot of hope for unity either. On the national level, there are basically two choices.

Joe Biden could be re-elected. I don’t know why. He hasn’t done a particularly good job. He’s allowed an invasion at the southern border that threatens the nation. When he first came into office, he attacked fossil fuels – which bumped up the price of energy. That, in turn, increased prices on everything.

He pledged in his inauguration to be a healer. He’s been anything but that. So that is choice A. Choice B is Donald Trump.

Trump’s greatest crime, as the left sees it, is that his way works. He had peace and prosperity and gave everyone a tax cut.

The other side doesn’t like it when the conservative approach works. I believe that’s part of all of these alleged charges against Trump. There is something I don’t understand about last

week. If Trunp had done something illegal that impacted the 2016 election, why is it just being litigated now? Surely it couldn’t be a matter of timing it so Trump’s 2024 election campaign is impacted? Or could it?

Something else I wonder about. I can easily imagine the left protesting Trump’s election if he were to be elected. I wonder how the left would spin it, if some protesters storm the Capitol building on electoral vote certification day? I’m sure the national press would describe that as “mostly peaceful protests by patriots.”

—-

Do you ever wonder how much money is being spent in the GOP June 18 primary race between incumbent Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole and challenger Paul Bondar? It’s hard for the television set to be on for more than a few minutes before an ad pops up for that race. Most of us could probably live pretty comfortably on the combined ad budgets.

Also, Bondar has also given us a glimpse of campaign ads in 2024. It involves having a photo of your opponent with Joe Biden. Expect to see that ploy many more times this year.

By Rep. Erick Harris

The Legislature officially adjourned "sine die" on Thursday. It was an honor to serve House District 39 during the second session of the 59th Legislature. With my first session nearly behind me, I'm thankful for all that I've learned about the legislative process this year, and I'm excited to use the knowledge and skillset I've gained this year to continue to serve my constituents.

a decrease from last year's budget, maintains flat funding for many state agencies as requested by the governor in his State of the State address while addressing the concerns of Oklahomans statewide. The budget specifically targets Oklahomans' needs in areas such as education and public safety.

After weeks of intense budget negotiations, legislative leadership has reached an agreement for the FY2025 state budget, which will go into effect on July 1. Although it involved compromise, not everyone got everything they wanted, and I am pleased with the result. It is a fair and balanced budget.

This year's $12.47 billion budget,

Regarding education, the budget dedicates funds for future teachers still attending college, with $2.65 million for paid student teaching and $8.5 million for the Inspired to Teach scholarship incentives. We allocated $240 million to develop new engineering and science facilities at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. This investment will enhance access to STEM education and address the need for skilled professionals in Oklahoma's workforce.

We allocated $18 million to create the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office Funding Assistance Grant program. It allows counties to apply for grants ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 annually to help offset the cost of sheriff’s office operations. Grants are awarded based on property valuation rankings, with the poorest counties entitled to higher amounts. The measure also sets a base salary requirement for sheriffs ranging from $44,000 to $74,000.

We also appropriated $10 million to support victims of domestic violence. This funding is crucial, especially regarding findings from Oklahoma's Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, which reported that over 100 individuals were killed in domestic violence-related homicides in 2022, marking the fourth consecutive year of such high numbers.

We achieved all this while putting nearly $5 billion into savings, ensuring Oklahoma remains fiscally responsible and prepared for future challenges. I am thankful and honored that the constituents of House District 39 have entrusted me with the responsibility of serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7342 or erick.harris@okhouse.gov.

Lankford seeks OT pay for border guards

Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Ranking Member and Chair of the Border Management Subcommittee, urged US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to swiftly implement the overtime pay for senior Border Patrol Agents the Senators secured in the annual bipartisan defense law.

Currently, Border Patrol Agents do not receive overtime pay commensurate with other federal law enforcement personnel. Lankford and Sinema expressed their concern over delays at the National Finance Center (NFC), housed within the Department of Agriculture, in implementing this key provision of the National Defense Authorization law for Fiscal Year 2024, which was signed into law in December 2023.

“Our Border Patrol Agents, who have performed the thankless yet heroic job of managing the crisis at our border for years, deserve to be compensated for their sacrifices, and it is profoundly unacceptable to allow bureaucracy to stand in the way of our national security,” wrote the Senators.

The Senators demanded answers and accountability from Secretary Vilsack, questioning what actions have been taken to implement overtime pay, what actions still need to be taken to do so

swiftly, how to ensure deficiencies in systems and processes are not repeated, and when Border Patrol Agents can expect to see the new premium pay reflected in their paychecks. Lankford and Sinema requested a briefing on USDA’s efforts to implement this change no later than June 19, 2024.

Read the letter below.

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

We are writing to express our concern with delays at the National Finance Center (NFC), housed within the Department of Agriculture, in implementing provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024). Signed into law in December 2023, section 5201 of the FY 2024 NDAA addressed overtime pay disparities for experienced US Border Patrol (USBP) Agents. Unfortunately, this new premium pay has yet to reach these men and women trusted with securing our nation’s borders.

Plagued by morale issues due to worsening personnel shortages and unsustainable migrant arrivals at the Southwest border, USBP has struggled

the Editor policy

with Agent hiring and retention for years. Despite this problem, Border Patrol Agents have not received overtime pay commensurate with other federal law enforcement personnel. Section 5201 rectifies this deficiency by providing Agents at the General Schedule (GS) 12 level with a premium pay of 50 percent of their hourly rate of basic pay when they work their Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act (BPAPRA) obligated overtime (hours 81100 per pay period).

The NFC, responsible for the administration of pay to Customs and Border Protection personnel, still has not implemented this change—five months since section 5201 became law. With that, we request answers to the following questions no later than June 4, 2024:

1) What actions have been taken, to date, to comply with the directives of section 5201 of the FY 2024 NDAA?

2) What actions still need to be taken to implement the new premium pay provisions included in section 5201 as quickly as possible?

3) What deficiencies in your systems and processes have created such a long implementation process?

4) By which date should we expect the Border Patrol Agents to see this new premium pay and backdated premium pay reflected in their paychecks?

Finally, we request that you provide a briefing to our offices no later than June 19, 2024, on your efforts to implement this change, and on changes necessary within the NFC to enhance compliance with federal law. Our Border Patrol Agents, who have performed the thankless yet heroic job of managing the crisis at our border for years, deserve to be compensated for their sacrifices, and it is profoundly unacceptable to allow bureaucracy to stand in the way of our national security.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Rep. Harris

Steve Gust

‘And that’s a wrap’’ for the taste buds

By Carol Smaglinski

Having trouble thinking of how to get more vegetables in your diet?

Great-tasting wraps could be the answer and can be among the best foods done with ease while expressing your creativity. With wraps, anything goes and by incorporating an assortment of vegetables, they can be quite healthy.

Whether you call them wraps or rollups, they certainly aren’t new and owe their beginnings to the clever Middle Eastern cooks using flatbreads, lavosh (also spelled lavash) and now, many of us use tortillas, How about grape leaves from the Greeks and Lebanese, or extensively nutritious collard leaves for wraps or even seaweed that contains trace minerals?

Just get it prepped with all of the necessary ingredients together on a tray and once you’ve done it, the next time it will be a snap (a 10minute recipe).

There is really no need to bake your own bread at home as flatbreads are easily found in supermarkets and health-food stores. Atoria’s is a good brand done with whole wheat and flax with directions on the back of the package.

When using tortillas for wraps, don’t buy the super-huge ones, but reach for the smaller variety. They must be absolutely fresh and soft to

avoid cracking.

If those tortillas seem a bit dried out, bring them back to life. Just wrap them in a lightly damped tea towel and microwave them while counting 10 or 20 Mississippi’s.

Isn’t it funny how the common language of food opens the door to different cultures?

Back in the day, when Lebanese grandmothers weekly made bread and their classic pita, it could be an all day affair. They would mix the dough in their kitchens, then haul enough of the dough in a wagon to the shared neighborhood outdoor oven. But first, it would take some time to find and break up enough branches and twigs to light the fire and then keep it hot enough to bake the delicious bread.

Once the pace slowed, they sat around waiting for the baked bread, knowing that no two foods were a better match than bread and butter.

Oftentimes, several loaves were given away to neighbors or people down on their luck or traded off for vegetables from their own gardens.

Flatbreads, (leavened or unleavened) baked in clay ovens against the walls, were simpler to quicker to make than loaf breads and eaten without plates, just out of hand. Lavash origi-

nally came from Iran and Armenia. Your kids will be as happy with the wraps as two little puppies squirming around in a basket.

Wraps or Roll-Ups

Roll-ups made with store-bought lavash: Simply spread cream cheese or honey mustard over the lavash leaving the borders open.

Next layer with well-dried slices of lettuce or spinach, sandwich fillings including meat, cheese, chopped lettuce, slim slices of carrots, onion and cucumber, pickles or drained relish. Don’t pack it too full, or it will fall apart.

Roll up tightly jelly roll style to keep the ingredients in place, wrap gently in plastic wrap and chill for several hours before serving or if you are salivating, eat immediately.

When ready to eat, cut the roll in half and then cut each half in fourths. Another time, slice into one-inch rounds and serve on a platter.

Next time, spread cream cheese on the farthest half to seal. Add chopped vegetables, meat and cheese evenly over the other half of the flatbread. Spread the filling out, thereby avoiding a pile in the center.

Roll lengthwise, starting the first fold right away at theedge. Avoid using mashed avocado, or the roll could get soggy immediately and fall apart.

No punishment for youth with some disabilities

Group not happy with state not taking up topic

As the 2024 session of the Oklahoma Legislature over, one of the measures left on the table is House Bill 1028 by Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, and Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa. That measure would have ended the use of corporal punishment on children with certain disabilities.

“We gave the Legislature, specifically the Oklahoma House of Representatives, every opportunity to do the right thing,” said Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy, which had been pushing the bill. “By even the most conservative count, there are enough bipartisan votes in the House to have passed the bill.

“Sadly, the leadership team of the House refused to bring the bill up, killing it in the proverbial ‘smokefilled room’.”

The version of HB 1028 representatives would have considered had already passed the Oklahoma Senate by a healthy margin. All that was left was two separate votes, one to accept the Senate amendments to the bill and then a vote on final passage, to send the bill to Governor Stitt’s desk. Failure of the House leadership to allow the votes has again made Oklahoma “a national embarrassment,” advocates assert.

The diverse group of organizations and advocates who had worked tirelessly to pass the bill are not letting the issue die there. At a State Capitol news conference, the group unveiled a plan to use legal pressure to end the practice of allowing government employees to administer the “deliberate infliction of physical pain by hitting, paddling, spanking, slapping or any other physical force used as a means of discipline” altogether.

The advocates noted that the measure had no impact on the ability of parents to use corporal punishment on their children. HB 1028 simply would have prevented a government employee of a school district form using violence against children with specific disabilities, some of whom might not even have known for what they were being harmed.

The group noted that it would be seeking legal representation for any family of any student who is subjected to corporal punishment in an Oklahoma school, regardless of whether the student is disabled. Several attorneys have indicated their willingness to help ensure judicial oversight of a punishment that is unfairly inflicted and that can be damaging to children.

“Oklahoma should not be arguing

over whether it is right to hit children,” said A.J. Griffin, a former Republican member of the Oklahoma Senate who now is CEO of the Potts Family Foundation. “Yes, we are disappointed in Speaker McCall and the House GOP leadership for not allowing HB 1028 to be considered.

“Still, as you hear at the Capitol, there is more than one way to get things done. Corporal punishment in school contributes to the trauma many Oklahoma children face. It’s time for all professional educators to end the harmful practice everywhere.”

Oklahoma pediatrician Amanda Page, M.D., spoke to the effectiveness of corporal punishment as a means of discipline.

“As a pediatrician, I care for children with disabilities every day,” she said. “The evidence is incontrovertible: These children are disproportionately subjected to corporal punishment in schools. Not only is it applied unfairly, but this form of punishment has also been proven to be ineffective and harmful for all children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends banning corporal punishment in schools, and it is more than time for Oklahoma to follow suit.”

Dr. Kyle Reynolds said, “It’s a shame that a commonsense state like ours cannot seem to grasp the commonsense approach of putting a stop to allowing school personnel to hit kids. The research is clear, and we know better: hitting kids is the wrong approach to discipline. Our schools should be a safe place for every child, not an institution that condones physical violence and trauma.”

Most school districts in Oklahoma have already abandoned the practice of corporal punishment altogether; still a troubling number of districts still let government employees employ the “deliberate infliction of physical pain by hitting, paddling, spanking, slapping or other physical force” on students regardless of whether they have disabilities.

“Those who believe that government should be allowed to beat children, special needs or not, may think they have won a battle by stopping HB 1028,” Dorman concluded. “I assure you, despite the backslapping and self-congratulating, they have lost the war. Corporal punishment in Oklahoma will end, and – like on so many issues – lawmakers are behind the experts and the people they claim to represent.

“We who care about Oklahoma’s children are no longer willing to wait on them to do the right thing.”

Democrats find fault with some state needs not met

Senate Democrats shared their views on the 2024 session as lawmakers worked toward final adjournment on Thursday. They said although their caucus had consistently called for bipartisan cooperation to solve real problems for the state, too many opportunities were missed that would have prioritized people over politics.

“We’re still not investing enough in our public schools, while diverting even more public money to private schools. We’ve missed opportunities to provide greater access to health and mental health care,” said Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City. “Despite the increased transparency in the budget process, something Democrats have advocated for years, not a single Democrat had a seat at the table for the final budget discussions. We all saw how effective the bipartisan, bicameral ARPA budget process was in identifying and funding projects that will have a positive impact on our state for decades. Not taking that same approach to the state budget was a missed opportunity on behalf of our citizens.”

Sen. Julia Kirt, Senate Democratic

Leader-elect, said in terms of policy legislation, too many bills pushed through by the supermajority will undermine the rights of Oklahomans, from making the initiative petition process harder to use, to legislation threatening the quality of water.

“Politicians took away voters’ power by passing changes to our initiative petition. We should trust voters,” said Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. “Our citizens have a tool to address their concerns directly through the initiative petition process, but legislation approved in the last days of the session could take away citizens’ power by extending the process with red tape. That’s going to keep a lot of state questions from ever making the ballot. And after years of work to improve Oklahoma’s water quality, legislation that puts the profits of large poultry operations above the health of our citizens threatens to undermine those efforts. The health and safety of Oklahomans should have been placed over politics.”

To view the press conference held by Democratic Leaders on Thursday, go to: https://www.facebook.com/oklahousedems/.

Baxter to perform at Round Barn

ARCADIA – Singer-songwriter Joe Baxter, who coordinates the live music at the Arcadia Round Barn, will present an Elm Tree Concert at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 23.

The Elm Tree Concert Series is held most Sundays beneath the shade of the giant elm tree on the north side of the Round Barn. Admission is free, but donations are accepted for the maintenance of the barn, which was built in 1898.

The barn is owned and operated by the nonprofit Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, which has recently completed a siding project to repair exterior damage caused by Oklahoma’s harsh climate.

Elm Tree Concerts continue through Sept. 22 except on the second Sunday of the month, when musicians of all skill levels are invited from noon to

4 p.m. for the Round Barn Rendezvous jam session.

Baxter writes and performs in the genres of country, bluegrass, Americana and original rock and roll. He had fronted several Oklahoma bands including The Regular Joes and the Round Barn Ramblers, which is the house band that plays every Saturday morning at the barn. He has performed for more than 30 years at venues across Oklahoma including the Blue Door, the Woody Guthrie Festival and the Red Dirt Relief Fund.

Baxter is a member of the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society board and volunteers every week in the museum and gift shop. For more information about live music at the barn, call Baxter at 405-833-1350.

Tulsa Duo & Elm Tree Concert date

ARCADIA – “And Then There Were Two,” an acoustic duo from Tulsa, returns to the Arcadia Round Barn for an Elm Tree Concert on Sunday, June 16.

“And Then There Were Two,” which has been a mainstay of the Elm Tree Concert Series since its inception several years ago, offers a unique blend of rock, pop, jazz, country and R&B influences. The sound is truly one-of-a-kind, characterized by tight harmonies between vocalists Amy Carlin Lee and Austin K. Haworth.

In 2018, they won the Tulsa Music Awards for Best Americana Group, and since then they've become a staple in the local music scene, playing at festivals and venues across the re-

gion. They have a self-titled EP and refer to their sound as "Oklahoma Feel Good Music.”

The concert is from 1 to 3 p.m. beneath the shade of the giant elm tree on the north side of the Round Barn. Admission is free but donations are accepted for the maintenance of the barn, which was built in 1898 and is operated by the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society.

Elm Tree Concerts are presented three Sundays a month from May through September. Live music at the barn also includes the Round Barn Ramblers concerts from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday, and the Round Barn Rendezvous jam session from noon to 4 p.m. on the second Sunday afternoon of the month.

Joe Baxter

Amy Carlin Lee and Austin K. Haworth provided by “And Then There Were Two.”

Some wild action fun in ‘Furiosa Saga’

By George Gust

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” tells the origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max in “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

When famed Australian director George Miller returned to the decades old apocalyptic franchise of “Mad Max” in 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” it was a stunning and unprecedented achievement in action filmmaking, so coming into “Furiosa” the expectations couldn’t have been higher. They say that comparison is the thief of joy and while as moviegoers we would ideally take each movie on its own merits, its hard not to compare this prequel with its 2015 masterpiece brother.

should exist. One of those successful elements is the performance of Chris Hemsworth as the aptly named Dementus. Sporting a grotesque new look in opposition to his Thor god of Thunder superhero and spouting off near Shakespearean soliloquies amidst a vehicular fueled landscape that is a far cry from anywhere the Barb could have conceived. Hemsworth brings a lot of twisted charm to the character while his titular co-star Taylor-Joy is tasked with bringing the intensity that comes from near relentless trauma, and she’s able to convey much of that character through the strength of her eyes in lieu of much dialogue.

first film. And with a new chapter story structure that takes place over the course of 15 some odd years as opposed to the day that “Fury Road” transpired in, “Furiosa” can tend to feel bloated in comparison. Miller and crew have a bevy of interesting ideas to explore in “Fuiriosa” but are restricted by the prequel-ness of it all. Throughout the film you’re aware that this movie needs to end up with our lead character at a certain place ready for the events of “Fury Road” which releases a lot of the steam that could have been built up had this been a standalone story. However, for all its faults, in terms of action filmmaking there’s nothing else out there that looks and feels like the wild kinetic action fun in “Furiosa.”

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is rated R for sequences of strong violence, and grisly images.

3.8 out of 5 stars.

“Furiosa” is a wildly entertaining film that while not living up to the shadow of “Fury Road” has plenty of successful elements that make the case for why it

Answers on Page 19

Overall, “Furiosa” continues in the stunning visual language of “Fury Road” but ultimately feels like it’s one degree from the energy felt in that

(Contact George Gust for comment at gust.george@gmail.com)

Anya Taylor-Joy steps into the apocalyptic role made

prequel “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.”

Crossword Puzzle

famous by Charlize Theron in the “Fury Road”

The dog who eases nursing students’ stress

Earning a college degree can sometimes be stressful for students. At the University of Central Oklahoma, Waddy, an Australian Shepherd therapy dog, is helping to reduce nursing students’ potential stress and anxiety as they complete the rigorous coursework for their degree.

Waddy became a UCO Broncho in 2021 through a grant from The Latham Foundation for the Promotion of Humane Education. The grant was acquired by Waddy’s owner, Susan Barnes, Ph.D., RN, associate professor and Curly endowed chair for research and evidence-based practice in UCO’s Department of Nursing.

What makes him special is that he is one of the only licensed therapy dogs for nursing students on a college campus in the state of Oklahoma.

Barnes adopted Waddy when he was only a few months old—naming him after Waddy Young, a native Oklahoman and professional football player who also served in World War II.

“People talk about how happy they are to see a dog and often talk about what dogs mean to them,” Barnes said.

“But this is actually a formal discipline to have animals in assisted therapy. It's not common in nursing, but it's very common in counseling and social work and is becoming more common in higher education, hospitals and other areas.”

The days when Waddy is serving the UCO campus, he visits anywhere between 20 to 100 UCO students, faculty and staff. Waddy patiently waits for visitors in his office, located in the Coyner Health Sciences building on Central’s campus. While some dogs do not enjoy being in a crowd, it is one of Waddy’s favorite things, along with stealing jars of peanut butter.

Waddy received his therapy dog training and certification as part of a group project on alternative methods for healthcare. The students, David Burgess, John Bowser and Kameron Permetter, now UCO nursing alumni, spent a semester taking Waddy to his obedience classes and around Central’s campus to get him accustomed to helping people.

“I was not all that familiar with pet therapy at the time. I honestly wasn’t 100% sold in what it could do for students or people in general who were struggling with mental health issues. After it was all said and done, he turned me into a believer that more than just medicine can help some-

one,” Permetter said.

As part of his role, Waddy visits UCO nursing classes, as well as sits in during exams to offer a calming presence to students in the stressful environment.

Waddy also attends a variety of events on campus and spends some of his time visiting with military-connected students, who may be experiencing stress as they transition to a life post-military.

UCO was recently ranked as a top institution in Oklahoma for its RN to B.S., Nursing track according to RNCareers in its eighth annual Nursing School Awards.

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate

Nursing Education (CCNE), UCO stands as a beacon of excellence in nursing education. Renowned for producing highly skilled nurses, UCO's nursing programs epitomize innovation and embrace cutting-edge technology, catering to both traditional and non-traditional students. Offering bachelor’s to master’s degrees, these programs align with society's critical healthcare demands while nurturing future leaders in nursing. UCO’s nursing programs proudly hold approval from the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing, further solidifying the institution's esteemed status.

For more information on UCO’s Department of Nursing, visit go.uco.edu/nursing.

At the University of Central Oklahoma, Waddy, an Australian Shepherd therapy dog, is helping nursing students relieve stress and anxiety. Waddy sees anywhere between 20 to 100 UCO students, faculty and staff during the days he works on Central’s campus and also attends a wide variety of events on campus. Pictured, Waddy visits UCO nursing students in the classroom.

Mullin: Trump guilty of being Biden’s rival

By U.S. Sen. Marlwayne Mullin

Last week, 12 Manhattan jurors found the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump guilty in a court of law fewer than 200 days before Election Day. This ruling demonstrates the first ever criminal conviction of a former President. By any reasonable evaluation, the jurors in Manhattan did their jobs, but that says nothing of the unjustified, unprecedented, and corrupt political handiwork that has forever marked this case as one of the darkest in America’s history.

Let’s be clear about one thing: the only thing Donald Trump is guilty of is being the chief political rival of Joe

Biden. No American in the history of our great nation has been subject to this kind of kangaroo court. To this day, the prosecution has failed to articulate a single crime that’s been committed.

This corrupt case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a raging liberal Democrat whose chief campaign promise was to “get Trump.” The case was prosecuted by a partisan activist, DNC consultant, and former Biden DOJ official. The show “trial” hinged on the testimony of disbarred lawyer Michael Cohen, a proven liar and admitted thief. It was presided over by an inherently biased judge (a Biden donor), in the most liberal

county in America, using an unfair process designed to keep Donald Trump off the campaign trail and off the ballot in November.

What’s more, Donald Trump is conveniently set to be sentenced on July 11th, 2024 – just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

It doesn’t take a law degree to see that this trial was a political exercise, not a legal one.

There is absolutely no evidence that President Trump has broken any state or federal laws. Beyond that, New York doesn’t even have legal jurisdiction over a case whose statute of limitations expired and hinges on federal campaign law. In fact, Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor, and CNN legal analyst wrote, “no state prosecutor – in New York, or Wyoming, or anywhere –has ever charged federal election laws as a direct or predicate state crime, against anyone, for anything. None. Ever.”

This political show “trial” was legally baseless, and I’m confident it will be overturned on appeal.

Today, partisan liberals are celebrating. They’d love nothing more than to lock up the leading Republi-

can candidate for President. There is nothing honorable about rooting against the core principles of the American justice system, which at its foundation requires the government to prosecute cases with blind justice. In this case, Alvin Bragg did precisely the opposite. He waited years for Trump to announce his bid for reelection, saw the polls, and brought charges precisely to brand Joe Biden’s chief political rival as a “criminal.”

Oklahomans know that far-Left radical Democrats have been coming after Donald Trump since he came down the escalator in Trump Tower. That’s no secret. However, every Oklahoman should be gravely concerned by this unprecedented assault on our judicial system. America has the best system in the world, but there must be accountability for those who weaponize our legal process. I believe the American people will have something to say about this in November.”

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (ROK) is a successful business owner and working cow-calf rancher serving Oklahoma on the Senate Armed Services; Environment and Public Works; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Indian Affairs Committees.

OMRF adds neurologist to its research staff

A neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis research and patient care has joined the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence.

Yang Mao-Draayer, M.D., Ph.D., will serve as director of clinical and experimental therapeutics in OMRF’s Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program. She also will treat MS patients and direct OMRF’s neuroimmunology lab.

Before joining OMRF, she was a professor and director of neuroscience research at the University of Michigan’s Autoimmunity Center of Excellence, where she treated more than 1,500 patients.

MS affects nearly 1 million Americans. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulating layer that protects nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The resulting inflammation can cause vision issues, muscle spasms, tremors and paralysis. In its most common form, the disease includes periods of stability and relapse. Females are twice as likely as males to be diagnosed.

Since 2011, OMRF’s MS Center of Excellence has provided comprehensive care for those with the disease through neurology, neuro-ophthalmology, physical therapy, case management, wellness education and laboratory services, plus an infusion suite and access to clinical trials. Clinical services act as a catalyst for research, with patient volunteers donating biological samples and participating in studies designed to enable researchers in OMRF’s labs to probe the disease’s mechanisms and causes.

The center is the only source of comprehensive MS care in the region and operates at capacity, treating more than 3,000 patients from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas.

“Dr. Mao-Draayer will enhance our clinical and research capabilities,” said Gabriel Pardo, M.D., a neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist who has led the MS Center of Excellence since its inception. “She is a physician-scientist who brings expertise in fundamental research to advance knowledge of the disease and compassionate patient care to translate

Yang Mao-Draayer, M.D., Ph.D.

those findings into action.”

Dr. Mao-Draayer holds a Ph.D. in biology and molecular genetics from the University of Iowa and completed a neurology residency and a fellowship in MS/neuroimmunology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

Under her leadership, the University of Michigan participated in groundbreaking clinical trials, leading to U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval of two drugs: one for relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS, the other for neuromyelitis optica. Additionally, her lab identified other new MS therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers for disease flares and progression.

“OMRF is among the nation’s premier biomedical research institutions, as it combines top-notch patient care with innovative research,” MaoDraayer said. “The robust MS Center of Excellence clinical care, coupled with its research potential, truly make this an amazing place to work.”

“Dr. Mao-Draayer will make a difference for Oklahomans and people everywhere living with MS,” said OMRF Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Judith James, M.D., Ph.D. “I look forward to the progress we can make in understanding and treating this disease through new collaborations with her.”

State, Google offer AI training

Last week the State of Oklahoma announced a new workforce development initiative to help Oklahoma’s workers learn artificial intelligence skills. Through a partnership with Google, the State of Oklahoma will help over 10,000 Oklahoma residents access Google’s new AI Essentials course at no cost. The online course is product agnostic, does not require a degree or experience, and will teach workers foundational AI skills, AI best practices and how to use AI responsibly. The program will benefit residents across Oklahoma and can be accessed at oklahoma.gov/learnAI.

“Our state is positioned to be a leader in implementing AI technology, and this partnership with Google furthers that momentum by educating thousands of Oklahomans in foundational skills for tomorrow’s economy,” Oklahoma Gov. J. Kevin Stitt said. “For years, Google has partnered with organizations throughout Oklahoma to help residents expand their career opportunities through digital skills training. As more companies move to Oklahoma, we’ll be ready to meet them with a skilled workforce.”

Research from the Oklahoma State Chamber Research Foundation suggests that early adoption of AI will empower key Oklahoma industries like energy, agriculture, aviation and manufacturing, helping them optimize operations and boost economic output. According to the World Economic Forum, despite the rising demand for AI abilities, only half of workers have access to adequate training opportunities today. Google’s new AI Essentials course will teach people to use generative AI effectively in day-to-day work. In under 10 hours, people will get practical, hands-on experience using AI to help with work tasks through videos, readings and interactive exercises. The skills learned can be applied to a variety of roles across industries. After completing the course, people will earn a certificate

from Google to share with their professional network.

“Google has proudly called Oklahoma home for more than a decade with a data center in Mayes County,” said Mark Isakowitz, Google VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, U.S. and Canada. “We commend Governor Stitt and Oklahoma’s leadership for their commitment to helping students and workers access AI training for today and tomorrow’s jobs. To advance these efforts and our collaboration, we are thrilled to offer the new Google AI Essentials course to residents at no cost.”

“Generations of Oklahomans have the opportunity to benefit from this program as technology continues to evolve within the workplace,” said John Suter, Oklahoma chief operating officer and OMES executive director. “We want to give Oklahoma professionals a competitive edge and harness the responsible application of AI tools as we work to recruit more companies to our great state.”

YWCA leader stepping down

After 27 years of dedicated service and transformative leadership, YWCA Oklahoma City announces the retirement of President and CEO, Jan Peery. Peery's departure marks the end of an era characterized by significant advancements and impactful initiatives within the organization.

Under Peery's guidance, YWCA Oklahoma City has flourished, becoming a beacon of hope and empowerment for countless individuals in the community. Through her strategic guidance, YWCA Oklahoma City has expanded its reach, enhanced its services, and strengthened its advocacy efforts, becoming a trusted ally for marginalized individuals and communities.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as President and CEO of YWCA Oklahoma City," said Jan Peery. "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our dedicated staff, volunteers, and partners in advancing our mission. While I will miss being part of the leadership of this incredible organization, the YWCA and the team will remain in my heart. I will still find joy in supporting as a donor (and volunteer when they let me!) Going forward, I

am confident that YWCA Oklahoma City will continue to thrive and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve."

The Board of Directors has initiated a comprehensive search for Peery's successor, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of leadership for YWCA Oklahoma City. In the meantime, Peery will work closely with the Board and Senior Leadership Team to facilitate a seamless transition process.

As YWCA Oklahoma City bids farewell to Jan Peery, the organization remains steadfast in its commitment to providing care and hope to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in central Oklahoma.

Founded in 1907, YWCA Oklahoma City has worked tirelessly on behalf of women, children and men for over a century. Through our certification with the Attorney General, YWCA Oklahoma City provides crisis intervention services, emergency residential shelter, advocacy and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For comprehensive information about this important work, go to: www.ywcaokc.org

High home insurance rates

Homeowners insurance is still on the rise, on a rocket, really, in Oklahoma, which already had the most expensive coverage in the nation.

It costs $5,858 per year for $300,000 worth of coverage with a $1,000 deductible, more than double the national average of $2,601, according to fresh statistics from Insurance.com, an online insurance information provider and marketplace. In Oklahoma it comes to $499 a month, compared with $217 a month nationally.

That's a 10.2% hike over last year here, compared with a 6.8% increase for the nation. As familiar as longtime Oklahoma homeowners may be with the

high cost of insurance, newcomers to the state are often dismayed by the unexpected extra expense, said Vanessa Johnson, an agent with eXp Realty and president-elect of the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors.

"Out-of-state clients often encounter sticker shock when they see insurance rates in Oklahoma. The increasing costs of insurance are widely recognized among Oklahomans," Johnson said "It’s a conversation we prioritize before property viewings because these expenses can significantly influence a buyer’s budget and potentially limit their options within certain price ranges. —- From Oklahoman.com

The announcement builds on Google’s work to help Oklahomans access digital skill training, including a partnership with the state on the Google Career Certificates program. Since 2022, 85% of Google Career Certificate graduates in Oklahoma report that they've secured gainful employment through the initiative. The company also recently announced a Generative AI for Educators, a course designed to help middle and high school teachers use generative AI tools to personalize instruction to meet student needs, develop creative lessons and activities, and save time on administrative tasks. School districts across the country will offer the Generative AI for Educators course, including Oklahoma’s Ada Public Schools, Enid Public Schools and Shawnee Public Schools. Since 2017, Google’s skilling programs have trained over 147,000 Oklahomans in digital skills, through a network of more than 100 local partner organizations.

Gov. Stitt announcing the plan at the Captiol Rotunda.

Businesses given more discretion on checking ID’s

Legislation removing the requirement for businesses to check IDs before serving alcohol has been signed into law by the governor.

Rep. Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City, authored House Bill 3571 to allow businesses to use their discretion on whether or not to check IDs while ensuring businesses are still held responsible if they serve alcohol to minors.

“I authored House Bill 3571 after a friend of mine, who recently turned 90, was denied a beer because he didn't have his ID,” Manger said. “Odell's Law would remove the cumbersome requirement to check somebody’s ID before selling them alcohol, allowing people over the legal drinking age to purchase alcohol even if they've forgotten their ID or don’t wish to show it. HB3571 does not

prohibit a company policy that requires ID verification. This is common sense legislation.”

HB3571 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore.

“I appreciate the governor for signing this common sense legislation that allows businesses to use their discretion regarding ID checks while maintaining responsibility for preventing underage alcohol sales," Weaver said. "This bill not only streamlines operations but also ensures that Oklahomans who are clearly of legal drinking age are not unnecessarily inconvenienced. It was a pleasure to work with Representative Manger on this practical policy that reflects our state’s pro-business values for citizens and establishments alike."

Odell's Law will take effect on November 1.

“I appreciate the governor for signing this common sense legislation.’

——

State Sen. Darrell Weaver

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Caregivers group praises state funding decision

Care Providers Oklahoma last week released the following statement regarding the Fiscal Year 2025 budget passed by the Oklahoma Legislature:

"The vast majority of residents in Oklahoma's nursing homes pay for their care through Medicaid. Currently, for each one of these residents, nursing homes are compensated $44 less per day than it actually costs to provide care, according to information published by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and acknowledged by legislative leaders in budget debates. The depth of the challenges facing intermediate care facilities (ICFs) caring for individuals with developmental disabilities is similar. These are unsustainable funding gaps, and they have already led to numerous facility closures.

"The Legislature recognized the severity of this funding gap, and has passed a budget with $30 million in new funding for nursing homes and ICFs. That funding increase is a much appreciated lifeline to homes that were on the brink of closure, and it reduces the $44 pay gap for nursing homes by roughly half. Our sincerest thanks go out to lawmakers for this important investment. We urge Gov. Stitt to support this agreement and the relief it provides to the skilled nursing and ICF communities.

"In the next legislative session, our goal will be to increase funding to a level that meets the actual cost of care for our Medicaid recipients. Getting to that level is the only way to guarantee that Oklahoma has stable, high quality skilled nursing and longterm care providers that can serve our most vulnerable loved ones and neighbors." -- Care Providers Oklahoma President and CEO Steven Buck

About

Care Providers Oklahoma: Previously the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers (OAHCP), Care Providers Oklahoma represents the interests of more than 18,000 residents and 19,000 professionals that work in Oklahoma’s long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living homes and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Care Providers Oklahoma's mission is to assist its members in providing the highest quality care to the seniors, individuals with disabilities and vulnerable Oklahomans who live in our facilities. We advocate for the enhancement of that care so that Oklahoma long-term care residents may live in the comfort and dignity they deserve. Learn more here.