Edmond Life and Leisure - July 7, 2022

July 7, 2022

Vol. 23, No. 8

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Really good VIBES

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.

LibertyFest Exhibit at Museum

See page 11

FRIDAY, July 8

Mostly Sunny High 103° Low 79°

SATURDAY, July 9 Mostly Sunny High 104° Low 81°

SUNDAY, July 10

Sunny High 106° Low 81°

Event back in Edmond tonight The annual LibertyFest celebration may be over, but the summer fun continues.

This Thursday it’s VIBES in Edmond as artists, and fans of artists, come to downtown Edmond The event will be from 5 to 9 p.m.

VIBES is free. Enjoy music, art

and just having a grand time at the event.

Above break dancing is also part of the festive atmosphere.

VIBES is a program of the Fine Arts institute For additional information, please log onto www.edmondvibes.org.

Photographs by Eriech Tapia.

VIBES is Edmond’s family friendly art hub

Page 2 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 3

Some etiquette for cell phone users in public Though it may seem hard to believe given their current status in most people’s lives, mobile phones were a relative rarity as recently as 20 years ago. But those days are a distant memory, as forecasts from Ericssson & The Radicati Group indicate that there are 6.64 billion smartphones in use as of 2022. Simply put, mobile phones are everywhere, even if proper mobile phone etiquette is not always so commonplace.

Mobile phone etiquette is even more important given the increase in mobile phone usage. Brushing up on mobile phone etiquette for modern times can ensure users aren’t overstepping boundaries or making enemies when spending time on their smartphones.

• Avoid round-the-clock texting. Text messages are how many people now keep in touch with family and friends. In fact, data from the wireless communications trade association CTIA indicates that 2.1 trillion text messages were exchanged in 2020, an increase of 52 billion

messages from the year prior. The popularity and convenience of texting is undeniable, but individuals should avoid texting when in the company of other people. Doing so makes others uncomfortable and can adversely affect the quality of discourse between smartphone users and the people with whom they’re engaging in in-person conversation. When in others’ company, resist the temptation to check and reply to text messages.

• Avoid using speakerphone in public. Everyone has been there and undoubtedly wished they weren’t. Whether it’s been at a grocery store, restaurant, park, or another public setting, hearing someone else carry on a conversation on speakerphone is a less than enjoyable experience. In fact, a survey from Expedia found that 53 percent of respondents felt making calls on speakerphone while in public was the most annoying mobile phone habit. Speakerphone should only be used in private and only among people who are involved in the call.

• Turn notifications off in public and when

Leaman and Judith Harris

Leaving your mark behind Leaving a legacy is not always about money. Leaving a bit of ourselves in picture and printed form for future generations can be a wonderful gift. Knowing the stories of their grand-parents or great-grandparents can give the next generations an understanding of what their heritage means, of what their family lived through or endured to build the family unit that now exists.

Leaman and Judith Harris met while serving in the U.S. Air Force – Leaman as a navigator, Judith as a nurse. After long careers, raising children, and living in several States, they moved to Edmond in 1981, then to Edmond’s Touchmark at Coffee Creek in 2006.

Over the past sixteen years, the couple has been actively involved in sports and other activities at Touchmark and in the community. They have worked with many Touchmark residents to write about their life sto-

ries and experiences; six volumes of those stories have been published so far in the well-known series, As We Lived It. Leaman researches family genealogy (his own roots reach back to King Edward I of England, and to John Clark, the Mayflower’s pilot and first mate); he also assists other individuals with their own genealogical research. Judith helped organize, and continues to coordinate, Touchmark residents who make fleece blankets (over 800 thus far) for young homeless children who are helped by the Positive Tomorrows School in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Home and Community Genealogy group will host the Harris’ as they explain how and why they encourage people to record their life stories for family to enjoy. The public is welcome to attend this event on July 20th at 10:00 a.m. at the Oklahoma County Extension office, 2500 NE 63rd St.

spending time with others. Notifications have become a difficult-to-ignore component of smartphone usage. Researchers at Duke University found that the average person received between 65 and 80 notifications per day. That means 80 potential interruptions each day, and 80 times those around users, including coworkers, family and friends, may grow upset by being interrupted by a notification. Turn off notifications when spending time with others and when visiting public places that tend to attract crowds, including movie theaters and restaurants.

• Avoid watching videos or listening to music in public. Unless your earbuds or headphones are with you at all times, resist the temptation to watch videos or play music on your phone when in public. Doing so disrupts those around you and could lead to confrontations.

Mobile phones are everywhere, which only underscores the importance of practicing proper mobile phone etiquette, particularly in public setting

Page 4 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Citizens bank of Edmond CEO turns 50 pockets. I have been in Edmond since 1988 and I can promise you there is not a single council member or mayor that has gotten rich from doing this mostly volunteer job.

Same goes for our city staff. Great bunch of folks who try and provide great service. Working through issues can be difficult but they keep at it until most items are resolved. Do I always agree with their decisions, no.

Do we go digging if transparency is lacking, yes. That is our responsibility as a newspaper. If nothing else, they deserve our respect for their effort and effectiveness.

What gets me is that after the council goes through 2 hours of doing the peoples business about items most of us take for granted in the way our city works, some of them get up and are rude to the council. I admire the council members for not losing their temper. I sure would and is why I could never serve in that capacity. No one would vote for me anyway.

I guess it all follows a national trend. My hope was that we could continue to stay civil to each other here in Edmond. As former Edmond City Council member, Steve Knox once said, “This ain’t Mayberry anymore.”

Despite the saying that you should never tell a woman’s age, I am going to do it in this column.

Our friend and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond, Jill Castilla, celebrated her 50th birthday this last week. To be fair, her Ray Hibbard husband, Marcus, and the bank staff threw her a surprise morning birthday celebration.

The reason Jill does not mind folks knowing her age is because she looks 30 years old at the most. I have known her since 2008 and the woman has not aged a bit folks.

You would think working in a heavily regulated business like a bank would put some age on a person but not with her. Her positive attitude and good nature must keep her fit and young. Her husband, Marcus, fun and youth minded as well. We do not know what their secrete is but bring it on. I wonder if I could reverse my aging with a better attitude.

At the surprise celebration Jill thanked her staff, the board and of course her family for so many wonderful years here in Edmond. You could tell she was truly touched by the celebration.

Happy Birthday Jill Castilla!

News from City Council At the last Edmond City Council meeting a new ordinance got passed that I believe is a mistake. Far be it from me to criticize our esteemed council but I believe they got this one wrong folks.

It is an ordinance that will require individual events such as Heard on Hurd, Arts Festival and even big events like last week’s LibertyFest celebration to pay a private contractor to close the streets and put up the barricades. The proposal was brought to them by city staff who did not want to work overtime a few days a year. This is one that the council and our mayor should have pushed back on.

As a budget item in the big scheme of things it was small. They showed a dramatic increase from 2020 but we had no festivals during that year. The city gets handed sales tax from all these events, and I have no doubt that what is collected exceeds the cost of putting out and picking up a few barricades.

What they did not discuss was that these events are put on by volunteers and money raised goes to worthy causes. Even Heard on Hurd is mostly

Citizens Bank of Edmond CEO Jill Castilla celebrates her birthday last week with her husband Marcus and the bank staff. It was a surprise morning celebration.

a volunteer effort and Citizens Bank subsidies it as a community event.

They do not make a profit of it.

There is a path that allows festivals to come back after the event and apply for a grant out of a pool of money yet to be established. The group must meet a set of criteria to qualify for any sort of relief on the cost. That set of rules is yet to be determined and we will be anxious to see what they are.

Events like the Edmond Downtown Arts Festival and LibertyFest are done for the community and are totally run by volunteers. This process just puts one more line item in the expenses that needs to be taken care of and more paperwork to put on the festivals. Just does not’ seem fair for our city not to participate and take care of this task. We have hopes they will reverse their decision. We certainly invite a response from our mayor or council.

As you noticed, I just criticized a decision from our council and city staff. I did not attack them personally

and use violent language to threaten them. It was just this one guy’s opinion. Our city council and city staff are made up of good people. We respect them.

What disturbs me about our council meetings is that there is a group of folks that have taken away civility in their comments and in the way they address our city council. It was so bad at the last meeting that our mayor, who is one of the nicest and most respectful people you will ever meet, had to adjourn the meeting early. There is no reason for people to act this way.

Heck, disagree with their decisions all you want and feel free to contact them directly. Send in letters to the editor regarding what you disagree with. There is no need to raise your voice. This is not new to our council but there was a time when folks could disagree over issues but sit together at fundraising events as friends. We have seen folks accuse council members of all sorts of horrible things including lining their own

Andrea Bocelli delivers for OKC If you missed the Andrea Bocelli concert last month in Oklahoma City, I am so sorry. You do not want to hear this, but it was as great of any concert I have ever attended.

The legendary Italian tenor was incredible as fans would expect. He returned to the stage three times for encores and worked in the favorites that fans have come to expect. This was his first time in Oklahoma, and we hope he will return.

The first time I heard his music was in 2004 on deck of the sailing ship Windstar. The ship was leaving port in Istanbul with full sails hoisted and they played his version of “Time to Say Goodbye” over the speaker system. They played that song every time we left a port on that cruise. I was an immediate fan and have been since. No doubt the setting I heard it in was a giant help.

It was the first concert we had attended in over two years. Enough time has passed that I can say we did not contract COVID there which was a relief. I will say we did wear masks but out of 12,000 concert goers, we were just about the only two doing so. Only glad we got to attend.

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

Check out what’s inside!

---- Police report ..............................................................................Page 6.

---- Weekend calendar of Events ......................................................Page 6.

---- Report on Junior Girls golf..........................................................Page 9.

---- Columnist looks at primary results ..........................................Page 10.

---- LibertyFest exhibit ..................................................................Page 11.

---- George Gust reviews “Elvis’ ....................................................Page 14.

---- Crossword puzzle ....................................................................Page 14.

---- Business news ..........................................................................Page 17.

---- Comics ....................................................................................Page 18.

This and so much more in this week’s edition

See if you can find ‘Four Seasons’ “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.

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production Deanne York Advertising Director Business Editor Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Mallery Nagle, Patty Miller, Rose Drebes, and George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2022 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 5

State Fair announces slate of free concerts Fairgoers can expect their FAIR SHARE OF FUN at the annual Oklahoma State Fair with free concerts on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage. Concerts take place each night of the Fair in the Entertainment Plaza.

Free Concerts on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage Thursday, September 15, at 7:30 p.m. – Tracy Lawrence Friday, September 16, at 7:30 p.m. – Colt Ford Saturday, September 17, at 8 p.m. – Foghat Sunday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m. – Resurrection – A Journey Tribute Monday, September 19, at 7:30 p.m. – CAIN Tuesday, September 20, at 7:30 p.m. – Tommy James and the Shondells Wednesday, September 21, at 7:30 p.m. – Shawn Klush (Tribute to Elvis) Thursday, September 22, at 7:30 p.m. – King Calaway & Alex Miller Friday, September 23, at 7:30 p.m. – Midnight Star Saturday, September 24, at 8 p.m. – Blue Oyster Cult Sunday, September 25, at 7:30 p.m. – La Zenda Nortena Tracy Lawrence is one of country music’s truest traditionalists and this year he is celebrating his 30th anniversary in the country music industry. His impressive catalog of timeless music has made Lawrence a mainstay in the genre selling more than 13 million albums and charting 18 No. 1 songs. He has garnered numerous CMA and ACM awards and nominations, as well as a Grammy nomination.

Colt Ford consistently blazes his own trail. By doing so, the Georgia singer, songwriter, rapper, musician, performer keeps up pace as country’s

preeminent independent maverick. By 2019, Colt built a series of staggering successes as he rose to mainstream notoriety. He notched five consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart with “Declaration of Independence” bowing at No. 1 in 2012. Two years later, “Thanks for Listening” ascended to the Top 10 of the Top 200, with the album reaching No. 1 on Billboard Rap & Independent charts.

Foghat celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2021, and their live performances show why the band is still around and why they will be able to keep on rockin’ as long as they want to play!

Foghat has earned eight Gold records, one Platinum record, and one Double-Platinum record.

Setting out to create the most authentic Journey experience anyone has ever witnessed, Resurrection – A Journey Tribute has worked tirelessly to deliver a live experience that would resonate on the highest level with the most avid Journey fan.

CAIN’s first single, “Rise Up (Lazarus),” went No.1 at Christian radio, holding the spot for multiple weeks while also winning the 2021 K-LOVE Fan Award for “Breakout Single of the Year.” Hearing their songs live, in the car or at home, listeners will be blessed by the songs of “Rise Up,” an album of hard-won hope.

“Crimson & Clover,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,” and “Crystal Blue Persuasion” are just a few of the many hits Tommy James and the Shondells are known for. This act has received 23 Gold records, 9 Platinum albums, has sold over 100 million records worldwide, and landed 32 Billboard Hot 100 Chart hits.

Shawn Klush has starred as ‘Elvis’ in the award-

winning Las Vegas show “Legends in Concert” in their many show rooms. He stars in the “Elvis Birthday Tribute Tour” with Elvis’ own musicians, singers, and friends in major venues in multiple cities. Shawn was a featured performer on the Late Show with David Letterman performing to over 5 million viewers with the entire CBS Orchestra and portrayed Elvis in HBO's “Vinyl” produced by Martin Scorsese and Mic Jagger.

In October 2019, King Calaway recorded and released their debut album “Rivers” and it amassed an impressive 59 million streams and featured their hit single “World For Two,” which was the No. 1 most added song at Country radio in its debut week, ultimately garnering 53 million streams.

American Idol Season 19 alum Alex Miller will open for the band. Miller’s new album “Miller Time” is described as a “a party trick of an album bold, occasionally irreverent and fun, mixed with moments of reflection and sadness.”

Midnight Star was formed in 1976 and the group hit the U.S. R&B chart with early singles "Hot Spot" and "I've Been Watching You". Midnight Star's fourth album, “No Parking on the Dance Floor,” proved to be their breakout. The album hit No. 2 on the Billboard magazine Top Black Albums chart and No. 27 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape and went double platinum in the U.S. Since 1972, Blue Oyster Cult has been traveling the world bringing their unique take on rock music with them. With relentless touring, Blue Oyster Cult grew their fanbase, and scored their biggest hits with "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and "Burnin' for You," both quintessential rock songs that remain popular to this day.

Public receives warning on torch fuel danger Using torches for your yard and patio is decorative and may help keep the mosquitoes away, but even a few drops of torch fuel introduced into the airway can produce severe chemical pneumonia.

Safe handling and storage can prevent serious injuries from happening. Torch fuel, sometimes called torch oil, comes in variety of containers and sizes. Once poured, the fuel looks similar to apple and other fruit juices. Store these products away from drinks, coolers, and snacks that children can access at campsite or picnic area.

According to Scott Schaeffer, managing director of the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information, “Hydrocarbons, including torch fuel and charcoal lighter fluid, can coat the lungs and create serious respiratory problems. These exposures are most common among young children who can easily mistake these products for drinks. Injury including chemical pneumonitis, respiratory distress, and death is possible following aspiration.” Petroleumbased products including gasoline and other hydrocarbons can produce similar health effects.

The symptoms of hydrocarbon poisoning may include difficulty breathing, persistent cough, low grade fever, chest pain, and lethargy. If an exposure occurs act quickly.

Don't make a fatal mistake: · Do NOT put poisons into food containers. · Put the child-resistant cap firmly back in place after using torch fuel or similar products. · Always keep these products in their original container up and away from children. · Store these products away from food and drinks. · Don’t leave children unattended with torch fuel or similar products. · Save the Poison Helpline number, (800) 2221222, in your phone.

Pharmacists and registered nurses at the poison center are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 222-1222. Please do not email the poison center or a member of the poison center staff, as poisoning emergencies are not handled through email.

The Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information is a program of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center.

For more information, log on to www.oklahomapoison.org.

Page 6 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

(The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department.

Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law.

Also, CDS is controlled dangerous substance; APC is Actual Physical Control; DUI is driving under the influence.)

June 21 Keanu Lee Brown, 29, of Edmond. False representation to an officer.

Angela Oseji, 31 homeless. Felony warrant.

Bryce Michael Hicks, 25 of Jenks, Okla. Public intoxication.

Johnnie McShell Nelson, 44 of Edmond. Felony warrant.

Harold Don Hughes, 52 of Edmond. Kidnapping, (felony) domestic abuse assault (assault & battery) and interruption, disruption, interference with an emergency phone call.

Sherri Griffin Pierce, 55 of Edmond. Transport open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and felony DUI/APC. Sunshine Meadows Davis, 27 of Guthrie. Expired tag — over three months and petty larceny.

June 22 Justin Michael Loucas, 34 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Deontrae Letrel Holman, 26 of Midwest City.

Misdemeanor warrant.

Dillon Scott Wheeler, 21 of Edmond. Improper right turn and operating a motor vehicle with no valid driver’s license.

Abigail Nicole Thompson, 21 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Coco Wesley Gilbert, 23 of Edmond. Felony warrant.

Shane Lee Frederickson, 54 homeless. Public intoxication.

Elizabeth Carol Osburn, 36 of Oklahoma City.

Felony warrant.

June 23 Allison East Hamlin, 37 of Edmond. Operate

(DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Grayson Lily Flaherty, 21 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level .15 or more.

Josey Lind Cooper, 44 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor value) by false trick or deception.

Austin Charles Bishop, 41 of Edmond. Expired tag over three months, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, no proof of insurance, driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and a misdemeanor warrant.

Beau Clynton Parker, 41 of Oklahoma City.

(Misdemeanor 1st and second offense) larceny of merchandise from a retailer.

Timothy Jon Salter, 52 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

David Lloyd Wilson, 53 o Edmond. Felony warrant.

June 24 Kyla Nichole Michaels, 25 of Oklahoma City.

Misdemeanor warrant, possess drug paraphernalia, possess CDS, possess with intent to distribute, obstruction of a police officer and possess with intent to distribute CDS. Roger Terry Gurley Jr., 40 of Norman. Three counts of failure to appear.

Shyra Bernice Brown, 27 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Dwight Clayton Steele, 59 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Eli Martin Witherby, 18 of Edmond. Intoxicating beverage possession by person under 21 and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Wylah Narice Carr, 36 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Michelle Anne Hullette, 30 homeless. Two misdemeanor warrants.

Zachary Van Campbell, 33 homeless. Trespassing after having been warned.

Jarrail Deree Jackson, 44 of Edmond. Petty larceny.

Kylee Ann Mohler, 18 of Edmond. Possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.

Nathan Thomas Moffett, 31 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Jerrel Lloyd Kennmore, 29 of Edmond. Failure to carry current security information, possess of drug paraphernalia, possess CDS and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

June 25 Deborah Carol King, 65, of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Jaci Evelyn Bollenbach, 25 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Jarail Marshaun Allen, 22 of Edmond. Carrying a weapon under the influence of alcohol or drugs and operating (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Evelyn Danae Sumpter, 38 of Edmond. Operating (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Joshua Ray Leonard, 37 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor) domestic abuse assault.

Conner James Dryden, 28 of Edmond. Possession of marijuana and driving while privilege is canceled suspended, denied or revoked.

Austin Hunter McClendon, 27 of Edmond. Nonassault resisting officer and trespassing.

Mashelle Latrece Nicholson, 28 of Yukon. Domestic abuse assault (strangulation).

June 26 Isaiah Marquez Simmons, 26 of Norman. Public intoxication.

Jackson Joseph Feist, 21 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Tristan Stoner, 20 of Edmond. Pointing a firearm and (felony second or more offenses) abuse assault (in the presence of a minor child.)

Kimberly Kay Evans, 60 homeless. Public intoxication.

Weekend calendar of events, July 7-10 What’s Happening Weekend July 7-10 ---- In the Gallery ---- Board Game Night with Parks & Recreation ---- Farmer’s Market ---- Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road: American Musical Ambassadors ---- LibertyFest Exhibit ---- Edmond Bike Night ---- VIBES ---- Downtown Edmond’s Art Experience ---- Garrett “Big G” Jacobson ---- Movie Night at Mitch Park ---- Celtic Throne – The Royal Journey of Irish Dance ---- National Little Britches Rodeo Association – National Finals Rodeo ---- Beats & Bites 2022 – Randy Rogers Band ---- Lyric Theatre presents: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel ---- Southwest Street Rod Nationals ---- Sunday Twilight Concert Series ---- Round Barn Rendezvous ---- Drop – In Drawing: Two Americans of the Old West ---- Signature Tour Extra Information In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Thu, July 7 – Sun, July 31; 5 – 8 p.m.; Free; Dana Lombardo Gallery; edmondfinearts.com; facebook.com Board Game Night with Parks & Recreation Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: Sun, May 1 – Sat, Aug. 6; 6 – 10 p.m.; Free; edmondok.civicrec.com Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Market Place Extra Info: Sat, Apr 16 – Wed, Oct 19; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.gov Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road: American Musical Ambassadors Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Sun, May 1 – Sat, Dec 1; edmondhistory.org LibertyFest Exhibit Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Fri, Jul 1y – Sat, Sep 3; edmondhistory.org

Edmond Bike Night Location: Edmond Railyard Extra Info: Tue nights through Tue, Oct 18; Free; 6 – 9 p.m.; edmondbikenight.com VIBES – Downtown Edmond’s Art Experience Location: Downtown Edmond Extra Info: Thu, July 7; Free; 5 – 9 p.m.; edmondvibes.org Garrett “Big G” Jacobson Location: UCO Jazz Lab Extra Info: Fri, July 8; 8 p.m.; $15; garrettjacobson.net Movie Night at Mitch Park Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Fri, July 8; Free; 7 – 10:30 p.m.; facebook.com Celtic Throne The Royal Journey of Irish Dance Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: Sun, Jul 10; $25 ---- $50; armstrongauditorium.vbotickets.com National Little Britches Rodeo Association – National Finals Rodeo Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: Mon, July 4 – Sun, July 10; nlbra.com Beats & Bites 2022 – Randy Rogers Band Location: Riverwind Casino Extra Info: Sat, July 9; 6 p.m.; riverwind.com Lyric Theatre presents: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel Location: Civic Center Music Hall Extra Info: Tue, July 5 – Sun, Jul 10; Tue – Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri – Sat: 8 p.m.; Sat & Sun: 2 p.m.; lyrictheatreokc.com Southwest Street Rod Nationals Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Fri, July 8 – Sun, July 10; Fri & Sat: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.; nsra-usa.com Sunday Twilight Concert Series Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens Extra Info: Sun, July 10; 7:30 0 9 p.m.; artscouncilokc.com Round Barn Rendezvous Location: Round Barn, Arcadia, OK Extra Info: Sun, Jul 10; 12 – 5 p.m.; arcadiaround-

barn.com Drop-In Drawing: Two Americans of the Old West Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, July 10; 2 – 3 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, July 9 & Sun, Jul 10; 1 - 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

DAR & SAR plan a Patriot Day on July 23 Edmond's Cordelia Steen Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Oklahoma City Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will be holding a joint genealogy workshop on Saturday, July 23, 10 a.m. - 12 noon, for attendees to "Find Your Patriot." The event will be held at the American Legion Hall, 101 E. 5th Street in Edmond. Walk-ins are welcome.

The workshop will have trained genealogists on hand from both organizations to help participants find a patriot of the American Revolution in their family tree. Also provided will be assistance with new member applications, along with help for established members on supplemental patriot applications.

Prospective members for either organization are asked to bring a completed three generation genealogy chart with birth, death and marriage dates and locations. For more information please contact the Cordelia Steen Chapter at: cordeliasteennsdar@gmail.com.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 7

Page 8 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Lawmaker does a break down on budget

By Sen. Roger Thompson, Senate Appropriations Chair While education makes up the lion’s share of Oklahoma’s budget, health and human services represents the second largest category. This week, I want to break down some of the important appropriations we’ve made in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, along with funds we’ve utilized through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to improve health in Oklahoma.

One of the most impactful budget decisions made in the 2022 legislative session was our vote to completely eliminate the state’s 13-year waiting list for developmental disability services. For years we’d given modest increases as we were able, of $2 million or so, but frankly it simply was not enough. Last year, for the first time ever, Oklahoma began conducting a complete assessment of how many people were still waiting for services and what it would take to completely eliminate the waitlist. As a result, we appropriated $32.5 million, which will enable us to serve all 5,000 on the waiting list within the next 18 to 24 months.

We’ve also increased provider rates to ensure we’ll have the services necessary to meet this critical need. This is going to be life changing for thousands of Oklahomans and their families for years to come.

The need to improve access to mental health services was something that became even more pronounced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve included $700,000 for operations costs for the Cohen Military Family Clinic in Lawton. This funding will in turn enable the Cohen Veterans Network to expand their services in Oklahoma and serve even more veterans.

We’ve also increased funding for children’s mental health services, something that’s been so difficult to find that some families have been forced to go out of state for help. We took an important step last year with a $9.9 million appropriation.

We added an additional $9.9 million this year and included $7.5 million in ARPA funds toward building additional space for children’s behavioral medicine at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital and we will continue to put money into that. We added $2 million for children in custody of the Department of Human Services to help ensure availability of services for some of the state’s most acutely ill youths.

The budget also includes $3.5 million for the first year’s cost of a three-year plan to add 80 beds at the Vinita Forensic Center, another crucial step toward improving availability of mental health care.

Of course, our nurses have been on the front lines of Oklahoma’s health care for years. We were already facing shortages in this profession before the pandemic. Many have since left nursing altogether. The budget includes $3.5 million for retention and pay raises for nurses at state agencies, including those at the State Department of Health and our veterans centers. We also invested $1.8 million at the University of Oklahoma to admit more students to their nursing program.

We’ve added over $60 million in ARPA funds in higher education and CareerTech to further increase the number of nurses in the pipeline.

Last year, following a vote of the people to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma, we began funding that expansion, with a price tag of about $164.8 million. Knowing available federal monies can fluctuate, we also created a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) savings account. That decision really paid off this year after we saw a $30 million reduction in federal funds, which are based on each individual state’s economy. When a state’s economy expands, the federal funds are reduced. That’s what happened to Oklahoma this year, but because we’d begun this special savings account a couple of years ago, we were able to fill in that gap without diverting money from other

programs or reducing payments to providers.

These efforts and other reforms enacted this session are all aimed at improving health outcomes for Oklahomans.

This year, we partnered with the Cherokee Nation and private entities to expand the optometry program at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. This school trains most of the optometrists we have in Oklahoma, as well as those now practicing in surrounding states. Our state was able to utilize $15 million in ARPA funding as part of this important cooperative effort to improve eye care.

Another area of concern dealing with health care in Oklahoma was pointed out to me by a citizen from Durant who contacted our office, and that’s our emergency medical services (EMS).

Rural ambulances are so important. I realize in our metropolitan areas, they may have agreements with cities or counties, but for rural Oklahoma, finding a way to fund EMS can be a struggle.

While EMS services are not a part of our state budget, I believe they need to be a part of our conversation. I’ve visited with people in my own district about this issue and I’ve talked to our federal delegation about possible resources for EMS – it’s something I’m going to look at during the interim.

When you look at health care, it’s important to remember that the better the health of our citizens, the better their lives are, and that impacts all of us. Better health outcomes result in a better quality of life and greater productivity. It absolutely impacts our state’s economy and revenues. I’m proud of the work we’ve done this year to better address a spectrum of health care needs in Oklahoma. It may not be all that we need to do, but I can tell you it’s a great start.

For more information, contact: Sen. Roger Thompson at 405-521-5588 or email Roger.Thompson@oksenate.gov.

House Democrats want wrongful conviction probe The House minority caucus chair filed an interim study proposal Wednesday to examine compensation for wrongful criminal convictions.

Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-OKC, plans to use the study to evaluate current laws and procedures regarding the re-

sponsibility of the State of Oklahoma to provide financial and non-financial compensation to a person wrongfully convicted of a crime and subsequently wrongfully incarcerated.

“This study is about the state’s responsibility to wrongfully imprisoned individuals,” Munson said. “There is

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no amount of compensation we can give someone that restores the years lost to wrongful incarceration, but we can provide an opportunity to spend the rest of their years peacefully enjoying freedom.”

Munson filed legislation last session to change the formula determining how the state compensates a wrongfully convicted Oklahoman. Instead of a compensation cap, House Bill 3511 assigned a dollar amount between $25,000 to $50,000 per year of wrongful incarceration or parole.

“The penalty to the state for wrongfully convicting and incarcerating someone should be compensatory to any citizen living and working in our communities,” Munson said.

“With this study, we hope to collect data to help drive this conversation in the legislature to increase accountability within our criminal justice system.”

There have been more than 2,500 exonerations across the country since 1989. Each exonerated individual spends an average of 9 years in prison before being released, according to the Equal Justice Initiative.

Interim studies are approved by the Speaker of the House.

Decisions on which studies are approved are expected no later than July 29.

To provide input on this study or to contact the office of Rep. Cyndi Munson, call (405)557-7392 or cyndi.munson@okhouse.gov.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 9

A look at junior girls golf

By Steve Steele Jenni Roller defended her Oklahoma Golf Association Girls Junior title she won at KickingBird in 2021 with a repeat at Lincoln Park GC reSteele cently. She continued her torrid under par play this spring/summer.

She is taking her talents to the University of Tulsa in August.

Roller, a recent graduate of Regent Prep in Tulsa set the all time Oklahoma High School record of 62 at Lake Murray GC in May on her way to winning the Class 3A Girls Championship. Then, right before the PGA Championship at Southern Hills CC she won Oklahoma Junior Masters at Southern Hills shooting a seven under

The University of Central Oklahoma, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State Sport’s Diplomacy Sports Visitor Program, hosted 49 international visitors from nine countries at the Endeavor Games June 9-12, on Central’s campus and throughout the Edmond, Oklahoma community. The Sports Visitor Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, brings youth athletes, coaches and administrators from around the world to the U.S. for a fast-paced, short-term cultural exchange. Pictured, program participants at the Endeavor Games.

Another successful Endeavor Games The University of Central Oklahoma, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State Sport’s Diplomacy Sports Visitor Program, hosted 49 international visitors from nine countries at the Endeavor Games held June 9-12, on Central’s campus and throughout the Edmond, Oklahoma, community.

The Sports Visitor Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, brings youth athletes, coaches and administrators from around the world to the U.S. for a fast-paced, short-term cultural exchange.

Through the program, participants have the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in using sport to promote social inclusion, accessibility and visibility for those with disabilities, as well as participate in clinics and sessions on leadership, public speaking, civic rights, adaptive sports and celebrate Juneteenth at their next state visit.

Program participants represented the countries of Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Maldives, Mexico, Nigeria,

Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Turkmenistan.

“We were so excited to host the Sports Visitor Program at the UCO Endeavor Games this year,” said Cassidhe Walker, coordinator for adaptive sports and events at Central.

“We had a great time showing our international visitors the amazing opportunities our event, UCO and the Edmond community had to offer.”

The UCO Endeavor Games is the nation’s largest multi-sport, multi-disability event. The 2022 games included 11 sports – archery, air rifle shooting, cycling, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair softball.

For more information about the Sports Visitor Program, visit sportsvisitor.org.

For more information about UCO, visit www.uco.edu.

For more information about the Endeavor Games, contact Walker at cwalker68.uco.edu or 405-974-3411.

How new residents may enroll children in Edmond Schools Did you just move to Edmond? New residents who want to enroll their children in Edmond Public Schools before the start of the 2022-23 school year can do so at the district’s enrollment center during the weeks of July 11-22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

The center is located in the Freshman Academy at Edmond North High School, 215 W. Danforth Road. Patrons should park in the lots north of the high school (near the football field) to access the center.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to complete the required enrollment documents found at edmondschools.net prior to visiting the center.

If new residents are unable to visit the enrollment center during the weeks it is open, they can enroll their child at their home school when staff return following the summer break. Elementary schools will reopen on Aug. 1, and middle schools will reopen on July 25.

High Schools remain open during the summer from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday but are closed from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch.

For more information about the centralized enrollment center, call 726-7900 or 726-7901.

Jenni Roller, Jenks Juliana Hong, Norman Rylee Roberts, Edmond Gracie Doke, Tulsa Brooklyn Benn, Edmond Beans Factor, Ada McKenna Tatum, Edmond Natalie Blonien, Altus Sophia Lefler, Tulsa Jaci Hartman, Burneyville Avery Haddock, Edmond Mimi Hoang, OKC Allie Justiz, Arcadia Jeana Triplett, Edmond Aubrey House, McAlester Payton Coburn, Broken Arrow

par 66, in second and third were Edmond's Olivia Coit -1 72 and Rylee Roberts even par 73. She dominated the OGA Stoke Play and Match Play Girls Junior Amateurs. She bested Edmond's Rylee Roberts and Brooklyn Benn by six strokes in the Stroke Play portion of the championship. This past week she traveled to St. Louis and was the winner of the qualifier for the U.S. Junior Girls Championship at Sunset CC after firing a one under par 71. The 2022 Championship is being hosted by The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, KY July 18-23. In the qualifier at St. Louis Kate Strickland of Edmond shot 76 and Olivia Coit shot 82. At Lincoln Park there were 24 girls vying for one of the 16 qualifying spots for match play.

Here is how the girls fared at Lincoln Park West GC. -5 +1 +1 +1 +1 +3 +3 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +9 +9 +10 +10

66-38 - 104 77-37 - 110 73-37 - 110 73-37 - 110 72-38 - 110 75-37 - 112 72-40 - 112 70-44 - 114 75-40 - 115 78-38 - 116 76-41 - 117 81-37 - 118 77-41 - 118 75-43 - 118 81-38 - 119 80-39 - 119

Page 10 • June 30, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Up next? The runoff

By Steve Gust It’s been awhile now but the primary election was interesting.

Get ready now, because there are only so many more shopping days left until the August 23 runoff.

Concerning voting overall, everyone should be pleased Oklahoma seems to know how to run an election. Most of us went to bed knowing who had won and who had made the runoff. Now if you were living in Pennsylvania you probably wouldn’t know by now. I will never understand why some of these states keep accepting ballots days after an election is held. Does some party boss sit somewhere and tell the vote counters to wait? “We can still win this one. Just hold on a bit and we’ll get some more votes.”

I’ve decided the best way to monitor results on election night is to log onto something that has updated vote totals for all the offices. There is normally a problem when I try to follow results from the television. First of all I have to stand up and get closer to the screen, because the scroll print is too small. Then when it’s scrolling, they’re showing results from the county trea-

surer’s race in Beaver County. Three minutes later and they’re only on Custer County. We live in a world that needs results quicker than that.

Something I didn’t realize was that over 90 percent of candidates with 45 percent of the vote in the primary usually go on to win the runoff. I don’t think anyone could have gotten closer to 50 percent on election night than Kevin Calvey. The last number I saw was that he had 49.97 percent of the vote in his election for Oklahoma County District Attorney. That’s close!

You won’t ever have to convince Kevin that every vote is important.

I was surprised to see that Gov. Stitt did so well in his election. He nearly got 70 percent of the vote. The guy is always in the center of the hurricane on a whole list of issues.I thought it might cost him but it didn’t. But in the long run, I guess people know he’s working hard. Joy Hofmeister, the new Democrat, will have her work cut out for her in the November general election.

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

Showcasing Oklahoma

By Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready Oklahoma is a great place to do business. As one of the fastest-growing domiciles for captives in the country, the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is attracting more and more companies to do business here. A captive insurance company provides great flexibility to business owners who want to take control of their insurance programs. Captives exist to underwrite the risk of their owner(s) and affiliates. Between 2017 and 2021, Oklahoma’s captive premium volume increased significantly, rising to $214.4 million in 2021, up from $147.3 million in 2017.

Oklahoma now has 40 licensed captives—more than one-third of these were issued during my first two years in office. In 2019 and 2020, captives domiciled in Oklahoma generated over $1 million in premium taxes to help fund public safety pensions and the state’s general revenue fund. With OID’s supportive, efficient regulatory platform, companies of various industries around the country recognize Oklahoma as a highly competitive jurisdiction.

To help Oklahoma continue to be the hub of innovation and technology, OID is hosting its first Oklahoma Captive & Insurance Business Transfer (IBT) Conference on August 24-25 at the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel. This twoday conference will address new and emerging risks facing companies and organizations worldwide. We’ll bring together subject matter experts to share insights on captive insurance and IBTs and educate stakeholders on the benefits of these cutting-edge mechanisms.

This conference will demonstrate how captives can offer solutions that may not be available in the traditional insurance marketplace.

It’s the first in-person conference we are hosting since the COVID-19 pandemic. And I’m excited to showcase Oklahoma’s endless possibilities to risk managers, business owners, regulators, financial executives and insurance professionals. Registration is required to attend the event and limited seats are available.

For more information about the event, visit www.oid.ok.gov/CIBTC/ and follow OID on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Ronald Reagan quotes “If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be one nation gone under.”

“Sometimes when I'm faced with an atheist, I am tempted to invite him to the greatest gourmet dinner that one could ever serve, and when we have finished eating that magnificent dinner, to ask him if he believes there's a cook.”

“Sometimes when I'm faced with an atheist, I am tempted to invite him to the greatest gourmet dinner that one could ever serve, and when we have finished eating that magnificent dinner, to ask him if he believes there's a cook.”

Violence on pro-lifers concerns senator

By Sen. Lankford Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) along with 14 colleagues today called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate and work to prevent violence against pro-life organizations. After a draft opinion in the Supreme Court case, Dobbs v. JackLankford son Women’s Health Organization, was leaked to the media, pro-life and religious organizations have been increasingly vandalized and damaged.

“We are deeply concerned that this trend will continue should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade in the coming weeks unless the Department of Justice, the FBI, and US Attorneys’ Offices take a firm public stance and proactive response against these violent threats,” the Senators wrote.

“The criminal acts perpetrated against those who oppose legalized abortion are a clear effort to intimidate or coerce individuals who hold pro-life

values,” the Senators wrote. “We call on the Department of Justice to take these actions seriously and work to prevent violence and, when such acts are perpetrated, investigate and prosecute them as appropriate.”

The letter was signed by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Roger Wicker (RMS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Boozman (R-AR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Thune (R-SD), Cindy HydeSmith (R-MS), and Mike Braun (R-IN).

This letter is supported by the National Right to Life Committee, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Family Research Council, Catholic Vote, March for Life, Students for Life, and Family Policy Alliance.

Dear Attorney General Garland: We write to request information about how the Department of Justice is addressing the disturbing trend of harassment, intimidation, and violence against religious and other pro-life organizations and individuals in the aftermath of the leaked draft opinion in the Supreme Court case Dobbs v.

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Jackson Women’s Health Organization. While churches and crisis pregnancy centers have been vandalized, pro-life offices in Oregon and Wisconsin have been targeted by arsonists. We are deeply concerned that this trend will continue should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade in the coming weeks unless the Department of Justice, the FBI, and US Attorneys’ Offices take a firm public stance and proactive response against these violent threats.

Last October, the Department of Justice wasted no time in publicly responding to threats of violence against educators and school administrators related to COVID-19 policies. You issued a memo in which you stated, “While spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views.” At the same time, the Department created specialized training and guidance for local school boards and school administrators to help “potential victims understand the type of behavior that constitutes threats, how to report threatening conduct to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, and how to capture and preserve evidence of threatening conduct to aid in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.” The Department also took steps to improve coordination between the FBI, the US Attorneys’ Offices, and local law enforcement to “open dedicated lines of communication for threat reporting, assessment, and response.”

Yet in comparison to the current climate, in which multiple acts—not just threats—of violence have been documented, we have not seen the commensurate public response from the Department of Justice that the moment demands. The criminal acts perpetrated against those who oppose legalized abortion are a clear effort to intimidate or coerce individuals who hold pro-life values.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 11

Donna Young serves on the LibertyFest committee and works at EEDA.

She is among the many people celebrating 50 years with Edmond’s LibertyFest celebration.

Edmond History Museum marks 50 years of LibertyFest To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of LibertyFest in Edmond, the Edmond History Museum will host an exhibit of photographs and memorabilia documenting the heritage of this Red, White & Blue event, from a small park parade to a huge, threeweek series of events. This exhibit is free.

Exhibit Highlights: Artifacts include a large collection of official yearly pins and t-shirts, plus various posters and printed programs. Of special note are the decorative volunteer vest, owned by Kathy Thomas, LibertyFest chairman in 1989, and four kites from the yearly KiteFest event, dating back to 1990. Photographs make up the majority of the exhibit, covering various parade floats, events and families celebrating America’s freedom!

LibertyFest Then and Now: Although Edmond held yearly Fourth of July events, dating back to the town’s beginnings, the formal LibertyFest, as it exists today, was begun in 1972 by local citizens seeking a Fourth of July and firework tradition for their children and community. The first festivities were held in Stephenson Park, including concerts, old-fashioned games, and a nearby rodeo. The parade was held along Broadway and there was a “street dance” at the Edmond Plaza shopping center.

The event continues to grow as a downtown Edmond tradition, which attract 125,000 attendees, and was honored as one of the Top 10 Fourth of July celebrations in the country by CNN and USA Today in 2002. Currently, LibertyFest is comprised of eight unique events, plus the parade and fireworks on July 4th.

Page 12 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The riverside trail on the north side of the Arkansas River provides a panoramic view of Little Rock. Signage along the trail describes the site as an area where many tribes gathered on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma.

Some of the attractions of Little Rock

By Elaine Warner Have you ever wondered if there really is a little rock in Little Rock? French explorer Bernard de la Harpe was the first to note a large, outcropping of rock on the north side of the Arkansas River in 1722. On the opposite bank was a smaller outcropping – le petit rocher – the little rock. The Elaine settlement that eventually grew up on the south side of the river was known by that name – Little Rock.

As far as the city’s attractions go, the rock is low on the list. But if you want to see it, it is located at the base of the Junction Bridge. The southern end of the bridge actually sits on part of the geologic feature. Once a railroad bridge, now a pedestrian walkway, it provides great views of both Little Rock and North Little Rock and colored lights paint beautiful colors on the river at night.

Attractions along the river are numerous and a lovely riverside park connects many of them. At the east end of the stretch is the Clinton Presidential Center. Looking like a large, metal shoebox on stilts, it stretches toward the river. Inside are all sorts of presidential memorabilia including a number of documents and personal letters. I always enjoy seeing the gifts given to the president and standing in the replica of the Oval Office.

The eponymous little rock is situated on the south side of the Arkansas River.

The Rivermarket Entertainment District runs from I-30 west for four blocks on President Clinton Avenue. In the center of the district is the Ottenheimer Market Hall. Open from 10 to 2 every day except Sunday, this is a fun stop for lunch with a variety of booths serving international cuisines.The Farmers’ Market behind the Hall is a kaleidoscope of colors and flavors on Saturdays, May until September.

Also in this area are a number of other eateries and shops. The Museum of Discovery is a do-notmiss for families with children.

The park along the river stretches many blocks with a great trail for walking or biking, spots to rest and playgrounds. Toward the west end, the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is especially attractive.

Back on the main drag (President Clinton Avenue turns into Markham west of La Harpe Boulevard), the elegant Old Statehouse Museum is a magnet for history lovers. To walk in the footsteps of early settlers, visit the Historic Arkansas Museum. A combined indoor and outdoor facility, it includes some of Little Rock’s oldest structures (restored) and galleries with beautiful, made-inArkansas art, and historical artifacts. Don’t miss the joyous sculpture, Party for Peg, outside.

Groups of cut-out metal dancers are perched on pedestals incorporating rocks, horseshoes, and other small items from every county in the state.

Civil Rights history is also a big element in the Little Rock story. Number one stop here is the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. See a statue of the Little Rock Nine on the State Capitol grounds. The Mosaic Templar Cultural Center focuses on the African-American experience in Arkansas.

Here’s a bit of Civil Rights history you can really get your teeth into. The Lassis Inn, founded in 1905, is one of the oldest Black establishments in Arkansas. Sit in the same wooden booths where Black community leaders felt safe discussing school desegregation and other racial concerns. The setting is simple; the food delicious. The limited menu features catfish – that’s pretty much it – except for the buffalo ribs. Not bison, but from the buffalo fish, a large member of the carp family. Dipped in corn meal and deep fried, these are mighty tasty.

In 2020, the Lassis Inn was honored with an American Classics Award given by the James Beard Foundation.

You’d expect southern classic cooking in Little Rock – and you’ll find it – but there’s a world of cuisine here just waiting to be tasted. Other spots I’ve loved include Three Fold Noodles + Dumplings Co., where Chinese steamed buns, noodles, and dumplings are handmade in-house every day.

South of the border favorites are a real treat at Heights Taco & Tamale Co. For food with a view, Brave New Restaurant overlooks the Arkansas River with the Little Rock skyline in the distance. Chef/owner Peter Brave is a real Renaissance man. Enjoy his food, see his art work and, if you’re a coffee buff, Brave roasts from his own beans. Have a cup, then take some home.

Whatever you do, save room for dessert. The chocolate crème brûlée made with the finest Belgian chocolate is a gustatory experience.

Little Rock has a number of interesting neighborhoods to explore. South Main – or Soma – is a cool, come-back neighborhood. Esse Purse Museum here is one of my favorite museums. Loblolly Creamery offers great sweet treats and Roots Café is a haven for vegetarians and locavores. And do

The Old Mill in North Little Rock is one of the most scenic spots in the area.

stroll through Bernice Garden, a shady spot with interesting art.

Close by is the Quapaw Quarter, one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Little Rock. You’ll see some interesting architecture here – from a rare Egyptian-inspired design (Fordyce House, 1904) to fancy, Queen Anne houses, Craftman and English Revival. One of the most popular sites is the Villa Marre, an Italianate 2nd Empire beauty which served as the exterior shot for the headquarters of Sugarbaker and Associates on the TV show Designing Women.

North of the river, in North Little Rock, the Argenta District is an up-and-coming entertainment area. Flyaway Brewing is a good stop here for a brew and a bite. Try Ristorante Capeo for Italian food in a rustic setting.

Also in North Little Rock is one of the best photo ops – the Old Mill. Built to look old, and accompanied by a variety of faux bois embellishments. It’s often used as a background for senior shots, quinceanera photos and wedding shoots. It was even used in the opening credits for the movie Gone with the Wind.

I guess it’s the kid in me, but another of my favorite places is the Big Dam Bridge – it sounds so naughty! For bikers – or truly serious hikers, the riverfront parks on both sides of the river are connected by bridges. A 17-mile loop trail takes you up one side of the river and down the other – perfect for exercise. But for me, it’s a lovely place to end the day – watching the sun set over the Arkansas – and saving my energy for my next day’s Little Rock adventures.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 13

A look back at OSU leader’s first year Since taking office as Oklahoma State University’s 19th president on July 1, 2021, Dr. Kayse Shrum has been busy.

From navigating conference realignment and ever-changing developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, to launching a strategic planning initiative for the university’s future and raising over $180 million to support university programs, she has seized every opportunity to elevate OSU. She also manages to continue her own academic research and lead her family as a mother of six adult children.

On the one-year anniversary of her presidency, we look back at Dr. Shrum’s first year at the helm of the OSU system through the words of students, faculty and staff.

Burns Hargis, Ex- OSU President “I commend Dr. Shrum on navigating several major challenges and completing a successful first year. Her leadership and vision are guiding Oklahoma State as it delivers on its land-grant mission to best serve students, our state and the world. I join the entire OSU community in congratulating Dr. Shrum on her first year as president and wish her continued success.”

Dr. Trudy Milner, OSU/A&M Board of Regents “[Dr. Shrum’s] engaging style has brought new energy and excitement to our campus and system. More opportunities and challenges are no doubt ahead. I genuinely believe Oklahoma State's future is as bright as ever because we have the leadership to drive success."

Chad Weiberg, OSU Athletic Director “Neither of us asked for something as significant as conference realignment to happen, and certainly not in the first month of our new roles. However, it did

happen, and so you deal with it. And that was what impressed me the most about President Shrum. She didn’t back down and she didn’t shy away from the difficult questions or decisions. Instead, she stepped up and did what good leaders do — she led. And in the process, she provided confidence to our coaches, our staff and our faculty, as well as our alumni and donors, that Oklahoma State was going to be just fine. In fact, we found opportunity in the midst of the chaos. …

“What I appreciate most about President Shrum is that she meets challenges and adversity and immediately begins to seek the opportunity that lies within. And she finds it. I believe that will serve Oklahoma State University very well.”

Dr. Johnny R. Stephens, OSU-CHS President and interim President of OSU-Tulsa “Dr. Shrum grew up in Coweta, Oklahoma and has an inherent understanding of the needs of our state’s rural communities.

When she talks about the land-grant mission and what that means for our university today, it’s personal to her.

Both her upbringing and her work on rural health care and educating physicians for our state have impacted her perspective. She understands the priorities and needs of our rural communities, which gives her this rich foundation to draw from in her role as president.

“No one works harder than Dr. Shrum.

Early in her presidency, she faced some serious challenges, with both COVID-19 and the conference realignment, that she handled with a strong voice and steady hand. This showed everyone what I and others knew: that Kayse Shrum was the right person at the right time for this role. She continues to bring 150% to

Dr. Shrum

this job every day, as is evidenced by how she’s connected with students, faculty and staff, as well as our donors.

“Dr. Shrum’s background as a student-athlete and pediatrician really informs how she leads, even today. She’s all about the team, and selecting high-impact individuals for positions where they can contribute and make a difference is key to her approach. She’s collaborative and listens well, which I think is influenced by the athlete and the physician in her. This background and perspective really set her apart and contribute to her success as president.”

Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU Vice President for Research “President Shrum’s championing of OSU’s research mission in general — and Public Impact Research in particular — has had a wonderful dual effect this past year. First, her words and actions have excited and motivated our great research faculty to strive for even greater achievements.

Second, she has helped OSU’s alumni and friends better understand how vital our research is to the quality education our students receive, to the overall economic impact OSU has on the state and region, and to our reputation as a premier land-grant university.

“Under President Shrum’s leadership, we will better define and

deepen OSU’s core research strengths and find new and innovative ways to apply those strengths to solve society’s most pressing problems.

“OSU will continue growing into an even greater top tier research university by promoting and creating bigger and broader research collaborations — across disciplines within OSU, with

colleagues at other universities, and with partners in industry and in government agencies.

Society’s most vexing problems are large and complex; our research teams that solve these problems will need to be likewise broad and diverse. Under President Shrum’s leadership, I believe OSU will be up to that challenge.”

Page 14 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Review of the film ‘Elvis’

Butler captures charisma of singing legend

By George Gust “Elvis” is Writer/Director Baz Luhrmann's biopic of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), from his childhood to becoming a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

If you’re familiar with the cinematic stylings of Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge” “The Great Gatsby”) you’ll know that his movies are heightened larger than life experiences. “Elvis” seems like a perfect fit for Luhrmann’s bombastic shiny style as Elvis was The premier bombastic shiny entertainer throughout his renowned music and film career. If you’re expecting a PBS style musical journey through Elivis’ catalogue, you’ll be sorely disappointed as “Elvis” features loads of mash up versions of Elvis’ music with modern hip hop and pop songs in classic Luhrmann manic style.

While the heightened visual and editing style of “Elvis” aims to capture more how it felt during the mania of Elvis’ spring to superstardom instead of an accurate recounting of the events of his life the performance of Hanks and Butler

come to the forefront both earnestly from Butler and theatrically from Hanks. As the shifty Colonel Tom Parker, Hanks has affected a strange high-pitched Nordic accent that can be distracting at times but fits the overall exaggerated tone of the film. However, the main attraction to “Elvis” is the stunningly electric performance of Butler. There’s a cool energy to Elvis that Butler embodies, and while Elvis is one of the most impersonated figures in pop culture history, he’s able to bring the right amount of hallmark Elvis mannerisms without dipping into

caricature.

Overall, “Elvis” is an over-the-top uniquely cinematic experience that opts for more style than earnest retelling. After the success of straight forward music biopics like “Walk the Line” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” it’s refreshing to have a wildly original take on one of the brightest stars in the history of American music/pop culture.

And while the bloated running time of over 2 and a half hours and frantic visual style would seem like a hollow movie going experience there’s a magic trick in Butler’s performance that brings an emotional connection to the character as well as some strategic and effective use of archival footage of the real-life Elvis Presley.

“Elvis” is rated PG-13 for substance abuse, strong language, suggestive material and smoking.

3.9 out of 5 stars.

You can reach George Gust to comment on this film, or any of his motion picture reviews at gust.george@gmail.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED Austin Butler dons the bedazzled jumpsuit and sideburns in Baz Luhrman's larger-than-life cinematic ode to the king of rock & roll in ‘Elvis.’

Answers appearing on Page 19

Free grief support services Calm Waters Center for Children and Families, the only grief center in Oklahoma City offering free grief support services to children and families, will host a free workshop on Thursday, July 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at their Center located at 501 N. Walker Suite 140 in Oklahoma City.

Calm Waters’ summer grief workshop, “How to Support a Grieving Loved One,” is a free, in-person, handson event at Calm Waters Center for those in grief to learn about expressing their needs to their support people and for support people to learn how to best serve their grieving loved one. Through this workshop, Calm Waters will educate the support people about grief so the griever does not have to, while also helping those grieving establish boundaries and coping skills to help them on their grief journey.

“Grief is challenging to navigate, not only because of the emotional pain that individuals endure, but also the ways it impacts our relationships,” said Heather Gaglio, LMFT, Calm Waters Clinical Director. “ Register by July 10, 5 p.m. at calmwaters.org/2022summer-grief-workshop/

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: TV Shows ACROSS 1. *Shari Lewis' TV puppet, ____ Chop 5. Black gunk 8. Not kosher 12. Chills and fever 13. Misbehavior on road 14. Near the wind 15. Ship's steering wheel 16. Sign of escape 17. *"How to Get Away with Murder," starring ____ Davis 18. *Featuring Jerry, Elaine, George, Kramer 20. Theories 21. Make awake 22. Mai follower 23. *Featuring Sam, Diane, Cliff, Norm, Carla 26. Scary creature 30. Salmon on a bagel 31. Etsy member 34. Craving 35. Old and feeble 37. Quaker Man's grain 38. Romanov rulers 39. Without help 40. Stay clear of 42. *"The ____ Life" on Animal Planet 43. Keep from happening 45. Sets to zero 47. Old age, in the olden days 48. *"____ Previews" with Siskel and Ebert 50. Same as taboo 52. *Featuring Dre, Rainbow, Zoey, Andre, Diane, Jack 55. New Testament king 56. Is not, colloquially 57. At hand 59. Pond buildup 60. Microscope part 61. *"Hogan's Heroes," set in _____ Germany 62. Coin opening 63. Like some martinis 64. Big Bang's original matter

DOWN 1. ____-di-dah 2. Awfully long time 3. Stubborn beast 4. Make soiled, in the olden days 5. At the heart of Boston Tea Party 6. Quick or nimble 7. No longer working, shortened 8. *Featuring Rebecca, Jack, Kate, Randall, Kevin 9. *ABC comedy-drama, "____ 222" (1969-74) 10. 90-degree pipes, e.g.

11. Public health agency, acr.

13. "The wretched ____ of your teeming shores" 14. Of a bird 19. Relating to Scandinavia 22. Lookout point 23. Necklace lock 24. Great esteem 25. Napoleon's time on Elba 26. Crystalline hydrochloride 27. Crossbeam 28. Kind of heron

29. "The defense ____" 32. *Featuring Hurley, Sawyer, Kate, Sayid, John 33. Lake, in Provence 36. *Featuring Stubing, Smith, Washington, McCoy, Bricker 38. Fine-tune 40. Finish line, e.g.

41. Builds 44. Dodge 46. Certain jeans fit 48. More than sly 49. *"The ____," featuring Fran, Maxwell, C.C., Niles 50. *"To ____ the Truth," game show 51. Golden Fleece ship 52. *Like George Costanza, Homer Simpson or Captain Picard 53. Close an envelope 54. Mental confusion 55. Possesses 58. Canyon feature

Answers on Page 19

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 15

Campers watch and listen intently to a performance as part of Hearts for Hearing’s 2022 Summer Camp held recently.

Summer camp held for youth with hearing loss Oklahoma City Community Foundation, through its Opportunities for Children iFund grant program, provided $5,000 to support Hearts for Hearing’s annual summer camp which serves children with hearing loss. Sixty-five children, along with fifty volunteers – many of whom are former campers - participated in this year’s event June 21 – 24, at Trinity Church OKC. Hearts for Hearing’s mission to teach children born deaf to listen and talk combines technology, audiology services, and listening and spoken language therapies and achieves outcomes among the best in the country.

“Summer camp is special because it allows us to bring together children who are often the only one in their family, classroom, or school – even their hometown – who wear a hearing device such as a cochlear implant and understand that they are not the only child to rely on technology to listen and talk,” says Joanna Smith, founder, and CEO at Heart for Hearing. “The fun activities, camaraderie, and friendships they form helps build confidence and esteem which enables our children to compete academically and socially on par, in many cases better, than their typical hearing peers,” adds Smith.

Camp leader, Lindsay Hanna, Hearts for Hearing’s Chief Quality Officer and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist says, “This grant makes our summer camp possible, and we are extremely grateful to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation for its support,” and adds “Our summer camp was also recently recognized

by Metro Family Magazine as the Best Specialty Camp in the metro area.”

Hearts for Hearing provides the first set of hearing technology to children it serves at no out-of-pocket costs to families and provides speech therapy appointments conducted in tandem by a pediatric audiologist and a listening and spoken language specialist. Its mission has expanded to become a comprehensive hearing health clinic for not only children, but adults as well. It provides industry-leading services, technology, and research services. For more about Hearts for Hearing, visit www.heartsforhearing.org.

Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works with donors to create charitable funds that will benefit our community both now and in the future. An initiative of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation Trustees, the iFund grant program utilizes gifts from donors to support services for children and elderly, as well as provide access to health care. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, visit www.occf.org.

Page 16 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Man in Black’s California home, built in 1961.

Another Masterpiece listing by the Brad Reeser Team 1509 BRECKENRIDGE DRIVE, EDMOND, OK 73013 $395,000

COMMUNITY ADVOCATES: “WE LIVE AND GIVE IN EMOND” -THE RED DAY RUNThe Brad Reeser Team is extremely involved in Edmond’s largest charitable 5K, The RED Day Run. It truly is “A team affair” - Brad is sponsorship chair, Tracy is registration chair, and Chase is in charge of publicity. Team members Angie, Anne, and Melanie are Race Day Volunteers as well! To date, the RED Day Run has given over XS RSR TVS½XW WIVZMRK XLSWI MR RIIH MR )HQSRH

PROUD MAJOR SPONSORS OF

Late-Johnny Cash’s home on the market for $1.7 million Johnny Cash often sang about the hills and flowers and wide-open spaces, and he lived it too. In 1961, Johnny built a 4,500-square-foot home in rural Casitas Springs, California as his quiet place to escape from the rock 'n roll lifestyle. A place he and his wife, Vivian, and their three daughters could enjoy family life in the hills for many years into the future. While their future did not pan out exactly as Johnny planned – he and Vivian divorced in 1966 – the home was exactly what John envisioned.

According to the listing agents, “Johnny bought the land and built the house to his exact specifications; walking the rooms and deciding on exact placement and layout. He created a secluded sanctuary, unique to this rural small-town enclave. Longtime locals recount stories of Johnny setting up speakers on the hillside outside the house, and playing concerts for the townspeople down below.”

The double-gabled house is set on

nearly six acres, dramatically set among Johnny’s beloved hills, fields, trees and flowers, at the end of a long, private driveway. John’s ideas are still very much a part of the home, including the country-motif family room and curved brick fireplace, custom wood built-ins, and an original wall-mounted turntable.

The wood-paneled studio where Johnny wrote many of his songs is preserved. And the two his-and-her master bedroom suites because of Johnny’s night-owl routine of writing music late into the night and early morning.

The property includes five bedrooms, a pool, office, barbecue area, and sweeping views of the Ojai Valley, oak trees and evergreens and year-round flowers.

Johnny Cash’s former home is for sale at $1.795 million listed with Adam McKaig and Melissa Borders from Douglas Elliman.

For more celebrity home news and celebrity home video tours, visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.

-Edmond Public Schools Foundation -Edmond Mobile Meals -Project 66 Food Pantry -Alzheimer’s Association

INDUSTRY LEADERS 40TH YEAR OF SELLING REAL ESTATE IN EDMOND Edmond Board of REALTORS 2021 REALTOR of the Year

-EBR Past President - 2021 -Oklahoma Association of REALTORS 2019 REALTOR of the Year -Chairman, REALTOR Political Action Committee -Federal Political Coordinator -TRACY RATCLIFF Celebrates 24 Years of working with The Brad Reeser Team this year.

-EBR Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, 2021 -EBR Most Cooperative REALTOR 2018 -Keller Williams Central Oklahoma Accelerate Award Reciptient.

HOMES, LAND, LOTS, OR COMMERICAL PROPERTIES - WE SELL IT ALL! NEW LISTINGS ACCEPTED! CALL US AT

405-990-8262 2201 Augusta Ave List Price: $399,900 Sold Price: $420,000 432 Post Road List Price $485,000 Sold Price: $532,000 3601 NW 43rd List Price: $250,000 Sold Price $290,000 2604 Little Timber List Price $339,900 Sold Price $370,000 LET US HELP YOU MAXIMIZE YOUR HOME’S VALUE! CALL TODAY!

Mortgage Matters

Just what exactly is an Escrow Shortage?

By Kenneth Wohl Escrow accounts are a vital part of mortgages for nearly all homebuyers. Some lenders require mortgage borrowers to have escrow accounts, or the borrower may opt in to an escrow Wohl account through their mortgage servicer.

Escrow accounts set aside funds for tax and home insurance payments until they’re due. With each mortgage payment, a portion is set aside in the escrow account. When it’s time to pay property taxes and home insurance, the mortgage servicer will pay those bills on your behalf.

A cost increase of any of the items in the escrow account can cause an escrow shortage. For instance, if your property tax rises dramatically or your home costs more to insure if its value increased, this could make an

escrow shortage.

If there is a shortage, typically you can pay the amount in full, or have the amount added to your monthly mortgage payment.

An escrow analysis typically is performed about once per year, so escrow shortages generally are rare occurrences.

But as a homeowner, it’s prudent to be prepared for any unexpected costs that come up with homeownership. It’s good to keep your eye on your escrow account, that way you can be prepared if it looks like there’s going to be a shortage.

Opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of Kenneth Wohl and meant for generic illustration purposes only. With approved credit.

For specific questions regarding your personal lending needs, please call RCB Bank at 855-BANK-RCB. Some restrictions apply. RCB Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and member FDIC. RCB Bank NMLS #798151.

Kenneth Wohl NMLS #453934.

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

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 17

Small biz owners & an exit strategy

By Metro News Millions of people across the globe dream of owning their own business. Such dreams come true every day, and small business owners often cite freedom and autonomy as two of the most rewarding parts of owning a business.

Small business owners nearing retirement can look back with pride on the business they built. And as retirement draws closer, a successful exit plan can ensure the business keeps going in the years to come. No two businesses are the same, so an exit plan that works for one firm won’t necessarily work for another. But these are some general strategies that can help small business owners nearing retirement age ensure a successful transition when the time comes for them to call it a career.

• Work with a consultant. Consultants have experience in a variety of situations, including the development and implementation of exit plans. Business owners who need help finding a consultant can speak to fellow small business owners in the community or ask their financial advisor for a recommendation.

• Decide on your long-term role. Some business owners want to remain involved after retirement, while others want to divest themselves entirely. Business owners must give ample consideration to what they want their long-term role to be. If they want to remain somewhat involved, then

You need a plan to start a business and to end one.

See Biz, Page 18

Edmond housing market not far off 2021 pace

By Brian Preston In Edmond, May sales were down nine transactions from last year almost matching their numbers with 474 this year compared to 483 last May. This brought year-to-date sales back up to 12% down through May as compared being down 23% through April.

Pending contracts fell 36 from April with 860 contracts waiting to close. We usually do not see a fall off in contracts until September. But we had that same drop for May last year as well. We are only down 16

contracts from same time last year.

The drop is most likely for the number of new houses that finally got finished and closed in May, they had most likely been waiting on materials to finish.

New homes had 131 closed deals in May compared to 96 in April.

Inventory increased 25% from April raising from 377 homes to 474 in May. almost 100% increase in $350,000 to $400,000 price range in inventory.

Most increases in the upper price ranges. But those ranges are still doing well.

WEOKIE Federal Credit Union is named tops by Forbes WEOKIE Federal Credit Union has been recognized as the #1 Credit Union in the state of Oklahoma by the Forbes ‘2022 America’s Best Credit Unions in Each State’ list.

WEOKIE was also the highest ranked credit union in the nation, at an overall score of 93.64 out of 100.

“Our vision is to ‘Make a difference, one person at a time, by being the best place our employees have ever worked, our members’ most trusted financial partner, and a positive force to improve our community,” Jeff Carpenter, President, and CEO of WEOKIE, said. “Recognition as a top credit union again this year validates our progress toward achievement of our vision and mission will guide us forward so we can become a permanent name on the “Best Credit Union List” in Oklahoma and nationwide.”

After partnering with a market research firm, Forbes went directly to the credit union members of each state to conduct in-depth interviews of over 26,000 U.S. citizens on their relationships with their financial institutions. According to Forbes, the credit unions on average received 50 completed surveys/interviews designed to ask consumers about the hours and accessibility of their branches, the ease when utilizing mo-

bile platforms, and transparency regarding interest rates and fees. Between one to five credit unions in each state were awarded the Best-inState title based on these responses.

“Given so many outstanding credit unions in Oklahoma, we are honored to recognized as the Best,” said Carpenter. “I so appreciate our members and community for recognizing our efforts and rest assured we continue to seek ways to become even better for the benefit of our members, employees and our community.”

WEOKIE thanks all of its membership for naming them the #1 Credit Union in Oklahoma.

About WEOKIE Federal Credit Union WEOKIE Federal Credit Union empowers over 62,000 member-owners to make wise financial decisions, enabling them to keep more of their hard-earned money. Anyone that lives, works, worships, or attends school in the Oklahoma City metro area is eligible to become a member.

WEOKIE Federal Credit Union cooperatively pools its members' financial resources to help fellow Oklahomans.

WEOKIE is a full-service financial institution with 13 metro locations that offer a full array of financial products and services.

‘Given so many outstanding credit unions in Oklahoma, we are honored to recognized as the best.’

Jeff Carpenter President & CEO of WEOKIE

With already 55 closed deals over a million for n average of 11 closed deals a month. I do not see a downturn like many are predicting for months with supply and demand.

Still getting multiple offers by the dozens under $300,000 with that much demand and still 60% below our lowest supple levels this century, supply and demand still shows strong markets (Editor’s Note: Brian Preston is an Edmond realtor who regularly tracks the changes in the Edmond housing market.)

Page 18 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Biz From Page 17 developing a new organizational structure, including who will have final say on important decisions, will be necessary.

• Pick and share a target date for the transition. A deadline for the transition to new leadership will ensure everyone at the company treats it seriously. Target dates can change, but the establishment of the date can motivate business owners to make the changes necessary to ensure a smooth transition. A target date gives those who will be assuming leadership roles time to reorganize staff so the business continues without missing a beat once the change at the top goes into effect.

Target dates also give staff ample time to learn and prepare for new roles they may move into once the new leadership takes over.

• Welcome feedback. Soliciting feedback from those who

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will be affected by the exit plan increases the chances of a more successful transition once the target date arrives. This also gives owners a chance to gauge potential successors’ interest in taking the reins.

Some potential successors may prefer to stay in their current roles, and owners should not assume that everyone aspires to be head honcho.

• Make the plan known. Once the exit plan has been established and all affected parties have accepted it, business owners can make it known to the rest of the company.

This helps everyone prepare for the transition, which should make things go more smoothly for owners’ successors.

Exit plans can help small business owners step away with the confidence that the fruits of their labors will continue to be harvested for years to come.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 7, 2022 • Page 19

July is time to find Waldo in Edmond Where’s Waldo? In Edmond, of course! The iconic children’s book character in the red-andwhite-striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting twenty-five local businesses throughout our community this July.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2022, Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses, including Best of Books, Eileen’s Cookies, The Edmond Historical Society & Museum, Kidz Funtown and more!

Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Edmond!” stamp card, which contains the names of all the participating sites; with each Waldo they spot, they can get their card stamped or signed by the participating shop.

To make things a little more challenging, there will be one slightly different Waldo hiding in Best of

Books. Collecting store stamps or signatures at twenty or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing for Waldo books and paraphernalia.

Martin Handford’s collections of crowd scenes took the world by storm in the late 1980s, and since then the books have held a cherished place on bookstore shelves. More than 78 million Waldo books have been sold worldwide, and they’ve been translated into over thirty languages.

An entire generation has grown up searching for Waldo.

Once again, in celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, Candlewick Press is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and hundreds of independent bookstores across the country for some hide-and-seek fun designed to encourage residents to patronize their local businesses.

There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for the entire month of July. For more information about hunting for Waldo in Edmond, call Best of Books at 405-340-9202.

Puzzles appear on Page 14

In light of CO COVID OVID 19 for the e time being, some s worship servi services ces may be su suspended uspended or on online. nline.

Ple ease check with h your house of o worship for more m informati ion.

Please information.

Page 20 • July 7, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure