Edmond Life and Leisure - July 8, 2021

July 8, 2021

Vol. 22, No. 8

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Facts on Covid variants

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.

The importance of donating blood See page 10

FRIDAY, July 9

Mostly Sunny High 89° Low 73°

SATURDAY, July 10 Mostly Sunny High 90° Low 71°

SUNDAY, July 11 Mostly Sunny High 87° Low 70°

A Covid-19 variant that appears more contagious than the earliest strain of the virus is increasingly circulating in the U.S. But is the mutation something to fear?

Only if you’re unvaccinated, say experts at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

“Viruses mutate to survive,” said OMRF immunologist Eliza Chakravarty, M.D. “Becoming more transmissible is helpful from an evolutionary perspective. But with vaccines, we can mount a defense we didn’t have last year.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the delta variant, first identified in India, as a “variant of concern.” The CDC gave the mutation that now accounts for more than 20% of new infections in the U.S. the designation based on growing evidence that the variant spreads more easily and causes more severe cases of Covid-19 when compared to other variants.

The variant’s prevalence has more than doubled in recent weeks.

What started as a seemingly small percentage of cases doesn’t mean small danger for a virus that has claimed more than 600,000 lives in

the U.S., said OMRF physician-scientist Hal Scofield, M.D. “The delta variant appears prime

of the Pfizer vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic Covid-19 from the delta variant. CDC officials anticipate similar results for Moderna’s vaccine. And the effectiveness of Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose shot appears only slightly lowered — 60%, vs. the 66% seen in clinical trials — against the variant.

Despite this, in the same U.K. study, scientists found that one dose of the Pfizer vaccine is just 33% effective against the virus.

“It’s a reminder of how critical full vaccination is,” said Chakravarty. “If you are unvaccinated and waiting to see whether there will be a spike in cases before getting your shot, or if you’ve delayed in getting your Chakravarty, M.D. second dose, the time to act is to become the dominant coronanow.” virus strain in the U.S., as it is now Although infections of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom and India,” are rare in fully vaccinated people, said Scofield, noting that the variant Scofield said that testing should is striking teens and young adults remain top of mind to track the with increasing speed. “For commu- progression of the delta variant in nities with low levels of vaccination the state. in Oklahoma, this could mean “If you’re vaccinated, we’re on the serious trouble come fall.” cusp of returning to regular life,” There is good news for the fully said Scofield. “But if you’re sick with vaccinated, Scofield said. In a study symptoms such as coughing, fever published in May, researchers in the and difficulty breathing, you still U.K. found that a two-dose regimen need a Covid test.”

Page 2 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 3

Urges people to become donors

Edmond man gets second chance at life Roman Holden, of Edmond, has had a clear goal the past few years: feel good and live life to the fullest.

He was born with a rare liver disease, and at almost three years old, he received a liver transplant through a living donor. As Roman grew, he was frequently in and out of the hospital.

There were months where he wasn’t sick and could attend school, play basketball and be with friends – but he never truly felt well.

Five years after his transplant, Roman began going through chronic rejection. He was on several medications which slowed down the damage to his donated liver, but at 18 years old, he learned he would need another transplant to survive.

Upon learning this news, Roman clung to his faith and he adopted the motto, “Trust the Process”, adapted from a verse from 2 Timothy in the Bible, which brought him comfort.

His community rallied around him, and Roman printed shirts with the words “Trust the Process” on the front for family and friends signifying the journey.

Through the last two years, his health deteriorated quickly and he was relisted for a transplant. This new transplant process was much different than his prior health journey.

For the first time, he was in an adult hospital instead of a children’s hospital – and during a pandemic, it slowed the process down. The evaluation for his transplant took two and a half months, and when he was officially cleared to be listed, he was very sick.

For four months, he waited without a single call from the transplant center. Finally, he received a longawaited call which he hoped would save his life. He and his family headed to the hospital, only to learn 15 hours later the new liver was not

viable for transplant. He had a total of six more offers, which were also called off at the last minute. Roman was becoming sicker and sicker by the day.

On March 3, 2021, he was admitted to the hospital for breathing issues. That evening, he received a call from the transplant center that they had the liver that would save his life.

He received his transplant and is very thankful for this new chance at life by way of his donor hero. Today, Roman is living life to the fullest. He feels better than ever and is enjoying going to baseball games with friends.

More than 107,000 individuals are waiting on an organ transplant to save their life. Thousands more need tissue and corneal transplants to restore mobility and sight. Without the generous gift of more than 30,000 donors in the United States each year, many would still be waiting on a lifesaving gift.

LifeShare encourages all Oklahomans to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor and share the decision with your family. You can give the gift of life by registering on your Oklahoma License or Real ID or at LifeShareRegistry.org.

About LifeShare LifeShare is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant purposes. We work closely with three transplant centers and 145 healthcare organizations in the state of Oklahoma to facilitate donation.

Additionally, we strive to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education.

For more information about LifeShare, please visit www.lifeshareok.org.

Roman Holden

Page 4 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

State’s new laws as of July 1 I get nervous when I see all the new laws going into effect from our Oklahoma legislature. Oklahoma’s own Will Rogers said it best; "Never blame a legislative body for not doing someRay Hibbard thing. When they do nothing, they don't hurt anybody. When they do something is when they become dangerous."

That pretty much sums up my view of our state legislative body.

We get lots of visits from lawmakers bragging about bills or changes. They might try just passing a budget and then going home every other year with no more bills.

I also like the idea of every time they pass a new law, take one off the books.

Their time would be better spent on making sure all the departments in state government run correctly.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) was a disgrace this year. A system in place to help those in trouble did a terrible job. Their director would come on the broadcast news flailing her hands telling us it was not as bad as it seemed. Yet, the “b” roll for the television stations were hundreds of people waiting in line to get signed up for their money.

Latest example was folks getting their benefit cards shut off right at the end of the month. They could not buy food for their families or pay utility bills. It was money they were counting on. The hand waving director claimed it was only a few but it was thousands.

Another area of ineffectiveness I do not understand is getting real ID’s. Is it that hard? It has been in the works for years. Not only has the process not improved but now there is a massive delay in getting a regular driver’s license online. It seems we are going backward where folks that file in plenty of time are now having to drive without a current regular license.

So here is the situation for hundreds of Oklahomans. They used the system the state set up and encouraged because it was supposed to be better. Their current license has expired. Law enforcement says it is not an excuse and that they could still be ticketed. It is bound to affect their insurance coverage if they are caught driving with an expired license. Quote from the DPS

staff member: “It could be that once you explain the situation to the officer, they might not give you a ticket”. What a great plan!

For better or worse, here are some of the new laws we are stuck with this year. My suggestion to our Edmond area state representatives and senators is to skip passing new laws next year and try making sure the trains run on time instead.

Taxpayers get a break this year.

All Oklahomans will see their personal state income taxes go down because of House Bill 2962. The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2022, cuts individual income tax by lowering the top rate from 5% to 4.75%.

It also restores the refundability of the earned income tax credit.

The credit, which had resulted in an average refund of $121 per household for the 200,000 Oklahomans with low-to-moderate income, was a casualty of the Legislature’s 2016 cost-cutting moves.

Corporations and other business entities will also see their state taxes drop starting in 2022. House Bill 2960 will reduce the state’s corporate income tax from 6% to 4%.

COVID related legislation from this session includes: The Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act The government may not close places of worship during emergencies, as was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure would not prevent church leaders from closing or suspending operations at houses of worship on their own.

Masks in schools Schools may not implement a mask mandate for students who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Proof of vaccination Schools are not allowed to require that students present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for admittance.

Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021 A new film and television incentive builds on an existing program upping the rebate cap from $8 million to $30 million. Supporters said the measure was necessary to help diversify the state’s economy. Pictured, "Killers of the Flower Moon" is filmed in Pawhuska on May 24.

For medical marijuana businesses The new law requires that licensees of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority disclose any foreign interests held in the medical marijuana industry. It also allows OMMA to conduct on-site compliance checks starting Sept. 1 and mandates inspections to determine whether a licensee remains active and compliant.

Cost-of-living adjustments For the first time in 12 years, most state retirees will see a costof-living adjustment in their pension checks. Starting Wednesday, state retirees who have been retired for more than five years will see a 4% increase in their pensions. Those who have been retired for between two and five years will see a 2% increase. Those retired for less than two years will not see an increase.

The cost-of-living adjustments, which will be paid out of state pension funds, are expected to have a $767 million lifetime impact on the state's pension systems. The adjustments apply to retirees in five of the seven state pension systems.

Department of Corrections employee pay raises About 430 state corrections employees who were accidentally left out of pay raises last year will receive $2-per-hour raises starting July 1.

A new law attempts to fix an oversight that unintentionally kept the corrections employees from receiving pay raises last year due to a classification error. The pay raises will cost the state about $1.6 million annually.

Poll workers get a raise Oklahoma poll workers will get a pay bump in the new fiscal year.

State law requires three workers for each polling location — an inspector, judge, and clerk — with each paid between $85 and $95. Under a new law, judges and clerks will be paid $100 and inspectors will be paid $110 for working on Election Day. The new law also restructures the framework of some election boards and requires proposed changes to precinct boundaries to be presented at a public meeting and approved by the county election board.

Judicial pay raises Oklahoma judges across all levels will see 4.5% pay raises. The pay raises are less than the 9.2% pay

raises recommended by the Board on Judicial Compensation, which makes recommendations for salary adjustments every two years.

District attorneys, whose pay is tied to judicial compensation, will also see similar pay raises later this year.

Virtual charter school reforms The Virtual Charter School Transparency and Reform Act will implement a host of changes to virtual charter schools, including new policy for transfers, attendance, and truancy. Oklahoma’s state school superintendent has praised the law as a “strong step in the right direction for transparency and accountability among our virtual charter schools.”

Starting with the 2021-2022 school year, the law will limit public-school students to only one transfer a year to a virtual charter school.

The virtual school would pre-enroll a student whose parents express interest in transferring their child. The state Education Department would initiate the transfer upon pre-enrollment, giving the student’s resident school district three days to send the child’s vital records. The measure also increases the number of instructional activities required for virtual charter students to be considered in attendance.

Students would be withdrawn for truancy if they failed to complete any activities or assignments for a 15-day period without an excuse. A student who is reported for truancy two times in a school year would be withdrawn and prohibited from re-enrolling in the virtual charter school.

Local grocery stores As Oklahoma City grapples with a food desert in the northeast part of the city, a new law will allow local governments to become more financially involved in attracting grocery stores to low-income areas or places that lack access to healthy food.

Local governments will essentially be able to offer state local government matching payments to help bring in grocery or specialty food stores within one-half mile of a lowincome or low-access areas

(Ray Hibbard, publisher of Edmond Life & Leisure may be reached by email at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Check out what’s inside!

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

---- Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 6.

---- Redbud Classic opens registration................................................Page 9.

---- Columnist examines government red tape ................................Page 10.

---- Lawmaker defends Second amendment ....................................Page 11.

---- New O-State president’s first day ..............................................Page 12.

---- George Gust reviews crime thriller ............................................Page 14.

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

---- Church directory ........................................................................Page 19.

This, and 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 Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, and George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2021 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 8, 2021 • Page 5

The winners for ‘Best Social Media’ for Rediscover Joy campaign with Armstrong Auditorium.

Edmond honored with RedBud awards The Edmond Conference Center hosted the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association’s annual RedBud Awards on June 29. Open to all Oklahoma tourism entities, the RedBud Awards represent the highest honor given in the Oklahoma tourism industry. Edmond Electric served as the title sponsor.

Emceed by Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell and Jenifer Reynolds, 37 awards were given in 20 categories. The awards recognize Oklahoma's top tourism attractions, events, programs and organizations for outstanding efforts to serve and promote Oklahoma’s tourism industry.

Edmond winners are listed below.

Best Social Media

Redbud: Armstrong Auditorium – Rediscover Joy ---Best Overall Marketing Campaign – (Small Budget Organization) Merit: Armstrong Auditorium – Rediscover Joy --Outstanding Temporary Exhibit RedBud: Edmond Historical Society & Museum – Darci Lynne’s Got Talent Exhibit Merit: City of Edmond/Edmond Electric – Edmond Electric’s Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll --Outstanding New Event Merit: Visit Edmond – Rollin’ Deep November 7, 2020 Mural Festival

Outstanding temporary exhibit. with the ‘Darci Lynne’s Got Talent Exhibit at the Edmond Historical Society & Museum.

Recognition for the Edmond Electric’s Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll . At far left is Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and next to him is Edmond Mayor Darrell Davis.

Outstanding New Event went to the campaign Visit Edmond – Rollin’ Deep November 7, 2020 Mural Festival. Holding the award is Jennifer Seaton, Edmond tourism director. To the far right is Jennifer Reynolds.

Page 6 • July 8, 2021 • 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 Brandy Patrick Rocky, 36 homeless.

Public intoxication.

Amanda Elaine Dunlap, 39 homeless. (Drug related) possession of contraband in a penal institution, false personation of another and (misdemeanor first & second offense) larceny of merchandise from retailer.

Cory Ryan Attardi, 36 of Edmond.

Possess firearm after conviction of a felony and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

Dallas Faqwuan Hodges, 26 of Norman. Operate (DUI or APC) a

motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

June 22 Jayla Jo Carter, 29 of Oklahoma City. Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, expired tag of over three months, driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and no proof of insurance.

Roger Aaron Moreau, 43 homeless. Two counts possession of CDS, possess drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.

June 23 Jason Dougles Kougl, 47 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Stephani Sue Nichols, 47 of Edmond. Expired tag of over three months and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

William Henri Casteel, 54 of Edmond. Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, carrying a weapon under the influence of alcohol and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Shamika Diamond Gillett, 20 of Newcastle. Public intoxication.

June 24 Mukam Awasthi, 22 of Edmond.

False reports of crime, (Drug related) possession of contraband in a penal institution and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance.

Kimberlyn Kay Evans, 59 homeless.

Public intoxication.

Maurico Montelogo, 22 of Oklahoma City. Left of center and driving without proper/valid driver's license.

June 25 Antonio Lavelle Bloomer, 28 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

June 26 Shelby Lea Borger, 24 of Shawnee.

Public intoxication.

Javier Rodriquez, 22 of Edmond.

Assault -- resisting officer.

James Thomas Duncan, 42 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor) domestic abuse assault.

Treveontae Delante Vealy, 20 of Oklahoma City. Under 21 operate (DUI/APC) a motor vehicle under influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance and transporting open container of intoxicating beverage or beer.

Dewayne DeMario Roberson, 27 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication and removed, falsified or authorized identification.

Grant Mitchell Young, 26 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

June 27 Joshua Andrew Marler, 41 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Misty Dawn Conley, 45 homeless.

Public intoxication.

Weekend Calendar of Events July 8-11 What’s Happening This Weekend Julyy 8-11 ---- In the Gallery: Martha Turner ---- What’s Cooking, Edmond?

---- VIRTUAL:: Edmond’s African American History ---- National Little Britches Rodeo Association – National Finals Rodeo ---- Concert in the Park: Old Bulldog Band ---- Movie at the Park: Frozen II ---- Outdoor Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- Celtic Throne: The Royal Journey of Irish Dance ---- Beats & Bites Presents Summerland Tour 2021 ---- Drop-In Drawing – Two’s Company, Duane Bryers ---- Signature Tour ---- Dancing in the Gardens ---- Southwest Street Rod Nationals ---- Summer Music Series ---- Sunday Twilight Concert Series Extra Information In the Gallery: Martha Turner Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Free; featuring the art of Martha Turner; edmondfinearts.com What’s Cooking, Edmond?

Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: through Tue, Aug. 31; Free; edmondhistory.org

VIRTUAL: Edmond’s African American History Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: through Fri, Dec 31; edmondhistory.org National Little Britches Rodeo Association – National Finals Rodeo Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: Mon, July 5 – Sun, July 11; nlbra.com Concert in the Park: Old Bulldog Band Location: Hafer Park & A.C. Caplinger Ball Fields Extra Info: Thu, July 8; Free; 6:15 – 9 p.m.; edmondok.com Movie at the Park: Frozen II Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: Fri, July 9; 8:30 p.m.; Free; facebook.com Outdoor Edmond Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Marketplace Extra Info: Sat, July 10; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondlok.com Celtic Throne: The Royal Journey of Irish Dance Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: Sun, July 11; 2 p.m.; $30 to $55; armstrongauditorium.vbotickets.com Beats & Bites Presents Summerland Tour 2021 Location: Riverwind Casino, Beats & Bites Stage Extra Info: Sat, July 10; 5 p.m.; riverwind.co,

Drop-In Drawing – Two’s Company, Duane Bryers Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, July 11; 2 ---- 3 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, July 10 & 11; 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Dancing in the Gardens Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens & Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory Extra Info: Fri, July 9; Salsa: 7 p.m.; Dance: 8 – 11 p.m.; oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com Southwest Street Rod Nationals Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Fri, July 9 – Sun, July 11; Fri – Sat; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.; nsra-usa.com Summer Music Series Location: Riversport OKC Extra Info: Sat, July 10; 4 – 8 p.m.; riversportokc.org Sunday Twilight Concert Series Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens Extra Info: Sun, July 11; 7:30 – 9 p.m.; artscoun

FILE PHOTO/MELINDA INFANTE

One of the places to be every Saturday morning is the Farmer’s Market, in downtown Edmond at the Festival Marketplace. It’s held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m each Saturday into the fall.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 7

Officials were pleased with the performance of Oklahoma’s upstream flood control dams durng recent heavy rains. The effectiveness of the dams prevented millions of dollars of damage, officials believe. Several inches of rain fell over a one-week period.

Flood control dams held up, officials say As the weekend night flickered with lighting, rumbled with thunder and flowed with intense late June rains, Oklahoma’s upstream flood control dams were working just as they were designed. That critical work has continued into the days to follow.

Oklahoma leads the nation with 2,107 upstream flood control dams.

Regardless of the hour of the day or the ongoing hours of work needed, these flood control dams are doing their jobs to protect the people, land and infrastructure of Oklahoma.

In a five-day period -- 6 a.m. Friday, June 25 to 6 a.m., June 30 – flood control dams spread through 14 Oklahoma counties resulted in $10.1 million in monetary benefits in terms of damages that did not occur because of the presence of these dams. There were 121 DamWatch system “Rainfall Alerts” in those 14 counties – Caddo, Comanche, Creek, Custer, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Washington, Washita – and 12 “Auxiliary Spillway Flow Alerts” in three of those 14 – Lincoln, Noble, Payne counties. There were 22 different watershed that received alerts within the 14 counties.

Chris Stoner, Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservation Engineer said on Wednesday that there have been, “No reports of damage to any of the dams inspected to date.”

“I never complain about a significant Oklahoma summer rain,” said Tammy Sawatzky, Oklahoma Conser-

vation Commission Director of Conservation Programs. “The rainfall over the past week is a real reminder of the importance of the local, State and National investment in Oklahoma’s flood protection and flood prevention infrastructure. The 2,107 dams built under the USDA Small Watershed Program are a real asset when we have a weather week like the one we are in this week. The repeating rainfall reminds us of the importance of the financial and human resources Conservation Districts invest in maintaining the protection.

This June rain will help us stretch grazing on our pastures, green our gardens and make for an extra mowing or two out on the front lawn. The flood protection provided to Oklahoma through the Small Watershed Program will protect life and property as well as reduce potential damage from uncontrolled flooding. Those are all wins if you ask me!”

“The storms we get here in Oklahoma can and do strike anywhere at any time,” Stoner said. “Of the 14 high hazard potential dams that received rainfall alerts, only two of those dams were originally constructed to meet high hazard potential criteria. Luckily, four others have been rehabilitated and now meet current dam safety criteria. However, the remaining eight that received heavy rainfall in this event along with over 200 other high hazard potential dams in the state are still in need of rehabilitation. They did their job, this time,

but all of Oklahoma’s flood control infrastructure continues to age and will need continued support from the federal, state, and local partners.”

Watershed projects were based on the conservation principle of holding the raindrop high in the watershed as close to where it strikes the ground as possible.

So, nine out of 10 Oklahomans are living within 20 miles of a flood control dam. Oklahomans live, work and play daily under their protection every day. Flood control makes modern Oklahoma life possible in many rural communities.

The watershed programs are one of the best examples of federal, state and local partnerships to address natural resources issues. Watershed projects are federal-assisted, not federally owned. NRCS provided funds to plan, design, and construct the dams. Project sponsors, typically local conservation districts, are responsible for operation and maintenance of the dams to assure they continue to func-

tion as there were designed, Oklahoma’s flood control dams have established a $2 billion infrastructure that provides benefits to thousands of citizens. In fact, it’s estimated that the dams and accompanying conservation practices in the watersheds provide approximately $96 million in benefits each year.

That’s where the DamWatch system comes into play.

A Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) “National Watershed Benefits” computer model estimates the daily monetary benefits resulting from watershed projects for a specific storm. These “benefits” are essentially the damages that would have occurred from that storm had the dams not been built.

From his USDA NRCS state office on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Stoner can access the As-Built drawings for all dams across the state and zoom in on areas that may be hard to interpret even from the original documents.

Page 8 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Summer is for Camps

Around 75 campers across Oklahoma recently graduated from the SAGE STEAM Camp held at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. The Southwest Alliance for Girls’ Enrichment (SAGE) in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts/Humanities, and Mathematics (STEAM) Camp was a weeklong, residential summer camp hosted on SWOSU’s campus for girls who are entering the eighth and ninth grades this fall. Campers were chosen after being nominated by their teachers and undergoing a phone interview, which evaluated STEAM interest and the need for this opportunity.

Among those attending were Chloe Lamprecht, Annamika (Anna) Agarwal and Anigka Rajaram, all of Edmond

Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s annual Middle School Band Camp attracted nearly 300 students. The camp for students who have completed grades five through seven was held June 27-30 on the Weatherford campus. SWOSU’s annual Band Camp for 7th-12th grade students is coming up July 11-16 with approximately 450 students planning to attend. Among those attending the Middle School Band Camp from Cimarron was Stormi

From left, are, Alexis Bailey, Claire Davis, Alexis Munn, Savannah Jones and Alexandra Valentine.

Edmond FCCLA members attend officer training at Camp Tulakogee Savannah Jones, Alexis Munn, Alexandra Valentine, Claire Davis and Alexis Bailey, members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Chapter of North High School, Memorial High School and Heartland Middle School, respectively were 5 of 80 district officers from across Oklahoma who participated in the organization’s District Officer Training last month at Camp Tulakogee, Wagoner. Jana Jolly and Kendall Wildman are the FCCLA advisers at Memorial High School and Cheyenne Middle School, respectively.

One of the main purposes of the three-day leadership institute was to prepare district officers with the skills they need to conduct and preside over district leadership meetings, according to State Adviser, Brittani Phillips.

“They will take many of the leadership skills they learned back to their district chapters and teach local chap-

ter officers how to better fulfill the responsibilities of their office,” Phillips said.

Leadership topics presented by Kelly Barnes focused on presentation and communication skills. Officers also developed goals for their districts.

FCCLA helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues. More than 10,000 students on Oklahoma middle school, high school and technology center campuses are members of FCCLA. “FCCLA is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members,” Phillips said. “It is the only CareerTech student organization with family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 9

Registration opens for Redbud Classic The Redbud Classic, Oklahoma City’s esteemed running and cycling tradition, will celebrate its 38th event of bringing fitness, fun and philanthropy to the community in 2021. Registration is now open for all Redbud events set for the weekend of Saturday, Sept. 11, and Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.

The 2021 Redbud Classic features events for the whole family starting on Saturday, Sept. 11, with 10-, 30- and 40-Mile Bike Tours, a 1-Mile Kids’ Fun Run, in addition to two inaugural events, the 50Mile Fondo and the 1-Mile Woof Walk. The events continue on Sunday, Sept. 12, with 5K and 10K timed runs, 5K Wheelchair Event, 2-Mile Walk and 2-Mile Baby Stroller Derby.

New in 2021, the 1-Mile Woof Walk will take place immediately following the 1-Mile Kids’ Fun Run on Saturday, Sept. 11. Registration costs $15 per dog and each owner will receive a medal along with a bandana for their pet. Dogs are required to be leashed at all times, with no retractable leashes allowed.

Each year, the Redbud Foundation Board of Directors selects an Oklahoma City nonprofit organization with whom to partner and serve as the beneficiary of event proceeds. Annually, multiple agencies apply to the Redbud Classic as potential beneficiaries. The Oklahoma City Police Athletic League (OKC PAL), a nonprofit organization

whose mission is provide athletic programs, leadership skills training and service opportunities to the students and schools involved in their programs, was originally chosen as the 2020 beneficiary and continues to serve as the 2021 beneficiary since the 2020 race was canceled.

“Redbud has raised more than $900,000 for local nonprofits in Oklahoma since our first race in 1983,” Redbud Classic Race Director Kristin Hersom said. “After such a tumultuous year, we are honored to bring the tradition of fun, fitness and philanthropy back to Oklahoma City this fall. We are thrilled to have partnered with the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League as the 2021 beneficiary and look forward to providing race participants with the opportunity to help students create a healthy, active lifestyle and receive quality mentorship from our community’s local heroes.”

OKC PAL works in partnership with the Oklahoma City Police Department to serve students and schools in Oklahoma City. OKC PAL’s mission is to create a safe place for kids to participate in sports and leadership and to strengthen the relationship between police officers and youth. The nonprofit aims to drive change by providing positive opportunities for the youth they serve.

“We are thankful to be chosen as the beneficiary of Redbud and can’t think of a better way to

PHOTO PROVIDED

Trevon Moehrig, a football standout at Texas Christian University, took time out last week to visit patients at Integris SW Center in Oklahoma City. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner visits Integris SW Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Winner Trevon Moehrig toured the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation facility at INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center last week, visiting with patients and signing autographs.

It was quite a treat, as the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is given annually to the top defensive back in college football. “It was a great honor to have Trevon take time out of his schedule to come motivate and inspire our patients,” says Keith Wilton, the director of Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation. “We know the Jim Thorpe Award is about more than what happens on the football field. It is largely based on character as well, and Trevon’s exceptional character was on full display today.”

Trevon Moehrig is now a Las Vegas Raider. He was a safety at Texas

Christian University. Not only did he shine in his career as a Horned Frog, but he is leaving one of the greatest legacies ever for a TCU defensive back. In January, he became the first TCU player to win the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. He’s still in disbelief.

“I thought man, this is crazy,” he said. “You play football when you’re a kid and see guys get this award and man it’s just a dream come true.”

He adds, “Seeing those guys before me, it’s just an honor to even be on the same list as them.”

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is named after history’s greatest athlete, Jim Thorpe, and is presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Thorpe excelled at every sport in which he competed, including football where he played on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

support our organization and our students,” OKC PAL Executive Director Mark Eby said. “The Oklahoma City Police Athletic League has worked to create an environment where kids are taught the importance of teamwork, leadership and pursuing an active lifestyle, and we appreciate the opportunity Redbud has given us to share our message.”

The Redbud Classic events continue past the finish line with the Redbud BASH. The BASH will be held Sunday, Sept. 12, at 12 p.m. in the finish area at Nichols Hills Plaza. There will be a variety of food from some of Oklahoma’s premier food trucks, beverages from COOP Ale Works and other sponsors, free family-friendly games and activities, music and other entertainment.

Registration is available online, or you may register in person at the registration office Sept. 9-11, 2021. By registering early and online at redbud.org, participants are more likely to receive their choice of T-shirt size as well as a timing tag. Until Sept. 6, early-bird registration fees are $35 for the running/walking events, $40 for the cycling tours and $60 for multi-day registration.

Registration fees for the 1-Mile Kids’ Fun Run and the Woof Walk are $15.

For complete event details including start times, course maps and registration information, visit redbud.org.

Page 10 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side Cutting through red tape?

Polls results: Stitt, Sometimes I wonder why we don't turn over more government duties over to the private sector?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not casting any aspersions toward government folks.

They're are as bright Steve Gust and hard working as their private sector counterparts. And the people at the Department of Public Safety were very helpful and nice to me when I was renewing my license. Still governments seem to be hampered by lots of red tape.

For instance the other day I needed a new razor. I ordered one online and it arrived at my house within a day. Now getting a driver's license renewal from the state is another proposition altogether. I understand their web page now says it takes 60 days for a simple renewal. A friend of mine on Facebook, said he had to wait almost 90 days.

If you ask the state, they'll explain some of the challenges they face. I'm sure there are procedures they have to follow and it's causing a backlog. Plus

they probably need to add another small army of people to do the increased work. Hiring people isn't the easiest thing to do, especially with government staffing. These haven't been the easiest days to hire people either.

I'm sure most restaurants can attest to that. Still I wonder if Amazon would take 60 days to renew a driver's license?

Then again even the retail giant last year was having a hard time supplying toilet paper during that shortage.

---Speaking of government problems, I wonder why the feds don't enforce immigration law? Biden and company seem to think it's a good idea to have open borders. That's ridiculous. We've seen how federal lawmakers react to a threat. After the Jan. 6 disturbance in Washington D.C., the feds put up a fence and manned it with National Guard troops. Yet they won't do that at the border. A part of me still believes the Democrats want new voters and therefore are opening the borders. But it could backfire on them.

We truly have incompetent federal leadership. And it's becoming clearer every day.

Lankford are up; President down

The Oklahoma-based public affairs firm Amber Integrated has released a survey measuring voter attitudes regarding their elected officials, political issues and current events. This survey was conducted from June 24-June 28, 2021, and included a pool of 500 registered voters in Oklahoma.

This survey has a margin of error of 4.38% at a 95% confidence interval.

Key findings include: •Governor Kevin Stitt is the most popular elected official in Oklahoma. ◦Gov. Stitt has an approval rating of 59%, up six points since our March 2021 survey had

him at 53% approval.

His approval rating among Republicans has grown by ten points since March (from 70% to 80%) and by 3 points among Democrats (from 27% to 30%). Interestingly, his numbers dropped amon g independents, moving from a 60% approval rating in April to just 49% approval today.

• Sen. James Lankford has rebounded in popularity since our March poll. ◦ In March, Sen. James Lankford’s approval rating stood at 47%. Today, Lankford’s approval rating stands at a solid 54%, with 71% approval from Republicans. Any challenge to Lankford in a

primary will be an uphill climb.

• President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are unpopular. ◦No surprise in deep red Oklahoma, but President Biden and VP Harris are not popular.

Biden stands at 42% approve / 54% disapprove, while Harris is at 40% approve/ 50% disapprove. For reference, Pres. Trump had a 54% approval rating when last polled by A.I. in December 2020.

• Dr. Anthony Fauci is almost as polarizing as our politicians. ◦ Dr. Fauci has a 42% approval rating and a 43% disapproval rating. He is unpopular with Republicans, with 57% disapproving of his job performance and just 29% approving.

That flips among Democrats, 65% of whom approve of Fauci and just 22% of whom say they disapprove of his job performance.

• COVID no longer rates as a priority for voters. ◦ In a December 2020 voter survey, COVID was listed as voters’ top priority, with 29% saying it was the most important issue.

That declined to 19% in AI’s March poll, and has now fallen to just 8% in June (with just 2% of Republicans ranking it their top priority). ◦ Issues more important to voters than COVID now include: ▪ Jobs and economy (33% list as #1 issue) ▪ Education (15% list as #1 issue) ▪ Immigration (10% list as #1 issue) ▪ Law and Order (8% list as #1 issue) ▪ Health care (8% list

Poll, Page 11

Why it’s important to give blood

By John Armitage, M.D. By keeping 100,000s of pints of blood pumping from donors to patients during the pandemic, Oklahoma Blood Institute has had an opportunity to feel the pulse of the community’s response to the crisis. The last year traced an unstable pattern of ups and downs for our blood supply as we jourDr. Armitage neyed through elective surgery bans, new case surges, restricted gatherings, reopening stages and post-vaccine freedoms.

There is always a new twist in the tale, and none has been so worrying as the barely detectable reaction to the recent 14-victim shooting spree in Austin, Texas.

The blood center that supplies Austin hospitals

faced a spike in demand following the shooting. It needed 136 O positive and 36 O negative red blood cells and 23 platelets to treat the known trauma patients. With the shooters still on the loose, there was a prospect for further carnage. In face of this emergency, the call went out requesting these blood products from other blood centers.

This type of sharing is commonplace in a disaster response and represents mutual support that strengthens the civil security for all Americans.

Sadly, the plea was answered with only 36 red cell and 26 platelet units. I am proud to say we contributed a share and that our Texas neighbors managed through the immediate crisis. Our role was even more important because only four blood providers could find any blood to spare because of severe summer shortages.

Such an anemic reaction is not at all typical after

Letters to the Editor policy We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, compliments or comments about what they read here. The rules, even for e-mail letters: 1) You must tell us your full name; 2) You must give us your complete address and phone numbers (but we will identify you only by name); and 3) We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity and taste (our taste).

Send mail to Letter to the Editor, Edmond Life & Leisure, 107 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or fax to 340-3384 or e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com.

a disaster and warns of a weakening national resilience to face the next mass casualty event.

Another gut punch from COVID-19 is part of the explanation. A major drop in collections occurred over the last month as people rushed to travel, socialize and otherwise reengage in the social reawakening. With many businesses and organizations not yet ready to host drives again, the usual summer struggles of blood bankers are worse than ever.

As a stunning danger signal, the nation’s largest blood supplier has asked its hospitals to slow the pace of elective surgeries and recommends “providers confirm product availability with the hospital blood bank before scheduling procedures that may require blood.”

Setting off more alarm bells, our flow of donations following the Austin shooting has been flat. Usually after a mass tragedy, collection rates rise as many people donate to help the victims needing transfusions and to show compassion for those hurting. This expression of caring gives blood centers confidence to share in the short term, knowing that they will soon see a bump to refill their stocks. If there is no rebound effect to be expected, centers will be less generous with each other in the short term.

While the “new normal” feels great in many ways, for those of us monitoring the blood levels available for cancer, trauma, obstetric and surgical patients there is much anxiety. Will we be able to meet the pre-pandemic standard of transfusion care? The vital signs currently are not trending well.

John Armitage, M.D. is the president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 11

Letter to the Editor

State lawmaker calls Biden’s comments on guns ‘dangerous’ Editor’s Note: Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, Chair of the House State's Rights Committee, last week sent a letter in response to comments made last week by President Joe Biden concerning Amendment II to the United States Consititution.

EDITOR: During his speech on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. threatened the People of this country with military action, and fabricated lies about multiple provisions in our Constitution – including the Second Amendment and the enumerated powers of the Federal Government. His comments should be taken very seriously, as they are extremely dangerous and certainly not reflective nor commensurate with the type of individual the American People entrust to protect their lives, liberties, and properties.

In his tyrannical, nonsensical ramblings on Wednesday, President Biden declared, “...if you think you need to have weapons to take on the government, you need F-15s and maybe some nuclear weapons.” This is a statement made to threaten Americans, one that egotistically exerts an “ultimatum of compliance” through a reckless warning of military action against the very people by which he is employed, whom he is duty-bound to protect. Any such threat from a sitting U.S. President, our great military’s “Commander in Chief,” is completely absurd, inappropriate, and dangerous, and shall not be tolerated - no more than would be a threat against the President.

Found in the continuance of his most recent misconduct, the President intentionally molests the language and intent of Amendment II to the U.S.

Constitution with his statement, “The Second Amendment, from the day it was passed, limited the type of people who could own a gun and what type of weapon you could own. You couldn’t buy a cannon.” There is absolutely no language found in the Amendment, nor in the Constitution itself, that can be rationally construed to agree with the President’s abundantly blatant lie. To suggest that the Constitution provides for any limitations on Americans’ rights and liberties, is to entirely and willfully distort the purpose of the delegated, enumerated powers of the federal government found in Article I, Section 8 as well as the restrictions placed on the federal government in our Bill of Rights. President Biden’s threat against the American People is both unacceptable and in direct contradiction to the oath of office, found in Article VI, “…to support this Constitution;” - the oath that someone in this country with a nearly 50-year political career should be intimately familiar with.

President Biden’s threats against our republic last week were not only completely out of line, but also an attempt to render you, the People, helpless and powerless against an overreaching federal government. What the President said was nothing short of an absolute threat to all Americans, as well as our Constitution and the God-given rights and liberties it is designed to protect. Our Constitution provides no refuge for such tyrannical behavior.

Respectfully, Jay W. Steagall Chairman, Oklahoma House State’s Rights Committee

Poll From Page 10 as #1 issue).

• Trump now ties Reagan for the adulation of Republican voters. ◦ When asked which recent U.S. president should be added to Mount Rushmore, 29% said “none,” 19% said Ronald Reagan, 19% said Donald Trump, and 15% said Barack Obama. Among Republican voters, 28.9% said Reagan vs. 28.5% for Trump, a difference of one respondent. ◦ This is another sign that today’s Republican Party is evenly split between Old Guard Conservatives and a new type of populist Republican in the Trump mold.

• Oklahomans see the media and other Americans as the greatest threat to democracy, not foreign powers. ◦ When asked what the greatest threat to American democracy is today, Oklahoma voters answered:

▪ “the media or social media companies” (25%), ▪ “liberal or leftwing extremists in the U.S.” (21.7%), ▪ “rival foreign nations like China” (21.6%), ▪ “conservative or right-wing extremists in the U.S.” (16%) ▪“something else” at 13%.

About Amber Integrated: Amber Integrated is a fully integrated public affairs firm, offering services in lobbying and government relations, political campaign consulting, media relations and communications, digital marketing and advertising, and survey research. Amber Integrated focuses on analytically driven strategies, quantitative research and digitally focused campaigns that deliver successful outcomes for our clients, which include Fortune 500 companies, elected officials, non-profits, and businesses of all sizes.

Health officials thank National Guard ‘for role during COVID-19 pandemic The Oklahoma National Guard fulfilled a critical, and very important, role throughout the state during the COVID-19 pandemic response. Working with the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), National Guard members provided support with contact tracing efforts, testing clinics, community resources, vaccine operations and staffing. National Guard members will end their assignment and begin to transition out of OSDH operations July 1.

“I know I speak for the entire OSDH staff when I say we are beyond grateful for our partnership with the National Guard,” stated Dr. Lance Frye, commissioner of health, Oklahoma State Department of Health. “We could not have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the way we did without their help.”

Working side-by-side with local nurses and public health staff, National Guard members helped ensure citizens could access testing, prevention recommendations and vaccine. They became part of the OSDH team, allowing for faster response times in Oklahoma communities.

“As our state faced uncertainty, and an everchanging response, having the National Guard on our team helped us remain flexible and provided

Lankford comments on Biden gun control proposal

calm leadership,” states Keith Reed, deputy commissioner, Oklahoma State Department of Health.

OSDH employees across the state are hosting celebrations to honor the National Guard and recognize their hard work and dedication to the people of Oklahoma.

"It has been a pleasure working with OSDH," said Col. Bob Walter, Oklahoma National Guard Joint Task Force Commander. "The experiences and relationships gained by our Soldiers and Airmen are invaluable both to the organization and to the individuals. The teamwork and partnership is a testament to Oklahoma's joint effort and the willingness to work through challenges to serve one another."

Over their 15-month deployment, the National Guard assisted with: • Direct planning and support of the response through the Multi-Agency Coordination Center • Environmental sanitizing/disinfecting of the LTC centers across the state • Transportation of testing specimens and supplies across the state • Warehouse support related to and delivery of PPE

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) recently responded to President Biden’s announcement to implement a comprehensive strategy on gun violence, which doesn’t address violence, but seeks to stop the purchase of firearms.

“President Biden’s response to an increase in violence is to criminalize law-abiding citizens. The surge in violent crimes is not due to Oklahomans exercising their Second

Amendment right to keep and bear arms; it’s due to progressive policies that defund police across the nation,” said Lankford. “Instead of going after those who follow the law, Biden and progressives should take a look at their failed policies and stop putting more restrictions on upstanding Americans. His plan to stop crime gives more power to the ATF and takes away rights from ordinary Americans.”

Page 12 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Don’t have a cow, man, have a carrot!

By Carol Smaglinski We all know how much Peter Rabbits liked his carrots. Sure, but so do some smart dogs and horses, and donkeys, and humans, too. They’re no dumb bunnies as crisp carrots are inexpensive, colorful and favorites of youngsters who like to munch on them as a snack.

Cicero, the Roman philosopher, once said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” And those carrots are a big part of the garden and thankfully are easy to grow they just need space.

Years ago, people in the Netherlands would not allow carrots on their dinner table, but farmers in the lowlands fed them to their livestock instead and their native Holstein cows were soon producing some of the best butter in Europe.

In the days of Elizabeth1, she was once presented with a wreath of carrots and diamonds by a suitor. During that time, the green tops of the carrots were favored by Elizabethan women who, with the carrot’s wild herb relative, Queen Anne’s Lace, wove them into wreaths to wear on their heads. The Queen Anne’s Lace is now known as a

common weed.

During the plague, the tops of the carrots were part of the bridal bouquet, along with garlic and dill to ward off the evil disease overtaking the country.

Carrots do keep well under refrigeration for up to a week to 10 days, if when purchased, they are fresh and the top leaves are green. The yellow-orange carotene contained in fresh carrots provides us with Vitamin A, essential for growth and a bonus, good eyesight. But do try to eat them cooked, rather than raw as they have more of the vitamins in usual forms. And the larger the carrot, the more carotene and vitamins. Next to beets, they are one of the veggies we eat that contain more natural sugar, but an average carrot will only contain about 30 calories and offer high levels of potassium, calcium and phosphorus. It was once prescribed as an anecdote for every imaginable ailment.

Carrots came to us from the warmer parts of Europe And Western Asia but are now grown in the United States and are available all year around.

When purchasing, just check out the “lace” to see how fresh the carrots are, which is always a giveaway as to how fresh the produce is at that time.

Avoid the split, cracked carrots, and the dry crooked carrots as they can be hard to peel.

Keep them cold in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator, but make sure they are not near any apples. The ethylene given off by the apple as they ripen will turn the carrots bitter.

Coleslaw with Carrots and Cabbage 3 tbsp. mayonnaise 3 Tbsp. plain yogurt 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tsp. cider vinegar 1 tsp. sugar Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups red cabbage, shredded 2 cups green cabbage, shredded 1 cup carrots, grated ½ cup chopped celery Combine, in a large bowl, the mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard and cider vinegar and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Add cabbages, carrots and celery and mix well. Chill before serving. Another time, add some nuts and raisins.

New OSU president reflects on first day Dr. Shrum began her first day as the 19th president of Oklahoma State University in front of a crowd of reporters in Gallagher-Iba Arena’s OClub where she introduced new Athletic Director Chad Weiberg.

Despite being appointed in April, she found her first day still felt surreal.

“It is really exciting,” Shrum said.

“Every time I hear ‘19th president, Dr. Kayse Shrum,’ I start thinking about the magnitude of the role and the history of Oklahoma State University.

The 19th person to serve in that capacity and being the first female is a big responsibility. It is a little bit surreal. I would not have ever imagined that. My first experience here was at a softball camp, and I think back to that 13-year old girl who never had this in mind. To be here today, I am really proud and humbled to be the 19th president and serving in this role, it is quite an honor.”

Shrum, who previously served as president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences (CHS) called leaving there a bittersweet moment. A Coweta, Oklahoma, native, Shrum attended medical school at OSU-CHS, earning a degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine. She worked as a pediatrician before returning to teach at OSU-CHS 20 years ago.

Shrum said she will always rely on what she learned at OSU-CHS. “I said yesterday that I felt like the Miranda Lambert country song, ‘The House That Built Me.’ I feel like the OSU Center for Health Sciences is the house that built me professionally,” Shrum said. “The people there are my family, and I am not leaving them; I am relocating. But it is a bittersweet moment, walking out of the office, knowing you aren't coming back the next day.

OSU president, Dr. Kayse Shrum “But there is an excitement about coming here, starting a new chapter, taking all of those things I have learned and my love for the landgrant mission and accomplishing new things and touching lives here is just as exciting.”

Weiberg said he was honored to start the same day as Shrum — who embraces the role of collegiate athletics, citing her time as a college softball pitcher.

“It is humbling and an honor to be the first person you introduce as president,” said Weiberg, who replaces Mike Holder as OSU’s 13th athletic director. “I hope you are president for a long time, and I hope you never have to introduce another athletic director.”

After meeting individually with reporters from around the state, Shrum hurried off to make another appointment in a day full of them. She went to the OSU Student Union for a short lunch before meeting with student leaders and campus life representatives.

After perusing the selection inside the Union Express convenience store, Shrum settled on butter crunch ice cream for an informal meeting with students. Intent on getting to know her students on a personal level, she and husband Darren asked them about the past year under COVID restrictions, their thoughts on the vaccine and what could be improved about life at OSU. The students were representatives of the Student Union Activity Board, Student Arts Alliance, Multicultural Greek Council, Pan-Hellenic Council, Camp Cowboy and Interfraternity Council.

As a mother of six, Shrum brought up the effects of students having to learn online last year and her hope that students returning in the fall can experience more of what campus has to offer.

Meeting the students was the highlight of her day, she said.

“That is what makes this job fun,

learning about each of them and where they are from and what they bring to Oklahoma State University,” Shrum said. “Also, what they are looking to achieve during their time here and what are their hopes and goals for Oklahoma State in the future and what will help us form what our vision looks like in the future. In a way, it is a small celebration but also an opportunity to connect and learn from them.”

Shrum left the student leaders to meet with OSU’s academic leadership of deans and vice-presidents to discuss her plans as president.

Before even setting foot in Whitehurst Hall for her first day, Shrum had been laying groundwork for her presidency. She went on a listening tour for the past few months to explore how she and academic leadership could work together.

“I have met with all of the deans previously,” Shrum said. “Today is just an opportunity to meet with them and let them know that I think they are important people within the university and are going to be important within my team and the success of this university. I’m letting them know what my plan is for the next year, which is really developing my executive leadership team and engaging with everyone to develop a strategy around that vision of what we look like as a modern land-grant university.”

Although it was a busy time in what will most assuredly be a busy first 100 days with the fall semester set to start Aug. 16, Shrum is ready for the challenge. She is eager to get settled in, not just into her office, but also Stillwater. While the Shrums plan to keep their house in Coweta for family get-togethers, their home base will be in Stillwater.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 13

ABOVE -- Blue Wells, 5, left, and AK Wells, 9, interact with the pigs on the family farm.

RIGHT -- AK Wells, 9, loves helping with the livestock at his family’s Humble Hive Homestead.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JULIA WELLS

Meat lovers find true oasis in Arcadia ARCADIA – People who buy meat from the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store are getting quality beef and pork, and they are helping two families give their kids a great life.

“My children are living a childhood that I very much would have enjoyed living,” said Todd Thomas, who with his wife, Rachel, owns R and R Cattle Company near Jones.

“In the summertime, my 6-year-old will snap purple-hulled peas on the front porch with her great-grandmother. How many kids get to do that?”

Julia Wells, who with her husband, Kaleb, owns the Humble Hive Homestead near Wellston, said her sons love working with the pastured Durocs and Berkshires that provide pork for the General Store.

“They are just so much fun,” she said of the weaner pigs they buy from local suppliers. “It’s so cool to see how they eat and what they

choose to eat.”

Todd and Rachel Thomas have 10 acres of the 300-acre farm Rachel grew up on, which was founded by her great-grandparents, Ralph and Ruth Wilson, in about 1945. Ralph and Ruth are the “Rs” in their business name.

“We have a very unique family dynamic,” Todd Thomas said. My wife’s parents and aunt and uncle and grandparents are still on different pieces of the family land. Our children get to see their great-grandparents most days of the week.”

Todd and Rachel own a fitness facility in Jones and she is a pharmacist. Their interest in good nutrition influences their desire to produce high-quality beef.

“We are trying our best to adhere to grass-fed principles,” Todd Thomas said. Their longhorn, Brangus and Herford cattle are pastured and eat hay raised on the farm by Rachel’s

grandfather.

Julia Wells, who grew up in New Jersey, said she became a vegetarian at age 6 because of her love for animals. She started eating animal protein when she was dating Kaleb, a native Oklahoman who was serving in the U.S. Marines.

Wells said that when she and her husband acquired their 18 acres, they were able to raise animals in an ethical and humane manner.

“We wanted healthy protein that we knew where it came from,” she said. “We wanted animals raised outside, just having a great life with only one bad day.”

Kaleb Wells grew up in Edmond and as an FFA member exhibited poultry and swine.

“He knows more about chickens than anybody I know,” Julia Wells said.

The Wells also have bees and raise chickens, turkeys and Dexter beef, a

small breed of cattle from Ireland.

The Wells provide pork chops, ribs, bacon, sausage and brats to the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store.

The Thomas family supplies the store with sirloin, T-Bone and ribeye steaks along with roasts, stew meat, ground beef and brisket.

Both couples practice regenerative farming, which involves rotational grazing and building up the soil.

“I jumped in with both feet,” Julia Wells said of their switch to the country life. “I feel very fulfilled doing what I’m doing. I grew up in the city in a row house. Our back yard was 10 by 15 feet.”

The Arcadia Farmers Market General Store is at historical Highway 66 and Odor Street and is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 405-2260346.

Page 14 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Complex plot gets in way of ‘No Sudden Move’ story

By George Gust Set in 1954 Detroit, “No Sudden Move” centers on a group of small-time criminals (Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, and Kieran Culkin) who are hired to steal what they think is a simple document. When their plan goes horribly wrong, their search for who hired them -- and for what ultimate purpose -- weaves them through all echelons of the race-torn, rapidly changing city.

“No Sudden Move” is the latest film from director Steven Soderbergh, a filmmaker who has gained the status as one of ‘those’ directors. That rarefied air of filmmakers who are constantly re-inventing themselves and are given carte blanch to make whatever project they are interested in at that moment. “No Sudden Move” finds Soderbergh in the comfort zone of noir/heist/crime genre with a stable of comfort zone movie stars turning in interesting ensemble performances. However, this film has a little more social commentary on its mind concerning gentrification and big capitalist business, but this thread serves as more of an undercurrent to a busting at the seams twist-filled crime thriller.

“No Sudden Move” does an amazing job at put-

ting you in a time and a place. The set and costume design of this 1950s Detroit are incredibly striking.

From the odd looking makeshift white masks the criminals wear to the era specific cars they ride around the motor city in, the details in the film create an immersive world of gangsters and businessmen.

But as the cast grows and the plot becomes more and more convoluted it can be hard to keep up with the names, places and histories that the characters are so familiar with. Where the first act of the film is a tense crime thriller with innocent people caught up in the mix by the third act the film becomes a series

of twists, double crosses, and 1950’s car company corporate espionage, that while being exceedingly dense is still satisfyingly dark fun.

Ultimately, “No Sudden Move” is an above average crime thriller with a couple of interesting performances from Cheadle and Del Toro, as well as crackling supporting roles for Brendan Frasier, David Harbour and Ray Liotta. The visual style of the film works best for setting the 50’s aesthetic, but the choice from Soderbergh to use a fisheye lens is distracting to say the least, with the edges of the screen looking distorted for large swaths of the film. If you’re a fan of the crime thriller genre and enjoy Soderbergh’s heist noir style a la “Out of Sight” and to a lesser extent “Ocean’s Eleven” you’ll have a good time with “No Sudden Move” but the convoluted plot and odd visual presentation may turn away the casual viewer.

“No Sudden Move” is rated R for language throughout, some violence and sexual references.

Now available to stream on HBO Max. 3.6 out of 5 stars.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Answers on 19

Set in 1954 Detroit, ‘No Sudden Move’ centers on a group of small-time criminals (Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, and Kieran Culkin) who are hired to steal what they think is a simple document. When their plan goes horribly wrong, their search for who hired them -- and for what ultimate purpose -- weaves them through all echelons of the race-torn, rapidly changing city.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: Mottoes & Slogans

ACROSS 1. 1965 march site 6. Bottle top 9. Dried up 13. Can't see the forest for this?

14. *____ You Need is Love 15. ____-upper 16. End of a poem 17. Filmmaker Spike 18. Like a good athlete?

19. *"Tastes So Good, Cats Ask for It by Name" 21. *"The Quicker Picker Upper" 23. Duke of Cambridge to Prince of Wales 24. Blood vessel 25. The Jackson 5 1970 hit 28. Plural of velum 30. Havanese or Pekingese 35. High school formal 37. What the phone did 39. Abrupt increase 40. *____ John's: "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza."

41. Working shoelaces 43. Island east of Java 44. Shockingly graphic 46. Hurtful remark 47. Design detail 48. Canine's coat 50. Law school prerequisite, acr.

52. a.k.a. Tokyo 53. Muscovite or biotite 55. Uber alternative 57. *"Let's Go Places" advertiser 60. *"Can You Hear Me Now?" advertiser 64. On the fritz 65. Wharton degree 67. Upholstery choice 68. Bell-bottoms bottom 69. Emergency responder, acr.

70. Prenatal test, for short 71. Medieval Northern European 72. Be obliged 73. Reconnaissance, for short

DOWN 1. Part of a flute 2. Marine eagle 3. What malevolent and levorotary have in common 4. Jellicles' cries 5. Isaac of science fiction fame 6. Burnt metal residue 7. India pale ____ 8. Annapolis frosh 9. Leo or Virgo, e.g.

10. Sign above a door 11. Count on 12. Before, poetically 15. Floras' partners 20. Apathetic 22. Crude fuel 24. Flavoring from Madagascar 25. *"Think Different" advertiser 26. Former Milwaukee Brewer All Star Ryan 27. Dried coconut meat 29. *"Betcha Can't Eat Just One" advertiser 31. Drinking establishments

32. Blind alternative 33. Checked out 34. *"So Easy, a Caveman Can Do It" advertiser 36. Disfigure 38. African migrants 42. Actress turned princess of Monaco 45. Lower a rank 49. Ignited 51. Tooth decay agent 54. Tarantino in his own movie, e.g.

56. Biotic community 57. Story "of Two Cities" 58. October stone 59. Nomad's round house 60. Flower holder 61. Dietary mineral 62. Medley 63. Ne 64. *"It's Finger Lickin' Good" 66. *"The Ultimate Driving Machine"

Answers are found on Page19

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 15

Public input sought The Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) is seeking input from private and public agencies, organizations, private citizens and consumers to monitor and enhance development of an effective statewide comprehensive child abuse prevention plan.

OCAP requests input from individuals who can provide feedback by completing a brief, five- to seven-minute online survey that is available in both English and Spanish.

“This is an opportunity for individuals in Oklahoma communities to share information on community resources that exist and those that are needed. We want to know what you think works best to protect children in your community and across the state,” said Sherie Trice, CBCAP grant coordinator with the OSDH. For questions or more information about the Oklahoma State Plan for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, contact the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Family Support and Prevention Office by phone, (405) 271-7611 or by email, SherieT@health.ok.gov. The deadline for submitting input via the online questionnaire is Friday, Sept. 11.

Scientist Wan Hee Yoon, Ph.D.

OMRF will study rare neurological condition The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation $2.19 million to continue research on a rare neurological disease.

OMRF scientist Wan Hee Yoon, Ph.D., received a five-year grant to study a gene called ATAD3A and how mutations in it lead to a rare disease called Harel-Yoon syndrome. Yoon co-discovered the condition in 2016.

Harel-Yoon syndrome is a disorder that results in delayed motor development, intellectual disability, lack of coordination, muscle weakness and vision defects. Symptoms typically begin to show in children between 2 and 3 years old.

“There are only a few dozen confirmed cases of the disease in the world,” said Yoon, who joined OMRF from the Baylor College of Medicine in 2017. “But we suspect that many more cases will reveal themselves as we better understand the disease.”

To study the rare condition, Yoon’s lab will use fruit flies and patient-derived cells.

“Flies are small and easy to maintain, and about 75% of their genes mirror those in humans,” said OMRF scientist Linda Thompson, Ph.D., who

served as a mentor to Yoon during the early stages of the project. “They also have a very simple structure and develop quickly, making them easier to study than other animals.”

The team will use flies to study how mutations in the specific gene contribute to the disease and how the gene functions in a normal setting. Yoon’s lab was the first to show the gene is associated with neurodegeneration.

“We can’t understand what went wrong in a gene if we don’t know how it’s supposed to work in the first place,” said Yoon. “So, we are approaching this project from multiple fronts. We will use flies to unravel the role of normal ATAD3A and how mutant proteins affect brain development. Importantly, we will find whether the findings in flies will be applicable to patients using patient-derived cells.”

By understanding the role of the gene, Yoon said researchers will be better equipped to develop therapies to treat patients living with the rare syndrome, as well as other diseases where the gene is implicated.

The grant, R01 NS121298-01, is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the NIH

Health agency tweaks records requests The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) announced last week that beginning this week Vital Records lobbies in the state will offer a Will Call service, giving people the option to pick-up orders placed online for birth and death records inperson.

According to Oklahoma Vital Records Director Kelly Baker, this new service offering will result in quicker turnaround times for records requests.

“We closed our lobbies to the public last year due to the pandemic, but have learned from that experience that we can serve Oklahomans faster and more efficiently with an online approach,” Baker said. “Complete online orders can typically be processed in two days and then either placed in the mail or made available for pick-up at Will Call.”

Will Call applicants will receive two emails – one to confirm the order was placed and a second to confirm the record is ready for pickup. OSDH offers three Vital Records Will Callonly locations where people can pickup their online and phone orders for

birth and death certificates: Oklahoma City, 375 N. Broadway Ave., Plaza 321; Tulsa, James O. Goodwin Health Center, 5051 S. 129th E. Ave.; and McAlester, Pittsburg County Health Department, 1400 E. College Ave. People can order online or by phone (877-817-7364) with our partner VitalChek, and choose between receiving records by mail or pick-up at Will Call within two business days.

Records which require amendment or other action will take longer to process.

Applicants must bring a photo ID and their order confirmation. Will Call pick-up hours are 2:30 to 4:45 p.m. on weekdays (Monday-Friday).

Mail-in orders will also continue to be accepted, with a turnaround time of about 10 weeks.

Birth and death records cost $15.

There is a $5 convenience fee for online orders for Oklahoma residents ($12.95 for non-residents).

For more information about services, Will Call or other procedures, please contact us at AskVR@health.ok.gov.

To know more, contact askVR@health.ok.gov

Page 16 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Ed Martin, Bill Lance and Gov. Anoatubby with award.

Scouts honor Chickasha Nation leader The Last Frontier Council (LFC), Boy Scouts of America, presented Governor Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation with the 2021 E. C. Joullian Distinguished Citizen Award for a lifetime of leadership and generosity to the community.

A true visionary for Oklahoma, Governor Anoatubby exemplifies the twelve points of the Scout Law, “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” Always a pioneer for our city and state, Governor Anoatubby is committed to meeting the needs of the citizens of Oklahoma and the Chickasaw people through programs and services.

"The E. C. Joullian name stands for what a distinguished citizen should aspire to be, and Governor Anoatubby has certainly lived up to that," LFC President Jerry Winchester said. "This state is fortunate to have Governor Anoatubby as a leader and supporter of our citizens. His support of Scouting has touched thousands of lives."

The E.C. Joullian Distinguished Citizen Award is named for two men who were champions of Scout- Ed Martin, Kathy Martin, Bill Lance and Sherri Lance at the event. ing and well-known philanthropists. Edward C. Joul"The connection between Governor Anoatubby, Scouting, and the Chickalian II served as president of the Last Frontier Council from 1953 to 1954. His saw Nation runs deep. At this moment, hundreds of Scouts are at summer son, Edward C. Joullian III, served as president of the Boy Scouts of America camp in the Chickasaw Nation, including at our council’s camp known as Kerr from 1982 to 1984 and was awarded the Bronze Wolf for exceptional servScout Ranch at Slippery Falls." Scout Executive and CEO Jeff Woolsey said. " ices to world Scouting.

To quote Governor Anoatubby “we are raised by our communities – families, Governor Anoatubby was honored on June 7, 2021, at the Distinguished parishioners, teachers, leaders, peers. Community helps us understand our Citizen Dinner, held at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel. Presenting Sponsors included role as part of something larger than ourselves.” The Governor has impacted The Chickasaw Nation, Continental Resources, the E.L. & Thelma Gaylord our communities for generations to come. " Foundation, LaDonna and Herman Meinders, Mustang Fuel, and Dick Sias.

New bottle service expected to help the state’s economy Oklahoma businesses are set to have more freedom in how they serve their customers once House Bill 2726 went into effect July 1.

HB 2726, authored by Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-OKC, introduces language into the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act that would allow Oklahoma small businesses to offer bottle service to their customers.

“This legislation will have a positive economic impact for Oklahoma, in our major metro areas especially the businesses in Bricktown, Chisholm Creek, Norman, Stillwater, Tulsa, and Lawton,” Pittman said. “Our business owners can use all the help they can get, after having a really hard year in sales and service. I’m grateful that we were able to get this done.”

HB2726 is the first piece of legislation Pittman had signed into law this year. Pittman says that she is pleased with the bipartisanship work that was accomplished to get this bill passed.

“When I ran for office, economic development for Oklahoma and my district were at the top of my priorities,” Pittman said. “I am going to continue the fight to empower our community to grow in a way that helps business owners and their employees be competitive.”

"Bottle service is becoming more popular in other states especially with younger people. To remain

competitive, I was eager to help pass legislation allowing bottle service in Oklahoma. Our hospitality industry needs every tool in the box to help recover from the pandemic.”

Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City “Oklahoma has developed tremendously in so many ways. The addition of bottle service will be another step in the right direction. Not only economically, but for bar, restaurants, and nightlife in general.” Jeff Rogers, Rogers Concepts, Owner “Bottle service provides an exciting new opportunity- not just for those who enjoy the nightlife but for local businesses as well, who will now have another way to engage their customers. It’s a win-win especially in a vibrant, college town like Norman.” Rep. Merleyn Bell, D-Norman According to Pittman, healthcare and safety precautions were also considered in this process as Oklahomans began to reopen and recover from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

This legislation adds another layer of protection to our hospitality Industry, by keeping them from making additional trips to their tables as patrons are eating unmasked and our numbers begin to stabilize.

“Governor Stitt said his goal is to ensure that Oklahoma becomes a top ten state,” Pittman said. “He took a bold step to help our economy.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 17

Steps to take if you’re looking for a new job Evidence is mounting that American workers may be getting restless – and getting their resumes ready.

With opportunities opening up in an economy recovering from the pandemic, a significant percentage of employees are expressing an interest in changing jobs and taking their careers in a new direction as the world continues to recover from the pandemic.

About one-fourth of workers say they plan to look for a new job once the pandemic is over, according to Prudential’s latest Pulse of the American Worker Survey. The survey further reports that half of workers say the pandemic gave them more control in deciding the direction of their career, and 48% are rethinking the type of job they want altogether.

“There’s nothing wrong with seeking a new job that uses more of your best skills, gets you closer to

Democrat seeks end to grocery tax House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, DNorman, filed an interim study request last week to examine the benefits of ending the state sales tax on groceries.

Eliminating the tax was a key component of House Democrats' Oklahoma Focused Budget this past session. The elimination would save Oklahomans, many of whom are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, more than $250 million in taxes on groceries.

“Ending the grocery tax keeps money in the pocket of low and middle-income Oklahomans,” Virgin said. “We have parents who are stretching every dollar to be able to feed their children. They shouldn’t have to calculate a cut for the state in their grocery bill.”

Oklahoma is one of only 13 states that

impose a tax on groceries. Only three states make their citizens pay a higher tax than Oklahoma.

“Thirty-seven states fund their government without a tax on milk and bread,” Virgin said. “Oklahoma can too.”

The Democratic House leader wants to spend time looking at the economic benefits of ending the state’s sales tax on groceries.

“We have heard from grocery stores that this would help them,” Virgin said. “We want to use this study to find out to what degree."

Ending the tax has bipartisan support among both voters and lawmakers.

“We have seen statements from Republican lawmakers that seem to support ending the grocery tax,” Virgin said.

Assessor says county property values have topped $73 billion Oklahoma County Assessor Larry Stein recently filed the abstract for Oklahoma County with the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC).

It shows Oklahoma County has more than $73-billion worth of property.

The abstract shows an increase from last year of 2.2-percent. Oklahoma County represents approximately 22-percent of the entire State of Oklahoma’s property value estimated at $326-billion in the nearly 70,000 square miles that make up Oklahoma.

“An abstract of our county is the foundational document which contains information needed by public schools, cities and towns and other

beneficiaries of property taxes,” Stein said.

“In addition to the $73-billion value, public service property be added in a later filing by our office will increase the total value to more than $75-billion in the 720 square miles that make up Oklahoma County,” Stein said.

“In 2005, the total value of all the property in Oklahoma County was around $32.6- billion. That is an increase of more than 123-percent in the last 16 years. Because of the constitutional limitations on real property first-passed by voters in 1996, Oklahoma County residents have saved more than $1-billion in property taxes,” Stein said.

Fraud prevention seminar labeled a success again The Hoodwinked Fraud Conference hosted by the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) had a record number of participants this year.

The Hoodwinked Fraud Conference offered seven educational sessions from May 6 through June 17. After its final session last week, the 7-week series successfully reached nearly 1,300 registrants across Oklahoma.

The Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) at the OID had been hosting senior fraud conferences around the state for over twenty years.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these outreach programs converted to virtual for the first time last year and saw a huge success. As a result, two new partner agencies were able to join the conference and offered even more fraud-related information.

The OID partnered with four re-

turning agencies: Oklahoma Department of Securities, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, Oklahoma Banker’s Association, AARP Oklahoma and two new partners: Oklahoma Social Security Administration and National Insurance Crime Bureau. The video recording of the entire conference is now available at www.oid.ok.gov/hoodwinked/ “We appreciate the collaborative efforts of our partners to make this virtual experience possible. This year, we were able to reach a much larger audience — consumers in rural Oklahoma and other states while still providing a first rate experience” Director of MAP Ray Walker said.

If you have questions about other insurance issues, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at www.oid.ok.gov.

For more information, call 1-800-522-0071

finding your niche, and perhaps pays more,” says Bob Slater, co-author with his son, Nick Slater, of Look Out Above! The Young Professional’s Guide to Success (www.bobandnickslater.com).

For anyone contemplating a change, the Slaters offer a few words of advice: • If possible, choose an in-office job over a remote one. Many people became enamored with remote work during the pandemic, but the Slaters remain skeptical that remote is the best option for career advancement. If your new job gives you the option, they say, go to the office. “Relationships formed and nurtured from face-to-face interaction are key to your development as a productive contributor to the workplace,” Nick Slater says. “This personal contact is doubly important for new hires who need to learn the culture of the organization they have landed with. It’s hard to build these rela-

See Job, Page 19

Nichols completes bank training Ben Nichols, with Interbank in Edmond, recently completed the Oklahoma Bankers Association 2021 Intermediate School at the Harris Event Center in Oklahoma City.

Nichols was among 27 students who attended the two-session school in February and June.

The OBA Intermediate School, conducted annually, prepares junior to mid-level bank officers and future officers, to serve effectively the needs of their banks and consumers. The school exposes students to a broad range of banking functions and issues, including: economics, marketing, lending, investments, trust services, compliance and legal issues, bank financial analysis, ethics, human resource management, communications, strategic planning, regulatory examinations and asset/liability management.

The OBA conducts more than 70 educational programs and seminars each year, which reach more than 5,000 bankers across the state. The Association represents nearly 200 banks across the state.

Page 18 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Choosing the right type of fitness program for you IC ICONIC ONIC O OAK AK TREE N NATIONAL ATIO TI T NAL

THE LEG LEGACY ACY A AT TO OAK AK TREE

FAIRCLOUD F AIRCL A OUD

OAKMOND O AKMO A ND

5A ACRES CRES IN T TOWN OWN

CASUAL CASUAL ELEG ELEGANCE ANCE

5A ACRE CRE P PARADISE! A ARADISE!

SOLD!

SOLD!

SOLD!

THE VILLA VILLAGES GES @ ST STONEBRIDGE ONEBRIDGE

SOLD!

DO DOWNTOWN WNTOWN EDMOND OFFICE

VALENCIA V A ALENCIA

FABULOUS F AB A ULOUS O ON N THE 9TH F FAIRWAY AIR A RWAY

SOLD!

THOMAS TRAILS

OFFICE FOR LEASE

COFFEE CREEK

STAYCATION RETREAT!

SOLD! SOLD! SOLD!

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME!

LUXURIOUS “LOCK-N-GO”

IN THE HEART OF EDMOND

GRAND TIMBER

TIMBEDALE

SOLD!

SELL Y YOUR OUR HOME WITH BRAD!

11TH GREEN OF OAK TREE NATIONAL!

NEW LISTINGS ACCEPTED! SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! CALL US AT 330-2626

LO LOTS TS & ACREAGES ACREAGES

should do but those muscles do tend to need a little more attention than the chest muscles although most men do quite the opposite. Resistance/weightlifting is a tool you should include in your workout for the strength of the skeletal-muscular system.

Your heart and lungs need to be strengthened more specifically with cardiovascular/aerobic work. Walking, jogging, biking, the elliptical and a variety of group exercise classes like kickboxing, step aerobics and boot camps work great for that “tool” in your fitness toolbox. Doing only cardio or only weightlifting does not give you the comprehensive benefits you need in a complete fitness routine.

Flexibility and core strength needs should also factor in your fitness needs. General stretching that be done at home or even periodically throughout your day by simple bending over and doing some hamstring stretches or grabbing your ankle and pulling your heel towards your rear to stretch your quadriceps. If you want to get more advanced and specifically address flexibility and core, including yoga or Pilates to your routine should be considered during the week. I always recommend clients with bad back or ones that are needing more flexibility in general to utilize those classes we offer in those disciplines.

The human body is amazing if you take care of it. Generally speaking, the harder you work it, the stronger it can get. Work that heart and it improves. Do those arm curls and your biceps will get stronger. Do nothing and your body will get weaker over time. You must choose to make your health and body a priority and the right program will include all elements of fitness on one level or another.

(Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com

Celebrity real estate update

KINGSBURY KINGSB UR RY RIDGE

2.85 A ACRES! CRES!

By Brian Attebery One of the most common questions I get asked as a Fitness Expert is, “What is the best way to exercise?”

The answer to that question is not that Attebery simple. You need to think about exercise as a large toolbox. In a toolbox are many options for solving problems and dealing with different tasks. One tool is not worse or more valuable than another. They have different purposes to address different needs.

That being said, there is a reason we have a toolbox with many tools and they are generally all needed. How does that relate? You must understand the body needs different kinds of exercises to accomplish different needs.

Weightlifting or “resistance training” is designed to challenge our muscles, joints, nerves and connective tissue to increase speed of contraction, ability to lift more and stability of joints which can lead to better posture, movement and strength. Within the realm of weightlifting, there are many ways to go about it and your level of fitness, physical limitations and time management all factor in. What is consistent is that you should approach your program from the standpoint of making sure you address symmetry of the body and what muscles need more attention than others.

Many people tend to hunch their shoulders forward and push their heads forward due to poor posture that is accelerated by the excessive use of phones and computers that have us in that position more now than twenty years ago. Consequently, most people need to be prioritizing a higher percentage of resistance exercise that focusing on the upper and middle back. Rows and lat pulldowns are the most common way of helping that situation. That by no means indicates that is ALL you

Adam Levine the Real Estate King” Adam Levine is one of the most active celebrity home buyers with at least seven homes since 2012. In 2016, Adam had both his Beverly Hills mansion and a trendy New York SoHo loft up for sale. His most recent purchase was $22.7 million for a century home with 12,000 square feet, nine bedrooms, tennis court and a pool in Montecito.

“Jack Lemmon’s Malibu Beach House For Sale” In 1971, Jack Lemmon purchased a Malibu Beach house for his family in the Broad Beach celebrity-favored section of Malibu Beach. The family enjoyed it for decades, creating many happy memories. It is now for sale for the first time, priced at $13.45 million.

“John & Chrissy Have Too Many Beverly Hills Homes” After settling in their new Beverly Hills home last summer, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have not yet sold their other Beverly Hills home - the one they bought from Rihanna in 2016. It is a contemporary-style home where they lived when their two children were born, the home often seen on Chrissy’s social media posts. With one too many homes and one of Hollywood’s busiest schedules, the superstar couple has reduced the price from $23.95 million to $17.7 million.

“Bradley Cooper Buys In Pacific Palisades” The Star Is Born and Hangover star, Bradley Cooper, has purchased his second home in L.A.'s Pacific Palisades neighborhood, laying out $4.8 million for a 4,400-square-foot home with four bedrooms and lush landscaping, including oak and fruit trees and a koi pond.

“Wayne Gretzky Scores Again – Sells Same Home Twice” Wayne Gretzky recently sold his Thousand Oaks home for the second time. Wayne and his wife, Janet, sold the home to former baseball-star-

turned-financial-advisor Lenny Dykstra in 2007, who trashed it after filing bankruptcy. The Gretzkys repurchased it in 2018 for $13.5 million and just sold the home again for $17.6 million.

“Wonder Woman Florida Bound” Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman on ABC and CBS from 1975 to 1979, recently purchased a $15 million condo at the Four Seasons in Surfside, Florida.

“Mike Pence Back Home In Indiana” Moving from Washington D.C. back to their home state of Indiana, former Vice President Michael Pence and wife, Karen, just purchased a 10,349-squarefoot home in Carmel, Indiana – just north of Indianapolis. The Pences paid $1.93 million, a bit over the asking price of $1.8 million, for the seven-bedroom home. Features include a pool, indoor basketball court and a media room.

“Adele Grabs Next-Door-Neighbor Nicole Richie's Home” Adele has purchased Nicole Richie's Beverly Hills home for $10 million.

Nicole's home is located next door to Adele's current house. Adele will now own her 6,600-square-foot home, Nicole's 5,515-square-foot home, and a 6,000-square-foot home across the street where her ex-husband lives.

“Sugar Ray Leonard's Gold Medal Mansion” Sugar Ray Leonard is asking $46.5 million for his Pacific Palisades home. It was previously on the market in 2019 at $52 million. Built in 1997, the home measures in at 16,773 square feet with seven bedrooms.

“Gloria Gaynor's New Jersey Disco Home” The New Jersey mansion of 1970's disco-queen Gloria Gaynor is for sale.

Gloria, who was one of the most popular singers during the disco years with songs such as “I Will Survive” and “Never Can Say Goodby,” did much of the interior design of the 8,000-squarefoot home.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 8, 2021 • Page 19

Job From Page 17 tionships when working from an apartment or Starbucks. Zoom meetings and introductions are hardly an adequate substitute for personal contact.”

• Show your body of work. Your work history should be more than a list of places worked and job titles. “Show what you accomplished at each stop along the way,” Bob Slater says. “How did you add value? Can you fairly dollarize your contributions?

But don’t exaggerate your performance. Making unrealistic claims is a quick way to destroy trust and cast doubt on the accuracy of your resume. Such exaggeration may also create doubt about what you say if you’re interviewed.”

• Beware your social media footprint. In these days of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts, your

self-advocacy extends to the internet. By this point, a warning about being careful with social media posts would seem unnecessary, yet people still miss out on new opportunities or lose their jobs because of inappropriate content on their social media sites, Nick Slater says. “If you’re not sure whether certain material is inappropriate, you have your answer,” he says.

“Don’t post it.”

• Define what success looks like in your job search. As you meditate on the next move, decide what your definition of success is, at least for now, Bob Slater says. “Your vision could be as simple as making a certain amount of money or using specific skills that you enjoy using and want to develop further,” he says. “It could be to work a set number of

hours or to work outdoors.

Maybe you want to live near family and friends, or in a certain city with a stimulating culture and nightlife. Your vision of a successful work life will involve multiple items, and their combination will be uniquely yours.”

Finally, the Slaters say, approach the job search with confidence.

“When you catch yourself imagining failure, flip your mental switch to imagine success,” Nick Slater says. “Take inventory of your strengths and the good things in your life. Recall and build on past moments when you succeeded, and on what others say they like and admire about you. Then act.”

Nelson makes honor roll Named to the Dean’s List at Saint Michael’s College for the Spring 2021 semester was David Nelson, a senior environmental Science major from Edmond and a graduate of Casady School.

About Saint Michael’s College Saint Michael’s College, founded in the great Catholic intellectual tradition, which also recognizes the principles of social justice and compassion, is a selective, fully residential Catholic college in Vermont’s beautiful Green Mountains. Our closely connected community delivers internationally-respected liberal arts and graduate education near Burlington, one of the country’s best college towns.

Congratulations to David, as well as every Edmond student who made their honor roll.

&K & KDQQLQJ 8QLWDULDQ 8QLYHUV UVDOLVW &KXUFK We͛re BACK! We ͛re B ACK! Church!

JJoin oin us at at Chu rch!

Sundays Sundays at 11 11:am :am

: WK 6WUHHW³(GPRQG 2. : WK 6WUHHW³(GPRQG 2.

ChanningUUC.org ChanningUUC.org ; 'ç® ½®Ä Ý ÖÖ½ùͿ ; 'ç® ½®Ä Ý ÖÖ½ùͿ mail he hello@channinguuc.org llo@channinguuc.org for for invite invite Al so on Zoom: Zoom: eemail Also

:H DUH D :HOFRPLQJ )UHH 7KLQNLQJ &RQJUHJDWLRQ :H DUH D :HOFRPLQJ )UHH 7KLQNLQJ &RQJUHJDWLRQ

In light of COVID 19 for the time being, some worship services may be suspended or online.

Please check with your house of worship for more information.

Page 20 • July 8, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure