Edmond Life and Leisure - 01-11-2024

January 11, 2024 Vol. 24, No. 34

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Schools bond issue Election on Feb. 13

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.

Citizen of the Year named See Page 4

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 Partly Cloudy/Wind High 35° Low 16°

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 Mostly Sunny High 34° Low 11°

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 Partly Cloudy High 23° Low 7°

The Edmond Public Schools Board •Classroom addition at Boulevard •Purchase of new technology of Education has set a Bond Election Academy equipment for February 13, 2024. This election •Classroom addition at Scissortail •HVAC, roofing, flooring, lightis part of the district’s normal two Elementary ing and playground improvements year bond cycle for major district •Renovations and improvements at district-wide projects including construction, main- several sites including Sunset Elemen•School security enhancements tenance, transportation and techtary, John Ross Elementary, Orvis and upgrades nology needs for our nearly •School equipment 26,000 students and 3,200 including for instructions staff members. needs, fine arts, athletics, “As our Edmond community child nutrition, mainteIn accordance with Oklahoma law, the Bond will be nance and library/media continues to grow, so do separated into two propocenter books the needs of our district sitions. The first one totals •Classroom furniture as a whole” $144 million and includes •Turf for baseball and -Dr. Angela Grunewald softball fields at the three the following projects: Edmond Public Schools Superintendent EPS high schools •Phase 1 Construction of a new Elementary School •Improvements to the •Phase 1 Construction of Mitch Park Aquatic Center a new Middle School as part of the district’s •The Elementary & Middle Schools Risner Elementary, Charles Haskell agreement with the YMCA will be built on land the district owns Elementary and Clegern Elementary •The second proposition totals $3 at the Southeast corner of Air Depot million and includes the following •Construction of a safe room at & Covell projects: the Edmond Early Childhood Center •Construction of a new Freshman •Purchase of new school buses •Construction or acquisition of Academy at Edmond Santa Fe High •Purchase of new activity buses a facility for the Edmond Transition School Academy for special education continued on Page 3

Page 2 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 3

Ten Commandments in schools?

Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, has filed legislation to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms.

House Bill 2962, filed recently, would require each classroom to clearly display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments, measuring at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. The bill also outlines the specific text to be used for the display.

"The Ten Commandments is one of the foundations of our nation," Olsen said. "Publicly and proudly displaying them in public school classrooms will serve as a reminder of the

More & more visitors coming to Edmond

City’s travel guide out for tourists

By Jennifer Thornton Tourism Director Visit Edmond’ Edmond welcomes more and more visitors each year with festivals, sports tournaments, conferences and a welcoming spirit. Visit Edmond released the 2024 Travel Guide to inspire visitors with the latest things to do, places to stay and more. Packed with robust, new content and updated information, the Guide serves as the ultimate companion for both seasoned locals and first-time visitors looking to explore the best that Edmond has to offer.

This year’s guide features Edmond by the seasons. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall has events, attractions, shopping, dining that will keep locals and visitors entertained. Read about hot topics including Route 66, live music, parks, sports, history and Arcadia Lake.

Since Visit Edmond is funded by a 4% Visitor Tax, staying overnight in Edmond is a priority. Did you know Edmond has 13 hotels, one bed and breakfast and more than 150 vacation homes?

Staying in Edmond has never been easier.

A new section called “Don’t Leave Without” features fun Edmond items to purchase. From food and home décor to notebooks and clothing, local stores show pride in Edmond merchandise.

The “Meet in Edmond” section showcases creative venues organized by size. Edmond has 45 places that delight meeting planners from across the region. A map on the inside back cover shows how easy it is to get around. From Oak Tree to Mitch Park to Downtown and Arcadia Lake, the map features parks, high schools, colleges and sports facilities.

Check out the Digital Guide, and email info@visitedmondok.com if you’d like printed copies for your customers, partners and family.

Important health care deadline approaches Time is running out to secure your health insurance coverage for 2024! The deadline to enroll in an insurance plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace is January 16, 2024.

Oklahomans who have not yet enrolled can still take advantage of this opportunity. To enroll, contact: Healthcare.gov or call 800-318-2596 Legal Aid Services Navigator/Assister at myOKplan.org or 888-534-5243 Reach out to an insurance agent/broker specially trained to assist you in choosing the right plan.

The enrollment deadline is midnight on January 16, 2024, for coverage starting on February 1, 2024. Plan options, monthly premiums and total annual out-of-pocket costs for 2024 are available at www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/.

ethics of our state and country as students and teachers go about their day.

It is my prayer that this display would inspire our young people during their formative years and encourage them to lead moral, principled lives."

Olsen said the Ten Commandments was referenced by the Founding Fathers as a code of morality and was taught in public schools for hundreds of years. Early textbooks like the New England Primer, first published in 1687, and the McGuffey Readers, first published in 1836, were widely used and included teachings of the Ten Commandments.

Page 4 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Carel named Citizens Bank ‘Citizen of the Year’ We are thrilled to have learned that Stephanie Carel has been named the Citizens Bank Citizen of the Year by the Edmond Chamber of Commerce. In our view, they could not have made a Ray Hibbard better choice. Here is what the chamber had to say: “Stephanie's passion is her family and community. She strives to make Edmond a better place to live and visit by improving the Downtown Edmond District and events. She has been volunteering for over 40 years with community service as her true calling.

Stephanie is co-owner Silver Leaf Gems, Executive Director of Downtown Edmond Business Association, Past Chairman of Edmond Historic Preservation Trust, Teacher at Edmond Fine Arts Institute, and Member of Edmond Homeless Alliance.

She loves helping whenever she can at her favorite organizations: Hope Center of Edmond, Free to Live Animal Sanctuary, and Fostering Sweet Dreams, If it were not for her family and friends, she would not be able to give so much to benefit the Edmond community.

We look forward to celebrating Stephanie in the upcoming Annual Awards Banquet February 1, 2024, at the Edmond Conference Center.”

If you have enjoyed any part of downtown in the last 10 years, you have Stephanie to thank for helping make it happen. She will be the first to say she appreciates all the help she gets, especially from her family. She is the first to jump in and do the work and always gives someone else credit. For those of us that work with her downtown she is an inspiration.

Congratulations Stephanie!

She is part of a group of business owners that work hard to improve downtown Edmond for the enjoyment of all of us. It takes a lot of work to put on events like the arts festival and yet there is a great group of volunteers that do it year after year. They are not paid and do not deserve some of the anger they get from mom or dad when things do not go according to plan. Do me a favor. Please come see me instead. I would be happy to hear you out.

my daughter Leigh who was the sweetest and least amount of trouble out of the group and said, “I guess dad has to be good all year now”.

The response was, “Not really because you already won the award.” I started keeping an eye on her after that. Turns out she is still sweet but really smart. That is when I learned not to mistake kindness for weakness.

Stephanie Carel It is also nice to see that they have increased the standards for the award since I was honored with it in 2004. I think it snowed the day they were supposed to have the committee meeting and I got selected because many of the members did not show.

Stephanie well deserves this honor.

Way back in 2004 the award was not announced in advance as they do now. It was announced at the banquet as a complete surprise, which it was in my case. It was a burden on the staff to round up friends and relatives to make sure the individual selected would attend.

In my case all five kids were young and they did a fantastic job of keeping quiet and they even wanted to attend the banquet. My sister kept them corralled out in the hall until the award was announced. I have to say it was pretty cool to hear my name called and then see all five of the kids come busting through the

back door of the hall.

It was not too hard to keep them quiet because all the food was still in the buffet line from dinner. The kids just grazed until the big moment arrived. I think the sweets took a good hit especially the chocolate fountain.

My youngest, Kyle, was the fashion plate of the group. His brothers just wore slacks and dress shirts, but Kyle insisted on a brand-new full suit which he got. He is also a bit of a foodie so at one point during the wait the new suit met the chocolate fountain. He grabbed a strawberry and placed it in the chocolate flow.

The chocolate went down the strawberry and directly into his sleeve. All my sister could do was laugh. She had not paid for the suit.

After the banquet, Kyle ran up to me to show me his new suit and then pulled down the sleeve full of chocolate. I had to laugh at it as well.

On the way home I leaned over to

Fee coming for charging stations You knew it had to be coming but we learned this week that the free charging stations installed by the City of Edmond will soon charge for filling up as it were. You cannot really blame them. The cost of one of the units is around $42,000 and depending on what needs to be done to install, installation can cost up to $25,000. Then you have maintenance and of course the electricity as well.

The fill up charge will be far less than those of us with traditional gas tanks. Slow charge units are somewhat less than the fast-charging stations which can be in the neighborhood of $35 for a complete charge. There are two types of units at the time.

Level 2 is the slower charging station. We get them through ACOG grants. They are now located at Mitch Park where there are two, the Tennis Center, the Soccer Complex with three, City First building, the Railyard, Broadway and 5th. They go from zero charge to 100% in 4 to 6 hours.

Level 3 DC Fast Charger stations are in Festival Marketplace. These charge 0 to 100% in about 30 minutes; More units are planned, and they likely will be Level 3. Tesla has some connection problems with the faster units, but any new ones installed will have crossover cords. In the old days we called this an “Adapter kit”.

The reality for us here in Edmond is that we do not drive that many miles in Edmond so most of our charging is at home for the next day.

We would use these stations more when we go to Oklahoma City or somewhere else in Oklahoma. It will be folks that drive into Edmond who use them more and pay the fee.

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

Check out what’s inside!

---- Edmond Police booking report ..................................................Page 6.

---- Weekend calendar ......................................................................Page 6.

---- Book signing this Saturday..........................................................Page 8.

---- Columnist urges others to tell their story ................................Page 10.

---- Smag’s delicious brisket ideas ..................................................Page 11.

---- Geprge Gust’s latest movie review............................................Page 14.

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

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

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

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

This and so much more in this week’s edition

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2024 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 • January 11, 2024 • Page 5

To discuss ‘Leftist Influences’

Edmond Republican Women to have Callihan as speaker The next meeting of the Edmond Republican Women’s Club will be held on Jan. 15, at Oklahoma Christian University. Members and guests start arriving at 11:15 am, with a buffet lunch available at 11:30 a.m. The speaker for the month of January will be Suzanne Callihan, who is also a member of the club.

Suzanne has been a GOP activist for 25 plus years and is currently the OFRW Legislative Liaison.

She has been the OFRW State Treasurer, President of Green Country Republican Women, Callihan Treasurer for Heartland Republican Women and Oklahoma City Republican Women. She is a retired CPA/Information Systems Lead in the energy industry.

Suzannes presentation for the meeting will be "Leftist Influences in Oklahoma."

We are so honored to have two outstanding Republican women as our sponsors for the month of January. State Representative, Nicole Miller, and long time Oklahoma Republican Party member, Cheryl Williams.

Nicole Miller proudly represents northwest Oklahoma City, west Edmond, and Deer Creek in House District 82. She grew up throughout the central U.S. and Miller eventually settled in the Fort Worth area. After earning a Bachelors degree in Government Service from Texas Womens University, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she focused on defense sector policy issues.

Nicole spent the next several years as a military spouse, living coast to coast and overseas during her husband's 20-year career with the Air Force. After moving to Oklahoma City, she worked with the Oklahoma National Guard and the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.

Since being elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2018, she has developed a reputation as a strong and articulate advocate on a number of legislative issues. In her first term, Miller was presented with

the Rising Star Award by the State Chamber of Commerce for her role as a legislative leader in the business community. She was one of 20 legislators chosen from within the southern region to attend the Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) in 2019. She was named as the 2022 Legislator of the Year by the National Guard Association of Oklahoma in recognition for her work on education benefits for members of the Oklahoma National Guard. Rep. Miller and her husband Doug, have two children and attend Heritage Baptist Church.

Cheryl Williams and her husband, John, moved to Edmond more than 35 years ago. Both of their sons went through Edmond Schools and graduated from Edmond North High School.

Williams Cheryl and John have five grandchildren and enjoy spending time with them. Cheryl received her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the School of the Ozarks (now College of the Ozarks). She retired as a Business Systems Analyst in late 2022 and thought retired life sounded great.

But she recently was sought out and retained as a consultant for a project and is enjoying once again helping an organization implement a software system. For more than 30 years, Cheryl has been actively involved in the Oklahoma Republican Party, serving in numerous offices including Vice Chair of the State Party. She has attended 4 Republican National Conventions and stayed involved in local Republican Womens Clubs and attended 3 NFRW National Conventions. She is a member of Edmond Republican Womens Club and was recently appointed to the Oklahoma County Election Board and is diligently serving in that role.

This meeting should be jam packed with information as well as the installation of new officers for 2024. If you would be interested in attending or would like more information, the club email address is ERWC1787@gmail.com and ERWC would be happy to respond. 2024 is an election year, and we will be out there working for all Republican candidates.

Obituary Kenneth Wayne Baucom

At 12:30 pm, December 30, 2023, Kenneth Wayne Baucom passed away at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK due to injuries sustained from an auto collision. Kenneth was 72 years old.

Kenneth was born in Halstead, KS to Ervin Baucom and Edna Mae Baucom. As a young man, he moved to Crescent, OK where he met his lifelong best friend, Robert Holliday.

He spent most of his life in Oklahoma and Texas, and was married for 12 years to Carol Nicholas, with whom he shared four children. Kenneth served as a radio technician in the military in his twenties and worked as a hardware technician for Seagate and Simplex until he retired in his early forties.

As an adult, Kenneth committed his life to Christ and encouraged his children and grandchildren to grow in faith. He enjoyed listening to worship music and watched TBN daily,

a lifelong learner of contemporary theologians.

Kenneth was passionate about family, sports, and westerns. He was an avid Sooners basketball and football fan. Quick witted, mischievous, and good natured all in the same moment, Kenneth’s anecdotes were hilarious and would bring smiles to all those around him. He loved many things: the green of trees, the beach, music, singing, laughing, horseshoes, and dominos. However, his greatest loves were his children and grandchildren.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his father, Ervin Baucom; his mother, Edna Mae Baucom; his brother Eugene Baucom; and his sister, Donna Briar.

He is survived by his brothers, Coy Gene Baucom and Dean Carpenter; his children and their spouses, Kenneth Wayne Baucom II and Susan Baucom, Adrienne Mae Shephard and Aaron Shephard, Thomas Ervin Baucom and Mary Baucom, Bryan Nicholas Baucom and Deborah Baucom; and his grandchildren, Kenneth Wayne Baucom III, Ciera Marie Baucom, Aaron Gregory Shephard Jr., Jacob Lee Arthur Shephard, Emma Grace Baucom, Vera Addyson Baucom, Madeline Olivia Baucom, Katherine Grace Baucom, and Bryan Robert Baucom.

A service was be held at Baggerly Funeral Home Thursday, January 4th.

Cover From Page 1 •Purchase of new sport utility vehicles “As our Edmond community continues to grow, so do the needs of our district as a whole” said Edmond Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Grunewald. “When Redbud Elementary opened, it was already nearing capacity. If approved by the voters, this bond will allow the district to begin construction of a second elementary school east of I-35 as well as a new middle school. Both of these buildings are needed to support our growth and keep class sizes

as small as possible.”

These bond propositions include projects that will impact every one of our nearly 26,000 EPS students. “The district has worked hard to prioritize and select projects that improve and enhance every existing EPS school site” said Grunewald.

If approved by the voters, this bond is not planned to raise tax rates for any homeowner in the district.

The voter registration deadline for the election is Friday, January 19th.

More details on the bond proposals are available at edmondschools.net/bond.

More recognition for work done by Integris Health NTEGRIS Health announced this week that three of its entities received Excellence Awards from Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement.

INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Baptist received the Pinnacle of Excellence Award for Patient Experience for maintaining consistently high levels of excellence over consecutive years at metro clinics.

Both INTEGRIS Health Lakeside

Women’s Hospital and Mitchell West, M.D., earned the Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience for reaching the 95th percentile for each reporting period for the award year.

Receiving a Press Ganey Excellence Award® is a preeminent, competitive achievement for leading health care organizations. Presented annually, the award applauds hospitals and health systems that consistently sustained performance year-over-year.

Page 6 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

(Editor’s Note: 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.)

Dec. 20 Jerold Joseph Hoffman, 69 of Edmond. Purchase, procure, possess obscene material.

Aaron Donnell Eversole, 29 of Harrah. Petit larceny/shoplitfing and trespassing after being warned.

Maldonado Yuver Menjivar, 37 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, expired tag over three months and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Dec. 21 Edgar Alvarez, 40 of Oklahoma City Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Trenton Jeremiah Sparks, 35 of Dallas. Shoplifting.

Dec. 22 Christopher Dale Miller, 42 of Oklahoma City.

Reckless driving, no proof of insurance and driving without a proper/valid DL. Dylan Thomas Ryburn, 24 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Tiffany Brooke Cutler, 27 of Edmond. Public intoxication and false representation to an officer.

Boston Tanner Fausett, 26 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Gisele Debois Anderson, 21 of Edmond. Disorderly conduct and non-assault resisting officer.

Dec. 23 John David Mills, 60 homeless. Public intoxication.

Savannah Grace Steele, 22 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Robert James Kerlin, 31 of Edmond. Reckless driving and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Joshua Dwayne Walker, 41 of Edmond. Shoplifting.

Costa Anthony Neumann, 67 of Oklahoma City. Felony DUI/APC. Travis Don Horton, 29 homeless. Public intoxication.

Shiloh Wayne Haddox, 26 homeless. Public intoxication.

Dec.24 Stacy Dawn Gescat, 37 of Edmond. Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and public intoxication.

Helen Renee Hearon, 53 of Oklahoma City.

Misdemeanor warrant.

Dec. 25 Ryan James Postoak, 33 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Ryan Anthony Roberts, 22 of Edmond. Operat-

ing (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and driving while license is canceled, suspended or revoked.

Dec. 26 Kristal Lynn Holleyman, 48 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Jenna Rosa Lipherhand, 37 of Edmond. Transporting an open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and felony DUI/APC. Martin Alexis Romero, 18 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, expired tag over three months and driving without proper valid ID. Joshua Caleb Brewer, 24 homeless. Trespassing.

Austin Cole Felts, 35 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Natalie Ann Fisher, 22 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Dec. 27 Christopher Scott Lucas, 41 of Oklahoma City.

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

Kristal Lynn Shirley, 40 of Edmond. Trespassing after being warned.

Rhonald Hodges Baggott IV, 48 of Edmond.

Failure to appear.

Adrian Deshon Fleming, 24 of Oklahoma City.

Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended denied or revoked and speeding (16-20 MPH) over.

Trelan Kareem Fox, 18 of Edmond. (Felony value) embezzlement greater than $2,500 and less than $15,000.

Cody Edward Shockley, 32 of Edmond. Expired tag and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Neil MacPhee Garvey III, 38 homeless. Public intoxication.

Luis Fernando Martinez, 26 of Warr Acres. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and no proof of insurance.

Dec. 28 Brooke Allison Figueroa, 36 homeless. Failure to appear.

Angel Rolando Rolando, 21 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Juan Carel Francisco, 21 of Edmond. Non-assault resisting arrest and public intoxication.

Dec. 29 Whitley Lynn Johnson, 33 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Nicholas Prince Otey, 30 of Edmond. Obstruction of police officer and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Bralin Ladale Penn, 22 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance.

Kermitt Burrell Scott, Jr., 45 of Edmond. Possess firearm after conviction of felony, operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alco-

hol and domestic abuse assault (strangulation.)

Joane Margaretha Thompson, 41 of Edmond.

Child abuse neglect.

Kaitlin Faith Thorngren, 21 of Guthrie. Possess CDS, possess drug paraphernalia and larceny from building.

Darla Kay Want, 47 of Guthrie. Shoplifting.

Dec. 30 Nichole Ann Walters, 32 of Edmond. Shoplifting.

Luis Antonio Cervantes, 29 of Edmond.

Shoplifting.

Charles Derek Hodges, 33 homeless. Possession of marijuana, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jessica Lynn Gibby, 36 of Edmond. Three counts of failure to appear.

Dec. 31 John Loyd Yeager Jr., 57 of Oklahoma City.

Felony DUI/APC. Jason Daniel Sam, 34 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Zachariah Levi Green, 38 of Tahlequah. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Naomi Penny Brown, 46 of Woodward. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Karla Jo Miller, 57 of Edmond. Obstruction of police officer, failure to carry security verification in vehicle, driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and felony DUI/APC. Alfred Clifford Goldberg, 50 of Edmond.

Shoplifting and public intoxication.

Dillon Michael Hall, 25 of Blanchard. Public intoxication.

Cindy Ray Goldberg, 47 of Edmond. Public intoxication and shoplifting.

Brieanna Chelsea Yahola, 28 of Seminole. Trespassing after being warned.

Brian Christopher Whitney, 42 of Midwest City.

Possess CDS, transport open container of intoxicating beverage or beer, driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Jan. 1 Ottice Rowell Davis, 58 of Oklahoma City. Nonassault resisting arrest, driving without proper/valid DL and disregard signal light.

Colton Stone Jones, 20 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Jimmy Charles Schlup, 26 of Edmond. Driving while impaired by consumption of alcohol (DWI).

Sami Bess Alberts, 30 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication and possess CDS. Dejuan Lewis, 31 of Edmond. Kidnapping and (misdemeanor) domestic abuse assault.

Darrell Ray Winley, 58 of Edmond. Possession of marijuana, expired tag – over three months, no proof of insurance, driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and failure to appear.

Shawntay Lachell Houston, 27 of Edmond. Failure to appear.

Weekend Calendar of Events Jan. 11-14 Weekend Calendar of Events Jan 11 - 14 ---- In the Gallery ---- Edmond’s Social Fabric ---- Edmond Ice Rink ---- Devon Ice Rink ---- Downtown in December ---- Indoor Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- International Finals Rodeo ---- Board Game Day at Frenzy ---- Clay Walker ---- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Events ---- Cattlemen’s Congress ---- OKC Boat & RV Show ---- Claude Hall’s Original OKC Gun Show ---- OKC Philharmonic presents: Funky Fresh & Sugar Free!

Extra Information

Edmond Ice Rink Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Sat, Nov 4 – Mon, Jan 15; $10 ---- $14; edmondicerink.com Devon Ice Rink Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens Extra Info: Fri, Nov 10 – Sat, Jan 29; Mon – Thu: 3 – 9 p.m.; Fri: 3 – 11 p.m.; Sat: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sun: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; myriadgardens.org Downtown in December Location: Downtown OKC Extra Info: Thu, Nov 16 – Sun, Feb 4; various events; downtownindecember.com Indoor Edmond Farmer’s Market Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: through Sat, Mar 16; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; edmondparks.com

In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring Reian Williams; free; Gallery is open Mon – Thu; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; edmondfinearts.com

International Finals Rodeo Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: Wed, Jan 10 – Sun, Jan 14; $29 ---- $5; lazye.com

Edmond’s Social Fabric Location: Edmond History Museum Extra Info: Fri, Dec 1 – Sun, Mar 31; free; 10 a.m.

– 5 p.m.; edmondhistory.org

Board Game Day at Frenzy Location: Frenzy Brewing Company Extra Info: Sat, Jan 13; 12 p.m.; Free; facebook.com

Clay Walker Location: Riverwind Casino, Showplace Theatre Extra Info: Sat, Jan 13; 8 p.m.; riverwind.com National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Events Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Thu, Jan 11 – Sun, Jan 21: Choose Your Adventure & Explore the Code: The Code of the West @ 10 a.m.; Sat, Jan 13 – Sun, Jan 14: Signature Tour @ 1 – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Cattlemen’s Congress Location: Oklahoma City Fairgrounds Extra Info: Sat, Dec 30 – Thu, Jan 11; cattlemenscongress.com OKC Boat & RV Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Fri, Jan 12 – Sun, Jan 14; Fri: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; okcboatandrvshow.com Claude Hall’s Original OKC Gun Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Sat, Jan 13 – Sun, Jan 14; Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; okcgunshow.com

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 7

Maughan again leading board In a unanimous vote, the Oklahoma Board of County Commissioners have again selected Commissioner Brian Maughan, District 2, as chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. District 1, Commissioner Carrie Blumert, will continue serving as vice-chair for the year 2024.

Commissioner Maughan, who brings a wealth of experience and dedication to public service, will oversee the board meetings, deliberations and be the voice for the board.

This election makes Maughan the chair of the Oklahoma County Budget Board, Retirement Board, and Tax Roll Board. It also places him on numerous other boards and commissions such as multiple court services boards and the library commission.

“I am honored to have been chosen once again to serve as Chairman,” said Commissioner Brian Maughan, “I look forward to my part in leading the county toward its goals, with a focus on transparency and effective governance. This re-

Maughan sponsibility comes at a crucial time, as we work to determine a location for the new county detention center.”

This marks Commissioner Maughan’s fourth consecutive year to serve as Oklahoma County BOCC chairman.

Deadline approaching to apply for OMRF Fleming Scholar Program Applications are due Feb. 1 for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s 2024 Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar Program.

The summer program is open to high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Students must be Oklahoma residents at the time of high school graduation to qualify.

The eight-week internship allows the state’s top science students to enhance their research skills by gaining hands-on experience in a lab setting alongside some of the leading researchers in their fields.

“This is an incredible experience for students who are excited about science and want to get some meaningful, hands-on research experience,” said Ashley Cheyney, Ph.D., OMRF’s assistant director of scientific training & outreach.

“Being a Fleming Scholar provides

the opportunity to make lifelong connections and contribute to work that makes a difference.”

The application process includes submission of an essay, letters of recommendation and academic transcripts. Students must be 16 or older to qualify. Fleming Scholars are paid at least $5,000 and may be eligible for provided housing.

The program is named for Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin and also dedicated OMRF’s first building in 1949. Former Fleming Scholars include OMRF Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Judith James, M.D., Ph.D.; OMRF Distinguished Career Scientist Rod McEver, M.D.; and OMRF assistant professor Heather Rice, Ph.D. For application information, visit omrf.org/fleming.

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation's 2023 class of Fleming Scholars included Gerson Estrada of the Metro, who is now a sophomore at the University of Southern California.

National debt concerns Lankford Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to lead a group of their Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), highlighting their concerns with the rising cost of servicing the nearly $34 trillion national debt.

“Driven by out-of-control federal spending and rising interest rates, the US spent $659 billion on servicing the federal debt in Fiscal Year 2023, a $184 billion increase from the previous year and nearly double the cost from just three years ago. Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates eleven times, pursuing such an aggressive rate-hiking campaign in an effort to combat the out-of-control inflation that has hung

over the US economy for years as a result of trillions of dollars in reckless partisan spending passed by congressional Democrats and signed into law

by President Biden. Future rate hikes and higher-for-longer rates are likely as elevated inflation remains a major concern for American households who continue to see the purchasing power of their wages erode,” the Senators wrote.

Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (RNC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Johnson (RWI), and Todd Young (R-IN) joined Lankford and Daines in sending the letter.

Page 8 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

A book signing set for Edmond writer Bea Spouse of Edmond is doing a book signing at Best Of Books Saturday, January 13 from noon to 2.

Best of Books is in Kickingbird Square on Danforth near Bryant.

“Life in the Faith Lane,” according to Bea, is a story of hope.

“There’s so much room for positive if we just look for it,” she said.

Bradford Village brightens holiday of vets by donating Christmas cards Bradford Village residents in Edmond donated over 900 Christmas cards to be given to the seven veterans centers in Oklahoma. Bradford Village is a senior care facility.

Jim Davidson, chaplain, started the project 10 years ago when Bradford Village residents donated some 500 cards that were shipped to a central location in California to be distributed to various hospitals for wounded warriors.

This project now distributes Christmas cards to the seven veterans centers in Oklahoma.

Davidson reports that these veterans are so appreciative of these cards and reports that several of the veterans receive very little mail and visits.

Bradford Village has received “thank you” notes from these veteran centers and look forward to expanding the donation next year.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 9

Public School Resource Center’s new executive director Oklahoma Public School Resource Center (OPSRC) announced the hire of Dr. April Grace last week.

“As we begin 2024, it’s an honor to announce Dr. April Grace has joined the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center team as executive director,” said Robert J. Ross, OPSRC chairman of the board. “Her 35 years of experience in Oklahoma education

Dr. April Grace

and vision for our state’s future make her an ideal candidate to lead this next chapter of the resource center.”

Dr. Grace’s storied career has included roles in administration as well as curriculum development, leadership consultancy and classroom experience. She has served as a classroom teacher, site-level administrator, an assistant superintendent of human resources, and, ultimately, district superintendent. Dr. Grace’s expertise and out-of-the-box thinking have been recognized at both the state and national levels, most notably when Dr. Grace was named the 2021 Oklahoma Association of School Administrators Oklahoma Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Grace has also been involved in leading, serving, consulting and policy development.

She has designed university education curriculum for both masters and doctoral programs throughout her career and, most recently, she has served as a training specialist and leadership consultant at the Marzano Evaluation Center.

Dr. Grace has served in leadership roles in numerous education organizations, including a term as president of the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, only the second woman in the organization’s history to serve in the role. The recipient of more than a dozen industry awards, numerous board appointments and volunteer experiences have also characterized her legacy of service to the community in personal and professional capacities.

Dr. Grace earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Oklahoma before graduating with her doctoral degree via the University of Phoenix.

“I am honored to represent OPSRC in fulfillment of its mission: to drive transformation and increased academic achievement within Oklahoma's public education system,” said Dr. Grace. “I share OPSRC’s commitment to implementing new supports and solutions to provide a quality education for every Oklahoma child.”

Dr. Grace earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Oklahoma before graduating with her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policies via the University of Phoenix.

About Oklahoma Public School Re-

source Center (OPSRC) OPSRC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to drive transformation and increase academic achievement within Oklahoma's public education system.

Membership is open to all public schools in Oklahoma, with experts available year-round to assist member districts in the areas of teaching and learning, school finance, education law, communications and instructional technology, in addition to professional learning and leadership development.

Find more information at https://www.opsrc.net.

Page 10 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Telling your own story

By Steve Gust Here’s an idea for this new year. Why not write a book?

I know most of you have probably thought about it before. Why not go ahead and make it happen in 2024?

Don’t be too Steve Gust daunted by the challenge. You don’t have to pen a masterpiece that will sell millions of copies and eventually be made into a movie. That would be nice, but there are other kinds of books you can write.

Let’s say you’ve had an interesting career. There might be some stories from that time, which should be remembered. Or maybe our government sent you overseas as a member of the military. Undoubtedly you’ll have anecdotes and serious stories you can share.

I wrote something like that years ago with a book I called “Editor’s Total Recall.” It was a chance to look back at some of the things I have seen while working for newspapers.

I imagine a former police officer or emergency room doctor or nurse

would have great stories to tell as well. Then again someone who has a hobby, or who likes to cook, could spin a good tale.

Here’s a hint. If you recall real life incidents, you might consider not mentioning too many names – unless these people's names are put in the best light possible.

Don’t let cost stop you either. It used to be in the old days, you’d have to pay big bucks for a book.

Now, Amazon.com, and other platforms on the Net, offer inexpensive ways for you to put an honest-togoodness book in your hands. And you can do it yourself.

Once you’re done, you can order two or two hundred copies. It’s up to you. These days, Amazon even has a hardback option.

A book is something that can tell your story after you’re gone. I remember, after a few years I picked up my book again and enjoyed reading about a few of the odd things I had seen in my life.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a good new year’s resolution, you might consider it.

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

Time to dump having cell phones in the class?

Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, has filed legislation creating a pilot program to allow Oklahoma public schools to create phone-free school sites. Senate Bill 1321 would provide grant-style funding for up to nine middle or high schools to cover the costs associated for sites going cellphone free for the duration of the school day.

Seifried said the goal of the program was to remove distractions for students in order to increase educational outcomes, in addition to, limiting the damaging effects of cellphone use on students’ mental health and wellbeing.

“This bill is the result of many conversations with teachers, administrators and parents, who want their kids and students to be more engaged in the classroom,” Seifried said. “By limiting the distraction of cellphones at school, it will allow students to truly focus on their learning. One Rutgers study, showed that removing cellphones from the classroom increased students’ test scores by almost 7% and doubled that rate for low-achieving students.”

Seifried said the benefit of this pilot will be to demonstrate how outcomes can change when students aren’t think-

The cartoon has been published before

ing about who is messaging them, liking their social media posts or any other related distraction.

“Schools who have implemented these policies have seen discipline instances reduced, with bullying and anxiety decreased as well,” she added.

“The beauty of this pilot program is it is voluntary and allows schools the flexibility to adopt the policies as they see fit based on their unique sites. We all inherently know that cell phones affect students’ achievement, learning, retention, and their mental health. I’m confident that, if this bill passes, at the conclusion of the three-year program period, the data will be overwhelmingly positive for the Oklahoma students who participated.”

—— First-of-its-kind legislation that gives an expansive tax credit to Oklahoma family caregivers took effect Jan. 1.

For the 2024 tax year, unpaid family caregivers will be able to claim up to $2,000 or $3,000 in tax credits for out-of-pocket costs incurred for eligible expenses, depending upon the person for whom they are providing care.

House Majority Leader Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, shepherded House Bill 1029XX – the Caring for Caregivers Act – through the Legislature last session.

"While caregiving is a labor of love, it can come at a great financial toll," West said. "I'm thrilled to be able to offer this tax relief to our Oklahoma family caregivers. This will help ensure their loved ones can stay in their homes when their health is failing, eliminating the need for the much more costly option and the added emotional burden of being cared for in a taxpayer-funded nursing home."

The tax credit is up to 50% of eligible caregiver costs, including home modifications such as installing a ramp, durable medical equipment, assistive technologies, home health services and more.

The credit is capped at $2,000 per year for family caregivers with a federally adjusted gross income below $50,000 for single filers or $100,000 for joint filers. Those caring for veterans or people with a dementia-related diagnosis are eligible for up to $3,000 per year. The total cap for the state is $1.5 million per year.

Lawmaker wants DAs investigated Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, last week issued the following response to Oklahoma district attorneys and the Oklahoma attorney general after their replies to his recent request for an examination of the collection of probation fees.

"Recently, I accused Oklahoma district attorneys of illegal collection of supervision fees and of conducting a money laundering scheme. I requested the state attorney general investigate my allegations and take proper action. In response, the district attorney’s declared my accusations showed a willful neglect and said I was acting completely beneath the dignity of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

"The attorney general hastily found that Oklahoma legislators gave the district attorneys the authority to collect supervision fees. The Attorney General is 100% correct in this injudicious opinion.

The legislators did give district attorneys the authority to conduct supervision and collect fees. But I sincerely hope the attorney general will agree, the Legislature cannot give district attorneys the authority to violate the law.

"I did not ask the attorney general if District Attorneys have the authority to conduct supervision or collect fees. I asked the attorney general if it is illegal for district attorneys to falsely claim to conduct supervision and then collect a fee without providing any actual service. I provided the attorney general with an appellate court order, which directly instructs district attorneys that the fee must be used for the actual act of supervision. I find it comical that this concept is too difficult for Oklahoma’s top law enforcement to understand.

"I broke this down very clearly in my previous communication to the media and in my request to the attorney general.

"The bottom line is district attorneys are charging a fee for which they do not provide any supervision. In addition, it is my contention that the way this fee is funneled first through their account then to the state General Revenue Fund and then back to them constitutes a money laundering scheme, which in my opinion is substantially corrupt.

"I have devoted my life to improving Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. I have an exciting plan to

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.

transform the Oklahoma criminal justice system.

But before Oklahoma can move forward with real transformation, we must end the criminal enterprise known as district attorneys supervision.

"I hope all Oklahomans will agree with me and demand a proper investigation be conducted into what appears to be illegal conduct by many of our state's district attorneys.

"In closing, I must state I find it truly amusing that district attorneys would unlawfully fleece the poorest Oklahomans to illegally fund themselves and then lecture me about dignity."

—— On Friday Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, also called for an independent investigation of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to address his claims of an increase in violent assaults against inmates and staff. Humphrey chairs the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee.

"The Department of Corrections within the past year has seen an increase in violence against inmates and staff," Humphrey said. "Stabbings, assaults and rapes appear to have become a near daily occurrence. I am receiving multiple reports, like an inmate being tied up for approximately 12 hours and raped repeatedly. Another report is of inmates entering an employee’s office and repeatedly stabbing an inmate in front of that employee.

"The reports of inmates or employees being attacked, beaten or stabbed have been overwhelming. The most recent attack was a video of an inmate attack at the Dick Conner Correctional Center shown on an Oklahoma City television station.

"It is my understanding that inmates videoed this attack and sent the video to the station director and the assaulted inmate's family members.

"I'm left asking how this can happen. When inmates become so bold that they will video their assault and mail that video to the family and director of a news station, then Oklahoma has lost control of its prison system.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 11

Too hot in the kitchen?

Not when it’s beef brisket

By Carol Smaglinski “Beef is the soul of cooking,” were words uttered by Marie Antoine Careme (1784-1833), a French chef in the 19th century and nothing new to Oklahomans.

Just the mention of beef brisket and people react with a positive Mmmmm. They know because they just might have personal memories of how delicious that particular cut of beef can be.

After the first bite, they might say, “Holy Cow!” The word brisket is said to be taken from “brichet,” a Celtic term for a slain animal.

Count yourself lucky if you serve beef brisket as people won’t forget years from now. For centuries, Jewish and Polish grandmothers were known for country cooking that included brisket, which could have included economic factors, while the Irish pickled it and called it corned beef. Surprisingly, it was imperative in Nordic cuisine.

Germans and Czechs, immigrants coming from Europe into Texas and throughout the South, smoked brisket over a wood fire.

The brisket is taken from the breast area of the cow under the first five ribs, among the most active parts of the animal.

Hitch yourself up with a good local butcher and if possible, ask for the “first cut” at times called “the plate.” The first might be leaner and have

more flavor than the second cut. Above all, both do require cooking that is low and slow for best results.

Now is the perfect time for some comfort food, absolutely better than anything store-bought and flavor-filled food that might please those hankering for an old-fashioned family feast, so ditch the fancy folded napkins.

After plowing through mile-high fast-food hamburgers, it makes one wonder just who has a mouth that big?

The price of beef brisket, both chewy and tender at the same time, is certainly cheaper than top-dollar steaks, but still considered a bargain because of how many meals it can produce with delicious leftovers.

By the way, don’t rinse the juice out of the can of sauerkraut if you don’t wish to lose some of the beneficial probiotics that are present when the cabbage is being fermented.

Beef Brisket with Onions and Potatoes Makes about 6 servings 3 lbs. beef brisket 1 large sweet onion, diced Salt and Pepper to taste 3 cups sauerkraut 2 large potatoes, grated or sliced

1 large unpeeled McIntosh or Granny Smith apple, quartered 1 tsp. caraway seeds 1 cup dry red wine Put the meat in a 5-quart pot on the stove. Add onions, salt and pepper and cover with boiling water. With the cover on the pot, bring the contents to a full boil and let boil gently for about 20 minutes.

Skim off the fat off the top, put the cover back on and simmer for about an hour and a half.

Remove the brisket, slice against the grain (best done with an electric knife) into pieces about a quarter inch thick.

Save about one cup of the juice in the pot and discard the rest.

Put that one cup you reserved back into the pot along with the meat, sauerkraut, potatoes, the apple and caraway seeds.

Bring the mixture to a boil and let simmer for about 30 minutes. Then add wine and cook for another 30 minutes or until the meat is tested and deemed tender.

At the table, serve with more hot, boiled potatoes and present a small bowl of mustard for an additional zing. Doing the brisket the day before gives flavors a chance to marry. Add this to your culinary

Page 12 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Engagement, Wedding notices Do you have a wedding or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com.

We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph.

Payment is due upon submissionj by noon Thursday.

Establish fitness goals for 2024

By Brian Attebery Welcome to 2024!

Like many, you know it is time to get back to focusing on your health and fitness.

Maybe you have gained a few pounds.

Maybe your weight and health have gotAttebery ten out of control, and you have over 100lbs to lose. That is okay but you need a plan. A multi-faceted plan. If you do not have realistic, systematic goals, at least generalized, you will have a hard time succeeding at your fitness goals for the long run.

Time management is going to be the priority to make happen. The reason is simple. That is the first reason (excuse) people make for not getting into the gym. I understand but it is all about priorities and expectations.

You must schedule when you work out. Part of the reason my personal training clients succeed is I require them to set their times up from the beginning with me. Those are their times and their times alone for our appointment. My average client trains two 30-minutesessions per week with me. That is, it. I do want them to do cardio most days per week as well but that might also be only 30 minutes. They can also participate in a group exercise class on one of those other days. Workouts should be about quality and consistency. You don’t have to be in the gym for hours on end to get into shape. I promise that 30 minutes with me can be like an hour or more wandering around the gym trying to figure out what to do or not pushing yourself hard enough in the time you have carved out for your fitness.

Make it count.

Once you have established your schedule, set up your “ideal” longterm goals. If you need to lose 50 pounds, lower your cholesterol, A1C, and be able to run a 5k, then fantastic but that won’t happen in 90 days.

Short term and intermediate goals must be the goals to focus on. The first 90 days, you are simply trying to be consistent with your fitness and working on the most difficult portion, your nutrition. You must have a plan with your nutrition. A plan is a

lifestyle and not a fad that you can only stick with for 2 weeks. Your nutrition will ultimately allow the stimulus of exercise to work for weight loss and muscle tone. Invest in a consultation with a professional nutritionist that can help map out a plan and guidelines. I teach how, what, and why to eat for my clients. Yes, I give them a sample nutrition plan with multiple meal options, but I want them to be convinced about what they are doing. They are more likely to succeed. I also don’t tell them they can live life and enjoy the process. I love food and yes, I eat some unhealthy food and too much of it like everyone on occasion.

You will get bored if you don’t change your workouts up. Every few weeks, you need to mix up your workouts. It could be simple things like changing what type of cardio machine you do or exercise you choose to work a certain body part. Those changes will keep your body and mind fresh and stimulated for growth and change. You also need to make those changes to limit the risk of getting repetitive-use injuries. Your joints will get wear and tear patterns if you don’t change how, you workouton occasion. Varying your grip, switching from machines to cables and back to free weights for example. These changes will help you continue to change and improve.

Changes may occur rapidly at first and then hit a wall. For others, you may see hardly anything change at first and then a few weeks or months into it, your body starts to cooperate.

Either way, you must tell yourself that regardless of your level of success, do not quit. Maintaining is better than going backwards. Are you healthier, stronger, and feel better as a whole? Don’t focus on what you haven’t accomplished, focus on what you have done positively for your mind and body! Let 2024 be the priority you need to have. Don’t convince yourself you can’t afford it.

Convince yourself you CAN’T afford not to take care of yourself.

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

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 13

OSSM accepting student applications The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) announced this week it is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 academic year. Traditionally, students apply as a high school sophomore to attend OSSM for their junior and senior years. Occasionally, students also apply in their freshman and junior years of high school.

There is no cost to state residents for tuition, room, or board. To apply to OSSM, visit the website at www.ossm.edu or call the Admissions Office at 405-522-7802.

“OSSM provides a rigorous academic program for some of Oklahoma’s bright, capable students who have a special interest in science and mathematics,” said Tony Cornforth, president of OSSM. "OSSM has admitted students from all 77 counties for our advanced academic program and highly

qualified faculty."

The deadline for applications is Friday, March 8.

Admission criteria include high school grades and transcripts, teacher and counselor recommendations, and ACT scores. Applicants must also write four essays as part of the application. Faculty, staff, and alumni also interview prospective students.

Recognized for its academic program, OSSM is ranked the no. five public high school in the nation. (Niche)*. OSSM has highly qualified faculty, 75 percent of whom have doctorates in their fields. Throughout the history of OSSM, many students have achieved status as National Merit finalists or commended scholars. One hundred percent of graduates attend colleges and universities, many of them with significant financial assistance.

Additionally, most Oklahoma universities award ac-

ademic credit for some of the OSSM classes.

The OSSM experience also includes a mentorship program, which gives students opportunities to work on projects with professional scientists and engineers. Through the program, students have partnered with the state’s leading research organizations, including The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the OU Health Science Center, as well as the Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory at the University of Oklahoma. Their work included researching targeted therapies for pancreatic and ovarian cancers and observing procedures conducted on the optical nerve.

Today, OSSM alumni are doctors, engineers, computer scientists, researchers, lawyers, and a wide range of professionals. Approximately 60 percent of OSSM alumni live and work in Oklahoma.

Making your home a ‘Winter Wonderland’ Spending time outside in your own backyard and community green space – backyarding, as the TurfMutt Foundation calls it – is good for you no matter what time of year. When winter hits and the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, it just takes a little more creativity to turn your yard into an outdoor oasis.

“Our living landscapes transform when our yards and parks are covered with white snow,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of our backyards, community parks and public green spaces. “Mutt Mulligan the TurfMutt and I really enjoy spending time outside even when it’s cold and snowy. We just have to prepare properly for it and plan ahead.”

Here are the TurfMutt Foundation’s suggestions for turning your backyard into a winter wonderland: • Take cues from your dog.

Most dogs love to play in the snow because it offers new smells to sniff out and a new layer to dig through.

Lace up your winter boots and enjoy your yard with your family, including your dog. Snowballs make for an excellent game of fetch. If you get enough snow, you can even create an obstacle course for your furry friend.

Using a snow thrower will make quick work of the task and can provide a clear path for your pup to do his “business,” too.

• Light it up. Create a welcoming ambience that draws your family outside by stringing lights in your trees and shrubs and on your patio.

You can also add lanterns and solar and battery operated candles around your yard to bathe your outdoor space in sparkly, inviting light.

• Add warmth. Being comfortable in the wintertime is all about temperature. Firepits are an excellent choice to add warmth, and they create an opportunity to gather around to make s’mores or tell stories. Patio heaters and outdoor fireplaces are another option to warm up your outdoor living room. For an added layer of comfort, set out a basket of blankets, along with packets of hand and toe warmers.

• Create snow activities. Lure your family outside by creating winter-themed activities that are fun for all ages. Snowball fights, snowman building sessions, a game of freeze

tag, and even tic-tac-SNOW are just a few ways to make a game of being outside this winter.

• Attract wildlife. Throughout the year, your yard is an important part of the connected ecosystem, linking nature to the man-made world of our neighborhoods. Support wildlife in the wintertime by adding bird and squirrel feeders to your trees and patio. Then observe the kinds of wildlife that visit your yard and how they are different from other seasonal wildlife.

• Involve your community.

Who says neighborhood block parties can only happen in the summertime?

Create community this winter by inviting your neighbors to participate in a Winter Wonderland Block Party.

You can host a snowman building contest or snowball competition and serve hot chocolate to warm up.

• Explore community green space. Take your winter backyarding into the community by exploring your neighborhood parks and other community green spaces. Take a nature walk to identify the wildlife you

can spot in the wintertime. Or lace up your snowshoes or cross-country skis to explore the winter landscape.

Grab the other kids on your block or in your building and hit the sledding hill at the community park. The options are endless!

• Dress for success. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. Remember to bundle up and wear layers when you head outside this winter. You will also want to keep your pet safe by monitoring their time outside and removing the snow from under their bellies and in between their paw pads before heading back inside. Remember, if you are cold, your pet probably is, too.

For more, sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit TurfMutt.com. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show.

Page 14 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Oklahoma Film Critics Circle hands out honors

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ voted best

By George Gust Now that we’ve swept away the party streamers from the New Year’s celebration and officially put 2023 to bed, it’s a perfect time to look back at the year in film 2023. As with every awards season there’s a build up to the biggest awards show in Hollywood with the Oscars, but before the golden statues are handed out we need to find out what we at the Oklahoma critics thought of this year’s best films.

The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) announced its 18th annual slate of award winners, with the Oklahoma-based Killers of the Flower Moon taking the title for Best Film of 2023 among the state’s film critics. In a year marked by strikes across the film and television industry, the OFCC recognized a variety of films that brought together audiences and critics alike.

The 2023 film calendar spanned budgets, platforms, and genres in a catalog that held something for everyone. Highly anticipated titles like Maestro and The Exorcist: Believer fell to expectations, giving way to a swell of foreign language titles to find a place among the OFCC’s ranking of the year’s best films. With a pop culture phenomenon like Barbenheimer creating a sense of occasion in moviegoing again, casual and avid fans of cinema have reason to

Answers on Page 19

find themselves in front of the silver screen again.

OFCC 2023 Awards Results Best Film: Killers of the Flower Moon Top 10 1. Killers of the Flower Moon 2. The Holdovers 3. Oppenheimer 4. Barbie 5. Past Lives 6. The Zone of Interest 7. Poor Things 8. May December 9.

The Boy and the Heron 10.American Fiction Best Actor Winner: Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers; Runner-Up: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Best Actress

Winner: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon Runner-Up: Emma Stone, Poor Things Best Supporting Actor Winner: Ryan Gosling, Barbie Runner-Up: Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer Best Supporting Actress Winner: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Runner-Up: Rachel McAdams, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Best Director Winner: Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon Runner-Up: Greta Gerwig, Barbie Best Original Screenplay Winner: The Holdovers, David Hemingson Runner-Up: Barbie, Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach Best Adapted Screenplay Winner: Killers of the Flower Moon, Eric Roth & Martin Scorsese (based on David Grann’s book) Runner-Up: Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan (based on the book “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin) Best Documentary Winner: American Symphony Runner-Up: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

This year’s Oklahoma Film Critics circle, acknowledges 2023’s the best in film with “Killers of the Flower Moon” taking home the top prize of best film.

Tweaking late toll road fee statute?

Under current law, if a person owes toll money, they are prohibited from renewing their vehicle registration until they pay their toll. Representative Annie Menz, D-Norman, filed HB2968, which would remove the ability of Service Oklahoma to deny renewal vehicle registration for unpaid tolls.

Menz says her office has received feedback from constituents about this issue, and while she appreciates Service Oklahoma, it is time to make this adjustment.

“Imagine taking off work to stand in line at the tag agency to renew your vehicle registration, only to be told you can’t because you owe money to OTA for tolls. Many people don’t have to imagine that; they’ve experienced it,” stated Menz.

“Lawful drivers mean safer roads, and getting to work safely means being able to pay bills.

This legislation is a commonsense adjustment for working families. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this effort.” said Menz.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: Geography 101

ACROSS 1. Village People's "____ Man" 6. Certain tray content 9. Little bit, in Mexico 13. Ammo in a quiver, sing.

14. Geological Society of America 15. Young eel 16. Song of praise 17. Snowy ____ or great horned ____ 18. Must-haves 19. *Strait between Russia and Alaska 21. *Smallest of the Great Lakes 23. Crime scene evidence 24. Peter the Great, e.g.

25. Consumer-protecting org.

28. Skiing helmet manufacturer 30. Mother-of-pearl, pl.

35. Type of sail, pl.

37. #29 Down anagram 39. Like Raphael's cherubs 40. Face shape 41. Tie with a morning coat 43. Dwarf buffalo 44. Short version 46. "At ____, soldier" 47. Supposed giant Himalayan 48. Drool 50. Swimming hole 52. D.C. V.I.P. 53. Jim Acosta's announcement 55. *Baltic ____ 57. *0∫ latitude 61. *Bay east of India 64. Cuban dance 65. John Keats' "To Autumn," e.g.

67. Fortune teller's card 69. Jeered 70. China's drinkable export 71. Bird-related 72. Dick and Jane's dog 73. "Slippery" tree 74. Lean, past tense DOWN 1. *Atlas page 2. Speedy steed

3. First Nation nation 4. Squirrel away 5. Possessing 6. Full of excitement 7. *Opposite of NNE 8. Saintly rings 9. Guilty, e.g.

10. Last word on walkie-talkie 11. Ghana money 12. Guesstimate phrase (2 words) 15. Catch in a snare 20. Nigerian money 22. A Bobbsey twin 24. Steel on boots, pl.

25. *Inlet in Norway 26. Abalone seeker 27. Olden day calculators 29. *Compass ____ 31. TV personality Aiken 32. Ancient Scandinavian characters 33. What actors do

34. *Iberian Peninsula country 36. Serb or Croat 38. Comme ci, comme Áa 42. Past or present 45. Group of five 49. Actor DiCaprio 51. Like floss 54. "That's all she ____" 56. Tequila source 57. Work units 58. Wisecrack 59. Rounded protuberance 60. Aid in crime 61. Show pleasure 62. Cantatrice's offering 63. Student aid 66. *Tierra ____ Fuego 68. Big bang maker, acr.

Answers on Page 19

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 15

Ice or snow can have a special effect on tires. Drivers have to be careful when out in winter conditions.

How to go about driving safely during bad weather With rounds of accumulating snow forecast to impact parts of the Sooner State over the next several days, AAA Oklahoma is urging drivers to be prepared for the conditions and to remain cautious if out on the roads, while the auto club’s roadside rescue fleet prepares for a busy period of assisting drivers.

AAA Oklahoma anticipates an increase in emergency roadside service calls as the wintry weather sweeps through and road conditions deteriorate, with slide-offs and crashes due to slick roads, battery/non-start problems and flat tires the main culprits.

Last winter (Dec. 2022-March 2023), AAA Oklahoma Emergency Roadside Service crews assisted more than 58,000 motorists across the state.

AAA Oklahoma tips to prepare vehicles for winter weather Make certain your tires have good tread for adequate traction and are properly inflated. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tires can lose 1 pound of air pressure.

Have the battery checked by a professional to ensure it is strong enough to face cold weather. When the air temperature is 32 degrees, a battery’s starting power drops 35 percent. Also, the average lifespan of a car battery is 3-5 years. winter battery.pngAAA members can request a visit from a AAA mobile battery service technician who will test their battery and replace it on-site, if necessary.

Keep your gas tank at least half-full to avoid gas line freeze-up.

Ensure that windshield wiper blades are in good condition and the wiper fluid reservoir is full. A winter blend of wiper fluid that resists freezing is recommended.

Make sure all lights (headlights, tail and brake lights, turn signals) are working properly so you can see and be seen in bad weather conditions.

Hazardous storms and inclement weather are a factor in an average of nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,200 traffic crash deaths nationwide every winter, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. AAA Oklahoma is encouraging drivers to have safety in mind if they must venture out on the wintry roadways.

“Ice and snow can cause significant safety problems by reducing visibility and making it difficult to maneuver or stop,” said Rylie Fletcher, AAA Oklahoma spokesperson. “It’s important for drivers to be cautious and take it slow if they have to get out on the roads.”

On average, about one-third (32%) of crashes during the winter occur in adverse weather or road surface conditions, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

AAA Oklahoma tips for driving in snowy and icy conditions Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you

can drive well in winter conditions, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate. Stay home until crews can properly clear roadways.

Check road conditions. Before you leave, assess the conditions of roads along your route.

Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on ice- and snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.

Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight.

Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

Manage a skid. If you lose traction and begin to spin or skid on snow or ice, don’t slam on the brakes. Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go, until your tires regain traction.

Increase your following distance to eight to ten seconds.

This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.

Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.

Don’t stop if you can avoid it.

There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.

Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.

Don’t stop going up a hill.

There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road.

Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Far too many drivers become stranded on the roadside this time of year. Nationwide, AAA handles an average of 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls per week in the winter with the most common problems being dead batteries, extractions, towing and flat tires.

“Motorists should heed travel warnings and stay home unless they absolutely must venture out,” AAA Oklahoma’s Fletcher said. “AAA Oklahoma is reminding anyone who must drive on icy or snow-covered roads to be prepared for the conditions and to go nowhere – not even a short distance - without a full tank of gas, a fully charged cell phone (loaded with the AAA Mobile App or the AAA Roadside assistance number pre-programmed) and a fully stocked emergency kit.”

Page 16 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Tips for tracking New Year’s tasks

By Elena Shimanek Edmond Family Counseling Now that we have finished our holiday celebrations, it is our turn to make our list (feel free to check them twice.) That’s right, I’m talking about: The ToDo List. As we finish up the busiest season of the year, we come to realize that there is still more to be done. It can be overwhelming dealing with a never-ending list of responsibilities when you already feel drained. How can we help ourselves deal with the stress of constantly managing tasks?

• Create a schedule: It is quite difficult to form a habit, but once it’s done it’s even harder to break it! As you create a schedule and adhere to it, it will require less effort to start each time. Feeling late and disorganized creates feelings of stress and anxiety. By scheduling a set time for everything, you give yourself a starting point to commit to and it will feel less overwhelming when the task appears.

It also allows you to select the times you know you have more energy; are you an early bird or a night owl? When we specifically take actions to combat stress and anxiety, we remind our brains that we are, in fact, in charge of our actions and our environment.

• Give yourself a physical to-do list: Having the physical list also gives us the opportunity to prioritize tasks appropriately. It’s been frequently observed that worried and anxious thoughts make the problem appear worse, and by writing a physical list down of what we need to accomplish we give ourselves a more realistic visual aid of what must be completed. As you cross items off the list, you can physically see the results of your work.

This will release happy chemicals in our brains, primarily dopamine, which in turn teaches our brains completing difficult tasks makes us feel good! I also suggest if you did something that wasn’t on the to-do list initially, write that down and cross it off.

Often, we don’t give ourselves due credit for all the things we manage to do in a day.

• Identify a reward for yourself: We must find motivation for our tasks and this motivation may come in an intrinsic or extrinsic form.

Intrinsic motivation is that which comes from within us: You finish a book because you love reading. You clean your home because tidying up relieves stress. Extrinsic motivation involves an external motivator. It could be finding a specific reward for yourself, or you have visitors on the way for which you need to prepare! Either way, identifying what drives you will offer an expected benefit in your mind and will help motivate you. Examples for planning a reward may be: if I complete 2 tasks, I’m going to watch a movie. When I finish organizing the garage, I’m going to go shopping for a new outfit. This habit also teaches our brain that we should accomplish things before our rewards.

• Change your view on stress: The feeling of stress isn’t really our bodies bogging us down to stop, it’s our brain sending physiological signals to various areas of our body to help prepare us to take care of business.

Granted, our business is no longer running away from bears or hunting a herd of buffalo, but it still requires mental and physical energy to get things done, and we need our brain to continue “stressing” us so we can rise to the challenge. When you feel your body physically react to your to-do list, instead of sitting down and succumbing to it, ride the wave of the feeling and go get started. A rough draft is more helpful to the end goal than nothing at all.

•Forgive yourself for having procrastinated: As important as it is to get things done, it’s also important to care for ourselves, so we can bring our best to the task table. Just like machines need to

See EFC, Page 18

As of Jan. 5

AAA: Gas prices dip The national average for a gallon of gas dipped slightly by four cents since last week to $3.08.

One reason could be lower demand, as fewer people are fueling up after the peak of holiday road travel. Today’s national average is 14 cents less than a month ago and 20 cents less than a year ago.

In Oklahoma, the gas average is $2.61 today, down eight cents in the last week and 32 cents lower than one year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand nosedived from 9.17 to 7.95 million b/d last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks increased substantially by 10.9 million bbl to 237 million bbl.

Weak gas demand, alongside increased supply, has pushed pump prices lower. However, rising oil prices have limited price decreases. If gas demand remains weak, drivers will likely continue to see pump prices trickle downward.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 17

State revenues show slight decline

By Todd Russ Okla. State Treasurer Declining tax revenue from oil and gas production continues to push total gross receipts revenues down. Treasury receipts for the last 12 months total $16.96 billion, a decrease of $480 million, or 2.7 percent, when comparing revenue from the previous year.

All tax sources in December total $1.41 billion.

Continuing recent trends, revenue is down $88.3 million, or 5.9 percent, when comparing to December 2022.

Revenue from the state’s Gross Production Tax dropped to $102.9 million, down by 47 percent,

when comparing to December 2022.

However, when comparing November and December total month revenues show a rise of $116.2 million, or 8.9 percent.

The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index rebounded in December to a level above growth neutral. The December index came in at 50.5, compared to 43.2 in November. Numbers above 50 indicate the expectation of economic expansion over the next three to six months, but it should be noted that the index has been very volatile in recent months.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Oklahoma was

3.3 percent for November, a modest uptick from 3.2 percent in October. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate fell in November to 3.7 percent, down 0.2 percent from the previous month.

As measured by the Consumer Price Index, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the annual inflation rate shrunk slightly to 3.1 percent in November. The energy component of the index continued to show a substantial decline over the year, dropping 5.4 percent below zero inflation, and the food index slipped below the overall inflation rate as well, ending the month at 2.9 percent.

OMRF gets $5.8 million grant to study disease Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune condition The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation $5.8 million to work toward easier diagnosis and better treatment options for Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune condition.

In Sjögren’s, immune cells attack moisture-producing glands, causing painful dry eyes and mouth. It can result in irreversible tissue damage, neurological problems, lung disease and cancer. There is no known cure, and current treatments address only the symptoms.

OMRF scientists Joel Guthridge, Ph.D., Darise Farris, Ph.D., and Christopher Lessard, Ph.D., received a four-year grant through the Accelerating Medicines Partnership in Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases Program (AMP AIM). The

team’s goal is to develop less invasive clinical tools to diagnose patients more effectively and identify new targets for future treatments.

“This disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose,” said Lessard, who’s been studying Sjögren’s at OMRF since 2007. “It shares features with many autoimmune diseases and lacks effective diagnostic markers, which makes studying it challenging. This grant provides us with technology to analyze the salivary glands of people with Sjögren’s in a way that wasn't possible previously.”

The researchers will use blood and biopsy tissue samples donated to OMRF by people with Sjögren’s to better understand different patient sub-groups’ genetic and molecular characteristics.

City announces promotion Randy Entz, who has served as Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Edmond for more than 7 years, has been named the new Assistant City Manager of Development Services.

Entz will take over from Jim Smith, who recently retired as Assistant City Manager of Operations after serving the City for more than 13 years. Entz will lead a team of departments that includes Planning, Engineering, Building and Fire Safety, Public Works, Water Resources and Edmond Electric.

“This is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to the challenge and continuing to serve the City of Edmond,” Entz said.

Named Director of Planning and Zoning in December 2016, Entz led a

team responsible for current planning development review, long range planning function, community development, housing and transit programs.

He came to Edmond after nearly 8 years with the City of Oklahoma City, where he was a Senior Planner and program planner that supervised planning functions for the Planning Department. Entz also served 5 years as an associate planner for the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) and nearly 3 years as an assistant planner for the City of Stillwater.

Entz holds two master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma, earning both a Master of Regional and City Planning and a Master of Landscape Architecture in 2000.

State’s audit of Jones has some troubling results Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd last week released her investigative audit report for the Town of Jones in Oklahoma County.

The Town Board of Trustees requested the State Auditor & Inspector’s Office (SA&I) to perform an investigative audit of municipal court transactions.

The audit found, between January 2016 and December 2019, the Town of Jones failed to deposit $59,683 worth of municipal fines and fees.

The Court Clerk’s office received the money but did not deposit the funds and record the collections to the Offender Data Information System (ODIS) as required by law.

Court Clerk Tammy Wallace, and former Deputy Clerks Pam Lucas and Brenda Rowlett, collected court fines and fees for citations issued by the Jones Police Department. Town records, including citation payment receipts, were missing or unaccounted for, citation amounts were manipulated, and corresponding payments were recorded in amounts less than received from defendants. Many payments were deleted from ODIS,

changed, or not posted at all.

“This situation was easily preventable. There was little-to-no oversight over the entire court process,” Auditor Cindy Byrd explained. “Court fines and fees are earmarked for the purpose of strengthening public safety. The findings of our audit clearly show that a person or persons in the Jones Court Clerk’s office abused the trust of the taxpayers by misappropriating a large amount of funds. As a result, the citizens of Jones are left to pay for critical government services that should have been funded with fines.”

According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, agents interviewed Pam Lucas in November 2021. At that time, Lucas admitted she had misappropriated funds from the Town of Jones, altered documents, and fraudulently changed citation amounts in ODIS. However, of the $59,683 in unposted payments, $21,213 occurred after Lucas was terminated in February 2019.

The full audit report is posted on the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector’s official website.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Joel Guthridge, Ph.D.

Page 18 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure

EFC From Page 16

be oiled, fueled, and turned off to prevent overheating, our bodies need maintenance and rest. Perhaps you can put some rest time for each evening or weekend on your schedule, so you have something habitual to look forward to. Also try to introduce more positive thinking. When you have a day with less done, instead of telling yourself you’ve been lazy, consider that you may have needed the break and embrace the relaxation to start off better the next day.

The most important thing you can do is utilize what works for you after you’ve taken some time to test out different strategies. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses, goals and values, and physiological responses to our environment. It’s simple to look at a list and make selections, but the key is to implement and be flexible until you find the ways that work for you and help you to achieve your goals and tackle

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Hi and Lois

Blondie

Shoe

Hägar the Horrible

Zits

that to-do list.

Elena Shimanek, M.A., LPC-C is a staff therapist at Edmond Family Counseling. Edmond Family Counseling is a non-profit organization. We may be reached at 405-780-4846 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed professional counselors. Donations may be made to Edmond Family Counseling, 1251 N. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or online @ www.edmondfamily.org by clicking the YELLOW DONATE button. Follow us on our Facebook Page @ Edmond Family Counseling for additional information regarding mental health awareness.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 11, 2024 • Page 19

Book looks at thorny issues surrounding divorce GREENWICH, CT — For those who have made the difficult decision to divorce, psychologist Ronald Raymond and attorney Jeffrey Stephens pave a gentler path toward ending a marriage that results in the potential for a brighter future in their book, The Road to Splitsville: How to Navigate the Road to Divorce without Making Yourself Crazy, Your Children Miserable, or Your Lawyer Wealthy … and Then Discover Your Path to Happiness.

“Not only do 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, but 60 percent of second marriages and 70 percent of third marriages end in divorce, which says that people are making the same mistakes over and over again,” said Stephens.

And that’s exactly why The Road to Splitsville be-

gins with Dr. Raymond’s Spousal Attachment Survey, which takes readers on a deep dive to uncover the real reasons why they married their spouse and where they went off-course, so they can avoid repeating the same mistakes.

“There is no such thing as a divorce where there weren’t some good times in the process of getting there, and people need to look at that and see what role they played on both sides, the good and the bad,” Dr. Raymond added.

Then, Stephens and Raymond offer insights and techniques for dealing with the inevitable upset and issues that divorcees face, including: · Confronting and understanding the “why” of the divorce

· Choosing the legal process best suited for your individual circumstances · Selecting an attorney, managing that relationship and limiting the costs · What to do if you need help from a therapist and how to choose one · How to deal with adult children of divorce · How to deal with young and adolescent children of divorce · How to handle the loss of love · How to rebuild your life and find happiness “This book is for people who have concluded that divorce is inevitable,” Stephens added. “We hope to assist in managing the emotional and economic damage and point them toward a path to happiness.”

More vape warnings A new educational message from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust’s (TSET) Healthy Youth Initiative exposes the toxic chemicals commonly found in vapes and the long-term damage they do to DNA. The latest message package, “In the Skin,” launched Jan, 9. The spot uses visual effects to show how chemicals in vapes can mutate DNA, which can cause cancer.

“It is critical teens recognize the dangers associated with vaping,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. “This powerful message shows how every vape hit may pose a threat to long-term health.”

After viewing “In the Skin” with a focus group of teenagers, some participants listed cancer as one of their top reasons not to vape.

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

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

Page 20 • January 11, 2024 • Edmond Life & Leisure