Edmond Life and Leisure - February 25, 2021

February 25, 2021 Vol. 21, No. 41

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

O C ex te n d s i t s p re s i d e n t ' s co n t ra c t

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.

Hey Baby See page 16

FRIDAY, February 26 AM Showers High 53° Low 38°

SATURDAY, February 27 Mostly Cloudy High 58° Low 45°

SUNDAY, February 28 Showers High 59° Low 37°

F i ve m o re ye a rs fo r d e S t e i g u e r IMAGE PROVIDED

John deSteiguer was officially inaugurated as president of Oklahoma Christian University August 27, 2012.

He was chosen by the board of trustees after a national search.

The Oklahoma Christian University Board of Trustees announced an early five-year extension to President John deSteiguer’s term.

The Board’s decision demonstrates support for deSteiguer’s vision and confidence in the University’s direction under his leadership.

“The Board restated our support and commitment for our President and trust the future is bright for OC,” OC Board of Trustees Chairman Mark Brewer said. “Higher education is facing challenges on numerous fronts capped by the season of the pandemic.

However, we believe that the President and the leadership team at OC as well as the faculty and staff have made the tough, courageous and compassionate decisions to get us to where we are today.

Renewing President deSteiguer’s contract was the right move.” deSteiguer was appointed president of OC in 2012, and during his tenure the University has successfully restructured its academic colleges adding high-demand programs like Criminal Justice and Sports Management. The University boasted strong accreditation reviews from the Higher Learning Commission and implemented the Student Success Center, Student Advocacy Center and Ethos spiritu-

al life programs to promote academic and experiential excellence.

The extension comes as Oklahoma Christian launches innovative programs to deliver education to underserved student populations and offer practical approaches to solving real problems.

New programs will address statewide teacher and nursing shortages by overcoming certification barriers to individuals with classroom and patient care experience.

“I believe our best years are ahead as we aggressively pursue innovative programs to serve new student populations and remain committed to making the Christ-centered, traditional OC experience the best it can be,” deSteiguer said. “Working with OC’s Trustees - men and women who generously give their time, talent and treasure to this University - is a gift. I am humbled and grateful that they would ask Darla and me to continue serving this place we love. It’s a blessing to get to work with OC’s dedicated faculty and staff and connect with our outstanding students.”

Since the start of deSteiguer’s term, Oklahoma Christian’s record $70 million advancement and fundraising efforts have spurred

new and improved campus facilities projects such as the awarding-winning dining facility, The Branch, new softball and soccer complexes, baseball field improvements, The Brew coffee shop, Hartman Place and North Crossing, and the purchase of study abroad facilities in Vienna, Austria, Das MillicanHaus.

Academic facilities have also benefited from investments in technology and learning spaces including the Ellis Clinical Skills Lab and Simulation Center, the Citizens Bank Finance Lab, three new labs dedicated to Gaming and Animation and extensive renovations in the Davisson American Heritage building, Judd Theater and classrooms and office spaces throughout campus.

Oklahoma Christian has also expanded athletic and non-academic programs such as swimming, bowling and beloved speaker series including the McBride Center, History Speaks and the McGaw Lectures.

In 2019, OC unveiled a University-wide acclaimed rebranding initiative.

“The Board of Trustees is thrilled to have John and Darla deSteiguer at the helm of Oklahoma Christian continued on Page 3

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Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 3

Cover From Page 1 University as our president and first lady for the next five years, OC Trustee and Former University President Alfred Branch said. “There is no one better to lead OC into the future than John. John communicates and connects with our stakeholders, students, faculty, staff and the Oklahoma City community positively and respectfully. We’re lucky to have him as our President.”

Oklahoma Christian leadership navigated challenges brought on by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and maintained in-person learning and campus community experience with scientifically supported protocol and strong communication.

In light of the pandemic-related economic slowdown, which left many students and families facing financial hardship, deSteiguer announced student tuition costs would

remain flat for the 2021-2022 school year. He cites Matthew 25 as a driving focus for decision making in the coming years; aiming to wisely prepare the university for success, faithfully encourage others to use their talents and serve people and OC with love.

The OC Board of Trustees extended deSteiguer’s contract through May 2026.

Oklahoma Christian students are purpose-driven innovators preparing for a future we haven’t yet discovered. Named the BestTotal Package University in Oklahoma by Zippia, the OC community is made up of unique individuals with extraordinary callings. Located in Oklahoma City on a 200-acre walking campus, OC offers a personalized education experience with a student to faculty ratio of 14 to one.

Oklahoma Christian University President John deSteiguer and daughter Abby snap a photo with Rumble, the popular NBA mascot of the Thunder.

Abby is an OC alumna, and Rumble was a special guest at the university’s annual Associates Gala.

State is declared a federal disaster Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has approved his request to declare a federal disaster exists in all 77 Oklahoma counties due to the historic winter storm, clearing the way for federal aid to be directed to the state.

“I want to thank President Biden for his swift action to grant our request and make federal resources available to Oklahomans,” said Gov. Stitt. “We will continue to leverage all resources as we recover from this storm.”

As requested by the governor, the federal government will provide emergency protective measures for mass care and sheltering as well as direct federal assistance to state and local agencies at 75% federal funding. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. This may include technical assistance for water system repairs or commodities for shelters.

The declaration also provides reimbursement to state and local government entities for eligible mass care and sheltering costs including shelter facility costs, staff costs, shelter supplies and commodities, shelter security, transportation for residents to and from shelters, and Emergency Operations Center costs associated

with sheltering activities.

The state continues to work with the federal government to identify federal assistance that may be available to aid residents with increases in utility costs due to the winter storm.

Additional resources for farmers, ranchers and communities are available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Indemnity Program, which provides assistance payments equal to 75% of average fair market value for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather and unpreventable through good animal husbandry and management.

"USDA is committed to getting help to producers and rural Americans impacted by the severe weather in many parts of the country. As severe weather and natural disasters continue to threaten the livelihoods of thousands of our farming families, we want you and your communities to know that USDA stands with you,” said Kevin Shea, acting Secretary of Agriculture. “Visit farmers.gov or your local USDA Service Center to inquire about assistance."

For 2021 livestock losses, you must file a notice within 30 calendar days of when the loss is first apparent. Additional information is available on the USDA website or by contacting the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry at 405.742.1130.

Janice FrancisSmith will present a virtual concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, as a benefit for the Arcadia Round Barn.

Virtual benefit concert Oklahoma City singer-songwriter Janice Francis-Smith will present a virtual concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, as a benefit for the Arcadia Round Barn.

Blending folk, jazz-pop and country, Francis-Smith tackles real life with warmth, humor and honesty. She has played venues from the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival in Kansas to the Bluebird Café in Nashville to the Bitter End in New York City, shared her poems at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival and collected songwriting awards along the way.

The concert can be found on the Arcadia Round Barn Facebook page and is part of the Virtual Barn series of livestreamed concerts, which con-

tinues every Thursday night through April 22. Live music is scheduled to resume in May at the barn, located six miles east of Interstate 35 on historic Route 66.

In conjunction with the virtual concerts, an interview series with the musicians entitled “Behind the Barn,” hosted by Haley Jane Pierce, can be found on the Instagram page, @thearcadiaroundbarn.

Donations for the upkeep of the barn, which is owned and managed by the nonprofit Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, can be made on the Arcadia Round Barn website and during all concerts. For more information about music at the barn, call Joe Baxter at 405-833-1350.

John and Darla deSteiguer, president and first lady of Oklahoma Christian University.

Page 4 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Edmond made the hard decisions Remember back in the summer months when some Edmond folks were complaining about their utility bills being too high especially the water part of it? When that time comes around this year or you hear folks running for office tell you that high rates here in Edmond are a problem, remember this. While many in other comRay Hibbard munities around the metropolitan area and all those in Texas were without power, water, had low or no water pressure and were having to boil their water, folks in Edmond were warm and had water with plenty of pressure from the system.

Edmond had its share of pipe breaking on private property and plenty of challenges. I am not making light of the problems our neighbors had in this state and in Texas. As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas’ power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. Tens of millions huddled in frigid homes that slowly grew colder or fled for safety. A state, long suspicious of regulation and outside help, was left to seek aid from other states and humanitarian groups as many of its 29 million people grasped for survival.

Frozen pipes burst across Texas just as in Oklahoma. And the water that did come out of taps was often undrinkable due to dangerously low water pressure levels. At one point, an estimated 13 million people were under a boil-water order, nearly half of Texas’ population. More than 35 people in Texas have been confirmed dead. That number is expected to rise as roads cleared and relatives and first responders could check on missing loved ones.

While governments cannot prepare for every possible disaster, many could have done better.

In 2011, millions of Texans lost power during the Super Bowl, which was played in a Dallas suburb.

Two agencies, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, conducted a study on how Texas could “winterize” its energy infrastructure.

At the highest end, winterizing 50,000 gas wells would cost an estimated $1.75 billion, the study found.

Of the 2011 storm, the report said generators and natural gas producers said they had winterization procedures in place. However, the poor performance of many of these generating units and wells suggests that these procedures were ei-

ther inadequate or were not adequately followed.

But there was no broad move to winterize equipment. Since then, bills requiring energy producers to hold more power in reserve or ordering a study of how to better prepare for winter failed in Texas House. Why? It would have cost more money and the rates on Texans closed electrical grid would have been higher. No public official wanted to be the on the side of higher energy rates.

If any of this sounds familiar, we have heard similar arguments right here in Edmond over our utility rates. Some residents and even folks running for our city council like to preach the popular call to lower our utility rates. I have breaking news for you folks. Edmond is not the cheapest place to live in Oklahoma but last week, nobody would have traded our system improvements for no water or having to boil their water due to low water pressure. The system held and we are making it even stronger with more improvements.

We weathered the storm this week in large part to the capital improvements made to our systems over the past decade. As we continue to make these system improvements, we are building even more resiliency to the water and wastewater systems. The robust infrastructure and our talented City of Edmond staff kept the system running without any major interruptions to service. This is a fact and not bragging my friends.

In fairness to other communities and the entire state of Texas, these are not easy decisions to make. Having higher water rates then the communities around your city is not a popular stand to take for city council members. Yet, we have had a long line of courageous city leaders over the last 30 years that have put the good of the city first and above their own political ambitions.

That quality seems to be getting even more rare in this country and what we saw happen last week is a good example of it. Charles Lamb, Steve Knox, David Miller (who is running for council again this spring), Bob Rudkin, Barry Rice and more all put their elections on the line to do what is best for Edmond in keeping the trains running on time so to speak.

I tend to take the reliable inner workings of Edmond for granted just like everyone else. Water is on, power is on, trash gets picked up on time and more. We should never forget that it is a difficult job in the best of conditions but when mother nature went against the system, Edmond

Making students better citizens?

House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, last week passed a bill in the House Common Education Committee that he said is designed to help students become more engaged citizens.

House Bill 2030 would require high school students to pass the United States’ naturalization test in order to graduate beginning in the 2022-23 school year.

“The vast majority of studies show that both students and adults in our country have an insufficient knowledge of our history and of our government system,” O’Donnell said.

“This bill is designed to help remedy that. This is the same test we require of anyone coming to this country and seeking citizenship. I don’t think this is too much to ask of our students.”

O’Donnell pointed out that 14 other states have adopted legislation that requires high school students to pass the civics portion of the immigration and naturalization test. He said he thinks Oklahoma students

would benefit from that as well so they would have a better understanding of how their government works.

HB 2030 would require subject matter standards for history, social studies, and U.S. Government courses in Oklahoma public schools to include the study of important historical documents, including the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, and Federalist Papers. Subject matter standards for U.S. Government also must include simulations of the democratic process and lessons on the structure and relationship between national, state, county and local governments.

O’Donnell said he has no doubt that history, government and social studies teachers are doing their best to teach to state standards, but the fact remains that too many students are graduating without being able to answer questions about the founding of our nation or our current system of government.

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.

and its staff held the line, and we owe a great amount of appreciate to the leadership of the past for making those hard decisions. Be sure and elect folks to our council that will hold the line even if it is not popular in good weather.

Being prepared is not always the least expensive option but not being prepared can have disastrous consequences as we saw in Texas. It reminds me of that old car repair commercial that said, “You can pay me now or pay me later”.

I hope your family joined ours last week in saying prayers for all those brave men and women who are out in the field in the terrible weather.

Plenty of us were able to continue doing our work from the comfort of our easy chairs and in front of a warm fire. First responders, salt and sand drivers, postal workers, tow truck drivers, hospital workers and many more did not have the luxury of working from home. And remember, all this was done during a pandemic.

Here is a great story sent to our Edmond Mayor that I wanted to pass along: “Mr. Mayor, I want to tell you about the wonderful service we received from Edmond Electric during this cold episode. We live on the SE corner of 15th and Coltrane. We and our neighbor, Janet Cheatham are on a small electric line. On Thursday we heard a loud BOOM and we lost power. I called Edmond Electric and with minutes they had men out to restore our power. I mean within minutes! They discovered the pole had caught on fire so they moved all the equipment down the pole and temporarily got us back to service, they will replace the pole when the weather clears. That was simply great service! I love Edmond! Please pass this complement along to the people that need to know.”

Sincerely, Kathy and Bob Thomas In a time when folks are soured on our federal government, please do not forget to appreciate what we have here in Edmond. Our city leadership and staff has always been first rate and focused on what is best for Edmond. Never trade the easy or most popular answer for what is best. Edmond needs the type of leadership it has had in the past. Folks that are not afraid to make the hard decisions.

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

Check out what’s inside!

---- School employees vaccinated ......................................................Page 6.

---- Business news ..............................................................................Page 9.

---- A tough start for 2021 ..............................................................Page 10.

---- Young man has four major heart surgeries ................................Page 11.

---- Sports ........................................................................................Page 12.

---- George Gust reviews documentary on Britney Spears ................Page 14.

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

This and so much more in this week’s edition: Note: The police report will return next week.

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

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2021 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

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

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 5

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Vaccinations start for employees of the Edmond Public Schools This week Edmond Public Schools private, thirdparty health provider Total Wellness will make available approximately 2050 Moderna Covid-19 vaccines to EPS employees.

Over the last several days, the district has been working behind the scenes with Total Wellness to set up four separate vaccination pods at two district locations; Edmond Schools Administrative Center (EPSAC) and Edmond Santa Fe High School.

Listed below are the dates and locations for the pods, the number of vaccines that will be available each day, and the employee groups set to receive the vaccines: Thursday, Feb. 25—8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

EPS Administrative Center (Rooms A, B & C), 1001 W. Danforth 400 vaccines available Support Employees and Certified Employees

with more flexible schedules Friday, Feb. 26—8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

EPS Administrative Center (Rooms A, B & C), 1001 W. Danforth 400 vaccines available Support Employees and Certified Employees with more flexible schedules Total Wellness nurses will distribute the vaccines. District and some school staff volunteers will assist the nurses with collecting paperwork and other administrative duties. The pods are exclusive to teachers and school staff. Employees received a link to sign up for the opportunity to receive the vaccine.

Only those who receive the first dose with EPS will be eligible to receive the second dose.

The tentative dates for employees to receive the second dose of the Moderna vaccines are March 26-April 2.

Bill would help protect personal information of teachers & others A bill that would protect the privacy of teachers, police officers and other public employees passed unanimously in the House today with a vote of 82-0.

House Bill 1876, authored by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, would keep private the home addresses, home telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, private email addresses and private mobile phone numbers of current and former public employees.

“This information is being harvested and used in ways that harm our public employees,” West said.

“In this year of unrest, our police officers’ personal information has been sought by groups that seek their harm. In other instances, our public school teachers are being targeted by groups that seek to market unsolicited material to them.”

West said she received input on this measure from the Oklahoma Public Employees Association,

the State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Press Association, which has an interest in open records. All support this change, and it has the blessing of law enforcement and teachers as well.

West ran a similar bill last year, which passed the House unanimously, but it was sidelined by COVID. HB 1876 clarifies and extends an exception to the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Under the measure, the personal information mentioned above would not be open to public inspection or disclosure.

With House passage, the bill now advances to the state Senate for consideration.

Tammy West serves District 84 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes part of Oklahoma County.

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

Funding reform A bill that would reform the school funding formula, ensuring funding follows the student, passed with a vote of 25-7 in the House Appropriations and Budget Committee today.

“This bill is as common sense as it gets. The money goes where the student goes,” said Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow.

“It makes school funding work how it should and how most Oklahomans believe it already does: With money following students.”

House Bill 2078, authored by Hilbert, revises the school funding formula to curb the number of non-existing – or ghost – students currently allowed in the system.

“Oklahoma will spend nearly $200 million on over 55,000 students that do not exist in the current academic year,” Hilbert said.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 7

In the photo are, Jason Kindler (Impulse Dynamics Engineer), Columbus Nobles (Impulse Dynamics Sales Associate), Judy Storer, RT (INTEGRIS Heart Hospital), Terrance Khastgir, M.D., (INTEGRIS Heart Hospital Cardiologist)

Integris announces treatment for patients with heart failure INTEGRIS Health announced it is among the first hospitals in the United States and the first hospital in Oklahoma to use, CCMTM therapy, delivered by the Optimizer® system, to treat patients suffering from heart failure. Heart failure is a progressive condition with debilitating symptoms that can severely limit the quality of life for heart failure patients.

CCM therapy, also known as cardiac contractility modulation, is a new FDA-approved heart failure treatment proven to improve quality of life for patients who are no longer adequately responding to medications to manage symptoms, or to slow the progression of heart failure.1 The innovative therapy is the first of its kind intended to improve the contraction of the heart, allowing more oxygen-rich blood to reach the body.1 CCM therapy delivers precisely timed electrical pulses to the heart that are intended to improve the heart’s ability to contract and can be used in conjunction with medications and other heart failure therapies.

The first patient treated in Oklahoma with CCM therapy was treated

by Terrance Khastgir, M.D., a cardiologist with INTEGRIS Heart Hospital, on Jan. 29, 2021.

“CCM therapy is a breakthrough therapy option for heart failure patients that is intended to help them feel better, so they can start doing the things they love again,” said Khastgir. “Medications are not always enough to help slow the progression

of heart failure and improve the quality of life for these patients. CCM therapy brings hope to this patient population by improving the oftendebilitating symptoms of heart failure.”

Heart failure, a condition in which the heart slowly weakens and is not able to adequately supply oxygen-rich blood, affects an estimated 6.5 million Americans and nearly 26 million people worldwide.2 By 2030, it is expected to affect 8 million Americans.3 Heart failure patients experience debilitating symptoms, including breathlessness, fatigue, confusion and swelling in the legs that make everyday activities challenging and significantly diminish their quality of life.

Today, most heart failure patients are prescribed medications intended to slow the progression of the disease and manage their symptoms. As the condition progresses, these treatments lose their effectiveness and the quality of life for heart failure patients will continue to decline.

CCM therapy may be an appropriate option for up to 70-percent of NYHA Class III (a classification of heart symptoms) heart failure patients who continue to experience symptoms despite taking the optimal heart failure medications for their condition.1 CCM therapy was developed by Impulse Dynamics, based in Mount Laurel, NJ. Visit www.Impulse-Dynamics.Com to learn more about the company.

Page 8 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Business owner makes do during pandemic Sylvia Papitos admits she is a bit homesick for her restaurant patrons, but she’s loving her new pandemic-induced venture as a vendor at the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store.

“I do miss my customers, but it’s fun to get out and visit with other people I never would have had a chance to meet,” said Papitos, who temporarily closed her restaurant in Dibble in September and now delivers packaged meals to farm-totable stores in Goldsby, Edmond and Oklahoma City as well as Arcadia.

Papitos Restaurant enchiladas are sold by the dozen, with options such as red beef, green chicken, red cheese, vegan poblano pepper and spinach and vegan squash and bell pepper.

Salsa, chile con queso and rice and beans are sold in 16-ounce tubs,

Sylvia Papitos and homemade flour tortillas and corn tortilla chips are also available.

Papitos, who lives in Purcell, opened her restaurant in July 2019 after spotting an empty building in Dibble while visiting a friend.

“My mother owns a restaurant in Texas,” she said. “I was an accountant, but that is not my gift. I decided to use my

talent wisely. I had worked at corporate accounting jobs and didn’t really care for it.”

Papitos said she does all the cooking, and employs a crew of high school girls to help with the production end of preparing the food for delivery. She makes all the deliveries except on Saturdays, when her daughter helps out.

Covid-19 caused her to lose about 75 percent of her restaurant business, Papitos said, so she’s happy to have found viable markets for her Made-in-Oklahoma food.

Most of the items sold at the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store are grown or made in central Oklahoma, said manager Lori Seagraves. The shelves are stocked with locally raised meat, whole milk from a family dairy, farm-fresh eggs, cheese, local honey and colorful jars of home-canned pickles, relish and jam.

Also available are inseason produce, specialty teas, gourmet coffee, skin care products, gluten-free flour and bread mixes, Butcher Barbecue sauces and rubs and maple and chocolate candy. Some of the vendors donate a portion of their proceeds to charitable causes.

The Arcadia Farmers Market General Store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Odor Street and historic Route 66 in the Windmill Shops. For more information, call 405-226-0346 or check the market’s social media pages.

The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation and the College of Education and Professional Studies have created the Marissa Murrow Legacy Scholarship for Teacher Education to honor the memory of Marissa Murrow, who died in a headon car collision in October 2020, by a driver under the influence of alcohol.

Victim of drunk driving

Scholarship honors Marissa Murrow The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation and the College of Education and Professional Studies have created the Marissa Murrow Legacy Scholarship for Teacher Education to honor the memory of Murrow, who died in a head-on car collision in October 2020, by a driver under the influence of alcohol.

Murrow, 19, was a sophomore special education major and a member of Sigma Kappa sorority at UCO. She was described by her peers and professors as kind and caring, and her family hopes the scholarship will continue her legacy for future generations.

“It is extremely difficult any time we lose a member of our Broncho family, especially a young student like Marissa," said Donna Cobb, Ed.D., dean of Central’s College of Education and Professional Studies.

"We are honored her family has chosen to celebrate her life with a scholarship that will continue to make a difference in many students’ lives for years to come.”

"Her favorite quote was, 'one person can make a difference and everyone should try,' " said Jeff Murrow, Marissa's father.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student at Central majoring in education and involved with on-campus organizations.

Applications for the scholarship were open to current UCO teacher education students, and one recipient will be selected to receive the award this spring.

To learn more about the scholarship or to donate, visit www.centralconnection.org/marissa.

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

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 9

Lawmakers address access in Medicaid Act State Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, today passed a bill in committee that would establish regulations for health care providers wishing to participate in Medicaid within Oklahoma.

House Bill 1091creates the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Act and establishes the conditions for which health care providers in Oklahoma will participate in the program, including the claims process, payment timeframes and rates, authorizations for treatment and more.

“If the state moves forward with a managed care model for Medicaid, we must ensure Oklahomans still have access to quality health care,” Bush said. “This bill would put in statute contract provisions the Health Care Authority would have to establish to protect the rights of qualifying participants.”

Oklahomans in June passed a state question allowing for the expansion of Medicaid to include low-income adults between the ages of 18 and 65 whose income does not exceed 133% of the fed-

eral poverty level and who are not already covered

by Medicaid. T he governor next directed the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to seek proposals from managed care organizations to manage the state’s Medicaid plan. The plan to this point has been managed by the OHCA. Last week, the governor announced he and the authority have selected four managed care organizations to run the program: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Complete Health, Humana Health Horizons and UnitedHealthcare. His goal, he said, is to improve Oklahoman’s health outcomes.

The plan could still be contested by the Legislature, but in the meantime, Bush said her goal is to protect Oklahomans should the plan proceed.

HB 1091 requires that s a condition of any proposed or potential plan participating in capitated managed care, the OHCA shall require the following contract provisions: 90% of all claims shall be paid within 14 days of

submission to the plan; Authorizations shall be facilitated within 24 hours for inpatients transferring to post- and longterm acute-care facilities; All plans shall offer network contracts to all community providers designated as essential by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; All plans shall offer payment rates to contracted providers that are no lower than the fee schedule of OHCA in effect on the date of service; All plans shall formally credential and re-credential physicians or other providers at a frequency that may be less than once in three years; All funds appropriated to OHCA shall be used in accordance with legislative intent; and Plan reviews and determinations for prior authorization must be timely and in accordance with established guidelines.

HB 1091 passed the House Appropriations and Budget Committee with a vote of 31-0. It now is eligible to be considered by the full House.

Senator seeks price gouging probe

Working at home stats A new study shows that 95 million Americans, or 60% of the workforce, are unable to work remotely, and increasing COVID-19 testing at work would benefit the economy. In Oklahoma, 56.8% of jobs cannot be done remotely.

While vaccines are the ultimate route back to normal, logistical issues and new variants mean the virus may be here longer than we anticipate. To get the economy working now, the data suggests it is vital for employers to increase at-work and at-home testing for employees to keep them healthy, so their businesses stay open.

US Drug Test Centers today released a report, Impact of Employer COVID-19 Testing on Jobs In Every State, after analyzing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on job losses from December 2019 to December 2020 and the percentage of jobs in each state that can't be done remotely.

Here are Key Findings: · In Oklahoma, 44,408 jobs were lost in 2020, down 4.6% and the manufacturing industry is projected to see the biggest

comeback in 2021 with 10-15% of jobs returning. · In 48 of 50 states at least 50% of all jobs cannot be done remotely. ·The five states with the highest percentage of jobs unable to be done remotely include: Vermont (74.5%), Nebraska (74.2%), South Carolina (72.8%), Washington (72.7%), Colorado (71.9%). Mississippi has the lowest at 37.5%. · The leisure and hospitality industry would benefit the most from increased at-work testing since 87% of jobs cannot be done remotely. Followed by construction (83%), trade/transportation/utilities (74%), other services (69%) manufacturing (64%) and education and health services (51%). The financial industry has the lowest at 22%. ·48 of 50 states lost jobs in 2020 led by Hawaii, New York, and Michigan all down double digits. Idaho and Utah each saw growth by less than one percentage point.

To view the complete study and methodology, please visit US Drug Test Centers.

State lawmakers taking up crisis dealing with evictions A bill to help address Oklahoma’s looming eviction crisis unanimously passed the House Appropriation & Budget Committee last weekwith a vote of 23-0.

House Bill 1950, authored by Rep. José Cruz, D-OKC, provides landlords with a 100% tax credit for rental loss. The credit has a cap of $1,250 per taxpayer per year. It is retroactive for 2020 but would need to be renewed by the Legislature beyond 2022. Additionally, the property owner must show that the missed revenue claimed did not result in the eviction of a tenant.

“The pandemic has added financial burdens to landlords whose tenants

have lost income,” Cruz said. “This credit doesn’t fix the problem, but it does provide some relief to property owners in a way that is also beneficial to the tenant.”

To ensure the credit doesn’t grow unmanageable, there is a 4,000 claimant cap on the legislation.

“This tax credit is a small thank you for looking out for Oklahoma families,” Cruz said. “Landlords have received the least assistance and many are average Oklahomans trying to make ends meet. This won’t make them whole, but it does offer some assistance.” Cruz’s office can be reached at (405)557-7397 or jose.cruz@okhouse.gov.

A Democratic senator is calling for federal investigations into possible price gouging of natural gas in the Midwest and other regions following severe winter storms that plunged Texas and other states into a deep freeze that caused power outages in millions of homes and businesses.

Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith says natural gas spot prices spiked as high as 100 times typical levels, forcing utilities and other natural gas users to incur exorbitant costs, many of which were passed on to customers.

In a letter sent Saturday to federal regulators, Smith said the price spikes will not just harm consumers, but could “threaten the financial stability of some utilities that do not have suf-

ficient cash reserves to cover their short-term costs in this extraordinary event." The letter was sent to the Energy Department, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. A copy of the letter was obtained by The Associated Press.

The extreme weather spurred residents from Mississippi to Minnesota to crank up electric heaters and pushed demand for electricity beyond the worst-case scenarios planned for by grid operators. At the same time, many gas-fired power plants in Texas and other states were knocked offline because of icy conditions, and some plants appeared to suffer fuel shortages as natural gas demand spiked.

Page 10 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

A tough start to 2021

By Steve Gust Edmond Life & Leisure Editor Last weekend's thawing was probably the best news most of us have had in weeks.

Just incredible how an arctic blast can cause such havoc. It sure reminded me a lot of the 1983 deep freeze. Back then I was living in Guymon. It just went on and on. One morning it was 21 degrees below zero. At the time it was the second lowest temperature ever.

Glad the winter blast is over. Now let's please work on the playbook for the next time.

The nation's politics is just as frosty. I don't understand liberals.

A lot of time all we continue to hear about is Trump this and Trump that. Lawmakers introduce legislation to bar him from a cemetery to be burial in. Enough already. The guy has moved on and maybe his critics should think about doing the same.

Have you ever read Sen. James Lankford's posts on Facebook? If not, feel free to peruse them. But don't read the public comments. Every thing he posts is answered by the

same bitter group each time. Lankford can post about a kid winning a state spelling bee and the critics will come back on him and barbecue him for wanting to question election integrity last Jan. 6. The critics need to let it go.

I was also hoping people might show some sympathy for Rush Limbaugh passing away. Some people were just vicious. I get it. Limbaugh was a controversial guy and may have crossed the line a few times. He wasn't popular with some people. I get that. But do people have to dance on his grave? I don't remember the same reception given Ruth Bader Ginsburg, when she passed.

I could go on, but the whole thing is so disappointing. And I also don't understand why the state opened vaccines for a million more people.

Don't get me wrong. I want everyone vaccinated. But many of the 65 and over crowd still hadn't been able to book an appointment. An extra million folks added to that will make it even more challenging.

(Please send comments to news@edmondpaper.com)

In aftermath of arctic weather

Is it time to rethink our energy policy?

By Mike Cantrell The short answer is a flawed energy policy built more on ideology than reality. We’ve shuttered coal plants and subsidized supplements like wind and solar, which has made us more dependent on them. The problem is the sun doesn’t always shine, the wind doesn’t always blow, wind blades and solar panels freeze over, and battery storage technology isn’t advanced enough to make them viable as replacements, at least not yet.

These policies have disadvantaged coal and natural gas, both of which are affordable

and reliable sources of power generation. Bottom line: America got caught with our energy pants down.

We’ve followed this unrealistic policy out of fear for what might happen in the future at the expense of reliable energy today.

Our energy policy is the worst case of all-ornothing thinking in modern history.

Of course, we must pursue alternatives. If we are not considering nuclear power, wind and solar are our best way into the future.

However, they are just not there now. We must, as Americans, face the current reality

and stop disadvantaging the natural gas and coal industry.

When we have policies that force the economy to invest in more solar power and not natural gas or coal, when the time comes (like now) where natural gas is desperately needed, it’s not immediately available. Our country has the resources in the ground, but when demand isn’t there, there is no incentive for producers to produce it.

We must immediately march realistically into the future with an energy policy based on “the now” and not ideology.

If the natural gas and the coal industry had a theme song today, it might be Toby Keith’s hit song, “How Do You Like Me Now?!”

At the end of the day, we need oil, we need coal and we need natural gas to keep our citizens safe, warm and keep America running.

Mike Cantrell is an oil producer from Ada and is a board member of the National Stripper Well Association.

From Oklahoman.com Editor’s Note: What are your thoughts on the recent winter storm, especially the effect the temperatures and weather had on the power grid? What would you change?

What should leaders do to be prepared for the next blast of winter cold? If you have an opinion, please e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com

D.C. needs to remove ugly fence around Capitol

By Rich Lowry The city isn't divided down the middle between the forces of the United States government on one hand and secessionist rebels on the other. Insurgents aren't mortaring Reagan National Airport. Neither Virginia nor Maryland is about to declare war on the district.

And yet thousands of National Guard troops are still in the city, and security measures undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the riot at the U.S. Capitol remain in place.

This is bad policy and bad symbolism. It is too much, too late. It is a classic bureaucratic overreaction to a failure that can't be undone by theatrical measures after the fact.

If a fraction of the current National Guard troops had been present at the Capitol on Jan. 6, the mayhem and national trauma might have been avoided.

According to press reports, various officials didn't like the "optics" of having the National Guard on call prior to the protest or rapidly deploying it dur-

ing the violence — and so, instead, we got the optics of a rabble breaking into the Capitol and, now, the optics of ongoing security overkill.

The situation in Washington follows a classic American pattern, which is to botch something out of the gate then throw massive resources at the problem to recover in overwhelming fashion.

But the Capitol Riot wasn't, say, Pearl Harbor, and we aren't now in World War II. Policymakers shouldn't act as if every day is another potential Jan 6, and need to be mindful of the impression created by transforming the heart of Washington, D.C., into an armed camp.

At the height of the deployment, there were about 25,000 National Guard troops in Washington D.C., some of them famously sleeping on the floor of the Capitol. Now, there are about 5,000 troops slated to stay until at least mid-March, although an internal defense department email obtained by the local Fox 5 news station contemplates them remaining much longer.

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.

In the email, a defense official says it's necessary to ascertain how many National Guard troops "we can sustain for an extended period — at least through Fall 2021 — and understand additional options for providing DoD support, to include use of reserve personnel, as well as active component."

It's not clear why the National Guard can't, having patrolled D.C. during Biden's inauguration and Trump's second impeachment without incident, declare victory and go home.

Then, there is the 7-foot-high razor-wire fence erected around the U.S. Capitol that lends a Berlin Wall touch to a building that stands for self-government and heretofore has been amazingly open.

The fence is ugly in all senses. It inevitably brings to mind war zones and dictatorships. It speaks of a profound distrust between the government and the governed. It disrupts a charming neighborhood. It, in short, sits very uneasily in a democratic republic, or it should.

The Capitol is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Completed in fits and starts over the decades — including the notable setback of getting burned by the British in 1814 — it's not technically an architectural wonder. The building's grandeur ultimately derives from what happens there, from the fact that, throughout our history, the people's representatives have met in its chambers to debate the nation's affairs in what is a still an awe-inspiring exercise in democratic accountability and openness.

The rioters on Jan. 6 trashed the Capitol and disrupted a time-honored electoral ritual. There's no reason to compound the offense by blighting forevermore the symbolic center of our democracy.

Rich Lowry is on Twitter @RichLowry.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 11

Young man defies odds, has four heart surgeries An Oklahoma college student defies death multiple times as he survives four major heart surgeries in just six weeks’ time. All the lifesaving procedures took place at INTEGRIS Health, the only health system in the region equipped to offer the wide variety of therapies needed to save this young man’s life.

Twenty-four-yearold Mason Hightower from Duncan, Okla. was born with a congenital heart defect. He had his first open heart surgery at the age of 10. His condition appeared to be under control until Sept.

2020 when the now University of Oklahoma graduate student began having chest pain, shortness of breath and runMason Hightower ning a fever. ”I was a normal, healthy, active guy just beginning my life. I had no way of knowing how sick I would become,” Mason remembers.

Hightower went to the emergency room in Duncan but was quickly transferred to INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City for a higher level of care.

The INTEGRIS Cardiovascular Physician team discovered Mason had a serious life-threatening infection called ‘endocarditis’. The infection was rapidly deteriorating the valves inside his heart. In fact, a small portion of infected tissue had broken off and traveled to his brain causing a series of strokes.

Hightower required emergent surgery to repair the valves. The aortic valve needed a complete replacement. It was a difficult procedure with significant risk. David Vanhooser, M.D., a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, was the lead surgeon.

“When I opened Mason's heart, we found that the damage was much worse than expected. The infection had destroyed not only his two main heart valves but also the supporting fibrous structure inside the heart that held the valves in place.

The infection had literally eaten away the inside of

Mason, spending time with family.

his heart,” Vanhooser declared.

Mason nearly died in surgery. Thankfully, because Hightower was at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, his life was saved by a technology called ECMO, or extra corporeal membrane oxygenation.

Aly El Banayosy, M.D., the medical director of the Advanced Critical Care and ECMO Program at INTEGRIS Health confirms, “ECMO therapy came at the perfect time for Mason. He is a true miracle and I was honored to work alongside colleagues and staff to provide Mason with the very best care possible and a second chance at life. He really did come to the right place at the right time.”

While on ECMO, Hightower underwent a second surgery which confirmed his heart was in deed destroyed and there was no hope for its recovery.

Vanhooser gave Mason’s parents the dismal prognosis that he might not make it through the night.

“It was terrifying, the worst thing I have ever gone through,” says Jeanine Hightower, Mason’s mother. “I remember pleading with the doctors and nurses to try everything in their power to save my son. I told them he was a fighter, and if they didn’t give up on him – he wouldn’t give up on them.”

ECMO support was able to buy Mason enough time for the team to evaluate whether he could be transitioned to heart transplant, or if he could be

Arledge & Associates Q&A

Situation normal? Really?

Editor’s Note: LaDonna Sinning, of Arledge & Associates, looks at financial questions poses to her and the professionals of the Edmond CPA firm.

Over the last year you have helped us with PPP loans and cash flow projections and also advised us to look at changes to our strategic plan and marketing. We have held onto our business and are still here and still struggling. When do you expect our financial situation will return to normal?

Please give yourself a clap on the back for adjusting your business strategies to make it through this trial.

Many of your fellow business owners were not able to weather the Sinning storm. As to when our financial health will return to normal, this is a question our elected officials continue to try to resolve while also attempting to keep us all safe. It is a tough question with a lot of different viewpoints and variables. At this point, however, I believe we are all aware that it will take an extended amount of time before it is business as usual and, further, none of us are quite sure what that looks like, exactly.

What do you know about the second round of PPP loans?

If you qualify for the second round of PPP loans and have not made application, take care of that now. The deadline is March 31, but I would not advise waiting. Taking advantage of government aid available to you is one of the best ways to move your business toward stronger financial health. If you had a first-round loan and have not requested forgiveness of that loan, move ahead with that now as well.

Be aware that having a loan in the first round does not preclude you from applying for this second round.

With those loans taken care of, we

can turn our attention to that prepandemic normal.

What lessons should we learn from the coronavirus pandemic?

This is a great opportunity to ask yourself what you would like your new normal business to be like and how that fits with the services your customers have come to expect and the flexibility your employees may have come to covet. Is there a way to merge those things into a new normal that is better than your old normal? We are working on it at our firm and believe we have found a better normal than ever before.

Better, more flexible work arrangements for employees and greatly improved customer service.

One item of good news is that at this point in the crisis you have probably cut costs and learned to operate leaner than you would have ever thought possible. You have also likely identified your very best employees and your most successful business retention strategies. This knowledge will serve you very well in all the years to come whatever the globe may throw your way.

LaDonna Sinning, CPA, CFE, is a partner at Arledge and Associates, PC, an Edmond-based accounting firm. Arledge and Associates, PC is a recognized leader in the accounting industry offering practical solutions in the areas of tax planning, auditing, consulting, accounting advisory services and client accounting. Through its Gateway Executive Solutions division, the firm offers outsourced CFO, controller and cloud-based accounting solutions.

This article contains general information only and does not constitute tax advice or any other professional services. Before making any decisions or taking any action that might affect your income taxes, you should consult a professional tax advisor.

This article is not intended for and cannot be used to avoid future penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service.

bridged to one of the many mechanical support device options available at INTEGRIS Advanced Cardiac Care.

Due to Hightower’s complete heart failure and the acuity of his illness, the best option available was to have his heart replaced by a Total Artificial Heart, a therapy that is only offered by a handful of centers in the country. On Oct. 7, Mason was implanted with a TAH by Vanhooser and James Long, M.D., the medical director of the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute and Advanced Cardiac Care.

“Although the total artificial heart could keep Mason alive for an indefinite period of time,” states Vanhooser. “We knew this was not the final solution for a 24-year-old graduate student, with years yet to live.”

With his artificial heart, Hightower was able to gain enough strength to be considered a suitable candidate for heart transplant. He was placed on the transplant list Oct. 26. Three weeks later, he would receive the perfect donor heart.

“This young man went through a lot in a very short amount of time,” Vanhooser declares. “There were definite ups and downs along the way, but Mason rallied and recovered each and every time. I have no doubt there was a higher power watching over Mason. It became very apparent that it was not his time to go.”

“We clung to our faith, family and friends.

That’s the only way we got through this,” says Jeanine. “I know that God led us to INTEGRIS. This is the only place in town my son could get absolutely everything he needed to survive all under one roof. That is no accident.”

Mason remained hospitalized until Dec. 23. He was discharged just in time to spend Christmas at home. He continues to thrive to this day. “Mason is doing great. He and his wonderfully supportive family have been an inspiration to all of us,” says David Nelson, M.D., the chief of the Heart Transplant Program at INTEGRIS Health.

For Mason, the future is full of opportunity. “I will be forever grateful to the many doctors, nurses and staff who cared for me. I always felt love and encouragement from them. Now, I get to spend the rest of my life trying to figure out why I was spared. I know God has a plan for me and I can’t wait to discover my purpose.”

Page 12 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sports

Broncho women win third straight The University of Central Oklahoma pushed its late-season win streak to three games Saturday with a convincing 86-68 win over Northeastern State at Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos improved to 12-6 overall this season with the win and enter the final week of the regular season with four games – all on the road – remaining.

“Kaci Richardson was so big for us today and I am so happy for her,” UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. “To recognize her before the game as a senior, she’s been so good for us for the last three years, and then for her to have a game like she did.

That was really special and I’m just really happy for her. It set the tone for the day.”

Central Oklahoma led for nearly 39 minutes of Saturday’s game. There were three ties and two lead changes early, but when the Bronchos went ahead on a Kelsey Johnson 3-pointer with 7:04 to play in the opening period, UCO never looked back.

Johnson scored seven points and pulled down five rebounds in the first quarter. Richardson scored six in the opening frame.

Both helped Central build a 24-16 lead and the Bronchos ran away with things from there.

Richardson finished with a career-high 20 points. She tied her previous career best 14 points all in the first half. Richardson finished 6-for-9 from the floor, 2-for-3 from behind the arc, and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. She also had two assists and two steals and one rebound.

Johnson also had a monster game. She finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds to go with six assists. The rebounds and assists are both career highs for the senior forward from Washington, Oklahoma. Johnson finished 8-for-13 from the floor, 1for-2 from behind the arc, and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line.

Four Bronchos scored in double figures Saturday. Avery Allen added 11 points and four assists. She hit all three of her 3-point attempts and was 4-for-5 on the day. Brooke Rayner also scored in double figures, posting 10 points to go with two assists and a steal. Rayner was 4-for-8 from the floor and 2-for-6 from outside.

Central led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and by as many as 15 points in the second quarter. UCO led by as many as 20 points after three quarters and had its biggest lead of the game, 30 points, with just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Central Oklahoma has now won 10 in a row against Northeastern State.

Kelsey Johnson during play earlier this season

Northeastern prevails over Bronchos, 84-72 The University of Central Oklahoma men’s basketball finally cooled off in what had been a scorching hot month of play in February and the Bronchos lost 84-72 to Northeastern State Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House.

Central Oklahoma is now 10-8 on the season. The Bronchos were scheduled to play NSU again Sunday in a makeup game. UCO has four games left on the schedule in the final week of the regular season and all are on the road.

“They just kept making plays and you have to give it up to them,” UCO

head coach Bob Hoffman said. “We didn’t play that bad, but we didn’t shoot the ball very well. That’s something that’s helped us tremendously over the past few weeks and they just made some plays. I hope we can play better at their place tomorrow.”

Central Oklahoma was averaging 89 points per game through seven games in February. But the Bronchos shot just 36 percent Saturday afternoon. UCO finished 24-for-65 overall, including 8-for-25 from behind the arc, and added 16 made free-throws on 20 attempts.

The Bronchos did force 18 NSU

turnovers but only turned that into 16 points. Northeastern finished 32for-61 (52.5 percent) overall Saturday. NSU hit 9 of 21 threes and made 11 of 15 shots from the charity line.

UCO did hold the lead on a couple of occasions early in the game Saturday. Jaden Wells hit a 3-pointer on Central’s first possession to give the Bronchos a 3-2 lead. Camryn Givens made a layup to give Central a 9-7 lead with 16-plus to play in the opening half.

Central would also lead 11-9 on a Wells layup, 14-11 on a Jalyn Turner

3-pointer, and then 20-18 on a pair of Davon Richardson free-throws.

But after NSU took a 22-20 lead on a pair of free-throws, UCO never led again.

Northeastern led by as many as nine points in the first half and took a 43-37 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Riverhawks led by nine with two seconds left before Wells knocked down a 3-pointer from more than 40 feet away from the basket to cut it to six.

Central cut the deficit to two points early in the second half, but NSU responded.

Dodgers getting ready for their diamond return In conjunction with Major League Baseball, the Oklahoma City Dodgers have released their 2021 season schedule, complete with dates and opponents for all 72 home games.

After the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dodgers will return to play in 2021 with a 142-game schedule in the newly aligned Triple-A West. The team opens play Thursday, April 8 on the road against the Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners) and will play its first home game Thursday, April 15 against the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers).

“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say this is the most anticipated season schedule in Oklahoma City baseball history,” said OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes. “After not being able to have a season last year due to health and safety concerns, this announcement is a significant step toward baseball returning to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Last year we saw 16 former OKC players help the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series Championship, and we cannot wait to see what the future has in store.”

In an effort to reduce travel and benefit player wellness, all series between the Dodgers and their opponents will be six games in length and the team will be idle each Wednesday. As a result, the 2021 season will extend through Sept. 21. The full

schedule can be accessed here.

Single-game tickets for April and May home games will go on sale March 9. However, fans can currently purchase season ticket packages and/or group outings by calling (405) 218-1000 or by visiting okcdodgers.com/tickets.

The Dodgers will announce their full slate of gameday promotions as well as game times in the future. Fireworks Fridays are scheduled to return in 2021, with all Friday home dates featuring postgame fireworks, and additional season-long promotions will also be announced on a later date.

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark will operate with a reduced capacity to begin the 2021 season, and the Dodgers are closely working with the OKC-County Health Department on making the fan experience as safe as possible. A preliminary set of health and safety protocols can be found here with further updates to come.

The Dodgers’ first home series will be Thursday, April 15-Tuesday, April 20 against Round Rock. Due to the six-game length of each series, the team will have three separate extended 12-game homestands: June 315, July 15-27 and Aug. 26-Sept. 7.

Other highlights of the schedule include nearly a full week around Independence Day with games against the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels) July 1-6.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 13

PHOTO PROVIDED

Snow blanketed the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation building in the metro.

Did winter blast help improve COVID situation?

From frozen pipes to power outages, the winter storms that swept the U.S. this week continue to cause problems for millions of Americans.

But the frigid temperatures and historic snowfall might have a silver lining when it comes to the pandemic, say experts at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

“If people can’t go anywhere, they can’t spread Covid-19,” said OMRF immunologist Eliza Chakravarty, M.D. “It was a stay-at-home order issued by Mother Nature.”

Despite vaccinations steadily increasing and the state’s 7-day average of cases in decline, officials have cautioned that people should not let their guards down, particularly with more contagious variants circulating.

But the weather is at least temporarily preventing major lapses in Covid precautions, says OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “It’s a double-edged sword, as se-

vere weather is dangerous in its own right,” said Prescott. “But from a virus standpoint, it will be interesting to monitor the Covid-19 case numbers for the next few weeks.”

Although the weather may have indeed disrupted virus transmission, it also shuttered Covid-19 testing sites across Oklahoma for several days. And that, Prescott warned, could be misleading once the snow melts.

“It will take time to see how much of a dent this storm really made, and whether the downward trend in cases we were already seeing nationwide is here to stay,” said Prescott.

“If we play it smart, there’s reason to believe it could be.”

Last week, the Oklahoma State Department of Health said it does not expect the state’s supply of Covid-19 vaccines to be impacted by the weather, with vaccination clinics set to resume as soon as it is safe.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation physician-scientist Dr. Eliza Chakravarty.

And for those who may have had their Covid-19 booster delayed by the snow, Chakravarty offered encouragement.

“Don’t worry if you’re late on your second dose by a few days or even a week, because it won’t affect your immunity,” she said. “But do make sure to get in as soon as you can

once it’s safe.”

Until then, Chakravarty says, hunker down and stay warm.

“We all have a lot of practice with staying home,” she said. “Let’s hope this winter storm at least does us the favor of sending the Covid curve on a permanent downward trajectory.”

Page 14 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Documentary on ex-teen sensation Britney Spears

A lot for viewers to mull over in film

By George Gust In 2021 you go to where the content is, even if that content is buried within a news organization’s limited documentary series within a television station within a streaming service. “Framing Britney Spears” is the latest viral documentary from docuseries “The New York Times Presents” in association with FX and Hulu.

Her rise was a global phenomenon. Her downfall was a cruel national sport. People close to Britney Spears and lawyers tied to her conservatorship now reassess her career as she battles her father in court over who should control her life.

For most rise-and-fall documentaries focused on a public figure, the story is set in stone, resolved, or lost a sense of relevance. The feeling of finality and the openness of most of the parties involved gives a sense of finality even if the story is something tragic like the fantastic music documentary from years ago “Amy.” However, “Framing Britney Spears” succeeds in captivating the audience with both instantaneous nostalgia, germane social commentary that could only exist in 2021, and leaves the audience with more questions and maybe even a call to action if they feel so moved.

“Framing Britney Spears” takes you through the teen sensation days of Britney Spears that created an economy of fortune and fame that tragically spun into a dark misogynistic world of paparazzi and mental health issues through the ongoing familial legal battles dealing with issues of legal conservatorships. But coming from the point of view of celebrity journalists, superfans, and paparazzi, “Framing Britney Spears” feels like it exists at arm’s length from the inner circle of the Spears family, adding to the feeling of celebrity voyeurism that appears to have been a leading cause of Britney’s fall from the limelight. You will not hear from the Spears family in their own words, but what you do get is the seemingly ran-

dom stitching of Instagram videos from Britney herself that some read as cries for help in an overbearing and unconventional conservatorship that sends a healthy portion of her paychecks her father in compensation.

Overall, “Framing Britney Spears” is a poignant pop culture documentary that shows how our insatiable need to explore the lives of our stars affects the people on the front page of the magazines. And in the end tells a pertinent story of how impassioned people on the internet can develop a theory and affect change in real life.

And as this is an ongoing story and the documentary clocks in at under an hour and half, there’s certainly a possibility of a follow up once the dust settles on this situation.

“Framing Britney Spears” is rated TV-MA and is now available to stream.

3.8 out of 5 stars.

To comment on this film review, or any other movie review, please e-mail George at gust.george@gmail.com Check out George’s previous reviews on www.edmondlifeandleisure.com

‘PHOTO PROVIDED

Pop Music, Fame, Paparazzi, and Mental Health in America are explored through the lens of the rise and fall of Britney Spears' celebrity from the late 90's through today with an ongoing familial controversy.

Orchesta postpones jazz event Answers appearing on Page 19

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic announces the postponement of this weekend’s Pops Concert cycle Ragtime and All That Jazz to the weekend of March 5 and 6. For current ticket holders with streaming, dress rehearsal, or the in-person, socially distanced performance tickets, no further action is required, as your tickets will automatically be good for the new dates. For the latest updates on this and other OKCPHIL performances go to www.okcphil.org or call (405) 842-5387 M-F 10 AM to 5 PM. Due to power outages, please leave a message and a representative will get back to you as soon as possible.

“The extreme weather this week has brought many challenges for the OKCPHIL family. The closures of many Covid testing sites coupled with hazardous road conditions pose significant challenges to our operations. As part of our strict safety protocols developed in conjunction with medical experts, testing for all staff, stagehands and each musician is an integral part of each concert cycle. This is designed to keep everyone on stage, backstage, and in the hall safe during our performances. This along with other weather-related logistical challenges has resulted in our decision to postpone Ragtime and All That Jazz to the weekend of March 5th and 6th.”

Said Brent Hart, OKCPHIL Board President.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: March Madness ACROSS 1. Theories 5. T in Greek 8. Tarzan's mom, e.g.

11. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, e.g.

12. Ingredient in talcum powder 13. Spectator 15. 5,280 feet 16. Tiny river 17. Note taker 18. *Last NCAA basketball winner 20. Any day now 21. Antiquarian's concern, pl.

22. Diana Ross and Michael Jackson movie, with The 23. Saw a nightmare 26. Caribbean rattles 30. Witch's spell 31. Flocked-to destinations 34. Goo or slime 35. Plural of ostium 37. Leo mo.

38. Eurasian goatlike antelope 39. Showing signs of use 40. "Yo, ____!"

42. *Nothing but it 43. Wrap a baby 45. *____-elimination 47. Outrage 48. Fraternity K 50. One of the Bridges 52. *____ 1 schools only 55. ____less but pennywise 56. Decanter 57. In a frenzy 59. Threesome 60. Turkish monetary unit, plural 61. Dumpy establishment 62. Common conjunction 63. New York time 64. Male deer DOWN 1. Singular of #1 Across 2. Rikers Island weapon 3. Burkina Faso neighbor 4. Himalayan mountaineer 5. Tarnish

6. "____ ____ fair in love and war" 7. *School with most NCAA basketball titles 8. Choir member 9. Hammer part 10. Blunder 12. Sad, to mademoiselle 13. Radio studio sign 14. *Mid-major school that's become major powerhouse 19. Kind of ray 22. Is no longer 23. Arabian sailing vessels 24. Restart from seed 25. Uncredited actor 26. The Wise Men 27. Acting as a prompter 28. Snow impression 29. Eric Heiden's "shoe" 32. *Oklahoma State's super freshman ____ Cunningham 33. Mixed breed puppy 36. *2021 NCAA Tournament location

38. What Edward Scissorhands does 40. Stout relative 41. Dream big 44. Ancient Celtic priest 46. Water nymphs 48. Fuzzy fruit, pl.

49. Deflect 50. Sanders' campaign slogan "Feel the ____" 51. "National Velvet" author Bagnold 52. Expunge 53. Fail to mention 54. Scotia preceder 55. School-related org.

58. Liquor store pony

See Answers on Page19

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 15

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma seeking ‘crazy sock’ donations. The donations are needed head of World Down Syndrome Day in March.

Down Syndrome Association makes appeal for ‘crazy socks’ Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO) is gearing up for World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 and is calling on the community to donate crazy socks to the nonprofit for the annual “Knock Your Socks Off” campaign.

As part of the campaign, DSACO sends crazy socks to legislators, news anchors and local celebrities to invite the community to join in on the initiative to be #Crazy4DSACO. This initiative helps spread awareness of the 21st chromosome for a day of acceptance and inclusion by wearing crazy socks on March 21 and posting photos of the crazy socks to social media with DSACO tagged and the #Crazy4DSACO hashtag.

This year’s luncheon will be virtual and held on Monday, March 22. Learn more about DSACO at https://dsaco.org/.

Donations are gladly accepted leading up to World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.

Brand new socks can be purchased online or through the DSACO Amazon

wish list and mailed to the DSACO office. The Amazon wish list can be found here: https://amzn.to/2NlOb9B. Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma 521 W. Wilshire Blvd. Ste 130 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 About DSACO: The Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma is a 501c3 nonprofit serving nearly 900 families with a loved one with Down syndrome, from prenatal diagnosis into adulthood. Its mission is to raise awareness and provide resources as well as promote acceptance and inclusion for people with Down syndrome. DSACO serves its mission by offering programs and resources to families, which include educational workshops, support groups, cooking classes for teens and adults, free tutoring services, parent outreach and more.

Some information on new COVID-19 variants Variants of Covid-19 from Brazil, South Africa and the United Kingdom are circulating in the U.S. With vaccinations up and case numbers down nationwide, will the mutations undo recent progress?

Not if we stay vigilant, say experts at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

“Overall, that sounds like good news,” said Chakravarty. “But we’re still talking about a virus that has killed more than 460,000 Americans. So, even though the strains themselves may not be deadlier, they could lead to an increase in cases, which causes more deaths.”

1. What is a variant?

“Variants are natural, random changes in the genetic makeup of a virus,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “Most variants are insignificant, but some can provide viruses with an advantage, such as an ability to resist the body’s existing immune responses or to move from one person to another more effectively.”

3. Do the Covid-19 vaccines still work?

So far, the answer seems to be yes. Pfizer and Moderna studies show their vaccines to be protective against the variants, although less effective against the South African variant in particular. That means the vaccines may not prevent infections that lead to mild and moderate illness as often.

"We'd rather people didn’t get sick at all," said Chakravarty. “But the approved vaccines appear to be effective at preventing serious illness. And that really is the goal.”

2. Are the Covid-19 variants deadlier?

Not necessarily, said OMRF immunologist Eliza Chakravarty, M.D., but each appears to spread more easily than the original strain from China.

4. Will I need a different vaccine?

“Probably not, but additional booster shots may be needed,” said Prescott, noting that Pfizer and Moderna are already developing variant-specific boosters in case they are needed.

In the two-shot Covid-19 vaccine regimen, the first dose teaches your body to recognize the virus.

The second further instructs the immune system to remember the virus and make a stronger, more focused response if it sees it again. “Time will tell whether we’ll need a third booster, or even an annual one,” Prescott said.

5. What can I do to protect myself?

“Viruses need hosts,” said Prescott. That means vaccination, masking and distancing can slow the spread and creation of new variants.

“If the pandemic has taught us anything,” he said, “it’s that we can’t get comfortable and let our guard down.”

Page 16 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The best for baby

PHOTO PROVIDED

Green Bambino is Oklahoma City’s largest baby store, offering everything from cloth and disposable diapers to toys, car seats, safe sleep products and much more.

By Rose Drebes mission has become much broader over the years.

Morgan Harris opened Green Bambino 11 “We’ve expanded our focus to welcome families years ago because a store of its nature simply of all backgrounds and interests, not just those didn’t exist in the Oklahoma City area. looking to ‘be green,’” she said.

Green Bambino is the metro’s largest baby Green Bambino strives to offer products that store. It carries everything from diapers (both cover all the many questions new parents often cloth and disposable) to car seats, fluoride-free ask such as: toothpaste to potty chairs and everything in “What if my baby wants to be held ALL THE between.

TIME?” “Whether “How do we get grandma is lookaround?”

Morgan Harris is the owner of Green Bambino. ing for clothes “What educationShe opened the store after she cloth-diapered her for the new al toys should my baby or birthbaby play with?” son and discovered there wasn’t a similar resource day gifts for “How do I feed in the Oklahoma City area. the 3-year-old my baby?” grandchild, she “My cousin is can find it at having a baby — Green Bambino,” Harris said. what gift do I get them that they actually want The store’s mission is to help make raising a and need?” baby less overwhelming.

Apparently, Green Bambino has achieved that “We do that by offer- goal. ing a curated collection Reem O’Donnell has looked to Green Bambino of thoughtful baby as a parenting source for the past seven years. goods and services,” “From cloth diapering to baby wearing to car she said. “There is a seating and beyond, they have been our go-to ‘why’ behind every for shopping and advice,” O’Donnell said. “I love product in the store knowing that everything in Morgan’s store has and we train our embeen vetted and researched already. ployees in everything “Even before Covid, they’ve always made it easy from safe sleep to child to shop as a parent, running things out to the car passenger safety.” for you when you have a sleeping baby in the car In the beginning of or a toddler who doesn’t want to get out in the Green Bambino, Harris rain.” said she and her husHarris said she hopes people will continue to band had chosen to support local business. A great place to start local diaper their son. They shopping is isaok.org. wanted to reduce the “The Independent Shopkeepers Association amount of trash they supports Oklahoma-owned retail shops all over generated, in addition the state and has a page linking directly to each to saving money. member shop’s online store,” she said.

“I spent many Green Bambino is located at 5120 N Shartel months trying to figure Ave. in Oklahoma City. For more information, visit out how to cloth diaper www.greenbambino.com successfully,” she said.

“When my son was about a year old, I started thinking about opening a brick and mortar store.

“There were plenty of online shops all over the country, but no physical store where anyone could go to ask questions and find products in stock to take home immediately (with) no waiting for shipping).”

While the original mission was to focus on cloth diapers and other eco-friendly PHOTO PROVIDED items, Harris said the Morgan Harris

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 17

Page 18 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

State looks at adding tornado safety guidelines in hotels Legislation requiring new or renovated hotels and motels to post tornado safety information in every room and common areas passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives last week.

Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, who authored House Bill 1748, said the policy was suggested to her by a constituent who, while staying in another part of the state, was not able to find information about safety procedures while the county was under a tornado warning.

“This legislation is a prime example of a constituent realizing an issue, bringing it to their legislator and working together to propose a solution,” Crosswhite Hader said. “In inclement weather situations where every minute makes a difference, House Bill 1748

will help keep traveling Oklahomans and visitors to our state safe and out of harm’s way.”

The tornado safety information, provided by the State Board of Health, would include the county, the hotel’s location on a state map, recommended safety precautions, and the day and time of local tornado siren testing.

The Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association has expressed their support of the bill.

HB 1748 is a refiled bill from the 57th Legislature, House Bill 3016, which passed the House unanimously in 2020 but was stalled when the legislative session was paused due to the pandemic.

HB 1748 passed the House 79-2. It now proceeds to the Senate for consideration, where it is authored by Sen. Jessica Garvin, RDuncan.

Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, a Republican, represents House District 41 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes portions of Garfield, Kingfisher, Canadian and Oklahoma counties.

How to get un-stuck from your fitness rut

By Brian Attebery Isn’t amazing how sore a person can get from doing yard work or chores?

Did you have the great “opportunity” to chain saw, haul and stack limbs and trees a couple months ago when we had our massive ice storm? How about Attebery the recent snow storm? Did you get to do some snow shoveling? I did and both times, regardless of all the exercise I do, I was a little sore! These chores are simply forms of exercise and when we change things up drastically or even subtly, those changes can create an adaptive response to that new stimuli. This type of change is huge important for continued progress and the reason many people get stagnant in their progress with exercise.

There is a principle in exercise called “specificity” that addresses how changing up exercise causes reactive changes, physiologically to your body.

The formal definition is “The design of an exercise program to stress muscles in a manner similar to the way in which they are to per-form. This technique helps the muscle to meet specific demands, including speed and type of contraction, strength and endurance requirements, stabiliza-

tion, and mobility activities.”

On a practical level, if you need to be good at a certain movement, sport or exercise, you need to specifically work on that type of exercise. Bicyclists focus on riding bikes to be good at that. If you are wanting to be amazing at the bench press or squat, you need to bench press and squat as part of your weight routine. It does not mean you should not do other types of exercises to supplement those primary goals though.

In 2006, World-renowned bicycle champion, Lance Armstrong decided to train for the New York marathon. You would think that with his hundreds of thousands of miles and hours of training for cycling, that he would just dominate with a marathon too. He did not. He placed 869th and called it the “hardest physical thing” he had ever done. While he did VERY well, he was in a new type of fitness for his body and his body felt it.

You should not just keep doing the same workouts over and over even if you change up the intensity and weights used. You can only go so heavy or hard with your workouts. You need change beyond that.

We recently created a new kickboxing program at my facility. This program combines 8-12 stations of 2-3 minute intervals of a variety of agilities, core, kickboxing and punching on bags and mitts

along with some weights done in a high-paced manners. I will humbly tell you that I have been participating in it myself and it is a great challenge for me. I workout with weights 5 days per week and perform cardio on the elliptical and treadmill 4-5 days per week and even for an hour at a time but these 30 minute classes have really been an awesome challenge for me. I just have one rule for the class. I jokingly say, don’t make fun of Brian!

Yes, even fitness experts get nervous about not being good at something. I am no different.

If you have been working out a long time and have not changed your routine. It is time to fix that. Change the angles, weights, rep-ranges, types of movements, rest intervals and intensity. Mix in “super sets” and if you don’t know what those things mean, it is even more of a reason to seek guidance from fitness experts. Your body AND mind need to be challenged to see the changes you need and want. Most people quit exercise due to lack of progress and boredom. The beauty of “Specificity” is that it allows you to address these issues.

(Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer.

He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com)

Dolese Bros. Co. honored Javier Ley named new director with national safety award at Arcadia Trails Integris Center

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) has awarded multiple Dolese Bros. Co. locations with Safety Excellence Awards, including Coleman Quarry, White Eagle Sand, Dover Sand and Ponca City’s 7 Mile Mine.

"This recognition is a direct result of Dolese employees making safety a personal value on the job each day,” Dolese President and CEO Mark Helm said. 2020 was Dolese’s safest year to date from the standpoint of recordable incidents and I am proud of the progress we have made to ensure we are safely delivering to our communities.”

The NSSGA Safety Excellence Awards are presented to aggregate operations who are leaders in maintaining a safe workplace, evidenced by their safety performance over a consecutive period of time without a Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) reportable injury. These awards are only presented to the operations who have gone the longest duration without a reportable injury in their size category.

The MSHA uses the metric of Total Reportable Injury Rate (TRIR) to monitor reportable injuries for each operation. Dolese has seen a consistent decrease in its TRIR as its safety practices have continued to improve during the previous several years.

“Dolese is committed to improving our safety practices and ensuring that all of our employees are continuing to make safety a top priority,” Dolese Health, Safety and Environmental Department Director David Finley said. “Our team is thankful to be recognized for this achievement but this only motivates Dolese to continue improving our safety procedures company-wide.”

Dolese, headquartered in Oklahoma City, has more than 60 facilities across the state. Learn more about Dolese at www.dolese.com

ties across seven states Javier Ley is the new (KS, NE, MO, CO, AZ, executive director at TX, OK), it employs Arcadia Trails INTE600 individuals, and GRIS Center for Addicprovides treatment tion Recovery. Ley services to 11,000 peoearned a bachelor’s deple per year. Ley has exgree in business adminperience in strategic istration with a major planning, clinical innoin finance, a master’s vations, technology degree in clinical menstrategy, budget develtal health counseling, a opment and managedoctorate degree in ment. He also has professional counseling experience in managing and most recently, he adult treatment units completed an addiwhile providing overtional master’s prosight to compliance, gram in Health Care clinical training and paTransformation. tient experience.

Ley began his work Ley comes to INTEin the field of addiction Javier Ley GRIS Health from the treatment and co-occurHazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the ring disorders in the Central American country of Nicaragua. There, he developed largest not for profit provider in Addiction Medicine in the country. the first treatment organization that utiThe foundation is recognized for excellized evidence-based practices. lence in prevention, treatment, research, Recently, he was employed as Sr. Vicepublishing, education and advocacy for adPresident of Operations for Valley Hope Association. Valley Hope operates 17 facili- diction.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 25, 2021 • Page 19

Catholic Charities event set for March 6 On March 6, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City will host a Facebook Live event to raise money in place of their annual gala fundraiser.

Local news anchor Amanda Taylor will host the unique event. “I’m so glad I get to work with Sanctuary. What a difference they’re making,” said Taylor.

“When they’re able to help a mother and her kids who were sleeping in a car get into a home, you know this is an organization that is making a difference for our neighbors.”

At any given time, there are over 1,500 people living on the streets in Oklahoma City and Norman, and 33% of those are women. Due to the pandemic, that number has increased and is harder to quantify.

The recent cold weather conditions have made an already untenable situation even more perilous.

Catholic Charities’ Development Centers are dedicated to helping these women with immediate needs such as showers, laundry and groceries as well as more long-term solutions like counseling, permanent housing and long-term case management as well as assistance with utility bills and rental deposits.

“Due to the pandemic, many in our homeless population are staying at their campsites or the few available overnight shelters,” said Sheila McPherson, director of Sanctuary Norman. “The recent cold weather has caused an increased need for assistance and the options for these women are very limited.”

Green Tie Gatherings is a way for our donors to step up and help these women by making donations, bidding on auction items and changing a life. Auction items this year include: Three-night stay at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona; a two-night stay at Hidden Hills Cabins in Broken Bow, Oklahoma; a signed Keith Urban guitar; a David Yurman bracelet courtesy of BC Clark; beer for a year package cour-

tesy of Capital Distributing; and exclusive travel packages through AmFund including destinations to Ireland, Sedona, Key West, and Iceland valid for three years with no blackout dates, roundtrip airfare for two, and deluxe accommodations.

Sponsorships with dinner options from Hal Smith Restaurants are still available. Open bidding for the auction items will begin on March 1 at www.greentiegatherings.org.

Executive Director Patrick Raglow is grateful to the following top tier sponsors for their commitment to helping women in our community: American Fidelity Foundation, The Chris & Connie Burnett Foundation, The Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma, Inc., Mrs. Jim & Dori Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Mike & Sue Krenger, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas & Teresa Luetkemeyer, SSM Health, COOP Ale Works, Mr. & Mrs. Nick & Nicole Del-

l'Osso, Mr. & Mrs. Gant & Shelly Lambertz, Mercy, Mr. & Mrs. F.W. "Pete" & Barbara Brown, Mass Architects, Inc., Mr. K.T. Meade Jr., and BancFirst.

“Just as we modified our Sanctuary services to meet the needs of homeless women and children in the pandemic environment, serving the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, we are going to change our Green Tie event as well.,” Raglow said. “Precisely because of the pandemic, the women we serve need your help more than ever. Green Tie will look and feel different—socially distanced, gatherings not a gala—but the needs are greater than ever for these women and their families and your participation is critical to meeting our mission.”

For more information on how to participate, please contact Anne O’Shields at 817-313-3063 or visit www.greentiegatherings.org.

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

Please check with your house of worship for more information.

Page 20 • February 25, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure