March 10, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 43
In This Issue FOUR SEASONS
Santa Fe holds DWDW
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.
EPS Foundation honors top employees See page 13
FRIDAY, March 11 AM Snow Showers High 40° Low 16°
SATURDAY, March 12 Sunny High 51° Low 33°
SUNDAY, March 13 Sunny High 69° Low 44°
PHOTOS BY MELINDA INFANTE
Bulk of funds goes toward helping children experiencing homelessness Edmond Santa Fe High School concluded its DWDW (Double Wolf Dare Week) campaign raised $213, 285 for Positive Tomorrows. Positive Tomorrows is Oklahoma’s only social services agency specifically for children and families experiencing homelessness. The money raised will help the organization build a middle school. It currently has an elementary school. Positive Tomorrows. The group is on a mission to partner with homeless families to educate their children and create pathways to success. They help lead the charge in developing a comprehensive educational system built to bring students up to grade level academically and socially, so they can successfully rejoin the public school system. Here are three ways Positive Tomorrows accomplishes that mission. Transportation. Every day, our students know they can call in with their
location, and our bus driver will come get them. For families with limited access to transportation, just getting a child to school can feel like an insurmountable challenge. The commitment to the students begins with helping them get to their classroom. Hunger. We’ve all been there. That last class or meeting right before lunch when everyone’s hungry, and it’s impossible to focus on the tasks at hand. For a homeless student, though, this feeling might not be limited to that pre-lunch period. Each of the students qualifies for free meals. Making sure those meals are nutritious and filling helps the students focus their energies on learning, not on worrying about whether they’ll get to eat. Basic Needs. For most kids, it can be hard to focus on learning math when you’re anxious for gym class. For a homeless child, the challenge is different due to the lack of basic
needs. Many homeless children don’t have tennis shoes for gym class, for example. This lack of basic necess. ities can create worry and anxiety for our students, leaving them with little energy to give to their education. The group clears that hurdle by keeping a supply of those basic needs “ clothing, shoes, toiletries, etc. “ at the ready. Five percent of the money raised during all three spring high school fundraising weeks benefits a single common thread. This year’s recipient is Limbs for Life. That is global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing fully-functional prosthetic care for individuals who cannot otherwise afford it and raising awareness of the challenges facing amputees. Two weeks ago North held its annual fundraiser. This Friday, the season of giving ends with Swine Week concluding at Memorial High School.
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Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10,, 2022 • Page 3
Runoff April 5 will decide two School Board seats By Patty Miller Edmond Public Schools will be having a run-off election for school board members in Districts 2 and 5 during the April 5 general election. District 2 run-off Williams, 66, stated on her website she wants to improve communication between the community, parents and the school district and to rebuild confidence that the edmond schools are teaching “approved ageappropriate curriculum” while providing a safe learning environment for the students. She believes the retention of good teachers must become a focus of the district and that parents and grandparents need to be welcomed back into the classrooms as resources. Williams states, “We must get back to the basics of education that does not undermine the values of our families or this community.” Hobgood, 40, says she believes in advocating for all students, teachers and parents. A post on her campaign Facebook page says she supports pursuing low student-teacher classroom ratios. She wants to ensure Edmond Public Schools receive funding, technology and resources needed to develop students into future community, state and national leaders.
District 5 Run-off Grande is 45 and according to his campaign website, Grande’s platform includes ensuring that parents are involved and represented in the decision-making process of the district and ensuring that students aren’t being pushed through a standardized process and are on a path to master the basics of education. He also calls for transparency and accountability. Grande’s website also states that he will “never relinquish my representative power or position over to the school district, no matter what the emergency.” Marcus Jones, 38, was appointed to serve on the Edmond Public Schools Board in November, following the resignation of Meredith Exline. On his website, Jones focus includes reducing class sizes, supporting fine arts, advocating for district athletics, reaching out to elected officials to discuss partnerships and policies, improving the use of technology in the district and supporting teachers, principals and staff. Jones has commented that he has reached out to the community and listed to concerns and maintained open communication. He has also emphasized being transparent about the decisions he has made on the board.
Metro man wins $3 million on scratch off One lucky winner purchased an Ultimate Millions Scratcher at OnCue at 7400 S. Sooner Rd. in Oklahoma City and won $3 million instantly. He scratched the ticket in his truck, and after finding out he won, called his wife to double check because he couldn’t believe it. This top prize was claimed at the Oklahoma Lottery on Tuesday, making this winner the 75th Oklahoma Lottery millionaire. The Ultimate Millions Scratcher
from the Oklahoma Lottery is the first $50 Scratcher and features three $3 million top prizes. This is the first Oklahoma Lottery Scratcher to award the top prize of $3 million and this week’s winner is the first top prize winner for Ultimate Millions. The Ultimate Millions Scratcher still has over $131 million in prizes available, including two remaining $3 million prizes. To find a retailer, visit lottery.ok.gov.
Page 4 • March 10, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure
From the Publisher
Stevens leaves legacy of leadership Last week was bittersweet for many of us here in Edmond. We saw the retirement of our good friend and Edmond city manager Larry Stevens. After 20 years here in Edmond it’s hard to believe we will not have one of the best leaders I have encountered in 42 years in the newspaper business. But we are certainly happy for Larry and his family. He Ray Hibbard gets some well-deserved time to enjoy his family especially his grandchildren. Larry came to Edmond 20 years ago from being city manager in Pittsburg, Kan. A city manager staying in one town for 20 years is not common as city government goes. The average length of time a city manger spends in one town is three to five years. They either need to move in order to be promoted in their career or they make a city council mad enough to fire them. The good news is that after 500 city council meetings and workshops, Larry earned nothing but respect from the mayors and council members he worked with. Edmond also offered enough challenges to keep him interested in staying in Edmond. He not only experienced Edmond’s growth of those 20 years, but he participated in it as well. When I was general manager of OKC FRIDAY newspaper in the 1980’ and early 1990’s, we had a great relationship with Village city manager Bruce Stone. He is a leader and listener in much the same manner as Larry. “Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution” Kahlil Gibran This is one of my favorite quotes from my favorite poet. It is also one of the best descriptions of our now retired city manager. He is a listener. While he may be soft spoken and is certainly caring and kind, he walks with strength. When a hard decision has to be made, he makes it. Larry doesn’t put it on others. He takes the blame if there is any and never takes credit for himself. Larry is a “we” person and you never hear him use the word “I” when talking about projects in Edmond that are so successful. He has the back of his employees as well. City of Edmond staff always knew that Larry would never through them under the bus. His work can only be described as a true professional. He quietly went about making sure the trains ran on time, but you can add to that his passion for having city government operate as frugal and organized as any business. At some point over the 20 years, Larry noticed several city events held for the benefit of citizens offered free t-shirts. He wanted to know what the darn budget was for t-shirts over all 42 departments that make up our city government. Staff knew that if you wanted to get Larry going just a bit, mention the Tshirt budget. Over the years, folks would give Larry T-shirts they had received at other events. His good sense of humor prevailed. His out of the box thinking led to some great partnerships for Edmond. The swimming facility at Mitch Park is one of the big ones. The City of Edmond, the YMCA and the Edmond Public Schools pooled their funds to create a more magnificent swimming facility then either one of those groups could have done on their own. It filled the needs of the people they
RAY HIBBARD
Larry Stevens and his family pose at a retirement event held last week in Stevens’ honor. From left are son-in-law and daughter, Joel and Ami VanBecelaere, Kay Stevens, Larry Stevens and his other daughter, Allie Stevens.
each serve but allowed for a powerhouse of a facility. The new tennis center that was done in partnership with Edmond Public Schools on 15th street is another great example of the great work Larry has done in his time here in Edmond. He will be the first to say, and he would be correct, that it took the hard work of a lot of great people to make that happen. It also took leadership which Larry provides in a big way. Larry taught me that there is always another side to the story in city government. We get occasional calls about some great injustice that has been done to a citizen in Edmond. He always took my call and did not pass me off to a department head. If he did not have the answer, he would say so and do the research. I always got more information than the person complaining had parted with. Sometimes there are just good reasons why a road project is being done at a certain time or a city water line must be moved. Larry not only was willing to share the information, but he felt citizens had the right to know as well. Larry created a strong internal culture at the City of Edmond. It has made the growth of Edmond go much smoother than it might have otherwise. While there are always challenges when it comes to land use for a growing city, it helps to have a calm, cool head in a leadership position. Larry filled that for our town and our new city manager will have big shoes to fill. His wife, Kay, said about the nicest compliment a husband can get. She said he never, never brought the frustrations of his job home. She said when he was home with the family, he was truly present with them. I sure can’t say that about myself but hearing her say it gives me something to strive for in the time I have left on this earth. We are hopefully going to keep Larry and Kay around in Edmond. They have a daughter in Dallas and one in Kansas City with grandchildren. Edmond is about the right distance to be in the middle. I just couldn’t be happier for them and wish them the
best of times in the future. Thank you, Larry, for your leadership and help for our small business over the years. More than 1,000 Electronic Filings on new website feature “Amazing news as more than 1,000 Business Personal Filings have been completed on the Oklahoma County Assessor’s Office electronic ONLINE filing options, a FIRST for Oklahoma County’s internationally recognized website. This new feature saves businesses time and taxpayers money by reporting on the web. It also saves space because 1,000 filing would fill a file cabinet with papers which would have to be saved in boxes, then scanned and eventually sent to a document destruction company,” said Oklahoma County Assessor Larry Stein. “We’re urging everyone able to use the electronic filing features for ALL the required forms because it is much more efficient for our staff and the citizens required to make these filings. I want to thank the Budget Board and the Board of County Commissioners for their support of the assessor’s office to continue to have Oklahoma County leading the way in technology serving the public,” Stein said. The Budget Board is comprised of the three county commissioners, assessor, treasurer, court clerk, county clerk and the sheriff. The amazing achievements and advances in using leading edge technology happen because of the cooperation and trust the group has to achieve great things. “The assessment process is responsible for providing funding for schools, colleges, technology centers, libraries, city/county health department and many other services. The assessment process creates more than 82 percent of the entire Oklahoma County budget funding the county offices, law enforcement, secure legal and property records and much more,” Stein said. For more information go to www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor (Ray Hibbard may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)
Check out what’s inside! ---- Police report ..............................................................................Page 6. ---- Weekend calendar of Events ......................................................Page 6. ---- Riversport opens Saturday ..........................................................Page 8. ---- Columnist looks at upcoming elections ..................................Page 10. ---- New recipe by Smag ................................................................Page 12. ---- Top Edmond Public Schools employees honored ......................Page 13. ---- Crossword puzzle ....................................................................Page 14. ---- George Gust looks at new Batman movie ................................Page 14. ---- Comics ....................................................................................Page 18. ---- Worship directory ....................................................................Page 19. This, and much more, in this week’s edition!
See if you can find ‘Four Seasons’ “Four Seasons” in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the University of Central Oklahoma campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Please e-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. Commissioned as a partnership between UCO, the City of Edmond and the Edmond Visual Arts Commission, “Four Seasons” was created by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on the campus on March 24, 2011. Kevin is a member of the National Sculptor’s Guild. His Box Studio LLC is a strong supporter of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle concept, using recycled metal as part of the casting process for his sculptures. All of his work is 100 percent recyclable. For more information on Edmond public art, please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php.
Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production Deanne York Advertising Director Business Editor Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Mallery Nagle, Patty Miller, Rose Drebes, and George Gust. Photographer Melinda Infante
Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2022 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved. Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure
Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10, 2022 • Page 5
Goal to improve safety & health
Lawmakers target marijuana industry Following the largest single day illegal marijuana bust in state history last month, House Republicans have advanced a comprehensive medical marijuana policy plan to stop illegal grows and foster a safer, fairer free market for the product. The 12-point plan advanced through multiple bills in House committees last week. "Illegal marijuana grows end now. The black market isn't a free market," said House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City. "This comprehensive plan aggressively attacks the spread of illegal marijuana operations statewide, as the people of Oklahoma have demanded." The 12-point plan will require: Making the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority a standalone agency A grant program for county sheriff's departments to fund law enforcement efforts in every county (HB 3530) Full implementation of a seed to sale system (either via court order or new legislation) Provisional licensing requiring pre-license inspections and increased document submission prior to approval (HB 3734) Tiered grow license fees based on grow size (HB 2179) Separate licensing for medical marijuana wholesalers (HB 3634) All medical marijuana businesses to post standardized permit signage at the place of business (HB 2025) Stringent electrical and water data reporting by marijuana growers (HB 4055)
State agency starts to move COVID virus into an endemic classification
Annual inspections (HB 2024) Product packaging standards and maximum beyond use dates (HB 3019; HB 4288) Standardized laboratory testing and equipment (HB 4056) Marijuana grows to register as environmentally sensitive crop owners with the Agriculture Department (HB 3827) A seven-member Republican working group collaborated for months with industry stakeholders, other legislators, regulators, law enforcement and other experts to develop the plan. The working group was comprised of Reps. Rusty Cornwell, RVinita, Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, and Jay Steagall, R-Yukon. "All these bills work together to create a multifaceted, synergistic approach to extinguish illegal growing and distributing while focusing on product safety and public health," Marti said. "Oklahoma is open for legal business. Legitimate businesses will rise and illegal operators will fall under this package." Marti is chairman of the House Alcohol, Tobacco & Controlled Substances Committee, which advanced most of the bills containing the plan. Fetgatter, who has worked extensively on medical marijuana issues for the past three years, praised the collaboration used to develop the plan. "These solutions build on our work in previous years to comprehensively address the most significant concerns citizens across the state – from antimarijuana voices to our many legitimate marijuana
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is starting its move toward the endemic phase of the pandemic. Throughout the transition there will be gradual changes to how and when OSDH reports some of its data. Starting this week, OSDH will discontinue its daily situation updates that monitor the daily case counts. Instead, the OSDH will release data on Thursdays. The weekly report will provide an average based on weekly accumulations. The weekly epidemiology report
businesses – have had since State Question 788 passed. I am proud of my colleagues for their collaborative teamwork on this complex, pressing issue," Fetgatter said. Oklahoma voters authorized medical marijuana through State Question 788 in 2018. As the state's medical marijuana industry has grown since then, so has its illegal black market. Marijuana grown in Oklahoma can only be consumed in Oklahoma, and authorities have said far more marijuana is being grown here than can be consumed here. Law enforcement has connected some grow operations to international organized crime and drug trafficking organizations. More than 200 law enforcement agents conducted the largest single day drug bust in state history last month, raiding a dozen locations statewide to seize 100,000 marijuana plants and thousands of pounds of processed marijuana with an estimated street value of $500 million. More a than a dozen resulting arrest warrants in multiple states are being pursued. Such raids have become increasingly common as illegal medical marijuana grows proliferate across Oklahoma. A House resolution honoring the officers involved in the raids was presented on the House floor last week. "If you're a bad actor, you better get out or get straight or you'll be next," said Pfeiffer, a member of the marijuana working group. "From last month's historic bust to this aggressive policy package, the message is clear: Illegal marijuana is coming to an end in Oklahoma."
will continue and will also be released on Thursdays. During the omicron surge, it became increasingly evident that the daily case count number was many days delayed and at best only represented a portion of what we knew must be the true current case count numbers. Many factors contributed to that, including lags in laboratory reporting, at-home testing, asymptomatic cases and those who may feel sick and choose not to get tested. “Adjusting data reporting will be an evolving process that ensures we are
monitoring key data in Oklahoma and across the country to best prepare for possible surges,” said Keith Reed, interim commissioner of health. “I want to reassure Oklahomans that we will continue to be vigilant when it comes to COVID-19 and the safety of all the communities we serve.” This change will allow the OSDH to focus on key metrics that more accurately represent the impact of disease in the community, like hospitalizations. This is a trend evident in recent CDC reporting changes focusing on community levels of COVID.
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(The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department. Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law. Also, CDS is controlled dangerous substance; APC is Actual Physical Control; DUI is driving under the influence.) Feb. 22 Brandon Scott Woodall, 36 of Edmond. Felony DUI/APC. Domoinique de la Juwon Markel Natt, 34 of Edmond. Failure to appear, misdemeanor warrant, felony warrant, assault – resisting officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. Shea Anthony Hall, 35 of McLoud. Misdemeanor warrant. Heriberto Cesilio Oxlaj Gomez, 25 of Oklahoma City. Failure to maintain compulsory insurance, operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Feb. 23 Tyler Lee Hanks, 38 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Candice Leigh Cooper, 38 of Anadarko. Misdemeanor warrant. James David Ray Sr., 57 of Edmond. Failure to appear. Brad Allen Bales, 47 of Guthrie. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Feb. 24 Shawn Darren Haley, 21 of Bethany. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Jamie Nicole Smitty, 30 of Edmond. Felony warrant. Feb. 25 Michael Jerrall Hill, 41 of Tecumseh. A misdemeanor warrant and a felony warrant. Christina Marie Hill, 37 of Tecumseh. Felony warrant.
Dusty Lee Holliday, 28 of Crescent. Possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of failure to appear. Gary Geraldon Canary, 44 of Edmond. Eight counts of failure to appear. Thelma Louise Durrett, 34 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant. Stephanie Ann Nolan, 31 of Edmond. Public intoxication. Feb. 26 Dusty Michael Henry, 30 of Oklahoma City. (Possession of a stolen vehicle) unauthorized use of a vehicle or implement of husbandry. George Matthew Tulowetzke, 30 of Del City. (Possession of a stolen vehicle) unauthorized use of a vehicle or implement of husbandry. Casey Dawn Sanders, 44 of Moore. (Possession of a stolen vehicle) unauthorized use of a vehicle or implement of husbandry. Erinn Sheay-Louise Camren, 24 of Ponca City. Possess CDS and (Possession of a stolen vehicle) unauthorized use of a vehicle or implement of husbandry. Nicole Jean Davis, 31 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Jie Z Xu, 48 of Edmond. Possession of CDS and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance. Cody Gene Hensley, 27 of Oklahoma City. Six misdemeanor warrants, possession of CDS and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or a combination of schedule one chemical or controlled substance. Adriana Elizondo Burkhalter, 46 of Edmond. Allowing use of motor vehicle without ignition interlock device, child endangerment, transporting open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and felony DUI/APC. Travis Don Horton, 27 homeless. Non-assault resisting officer and trespassing. Kimberly Anne Sloan, 45 of Stillwater. False personation to an officer, misdemeanor warrant and a felony warrant. Richard Eli Calderon, 43 of Oklahoma City.
Felony warrant. Samantha Kay Ball, 32 of Edmond. Petty larceny. Feb. 27 Amber Rae Messer, 42 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Michael Alan Zacker, 53 of Edmond. Petty larceny, public intoxication and also failure to appear. Mark Conrad, 22 of Edmond. Transport open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more. Gilbert Manuel Rivera, 51 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication. Lezacha Pappan, 42 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication. Levi Jacob Sangers, 27 of Edmond. Possession of drug paraphernalia and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Anthony Troy Mishion Jr., 41 of Edmond. Public intoxication. Ralph Lewis Taylor, 37 of Edmond. Possess drug paraphernalia, possess CDS, four counts of misdemeanor value of receiving stolen property, use of firearm while committing a felony and four counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon. Tyler Wayne Glass, 35 of Edmond. Failure to appear. Tiffany Ann Jackson, 39 of Edmond. Two misdemeanor warrants and four felony warrants. Jimmy Lavert Ezell, 49 of Edmond. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked, no proof of insurance, expired tag – over three months and three misdemeanor warrants. Nicole Christian Lee Reihs, 28 of Guthrie. Possess drug paraphernalia, false personation of another, possess CDS, five misdemeanor warrants and a felony warrant. Kile Eugene Martin, 35 of Oklahoma City. Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked, possess CDS, possess drug paraphernalia and a misdemeanor warrant.
Weekend Calendar of events March 10-13
Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, March13; 1 – 1:30 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org
What’s Happening This Weekend Mar 10 — 13
---- In the Gallery: Stacy Haggard ---- Exhibit: The Clue in the Museum-A Nancy Drew-Inspired Detective Adventure ---- “I Remember That:” Edmond in the 1980s Exhibit ---- Women Who Lead: Jess Connolly ---- Cinch Timed Event Championship ---- UCO Student Spotlight Series: Curating for Equity ---- The Lucky Coyote 5K ---- Brown Bag Lunch Series: A Brief Overview of Body Modification and Tattoos ---- Date with the Duke: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) ---- Sunday Spotlight: Living Canvas Jabbee, musical artist, EMMY Award winner, entrepreneur and community activist ---- Signature Tour ---- Drop-In Drawing: Untitled (Woman Rescuing Bound Cowboy) by Jerome George Rozen ---- Pollard Theatre Presents: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown ---- Oklahoma Youth Expo ---- Jurassic Quest ---- Stockyards City St. Patrick’s Day Parade ---- Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show ---- BrickUniverse LEGO Fan Expo ---- Round Barn Rendezvous Extra Information In the Gallery: Stacy Haggard Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Mar featuring the art of Stacy Haggard; edmondfinearts.com Exhibit: The Clue in the Museum-A Nancy Drew-inspired Detective Adventure Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: through Thu Mar 31; edmondhistory.org “I Remember That:” Edmond in the 1980s Exhibit Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Tue, Feb 1 – Thu, Mar 31; Tue – Fri: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat: 1 – 4 p.m.; Free; edmondhistory.org Women Who Lead: Jess Connolly Location: Oklahoma Christian University
Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, March 12 & Sun, Mar 13; 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org
Always lots to see at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Extra Info: Thu, Mar 10; 5 p.m.; $10; oc.edu/events Cinch Timed Event Championship Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: Thu, Mar 10 – Sat, Mar 12; $25-$50; lazyetec.com UCO Student Spotlight Series: Curating for Equity Location: University of Central Oklahoma – Melton Gallery Extra Info: Thu, Mar 10 – Mon, Mar 28; 5-7:30 p.m.; calendar.uco.edu The Lucky Coyote 5K Location: The Patriarch Craft Beer House Extra Info: Sat, March12; 10 a.m.; $40; runsignup.com Brown Bag Lunch Series: A Brief Overview of Body Modification and Tattoos Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Thu, March 10; 12-1 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org
Drop-In Drawing: Untitled (Woman Rescuing Bound Cowboy) by Jerome George Rozen Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, March 13; 2-3 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Pollard Theatre Presents: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown Location: Pollard Theatre, Guthrie, OK Extra Info: Fri, March 4 – Sat, March 26; thepollard.org Oklahoma Youth Expo Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Tue, March 8 – Fri, March18; 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; okyouthexpo.com Jurassic Quest Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park – Bennett Event Center Extra Info: Fri, March 11 – Sun, March 20; jurassicquest.com Stockyards City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Location: 1307 S Agnew Ave, OKC Extra Info: Sat, Mar 12; 10 a.m.; stockyardscity.org Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Sat, Mar 12 – Sun, Mar 13; Sat: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; repticon.com
Date with the Duke: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Fri, March 11; 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org
BrickUniverse LEGO Fan Expo Location: Oklahoma City Convention Center Extra Info: Sat, Mar 12 – Sun, Mar 13; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; brickuniverse.com
Sunday Spotlight: Living Canvas Jabbee, musical artist, EMMY Award winner, entrepreneur and community activist
Round Barn Rendezvous Location: Round Barn, Arcadia Extra Info: Sun, Mar 13; 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.; arcadiaroundbarn.com
Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10, 2022 • Page 7
Time with OU Health Edmond Medical Center
Teresa Fritz looks back at 40 years of memories tients by staying current with standards of During her 40 years at Edmond’s commucare that were coming out in real time. We nity hospital, now known as OU Health Edhave very smart, capable and caring team mond Medical Center, Teresa Fritz’s members. approach to healthcare — treating others as “It was also very scary and emotional,” she would like to be treated — has been an she said. “I knew every day when I sent resimportant and steady companion to the piratory therapists into patient rooms that evolving landscape of healthcare innovawe were risking their health to some detions. gree, especially before we had vaccines. As Edmond Medical Center celebrates its Fritz Everyone was anxious, but we got the sup75th anniversary this year, Fritz is preparing port we needed from each other.” for retirement after four decades in a career Fritz has worked in many other areas of Edmond dedicated to helping others. She has helped to welMedical Center, including serving as hospital risk come advances like the echocardiogram and the manager and administrative director of physical, ocMRI, but her focus has stayed on people. “My time here has been about people taking care cupational and speech therapy. She also helped to of people,” Fritz said. “It would take me a long time develop new service lines, including sleep. With the advent of sleep apnea treatments like the CPAP mato even begin to make a list of all of the great pachine and the technology to conduct a sleep study, tients, staff, physicians and administrators I’ve many people who were short on sleep have been worked with. It’s been a great career.” Fritz began and is ending her career in Edmond in able to receive treatment. “People with sleep apnea stop breathing multiple the area of respiratory services. She had moved times during the night, and they never get to susfrom Tulsa to Oklahoma City in 1981 and was tained REM sleep, which is where you get your working as a respiratory therapist at what was then Presbyterian Hospital (now OU Health University of rest,” she said. “Once they start using a CPAP, they have a whole new quality of life. It improves their Oklahoma Medical Center). The Edmond hospital needed a respiratory therapist for a 30-day contract, blood pressure, their mental health, everything. You usually don’t have a problem getting them to be but at the end of that month, Fritz was offered a compliant with treatment because they see such a job and decided to stay. She is retiring as Director difference immediately. It’s very rewarding.” of Respiratory Care and Sleep Services. At a community hospital like Edmond Medical “I hadn’t even been to Edmond before then. I had to look on the map to see how far away it was from Center, everyone knows their co-workers by name, Fritz said, and they’ve taken care of generations of Oklahoma City,” she said. “Now I’ve been here for local families. Treating both colleagues and patients more than half of the hospital’s 75 years.” like family is the key to a great workplace delivering Although respiratory therapists work in all areas of a hospital, they were perhaps unsung heroes until high-quality patient care, she said. “Even though I haven’t been at the patient’s bedthe arrival of COVID-19. Intubation and ventilators side in a while, I have tried to help make the workare now widely understood, Fritz said, and many place a content place to be. If the workplace is fair more people know about the lifesaving work of and has a pleasant environment, employees will managing a patient’s airway. Before the pandemic give good patient care,” she said. “And it’s imporbegan, Fritz was slowly scaling down some of her tant that we treat patients like our own family. It’s duties in preparation for retirement. That changed all about how you talk to patients. It’s hard to be when people became seriously ill with the virus. sick and in the hospital. Studies show that patients “During the surges, it took all day every day to make sure you had staff, supplies and ventilators to perceive their care is better when someone sits keep up with the care of a patient with COVID-19,” down by their bed and makes eye contact. It’s important to remind ourselves to treat our patients the she said. “It has been a challenge, but it has also way we want to be treated.” been rewarding in that we have taken care of pa-
Page 8 • March 10, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure
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Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10, 2022 • Page 9
There is a lot of fun and adventure awaiting people near the Oklahoma River with RIVERSPIORT OKC.
Riversport opening up Saturday just in time for spring break RIVERSPORT Adventures in downtown Oklahoma City will be open daily for spring break, March 12-20. Families can enjoy the bike park, the RIVERSPORT Sky Trail six-story adventure course, high speed slides, indoor skiing on Ski OKC, and flatwater kayaking and SUP on the Oklahoma River. “We’re excited to be opening our land and flatwater adventures for Spring Break 2022,” said Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation Executive Director Mike Knopp. “Surfing and whitewater rafting and tubing will open at the end of April.” RIVERSPORT OKC’s Lake Overholser and Lake Hefner locations will be open using the same
Spring Break operating hours as the RIVERSPORT Downtown Oklahoma City location. Guests can purchase the RIVERSPORT Adventure Passes, $39.99, which includes all land activities and can add on flatwater kayaking and stand up paddle boarding for just $9.99. One hour single experiences for Kayak and SUP are $19.99. Passes can be purchased in the McClendon Whitewater Center or online at https://www.riversportokc.org/buy/passes/. For more information on RIVERSPORT OKC, visit https://www.riversportokc.org email info@riversportokc.org or call (405)552-4040.
Tracing your ancestors through family photographs Oklahoma Home Pictures capture and Community people at specific Education Genealtimes in their lives. ogy Group will They can show us host member how they dressed, Jerry Geurin as he where they lived, presents “ Tracing how they had fun your Ancestors and how they Through Family worked. If you are Photographs”. doing genealogy or Guerin has a family research, those Jerry Geurin Bachelor of Arts in old photographs can Sociology and Master of Arts in provide clues on finding out Community Health Planning. He more about those elusive or forhas worked in various Healthcare gotten relatives. On Wednesday, March 16 the agencies in Illinois, Nebraska and
Oklahoma. He currently volunteers in the Oklahoma History Center Photographic Archives helping to sort and scan current photographs from the Daily Oklahoman Newspaper. The meeting is at 10 a.m. at the County Extension building, 2500 NE 63rd St., and is open to the public. Masks are strongly encouraged and social distancing will be maintained. For more information on watching this via ZOOM, please go to our facebook page: ohcegenealogy, or our website: www.ohcegenealogy.com.
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Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side
A lot riding on elections By Steve Gust This week I had considered writing about the invasion overseas. I realize that most of you know a lot about it already. There is no shortage of expert commenSteve Gust tary on cable news shows. It’s a sad situation on many levels and I urge everyone to pray about it. I can’t believe leaders abroad risk the future for their people over some of these issues. Eventually they’re going to have to care more about their own children and their people than the hate they have for their enemies. I also urge people to continue to stay up to date on as much as they can. Be sure to vote in the upcoming elections this year. I was a bit surprised when Jim Inhofe decided to retire from his senate seat. That’s opened up a lot of political opportunities. It’s the leap frog syndrome. Con-
gressman Markwaybe Mullin wants the job. So now Mullin’s seat will open up with lots of people wanting that one. I remember back in 1994 when Inhofe was running for the seat, which David Boren gave up. As a reporter I covered Inhofe coming to a community meeting. What impressed me is that he made it a point to hear from those not in agreement with him. It should be an interesting election year. In Texas incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will most likely be challenged by Beto O'Rourke. Beto, aka Robert Francis, is an interesting guy. When he ran for president in 2020 he vowed to open Texas borders and seize firearms. Now he’s completely changed his mind on both of those topics. Elections have consequences. Please choose wisely. Our world and our country has painfully found out what weak leadership can mean. (Steve Gust may be e-mailed at news@edmondpaper.com)
GOP seeks to fight inflation with additional tax cuts With inflation remaining at a 40-year high, House Republicanslast week advanced five new options the Legislature can choose from to provide tax relief to Oklahomans this session. "Again, the House wants to address inflation today without causing budget problems tomorrow," said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. "With President Biden's policies driving inflation up and more states cutting taxes – especially income taxes – last year than any year since 1986, Oklahoma must stay vigilant on tax relief. The options in these bills allow Oklahoma to aggressively
fight inflation and continue competing economically while protecting its strong state budget." The tax relief options are: One-time income tax rebate of $125 for individuals and $250 for households Permanent income tax rate reduction of .25% Two-year grocery sales tax suspension Two-year enhancement of the grocery sales tax credit for lowincome Oklahomans Eight-year phaseout of the corporate income tax Each option should have no negative impact on the appropri-
ated budget in the short or long term thanks to the way each is structured and current surplus revenue levels, according to legislators. "All parties have brought several strong tax relief ideas to discuss as we begin budget negotiations," said House Appropriations & Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston. "Whether on their own or packaged together, the House's ideas achieve shared tax relief goals today while acknowledging the inevitability of the incredible momentum presently enjoyed in our economy, and reflected in record state revenues, eventually subsiding someday." Income tax options One-time rebate: Oklahomans who filed a state income tax return in 2021 would receive a one-time tax rebate of $125 for individuals and $250 for households this year under House Bill 1358, by McCall. The estimated $321 million cost of the rebates would be paid for out of surplus state revenues, resulting in no budgetary impact. "The stars are aligned to responsibly give taxpayers some of their money back at a time they really need it. Revenues and reserves are at all-time highs, more than $1 billion in certified, one-time surplus funds exists, annual General Revenue Fund collections are 21% above estimates, and oil is over $100 a barrel," McCall said. "Rebates can help working Oklahomans offset all types of inflation, from groceries to gas to everything in between."
Lankford, others done with COVID mandates Last week, as the White House sent a request to Congress for $22.5 billion for additional COVID-19 funding, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) led his colleagues in a letter sent to Senate leadership to inform them that they would not support additional COVID19 relief funding since unused funds still exist from Lankford previous funding packages. Additionally, any new funds would contribute to further inflation increases on top of the already 7.5 percent inflation that exists as a direct result of Biden’s policies of giveaways and government support that have extended well beyond the scope of emergency relief. Lankford was joined in sending the letter by Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Ron Johnson (R-WI). Lankford and his colleagues wrote in their letter, “Inflation stands at 7.5 percent—the highest since
February 1982. Consumer price inflation has accelerated at a steady and rapid rate under this Administration’s policies, increasing from 1.7 percent in February of last year to 7.5 percent in January of this year… We will not support any new supplemental COVID funding packages this year, at the detriment of US taxpayers and American families. Congress must take responsibility for its spending problem and cannot continue to add fuel to the fire.” Last week, in Lankford’s reaction to the State of the Union address, he pointed out how Biden’s COVID-19 “relief” programs created our 7.5 percent inflation and has pointed out how other nations have not seen that level of inflation due to the pandemic only. Lankford joined his colleagues to introduce the Inflation Prevention Act to help combat inflationary spending by barring legislation estimated to increase inflation until the year-over-year inflation rate drops below 4.5 percent. Lankford has also opposed every aspect of Biden’s vaccine mandates, including defunding these mandates all together. The senators’ letter is supported by Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayers Union, and Her-
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itage Action. “Lawmakers have used COVID-19 as an excuse to pass trillions in wasteful spending, much of it unrelated to fighting the pandemic. Right now, we need spending restraint, not billions more in spending. Senator Lankford should be applauded for opposing efforts to pass additional, unnecessary COVID-19 funding and for pushing for much needed fiscal responsibility,” said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. "With so many unobligated or unspent funds from previous COVID relief bills, Congress should not be committing new, deficit-financed dollars to supplemental spending requests. Instead, lawmakers and the Biden administration should identify ways to divert already-appropriated funds to new pandemic challenges that may crop up. We appreciate Senator Lankford sharing his concerns about new supplemental spending requests, and the impact COVID spending has had on deficits and inflation,” said Andrew Lautz, Director of Federal Policy, National Taxpayers Union. “Facing the prospect of a historic wipeout in the midterm elections, Democrats’ rhetoric is finally starting to acknowledge that the COVID emergency is over. However, their actions indicate that this rhetoric is hollow, as Democrats are currently pushing for tens of billions of dollars in new federal “COVID emergency” funding. Congress has already appropriated almost $6 trillion as part of “COVID relief” packages, and according to the Congressional Budget Office, more than $800 billion of that money remains unspent. The last thing Congress should do is spend more money in the name of COVID relief when the real, interconnected emergencies we face are record inflation and an out of control national debt. It is great to see Senator Lankford and other conservatives drawing a line in the sand to oppose more reckless spending,” said Garrett Bess, Vice President of Heritage Action.
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Integris & groundbreaking INTEGRIS Health broke ground last week on a $200 million heart and ICU expansion project at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center. Click here to view ceremony highlights. The new state-of-the art facility is being built in response to a dire need for intensive care in our state. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Oklahoma. In fact, more Oklahomans die of cardiovascular disease than any other state in the nation. That may be our current reality, but it does not have to be our destiny. “This new Heart and ICU Hospital at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center will not only give our community access to the best, leading-edge therapies available anywhere in the world but will also provide the most advanced setting for talented nurses and physicians to care for Oklahomans in their greatest times of need,” said Timothy Pehrson, INTE-
GRIS Health president and chief executive officer. INTEGRIS Health has long been the leader in cardiac and critical care medicine. We were the first in the state, and in some instances the country, to offer a variety of advanced procedures and technologies.he current heart and ICU expansion project is just one more example of the same relentless pioneering spirit. “INTEGRIS Health has invested in the future of cardiac care for the state of Oklahoma and the region with the commitment to build this state of the art facility,” said Jeffrey Sparling, M.D., the director of Noble Cardiovascular Laboratories at INTEGRIS Heart Hospital. “It is the physical equivalent of the type of care that INTEGRIS Health cardiologists, intensivists and surgeons have always provided, which is cuttingedge and unavailable any place else in Oklahoma.”
Noodle knowledge
Splendid ancient Chinese secret By Carol Smaglinski In China, rather than saying “How do you do,” people ask “Have you eaten your rice today?” If you think that the Chinese population eat only rice, you could be right. Or, you could be wrong. They do gobble up bowls of rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner because rice is lower in carbohydrates than bread and even contains some protein, but no fat or sugar. But they prefer fresh noodles from home kitchens and the production is not that difficult. Above all, noodles have little flavor, yet they have a clever way of taking on the flavors of other added ingredients. They lend texture and sheen to soups and casseroles. To the Chinese, noodles (mein in Chinese) are a symbol of longevity, for everlasting and good luck in the future. The long uncut variety is the type served at weddings and birthdays. I have been fortunate to be invited to a few magnificent all-day Chinese weddings where the noodles were presented as the last course of the dinner (for good luck) with no slurping allowed. The Chinese eat a large variety of noodles from wheat flour noodles, egg noodles, beanstarch or rice noodles, cellophane noodles and ramen noodles that every college student has probably lived on. Order Chow Mein in a Chinese restaurant and you will get noodles. In Mandarin Chinese, it is “ch’ao,” which translates to fry or to cook. “Mein'' takes the place of rice in northern China and is the unleavened product they refer to as noodles. Lo Mein means noodles under a sauce. They are very thin, like the skinniest spaghetti, and are made of flour and eggs. In the following recipe, use the freshest eggs you can find. The
recipe is easy, all you have to do is think ahead for the time needed for the dough to take a short break. Years ago, serving as the assistant director of Rich’s Cooking School in downtown Atlanta, the staff and I would demonstrate to the participating students how to figure out when the noodles were ready to eat. We would quickly pull out a single noodle from the boiling water and throw it at the wall. If it stuck, it was done! We were using our noodles for a guaranteed laugh. Ever noticed what the first three letters in ”diet” are? Relax and enjoy and use these noodles in your favorite stir-fry. No need to skimp, just use moderation. Fresh Homemade Noodles 4 large eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour In a bowl, beat the eggs lighty. Stir in flour and make a soft dough. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and allow it to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour. Then, sprinkle flour on a pastry board. With a rolling pin, or a wine bottle, roll the dough out, keeping both sides well floured until the dough is quite as thin as commercial noodles. Roll the dough up and cut into strips. Or, fold the dough into several thicknesses in length just as you would a business letter. Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into noodle strips and drop into boiling water. Parboil for about 3 to 4 minutes, Then rinse under cold running water to remove starch that may be loose. Drain well and if not using right away, add a teaspoon of oil, mix well and use in a recipe. They will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.
Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10, 2022 • Page 13
ERIECH TAPIA
‘Group Winners’ which includes, from left, the Rookie Teacher of the Year, Carlie Crutchfield; Support Employee of the Year Donna Hill and Teacher of the Year, Emily Boyett.
Emily Boyett named teacher of the year Emily Boyett, an early-childhood speech-language pathology teacher from Frontier Elementary, has been named the 2022/2023 Edmond Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Angela Grunewald made the announcement on March 3rd during the district’s Celebration of Excellence event sponsored by the Edmond Public Schools Foundation. “Emily is dedicated to finding and using therapies that help her students overcome communication challenges,” said Superintendent Angela Grunwald. “She is a passionate, innovative educator who is always seeking solutions to help improve her students' quality of life.” Over her 22-years of educational experience, Boyett has grown to learn that non-traditional methods of communication are a key to giving children a voice. “I believe that communication is the essence of human life, and everyone deserves a voice,” Boyett said. “One of my greatest passions is helping students who are functionally nonverbal find means of communicating in non-traditional ways.” One way she has looked to accomplish her goal is by using assistive technology. She formed Edmond Public School’s Assistive Technology Team in 2013 to accomplish that goal. The team’s goal is to give educators and therapists the tools to find assistive technology solutions for hundreds of students on top of providing traditional speech-language services. “Working at the elementary school level allows me to assess and match my students with appropriate tools for communication at an early age, set-
ting them up for future success,” Boyett said. Her passion for including tools that are universally designed for learning has helped students who need text read aloud to learn better. It also extends to non-English speaking students who learn better when hearing the text. “My mission is to help my students find their voices and live up to the maximum of their potential,” Boyett said. Boyett's mission of helping students extends outside the school walls and normal workday when she volunteers with Make Promises Happen, an outdoor recreational program for children with physical and/or intellectual impairments. “Experiences such as these have helped shape the educator and therapist I am today,” Boyett said. “I see limitless potential in my students no matter how complex their physical or cognitive needs.” She has volunteered with Make Promises Happen since 2001 as a camp director, which she said has made the greatest impact on her life. “To her, these kids do not have disabilities, but rather they have great abilities that are unique to them,” parents Shawn Wallace-Wray and Andrew Wray wrote about Boyett in a letter of recommendation. The two said Boyett has been “pivotal in changing our child’s life and therefore the life of our family,” for the better. Rookie Teacher of the Year Also honored at Edmond’s Celebration of Excellence was Carlie Crutchfield, a sixth-grade math teacher at Sequoyah Middle School, who was
named the Rookie Teacher of the Year. During her first year, she has taken on creating engaging activities for middle school students to connect with math. She is known as somebody who can pivot like a veteran teacher when it comes to helping students learn. Support Employee of the Year Additionally, Donna Hill, a classroom assistant II at John Ross Elementary who has been with the district for more than 40 years, has been named 2022/2023 Edmond Support Employee of the Year. Called a “child whisperer,” Hill is known to have a way of being able to calm children down. “I do not go to work, I go to joy,” Hill said. “I invest every ounce in the students each day.” Serving decades at John Ross Elementary, Hill has earned the reputation of encouraging not only her students but also coworkers. She mainly works with special needs children, teaching and encouraging them to become more confident in themselves. "Donna deeply touches the lives of the children, families, and staff in which she works every single day," said John Ross Principal Christa Ellis. "She has a heart of gold and lives in such a way that she puts others before herself. She is a blessing to our school family and we are so grateful for her." Over her 42 years at Edmond Public Schools, Hill said that seeing the students grow up and become successful is one of her greatest joys. “I have seen children come up from kindergarten all the way to workforce,” Hill said.
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Fresh twists give ‘The Batman’ new appeal By George Gust Writer/Director Matt Reeves’ (“Cloverfield” “War for the Planet of the Apes”) assumes the mantel of one of comics most famous heroes in the newest adaptation of the caped crusader in “The Batman.” When the Riddler (Paul Dano), a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman (Robert Pattinson) is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement. Do we really need another gritty adaptation of Batman? It seems as though Christopher Nolan’s 2000’s run with the character was viewed as a definitive portrayal of the character and helped usher in the current comic book craze currently dominating the box office. Now with some distance from that popular trilogy and a divisive adaptation in between we’ve got a brand-new Batman and a new yet familiar interpretation of the world he inhabits. The Gotham City/Batman mythology Reeves’ creates in “The Batman” walks a tight rope between the grounded realism that was the calling card of Nolan’s films and the more fantastical comic book elements that were taken to campy extremes in the 60s and the latter 90’s films. At first blush, “The Batman”
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looks like Reeve’s has taken the gritty tone from Nolan and turned down the brightness, but in story and delivery there is an underlying hope behind this film that was pleasantly unexpected for how harsh some of the violent elements of the film can be. “The Batman” is full of engaging and fresh performances to some familiar characters to the Batman lore. Dano’s manic and chilling presence in the film is felt throughout even though most of his scenes are delivered via video call, creating a version of the Riddler that is far away from the slapstick of Jim Carrey’s portrayal. Colin Farrell is unrecognizable as the mid-level mobster Penguin, in a performance that is entertain-
ing and provides some much-needed comic book adjacent levity to the dark tone of the film. And Zoe Kravitz take on Catwoman is my new favorite interpretation of the character on the big screen being able to match energy with Pattinson’s Batman and creating a fully realized character. But ultimately its Pattinson as Batman specifically that makes “The Batman” feel like a fresh version instead of the retread it could have been. As the film spends more of the running time with Pattinson in costume than any of the Batman movies of the past, Pattinson plays the early ‘detective’ side of Batman with an intensity not seen in the past and a vulnerability of a hero that hasn’t quite figured it all out yet. Overall, “The Batman” is a surprisingly fresh take on a very well tread comic book character. For Batman fans this film will be a spectacular new entry into the growing lore of the character, but general audiences may be alienated by the constant dark tone and almost three-hour running time. “The Batman” is rated PG-13 for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material. Available only in Theaters. 4.1 out of 5 stars
PHOTO PROVIDED
Zoe Kravitz and Robert Pattinson bring familiar comic book character to new life in the the cape crusader's latest theatrical foray ‘The Batman.’
Exhibition ‘Glow’ at local metro park Allied Arts is excited to present “GLOW” to commemorate 50 years of growth and support for our arts community. The free, public art installation is fully underwritten thanks to the generosity of the Inasmuch Foundation. The exhibition in Scissortail Park will feature two large-scale works, “Oscillation” and “Passage,” from March 11 to April 10. Guests who visit the park will enjoy a whimsical and immersive experience as they interact with the lights and sounds of each piece. In addition to the installation, Allied Arts will host “Catch the Glow,” a community thank you celebration at Scissortail Park on the evening of April 8. The event will be free and open to all ages, featuring a hot air balloon night glow, synchronized drone light show, glow-in-the-dark art from local artists, live performances, food trucks and more. More information can be found at www.alliedartsokc.com and on social media @AlliedArtsOKC.
Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: The Oscars ACROSS 1. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" composer Edvard ____ 6. Marlboro debris 9. *Academy Award ceremony audience sound 13. Botch 14. Sigma ____ fraternity 15. Ten million, in India 16. Embryo sacs 17. Literary "even" 18. Tax evader's fear 19. *Most nominated streamer in this year's Oscars 21. *Most-nominated Black actor in Oscar history 23. Opposite of yang 24. Lard cousin 25. *Milk ___ movie snack 28. Poetic source of Norse mythology 30. 2020 demographic event 35. Arrival times, acronym 37. Baseball points 39. Camelot to King Arthur 40. Actress Campbell 41. *Where Oscarwinner "Slumdog Millionaire" was set 43. Not in favor 44. *What Halle Berry did when she won an Oscar in 2002 46. Jet black 47. Lively 48. Paid killers (2 words) 50. Upon 52. Rally repeater 53. Sweet-talk 55. Not outs 57. *Total Oscar nominations for "The Power of the Dog" 60. *One of this year's Oscar hosts 64. Exotic juice flavor 65. *Jamie Foxx won an Oscar in 2005 for this flick 67. Bizet's "Carmen," e.g. 68. Off kilter 69. *1942's "Holiday ____," Oscar winner 70. Admit (2 words) 71. Afterward 72. And so on acronym
73. Took the Kool-Aid DOWN 1. J. Edgar Hoover's man 2. Ice on a window 3. Antonym of "is" 4. Enlighten 5. Puck stopper 6. Kilimanjaro top, e.g. 7. Pronoun 8. Hinduism follower 9. *"Parallel Mothers" nominee Penelope 10. Prospector's mother 11. Seed coat 12. Lassie, e.g. 15. Type of horse gait 20. Lemur from Madagascar 22. European Economic Community 24. Playground attraction 25. *"Belfast" nominee, "Shakespeare in Love" winner 26. First cradles 27. Lifeboat support 29. *Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi nominee
31. Type of tide 32. Not so crazy 33. Extremist 34. *"King Richard" nominee, once a fresh prince 36. Give an impression 38. Land of Israel 42. Shenanigan 45. Remove claws 49. Presidential election mo. 51. Waiting on the phone (2 words) 54. Eagle's nest 56. Like the Incredibles 57. Backside 58. Boat track 59. Not odd 60. Update, as in a FitBit 61. Formerly Facebook 62. *Julia Robert's 2001 Oscarwinning role 63. Colonel or captain 64. Gangster's gun 66. ____ eater or ____ hill
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Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10, 2022 • Page 15
50th annual Prix de West returning to The Cowboy Since 1973, Western artists and art collectors have gathered at The Cowboy for Prix de West, the nation’s premier Western art exhibition and sale. This year, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will present the 50th annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale, showcasing works by the finest contemporary Western artists working today. Art will be on exhibit and open to the public from June 2 to August 7, with art sale weekend held June 17-18, 2022. “Since its beginnings as the National Academy of Western Art in 1973, Prix de West artists have represented the American West through painting and sculpture,” said Natalie Shirley, Museum President and CEO. “The Cowboy is proud to continue the tradition of preserving and promoting Western heritage and culture through this extraordinary event.” Prix de West features works ranging from historical subject matter that reflect the early days of the West, to more contemporary and impressionistic artistic expressions. Landscapes, wildlife art, and illustrative scenes are always highlighted in the exhibition. The highly anticipated annual exhibition and sale is the Museum’s largest annual fundraiser, raising more than $2.8 million in 2021 to help support exhibitions and Museum programming. For the 50th Prix de West, 98 artists, both from the United States and internationally, are expected to attend, bringing over 300 original
works. Guest artists Grant Redden and D. LaRue Mahlke will also attend, each bringing two original works to their first Prix de West. “Since the Prix de West is made up of today's "very best" Western artists, the artwork which is submitted each year is always of the very highest quality possible because the artists know that their work will be compared, by attendees, to the work of their peers - whom they highly respect,” said Prix de West Committee Chairman Dan Corazzi. “Additionally, to ensure that the artwork for each year’s Show meets the quality standard of the Prix de West, all of the art is screened/juried (by the committee) before it is placed in the galleries for the public to view.” Works that are accepted each year is not only displayed at The Cowboy alongside some of the finest contemporary artists working today, but they are also in competition for several annual Prix de West awards. Among the awards given each year is the top-honored Prix de West Purchase Award that some artists describe as the greatest honor of their careers. The Purchase Award is given to the artist whose work of art is selected by the Prix de West Committee and purchased for the Museum’s permanent collection. For more information on the 50th annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale, to make reservations, see a full schedule of events, or arrange to bid by proxy, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/prixdewest.
Genealogical meeting March 21
Historical look at Nancy Drew Maybe you read Nancy Drew “years ago!” Nancy turns 92 this year–but she’s forever young, because she is continually updated for modern audiences. What hasn’t changed is her spirit. Readers continue to feel inspired by her smart approach to solving mysteries. During this program at the March 21 meeting of Edmond Genealogical Society meeting, discover some of the historical changes Nancy has undergone in order to conform to culture. The original books might shock you with their political incorrectness! As historians, it is these very changes that make history so interesting and revealing. Amy Stephens is the Executive Director of the Edmond Historical Society, where she recently curated a Nancy Drew-inspired exhibit, “The Clue in the Museum.” The exhibit included interactive mini-mysteries and revealed clues about Edmond artifacts. Stephens loves telling stories through creating museum exhibits, teaching programs, and writing books and magazine articles. Before working at the museum, Amy was an educator and historian for the Oklahoma City Zoo, during which time she developed the Oklahoma City Zoo Historical archive and ZooZeum. Amy holds a B.S. E. in Elementary Education and a minor in history from Oklahoma Christian University and a Masters in Library Instructional Media from UCO. She is the author of three award-winning books about the zoo. Meetings, which are held the third Monday of the month, are free and open to the public. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 15700 N. Penn, Oklahoma City. Enter through the doors on the south side of the building. The church offers plenty of parking and is fully handicap accessible. Masks are required for all attendees. For more information on EGS, go to: www.edmondgensoc.org, or visit us on Facebook at Edmond Genealogical Society.
Amy Stephens
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Prepare your body for outdoor activities By Brian Attebery The weather is starting to get better and for many, it signals a time of year to get back outside and start exercising again. Biking, jogging and brisk walks are all great forms of cardio exercise to strengthen your heart and lungs. You need to factor in your level of fitness Attebery and orthopedic limitations when factoring in your choices for outdoor activities. Tennis and golfare great choices for many and pickleball is a better choice forothers. Whatever you choose to do, remember to build into it and factor in recovery between sessions. Let’s discuss how to incorporate these options. When I consult people that enjoy jogging or think they “need” to jog to succeed, I tell them to only jog 2-3 days per week even if their joints are “perfect”. That doesn’t mean that their cardio is only 2-3 days per week but they need to incorporate non-impact modes of exercise like biking or elliptical machines to cross train their body in order to give their knees, hips and back a break. Rotate your running workouts with these other choices and enjoy longevity of jogging/running versus causing yourself premature joint issues by not being pro-active versus re-active. Tennis and even pickleball have elements of the upper body, angles and back to consider when you enjoy these activities. Any time you start swinging a racket you must consider the health of your rotator cuff in the shoulder. Many people have weak shoulders and rotator cuffs and these issues can lead to injuries. There are simple exercises to perform to
strengthen those muscles along with stretches that can help reduce the risk of these issues. Back issues are another factor when you start swinging a tennis racket or golf club. Your spine is meat to flex, extend and rotate but tight back muscles along with tight hips and legs muscles can lead to back injuries. Momentum is involved with those swinging movements and momentum can get you in trouble. Performing strength exercises that emphasize the core and over all body will dramatically improve your ability to hit the ball while protecting your back. If you don’t have to strain as hard to hit the ball hard, you will reduce risk of overuse injuries. I would also start off with just hitting balls or even simple swinging the racket mildly for a week or two before go all out in a tennis match, full 18 holes of golf or a pickleball tournament. Outdoor activities can be a fun and exciting way of burning some calories and relieving some stress. Any of those activities should factor in a balance of cross training with weights, stretching and utilizing other forms of activities to help your body gets over all benefits and protection from these activities at the same time. Stay hydrated, rest properly and get the proper nutrition to maximize your recovery and enjoy the coming months as the weather gets better and better. One hour of exercise is only 4% of your 24-hour day. Make yourself a priority with these great choices right outside your door or around the corner. (Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com)
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Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10, 2022 • Page 17
Official: War clouds economic future February Gross Receipts to the Treasury show Oklahoma’s economy continues to expand, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine raises many concerns including inflationary pressure, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel said last week. February gross receipts of $1.06 billion are up by almost 12 McDaniel percent compared to the same month of last year. That is a record high for February collections but reflect the slowest rate of growth in seven months. Twelve-month receipts of $15.61 billion are up by more than 19 percent compared to the prior period. Treasurer McDaniel urged caution in spite of the growth in revenue collections. “The repercussions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are only beginning to be felt,” McDaniel said. “The attack has caused death and destruction to the people of Ukraine, and it presents an unac-
ceptable threat to the economic stability here at home.” The annual inflation rate hit 7.5 percent in January, up one-half of a percentage point from December. The Ukrainian War-fueled upsurge in oil prices and the spillover effect of Russian sanctions are expected to impact inflation in the months ahead. Gross production collections in February jumped by 95.3 percent. Those monthly payments come from December sales when West Texas Intermediate crude oil averaged $70.71 per barrel and Henry Hub natural gas was priced at $3.76 per million BTU. Increased gross production collections are expected in the coming months. February prices, to be reflected in April receipts, averaged $91.64 for crude oil and $4.69 for natural gas. The gross receipts report for February shows growth in all major revenue streams. Combined individual and corporate receipts rose by 9.1 percent, sales taxes were up 6.5 percent, and motor vehicle collections increased by 17.5 percent.
OBI renovating its Broadway location Oklahoma Blood Institute is renovating its Edmond Donor Center located at 3904 S. Broadway to improve the space for donors. Effective now, Edmond donors will need to visit the temporary location. The temporary donor center will be located at 13431 N. Broadway, Suite #101, in the MIDCON building, only two miles south of the existing Edmond Donor Center. Renovations are expected to last a few months. “We look forward to offering an updated space for our donors and, in the meantime, services will continue at the temporary donor center,” said Dr. John Armitage, OBI’s president and CEO. “Blood donation saves lives. Our community cannot temporarily forego this vital service, as there is no substitute for
donor blood. We are grateful for every person who takes the time to donate this life-saving gift and contribute in this essential way.” Hours will remain the same. Walk-ins and scheduled appointments are welcome: Monday, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. The need for blood donation remains at critical levels in Oklahoma and throughout the country. Donating blood takes about an hour and can save the lives of up to three local patients.
Oklahoma CareerTech student organization state officers visited the state Capitol recently to talk to legislators about the importance of career and technology education. With them is Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, center front.
CareerTech students gather at the Capitol Seventy Oklahoma CareerTech students met at the state Capitol Feb. 28 to show policymakers how their support for career and technology education helps teens prepare for careers and college. State officers from Oklahoma CareerTech’s seven co-curricular student organizations attended the CareerTech Student Organization Day at the Capitol while members of National Technical Honor Society attended NTHS Day at the Capitol. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, and Reps. John Talley, R-Stillwater, and Dick Lowe, R-Amber, welcomed the groups and shared their experiences with CareerTech. “Being a state officer was one of the most incredible experiences I had during my time in high school,” Garvin said. “Congratulations to all of you for being able to serve in that capacity.” Students received advocacy training before meeting with their legislators to discuss the impact their CareerTech education has had on their lives. For many, this was their first time to visit the Oklahoma Capitol and to meet students from other CTSOs.
“Our CTSO state officers visit with legislators on this day to discuss the importance of CareerTech education in our K-12 schools and tech centers,” said Brittani Phillips, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America state adviser. “These students are the example of how a CTSO can impact and change a person’s life in such a positive way, and it’s great for legislators to hear firsthand why CareerTech education is essential for Oklahoma.” CTSOs give students opportunities for personal growth and scholastic achievement, as well as the chance to develop skills in public speaking, planning and organizing. Members work on various community projects, competitive events and leadership activities and meet other students who share similar interests. “CTSO Day at the Capitol was a great experience for myself, my team, and CareerTech,” said Kyrstan Cook, Collegiate DECA vice president. “Being able to get all CTSO state officer teams together is a great way to show success throughout the state, and how important it is to have a bond between all of the officers. “
Twelve-month collections rose by $2.5 billion, or 19.1 percent, compared to the previous 12 months with all four major revenue streams showing expansion ranging from 130.3 percent in gross production receipts to 13.5 percent in total income tax. Other indicators The monthly Oklahoma Business Conditions Index improved in spite of concerns with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The February index was set at 68.1, up from 59.6 in January, but down from 70.3 in December. The outlook remains positive as numbers above 50 indicate expected expansion during the next three to six months. The Oklahoma unemployment rate in January will not be released until the middle of March. The state’s rate in December was reported as 2.3 percent by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. jobless rate ticked up to 4 percent in January from 3.9 percent in December.
More charging stations planned for electric vehicles in Oklahoma Planning is underway on how to implement a network of statewide electric vehicle charging stations that will give drivers assurance they can drive anywhere in the state without traveling more than 50 miles to charge up. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory reports that as of June 2021, 3,410 electric vehicles were registered in Oklahoma, while 52,190 are registered in Texas. Oklahoma has 1,001 charging stations for those cars, many of them in the state’s largest cities, including 241 in Oklahoma City. A map published by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments show fast-charging stations can be found at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and shopping centers throughout the city. Stations also can be found along the state’s major highways, but are scarce in rural areas.
See Charge, Page 18
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Charge From Page 17 A model for creating the network already exists in Oklahoma thanks to ChargeOK, grants created for electric vehicle charging stations funded through the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Agreement, which settled charges the automaker purposely misrepresented its emissions levels. “Once approved by the Federal Highway Administration, we will then proceed with a plan on implementation,” Schwennesen said. “In previous years we’ve had the VW settlement with the DEQ to create Charge. Now we’re going to move with another build-out.” While the plan is being implemented by ODOT, the locations will not be on state highway land. Instead, Schwennesen said, the agency will seek to work with communities and private land owners
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where drivers can couple their charging time with shopping, visiting a library or grabbing a meal. “Truck stops are a natural place to do this,” Schwennesen said. “Currently we see them at shopping centers because they have amenities and things to do and it takes a while compared to fueling up with gasoline. You definitely want a safe, secure area where people can hang out for 15 minutes to an hour and a half.” Transportation officials emphasize they are not looking to operate the stations and will instead be looking to private industry, community groups, local governments and other organizations to oversee operations. “We will have five years of funding,” Schwennesen said. “I don’t know how long we will have to spend the money. It could be eight to 10 years before final build out is done.” From The Oklahoman.com
Edmond Life & Leisure • March 10, 2022 • Page 19
Bill would tweak appeal process in some criminal cases To keep punishment decisions for the most heinous crimes out of the hands of political appointees and with courts and juries, where they belong, Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, advanced legislation last week restricting the Pardon and Parole Board from exceeding its jurisdiction on death penalty and life without parole cases. “The Pardon and Parole Board’s controversial, unprecedented actions last year in the death penalty cases of Julius Jones and others exposed a major loophole in state law that threatens proper separation of powers in government,” Pfeiffer said. “Trial and appellate courts of the judicial branch, not agencies of political appointees in the executive branch, are the proper venues for appeals on legal procedure or wrongful conviction. The Pardon and Parole Board’s function is not to re-litigate already-adjudicated and repeatedly appealed cases like that of Julius Jones, but to assess inmates’ applications for clemency with impartiality. This bill restores proper balance to the board’s duties.” House Bill 3903 specifies that the Pardon and Parole Board is not to recommend to the governor any person for pardon, parole who was sentenced to death or to life without the possibility of parole. It provides that an inmate sentenced to death may only be considered for clemency when execution is imminent with an execution date pending, and the board may only recommend clemency for the reason of mercy or lenience. The Board may not hear a claim of actual innocence and may only recommend to the governor the grant of clemency from death to a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. The measure also clarifies parole eligibility and removes all references to the unused sentencing matrix in state statute. The bill further states that
a person sentenced for an offense listed as an 85% crime must serve 85% of the offense prior to being eligible for parole consideration. It also requires that before any hearing granting administrative parole, the board must provide 14 days of notice to any victim and the district attorney who prosecuted the case. "Victims of crimes and those accused rely on the system of justice that is firmly established in our state and nation," Pfeiffer said. "We have courts, judges and a jury-by-peer system that determines innocence and guilt and the appropriate length of sentencing. To allow the political appointees of the
Pardon and Parole Board to weigh in on matters that are beyond the scope of their duties is a disservice to those served by our justice system. This bill clarifies for the Pardon and Parole board members what their duties are, and what they are not, and will help stop the politicization of these serious matters." HB3903 passed the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee with a vote of 6-5. It now is eligible to be heard on the House floor. The bill is a continuation of efforts by Pfeiffer to improve the function of the state Pardon and Parole Board.
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