Edmond Life and Leisure - December 22, 2022

Seven fitness resolutions that aren’t hard to keep

Resolutions to get in shape, exercise more and eat healthier foods are popular each January. Optimism reigns when making resolutions, but for many, the difficulty lies in keeping them. Individuals looking to get healthier in the year ahead can try these strategies to stay the course. Wake up earlier. Waking up a half hour earlier each day can have a substantial impact. That small amount of extra time can be devoted to meditation, deep breathing exercises or even some yoga stretches. Move around more frequently. Many people with office jobs spend hours sitting in front of computers. A sedentary lifestyle can have an adverse effect on overall health. Set a timer or use a reminder on a fitness tracker to remind you to get up and move around for a little bit every hour.

Eat more vegetables. Vague goals like "eating better" are difficult to maintain because there is no specific goal to achieve. Rather, a resolution like eating a fruit or vegetable each day at every meal is something measurable. Vegetables can be hidden in favorite foods, such as desserts. Swap pasta noodles for spiralized zucchini as another easy fix. Stand straighter. Posture tends

to decline with age, advises AARP. This can cause the spine to lose flexibility. Stretches to maintain posture can help anyone stand straighter and improve long-term health.

Add "bursts" to your walk. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic tout the benefits of interval training. While high-impact workouts may not be appropriate for everyone, adding little speed bursts to a daily walk can provide significant health benefits. Aim for 30 to 60 seconds of rapid walking at regular intervals to shake up the workout.

Drink more water. Increasing water intake can help you feel fuller, thus reducing the likelihood that you will overeat. Gradually increase your water intake by adding a few ounces each day until drinking water becomes rote.

Take a workout outside. Switch up your normal routine by making use of the great outdoors to exercise. Instead of three miles on the treadmill or elliptical machine at the gym, opt for three miles on a local hiking trail.

Healthy resolutions are easier to keep when you have firm ideas and choose reasonable goals.

METRO NEWS SERVICE

Engagement, Wedding notices

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

Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

I have written and many of you have heard the story of the frontline, Christmas-time, truce in France during World War One, partially due to its retelling in the 2005 movie, Joyeux Noël, but not many have heard of the small Christmas Eve truce forced upon a handful of American and German Soldiers by a godly German woman during the Battle of the Bulge in World War Two. It is a Christmas message we all need to hear today.

In 1973, Fritz Vincken told the story of what he witnessed as a child on the German-Belgian border that miraculous Christmas Eve. It is reposted here, in his words:

It was Christmas Eve, and the last desperate German offensive of WWII raged around our tiny cabin. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

When we heard the knock on our door that Christmas Eve in 1944, neither Mother nor I had the slightest inkling of the quiet miracle that lay in store for us. I was twelve then, and we were living in a small cottage in the Huertgen Forest, near the German-Belgian border. Father had stayed at the cottage on hunting weekends before the war; when Allied bombers partly destroyed our hometown of Aachen, he sent us to live there. He had been ordered into the civildefense fire guard in the border town of Monschau, four miles away.

“You’ll be safe in the woods,” he had told me. “Take care of Mother. Now you are the man of the family.” But nine days before Christmas, Field Marshal Von Rundstedt had launched the last, desperate German offensive of the war, and now, as I went to the door, the Battle of the Bulge was raging all around us. We heard the incessant booming of field guns; planes soared continuously overhead; at night searchlights stabbed through the darkness. Thousands of Allied and German soldiers were fighting and dying nearby.

When that first knock came, Mother quickly blew out the candles; then, as I went to answer it, she stepped ahead of me and pushed open the door. Outside, like phantoms against the snow-clad trees, stood two steel-helmeted men. One of them spoke to Mother in a language we did not understand, pointing to a third man lying in the snow. She realized before I did that these were American soldiers. Enemies!

Mother stood silent, motionless, her hand on my shoulder. They were armed and could have forced their entrance, yet they stood there and asked with their eyes. And the wounded man seemed more dead than alive. “Kommt rein,” Mother said, finally. “Come in.” The soldiers carried their comrade inside and stretched him out on my bed.

None of them understood German. Mother tried French, and one of the soldiers could converse in that language. As Mother went to look after the wounded man, she said to me, “The fingers of those two are numb. Take off their jackets and boots and bring in a bucket of snow.” Soon I was rubbing their blue feet with snow.

We learned that the stocky, dark-haired fellow was Jim; his friend, tall and slender, was Robin. Harry, the wounded one, was now sleeping on my bed, his face as white as the snow outside. They had lost their bat-

talion and had wandered in the forest for three days, looking for the Americans, hiding from the Germans. They had not shaved, but still, without their heavy coats, they looked merely like big boys. And that was the way Mother began to treat them.

Now Mother said to me, “Go get Hermann. And bring six potatoes.”

This was a serious departure from our pre-Christmas plans. Hermann was the plump rooster (named after portly Hermann Goering, Hitler’s No. 2 man, for whom Mother had little affection) that we had been fattening for weeks in the hope that Father would be home for Christmas. But some hours before, when it was obvious that Father would not make it, Mother had decided that Hermann should live a few more days, in case Father could get home for New Year’s. Now she had changed her mind again; Hermann would serve an immediate, pressing purpose.

While Jim and I helped with the cooking, Robin took care of Harry. He had a bullet through his upper leg and had almost bled to death. Mother tore a bed sheet into long strips for bandages.

Soon, the tempting smell of roast chicken permeated our room. I was setting the table when once again there came a knock at the door. Expecting to find more lost Americans, I opened the door without hesitation. There stood four soldiers, wearing uniforms quite familiar to me after five years of war. They were Wehrmacht – Germans!

I was paralyzed with fear. Although still a child, I knew the harsh law: sheltering enemy soldiers constituted high treason. We could all be shot! Mother was frightened, too. Her face was white, but she stepped outside and said, quietly, “Froehliche Weihnachten.” The soldiers wished her a Merry Christmas, too. “We have lost our regiment and would like to wait for daylight,” explained the corporal. “Can we rest here?”

“Of course,” Mother replied, with a calmness, born of panic. “You can also have a fine, warm meal and eat till the pot is empty.” The Germans smiled as they sniffed the aroma through the half open door. “But” Mother added firmly, “we have three other guests, whom you may not consider friends.” Now her voice was suddenly sterner than I had ever heard it before. “This is Christmas Eve, and there will be no shooting here.”

“Who’s inside?” the corporal demanded. “Amerikaner?”

Mother looked at each frost-chilled face. “Listen,” she said slowly. “You could be my sons, and so could

they in there. A boy with a gunshot wound, fighting for his life, and his two friends, lost like you and just as hungry and exhausted as you are. This one night,” she turned to the corporal and raised her voice a little, “This Christmas night, let us forget about killing.”

The four soldiers placed their arms on the pile of firewood just inside the door. As the Germans and Americans tensely rubbed elbows in the small room, Mother was really on her mettle. Never losing her smile, she tried to find a seat for everyone. We had only three chairs, but Mother’s bed was big, and on it she placed two of the newcomers side by side with Jim and Robin.

Despite the strained atmosphere, Mother went right on preparing dinner. But Hermann was not going to grow any bigger, and now there were four more mouths to feed. “Quick” she whispered to me, “get more potatoes and some oats. These boys are hungry, and a starving man is an angry one.”

While foraging in the storage room, I heard Harry moan. When I returned, one of the Germans had put on his glasses to inspect the American’s wound. “Do you belong to the medical corps?” Mother asked him. “No,” he answered. “But I studied medicine at Heidelberg until a few months ago.” Thanks to the cold, he told the Americans in what sounded like fairly good English, Harry’s wound had not become infected. “He is suffering from a severe loss of blood,” he explained to Mother. “What he needs is rest and nourishment.”

Then Mother said grace. I noticed that there were tears in her eyes as she said the old, familiar words, “Komm, Herr Jesus. Be our guest.” And as I looked around the table, I saw tears, too, in the eyes of the battle-weary soldiers, boys again, some from America, some from Germany, all far from home.

Our private armistice continued the next morning. Harry woke in the early hours, and swallowed some broth that Mother fed him. With the dawn, it was apparent that he was becoming stronger. Mother now made him an invigorating drink from our one egg, the rest of the corporal’s wine and some sugar. Everyone else had oatmeal. Afterward, two poles and Mother’s best tablecloth were fashioned into a stretcher for Harry.

The German corporal then advised the Americans how to find their way back to their lines. Looking over Jim’s map, the corporal pointed out a stream. “Continue along this creek,” he said, “and you will find the 1st Army rebuilding its Forces on its upper course.” The medical student relayed the information in English.

“Be careful, boys,” she said, “I want you to get home someday where you belong. God bless you all!” The German and American soldiers shook hands, and we watched them disappear in opposite directions.

When I returned inside, Mother had brought out the old family Bible. I glanced over her shoulder. The book was open to the Christmas story, the Birth in the Manger and how the Wise Men came from afar bearing their gifts.

Her finger was tracing the last line from Matthew 2:21, “…they departed into their own country another way.”

Merry Christmas from all of our family to yours!

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

“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.

Ray Hibbard

Labor Department ID’s eatery’s wage violations

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $59,049 in back wages and liquidated damages for 10 workers whose Oklahoma restaurant employer ignored overtime and minimum wage regulations, illegally kept a portion of workers’ tips and allowed minors to work more hours per week than permitted and at times not allowed by the federal child labor laws.

An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found Eliseo Enterprises LLC, operator of Chile Verde Mexican Grill, paid employees varying amounts of pay without regard to actual hours worked and failed to pay overtime when due.

Investigators also learned the employer withheld some tips from the employee tip pool and used them to pay regular wages at the operator’s discretion. Withholding tips from tipped employees led to violations of federal minimum wage regulations. Investigators also found the Oklahoma City restaurant operator did not keep proper time and pay records as required by law.

“Plain and simple, tips are the property of the workers who earn them, and employers cannot withhold tips given to tipped employees regardless of whether or not the employer takes a tip credit,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director Michael Speer in Oklahoma City. “Many workers in the food service industry and their families depend on being paid all their rightfully earned wages and benefits, and being shortchanged harms them.

The Wage and Hour Division offers assistance – in person, by phone and online – when employers disregard the law, they will be held to account.”

In addition to wage violations, the division determined Eliseo Enterprises permitted two of three 15year-old employees to work between 22 and 27 hours per week and up to 39 hours in some instances.

All three minors worked more than 8 hours per day or past 7 p.m. on school nights. Investigators also found the minors worked 8 to 10 hours a day and as late as 10 p.m. to close the restaurant on school nights. These practices violate the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In fiscal year 2021, the division identified nearly $35 million in back wages owed to more than 29,000 food service industry workers. In its food service investigations, the division commonly finds violations related to employers retaining tips, failing to pay overtime when required and not paying for pre- and post-shift work.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in food preparation and service occupations will grow 20 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, and gain about 2.3 million jobs. These occupations are among the nation’s lowest paid groups. Employers who ensure their workers are paid their rightful wages and benefits will be best positioned to retain and recruit skilled workers.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, regulations for the food service industry, and a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages. Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division regardless of where they are from, it is free, confidential and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.

Weekend calendar of events, Dec. 22-25

What’s Happening This Weekend Dec 22= 25

---- Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road: American

Musical Ambassadors

---- Tiny, But Mighty! Exhibit

---- Edmond Ice Rink

---- Indoor Winter Market

---- Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll

---- Downtown in December ---- Devon Ice Rink

---- The Polar Express ---- OKC Zoo Safari Lights

---- PAMBE GHANA’s Global Market

---- Lyric Theatre presents: “A Christmas Carol” ---- Red Earth Treefest

---- Pollard Theatre presents: A Territorial Christmas Carol ---- Union Station Illumination ---- Winter Glow ---- Live Music at Round Midnight ---- December Live Music at Frenzy ---- Miranda Family Lights ---- Reindeer Bell Necklace ---- Holiday Craft Grab Bag ---- Reindeer Glasses ---- Signature Tour ---- Oklahoma Shakespeare on the Paseo presents: Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker

---- OKC Broadway presents: A Magical Cirque Christmas ---- Christmas Eve Street Festival

Extra Information

Kyle Dillingham

& Horseshoe Road:

American Musical Ambassadors

Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum

Extra Info: Sun, May 1 – Sat, Dec 31; edmondhistory.org

Tiny, But Mighty! Exhibit

Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum

Extra Info: Wed, Oct 5 – Thu, Aug 31, 2023; edmondhistory.org

Edmond Ice Rink

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Sat, Nov 5 – Sun, Jan 15, 2023; hours vary; edmondicerink.com

Indoor Winter Market

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: through Sat, Mar 18, 2023; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Free; edmondok.gov

Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Fri, Nov 18 – Sun, Jan 1, 2023; 5 – 10 p.m.; Free; edmondlights.com

Downtown in December

Location: Downtown OKC

Extra Info: Thu, Nov 3 – Jan 27, 2023; downtownindecember.com

Devon Ice Rink

Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens

Extra Info: Fri, Nov 11 – Sun, Jan 29, 2023; downtownindecember.com

The Polar Express

Location: Oklahoma Railway Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Nov 12 – Tue, Dec 27; okcthepolarexpressride.com

OKC Zoo Safari Lights

Location: Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

Extra Info: Sat, Nov 12 – Sun, Jan 1, 2023; okczoo.org

PAMBE GHANA’S Global Market

Location: Northpark Mall

Extra Info: through Sat, Dec 24; 10 a.m. -6 p.m.

daily; pambeghana.org

Lyric Theatre presents: “A Christmas Carol” Location: Harn Homestead

Extra Info: Wed, Nov 16 – Fri, Dec 23; lyrictheatreokc.com

Red Earth Treefest

Location: BancFirst Tower

Extra Info: Mon, Nov 21 – Fri, Dec 30; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; redearth.org

Pollard Theatre presents:

A Territorial Christmas Carol

Location: 120 W Harrison Ave, Guthrie, OK

Extra Info: Fri, Nov 25 – Fri, Dec 23; thepollard.org

Union Station Illumination

Location: Scissortail Park

Extra Info: Fri, Nov 25 – Sun, Jan 1, 2023; 6 – 10 p.m.; scissortailpark.org

Winter Glow

Location: Riversport OKC

Extra Info: Fri, Nov 25 – Fri, Dec 30; riversportokc.org

Live Music at Round Midnight

Location: Round Midnight

Extra Info: Thu, Dec 22: Vintage Vinyl; Fri, Dec 23: Claire Peirsol Trio; $60; simpletix.com

December Live Music at Frenzy

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Thu, Dec 22: The Brave Amigos @ 7 p.m.; Free; facebook.com

Miranda Family Lights

Location: Miranda Family Lights

Extra Info: Thu, Dec 1 – Sat, Dec 31; 6 ---- 8 p.m.;

facebook.com

Reindeer Bell Necklace

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Thu, Dec, 22; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Holiday Craft Grab Bag

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Fri, Dec, 23; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Reindeer Glasses

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Dec, 24; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Signature Tour

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Dec 24; 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Oklahoma Shakespeare on the Paseo

presents: Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker Location: 2920 Paseo

Extra Info: Fri, Dec 9 – Fri, Dec 23; Wed – Sat: 8 p.m.; Sun: 2 p.m.; okshakes.org

OKC Broadway presents: A Magical Cirque Christmas

Location: Civic Center Music Hall

Extra Info: Thu, Dec 22 – Fri, Dec 23; 7 p.m.; okcbroadway.com

Christmas Eve Street Festival

Location: 4400 N Shartel Ave

Extra Info: Sat, Dec 24; 4 – 6 p.m.; wpcokc.org

Ice skating offered at Devon Ice Rink or the Edmond Ice Rink at Mitch Park.

The 5 Browns coming to Armstrong

Steinway artists The 5 Browns will return to Armstrong Auditorium on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The five siblings will continue the 24th season of performing arts at Armstrong with an eclectic pops/classical program of crowd-pleasing works by George Gershwin, Frederic Chopin, Leonard Bernstein, John Williams, the Beatles and more.

“This event has the makings of so many things we love to highlight at Armstrong,” said Program Director Ryan Malone. “Two of the five pianos will be our incomparable Steinways, the program will have something engaging for everyone, these are musicians of the highest caliber, and they are a beautiful family act.”

The 5 Browns — Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra, and Desirae — all attended New York’s Juilliard School and are the only family of five siblings ever accepted by the prestigious

institution. People magazine dubbed them the “Fab Five” and they have been featured on Oprah and 60 Minutes. The New York Post writes: “One family, five pianos, and 50 fingers add up to the biggest classical music sensation in years … When these kids do Rachmaninoff, they’ll make you forget about Marshall amps.” The ensemble has released six albums which have cumulatively spent over 30 weeks at no. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Classical Album Chart. Their sold-out Armstrong debut in 2008 was followed by a second sold-out concert in 2010. Still going strong, they make their triumphant return to the Armstrong stage for another encore performance.

Tickets start at $45 for adults and $40 for youth aged 12 and up. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit ArmstrongAuditorium.org or call the Box Office at (405) 285-1010.

The 5 Browns to be in concert Jan. 12.

A few winter safety tips

When Old Man Winter comes, calling, homeowners need to keep everyone in the family –including your pets—safe.  Follow these wise winter weather tips from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and TurfMutt.

Bring Pets Inside: Dogs and cats should be kept inside during cold weather months. Wipe their paws and bellies after they’ve been outside, and check for ice accumulation between paw pads. If you’re using a de-icing agent, remove that salt and other agents, too.

Pick up Debris: Before it snows, remove debris and household items from your family yard. Doormats, hoses, toys and sticks can hide under a layer of snow that could harm your snow thrower, family or pets.

Clear a Path: Your snow thrower is a convenient way to clear your driveway and sidewalks. It also gives your pet a path to their bathroom area.

Trim Trees Carefully: When using a chainsaw, stand with your weight on both feet, adjust your stance so you are angled away from the blade and hold the chainsaw with both hands.

Ventilate Portable Generators: If a winter storm knocks out your power, a generator can be a life-saver if used properly. Place the generator outside and away from windows, doors and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

Watch Where You Throw: Keep kids and pets away from the equipment, and never put your hand in the chute or auger to clear a blockage. Turn the machine off and always use a clean-out tool.

Kayleigh Page gets notable scholarship

UCO Student Kayleigh Page Receives American Mathematical Society Scholarship University of Central Oklahoma student Kayleigh Page, a junior mathematics education major and Spanish minor from Edmond, recently received the Waldemar J. Trjitzinsky Memorial Award from the American Mathematical Society (AMS). Only 10 students nationwide were awarded a 2022 AMS Undergraduate Opportunity Award, which includes a scholarship for $3,000.

“Kayleigh is an extremely well-rounded student that combines creative thinking with enthusiasm for the subject,” said Britney Hopkins, Ph.D., professor and assistant chairperson for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Central.

“She excels in relaying difficult concepts to her classmates, making her a natural educator.”

Page’s accolades stretch beyond her recent award. Through UCO, she has served many leadership roles. Page is a student instructor, where she leads weekly calculus labs. She also works for UCO’s Disability Support Service and tutors students in math and Spanish. A recent research project she is working on uses techniques from epidemiology to evaluate segregation in Oklahoma schools.

The scholarship honors Trjitzinsky, a highly respected mathematician dedicated to the advancement of mathematics and educating future mathematicians — the $3,000 award is designed to help students pursue a career in mathematics.

For more information about the UCO College of Mathematics and Science, visit www.uco.edu/cms/.

For more information about AMS, visit ams.org.

A special ‘Pink Out’ gift given to OMRF

Enduring legacy left by late coach

Her record may not equal the NCAA basketball coach of the same name, but Stillwater High School’s “Coach K” left an enduring legacy of her own.

In addition to the example she set for her former students and basketball players, Kendra Kilpatrick’s legacy includes helping fund research aimed at breast cancer – the disease that took her life on Nov. 26. She was 36.

Stillwater students last week presented the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with a check for $13,489.52 in Kilpatrick’s honor, all raised during their bake sales, T-shirt sales and other fundraisers comprising the school’s annual “Pink Out” week. Every dollar will go directly to cancer research at OMRF.

“Coach K was beloved by everyone,” said her friend and fellow teacher, Jody Webber, who advises the student group that leads Pink Out efforts. “She was a lover of students – of all people, really – and you felt that love from her.”

Following the check presentation, students met with OMRF cancer researchers, including Jake Kirkland, Ph.D., who joined OMRF from Stanford University. Kirkland’s research focuses on a chemotherapy called doxorubicin, better known as the “red devil” for its toll on the patient’s body.

“About half of patients with breast cancer seem to respond to doxorubicin. My goal is to better determine who it will help and who it won’t,” Kirkland said. “If we know that, we can avoid putting women through unnecessary suffering caused by the drug.”

Stillwater senior Bess Glenn said the visit to OMRF was a valuable learning experience.

“I really enjoyed learning about all that OMRF does and how our Pink Out Week donations make a difference. The passion and knowledge the scien-

tists shared was inspiring,” said Glenn.

Since designating OMRF as the beneficiary of their fundraising efforts in 2011, the Stillwater community has raised more than $114,000 for the foundation’s scientists.

“We are so grateful to Stillwater High School’s students, their families, and the teachers and staff who put in an incredible amount of work to raise these funds,” said Katherine Jackson, OMRF’s donor relations coordinator. “This kind of consistent support is critical for our researchers to continue their life-changing work on this terrible disease.”

Work at OMRF has led to an experimental drug called OKN-007, which is undergoing clinical trials at the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and a dozen other sites around the U.S. to treat patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. The drug has also shown promise in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a fast-growing pediatric brain cancer.

Donations like those honoring Kilpatrick make such discoveries possible, and that, said Webber, is part of her legacy.

“This is part of what helps her to live on,” Webber said.

Stillwater High School girls basketball coach Kendra Kilpatrick, holding basket, stands with her team during commemoration of ‘Pink Out’ week in September 2022. Kilpatrick died of breast cancer Nov. 26, 2022.

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Good tidings of joy

By Steve Gust

I truly hope everyone has a great Christmas this weekend.

My advice for the family get togethers is still, be nice and be patient. And if you have a fairly strong political opinion, why not wait to voice it. After all the year does have some 364 other days.

Please be grateful for the gifts you receive.

The folks who give you the presents aren’t expecting a parade, but a simple thank you would be nice.

—-

As I write this we have been told to expect a pretty brutal winter storm toward the end of the week.

I hope the utility people are better prepared to handle this one then they were the Feburary 2021 storm. I still can’t believe everyone now has to pay for 28 years to make up the cost of that arctic blast. I guess it’s only 27 years now, since we’ve been

paying on it.

It just doesn’t seem right that some companies could charge 2,000 percent more for energy. So a utility has to pay those pirate rates or people freeze to death? Just doesn’t seem right to me.

Maybe one of our lawmakers can draft some legislation to keep something like that from happening again.

—-

One phrase you didn’t hear 30 years ago were “computer models,” when people talked about the weather. That phrase pops up quite a bit by the television weather people. I guess if the forecasts are wrong, they can always blame it a faulty weather model.

—-

I’m looking forward to seeing how OU and OSU do in the college football bowl games.

The Oklahoman had a good article over the weekend on what some of the people make who are in charge of the bowls. They’re getting big salaries.

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

Seeking to curb overreach of the feds

Federal government worries state senator

In response to the growing concerns over federal violations of constitutionally-protected rights, Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed numerous bills to push back and constrain the federal government within its constitutional limits.

“As we begin Bill of Rights Week, we must acknowledge the ever-increasing encroachment and violation of our rights coming from the regime in D.C.,” Dahm said. “With that in mind, I filed Senate Bill 23 to stop infringements on Second Amendment rights and SB 21 to require feds to work through the county sheriff, the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the county who is directly elected by the people. I also filed SB 22 which allows the state legislature to prohibit state agencies from implementing federal agency rules, so the state no longer does the feds dirty work for them.”

SB 23, an expansion of the Second Amendment Sanctuary Act passed by the legislature in 2021, effectively prohibits federal officers from carrying out any gun confiscation measures in the state of Oklahoma.

“The feds will steamroll our rights if we allow them to,” Dahm said.

“This legislation gives sheriffs a mechanism to push back by arresting any federal agent attempting unconstitutional gun grabbing in their county.”

SB 21 would require federal agents to give notice to the sheriff before operating in their county.

“It is blatantly obvious that we cannot allow unelected bureaucrats or agents of the rogue regime in D.C. to operate in our state without accountability.” Dahm said. “This bill allows the sheriff, an elected official, to keep an eye on the feds when they operate in their county.”

SB 22 authorizes the Legislature to disapprove the implementation of certain federal edicts or regulations for state agencies.

“If our form of government is to survive, we must protect what remains of state power,” Dahm said.

“State governments cannot continue to blindly enforce every whim of the federal government. This legislation authorizes the Legislature to take a critical look at the rules and regulations the feds want to push on Oklahomans through our state agencies and disapprove them if necessary.”

Lankford: Don’t pay for abortion travel

In a bicameral letter, Senator James Lankford (ROK), along with 65 Members of Congress, called on Secretary Lloyd Austin to “immediately” revoke his illegal Defense Department policy funding travel for abortions, saying they were “appalled by the flagrant disregard for the law” demonstrated by the Biden Administration.

The letter—led by Lankford, Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Representative Vicky Hartzler (RMO)—comes on the heels of Secretary Austin’s October memorandum proclaiming that the Pentagon will pay for US service members and their dependents to travel for abortions in response to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision earlier this year.

“We write in strong opposition to the memoran-

dum…[that] violates decades-old federal law prohibiting the Department of Defense (DOD) from funding elective abortion [which includes facilitating such abortions], and we urge you to immediately rescind it,” the lawmakers wrote. “Congress has clearly and consistently acted to prevent the U.S. military from funding elective abortion procedures and services necessitated by those procedures. While the memorandum claims that this policy will be implemented consistent with federal law, funding travel and transportation to obtain non-covered, elective abortions through the DOD would, in and of itself violate federal law. It also contradicts DOD’s past recognition, interpretation, and implementation of this law.”

The lawmakers cited federal law—10 U.S.C. § 1093—passed by Congress in 1984 that permanently prohibits the DOD from paying for elective abortions and noted that when President Bill Clinton tried to circumvent the law in 1993, Congress further clarified its intent by banning DOD facilities from performing abortions.

Letters to the Editor policy

to news@edmondpaper.com.

View the letter below.

We write in strong opposition to the memorandum entitled, “Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care,” published on October 20, 2022. This memorandum violates decades-old federal law prohibiting the Department of Defense (DOD) from funding elective abortion (which includes facilitating such abortions), and we urge you to immediately rescind it.

The memorandum announced that DOD would “establish travel and transportation allowances for Service members and their dependents, as appropriate and consistent with applicable federal law... to facilitate official travel to access noncovered reproductive health care that is unavailable within the local area of a Service member’s permanent duty station.” While the memorandum claims that this policy will be implemented consistent with federal law, funding travel and transportation to obtain non-covered, elective abortions through the DOD would, in and of itself violate federal law. It also contradicts DOD’s past recognition, interpretation, and implementation of this law.

Both the law itself and Congressional intent are clear: the U.S. military may not fund elective abortion. This necessarily includes funding for any activity necessitated by the abortion, such as travel and transportation. After many years of preventing DOD from paying for elective abortions, in 1984 Congress made permanent the restriction in 10 U.S.C. § 1093. In 1993, President Bill Clinton attempted to circumvent the law; he issued a memorandum allowing federallyfunded DOD facilities to provide abortions if “the procedure is privately funded.” Congress responded by further clarifying its intent. In 1996, it explicitly banned DOD facilities from performing abortions. Now, through the travel and transportation policy, DOD is once again unlawfully claiming authority to use taxpayer funds to facilitate elective abortions if the abortion procedure itself is privately funded. However, Congress has already clarified that similar action by DOD to facilitate elective abortions violates federal law.

Lankford

‘This legislation gives sheriffs a mechanism to push back by arresting any federal agent attempting unconstitutional gun grabbing in their county.’

State

Sen. Nathan Dahm

Steve Gust

Is it even Christmas without chocolate?

By Carol Smaglinski

There are so many wonderful ways to celebrate Christmas and one way is simple - chocolate.

In ancient times, delectable chocolate was once held as a solemn secret.

Back then, chocolate lovers used the cocoa and water as a drink, which they thought possessed aphrodisiac qualities. The drink was served in golden goblets and was believed to be the food of the gods. When word leaked out, as it always does, its popularity soared.

The Aztecs coined the word chocolate, which derived from the word xocolatl, which meant bitter water. The drink contained pounded spices mixed with cocoa beans.

It is said the Aztec King Montezuma was so hooked on the stuff believing it was an aphrodisiac that he consumed more than 50 golden goblets of it every day. The king and his court kept the secret of the drink from the rest of Europe for more than a century, until Spanish monks spilled the beans to their Italian brothers. And then, the Spanish people added the magic touch - sugar - and the chocolate craze began.

When do we eat the most chocolate? Is it the day after Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter or the day after Halloween? Who cares? Just indulge, as life as we all discovered recently is short.

Here’s a nice recipe for fudge, which is a popular dessert or snack.

Its name originated in the mid-19th century in America. In Britain in the 18th century, when you heard the word “fudge,” a person was talking about something that was rubbish or nonsense, as well as signifying defeat.

There’s no defeat with this fudge formula and I’ve included a few hints.

Always read recipes all the way through before you start, then assemble everything on a tray. If you follow this recipe exactly, your fudge will be easy to fix and taste scrumptious. Be gentle when

incorporating the chocolate or it suddenly will turn grainy (called seizing), could separate and scorch. The secret behind this carefree holiday recipe on your countdown to Christmas is the evaporated milk.

Most recipes for fudge require precise cooking temperatures to achieve a creamy consistency. By using evaporated milk, you take away the need for such precision.

Foolproof Lazybones Fudge

Makes enough for 36 squares of fudge

1-½ cups sugar

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

½ tsp. salt

½ cup evaporated milk

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

2 tsp. vanilla

¾ cup walnuts, chopped in large pieces

Grease an 8x8x2-inch square baking pan with vegetable shortening or butter.

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Place the sugar, butter, salt and evaporated milk in the pan. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat slightly and continue to simmer for about 5 minutes while stirring with patience, your best friend. Take the pan off of the heat and stir in the chocolate chips. Stir gently while the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla and the walnuts.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Chill until the fudge is firm, which could take about 2 hours. put it into squares.

The fudge can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week at vroom temperature. Go ahead, gather around and dig in!

Want to give back? Visit a senior citizen

It is time for the holidays, and everyone begins thinking about what one can do to make someone’s Christmas a little merrier. Remember, there are many residents who live in long-term care facilities who have very few or no visitors.

Statistics prove that 60% of long-term care residents never have a personal visitor. Why not take an hour during the holidays, go visit a long-term care facility, and receive blessings from the residents.

Visitors do not have to know a resident to be able to brighten someone’s day. Visits from pets, following the facility’s guidelines, may also bring joy.

Some holiday gift suggestions for residents might include money to get their hair fixed by the beautician, house shoes, slipper socks, large print books, lap blankets, sugar free candy, puzzles, pictures for their walls, sweat suits, robes, gowns or pajamas, night lights, large calendars, clocks, or stuffed ani-

mals.

Residents may also enjoy a prepaid shopping card to the local discount store, or an invitation to a meal at a restaurant. In addition, research indicates music helps people living with a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges to find re-

newed joy in life through musical favorites. You may consider buying an iPod or donating an old iPod to a resident and give with an iTunes gift card. Just giving a little time, could be the greatest Christmas gift that residents could receive.

Provide something colorful to place outside their windows, such as a pinwheel or a blooming flower.

Please do not forget about the loneliest people in the United States. There are approximately two million residents living in Long-Term Care Facilities. Ombudsman volunteers continue to be needed in the following counties: Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, and Oklahoma. Give a weekly gift that lasts all year and costs only some time. Become an ombudsman volunteer. Training is free, flexible, and available in your area. Call Areawide Aging Agency at 405-942-8500 and ask for Martha (Marti) Springer, ext. 156 or e-mail mspringer@areawideaging.org for more information.

Coping with grief, loss over the holidays

By Jamie Prisco-Rudolph, M.A., LPC-C

Edmond Family Counseling

Dealing with feelings of grief and loss at any time during the year can be difficult. Common symptoms of grief and loss include lack of energy, changes in sleep patterns and eating habits, lack of focus, and feelings of numbness, shock, fear, and anxiety. These symptoms vary from person to person.  It has been theorized that there are certain times out of the year where grief may be harder to deal with than others. These times of the year include birthdays, anniversaries, and the holidays.

Coping with grief and loss can mean different things for everyone. Commonly, ideas of grief and loss relate to coming to terms with the death of a loved one. However, grief and loss can cover a variety of topics that center around the idea of a significant change. Some examples of these changes include changing careers, moving to a new state, or ending a relationship or friendship. Regardless of the type of change someone is going through, there are some common tasks of mourning to help cope with feelings of loss. These tasks can be accomplished at your own pace. Just like the stages of grief, the tasks of mourning are fluid and may change from time to time depending on your level of stress or the type of events that are taking place in your life. The four tasks of mourning are:

Task 1: Accept the reality of the loss: Think of how your life is different because of the loss or significant change. How has the loss or change impacted you emotionally, physically, and mentally?

Task 2: Process the pain of grief: Some common emotions related to grief and loss include sadness, anger, and guilt. While it can be tempting to avoid these difficult emotions, take some time to identify them when you notice them and work to start processing through them.

Task 3: Adjusting: Consider both internal and external changes you

have had to make due to the loss or change.

Task 4: Honoring the past while moving forward: When processing a recent change in your life, it is important to find a balance between discovering ways to cherish the memories of the past and moving forward with your own life.

Feelings of grief and loss can increase during the holidays. This increase comes from pressure to continue past traditions and to spend quality time with family members and friends. In order to cope with the elevated feelings of grief, there are a few things that can be done to acknowledge and accept these feelings and help to set boundaries with others to decrease the feelings of pressure from outside sources. When thinking about holiday plans, here are a few things to consider:

1. Plan and stay informed about events you have been asked to attend: When asked to attend an event, there are some questions to consider such as how long the event will last, who has been invited, and if you are expected to bring something. By knowing these details ahead of time, you can decrease your feelings of anxiety about attending or ultimately make the decision to not attend if the event seems too overwhelming for you.

2. Accept your limitations and don’t let others determine what you need to do or should do: With the holidays comes expectations and pressures to celebrate a certain way.  Allowing yourself to decide what you want to do and what tasks are not enjoyable for you currently is one way to feel more in control of the situation.

3. Ask for help: Asking for help can be hard to do, but sometimes, it can help take some of the stress away. If you are uncomfortable asking for help when it comes to your emotions, think of some concrete ways to ask for help instead. Some ways people can help during times

of stress include running errands with you, helping clean around the house, cooking meals, or helping with childcare.

4. Find time to rest: Celebrating holidays can be mentally, physically, and emotionally draining even if you are not dealing with symptoms of grief. Make sure you are setting aside time to practice self-care strategies such as getting enough sleep, making sure to eat, and taking time to perform relaxing coping skills such as reading or journaling.

5. Find ways to remember past traditions: There may be some elements from past family traditions that you like to continue. If you are working to honor the death of a loved one, consider setting a place for them at the table for the holiday meal or have members of the family write down their favorite memories and share them together. If you have recently moved and are spending time away from your family, consider making a dish that was always part of the meal back home or set

up decorations that include pictures of your loved ones.

6. Honor different feelings and ideas created by the significant change: After the holidays are over, take some time to reflect on how traditions have changed. What did you like about how you chose to celebrate? What are some things that you could do differently next year? During this reflection time, think of your old traditions and how they can blend with the new traditions you started this year.

The holidays can be a stressful and difficult time for a variety of reasons. Remember to acknowledge the good and bad emotions during the holidays and celebrate in ways that make you feel comfortable!

Jamie Prisco-Rudolph, M.A., LPR-C is a staff therapist and Intern Coordinator at Edmond Family Counseling. To schedule an appointment with one of our licensed professional counselors at Edmond Family Counseling call 405-341-3554.

Jamie

By George Gust

Writer/director James Cameron is in rarified air when it comes to filmmakers that general audiences know and can identify as an unquestioned successful blockbuster maker with his last two films (“Titanic” and “Avatar”) breaking box office records and become cultural phenomenon’s. Now with the longawaited sequel released, audiences are treated to a journey back into the vibrant world of Pandora in “Avatar: Way of Water” but would the high expectation and long layoff cause this blockbuster to sink or swim?

“Avatar: The Way of Water” catches up with the story from 2009’s “Avatar” 14 years later. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and the army of the Na’vi race to protect their home. To recount the plot and world building of “Avatar: Way of Water” would sound like the ramblings of the deepest online thread of an “Avatar” fan fiction forum. Much like the original movie, “Avatar: Way of Water” continues to build upon the universe building that Cameron and doesn’t rest on familiar territory for too long. Instead Cameron has decided to explore new facets of the environment, mainly the ocean life

on Pandora with stunning (no surprise there!) and immersive visual effects. Once again with this sequel, Cameron has produced some of the most breathtaking exploratory sequences and created a set of rules that he can ultimately turn on their heads come act three to shock and surprise the audience once again.

As with the visual spectacle of the first movie there is a lot of characterization that the talented cast needs to impart to these alien yet familiar creatures. Worthington seems more comfortable in the role of the head of a young family, and is surprisingly able to playing a relatable outsider once more to a new group of Na’vi race. Saldana returns and is once again one of the more emotionally grounded performances

in the film, but is given short shrift on what the film is asking from her and her character. However, there were two stand out transformative and intriguing performances from surprising places. Sigourney Weaver returns to the franchise, this time playing a much younger character, and in her computer captured performance she was able to impart an awkward teenage physicality that is impressive and adds to the wonder of what this film technology can achieve. And also returning is Stephen Lang as the militaristic leader, this time he’s able to play a more conflicted arc but he still brings a fun over-the-top energy that adds a fun dynamic to the proceedings.

Overall, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is another technical achievement for Cameron and crew that is able to push the technology forward and create a spectacular visual experience with many of the small issues from the first film; the dialogue is serviceable but less than inspired and the story arc doesn’t feel like it earns its three hour plus running time, but the spectacle and grandeur of the film make it a must see in theaters.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity and some strong language.

4.2 out of 5 stars

Lawmaker wants prep sports to have equity

Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula, announced last week his plans to file a bill requiring the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association (OSSAA) or other entities organizing secondary school athletics and activities competitions at the state level to develop a more fair system between all restricted and unrestricted enrollment schools.

Randleman heard from many superintendents who believe the current system to be unfair because private schools can turn down students, whereas public schools take each student that appears on their enrollment.

"Historically, there are many more private school that make the quarter finals, semi-finals and finals in basketball and football than public schools," Randleman said. "The goal of this bill is to help organize a playoff system that was more individualized and fair to all our students."

Under the bill, all schools would be separated by the total number of students and whether they have restricted or unrestricted enrollment.

PHOTO

AAA: Air travel up but so are cases of lost luggage

Air travel has undoubtedly rebounded in 2022, as domestically and internationally, travelers once again take to the skies to get to their destinations.

However, the return to air travel has meant the return of lost luggage, causing many people to hesitate about checking luggage on their next flight. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, over 1.9 million bags were mishandled by U.S. airlines. Staffing shortages, flight cancellations and mishandled bags are causing passengers to change the way their pack for air travel.

“As we head into the busy year-end holiday travel season, air travel will be as busy as it’s been all year,” said Leslie Gamble, AAA Oklahoma spokesperson. “Packing for air travel can be tricky, especially if you decide not to check a bag to avoid lost luggage along the way. AAA recommends air travelers consider efficiently packing a single carry-on bag to avoid the stress and inconvenience that come with lost luggage.”

AAA Oklahoma stores across the state offer a variety of travel accessories and tools (varying by location),

many perfect for gift giving. Whether you check a bag and/or pack a carry-on for your next flight, AAA Oklahoma offers the following tips to help you avoid the chaos caused by lost luggage:

Checked Bags

• Use a tracking device, such as an Apple AirTag to provide additional information about exactly where your bag(s) are.

• Utilize TSA-approved luggage locks.

• Attach luggage tags with cell phone number and email; do not put your home address on luggage tags; also pack a luggage tag inside your suitcase with the same information in case the external luggage tag is removed/lost.

• Do not place valuables or essential items in checked baggage.

• Weight – check with your airline to determine maximum luggage weight allowed before additional fees are charged for overweight bags.

• Traveling with someone? Cross-pack your bags, so if one bag is lost, you both have items in the other bag to wear/use.

Carry-On Bags

• Bag size – check

with your airline to be sure your bag meets carry-on size requirements.

• 3-1-1 – liquids, gels, or aerosols must be in 3-ounce size bottles or less for all airline travel; all such bottles must fit into one, clear, quart-size plastic bag.

• Compression bags/packing cubes –utilize space efficiently by packing clothes in these bags.

• Roll your clothes –create more space and cut down on wrinkles.

• Shoe bags– keep your dirty shoes from touching things in your carry-on bag by placing them in clear plastic bags; utilize space inside shoes to pack socks and other small items; select shoes that go with multiple outfits.

• Complimentary clothes/color scheme –select a travel wardrobe that follows a simple color scheme (i.e. neutral colors – black, white, gray, tan) so pieces mix and match, making multiple outfits, this cuts down on the volume and size of your bag.

• Laundry – if laundry facilities are available at your destination, cut back on packing more clothes and plan to do laundry on the trip; consider packing laundry deter-

gent sheets and fabric softener sheets to save room.

• A carry-on bag should include clothing, toiletries and medications for one day in case your checked bag is lost.

• Leave room – don’t extend the zippered section on your luggage when traveling to your destination, save that expansion for more room coming home.

• Don’t pack extras –unless you’re traveling to a destination with only high-priced boutiques/gift shops, you can always buy extras at your destination.

Personal Item

• Thoughtfully select a purse, backpack, tote that maximizes your packing space for your one airline-allowed personal item.

Armstrong College’s link with archaeology finds in Israel

The new Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology (AIBA), officially opened in September 2022 as a nonprofit academic and educational institution headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel. AIBA’s mission is to showcase Israel’s biblical archaeology and to make it available to the largest audience possible, most especially to the people of Israel.

Since 2006, Herbert W. Armstrong College of Edmond has participated in archaeological excavations in Jerusalem.

AIBA shares and promotes Israel’s biblical archaeology via multiple platforms, including:

1) the ArmstrongInstitute.org website, which publishes articles, scientific reports and videos on Israel’s biblical archaeology; 2) Let the Stones Speak, a full-color, 32-page bimonthly print magazine; and 3) private tours of the Ophel and the City of David, as well as public seminars and archaeological exhibits.

AIBA also sponsors and participates in archaeological excavations in Jerusalem, primarily in the City of David and on the Ophel. The institute collaborates and works in partnership with many of Israel’s esteemed academic institutions, including Hebrew University, the City of David Foundation, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and the Israel Exploration Society. AIBA is named after Herbert W. Armstrong and Dr. Eilat Mazar, two personalities with a long

and rich history with both Israel and biblical archaeology.

Officials with Armstrong have also announced that recent excavations in the Ophel area south of the Temple Mount uncovered the remains of a monumental public building from the Second Temple period, which was destroyed in 70 CE.

In the destruction layer, dozens of Jewish coins were found from the period of the Great Revolt (66–70 CE), most of t\hem of bronze. This assemblage also included a particularly rare and unusual find - a silver coin in a half-shekel denomination originating from 69/70 CE.

The dig was carried out by a team from the Hebrew University, led by Prof. Uzi Leibner of the Institute of Archaeology, in partnership with the Herbert W. Armstrong College in Edmond, and with the support of the East Jerusalem Development Company, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

The rare coin was cleaned at the conservation laboratory of the Institute of Archaeology and identified by Dr. Yoav Farhi, the team’s numismatic expert and curator of the Kadman Numismatic Pavilion at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.

“This is the third coin of this type found in excavations in Jerusalem, and one of the few ever found in archeological excavations,” said the researchers.

UCO sales team makes history at competition

The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business Professional Sales team recently placed third overall and first in the role-play category at the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC) in Orlando, Florida.

This is Central’s highest-ranking achievement at the ICSC in the team’s history.

The competition gives students an opportunity to put their skills to the test through role-play events, a sales management case, speed-selling pitches and community involvement.

More than 160 students, representing 80 colleges and universities across the country, participated in the competition.

The Central Professional Sales team includes Cooper Crick, a senior professional selling major from Venice, Florida; Perry Caskey, a senior professional selling and marketing

major from Midwest City, Siamyra Wilson, a senior professional selling major from Moore, Oklahoma; Mattison Bullard, a senior professional selling major from Edmond; and, Emily Goad, Ph.D., team coach and assistant professor of marketing at Central.

In addition to the team’s success, Bullard and Crick placed second and third in the role-play competition. These rankings are the highest individual rankings for any UCO student at a national competition.

"These accomplishments are a reflection of the hard work and dedication of these students, along with the quality of UCO's professional selling program on a national stage," Goad said.

For more information about Central’s professional sales program, contact Goad at 405-974-2805 or egoad@uco.edu.

How to protect home from those pesky porch pirates

By Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

The holiday season is by far the most popular time for porch pirates to strike. With many gifts bought online during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, all shapes and sizes of packages will arrive on doorsteps and porches in the next few weeks. According to a recent C+R Research survey, 67 percent of Americans reported having stolen packages this year.

With 84 percent of Americans planning to have at least one package delivered this holiday season,

knowing how to prevent theft and what to do if you become a victim of porch piracy is essential. Even though most homeowners and renters insurance provide coverage for theft, it is best to take additional precautions to protect your packages from thieves. Filing a claim only makes sense for highvalue items worth more than your policy’s deductible.

Here are some tips to help keep those porch pirates from stealing your holiday packages and what to do when your package is stolen: Ways to Protect Yourself

• Consider Shipping Insurance Most postal services, courier companies and shipping companies sell shipping insurance. Unfortunately, not all insurers will insure all goods. However, if you’re ordering high-value items online, you may purchase shipping insurance to ensure delivery.

• Give Specific Instructions Instead of having deliveries left unsecured at your front door, you can instruct drivers to leave a package at a back door, with a building superintendent, in a coded lockbox

See Pirates, Page 18

Automotive students win national stipend

Francis Tuttle students in Auto Service program receive $1,000 in tools

Two automotive technician students will start the year with some brand-new tools thanks to Steve Johnson Racing.

Isaac Sirisombath, a student at Putnam City North, and Michael Van Zandt, a Deer Creek graduate, who attend Francis Tuttle Technology Center, received the BAT-Man (Be A Technician) Scholarship to help toward their career education. Steve Johnson, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer, presented the award at a ceremony earlier this week.

Recipients can choose between $500 toward their automotive tech education or over $1,000 worth of tools that benefit their career journey. Both students chose the tool sets, which were provided by Milwau-

kee Tool.

They each received a pry bar set, a wrench set, a cordless impact driver, and an assortment of additional tools and accessories.

Automotive tech students from across the country are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Johnson also encouraged Francis Tuttle Automotive students to take the opportunities available to them, especially scholarship opportunities.

“Money doesn’t typically grow on trees, but I feel like with what we have to offer here, it kind of does,” Johnson said. “And if the money’s on the tree, you’ve got to go take it.”

Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation partnered with Steve Johnson Racing to offer the scholarship. Vice President George Arrants said while most of the scholarships ASE has knowledge of are taken, there are always some that go unclaimed every year.

The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business Professional Sales team recently placed third overall and first in the role-play category at the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC) in Orlando, Fla. Pictured, left to right, Cooper Crick, a senior professional selling major from Venice, Florida; Perry Caskey, a senior professional selling and marketing major from Midwest City, Oklahoma; Siamyra Wilson, a senior professional selling major from Moore, Oklahoma; Mattison Bullard, a senior professional selling major from Edmond, Oklahoma; and, Emily Goad, Ph.D., team coach and assistant professor of marketing at Central.

Automotive students win national scholarship

NHRA Pro-Stock Racer Steve Johnson, students Isaac Sirisombath and Michael Van Zandt, and Instructor Steve Boyd pose with the students’ reward for winning the national Steve Johnson Racing Scholarship.

Pirates

or with neighbors. You can also have deliveries on hold and request a specific delivery time. Most, but not all, of these services are free.

• Install a Security Camera or Camera Doorbell Security cameras or video doorbells can also come in handy. The mere presence of these cameras or smart doorbells may be enough to ward off potential package thieves. Even if it doesn't, you'll at least have evidence for a police report. Bonus: installing these cameras may qualify you for a homeowners insurance discount.

• Sign Up for Tracking Notifications Most carriers offer package tracking services and text or email alerts to let you know when a delivery will be made so that you can adjust your schedule accordingly. Sign up for text or email notifications to check your delivery status.

What To Do If Your Package is

Stolen

• Contact the Seller — File a claim with the seller and ask for a replacement.

• Contact the Shipping Company — File a claim with the postal service that shipped your package. FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL and Amazon have a claim-filing system to help you track down your package.

• Check Your Credit Card — Many credit cards have purchase protection that covers lost or stolen items. Make sure you use a credit card to purchase the item.

• File an Insurance Claim — Your homeowners or renters insurance may cover mail theft. Keep in mind—this may only be helpful if the item is worth more than your deductible.

For more information, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at www.oid.ok.gov.

According to a recent C+R Research survey, 67 percent of Americans reported having stolen packages this year.

Hi and Lois

Shoe

Zits

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Blondie

Hägar the Horrible

As holiday season celebrations kick into high gear, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is joining forces with federal, state and private-sector partners to encourage people who consume alcohol or other impairing substances to make the safer choice and leave the driving to someone who is sober.

The initiative is critical as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced earlier last week the findings of a new study of trauma center data that examined the pervasiveness of alcohol and drug use in serious and fatal crashes involving drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

According to the new NHTSA study, 56% of seriously or fatally injured road users tested positive for alcohol or some type of impairing substance, with cannabis (25%) being the most prevalent. In addition, two or more drugs were found in 18% of serious injury cases and 32% of the fatalities. To combat this pervasive problem NHTSA highlighted the coordinated efforts taking place nationwide to combat alcohol- and drug-impaired driving during this holiday season. As part of those efforts, GHSA has partnered with Lyft and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) to provide grants to State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) to support alternative transportation options for alcohol- and drugimpaired revelers.

“The uptick in multi-substance impaired driving is not only troubling, but also frustrating because it is preventable,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “That’s why GHSA remains committed to working with our state and organizational partners to support initiatives that prevent alcohol- and drug-impaired driving.”

For the past eight years, GHSA and Responsibility.org have funded state impaired driving grant programs for proven and innovative countermeasures to enhance the identification and treatment of alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers. Over the past few years, the program has focused on high-risk impaired drivers with a particular emphasis on polysubstance use. Here are a few examples of how grant funds are being used:

• The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) conducts “green labs” that allow law enforcement officers

to witness first-hand the impairing effects of cannabis and alcohol impairment to better detect impaired drivers. Earlier this month MDOT MVA held a successful green lab with the Chesapeake Region Safety Council.

• The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) is training state and local law enforcement officers as phlebotomists to allow them to draw blood from drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both. This reduces the time between arrest and the collection of chemical evidence.