• FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • JENKSTRIBUNE.COM •
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Ward 4 City Council seat to be decided Monday By KYLE SALOMON
ksalomon@jenkstribune.com
JENKS SET TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON The City of Jenks is hosting its annual “Lights On” event Thursday on Main Street. Read the story on Page 3A.
THAT PLAYOFF FEELING Jenks football back in a familiar place with the 6A-1 playoffs beginning Friday. Read the story on Page 1B.
SEAMORE IS THE CHOICE The Oklahoma Aquarium’s popular sea turtle celebrated his 25th birthday Saturday and was named Seamore. Read the story on Page 5B.
There are five candidates the Jenks City Council will be deciding between for the Ward 4 seat Monday at the City Council Meeting. Craig Bowman, Grant Butler, Dawn Dyke, Matt McDonald and Christopher Woods put their name in the hat to replace Ward City Council Member and Vice Mayor Dr. Josh Wedman, who stepped down from the position in September. The Jenks Tribune asked each candidate the five same questions in a question and answer session. Here is how each candidate responded to each question: Jenks Tribune: How long have you lived in Jenks? Craig Bowman: I moved to the Jenks school district in 1987 and graduated from Jenks High School in 1994. Grant Butler: Growing up I lived on the outskirts of Jenks in Delaware Point neighborhood at 101st and Riverside. Following college, I returned to the area and have resided in Jenks for 12 years. Dawn Dyke: My husband and I have lived in Jenks 19 years. Matt McDonald: I have lived in Jenks for 9 years. Christopher Woods: My wife, daughters, and I have lived in Jenks since December 2005. JT: Why is Jenks special to you? CB: To me, Jenks is home. I grew up here, started a business, and my wife and I are raising our two daughters in Jenks. We have the best school system in the state and an unmatched quality of life. Mostly, what makes Jenks special is the people. Our friends, neighbors, churches and businesses make up what we all know as Jenks and they are what make it special. GB: Every important event of my adult life has happened in Jenks. I started my first job out of college, bought my first home, married my wife and celebrated our marriage at the Oklahoma Aquarium, brought three beautiful children into the world, and opened our family business, Beair Medical Group, here. As the place where my wife and I live, work, and are raising our family, there is no place more precious to us than Jenks. DD: There are many reasons that Jenks is special to me. First and foremost, my children grew up in Jenks. I have many memories of them attending school and being involved in the community. Our family moved to Jenks because of the school system, the small-town feel, and the friendly people. This all holds true today and is why we recently built our third home in the City Continued to WARD 4, Page 7A
Jenks first responders honored by community at inaugural event By KYLE SALOMON
ksalomon@jenkstribune.com
Jenks City Council members Cory Box and Craig Murray decided it was time to honor those who many of us take for granted on a daily basis. The first-ever First Responders Appreciation Night took place Monday on Veteran’s Day to show support for the Jenks Police Department and Jenks Fire Department for all they do in pro-
tecting the community day-in and day-out. Box, who is a United States Air Force Veteran, said this was a great chance for the community to show much-deserved support to its first responders. “We looked for an opportunity to get everyone together,” Box said. “We wanted to combine the two cultures, the veteran culture with the first responders because there are a Continued to APPRECIATION, Page 6A
Jenks firemen enjoy food and beverages Monday at the First Responders Appreciation Night at Flying Tee. Photo/Kyle Salomon
Jenks schools’ enrollment tops 12,500 By HAYDEN TUCKER
htucker@jenkstribune.com
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Postal Customer Jenks, OK 74037
Jenks Public Schools released its enrollment numbers for 2019-20 at the school board meeting Monday. As of Oct. 1, JPS accounted for 12,535 students, an increase of 70 from numbers the year prior. Though the number has increased, it is still well below the projected amount expected. The projected high for Jenks was 12,921, the medium
12,840 and the low 12,756. The high school saw a decrease in enrollment from last year but still sits above the median. JHS houses 2,547 sutdents, more than the medium expectancy of 2555, but below the 2574 high. The freshman academy holds 898 students, that’s a drop from 931 a year ago. The number of students is seven students more than the expected high. Jenks middle school has 1,874 students, more than the
1,866 lowest expected enrollment for the school. Jenks East Intermediate took a big hit in enrollment, but West Intermediate picked it up. East Intermediate fell from 829 students in 2018-19 to 783 as of Oct. 1. The expected high was 828, the low 815. West Intermediate fell from 969 to 961 but was well above the expected high of 936. East elementary took one of the biggest hits in terms
of expected enrollment. The school has 1,524 students but was anticipated to be in the neighborhood of 1,765 students. Northwest Elementary grew from 1,018 last year to 1,060. Southeast elementary grew by five students to 925, above the 911 projected high. West elementary houses 1,963 students. The projected low was 1,977, the high was 1,996.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID JENKS, OK PERMIT NO. 7
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Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Joshua Sutherland laying a balsam wreath on a veteran’s grave during a previous year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony. Photo/Courtesy
Local CAP unit seeks sponsors for wreath-laying salute to veterans SUBMITTED Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Riverside Flight invite the public to sponsor veterans’ wreaths for placement on the headstones of our nation’s service members on Dec. 14 to honor those who served the U.S. as well as current military members. The ceremony will take
place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The CAP unit’s efforts coincide with Wreath Across America tributes occurring simultaneously across the nation, including Arlington National Cemetery, where the initiative began more than 25 years ago with the placement of 5,000
wreaths donated by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester. In 2007, Worcester and his family formed Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit with the mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom. As a major partner in Wreaths Across
America, CAP has adorned memorials and veterans’ graves with balsam wreaths to make sure the sacrifices of the nation’s service members are not forgotten. Last year, members of the public sponsored the placement of more than 1.5 million wreaths at 1,400-plus cemetery or memorial sites across
the U.S. and abroad. More than 250 CAP squadrons participated in last year’s Wreaths Across America ceremonies, in which wreaths were placed at cemeteries and memorials in all 50 states, as well as 24 locations overseas. For more information on how to sponsor wreaths for veterans
laid to rest in Memorial Park Cemetery please visit www. MemorialParkWreaths. com. Follow the adventures of Riverside Flight at Facebook. com/RiversideOK.CAP. Riverside Flight meets Monday’s from 6 until 8:30 p.m. at Tulsa Tech’s Riverside Campus.
Head celebrates 40 years with City of Jenks Gary Head, with the Jenks Public Works Department, was recognized Nov. 4 at the City Council Meeting for his 40 years of service with the City of Jenks. Head was presented with a plaque and the Public Works Department threw him a surprise 40th anniversary party. Head’s first day of employment was Nov. 1, 1979 as a Jenks police officer. He was an officer for 20 years and then moved over to the Public Works Department and has remained there for the past 20 years. He currently serves as the Maintenance/ Facilities Operations Supervisor. Photo/Hayden Tucker
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‘TIS THE SEASON
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Jenks set to turn “Lights On” Annual event to begin at 5 p.m. Thursday By LANE CASTLEBERRY
Jenks Chamber of Commerce
The Jenks Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Lights On! event in downtown Jenks Nov. 21, 2019. The event is free of charge and the public is invited to attend from 5-8 p.m. From First to Third street, attendees can enjoy attractions including traditional carriage rides, a visit to see Santa Claus, live entertainment provided by Anthem Road Academy and the Jenks High School Trojannaires and a variety of local food trucks. News on 6 Meteorologist Travis Meyer will emcee the evening and will countdown to the ceremonial turning on of the Main Street lights. The event will also feature free carriage rides courtesy of U Dirty Dawg. President of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce Josh Driskell is looking forward to kicking off the holiday season and to providing a space for attendees to explore the shopping district in Downtown Jenks. “Lights On! is a great opportunity to not only celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, but to celebrate the spirit of community in Jenks,” said Driskell. “Lights On! is a great way to explore what makes downtown Jenks unique.” Vendor booth space is available to Jenks Chamber members at no cost and to non-members for $50. This year’s event is sponsored by Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Adam Abel of Arvest and U Dirty Dawg.
Left, Santa Claus always makes an appearance at the “Lights On’ event on Main Street. Above, News On 6 Chief Meteorologist Travis Meyer has been the emcee for the event for more than 10 years. Photos/Courtesy
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Jenks Tribune Founded, owned, operated and published by Hyperlocal LLC 329 S. Elm Street Suite #201 Jenks, Oklahoma 74037 Phone: 918-528-7272 Fax: 918-528-5605 www.jenkstribune.com
Jenks Tribune Mission Statement “We are the Jenks community’s hometown source for hyperlocal news, sports and information that the people of our community need to know.” Jenks Tribune is mailed weekly through the Jenks Postal Office and United States Postal Service to all U.S. Postal customers in the 74037 zip code.
Jenks Tribune Staff Kyle Salomon
Owner: Hyperlocal LLC Publisher: Jenks Tribune Office Phone: 918-528-7272 Mobile Phone: 918-231-0787 Email: ksalomon@ jenkstribune.com
Hayden Tucker Director of Media/ Sports Editor: Jenks Tribune
Office Phone: 918-528-7272 Mobile Phone: 405-651-8451 Email: htucker@ jenkstribune.com
Jinger Wiesman
Creative Director/ Advertising Executive: Jenks Tribune Office Phone: 918-528-7272 Mobile Phone: 918-813-0654 Email: jwiesman@ jenkstribune.com
Cami Rogers Advertising Executive: Jenks Tribune Office Phone: 918-528-7272 Mobile Phone: 918-688-2264 Email: camirogers9@ cox.net
Friday, November 15, 2019
HEARING FROM THE OWNER’S BOX Jenks Tribune shifting models next week Hello Jenks! Believe it or not, it is already November 15, which means we are 14 weeks into the Jenks Tribune. It seems like just yesterday I moved back to the Jenks area after being in the Oklahoma City metro for nearly a decade, but like the old saying goes, “time flies when you are having fun”, and this has been a very fun experience. The support has been incredible from the entire Jenks community. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We don’t do this to get pats on the back, but it is a great feeling when people tell you how much they enjoy the product. There is no such thing as a perfect newspaper. We have made our fair share of mistakes, but we work tirelessly to make sure we are covering this community the way it needs to be covered. I believe we have accomplished our goal thus far in covering this community. I believe in full transparency, but I also believe in positivity. There are not many media outlets who buy into the model of shining the light of transparency but maintaining a positive outlook, but I believe we have done that here at the Jenks Tribune and will continue to do that going forward. Starting out, we had a plan in place. I believe it was a good plan, the right plan for how we wanted to make an impact on Jenks and this entire area. We wanted the entire city of Jenks to get this newspaper. We wanted
every Jenks citizen to have the chance to read about what is going on in their community. As we progressed, we added numerous businesses and school sites to our distribution list. Right now, we are printing 9,000 newspapers every week with roughly 8,200 being mailed across the 74037zip code with the other 800 being stacked and racked across the Jenks community. With any plan, there are things you learn along the way. That has certainly been the case here. No plan is perfect, especially when you are starting a small business and that business happens to be a community newspaper. I have learned that we need to be adaptable. We started out mailing to every mailbox in Jenks and that included the P.O. boxes, but quickly came to a realization that people were getting the newspaper three times if they lived in Jenks, worked in Jenks and had a P.O. box in Jenks, so we made an adjustment and pulled P.O. boxes from our delivery list and it has worked out well. Another way we have adapted is by adding our e-edition to our
delivery system. We understand that there are people who would rather read their news online than read it in the hard copy of a newspaper, so we made that available to them and that has worked out well. Now, we must adapt again, and we believe this will also work out well for us and for this community. Starting Nov. 22, we are going to start going to a free subscription model. We understand that not every household and business in Jenks reads their Jenks news through the hard copy of the Jenks Tribune. Our goal is to make sure all our readers are happy with how they receive their Jenks Tribune. If someone wants to read the e-edition and/ or our website at www. jenkstribune.com to get their Jenks news and not get the hard copy of our paper, we want to accommodate them, but if someone does want to keep getting their Jenks Tribune in their mailbox every Friday, we certainly want to accommodate them as well. The e-edition and our website will remain free to anyone who wants to go our website and/or our Jenks Tribune Facebook page. The hard copy of the newspaper will also remain free, but we need you to let us know you still want to get the printed edition every week. Please mail us the filled-out form from this page at 329 S. Elm St. Ste 201 Jenks, OK 74037 or email office@ jenkstribune.com with
your name and address and we will make sure you get a newspaper in your mailbox every Friday. There will also be a form to fill out online on our website that you can email or mail in to us. This offer only applies to city of Jenks residents. We understand we have many readers who live outside of the city of Jenks and they can still get the paper in one of our many locations across the Jenks community or online, but at this time, we can only mail to those who have mailboxes in the 74037 zip code. I understand this is a big change, but we believe this is the best model moving forward for how we want to get news to our community. We want as many free print subscriptions as we can get, but we also want to make sure people are getting the Jenks Tribune the way they want it. Our goal remains the same as it has always been. Our mission statement reads, “We are the Jenks community’s hometown source for hyperlocal news, sports and information that the people of our community need to know.” Our mission will never change. Whether you want the Jenks Tribune in your mailbox or online, our job is to keep you informed and we plan on doing that for a long time. Thank you Jenks! Sincerely, Kyle Salomon ksalomon@jenkstribune.com
GUEST COLUMN
MAIN STREET MATTERS WITH SARAH CLAVIN Every November tucked in between Halloween and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite weeks at my job. Sure, by the end of the week I may have no voice and may be reciting my speech in my sleep after repeating it to hundreds of parents day in and day out. I may be tired of answering the same question over and over again, “you want us to wear clothes over our swimsuits??” And I may be burnt out on the topic after writing my 50th post on the subject. BUT. But that doesn’t change the fact that when Clothesline Week rolls around every fall at Miller Swim School I get goosebumps excited. During the School Year, Miller Swim School has 2 major safety weeks, one in the Fall, Clothesline Week, and the other in the Spring, Canoe Week. Canoe Week we focus on lake, lifejacket, and boating safety in preparation for the Summer season rolling around soon. We put an actual, real life canoe in the water, the kids have a blast. Clothesline Week, however, we focus on cold weather water safety, and seasonally appropriate water survival skills. During this specialty week, we invite swimmers of all levels to come fully clothed for swim class. The curric-
ulum this week is divided into 3 main parts; safety rules, reach, throw, never go, and cold water and survival skills We spend the beginning few minutes of the class on basic pool/water safety rules; no running around the pool, don’t dive in the shallow end, never swim alone, always ask permission before entering the water, never jump/dive into water where you can’t see the bottom, etc.. We also talk about ice. (perfect timing with the drastic changes in seasons and the little flurries we’ve been getting lately!) We go into detail about ice safety because #kids. Did you know the water in our part of Oklahoma rarely freezes thick enough to safely walk on it? Did you also know that if someone falls through the ice you should never walk out on it and try to rescue them? Did you also know that if you fell through the ice,
you should either wait for help -if it’s on the way, or carefully arm crawl out, don’t stand up, but army crawl back to the shoreline to decrease the chances of the ice breaking further? Similarly, we remind our swimmers to never walk on pool covers, as much as they appear to be a solid surface, they are not, and can turn brittle and break just like the ice in cold weather. The second segment of the class is spent reviewing our main theme for each safety week, “reach, throw, never go.” (we will chat more about this later on, but the gist of it is if someone needs help in the water, reach out something they can grab on to, throw them something that floats, but never go in after them because 90 percent of the time they will pull you down with them.) During the final segment of the class we get to really focus on the fun stuff, swimming fully clothed. Keep in mind that swim class for a beginner brings plenty of new stimuli on its own, but adding the dynamic of wearing your clothes takes it to another whole level. If you haven’t had the opportunity to swim in your clothes, whether on purpose or by accident, wet clothes are
HEAVY and sticky, and they cling to your body, and they are bulky. The weight and multitude of the clothes causes the swimmer to have to make adjustments for their strokes and floats. They have to kick harder, pull longer, and use more force to roll their body over onto their back to breathe. What makes this week so special is the fact that we get to expose our precious swimmers to a real life situation in a safe and controlled environment. We get to allow them to experience what it feels like if they were to fall in the water fully clothed. Let’s be honest, if a child fell in the pool/pond/lake this time of year, they are not going to be prepared with their goggles and their swimsuits. They are going to have their Holiday dress or their puffy winter coat on instead. Most children would panic if this happened to them. BUT. But all week long at Miller Swim School, we give swimmers the resources and experience they need to be prepared anytime, for any situation, in any kind of body of water regardless if they are wearing their swimsuits or their Christmas best.
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U.S. Representative Kevin Hern visited with Civil Air Patrol’s Riverside Flight at their evening meeting. The congressman spoke to cadets about the importance of continual personal leadership development and modeling in their personal lives what CAP teaches them. Photo/Courtesy
U.S. Rep. talks leadership with CAP Flight SUBMITTED On Oct. 14, 2019, U.S. Representative Kevin Hern visited with Civil Air Patrol’s Riverside Flight at their evening meeting. The congressman spoke to cadets about the importance of continual personal leadership development and modeling in their personal lives what CAP teaches them. He spoke briefly about his membership in the
Oklahoma Wing Civil Air Patrol with his son Kelby from 2012 to 2013. “You all can be doing a lot of things, other than being here tonight,” Hern said. “What you are learning about service and service to your fellow man is really a special thing. You also get a true appreciation for leadership and responsibility, and I would say also followership. Rank knows no age; it knows no
gender. It’s about hard work and determination.” “This was a special night for our unit,” said Cadet 2nd Lt. Jeremiah Groves, Riverside Flight’s new cadet commander. “To get to hear leadership wisdom from not only a successful businessman, but also a congressman; that’s special. I am glad he came out to speak to our members.”
“Life is about serving others, it really is,” Hern said. “You are learning this at the youngest of ages in a very structured program. It gives you an opportunity when you graduate high school, whether you go into the military or not, to use military ideas and military procedures to guide and organize the rest of your life. The squadron’s Aerospace Education
Officer Tamara Shannon said, “I was impressed by his overall message, that you can be both professionally successful and serve others at the same time. He encouraged the cadets to try new things, to never give up, and to strive to be the best at whatever they do without losing sight of service to others.” “You will never for-
get this experience your entire life,” Hern added. “It’ll make you stay squared away, and make you appreciate organization.” Follow the adventures of Riverside Flight at Facebook. com/RiversideOK.CAP. Riverside Flight meets Monday’s from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Tulsa Tech’s Riverside Campus.
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Jenks City Council members Cory Box and Craig Murray hosted the first-ever First Responders Appreciation Night Monday at Flying Tee. First Responders, city officials and community leaders gathered to show support for the Jenks Police and Fire Departments. Photos/Kyle Salomon
Appreciation heroes to me, and this was a chance for us to say thank you to them.”
From page 1A Box added getting the police department and fire department togeth-
er in a social setting can be beneficial when they are on the job. “These guys have a common bond in what they do, and I believe
when you know each other outside of work, you work better together and it allows the community to grow as a whole,” Box said.
“These guys are all heroes to me.” Jenks Fire Chief Greg Ostrum said it is always good to get everyone together and have fun together. “This is a great opportunity for all of us to get together,” Ostrum said. “We really appreciate councilors Box and Murray for doing this. We all work hard, and it is always nice to be appreciated.” Jenks Police Chief Cameron Arthur echoed Ostrum’s comments. “It is always great to
see police officers and firemen get together and have support from the community,” Arthur said. “It is nice to get together outside of work and feel that support from the community. I know these guys really appreciate it. It is great that we have a close relationship with the fire department, not every community has that, so that is nice that we have established that here.”
Friday, November 15, 2019 Ward 4
From page 1A
of Jenks. MM: Jenks is home; I attended Jenks schools from third grade until I graduated from JHS in 2001. I enjoyed my time here so much that, after my wife and I got married, we decided to move back and start our family here. Our school system is second to none, and I love the closeness of the community combined with the ease of access to the wider Tulsa area. CW: Jenks is special to my wife and I for a reason that is personal yet shared by many Jenks residents: it is where we raised our family. Like many families, we were drawn to Jenks in large part due to the school system. We moved here before our children began kindergarten. Since then, our oldest daughter graduated from Jenks High School, and our youngest daughter is a Senior at Jenks High School. As such, Jenks has been the source of so many events in our lives—whether day-today happenings such as school plays, Girl Scout meetings, band concerts, and lacrosse practice, or milestones such as birthdays, homecomings, and graduation. Jenks, therefore, is much more than where we live; it is our home. JT: Why do you want to serve on City Council? CB: I want to serve on the Jenks City Council because I have always believed in serving others. When you live in a community, you owe it to our community to give back and to help build it. We have to leave our city better than we found it and always do what’s best for Jenks. We cannot sit back and wait for things to happen. We have to get involved and that is something my family and I have proudly been doing, whether it is volunteering with Jenks athletics, serving on the Chamber Board of Directors or serving on the City of Jenks Bond Oversight Committee, and now the City Planning Commission. GB: As someone who does not consider himself a politician, I was drawn to serve on the city council after seeing Jenks through the eyes of a husband, father, small business owner, and concerned citizen. I know the great community we have here is a rarity, and I see many opportunities for growth, development, and a lasting legacy for our
children and grandchildren. There are few individuals my age and in my station in life currently serving in our city government. As my family is representative of the current demographic in Jenks, I feel it is important that someone like myself represents this large subset of the Jenks population. I want to serve the constituents of Ward 4 and the city as a whole in a meaningful way that will have a strong impact on the future. DD: I have a passion for supporting Jenks and a proven track record of leadership. While my children attended JPS over the last thirteen years, I served in many capacities ranging from elementary PTAG President to the Gradfest Volunteer Coordinator, working successfully with hundreds of teachers, parents, and volunteers. Regardless of the role, supporting the Jenks community through the exceptional school system has been both rewarding and challenging. Now that my children have graduated, serving on the Jenks City Council would be an amazing opportunity to serve the community in a new and impactful way, beyond the school system. MM: I want to serve on the Council to help shepherd Jenks through its continued growth and development. I consider it the Council’s job to continue improving the infrastructure in our community to not only catch up with our current population, but also to set the stage for future residential and commercial growth. This includes not only street widening projects, but also improving drainage throughout the city, as well as tying together existing trails and bike paths into a more comprehensive network. Anyone who has lived in the Tulsa metro for any amount of time recognizes that infrastructure has not kept up with growth. If appointed as a member of the City Council, I will do everything in my power to remedy that in Jenks’ case. CW: Having benefitted from living in Jenks for the last 14 years, I desire to repay the community through service to Jenks. I believe my background—nearly two decades as a lawyer handling business litigation and business transactional matters, including contracts, real property issues,
and financial transactions—has provided me the experience and perspective that can be of value to the City Council. JT: What would you say Jenks’ identity is? CB: As our community has grown from around 5,000 people to over 20,000 people today, we’ve been able to keep all that is special about our community. As we look toward future growth (housing and commercial projects such as Simon’s Tulsa Premium Outlets), it is important that we protect and maintain that close-knit, small-town feel that all of us know as Jenks. GB: Jenks is a growing city that has maintained a hometown feel. We are rooted in our past and the rich history that led us to where we are today, and at the same time, we are moving toward the future with new ideas and an ever-evolving population of multi-generational families and business owners. Jenks is the best of both worlds so to speak ... a perfect marriage of old and new. DD: Jenks is a family-friendly small town known for its excellent schools and strong business climate. With the new development of the River District and continued housing boom, citizens now have the power to decide for themselves what the identity of Jenks should be for future generations to come. As a representative of the people of Jenks, my commitment is to create an environment where our city can reach its maximum potential while maintaining its small-town charm. MM: Jenks is a suburb that has a smalltown feel while still having access to the amenities of a larger community. It can be a difficult balance, but if done correctly it’s the best of both worlds. Most of us work outside the city limits, but we know where our home is and we want it to be the best it can be. CW: For obvious reasons, Jenks is associated with excellence, particularly excellent schools, sports, and extracurricular activities. But those of us who choose to live in Jenks (not just within the Jenks school district) know that what distinguishes us is a sense of community. Despite its growth, Jenks has maintained a small-town feel, where residents know their neighbors, care about the success of local businesses, and are civically engaged. If I have
JenksTribune.com the honor of serving on the City Council, I will strive to protect Jenks’ unique community identity. JT: What is your vision for the City of Jenks in the next 10 years? CB: In the next 10 years, Jenks has a huge opportunity. As our commercial base grows with projects such as the Outlet Mall, we have to invest in downtown. We need to partner with new businesses that will keep our downtown relevant and vibrant while still respecting the past. The city has also made considerable investments in our trail and sidewalk systems. We have to make our town walkable and make sure all parts of Jenks are connected. I hope that my family and I will one day be able to bike or walk from my house in south Jenks to downtown Jenks or to my office without having to engage with heavy traffic. I also see Jenks as a point of destination for people across the region to come to and visit (RiverWalk, the Oklahoma Aquarium, the Outlet Mall, and downtown Jenks). To accommodate these things, we have to invest in our infrastructure. We have to make sure our roads are high quality and that our water and sewer systems can handle the growth we have coming. GB: In the next 10 years, I want to see Jenks continue to maintain the small town charm that makes it unique, while developing a robust Main Street that attracts new businesses, restaurants, and activities for families. I want to see Main Street serve as the hub for major events in the city, and be a place where walkability, entrepreneurship, and hometown pride are cultivated. I want to see continued support for our schools, police, fire fighters, and medical providers as this is central to any well run city. I want to ensure that those individuals in education and helping professions have a voice and are leading the discussions surrounding schools, safety, health, and wellness. Over the next several years, I hope we will continue to see improved infrastructure as new developments and families come to our area. My goal is for more local families to feel the same tremendous pride in their hometown as my family and I feel each and every day living here. DD: As we look to the future, we have an
incredible opportunity to leverage our resources and unique charms to grow and provide improved services to our neighbors. Key points of my visions for Jenks include: •Infrastructure – Many aspects of our city were designed for a day when we would reach 10,000 residents. As one of the fastest-growing communities in Oklahoma year after year, we must execute a vision for the Jenks of 2030, when more than 30,000 or more people will be our neighbors. Road congestion is a daily frustration for many Jenks residents today and should be a priority. We must also continue to invest in water, sewer, and other public services to meet this continued growth. Promoting high-quality housing and commercial developments will encourage individuals and businesses to invest in our community. •Public Safety – Supporting those who put their lives on the line for the safety of our community must be at the top of our mind. As our community evolves, our City Council must ensure we generate a longterm plan to guarantee we have the Police, Fire, and Emergency Response resources necessary to keep the residents of Jenks safe. Another way to keep our community safe is to separate industrial businesses from residential areas. In particular, we need to create a comprehensive safety plan for the Phillips 66 butane terminal on Elwood and other highrisk industries. •Leveraging Downtown – As the original attraction of our city, downtown has evolved and there is more to come. We need to ensure that the additional growth harmonizes with existing neighborhoods. The city is currently updating the appearance review district to redefine those standards. This needs to include community involvement to reach a unified vision. Leverage downtown to me is about having a variety of businesses, events, and programs to attract people from around the area. As our growth happens in new areas, it’s important to keep downtown linked to those new developments. This includes walkability, bike paths and even a trolley system to make it easy for visitors to experience everything Jenks has to offer. •Economic Development - The foundation of all of our
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plans is economic development. With wise stewardship and an eye on purposeful growth, Jenks has an even brighter future ahead, and we can ensure it remains a unique and vital member of our metropolitan landscape. We want people to be able to live, work, and play in our great community of Jenks, Oklahoma. MM: In the next 10 years, I want to see Jenks continue to develop a local entertainment scene that will bring folks in from around the area, as well as give local families more options to keep their money in Jenks. I hope that the City can partner with the Creek Nation to continue development along the Arkansas River, to the benefit of both parties. We must also continue to build Downtown Jenks into a place that people drive to, rather than through. We’ve already made great strides with community events, such as the Plant & Herb Festival and the annual Christmas Parade, and I hope to see more of that sort of activity. Some specific items I’d love to see in our future: a children’s museum/activity center (the Magic House in St. Louis is a great example of what I’m talking about), a craft brewery and/or brewpub, and a pedicab or similar transit service that can furnish transport between our various entertainment areas (downtown,the Riverwalk, the aquarium, the outlet mall, etc. That last item is particularly crucial to avoid further traffic congestion or having to set aside more lands for parking lots or garages. As I mentioned previously, it is critical we continue to expand our infrastructure to keep up with the expected population growth. Our citizens deserve better than to be stuck in traffic or to watch streets flood due to decisions that were made (or that were neglected to be made) years or even decades ago. CW: My vision for Jenks over the next decade is to ensure growth at a sustainable pace, with an emphasis on providing a safe environment for our children and promoting local businesses. It is imperative that Jenks maintain and improve its infrastructure and manage growth to avoid unduly straining our existing streets, public works, and fire and police resources.
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• FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • JENKSTRIBUNE.COM •
Trojans trounce Jaguars 44-15 By HAYDEN TUCKER
htucker@jenkstribune.com
Jenks football ensured its 30-year playoff streak would stay alive with the 44-15 win over Westmoore last Friday. Both the Trojans (6-4, 4-2) and the Jaguars (6-4, 3-3)were motivated going into the matchup as neither had claimed a playoff spot to that point. Jenks took care of business to close out the season at Allan Trimble Stadium and end the home careers of the seniors. Senior running back Will Cox scored the first three touchdowns for the Trojans to highlight his 111 rushing yards. His versatility on offense reminds some in the program of a prominent NFL back. “He’s our Christian McCaffrey,” offensive coordinator Greg Calabrese said. “We try
to be creative, figure out ways we can move him around. Obviously, he’s very important to the defense as well. “Each week we know teams will key in on him and where he’s at, so we try to move him around, get him out of the backfield. What he’s able to do once he has the ball in his hands, he’s special.” After Cox finished lighting up the Jaguars on the ground, the rest of the offense found a way to attack Westmoore through the air. Quarterback Stephen Kittleman would hit Justin Murphy and Bo Estes in the third quarter for touchdowns of their own. Kittleman ended the game passing 18-for-20 for 259 yards. “His mental toughness is just growing week Continued to TROJANS, Page 2B
Jenks on the road for first time since 1991 By HAYDEN TUCKER
htucker@jenkstribune.com
Quinn Hill picks up yards on a run play. The Trojans amassed 182 rushing yards against Westmoore in the final game of the regular season. Photos/Hayden Tucker
Jenks football has continued its streak of playoff appearances but this time it will be different. For the first time since 1991, the Trojans will be on the road for the first round of the playoffs. Jenks travels to Mustang for its first postseason action. There’s no doubt the expectation at Jenks is to host the first round of playoffs but they won’t let that factor ruin their run. “It is different,” coach Keith Riggs said. “Not the path we had planned going into the season but we still have the path that we want to be able to play in the championship game and have a chance to win it. While the road we’re going on is a little bit different, it’s still all there before us for us to go out and take.
“Playoffs are playoffs, you’re going to play a quality team no matter what in the playoffs. The bottom line is, no matter who we play or where we play, we’ve got to go out and perform to win.” Despite the unusual first round schedule, Jenks plans to keep their preparation as they always have. “I think it’s a formula, we feel like it works so we stay with it,” Riggs said. “I think the familiarity helps the kids as well although we’ll throw in a wrinkle here and there to keep them on their toes. I do think it’s a formula we feel like it works, and it gives us the best chance to be prepared come Friday.” Mustang is a different team than in years’ past. Following the exit of Jeremy Dombek and his six-year tenure, the Continued to ROAD, Page 2B
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Trojans
Friday, November 15, 2019
From page 1B
after week,” Calabrese said. “To see all of it come to fruition in a big game, a lot of pressure on the kids. To see him come out and play the best game he’s played in his career was really fun.” The receiving corps of Estes and Murphy has been an area the Trojan offense could lean on all season. Estes’ 65 yards and Murphy’s 129 yards against Westmoore was some of their best play yet. “They’re so fundamental in what they do,” Kittleman said. “They appreciate getting each other open. That’s what we talk about, we play for each other. We don’t play for ourselves or our stats and they do a great job of that.” Jenks racked up 441 total yards of offense, 259 passing yards and 182 rushing. The defense, on the other hand, held up its end of the bargain. Westmoore had just 182 total yards of offense. The Jaguars could only muster 31 rushing yards, the other 151 yards came through the air. Jenks wanted to head into the playoffs on the heels of a big win, but the motivation wasn’t what led them to their fifth game scoring above 40 points. “It’s not just this game, we try to put the onus on the offense that we want to score every time we touch the football,” Calabrese said. “Obviously there are some things that aren’t realistic about that approach, but certainly the approach we have every drive.” The Trojans know they aren’t a perfect product. They took the time after last Friday’s game to ensure they’re ready for their first round match up with Mustang. “We certainly are happy with the way we played but we’ll go dissect the film and we’ll find things to get better at and hopefully we can put together a little run heading into the playoffs,” Calabrese said. For the seniors, the win over Westmoore will be their final memory at Allan Trimble Stadium. They’ll be on the road Friday to take on the Mustang Broncos. “It’s really emotional,” Last game on our homefield. It’s great it came on a win.” The Trojans and Broncos will kick off at 7 p.m. at Bronco Stadium.
Above, Justin Murphy tumbles over a Jaguar to get back on his feet and gain yards. Below, Griffin Forbes reads the defense to pick up yards.
A group of Trojans team up to tackle the Westmoore ball handler. The Jenks defense limited the Jaguars to 31 rushing yards.
Road
From page 1B
Broncos hired Lee Blankenship to right the ship. Blankenship, who is the nephew of former Union coach and current Owasso coach Bill Blankenship, formerly coached at Beggs and Bartlesville. Riggs says he knows Blankenship from his time on the east side. “I would say, just looking at their performance, he’s handling it very well,” Riggs said. “He’s done a good job down there. Was able to beat Union in district play, played Owasso really close, it was a good game. They’ve got a home playoff game, so it sure looks like he’s doing a great job.” The Broncos ended the regular season 7-3, 5-2 in Class 6A District II, a turnaround from missing the playoffs with a 4-6 record the season before. Mustang is outscoring opponents an average of 34-27 in 10 games this season. Notable wins for the Broncos include a 23-21 victory over Union and a close 24-21 win over Edmond Santa Fe. The Broncos held the powerful Owasso offense to 24 points in a loss week eight. Following a 2-2 start, Mustang has put a quality product on the field each week. “They had a couple of losses early
in the season, but they’ve really improved since then,” Riggs said. “Really, just a solid team all around. They don’t have any weaknesses per say. They’re very resourceful, they keep finding ways to win. “They’ve been in a few close games but in all of them they maintained their composure and they keep with their game plan and find ways to come out on top.” What Jenks has over Mustang is experience. Between the returning experience from the state title game last season and adversity faced this season, the Trojans will be ready for whatever is thrown their way. “We’ve got kids that have been there, that have played through a playoff run last year, a few of them the year before,” Riggs said. “They know what a playoff game is like. I would say some of the adversity that we’ve had to go through this year has made us stronger as a team, is going to help us. There is always some adversity in playoff games, and I think that will help us having been through some of that early.” Jenks travels to Mustang Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Friday, November 15, 2019
JenksTribune.com
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2019-2020 Trojan football senior class
Branden Elrod
Kobey Rogers
Kobe Tucker
Jake Mulready
Killian McGrew
David Fonseca
Thatcher Hall
Drake Vannoy
Will Cox
Justin Murphy
Grant Bruton
Matt Ackerley
Hunter Hyde
Jaxson Humphery
James Pruitt
Matthew Wofford
Jonathan Rhinehart
Max Johnson
Matthew Penland
John Roberts
Bo Estes
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JenksTribune.com
Jenks half marathon
Friday, November 15, 2019
Boys hoops begin scrimmage season
The Jenks half marathon was held Nov. 9. The race ended at the Jenks HIgh School track. Photos/Drew Bethell
Benjamin Averitt hangs on the rim after dunking on a fast break. Photos/Hayden Tucker
Braxton Scott fights through the contact.
Jenks boys basketball got their first action on the court last week in a scrimmage against Tulsa Edison.
5B • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 • JENKSTRIBUNE.COM •
SEA TURTLE NAMED SEAMORE
Jenks FFA competes at National Convention
The Oklahoma Aquarium held a contest to name the new sea turtle. Tommy Drywater won, suggesting Seamore. Four finalists made it to the final round last Saturday at the 25th birthday part for the newly named sea turtle. Front, Evan French. Back row from left: Isaiah Thomas, Michael Guffee and Tommy Drywater. Photos/Courtesy
By ALEX DAVIS
JENKS FFA REPORTER
The Jenks FFA chapter competed at the 92nd annual National FFA Convention and Expo this past week in Indianapolis, Indiana. National FFA Convention unites members from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and helps demonstrate and celebrate their accomplishments. This year’s convention saw more than 69,000 students and had more than 400 exhibiting companies at the Career Show. The Jenks FFA Floriculture CDE Team competed against 44 other teams from across the nation. The team consisted of Jenna Fingerlin, Hunter Gibson, Kathraine Hart, and Isabella Griffey. Jenna, Hunter, and Isabella were gold emblem individuals and Katharine was a silver emblem individual. Keaton Cunningham and Alex Davis represented Jenks FFA for the National Chapter Award in the area of Growing Leaders. The two interviewed with a panel of judges to explain about partnering with the Jenks High School Special Olympics Team and how the chapter helped build a horseshoe practice pit. Nate Ezell and Isabella Griffey also walked across the national stage to receive the chapters’ National 3 Star Chapter Award. This is the highest award a chapter can receive. Jared Blevins was also recognized at the National FFA Convention as he received his American FFA Degree. This is the highest degree and FFA member can receive.
JHS students explore career opportunities at ‘Prep You’
Jenks High School seniors attended the second annual ‘Prep You’ conference at OSU-Tulsa last Friday. Students sat through sessions on topics such as Building a business, real life skills and managing college financial aid. Photos/Hayden Tucker
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JenksTribune.com
Friday, November 15, 2019
3rd and 4th grade students from Jenks East Elementary we asked to write on the topic “Is it more important to be friendly, funny, or kind when making a new friend. Why?� Read the 10 winning submissions below.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Seamore the Sea Turtle turns 25
The Oklahoma Aquarium held a birthday party for Seamore the Sea Turtle. Seamore turned 25 years-old. Photos/Courtesy
JenksTribune.com
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JenksTribune.com
Friday, November 15, 2019