Jenks Tribune, Digital Issue 32 - March 20, 2020

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City of Jenks issues Emergency Declaration page 2

EMPTY CHAIRS AT EMPTY TABLES Jenks Restaurants and bars close page 7

Jenks Public Schools Temporarily shutdown page 3

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020

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COVID-19 forces City of Jenks Emergency Declaration, Aquarium closure

By Kyle Salomon

Jenks Mayor Robert Lee, along with City Manager Chris Shrout issued an Emergency Declaration Monday for the City of Jenks to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

In response to the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines, the City of Jenks is suspending all events or gatherings of 10 or more people in a city-owned or city-operated facility or property through at least April 6.

“I deeply regret the effect this is going to have on our local businesses,” Lee said. “There is no way around it, they are going to take a hit because of this. We are going to have a lot of work to do to pull ourselves out of this, but it is something we can do. The government has a lot more tools to help with economic recovery than to have to rebuild a collapsing health care system.”

All special event permits with projected attendance of 10 or more people will officially be revoked and no further special events permits will be issued. Also, there will be no more special events held in the City of Jenks through at least April 6.

The city is encouraging its residents to utilize its auto-draft option for utility billing, pay online or use the drop box in the City Hall parking lot. You can find more information on this subject at www.jenks.com.

According to a statement released on Facebook, Lee said he wants to make sure every tool is available to help defend against the Coronavirus outbreak.

“We don’t want to leave any resources on the table that can help us test and treat people, take care of those in need and recover economically,” Lee stated.

Also in the Facebook statement, Lee shared some advice for the citizens of Jenks as they cope with the virus.

“The best thing you can do right now is prepare yourself and your family for extended time at home,” Lee shared.

“I urge you to learn from the mistakes of countries like Italy and practice social distancing in any way you can.

The worst thing you can do is panic or be fearful. We’ll get through this, and we’ll minimize the impact by reacting in a calm and rational manner.”

This Emergency Declaration for the City of Jenks comes shortly after State of Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued a State of Emergency, which followed a National Emergency Declaration from United States President Donald Trump.

“There is no reason to panic or be afraid,” Lee said. “I have heard people equate social distancing with fear and I think that is the wrong way to look at it. This is something that can and should be done in a calm and rational way.”

Lee said the local economy will be hurt by this.

Oklahoma Aquarium closes indefinitely

Despite the upcoming spring break push and the unveiling of the new Octopus Exhibit, the Oklahoma Aquarium announced Monday it is closing its doors until further notice.

Lee said this was a tough, but correct decision for the City of Jenks. “This is something the Aquarium staff has been monitoring very closely and have been waiting for the right time to make that announcement,” Lee said. “We don’t take any pleasure in doing this.

This is the biggest week of the year being spring break and the Aquarium just unveiled its new Octopus Exhibit, which is spectacular.

We hate to have to close down, but it’s the best thing we can do for the staff there and our community.”

Jenks Schools Close Due to Covid-19 Outbreak

By Hayden Tucker Oklahoma schools will be shut down until through April 5 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jenks Public Schools has alerted that they will be shut down as part of this. Superintendent Dr. Stacy Butterfield commented on the rapidly changing subject.

“This is an unprecedented situation for our entire world and so much is changing every hour of every day,” Butterfield said. “No one could have predicted where we would be today with the closure of all Oklahoma schools.

We are certainly grateful to our local and state agencies for their guidance and recommendations as we all come together to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Jenks Athletic Director Tony Dillingham told the Jenks Tribune Monday that all athletic meetings, contests and practices are canceled until “at least” April 5. Dillingham said the athletic department will evaluate the conditions moving forward.

Jenks boys basketball was set to take on Edmond Memorial in the first round of the state tournament last Thursday before the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association postponed the event 90 minutes prior to tip off.

Jenks baseball was set to travel to Phoenix this week for the Coach Bob Invitational.

“Education is important, but the health and safety of our students and staff members must take priority at this time. I want to reassure our students, parents, and employees that we will keep them informed as decisions are made, and we will continue to monitor this rapidly evolving situation.”

Jenks students are currently on spring break.

It is unknown whether school will resume after April 5.

SPRING SELLING SEASON IS HERE! MARCH INTO YOUR NEW HOME NOW!

Bringing the Best in Real Estate to Jenks Andrea Salomon

Sales Executive | Coldwell Banker Select 8990 S Sheridan | Tulsa OK 74133

Asalomon@cbtulsa.com AndreasHomeSite.com | 918.231.0957

HEARING FROM T HE OWNER’S BOX

By Kyle Salomon I remember as a young child sitting in my parents living room watching this movie called, “Outbreak”, starring Dustin Hoffman.

The film was about this disease that terrorized several communities in California and threatened to spread across the country and wipe out a large portion of the national population unless an anti-virus was created to stop the epidemic.

About a decade later, I went to the theatres to watch Will Smith star in “I Am Legend”.

The award-winning picture took us through what life would be like if a disease had wiped out the majority of humanity turning many of them into zombie-like creatures that hunted the remaining humans.

There was one common theme that went through my mind after I watched both films … “that could never actually happen.” Now, at age 32, I sit here in my office watching a virus spread like wildfire. This particular virus first spread across foreign land, but is now in our own nation, our state and our city.

Its name … COVID-19 or “Coronavirus”. Either way you choose to title it, it doesn’t leave you with any positive feelings or thoughts. It has proven to be a killer, but the scariest part about this virus isn’t the fact that it has killed certain people, it’s not knowing how to control it.

There are many diseases in this world that have the potential to kill people, but with those other viruses and infections we have the understanding, knowledge and capability to stop it. Sure, we have the ability to quarantine ourselves, cancel big high-traffic events and shut down public facilities, such as restaurants, bars and parks and that will help slow the spread, but from a medical standpoint, we have not been able to figure out how to stop this disease and that is frightening.

I am not sitting here thinking to myself that our world is going to end up like one of those movies I mentioned earlier, but if we don’t start acting like humanitarians, some scary things will take place. This unfortunate situation we have found ourselves in is giving us all a chance to put our political feelings and beliefs aside, our different races and nationalities aside and fight this thing together as humans.

It breaks my heart to turn the television on and see fights breaking out in grocery stores across the nation over things like toilet paper and other necessities. That is not going to help us get through this situation. President Donald Trump issued a National State of Emergency, Governor Kevin Stitt issued an Oklahoma State of Emergency and Mayor Robert Lee issued a State of Emergency for the City of Jenks.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidelines on what to do to help prevent the spread of the virus.

We have the blueprint, but it is up to us to execute that plan.

Fear is not the answer. Fear leads to panic and panic will fuel the disease, not kill it.

We must remain calm, cool and collected. We must listen to our leaders and medical professionals and trust what they are telling us.

This is not going to be an easy ride for anyone but keeping our cool and not panicking will determine just how we come out of this on the other side.

Sincerely, Kyle Salomon ksalomon@jenkstribune.com

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Jenks Tribune Staff

Kyle Salomon Owner Hyperlocal LLC Publisher: Jenks Tribune

Hayden Tucker Director of Media/ Sports Editor Jenks Tribune

Jinger Wiesman Creative Director/ Advertising Executive Jenks Tribune

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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.”

Local, Small Businesses Will Feel Effect of Coronavirus GUEST COLUMN

advertising and big events. The unseen are formidable, they will ebb and flow with the changes of the virus, but may include many long-term losses that we cannot even predict at this time.

By Sarah Clavin I am not sure where you stand on COVID-19, whether you are intrigued by it, totally sick of hearing about it, or terrified by what it could do. I fall somewhere in the middle of it all, somewhere strange between peace and anxiety, somewhere between confidence and uncertainty of the future. Frankly I am a little fatigued of hearing about it and the daily, often hourly, updates and changes are beginning to wear on me.

Since it is here, however, and a very real part of our daily lives, I am going to write one single article on it and then move on. There ARE other things going on in the world despite what the media and social media would have you to believe. Since I am no medical professional, the focus of this article is how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect small, local businesses.

As a partial owner of a small local business that has been a part of the greater Tulsa community for 60 years, the repercussions, both seen and unseen, of the COVID-19 are terrifying.

The seen include (but are not limited to), loss of profit, loss of income, loss of employees, shutting our doors for an unknown period of time, loss of customers, overhead to be paid though we are not operating, loss of funds already allocated to marketing/

Jinger Wiesman Owner/Graphic Designer 381creative.com 918.813.0654

In the nature of every business, there is a busy season and slow season, this season, spring and summer are our “safety seasons.” We are filled to the brim and operating at our max so that when the slow season comes, we (our business and employees alike) maintain the same level of security that they did during the busy season.

Even such a short-term closing as two weeks is enough to do significant damage to our current AND future seasons, most business in our industry are predicting closer to a 6-8 week closing, which would cause significant if not detrimental damage to our businesses in the long term.

Not to mention our employees. As a small business we lack the massive capital that retailers and restaurants hold in reserve to continue paying employees long term during a time of recession and uncertainty. BUT as a small business our staff has become like our family and we couldn’t image them (or their families) doing without.

running to Target, order from that local boutique on Main, and instead of cancelling your event or your lessons or your class, postpone them. Small businesses are hoping to survive this, and the reality is many may not. As a business in the service industry, I can candidly say that we are not looking to keep anyone’s money, we do not wish for anyone to lose money, but we are asking that you would ride this out with us. Postpone where you can so that our employees can be taken care of, allow credits and make-up and rescheduling when possible, so that your child’s favorite teacher or staff member can continue employment during this season and will be there when you return.

Because here is the hard reality – we will all return to normalcy at some point. Activities, classes, restaurants and even schools will regain routine at one time or another and when we do, only those you support during this time will make it through.

The Jenks Mayor, Bobby Lee, shared a heartfelt statement today calling social distancing an “act of courage, a sacrifice for the greater good. I can’t overstate the pain I feel, knowing the effect that this is having on Jenks businesses and the labor force, as well as the cascading effects that will occur throughout the community. This is the best bad option available to us. We will get through this, and these steps will help us get there” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

So what can you do in the meantime to help? Shop small and local. We are not the only small business in Tulsa and Jenks that is suffering through these uncertain times. Many local businesses have made online or phone purchasing a real option in order to continue operating. Instead of ordering from Amazon, hop on their website and grab a book, instead of

*some exclusions apply

By Hayden Tucker

March Sadness

If you’ve known me long enough, you will have heard me singing ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ in March.

I really don’t like Christmas music, but that song strikes a chord with me in the greatest 30 days in sports. In March you have the NBA reaching its peak, high school basketball is beginning the playoffs, and the granddaddy of them all, March Madness.

As an avid, nay, rabid basketball fan, I live for this month. But it’s gone now. It won’t be happening at all. COVID-19 has taken away my life’s greatest pleasure or, at least, postponed it for one year.

I’ve been keeping up with the coronavirus since last November when China was taking its first actions. Back then I didn’t think much of it. I just thought it was another one of those ‘killer’ viruses that seem to spark every two-to-three years.

As it persisted through December and into January, I began to take more notice. It was spreading to other countries. They were taking measures too.

Those were the first dominoes that fell, in my mind. I watched societies in other countries completely shut down to avoid the spread of the virus and I was afraid that my life, too, would be placed on hold.

All that became a gripping reality when the NBA suspended its season.

I knew immediately the NBA had set a precedent that other sports were to follow. And sure enough, they did. The NBA suspended its season March 11, the OSSAA postponed the state tournament March 12, the NCAA canceled March Madness March 13. The NHL, the MLB, spring college sports, so many more all either postponed or canceled.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s just basketball. I understand that. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. While the OSSAA still stands firm on its openness to holding the basketball state tournament, there is skepticism that it will take place at all. I hurt for the members of the Jenks boys basketball team who were primed for a state tournament berth against Edmond Memorial.

The seniors on that team have worked hard to get where they are. It took them years. Now, they may never get their chance. College athletes live for March Madness and the one shining moment. That will never happen for them.

It’s had and will have its implications on other sports as well.

Spring high school sports are in its infancy of the season. Baseball was just beginning to pick up, soccer hit the pitch, track and field, tennis, golf and all the others will be canceled until at least April 6.

I don’t like to make speculations, but I doubt that school and sports actually begin on that date. We’re likely to see more dates push back, more isolation over the coming months. It’s what I’ve seen other countries do, and it’s what our own is beginning to do.

New Rochelle, New York has been in quarantine for a week. San Francisco is on lockdown for three weeks. And these are just on the coasts.

Whether you deem the coronavirus serious or not, more of the same is to come.

Sports is often referred to as our escape from the everyday realities of life.

In this case, sports have been the indicator for how much our reality is changing.

City of Jenks Limits Specific Commercial Businesses to 10 Patrons

By Kyle Salomon Jenks restaurants, bars, gyms and other public entertainment venues are officially not allowed to have more than 10 patrons in their respective businesses at once.

The Jenks City Council held a special meeting Thursday and approved Ordinance No. 1510. The ordinance states that certain commercial businesses cannot have more than 10 patrons at any one time and imposes spacing requirements in order to prevent spread of contagious disease pursuant to civil emergency authority.

“One of the realities of flattening the curve with this is taking measures like we have,” Lee said. “The virus will move through our community for a longer period of time if we don’t take these measures.”

This action follows the State of Emergency Declaration by the City of Jenks on Monday.

“We are very grateful to all Jenks businesses that have voluntarily put these measures into place,” Lee said. “They are all sacrificing for the good of the community. I do understand why businesses would be resistant to this. We must all pull together to prevent a worst-case scenario.

“We are following guidelines from the Tulsa Health Department, Center for Disease Control and people at all levels of government who are encouraging we limit community spread any way we can,” Jenks Mayor Robert Lee said. “It is intensely painful making these types of decisions, but the situation will only get worse if we don’t.”

“We need to all be prepared as soon as we can to support our local economy. Many restaurants are offering curbside, take-out delivery, which are great options for people. We are expecting to see a large-scale recovery effort at all levels of government. We are working diligently to ensure that happens.”

The ordinance also states that the Mayor will have the authority to take action further limiting or closing such businesses if the Coronavirus spread continues to worsen in Tulsa County.

Lee also stated on his Facebook page that we could soon see this number drop to zero patrons allowed at these commercial businesses.

Los Cabos | Jenks Riverwalk

Waterfront | Jenks Riverwalk

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020

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City Of Jenks Urges Area Churches to Take Coronavirus Precautions Staff Reports As communities around the nation are weighing all options on how to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the City of Jenks took the opportunity Friday to message Jenks-area churches on what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has suggested for community and faith-based leaders.

Here are some of the suggestions the CDC is making for all church leaders regarding the Coronavirus:

Several churches in the Jenks community have already put new policies in place to help with the spread of the virus.

-Establishing or updating emergency operations plan -Key prevention strategies in emergency operations plan -Communication efforts -Action steps and follow up steps -Checklist -Planning -Preparation -Action -Cleaning and disinfection recommendations

Here are some of those new policies: -Eliminating handshaking -Limiting or eliminating the “passing” of contribution or tithing baskets. Having a stationary one instead where people can drop off their contribution without having to touch the basket.

-Encouraging everyone to use the provided hand sanitizer placed in the entryway before taking their seat.

-Holding virtual services through Facebok Live, Facetime, or other types of video streaming.

-Eliminating the use of common cup during service.

In its message sent to the faith-based leaders Friday, the City of Jenks included this statement: “We encourage all our faith-based organizations to continue to monitor the ongoing situation with COVID-19.”

Coronavirus Forces Vertical Limit Fitness to Change Grand Opening Date Staff Reports Due to the threat of outbreak from the Coronavirus, Vertical Limit Fitness will change its celebration of 10 years of service and hold its grand opening to April 24 for its new Jenks location, 3006 W. Main Street.

He is considered one of the top competitors in beach volleyball across Oklahoma and is also the founder and operator of the newest Tulsa juniors beach volleyball club, Vertical Beach.

The Grand Opening and 10-year celebration will have attractions such as “Mr. Nice Guys Taco Truck”, “DJ Silky”, family games, local athletic apparel from EGO Athletics with an open call for potential EGO models and a workout for whomever wants to join in at 7 p.m.

Decker started his fitness journey post-graduate through CrossFit and is a CrossFit L1 and L2 Certificate Holder. He also has an Olympic Weightlifting Certification and has passed the FMS Level 1 (Functional Movement Screen,) course. Decker has made Vertical Limit Fitness a premier functional fitness and training center in the area. He also offers jump training in the city for the growing volleyball community, through his own designed VRT (Vertical Response Training) course.

All ages are welcome to attend. The coaches and members of Vertical Limit Fitness will be on hand to answer any questions, introduce the community to their Vertical Family and meet their new neighbors.

Doug Decker, owner and lead development coach, has a history as a track and field athlete. Following his track and field experience in college, he made the transition to volleyball and over the last 20-plus years has been involved with the sport of volleyball in multiple ways.

“I firmly believe that for anyone wanting to move better, train better and become better, a consistent routine of core foundational work and sound functional movements, is the most efficient and effective way to achieve their goals of better health and wellness. At Vertical, we believe in better. Better coaching, better community, better movement, better function and a better life. We are here to help others achieve their better.”

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