Jenks Police Seek To Be Less-Intimidating With Masks By Kyle Salomon As COVID-19 runs rampant across the Tulsa area, Jenks first responders will now wear masks while in public but hope to do so in a less intimidating way. Jenks Police Chief Cameron Arthur said his officers will have specially designed masks to help make it less frightening for children in the community. “We wanted to make this as fun as possible,” Arthur said. “We also want parents to use this as an educational tool to explain to their children why these police officers have masks on when they are out in the public. We are trying to use ones that are positive and happy. Our hope is children can relate our masks to cartoons and things like that. We don’t want this to be a scary time for these children when they see us.” Jenks Police Corporal Sean Scott and his family made the “fun” masks for the Jenks Police officers. Jenks Fire Chief Greg Ostrum and his wife made hundreds of masks for people this past weekend and all the Jenks Firemen will have masks on as well when in public.
“If we are going to get involved, we want it to be fun,” Arthur said. “If we are able to make a serious conversation a little easier for children, it is more than worth it. It’s a serious deal, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it as fun as possible.” The Jenks Police Chief urged people to take the CDC guidelines seriously. “We need people to take this seriously,” Arthur said. “The CDC recommends wearing masks in the community and we are encouraging everyone to follow the CDC guidelines. We want Jenks to be a leader in this time. All City of Jenks employees will be following these guidelines. This is a great opportunity for people to help each other out. If anyone has any extra masks, I encourage them to share them with others.”
Jenks Animal Welfare Dogs Take Field Trip To Aquarium Submitted
The Oklahoma Aquarium may be closed to the public, but there is still joy happening inside its walls. Last week, four of Jenks Animal Welfare’s adoptable dogs took a field trip to explore the aquarium. Two Jenks Firefighters, a Jenks Police Officer and a member of Jenks Public Works took a much-needed mental health break to join Emmy, Jasmine, Ginger and Victor around and let them sniff as much as they wanted. The furry friends took a tour of the Polynesian Reef, the Sea Turtle exhibit, looked at starfish in the touch tanks and walked through the Shark Tunnel. Due to the pandemic, all adoptions are on hold. However, Jenks Animal Control is still taking all inquiries about adoptable animals in preparation to get them all forever homes once it is safe to do so. Please email animalcontrol@jenksok.org or call 918-299-6311 option 8 for all inquiries. The Oklahoma Aquarium continues its “Unstoppable Science Series”, which releases a new video or activity every morning at 9:30. Live streaming is taking place nearly every day from one of its exhibits, so you can see all the marine life like you are there in person. Follow the Oklahoma Aquarium’s Facebook page to see all the fun.
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Easter Should Not Mean More This Year, But It Will By Kyle Salomon One Sunday every spring, Christians across the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Fathers pull out their best ties, mothers get out their prettiest dresses and children are clothed like they are attending a fancy ball in New York City. Pastors and ministers will try to figure out a new and unique way to preach the message of Jesus moving the stone away from the tomb on the third day. It’s the one Sunday every year, you can almost count on every Christian to attend church. For me personally, I have attended church my entire life and I can honestly say I never imagined not sitting in a pew listening to my pastor preach about Jesus on Easter. This Sunday, that will become a reality and will be a reality for everyone across the nation. The Coronavirus outbreak has crippled this country and made us all think about life in a different way. Instead of gathering in churches, people will sit in their homes on Sunday morning and turn on their televisions, computers or iPads to watch the message of Easter delivered through a screen. The fact of the matter is this year, Easter is going to feel different for us. The question I have for everyone is, should it? The one constant we can rely on through this crisis is that God is still in control. He has always been in control and will always be in control. The COVID-19 pandemic did not change the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for all our sins and rose from the dead three days later after defeating Satan. That is something that we can all take solace in and in fact, the only thing we should be taking solace in right now. As Christians, we should be leaning on the strength God gives us and finding peace in the fact that God is bigger than this situation. Jesus died on that cross, defeated evil and came back to life. I am not saying we shouldn’t be taking this time seriously and take precautions against the virus. We absolutely should. We all need to be social distancing, washing our hands as much as possible and wearing masks and gloves when and if we leave our homes. That is not living in fear, that is being smart. We need to listen to and respect the decisions of our leaders because that is what the Bible commands us to do. Now is not the time for divisiveness. Now is the time to come together and get through this and Christians should be leading the way because the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ died on that cross for each and every one of us. Easter comes at a good time in this epidemic. We all need a message of hope and what better message than the death and resurrection of Jesus? Trust me, there is none. I believe the message of Easter will echo around the world this weekend, but shouldn’t that be the case every year? Let this be a lesson to us for the future. It shouldn’t take a crisis like the Coronavirus to make that happen. Easter should be the most important weekend for us every single year. Bottom line … Easter should not mean more this year, but it will.
Sincerely, Kyle Salomon ksalomon@jenkstribune.com
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Five Jenks Teachers Receive Fund For Teachers Grants Submitted Fund for Teachers has announced that 37 Oklahoma Pre-K through 12th grade teachers have been selected for grants totaling more than $132,000 for self-designed professional development opportunities in locations around the world. Five of those teachers are educators in the Jenks Public Schools’ district. Lana Bible, Michelle Diaz, Chari Paredes and Sophia Quiroz teach at Jenks East Elementary School. They will attend the Network of Immersion & CLIL Educators (Content and Language Integrated Learning) Conference in Seville, Spain, to learn strategies for addressing the needs of language learners who are emotionally and behaviorally fragile due to trauma and those with interrupted formal education. Beth Wilson teaches at Jenks East Intermediate School. She will research outdoor education programs and facilities in Alaska that embed a respect for the local environment to develop hands on learning experiences for special education students with mild to moderate learning disabilities and/or emotional disturbances. The Oklahoma grants are made possible through a partnership between the national nonprofit Fund for Teachers, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and the Tulsa Community Foundation. An Oklahoma Tribal Alliance, which began supporting the program last year, has expanded its support this year to help increase the Oklahoma fellowship funding to its highest level in five years. Additional funding was provided by the Stuart and Temple Foundations of Tulsa. The Tribal Alliance is comprised of the Chickasaw Nation, Osage Nation, Cherokee Nation, Citizen-Potawatomi Nation, Choctaw Nation, Sac and Fox Nation, the Seminole Nation and the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. This year, grants were awarded to six tribal members representing the Citizen Potawatomi, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Cherokee tribes. Since 2002, more than 1,000 Oklahoma teachers have received Fund for Teachers grants totaling over $3.6 million. In 2006, Oklahoma became the first state in the nation to offer grants to educators statewide when the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence joined Fund for Teachers and the Tulsa Community Foundation as state partners.
Fund for Teachers fellowships empower teachers to explore their academic passions, deepen their scholarship and enhance their craft, said Karen Eckhoff, executive director of the national nonprofit organization.
“Through experiential learning, bold experimentation and the realization of personal ambition, teachers are better equipped to impart tools and skills which serve their students far beyond the boundaries of the classroom,” Eckhoff said. “Fund for Teachers knows that good teachers become great teachers when they have the resources to explore their subject matter in the real world and translate it to their students and communities.” Grant recipients, named Fund for Teachers Fellows, were awarded the grants after submitting proposals that explained the need for professional development opportunities to fill both teacher and student learning gaps in their classrooms. The applicants could request up to $5,000 for individual fellowships or up to $10,000 for teams of two or more. Applications are reviewed through a rigorous selection process that adheres to the Fund for Teachers scoring rubric. To eliminate bias, all applications are read without reference to teacher name, school district or demographics. This year’s grants will be deferred to the summer of 2021 due to precautions regarding the COVID-19 global pandemic. At that time, Fellows will journey to 14 countries pursuing learning opportunities that range from professional conferences, educational tours and trainings, interviews, cultural experiences and much more. This year’s Oklahoma Fellows hail from 17 districts and 20 schools. Fund for Teachers enriches the personal and professional growth of teachers by recognizing and supporting their pursuit of opportunities that have the greatest impact on their careers, classrooms and school communities. For more information about the application process, grant winners or student outcomes, visit fundforteachers.org.
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First Oklahoma Bank Issues Status Of State’s SBA Paycheck Protection Program Small businesses impacted by COVID-19 are flooding lenders with calls and lining up to take advantage of a new federally funded loan program that aims to help them keep their employees on the payroll by offering low-interest loans that are forgivable.
Finally, starting July 1, the small business can apply to have the loans forgiven. If the business has used the proceeds for SBAdefined purposes, the loan will be forgiven. If the loan is not fully forgiven due to misuse of funds, the borrower has two years from the date of the loan to repay any unforgiven balance.
Lenders, likewise, are sprinting to help borrowers understand the finer details of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, a $349 billion loan program, which officially launched on Friday. The PPP is part of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The PPP loans are designed to help small businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees. Eligible businesses include veterans’ organizations, tribal business concerns, sole proprietorship, self-employed individuals, and certain independent contractors. In some cases, businesses with more than 500 employees also may be eligible if they meet certain SBA requirements.
“In the first weekend of the program our officers have worked with 445 applicants for nearly $80 million in loans. In the last 48 hours, we have gained approval for 100 loans, totaling $32.2 million,” said Tom Bennett III, president and Co-CEO of First Oklahoma Bank. To put that in perspective, Tulsa-based First Oklahoma Bank, which is the second-largest dollar-volume SBA lender in the state, had closed 28 SBA loans for $22.6 million on Sept. 30, 2019, which marks the end of the government’s fiscal year. The top 10 SBA lenders in Oklahoma had closed 305 SBA loans, totaling $119.6 million, in the same time period. The bank has seen a surge in calls in recent days and is racing to get as many loans approved as possible before the SBA runs out of money. In the next 60 days, First Oklahoma Bank expects to process over 1,000 applications for SBA PPP loans that will exceed $100 million, which has never been done in Oklahoma, Bennett said. Bennett said the bank has committed all its lenders, loan assistants, and SBA loan specialists to accept PPP loans and process them through the SBA’s ETRAN system, which is how the loans get approved. “There is an enormous amount of interest in these loans from small business. Virtually every business and nonprofit has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus crisis and would benefit greatly from these loans,” he said. “The SBA normally processes $30 billion per year in loans. In the next 60 days they plan to process $349 billion. It’s a herculean task.” Applying for the PPP loan is a four-step process. First, the loan applications must be properly completed and given to a bank that makes SBA loans. Second, the bank submits the application to the SBA on its ETRAN computer system. Once the SBA issues a loan number, the loan is approved. Third the bank needs to close the loan with the borrower and advance the funds.
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“Generally, this program aims to provide cash so workers can keep their paychecks. This directly gives local businesses cash, in the forms of loans, to help employees stay on the job. If the money is used correctly, the loans are forgivable,” said Bennett. The loans will be 100% guaranteed by the government, and some, or all, of these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis and don’t cut wages of employees by 25%. To qualify for loan forgiveness, borrowers will need to prove that they have the same average number of employees on their payroll on June 30, 2020, as they had for the eight-week period between Jan. 1, 2020, and Feb. 29, 2020. Documentation is critical both upfront and when applying for forgiveness. Eligible businesses will need to document their average monthly payroll and know how many people they had employed on Feb. 15, 2020. The deadline for application for the PPP loan is June 30, 2020. The loans have a two-year maturity, with payments deferred for six months. The maximum amount a borrower can receive is $10 million or up to 2.5 times its average monthly payroll costs, whichever is less. The loans do not require collateral or personal guarantees from the owners. “These challenging times require extraordinary efforts by everyone. We’re working hard to do all we can to help local small businesses survive the economic downturn and return to successful operation,” said Bennett. “I’m a sixth-generation Oklahoman and know that prior generations have overcome the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and two world wars, and other crises. This is the time for our generation of Oklahomans to rise to the challenge to overcome this combined health and economic crisis. By doing so, we will survive, recover and set the standard for our children and grandchildren to follow. This is our moment to shine.”
Aquarium Helps Local Man Propose Over Live Stream Submitted The coronavirus outbreak has forced many Tulsa businesses to temporarily close, including the Oklahoma Aquarium. Thursday afternoon, the aquarium proved that even closed doors can’t stop true love. During a livestream of their bull shark feeding, the aquarium helped an Oklahoma man propose to his girlfriend. As sharks ate in the background, the camera revealed a sign reading,
“Katie, Of all the fish in the sea, you’re the only one for me. Will you marry me? –Drew” Drew Combest had originally planned to propose to his girlfriend inside the aquarium’s shark tunnel, but his plans were derailed when the aquarium closed indefinitely due to COVID-19 concerns. Drew reached out to the aquarium, who helped him plan the next best thing. The Oklahoma Aquarium is home to the world’s largest collection of bull sharks in captivity, making it the perfect proposal venue for Drew’s shark-loving girlfriend, Katie.
Submitted
Harvard Ave., Between 131st Street And 141st Street, Closed To Traffic For Two Weeks
Jenks Public Works started a repair on Harvard Ave. between 131st Street and 141st Street at 7 a.m. Monday. The repair consists of replacing a steel and concrete storm pipe below Harvard Avenue near 135th Street. The repair requires the closure of Harvard Avenue at 135th Street for approximately 14 calendar days. There will be no through traffic except for residents in attached neighborhoods. Due to the shortage of available road signs, our contractors are unable to place Detour and Construction signs until Monday morning. Entrances to Providence Hills, Clearfield, Dutcher's Crossing and Greyoaks will remain open for residents and contractors. We advise the use of Lewis Avenue during this time to access 131st Street or 141st Street.
The American Heart Association Heart Ball is looking for high school sophomores from the Tulsa area for the 2020-2021 school year! Come alongside us to build a foundation of health in our community and ensure everyone lives longer and healthier lives. Jinger Wiesman Owner/Graphic Designer 381creative.com 918.813.0654
These students learn how to be champions for heart health. Through CPR and healthy cooking classes they learn how to save lives and improve health. They also give back to several local nonprofits here in the community. Our Sweethearts and Mavericks collectively do over 1,500 hours of community service per year by volunteering and being relentless in spreading our mission in promoting longer and healthier lives. All of this will culminate at the historic 50th Anniversary Heart Ball on February 20th, 2021, where the Sweethearts and Mavericks are presented. It is a Tulsa tradition celebrating its 50th year. Its impact on the lives of our area young people carries on throughout their lives and impacts their families as well.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT HANNAH SIPES AT HANNAH.SIPES@HEART.ORG
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Church Directory Beaver Street Baptist Church 102 W. Beaver Street Service times: 9:30am Sunday 10:45am Sunday 6pm Sunday Crossroads Church 2525 W. Main Street Service times: 10:30am Sunday 6pm Sunday 6:45pm Wednesday
Jenks Bethel Baptist Church 11808 S. Elm Street Service times: 11am Sunday Jenks Bible Church 708 W. Main St Service times: 10am Sunday 6:30pm Wednesday
River Oaks Christian Church 300 N. Elm Street Service times: 9:30am Sunday 10:30am Sunday 6:30pm Sunday
Jenks Church 1015 W. Main Street Service times: 10am Sunday
Dove Ministry 2833 W. Main Street Service times: 10:30am Sunday 6pm Sunday
Kirk Crossing 11420 S. James Avenue Service times: 9am Sunday 10:30am Sunday
First Baptist Church 11701 S. Elm Street Service times: 8:30am Sunday 9:45am Sunday 11am Sunday First Christian Church 308 E. Main Street Service times: 9:45am Sunday 10:45am Sunday First Jenks United Methodist Church 415 E. Main Street Service times: 8:45am Sunday 10am Sunday 11:15am Sunday
Life Church Jenks 890 W. 81st Street Service times: 4pm Saturday 5:30pm Saturday 8:30am Sunday 10am Sunday 11:30am Sunday 1pm Sunday 4pm Sunday 5:30pm Sunday 7pm Monday
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Newspring Family Church 2907 W. 108th Place South Service times: 9:30am Sunday 10:30am Sunday
St. James Presbyterian Church 11970 S. Elm Street Service times: 10:30am Sunday The Church at Jenks 2101 W. 118th Street 9am Sunday 11am Sunday The Connecting Co. 1737 W. 81st Street Service times: 10am Sunday
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