Jenks Tribune, Digital Issue 39 - May 8, 2020

GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS EXHIBIT WILL HEADLINE AQUARIUM ATTRACTIONS WHEN FACILITY RE-OPENS

Nuami Lam Tung Credits Educators In Journey To Becoming Miss JHS Jake Mulready Adds Mr. Jhs To Long List Of Accomplishments At Jenks Anfernee Nelson Earns All-State Bid FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

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Giant Octopus Exhibit Set To Take Center Stage When Aquarium Re-Opens

By Kyle Salomon The Oklahoma Aquarium is channeling its inner-Jules Verne with its new Giant Pacific Octopus Exhibit it is preparing to unveil.

The new exhibit has been under construction for more than a year with nine months of that time spent building the multi-thousand-gallon tank for the aquarium’s newest attraction.

The Octopus was put on display March 13 for one day before the Oklahoma Aquarium was forced to close its doors March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Giant Pacific Octopus Exhibit has a “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” theme to it, as aquarium staff was able to get specific parts for the new attraction from Total Valve Systems and U.S. Pioneer Inc., which makes parts for actual United States Navy ships.

The exhibit cost a little more than $110,000 to construct with 100% of the funding coming through fundraising. Joe and Carol McGraw are the sponsors of the attraction. This is not the first exhibit in the Oklahoma Aquarium to have the McGraw’s name on it. They were the sponsors of the beach exhibit before the new playground was built in that location last summer.

The tank in the octopus exhibit is about eight feet wide, which allows the octopus to be able to stretch its entire body when it is full grown.

“The idea was to do something we hadn’t seen,” Oklahoma Aquarium Deputy Director John Money said. “We go to aquariums around the country and see Octopus tanks with similar volume, full of rocks with cracks and crevices, and he does what he does, disappears. They always tend to do these big exhibits and people always ask where the Octopus is. We wanted to make sure wherever he is, you can see him.”

With the “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” style, a lot of look-alike brass and copper is needed. The aquarium could not use real brass or copper because those are toxic to an Octopus. Several staff members traveled to Pennsylvania to learn how to cast molds and use right proxies and paints at a company called Smooth On. The aquarium staff was able to recreate the items that were going into the exhibit and made sure it was safe for the Octopus.

“Everyone did a lot of great work on this,” Oklahoma Aquarium Director of Exhibits Phil Tate said. “The tank took about nine months to put together and the whole exhibit took about a year.”

The lifespan of an Octopus is three-to-five years and it takes the aquarium staff about a year to prepare the animal to be able to show. The current Octopus is around a year-and-a-half. It was eight pounds when it arrived at the aquarium, 17 pounds when it was put in the tank in the exhibit, is now around 20 pounds and it will get bigger.

The Oklahoma Aquarium and the Giant Octopus Exhibit will be open to the public soon. The Jenks Tribune will release the date the facility is set to re-open as soon as it is announced.

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

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Jake Mulready, Nuami Lam Tung Named Mr. And Miss JHS

By Kyle Salomon Jenks High School did not allow the COVID-19 pandemic stop it from putting on the Mr. and Miss JHS program.

The annual program took place Thursday in a virtual setting with thousands of viewers tuning in from their homes on the Jenks High School Facebook page.

There were five finalists each for both Mr. and Miss JHS. All 10 finalists are members of the Class of 2020.

The winners of the annual event were Jake Mulready and Nuami Lam Tung. The two will each receive scholarships from Jostens Graduate Services and forever carry the Mr. and Miss JHS Class of 2020 title.

According to Jenks High School Principal David Beiler, the final decisions were made based on volunteer hours, school and club activities, grade-point-average, teacher recommendation and senior class vote.

Sam Mulready, Jake’s older brother said during the video that Jake is a person of high character, always has a positive attitude and will always get right back up no matter what happens to him.

Jordan Johnson, Nuami’s teacher said during the video that Nuami’s smile lights up the room and that she has overcome a lot in her life. Johnson also said Nuami has an unbelievable work ethic, is very involved in the community and inspires and empowers everyone around her.

The other finalists for Mr. and Miss JHS were Avery Acord, Kennedy Fox, Caroline Henry, Gum Aung, Andrew Carter, William Cox and Mark Mills.

Mark Mills and Kennedy Fox were the runner-up vote getters.

The Jenks Tribune will soon publish features articles on the two winners.

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Editorial: Need Mental Health Help During Covid-19? Get Off The Couch And Exercise

By Kyle Salomon We are approaching two months since the Coronavirus has infiltrated the country and taken over the way we live.

The pandemic has forced our national, state, and local officials to make decisions that order us to stay in our homes and not allow us to enjoy the rights that being an American brings us.

For nearly six weeks, we could not go eat at a restaurant, go to a movie theatre, go to a concert, or attend a sporting event.

Finally, in Oklahoma and the Tulsa area, the restrictions are lifted for now. We are officially allowed to get out into the world and do things we used to take for granted.

Things are not back to normal and will not be for quite a while, but something is better than nothing.

Businesses that were deemed non-essential when this epidemic began, are now officially allowed to be open to the public under social distancing recommendations.

One of those types of businesses that are now open again are gyms or fitness centers. My fitness center I attend opened its doors to the public Monday and it has been a glorious week having the opportunity to sweat again for fun.

To me, there is a clear-cut answer to help alleviate some of that stress. The answer is exercise. Allowing gyms and fitness centers to stay open in times like these are important.

After seeing how it can be done in a safe way where social distancing and cleanliness is practiced, I think the next time our national, state, and local officials are put in a situation like this to make these types of decisions, I believe gyms and fitness centers should be allowed to stay open.

Being lazy, sitting on the couch and watching Netflix all day is the easy choice in times like these. I encourage people to not make the easy choice.

If you find yourself slipping from a mental standpoint and it becomes hard to even think at times, I strongly suggest getting off the couch and exercise, even if it is just a walk around the block.

It could save your mind or even your life.

Sincerely, Kyle Salomon ksalomon@jenkstribune.com

It was more than that though. It was the chance to be around people I had not seen in weeks. We practiced social distancing and we made sure to clean every piece of equipment we touched during the workout, but just to be able to be around other people in that setting was a great experience.

As the days have gone by this week, something suddenly became apparent to me. Gyms and fitness centers should have been deemed essential during the lockdown of our state and community.

Giving people the chance to exercise in that type of setting provides a level of mental and physical health that allows people to fight in a time of crisis. People need to be able to fight for themselves.

I am not just talking about fighting the virus, although being physically healthy gives your body a much better chance against diseases than living in an unhealthy way, but I am talking about the ability to stay strong in a difficult time whether it be personally, professionally or both.

Mental health is a term that is used a lot right now. I keep seeing statements and questions pop up on social media platforms regarding people struggling with their mental health and how to stay positive at a time like this.

I understand this is a tough time and we are all struggling.

Some are struggling more than others, but there is no question that we all are struggling right now.

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Nuami Lam Tung Credits Educators In Journey To Becoming Miss JHS

By Kyle Salomon Jenks High School senior Nuami Lam Tung was named Miss JHS 2020 Thursday during a virtual Mr. and Miss JHS program put on by Jenks Public Schools.

Nuami’s path to becoming Miss JHS was a unique one. The Jenks senior started attending Jenks Public Schools in 2014 in seventh grade after her family moved to the Tulsa area following a brief stint in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Nuami said she remembers her first day at Jenks Middle School vividly.

“I was very lost because I did not speak English at that time,” Nuami said. “I couldn’t find my classes. The school was big, and I was confused. I was crying because I did not know how to explain myself. The teachers were very nice, and they helped me find my classes.”

The struggles continued through middle school until she made her way to into Jenks High School, where she was connected with English tutor Maria Fedore.

“My tutor helped me along in the process,” Nuami said. “I went there every day of week after school. She challenged me. The biggest challenge I faced was learning English. I really wanted to get involved in the school, but my English was holding me back.”

The extra time was well spent, as Nuami is now speaking English fluently.

“My tutor really pushed me hard and my teachers from middle school to high school were amazing,” Nuami said. “They all really impacted me greatly. They would all challenge me and I was able to get out of my comfort zone and start going after leadership positions in the school.

Everything I have accomplished is because my teachers believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

As a high school senior, Nuami is the United Nations Student Ambassador for Oklahoma. She said she was not going to apply for the position but was encouraged by Fedore.

“My tutor introduced me to the program,” Nuami said.

“She urged me to apply. At first, I wasn’t going to, but she kept at me, so I decided to do it and they accepted my application.”

Jenks High School teacher Jordan Johnson has Nuami in class as a senior and Johnson gave glowing remarks about her pupil Thursday during the program.

“That was the best introduction,” Nuami said. “I was speechless. I could tell Mrs. Johnson was speaking from her heart. Having her as a teacher has been the highlight of my senior year. I really appreciate her.”

Prior to coming to the United States in late 2013, Nuami and her family went through numerous hardships, as they were in search of a better life.

Nuami was born in Burma, where she lived until she was eight. Her father traveled to Malaysia, where he eventually was able to obtain a U.N. Card, so he could bring the rest of the family.

Even though they were able to escape from Burma, they were still struggling in Malaysia in a refugee camp. They remained there for three years before they were able to make their move to the United States of America.

“We were discriminated against in Malaysia,” Nuami said. “I was only able to attend school in the refugee camp. Having the opportunity to experience the freedoms the United States had to offer was amazing. I learned definitely not to take that for granted.”

When she found out she was named Miss JHS, Nuami said she was excited, but wants others to get the credit, not herself.

“Having the title Miss JHS is a miracle,” Nuami said. “I really want people to know it is not me. This is all about the teachers I had at Jenks. Sometimes I think to myself that I don’t deserve this and those teachers who helped me out along the way are the ones who deserve it.”

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Jake Mulready Adds Mr. JHS To Long List Of Accomplishments At Jenks Schools

By Kyle Salomon

Jake Mulready’s life has been intertwined with Jenks Public Schools since he was a child.

The Jenks High School senior has attended Jenks Public Schools his entire life. His time in the school district has included being a part of sports teams, academic clubs, and leadership organizations.

Last Thursday, Jake’s time at Jenks was capped with being selected as the 2020 Mr. JHS. “It was a funny experience finding out,” Jake said. “We invited a lot of family and several friends over to watch and we realized that it wasn’t Facebook live, it was just a video, so we could fast-forward if we wanted. We decided to watch the whole thing instead, but I had some friends who did fast-forward, and they all started texting me and saying that I had won and were congratulating me. It is all part of the experience. It was still pretty cool to see all of it.”

Jake is what many refer to as a “Jenks lifer” referencing a student who has attended Jenks Public Schools from Kindergarten through 12th-grade. He got his start in JPS at West Elementary.

“Going to Jenks my whole life is pretty cool,” Jake said.

“You are around the same kids from K-12th-grade and you get to see those kids grow up with you. I have had my best friend since third grade, and I am still good friends with kids from all the way back in Kindergarten.”

Jake talked about how much his teachers influenced him through his time at Jenks.

“I remember all my teachers,” Jake said. “They are all so supportive. The Jenks community is unreal. The amount of support is incredible. I remember growing up in the Jenks system and going to football games when I was younger and thinking they were all celebrities.”

Jake had the chance to live that “celebrity” life, as he was a member of the Jenks High School football program all four years he was in high school.

Even though Jake said he loved his time wearing the maroon and white every Friday night in the fall, he was involved in much more than the pigskin.

Jake was a member of the track and field program, is the Philanthropy Chair for Student Council, Secretary for the Chinese Club, a member of the National Honors Society, Sports Representative for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was on the Leadership Team for Young Life.

Two years ago, Jake’s older brother Sam Mulready was named Mr. JHS in 2018 as a senior. Jake gave the introduction speech that night in honor of his older sibling.

Two years later, Sam returned the favor and delivered Jake’s introduction Thursday during the program.

“It was super cool watching my older brother give the introduction,” Jake said. “All of his words were so nice and meant so much to me.”

Jake is planning on attending Oklahoma State University in the fall and major in physics.

Oklahoma Aquarium To Re-Open Friday The Oklahoma Aquarium will open its doors to the public Friday for the first time since March 16 when it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenny Alexopoulos, Chief Operating Officer of the Oklahoma Aquarium, said he is excited about the facility opening to the public again.

“As we anticipate reopening the Oklahoma Aquarium on Friday, we look forward to welcoming the community back to our aquatic world, especially to see our newest exhibit, ‘Secret World of the Octopus,’ which is a magnificent exhibit showcasing a giant Pacific octopus. The health and safety of our guests and staff remain our utmost priorities.”

Alexopoulos said the Oklahoma Aquarium is taking the following precautions to ensure the safest environment.

Operational Changes: The aquarium’s new hours of operation. It will remain open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, with last tickets sold at 7:45 p.m. Please expect your visit to last approximately one hour due to our new, guided pathway through the aquarium.

Online ticket sales will only be offered for 15 people to enter during timed slots every 15 minutes. Please visit okaquarium.org to make a reservation.

Members, please log in to your online account at okaquarium.org to make a reservation.

Re-admission will not be allowed, so guests may enter during their reserved time slots.

For the safety of our guests and staff, we greatly appreciate the wearing of face masks when possible. created a safe path through the aquarium to ensure social distancing.

Touch tanks will remain open during the day.

Alexopoulos said for the safety of our guests and to ensure social distancing, the following will remain temporarily closed: Beaver and otter exhibits Upper part of sea turtle exhibit Coin-operated rides and games Playground and indoor crawl-through spaces Water fountains Feed stands Feed shows will be temporarily postponed.

Café and Gift Shop: The café will be open with a limited menu.

The gift shop will be open, but strollers or wheelchairs will not be available for rent.

“We’re especially excited to reveal our new octopus exhibit to guests because it was entirely funded thanks to public donations,” Alexopoulos said. “We hope this intimate setting with fewer guests during our extended hours will provide a special experience for our guests at the aquarium. We’re grateful for the dedication of our staff and the support of our community during this difficult time, and we look forward to reopening on May 8.”

For questions about reopening, contact Chief Marketing Officer Andrea Leitch at 528-1501 or aleitch@okaquarium.org.

Anfernee Nelson Named Jenks Seniors Pose For To OCA All-State Team Photos While Picking Up Cap, Gown Jenks High School seniors have had a rough spring in their final semester of high school with the COVID-19 pandemic in full affect.

Erwin Photography led the charge in helping get seniors photographed in their caps and gowns by setting up a photo booth at the JPS Bus Barn Monday and Tuesday.

Photos/Jenny Swyden, Jenks Public Schools

By Hayden Tucker Anfernee Nelson’s list of accolades keeps growing.

The senior guard was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team this week.

Nelson averaged 13.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, leading the Trojans to a 21-5 record and a state tournament berth.

Nelson’s play hasn’t gone unrecognized. Aside from making All-State, he’s been named to the first team All-Frontier Valley Conference team, Region 7 All-Star team, and was the Jenks-Union Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Nelson signed with Rogers State to continue his playing career at the college level.

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Deadline For Senior Salute Pictures Set For May 11

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 Dove Ministry 2833 W. Main Street Service times: 10:30am Sunday 6pm 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

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 Jenks Church 1015 W. Main Street Service times: 10am Sunday Kirk Crossing 11420 S. James Avenue Service times: 9am Sunday 10:30am 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

Newspring Family Church 2907 W. 108th Place South Service times: 9:30am Sunday 10:30am Sunday River Oaks Christian Church 300 N. Elm Street Service times: 9:30am Sunday 10:30am Sunday 6:30pm 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