FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
State Of The City In 2020 … Dealing With A Pandemic
By Robert Lee, Mayor of Jenks
Since I gave the state of the city in 2019, we’ve seen a lot of changes. The Covid-19 pandemic has gripped our region and continues to have a major impact on our daily lives. You probably noticed there’s a different format for this address, which would normally be delivered in person to members of the Jenks community. But, like every other aspect of our lives, this is a little different, and I thank you for your patience as we find a safe way to accomplish the same goal: updating you on all the great things going on in Jenks. Many businesses and families are still not back to normal. My family is one of those. As you may know, I work for the city as a volunteer, so I also keep a fulltime day job. Both my wife and I have been working from home since March. Our son, who was born a year ago, was in intensive care in the final week of last year with a life-threatening respiratory virus. During this time, there was a real possibility he wouldn’t pull through, and we’ve done everything in our power to prevent him from being exposed to Covid-19, as his health history puts him at high risk. Our four year old daughter’s day care has continued to suffer infection after infection, so we’ve relied heavily on family for her care, at any time we can get it, so we can get some work done during the day. That care typically comes from family members who are in the highest risk categories, so we go to great lengths to make sure those caregivers aren’t exposed. Most days, we end up working into the night once the kids are in bed, so we can stay caught up at the office. We’re grateful to be both healthy and employed, but between work, family, keeping a full schedule for the city, and now homeschooling, our household is certainly as busy as it can be. From the earliest days of the pandemic, the people of Jenks have made great sacrifices to slow the spread in our region, and those efforts have paid off.
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The City of Jenks and our regional neighbors were able to act quickly, and there’s no doubt those actions saved many lives, and prevented our local hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. The City of Jenks was a regional leader with our safer at home measures. We closed the Aquarium and moved all public meetings to virtual formats. We waived all online payment fees for utility billing. Liquor license fees for Jenks restaurants were waived. Jenks Senior Citizens staff continued to prepare and deliver meals to seniors in need. Public Works, Police, Fire, Aquarium, and City Hall staff all had to be creative in staffing, but we managed to keep every employee at full time capacity without furloughs. Our city has had one of the strongest regional responses, and our numbers bear that out. We’ve had a little over 700 infections, just under 3% of our population, much lower than the regional average. Tragically, we’ve lost two of our citizens, and our hearts go out to the families in Jenks and around the state who have lost loved ones. As we’ve slowly opened back up since the spring, the challenges have continued. Many of our businesses have experienced major slowdowns. Jenks Public Schools have had to make tough decisions, alternating between distance learning and new approaches to in-person instruction. Pick an organization or business around town, and chances are they’ve been affected by this pandemic in a big way. I want to thank the people of Jenks, our business community, and our school system for everything they’ve done to slow the spread of this pandemic. I want to thank everyone at the City of Jenks: our Police and Fire Departments, Public Works Department, City Hall Staff, the Oklahoma Aquarium, City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Seniors group, and our partners at the Jenks Chamber of Commerce; all of whom have stepped up to the plate and have played a huge role in our response to this pandemic. Despite all we’ve been through this year, it’s undeniable that the City of Jenks is stronger than it’s ever been. We’re almost exclusively funded by sales tax revenues, and although we’ve braced for lower numbers in the midst of a larger economic downturn, we’ve consistently been surprised by repeated record-setting revenues. Our annual audit showed we’re in the best financial health in our city’s history. One of the few things our auditor did ding us for was the fact that we don’t borrow enough. So, we issued revenue bonds to kickstart plans to improve our wastewater treatment system, and to install updated remote water meters throughout town, which we expect will pay for themselves in the long run. The people of Jenks approved a GO bond in August of this year which will pay to widen south Elm Street, and to make improvements to the western gateway to our downtown. This bond also pays to engineer improvements to the final stretches of Elwood, as well as a brand new 106th street going into River District from Elm. Speaking of our transportation infrastructure, we are well into a long-planned overhaul of the intersection at 111th and Elwood. When this is complete, we will begin a widening of Elwood between Main and 111th. At the same time, we are making improvements and repairs to roads all throughout town and throughout our neighborhoods.
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Jenks Pom Fashion Sixteen Jenks High Show Shines Bright In School Students Two-Night Event Named National Merit Semifinalists
Jenks Pom hosted its 22nd Annual Fashion show Monday and Tuesday at the Jenks High School Performing Arts Center. High School students dressed to the nines for this fan-favorite event. The theme of the 2020 Jenks Pom Fashion Show was “The City that Never Sleeps”. Photos/ Hayden Tucker
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced last week the semifinalists for the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program, and 16 students from Jenks High School are among the 16,000 names on the list. Jenks High School has featured 10 or more National Merit Semifinalists in 10 of the last 12 years. Here are the Class of 2021 Jenks High School students named National Merit Semifinalists: -Maya Chandwaney -Mason Chow -Noah Coffman -Grace Ea -Caleb Ford -Daniel Jacob -Lily Jiang -Todd McDoulett -Julie Naifeh -Tyler Oakes -Gracie Shepherd -Rajita Singh -Nathan Stephani -Grant Stuckey -Maya Vance -Victor Zhu These seniors at Jenks High School now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million to be offered next spring. CONT on pg 9
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Area Resident Wins Chick-Fil-A Free For A Year
Area resident Todd Harrell won a year’s worth of free Chick-Fil-A Friday at the 2020 MidFirst Bank Backyard Bowl between Jenks and Union, as he knocked a field goal through the uprights during a time out in the third quarter of the game at Allan Trimble Stadium. Photo/Hayden Tucker
Brenda Wilson Wins Stem Innovator Award Jenks East Intermediate STEM educator Brenda Wilson recently won a STEM Innovator award from Tulsa Flight Night and Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance. Wilson also won a $3,500 grant to put toward new technology at Jenks East Intermediate. Photo/Courtesy
Is it time to FALL in love with your new home? Bringing the Best in Real Estate to Jenks Andrea Salomon
Sales Executive | Coldwell Banker Select 8909 S Yale | Tulsa OK 74137 Asalomon@cbtulsa.com AndreasHomeSite.com | 918.231.0957
Rethinking Uncertainty By Jason F. Sauer, Sr. Wealth Advisor, Miller Private Wealth LLC Miller Private Wealth proudly carries the tagline ‘Live Bravely Invest Boldly™’, because we do not believe in the alternatives. As we roll into the fall of 2020, we find ourselves navigating a multitude of uncertainties, 1) the election, 2) finding ways to limit the spread of the coronavirus, 3) figuring out a way to get our economy back on its feet. As these uncertainties seek to overwhelm us, we have to remain unemotionally committed to meeting our financial goals. While finishing a banner year of market returns in December 2019, as a firm, we began thinking of ways to communicate confidence to you as an investor. We wanted to encourage cautiousness yet in a brave way as you approach and live in retirement. Braveness is important not only in regard to investing strategies, but also in planning and living in a world full of uncertainties. The reason is as simple as the price of groceries. There are few places to allocate capital that can keep up with the effects of inflation long term. We believe that carefully allocating capital to the stock market is one place that is meaningful in helping to sustain or improve the retirement lifestyle investors have worked so hard to plan for and achieve. When so many wealth management companies are throwing in the towel, we find ourselves uniquely positioned to grab the market bull by its horns. In my years of serving in the military, I learned that taking bold, yet prudent action returned the best results. I’m proud to say that our firm employs that wisdom and hope that your financial advisor does the same. We want our lives to have purpose and this is a concern that comes to light when discussing retirement with clients. One revelation we see as advisors is how prevalent it is that often careers define our purpose in life. Even if one looks forward to the day the paychecks stop, we still need that feeling of value and productivity. People search for and find it in many ways, hopefully in a positive environment. This is part of living bravely and this is an important aspect of defining a purposeful life. How does this relate to investing? The motivation in our life for goals or achievement has a direct correlation to investing for our future. If you are a person who believes that everything you have will be gone any minute so you spend for today, you will invest the same way and not accumulate enough assets for your retirement or other goals. If you are person who believes that you will live long into retirement and want to continue the lifestyle you have grown to enjoy after the workplace paycheck is gone, you will invest for the future and create a living cashflow for that retirement future. The bottom line is the more fearful we are of change, the more opportunity for regret. We will miss opportunities to develop meaningful relationships and amazing experiences. I have met so many people in Jenks that are rich in character, honorable in their intention and courageous in their faith for this part of our world. That is bravery in action. We encourage everyone to have respect on their minds and love in their hearts, because that is the true accumulation of wealth.
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WHY JENKS-UNION SHOULD GO BACK TO HOME-ANDHOME PERMANENT LY By Kyle Salomon Last Friday, the 2020 MidFirst Bank Backyard Bowl between Jenks and Union was played at Allan Trimble Stadium. It was the first time since 1998 Jenks has hosted Union in a true home game for the Trojans. It was that year the rivalry grew to new heights, as the two schools met in the Class 6A State Championship Game for the first time to close the season. Following 1998, it was decided to move the annual regular-season contest between the two superpowers to the University of Tulsa to help accommodate more fans and create a college-like atmosphere for the mega-game. For the first few years, then Skelly Stadium, now Chapman Stadium, was the perfect place to host this annual event that drew tens of thousands of people from across the state. Every time Jenks and Union met on a football field, it seemed to be instant classic television. Imagine Frazier and Ali meeting every September to trade haymakers in the ultimate heavyweight showdown. As the years went on, the crowds grew smaller, but still much larger than a normal high school football game. There have been several years for various reasons that Union decided to host the game at Tuttle Stadium, but for the most part, since 1998, the regular season match-up between Jenks and Union has been played at 11th and Harvard.
With Union remodeling Tuttle Stadium, that venue will be more than adequate enough to host this game every other year and with the additions and upgrades Allan Trimble Stadium has received throughout the years, there is no reason Jenks should not be able to host this game every other year. Yes, in a normal year with no stadium capacity limitations, there will be very little, if any room and parking could be an issue, but isn’t that part of what makes games like this fun? I remember as a little kid every Friday night in the fall going to watch the Jenks Trojans play football and my dad having to park what seemed like miles away on a curb in some neighborhood and then walking toward the stadium lights. Sure, we acted like it bothered us, but in reality, those were memories that stick with you forever. There is also something that high school stadiums give us that college stadiums don’t. The atmosphere for a high school football game on a Friday night at a high school football game is hard to beat. I understand there have been some great atmospheres throughout the years at the University of Tulsa between these two schools, but I think it is time we move this game back to home-and-home. It was cool to see Union back in Jenks last Friday. I would like to see it again when we can fill Allan Trimble Stadium to the max. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the Jenks Tribune. Sincerely, Kyle Salomon
The 2020 version of the MidFirst Bank Backyard Bowl was played in Jenks because of the COVID-19 pandemic we are facing. Allan Trimble Stadium was at limited seating capacity and school officials decided it would be best to play the game in Jenks rather than TU. Despite only 30% of the stadium being filled, the atmosphere was still top notch for a high school football game, and it was a neat sight to see Union back playing in Jenks. I believe this rivalry needs to go back to a home-and-home setting and not play at the University of Tulsa going forward.
To the Small and Local Business Owners; after an abrupt closure of your doors, you were battling an enemy blindly. Creativity and innovation became a necessity, and through many sleepless nights you fought to survive.
Thank You, FrontLine Workers By Sarah Clavin
On a recent trip to inspect my daughters’ bedroom, I noticed a rogue piece of paper hanging from her door. I turned it over to find a sign they had made which read, “Hereos Work Here.” The spelling may have been incorrect but the gesture behind it was spot on. I thought I might finish what my 7 and 5-year-old girls had begun, a gesture of gratitude to the unsung Heroes of 2020. To the healthcare workers, and teachers, and government staff, thank you. Your work on the front lines is unparalleled in the midst of a global crisis, chasing a moving target seems nearly impossible. You have and continue to lead us to the best of your ability. To all the others, unnamed, unaccredited, and unknown, thank you. You anonymously held us together through the pandemic and I would like to specifically address a few of you by name. To the School Administration; while teachers fought on the front lines, you were waging war behind the scenes. Scrambling to provide your staff with the resources necessary to continue educating our children, while attempting to prepare a plan for the future. You were inundated with emails and calls from frantic parents, you have created and changed policy, brainstormed and implemented strategies for multiple possible outcomes, and you have sifted through restrictions and regulations in order to continue educating the next generation in the safest way possible. Thank you.
You worried endlessly about your employees, their families, their healthcare, and their homes. You gave up much of yourselves as owners to provide for those around you, praying your local cities would rise up and continue to offer their support so you could meagerly sustain the business you had once dreamed of having. We are grateful for your persistence, your innovation, your selflessness, and your drive. Thank you. To our friends and to the families who found themselves at home due to a loss of a job or a furlough from a business deemed non-essential. You found yourself in a completely different role overnight. From provider and bread winner to distance learning teacher and health care worker. You stood strong for your children during uncertainty; you scoured the internet for inventive ways to teach your children and resources to keep your family safe. You walked the streets and met your neighbors and grew closer as a community. Zoom became a way to reach out rather than a way to drive down the street. For your resilience, fortitude and respite during this time, Thank you. To the Nannies and Caretakers who continued to provide service for their families who were deemed essential workers; thank you. You continued to care for your families and their children despite the possible risks it meant to you. You were selfless and giving and hopeful as you provided a sense of normalcy to those in your care. You gave their parents peace of mind knowing their children were well loved in your care. You also took on a new role of teacher, helping facilitate distance learning, and continued to find activities to do despite the closure of libraries, parks, and learning centers. For your commitment, creativity, and devotion, thank you.
To the patrons and customers of small and local businesses, thank you. You waited patiently for your friends and neighbors to navigate the uncharted waters and reopen their communitybased business. You ordered take out from a limited menu and voiced your support by choosing to spend your dining dollars at a neighborhood diner or grocer to keep your community alive. For your patience, flexibility, and financial support, thank you. There are many more unsung heroes who are not mentioned above. It is easy to recognize the heroes that we see, but finding the heroes that work in the shadows and behind the scenes is more difficult. I think of the stock clerk and the cashier at your grocery and convenience store. I think of the delivery truck driver and the warehouse worker. We think of the nurses and doctors, what about the lab technicians and receptionist. And most of all I think and I wonder who is the person that is cleaning and disinfecting behind the scenes. Most of these will go unnoticed. But today we stop and remember that it is not those who entertain us that kept our communities moving, but rather those we will never meet that we value the most. We would not be where we are today without the work you have done. And we are so very grateful.
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Jenks Public Schools To Offer Free Meals To All Students Through Fall Semester
In effort to help families and students during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA is making school meals free to all Jenks Public Schools’ students for the remainder of the fall semester, which runs through Dec. 18. All students enrolled at Jenks Public Schools – whether attending at-school or taking classes online through the Trojan Connect Program – can eat for free. Students in school can simply go to their site cafeteria for a free meal. Students enrolled in Trojan Connect may pick up a free meal on the north side of the Central Campus Dining Hall each weekday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Milk will be available a la carte at elementary and intermediate sites. Students at Jenks Middle School and Jenks High School may purchase a second entree and drinks a la carte. All a la carte purchases must be paid for with cash or from money in student meal accounts. Meals will not be served when school is closed due to inclement weather.
Jenks Seniors Program Fulfills Need With Meals Last week, the Jenks seniors program began providing boxed lunches on Tuesdays and Fridays to participating members. The meals are served in drivethru fashion with masks worn by all staff who hand meals out. “We have noticed a great need from our seniors to have meals available,” said Terri Kingsley, Senior Citizens Coordinator. “They really miss coming to the Center and eating lunch together. The pandemic has affected meal programs for many seniors throughout the area, so we are so happy to be able to provide this to our members.”
Polly has been grooming for almost 6 years and in May of 2015 came all the way from Texas to be a groomer at U Dirty Dawg Wash. So far, she has a Great Pyrenes named Miss Kitty, and three Pomeranians, Festus, Charlie, and Dakota. Did we mention the chickens? Polly’s love and compassion for animals is what makes her such a great groomer. Polly married Bob four years ago and between them have seven kids and eight grandkids. Polly keeps herself busy most of time but enjoys her quiet country living and a little country music. Come on by the shop sometime and say “Howdy” to Polly.
Groom Shop & Self Serve Tuesday-Saturday 7:30am-6:00pm Self Serve Only Sunday 1:00pm-6:00pm Appointments Appreciated for the Groom Shop 2020 A-List Grooming Taking the hassle out of washing your dawg by providing a stress free, clean and fun environment. Complying with CDC Guidelines
Suicide Prevention Walk Set For Sept. 26 In Jenks By Kyle Salomon
Thirteen years ago, Robin LeBlanc started the “Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk” in Tulsa after the death of her son, Tyler. For the first time in its history, the annual Suicide Prevention Walk will take place right here in Jenks Sept. 26 at the Riverwalk Crossing. Heather Borsuk and Jennifer Palmer, who both lost their sisters to suicide have joined the team this year to help LeBlanc. “People have lost their jobs and have been in isolation,” Borsuk said. “All of that has caused a huge surge in suicides. People need to be together. In Jenks, we are going to take the precautionary measures to make sure people are feeling comfortable. Volunteers will wear masks and gloves. Masks are not required for the walk, but you are welcome to wear one if you would like. Masks will be offered at the event.” Borsuk said safety will most definitely be a priority at the event. “Whatever is going to make people comfortable,” Borsuk said. “We want to make it as safe as possible for people to actually physically be there because that is the whole point of the walk, is to know you are not alone and have a place to go and a place to get resources.” Registration for the walk will begin at 8 a.m. There will be two waves of walks. The first wave will walk from 10 a.m. to noon and the second from noon to 2 p.m. The main ceremony with the three guest speakers will take place between the two waves of walks around noon. The Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, a military chaplain, Hope is Oxygen and other resources from local and national suicide prevention groups will be there in support. September is National Suicide Awareness Month across the nation. “There is a lot of support and a lot of resources we want to make available to the public,” Borsuk said. “My story is I actually ended up back in Tulsa after my sister died by suicide three years ago. It changed my life forever. I have tried to use my pain to make a difference and help save lives. It’s not the story you want to be telling, but the more vocal we are about it, the more we can do to help people, who are struggling.” The event is free to participate, but it is a fundraiser and donations are welcome. All the money raised will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to help the fight against suicide. Donations are accepted through Dec. 31.
MARYANN Maryann is a brindle/white pitbull mix that is estimated to be 4 to 5 years old. She likes other dogs, and especially enjoys playing with her best friend Ginger. Maryann is very stout and can be a bit rambunctious, and would not be advised for an elderly owner; but would be great with a young active family. If you'd like to meet Maryann or any of her adoptable friends, call Jenks Animal Control at 918-299-6311 Option 8 or email animalcontrol@jenksok.org.
STATE OF THE CITY CONT from pg 1 These improvements are going to shave time from your daily commutes and improve your property values, but it’s also important to remember that our city is becoming more walkable by the day, with all of these projects including new sidewalks and trails, along with new sidewalks on B street and in many other places around town. We also appreciate our partnership with Tulsa County, who are currently engineering much-needed improvements to 91st street and to 121st. Meanwhile, our crews have been hard at work taking care of projects that are out of sight and out of mind for most of us but are among the most important functions of our city. As part of the residual effects of last year’s floods, we’ve had to reconstruct and replace water infrastructure and sewer force mains along Polecat Creek. We’ve fixed other sewer lines and storm drainage infrastructure across the city. From improvements like these, to maintenance of facilities and parks and grounds, to emergency responses, our engineering and public works staff completed a whopping 5,666 projects in the last fiscal year, at an average of 21.8 projects per workday. Very often these needs come up late at night and in adverse weather conditions, so if you see our public works first responders out in the community, be sure and give them a thank you. We’ve identified a list of about 100 capital projects that need to take place around the city, from roads to infrastructure to facilities, and we are currently working on a capital improvement plan that will provide the roadmap for how and when we will complete each project. We recently approved a new comprehensive plan for the city, something we’ve been working on for the last year and a half. A true citizens’ document, informed by the public and honed by city leaders, this plan envisions the city’s future for the next twenty years, with a focus on revitalization of downtown Jenks, economic development, transportation, and recreation. The plan is the first, of a two-part process, with a thorough review of our zoning code being the next step. We continue to see new businesses come to town, and after five years of hard work and patience, we’ve finally seen movement on our very own Simon Premium Outlets. This work was slowed on account of complications related to the pandemic, but Simon is working to get this wide-ranging construction project back on track. We’ve enjoyed working with Simon, who have been great partners for our city. We’ve also enjoyed our first full year with our new curbside recycling program, which for the first time brought dedicated recycling options to our citizens. Since its August 2019 rollout, this program has diverted more than 1200 tons of materials from local landfills, allowing us to be better stewards of our resources and environment, while saving the people of Jenks long-term costs as we extend the lives of those landfills. The people of Jenks are leading the region in the use of this program, with 93% of Jenks households participating on a regular basis. Our parks continue to get better and better, with a new splash pad and trails planned for Veteran’s Park, improved trails to the Churchill Trail system, and continued improvements to Park West. I’m excited to announce we are in the beginning stages of a brand-new nature park on Elm, just south of 106th street. This park will include many types of trails and terrains, water features, and a place for the people of Jenks to enjoy our city’s natural beauty. We appreciate Mike Wallace of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation for his help in kicking off this project. We planted 150 trees around the city over the last year in partnership with Up with Trees, and the City of Jenks recently was designated as a Tree City USA. Trees are such an important part of the fabric of our city. Not only do they beautify our surroundings and improve our quality of life, but they raise property values, improve air and water quality, promote walkability, and help with stormwater retention. We’re in the beginning stages of planning new central fire and police stations, which will better help our first responders protect and serve our citizens. We couldn’t be prouder of our community police and fire departments, who workday in and day out to keep us safe. They’ve been on the front lines of the pandemic, and they’ve done a phenomenal job as they’ve been exposed to even more danger than usual.
This unit is a big help to our public safety operations, including search and rescue, aerial visuals of fires and tactical events, security of large public events, and interior searches of buildings. We’re proud of this program, which has been an important resource in Jenks and across the region as the only active drone program in the area. Jenks Police Department responded to over 14,000 calls in the last year, with an average response time of 3.78 minutes. They completed more than 4,600 hours of training and participated in more than 90 community events, including events for Jenks Public Schools, the Oklahoma Aquarium, and the Special Olympics. Jenks Fire and Rescue enhanced their capabilities last year with new equipment like battery-powered extrication gear and thermal imaging cameras, and with nearly 6,000 total training hours. Jenks Fire and Rescue responded to 1,568 calls last fiscal year, with an average arrival time of one minute and 19 seconds. Jenks Animal Control responded to over 750 calls for service in the last year, including 62 wildlife calls. 70 pets were reunited with owners, and 16 were adopted, with the help of the new Pet of the Week social media program that was started in August 2019. Jenks Animal Control acquired a new heated and air conditioned truck bed for animal transport, and we’ve begun the site selection process for a new animal shelter, which will provide a more comfortable environment for the animals in our care, while being more accessible to families for adoption, with the ultimate goal of making Jenks a no-kill city. We’ve begun the process of establishing a new activity center for the Jenks Senior Citizens group. The group currently meets in the city hall community room, which they’ve outgrown. The new center will give the seniors a dedicated space to gather and participate in a wide variety of activities. We have a very active seniors’ group, with an average of 67 in attendance each Tuesday and Friday, 14 who take a weekly art class, and 754 trips provided in the last fiscal year. It’s been a remarkable year for the Oklahoma Aquarium. Pre-pandemic, they were on track for their most profitable year, but like so many other organizations, have taken a financial hit in recent months. Luckily, they’ve grown to be an extremely resilient organization, well-positioned to weather any storm. And they’ve used this as an opportunity to develop new and improved outreach efforts through social media and other outlets that will serve them well as they continue to bounce back. Despite some of the disappointments this year, the aquarium has had a lot to celebrate, with the unveiling of their new Secret World of the Octopus exhibit, and the beginnings of new invertebrate, jellyfish, and clownfish exhibits. In fiscal year 2020, the Oklahoma Aquarium brought nearly 260,000 guests, which would have been much more had they not closed for Covid-19. They hosted 137 events and were aided by 574 volunteers. Aquarium staff made a visit last year to our sister aquarium in Jerusalem and made a major donation to wildlife conservation groups responding to last year’s wildfires in Australia. We’re proud of the aquarium’s work in the areas of research and conservation, with an impact that is felt across the globe. It was a big year for the Jenks Chamber of Commerce. They unveiled new initiatives for economic development and tourism, and they welcomed a new economic development director, who hit the ground running in working to attract new businesses to Jenks. The Chamber has worked overtime to support our local businesses, our city operations, and the Oklahoma aquarium in this challenging year. Of everything that’s happened in 2020, I’m amazed by two things in particular: how much the city of Jenks has been through; and through it all, how much we have continued to flourish and grow. I’m proud of all that we have achieved this year, managing to shine even more brightly in the face of these difficult and uncertain times. I’m proud of the way the city, the business community, our schools, our community newspaper, and citizens have pulled together to find new and creative ways to keep each other safe, often finding better ways to operate than we had before. We may be physically distanced this year, but we’ve never been more unified as a community. I can’t wait to see what we’re able to accomplish in the year ahead.
Our Police and Fire departments completed their first full year of the Jenks Emergency Services Air Support and Drone Program, launched in 2019 in response to the historic floods we experienced. Thanks to the hundreds of hours of work that went into creating the unit in accordance with FAA guidelines, the Jenks Air Support Unit is the premier unit in the metro area, with 8 FAA-certified drone operators.
National Merit Finalists Cont from pg 1 To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. According to the National Merit Corporation website, approximately 90% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title. Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. National Merit Scholarship winners of 2021 will be announced between April and July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 345,000 other distinguished young people to earn the Merit Scholar title.
Hance Pyrotechnics will be performing a private fireworks display at the Five Oaks Lodge on September 19, 2020 between 8:00 and 8:30 pm. Please be aware of the event.
Aquarium To Host ‘Sip & Sea’ Event The Oklahoma Aquarium will host “Sip & Sea” from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 22. The final admission into the event will be at 8 p.m. The cost for Sip & Sea is $27.95 plus tax for non-members and $10 plus tax for members. “Taste delicious local brews, while you, “sea”, our aquatic life,” the release stated. “Guests will receive scorecards before sampling five beverages from local breweries and wineries. While walking through our mesmerizing galleries, visitors will rate their favorite drinks.” The Oklahoma Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All money collected through Sip & Sea goes directly to its exhibits and education programs. This event is for those 21 years of age or older.
Church Directory Beaver Street Baptist Church 102 W. Beaver Street Crossroads Church 2525 W. Main Street Dove Ministry 2833 W. Main Street First Baptist Church 11701 S. Elm Street First Christian Church 308 E. Main Street First Jenks United Methodist Church 415 E. Main Street Jenks Bethel Baptist Church 11808 S. Elm Street Jenks Bible Church 708 W. Main St Jenks Church 1015 W. Main Street Kirk Crossing 11420 S. James Avenue Life Church Jenks 890 W. 81st Street
Newspring Family Church 2907 W. 108th Place South River Oaks Christian Church 300 N. Elm Street St. James Presbyterian Church 11970 S. Elm Street The Church at Jenks 2101 W. 118th Street The Connecting Co. 1737 W. 81st Street
Chamber Of Commerce To Host Golf Tournament
The Jenks Chamber of Commerce is calling all golfers for the organization’s annual Jenks Chamber Open golf tournament. The tournament, set for Oct. 13, will take place at South Lakes Golf Course in Jenks. In addition to enjoying an afternoon at the links, attendees will have the opportunity to network with area business and civic leaders. “The Chamber Open is a unique chance to not only spend an afternoon playing golf, it’s a great way to meet new clients, colleagues and leaders,” said Jenks Chamber President Josh Driskell. Driskell noted that precautions are being taken to reduce touch points and to comply with applicable COVID-19 related restrictions. Sponsorships and team registrations are now available. For more information, message us or call 918.299.5005.
Jenks Sailor Serves In Philippine Sea
Seaman Madison Kirk, left, from Jenks, handles line while Seaman Karlie Bauwens uses a sound-powered telephone in a fueling station of the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during a replenishmentat-sea with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, as well as the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Photo/U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Erica Bechard
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Sexton’s Grand-Slam Saving Catch Propels Jenks Over Kellyville
By Kyle Salomon KELLYVILLE – The Lady Trojans softball team was a few inches away from being runruled Monday at Kellyville, but thanks to centerfielder Dacia Sexton’s grand-slam saving snag above the centerfield wall, Jenks was able to mount a 7-4 comeback win. Kellyville couldn’t have asked for a better script to close out the game. The 2019 Class 5A Slow Pitch State Champions had their best player at the plate, Kailyn Bearpaw, with the bases loaded, two outs and a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lady Trojans had intentionally walked Bearpaw every time she came to the plate up to that point, but the Jenks coaching staff made the decision to give her two looks outside of the strike zone to see if Bearpaw would chase. Jenks’ pitcher Kayla Adams delivered the first pitch and it was called a strike on the outside corner. Lady Trojan coach Todd Williams said,
“I thought we were pitching it where she can’t hit it?” The very next pitch was in the same location and Bearpaw connected.
“I’m thinking the game is over,” Williams said. The run-rule is up by eight after five and a homerun in that situation would have sent Jenks home. Bearpaw’s line drive was screaming its way out of the park when Sexton leaped up at the fence and pulled it back in for the third out. Sexton’s miraculous catch gave the Lady Trojans the energy they needed to make the comeback. Jenks scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning and three in the top of the seventh to secure the three-run victory. Natalie Rodman, Avery Brewer and Adams all had 2-RBI doubles and Adams scored on a wild pitch. Adams got the win in the circle for Jenks.
Girls Cross Country Takes First In Broken Arrow Invitational By Kyle Salomon The Jenks girls cross country continues to dominate the state with another top finish in a meet, this time the Broken Arrow Invitational. The Lady Trojans grabbed first out of nine teams in the field. Avery Mazzei took third overall with a time of 18:59.27. Ryann Barber finished fourth with a time of 19:44.91. Tarryn Lowry placed eighth with a time of 20:27.50. Deborah Mazzei took 14th with a time of 20:43.25. Shelby Kihega finished 17th with a timer of 21:08.27. Paige Twiehaus placed 23rd with a time of 21:30.37 and Paige Gancarczyk took 35th with a time of 22:50.08. 68 total girls competed in the event. On the boys’ side, the Trojans took sixth overall out of nine teams. Todd Mcdoulette took 21st with a time of 17:25.22. Elijah Nyambura finished 22nd with a time of 17:46.79. Tyler Mcdoulette placed 28th with a time of 17:47.57. Ethan Lacey took 37th with a time of 18:8.20. Britton Garcia finished 39th with a time of 18:37.37. Ryan Mccarthy placed 43rd with a time of 18:47.51 and Carter Ford took 46th with a time of 18:54.76. 73 total boys competed in the event. Up next for the Jenks cross country teams is a trip out of state Saturday for an 11 a.m. meet at the Missouri Southern Stampede.
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Celebrating 60 Years of teaching swimming lessons and water safety!
Volleyball Takes Second In Edmond Santa Fe Tournament, Beats Bixby On Senior Night By Kyle Salomon Volleyball takes second last weekend at Heather Harkness Invitational at Edmond Santa Fe High School. The Lady Trojans went 4-2 in the tournament. Mikiah Perdue, Megan Salyer and Honda Figueroa were all-tournament selections for Jenks. The Lady Trojans’ four wins in the two-day event were against Edmond Santa Fe, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma City Storm and Deer Creek. Jenks beat Edmond Santa two sets to one. The Lady Trojans lost 18-25 in the opening set, won 27-25 to even the match and won the third and deciding set 25-22. The Lady Trojans beat Oklahoma Christian two sets to none. Jenks won the first set 25-13 and the second 25-22. Jenks beat the Oklahoma City Storm two sets to none. Jenks beat Deer Creek two sets to none. The Lady Trojans won the first set 25-17 and the second 25-16. The two losses Jenks suffered in the tournament were to Edmond North and Edmond Memorial. The Lady Trojans lost two sets to none to Edmond North losing the opening set 22-25 and the second 24-26. Jenks lost two sets to none to Edmond Memorial losing the first set 17-25 and the second 22-25. Tuesday night, the Jenks volleyball team hosted Bixby on Senior Night for the Lady Trojans. Jenks beat the Lady Spartans three sets to two to improve to 17-4 on the season. The Lady Trojans won the first set 25-20, lost the 19-25, lost the third 20-25 and won the final two sets 25-18 and 15-6. Up next for the Lady Trojans is a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday match at Sand Springs.
Chase Jackson, Senior Chase had five tackles and a fumble recovery in the 28-0 win against Union last Friday night
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Jenks Football Focuses On Itself During ByeWeek By Kyle Salomon
Through its first three games of the 2020 season, Jenks football sits at 2-1 with wins over Union and Springdale Har-Ber and a loss to Bixby. The Trojans will open district play at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Enid, but before they make the trip west, Jenks will have this week to work on itself, get healthy and get some much-needed rest. “It’s kind of a mixed blessing,” Jenks football coach Keith Riggs. “That Zero Week game comes awfully early. You never quite feel like you are ready for the first game with it coming a week earlier and losing that prep time. However, having that bye-week just before district play, really helps. When you play the type of non-district schedule we do, you are going to have some bumps and bruises, so it gives us a chance to regroup and get healthy.” Riggs said it will be good for his team to focus on itself this week rather than an opponent. “There is always some of that every week, but you really focus on it this week,” Riggs said. “I am happy wit where we are at right now. Certainly, we didn’t play a perfect game Friday, but we played really well. There are some things we need to continue to work on and get better., but in terms of where we are this early in the season, I am really pleased.” Riggs noted that he is pleased with the progression of his players, both experienced and inexperienced. “I think our experienced guys are playing really well,” Riggs said. “Some of our new guys, who are playing for the first time, have come along really well and have made a lot of progress from that first game to last Friday. I feel like we are in a pretty good position moving into district play.” Riggs added that even though his team will be focused on itself this week, the coaches will start preparing for the first several district opponents. “We are going to take advantage of the time we have this week to start getting ready for those first few district games,” Riggs said. “Last year, we were 1-2 at this point and not playing very well. This year, at 2-1, we’d love to have that Bixby game back, but what is important right now is we are playing good football. We are positioning ourselves really well moving into district play.” Riggs said he wants his team to look forward. “I think the pulse of the team is good right now,” Riggs said. “We just need to keep it rolling. A couple of things we want to improve on is regardless of how well we played last week or are playing, our focus has to be getting better. You can never sit back and relax and rest on where you have been. You have to keep moving forward. That applies to everything we do this week.” In a typical game week, Jenks would have workdays Monday and Tuesdays and then lighter days Wednesday and Thursday. Since there is no game this week, the Trojans will go through their workdays Tuesday and Wednesday with a modified scrimmage Thursday. They then will have a recovery day Friday and be released for the weekend.
Jenks Blanks Union In 2020 Midfirst Bank Backyard Bowl
By Kyle Salomon
Jenks used a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive performance Friday to down rival Union 28-0 at Allan Trimble Stadium. It was the first time since 1998 that the Redskins have played in Jenks, but this version went a little different than the one 22 years ago. “I am very happy,” Jenks coach Keith Riggs said. “I am proud of our kids. They played as close to a complete game as we have so far this year. Defensively, anytime you get a shutout against anyone, is huge for your defense. Offensively, we played well in the first half. We were able to run the ball on early downs and it gave us options in the passing game. I thought Stephen (Kittleman) played very well. There were a few drops, or his numbers would have been even better. I think this may have been his best game of the year so far.” The Trojans struck first with 2:10 left in the opening quarter on a Stephen Kittleman pass to Jayden Patrick from 27 yards out. Joey Havir was good with the extra-point and Jenks led 7-0 early. At the 7:58 mark of the second quarter, the Trojans made it 14-0 on another Kittleman strike from 22 yards out to Waylon Adams and a Havir extra-point. Jenks would add one more touchdown before halftime at the 3:37 mark of the second frame on wide receiver pass from Patrick to Ty Walls. Havir was successful on the extra-point and the score was 21-0 Trojans at the break. Jenks got the ball to start the second half and sent a message to Union that there would be no let up coming out of the locker room. The Trojans went on a six-plus minute drive capped off by a Grant Lohr four-yard run and a Havir extrapoint to make the score 28-0 with 5:23 left in the third quarter. “I thought the difference in the game, even though we were up 21-0, to come out in the third quarter and put together a six-and-a-half minute drive for a touchdown was huge and set the tone for the second half,” Riggs said. The Trojans finished the game with 281 yards of offense on 55 plays. Jenks passed for 154 yards and rushed for 127. The Trojans had 19 first downs and were 6 of 12 on third downs. Kittleman had 131 yards and two touchdowns on 13 of 17 passing. Patrick was 1 of 1 for 23 yards and a touchdown. “It is a great feeling, especially because against Bixby, we played so sloppy and made a lot of mistakes,” Kittleman said. “We put a high emphasis on paying attention to the little things this week and it is great to see it come full circle a little bit and play well tonight. This coming week, we need to focus on getting healthy. That will be a big priority and we also need to continue to pay attention to the little things. That is what makes Jenks football so great, being fundamentally sound and disciplined.” Lohr finished with 70 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Griffin Forbes had 10 carries for 45 yards and Brock Smith had nine carries for 30 yards. Patrick caught two passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. Adams had four receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown. Walls finished with one catch for 23 yards and a touchdown. Jalyn Standford had two catches for 20 yards. Forbes had two catches for 15 yards. Lohr had two catches for 14 yards and Glenver Jones caught one pass for nine yards. “Our receivers, as new as they are, they are growing up and getting better every day,” Riggs said. “I thought they played a lot better in this game than they did last game and ultimately, that is what we are striving for.” The Redskins totaled 182 yards of offense on 45 plays, including 110 yards on the ground and 72 in the air. The Trojans forced two turnovers, Patrick on an interception in the end zone for a touchback and Chase Jackson with a fumble recovery in the first quarter. Kaiden Vannoy led the Trojans in tackles with 11.5. Thurber Coleman had 10.5 tackles. Lohr had nine tackles and two sacks. A.J. Brown finished with 9.5 tackles. Patrick had 8.5. Tyson Ward had 6.5. Standford had 5.5. Havir had five. Jackson had five. Chance Luna had five. Ethan Bilgrien had three. Ashton Paul had three. Cade Stacy had two. Collin Parr had two. Marcos Mendoza had two. Tim Pennington had 1.5. Forbes had 1.5. Cole Whittington had 1.5 and Montre Samuels Parker had 1.5. Jenks had seven penalties for 55 yards and Union had nine for 60. The Trojans will have next week off before opening district play at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Enid. “We want to get healthy this next week and then zone in on things we need to get fixed and try and get better,” Riggs said. “Not having to prepare for an opponent allows us to do that more. That will be our focus along with getting healthy. We will enjoy this one tonight and tomorrow morning and then move forward.”
JENKS HIGH SCHOOL 2020 FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES
CROSS COUNTRY
SOFTBALL
Sept. 19, 11 a.m., Missouri Southern Stampede, at Missouri Southern University Sept. 26, noon, 6A PreState, at Edmond Santa Fe High School Oct. 1, 3:30 p.m., Owasso Rams Invitational, at Mohawk Park Oct. 8, 3:30 p.m., Frontier Valley Conference, TBD Oct. 24, noon, 6A Regional, TBD Oct. 31, noon, 6A State Championships, at Edmond Santa Fe High School
Sept. 22, 6 p.m., at Shawnee Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m. vs. Sand Springs Sept. 25, TBA, Tahlequah Tournament, at Northeastern State University Sept. 26, TBA, Tahlequah Tournament, at Northeastern State University Sept. 28, 5 p.m., at Owasso Sept. 29, 5:30 p.m., vs. Union Oct. 3, TBA, Edmond Tournament, Oklahoma Christian University
FOOTBALL NonDistrict September 18 – Bye Week District September 25 – At Enid 7 p.m. Dr. Bruce Selby Stadium October 2 – Broken Arrow 7:30 p.m. Allan Trimble Stadium October 8 – At Norman 7 p.m. Harve Collins Stadium October 15 – Edmond Santa Fe 7:30 p.m. Allan Trimble Stadium October 23 – Yukon 7:30 p.m. Allan Trimble Stadium (Homecoming and Senior Night) October 30 – At Edmond Memorial 7 p.m. Edmond Memorial Stadium November 5 – At Westmoore 7 p.m. Moore Schools Stadium Playoffs November 13 – Quarterfinals TBA November 20 – Semifinals TBA December 4,5 – 6A1 State Championship TBA
VOLLEYBALL Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m., at Sand Springs Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., vs. Lincoln Christian Sept. 25, 8:30 a.m., Jenks Invitational Sept. 26, 8:30 a.m., Jenks Invitational Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m., at Broken Arrow Oct. 1, 4:30 p.m., at Edmond Memorial Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m., Norman North, at Edmond Memorial Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m., vs. Booker T. Washington Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m., vs. Sapulpa Oct. 13, TBD, Regional, TBD Oct. 19, TBD, State Championships, TBD Oct. 20, TBD, State Championships, TBD