OKC FRIDAY Vol. 53 No. 37 • Two Sections • 16 pages January 17, 2020
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Putnam City voters to head to the polls on Feb. 11 By Rose Lane Editor Voters in the Putnam City Public School District will go to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to decide two propositions totaling $133.45 million.
“The 2020 Bond provides funds to meet the daily needs to educate, protect and enrich Putnam City students,” Superintendent Dr. Fred Rhodes said. “Proposed projects range from safety to accessibility to education to the arts to
athletics. Every aspect of a Putnam City student’s education is impacted by this bond beginning with the foundations of education.” He said every school would receive prioritized improvements with this bond. Those would include
focus on increasing the storm safety needs of schools, upping school security, providing digital and traditional textbooks to students, fulfilling needs for renovations and modernizations of outdated buildings, daily equipment and furni-
ture and adding classrooms to address the rising enrollment in the Putnam City School District. District-wide, the bond money would fund laptops for teachers and the effort See BOND, Page 10
GOAL! Garrett goes pro Heritage Hall grad joins MLS’ Dynamo BRENDA BARWICK
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
JUDY LOVE
Our ladies receive prestigious honors
Fridaylander Garrett McLaughlin can’t pinpoint an exact time when he first became interested in playing soccer. “I’ve wanted to play soccer for as long as I can remember,” McLaughlin said. That love for the world’s most popular sport, along with his physical talent and hard work, led McLaughlin into the world of professional sports. The 2016 Heritage Hall graduate was selected eighth overall by the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. “Playing professional soccer was in the back of my mind a little, but my first goal was to play in college,” McLaughlin said. “Later on, I wanted to play pro so I was nervous and relieved to hear my name called.”
Above: The emotion is raw as Garrett McLaughlin learns he is going to the Houston Dynamo as the eighth pick overall in the first round of the draft. He embraces his parents Liz and Tim. At left: Liz, Garrett, Tim and sister Libby.
See MLS, Page 3
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week This is Phoebe Ella. Her humans are Greg and Carla Metzer of Woody Creek in Edmond. Phoebe loves to visit her sister Alina in Gilbert, Ariz., and her grandparents in Carrollton, Texas. She is full of spunk and makes friends wherever she goes. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
Enterprising Woman of the Year
Oklahoma Mother of the Year
Brenda Jones Barwick, president and CEO of Jones PR, is the only Oklahoma woman to receive a 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award from Enterprising Women Magazine. The awards are an annual tribute to the world’s top women entrepreneurs. Honorees will be recognized at the 18th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference, set for Sunday, March 29 to Tuesday, March 31 at the Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach, Fla. The Enterprising Women of the Year Awards is widely considered one of the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners. To win, nominees must demonstrate that they have fastgrowth businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls
Judy Love of Oklahoma City has been named the 2020 Oklahoma Mother of the Year. She was nominated for her contributions as a mother in her home, workplace and community. She is the 74th woman in history to hold this honor. Love is a mother of four and grandmother of nine, who has been awarded 31 various community honors to include Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame and Most Powerful Woman in the City. She is being recognized for her extensive work as a community and philanthropic leader who gives her time and talents to create a better quality of life for Oklahoma families. Love, along with honorees from states across the US, will be recognized during the 85th National Convention of
See BARWICK, Page 2
See LOVE, Page 2
Manhattan Cleaners is closing its doors after 65 years in Village After 65 years in the dry cleaning business, Manhattan Cleaners on north May Avenue will be closing its doors on Jan. 31. Owner Noris D. Whitaker is retiring. HTeaO purchased the property and will begin demolition on the building in February. Whitaker’s daughter, Linda
Wheeler, said they will not be processing any more cleaning after Jan. 17. All garments must be picked up by Jan. 31. Any cleaning not picked up by this date will be transfered. “Nichols Hills Cleaners has graciously agreed to help us in this transition and any garment left when we close may be picked up at
Nichols Hills Cleaners, 2837 W. Wilshire Boulevard,” Whitaker said. Whitaker was one of the first businesses to build on north May in The Village. Among his many civic activities, Whitaker was particularly involved with the Boy Scouts of America and received the Silver Beaver Award.
Wheeler and her son, Evan, are the faces most frequently behind the counter the last few years. A school teacher, she has been helping out at the cleaners for 38 years. Whitaker said the family has “enjoyed our business relationships and appreciate the trust you put in us.”