“Super’’ party hosts Dan Purris and Dr. Joe Fallin. For more photos, see Page 14.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 57 No. 39 • One Section • 14 pages • February 16, 2024 $1 per copy
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving affluent far north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village for 50 years
The champs! The NCA awarded the Bishop McGuinness performance cheer team a national championship at the competition in Dallas. The team includes: Twirler Bridgy McCollum, Jada DunningCarbin, Avary Cronic, Lily Lashley, Pyeatt Rivera, Addie Pitman, Katelin McDonald, Allie Scholze, Kyla Reid, Avry Howard, Jaida Gatimu, Lily Cunningham, Rylan Turner, Keeley Harbison, Gigi Perdue, Olivia Dunham, Avery McIntire, Grace Grimes, Bellah Foster, Grace Abel, Maddy Martinez, Grace McDaniel, Anna LaForge, Jozie Weaver and Danica Allen. Their head coach is Mandy Gerszewski and her assistant is Karly Judkins.
Bernadette Peters is coming to the PHIL Four file for By Mark Beutler Special to OKC FRIDAY This spring, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic presents “An Evening with Bernadette Peters,” May 3-4 at 8 p.m. at the Civic Center Music Hall. Peters is a multiple Tony Award-winning entertainer who has dazzled audiences with her performances for more than 50 years. She is also an animal rights enthusiast, and with her friend, late actress Mary Tyler Moore, co-founded Broadway Barks. It is an organization promoting the adoption of shelter animals in New York City. Now, in honor of Peters’ birthday on Feb. 28, the
Bernadette Peters is coming to Oklahoma City to perform with the OKCPHIL May 3-4.
OKCPHIL is partnering with the Oklahoma Humane Society to offer discounted tickets to her May performances. “We love being part of the community, and giving back,” said Alexander Mickelthwate,
OKCPHIL music director. “I worked with Bernadette many years ago and we both love animals. So this will be a meaningful way to give our patrons a See OKCPHIL, Page 7
OU’s Order of the Owl to include five alumni The University of Oklahoma College of Law is to honor five outstanding alumni at its annual Order of the Owl Hall of Fame ceremony next Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom in the Oklahoma Memorial Union on the OU Norman campus. The Order of the Owl recognizes OU Law graduates
who demonstrate leadership and service through outstanding accomplishments in their legal careers. This year’s Order of the Owl honorees are: • Jari Askins, lieutenant governor of the state of Oklahoma, • Melvin Hall, executive director, Oklahoma Human Rights Commission.
• Terence Kern, chief judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma • Clark Musser, oil and gas attorney and recipient of the Eugene Kuntz Award; and • Natalie Shirley, chair of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Reagan Bradford, partner in the firm of Bradford and Wilson, is
OKC FRIDAY: Fabulous at 50
Can’t imagine life without FRIDAY By David Holt OKC Mayor OCU Law Dean One of the kindest gifts you can give someone is to make them feel special. Leland Gourley clearly understood this 50 years ago when he founded OKC FRIDAY. In FRIDAY, Mr. Gourley created a local community paper that has made thousands of people feel special, one headline at a time, one week at a time, for 2,600 issues. I began reading FRIDAY as a
teenager. In my high school years, I got my first headline, via my work with the Putnam City North mock trial team. On March 2, 2001 came my breakout moment – a front page, above-the-fold story by Gordon Walker covering my first real job serving in the U.S. House Speaker’s office. The headline read “PCN grad: Best job for a 21-yearold in Washington, D.C.” I asked a family friend back See 50, Page 7
to be honored with the Order of the Parliamentarian recognizing more recent OU Law graduates for distinguished accomplishments in the first 20 years of their legal career. Since its inception in 2011, the Order of the Owl has inducted 37 deserving OU Law alumni.
Village offices, NHills race is already over By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Voters in The Village elect new council members in Wards 4 and Ward 5 on April 2 while the race for the Ward 1 council seat in Nichols Hills is over as incumbent candidate Sody Clements, 66, once again drew no opponents and automatically retains her position on the council. Clements was first elected to the Ward 1 Nichols Hills City Council seat in 2008 and begins her sixth three-year term when sworn into office. Clements moved with her family to Nichols Hills as a youngster in 1959. Her husband Robert is a lifelong resident of Nichols Hills. They have two sons who operate the family business, Clements Foods. She has been active in the community, serving leadership positions for numerous arts, educational and church organizations. In The Village, four candidates have filed to fill vacancies when Ward 5 Councilman Sonny Wilkinson and Ward 4 Councilman Sean Cummings announced their intentions to not seek reelection. Voters choose between two candidates for each Ward during the April 2 election. Councilmen in The Village serve a two-term. In the race for Ward 4, Braxton Banks, 37, See ELECTION, Page 13
FRIDAY’s Dogs of the Week Luna Tunes (back) is an 11-year-old Catahoula and Peanut Butter (front) is a 13year-old Chihuahua/Terrier mix. These sisters live in northwest Oklahoma City with their dads, Michael and Joshua BratcherMagallanez. When not begging for treats, which they affectionately know as “bacons,” they love naps and walks in the nearby city parks. Luna enjoys shaking paws with family and friends, while Peanut is sure to let you know when the mailman has arrived at their home! Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@ okcfriday.com.