A recently formed non-profit — WOW (Winter on Western Foundation/501c3) — is working to bring the dazzling holiday lights back to Western Avenue. “The lights, along with the unique way the trees were wrapped, was all Aubrey McClendon,” spokeswoman Edie Roodman said. “His creativity and inspiration will be reflected once again in a glittering light display. “There is every reason to believe that with the support of corporate and
WOW! Lights coming back to Western
individual gifts we will flip the switch and turn those magical lights on Friday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m.” During the cold dark days of winter, those bright lights brought sheer joy. Roodman said many miss their color and warm glow. “A small determined group of us are making considerable efforts to honor Aubrey’s vision and bring back the tradition he so generously shared with our community,” Roodman said. The plan is for their glow to grace
the streets until right after Valentine’s Day 2022 and each year thereafter. All donors are invited to a reception hosted by the new Ellison Hotel prior to the lighting ceremony on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. For more information or to make a donation, visit winteronwestern.org or send a check to WOW, 6608 N. Western Ave., PMB No. 313, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73116 or call (405) 525-8822 for credit cards. Follow WOW on social media @winteronwestern.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 55 No. 26 • One Section • 14 pages • November 19, 2021
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 47 years
Village continues work on fire station
OKCGCC’s Fleming makes Sr. PGA field
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
to competitive golf as he began competing at age 6. “I’ve loved golf as long as I can remember,” he said.
A multi-year, $200,000 project to renovate The Village Fire Station at 2201 W. Britton Rd. is currently in the second year of a five-year construction plan. Renovations to the fire station are planned to replace floor coverings, update bathrooms, overhead doors, hot water tanks and other infrastructure. “This is a multi-year project to renovate the station in a way that is not too disruptive to work and living conditions,” said Bruce Stone, city manager. For the current station, built in 1997, the city paid nearly $600,000 cash for the building. Firefighters did much of the work to finish the building out by installing the floors, cabinets, tiles, doors and all the painting. “In other words, the contractor built a ‘shell’ that was finished by our employees,” said Stone. “This was a fairly innovative way to get a new facility at a price we could afford.” Stone said the city has budgeted a minimum $20,000 per year for the project that could vary from year to year. The total cost over five years
See PGA, Page 11
See VILLAGE, Page 5
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor After three consecutive rounds of 72, Fridaylander Tim Fleming knew he needed a stellar round to crack the top 35 at a Senior PGA Championship qualifying tournament in late October. Fleming, who is the club pro at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, accomplished his task with a 62 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to tie for 14th and make the field for the Senior PGA Championship which is to be played
Tim Fleming, the club pro at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, earned a spot at the Senior PGA Championship after tying for 14th at a qualifying tournament last month in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
May 26-28, 2022, in Benton Harbor, Mich. “I’ve been a competitive club pro and done well at a few tournaments,” Fleming said. “(Making the Sr. PGA field) is an
opportunity I’ve not had till I turned 50.” The Sr. PGA is onlyopen to competitors over age 50. A native of Ocean Springs, Miss., Fleming is no stranger
Calvey slams Gieger, Prater over grand jury filing
KEVIN CALVEY
Kevin Calvey, former U.S. Army prosecutor and conservative Republican candidate for Oklahoma County district attorney, denounced opponent Gayland Gieger and his boss, District Attorney David Prater, regarding a grand jury
FRIDAY’s Cat
application filed against the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. The application has raised allegations of retaliation against the board by the DA’s office. Gieger has thus far refused to criticize his office’s grand jury application.
of the Week
This is Carlea Prickett’s cat, Tabbouleh’s reaction when she was told that her human was coming home from college. Tabbouleh was not a happy cat when Carlea left for college. Send Dog, Baby and Cat of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com.
“I obtained death sentences against terrorists I prosecuted for the Army in Iraq, so I’m obviously not opposed to the death penalty,” Calvey said. “But as a society that cherishes the Rule of Law, we cannot tolerate abuse of the grand
jury process to intimidate members of the Pardon and Parole Board for their decisions, especially in matters of life and death. “Gieger refuses to criticize See CLAVEY Page 2
OKCNP to present Visions Awards By Rose Lane Editor Fridaylanders Sally Nichols Starling and Bob Blackburn join four others from throughout the state in being honored by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits’ 2021 Visions Awards. The event is set for Tuesday, Nov. 30 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The Visions Awards begin with a 6 p.m. reception, followed by a 7 p.m. program. Starling, the Shirley Shanker Volunteer Award honoree, is recognized for her work with the OKC Ballet. The retired executive director of the
Oklahoma Historical Society, Blackburn is the Pat Potts Visionary Award recipient. Other honorees include: Casey Bahksh, Tulsa Cares, Inasmuch Special Recognition Award; Ranya Forgotson and Whitley O’Connor, Curbside Chronicle, Rodney Bivens Innovation Award; Dr. Robert Block, retired, Lifetime Achievement Award; and Dr. George E. Young, Oklahoma Senator, President’s Award. For more information, contact Rachel Ginter at rginter@okcnp.org or (405) 463-6886, ext.213. Register at okcnp.org/visions. The dress is business cocktail.