2018: The Year in Review
Junior League Sustainers
See what your friends and neighbors like E. Michael Whittington, Lindsay Graham and Ed Barth were doing this year. Pages 10, B2 & B7.
Junior League sustainers know how to party! Shown are Kathy Walker, hostess Linda Slawson and Joan Yoakam. Page B1.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 52 No. 35 • Two Sections • 16 pages December 28, 2018
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday Serving affluent far north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village for 44 years
2018 is a good year for Fridayland
Health care, education top Horn agenda
Compiled by Rose Lane Editor
By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer Oklahoma’s newly elected 5th District U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn says her priorities in the 116th Congress, which convenes next January, will be health care and education. During her successful, 18-month longshot campaign she “spent a lot of time listening” to the residents of the district, she said. “Access to health care and ability to pay off student loans” were the two biggest concerns of the voters she met. Education and health care are two areas where local, state and national issues overlap, Horn said. Adequate funding for public schools, colleges and universities is a responsibility of the state and local governments; for example, education funding consumes approximately half of Oklahoma’s state budget.
January OKC National Memorial and Museum President and CEO Kari Watkins was named OKC FRIDAY’s Cityan of the Year. Tax revenues are on the rise in Nichols Hills and The Village. Nichols Hills’ Grand Boulevard Park project is completed behind schedule, but under budget. The Putnam City Board of Education establishes a feeder pattern that will allow students to remain with their own peer group throughout their school experience.
Congresswoman Kendra Horn talks to voters while on the campaign trail earlier in the fall.
However, student loan debt is a federal matter. The student loan industry needs to be held accountable, Horn contends. “The cost of a college education shouldn’t weigh students down for the rest of their lives,” she said. Student debt “keeps people from buying homes and starting families.” She pledged to “work to reduce interest rates on student loans.”
How she came from behind By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer One week prior to this year’s general election, Sooner Poll predicted that U.S. Rep. Steve Russell had a 12-point lead over challenger Kendra Horn. On Election Day the polling website Featherweight rated Horn’s chances of victory at just 1-in-7, a mere 14.3 percent. Horn is a Democrat who was running in a “red” state that previously had elected just two women to Congress, and she was See ELECTION, Page 9
February The Village City Council decides that bonds the voters approved on Jan. 9 will be sold in two series and the proceeds from the sale will be earmarked for street repairs, traffic signals and park improvements. A project 15 years in the making is dedicated when Quail Creek Elementary School students, staff and patrons celebrate the opening of the school’s new gym. The Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund announces it will honor long-time supporter James (Jim) Vallion with its inaugural namesake award during the organization’s 26th Annual Red Tie Night in March. Fridayland State Senator David Holt is elected Oklahoma City’s new mayor by almost 80 percent of the vote. March Don Betz, Enoch Kelly Haney, Lou Kerr, Steve Prescott, Wade Scaramucci, Dick Sias and B.J. Thomas are named 2018 Creativity See 2018, Page 3
See HORN, Page 5
Ring in 2019 at Opening Night Downtown Oklahoma City’s largest family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration is returning on Monday, 7 p.m. to midnight, in Bicentennial Park. Opening Night is a place for people of all ages to experience music, theatre, comedy, magic, fireworks and more as they ring in the New Year together. The festivities begin with the Sixth Annual Finale 5K at 3 p.m. starting at Colcord Drive in Bicentennial Park. The 5K is open to runners of all abilities and features live entertainment
throughout the course, as well as a warm up before the race by the Thunder Drummers, Storm Chasers, Thunder Girls and Rumble the Bison. All runners receive an Opening Night wristband, a finisher medal and have the opportunity to win prizes including “Most Festively Dressed.” Registration is $35 through race day. First 250 to register receive a limited edition Finale 5K tshirt.
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Leo is a 4-month old Goldendoodle who loves to meet new people and run in the Oklahoma rain. His name is Leo because he reminds his owner, Chandler Hardy, of a little lion! He loves his raccoon toy more than any other, and enjoys digging in the red dirt. Send Dog of the Week, Cat of the Week and Baby 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 See NEW YEAR, Page 2