Cattle Baron’s Ball
Freedoms Foundation
‘Grease’ fan Abigail Ogle was the silent auction winner of an album signed by Olivia Newton John. Page B1.
President of the Oklahoma City Chapter of Freedoms Foundation Don Porter, right, joins, from left, Jerry Burger, Rick Vermillion and OCC President Dr. deSteiguer. Page B2.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 52 No. 21 • Two Sections • 16 pages September 21, 2018
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday Serving affluent far north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village for 44 years
- Photo by Rose Lane
Sean Trauschke, chairman, CEO and president of OGE Energy Corp. and chairman of the United Way’s annual campaigns, leads members of the campaign’s cabinet in announcing the 2018 goal of $17 million. The announcement was made during a pancake breakfast at the Bricktown Ballpark. Dollars raised will be invested into 119 health and human service programs at 58 Partner Agencies. Pacesetter campaign results were also announced and, to date, $4,961,698 has been raised, accounting for 30 percent of the campaign goal. Pacesetters are companies that run their workplace campaigns early and set the momentum for others that will kickoff this fall.
$17 million!
Nichols Hills ‘signs off’ on public property ordinance By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer An ordinance prohibiting the placement of temporary signs of any kind on public property and street rightsof-way in Nichols Hills was approved by the City Council.
The ban includes signs fastened to utility poles or placed on sidewalks, as well as signs “painted onto or fastened to trees in public places,” the ordinance states. The city code forbids billboards, signboards or advertising signs in residential
districts. Exceptions include signs such as: • A temporary holiday, athletic or school spirit sign; • Any sign that recognizes “a significant family event such as a birth, homecoming, graduation or wedding,” although such signs
must be removed after 48 hours; • Signs that express a view or opinion about a public issue, such as a proposed tax increase; and, • “Advertising, endorsing or opposing a candidate for public office or a public question to be voted on at
an election.” The Nichols Hills Planning Commission, in a recent meeting, debated the question of whether the city could adopt an ordinance restricting the number of political signs posted in a See SIGNS, Page 3
Judge rules against Civic leader, businessman dies animals in dog attacks By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer Complaints were filed in two dog attacks in The Village, and in both cases Municipal Judge Daniel White ruled against the aggressor animal. The headline case was an Aug. 29 incident when “Albert,” a 9-year-old Papillon owned by Leslie A. Spears, was mauled by “Blue,” a bulldog-boxer mix that Brandon Stempf said he has owned for about seven years. Spears, a resident of The Village for 18 years, was
FRIDAY’s
walking on Sunnymeade with Albert, who was on a leash, when for no apparent reason Blue escaped from the back yard where she was kept and attacked Albert. Spears’ dog suffered fatal injuries to his liver and bladder, she said. “I’ve never seen (Blue) aggressive” toward another dog or a person, Stempf said. He said his son and daughter “climb all over her” while playing. However, Stempf also testified that he got “anxious” See ATTACKS, Page 2
He always wore orange and possibly was Oklahoma State University’s biggest fan. Jim Vallion, entrepreneur, philanthropist and restaurateur died at home on Sunday. He was born in a coalmining town in LeFlore County and a $50 tuition scholarship to OSU changed his life forever. Vallion lived on a cot in the gym boiler room and worked in the school cafeteria. While working on his bachelor’s degree in political science, then a masters, Vallion met assistant basketball coach Gene Smeltzer. The two
Dog of the Week
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
This is Jasper, who was adopted from the Humane Society in Nichols Hills, about three years ago. He was very frightened of everything when Lundy Makohin brought him to his forever home. He had apparently been badly abused in the past. He likes swimming, especially in the ocean. This is a picture of Jasper on vacation at Hatteras Island, in North Carolina, where he went swimming in the ocean. Send Dog of the Week, Cat of the Week and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com.
JIM VALLION
became partners and founded the Val-Gene’s restaurant company which at one time owned and
operated more than 30 restaurant concepts across Oklahoma City. Vallion bought Trochta’s Floral in 1980. Known for his wit, expertise and philanthropy, Vallion served on every major board in OKC. OSU inducted Vallion into its Hall of Fame in 2017 and this year he received the Red Tie Philanthropy award, which is named after Vallion. His close friends, OSU President Burns Hargis and Richard L. Sias both lamented his death and the loss of a good friend, who supported so many charitable projects.
22 named Merit semifinalists By Rose Lane Editor Twenty-two students from Fridayland schools have been named semifinalists in the 64th Annual National Merit Scholarship competition. They are among 16,000 students from across the nation who are vying for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship Award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of
the competition. Over 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship and earn the National Merit title. Our semifinalists, listed by their high school, are: Deer Creek — Matthew M. Ivester, Chase L. Kliewer and Austin R. White. Casady School — Jose A. Alberola, Timothy G. Bryer-Ash, Claire A. Richardson and Abigail E. Williams. See MERITS, Page 3