19th Street Magazine January 2022

Bridges of Moore

Helping More Students

Local Prosecutors

Advocating for Justice

Veteran of the Month

Joe Corbett

January 2022 • Issue 1 • Volume 5

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Features

JANUARY CONTENTS 2022

ISSUE 1– VOLUME 5 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

Help, Hope and Housing

10 by Callie Collins

Lindsay Cuomo

Non-profit organization to expand services to Moore students.

District Attorney Greg Mashburn highlights the work of local prosecutors.

Delivering More

18

by Sharla Bardin

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

Advocating for Justice

14by Chelsey Kraft

MANAGING EDITOR

10

PUBLISHER

Casey Vinyard

A Healing Place The Well offers health and wellness resources to county residents.

Welcome Back Coach

26

by Chris Plank

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Haley Gauley - haley@sportstalk1400.com Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com

Moore Norman debuts new driving skills opportunities.

22

by Joy Hampton

Roxanne Avery| Sharla Bardin Callie Collins | Lindsay Cuomo Joy Hampton | Chelsey Kraft Bill Moakley | Chris Plank

The whirlwind week that lead to the hiring of new head football coach Brent Venables.

22

19th Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: 19thstreetmagazine@gmail.com Copyright © 19th Street Magazine Any articles, artwork or graphics created by 19th Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of 19th Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission.

Any opinions expressed in 19th Street are not necessarily that of 19th Street management.

Meet The Players

36

by The Players

Learn more about the high school stars playing in gyms around Moore.

Making a Difference

40

by Roxanne Avery

Owner of Brown’s Driving School shares about educating the next generation.

Healthy Resolutions from

47 Local Physicians

26

by Lindsay Cuomo Local physicians share their resolutions for a happy and healthy 2022.

Veteran of the Month:

50 Joe Corbett.

by Bill Moakley Oklahoma native shares about his time serving and the Oklahoma Warriors hockey team.

sportstalk1400.com

50

Cover photo by: Mark Doescher

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 3 to 5 p.m.

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COM M U N I T Y

Hel p , Ho pe and H o us ing

Non-profit organization to expand services to Moore students

H

elping hands are needed to bridge a vital gap within the community we share. Changing the trajectory of teenagers’ lives often has a lifelong effect, including on generational poverty. The expansion of an existing non-profit organization serving teens in need is now underway in Moore.

Bruce echoed Ramick views on the potential impact of this new partnership.

Bridges, founded in Norman, plans to expand its program for youth living alone. The project is currently in its capital campaign phase, thanks to the coordination and fundraising efforts of Moore Public Schools Foundation.

A series of tiny homes or duplexes will be constructed for at least 20 students at a time, with groundbreaking anticipated in conjunction with the 2022-2023 school year. A combination of funding sources will be needed to raise the $1.5 million needed for structural completion, including from federal, state and city funding, specific grants, private foundation partnerships and donations from the Moore community. Bridges was the recipient of a recent Moore Love campaign, a fundraising competition between all three Moore high schools, and received more than $210,000.

“Our policy at Bridges of Norman is that students have to be enrolled in a Norman public high school to participate,” shared Stacy Bruce, executive director of Bridges of Norman. “We have seen an increase in requests coming out of the Moore district and when they find out that they would have to go to Norman for school, it’s heartbreaking because they don’t’ want to leave their friends or teachers.”

The expansion’s goal is to make life intervention services available for Moore’s population of high school students who cannot continue living in a traditional domestic setting due to life circumstances.

“We recognize the need for dependable housing that provides stability to students, which can be life-changing,” said Clayton Ramick, Moore Public Schools Foundation executive director. “Because the focus continues to be on education, we are changing the trajectory for young people at risk.”

10 January 2022

“We are excited to serve in Moore and reach more students,” she said. “The foundation and district are very focused on student success so this will be a great partnership.”

Bridges started in recognition of a community need school counselors brought to light in the 90s that stemmed from students living in a catch-21 situation: they could not attend school due to an oversight in state law that required the presence of a parent or guardian for enrollment. Parental incarceration, homelessness or death were some of the reasons that led students to drop out of school, which created a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty due to limited job options for children who could not continue studying due to the unusual loophole. The law was changed, and a task force recommendation led to the eventual founding of a pro-

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

“Great kids who go on to good things need a place to sleep.

Bridges helps to ensure their path to success.” gram designed to provide formal guidance through a designated educational path and stable housing.

Students might find themselves in need for a variety of reasons. Amanda Robinson, Moore Public Schools McKinney-Vento coordinator, has noted an increase in students experiencing housing disruption and homelessness within the district.

“We know students experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school than their stably-housed peers. In 2020-2021, there were 34 identified unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in MPS,” said Robinson. “This was a 325% increase from the 20192020 school year. As more efforts are placed on identification and more resources are available, we expect this number to continue to grow.”

Currently, more than 50 students experiencing homeless have been identified within Moore Public Schools, with nearly 30 listed as unaccompanied minors. Participants in Bridges are not involved with Oklahoma Human Services as foster children and their parents or guardians do not relinquish custody. With the permission of a parent or guardian, high school students can be eligible.

“Great kids who go on to good things need a place to sleep. Bridges helps to ensure their path to success,” said Ramick. “These are students who have incredibly difficult circumstances through no fault of their own.

They need a hand up in order to move forward.”

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Moore students must be enrolled in school and meet specified criteria for grades and attendance, in addition to other qualifying factors, including a verifiable source of income.

Participants cannot live on-site with their siblings, parents or others, although students with babies or young children may reside with them. Designated staff members are always available within the residential settings, with 24/7 availability in case of emergency.

Mentoring and life skills classes are integral parts of the program. Planning for continued education through trade schools or by pursuing college with the help of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) paperwork is also part of every student’s path at Bridges, as education is part of their core mission.

Continued funding and donations will be needed from the community. Participants get to take their temporary home’s furniture and other amenities with them after graduation from high school, with the ability to transition into Section Eight subsidized housing.

Land has not yet been designated for the Moore chapter of Bridges. If you would like to donate resources or have a conversation about supporting related work, visit mooreschoolsfoundation.org/bridges to get in touch with staff members.–19SM

19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 11

COM M U N I T Y

Advoc ati ng fo r Just ice

District Attorney Greg Mashburn highlights the work of local prosecutors

T

he Oklahoma District 21 District Attorney’s office has a clear mission - “to seek justice, protect our communities and represent those who have been the victims of crime.”

District Attorney Greg Mashburn and First Assistant District Attorney Travis White are part of the team that strives to fulfill that mission for the citizens of Cleveland, McClain and Garvin Counties.

Mashburn has been the district attorney of District 21, the third largest DAs office in the state, for almost 15 years. He oversees a staff of about 75 employees, across three offices located in Norman, Purcell and Pauls Valley.

When it comes to his staff, Mashburn said he’d like for the community to know how dedicated the group is because, often, the only community members who see the attorneys in action are those who serve as trial jurors.

“I would just like the community to understand what a wonderful group of people they have here,” Mashburn stated. “And to also understand there’s a lot that’s going on behind the scenes to get to that point.”

White, who has worked in a variety of roles including in Oklahoma County and as general counsel for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics prior to joining the team in Cleveland County, echoed Mashburn’s thoughts about the staff. In his past positions, White has worked with DAs offices across the state.

“We’ve been blessed with a bank of experience in this office that’s unmatched by any other,” White shared.

14 January 2022

“That’s not to diminish other DAs offices because there’s a great deal of talent out there in the pool. But we just have a cluster of personalities that have a wealth of experience and wisdom in the handling of prosecutions.”

The staff consistently wins statewide awards, with Jan Sallee (Outstanding Witness Service Employee, 2019); Sarah Menefee (Outstanding Secretary, 2018); Michelle Maynord (Outstanding Bogus Check Employee, 2017); and Jennifer Austin (Mitch Sperry Memorial Award, 2016) securing honors in recent years, just to name a few.

When Mashburn first ran for DA in 2006, the office was only winning about 34 percent of its jury trials.

To him, that meant the office was either filing charges against guilty people who were then going free, or it was filing against not guilty people who were then still going through the trial process. Thus, one of Mashburn’s focuses has been to be effective in jury trials.

Mashburn said he loves the jury process because it’s “the barometer for what our community thinks about certain cases and certain crimes.”

Now, the jury trials won by the office are consistently between 80 and 100 percent.

This year, the DAs office has tried and won some high-profile cases, including a racketerring case against the “Murder Money Gang,” led by Assistant DAs Patrick Crowe and Jacobi Whatley. The office also tried the case involving the deaths of three Moore High School cross country runners, led by prosecutors Jennifer Austin and Christy Miller.

BY: CHELSEY KRAF T Another key component of the DAs office is working with different agencies throughout the community, including the local police departments through cases and in providing training at the academy. In 2008, the DA office team started the District 21 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which includes representatives from various agencies like the Sheriff’s Office and Moore Police Department.

When asked what their “why” is and why they do what they do, the answer was clear – taking care of victims of crimes and helping them through the judicial system.

“As a prosecutor, you get to do the right thing every time,” Mashburn explained. “That may mean pushing for the longest prison sentence possible. That may mean not filing a charge because the evidence isn’t there. Or it might mean getting somebody into treatment so they can deal with their addiction issues and stop committing crimes. That could mean dismissing the case because the search warrant was bad. Whatever the right thing is, we get to do it.

“Everybody understands that we have to be extremely ethical in the way that we do our job because when we sign a charge on somebody, we’re bringing the state of Oklahoma against one of its citizens,” Mashburn continued. “If we’re going to do that, then we need to make sure we’re filing the right charge on the right person, and doing that in the most ethical, highly responsible way that we can do it.”–19SM

District 21 DA Greg Mashburn

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COMM U N I T Y

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D eli ve rin g M o re

Moore Norman debuts new driving skills opportunities

M

ooore Norman Technology Center is delivering more courses and training opportunities for those interested in a commercial driver’s license, the license required to operate large vehicles, such as those used for municipalities, transportation and construction.

In addition, the technology center will be listed on the training provider registry with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Drivers will be able to choose the technology center to fulfill required training for entry-level drivers of commercial vehicles under a new federal regulation that takes effect in February 2022.

Center officials said the classes and training can help companies in the region with training needs for truck drivers, help local school districts by offering classes for those interested in becoming bus drivers and equip individuals who are pursuing careers in commercial transportation.

“Education doesn’t stop once you receive your CDL,” Taylor said. “It keeps going.”

“We want to be the go-to place for this educational need,” said Jennifer Taylor, instructor/coordinator at the center and a third-party CDL examiner.

Taylor said the new training and class opportunities can help enhance the knowledge and skill level of commercial drivers, bus drivers and motorcyclists. She hopes the program can lead to more commercial drivers, especially given the need for more drivers in the trucking industry.

The center’s program also now features a CDL skills pad, which is a large area where individuals can practice vehicle inspection, backing skills and more.

The pad, located at 600 Research Park Blvd. in Norman, was completed in the fall of 2021, giving people a place to practice and develop specific skills. It serves as a certified exam site for the Department of Public Safety.

The technology center is partnering with Central Technology Center for truck driver training classes that will start in February. Participants in the classes will utilize the skills pad.

18 January 2022

Also starting this spring, the center will offer a motorcycle basic rider course. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation will provide the curriculum for the class that begins in March.

Taylor appreciates the efforts from program partners that have been working to expand the training and classes offered at the center.

“Together, we will help our community,” she said. “I see the help that’s coming for all of these ‘help wanted’ signs around Oklahoma.”

For more information about the center’s commercial transportation program, visit mntc.edu or call Taylor at 405-801-5705.-19SM

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COM M U N I T Y

A He ali n g P la ce

The Well offers health and wellness resources to county residents

C

leveland County’s new wellness square, The Well, officially opened in November and offers free and low-cost classes that fit perfectly with New Year’s resolutions to improve your health or get your finances in order.

Financial literacy classes are free and cover a range of topics from estate planning to questions about social security, healthcare and retirement. There is no sales pitch included with these classes, just free information provided by experts in the field.

“We don’t want someone’s ability to pay to be a barrier to access,” said Executive Director Melody Bays.

“There is no membership fee. All of our programming is open to the public.”

While financial classes may not directly improve physical health, they can promote peace of mind and support quality of life, key elements in health and happiness.

Located at 210 S. James Garner Ave. in Norman, The Well is ideally situated for walkability within the downtown area. Free parking is available onsite.

The Well offers classes in cooking and nutrition, financial literacy and fitness. Additionally, Norman Regional’s Health@ The Well is a functional medicine clinic offering a patient-centered approach to health management.

CLASSES SUPPORT QUALITY OF LIFE

“There are many elements that go into improved quality of life,” Bays said. “Our mission is to make Cleveland County the healthiest and happiest it can be, and our programming is designed to support that vision.”

Fitness classes include yoga, Tai Chi and Zumba. Additionally, the Norman Farm Market will open at The Well in April 2022.

HEALTH@ THE WELL

Enrolling in a class at The Well is simple. On the website, thewellok.org, click on “Classes” in the menu bar to reveal the drop-down selection of categories where you can explore a variety of choices. There are multiple teachers and times to choose from with more developing along the way.

Norman Regional Health System’s Health@ The Well is a functional medicine clinic where three providers care for the community. Physician Dr. Castel Santana promotes five pillars of health and wellness: medical, physical, mental, spiritual and aesthetic. He focuses on trying to find the root problem of symptoms, such as food intolerance or mold exposure.

Cooking classes include everything from free classes in nutrition basics to low cost classes on healthy desserts, for example, where students get to make and eat or take the food with them.

Doctor of chiropractic, Angela Schmidt, provides specific chiropractic adjustments, helping patients with acute and chronic pain, pediatrics, pregnancy, sciatica and more. She is certified in Webster Technique, a specific

22 January 2022

BY: JOY HAMPTON

chiropractic sacral analysis and adjustment through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

Nicole Garber is a board-certified nurse practitioner with interests in family planning, wellness, disease management and prevention.

Future events at the clinic will address keeping your heart and colon healthy and preventing stroke.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AT WORK The Well was created through a partnership between Cleveland County and the Cleveland County Health Department. Starting in April, it will be the new home of the Norman Farm Market bringing fresh produce and local wares to the walkable downtown area.

Many of the classes at The Well are provided through Moore Norman Technology Center, and the Pioneer Library System provides event programming for children and families.

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Cleveland County Veteran Coordinator Charlie Neely offices at The Well, working with local veterans and their families to find the services and support they need.

“We wanted to provide a destination for activities that focus around wellness and health,” said County Commissioner Darry Stacy. “It’s been amazing to work with the team at the Health Department and at The Well to bring this vision to life.”

Bays said bringing health equity to Cleveland County is a thing near and dear to her heart. A social worker with a background in public health, Bays is passionate about helping people improve their lives through better health and wellness access.

“The Well is an example of how community partnerships and public funding can benefit a lot of people,” she said. –19SM

19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 23

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S P O RT S

B

rent Venables is the head football coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The hiring capped a wild and eventful 9-day stretch that started with a gut-wrenching loss and ended with a whole new direction. It was the perfect hire at the perfect time and precise medicine for a fan base that felt disrespected and betrayed.

THE HEARTBREAK This 9-day stretch begins in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Nov. 27 with the annual Bedlam Football game and the first piece of heartbreak for Sooner fans.

A desperation scramble by freshman quarterback Caleb Williams had set the Sooners up with a chance in the closing seconds to rally and beat in-state rival Oklahoma State. But the Cowboy defense prevented the Sooners from scoring and as the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Sooners had lost Bedlam, 37-33.

It was the first time that the Sooners would not play in the Big 12 Championship game since the matchup was restarted in 2017. The loss also broke a streak of six straight Big 12 Titles and officially eliminated Oklahoma from the playoff picture.

The weeks leading up to Bedlam had been littered with conversations about the future of Lincoln Riley. Many had thought Riley was on his way to Baton Rouge to take the vacant LSU job. Despite the frustration of the Bedlam loss, the Sooner coach seemed to calm some of those concerns with his post-game comments. Stopping a question mid-sentence with this: “Let me stop you right there. I’m not going to be the next coach at LSU,” Riley said. “Next question.”

The defiant stance in the face of the LSU rumors did seem to calm some of the uncertainty, but it was short lived. Just hours after proclaiming he was not going to LSU; Riley had reached an agreement to become the next head coach of the USC Trojans.

A PROGRAM THAT’S ABOUT THE PLAYERS The news of Riley leaving for USC shook the college football world and the Sooner Nation to its core. Riley became the first Oklahoma Sooner football coach to leave for another college program since Jim Tatum left to take the head coach position at Maryland in 1946.

Photos by: Mark Doescher

“When we met with the team today, I communicated to our players that our program is about them,” Sooner Athletic Director Joe Castiglione said after the shocking announcement. “It will always be bigger than any one person. And just as it’s always been, Oklahoma football is positioned for greatness.”

The good news for a stunned Sooner fan base was that a legend was waiting, and that legend was willing to step up when the program needed him most. Bob Stoops stepped up as the interim coach, grabbed his whistle, hit the recruiting trail, and reaffirmed the program is about more than one person.

“This is a real job, a great job, a great university with great leadership,” Stoops said at a Monday press conference following the Sun-

26 January 2022

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Welcome Back

BY: CHRIS PLANK

COACH

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19TH BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 27

day announcement that Riley was leaving. “Just give it a little time and you’ll see that this is a little bump in the road. There is not one guy or one person in the history of the program that is bigger than the program, Coach Switzer, myself or Coach Riley.

The term “stealthy” was used by Porter Moser to describe Joe C’s approach when he was hired as the head basketball coach earlier this year. And the challenge is exacerbated when there is a fan base thirsty for information.

“What I told the players is that they are the program, players throughout these decades, they are OU football.

Not us as a coach. I’m getting in the Hall of Fame because of them. If they stick together, they will continue to be OU Football, championship football the way we are used to playing.”

“A lot of people are putting out bad information and a lot of people are putting out rumors and speculation and ‘what ifs’ and it’s not helpful,” said Jason Kersey of The Athletic. “It’s not good journalism, but it happens, and you deal with it. When others do things like that, the rest of us start getting questions. Is Dabo (Swinney) really a candidate? You must sift through it. It’s not easy.”

So, Bob Stoops, exactly one week before he was to be inducted into the college football hall of fame, took over the reins of the Oklahoma Sooners and Castiglione started his search.

THE SEARCH RAMPS UP On Saturday, Oklahoma lost to Oklahoma State in Bedlam. By Sunday, Lincoln Riley was on his way to USC, and on Monday Bob Stoops was the interim head coach. It was as wild of a stretch as Oklahoma football has ever witnessed.

But the rumors and stories around the coaching search may have presented more of a challenge for those who cover the Sooner football beat. Castiglione is notoriously clandestine when it comes to head coaching searches.

28 January 2022

The rumor mill was churning and as the search progressed the theories continued to mount.

Everyone wanted current Clemson and former Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables to get the job, but what was taking so long? Was current Clemson coach Dabo Swinney really a candidate? And how in the world could an appearance in Oklahoma City by famous rapper Drake somehow be a clue to his interest. As Adam Schefter reported, had the Sooners truly targeted Kliff Kingsbury to be its next head coach? Is Matt Rhule interested in leaving the Carolina Panthers to take the job? Could a name like Josh Heupel or Dave Aranda be in the mix?

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A process that many expected to move quickly had suddenly started to drag out in some people’s opinions. Wednesday because Thursday and as Friday approached the feeling was that an announcement would not be coming until after the weekend.

down the railing sharing high fives, and truly immersed himself and his family in the passion for Sooner football.

Then, the Voice of the Sooners Toby Rowland stepped up to interview the coach and said what everyone was thinking:

But by Sunday afternoon…after an unpredictable and truly shocking week, the Sooners had their guy.

“Brent Venables… Welcome Home.”

WE GOT OUR GUY… GET TO THE AIRPORT The Max Westheimer Airport in Norman is a typical private airport. Since Ozzie’s Diner closed, the sole purpose of going to the airport would be to catch a flight or just watch the planes take off and land. But on Sunday, Dec. 3, it became the focal point for a Sooner revival.

A party that was grassroots at its core and necessary to celebrate a move that Sooner Football fans universally embraced.

Castiglione had found his guy. Brent Venables was the new head coach for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Venables introduction to his players came via Zoom as Castiglione introduced the new Sooner boss while flying back to Norman.

“We are the elite, when they talk about the elite programs in college football that’s Oklahoma,” Venables told the team. “And I know you guys know that.”

While the Sooner contingent was making its way from South Carolina to Norman, the fans started to arrive in anticipation of Venables arrival throughout the day.

“It was not what I thought it was going to be,” Kersey said. “We saw there was a flight scheduled to come back in Norman at around 5 p.m. We waited and waited... ordered pizza… hung out and waited.

“Then the numbers grew. At first, it was just 5 -10 fans.

As more tracked the flight on social media, it became incredible and insane. All the while the flight keeps getting pushed back. They’re asking us what we know. It was a wild scene.”

As the crowd ballooned and the anticipation reached a fever pitch, the flight finally made its final approach around 10 p.m.

“Welcome to Norman… Boomer Sooner” echoed from the control tower.

As the plane landed, Venables emerged to the Pride of Oklahoma playing Boomer Sooner and thousands of fans cheering the arrival of its new head coach. It was a party and the new Sooner Coach was loving every moment.

Venables quizzed fans on Sooner history, ran up and sportstalk1400.com

“Coming back to this is absolutely overwhelming,” Venables said. “The first time I get to lead a program, and it’s Oklahoma? Are you kidding me? It doesn’t get any better than this. It really doesn’t.”

A weeks’ worth of wait had paid off with the ultimate celebration of the return but, in all reality, the party was just getting started.

THE PARTY CONTINUES The celebration of the Venables hiring continued. Monday afternoon, just a week after holding a press conference that was littered with questions about the future of the Sooner football program, Castiglione and OU Athletics threw a party and invited all of Sooner nation to take part.

Despite chilly conditions, fans lined up outside of the Everest Training Center. Venables hammered home a new era at the University of Oklahoma.

As the new head coach walked towards the stage with all seven Sooner National Championship Trophies and many Jordan brand shoes on display, he was followed by players both past and present. Those players wore shirts that said, “We Are OU Football.”

The message was clear. This is a program bigger than one man, one player or one coach, and this was a program that is going to be physical.

“We will employ an exciting fast explosive and diverse offense,” Venables said at the celebration. “Combined with a physical, punishing, relentless and suffocating defense.”

On that note, the crowd roared in approval.

Venables was co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Oklahoma from 1999-2011, played at Kansas State and was a graduate assistant from 1993-95, linebackers coach from 1996-98 and defensive run game coordinator in 1998 under Bill Snyder before accepting a job with the Sooners.

During his tenure in Norman, the Sooners won a national championship in 2001 in addition to seven Big 12 titles.

Among the prominent players Venables coached are Roy Williams, Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman, Tommie Harris, Derrick Strait, Curtis Lofton and Travis Lewis.

19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 31

In 13 seasons at Oklahoma, Venables helped lead the program to a 139-34 record. In the 13 seasons prior, the Sooners went just 92-55.

In 10 seasons at Clemson, the Tigers were even better: 120-17. In the previous 10 seasons, Clemson went just 79-50, including 25-16 in three years under Dabo Swinney.

Venables has three national championship rings.

“Yeah, I’m so excited,” Bob Stoops said during his weekly appearance on The Ref Sports Radio Network.

“You talk about the perfect fit for OU. His passion, toughness, and relentless attitude, he’s fantastic and I’m so excited about the future.

“I hope OU fans get it… I really believe with Brent and all he’s been through at Clemson and how they’ve been at the top of the college football world for years. He’s going to help us with new things, fresh ideas, new ways of doing things. It will make us better.”

“You feel like that’s a part of your fiber,” Venables added during his introductory press conference. “It’s not just a job – for me. You pour your life into it. You don’t just walk away and forget about it, good or bad. You try to learn from all of it.”

Nine crazy days in November - from losing a coach that many thought would be here for years to having a legend step in and steady the ship.

Then, a coaching search filled with rumor and innuendo ended with a celebration of a new era of Sooner football.

It has been quite a ride already for Sooner football fans, and with Venables’ passion and energy the fun is just getting started.-19SM 32 January 2022

S P O RT S

MEET THE PLAYERS Local student athletes share what makes their community, school, team and coaches unique.

Harley Stringer JR • 4’8”

Payton Thomas JR • 5’10”

114lbs

182lbs

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SEASON?

For everyone to do great and believe in themselves

To be State Champ and Fargo National Champ

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT PLAYING FOR YOUR SCHOOL?

Everyone supports each other no matter what

Work ethic and the coaches and teammates

BESIDES YOUR CURRENT POSITION, WHAT POSITION WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY AND WHY?

N/A

N/A

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ATHLETE?

Helen Maroulis

Jordan Burroughs

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT IN YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER?

N/A

Winning preseason Nationals

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG TO LISTEN TO BEFORE YOU PLAY?

Sum 2 Prove by Lil Baby

YNW Melly by Freddy Krueger

WHAT IS YOUR TWITTER HANDLE?

N/A

N/A

YOUR POSITION/WEIGHT CLASS?

36 January 2022

BY: THE PLAYERS

Jaiden Smith SR • 5’9”

Zya Vann Soph • 5’8”

Ryan Guerrero JR • 5’11”

Shooting guard/small forward

Point guard

Point guard

Making it to State

Making it to State and show that Soutmoore can compete against any team

The special bonds I make with my teammates and having good connections on and off the court

Getting to play with my teammates

I remember being at Oakridge Elementary always wanting to be a Sabercat. I love it at Southmoore with my friends from day one.

A center because it would be unexpected to post up with the big girls.

Post, getting to body people seems fun

N/A

My sister, Jocelyn

Sue Bird

Russell Westbrook

Getting a chance to play my freshman season with my sister. She helped build by confidence.

Breaking someone’s ankles.

Beating No. 2 in the state, Edmond North, last season.

Everyone counted us out but we proved them wrong.

First Day Out by Tee Grizzley

The Motto by Drake

Off The Grid by Kanye West or Faneto by Chief Keef

N/A

@Zyaliv

@ryan_guerrero22

To play my last year without holding back and give it my all. I expect my teammates to do the same, senior or not.

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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 37

Loyal

TO MOORE & YOU

MOORE

600 NW 5th 701 SW 19th St

Come see us!

B A N C F I R S T. B A N K

TM

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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 39

B U S I N E SS

Making a Difference Owner of Brown’s Driving School shares about educating the next generation

C

ontrary to what people may think, driving education cars don’t cause accidents. Occasionally they get hit, but they don’t usually hit anything. In the 25 years Brown’s Driving School has been in business, only one claim has been filed, which is notable given the fact they are on the road seven days a week.

Owner Duane Brown said he loves seeing former students around town because they “made it.”

“It just makes my life full and my heart happy seeing these kids grown up and with kids of their own,” he said.

Brown takes his students’ success seriously, because beginner drivers between the ages 16 to 24 are at a higher risk of beginning involved in a serious accident. Additionally, fatality accidents are a leading cause of death for that age range, something Brown experienced personally.

After being involved in an auto accident in high school and losing his best friend, Britt Coffman, Brown felt the need to create a driving program that focused on education and saving lives. In 1996, he and his wife started their family business, Brown’s Driving School.

“My goal is to provide students with a driving foundation that goes beyond the ability to pass a one-time test,” Brown said. “Our entire staff believes in empowering students with a driving skill set that will enhance their safety for the rest of their lives. I am often asked if I am crazy for operating a driving school, but I opened this business to make a difference in the lives of kids.”

One former student told Brown that she hears his voice in her head even years later and he feels like that is the greatest compliment he has ever received.

40 January 2022

Much has changed in the 25 years since Brown opened his first driving school, including one very positive trend.

“The fatality rate for accidents was very high and now it is at an all-time low even with our population increase,” he said. “Fatalities and car accidents are on the decline, which is all I’ve ever wanted.”

25 years is an important marker since driver’s education was still being taught in many Oklahoma public schools.

“I taught driver’s education in school and the Edmond schools were the first to drop it,” he remembered. “Because I was a schoolteacher and wanted extra money to supplement my income, I taught a driving school parttime. I never thought it would be my career.”

Public schools dropped their driver’s education programs because of the expense.

“It’s very expensive to buy cars and insurance and pay employees,” Brown said.

Brown said, over the years, his own instructors have taught him things he didn’t know.

“I hired a couple of truck drivers as well as a cross-country bus driver who I learned a lot from. I’m really proud of that because any business that stays the same doesn’t do as well.”

Jack Turner, well-known in Oklahoma as the owner of Turner Brothers Trucking and one of the biggest crane operations in North America, was a tremendous mentor to Brown.

“He always came in and gave me advice,” Brown shared. “He had all these sayings and one of them I

BY: ROXANNE AVERY have had on a post-it note forever. Now it’s framed and on my desk.

“It says, ‘Innovation is the only sustainable competitive advantage.’ We’ve always tried to change and do things better. That’s a motto l will always live by.”

As a family-owned business, Brown’s dad worked with him for a long time before retiring. His mother-in-law still works with the company and his son Britt, named after his high school friend, is an instructor. His daughter works there in the summer. Cousins have worked there, and his wife still works there, too.

“We started with me, my wife and one car. We now have 25 cars and over 30 instructors,” he said.

Even still Brown said they are short-handed like many other companies.

“I never thought the pandemic would hit us, but it hit everyone. Every person I talk to who owns a business needs help. Sadly, we lost a lot of full-time instructors along with one of our favorite staff members who died from COVID. That was a big blow, and we are still very saddened by that.”

Brown said he’s had help-wanted signs up for 16 months when usually they’re just posted for one month before the positions are filled.

“A bunch of employees didn’t come back after COVID,” said Brown, whose now out on the road with kids again, enjoying it and having a lot of fun.

With four Brown’s Driving School locations, Midwest City is the newest. Mustang is the largest. The other two are in South Oklahoma City and Norman. Brown said when they opened there were only eight or nine driving schools. Today there are over 50.

Brown said he is committed to working every day in all facets of the business to ensure that his driving school continues to remain the state’s industry leader in driver education, defensive driving and motorcycle training.

He started the Driving School Association in Oklahoma and still enjoys teaching the classroom portion of the driver education program and often administers the state driving test.

Brown’s Driving School has over 30 state-certified instructors, many who are teachers, administrators and retired military. All instructors receive OSBI and FBI background checks as well as continued service training.

Brown’s specializes in bringing students to proficiency across the spectrum of driving needs. Highlighted by their flagship Driver’s Education program, they offer other services including administering the state driving test, a reading proficiency test, motorcycle and 3-wheeler certification, private lessons and assessment drives.

“If you name it, I’ve seen it,” Brown said. “Sometimes our instructors work over 100 hours every two weeks and we share stories but we’re all about making a difference in the lives of kids. That’s all I ever wanted to do.” -19SM

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BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

HE A LT H Y RESO LUT IO N S FR OM LO C AL PH YS ICIANS

I

Local physicians share their resolutions for a happy and healthy 2022

f you are setting resolutions to improve your health, be inspired by these insights from local doctors about their own new year goals and tips to prioritize healthy habits. – BSM

“I encourage my patients to modify their foods for a more heart healthy diet. Make one change and then slowly make another to stay consistent. Package foods tend to have a lot of hidden sugar, so read the labels. Don’t just look at low fat products because they may still have a lot of sugar.”

Dr. Archana Gautam, MD, interventional cardiologist at Norman Regional

“My resolution is to get in shape by utilizing the little breaks in life.

Finding 30 minutes to exercise in the day can be tough when you’re busy with work but exercising for 10 min three times a day is a lot less daunting.”

Dr. Mohammad Farukhi, MD, weight loss surgeon at Norman Regional and Journey Clinic

“I am constantly trying to improve myself by reminding myself to be kind to others and myself. That no one is perfect and that change is a constant in life. That God is with me when I am down, afraid or lonely. This is a constant renewing of the mind that must take place every day. I hope my patients may find comfort in these words and resolve to take care of their mental, physical, and spiritual health.”

Dr. Serena Mitroo, MD, internal medicine physician at Norman Regional

For 2022, I want to focus on getting healthier. Sure, that means losing weight, being more active and eating right. But it also means being more patient, more goal-driven, a bit more selfish, and just happier with who I am. Dr. Krishna Vedala, MD, internal medicine physician at Norman Regional

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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 47

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M O O R E • M U S TA N G • N O R T H E D M O N D • S O U T H E D M O N D • WA R R A C R E S • D E L C I T Y • N O R M A N • C H O C TAW • Y U K O N • N O R T H O K C • S O U T H O K C

V ETE R A N

BY: BILL MOAKLEY PRESENTED BY

Veteran of the Month: Joe Corbett

CENTURIONCG.NET

Oklahoma native shares about his time serving and the Oklahoma Warriors hockey team

O

nce a Marine, always a Marine. To be more accurate, once a Marine, always a competitive Marine, especially on the ice for Joe Corbett.

Corbett, a University of Oklahoma graduate who retired from active duty with the United States Marine Corps after 20 years of service, is a member of the Oklahoma Warriors hockey team, whose mission is it to provide therapy through recreational hockey for active duty and injured, wounded or disabled veterans. The team is part of the Veterans Hockey United organization.

“It was started for veterans with disabilities.” Corbett explained. “But we have guys that don’t have a disability rating or their active-duty service guys, mostly Tinker (Air Force Base in Midwest City).”

As an “older” member of the team, Corbett, who first played hockey as child while visiting his grandparents in Boston, enjoys the good-natured fun his teammates have with the elder statesman.

“The young guys will ask, ‘how come you get hurt all the time,’” Corbett laughed. “I tell them to come talk to me when they’re 56 and done 20 years as an infantryman.”

After graduating from high school in Norman in 1983, Corbett took a job as a machinist for a few years. He began exploring the Marine Corps and decided to enroll at OU and pursue officer’s training school. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1990.

Corbett became an infantry officer and commanded units at the platoon, company and battalion level. He also served as a battalion, regimental and division operations officer with several combat deployments to Mogadishu, Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, and in Iraq during both Operations Iraqi Freedom and

50 January 2022

Enduring Freedom, earning Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbons.

He also participated in multiple noncombat deployments to the western Pacific, including Okinawa, Japan, Camp Fuji, Australia, Thailand and Hong Kong; and shipboard deployments on the USS San Bernardino, Okinawa, Germantown and the BonHomme Richard.

Corbett retired from active duty in 2010. He took an assignment as a doctrine writer for the Marine Corps’ Operations and Tactics Group rewriting several combat training and warfighting doctrine publications at Camp Pendleton California.

Among his most difficult assignments, Corbett was tasked for a time with conducting casualty calls for families who sons and daughters were killed in combat.

“During the height of the plus-up when they started building up forces during the Obama administration, we did six casualty calls in seven days,” Corbett recalled. “It was rough.”

On a lighter note, now that he’s back in Oklahoma, close to family and able to spend time on the ice, Corbett enjoys the spirited fun between he and his teammates, including reminding them how much time it takes just to become a Marine.

“You take a lot of razzing because you’re a Marine,” he points out. “I always tell them that six weeks of Army training is pretty tough. I tell them I can understand why they didn’t want to do 13 weeks in the Marine Corps. That’s really tough. I get it.”

Further information about the Oklahoma Warriors hockey team can be found at veteranshockeyunited. com/oklahoma-warrior-ice-hockey-association. –19SM

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