Therapy Dog Helps Grievers
Canine Comfort
Former Sheriff Todd Gibson Looks Back
Answering the Call
Normanite in the Spotlight
Rodger Lalli
May 2020 • Issue 5 • Volume 19
Pandemic Pivot
Norman-based company creates COVID-19 testing lab This inserted material was paid for by the advertiser and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Oklahoman, it’s ownership, management and staff.
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Features
MAY CONTENTS 2020
ISSUE 5– VOLUME 19 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher
Comfort in Canine Form
16 by Callie Collins
MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay Cuomo
Therapy dog offers comfort to those grieving.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mark Doescher
CONTRIBUTORS
Pandemic Pivot - IMMY
16
20 by Bill Moakley
Roxanne Avery | Sharla Bardin Stefanie Brickman | Callie Collins Lindsay Cuomo | Kathy Hallren Joy Hampton | Shannon Hudzinski Chelsey Kraft | Bill Moakley Chris Plank | Chat Williams
Norman-based company creates COVID-19 testing lab in state.
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Tracie Gray - tracie@sportstalk1400.com Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com Jess Haralson - jess@sportstalk1400.com
PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon
Normanite in the Spotlight: 35 Rodger Lalli
by Chelsey Kraft Lifelong resident recounts witnessing Norman grow through the years.
Answering the Call
44 by Lindsay Cuomo
Boyd Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © Boyd Street Magazine
44
Todd Gibson leaves post as county sheriff, transitions to Moore chief of police.
Any articles, artwork or graphics created by Boyd Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of Boyd Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission. Any opinions expressed in Boyd Street are not necessarily that of Boyd Street management.
Spotlights
Sooners in the NFL Draft
48 by Chris Plank
The Cowboys (x2), Chargers and Eagles come calling for former Oklahoma football standouts.
10 Officer Colt Franklin Service Spotlight:
Charleston Apartments
56 by Roxanne Avery
48
Norman apartment complex offers summer leasing options.
Helping Healers
72 by Lindsay Cuomo
14 by Stefanie Brickman
Boyd Street Teacher Features
40 Patty Cox
Service Spotlight:
by Joy Hampton
61 Stimulus Check?
Community support helps Norman Regional combat pandemic.
How Should I spend my
by Shannon Hudzinski - OUFCU
65 by Kathy Hallren - Joe’s Wine & Spirits Wine for Fun
The Carlstone
New senior living community set to open this summer.
69 Agility and Quickness
80 by Sharla Bardin
Visit Norman
30 by Lindsay Cuomo
by Bill Moakley
sportstalk1400.com
Motor Skill Development: Speed,
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@boydstreet
by Chat Williams - Youth Performance
Cover photos by: Mark Doescher
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.
COMM U N I T Y
BY: BILL MOAKLEY
Service Spotlight: Colt Franklin
L
ike the rest of us, the Norman Police Department has been battling a new foe, COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The department recently turned to Officer Colt Franklin to head its safety response to the pandemic. Franklin brings experience and expertise as an EMT and paramedic to the department’s efforts to combat the virus. He is serving in the duel capacity of NPD’s safety officer, as well as filling the role for the Incident Command System’s Unified Response Team, a cooperative of local agencies including police, fire and medical that respond to large-scale disasters or threats. For Franklin, heading the response to COVID-19 began with education. “I was like everyone else, just watching it on the news,” Franklin said. “I had to dive in deep to find out what exactly this specific disease is and how I can keep our guys safe.” What Franklin quickly discovered was the importance of the little things in battling the virus. “We quickly set up stations with bleach and disinfectant so the guys can clean their cars and office spaces out every day,” Franklin said. “Really cleaning everything, every day is what we’re doing.” In addition, officers have personal protective equipment (PPEs) available for use in the field at their discretion. “Most of them wear gloves anyway because if we’re having to search someone we don’t know what they have on them,” Franklin pointed out. “We’ve issued masks. We are trying to maintain social distancing, keeping six feet away from people. Officers have been issued masks in the event it appears someone might be sick, or says they’ve tested positive.” While contact with the public is part of the routine in police work, some aspects that might normally be handled in-person have been moved online, Franklin said. Reports for some crimes are being handled by phone if possible, although not all can be handled through electronic communication. “Things such as domestic disturbance, we still have to go in-person, but we may be able to take a larceny report over the phone,” Franklin pointed out.
10 | May 2020
Franklin and department personnel are also being careful to file potential exposure reports in the event an officer contracts the virus. “If an officer goes out and they encounter someone who is coughing, let’s say. They put in an exposure report and I can track that to make sure if somebody does come up positive, I can trace it to where they were,” he explained. As infectious disease experts have pointed out, limiting outof-home activities is the best way Norman residents can assist with keeping infections down. “Staying at home is important,” Franklin emphasized. “If you have to go out, be mindful of social distancing. You know yourself better than anybody. If you’re not feeling well, stay at home.” A graduate of Kingfisher High School, Franklin is an Army veteran who served 15 months in Baghdad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He’s a former EMT and paramedic and worked in both New York and Oklahoma. He joined the Norman Police Department in 2013. – BSM
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COMM U N I T Y
BY:CALLIE COLLINS
Co m for t i n C a ni ne Form
G
rief comes in many forms, but the same can be said for comfort. While funeral homes are accustom to grief, Havenbrook Funeral Home strives to also offer comfort, utilizing what some might consider an unexpected source for a funeral home. Benny, a four-year-old English cream golden retriever, is a certified therapy dog who spends his days greeting visitors at Havenbrook as they go through the process of saying goodbye to a loved one.
16 | May 2020
He can shake, offer a high five and bring a basket of tissues to those who need them. His vest reads “Therapy Dog - Please pet me” to make sure people know he’s there for them in their time of need. “Being able to see a dog breaks the mood for a moment,” Deana Kelly, managing partner at Havenbrook, said. “To see the dog can be a source of relief.”
Benny helps push aside feelings of uncertainty, especially for visitors who aren’t comfortable with a funeral home setting. “He’s really good with children,” Kelly said. “The only issue we have isn’t really (Benny’s) fault. He sheds. He might leave some white hairs on visitors but they’re usually so glad to have a dog to pet, it isn’t much of an issue.” Benny belongs to Kelly. She moved from North Carolina a little over a year
Therapy dog offers comfort to those grieving ago, where both she and Benny did the same type of work. “I got him as a puppy,” Kelly explained. “He worked with a trainer who specializes in service and therapy dogs. She worked with him every day for about nine months... to gauge his temperament to make sure he would be open to people, especially strangers, wanting to pet him.” Benny goes to and from work with Kelly. “I think Benny has a happy life,” she shared. “He finds purpose in it. He enjoys coming here and being around people.” Kelly said that having a dog on-site for company and support is one of the ways Havenbrook “goes above and beyond” to meet the needs of the families they serve. “People may have the impression that a funeral home is a dark place but Benny is one way doing things differently can bring some light. We’re here to meet people where they are... to meet everyone’s needs in the family.” Offering good moments during a difficult time is important to Havenbrook staffers. “We make our services very personable for everyone involved. We are reverent and compassionate towards families and get to know them. We keep in touch and they do remember Benny.” Benny’s family also plans to take him to nursing homes and other community centers when the public health situation due to COVID-19 improves. Want to learn more about Benny and his work at Havenbrook Funeral Home, follow Benny on Facebook at www.facebook.com/benny.havenbrook.7 – BSM
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COMM U N I T Y
BY: BILL MOAKLEY
Pandemic Pivot
Norman-based company creates COVID-19 testing lab in state
Testing. More testing. Better testing. Faster testing. Now, thanks to a company based in Norman, the Sooner State is positioned at the forefront of testing. In March, Immuno-Mycologics, IMMY for short, which manufactures, markets and distributes innovative lines of diagnostic tests and reagents for infectious diseases, created a private COVID-19 testing facility in the span of 10 days. As a result, some of the country’s most accurate and quickest testing can be done at a building that sits just northwest of the runaways at Max Westheimer Airport on the northern edge of Norman. “Over the course of 10 days, we literally went from ‘this is an idea’ to performing our first clinical results,” explained 20 | May 2020
Dr. Sean Bauman, owner of IMMY. IMMY moved the needle forward for testing that can be done in Oklahoma. They were one of the first companies to conduct testing in the state. Most COVID-19 tests were being handled by the Oklahoma State Health Department, hospital labs or out-of-state facilities. “We were one of the very first labs that was not the state department of health to bring testing online,” Bauman said. “We’re able to provide the results to our testing partners in a matter of hours, not days or weeks.” Testing conducted on Oklahomans and sent for out-of-state diagnostics was taking as much as 10 or 11 days for results to be confirmed. IMMY, traditionally a provider of testing kits for infectious diseases, managed to turn itself into a testing lab in part due to its unique positioning and talented staff. A history of operating in the space regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and other oversight agencies, lent itself to IMMY’s quick metamorphosis.
“We decided we had the capabilities and equipment to do it and dove in,” Bauman said. “A lot of things were in place already that we needed. It was pulling together the resources and my team is just awesome at how capable they are at doing a wide variety of things.” Testing conducted by IMMY to identify COVID-19 infection is structured around the virus’s unique genetic material. “The testing looks for a piece of the virus’s genetic material,” Bauman explained. “We’re able to identify that it’s from COVID-19 and not other corona viruses, or other viruses in general like flu. It’s a very specific and sensitive test.” In late April, IMMY added a second test to compliment the diagnostic testing they were doing with patient swabs and launched a blood test for COVID-19 that reveals if a person has recovered from an infection. Bauman said IMMY developed the antibody test in-house and with a strict emphasis on accuracy. Inaccurate testing for antibodies has been a problem nationally, and across the globe.
Photos by: Mark Doescher
A
s the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast a long shadow over the world, one single factor has been discussed more than any other as a critical key in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“We wanted to ensure we had a test that was reliable like all of our other tests,” Bauman said. Antibodies present in the blood can mean a lower risk of re-infection. Antibody testing is particularly important for medical facilities. “Health care workers who are antibody positive can volunteer to be put on the front lines to deal with COVID patients,” Bauman pointed out. “You have to have an antibody test from a reputable supplier and manufacturer. We’ve been in this business for 40 years and we are not going to tarnish it by putting out a bad test.” Bauman credited working partnerships with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Blood Institute, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. He pointed to a number of areas in which all entities worked together to ensure accurate testing came in a timely manner, including the aforementioned status as a high-complexity testing lab. IMMY also collaborated with the University of Oklahoma to ramp up the number of swab tests available, including the ability to quickly secure needed equipment the university was willing to share.
22 | May 2020
“I reached out to their vice president of research and they said yes, we’ll bring it to you tomorrow,” Bauman said. “There was no barrier there. It was truly remarkable. OU has been a great partner to help us get up and running as fast as we did. “The state department of health and the Oklahoma Blood Institute have been great in helping us validate our tests. They shared samples with us so we could be confident in the results we were sending out. OSU did the same thing.” Bauman said antibody testing will continue to impact the fight against COVID-19 as convalescent therapy, which dates back to the 1800s, will be aided by being able to identify those who carry antibodies. “That’s why our antibody test is so important in all of this,” Bauman said. “It helps identify who has been infected and potential plasma donors who can save a life with their blood.”
boydstreet.com
Bauman said one of the most satisfying aspects of the work IMMY has been doing is the breaking down of barriers that have existed in terms of work being conducted in silos and stymied by sometime inflexible regulatory layering. At the end of the day, Bauman says public-private partnership will advance the fight in this pandemic. “I’m hopeful we can invigorate this entrepreneurial, innovative spirit across our country,” Bauman said. “I think there are pockets of that, but there are so many more people who can contribute. I think removing the barriers is so important.” Bauman said he’s proud of what IMMY has been able to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. “It’s with great pride that we are helping fellow Oklahomans,” He noted. “We’re doing it first and foremost for our neighbors, our friends and our families.”
So, what lies ahead as the state and country begin to collectively reopen the economy and social interaction? “I’m optimistic,” Bauman said. “I think it will be hard. There’s not going to be a vaccine for a while. I’ve heard drugs to treat this won’t come until probably next year. So, what are we going to do for the next seven or eight months until those things become available? “It will be different until we get a vaccine. I’m hopeful for a vaccine. I think that’s the long-term solution.” In the meantime, Bauman said IMMY will continue to utilize its expertise to bring the accurate testing needed to help slow the spread of COVID-19. “I never doubted we could achieve this,” he said. “I am blessed beyond measure to get to work with the folks that I get to work with every day. There is nobody I would choose other than them to go into these types of situations with. They deserve all the credit.” – BSM
BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 23
Rose Ro ck Festival New Dates: June 5-7
COMM U N I T Y
Doranne Beavers
W
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
hen Doranne Beavers started college at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a career in education was not her agenda.
“People that I met in my classes inspired me and motivated me to become a teacher for the child with multiple disabilities,” Beavers shared.
She instead studied to be a speech and language therapist.
“When I first started working with students that had severe and profound disabilities, it seemed so overwhelming. I didn’t have a clue what to do.”
“I watched my mom return to college to achieve her dream of being a teacher,” Beavers recalled. “Early in the morning, I would hear her typing papers for class. Getting up at 5 o’clock in the morning to type essays? No way!”
Beavers graduated with her bachelor’s degree and worked as a therapist for two years. “I realized that it would take more than a bachelor’s degree to be a good therapist,” Beavers shared.
She went on to earn a master’s degree and now has two additional special education certificates, an accomplishment she credits in part to her fellow classmates.
Today, Beavers teaches language arts, math, science and social studies to third through sixth grade students at the J.D. McCarty Center, a rehabilitation hospital for children with developmental disabilities.
Through peer support, Beavers found her place.
“I have been teaching thirty-two years and I am always learning something new. I strive to give them learning experiences to insure they reach their maximum potential.” Beavers is nearing retirement with
plans to travel and spend time with her grandkids. She was selected as Teacher of the Year for Norman Public Schools’ residential facilities. “Being a residential facility teacher is so different than working in the public school. There are approximately 25 teachers that serve in a dozen facilities. Some are long-term placements and others are short-term like the juvenile detention center, day treatment, emergency shelters and rehabilitation group homes.” – BSM
Teaching Norman Erin Crimmins
T
eaching can be as much about advocating for young people as it is about educating them, especially for Erin Crimmins, a special education resource teacher at Lincoln Elementary. “I love being an advocate and finding ways to make all students successful,” Crimmins said. “We are helping students with their social-emotional and academic needs. Our program is constantly flexible and solution-oriented.” Crimmins says her days are fastpaced and filled with love. “It is the tiny moments when students and families recognize the growth they have accomplished. I want to create an environment that allows my students to be creative, loved and build confidence.”
30 | May 2020
Now five years into her teaching career, Crimmins is pursuing a master’s in Educational Leadership. “I have learned what kind of educator I want to be from my colleagues and my administrator. (I) constantly read research on best practices for reading, math, social-emotional, trauma-informed and restorative discipline.” Selected as Lincoln’s Teacher of the Year, Crimmins said she is proud to be a Norman teacher and is thankful for the community’s support for public education. “I am truly thankful to work in a community that is adamant about supporting their public schools… to live in a community that focuses on inclusivity, creativity, innovation and unity. “I believe it is vital to meet the basic needs of our citizens and Norman
devotes a huge amount of resources towards this focus.” – BSM
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NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Rodger Lalli
A
lifelong Norman resident, Rodger Lalli has witnessed the community grow firsthand, especially on the west side of the interstate where he has lived and worked for many years. Lalli’s parents, Virgil and Marian, moved to Norman in 1952 so Virgil could attend the University of Oklahoma. The couple lived in Parkview Apartments, and Marian would catch the train at Lindsey Street to go to her job at a law firm in Oklahoma City. Virgil and Ken McCall were partners in establishing Ken’s Food Market, originally located right next to The Mont. The duo later added a location to the south on North Porter. In the mid-1960s and the 1970s, Lalli, his brothers and some friends could often be found sitting outside the grocery store by the railroad tracks at Boyd Street selling oranges on football game days. “If it was that time of year and it looked like OU was going to go to the Orange Bowl, we would sit out there and sell them for a dollar apiece,” Lalli shared. “So when the oranges came raining down in the stadium, we had sold all those oranges to the fans.” After graduating from Norman High School and then completing his OU degree in 1977, Lalli joined his dad in the grocery business and helped run the stores. He remained in this role until his dad retired in 1988, and Lalli then joined an insurance agency in town. In 1993, Lalli moved to the Steve Owens Insurance Group and since 2004 has worked as the general manager. “I get to go out and be around people, which is what I love boydstreet.com
to do. I also like solving problems and solving issues for people and businesses,” said Lalli of why he enjoys working in insurance. Owens, former OU running back and 1969 Heisman Trophy winner, was good friends with Lalli’s dad. Lalli has known Owens since he was a kid and has been close to the family ever since and said, “they’re special people to me.” “I think it’s important to build relationships with those you work with and people you work for, our customers, so I build my business based off of relationships,” Lalli said. In addition to the grocery stores, the Lallis owned a convenience store at the entrance of Brookhaven from 1973 through 1988. The store also featured a delicatessen, and Lalli said they offered catering for many years. He enjoyed getting to know people, many of whom were repeat customers, through weddings, Christmas parties and other events. The Lalli family moved to the area in 1967 and built the 12th house in Brookhaven. At the time, this part of Norman was all farm, including cotton fields, an egg farm and a dairy farm, and 36th Avenue was still a dirt road, Lalli recalled. The Steve Owens Insurance Group offices in Brookhaven Village, so from his time living in the area to owning the convenience store to now, Lalli has had a front-row seat to witness the growth of the area. “Probably all of Brookhaven was built by the builders and the homebuyers sitting at the little deli in the back (of the store) going over house plans,” Lalli recalled. “It was the place to be. It was a lot of fun.” BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 35
Currently, Lalli attends Timber Creek Fellowship Church. For much of his life, he was active First Baptist Church, teaching a Sunday School class for 25 years and serving as a deacon. Lalli was then part of the group that started Journey Church. Last May, Lalli retired as advisor at OU’s Lambda Chi Alpha chapter, a role he filled for 20 years, including six on the national board. Lalli added that he plans to start getting involved with the National Suicide Prevention Ho-
36 | May 2020
tline because it’s an issue that is close to his heart and he would like to work with organizations to help in that area. “There’s always something here to do to be involved in the community,” Lalli said. Lalli also enjoys spending time with his mom, who is now 92 years old and lives just about six blocks from him, taking walks and fishing in the pond at the end of his street. For Lalli, there’s not been any reason
to leave Norman, and the people he has gotten to know over the years are a large part of that. “To know all about it (the history of Brookhaven) and know people, that’s one of the great things about working here and staying in Norman,” Lalli explained. “I’ve had opportunity to go, but I’ve always felt like this is home.” – BSM
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COMM U N I T Y
BY: JOY HAMPTON
Service Spotlight:
Patty Cox
T
he sheriff’s administrative assistant, Patty Cox, said her service to Cleveland County and the Sheriff’s Office is a family affair, but it’s more about teamwork than the fact that her husband is also a county employee. “The value of support personnel like Patty Cox is immeasurable,” said Sheriff Blake Green. “Like many others, she has pitched in to help disinfect surfaces and to remind people of our priorities as we battle the coronavirus. “Our support personnel are the unseen heroes who help us do our jobs as firstline responders.” Cox is a small-town girl at heart, and she said she finds value in her job, helping the residents of Cleveland County. “I grew up in Noble,” she said. “We moved here when I was in second grade.” Cox married a young sergeant who worked at the Cleveland County jail in 1983. Now, her husband, Earl, is the county maintenance supervisor, charged
with keeping the courthouse and other county buildings in top condition. Cox started working for Cleveland County in 1994 in housekeeping, so it’s no wonder she’s been able to step up and encourage coworkers as they constantly clean and disinfect the office during this virus outbreak. “I like working with people,” she said. “When I started in housekeeping, I got to know all of the elected county officers.” She worked her way up through various county jobs and moved to the Sheriff’s Office in 2002. “Because Earl worked at the Sheriff’s Office, I already knew a lot of people,” she said. “It was like a big family. I didn’t have to start out as a stranger.” With Sheriff Green recently taking office to finish out Todd Gibson’s unexpired term, she has now worked under five different sheriffs and held many different jobs, which allows her to know how to help others in the agency.
Patty took over as administrative assistant in 2009, and she’s been in that position ever since. “We all have to work together. I learned that a long time ago,” she said. “I try to treat people how I want to be treated.” Cox works directly for the sheriff, and transitions can be challenging, but she said they also provide an opportunity for growth. “Every sheriff has a different way of doing things and you have to adapt,” she said. Change is something she has gotten used to over her lengthy career. “When I first started at data entry, there was a lot of paperwork,” she said. “Now I’m always on my phone and the computer to get stuff done. The deputies are always texting me or calling me. I’m putting calendar reminders on my phone every day. It is a big change from 40 years ago when we worked with pen and paper.” This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.
40 | May 2020
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COMM U N I T Y
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
Answering the Call Todd Gibson leaves post as county sheriff, transitions to Moore chief of police
T
odd Gibson has spent his professional career as a civil servant, working at various levels of law enforcement, ranging from positions as patrol officer, detective, first line supervision, command level leadership to, most recently, Cleveland County Sheriff. He has worked as the commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, Norman SWAT Team and the East Patrol Division for the Norman Police Department.
“I honestly believe that for most law enforcement professionals the job is a calling,” Gibson shared. “The calling is based off of a desire to serve others and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. “I feel like I have always been called to this line of work, even from a young age.” Gibson’s father was a Norman police officer and worked for both the Norman Police Department and Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. Despite his familial connection to law enforcement, Gibson never thought he would one day become sheriff. 44 | May 2020
“Becoming the Cleveland County Sheriff is a role that I thought I never would have been able to attain,” he shared, considering it an honor to serve the people of Cleveland County. “I have met so many wonderful and caring people. I have developed friendships with people that I would have never met and now will have a lifelong friendship with.” During his two-year tenure as sheriff, Gibson worked to enhance the sheriff office’s persona, working to increase transparency, leadership and training. He pointed to an overall philosophical change as the driving force behind reaching the goals he set for the agency. “We instituted a strong mission, vision, values based philosophy to all levels of the sheriff’s office,” Gibson said. “It is everyone’s permission slip to do good, to do the right thing.” Working in accordance with those ideals, Gibson said he made changes at every level. “We have made a host of equipment upgrades, facility upgrades and employment pay upgrades. There is not an area
of the sheriff’s office that we have not touched. The Cleveland County jail has become the top jail in the state of Oklahoma, a model that others follow. We are the first jail in the nation to have a Department of Justice Citizens Advisory Board.” Programs like PACT Police Community Trust Initiative were established to increase communication with the community. He also championed a community outreach program called Handle with Care, a partnership with area schools designed to help students who have experienced emotional trauma. “One of the best things about being sheriff is that you have so many opportunities to touch people’s lives,” Gibson said. “There is always an opportunity to do good and to lift people up. I have been fortunate enough to work with other community leaders to help people during some of their most difficult times.” Gibson said he plans to bring many of the same goals to the Moore Police Department.
“The Moore Police Department is a great agency with tremendous city and
community support. However, they have experienced quite a bit of change at the executive leadership level over the last 12 to 18 months. Leadership drives culture in any organization.
“My desire is to infuse strong leadership and stabilize the culture so that we can get moving forward into the future. I want to be transparent and be a close part of the community at all levels of the department, always working to build trust and legitimacy within the community to make sure that we are all unified, heading in the same direction.” SS_BoydSt_0220-FINAL.pdf
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In the midst of a global pandemic, Gibson finds himself once again taking the lead in uncertain times. When he was first selected as interim sheriff, former sheriff Joe Lester unexpectedly retired a few months into his most-recently elected term. “This is a very unique time in history, like something I have never seen before,” Gibson said. “We are making adjustments, but want to make sure that the public knows we are still here to protect them and serve them. I think that one day we will look back and reminisce about this time, laugh a little and tell the next generation how we survived the COVID-19 times.”
Gibson said that Cleveland County is in good hands under interim Sheriff Blake Green.
“They will continue to move forward in a positive, upward trajectory.” But, he encourages voters to do their part to ensure that continues.
“At the end of the day the future of the sheriff’s office is in the hands of the people of Cleveland County. This is a complex office with a lot of moving parts. It is important to have the right person overseeing and being a good steward of the people’s money.” -BSM
S P O RT S
Sooners in the NFL Draft
Photos by: Mark Doescher
BY: CHRIS PLANK
48 | May 2020
T
he sports world has been essentially shut down since March 11. After Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus, the NBA postponed its season. The NCAA basketball tournaments were called off, and spring college sports were canceled completely. Iconic events in nearly every sport have been pushed back including baseball’s Opening Day, hockey’s Stanley Cup playoffs and golf’s Masters Tournament. Even NASCAR has been unable to race amid the current pandemic. Despite all the unknowns, cancellations and postponements, one event maintained its regular spot on the sports calendar. Despite outspoken concerns from around the league, the NFL decided to forge ahead with its annual draft. While embracing the unique nature of a virtual draft, the three-day event provided the sports world its first feeling of normalcy in weeks. It was different but still entertaining. Adjusted from a live event in Las Vegas, with thousands of fans attending, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the picks from his home while drafted players celebrated with their families in their homes. The typical dress of fancy suits and jaw dropping outfits and shoes were replaced by everything from t-shirts and blue jeans to, in the instance of one player, a robe. This year’s NFL Draft was different, but when all was said and done, it was all too familiar for Sooner fans. As a mark of consistency, The University of Oklahoma became the only school to produce at least four draft picks in each of the last 13 seasons. The Dallas Cowboys selected CeeDee Lamb as the 17th pick in the first round and the Chargers drafted Kenneth Murray six spots later, increasing OU’s historical total of first round draft picks to 45. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Hurts in the second round, making Oklahoma the first school ever to have a quarterback taken in the first two rounds in three straight drafts. The Sooners draft class wrapped up with Neville Gallimore going in the third round to Dallas Cowboys to join Lamb.
CEEDEE IS A COWBOY Leading up to the NFL Draft, many believed this class of wide receivers was one of the deepest and most impressive in years and Lamb was at the top of that list. The Richmond, Texas product punctuated his Sooner career with an incredible senior season that included consensus first-team All-American honors. Lamb was also a Biletnikoff Award finalist and caught 62 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. But, as the draft reached the spot where many thought Lamb would be selected, something unexpected happened. He started to slide down the board. The Raiders held the 11th pick in the first round and many thought it was a slam-dunk that the Raiders would take Lamb. But Vegas decided to go in a different direction as did other projected receiver-needy teams like the Broncos and 49ers. “Lamb was never once there at 17 when we would put together our mocks,” new head coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’re boydstreet.com
very blessed, incredibly happy to have him. It’s a great example of staying true to our board. The staff did an incredible job of being disciplined and drafting the best player.” Lamb became the 10th member of the Sooners’ 2017 offense to be drafted in the first four rounds of an NFL Draft. He also became the first Sooner drafted in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys since Roy Williams in 2002. “I was very surprised,” Lamb said afterwards. “Honestly, I could not see this coming but I’m glad it did. I did not really have many conversations with them. I met with them in February at the combine. Other than that, there was not really much going on between us.” The Cowboys had Lamb rated as the sixth-best player on their board, which made for an easy decision when he was available with half the first round already in the books. The Cowboys were so enthralled with Lamb that they shrugged off multiple trade offers that would’ve gained them more picks. Instead they decided that extra picks in later rounds wouldn’t have the immediate impact that Lamb would. “We had as many as three different trades that we could have done,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. Lamb joins Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup at wide receiver for the Cowboys and despite lacking a need for a wideout the Cowboys made one of the more universally praised picks in the entire draft. “Lamb prevailed,” Jones said. “We just didn’t want to miss him. Those trades ultimately are supposed to add another player to be valuable, but we could not trump him. He was just there. He’s a football player. He’s a playmaker. He just earned it.” “I’m very thrilled for CeeDee and his family,” said Sooner Head Coach Lincoln Riley, who has produced five first-round picks in his three years at the Sooners helm. “Been there with him since day one and remember watching him when he was a sophomore in high school. The progression he’s made since then and the impact he made on the OU program and our university is just absolutely tremendous. I think he’s got a great chance to have a long and very prosperous career.” Lamb will wear the number 10 for the Cowboys and was the third receiver taken in what will go down as an historic class for wideouts. 13 wide receivers were taken in the first two rounds, a record total, while 36 total wideouts were taken over the course of the seven-round draft which tied the mark for the most. “The right thing to do is always pick the best football player,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “That’s what we did today.”
MOVING UP FOR MURRAY Many thought Sooner linebacker Kenneth Murray was destined for Baltimore. The Ravens have a roster already loaded with Sooners and it just seemed like a match made in football heaven. But the Los Angeles Chargers and head coach Anthony Lynn had different plans. The Patriots were on the clock with the 23rd pick in the first BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 49
round. The Chargers had already drafted its quarterback of the future in Justin Herbert at sixth overall and did not pick again until the second round. But, the Chargers could not wait to find a player they felt could have the same impact as Murray, so they made a move and traded back into the first round to draft the Sooner. “As a personnel staff, you like to hold on to your picks, but he’s a player that was just a premium player for us, someone we had rated very high, and we just think he fits our defense to a T,” Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco said. “We felt like when it got to a certain point, it gave us that opportunity to go up and be aggressive and get him, fully knowing that we gave up a third-round pick to do it, but we felt like he was worth that.” Murray became the first Oklahoma defender to go in the first round since Gerald McCoy went third overall to Tampa Bay in 2010. Murray played nearly 91% of the Sooner defensive snaps over the last three years. The two-year captain recorded 100 or more tackles over the last two seasons and had 9.5 sacks and 37 tackles for loss during his Sooner career. “I’m emotional,” Murray told SoonerSports.com after he was selected. “Obviously, this is a huge goal that I’ve wanted to accomplish since I was a kid. Coming to Oklahoma, I wanted to leave a mark on the defensive side of the ball and was able to do that. I’m just happy that I was able to do it, but honestly this is just the beginning.” “This is a run-hit linebacker,” Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said. “He can do the things we need him to do in coverage and also in the run game. He can play in the box. He can play in space. But this man’s intangibles, his presence when he walks into a room… he’s a natural-born leader and I love that he’s passionate about this game.” Murray joins a defense that includes Pro Bowlers Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Derwin James and Chris Harris Jr. but has a hole at linebacker. Thomas Davis was released during the offseason while Denzel Perryman has yet to play all 16 games in his five-year career. “I had a meeting with them at the combine and I thought it went well. Obviously, it went pretty well because they 50 | May 2020
decided to come get me,” Murray said. “I feel like it’s the perfect situation for me. It says a lot to the fact that they believe in me that much to trade up and get me.” Murray will wear 56 in Los Angeles and while he leaves a void at linebacker for the Sooners on the field, his presence off the field will be missed just as much. “Kenneth has been a great leader for us, a starter from day one,” Riley said. “He was one of the most influential and active players we’ve ever had in terms of offthe-field activities and has been a great all-around Sooner. He’s also a tremendous example of the progress of ‘Speed D’ and we look forward to him having a great career and becoming an instant-impact player with the Chargers.” 52 | May 2020
A SURPRISE IN PHILLY Questions have surrounded Jalen Hurts his entire career. Is he accurate enough as a passer? Does he read and react quickly? Is his physical running style going to lead to injury problems? It should come as no surprise that those questions would not only follow Hurts through the NFL draft process but even into the draft itself. Hurts was not expected to be taken in the first round of the draft, with many projecting the former Sooner to be taken in the second or third round. Most of the projections had Hurts landing with either the Patriots or Raiders in the third round while some thought there was a chance that maybe the Saints or Packers would bring Hurts in to serve as a back-up quarterback.
But nobody had Hurts landing in Philadelphia and joining the Eagles as the 53rd pick in the second round. Hurts joins Carson Wentz and Nate Sudfield, who was recently re-signed to a oneyear deal, in the quarterback room. “There’s a lot of knowledge in the quarterback room and a lot of knowledge in the organization itself, and for me to have the opportunity to learn and take steps as a quarterback and grow, I’m looking forward to it all,” Hurts said. “I’m ready to go to work.” While the Eagles appear to be set at quarterback, Head Coach Doug Pederson is excited about the potential in what Hurts can provide in Philadelphia.
“He has a unique skill set,” Head Coach Doug Pederson said. “You see what Taysom Hill has done in New Orleans and how he and Drew Brees have a connection there and a bond there. And you look at [Joe] Flacco and Lamar [Jackson] in Baltimore for the short period of time, how they gelled together. It’s just something we’re going to explore.” “Jalen had a great influence on our program in such a short amount of time,” Riley said. “He had an unparalleled journey through college football and we’re happy and feel thankful the last year of that journey was with us. He’s really progressed as a leader, a player and a technician, and I certainly think his best years are ahead of him.”
THE DALLAS SOONERS As the third round of the draft started to wind down, the Sooners made yet another impact on the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Neville Gallimore became the second sooner drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in this year’s draft. In the third round, Dallas used the 82nd overall pick to select Gallimore. The 6-2, 305-pound Gallimore is OU’s first defensive tackle drafted since the Miami Dolphins picked Jordan Phillips in the second round (52nd overall) in 2015. Gallimore started 38 of 52 career games at OU and finished with 148 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He was a 2019 firstteam All-Big 12 selection by the media after making 30 tackles and posting career highs of 7.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks. In addition to joining Lamb in Dallas, he is now teammates with Sooner Gerald McCoy who signed a free agent deal with the Cowboys during the offseason. “When you go to the University of Oklahoma and you want to play defensive
line, that’s one of the main guys that gets brought up in terms of who you want to compare yourself to,” Gallimore said. McCoy reached out to his new teammate moments after he was selected. “He just let me know how proud he was, but that there is a lot of work to be done,” Gallimore revealed. “He just let me know that he’s someone that I could look up to and pick his brain. So, I’m looking forward to that.” As the curtain closed on the 2020 NFL Draft, it brought a moment of normalcy back to the sports world. It also allowed the Sooners to continue to flex its pro-producing muscles. The Sooners have now had a player drafted in 83 of the 85 NFL Drafts and 99 Sooners have been selected since 2000, lapping the rest of the Big 12 during that stretch. – BSM
BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 53
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COMM U N I T Y
BY: ROXANNE AVERY
Charleston Apartments Norman apartment complex offers summer leasing options
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or many college students, summer is a time of transition and that transition often means packing and moving their belongings, only to have to move and unpack them a few months later. But, Maria Ramirez, the manager of Charleston Apartments, has a solution. “Charleston Apartments is implementing a program where students no longer have to move out in May, sign a new lease and move back in the fall,” she explained. “We let them keep everything as is, with limited access to their apartment during the summer.” While renters are required to keep the utilities on, rent is reduced by half during the summer months.
56 | May 2020
Describing the program as a winwin, Ramirez said it cuts costs for the complex associated with re-doing the apartment when tenants move out and with re-signing leases. “Our goal is to retain our percentage of occupancy and help students and parents at the same time. It’s a winwin for everybody. Kids don’t have to move out, store their stuff and then come back in the fall and find another apartment.” Located at 2073 W. Lindsey St., Charleston Apartments is within walking distance to OU as well as restaurants and grocery stores, which is why the student-focused summer leasing option is likely to be a valuable resource.
Other amenities aimed at serving college students include on-site laundry facilities, two pools, a barbeque area, sand volleyball court and cornhole. Pet stations are available throughout the property too. They have one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans and most of the leasing process can be done online. “I’ve had several people go through the entire process online,” Ramirez said. “They looked at the floor plans, applied, signed the lease and paid all online.” The staff of Charleston Apartments plans events for tenants every couple of months, Ramirez said. “Last year, we hosted a ‘decorate
your door’ contest for Halloween. We host an appreciation week where every day we do something different. We’ve even done scavenger hunts too which are really fun.” While events have been put on hold for the safety of their tenants, Ramirez said she will be glad when life goes
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back to normal after the COVID-19 virus so residents and staff can have fun together again.
presence of a staff member. However, Ramirez said they are always happy to answer questions over the phone too.
Another COVID-19 precaution, prospective renters who want to see an apartment in person can make an appointment and the staff will have the apartment ready to view without the
To learn more about Charleston apartments’ summer leasing options, visit www.opgcharleston.com. – BSM
BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 57
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B USI NESS
How Should I spend my Stimulus Check?
T
he stimulus checks promised in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act are landing in checking accounts and mailboxes around the country. The $1,200 granted to most middle class adults is a welcome relief during these financially trying times. Many recipients may be wondering: What is the best way to use this money? To help you determine the most financially responsible course of action to take with your stimulus check, OU Federal Credit Union (OU FCU) has compiled a list of advice and tips from financial experts and advisers on how to use this money.
COVER YOUR BASIC LIFE EXPENSES First and foremost, make sure you can afford to cover your basic necessities. With millions of Americans out of work and lots of them still waiting for their unemployment insurance to kick in, many people are struggling to put food on their tables. Most financial experts agree that it’s best not to make any long-term plans for stimulus money until you can comfortably cover everyday expenses. Charlie Bolognino, CFP and owner of Side-by-Side Financial Planning in Plymouth, Minn., says this step may necessitate creating a new budget that fits the times. With unique spending priorities in place, an absent or diminished income and many expenses, like subscriptions and entertainment costs, not being relevant any longer, it can be helpful to reconfigure an existing budget to better suit present needs. As always, basic necessities, such as food and critical bills, should be prioritized.
BUILD UP YOUR EMERGENCY FUND If you’ve already got your basic needs covered, start looking at long-term targets for your stimulus money. “I would immediately place this money in my emergency fund account,” says Jovan Johnson, CEO of Piece of Wealth Planning in Atlanta. Emergency funds should ideally be robust enough to cover 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses. If you already have an emergency fund, it may have been depleted during the pandemic and need some replenishing. If you don’t yet have an emergency fund, or your fund isn’t large enough boydstreet.com
to cover several months without a steady income, you may want to use some of the stimulus money to build it up so you have a cushion to fall back on during lean times that are likely to come in the months ahead.
PAY DOWN HIGH-INTEREST DEBTS According to the Federal Reserve Bank, Americans owed a collective $930 billion in credit card debt during the fourth quarter of 2019. Using some of your stimulus check to pay off high-interest debt would be a great way to get a guaranteed return on the money, says Chris Chen, of Insight Financial Strategists in Newton, Mass. This advice only applies to credit cards and other private, high-interest loans. The federal government put a 6-month freeze on most student loan debts, so they should not be as high a priority right now.
BOOST YOUR SAVINGS If your emergency fund is already full and you’ve made headway on your debt, it can be a good idea to use some of the stimulus money to add to your OU FCU savings account. The money in your savings can be used to cover long-term financial goals, such as funding a dream vacation or covering the down payment on a new home. Consider all your options before choosing how to spend your stimulus money. In all likelihood, this will be a onetime payment received during the pandemic. If you need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us at 325-2211. We’ll be happy to help you maintain financial stability during these uncertain times.
BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 61
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LI F EST Y L E
BY: KATHY HALLREN | JOE’S WINES & SPIRITS
Wine for Fun
I
am confident that as you are reading this the events of the past months are starting to fade as bad memories. However, the world of wine has not gone unscathed.
First there were the fires in California and Australia, tariffs on European wine and, to top it off, a pandemic causing winery closings and supply chain interruptions. Fear not, the industry is still bringing you plenty of wine for every taste. Folinari has introduced Fizzy Pinot Grigio and Fizzy RosĂŠ that are priced right and taste good, both characteristics lacking in previous entries in the canned wine market. Seltzers are currently supreme, biting their way into the wine market. Many will look forward to a can of Canella Bellini with a lid for the lake! Sparkling wines offer the perfect opportunity for small wine tastings with a broad selection of sparkling wines available in single serving bottles. There are more than twenty small format sparkling wines readily available including Veuve Clique, Moet-Chandon, Barefoot or Cooks.
The convenient sizing lets you choose a couple different sparkling wines to compare and test, even if only one or two people are participating. Plus, there are several premium sparkling wines available in splits, which offer two to three servings. Sparkling wines are incredibly food friendly so there is no need to worry about the wine overwhelming the food or vice versa. Any regular reader of this column knows that I am a fan of sparkling wine, but I was reminded of their versatility when I came across an article in the May 2020 issue of Wine Spectator and their recommendation to pair sparkling wine and fried chicken. Sounds great to me! Have fun with your tastings. Pour the same wine in two different shape glasses and see if it affects your impression of the wine. Set up a blind tasting and take notes as you compare. Most of all have fun, be safe. Enjoy.
Kathy
68 | May 2020
LI F EST Y L E
BY: CHAT WILLIAMS | YOUTH PERFORMANCE
Motor Skill Development: Speed, Agility and Quickness
T
here are multiple components to consider when designing a strength and conditioning program. Muscular strength, power, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, motor skills and flexibility are all important and play a role in the development of a young athlete. Motor skill components enhance speed, agility and quickness, and they can be incorporated into workouts in various ways, depending on fitness level and seasonal preparation. Acceleration, deceleration, change of direction, footwork, stride length, stride frequency and explosive capabilities are just a few of the variables that may improve when incorporating speed and agility into a training regimen. Speed and agility drills use several types of equipment, including manual resistance straps, cones, hurdles, parachutes and agility ladders. These exercises should focus on mechanics to help development and enhance efficiency of movement. The goal is to teach youth how to be effective in sprinting, cutting and transitioning into their next movement, while reducing the chance of injury.
KEY TERMS FOR MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:
Speed: The ability to cover a specific distance or execute a movement in a short amount of time. Agility: The ability of an individual to change direction quickly or the velocity of the body when reacting to a stimulus.
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Acceleration: The process of going from a static or near static position to maximal speed as quickly as possible. Deceleration: The ability to slow-down or stop quickly while maintaining body control. Stride length: Typically, 2.3 to 2.5 times the individual’s leg length. Can be improved through the training in sprint mechanics. Stride frequency: The number of strides taken in a specific amount of time and/or distance. Closed Agility Drills: These types of drills remain consistent and have a predetermined pattern. Open Agility Drills: Have limited restrictions and are performed in an environment that is ever-changing and not pre-determined.
Call or email for more information about group training, private training or team training. Chat Williams, MS, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, CSPS*D, FNSCA chat@youthperformance.net www.youthperformance.net 701-3416
BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 69
HE A LT H
Helping Healers
Community support helps Norman Regional combat pandemic
The businesses and citizens of the Norman and Moore communities have been doing just that as they rally around the healthcare providers of the Norman Regional Health System.
“The community response has been incredible,” Erin Barnhart said, the executive director of the Norman Regional Foundation. “We have so many people to thank for this outpouring of support.”
Barnhart said. “Now we are down to eight items thanks to our surrounding communities who helped fill these gaps.”
Individuals, businesses, organizations and more have donated meals for hospital staff, personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectant products and hand-sewn masks, to name a few.
Community partners like the Norman Chamber of Commerce and Cleveland County Fair Grounds helped coordinate a donation drop off location. Area schools delivered vehicles filled with hand sanitizer, goggles, gloves, surgical masks and disinfectants.
“Our list of priority needs to fight this pandemic started with 15 items,”
“Surrounding schools donated 40,000 ounces of hand sanitizer, over 1400
Photo by: Mark Doescher
A
s a state, we have faced our share of hard times and our resiliency has become known as the Oklahoma Standard. Now we are confronted with another crisis, one unprecedented in more than a lifetime, but, from our common perspectives, we know to weather any storm we must come together.
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
disinfectant wipes and almost 200 cans of disinfectant spray plus medical supplies from their school nurses,” Barnhart shared. “That made a huge difference. It’s those types of partnerships that are so valuable. They saw the need and gave back.” “We’ve had great support from the Oklahoma Chinese community and Share & Grow Association. They have donated hundreds of masks, gloves and protective eyewear, because many have loved ones in China who have gone through this.” boydstreet.com
Individuals and sewing clubs have contributed more than 3,500 cloth masks for Norman Regional Health System. Area businesses are reaching out with support – Harbor Freight in Norman donated 75,000 nitrile gloves and Hitachi Computer Products donated 6,000 surgical masks and made a financial contribution earmarked for PPE. The University of Oklahoma football coaches and their families showed their support by providing snack bags and hosting a Praise Parade.
The foundation has also tried to have a little fun, lifting spirits with an important message and a challenge called #WashYourHandsOK. Participants are encouraged to make a music video singing a song while washing their hands for the recommended minimum of 20 seconds and then post the video to social media using the hashtag. “It’s been a fun way to make people smile but we also want to share an important message about hand hygiene,” Barnhart explained. “Some of the videos have been quite creative.” BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 73
The list of challengers is quite impressive including actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, Coach Sherri Coale, Coach Ryan Hybl, OU Drum Major Paxton Leaf and Mayor Breea Clark. Norman Regional doctors and nurses have also joined in. As the staff at Norman Regional works to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Barnhart said that community support has meant a lot. “One of our very first donations was containers with coffee on which the employees wrote inspirational notes. We delivered to the night shift and it really touched their hearts. We knew then these donations would lift up our healers. If it’s with a warm cup of coffee, a cupcake or meal, we are going to deliver on behalf of our generous community donors.” The foundation has a list of needs on their website at www. nrhfoundation.org/Care2020. PAPR hooded masks and N95 masks remain a top need. Since so many of the much needed medical grade items are in short supply across the country, Barnhart said that financial contributions allow the health system to address those needs specifically. They are also requesting additional cloth masks. – BSM
74 | May 2020
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BY: SHARLA BARDIN
The Carlstone New senior living community set to open this summer
A
new community is opening this summer for senior citizens living in the Norman area. The complex, set to open June 1, is for individuals who are 55 and older. Developers say The Carlstone is offering a new approach incorporating valuable amenities for seniors. “This is something new to us and we’re excited about it,” said Nick Jones, director of operations with Carlsbad Management Group, the developer of the Carlstone complex. The 88-apartment development is located at 501 E. Robinson St. and amenities include chef-prepared meals served three times a day in a dining room, an on-site beauty salon and a safe room for inclement weather. The rent includes utilities, meals, activities, housekeeping services and scheduled local transportation. Oneand two-bedroom apartments are 80 | May 2020
available, and the complex’s central Norman location is close to healthcare facilities, restaurants and shopping areas. Jones said an activities director will be on staff to plan events for residents, and fitness classes will also be offered. The Carlstone’s apartments will provide another housing option for senior residents looking to transition into an independent living community, Jones said . “We feel like it’s an underserved market in Oklahoma,” he said. The apartments mark the third senior living community that Carlsbad Management Group has developed in the area. Other residences include Savannah House apartments in Moore and Norman.
Jones, a Norman native, said the Carlsbad Management Group continues to invest in the community because “we enjoy being involved here” and because the company sees a need in creating more opportunities for those who are 55 and older who want to live independently but also engage with others in a community setting. For more information about The Carlstone, visit thecarlstone.com or call 701-2951. – BSM
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