Boyd Street Magazine June 2019 by SportsTalkMedia

Norman’s Fourth Festivities

Community Celebrations

Softball Seniors

Sooners Aim for Title

New Performers Highlight Festival

Jazz in June

June 2019 • Issue 6 • Volume 18

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W W W. P U B D U B . C O M

Features

JUNE CONTENTS 2019

ISSUE 6– VOLUME 18 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

14 by Paige Uhr

Golden Years

Mark Doescher

MANAGING EDITOR

Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrates 50th anniversary in Norman.

Lindsay Cuomo

SENIOR EDITOR

Chip Minty

24 by Christian Potts

Blast Off at the Library

PHOTOGRAPHY

Summer learning at the Pioneer Library System is about much more than just reading.

33 Justin Yahola

Normanite in the Spotlight:

by Chelsey Kraft

The general manager of Riverwind Casino looks back on his 23 years working for the Chickasaw Nation.

Mark Doescher Jay Kim

CONTRIBUTORS

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Tracie Gray - tracie@sportstalk1400.com Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon

36 by Chip Minty

Left Alone

Norman film examines plight of children of incarcerated parents.

44 by Kaylee Campbell

Rewarding Career

Retiring Norman PE teacher looks forward to her next chapter.

48 by Heide Brandes

Hot Act

Sooner Theater hosts summer camp for community’s young thespians.

50 by Chris Plank

Feeling Right at Home

Norman North grad captures first collegiate win at Jimmie Austin.

Thousands of Animals Helped

Wildcare Oklahoma passes major milestone after three decades of service.

Signature Pool & Patio

boydstreet.com

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by Chelsey Kraft

26 by Lindsay Cuomo

Boyd Street Teacher Features

Service Spotlight:

by Joy Hampton

65 by Shannon Hudzinski

Norman native spends lifetime in car care business.

Dairy Queen forecasts blizzard of new ice cream treats, just in time for summer.

Service Spotlight:

High Mileage

Blizzard Warning

Visit Norman

40 Dispatcher Tony Henthorn

Signature Custom Pools adds new retail location.

80 by Austin Chandler

by Bill Moakley

20 Tim Terrel

78 by Lindsay Cuomo

Service Spotlight:

12 by Stefanie Brickman

74 by Kaylee Campbell

Spotlights 10 Lieutenant Carl Pendleton

A special group of seniors aim for another title.

62 by Lindsay Cuomo

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.

Softball Seniors

54 by Chris Plank

@boydstreet

Home Improvement Hacks

69 by Kathy Hallren

Grenache, An Underrated Grape

73 by Lindsay Cuomo

Look Under the Hood

Cover photo by: Jay Kim

COMM U N I T Y

Service Spotlight:

Leuitenant Carl Pendleton

f you could somehow go back in time and ask eighth-grader Carl Pendleton if he might grow up to become a police officer, the answer would have been an emphatic no. Just ask Lieutenant Carl Pendleton of the Norman Police Department.

It was during the fourth week that eighth-grade year that Pendleton ran into some trouble at school. Instead of serving a week of in-school suspension, he decided to transfer to the Sapulpa School District, which change his life for the better. “I ended up having a really good high school experience,” Pendleton said. “I kept myself very active and involved. I figured the more time I stayed busy, the less time I had to get myself in trouble.” Pendleton would continue to cause trouble, but only for opposing offenses on the football field and opponents on the wrestling mat. He also was involved in marching band, cheerleading, academics, and he had a part-time job.

A standout defensive lineman for the Chieftains, Pendleton received numerous offers to play college football. While his first choice was Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., recruiting trips changed his mind, especially after visiting with the Sooners and thencoach Bob Stoops. “It (Stanford) just didn’t sit right with me,” Pendleton said. “I just felt like I was supposed to be at OU for some reason. So, I came to OU in 2003 and had a chance to learn a lot from some great student athletes and coaches.” In addition to being on the OU foot10 | June 2019

ball team, Pendleton was active in the campus community as a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Sooner cheerleading squad. An outstanding student, he graduated in three years with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, followed by a master’s degree in adult and higher education. After a stint as a fundraiser in the athletics department, he decided to move in a different direction professionally.

Pendleton was hired by the Tulsa Police Department, left his job at OU and sold his home in Norman just in time to find out the Tulsa police was cancelling that year’s police academy and was rescinding all job offers. He would not remain without a job for long. A phone call from close friend and former FCA director Kent Boles led to a slot with the Norman Police Academy in October 2009. After serving as a patrol officer and a recruiter for a period of time, he was promoted to lieutenant in 2017, and he returned to a patrol unit. The former Sooner enjoys interacting with the community, but also has an interest in serving the department in other ways.

“I love what I’m doing right now,” he said. “I have an interest in investigations. My master’s degree is in adult and higher education, so teaching is something I’m very passionate about. At some point, I’d be very happy to go to the academy and train new officers. I think training is one of the most critical and important aspects of the law enforcement profession.” Pendleton’s desire to impact the lives of future officers can be traced back

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

to when he was nine years old. He recalled an encounter with a Creek County sheriff’s deputy during a tense situation for his family that was handled in a manner that left a lasting impression.

“He went out of his way to make my mom, brother, sister and me feel safe,” Pendleton said. “He didn’t have to do what he did. He completely and totally changed how I viewed law enforcement at that point. I remember telling my mom that day, ‘I want to do what he does.’” Pendleton’s law enforcement philosophy continues to be shaped by that day in Creek County.

“I don’t believe anybody should ever put on a badge and a gun and go out as a police officer without compassion,” he said. “We serve at the pleasure and permission of citizens. I’m very fortunate to be working with officers who all have compassion.

“There also has to be an edge to it. When I’m asleep and officers are patrolling the street, I want them to be suspicious. At the same time, when we take that uniform off, we’re just like anyone else.” There was a time after graduating from OU that he wanted to leave Norman, but now Pendleton says he feels at home in Central Oklahoma.

“I enjoy people,” he said. “I’m an optimistic guy. I like the feel of Norman. It’s a bigger town that feels like a small town. I’ve gained a lot from Norman, and I have a lot of pride in the fact that I get to serve the community that has given so much to me.– BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

Golden Years

BY: PAIGE UHR

Big Brothers Big Sisters Celebrates 50th Anniversary in Norman

he nonprofit landscape in Norman is seemingly endless. While there are many organizations dedicated to serving the community, few have been around for 50 years. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland County is one of them. Since starting as Big Brothers of Cleveland County in 1969, the agency has grown exponentially. Shortly after its formation, it joined the nationwide organization of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Then in 2006, along with four other Oklahoma independent chapters, it joined the statewide organization of Big Brothers Big Sisters Oklahoma. Despite changes and expansion, the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland County continues to focus on helping children facing adversity. The agency

14 | June 2019

is a resource for strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that can change children’s lives. The organization’s mentorship programs create matches with adult volunteers, “Bigs,” and children ages 6-18, “Littles.” Prospective littles are likely facing challenges and are typically referred through the school system or by parents and guardians. There is an in-depth interview process for both prospective littles and bigs. “We spend a lot of time on the matching process to make sure we make a match that is long-lasting and will be impactful for both the big and little,” said Blossom Crews, area director. There are two different match programs within Big Brothers Big Sisters. Through

the school-based program, bigs see their littles throughout the school year and the activities take place on campus. Contrarily, the community-based program is year-round, and the matches can get together in the community for activities. Activities vary for each match, but common meetings include playing at the park or playground, working on homework, fishing, playing ball or discussing school and class. The big can also help start conversations and guide littles on career aspirations or college. “It’s really about spending time with the child and listening to them, being another person in their corner because everyone can use more people in their corner.” With 2019 being extra special for the organization, Crews has been envisioning what the agency’s next goals might be.

“I’ve really been working on trying to grow our matches, as well as find more mentors that will be in the community for the next several years.” Crews said her program typically sees from 200-230 matches each year and has the second-highest numbers in the state, behind Tulsa. “We have a great partnership with Norman Public Schools and the University of Oklahoma, which have been integral in our programs and success.” BBBS decided not to add an additional event to commemorate its anniversary. Instead, the agency will celebrate the milestone at its annual summer fundraiser, “Cheers to 50 Years!” Crews joked

that she wishes she would have named it “Cheers to the Next 50 Years!” “We are proud and grateful for how far we’ve come, but there’s still so much to do.” Scheduled for Aug. 23 at Embassy Suites, the food-tasting event will feature different restaurants around Norman, coming together to provide “tastes” throughout the night. There will be both silent and live auctions. Sponsorships are available and range from $10,000 to $1,500. Individual tickets will be available soon. For more information, contact Crews at 364-3722 or visit bbbsok.org/bbbs-events/. – BSM

And the winner is...

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA

The Norman Chamber of Commerce is not only welcoming more than 300 new members, but it is also recognizing the overall impact that its May Membership Derby has made to Norman businesses and the community. In less than 36 hours, nearly 150 volunteers came together to make a difference by learning more about what a chamber does for local businesses, how it elevates the economy, and how it provides meaning to economic development, business and a community. The Membership Derby broke several records by bringing in a total of 305 members and raising more than $102,000, which makes Norman Chamber the only Chamber in Oklahoma—and 42nd in the nation—to bring in more than $100,000 during a membership drive led by “Your Chamber Connection.” DERBY RESULTS: The Membership Derby also came with some friendly competition. Among the 150 volunteers, there were eight strong teams that “raced” against each other to bring in the most members and dollars for the Chamber. WIN: Gold Team, led by Sam and Lisa Talley, brought in 77 members PLACE: Blue Team, led by David Nimmo, brought in 54 members SHOW: Pink Team, led by Dana Rieger, brought in 52 members The Membership Drive was made possible by the following sponsors: CA McCarty Construction Inc., HeyDay Entertainment, Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Garden Inn, Landers Auto Group, Republic Bank and Trust, and Valliance Bank.

COMM U N I T Y

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Norman’s Fourth

Festivities

Community Looks Forward to Annual Independence Day Celebration

NDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT REAVES PARK, JULY 4

As has been an annual tradition for more than four decades, the Norman community will gather at Reaves Park for the city’s annual Independence Day celebration. “It’s been a long-standing tradition,” said Jason Oslen, recreation superintendent with the City of Norman. “We are approaching our 50th fireworks show, and we hope the community will come spend their time with us at Reaves Park.” Despite a name change in 2018, Oslen said much of the classic fun Norman residents have enjoyed will return, including inflatables, pony rides, face painting, music and fireworks. There will also be several food trucks. With activities beginning in the early evening, local bands will take the stage, beginning at 5 p.m. and continue playing throughout the evening, right up to the night’s main attrac-

tion, the fireworks show. This year’s musical lineup includes the Pop Rock band One Two Ten, followed by Hip-hop artist Jabee and wraps up with My So Called Band, a ’90s-tribute band. The evening’s nightcap will begin with a bang at 9:45 p.m. and attendees are in for a special treat. The fireworks will be synced to music broadcast on KGOU, so tune radios to 106.3 FM. Oslen encourages patrons to arrive early because traffic congestion tends to increase as the main event nears. “The best place to see the fireworks is inside Reaves Park, but you can see the show from just about anywhere near Jenkins and Constitution,” Olsen said. “Load up your lawn chairs and coolers and make yourself comfortable.” For more information and a full schedule of the evening’s events, visit the Norman Parks and Recreation Facebook page at w w w. f a c e b o o k . com/normanokparks/.

18 | June 2019

RIVERWIND BEATS & BITES FESTIVAL AT RIVERWIND CASINO, JULY 6 Continue the celebration at Riverwind Casino for its latest installment of the COOP Ale Works Beats & Bites Festival, happening Saturday, July 6. Banana Seat and Cody Canada and The Departed will serenade the crowd, while guests kick back and browse offerings from local vendors and dine on food-truck munchies. There will be a lineup of 25 food trucks from across the state. The Thunder Girls will be there from 7 to 8 p.m. and inflatables and face painting will keep the kids rocking and rolling until the fireworks start popping after the last musical set wraps up at about 9:30 p.m. The festival takes place in the parking lots west of the casino, beginning at 6 p.m. Find all the details at www.riverwind.com/entertain/beats-bitesstage/. – BSM

COMM U N I T Y

BY: CHELSEY KRAF T

Service Spotlight: Tim Terrel whether that’s continuing his side business hauling tires or servicing safety equipment. He may also spend time fishing or develop his skill in flying drones.

Terrel, who grew up in Chandler, joined the Norman Fire Department on Sept. 1, 1983. When he was a kid, Chandler spent time around a volunteer fire department, which was a big influence in directing his future career path.

Terrel and his wife, Karen, have been married for 34 years, live in Noble and have two children, Kayla, Travis and a 9-year-old granddaughter, Jordan.

“Of course, they would set off a siren to let all the volunteers know they had a fire, and I would go watch them,” Terrel said. “I enjoyed it and thought ‘Hey, that might be something good to follow,’ so I started applying in different towns and finally got on here. I have enjoyed it ever since.” For the last four years, Terrel has been assigned to Station 9 at 3001 Alameda Street, working as a driver engineer and also serving as a relief officer, taking over responsibilities when the chief is off. During his retirement, Terrel said he still plans to work in some form, 20 | June 2019

Both of Terrel’s children have followed his footsteps into careers helping people as paramedics. Kayla lives in Noble and is ready to begin school to become a physician assistant and Travis is a paramedic with the Edmond Fire Department. “I’m just so proud of them,” Terrel said. “It’s great to see them be a productive member of society. I know that they’re going to do well in their careers, and they both enjoy it. They’re going to do well and they’re going to thrive.” Reflecting on his career, Terrel said he will remember time spent at the stations with fellow firefighters, playing jokes on different people. He also recalled interacting with members of

the community, including working with children through organizations like the Firefighter’s Clown Society. Through this group, the firefighters would dress up as clowns and go teach fire safety to kids at school. After one show, the firefighters were returning to the station and had to go to a structure fire, leading to Terrel fighting the fire in his clown makeup. “I enjoy going to places and meeting people, talking to kids,” Terrel said. “I’d try to get down on their level so they have somebody to look up to or try to be to where they maybe thought, ‘I could do that. That looks fun’.” – BSM This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.

Photo by: Mark Doescher

fter nearly 36 years with the Norman Fire Department, Tim Terrel has concluded his career, retiring from a major chapter of his life at the end of May.

COMM U N I T Y

BY: CHRISTIAN POT TS

Blast Off With Summer Learning at the Library

Youngsters take part in a science experiment during a 2018 summer activity at Norman Public Library Central.

he name is a little different, but the idea is the same. Local libraries will provide a wealth of activities in the summer months as part of the annual Summer Learning Program at 12 libraries throughout the Pioneer Library System. It’s a slight departure from the longtime name “Summer Reading Program,” because even with reading

being a central focus of everything the library is about, there is much more to the library’s summer activities than just reading. Participants in the Summer Learning Challenge can earn “points” not just for reading but also attending programs, taking part in STEM-related activities, checking out literacy kits and more. The theme for this summer is “A Universe of Stories,” with programs taking on space themes, science and technology focuses and more. As always, there will be a variety of activities and performers offered for all ages, including: Science Museum Oklahoma will present its usual array of summer activities, including a rocket-launching workshop for teens and adults, a Little Astronomers Academy for younger children and a “Guardians of the Galaxy” themed event for children ages 7 to 12.

Children take part in a program at Norman Public Library West last June. 24 | June 2019

Craft fans can learn from the experts at Coffee N Crafts of Shawnee and “Shoot for the Moon” in a do-it-yourself art

project for either teens or adults. And a favorite in past summers, Extreme Animals caretakers will bring exotic and domestic animals to libraries for an “Out of This World” educational experience geared for children. Activities will come to Norman’s three branch libraries, as well as Pioneer’s locations in Moore, Southwest Oklahoma City, Noble and its McClain and Pottawatomie County libraries. Also, activities will go on the road to smaller communities around the area, and the library’s Maker Mobile will be on the move throughout the summer to bring STEM-based programming to library users of all ages. Check each library’s calendar for exact dates, times and signup information for each program at www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org or through the Pioneer Library System Connect App, available for iPhone and Apple users at the App Store or for Android users via Google Play.

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COMM U N I T Y

Tusa Scraper

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

ore often than not, adulthood doesn’t match our childhood aspirations, often ending up on a path we never expected. Tusa Scraper didn’t plan on being a teacher.

“My students don’t need me to … do everything with them. They just need someone to believe that there is something next, and to help them think through that.”

“I didn’t want to be a teacher, but I knew I was supposed to be a teacher,” she said. “Once I embraced teaching, I was eager to get into the classroom, so that I could pour life into students just like my teachers had done for me.”

As a teacher at Dimensions Academy, the district’s alternative education program, Scraper can wear many hats.

Scraper chose another nontraditional path when she decided to focus her career on nontraditional students. “I chose to go into special education because of how many people I know who have a disability,” she said. “I work with students who have hidden disabilities - ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. I like working with this population because I want them to feel normal. I want to help them to step out of those stereotypes.”

“My typical day can be summed up in one word - busy.” Scraper said. “I teach four classes, and I am the special education case manager. This year, I have had the privilege of working with general education students as well as my special education students. “This was a huge change from other years. On top of all my regular teacher responsibilities, I have my special educator responsibilities. Sometimes, it feels like I work two full-time jobs. It’s a huge balancing act.”

“I always think about the time one of my students told me, ‘Mrs. Scraper, you’re the only teacher that has ever asked me what I want to do after high school.’ I’m sure that isn’t true … but when she said it to me, it really boosted my confidence because … I knew I was doing something right.” In recognition of her hard work, Scraper was selected the 2019 Teacher of the Year at Dimensions Academy.

But, one that she finds is well worth the effort.

“I just want to say thank you to Norman. I could not do my job without the community’s support. Thank you all for thinking that public education, special education and alternative education is worth it.” – BSM

working with children. Karns did her student teaching more than 10 years ago at Washington Elementary School, where she found her professional home. “Getting to watch my students grow over the course of one school year is why I love this grade,” Karns said. “They basically enter my classroom as nonreaders and leave reading chapter books. First graders are still young enough that they generally enjoy coming to school and spoil me with hugs and love.” Even though her students are budding readers, Karns says her favorite part of each school day is when she reads to her class. “I feel it is so important to instill in my students a love of reading. I have always found it so intriguing how reading to my class is one of the only ways to keep every single kid’s attention. I love watching how calm a rowdy class can get the second you open a book.” While growing readers is an exciting

part of her job, Karns has other important goals for her students as well. “My classroom is a space of safety, love, laughter, mutual respect and freedom of thought. I feel this creates an environment that allows my first graders to feel part of a beautiful, diverse family.” Karns said being named Teacher of the Year by her colleagues was quite the honor and helped reassure her that she is living up to what she defines as a successful teacher. “While in college, I defined what it would mean to me to be successful as a teacher. I included student success, creating lasting relationships, instilling a love of learning in my students and respect from my peers. – BSM

Teaching Norman Kara Karns

or Kara Karns, 2018-19 was a big school year. Not only was she named Washington Elementary’s Teacher of the Year, she also celebrated her first class of first graders as they graduated from high school. “I am still very close with those students and their families,” Karns said. “Watching them succeed is so gratifying. There is nothing more special to me as a teacher than getting to be a forever part of my kids’ lives.” Karns says she has always been drawn to teaching, even as a child. “I started teaching vacation Bible school as a kid, volunteering in the church nursery and helping care for my three younger siblings,” Karns said. “I remember asking my teachers for old stamps and workbooks and blank copies of assignments to take home to use for ‘teaching.”’ Volunteering turned into babysitting and babysitting grew into a passion to pursue a career of

26 | June 2019

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: KAYLEE COMCAMPBELLL M UNI T Y

Annual Festival Features Schedule of New Performers

ether new to the event or a faithful fan, the 36th annual Jazz in June is going to be a treat, with a full slate of acts that have never performed at the festival before, said Eric Walschap, festival committee chairman. “The festival headliner is Funky Knuckles, a seven-piece jazz orchestra ‘super group’ composed of members from some of the most wellknown names in the music industry, such as Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Erykah Badu, P. Diddy, Snarky Puppy, The Polyphonic Spree and more,” Walschap said. The festival runs for three nights, beginning June 20 with Blues Under the Stars at Brookhaven Village, on the corner of W Robinson Street and 36th Avenue NW. The festival continues June 21 with Jazz Under the Stars at Brookhaven Village. The music wraps up with Jazz in the Park on Saturday night, June 22 in Andrews Park, 201 W Daws St. Brookhaven performances run from 7:30 to 11 p.m. and the Andrews Park show runs from 6:30 to 11 p.m. “While none of the groups are returning to Jazz in June, there are two local groups performing that many Oklahomans will know,” Walschap said. The festivities will kick-off Thursday with the weekend’s first headliner Josh Hoyer & his Soul Colossal,

28 | June 2019

an award-winning five-piece Blues group. “Josh Hoyer was featured multiple times on NBC’s The Voice, and we know the audiences will understand why the moment he takes the stage,” Walschap said. “Opening up on Friday night is the saxophonist Jared Cathey and his combo. Although young, he’s already a legend in the OKC Jazz Scene and has played with some of the biggest names in the industry, including the Count Basie Orchestra, Kenny Garrett, Donny McCaslin, and so many more. Jonathan Scales, who – according to Walschap – is “arguably the best jazz steel pannist in the world,” will be Friday’s featured performer. Festival headliner Funky Knuckles will play on Saturday, along with local favorite BRD, featuring Brian Belanus on guitar, Rei Wang-Bowen on bass, and David Bowen on drums. Jazz in June began as a small concert in 1984 and has gone through a number of transformations over the years. In 1985, the festival was held indoors at Sooner Theatre, and in later years the festival saw creative elements added such as an evening dinner and performance at Trujillo’s, an evening trolley bus to local jazz clubs, and even a dance at Sooner Mall.

When the festival moved to Andrews Park in 1986 and Brookhaven Village in 1987, it began to gain in popularity, Walschap said. With larger stages and more room, the festival saw crowds grow to more than 10,000 people. “For several years, the festival has attracted more than 50,000 people over the three nights, making it the largest nonprofit jazz festival in the region,” Walschap said. Today, Jazz in June is partners with the Norman Arts Council, the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company and KGOU. The festival is free to attend and almost entirely volunteer run and that includes the organization’s board of directors. Helpers include music fraternities from the University of Oklahoma and members of the community who enjoy music and want to donate their time, Walschap said. “Not only are all of the event’s board members volunteers and donors of the event, but we couldn’t make it work without the help from dozens of other volunteers that help us both behind and on the stage, at our t-shirt booth, at our clinics, and in countless other ways,” Walschap said. “This is their festival and it’s amazing to see the turnout each year from those that help keep it going strong.” For more information about Jazz in June, visit www.jazzinjune.org. – BSM

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Summer Learning Challenge

COM M UNI T Y

BY: CHELSEY KRAFT

NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Justin Yahola

ustin Yahola’s career has come full circle. After starting his career at Riverwind Casino when it opened in 2006, Yahola’s path brought him back last year. Yahola now works as the general manager of the giant casino, and he’s going on his 23rd year as an employee with the Chickasaw Nation. In his current role, he also oversees the Goldsby Gaming Center. After his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma, Yahola began working at the Goldsby Gaming Center and remained there through college before moving to Riverwind upon its opening. From there, he worked at a couple of Chickasaw Nation properties, most recently at SaltCreek Casino in Grady County, before he returned to Riverwind. Yahola said that coming back to Riverwind as general manager made him a little nervous, initially, because it’s one of the Chickasaw Nation’s largest properties. But his homecoming was easier than he expected. “The easiest part for me was when I came here on my first day and saw so many employees that were here when the facility opened,” Yahola said. “Seeing those employees helped me adjust.” He said the casino still employs nearly 100 people who were part of its original workforce. Yahola began his childhood in Tulsa, then his family moved to Nevada and to Utah while he was still young. When his dad, an OU graduate, decided to return to Norman to attend boydstreet.com

law school, Yahola went to elementary school in Norman before the family moved back to Tulsa. After graduating from Union High School, Yahola moved back to OU, partly because he grew up a Sooner fan, but also because he was familiar with the Norman community. He started college in the fall of 1995, and Norman has been home ever since. After graduating with a degree in Native American studies, Yahola pursued a second degree at the University of Central Oklahoma in business management with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. Yahola and his wife, Kelli, met during their freshman year through OU’s American Indian Student Association. After a few years, they began dating and eventually married in 2012, planning their wedding and honeymoon around one very important weekend. “It was football season, and we couldn’t miss the game,” Yahola said. “So, we got married on a Thursday in Las Vegas, but we had to fly back to Dallas, so we could make OU–Texas weekend.” For Yahola, no two days look alike.

“The first thing I’ll always do when I get here is I’ll write down my agenda. Here’s my meetings, here’s what I want to do today, here’s what I want to accomplish, and it’s always going to change,” Yahola said. “Something is always going to happen throughout the day, but it’s good. It challenges you; it challenges your team; it challenges your managers.” As Riverwind Casino approaches its 13th anniversary in August, Yahola says business is not just a casino, but also an entertainment venue and a company that partners with its community. Riverwind is involved with various community organizations, including March of Dimes and the Norman Public School Foundation, both of which Yahola serves on the boards for, and Meals on Wheels of Norman. “We’re a part of the community,” Yahola said. “In August, we’re going to be 13 years old, so that’s something that we really look at not only from our employee standpoint and tenure standpoint, but that’s also 13 years of being involved with the Norman community, and that’s very important.”– BSM BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 33

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: CHIP MINTY COM M UNI TY

Left Alone

Norman Film Examines Plight of Children of Incarcerated Parents

n the United States, there are five million children of incarcerated parents, and three out of four of those children will end up incarcerated themselves. Norman veterinarian, social advocate and documentary Producer John Otto offers the startling statistic in a new film titled “Children of Hope,” chronicling the shattered lives and emotional debris that is frequently overlooked amid the nation’s criminal justice debate. The reality of sirens, handcuffs, tears and shame come to life in the numerous interviews as children are left isolated and alone when their parents are sent to prison. “Whether you’re on the inside looking out or the outside looking in, incarceration rules your world, especially for the children,” said Marva Perry-Griffin, who grew up while her father served a life term in prison. “For me, life was a war plan of instability. I never knew what was going

36 | June 2019

to happen. Never knew where I was going to stay at. Never knew which family member I was going to be given to, and for how long. Maybe my mother would drop me off at my grandma’s house. Maybe she’d come back in a month. Maybe she’d get me in a year.” Otto and Oscar-winning co-Producer Grey Frederickson have been working on the project for three years, following two other films focusing on the emergence of prison dog programs in Oklahoma correctional centers. “Dogs of Lexington” and “Bassett Tales” tell how a cadre of Oklahoma inmates devote their time to training dogs rescued from local animal shelters. Otto said animals and prison inmates have always been his focus, and he never intended to do a documentary on children, but the dogs led him to the children. It turned out that the dogs were surrogates for the children that inmates had left behind.

“These offenders got better, and they connected with these dogs and they wanted to reconnect with their children, so I wanted to do a documentary on the plight of the children and the traumatic experiences they go through.” The documentary says there are 96,000 children in Oklahoma with incarcerated parents. Meanwhile, there are zip codes in Oklahoma City where 90 percent of children have a parent in prison, according to Cheri Fuller, founder of Redeeming the Family, an advocacy group created to help children hurt by incarceration. Caylee, a young woman interviewed in the documentary, said her father was sent to prison, leaving her alone with her mother, who was addicted to drugs. Finally, Caylee left home when she was a junior in high school. “It’s hard, because I didn’t understand why my parents weren’t around,” she said. “I’m 19 years old, and I still don’t understand why they’re not around.

“You have to realize that it wasn’t your fault. You have to realize that you had no control over your parents, and that they were going to do whatever they were going to do. You just have to keep telling yourself that, over and over,” Caylee said. Casden, a young man interviewed in the film, describes a storm of emotions he’s experienced since losing his parents to incarceration. “It’s hard to find the motivation to go to school when you don’t know where you’re going to sleep, and what you’re going to eat,” he said. “You’re so worried about all these small problems of the moment that you can’t focus on your future, which can be debilitating later on.” “I still grieve that I didn’t have my parents. I still grieve that I didn’t have a normal childhood, but eventually it dies,” he says. “Eventually, that hope that they’re going to come back and that they’re going to care again, it dies.”

Today, Casden says his pain has led to feelings of resentment, anger and blame toward his parents. The film also features former University of Oklahoma head football coach Barry Switzer, who rose to acclaim from a broken home torn by drug and alcohol abuse, suicide and an incarcerated father. In an encounter with children in the film, Switzer encouraged the young people with advice and shared details from his own childhood. His father was in prison for murder and his mother was a drug abuser. One night, she committed suicide, and Switzer said he was there to hear the shot. “I picked my mama up and carried her in, and I always thought that I was the reason, because I didn’t kiss her that night,” Switzer said. “She was on drugs, her eyes were glassy. All she wanted was for me to kiss her goodnight,” he said. “I was so hurt by the way she was that I refused.

I told her I would rather never see you again and know you’re safe and well than see you like this, nearly every night.” “You’re on your own. It’s a jungle out there. It’s amazing that anyone can survive it,” Switzer told the teens, who are making their way without parents. Mentoring programs appear to be the most effective form of help for children with incarcerated parents, said Sarah Johnson, vice president of enrollment for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma. “They’ve been shown to be the No. 1 deterrent for these kids,” said Johnson, who also had an incarcerated parent while growing up. “A mentor can ensure children can have that one person who can be consistent, who does what they say they’re going to do.” Otto said his film was funded through a $35,000 grant from the Ardmore-based Westheimer Foundation, and it will premier on OETA. The film will be shown at 7 p.m. on June 27 and at 8 p.m. on June 29. – BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: JOY HAMPTON

Service Spotlight:

Dispatcher Tony Henthorn T welve years ago, Tony Henthorn was living in a rural community with limited job opportunities, but he wanted something better for his future. “I was unhappy with my last job and got the help wanted ads from the newspaper and saw the ad for dispatcher,” he said. Henthorn applied for a communications job with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office in August 2007 and started work in September. Initially, he worked the graveyard shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. but, after three months, he switched to the swing shift and life got busier. “I learned on graveyard shift, which is good for training,” Henthorn said. “There’s lots that doesn’t happen at night that does happen during the day, so when I switched to swing shift there was a lot more I had to learn.” Most times, Henthorn works alone, so when things get busy, he must act quickly. “Either nothing happens or everything happens at once,” he said. “And it’s eerie how sometimes when we get one type of call, we’ll get more, whether it’s loose dogs or a cow out or a domestic situation.” 40 | June 2019

When a 911 call comes in, the dispatcher often becomes the lifeline for the caller.

“If it’s police or fire, we dispatch, if it’s medical we transfer them to whatever agency dispatches for them,” he said. “We let the deputies know too. Sometimes they get there first and provide medical aid. They can provide CPR and save someone’s life.” Medical dispatch can be very specialized, asking callers specific medical questions, while county dispatchers continue to listen to the call. “We don’t send the ambulances out, but we stay on the line and listen and make sure there’s no foul play involved or someone out there with a weapon,” Henthorn said. Most county sheriff communications work is nonemergency, but it is still vital to the safety of the deputies in the field. “We rely on our dispatchers to be that crucial point of contact for deputies in the field and people in crisis,” said Sheriff Todd Gibson. “They are the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to keep everyone in Cleveland County safe.”

Deputies deal with everything from traffic stops to premises checks and Henthorn is on the line to check information and track deputy locations. “If a vehicle is stolen, it will immediately pop up as stolen when we check the tag number,” Henthorn said. “Next, we’ll run the driver’s license. We also check people for warrants.” Those checks help identify potentially dangerous felons. “Pursuits are probably the worst kind of call for dispatchers,” he said. “When someone decides to run from the police, it gets wild.” Domestic situations can also be challenging. “You can’t take sides, just give the information to the deputies,” Henthorn said. Henthorn said he develops relationships with the deputies in the field and takes his responsibility as their point of contact very seriously. The job can be stressful at times, but Henthorn said there are good benefits and job security along with the satisfaction of helping people. This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: KAYLEE CAMPBELL

Rewarding

Career

Retiring Norman PE Teacher Looks Forward to Her Next Chapter

fter 41 years of teaching physical education at Norman’s Jackson Elementary, Mary Coleman is being honored for her continued inspiration by a new student award that carries her name. The Mary Coleman Physical Fitness Award was given for the first time at Jackson Elementary School’s fifth grade promotion in May. The 2019 winners were chosen by Coleman’s fellow teachers and their names were added to a large plaque on display in the school. Each year, the award will be given to two fifth-grade students, one boy and one girl, who exhibit a healthy lifestyle. It’s not about being the healthiest or fittest kid, it’s about trying to stay healthy and working hard to make healthy life choices, Coleman said. Coleman began her career at Jackson Elementary in 1978, at the age of 22, while going through graduate school for health and exercise science at the University of Oklahoma. “I started off in math and engineering,” Coleman said. “I loved math, but when I got into engineering, I realized my heart wasn’t in it. I just loved fitness and physical activity.” Coleman spent her first eight years teaching P.E. in a portable building because the school did not have a gymnasium. 44 | June 2019

“I didn’t know what I was doing, but I enjoyed it,” Coleman said. Over the last four decades, Coleman has learned a thing or two about career longevity in education. She gave this universal advice: “Try new things, try new ideas. Don’t get stuck in a rut,” Coleman said. “Do something new. Get involved and start clubs. It keeps you fresh and aware of what’s going on.” Living by her own advice, she start-

ed a running club and said that in the last two years the club had participated in the Oklahoma City Kids Marathon. While she loved teaching, Coleman said she is excited for her next chapter — retirement. “I love to travel and explore,” Coleman said. “I want to go to Italy, that’s definitely on the bucket list. But I also have a two-year-old granddaughter, so I plan to spend a lot of time with her and family, too.” – BSM

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Hot

Act

Sooner Theater Hosts Summer Camp for Community’s Young Thespians

he shy kids are among Nancy Coggins’ favorite summer camp students. Coggins, who works as Sooner Theatre’s public relations and development director, said parents often come to her worried that their child might be unable to break out of their shell, thinking that perhaps the theatre’s summer performing arts camps won’t appeal to their child. “These kinds of kids are some of my favorites because they’re usually the ones that end up on stage in front of a hundred people belting out a solo, and their parents are stunned,” Coggins said. “They find a love and passion for performing arts, and it does so much for their creative brains and their self-esteem. They do break out of their shell and find their voices.” This June, Sooner Theatre of Norman is once again hosting summer camp sessions, inviting hundreds of youth

48 | February 2019

to take part in acting, musical theatre, magic and more. The Studio of the Sooner Theatre is Norman’s premiere performing arts academy, located just across the street from The Sooner Theatre in Norman’s historic Downtown Walker Arts District. The Studio offers performing arts classes and summer camps for children age 3 to 18. Beginners all the way up to stage veterans take part in acting, singing, tap, hip-hop, improv, magic and more. From its humble beginnings in 2013, when Sooner Theatre “begged, borrowed and scraped” to host its first summer camp with 31 students, the camps now attract hundreds of young creatives every year. “We went from 31 children to 1,000 kids per year that go through our programs,” Coggins said. “For some kids, it’s a fun way to spend time

with friends; for others, it’s a great introduction to the performing arts and a chance to be on stage; for others, it’s a way to break out of their shell and find their own voices. “We have more than 25 summer camps for kids ages pre-K to high school,” Coggins said. “Most are halfday camps, and we do everything from musical theater to magic.” Two of the summer camps are audition only, lasting for four weeks. In one of the production camps, students entering 3rd to 7th grade will put on a performance of Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” on June 26-30 and students entering 8th through 12th grade will present the musical “All Shook Up” on Aug. 1-4. “I think because Disney just allowed ‘Frozen Jr.’ to be licensed, this will be one of the first productions of the show in Oklahoma,” said Coggins. “The musical ‘All Shook Up’ showcases the mu-

2019 SUMER CAMPS

GOTTA SING, GOTTA DANCE

The Neon lights are bright as young performer shine in song and dance. Students learn what it takes to perform musical numbers.

CURTAINS UP! ACTING

Young performers get an introduction in how to build a character from the ground up. Performers use their imagination to create props and design sets.

STUDIO PRODUCTION CAMP DISNEY’S SLEEPING BEAUTY KIDS sic of Elvis, but is not the story of Elvis. It includes everyone’s favorite songs, lots of dancing and a lot of fun.” In addition to the audition-only summer production camps, Sooner Theatre hosts other summer camps open to all enrollees. Enrollment can be done online at soonertheatre.org, by calling The Sooner Theatre at 321-9600 or in person at the Theatre, 101 E Main St., in Norman. “Enrollment is open all summer long, and we have camps throughout the entire summer,” Coggins said. Their summer schedule will also showcase the comedy, “Nunsense” on June 6-8. “‘Nunsense’ is a hilarious story about a group of nuns who run into misfortune while trying to do good and hilarity ensues,” said Coggins. “Jennifer Teel, who directed ‘Hairspray’ in the fall, returns as the director. The show will take place at our studio performance space across from the theatre, and it’s perfect for smaller, more intimate shows.” Tickets for “Nunsense” are available at soonertheatre.org. – BSM

This is an opportunity for youth to experience the fun of being in a musical theatre production while learning important theatre performance skills and techniques. Performances will be held at The Studio on Aug. 3.

DISCOVER MAGIC

Children not only learn how to perform magic, but also learn simple and powerful life changing lessons like working with others. Each student gets a magic kit to keep.

WELCOME TO THE THEATRE (FOR PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN)

This camp serves as an introduction to theatre and integrates games, musical activities and theatre terms into a fun camp experience. These campers also have a walk-on part of Sooner Theatre’s Summer Stage production of Disney’s “Frozen Jr.”

WELCOME BACK TO THE THEATRE (1ST-2ND GRADE)

Older elementary students can continue their exploration of acting, singing, movement and self-expression through theater games and musical activities. They too will have a walk on role in Disney’s “Frozen Jr.”

S P O RT S

BY: CHRIS PLANK

Softball Seniors

A Special Group of Seniors Aim for Another Title

Through highs and lows, these six seniors set forth a new level of expectations. Each has played a key role, adding to the consistent success of the program. Many of these moments will go down in Sooner Softball history and college softball history too. Here are a few of the unforgettable moments from each of the members of the 2019 Oklahoma Sooner Softball Senior Class.

That run and the clutch RBI in the 5th inning helped lead the Sooners to a 3-1 win over Washington and an eventual spot in the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.

FALEPOLIMA AVIU

If one word could describe Oceanside, California native Fale Aviu, it would be clutch and no performance was more clutch than game two of the Women’s College World Series during Aviu’s sophomore season.

In 2017, Aviu delivered a scoring single in the 5th inning adding to the Sooner lead against Washington. She was also involved in the first Sooner score of that game as well. In the 2nd inning, Leah Wodach laid down a squeeze bunt that barely stayed fair and Aviu headed home, avoiding a tag at the plate. 50 | June 2019

“I started in basketball doing the spins. I always wanted to be the kid no one could get out,” Aviu said. “I was trying my best to not get tagged, that’s all I could think to do. I’m not going to run into a tag, I’m going to try to figure out every single way to be safe.”

CALEIGH CLIFTON

During her freshman season, Caleigh Clifton recorded the final out for the Sooners in its championship series against Auburn. The freshman second baseman stayed down on a hard-hit ground ball and triggered absolute pandemonium in the Sooner Nation with a perfect throw to first base. But, the following season, Clifton would deliver an equally important homerun.

On May 21, 2016, Clifton stepped to the plate in an elimination game in the Norman regional. The Sooners had put themselves in a tough position after losing to North Dakota State. After knocking off Arkansas and avenging its loss

to North Dakota State, the Sooners had to beat Tulsa twice. Oklahoma trailed 4-2 in the 10th inning. Things were looking bleak until Nicole Mendes led the inning with a single. Clifton followed launching a screwball over the left field wall to tie the game. The Sooners would eventually rallied to win the game.

At the time, not many may have grasped the magnitude of that moment for Clifton. On May 21, 2014, just two years before, her father unexpectedly passed away. As an Oklahoma native, Clifton grew up wanting to play for Oklahoma. Her father had been her biggest fan, and on that day two years later, she was able to deliver perhaps the biggest hit of her career.

SHAY KNIGHTEN

The moments that Shay Knighten creates at the plate and in the field are endless. During the Sooners’ dramatic 17-inning win over Florida, Knighten launched what would end up being the game winning home run in the top of the 17th inning to send the Sooners to a game one victory in the best of three series. Against Auburn, during her freshman season, Knighten made one of the biggest defensive plays of the post season when she knocked down a hard-hit ball at first base and threw the potential

Photo courtesy: Ty Russell/OU Athletics

For Aviu, she was simply doing what she does, whatever it takes to score a run.

he OU softball team has established a championship mindset, a foundation built over time with a commitment to hard work and consistency. Sooner softball has the expectation of success both on and off the field. And, perhaps no class has ever personified this mindset as well as the current senior class.

tying run out at the plate. The Sooners would hold on and eventually win a National Championship against Auburn. But, before the big-time defensive play against the Tigers in that Championship series, Knighten launched a clutch home run against Alabama, kicking off the 2016 Women’s College World Series with a Sooner win. “She’s built for big time moments,” Sooner hitting coach, JT Gasso said. “You’re not going to beat her in those moments. I wouldn’t want anyone else stepping up in those big-time spots.”

KYLIE LUNDBERG

Kylie Lundberg’s career and her impact cannot be measured in stats. Lundberg has been a key figure in pinch-hits but also in her ability to act like another coach in the dugout. What many labeled as the biggest OU/ Texas softball series in recent years, the Sooners needed the Lundberg in a big way to help generate some breathing room for the Sooners. In front of a soldout crowd in Austin, Lundberg drove a first pitch double to right center field, giving the Sooners a necessary insurance run and helped lead the Sooners to a 3-1 win, and an eventual series sweep.

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RAEGAN ROGERS Bridge Creek High School product Raegan Rogers is without a doubt the most improved player on the roster. Having served as a pinch runner through most of her first two seasons, Rogers has played a key role as a defensive replacement in the outfield and pinch hitter. As the 2019 season kicked off, Rogers got a spot in the starting line-up, starting only two games prior to her senior season.

Rogers’ key moment came during the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitation. The Sooners were struggling to get its offense going against Notre Dame. Rogers launched a home run over the left field wall that gave the Sooners a commanding 6-2 lead. The Sooners would go on to win the game against the Irish and improve to 7-0 on the season. During her senior campaign, Rogers continued her solid work at the plate setting career highs in batting average, home runs and RBIs.

SYDNEY ROMERO

Where do you even start with Sydney Romero? The Sooner senior from Temecula, California was finally named the Big 12 Player of the Year, after putting up numbers worthy of the award each of her first three years.

But, where do you start with a Player of the Year candidate? There was the incredible night during her freshman season where she single handedly eliminated her sister’s Michigan Wolverines. She has registered almost 100 multi-hit games and finished her senior season with a career high in home runs. There are also countless, big-time defensive plays that defy logic. And the never-ending smile and confidence she permeates through the entire locker room and the Sooner fan base are also noteworthy.

But, its safe to say, there will not be a more memorable moment in Romero’s career than in 2017 against Tulsa. Fueled by the ‘Power of the 3’, Romero stepped to the plate after Knighten delivered a single. On her first pitch, Romero launched a game winning home run over the left field wall sending the Sooners on to the if-necessary game, en route to a Super Regional and eventual National Championship. “We had a plan to get on and move runners over and it worked in our favor,” Romero said. “We knew we had to fight as a team… and it wasn’t going to be easy. Running in to home plate seeing my team gathered there it was an awesome feeling.” – BSM

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S P O RT S

BY: CHRIS PLANK

Feeling Right at Home Norman North Grad Captures First Collegiate Win at Jimmie Austin

s she was walking up the fairway on her final hole, Sooner sophomore golfer Kaitlin Milligan was on the verge of realizing a life-long dream. It was a moment that her family had waited for and she had prepared for.

“I think I’ve been a member out here (at Jimmie Austin) since I was about 8, so I grew up with these people and grew up with this golf course,” Milligan said. “I was really comfortable out there, which helped a lot for this setting. I was really happy having my family out here and the support of this university and course.”

But as her father looked on, it was nothing new. Michael Milligan had seen his daughter excel from the first moment she had picked up a golf club. But now, he was charged with doing his best to hide and conceal his nerves and emotion. “I don’t handle those situations well at all,” her father said. “I handle it better when I’m caddying for her. Then I know what she’s thinking and what she is trying to do. I’ve gotten a lot better at it, but she says she can read me, so I try to hide it a lot better.” The emotions were hard to hide after Milligan sunk her final putt to finish the soggy tournament at eight under par to claim the top spot at the NCAA Nor54 | June 2019

man Regional. With that putt, she won her first tournament… in her hometown… as a Sooner.

“She had a chance to go just about anywhere she wanted and she chose to stay home,” Michael said. “I thought that was pretty cool, a hometown girl winning on her hometown course. I was pretty emotional. I was crying and everything... we’ve been waiting for that day to come for a while.”

Despite having not won a collegiate tournament before the Norman Regional win, Milligan has already developed into a standout for the Sooners, finishing in the top 20 in nine of her last 10 tournaments and with six of those finishes in the top 10. Her season stroke average of 71.88 is on pace to break the program record of 72.27. She got her start in golf early in life.

“When we lived in Tulsa, there was a golf store, Bakers Custom Golf, that I went to all the time and it was around the time they came out with individual kids’ clubs,” Milligan said. “She was 2 or 2 1/2 and every time we went to Bakers, they would give her another club. So here she was at 2 years old and she would be drag-

ging a club down the street. When she got older, she would go with me to the course and she got pretty good at swinging and hitting the ball. I thought she might be pretty good at this.” Milligan drew attention because of how far she could hit the ball. The golf bug that had bit her father was just starting to bite her, and she had a competitive mindset.

“We went to a US Kids tournament in Dallas and she wanted to play,” Michael said. “We didn’t win, but she sat there on the curb afterward and this girl got a big medal or trophy and she told her grandpa I want one of those. Ever since then, she has been after it. About the time she was 7 or 8, she could pound it, she hit so far past everyone. Everyone eventually caught up, and it took her a while to figure out, ‘I need to be able to hit it closer to the hole and work on her shot game.’ Once she figured that out, she’s been pretty good.” As her love for golf continued to grow, it also continued to build the bond between father and daughter.

“My dad loves golf,” Milligan said. “It was always something we did, my dad and I, and it was bonding time, which

Photo courtesy: Ty Russell/OU Athletics

The Norman North graduate won her first collegiate tournament. Her passion for golf, stemming from her father’s love of the game, had finally paid off, giving her not only her first collegiate win but a trip to the NCAA Championship.

made me really enjoy it. Early on, I figured out I might be really good at it, so I tried to stick with it, and it has given me so many opportunities throughout the years, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Putting you first made us #1.

Her father has been one of the key figures in perpetuating Milligan’s love for the game. And for the Norman North grad and now Regional Champion, having her dad there to watch her and follow along as she plays is one of the keys to her success.

“It is so important. He never misses a chance to come watch me. He’s at every tournament and travels all over,” she said of her dad’s impact. “It’s comforting to look at him when I’m on a hole and maybe not feeling so great, and he calms me down or fires me up. He always knows exactly what I need.” That support helped spark the Sooner sophomore on her final day of the Norman Regional. As she entered the final round, Milligan found herself five shots off the lead.

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“With the rain and the weather that morning, I kind of just thought of it as an opportunity. I thought some people might not want to be out here. I heard some people say they wanted to go home on the putting green which really fired me up because I am home. This is my home,” she said. “I knew the way the course was wet, which was an advantage to me because I can carry it pretty far. I saw all the positives in it.” It may have only been win number one for Milligan, but it is likely the first of many. And right there, watching it all, will be her number one fan, her dad, Michael. – BSM

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BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 55

S P O RT S

BY: JOSH HELMER COM M UNI TY

State Champs

t helped that the Timberwolves have been in a state championship game before. Two years ago, Norman North fell to Tulsa Union, 2-0. They were down a body for a large stretch of the big game after an untimely red card. But no amount of adversity was keeping these Timberwolves from the title this time around and they proved as much, defeating Mustang, 2-0, in the 6A girls soccer state title game at Taft Stadium.

Still, there were some nervous moments as senior defender Elle Abbey was assessed a red card with 22:59 remaining in the second half after colliding with Mustang’s Ellise Foreman, leaving North with just 10 players for the remainder of the game. “Relax,” North head coach Trevor Laffoon told his squad after the red card. He reminded his team that they had been in a more precarious situation than this earlier in the season against 58 | June 2019

Norman High when they played the final 70 minutes down a player. North won that Crosstown Clash 1-0. “For us, just having all those older players, you could tell right as it happened that everyone was talking to each other,’” Laffoon said. “We’re lucky we had that opportunity happen before the state title. It helped the girls mentally.” Senior forward Jenna Miller detailed how her team kept it together.

“Our emotions were already running high. We were only up one goal. They were starting to get a little bit of momentum,” Miller said. “Jamie [McGinnis], Kenzie [Williams] and I, we all looked at each other and said, ‘we’re going to play for the people that are left on this field.’ That really calmed us down and made us just play for each other.” North leaned on its defense and senior goalkeeper Allison Austin, who recorded five saves in the final 23 minutes. Then,

the T-Wolves got the opening Laffoon had told his team to expect at halftime.

“I told the girls, ‘they’re going to start throwing players forward, throwing numbers forward, so we’re going to get one or two chances. We need to make sure we put them away,’” Laffoon said. Senior midfielder Katie Fowler connected on a pass with Miller behind the defense who lofted her shot past Mustang keeper Ashlee Jackson at the front of the box and into the back of the net. Norman North had doubled its lead and gotten the breathe-easy goal they were looking for. “When Katie got the ball, I started running because I knew if I could outrun the back line, I could get another goal,” Miller said. Laffoon called it her best goal of her senior year.

“Right as Katie played the ball through,

Photos by: Mark Doescher

Norman North Girls Soccer Wins 6A Crown

I thought, ‘please score a goal.’ She relaxed. She placed it. It was a great goal,” Laffoon said. The happiest person on North’s sideline just might have been Abbey.

“I just felt so bad for my team having to play a man down for the rest of the game in the state finals and, of course, was nervous that they would score and tie the game up. Right when Jenna scored, I was just so relieved,” Abbey said. “When she came off a little bit after that and we hugged each other, I said, ‘thank you so much. You just sealed the deal. We just won state.’” North opened the scoring with 26:07 remaining in the first half off a set piece. Miller earned a Mustang foul and sent her free kick into the box outside the Bronco net where McGinnis headed it home into the goal’s left side.

As the final seconds ticked off from Taft Stadium, it brought North its second girls soccer state championship— first since 2014—and polished off the T-Wolves’ revenge tour. Along its path to the top, North avenged regular-season

boydstreet.com

losses to Westmoore and Mustang and last season’s semifinal loss to Broken Arrow in the playoffs. The 3-1 setback on April 19 against Mustang cost North a District 6A-2 championship. Senior defender Maddy Childers said it worked out in North’s favor.

“I think it did work to our advantage. We were heartbroken when we lost district, but it actually turned out perfect. We really set ourselves up nicely in the bracket. Basically, three out of our four playoff games were revenge games,” Childers said. “It was so special. When Jenna scored that second goal, I looked to my friends Allison and Jamie, the goalie and my fellow centerback, and I started crying. I knew it right at that second. We had just done it. We had really won state.” En route to the championship, North beat Choctaw 5-0, Westmoore 1-0 in penalty kicks, Broken Arrow 2-1 and Mustang 2-0.

“When we beat Westmoore in PK’s, I was feeling pretty confident. PK’s in girls, it’s a big deal. Then, when you go to eight shooters and you win that, it was a big

turning point for us,” Laffoon said.

After capturing the title, Laffoon was selected as The Oklahoman’s All-City Coach of the Year and Elle Abbey was chosen as the All-City Player of the Year.

“It means a lot. I can’t wait to play in the game,” Abbey said of the All-State game set to take place in June. – BSM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 59

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Thousands of Animals Helped

Wildcare Oklahoma Passes Major Milestone After Three Decades of Service

n 1984, Rondi Large started Wildcare Oklahoma, a rehabilitation center caring for injured or orphaned wildlife. “Since childhood, I’ve been attracted to wildlife, and I have a soft spot for injured or orphaned animals,” Large said. “When we started, we would take in one or two animals a year. Now we have grown to care for over 6,000 animals a year.” Backed by a philosophy that all species play an important role in a healthy ecosystem, Wildcare accepts and treats all species at its seven-acre facility in Noble, including a number of outdoor aviaries and mammal enclosures. They opened the Golden Family Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in 2015, expanding their ability for animal care, public awareness and education. Over more than three decades, they have cared for a multitude of animals, but soon they’ll be celebrating an exciting milestone. “This July, we will take in our 100,000th animal,” Large said. “It’s a big deal because it shows our significant impact on Oklahoma wildlife, and we wanted to celebrate this major accomplishment.” While Large’s initial focus was helping animals, she has learned there is much more gained from the work they do. “My first intention was to help ani-

62 | June 2019

mals, but over the years I have learn that we help people too,” she said. “We give people a place to go when they encounter an animal in need. We want people to care about wildlife, but they need a place to turn or they won’t help the next one.”

To celebrate their upcoming milestone, Wildcare is hosting its first dinner fundraiser. Themed “Keep it Wild in Oklahoma,” attendees can join in on the July 20 celebration at Sooner Legends Inn & Suites in Norman, 1200 24th Ave SW. “At this fun event, we’ll share stories from the past 35 years, play WildCare trivia, raffle off some great prizes and host a silent auction full of wonderful items,” Large said. Wildcare is a nonprofit organization and receives no state or federal funding. Instead, they rely on private donations, most of which, Large said, are small donations that add up. The funds raised at the dinner will help continue their mission to care for and release na-

tive wildlife, an effort that requires an intense amount of manpower. “One of my staff members described our days as organized chaos because we have 500 to 600 animals that we are taking care of at any given time. It’s not like we can put out food once a day and move on,” Large said. “Right now, we have baby songbirds that need to be fed every 30 minutes and they need to be observed often to make sure they aren’t in need because they can’t tell us when they feel bad.” “We pick up animals every day that are dropped off at the Oklahoma City animal shelter,” she said. “We do 17 loads of laundry in a day, and we have to wash by species. There is a lot to keep going and the phone rings off the wall with people with animals they want to help.” If you want to be a part of the dinner, Large said table sponsorships and tickets are available. However, there are other ways to be part of the evening. “We are also looking for donations of goods and services to include in their raffle and silent auction,” Large said. To learn more about the foundation and their fundraiser, visit www.wildcareoklahoma.org or check out their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/WildCareOklahoma/. Volunteer opportunities are also available at Wildcare. Interested adults must be willing to commit at least three hours a week for three months.– BSM

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Home Improvement Hacks You’ve finally finished scrubbing and purging your home from top to bottom in honor of spring. And now, with every surface, closet, and room sparkling clean, you’re starting to see all the areas that could use a facelift. Maybe you’re hankering after a complete kitchen makeover. You might be dreaming of a fresh coat of paint for your bedrooms. Or maybe your window treatments are in desperate need of an overhaul. The only thing standing between you and your dream home is finding piles of cash for funding it, right? Maybe not. Lucky for you, you don’t need to spend a fortune to give your house a new look. Read on for our list of home improvement hacks and learn how to upgrade your home on a budget.

CABINET MAKEOVER Instead of dropping a ton of money on replacing your kitchen cabinets, you can give a tired kitchen a fresh new look by replacing just the cabinet fronts. You’ll pay a fraction of the price and no one will know it’s your old, shabby cabinets hiding behind those beautiful new doors. Want to go even lower-cost? Consider painting the front of your cabinet to upgrade the look without spending much money or time. You can also replace those dated cabinet pulls with something nicer and trendier for a more modern look.

COVER YOUR COUNTERTOPS WITH CONTACT PAPER Granite countertops can be gorgeous, but they’re also incredibly pricey. Instead of taking out a second mortgage for beautiful counters, try covering them with pretty, patterned contact paper. You’ll find loads of granite lookalikes at home improvement stores and you can learn how to apply your knockoff covers neatly from DIY tutorials on YouTube. You might even fool your friends and family into thinking it’s the real thing. But don’t worry: We won’t tell anyone it’s fake!

USE PVC PIPES FOR CURTAIN RODS Pretty curtains and drapes add a splash of color and personality to any room. You can make your own inexpensive curtains by picking up some fabric from a sewing supply store. The only issue? You’ll need rods to hang up those curtains—and if you need specific measurements and colors, that can get pricey. Make it happen with this hack: Use PVC pipes instead of boydstreet.com

curtain rods. You can paint your pipes to match the décor of the room and hang them with inexpensive hooks that fit well. Curtains, done!

CREATE A MIRRORED BACKSPLASH All you need for this fantastic hack is a pack of self-adhesive mirror tiles. These retail for about $15 per 20-tile pack and you can find them online or at a home improvement store. Use your snazzy tiles to create a mirrored backsplash in your kitchen. Decorate with inexpensive decals to up the glam or just leave it bare. The mirrors will give the illusion of greater space and you won’t have to deal with grout and caulking. It’s a super-cheap way to make your kitchen sparkle!

SLIPCOVER YOUR SOFA If your sofa is hopelessly stained and you’d love to update it, but can’t spare the cash, try covering it in a slipcover. You can find a leather-look slipcover to match the shape of your sofa for $100 or less. They’re not just for protection; the right slipcover will give you an (almost) brand new couch! Make sure you read reviews before purchasing, because quality really makes a difference here.

LET THE LIGHT IN Light fixtures can really make or break an area in your home, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to get it right. Walk through your home and take note of the light fixtures that are relics from a past life, paying close attention to highly visible areas. Then, take a trip to a home improvement store or check out sites like Wayfair and Hayneedle for trendy, striking light fixtures. For less than $100, you can give your house an entire new look!

DIY PAINT If the walls in your home desperately need fresh coats of paint, look no further than your local home improvement store. No, you don’t have to be a genuine DIYer to get this right; it’s fairly simple. You’ll find loads of painting tutorials on YouTube, and you’ll only have to spring for the actual paint plus a few supplies. Best of all, when you’re in charge, you can get as creative as possible. Using painter’s tape and your imagination, you can paint funky designs on your walls, like diamond contrasts, vertical and horizontal stripes, or, if you’re feeling really artsy, go for a fullblown mural! These hacks will make your home beautiful this spring for just a bit of money! BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 65

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LI F EST Y L E

BY: KATHY HALLREN | JOE’S WINES & SPIRITS

Grenache, An Underrated Grape I

n France, the grape is called Grenache. In Spain, it’s called Grenacha, and no matter where you are, it’s considered one tough cookie, which explains why it’s one of the most planted varieties in the business. Possibly originating in Sardinia, where it’s known as Cannonau, the grape generally produces a wine higher in alcohol and light in color with fruit and cinnamon notes. The tough vine stands up to heat, wind and drought and has been planted extensively in California’s central valley. In Southern France, particularly in the Rhone Valley, it is used to produce the world-renowned Chateau Neufde-Pape. It is also a star in the Rosé produced in Cotes de Provence and Tavel regions of France. After the phylloxera epidemic devastated the Spanish wine industry, this grape became the number one variety, until it was overtaken by Tempranillo. Grenacha is grown in all regions of Spain. The bush vines in the prestigious Priorat area are classified as old vine growth, producing premium wine. Spanish wines are a great place to find gems at low cost. Tres Picos, with 91 points from Robert Parker, retails under $20. Although Rioja is the most well-known appellation in Spain, look for

Calatayud or Campo de Borja appellation on the label for great Grenacha at an economical price. In more recent years, Grenache has gained popularity as a blend known as GSM. Particularly good examples have been produced in Australia’s Barossa Valley. Fun and tasty Granacha options for the summer include Galerna, Las Rocas, Anciano and Gerberas. Happy Summer, Kathy

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H EA LT H

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Look Under the Hood Norman Doctor Says Men Should Make Health Check-Ups Priority

Dr. Patrick Livingston, family medicine physician with Norman Regional Health System

une is National Men’s Health Month, and, for more than two decades, this initiative has worked to increase awareness for preventive health problems and early detection. At the heart of the program, health care providers encourage men to make regular check-ups a priority. “Overall statistics show that men don’t go to see their doctor as often as they should,” said Dr. Patrick Livingston, a family medicine physician with Norman Regional Health System. “Waiting until something is wrong, especially with concerning symptoms, is not a good idea. “If you experience a departure from your normal baseline, if you generally don’t feel well or experience a change in energy, libido, mental health, those can be signs of underlying health concerns. Even if you can’t put your finger on it, that is a good time to go in and talk to your doctor.” With heart disease and cancer as the top killers for men, regular screenings are an important cornerstone for good boydstreet.com

health, Livingston said, comparting it to the importance of routine car maintenance.

“I have used the car analogy for many years, and it seems to get through. It’s been a very effective analogy for many reasons,” Livingston said. “You change your oil and check that everything is in working order, right?” It’s important to ‘look under the hood’ every now and then when it comes to your health, too. “It’s not as daunting as it sounds,” he said. For men in their 20s and 30s, he recommends “knowing your numbers,” to get a baseline for the years to come, listing blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels as key health indicators. There are no hard and fast rules concerning how often you should see your primary care doctor. Instead, Livingston encourages the focus to be on the relationship between doctor and patient. “If you have a semi-regular appointment with your doctor, you are going to get a pretty good health plan whatever your age,” he said. “You want to find a

doctor you are comfortable opening up to and one that will listen to you.” Livingston also recommends regular self-exams for men in their 20s and 30s because that’s the common time for testicular cancer to occur. “Just like women should do monthly self-exams, men should too,” he said. Typically, once men reach their 50s, annual check-ups are encouraged. Screening for prostate and colon cancer usually begins at that time as well. You and your physician can discuss your concerns and family history to determine a health plan that works for you. Livingston is an advocate of health and lung scans as well, saying the painless test is quick and costs about as much as an oil change. “A heart and lung scan can take care of something that might become a huge issue down the road,” he said. “It’s important and can give some piece of mind.” To schedule a heart and lung scan, call 307-2290. A doctor’s referral is not required. If you’re looking for a primary care physician, call 515-5000 and Norman Regional will match you with a doctor in your area. – BSM BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 73

B U S I N E SS

BY: KAYLEE CAMPBELL COM M UNI T Y

Signature Pool & Patio Signature Custom Pool Adds New Retail Location

When people build custom pools, it really is all about personal taste and the atmosphere that’s created, said Robin Allen. She and Don Allen, her pool-builder husband, are the owners of Signature Custom Pools in Norman. According to Robin Allen, the beauty of building a custom pool is in the details. Everything can be tailored to work in the homeowner’s space and for their needs, whether they’re looking to create a clean, modern space for entertaining or a tropical hideaway, the possibilities are virtually endless. Water features are popular right now, Allen said, especially waterfalls created by allowing an attached hot tub to spill over into the pool and free74 | June 2019

standing waterfalls complete with hidden water slides and jumping rocks. Beach entries, tanning ledges, natural stone coping around the pool, and art deco tiles are also gaining in popularity. But Allen says she’s particularly fond of the new fire and ice look that’s being created by placing fire bowls on ledges around pools. Signature Custom Pools can do it all. “If Don has a picture, he can build it,” Allen said. Customers don’t have to draw the picture themselves. In fact, all they need is an idea of what they want and the ability to describe those ideas to the pool design team. The process starts with the customer’s imagination and a simple internet search couldn’t hurt in the way of inspiration. There is a myriad of options available with the building team and a computer-generated drawing of the new pool and patio.

The amount of time from designing and planning to completion of the build varies, Allen said. The cost varies too, all depending on the features you choose to include. When it comes to taking care of pool and patio areas, Signature offers all the needed supplies from its new storefront at 2431 W Main St. To make the store a reality, Don and Robin Allen teamed up with homebuilder, long-time collaborator and friend Curtis McCarty. The partners have thought about opening a retail store for many years, Allen said, but the new storefront is their first retail and service venture. In addition to offering pool chemicals and tools, the store also offers patio options, hot tubs and pool maintenance and repair services, she said. “It’s just the right time,” Allen continued. “It’s gonna be fun for us. We’re gonna have a good time with it.” – BSM

Photo by: Mark Doescher

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BY: LINDSAY CUOMO COM M UNI TY

High Mileage

Norman Native Spends Lifetime in Car Care Business

ina Waller Hill grew up in the car business. She spent her summers and hours after school, working in her family’s repair shop.

“I answered phones, filled the soda machine, things like that,” Waller Hill said. “My dad worked for Goodyear, starting when I was three years old. We moved around for a few years as he was promoted, but we returned to Norman when I was in high school.” It was here in the Norman community that her dad, Mike Waller, opened their family’s first auto service center.

“One day my dad called and asked me to come home and help grow his business,” she said. “That was in 1991 and I ended up working with my parents for 20 years.” As the corporate business manager, Waller Hill helped her parents grow to five metro locations. Alongside a focus on full-service preventive maintenance, Waller Hill said she enjoys building relationships with her customers. “I want to make the experience of taking care of your car a more positive one,” she said. “I enjoy helping my customers understand their car and how to care for it.” The Norman native feels strong ties to 78 | June 2019

the community, which is why in 2006 she personally purchased the family’s two Norman locations.

make an informed decision about the condition of your vehicle.”

For the past 13 years, she had been the owner and operator of Brookhaven Tire & Auto, 3701 W Robinson St. Over those years, she says she’s seen many changes in the industry, and ensuring quality is important when serving customer needs.

“We used to change the oil every 3,000 miles, and that worked well for tire rotation schedules and other maintenance concerns. But oils are being made to last longer,” Waller said. “If you take care of the simple things, your car can last a long time.”

“My kids go to school here, and we love the community. We love the schools and the organizations we are involved in,” she said.

“A car is, for most people, their second-largest investment,” she said. “But it’s also about your safety.”

She suggests owners look beyond price points and instead focus on ‘cost-per-mile.’ “For example, if I sell you a Goodyear tire, I know it’s going to last 65,000 miles, but other brands aren’t as reliable,” she said. “For a few dollars more, you might be better protected.” She helps her customers wade through the myriad of options. “Because the best maintenance plan varies so much by each driver, we help our customers prioritize their needs. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know and why, so you can

Waller Hill knows car repairs are not most people’s first choice for how they want to spend their money, so she lays out a few basics to help increase a car’s potential for longevity.

“Keep your fluids and filters clean. Everyone knows to change their oil, but you also need to check your brake, transmission and power steering fluids,” she added. “And buy good quality gas to protect your engine and fuel injectors.”

Brookhaven Tire & Auto is holding a car care clinic this summer, to connect with their customers. “We will talk about the basics and help people know how to best care for their car, how to save money and keep your car running longer.” For more information about the clinic or the services at Brookhaven, visit www.brookhaventireandauto.com or call 364-9333. – BSM

FO O D

BY: AUSTIN CHANDLER

Blizzard Warning

Dairy Queen Forecasts Blizzard of New Ice Cream Treats, Just in Time for Summer

ummer is a season full of memories and images. From sun-kissed beaches to the thrill of jumping into swimming pools for the first time of the year. The heat, the longer days and free time allow for more activities. Along with those activities comes food, and what summer would be complete without ice cream? One of the more famous ice cream treats is the Dairy Queen Blizzard, known for a silky texture, frozen and blended so it can be held upside-down without falling out of the cup. Filled with other morsels, the Blizzard is ice cream at its most powerful, like a sundae without all the fuss and muss. This summer, like all summers, Dairy Queen is unveiling new flavors and combinations. While the first Dairy Queen opened its doors in 1940, it wasn’t until 1985 that it sold its first Blizzard. Since then, it’s been a blizzard of evolution for the innovative frozen treat. Many classic flavors are staples, like the chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie varieties. But each year, Dairy Queen brings to life new creations of icy goodness. In the summer of 2019, Dairy Queen is rolling out six new varieties of Bliz-

80 | June 2019

zards. That’s almost one for every day of the week. First, there’s the Oreo Cookie Jar flavor. You’ve heard of cookies and cream before, but Dairy Queen’s blizzard creators looked at that and shook their heads. They knew they could create something even better. The Oreo Cookie Jar Blizzard contains not just chunks of real Oreo cookies, but also pieces of chocolate chip cookies, as well as fudge, all swirled together with classic Dairy Queen vanilla ice cream. There’s also the Summer Berry Cheesecake flavor, which is blended with pieces of raspberry, blackberry and blueberry cheesecakes, as well as the Cotton Candy flavor, with sprinkles of cotton candy goodness. Dairy Queen is also unveiling the Caramel Cannonball, with three varieties of caramel treats blended inside for the lovers of the syrupy flavor. For any fans of the Brownie Blizzard, Dairy Queen has taken it to the next level with the Brownie Dough Blizzard Treat, basically the same thing, only this time blended with chunks of actual brownie dough. Last but not least, Dairy Queen has taken a popular summer dessert and

put it into a Blizzard with the S’Mores Delight Blizzard Treat, which contains chocolate bits filled with marshmallow and pieces of real graham cracker. For true Dairy Queen fans, there are three extremely limited editions being released this summer. First is the Zero Gravity Blizzard, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, only available for one week from June 24 to 30. There’s also the Sour Patch Blizzard and Snickers Blizzards, available in June and July, respectively. If you’ve had too many Blizzards lately, but you still want dessert on a budget, the Norman location is running two for $4 treat nights after 8 p.m. every day of the week. There are also Dairy Queen’s new CupFections, in both Brownie Oreo and Summer Berry varieties this year. But what if you’re in the mood for something savory instead? Dairy Queen has you covered there, too. All summer long, the restaurant will offer two for $4 single cheeseburgers and two for $5 double cheeseburgers. Not to mention the new chicken and waffles basket, in which you can add a Belgian waffle to any chicken tender order. – BSM

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FO O D

BY: KAYLEE CAMPBELL

A Dream Come True Businessman Transitions from Pizza to Pasta in Oliveto’s Restaurant Venture

“I’d always worked in the restaurant business, and I’d always wanted to open a restaurant in the town where I live,” Sikes said. Rather than start from scratch with a new concept, Sikes decided to pursue a franchise opportunity. While researching his options, Sikes said he repeatedly was drawn back to Oliveto’s Italian Bistro, which originated in Tulsa. He and his business partner began the journey to opening their own Oliveto’s Italian Bistro at 1301 S Interstate 35 Service Road, in Moore’s prime dining and entertainment district near the Warren Theater. Construction of the restaurant was nearing its completion in 2013, and the team was preparing for opening day when the May 20, 2013 tornado ripped through the area, damaging everything in its path, including Oliveto’s. 84 | June 2019

Like so many of the businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the Oliveto’s team refused to let the devastation stop them. Just one month later, Oliveto’s opened its doors and served its first patrons.

etary restrictions by serving a highly customizable menu, featuring several gluten free options. The knowledgeable staff can also help diners adjust their orders to fit vegetarian and vegan dietary restrictions.

Now, after six years in business, Sikes’ intuition, drive and hard work seem to be paying off.

The next step in the development of the restaurant’s customizable menu is to make it adaptable for diners following Keto restrictions, Lynch said.

“Business is good,” Sikes said before pausing to check-in with a diner about their experience. Oliveto’s menu is full of modern, artisan-inspired cuisine, including pastas, paninis, woodstone baked entrees and pizzas, as well as an extensive wine list, house-made peach bellinis and specialty cocktails. But it’s the rigatoni rustica, citrus cedar plank salmon, roasted rosemary chicken and jalapeno risotto that steal the show, said Emily Lynch, who began her career with Oliveto’s in Moore as a hostess at the age of 16. She has worked her way up to restaurant manager over the last six years. Oliveto’s also caters to diners with di-

Oliveto is a casual dining establishment, but the team can provide a variety of dining experiences. “I think that’s something that makes this restaurant unique,” Lynch said. “The atmosphere is pretty laid back, but extremely welcoming and warm. And if you want to go to a movie, we can get you in and out in 30 minutes. Or if you want to enjoy a long meal with a few courses and bottles of wine, we can cater to that, too. It’s the best of both worlds for people.” For more information about Oliveto’s menu and catering options, visit www.olivetobistro.com.– BSM

Photo by: Mark Doescher

fter 32 years in the pizza business, longtime Moore resident Mike Sikes went after his dream to own and operate a restaurant of his own.

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Boyd Street Magazine June 2019

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Boyd Street Magazine June 2019