South Metro Standard June 2024

Alice Young feels called to help people, just like her parents before her. As a professional, Young does this as the owner and CEO of Brown O’Haver, a public insurance adjusting company located in Moore.

Young’s parents, David and Rae, started Brown O’Haver in Arizona in 1988. The Youngs had a heart for helping people who had lost their houses, which in part prompted them to start the family business. Young said her parents are pioneers in public adjusting, and she continued to work closely with her dad until his passing last year.

After meeting her now-husband at a leadership development program and moving to Oklahoma, Young opened a location in Moore in 2006. In addition to supporting Arizona and Oklahoma, Brown O’Haver also serves Utah, Maryland, New Mexico and Nevada. The company is named after the last names of Young’s maternal grandparents, Brown on her dad’s side and O’Haver on her mom’s.

“My dad always wanted to be about more than us, so he wanted the name to be a legacy of the family,” Young said.

The Brown O’Haver staff includes public insurance adjusters who work for the insured to make sure they get a fair settlement. They are licensed by the state of Oklahoma, which recognizes that just as insurance companies have adjusters who work on their behalf, the insured have the right to hire someone to be their advocate as well, Young explained.

Essentially, public insurance adjusters are there to assist the insured when they need help. People may hire the team at Brown O’Haver because they want someone to take care of the claim for them or to help prove to the insurance company what was lost and increase recoveries.

“What we do is we measure, prepare, document and present their loss to the insurance company in order for the client to be able to tell the insurance company what their loss is,” Young said.

The youngest of five children, Young grew close with her parents when she was the only sibling still living at home. After finishing college, Young entered the corporate world but realized she was not happy in that area, something her dad predicted.

“My dad and I were very close, and he always told me, ‘Alice, you’re never going to be happy

BY: CHELSEY KOPPARI

unless you own your own business and you’re helping people’ because he knew me really well,” Young shared. “It became the joy of my life because I love knowing that I’m able to help people who need it the most.”

Brown O’Haver has remained a family business as Young’s husband, John Whitson, and stepson, Jeffrey Whitson, are on the staff of nine people. John is the CFO and the voice of Brown O’Haver on the radio, while Jeffrey is a public adjuster.

Young is an active member of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, an organization she grew up around because of her parents’ involvement and is currently fourth vice president. In four years, she will serve as president of the organization.

Along with helping the community as public insurance adjusters, the staff at Brown O’Haver are also passionate about supporting Moore and the surrounding area in other ways. This increased focus began following the 2013 tornado. Young said the business was right in the center of Moore and she remembers looking around at the devastation not knowing how she was going to be able to help everyone. Young recalls changing her mindset and saying, “Lord, please let people who need me find me, and I promise I’ll take care of them, and I’ll give back to you.”

Since then, Brown O’Haver has created a program where they do four community events a year. Each quarter, Young assigns an employee to decide what the staff is going to do. This has included volunteering at the Regional Food Bank, Second Chance Animal Shelter, Among Friends and a local nursing home. Additionally, the staff always volunteers as a water stop for the Moore War Run and purchases Christmas gifts for foster children through different Angel tree programs.

Brown O’Haver also has a goal of giving a certain percentage of revenue to local organizations and supports a variety of causes, whether it be sponsoring items like banners for local groups or making donations to organizations like La Monde International School and Food and Shelter.

Brown O’Haver is located at 1901 N. Moore Ave Ste 12 and can be contacted via phone at 405735-5510. For more information about the company, visit brown-ohaver.com or follow them on Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.– SMS

A Tribute to Glenn Lewis, Longtime Mayor of Moore COMMUNITY SERVANT

The City of Moore lost their beloved mayor in Glenn Lewis who served the community for 30 years.

Glenn’s journey to becoming the mayor of Moore back in 1994 was not for the weak. Moore was dealing with a plethora of issues.

“There was a lot of political struggles going on,” said former city manager Steve Eddy. “I started to work for the City of Moore in 1989 and there was a lot of political turmoil for most of the 80s to mid-90s.”

Moore’s director of emergency management, Gayland Kitch, began working for the city in 1991 and had first-hand experience of those challenging times.

“Before Glenn was mayor, there was quite a bit of shady business going on,” said Kitch. “We had people who would sneak a nip at council meetings and constant arguments over purchases made.”

Glenn had already carved out a successful career as the owner of Lewis Jewelers with his co-owner and brother Tim Lewis. The two brothers were in their Norman location when Glenn stunned Tim by telling him that he wanted to change Moore’s reputation.

“He walks past me, takes his apron off and tells me I’ll be back in about half an hour, I’m going to the courthouse,” said Tim. “Glenn told me the filing period is almost over and I asked, ‘The filing period for what?’”

Glenn told Tim he was going to put his name in the hat for mayor.

“I asked him, ‘Why in the world would you want to be the mayor of Moore?’” said Tim. “He stops at the door, looks at me and said, ‘I’m tired of hanging my head in shame when people ask me where I live and I’m uniquely qualified to do something about it.’”

Glenn started his academic career at the University of Oklahoma, but ended up graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma where he earned a degree in political science with a focus in municipal management. His education coupled with the knowledge of how to open and successfully run a business made Glenn a good fit for Moore.

TRANSFORMATIVE VISION

Glenn knew Moore was in desperate need of economic growth. But before he could convince businesses to come to Moore, he had to clean house and surround himself with others who wanted Moore to thrive.

“Over time, Glenn recruited solid businesspersons with a similar community vision to run for council,” Kitch said. “Together they hired a city manager who shared and enacted their vision.”

Once Glenn had a group of individuals around him who he trusted, it was time to provide citizens with places of business where they could spend their money. The first big business to come to Moore was a Walmart Supercenter. Initially, Walmart had eyes on another location, but Glenn had other ideas.

“He (Glenn) went over to Arkansas and literally stole the Supercenter from Norman,” said Tim.

Walmart opened its doors in 1995 and Moore quickly doubled their sales tax revenue, making way for Glenn’s dreams to become reality.

Opening new businesses can be a difficult task in some cities due to permits and other obstacles, but Glenn created an environment where business owners felt welcome.

“Moore needed stability when he came in more than anything,” said Ebrey. “Don’t expect another mayor to serve for 30 years, but hopefully they will appreciate the stability Glenn brought.”

“Glenn was able to recruit businesses to Moore because it was a totally different business-friendly attitude,” said Tim. “It’s not rocket science, a businessman wants a return on his dollar, the last thing he wants is to have to jump through fiery hoops to get the business open.”

Keeping a business-friendly mindset continued with John Ireland and his funeral home.

“Glenn, on his own time, had already found out what buildings were zoned that could be used for funeral homes before I even got to Moore,” said Ireland. “The corner of the property was busted up pretty bad and I’m required to have handicapped parking. The city manager at the time told me they didn’t have any money to fix it, but Glenn made a deal with the county commissioner George Skinner and a week later someone came in asking what kind flowers I wanted and a new curb.”

This very same attitude is what made Moore the home for the Warren Theatre.

“Glenn had been writing to every major movie company to come look at Moore to build a movie theater,” said Tim. “Bill Warren went to Edmond and Norman to see how long it would take to get a building permit and left discouraged. Bill got on I-35 to head back to Wichita, Kansas and came across Moore and decided to try his luck here before going back home. Glenn told Bill it would take about 30 minutes. Bill was just scouting at the time and didn’t have a location for the theater, so Glenn told him to hop in his truck and he’ll show him the perfect spot.”

As a Moore Native, Glenn also focused on other areas that would improve the citizen’s quality of life such as new roads, parks, fire station, police station and sewage treatment plant.

NAVIGATING DISASTERS

Glenn became a pro in navigating disasters. He was put to the test just five years after becoming the mayor of Moore. On May 3, 1999, a devastating tornado ripped through Moore causing Glenn and his council to jump into action.

“After the ‘99 storm, Glenn took it upon himself to put the community back together and make it whole as much as possible and as quickly as we could,” said Eddy. “Getting the community cleaned up was a her-

culean task and I think that’s where his mettle was tested as far as being mayor was concerned.”

When tragedy strikes a community, it can halt economic growth, but the opposite happened to Moore.

“I truly believe the storm in ‘99 was the beginning of the renaissance of Moore,” said Eddy. “I believe the citizens had faith in our government to help them through it and our population exploded after it.”

Moore went through other severe tornadoes, including another EF5 in 2013. Again, behind Glenn’s guidance, Moore was able to act swiftly and make changes which would positively impact the citizens.

“After the 2013 storm, the council under Glenn’s leadership, passed a more stringent building code for home building,” said Deidre Ebrey, director of public affairs and economic growth.

Moore was the first city in the nation to take on building codes that focused on tornadoes and the damage they cause.

MOVING FORWARD WITH GLENN’S BLUEPRINT

For three decades, Glenn worked to make a positive impact on the city.

“Moore needed stability when he came in more than anything,” said Ebrey. “Don’t expect another mayor to serve for 30 years, but hopefully they will appreciate the stability Glenn brought.”

“Glenn never wanted the city council to be partisan politics,” said Tim. “When President Obama came to town… Glenn told him we’re able to get more done that way and Obama told Glenn that he should take it back to Washington.”

Mark Hamm is now the mayor of Moore after serving 11 years on the city council. While there may be a new face leading Moore, Glenn created a strong blueprint for continued success.

“Glenn would be the first person to tell you that he didn’t get everything done on his own,” said Mayor Hamm. “We need to have good people around us to do the job they’re supposed to do, I’m just happy to have gotten a front seat to see how to run a city the right way.”

Glenn Lewis died on April 28, 2024. His family moved to Moore in 1960. He attended Moore Public Schools and graduated from Moore High School in 1973. – SMS

TRAINING

TOMORROW’S IT PROFESSIONALS

Moore Public Schools Provides New Career-Ready Opportunities

Planning for the future is part of every high school’s path forward for students but one partnership at Moore Public Schools is contributing to the future in unique ways. A handson learning program with real-world application, the Career & Technology Department-based opportunity gives students a pathway to Dell Certification. Known as the MPS Tech Crew, students work through the Career Tech program along with their regular high school coursework.

“Our goal is to lay down a foundation for students to define and get to success. That is ultimately our hope with MPS Tech Crew,” said MPS Director of Technology Jun Kim. “We have students gaining skill sets to be career-ready right out of high school, as well as the broader impact in working alongside Dell for a more sustainable future.”

Jimmy Martin, MPS assistant superintendent, is tasked with managing Career Tech but he credits Jun Kim with the vision for the program’s inception. Kim explained that the program started with a dual purpose: to assist the district in repairing devices faster and engaging the students in a ready-career path. While there is typically a technology department to meet student and faculty needs within a school district, students are rarely given the chance to participate in those services,

learn through coursework and apply their skills in service to the school community.

“Dell happened to already be a partner with our devices and they had already created a student program in 2019. Mr. Martin was able to align the Career Tech coursework with that program and it eventually got to the point of having interns,” explained Kim.

Dell’s vested interest in student success is underscored by resources dedicated to training the next generation.

“We are proud to help equip students with the skills necessary to contribute to their community in a meaningful way,” said Kim Boutwell, student TechCrew program manager, Dell Technologies. “We’re committed to connecting everyone to skills and resources for our digital world. Our Student TechCrew program is one of the ways that we are helping support hands-on learning and future career skills.”

Martin agreed about the program’s versatility.

“The computer repair course that we partner with Dell is a comprehensive Career Tech course,” he said. “Many of our comprehensive Career Tech courses provide certification opportunities, but the Computer Repair pathway has set the standard.”

Students can take a fundamentals class during freshman year before enrolling in Repair I as sophomores, which takes them through Dell’s repair curriculum and leads to Dell Tech Direct Certification. During Repair II in junior year, students work under district technicians solving real-world problems as they arise at local schools. Students can then interview for an internship to be completed in their senior year, with paid onthe-job training up to 10 hours per week accompanying professional technicians.

“If they go to work for any company with Dell products, they are already certified to work on Dell equipment. Westmoore has certified close to 100 students and Moore High School has come close, with approximately 200 students total that have become Dell-certified technicians through the program since 2021,” said Kim. “One student even left mid-semester to go to work for an IT firm and did a career path podcast with Dell.”

Six exemplary students participated in the internship program for the 2023/2024 school year, with five spots open and candidate selection underway for five spots next year. The paid spots are made possible from the insurance and repair funds parents pay into the system as part of their students’ district technology use each year.

“The goal of our Career Tech programs at the high school is to provide industry-standard experiences. So, we work to ensure the students work with industry-standard equipment and have real-life work scenarios,” said Martin. “The Computer Repair pathway does an excellent job of providing those experiences.”

Kim estimated Repair II students have touched more than 1,000 devices this school year alone at the three high schools. Interns have worked with between 600 and 1,000 devices from high schools and junior high; they were also an essential part of the deployment process when more than 2,000 new desktop computers and monitors needed to be set up throughout the district.

Both administrators were quick to give credit to classroom instructors Renee Griffith of Westmoore, Daryll Wilkins at Moore High School and Erica Howeth of Southmoore High School for their outstanding leadership of the next generation of IT professionals.

“Those teachers are making it happen and fully engaging our kids to challenge what success as they define it actually is,” said Kim. “Our classroom teachers are fundamental to the success of our kids, creating connections that can last a lifetime.”

Program participants also piloted Dell’s new Circular Economy Program, which focused on the

disassembly of devices as part of sustainability and the reduction of e-waste.

“As an organization, we are rethinking, redesigning, reusing and recycling our way to a better future - this includes our collaboration with Moore Public Schools. Since these students were already skilled at working with PC components, diagnosing issues and repairing devices, Dell hosted a pilot with the students to explore the disassembly process of devices,” said Boutwell. “The objective was to measure the time, expertise and expense around dismantling devices into parts for potential repair, reuse or recycling, while teaching students more about the circular economy.

“The student technicians were phenomenal and shared great insights and feedback from the experience - we could not have asked for better partners. We are currently taking our learnings and exploring ways that we can integrate those into future initiatives.”

MPS students were the first high school group ever invited to speak at Dell Technologies World, an industry conference for IT professionals that took place in Las Vegas this past May.

The support of the community also contributes to the program’s success, Kim pointed out.

“In addition to Dell, the community in Moore is awesome to support programs like this one,” said Kim. “The MacMan and local businesses like them, that have taken a vested interest to hire our students, make that training come full circle. It takes a community.”

Find out more about Career Tech programs at mooreschools.com and hear Dell’s student podcast at studenttechcrew.com/podcasts/. – SMS

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PASSION, PERSISTENCE AND PROGRESS

You’re competitive, but it seems like the most important thing to you is making kids better baseball players. Why is that? Where does that come from?

Johnson: It comes from being a teacher. What makes me mad about baseball is how it treats players at times. They lose their confidence. If you take away the result and just talk about playing the game, that’s what really matters. Play the game the right way. I want guys to show how much passion they have. When I walk into a baseball game to watch a kid and you see him playing with passion, I know right away that’s a guy I want. That’s the ultimate respect for the game. I think that’s what is awesome about watching our softball team. When they’ve got it rolling, they play with so much passion. I want everybody to say, “man, I love watching your team play.”

What is the importance of the stadium renovations, especially in the SEC?

Johnson: I don’t know if we’ve got to get it done now, but over a period of time you’ve got to get it done to win in that league. There is no doubt about that. It is the upmost important thing with the kids we’re recruiting today. We’re bringing in the same guys that see LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M. We lose that guy when they go there and then come to our place because of our facilities. I think our culture is more important than our facilities, but to answer your question long term, if we don’t do something about our facilities, it’s never going to work.

BY: TOBY ROWLAND, VOICE

Skip Johnson’s Vision for Oklahoma Baseball in the SEC Era

Let’s be honest, the hiring of Skip Johnson at the University of Oklahoma was not your average hire. He was a Texas Longhorn for Pete’s sake. But that’s exactly what the Sooners did in 2016 when the longtime burnt orange pitching coach took the same job with the Crimson and Cream.

One year later, Johnson replaced Pete Hughes as Oklahoma’s head baseball coach. And for the past seven years, the man who loves a good deer hunt has been hunting for ways to take Sooner baseball back to the very top. With his unmistak-

able good ole’ boy charm and fiercely competitive spirit, he has racked up Big 12 titles, postseason appearances and a trip to Omaha.

I’ve been fortunate to have a front row seat for the Skip Johnson Era at the University of Oklahoma. With the new world of the SEC quickly approaching and the rapidly changing world of collegiate athletics causing seismic shifts in all sports, I recently sat down with the 2024 Big XII Coach of the Year to ask him about the present and the future of Oklahoma baseball.– SMS

Have you embraced the transfer portal?

Johnson: Oh yeah. I mean, if a kid walks in tomorrow and says he wants to leave, good riddance. He would’ve never had the right attitude in the first place. It’s a tough business. College baseball is a bad business plan in itself. You have 11.7 scholarships divided between 32 players. It’s not healthy. Somebody’s always going to be mad at you.

Are you excited about the SEC?

Johnson: Absolutely! How about pulling up to the parking lot in the Lloyd Noble and seeing nothing but RV’s and campers? That’s the way baseball is in the SEC. It’s a football environment in a baseball stadium. There’s going to be teams that come into our stadium and take over our stadium because that many people travel with them. It’s going to be so cool.

What do you believe is the formula for success in this new era of college baseball?

Johnson: I don’t know if I’ve figured it out yet or not. It’s more about getting the right guy and the right fit as far as the metrics and their attitude. My assistants are more about the metrics. I’m more about their attitude - that plays the most important role. I think that’s why our team was good this year. It was really fun to watch.

Orangetheory

July 1, 2024 will be a historic day for the University of Oklahoma and the City of Norman. On that mid-summer Monday, OU will officially become a member of the Southeastern Conference.

In joining the SEC, the University will be increasing not only the amount of money it will make but also the amount of championship-caliber competition it will face. The SEC has won six National Championships in football alone in the last decade and, as a conference, has averaged almost seven National Championships per season in all sports combined since 1990.

While Sooner coaches and student-athletes have feverishly improved all aspects of their rosters and program, the administration at the University of Oklahoma and Norman city officials have been working diligently behind the scenes to ensure that the move is seamless and productive.

The move is more than just an opportunity for the Sooners to make more money as an athletic department and a university, it also provides economic growth opportunities for the city.

THE MOVE

On July 30, 2021, Oklahoma and Texas officially announced they were leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC. The Sooners have been a member of the Big 12 and its predecessor The Big 8 since 1920. But with the future of college athletics at a financial crossroads, the University decided there was one path to survival.

“After thorough consideration and study, it became obvious that standing pat would be falling behind,” Sooner Vice President of Athletics Joe Castiglione said when the decision became public. “It would mean putting our program in a precarious position, both competitively and financially. It would leave us to play catch-up with our competition.”

The SEC reportedly made $853 million in revenue in 2023, which results in a $51.3 million average distribution among the current 14 member schools. That’s nearly double what the Big 12 made in 2022 at $481 million. The SEC payouts are expected to continue to increase with the additions of OU and Texas. Estimates are closer to $1.1 billion as ESPN/ABC take over Saturdays in the SEC.

“We started our transition immediately. Our transition team started looking at every level from our facilities to team travel to budgeting,” said Greg Tipton, the associate athletic director responsible for internal operations, facilities and events. “I think we’re well prepared as a department and with our sports to make this transition to the SEC.”

In other words, Oklahoma is not just joining the SEC for a payday. It is about improving across the board for Sooner Athletics and its fans.

“We’re looking at everything from our fan amenities and fan experience, moving some things around within the stadium where our visiting team goes, where the visiting team band sits, everything,” Tipton added. “Because the SEC obviously travels in a big way and with all the opposing teams’ fans, we’ve really taken a deep dive. Our entire transition team has worked tirelessly to make sure that this is a positive and ensure we’re good to go.”

THE CITY

The planning process for the move to the SEC was intense, yet collaborative.

“You have one opportunity to make a good first impression and (the transition) provided a unique position to collaborate and partner with the University to do some awesome things for Norman and the entire state,” said Scott Martin, president and CEO of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. “We’re going to have visitors from all over the country that are going to

BY: CHRIS PLANK

MEANING MORE

Southeastern Conference

Photo by: Mark Doescher

get a first look at Oklahoma and Norman in particular. We’re excited about what is getting ready to happen.”

City leaders like Lawrence McKinney, the president of the Norman Economic Development Coalition, expressed just how big of a moment this was for the city.

“Not to take anything away from the Big 12, but the SEC is just bigger,” McKinney said. “We’ve been having more discussions with people who want to open a business here - just the announcement that OU is joining the conference was enough to spark interest.

“There is so much opportunity now.”

Visit Norman Executive Director Dan Schemm said revenue opportunities will be significant by providing a chance to maximize something he called OPM.

“Our mission is to attract visitors to Norman and that reason is OPM - other people’s money,” Schemm explained. “We want to collect as much of those visitor dollars as we can to get them to help contribute those taxes to the general fund. It improves our quality of life and supports our restaurants and attractions. Thrilled as a fan, but excited on the professional side, too.”

To see exactly where Norman measured up with its fellow SEC communities, on the advice of Joe Castiglione, they started visiting SEC schools and cities.

“The feeling is, we’re good at what we do here in Norman and the University, but this is a whole new level and that’s one of the reasons they are making this move,” Martin said. “We went to three different communities. We observed the gameday activities and what it meant to the community, identifying where we are excelling and where we are deficient, what are some of the low-hanging fruit things we could fix right away.”

The “low hanging fruit” included what Martin described as “easy wins” like beautification such as new banners along Lindsay and Main Street. Other potential fixes and changes might take a little longer to implement such as the need for more hotel rooms and more areas for recreation vehicles.

“We have about 3,000 hotel rooms, give or take, and we know that there will be more visitors and fans than that, so we know OKC and Moore will benefit from compression in the market too. The whole region benefits,” Schemm said. “But in our visits, what we noticed all of these places had was luxury RV parks. RV is a much bigger piece of that tailgating component and of the visitor experience. So, we immediately looked at how we could enhance that experience.”

By next summer, Norman will feature central Oklahoma’s first destination RV resort. The resort will also feature an aerial adventure park and provide shuttles to and from the stadium on game day. One new business is already coming to Oklahoma as a direct result of the move to the SEC.

THE NOW

While city leaders have been diligent in their planning and brainstorming, Tipton and his team have been preparing for the biggest moment, potentially in school history, by leaving no stone unturned.

“We work directly with our Jordan and Nike providers on making sure you’ve got the patches on uniforms. We’ve been working with our internal unit on our branding for our facilities because you’ve got to change out logos on basketball courts, volleyball performance courts,” Tipton said. “You’ve got to order stencils for fields. We had a very, very poignant conversation early on about our approach because the SEC is special.

“We’ve done a complete redesign of the basketball court, that’s going to look sharp. We want to make sure we have the SEC logo prevalent in our branding, and we are mapping it out right because we’re still members of the Big 12 Conference, but we’ve got to be ready come July 1.”

So, what do you do and how do you start when everything changes? Oklahoma is not only embracing the challenge of the SEC but also embracing the branding. To help make the transition even smoother, sometimes you have to turn for a little help from your rivals.

“We consulted a lot with our friends in Austin on plans and approach and consulted with some institutions that came in back in 2010 - Missouri and Texas A&M,” Tipton said. “Everybody was incredibly helpful. The SEC has been phenomenal.”

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT

Some say that the move will be very good for Sooners’ pocketbooks, and they would be correct. Others say that the move will lead to more visibility for Norman and that neighbors like Oklahoma City, Moore, Newcastle and Noble are waiting for new economic opportunities. One thing is for certain, Norman is poised to do what it can to show the town is SEC-ready.

The current average economic impact for Norman during an OU football weekend is $11 million. The current average economic impact for Tuscaloosa during an Alabama football weekend is more than $30 million. In Tennessee’s economic impact and community benefits report from 2017, an average football game weekend reflected an average of $42 million, almost four times the average economic impact Norman sees on a given weekend.

“We like to be conservative in our numbers, but we see the $11 million increasing dramatically,” Schemm said “I was sitting in a meeting in Oklahoma City, we had a vendor talking about where he saw spikes in hotel occupancy in a week during September of 2016. They saw this tremendous regional spike for

one weekend, and I didn’t even have to say anything, everyone knew it was the Ohio State weekend. When you have a game as big as that, people come to town, they stay longer, they pay more, and they spend more on dining and eating out. It hits Norman, it hits the entire region.

“We loved our time in the Big 12 but these games are just going to be bigger and we’re going to see that economic impact felt in Norman with all of our retailers.”

The number of visitors will increase by the simple math of more supply. The minimum ticket allotment for the conference is much greater than it is for the Big 12. The SEC requires at least 5,000 visiting tickets, including 2,000 in the lower level of its stadiums.

The Big 12 requires each home school to provide a minimum of 2,500 tickets for visiting Big 12 teams. For years, OU relied on nonconference and some conference schools to give back tickets for the school to resell, which the SEC does not allow.

Schemm has been working hard with his team to come up with ways to create more opportunities to benefit Norman financially.

“Campus Corner is awesome on game day, but how can we capture more of those visitor dollars,” Schemm said. “Right now, we don’t have a Friday night activity that is historically what you had to be at, and you can’t miss it.

“We’re looking at creating some Friday night pep rallies or pregame events on Campus Corner. Partnering with entities like the Norman Music Alliance to bring some cool experiences there.”

On July 1, 2024, everything changes for the University of Oklahoma, but in the process of preparing for this seismic shift, one of the biggest developments has been the incredible growth in the relationship between OU and the City of Norman.

“It’s been great. They have been in this space over the last year, they’ve been traveling to Tuscaloosa, Lexington, Oxford, really taking in what it looks like from a city side,” Tipton said. “They’ve been involved in a lot of our transition conversations and everybody’s on board. It’s such an exciting time for the University, for the city of Norman, and we’re fired up.’

For Martin and his team, this is too big of an opportunity to allow any negativity to get in the way.

“What I have been so impressed with is the genuine nature of everyone involved,” Martin said. “Everyone is putting aside their own self-interest and coming around the table to say what can we do for the benefit of the greater whole. This will impact all of us in a myriad of different ways. Everyone is excited. I don’t think we fully understand or can grasp what’s getting ready to happen. We just know the outcome is going to be fantastic for both Norman and the University.” – SMS

Pioneering Migraine Research at the Oklahoma Headache Center

Christine Seapy was suffering in isolation, or so she thought.

“When it was just me and my husband, I would just put myself in a dark cave,” Seapy recalled. “But when you have kids and more professional obligations, people notice when you aren’t there.”

Seapy said she dismissed her headaches thinking that was “just how life was.”

With encouragement from her husband, she decided to make an appointment at the Oklahoma Headache Center.

“I had known Dr. Pendergraft socially for many years but really didn’t think my headaches were that bad,” she said. “I finally decided to go because I was sick of having migraines all the time.

“Once I started tracking, I realized I was having over 25 headache days a month. I like to joke that it was the first time my husband was right.”

Armed with a better understanding of her symptoms and what triggers them, Seapy said she now feels empowered.

“My biggest success is that I have my toolkit and that I am not in this alone,” she shared. “Migraines can be so debilitating; they can stop your life right in its tracks and leave you in a lonely, dark cave trying to get through it.”

Seapy is now part of a campaign to raise money to fund migraine research through the Norman Regional Health Foundation. She serves on the campaign subcommittee.

“Migraine is like an invisible disease, it varies from patient to patient,” she said. “If you don’t know someone, it’s hard to understand the struggle. I just want to help others be able to live their lives.”

According to neurologist Dr. Brett Dees, the founder and director of the Oklahoma Headache Center, migraine impacts an estimated 15% of the population and attributes to $15 billion annually in lost medical expenses and salary due to absenteeism as well as other indirect costs.

“Migraine costs quality of life, family, career goals,” Dees said. “It hits people in the prime of their life. 70% to 80% have a clear family history which predisposes them to recurring spells.”

Dr. Christi Pendergraft, another neurologist at the center, shared that by the time a patient seeks treatment the occurrence of symptoms tend to be quite severe.

“We often think of migraine as just a headache, but it is a brain disorder,” Pendergraft explained. “Patients don’t realize their symptoms such as brain fog, memory issues and photophobia are connected.”

WHAT IS A MIGRAINE?

Migraine is clinically defined as a moderate to severe headache with other symptoms made worse by physical activity. Symptoms can range from nausea, vomiting, constipation, mood changes, neck stiffness, vision loss and even difficulty speaking.

WHEN TO SEEK HELP?

If you are suffering from migraine, Dr. Dees cautions that it is important to get help sooner than later.

“Our brains have neuroplasticity, which means our brain gets good at what we practice,” he said. “That also works with bad habits. The more headaches you have, your brain gets good at them, making it more difficult to unlearn at the chronic level.”

Pendergraft recommends that if you have more than four headache days a month “you should have a formal treatment plan.”

“You don’t have to live that way,” she encouraged. “While there is no cure, there are things we can do so your headaches don’t have to control you.”

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The Oklahoma Headache Center has received a $1,000,000 donation match from a grateful patient to launch migraine research. Donations from new donors to the Norman Regional Health Foundation can be matched up to $5,000 until the $1,000,000 goal has been reached.

The donations will fund migraine research studies with the goal of expanding affordable and accessible treatment options.

“It takes about 10 years and a billion dollars to get a new medication to market,” explained Dees. “Then there can be challenges with pricing and access. “One of the things we’ve wanted to do for a long time is research. Sometimes in Oklahoma, we can fall behind the east and west coasts but why should we? My thought is let’s do the research here in Oklahoma, let’s bring it to our patients here first.”

The study will explore medications already on the market with FDA-approval that could potentially be repurposed to treat migraine.

“We have new meds that have been on the market since 2018 and they have been wonderful, but nothing works for everyone,” Dees said. “We want to find something to work for more people that isn’t cost prohibitive.”

To learn more about how to contribute to the research campaign fund, visit normanregional.com/ foundation.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA HEADACHE CENTER

The Oklahoma Headache Center is the state’s only comprehensive facility for treating headaches and facial pain. The team specializes in treating various conditions including migraines and tension-type headaches, working closely with patients to create an individualized treatment plan. To learn more about the center or to make an appointment, visit normanregional.com/headache-center.– BSM

June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. Here are some important ways you can get involved:

• Learn from personal stories. Norman Regional Health Foundation curated a photography-based art exhibition, The Faces of Migraine, on display at Norman Regional Primary Care Clinic, 119 E. Main St, on Friday, June 14.

• Spread the word. Talk with your friends and family about the signs and symptoms of migraine.

• Support research efforts. Consider making a donation to the Migraine Management Together campaign through Norman Regional Health Foundation.

Westmoore Baseball Takes Home the 2024 Class 6A Championship STATE CHAMPIONS

Before the Class 6A Championship baseball game between the Westmoore Jaguars and the Sandites of Charles Page High School in Sand Springs started, senior second-baseman Deacon Frazee told his head coach Brian Hunnicutt, “if you need a reliever late in the game, I want the ball!”

Frazee’s desire was fulfilled and when he threw his seventh pitch of relief work to the Sandites’ Jackson Turney that was lifted into center field and caught by Josiah Kemp for the third out. The Jaguars secured the 2024 Class 6A Championship in Oklahoma high school baseball.

Westmoore battled back from a 3-run deficit to win by the final score, 7-4. It is only the second time the Jags have won a state baseball title; the first was in 1994.

Westmoore began a hot streak of laser-sharp pitching backed by air-tight defense and an offense that crested at the right time of the season as the post-season playoff run started on April 30.

They soundly defeated Putnam City in their first Regional game but lost the second to Edmond

North Huskies, 13-2. The Jaguars quickly rebounded, going on a three-game winning streak, with three shutouts that included two successive wins over the Huskies, 4-0 and 3-0 – with two days’ rest between each game.

The Jags’ pitching triumvirate of seniors Bradley Ruby and Haydan O’Shea, along with sophomore, Brodie Inhofe, kept opponents’ bats silent not only through the Regionals but also in the three-day state championship tournament.

In the first game of the finals for Westmoore, the Jags wasted no time getting out early. Enid’s starter, Seth Carlson, did not register an out in the first inning as Westmoore pounded out four hits with one walk and two Jags hit by a pitch. After the first inning, Westmoore led, 6-0.

Ruby pitched a complete game, run-rule victory over the Enid Plainsmen in the state tourney on Thursday, 10-0, called after six innings. Enid mustered four hits and struck out five times. The Plainsmen were retired in order in four of the six innings played.

Senior catcher, Connor Cavnar, led the Jags’

hitting and finished with three hits and two runs batted in while scoring two runs. Senior shortstop, Jacob Wehba, started an impressive hitting spree in the championship series adding two hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Frazee finished two for two with an RBI and scored one run.

The win vanquished the bad taste left in the Jags’ mouths after suffering the same fate in the 2023 state playoffs by the same score to Enid.

Sand Springs won their first-round game over Edmond Santa Fe, 9-3. The first semi-final of the tournament was on Friday between Sand Springs and Owasso. The Rams were considered the favored team to win the 6A baseball championship. They beat Edmond Memorial, 7-1, on the first day of the tourney. However, the Sandites continued their winning ways dispatching Owasso, 2-0.

Westmoore then faced Stillwater to determine who would face Sand Springs. The Pioneers entered with an overall record of 27-8 and had defeated Choctaw the evening before in a comefrom-behind win, 6-5.

The Jags’ pitching was difficult to hit as O’Shea allowed only one run on three hits, along with eight strikeouts – four of which called out looking. Westmoore, once again, had a breakout inning plating four runs in the fifth to provide enough padding to get the win, 8-1.

O’Shea went the distance giving him four wins against no losses this season. He retired the side in order in three of the seven innings pitched. The Jags’ hitting continued with sixteen hits. Junior third baseman, Caleb Rey, collected three hits with two RBIs and scored a run while senior catcher, Tanner Fallwell, had two hits and scored three of the team’s eight runs. Senior outfielders, Gage Geiger and Kolby Milburn, along with Wehba, also had two hits. The Jags stole three bases in the fifth inning.

The stage was now set for the final game of the season for the championship trophy between Sand Springs and Westmoore.

Inhofe was the Westmoore starter. He induced three flyouts of the Sandties’ first three batters in the first inning. However, both Turney and Alex Hudley reached – with one out in between them –and the designated hitter, Sutton Cook slammed a 3-run homerun to put Sand Springs up 3-0.

BY: DANNY HENDERSON

Kayden Campbell, the Sandites’ starting pitcher, had the Westmoore bats flummoxed. Inhofe, unrattled, continued his mastery not allowing any more runs for the next few innings until later in the game.

Westmoore finally found a chink in Sand Springs’ armor when Wehba and Milburn led off the bottom of the fifth inning with two consecutive singles. Center fielder Josiah Kemp, the Jags’ leadoff hitter, singled with two outs, and knocked in a run giving Westmoore their first two runs of the game.

Sand Springs then lifted their starter bringing in Wyat Rutledge. That is when the wheels fell off the wagon for the Sandites. Westmoore exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

It all started when Rey hit a high fly ball into shallow left field that fell within a triangle of three Sandites’ defenders. Geiger then singled into left field followed by an RBI double by Wheba. Milburn walked and Sam Bourland hit a deep sacrifice fly to the outfield. Both Frazee and leadoff hitter Kemp singled before Cavnar drove in a run on the second sacrifice fly of the inning.

When all the dust settled, the Jags had a comfortable five-run lead needing only three outs for the win and the coveted championship.

Inhofe struck out the first batter, Easton Webb, Sand Springs’ eighth hitter in the lineup. Gatlin Gunn singled into shallow left field and scored when the batter at the top of the order, Jace Arnold, sent the pitch into the left-field corner inside the third-base line.

Not wanting the Sandites’ to get any more traction, Hunnicutt called on his confident infielder, Frazee, to get the last two outs. Inhofe finished having thrown almost 110 pitches, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking only two.

Frazee got Campbell to fly out to Geiger in left; gave up a single to Rutledge before inducing Turney’s pop up to Kemp in center to end the game.

Cavnar, one of fifteen seniors on the Jags’ team, said the win was typical of how they played all year.

“We had to battle, battle, battle, grit, grit, grit, but we got it done and here we are!” he said.

Westmoore finished the 2024 campaign, 25-17, adding another state title to the Jaguars’ trophy case. – SMS

NRevolutionizing Lung Cancer Diagnosis

orman Regional Health System recently acquired an Ion endoluminal system designed to address a challenging aspect of lung biopsy. The Ion system enables physicians to obtain tissue samples from deep within the lung using an ultra-thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter.

The endoluminal system’s unprecedented stability also enables the precision needed for biopsy, compared to manual techniques.

“Ion Bronchoscopy is a significant addition to the armamentarium used to fight lung cancer,” said Dr. Sergio Garcia, a pulmonologist with Norman Regional. “Significant advances in technology help us diagnose and treat lung cancer. Having the Ion bronchoscopy available to our patients is wonderful and allows us to be up to date in regard to this technology.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. However, when diagnosed at the earliest stage, known as stage IA-1, the average 5-year survival rate is 92%. Early-stage diagnosis can be difficult, but the Ion endoluminal system may help obtain tissue samples that facilitate am earlier diagnosis.

Ion is made by Intuitive, the company that makes the da Vinci surgical system, and is built on more than two decades of leadership in robotic-assisted technology.

For more information on minimally invasive biopsy at Norman Regional, visit NormanRegional.com.– SMS

Norman Regional Introduces the Ion

Endoluminal System

THE STATE OF LUNG

CANCER IN OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma ranks in the bottom tier when compared to other states for several key lung cancer care indicators including rates of new cases, early diagnosis, screening and access to treatment. Oklahoma ranks 40th among all states. Over the last five years, the percentage of lung cancer cases receiving no treatment increased by 19% in Oklahoma.

*Statistics provided by the American Lung Association

Connect with hundreds of MNTC students, graduates and job seekers at mntc.edu/employers.

In minutes and at no cost, you can:

§ Post jobs and internships

§ View resumes of highly qualified candidates

§ Track applicants and more

To learn about other ways to connect with potential employees, contact the MNTC Career Connection specialist at 405.801.5057.

ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS COME WITH

Gratitude

If you look at a situation through the eyes of gratitude, something powerful happens. Problems become easier to solve. Challenges reveal opportunities. And you begin to see the possibility in almost anything. For over 100 years, the Armstrong Bank family has truly appreciated serving up financial guidance and accounts to the people of this community. We’re grateful for our customers, for the work we do, and for the privilege of supporting our neighbors.

Gratitude helps us do so much more for you.

South Metro Eats

Michael’s Catering

Photo by: Mark Doescher

BY: TIM WILLERT

Michael Cook is all about presentation. The longtime chef and founder of Michael’s Catering is in the business of delivering a memorable experience.

Cook caters everything from weddings and corporate gatherings to open houses and picnics, and he does it with style.

His ice sculptures are eye-catching. So, too, are the cheese and shrimp towers, the dessert shooters and the potato bars.

“We specialize in displays of all of our food,” Cook said. “We believe in presentation first, because people see it before they even get a chance to eat it. Presentation has to be there.”

Cook, 66, also has high standards for the food he prepares inside his store at 2990 SE 19th St.

In addition to catering, Michael’s serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The grilled salmon and chicken salads are the most popular. Of the four soups on the menu — basil tomato, baked potato, broccoli cheddar and chicken dumpling — basil tomato and chicken dumpling are the best-sellers and come with two slices of toasted bread.

Sandwiches range in price from $10.99 to $12.99, and customers like the Korean-style Philly steak, Cook said.

Michael’s also offers a Sunday buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. that routinely draws between 50 and 80 people, he said.

The buffet includes two meats, potatoes or rice and vegetables, and comes with desserts that include cobbler, banana pudding and strawberry shortcake, for $19 per person and $17.10 for seniors and military.

But it’s Cook’s catering business and his eye for detail that put Michael’s on the map and has kept it there since 1996. Most of his business comes from corporate events. The rest is divided between weddings, school events, private affairs and picnics.

Tinker Federal Credit Union, Riverwind Casino and Moore Public Schools are among Cook’s biggest clients.

Longtime Tinker Federal Credit Union President Mike Kloiber collaborated with Cook for more than two decades before retiring in 2021.

“We’ve used Michael for a lot of our open houses and catering events,” Kloiber said. “I’ve also used him at my home for large gatherings.”

In mid-April, Cook served upwards of 500 people at a Coaches Cabana event at Riverwind attended by former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer and several of his former players.

“We just try to take care of the ones we’ve got so they keep coming back,” Cook said. “You get parties off parties ... people see your work and you get more business from that.”

In early May, Cook catered an afterhours business function for Communication Federal Credit Union that drew upwards of 90 people. The event was sponsored by the Norman Chamber of Commerce.

“His presentation reflects the event,” Kloiber said. “His food is really good and he’s always there when we need him. I’ve recommended him over and over again.”

Cook has spent most of his adult life catering to the culinary needs of others. He worked as a hotel cook and then helped Hilton open new hotels in Louisiana for the better part of a decade.

In 1995, he went to work for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, where he spent nearly three decades running the food service operation for the department’s Highway Patrol training center.

He retired in October and can now focus solely on his catering business.

“I think we go overboard,” Cook said. “We make sure (clients) get plenty of food and that whatever they order, the presentation is there and it looks great.”– SMS