The O'Colly, Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Details on OSU women’s basketball coach Hoyt’s contract extension

where the Cowgirls finished 21-12 overall, 10-8 in the Big 12 and reached the NCAA Tournament, OSU women’s basketball coach Hoyt is receiving an extension. The total contract is now worth $3.25 million over the next five years. Here are the details of the contract extension obtained by The O’Colly on Monday.

After one season at the helm, Jacie Hoyt’s contract is being amended. After a successful 2022-23 season

See Contract on 3

Toxins all around us

Corporations across the State of Oklahoma have a historic problem with pollution.

Locations such as the infamous Tar Creek Superfund Site display the apathy for public and environmental safety that these corporations demonstrate into the present day.

Every year, hundreds of different corporations release chemicals into the air, landfills, as well as ponds and streams across the state. Due to this pollution, Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act in 1987. This act created the Toxic Release Inventory, which acts as a repository of information about releases across the United States, from locations of emissions to the corporation responsible for the pollution. This inventory of data is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency and is accessible online.

the Oklahoma Department of Health’s online health statistics database, OK2SHARE, revealed that multiple of those seven counties have respiratory cancer rates far above the state average.

Data

OSU Athletics

Freshman Timm showing promise at the plate

Claire Timm had yet to start a game in her college career.

Opting to make lineup changes to increase offensive production, OSU coach Kenny Gajewski gave the freshman Cowgirl infielder the nod.

“We were taking (batting practice) for the game, and I said, ‘Hey, you’re starting,’” Gajewski said. “And she goes, ‘OK.’ I was like, ‘I don’t know what that means, but I hope that’s

good.’ Then she came up and had a big at-bat in her first at-bat.”

Timm started all three contests against Texas Tech, giving the Cowgirls three hits, two of which had runners in scoring position – something the team couldn’t generate in prior weeks.

Timm went 3-for-8 at the plate (.375 average), with a run and three RBI, with her two notable hits came in the fourth inning of each game. The first was an RBI single that scored Kiley Naomi, and the next, a two-run double she drove to deep left-center field.

”We just hadn’t been scoring runs, so I was just trying to get offense,” Gajewski said. “And she gave us that. So, I’m just proud of her, the way she’s done her work, she’s never complained. She’s like a steady eddy in the batters box, she just looks like a kid who’s been here for four years.”

The double from Timm, which gave the Cowgirls a 4-0 lead, awarded the infielder a career-high two RBI.

And after the successful threegame hitting output, she boosted her average from .250 to .292.

Emissions such as those previously listed have long been known to cause diseases such as cancer, but lead can have more damaging effects, especially on children as lead exposure can slow growth and development according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The TRI report also revealed that over half of all carcinogenic releases occurred within only seven counties: Carter, Creek, Kay, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Rogers and Tulsa counties.

This finding, coupled with data from

Analysis and Findings: The TRI revealed 6,804 total emission releases between 2017 and 2021. After sorting these releases by carcinogen detection, the data was then sorted by carcinogen type, revealing the carcinogens most often released within the state. Of the over 700 chemicals that are monitored for release by the TRI, the vast majority of releases in Oklahoma were heavy metals including lead, chromium, nickel and zinc, each of which are known to cause respiratory cancer. Other major respiratory carcinogens were also detected such polycyclic aromatic compounds, which are also major environmental contaminants according to the National Institutes of Health, as well as the EPA and CDC.

After identifying the main carcinogens, the data was subsequently sorted and analyzed by county to reveal the previously listed hot spot counties of Carter, Creek, Kay, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Rogers and Tulsa counties.

See Toxins on

Davis Cordova

OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt took over in March and instantly made an impact with her intense, relationship-oriented coaching style.

The Texas Tech series was the first time Claire Timm was in the starting lineup this season.

Ben Hutchens Staff Reporter

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

Logan Engles O’Colly Contributor

Micaela Wark

Morgyn Wynne

Cheyenne Factor and Tallen Edwards

Angelina Craig

Micaela Wark and Lexi Kilfoyl

Tallen Edwards

Contract...

Continued from 1

Hoyt signed a one-year extension on her previous contract. The new deal expires June 30, 2028. Hoyt’s annual salary is increased from $500,000 to $650,000.

Performance incentives established in the initial contract remain but are now potentially more lucrative. There are two ways Hoyt can earn bonuses.

Each NCAA Tournament appearance nets her 8% of her total compensation. Each additional NCAA Tournament win kicks in a 4%.

The other way Hoyt can earn an incentive is by winning the Big 12 regular season championship or the Big 12 tournament championship. Winning either title would earn her 16% total compensation.

Additional non-cash benefits provided to Hoyt are tickets to OSU football and men’s basketball games and a membership at Karsten Creek Golf Course.

Hoyt’s contract has a buyout. If she pursues another Big 12 job without written permission from OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg, the buyout will be 100% of her remaining contract. If she pursues a non-Big 12 job, it will be 75%.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Abby Cage

OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt’s contract is worth $3.25 million over the next five years.

Continued from 1

But for as well as Timm performed at the plate, there were a couple of plays she missed in the field, including one where the ball zipped by her glove and allowed a runner to score,

handing OSU a loss in walk-off fashion.

Those plays have Gajewski considering what spot in the field makes the most sense for Timm, specifically long-term, as he hopes to utilize Timm’s abilities moving forward.

“She looks kind of stiff and doesn’t bend well, you know, doesn’t quite hinge in the right spot,” Gajewski said. “So, it puts her in some tough spots, but she’s got a great arm, you

know, can catch anything that’s hit at her.

“It’s a spot that she can play, but I don’t know that I foresee her long-term as a third baseman. Probably more at first (base) or something like that.”

For every hit Timm delivered, it was met with cheers from the dugout. And as Chyenne Factor and Micaela Wark crossed home plate, thanks to Timm’s successful at-bat, they exploded with fist pumps and claps for her.

She also garnered support from Megan Bloodworth, the defensively sound player that was pulled from the lineup for Timm.

“Megan had her back, which was cool,” Gajewski said. “And I think when you have that, (it) tells me that things are really good. And I saw Megan give her a big hug after her first at-bat, and I was like ‘that is cool,’ and that’s how it ought to be.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

OSU Athletics

Freshman Claire Timm started in all three games against Texas Tech and showed potential, recording three hits.

Toxins...

Continued from 1

Corpora-

tions within these counties were responsible for over half (57%) of all carcinogenic releases within this period.

After identifying the major carcinogens at play, as well as where these releases occurred, respiratory cancer rate statistics were retrieved from OK2SHARE for each of the affected counties, for each year of the past five years. Each yearly cancer rate was then standardized per 100,000 residents and compared to state and national incidence rates provided by the CDC and NIH, which also standardize rates per 100,000 residents.

This data revealed that over this five-year period, five of the seven counties experienced multiple years with respiratory cancer rates far above the state incident rate of 65.7 per 100,000 residents.

This finding was best exemplified by Creek County, which had an average respiratory cancer incidence

rate of 110.9 per 100,000 residents and experiences over 50 toxic releases per year.

What does this mean for Oklahomans?

For any Oklahoman these numbers should be concerning, as a recent Stacker study found that just over 20% of Oklahomans live near a TRI facility. This coupled with large numbers of releases of carcinogens certainly has helped increase cancer incidence rates in these counties, however determining the causes cancer is not that simple.

The data shows that these releases are certainly dangerous, and the correlation shows between both data sets, the causation between these two issues needs to be analyzed further. However this data does show that these toxic releases are a compounding factor.

Note: the State Department of Health and State Department of Environmental Quality have not responded to questions at the time of publishing.

Allen mall mass shooting News

At least half of fatalities people of Asian descent

Sriya Reddy and Haeven Gibbons The Dallas Morning News

ALLEN, Texas — At least half of the eight victims who died in Saturday’s mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlet mall were of Asian descent, and while the suburb has an almost 20% Asian population, it isn’t clear if the attack was targeted.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has yet to confirm or deny the motivation for the attack in this city about 25 miles northeast of Dallas with an overall population that is 61.4% White, 19.2% Asian, 9.6% Black or African American and 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, according to 2022 census data.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the community paid its respects at a memorial that includes eight crosses, flowers, toys and ribbons. It sits on the edge of the outlet mall outside of Express and American Eagle. Notes written in Sharpie on Aishwarya Thatikonda’s cross read: “The Indian community is devastated for your loss. Rest in Peace,” and “The Indian community protects you. We all do.”

The identified deceased includes Thatikonda, 27, a project engineer from India; Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard; a Korean family, Cho Kyu Song, 37, Kang Shin Young, 35, and one of their children; and two elementary school children. The eighth victim had not been identified as of May 8.

Community members

said the mall is popular among the Asian community, and the diverse population of the suburb.

“Sometimes I come here and I feel like, have I come to India, or have I come to America?” said Anu Dhalwale, 53, who has lived in Allen for 28 years, and comes to the outlet mall regularly.

When she visits, she said that there is someone from every community shopping too.

“It’s a very diverse community,” Dhalwale said. “You see it. It’s very visible, and we’re proud of it. We are here because of that.”

Chanda Parbhoo, founder of SAAVETX, an organization that advocates for South Asian American votership said many in her community feel “vulnerable and targeted,” adding that “action is necessary to

prevent these senseless acts of violence.”

”Immigrants come to this country seeking jobs and economic opportunity,” Parbhoo said in a written statement. “We thought Texas offered safety and security for our families, but instead, we are met with mass shootings that leave our families feeling broken and lost.”

For many in the city and surrounding suburbs, the mall is an everyday place to run errands or a fun stop on weekends.

Alysia Jordan, 51, moved to nearby McKinney with her husband and son about two years ago because she heard it was the best, and safest, place to raise a family. When she heard about the shooting, her heart dropped, she said.

“It’s where I get my wedding ring done at Zales, and

I go every so often, and I just went not even two weeks ago,” Jordan said. “It’s just the everyday stuff that is so familiar to us that it’s just so tough to imagine that this could happen.”

The Dallas Morning News spoke with a relative of one of the surviving victims, who is Indian, on whether or not he thought the attack was racially motivated.

“People can’t even think about those things at this level,” he said. “We are just worried about anyone living. They just want to know how to save them.”

The relative, who said he’s never felt unsafe, and other family members are now concerned for their well being and asked to remain anonymous.

Madeline Bell, 52, has lived in Allen for 25 years

and saw the mall being built. She visited the outlets with her mother and granddaughter early on Saturday before the shooting.

“It’s a place where we go to have time with family,” Bell said.

While Bell didn’t know anyone personally who was part of the shooting, she visited the memorial to leave a teddy bear, a blue balloon and flowers for the Cho family.

A statement, in part, from Mayor Kenneth Fulk posted on Allen’s site says the city is appreciative of all of the condolences and notes from all over the world.

“On behalf of the city council, our law enforcement personnel, first responders and all of our city employees - we will remain strong and stand united,” he said.

Advertising Executives Needed

The O’Colly Media Group at OSU is now taking applications for advertising executives to work in our expanding Media operation. Duties include contacting clients and providing them with advertising options for print editions, online editions, special editions and advertising bundle specials. Applicants should be able to work office hours and meet clients at their businesses. Salary includes base pay, commission and bonuses. To apply come to room 106 in the Paul Miller Journalism office or email Lori@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Tribune

Gina Bennet places flowers in a memorial setup near an entrance to the Allen Premium Outlets mall after the mass shooting occurred on May 8, 2023, in Allen, Texas. On May 6th, a shooter opened fire at the outlet mall, killing eight people. The gunman was then killed by an Allen Police officer responding to an unrelated call.

Fossils are helping these students find new passions

Destiny Torres

The Orange County

ORANGE, Calif. -- When Chapman University screen acting student Ben Rotenberg learned his friends were heading to Montana to film a documentary about the students who helped excavate a set of 78-millionyear-old dinosaur bones, he begged them to let him come along.

About a year later, not only is Rotenberg, a senior, helping to uncover those pelvic bones, but he also uncovered a passion for working with fossils.

Each summer, Jack Horner, paleontologist and presidential fellow at Chapman University, in Orange, California, takes students to a ranch in Montana for hands-on experience

digging up dinosaur bones.

The bones discovered by Chapman student Sarah Wallace last year were carefully excavated – along with the big chunk of dirt surrounding them – and wrapped in protective plaster to be brought back to the university for students to continue carefully digging free from the rock.

“I was brought to Chapman to work with students and try to get them to consider other ways to think,” said Horner, who has been a technical advisor on the “Jurassic Park” movies and was an inspiration behind the character Dr. Alan Grant depicted in the movies and the 1990 book. “Paleontology not being something that we have here at Chapman, offers the students experiences with the geological past that they wouldn’t normally get here.”

Once removed from the rock,

Graphic Designers Wanted

students will be able to make 3D models of the bones that can be further studied to learn about the species, what kinds of forces the pelvis could withstand and more.

The pelvic bones are believed to be part of a Gryposaurus, a type of herbivorous, duck-billed dinosaur that walked the earth about 75 to 80 million years ago.

After graduating from Chapman with a degree in screen acting, Rotenberg will attend the University of Washington for his master’s degree in museum studies. But first, this summer, he’ll be back digging in Montana.

“The University of Washington and specifically the (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture) are actually the rightful owners of the fossils that I’m working on right now. They’ve left it to us and our crew for the preparation process,” Rotenberg

said. “Eventually, all of the bones that are in my lab will eventually end up in their collection at the University of Washington, so it’s very exciting to be able to continue my education and follow this dinosaur along as it completes its journey.”

Rotenberg said he has been a huge dinosaur fan since he was a kid, so his family is not surprised that he ultimately found his way into a dinosaur lab.

“We talk a lot about thinking outside of the box here at Chapman, so this is just kind of an opportunity for students to be able to do that,” he said, adding that the doors to their lab are always open for Chapman students or members of the community who want learn more about the process of uncovering fossils.

Courtesy of Tribune

As paleontologist and Chapman University Presidential Fellow Jack Horner, center, and fellow student Greta Kunze look on, Ben Rotenberg, left, a senior at Chapman University, uses a dental tool to remove the casing and other material from around the pelvic bones of a 30-foot-long Gryposaurus, a type of duck-billed dinosaur that lived about 78 million years ago, at Chapman University in Orange, California on April 26, 2023. The pelvic fossil was found in 2022 in northern Montana.

Ex-etiquette Lifestyle

This Mother’s Day, here’s the meaning of ‘bonus mom’

Jann Blackstone Tribune News Service

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, all sorts of bonus mom articles and merchandise are popping up all over the internet. This prompted me to Google the term — I was interested in what the results might say, since I made up the term over 35 years ago, and this contributed to a whole Bonus Families movement.

At that point, society was changing, and I was living in what is now accepted as a bonus family. It was obvious to me and so many others who felt the term “step” did not describe their family that we needed a new term that positively addressed the way we truly felt about each other.

“Bonus” became our word of choice. Reason being, it is a reward for a job well done, and it was intended to be a compliment to the parents termed bonus parents and the children termed bonus kids, all the while respecting the biological parent. “Step” was regarded as evil and vindictive, and since so many families were being created after a breakup, it was important that love and respect be recognized at the base.

But, doing my research online recently, I see the term has morphed into an incorrect assumption, and I would like to correct this once and for all.

The common definition you find when you Google “bonus mom” is “a mom who didn’t birth the children that she is raising. This can be in the form of adoption or as parenting a child of a spouse.”

This is incorrect and misleading. It came about because someone wrote a sweet article about being a bonus mom

years ago, included the above definition and the internet ran with it. So when people need a definition, they hit Google and the wrong definition is regurgitated. Let me define “bonus” once and for all. Being “bonus” has NOTHING to do with adoption. This is an important clarification for all who have adopted and have been adopted. Once adopted, that’s legally mom and dad. There can be an open adoption, and everyone can know about everyone else, but an adoptive parent is NOT a bonus parent. A child who has been adopted is NOT a bonus child.

“Bonus,” in its true and correct definition, is a word used in lieu of “step.” To take this one step further, when I started Bonus Families as a nonprofit organization in 1999, people were looking for help with co-parenting and joint custody. There were no rules, and we needed direction. Most who lived as a stepfamily were married at that time, but as time went on, this changed. Many do not marry prior to having children. (Whether you feel this is right or wrong is a discussion for another day.)

Families needed a positive label, and I often received emails asking if the rules asso

ciated with being “bonus” (The 10 Rules of Good Ex-Etiquette, to which I often refer in this column) applied to those who lived together but were not married.

My answer was always, “Of course.” Love and respect are at the root of being bonus, so that would also apply to those living as a family, but not officially married. “Bonus” is a positive catch-all word for family, and I thank all who use the term in a loving and respectful way. But it is important to note it has nothing to do with adoption.

The correct definition of bonus mom is a “woman

Courtesy of Tribune

who did not give birth to the children she is helping to raise. This relationship is usually created by helping to parent a child of a spouse.”

With that, I respectfully wish you all, whether you are “Mom” or “Bonus Mom,” a Happy Mother’s Day.

(Dr. Jann Blackstone is the author of “Ex-etiquette for Parents: Good Behavior After Divorce or Separation,” and the founder of Bonus Families, bonusfamilies.com. Email her at the Ex-Etiquette website exetiquette.com at dr.jann@ exetiquette.com.)

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Lethal fentanyl poisoning is real.

The drastic increase in opioid overdose deaths is largely due to fentanyl poisoning. Illegal fentanyl is cheaper than most other drugs on the streets and is being intentionally substituted into cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and drugs like counterfeit Adderall®, Percocet® and Xanax® as well.

Learn the facts and protect those you love.

The correct definition of bonus mom is a “woman who did not give birth to the children she is helping to raise. This relationship is usually created by helping to parent a child of a spouse,” writes Dr. Jann Blackstone.

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University.

Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6

Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

Spacious 1100 sq. ft

2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood

floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.

Business Squares Business Squares Company Coming?

Check out “Cowboy Cabin”

550 steps east of Boone Pickens Stadium

Airbnb.com/h/cowboy-cabin

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black

Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (05/10/23). Invent possibilities and plot your course this year. Build and strengthen collaborative efforts to win. Springtime organization sets the stage for success. Summer changes require adaptation in partnership, recharging your autumn health and fitness. Grow and develop yourself next winter. Make plans to realize dreams.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most chal lenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Monitor conditions with a professional challenge. Strengthen basic structures. Obstacles or surprises could require adapta tion. Patiently persist for a dreamy opportunity. Simplify and edit.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Find inventive solutions around logistical challenges. Complications could deviate your exploration. Assess carefully before advancing. Avoid risky travel conditions. Stop and smell the roses.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Take extra care with resources. Stay in communication around financial obligations and agreements. Collaborate around an unexpected expense. Maintain patience and humor. Avoid waste.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Patiently navigate a surprise or breakdown with your partner. An old ambition or dream offers new potential. Coordinated collaboration generates satisfying results. Pull together.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Prioritize health and vitality. The possibility for technical error is high. Stay flexible. Maintain safe practices. Slow for the tricky sections. Watch your step.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Breathe deeply. Things may not go as planned, especially regarding family and romance. Relax and wait patiently. Developments happen on their own time.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Make a repair or upgrade that provides lasting improvement. Slow to avoid breakage. Clean and organize for dreamy results. Include comfort foods.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Engage with a challenging intellectual puzzle. List objectives and tackle them one by one. Ignore distractions, rumors, gossip or idle chatter. Write, edit and refine.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Avoid risky business. You may discover a financial barrier or structural problem. Plug any financial leaks. Keep building for a dream. Persistence pays off.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Pursue a personal passion. You’re ready to make positive changes, despite complications. Distractions abound. Go around obstacles carefully. Don’t take anything for granted.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 6 — Get into thoughtful planning mode. Avoid travel, noise or crowds. Find a peaceful spot for contemplation. Consider your moves several steps ahead to save.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Share support with a community challenge. Talk with your allies and colleagues for greater perspective. Focus on the objective. Patience comes in handy.

ACROSS

1 “Between Two Ferns”

Emma Lawson & Shannon Rapp