The O'Colly, Thursday, August 31, 2023

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Stillwater PD supports students

experiences students in town do. Officers want students to feel like they can come into the community and feel safe.

The Stillwater Police Department works all year round to ensure a safe environment for thousands of students who flood back into town for school.

Lieutenant TJ Low has been with the Stillwater PD for 11 years. He is in charge of public relations and community outreach. Prior to this, he worked with OSUPD for three years.

“There’s a trust within us, we got a very good department,” Low said. “The men and women that are employed here go above and beyond. We want the kids to enjoy their experience while they’re here in Stillwater because ultimately, Stillwater would probably be a ghost town if it weren’t for the university. We want to make sure that we’re building that trust with them [students], we’re not out to arrest and write tickets every day.”

Low stated a majority of the officers in town are parents as well, and they want their kids to enjoy the same

“I’d say we’re a very open department,” Low said. “If anybody sees us out and about, we’ve encouraged them to come out and talk to us and ask questions. Obviously, if you’re intoxicated on The Strip, we advise you not to come up and talk to somebody. Just be safe and get home.”

Something Low has noticed over the course of his time with Stillwater PD is that students are more aware about drinking and driving. He said Greek life has started to assign designated drivers, and rideshare programs are growing in popularity.

“We know kids are gonna be kids, they’re gonna make mistakes. They just gotta be smart,” Low said. “Use your rideshare programs, call a friend or call your parents.”

Uber and Lyft have become popular rideshare programs in town. Both are good options to arrive home safely.

See Police on page 2

OSU secondary brings grit to new scheme

three times en route to a 41-34 Homecoming victory for OSU, with Smith, a safety, playing a pivotal role.

Allen Staff Reporter

In Cam Smith’s first start, OSU’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme gave Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers fits, intercepting Ewers

But this year, the Cowboys are donning a new defensive scheme. OSU coach Mike Gundy hired former Gannon University (Division II) defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo to lead the unit with his 3-3-5 scheme.

Now, five defensive backs at a time will take the field for the Cowboys.

Cornerbacks Jabbar Mu-

hammad and Thomas Harper transferred. Safety Jason Taylor exhausted his remaining eligibility and is in the NFL. All three were starters for the Cowboys a season ago.

That’s a lot of experience gone, and the Cowboys are adjusting schematically while breaking in new guys. But this year’s secondary is bringing the grit to make it happen.

See Grit on page 4

Ask Anna: Do relationship ‘breaks’ really work?

just exhaustingly overwhelming at times.

Dear Anna, I’m 25, and I’ve been in a relationship with my girlfriend for about three years. We were inseparable in the beginning; it was like every moment without her was incomplete. But lately, things feel different. It’s not a lack of love, but somehow the spark has dimmed.

With my growing responsibilities at work and my personal drive to embark on new adventures, I rarely get time to truly concentrate on myself anymore. Although we love each other dearly, we’ve been arguing more often, the constant pressure is straining our relationship and it’s

I’ve been considering taking a “relationship break,” not because I want to end things but to give myself some time to reflect and figure things out. I want to get back to being the guy she fell in love with. But do such breaks serve any purpose, or do they just signal the beginning of the end? How can they be beneficial or harmful? — Hopeful but Uncertain Dear HBU, Your question tugs at a thread we’ve all toyed with at some point. “To break or not to break?” That is indeed the question. It’s not unusual, especially when you’re in your 20s, to wonder if you’re potentially missing out on something or someone more fulfilling. It’s the rhythm of

being human, of loving, of growing. It’s also not unusual, when faced with such uncertainty, to want to try a breakup “trial run,” as it were, to see how being single might feel without totally severing those relationship ties. My first serious girlfriend and I broke up in the slowest way possible. First, we moved into separate apartments. Then, we opened our relationship up and dated or hooked up with other people. Then, after there was virtually nothing left for us to contend with, we broke up for good. We still loved each other terribly, which made it that much harder to let go, even though it was so obvious we were meant to be platonic friends.

File Photo

OSU cornerback Cam Smith (3) said the secondary is stepping up and filling the roles left empty from last season.

Daniel

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Anna Pulley Tribune News Service

Alex Morris, Hannah Chance earn Big 12 weekly honors

The Cowgirls were well-represented in the weekly Big 12 awards.

Hannah Chance earned Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week, and Alex Morris is the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after the duo’s performances in the Cowgirls’ 2-0 week this past week.

OSU outscored opponents 11-0 in that stretch. Chance, a junior forward, scored five goals on eight shots last week, including a hat trick in the Cowgirls’ 8-0 win against Little Rock on Sunday. She became the 13th player in program history to record a hat trick, and the first since 2019. Only 18 times in the program’s 28 seasons has a Cowgirl scored three or more goals in a game, and Chance now holds one of them. She is also tied for second in the NCAA with six goals scored this season.

Morris, a senior wingback, continued her stingy defense in the Cowgirls’ shutouts this week, where opponents were limited to only 13 shots. Morris contributed on offense, as well, recording three assists on the week, including two against Little Rock on Sunday. Morris also ranks fourth in the country in assists with four, which is already a career high. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Davis Cordova

Cowboy and Cowgirl cross country teams in top 3 of USTFCCCA Preseason Poll

O’Colly Sports Staff

A year after OSU’s men’s and women’s crosscountry teams finished top four nationally, both are expected to be right back near the top.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its preseason rankings Wednesday, and both teams are in the top three. The Cowboys came in at No. 2, and the Cowgirls slot in at No. 3.

The Cowboys finished in a tie for first at last season’s NCAA Championships in Stillwater, then lost a tiebreaker to Northern Arizona and fell shy of a national championship.

Three All-Americans return to the Cowboys’ lineup, including Alex Maier (5th at NCAAs), Fouad Messaoudi (12th at NCAAs) and Victor Shitsama (31st at NCAAs). The Cowboys, led by Maier, the individual Big 12 champ and Big 12 Runner of the Year, are three-time defending Big 12 champions.

The No. 2 ranking is the second-highest preseason ranking, only behind the No. 1 ranking in 2013.

The Cowgirls earned their first team trophy at the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Championships and enter this season ranked No. 3 − the highest in program history. Three-time cross country AllAmerican Taylor Roe (13th at NCAAs) will lead the two-time defending Big 12 Champions, who return six runners from last season’s NCAA-placing team, including Taylor Roe (7th at NCAAs).

sports.ed@ocolly.com

The Cowboys, led by Alex Maier (above), enter the cross-country season ranked No. 2 after finishing runner-up at the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Grit...

Continued from page 1

“Everybody is pushing each other to be better,” Smith said. “We see (veteran) guys like Korie (Black) giving it his all every day, and it’s like, we got to match his standard.

“I feel like with Jabbar (Muhammad) leaving, guys had to fill in that leadership role. And we kind of (have) stepped up.”

In the Cowboys’ depth chart, released this past Thursday, Smith – a redshirt sophomore -- is listed as one of the unit’s starting defensive backs, along with Black, redshirt sophomore Lyrik Rawls, redshirt senior Trey Rucker and redshirt sophomore Kendal Daniels, who is expected to act as a free safety.

How will the group’s talent fare in comparison to last season’s? Only time will tell.

However, each aforementioned prospect has

spent at least two seasons at the college level. And albeit in a different scheme, Nardo said the secondary is doing things that can’t be taught.

“The (secondary/defense), they’ve bought in, and they care about each other,” Nardo said. “They’re coachable. They’re tough. They come to show up every day.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

201 S. Perkins Rd · 405-372-7170 Mon–Fri 9:30–6:30, Sat 9:30–5:30, Sun 1–5

Mackenzie Janish

OSU defensive coordinator said the secondary, including players like Cam Smith (3), are buying in to the new scheme.

Tropical Storm Idalia moved out of Florida.

Where is it going now? What the track shows

Michelle Marchante and Devoun Cetoute Miami Herald

Idalia has downgraded to a tropical storm and will be moving back into the Atlantic Ocean as soon as it moves over Georgia and the Carolinas — putting Florida in the rear-view mirror. Idalia’s center is moving along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina on Wednesday night, after it made landfall near Keaton Beach on Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 hurricane in the morning, according to the National Hurricane Center’s advisory at 5 p.m.

The system is still battering parts of Florida with strong winds and rain. Coastal communities along Florida’s Gulf Coast were left flooded.

So, where is Idalia now?

And where is it going?

Here’s what the forecast track shows:

Where is Idalia now?

And how strong is it?

Tropical Storm Idalia was about 40 miles west of Savannah, Georgia and 115 miles west-southwest of Charleston, South Carolina. It has maximum sustained winds near 70 mph, the 5 p.m. advisory said.

Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 205 miles.

Where is Idalia going?

Idalia already dashed out of Florida and is traveling northeast at 21 mph, according to the hurricane center. The forecast track shows Idalia to moving along Georgia and South Carolina’s coast before it heads just offshore of North Carolina on Thursday. It will then move east into the weekend.

On top of that, the storm will continue weakening as it moves over land Wednesday night. However, once the center returns to the Atlantic, it may interact with some stronger winds — which increases the difficulty of predicting its intensity past that point.

Idalia could become post-

tropical but because of the uncertainty the hurricane center is keeping it as a tropical storm through the next five days.

What type of weather will it bring?

A look at the weather:

Storm Surge: Forecasters discontinued the storm surge warnings and watches along Florida’s Gulf Coast and Georgia’s coast. However, a warning and watch remains for the Carolinas.

“The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves,” the hurricane center said.

Winds: Tropical storm

conditions are expected to continue along the northeastern coast of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina through Thursday. These winds will spread into North Carolina Wednesday night.

Rain: Idalia is forecast to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, with some isolated areas seeing up to 10 inches of rain from east-central Georgia through central to eastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina into Thursday. Flash, urban and moderate river flooding, with “considerable impacts,” will be possible.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Hurricane Idalia is almost out of Florida, though it’s still bringing bad weather to parts of the state. (National Hurricane Center/TNS)

Police...

Continued from page 1

Stillwater PD encourages students to remain collected and use the resources available.

“Don’t be out causing fights or anything that’s going to draw the attention of the police department, that’s always going to catch our attention,” Low said. “It’s gonna show that you’re intoxicated and you’re unable to care for yourself.”

Low stated a common crime that occurs in town often is automobile break-ins.

He reminded students to take all personal belongings with them and to lock their cars. There is a chance a window can be broken into, but a majority of auto burglaries happen when cars are left unlocked.

Nobody is exempt from the rule of law. A way students can contribute to creating a safe community is by practicing proper behavior and going the extra mile to hold themselves and their friends accountable.

“Everybody has to have rules, we don’t want everybody running around freelancing because if that was the case, crime would be through the roof,”

Low said. “The law to me is our governing nature and that’s what I like to do. I like to enforce those rules, those laws that keep everybody safe and make sure everybody has a safe environment while they’re here in town.”

Because Low is in charge of community outreach, he encourages students to follow the police department on social media.

You can find the police department on Facebook, Instagram and X. You can message any of these platforms, or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call their tipline at 405-533-8477. news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of TJ Low

Lieutenant TJ Low has been with the Stillwater PD for 11 years and is in charge of public relations and community outreach.

Continued from page 1

It’s clear you care deeply for your girlfriend, and your wish to rebuild the relationship into what it once was is both admirable and heart-wrenching. Life, in all its messy beauty, has a habit of tumbling us around like a janky clothes dryer, chipping away at our patience, our energy, our sense of self. A break can feel like an extended gasping breath after a sprint. But the question lingers — does it work?

And, well, it depends.

At times, taking a break

could potentially salvage your relationship, as it provides an opportunity for both of you to value each other’s absence, acknowledge missteps or growth you need to make, or to figure out if the allure of “greener grass” holds actual merit. This time apart could serve to rekindle the spark by reviving the individual fires you each bring to your shared flame. It’s a chance to reassess, to learn, to miss and to breathe.

However, not all breaks are roses and romance rekindled. Some breaks devolve into breakups. The silence can become comfortable, the distance, a welcome reprieve.

As noted therapist Esther Perel pointed out in her TED Talk, “The very components that lead to love — mystery, unpre -

dictability, novelty — are the very things that we seek relief from over time.” The equilibrium you strive for might unknowingly tip over a precipice you’d rather avoid. You can’t know which side the coin will land on, however, until you do it.

That’s the scary part. The other scary part is that you don’t know how it’s going to impact your girlfriend either. While you might go into a break thinking you’ll rekindle things, your girlfriend might land somewhere else entirely. But, as with all scary things, the risk is usually worth the potential fallout.

If you’re unhappy with how things have been for a while, trying something — anything — might be the cure for what

ails you, even if it’s a proper breakup.

If you do take a break, make sure to have agreed-upon guidelines — will you see each other at all? Text? Heart each other’s social media posts?

(My advice is to not communicate at all, so that you’re getting the real “break” experience.) Also, you don’t say whether you live together or not, but if you do, then you’ll need to figure out living arrangements for the duration of the break. Once you’ve figured out the details, set an end date to come back together and either reconcile, decide you need a little more time or end things outright.

In the silence of a break, you might find your true voice, your true self and your true

love for her. Or you might discover new truths about you, your relationship and your needs. Both outcomes hold invaluable insights.

Whatever you decide, remember, in the words of Maya Angelou, “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Your honesty in this situation is a sign that no matter what happens, you’ll land wherever love and growth dictate.

Wishing you wisdom and peace as you navigate these waters.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

salvage

relationship, as it provides an opportunity for both of you to value each other’s absence. However, some breaks do devolve into breakups. (Dreamstime/TNS) Anna...

Joyce Lewis

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.

Guaranteed Parking!

$100 for year!

Salem Lutheran Church, Corner of Duck & Elm

Monday-Thursday 9-Noon 405-372-3074

Cowboy Calendar

Today 8/31/2023

2023 Payne County Fair Draft Horse Pulling Competition

Payne County Expo Center @ 8 p.m.

Let’s Talk About Oklahoma

Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar Aug. 17thSept. 14th @ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Kid’s Night

Eskimoe Joe’s @ 5 - 9 p.m. w/ $1 Buffy meal

Line Dancing Outlaws @ 7 - 8 p.m. $10

Payne County Fair Represents Power of the Past Tractor

Show Payne County Expo Center @ 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Veterans History Project Webinar

Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar @ 2 - 3 p.m.

Friday 9/01/2023

2023 Payne County Bucket Calf Show

Payne COunty Expo Center all day event https://pcexpocenter.com/?fbclid=IwAR0YDFRmImxXIZj1 1c3JKlUFqHSbC4viDu_LyQi-gl1x3BI2mLmSH06TgS4

2023 Payne County Fair Oklahoma Garden Tractor Pull-

ers Competition

Payne County Expo Center @ 7 p.m.

https://pcexpocenter.com/free-fair/

Annual Customer Appreciation Evening

Lake Carl Blackwell @ 6:30 - 9: 30 p.m.

https://lake.okstate.edu/

OSU Cross Country Meet at Cowboy Preview @ 8 a.m. https://okstate.com/sports/mxct

Saturday 9/02/2023

OSU vs. Central Arkansas

Boone Pickens Stadium @ 6 p.m.

2023 Payne County Fair Cattle Dog Event

Payne County Expo Center @ 7 p.m.

Brewery Tours

Iron Monk Brewing Company @ 3 p.m. $15 / person

Sunday 9/03/2023

Cowgirl Soccer VS Central Arkansas

Neal Patterson Soccer Stadium @ 1 p.m. https://okstate.com/sports/womens-soccer

Monday 9/04/2023

OSU Museum of Art until Jan. 27th @ 11 a.m. 4 p.m. https://museum.okstate.edu/art/leon-polk-smith.html

Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar Until Dec. 9th @ 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

https://www.stillwaterokhistory.org/

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Your curiosity inspires new research. Explorations may hit a roadblock. Review the data carefully. Wait for better conditions to advance. Do the background preparation first.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Collaboration could stall with a misunderstanding. Listen generously. Contribute to maintain positive shared cash flow. You’re a formidable team. Patiently clarify and maintain momentum.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Compromise with your partner. Keep your sense of humor and patience. Clarify miscommunications as they arise. Don’t push sensitive subjects. Support each other.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Prioritize health despite a challenge. Stretch well before launching into action. Stick to stable routines and practices. Nurture yourself with rest and good food. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Indulge in your favorite activities, passions and diversions. Don’t take things so seriously. Share sweet appreciation, gratitude and admiration.

Relax with your inner circle.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6 — Focus on domestic harmony. Clear space from excess or clutter. Clean, sort and organize. Put things away. Cook up something delicious for the family. Simplify.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Get creative with a puzzle. Your bright ideas save the day. Express your heart in words, images and action. Keep communications simple and clear.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Monitor financial data to catch mistakes. Expect delays and misunderstandings. Pad the budget. Maintain momentum with positive cash flow. Keep your eye on the prize. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Advance a personal project to the next level after resolving communication breakdowns. Have patience with yourself and others. Things may not go as planned.

Jeff Stillman