Edmond Life and Leisure - March 28, 2024

In This Issue

FOUR SEASONS

Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.

Season-opening event of VIBES set April 4

Spring At Home in Edmond Inserted Today!

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

Vibrant, Inspiring, Bold, Energetic, and Spirited (VIBES) Edmond is thrilled to announce the much-awaited season-opening event on Thursday, April 4, from 6 pm to 9 pm in the heart of Downtown Edmond. This celebration promises an electrifying evening of art, entertainment, and community engagement that promises to captivate attendees of all ages.

At the centerpiece of this dynamic event will be the Edmond Public Schools Art Show, held inside the iconic Edmond Railyard. Showcasing the creativity and talent of Edmond’s youth from all campuses and all ages, this exhibit is a testament to the city’s commitment to nurturing the arts from a young age.

Adding to the excitement, attendees will be treated to an array of captivating performances throughout the evening. From the graceful movements of Perpetual Motion Dance to the awe-inspiring acts of stilt walkers from Inspyral Circus, the entertainment lineup promises to mesmerize and inspire. Musical performances by local talents, including Blake Bricker, Ceol Braw, Nick Massey, and more, will further elevate the ambiance, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all.

The event features over 50 visual artists, each showcasing their unique creations, alongside more than 50 Downtown Edmond businesses opening their doors to welcome patrons to enjoy the vibrant cultural tapestry of the Edmond community. “We are thrilled to kick off the VIBES First Thursdays fourth season with such an incredible lineup of artists, performers, and community partners,” said Savannah Whitehead, Edmond Fine Arts and VIBES Program Director. “VIBES is dedicated to fostering creativity, promoting local talent, and building unity within our community. We invite everyone to join us on April 4th for an evening of art, music, and celebration.”

VIBES, Edmond’s First Thursdays, is a program of the Fine Arts Institute, Edmond’s nonprofit community arts organization providing visual and performing art classes for children and adults year-round. For more information, visit EdmondFineArts.com or call 405-340-4481. The 2024 VIBES Season is made possible through the generous support of Citizen’s Bank of Edmond, Edmond Electric, Matt Wilson Custom Homes, First Bank & Trust Co., SA. Studios, The Grant Group, The Mule, and other businesses committed to the enrichment and cultural vitality of Edmond.

PHOTO BY ERIN SMITH

Inspyral Circus Stilt Walker performing for crowd at the October 2023 VIBES Event.

Continental Resources helps out the Girl Scouts

Continental Resources, Inc. (Continental) has been named the corporate sponsor for an indoor rock-climbing wall designed to unlock new adventures at Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma’s (GSWESTOK) Camp Trivera. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, at Camp Trivera, 2508 NE 50 in Oklahoma City.

Located within the camp’s Gathering Hall, the facility’s rock wall encourages hands-on learning by combining elements of physics and geology, colored to represent varying levels of rock strata. Staffed by certified rock-climbing supervisors, the rock wall includes novice, intermediate and hard climbing levels for anyone age 7 and older. The wall will be enjoyed by Girl Scouts in addition to those who visit for field trips and corporate outings.

Scheduled to coincide with Women’s History Month, the celebration will bring together Girl Scouts members, Continental employees and leadership, GSWESTOK’s Board of Directors, and representatives from the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Tours of Camp Trivera will be available and light refreshments will be served, including Girl Scout cookies courtesy of Continental. Proceeds from the cookies will benefit area schools and local community partners like Positive Tomorrows and Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County.

The rock wall will continue to be a source of joy and exploration for years to come thanks to Continen-

tal’s generous donation of $250,000. Supporting a project that promotes greater understanding of the wonders of STEM was a natural decision for the company.

“Exploration is at the heart of who we are at Continental. That’s why partnering with Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma and Camp Trivera makes perfect sense in providing a place for young minds to explore,” said Continental President & CEO Doug Lawler. “Together, we are committed to raising the next generation of engineers, geologists and scientists, and I have no doubt many of those will emerge from Girl Scouts. Our hope is this rock wall will help inspire young girls to pursue STEM-related careers and have fun while doing it.”

In addition to supporting the rock wall, Continental Production Manager Grace Prince will be featured on the camp’s Interactive Wall of Women. The touchscreen mural showcases women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, allowing girls to trace the career paths of inspiring female leaders and discover what’s possible through exposure: if they can see it, they can be it.

“Through this partnership, we’re able to meet the demand from adventure-seekers in our community,” said GSWESTOK CEO Janienne Bella. “We’re grateful for partners like Continental, whose generous support empowers Girl Scouts to reach new heights every day.”

For more information about Camp Trivera, visit camptrivera.org.

wall

A fire broke out at a restaurant located in Kickingbird Square in the early morning hours this last Monday. It was at the Interurban restaurant, one of the more popular restaurants in town. The good news is that no one was hurt, and the damage was limited to the restaurant itself, not spreading to other businesses in the shopping center.

The fire started around 3 a.m. Crews on scene were able to go inside and put the fire out within an hour. The firefighters on duty Monday morning told me that it appeared the fire started on the roof and then dropped down into the restaurant. He had no speculation on what started the fire other than to tell me that there were air handling units on the roof. As of press time the investigators were still doing their work to determine what caused the fire.

It was fortunate that a resident was passing by the shopping center especially at that time of the morning. They spotted the flames on the roof and called 911 to report the fire. As usual, Edmond fire crews responded quickly to the call and avoid the fire spreading or moving to the front of the restaurant.

Staff from the restaurant were on scene Monday morning as well as representatives of the shopping center ownership to determine the extent of the damage. They did not have an answer to how extensive the damage was or if the restaurant would need to be closed for repair. We should have that information by the next issue of the paper but since we go to press on Monday afternoon, they will need time to make such decisions.

My disclaimer is that my wife used to own part of the center but sold her interest to her older brother. It is still in their family. Also, the movie theater is under separate ownership of the building then the shopping center. We wish the best for the staff and ownership of Interurban and hope for a speedy repair to the building.

Edmond blooms with warm weather events

The weather may not be the best for some of the events that kick off this spring and lead into summer,

but the events are happening either way. Looking at the long-range forecast, we may even get lucky and have some pleasant weather to get us started for my favorite time of the year.

The best part is that the outdoor seating is picking up for the many restaurants we have in downtown Edmond. It can be a little sparse during winter but still there were some good days to enjoy your coffee or lunch outside. With warmer weather this only increases, and it is a wonderful thing to see in downtown Edmond. We are hoping that the city will help by improving their landscaping.

Citizens Bank of Edmond always steps up the pace and leads by example with their flowers and plants. As a board member of the bank, I sometimes wish we did not spend so much but then I see how great it makes our downtown area look and I am glad we do it. We just need to get the city to do as well with the rest of the flower beds.

Heard on Hurd has already had its season kick off in March. This amazing street festival is the third Saturday of every month, March through October. To be clear, this event is put on by Citizens Bank of Edmond

and not the city of Edmond. While they certainly do help it was the brainchild of the leadership and staff at the bank. What an amazing job they do including the crowds, food and entertainment. In 45 years of working in the newspaper business, it is the most amazing piece of marketing I have seen. The staff volunteers their time to put this event on each month. It has also brought Edmond downtown back to life.

Heard on Hurd features more than sixty retail and food vendors and three local, live performing artists. They are celebrating the 11th year of this event. Join us for entertainment, activities, and amazing food and drink from our local restaurants and bars before you explore the pop-up shops, food trucks, and live music at Heard on Hurd.

Vibes put on by the Fine Arts Institute of Edmond is back on the first Thursday of the month starting next week, April 4th. This is another great monthly event that puts a focus on art. Of course, there is performing arts as well but also food to be enjoyed. They just do an excellent job with this, and we love the event. To be honest, I am not much of an art gallery kind of guy. I have a limit of one museum and one church in me

when Lisa and I travel to Europe.

But you put something to eat in my hand, have some music playing and let me walk around outside then I love it. I can look at visual arts all day when there is walking, and fresh air involved. It is a great place to bring the kids and get them interested in art. The best part is you get to meet and talk with the artist. So, do not miss out folks.

Speaking of art, the Annual Downtown Edmond Arts Festival is coming this May. It is the 46th year of this fantastic event. The dates this year are Friday, May 3rd through Sunday May 5th. I know it is going to be perfect weather folks.

Many talented artists exhibit and sell their works of art at the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival each year. Come to this event in the heart of charming downtown Edmond and browse through booths filled with paintings, sculptures, jewelry, pottery and more. This free event also features delicious festival food, fun activities for the kids and live musical entertainment.

We do the official program for this event each year and for two years in a row the program has won awards. It is with the help of Michelle Shafer and the volunteer crew that his is possible. There are no paid staff members that oversee this festival.

Before you know it, LibertyFest will be up and running. I have served on the LibertyFest committee for 22 years and it is a labor of love along with being one of the best July 4th festivals in the country. We have awards to prove it folks. It is an allvolunteer force, and the events are spread over about two weeks. Committee work begins right after the event is held in July. It takes a year of planning and work to prepare for the events that make up LibertyFest. We also produce the official program for LibertyFest and donate part of the proceeds back to the festival.

Most of these events are free to the public and I hope you appreciate all the arduous work that volunteers put into all these festivals. It also gives them a true hometown feel. I hope you will volunteer for any of the events that are being put on this spring and summer. Also, if you are a businesses we hope you will consider being a sponsor at any level.

We could use your help.

See you out and about folks.

(Ray Hibbard, publisher, may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)

“Four Seasons” in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the University of Central Oklahoma campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper.

Please e-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Commissioned as a partnership between UCO, the City of Edmond and the Edmond Visual Arts Commission, “Four Seasons” was

by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on

on March 24, 2011.

Kevin

National Sculptor’s

of the

metal as part of the casting process for his sculptures.

percent recyclable.

For more information on Edmond public

dok.com/public-art.php.

Ray Hibbard

The many culinary delights of leg of lamb

By Carol Smaglinski

Perhaps the nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” held the answer.

With lamb, it’s all about age and Mary sure got it right as everywhere that Mary went, the little lambs were sure to go. Your family and friends will follow you right to the dinner table if a leg of lamb, one of the most popular cuts of lamb, is on the menu.

If something doesn’t go your way, just quote W. S. Gilbert (18361911) who said, “It isn’t so much what’s on the table that matters, as what’s on the chairs.”

Back to lamb, which is usually six months to a year when slaughtered.

At that stage, its meat is held in high regard and is deeply satisfying.

If the lamb is left to grow older and turns into a mature sheep, the lamb changes to mutton, a tougher version of lamb and a somewhat acquired taste.

The lamb was one of the first domesticated animals and was a prime source of income for people. Lambs were not only raised for food, but were cherished for its milk, cheese, and wool. Years ago, I left my wonderfully warm mouton (French for mutton) lamb’s fur coat with a good friend when I left the freezing winters behind up north and moved to the south.

Lamb has always been significant as a symbol of Christ, and was a traditional dinner for Easter celebrations in Italy and Greece. In Muslim countries, a whole lamb is roasted when a marriage takes place and later when a baby is born. Indeed, lamb is cooked to help kick off the New Year. Say the word “meat” in Muslim countries and it is synonymous with lamb.

Be aware that when purchasing lamb in a supermarket, color is important. The darker the color, the

older the age of the animal.

The smell of a rich and succulent lamb roast in the oven is a kind of aromatherapy to anyone; pure luxury. Serve with colorful sides.

Roast Leg of Lamb Serves 6

1 small leg of lamb, (about 6 to 7-½ lbs.)

6 slivered garlic cloves (18 seconds in a microwave and the peels slide off)

1 Tbsp. oil

1 Tbsp. dried oregano

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 cup dry white wine

Bring the roast to room temperature before cooking. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make several deep slits in the leg and insert the garlic. Rub the top with oil and sprinkle with the seasonings and add wine. If there is a layer of fat, called the fell, on one side, leave it on as it will hold the roast together.

Place the lamb on a rack to let the fat drip off and sear it in the oven for 15 minutes.

Lower heat to 350 F. and roast leg for about 1-½ hours. Baste often and test with your meat thermometer. Do not allow the temperature to go over 140 degrees. For rare meat, roast 9-11 minutes per pound, for medium, 13-15 minutes per pound.

Remove the roast when done - it will still be cooking. Allow it to stand, covered, for about 10 minutes before carving. That’s the hardest part of the whole recipe as you stand by with your sharp knife and wooden cutting board licking your lips. Go get the mint jelly and indulge, and perhaps add a bottle of Italian Barolo, with its intense flavor, for a real Easter treat in the dining room.

(Editor’s Note: The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department. Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law. Also, CDS is controlled dangerous substance; APC is Actual Physical Control; DUI is driving under the influence.)

March 11

Brittany Lee Harvey, 40 of Edmond. Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Joseph David Dimonico, 25 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Phillip Emmauel Davis II, 28 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant and two counts of failure to appear.

Ivan Cantera, 31 of Oklahoma City. Transporting open container of an intoxicating beverage or beer and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Jason Malachi White, 21 homeless. False representation to an officer.

Kristopher Wade Mackey, 47 of Edmond. Prohibited crossing/pedestrian and public intoxication.

Charles Meret Austin, 57 of Oklahoma City. Possess CDS.

Billy James Wasel, 45 of Oklahoma City. Felony warrant, possession of drug paraphernalia and possess CDS.

Cameron Dorrell Berry, 35 of Spencer. Shoplifting.

March 12

Walter Jerome Funches, Jr., 43 homeless. Two counts of failure to appear.

Iris-Marie Arbuckle, 46 of Edmond. Possess firearm after conviction of a felony and a felony warrant.

Corey Jermaine Hilligoss, 28 of Edmond. Obstruction of police officer and (misdemeanor) domestic abuse assault.

Ny’Kia Lashall Gray, 19 of Edmond. Assault and battery/battery (felony) on police officer or cor-

rectional staff and domestic abuse assault (dangerous weapon).

March 13

Jacob Calvin Smith, 35 homeless. Expired tag, driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

Tera Mychal Feemster, 32 of Edmond. Felony warrant.

Renson Anton, 45 of Edmond. Failure to wear safety belt, no proof of insurance, no tag – improper tag and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Blake Ryan White, 29 of Edmond. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Yve Ngnadoh, 35 of Oklahoma City. Non-assault resisting officer.

Kevin Nieto-Sanchez, 19 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

March 14

Shemery Angelique Hayden, 31 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Syeda Masooma Abedi, 43 homeless. Trespassing.

Billy Adam Goodwin, 37 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Timothy Anthony Wisby, 47 of Oklahoma City. No proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Elmo Davonte Green, 34 of Edmond. Two counts of failure to appear.

Carey Leigh Conner, 39 of Edmond. Felony warrant.

Melody Marie Green, 51 of Oklahoma City. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and two counts of failure to appear.

March 15

Blake Spencer Huxley, 34 of Oklahoma City. Possess drug paraphernalia, (possession of a stolen vehicle) unauthorized use of vehicle or implement of husbandry and two felony warrants.

Taylor Rae Nicole Konefes, 33 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Chad Wesley Schwerdtfeger, 51 homeless. Trespassing after being warned and public intoxication.

Zacharih Levi Green, 38 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor 1st and 2nd offense) larceny of merchandise from retailer, trafficking in illegal drugs and failure to appear.

March 16

John Randolph Needham, 52 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

James Glendell Perkins, 64 of Edmond. Felony warrant.

Isiah Lamar Coulter, 32 homeless. (Misdemeanor value) receiving stolen property and possess drug paraphernalia.

March 17

Leslie Michelle Guy, 54 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Dax Lee Hampton, 25 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

David Lee Young, 40 of Edmond. Driving while impaired by the consumption of alcohol. (DWI)

Dale Gene Nida, 73 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

John Collin Fuller, 35 of Edmond. Non-assault resisting an officer and public intoxication.

Larry Alan Holiday II, 41 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Morgan Jahree Estebane, 37 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Weekend Calendar of Events, March 28-31

Weekend Calendar of Events March 28-31

---- In the Gallery

---- Edmond’s Social Fabric

---- Kingdom of David and Solomon Discovered

---- Arbor Day Sunset Hike

---- Board Game Night at Frenzy

---- Wrangler Bob Feist Invitational

---- Events at Frenzy

---- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Events

---- Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma presents: “King of Pangaea”

---- Bricktown Comedy Club presents: Arnez J

---- Just Between Friends Consignment Sale

---- Arbor Day Fair

---- Easter Bunny Express & Egg Hunt

---- Tulip Festival

---- Holi Festival of Colors & Easter Egg Hunt

---- Easter Jazz Brunch

Extra Information

In the Gallery

Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute

Extra Info: Featuring “XO –The West”; free; Gallery is open Mon – Thu; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; edmondfinearts.com

Edmond’s Social Fabric

Location: Edmond History Museum

Extra Info: Fri, Dec 1 – Sun, Mar 31; free; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; edmondhistory.org

Kingdom of David and Solomon Discovered

Location: Armstrong Auditorium

Extra Info: Mon, Feb 26 – Fri, Jan 17 2025; Free; Mon – Thu: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Fri & Sun: 10 a.m. –

Car show set for April 13 at the famed Arcadia

Round Barn

4 p.m.; closed Saturdays; armstrongauditorium.org

Arbor Day Sunset Hike

Location: Spring Creek Paved Trail

Extra Info: Thu, Mar 28; 6 – 7:30 p.m.; Free

Board Game Night at Frenzy

Loction: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Thu, Mar 28; 6 – 10 p.m.; Free; facebook.com

Wrangler Bob Feist Invitational

Location: Lazy E Arena

Extra Info: Thu, Mar 28 – Mon, Apr 1; 9 a.m.; lazye.com

Events at Frenzy

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Fri, Mar 29: John the Franklin @ 7:30 p.m.; Sat, Mar 30: MBG Combo @ 7:30 p.m.; frenzybrewing.com

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Events

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Thu, Mar 28 – Sun, Mar 31 Choose Your Adventure & Explore the Code: Annie Oakley; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat, Mar 30 – Sun, Mar 31: Signature Tour @ 1 – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma presents: “King of Pangeaea”

Location: Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma

Extra Info: Wed, Mar 20 – Sun, Apr 7; Wed & Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri: 8 p.m.; Sat: 2 & 8 p.m.; lyrictheatreokc.com

The Arcadia Round Barn will celebrate the 32nd anniversary of its restoration with a classic car show, live music and tours of the museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

Car registration is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the parking lot on the north side of the barn. The entry fee is $20. Trophies will be awarded at 2 p.m. to the Top 20, Best of Show and People’s Choice winners.

The Round Barn Ramblers will perform from noon to 2 p.m. A food truck

Bricktown Comedy Club presents: Arnez J

Location: Bricktown Comedy Club

Extra Info: Thu, Mar 28 – Sat, Mar 30; Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri: 7:30 & 10:15 p.m.; Sat: 7 & 9:45 p.m.; bricktowncomedy.com

Just Between Friends Consignment

Location: Oklahoma City Fairgrounds

Extra Info: Sat, Mar 23 – Sat, Mar 30; Mon & Tue: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thu & Fri: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Sun: 12 – 8 p.m.; okc.jbfsale.com

Arbor Day Fair

Location: OSU Extension Conference Center

Extra Info: Sat, Mar 30; 12 – 3 p.m.; okcbeautiful.com

Eater Bunny Express & Egg Hunt

Location: Oklahoma Railway Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Mar 30; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Trains depart at 9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. & 3:15 p.m.; oklahomarailwaymuseum.org

Tulip Festival

Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens

Extra Info: Sat, Mar 30 – Sun, Mar 31; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; myriadgardens.org

Holi Festival of Colors & Easter Egg Hung

Location: 1501 W Covel Rd, Edmond

Extra Info: Sat, Mar 30; 2 – 5 p.m.; Egg Hunt: 2 –3 p.m.; Holi Celebration: 3 – 5 p.m.; iaok.org Easter Jazz Brunch

Location: The Jones Assembly

Extra Info: Sun, Mar 31; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; thejonesassembly.com

will be available on the grounds. Children are invited to play the scavenger hunt, which comes with a free prize bag.

The car show is a fundraiser for the Round Barn, which recently was refurbished with new siding and paint.

The barn was built in 1898 by William Odor and J.H. Keely. The town of Arcadia was founded by Odor and other landowners in 1902 after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad was built to the south of the barn. A dirt

road designated as State Highway 7 was built between the barn and the railroad tracks in 1914, and in 1926 the still-unpaved road became U.S. Highway 66.

The Round Barn changed owners several times and had fallen into disrepair by the 1980s, when the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society assumed ownership. A group of retired carpenters undertook the restoration, and the barn was dedicated as a nonprofit museum in April 1992. The barn is located six miles east of Interstate 35 on historical Route 66.

Glenn Miller orchestra to perform

The world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform at Armstrong Auditorium on Thursday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. The signature Miller sound continues to entertain generations young and old, with time-honored favorites including “Moonlight Serenade,” “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” and “In The Mood,” as well as modern well-known tunes like “The White Cliffs of Dover,” “Rainbow Rhapsody,” “Everybody Loves My Baby,” and “Star Wars.”

“We are thrilled to close our season with such a timeless and renowned band,” said Program Director Ryan Malone. “Armstrong Auditorium is the perfect intimate

atmosphere to spend a night with one of the great institutions of American music.”

Only a handful of seats remain for this sure-to-sellout event. To purchase tickets, please visit ArmstrongAuditorium.org or call the Box Office at (405) 285-1010.

Currently at the Armstrong Auditorium through January of 2025, the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation is presenting “Kingdom of David and Solomon Discovered”. The world premiere exhibit showcases almost fifty artifacts from tenth century BCE Israel, in an immersive display for the whole family to enjoy.

The Glenn Miller orchestra is in concert April 4 at Armstrong Auditorium in Edmond.

Study may yield insights on birth defects, cancer

Cell division takes place naturally and continuously inside all of us. To Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Dean Dawson, Ph.D., the process is a lot like dealing cards.

"You might be able to perfectly deal 46 cards each to two players once, but could you do it millions of times in a row and always know each player will get exactly 46 cards, no mistakes?” said Dawson. “That is what your body is trying to do with chromosomes.”

While a card-dealing snafu can cost a gambler money, the stakes in cell division are much higher: Errors can cause genetic birth defects in the womb and cancer in children and adults.

Dawson has devoted his scientific career to understanding how and why these mistakes occur. With a new $2.1 grant from the National Institutes of Health, the OMRF scientist will continue that quest.

Every cell contains 46 chromosomes – one set of 23 from each parent. As a cell prepares to divide into two new cells, it makes copies of these chromosomes and deals 46 to both new cells.

“What amazes me is how precise this process is, given the fact that it’s happening constantly throughout our bodies,” said Dawson, who’s led a lab at OMRF for nearly two decades. “By the time we’re adults, the body has gone through this process trillions of times.”

Dawson will try to determine how each piece in the mechanism functions. Similar to an auto mechanic, he believes that only by understanding how the body functions properly can scientists determine what leads to mistakes.

“If your mechanic’s manual was missing the page on the fuel injector, then anytime you had a fuel injector problem, your mechanic would just throw their hands up in the air,” Dawson said. “We’re trying to provide a complete parts manual for cell division so that eventually we can understand why cells sometimes produce the wrong number of chromosomes.”

Most tumor cells have far more than the normal

number of chromosomes. Dawson’s grant also will investigate which parts of the chromosome machinery are most crucial in keeping the tumor cell alive. That knowledge, he said, might identify a location for future anti-cancer drugs that disable the machinery.

“When something goes wrong, you can’t fix it if you don’t fully understand how it works correctly in the first place,” said Gary Gorbsky, Ph.D., who chairs OMRF’s Cancer & Cell Cycle Biology Research Program. “That’s what Dr. Dawson’s research is all about. I’m excited to see what he learns.”

The five-year award is part of the Maximizing In-

vestigators’ Research Award, or MIRA, program. MIRA grants give scientists latitude to use the funding to support a wide range of needs; the increased freedom is intended to enhance both productivity and the likelihood of important, even unplanned, breakthroughs.

The grant, No. R35 GM152165-01, is from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the NIH. Dawson also received funding from the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation and preliminary research support from the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, a program of TSET.

Bill affecting illegal aliens not advancing

Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, commented on House Bill 4090, which failed to progress following the House of Representatives' thirdreading deadline for bills from their chamber of origin.

HB4090 proposed criminalizing unlawful presence in the United States. Under the bill, if a person is arrested and found to be illegally present in Oklahoma, they would be charged with a felony and subject to a minimum penalty of five years imprisonment.

"It's disappointing that House Bill 4090 failed to advance," Hardin said. "Under Joe Biden's administration, the border crisis has reached unprecedented levels, forcing states to act on their own. This legislation could have served as a significant move toward addressing the urgent problem of illegal immigration within our state. Instead, we continue to ineffectively manage the influx of individuals entering Oklahoma illegally."

Under HB4090, a person arrested may post a cash bond of at least $100,000. Alternatively, the court could issue a written order requiring the person to return to the foreign nation from which the person entered if the person agrees to the order, has not previously been convicted of a violent crime, and is not charged with another felony offense.

The measure would require the Department of Corrections to notify the United States Customs and Border Protection.

Gonzaga

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Dean Dawson, Ph.D.

An honor for Mo Anderson

Edmond resident and former CEO and Co-Owner of Keller Williams Realty International, Mo Anderson, was honored with the NSDAR Women in American History Medal Award at the March 14th Cordelia Steen Chapter meeting. The award was presented by the Chapter’s American History Committee Chair and Chapter Regent Tammy Ross to Ms. Anderson for her lifelong accomplishments as a successful business woman and for her great legacy of philanthropic giving to her local community, charitable organizations, and ministries around the world.

In 2018, Mo Anderson was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and became a member in the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in 2023. She is deemed as one of America’s Top 25 Influential Thought Leaders by REALTOR magazine and One of Real Estates Most Influential People. She is the author of “A Joy-filled Life: Lesson from a Tenant Farmer’s Daughter Who Became a CEO.” During the meeting, Ms. Anderson presented a program on “How Women Can Achieve in Life through Determination

and Hard Work.” After the program and award presentation, the chapter celebrated Ms. Anderson with a Tea and Pie Reception. The Cordelia Steen Chapter is proud to present this award to such a worthy recipient and applauds Mo Anderson for her outstanding achievements.

The NSDAR Women in American History Award honors women who have made a difference in their communities in the fields of intellectual, educational, social, religious, political, scientific, or cultural achievement or innovations. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political, volunteer women’s organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education. Any woman, 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership. For more information visit the Cordelia Steen Chapter website at: https://cordeliasteennsdar.weebly.com

Engagement, Wedding notices

Do you have a wedding or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com. We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph. Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

Chapter Regent Tammy Ross and Mo Anderson, Recipient.

Lots & lots of new laws

By Steve Gust

The article to the right of this column is interesting.

According to Rep. Collin Duel, the Oklahoma Legislature is apparently considering hundreds of bills to possibly become law,

We must be a flawed society to have that many situations needing a legal fix.

And if you’re a lawmaker, how do you keep up with hundreds of bills? And next year there will be hundreds of new bills under consideration to go along with all the new laws passed in 2023.

I can imagine some representative at a town hall facing an upset member of the public.

“Why did you vote for HB 9999? Don’t you realize the harm you’ve caused by that?”

REP: “I voted for that? Really? By the way, what is that?”

It reminds me of the infamous quote from our former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “We have to

vote for the bill so we know what’s in it.”

That led to people suggesting that someone insert term limits in a bill that large. After all, nobody reads it in advance.

It is interesting that we have a wave of new laws every year.

And the people at the federal level do the same thing.

How do judges and police officers keep up with that?

A few years ago, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a law, which made illegal to linger in the passing left lane of a four-lane highway.

A few months later, The Oklahoman newspaper made an appeal to the public to see if anyone had ever been ticketed for it.

I’m not sure if anyone was.

Don’t forget also, folks that this is the time of year, when ABC pencils out four hours or so to show the great 1956 classic, “The Ten Commandments” movie.

Humanity has never seemed to be able to master 10 laws from God.

And before I hear from our lawmakers, I know they have challenges and I do appreciate their work.

(Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)

Hundreds of bills under consideration

list of 85% crimes.

By Rep. Collin Duel

It was a short week at the Capitol, but earlier this month, the House completed its third reading deadline on Thursday, March 14. We passed 422 bills and joint resolutions off the House floor before the deadline, just a fraction of the thousands of measures filed this year.

These bills covered various topics, including multiple tax cut measures, a cost-of-living adjustment for state employees, modified graduation requirements, and crackdowns on crime. As the House is the body closest to the people, many of these bills directly resulted from constituent requests.

I want to discuss two bills I passed last week: House Bill 3775 and House Bill 3776. HB3775 increases the floor of the range of punishment for several domestic violence crimes. HB3776 adds several domestic violence felonies to the

These bills represent significant progress in our ongoing efforts to protect victims and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable for their actions. The House will now swap bills with the Senate and consider their 279 bills, beginning with hearing measures in our House committees before they advance to the floor.

In the coming weeks, we will work to finalize the state budget. The Senate recently concluded its work in this area and released its budget figures, which do not include cash from prior fiscal years or money available to be appropriated from various state funds.

On Monday, the Legislative Showmanship was held at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. Legislators from every corner of the state joined Oklahoma's future farmers and ranchers for the Oklahoma Youth Expo, the world's largest junior livestock show. It was an excellent opportunity to meet with the future agriculture industry leaders.

This annual event hosts over 7,000 FFA and 4-H members and more than 13,000 heads of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and ag mechanics. OYE awards nearly $2 million to exhibitors and more than $300,000 in academic scholarships. It has a $25 million economic impact on the Oklahoma City economy.

I want to thank Rylin Wells of the Guthrie FFA chapter, for coaching me along as we showed her pig. Agriculture education programs like 4-H and FFA create opportunities for Oklahoma youth to build life skills and grow students into dedicated, committed young adults who appreciate hard work and determination.

I am thankful and honored that the constituents of House District 31 have entrusted me with the responsibility of serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7350 or collin.duel@okhouse.gov.

Rep. Collin Duel, a Republican, serves District 31 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Logan and Oklahoma counties.

Administration’s energy policy challenged

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) participated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget where he challenged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over the Biden Administration’s policies targeting American oil and gas producers while buying more oil from Venezuela and expanding access for Iranian producers.

Lankford has repeatedly raised concerns over the Biden Administration’s decisions to target American oil and gas producers. Lankford joined his colleagues to push the White House to enforce oil sanctions against Iran and introduced legislation to prohibit the importation of Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas into the United States.

Lankford is the lead on the Protecting Domestic Energy Production Act, which would allow companies to consider intangible drilling costs (IDCs) when calculating taxable income. IDCs allow oil and natural gas companies to recover their intangible costs more quickly, freeing up funds to reinvest in development, resulting in more jobs. This bill

will provide targeted relief for the small and midsized oil and gas producers across the state of Oklahoma. The Democrats’ so-called Inflation Reduction Act attacked oil and gas companies by taking away their ability to deduct normal business expenses under the Book Minimum Tax. The bill is supported by the American Exploration and Production Council and the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance.

Excerpt

Lankford: I noticed in the budget the intangible drilling costs for oil and gas production. I thought it was interesting in the President's budget and the proposal, every other business in America that does manufacturing can deduct their normal business expenses but in the President's proposal, it is ‘except oil and gas production.’ They cannot and should not be able to deduct normal business expenses. Is there a reason why those particular manufacturing locations should not be able to deduct normal business expenses and every other manufacturer in the country should?

Yellen: Well, in general, subsidies to fossil fuels are something that the President—

Lankford: This is not a subsidy, intangible

drilling cost is not subsidy that's the cost of actual production. That's the cost of all the equipment of everything else around it. That's not a subsidy. Every manufacturing business can write off their normal business expenses. I guess my question is, why do those manufacturers not get to write off their business expenses and everyone else does?

Yellen: Because the fossil fuel industries have benefited from many subsidies over many years that makes it difficult for clean energy to be taken up.

Lankford: Well, I noticed recently that Treasury and the State Department have reduced the sanctions on Venezuela and that we're now buying oil from Venezuela when we weren't for the last four years. So I guess my question is the President's proposal is to make it harder to produce American energy but there's still an acknowledgement that we need oil still. And so now we're buying oil from Venezuela, when previously we weren't. If you go back two years ago, even the first two years of the Biden Administration we're not buying any oil from Venezuela knowing that it's the Maduro regime and all that they're doing to their people. But there's a proposal to increase taxes on American companies but buy more for Venezuela. Why would that be?

Yellen: The relief that was put into place reflected progress that seemed to be made in Venezuela in respect to our foreign policy goals for—

Lankford: Would that the same with Iran? Because I know for some of the Iranian sanctions there was a…New York Times reported 27 tankers were then insured by an American company. They were able to be able to…put Iranian oil on the World Market when we had pretty strict sanctions on Iran.

Steve Gust

Lankford

Duel

Exhibit highlights famed past of editorial cartoons

The University of Central Oklahoma's Melton Gallery will host a closing reception featuring for the exhibit “Lines with Power and Purpose: An Editorial Cartoon Collection" from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, April 25, at the Melton Gallery, located in the UCO Art and Design building on Central’s campus.

This exhibition, now on display, features more than 50 original editorial cartoons from the nation's great metropolitan newspapers during the golden age of newspapers from 1830–1930. Among the many featured artists are seven Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists, including Charles Werner (1909–97), who wrote for The Daily Oklahoman. Spanning the early 20th century through the early postwar period, these drawings represent innovative attempts to interpret a world torn apart by war and economic disruption.

"UCO has housed this important set of political cartoons for almost four decades,” said Keri Smith, curator of the Melton Gallery.

“It has not been displayed in the Melton Gallery since 2015, but recently returned to campus after a three-year national tour. We are happy to display it in its home gallery.”

The Melton Gallery is free and open to the public noon-5 p.m., Mondays–Thursdays, and Fridays by appointment. To schedule an appointment, contact the UCO Melton Gallery at meltongallery@uco.edu or call 405-974-6358.

For more information about the Melton Gallery, visit www.meltongallery.com, and for more information about the UCO College of Fine Arts and Design, as well as a listing of events and performances, visit cfad.uco.edu.

UCO plans orientation for new students

The University of Central Oklahoma will host New Broncho Orientation for new students from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., April 8, 17 and 22; May 1, 15 and 23; June 18 and 26; and July 2, 10, 17, 24 and 29, on Central’s campus.

New Broncho Orientation is an integral part of the transition for students coming to UCO. During the one-day event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet fellow Central students, learn about campus resources, meet with an academic advisor and enroll in courses.

“No matter where the student is coming from,

we want to make sure they get a head start on their time here at UCO,” said Kay Robinson, Ed.D., assistant vice president of Student Affairs at UCO.

“New Broncho Orientation allows us to help incoming students not only register and prepare for courses, but also helps them learn what it means to be a Central Broncho.”

New Broncho Orientation is required for all incoming Central students. If incoming students scored below a 19 on any section of the ACT, or did not take the ACT, they will need to take a placement test before attending UCO. If an incom-

ing student needs to take a placement test, contact UCO Testing Services at testing@uco.edu or call 405-974-2388.

UCO continues to accept applications for the 2024-25 academic year. Prospective students should visit apply.uco.edu to submit their application. Once accepted to the university, admitted students will receive notification regarding registration for a New Broncho Orientation session.

For more information and to register for New Broncho Orientation, visit uco.edu/studentlife/new-broncho-orientation/.

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Melton Gallery is hosting “Lines with Power and Purpose: An Editorial Cartoon Collection” from now through April 25 at the Melton Gallery, located in the UCO Art and Design building on Central’s campus. A closing reception will be from 5-7 p.m., April 25. Pictured is “1936 Victory” by C. K. Barrington, part of an exhibition collection of more than 50 golden era cartoons.

Masonic Foundation assists Senior Citizens deaf program

The Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma awarded a generous grant to purchase hearing aids for 180 seniors through the statewide Senior Citizens Hearing Aid Program operated by the Oklahoma School for the Deaf.

Including the recent grant, the Masonic Charity Foundation has donated a total of $893,000 which cleared waiting lists and helped lower-income seniors get hearing aids through the OSD program.

Masonic Grand Master John Carter and Masonic Foundation President Neil Stitt presented a $125,000 check to OSD Superintendent Dr. Heather Laine and OSD Equipment Distribution Program coordinator Renate Neal at a luncheon on March 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn and Edmond Conference Center.

“On behalf of the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma, we are proud to help improve the lives of Oklahoma’s seniors,” said John Logan, executive director. “We appreciate the Senior Hearing Aid Program and the efforts of the Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, who make it happen.”

OSD’s hearing aid program is funded by a small fee on telephone service for those who have conventional metal wire or optical fiber telephone connections, known as land lines.

Funding for the program has declined in recent years because many

people have switched to mobile cellular phones, which are not currently subject to the telephone service fee in Oklahoma.

“The Senior Citizens Hearing Aid Program has helped with improving the quality of life by giving seniors access to communication, the security of safety and confidence, which are all vital to the health of a senior,” Neal said

To qualify for the Senior Citizens Hearing Aid Program, Oklahoma residents must be 60 years of age, with limited income and a 35-decibel hearing loss in their better ear.

The program pays for an audiology examination, ear mold impression, hearing aid fitting and one non-digital hearing aid per person due to limited funding and the need to serve as many seniors as possible.

“The support of Masonic Charity Foundation means the world for our senior citizens with hearing loss,” OSD Superintendent Dr. Heather Laine said. “Without it, we could not be able to have the impact we do for our senior citizens’ quality of life. Thank you to the Masons for helping us making a positive impact.”

OSD is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

For more information about the program, email mcole@okdrs.gov, phone 580-622-4909 or visit http://www.osd.k12.ok.us/edp/senior_hearing_aid.pdf.

Rotary Club of Edmond hosts annual ‘Career Shadow Day’

Rotary Club of Edmond members and students from Edmond high schools gained beneficial insight into each other, building hope for the city’s future and respect between generations.

Students from Edmond Memorial High School, Santa Fe High School and Edmond North High School participated in the club’s annual Career Shadow Day on March 6 to learn firsthand about day-to-day life in various places where members work.

Participating businesses included Edmond Public Schools Foundation, Edmond Police Department, Visit Edmond, Edmond Fire Department, Edward Jones, Edmond Public Schools Technology Department, Citizens Bank of Edmond, Keller Williams Realty Central Oklahoma, and Hyperbaric Fitness USA.

The students began the day shadowing at businesses then reported to the club about their experiences during the weekly meeting.

Whitney Randall of Citizens Bank of Edmond coordinated the project and led students through her bank to give a behind-the-scenes look.

“I was able to see how much the counselors care and want the student to get real world experience before they are thrust into figuring out life at 18,” Randall said. “The students I was able to host today asked amazing

questions and are really looking forward to their futures.”

Seventeen students participated, including Edmond North junior, Sophia Badillo. Her experience literally took her to the skies when she climbed atop a fire truck ladder as it rose above the city.

“You could see so much around, and you felt like you were on top of the world at the same time. Our fire department has these capabilities. It’s really cool we are in good hands,” she said.

Badillo is interested in becoming an Air Force pilot but will have firefighting as a second option. She was impressed with a tour of firefighters’ quarters and the atmosphere in which they work.

Edmond Santa Fe High School senior, Ryan Smith, also enjoyed his firsthand look at the life of a residential realtor. He shadowed Keith May of Keller Williams Realty Central Oklahoma.

“I think if we all shadowed a real estate agent someday, I think you would see the true way to treat someone. The way that God wants us to treat people. And I think that after high school, my people skills and how I meet new people, I will be looking back at this moment,” Smith said.

Joshua Gottshall, a junior at Ed-

See Rotary, Page 15

The Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma awarded a $125,000 grant to Oklahoma School for the Deaf to purchase hearing aids for low-income senior citizens: (from left) Grand Master of the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma John Carter, OSD Superintendent Dr. Heather Laine, OSD Equipment Distribution Program coordinator Renate Neal and Masonic Charity Foundation President Neil Stitt.

Review of movie ‘Road House’

Amazon film musters up a few thrills

By George Gust

“Road House” is Amazon Prime’s latest big budget streaming exclusive remake of the 1989 cult classic movie starring Patrick Swayze. This version follows an ex-UFC fighter named Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.

Throughout the years the 1989 “Road House” had gained a cult following for its over the top dialogue, and a mullet wearing Patrick Swayze performance to match. It captured a moment in time and it seems that people responded to that tone and style. Now with the 2024 “Road House” we have a movie that can’t quite decide what kind of tone to run with. On one hand the cinematography and tortured backstory of Dalton would tell you that this is a serious drama about grief and anger. On the other hand, you have a sickly charismatic Gyllenhaal spouting off snarky one-liners to over-the-top villains who’s demeanor seems to have been plucked directly out of the cheesy action movies of the 80’s. The result is a mixed bag

Answers

on Page 19

of questionable story choices and fun popcorn elements that only slightly outweigh the gaps in storytelling.

Ever since his memorable turn in the little seen thriller “Nightcrawler” Gyllenhaal has been one of those interesting actors who has grown and changed his persona throughout his career. His calm confidence in “Road House” is reminiscent of the silent psychopathy seen in “Nightcrawler” which makes for an interesting yet successful per-

formance for an ostensibly ‘good guy’ but can lose the fun loving tone that the movie wants you to buy in on. And in support of Gyllenhaal there are several fun performances mixed with some that were less fleshed out. Where Daniela Melchior’s love interest character has little on screen chemistry with the lead; real life UFC fighter Conor McGregor’s unhinged character gets plenty of screen time to bring a cartoonish amount of chaotic energy that fits in with the ‘no holds barred’ fight action that “Road House” fans would want to see.

Overall, Amazon Prime’s “Road House” is an entertaining enough beat-em-up movie that delivers on the popcorn fight action and not much else. There’s some humor that’s hit or miss in this film, but if you’re expecting more than the films log line of ‘hardcore fighter enters town and beats up bad guys’ you might be let down.

“Road House” is rated R for violence throughout, pervasive language and some nudity.

3.3 out of 5 stars

(Contact George Gust for comment at gust.george@gmail.com)

Free historic webinar set on April 9

Crossword Puzzle

On Tuesday, April 9, at 2 p.m., the State Historic Preservation Office will present a free webinar in its “Everyday Oklahoma: Fascinating Stories about Familiar Places” speaker series. “Rocks, Ruts, and Springs: Remnants of Early Trails through Oklahoma” will feature Susan Dragoo as the speaker. Dragoo is a photographer and writer who specializes in historical subjects, travel, action and the outdoors.

Registration for the webinar is required. For more information, contact Kristina Wyckoff, Section 106 coordinator and historic archaeologist, at 405-521-6381 or kristina.wyckoff@history.ok.gov.

Clarification

Last week, we inadvertently left off the last two clues of the crossword puzzle. The clues for 64 down and 66 down were not printed.

I apologize for the omission. The clues are below.

64. Wharton degree, acr. (Three letters 66. Back then (Three letters)

Jake Gyellenhaal is calling out Last Call in Amazon Prime’s streaming exclusive remake of the cult classic action film ‘Road House.’

Upcoming Hope Gala to help St. Jude’s families

By Julie Onstot

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is worldrenowned for providing state-of-the-art care, groundbreaking research, and illustrious support for families going through the unimaginable. At its heart, is hope.

In May, that inspiration will be displayed at the 5th Annual Evening of Hope Gala in Oklahoma City, which aims to ease the burden on patient families through recordbreaking fundraising efforts. And for this year’s Event Chairs Adam and Neely Thomas, the purpose is personal.

Adam’s family was touched by childhood cancer in the 1950s.  His grandparents suffered the loss of their firstborn son, Dennis. Dennis had a Wilms tumor, a rare kidney cancer that mainly affects children. At the time, the survival rate was low - under 40%.  Then, ten years ago, Adam’s cousin Sophia was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a disorder in which excess immune system cells build up in the body.

“It hit home with the entire family,” Adam said. “Nothing else matters when it affects your family.  My grandmother always kept Dennis’ picture up in remembrance. We all knew his story, and we feared the worst when we got the news about Sophia.”

The bright spot, Adam says, is that Sophia would be receiving treatment at St. Jude, where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food – so they can focus on helping their child live.

Since being founded over 60 years ago, treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%. And because they openly share their findings, the impact is localmany of the procedures and protocols are used by doctors and hospitals here in Oklahoma City.

There are currently hundreds of active St. Jude patients and dozens of referring physicians/clinicians located throughout the state. An affiliate clinic is located in Tulsa at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis and is equipped with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services.  At Saint Francis pediatric hematologists and oncologists can give children access to more clinical trials than at any other facility in Oklahoma and enable them to stay close to home. Many patients will go to Memphis for a treatment plan but come back for surgery and ongoing care from the comforts of home.

“The work is so much more than what happens within hospital walls,” Neely said. “You don’t have to be a patient to benefit, and it’s not just about cancer. These scientists are learning things that can be applied to other processes that help patients worldwide.”

For example, the cancer that took

Rotary

mond Memorial High School, toured the school district’s technology center. He plans to study engineering.

“Anything with IT is going to be beneficial for anyone,” Gottshall said. “Engineering and technology go hand in hand in every way.”

Dennis’ life in the 1950s is now being treated with a 90% success rate - all thanks to groundbreaking research from St. Jude.

More than 80% of U.S. childhood cancer patients are now long-term survivors.

And cousin Sophia? She’s cancerfree. A happy and healthy young adult with a bright future ahead.

“Through this journey with St. Jude, I have met so many families with success stories,” Adam said. “We’ve also met a lot of families with sad ones. But the fact they remain so optimistic and supportive with the work St. Jude does, speaks volumes to the level of care these families receive during the worst times of their lives.”

With gratitude, Adam and Neely now prioritize their commitment to the cause. Neely is a St. Jude Hero, raising money throughout the year by running marathons.

“The atmosphere out there is just amazing,” Neely said. “I’ve done a lot of races, but St. Jude is just different. The kids are waving, families are encouraging, the mission is everywhere.”

Last year, the event raised more than $500,000 - breaking a record for the event in Oklahoma City. Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding comes from generous donors. For the Thomases, this is not just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of hope, healing, and the power of community to change lives.

“In today’s society that’s so cost-driven, you know your money is being used for good,” Neely said.  “We are ready to make a bigger impact, and we are so excited to get OKC connected even more with the St. Jude community.  This is an opportunity to change the future on a global scale.”

The 5th Annual St. Jude Evening of Hope Gala will be Saturday, May 4, 2024 at The Omni Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. The event is presented by Revenue Management Solutions and includes an evening of dinner and cocktails, a live auction, and powerful stories from St. Jude patients and their families. All proceeds support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To help support the mission and save lives, visit www.stjude.org/eveningofhopeokc

From Page13

When asked if Edmond has a good future, Randall answered, “100 percent! For them to be engaged and be asking those intellectual questions was incredible to experience,” she said. www.edmondrotary.org

The Rotary Club of Edmond hosted students from Edmond high schools during its annual Career Shadow Day. This year, 17 students toured businesses where club members work. Club members say the students made a positive impression

Adam and Neely at the 2022 St. Jude Songwriters and Symphony Gala, now known as the Evening of Hope Gala.

A warm welcome to Nerve Renewal Neuropathy

Nerve Renewal Neuropathy recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening at 3520 South Blvd #100.

Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinics, a pioneer in providing drug-free and non-invasive treatments for peripheral neuropathy, proudly announces the grand opening of its newest location in Edmond. This expansion marks a significant milestone in the company's journey towards making innovative neuropathy treatments accessible to more individuals. Established in 2022 with its first clinic in Northwest OKC, Nerve Renewal Neuropathy Clinics has rapidly expanded its footprint across Oklahoma with additional clinics in SW OKC, Edmond, Norman, and Midwest City.

At Nerve Renewal, patients can expect a approach to treating neuropathy that is both drugfree and non-invasive. Utilizing innovative techniques, the clinics offer comprehensive care for various forms of neuropathy, including diabetic, chemo-induced, and surgical neuropathy. This approach ensures that individuals suffering from neuropathic conditions have access to effective treatments that prioritize their comfort and wellbeing. Nerve Renewal is dedicated to ensuring accessibility to their services. The treatments provided are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, and the VA, making them accessible to a wide range of patients.

To learn more about Nerve Renewal Neuropathy, check out their website, http://www.nerverenewalnow.com, or give them a call at (580) 304-5821.

New

mortgage expert joins RCB Bank staff

Tiana Lesch, a seasoned mortgage professional with a diverse financial service career, has recently joined RCB Bank's Edmond Pennsylvania Location as a Mortgage Loan Originator.

With her extensive experience dating back to 2003, Tiana brings a wealth of expertise in customer care and mortgage loan origination, catering to a wide range of clients including first-time homebuyers, refinancers and those seeking conventional and government loans.

Tiana

Tiana's journey is marked by significant milestones, including roles at Arrowhead Credit Union, Altura Credit Union and TTCU. Her decision to join RCB Bank was fueled by the institution's stellar reputation and its diverse range of mortgage products, offering her the opportunity to continue serving the community with excellence.

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from California State University San Bernardino, Tiana's educational background complements her professional prowess. Additionally, she holds two state licenses with the NMLS, further solidifying her credibility in the mortgage industry.

Driven by her passion for empowering individuals to achieve their homeownership dreams, Tiana aims to lead a mortgage lending department in the future, envisioning the opportunity to mentor and guide aspiring professionals in the field. Her dedication to excellence is evident not only in her career but also in her community involvement, where she serves as a board member for the EMHS Football team.

Chamber and city officials wished a happy grand opening to Nerve Renewal Neuropathy.

Commissioner touts bill that aids homeowners

By Okla. Insurance Commissioner  Glen Mulready

As Insurance Commissioner, I understand the pressing issue of high insurance rates voiced by the Oklahoma consumer, particularly in homeowners insurance, brought about because of increased severe weather events and rising costs to rebuild. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about the weather, but I can help Oklahomans fortify their homes. I'm pleased to announce that the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is actively addressing this with initiatives aimed at consumer relief. We are focusing on the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act (HB 3089), currently under consideration in the Oklahoma Legislature. This legislation seeks to improve disaster resilience and lower homeowners insurance rates. Let's explore how this program can benefit Oklahomans and create a more secure future for all.

What is the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act?

The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act is legislation that, if it becomes law, will create a grant program to help Oklahomans strengthen roofs with impact-resistant materials that meet FORTIFIED standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). OID would use existing budgeted funds and redirect these dollars to provide grants to Oklahoma consumers.

How will this program lower premiums?

The grant funds would assist consumers in constructing or retrofitting their homes with impact-resistant shingles and other enhancements. Many insurance companies reduce premiums when these types of modifications are made to homes.

How will this program work?

Consumers would submit a formal application with OID. The program would be first-come, first-serve, so once the application is open, it’s crucial to apply as soon as possible. It will be open to consumers in all 77 counties, and grant awards will be disbursed with priority given to lower-income applicants, as well as applicants who live in locations that, based on historical data, have a higher susceptibility to catastrophic weather events. Once approved, grantees must make the retrofits and renovations using an IBHS-approved contractor within a set period of time.

To find more information on homeowners insurance or request assistance, please visit oid.ok.gov or call OID at 800522-0071.

The Winston restaurant had help from the Edmond Chamber, and others, to celebrate its Grand Opening.

The business is at 17800 N. May Ave.

A unique dining experience at The Winston

The Winston recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening at 17900 N May Ave.

The Winston is set to redefine the dining experience by blending timeless recipes with contemporary twists. Patrons can enjoy a delectable array of dishes crafted to tantalize taste buds and satisfy cravings.

From savory entrees to delightful desserts, The Winston's menu is designed to cater to every palate, ensuring a memorable dining experience.

One of the standout features of The Winston is its remarkable whiskey selection, which stands as a testament to the establishment's commitment to excellence. Whiskey aficionados and novices alike will revel in the opportunity to explore an extensive array of whiskey varieties, each carefully cu-

Hertz selling its call center

Hertz, once one of Oklahoma City's largest employers, has put its call center on the market in what what would be its second big property sale since 2020, raising questions about its longtime presence in OKC.

In the meantime, Hertz isn't going anywhere.

“Hertz is proud to be a major employer in Oklahoma City for over five decades and we remain committed to our operations there," a spokesman told The Oklahoman. "We can confirm our building at 5601 Northwest Expressway is for sale and we are transitioning to a lease agreement.”

Downtown Edmond cafe going strong after 12 years

By Alexx Reger EL&L Business Editor

Café EVOKE in Downtown Edmond opened 12 years ago and has been a staple for top-notch coffee and other food delicacies ever since.

Owners, Lori and Robert Black, bought the coffee shop from the Duncan’s in 2019 because they loved the coffee but also wanted to enhance the food. “We are a true café, serving both food and coffee,” says Black. “We also offer mobile coffee catering!”

At Café EVOKE you can get all of your favorites like delicious espressos, macchiatos, cappuccinos, lattes, iced coffees as well as soothing teas from the London Fog to apple cider and hot chocolate.

The Blacks wanted to make sure not to only focus on the excellent coffee they bring in but also make sure the food and hospitality was emphasized.

Food items you can dine on include waffles, buttermilk French toast, the Big Breakfast Burrito, parfaits, and all of your breakfast staples

like eggs and sausage. One of their newer items include the assortment of omelets you can order including the smoked salmon and meat lovers. You can also purchase lunch items like paninis, BLT’s, and the turkey avocado sandwich.

Every single day is a unique and amazing experience with their customers and staff which is something the Blacks cherish.

As Edmond continues to grow, they see offering extended hours of operation for the future.

The Blacks love being in Downtown Edmond and love the small town feel that reminds them of their own roots growing up. Lori grew up in Noble and Robert grew up in Shattuck.

“We are grateful every day, for the community, for the staff, and for the city and for you!” says the Blacks.

Check out Café EVOKE at 103 S. Broadway or visit their website to view the menu and other items at cafeevoke.com.

You can also reach them at 405285-1522.

rated to provide an exceptional tasting experience.

But the allure of The Winston extends beyond its culinary offerings. With a sprawling, dogfriendly patio equipped with both fans and heaters, patrons can relish the al fresco ambiance all year round. Whether basking in the summer sun with a Frozen Watermelon Fresca or cozying up during the winter months with a classic Hot Toddy, the patio at The Winston promises an inviting atmosphere for all seasons. Whether gathering for a night out with friends, enjoying a family dinner, or simply unwinding with a glass of wine after a long week, The Winston welcomes all to its doors.

To learn more about Gotcha Covered of Edmond, check out their website, https://thewinston.com/locations/edmond/or give them a call at (405) 216-5126.

Upcoming Benefit

Hi and Lois

Shoe

Zits

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Blondie

Hägar the Horrible

Amy Shirola, VillagesOKC Administration and Finance Director, is excited about the upcoming fundraiser. See article, Page 19

VillagesOKC plans fundraiser at Topgolf

VillagesOKC is inviting adults of all ages to join them in a fundraiser at Topgolf Oklahoma City, a premier entertainment destination in the metro. The event will be on April 18 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 p.m. at 13313 Pawnee Dr.

“This is more than just your average golf tournament,” said Amy Shirola, VillagesOKC Administration and Finance Director. “It's a great way to get together with friends and raise money for VillagesOKC.

We are a 501c3 nonprofit, and 80% of our operating budget is from donations. We want to continue giving stellar educational opportunities with great speakers, consulting with those who are in the middle of a major life transition or crisis, and connecting the 50+ population in the Oklahoma City metro with valuable resources.”

Cost is a $100 each for a six-person team; single-player registration is $125. Dinner is included. There will be a raffle going on all evening for great prizes and a Hole-In-One Contest where players can take a shot at a hole-in-1 for $10,000.

Shirola said there are sponsor opportunities also. Sponsorships range from $500 to $15,000.

“There are six sponsorship levels to choose from with various promotional opportunities,” she said. “Whether you choose to be a Putter Sponsor or Hole-in-One Sponsor, we sincerely appreciate your sponsorship of our Topgolf tournament.”

To know more villagesokc.org/top-golf-tournament or call (405) 990-6637.

In 2023, VillagesOKC made 2,507 connections at its events for older adults. The goal is to increase that number significantly in 2024.

“Join us for a night out with friends and a delicious dinner while supporting our mission of empowering adults to age with vitality and purpose,” Shirola said.

Registration and sponsorship details are available at villagesokc.org/top-golf-tournament or by calling (405) 990-6637.

Topgolf showcases a dartboard type driving range with golf balls that are tracked electronically and a scorecard that is updated automatically. Concentric circles mark the score for the session, and closer to the bulls-eye gets a higher score.

The fundraiser will use Top Contender Game Play rules. Here is how the Topgolf website describes this play:

• Choose 8 or 12 shots per player. Players rotate every 4 shots.

• Hit the glowing targets for double points.

• Aim closer to the center of each target for maximum points.

• Hit the glowing target that is furthest in the distance for maximum points.

“Get a hole-in-1 while you are playing Top Contender, and you can go home with up to $750 cash,” Shirola said. “The winning team will take home a cash prize.”