Edmond Life & Leisure - July 9, 2020

July 9, 2020

Vol. 21, No. 8

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.

Governor recommends masks See Page 5 PHOTO PROVIDED

The Lazy E Arena is scheduled to host some major youth rodeo events this month.

By Steve Gust

FRIDAY, July 10

Sunny High 100° Low 75°

SATURDAY, July 11 Sunny High 106° Low 77°

SUNDAY, July 12

Mostly Sunny High 104° Low 76°

No doubt about it. This year will be remembered as the one of mass cancellations.

While it’s imperative to remain safe during this time, it’s important to remember that not everything has shut down..

At the Fine Arts Institute in Edmond, social distancing and other measures are in place to ensure that everyone remains safe.

Summer camps continue for our young artists, who get to practice their creativity on canvas and other other items. After all, the FAI has been teaching youth and adults for the past 35 years.

For more information on their upcoming camps, please call them at 405-340-4481 or log onto www. edmondfinearts.com.

The beautiful art programs at the FAI aren’t the only activities either.

The Lazy E Arena, in Guthrie, has two major events with The Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals this week. Later in the month, the venue will host the 2020 National High School Finals Rodeo. That will be July 13 to 17. July 17 is the same day the Edmond Junior Rodeo will be held by the Edmond Roundup

Club. That will be at the Carl Benne ant. The entertainment is free and Arena off Kelly and north of Second runs from 6:15 to 9 p.m.

Street.

For all scheduled events, it may If rodeos don’t get you in a not be a bad idea to check out a western mood, then the National web site beforehand, just to make Cowboy & Western Heritage Musesure everything is still scheduled. um will. Please check out their web And don’t forget your safety meapage at www.nationalcowboymuse- sures just to be on the cautious side. um.org.

But remember, there isn’t any Although there are events, specifreason why you still can’t have some ically for children, the adults aren’t fun this summer. forgotten either. On July 23 they For a complete schedule, please will be having a special showing see our listings on Page 7. from 5 to 8 p.m. of the John Wayne classic, “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.”

The cost is $45 a person or $40 for museum members.

Edmond’s own museum, the Edmond Historical Society & Museum on Boulevard, is still featuring at look at America and Edmond is the 1950s. Through next January, several exhibits, with the 1950s theme is featured.

On the city side, the Edmond Farmer’s Market is still being held every Saturday morning at the Festival Market Place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out some of the finest produce from around the state.

All this month, starting tonight, PHOTO PROVIDED the Concerts in the Park will be staged at Hafer Park, Ninth and Bry- Edmond Fine Arts Institute is still having summer camps for young artists.

Page 2 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 3

PHOTO PROVIDED

Experts are studying ‘herd immunity’ for the population and whether COVID-19 will achieve that status some day in America.

Explaining herd immunity Relatively minor interruptions to daily life and often can resolve of their own accord when the body's immune system mounts a successful defense. Other diseases can cause serious, even life-threatening symptoms or spread rapidly, which makes it essential for medical professionals to help slow down or stop the transmission.

What is herd immunity?

Herd immunity is a term that often arises in relation to infectious diseases. Herd immunity has taken on renewed significance as the world has been battling COVID-19, the novel coronavirus introduced in late 2019.

Herd immunity, which is sometimes called "community immunity," "population immunity" or "social immunity," refers to the indirect protection from infectious diseases that occurs when a large percentage of the population has become immune to that disease.

If enough people are resistant to the cause of a disease, whether it is a bacteria or virus, that disease has nowhere to go and the spread stalls, according to WebMD. How does herd immunity occur?

There are two ways that herd immunity can occur. The first is when resistance develops naturally when the body is exposed to the virus or bacteria. At this point, the immune system will produce antibodies to fight off the infection. After recovery, these antibodies are still circulating, and should exposure to the same disease occur again, the body can defend against another infection.

Another way that herd immunity occurs is through vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that when the majority of people are vaccinated, it creates the same disease lockdown - fewer people get sick and fewer germs are able to spread from person to person.

What's more, even those who are not vaccinated, such as newborn babies or those who may not be able to get vaccinated due to chronic illnesses, will get some level of protection because the disease will not be spread-

ing as readily within their communities.

When is herd immunity reached?

When enough of a population is immune to a pathogen it prevents further spread and herd immunity is apparent. Diseases are different and herd immunity is reached based on the pathogen's reproduction number, or R0. Essentially this boils down to how contagious the pathogen in question is. WebMD says the R0 tells the average number of people that a single person with the virus can infect if those people aren't already immune. The higher the R0, the greater number of people will need to be resistant to reach herd immunity.

Measles, which is very contagious at an R0 of 12 to 18, requires 93 to 95 percent of the population to be immune for herd immunity to be reached. The World Health Organization estimates the R0 for COVID-19 to be between 2 and 3. This means between 40 and 70 percent of the population will need to be immune to halt the spread.

In the case of COVID-19, it's still unclear whether anyone can get reinfected, and whether antibodies produced for one strain can fend off another strain of this novel coronavirus. This reinfection mystery is what makes herd immunity - both through a vaccine or through natural exposure - challenging for epidemiologists in relation to COVID-19.

Herd immunity is an important factor in disease prevention. Getting the facts about this phenomenon is important.

From Metro News Ser vice

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FRIDAY • JULY 10 MAC Amphitheater Starts at Dusk Admission is free, concessions are $1 each.

EdmondParks.com | 405.359.4630 We ask that you practice social distancing.

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Page 4 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Action needed by Governor There are many challenges created from the COVID 19 crises in our state but none as important as the problems from getting out of work Oklahomans their unemployment money, rather not Ray Hibbard getting them their money. It is a total stop of the system and the responsibility is at the door of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. It is time for action.

The choice of Shelley Zumwalt as the Interim Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) may have been his best option but the system is still broken.

Despite the broadcast news appearances of Zumwalt assuring the public that everything is getting fixed, it is not according to the folks on the ground waiting for their first payment. Her reassuring hand gestures do nothing to put food on the table for those Oklahomans out of work and not able to get their deserved unemployment money along with the CARES Act extended unemployment relief money.

The special events being held in an effort trying to help those incredibly desperate folks might be a good step, but they are falling woefully short of getting the job done. Hundreds of people are lining up only to be told to come back the next day or next week.

The numbers of people not getting legitimate benefits are overwhelming the system. I totally understand that the system is old and not made to handle this number of claims but the time for excuses has passed. Our fellow Oklahomans are hurting.

Not all the issues are technical. Folks have been calling for weeks with no response, getting put on hold for hours at a time, being told that they will get a call back that never comes, getting rude responses from OESC staff on the phone, standing in line for hours only to be told that the most that can be processed in a day is 25 and enduring more failed government then anyone deserves.

Our Governor is hailed as a business giant that brings skill at solving problems to the table when we elected him.

It is time to use those skills Governor on the problems faced with our unemployment system. Can we not open the doors at one of these events and have the staff work in shifts around the clock until all get seen? What is not being told to us about the system?

What does seem to be working well is getting fraudulent claims approved and paid out. We, along with our

Council acts on declaration related to the COVID spread

Gov. Stitt downtown Edmond businesses friends, are repeatedly getting fraudulent claims filed on our businesses. We have received a dozen claims for unemployment for folks who never worked here.

If we are going to bog down the system to a snail’s crawl, can we not avoid the fraud?

Time spent recruiting the likes of Elon Musk and his Tesla automobile manufacturing to Tulsa may be time well spent in the eyes of our governor but for most Oklahomans, his time would be better spent being in the office of OESC and applying those leadership skills over the weekend. Let the public relations folks meet with Musk. For Zumwalt and Stitt the time for talk is over. Get to work and solve the problem of getting unemployment payments to the folks in our state who need it the most right now and have been waiting for the lifeline that these payments are supposed to be.

How is your piggy bank?

I am not talking about your savings account at a bank or credit union. I literally mean your piggy bank. For those of us that are normally cash and carry folks, we end up with a lot of left-over change. We have a container to dump our excess coins in at the end of the day. When the container is full, we take the coins to the bank and either get paper bills back or have the amount deposited in our account.

It is a silly game we play with ourselves because it seems like free money to us when we make that trip to the bank. Of course, it is our money to start with but many of us like the game we play. I cash my change right before I go on a trip. I get it back in ones and use it as tip money. It was a trick taught to me by my old boss and mentor, Le-

After much speculation and misinformation on social media over the weekend, the Edmond City Council met in a special meeting Monday to discuss the current Declaration of Emergency related to COVID-19 for the City of Edmond that was adopted on June 15.

While many of social media comments said that the meeting was an emergency meeting to discuss the closing of Edmond businesses, Edmond Mayor Dan O’Neil and other council members assured residents that there was no plan, ever, to close down Edmond businesses. The mayor and council members did say they appreciated residents contacting them and asking before the meeting if the rumor was Mayor Dan O’Neil true.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, the City Council had committed to meeting regularly to discuss local conditions and how to effectively manage the virus in the community. To date, the council has held 17 public meetings in which COVID-19 local response has been a topic of discussion. This includes seven regularly scheduled meetings, eight special meetings and two emergency meetings.

The city manager, Larry Stevens, reported that there was the first reported case of an employee of the City of Edmond being tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

He went on to explain reviews of policies and procedures that were being conducted by city staff based on the city wide increased of virus cases. There are over 800 city of Edmond employees. The mayor also noted that the City of Edmond has a different charter over other communities. Edmond's charter limits the mayor’s ability to make proclamations. In Edmond, the charter dictates that such proclamations be voted on by the entire Edmond City Council After a number of speakers, the council made no changes to the current declaration on COVID-19. The mayor asked the staff to survey communities that do have ordinances requiring wearing of masks for servers in the food and beverage industry.

O’Neil also asked for the staff to provide research over issues that may have been involved in youth sports by the next regularly scheduled meeting July 13. The only motion and vote was for adjournment after a two and a half hour meeting. land Gourley. He used to have the ones waxed on one end at a printer so that he could peel them off as needed. If you knew Leland it would not surprise you to learn he seldom pulled off more than one at time.

With most of use unwilling to use cash during our COVID 19 event, our containers of change are pretty empty.

In early March when it became clear that the economy was going to be shut down, I went to my bank and got $200 cash. It is what old folks do during a crisis. I still have $190 and for the life of me I cannot tell you what I spent $10 cash on over the last four months. Like many of you, I am using my debit card and wipe it down after every use.

All this lack of currency being used has led to a coin shortage. It turns out those of us that prefer to pay with cash,

save coins and turn them back in to a bank play an important role in circulating coin through the system. Who knew?

Typically, businesses request coins from banks, which in turn request them from the Federal Reserve Bank. But in June, the Fed announced temporary limits on banks’ requests for pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the supply chain and normal circulation patterns for U.S. coin,” the Fed said in a statement.

Hopefully, us cash-and-carry folks will be back slowing down the lines at our favorite coffee shop soon and our coins will be back in circulation.

(Ray Hibbard may be reached by email at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Check out what’s inside!

---- Calendar ......................................................................................Page 7.

---- Sports. A look back at UCO volleyball ........................................Page 8.

---- Columnist questions national press ............................................Page 10.

---- A new downtown business welcomed by chamber ....................Page 13.

---- Rother Shrine has its first executive director ..............................Page 14.

---- George Gust reviews ‘Hamilton’ ................................................Page 15.

---- Crossword puzzle ......................................................................Page 15.

--- No OKC Dodgers this season ....................................................Page 16.

---- Business news ............................................................................Page 17.

---- Good news for homebuilders ....................................................Page 19.

See if you can find ‘Four Seasons’ “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 created by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on the campus on March 24, 2011.

Kevin is a member of the National Sculptor’s Guild. His Box Studio LLC is a strong supporter of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle concept, using recycled metal as part of the casting process for his sculptures. All of his work is 100 percent recyclable.

For more information on Edmond public art, please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php.

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production Deanne York Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, and George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2020 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 5

Also a 2020 North graduate

Francis Tuttle student elected to health board organization Francis Tuttle pre-nursing student, Addison Soerensen, was elected to HOSA Future Health Professionals Executive Council and will serve as the central region vice president for the 2020-21 term.

A 2020 Edmond North graduate, Soerensen is now enrolled at the University of Central Oklahoma, with plans to major in nursing.

Soerensen’s new position was officially announced during the HOSA 43rd Annual International Leadership Conference. Her previous experience as a HOSA state officer, paired with her outstanding leadership and educational achievements qualified her for the role.

“We are proud to have a National HOSA Officer representing Francis Tuttle this year,” said Amy Warner, pre-nursing program instructor,“It is a testament to Addison’s excellence in our pre-nursing program, as well as the support of our outstanding organization, even during a pandemic.”

HOSA Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America, is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education. HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Addison Soerensen serves high school students and adults in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area with career-specific training, in support of developing and maintaining a quality workforce for the region. Francis Tuttle also offers complete business and industry training and consulting services, and short-term training for career development or personal enrichment. With four locations in Oklahoma City and Edmond, Francis Tuttle offers central Oklahoma diverse training programs in fulfillment of the school’s mission to prepare customers for success in the workplace. More information is available at francistuttle.edu or by calling (405) 717-7799.

Stitt urges mask use

By Carmen Forman Oklahoman.com Gov. Kevin Stitt's mask matched his message last week.

For the first time, Stitt publicly encouraged Oklahomans to wear a face mask in public.

In a news conference, the governor wore an Oklahoma-branded neck gaiter he briefly pulled up to cover his nose and mouth, saying, "It's this easy."

This marked the first time Stitt wore a mask to any one of more than a dozen COVID-19 news conferences he’s led since the pandemic started.

“Research shows that wearing a mask when you can’t social distance significantly lowers the transmission rate of COVID-19,” he said. “It may take some getting used to, but it’s a small price to pay to be able to keep our businesses open, our economy running and be able to watch OU and OSU stick it to the shorthorns on the football field.”

The governor was making a tongue-in-cheek reference to the University of Texas, whose mascot is the Longhorns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend people wear “cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain” to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Stitt’s public adoption of cloth face coverings comes after the Oklahoma State Medical Association asked the governor to put more effort into encouraging Oklahomans to wear masks.

“Too many people are still taking an ‘it’s not my problem’ approach to the virus,” Dr. George Monks, president of the OSMA, said in a statement Thursday.

Despite being recommended by many health professionals, face masks have become a hot-button political issue in recent weeks with the masks becoming a symbol of the nation’s deep political divisions. Stitt previously called wearing a mask "a personal preference."

As more cities and states are mandating mask use, Stitt said he still has no plans to require Oklahomans wear masks when they go out in public.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, said Monday she would issue an executive order mandating the use of

masks in public spaces.

“I will not reconsider mandating masks,” Stitt said. "We believe in freedoms. I will not mandate that in the state of Oklahoma." The governor questioned how such a mandate could even be enforced.

In keeping with White House guidance, Stitt said he also plans to sign an executive order directing the Oklahoma State Department of Health to create a color-coded COVID-19 system that will show the severity of the threat on a county-by-county basis.

The governor said White House officials plan to implement a similar system nationwide. Oklahoma House Democrats recently suggested a similar, color-coded threat assessment tool, based on something being used in the United Kingdom.

"Our data shows COVID-19 has affected Oklahomans differently than expected," Stitt said. "Instead of large waves, we've seen localized outbreaks in different parts of the state.

So, giving county-by-county guidance gives Oklahomans accurate pictures of the situation in their communities."

Oklahoma has seen the number of COVID-19 cases spike in recent weeks.

'We’ve got to have football': OU and OSU home games are vital for many business in Norman and Stillwater On June 30, Oklahoma reported 585 new cases of COVID-19 — the first time the state has reported more than 500 positive cases in a single day "Our COVID-19 hospitalizations remain manageable, and are not growing at the rate that we experienced in the spring, and our death rates remain comparatively lower," said Health Commissioner Lance Frye.

State health officials have said the recent spike in COVID-19 cases is largely attributable to more young Oklahomans catching the virus. Frye said roughly 40% of the state's cases since June have been people age 34 or younger.

Stitt dismisses idea of closing down economy as cases continue to surge.

These individuals are at low-risk for complications from the virus, but the state faces a "critical situation" heading into the holiday weekend as many Oklahomans plan to congregate with their friends and family.

Page 6 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Bill to be named after fallen Tulsa officer In support of law enforcement, legislation developed with the assistance of a fallen Tulsa police officer will be named after him next session. Sgt. Craig Johnson, a 15-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, was shot early Monday morning after a traffic stop went wrong. He later died from his injuries.

Johnson was the Tulsa lead on a statewide coalition working on legislation and policies regarding copper wire theft, which has increased in recent years due to its variety of uses and high market price. The statewide coalition involves businesses, utilities, construction, builders, municipalities, schools, churches, scrap metal dealers and law enforcement and is headed by Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa.

Bush said Johnson spearheaded the coalition as the Tulsa lead and provided valuable insight from his experience from the front lines.

“Sergeant Johnson would often work a double shift and drive down for coalition meetings or legislative committee meetings. The only thing he asked for in return was a fresh cup of coffee to make it back home,” Bush said. “He was selfless when it came to serving his community and state.

There is no greater hero than Sergeant Johnson, and I know he will be greatly missed by myself, other coalition members and members of the Tulsa Police Department.”

Bush said she plans to refile the legislation in the upcoming session and will rename the bill in his honor. The original bill, House Bill 3031, was passed by the House prior to the legislative session

being interrupted by COVID-19 in mid-March.

Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, is a former Tulsa Police Department officer and voted in favor of HB3031 earlier this year.

“The death of Sergeant Johnson was a horrible tragedy,” Ford said. “Our public safety officers put their lives on the line every day to protect Oklahomans of all backgrounds, and it’s devastating that what should have been a traffic stop came to this. Our Tulsa Police officers need the support of their community as they mourn the loss of one of their brothers.”

Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, is a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“My heart goes out to the family members of Sergeant Johnson,” West said. “I know firsthand what it is like to lose soldiers on a battlefield, what makes this worse, is the fact that this senseless act of murder was carried out in our own country. We must continue to support our brothers and sisters who put on the uniform every day, protecting our communities.”

Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, will be the co-author for the re-filed measure. He passed Senate Bill 1749, a companion bill to HB3031, out of the Senate during the 2020 legislative session, but it stalled in the House due to COVID-19. Sen. Hall plans to re-file his Senate bill renaming the act in honor of Sergeant Johnson during the 2021 legislative session.

“I’m heartbroken over the loss of Sergeant Craig Johnson,” Hall said. “I worked closely with him

over the last year to draft legislation in conjunction with the Oklahoma Scrap Dealers Association to curb copper wire theft in our state. Sergeant Johnson worked diligently to bring all sides together on the issue to find a solution for this problem, and it was a true honor to work with him on the bill. I’m excited to once again join Rep. Bush to hopefully get this legislation to the finish line and honor Sergeant Johnson in the process.”

A group of lawmakers also issued the following statement in support of law enforcement.

“We fully support law enforcement, especially when they lose a colleague in the course of duty.

As civilians, we are grateful every single day for the sacrifices our public safety officers make. As legislators, we rely on the expertise and first-hand experience of our law enforcement officers across the state to set sound policy,” the group said. “Today, however, we are Oklahomans mourning the loss of one of our state’s finest.

“We will continue to work with law enforcement to develop legislation that protects them from the threats they face daily while also preserving public safety for the communities they selflessly serve.

With everyone at the table, we can preserve public safety, support law enforcement and protect all citizens from any injustice while building and strengthening relationships in our communities.

Law enforcement always provides a valuable perspective, as evidenced by Sergeant Johnson’s selfless service both on the front lines in Tulsa and here at the Capitol.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Members of state government, including Gov. Kevin Stitt, meet with representatives of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians to sign into a new gaming contract. The event took place lasgt week.

State signs gaming contract with tribe The State of Oklahoma and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) signed last week a new gaming compact that delivers clarity and certainty for each sovereign party; strengthens compact transparency with clear auditing guidance and with new dispute resolution provisions; and provides for meaningful consideration for the State’s fee structure for class III games and table games beginning at 12% for a new gaming location in Logan County.

“One year after beginning gaming compact negotiations, the State has entered into its fourth compact that makes way for Oklahoma tribes to innovate and compete in a new, dynamic gaming market and strengthens State-Tribal relationships,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “The compact includes a commitment from the State to support the UKB’s pursuit of land for its first gaming location. This will enhance the UKB’s ability

to deliver core government services to its 14,300 citizens while expanding economic development opportunities for all Oklahomans in the region.”

“It is both an honor and privilege to be announcing the signing of this economic venture between the great State of Oklahoma and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians,” said UKB Chief Joe Bunch. “We thank Governor Kevin Stitt and his administration for this monumental day and for their leadership efforts in this compact. It is a grand day for Keetoowahs and Native American tribes all over the country. It is a day when one of their own partnered with Oklahoma in building a stronger economy through the avenues of retail, food and beverage, hotel, hospitality and casino operations, all by a signing a Class III gaming compact with the state. This compact also presents an opportunity for the UKB to move forward and begin increasing health, education

and job opportunities for our tribal members and elders, as well as our surrounding communities. After all, we know if our communities are doing well, the state is also doing well. Thank you and God bless the UKB and the State of Oklahoma.”

“This is a monumental day for Keetoowahs. I wanted to thank Governor Stitt and his council that’s worked to put this compact together with our Attorney General Klint Cowan and our council,” said UKB Assistant Chief Jammie Thompson. “We’re trying to create a win-win situation for all Oklahomans and certainly for our tribal members. We’re looking forward to a long relationship with the state that benefits not only our tribe, but our citizens of the great state of Oklahoma.”

The Logan County location will require an additional Section 20 application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 7

What’s happening during July ---- In the Gallery ---- Apron Strings: Ties to the Past (Traveling Exhibit from Mid-America Arts Alliance) ---- Historic Landmarks Scavenger Hunt ---- Taste of Edmond ---- Back to the 1950s ---- VIRTUAL EVENT: Tacet Virtual Concert Series ---- Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals ---- Little Artists Camp ---- Wednesday Farmer’s Markets (Including Junior Market) ---- Concerts in the Park ---- Movie at the Park ---- Art Escape Camp ---- trAi13: Campfire Cooking – Dutch Oven ---- Grown-Ups Paint Night ---- Edmond Jr. Rodeo ---- 2020 National High School Finals Rodeo ---- Red Day Run ---- Adventure Days at the Cowboy: Camp Bug Love ---- Double-Walled Basket Workshop ---- Drop-In Drawing ---- Adventure Days at the Cowboy ---- Read the West Book Club: Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West ---- Perked Up Playdate July ---- Date with the Duke: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon ---- National Day of the Cowboy ---- Oklahoma Summer Bridal Show Extra Information on Weekend Happenings In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring art by Lana Lopez; edmondfinearts.com Apron Strings: Ties to the Past (Traveling Exhibit from Mid-America Arts Alliance) Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Thur July 31, edmondhistory.org Historic Landmarks Scavenger Hunt Location: Various locations in Edmond Extra Info: Find a hint on Facebook and take a picture of the location and post with appropriate hashtags. Facebook.com/edmondhistory Taste of Edmond Location: Various Locations Extra Info: During July this is a celebration of Edmond Food. For details go to visitedmondok.com Back to the 1950s Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Now through Jan 31; several exhibits with the 1950s theme, edmondhistory.org VIRTUAL EVENT: Tacet Virtual Concert Series Extra Info: July2 – Aug 6; 7:30 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays; facebook.com/UCOmusic, look for premiere video post at top of page.

Edmond Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Market Place Extra Info: Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: Now thur July12; nlbra.com

Concerts in the Park: Bonham Brothers & Random Order Location: Hafer Park Extra Info: July 9 ---- Bonham Brothers & Random Order; July 16 ---- Boyd Street Bass & Sophia Massad; July 23 – Stars and Jake Gill; The Old Bulldog Band; 6:15 – 9 p.m.; Free; edmondok.com Movie at the Park: Doolittle: Doolittle Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: 7 – 11 p.m.; Free; July 10; facebook.com Art Escape Camp Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: July13 – 17; July20 – 24; July27 -31; 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; $220; edmondfinearts.com trAi13: Campfire Cooking Dutch Oven Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: July 16; 6:30 – 8 p.m.; edmondparks.com Grown-Ups Paint Night Location: Unpluggits Paint & Play – Craft Studio and Indoor Playground Extra Info: July 17; 6 – 9 p.m.; $10; Facebook.com Edmond Jr. Rodeo Location: Edmond Round Up Club – Carl Benne Arena Extra Info: July 17 – 18; July 31 – Aug. 1; edmondroundupclub.com 2020 National High School Finals Rodeo Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: July 17 – 23; facebook.com Red Day Run Location: Downtown Edmond Extra Info: July25; 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.; centralokredday.com Adventure Days at the Cowboy Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: July 6 – 12 – Camp Bug Love; July 13 ---- 19 – Birdapalooza; July 20 – 26 – Native at the Cowboy; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Double-Walled Basket Workshop Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: July11; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Drop-In Drawing Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: July12; 2 – 3 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Read the West Book Club: Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: July 19; 1 – 2:15 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Perked Up Playdate July Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: July21; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Date with the Duke: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: July23; 5 – 8 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Little Artists Camp Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: July7---- 9; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; $95; edmondfinearts.com

National Day of the Cowboy Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: July25; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Wednesday Farmer’s Markets (Including Junior Market) Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Wednesdays July8 – Sep 30; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.com

Oklahoma Summer Bridal Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: July19: okbride.com (If you have an event, please send to infante318@cox.net)

Stay Safe This Summer

Page 8 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sports The ups & downs of the program

A look back at UCO volleyball At the University of Central Oklahoma, women's athletics as we know it now didn't exist back in the 1970s and early '80s. Which actually isn't that long ago if you think about it.

There were a variety of different teams during those years and they played games/matches, but the schedules were often limited and the competitive level didn't approach what it is today.

Which brings us to our look at Central Oklahoma volleyball. There were many interesting tidbits gleaned in researching a program that started play in the mid-1970s, but records were so sketchy from the early years that we will start with the modern era that began in 1987.

That's when the Bronchos brought back volleyball after a three-year hiatus, this time as a fullfledged varsity sport. UCO was in the process of moving from NAIA to NCAA Division II while joining the Lone Star Conference then and the early results weren't pretty, which is a far cry from the current status of the program.

Central went 3-24 in 1987 while getting swept in 21 of those losses and followed with a 3-25 campaign in 1988. Four of the six combined wins in those two years came against intrastate rival Cameron.

The '88 season is remembered for the secondday cancellation of an early-season tournament at Oral Roberts when dozens of players from participating teams suffered eye injuries after being exposed to ultraviolet rays from a broken light in the gym. Nearly the entire UCO team made a middleof-the-night trip to the emergency room after firstday play. Thankfully, none of the injuries resulted in long-term damage.

Joe Curl's three-year run as head coach ended in 1989 and the Bronchos not only played the most matches (44) in school history that season, but also went 23-21 in beginning a winning tradition that continues to this day. UCO has had only three losing seasons since.

Central had many best-of-three matches in earlyseason tournaments during the late 1980s and early '90s and once played seven matches in a two-day event. The Bronchos also took on LSC rival Texas A&M-Kingsville twice in one day – either at home or on the road – several times during that span to save both teams on travel.

UCO started the 1991 season 14-1 before hitting the skids and finishing 17-18. The Bronchos also made their first and only trip to Alaska that year, playing two matches against Alaska-Fairbanks (losing both in three) and two more against Alaska-Anchorage (losing both in five).

The 1993 squad was involved in 15 straight sweeps to start the season, going 12-3 in that stretch, and finished 23-14 while earning its firstever win over perennial LSC and national power West Texas A&M. That set the stage for 1994, a season that ranks as one of the best in program history.

Dominique Lipari ... from last season Led by Carrie Hare, Angie Schoof and Amy Hansen, the '94 team started the season 9-0 and went on to capture UCO's only LSC championship.

The Bronchos, who went 14-0 at home, also claimed the LSC Tournament title in earning the school's first-ever NCAA Division II national tournament berth.

Central dispatched WTAMU in the first round of the four-team South Central Regional before falling to host Central Missouri in the finals to finish 32-5.

It remains a record for single-season wins and included 20 three-set sweeps.

A series of close early-season losses doomed UCO to a 17-20 record the next year, but the Bronchos quickly regained their winning ways in 1996 and there's been only two losing seasons since. The 2000 campaign marked the end of 15point scoring in sets, which required a team to be on serve to score a point.

Highlighting that 2000 season was the performance of star Alma Brahimaj in an epic three-hour, five-set home win over Cameron. All Brahimaj did was hammer down 46 kills in 125 attacks, with both numbers still counting as school and LSC records.

UCO won its first LSC North Division crown the following year, finishing 26-8. The Bronchos repeated as North champions in 2002, overcoming an 0-2 start with a school-record 22-match winning streak.

Brahimaj, Stacey Meek and Lexy Fortner led the way as Central went 30-7, losing in the LSC Tournament finals to WTAMU and then falling in five sets to Nebraska-Kearney in the first round of the

Southwest Regional. That was the final season under Mark Herrin, who ended his 13-year tenure with a 304-155 record.

Jeff Boyland took over as head coach in 2003 and UCO went 23-7 while finishing as LSC North co-champions before falling to WTAMU in the LSC Tournament finals. A 21-9 season followed before the Bronchos made another national tournament trip in 2005.

Central claimed the LSC North crown that season before losing to Abilene Christian in the LSC Tournament finals and then fell to the Wildcats again the next week in the first round of the Southwest Regional in a 27-8 campaign.

The Bronchos were back in the national playoffs two years later, with that 2007 club tying the school record for wins in finishing 32-7. Again a runner-up in the LSC Tournament, UCO clipped Fort Lewis in the first round of the Central Regional before losing a four-game semifinal battle to host Nebraska-Kearney.

That was also a magical season for libero Lacie Allen, who set school and LSC records for digs with an incredible 996 in becoming the program's first-ever All-American.

Central struggled some the next five years before getting back on track in 2013 in current head coach Edgar Miraku's second year at the controls, going 24-10 in its second year in the MIAA. The Bronchos started 13-0 the next year in finishing 285, but were denied a national tournament berth.

The 2015 season rivals the 1994 and '07 years as the best in school history. UCO won 16 straight in getting off to a 22-1 start, rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Washburn in a scintillating regular season finale – taking the fifth set 26-24 – to capture the conference championship and then was runner-up in the MIAA Tournament.

All-American Barbara Jackson and Whitney Gifford were the ringleaders for the Bronchos, who knocked off MIAA rival Nebraska-Kearney in the first round of the Central Regional before falling to eventual national champion Concordia-St. Paul in the semifinals to end a 31-5 campaign.

Amazingly, the 2016 season was almost as good, though it ended in bitter disappointment.

Katy Davis and Allison Barr spearheaded a Central squad that didn't drop a set in a 15-0 home campaign and would up 30-4 overall, but it still wasn't good enough to get the Bronchos into the national tournament in a stacked Central Region.

UCO made it the next year, however, ripping off 17 straight wins during one stretch in finishing 296. All-American Taylor Bevis and Jordan Spence led the way for the Bronchos, who were eliminated by Concordia-St. Paul in the first round of regional play.

Miraku led Central to Central a 27-7 campaign in 2018 and the Bronchos finished 18-13 last season as the program's winning tradition continued.

From UCO athletic department

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 9

Professional group honors opthalmologist The American Academy of Ophthalmology recently named Dean McGee Eye Institute ophthalmologist R. Michael Siatkowski, M.D., its 2020 recipient of the Bradley R. Straatsma M.D., J.D. Award for Excellence in Resident Education. The award, established by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2003, honors residency program directors dedicated to the principles and significance of residency education. It is the highest national honor bestowed on an ophthalmology residency program director.

Siatkowski also is a David W. Parke II M.D. Endowed Professor, David Ross Boyd Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Gregory L. Skuta, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Dean McGee Eye Institute, said, “Thanks in large part to Dr. Siatkowski’s exceptional leadership, our outstanding residency program is highly regarded across the nation. He is indeed a very deserving recipient of this major honor and we celebrate this recognition with him.”

The award’s namesake, Bradley R. Straatsma, M.D., J.D., is the former chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and former director of the Jules Stein Eye Institute. He is internationally revered for many accomplishments and leadership positions held throughout the course of a rich academic and clinical career in the field of ophthalmology.

“It is a source of great pride throughout the OU College of Medicine when our colleagues are cited for work that makes significant contributions in shaping the next generation of physicians in every specialty,” said John P. Zubialde, executive dean, OU College of Medicine. “We are inspired by Dr. Siatkowski’s dedication, not only to patient care but also by his commitment to excellence in medical education and the advancement of OU’s educational mission.”

Residents in the program at DMEI are in the top 10 percent nationally in surgical volume. At graduation, a typical resident may have performed more than 1,000 cases as a primary surgeon, not including those cases observed or assisted. Residents average 300 or more cataract surgeries, far exceeding the accreditation requirement

Dr. Siatkowski

of 86 procedures. The program also supports strong interactions with physicians in diverse specialties including neurology, neurosurgery, pediatrics, endocrinology and more. It is an important element, given the range of conditions that directly influence eye health. In addition, the program requires residents to conduct research and investigation, aiming toward at least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal or presentation at a national meeting. In the last decade, DMEI residents have nearly tripled the number of national research publications and presentations.

Siatkowski will be recognized at the AAO annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, this fall, and also at the 2021 Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology annual meeting early next year in Austin, Texas, where he will deliver a presentation.

Among many distinguished leadership roles, Siatkowski served as president of the Program Directors Council for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. He is a past director of the American Board of Ophthalmology and currently serves as associate secretary for AAO Subspecialty Day. In addition, he has received a Life Achievement Honor Award and three Secretariat Awards from AAO, and is the recipient of the 2020 Oklahoma Academy of Ophthalmology Distinguished Service Award. His name is regularly listed in Top Doctors, published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., as well as Best Doctors, published by Best Doctors, Inc.

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.

Page 10 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Bizarre

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side national press bias Schools & challenges

I was a bit stunned over the weekend watching the news coverage of President Trump.

On Friday he gave a speech at Mount Rushmore. I listened. I didn't recognize the speech as it was covered by the national press the next day.

One account said the address, given to patriots, was "divisive." A Steve Gust bold headline in The Oklahoman Sunday said "Trump calls protesters 'angry mobs.'

What in the world is going on with this kind of coverage? Trump was not divisive. He heralded the majesty of Mount Rushmore and then outlined the monumental accomplishments of the four presidents enshrined in rock. On another topic, he did lambaste the criminal actions of those who riot, burn and destroy monuments. That's divisive?

Was he supposed to have said something like the following: "Friends, we've seen a movement in the past few weeks, which involves destroying statues and wiping out our nation's heritage. in the spirit of unity I will be joining with these people in accomplishing their mission and urge all of you to do the same."

Of course he wasn't going to say something like that. Let's face it folks. We have a national press

which is more on the side of the lawless rioters than they are the President of the United States.

While we are at it, the networks, the Associated Press and The New York Times need to have a seminar on terms. Protesters are those who express free speech in a peaceful manner. The rioters, who loot, burn and destroy, are criminals. Those are two different groups.

It's a bad development to have a society where anti-American rioters are elevated over patriots, who love traditional America. Yet that seems to be the case and it's very troubling.

----Speaking of troubling and the press, I urge everyone to watch the movie "Richard Jewell."

He was the security guard, crucified by the FBI, over the 1996 Olympic park bombing in Atlanta, Ga. Jewell spotted the bomb first and helped to save many people. Our FBI told the world Jewell was the main suspect. Months later they backed off. Jewell was innocent. As with the Duke lacrosse team and Justice Kavanaugh, the press threw due process out the window. They replaced that with convictions on newspaper pages and airwaves.

Everyone should remember the late Richard Jewell before they engage in rush to judgments.

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

By The Oklahoman Editorial board The COVID-19 pandemic made Oklahoma’s 2019-20 school year unlike any other, although the coming school year could rival it.

Plans presented recently by Oklahoma City Public Schools include the option of in-person or virtual learning, with every child in the district — roughly 35,000 students — receiving a mobile device. Oklahoma City will be one of just a handful of large districts statewide to outfit every child in that way.

Pre-K through secondgrade students will get Apple iPads. Students in grades 3 and up will get a Google Chromebook.

Families with no internet service will be given hotspots by the district —

a crucial piece in helping the plan succeed.

District officials are urging that children in pre-K through second grade attend school on site. This makes sense, because hands-on teaching and interaction are especially important in those lower age groups and because cases of coronavirus among young children have been rare.

Jason Brown, the district’s deputy superintendent, said remote learning will be an option for the youngest students although it could still include face-to-face instruction. Brown said the district, which will finalize its plans later this month, isn’t comfortable yet with online options for pre-K through 2.

“We don’t think anything appropriately even gets close to what we can do at the site for such a critical group,” he said. However, “We will have an option, and it will be a high-quality option.”

Students in grades 312 could return to on-site schooling or choose fulltime virtual learning. If schools wind up having to limit the number of people in a building, the district could move to full-time virtual learning for all students.

Another possibility is to alternate schedules, mixing in-person and online schooling, with only a chunk of the student body coming to school certain days of the week.

Edmond Public Schools recently surveyed 9,000 of its parents and found that 85% wanted a return to in-person schooling for their children. Parents’ main concerns about remote learning included motivating children to learn, students’ mental health and the parental requirements.

Parents’ in the Oklahoma City district no doubt share many of those concerns.

What’s involved with upcoming SQ 805

By Mike O’Neal and Trent England Oklahoma sends people to prison for much longer than almost every other state — nearly 70% longer, on average, for property crimes and 79% longer for drug crimes. Do these long prison terms for nonviolent offenders make us safer?

No. Our state’s crime rates and other research suggest that excessive prison sentences do not produce safer communities.

They do, however, cost taxpayers a lot. Oklahoma spends about half a billion dollars a year on prisons. And because we keep people there longer, our inmates tend to be older. This means more medical expenses, also passed on to taxpayers.

Thankfully, Oklahomans should have a chance to vote in November to make things a little better. State Question 805 would reduce prison sentences for some nonviolent offenders.

If passed, it will limit “repeat offender” sentence enhancements only to crimes that the Legislature has classified as nonviolent. The Legislature could still change sentencing ranges for crimes, and judges could still hand out maximum sentences for repeat offenders. People who commit nonviolent felonies could still go to prison, but their sentences would be closer to the national average.

How much of a difference would SQ 805 make? What an analysis by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, an Oklahoma City think

Letters to the Editor policy We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, compliments or comments about what they read here. The rules, even for e-mail letters: 1) You must tell us your full name; 2) You must give us your complete address and phone numbers (but we will identify you only by name); and 3) We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity and taste (our taste).

Send mail to Letter to the Editor, Edmond Life & Leisure, 107 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or fax to 340-3384 or e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com.

tank, found at first is discouraging.

Most states use sentencing enhancements for just the most serious cases. But in Oklahoma, they are applied to four out of five prosecutions where available. On average, this increases the length of a prison sentence from 4.7 years to 6.4 years.

The effect is most extreme for drug crimes.

Without an enhancement, the average sentence length is already 5.3 years. With the enhancement it jumps to 8.5 years.

These numbers show why Oklahoma has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country.

When people stay in prison longer, we wind up with many more people behind bars.

If SQ 805 passes, prison sentences here will still be longer than the national averages. But it would be a step in the right direction. Our research finds that SQ 805 will reduce Oklahoma’s prison population by 8.5% over the next decade.

This would relieve pressure on our overcrowded prisons.

It could also save Oklahoma taxpayers $186 million over 10 years. Fewer inmates means we could close some of the oldest and most rundown prisons, avoiding deferred maintenance costs and lawsuits.

Excessive prison sentences fail to improve public safety. States that have refocused on re-entry programs and rehabilitation for low-level offenders have seen lower costs and less crime. State Question 805 is smart policy, now backed by data.

O’Neal is a CPA, an attorney and a trustee of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, where England is executive vice president.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 11

Seeking top landscapers for award Nominations for Edmond’s Landscape Improvement Award are now open and will be accepted until August 5th.

Homeowner associations or neighborhood groups that have enhanced their neighborhood environment through the planting of trees and other landscaping are eligible to enter for a chance to receive additional trees and recognition signage for their outstanding efforts.

Neighborhood groups may apply with projects completed between Aug. 1, 2019 and July 31. Landscape projects that enhance the neighborhood environment are eligible, with greatest emphasis on tree plantings. Trees installed through the Foster-A-Tree or Edmond Tree Grants programs do not qualify. Projects must be in neighborhood managed areas within the Edmond City Limits.

Neighborhood groups with an eligible project should fill out the Landscape Improvement Award form at http://edmondok.com/treeawards. Basic information about the group, the project and photos of the finished project are required before the application deadline of Aug. 5.

The Edmond Urban Forestry Commission will review and select a winner from eligible applications at their August meeting. The commission will evaluate each project’s design, implementation, aftercare, and the resulting impact.

The winning group will receive additional trees for their neighborhood, and the Landscape Improvement Award sign will be placed near their winning project during the following growing season.

Previous recipients of the Landscape Improvement Award include Autumn Ridge in 2019, Fairfax in 2018, Autumn Ridge in 2017 and Villages at Coffee Creek in 2016.

Page 12 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 13

New Business in Downtown Edmond Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce members join with others recently for a ribbon cutting for Blocworks.

Blocworks caters to the climbing community Blocworks Climbing Community recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening in downtown Edmond.

Owners Evan and Mariah Small dreamed of creating a climbing community in their hometown for years. Blocworks is the first of its kind to offer indoor bouldering in Edmond. With climbing for all ability levels, Blocworks was designed to be a space for visitors to enjoy a taste of the outdoors in the heart of the city.

“If you asked us, we’d tell you climbing is the greatest thing on the planet. No doubt it’s taken us to amazing places and pushed us physically as well as mentally,” said Mariah Small. “But that’s

not it. The people have always been a driving factor in everything we’ve done and will continue to do with Blocworks. It’s all about community.”

Large windows face Broadway so climbers can enjoy the bustle of downtown Edmond as they work on a bouldering problem or take advantage of the available cardio equipment. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that requires little equipment so getting started is simple. New climbers will receive a quick tour of the gym and a brief bouldering orientation. Climbing shoes are available to rent or purchase. Bouldering 101 classes are available to newcomers who want to learn the basics of climbing including how to warm up, falling techniques and more. Classes are 60 minutes and are

offered Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m.

“We truly believe climbing can be for everyone and with our ‘color difficulty scale’ we’ve made climbing at Blocworks for the first time VERY simple,” said Evan Small. “Typically seen as an upper body strength sport, climbers quickly realize it takes balance, coordination, precision and confidence as well as an ability to solve the mental puzzle in order to be successful in the sport. Our route setters change the boulder problems around twice per week with the aim to always bring you new challenges and rewards.”

More information including rates and FAQ can be found at climbblocworks.com.

Page 14 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Executive director hired Slavonic selected as sponsor for attack sub USS Oklahoma for Rother Shrine in metro The Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite announced Ms. Mary “Molly” Slavonic as the sponsor for the next Virginia-class Nuclear Fast Attack Submarine USS Oklahoma (SSN 802) June 16, 2020.

“I am extremely pleased you will be the sponsor, as you epitomize the spirit of the great state of Oklahoma,” said Braithwaite.

Slavonic has a long history of civic support to both her native state of Oklahoma and to the Navy. She worked alongside her husband, acting Under Secretary of the Navy Greg Slavonic, in building the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to honor the 429 Sailors who perished aboard the ship December 7, 1941.

“Your special relationship with USS Oklahoma, her Sailors, and so many of the Greatest Generation will ensure their memory lives on,” said Braithwaite. “Their selfless sacrifice will forever inspire the future SSN 802, her crew, and our nation.”

A central figure in a ship’s life is the sponsor. Chosen by the Secretary of the Navy, a ship’s sponsor is typically selected for her relationship to the namesake or to the ship’s current mission. It is said, the sponsor’s spirit and presence will guide the ship throughout its service life. The sponsor will participate in many of the ship’s milestones including bestowing the ship’s name during the christening ceremony.

Slavonic’s family has a tenured history in Oklahoma; her maternal great grandfather participated in the land run to open Territory and her maternal grandmother made the 1910 Okla-

Molly Slavonic

homa to California road trip on what would be Route 66. She enjoys sharing these stories and discussing Oklahoma’s history and heritage with her children and grandchildren.

Slavonic attended grade school and high school in Oklahoma City, graduating from Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. She also attended the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University and was a small business owner for many years.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be selected as a ship’s sponsor and I am overjoyed at the opportunity to be connected to the future USS Oklahoma,” said Slavonic. “I look forward to building relationships with the crews of this ship and bearing witness to the great work they do in support of the Fleet while sharing my affinity for the great state of Oklahoma.”

from Franciscan University in The Most Rev. Paul S. Steubenville, Ohio, in 1996 Coakley has selected Leif with a bachelor’s degree in hisArvidson as the executive ditory and a minor in theology. In rector for the Blessed Stanley 2002, he earned a juris doctorRother Shrine in Oklahoma ate from Notre Dame Law City.

School.

Coakley, archbishop of the The archdiocese broke ground Archdiocese of Oklahoma on the $40 million Blessed StanCity, said Arvidson was seArvidson ley Rother Shrine in November lected after a national at SE 89 and Shields Boulevard search. in south Oklahoma City. Archdiocese "Leif is a wonderful leader in the leaders said the shrine, expected to be local church, for his family and in his completed in 2022, is the signature elcommunity," Coakley said in a news ement of the first-ever capital camrelease. "He understands the importance of Blessed Stanley in Oklahoma paign for the archdiocese.

The site will include a 2,000-seat and will be dedicated to telling the story of our parish priest who gave his church, a chapel where Blessed Stanley Rother will be entombed, an edulife for his Catholic faith and for the cation building, an event space and love of his people." several areas designated for shrines Arvidson said he is excited to join and devotion. The site will be develthe effort to recognize the faith and oped over time. witness of Rother, "this holy OklaRother was an Archdiocese of Oklahoma priest.” homa City priest from Okarche who "I am honored to be chosen to volunteered to serve the diocesan mishelp carry out the vision for the shrine and to assist with the creation sion in Guatemala. The Catholic Church in Guatemala was caught in and development of this beautiful the middle of a civil war at the time destination of prayer, faith, educaand Rother was targeted for helping tion and ministry for the Oklahoma to educate the local indigenous people City community and for faithful from around the world,” he said in a and for creating a co-op to help them get better prices for their crops. news release.

He was killed in his rectory on July Arvidson most recently served as executive director of the Shrine of Our 28, 1981, in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. He was beatified during a Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WisBeatification Mass in Oklahoma City, consin, from June 2010 to the presbecoming the first martyr from the ent. He oversaw a $2 million budget, United States and the first U.S.-born 45 full-time and part-time employees, priest to be beatified. more than 50 volunteers, more than Each year, on July 28, the Archdio30,000 benefactors and 75,000 pilcese of Oklahoma City, the Diocese of grims who visited the shrine each Tulsa and the Diocese of Little Rock, year.

Ark., celebrate his feast day.

He graduated summa cum laude

Chad Williams

Genealogical Society names guest speaker The Edmond Genealogical Society is happy to report regular monthly meetings will start again July 20, with program speaker Chad Williams, Director of the Research Division at the Oklahoma Historical Society. Williams will give information about the Gateway to Oklahoma History, an online repository of Oklahoma history where visitors can search, view and download newspapers, photographs, maps, and documents concerning the history of the state of Oklahoma.

A native Oklahoman, Williams has been instrumental in the development of the OHS online research catalog which includes a variety of digitized records. Prior to working full time in the Research Division, he volunteered for three years and wrote his Masters thesis on “Digitization in the Archives of the Oklahoma Historical Society.” Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Public Administration and Masters in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.

Meetings are free and open to the public, with programs starting at 6:30 p.m. Edmond Genealogical Society meetings are held the third Monday of the month at the Edmond Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 1315 E. 33rd Street, Edmond.

Enter through the doors at the rear (north side) of the building. The church offers plenty of parking and is fully handicap accessible. For more information on EGS, go to: www.rootsweb.com/~okegs, or visit us on Facebook at Edmond Genealogical Society. The Aug. 17 program will be WellDone, Sister Suffragist!...The History of Women’s Right to Vote in America, given by Jan Beattie, EGS president.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 15

‘Hamilton’ makes the jump to Disney+

By George Gust Years ago, when “Hamilton” was first running on Broadway, you would hear about how hard it was to get tickets and even if tickets were available, they cost a small fortune. And it seemed so odd that a hip-hop musical about the founding fathers with a racially diverse cast would bring on so much hype and platitude. Now seeing “Hamilton” streaming ‘live’ on Broadway through the magic of Disney+ it’s not hard to tell why this show became a cultural phenomenon.

“Hamilton” (now streaming on Disney+) is the filmed version of the original Broadway production of combining elements of live theater, film and streaming to bring the cultural phenomenon to homes around the world. “Hamilton” follows the real life of one of America's foremost founding fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton (Lin Manuel Miranda) through his rise during the American Revolution to his scandalous fall in the early days of the new American Republic.

Just in time to break up our patriotic summertime pandemic blues, “Hamilton” enters stage right. And if you were thinking that “Hamilton” is a simple filming of the live production you’d be wrong, as the direction and editing that went into this streaming version is thoughtful and magnificently effective. You can see every emotion on the actors’ faces as they emote to the not-so-cheap seats and feel the kinetic

energy and fervor of every expertly crafted song and dance number. And while the experience of seeing it live would have been a special experience, watching “Hamilton” from the comfort of your own home for practically free with the captions on has its advantages. The intricate hip hop lyricism and rat-tat-tat delivery are enjoyed all the more when you can see the love and research that went into every word creating such a unique song style telling the under told story of Alexander Hamilton and his long time rival Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.).

Not much could be added to the plaudits that Miranda and crew have received for their on-stage performances, but the sheer talent, charm and emotion put behind this production are astounding. The voice talents and energy of Odom as Burr, 0aveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson and Jonathan Groff as the mad King George are nothing short of electric command-

ing your attention during every dramatic and comedic interlude. And while “Hamilton’s” recounting of the politics that went into the American Revolution and founding of a new government are front and center, the personal life of Hamilton mainly his relationship with his wife Eliza (Phillipa Soo) bring the show a moving heartbeat, with Soo bringing to life the hardships of being married to and in love with a man who was married to his great works.

Overall, “Hamilton” is a transcendent artistic vision of one of America’s founding fathers. At its heart “Hamilton” is a story of the underdogs told to us by a racially diverse cast that feels so fitting for today’s current climate. Even at a robust two hours and 40 minute runtime, its well worth it to see this piece of American history brought to life in such a unique way. Luckily, the folks at Disney decided to release this live production instead of attempting to recreate the stage magic in blockbuster movie form (cough cough “Cats”!). And with theaters continuing to push back their opening “Hamilton” feels like the communal movie event of the summer.

“Hamilton” is rated PG-13 for language and some suggestive material.

4.6 out of 5 stars

To comment on this film review, or any other movie review, please e-mail George at gust.george@gmail.com

PHOTO PROVIDED

RLin-Manuel Miranda and the original cast of the Broadway production of ‘Hamilton’ bring the cultural phenomenon streaming to homes all over the world on Disney+,

No sports this fall at Langston Langston University, the only historically Black university in Oklahoma, announced last week that it would not participate in any sport during the fall semester due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Athletic director Donnita Rogers wrote in a letter posted on the school's website that her administration team met with coaches, president Kent Smith Jr. and the school's emergency leadership team Thursday evening and made the decision not to compete in any fall sport or activity.

The teams not playing during the fall semester include football, volleyball, track and field, and men's and women's basketball.

LU's cheer team and band will also not participate. The school also canceled homecoming festivities.

Assistant football coach Kevin Griffin tweeted: "Tough day already but I know God has a plan already, to make things right. I will never question God's plans."

The Lions compete on the NAIA level in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Fellow SAC member Texas College announced Thursday it would also suspend sports in the fall semester.

From Oklahoman.com

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: SUMMER OLYMPICS ACROSS 1. Stockpile 6. More of the same 9. One of Los Lobos 13. Orion's brightest spot 14. A pop 15. Spur on 16. Another name for a jack 17. Between E and NE 18. For all to see 19. * Location of the first Summer Olympics 21. *____ test 23. Utmost degree 24. Allen Ginsberg's poem 25. Do this for cardio 28. Chesterfield, e.g.

30. Like "Extra!" news 35. Off-ramp 37. Barbequed slab 39. Right-hand page 40. Infamous Roman tyrant 41. Pandora's box contents 43. Socially inept one 44. Parachute material 46. And others 47. Kill a dragon 48. Prior to the present, prefix 50. Every which way 52. Swear words 53. Burst of wind 55. High affair 57. *Non-permanent addition to Olympic event roster 60. *Most decorated Olympian 63. Desire 64. Tom and Jerry, e.g.

66. Relating to hair 68. Skip the big wedding 69. Inquire 70. Key material 71. Bears' hands 72. House vote 73. Chain of hills DOWN 1. Biblical boat 2. Chinese dynasty (1368-1644)

3. Lab culture 4. *Number of events in a heptathlon 5. Rains and snows at the same time 6. D'Artagnan's sword 7. *Age of the youngest Olympian ever 8. Words to live by 9. Denim innovator 10. Welcoming store sign 11. Salz____ or St. Peters____ 12. Make a choice 15. Tree used to make paper 20. House duty 22. Great horned one 24. ____ for Humanity 25. *Most decorated U.S. female Olympian Thompson 26. Has daisylike flowers 27. Lena Dunham's HBO show, 2012-17 29. *Number of countries that participated in every Summer Olympics 31. Nugent and Danson 32. Food contaminant 33. A Stradivari violin

34. *2021 Olympics location 36. Thomas the Engine's warning 38. Wimbledon is a Grand one 42. Deadly sin 45. Nullify 49. Hard to escape routine 51. Zoo____ or bee____ 54. Type of car 56. Courtroom excuse 57. Caffeine-containing nut tree 58. Swear, not curse 59. Exercise repetitions, for short 60. Annoyingly slow 61. Weary walk 62. Spilled the beans 63. Large edible mushroom 65. *Most decorated Olympic country 67. Whiskey grain

Answers On Page 19

Answers appearing on Page 19

Page 16 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

OKC Dodgers forced to plan for 2021

Fans reeling from Minor League cancellation In accordance with the decision made by Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball Tuesday, the 2020 Oklahoma City Dodgers season has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Although we are saddened, we fully support the decision made by Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball to cancel the 2020 Minor League Baseball season,” said OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes. “During this time, we must do what is in the best interest of public health and safety so we can welcome Dodgers baseball back to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in the future.

“We want to thank our fans for their patience and understanding,” Byrnes said. “We encourage everyone to continue to stay safe and follow public health guidelines so we can come together and cheer on the Dodgers for the 2021 season.”

All tickets purchased for the 2020 season – including season ticket packages, group outings, hospitality packages and individual game tickets – can be exchanged for the 2021 season at no extra cost. Season ticket holders who move their tickets to the 2021 season will receive a credit based on purchase price that can be used toward ticket up-

grades, additional group/hospitality packages, special event venue rentals, LifeShare WinterFest or ballpark experiences. Ticket representatives will also be working with group and hospitality buyers to move their events to 2021.

All ticketholders have been, or will be, contacted by team account representatives via phone. Fans who purchased season ticket packages, group/hospitality packages and/or individual game tickets can also reach out with questions to help navigate their ticket options by calling (405) 218-1000 or via email at tickets@okcdodgers.com. Ticket representatives are available between 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Monday-Friday.

“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner.

“While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”

“At its core, baseball is America, and baseball is

all of us,” said Pacific Coast League President Branch B. Rickey. “The PCL joins all of our fans in aiming for a 2021 that will begin to make up for everything being missed now and in the coming baseball months.”

Although there will be no Triple-A baseball, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark will remain a hub of activity as permitted by city, state and federal health officials. The facility has already hosted several amateur baseball showcases and tournaments with more to come. Beyond baseball, the ballpark has also hosted private events, including Cashion High School’s Class of 2020 graduation ceremony in early June.

For a full schedule of events and list of enhanced health and safety protocols that have been instituted at the ballpark, please visit okcdodgers.com. For more information about hosting an event at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, please visit okcballparkevents.com or call (405) 218-2115.

For all other questions regarding the cancellation of the 2020 season or upcoming scheduled events at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, please call (405) 218-2182 or visit okcdodgers.com.

Edmond students get business scholarships The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business recently awarded scholarships to several Edmond residents for the upcoming fall and spring semesters in recognition of their academic achievements and outstanding service to the university.

Samuel Babb, a junior majoring in management information systems, recently received the Drs. Cheng and Feng Research Scholarship.

Lance Cooter, a junior majoring in finance, and insurance and risk management, recently received the American Fidelity and INSURICA Endowed Scholarship.

Aaron Cox, a sophomore majoring in finance, and insurance and risk management, recently received the Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Company Endowed Scholarship and the Prudential Financial Scholarship.

Benjamin Ecton, a sophomore majoring in management, recently received the Wee-Gee Chan Endowed Scholarship.

Alexandra Jury, a junior majoring in accounting and finance, recently received the Dr. Chuck Stumbaugh Endowed Scholarship.

Andrew Wade, a junior majoring in finance, recently received the Dr.

Donald E. Fleming Endowed Scholarship.

“The College of Business is excited to recognize and honor its scholarship recipients. The students receiving these awards represent many of the most talented and dedicated students at UCO,” said Jeremy Oller, J.D., Ph.D., interim dean of the UCO College of Business.

“In a year that has redefined how teaching and learning can be done, these exceptional students continued to demonstrate resolve and commitment to their education. We look forward to celebrating these accomplishments with our students when they return to campus in the fall.”

“Additionally, we would like to express gratitude to our many donors, alumni and friends who make these student awards possible. The generosity of these supporters enables many of our students to pursue their educational dreams and they deserve recognition for this. The connection between our students and the metropolitan community is what helps make UCO a distinct institution for higher learning.”

For more information about the UCO College of Business, visit www.uco.edu/business.

Fraudulent claims continue As of last week, authorities continue battling fraudulent unemployment insurance claims filed against state programs across the nation.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and the firm that handles its benefits distribution program, Conduent, identified about 70,000 claims as being fraudulent and stopped them before any payments were issued. And that's only what has been identified so far.

The issue caught the attention of Oklahoma business owners, many of whom are alarmed by employment verification requests sent to them by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) on fraudulent claims.

Attorney Barbara G. Bowersox, who founded her law firm in 2014, recently sent a letter to U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, about the issue.

Bowersox explained how she, as part of starting her Oklahoma City practice, learned about and faithfully filed quarterly employment reports and payments to OESC. Those reports reflected the firm employed one person — herself.

However, since the CARES Act was approved by Congress in response to the coronavirus outbreak, five unemployment claims were filed against her firm by people she never employed (one in mid-April, one in early May and three in early June).

Bowersox reported the first fraudulent claim, plus sent a letter to OESC expressing concern about how a per-

son who never worked for her could file a claim against her company.

She also included details in her letter to Lankford about Oklahoma Attorney General forms that business owners are being asked to complete when reporting a fraudulent claim to that agency.

The form requires the business owner to include information about the claimant’s address and date of birth, she wrote.

“If you have never had the person as an employee and they are a stranger, you do not have this information,” Bowersox wrote.

Bowersox felt the federal government should require states to use a system that kicks out suspected fraudulent claims before business owners are required to be involved.

“The system should also permit an upload of a protest instead of relying on a fax or a mailed letter of protest,” she wrote, adding, “I am not alone in dealing with this headache. I just wonder how much money went out the door?”

Fraudulent claims don't just involve people who never worked for a given company or organization, either.

Many legitimately employed Oklahomans, whether working for a company or themselves, had claims filed on them to receive assistance.

Many learned it happened after attempting to file a claim themselves, or after getting benefits determinations and debit cards issued in their names sent to them.

From Oklahoma.com

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 17

Still some concern as well

Shandy

Walker

Larimore

Thompson

Six Edmond lawyers honored Six Crowe & Dunlevy attorneys from Edmond were recently recognized by international legal research and analysis provider Chambers and Partners* in the 2020 USA Guide.

Edmond attorneys Donald K. Shandy, Environment, and L. Mark Walker, Energy & Natural Resources, each received Band 1 rankings. Edmond attorneys receiving Band 2 and Band 3 rankings include Matthew B. Hickey, Tax, James W. Larimore, Corporate/Commercial, John M. Thompson, Litigation: General Commercial, and L. Mark Walker, Environment.

Kari Hoffhines was honored as Up and Coming.

Chambers and Partners recognized Crowe & Dunlevy with Band 1 rankings in Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Intellectual Property, Native American Law, Real Estate and Tax. Practices ranked in Band 2 include Corporate/Commercial, Labor & Employment and Litigation: General Commercial.

Crowe & Dunlevy is the only Oklahoma law firm to be ranked in all legal practice areas. Twenty-three of the firm’s attorneys were honored in all 10 Oklahoma practice areas researched by the publisher.

Chambers and Partners guides have ranked law firms and attorneys

Hickey

Hoffhines

since 1990 in more than 200 jurisdictions in the United States and throughout the world. Rankings are based on information submitted by law firms and in-depth telephone interviews with attorneys.

More than 200 editors and researchers independently seek out information and verify submissions to create a comprehensive guide each year.

Attorneys/firms rank on a scale of 1 to 6 based on client service and professional conduct, technical abilities, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, value and team depth. Find ranking guides at https://chambers.com/.

*Crowe & Dunlevy has no input in the rating methodologies used by Chambers and Partners.

College of business names leadership program class The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business recently named 16 students to the 2020-21 Broncho Business Leaders Class VII, also known as 2BLeaders, leadership development program. Following an application and evaluation process, students were selected based on their academic achievement and desire to grow their leadership skills.

“2BLeaders provides students with opportunities to learn outside the classroom through observation and practice,” said Holly Osburn, Ph.D., associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Management.

“It is exciting to be a part of something that has such widespread and long-lasting impact.”

2BLeaders empowers students to become agents of positive change in their organizations and communities while exposing students to business leaders in the local community. The curriculum includes matching each student with a mentor to work with throughout the program.

“2BLeaders helped me launch into my career with a running start by connecting my college experience to the professional world,” said Nathan Robinson, a 2BLeaders alumnus and product manager at Babylon Health in Austin, Texas.

“Instead of just learning or theorizing about the ‘real world,’ we took part in it and added real business value to it. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to join the program and would recommend it in a heartbeat.”

Applications for the program open each spring, with the new cohort of 2BLeaders starting the following fall semester. Admission to the program is highly selective. To be considered, students must be a declared College of Business major, enrolled full time, have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and completed

at least 60 credit hours. Students must also have a strong desire to lead. Membership encompasses a full academic year, where students enroll in a three-credit-hour course together.

“I always look forward to spending time with the UCO students that participate in the 2BLeaders program,” said Jim Denton, a 2BLeaders mentor and partner and wealth management adviser at Arledge and Associates, P.C. in Edmond.

“It enriches my life to become a resource for each of these individuals who are embarking on their careers and their journey to a successful career. My job is to help them connect with the world that lies ahead.”

2BLeaders Class VII includes: Samuel Babb, a junior management information systems major from Edmond Payton Bruce, a senior accounting major from Elgin, Okla.

Vivian Brunch, a senior human resource management major from Perry, Okla.

Deanne Cliburn, a junior operations and supply chain management major from Oklahoma City Aaron Cox, a junior finance and insurance and risk management major from Edmond Madelyn Dancer, a senior business administration major from Soper, Okla.

Travis Gray, a senior professional sales major from Edmond Priscila Guillen, a senior economics major from Oklahoma City Sarah Heath, a senior accounting major from Liberal, Kansas Rebecca Hicks, a senior economics major from Keyes, Oklahoma Meredith Malatin, a senior fi-

See Students, Page 19

Resiliency signs seen in report In spite of a sharp downturn in oil and gas production tax collections, the Oklahoma economy displayed signs of resiliency in June, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel said as he released the monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury report.

Total receipts in June topped $1.1 billion and were below collections from June 2019 by $56.4 million, or 4.9 percent. This is marked improvement from April and May, when receipts were below the prior year by 31.8 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

June collections from the gross production tax, Oklahoma’s severance tax on oil and gas extraction, totaled $19.6 million, down by $72.5 million, or 78.7 percent, compared to the same month of last year.

“The state economy showed strength in a number of key areas last month,” Treasurer McDaniel said.

“However, the large drop in gross production tax receipts due to a decline in global demand shines a light on the challenges faced by a key Oklahoma industry.”

June severance tax receipts are paid on oil and gas production that occurred during April, when the price per barrel of crude oil averaged $16.55 and included an unprecedented drop to negative $36.98 on April 20. Prices have since rebounded

to more than $40 per barrel. Nevertheless, June extraction tax receipts are the lowest monthly total in more than 10 years.

In addition to extraction taxes, individual income and sales tax collections were below collections from June of last year. Sales tax was down by 1.9 percent and individual income tax was off by 0.3 percent. Corporate income, use, and motor vehicle tax receipts were all up by double digits.

June marked the reopening of many businesses that had been closed since mid-March and state residents had the benefit of $1,200 stimulus payments from the federal government. Even so, the state unemployment rate was last reported as 12.6 percent with more than 200,000 Oklahomans out of work.

Twelve-month collections, reflecting economic performance during Fiscal Year 2020, total $13.01 billion and are down by $585.5 million, or 4.3 percent, from Fiscal Year 2019.

The only major revenue source showing growth for the year is the use tax, paid on out-of-state purchases including internet sales.

Economic indicators The unemployment rate in Oklahoma was reported as 12.6 percent in May, down from 14.7 percent in

See Report, Page 18

Page 18 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

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By Brian Attebery We all have those trouble areas of our bodies that just won’t tone up. For many ladies, they like to talk about the back of their arms or thighs. For men, it is Attebery the lower pec region or perhaps the midsection that is especially troublesome.

Are there special exercises that can help you target those area? Can we focus on certain parts of the body to get those “hard to lose” places where we want them?

To first look at all of this, we must understand what exactly we talking about with the word “tone”. To most, the term “tone” means having low body fat and showing a tight, lean muscle. No wiggles and a nice firm look. Yes? Consequently, we must discuss both aspects of what makes something look tone. You must have low body fat to “see” the muscle tone. You may have the most amazing ab muscles underneath your stomach fat but you will never see them without burning the layer of fat off to expose those muscles. You can benefit by workout your core and abdominals with better posture and a healthy lower back and that has merit in itself. To SEE those abs, it becomes more of a product of a proper nutrition plan and adequate cardio to go along with your weight-lifting plan.

Your body loses fat “systemically.”

In other words, your system is stimulated by burning more calories than you put in and this tells your body to start harvesting fat cells for energy.

Hence, we lose fat. The problem is that we all have areas that give us trouble. Perhaps it is the lower portion of your stomach or the upper/inner thighs. Perhaps your lower back fat is the main problem.

You can’t do more crunches or lunges to target the actual fat to burn in those specific area. You must continue to stimulate the entire body to let the fat go and those trouble areas will be the last place to go. Does that mean doing those lunges and crunches are in vain? Of course not.

Part of the reason we have plateaus in fitness and get stuck with fat loss is that we don’t think outside of the box, we give up too soon and are we not consistent. We all like to

do the exercises we like to do. Perhaps it is that one “step class” you do three days per week. That is so great that you found a class to do that you love consistently but … your body has no reason to go beyond where you are if that is the same thing you do day in and day out, week in and week out. You must mix it up or accept the fact that your body will most likely stay where it is at unless you are not eating properly.

Nutrition is 80 percent of your success. Do NOT think about starving but think about supplying your body the proper nutrients and amounts it needs to succeed. You must have a plan with nutrition and make a lifestyle of it to succeed. You can change workouts all the time and that is a great idea but you can also out eat your exercise and you will not get leaner and show the tone off your are trying to accomplish. This is especially true if you are already in good shape but are trying to get that last little bit off.

Trouble areas do exist for every person. Welcome to genetics. You need to continue to strive to work your entirebody and allow the over all calories burning benefits of that helping those trouble areas indirectly.

For example, many ladies will see more benefits from their thighs by working their upper bodies. How so?

Well, if you only focus on your legs in the gym and ignore your upper body then you are missing half of your body and the calorie burning effects it will add to your goals. Building the upper body muscles will raise your metabolism, burning more calories off the entire body (including the thighs) AND improve your symmetry and proportions because you have some tone upstairs now. What a deal!

Toning is a process that involves nutrition, cardio and mixing up your workouts to keep your body guessing. They all take time and everyone improves at different rates. Giving up is the fastest way to fail. Slow progress is better than going backwards. Keep focused on those trouble areas.

Your body will thank you for it.

(Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com)

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April. The seasonally adjusted number of Oklahomans listed as jobless increased by 170,265 over the year, according to figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. unemployment rate was listed at 13.3 percent in April.

The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index rose above growth neutral in June, following three months of numbers indicating expected economic contraction. The June index was set at 53.1, up from 43 in May. Numbers above 50 indicate economic expansion is expected during the next three to six months.

June collections June gross collections total $1.1 billion, down by $56.4 million, or 4.9 percent, from June 2019.

Gross income tax collections, a combination of individual and corporate income taxes, generated $407.3 million, an increase of $8.2 million, or 2.1 percent, from the previous June.

Individual income tax collections for the month are $326.2 million, down by $1 million, or 0.3 percent, from the prior year. Corporate collections are $81.1 million, an increase of $9.2 million, or 12.8 percent.

Combined sales and use tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $470.8 million in June. That is $575,475, or 0.1 percent, less than June 2019.

June sales tax collections total $404.8 million, a drop of $7.7 mil-

lion, or 1.9 percent from the same month of the prior year. Use tax receipts, collected on out-of-state purchases including online sales, generated $66 million, an increase of $7.2 million, or 12.2 percent, over the year.

Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas total $19.6 million in June, a decrease of $72.5 million, or 78.7 percent, from last June. Compared to May 2020 reports, gross production collections are down by $18.6 million, or 48.7 percent.

Motor vehicle taxes produced $75.6 million, up by $8.1 million, or 12 percent, from the same month of 2019.

Other collections composed of some 60 different sources including taxes on fuel, tobacco, medical marijuana, and alcoholic beverages, produced $121.6 million during the month. That is $290,517, or 0.2 percent, more than last June.

Fiscal Year 2020 collections Gross revenue totals $13.01 billion during Fiscal Year 2020, July 2019 through June 2020. That is $585.5 million, or 4.3 percent, below collections from the previous fiscal year.

Gross income taxes generated $4.37 billion for the fiscal year, reflecting a decrease of $226.8 million, or 4.9 percent, from the prior 12 months.

Individual income tax collections total $3.86 billion, down by $220.8 million, or 5.4 percent, from the prior fiscal year.

Edmond Life & Leisure • July 9, 2020 • Page 19

Metro homebuilders stay busy through the pandemic

By Richard Mize Oklahoman.com Oklahoma City-area homebuilders started more houses the first half of this year than last, despite the coronavirus, business shutdowns, the battered energy sector, raging unemployment and recession.

The 2,674 homes permitted through June was an increase of 6.5% compared with the first six months of 2019, according to Norman-based Dharma Inc.'s Builder Report, which tracks home construction in Oklahoma City, unincorporated Oklahoma County, Bethany, Blanchard, Choctaw, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Mustang, Newcastle, Noble, Norman, Shawnee and Yukon.

With a shortage of housing inventory, mostly at entry-level price ranges, and persistent, historically low mortgage interest rates, builders roared into 2020 with 491 starts in January — an increase of 63.1% over January 2019 — then a 28.5% year-

over-year increase in February.

Then the coronavirus hit in March.

March starts were off 15%, April's were down 20%, and May's were down 2%.

In June, with businesses opening back up and people who had been staying at home venturing out for the first time in three months, construction starts rebounded 16% over June last year.

New work could be stymied again in July and later because of the spike in COVID-19 cases and renewed emphasis on facial masks and social distancing to try and staunch the spread of the disease.

Whatever the coronavirus brings for the rest of 2020, builders — and buyers — will always have the Parade of Homes Spring Festival to remember. The two three-day weekends when nearly 100 new houses were open to the public left most of them with smiles, masked or not.

All of our builders were blown away by the sales and traffic during the parade," said Rusty Appleton, executive director of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association. "The year has been surprisingly successful for homebuilders. Even though no one is quite sure how long it will last, right now buyers are buying houses."

The pandemic hasn't left the industry unscathed.

In fact, builder Andrew French, president of the association, said a builder member is sick with COVID-19, with the coronavirus believed to have been contracted from a construction crew member.

"There for a while, they were definitely keeping their distance," French said, then crews relaxed safety measures. He said he expects a return to health precautions.

Appleton said the outbreak has changed builders' and crews' ways, even if they eased up on safety in recent weeks.

Students From Page 17

nance major from Enid Morgan Money, a junior marketing major from Edmond Clayton Petty, a senior accounting major from Edmond Jeremy Rosinski, a senior management information systems major from Choctaw Haley Smith, a junior management information systems major from Walters, Okla.

Courtney Toney, a junior management major from Midwest City For more information about 2BLeaders, visit www.uco.edu/business/current-students/experiential-learning/2bleaders or contact Osburn at 405-974-2443 or hosburn1@uco.edu.

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In light of COVID 19 for the time being, some worship services may be suspended.

Please check with your house of worship for more information.

Page 20 • July 9, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure