October 4, 2018

October 4, 2018 Vol. 19, No. 19

In This Issue ROUGH CUT SWISS

UCO’S NEWEST BUILDING NAMED IN BETZ’S HONOR

Rough Cut Swiss, in real life, is located in front of Othello’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Main and Broadway, but this week it 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.

Kiwanis Club holds annual awards banquet See Page 13

PHOTOS PROVIDED

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 Partly cloudy High 83° Low 70°

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 Scattered T-storms High 70° Low 61°

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 Scattered T-storms High 68° Low 64°

Top: Regional University System of Oklahoma regents (left to right) Susan Winchester, Mark Stansberry and Amy Ford join UCO President Don Betz (center right) at a reception announcing the university’s new STEM building would be named in his honor.

Bottom: The Regional University System of Oklahoma approved the naming of UCO’s newest building in honor of current university president Don Betz. The Donald Betz STEM Research and Learning Center is slated to open in November.

The Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents approved the naming of the University of Central Oklahoma’s newest building in honor of current university president Don Betz. The distinction recognizes Betz’ contributions to higher education, including seven years as UCO president, as he plans to retire next year.

The Donald Betz STEM Research and Learning Center will serve as an interdisciplinary hub for the university’s various science, technology, engineering continued on Page 3

The Regional University System of Oklahoma is conducting a national search for the 21st president of the University of Central Oklahoma. UCO President Don Betz will retire June 30.

“President Betz has done an outstanding job growing the engagement of UCO’s students, faculty alumni and donors,” said Mark Stansberry, chairman of the Board of Regents.

The regents have appointed a presidential search advisory committee and will adver-

tise the position nationally in higher education trade publications, traditional media and online platforms.

The committee consists of four RUSO regents; members of the UCO faculty, administration and student body; UCO alumni and community members.

UCO, founded in 1890 as the Territorial Normal School, has nearly 16,000 students in 121 undergraduate areas of study and 74 graduate majors.

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Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 3

Cover From Page 1 and mathematics programs, including biology, chemistry, engineering, forensic science and nursing.

The interdisciplinary nature of the facility makes the naming a particularly relevant honor for Betz. He has been known throughout his tenure in higher education for building connections that advance intuitions and the communities they serve.

“President Betz is a tremendous advocate for the advancement of higher education in Oklahoma, nationally and internationally. It is appropriate that future generations of students will know his name and will learn in the very building that is a symbol of his lifetime of work,” said Mark A. Stansberry, chair of the RUSO Board of Regents.

When complete, the building will add 56,000 square feet of learning space for the campus for the highlysought STEM majors. The new space is expected to allow increased enrollment for these programs when it opens in November.

Earlier this year Betz announced he would retire as UCO’s president June 30, 2019 after a distinguished 48year career in higher education.

RUSO is currently conducting a national search for the university’s next president.

RUSO, as UCO’s governing board, reviews and approves naming requests for its six institutions.

For more information on UCO’s STEM programs and the new building, visit www.uco.edu.

Edmond Schools celebrates its academic certifications At Edmond Public Schools, students have earned the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma and 13 students have earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2017-18 school year. AP Capstone is a diploma program from the College Board based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Both courses prepare students for college and career success through the development of critical thinking, academic research, collaboration, presentation, and time management skills.

“We are proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program, and we continue to look forward to providing students with opportunities to explore their passions while building college-level academic and collaboration skills,” said Associate Superintendent Dr. Debbie Bendick.

The AP Capstone program provides student-centered learning while incorporating performance-based assessments. Throughout the program, AP Seminar and AP Research students study a variety of topics across multiple disciplines and have the flexibility to choose topics of personal interest to show mastery of critical thinking, research, and presentation skills. Official AP Seminar and AP Research assessments also go beyond a single AP Exam to include academic papers, multimedia presentations, and defense of findings.

To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Over 1,100 schools participated in the AP

Capstone program worldwide during the 2017-18 school year when approximately 4,800 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma and 2,400 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

At Edmond Memorial High School, students focused their research on a range of topics, including: climate change induced migration/displacement of populations, how to effectively reduce pain and increase healing in soft tissue ankle injuries, the most appropriate and efficient way to utilize technology in a classroom setting and Alzheimer’s.

“Congratulations to the AP Capstone award winners, who conduct, present, and defend academic research on topics they are passionate about,” said Trevor Packer, College Board senior vice president of AP and Instruction. “Their ability to manage long-term projects, collaborate with teams, and deliver effective presentations will accelerate not only their academic careers, but their professional careers as well.”

Of the students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma Program at Edmond Memorial High School n Seven were awarded the AP Capstone diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. They are Ruby Baker, Taylor Berkheimer, Amelia Bond, Liam Edgington, Sarah Green, Jared Haymore and Sophia Taliaferro. n Two were awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. They are Mason Kaiser and Mikayla Mckinzie.

(The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school.

Edmond Armory building will shut down until next February The historic Edmond Armory building located at 431 South Boulevard is set for temporary closure from October 1, 2018 until February 1, 2019.

The building, owned by the City of Edmond, currently houses the Edmond Historical Society & Museum.

The closure is taking place for Phase III of renovations to the 1936 WPA building. Phase III renovations will include updates to electrical and HVAC systems, along with additional accessibility enhancements.

“The museum staff, Board of Directors, and members of the Edmond Historical Society and Museum are thankful to the City of Edmond for their commitment of nearly $1.4 million to preserve Edmond’s historic Armory building,” said Historical Society & Museum Executive Director

Anita Schlaht. “The museum looks forward to a ‘Cleaner, Brighter, Safer, and More Accessible Future’.”

During the closure, museum staff will continue to work to facilitate their off-site programming at the Rodkey House Event and Education Annex in Stephenson Park and at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse on Second Street. They will also be involved in moving and protecting museum collections during the renovations and preparing to reinstall and install current and new exhibits for the reopening.

For additional questions regarding the Edmond Historical Society & Museum, please contact Executive Director Anita Schlaht at aschlaht@edmondhistory.org or 3400078.

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.

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From the Publisher

Charri and her big heart Daily events often serve as reminders of realities for me on this earth. The passing of our friend and colleague, Charri White, last week was one of those events.

It reminded me of how short life can be and how tragic the passing of a friend can feel. I truly believe God has a plan and Charri leaving us so early in Ray Hibbard her life is part of that plan but I’m afraid the good Lord is going to have to give us all some time to absorb her leaving so soon. However, her family and friends are all thankful that He shared this absolute angel with us in this life.

I first met Charri a little over 18 years ago when we started Edmond Life & Leisure. She worked with our partner, Chris Hoke. She was incredibly helpful to us with the business side of getting the company set up and running. Charri continued to be an excellent source for business questions over the years.

While I am an accountant, Charri was a great accountant. I often found it easier to ask her advice than to sort through an accounting question on my own.

I am pretty sure Charri knew I was being lazy, but she never called me out on it.

It was not long before she became friends to us in the downCharri stairs portion of our office building. She was so small you couldn’t hear her coming down the stairs. She would open the door ever so quiet, see me writing at my computer and in a loud voice say, “HIBBARD!” Without fail, it would startle me, and we would both start laughing. Thinking back on it I honestly cannot remember a time when Charri and I visited that we weren’t laughing. Most of the last 18 years had Charri as my only fellow Oklahoma State University fan in our building.

I also do not remember a time when she was unkind or mean to anyone. I don’t even recall a time when she was mad. Even folks that had not been so nice to her, she might be frustrated with them but in no way was she unkind back to them. Charri presented herself at my desk one day just as angry as I had ever seen her, which by most folk’s standard was not angry at all. The electric company had messed up her bill and she was upset by not being able to talk to someone that could fix their mistake. She asked if I knew anyone that could be informed about the problem so other people didn’t have the same experience she had. When I told her that I did and that I would call them right away, she started to go back upstairs, stopped and turned back to me to say, “Don’t be mean to them or anything. I just want them to know that they didn’t handle the situation very well.”

She wasn’t asking for help for herself. She was turning to me for help in making sure the problem she had did not cause anyone else grief. In addition to that, she wanted to make sure I wasn’t too hard on the person that caused the problem. I was to be firm but nice. It was “classic”

Charri in that she was incredibly selfless and spent most of her time thinking of others. Charri was inspiring and a teacher by example of how to be kind and considerate.

Even as her health started to fail, this giant hearted person never showed any of us her pain.

At her service, one of her fellow runners described Charri as having the heart of a marathon runner by not giving up and fighting to the very end. She ran over 20 marathons in all parts of the country and was known as a terrific athlete.

Charri truly fought the good fight on this earth.

This smart, beautiful and loving person with a fantastic sense of humor could have done anything in this world that she set her mind to do. It was a blessing for us that we were able to get to know her, learn from her and our lives are much richer for it.

Thank you Charri and I will miss being startled out of my chair on a regular basis.

Towne gives EPS stats to Edmond Rotary We had the opportunity to hear Edmond Public School Superintendent Bret Towne speak at the Edmond Rotary Club last week. The annual report had just been released and Towne was able to give us some of the latest statistics about our outstanding Edmond School district.

Edmond is lucky to have Towne as superintendent of our schools. He is a qualified, award winning and inspirational leader for our teachers and students. Towne is dedicated to the kids.

They come first with him, always. He has never let politics, policy or finances get in the way of the mission of educating and caring for our children. Here is some of what he shared: The ethnic makeup of the 25,248 students in the EPS system is: White 62% Black 11% Hispanic 11% Mixed 9% Asian 5% Native American 2% We have 67 world languages spoken by students in our system. They are in order: English, Spanish, Chinese, Urdu, Arabic, Vietnamese, Farsi, Korean, Bengali, Portuguese, Hindi and Gujarati. You may have to work your favorite search engine to figure out where some of these are from. I started to do it for you but decided it would be an educational exercise to do it yourself.

Enrollment in 2005 was 19,183 and it has steadily increased each year to 25,248 in 2018.

Over 13 years the average growth per year has been a plus 490 students. Edmond’s reputation for excellent schools is the reason for the growth.

I have always maintained that the population, housing and economic growth in Edmond is due to our school system.

EPS is the third largest school district in Oklahoma with approximately 40 percent of the district yet undeveloped. We have room to grow folks. We are ranked the No. 1 educated community in the state. Yet, funding per student is the 17th lowest of the 540 school districts in the

Edmond is lucky to have Towne as superintendent of our schools. He is a qualified, award winning and inspirational leader for our teachers and students.

Towne is dedicated to the kids state at $5,653 per student.

EPS is the biggest restaurant in Edmond serving 2.1 million meals per year. There are 27.7 percent of our students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

EPS is the largest employer in the area. There are 2,926 employees in the system. They have an incredible impact on our employment numbers here in Edmond. EPS was named a 2015, 2016 and 2017 “Top Workplace” by The Oklahoman.

Academic performance is second to none for our state: 11 National Blue-Ribbon Schools 8 Great Expectation Model Schools 25 2018 National Merit Semifinalist (more than any district in the state) 7 perfect ACT scores in 2017-2018 Students passed 2,918 AP test which is a 62 percent pass rate EPS are great stewards with your tax money as well. Here is how the money is spent: Instruction (classroom) 65.4% Student Services 8.3% Facilities Operation 6.5% School Administration 6.7% Student Transportation 4.8% Instructional Support 4.3% Central Services 2.6% General Administration 1.4% When you hear talk of putting more money in the classroom, the number they are usually talking about is at 60 percent. It is interesting to note that EPS is already at 65.4 percent.

Equally as impressive is that the General Administration number is only at 1.4 percent. Towne and the administrators run an efficient and efTowne fective process that maximizes the dollars that go into our classroom.

Towne will be the first to say it is a total team effort. The administration, teachers, service staff, parents and students put in the effort to make Edmond Public Schools the great district it is today.

Our community should be grateful.

(Ray Hibbard may be reached by e-mail at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Check out what’s inside! n Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 6. n A look at the Governor’s race ......................................................Page 8. n Dave Farris & Pretty Boy Floyd’s demise ......................................Page 9. n Banker honored at City Council meeting ....................................Page 12. n Kiwanians hold annual banquet..................................................Page 13. n George Gust reviews a comedy with few laughs ........................Page 15. n Crossword puzzle........................................................................Page 15. n Business news ............................................................................Page 21. n Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.

Find the ‘Rough Cut Swiss’ Rough Cut Swiss, in real life, is located in front of Othello’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Main and Broadway, but this week it is hidden somewhere in our paper. E-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Rough Cut Swiss is by artist David Phelps. Phelps is an Oklahoma based sculptor whose work has been featured throughout the state. He is inspired by expansive spaces and hopes his works will inspire meaningful meditation.

Said Phelps, “I grew up on a farm in the central valley of California where the fields became an extension of oneself. I continue to live in the wide open spaces of Oklahoma where my sculptural images expand to include their environments as part of the aesthetic experience.”

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com

Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC

Partner Christopher T. Hoke

Copyright © 2018 by Edmond Media Publishing

Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com

107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax)

Production April Burgess, Deanne York Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

Material contained herein may not

Contributing Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, George Gust.

the express written permission from

Photographer Melinda Infante

facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Cover Design April Burgess

be reproduced in any form without Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 5

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Citizens Bank of Edmond ‘Cash Mob’ returns Friday On Friday Citizens Bank of Edmond will continue a local tradition known as a ”Cash Mob.” Citizens will be Cash Mobbing a local boutique, LuLu & Lo’s, that is new to the Downtown Edmond area.

Citizens Bank of Edmond invented Cash Mobs several years ago to bring attention to local businesses. As a

small business as well, Citizens Bank of Edmond realizes the impact of the community investing in small businesses and wanted to play a part in that investment.

“We exist because of the many local businesses that invested their deposits into our community bank over the 117 years,” said Jill Castilla, Citizens Bank of

Edmond President and CEO. “We want to be here to support the community for the next 117 years and our goal is to help other small businesses thrive for that long as well.”

On a frequent basis, Citizens Bank of Edmond selects a local business and encourages not only the bank team, but also the community to go and support the selected local business. This month, LuLu & Lo’s in Downtown Edmond has been selected. Lulu & Lo’s is open from 10am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday, selling novelty gifts, home décor and women’s clothing.

Mother and daughter owners, Lora and Lauren Frazier express their gratitude at being welcomed to Downtown Edmond.

“The whole downtown, especially Citizens Bank has been so welcoming and supportive since we opened a little over three months ago. We are so glad we chose downtown Edmond.”

Thursday Oct. 4 ---- In the Gallery ---- In the Principles Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student ---- American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters ---- Fall Signature Tour ---- FrightFest ---- Lyric Theatre Presents: When We’re Gone ---- Fall Festival at the Orr Family Farm ---- Edmond Police Department Golf Tournament ---- Phantom of the Opera Tea Party ---- The Most Happy Fella Performance Friday Oct. 5 ---- In the Gallery ---- In the Principal’s Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student ---- American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters ---- Fall Signature Tour ---- Guthrie Haunts ---- FrightFest ---- Fall Festival at the Orr Family Farm ---- Day Out with Thomas ---- Lyric Theatre Presents: When We’re Gone ---- Pumpkinville ---- The Most Happy Fella Performance ---- Shortt Dogg Saturday Oct. 6 ---- In the Gallery ---- Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- Smilin’ Vic ---- Tunnel to Towers 5K ---- UCO Homecoming ---- Tyler Lee Band ---- Fall Signature Tour ---- In the Principles Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student ---- American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters ---- Guthrie Haunts ---- FrightFest ---- Fall Festival at the Orr Family Farm ---- Pumpkinville ---- OKC Gun Show ---- OKC Philharmonic Presents: Wild Individualism ---- Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show ---- Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show ---- Lyric Theatre Presents: When We’re Gone ---- The Most Happy Fella Performance Sunday Oct. 7 ---- In the Gallery ---- All About Sake ---- Fall Signature Tour ---- In the Principles Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student ---- American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters ---- Guthrie Haunts ---- FrightFest ---- Fall Festival at the Orr Family Farm ---- Pumpkinville ---- OKC Gun Show ---- Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show ---- Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show ---- Lyric Theatre Presents: When We’re Gone ---- The Most Happy Fella Performance Extra Information on Weekend Happenings In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Tracy Wente For information go to: http://www.edmondfinearts.com/ Edmond Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Market Place & Plaza Extra Info: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Family friendly environment where you can purchase regionally grown produce and Made in Oklahoma items.

Smilin’ Vic Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: 8 p.m., $10; for more information visit ucojazzlab.com/events/ or call 405 974-2100.

Tunnel to Towers 5K Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; $0 ---$25; Honor our Bravest, All proceeds will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundations, including our Smart Home Program, which builds specially adapted, custom designed homes for our nation’s most catastrophically injured service members.

For more information visit tunnel2towers.org.

UCO Homecoming Location: UCO – Athletic Fields Extra Info: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Parade 10 a.m., Carnival 11 a.m., Game 2 p.m.; For more information visit http://sites.uco.edu/studentlife/homecoming/. Game tickets can be purchased at the gate or visiting https://bronchosports.com/sports/2 015/1/12/tickets.aspx?&tab=2 All About Sake Location: The Barrel Room Extra Info: 4 – 5:30 p.m., $50; Sake is a versatile and subtle drink that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

Sign up on this website www.winebarrelokc.com.

Tyler Lee Band Location: River Lounge at Riverwind Casino Extra Info: 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. for more information visit riverwind.com In the Principal’s Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; visit nationalcowboymuseum.org American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, OKC Extra Info: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; For more information, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Lyric Theatre Presents: When We’re Gone Location: Plaza Theatre Extra Info: for more information visit https://lyrictheatreokc.com/shows/w hen-were-gone/ Guthrie Haunts Location: 4524 Riverside Circle, Guthrie Extra Info: $20 gen admin, Fastpass $10, Touch Upgrade $5; for more information visit http://www.guthriescaregrounds.com.

FrightFest Location: Frontier City Theme Park, Oklahoma City Extra Info: Continues through October 2. Thrills and chills for the entire family. It’s fun by day and fright by night! Be sure and check operating days and hours when planning your visit!

For a complete list of operating days, hours and activities, visit FrontierCity.com or call (405) 478-2140 Fall Festival at the Orr Family Farm Location: Orr Family Farm, Oklahoma City Extra Info: For more information visit https://www.orrfamilyfarm.com.

Shortt Dogg Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: $10, 8 p.m., For more information visit ucojazzlab.com Edmond Police Department Golf Tournament Location: Oak Tree Country Club Extra Info: Fundraiser benefitting the annual police banquet. Find more information on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EdmondCPAAA/.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 7

Historical Ghost Tours, Wagon Rides & S’mores The Edmond Historic Preservation Trust will be presenting the Annual Historical Ghost Tours with even more fun activities this year including free wagon rides and s'mores.

The walking tours will tell the stories of founding members of our community along with documented ghost stories of Edmond. Tour guides will lead you to different actors portraying these stories. Each tour will last about 45 minutes and will leave every 15 minutes.

Visitors can also enjoy free horse-drawn wagon rides courtesy of the Downtown Edmond Business Association (DEBA) and sponsors Around the Corner, Broadway Antiques, Campbell Corner, Farmers Insurance Michelle Schaefer, Maison Bleue and Realty 1. The Edmond Fire Department will also be there with a fire pit to make s'mores and to talk to attendees about smoke alarms.

The events will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27. Wagon rides will be from 5 - 8 p.m. on the corner of Broadway and Hurd. Ghost tours and s'mores will begin at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the Historical Ghost Tours are $7 and children 10 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Silver Leaf Gems, 15 West Campbell Street in Downtown Edmond or the night of the event. For more information email info@downtowntedmondok.com or call (405) 2859700.

Downtown Edmond Business Association (DEBA) is a membership organization formed by business owners in Downtown Edmond. DEBA holds many family-friendly events throughout the year. For more information, contact Elena Listen at info@downtownedmondok.com or (405) 2499391.

OSU receives nearly $4 million in a grant to research obesity Oklahoma State University has been awarded nearly $4 million over the next five years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to tackle Oklahoma’s obesity crisis. Adair and Muskogee counties in eastern Oklahoma will be the initial counties targeted by this project.

OSU’s College of Human Sciences and OSU’s Center for Health Systems Innovation partnered with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service to win this project. The High Obesity County Program, which is part of the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, funds universities in states with counties that have more than 40 percent prevalence of obesity in adults.

“We at the Center for Health Systems Innovation have a mission to transform rural and Native American health,” said William D. Paiva, executive director for the Center for Health Systems Innovation (CHSI). “This project will allow us to continue to expand our programs to support our core mission. More importantly, it will allow us to provide valuable programs to our rural citizens to address

the obesity crisis, which is causing Oklahomans to die far too young.”

Oklahoma ranks among the nation’s worst for adult obesity rates (sixth), diabetes (sixth), cardiovascular deaths (second) and cancer deaths (fifth), according to the CDC and the 2014 Oklahoma State of the State Health Report. The two counties initially targeted for these grant efforts have adult obesity rates exceeding 40 percent: Adair (41.3 percent) and Muskogee (40.6 percent).

The target of the $3.9 million fiveyear project, titled Curbing Obesity in Adair and Muskogee Counties, are residents who are considered obese or at risk of becoming obese.

“We are excited and honored to be part of this interdisciplinary, intercampus effort to address obesity rates in Oklahoma,” said Jorge Atiles, associate dean for extension and engagement. “The OSU College of Human Sciences, through our Family and Consumer Sciences Cooperative Extension programs, has a rich history of providing cutting-edge solutions to support the residents of all 77 counties within Oklahoma.”

Page 8 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

More on Governor’s race

Did you happen to catch The Oklahoman article Sunday on GOP gubernatorial candidate Kevin Stitt?

I have to admit I didn’t know a whole lot about him before, other than he Steve Gust started a mortgage company, which now has about 1,200 employees. From what I read he’s a Type A personality to the 10th power.

One of his quotes I admired was that when he was growing up he felt “guilty,” asking his parents for money.

He went from Norman High School to Oklahoma State University, where he put himself through college going door-to-door selling books.

When he first got married, his wife, Sarah, and him renovated homes. His big business, of course, was Gateway Mortgage, that he started with a computer and $1,000.

Through the Gateway Foundation he helped to found a school in Nigeria and an orphan outreach in Uganda.

At the same time he’s helping to raise six children of his own.

On the negative side, he has really never been too interested in politics

until now and didn’t even vote that much. Still, Stitt might just the kind of guy to really shake things at the State Capitol.

His main opponent, as most of us know, is Democrat Drew Edmondson.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I have nothing against Edmondson and he’s done a good job in the past serving the public.

You have to wonder how much he could get done with both state bodies controlled by the GOP. I have no doubt he would do his best.

It will be interesting to see which way the voters go next month -- a known quantity in Drew Edmondson or Kevin Stitt who will be anything except business as usual.

---As I write this the Supreme Court nomination battle lingers.

One thought I had was how a nomination might play out if Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a reliable liberal vote on the high court, retires soon. If this battle has been brutal I can only imagine how rough that one would be. That’s when the missiles go down into the silos and the rumble of all rumbles will be on. That is sad. It shouldn’t be that way.

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

Get ready for even more bickering among politicians At an event last week in Philadelphia, former Vice President Joe Biden predicted the midterm elections would give Democrats control of the Senate and the House, which in turn would ease the pressure that Republicans “who know better” feel to support President Trump.

“I think you're going to see a significant change in the politics of the country,” Biden said. We'll offer a prediction of our own: That's not going to happen.

If Democrats win control of both chambers, the politics in evidence today — venom-filled and hyperpartisan — will only get worse.

In a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, for example,

Nancy Pelosi and her charges would likely pursue impeachment of President Trump.

Pelosi's leadership team has cautioned Democrats not to use the iword on the campaign trail, out of concern it could backfire. But as a story on Politico noted last month, many believe there is ample material to pursue impeachment, “and privately, many Democrats think they would eventually do so if they seize the majority.”

Think things are ugly now? Wait'll that drama unfolds.

Or consider the ramifications of a Democratic-controlled Senate. As the minority party, Democrats have shown what they're willing to do to keep Judge Brett Kavanaugh from replacing Anthony

Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

After ridiculous histrionics by Democrats during Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dianne Feinstein, waited until the 11th hour to produce a letter she had received several weeks earlier from a woman who said Kavanaugh forced himself on her 36 years earlier.

That was followed by two others accusers whose stories are shaky at best but are taken as gospel by the Democratic “resistance.” The goal, of course, is to derail Kavanaugh's nomination, or failing that, to delay the Senate's vote until after the midterms. Senate leader Mitch McConnell has vowed that the latter won't happen.

McConnell needs to hope Kavanaugh makes it to the finish line, because if Democrats win control of the Senate, he may well be the last Trump nominee who gets across it. Many Democratic senators, fearful of a conservative shift in the court following Kennedy's departure, said before Trump announced this selection that they wouldn't support the nominee. A number then followed up by not even providing Kavanaugh the courtesy of meeting with him.

If Kavanaugh isn't confirmed, and if Democrats win the Senate in November, then it's not going out on a limb to assume the Supreme Court would have to manage with eight justices through at least the 2020 presidential election.

From The Oklahoman

Some positive stats for school choice programs

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board Opponents often claim school choice programs that allow parents to use tax dollars to send children to the school of their choice “divert” money from public schools. Research consistently shows otherwise. A new study by Marty Lueken, director of fiscal policy and analysis for EdChoice, is the latest example.

Lueken examined the fiscal impact of 16 programs in nine states and the District of Columbia that allow parents to use tax funds for private school tuition. The study's data covered the programs from inception to 2015. All programs examined had been in place for at least three years.

Lueken found the 16 programs “generated cumulative net savings to state and local budgets worth $3.2 billion from when they were launched to FY 2015.” That averaged $3,400 in savings per recipient.

How do the programs generate savings? Because the funding given to parents is less than what the state would otherwise spend educating the child.

“Because districts usually keep some part of funding for students they no longer serve, the amount of resources a district has available per student will increase when enrollment declines,” Lueken writes.

Critics say many beneficiaries would still attend private schools even without state funding.

Lueken's study takes that possibility into account and calculates such awards as a cost to the state.

State governments still came out ahead.

The report included data on Oklahoma's Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, which serves children with special needs. The report assumed the cost of educating students with special needs is twice the cost of educating other students, noting this is a

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“cautious” estimate since U.S. Department of Education data shows the student-staff ratio for those with special needs is 3.3-to-1, compared with an 8to-1 ratio overall.

From 2011 to 2016, Lueken found, the estimated average cost to Oklahoma for students with special needs was $8,977, and the estimated average variable cost per student for students with special needs was $10,670. But the average amount received by Henry scholarship recipients was $6,632, “significantly less than these variable costs” and an indicator “that that the program is generating cost savings for taxpayers and the district.”

He estimated the Henry program has saved Oklahoma taxpayers $3.2 million, or about $3,200 for each beneficiary. Oklahoma's program would have been cost-neutral even had 38 percent of students attended private schools without the Henry scholarships.

Lueken's findings are in line with most research on this topic.

“No fiscal analysis of any voucher programs in the United States that accounts for both costs and savings — including this one — has found that students exercising choice through voucher programs results in a net negative fiscal impact on taxpayers,” he writes.

There have been efforts to expand Oklahoma's Henry scholarship program to serve homeless children, students with addiction problems, or military families. Lueken's research shows such an expansion could not only result in life-changing educational opportunities for those kids, but also free up millions to benefit other students in traditional public schools. Legislators should take note.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 9

Pretty Boy Floyd’s death, part one The noose tightens

By David Farris On Saturday, Oct. 20, 1934, deputies George Hayes and Charley Patterson, were manning a roadblock outside of Lisbon, Ohio, when they noticed as the Farris driver of a Nash made an abrupt about-face and headed down the nearest dirt road.

The roadblock was in response to a warning for local authorities to be on the lookout for the second “gambler” who had been in a shootout with the Wellsville Chief of Police, Jon Fultz, earlier that morning. During the melee, one of the shooters was grazed in the ankle and soon after captured by Chief Fultz, while the second one beat a hasty retreat and escaped into the woods. They were suspected in a bank robbery three days earlier in nearby Tiltonsville.

The deputies were on the lookout for a Ford, so they were not overly suspicious of the occupants riding in the Nash. The driver pulled over after about a half mile allowing their pursuers to pull up from behind. At that moment, a gunshot blew out the back window and shattered the deputies' windshield. Then, the mysterious gambler, himself, sprang from the back seat and dashed into the woods. The deputies didn't know it at the time, that they had just encountered the FBI's Public Enemy No. 1, Charley “Pretty Boy” Floyd. Once again, Pretty Boy had shot his way out of an encounter with lawmen; little did he know, it was for the last time.

Meanwhile, at the Wellsville jail, the man arrested by Chief Fultz said his name was Richard Zamboni and identified his partner as James Warren from Toledo. On the following morning, the Steubenville Sheriff, Ray Long, arrived to assist in the manhunt. He took one look at the suspect in custody and immediately identified him from a recent Wanted poster as Adam Richetti, Pretty Boy Floyd's most recent partner in crime. Sheriff Long said that the FBI needed to be notified, however Fultz was in no hurry. He had an “open and shut” case against Richetti for assault, and no intention of handing him over to federal authorities. The chief had just survived a shootout with the most infamous outlaw in America and subsequently arrested his partner. As a result, he had been exalted from small town lawman to national hero. Chief Fultz was riding high and seemed to be enjoying every minute of it.

Despite any opposition, Sheriff Long contacted the FBI office in Cincinnati to report Richetti's apprehension. On that day, the head of the Chicago office, and Bureau Director John Edgar Hoover's top agent, was in town investigating a kidnapping. Melvin Purvis was only three days away from his 31th birthday when he received the news from Wellsville. The young man was credited with the eradication of the last Public Enemy No. 1, John Dillinger, who was gunned down by federal agents in Chicago on June 22, 1934.

By late afternoon that Sunday, Purvis and a few of his top agents arrived by plane at an airstrip near Wellsville.

Their first stop was the police department where the brash, young federal agent immediately got off on the wrong foot with Fultz. He had a list of demands, which included cordoning off the entire area of wooded hills, to which the chief responded couldn't be done. Next, Purvis insisted on taking custody of Richetti, to which he was then instructed to get a federal warrant.

After his meeting with the chief, the frustrated supervisor and his men drove to neighboring East Liverpool where they set up their command center at the Traveler's Hotel. Purvis telephoned Hoover in Washington, D.C., to inform him of the challenges so far,

which he described as “impossible to control.”

Later that evening, Purvis and his men returned to the Wellsville jail and began their interrogation of Richetti.

Agents also visited the gangster's family who lived in Dillonvale, about an hour's drive to the south.

Local lawmen had been combing through the area where Floyd was last sighted fleeing the road block, more than 24 hours ago. There was no sign of the fugitive, and it had since rained washing away any trail that he might have left. A civilian posse of more than 200 men, wearing black arm bands instead of badges for identification, had volunteered to aid in the search. By 2 a.m. on the following Monday morning, authorities called back the volunteers, who it was feared may stumble into an ambush, or start accidentally shooting each other. Authorities were trying their best to prevent the situation from evolving into a full-on snipe hunt.

By 3 a.m. Monday morning, more than 20 agents from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cincinnati had arrived at the command center and more were on their way. Local, state and federal lawmen also continued to join in the manhunt, which was problematic for Purvis.

Despite any solidarity among brother law enforcement officials, Hoover's men were in competition with local authorities to find Floyd first. Ed Tamm, a Bureau supervisor from Washington, D.C., articulated this concern in a memo to Hoover when he wrote, “Mr. Cowley (Chicago Office Supervisor) stated that he has an idea that these people up there will have Floyd bumped off and Richetti too, ... that he hopes we can beat them to it as he would rather get them first than have them bumped off before we get to them.”

In order for Hoover to continue his struggling public relations campaign to promote their fledgling federal bureau, it was imperative that FBI agents were the ones to make the arrest. This was a challenge for the out-of-town agents who were not familiar with the area.

Without the assistance of local lawmen, they were at a disadvantage.

More agents from surrounding offices headed for East Liverpool, bringing with them an arsenal of weapons and much ammunition. A reporter from the Pittsburgh Press who paid a visit to the command center at the hotel commented “the room is lined with rifles, sawed-off shotguns and submachine guns.”

Officers responded to countless, erroneous Floyd sightings. There was also speculation that he may have been wounded on Saturday morning and was holed up somewhere, dying or dead. The fact was that he was very much alive and unscathed except for being cold, tired, hungry, thirsty, and probably wondering if he'd get out of this fix alive.

There was a noose tightening around his neck and he knew it. Of course, he also knew that he'd been in tight spots before, and his luck didn't fail him. He wasn't licked yet. He still had a chance to get away. Floyd still had his guns and more than $100 in cash, which was fortunate for him. It would be just enough to pay the undertaker.

PHOTO PROVIDED

FBI star agent, Melvin Purvis, left with director J. Edgar Hoover.

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 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Free To Live animal sanctuary sets benefit More than 300 dogs and cats at the state’s largest no-kill sanctuary will be supported by donations raised at a benefit auction on Friday, Oct. 19.

The 34-year-old sanctuary, Free To Live, is located in north Edmond and is home to many of the state’s homeless and unwanted cats and dogs.

While the sanctuary facilitates adoptions of hundreds of pets each year, there are more than 100 cats and dogs that have become permanent residents of Free to Live due to special needs, age or health concerns. As a nonprofit, Free to Live is supported entirely by donations. Every year, as the organization grows and takes in more animals, the financial needs increase as well.

“We are so fortunate to be able to help the stray animals of Oklahoma,” Free to Live Executive Director Reagan Hamlin said. “Many animals that are brought to us would be euthanized in any other facility. We are committed to protecting the life of every animal in our care until they are adopted – or for the rest of their life, if necessary. The benefit auction is our best chance to give these animals an enjoyable life.”

The live auction and silent benefit auction will be held on Friday, Oct.

Scheduled for Oct. 19 19 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma Grand Ballrooms. Event entertainment includes music, a live painting and food and drinks.

Thunder tickets, a moonlight cruise, a behind-the-scenes tour of the News 9 station, complete with a viewing of the 4 p.m. news and a meet-and-greet with David Payne are several high-interest items that will be auctioned off at the event. Other items include sports memorabilia, pet-themed items, art, gift certificates and more.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Those interested can preview auction items online before the event or make a donation.

About Free to Live Animal Sanctuary Free to Live is the largest nonprofit, no-kill animal sanctuary for stray, abandoned and mistreated dogs and cats in Oklahoma. More than 300 animals are adopted out of Free to Live to loving homes each year. At the sanctuary, animals that are not adopted live out their lives with healthy food, shelter and medical care. Euthanasia is not practiced.

Obituary Charri White

1963-2018

Charri was a runner and God has received the most has run a lot! She also had a amazing angel that we have great group of best friends to ever known. Charri White was run with. She was a an amazing lady that always marathoner …yes 26.2 miles showed kindness and was for fun, she was a Boston loved by so many. She meant Marathon qualifier and ran the world to her family and 20 marathons, including the friends! She was known for Oklahoma City Memorial her selflessness, integrity, big Charri Marathon (Multiple times), heart … and her jovial silly New York, Marine Corps self! She was the quick witMarathon in Washington DC, ted, fun loving best friend that could Chicago, White Rock, Green Bay, make us all laugh and at the same Kansas City, Route 66, Las Vegas, time, make us a better person.

Nappa Valley, Hatfield and McCoy, Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on Little Rock, Grandma’s, St. George’s, June 20, 1963 to George Jay and Green Bay, Hood to Coast, Tulsa Quenetta Sue (Williamson) White.

Charri was a certified public account- Double Half and ran many half ant with multiple degrees including a marathons and lots of fun runs (Disney Princess Half, Red Bud Classic, Master’s in Business Administration Gusher Gallop… Too many to list!) as well as a legal assistant certification from the University of Oklahoma She had a passion for adventure and traveling. She absolutely loved the (Even though she was an avid Oklalake, water-skiing and the best part homa State Cowboys fan). of the day was sunset on the lake.

Charri passed in her home with She is enjoying time with her lots of love and hugs from family and daddy, sister and grandparents now friends on Sept. 26, 2018. and will always be looking over us Charri is survived by the love of and a big part of our heart! her life, Pat Farmer, her mom, Our beloved Sissy will live on in Quenetta and her siblings Debbie our hearts forever!

(Chris), Annette (Jeff) and Scott and Services were Sept. 29, 2018, at of course, everyone that knew her Crawford Funeral Home, 610 NW has heard about her favorite niece, Allyson, along with many friends and 178th Street in Edmond. Burial was family. She was preceded in death by at Blackwell Cemetery in Blackwell, Okla. her father, George, and sister, Susan.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 11

Page 12 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

LEFT -- Jill Castilla, left, accepting the plaque from Character Council board member Diane Krakowski.

RIGHT --- Jill and Mark Castilla receiving recognition at the Edmond City Council late last month.

Photos Provided

Group honors banker for ‘Creativity’ What do Heard on Hurd and Cash Mobs for local businesses share in common? Sarah Brown says they show Citizens Bank of Edmond, President and CEO Jill Castilla’s creativity.

Brown nominated her as a Champion of Character. The Character Council of Edmond honored Castilla at last week’s Edmond City Council meeting.

When Brown began working as HR Director at Citizens Bank, Castilla and her team amazed Brown with their innovative ideas. Brown says, “Jill is extremely creative, has a heart for local business, and encourages everyone around her on a consistent basis.”

Heard on Hurd and Cash Mobs rally the people of Edmond to support local businesses. Both concepts began by putting together the best of other events and making something new.

Heard on Hurd takes place on a Saturday evening each month. The celebration brings neighbors together to eat out, shop and enjoy the enter-

Character Council of Edmond tainment of local bands. The next Heard on Hurd is October 20.

Cash Mobs spotlights one of Citizens Bank’s business customers. The bank provides certificates for their employees to “mob” the business. Word spreads through fun social media posts and newspaper articles.

Castilla views creativity as something that allows her the freedom to move beyond the way things have been done in the past. She says, “You can have your own take on the world and make your world a better place to be.”

Castilla is a U.S. Army veteran and her husband, Mark, is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve.

He also works for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

The Castillas raised three children, Ryan, Olivia and Nicholas. Their son, Ryan, also serves in the Army; a senior at West Point.

On behalf of the City of Edmond and the Character Council of Edmond, Jill Castilla was honored before the City Council as a Champion of Character for exemplifying the character trait of Creativity, approaching a need, a task or an idea from a new perspective.

The Character Council is a grassroot, nonprofit organization committed to creating a citywide initiative to build Edmond into a "Community of Character."

The group believes that the character of a nation can only be strengthened one person at a time, one community at a time. Toward that end, the Character Council of Edmond seeks to recognize residents who demonstrate character, as witnessed by those who have been affected and influenced.

To nominate a citizen as a “Champion of Character,” one who exemplifies these character traits, visit www.edmondcharacter.org or write: Champions of Character, PO Box 392, Edmond OK 73083-0392

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 13

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left are Edmond Centennial Elementary School kindergarten ‘Teacher of the Year Debbie Crouch,’ Edmond Kiwanis Club's President Robert Looman and Edmond Public Schools associate superintendent Angela Grunewald pose after Crouch received a plaque for ‘Teacher of the Year.’

Kiwanians install officers, honor trio The Kiwanis Club of Edmond honored Edmond's 2018 “Firefigher of the Year” Cpt. Brent Armer, top police officer Randy Payne and Centennial Elementary School kindergarten “Teacher of the Year” Debbie Crouch of the Year during its 92nd annual Installation Banquet on last week at The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City.

Club president Robert Looman presented each recipient with a plaque.

In other business, new club officers for 20182019 were installed by Regional Trustee Steve Books, who is also a member of the Edmond Kiwanis Club. The following are the new club officers for 2018-2019 and Board of Directors members fof 2019, 2020 and 2021:

Officers President - Jerry Bohannon President Elect - Rick Johnson Treasurer - Denise Reed Secretary - Kathy Ackerman Past President - Robert Looman Board of Directors - Class of 2019 Bill Austin Phil Wallace Bruce Ackerman Board of Directors - Class of 2020 Al Warren Darry Carlstone Dan O'Neil Board of Directors - Class of 2021

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left are Edmond “Police Officer of the Year” Randy Payne, Edmond Kiwanis Club president Robert Looman and police chief J.D. Younger.

Bob Burro Basheer Dawud Jerry Ward Club President Looman also presented the Kiwanian of the Year Award to Zonly Looman.

The Kiwanis Club of Edmond, which seeks to serve the children of the world through service leadership programs, meets at noon Wednesdays in the Cherokee Room of Nigh University Center, University of Central Oklahoma, 100 North University Drive. Meetings include a program with a speaker and lunch is available. Visitors are always invited to the meetings.

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left are Edmond “Firefighter of the Year” Cpt. Brent Armer, Edmond Kiwanis Club president Robert Looman and Fire Chief Chris Goodwin.

Page 14 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

PHOTO PROVIDED

A participant in the Play It Forward Tennis Foundation's clinic for kids with Down Syndrome is jubilant after learning to hit the ball.

Play it Forward Tennis Foundation does outreach & stresses inclusion

By Rose Drebes In his 22 years of coaching tennis, Kickingbird Director of Tennis David Minihan said operating the Play It Forward Tennis Foundation is by far the favorite part of his career.

Play It Forward is an outreach foundation that celebrates the idea that anyone from anywhere should be able to play and compete, he said.

“Our focus is diversity and inclusion, reaching out to those with special needs and those that might not have the means to afford tennis instruction,” he said.

“It really tugs at my heart.”

“I believe if you ask any of my staff, they would say the same thing. It is an honor to coach these wonderful athletes.”

Minihan, a master professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association, took the helm of the Kickingbird Tennis Center on Jan. 1. Prior to Kickingbird, he operated Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, the 2007 USTA National Facility of the Year, for 21 years.

He is best-known for his work with “grassroots” tennis and has been recognized with many awards by both the USTA district and section. Minihan has also published many articles and tips which can be read by going to www.thebaseliner.net. Most recently, Minihan founded and is the chief editor of the Oklahoma tennis magazine, The Baseliner.

Minihan and his wife Lisa established the Play It Forward Tennis Foundation. He said the idea for the organization arose out of the fact that Kickingbird is a great facility.

“In 12-16 months we are going to have one of the top tennis complexes in the country,” he said. “We have a great opportunity to give back with the resources that we currently have and will have in the future. What a great way to use tennis to give back to our community.”

Play It Forward offers programs for the Down syndrome community, as well as a USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning clinic for kids who are underserved and Attire for a Smile.

Attire for a Smile was founded by the Minihans’ daughter Chloe. It partners with the HOPE Center of Edmond to provide clothing and shoes to children of the community.

Reaching out to the Down syndrome community

Helping Down syndrome players was a new experience for Minihan. In July, Kickingbird hosted the USTA Girls 18 National Selection.

“We wanted to do something special to give back to the community in conjunction with our national event,” Minihan said. “We had a customer come in to our clubhouse one day with his daughter who had Downs.”

“I went up to shake her hand and instead she gave me the biggest hug. I was sold, we were going to start a Downs program within our foundation.”

Play It Forward thus kicked off the new Downs program with a free clinic in conjunction with the national tournament. Eleven national tournament players volunteered to be a buddy to the Downs athletes.

The foundation works closely with the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma, which has been a great help with advice on such things as coach-student ratio, Minihan said.

“We keep our ratio to one coach per two athletes,” he said. “In addition, we have a volunteer (a buddy) for each athlete, so they are getting great one-on-one attention.”

The foundation’s next clinic for Downs athletes will be Oct. 10.

Participants in any of the foundation’s clinics can expect to hit lots of tennis balls, Minihan said.

“We teach them the lines of the court, how to hold the racquet and the mechanics on how to hit the ball,” he said. “We also do agility training.”

“We typically have five stations that focus on different aspects of the game. After 10 minutes, the athletes will rotate to another station.”

Minihan said he hopes the young athletes will get hooked on the game.

“I think the end goal is for these athletes to fall in love with the game and want to come back for more tennis.”

Players can register online through the organization’s website, www.playitforwardedmond.com. The cost is $10, but Minihan said full scholarships are available for those that might not have the means to afford the class. All revenue generated goes to the foundation which is a 501 c3.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Kickingbird Director of Tennis David Minihan with Joey Buie during the Play It Forward Tennis Foundaton's clinic for kids with Down Syndrome. Minihan and his wife Lisa founded the organization so all kids could enjoy the game.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 15

Review of ‘Night School’

Film doesn’t meet expectations

By George Gust When news of “Night School” was announced and the first trailers hit the internet, this movie seemed like a slam dunk on paper.

You’ve got two of THE hottest names in comedy (Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish) with a straight forward premise that seemed to set up nicely for its two stars; a group of misfits are forced to attend night school in hope that they'll pass the GED exam to finish high school.

Directed by Malcom D. Lee, hot off the success of the comedy of the Summer 2017, “Girls Trip” tertaining performance and is a fantastic foil for and a filmography that includes other successful Hart’s character’s brand of bologna. “Night comedies such as “Undercover Brother” and “The School” works best when their chemistry is on full Best Man,” it looked like “Night School” could be a display, which unfortunately was not the main special movie. Yes, on paper, “Night School” thrust of the film. Instead, the mix of comedic should have been a fun movie full of laughs and character actors in the nigh school class gets the maybe a little bit of heart, but on film, it is an infocus of the film. And while comedic veterans like consistent mess of a movie with far too much time Rob Riggle, Romany Malco and Mary Lynn Rabetween laughs. jskub have their respective funny moments, the “Night School” has six credited writers, and boy movie could have been better served if Haddish does it show. The story of “Night School” never and Hart bore the brunt of the movie’s comedy. rises above its simple premise, featuring several Overall, “Night School” is a missed opportunity scenes that result in nothing more than another for a talented cast and group of filmmakers. Howtired comedic setup that goes nowhere. Important ever, there are enough laughs for hardcore Hart story beats that should have been on screen take and Haddish fans to keep your interest, for its enplace off screen and written off with one line of ditirely too long 1 hour 51-minute runtime. “Night alogue.

School” is not worth the full price ticket cost but It’s a wonder why the filmmakers decided to could be a fun diversion if you’re in the mood for build up an emotional storyline, only to have it another Kevin Hart Comedy. completely deflated in basically the next scene. It “Night School” is rated PG - 13 for crude and feels like “Night School” was a movie that was atsexual content throughout, language, some drug tempted to be saved in editing, but the results are references and violence. jarring and feel off. There were some bits of dia1.7 out of 5 stars logue that were clearly dubbed over for a different line, which makes it seem like you’re watching an ‘edited for TV’ version of a movie in the theater.

However, for all its strange editing and story choices, “Night School” does offer audiences some solid performances from its two comedic stars. Hart brings his fun and self-deprecating humor to a role that is about as flat as they come. And Haddish Tiffany Haddish takes Kevin Hart back to school in this week's new returns in an energetic and en- lease ‘Night School.’

Benefit for Carpenter Sq.

Carpenter Square Theatre will host “Best in Ten,” an event to benefit the theater, on Saturday, Oct. 13.

The event will take place at the theatre, located at 800 W. Main, located at the southwest corner of Main and Shartel in downtown Oklahoma City. Proceeds from “Best in Ten” will help support the programming for the theater’s 35th Season, which includes eight productions and educational outreach to at-risk students in the metro area.

At “Best in Ten,” the entertainment will include staged readings of the winning plays from the theater’s 15th Annual Ten-Minute Play Contest for Oklahoma writers. Also, Carpenter Square will pay tribute to Susan and Bill Schmidt, who are long-time patrons and volunteers for the theater.

A reception with an international buffet and beverages begins at 7:10 p.m. (yes, 7:10!). A tribute to the guests of honor and the entertainment begin at 8 p.m. In addition, the evening will include a silent auction, raffle, and “wine pull.” Participating restaurants and other food donors include Grand House, Hacienda Tacos, Sheesh Mahal, Taj Cuisine of India, and Marilyn Veal, among others.

Tickets for “Best in Ten” are $35. For more information, www.carpentersquare.com.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: CIVICS LESSON ACROSS 1. Leprosy colony inhabitant 6. Pendulum's path 9. Vegan's protein choice 13. Friend from Mexico 14. H in HMS 15. Challenges 16. Pocket bread, pl.

17. "____ to Joy" 18. Subside 19. *____ election for choosing a party representative 21. *Alternative to electoral 23. Am is to I as ____ is to we 24. At the summit 25. ____-been 28. *One is a quarter of a Presidential term 30. Serfs of ancient Sparta 35. Lode deposits 37. Fireplace conduit 39. Stitch again 40. It's hard to resist 41. Relating to certain Hindu philosophy 43. #33 Down, alt. sp.

44.

Somer____ 46. EU money 47. "As ____ on TV" 48. Eye cover 50. What libraries do 52. Not decaf.

53. Kind of cola 55. Deborah, to friends 57. One who destroys 61. *Group of 538 electors 65. A variety show 66. ____ Baba 68. Dog-____ pages 69. Weather advisory, e.g.

70. Giant pot 71. "Give me your ____, your poor..."

72. Cremation pile

73. Lamb's momma 74. Glorify DOWN 1. Nordic native 2. ____ of Qatar, or Prince of Qatar 3. Rigatoni relative 4. Old World lizard 5. Prayer beads 6. Call to matey 7. *As opposed to blue 8. Moved like ivy 9. Not to be mentioned 10. *Like the citizenship Oath of Allegiance 11. Cheese on Peloponnese 12. One on drugs 15. ____ Dan, olden-day hair pomade 20. Full of corals 22. Expression of amazement 24. Salad green 25. *Lower chamber of Congress 26. Orderly arrangement 27. Smooth transition 29. Soothing plant gel

31. Classic game show "____ Make a Deal" 32. Willow twig 33. Conical dwelling 34. *____ state 36. Unload 38. Michael Collins' country 42. Owned apartment 45. *Party's list of candidates 49. Buck's mate 51. "Get rid of" button 54. Desire something 56. Inflammatory swelling 57. Sandwich alternative 58. Bank on 59. At any time 60. "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me" band, The ____ 61. Give a traffic ticket 62. Makes mistakes 63. STEM enthusiast?

64. Whirlpool 67. *Rule of ____

See Answers Page 23

Answers Page 23

Page 16 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Young adult author Naomi Hughes at Best of Books

Hughes

Best of Books has announced the upcoming book signing event for local young adult author, Naomi Hughes.

Hughes will be signing copies of her book, “Afterimage,” on Saturday, Oct. 6 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

A horrific explosion levels part of the city and Camryn Kingfisher is the sole survivor. Amidst controversy, conspiracy theories, and threats from government officials, Camryn longs for the truth. But the only person she can turn to is a transparent boy in a lab coat named Quint. Unsure whether he’s a hallucination or a ghost, Camryn has no choice but to trust him as they become embroiled in a plot that is bigger than either of them realizes. In a race where the fabric of time and

space is at stake, they must figure out who caused the explosion before the culprit comes back to finish Camryn -- and her city -- off for good.

Naomi Hughes grew up all over the U.S. before finally settling in the midwest, a place she loves even though it tries to murder her with tornadoes every spring. She writes quirky young adult fiction full-time and also works as a freelance editor. In her free time she likes to travel with her husband and daughter and geek out over British TV and Marvel superheroes.

You can visit her website at naomihughes.net, or find her on Twitter at @NaomiHughesYA. Afterimage is her debut novel.

Please call (405) 340-9202 if you would like to reserve signed copies of books after the event.

What to expect this flu season The 2017-18 flu season was one of the worst in decades, hospitalizing hundreds of thousands and claiming more than 40,000 lives in the U.S. These numbers serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers of influenza, said Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation immunologist Eliza Chakravarty, M.D. And with a new flu season on the horizon, Chakravarty urges Oklahomans to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.

“Every year, the virus changes and mutates,” said Chakravarty. “That’s why it’s crucial to get vaccinated every year.”

Last year’s flu shot performed poorly, ranging between 10 and 30 percent effectiveness. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid taking the shot this year.

“Usually the protection offered is between 40 and 60 percent, and this year’s vaccine is quadrivalent,” said Chakravarty, a physician and medical researcher who joined OMRF from Stanford University in 2011. “That means it combats four different strains, offering increased likelihood of protection.”

Even if getting the flu shot sounds unappealing, Chakravarty emphasized that it’s in your best interest— and the best interest of those around you. For those who are averse to needles, the nasal spray is available again

this year as an alternative for people without conditions that suppress the immune system.

“There is literally no downside,” she said. “It’s extremely affordable— free in many cases. Even 40 to 60 percent effectiveness still reduces your chances of getting the virus considerably.”

Over the long term, getting the flu vaccine annually will boost your body’s ability to protect itself if past strains resurface, as happened several years ago with swine flu. “And if you’re unlucky enough to get the flu after having the shot, getting vaccinated often means get a less severe version,” Chakravarty said.

Many still fear that getting a flu shot can cause the flu. Don’t worry, Chakravarty said, it’s not possible.

“The vaccine is made from proteins, not the virus,” she said. “The side effects people experience after a flu shot—soreness, swelling at the injection site and low fever— are simply your body doing its job and building up its defenses. If you get the flu, you’ll know.”

Although peak flu season runs from December until February, Chakravarty said it’s possible to get the flu as early as September. So, the earlier you get the shot, the better.

“If you can physically get the flu shot, do it. It saves lives,” said Chakravarty.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 17

Sports

PHOTO PROVIDED

King Marlin Swim Club won its ninth straight state championship this summer during the long-course season. The team, which includes swimmers from the Edmond area, practices at Mitch Park, Lighthouse in OKC, and Stillwater YMCA.

Swim club racks up ninth straight state title King Marlin Swim Club athletes broke eight state records and the team secured its ninth straight state championship during the 2018 longcourse season this summer, the area club announced.

Six Marlins earned high-point awards in their respective age groups at the Oklahoma Swimming Long-Course State Championships at Mitch Park this summer, including Oklahoma City’s Lester Wessels (11-year-old boys), Ryan Healy of Edmond (12-year-old boys), Kate Janzen of Edmond (15-16year-old girls), and Craig Tompkins of Oklahoma City (17-19-year-old boys). Additionally, Tori Hollen of Norman (15-16-year-old girls) and Maya Ferrell of Edmond (17-19-year-old girls) won the distance high-point awards in their age groups.

Depth across all age groups helped propel KMSC to victory. Marlins won the team awards for several age groups, including 10 and under boys and girls, 11-12 boys and 13-14 girls.

“This championship is the culmination of preparation and focus over the course of several months across all of our training groups,” senior head coach and co-owner John Brown said. “It’s exciting to watch our younger swimmers develop into strong swimmers, while our senior athletes continue to excel.”

The team also set several state records this season, highlighted by the 10 and under boys relay smashing the oldest state records on the books.

The relay team of Edmond’s Jonah Beth and Conrad LeGrande, Enid’s Conner Quintero, and Stillwater’s Elias Mendez swam a 2:33.69 in the 200-meter medley relay, beating the previous 51year-old record. The relay also broke the 400-meter free relay record (5:04.05), which they had set last summer.

“What an honor to watch these boys, who train

Bronchos blanked on the road, 15-0 HAYS, Kan. - The University of Central Oklahoma football team lost 15-0 to Fort Hays State Saturday night in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play before 7,000 fans at Lewis Field Stadium.

The Bronchos fall to 2-3 on the season and in league play in what was the first shutout against the Bronchos in seven years.

"I think our defense played very well tonight to not give up a touchdown and they did all they could to give us a chance to win," seventh-year head football coach Nick Bobeck said. "Our offensive struggles cost us too much tonight. We just couldn't get it going in a game we were never out of."

Central's defense was led by Colton Lindsey's seven tackles. Chris Pogi, Alex Figueroa, and O'Shay Harris each had seven tackles. The Bronchos came up with stop after stop on FHSU's drives, forcing the Tigers to kick six field goals on the night. But by the game's end, Central's offense just couldn't connect.

The Bronchos totaled 234 yards of total offense, on 59 plays. It only had the ball for 23:33 in the game.

Chandler Garrett, who was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts last week, finished Saturday 16-38 for 175 yards and threw two interceptions. He was also the Bronchos' leading rusher with 37 yards on 14 carries.

UCO had the ball three times in the first quarter and went three & out on each possession, failing to get a single first down. The Bronchos tallied just 18 yards on nine total plays. The time of possession reflected the Hays dominance. UCO had the ball just 4:40 of the opening quarter.

The Bronchos return home in Week 6 to play Central Missouri (3-2, 3-2 MIAA). That game, which is Central's 101st Homecoming, will kickoff from Wantland Stadium at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6.

hard every opportunity they get, break a record of one of my former teammates,” said Head Coach/co-owner Kathy Mendez, who swam for Kerr-McGee Swim Club during her youth. “Over the last few years, our boys ages 12 and under have consistently demonstrated what can be achieved through dedication and commitment.”

In the 11-12-year-old division, long-time teammates Keaton Rice of Edmond and Healy combined to break six state records. Rice set new citizen records (fastest time held by Oklahoma swimmers) in the 200-meter butterfly (2:27.45), 100-meter freestyle (58.84), and 200-meter backstroke (2:25.52). Healy set two citizen marks in the 800-meter freestyle (9:33.02) and 200-meter individual medley (2:21.92). He also set the open state record (fastest time in an Oklahoma pool) in the 400-meter individual medley (5:05.43).

In addition to Healy’s records, he also garnered USA Swimming’s Top 16 national rankings in three events for the 11-12-year-old boys age group. His 200 breaststroke time of 2:40.57 placed him 11th nationally. His 200 individual medley finished 12th and 400 individual medley was 13th overall.

Janzen, who was recently named to USA Swimming’s Scholastic All-America team along with teammate Even Wagner, also competed in USA Swimming’s Futures Championship in Rochester, Minn., where she placed sixth overall in the 200meter backstroke and earned her first Winters Junior Nationals qualifying time.

KMSC is a competitive USA Swimming team with locations at the Lighthouse in northwest Oklahoma City, Mitch Park YMCA in Edmond, and Stillwater YMCA in Stillwater. KMSC also offers Marlin Swim School for learn-to-swim classes. For information regarding the team, visit www.kingmarlin.com.

From left, KMSC’s record-breaking relay team of Jonah Beth of Edmond, Conner Quintero of Enid, Elias Mendez of Stillwater, and Conrad LeGrande of Edmond smashed a 51-year-old state record in the 10 and under boys 200-meter medley relay.

Page 18 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

What to do when kids are picky eaters When it comes to teaching children to eat a healthy diet, patience is necessary. Kids may love a food one day and hate it the next. Some foods may need to be presented 15-20 times before a child takes a liking to it. For pickier eaters, they many need even more tries before accepting an unfamiliar food.

With so many unsuccessful tries, parents may feel like there is a lot of food going in the trash. A study in the journal Eating Behaviors shows in a group of children up to age 11 that between 13-22 percent of them will be a picky eater. Feeding issuesin childhood such as picky eating can have a detrimental impact on a child’s growth, nutritional status, development, physical activity, and mental health.

“Children may be missing out on key nutrients due to picky eating habits,” says Dr. Nimali Fernando, a Fredericksburg, Virginia-based pediatrician who founded The Doctor Yum Project. “The concern may

be compounded by issue of food waste whichis often challenging, but necessary when teaching kids good eating habits. The good news is that there are strategies parents can use address both picky eating and food waste.”

Parents who are trying to help get their child past the picky eating phasemay feel like too much is being thrown away. Wasting food may be hard for many of us to take, but can be particularly challenging for those families facing food insecurity. In fact 21 percent of American households with children are experiencing food insecurity, which means they may not have access to adequate food because of limited money and resources. Even those parents who are not facing food insecurity may want to keep their food budget in check and avoid wasting food when possible.

What is a family to do when trying to teach kids to eat new foods and also trying to minimize food waste? These strategies can help: n Small bites: Because kids may be reluctant to try a lot of a new food, keep exposures small to reduce food that will ultimately not be eaten. Kids also will feel less intimidated by one small carrot or one broccoli spear, rather than a larger serving. Often parents overestimate serving sizes for kids, so start small and if they want extra, that’s a bonus! n Shop for foods in season: Foods in season bought locally from farmers markets are more likely to be priced affordably and will taste fresh and vibrant. At a farmers market you may be able to buy smaller quantities that your family can finish more readily. For picky eaters, ripe fresh fruits and fruits and veggies in season may be more enticing than less flavorful out of season selections and may result in less food waste. n Use leftovers: Add fresh chopped veggies or fruits to an empty ice cube tray and cover until the next day. Now you have a healthy snack to nibble and the tiny portions make it fun for kids. Or, add leftover fruits to a large jug of water left in the refrig-

erator overnight. You’ll have refreshing water with a boost of flavor and will save money by skipping bottled drinks at the grocery store. Try cucumber and mint, lemons and oranges, or strawberries and kiwi slices. n Frozen foods: Buy frozen foods which can be stored for longer quantities. Frozen foods are often affordable and easy to keep while your children are learning to eat them. A bag of frozen veggies can be used over dozens of exposures and you can take tiny portions out for each night while preserving the rest for later. n Give it a rest. Rather than keep trying to give your child the same food over and over, hoping they will take to it, give it a rest. Try a new food for a few days one week and then wait another week before you give it to them again. Also, try to stick to just one or two new foods at a time, so your child doesn’t feel overwhelmed with a plate of all new items at once. n Lead by example. Parents play the most important role in helping children to develop healthy eating habits. An August 2018 study published in the journal American Family Physicians, reports that parents and caregivers are responsible for modeling healthy food choices and dietary practices, which shape children’s food preferences and eating habits. Parents are role models and children are watching what they do and will often mimic them, including when it comes to eating habits. n Plan out Meals: Dr. Yum’s Meal Planner is a great way to plan out meals. Use this free tool to set up your family calendar,then drop in meals based on the time needed to prepare. Make large portions on nights you have time and hit the “leftover” button to plan for busy nights when there is not time to make a whole meal. Once your week is planned, hit the “Saved Recipes Shopping List” and your list will be sorted by department, making shopping a breeze.

Get your picky eaters to help you plan out meals and find recipes they can make with you.

Genealogy group will meet at Oklahoma History Center The Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) Genealogy Group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 10:15 a.m. in the Leroy H. Fischer Boardroom on the third floor of the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazi Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City (across from the OK State Capitol).

Our Oct. 17 program, I See Dead People.....(Geo)caching in Cemeteries will be presented by Michael and Bonnie Rennels. The couple are both retired computer programmers who met on the job at the Hertz Data Center in 1999. They married in 2001. Michael discovered Geocaching in 2007 and convinced Bonnie that they should give it a try.

They’ve been avid Geocachers ever since. Currently they have logged 16,202 finds and 1168 hides. They are probably most well-known within the geocaching community by their geocaching series, I See Dead People, hidden in cemeteries throughout the state of Oklahoma. They currently have well over 500 geocaches hidden in this series.

The groups invites the public to come hear about his new, fun and exciting hobby.

----Have you been thinking about starting your genealogical journey or

would just like to improve your researching skills? OHCE Genealogy Group is hosting an all-day Fall Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, October 13th from 8:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the OSU Extension Conference Center, 2500 N.E. 63rd St. in Oklahoma City. Cost is $40 and includes lunch, snacks and all materials. The group will have five exciting programs to appeal to researchers of all skill levels: Beginning Genealogy and Internet Research, Researching Courthouse Records, DNA: A Tool for Genealogists, OHS Gateway to Records, Audio, Video and More and Protect Your Documents, Photos and Heirlooms NOW Before Disaster Strikes.

Registration deadline is Oct. 10.

You may register online from our website: ohcegenealogy.com You may pay with PayPal or print off a registration blank and mail it in with your payment. Registration at the door is $50.

FlipPal mobile scanners will be demonstrated during breaks and lunch. Scanners, genealogy charts, historic maps and other genealogy-related materials will be available for purchase.

For more information, see the group’s website or contact Jan Beattie at 405 513-4014.

Edmond GOP Women’s Club Makes Donation

The Edmond Republican Women’s Club donates books to babies born at Integris Health Edmond.

It’s part of the Babies First Book program. The book ‘On the Night You Were Born’ is being given to all of the babies born at the hospital

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 19

Page 20 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Plans under way for annual ‘’Red Tie Night’ next year

Red Tie Night Chairs Wendy and Ethan House

The Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund (OACF) will host the 27th “Red Tie Night” on Saturday, March 9 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

The gala will begin with cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by dinner, an extravagant silent and live auction, and dancing to the music from Dallas’ hottest dance band, the Jordan Kahn Orchestra.

Chairing the event this year are Wendy and Ethan House. Wendy has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund since 2017 and is Vice President of the Fred Jones Family Foundation. Ethan is the Vice President of Business Development for the Mid-Continent Region at EnergyNet. “We are thrilled to have the leadership of Wendy and Ethan House this year,” said Paula Love, OACF Board President. “New HIV transmissions and AIDS-related deaths are on the rise in Oklahoma. Now more than ever, we need our community to support Red Tie Night and help us end the epidemic.”

The first planning meeting kicked off at the home of Roxanne and Ryan McDonald in their brownstone located in

historic Deep Deuce. The reception highlighted the goals for the committee and the 2019 gala details. Proceeds from Red Tie Night will support the mission of the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund to provide support, education, advocacy and resources to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

Attendees included OACF Board Members Paula Love, Frederick Redwine, Phil Burke, Adam Edwards, Sean Olmstead, Robbie Powell, Tim Rasmussen, and Jake Yunker; Red Tie Chairs Wendy and Ethan House; Red Tie Night Committee Members Natausha Spears, Josh Spears, Denise Greenfield, and Roxanne McDonald; and OACF staff Cher Golding, Jaykob Janes and David White. Other guests included Justin Edwards, Robert Mills, Phil Redwine, Sarah Redwine and Ryan McDonald.

Sponsorships, tables and individual tickets for Red Tie Night range from $50,000 - $500 and can be purchased online at http://www.okaidscarefund.com/redtienight/ or by calling 405-348-6600.

To learn more about the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund and Red Tie Night, please visit www.okaidscarefund.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The 2018 class of Loaned Executives celebrate the beginning of the annual campaign at United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Campaign Kickoff at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark last month. On the back row, from left, are – Kristen Palmer, Glenda Buckmier, Joel Ethridge, Kathleen Alba and Braden Hisey. On the front row are Beth Crounse, Becky Franklin and Emily Hager.

Not pictured is Ann Stout.

United Way names 2018 class of ‘Loaned Executives’ United Way of Central Oklahoma is honored to announce its 2018 class of Loaned Executives.

Each year, community-minded employers lend key personnel to United Way to work as full-time fundraisers during the annual campaign.

Loaned Executives provide essential support crucial to taking United Way’s message to workplaces throughout central Oklahoma during the fall campaign. The addition of their support, time and energy helps keep United Way’s administrative costs down, ensuring that as many donor dollars as possible are invested directly into 119 health and human services programs at 58 funded Partner Agencies.

“We are truly so lucky and grateful to have such committed community partners who lend us this talented group of professionals,” said Debby Hampton, United Way of Central

Oklahoma president and CEO. “They play a critical role in our fundraising efforts and help us make a bigger impact in the community.”

This year’s class of Loaned Executives are: Kathleen Alba, loaned by OGE Energy Corp.

Glenda Buckmier, sponsored by Devon Energy Corporation Beth Crounse, loaned by City of Oklahoma City Joel Ethridge, loaned by Oklahoma Natural Gas, A Division of ONE Gas Becky Franklin, loaned by Arvest Bank Emily Hager, sponsored by American Fidelity Assurance Company Braden Hisey, sponsored by SONIC, America’s Drive-In Kristen Palmer, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Ann Stout, sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 21

‘Street of Dreams’ & its ‘fabulous homes’

By Richard Mize NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman A sign ahead indicates no speed bumps, sharp curves or chicanes in the way for upscale housing: It says "Street of Dreams" and this year it's at The Falls, Caleb McCaleb and Jeff VanHoose's new neighborhood in wooded northeast OKC, Oct. 13-28.

"This year," the Street of Dreams comes after last year and the year before, which is unusual for the occasional tour of luxury homes.

For enough builders to dare to build upscale speculative homes for the event three years in a row shows strength in the luxury market, McCaleb said.

He said he last participated in 2006. The event was set aside for nearly a decade after the 2007 housing crash and Great Recession.

"It's a lot more risk for the builder," he said of the eight homes on the tour, which range in price from $1 million to $1.5 million. "You can't do Street of Dreams unless you have big, fabulous homes."

People will be impressed by the work that went into the homes and the neighborhood, said Rusty Appleton, executive director of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, the organizer.

“I am thrilled at how each builder has pushed the limits of design, style and technology. I hope anyone interested in new homes, the latest features, or highend furnishings will come to this one-of-a-kind home tour,” Appleton said.

McCaleb said visitors from near and far will see the latest and greatest in upscale features and luxury amenities.Out-of-state buyers, in fact, are lending strength to demand for homes in the Lake Arcadia area. The Falls is on the southeast corner of NE 150 and Post Road, less than a mile from the lake.

McCaleb said people from out of state are buying upscale homes and living here part time, attracted by a slower tempo and the bigger bang they get per buck spent on Oklahoma housing. A million dollars doesn't buy luxury everywhere.

Advice on paying off college debt For thousands of recent grads, the six-month student loan grace period is about to end.

Grace periods are granted to give new grads time to find new jobs armed with their new degrees.

However, for many grads, student loan debt will be a barrier to buying cars or homes and saving or investing. A recent report from CNBC stated the student loan default rate more than doubled between 2003 and 2011, and 40 percent of borrowers are expected to fall behind on their loans by 2023.

The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) offers three tips for repaying student loans before that monthly due date becomes a reality and to get in the practice of repayment to help keep from defaulting on that debt.

Pretend you’re already paying and start your emergency fund. Log in to your accounts now

and find out what your payment will be. Next, create a budget where you start setting that much aside each month in a separate savings account. Not only will this help make the payments less stressful when they’re due, but it will also help you establish the start of your emergency fund, one of the pillars of financial security. Experts advise building three to six months’ worth of living expenses, but it will depend upon your situation. However, any emergency fund is better than no emergency fund, so don’t let the higher amount scare you into not saving at all.

Choose your repayment plan wisely. Federal student loans have a variety of repayment plans available. Before opting for the lowest payment, pay attention to the amount of interest you'll pay over the life of the loan. The

See Debt, Page 22

State licensing advisory panel adds Edmond’s Pugh & Osburn State Senator Adam Pugh announced last week he has been appointed to serve on the 12-member Occupational Licensing Advisory Commission, which was set Pugh to have its first meeting this week.

Pugh, R-Edmond, said the Commission was created as a result of the findings of a task force convened in 2017 and the subsequent passage of Senate Bill 1475 earlier this year.

Pugh and Representative Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, authored SB 1475, which created the Occupational Licensing Advisory Commission. Each year, the Commission will review a set number of occupational licenses issued in Oklahoma in order to make recommendations to the legislature and administrative agencies for reform. These recommendations, which will be made in December each year prior to the beginning of the next legislative session, will follow a public meeting and ongoing input from affected stakeholders.

The Commission is comprised of legislators from both the majority and minority parties, governor appointees

from licensed industries, information technology professionals, regulated industry representatives, and organizations assisting people who are transitioning from Osburn poverty.

Sen. Pugh and Rep. Osburn, joined by Labor Commissioner Melissa Houston, will hold three of the 12 seats on the commission.

“By creating the initial task force last year, passing Senate Bill 1475, and developing an advisory commission now, we’ve made real progress in being able to identify areas needing further attention,” said Pugh.

“This process will allow for the compilation of data to help determine all the licenses issued by the 300 state agencies, boards and commission.

Our main focus will be finding a way to utilize the Occupational Licensing Blueprint to conduct an analysis of all the occupational licenses in Oklahoma and reviewing areas of excessive licensing regulations. We will also review regulations, barriers to entry for low income individuals, and reciprocity among states for military families moving to Oklahoma.”

Oklahoma rig count up by five The number of rigs searching for oil and natural gas last week increased by one nationally, while Oklahoma's working rig count climbed by five, Baker Hughes reported Friday.

The country's rig count edged higher to 1,054, up about 12.1 percent from 940 one year ago. Rigs drilling for oil dropped by three to 863, while the number of rigs drilling for natural gas climbed by three to land at 189. The number of working miscellaneous rigs increased by one, to two.

In Oklahoma, this week's working

rig count was 141. A year ago, 124 rigs were drilling in the state. The number of rigs working this week in the Cana Woodford basin — home to Oklahoma's SCOOP and STACK fields — was 67, up by seven, week over week.

The field remained the third most active in the country behind the south Texas Eagle Ford at 79 and the Permian in west Texas and southeast New Mexico at 486. Texas remained the most active drilling state, with 529 operating rigs.

From NewsOK.com

The 16-day Street of Dreams, organized by the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, is sponsored Pella Windows & Doors of Oklahoma and Harry's TV, Video and Appliance.

Eight homes will be featured, all but one on Cascade Drive in The Falls. There would have been nine, but a home under construction by Rader Building Co. accidentally burned down in July; Rader nonetheless will be at the event.

The 2018 Street of Dreams builders are: Adams Kirby Homes, Gibbs Hancock Luxury Estates, Integrity Fine Homes, MassaRossa Luxury Homes, Matteson Custom Homes, McCaleb Homes, Ripple Creek Homes, Tim Hughes Custom Homes.

The Children's Hospital Foundation will receive 20 percent of ticket revenue.

Tickets are $20 in advance at www.streetofdreamsok.com or at Harry's TV, Video and Appliance, 11110 N Pennsylvania Ave. Tickets will be $25 at the gate. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Page 22 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Debt

From Page 21

13TH F FAIRWAY AIR RWAY - OAK OAK TREE BEAUTY BEAUTY

STUNNING HOME O ON N 1.61 ACRES ACRES

EAST GOLF COURSE COURSE - 15TH HOLE

SPECTACULAR SPECT TACULAR LAKE LAKE VIEW-1.03 VIEW-1.03 ACRES ACRES

standard repayment plan of 10 years of level payments may be the highest amount per month, but it's also the lowest amount of interest (meaning less money overall out of your pocket). Try for that option if you can. If you simply can't afford that monthly payment, it's ok to choose an income-based or graduated plan.

Remember you can always pay more than your monthly payment if you find extra money in your budget.

Try not to stress about your loans.

Depending on the total amount of loans you have outstanding, your balance or payments could feel overwhelming, especially when you think about what else that dollar amount could buy. Try not to focus on that and instead remember what it did

buy: your education and ability to earn a higher income throughout your life. While it may seem to limit your financial goals, especially early in your career, student loan debt is an investment — much like a mortgage is an investment in a home. It will pay off for the rest of your life, so next time you find yourself stressing about those big numbers, remember what you'll be able to accomplish because of your education.

For more financial advice, like Know What Counts on Facebook, follow Know What Counts on Twitter or visit KnowWhatCounts.org. For personalized financial assistance, go to www.FindYourCPA.com where you can get a free referral and free 30minute consultation.

Mortgage Matters

COSMOPOLITAN C OSMOPOLIT TAN A COMFORT COMFORT WITH ACREAGE ACREAGE

EDMO EDMOND ND SCHOOLS SCHOOLS

2.68 ACRES - LAKEFRONT VIEWS

ACREAGE IN EDMOND

EDMOND SCHOOLS

OAKMOND

MILLION DOLLAR APPOINTMENTS

EDMOND SCHOOLS

TREED 2+ ACRES

EDMO EDMOND ND OFFICE BUILDING BUILDING

FAIRFAX ESTATES

EDMOND EDMOND SCHOOLS SCHOOLS

RETREAT RETREA TREA AT IN TOWN TOWN

FAIRFAX F AIRF FAX A BEAUTY BEAUTY

STUNNING BORGATA BORGATA HOME

ROSE CREEK 9TH FAIRWAY FA AIRWAY

REDSTONE CUSTOM HOME

TWIN BRIDGES

SOLD!

NEW CONSTRUCTION - SUMMIT

EDMOND SCHOOLS

How to avoid delays during the loan process

By Kenneth Wohl Obtaining a mortgage requires a lot of documentation, multiple forms, financial records, third-party paperwork; not to mention multiple layers Wohl of inspection to verify your information is accurate.

Financial changes during your loan process can invalidate paperwork and delay your loan closing. Here are four ways to avoid loan processing setbacks.

No. 1: Inform lender of a job change ASAP. You submit paystubs and W2’s to your lender, but, right before closing, your lender may request employment verification from your employer. If your job or income status changes, this can potentially create a holdup in the loan process; or worse, your loan may be denied, even if you were preapproved. A job change requires updated documentation and approval verification. Some jobs have a probationary period, which too may affect your loan approval process. If you are planning a job change, let your lender know as early as possible.

2. Resist increasing debt.

A few days before closing, your lender runs a final credit check to check for new debt. If you open a new credit card, finance new appliances or furniture, buy a car, co-sign on another loan or take on more debt, new documentation is required.

Resist the urge to make big purchases during your loan process.

New debt may affect your home

loan qualification.

3. Avoid big financial changes.

Most lenders require up to two months of bank statements for proof of funds used for your home transaction. Changing banks during your loan process may cause a delay in obtaining the necessary statements.

Moreover, any large deposits made into your account need explanation.

Most loans will allow a gift, but these funds require additional documentation signed by you and the person making the gift.

4. Keep credit card balances low.

A large portion of your credit score reflects your credit utilization. Keeping credit card balances under 20 percent of your available balance helps your credit score. When it comes to your mortgage, your credit score helps determine both your interest rate and mortgage insurance (if required). A higher credit score helps you qualify for better rates, saving you money over the life of your loan.

Before you make major financial changes, talk to your lender first. This will help you avoid delays or setbacks during your mortgage process.

I’m here to help, even if you’re not an RCB Bank customer. Feel free to call me, Kenneth Wohl, at 405-6085291 or email kwohl@bankrcb.net.

---Opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of Kenneth Wohl and meant for generic illustration purposes only. For specific questions regarding your personal lending needs, please call RCB Bank at 855-BANKRCB, RCB Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and member FDIC. RCB Bank NMLS #798151. Kenneth Wohl NMLS #453934.

Pedestrian fatalities concern feds

NEW CONSTRUCTION - SUMMIT

CENTENNIAL AT IRON HORSE

WONDERFUL HOME

FAIRCLOUD HILLS

CHEYENNE RIDGE

EDMOND SCHOOLS

AUBURN MEADOWS

EDMOND SCHOOLS

DEER CREEK SCHOOLS

LO LOTS TS & A ACREAGES CREAGES

EDMOND SCHOOLS

EDMOND SCHOOLS

As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) meets to consider recommendations to enhance pedestrian safety, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) thanks the Board for supporting a collaborative and locally-focused approach to the issue.

Earlier this year, GHSA projected that nearly 6,000 pedestrians lost their lives on U.S. roadways in 2017, marking the second consecutive year of fatality numbers not seen in more than two decades.

Research has consistently shown that a combination of education, engineering, and enforcement efforts are most effective to reduce pedestrian deaths. GHSA has been persistent in calling for these comprehensive solutions in our recently strengthened

policy statements.

The Association is pleased to see NTSB Board Members call today for the implementation of a range of countermeasures.

GHSA believes there is no single, universal solution to this issue. States and localities should reserve the right to examine and evaluate the pedestrian safety problems their communities face and implement the solutions that best fit their needs. As the NTSB noted, improved pedestrian fatality data collection and access are critical to enabling communities to perform these careful analyses.

Pedestrian safety is one issue that impacts all of us; GHSA looks forward to working with NTSB, our partners, and our members to reverse the trend and ensure pedestrian safety.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 4, 2018 • Page 23

Oklahoma Baptist Relief group in North Carolina Donation website set up BAYBORO, N.C.—Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers have begun clean-up efforts following widespread damage after Hurricane Florence hit the coast of North Carolina.

DR arrived in the town of Bayboro late in the evening Tues., Sept. 25. On the first day of work, Wed., Sept. 26, Oklahoma Baptist DR, who are partnering with Arkansas and Texas DR, received 100 work orders for chainsaw and mudout requests.

“We’re here to help with the physical devastation, but we also want to spend the time to walk alongside each homeowner and offer them emotional and spiritual help as well,” said Don Williams, state director of Oklahoma Baptist DR. “Many people are still in the phase of disbelief, asking themselves, ‘How could this happen to us?

Where do we go from here?’ It’s devastating,” Williams said. “But North Carolinians are strong, and they know how to take care of business and move forward.”

DR started mud-out work on late last week in a church that sustained flood damage after six inches of standing water ruined carpet and dry wall.

According to Williams, the trained, equipped and credentialed DR volunteers will continue to do mud-out work and chainsaw work for months to come. Chaplains and assessors will also join in relief efforts.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Oklahoma Baptist DR and for the latest updates, visit, www.OKDisasterHelp.org.

PHOTO PROVIDED

DR mud-out workers roll up carpet in a church that sustained flood damage.

Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi Good Shepherd Anglican Church (Traditional Episcopal) 1000 N. Broadway, Edmond •314-8715 Sundays - Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00am Animal Friendly Parish “If you have people who exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have those who deal likewise with their fellow human being.”

St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

www.anglicancgsedmondok.com 1928 Book of Common Prayer • anglicancgesedmondok.com

SCRIPTURE • TRADITION • REASON

Page 24 • October 4, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure