Edmond Life and Leisure - September 14, 2023

Regatta thrills Coming to area

Editor’s Note: There are many things to do this fall in the metro area. Please see Page 5 for a look at the State Fair, which starts today. More Edmond events are listed on Page 6., RIVERSPORT will host the 19th annual Oklahoma Regatta Festival September 29 – October 1 in downtown OKC’s Boathouse District. The family-friendly festival features live racing on the Oklahoma River and the addition of a new event, Paddlemania!

The public is invited to enter Paddlemania events which include a build-your-own-boat whitewater race, a flatwater “Battle of the Paddles” tug of war, raft racing, whitewater kayak races and freestyle competitions. The day will

end with “big water” rafting, RIVERSPORT Rapids’s most extreme rafting.

“This is our last weekend to be open for the season, so we wanted to do something special for the community,” explained RIVERSPORT executive director Mike Knopp. “The public can enter any of the Paddlemania events and even if you don’t want race, it will be great fun to watch.”

Paddlemania joins a weekend lineup that includes OG&E NightSprints on Friday and Saturday evenings and 2.5 mile Head of the Oklahoma racing during the day.

Friday evening, more than 20 local corporate teams will race in the OG&E NightSprints. The 500-meter sprints under the lights feature

both dragonboat and rowing races for medals and bragging rights. The action runs Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

On Saturday, teams from across the nation take to the water for the Oklahoma City University Head of the Oklahoma, a 2.5 mile “head race” featuring collegiate, masters and junior rowing as well as kayak and dragon boat racing. Head of the Oklahoma racing concludes on Sunday morning, 8:00 a.m. to noon.

RIVERSPORT’s new event, Paddlemania, will launch Sunday, Oct. 1 at noon, bringing a build-yourown boat contest, raft racing, freestyle competitions, kayak cross and more to the RIVERSPORT Rapids whitewater channel.

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

D.J. Boyce follows his woodworking passion

Honing his craftsman skills in retirement

When you’re young, the big question is “what do I want to do when I grow up?” The next big question arrives with retirement – “what am I going to do now?” If you’re lucky, you choose something that you always wanted to do someday – when you have the time, money and energy. D.J. Boyce chose to follow his passion for woodworking and carving. As one of the participants in the recent Oklahoma City Wood Carving Club show, D.J. displayed various carving projects that represent years of effort honing his skills as a craftsman

After retirement in 1997, he started making jewelry boxes using reclaimed wood from home builders’ discard pile. Then in approximately 2002, he attended a session on veneering by Paul Schűrch at a woodworking show in Dallas. With the purchase of a vacuum press and other veneering tools, D.J. started using veneer on the jewelry box lids.

In 2011, D.J. began attending weekly woodcarving sessions at the Edmond Senior Center. He learned the basics from the very helpful members of the Oklahoma City Wood Carving Club. D.J. is especially grateful for the help he received from Steve Brandt, an excellent chip carver. One of his early projects came from a chip carving tutorial article by Wayne Barton. The approximately 8” by 13”, and 5” inch high box was made from Wisconsin basswood. The choice of these dimensions was no accident.

You see, D.J. is a retired Emeritus Professor of Mathematics who taught

Road loss drops UCO to 1-1

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Oklahoma couldn't keep up the pace with the high-octane offense of Central Missouri and lost 41-17 in Week 2 MIAA play Saturday afternoon.

The Bronchos (1-1, 1-1 MIAA) had an early lead and only trailed by four at halftime, but a sluggish second half cost UCO.

"We just couldn't get anything going in the second half and that's not good enough," UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "We couldn't settle in and make a stop. And we couldn't get into a rhythm on offense and get anything going there. It was a tough day."

Central Oklahoma put up 332 yards of total offense on Saturday. Stephon Brown went 24-for-33 passing with 190 yards. He also had 11 carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns.

Terrill Davis was his primary target on offense. Davis had nine receptions for 78 yards. Christian Romero had a solid game too, catching five passes for 58 yards.

Trevon Woolfolk had 13 rushes for 67 yards to lead the run game for the Bronchos.

Defensively, Grant Lohr led the Bronchos with 10 tackles. Connor Johnson had nine, and Jack Puckett had seven tackles. Reed Lindsey, who had four tackles, had one sack.

UCO started the game strong with a defensive stop and then the Bronchos went down the field and took a 3-0 lead with a 30-yard field goal from Nicky Quevedo.

UCM had a big response and scored on the next possession to go up, 7-3, then its defense got an interception to set up short field and another Mules score that put the hosts up 14-3 in the first quarter.

many of the concepts developed by Euclid’s around 350 B.C.E., including what we know as the Golden Ratio. Fast forward 1500 years, and a man known as Fibonacci is credited with identifying a number sequence based on the golden ratio. Test yourself to see if you can figure out what number comes next in the following sequence: [ 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, …]. D.J. typically uses consecutive numbers from the Fibonacci sequence for the dimensions of his boxes.

At the age of 79, D.J. started chip carving all of his jewelry boxes. The type of carving is called “positive image” in that the background is carved and stained to highlight the resulting pattern. His favorite project is the Autumn Leaves jewelry box, a design that incorporates a music box the plays the song “Autumn Leaves” when the lid is opened. The song originated in France after WWII, was translated into English by Johnny Mercer and recorded by Nat King Cole.

D.J. Boyce next to some of his work.

An upclose look at some of his work.

Edmond Housing drives economy & community forward

Editor’s Note: Edmond attorney Todd A. McKinnis is this week’s guest columnist for publisher Ray Hibbard.

By Todd A. McKinnis,

As has been reported in this publication and many other places, the City of Edmond recently received the results of an extensive housing assessment, which was an inventory of current housing options at various price points, along with many interesting statistics regarding the Edmond community as well as its workforce’s current housing options and future expected needs.

There were several interesting statistics regarding Edmond’s current housing options as well as specific findings that came from the assessment.

Over the last ten years, 94% of all housing approved in the City of Edmond has been single family detached homes. The average price of a new home in Edmond is currently in excess of $420,000. The median home value in Edmond is $282,000. The median household size in Edmond is 2.6 people. Nearly 75% of all workers employed in Edmond live outside Edmond. Over the next 10 years, it is estimated that Edmond will require 8,900 new homes to support its growth. That is double the number of the historical average. Finally, over 50% of the expected job growth will require housing that can be purchased for less than $165,000 or rented for less than $1,625 per month, with many of those essential workers requiring housing at much lower values.

What do all those statistics and projections mean for Edmond? The answer is simple, but the solution is complicated. Many essential jobs required for Edmond to prosper do not align with our current housing market.

When the assessment was presented at a recent Edmond City Council meeting, much of the public comment was short sighted, critical and downright embarrassing. “We can’t let everyone in.” “I worked hard to live here, and we can’t just give away free housing.” “Handouts make people weak.” One citizen even implied this is part of a larger global conspiracy to create a socialized society. Keep in mind, the housing assessment was merely being presented to the City Council as a diagnostic tool of our current housing, and no action was being taken by the Council that evening.

The reality is our City leadership is going to have to plan for the future and the growth Edmond has enjoyed for decades is likely to continue. As former Edmond Economic Developer Steve Kreidler used to say, “So long as Edmond is a great place to live, with low crime and great schools, Edmond will continue to grow. If we want Edmond not to grow, the solution is simple, have high crime and crappy schools.” Admittedly, no one is signing up for that plan.

For Edmond to continue to maintain the same level of wonderful amenities, retail and service options, and economic growth, there must be housing available for all those workers. At least one question is front and center: If affordable housing is not available, how far are essential workers

going to be willing to travel to work in Edmond?

A new Crest Foods grocery store will open in north Edmond in the next few months, and it requires over 300 employees. Can Edmond residents expect Crest employees to travel 10, 15 or even 20 miles, past other employment opportunities, just to work in Edmond?

When it comes to health care workers, educators, police and fire professionals, can Edmond residents expect these people to have the same pride and commitment to their jobs and our town when they don’t even live here?

The assessment revealed that 60% of households aged 25-34 in Edmond cannot afford to purchase the median priced existing home in Edmond. That age group is a key component to young teachers, nurses, police and fire personnel. With rental vacancies at less than 6%, very little housing is currently available, and the expected housing needs will not be met without very intentional planning and creative solutions considered by our leadership going forward.

The housing assessment included an impressive list of strategies for Edmond to contemplate in order to address our housing challenges in the years to come. There is no single strategy or silver bullet. Many of the suggested strategies incorporate existing opportunities in Edmond, when tweaked here and there, can go a long way in providing foundational steps for future success for all of Edmond. A few suggested strategies that came from the assessment were: (1) Reduce barriers to expanding production of all housing types, (2) Diversify types and price points of housing, (3) Facilitate the improvement of older housing while preserving affordability, and (4) Support employers, economy and workers through workforce housing.

Not surprisingly, none of the suggested strategies discussed or suggested the creation of a welfare state or actions to destroy housing values for current residents or to increase crime or make people work harder in order to live in our beautiful city. Further, the goals appear to be to consider and implement strategies that support the unique quality of life in Edmond, set the stage for our economy to continue to

thrive, reign in bureaucracy when it stifles capitalistic investment and foster a diverse economy and community that is essential for Edmond today and tomorrow. All goals virtually every reasonable Edmond resident should endorse.

Based on an occupational hazard, I have the opportunity to attend many Edmond City Council and Edmond Planning Commission meetings. Those that speak the loudest are often the negative naysayers who are against growth and are myopically in denial about Edmond's future needs. Because of selfish perspectives about what it might do to them or their properties, these naysayers beat the same drum at every meeting even though there is no empirical data that supports the fears and concerns they complain about at the podium. Specifically, anything other than proposed large lot single family development often brings out the worst of our community’s negative opinions and comments.

In order for Edmond to continue to providing unparalled quality of life we have all experienced and grown expect, Edmond’s economy must be supported by all types of residents and housing options. Edmond is not unique in the housing challenges it is facing. A quick Google search will retrieve numerous articles of affluent communities all over our country that are faced with similar housing and development challenges.

Thankfully, our leadership is not willing to simply sit back and bury their collective heads in the sand as if immune to the reality of our economy and needs going forward. The housing assessment was merely a required initial step to diagnose the situation.

The hard work is yet to come, but it is that hard work, which requires courage and leadership, that is critical to preparing Edmond for the future, with the stated goal of maintaining the high standard of living and amazing quality of life all Edmond residents expect.

I look forward to supporting our leadership in their hard work, and I hope, for the good of Edmond, you will join in the effort.

(McKinnis, an Edmond attorney, may be reached at tmckinnis@oklawpartners.com)

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

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

Commissioned as a partnership between UCO, the City of Edmond and the Edmond Visual Arts Commission, “Four Seasons” was created by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on the campus on March 24, 2011.

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

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

Aug. 21

Sigrid Francine-Delta Gordon, 36 of Edmond. Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and felony DUI/APC.

Warren Keith Jones, 59 homeless. Trespassing after being warned.

Matthew Gregory Hatcher, 29 homeless. Failure to appear.

Carlos Cobas-Mejia, 33 of Austin, Texas. (Misdemeanor first and second offense) larceny of merchandise from retailer and obstruction of police officer.

Elroy Ramos-Hererra, 30 homeless. Conspiracy and obstruction of police officer.

Kevin Michael Clark, 32 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Timothy Joseph McGraw, 69 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor) domestic abuse assault.

Aug. 22

Lenard Antwan James, 22 of Edmond. Non-assault resisting officer.

Joe Hardy Shaddix IV, 40 of Edmond. Speeding/school zone (1-10 MPH over) and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Jamie Danielle Brown, 43 of Edmond. Shoplifting and a felony warrant.

Colin James Scott, 24 of Norman. A felony warrant.

Aug. 23

Darius Duan Owens, 37 of Oklahoma City. Felony warrant.

Tiffany Nichole Nguyen, 37 of Oklahoma City. Possess CDS and a misdemeanor warrant.

Edward Anthony Runnels, 40 homeless. (Felony) malicious injury or destruction of property.

Lisa Dawn Pugh, 40 of Oklahoma City. Shoplifting and a misdemeanor warrant.

Aug. 24

Kristen Shawn Smith, 23 of Yukon. Felony DUI/APC.

Tyler Stephen Davis, 28 of Nichols Hills. Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked, conspiracy, (misdemeanor first and second offense) larceny of merchandise from retailer, possess CDS and failure to appear.

Howard Larnell Toyer Jr., 44 of Yukon. Conspiracy, (misdemeanor first and second offense) lar-

ceny of merchandise from retailer and possess drug paraphernalia.

Clinton Lee Miller, 37 homeless. Eight counts of failure to appear, two counts of possession of marijuana, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jordan Terrell Sharp, 26 of Edmond. Petty larceny and non-assault resisting officer.

Dana Jamel Sims, 41 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant, (misdemeanor first and second offense) larceny of merchandise from retailer and (misdemeanor value) obtaining by false pretense, trick or deception.

Sarah Kay Ahkibula, 34 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Payton Ford IV, 44 of Edmond. Obstruction of police officer, felony DUI/APC, four misdemeanor warrants and three felony warrants.

Rodney Rene Johnson Jr., 37 homeless. Protection from domestic abuse act (VPO)

Aug. 25

Roberto Garcia, 30 of Edmond. Transport open container of intoxicating beverage or beer, possess CDS and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Betty Louise Froman, 33, of Oklahoma City. Two misdemeanor warrants.

Syeda Masooma Abedi, 42 homeless. Trespassing after being warned.

Willie Frederick Bradley, 27 of Yukon. Misdemeanor warrant.

Brett William Easley, 42 of Oklahoma City. Non-assault resisting officer and public intoxication.

Johnathan Alexzander Weeks, 26 of Edmond. Obstruction of a police officer and (misdemeanor) assault on police officer or peace officer, William Franklin Stockwell Jr., 35 of Edmond. Two misdemeanor warrants.

Aug. 26

Kevin Charles Hill, 50 of Edmond. Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of CDS and five misdemeanor warrants.

Patrick Loren Wolf, 18 of Shawnee. Possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Hunter Dean Spralin, 18 homeless. Public intoxication.

Gavin Lawayne Reed, 20 of Shawnee. Public intoxication.

Marcos Cisto Hernandez,18 of Harrah. Public intoxication.

Jason Elijah McCline, 18 of Shawnee. Public intoxication.

Jonathan Wesley Cannon, 43 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Tyson Lane Warner, 20 of Jones. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Dedrick Ramone Robbins, 28 of Irving, Texas. Felony warrant, false representation to an officer and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Aug. 27 McCaulay Taryk Chtay, 30 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Abdelaziz Amara, 40 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Brooklyn Mae McClendon, 27 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Aug. 29 Syeda Masooma Abedi, 40 homeless. Trespassing about being warned.

Aug. 30

Jessica June Shores, 45 of Edmond. Three felony warrants.

Philander Harris, 42 of Richmond, Texas. Present false ID for purpose of committing felony, misleading officer, avoid prosecution, false personation of another, (felony) unlawful use of personal identity of another to obtain credit and (drug related) possession of contraband in a penal institution.

Dakota Gene Kappus, 27 of Edmond. Shoplifting.

Sheldon Tyler Benton, 27 of Edmond. Transporting open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Christopher Mark Littleton, 56 of Oklahoma City. Three counts of failure to appear.

Aug. 31

Laura June Young, 59 of Edmond. Shoplifting.

Sept. 1

Derrik Walter Duarte, 19 of Edmond. Assault –resisting officer and public intoxication.

Jennifer Joy Todd, 44 homeless. Trespassing after being warned.

Pendavou Lasha Crain, 50 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Steven James Freeberg, 46 of Norman. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of 15 or more.

Sept. 2

Harley Jack Coble, 20 of Yukon. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol con-

See Police, Page 8

Weekend Calendar of Events, Sept. 14-17

What’s Happening This Weekend Sept. 14-17

--- In the Gallery

--- Unveiled: Edmond’s Bridal Fashion 1875 --- 2020

--- Beginners Pickleball Club

--- Farmer’s Market

--- Cycle 66 Training Ride

--- Heard on Hurd

--- Live Music at Frenzy

--- UCO Jazz Lab

--- Oklahoma Tennis Foundation

Open

--- Dawson Hollow & Jay Filson

--- Brown Bag: Brummett Echohawk:

Art and War

--- Heritage Table: Hispanic Heritage

Month --- Basket Workshop: Jacaranda Twill

Basket

--- Lyric Theatre presents: Concerto

--- Oklahoma Shakespeare Presents:

Romeo and Juliet

--- Oklahoma State Fair

--- Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch

--- Oklahoma City Ballet presents: Bal-

let Under the Stars

--- Guthrie Ghost Walk

Extra Information

In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute

Extra Info: Featuring David Padgett; free; Gallery is open Mon – Thu ; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; edmondfinearts.com

Unveiled: Edmond’s Bridal

Fashion 1875 – 2020

Location: Edmond History Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Jul 1 – Sun, Dec 31; visitedmondok.com

Beginners Pickleball Club

Location: Kickingbird

Pickleball Center

Extra Info: Sat, May 6 – Sat, Dec 30; 8 – 10:30 a.m.; Free; edmondok.com

Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Market Place and Farmers Market

Extra Info: Sat, Apr 15 – Sat, Oct 28; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.gov

Cycle 66 Training Ride Location: Edmond Library

Extra Info: Sat, Sep 16; 7:30 a.m.; Free; cycle66.com

Heard on Hurd Location: Downtown Edmond

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 16; 6 – 10 p.m.; Free; facebook.com

Live Music at Frenzy

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 14; The Brave Amigos @ 7 p.m.; Fri, Sep 15; Robert Allen @ 7:30 p.m.; Sat, Sep 16; Christina Schafer @ 8 p.m.; frenzybrewing.com

UCO Jazz Lab Location: University of Central Oklahoma – UCO Jazz Lab

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 15; Mountain Smoke @ 7:30 p.m.; $20; Sat, Sep

16; Garrett Jacobson Jazz Collective @ 8 p.m.; $15; Sun, Sep 17; FACS: Corni Angelicus @ 5 p.m.; $10; calendar.uco.edu

Oklahoma Tennis Foundation

Open Location: Edmond Center Court

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 14 – Sat, Sep 16; 7 p.m.; Sat, Sep 16 event schedule: Adaptive Clinic @ 10:30 a.m., SemiFinals @12 p.m., Kids Clinic @ 4:30 p.m., Finals @ 7 p.m.; Free; oktfopen.com

Dawson Hollow & Jay Filson

Location: Okla. Christian University

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 15; 8 p.m.; $10; oc.edu/events

Brown Bag: Brummett

Echohawk:

Art and War Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 14; 12 – 1 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Heritage Table: Hispanic Month

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 15; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Basket Wokrshop: Jacaranda Twill Basket

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Sep 16; 9 a.m. – 5

p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Lyric Theatre presents: Concerto

Location: Lyric at the Plaza

Extra Info: Wed, Sep 13 – Sun, Oct 1; Wed & Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 8 p.m.; Sat & Sun: 2 p.m.; lyrictheatreokc.com

Oklahoma Shakespeare Presents: Romeo and Juliet

Location: Shakespeare Gardens

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 14 – Sun, Sep 24; Thu & Sun: 7:30 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 8 p.m.; okshakes.org

Oklahoma State Fair

Location: Oklahoma

tate Fairgrounds

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 14 --- Sun, Sep 24; okstatefair.com

Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch

Location: 720 S Henney Rd, Arcadia, Extra Info: Fri, Sep 15 – Sun, Nov 5; Wed – Fri: 1 p.m. – dark; Sat: 10 a.m. – dark; Sun: 12 p.m. – dark; parkhurstranch.com

Oklahoma City Ballet presents: Ballet Under the Stars

Location: Scissortail Park

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 15; 7 p.m.; okcballet.org

Guthrie Ghost Walk

Location: Apothecary Garden, Guthrie, OK

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 15 – Sat, Sep 16; 7:15 p.m.; guthrieghostwalk.com

All hail Caesar Salad

Let your taste buds dance a little

By Carol Smaglinski

What is more versatile than a quick and easy salad? Like everything else in cooking, the quality begins with the best ingredients and the quest for perfection can be a long one.

There are as many choices in salad recipes as there are songbirds, but a few really get our attention. Among those are Caesar Salad, Waldorf Salad, or a Chef’s Salad, and each has a very interesting background.

Caesar Salad didn’t originate with Julius Caesar, but with Caesar Cardini (1896-1956), an Italian immigrant who owned more than one restaurant in Tijuana, situated just across the border from San Diego.

The salad, created on the 4th of July weekend of 1924, was a big hit with movie stars and famous people who came to try the salad. Even the late and great Julia Child, as a young child herself, visited in the middle twenties with her parents.

Caesar Salad was not the only reason people visited Tijuana, because at that time it was during Prohibition, and the hoi polloi of Hollywood could drink alcohol and avoid being arrested.

With his kitchen supplies going south, Cardini worked with what he had and Caesar Salad was born. The chef strolled out of the kitchen with his wooden salad bowl and tossed the salad tableside. It was reported, with some dispute, that the romaine at that time was hardly known by most people. No forks were supplied and diners picked up the romaine wedges with their fingers.

People are still in doubt about the original formula as Cardini failed to write it down, but his hastily improvised recipe lives on. However, his real secret was in the coddled egg, which made the dressing stick to the romaine and added extra drama for his appreciative audience.

To make a coddled egg, prepare a

bowl of ice cubes and cold water. Bring a small pot of water to a boil and add the unshelled egg, Take the pan off of the heat and let it sit in the water for one minute. Then put the egg in the ice water. Separate and add just the yolk at the end of mixing the salad. Don’t get excited about the coddled egg as it bears quite a resemblance to that sunny-side up you might eat for breakfast.

Chill salad plates before serving the salad. Sorry, a glass bowl for mixing and tossing just won’t do, so grab the wooden salad bowl for best results.

By the way, the Spaniards are convinced that “To make a perfect salad, one should be a spendthrift for oil, a miser for vinegar, a wise man for salt, and a madcap to mix all of the ingredients together.”

Caesar Salad

Serves 6

1 large clove of garlic, peeled and cut in half

1 large head of romaine, cleaned and thoroughly chilled

⅓ cup olive oil

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 egg at room temperature

3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

2 to 3 cups high-quality store-bought salad croutons

2 oz. can anchovies

Rub a large wooden bowl with the garlic and discard. Tear romaine into bite-sized pieces and add to the bowl. Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce together and drizzle over the romaine. Add cheese. Toss gently until all of the romaine is covered and glistening. Then garnish with the croutons and anchovies. Place on chilled plates and serve at once.

tent level of .08 or more.

Deybi Robles Flores, 35 of Edmond. Felony DUI/APC.

Joshua Lee Adkins, 40 of Edmond. Domestic abuse assault (dangerous weapon), domestic abuse with prior pattern of physical abuse and domestic abuse assault (strangulation),

Carla Joy Nieman, 77 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Ayden Michael Holman, 30 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Jordan Paul Krug, 32 of Oklahoma City. Felony warrant, two misdemeanor warrants and possess CDS.

Richard Henry Eubanks, 42 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, no tag – improper tag, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Sept. 3

Berkeley Reese Wright, 19 of Weatherford. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Phillip Don Murrell Jr., 38 homeless. Non-assault resisting officer and public intoxication.

Hector Renee Delgado, 35 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Oscar Jarome Blakely, 43 of Oklahoma City. Expired tag – improper tag, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege has been canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Nathen Eugene Walton, 36 of Edmond. Driv-

From Page 6

ing while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and failure to appear.

Andrew Lane Perry, 59 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Sept. 4

Stephen Paul Williams, 31 of Piedmont, Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Matthew Gregory Hatcher, 29 homeless. Public intoxication.

Sept. 5

Artrell Eli Jones, 30 of Edmond. Burlgarly in the second degree.

Brittany Renee Scott, 38 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Sept. 6

Brandy Lynn Dye, 48 of Edmond. Trafficking in illegal drugs and failure to appear.

Qiuying L. Youse, 32 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Joshua Steven Vera Vera, 28 of Oklahoma City. Petty larceny.

Robert Ernesr Chyzy, 42 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Madeline Michele McGowan, 28 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

Logan Chaves Meiseman, 38 of Edmond. Expired tag – 1 to 3 months, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Ways to save money

As the US continues to grapple with inflation and rising costs on basic living expenses, Americans are feeling the squeeze. While market forces are beyond the average person’s control, savers can make strategic changes to hang on to more cash.

One of the easiest ways to save is by cutting unused subscriptions like gym memberships and streaming services. “These costs can add up quickly, totalling about $314 per household, per year” observes savings expert and Raisin US president Ben McLaughlin. “What you don’t use, you won’t miss.”

Typical financial advice often chastises people to avoid takeout, coffees, evenings out, and any unessential expenses—lunches alone cost an estimated $467 a person, food delivery fees add up to $655, and the average adult spends just over $1000 on alcoholic beverages. While these costs can add up quickly, the best move is mindfulness over austerity.

McLaughlin advises people to trim the fat from their spending, rather than remove it completely: “When we set unrealistic expectations for saving, we get discouraged and can go completely off track when we fail. Instead of saying, ‘I’m never going to go to a coffee shop or eat at a restaurant ever again, take stock of what small luxuries are truly important to you and enjoy them. Live your life. And make smarter choices in other areas.”

One way consumers can save money without depriving themselves is by eliminating unnecessary finance fees. On average, Americans are charged $133 on ATM fees and $300 on bank account fees like maintenance charges, withdrawal and transfer fees, and falling below minimum account thresholds. Refinancing credit card debt could save an additional $501 per year.

Marco Tello to perform at Round Barn Sunday

ARCADIA – Oklahoma City singer-songwriter

Marco Tello will present an Elm Tree Concert at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Arcadia Round Barn.

Tello works in a range of musical genres including rock, bluegrass, country and folk. He performs at venues across Oklahoma and Texas and has taken his music abroad. In addition to his solo career, Tello performs with such bands as The Three Amigos and The Regular Joes. He is also an honorary member of the Round Barn Ramblers, the house band for the Round Barn that performs every Saturday morning year-round from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Elm Tree Concerts are held beneath the shade of the giant elm tree on the north side of the Round Barn. Guests can bring a chair or sit at the picnic tables. Admission is free but donations are accepted.

The Round Barn is six miles east of Interstate 35 on Route 66 and is owned and operated by the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society. The museum and loft are open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

For more information about live music at the barn, call Joe Baxter at 405-833-1350.

Marco Tello

AG targets illegal drug operations in the state

Since taking office in January, my administration has made it a top priority to combat illegal marijuana grow operations and the criminal organizations that are behind their proliferation. This threat to public safety has exacted a heavy toll, particularly in rural Oklahoma, and it must not be tolerated. The time to act is now.

When voters legalized medical marijuana five years ago, they most certainly did not foresee a scenario in which Oklahoma is growing far more marijuana than is being sold through legal channels. Since 2021, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBN) has shut down more than 800 illegal grow operations, arrested more than 200 criminals and seized more than 650,000 pounds of marijuana. While our law enforcement community has done a tremendous job, agents have their hands full. According to a recent Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) report, more than 22 million pot plants in our state are likely being diverted toward illegal sales in other states, flooding the nation’s black market for marijuana.

Unfortunately, lax laws combined with unclear jurisdiction and an everchanging regulatory landscape have created an environment ripe for exploitation by Mexican drug cartels and Chinese crime syndicates. In response, I immediately began partnering with the OBN and OMMA to ensure that our enforcement partners have the legal and logistical support they needed from my office.

During our last Legislative session, we advocated a legislative agenda designed to create legal standards that allow easy compliance by legitimate

businesses and create difficulties for illegal marijuana grows. Thanks to cooperation from key legislators, state agencies, law enforcement and the Governor’s office, we were able to pass multiple bills this session that made significant progress toward that goal. We have taken away key tools that were of benefit to organized crime while maintaining the business capacity of legitimate operators.

The Office of the Attorney General is taking other direct actions. I have created the first Organized Crime Task Force this office has ever known. A new division within my office, the Organized Crime Task Force is comprised of skilled experts dedicated to eliminating illegal marijuana grows operated by foreign drug cartels and Chinese nationals. This Task Force already has begun partnering with the OBN and OMMA and has assisted in taking down multiple illegal grows.

Additionally, I am insisting that the State Fire Marshall enforce building codes on marijuana grow operations. The legal and legitimate businesses will have no problem complying with the same rules that any other agribusiness must follow. The rest will be shut down, just as any other business without a certificate of occupancy would be shut down. I believe that aggressive code enforcement will aid in the elimination of illegal marijuana grows and help promote public safety.

Our message to the drug cartels is loud and clear: Leave now or be prepared to face the consequences. My office will not relent in our commitment to eliminating these criminal enterprises.

Our message to the drug cartels is loud and clear: Leave now or be prepared to face the consequences.

The housing issue

By Steve Gust

There’s a good article in The Sunday Oklahoman about “affordable housing” in Edmond.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that this publication’s attorney, Todd McKinnis, also has also penned a great article about it on Page 4 of this week’s edition.

Steve Gust

It boils down to Edmond not having the affordable homes needed for certain occupations. We may not have affordable homes but Edmond needs a lot of lower-income workers.

I would like to think that the free market could respond to something like this, but I could be wrong.

It does speak volumes that Edmond is the kind of place a lot of people want. And that should make everyone proud. Plus don’t look for home values to dip here.

—Something else I like about Edmond, is that we have the law enforcement to apprehend shoplifters and a legal system which will prosecute them.

I am completely stunned when I see some of these video feeds from other parts of the country. Those videos show people looting businesses in broad daylight. And seemingly nobody is interested in trying to arrest these people.

Who, besides criminals, thinks it’s a good idea to allow shoplifting? What kind of madness is this?

A lot of these stores, particularly in the liberal paradise of California, have had enough and are closing their stores in some towns. Who can blame them?

Has the world gone mad? Or are we living in a time described in the Bible? A verse talks about people who call good evil and evil good?

We get lectured by the liberals on how nobody is above the law. Meanwhile, millions of illegal immigrants stream into the nation and now shoplifting goes unpunished. And the left doesn’t seem to care too much for the hardship shoplifting causes business owners and the people who work for them.

It’s astounding and it should upset everyone.

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

By JJoe Dorman

I read an interesting article about how Oklahomans work far more hours and use less vacation than those in other states. Coincidentally, this was at the airport was as my own vacation was ending.

Oklahoma ranked 14th for the hardest working workforce and finished in the top six in three metrics, as reported by Kathryn McNutt of The Journal Record, based upon data collected and published by WalletHub.

The article went further to point out that for Oklahoma, the work average was 39.6 hours per week, the sixth highest among the states. What was most troubling was that more than 30% of workers who collect vacation time left theirs unused at a rate of 55% of accrued time going to waste.

I certainly fall into that category; over the past seven years at OICA, I have let much of my vacation time go to waste. Like many others, I make the usual excuses of “I just cannot afford something right now,” or “I cannot get away with a big project looming,” or

some other such justification.

Another likely reason is that we rarely took family vacations as I was growing up.  My dad was injured severely from a truck accident, so it was tough on him to travel.  We would make the occasional trip two hours south to Jacksboro, Texas, to see my mother’s side of the family, but we did not take big trips.  I am sure that formed my own habits; I rarely travel unless it is a work trip.

I was thankful that some friends dragged me out of town to do our annual fantasy football draft last weekend. Another friend, who lived just a short flight away, encouraged me to extend my time to visit for a few extra days.

The time away, though I did have some work calls, helped recharge my batteries and prepare me for OICA’s upcoming annual conference, Fall Forum.  It is here that the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy brings together Oklahomans to discuss child well-being, while the assembled advocates work to shape solutions to the problems examined.

Fall Forum will be held primarily at the Oklahoma State Capitol on November 8-10, with a two-hour online gathering held the Friday before to shape initial ideas.  You can go to https://www.oica.org for more details and to register.

I am glad that I took the time to get away; I could certainly feel “the grind” getting to me.  Still, it was nice to get back home and be excited about the upcoming opportunities with work.  The break did me a world of good and I am ready to tackle new challenges.

If you are not a “vacation taker” like many Oklahomans, I hope this encourages you to consider taking at least some extended time during long weekends with your family to explore our state.  Our state Department of Tourism has done a phenomenal job improving state parks, and there are many fantastic destinations that you can reach on a tankful of gas, especially if you have children.  This will certainly create wonderful memories, much like I did during trips to my grandfather’s house many years ago.

Dorman is with the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy

Lankford: Biden incentivizes lawbreakers

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) last week spoke on the Senate floor about his concerns with the White House’s proposal for supplemental funding that currently includes funding for Ukraine, funding for natural disasters around the country, and funding for some very concerning changes in border security and immigration policies from the Biden Administration. With more than 6 million people crossing our southern border in the three years under President Biden, Lankford continued to take the Administration to task for their policies that are clearly incentivizing illegal immigration

Lankford co-led a Senate Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management hearing to continue to push Biden Administration officials on their broken immigration policies that are facilitating illegal immigration. The hearing gave Lankford an opportunity to press Administration officials on how they plan to secure the border and prevent those who pose national security risks from entering the country.

Lankford continues to push for bipartisan, commonsense solutions to secure the border, including efforts to strengthen Border Patrol and stop human and drug trafficking. Lankford visited the US-Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona earlier this year and recently exposed DHS for cutting down border wall materials.

Transcript

Many Americans may not know and many in the

Senate chamber may not know that this week we actually passed a milestone on immigration in the United States. This week, less than three years into President Biden’s term, we've now had more people illegally cross the border in the less than three years under the Biden Administration that we had under the eight years of the Obama Administration and the four years of the Trump Administration.

If you count both terms of the Obama Administration and the Trump Administration, that was six million people that illegally crossed the border. Under this President, in less than three, not 12, in less than three, we've had more than 6 million people illegally cross the border.

We had a hearing this week with DHS folks to talk about what is going on. We met not with the policymakers because the policymakers won't meet with us. We met with the folks that are on the line to say what is the process? How are things actually working? What steps are actually taken and then what happens from here?

Also had the opportunity to be able to look at some of the budget issues and other things coming up, which I’ll explain later. But I want to be able to walk through where we are because since the expiration of Title 42 in the days that followed that in May, the Administration announced, look, the numbers are dra-

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matically down and for a month the numbers were down some. But then they popped right back up, so much so that the Washington Post last week had a headline that read, ‘Highest Number of Illegal Family Crossings in the History of the Country was in August of This Year.’

Most folks just turned away and they heard the Administration say, ‘Look, the numbers went down,’ so they looked way from what’s happening at the border. But our numbers are at the highest ever and the complication of how they're being treated is the highest ever.

So let me walk through some of the things that came up in the hearing because when you cross the border, there are lots of options and the options are designed by the Department of Homeland Security and by the White house, not to deter people from crossing the border but to facilitate a more rapid crossing. So, there's multiple processes that have been set up that are entirely new.

Let me give you one, if you come to a port of entry, before you get to a port of entry, you can actually check in ahead of time to make your process of checking in faster. It is an app that you can get on your phone called the CBP One app. If you download where you're from, then when you get to the border, you'll be expedited through the process at the port of entry and then released into the country.

If you are one of those folks that have filled out the app and have gone through, you’ll be quickly screened—according to the testimony that we heard yesterday—90 percent of those folks are released almost immediately into the country, and within 30 days they have a work permit. Now, these are not folks that have applied for a visa. These are not folks that have gone through the H1B or H2B or any of those processes. These are not folks that have actually gone through the formal process of getting a work permit. These are folks that have come from all over the world, have filled out an app right before they came across the border, and then they were facilitated right into the country.

Local coffee & tea shops ready to welcome Fall

By Jennifer Thornton Tourism Director

Did you know 88 days of fall begins on September 23? Every day of fall calls for a hot drink from a hometown spot. Whether you drive-thru or sit and sip, there are coffee and tea selections galore in Edmond. For example, All About Cha has two locations and specializes in serving gourmet coffee and tea along with breakfast and lunch/dinner menus. They offer 15 different coffee drinks, 22 varieties of green and black teas, and 30 healthy Korean spe-

cialty drinks. Ellis Island also has two locations and features stylish retreats to study, socialize and relax while enjoying craft coffee, fine wine, local beer and pastries. Summer Moon at Edmond Railyard boast organic coffee beans that are roasted over an open flame in a one-of-a-kind, brick roaster and Café Evoke has been sipping in downtown Edmond since 2012.

The popularity of drive-thru pick-me-ups at Dutch Bros Coffee, Swig and Scooters Coffee are evident by the lines of cars throughout the day. Take time

for a local drink and pay it forward by treating the person behind you in line.

Now for a couple of hidden gems…Café Marpha and Wilder Coffee Supply are near Stephenson Park and have created cozy corners for conversations. Inspirations Tea Room on Edmond Road and Santa Fe has the best loose-leaf tea selection in town. Enjoy the ultimate tea experience in their fine dining tearoom, with tea trays and specialty coffees.

Find more than 25 local coffee and tea spots in Edmond at www.visitedmondok.com/dine

The taste of fall are right around the corner.

Road updates from the city

This is a weekly report that provides updates on public and private construction projects, road/lane closures, alternative routes, and other information that is of importance to our downtown community. Anyone interested in getting the email notifications can sign up at https://www.edmondok.gov/list.aspx?ListID=273.

To see an interactive map of on-going projects, check Downtown Project Updates (arcgis.com).

Sept. 7, 2023

New projects

None

On-going projects

Main and Littler closures: Physical demolition of the Downtown Community Center (DCC) and the Planning and Public Works (PPW) building has begun. Demolition of the DCC could mean periodic short-term closures of Main Street. Littler Avenue, between First and Main streets, is closed and will remain closed through the demolition and construction processes. Except for periodic short-term closures, Main Street will remain open through the end of this year. Beginning January 2024, Main Street will close from the Littler intersection to half a block west of the four-way stop and will remain

closed for the duration of the City Center Complex project work. Several parking areas near the construction site are closed, including the Littler Lawn parking areas, the east parking lot behind the PPW building, and a portion of the City-owned parking lot on the northwest corner of Littler and Main. Work to complete the project and open all street and parking closures is expected to be completed by March 2025.

Boulevard lane closures: Boulevard southbound between 9th Street and 15th Street will continue to have intermittent lane closures as part of water line construction for the FY20 water line improvements project.

Main Street closure: Main Street is closed west of Broadway at the railroad tracks to N. Santa Fe Street while work is being completed on the Oxlley multi-family project, as well as streetscape and additional on-street parking on Main Street. With cooperative weather, the street will reopen in early December.

Fourth Street parking closure: As part of the Stephenson Park improvements project, Fourth Street between Boulevard and Littler Avenue is now open. While the road is open, the parking stalls along Fourth Street will remain closed while work on the park continues.

Completed projects in the last week

Alleyway work at 3rd Street: The reconstruction work to the approach to the alley on 3rd Street, west of Broadway has been completed.

Campbell Street permanent repairs: Permanent paving repairs on Campbell Street, east of Broadway by the downtown post office location, have been completed. This work was part of the Downtown Infrastructure Improvements project.

Lane closure on Boulevard: The righthand lane closure on northbound Boulevard, between 2nd and 1st streets, during work to replace an air conditioner at 1st Christian Church has been completed.

Learn more about dementia

Dementia patients can experience some very challenging circumstances – and so can their family members and loved ones. As dementia progresses, the patient may begin to function in ways that are unfamiliar to themselves, and as a result, their behaviors can change dramatically.

What Is Considered a Dementia Behavior?

Aggression, Delusions/Paranoia, Sleeplessness, Repetitiveness, and Wandering.

Changes in behavior that are caused by dementia can be very unsettling for both patients and their families. Even if family caregivers are well versed in the facts and protocols necessary to help manage dementia, it can still take a huge emotional toll. Aggressive behaviors can leave them feeling hurt and unappreciated, and other behaviors can quickly test a person’s patience or leave them questioning whether they have things under control after all. Sometimes, it is best to seek out support.

Areawide Aging Agency’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for the needs of residents in LTC facilities serving Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, and Oklahoma Counties. You may contact (405)-942-8500 and ask to speak with an Ombudsman, visit our website at areawideaging.org or

Osage murder case panel

A panel discussion on the true-life murders of wealthy Osage people in the 1920s will take place at the Oklahoma History Center on Saturday, September 23, from 1-3 p.m. The crimes are detailed in David Grann’s 2017 book “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.” The author will not be present for the event. A movie with the same name will be released in October.

The cost to attend the panel discussion is $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $15 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased online.

The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Please call 405-522-0765 or visit www.okhistory.org/historycenter for admission costs and group rates.

The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people.

Sjögren's Foundation awards $150,000 to OMRF

The Sjögren’s Foundation has awarded its first Dynamic Research Award to an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist to continue genetics research on Sjögren’s, an autoimmune disease. Scientist Christopher Lessard, Ph.D., leads the international Sjögren’s Genetics Network of scientists, which recently discovered 10 new genetic risk regions for the disease by analyzing the genotypes of about 3,200 people with Sjögren’s. This study, the largest to date of its kind, provides a glimpse into how genes associated with Sjögren’s may operate in salivary glands and other organs to contribute to the disease.

The Sjögren’s Foundation developed the twoyear, $150,000 grant for critical, time-sensitive work that falls outside its normal grant cycle, said Janet Church, the organization’s president and CEO.

In Sjögren’s, immune cells attack moisture-producing glands. Its most common symptoms are painful dry eyes and mouth, but Sjögren’s can cause wide-ranging complications, including debilitating fatigue, hypothyroidism and an increased risk of malignant lymphomas. There is no known cure for the condition, which disproportionately affects women and is estimated to affect as many as 3.1 million people in the U.S.

Investigating the complex genetic risk of Sjögren’s requires thousands of genotypes from people with the condition. The grant allows Lessard and colleagues to study DNA samples from volunteers worldwide. Their goal is to triple the existing study population to 10,000 people with Sjögren’s.

“Our research will provide a glimpse into how genes may function in salivary glands and other organs to contribute to disease,” Lessard said. “So

far, scientists have identified 22 gene regions, but we suspect many more genes are involved. By comparison, scientists have identified more than 150 gene regions associated with related diseases, such as lupus.”

“The Sjögren’s Foundation is thrilled to award our first Dynamic Research Award to expand Dr. Lessard’s project,” Church said. “Sjögren’s is a complicated and serious autoimmune disease. This research has potential to uncover mysteries that can improve diagnosis of disease manifestations as well as treatment options for patients.”

Lessard’s research is also supported by grant No. R01AR073855 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. For more information about ongoing Sjögren’s research at OMRF, visit www.omrf.org/sjogrens.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Chris Lessard, Ph.D.

Just an ‘average’ action thriller

By George Gust

The growing trend in Hollywood has been towards recognizable brands and intellectual property and away from recognizable stars. These days the only true ‘movie stars’ are left over from the previous generation stars like Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and apropos of this week’s movie “The Equalizer 3” Denzel Washington. But would Washington’s undeniable onscreen charm be enough to overcome an average script?

Robert McCall (Washington) finds himself at home in Southern Italy but he discovers his friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia.

“The Equalizer 3” is the third in an unlike trilogy of Equalizer films that have coasted off the movie star power of Washington. With these kind of genre movies you have a certain expectation of the quality of story and action, and “The Equalizer 3” meets all of those expectations, but does little to surpass them or bring any new spin on the tried and true formula. Director Antione Fuqua brings his cheesy, but crowd-

pleasing action movie touch to this entry, but this time around many of the key elements were lacking. The cinematography was distracting in the way that the whole film looked washed out and uninteresting for the sake of creating that ‘thriller’ movie aesthetic when the beautiful setting could have been more of an asset.

In terms of performances, “The Equalizer 3” is (and should be) Washington’s show. Even as the years

Answers on Page 19

have passed, he still brings the gravitas and menace when called upon by Fuqua. Washington matches the dark tone of the movie and delivers on the cathartic moments when he’s getting the best of the antagonists, especially in the climatic third act when he basically transforms into slasher akin to Michael Meyers. The supporting cast are serviceable for what they are asked to do, but it was somewhat of a letdown for Dakota Fanning as her role didn’t deliver on the Washington/Fanning recoupling from “Man on Fire.”

Overall, “The Equalizer 3” is a fine entry in an unlikely trilogy of ‘the old man’s still got it” revenge genre. This is the kind of movie that used to be shown on cable television on Saturday afternoons as part of a action triple feature, now if you’re able to catch it when it comes to streaming it won’t let you down, but you shouldn’t expect more than an average action/thriller.

“The Equalizer 3” is rated R for strong bloody violence and some language.

2.9 out of 5 stars.

Elm Tree concerts end Sept. 24

Terry Ware and his musical friends will close out the 2023 season of the Elm Tree Concert Series with a concert at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Arcadia Round Barn.

Ware is a versatile guitarist who is a member of the Woody Guthrie Festival house band. He has toured and performed with such artists as John Fullbright, Monica Taylor, the Red Dirt Rangers and Bob Childers.

Admission is free but donations are accepted for the maintenance of the barn. Concerts are held outdoors beneath the shade of the giant elm tree on the north side of the barn, which is six miles east of Interstate 35 on the historic Route 66.

The Elm Tree Concert Series will return in the spring of 2024. The Round Barn Rendezvous jam sessions will continue on the second Sunday afternoon of the month throughout the winter, and Joe Baxter and the Round Barn Ramblers house band plays every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information about live music at the barn, call Baxter at 405433-1350.

Crossword Puzzle

Denzel Washington returns to the Equalizer franchise in "The Equalizer 3" which finds him up against the mafia in Italy.

Okla. State spends millions to upgrade engineering school

A historic building in Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has received a much-needed upgrade.

OSU held a private ceremony recently to unveil a revitalized Engineering South and celebrate the launch of the new Zink Center for Competitive Innovation housed within. The building, which originally opened in 1939, has been under construction since June 2021.

The multi-million dollar revamp of Engineering South completely renovated the 84-year-old building, adding new classroom space, as well as modern utilities and technology. While Engineering South’s facade has remained the same, its interior has been completely transformed.

“OSU is committed to preparing the workforce of the future and empowering graduates to take on society’s most pressing challenges,” said OSU President Kayse Shrum. “As we celebrate the newly renovated Engineering South building today, we’re really celebrating the opportunity it represents — for our students, the university and the state.”

“We’re also celebrating the launch of the new Zink Center for Competitive Innovation, which wouldn’t be possible without the visionary support of Darton and Jamie Zink. It’s not a coincidence that the Zinks and OSU have such a close partnership — we think alike. Through the Zink Center, they are committed to shaping graduates who are ethical leaders with competitive spirits who help others and who get things done. Darton calls it grit, and at OSU we call it living the Cowboy Code.”

The Zink Center for Competitive Innovation will be an open, collaborative space that can be flexibly configured for informal conversations, formal group meetings or seminar presentations. The Zink Center was funded by a major gift from the Zink Family Foundation.

Dr. Dan Fisher is the inaugural director of the Zink Center, which will allow

UCO student participates in competitive research program

for more face-to-face faculty mentorship opportunities for CEAT’s competitive student teams, such as the concrete canoe, Cowboy Racing and Bullet Racing teams. The center also will ease potential collaboration between CEAT and OSU Spears School of Business students through the Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“I’ve seen firsthand in my life how competition and innovation lead to success,” said Darton Zink, president and CEO of Zeeco, Inc. “This center will help to foster those qualities for the next generation of leaders while also providing them with lessons and experiences about the importance of grit and determination.”

New amenities within Engineering South include men’s and women’s restrooms on each floor, a state-of-the-art HVAC system and larger elevators. Glass walls and taller ceilings amplify the space while keeping original details intact — such as beaming and the grand central staircase — helping to maintain some of the building’s original character.

Engineering South also will feature a new layout with CEAT Scholarships and Recruitment, Career Services and Special Programs on the first floor, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering on the second floor, the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering on the third floor and a large student study area on the fourth floor. An addition to the east end of the building will house the 207-seat Chickasaw STEM Auditorium.

“The reopening of the remodeled Engineering South completes the modernization of the homes of all the academic units within CEAT,” said Dr. John Veenstra, interim dean of CEAT. “The transformed space provides state-ofthe-art classrooms, offices and meeting areas for faculty and students which will enhance our ability to deliver highquality instruction and mentoring of our students.”

UCO and EPS establish college program for eligible students

The University of Central Oklahoma and Edmond Public Schools (EPS) have established an early college program that will provide eligible students with dual credits totaling 45-62 hours of college coursework, which will lead to a two- or fouryear degree.

“Edmond Public Schools have been a long term and highly valued partner for Central,” said Charlotte Simmons, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Central.

“We are so proud to simultaneously strengthen our collaboration with Edmond Public Schools and to advance our mutual missions by preparing students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to enter the workforce or continue to pursue their post-secondary education. As a leading higher education institution in the country for social mobility, UCO is thrilled to welcome the first cohort.”

Through the partnership, EPS students will have the opportunity to receive a certain amount of college credit at no cost, which lowers the cost of receiving a post-secondary education at Central or any two-year institution. The program will serve a cohort of up to 30 students from Edmond Memorial High School, Edmond North High School and Edmond Santa Fe High School. Eligible students must qualify for Oklahoma’s Promise and/or be the first in their family to attend college.

“Edmond Public Schools is thrilled to partner with UCO on the early college high school program,” said Keely Gilpin, college and career specialist at EPS.

“This initiative provides an opportunity for students starting in ninth grade to simultaneously earn college credits toward an associate degree and a high school diploma. This is an exciting time in education where

community partnerships are raising the bar to meet the needs of a new generation of students. Thanks to the partnership with UCO and collaborating foundations, participation in the program is free for first-generation, under-resourced and underrepresented students, providing them with an opportunity they may not have thought possible. Through creative collaboration, the district and the university are proud to further Edmond Public School’s mission of ‘empowering all students to succeed in a changing society.’”

The college-level curriculum will prepare students in four areas that will contribute to the state’s workforce demand, including business, computer science, health sciences and preeducation.

Eligible students must have a 3.0 non-weighted GPA, ranking in the upper 50% of class or obtain a 20 on the ACT or preACT to be admitted in the program. Students are required to maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher in the college-level coursework during the program.

The partnership also includes dedicated, on-site support personnel for EPS students to ensure the success of the program and its students through advisement, tutoring and career counseling.

Applications will be available next spring.

For more information about Central, visit uco.edu.

University of Central Oklahoma student Jimmi Winn, a senior criminal justice and forensic science major from Laverne, Oklahoma, participated in the 2023 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in Little Rock, Arkansas — a competitive research program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Winn was one of 10 students selected to attend out of hundreds of applicants nationwide.

The topic for this year’s REU program was “The Scope and Consequences of Hate Crime Victimization in the South,” which focused on the extent and scope of hate crimes, discrimination and stigmatization against Muslims in Arkansas. In addition to the topic’s key messaging, Winn learned about data analysis and measurement, academic writing and presenting, and research design. She also attended networking opportunities and toured the Clinton Presidential Library and Arkansas State Capitol.

“Beyond the wealth of knowledge I gained about the Muslim experience in Arkansas and the broader Southern context, the REU program enabled me to bridge the gap between academic learning at UCO and its practical application in real-world scenarios,” Winn said.

Winn is currently mentored under the direction of Chunghyeon Seo, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Central.

“It has been such a pleasure working with Jimmi,” Seo said.

“Her knowledge and talent will take her far in her career journey. She

currently holds the position of graduate assistant and is working on a project led by myself. This is truly an example of the transformative learning experience students achieve at UCO.”

The REU program provides indepth theory, skills and application to cultivate research curiosity, motivate students to conduct independent research and apply research findings to real-world issues.

For more information about the REU program, visit www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/.

For more information about the UCO School of Criminal Justice, visit www.uco.edu/cla/departments/criminal-justice/.

University of Central Oklahoma student Jimmi Winn, is seen pictured far left.

Edmond now home to The Frosted Mug

The Frosted Mug recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening at 1333 N Santa Fe Ave, Suite 107.

The Frosted Mug is a fun, lively bar and grill offering steaks and casual American fare. They have a spacious dining area and an extra-large bar with seating for 60 people. The restaurant is full of TVs to watch your favorite sporting event and the dining area has seating to accommodate large parties. They also have shuffleboard, 2 Golden Tees and candy/toy vending machines for the kids, fun for all ages! They also have outdoor patio seating with a giant Jenga set and corn hole toss. They offer lunch, dinner, brunch and even a build your own Bloody Mary Bar on the weekends. To learn more about The Frosted Mug visit https://www.frostedmugedmond.com/.

Integris Community Fund taking applications

As the state’s largest not-for-profit and Oklahoma-owned health care system, INTEGRIS Health has long served its mission of partnering with people to live healthier lives through innovative and transformative community health programs.

In 2020, INTEGRIS Health launched a Community Giving Program to help support important health-related work of not-for-profit partners whose evidence-based programs aligned with its community health improvement goals to extend its work beyond hospital walls.

Through the program, grants are provided to projects that address INTEGRIS Health’s identified community health improvement priorities of improving access to health care (including mental health care), improving access to healthy food

By Brian Attebery

and promoting tobacco cessation. These priorities were established through a comprehensive community health needs assessment.

Community organizations in and around Oklahoma County, Canadian County, Cleveland County, Garfield County, Ottawa County and Delaware County are invited to apply for the funding through the INTEGRIS Health Community Giving Fund as an opportunity to implement sustainable change in the community. Grantees will be asked to track the results of funded projects on a quarterly basis.

All grant applications must be submitted before the deadline of Oct. 27. Please click here for the application form and grant guidelines. For more information contact mike.chavez@integrishealth.org.

Protein is essential for our bodies. We need protein for muscle repair, skin, nails, teeth, and vital organs. Every cell of our bodies requires protein to repair and maintain every single day. If we don’t eat protein, it doesn’t just appear in our bodies. One particular class of proteins that I have been fascinated with over the last several years is Collagen based supplements. I started looking into it as a way to help nourish my joints, skin and hair specifically as I have gotten older and saw a greater need for supplements to help protect my wellused joints over time. There are many uses for collagen supplements and understanding what collagen does in our bodies and how we naturally produce it from different combinations of foods as well.

Collagen is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix found in the body’s connective tissues. It makes up about 25-35% of the whole-body proteins. Common foods that can boost your collagen are beef and pork broth, skin on chicken, sardines, organ meats, gelatin, berries, and broccoli that contain vitamin C and that helps boost collagen production. While those are good choices, not everyone is going to like many of those foods or will want to eat them daily. Consistent consumption is the key to seeingthe positive changes we are seeking. In a 12-week study, 27 older men with sarcopenia (Age associated muscle atrophy) took 15 grams of collagen while participating in an exercise program. Compared to men who exercised but didn’t take collagen, they gained significantly more muscle mass and strength (British Journal of Nutrition 2015 Oct 28; 114(8): 1237–1245.). Another study showed that collagen supplementation can help cardiovascular health. In a 6-month study, 31 healthy adults took 16 grams of collagen daily. They had experienced a significant reduction in measures of artery stiffness from the study’s beginning to its end (J

Atheroscler Thromb. 2017 May 1; 24(5): 530–538.) I found that extremely fascinating. Protein is amazing in general but this collagen has some unique qualities.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease. It gradually wears our joints and connective tissue down. Collagen supplementation has been shown to help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis like joint stiffness and pain. One particular study analyzed 465 patients with osteoarthritis in their hips and knees. The group took collagen supplements and results were analyzed into three group results. Those who took them for less than 10 months, those that took them 10-20 months and those that took them greater than 20 months. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of nutraceutical supplementation on pain intensity and physical function in patients with knee/hip OA. The results suggested that nutraceutical supplementation of patients with knee/hip OA may lead to an improvement in pain intensity and physical function. It also showed more improvement with groups that used the supplements longer. (National Library of Medicine Dec 1st, 2020. Nutraceutical supplements in management of pain and disability in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.)

As you can see, there are numerous benefits to making sure your body is getting the collagen it needs for your health.

One last benefit that I have seen with my clients is for those that can’t do traditional soy or dairy based protein powders like whey, due to allergies. Collagen powders make a great alternative to getting the proteins you need for recovery from exercise and life. Mix it in your morning coffee or add it to your normal smoothie for all the benefits it can provide. Be consistent and see what it can do for you.

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

Why protein is important

Attebery

The chamber made it official — welcome

AAA looks at the costs of having a new vehicle

AAA's Your Driving Costs (YDC) has been a reliable data source for the expenses associated with owning and operating a brand-new vehicle for more than seven decades. Based on the latest figures, the average cost of owning and operating a new vehicle in 2023 has increased significantly, with an annual expense of $12,182 or a monthly cost of $1,015. This is a sharp increase from 2022 when the average yearly cost was only $10,728, or $894 monthly.

"It's important for car buyers to clearly understand the costs associated with owning a new vehicle," said Rylie Mansuetti,Your Driving Costs calculator.png spokesperson for AAA Oklahoma. “Due to global supply chain issues and constrained inventory of new vehicles, car prices rose dramatically in 2022. And while the situation continues to improve, the spillover effects are keeping prices high.”

The overall average manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the new vehicles in the 2023 YDC study is $34,876. This is $1,575 (4.7%) higher than last year. It is important to note that MSRP does not always correspond to a consumer's actual

purchase price and may vary depending on demand. Furthermore, a higher sticker price directly impacts finance costs, with this year's vehicles boasting an average annual finance charge of $1,253, a staggering 90% increase from the previous year.

The change in the annual cost of owning a new vehicle is also likely driven by:

Depreciation, which is the difference between the car's value upon purchase and the value of the car when sold. According to this year’s YDC projections, new vehicles are expected to depreciate by an average of $4,538 per year over five years of ownership, up 24% over 2022.

The jump in new vehicle prices (up almost $1,600) compared to used vehicle values that have experienced a decline in the past year.

Automakers across the board have focused on producing more oversized, luxurious, and expensive vehicles, loaded with extra features that bump up prices even more.

Compared to last year, one of the higher annual cost categories was fuel, but this year's average cost per mile has decreased by roughly 2 cents per mile.

COUNTRY Financial is welcomed by the chamber

Karol McMullen- COUNTRY Financial recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening at 400 N Broadway, Suite 7.

COUNTRY Financial is a full-service insurance company that includes Auto, Home, Business, Life and Retirement services. COUNTRY Financial values its experience and will continue its legacy of working hard to provide you with top quality products and exceptional service.

Country Life Insurance and COUNTRY Mutual Insurance have been consistently rated A+ Superior by AM Best since 1933. This demonstrates our financial strength

and our ability to meet client obligations. The ability to pay claims and obligations is largely linked to an insurance company's financial strength.

Since 2004 the COUNTRY Financial family of companies has continuously ranked on the Fortune 1000. They are committed to finding the best solutions for your family, your business and all you hold dear. They strive to be there for you during major life events and tough times to provide encouragement, perspective and clarity.

To learn more about Karol McMullen- Country Financial visit Karol McMullen - COUNTRY Financial Insurance Agent in right here in Edmond.

New physician with Integris

Jacob Tipps, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician with INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Cross Timbers.

Tipps is a native Oklahoman and graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He completed his residency at INTEGRIS Health Great Plains Family Medicine Residency Program, where he was chief resident. He offices at INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Cross Timbers located at 2557 Old Timbers Dr. in Edmond. He is currently accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, please call 405-6692600.

Welcome back K-Bird

KickingBird Golf Club recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand reopening at 1600 E. Danforth Rd.

The reopening of KickingBird Golf has been a labor of love for the City of Edmond, Golf Director- Brian Soerensen, staff and stakeholders. The project has been two years in the making and the results have shown that hard work really does pay off. Within the first 30 days, KickingBird had over 7,400 rounds of golf played. The goal for KickingBird is to provide a place where everyone can enjoy themselves. There have been several features added to bring this

goal to life, along with many renovations to the already existing course.

One of the largest undertakings of this renovation was a new restaurantThe Lookout and a “turn bar” stocked with food and drink items to refuel before the back 9. The restaurant is open to the public everyday from 7am-9pm, except Tuesdays when they are open from 10am-9pm.

The results of this project have shown the amount time, attention and care that has gone into making this municipal course unlike anything our region has ever seen.

To learn more about KickingBird visit KickingBird Golf | Edmond, OK - Official Website (edmondok.gov)

Dr. Tipps

There’s a lot to celebrate with the re-opening of the beautiful Kickingbird Golf Course.

Some already making plans for April 2024 solar eclipse

Don’t wait, make your plans now for the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. This is the last total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous US until 2044. Six Oklahoma State Parks will see at least 99% totality, with three (Beavers Bend, Talimena and Wister) experiencing the full total eclipse.

Oklahoma State Parks will have some of the best locations in the country to watch the 2024 eclipse,” said OTRD Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt. “Get away from city lights and take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the eclipse’s totality in nature.”

Beavers Bend Sate Park, located in the southeast corner of the state, will see a whopping 4 minutes 15 seconds in totality, close to the longest duration of anywhere in the eclipse path.

Towering timbers, crystal clear waters and rugged terrain make this state park an outdoor lover's paradise. Visitors to Beavers Bend State Park will enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, water skiing, nature

center activities, river float trips, canoeing, horseback riding and much more in addition to eclipse viewing.

This 3,482-acre park offers 47 cabins with kitchenettes, plus 393 campsites and over 50 tent sites spread over eight camping areas. To reserve your spot at Beavers Bend or one of the other parks in the path of the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, go to TravelOK.com.

Hi and Lois

Shoe

Zits

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Blondie

Hägar the Horrible

Plenty of help available to quit smoking

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), is offering Oklahomans who want to quit tobacco a special opportunity. Throughout September, Oklahomans who sign up for the Helpline will get at least eight weeks of patches, gum or lozenges for free. This limited-time offer of extra nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) ends Sept. 30.

“It’s proven that additional nicotine replacement therapy increases the chance of successfully quitting tobacco,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “This limited-time offer from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a great opportunity for Oklahomans thinking about quitting to take the first step toward a tobacco-free future.”

The Helpline offers Oklahomans the opportunity to quit with free, personalized help. Services include individual text and email support, phone and coach support and more. The Helpline gives all Oklahomans the tools and support to live tobacco free.

Traditionally, the Helpline has offered at least two weeks of free NRT. By creating a custom quit plan with the Helpline and utilizing the NRT options available to combat cravings, residents of Oklahoma can significantly increase their likelihood of successfully overcoming tobacco addiction. TSET has funded the Helpline since 2003, and in that time, nearly half a million Oklahomans have signed up to receive services and build a plan that serves their needs.

Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669), text READY to 34191 or visit OKhelpline.com to explore the free services and resources available to Oklahomans. You can also connect with the

Helpline through Facebook or by following @OKhelpline on Twitter and Instagram.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients or employees live tobacco free.

Funding is primarily provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served more than 490,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years by the North American Quitline Consortium.