Edmond Life and Leisure - September 11, 2025

In This Issue

OSU part of training for water rescues

See Page 3

Football’s back

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Football is fully back with teams playing their second games.The NFL had their first weekend of action. It was a big game last weekend in Edmond as Central Oklahoma beat Pittsburg State 27-24 Saturday night to start the MIAA season with a victory.In other action, OU got a huge win 24-13 over visiting Michigan, while OSU ran into a buzz saw at Oregon — losing 69-3 to the ducks. Also, be sure to support high school football for North, Memorial and Santa Fe.For UCO, the Bronchos led most of the game, broke a 24-24 tie with 14:50 to play in the fourth quarter, and its defense held firm the rest of the way. Pitt State had a chance to tie the game again and possibly force overtime with 23 seconds remaining but missed a 30yard field goal attempt and UCO knelt down in victory formation.

“Proud of our guys for battling and so proud of our defense,” UCO head coach Adam Dorrel said. “We had to fight through a lot tonight and we found a way. Our defense was great and we needed every bit of it.”

Central Oklahoma in the fourth quarter got an interception from Antwan Gilbreath, then forced punts on back-to-back possessions before holding the Gorillas to the field goal attempt in the final seconds. Central forced seven punts in the game and another field goal attempt earlier. Pitt State was 0-for-6 on third downs in the first half and finished 8-for-18.

The UCO offense put up 396 yards of offense with 215 coming on the ground. Jaylen Cottrell had 131 yards on 10 carries, including a 66-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

UCO quarterback Jett Huff was 4-for-6 with 44

yards, but on his second incomplete pass was an interception. The play resulted in all sorts of chaos. Huff was hit when he threw and knocked out of the game. Pitt State intercepted the pass, but then fumbled the return. UCO offensive lineman Montriel Lee recovered the fumble and ran five yards into the end zone for a touchdown to make it 14-0 with 1:59 to play in the opening quarter.

Clayton Creasey played the rest of the game at quarterback and went 12-for-23 with 137 yards, including a long of 54 yards. Creasey also scrambled for a 22-yard touchdown run.

Zayden Martinez led UCO in receiving yards with 54 on the one catch from Creasey. Ashton Schumann had five catches for 52 yards.

Braden Waters led Central Oklahoma with 10 tackles and Johnny Wilson made nine stops, including three in the backfield, one of which was a sack. UCO had six tackles in the backfield, including Wilson’s sack.

Central Oklahoma went ahead 7-0 on Cottrell’s run, then 14-0 on Lee’s fumble recovery touchdown. Joseph Kim put the Bronchos up 17-3 with 5:11 to play in the second on a 37-yard field goal. The game was 17-16 at halftime.

Creasey made it 24-16 with his 22-yard run in the third, and Kim put in the game-winner with 14:50 to play in the fourth to make it 27-24.

The win snapped a trend in the series. UCO beat Pitt for the first time since 2015 and won in Edmond for the first time since 1968 (nine meetings).

UCO is off next week and will host Washburn on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Chad Richison Stadium.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Dev Mathews, a former Edmond North standout, breaks tackles Saturday in UCO’s win against rival Pittsburg State.

Overview of Edmond Real Estate market

The real estate market in Edmond has experienced notable fluctuations over the past five years.

Over the past five years, the median home prices in Edmond have seen both increases and decreases. As of June 2025, the median sale price of a home in Edmond was approximately $377,000. This represents a 5.3% decrease compared to the previous year. In contrast, the average home value in Edmond was $353,074, reflecting a 0.9% increase over the past year 2.

The Edmond housing market is somewhat competitive. Homes in Edmond typically receive one offer on average and sell in around 28 days. This is a slight increase from the previous year when homes sold in about 19 days. The sale-to-list price ratio has also seen a slight increase, with homes selling for about 99.0% of the list price. It was not that long ago that folks were paying asking price plus bones money to get a home.

The inventory of homes for sale in Edmond has fluctuated over the years. As of June 2025, there were 1,173 homes for sale, with 426 new listings. This indicates a dynamic market with a steady influx of new properties. Several factors have influenced the real estate market in Edmond over the past five years:

Economic Conditions: The overall economic conditions, including employment rates and income levels, have a significant impact on the housing market. Edmond's economy has remained relatively stable, contributing to the steady demand for homes.

Interest Rates: Changes in interest rates have also played a role in market dynamics. Lower interest rates will make mortgages more affordable, encouraging more people to buy homes or transition to a different size house.

Edmond and the state have seen an influx of people moving from other metropolitan areas. For instance, homebuyers from Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles have shown interest in relocating to Edmond. This migration trend has contributed to the demand for housing in the area. Some say it is because of politics but I think it has more to do with having a winning NBA franchise, the river front and the favorable cost of living gained in a move

from California to Oklahoma. If they get the bug to come to Oklahoma, Edmond wins the day with folks.

Edmond is known for its high quality of life, excellent schools, and various amenities.

These factors make it an attractive place to live, further driving the demand for real estate. If you have any doubt, get in your car one afternoon and drive to other places in the metropolitan area and it will be a reminder for you.

The real estate market in Edmond has experienced both growth and challenges over the past five years. While median home prices have seen fluctuations, the market remains competitive with a steady demand for homes. Factors such as economic conditions, interest rates, migration trends, and local amenities continue to influence the market dynamics. As we move forward, it will be essential to monitor these factors to understand their impact on the future of the Edmond real estate market.

What decisions that our city elected officials make will have an impact on our market and the decision voters make at the polls. Our GO bond elections went down in a blaze of glory but if we continue to turn down or not renew funding

sources, our city will start a downhill slide. Once that starts, it takes years to turn around and will affect the value of your home.

If we pursue a no growth attitude, it will damage our city beyond repair. To continue to turn down businesses that want to come to Edmond will turn other businesses away and have them built in Oklahoma City. This just continues the bleed that is already happening in our town. It does not take much of a study in our sales tax declines compared to that of Oklahoma City to see that bleed is taking place at an increasing rate.

If you want to protect the value of your home, drop any no growth attitude my friends or Edmond will be turning the nose of the plane downward.

The more things change… With so many issues floating around us both nationally and internationally, it is easy to throw your hands in the air and wonder why things were never this difficult back in the day. Hold that thought but many of these subjects are just coming around the block again. I see it all the time here in Edmond. I moved to Edmond in 1988 but just going back 25 years it is clear that many of the issues we are dealing with were

with us in 2000. It is easy to forget history. I get asked about that around town all the time and I am glad to share. Until a book came out there was not a good history of how that has happened in international concerns.

"Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World" by Margaret MacMillan is a detailed account of the Paris Peace Conference held in 1919, following the end of World War I. The book explores how world leaders gathered in Paris to negotiate peace and reshape the political landscape of the post-war world. The primary figures at the conference included U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and French Premier Georges Clemenceau.

The conference aimed to establish peace treaties and redefine borders, but the negotiations were marked by intense debates and conflicting national interests. Wilson promoted his Fourteen Points, which emphasized self-determination and the establishment of the League of Nations to prevent future conflicts. However, Clemenceau sought to weaken Germany to ensure France's security, while Lloyd George navigated between public opinion and pragmatic desires.

The book highlights the personalities and motivations of these key figures, as well as the challenges they faced in reaching agreements. The negotiations often involved complex issues such as reparations, territorial disputes, and the creation of new countries. The decisions made during the conference had long-lasting impacts, setting the stage for future geopolitical tensions.

MacMillan's narrative provides a comprehensive view of the peacemaking process, shedding light on the ambitions, conflicts, and prejudices of the leaders involved. The book also addresses the criticisms of the peace settlements and argues that the peacemakers have been unfairly blamed for the failures that led to World War II.

Warning: it is a long read and hard to get through but if you are interested in learning more about many mistakes that were made in history and how it affects issues today, you should make the effort.

(Ray Hibbard, publisher of Edmond Life & Leisure, may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Ray Hibbard

OSU part of water rescue exercise

Water rescues occur nearly every day in Oklahoma, where flash flooding is a recurring hazard and one of the deadliest severe weather threats. According to the National Weather Service, flash floods claim more than 100 lives annually in the United States and often place first responders themselves at significant risk.

Between 2000 and 2018, at least 300 rescuers lost their lives in U.S. water rescue operations, many in swiftwater environments.

That reality is what brought first responders from across the nation and around the world to Oklahoma City, where Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s Fire Service Training program recently hosted the 2025 Oklahoma Swiftwater Rescue Conference & Competition.

This event provides a rare and essential opportunity for first responders to train for one of the most dynamic and dangerous emergencies they face, equipping them with the tools, decision-making skills and real-world practice they need to conduct rescues safely.

Held annually since 2022, the conference is recognized as one of the premier swiftwater rescue training events in the world.

“This is the largest training facility for swiftwater rescue in the country,” said Riki Manley, FST business operations specialist. “This year’s event had a record number of participants from 11 different states, as well as international attendees from New Zealand.”

The event combines classroom instruction, hands-on exercises and a final-day competition designed to test skills under pressure in the nation’s top

swiftwater training facility, RiverSport OKC, which can simulate up to class five rapids.

“This facility gives us the ability to train in ways that are as close to realworld flooding as possible, but in a safe environment where mistakes become lessons instead of tragedies,” said Matt Bell, program manager for the Oklahoma Task Force 1, Tulsa Urban Search & Rescue Team and rescue coordinator for the Tulsa Fire Department.

The 2025 program included workshops on progressive rescue techniques, boat operations, vehicle extractions in moving water, animal rescue, incident command, rescue swimmer skills and more.

“In Hurricane Katrina, it flooded so badly that people would go up into their attics,” Manley said. “They wouldn't evacuate. They just wouldn't leave their homes. They would go up in the attic, and then they couldn't get out. So, the rescue teams were going house to house, cutting into attics to search for people. And so, we brought the attic prop into this year’s training.”

Instruction is led by emergency responders with direct experience in major hurricanes, floods and disaster deployments, ensuring participants learn methods proven in the field.

Greg Merrell is the lead technical rescue and water rescue instructor for FST. Merrell is a Battalion Chief for the Oklahoma City Fire Department, who he has been with for 23 years. He is a task force leader for OK-TF 1, OKC Urban Search & Rescue Team. In addition to being a former U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot, he is also a swiftwater rescue technician & rescue boat instructor and a public safety diver.

First responders training for a water rescue.

All about grave dowsing

A

quest is to mark all unmarked graves; Genealogy meeting is set for Sept. 15

By Kimberly Burk, for Edmond Life and Leisure

Jan Beattie has great affection for her ancestors. Truth be told, she cares about your ancestors as well.

She wants to know where her forebearers are buried, and that their graves are well-cared-for. But especially, she wants everybody’s final resting place to be marked. Preferably with an enduring headstone.

“There are a lot of unmarked graves,” said Beattie, a retired infectious disease microbiologist and president of the Edmond Genealogical Society.

“I have a broken heart thinking about all of those thousands of people who died on the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe trail and never got a proper burial.”

Her search for her second-great-grandmother’s grave led Beattie about 25 years ago to the White River Valley Historical Society in Taney County, Mo., her mother’s ancestral home in the Ozark Mountains. And there in a tiny church cemetery near Forsyth she learned a skill that has solved some family mysteries and turned into a community service.

It’s called grave dowsing.

“It uses a technique similar to what the oldtimers used to call water witching, to find where to drill for a well,” Beattie said. “It gives you the ability to detect human remains.”

Beattie freely acknowledges that the practice has not been scientifically proven.

“No one knows why it works,” she says.

But when Beattie walks across what is believed to be a grave, holding two rods she has fashioned from metal coat hangers, the rods will cross if there’s a burial beneath the earth, she says.

Beattie will present a program about the practice during the Monday, Sept. 15, monthly meeting of the Edmond Genealogical Society. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Edmond Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15700 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

With most Christian burials, people are buried facing east, and Beattie walks across a suspected grave from east to west.

“You hold your rods loosely in your hands, your elbows at your side,” Beattie said.

“When you are over a grave, the rods should cross. When you step off a grave, they should uncross.”

Beattie said she has been invited to use the technique by people who buy a piece of property they think might contain an old family or community cemetery. She’s also been contacted by funeral homes and cemetery associations, especially in cases where cemetery records have been lost. When markers and records are lost, she said, cemeteries run the risk of disturbing a gravesite by digging in what they think might be an unused part of a cemetery.

Beattie said she feels confident she confirmed the final resting place of her second-great grandmother after those historical society members in Missouri taught her the technique. The grave had at one time been marked with a field stone but never a proper headstone. A grandson who came for a visit from Washington in the 1940s was dismayed to discover that the stone had been moved, and the cemetery records were thrown away by a daughter after the sextant died.

Edmond genealogist Ricia Allen says “finding our roots is important to us as a society because it is the framework of who we are. Our past tells a story of who we are.”

Allen said she was already familiar with the practice of water dowsing when she learned about grave dowsing from Beattie.

“Because I personally had problems locating a grave of my great, great, great-grandfather, I realized that this tool could be of use to others in the genealogy field,” Allen said.

Grave dowsing was used to identify about 80 unmarked graves in the Union Soldiers Cemetery near NE 36 and Martin Luther King Avenue in Oklahoma City. Wreaths Across America was already placing wreaths on the marked graves at Christmas time, Beattie said, and local genealogy groups now place Christmas wreaths on the unmarked graves.

Edmond genealogist

Ricia Allen says ‘finding our roots is important to us as a society because it is the framework of who we are. ‘

Jan Beattie dowses at the Grower Cemetery in east Edmond. (Photo provided)

OG&E COLISEUM EVENTS

Child(5a Child Adul Outside G andunder):F d (6-11): $10 t (12+): $16 ate Admissi

Perfor m 9 nowthrum fr ance s monday reeoutsidega All event tick Septem with Casey ateadmission ets receive ber 17 Donahew n TeamsA Exciti

ree outside ga Free on ate admission Teams A Ava e ailable at m

Child (5 a l OnCue tro and under): F ocations

Entertainm FREE with ou ent Stage tside gate ad

9/127:30 P

9/117:30 P 9/12730P Concerts

MJoe Nichols PMSitSld

9/13 7:30 P w/Ken

9/147:30 P

9/157:30 P 9/167:30 P

PMSister Sledge MBlack Stone Ch tuckky y Headhunte MZZ-KC MJosiah Queen

MHerman’s Herm erry rs its staring Peter N

9/177:30 PMSh 9/18730PMD mission awn Klush - Tribu Bldid te to Elvis

9/187:30 PMDr 9/197:30 PMHa 9/207:30 PMSt 9/217:30 PMLo Noone rew Baldridge irball ephen Pearcy w/Q eder s Her roos de N uiet Riot uevo Leon

Each arm ri – Su F sThur Mon – W Carnival Ride band will have a Mon–W n: $50 : $25 ed: $35 Armbands tion f $2 activa fe e ed:$35 e added. s to b ay 3 w kets uy tic

(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. 25

Jonathon Wesley James, 35, homeless. Trespassing after being warned.

Tyler Jon Wennersten, 22, homeless. Public intoxication.

Spencer Bijan Tahermandarjani, 21 of Edmond. Domestic abuse assault. (deadly weapon)

Rodney Kamil Massad, 53 of Edmond, Carrying a harmful weapon, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Adric Matthew Spotwood, 21 homeless. Shoplifting – petit larceny.

Christopher Lee Johnson, 53 of Oklahoma City. Shoplifting – petit larceny, five counts of failure to appear and a felony warrant.

Dallas Dean Floyd, 41 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Aug. 26

Shaoqin Yang, 61 of Edmond. Engage/solicit prostitution.

Jason Lee Stanford, 38 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant, driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and three counts of failure to appear.

Lee Ray Young, 38 of Meridian. Shoplifting –petit larceny and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Conner James Dryden, 32 of Guthrie. Trespassing after being warned.

Thaies Lee Griffin, 61 of Edmond. Non-assault resisting officer and public intoxication.

Aug. 27

Amie Heather Smith, 49, homeless. Possession of marijuana and public intoxication.

Trapper Eugene Williams Jr., 43 of Guthrie. (Misdemeanor) personal injury accident while under the influence.

Aug. 28

Ralead Juan Rex, 20 of Oklahoma City. Possession of marijuana, no proof of insurance and driv-

ing while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Michael Wayne Dawkins, 54 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Samuel Ray Charles Young, 20 of Edmond. Domestic abuse assault (strangulation)

Rory Alan Marshall, 64 homeless. (Misdemeanor 1st & 2nd offense) larceny of merchandise from retailer and resisting arrest.

Aug. 29

Sean Grant Reddick, 18 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, no tag – improper tag and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Donald Charles James, 38 homeless. Misdemeanor warrant.

Ryan Seth Williams, 36 of Oklahoma City. Shoplifting – petit larceny.

Kimberlee Kaye Henager, 42 of Edmond. Assault and/or battery with a dangerous weapon.

Enrique, Gomez Guinac, 47 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Triton Thomas Arnold, 29 of Edmond. Shoplifting – petit larceny.

Anthony Sean Waddles, Jr., 34 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Aug. 30

Nicholas Todd Martinson, 34 homeless. Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and (possession of a stolen vehicle) unauthorized use of motor vehicle or implement of husbandry.

Korra Brienne Blackbear, 21 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Milton Pierson Jr., 52 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Myron Phillip Morrison II, 34 of Midwest City. No proof of insurance, misdemeanor warrant and failure to appear.

Gary Allen Maldonado, 54 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Connell Smith Jr., 31 of Del City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Alexis Shyanne Williams, 31 of Edmond. Non-assault resisting officer and public intoxication.

Cody Micheal Lamborn, 38 homeless. Misdemeanor warrant.

Eddy Scotty Russell, 47 of Oklahoma City. No proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Diamond Laruth Henderson, 30 of Edmond. Possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to wear seatbelt, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Jose Gilberto Bocanegra Sanchez, 25 of Oklahoma City. Possession of marijuana and driving without proper/valid driver’s license.

Samir Sam Yassa, 43 of Edmond. Shoplifting –petit larceny.

Joshua David Bookout, 45 homeless. Felony DUI/APC.

Monica Dawn Nunez, 45 homeless. Felony warrant.

Lute James David Sawyer, 19 of Edmond. Social host violation.

Aug. 31

Jeremiah Jaden Barker, 19 of El Reno. Transporting open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and under 21 operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance.

Camdyn James-Bruce Richardson, 18 of Alva. Minor – intoxicating beverage – possession by person under 21 and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

John Frank Whistler, 41 of Edmond. Non-assault resisting arrest and public intoxication.

Tristan Julius James, 41 of Tyron, Okla. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or combination of schedule 1 chemical or controlled substance.

Terrell Stephens Jordan, 62 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Jill Irene Schad, 46 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Joseph Roy Schad, 49 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Daniel Legaye Bentley, 41 of Riverside, Calif. Public intoxication.

Billy Kalin Johnson, 40 of Edmond. Three counts of failure to appear.

Greg Darrell Christophel, 62 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

William Henry Myles III, 61 of Edmond. Operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license, possess drug paraphernalia and possess CDS.

Melody Marie Green, 53 of Oklahoma City. Three misdemeanor warrants and three counts of failure to appear.

52 booking reports

Weekend calendar of events, Sept. 11-14

Weekend Calendar of Events Sept. 11-14

---- In the Gallery

---- Edmond’s Farmer’s Market

---- Saturday Farmer’s Market at Scissortail Park

---- Wheeler District Farmer’s Market

---- Board Game Night

---- Karaoke Thursdays

---- Karaoke Night

---- Beer + Yoga

---- Books + Board Games

---- Saturday Morning Music Sessions

---- Concerts in the Park: Country & Bluegrass

---- Movie in the Park: Wicked

---- Curlnado Alley Open Bonspiel

---- Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Exhibition & Sale

---- Brews, Bites & Bands Festival

---- Oklahoma Senior Games

---- Cocktail Cruise

---- OKC Broadway presents: “Kimberly Akimbo”

---- Oklahoma State Fair

---- Oklahoma City Ballet presents: Ballet Under the Stars

---- CRUISE! THE PLAZA

---- Clifford the Big Red Dog Visits the OKC Zoo

---- Rock the Block

---- Workshop: Mushroom Cultivation

---- Dinner Detective Comedy Mystery Dinner Show

---- Oklahoma Giant Pumpkin Growers Weighoff

---- Guthrie Road Celebration

---- Round Barn Rendezvous

Extra Information

In the Gallery

Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute

Extra Info: First Thu of every month Gallery opening: 5 – 7 p.m.; Free; Gallery is open Mon – Thu; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Free; Featuring Oklahoma artist Jay Holobach; edmondfinearts.com Edmond Farmer’s Market

Location: Festival Market Place

Extra Info: Sat, Apr 12 – Sat, Oct 25; Free; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.gov

Saturday Farmer’s Market at Scissortail Park

Location: Scissortail Park

Extra Info: Sat, Apr 5 – Sat, Oct 25; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; free parking: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.; scissortailpark.org

Wheelers District Farmer’s Market

Location: 1737 Spoke St, OKC, OK

Extra Info: Through Fri, Oct 24; 6 – 9 p.m.; (closed Jul 4); wheelerdistrict.com

Board Game Night

Location: MAC in Mitch Park

Extra Info: recurring monthly on the 1st Saturday through Sat, Dec 6, 2025; edmondokcivicrec.com

Karaoke Thursdays

Location: The Frosted Mug, 1333 N Santa Fe Ave, Suite 107, Edmond, OK

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Thursday; Free; 8:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.; frostedmugedmond.com

Karaoke Night

Location: The Gin

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Thursday; 7 p.m.; theginok.com

Beer + Yoga

Location: American Solera – Icehouse Project

Extra Info: Recurring monthly on the 2nd Sunday; Free 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.; americansolera.com

Books + Board Games

Location: American Solera – Icehouse Project

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Thursday; Free; 7 p.m.; americansolera.com

Saturday Morning Music Sessions

Location: Arcadia Round Barn

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Saturday; 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; visitedmondok.com

Concerts in the Park: Country & Bluegrass

Location: Stephenson Park

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 4; Free; 6 – 8:30 p.m.; edmondok.gov

Movie in the Park: Wicked

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 12; Free; 7 p.m.; visitedmondok.com

Curlnado Alley Open Bonspiel

Location: Arctic Edge Ice Arena

Extra Info: Sat, Sep 13 – Sun, Sep 14; Free; recurring daily; okcurling.com

Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Exhibition & Sale

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage

Museum

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 12 – Sun, Oct 12; tcaa.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Brews, Bites & Bands Festival

Location: Six Flags Frontier City

Extra Info: Fri, Aug 22 – Sun, Sep 14; sixflags.com

Oklahoma Senior Games

Location: various locations around the state

Extra Info: Fri, Aug 22 – Sat, Nov 22; okseniorgames.com

Cocktail Cruise

Location: Regatta Landing

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 5 – Wed, Sep 24; Fri & Sat: 7 p.m.; embarkok.com

OKC Broadway presents: “Kimberly Akimbo”

Location: Civic Center Music Hall

Extra Info: Tue, Sep 9 – Sun, Sep 14; Showtimes: Tue – Fri: 7:30 p.m.; Sat: 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.;

Why printing The Vista is so vital

University of Central Okla. newspaper also fought this battle in 1980

By Amy Hall

Forty-five years ago this September, the Central State University administration sought to control the student newspaper, The Vista, through various tactics, verbal threats and intimidation. It forced my father, Dennie Hall, to resign as The Vista adviser. His reason: The administration’s quest for control was a “code word for censorship.” I remember my father telling me that then President Bill Lillard said to Dr. Ray Tassin, then Chairman of the Department of Journalism, “If you don’t make him (Dennie Hall) silence the student journalists working for The Vista, I will!”

The Vista is an institution that has served the university for 122 years, longer than any other student publication. My father, a longtime, tenured and beloved UCO faculty member, fought to protect the First Amendment until he died in 2020.

That included the rights of student journalists to serve as watchdogs of government, which includes a university’s administration.

I recently sat in a meeting in which UCO’s Student Media Advisory Board was intimidated into approving a budget without the printing costs. The administration threatened loss of funding and regents’ mandates about “more efficient use of our resources.”

Then they claimed the department and its faculty made the decision. I personally know many of the journalism staff and faculty at UCO. They taught with my father, and I was present at many university and non-university gatherings with them. I don’t know a single member of the faculty that taught alongside my father that would have made that decision.

They then claimed it was about moving toward a digital future where print newspapers are no longer needed. That’s laughable when considering 155 Oklahoma newspapers, including in many of the regents’ hometowns, and 17,000 news organizations worldwide still print at least weekly. The board had to make the difficult decision to approve the budget without printing so students working for The Vista would be paid during the 20252026 school year.

The administration didn’t just say they didn’t have the money to print The Vista, they said it wouldn’t be printed even if there was funding from other sources, i.e. The Dennie Hall Endowment Fund. Today, by banning printing of The Vista , the University of Central Oklahoma administration is in clear violation of the Freedom of the Press guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The Vista’s print version is and will be a useful learning tool for aspiring journalists as it was 45 years ago. It continues that way despite UCO seemingly abandoning journalism, too.

On UCO’s “Mass Communication” web pages, UCO still has a journalism minor and an endowed chair for journalism ethics funded by a grant. That’s about it. When my father was teaching, the department had a powerful journalism department led by Dr. Ray Tassin in which The Vista was a centerpiece and had 900 students with two baccalaureate and two master’s degrees. It was fostered up until Dr. Terry Clark left as department chair in 2009.

This points to administrative neglect and reckless decisions that affect the futures of many Oklahomans. What was once a proud program was cut so much that it no longer has a full-time The

Vista adviser, no longer has summer editions, and fails to publish a story the first two weeks of this semester.

It especially points to a current president who spends tens of thousands of dollars on a new mascot named Buck and a rebranding campaign with a theme of “Where the Movement Is” while his administration rejects donations for the $12,000 to print one year of The Vista.

Students, faculty and the rest of us receive flashy public relations newsletters and selfies of a president working out more than spending time supporting students’ First Amendment rights as past presidents Don Betz, Roger Webb and former Gov. George Nigh did. This current administration is more about flash than substance. Thus, the only reason they offered to allow donors’ funding for The Vista student journalists is to publish a print propaganda magazine instead of a print weekly newspaper.

Don’t let anyone fool you: It’s about administration control of the message, that code word for censorship. It was that way 45 years ago when my father stood up to them. This time, however, what’s at stake is the very existence of a student newspaper, protected by the free

speech and press clauses in the First Amendment.

The history of journalism, which UCO also fails to teach, shows us that these types of tactics eventually will backfire. It did in 1980. They should in 2025, too.

Amy Hall is one of the top account managers at one of the largest commercial printing and direct mail companies in Oklahoma. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a minor in history. She started her career as a proofreader at Ackerman McQueen in 1999 and worked her way up to broadcast creative service manager before moving on to further her career. Today, she is her company’s political mail specialist, the head of software and development and even a proofreader for the companies various marketing strategies.

Her father, Dennie Hall, helped establish the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame under Dr. Ray Tassin and was director until his retirement in 1997. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists, among many other awards and accolades.

Amy Hall and her father, Dennie Hall — retired professor at UCO.

Curiosity killed the cat but not bok choy puzzle

By Carol Smaglinski

Picture this: A cook in the kitchen carefully chopping up a rainbow of colorful vegetables for a favorite Chinese entree and making sure they slices are all the same size.

Suddenly, a young girl pops up just above counter height and asks, “What’s that?” The little missy points at the strange-looking vegetable on the countertop.

“Is it cabbage, celery or, gee, I don’t know,” she thinks out loud.

“Guess what?” says her mother, speaking just like the kids do.

“What?” the darling little girl says.

“Well, like it’s complicated,” her mother replies.

Since we live in Edmond and these days, it’s hard to find anything better, her mom came across bok choy in the supermarket produce section.

In Chinese, it is known as pak choi, Chinese chard, or white mustard cabbage. But the word bok choy simply means cabbage.

But the mom and her little darling were hungry for more information.

So after plowing through cookbooks where bok choy is not even listed, then they began looking under the listing for cabbage. Of course, they looked on line, too.

They soon discovered that bok choy is one of cruciferous veggies, (like its cousin broccoli) meaning “cross-bearing” and refers to the four petals that remind us of a cross.

Mom and her little gal also found out about many other varieties of cabbage and discovered that it is hard to narrow it down.

As Americans, we have probably been eating

bok choy for years while dining in Asian restaurants and probably never gave it a second thought. But the slender bok choy is imperative in so many authentic recipes.

First of all, bok choy is a smooth oblong head, from 6 to 10 inches long, or 4 to 20 inches. Its green leaves are wrapped around it, thus, two vegetables in one. The green leaves take longer to cook than the white part. Usually, when the leaves of the bok choy go through the cooking process, the leaves most likely remain a beautiful bright green color.

What is so unusual is its taste - not at all like regular cabbage, but fresh and delicate if the cook has not overcooked it.

Oriental restaurant chefs are most likely to incorporate bok choy in soups and stir-frys.

After purchasing, keep it refrigerated in a plastic bag for up to four days.

Be aware that when cutting meat for a stir-fry, cut across the grain and before cooking, and make sure that the wok is at a very high temperature. It certainly won’t get as torrid as a wok in an Oriental restaurant, but pretty close. Keep it brief!

Pork with Bok Choy

½ lb. pork tenderloin sliced into thin 2-inch length strips, using a cleaver Place pork in a bowl and add:

1 tsp. soy sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp. corn starch

1 Tbsp. sesame oil

1 Tbsp. dry sherry

Mix and allow to marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix seasoning sauce:

1 tsp. sesame seed oil

¼ cup chicken broth

1 cup cold water

3 tsp. cornstarch

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix ingredients well and reserve. Have ready and cut up:

½ lb. sliced mushrooms

½ lb. sliced bok choy

12 snow peas

1 can of drained water chestnuts

¼ cup sliced cooked carrots

Heat wok and when a tiny splash of water sizzles, add 3 Tbsp. oil. Let heat, add pork, stir fry until lightly browned. Add seasoning sauce and then vegetables. Stir fry about 2 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened and serve with rice.

Balancing directness during therapy session

By John Goetz

Frequently, I am asked by friends that know I am a counselor and candidates for Licensure, who I have the pleasure of supervising is, “how direct should a licensed therapist be with their clients?”

Sometimes the question is asked in the form of “why are counselors not direct?” The classic movie image of the therapist asking, “how do you feel about that?” or “how does that make you feel?” comes to mind. Therefore, I will try to answer the question starting with a question. As a client,” what are your goals?”

As the client, or as a consumer, the more specific you can be about what you are seeking to achieve with counseling services is extremely helpful. Then, I can direct you towards the services you are looking for. Sometimes that is a form of counseling and sometimes it may be something else. Examples would be if you think you’re drinking and or drugging is a problem, I might point you in the direction of AA, NA, or DUI assessment and school. I would recommend you work with a Licensed Alcohol and other Drug Counselor, LADC. In each of these settings you will meet people versed in dealing with denial, being direct, and confronting behavior.

You decide your drinking is in response to trauma you are trying to forget. In this case, a therapist who is trained in Trauma Informed Care would be desirable in your recovery. This is a less confrontive style of therapy.

There are multiple schools of thought in psychology with methods and approaches which have been empirically assessed but no unifying paradigms have been found. This may lead to different therapists using different approaches that fit their style and are genuine to them. Some approaches are very directive like a DBT skills group, or an exposure protocol

for dealing with anxiety of phobias. Others may be less directive like a narrative approach to marriage counseling. It is the client’s responsibility to be honest with the therapist as to the service they are seeking. It is the responsibility of the therapist to let the client know if they can provide the desired service.

Therapists have been trained to not give opinions or advice but to help the client discover the answers to their questions using conversational tools. There are various therapists that may have specialties with training in more direct techniques. Psychological testing, court testimony, and exposure protocols are a few examples. Christian based counseling is a specialty. Seeking a secular opinion from a Christian based therapist would be a miss match.

Research has consistently shown that the greatest prediction of outcomes regarding psychotherapy is the expectations of the client.

A client who will explore their expectations with their therapist and a therapist who will be honest about their scope of practice is a suitable place to start when seeking psychological services.

If you come to me looking for marriage counseling and alcohol is a problem for you, more than likely you can learn to be a great listener and communicator in therapy sessions. On the other hand, I probably would refer to you a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, LADC, to assist with your alcohol addiction.

(John Goetz M. Ed LPC-S, is the Clinical Director of Edmond Family Counseling and Staff Therapist). Edmond Family Counseling is a nonprofit organization. We can be reached at 405-341-3554 to schedule an appointment with one of our professional counselors.

Goetz

Sr.

Living Truth Series Sept. 23

Truth about downsizing dementia & other issues

The decisions facing couples considering downsizing are often challenging, but they can be overwhelming when they involve a diagnosis of dementia or increased memory loss for one of the partners.

“Couples must decide whether to stay put or relocate, when to seek support, and how to involve others in their plans,” said Becky Seda, a Certified Senior Housing Professional.

“Meanwhile, adult children or loved ones may find themselves helping navigate memory care and residential living options while trying to balance emotions and logistics.”

The Senior Living Truth Series seminar on September 23 will address “The Truth about Downsizing and Dementia: Options, Timing, and Transitions.” The seminar date coincides with World Alzheimer’s Month, a global campaign held every September to raise awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

“We have assembled a stellar lineup of panelists,” seminar series organizer Seda said. “Whether you’re planning for yourself or assisting a loved one, this session will provide practical advice, compassionate insights, and the truth about simplifying these transitions for everyone involved.”

Leading the panel of experts is Germaine L Odenheimer MD, professor emeritus, geriatric medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Dr. Odenheimer is a geriatric neurologist who has been in practice 37 years. She is experienced in dementia, Alzheimer's disease, long term care, altered mental status, and medical education. She serves as an advisor to the State Council on Aging and Long Term Care Ombudsman sub-committee, provides ongoing support to Alzheimer’s support groups and has been named to Oklahoma’s “Healthy Brain Initiative Coalition.”

Joining Dr. Odenheimer are Herb Magley, Carla Scull and Tiffany

Thomas.

Magley is a member of the Board of Directors Alzheimer’s Association Oklahoma Chapter. Magley has lost five family members to Alzheimer’s, including his best friend and wife, diagnosed at age 54. He was so profoundly affected on their 11-year journey that he became a passionate supporter of Alzheimer’s family caregivers. At his own cost, he has travelled the country giving speeches of support to thousands of Alzheimer’s caregivers. He has started seven support groups in the Oklahoma City metro.

Scull, senior living advisor at Concordia Life Plan Community, spent five years as education coordinator for Alzheimer’s Association Oklahoma. She described her Alzheimer’s Association role as, “spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association, to educate the public about the disease, and improve the Association's visibility through various media outlets.” At Concordia, she guides individuals and their families through the process of finding the best housing option, including when to have conversations about dementia.

Thomas is co-owner and CFO of Welcome Home Adult Day Care & Young Adult Day Center in Oklahoma City. She said, “We understand that providing an elderly adult with the attention he or she may need 24 hours a day is not easy for most families. We are here to provide relief for you and a safe and stimulating alternative to institutional care or costly in-home services. We provide care during the day so our clients can go home to enjoy family in the evening.”

“The Truth about Downsizing and Dementia: Options, Timing, and Transitions” will be September 23 at 10 a.m. in The Purple Room, Francis Tuttle Technology Center – Northwest Hall Entrance, 12777 N Rockwell Ave.

Seminar registration is open at https://seniorlivingtruthseries.com or by calling 405-563-7501.

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.

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

The mailed ballot topic

President Trump wants to outlaw mail-in voting.

I have mixed feelings on the subject. I’m not sure if Trump is including absentee ballots in that proposal. If he is, then I oppose that.

Steve Gust

It seems to me, his plan is a reaction from the 2020 election and what happened then. From what I understand, some states mailed ballots to nearly everyone on the rolls and then those folks were asked to mail them back. As far as I’m concerned there were no checks and balances on that. If that was the case, then I adamantly oppose that.

An election board could have sent 100 ballots to a residential home. So, suppose someone else got a hold of those ballots and decided to stuff the ballot box. What’s to stop them and how could you tell?

That’s not the case with absentee voting. I usually vote that way. In Oklahoma, I have to have my signature and ballot notarized by a regis-

tered notary. Before they will do that, I have to present an ID before they stamp the ballot and make it official. Going to a precinct I can give them my driver’s license or a voter ID card.

In other words, the absentee voting is probably just as strict as going to a precinct on election day. There’s one other thing also. If you drop your ballot off at the county election board – you’re only allowed to drop off your own ballot. If you drop one off that isn’t yours or someone incapacitated, then it’s a crime.

So, while I agree with checks and balances on elections, I definitely don’t agree with banning absentee voting.

—-

While we’re discussing this, it should be noted that it’s not a hardship to show a photo ID before you vote. The liberals are usually totally against this. That is suspicious. There are dozens of reasons to show a photo ID. Voting is just as important – if not more so.

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

Lankford still wants to end funding drama

US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) reintroduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025, which would take government shutdowns off the table and force Congress to stay in town until their work is done.

“We have to change the way Washington spends money. Our debt is now more than $37 trillion. Congress cannot keep avoiding the hard choices to fix it,” said Lankford. “Shutting down the government does not fix the debt problem, it just makes it worse. The best way to finish negotiating the hard issue is to keep Congress in Washington until the budget is finished. That puts the pressure on lawmakers, not on families and important services.”

“In the real world, if you fail to do your job, there are consequences. Yet, when Congress fails to pass appropriations on time, the burden falls squarely on hardworking Americanstaxpayers, seniors, and our men and women in uniform,” said Arrington.

“My Prevent Government Shutdowns Act is commonsense legislation that

would shift the burden of a shutdown away from We the People and onto the politicians where it belongs - by forcing Members of Congress to stay in Washington until their work on appropriations is complete.”

Lankford is joined by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Katie Britt (RAL).

Background

Introduced initially in February 2019, the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act requires that if appropriations work is not done on time, all Members of Congress must stay in Washington, DC, and work until the spending bills are completed. This will prevent a government-wide shutdown, continue critical services and operations for Americans, and hold federal workers harmless while Congress completes appropriations.

Upon a lapse in government funding, the bill would implement an automatic continuing resolution (CR), on rolling 14-day periods, based on the most current spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year. This would prevent a shutdown and continue critical services and operations.

During the covered period of an automatic CR, the following restrictions are put in place:

No taxpayer-funded travel allowances for official business (except one flight to return to Washington, DC) for the following:

White House OMB staff and leadership

Members of the House and Senate Committee and personal staff of the House and Senate

No official funds may be used for CODEL or STAFFDEL travel

No use of campaign funds by congressional offices to supplement official duties or travel expenses

No motions to recess or adjourn in the House/Senate for a period of more than 23 hours

In addition, under the bill, no other votes would be in order in the House and Senate unless they pertain to passage of the appropriations bills or mandatory quorum calls in the Senate.

Lawmaker: Food additives & hidden costs

Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, hosted a joint interim study at the State Capitol examining the hidden costs of artificial food dyes and additives on Oklahoma’s health, workforce, and economy.

The study brought together the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), the State Department of Health, medical professionals, and researchers to review data showing a strong connection between diet-related diseases and health care costs in Oklahoma.

“Families deserve transparency about what’s in their food and how it impacts long-term health,” Thompson said. “Our state is facing rising rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease – and those conditions drive billions of dollars in health care costs. This study was about identifying whether food additives are worsening those outcomes and what we can

do to address it.”

Key Findings

Cost Burden: Chronic conditions like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity account for disproportionate health care spending. For example, only 5.5% of Medicaid members had heart disease, but those claims represented 21% of total reimbursements. Hypertension made up 9.6% of members but 28.4% of total reimbursements.

Rising Costs: Average annual costs per member with obesity rose from $12,500 to nearly $18,000 in the past decade. Similar growth trends exist for hypertension and diabetes.

Children at Risk: OSDH noted Oklahoma ranks 9th in childhood obesity nationwide. Research reviewed by experts showed correlations between artificial dyes and worsened hyperactivity and at-

Letters to the Editor policy

tention issues in children.

Emerging Research: Studies show certain dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6) may trigger allergies, disrupt gut health, and in some cases have been linked to DNA damage in animal studies.

Policy Gaps: FDA’s dye safety thresholds are based on decades-old studies and do not evaluate neurobehavioral effects, prompting calls for states to review and set stronger standards.

Building on a Record of Leadership Thompson said the study will inform potential legislation in the 2026 session, building on her multi-year effort to improve food safety and health outcomes:

Senate Bill 4: Strengthening food safety standards in Oklahoma schools.

Senate Bill 985: Bringing fresh, local foods into K–12 lunchrooms.

Red Dye 3 Ban: Publicly applauded nationwide ban on Red Dye 3 in food products.

2024 Interim Study: Focused on limiting artificial food dyes in children’s diets.

“Our health outcomes are directly tied to our economic future,” Thompson said. “If we want a strong workforce, we must take seriously the role nutrition plays in preventing chronic disease and improving children’s development. And I’m committed to advancing policies that put healthier food on the table for every Oklahoma family.”

Sen. Thompson

Man marks 30th anniversary of heart transplant

Willie Buchanan, 87, of Oklahoma City has celebrated the 30th anniversary of his heart transplant this month. He is truly thankful for the thirty extra years of life he has been so graciously given.

“For the last thirty years, I have woken up every day with someone else’s heart,” says Willie. “It makes me emotional to think someone had to die for me to live.” But what a life he has lived. Willie believes living a good and full life is the only way to honor his donor and to be worthy of the amazing gift he received.

His Heart History

When Willie was just 40 years old, he suffered two massive heart attacks, 25 minutes apart. Miraculously he survived but would need open heart surgery two years later. After that, he coasted along with no real issues until he was encouraged to get a defibrillator - a device that monitors for abnormalities and shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm when necessary. His health began to deteriorate, finally reaching the point that a heart transplant was his only option.

“I was put on the heart transplant list on July 21st and I received my new heart on September 4th, 1995,” he proudly proclaims. “I was only 57 years old at the time and never imagined I would

still be alive some thirty years later.”

His Heart Transplant

Willie’s transplant took place at the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center.

Willie with some of his care team from INTEGRIS Health: Marla Desmukes, Cheryl Hille, Lora French and Tara Schultz.

Jeffrey Sparling, M.D., is the medical director of the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital today. He did not treat Willie Buchanan but says this type of longevity after a heart transplant is definitely

achievable. “Mr. Buchanan’s post-transplant journey has been nothing short of awe-inspiring, and we are all proud to be a part of it,” says Sparling. “His life since his transplant truly brings to life the mission of INTEGRIS Health and the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital: Partnering with people to live healthier lives. Willie’s life reminds us that our mission extends far beyond the time of transplant, lasting months, years and in his case, three decades and counting! We wish him many more anniversaries to come.”

Honoring His Donor

Willie says thanks to God, his physicians and his donor – he was able to live a great life with many adventures. He and his wife, Betty, were married for 40 years and raised nine children and 19 grandchildren. She passed away two years ago, and Willie says she was the love of his life. He has written a book and continues to tell his story to promote organ donation and to celebrate the life of his donor who made all of this possible.

Oklahomans have three options to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Residents can sign-up when renewing their driver’s license, visit LifeShareRegistry.org to sign up online or call 800-826-LIFE (5433) and request a donor registration form.

Avoid risks to keep tailgating fun

With the college and professional football season now underway, millions of fans have entered the season for the sport’s most cherished traditions – tailgating and gameday watch parties. While tailgating can be a fun way to celebrate the season and your favorite team, it also comes with risks, such as fire hazards and impaired driving.

AAA is reminding fans to celebrate safely and responsibly to ensure game day gatherings remain memorable for all the right reasons this football season.

“The excitement of the season can sometimes lead to overlooking basic safety precautions,” said Dan Scroggins, AAA’s Vice President, Personal Lines Insurance. “Whether you're firing

up the grill in a stadium parking lot or hosting friends in your backyard, safety should always come first and be a part of your game plan.”

Grilling Outside the Stadium

Tailgating in stadium parking lots brings fans together, but it also brings open flames, hot coals, and flammable materials into close quarters. To keep the party safe, AAA recommends that tailgaters:

Position your grill away from vehicles, tents, and flammable gear. Keep a fire extinguisher within arm’s reach, not just for emergencies, but as a proactive tool to cool coals or stop flare-ups before they spread.

See Tailgate, Page 15

Willie Buchanan with his two remaining living siblings, Regina Boucher and John Buchanan.

Office hopefuls to be at next Edmond GOP Women’s club meeting

By Tonya Coffman

Campaign season is here and the Edmond Republican Womens Club is pleased to announce that we will be inviting the Republican candidates who have announced for office to be our guest speakers over the next few months. For the month of September we have invited the people who have announced their candidacy for the office of Governor of the State of Oklahoma. At this time, Charles McCall, Jake Merrick, Leisa Mitchell Haynes and Mike Mazzei have accepted the invitationto speak.

State Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, had a scheduling conflict and will be scheduled at a later date. Each candidate will be given an allot-

ted time to speak and then the floor will be open for questions. This meeting will be Monday, September 15th.

The announced Republican candidates for Oklahoma State Lt. Governor will be invited to speak at our meeting in October.

ERWC will be joining other Republican Womens Clubs in the area at the Oklahoma State Fair beginning on September 11th. If you have never registered to vote, we will be providing voter registration forms and huge amounts of Republican Party items.

On November 10th, ERWC is planning a fundraiser with the title "Lucky Elephant March to Mid-Terms Game Night". For this first event the

game will be Bunco. Start time is 6:00 pm and the location is New Covenant Church, 2700 S. Blvd., Edmond. Participants will have an opportunity to win a 50/50 drawing and door prizes will be given away during the evening. Our meeting location is in the Meindes/Gaylord Center of Oklahoma Christian University, 2501 E Memorial Rd., Edmond, OK. 73013. Doors open at 11:15 a.m., with the buffet lunch served at 11:30 and the meeting beginning at 11:45 a.m. Cost of the lunch and meeting is $23.00 and meeting only $5.00. (Guys included) If you would be interested in joining us, please contact us at ERWC1787@gmail.com and we will get you signed up. Again that is Monday, September 15th, 2025.

Public asked to prep for possible disaster

The United States is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather, making it more important than ever for people to be prepared for emergencies. September is National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross urges everyone to take steps to protect their loved ones by getting their households ready now.

Last year, disasters displaced a record 11 million people in the U.S. This is the highest number for any country, accounting for roughly onequarter of all disaster-related displacements worldwide, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

“Disasters don’t wait for the right time to strike,” said Loida Haffener Salmond, Executive Director of the Red Cross of Central and Southwest Oklahoma. “They happen in the middle of the night, during your commute or while your kids are at school. Disasters can turn your life upside down in a matter of minutes, and that’s why it’s important for families to be prepared.”

To help people in need, the Red Cross is now responding to nearly twice as many major disasters than it was a decade ago — about one every two weeks versus one a month. And when the worst happens, Red Cross volunteers are on the ground working with local partners to provide food, shelter, comfort and financial assistance to make sure no one faces recovery alone.

TAKE THESE STEPS TO GET READY Protect your family by making a plan to stay safe, gathering important supplies and knowing how you’ll stay connected by taking these steps: Depending on the emergency, you may need to stay where you are or go

somewhere else to stay safe. If you may need to leave, think about where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay and what you’ll take with you. Plan well in advance if you’ll need help leaving or use public transportation.

Next, gather and organize critical supplies — like food, water and medicine — into a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit. Make sure to include backup batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.), a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, and critical personal records.

Your go-kit should include three days of supplies that you can take with you. Your stay-at-home kit should have two weeks of food and water, and a one-month supply of medications, if possible.

Customize your kit to meet your household’s specific needs. If you have young children, don’t forget formula and diapers. If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, food, bowls, litter and a litter box.

Finally, make a plan to reconnect with loved ones if you’re separated or if the phone or internet is down. Write down important phone numbers on a contact card and carry it with you.

Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for weather alerts, safety steps for different emergencies and expert advice in both English and Spanish. Don’t forget to sign up for local government emergency alerts to get critical local information — like evacuation notices — during an emergency.

People can also help their community be better prepared for disasters by giving blood, taking a class in lifesaving skills like CPR, or becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-7332767) to learn more today.

OMRF scientist's research turns personal after relative's illness

For five years, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Pengchun Yu, Ph.D., led experiments aimed at better understanding a disorder called lymphedema.

Days after a scientific journal published Yu’s findings, a family member began her own battle with the condition, and suddenly his studies took on extra significance.

Lymphedema is the swelling and fluid buildup resulting from blockage in the lymphatic system, which helps remove waste and toxins. The condition can be caused by a genetic mutation, infection or injury, but most commonly it results from surgery or radiation for cancer, particularly breast cancer.

According to one study, up to 40% of women who undergo lymph node removal develop lymphedema.

“Often the surgeon or oncologist will remove or kill lymph nodes near the tumor, because otherwise cancer cells can break away from the primary tumor and enter the lymphatic system, which is

how they metastasize somewhere else in the body,” Yu said.

Yu’s lab has discovered a possible way to treat or perhaps even prevent lymphedema following surgery. His solution involves knowing when to turn on and off a group of proteins that are essential in maintaining lymphatic vessels.

Existing drugs are prescribed to inhibit the proteins for multiple medical reasons. The best-known of these drugs, rapamycin, is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and to slow tumor progression and growth.

Yu’s discovery raises new questions about whether such drugs might play a role in lymphedema following cancer surgery or radiation.

His discovery was published online recently in the scientific journal Developmental Cell. A few days later, Yu learned that a family member who had undergone breast cancer surgery was now being treated for lymphedema.

“That gave my research new perspective,” he said. “I’ve always been passionate about finding

better treatments for lymphedema, but this experience makes it even more meaningful.”

Yu next hopes to test the effects of certain compounds that will inhibit or promote the chemical activity of the proteins he’s identified in experimental models of lymphedema.

“Our lymphatic system is critical in collecting excess fluid, filtering waste and fighting infection,” said OMRF Vice President of Research Courtney Griffin, Ph.D. “Dr. Yu’s discovery greatly expands our knowledge about how to grow and maintain lymphatics, especially as someone is recovering from breast cancer.”

Yu’s research was supported by grant Nos. HL162985 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and GM139763 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, both part of the National Institutes of Health. Additional funding was provided by the American Heart Association, the Presbyterian Health Foundation and the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.

OMRF scientist Pengchun Yu, Ph.D.

Dark comedy isn’t all that bad

By George Gust

The Roses” is a remake of 1989’s “War of the Roses” with an updated British twist. “The Roses” is a tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple, ignited when the husband’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) professional dreams come crashing down.

Director Jay Roach, best known for comedies like “Austin Powers” and “Meet the Parents”, turns his lens toward a darker, sharper dark comedy in The Roses. The film follows unlikely partners Coleman and Cumberbatch as they untangle secrets in a high-society world. Roach’s direction balances slick humor with genuine suspense, delivering something more textured than his past work that tended to go farther into slapstick.

Coleman and Cumberbatch drive the film with their evolving chemistry. Their interactions start polite and guarded. As the film progresses, small gestures and knowing looks build real tension and the escalation of their rivalry produces more than a handful of memorable moments. Their onscreen presences and talent show through and carry this movie in a surprisingly delightfully dark direction.

A couple of Saturday Night Live alums round out the supporting cast. Kate McKinnon plays Amy with full comedic gusto, but her broad physical humor and oddball schtick occasionally jars the film’s more serious moments. Her scenes feel playful on their own yet sometimes undercut the building suspense. Andy Samberg’s Barry, by contrast, fits seamlessly. He brings a more restrained comedic style that fits the film’s darker tone and keep the story grounded.

Production design stands out as a highlight. “The Roses” lives in a luxurious escapist world where pricey penthouses, polished hallways and scenic views all feel like an engaging and pleasing place to set the

film. Sharp fashion choices all around mirror the film’s razor-sharp dialogue. The cinematography feels meticulously arranged and intentional throughout but the glossy look never overwhelms the narrative.

Although marketed as a comedy, “The Roses” leans more into drama than the trailers suggest. Moments of real danger and moral unease punctuate the laughs. The slow build can feel like a bit of a slog if you’re expecting more antics early on, but it rewards those who stick with it. If you come expecting nonstop jokes, you’ll find a moodier, more thoughtful film.

Overall, “The Roses” is more enjoyable than you might expect. It pairs sharp performances from a couple of titans in the British actin scene with escapist design and a tone that catches you off guard in an entertaining way.

"The Roses" is rated R for language throughout, sexual content, and drug content

3.7 out of 5 stars

(Contact George Gust for comment about this movie, or any other motion pictures at gust.george@gmail.com)

Crossword Puzzle

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman put a new spin on the 1989 dark comedy "The War of the Roses" in the newly released "The Roses"

Tailgating

Never leave your grill unattended, even for a quick run to the cooler.

“A fire extinguisher might not be the most exciting tailgate accessory, but it could be the one that saves your car, your gear, or even lives,” said Scroggins.

Post-Grill Safety Tips for Stadium Tailgating Parking lot celebrations present unique challenges that require special attention. In 2022, a tailgating fire at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami destroyed 11 vehicles after an unattended grill ignited a blaze beneath a parked car. While rare, incidents like this highlight the importance of proper grill placement and fire prevention.

Safely shutting down and storing your grill at a stadium tailgate is just as important as firing it up. Here are some smart, insurance-conscious tips to prevent fire hazards and protect your vehicle and others:

Let everything cool completely. Hot grills, coals, and grease trays should be left to cool in a safe, open area—never under or near vehicles.

Dispose of ashes properly. Use a metal container with a lid to store cooled ashes. Never dump them on the ground or in plastic bags, which can melt or ignite.

Avoid storing hot equipment in your car. A grill or coal tray that’s still warm can spark a fire inside your vehicle.

Clean up grease and food debris. Leftover grease can attract pests and pose a fire risk. Wipe down surfaces and pack up trash securely.

Check for flare-ups before leaving. Do a final walkaround to ensure nothing is smoldering or leaking fuel.

Secure your grill for transport. If you're packing it into your vehicle, make sure it’s cool, clean, and tightly fastened to prevent tipping or damage.

“These steps can not only keep you safe, but they can also help you avoid costly damage and insurance claims,” Scroggins added.

From Page 11

At-Home Tailgating Watch Party Safety Tips

Hosting an at-home watch party is a great way to bring the stadium spirit to your backyard but keeping it safe is just as important as keeping it fun.

AAA insurance experts recommend these precautions to protect your guests and property:

Position grills away from decorations and overhanging branches.

Keep fire extinguishers nearby and easily accessible.

Maintain clear walkways to prevent accidents.

Alcohol Awareness

Alcohol is often a staple of stadium and at-home tailgating, but overconsumption can pose serious safety risks. Every day, approximately 34 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 42 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths. These deaths were all preventable.

“Drinking and driving is not a game – it’s a deadly combination and a crime,” said Shawn Steward, public affairs manager for AAA Oklahoma. “Make your winning drive a sober one and designate a completely sober – not buzzed – driver or make plans for a ride share or cab home before indulging in alcohol. Drunk driving only leads to disaster and tragedy, and it is 100 percent preventable.”

AAA Tips for Safe and Sober Tailgating Be a responsible tailgater:

If you plan to drive, don’t drink.

If you plan to drink, select a designated driver and give them your car keys. If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; arrange a ride share or cab, or stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.

The other New Year’s Resolution

By Brian Attebery

We always think of January as the time for recommitting goals for bettering ourselves. Fitness and weight loss are usually top of mind for most people.

As a gym owner of 22 years and trainer of 30 years, I know that when school gets back in session, that can be another time for people to get back to fitness goals.

Success in fitness is about having a routine that you do consistently. When the school year starts, it is time to get situated into a new routine for many people. Not only are there new schedules but many people got off track during the summer due to family vacations, the heat wave, and “lazy days” of summer. It is time to figure out what your September“resolutions” look like.

How do you approach it? For one, there is a reason that personal trainers do what they do. For me, being a personal trainer is primarily about education and accountability. Being educated is number one. If you are trying to “figure it out” then you are wasting precious time. There is so much confusion out there in the fitness world. Don’t waste time trying to see what is right for you when you can truly invest in a plan that can help you achieve your goals faster and safer.

You need to start back slowly even if you were an advanced fitness person if you take time off for an extended period.

Even I will do approximately 75% of what I was doing in a routine when I come back that first week after a forced rest. For me, that would be from an injury or sickness primarily. There is no reason to try to break a world record with your fit-

ness when you haven’t been doing it for a while. If I usually do 3 different exercises for your legs, I will start back with one or two and work back into three over the next couple of weeks. You can also take the approach of doing the 3 different exercises but only do 2 sets of each instead of 3 and/or do less weight and just get used to the volume of sets again before adding back the amount of weight you have done in the past. Frankly, even if you try to do the same amount of weight you have done in the past, you are probably not going to be able to anyway. We lose strength pretty quickly when we take breaks from workouts.

Your nutrition is also a huge factor. Do you have a clue how many and what kind of calories you eat? I was recently consulting a young man who was trying to lose weight and when we truly broke down what he was eating, I pointed out that he was starving his body and that was the reason his body wouldn’t lose weight. He wasn’t eating enough food, the right ratios of proteins, carbs, and fats AND was eating the wrong times of day. All of it matters and if you try to navigate blindly, you will not achieve your goals, get frustrated, and quit.

Fitness is a journey of ups and downs. September can be your new “resolution” time to get back on track. Get a plan, start back slowly, and keep at it. If you fall off the wagon, get back on it. Don’t quit! You can do this.

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

Attebery

By Adam Troxtell

Dr. Michelle Keylon, Superintend-

ent and CEO of Francis Tuttle Technology Center, has been honored with the Oklahoma Association for Career and Technology Education (OkACTE) Arch Alexander Award, a recognition reserved for innovative leaders who are shaping the future of career and technology education in Oklahoma.

The award highlights individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of CareerTech programs and curriculum across the state. For Dr. Keylon, receiving this recognition at the OkACTE Summit Conference in Tulsa came as an unexpected honor.

“Receiving this award was an unexpected and overwhelming experience,” Keylon said. “I am honored to have received such a prestigious award, and I’m also honored to work at Francis Tuttle with such a passionate group of people that are focused on innovation to support student access to career and technology education.”

Under her leadership, Francis Tuttle has significantly expanded access to programs that align with Oklahoma’s workforce needs. New or enhanced offerings include welding, manufacturing, aviation, healthcare, cosmetology, culinary arts, and business marketing.

This year, combined enrollment in Francis Tuttle’s Career Training

Programs—courses designed to equip students with job-ready skills and industry certifications—has surpassed 4,000. These programs are offered during the day and evening across all four Francis Tuttle campuses, as well as through partnerships with area high schools and middle schools.

“Over the past year, we have expanded programs to meet the increasing student demand,” Dr. Keylon said. “As a result, we have approximately 500 more enrollments for 2025-26 as we did last year.”

To meet this demand, two new buildings are under construction at the Rockwell Campus, and renovations across multiple locations are creating additional seats for students seeking career-focused education. These improvements will enable Francis Tuttle to accommodate more students and provide access to programs critical for Oklahoma’s growing industries, such as Advanced Manufacturing and Machining.

By preparing students for in-demand careers, Francis Tuttle plays a vital role in supplying the Oklahoma City metro with a highly skilled workforce and driving economic growth. Through strong partnerships with business and industry, graduates are equipped with the expertise employers need, fostering a stronger economy and a more competitive future for Oklahoma.

Project 66 marks its 15th year helping Edmond

Project 66 Food & Resource Center held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their anniversary at 2612 S Kelly Ave.

Project 66 Food & Resource Center is a local faith-based nonprofit organization committed to serving their neighbors with compassion, dignity, and love. Since their founding in 2010, Project 66 has worked tirelessly to fulfill their mission of providing food and connecting neighbors to resources through the love of Christ.

For the past 15 years, they have stood as a bea-

con of hope for individuals and families facing food insecurity in Edmond and the surrounding communities. Through their food distribution programs and partnerships with other local organizations, they not only meet immediate physical needs but also help connect their neighbors to vital resources that support long-term stability. Project 66 operates with the support of a generous and caring community. They are incredibly grateful for the ongoing involvement of local churches, businesses, civic groups, and countless volunteers who make their mission possible. The

Edmond community has played an essential role in helping them grow and expand their services, allowing them to reach more people with every passing year.

As they celebrate their 15th anniversary, they reflect on the thousands of lives touched and the countless stories of hope they’ve been blessed to be part of. Project 66 remains dedicated to feeding the hungry, offering support, and sharing the love of Christ—one neighbor at a time.

For more information visit https://www.project66.org or give them a call at 405-341-1353.

Dr. Michelle Keylon, Superintendent and CEO of Francis Tuttle Technology Center, accepts the Arch Alexander Award during the annual OkACTE Summit Conference on Monday, Aug. 4, at the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa.

Francis Tuttle Technology Center now has a Welding Career Training Program at three campuses — Portland, Reno, and Danforth — to accommodate local demand and prepare students for successful careers in high-growth industries.

Project 66 Food & Resource Center has served the community for many years.

Atwoods celebrates grand opening

Atwoods held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening at 3000 E Memorial Rd.

Atwoods has been part of the Oklahoma way of life for generations, and now they’re proud to be right here in Edmond. As a family-owned and operated company, they’re built on hard work, neighborly values, and the belief that quality shouldn’t cost a fortune.

Whether you’re sprucing up your backyard, tackling a weekend project, or running a full ranch, you’ll find what you need and a friendly face to help you find it. From their family to yours — welcome to Atwoods. It’s just like coming home.

Atwoods is an Oklahoma-based, family-owned retail company that started in 1960, operating as a modern-day general store offering unbeatable prices on a wide variety of farm and ranch supplies, hardware and tools, home goods, clothing, lawn and garden, outdoor gear, auto supplies, sporting goods, firearms, pet care, and seasonal items.

Currently led by Brian Atwood, the founder’s grandson, alongside his son Preston, the company remains a family-operated entity, deeply embedded in the communities it serves. The company focuses on customer-first service, offering free popcorn, and is known for its community focus and honest practices. Atwoods currently operates over 80 locations across five states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. The Edmond, OK location, will be the company’s 81st location.

Key Aspects of Atwoods

pet supplies, and home goods.

• Customer Experience: The company emphasizes a neighborly shopping experience, offering free popcorn, a friendly environment, and a best price guarantee.

• Product Selection: Atwoods provides a diverse range of products, including farm and ranch supplies, clothing, lawn and garden supplies, pet products, seasonal merchandise, automotive supplies, sporting goods, firearms, ammunition, outdoor living items, hardware and tools, power equipment,

• Company Mission: To provide customers with the goods they need at the best price, with a strong focus on customer service and community involvement.

• History: Founded in 1960 by Fern and Wilbur Atwood, it began as a small, single store and has since grown into a large retail chain with a strong commitment to its founding values.

Hospital adds two specialists

• Locations: The company's headquarters is in Enid, Oklahoma, and it operates 81 retail locations and distribution centers across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri.

• Community Focus: Atwoods strives to be a reliable resource for its communities and is known for its commitment to serving the needs of local homeowners, farmers, and ranchers.

For more information visit www.atwoods.com or give them a call at (405) 920-3981.

Dr. Cline

McBride Orthopedic Hospital, a leader in comprehensive orthopedic care, is proud to announce the addition of two highly skilled specialists. As of now, Dr. Justin A. Cline and Dr. Shaun Tkach will join the physician-owned organization, bringing advanced training and a shared commitment to patient-focused care. Dr. Cline specializes in shoulder, elbow, forearm/wrist, hand, nerve, microvascular and trauma. He will see patients at McBride’s North Oklahoma City and Edmond outpatient clinic locations. Dr. Cline completed his fellowship-training in Hand and Upper Extremity at Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida. He is residency trained in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Dr. Cline received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Shaun Tkach specializes in joint

If an Oklahoma Gas & Electric request to build two additional natural gas combustion power generation units is approved, customers could see incremental bill increases beginning next year.

The public utility company has submitted a request to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for infrastructure improvements at the Horseshoe Lake Power Plant in eastern Oklahoma County, in addition to the intention to enter two long-term agreements for additional power from two third-party providers, according to a letter recently sent to customers.

Customers could see a monthly bill increase of 60 cents per month in 2026, with “laddered increases” until the project’s completion. At that time,

replacement and hip preservation. He is a third-generation orthopedic specialist at McBride. Dr. Tkach will see patients at McBride’s North Oklahoma City outpatient clinic location. He is fellowship-trained in Adult Reconstruction at OCC Surgery-Iverness in Denver, Colorado. He is residency trained in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Dr. Tkach received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma.

“Welcoming Dr. Cline and Dr. Tkach to our practice is an exciting milestone,” said Mark Galliart, CEO, McBride Orthopedic Hospital. “Their combined expertise enhances the depth of care we offer and strengthens our commitment to providing the highest quality orthopedic services to patients in Oklahoma.”

Both are now accepting appointments. To know more, please visit mcboh.com, or call 405.230.9270.

Utility company makes rate request

customers could pay an additional $4.81 each month, the letter states.

The additions at the Horseshoe Lake Power Plant will add 448 megawatts of generation capacity, and agreements with third parties will add between 395 and 545 megawatts, depending on the year, according to a company statement.

The commission will discuss OG&E's request in October.

OG&E Director of Regulatory Kimber Shoop said the company’s request is driven by its 2024 and 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, which identified a significant need due to an increased load on their system from new businesses, manufacturing companies and high-use projects like data centers, in addition to more residential customers.

Dr. Tkach

The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes Atwoods.

Lawmaker lauds Stitt

Senator Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, commended Governor Kevin Stitt’s launch of Operation SAFE (Swift Action for Families Everywhere). The initiative will focus on clearing homeless encampments from state-owned property and restoring order in Tulsa.

“I applaud Governor Stitt for taking decisive action to address the growing threats that homeless encampments pose to our communities,” Standridge said. “This initiative represents a critical step toward restoring public safety, order, and the quality of life that every Oklahoman deserves.”

Standridge urged expansion of the program to the City of Norman, noting public health and safety risks associated with homeless encampments in the area.

“Norman families, businesses, and law-abiding citizens deserve clean and safe public spaces. I strongly encourage Governor Stitt to bring Operation SAFE to Norman as soon as possible,” Standridge added.

Residents who wish to support the initiative and request that Governor Stitt bring Operation Safe to Norman are encouraged to contact Senator Standridge’s office by email at

Lisa.Standridge@oksenate.gov.

Gov. Stitt commented on his decision to clean up Tulsa.

“Tulsa is a beautiful city. I lived there for years. But today, everybody can see the disaster it’s turning into— homeless people on every corner, trash piling up, and Oklahoma families are being forced to live in fear,” said Governor Stitt. “This is the city’s job, but Mayor Nichols and Tulsa leadership haven’t met the level of action needed to keep neighborhoods safe. Oklahoma is going to step in to do our part and clean it up. Once we’ve done so, it’ll be on the City to keep Tulsa clean and safe. If they refuse, then we’ll be forced to take further action to protect Tulsans.”

Within the last 24 hours, OHP began issuing warnings to homeless individuals and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) began posting notices at encampments on state property to vacate and cease occupation, in accordance with 64 O.S. § 1097. These camps are often located along highway rights-ofway or beneath overpasses, creating severe hazard for the public and homeless individuals alike.

Family Circus

Hi and Lois

Shoe

Zits

Beetle Baily

Blondie

Hägar the Horrible

Seniors reminded to keep medication safe

September is both Healthy Aging Month and National Senior Center Month, and the Oklahoma Poison Center, a program of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, reminds older adults that safe medication use is a vital part of healthy aging.

Each year, medication errors account for half of all calls to the helpline from Oklahomans aged 60 and older. As people age, they often take more prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and supplements, which raises the risk of harmful mistakes.

“Medication mix-ups are the No. 1 reason older adults call the Poison Center,” said Kristie Edelen, managing director. “Sometimes it’s an extra dose, a missed dose or a dangerous interaction. These may sound minor, but they can quickly turn into serious emergencies. We want seniors to know we’re here, 24/7, to answer questions and help prevent tragedies.”

Why Seniors Call the Poison Center:

· Took too much of a medication

· Confusion about drug interactions

· Missed a dose and unsure what to do

· Took the wrong medicine by mistake

· Unsure if a new prescription can be combined with vitamins, herbals or alcohol

Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults:

· Use one pharmacy for all prescriptions

· Keep medicines in their original containers

· Read the label before each dose

· Never take medicine in the dark

· Safely dispose of expired or unneeded medicines

· Ask your doctor or pharmacist before mixing prescriptions with other products

Calls also come when visiting grandchildren get into unsecured medications. Many grandparents don’t think about childproofing because they don’t live with children full-time, but a toddler can swallow pills in seconds.

Protecting Visiting Grandchildren:

· Store medicines out of reach and sight

· Use a lock box when possible

· Never call medicine “candy”

· Use child-resistant caps, although they are not childproof. If given enough time, a child can access the contents of the container.

The Oklahoma Poison Center urges older adults, caregivers and families to call the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222 with questions about medica-

tion safety or possible poisonings. Trained pharmacists and nurses are available 24/7, at no cost.

“Healthy aging isn’t just about exercise and diet – it’s also about taking medications safely,” Edelen said. “A simple call to the Oklahoma Poison Center can save a life or prevent unnecessary ER visits or hospital stays.”

About Oklahoma Poison Center:

Oklahoma Poison Center is dedicated to providing expert advice and support in cases of poisoning and exposure to harmful substances. Our mission is to prevent poisonings and reduce their impact through education, prevention, and providing emergency treatment recommendations. The Oklahoma Poison Center is a program of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy.

“WHEN YOU ARE KIND TO OTHERS, IT NOT ONLY CHANGES YOU, IT CHANGES THE WORLD” - HAROLD KUSHNER