OKC FRIDAY Vol. 55 No. 7 • One Section • 14 pages • June 25, 2021
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 47 years
- Photo by Vicky Gourley
Grease is still the word through Sunday
By Vicki Gourley Publisher Don’t miss the last weekend of Lyric’s Grease at the Bishop
McGuinness football stadium. Classics such as “You’re the One that I Want” and “Greased Lightnin” will have you twisting in your poodle skirt as a
Vaccine called ‘clear path’ out By Elyssa Gerstel Student Intern Dr. James Kirk, an infectious disease doctor with SSM Health with over two decades of experience, believes there is only one way to ensure that individuals are protected from COVID-19: getting the vaccine. After two years of a tumultuous and deadly virus, Dr. Kirk said, “If people were going to proceed and get on the road of being vaccinated, the way we would like everyone to be vaccinated; then I think we could look forward to a return to a ‘more normal’ existence.” Currently, only 36.6% of the population is vaccinated in Oklahoma according to state statistics. Compared to states like Vermont which has 63.3% of the total population vaccinated, it is clear that Oklahoma is falling
behind the average. Additionally, the new strains of the virus such as the Delta Variant, pose a real threat. “If we continue to stack up kindling in terms of unvaccinated people, it is possible that we could see a resurgence in the fall,” Dr. Kirk said. Dr. Kirk said he wants to make sure people know that he is not predicting anything, but is using his knowledge and the data to the best of his professional ability to look to the future. New variants of the virus have the potential to be contagious, including the United Kingdom and South African variants. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current vaccine is likely to prevent death from the new variants. “All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing
COVID-19 as seen in clinical trial settings,” the CDC said. Despite research about the vaccine’s proven effectiveness against the coronavirus, as well as the CDC’s recommendation that everyone should get the vaccine, many Oklahomans are still hesitant to get the vaccine. While there are a myriad of reasons why state residents are choosing not to get vaccinated, there seems to be some recurring themes. “Some people are frightened, they feel that this is a new technology that has evolved too quickly,” Dr. Kirk said. “The truth of the matter is these vaccines and technologies like the messenger RNA vaccine, really have been a work in progress since the early 2000s, with the original SARS outbreak.” Dr. Kirk recognizes those
Visions Awards honorees are named By Rose Lane Editor The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits has announced the winners of its 2021 Visions Awards. Every year, the Visions Awards honors those who act as agents of change in Oklahoma communities, providing leadership to enrich and enliven those who
serve. The ceremony is set for Nov. 30 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Local honorees are: • Ranya ForgotsonO’Connor and Whitley O’Connor, the Curbside Chronicle, the Rodney Bivens Innovation Award. • Sally Nichols Starling, OKC Ballet, Shirley Shanker Volunteer Award.
• Dr. George E. Young, Oklahoma senator, President’s Award. • Bob Blackburn, Oklahoma Historial Society, Pat Potts Visionary Award. They join Cary Bakhsh, Tulsa Cares, Insasmuch Special Recognition Award; and Dr. Robert Block, Lifetime Achievement Award, in being recognized.
See VACCINE, Page 3
cast of more than 60 bring the classic musical to life on the Pribil Stadium field. See GREASE, Page 3
Heritage Hall to honor Head Guy Heritage Hall is honoring retiring President Guy Bramble this Saturday, by hosting Roast, Toast and Celebrate at the McClendon Athletic Center (MAC) on campus. The tribute celebration recognizes Bramble, the school’s longestserving headmaster and president, for 33 years of exemplary leadership. Immediately folGUY BRAMBLE lowing a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. to dedicate the updated Charger Plaza south of the MAC, guests will convene indoors for dinner and recollections of Bramble’s many accomplishments during his tenure. Patrons and friends of Heritage Hall who wish to attend may register online at charger.family.
FRIDAY’s
Rescue Dog of the Week Fat Boy arrived at The Village Animal Shelter with that name. He is a wonderfully, pleasant kind of guy who loves people and dogs. Fat Boy likes water and toys. He is 83 pounds and has not soiled his pen or outside run. He waits for someone to let him in the yard. Contact Kadin at (405) 751-9518.
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