Gathering of Angels
No Tie Susan Phillips and Cathy Blackburn at the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund’s all-new party. Page B1.
Amanda Bertholn, Laura Bush, Claire Schinnerer, Abbey Lawson and Leslie Griffin at the Oklahoma City Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club’s annual luncheon. Page B2.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 53 No. 45 • Two Sections • 18 pages March 13, 2020
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 46 years
Stitt telling the world that Oklahoma is open for business By Rose Lane Editor Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt told those in attendance at the Greater OKC Chamber’s Chairman’s Breakfast that he sees his position as 80 percent CEO and the remainder working with the legislature. “I can’t imagine doing this job without being a CEO before,” he said.
Stitt said he was elected to “bring new ideas” and he has strived to do that from a “business standpoint” to elevate Oklahoma to a Top 10 state. “We’re really trying to think about the things you do in business,” he said. The governor said that when he took office, the government the people had elected didn’t have much authority to run state agen-
cies. He likened that to a college football coach who wasn’t allowed to hire his own staff. “You have to have the right people ... if you want to get anything done,” Stitt said. He went on to sign legislation to take over the hiring and firing of the heads of five state agencies — the Oklahoma Department of Corrections; Office of
Juvenile Affairs; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Oklahoma Health Care Authority; and Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The State of Oklahoma now has the largest savings account in the nation with over $1 billion in reserves. By keeping the budget flat, Oklahoma won’t have to cut agency funding in hard
times, Stitt said. Oklahoma was ranked 47th in terms of government transparency. Since Stitt has been in office, he said that has risen to No. 7. On Nov. 1, Oklahoma orchestrated the largest commutation in United State’s history when 450 people were let out of prison, he said. As far as See STITT, Page 3
Habitat dedicates 1,000th home By Rose Lane Editor In the past 29 years, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity has built 1,000 homes. COHFH handed over the keys to its first home in 1991 under current COHFH Chairman and CEO Ann Felton Gilliland’s leadership. The single mom of two young sons, Brittani Githiri received the keys this week to their new home — the organization’s 1,000th — which is located in the Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition in northwest Oklahoma City. Maxwell Supply of Oklahoma City was the house sponsor. This is Maxwell Supply’s sixth full home sponsorship. Githiri put in 300 hours of sweat equity and will make
monthly interest-free mortgage payments once her family moves into the home. The funds go back to Habitat for Humanity’s construction fund. In addition to remarks from Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Githiri received gifts from various sponsors and a Bible from Nancy Riddell of the Central Oklahoma Habitat Board of Directors. All Souls’ Episcopal Church’s Rev. Chris Yoder offered the house blessing, as well as the benediction. Habitat Board member Carolyn Roberts led a litany of prayer. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is ranked in the top 10 of the organization’s 1,200 international affiliates. For more information, visit YourHabitatHome.com or call 232-4828.
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week This is Holiday Bell, her nickname is Holly. She is 2-years-old and was a family gift at Christmas. She’s sassy and energetic, but also loves to cuddle. Her best friend is her owner, 10-yearold Ellison and her favorite playmate is her brother Oliver Clause. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday. com.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
- Photos by Ron Vavak
Above is Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity’s 1,000 house which is located in the Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition. At left, homeowner Brittani Githiri and her son Piaget receive the keys from COHFH Chairman and CEO Ann Felton Gilliland.
Lunchbox is hopping down the bunny trail By Rose Lane Editor Lunchbox, a foster cat through the Oklahoma Humane Society, could very well be on his way to stardom. The large-and-in-charge rescue cat who found his home with the Oklahoma Humane Society earlier this year has been See LUNCHBOX, Page 3
LUNCHBOX