Horses, Hats & Hope
Happy Mothers Day! Fashion ideas for Mom. Page 11 Gifts for Mom, plus favorite Mom memories from our readers. Page 12
Learn about Camp Funnybone, Heritage Hall’s Summer at the Hall and the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Fine Arts and Design arts camps. Page B7
Leslie Te, co-chairman of the Alzheimer’s Association event, chose Kentucky Derby contender Tacticus as the winner and bought this stick horse. Page B1
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 53 No. 1 • Two Sections • 18 Pages May 10, 2019
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 45 years
Harding Charter Prep is state’s No. 1 high school
Mother’s Day is Brenda’s day, too
By Rose Lane Editor
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has proclaimed Sunday (Mother’s Day) to also be Brenda McDaniel Day in Oklahoma in honor of her National Mother of the Year Award. Pictured during the American Mothers 2019 Mother of the Year conference are, from left, Senator James Lankford, Brenda McDaniel, Tom McDaniel, the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond and Lance McDaniel.
With Harding Charter Preparatory High School in the No. 1 position, five Fridayland high schools were in the Top 10 Oklahoma High Schools as determined by US News and World Report. At No. 2 was the Classen School of Arts and Sciences, followed by the Dove Science Academy at No. 4, Harding Fine Arts Academy at No. 5 and Deer Creek High School at No. 8. US News and World ranks schools on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college. Additionally, Harding Charter Prep See HARDING, Page 2
James L. Dennis celebrates ruby anniversary By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer
At least two retirees from the original faculty of James L. Dennis Elementary School attended the 40th anniversary reception: Sharon McKay, left, who taught first grade at Dennis in 1979-82, and Betty Lou Patterson of Edmond, who was a special education teacher at Dennis for many years.
Dozens of former students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff members flocked to James L. Dennis Elementary School to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary. Attendees at the come-and-go reception scrolled through scrapbooks and yearbooks from the past four decades, viewed photos of students and faculty from almost every year of the school’s entire history lining one hallway wall, and got reacquainted with former class-
mates, teachers and colleagues. When the Putnam City school opened in 1979, it served 565 students in kindergarten (half-day) through sixth grade. Today, the school has approximately 470 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, according to Principal Renita White. The school is named for James L. Dennis, who served on the Putnam City School Board in 1965-77. He also was vice chairman of the Oklahoma Commission on Education Administration and served on the Oklahoma City
Chamber of Commerce Educational Committee. When the school opened its doors, a gallon of gasoline cost 86 cents, Georgia peanut farmer Jimmy Carter was President of the United States, the 3-Mile Island nuclear reactor accident occurred in Pennsylvania, JVC marketed a VHS video recorder system, the USSR invaded Afghanistan, Saddam Hussein became the president of Iraq and 63 Americans were taken hostage by Iranian radicals in the American Embassy in Tehran.
#heritageforharrison: Chargers rally around sick teammate By Rose Lane Editor When the moms of other players on Harrison Murphy’s fifth grade Heritage Hall baseball team discovered he had leukemia, they sprung into action. They banded together to show their support for the young man by coming up with a special pin and hashtag for the whole Charger community to sport.
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week
Harrison’s mom, Lee, said the moms — Melanie Reuter, Andrea Horsch, Kelly Whiteworth, Stacie Carter and Jenifer Standish — came up with the pins, which are emblazoned with a large H and his baseball team number of 13. While the act was mainly to show support for Harrison, Lee said the pin campaign was also to bring awareness to childhood cancer. The moms are asking for donations to the Jimmy Everest
Introducing the one and only Meatballs! Meatballs is a 4-year-old Shih Tzu weighing in at approximately 14 pounds. She was rescued by her owner Cooper Cloud as a surprise birthday present for his girlfriend. Together, these three have enjoyed countless walks in the park, picnics, and of course spaghetti and meatballs! As her name suggests, meatballs are this little Meatballs favorite dish and Cooper has engineered his own, homemade, dogfriendly meatballs. He even claims that they are edible for humans and constantly tries to get his friends to take a taste.
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Cancer Center. Heritage Hall students, and anyone else wanting to get behind the cause, are being asked to place the pin on their backpacks or wear it. Then, they should snap a photo with the pin and ask their parents to tag their photo on social media with #heritageforharrison. “It’s been so nice and so great knowing they are out there for us,” Lee said. “The outpouring has been really, really kind.”
Cummings is Village mayor By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer The Village City Council experienced “the changing of the guard” Monday night. Three newly elected council members – newcomers Adam Graham and George Colbert and veteran David Bennett – received the oath of office from Municipal Judge Daniel White. All three councilmen will serve two-year terms. In addition, the council unanimously elected Cathy Cummings to be the mayor for
the next 12 months. “I am truly humbled to be your mayor,” she said. Colbert, 42, has been active in civic affairs. He served on the citizens review committee for the city’s Tax Increment Finance District 4 and on the municipal parks steering committee arising from the $10.38 million capital improvements bond issue last year. He filed unopposed to succeed C. Scott “Bubba” Symes, who has lived in The Village for more than 50 See VILLAGE, Page 3