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Vol. 52 No. 9 • Six Sections 66 Pages June 29, 2018
50 Most Powerful Oklahomans
3. LARRY NICHOLS Chairman Emeritus, Devon Energy
1. BILL ANOATUBBY Governor, Chickasaw Nation
Find out in the June 28 edition of OKC FRIDAY when we Celebrate Oklahoma and name the rankings of our independent poll.
4. DAVID RAINBOLT Executive Chairman, BancFirst Corp.
5. CHRISTY GAYLORD EVEREST Philanthropist
7. DAVID HOLT Mayor, Oklahoma City
8. TOM COLE U.S. Representative, 4th District
Co-Chairman Becky Roten, YWCA OKC President and CEO Jan Peery and Chairman Catherine Armitage at the Evening of Elegance benefiting the YWCA. Page 9
2. CLAY BENNETT OKC Thunder Chairman, CEO, Dorchester Capital
Anoatubby nails #1 in vote again By Vicki Clark OKC FRIDAY Publisher What Oklahomans do you think exercise -- through position, ability or wealth -- the most influence in overall decision-making affecting Oklahoma’s present and future? OKC FRIDAY asked that question on 310 ballots mailed to state and city leaders. The ballot had to be mailed back by June 18. The results are tabulated, and there were several surprises this year. While there are literally thousands of smart and wealthy business leaders in the state, the ones who win votes every year are the men and women most involved in civic and charitable organizations. #1 Chickasaw Nation GOVERNOR BILL ANOATUBBY received the most votes in the 2018 MOST POWERFUL OKLAHOMAN statewide poll, winning by an even larger margin than his past two years at #1. Anoatubby’s brilliant leadership has brought wealth to the
Chickasaws and prominence through more than 100 tribal businesses. The visionary Chickasaw Governor is extremely popular, known especially for his kindness and generosity to individuals and the community as a whole. He has provided the leadership and the tribal support to save virtually every worthwhile project in this state. Many nonprofit organizations would have closed their doors during the past few years, if not for the Chickasaw Nation stepping up to be the lead sponsor at fundraising events. #2 CLAY BENNETT, the man who transformed Oklahoma City’s image worldwide by bringing an NBA team to town, the Oklahoma City Thunder, received the second most votes again this year. Despite seemingly reserved in public interviews, Bennett is articulate, funny and wildly popular with the audience at the events, whethere he is being honored or speaking as an inductor, like the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
6. JAMES LANKFORD U.S. Senator, State of Oklahoma
We Celebrate Oklahoma! with special features
INSIDE TODAY:
Education, Pages 13-20 Nonprofits, Page 21-22 Next Generation of Most Powerful, Pages B1-8 Economy, Pages C1-6
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Sadie Fitzgerald is a 4-year-old Husky/ Australian Shepherd mix. She loves long walks, peanut butter and her stuffed giraffe. She’s a great big sister and loves cleaning up her human brothers’ food messes. Her humans are Blake and Merrick Fitzgerald. Send Dog of the Week, Cat of the Week and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
See POWERFUL, Page 2
Alexander to conduct his first pops Red, White and Boom! Parades slated in Quail Creek and Nichols Hills neighborhoods By Jamie Ellsbury Student intern Fourth of July festivities are right around the corner and if you don’t have any plans, we have the perfect line up of events for you to go to.
Starting Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. will be the 12th annual Red, White and Boom celebration at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Come to the free event where there will be live music by the OKC Philharmonic, con-
ducted by Alexander Mickelthwate. The concert will be 90 minutes in length and offer a variety of musical selections for the family, following the concert will be a spectacular fireworks display. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.,
parking is free and entrance to the park is available. Due to construction, Gate 5 will be the only open gate for entry and exit to the performance. No outside alcohol, glass bottles or pets are permitted. On-site conces-
sions will be available. For more information go to http://okcphil.org/rwb. “This free concert, presented as our ‘thank you’ gift to our entire community, is one of our favorite See FOURTH, Page 5
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 53 No. 7 • Two Sections • 16 Pages June 21, 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
Village approves record $11.59 million budget By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer A record municipal General Fund budget to finance day-to-day operations of the City of The Village for the coming fiscal year was approved Monday by the City Council. The budget of estimated revenues and expenditures
for Fiscal Year 2020, which extends from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, is projected at $11.59 million. That figure is $425,000 higher than the FY 2019 city budget and almost $3.2 million greater than the city budget for FY 2015, ledgers reflect. City Manager Bruce Stone has calculated that
$4.2 million is set aside for FY 2020 “in order to provide adequate emergency funding in time of crisis.” However, some of those funds are reserved for specific categories and are “not simply cash that can be used for just anything,” he said. Including various other sources of revenue dedicated to specific purposes, the
total of all funds available to the city in FY 2020 will climb to a record $20.29 million. This is the largest city budget in the 69-year history of the town, Stone said. The cause can be attributed primarily to the half-cent capital improvement sales tax voters authorized in January 2018, and to ad val-
Nice day for a swim
At left: Grayson Baker, 6, Paisley Ward, 10, and Sloane Baker, 2.
- Photos by Ron Vavak
Above: Twins Payton and Emery Smith, age 2. At left: Logan Snowder, 9, Thomas Sullivant, 6, and Nicholas Snowder, 7
Alzheimer’s Association continuing the conversation about the disease June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month, and the Alzheimer’s Association is using the month to draw attention to the reality of the disease. A press release from the association’s Oklahoma chapter included survey findings that while nearly 90 percent of Americans experiencing memory loss or other symptoms of cognitive decline would like to discuss it with someone close to them, nearly 75 percent of Americans
See VILLAGE, Page 3
Visions Awards recipients are announced
The summer sun was hot, but the water was cool as these youngsters took to the pool at Quail Creek Golf and Country Club.
By Sara Schlecht Student Intern
orem tax revenue collected to meet the annual debt service requirement on general obligation (GO) bonds that voters in The Village endorsed in the same election a year and a half ago. Primary sources of revenue are sales, use, franchise and property taxes;
would find it difficult to talk about cognitive problems with a family member. The Alzheimer’s Association aims to bridge this gap by encouraging communication about potential changes in one’s cognitive function. Meg Busteed, family outreach coordinator for the Oklahoma chapter, said the Alzheimer’s Association offers educational programs and helps people find resources according to where a person is in the progression of the disease. See ALZHEIMER’S, Page 3
Six men and women will receive the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits’ 2019 Visions Awards. “Visions: A Celebration of Nonprofit Leadership” honors nonprofit, philanthropic and civic leaders who demonstrate visionary excellence in the field. The event is held in Oklahoma City each year, and the 2019 Visionaries are set to receive their awards on Dec. 3 at the Skirvin Hotel. Two women will receive the Pat Potts Visionary Award for their dedicated work to assist persons with disabilities in Oklahoma. Joanna Smith of Oklahoma City is the CEO of Hearts for Hearing. Jean Winfrey of Tulsa is the executive director of the Little Light House. Both women have revolutionized care for Oklahomans with various special needs. Paula Gates, a program director of the Educare Program with Sunbeam Family See VISIONS, Page 3
FRIDAY’s
Rescue Dog of the Week Jack is available for adoption at the Village Animal Shelter. Please call 751-9518 and make an appointment with Bryan, the animal control officer, to meet Jack or one of the other five dogs there. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jack is a boxer/hound mix and approximately 2-years-old and weighs 45 pounds. He is good on a leash, accepts treats gently and co-exists with no problems next to others in chain-link runs. Jack Has been at the shelter almost 2 months and is ready to be in your home. His neuter and shots are being sponsored by concerned citizens.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com