OKIE
Inside today:
Clayton and Marnie Taylor and Edie Roodman and Eli Reshef pose for a pic poolside in the Taylors’ lush backyard. They were the hosts for an OKIE Israeli dinner and wine pairing. Page 10
• Sports, Page 4 • Community Calendar, Page 6 • Editorial, Page 8 • Legals & Classifieds, Pages B2-B5 •Excursions, Pages B1 & B6
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 53 No. 11 • Two Sections • 16 Pages July 19, 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
NHills passes ‘pioneering’ demolition ordinance By Rose Lane Editor Called “pioneering” by Nichols Hills City Attorney John Williams, the City Council approved an ordinance requiring any buyer of a piece of property who intends to demolish a house on it to put up a surety bond.
That 2 percent of the market value of the property, as determined by the Oklahoma County Assessor’s Office, is designed to encourage the buyer to build another home on the property rather than to let it sit vacant. Once the new home and the inspection is completed, the bond will be returned to the owner.
“There is not another like this in Oklahoma,” Williams said. The ordinance was crafted after several such incidences of vacant lots occurred in Nichols Hills. “I don’t care if they decided to go elsewhere,” Councilwoman Sody Clements said. “My motive is to preserve (the existing
home) and not to tear down. Maybe they will think long and hard before they tear down the house.” Councilman haggled over what the percentage of market value should be. The wording in the original ordinance would have imposed a $116,000 bond on a $1 million piece of property
Twins have Hope and Faith in their talents and abilities
“I think this is a little too strong, but I want to do something,” Mayor Steve Goetzinger said. “I don’t want an execution, but at least a slap on the wrist.” The council came to agreement on the 2 percent figure, which would be $20,000 on a $1 million piece of property.
Marijuana growing rules, carports top The Village agenda
By Sara Schlecht Student Intern
By Rose Lane Editor
The 18-year-old Steedman twins are two of five total sisters. Faith is older by eight minutes, making Hope the younger. Both have been dancing since they were 3-years-old. The home-schooled teens have both competed in dance competitions, but each of them has found their own niche in performance and competitions. At recent competitions, both of them took home titles. When she competed at a local pageant, Faith won the title Miss Capital City 2019. “It was my very first pageant,” she said. “I didn’t really know anything about it until I was there. “To all of our surprise, I won. I went on to compete for Miss Oklahoma.” At the Miss Oklahoma pageant, Faith was the third-youngest competitor. Despite this, she said she gained a lot of confidence from the experience.
In a single line item, The Village City Council agenda dealt with regulations concerning the growing and processing of medicinal marijuana and setback requirements for carports. Ordinance 747, which was passed by a unanimous vote of the council, will make it illegal for renters or property owners to use residential property for the growing and processing of marijuana. Secondly, the ordinance adjusted the setback requirements for carports to no less than 25 feet from the property
See TWINS, Page 2
FRIDAY’s
Miss Encore Dance Oklahoma 2019 Hope Steedman and Miss Capital City 2019 Faith Steedman. The twins have been dancing since they were 3-years-old and recently started competing in pageants.
Dog of the Week
Holly is a rescue dog and is named after Holly Golightly. She is half Chinese Crested and half Maltese and a full-blooded sweetheart. Her human is David Shaw. She lives a life of leisure and hanging out with her bff Caroline Shaw of Edmond. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
line to the support column. Assistant City Attorney Jeff Sabin said the issue stems from the fact the city has been treating the setbacks for carports different from buildings. The problem was brought to light by a resident’s desire to be able to access the ramp to her home from her car, thus staying out of the elements. Councilman Sonny Wilkinson asked if rather a variance could be granted, but the assistant attorney and City Manager Bruce Stone said that this action was more appropriate. “I don’t like changing ordinances on one example,” Wilkinson said.
New John Marshall principal hopes for a smooth transition By Scott Wanish Special to OKC FRIDAY
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
John Marshall High School will be seeing change next month as Centennial High School closed in May. Its students will be assimilating to John Marshall. What a better fit to have former Centennial Assistant Principal Jeanne Ambriz come in as the new principal at John Marshall replacing Erica Ajayi, who took a higher administrative position. “It’s going to be a wild transition,” Ambriz See PRINCIPAL, Page 3
JEANNE AMBRIZ