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Thursday, April 15, 2021

Bond stronger than blood the brotherhood that is Pokeapella By Sam Milek O’Colly Contributor “Bond is stronger than blood. The family grows stronger by bond” – Itohan Eghide What it means to be a family has drastically changed as time has progressed. What was once determined by who your parents, grandparents and siblings now tend to have an extra meaning. This, of course, being the bond created by group of people. Such is the case for Oklahoma State University’s male chorale, Pokeapella. Founded in 2013 originally as Cowboy Chorale, Pokeapella is a men’s chorus group that does small gigs and shows around Stillwater. In doing so, they have created a group of individuals that harmonize in more aspects than their voices, creating a See Bond on pg. 2

COVID has not broken the brotherhood of this group as they move forward and grow.

Provided by Pokeapella.com.

Why aren’t more men getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Soumya Karlamangla Los Angeles Times (TNS) A man took his adult children to receive COVID-19 vaccinations over the weekend, knowing it was important for them to be immunized against the disease. But he didn’t feel concerned about his own risk of catching the virus, despite the fact that older people and men are more likely to die from COVID-19, Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s public health director, said this week. He had not made plans to get vaccinated. “I was worried about him, and so were his children,” said Ferrer, who encountered the family at a Los Angeles vaccination site. “What’s staggering to realize is that the very group of folks who have the higher mortality rate are now also the group of folks that have the lower vaccination rates.” Throughout the pandemic, men worldwide have been far more likely to die from COVID-19 — because

of a mix of biological and behavioral factors — but also less likely to have been vaccinated against the disease. The data from L.A. County paints a troubling

a vaccine, only 30% of men have. And in the 38 states that have published a gender breakdown of vaccination rates, more women have been vaccinated than men in all of them, according to Kaiser Health News. The disparity is in part because vaccinations were initially offered to healthcare workers and the elderly, groups that are disproportionately composed of women. But it also likely reflects longstanding patterns of men engaging in riskier behavior and paying less attention to their health than women, experts say. “Unfortunately, it’s not terribly surprising to see that there’s gender differences in uptake for vaccinations,” said UC Riverside medical sociologist Richard Carpiano. Joshua Cleary Ferrer said the health department would focus on picture: Here, 153 of every targeting vaccine messaging 100,000 women have died at men and improving access from COVID-19, while 289 to the vaccine. The vaccine of every 100,000 men have. But while 44% of women in L.A. County have received at least one dose of See Men on pg. 3

Page 2 Thursday, April 15, 2021

Lifestyle

Pokeapella.com

Bond... Continued from pg. 1 strong brotherhood that at times rings louder than the music. Justin Hughes is a senior, the vice president of Pokeapella and a tenor for the group. He finds the most rewarding part of being a part of Pokeapella to be their brotherhood. “We’re a really tight knit group of people,” Hughes said. “We all know can rely on each other and we know that if, like we ever want to go get lunch, everyone’s down to do something. We’re a close-knit brotherhood.” Wesley Rice graduated in the fall of 2020 but is still a baritone for the group. He has been a member since 2018 and says his favorite part of Pokeapella is similar to that of his vice president. “The comradery, the brotherhood of it all,” Rice said. “We’re all in there because we love music, we love to sing and we do a good job doing what we do. It’s just getting to know everybody in the group and it’s just that that solid relationship and that bond that you build with the other members of the group.” A group would almost need to have a strong sense of comradery if they were to travel across the country in a van together, which is exactly what the Pokeapella did in November 2019 to sing the national anthem at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. “We drove in a van from Stillwater, Oklahoma, to New York City and got to sing the national anthem at the Barclays Center at the tipoff of the NIT Tournament where OSU played Syracuse,” Hughes said.

Pokeapella.com

“It was an absolutely crazy time. We were 12 people packed into a 12-person van, and just took the road trip out there and back over the span of 5 days. I don’t know that you could get any closer to people in that time frame.” Whether veteran or rookie, this close bond is something that is felt in a wide range of members. Jack Moffat is a sophomore and has been a member since 2019. Even after having been brought in on a whim, he feels just as connected to his fellow men. “It was a bit tough for me with the first few legs of the drive because I didn’t really know all of them that well,” Moffat said. “So, the first part of the trip, I was mostly quiet, just listening, maybe adding a couple of small jokes. We were all squished together like sardines, so we were all kind of forced to become friends. But on the way back, we were just like laying over everywhere like as if we were roommates for years. You just became friends instantly.”

The trip to New York was not where Moffat found brotherhood within the group. He says there was one other moment that truly made him feel like a member of the family. “We had, not a sleepover, but a little get together at Dylan’s [president of Pokeapella] house before we left for New York. We were all playing games and were sitting a little bit spreaded, and we just sat for a little bit and talked before we left, and it was like, man, these guys aren’t just music and get work done, like, they actually care about what we’re doing. They asked me questions about growing up, you know, I just felt like I was really being welcomed. I realized this wasn’t my treatment, this was how they treat everybody in the group, everybody cares about what your history is, where you come from, who you are. You’re not just a bass or a tenor, you’re a friend. These guys care, it was pretty awesome.” Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic has affected

a lot of things, Pokeapella being among those. Luckily for them, they have managed to keep their voices warm. In the last year, the group has performed small gigs here and there, but have a big plan in the works for when life finally returns to normal. “We’ve talked with Everyman in Stillwater,” Hughes said. “They’re building their new location and whenever that is officially opened up with the public, we are supposed to go there and do a couple performances there for the public just to celebrate the opening of their new location.” Pokeapella is a prime example that family isn’t always determined biologically. The strongest bonds are forged through time and experience, something the brotherhood of Pokeapella knows all too well. Pokeapella can be found on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. For more information and bookings, visit Pokeapella.com. entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

News

Allen J. Schaben

Men... Continued from pg. 1 distribution is particularly low among Black and Latino men in L.A. County, with only 19% and 17%, respectively, having gotten one shot of the vaccine so far, according to county data. “You obviously want people at highest risk to be getting vaccinated and to be getting vaccinated quickly,” Ferrer said. In general, men tend to be less cautious than women and more prone to risk, as evidenced by the high cost of insuring young men to drive cars, Carpiano said. A lot of men are also socialized to not ask for help, which has contributed to low rates of mental health treatment among men and perhaps now also lower coronavirus vaccination rates, he said.

“You see films kind of reflect that too — the guy’s the action hero,” Carpiano said. “There’s always this kind of conception, a certain sort of toughness, avoiding things that permeate that. We see that manifest itself in healthcareseeking behaviors as well.” Indeed, throughout the pandemic, multiple surveys have found that women take more precautions to stave off coronavirus infections, somewhat ironic given that men have a higher chance of dying from the virus if they contract it. A Gallup poll last year found that women were more likely than men to wear masks, social distance and avoid large crowds. The survey showed that political leanings accounted for some of that difference, as men were more likely to identify as Republican and Republicans less likely to follow coronavirus precautions. But even within each po-

litical party, women were more worried about the virus and followed more safety recommendations. Perhaps that same tendency toward caution extends to the COVID-19 vaccine. A viral tweet from a reporter in North Carolina showed that many vaccinated people listed the same reason for getting their shots: Their wives made them. Even before the pandemic, women tended to visit the doctor more and are more likely to oversee a family’s health decisions, research finds. Women typically start regularly visiting the doctor earlier, often beginning with a first trip to the OB-GYN as teenagers, and take advantage of more preventative services, such as cancer screenings. “There are gender differences in healthcare utilization, so this outcome where you have a higher share of women getting vaccinated is consistent with that,” said Alina

Salganicoff, director of women’s health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. Over the past year, Salganicoff has published data showing that women reported being more concerned than men about themselves and their families contracting the coronavirus and also experienced a greater mental health toll from pandemic stress. That suggests that while the gap in vaccination rates between men and women may narrow as the shots are made available to a wider swath of the population, it may not close completely, she said. “I would not be surprised,” she said. ___ -Ryan Novozinsky O’Colly Media Group 609-577-8916 Related image

DON’T STUMBLE! (Part #3) “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate one another,” (Mt.24:9-10) All this I told you so that you will not go astray. (stumble) They will put you out of the synagogue, in fact a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.” (Jn.16:1-2) The are many places in the scripture that tell of persecution of true believers. Jesus said if they did it to me they will do it to those who follow me. (Jn.15:20) Many times this will separate the true believers from the false. No one likes hardships, difficulties and certainly persecutions, but the challenge comes and we don’t want to stumble and fall away.

Jesus speaks to the Smyrna church in Revelation: "I know your afflictions...slander...do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer...the Devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be careful..." Does God allow persecution and trials of different kinds? He certainly does! Couldn't God deliver them out of bad situations? Of course! Sometimes He will and sometimes not. He even governs how long the difficulties will last. These are times when we see the grace of God in wonderful ways. His grace is made perfect in weaknesses. (2 Co.12:9) That is why we are not to be offended at God's ways. Difficulties can seem to be hindering the very work of God, but the Lord is working in and through the situation to accomplish something good in the end.

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sports

OSU’s Abigail Brayman during the Oklahoma State vs. TCU equestrian match on Saturday, Feb. 15 2020 at Totusek Arean in Stillwater.

Alicia Young

Championship unlike any other Cowgirls bring home conference title after a long season

Ben Hutchens Staff Reporter It didn’t start out feeling like a championship season. Oklahoma State equestrian coach Larry Sanchez said in his 25 years of coaching, no team of his has endured what his current team has. Semester-long setbacks, ice storms and quarantines rarely bear fruit, but that’s what makes OSU’s 2021 Big 12 equestrian championship all the sweeter. Equestrian is not normally a Spring semester

sport. The Big 12 ruled that equestrian meets were to be placed on hold for a semester due to the pandemic, which was not in line with the traditional vision of a championship. “First of all, it was frustrating, and it was a little more frustrating cause the SEC schools got to compete in the fall semester,” Sanchez said. The Cowgirls put their heads down and worked amongst themselves while other teams rode for keeps. Sanchez set up scrimmages in order to replicate a normal season. Rather than have coaches judge the scrimmages, he hired outside officials so the atmosphere would feel more like a competitive meet.

“The fall went better than expected,” Sanchez said. “The girls stayed very excited. I thought they might get bored from competing against one another so much.” The team had waited an entire semester for their season, and when the spring finally rolled around the buzz of competition was evident. “We came into the spring in January and there was a fire in their eyes like I’ve never seen before,” Sanchez said. But when competition finally rolled around the Cowgirls were again forced to remain idle. OSU had three of its first four meets this season postponed as a result of COVID-19 issues among other

programs and what coach Larry Sanchez referred to as “the ice storm of the ages” turning Oklahoma polar. Although playing the waiting game was getting old, OSU senior Amanda Atkins played it as well as possible. “I wouldn’t say it put a damper on our season, but I would say it made our whole season crammed into four weekends, so it almost gave us more incentive to work harder and push ourselves more,” Atkins said. When the Cowgirls finally did participate in their first meet of the season, a road matchup against TCU, they were beaten handily. See Championship on pg. 7

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sports Notebook: The Cowboys offense can be compared to a Rubik’s Cube Dean Ruhl Staff Reporter A Rubik’s Cube. On Tuesday, coach Mike Gundy compared quarterback Spencer Sanders progression opening up opportunities for offensive players to a Rubik’s cube. “You can’t just do one side, you have to do all of them at once if you’re going to do a Rubik’s cube,” Gundy said. “That’s the same thing with playing quarterback in this offense. You have to be able to do everything at once.” Gundy said he never could solve the puzzle without removing the stickers, but felt it was a good analogy. The Rubik’s cube was one of several topics talked about Tuesday, when Gundy, Sanders and defensive end Tyler Lacy spoke with the media. Here are some storylines. Gundy’s optimistic for spring game OSU’s annual spring game is scheduled for April 24. The format hasn’t been finalized, but Gundy said the team will be divided in half. The game begins at noon and concludes at 2

Al Diaz

p.m.

Having two hours, Gundy said it is unlikely OSU plays a full game, instead expecting one half to be played. “We’re going to try to put together an (hour or two) of quality football,” Gundy said. “It’s so the fans can enjoy it.” Lacy said the players are excited to have to game. “(I want to) get back out there with the guys,” Lacy said

“Put in some more reps on the field. (I’m excited) to see the younger guys stepping up and see who’s going to be able to play this year.” Lamont Bishop has been impressive in spring practices Bishop joined the Cowboys in 2020, transferring from Iowa Central Community College after two seasons. He suffered an undisclosed injury after transferring,

missing all 11 games in 2020. Gundy said Bishop was out of shape because of COVID-19 last season, but this spring has improved drastically. “He’s healthy now,” Gundy said. “He’s in good condition. I wouldn’t say he’s in great condition, but he will be.” Bishop ran a 4.58 second 40-yard dash, which Gundy said is impressive for his size. A 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker,

Bishop has the opportunity to fill Amen Ogbongbemiga’s spot. “We have to find a way to get him on the field,” Gundy said. “We don’t have a lot of guys that can run that fast and weigh that much. We’ve got to get him out there. He seems to be doing pretty good at this time.” The Green twins early arrival is significant for their development Blaine and Bryson Green graduated high school early, and have been participating in spring practices through early enrollment. Sanders said this is significant for the incoming freshmen, for multiple reasons. “They can learn the playbook, they can get the hang of things,” Sanders said. “They can get comfortable and get in a groove before everyone who comes in the summer.” Sanders said having extra time to learn how they run routes is important to the quarterbacks. The extra practices help build chemistry also. “For me it’s great if they’re going to play on Saturday’s,” Sanders said. “Then we can have a great connection and start that development right now.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

sports Championship... Continued from pg 5 “It was a very emotional day because (the team) finally got to compete,” Sanchez said. “I looked at them and realized they couldn’t even believe they were there, finally. We really didn’t have our best day and didn’t show up. We made some mistakes that we don’t normally make.” Atkins said she doesn’t get caught up in the highs or lows of the season, so although the first month of the season hardly went to plan, the team took heart in Sanchez’ post-meet message. “He told us, ‘We need to keep moving forward and keep focusing on our rides and how we were as teammates, because one competition doesn’t define our season.’ The record says that’s what we did,” Atkins said. The disappointing beginning to the season quickly dissipated, as The

Cowgirls won their remaining four meets of the regular season and both postseason meets, earning their seventh Big 12 Championship. It wasn’t that the Cowgirls magically learned how to ride and become Big 12 contenders over the course of the season. OSU has always had talented riders physically capable of winning at the highest levels. The championship was earned just as much off of horseback as it was in the saddle. “When a team can come together like that it’s going to do wonders for you in the competition arena,” Sanchez said. “They definitely came together as a team and it seemed every meet the girls got closer and closer and competed at a higher and higher level.” OSU earned a two seed in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Championships. The event is set for April 15-17 in Waco, Texas. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Alicia Young

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Alicia Young

FOR RELEASE APRIL 15, 2021

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

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Church Meetings

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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 Mail in 6 Hair-raising experiences? 11 Bare-bones sleeper homophone for a mermaid 16 Color 17 *Closest to the Downs 19 Mitch 20 Balance sheet category 21 “Love Story” 23 The Big Easy, locally bearings 28 Refines, as ore 30 Loads 31 “Dandy for toothpaste

the ends of the answers to 39 Apply gently 40 Novgorod nos 41 Financial news channel baseball, for one

4/15/21

By Mike Peluso

DOWN 1 Pi follower 2 Ages and ages 3 Casper winter

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

eagerly 5 Connects logically sheets 7 Once, old-style 8 Social reformer Jacob 9 Magazine with “The Lighter Side

metropolis 10 Where apnea 46 Jolson classic might be 48 Dispensed (with) diagnosed 49 Privilege of playing first, in golf Company” role 52 Latin 101 verb 13 Many Microsoft employees 18 “It __ fair!” donors 59 Spry

Designers Wanted The O’Colly Media Group is now hiring Advertising Designers for our ad and marketing departments.

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4/15/21

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schedule. For more information contact Lori@ocolly.com or call 405-744-7355

Daily Horoscope

Level 1

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes (TNS) Today’s Birthday (04/15/21). Succeed with help from friends this year. Disciplined team coordination can produce consistent wins. Springtime research deviations

together. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Publish, post and share for wider impact. Take advantage of a lucky break. Creativity and passion sparkle and illuminate which way to go. Connect, network and communicate. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Dig into a lucrative gig. Use your superpower. Keep appointments and agreements. Show up on time. Luck shines and Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — You’re a shining star. Others orbit and encircle, magnetically attracted. Wear your power suit. Discuss plans for a personal dream. Follow passion and purpose. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Luck and self-discipline are both on your vision. Savor private rituals. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Your friends are there for you. Together, you’re a great team. Share common passion and diverse interests. Talk about what you love. Collaborate and have fun. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Follow professional opportunities to

valuable. Dig into a fascinating investigation. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Collaborative efforts could get esharvest. Take heart and play your part. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Partnership sparks anew. You and your partner are more than the sum of your parts. You illuminate each other. Kindle some magic together.

healthy practices. Savor sunshine and fresh air.

a deeper level. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Make your home more comfortable. -

4/15/21 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk