Friday, April 14, 2023
Fentanyl distributor arrested in Edmond Lauren Suarez O’Colly Contributor
life in prison because of his prior convictions for drug trafficking, according to the charges. Moore was released in August A 29-year-old Edmond man from state prison after serving five whom police describe as “the largest years for trafficking methamphetamine distributor of fentanyl” to Stillwater is and marijuana, possession of a firearm scheduled to have a preliminary hear- while serving probation and possesing on drug trafficking charges May 1 sion of drugs with intent to distribute in a Payne County courthouse. within 2,000 feet of a public university. Edmond police arrested Cord LeLt. TJ Low, Public Information shandon Moore, 632 Thorn Briar Road, Officer at Stillwater Police Departon March 24. Moore is being held in ment, said Moore was released on good the Payne County Detention Center on behavior but went back to committing $2 million bail. the same crimes. Moore was charged Feb. 9 with “The Payne County District Atone count of racketeering after former torney’s office wasn’t in favor of that,” conviction of a felony and one of con- Low said. “They said this is guy is a spiracy to commit aggravated traffick- very, very serious criminal, and they ing of controlled substance. didn’t want him to be released on that.” He faces a maximum sentence of Since September, nine people
charged with possession or trafficking of fentanyl have told police they delivered more than 150 fentanyl pressed pills to Stillwater buyers from the Edmond-Guthrie area for Moore, according to a police affidavit. The round blue pills, are called “foxy’s” and “blues,” with the imprint “M 30,” according to SPD Officer Newly McSpadden’s affidavit. A suspect charged with aggravated trafficking said Moore kept the pills at a location different from where he lives. When a client contacted him, Moore went to the storage location to retrieve the number of pills ordered. Either a runner took the pills to a location, or the client would meet Moore in the Edmond or Guthrie area, according to McSpadden’s affidavit. Moore wouldn’t visit Stillwater
for fear of being arrested. A warrant for Moore’s arrest was issued in Payne County District Court on Feb. 16. Attorney Irven Box of Oklahoma City will represent Moore in the preliminary hearing before Judge Katherine Thomas. On Wednesday, Box said Moore’s mother hired him and he hadn’t yet met with Moore. Low said since Moore’s arrest, he hasn’t heard of many other fentanylrelated arrests. “Our guys were able to track him down to find out who was distributing the fentanyl in the area,” Low said. “That is huge because we don’t want anybody to receive a drug that is laced with fentanyl that could possibly kill them.” news.ed@ocolly.com
OSU professors debate the existence of a God Stephanie Landaverde Staff Reporter
Courtesy of Owen Eckhardt Owen Eckhardt auditioned for “American Idol” and sang Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” while playing guitar and harmonica for the judges; Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
OSU Cowboy to Hollywood star Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” while playing guitar and harmonica for the judges; Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. The freshman from Broken Arrow said his mom pushed Kennedy Thomason him to audition this year. Assistant News & “I wasn’t planning on Lifestyle Editor trying out this year, originally,” Eckhardt said. “I’ve been through it enough, I was like, After auditioning for ‘OK, I think I’m done.’ It’s a nearly six years, Owen Eckhardt landed a spot on “Ameri- lot of work, especially with me coming off to college. can Idol.” And then my mom was The day before moving like, ‘I don’t know, maybe try into his dorm in Stillwater, Eckhardt received a call saying one more year, you never know.’ She was right. Like most of the he was going to Las Vegas for an audition. Overwhelmed and time, I guess. So I tried out one more time, and here we are.” excited, Eckhardt auditioned Standing in lines wrapped three weeks later, where he around busy city blocks and received his golden ticket. A sitting in Zoom waiting rooms, golden ticket is given to singEckhardt has dreamed of being ers who receive a “yes” from all three judges and means they on “American Idol” since he move on to the next round of the was little. He said he looked up to country music stars like Carcompetition. rie Underwood growing up. Eckhardt sang Zach
Eckhardt’s mom was another strong influence during his childhood. Eckhardt said she helped propel him into his music career. “Whenever I was little, I feel like that’s how we bonded,” Eckhardt said. “We always sang. She was always the one that really encouraged me to lean into singing and into artistry.” He also credited the major financial role she has played in his music career. Eckhardt said his irregular travel schedule presented unique challenges during his first semester in college. “It was a lot,” Eckhardt said. “Especially leaving and being gone for weeks at a time to do that stuff, and having to be like, ‘Hey,’ to my professors, ‘I’m gonna be gone for a week and a half, is there any way I can do this stuff now or online?’ I was literally in my hotel room in Hollywood writing papers.” See Hollywood on 3A
the Greek letter lambda represents. This constant is the balance between gravity and repulsive force. “Now, if lambda weren’t precisely what it is, Science versus religion: A tale as long as the universe would either expand too quickly, in time. Last Friday, two OSU which case given the Big philosophy professors de- Bang, you’d just have parbated the existence of God. ticles flying infinitely into oblivion,” Neels said. “Or Christopher Droit would collapse instantly han, a teaching associate professor, argued God does after the Big Bang, so you have the Big Bang of all of not exist, while Richard Neels, an assistant profes- this matter exploding and then just condensing right sor, argued for the exisback on itself. If lambda tence of God. The event was popu- isn’t exactly what it is, that lar among students, hosting would happen.” Drohan did not use about 50 people interested science to argue against in the subject, with some sitting on the floor when no the existence of God, he more chairs were available. used morality. He said God does not play an active role Harrison Gimpel, in the current world as he a sophomore majoring in philosophy, said this event is described to in ancient was the talk of the moment texts. There is no longer direct interaction with in the philosophy departGod, and those who claim ment. to speak directly to God “Everyone has been raise concern, he said. The excited for it and looking forward to it, so I was power of God, through believers and their actions, is excited to come,” Gimpel real and powerful, Drohan said. “It was something I put on the calendar a while said. Drohan spoke about ago.” learning to play “Hot Cross Neels started the debate using science to as- Buns” as a child, and used sert the existence of God. this as an analogy to refute Neels said since the 1970s, Neels’ argument about an in-tune universe. all physicists agree the “When you appreciuniverse is finely tuned for ate better music, you start life and said if any of the to realize (“Hot Cross parameters in the universe were slightly different, life Buns”) is just a garbage could not have evolved on tune,” Drohan said. “With our culture, human minds Earth. and perspective on this These parameters include physical constants, absolutely infinite universe such as the mass of a pro- that surrounds us, this might seem like things ton. Neels said physicists are pretty well-tuned for estimate there might be 19 fundamental constants, humanity.” and his favorite is the cosmological constant, which See Debate on 4A
Stephanie Landaverde Richard Neels got his Ph.D. in Philosophy at McMaster University and he started the debate using science to assert the existence of God.