Edmond Life and Leisure - June 4, 2026

In This Issue

Elaine and her visit to Hank the Cowdog See Page 11

Three big events

This Saturday

By Jennifer Thornton City of Edmond.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. New Launch Pad at Arcadia Lake Post Road & 15th Street (parking lot next to the Edmond Water Tower)

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

June 6 is a big day in Edmond. From 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Route 66 Road Rally - hit the Mother Road for the ultimate adventure! Explore 26 destinations from Sapulpa to Edmond, meet new friends, and win amazing prizes. Start anywhere along the route stopping at checkpoints along the way to check in via smartphone for a chance to win $1,000.

Registration is $25 per vehicle register at www.100greatestmiles.com anytime before noon on June 6.

This is not a timed event, so take your time cities along the way. Shop, eat, play, visit, learn, and take photos to make the most of your experience! The grand prize of $1,000, along with many other exciting prizes, will be awarded at our official after-party at The Chicken Shack in Arcadia, OK, on June 6th at 6:00 PM. All vehicles and ages are welcome.

About the Route 66 Midpoint Corridor

Known as the 100 Greatest Miles of Route 66,is a coalition of 11 Oklahoma communities dedicated to preserving and celebrating our stretch of Historic Route 66. Our mission is to “Unify, Beautify, and Preserve” this iconic roadway, ensuring its vibrancy for generations to come. The towns of Edmond, Arcadia, Luther, Wellston, Chandler, Davenport, Stroud, Depew, Bristow, Kellyville, and Sapulpa are committed to maintaining the timeless beauty of Route 66. Through ambitious clean-up and beautification projects and fun, engaging family events, we strive to drive traffic to each city and celebrate the history of America’s Mother Road. With a vision to create an unforgettable experience for travelers and locals alike, we are dedicated to rejuvenating and honoring the spirit of Route 66 while showcasing its historical significance. For more information or to register for Road Rally 2026, visit www.100greatestmiles.com

Celebrate the opening of a new wooden boardwalk, pavilion and launch pad for mountain bikes at Arcadia Lake. For the past six years, Oklahoma Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) Trail Manager “Turbo Joe” Miller and a dedicated team of volunteers have worked alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to transform Arcadia Lake’s east side from just 1.5 miles of trail into more than 15 miles of premier mountain bike trails and features. Through a successful Army Corps Partnership Handshake Grant and the support of generous community sponsor, the project expanded far beyond its original vision. New amenities include The Launch Pad pavilion and drop-in platform, picnic areas, changing stations, professional trailhead signage, bridges, boardwalks, and a spectacular 300-foot elevated boardwalk overlooking the trail corridor below. The June 6 grand opening celebrates years of collaboration between volunteers, local businesses, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the mountain biking community, further establishing Arcadia Lake as one of the premier mountain bike destinations in the Oklahoma City metro area.

4-9pm Blue Hippo Festival at Stephenson Park

The festival is themed around Edmond’s Route 66 icon, the Blue Hippo. Free family-friendly activities, performances, artists and all things blue. In addition to carnival-style activities, visitors can participate in hippo and Route 66 Trivia throughout the park. Be part of a community art project and hippo-themed activities, such as the Hungry Hippo game station. Try to win a Hot Wheels race, tour the Historic Rodkey House and American Legion Hut, or purchase one of the hippo art pieces being created LIVE during the festival. Just to create the right atmosphere, visit the 30 blue classic cars and trucks on 4th street, and musicians will perform the BLUES and pop in the park pavilion.

continued on Page 4

From the Publisher

Elect Alex Warren for County Commissioner this June 16

The political gaming that has gone on in Oklahoma County government has a rich but sad history over the last 46 years I have been in business. Embarrassing at times including the last commissioner to serve District 3. There are a number of Republicans running in the June 16th primary and it will take a strong leader to bring our county government into being grounded again. Leadership is not about playing political games; it is about delivering results that actually matter to the people who live, work, and raise families in Edmond. That is why Alex Warren is the clear and trusted choice for Oklahoma County Commissioner, District 3.

Alex is not a career politician. He is a self-made Oklahoman, business owner, and seasoned manager who knows what it means to build something from the ground up. From local barbershops to major commercial buildings. He pairs that entrepreneurial grit with high-level fiscal experience, having successfully managed a billion-dollar operating budget for a Fortune 500 company. At a time when county governments must do more with less, Alex brings the exact kind of real-world financial discipline needed to stop waste before it starts.

Why Alex Warren Deserves Your Vote:

He has proven fiscal responsibility: Alex understands how to respect our hard-earned tax dollars. He is committed to cutting wasteful spending, demanding transparency, and treating the county budget with the same rigorous discipline he used in the private sector. We are all tired of the endless delays, excuses, and subpar road repairs. Alex will apply his 40+ years of professional management to our roads and bridges, ensuring infrastructure projects are completed efficiently and built right the first time.

He has an unwavering commitment to integrity. Guided by deep-rooted Christian conservative values, Alex is stepping up to restore public confidence in county government. He will replace the culture of favoritism with open communication, fairness, and absolute accountability.

He is a champion for smart growth and safety. Alex understands that thriving communities require safe neighborhoods and strong infrastructure. He will invest wisely in our first responders, infrastructure, and affordable housing to support sustainable local growth.

If common sense is a business approach was ever needed most it is with our county jail. That disaster of a building and trust is a disgrace, and it is dangerous folks. There is and always has been too much in fighting between commissioners, the district attorney, the sherif f and now the trust that is supposed to be running it. They each have their own agenda and yet deaths and health issues keep growing inside that dungeon. After conversations

with Alex, I believe his common sense approach is needed. No emotion and no agenda but rather the know how to make improvements happen. Until that takes place, voters will not approve any kind of sales tax dedicated to running the place.

We need much more common sense in Oklahoma county government which you would think would not be hard to find but as my good friend, Randy Goodman, likes to say, “Common sense is not so common.” This guy is a big believer in it and expresses it every time we talk. Oklahoma County deserves a Commissioner who listens, respects the taxpayers, and works purely to improve the lives of its residents. Alex Warren has hands-on experience, the business acumen, and the integrity to lead District 3 into a more efficient, accountable, and prosperous future.

On Election Day, vote for leadership you can trust. Vote Alex Warren for Oklahoma County Commissioner.

Political Negative Advertising in Oklahoma’s 2026 Primaries

Political campaigns in the United States have long traded optimistic, future-oriented visions for the sharper, more immediate weapon of negative advertising. However, the 2026 primary election cycle in Oklahoma has demonstrated that negative campaigning is no longer merely a tactical option; it has become the defining architectural framework of state politics.

Driven by high-stakes open seats—most notably the gubernatorial race to succeed outgoing Governor Kevin Stitt and a fiercely contested battle for Attorney General—the 2026 Oklahoma Republican primaries have devolved into an unprecedented barrage of attack ads. This reveals a profound transformation in how political battles are fought in deeply conservative states.

Funded by an opaque network of political action committees (PACs) and fueled by intense culturewar rhetoric, the 2026 negative advertising landscape in Oklahoma illustrates how “dark money,” personal character assassination, and hyper-ideological screening are reshaping the electorate and testing the boundaries of political civility and law.

The sheer volume of negative advertising in 2026 is structurally tied to Oklahoma's political reality. As one of the most reliably red states in the nation, the real battle for political power occurs almost exclusively within the Republican primary. Winning the June primary (or surviving the subsequent runoff) is tantamount to winning the gen-

eral election. With no incumbent governor on the ballot, a crowded field of prominent conservatives triggered a structural race to the bottom, where tearing down an opponent’s conservative credentials became more efficient than building up one's own.

The primary battleground split into two distinct philosophical camps: The Pragmatic Traditionalists: Exemplified by Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who campaigns on a platform focused on infrastructure, state tribal compacts, and quality-oflife governance. The Cultural Ideologues: Led by former House Speaker Charles McCall, alongside candidates like Chip Keating and Mike Mazzei, who staked their campaigns heavily on nationalized culture-war issues.

The deluge of negative political advertising in Oklahoma’s 2026 primary cycle carries consequences that extend far beyond election day. By prioritizing sensationalist culture-war anxieties over substantive policy debates, these ads degrade the public discourse and misinform the electorate. Fact checking organizations have consistently found that the most widely broadcasted ads of the cycle rely on half-truths, omitted context, or outright fabrications.

This style of campaigning complicates future governance. When a primary campaign frames an opponent not merely as someone with differing policy views, but as an existential threat to Oklahoma families, compromise becomes impossible. The deep factions carved out by dark-money PACs in 2026 risk paralyzing the Oklahoma legislature and executive branch long after the ballots are counted.

The escalation of negative advertising in Oklahoma is fundamentally an issue of campaign finance. The most toxic and factually dubious ads of 2026 have not come directly from the candidates’ official campaigns, but from Super PACs and dark money 501(c)(4) organizations. Under current legal frameworks, these entities can accept unlimited donations from wealthy individuals and corporations, effectively decoupling the negative ad from the candidate who benefits from it.

This allows candidates to maintain an aura of plausible deniability while their proxies run scorched-earth campaigns against their opponents. However, the 2026 cycle has pushed Oklahoma into uncharted legal territory regarding political speech.

Oklahoma's 2026 primary campaigns offer a stark warning for our electoral system. When negative advertising becomes the primary language of politics, campaigns cease to be a contest of ideas. Instead, they transform into an endurance test of who can survive the most expensive, legally precarious character assassination, leaving the voters of Oklahoma to sort through the political wreckage. So why are these negatives ads filling up the air waves done? It is simple, my friends. It is because they work and that is on us.

(Ray Hibbard, publisher, may be reached for comment at ray@edmondpaper.com)

New zoning ordinance approved for Edmond massage therapy businesses

The Edmond City Council has unanimously approved a new zoning ordinance to strengthen oversight of massage therapy businesses within Edmond city limits. The vote, taken on Monday, May 26, establishes updated standards that go into effect immediately and all affected businesses must comply by December 31, 2026.

The ordinance applies to any establishment conducting massage therapy, massage services, massage therapist practices, or related operations. Under the new regulations, businesses must:

Obtain a specific use permit through the Planning Commission and City Council.

Clearly display a valid license issued by the State of Oklahoma.

Ensure windows facing public rights-of-way are not covered with opaque tinting.

These updates follow a series of police investigations, community discussions, and complaints from residents, prompting City Council to request a comprehensive review of the municipal zoning code. Massage parlors that do not comply will not receive a specific use permit and will not be able to do business in Edmond. The updates were made possible after the Oklahoma State Legislature passed Senate Bill 644 in 2025. Co-authored by Edmond legislators Sen. Kristen Thompson and Rep. Preston Stinson, the law gave cities the ability to appropriately enforce zoning and licensing requirements for massage therapy businesses.

The new regulations mark the first stage of a broader initiative aimed at reinforcing Edmond’s

community standards, improving transparency, and ensuring that local businesses operate in a manner consistent with community expectations. Ward 3 City Councilor Preston Watterson expressed support for the ordinance, noting that the action reflects the City’s commitment to listening to residents and strengthening Edmond’s long-term strategic goals. “I am proud of this vote because it aligns with our 2026 strategic plan goals,” Watterson said. “We are listening to residents, upholding the standards our citizens expect, supporting law enforcement, and helping legitimate businesses thrive.”

City leaders emphasized that the ordinance is not designed to hinder business but to create consistent expectations, ensure compliance and safety, and reinforce consumer confidence. By clarifying requirements and improving visibility, Edmond aims to provide a stable environment in which legitimate massage therapy businesses can continue to succeed. “Edmond is a growing, dynamic city, and our responsibility is to ensure that growth benefits our entire community,” Mayor Mark Nash said. “These updated standards help protect residents while also supporting reputable businesses that contribute positively to our city’s quality of life. This ordinance reflects our ongoing commitment to safety, transparency, and thoughtful planning.”

Existing businesses can contact the Edmond Planning Department at 405-359-4790 or current.planning@edmondok.gov with questions and to receive a specific use permit.

City leaders emphasized that the ordinance is not designed to hinder business but to create consistent expectations, ensure compliance and safety, and reinforce consumer confidence.

Musicians at the Pavilion:

4-5:30 Big G Blues Band with Garrett Jacobson

6-7:30 From A to Z, pop with Zach and April Gaddis

8-9:30 OK3, contestants on Season 25 of “The Voice” Performances:4-6:00 Soltani Music School Performances

4-6:00 Bart Taylor, Roper

4-7:00 Dancing with Grandma

4-7:00 Blue Hippo Storytime with Anita, each hour

5-7:00 Troy Scott, magician

5:30-6 Ballet Folclórico Xochipilli OKC

6:30-7:30 McTeggart Irish Dancers of OK

7-8:00 Chelsea Parks, Hooplahoma Live Art Demonstrations:

4:00 Jay Tracy (painter) and Clint Stone (painter)

5:00 Talla Jurney (youth painter) and Matthew Nelson (painter)

6:00 Forrest McKinley (cartoonist) and Katelyn Noel Knick (painter)

7:00 Troy Scott (caricatures) and Elizabeth Czaplinski (printmaking)

8:00 Janet Funk (etching) and Sara Whitehead (mixed media) Visit EdmondHistory.org for further information and continuous updates.

Editor’s Note: In the event of inclement weather, please check ahead to see if weather has affected the plans of organizers.

Engagement, Wedding notices

Do you have a wedding or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com. We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph. Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

Lawmaker criticizes Governor’s pocket veto of bill

Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, commented today on the governor's pocket veto of legislation that would have prohibited solar generation facilities and battery energy storage systems (BESS) from qualifying for the Five-Year Ad Valorem Exemption for Manufacturers, beginning in January 2028.

Dobrinski is chairman of the House Utilities Committee and House author of Senate Bill 237. The governor had until midnight May 29 to take action on the bill. Because he did not sign it into law, and because the 2026 legislative session is adjourned sine die, the bill became pocket vetoed.

"I'm extremely disappointed the governor chose not to enact this legislation that had widespread support from constituents and legislators alike," Dobrinski said. "He overruled the decision of more

than 100 representatives and senators to protect taxpayer money from going to out-of-state developers taking advantage of a forty-year-old tax incentive originally designed to add quality jobs investment to our state. I represent thousands of constituents involved with the energy industry, both petroleum and renewables. Landowners choose whether they participate in various energy projects based on their own operations and unique family situation. What most agree on, however, is they support President Trump's decision to put an end to federal subsidization of the renewable industry, and Oklahoma should do the same!"

Dobrinski explained the five-year exemption was eliminated for wind in 2015 with Senate Bill 498. In 2021, the Legislature recognized data centers were costing the state $46 million annually

Attention given fraud cost Medicare has annually

Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion per year. It costs Medicare beneficiaries in time, stress, their medical identities, and potentially their health. The Oklahoma Insurance Department’s (OID) Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) is raising awareness of fraud and teaching consumers how to prevent it.

“Medicare fraud has a devastating impact on both beneficiaries and the Medicare program,” Director of the MAP division Ray Walker said. “We teach people how to avoid experiencing Medicare fraud. By preventing fraud from happening, this program helps individuals and protects the Medicare program for generations to come.”

Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones by joining MAP, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and their partners for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, observed this year June 1–5. Medicare Fraud Prevention Week is held annually during the week containing June 5 (6/5), symbolizing the age when most Americans become eligible for Medicare.

Everyone plays a part in the fight against fraud. During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week:

Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure products and services received match what is on the statements.

Families and caregivers can help by being on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment (like boxes of knee braces) lying around the house that may have been shipped to the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval. They can remind their client or loved one to protect their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number. They can help their loved ones create a Medicare.gov account to access their Medicare statements online or remind them to open and review

them when they come in the mail. They can also register their phone number on “do not call” lists and go to optoutprescreen.com to opt out of mailings.

Partners can help by sharing SMP information on social media, referring clients and consumers to the SMP, and inviting the SMP to speak during a shared event.

Health care professionals can help by talking to patients about health care-related scams, such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. They can remind them that products and services should only be ordered by physicians they regularly see. Needed medical items should never be ordered through TV ads or unsolicited calls.

Community members can help by looking out for older neighbors. When in public, they can be aware of older individuals purchasing gift cards in large amounts. They can encourage those they know to talk to a trusted source about their Medicare questions and tell neighbors about the most recent Medicare scams. They can even consider volunteering with the local SMP!

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is ready to provide you with the information you need to PROTECT yourself from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse; DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud. Your SMP can help you with your questions, concerns, or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. It also provides information and educational presentations.

If you have questions about other insurance issues, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 800-522-0071 or visit our website at oid.ok.gov.

through the exemption, so that eligibility was removed with Senate Bill 609.

"Eliminating this tax exemption for wind and data centers has obviously not deterred those types of new development projects in Oklahoma," Dobrinski emphasized. "We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars over the next several years that could go toward much-needed projects and services for hard-working Oklahomans. I look forward to working soon with our next governor to end this corporate welfare as quickly as possible."

Mike Dobrinski serves District 59 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Dewey and parts of Blaine, Garfield, Kingfisher and Woodward counties.

(Editor’s Note: The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department. Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law.

Also, AGG is aggrevated, FTA is failure to appear, CDS is controlled dangerous substance; APC is Actual Physical Control; DUI is driving under the influence.)

May 18

Serena Rae Griffin, 50 of Edmond. Public intoxication and two counts of failure to appear.

Herron Devon Hennessey, 27 homeless. Buglary/theft from an automobile.

Kevin Ray Custard, 54 of Edmond. A misdemeanor warrant and four felony warrants.

Jay Scott Pinney, Jr. 49 of Edmond. Two misdemeanor warrants.

Destiny Denise Adams, 24 of Oklahoma City. Shoplifting - petit larceny.

Travis Don Horton, 32 homeless. Three misdemeanor warrants and two felony warrants.

Michael Edward Loyd, 36 of Oklahoma City. Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

Jennifer Renee McDaniel, 33 of Yukon. Aggravated felony DUI — operate (DUI or APC) with a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or more.

May 19

Jacob Agustin Sanchez, 32 of Oklahoma City. Felony DUI with prior felony conviction.

Megan Lee Harris, 34 of Oklahoma City. Aggravated felony DUI — operate (DUI or APC) with a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or more.

May 20

Steven Thomas Daykin, 43, homeless. Four mis-

demeanor warrants and two felony warrants.

Travis Don Horton, 32, homeless. Felony warrant.

May 21

Laray Joseph Nelson, 41 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Tavion Alan Edwards, 23 of Oklahoma City. Possession of marijuana, expired tag. — over three months and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Deja Chantae Davis, 26 homeless. Felony warrant.

Matthew Joseph Coley, 26 of Edmond. Failure to appear.

Ashton Michael Fowler, 20 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor) domestic abuse assault and misdemeanor warrant.

May 22

Natoriana Amillon Porshe Stutson,l 22 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Evien DeShaun Bradford, 23 of Edmond. Possession of marijuana and failure to appear.

Max Deryl Colvin Jr., 64 of Harrah. Misdemeanor warrant.

Mario Madrigal, 37 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Gisele Barbose, 20 of Oklahoma City. Obstruction of police officer and (felony) malicious injury of destruction of property.

Israel Roy Dunn, 19 of Oklahoma City. Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, no proof of insurance, expired tag — over three months and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Raymond Flores Jr., 29 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, expired tag — over three months and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Lowell James Walley, 49 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Tyrese Lee Cooper, 24 of Oklahoma City. No proof of insurance, expired tag — over three months and operating a motor vehicle with no valid driver’ s license.

Britney Joe Hawks-Lopez, 26 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication, possess CDS and possess drug paraphernalia.

Joe Benjamin Rosenhamer, 48 of Edmond. Felony warrant.

May 23

Terance Adam Fields, 30 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Ryan Mitchel Humphus, 30 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Joshua Glen Peery, 38 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

John Allen Vanpelt, 45 of Edmond. Two counts of failure to appear.

Paul Edward Gardner, 69 of Edmond. Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and aggravated felony DUI — operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or more.

Zachary Donald Maggard, 31 of Edmond. Improper lane use and non-assault resisting an officer.

Mekhi Amari Davis, 29 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

May 24

Austin Alonzo James Anderson, 33 of Edmond. Trespassing after being warned.

Walter Jerome Funches, Jr., 45 homeless. Five counts of failure to appear.

Calvin Wayne Cade, Jr., 35 of Oklahoma City. Possess drug paraphernalia and possess CDS>

38 booking reports

Weekend calendar of events, June 4-7

Weekend Calendar of Events June 4-7

---- In the Gallery

---- Outdoor Edmond Farmer’s Market

---- Heard on Hurd

---- Concerts in the Park

---- Edmond Jr. Rodeo

---- Edmond Electric’s Touch-A-Truck

---- Route 66 100 Greatest Miles Road Rally

2026

---- The Route 66 Blue Hippo Festival

---- Summer Sculpt & Sweat – May Sunday Series

---- Edmond Patriot Market

---- Weekly Game Night

---- Saturday Morning Music Sessions

---- Coffee & Guitars

---- Book Swap

---- Trivia Night

---- Vinyl Night

---- Music Bingo

---- Beer + Yoga

---- The Round Barn Rendezvous

---- 1889 Territorial School Open House

---- Kid’s Fishing Derby

---- Oklahoma Senior Follies Show

---- Choose Your Adventure!

---- Code of the West Discover Table: June

---- Redbud Spectacular Horse Show

---- NCAA Women’s College World Series

---- Southern Plains Productions presents: The Last Five Years

---- First Friday Gallery Walk

---- OKC Zoo Gala: Marking Tracks

---- Pride on 39th Festival & Parade

---- Claude Hall’s Original OKC Gun Show

---- Oklahoma Railway Museum Train Rides

---- Bluegrass, BBQ & Brews

---- Sunrise Paddles in the Boathouse District

---- Guthrie Motorcycle Swap Meet

---- Midtown Oklahoma City Pop-Up Market

---- AutismOklahoma OKC 5K

Extra Information

In the Gallery

Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute

Extra Info: First Thu of every month Gallery

opening: 5 – 7 p.m.; Free; Gallery is open Mon –Thu; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Free; Featuring Sharon Sudduth and Marie Kash Weltzheimer; edmondfinearts.com

Outdoor Edmond Farmer’s Market

Location: Festival Market Place

Extra Info: Sat, Apr 11 – Sat, Oct 31; each Sat-

urday; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Free; edmondok.gov

Heard on Hurd

Location: Downtown Edmond

Extra Info: Sat, Mar 21 – Sat, Oct 17; recurring monthly on the 3rd Saturday; free; 6 – 10 p.m.; mycitizens.bank

Concerts in the Park

Location: Stephenson Park

Extra Info: Thu, Jun 4; Free; 6 – 8:30 p.m.; Heartland Flyer, Highway 66 Band – Classic Rock; edmondok.gov

Edmond Jr. Rodeo

Location: Edmond Round Up Club – Carl Benne

Arena

Extra Info: Fri, Jun 5 – Sat, Jun 6; Fri Jul 10 –Sat, Jul 11; Fri, Aug 7 – Sat, Aug 8; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.; Adults: $5; 18 & under: $1; edmondroundupclub.com

Edmond Electric’s Touch-A-Truck

Location: University of Central Oklahoma

Extra Info: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Suggested $2 donation; edmondok.gov

Route 66 100 Miles Road Rally 2026

Location: From Edmond to Sapulpa, OK

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; $25 per vehicle; 8 a.m. –6 p.m.; Eventbrite.com

The Route 66 Blue Hippo Festival

Location: Edmond History Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; 4 – 9 p.m.; Free; edmondhistory.org

Summer Sculpt & Sweat

– May Sunday Series

Location: The Yoga Spa

Extra Info: Every Sunday in May; $20; 5:30 –6:30 p.m.; facebook.com

Edmond Patriot Market

Location: 425 Fretz Ave, Edmond

Extra Info: Recurring last Saturdays of the month; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; free; facebook.com

Weekly Game Night

Location: American Solera – Icehouse Project

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Thu; 6 – 8:30 p.m.; visitedmondok.com

Saturday Morning Music Sessions

Location: Arcadia Round Barn

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Saturday; 10:30

a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; visitedmondok.com

Coffee & Guitars

Location: Edmond Music

Extra Info: Every Saturday morning; 10 a.m. –12 p.m.

Book Swap

Location: American Solera – Icehouse Project

Extra Info: Recurring every 2 months on the first Sunday; 2 – 5 p.m.; visitedmondok.com

Trivia Night Location: Flatire Burgers

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Thu; 8 – 10 p.m.; flatireburgers.com

Vinyl Night

Location: Round Midnight

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Thu; facebook.com

Music Bingo

Location: Flatire Burgers

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Sat; 7:30 p.m.; flatireburgers.com

Beer + Yoga

Location: America Solera – Icehouse Project

Extra Info: Recurring monthly on the 2nd Sunday; Free 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.; americansolera.com

The Round Barn Rendezvous

Location: Arcadia Round Barn

Extra Info: Recurring monthly on the 2nd Sunday; Free; 12 – 4 p.m.; arcadiaroundbarn.com

1889 Territorial School Open House

Location: 124 E 2nd

Extra Info: Recurring weekly on Sat; 1 – 4 p.m.; Free; edmondhistory.org

Kid’s Fishing Derby

Location: Arcadia Lake – Spring Creek Park

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.; edmondok.gov

Oklahoma Senior Follies Show

Location: Mitchell Hall Theatre

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6 – Sun, Jun 7; Sat: 7 p.m.; Sun: 2 p.m.; okseniorfollies.org

Choose Your Adventure!

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Thu, Jun 4 – Sun, Jun 7; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Code of the West Discover Table: June

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Mon, Jun 1 – Tue, Jun 30; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Redbud Spectacular Horse Show

Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park

Extra Info: Thu, May 28 – Sun, Jun 7; okqha.org

NCAA Women’s College World Series

Location: Devon Park

Extra Info: Thu, May 28 – Fri, Jun 5; ncaa.com

Southern Plains Productions presents: The Last Five Years

Location: Civic Center Music Hall

Extra Info: Fri, May 29 – Sat, Jun 6; Thu – Fri: 7:30 p.m.; Sat: 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Sun: 2 p.m.; okcciviccenter.com

First Friday Gallery Walk

Location: Paseo Arts District

Extra Info: Fri, Jun 5; 6 – 9 p.m.; thepaseo.org

OKC Zoo Gala: Marking Tracks

Location: Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

Extra Info: Fri, Jun 5; 5 – 9 p.m.; ozsgiving.org

Pride on 39th Festival & Parade

Location: 2117 NW 39th St, OKC

Extra Info: Fri, Jun 5 – Sun, Jun 7; okcprideinc.org

Claude Hall’s Original OKC Gun Show

Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6 – Sun, Jun 7; Sun: 9 a.m. –4 p.m.; Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; okcgun.show

Oklahoma Railway Museum Train Rides

Location: Oklahoma Railway Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; Train departure times: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.; etix.com

Bluegrass, BBQ & Brew

Location: Riversport OKC, Whitewater Center

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; riversportokc.org

Sunrise Paddles in the Boathouse District

Location: Riversport OKC

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; 6 a.m.; riversportokc.org

Guthrie Motorcycle Swap Meet

Location: Logan County Fairgrounds, Guthrie

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; 9 a/m. – 5 p.m.; guthrieswapmeet.com

Midtown Oklahoma City Pop-Up Market

Location: 399 NW 10th, OKC

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; okcpopups.com

AutismOklahoma OKC 5K

Location: 3701 S Lake Hefner Dr

Extra Info: Sat, Jun 6; Resource Fair opens: 9:30 a.m.; Walk begins: 10 a.m.; autismoklahomawalk.org

Aviation industry honors Edmond lawmaker

Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, has received the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association’s Vic Bird Airvangelist Award, recognizing her advocacy and leadership in support of Oklahoma’s aviation and aerospace industry.

The Vic Bird Airvangelist Award honors individuals who promote public understanding of aviation and work to strengthen the aerospace industry across Oklahoma. The award is named in honor of longtime Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission director Vic Bird, who was widely known for his dedication to aviation growth and education throughout the state.

Miller serves as vice chair of the Oklahoma Legislature’s Aerospace Caucus and represents House District 82, which includes northwest Oklahoma City, west Edmond and Deer Creek. She is also in her fifth year serving as chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Transportation Subcommittee, where she directly works on transportation funding priorities and significant strategic invest-

ments in Oklahoma’s transportation system, including airports and aviation infrastructure across the state. Throughout her time in the Legislature, she has championed efforts to strengthen Oklahoma’s aviation industry through infrastructure investment, workforce development and policies aimed at positioning Oklahoma as a national leader in aerospace innovation.

"I’m incredibly honored to receive the Vic Bird Airvangelist Award," Miller said. "Oklahoma has a long and proud history in aviation and aerospace, and I believe we have an incredible opportunity to keep building on that legacy. Supporting our airports and aviation infrastructure is about economic growth, innovation, public safety and creating opportunities for future generations. I’m grateful to work alongside so many dedicated industry leaders, airport operators and local partners who care deeply about the future of aviation in our state."

The Oklahoma Airport Operators Association said Miller has continued advocating for aviation growth in Oklahoma while supporting policies that help ensure the safety and long-term success of airports and aerospace infrastructure across the state.

A potential purchase of water from the City of Oklahoma City could require Edmond residents who require the use of a home kidney dialysis machine to adjust their method of operation.

Edmond’s water supply consists of two primary sources and a secondary source. The primary sources are surface water from Arcadia Lake and well water from the Garber-Wellington aquifer. The third potential source is treated water purchased from Oklahoma City and may be used during the summer months.

Oklahoma City water, if necessary, will not be purchased any earlier than 30 days from the date of this notice. City of Edmond Water Resources officials want to advise residents of the potential purchase because some home dialysis machines may need adjustment due to the different disinfection system used by Oklahoma City.

Although residents typically do not notice any change, kidney dialysis machines may require a different method of operation. Oklahoma City uses chloramines and Edmond uses chlorine, which is termed “Free” chlorine, for disinfection. Both disinfecting processes meet all state standards and are accepted industry-wide.

When bringing in smaller amounts of Oklahoma City water, Edmond uses the connection located on the southwest side of town. Water is delivered and blended to a large ground storage tank and then pumped into the distribution system as needed. The Oklahoma City water used from this location is blended with Edmond water.

In the event Edmond needs to bring in larger amounts of water, there is a secondary connection and pump station in northwest Edmond. This facility can accommodate up to 8 million gallons of water per day. If it becomes necessary to utilize this facility then Edmond can, if needed, convert the chloramine disinfectant back to the “Free” chlorine state, or use it as it is.

Residents are encouraged to advise Utility Customer Service if they have a medical condition that would warrant notification prior to a change. To report a medical condition, call 405-359-4541 or email UtilityCustomerService@edmondok.gov.

Election reminder

The Oklahoma primary election will be held Tuesday, June 16 with a multitude of tightly contested federal,statewide and legislative races across all 77 counties.

The ballot will also contain SQ 832, a ballot initiative to raise Oklahoma's minimum wage. Early walk-in absentee voting will take place at all 77 county election boards across Oklahoma the Thursday (8am-6pm), Friday (8am-6pm) and Saturday (9am-2pm) prior to the Tuesday election.

Polling locations on Election Day will be open from 7am-7pm. Some larger populated counties such as Oklahoma,Tulsa, Canadian and Cleveland will also have alternative early voting sites in addition to their election board locations.

High profile primaries on the ballot include U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, Lt.Governor, Attorney General, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Corporation Commission, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Labor Commissioner and Insurance Commissioner.

Genealogy groups have close ties to community

By Kimberly Burk, for Edmond Life and Leisure

Iris May admits she is likely to receive that “eyes glazed over” look if she shares with people at length about her family history discoveries.

But people who have little interest in genealogy might be surprised to learn just how much Edmond’s family-lineage organizations contribute to the city’s quality of life.

“Doing your genealogy grounds you in your American history,” said May, who serves as vice president for programs and publicity for the Edmond Genealogy Society.

“Now you can place your family in these different places and time periods. It makes me super patriotic, regardless of who is in office.”

Her interest in history and civic affairs led May to also join the Daughters of the American Revolution, larger chapters of which can boast dozens of committees devoted to community service.

Mary Marritt was a natural for the education mission of the DAR, having served as assistant Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction when Sandy Garrett was the state superintendent.

Marritt is regent of the Samuel King chapter, which meets at First United Methodist Church and is the largest DAR chapter in the state.

“The church has the most amazing staff including tech people,” Marritt said. “We’ve been thrilled to be there.”

The chapter donates school supplies, holds fundraisers and sponsors an essay contest that goes all the way to the national level.

“We really enjoy being a part of the schools,” said Merritt, a former English and history teacher. “Last year we went to Crescent and worked with fifth graders. We loved those kids. I was amazed at what they already knew. We made

six or seven trips there.”

Jan Beattie, a retired infectious disease microbiologist, is another Edmond Genealogy Society member who also belongs to DAR and numerous other historical and lineage-based societies. Much of her civic service this year is revolving around America 250.

“One of the most important things we are doing is dedicating at least two specially-made benches to donate to the city of Edmond for Stephenson Park, to symbolize America 250,” said Beattie, who belongs to the Cordelia Steen chapter of the DAR, also based in Edmond.

Beattie said she thinks the celebration of America’s 250th birthday will prompt a lot of people to research their patriot ancestors and perhaps join lineage societies.

Beattie plans to present several workshops during the coming year to help people find their Revolutionary War ancestors, including one in August to the Oklahoma Genealogical Society.

The Cordelia Steen chapter also provides toiletries, clothing and snacks for patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Oklahoma City as well as for homeless veterans. They receive help with that project from a Children of the American Revolution chapter that Cordelia Steen helped establish.

May, who also belongs to the Cordelia Steen chapter, is one of five members who visit Will Rogers Elementary every Friday to help fifth graders with STEM projects. On May 15, they provided red, white and blue cupcakes to celebrate America 250 and talk about the Revolutionary War.

“During the past two years, the Samuel King Chapter has logged more than 20,000 service hours,” Marritt said.

Projects include picking up trash

along Broadway Street and ongoing support of the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond, including raising money for upkeep and providing certified teachers for summer camps held at the school.

“Many DAR members branch out and serve on other historical and service organizations,” said Marritt, who belongs to the Edmond His-

toric Preservation Trust and is board secretary for the Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie.

The Cordelia Steen chapter participates in ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day and honors Vietnam veterans every March 29, May said.

“It makes you have closer ties to your community,” May said.

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

No state income tax?

By Steve Gust

Ready to vote? Oklahoma has a big election on the 16th.

It was interesting reading in The Oklahoman Sunday about the central issues being discussed.

Usually the issues don’t change a lot from election to election. I don’t ever remember a state election that didn’t have education as one of the key topics. It is again this year.

Steve Gust

But something that’s also grabbing attention is the elimination of the Oklahoma income tax. If we could eliminate the federal income tax – we’d be in good shape. That most likely is not going to happen. I’d settle for a lower rate and eliminate fraud by those who spend our money.

On the state level, we’ve seen explosive business growth in Texas, Florida and other states without a state income tax. Maybe it is something Oklahoma needs to seriously consider.

The article mentioned the state chamber president pushing for better education. He said that “if you show up at Career Tech and can’t

read, you can’t get a certification.”

That’s a fairly shocking statement. Do we really have teens who can’t read? How have they gotten that far along in the education process without being able to read? If that statement is true, it's really sad.

The article spoke about other plans gubernatorial candidates have including eliminating the property tax for veterans and seniors –another good idea. We’ve seen this movie before also. A candidate can virtually come out for any idea during the campaign. But if the state legislature doesn’t hop aboard, then the plan doesn’t become reality. And usually the candidate, running for re-election, blames the legislature for not enacting his or her brilliant idea.

It’s the old “a chicken in every pot,” promise. And people like ideas which financially benefit them.

But if you get a chance, study the issues and then be sure to cast your ballot on June 16.

(Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)

Groups appealing new utility law

Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers, AARP Oklahoma Challenge the Constitutionality of SB 998 in the Oklahoma Supreme Court

An appeal challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 998, a newly enacted law mandating utility Construction Work in Progress (CWIP) cost recovery, has been filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers (OIEC) and AARP. Under the new law, utility companies such as OG&E and PSO are allowed to recover costs from their customers for power plant construction projects, some costing more than $500 million, before those projects are completed, in service, and providing benefits to customers.

Due to the newly enacted law that mandates CWIP recovery from customers, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners were forced to authorize CWIP cost recovery from PSO ratepayers despite their reluctance to do so.

AARP’s expert witness testified that PSO’s CWIP recovery will cost customers approximately $46 million

Governor welcomes court ruling on tribal matter

Last week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected Mayor Monroe Nichols’ attempt to cede authority to an Indian tribe. The decision voids a settlement agreement signed by Mayor Nichols between the City of Tulsa and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation that would have prevented municipal police and prosecutors from enforcing laws against tribal members.

“The Supreme Court ruled in favor of local law enforcement, restoring the position of previous City of Tulsa leadership and affirming my administration’s position that a city cannot unilaterally enter into an agreement without the Governor’s consent," said Gov. Stitt. “This agreement would have mandated that Tulsa’s laws were to be enforced based on race. You can't pick and choose who to apply the law to, especially based on race."

mayors in Tulsa, asserting that the city has the authority to ticket drivers no matter race. Former Mayor G.T. Bynum, whom the lawsuit was initially filed against, defended the City of Tulsa’s jurisdiction to ticket tribal members driving within city limits.

more than the traditional financing approach used by the Corporation Commission. In their appeal, AARP Oklahoma and the OIEC assert that the CWIP law is unconstitutional and unfairly burdens PSO ratepayers, especially older residents living on fixed incomes.

“CWIP forces Oklahomans to pay upfront for projects that may never deliver value to them,” said AARP Oklahoma State Director Sean Voskuhl. “Instead of utilities taking on the risk of building major projects, Oklahoma families, businesses and industries are required to pay in advance for infrastructure they may never use. That places a burden on many PSO customers that simply can’t afford that mandate.”

John Givens, a Senior Regulatory Analyst for the Corporation Commission offered testimony against the CWIP request, testifying, “It unfairly recovers all financing costs from customers before the plant is even providing service. This means that future customers who use the plant will experience savings, but the customers who financed it will see much higher costs in early years and may not see any savings unless they stay on the system for decades.”

He further cited a Manhattan Institute report that claimed CWIP incentivizes lengthy construction timelines and results in cost escalations and overexpansion.

A recent AARP survey shows overwhelming concern about shifting infrastructure costs onto residential customers with 92% older Oklahomans saying policymakers should ensure residents are not required to pay for new large-scale energy demands, and 86% believe those costs should be borne by the companies driving them. Also, 80% oppose allowing utility companies to preemptively raise residential customers’ rates to subsidize future improvements that they may not actually use or benefit from.

The survey also underscores the financial strain many older Oklahomans are already facing. 65% of respondents report that their electricity bills have increased over the past year, and 77% say they are concerned about future increases.

Democrat points out grim stats on gun violence

Oklahoma’s overall gun death rate increased by 27 percent from 2014 to 2023. Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, is urging Oklahomans to participate in Wear Orange Weekend on June 5 and 6, honoring people across the country affected by gun violence and advocating for change.

This decision restores the posture of previous

Under Mayor Monroe Nichols, the City of Tulsa changed its posture and entered into an agreement with the Muskogee Nation to remove the authority of Tulsa law enforcement to prosecute Indian defendants in the City of Tulsa as well to dismiss pending municipal prosecutions. This came after the Oklahoma courts had already confirmed the city’s authority to prosecute non-major crimes. Governor Stitt challenged the agreement, pointing out that precedent and that Mayor Nichols entered into this agreement without securing approval from the Governor or the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations as mandated in 74 O.S.2021, § 1221.

Letters to the Editor policy

We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, compliments or comments about what they read here. The rules, even for e-mail letters:

1) You must tell us your full name;

2) You must give us your complete address and phone numbers (but we will identify you only by name); and

3) We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity and taste (our taste).

Send mail to Letter to the Editor, Edmond Life & Leisure, 107 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034. or fax to 340-3384 or e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com.

“The aftermath of gun violence costs Oklahoma taxpayers billions every year, and the human toll is immeasurable,” Boren said. “Ultimately, it impacts all of us. I’d love to see people get involved in this national event to help draw attention to how Oklahomans are affected by gun violence and to promote common-sense solutions.”

According to 2023 data, there were 814 gun deaths in the state, including 221 homicides and 573 suicides, resulting in Oklahoma having the fifth highest gun suicide rate in the entire country. Firearms were the leading cause of death among young people ages one to 17 in 2023. Sixty-four percent of female intimate partner homicide victims in Oklahoma are killed with a gun.

Boren said to support this annual national event, Oklahomans can wear orange during the first weekend in June to honor the nearly 130 people who are shot and killed every day in the United States, those who are injured by gun violence, and the family and friends of victims whose lives have also been changed.

“People can use their social media accounts to promote Wear Orange Weekend for June 5 and 6, and advocate for the need for greater gun safety,” Boren said. “I encourage folks to post pictures of themselves wearing orange and use the hashtag #WearOrange. This is about protecting our families, friends and neighbors.”

Hank the Cowdog’s special West Texas home

By Elaine Warner

In the pantheon of famous dogs, several names come to mind: Greyfriars Bobby, Balto, Fala, Lassie, Pluto and Scooby-doo. But for millions of today’s children, the name at the top of the list is Hank the Cowdog.

With over 80 books and nine million copies, Hank is a hero, although flawed like all good heroes. Author John Erickson has entertained readers since 1983 with Hank’s adventures, misadventures and mystery-solving skills. The books have been translated into Chinese, Danish, Farsi, Spanish and Latin.

What most readers won’t know is that his canine protagonist has an Oklahoma connection. The books were inspired by a real dog – an Australian shepherd owned by the late Mark Mayo who trained him. Mark owned the Maple YL Ranch near Forgan. Hank was his best buddy and constant companion. At that time, Erickson was his ranch manager.

Other than the name, Hank is the figment of Erickson’s rich imagination and has become not only a source of pleasure for millions of kids – but he has a new job. Hank is the Head of Ranch Security and educational facilitator at the M-Cross Ranch, part of the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center at Lubbock’s Ranching Heritage Center – part of the Texas Tech campus.

The purpose of this portion of the Center is designed to introduce youngsters to the complexities of ranch life today. This comprehensive section of the facility features indoor and outdoor exhibits. Information is presented in a way understandable to children but also interesting and informative to adults. Between videos, games and hands-on exhibits – plus the half-acre out-of-doors compaction of a ranch –visitors explore everything from environment, weather, tools, and occupational opportunities. And Hank is the guide.

First stop is the Ranch Headquarters – Mission Control. A game here introduces a mystery on the ranch – a murder, the victims, chickens – guests should be on the lookout for clues as they tour the park.

Indoor exhibits begin with ecology – the soil, the grasses and what’s beneath the soil – roots, bugs and animals. A complicated chart – with grasses at the

center – shows the interrelationship between animals and humans which rely on the prairies.

Weather is a big factor. In the next area, a large table with a video display shows the movements of people, animals and machinery during different seasons of the year. Weather is one of the subjects treated in another series by Erickson, Ranch Life Learning books.Children learn the difference between climate and weather. Graphics describe differences in the seasons. For example: spring weather may bring tornados; hot weather drought creates the danger of prairie fires; winter has its own challenges with snow storms and ice.

Another area features cowboys and their equipment. Saddles mounted on low racks allow kids to get the feel of a saddle – and parents get great photo ops.

Ranch economics are taught with a video game. It’s round-up time. It’s all hands on deck – but they have to be paid and fed – what’s it going to cost?

More video screens show the wide variety of cattle breeds – consideration must be taken for the value of each breed, the breed most suited to the environment and the ultimate profit to be made.

Another graphic suggests job opportunities related to actual ranch work. These include a variety of possibilities in fields from animal health and nutrition to marketing, publishing, livestock show management, legal matters like property rights and quality assurance in meat processing.

Next a small theater gives visitors a video view of a day in the life of a cowboy. Then visitors are invited outside and greeted with a statue of Hank welcoming them to the M-Cross Ranch.

Exhibits are multi-layered. Graphics include Hank’s observations and his experiences in addition to detailed explanations for those who wish to delve deeper into the intricacies of ranching.

A foundational exhibit describes the importance of water on the ranch. Surface water is scarce in this area. Early settlers learned to tap into the large Ogallala Aquifer by using windmills. Without this equipment, the large cattle ranches couldn’t survive. In hot weather a cow needs to drink 25 to 30 gallons a day. People need water, too, and kids enjoy trying a solarpowered hand pump.

Other sites address the history of human occupation in the area. Panels show tracks of the variety of wildlife in the area and another spot illustrates restoration of the prairie environment.

Ranch buildings are part of the displays. My stomach growled when I saw there was a cake house on the property. Unfortunately, this building is used for the storage of cow cakes – compressed protein supplements for winter feeding. Bins in here hold samples of a variety of grains used to supply the required nutrients. A chart explains the cow’s digestive system. Hank’s panel explains how important his job is protecting the cake house from intruders like skunks, mice and porcupines.

Another building displays tools used on the ranch. Accompanying materials describe a variety of needed implements and how they work.

The ranch manager’s house is a favorite with the youngest visitors. Guarded by Pete the Barncat, Hank’s arch-nemesis, it’s a super-sized playhouse. Outside in the fenced yard toy trailers, trucks and animals provide entertainment for little ones. 3

The large learning center is a great addition to an already outstanding museum. The other highlight is a 19-acre historical park featuring 53 structures (all but five between 100 and 200 years-old), representing a broad spectrum of ranching heritage in Texas.

Along with additional exhibits in the main building, there’s a gift shop. Here you’ll find tee-shirts, mugs, stuffed animals, souvenirs, and copies of Hank the Cowdog and Ranch Life Learning books.

If you’ve been reading my columns for a while, you’ll note that I love Lubbock – its wine heritage, the arts, the food and the museums. But to me, the Ranching Heritage Center is the real headliner. It’s open Monday through Saturday, 10 to 5 and Sunday from 1 to 5. Plan on spending three hours to see everything. Admission is free. And that’s really something to love.

OMRF names Teen Leaders class for 2026-27 school year

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has chosen 49 high school students from across the state for its 14th annual Teen Leaders class.

These students will visit OMRF monthly throughout the 2026-27 school year to meet with philanthropic leaders from Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.

They also will spend time in OMRF’s labs, learn about how nonprofit organizations function, and develop an understanding of the impact charitable giving makes on a community.

The 2026-27 class includes 16 returning students from last year’s class who will function as an advisory council.

Applications are accepted from high school students across Oklahoma. Each must submit a written application and a letter of reference to qualify and then participate in an interview process.

The teens will work on team-building and fundraising projects tailored to teach the basics of philanthropy, networking, fundraising and board service. Prior classes have organized community-wide events to raise money for disease research at OMRF.

“We’ve had many previous Teen Leaders return and tell us how their OMRF experience gave them confidence and propelled their outreach and leadership capabilities,” said OMRF’s Katherine Jackson, who coordinates the program. “Their feedback tells us we are providing the skills and the knowledge they need to make an impact in their communities."

Listed by high school, below are OMRF’s 2026-27 Teen Leaders.

· Bishop McGuinness: Paige Ihrig, Gabriella Kunnath, Kinley Randolph, Kiona Wadmia

· Casady: Dhiya Jeevanantham, Chloe Kim, Maya Kumar, Nathan Lee, Rishika Shah

· Classen School of Advanced Studies: Uma Geng, Monicalian Mawi, Ved Pakala, Sreekar Vajjha, Sailesh Swamidurai

· Deer Creek: Siya Pasula, Claire Hopkins, Nadhi Rajendrakumar

· Edmond Memorial: Marissa Bruner

· Edmond North: Nina Hsu

· Edmond Santa Fe: Akshaj Dalavayi, Pari Mattewada, Pavithra Raghavendiran

· Heritage Hall: Sophia Albiek, Adam Hamadeh, Kimberly Phan, Hunter Trudgeon

· Homeschool: Shalom Vasantha

· Jenks: Greyson Francy

· Kingfisher: Callie Blair, Lily Voth

· Mercy School Institute: Jana Jawhari

· Mustang High School: Hayden Kim

· Norman: Charlotte Lee Hamilton, Beckett Tiffany, Ava Wade

· Norman North: Taylor Covey, Erin Paik, Anaya Patel, Arjun Prasad

· Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics: Elina Ji, Erin Mathiesen, Abrielle Vanderschans

· Piedmont: Jacob Lam

· Putnam City: Andries Nguyen

· Southmoore: Aubrey Conley, Mira Patel

· Stillwater: Bahera Alneama

· Western Heights: Anh Ho

· Yukon: Abigail Mathai

Lecture June 10 at Guthrie museum

Join the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library on Wednesday, June 10, from 7 to 8 p.m. for a lecture on the history of Territorial medicine with Ben Folger, a Ph.D. student at the University of Oklahoma.

histories of medicine in the American West in his doctoral work.

The Oklahoma Territorial Museum is located at 406 E. Oklahoma Ave. in Guthrie.

For more information, please call 405-282-1889.

Folger will be presenting his research on medical frontiers in Oklahoma, their relation to the history of tribal medicine and the professionalism of medicine. The lecture will cost $5 per person.

Folger is a first-year Ph.D. student at OU studying the history of medicine in the American West. He graduated from OU in 2022, earning his master’s degree with his thesis entitled, “‘A great mass of incompetent men’: Contested medical frontiers in Oklahoma, 1880-1940,” which examined trends in the professionalization of medicine in Oklahoma. Ben looks to continue exploring the relationship between Colonial-era violence and

—— The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.

Awards for Route 66 book

This year marks the centennial of historic Route 66, and the premier book celebrating that event, "Route 66: The First 100 Years,” by Jim Ross and Shellee Graham, has earned two prestigious honors.

On May 16th it was awarded the Gold Medal for Best Coffee Table Book from the Independent Book Publishers Association, a national competition drawing nearly 2,000 entries. On the same day, it won the prestigious Oklahoma Book Award for Design/Illustration/Photography, recognizing the book’s outstanding visual presentation.

Released by Reedy Press of St. Louis in May 2025, the book is a biographical journey through the route’s birth, life, demise, renaissance, and legend. The authors, who have decades of experience explor-

ing, documenting, and writing about Route 66, have published numerous other books and are both wellknown ambassadors for America’s Mother Road. Previously, the book was named to the Summer Reading List by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and chosen by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 10 best travel books of 2025. Route 66 conjures up images of dreamers, road-trippers, migrants, and nomads. On a deeper level, it is a story of escape, triumph, deliverance, and adventure during the best and worst of times. With over 400 photographs, many of them vintage, Route 66: The First 100 Years combines striking imagery with a compelling narrative celebrating the history, culture, and enduring legacy of America’s most famous highway.

Regional Food Bank program returning

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding Program returns this June to provide free meals and snacks for children all summer long.

More than 100 locations will be available throughout central and western Oklahoma.

“Summer should be a time of growth and opportunity for Oklahoma children, not a time of hunger,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. “Our Summer Feeding Program helps provide consistent access to nutritious meals, ensuring every child stays healthy and ready to thrive in the school year ahead.”

The Summer Feeding Program officially kicks off on Monday, June 1 and runs through Friday, Aug. 7. More than 120 sites will distribute free meals and snacks to children ages 18 and under. Visit rfbo.org/summermeals to find a list of locations.

The Summer Feeding Program is a federal nutrition program managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and distributed through the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Summer meals are also provided with support from the USDA. Meals will be provided equally and without charge to all children aged 18 and younger, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Engagement, Wedding notices

Do you have a wedding or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com. We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph. Payment is due upon submitted by noon Thursday.

There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To file a complaint of discrimination, call 800-795-3272 or write to:

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Director Office of Adjudication 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.q

About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is leading the fight against hunger in 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma and envisions a state where no one goes hungry. Founded in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the state’s largest domestic hunger-relief 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes food through a network of community- based partner agencies and schools. The majority of people served by the Regional Food Bank are chronically hungry children, seniors living on fixed incomes and hardworking families struggling to make ends meet. The Regional Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks. To join the fight to end hunger, visit rfbo.org.

Review of movie ‘Backrooms’

‘Twenty-something’ director makes debut

By George Gust

“Backrooms” is the directorial debut for Kane Parson, a director in his twenties who cut his teeth creating short films on YouTube and seems to understand the texture of Gen Z dread better than a lot of bigger-budget attempts aimed at the same audience. The sort of cultural moment that, oddly, last week’s “Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu” failed to own despite the limitless resources of Disney. This summer has felt a bit like the shift in the 1970s from glossy studio musicals like “Hello Dolly” to the raw, low-budget realism of “Easy Rider” the scale and budgets are smaller, but the emotional reach feels truer to its time.

After a therapist's (Renate Reinsve) patient (Chiwetel Ejiofor) disappears into a dimension beyond reality, she must venture into the unknown to save him.

“Backrooms” succeeds most from it’s willingness to sit in loneliness and let discomfort grow. The backrooms concept (those endless, liminal spaces that internet lore made viral) is stripped of dense mythology and used as a psychological landscape. The movie focuses on a handful of characters with real, messy problems, and it trusts the audience to feel the creepiness without constant explanation.

Answers on Page 19

That restraint pays off, the dread is cumulative, and the film’s quieter shocks land because you’ve been living in the unease it builds. Thematically, it nails the social-media-era experience of putting on masks and becoming someone you barely recognize, while external pressures, financial, political, interpersonal press in from the edges.

What might turn viewers off is the film’s deliberate flatness. The cinematography and staging are intentionally plain, and if you’re not willing to lean into that aesthetic the movie can feel inert. The pace is patient to the point of sluggishness at times; scenes are allowed to breathe, which deepens the mood but can test your patience. And if you’re coming for jump scares and set-piece

chases, this isn’t your film. It’s a slow-burn psychological piece that prefers lingering unease to adrenaline.

Most of the audience is here for the creepy world of the Backrooms, but the performances are the film’s secret heart. Eijiofor gives a quietly devastating turn, portraying a fractured psyche that connects to the backrooms’ emptiness in a way that’s both heartbreaking and unnerving. Reinsve matches him with a layered performance that carries trauma and regret without melodrama, she makes small choices that reveal a lot. Together they show the different ways the characters relate to the other worldly aspects and make the film feel more lived-in and human.

Overall, “Backrooms” is an exciting, if occasionally testing, piece of modern horror. It won’t satisfy every genre itch, but its focus on character and atmosphere makes it a distinctive, memorable film that matches the generational and cultural moment.

“Backrooms” is rated R for language and some violent content/bloody images. 4 out of 5 stars.

(Contact George Gust for comment about this movie, or any other motion pictures at gust.george@gmail.com)

10,000 pounds of shredding

The South OKC Chamber of Commerce hosted one of its biggest and busiest Shred Day events yet on Friday, May 15, at the Moore Norman Technology Center South Penn Campus. The free community event helped residents safely dispose of sensitive documents and unused medications in a secure and convenient drive-through format.

Throughout the event, community members recycled and securely shredded more than 10,000 pounds of paper documents, helping protect personal information while also keeping recyclable materials out of landfills. In addition, the Oklahoma City Police Department collected and safely disposed of 253 pounds of expired and unused medications.

“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming community support for this year’s Shred Day,” said Elaine Lyons, President of the South OKC Chamber. “It is rewarding to provide a free service that helps people protect their personal information, safely dispose of unused medications, and clean out their homes in a safe way.”

State takes action against McAlester insurance producer

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) fined and revoked the license of Cheri Ellis, a McAlester insurance producer, after an AntiFraud Unit investigation.

OID opened an investigation after receiving five complaints alleging Ellis misappropriated more than $90,000 in customer premium payments, issued a fraudulent Certificate of Insurance, and misrepresented premium amounts owed to consumers.

A show cause hearing was held at OID’s offices on Nov. 13, 2025, before an independent examiner, at which Ellis failed to appear. After presentation of all the evidence, the Hearing Officer determined that Ellis had failed to remit the premium payments of five insureds to the proper insurer resulting in the

cancellation of the insureds’ policies; failed to remit returned premium to an insured within 30 days of receipt; provided a false or altered Certificate of Insurance to another insured; and misled five insureds, accepting more than the required amount of premium, changing insureds’ payment terms for their policies, and misleading the insured regarding cancellations of their policies.

OID revoked Ellis’ license and issued a fine of $12,000. She was the owner of Independent Insurance Agency (IIA) in McAlester.

If you think you’ve witnessed insurance producer fraud, you can report it confidentially to OID by emailing fraudstoppers@oid.ok.gov, calling 800-522-0071 or visiting oid.ok.gov/anti-fraud.

Post Office issues its North American Soccer stamp

The U.S. Postal Service issued its North American Soccer stamp today at the 2026 Boston World Exposition as part of the stamp show’s sports theme day.

The United States is home to tens of millions of soccer fans, and that number is only expected to grow. Soccer has become especially popular with younger Americans, with millions playing at the youth level and more than 800,000 participating in high school.

Excitement is high as players and fans await the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the United States as a co-host, the FIFA World Cup could reshape the future of soccer in the country. The tournament kicks off in Mexico on June 11 and concludes in New Jersey on July 19. The United States will host 78 FIFA World Cup matches in 11 locations.

“America is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. And if that weren’t enough, the FIFA World Cup kicks off in just two weeks, with the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosting the matches,” said USPS Chief Technology Officer Gary Reblin, who helped dedicate the stamp at the expo. “Boston itself will host seven World Cup matches. You can really feel the anticipation here, there’s lots of excitement in the air.”

Soccer has a long history in the United States. Early games involving kicking a ball were played by Native Americans before the arrival of European settlers. By the early 19th century, games combining elements of soccer, football and rugby were played casually, with rules changing frequently.

The sport’s popularity grew in the second half of the century, fueled by increasing urbanization, immigration and industrialization. Attempts to establish a professional soccer league began as early as 1894, but it was only in 1968 that the North American Soccer League was formed. The sport’s profile in the United States was raised further when the New York Cosmos made signed Brazilian

superstar Pelé in 1975.

Held every four years since 1930 — with a pause during World War II — the FIFA World Cup first came to the United States in 1994, drawing a record 3.5 million fans. That year, the U.S. team advanced beyond the knockout stage for the first time in 64 years and bolstered the popularity of the sport in the country.

Following the success of the World Cup, Major League Soccer launched in 1996 with 10 teams. Today, it has 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and three in Canada. International stars such as David Beckham and Lionel Messi furthered the league’s popularity. In 2024, it was the second-highest attended soccer league in the world, with attendance increasing 14 percent between 2022 and 2024.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, is no stranger to the sport, having watched his daughter play from the age of 4 until college. He still watches the sport and attends DC United and Washington Spirit games. He also worked on the 2023 Women’s Soccer stamp.

Alcalá says there was a long process to get to the final design. He began by looking at all the soccer stamps from around the world that he could find and sorting them by their similarities. He then looked at stock photography to see what images would appeal the most and settled on the player striking the ball in midair.

The famous “gooooooooal” call was started by announcers in Latin America before being popularized by Andrés Cantor during the 1990 World Cup. The call is now heard around the world, from kids on playgrounds to the FIFA World Cup final. North American Soccer stamp is issued in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag#SoccerStamp.

CareerTech, SSM Health youth apprentice program has 24 graduates

Twenty-four technology center students recently graduated from the inaugural SSM Health youth apprenticeship program.

The students, all from Oklahoma City area technology centers, were the first participants in the program, which allowed them to have a paying job at a major health provider while they were still seniors in high school.

The program is a result of more than a year’s worth of planning between Oklahoma CareerTech’s Health Science Education division and SSM Health, which operates multiple facilities in the Oklahoma City area. Building off a similar project based in Wisconsin, SSM offered 24 apprenticeships in advanced unlicensed assistant, medical assistant and phlebotomy.

“This groundbreaking opportunity allowed students to compete for positions through an interview process and after a notification of hiring,

they attended employee orientation in mid-July 2025 and began their part-time employment when school started in August,” said Lara Morris, HSE program manager at Oklahoma CareerTech.

Participants came from Canadian Valley, Francis Tuttle, Gordon Cooper, Mid-Del and Moore Norman technology centers.

The apprentices began training at their local technology centers and were able to spend most of their class time at work by Thanksgiving, Morris said. As SSM Health employees, she added, they received the same privileges and rights as other employees, and 10 have transitioned to regular part-time positions.

Each apprentice earned certification in the chosen subject area, Morris said.

During the graduation reception, they heard from Jenny Krantz, career coach in workforce de-

velopment and career pathways at SSM Health; Cori Gray, Oklahoma CareerTech director of student success; and featured speaker Kerri Bayer, SSM Health regional chief nursing officer.

SSM Health has completed interviews for 202627 apprenticeships and has expanded the number of apprentice positions available to 40. Morris said she has also reached out to other hospital systems in Oklahoma to create similar programs.

“My goal is to have this opportunity stretch from border to border so students can learn what it’s really like in the workforce while developing skills and gaining certifications that will allow their transition to college and future health care careers to become a reality,” she said.

Any technology center, hospital or health care site interested in learning more about youth apprenticeships can contact Morris at 405-743-5106 or lara.morris@careertech.ok.gov.

Ideas to break up long road trips

Few getaways can feel as liberating as taking to the open road. Road trips have long held a spot in travel lovers’ hearts, and many a book and film have helped to romanticize the idea of getting behind the wheel and heading off for parts unknown.

As scenic as the open road can be, it’s easy to get a little antsy when taking long trips in a car. Having some built-in breaks to get out of the car and even enjoy a little entertainment along the way can help to make road trips more enjoyable.

• Take in a ballgame. When traveling in summertime, a mid-trip stop to a minor league ballpark can provide a relaxing respite from the road. A summer afternoon or evening taking in America’s pastime provides an affordable and familyfriendly activity. Some in-game strolls around the ballpark offer a chance for travelers to stretch their legs before returning to their seats to enjoy some

refreshments and the action on the field. Many minor league stadiums are located in cities with affordable lodging options, making this an ideal overnight pitstop option in the midst of a long trip.

• Visit a historical site. There’s not only adventure on the open road, but lots of history as well. History buffs can find a wealth of historical sites to visit regardless of which direction they’re heading. Many historical sites offer informative and kidfriendly tours, making a mid-trip visit to a historical site a great way to break up a long road trip.

• Take to the water. Whether you devote a day to visiting a beach or water park along the way to your ultimate destination, some water-based fun can be just what weary travelers need to recharge their batteries. A beach day or a day at a water park might be especially fun for travelers who hit the road before the sun came up. Simply drive

until lunchtime and then take to the water for some well-earned fun and relaxation.

• Get out in nature. The natural beauty travelers encounter along a scenic road trip need not be viewed exclusively through a car window or windshield. A break devoted to spending time in nature can revive travelers’ spirits and get them some much-needed time in the fresh air. When planning a trip, travelers can identify hiking trails or other natural attractions they can experience firsthand. A roadside campground can be an ideal place to make some great memories, while an adventure in nature like kayaking, canoeing or a simple hike can make for a great way for travelers to fully immerse themselves in the regions they’re driving through. There’s no shortage of options for travelers to get out of the car and enjoy a little entertainment when taking long road trips.

Quail Creek Bank names new president

Quail Creek Bank last week announced that Bryan Petty has been named its next President. Doug Fuller, who has served as President & CEO for the past 17 years, will continue as CEO into 2027, at which time he plans to retire from active management while remaining on the bank’s Board of Directors.

Petty has been with Quail Creek Bank since 2015 and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. A native of Tipton, Oklahoma, he began his banking career as a credit analyst at Quail Creek Bank before spending several years at another institution. He returned to Quail Creek Bank in 2015 as Vice President of Commercial Lending and has played a key role in

the bank’s growth and lending strategy. His promotion is part of a long-term succession plan designed to ensure continuity for the bank’s customers, employees, and the local community.

In conjunction with this transition, Kenton Owens will succeed Petty as Chief Lending Officer. Owens joined Quail Creek Bank in 2010, bringing prior banking experience dating back to 2000 following his graduation from Oklahoma State University. A native of Laverne, Oklahoma, he currently serves as Senior Vice President in Commercial Lending.

For more than 50 years, Quail Creek Bank has grown by putting people at the center of everything it does—beginning with its employees and customers. These leadership changes reinforce that commitment and position the bank for continued success. Petty and Owens join an experienced leadership team that includes Carol Fehrle, Chief Operating Officer; James Griffith, Chief Financial Officer; Erin Batey, Chief Communication & Inno-

Teddy Bear Clinic hosted by nursing students

It was a full day for nursing students at Francis Tuttle Technology Center, as they turned their classroom and lab space into a clinic for cuddly friends.

The annual Teddy Bear Clinic opened its doors to children from the Child Development Center and their stuffed animals who all received a checkup and clean bill of health. The event gives students in the Pre-Nursing program a chance to work on their soft skills with patients.

“It teaches the kids to not be scared of getting a checkup and what to expect when you go,” Amira McClain, a first-year PreNursing student who attends Putnam City North High School, said.

Children and their cuddly friends are led through various stations that cover all the basics of a checkup and healing any boo-boos. They start by putting on personal protective equipment – masks, gloves, gowns, and hairnets – that nurses would wear in a clinic or hospital setting.

“That way, they understand what it is for and why it is useful,” PreNursing Instructor Rachel Watkins said.

Next for the teddy bears was to check their vital signs. Pre-Nursing students used this time to introduce the kids to stethoscopes, thermometers, and vaccinations.

McClain said shots are an impor-

tant topic to cover since they tend to scare kids the most. And while students are helping children get used to checkups, they also get a similar experience to working with real patients.

“It helps ease their fears of visiting the doctor’s office or hospitals,” Watkins said. “The students love interacting with the kids. It really helps build those soft skills.”

Zoi Slusarchuk, a Pre-Nursing student and a junior at Deer Creek High School, worked in the X-ray lab station at the Teddy Bear Clinic. Students set up two tables with a blanket and a large circular tube to simulate an X-ray or MRI machine so children could make sure their teddy bears didn’t have any broken bones.

“We check them in and run their teddy bears through the x-ray machine,” she said. “Afterwards, we show them on an x-ray scan that their cuddly friend is OK. They get so excited when they see the actual image.”

Everything about the clinic is lighthearted and fun. In the next station, teddy bears are fixed up with colorful bandages, and checkout includes stickers and a photo.

“I do want to work with kids,” Slusarchuk said. “I’ve worked as a nanny, and I just love working with kids. So, to be here and getting to interact with them and help them has been super sweet.”

vation Officer; and Jerika Coffman, Chief Credit Officer.

Fuller will remain actively involved during the transition, supporting Petty, Owens, and the leadership team as the bank continues its trajectory as one of the nation’s top-performing community banks. In the most recent reporting period, S&P Global ranked Quail Creek Bank 294th out of 2,666 U.S. banks with assets between $100 million and $1 billion, based on a three-year average return on equity (ROE).

Mark Davenport, Chairman of Quail Creek Bank, emphasized the strength and continuity of the leadership transition.

“Doug Fuller has been instrumental in building Quail Creek Bank into the strong community bank we are today,” said Davenport. “We take pride in how our customers describe us—personal, friendly, trusted, helpful, service-oriented, convenient, and community-focused. Doug’s leadership has embodied these qualities, and Bryan is a natural successor who shares those values and brings the experience and perspective needed to lead the bank forward.”

A new communications director

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) has named Laura Rudicel as its new Director of Communications and Marketing. An award-winning communications strategist, Rudicel brings extensive experience leading high-profile brand, media, and public engagement initiatives across Oklahoma.

Rudicel joins ODAA from OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, where

she served as Director of Marketing and helped lead communications strategies surrounding the resort’s opening, securing national media coverage and helping establish OKANA as a premier tourism destination.

Rudicel will oversee strategic marketing and communications, media relations, digital platforms, and public engagement efforts supporting Oklahoma’s growing aerospace and defense industry.

OMRF marks World MS Day with patient event

Patients, care providers and researchers gathered Saturday at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to honor World Multiple Sclerosis Day and to celebrate resilience, creativity and community.

Hosted by the nonprofit foundation’s Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence, the event brought together people living with MS for an afternoon of art and connection. Guided by local artist Anthony Pego of Wine and Palette, 20 people, primarily patients, created individual acrylic paintings of the orange monarch butterfly — a widely recognized symbol of MS awareness, hope and transformation.

“Multiple sclerosis can often feel isolating, but events like this remind our patients that they are part of a strong and caring community,” said Gabriel Pardo, M.D., a neurologist and founding director of OMRF’s MS research clinic. “The monarch butterfly represents resilience and change, and it’s inspiring to see each person interpret that symbol in their own unique way. World MS Day is about more than awareness — it’s about connection, hope and celebrating the people behind the diagnosis.”

One of Pardo’s patients, Mary Jane Thompson, has been painting on canvas, glass and vases since the Covid-19 pandemic, but hadn’t attempted a still life until Saturday’s event. Her reason for coming? Pardo and his clinic staff.

Since Pardo placed her in a clinical trial for an MS treatment called Ocrevus, the MS lesions have stopped growing. “This is hands-down the best care in the world,” Thompson said.

Like Thompson, patients Jim and Donna Mernka of Yukon were unaware of World MS Day until

learning about Saturday’s event.

“Donna sees this as sort of a reunion with some of the people she sees occasionally in the clinic,” Jim Mernka said. “Once we get home, I’m excited for our new paintings to go up on the wall.”

World MS Day is observed globally each May 30 to raise awareness of the chronic autoimmune disease. In MS, white blood cells destroy myelin, the insulating layer that protects nerves in the brain and spinal cord. More than 1 million Americans live with MS, with varying degrees of severity. For most people, early symptoms arise suddenly and can include vision loss, difficulty walking and numbness.

Pardo and his OMRF care team serve more than 4,000 patients from Oklahoma and surrounding states. Several OMRF labs also investigate various

aspects of MS and related diseases.

Earlier this month, the foundation broke ground on the David R. Brown, M.D., Advanced Human Imaging Center, which will house a powerful new MRI. It will also allow OMRF’s MS patients to receive care, testing and infusion therapy at a single site.

“It also gives us the opportunity to understand the disease at an individual in much greater detail,” Pardo said.

Saturday’s event was developed by Lauren Still, a social worker at the MS Center, and OMRF clinical research scientist Bujana Allushi, Ph.D.

“Living with MS can take a heavy toll, not only on a person’s physical health but on their emotional well-being,” said Allushi, who assists patients in enrolling in clinical trials for new therapies.

“WHEN YOU ARE KIND TO OTHERS, IT NOT ONLY CHANGES YOU, IT CHANGES THE WORLD” - HAROLD KUSHNER