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A Second Life for Flowers
Proton Pals
Unexpected Hero
RED Day Run
Outdoor Living page 5
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Nothing celebrates another trip around the sun like a reminder that your vision is failing, your tires need rotating, your teeth need cleaning, and apparently there's some Kohl's Cash with your name on it. Yes, I’m talking about birthday wishes from our friendly neighborhood businesses. I have to get up pretty early if I want to be the first to wish Alison a happy birthday. This year, her car dealership salesperson from four years ago beat me to it. I guess there's something thoughtful about a business remembering your birthday, especially if there's a discount or free dessert involved. For a local business, that little birthday email is really just another way of saying, “Hey, remember us? We remember you.” I can appreciate that. But the birthday greetings that matter most to me aren’t the ones delivered by a database. They’re the ones from my neighbor, the guy who lets us know we left our garage door open again. Or my oil change guy, who asks about my last motorcycle trip. My friend I meet for coffee, knows my kids and dogs, all by name. And there’s the longtime client I run into at the grocery store who asks about my Back40 and Outlook team and sticks around long enough to hear the answer. I think there’s still a little small town inside Edmond. We’ve grown, and we continue to grow, but there are still plenty of places around town where somebody knows my name. And it’s always nice to be remembered on your birthday. Even by your optometrist. Dave Miller Publisher & Back40 Design President
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RED Day Run FoodLook: Local Favorites Barry Black Petals of Light Mother Road Museum An Unexpected Hero Proton Pals Dog Detectives A LOOK Back: Edmond’s First Newspaper
Business 22 24
NP 2 GO SOS Pools
Columns 7 28
In Other Words with Dave Louise Tucker Jones
On the Cover: Sara Strange Cover Photography: Submitted by Petals of Light
ADVERTISING l 405-301-3926 l laura@edmondoutlook.com DISTRIBUTION: MAILED MONTHLY TO OVER 50,000 HOMES IN THE EDMOND AREA PO Box 3878, Edmond, OK 73083 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@ edmondoutlook.com
SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 22, Number 9 l Edmond Outlook is published by Art, Link & Letter l © 2026 Art, Link & Letter, LLC PUBLISHER Dave Miller l PRODUCTION MANAGER Alison Miller l ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE /EDITOR Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Kasey Toliver ADVERTISING DESIGN Anne Richardson l PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins sundancephotographyokc.com
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Articles and advertisements in the Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Art, Link & Letter. Art, Link & Letter does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising SEPTEMBER EDMONDOUTLOOK.COM by the Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The Outlook assumes2026 no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
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LOCALLOOK
RED Day Run By Taylor Bollinger Thirteen years ago, volunteers gathered at Mitch Park, pitched a few tents and hoped a new 5K could make a difference. By day's end, they had raised $35,000. This year, the RED Day Run reaches an even bigger milestone: more than $2 million returned to the Edmond community. "It's a labor of love," sponsorship chair Brad Reeser said. "I couldn't be prouder of what it's become and how people continue to show up for our city." RED stands for Renew, Energize and Donate, reflecting Keller Williams' longstanding commitment to community service. Edmond's Mo Anderson, former CEO of Keller Williams International, helped establish the company's annual RED Day, originally focused on volunteer projects. About 14 years ago, Edmond volunteers asked a simple question: How could we make an even bigger impact locally? The answer was a 5K. The inaugural race supported the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer's Association. As participation grew, organizers shifted their focus to Edmond nonprofits. "We went local so we could help folks in this community," Reeser said. Today, Reeser believes the RED Day Run is Oklahoma's largest charity race by dollars distributed. This year, organizers expect to give away approximately $276,000. Eight primary charities compete for a share of the proceeds through race participation. Runners select a charity during
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registration, and organizations bringing at least 100 participants become eligible for additional funding based on registrations. Another eight nonprofits share 10% of the proceeds. "A major sponsor once told me, 'You guys are like the United Way to Edmond,'" Reeser said. "In a lot of ways, that's true because we support the organizations serving people who need it most." The two-hour race may seem effortless to participants, but it requires nearly nine months of planning by volunteers coordinating sponsors, registration, logistics and race operations. Many sponsors have supported the event since its earliest years. "This is so much work," Reeser said. "When it's over, there's an incredible sense of satisfaction. It's worth it." Race day features a DJ, food vendors, sponsor booths, family activities, medals, and hundreds of runners and walkers filling the course. Even after surpassing $2 million in community giving, organizers continue thinking bigger. Anderson has long envisioned the event someday raising $1 million in a single year. For now, Reeser says the best way to help is simple: show up. "We need more participants, whether they want to race or simply contribute." Race day is Saturday, September 26, 2026. Get involved at runsignup.com/Race/OK/Edmond/RedDayRun.
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FOODLOOK
LOCAL FLAVOR
— A LOOK AT LOCAL FAVORITES — By Laura Beam THE BIG BISCUIT
Wake up to fall flavor at The Big Biscuit. Back for a limited time, the guest-favorite Pumpkin Pancakes bring the flavors of the season to the griddle. Dig into two platesized buttermilk pancakes made with real pumpkin puree and classic fall spices, topped with whipped cream and powdered sugar. They’re perfect when you’re craving cozy flavors on a crisp fall morning. Pair them with the new Pumpkin Cold Brew Latte for a delicious taste of the season. Enjoy breakfast and lunch favorites all year long. Dine in at 1333 N Santa Fe Ave or visit bigbiscuit.com.
FIIZ DRINKS
Construction at Danforth & Kelly is complete--come celebrate with FiiZ Drinks! Longtime Edmond resident and local FiiZ owner Daniel Dickman, along with his partners, invites you to discover more than one million custom drink combinations. Mix up sodas, energy drinks, flavored waters and kids' drinks with all your favorite flavors, and make every drink your way. Pair it with craveable snacks like churro bites and pretzel bites, then relax, recharge, or fuel up in their spacious, fun soda shop. With locations in Edmond and Yukon, and more to come, now is the perfect time to discover the FiiZ difference: Your Drink. Your Way. Visit FiiZ Drinks in Edmond on Kelly or in Yukon on Mustang or fiizdrinks.com.
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TAO CHA CAFE
September brings new beginnings and Tao Cha Cafe loves being a place where families, students, teachers, and friends gather to share authentic Taiwanese comfort food and handcrafted drinks. Every day, they brew their teas fresh and prepare their boba pearls in-house for the perfect flavor and texture. Customer favorites include their signature rice boxes, fried rice, lo mein, crispy popcorn chicken, and soup dumplings, along with refreshing milk teas and fruit teas. Whether you're stopping in after school, for lunch, or dinner with family, Tao Cha Cafe welcomes you. Visit 331 S. Blackwelder Ave., Edmond, order online at taochacafeonline.com, or call 405-348-7777. Bring this ad and receive 10% OFF your meal!
THE LOOKOUT AT KICKINGBIRD GOLF COURSE
Bold flavors, laid-back vibes, and unbeatable views of the golf course and OKC skyline make The Lookout a true destination for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner! Open to the public every day year-round, it’s the perfect place this fall to kick back on the patio, treat the family to dinner, or catch the game with friends. Their menu of American classics with a twist features favorites like blackened salmon, sweet and spicy shrimp tacos, and buffalo chicken mac and cheese, plus breakfast and brunch faves to start the day right. Inquire about your holiday party in their event space today! 1600 E. Danforth Rd., Edmond | thelookoutedmond.com
LAURA BEAM Account Executive, editor, and writer with experience in radio, newspaper and magazines. Interested in what Outlook can do for your business? Email laura@edmondoutlook.com.
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FEATURELOOK
Behind the Badge
Barry Black’s Remarkable FBI Career By Amy Dee Stephens
“FBI, open up!” The very phrase evokes the image of a quiet, humorless individual wearing dark glasses and flashing a badge. Former agent Barry Black is quite the opposite. He is cheerful, chatty, and optimistic. After a 31-year career, he can easily dispel the stereotype, explaining that effective agents have strong teamwork skills and the ability to help people on their worst day. “I grew up reading The Untouchables and watching S.W.A.T. Classic good-guy versus bad-guy stuff,” said Black. “I wanted to become an agent, but those shows don’t truly portray what an agent does.” Unlikely Career Path Surprisingly, Black entered the field in an unassuming way, as a 24-year-old accountant. “I started in financial crimes, like stock manipulation and bankruptcy fraud,” Black said. “It was not boring. We handled about 30 cases at a time. Once, a semi-truck unloaded 800 boxes of records for one case.” In 1988, Black received a sealed envelope ordering him to Oklahoma. Although he expected frequent relocations, the Bureau extended his stay. “I was happily living in Edmond, so they just left me here,” Black said. The Big Cases As a new employee, Black’s senior trainer was a nationally recognized agent over the sniper team. “I went shooting with him, and he said I was good enough to try out, so I did,” Black said. Black’s rising rank in the FBI included some of the most significant cases in recent history, beginning with his first major assignment in 1993 as a sniper for the Waco, Texas siege. “I was literally standing on the compound as it was smoldering when I met some FBI bomb technicians. I was fascinated by their job, so I applied for bomb school and was accepted. At the time, there was only one bomb technician in Oklahoma,” Black said. He then responded to the Oklahoma City bombing, unaware that his wife had walked out of the Alfred P. Murrah building just two minutes before the bomb went off. His next major case was the 1996 Olympics bombing, followed by the
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terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. In his later career, Black was assigned to international terrorism, traveling to every continent except Antarctica. He laughed, remembering the day his airline thanked him for traveling one million miles. The details of his adventures are published in his new book, Hazardous Devices: Memoir of an FBI Bomb Technician, Accountant and Sniper. It was a book he never expected to write. A childhood friend once told him to keep career notes because the details would become lost over time. A publisher approached Black about writing a forensic science textbook, but after reading a sample of his journaled experiences, they veered off course to publish his biography. “It’s mostly about the lifestyle of being an agent. I’ve been amazed anyone would find my life interesting,” Black said. Teaching the Next Generation After retirement, he was hired six years ago by Dr. Dwight Adams to teach forensic courses at the University of Central Oklahoma. “I’d been a master instructor for the Bureau, teaching commando and special forces classes, like underwater post-blast courses with the Australian Navy,” Black said. “I wasn’t sure about teaching college, but I love it! I’m working with highly motivated students. It’s very rewarding to train the next generation.” Black teaches a first responder course on dealing with the chaos of the career. “You see some horrible things, but you can’t keep that darkness within you or bring it home to your family. I encourage people to find a positive outlet: in friends, faith, or family,” Black said. “Law enforcement changed a lot over my career. Sometimes agents witness terrible tragedies, but catching the folks responsible is always rewarding.” Learn more at barryblackokc.com
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FEATURELOOK
A Second Life for Flowers
Far left: Sara Strange Far right: Chris Strange
Petals of Light delivers unexpected joy By Taylor Bollinger The wedding is over and the guests have gone home. But what happens to the beautiful bouquets? Sadly, the highbudget blooms often end up in the trash, lost in the chaos of the cleanup. That was, until Sara Strange stepped in. The Edmond woman wondered what these flowers could do in the hands of someone who needs a reason to smile. Together with her husband, Chris Strange, she created her own answer: Petals of Light, a nonprofit that gives event flowers a second life and delivers a little unexpected joy along the way. The idea has personal roots. After going through cancer herself, watching her dad enter hospice care, and seeing other family members live in memory care facilities, she knew the difference a small gesture could make. “I was thinking about all the little unexpected things that brought joy,” Sara said. “Petals of Light was born out of just trying to figure out a simple way to make an impact in people’s lives.” When Petals of Light began in the summer of 2025, Sara imagined picking up leftover flowers once or twice a month. Instead, word spread. “All of a sudden people are coming to us, we’re getting donations, we have partners in the wedding industry,” she said. “The brides were excited to have their flowers continue on another day.” In its first year alone, Petals of Light diverted an estimated 2,500 pounds of floral waste, transforming those discarded blooms into approximately 1,200 bouquets. Volunteers break down donated arrangements, save the usable blooms and create smaller bouquets. Those flowers 14
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find new homes with seniors, veterans, women in shelters, cancer patients, and others throughout the metro. Teal Creek Activities Director Patti James has seen how the flowers can spark much more than a smile, especially when memory care residents create bouquets themselves. “Flower deliveries make their whole day incredible,” James said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, I grew these in my yard,’ or talk about teaching their daughter how to grow them. It sparks endless conversations and brings so much joy.” “We’re just trying to make someone smile, especially in facilities where so many people feel forgotten, or alone, or maybe they’re going through rehab,” Sara said. Sara and Chris hope Petals of Light will one day have a brick-and-mortar workshop where people can come together to repurpose flowers and brighten someone’s day. The organization now has 14 volunteers in its Bloom Crew, including longtime volunteer Amanda Newlin. “A few flowers, a little time, and suddenly you’re part of bringing joy to someone’s day,” Newlin said. “Sara and Chris have a way of making their purpose contagious. You can’t help but want to be part of it.” For now, there are plenty of ways to join in. Petals of Light welcomes donated event flowers, financial gifts, and volunteers for its Bloom Crew. “Whatever we do, the goal is to make people feel they are worthy, loved, and less alone,” Sara said. To donate flowers, give financially, or join the Bloom Crew, visit petalsoflightok.org.
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FEATURELOOK
John’s Curious Route 66 Museum By Amy Dee Stephens
East of Arcadia, at a curve along Route 66, is an eyecatching structure on a high cliff. It’s an eclectic building with half of a Volkswagen Beetle coming out of the second story. A clutter of old-timey yard art and metal signs by the mailbox clearly indicates that this is a Route 66 traveler’s paradise. The gravel parking lot is marked with a handwritten sign. I take concrete steps up the cliff to meet John Hargrove, owner and creator of John’s Route 66 Museum. After introductions, I’m toured around by the 82-year-old and Buddy the Dog, an aged golden labrador. We raise our voices above the sound of cars zooming along the highway below. Several rambling metal buildings are tucked into the hillside, surrounded by gnarled post oaks. Rustic antiques and old gas pumps are placed along the walkways. I pause to take a selfie with a Volkswagen bus painted to look exactly like Fillmore from Disney’s Cars. John is just opening his museum for the day, unlocking doors for any curious tourists who might stop by, like myself. Inside is a floor-to-ceiling explosion of roadside memorabilia, a mere hint of what is to come. There are old radios, a collection of cameras and Coca-Cola collectibles, a wall of matchbox cars, newspaper articles about his marathon days, and Route 66 signs everywhere. It’s a “cabinet of curiosities,” because John says he’s not a collector; he simply gathers, scavenges, and waits to see what might come next. His guest log from the previous day notes visitors from as far as Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. A couple arrives from Utah. “Look around as much as you can stand,” John says, while we continue to stroll through the rooms he has built himself, from scratch at little or no cost.
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His love of automobiles is clear, as his workshop is filled with Ford Model T parts and a half-built car on a lift that he plans to finish and drive along Route 66 someday. While looking at a red airplane hanging from the ceiling, I learn that John’s great disappointment was being born color-blind. “My father was a pilot trainer during World War II. I was flying by the age of eight, but color-blindness kept me from becoming a commercial pilot,” John said. Instead, John settled for a career in automotive work, although he owned a hangar and three private planes. After retirement in 2001, he bought the eight undeveloped acres along Route 66, which he would eventually develop into a roadside stop. Early on, John built a 1950s-style diner with an oldfashioned soda counter for birthday parties. “When people started posting photos online, tourists started coming in and interrupting the parties. Now I just let people see it.” Our final stop is a library of automotive books and Route 66 travel guides. Toy models of Volkswagen cars are scattered along the bookshelves. It’s in this upstairs room that the authentic Volkswagen overhangs the main building. I settle into the driver’s seat and look out the windshield at an uninterrupted view of hills and trees along Route 66. “I had no vision this would become a tourist stop,” John said. “I’m floored that people like it, but if I can help other people get through life with a little more enjoyment, I’ve done my part.”
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FEATURELOOK
Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Courage By Taylor Bollinger
More than a year after an ordinary trip to the hardware store turned into a life-or-death situation, Bryan Schulte is being recognized for the decision he made in a matter of seconds. On May 1, 2025, Schulte witnessed Edmond Police Officer Caleb Hodam fighting for his life after being ambushed during a traffic stop. Schulte stopped, asked Hodam if he needed help and, when the answer was yes, ran toward the struggle. “You always tell yourself, ‘I’ll do this, I’ll do that,’ when something horrible happens,” Schulte said. “But you really don’t know. You have no idea until it happens.” In that moment, Schulte found out. He helped restrain the attacker and remove a knife from his control, staying with Hodam until additional officers arrived. Hodam suffered multiple stab wounds but survived. The experience also gave Schulte a new perspective on just how quickly an ordinary day can change for a police officer. “I’m pro-law enforcement all the way, but it really puts it in perspective that at any moment their day can go completely sideways.”
The City of Edmond praised Schulte’s actions and emphasized the lasting impact of his intervention. “The Edmond Police Department is incredibly grateful for Mr. Schulte’s bravery, quick thinking, and willingness to help. His actions are a powerful reminder of the strength of the bond between law enforcement and the community we serve. We are grateful that Officer Hodam survived this horrific attack and continues to serve the Edmond community today. In recognition of his extraordinary courage and selfless actions, we are proud to have presented Mr. Schulte with the Edmond Police Department Citizen Medal of Merit.” While the award recognizes one extraordinary moment, Bryan hopes it will act as a reminder that “we’re all capable of more than we think when it matters most.”
We’re all capable of more than we think when it matters most. Though the award bears Bryan’s name, he shares credit with another Schulte. “I never would’ve seen this happen if it wasn’t for my nephew,” Bryan said. “He was in the car with me, and I was driving right by. I didn’t even notice there was someone getting pulled over. He said, ‘Oh, that cop just got pepper sprayed.’” His nephew, James Schulte, was just 11 at the time. Bryan says the Edmond seventh grader played a crucial role in a story that could have ended very differently. “I kind of share that award with him,” Bryan said. “If he hadn’t been with me, I probably wouldn’t have noticed.” In the months since, Bryan and Hodam have also had the chance to talk about what they experienced. Hodam even visited Bryan at his home. “There are only two people on the planet who share the experience of what happened that day,” Bryan said. “It’s kind of weird talking to anyone else about it.” Recently, they shared a much happier moment. Edmond Police Chief JD Younger presented Bryan with the department’s Civilian Meritorious Service Award, with Hodam there to thank him personally.
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Officer Hodam and the Edmond Police Department present Bryan Schulte with the Civilian Meritorious Service Award.
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Photo Credit: Candy Creek Photography
FEATURELOOK
Former proton therapy patients who were at least five years past treatment gathered for the first Proton Pals appreciation event at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Hope Along the Way Proton Pals helps patients through the cancer journey By Taylor Bollinger Cancer changes lives in an instant. The questions are not only "Will I survive?" but also "Can I afford it?" and "Who will walk this road with me?" Jeff Murray now dedicates his life to helping others on a path he knows all too well. "I can tell you where I was, what parking space I was in the day I received my diagnosis," said Murray, executive director of Proton Pals Foundation. "There are so many fears: financial worries, fears for your outcome and your health." Murray was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 45 and underwent 44 proton radiation treatments at the Oklahoma Proton Center, completing his final treatment on January 11, 2011, as patient number 290. This fall, the center is expected to celebrate its 7,000th patient. Nearly a decade later, he and a group of fellow survivors came together with a simple question: How can we make the journey easier for the next patient? The answer became Proton Pals Foundation, a nonprofit founded by former patients to support individuals and families undergoing proton therapy in Oklahoma. Many board members have experienced cancer firsthand. “I was looking for a place to serve that was near and dear to my heart,” said Keri Aguilar, board chair of Proton Pals Foundation. “As a breast cancer survivor, this mission is very literally near and dear to my heart. In my six years, the best part of our mission by far is getting to walk alongside people and meet them where they are on their journey. We can always find a way to help.” As Murray puts it, Proton Pals aims to become a secondary family so that patients can focus on what matters most: getting healthy. The organization helps ease the financial burden of treatment by providing gas cards, meal vouchers, hotel stays, utility assistance, and other support, allowing patients to focus on healing rather than expenses.
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Proton Pals from left to right: Nycke White, Tammeria Hubbell, Jeff Murray, and Vickie Wiegel.
One patient who lived more than two hours from the treatment center said gas cards ensured they never missed an appointment. Another received a restaurant gift card on the first day of treatment. "It may seem like a small gesture, but to me, it was everything," the patient shared. Murray hears similar stories every day. He recalls a 72-year-old wheat farmer from Altus who drove nearly three hours each way for treatment before returning home to work until evening. During the pandemic, another patient's car broke down, forcing him to rent a U-Haul. Proton Pals stepped in with Uber gift cards so he could continue receiving treatment without the added expense. Some of Murray's most meaningful moments come after treatment ends. This spring, the foundation awarded a $2,500 scholarship to one of the Oklahoma Proton Center's earliest pediatric patients, who recently graduated from high school after overcoming a brain tumor diagnosed at age 2. "Survivorship is such a huge thing," Murray said. "It may be a family you never planned to join, but you form friendships you never want to leave." His own experience reinforced another lesson he hopes others won't ignore: early detection saves lives. Just weeks after his diagnosis, his wife at the time was also diagnosed with cancer after both kept up with their routine annual physicals. Because their cancers were caught early, they were able to begin treatment quickly. "Cancer is life-changing, but it's not life-defining," he said. "The people we serve are dedicated to getting healed. We're dedicated to helping them do that with less stress along the way." To learn more, support Proton Pals Foundation, or purchase tickets to An Evening of Hope on Thursday, September 24, visit protonpalsfoundation.org.
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BIZLOOK
NP 2 GO NP2Go began in September 2019 with a suitcase, a small Honda, and a simple idea: healthcare could be more convenient, personal, and accessible. Founder and CEO Kara De La Pena, APRN-CNP, saw patients visiting emergency rooms for needs such as migraine treatment, fluids, and food poisoning, so began asking whether some of that care could be delivered differently. That idea grew into NP2Go, an Oklahoma-based healthcare company serving patients locally and through telemedicine. Today, NP2Go has team members across the United States and overseas, with telemedicine services available in 40 states and a growing range of health and wellness options. NP2Go focuses on personalized care, including medical weight management, hormone optimization, virtual urgent care, skin care, and sexual dysfunction
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treatment. Hormone services are currently available in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Florida, New York and Washington. In Edmond, patients can also access iron infusions and aesthetic services including Botox, filler and laser hair removal. Mobile IV therapy and urgent care visits are available throughout the Oklahoma City metro. For De La Pena, accessibility goes handin-hand with human connection. At a time when more healthcare interactions are becoming automated, NP2Go remains committed to giving patients access to real people and real providers. Patients can call or text the nurse line seven days a week and speak directly with a real nurse. The line receives more than 70,000 texts each month. Calls, texts, and emails are always handled by people rather than AI or bots. The company also emphasizes transparent and clear pricing, so patients understand costs before receiving care. As healthcare continues moving toward preventative and individualized treatment, NP2Go is expanding its focus on hormone health, metabolic health, longevity, and comprehensive wellness. The company also continues investing in its team, technology, and patient experience while
CEO Kara De La Pena, APRN-CNP
evaluating new treatments through an evidence-based approach. For De La Pena, NP2Go’s growth continues to reflect the mission it was founded on: Take great care of people, help them find answers, and connect them with the right resources for their needs. To learn more, visit NP2Go at 800 W. 18th St., Suite 220 in Edmond, call (405) 696-7003, email admin@thenp2go.com, or visit thenp2go.com. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To promote your business with a BIZLOOK feature, contact Laura at laura@edmondoutlook.com.
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BIZLOOK
SOS Pools For Zach Teague, taking care of a swimming pool is about more than keeping the water clear. Oklahoma’s wind, hard water and temperature swings can all take a toll, making regular maintenance and proper seasonal care important parts of protecting a pool. Zach’s experience in the pool business goes back to high school, when he accompanied his father, Dan Teague, on service calls. Dan began his career working for a large pool company before eventually starting his own pool business, where Zach continued to work until starting SOS Pools. “My dad taught me everything I know,” Zach says. “He loved to work and continued working on pools right up until the end of his life.” Dan’s pool business remained in operation until 2025, when his health declined. His knowledge and strong work
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ethic had a lasting influence on Zach, who had already gained years of hands-on experience in the industry early in his life. “I had a lot of experience even before I graduated from high school,” he says. In 2006, Zach started SOS Pools, an Edmond-based company specializing in pool maintenance and refinishing. The company provides regular cleaning and chemical services, including brushing, checking chlorine levels and balancing water chemistry, with vacuuming also available. Oklahoma conditions make routine care especially important. Wind carries dirt and debris into pools, where it can clog filters, while naturally high calcium levels in the water can leave deposits on pool surfaces. Proper filtration, cleaning and water treatment can help keep those problems under control. When swimming season ends, Zach says properly shutting down a pool is just as important as maintaining it during the summer. Correctly balancing the water, protecting equipment and preparing plumbing for freezing temperatures can help prevent expensive damage and make reopening the pool easier when warm weather returns.
For pools that need more than routine maintenance, SOS Pools also offers repairs and refinishing, including plastering with NPT products to restore worn or aging surfaces. SOS Pools serves Edmond, Deer Creek, north Oklahoma City and northwest Oklahoma City, an area Zach has watched grow along with his business. “We show up, we’re prompt, and we make sure our communication with customers is on point,” Zach says. Visit SOS Pools at edmondokpools.com or call Zach at 405-513-8155.. To promote your business with a BIZLOOK feature, contact Laura at laura@edmondoutlook.com.
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FEATURELOOK
The Nose Knows
Dogs put their instincts to work in AKC Scent Work By Dave Miller Dr. Brian Ledger, veterinarian and owner of Pampered Pets Veterinary Clinic, spends his workdays caring for animals, but when it comes to one of his newest hobbies, he is discovering that sometimes the dog knows best. Ledger is learning AKC Scent Work with his dog, Blue. The competition turns the skills of professional detection dogs into a sport in which dogs search for hidden scents while their owners learn to step aside, watch closely, and trust what their canine partners are telling them. “I’m brand new,” Ledger said during a recent practice session with several other local competitors. “I’m learning from the pros today.” In Scent Work, dogs search for cotton swabs scented with essential oils and hidden in boxes, rooms, outdoor spaces, or containers buried beneath sand or water. These hidden scent targets are called “hides.” Beginning dogs search for birch. As they advance, handlers add clove, anise, and cypress scents. The sport progresses through Novice, Advanced, Excellent, and Master levels. At the upper levels, handlers may not even know how many scents have been hidden. That is where Belinda and her dog, King, come in. King competes at the Master level and has even attempted Detective, the highest AKC Scent Work class. Detective searches can cover thousands of square feet, contain an unknown number of hides, and include distractions designed to test both dog and handler.
In Scent Work, dogs follow their noses. Their humans learn to follow the dogs. During King’s first Detective attempt in Kansas, he found seven of eight hides. He was working the final scent when Belinda called him away from the area. “He would have got it, but his handler screwed him up,” she joked. It is a familiar lesson among Scent Work competitors: The dogs often understand the assignment before their humans do. King alerts Belinda by placing his nose near the source of the odor and holding it there. Other dogs might sit, paw, bark, or simply change their body language. The handler’s job is to recognize that signal and call “alert.” Blue is still developing her own communication with Ledger. During practice, Ledger watched her work through searches and occasionally questioned whether Blue had
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Left: King and Belinda Above: Dr. Brian Ledger and Blue
found the correct location. Like other beginners, Ledger is learning that success depends as much on training himself as training his dog. That partnership is part of the appeal. “You’ve got to learn to read your dog,” Ledger said. Competitors often video one another during practice and trials. Watching playbacks can reveal a dog signaling an odor while its handler was pointing another direction, blocking the search area or unknowingly pulling the dog away. “It’s training for both of you,” Ledger said. The sport is open to virtually any dog, including mixed breeds registered through the AKC Canine Partners program. The group has seen everything from dachshunds to a Puli, the distinctive Hungarian herding breed sometimes described as a “mop dog.” For Ledger, who also enjoys Agility Trials and plans to train another of his dogs in Scent Work, the activity offers something beyond ribbons and titles. Dogs naturally experience the world through their noses, and Scent Work gives them a job that challenges their minds. For the humans, the challenge may be harder. They have to learn when to trust the expert at the end of the leash. Learn more at akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/.
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LOOKBACK
Growing Up Country! By Louise Tucker Jones I enjoy watching The Waltons on TV. It reminds me of my youth, growing up in a white, two-story house, surrounded by pastures, ponds, animals, and kids. However, we were not blessed with livein grandparents or indoor plumbing. Even our old, stone schoolhouse lacked indoor bathrooms for several years. There was a water fountain and a sink for washing hands just inside the entrance. Grade school was on first floor. High school on second. Some classrooms combined two grades in one room with one teacher. And I think maybe we learned even better that way. Graduating with a class of only eighteen students, there was no one in high school I didn’t know. I played
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basketball, studied hard, and sang in chorus and quartets. We had fun class trips to the Tulsa State Fair every year, as well as trips to Springlake Amusement Park in OKC and Lake Texoma during our sophomore and junior years. Then the day after graduation, we seniors headed to Rockaway Beach, Missouri, for an exciting class trip! And like the Waltons, we had a grocery store for necessities, along with a glass candy counter and a gas pump outside. The church was just up the road a ways, where I saw the same friends that I went to school with for twelve years, many of whom are still friends today. Our teachers were part of the community. Some lived in small cottages near the school and attended our ballgames, pie suppers, and other activities. Even the storm cellar on the school grounds sometimes seemed like a social event, with several families gathering during tornado season. I felt blessed growing up in that little farming village where everyone knew each other, and help was just a neighbor away. Sometimes my memories take me down those old country roads, with
Wilson School
wild roses and morning glories blooming on barbed-wire fences and sunflowers dotting the landscape. Then suddenly, I want to grab a bottle of pop from a chest of ice-cold water and hear the slamming of the screen door to that little county store in a place my memories still call home. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows. LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.
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Photo provided by Edmond History Museum. edmondhistory.org
LOOKBACK
a look back Edmond's First Newspaper Pioneer newspaperman Milton “Kicking Bird” Reynolds published the first issue of the Edmond Sun on July 18, 1889 – less than three months after the Land Run. Originally published weekly on Thursdays, the four-page paper was printed on a manual printing press. Over time, the newspaper expanded pages and later merged with The Edmond Booster in 1965. The Edmond Sun became a daily paper on September 12, 1976, after 88 years of publication as a weekly. Unfortunately, the paper ceased operations during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Prior to its closure, the Sun was the oldest continuously published paper in the state, running for nearly 131 years.
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PO Box 3878 Edmond, OK 73083