OKC FRIDAY Vol. 56 No. 41 • One Section • 16 pages • March 17, 2023
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Governor Kevin Stitt: Run the state like a business By Rose Lane Editor Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt maintained the importance of running the state like a business in his presentation before those attending the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s State Spotlight Breakfast. He said as he grew his
own company, he reminded himself “if this company can do it, we can do it.” Likewise, Stitt said he keeps a “governor’s scorecard” so he can see how others around the country are doing things and their successes. He began the discussion with the issue of education. “We’re not Top 10 in education,” Stitt said.
But Oklahoma is “pushing” for that. The state must recruit the best and brightest teachers. “The magic happens when we have the best teachers in the classroom, “he said. Career techs are so important for those who don’t want to seek a four-year education at a college or university. Stitt tauted school choice and put-
ting more options out there for parents. Working with chambers to determine what workforce talents are going to be needed for jobs of the future is vital, he said. There is a nursing shortage and the governor said he had to ask the question, “Why aren’t schools producing more nurses?”
Growing enrollment at our state schools is important to achieve that. Those students who go to Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University tend to say in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is in the Top 5 in terms of bridges, Stitt said. See STITT, Page 4
Casady’s 12 Merit Semifinalists all on to Finalist status
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Sisters Kylie Ellis Cariddi, Patrice Ellis and Paulette Kingston celebrate their Irish heritage with the wearing of their lucky green. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated today with “shenanigans” all over the world.
The National Merit Scholarship Program has now determined which of the 16,000 Semifinalists named in September 2022 met all requirements to advance to Finalist standing in the competition and all 12 of Casady's Semifinalists have become Finalists. Those students are William Bankhead, Connor Evans, Peter FitzSimons, Jonathan Hedrick, Michelle Huang, Julia Janknecht, Jenna Jiang, Alex Midyett, Stephen Shafer, Joshua Siatkowski, Olivia Wang, and Grayson Wileman. The selection of some 7,250 Merit Scholarship winners from the group of more than 15,000 Finalists is now in progress. The National Merit Scholarship Program “honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.” The National Merit Scholarship Program began in 1955 as an See CASADY, Page 13
League of Women Voters to recognize three judges during reception, dinner By Rose Lane Editor The League of Women Voters of Oklahoma/Oklahoma County plans to honor
and recognize the work of Oklahoma women judges during its upcoming reception and dinner. The honorary chairmen are the Honorable
Reta Strubhar, the Honorable Nancy CoatsAshley and the Honorable Ralph Thompson. The event is set for Thursday, March 30,
beginning with a 6 p.m. reception and followed by a 6:30 dinner and program at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. The attire is business
and the deadline for registration is Monday. To register visit Tinyurl.com/rbglwvokc or mail check to: LWVOK, P.O. Box 16325, OKC, OK.
73113-0325. The Honorable Reta Strubhar was the first woman to serve on the Oklahoma Court of See DINNER, Page 5
NCAA Tournament Bracket, Pages 8 & 9
FRIDAY’s 2023 Celebrity Final Four Picker Panel
KADE DAVIS
GEORGE HOLT
Boys Basketball Coach
Student
Casady School
Casady School
Alabama Purdue
Houston UCLA
Alabama Marquette
Houston Gonzaga
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week ChooChew is a 31/2yearold Goldendoodle who loves people and pulling shenanigans. He is an AKC Canine Good Citizen and a ther apy dog. He loves making new friends, cuddling, and lots of treats from his human parents, Darlene and Jimmy Surber. If you see ChooChew in the neighborhood, stop and say Hi. He would love to meet you. Email nominations with a complete description to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
DEENA SYLVESTER, MD Sylvester Eye Care Alabama Purdue
Houston Kansas
SHANNON LOCKWOOD
SCOTT SENNER
STEVE SLAWSON
PENNY VOSS
Manager, Employee Giving Allied Arts Alabama Houston Purdue Gonzaga
Senior Loan Office InterLinc Arizona Houston Marquette Gonzaga
Vice President
VP, Development
Slawson Exploration Baylor Duke
Texas Kansas
OMRF Alabama Duke
Texas Kansas
Coffee company’s corporate headquarters coming to Village By Eric Oesch Staff Writer The Village is to be the new corporate home of Viridian Coffee Co. when the company opens in the old Casady Square Bank of Oklahoma location, 9300 N. Pennsylvania, later this year, bringing with it 40 employees. The announcement was made during last week’s Village City Council meeting. The 1960s-era building has been vacant since Bank of Oklahoma shuttered their branch location nearly three years ago. The building has a
3,403 square-foot footprint on the ground floor and a basement featuring 3,520 square-feet. Prior to Bank of Oklahoma, the building was occupied by Continental Federal Savings and Loan. Viridian Coffee Co. joins Walmart Neighborhood Market, Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store, and 7-Eleven on the southeast corner of Casady Square. The Viridian presentation to the city council shows the new coffee house is to feature restaurant seating for 79 occupants, a lounge with seating for See VILLAGE, Page 5