OKC FRIDAY Vol. 57 No. 13 • One Section • 12 pages • August 4, 2023
$1 per copy
Inside Barbie’s World Fridaylanders flocked to the premier of “Barbie.” At left: OKC FRIDAY Sales Executive Gina Nichols and her daughter Hays. At right: back row, Sarah Anderson, Sandy Tru, Kari Collier, Val Standefer and Phi Nguyen, and in front, Kara Trahan and Ashley Weems. For more photos, see Pages 2 & 12.
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NHills approves training tower, garbage truck, employee bonuses
Norma Harris, with family at her 89th birthday party last December, from left: Son-in-law and daughter Steve and Linda Parduhn, Norma, son Glenn Harris and Dawn Longacre.
By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer
today have so much fun,” she said. “They have so many more opportunities than we did when we were growing up. You know, there's things that women do today they wouldn't have thought of back then.” She has been at the helm of Harris Real Estate for many, many years. Back in the day, at least as early as 1977, Norma wrote a column for OKC FRIDAY, “Let’s Talk Real Estate.” Also a long-time resident of Quail Creek, she took a client to her home to check on available listings. Norma’s own home was the one for that client. She sold it and found
The purchase of a fire training tower, a new refuse collection truck and a security camera were authorized by the Nichols Hills City Council recently, as well as bonuses for the city’s 76 employees. The city received four bids on construction of a training tower for the Fire Department and awarded a $959,000 contract on the project to Landmark Construction. Fire Chief Kevin Boydston previously said his department envisions a modular, customized, four-story structure that can be easily modified for multiple training sessions, such as rappelling or cutting holes in a roof to gain access to a building ablaze. The facility is to have a smoke generator and forcible entry doors, for simulated search and rescue drills when visibility is obscured, Boydston said. The tower also will have movable walls that can be reconfigured for different scenarios. The tower is to be used for training Nichols Hills firefighters alongside those from The Village and/or Oklahoma City, Boydston said. In addition, “We want to host classes for training other departments, as well, to enable them to acquire hands-on experience in fighting structure fires.” City Manager Shane Pate said, “This will provide our department with a great opportunity to train regularly for all kinds of fires, including fires at multiple levels.” The City Council authorized Public Works Director Randy Lawrence to buy a 2023 heavyduty Freightliner compressed natural gas-powered
See NORMA, Page 5
See NHILLS, Page 5
Norma’s can-do attitude keeps her smiling By Annabella Potts Student Intern Long-time realtor Norma Harris, 89, has always had a “can-do’ attitude. “I've always been an ‘I can do it’ person,” she said. “One of my boys said, ‘it's Miss YouCan-Do-Anything. “So that's kind of my attitude. I can do it. That's my slogan. And I always think I can. Sometimes I can't, but I try anyway. It's got me where I am, and that's worked out.” Norma grew up in Oklahoma City where her father had a restaurant. She was in charge of waiting on customers, which wasn’t to her liking, but in her youth, she
dabbled in many different hobbies. At a young age, she loved to dance and perform acrobatics, where at one particular point, she jumped off a 14-foot ladder into her instructor's arms. “Well, you have to do what makes you happy, not what other people want you to do to be happy,” she said. “I don't know. I just always kind of did what I wanted growing up.” Norma went to college at the University of Oklahoma but left early to get married. She previously worked as a secretary but says that women from her time were only offered that role or the job of a schoolteacher. “I just think the young kids
12th Cookies & Cocktails supports Girl Scouts
KATIE LONG
LINDSEY McCARTY
Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma has set its 12th annual Cookies & Cocktails fundraising event for Friday, Aug. 18 at Camp Trivera, 2508 N.E. 50 in Oklahoma City. A VIP social begins at 5:30 p.m., with the event following at 6:30 p.m. Cookies & Cocktails, now in its 12th year, is a creative partnership event featuring cookie-
Village hires firm to collect past due $ By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer The Village is contracting with a new company to collect money that deadbeats owe the city. A resolution adopted by the City Council related that city staff was dissatisfied with collections provider American Municipal Services. Consequently, the council voted unanimously to hire the Oklahoma City firm of Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott to collect on delinquent accounts owed to City Hall and on unpaid municipal court citations. State law decrees that a city council may enter into a contract with a collection agency for “one or more of the following items: (1) debts and
accounts receivable including, but not limited to, unpaid fees, penalties, interest, and other sums due the municipality, or (2) court penalties, costs, fines and fees in cases in municipal court in which the accused has failed to appear or otherwise failed to satisfy a monetary obligation ordered by the court.” The Village will add a fee of no more than 35% to the delinquent debt, and that fee will constitute “the full compensation to which Perdue is entitled” for collecting the overdue amount. The Village bills 4,859 utility customers, “on average,” and approximately 200 of them “would get frequent-flyer points if we had rewards See VILLAGE, Page 3
themed recipes of sweet and savory varieties from local restaurants, caterers and bars. Attendees have the opportunity to taste the one-of-a-kind creations while enjoying music and fellowship. General admission tickets are $60 with VIP tickets available for $80. VIP tickets include early access to the event starting at 5:30 p.m. with VIP bar access
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week This is Jenson, an 8-monthold, 62-pound golden retriever who loves his tennis ball more than life. When he is not playing fetch, Jenson enjoys summer swims, boat rides, and shaking your hand (as long as it holds a treat). His smile brings joy to all those he meets — especially his dad Mason Belcher. Email Dog, Cat, Pet and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okc-friday.com.
and a special tray for easy tasting. Food, wine, beer and cocktails are included with either ticket price. Guests must be 21 years of age to attend. “It’s always fun to see local restaurants and caterers put their creativity into tasty creations for Cookies & Cock-tails,” said Cookies & See COOKIES, Page 3