OKC FRIDAY Vol. 57 No. 21 • One Section • 16 pages • September 29, 2023
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OK County jail says No! Village offenders now off to Yukon By Eric Oesch Staff Writer City officials in The Village were dealt a second surprise in their search for jail accommodations for municipal offenders last week when the Oklahoma County Detention Center advised City Manager Dave
Slezickey they were not prepared to enter into an agreement with The Village to house arrested offenders. The news left the city scrambling to find jail accommodation to house their municipal detainees. Just last month the City of Midwest City ended its twoyear partnership with The
Village to house municipal offenders leaving the city without jail space for the approximately 11 adult detainees sent to jail annually. The Village Police Department has only one holding cell causing the city to rely upon other jurisdictions for cell space. The City Council original-
ly voted to end the affiliation with the Oklahoma County detention Center in June 2021 citing concerns of deteriorating conditions, overcrowding and unusually high death and suicide rates. At the time, the council voted unanimously to approve an agreement with Midwest City ending the decades long associa-
Heritage Hall receives $2M matching gift for new gym Heritage Hall President Aaron Fetrow and the school’s Board of Trustees hosted a reception in recognition of the school’s leadership-level donors. Attending donors were the first to hear an announcement about a $2 million matching gift from Leo and Lauren Mingee, of Edmond, to launch the first phase of a capital campaign for the construction of a Lower School gymnasium on the school’s NW Oklahoma City campus. More than 60 leadership donors gathered in the Lower School gym-
tion with the embattled detention center. “The Oklahoma County Detention Center advised us that they needed to resolve some current issues before any new contracts would be accepted from other municipalities,” Slezickey told OKC See JAIL, Page 15
Food Bank’s Keeley White is named to U.S. 40 Under 40 list
and campus visitors quickly. “The safety of our students and employees inspired us to launch this exciting
Keeley White, director of community health programs at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, has been recognized as one of the country’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health in recognition of her work. The de Beaumont Foundation announced its Class KEELEY WHITE of 2023 after reviewing nominations from hundreds of professionals working to benefit state or local public health across the United States. “The professionals chosen for the 40 Under 40 in Public Health Class of 2023 demonstrate the determination, commitment, innovation and resilience of the public health field,” said Brian C. Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which launched the program in 2019. “Their work is strengthening communities and improving lives, and I look
See GYM, Page 16
See WHITE, Page 3
Heritage Hall President Aaron Fetrow, Lauren and Leo Mingee, with baby Wilder, and Heritage Hall Board President Cathy Tompkins at the Leadership Donor event hosted by Heritage Hall.
nasium to view architectural renderings of the proposed location and features of a new gymnasium, the Mingee Family Gymnasium, which is
to be constructed as a FEMA-approved storm safety shelter, rated to withstand an EF-5 tornado and spacious enough to accommodate all students, staff,
27 of our students are National Merit semifinalists By Rose Lane Editor Twenty-seven students from Fridayland schools have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among more than 16,000 other students in the 69th annual scholarship competition. These academically-talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that are to be offered next spring. Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the semi-
For photos: Bishop McGuinness, Page 2 Casady School, Page 16 Crossings Christian School, Page 16
finalists are expected to attain finalist standing and approximately half are expected to win a National Merit Scholarship. Our semifinalists, listed by school, are: Deer Creek High School - Jordan Ogee. Academy of Classical Christian Studies — John K. Abbott, Benjamin J. Creech, Noah A. Finch and Naomi L. Thompson.
Red Andrews needs your support Since 1947, members of the Red Andrews family, local community leaders and event volunteers have provided Christmas dinner to the community. The event is free and open to the public. The Red Andrews Christmas Dinner Foundation offers a bag of groceries to prepare a delicious Christmas dinner along with a toy for the children. Groceries and toys are to be distributed 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Christmas Eve at Santa Fe South Charter School located at 7000 Crossroads Blvd. “Last year we provided food to approximately 8,000 people,
gave away thousands of toys and coats,” said Mary Blankenship Pointer, board secretary/treasurer. “The Red Andrews’ Christmas Dinner is our gift to the community. Due to the economic environment, the needs are greater this year than ever. “It has been incredible to witness Oklahomans working together in the spirit of serving our neighbors,” added Pointer. “We are all united in that we recognize what a highly-valued and impactful event this has been on the community for many decades.” Organizers are also asking for See DINNER, Page 7
Casady School — Jackson J. Coates, David R. Fares, Edward Kang, Noni E. Reding, Raymond T. Rudnicki, Sophia R. Stidham, Jacob Woody and Ayan S. Zubair. Classen School of Advanced Studies — Brietta H. Chen, Zoe N. Epperson and Nilay Kolli. Crossings Christian School — Braedon Asbury, Shawn Beebee, Brandon Daniel, Dennis Daniel, Allison Hickey, Benjamin Power, Nathan Rouse, William Sutton and Jake Williams. Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School — Walker S. Lape, Leonard C. Nwanebu and Dean T. Sylvester. Putnam City North High School — Timothy L. Bui.
Arena to go to vote Oklahoma City Council approved a letter of intent with the Oklahoma City Thunder that potentially retains the team in OKC beyond 2050 and called a citywide election for Dec.12 to build a new, See ARENA, Page 10
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Lucy is a spunky 9-pound Chihuahua mix, rescued in 2020 by Whitney Cross. This photo is courtesy of Laurie Anderson at Gertie’s Doghouse, who magically got Lucy to wear a hat and sit still long enough for this hilarious photo to be taken. Email Dog, Cat, Pet and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com.