Send us photos of your favorite Veterans by Nov. 1. We will include them in our Nov. 8 edition. Email rose@ okcfriday.com.
Vote Tuesday!
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 27 • One Section • 12 pages • November 1, 2024 $1 per copy
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving affluent far north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village for 50 years
Department earns accreditation By Eric Oesch Staff Writer The Village Police Department has achieved reaccreditation from the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, an accomplishment only 26 police departments in Oklahoma have achieved. See POLICE, Page 12
Citizens Police Academy strengthens relationships By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Eleven Village residents are halfway through the third Citizen’s Police Academy class offered each fall and spring by The Village Police Department. The popular program was resurrected in 2022 after a 20-year hiatus and provides insights into the operation of a suburban
police department in a large metro environment. The academy meets once per week for eight weeks and is offered free of charge to the public. The two-hour sessions are taught by a variety of police officers, investigators, communications personnel and administrators. Village resident Jane Lowther attended the academy in 2022
Rockets bring home Class 5A volleyball title
and was impressed with what she learned. “I can’t say enough about the Citizens Police Academy,” she said during a recent Village City Council meeting. “We learned something new and exciting in every class. I was so impressed by the professionalism of our Village Police Department and See ACADEMY, Page 3
Rare split vote cast on Nichols Hills rental units By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
- Photo by Ani Vazquez, Mount St. Mary Athletics
The Mount St. Mary volleyball team celebrates after winning the Class 5A state championship last weekend. The Rockets posted a 3-0 sweep over Tulsa-Booker T. Washington on Saturday at Moore High School for the fifth title in program history and third since the 2021 season. See SPORTS, Page 5, for the complete story.
OKC FRIDAY: Fabulous at 50
Newspaper helps build community By Meg Salyer Community Volunteer What fun to celebrate 50 years of OKC FRIDAY and reflect on decades of memories made and recorded! As a transplant from NYC in the early 1980s, FRIDAY provided me a window into life in my new hometown and helped me imagine ways I might participate in building our community. With a focus on the people and events shaping Oklahoma City’s future, FRIDAY helped me begin to see patterns in who, what and where. I got involved with organizations that were often featured, including Rotary, the Junior League and the Woman’s Committee of the Symphony (now the Orchestra League). Working as a volun-
teer helped build friendships and networks that have spanned decades. Leland, Vicki, Rose and the team, were and are, such enthusiastic supporters of happenings in OKC. In so many ways, their reporting has contributed to the unprecedented renaissance we are experiencing today. Every week we have the opportunity to cheer on our student scholars and athletes, congratulate local businesses on milestones reached and celebrate the many nonprofits making such a difference in our community. We can be armchair travelers as OKC FRIDAY ventures around the globe! Thank you FRIDAY for 50 years of community building, and for shining a spotlight on the many things that make my adopted hometown such a special place to live.
A rare split vote was cast during discussion to rezone a residential property at the recent Nichols Hills city council meeting. Councilman Sody Clements cast the lone no vote to approve the rezoning of a duplex home located at 6523 Avondale Drive from R2 Residential property to R3 Residential property. Edmond resident Susan Binkowski, representing Esperanza Real Estate Investments and owner of the property, requested the property be rezoned to allow for the addition of a residential unit converting the property from a duplex into a triplex. The Nichols Hills Planning See NHILLS, Page 12
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week Marlee is Brooke Haneborg’s best friend. She’s a rescue who loves any and all toys, with her favorite being a stuffed champagne bottle. She even likes to take her toys with her on her neighborhood walks. Her vet refers to her as a “cuddle monster” and she can never have too many belly rubs! Email Pet of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.