OKC FRIDAY Vol. 56 No. 30 • One Section • 12 pages • December 30, 2022
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www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 48 years
Bachelors Club Ball raises $35K for Fields & Futures The 76th annual Charity Ball hosted by the Bachelors Club of Oklahoma City raised $35,000 for the local nonprofit Fields & Futures. And, according to tradition ongoing since 1945, presented 22 debutantes. Fields & Futures seeks to help put more Oklahoma City Public School District students on a better path to graduation by growing sports participation at the middle school and high school levels. Fields & Futures does this by rebuilding and maintaining athletic fields and supporting coaches and students. Bachelors Club President Preston Nelson selected Fields & Futures as this year’s recipient. With the $35,000 donation, the Bachelors Club has raised more than $1,080,000 for the Oklahoma City community since the club started hosting it in 1945. It has been held annually since then except in 2020, when concerns over gathering during the pan-
- Photo provided by the Bachelors Club of OKC
Bill Cameron, right, is presented with the Bachelors Club’s Walter M. Powell Outstanding Aumni Award by club President Preston Nelson.
demic postponed it by a year. The Bachelors Club also honored longtime member Bill Cameron with its highest honor, the Walter M. Powell Outstanding
Jane Jenkins set to retire from the helm of Downtown OKC Jane Jenkins, whose leadership has helped revitalize Oklahoma City’s downtown, announced her plans to retire as President and CEO of the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership in early 2023. Jane has been the driving force behind the team at Downtown OKC Partnership. She has overseen the Downtown Business Improvement District’s for the past 14 years and has served as an advocate on behalf of downtown stakeholders including OKC Streetcar Committee, Automobile Alley Pedestrian Safety Task Force, Railroad Quiet Zone, Bricktown mid-
FRIDAY’s
Alumni Award, during the ball traditionally on Dec. 22 at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. Cameron is president and CEO of Cameron Enterprises, the holding company for the Cameron family’s business holdings, as well as chairman and CEO of the American Fidelity Group, among other roles. He serves on multiple charitable boards, locally and nationally, including the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Advisory Board and the American Academy of Rome. Bachelors Club members presented the debutantes. Souled Out played the music for the evening, and after the debutante presentation, debs, escorts, their parents and guests danced around the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club’s floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree in the Great Hall and enjoyed the traditional late-night breakfast. See BALL, Page 11
- Photo by Fran Kozakowski
Ellie Bohanon, escorted by Faisal Saheli. The beading on her dress is part of her mother, Kristen’s own debutante dress from 1989. For more photos from the Bachelors Club Ball, see Page 11.
Year in review: City starts to reawaken Compiled by Rose Lane Editor
2022 Speakers Ball
The following are the top stories in Fridayland during 2022:
JANE JENKINS
block crossing and more. “Jane Jenkins has led this critical organization through downtown’s full return as the city’s beating heart,” said Mayor David Holt. “Behind See JENKINS, Page 5
January The only grandson of John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick, OKC FRIDAY’s OKCityan of the Year Chris Keesee is following in their footsteps of success in business, philanthropy and the advancement of the arts. Three volunteers — Dr. David J. Schroeder, Clayton I. Bennett and Mark Funke —were honored during the United Way’s 21st Annual Snowflake Gala at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Dog of the Week Kacee is the fur a baby of David, Robyn and Kampbell Kopera. She loves to chase tennis balls. Her favorite scarf is the naughty scarf for Christmas. She lives for gravy milk, bones and playing ball! Send Pet and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Oklahoma Speaker of the House, Chris McCall, center, hosts the 2022 Speaker’s Ball. He is flanked by Nate Webb and Representative Kevin West, R-54.
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center Executive Director Eddie Walker announced plans to retire in the spring. Adoption fees at The Village animal shelter were waived indefinitely after action taken last week at the regular meeting of the City Council. Adoption fees had
previously been $90 and were used to cover the city’s cost for vaccinations and medical expenses for the care of stray dogs and cats. February OKC residents now can raise chickens and quail in their backyards. After more than seven years of
debate, the City Council has approved the ordinance which takes effect March 4. It allows residents to raise up to a total of six chickens or quail in their backyard. Roosters are not allowed. The Oklahoma Contemporary Board See 2022, Page 2
Turn Christmas trees into mulch Don’t simply throw your Christmas tree away – turn it into free mulch with help from the City of Oklahoma City. OKC residents can drop off natural Christmas trees for OKC Parks to mulch through Jan. 15, 2023. Trees must be free of lights, ornaments, nails and stands. They can be dropped off and mulch can be picked up from dawn until dusk in designated areas at the following parks: • Will Rogers Park, 3600 Pat Murphy Dr. • Wheeler Park, 1120 S Western Ave. Mulch is to be available until Jan. 15, 2023. Residents must bring their
own shovel and containers. Mulching your tree keeps it from becoming landfill waste and provides benefits to your garden by helping maintain soil moisture, keeping tree and plant roots warmer during the winter months and conserving water. The mulching program is open to all Oklahoma City residents. Residential Oklahoma City Solid Waste customers with curbside trash and bulky waste services may also set their natural or artificial trees at the curbside for collection with other bulky waste no later than 6 a.m. on their assigned monthly bulky waste See TREE, Page 5