Life Lessons from 99-Year-Old Delmar
When Delmar Smith talks, he looks straight at you. Not with mere politeness, but with intensity. The 99-year-old has the uncanny ability to size up people or dogs, at a glance. Delmar, who was born at the beginning of the Great Depression, has worked with dogs and horses since he was a “pup” on a…
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City Rescues Rescue Vehicles
The newest vehicle in the Edmond Police Department’s fleet is a classic car. It’s not equipped with the latest crime-fighting technology. It doesn’t even have air conditioning. But the purpose of the vintage 1941 Ford Tudor is clear—to start conversations. “I’d call this car an ice-breaker,” Officer Randy Payne said. “It’s only been at public…
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subURBAN Revival
No one has studied the revitalization of Edmond’s downtown like J. David Chapman, PhD. Chapman has authored a newly published book that chronicles the history and recent transformation of Edmond, from a quiet downtown into a lively, walkable cityscape. As a professor of urban planning and real estate development, a weekly columnist for the Journal…
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1,000 Cookbooks and Counting
Sara Memmott’s home is lined with dozens of bookshelves where she keeps nearly 1,000 cookbooks! After decades of working as a special collections librarian, the cookbooks are, of course, carefully grouped by topic. Sara admits that she’s not a great cook, but she has other reasons for collecting cookbooks. “I love books, I love history, and…
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Edmond Memorial’s Historic Brass Band
Tanner Morgan is the director of America’s only Historic Brass Band for high schoolers. His student musicians play authentic songs from the Civil War––on instruments that date from the 1860s and 1870s! “These instruments are old, and fragile, and could belong in a museum,” said Morgan. “Some have been in attics for a century, but…
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Operation Ukraine’s Inspiring Story
Amid ongoing missile and drone attacks in their homeland, Ukrainian physicians have become some of the most experienced trauma specialists in the world—particularly in treating facial injuries. While attending a national medical conference, Dr. Mark Mims, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at OU Health and assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, learned of…
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UCO’s Pollinator Garden
The garden of wildflowers and grasses at the entrance to the University of Central Oklahoma is humming and buzzing with insects. The John F. Barthell Pollinator Garden, which came to life just two years ago, has seen a higher-than-expected number of insect visitors—proving that Edmond traffic isn’t just on wheels. The Garden’s Visionary The garden…
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Hoop Dreams
Van Shea Iven remembers competing in the Elks National Hoop Shoot in the late 1970s. Little did he know that his children would far surpass his scores. The children’s free-throw competition is simple: Take 25 shots at the rim and see who makes the most baskets. Nearly 100,000 competitors registered for the 2025 Hoop Shoot,…
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Opera for Everyone
If you think opera is only high-brow music for an older crowd, then you haven’t met Painted Sky Opera company. Moving into its tenth year, Painted Sky is making opera more approachable for all ages. This year’s season includes the classic Figaro, Figaro, Figaro (of Bugs Bunny fame), a recent opera about homesteaders in the…
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