Story by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Perkins Mayor Carla Fuss-Cummings said becoming an educator was a family tradition.
“I had a grandmother, I had lots of aunts and uncles and cousins in the education field. I just felt from a young age in high school, I knew I wanted to be a coach and PE teacher,” she said. “It’s a passion. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I have a really good job.”
Fuss-Cummings, who is in her 28th year of education, said she enjoys working with students helping them reach their full potential.
“What keeps me going is I get to go to work and do something I truly love,” she said. I joke around with my students all the time. I’m like, dude, I was going to be an English teacher, but have you seen how they have to dress? And I get to wear athletic clothes every day. It’s hard to explain sometimes except for all I can say is it’s a calling from God. And He gave me a gift and I try to use it to the best of my ability. And I do wake up looking forward to going to work.”
Fuss-Cummings grew up in Pawnee where she graduated high school. Her collegiate journey would soon begin, and it took some twists and turns.
“My ex-husband was in the military and we moved around a lot, but I finished,” she said. “I got my associate’s degree from Murray State College in Tishomingo, and then got married. He was assigned to an Air Force base in Kansas, I went to Wichita State University for a year and a half, then got shipped off to England. My education was on pause for a while, and I moved to New Mexico and taught at a private Christian school and also went to New Mexico State in Las Cruces. After moving to Andrews AFB in Maryland, I finished up my education at the University of Maryland with a kinesiology degree, Summa Cum Laude”
Fuss-Cummings returned to Pawnee after her ex-husband was discharged from the military, then later got her job at Perkins-Tryon, where she serves as the PE teacher with the intermediate school with the third, fourth, and fifth graders. She also gives private softball lessons and umpires some school ball.
“Right now, we’re in cooperative days activities,” she said. “I do what we call a sports education curriculum, and I take each sport unit and I set it up as a mini-season. Each class will have three teams and two teams are playing and one team is actually being the official team. They’re doing the scoreboard. I mean, they get some real-life experiences.”
Fuss-Cummings said her students also make team posters and hang in the gym.
“We get the computers out and we draw, we make posters, it gives them a little bit of ownership and freedom,” she said.
Carla Fuss-Cummings said sportsmanship is a key component in teaching her students.
“We are currently in a cooperative activities unit,” she said. “There’s a lot of structure to it, but we have fun. I only see my students every three days on a three-day rotation. I try to make sure we’re getting a little bit of fitness. I want to help teach them how to treat each other right now, before we get into some competition activities, because I feel like, well, number one, kids learn through play more than what people think. They learn so many life skills through play.
We talk about how competition can bring out the good you or the negative you. If we’re playing a game, someone’s going to win and someone’s going to lose. And, we have to learn how to win with humility and lose with some dignity. And we don’t pout. We work to get better because it’s trying to find that balance between having fun and nobody wants to lose.”
Fuss-Cummings talks to her students about learning from failure.
“We talk about how success comes from failure,” she said. “We’ve done a lot of activities so far this year where I’m like, okay, gang, we’re probably going to fail today and then we’re going to succeed because we’re going to talk about it and then we’re going to find some strategies to make a change or make an adjustment to get better.”
Fuss-Cummings said she never thought about running for public office, but found it to be another calling for her.
“I had just got to that point where I was like I’m going to do this,” she said. “If I win, that’s your (God’s) blessing. If I lose, then that is You telling me this is not my job right now. This is not for me, and you have something else planned for me.”
Fuss-Cummings is about half-way through her first term as mayor.
“It’s been pretty positive,” she said. “I do my best to protect city staff. Our city staff works very, very hard and they don’t get much credit. I’ve had to be out in public than what maybe I would’ve wanted or thought I would have been. I’ve had to step outside of my box a little bit and make myself more available and I’m ok with that now.”
Fuss-Cummings said she likes to do her homework before every city commission meeting.
“I’ll take my city commission packet and I’ll take it to the gym and I’ll get on a treadmill and I’ll read over it, highlight and ask questions,” she said. “We have a good team. We have some Commissioners that truly, really care. I do my best in a meeting to never make a motion or anything before any and all Commissioners have had an opportunity to ask a question or make a statement. We make sure that we are transparent in any way possible.”
Fuss-Cummings was simply known as Coach Fuss for many in Perkins. She became Fuss-Cummings after marrying her husband, Dennis Cummings.
“We have a lot of fun and we joke around about my last name changes, we’ve been married about three and a half years,” she said. “Some people won’t know me unless you have that Fuss in there, whereas in the Commission room. It just says, Carla Cummings. My husband is so comfortable, he doesn’t get upset when somebody calls me Coach Fuss because that dates how old they are.”
Fuss-Cummings has two sons, Jacob and Caleb Hart, daughter-in-law Hannah Hart, four grandchildren, three adult step-children and three bonus grandchildren.
Faith plays a major part in who Fuss-Cummings is.
“I had a stepmom that drove me to church, my dad and stepmom saved my sister and I from a life that could have been a lot different,” she said. “My husband and I go to worship (at First Baptist Church in Perkins) the Lord on Sundays together, it’s just the best date ever.”

What are Adult Day Services?

As President and CEO of Daily Living Centers, I’m frequently asked to explain what Adult Day Services are and the benefits they provide. Adult Day Services are defined as: Structured, comprehensive programs that provide a variety of health, social, and related support services in a protected setting for some portion of the day. Its purpose is generally twofold: 1) To provide a safe environment for adults with disabilities during the day while providing programming that enhances mind, body, and spirit. 2) To provide hope, rest, and peace of mind for caregivers, many of whom find it necessary to continue to work.
Adult Day Services typically focus on adults of all ages with disabilities which may be physical, developmental, or intellectual. Common diagnoses include Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Autism, Down Syndrome, and other developmental disabilities.

What services are offered through Adult Day Programs?

Providers offer a variety of services to their participants. Healthy meals including breakfast, lunch, and snacks are a part of the daily routine. Assistance with ADLs (activities of daily living) including medication administration, feeding, showering, and personal care (toileting). Activities are designed for socialization, such as exercise, brain games, community outings, music therapy, art therapy, and more are integrated into adult day programs. Some also provide transportation to and from the center.

When is it time to consider adult day services?

If there is a need, the time is now to learn about adult day services. If you provide care to someone 18 or older with physical, intellectual, or developmental, disabilities, they should qualify. Caregivers typically need options for their loved ones after they graduate high school, especially if they cannot live at home alone. Seniors can also benefit from adult day services. Those who are independent attend just for socialization, while others need more assistance and care. We often hear caregivers say, “I wish I knew about adult day services a long time ago.” This is because of what it provided them personally and the opportunity it provided for their loved one to thrive in social environments. Increased socialization is so important in helping decrease isolation and depression, especially among older adults living at home.

How do I pay for Adult Day?

Adult Day Services are an affordable alternative to long-term care options, and typically cost 55% less than assisted living and in-home nursing services. While some centers are private pay, many have contracts with various funding sources. The average private pay rate in Oklahoma is $85 per day. If private pay is too costly, other sources of funding can be found through help from a social services staff member. Some centers offer full day rates, half day rates or even hourly rates. The VA contracts with many adult day service providers and pay for the veterans’ day services care. Developmental Disability Services (DDS) waivers and the Advantage Medicaid Waiver Program also provide funding for day services. Department of Health Services also provide funding based on the income criteria of the participant and their spouse. Long-term care policies can cover some adult day services which will be clearly explained in the terms of the policy. Respite vouchers can help pay some adult day expenses as well. These vouchers, offered through Sooner Success and Oklahoma Aging Services, provided limited amounts of money per quarter to use on respite services including adult day services, private duty in home care, and overnight respite stays, etc.

Why consider Daily Living Centers for Day Care Services?

Since 1974, Daily Living Centers (DLC) has provided rest and hope for caregivers. We are Oklahoma’s first and leading adult day provider and are in Edmond, Bethany, and SW Oklahoma City. We often hear that our services are “life-saving” for both our clients and their caregivers. With a fleet of 16 vehicles, including limos and wheelchair accessible vans, we provide door-to-door transportation and med rides. We have a staff of highly qualified, trained, and compassionate fulltime personnel along with many volunteers with a passion to serve others. They often come from the ranks of caregivers who’ve benefited from day service programs themselves. As a non-profit, our goal is to never turn anyone away due to lack of financial resources. Thanks to our generous donors and foundations, we have a scholarship fund available for those who cannot afford private pay but do not qualify for other funding assistance.
For more information about Daily Living Centers please contact Cindy Kanatzar, Director of Social Services at (405) 792-2401 or cindy@dlcok.org. Or visit us on Facebook, Instagram, or our website https://www.dlcok.org!

Bigfoot Habitats, Dragon Eggs & Cattle Trails: Unmissable Summer Events at Metro Libraries

Summer is here, and so is a jam-packed calendar of events at our 19 library locations! Whether you’re looking for activities for little ones, teens or adults, the Metropolitan Library System has something for everyone. Check out the highlights below and visit https://www.metrolibrary.org/events upcoming for full details.

Camp Downtown at the Downtown Library: Bigfoot Habitats for Kids – weekly crafts with new fun each week! Create and decorate miniature Bigfoot habitats. Let your imagination run wild as you build tiny homes for the elusive creature. • July 5 at 10 am • July 6 at 2 pm

Camp Downtown at the Downtown Library: Forest Wind Chimes – weekly crafts with new fun each week! Join us to make beautiful forest-themed wind chimes as a family. • July 12 at 10 am • July 13 at 2 pm • July 16 at 1 pm

Discovery Backpack Exploration with Oklahoma 4-H Explore eco and health literacy backpacks with fun activities led by Oklahoma 4-H. • Downtown Library: July 9 at 1 pm • Bethany Library: July 16 at 6 pm

Dragon Eggs Take and Make Craft Create and decorate fantasy dragon eggs with our take-and-make kits, perfect for ages 6-9.• Edmond Library: July 8-14, all day

Cotton: Sustainable Fabric from a Seed Learn about the cotton cycle and its diverse uses beyond fabric. Suitable for all ages. • Warr Acres Library: July 27 at 12:30 pm

Extreme Animals Discover an array of extreme animals with live presentations. No registration is required. • Edmond Library: July 29 at 2 pm

Snake Events • Herp and Invert Exhibit: Explore reptiles and invertebrates up close. • Midwest City Library: July 10 at Noon • Larry the Snake Guy: Encounter reptiles and enjoy fun crafts. • Choctaw Library: July 25 at 11 am • Snakes at the Library: Learn fascinating snake facts with Larry Daniel. • Almonte Library: July 29 at 6 pm

Special Museum Programs This summer, our collaboration with local museums brings exciting programs for all ages. For full details, visit
http://www.bit.ly/2024SummerReadingMuseumAdventures.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art • Edith Head: Hollywood’s Costume Design: Participate in art activities centered around costume design.

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum • Western Legends and Modern Legacies: Enjoy Western legends and a poetry session with the Society of Urban Poets. • The Reading Roundup: Storytelling sessions featuring a cowboy sharing Wild West tales. • Cattle Trails and Branding: Explore artifacts and read stories about the Wild West.

Contemporary Arts Center • Adventures in Needle-felting: Create wool sculptures. • Adventures in Embroidery: Learn basic embroidery stitches.
• Adventure Kites: Create and fly your own kites.

Unique Events for Adults

Swing and Foxtrot Dance Adventure Join Femeya Cole from Adelante Dance Studio for a fun-filled dance session featuring Swing and Foxtrot. • Edmond Library: July 29 at 2 pm

The Great Puzzle Race Compete in a timed jigsaw puzzle competition. Teams of up to four people will race to complete a 500-piece puzzle within 90 minutes. • Midwest City Library: July 6 at 1 pm

Neighborhood Arts Performances Enjoy diverse performances in music, dance, drama, and more through July 27. View the full schedule at https://www.metrolibrary.org/neighborhoodarts.

Weekly Performance Schedule: • Mondays: Northwest, Southern Oaks, Harrah Senior Center, Midwest City Libraries • Tuesdays: Ralph Ellison, Almonte, Downtown Libraries • Wednesdays: Bethany, Del City, Belle Isle, Choctaw Libraries • Thursdays: Edmond, Jones, Capitol Hill, The Village Libraries • Fridays: Nicoma Park, Rodeo Cinema, Warr Acres Libraries • Saturdays: Scissortail Park Farmers Market

Dear Savvy Senior, I need to hire a good in-home caregiver to help my elderly father who lives alone. What’s the best way to do this?
Searching Sarah

Dear Sarah,
Finding a good in-home caregiver for an elderly parent is not always easy. How can you find one that’s reliable and trustworthy, as well as someone your parent likes and is comfortable with? Here are some tips that can help.
Know His Needs
Before you start the task of looking for an in-home caregiver, your first step is to determine the level of care your dad needs.
For example, if he only needs help with daily living tasks like shopping, cooking, doing laundry, bathing or dressing, a “homemaker” or “personal care aide” will do. But if he needs health care services, there are “home health aides” that may do all the things a homemaker does, plus they also have training in administering medications, changing wound dressings and other medically related duties. Home health aides often work under a nurse’s supervision.
Once you settle on a level of care, you then need to decide how many hours of assistance he’ll need. For example, does your dad need someone to come in just a few mornings a week to cook, clean, run errands or perhaps help him with a bath? Or does he need more continuous care that requires daily visits?
After you determine his needs, there are two ways in which you can go about hiring someone. Either through an agency, or you can hire someone directly on your own.
Hiring Through an Agency
Hiring a personal care or home health aide through an agency is the safest and easiest option, but it’s more expensive. Costs typically run anywhere between $15 and $30 an hour depending on where you live and the qualification of the aide.
How it works is you pay the agency, and they handle everything including an assessment of your mom’s needs, assigning appropriately trained and pre-screened staff to care for her, and finding a fill-in on days her aide cannot come.
Some of the drawbacks, however, are that you may not have much input into the selection of the caregiver, and the caregivers may change or alternate, which can cause a disruption.
To find a home care agency in your dad’s area use search engines like Google or Bing and type in “home health care” or “non-medical home care” followed by the city and state your dad lives in. You can also use Medicare’s search tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare – click on “home health services.” Most home health agencies offer some form of non-medical home care services too.
You also need to know that original Medicare does not cover in-home caregiving services unless your dad is receiving doctor ordered skilled nursing or therapy services at home too. But, if your dad is in a certain Medicare Advantage plan, or is low-income and qualifies for Medicaid, he may be eligible for some coverage.
Hiring Directly
Hiring an independent caregiver on your own is the other option, and it’s less expensive. Costs typically range between $12 and $25 per hour. Hiring directly also gives you more control over who you hire so you can choose someone who you feel is right for your dad.
But be aware that if you do hire someone on your own, you become the employer so there’s no agency support to fall back on if a problem occurs or if the aide doesn’t show up. You’re also responsible for paying payroll taxes and any worker-related injuries that may happen. If you choose this option, make sure you check the aide’s references thoroughly and do a criminal background check at companies like eNannySource.com.
To find someone use an elder-care matching service like Care.com or CareLinx.com, which both provide basic background checks.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit https://savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Marilyn Olson, VillagesOKC’s excecutive director, joined other stakeholders in the June 25 unveiling of the Oklahoma Multisector Plan on Aging, which has been dubbed “Aging Our Way.” The event at the Oklahoma History Center included a partner from Guidehouse consulting, Oklahoma Human Services leadership and Aging Our Way Ambassadors.
The Aging Our Way plan is an approach that engages public, private, and other organizations to work together to improve the lives of older Oklahomans – specifically those 60 and older. The goal is to give every senior the confidence to live life on their terms and to provide them with the resources needed to lead a healthy lifestyle.
In his remarks, Jeromy Buchanan, Executive Director of Community Living, Aging and Protective Services at Oklahoma Department of Human Services, who directed the plan’s development, said the plan is intended to be a roadmap for Oklahoma to be a wonderful place for people to age well.
“While today is a celebration of the plan’s completion and the work done to-date, it is really just the beginning,” Buchanan said. “Now that we have the plan, it’s up to all of us to put it to action. I encourage you to get involved or stay involved. Take a close look at the full plan on our website, Oklahoma.gov/aging.”
The official unveiling included remarks by the Honorable Lance Robertson, Guidehouse partner and VillagesOKC board member. Robertson is the former US Department of Health & Human Services Assistant Secretary for Aging. Guidehouse oversaw development of the Aging Our Way plan. He was joined by Olson and Deborah Shropshire, Director, Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Speaker introductions were managed by Joncia Johnson, Aging Initiatives Programs Director- Aging Our Way OK.
“It’s been our pleasure at Guidehouse to support Oklahoma Human Services in the development of the Aging Our Way Oklahoma plan,” Robertson said. “Our team at Guidehouse is committed to supporting state agencies around the country in navigating the challenges of long-term services and improving quality and outcomes for older adults.”
Information gathering for the plan began a year ago and included Listening Sessions and a Statewide Survey conducted in May and July of 2023.
Olson represented the grassroots sector of 50+ adults embracing change from the ground up. She served on the Advisory Committee representing private sector organizations and nonprofits and two Advisory Committee subcommittees providing subject matter expertise for each of the plan’s 10 focus areas. She is an Aging Our Way Ambassador and will be promoting the plan in her role with VillagesOKC.
“The Aging Our Way plan perfectly aligns with the VillagesOKC mission, and I’ve been proud to be involved,” Olson said. “Everyday at VillagesOKC we are actively connecting with individuals, businesses and organizations who offer trusted solutions empowering each individual age with vitality and purpose. Aging well is both a personal responsibility, and also a community responsibility. We are fortunate here in great State of Oklahoma to have a wealth of community resources from which to draw.”
Shropshire said, “It’s hard to believe this day is here. For more than a year, Jeromy and the Community Living, Aging and Protective Services team has been focused on building this Aging Our Way plan. And, as he mentioned, today is not the end, but the beginning. At Oklahoma Human Services, our goal is to be here when Oklahomans need support. And. that includes looking ahead to identify potential areas of need in the future.

For more information about VillagesOKC visit https://villagesokc.org

By Marise Boehs

Explaining the Stretch Zone difference, owner Wendy Uvino said, “Stretch Zone takes all of the stretching away from an individual, so it is totally practitioner assisted.”

“We have a series of straps that mobilize people onto the table which allows them to relax and stretch properly,” she continued. “Our practitioners have over 70 different stretches that they learn. And they put them together in protocols in order to work on whatever your goals are in terms of your body. It is something basically anybody can benefit from.”  

Stretch Zone’s isolation of individual muscles breaks up tissue glue, unwrapping the stranglehold on posture and valuable energy. Proper stretching slows down the aging process. Improved posture, circulation, and range of motion can be achieved at the stretch studio.

Different from stretching at home, practitioner-assisted stretching is a personalized routine performed by trained practitioners. Using our patented strapping system and proprietary tables to position, stabilize, and isolate muscles, our certified staff delivers a life-changing stretch experience to help you move efficiently and effortlessly. Simply put, we do all the work, you get all the benefits.

Starting in our 30s we begin losing flexibility at an average rate of 1% a year. Strains and micro-stresses on muscles compounded over time can glue them together. This “glue,” or scar tissue, tightens the surrounding tissue and restrains how we are able to move. Over time, the snowballing loss of flexibility ages us. Stretch Zone’s isolation of individual muscles within a muscle group breaks up the glue, unwrapping the stranglehold on our posture and valuable energy. Proper stretching slows down the aging process. We can feel younger by improving posture, circulation, and increasing range of motion.

Due to sedentary lifestyles and overworked, stressed muscles, we develop residual tension in resting muscle, or “tonus.” When we flex a muscle, we create excessive tonus in the muscle. A certain amount of resting muscle tonus is necessary to keep form and posture. But when we have excessive resting tonus, it becomes harder to move. Many people walk around with stiff muscles, and it’s not from the gym. Working with an experienced practitioner at one of the Stretch Zone studios can reestablish a more ideal resting muscle tone, relieving stiffness and soreness through active stretching.

Call today to schedule a free demo. 

Edmond 

309 S. Bryant 

Chatenay Square

10600 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 5

405-445-6700

North Penn 

5629 North Pennsylvania Ave, 

405-242-3428

Nancy and Jack Nortz

First met during the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympic Games. Built a pickleball court in their backyard in 1997.

Story by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Nancy and Jack Nortz are an active and competitive couple.
The Oklahoma City residents wanted to find a sport they could do together in their senior years that allowed them to stay physically active, and keep their competitive edge.
The answer was pickleball.
“We just love doing physical things, both of us,” said Nancy Nortz, 71. “We have both competed in many sports, but they are not lifelong sports. If pickleball hadn’t come along, we wouldn’t have a competitive thing that we did every morning. There’s not another sport like it that allows you to be really physical and very skilled. It’s responsible for a lot of our mental and physical health.”
The Nortz’s love pickleball so much that in 1997 they had a pickleball court installed in their backyard.
“I think my favorite thing about pickleball, it’s the only sport I know that we can compete with anyone,” Nortz said. “It’s a game of strategy. It’s not just a power game. You can play a soft game and beat people. We will get on a court with some 20-something kids that are really talented athletes but haven’t played pickleball very long and kick their butts.”
Jack Nortz added why he enjoys pickleball.
“It’s just fun,” he said.
The couple recently competed in a United States Senior Pickleball tournament qualifier for the indoor national championships
“As a mixed team we won some matches and lost some. We didn’t medal. I won a gold in women’s doubles,” she said.
Nortz said playing pickleball has allowed them to have an additional circle of friends.
“We’ve created a whole group of friends. Not that they’re the only friends we have, but they get to be some of our favorite people,” she said. “Pickleball is very much a social thing for people that do it because it’s addictive. You work your life around pickleball. People I know that are still working will come early in the morning and play before they go to work, or they’ll come play under the lights in the evening after they get off work. Because we’re retired, we’re able to play almost every day in the morning. We’ve got lots going on, but we’ll make time for pickleball. It gives us a chance to go hang out with our friends and do something social and physical.”
The Nortz’s are no stranger to athletics. They first met during the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympic Games.
“In 1976, I had a gymnast that was a member of the U.S. Olympics team from here in Oklahoma,” she said. “Jack was coaching a girl that was from the Syracuse area, which is where he lived. Both of the girls made the Olympics training camp. They take the top 10 gymnasts in the nation, and they select the Olympic team. My gymnast made the team, and Jack’s gymnast was very young but very gifted. She didn’t make the team, but he was there (in Montreal) watching the gymnastics. We were running around together with a group of coaches and going out for meals in between sessions. We started talking and ended up dating long distance for two years.”
Nortz operated the Oklahoma City Gymnastics Center. Her business partner retired after the Summer Olympics, paving the way for Jack to join her in the business.
“My partner had just retired right after the Olympic Games, so I really needed his help down here,” she said. “He moved here in 1978, and then we got married in 1980 and had three kids.”
The couple operated the gymnastics business until 1987 before moving on to other business ventures.
“We were running a training center together and Jack was sculpting as a hobby,” she said. “After our third child was born, he told me, well, I’m really getting tired of coaching and I’d like to try and earn my living as a sculptor. I told him, well, if you’re not coaching anymore, that means that we’re done with this training center. So, we closed that and he became a sculptor. He is self-taught.”
Nortz said her husband had a successful sculpting career, creating a variety of pieces across the country including a sculpture of former OU quarterback Sam Bradford in the Heisman Park in Norman, and singer Vince Gill at Northwest Classen High School.
He also created sculptures of all the national champion coaches at the University of Alabama.
Nortz said Jack started his artistic career as a woodcarver in 1976 after meeting an amazing driftwood artist at an art show in Syracuse, New York.
When he moved to Oklahoma, he added sandstone carving to his ever-widening repertoire. He later started sculpting and carving for MTM Recognition, picking up clay sculpting for creating bronzes.
Nortz said Jack has been privileged enough to create hundreds of sculptures, but one stands out above the rest: the sculpture he created for the University of Oklahoma Gymnastics Center called “Equilibrium.” Just over 11-feet tall, the bronze piece features two graceful figures that appear to be made of intertwining ribbons.
According to a story from MTM Recognition in Oklahoma City, Jack, 74, came up with the idea for the piece by chance one day, noticing the beauty in a simple piece of cloth billowing in the wind.
He said he loves to approach each project with the eyes of a child- his favorite aspect of the creation process is the beginning, when he gets to gather information and envision the final design.
“It’s a high that is in me that is hard to explain. It is kind of like jumping off a cliff into a lake. It’s the anticipation that gets the heart-pounding when you’re looking over the edge, not the jump itself,” Jack Nortz said in the MTM article.
Jack also had the privilege to challenge himself with sculpting famous athletes, from the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award to the Brett Hull statue outside St. Louis’ Scottrade Center.
Nortz said she is very proud of her husband’s sculpting skills.
“He’s done an amazing job,” she said.

Last month, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 3089, the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act, into law and kick-started the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) into organizing the program that will help Oklahomans fortify their homes and reduce homeowners insurance rates. The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program is set to begin early next year, so this month, I want to answer some key questions about the program’s timeline and criteria.
When will the application open?
The law will go into effect on November 1, 2024, and the application will open in early 2025. OID has already begun our implementation process, including creating consumer information materials, building the grant application and providing resources for evaluators and contractors. We will announce when the applications are open and continue to provide key updates to consumers.
What are the criteria for securing a grant?
The grants are open to homeowners who have their primary residence in any of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Your home must be in good repair unless you have sustained damage from a tornado, windstorm, hail, or other catastrophic event. In addition, you must provide proof that you have an active homeowners insurance policy with wind coverage and an in-force flood insurance policy if your home is in a special flood hazard area. After completing the application, you will secure a home evaluator from our list of approved evaluators. Once the project is approved and work is completed, we will make payment to the roofing contractor directly.
What will the grant cover?
After evaluating your application and determining whether your home can be mitigated, the grant funds will be used to outfit your home to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) standards, specifically IBHS FORTIFIED Home – Roof™ – High Wind designation with the Hail Supplement. Mitigation under this standard includes enhanced roof deck attachment, sealed roof deck, locked down roof edges, impact-resistant shingles by IBHS, and wind and rain-resistant attic vents.
How will I save on my homeowners insurance?
Insurance companies offer discounts for Homes with a FORTIFIED Home™ Designation on the wind portion of their homeowner’s insurance premium. In making these enhancements to your home, you could qualify for discounts of up to 42%. You can find a list of some of the discounts on our website. Each company is different, and discounts vary. Check with your carrier to see which specific discounts would be available.
Which contractors can I use?
Contractors must become Certified FORTIFIED service providers to be chosen as part of the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program. This certification requires specific training and an examination. Once contractors are certified, they will submit their information to OID for final review and approval to be added to the list of approved contractors. You can read more about the FORTIFIED Homes service provider certification process on the FORTIFIED Home website.
I’m looking forward to helping Oklahomans make their homes more resilient to disasters and bringing some relief amid rising prices through this pivotal new program launching next year. To receive more information about the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program and to get the latest updates, visit https://www.oid.ok.gov/okready and follow OID on social media.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Zane Elliott, a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is one of the sailors serving aboard USS Nevada, continuing the U.S. Navy’s 124-year tradition of service under the sea to help ensure Americans’ safety.
Elliott graduated from Moore High School in 2019.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Oklahoma City.
“My parents always instilled in me the importance of having a good work ethic,” said Elliott. “They would always tell me to outwork my coworkers and to work the hardest that I can. That lesson is important here because the Navy needs sailors working hard to succeed.”
Elliott joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Elliott serves as a fire control technician.
“My uncle was in the Air Force and I saw that he was living a comfortable lifestyle,” said Elliott. “He lived in a big house and bought a new truck almost every two years. So, I tried to originally join the Air Force but they wouldn’t offer me a sign-on bonus. However, my best friend joined the Navy about a year before me. He gave me his recruiter’s number and the rest is history.”
Known as America’s “Apex Predators,” the Navy’s submarine force operates a large fleet of technically advanced vessels. These submarines are capable of conducting rapid defensive and offensive operations around the world, in furtherance of U.S. national security. A major component of that maritime security is homeported at Naval Base Kitsap, in Washington.
There are three basic types of submarines: fast-attack submarines (SSN), ballistic-missile submarines (SSBN) and guided-missile submarines (SSGN).
Fast-attack submarines are designed to hunt down and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; strike targets ashore with cruise missiles; carry and deliver Navy SEALs; conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions; and engage in mine warfare. The Virginia-class SSN is the most advanced submarine in the world today. It combines stealth and payload capability to meet combatant commanders’ demands in this era of strategic competition.
The Navy’s ballistic-missile submarines, often referred to as “boomers,” serve as a strategic deterrent by providing an undetectable platform for submarine-launched ballistic missiles. SSBNs are designed specifically for stealth, extended patrols and the precise delivery of missiles. The Columbia-class SSBN will be the largest, most capable and most advanced submarine produced by the U.S. – replacing the current Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines to ensure continuous sea-based strategic deterrence into the 2080s.
Guided-missile submarines provide the Navy with unprecedented strike and special operation mission capabilities from a stealthy, clandestine platform. Each SSGN is capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, plus a complement of heavyweight torpedoes to be fired through four torpedo tubes.
Strategic deterrence is the nation’s ultimate insurance program, according to Navy officials. As a member of the submarine force, Elliott is part of a rich 124-year history of the U.S. Navy’s most versatile weapons platform, capable of taking the fight to the enemy in the defense of America and its allies.
The Pacific Submarine Force maximizes the Navy’s strengths of knowledge, stealth, agility, firepower and endurance.
“The men and women of the Pacific Submarine Force are among our best and brightest Americans,” said Rear Adm. Richard Seif, Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet. “The pace of activity across the force is eye-watering, and our ability to remain on-scene, unseen, is only possible due to their hard work and critical thinking. We are lethal, far-reaching, and incredibly capable, and we deter aggression through our demonstrated advantage in the undersea domain.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Elliott serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Elliott has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of being named Blue Jacket of the Year for USS Nevada because, to me, that meant I was the hardest working sailor on the boat,” said Elliott. “I am also proud of leading the charge for qualifying 50 sailors in submarines. I am proud of that because that is what we work toward in the submarine community. It took me a long time to earn my dolphins but it feels good that now I can help other sailors earn theirs.”
Elliott can take pride in serving America through military service.
“The Navy has been a great stepping stone in my life,” said Elliott. “I have been able to get qualifications and certifications that I wouldn’t be able to afford or would have gotten otherwise. Now when I get out, I will also be able to go to college while being paid.”
Elliott is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank Ensign Curtis Labrone for getting me to join the Navy,” added Elliott. “I also want to thank Fire Control Technician 2nd Class Dillon Porter and Fire Control Technician 1st Class Greg Moore for mentoring me. Lastly, I want to thank Chief Fire Control Technician Kevin Behnken for being a great leader.”