News for the heart of Oklahoma City. Volume 53, Issue 4 January 29, 2014 — February 5, 2015 www.city-sentinel.com Ten Cents Page 2 Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 CLEET opens Oklahoma City office on OSU-OKC campus Got the Flu? What’s a parent to do? “Children of the Civil Rights” documentary Coalition leader calls for end to executions U.S. Supreme court to hear Oklahoma capital cases, activists want ‘stay’ of all executions By Darla Shelden to her my innocence. Sister Prejean said, “I have City Sentinel Reporter “Please Gov. Fallin – give me been in close communication that chance. Wouldn’t it be worth with Richard, his attorney and Last week, a day before the at least a 60-day reprieve to pre- all the people trying to help historic U.S. Supreme Court vent an innocent man’s death? him, and I want to participate decision to take another look Please listen to the thousands of in this [Jan. 27] press confer- at pending executions in Okla- people who have signed my peti- ence to get the word out about homa, Sister Helen Prejean, a tion asking you to stop this. I’m his innocence and how com- well-known opponent of capi- asking Justin Sneed once again pletely broken our criminal jus- tal punishment, circulated to to come forward to help stop tice system is – including the the The City Sentinel and oth- this before it’s too late. I want to court system – that is letting er news organizations a state- thank Sister Helen Prejean and this innocent man be brought ment. everybody else for all their help.” to the brink of death.” The status of planned ex- Glossip and Prejean asked After 17 years on death row, ecutions remained uncertain that concerned citizens tele- Glossip consistently maintains last weekend, but serious High phone Gov. Fallin’s office his innocence. Court review of underlying is- and sign Glossip’s petition, at Glossip was convicted of be- sues puts them in doubt. RichardEGlossip.com. ing involved in a 1997 murder- Sister Prejean explained the for-hire plot that resulted in the statement was “dictated to me death of Barry Van Treese. Jus- Sister Helen Prejean, Executive Director of the Ministry Against the Death Penalty, and spiritual advisor to death row inmate by phone by Richard Glossip on tin Sneed was convicted of the Richard Glossip, is helping to lead efforts opposed to capitol punishment in Oklahoma. Mike Posey Photography. Jan. 22, 2015.” Glossip’s words actual killing of Van Treese and tice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, by the Oklahoma Coalition to son. follow: is serving a life sentence with- “Petitioners have committed Abolish the Death Penalty was The group has long urged “My name is Richard Glossip. out parole. horrific crimes, and should scheduled this week, for Tues- Gov. Fallin to halt all execu- I’m coming to you today to let Charles Warner’s was the be punished, but the Eighth day (Jan. 27) at the State Capi- tions. Two more executions are you know that on Jan. 29, … the first execution of 2015 and Amendment guarantees that tol. Sister Prejean planned to scheduled: John Marion Grant State of Oklahoma is going to the first since the infamous no one should be subjected to ask Gov. Mary Fallin to spare is set to die on Feb. 19 and Ben- execute me - and that they will “botched execution,” as news an execution that causes sear- Glossip’s life. jamin Robert Cole, Sr. on March be executing an innocent man. stories soon dubbed the event, ing, unnecessary pain before Other scheduled speakers in- 5. Those now seem less likely in I’m asking that everyone please of Clayton Darrell Lockett on death.” clude State Rep. George Young, light of the High Court’s pend- stand up and help me to stop this April 29, 2014. Sister Prejean is the author of D-Oklahoma City; Rev. Dr. ing review of issues raised in injustice from happening. I’m It was the second time Okla- “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewit- William Tabbernee, Executive the cases. pleading with Gov. Mary Fal- homa used midazolam as part ness Account of the Death Pen- Director Oklahoma Confer- Leathers said, “Sister Prejean lin to please grant me a 60-day of a three-drug method. Its use alty in the United States.” The ence of Churches; Bud Welch, is not only a voice of reason on reprieve, which is in her power, had been challenged by Warner book became an Oscar winning President of Murder Victim this very important issue but is so that my attorneys can put a Barring a stay of execution by the Su- and other death row inmates as movie, an opera and a play. Af- Families for Human Rights and also a reminder that the Death case together to bring directly to preme Court, two vigils will be held on an unconstitutional risk of pain ter corresponding with Glos- OK-DADP board member; and Penalty is absolutely contrary Thursday evening, Jan. 29 protesting her so she can see for herself all the scheduled state killing of Oklaho- and suffering.” Their claim was sip by mail Prejean became his Brady Henderson, ACLU-OK to Jesus Christ, his teachings, the facts of my case and not just ma death row inmate Richard Glossip. rejected in a 5-4 vote. spiritual advisor. Legal Director; and Rev. Adam and what God expects from the some of them, and so I can prove Photo provided. In a dissenting opinion, Jus- A press conference hosted Leathers, OK-CADP spokesper- continued on page 2 Memorial Museum celebrates grand re-opening featuring high tech exhibits and never before seen artifacts By Darla Shelden City Sentinel Reporter The world class Museum ad- jacent to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial recently cel- ebrated a Grand Re-Opening with 35 new interactives, hun- dreds of never before seen arti- facts and thousands of pieces of video and Oral Histories. The 15-foot-high Dreamland Motel sign is one of the large ar- tifacts towering over other sig- nificant pieces of evidence. A glass wall is inscribed with the name of each of the 168 victims. Family Members, survivors and rescue workers get a special preview of the Okla- Susan Winchester, Oklahoma homa City National Memorial Museum’s new enhancements during the grand City National Memorial Foun- re-opening event. Photo provided. dation Chair said, “We are using gaged in our story like never be- too young to remember in their new technologies that allow our fore. We want to especially en- own hearts and minds what visitors to learn and become en- gage younger people. Many are continued on page 2 Martin Luther King Day parade On a glorious sunny, 67 degree, 2015 Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 19), an estimated 50,000 spectators turned out to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Lu- ther King Jr. and enjoy the over 300 entries from organizations including the YWCA-OKC, Oklahoma Natural Gas, and the Central OK Labor Fed- eration. This year’s Grand Marshalls were Bob Lemon and Robyn Lemon Sellers. Photos by Darla Shelden. Page 2 www.city-sentinel.com January 29, 2014 — February 5, 2015 NEWS Check us out on Facebook and Twitter Memorial Museum celebrates grand re-opening featuring high tech exhibits and never before seen artifacts continued from page 1 happened on April 19, 1995.” More than $15 million has been raised for Museum En- hancements and an endowment through the 9:03 Campaign. The donors were honored for making these enhancements a reality. “As we re-open the Museum, it’s also the start of our 20th An- niversary to celebrate the unity of a city that has worked togeth- er over the past two decades to rebuild and remember these events. More than half the pop- A crowd of 175 participated in the Grand Re-Opening of the Oklahoma City Na- ulation of Oklahoma City wasn’t tional Memorial and watched as a ceremonial ribbon was cut by Mayor Mick The cost of smoking Cornett. Photos provided. living here in 1995. With that in Staff Report Oklahoma ranked 15th in the • Each smoker will incur an mind, we are asking everyone study. average of $212,878 in income to recommit to The Oklahoma To encourage the more than loss over a lifetime. Standard.” 60 million tobacco smokers in Key Stats • Each smoker will incur an Winchester added, “While its the U.S. to kick the dangerous • The cost of tobacco for ev- average of $157,294 in smoking- meaning is different for every- habit, WalletHub’s analysis es- ery smoker is $1.02 million over related health care costs over a one, it’s about being there for timated the financial cost of a lifetime. Smokers in Alaska lifetime. Smokers in Connecti- others, not only in their great- smoking to be roughly $1.4 mil- will pay two times more than cut will pay two times more est times of need, but also in the lion per smoker over a lifetime. smokers in South Carolina. than smokers in Arkansas. randomness of everyday life.” The Oklahoma Standard Me- morial Museum campaign chair, CLEET opens Oklahoma City office on OSU- Sam Presti said, “As we grow as a city and strive for bigger, bet- OKC campus ter and brighter, it’s natural we During the Grand Re-Opening of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, Staff Report also have to scale that growth Charlie Hanger, an Oklahoma State Trooper in 1995, explains how during a rou- with a preservation of the value tine traffic stop on April 19, 1995, he was about to make the biggest arrest of his OSU-Oklahoma City has system that’s important -- acts career.