Oklahoma Executive Associate AD Leah Beasley joins ADU’s Tai M. Brown at the 2024 PACnet Conference to discuss the ripple effects of great leaders on department culture and the fan experience. Beasley also discusses the intangible ROI of unexpected, spur of the moment marketing efforts on brand-building: “How well are we telling our story?” Beasley and Brown also explore the value of “forced collaboration” or having an arena where the entire staff can get on the same page and the core values of transparency and trust.
The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing (click the time stamp to jump to a specific question/topic).
The Oklahoma man who was facing 12 years in a tropical prison after Turks and Caicos authorities found four stray bullets in his luggage is coming back to the United States after a months-long ordeal.
Ryan Watson, 40, was arrested in April at the country’s main airport.
At his sentencing hearing Friday, Watson received a suspended 13-week jail sentence and a fine of $2,000 – or $500 per bullet, according to family spokesman Jonathan Franks.
Watson was expected to pay the fine and get on a flight to Oklahoma City before the end of the day.
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After the sentencing, the judge urged American travelers bound for Turks and Caicos to double-check their bags and asked the Transportation Safety Administration to screen outgoing travelers.
Watson is one of at least five Americans arrested this year who were arrested for violating Turks and Caicos’ ammunition law.
Ryan Watson, 40, was arrested in April at the country’s main airport. FOX News
Watson previously told Fox News Digital he had no intention of bringing ammunition on his vacation and that the bullets had been forgotten in his bag after a prior hunting trip.
The country’s parliament agreed unanimously earlier this week to revise the new ordinance after “a great deal of flacking” from American lawmakers, the country’s Newsline TCI reported.
In May, a bipartisan congressional delegation flew to Turks and Caicos and appealed in person for the U.S. citizens’ release.
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The country’s parliament agreed unanimously earlier this week to revise the new ordinance after “a great deal of flacking” from American lawmakers. GoFundMe
“This legislative change is a critical step in ensuring our legal system is both just and flexible,” the parliament’s opposition leader Edwin Astwood told The Sun TCI, another local paper. “It acknowledges that not all cases are alike and that our judges must have the ability to consider all factors and impose sentences that are truly just and appropriate.”
He said the goal is to uphold the rule of law — but also to differentiate between genuine threats and people who made a mistake.
Watson is one of at least five Americans arrested this year who were arrested for violating Turks and Caicos’ ammunition law. Turks and Caicos police
The other Americans charged under the ordinance include Bryan Hagerich, a 39-year-old Pennsylvania father of two and former professional baseball player, who came home after more than 100 days in jail after the court agreed to fine him $6,500 and avoid prison.
Texas’ Michael Lee Evans, 72, pleaded guilty to possessing seven rounds of ammunition, according to The Sun TCI. He was still awaiting sentencing but had been allowed to return to the U.S. due to a serious illness, according to authorities.
Virginia’s Tyler Wenrich was freed in May after paying a $10,000 fine. Sharitta Grier, of Florida, is also awaiting her sentencing.
An Oklahoma family is ready for the fight of their lives after a rare diagnosis.
Madison and Trent Cantrell’s 4-month-old has been in the hospital for a month. He was finally diagnosed with SMARD 1 this week.
The condition is so rare there is only one place they can go for treatment in the country.
“Please help our son. Like, we don’t have a lot of choices.” Trent Cantrell said. “Yeah, it’s literally the only option. So that’s why we’re pushing so hard,” Madison Cantrell said.
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SMARD 1 stands for Spinal Muscular Atrophy with respiratory distress.
“It’s ALS for children. It’s what they call it,” Madison said.
The genetic condition slowly degenerates the spinal cord and muscles.
“Every second matters, literally with this type of disease,” Madison said.
According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, only 60 cases have been written about in scientific literature since 2015.
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There’s a clinical trial at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus that the Cantrell’s want to get into.
“There’s several doctors that are on with the clinical trial that we’re reaching out to and trying. He’s healthy like he’s not far off from being a normal child like he’s just got some breathing issues and like he can still be saved,” Trent said.
The couple says the trial doesn’t want a child that’s already 4 months old but they aren’t giving up.
“This gene therapy could just halt the progression and he can live a normal happy life,” Madison said.
So the Cantrell’s are posting to social media and speaking up about their son’s condition.
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“What we really need is support and push,” Madison said.
They hope making some noise and rallying support could help them.
“I’m going to fight for my little baby. Because I’m his voice or his voice.” Madison said.