Monks Marketplace passes one-year mark
In January, The Monks Marketplace at St. Gregory s Abbey celebrated one year of being in business.
The shop originally opened on Jan. 15, 2020, located just under the clock tower at the abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur.
Brother Damian Whalen, O.S.B., said despite having to close around March and April of 2020, and then a couple other times due to COVID-19, they ve done well in their first year.
“In spite of that, we ve had really good success,” he said.
Jan Pasienski, one of two oblates who works at the Monks Marketplace – the other being Alma Sleeper – credited dedicated customers who have contributed to their success in the first year.
COVID-19 dominates year
The Shawnee News-Star
Reminiscing on the past 12 months, the most significant of events glaring back is clearly COVID-19 and how it has upended life as we know it.
Whether it s been health scares, shutdowns or mask mandates, the pandemic has forced everyone to reimagine how to function safely from a distance.
The year began as usual, with news of new business coming and a church marked its centennial.
January (Pre-COVID-19)
• A formal sentencing hearing took place for defendant Byron James Shepard, 38, of Okemah, convicted in the 2017 murder of Tecumseh Police Officer Justin Terney. On the felony count of murder in the first degree, the death sentence was issued to Shepard.