bmonthly January 2024 by bmonthly Magazine

January 2024

JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

1415 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006 918-333-0380

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We greatly appreciate your trust in us!

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. 2

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

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6006 SE Adams Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006 | 918-331-0550 JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

WHAT’S INSIDE

what’s inside...

63 72 77

Upfront

Funny You Should Ask: These are the People in

Profile: Mike Tupa

My Neighborhood

12 22

Baby New Year 2024: Oh, Baby! Feature Sponsor Story: Around Town With Edgar Weston

51 53

Healthy Living: An Inspirational Journey On the Road: Sooners Claim Championships

Arts & Entertainment: BiB! Season Continues

Kids Calendar

Where Are They Now?: Looking Back at 2019

Chick-fil-A Events Calendar

Unsung Heroes: Mary C. Lyke

Now You Know: A Herd of Drama in the Osage

Health & Beauty: It’s Time for Healthy Skin

Once Upon A Time: A Brand New 2024 Radio Make it a Priority to Care for Your Health

Local Legends: Joanne Riney Bennett

Looking Back: The Lyon Legacy The Origin of the Lyon Foundation Name

A Fresh Perspective: Creative Destruction

Business Spotlight: Arvest Names President

A Good Word: Do I Do Enough

The Why?: One More Day

Local Sports: Bartlesville Splash Club

Out & About: Photos From Around Town

Let Freedom Ring: New Year’s Eve A Look New York’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

Making A Difference: Roofing With a Mission

JANUARY 2024 4

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

upfront

Welcome to January friends. Happy New Year 2024! Wow! Where did 2023 go? It was literally a blink and it was gone. Christy and I have been so busy with the magazine and B the Light Mission. We looked up and here’s another year right here ready to go. As you know, time doesn’t stop. It seems the older we get it sure goes by a lot quicker. Every January we have always had our annual Baby New Year issue. Since 2012 bmonthly magazine has had the baby contest. Before 2017 the contest averaged about 30 babies in the magazine. When we took over, we expanded the contest to 100 babies. Now it has become the largest and most popular issue we do each year. It is one of the largest baby contests in America. Each year with this contest, there are disappointments, letdowns, and controversies. These topics somehow become the talk on Facebook. It was no different this year. If you remember last year, we had a problem with “bots” which were casting votes for the babies. We realized these votes were not real and fixed the problem. Not everyone was happy, but it was honest. After many sleepless nights, we were able to fix the issue and the real baby won the People’s Choice. Here we go this year, and for some it was another controversy. For us it was a mistake. I’m going to take the full blame on this one. Throughout the contest you will always have 2 to 3 babies take the lead. This year was no different. We had 2 babies that took the lead and never looked back. We hired a contest company to help us this year because we had over 3000 votes just on our website for the first time. We had over 33,000 votes on Facebook. We posted what we all thought was the People’s Choice winner. Within an hour after feedback from parents, we realized we missed one. The company missed it and we missed it. I want to apologize for the mistake. We took the first baby down and put up the legitimate winner. We do the contest because we love to showcase the babies of Bartlesville to the world. It’s for fun. There are clear winners, and we did the right thing. What we love is that every baby is in the magazine for over 20,000 people to see. We want the parents to keep the magazine to be able to look back 10 years later and smile. Here are some numbers you need to consider before you spew hate towards us and the contest. There were 224,942 Facebook accounts that looked at the contest. We had over 33,000 votes on 86 babies, and the contest was shared over 1600 times. The Baby Album had votes from 39 states and 4 different countries. Think about that…a baby contest in little Bartlesville, Oklahoma had almost a quarter of million people looking at the cutest babies in Oklahoma. We will always do the Baby Contest as long as we are the Managing Editors. We know there are thousands and thousands of people who love this contest

UPFRONT

and this issue. We want to congratulate Peter Matteo who is the People’s Choice winner by the slimmest margin of 22 votes over baby Khayir. I want to apologize to the mom and dad of Khayir for making the mistake of posting him as the winner. We want everyone to realize all of these babies are beautiful and they are all winners to us! Congratulations to Baby Jenx as he is this year’s Judges Choice winner and the cover winner! What a cutie and look at all that hair under that hat. I would give anything to have that hair and what a great picture. Thank you, Amanda Stratford, for the incredible photography this year. This was Amanda’s first year as the photographer, and she knocked it out of the park. What we love is the parents can get all the pictures of their babies which is a memory you can’t replace. In this issue I write a story called One More Day. As you know I lost my little brother this past October. This subject has been on my heart for the last couple of years. After losing Kris and the last conversation we had, I wanted to share my broken heart with you. I am 54 years old and by statistics I have lived two thirds of my life. If you look at my past - which many of you know of I should not be here today - God has blessed me with bonus years, months, days, hours and minutes. We all spend time on things that will not matter when we all will have that One More Day. What is your One More Day going to look like…what would you trade to have that One More Day back…will you care who was President, who is wearing a dress, what people identify themselves as, or who won a baby contest? I doubt it very seriously. I can say without one doubt that I will not be thinking about any of that. What I will be thinking about is the lives I touched, the wife I loved, the children I raised, the grandbabies I cherished, and the memories I created. I will know that I did all I could do to give a hand up and try with all I had to be the hands and feet of Jesus! I pray for this city, our state, and our country for this next year. I pray that we can all remember that we are all here for a blink of an eye. I pray that we can plant flowers of beauty in people’s lives and hearts. I pray that we won’t be forgotten and just be weeds in the grass that no one cares to remember. God bless, Keith

Volume XV Issue I

Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is published by

ENGEL PUBLISHING

Offices located in Downtown Bartlesville in the historic Price Tower 510 Dewey Ave, Suite 400, Bartlesville, OK 74003 P.O. Box 603, Bartlesville, OK 74005

www.bartlesvillemonthly.com facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly

Publisher Brian Engel brian@bartlesvillemonthly.com Graphics Copper Cup Images design@coppercupimages.com Director of Sales & Marketing Keith McPhail keith@bartlesvillemonthly.com Community Liaison Christy McPhail christy@bartlesvillemonthly.com Project Manager Andrea Whitchurch andrea@bartlesvillemonthly.com Administration Shelley Greene Stewart Delivery and Distribution Tim Hudson Calendar/Social Media calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com Contributing Writers

Debbie Neece, Kay Little, Kelly Hurd Jay Hastings, Sarah Leslie Gagan, Brent Taylor Keith McPhail, Jay Webster, Andy Dossett Joe Todd, Lori Just, Maria Gus, Abigail Singrey

Contributing Photographers

Bartlesville Area History Museum Kathy Peaster, Andy Dossett Bartlesville Area Chamber of Commerce

Kids Calendar Jessica Smith

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or otherwise, without prior permission of Bartlesville Monthly, Inc. Publisher & Editor of Bartlesville Monthly Magazine reserves the right to reject any content or advertisement in this publication.

ABOUT THE COVER Meet Jenx, the winner of our Baby New Year 2024 Judges’ Choice Award. Photo by Amanda Stratford Photography.

Creative concept by Keith and Christy McPhail

Keith and Christy McPhail with the babies.

Design by Copper Cup Images

JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

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PROFILE

Mike Tupa

Bartlesville’s Sportswriting Legend by Sarah Leslie Gagan For nearly three decades, Sportswriter Mike Tupa has covered all aspects of local and national sports, bringing his reporting expertise to the Bartlesville community. He has kept our citizens informed of happenings in the sports world with his legendary way of writing and undying enthusiasm for all things sports. Mike moved around a bit during his childhood, between his birth in Southern California and his high school graduation in Kearns, Utah. He had one sibling, a sister, with whom he remained close until her recent death. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Mike embarked upon two years of missionary service in Italy after graduating high school. These years were instrumental in developing Mike’s character and kindness toward others, qualities which remain strong within him today. 8

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

Following his missionary years, Mike considered a career as an attorney and enrolled in Weber State college in Ogden, Utah, majoring in political science. Mid way through his studies, Mike took a class in newspaper journalism that would change the trajectory of his life. He had always participated in and been interested in sports, so sports journalism was a natural fit. He went to work for the college newspaper which confirmed his love of the craft. After graduation, Mike didn’t pursue his writing career right away, instead, he enlisted in the Marines, serving four years of active duty. During his service, he traveled to Tennessee, South Carolina, Hawaii and Japan working as a radar technician. We thank him for his service to our nation. After Mike served in the Marines, he spent some time

PROFILE who believes in God, and cares about the feelings of others. Mike is a man of character who always strives to be better as an individual and professionally.

searching for the right full-time job in newspaper sports writing. Mike accepted a position with a newspaper company that would allow him the opportunity to work in Nevada and California, and eventually transfer to the Examiner Enterprise newspaper in Bartlesville in 1996. He has made his home here ever since. Mike loves the people of Bartlesville and has deeply enjoyed covering our area sports. He has been a wonderful friend and representative of the sports community and was an honored inductee of the Bartlesville Sports Commission Hall of Fame in 2019. After 27 years of sports writing, Mike retired in November of 2023. He is truly irreplaceable in his craft, and luckily for us, he will still be writing occasional articles for the Examiner Enterprise. Currently, Mike is staying busy writing a book covering his sports writing career, covering the many highlights he has experienced. During his career he was not limited to local sports, but also interviewed historic players as well as wealthy team owners. While writing his book takes most of his focus, he does also take time to enjoy watching sports, favoring the NFL and some college football.

Mike is honored to be one of four finalists chosen for the 2023 Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. The winner will be announced in January 2024, and we all hope Mike wins this welldeserved honor. Mike has truly been a gift to Bartlesville and surrounding communities. His ever-positive point of view has encouraged many to pursue their love of sports. His passion for his community and for his work has been evident in all he does. We are blessed to have him share his talent with our community for all these years. He can never be replaced. Mike, we thank you for your military service and for sharing your sports expertise and professionalism with us for all these years. We are blessed you will continue to call our community home and are so proud of all you have and will continue to accomplish!

Part of the magic of Mike’s writing is his constant ability to make everyone feel like a winner. His caring kindness shows through every word. Mike sums up his uplifting writing style by saying, “I guess there’s just a simple way to put it, that is, to me, people are more important. People are more important than scores. And anyone who gets out there and plays is already a winner. Sports are more of a team thing, but each kid himself, in my opinion, is already a winner.” Mike hopes that, through his writing talent, he has made a positive difference in the community and in the players’ lives. He strives to always give positive feedback to young people that elevates their selfimage and hopefully helps them succeed in life, realizing that success is much more than just wealth. He hopes to be remembered as someone JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

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BABY NEW YEAR 2024

Oh Baby!

Baby New Year 2024! Christy and I want to thank all the moms and dads who had the opportunity to have their babies in this year’s contest. What a contest it was! This is the 12th year bmonthly has done the contest, and our 6th. Sometimes things just don’t go as planned. This year was no different. We do this contest first and foremost for fun and for parents to show off their beautiful babies to America. We had votes in 39 states and four different countries and with over 35,000 votes it was the largest baby contest yet. Thank you Amanda Stratford for your incredible photography for your first time taking pictures of our contest. We will see you next year and Happy New Year 2024! 12

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER

Peter Matteo

JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

ADALEIGH

ADRIANNA

AIDEN

ALAINA

ALANA

ANSLEE

ASHLYN

ATLYS MARIE

BLAKELEE

BLAKELY

BROOKS

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

CALLOWAY

CANYON

CHARLIE

COLLIN

CORY

CYLIS

DALLAS

DAVID

ELON

EMBERLYN

EMERSYN JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

EMMA

EVERLEE

EVERLEIGH

EVERLY

FELIPE DANIEL

GAEL

GREYSUN

GRIMES

GUNNER 16

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

HAYZEL

HENRY

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

HUDSON

ISAAC

IVORY

JASEH

JENNA

JENX

JOSIE JADE

KAYSEN

KHAYIR JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

KIMBER

KOTALYNN

KYAH ROSE

KYLER

KYLO

KYNLEE

LANE

LEGEND

LELAND 18

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

LILA

LINCOLN MAVERICK

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

MARGOT

MARLENE

MARY KATE

MASON

MATEO

MAVERICK

MAVERYK

MOLLIE

MONROE

MYKA

OLIVER JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

OLIVER

PAIGE

PETER MATTEO

RAYLYN

RYLEIGH

SAGE

SAMMIE

SOFIA

TINSLEE 20

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

TORETTO

TYLER

BABY NEW YEAR 2024

TYSON

WALKER

WAYLON

WESTON

WILLOW

WYATT

ZAMARA

ZEPPELIN

Baby New Year 2024 SPECIAL THANKS TO CONTEST SPONSOR

CONTEST PHOTOGRAPHER

JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

FEATURE SPONSOR STORY

Around Town with Edgar Weston by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum Welcome Back … Of all the South Keeler blocks north of 7th Street (later Adams Blvd), the 600 block was by far the sleepiest. Well, that is a play on words as that block contained mostly homes with a few apartment buildings. Among the more prestigious Keeler Avenue residents… Lenore and Phoebe Montaldo lived at 600 S. Keeler and operated the Montaldo’s Ladies Ready-To-Wear at 319 S. Johnstone Avenue. Montaldo’s was the goto for business attire for the women employed at Phillips Petroleum Company. Later, James Russell’s Dentistry operated at 600. Missouri born, Raymond Gunn was an incredible artist who lived at 605 S. Keeler. The Gunn family settled in Indian Territory in 1906, when Ray was just three-years-old. He was a welder by trade but his craft was art. His artistic foundation was gained at the Kansas City Art Institute. He was a oneman art show and taught art at the Bartlesville Art Center for 25-years. The History Museum has an incredible Ray Gunn Delaware Big House painting. Paul Harvey lived at 608 S. Keeler. No not THE Paul Harvey, our Paul Harvey began working as a stockkeeper at the Bartlesville Gas Company, married Vila May Ray in 1921, and later found employment at Cities Service from which he retired in 1959. Vila died in 1976, but Paul continued to live at 608 S. Keeler Avenue until he passed away 1986. Herb Sheller came to Bartlesville in 1903 and lived at 609 S. Keeler. He captured the iconic photo of the Jacob Bartles’ Mill

from the west bank of the Caney River showing the dynamo generator and the west entrance of the Bartles’ millrace. Sheller later painted that photograph and wrote on the reverse of the artwork how the turbinepowered mill functioned. This artwork has been a visual learning tool for area visitors who tour the Bartlesville Area History Museum. Herb was also a strong advocate of the Bartlesville Art Center in Johnstone Park and local sign painter. Gerald and Lenna Saddoris moved to Bartlesville in 1924 and lived at 621 S. Keeler. They started the One Cent Cash and Carry Laundry Service at 5th and Osage in 1933, which later evolved into the family operated Saddoris Textile Maintenance, which later became United Linen. Rounding out these notables: Ed and Marjorie Beasley managed the Curtis Sporting Goods and were instrumental in founding Bartlesville’s Play Pen at Westside Park, which evolved into the Kiddie Park at Johnstone Park, they lived at 614; Zella Vandigrift’s Beauty Shop was at 617; Alberta Bradstreet taught music from her home at 618; and Earl Smith and Leland Hines rented apartments at 605 and 617, respectively. As the years passed, the homes became vacant and were demolished. The 600 block of S. Keeler lost its voice in the community, replaced by a parking lot. The last address was 600 where James Russell’s Dentistry was joined by Dr. Scott Brecheisen in 1989. Russell then retired and Dr. Brecheisen practiced at 600 until moving to 701 S. Keeler in 1995. Chiropractor, Dr. Michael Bush then practiced at 600 from 1995-2022, when he moved to 1021 Hensley Blvd. and 600 S. Keeler became a parking lot in May 2023. To Be Continued…

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

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JANUARY

CALENDAR

SPONSORED BY 1

Christmas in the Ville

First Day of 2nd Semester BPS

1PM; Downtown Bartlesville

All Day; BPS

Christmas in the Ville

1PM; Downtown Bartlesville

Happy New Year!

New Years Brunch

9AM; The Eatery Join us for a tastefully curated New Year’s Brunch as we ring in the 2024 season. We’ll have a crafted menu by Chef Marjorie, friendly baristas to serve you the best coffee + the best customer service, and so many goodies you won’t be able to walk the next day. No reservation required, just come hungry!

OKWU Basketball vs Sterling 2PM; OKWU Gym (W) 4PM; OKWU Gym (M)

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

Bartlesville Beginning Guitar Class

6:30PM; Pioneer Dream Studios The perfect Christmas gift for that spouse who has let their guitar collect dust or that kiddo who is getting a guitar for Christmas! The 4-week class series begins the 2nd week of January. There is even an option to learn alongside your kid in the Student Class if you’ve been looking for a fun bonding activity! Visit AshleeElmore. com or click the “Get Tickets” button below to register now and learn everything you need to know! Adults (Ages 18108) begin January 8 for four Mondays from 6:30-7:30pm and kids (ages 11-17) begin January 9 from 5:30-6:30 for four Tuesdays. No experience necessary, but experience also welcomed. Join long-time Bartian and music educator, Ashlee Elmore and you’ll leave with a great understanding of the guitar, it’s care, maintenance and the ability to play chords in several different keys, all while learning popular songs from the Beatles, Creedance Clearwater Revival and more (for the adults) and Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and more (for the kiddos). Register for only $100 before the classes fill up by visiting the website at www.AshleeElmore.com.

OKWU Basketball vs Evangel Valor 5:30PM; OKWU Gym (W) 8PM; OKWU Gym (M)

BHS Basketball vs Sand Springs 6PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G) 8PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

OKWU Basketball vs McPherson 5:30PM; OKWU Gym (W) 8PM; OKWU Gym (M)

BHS Basketball vs US Grant

6PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G) 8PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)e

OKWU Basketball vs Bethany

BHS Basketball vs Putnam City

3PM; OKWU Gym (W) 5:30PM; OKWU Gym (M)

6PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G) 8PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

JANUARY EVENTS CALENDAR Know of an upcoming event you would like to see on our calendar? Visit us at bartlesvillemonthly.com for a free listing!

Mon, Jan 8

Wed, Jan 10

6:30 PM

10:30 AM

9 PM

Bartlesville Beginning Guitar Class

Healthy Cooking Methods Series

Live Music with Outlaws Reloaded

Sat, Jan 13

Sat, Jan 20

Pioneer Dream Studios

Sat, Jan 6 7 AM

Benefit Breakfast for The Journey Home Masonic Lodge 610 N Washington Blvd.

The perfect Christmas gift for that spouse who has let their guitar collect dust or that kiddo who is getting a guitar for Christmas! The 4-week class series begins the 2nd week of January. There is even an option to learn alongside your kid in the Student Class if you’ve been looking for a fun bonding activity! Visit AshleeElmore.com or click the “Get Tickets” button below to register now and learn everything you need to know! Adults (Ages 18-108) begin January 8 for four Mondays from 6:30-7:30pm and kids (ages 11-17) begin January 9 from 5:30-6:30 for four Tuesdays. No experience necessary, but experience also welcomed. Join long-time Bartian and music educator, Ashlee Elmore and you’ll leave with a great understanding of the guitar, it’s care, maintenance and the ability to play chords in several different keys, all while learning popular song.

Fri, Jan 19

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

Osage Casino - Bartlesville 222 Allen Rd.

8 PM

1:30 PM

Bingo for Central Middle School Lunch Balance Payoff

Early Birds Training

The Crafty Candle Shoppe 222 SE Frank Phillips Blvd.

Here we go! If we get more than 50 people that want to sign up, we will add another event for the 15th! $20 to play, $1 50/50..... let us know if you want food - OR maybe we can do some basic stuff and all that for more $$ for them too!!!

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave. Early Birds Training will provide you with easy and fun activities to provide to your preschoolers to enhance their development. Milestones will be identified and ways to support the development of children will be discussed. Providers will have an understanding of how to support the children in their care. They will also leave with an understanding of the parent piece of the Early Birds and how that can benefit their community.

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Still Open for You Monday - Thursday

William Davito, DO

Mark Erhardt, DO

8:00am - 5:00pm

Daniel Holdman, MD Elizabeth Sherrock, MD

Friday

M. Ryan Vaclaw, MD Amanda Gutierrez, LPC

8:00am - Noon Saturday 9:00am - Noon 26

"Building a Healthy Community One Individual at a Time."

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

Ellen L. Conn, APN, APRN-CMP

Se Habla Español

918-331-9979

EVENTS CALENDAR

7 PM

Adult Glow Prom

Richard Kane YMCA 101 N Osage Ave.

4 PM

Kids DIY Workshop

Lowe’s Home Improvement 2205 SE Adams Blvd. Time to get to work! This Kids Toolbox Workshop will have your little helper eager to tag along on your next home improvement project.

You are invited for a night of radiant brilliance, where the magic of prom night mingles with a sophisticated neon twist! Anticipate: -Attire that shimmers with a touch of neon sophistication - think resplendent fluorescent gowns, dapper suits, and luminous accessories -Light snacks & drinks - an array of gourmet delights & a selection of your favorite beverages, along with specially crafted glow-themed cocktails! -Live music by HYPNOTIK -photo booth -glow stations -raffle, & more! Food & Drinks this year by local business: The Exchange Prom Entertainment & Official After Prom Party Spot: Remi’s The Adult Prom Fundraiser supports scholarships for our Membership for All programs. These programs include: Y Memberships Before/After School Care (5 school sites) Summer Day Camp Football Cheer Basketball “Safety Around Water” Fitness Classes and more!

Sun, Jan 21 1 PM

Sunday Funday Pinball Tournament Remi’s Arcade & Bistro 622 SE Frank Phillips Blvd.

This is a 7 Round Matchplay Qualifying event with PAPA scoring of 4/2/1/0 for Qualifying. Depending on the size of the tournament we will take the Top 4 if we have between 8-15, if we have 16-23, we will take the Top 8, if we have over 24 players, we will take the Top 12 with the Top 4 getting a BYE.

Mon, Jan 29 1 PM

Bartlesville Wedding Show Johnstone-Sare Building 100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd.

Get ready for the ultimate wedding extravaganza in Bartlesville, where you’ll find everything you need to make your special day unforgettable.

Through January Woolaroc Retrospective Exhibit & Sale Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve is proud to announce its upcoming art exhibition, The Woolaroc Retrospective Exhibit and Sale, opening to the public on October 14, 2023, and continuing through the end of the month. Woolaroc and its art show committee first debuted their art show in 2013 and has since featured an array of nationally acclaimed artists over the course of the last five exhibits.

Happy New Year from all of us at Moxie!

Monday-Friday 10am - 5:30pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Check us out on 118 E 2nd St. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

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NOW YOU KNOW

A Herd of Drama in the Osage need approval

by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum Oil and water do not mix and the Osage Tribe has experienced this science experiment repeatedly since the original 2,229 Mineral Estate headrights and their 657-acre surface land allotments were established. The headright wealth of the Osage people was non-transferrable but inheritable through marriage/ death. However, the allotted land was a separate commodity and could be sold. It was these caveats that created the town of Herd and the killing on the steps of Washington County’s courthouse. William “Bill” Easley, Osage County cattle king and empire builder, married Margaret “Maggie” Revard of the Revard/Tinker Osage family on November 21, 1891 at Sedan, KS. Bill was not an educated man but did well with land management and finances. From his marriage to Maggie, he acquired access to her Osage headright and allotted land. As their family grew, children born prior to 1907 acquired their portion of the Osage wealth, allowing the Easley fortune to grow. “The allotment act provided for allotment to those on the approved rolls as of January 1, 1906, to children born of those on 30

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

the roll by that date but themselves not on the roll as of January 1, 1906, and all children born to those on the roll between January 1, 1906 and July 1, 1907. No Osage born thereafter received an allotment.” Between 1903-1910, Bill Easley built a two-story, 12-room, hand-cut native stone home near Mission Creek in Osage County. He believed in keeping his enemies close and his family closer. As each of his children wed, it was Bill’s intention to keep his children’s families on his Rocking Chair Ranch. By 1923, the little town of Herd had sprung from Osage County’s sandy loam soil about a mile and a half from the Easley home with twelve-fifteen businesses, including a general store, meat market, barber shop, pool hall, shoe shop, Ralph Taylor’s laundry, Campbell’s restaurant, blacksmith, rooming houses and school offering 8 months of annual education. The Herd Post Office was established April 29, 1915 and Bill’s oldest daughter, Pearl Emeline Easley was the first postmistress beginning May 5th. Reportedly, Easley owned in excess of 10,000 Osage acres and, to boost his town, he offered free home building lots with an abundance of fresh water and natural gas. Then…drama in the Osage began to unravel. Bill was not beyond “bucking” the system and creating havoc to prove his point. When the Corporation Commission refused to force the Santa Fe Railroad to place a depot at Herd, Bill was furious. In order to link Caney and Pawhuska, the Santa Fe Railroad surveyed a right-of-way parcel of Easley’s land which Bill refused to give up. His plan of retaliation began by deterring the Santa Fe from accessing absolutely any right-of-way on his land; first holding the land ransom for $30K and then hiring a complete stranger to plant 153 quarts of nitroglycerin “soup” on his property as an even bigger deterrent. For that deed, Bill faced a federal grand jury

NOW YOU KNOW

and was fined $20K, which was later lowered to $2,000. But the damage was done and that portion of Bill’s land was permanently deemed “no man’s land” due to the dangers of crossing it. Next, there was the killing of his son-in-law’s brother, Duel Binning, in 1923. During this timeframe, most men were guntoters and Easley was no different. Business dealings in Osage County often brought disaster when eyes didn’t meet and a verbal argument at the Herd store erupted into a fist fight, which led to an all-out gun battle when Easley was knocked to the ground. Duel Binning’s .38-caliber revolver was met with Easley’s .45-cal Colt, resulting in a shot that hit Binning right between the eyes, killing him instantly. Brother Clem Binning ran for the .38, but Easley fired one more non-lethal wounding shot, ending the fight. Easley surrendered and was found not guilty by self-defense. However, the bad blood between Clem Binning and Bill Easley was a festering wound. The two men sidestepped each other until March 2, 1926, when Binning and Easley were both subpoenaed to testify in the guardianship proceedings of Clarence Easley whose desire was to break free from the “family” confines that controlled his portion of the Osage headright and land ownership. His mother, Maggie Easley brought the suit of incompetency against her son because

he was “the victim of shrewd salesmen who took advantage of his estate,” and Bill Easley fully supported his wife. Native Americans were often considered incompetent and in need of a guardian to protect their wealth from money grubbing scoundrels. Rumors swirled like vultures; then, courthouse visitors scampered in search of safety when Easley entered the courthouse with an automatic pistol on each hip. The ere of anticipation was thick as the Binning family arrived and proceeded up the courthouse steps, Clem with baby in tow. Easley rose from his corridor seat where he had perched awaiting the confrontation. Clem glanced up to see Easley heading towards the steps and set the child to the side while making way back to the car for his weapon, “zig-zagging” across Delaware Avenue, dodging bullets. Deputy Sheriff Clifford Hough wrestled with Easley and in a split second, both Binning and Easley drew beads and fired, Easley fell to his death. The gun fight ended with Bill Easley finally winning his fight for dusty earth, to an empire six-feet underground. Binning abandoned his weapon immediately and surrendered. The short trial brought fifty-seven witnesses to testify in favor of Clem Binning’s plea of self-defense and Binning was acquitted.

Did You Know? The final ironic saga came when Maggie Easley filed for bankruptcy, May 1928, and an auctioneer’s mallet declared the town of Herd SOLD on the very courthouse steps where Bill Easley took his last breath. By 1930, Maggie had remarried to George Carter and moved to the Strike Ax area of Osage County, along the Washington and Osage County line/96th Indian Meridian. Many of the Herd buildings were moved to Bigheart/Barnsdall and the Herd post office closed March 3, 1945.

Now You Know * JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

ONCE UPON A TIME

A Brand New 2024 Radio Make it a Priority to Care For Your Health by Rita Thurman Barnes Back before my knees blew out, my hubby of fiftyfive years and I were known as the “kitchen dancers” by our kiddos and others who we were close to. We kept a big boom box type radio atop the kitchen fridge and when a suitable tune would hit the airwaves, we would stop what we were doing and dance away. These days we tend to listen to our favorite dance music a bit more than we dance to it, but it still adds up to happy times. Last summer we were looking forward to a trip to Texas to visit our youngest son and his wife, but I thought I would take care of a few things that I was a bit behind on before we bought our tickets to fly. Of course, I had to get my story written for BMonthly and a few other things that roll around on a monthly basis – one of them being a doctor’s appointment. I called to schedule my yearly visit and learned that I was late calling in and that it would be a while before the doctor could see me. When my appointment finally did present itself, I went in without a worry on my mind. Proper tests were conducted and while I waited to be released, I pondered what we would have for dinner that night. Then the doctor walked back into the room and told me I would need to see another doctor to confirm his findings. The next thing I knew I was on an operating table with no dancing music withing earshot and no evening dinner gracing our TV trays. After many trips to the hospital an appropriate surgical procedure was scheduled and before I knew it everything was over, and I was released to return home thanks to our

Tulsa kiddos who were with us throughout the proceedings. Everyone in Tulsa was kind and caring and we appreciated their wisdom and knowledge. The trip home to Bartlesville was a pleasant one in spite of the circumstances. It’s always good to be back home again. Follow-up radiation was scheduled here at home and everyone who worked with us was just as helpful as their Tulsa counterparts. I’d heard of radiation before and even had close friends and family members who’d experienced it, but the days did seem to run together, and everything seemed like a replay of the day before. Then before I knew it, it was all over – a thing of the past and the Christmas tree was up, and decorated and happy days were here again. Maybe absence

you in

noticed

BMonthly

for

several months and maybe you didn’t, but I missed contributing my monthly story and am very glad to be back. The point of my story this month is this – don’t let things as important as caring for your health go by the wayside. I ended up with cancer of the breast when possibly the changes could have been detected earlier. I’m doing very well and am happy to share my prognosis is a good one, but I won’t be late the next time around I guarantee. Now the radio is on once again and we’re listening to our favorite oldies music on YouTube and looking forward more than ever to the New Year. Take care of yourselves, everyone, and have the Happiest New Year’s ever! JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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LOOKING BACK

The Lyon Legacy

Looking Back at the Origin of the Lyon Foundation Name by Kay Little, Little History Adventures

Most of us have heard of the Lyon Foundation, but do you know where the name came from? I did not know until recently. Ted and Melody Lyon were very generous people in our community. Ted was born Emile Hubert Lyon in 1906 in Elmo, Texas. His college football teammates started calling him Ted after Ted Lyons, the Chicago White Sox pitcher because Emile did not fit his tough personality. Ted never finished college, but after his freshman year he began his long career in the petroleum industry. He married Melody Simmons on December 19, 1928. A month later, he joined Phillips Petroleum Company as a district salesman in Amarillo, Texas. He eventually became Vice President of sales in 1959. He was able to take early retirement in 1965. Ted always seemed to know a good deal when he saw it. He bought a ranch and sold cattle. He became a major owner of Bell Oil and Gas, which was very profitable and then was purchased by Swift Meat Packing Co. Ted also made many profitable investments, such as “The Coves”, a resort on Grand Lake. By the early 1970’s, Ted and Melody were quite wealthy. The Lyons were always giving to the community; the local hospital, helping people who were victims of disaster and drugs, families with special needs, scouts, parks, schools, arts, humanities organizations including the Boys Club, which is now the Boys and Girls Club. In fact, last month, the E.H. “Ted” and Melody Lyon Boys and Girls Club of Dewey opened. The E.H. and Melody Lyon Foundation was established in 1972. Since they had no children, a portion of their estates went to the Foundation following their deaths in 1978. Years later, the remainder of their estates were distributed to the Foundation. Charles Selby, the first president of the Lyon Foundation and friend of the Lyons, praised both. He said that Ted was a hard worker, competitive and well-liked by those he worked with. Selby also said that Ted had imagination, foresight, and boldness to take risks. He said that Melody was very supportive

and close to Ted, and that she was a generous person, who cared about other people. According to the Foundation’s mission statement, “The Lyon Foundation has disbursed funds over the years in an effort to improve the quality of life for residents of Bartlesville and the surrounding area. The distributions, for the most part, have been to construct, repair, improve or revise various capital items of the recipients. For the foreseeable future, the limitation to capital grants will remain in place.” John B. Kane, President of the Foundation, says that it is a fun job to see what all they are able to do for the community. He went on to say, “Our board really focuses on donor intent, and we ask ourselves, ‘what would Ted and Melody like?’” The Foundation started with about $11 million and has now given away close to $50 million. It has given to close to 200 organizations. I think you can agree with me that the Lyons would be very proud of what their Foundation has done and is continuing to do. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

Stay. Enjoy. Repeat. Coming soon to the gallery!

Angels of Pandora: An A.I./Human Collaboration by Jon Lindblom

JAN 12 - MAR 24

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A GOOD WORD

Do I Do Enough?

As You Get Older, Do You Struggle With Your Value? by Andy Dossett

families and community supporters have served and sacrificed for the Rock to be what it is today.

When I was younger, I had the benefit of ignorance. I was going to live forever and didn’t need to think about anything other than what the day would bring me. Now, not so much.

But my dad is the soldier who was told to hold at all costs and hasn’t given an inch of ground to the enemy. God gave him this purpose, and he will hold until relieved.

As I get older, I struggle with my value. Do I do enough? Do I contribute enough? Have I saved enough? What value have I created, and will I leave the earth better than I found it? What will my legacy be and how will I be remembered? Honestly, the thing that makes it slightly harder is my father. He turned 82 years old this year and outworks me every day. He is a giant in terms of legacy, but if you know him, you know he is the last person to ever point the spotlight on himself or his unyielding passion for the youth of Bartlesville. If you get him in the right mood, he will tell you about his journey from a broken home, his distant Navy father, and how God shaped his life into the perfect tool to reach kids. He found himself in the military himself. It was the Vietnam War, so it was the fashionable thing to do at the time, and he served his duty in the Air Force. Originally modeled to guard airbases overseas, he was assigned behind a desk in Louisiana. Let’s just say my father can’t type and, to this day, can’t use a computer.

He loves sharing about the kids whom God has forever changed and impacted and beams with pride sharing about the Rock’s work. He won’t admit it, but he keeps another list — the kids he feels he failed. Ironically, he refuses to claim credit for the successes he has orchestrated, yet willingly accepts responsibility for failures that were not his doing. Jesus said there is no greater love than one who lays down his life for another. I know my dad does that every day, putting anyone and everyone before himself, never asking for anything in return. My dad humbly strives for one goal: to hear his Heavenly Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s a real legacy. One I can’t meet but at least I know where to aim.

Eventually, his CO got tired of him spending so much time organizing scouting trips and activities for kids behind his desk. He was given control of keeping all the kids on base entertained, which the government called “special services.” Not a bad way to serve in the military. That was over 50 years ago, and nothing has changed except now it’s not on the taxpayer’s dime. In 1998, he founded On the Rock Ministries, which started with one building serving 30 kids a week to five buildings with two campuses serving over 600 — try living in that shadow. My dad won’t take any credit for it and will say it was God doing it the whole time. He will be quick to point out countless JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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LOCAL SPORTS

Bartlesville Splash Club Making Big Waves in the Community by Lori Just

Bartlesville Splash Club continues to make big waves in the community not only with a boost in the economic impact from hosting competitions, but also with building students of grit and confidence in and out of the pool. Their swim lesson program starts working with kids once they are potty trained as young as the age of 3. These lifesaving swim lessons are open to the public and help to build young swimmers’ confidence in the water and progresses through four stages. “A child is 78 percent less likely to drown if they are exposed to swim lessons,” said Executive Director and Head Coach, Chad Englehart. “We have a lot of pride in helping to save lives of children in our community on top of improving their general health and wellness. It’s the only sport you can continue with at any age.” Once a child has completed the lessons, they can choose to be involved with the team after the age of 6. Right now, the Splash Club has 100 competitive swimmers that tend to be the best in the state. “We have won the last four consecutive seasons in the Senior Division at State,” added Englehart. “We’re competing against teams that are 2-3 times larger than us, so to win this state title is impressive. It shows that every child on the team gets the most of their talent and instruction; both tied to our Splash Club program.”

dollars,” said Englehart. “Sadly, since pools were not open this summer, we were not able to hot our summer event. However, in 2023-24, we are once again hosting all four major winter events and are anticipating record participation numbers.” Proceeds generated by club-hosted events provide special opportunities for athletes all of ages. For example, an Olympian is brought in every year to the 10 and under meet to sign autographs and give motivational talks. Splash Club has also been able to fund new technology such as live streaming meets from the Phillips 66 Aquatic Center and installing a state-of-the-art digital video board. The club has been around since the building was opened in 1950 under, then, Phillips Recreation Director Bud Browning and local swim coach Ken Treadway. After 73 years, Bartlesville Splash Club continues to live out their vision statement on challenging tomorrow’s leaders and building lifelong champions. “These kids have outstanding grit to persevere and handle life’s ups and downs,” said Englehart. “Through these practices and meets, they learn how to bounce back from adversity and failure. We try to be the guiding light to make a positive impact on these kids’ lives.” For more information on swim lessons, upcoming events or sponsorship opportunities, visit SplashClub-OK.com.

Englehart expressed that each year, the team sends a handful of seniors to college for swimming. He sees this as a bonus for a small community to be able to offer this opportunity to local athletes. When it comes to swim meets, the club brings millions of dollars in economic impact annually to the community. Families from all over the state (and neighboring states) stay at local hotels, eat at restaurants and engage in other local amenities. “In the winter of 2021-22, we hosted four major winter events and our annual Stars of Summer event that, according to Visit Bartlesville, brought in an economic impact of 3.7 million JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

OUT & ABOUT

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLE

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

OUT & ABOUT

WOOLAROC WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS

BARTLESVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE

JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

TRI COUNTY TECH

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The deadline to apply for our January Basic Phlebotomy program is January 9, 2024. Students will become a certified phlebotomist and join the workforce in under a month. Enroll today to start a journey leading to a lifetime career where you make a difference. To learn more or apply online, scan the QR code.

The deadline to apply for our January Accounting program is January 12, 2024. Students will learn how to produce and interpret financial statements, maintenance of ledgers, maintenance of inventory, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, billing data entry, & maintenance of accounting files in general. To learn more or apply online, scan the QR code.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY January 9 is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Thank you to all of our officers who keep our communities and schools safe. A big thank you to our Student Resource Officer, Ethan Long. We are thankful to have you here!

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Roofing with a Mission Mission Roofing Offers Excellence and Blessings A little less than two years into existence, God is already using a local company to touch lives - both right here in Bartlesville, and across the globe. Mission Roofing, started in the Spring of 2022, recently completed work on new roofs for First Wesleyan Church and Wesleyan Christian School, then reached across the globe to provide a desperatelyneeded roof for the house of a Kenyan widow. “I have been working with a pastor from Kenya for several years in our outreach program, and when he passed away last year, his children reached out to me for help,” said Mission Roofing co-owner Brian Engel. “His widow’s roof was in such bad shape that she had several inches of standing water in her home during a rainstorm. Because of the way God has blessed our business, we were able to take care of that problem for her and provide her with a new roof. If the Lord has shown me anything in my life, it is to always try to be a blessing for others.” And that is exactly the work Mission Roofing envisioned when opening for business in the Spring of 2022. Mission Roofing combines the passions of two local businessmen, coowners Engel and Eric Mills, to help orphans and widows in East Africa. “We were at church, and I was telling some friends about a trip I had just returned to from Uganda,” said Mills. “I was sharing stories about our trip and Brian happened to overhear. He said ‘let’s go to lunch sometime and talk about this.’ We ended up having lunch and discovering that we had a lot of common interests.” Common interests like remodeling houses, the roofing industry, and — most importantly — a passion for mission work in East Africa.

“I had been involved in mission work in Kenya, and learned that Eric was also involved in mission work, in Uganda,” said Engel. “I had been involved in some renovation work, and had been looking at starting a roofing business for a while. I found out that Eric’s dad owned a roofing company in California, and that he had been roofing nearly all his life. Everything just came together and really felt like a God thing.” Every roof that Mission Roofing constructs for their customers not only helps them protect their most valuable investment — their home — it also allows them to provide food, shelter, and more in Kenya and Uganda. Mission Roofing is proud to note that they are the only GAF Certified roofing company in Bartlesville, meaning they meet very high standards of quality for both labor and materials, and the new roofs they inslatt qualify the homeowner for a 50-year GAF warranty. The local company does not just look to help people in Kenya and Uganda. They are also involved in local charitable endeavors, including the recent Elks Lodge Bike Drive, which gave away more than 20 bicycles to youngsters, and provided food for 12 Bartlesville families. With a mission statement of “To help orphans & widows move beyond a life of survival, and thrive to fulfill their God-given purpose,” Faces With Names International is the nonprofit organization To learn more about Mission Mission Roofing most Roofing or to schedule a often uses to carry complimentary roof inspection, out those projects in call Eric at 918-332-2828 or email Kenya and Uganda. him at eric@missionroofing.us. The organization’s Scan the QR code below to visit vision is to allow you the Mission Roofing Website. the opportunity to care for orphans and widows in their distress. You can learn more by visiting their website at faceswithnames.org. And by getting a highquality roof from Mission Roofing, you can know that you are doing exactly that — helping those who need it most. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK

by Jay Webster Have you ever had one of those epiphany moments?

me, a lot of these people are people I work with. They are also

I was driving recently and my mind began to wander. I walked

the friends who get their hands dirty doing actual good works

aimlessly through the overgrown forest of to-do lists and anxieties

here in the Ville. And, they are the people who make me laugh

before finding myself in a clearing and looking at the landscape

and feel cared for and who make living here so wonderful.

of my life. There in front of me were the people who populate my world. You’ve probably had a moment like that too. You see the individuals you are close to, the ones who add value,

entertain,

and inspire. 46

For

Looking at these faces, I was surprised to discover that the vast majority of them are women.

It’s been my experience, that men are like elephants - we just sorta put our heads down and trudge forward. We get work done. Women on the other hand have been much more likely to ask, “Why are we doing it like this?”

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

don’t

know

why this surprised me.

guess

I’d

just never looked at it before.

But

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK standing on the hill of the present, I can look back over my life

in such a way that people aren’t surprised when I tell them I’m

and see it’s always been that way.

her dad.

Women have been a constant in my life. The first woman of

influence,

surprise, was my mom. She modeled such

strength

and for

It’s been my experience, that men are like elephants - we just

I guess I‘m just confessing that I’ve never fully recognized the influence of women in my life. And seeing their contributions and positive impact simply makes me grateful. My life is better because of these humans.

sorta put our heads down and trudge forward.

get

work done. Women on the other hand

conviction

have been much

growing

more likely to ask,

up, choosing me over the easy path or societal norms or even

“Why are we doing it like this?”

probably what would have been better for her in the short and

Consider this: If women decided tomorrow that life was

long run. She showed me faith as a place of connection as well

better somewhere else and they left the Ville, at least two-thirds

as a code for living.

(probably more) of the retail outlets, restaurants, and hotels

Branching out from there was a sisterhood of aunts and a grandma who was well younger than I am now, but somehow as

would go with them. Service Industry, locally owned shops, venues, and eateries would all evaporate.

the Irish Catholic mother of nine, always seemed older (but a bit

What about non-profits and boards? I’ve been fortunate to

too wiry to be matronly). I wish now that I could know both my

serve on a lot of local boards, and nearly all of them function

grandparents as young adults.

under the power, passion, and dreams of women.

Most days as an early elementary schooler, my Grandma

And then there’s my personal life. Women aren’t just the glue

Agnus would bring me to her house after school while my single

that hold my social life together…many women are the intellect,

mom made a way for us by working for First National Bank. We’d

laughter, and depth that makes my friendships so important to

listen to Leon Russell on the car radio sing about the “Tight

me.

Rope” and I’d watch the gently sagging telephone lines rush by like waves and wonder if that was what he was imagining. In school, my most influential and determined teachers and principals - the ones who kept me from falling through the cracks - were all women. These women corrected and encouraged and admonished and sometimes revealed their humanity… and it kept me moving forward. I am a writer today because of women. I am a student of life because they taught me I could be one. By the time I reached High School, I found humor and camaraderie with my male friends and teammates, but I found the shelter of encouragement to take risks and dream with girls. A woman can make you brave and lift your spirit. She can rescue you too. This is what happened when I

So what am I saying? Am I elevating one group by diminishing another? Certainly not. I guess I‘m just confessing that I’ve never fully recognized the influence of women in my life. And seeing their contributions and positive impact simply makes me grateful. My life is better because of these humans. So that’s all. What do you see when you look at the landscape of people in your life? Who contributes the most? Who has impacted you time and again? At the very least, it might be nice to thank them, to acknowledge their

value-added.

met my wife-to-be Ann-Janette in an American Lit class. She

Recognizing the good

saved me from a life of wandering and legless dreams. (I think

in someone generally

it helped that I was actually distracted by her legs, but that’s a

encourages them to

whole other thing.)

do more good. We

None of the minor monuments that I’ve built in my life would be standing if she hadn’t been shoveling beside me. It was her

literally grow the good in that way.

idea - eighteen years into marriage - to call an audible on our life

So here’s to the

plan and have a kid (another female who continues to influence

women in our lives and

and amaze me).

all those who make us

For all my failings, my daughter Evanjalyn makes me want

better. May this be the

to be better; to be cooler and on point, and live healthier. She

start of a wonderful

continues to surprise me with her creativity, courage, and

year!

strength. I’m so proud of her. My ambition right now is to live

Cheers. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

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Charity Wing, Administrator

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We have independent living apartments available to rent for those ages 55 or older. All apartments are unfurnished, 1 bedroom, $950 per month and include: • • • • • • •

All utilities paid; including basic cable 24-hour emergency response Fully equipped kitchen Patio with sliding glass door Restaurant-style dining or you can have meals delivered directly to your apartment Planned activities; to include regularly scheduled happy hour Scheduled transportation for shopping

• • • • • • •

Housekeeping On-site laundry On-site beauty shop Daily exercise classes offered Year-round building & grounds maintenance Interior maintenance Pet-friendly

3434 Kentucky Place • 918-333-9545 • www.bartlesvillehealthandrehab.com JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

Time For A New

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bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

HEALTHY LIVING

An Inspriational Journey Family Sheds 400 Pounds for a Healthier Tomorrow by Abigail Singrey

A Bartlesville family hopes their journey to shed a collective 400 pounds will be inspirational for others. Approximately a year and a half ago, the Feenstra family received a wakeup call that prompted them to make substantial lifestyle changes. It all started when Lonnie Feenstra’s doctor told him he was a “ticking time bomb for a heart attack,” Lonnie said. Lonnie, grappling with diabetes and high cholesterol, was taking thirteen medications daily and faced difficulties with even a short walk. He was wearing a size 54 in pants and a 5XL in shirts. He knew it was time to make changes. “My daughter (Cheyenne Feenstra) was only fifteen at the time,” he said. “I wanted to be around for her.” His wife, Amanda Feenstra, also knew she needed to make changes for her health. She suffered from numerous foot conditions, including plantar fasciitis and bone spurs. The pain made it hard to complete normal activities. “I would come home and cry, because it felt like knives stabbing my feet,” Amanda said. The family’s transformation began with dietary modifications. Amanda researched and switched to healthier alternatives, opting for coconut oil over vegetable oil and incorporating nutritious meats like salmon, shrimp, tuna, and chicken. They eliminated certain foods, such as pork, bread, and most starches, from their diet. Lonnie initiated the family’s fitness journey with short walks around the block, inspiring his daughter Cheyenne to join. Together, they gradually increased the distance they could go. The exercise helped the dog, too. “Everyone kept telling me my dog was going to have a heart attack,” Cheyenne said. For son Dakota Feenstra, he simply didn’t like how he looked in the mirror. When everyone else in the family started to lose weight, he got involved, too, eating healthily and lifting weights with his dad.

Now the whole family has seen incredible results. Lonnie achieved the most significant transformation, going from 365 pounds to 213 pounds. His health has also drastically improved, allowing him to go off many of his medications. For Lonnie, the difference really sunk in when he was under the weight limits at the state fair, allowing him to have fun with his family. For Amanda, the difference in Lonnie has been remarkable. “I loved him through the whole journey, but I was scared for him because of his health,” Amanda said. Even after back surgery that temporarily halted his physical activities, Lonnie remains determined to continue his progress. Amanda saw results as well, with her weight decreasing from 198 pounds to 138 pounds, a substantial accomplishment considering her foot issues. She reports feeling a lot less pain now. For Dakota, the journey from 268 pounds to 170 pounds has been fulfilling. He’s reached his goal weight and now is working on toning. His fiance Danaya Davis has seen results from the healthier diet as well, losing seventy pounds. Cheyenne has gone from 198 pounds and a size fourteen to 100 pounds and wearing a size zero. The Feenstras hope their transformation encourages others to make the same changes. “Don’t get discouraged,” Dakota said. ”Even if you aren’t seeing a difference, if you follow through, you’ll see a difference.” As recovering addicts, Lonnie and Amanda are no strangers to doing hard things. Lonnie’s been sober since Dec. 2014, and Amanda followed suit in October 2015. “Life has become so much better for us,” Amanda said. “We’ve been able to accomplish so much since we’ve been sober, so I knew we could do this, too.” JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

Becki Gailey

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ON THE ROAD

Sooners Claim Championships Sooner Cattle Company Brings Home 2 WRCA Titles by Kelly Hurd It was the second year for Osage County’s Sooner Cattle Company to qualify for the Working Ranch Cowboys Association’s (WRCA) World Finals Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas for both the Sooner youth and adult teams. The Sooner youth team qualified early in the season but the “Dad Team” made it just as the buzzer sounded at the last sanctioned ranch rodeo of the season in Coffeyville, Kansas just a few weeks before the finals. However, upon departure when the weekend was over, all of Texas - and beyond - in the ranching world, knew the names of every Sooner team member, both young and old because history had just been made at the Amarillo Civic Center. Beating legendary ranches like the 6666 and the Waggoner ranches, never before had two teams from the same ranch made a clean sweep and brought home both wins – until now – and those buckles, trophies, and trailers are all sporting around right here in Osage County! The Sooner youth team won their championship on Saturday afternoon, but on Sunday evening at the awards ceremony for the main event in the anticipation-packed arena, you would have thought all of Osage County was in the stands at the sound of applause and cheers as

Sooner Cattle Company took top honors in the Team Penning event, had the Top Hand, tied for first in the Saddle Bronc event, and were declared the WRCA World Championship team! Taking all this one step further, Will Godsey of Sooner Cattle Company, had two of his sons, Dax and Brodie, on the Sooner adult team with him as well – and those two sons came back to Osage County with TWO World Championship titles, one shared with their dad, and the other with the Sooner youth team. If you had your ear to the ground on Monday morning, you would have heard a definite sucking sound as Texas lost ground to the Osage County team headed back to Oklahoma. As they crossed the state line on their way home pulling the winning stock trailers loaded with tack-olades, shirt buttonpopping pride was brought home to the Sooner state – by the Sooners, themselves! Raise that Oklahoma flag on up the pole and let it wave and when you see those championship trailers or the champs themselves pulling through town on their way out to the pasture, give them a wave and a smile, as well. This is the Sooner state and this is Osage County, Oklahoma where the WRCA World Champions call home! Congratulations to the Sooner Cattle Company youth team composed of team members Tucker Begley, Newt Haden, Brodie Godsey, Dax Godsey, Luke Campbell, and Dax Godsey! Congratulations to the Sooner Cattle Company adult team composed of team members Will Godsey, Brodie Godsey, Dax Godsey, Cody Haden, Russell Powell, and Top Hand, Corey Hurd! ~ Originally written for The Fairfax Chief newspaper ~ JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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Mean Girls

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Thursday, Februar y 1, 2024 at 7:30pm

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Recommended for 13+

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Hairspray

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Tuesday, Februar y 20, 2024 at 7:30pm Recommended for 10+

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The Cher Show

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 7:30pm Recommended for 10+

Come From Away

Friday, June 28, 2024 at 8:00pm Recommended for 13+

Short Season Subscriptions Available! Single Tickets available eight weeks prior to show dates! Visit our website for more information. (918) 337-2787 | bartlesvillecenter.com Shows, dates, and times subject to change. Shows may contain adult language and situations. 54

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BiB! Season Continues More Shows Coming to The Center Next Month The Center for arts, events, and community is proud to continue21st season of Broadway in Bartlesville! lineup this year. Short season subscriptions are currently on sale and includes the remaining four national touring Broadway productions. Single tickets go on sale eight weeks prior to each show date. MEAN GIRLS comes to town on February 1, 2024. Direct from Broadway, this hilarious hit musical from book writer Tina Fey is the story of a naïve newbie who falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies. MEAN GIRLS “delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret, because we’re such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!” HAIRSPRAY will hit the stage on February 20, 2024. Broadway’s Tony Award® winning musical comedy phenomenon is back! It’s 1962 Baltimore and 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad is out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show, to change the world, and win the hearts of America once again. This megahit musical is piled bouffant-high with laughter and romance — and all of the deliriously tuneful songs you love. You don’t want to miss this party! Welcome back to the ‘60s — You can’t stop the beat! THE CHER SHOW makes a stop in Bartlesville on April 9, 2024. Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture—breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries, and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. THE CHER SHOW is the Tony Award-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon.

COME FROM AWAY has been for June 28, 2024. This award-winning musical tells the true story of the small town that welcomed the world. Broadway’s COME FROM AWAY has won Best Musical all across North America! The story takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. Don’t miss this breathtaking new musical. On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all. The show is rated PG-13. Special thanks goes to The National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and many local sponsors who make the 2023-2024 Broadway in Bartlesville! series possible. Val Callaghan, Managing Director for The Center, also wants to remind everyone that The Center is not just a stage for amazing Broadway productions. It is also a fabulous venue for business and personal events. The facility has five versatile spaces available to rent. The Performing Arts Hall, Balcony, Lyon Gallery, Studio Theater, or Community Hall. The Balcony, as well as the Studio Theater, accommodate up to 120 people with tables and chairs set up in the room. The Lyon Gallery seats 80 people and the Community Hall can house up to 380 people. For tickets, rates, or for more information, visit bartlesvillecenter.com or call 918-337-2787 and use the rent a space tab for information and rental rates on all five spaces available for rent.

JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

srussell@mcgrawrealtors.com

918-213-5943

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! 56

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Looking Back to 2019 Baby Kate - Growing Up! by Maria Gus

In 2018, Kara Venamon was mostly looking forward to a fun photo shoot and seeing her little one in Bartlesville Monthly Magazine. Each year, bmonthly hosts a premier photo shoot with the freshest faces in the Bartlesville area. Instead of models demanding natural artesian water or organic produce, the Bartlesville Monthly Baby New Year models are more likely to request extra rides at the Kiddie Park or a long nap. For Venamon, in 2018 her middle daughter Kate was just over a year old and ready for her close up. Today, Kara and her husband Brett have three daughters. Ellie age 8, Kate age 6, and Annie age

4 months. “Baby Kate” who graced the cover of the 2019 B Monthly New Year issue is now in Kindergarten and loves to draw and create anything. “She loves to play with her sister and her friends,” says mom Kara, “(Kate) really does enjoy being around her family.” The 2019 photo of Kate captured a happy baby who has grown into a kind six year old who now plays with the new baby in the family. Older sister Ellie and Kate are now getting little sister Annie for next year’s New Year’s Baby photo contest. Mom Kara says the entire family looks forward to the new issue each year. Not only to see who the new fresh faces will be, but to go back and look at older issues. “Today, the girls love to look for friends they know today in older issues,” adds Venamon. Kate has had cousins appear in past issues, too. “The memory of the experience has become something our family looks forward to talking about every year,” adds Venamon. Kara says the family has a great time looking at the new issue and revisiting past issues, as well. For Venamon, the biggest delight was seeing her baby recognize her face in the magazine. Thanks to B Monthly, the family has a great story, a sweet photo of Kate catching a glimpse of herself on the cover, and a wonderful keepsake that the Venamon family will treasure. Kara says youngest daughter, Annie, is loved well by her two big sisters and very smiley, a skill sure to help her in next year’s Baby New Year’s photo shoot. Although Kate isn’t as much of a “little mom” as her older sister, she is taking her 2019 Baby New Year duties seriously, Even though there are some days she wishes she was still the baby, said mom Kara with a laugh. “I think it’s just fun, regardless of the outcome,” says Venamon. “I wasn’t expecting Kate to be chosen, it was just fun to do it.” Venamon would encourage anyone to do the contest with their baby. “You get a free picture that’s featured in a magazine for a fun occasion,” adds Venamon. The Venamon family says having a moment in time to hold on to has become a very special memory for the family. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

flu season is here. but Don’t worry, so are we! providers William W. Davito, DO MArk D. Erhardt, DO

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Forrest Manor is excited about contracting with Grace Hospice to empower our residents with even more choices in their individual

ForrestManor Nursing Center “Caring is our Tradition”

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THERAPY & REHABILITATION

Forrest Manor has a long track record of providing premier, skilled care for its residents. Trusted by individuals and their families to continue recovery when leaving the hospital and to enhance residents’ lives by promoting independence and safety. Forrest Manor provides rehabilitation services by caring, licensed therapists. Forrest Manor offers: • Physical Therapy

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1410 North Choctaw, Dewey, Oklahoma 74029

(918) 534-3355 • ForrestManorDewey.com 60

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

UNSUNG HEROES

Mary C. Lyke

Attack on Pearl Harbor Prompted War Effort Support by Joe Todd

Mary Lyke was born 26 August 1924 in Wynona, Oklahoma. Her father worked in the gasoline plant in Wynona for Skelly Oil Company and the family lived in a Company Lease House, which was just a shack. She had 2 younger brothers and she helped he mother in cooking, cleaning and sewing for the family. She remembers hearing of the Japanese invasion of China and thought war was horrible wherever it occurred. After the German invasion of Poland she thought the US would eventually be involved in the war.

plant. The background check took two days and she passed and offered a job and began working immediately. She was on the ground floor of a building and sat at a machine that resembled a washing machine. She put a powder into the machine and there were gages on the machine to indicate when the appropriate amount was in. She never knew what the powder was, she just followed directions. She then poured nitroglycerin into the powder and the machine mixed the two. She was informed that she had to pour the nitroglycerin very carefully because any disturbance could set the nitroglycerin off and kill her and anyone else around. When the mixture achieved the correct dryness, she stepped on a lever and the mixture was sent to the lower level. In the lower level, the mixture was placed in bags but she did not know where it was sent. Her shift was 8 hours and worked the dayshift for 2 weeks then transferred to

She was a cheerleader in Wynona High School and met Sam Lyke from Bartlesville. She quit school in 1941 and they eloped and were married in Nowata on Christmas 1941. They moved to Bartlesville after they married and had gone to visit her parents in Wynona to have Sunday dinner with them. Her father had bought a new 1941 Pontiac and was washing it while listening to the car radio and head the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war started, she saved bacon grease in a coffee can and a man collected the grease but didn’t know where it was taken. She knew the grease was used for the war effort but not sure how it was used, and all the women in the neighborhood saved the grease. Her husband entered the Air Corps in 1943 and she followed him to the different bases in the US until he received orders to go overseas in October of 1944. She returned to Bartlesville after he left and tried to find a job. There were no jobs in Bartlesville, but a representative from the Sunflower Ordnance Works was in Bartlesville looking for workers. She signed up and was given a train ticket to Lawrence, Kansas. She recalled the windows on the train were open and the black smoke poured into the windows, and everyone was covered with the black soot. But she was looking forward to going to work and do what she could to bring her husband home. The Sunflower Ordnance Works had barracks for the workers and buses to bring the workers to the

the night shift for 2 weeks. During her time at the plant, all she did was make nitroglycerin. The majority of the workers in the plant were women and she said several had received telegrams their husbands had been killed, but she did not know any of them but all the women had a support group when this happened., She dreaded every time a telegram was delivered because it might be her husband had been killed. She worked at the Sunflower Ordnance Works until June 1945 when her husband returned home, and she said she could not describe he happiness when she first saw him. He was still in the Air Corps and sent to Sioux Falls, and she was in Bartlesville preparing to join him when the Japanese surrendered. She said there was a huge celebration in Bartlesville on V-J Day and she said she joined in the celebrate. She is proud of her work on the Homefront and said the people at home in defense plants also helped to win the war. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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Come and check out the only clinic and medical spa in the area backed by a Board Certified Dermatologist! 62

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

HEALTH & BEAUTY

It’s Time for Healthy Skin! Northern Oklahoma Dermatology Now in Bartlesville by Maria Gus

Downtown Bartlesville can expect a positive change for healthy skin in 2024. Meet Nick Mietus, a Physician AssistantCertified (PA-C) whose passion for patientcentric care found a home under the welcoming roof of Hill Dermatology, now called Northern Oklahoma Dermatology. Since joining in July 2020, Mietus has embraced the intimate work culture of private practice, a stark departure from the larger dermatology setting he previously navigated. His dedication to personalized attention and genuine connection with patients has found its match in the warm, down-to-earth community of Bartlesville. Previously, Mietus worked at a larger practice that had him feeling staff were somewhat lost in the size of the organization and patients weren’t the primary focus. “When I heard of the opportunity to work in private practice under Dr. Tamara Hill, I jumped at the chance,” said Mietus. “The people I get to work with make my job fulfilling.” Mietus says he hopes to improve upon the foundation that Dr. Hill created in Bartlesville. The practice plans to set in motion modernization for check-ins, new equipment, and increased staff in order to decrease wait time for new patient visits. “We are purchasing a photodynamic therapy light which will allow us to treat patients with precancerous lesions in one 16 minute treatment, a process that normally takes two weeks,” says Mietus. “We also plan on having four full-time providers by the end of the year.” Mietus says there may be new paint on the walls and different decor but the friendly staff and patient centered quality of care will remain the same. Dermatology captivated Mietus on multiple levels. “As a spatial learner, the visual nature of the specialty aligns perfectly with my learning style,” said Mietus. The satisfaction of identifying and treating skin cancers, potentially saving lives, adds profound meaning to his work. The challenges in dermatology, where every skin concern is a puzzle piece, require careful assembly for an accurate diagnosis. His mentor aptly described it as “Sherlockian.” According to Mietus, the constant evolution of skin disease knowledge

demands lifelong education, with over 3000 known diagnoses and a steady stream of new medications and treatment methods. In dermatology, the learning journey never ends. Overall skin health should be important to everyone. Mietus says protecting your skin from the sun is the number one thing to prevent premature aging and reduce the risk of skin cancer. Too much sun can cause wrinkles and dark spots and even cause the skin to look weathered and leathery. Smoking isn’t helpful to skin either but using a good mineral based sunscreen routinely will pay dividends as you age gracefully, added Mietus. There is no need to wait until you have a problem to be seen in a Dermatology clinic. According to Northern Oklahoma Dermatology, it is important to understand that prevention and early detection produce the best outcomes. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends annual skin cancer screenings by a dermatology professional. Performing selfexams monthly is also key, and be sure to contact a provider like Mietus if you notice something that looks irregular. Of course, Northern Oklahoma Dermatology doesn’t just diagnosis and provide treatment of skin cancer. “We treat many different types of skin conditions,” said Mietus, “and we have a med spa right down the street from our clinic location that offers even more services!” From growing up in the Chicago suburbs to meeting an Oklahoma girl in college, Mietus has had a wonderful journey to his practice in Bartlesville. While spending time in Edmond where his wife Laura’s family resides, Mietus finished his undergrad in kinesiology from the University of Central Oklahoma. He attended PA school at the University of Oklahoma and completed the Master of Health Sciences program in December 2017. “My wife and I have three children ranging between the ages 4 and 14 that take up most of our time,” said Mietus. “We are happy to call Oklahoma our home.” For Laura and Nick, getting involved in the Bartlesville community and helping downtown continue to provide quality care is something they plan to do for the long haul. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

Elks Lodge 1060 Bike Drive Thank You For Your Support

Quilters Hideaway • Walmart • Mission Roofing • Guns of Glory • Green County Laser • Kurious Kreations KCB Pillows & Stuff • Roto Rooter • Sew Uptown • Teresa & Harland • Gary & Becky • Pecks Butcher Jeanie & Alan • Truity Credit Union • Monthly Magazine • B the Light Mission • Amanda Stratford Photography

The Elks Lodge 1060 Bike Drive donated 23 Bikes and more than $100 of food to 12 families in our community! A special thank you to our lodge grant writer, Troy Henson!

Scan to Register

• Photographers • Bridal Boutiques • Venues

• Cakes

• Florists

• Rentals

• Videographers

• Hair & Makeup Artists

• Lighting

Bartlesville Wedding Show Sunday, January 28, 2024 at the Johnstone-Sare Building • 1-4 p.m.

bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

LOCAL LEGENDS

Joanne Riney Bennett . . . History Maker with a Giving Spirit by Debbie Neece, Bartlesvile Area History Museum Joanne Riney Bennett was a woman of many hats…wife of her College High School sweetheart, Richard Bennett; mother of three children (Richard Riney, Megan and Kevin Forrester); Washington County Commissioner and public servant. Oddly enough, it was the public servant part that led her to run for commissioner; a job she thought was unpaid, but the drive was not monetary gain, it was the service. Her youngest son was only 11 years old and most likely had no clue the history his mother was making for Washington County and the State of Oklahoma. Her oldest son was 18, had just registered to vote as an Independent and challenged his mother to make a difference. So, armed with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and postgraduate work in economics and political science, Joanne held the office of Washington County District 2 Commissioner for 18 years, beginning November 1972, as the first female Commissioner for Washington County and the State of Oklahoma. As the County Commissioner, she quickly gained the respect of her all-man county crew; she said, “I never asked them to do anything that I wouldn’t do,” including sharing the cold temps during snow removal days. In 1973, the U.S. Government Publishing Office released some unhappy people, especially bus drivers who were over a collection of research documents titled, “The Immovable the weight limit and had to detour. Feast: A Series of Papers Examining the Growing Crisis in Rural In 1994, Joanne was honored as the History Maker of the Transportation,” which made a large impression on Joanne. Year by the Bartlesville Women’s Network and her interview Overseeing county bridge construction and other county was entered into the Volume 1 of their oral history project, projects, she was shocked by the number of red-flagged “Taproots.” Although this project is now complete, there are 7 bridges in Washington County of which school busses crossed volumes of fascinating women’s histories available for purchase daily. In 1976, with a team of warriors, she diligently lobbied to at the Bartlesville Area History Museum. get the first county bond issue passed in every Washington County precinct and repaired or replaced 35 deficient bridges. Joanne was the only girl in her high school Trigonometry Passage of this type of bond was a feat that had never been class. That should have been a sign. She was an exceptionally accomplished in Oklahoma and she was hailed for her efforts. strong but humble woman who let no boundaries hold her She is also credited with designating a county road numbering back. She believed in the family dynamic and maximized system to better serve education. The life chapter In 1959, Richard and Joanne Bennett contracted with famed first responders in rural of Joanne Riney Bennett architect Bruce Goff to design their home at 2841 Silver Lake emergencies. However, could fill an inspirational Road. Nestled into a five-acre wooded lot, the 2,660-squarewhen she placed bridge book…and the title would foot, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home is an iconic Goff midload limits to preserve be “History Maker With a century modern charmer. bridge integrity, there were Giving Spirit.” JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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bmonthly | JANUARY 2024

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A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Creative Destruction Creating Beauty Through Imperfection by Brent Taylor I have two faces. My nice face smiles on cue and stops at kids lemonade stands, and tosses five dollar bills in the tip jar when the barista is not looking. My ugly face sprinkles tip jars with inconvenient change, mocks McDonald’s eaters while sniffing ginger in the produce section at Whole Foods. Most of us need a brightly lit mirror to see our face as it is. Jimmy Buffet once sang about a hotel room that had a harshly lit mirror, a “mirror that lies, that couldn’t be me in the gorilla disguise.” Self-assessment shares the same ruthless process with creating a beautiful work of art. The creative process identifies what isn’t beautiful, or to be politically incorrect, removing the ugly so the beauty will shine. For example, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is gorgeous perfection, but hidden behind the music are reams of discarded music that we never see, notes that Beethoven tried that didn’t quite work, leaving behind what we know as the 5th. Great music requires the sensibility to hone imperfections until the notes that remain are worth an audience. Perhaps this inversion – the idea of creating beauty replaced with the destruction of ugliness – is why so many admirable people are self-effacing. In his book, Story, Robert McKee writes, “Genius consists not only of the power to create expressive scenes, but of the taste, judgment, and will to weed out and destroy banalities, conceits, false notes, and lies.” A few years ago, I met a young man by the name of James. James has some challenges in his life, his eyesight is not great, and he is challenged with other physical limitations. But, James wanted to play my pitch and putt golf course behind our house. So we walked to the first tee where I have a bin of clubs and a bucket of golf balls. I pulled out a nine-iron and walked to the first tee as James informed me that he was left-handed. The clubs are all right-handed, so I said, “We’ll just knock it around with this

right-handed club.” So I helped him with his grip, he had a Hank Aaron grip, left hand down on the grip and right on top. We switched the hands and I told him to swing with his shoulders and dance with his feet. He made it to the first green with Wayne Gretzky slap shots and Paul Bunyan wood chops leaving behind a gleeful trail of busted turf and fleeing grub worms. And he giggled without reason, at least to my sense of giggling normalcy. Once on the green, he sent a twenty-foot putt screaming across the putting surface and it hit the pin and went in the hole as he leaped into the air like Nicklaus at the Master’s on the sixteenth green when he holed a fifty footer to take the lead. I noticed that he only had one face and that it was authentically beautiful. He was just James. Later on, after shooting some hoops and kicking a soccer ball, we sat in my theater room which has six reclining chairs. I sit in the front right chair because the front middle and front left are broken, they don’t recline. James looked at my reclined chair as he sat in the middle front chair and tried to recline his and I told him it was broken. We were watching the Cardinals-Dodgers game and I wasn’t too chatty, as the Cardinals were down 6-1. Then he looked at me and said, “Why don’t you put these two broken ones on the back row and two good ones on the front row?” Creative destruction removes the ugliness, our broken recliners, our joyless souls, and puts the good stuff on the front row. I’d never considered switching my recliners. Sometimes, it is good to see the world as a blessing, something to giggle about, even when you are playing golf from the right side and you are left-handed. Then you can really tear things up, be destructive, creatively I mean, putting your broken chairs on the back row, chiseling away the ugliness like Michelangelo discovering David, naked and proud inside a great block of granite. JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Arvest Names President

David Nickel Will Be Next President in Bartlesville Arvest recently announced that David Nickel has been named president of the bank in Bartlesville effective February 1, replacing Kim Moyer, who is retiring. A native of Bartlesville, David has over 20 years of banking experience, including 15 of those at Arvest. He most recently held the title of executive vice president and loan manager, overseeing the lending function for the Bartlesville region. In this role, David helped local business owners during the pandemic, guiding them through the small business loan processes. He continues to work with businesses in all commercial lending needs while supervising a team of business bankers who help businesses with financial solutions in purchasing, refinancing or developing.

David spent eight years as a special agent of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, serving as personal security and protection for the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is an Operation Iraq Freedom Veteran. David is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and the Graduate School of Banking (University of Wisconsin). David and his wife Shannon have four children.

David also brings a diverse set of skills from his involvement in equity markets, overseeing finances for an international company, and lending experience in the agriculture and energy industries. These experiences give him a unique insight into various industries, resulting in successful business relationships and financially sound decision-making. “David has been an important part of Arvest Bank in Bartlesville for many years, most of that time spent in management roles, and the last several years on the executive team,” said Kim. “His ability to strategically work with commercial customers and guide our credit and loan teams has been stellar. I’m thrilled that David was selected to lead the bank in Bartlesville and know that he is committed to helping Arvest customers with all of their financial needs.” David is active in local development, serving on the board of Bartlesville Redevelopment Authority. He is also a leader in not-for-profit programs, such as serving on the Bartlesville Regional United Way board. He enjoys being active in the community, including grilling at Bartlesville High School home football games. “I am honored to be part of the great team we have here at Arvest in Bartlesville,” David said. “From graduating from Bartlesville High School and moving back after college, this town and the surrounding communities are part of who I am. I am thankful for Kim’s steady and unwavering leadership during her time here in Bartlesville. She did a fantastic job and I wish her a great future.” JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

THE WHY?

One More Day by Keith McPhail

The why? It’s a question we always ask when we lose someone too soon or suddenly. It’s a question when we believe it’s not their time or, selfishly, on our time. It’s a question that has been heavy on my heart over the last few months. It’s a question, as I get older having lived 2/3 of my life here on earth, that I ask myself often. When we lost Tyler 14 years ago at the early age of 17, we didn’t know what would happen when he walked out of our house a little after 5 in the afternoon to go to a friend’s house. We didn’t know that we would experience his final words, his last smile, his last embracing hug, or his last words of “love you mom” or to me “see you later Keith”. We thought we had that time, those years, those moments, months, minutes… but no, they were gone. I write this story for all of us but also for me…and I call it “One more day.” We live our lives believing that we will wake up the next day and live life like the day before…what will that last day look like for you, for me? Over the past few years I have felt the pain of losing loved ones, friends, and friend’s parents. I remember hearing the news 72

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that a family of 5 was killed by a drunk driver and that driver survived. This entire family was gone in an instant. I grieve for the parents who lost their 16 year old because he took his own life. How could that loved one just leave us when we needed them the most? We think we have all this time to live, and you wake up one day and realize you don’t. I think about the wife and mom of 4 kids whose husband takes his own life when she thinks everything is ok. What about the father with 3 kids under the age of 7 and his loving wife who feels a lump? Within 8 months, she is gone. I think about the child with headaches and his parents think it’s allergies. After 3 months of nothing getting better, the doctor tells the boy of 11 years he has a cyst on his brain. For these parents, the world stops turning. Eleven months after the diagnosis, he dies in their arms after moving heaven and earth to save him. If everyone of these people knew it was the last day, the last smile, the last hug, what would they have done differently with their day? What’s your “One more day” look like?

Tyler

The first time I experienced death, which will remain with me

THE WHY?

Chris

Kris through my last breath, is when I was 15. I fell asleep at the wheel. My brother’s best friend, who was 19 and had his whole life in front of him, was asleep in the passenger seat next to me. I rolled my window down to stay awake, but lost control of the truck and I was thrown out. As the truck stopped rolling on Interstate 40 in Arkansas, I ran up to the destruction. I watched him take his last breath. Two hours before the accident we were laughing, watching movies, and just being teenagers. That has been the hardest thing for me to forgive myself for because it was me who fell asleep driving. It was me who caused him to take his last breath. I can honestly say even though I have forgiven myself for that horrific accident, there is not one day that I don’t think of Chris, what could have been, and what might have been for him. It hurts. His last words he said as the truck started to roll rings in my head still today…Oh God!…these two words he said will always be with me. So what if we all knew when that “One More Day’’ was going to be. Would we love more, would we laugh more, would we create a moment, would we stop watching TV and just be with the ones who mean the most to us? Would we go shoot baskets, get off social media, go fishing, or show up for that game or school event when you thought work was more important? Never mind all the big events you made, but what about the small ones that you missed? Missed because you thought you had one more day. The regrets and mistakes I have made and the little events I have missed might have been the biggest and most important for them. I thought I had many more days to make up for it…so you take a rain check and promise them that you will be there for the next one. What if there is not that next one…we spend so much of our energy and time on who’s the President, who’s wearing a dress,

who you identify yourself as, or who made a mistake counting votes in a baby competition. We spend energy bullying and judging each other and looking down at our hopeless wandering the streets! Is this what you’re going to be thinking about when you know your minutes and hours are coming to an end? My little brother Kris who passed away in October is why I write this story. The sting, the pain, and the hurt is so real. It’s really hard to believe he is gone. Our last conversations we had 4 days before he passed away were not good. I found no time for him when he called me…and for Kris he would call about 4 times a day. All these times I thought I was too busy to answer. His final words to me were “I don’t have anyone Keith…I’m lonely.” My answer was I will call you later…I did call back that night. He texted me two hours later when I was asleep and said he was sleeping when I called. That was our last conversation. Four days later he was gone. It’s hard to share this, but I feel it’s important. It’s so heavy on my heart. It’s not difficult to answer the phone when a loved one calls or that friend you haven’t talked to in a year. Pick up the phone when your mom or dad calls. What is the reason you don’t pick up? I would give anything for his name to pop up on my phone. Trust me, it wouldn’t ring more than two times before I answered it to hear him say…”Hey big brother! How’s it going?” One thing is for certain…we will all have that “One more day.” None of us know when that day will come. I know I have stolen time because of my past but I can…we can…make a difference today. We can love, laugh, cry, hug. We can stop and look at that sunset or sunrise. We can pick up that phone call. We can hope we are not wishing and praying to God…please just “One more Day.” JANUARY 2024 | bmonthly

LET FREEDOM RING

New Year’s Eve

A Look at New York’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop by Jay Hastings

Times Square got its name when the namesake newspaper, The New York Times, took up residence in the building now known as One Times Square in 1904. The area is unique due to its triangle shape. Broadway runs diagonally, crossing through the horizontal and vertical street grid of Manhattan, plotted by the Commissioners Plan of 1811. The intersection creates the “bowtie” shape of Times Square. People started celebrating New Years Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was not until 1907 the New Year’s Eve Ball made its first descent. Since that time, seven versions of the ball have been designed to bring in the New Year. The first version was made of iron and wood, and was covered with one hundred light bulbs. It was five feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. It was built by a young immigrant metal worker named Jacob Starr. For most of the 20th century, the sign maker, Artkraft Strauss, was responsible for lowering the ball. The ball has been lowered every year since 1907 with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943, when the ceremony was suspended due to the wartime requirement of diming all lights in cities across the United States. Still, crowds gathered in those years, with a minute of silence followed by the ringing of chimes from sound trucks parked at the base of the tower. This was a harkening back to the earlier celebrations at Trinity Church, where crowds would gather to “ring out the old and ring in the new”. In 1920, a 400-pound ball made entirely of wrought iron replaced the original ball. In 1955, the iron ball was replaced with an aluminum ball weighing only 150 pounds. The 1980’s brought the addition of red lights and a green stem, converting the ball into an apple as part of the marketing campaign “I Love New York”. That lasted until 1988 when the ball was covered with white lights and the green stem was removed. The new ball was bright and would light up the night sky over Times Square. There was another upgrade in 1995 to a new ball with an aluminum skin, rhinestones, strobes and computer controls, which was used until 1998, when the ball was 74

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completely redesigned for the millennium. That new crystal ball combined the latest in lighting technology with the most traditional materials. 2007 marked the 100-year anniversary for the ball dropping tradition. LED lighting was added, which dramatically increased the brightness and color of the ball. Finally, building owners decided to build a larger permanent ball weighing nearly six tons and measuring twelve feet in diameter. The 2,688 crystal triangles are illuminated by 32,256 LED lights. The ball is a now a year around attraction in Times Square. The actual notion of ball “dropping” to signal the passage of time dates back long before New Year’s Eve was ever celebrated in Times Square. In 1833, England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich dropped at one o’clock every afternoon, allowing the captains of nearby ships to precisely set their chronometers, their navigational instruments. Around 150 public “time balls” are believed to have been installed around the world after the success at Greenwich. Few survived through the years; however, the tradition is still carried out today in places like the United States Naval Observatory in Washington D.C., where a time ball descends from a flag pole at noon each day and, of course, in New York City at Times Square every year at midnight.

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