bmonthly October 2022

upfront

Welcome to October and the start of fall, friends. This is one of my favor ite times of the year. The leaves start changing in glorious colors and morn ings start off with a hint of chill in the air. College and High School football are at full speed, and the Oklahoma sunsets are beautiful paintings in the sky.

If you have lived in Bartlesville for more than a year, you have probably noticed ConocoPhillips jets taking off. There is really nowhere in Bartlesville that you can’t hear the roaring jets as they take off in one of the most famous airports in the state. In this month’s is sue, I had Sarah Gagan write the fea ture story on the Bartlesville Municipal Airport and the Frank Phillips Field. The history of this area was started by Frank Phillips in 1927. Frank had a love for air planes. So like Frank would do, he pur chased land a mile west of Bartlesville and developed aviation gas before he started automobile gasoline. Most peo ple don’t know that fact. With pilots like Billy Parker, Art Goebel, and the man on our cover - Wiley Post with his beloved Winnie Mae behind him. I love this cov er and the history this man made for the aviation world. It is unbelievable that so much of it happened right here over the skies of Bartlesville.

This month’s Profile is Mr. Earl Sears, who we consider a good friend. We celebrate his love for our great city and, most importantly, his love for his former students. All of our seven kids except Grace had Mr. Sears as their principal at Central Middle School. This man has served Oklahoma as a State Representative and our community by watching and loving all of our kids for 32 years. We are grateful for his service to so many who went to Central Middle School. Christy and I are blessed to call him friend.

As I talked about earlier in this Up front, fall is my favorite time of the year. I say this with a pause and a sense of what this time of the year means to our family and most im portantly to Christy. I wear her pain like a heavy coat and know that this time of the year is her hardest. September 2nd…Tyler’s birthday. October 8th…the day we lost Tyler. When we lost Tyler to an accidental gunshot 13 years ago, our whole world was flipped on its side. Nothing from that

minute or that second has been the same since. Over the years I have written sto ries on losing Tyler and every year at this time of the year I write about him again. I want to say that I have watched my wife become my inspiration and frankly my hero! Her loss has been for so many oth ers’ gains. She has inspired and helped lift mothers off the ground who have lost their own children. She has prayed with, sat with, and cried with mothers who are as broken as she was on that day 13 years ago. Her angelic smile and loving understanding eases just a little bit of that pain and lets them know that they can go on...they can live. One day you will laugh, you will smile, you will love. Christy knows without a doubt that Tyler will be there when she steps into Heaven. A mother’s love for their child is an amazing thing to watch. I have picked her up many nights off the bathroom floor to put her into bed after we lost Ty ler. I know she is helping so many oth er mothers pick themselves up and say it will be okay. One of the many things I have heard over the years is Christy saying to others that she doesn’t have to worry about Tyler anymore. You might have one of those kids who will be a part of what’s going on. If you knew Tyler, you would see a young man who just wanted to make everyone happy and smile. That was Tyler. He didn’t have a bad thought in his head and, really, all he wanted was to make you laugh. His heart was as big as the love he had for his mama and for all his siblings and friends.

I want to end this Upfront with some advice for when your kids leave in the morning or are just heading to a friend’s house to hang out. Make sure you tell them you love them, and if you can grab a quick hug or a high five. do it. Don’t let that moment go by because no one knows when our last breath will be. Take these moments with your children and let them know how special they are and how much they are loved because it may be the last time you or they hear those words.

Fall is my favorite sea son because of the beauty I see and also because its the beauty of what Tyler’s life meant to his mama, his family and friends, and the colors of his life he brought to Heaven.

We love and miss you like crazy Tyler. God bless, Keith, and your Mama!

Volume XIII Issue X

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

Julie Drake

Calendar/Social Media calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Contributing Writers

Debbie Neece, Kay Little, Kelly Bland, Lori Kroh, Jay Hastings, Sarah Leslie Gagan, Brent Taylor, Lori Just, Keith McPhail, Jay Webster, Abigail Singrey, Maria Gus, Rita Thurman Barnes, Orai Lehman, Randy Standridge

Contributing Photographers

Melissa DeVivo, Becky Burch Bartlesville Area History Musuem

Kids Calendar

Jessica Smith

All Rights Reserved.

No

ABOUT THE COVER

Bartlesville Municipal Airport and Frank Phillips Field through the years.

Creative concept by Keith and Christy McPhail

Design by Copper Cup Images

Managing Editors Keith & Christy McPhail.

We live, work, and play in Bartlesville, and we’re proud to serve our neighbors with integrity

Earl Sears

Relationship-Focused Community Leader

by Sarah Leslie Gagan

When it comes to community, Earl Sears has mod eled a life of humble service. His efforts and hard work have touched so many lives. He is a role model, teacher, administrator, representative, and most of all, a friend.

Earl Sears’ heritage within the Bartlesville commu nity dates back five generations, back to Indian Terri tory when his great-great-grandfather, Joseph Harden Bennett, arrived and opened a trading post in the Sil ver Lake area. His family has endowed him with a rich legacy of leadership within our community.

Growing up in Bartlesville, Earl had a wonderful childhood. His mother’s family had a farm outside of town where he would spend his summers, then when school began, he was back in town with his parents. He said that experience of both country and city living gave him the best of both worlds.

His elementary years were spent at Jefferson El ementary School, which once stood on 4th Street at Choctaw Street. He reminisces about how different the era of his childhood was compared to today. It was a different day and time, one where he played out doors with neighborhood children and roamed carefree in the woods surrounding the Caney River. Kids stayed out all day, often until dark, without a worry in the world. Saturdays were for exploring downtown shops with his brother and taking in a movie show.

When Earl was 11, he began his first job, sweeping floors in a local saddle shop. He worked at the saddle shop all throughout junior high and high school and learned much about leathercraft. He never became a saddle maker, but certainly knew all the steps.

During Earl’s junior high years, he attended Cen tral Middle School. At that time, he could never have envisioned what a big part of his life that institution would one day become. He went on to attend College High School, graduating in 1970. Most of his extra time during those years was spent working.

After graduation, Earl wasn’t sure what direction he wanted to take, and at the encouragement of his older brother, Joe Sears, he was convinced to join Joe

in attending Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. During his four years there, he became the student body president for his senior year. He returned to Bartlesville for his teaching internship at College High School. Following his internship, he accepted the position of Woodshop teacher at Central Middle School. This was the beginning of 32 years of service in public education.

After about 6-and-a-half years teaching in the classroom, Earl be came the assistant principal at Central, a position he held for a year and a half. He then became principal, where he would serve for 24 years.

Earl loved school while growing up and truly enjoyed learning. He had many role models that made positive impressions on him that would shape the direction of his life. Woodshop teacher Ed Fee influenced Earl greatly with his passion for education, and Earl credits Mr. Fee’s influence as the reason he went into a career in education. Frank Morrison, College High DECA instructor, had a contagious love of learning and instruction

that shaped Earl’s passion. High School math teacher, Leroy Coke, influenced Earl with his pure enjoyment of education and teaching.

Earl met his future wife, Jane, in Bartlesville, but it was during their time to gether at Northeastern when they became serious. They married after gradu ation and have two won derful children and three incredible grandchildren, and they are very proud of all of them. To Earl, family is his rock, his #1 priority, his guiding light, his city on a hill. He is who he is today because of their love and support, including the sup port and love of his parents and grandparents. Nothing else in his career or list of accomplishments compares to Earl’s love and dedication to his family.

Throughout Earl’s entire life, he was attentive to country and world events, and enjoyed learning about world leaders. He took his right to vote seriously, so much so that in April 1970, when President Nixon signed the legislature lowering the voting age to 18, Earl was second in line to register in Washington County. Because he always lived his life looking for ways to better peo ple’s lives, he took the opportunity to serve on the Bartlesville City Council as Ward 3 Councilman from 1999 to 2003.

During Earl’s time at Central Middle School, he was instru mental in the remodeling and necessary reconstruction that has made it into the beautiful campus we know today. He saw the need and did whatever it took to arrange funding for the nec essary work to the facility. To honor Mr. Sears for his years of tireless dedication to Central, when he retired from public ed ucation in 2006, the adjacent park on the corner of Cherokee Avenue and Adams Boulevard was named “Earl Sears Park” in his honor. It was an honor he never saw coming that truly made

him weak in the knees when announced.

Earl’s service to his com munity did not end with his public education retirement. In 2006, he was elected as Oklahoma State Represen tative for District 11, serving most of the Bartlesville area until 2018, when term limits brought an end to his legis lative career. Earl has always felt compelled to give back to his community, his state, and his nation, and has al ways been engaged in what is going on around him.

He is well known for making a difference in the lives of so many with his positive outlook and en couraging spirit, and the fulfillment flows both ways. Each personal encounter has been written on Earl’s heart in ways that changed his life, too. It empowers him to keep going and reach higher and press on in his quest to make lives better. In the end, it’s all about im proving lives for Earl. And Bartlesville is the best possible place, he feels, to live out this mission.

Many things Earl has done and continues to do for his com munity take place quietly and behind the scenes. He humbly says the community has been incredibly honoring to him, with various rewards and recognitions, and that means so much. But, despite all the public accolades, it is the relationships and time spent interacting with students, teachers, and parents that he sees as the real jewel in his crown and the trophy on his mantle.

Earl is a champion for Bartlesville, always seeking to do what he can to assist, to enhance, and to improve his city. He enthu siastically says, “Bartlesville is a great place to call home; it’s a great place to raise a family. It’s my home and anything I can do to enhance, to make it a better place to live, count me in!” The community thanks you Earl, for all you’ve done to shape us into who we are today.

The Bartlesville Municipal Airport

Aviation Dreams in the Prairie Sky

by Sarah Leslie Gagan

Oklahoma oilman Frank Phillips had a passion for aviation, so much so that Phillips 66 developed aviation fuel first, before automobile gasoline. In 1927, he had a vision for 430 acres of raw prairie one mile northwest of Bartlesville, and putting his money where his heart was, Frank Phillips opened his own airport and the Frank Phillips Field was born.

Oklahoma played a crucial role in the early evolution of flight. Just three years after statehood, Oklahomans witnessed the first mechanically-powered flight over the state. On March 18, 1910, stunt pilot Charles F. Willard flew an exhibition with a Curtiss Pusher airplane above the Historic Capitol Hill district in Oklahoma City. Willard’s plane only rose 15 feet off the ground on the first exhibition day. On the second day, Willard flew about 25 feet off the ground and lasted half a mile before he crashed. The pilot walked away unharmed, and although many consid ered the weekend unsuccessful, this landmark event estab lished Oklahoma’s distinguished aviation history.

Aircraft innovation came to northern Oklahoma a year after Willard’s flight, when Clyde Cessna tested plane prototypes in the Cherokee Outlet. Cessna developed a passion for aviation while attending an air circus in Oklahoma City. After purchasing his own materials, the designer took his first plane to the area near Salt Plains State Park for testing. Nearly a dozen proto types crashed, but on December 18, 1911, Cessna achieved his first successful flight of five miles and reached an altitude of 200 feet. Over the next two years, he staged exhibition flights in oth er Oklahoma towns.

When the United States entered World War 1 in 1917, a plane testing program was launched and began bringing aircraft pro duction to Oklahoma. It was during this time that Joseph Bartles (son of oil businessman Jacob H. Bartles) formed the Dewey Aeroplane Company and secured a contract to manufacture Curtiss JN-4D Jenny bi-planes for the government. Thanks to returning veterans’ newfound flying skills, Oklahoma’s aviation industry boomed in the post-war years.

Woolaroc Plane at Phillips Airport, Completing a 12 day farewell tour before being placed to rest in the Woolaroc Museum, 1929 Left to Right; Harold Parker, H.W. Harrington, Frank Phillips, Col. Art Goebel (Pilot), Roland Guthrie (Advance Man), R. C. Jopling, and Poncho Vela (Mechanic)

First of three hangars and factory rooms of the Star Aircraft Co. of Bartlesville, Post 1927

Billy Parker

Frank Phillips was watching the advancements in aeronau tics. As his oil and natural gas company rapidly grew, so did his passion for aviation. In his search for those on the cutting edge of aviation, he met Billy Parker and hired him in 1927 as the first corporate pilot for Phillips 66, as well as the head of the first corporate flight department.

From pushers to jets, Billy Parker grew up with aviation. His career choice wasn’t easy. In 1912, ready-built planes weren’t available to a Colorado lad with limited funds. There were only two flying schools in the country and the nearest was over 1,500 miles away. Building his own plane would be extremely difficult, but Billy was driven by passion. He knew if he ever wanted to get off the ground, he would have to make improvements to existing plane designs and build his own plane.

Parker, using the meager information and material at hand, set to work with wire, cloth, and spruce lumber and built his plane. Its power came from a light weight 50-horsepower Gnome rotary engine built in France. But would it fly? There was only one way to find out. Push ing the homemade plane to a vacant field outside Fort Collins, Billy tested it on the ground, then took off in a cloud of dust. His design and Gnome engine had con quered the high altitude of Colorado, and

young Billy Parker was a pilot with a plane.

For several summers, Parker barnstormed through the Northwest, demonstrating the marvels of his airplane at state and county fairs. During winter months, he built improved air planes of the pusher type. All in all, Billy built 10 planes which he sold to other pilots or used himself.

By 1916, Parker was in the United States Army at the Mexican border. As the United States drew closer to entry into World War I, he transferred to the aviation section of the Signal Corps as a civilian instructor. At that time, the Army owned only 12 or 15 planes. There was no such thing as an air force.

In 1917, Parker was commissioned a cap tain in the British Royal Flying Corps, but with America’s entry in the war, he was returned to San Francisco. Billy was assigned to the U.S. Aircraft Corporation at Redwood City, California as a test pilot. Later in the war, he became chief instructor at a new flying school opened in Dewey, Oklahoma.

Following the war, Billy became a test pi lot, learning firsthand the many and difficult problems facing the young aviation industry. He wanted to help, and he did. An outstand ing example of his early inventiveness was the first practical controllable pitch propeller, which earned him many basic patents.

Parker was barnstorming through the Midwest in 1927 when he joined Phillips as manager of its aviation division. The airshow

Billy Parker after one of his many flight demonstrations

Photograph Signed by/of Billy Parker, 1929

flying happened by chance. Along with other oil companies, Phillips maintained aviation product display booths at some of the larger airshows. Like similar displays of other oil companies, it received only casual attention from the crowd. But the picture changed when Parker accepted an invitation to fly his pusher at one of the large shows.

The demonstration thrilled the crowd and brought them to the Phillips exhibit to meet the pilot and see the plane. From then on, Billy Parker accepted invitations to fly at major airshows when his busy schedule permitted. Billy Parker and his pusher planes brought a great deal of favorable publicity to Phillips. Holding license No. 44, signed by Orville Wright, Parker was one of the country’s oldest active pilots and his 1912 pusher was one of the oldest airplanes in active operation. It was an unbeatable combination.

Art Goebel and Woolaroc

Anyone interested in aviation history will immediately recognize the name of Charles Lindbergh and “Spirit of St. Louis.” But how about Art Goebel and Woolaroc? Just a few weeks after Lindbergh made his historic 1927 trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris, there was another flight which was just as his toric, going the other direction.

August 16, 1927, eight airplanes took off from Oakland, California, in a race to determine who would be the first commercial pilot to fly

from California to Hawaii and win the $25,000 prize offered by pineapple magnate James Dole.

Twenty-six hours, 17 minutes and 33 seconds after takeoff, the monoplane “Woolaroc” touched down at Wheeler Field in the Hawaiian Islands. Pilot of the plane was Art Goebel, a sky writer and movie stunt pilot, accompanied by his navigator Navy Lt. William V. Davis Jr. The pair were met by 20,000 cheering Islanders, many of whom had waited all night and through the morning to see which plane would arrive first. Only one other aircraft finished the race. Although Goebel and several of his friends made the initial financial deposit to Travel Air in Wichita, Kansas, to have the plane built for the race, it was Oklahoma oil man Frank Phillips who agreed to pay off the $15,000 balance owed if Goebel would name it “Woolaroc.”

After the race, the plane was disman tled and sent back to the mainland by steamship. Several months later it was brought to the Phillips ranch, where it be came the first exhibit at what is now the Woolaroc Museum, Lodge and Wildlife Preserve.

Frank Phillips had the area which is now the museum lobby built specially to display the plane in 1929. As the mu seum grew, the plane moved to anoth

Frank Phillips, Art Goebel, and Friends with the “Woolaroc”, 1927

Frank Phillips and Art Goebel, 1929

er spot inside and finally to an outbuilding nearby. In 1985, a 4,000-square-foot addition was added to the museum for the restored airplane. The plane is suspended from the ceiling by steel cables as if it were just taking off in a climbing position and is viewed from a second-level balcony. By walking downstairs, visitors can look up at the plane and inside one of the doors.

The Dole race to Hawaii was a great adventure for Goeb el, and tragedy for several others. 10 lives were lost altogether, before, during, and after the race. Only two of the eight planes made it across the ocean.

Star Aircraft

The Star Aircraft division of Phillips Petroleum was formed at Bartlesville in 1928. Designers E.A. Riggs and Billy Parker pre pared plans for a two-passenger, high-wing light private owner aircraft intended for the lower-end cost of the market. The ad vertised cost ranged from $2,895 to $3,450.

The Bartlesville manufacturer produced one plane every 10 days, and in 1930, the plant employed 20 men and had a monthly

payroll of over $4,000. The various Star Cavalier models served private owners in the touring role until the curtailment of civil flying in the US in late 1941. Five Star Cavaliers remained on the U.S. civil aircraft register as of 2009.

The officers of the aircraft company were well known Bartians, President John H. Kane, Vice-President Billy Parker, and General Manager John Bain, in addition to Frank Phillips, L.E. Phillips, Clyde Alexander and W.N. Davis on the board of directors.

Wiley Post and Winnie Mae

Frank Phillips continued to invest in the future of aviation by sponsoring Wiley Post in his stratosphere test flights, which contributed much to the future of aviation. This early sponsor ship also contributed to Phillips Petroleum Company’s high oc tane aviation gasoline program.

Young Wiley’s first view of an aircraft in flight came in 1913 at the county fair in Lawton, Oklahoma. The plane was a Cur tiss-Wright “Pusher type.” The event so inspired him that he

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty in front of the Winnie Mae used for the round-the-world flight, 1931

Star Aircraft Co. and Phillips Airport, various planes, including at least 9 light, hi-wing monoplanes, are lined up to recieve fuel

immediately enrolled in the Sweeney Automobile and Aviation School in Kansas City. During World War I, Post wanted to be come a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Service. Joining the training camp at the University of Oklahoma, he learned radio technology. Germany agreed to an armistice before he completed his training, the war ended, and he went to work as a roughneck in the Okla homa oilfields.

Post’s aviation career began at age 26 as a parachutist for a flying circus, Burrell Tibbs and His Texas Topnotch Fliers, and he became well known on the barn storming circuit. On October 1st, 1926, Post was badly injured in an oilrig accident when a piece of metal pierced his left eye. An infection per manently blinded him in that eye, and he became known for wearing a white eyepatch.

Wiley Post in pilot’s seat of open early style biplane

Wiley used part of his in jury settlement

money to buy his first aircraft. Around this time, he met fellow Oklahoman Will Rogers when he flew Rogers to a rodeo, and the two eventually became close friends. Post was the personal pilot of wealthy Oklahoma oil men Powell Briscoe and F.C. Hall in 1930 when Hall bought a high-wing, single-engine Lockheed Vega. The oilman named it Winnie Mae after his daughter, and Post achieved his first na tional prominence in it by winning the National Air Race Derby, from Los Angeles to Chicago.

In 1930, the record for flying around the world was held by the Graf Zeppelin, piloted by Hugo Eckener in 1929 with a time of 21 days. On June 23rd, 1931, Post and the Australian navigator Harold Gatty left Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, in the Winnie Mae with a flight plan that would take them around the world. They arrived back on July 1st, after traveling 15,474 miles in the record time of 8 days and 15 hours and 51 minutes, in the first successful aerial circumnavigation by a single-engine monoplane. After the flight, Post acquired the Winnie Mae from F.C. Hall, and he and Gatty published an account of their journey titled Around the World in Eight Days, with an introduction by Will Rogers.

After the record-setting flight, Post wanted to open his own aeronautical school, but could not raise enough financial support because of doubts many had about his rural background and lim ited formal education. Motivated by his detractors, Post decided to attempt a solo flight around the world and to break his previous

Phillips 77 tanker truck beside the “Winnie Mae”. Wiley Post is standing on the ground looking up to serviceman “Bevo” ( full name unknown), while Ernie Shultz is on the fuel truck.

speed record. Over the next year, Post improved his aircraft by installing an autopilot device and a radio direction finder.

In 1933, he repeated his flight around the world, this time using the autopilot and compass in place of his navigator and becoming the first to accomplish the feat alone. Fifty thousand people greeted him on his return on July 22nd after 7 days, 18 hours, 49 minutes.

In 1934, with financial support from Frank Phillips and the Phillips Petroleum Company, Post began exploring the limits of high-altitude long-distance flight. The Winnie Mae’s cabin could not be pressurized, so he worked with Russell S. Colley of the B.F. Goodrich Company to develop what became the world’s first practical pressure suit. Three pressure suits were fabricat

ed for Wiley Post, but only the final version proved successful. The first suit ruptured during a pressure test. The redesigned second suit used the same helmet as the first but when tested was too tight and they were unable to remove it from Post, so they had to cut him out, destroying the suit. The third suit was redesigned from the previous two.

The body of the suit had three layers: long underwear, an inner black rubber air pressure bladder, and an outer layer made of rubberized parachute fabric. The outer layer was glued to frame with arm and leg joints that allowed him to operate the flight controls and to walk to and from the aircraft. Attached to the frame were pigskin gloves, rubber boots, and an alumi num-and-plastic diver’s helmet. The helmet had a removable faceplate that could be sealed at a height of 17,000 ft. and could accommodate earphones and a throat microphone. The helmet was cylinder-shaped with a circular window.

In the first flight using the suit on September 5th, 1934, Post reached an altitude of 40,000 ft. above Chicago. Knowing he could go higher, and with the support and encouragement of Frank Phillips, Wiley attempted the feat again on December 7th , 1934, over the skies of Bartlesville, taking off in Winnie Mae from Frank Phillips Airport.

A firsthand account of the stratosphere flight quoting Bar tlesville resident Bob Kinney states, “Several hundred people at the Bartlesville airport gazed upward on December 7th, 1934. First, they saw a little airplane going up in the sky, then it was a tiny speck, then nothing to the eyes for some two hours and 25 minutes.”

Wiley Post preparing his high altitude suit for use, 1934

Wiley Post in high altitude suit entering cockpit.

1934

This flight was important to the world of aviation and space flight as Wiley Post, in his pressure suit, flew the unpressurized Winnie Mae into the stratosphere. The altimeter in the Winnie Mae broke at 35,000 feet, but most everyone believed he flew up above 50,000 feet, 9 miles high, and broke the world flight altitude record.

Wiley had discovered that properly designed airplanes could fly much faster in the thin air of the stratosphere than down be

low. He discovered the jet stream, that strip of rushing winds vital to aviation, weather forecasting, and other scientific efforts. He determined that people could breathe in the thin air and keep warm in the minus 70 degree cold through his special pressure suit. The suit was the proud prototype of the firm pressure suits worn by future space explorers. The flight also led to the world’s first pressurized airplanes.

It was with great excitement and pride that Frank Phillips and Wiley Post announced that day that the flight altitude re cord had been broken as Post sailed into the stratosphere over Bartlesville. It was a monumental milestone for Bartlesville and Phillips Aviation that stood the test of time for 80 years, until a December 13th, 1935 announcement was discovered by the Bartlesville Area History Museum, buried within an uploaded article published in the Bartlesville Morning Examiner.

Just days after announcing to the world that Post had broken the flight record, Frank Phillips and Wiley Post had to recant their announcement much to their dismay and disappointment. It had been discovered that the barographs used to record the flight were not accurately calibrated or working properly.

Wiley Post announced, “I am told that according to the baro graphs, I did not reach the altitude required necessary to break Lieutenant Renato Donati’s record of 47,352.2 feet, however, I will continue my stratosphere flights from Phillips Airport as soon as new barographs can be obtained. I think I will be able to set a new record in the near future, after certain alterations, which I have in mind, can be made to my equipment.”

Unfortunately, Wiley never did get another chance to set a new record. Months later, he and Will Rogers were killed in a plane crash in Alaska in 1935. Winnie Mae sat silent at Frank Phillips Field, draped in black mourning cloth. She would never fly again and was instead dismantled for travel to the Smithso nian Institution.

Continental Airlines staff members pose for a photo at Bartlesville Municipal Airport

Passengers pose while boarding a Central Airlines plane

Bartlesville Municipal Airport

As the aviation industry grew, so did the airport. In 1949, the Frank Phillips Field became The Bartlesville Municipal Airport. Bartlesville received commercial airline service between 1949 and 1974 and included Continental, Central, Ozark, and Frontier Airlines. Frontier was the last to end service in early 1974.

Biplane Fly-Ins

The National Biplane Association held their annual fly-ins at the Bartlesville Airport from 1986 through 2009. The event was the first weekend of June, coordinated with Sunfest. The 1,300-member National Biplane Association opened their na tional headquarters at Frank Phillips Field in Bartlesville in 1989. The biplane was the standard for airplanes from the time of the Wright Brothers’ first flight in 1903 until World War II, when mil itary pilots learned to fly in biplane trainers. The fly-ins were a colorful part of our airport’s unique history for over two decades, showcasing the historic aircrafts.

Bartlesville Municipal Airport

tlesville and contracts jet and AvGas fuel through Phillips 66 Aviation. It is the home base of approximately 50 aircrafts and provides a full range of services, including aircraft fueling, tow ing, hangar storage, flight crew vehicles, restrooms, passenger and flight crew lounge areas, and flight planning. In addition, the airport is home to several third-party services, which in turn employs more than 40 individuals. From fueling up ag-sprayers, to charter and cargo haulers, Bartlesville Municipal Airport of fers multiple amenities that have helped the city make a name for itself.

Since the airport’s founding, the facility has gone through several transitions, but remains an institution in Bartlesville. In August 2022, the airport celebrated its one-year anniversary under the city of Bartlesville, and it remains the top airport of choice for several local and regional businesses.

Now 95 years later, the legacy of Frank Phillips’ aviation dream lives on today under the prairie sky, and I’m sure Uncle Frank, Billy, Art, and Wiley are all flying high over us.

Planes in the Oklahoma State Air Tour at Phillips Airport, June 11, 1936. In the photo Elmer J. Sark, Frank N. Griggs, Bennie Turner, Billy Parker, Ray H. Hamilton

Passengers board a Continental Airlines plane on the tarmac

Flying High!

BHS Adds Aeronautic Curriculum in a Local Partnership

by Maria Gus

Bartlesville High School is inviting stu dents to fly even higher than before. In the spring of 2022, the Bartlesville Public School District announced they would implement a new curricu lum centered around the aeronautic industry. The partnership includes local pilots, the City of Bartles ville Airport, and is in co operation with Bartlesville High School’s award-win ning Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program.

For one high school senior, Jack Auschwitz, the program is an opportunity to open the door to his future. Auschwitz was uncertain what he wanted to do after high school and spent time researching many different career paths before stumbling upon aviation. He soon pursued an internship with the airport, looking to explore his new found interest and get some hands-on experience before deciding aviation was a field he wanted to pursue.

“The opportunity for me to be an intern at Bartlesville Mu nicipal Airport and the new aviation program at the high school have been extremely valuable to me,” said Auschwitz. “The op portunity has further fueled my interest to make a career in avi ation.” Auschwitz said the program can be a special opportu nity for other high school students by introducing them to vast career fields in aviation they would otherwise not think about.

Educator Ashlee Hightower is teaching two new courses at BHS, including Introduction to Aviation and Aerospace and General Aviation and Aerospace. The program started after Paula Kedy, with the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC), presented the idea of an aviation program to BHS. “Several other schools had already started programs using the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) You Can Fly Curricu lum,” said Hightower. “The curriculum is designed to provide high-quality STEM-based aviation education to high school stu dents and open the door to a variety of aviation careers.”

Thanks to a generous grant from the OAC, Bartlesville High School was able to get the program started just in time for the 2022-2023 school year. The grant has helped fund profession

al development, sup plies, and flight simu lators. “It is awesome to have such a big in vestment in a first-year program,” said High tower. “We are now one of 57 high schools in Oklahoma teaching the program. Okla homa is leading the country in high school aviation programs.”

Airport Manager Mike Richardson has enjoyed sharing airport work with a young per son interested in avia tion. “There are many different career pos sibilities within aviation,” said Richardson. “To get a firsthand glimpse into the many careers is a really special opportunity.”

Internships like this didn’t exist when Richardson was in high school, which is why he said he would have enjoyed something like this when he was growing up. “I think it would have been very interesting to shadow someone in aviation,” added Richardson. “You can really get a lot of perspective and exposure from seeing the day-to-day operations.

Auschwitz said the entire experience has been extremely valuable, fueling his interest even more to make a career in avi ation. Learning the amount of manpower required and different jobs involved have been some of the more interesting aspects of his internship. This includes learning a range of unexpect ed skills such as fueling an airplane, testing jet fuel, and even learning how to fly a plane.

All of these skills should serve Auschwitz well after high school graduation, when he hopes to attend the Air Force Academy and explore a career in aviation. “The new program has helped me make my decision by increasing my interest and showing me the numerous jobs available in aviation,” said Auschwitz.

“My main goal for any student is to spark curiosity and the desire to be a lifelong learner,” said Hightower. “Whether they continue down a path in the aviation and aerospace industries or not, I hope they leave my classroom with the tools needed to be successful in life.”

Pictured from left are Mike Richardson, pilot Andy Woodside, Jack Auschwitz, and teacher Ashlee Hightower.

Meet Charlie Allcott

Stride Bank Announces New Market President

Charles (Charlie) Allcott has joined the Stride Bank team as Bartlesville’s Market President. His primary emphasis will be on growing the bank’s assets through commercial and commercial real estate lending in the Bartlesville and greater Oklahoma markets.

Charlie obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Milligan University in Johnson City, Tennessee where he serves on the Board of Trustees at Milligan University, and just passed his thirty year mark. He later earned his MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Remaining in Florida, Charlie amassed a forty year career in banking, working at several banks during those years. Late in his career, he founded two of the banks as either President or CEO with his primary focus being in commercial and commercial real estate lending. In 2017, Charlie successfully transitioned into bank consulting.

One of Charlie’s sons, Chase Allcott, moved to Bartlesville with his wife and their two boys in 2018. A year later, Charlie, and his wife Deb bie, moved to Bartlesville where he continued to work in bank consulting. Since then, Charlie and his wife have both fallen in love with the Bartlesville community. “Bartlesville is a hid den treasure in Oklahoma. Since moving here, I have seen how great this community is and how I can play my part in growing and bettering not only Stride Bank, but also the Bartlesville community.”

Charlie decided that consulting was not something that he could continue if he wanted to make a real difference in Bartlesville. This is where Stride Bank comes in. “Stride has the opportunity to become a significant financial institution in the industry and community. The bank has positioned itself perfectly with being a community-focused, innovative bank, and I am excited to see where I can use my experi ence to contribute to the growth.”

Charlie is a recent graduate of Leadership Bartlesville and a member of the DayBreak Rotary Club. He also recently served as a vol unteer on the Community Investment Com mittee for the Bartlesville United Way. He is active at the local YMCA and enjoys golf, baseball, and spending time with his family.

About Stride Bank N.A. Founded in 1913, Stride Bank is an Oklahoma-based financial institution. Offering a full range of financial services such as consumer and commercial banking, mortgage, wealth management, and treasury management, we have also developed and currently manage highly spe cialized payment solutions for several national fintech companies. While we are unwavering in our pursuit to continue innovating and offering new financial solutions, we will always remain loy al to our community banking roots in Oklahoma. We have branches throughout Oklahoma in Enid, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Woodward, and Mooreland. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Learn more at www.stridebank.com.

OCTOBER CALENDAR

Gathering at the Roc

All Day; Woolaroc Mies for Mammograms 5k

9 AM; Tower Center at Unity Square

10:00am Octoberfest

10 AM; Dewey and 5th Street

OKWU Soccer vs. Avila

5:30 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (W)

8 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (M)

Bruin Volleyball vs. Owasso

4:30 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (9B)

5:30 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (JV) 6:30 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (V) Gunsmoke

7 PM; Tower Center at Unity Square

Featuring timeless stories of young America as it moved West, with the incorruptible Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Miss Kitty and Doc Adams and the citizens of Dodge City.

OKWU Volleyball vs. Friends

2 PM; OKWU Gym OKWU Soccer vs. Bethel

2 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (W)

5 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (M)

Fall Break

All Day; District-Wide

OKWU Soccer vs. Southwestern

5:30 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (W)

8 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (M)

Bruin JV Football vs Stillwatter

6:30 PM; Custer Stadium

Bruin Varsity Football vs Sand Springs

7 PM; Custer Stadium

Woolarok 8K

8:30 AM; Woolaroc

Join us for the 42nd anniversary of road racing with Run The Streets Woolaroc 8k!

OKWU Volleyball vs. Ottawa

2 PM; OKWU Gym 4:00pm

BOOFest hosted by Sunfest

4 PM; Sooner Park BOOFest intends to provide a 1 day fun, family friendly celebration with a Halloween twist that all attendees can safely enjoy. Some activities include:4 - 9 p.m. Outdoor “Movie Under the Stars” Family friendly “Spooky Walk” “Trunk-or-Treat”

OKWU Volleyball vs. Bethel

6 PM; OKWU Gym Wed Oct 26

OKWU Soccer vs. Ottawa

5:30 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (W)

8 PM; OKWU Soccer Stadium (M

OKWU Volleyball vs. Haskel

2 PM; OKWU Gym

Bruin Varsity Football vs. Muskogee

7 PM; Custer Stadium

Trick or Treat Trail

2 PM; Bartlesville First Church Bartlesville Downtown Spooktacular

5:30 PM; The Center Trunk or Treat

6 PM; Bartlesville Church of Christ

Bruin JV Football vs. Muskogee

7 PM; Custer Stadium

Autumn Spice Milkshake

This Fall at Bartlesville:

the old-fashioned way, this milkshake is autumn spice and everything nice. Made with Chickfil-A Icedream® dessert combined with warm fall flavors like cinnamon as well as crunchy bits of brown sugar spice cookies, it’s a tasty fall treat. Topped off with

cream and a cherry (except when served

Grilled Spicy Deluxe

boneless breast of chicken marinated with a blend of peppers and grilled for a tender and spicy taste, served on a multigrain brioche bun with colby jack cheese, green leaf lettuce and tomato. Paired with a cilantro lime sauce packet.

CALENDAR

Times Vary

OLLI Lifelong Learning Classes

Various Locations

Bartlesville

OLLI@OSU’s local lifelong learning classes: Sept. 19 - Nov. 11. In person and Zoom. Daytime classes — learning just for the fun of it! Course catalogs at Bartlesville Public Library and Dewey libraries, banks, cafes, etc., and online at https://education.okstate.edu/olli.

Questions? Email or phone: OLLI@ok state.edu or 405-744-5868. Visit OLLI on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/olliosu.

Times Vary

Oklahoma Heritage Farm Fall Festival

Oklahoma Heritage Farm

38512 US HWY 75, Ramona

Every year an agriculturally based work ing farm transforms the grounds of a working farm into forty acres of good old outdoor country fun for family and friends of all ages. Entertainment, a maze, pumpkins, rides, games, pumpkin blasters, farm animals, and an assort ment of over thirty different activities keep things buzzing for over a full month each fall. Visit their Facebook page for more festival information!

9 AM

Miles For Mammograms 5K/2K Tower Center at Unity Square 300 SE Adams Blvd.

Miles for Mammograms annual 5K Run and 2K Fun Walk will take place in down town Bartlesville at Unity Square. The funds raised by Miles for Mammograms directly support Family HealthCare Clinic’s Free Mammogram Program, providing free mammograms to women and men in the community who cannot afford the life-saving screenings. Racers can run in-person or virtual, or “sleep in” to support breast cancer! To register: www.milesformammograms.org.

10 AM

Gathering At The Roc

Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife

1925 Woolaroc Ranch Rd.

This Hot Rod Gathering is a traditional hot rod show for the discerning man. They can’t wait to see ya there on Oc tober 1st 2022! Admission is $14 for adults & children 12 & under free. The Gather is, however, a pre-register only show. So, get on over to registration and get started! The events are open to the public.

3 PM

OKM Music Oktoberfest

OKM Office

415 S. Dewey Ave., Bartlesville, OK

Prost to OKM’s Sixth Annual Oktober fest! Bringing a taste of Bavarian culture to downtown Bartlesville. Come enjoy handcrafted beer and delicious food. This year, OKM is raffling off a Christmas Cruise down the Rhine and a Yeti cooler filled with German goodies. Raffle tick ets are limited so enter now! There will also be live music, dancing, games for all ages, prizes, and more. Don’t forget to stop by OKM’s German Shop to discover one-of-a-kind merchandise. Children 12 and under get in free with accompany ing adult. We hope to see you there!

12 PM

Bartlesville Artisan Market

Washington Park Mall

2350 SE Washington Blvd.

This is an indoor market with fresh baked goods, coffee, home decor, cloth ing, soaps, unique homemade products, local art, and more! It is held every Fri day and Saturday, from 12-4 p.m.

8 AM

Bartlesville Farmers Market Frank Phillips Park

222 SW Frank Phillips Blvd.

Fresh produce, baked goods, local honey, grass-fed beef, fresh eggs, and handmade items.

7 PM

Adult Prom Family YMCA of Bartlesville 101 N Osage Ave.

Are you ready to “Party like it’s 1999!?!”

Join us for Retro Prom 2022 benefiting the Richard Kane YMCA Youth Scholar ship Program! It’s time to dust off those dresses in the closet, shine up your “Blue Suede Shoes” and get ready to “Dance with Somebody” to the musical talents of the LIVE BAND: Hypnotik! Tickets are $50 per person and will include 2 drink tickets. Beer, wine and a “Spiked Punch” cash bar will also be available as well as light snacks. Adults 21 and over. Tickets on sale now at the Y or online under the Richard Kane YMCA events page.

1 PM

Oil/Acrylic Painting with Cris Sundquist

Bartlesville Art Association

500 S Dewey Ave.

Last Spring, Cris’ classes at the Bar tlesville Art Association were so popu lar, she’s agreed to return this fall with a Monday afternoon painting class in oils and acrylics. Maximum of 12 students ensures plenty of personal attention! Don’t miss this opportunity to study with one of the best! Mondays from 1 – 3 pm. Adults (including high school age). All levels are welcome. Email Cris for questions about this class at crissundquist@yahoo.com

Tue, Oct 4

5:30 PM

Free Spanish Classes

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

Free Spanish Class every Monday eve ning at 5:30 pm in Meeting Room B on the first floor of the Bartlesville Public Library. This class is free and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918.338.4179 if you have any questions.

6 PM

Pound with Tarah Tower Center at Unity Square

300 SE Adams Blvd.

Pound is a full-body workout that com bines cardio, conditioning, and strength training with yoga and Pilates-inspired movements. Pound uses lightly weight ed drumsticks engineered specifically for exercising. It is designed for all fit ness levels. This class is free and open to the public. Bring water, mat, and drumsticks (if you have some). A limited number of drumsticks will be available at the class.

5 PM

ELL Conversation Class

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

ELL Conversation classes are held on Tuesdays @ 5:00 pm and Thursdays @ 10 am on the second floor of the Bar tlesville Public Library in the Literacy Services office. These classes are FREE and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918.338.4179 for more information.

6 PM

Free Citizenship Class

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

Citizenship classes are held on Tues days at 6 pm, Wednesdays at 5:30 pm, and Thursdays at 11 am on the second floor of the Bartlesville Public Library in the Literacy Services office. These classes are FREE and open to the pub lic. Please contact the Bartlesville Lit eracy Services office at 918.338.4179 for more information.

6 PM

Johnstone Irregulars Book Club Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

The book club meets in the Literacy Services Office on the 2nd floor of the library on the first Tuesday of every month.

Wed, Oct 5

7 PM

GUNSMOKE!

Tower Center at Unity Square 300 SE Adams Blvd.

From the Midsummer Night’s Dream team comes GUNSMOKE! Producers Alan Gentges and Diane Gentges, and Director Shelby Brammer present a new show on the Unity Square Green Stage opening Thursday, October 6th. Featur ing timeless stories of young America as it moved West, with the incorruptible Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Miss Kit ty and Doc Adams and the citizens of Dodge City, Kansas, this will be a rich, moving, action-packed evening of en tertainment on the Unity Square Green in Bartlesville. Admission by donation. Event runs October 6-8.

Fri, Oct 7

10 AM

Fall Trader’s Encampment

Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Rd.

Woolaroc will once again host the Fall Trader’s Encampment on Friday and Saturday at the Mountain Man Camp at Woolaroc. Hosted by Woolaroc’s Moun tain Men Wes & Roger Butcher, the camp has quickly become a favorite for traders and re-enactors from across the country. The camp will be historically accurate, recreating what a settlement of this type would have looked like in the 1840s. The Trader’s Encampment is open to the public, and guests are en couraged to park and walk through the camp. There is no additional admission required; regular admission at the gate includes the Fall Trader’s Camp. Many of the campers will set up their tents or tipis and have period crafts for the public to view and purchase. Event runs October 7-8.

10 AM

Zumba with Bee

Sat, Oct 8

8:30 AM

Tai Chi with Bee Tower Center at Unity Square 300 SE Adams Blvd.

Tai Chi w/ Bee is held outside at Unity Square on Wednesdays at  8:30 am. Tai Chi will help improve your balance and wellness. This class is free and open to the public!

Tower Center at Unity Square

300 SE Adams Blvd.

Zumba w/ Bee is held every Friday at 10:00 am outside at Tower Center @ Unity Square. This class is free and open to the public. Zumba is a fitness pro gram that combines Latin and interna tional music with dance moves. It incor porates interval training to help improve cardiovascular fitness.

8 PM

History & Haunts

Dewey Hotel Museum

801 N Delaware St., Dewey

Spend an evening at the Dewey Hotel. They will go over some of the hotel’s unique histories and take a lantern guided small group tour. You will go into some of the rooms, usually blocked off access to guests. Each journey will be unique, as you can never predict what our fellow specters will do during the tour, or what you might hear or see.

Tours are held every Saturday at 8 p.m..

Sun, Oct 9

3 PM

How Sweet It Is — The Music of James Taylor The Center

300 SE Adams Blvd.

How Sweet It Is - The Music of James Taylor is the first of four concerts in the Bartlesville Community Concert 202223 season. Taking place at The Center, Nashville award winning singer-song writer-guitarist Steve Leslie will perform the music of an American icon, James Taylor. Steve’s warm baritone and ex ceptional guitar technique will have ev eryone singing along to James Taylor’s incredible catalog of songs. For more information see bccamusic.org.

Tue, Oct 11

6 PM

Knit & Crochet Night

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

This free event is held in Meeting Room C on the second Tuesday of each month.

ForrestManor

Center

Kayak the Caney

Christmas Day Trip Down the Caney River Gave Inspiration

by Brent Taylor

A few years ago, basking in the glow of presents and Christ mas dinner, I suggested to my son that we kayak the Caney River. So we loaded two kayaks in one truck and shuttled an other truck to our exit point. We launched our kayaks below the Cherokee Bridge waterfall. We set off to kayak the Caney River, in the mold of Sir Edmund Hillary, who once said “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” Our goal was to float all the way to 2400 and Gap road, just east of Gravity Hill.

When my uncle, Rudy Taylor, a newspaper editor in Caney, Kansas, heard about our float trip, he chimed in with some riv er history. He said, “Until 1952, the town of Caney dumped raw sewage into the Little Caney River. I remember a teacher whom I respected mightily avowing that ‘a river will clear itself every five miles.’ So, we flushed and forgot, while our neighbors in Copan, Dewey, and Bartlesville gulped our sewage.”

I’ve seen the river at flood stage and drought stage, cur rents and eddies relentlessly shaping the banks of naked earth. I grew up in Bartlesville, but was only vaguely aware that what flows past our noses every day comes from watersheds of neighbors upstream, and that what goes on to our neighbors downstream is impacted by our stewardship, as these waters flow into other rivers and eventually into the Gulf.

Those who cross the river on a daily basis, driving across the Tuxedo, Frank Phillips, Adams Blvd, and Hillcrest bridges, along with the Pathfinder pedestrian bridge, probably think very little of the water and history that flows below them. It was a revelation to get into the water, to paddle between the banks, to see the remnants of the past left by previous generations and my own. And to see in the twilight of a winter’s afternoon a certain beauty through the prism of the setting sun.

Stonewall Jackson sang, “I washed my hands in muddy wa ter, I washed my hands, but they didn’t come clean.” As we pad dled lazily along the shoals of the gentle, rippled river, I found myself both proud and ashamed as I thought about dipping my hands in the muddy water, to see if they would come out clean.

This river winds through Bartlesville, cutting through earth

and time in elegant horseshoes, the waters flowing like a plainfaced lass made beautiful in the glow of a flickering fireplace. But, this river and its banks swell with the refuse of my grand father’s generation — oil drilling pipe and cable — my father’s white sidewall tires and cruiser bikes left twisted and broken on the bank — and my generation, shopping bags and aluminum cans and plastic bottles.

We paddled past the discharge pipe of the sewer treatment plant, maneuvering as close as possible to the arc of water spilling from the pipe. The disgorged water seemed clear and smelled like fabric softener; perhaps they add Febreeze? There were countless tires, rusting shells of Model T-era cars, and a beached paddle boat. The remnants of a stone house were vis ible on the east bank of the river not far from Kane Elementary School. As we paddled south, the riverbank became less clut tered — fewer tires, less trash.

The historic graceful arch of the old 7th street bridge pro vided a stark and artistic contrast to the modern lines of the newer bridge. We saw a headstone lodged with other flood de bris wedged against an outer bend of the river. The memori alized was born in 1860 and died in 1950. Past the junction of Sand Creek, the river flows wider. We cruised by hole 12 of Hill crest Country Club. The river is peaceful along this stretch. We saw heron, several turtles, and a coyote running along the bank before scurrying into the woods after eyeing us.

Finally, we arrived at our destination. We dragged our kay aks up the muddy bank. The sun was sinking quickly, and we cut through the woods and crossed a field to our truck. We started the day around a Christmas tree and ended it paddling down a coffee river in the pastel light of a fading winter day. It felt good to paddle down the river with my son, through a com munity with such a rich history, traveling down a waterway of complex feelings and abandoned dreams, on a river I was see ing for the first time — although I had crossed over it a thou sand times.

MAKE AN IMPACT

WITH FAITH-BASED INVESTING IN REVO’S BR STRATEGIES

Faith Integration

MAKE AN

Many men and women are expressing their faith through a desire to align their values with their investing, finding ethical companies that not only avoid doing bad things, but impact humanity for good.

WITH FAITH-BASED INVESTING IN REVO’S BR STRATEGIES

Dual Mandate Investing

Faith Integration

Dual mandate investing is investing with two goals profitable financial return and a positive impact on the world. Dual mandate investing adds a second dimension of the impact your investments have on the world, to investing that traditionally focuses only on financial return.

Many men and women are expressing their faith through a desire to align their values with their investing, finding ethical companies that not only avoid doing bad things, but impact humanity for good.

Dual Mandate Investing

Investment Strategies

We choose funds we believe impact the world for good and manage how your assets are allocated over time. Our biblically-responsible faith-based portfolios leverage these core strategies:

Dual mandate investing is investing with two goals profitable financial return and a positive impact on the world. Dual mandate investing adds a second dimension of the impact your investments have on the world, to investing that traditionally focuses only on financial return.

Investment Strategies

Metrics of Investing

Social Impact: Companies and funds that may include Community Development, Medical Research, Renewable Energy, Global Economic Development, Affordable Housing, etc.

We choose funds we believe impact the world for good and manage how your assets are allocated over time. Our biblically-responsible faith-based portfolios

these core

Good Profits: Companies that may create value by means of Energy Efficiency, Clean Water Supply, Cybersecurity, Healthy Food Supply, Biotechnology, Customer Loyalty, Employee Benefits, Fair Trade, etc.

Corporate Advocacy: Funds that may work with corporations on known deficiencies, and engage corporate leadership with shareholder resolutions, proxy voting, and on-going dialogue.

Investor Wholeness: Companies and funds to align with your values, reflect your mindfulness and care for others, and make you proud to hold in your investment portfolio.

Investor Wholeness:

Investment Strategies

Financial Return

Faith-Based Investing

Strong Financial and Social Returns

Social Return

Maximize profits without regard to moral or ethical

are a family of financial advisors

of companies

a company,

goes

we think

planning strategies. We counsel clients on biblical stewardship.

believe in and can be proud of.”

social causes without any need or expectation of financial return

way to implementation. Investors are owners

Faith-Based Planning

Revo Financial Puts Your Money Where Your Values Are

by Lori Just

There are many options in town when it comes to financial planning. Revo Financial puts a person’s money where their values are.

“What makes us different is our firm’s focus on a bibli cal-values, stewardship model. Everything we do centers around that,” said Lucas Nettles, CFP, CKA, personal financial planner. “All of us here are Christians and share the same faith. We see that scripture clearly speaks about the best way to han dle finances. Because we believe in the truth of scripture, even if our client doesn’t necessary subscribe to one faith or another, truth is valuable whether you believe it not.”

Jon Nettles and Bob Marlowe started Revo Financial after full careers in the oil and gas industry. Lucas Nettles, Jon’s son, joined in 2019 — making it a family business and providing a continuity plan from one generation to the next.

“Both entered the Financial Services business at different times,” explained Lucas. “Back in the early 2000s a corporate merger happened, and Dad’s job was relocated to Houston. He instead took a severance package to keep his family in Bartles ville. They agreed they wanted to start a company where the focus was on the best independent financial advice and ser vice available to clients and started Revo Financial as an inde pendent Registered Investment Advisory firm. They have been partners since 2008.”

Investors are owners and clients should care what compa nies are doing and how they are serving their employees and their community. Revo believes in investing in companies that are doing good things and avoiding companies that are doing harm.

“We have a dual mandate — profitable financial returns and a positive impact on the world. We help our clients be success ful and find financial freedom but do it in a way that gives them something to be proud of,” said Lucas. “If their dollars go to a company that funds medical research for developing a cure for a serious disease or missionary work overseas, it gives clients peace of mind in their investment strategy. God owns every thing. He has entrusted us to steward what is His and our re sponsibility is to take His gifts and manage them in a way that brings glory to God and furthers his kingdom. “

The team of expert financial partners at Revo Financial guide families and individuals through the intricacies and com plexities of building and managing wealth using a values-based investing model. Under one roof, they work together to offer an array of services to help Bartlesville community members grow and protect their wealth.

Jon Nettles, CFP® Chief Executive Officer

Lucas Nettles, CFP®, CKA® Personal Financial Planner

They can assist with financial planning, values-based in vestments and management, wealth preservation strategies, tax efficient investing, family wealth planning, life insurance and annuities.

“There are a lot of firms that can take your savings and in vest it, but we focus first on developing and prioritizing goals aligned with your values and then work with you to develop a plan to get from where you are to where you want to be,” said Lucas. “It’s not just about an account balance. We want clients to find contentment in what their money is doing. We want to be good stewards of all the gifts God has given us and help our clients do the same.”

Green Country Pet Cremation Service offers private pet cremation with timely return of ashes in your choice of a decorative wooden urn with an engraved nameplate. If no return of ashes is requested, the ashes will be gently scattered on a beautiful pastoral/garden property.

are located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and gratefully serve pet owners from a wide area surrounding Bartlesville, Dewey, and Northeast Oklahoma.

fee schedule,

Africa Calling

God’s Calling Led to a Career in Missionary Work

by Orai Lehman

My first introduction to the city of Bartlesville was in Au gust of 1963, when I enrolled for my Freshman year at Central Pilgrim College, which is now Oklahoma Wesleyan Universi ty. Two months earlier, I had celebrated my 18th birthday in London, England on my way to the U. S. A.  All of my prima ry and secondary school education, from first grade through 12th grade, was in South Africa. I was born in the quaint little mining town of Sabie, which is nestled high up in the Drak ensburg Mountain Range in South Africa. One of my favorite experiences as a child was the excitement of encountering a bull elephant striding defiantly down the road toward our car during a visit to the Kruger National Park.  My ambition was to become a game warden in one of Africa’s nature reserves.

My African heritage dates back to 1897, when my Grand mother, Alice Heise, left her home in Hamlin, Kansas and with a group of five pioneer missionaries established a Mission School in the Matopo Hills of the country that is now known as Zimbabwe.  One year later, my Grandfather, Isaac Lehman, joined the Matopo Mission team, where he met Alice. Their marriage at Matopo Mission led to a partnership of teaching, Gospel proclamation, and leadership development which lasted for more than 55 years.  My father was their youngest son.  He became an accomplished brick layer and carpenter as he worked along with Grandpa Isaac in building churches and schools.  My Mother went to Africa as a school teacher in 1925, and was stationed in the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.  After serving as a single missionary teacher for 17 years, she met and married my Dad.

During my sophomore year, as I began to give more seri ous attention to my future career, I felt the Lord calling me to devote my life to Christian Ministry. However, I struggled with the question, “How do I know that this is really God’s voice calling me into His service?” I resisted God’s call for fear that it might just be my own idea or a feeling of an obligation to follow the tradition of my parents and grandparents.

One night I had a very vivid and compelling dream in which I relived an experience from my childhood.  In 1957, about a year after my Grandfather’s tragic death in a car ac cident, our family journeyed from Johannesburg to Mozam bique, where my Dad was scheduled to meet with church leaders. In my dream I relived the emotional words of wel come spoken by Pastor Stephen Macambaco to my Dad as we drove up to the beautiful bougainvillea-covered arch over the church yard entrance. “Your Father was the Servant of God who introduced me to Jesus and God has called him home to heaven.  God has mercifully spared you from death in that terrible accident because there is more work for you to do.”  He then turned and reached through the open win dow of the back seat, taking my hand in his and with tears running down his cheeks he said, “Missionary Junior, do you

see these children?  You are their missionary, they have no other missionary.” God the Holy Spirit used those words to emphatically confirm His calling to my heart.

As I focused my academic attention toward preparation to fulfill the mission to which God had called me, He gracious ly led me onto a relationship with a lovely Nebraska farm girl named Linda Cheney.  Our romance led to “wedding bells” in June 1966, followed shortly after by our graduation in 1967.  There probably could not have been a better way to prepare for a life of missionary service than Linda’s upbringing in ru ral Nebraska. Together we served for 46 years as Wesleyan Global Partners appointees to Southern Africa. By God’s Grace we were instrumental in establishing two Bible Col leges, one in Swaziland and the other in Mozambique. In addition to her homemaking duties, Linda taught adult liter acy classes and served as mission accountant and auditor. We have seen God’s leadership in every area of ministry to which He has led us and have proven that “He who calls you is Faithful.”

~ Orai and Linda settled in Bartlesville in 2014 after serving with Wesleyan Global Partners for 46 years. Orai continues to empower communities in Africa through AfricasCall.org. ~

Washington County Free Fair

Popular Annual Event is Dewey’s Party

by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum

When Jacob Bartles established the town of Dewey in a lush wheat field, little did he know the legacy he would leave in his wake. Dewey has never shied from a party, she opened her arms and busted at the seams to welcome visitors for the Bartles’ annual Fourth of July celebrations. And when Jake announced Dewey would host his Civil War com rades for the 24th Reunion of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry in 1908 with a Roping and Riding Contest as entertainment, the town decorated in style and extended wel coming arms. From that Roping Contest evolved the Dewey Roundup after Jake’s death…an annual Dewey party orchestrat ed each Fourth of July through 1949, executed by his son, Joseph Bartles.

Washington County holds mighty deep oily roots but ranching and agri culture hold a close second.

ue to fund the operations of “free fairs.” Bartlesville and Dewey were in a heated competition for the fair location. Ola Wilhite’s farm was located along Coon Creek, between Bartlesville and Dewey, and near the Bartlesville Interurban Railway’s Little Bess switch stop. Wilhite offered a thirty-acre lease for the fair loca tion and quickly went to work building a regulation race track stating “next fall, we will have an old fashion county fair with horse races and prizes for farm exhibitions.”

The cowboy contest was held at Joe Knight’s pasture, south of Dewey. In 1912, the event brought the Ferns vs Magirl box ing match, a monoplane exhibition, cowboy celebrities and over 20,000 spectators. The following year, an estimated 40,000 people arrived by every means possible to fill the expansive football field long bleachers. Each year Bartles added to the en tertainment and the crowds continued to grow at Dewey’s high ly anticipated party.

In 1915, the Oklahoma Legislature passed House Bill 280, the Free Fair Law, allowing County Commissioners to collect twen ty-five cents on each thousand dollars of assessed property val

But not so fast! The Dewey Roundup events were suspend ed in 1915 while preparations for Washington County’s fair were discussed. Joe Bartles and his mother, Nannie Journeycake Bar tles, donated forty-acres of land for the fairgrounds, Joe’s Early Days Amusement Association donated $5,000 in materials and a county bond issue passed contributing another $15,000. Joe reported: “The city of Dewey spent more than $30,000 in build ing the best fairgrounds and racing track in the southwest and in the center is a turfed arena as smooth as a billiard table in which the contests of the Roundup are held. This year the city voted additional bonds and the grandstand seating capacity also was doubled – it is the permanent home of Dewey’s fast-growing babies, the Roundup and the Washington County Free Fair.”

The first Washington County Free Fair was held October 21-22-23, 1915 and many visitors traveled from the Tuxedo

and Bartlesville communities on the Bartlesville Interurban at the final stop on the Dewey loop, about a half-block from the Dewey Hotel. Exceeding expectations, exhibits totaled 1,165, consisting of agriculture, horticulture, fruit culture, livestock, poultry, home management skills and trade entries with cash rewards for winners. The racetrack had a full “card” each day with bi-plane exhibitions before and during the races. Each year, more enticing events were added to the schedule; in 1916, the Woodmen of the World held log rolling, log sawing and nail driving contests with bicycle, sack, potato and foot races for all, and the 1917 fair brought horse and automobile racing with evening band concerts.

Until 1929, the fairground was the property of the City of Dewey and the Bartles’ family estate. In an effort to clear the fairground title, on August 6, 1929, a county-wide special elec tion was held and the citizens of Washington County authorized the county excise board to levy a free fair tax of not more than one mill annually for not more than 5 years. This also allowed Commissioners to fund necessary improvements like improved hog and cow barns, racetrack fence and grandstand repairs. In addition, four lots south of the fair building, owned and occupied by Mrs. S.E. Thomas, were purchased for $2,500.

The Washington County Free Fair and the Dewey Roundup shared the wooden grandstand until 1949 when rain-soaked ground shifted and a section of the grandstand collapsed, drop ping approximately 350 people into the mud, injuring eleven spectators. The Dewey School System purchased the grand stand property by sealed bid on January 9, 1950 for $3,501.

In 1953, over 10,000 visitors attended the Washington Coun ty Fair; however, fear rumbled at the possibility the 1953 fair would be the last at the Dewey location due to the deteriorated state of the facilities and lack of parking. Local chatter was a new fairground would be placed near the county poor farm, located on Tuxedo along Young Avenue. A county bond was placed before the voters…but failed.

received approval to purchase a portion of the fairgrounds for $10,000, which was $2,500 over the assessed value, with the stipulation the land would be free of fair buildings within five years to allow the school to continue their growth. By Septem ber, the foundation was poured for the new Dewey High School and the building extended to within feet of the original 1914 fair building.

Under contracts effective with the approval of the fairgrounds plans, the city of Dewey will transfer its title to the county without cost and Joe Bartles, who holds reversionary interest, will clear the title and furnish two adjacent blocks of land for $5,000.

In 1957, amid a rather “heated” Washington County Com missioner board meeting exchange, the Dewey School System

To offer better accessibility for 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, home demonstration clubs and civic organizations, in 1958, a one year three-mil levy was voter passed to replace the 44-year-old di lapidated fair building. Under the direction of Architect Robert Caldwell and built by Cooper and Dorrris Construction Compa ny, just south of the 1914 building, the new 19,200 square feet fair building has forceddraft ventilation and a barrel-arch roof with fixed glass on the ends of the arches. Construction of the 80’x240’ reinforced concrete building began March 1959 with an 80’x160’exhibition hall, 50’x80’ dining room capable of seating 400-persons, fully equipped kitchen with mahogany cabinets and stainless steel countertops, lobby and office which was completed in June 1960 at a cost of $125,000.

On June 4, 1959, the price of progress was paid as the dilapi dated, original Washington County Free Fair building was razed while the foundation of the new fair building was being laid. For 107 years, Washington County homemakers, farmers, craftsmen and 4-Hers have entered the fruits of their efforts in the Wash ington County Free Fair to be judged in an annual competition of “Whose pumpkin is bigger.” See you at the Washington County Free Fair, September 8-10, 2022.

In recognition of his dedicated service to the Washing ton County Fat Stock Show and the 4-H Club, Donald M. Tyler, Portland Cement Company president, was made hon orary state and county 4-H member.

Platinum Wedding Package

Thursday: The staff at The Room at The Top set up your wedding on our second floor and your reception on our third floor and give the pillows a fluff in The Bridal Suite.

Up to 300 gold Chivari Chairs are available and up to 250 in mahogany, all of your chairs, tables and basic linens, black or ivory, are included in your package.

Friday: You decorate, possibly with props from our props room, bring in your own items, rehearse, relax, and have rehearsal dinner with friends. 8:00 am to midnight.

Saturday: Your vendors arrive and further decoration takes place; flowers are put out, food beautifully laid, and you are getting makeup and hair in our Bridal Suite, then your wedding on our second floor, your guests go up to three, while your photographer takes your group and individual photos, before you proceed to your formal entrance and

announcement as a couple on the 3rd floor, greeting your waiting guests. 8:00 am to midnight under the happy gaze of friends and family.

Saturday or Friday night over night in our Bridal suite in cluded, an extra night is $250.00.

Sunday:  Pick up your own decor and minor cleaning, no big messes left, and you are leisurely out of the space, 8:00 am to noon.  Some prefer to do this Saturday eve ning.  Let us know.

Total Price: $5,000.00

Additional guest rooms available on-site through your AirBnB App destination Bartlesville, The Jewel Box Hotel Apartments 1-4. Approximately $140.00 per night. Addi tional party space available for showers, Bridesmaids lun cheons, Anniversaries and other celebrations.

Stokes Cemetery

The Oldest Non-Indian Cemetery in Washington County

by Kay Little, Little History Adventures

Recently, as I walked through the Stokes Cemetery, I found several names I know from my many years of studying local history. But, how did it start and who were the Stokes?

In 1880, Granville and Phoebe, with their eight children, set tled on the Russell Farm, near Dewey. They were farmers and ranchers, had a sawmill that supplied lumber to some build ers in the area, and a boarding house/hotel. Two of their sons helped establish communities in Washington County.

This area was part of the Cherokee Nation, which meant only Indians could live on the land. Granville was not Indian, but his son, James, was married to a Cherokee lady, so James would pay the 50 cents each month so his father could remain in the area. James had to pay that fee at the Bartles Store be cause Jake was the holder of the Permit Record Book.

James married Georgia Russell and they founded the town of Ramona, and built the first house there. The town was orig inally called Bon-Ton, and according to some sources, Geor gia renamed it Ramona. James and his brother-in-law, Robert Duke, operated the first mercantile store in Ramona.

Another son, David, helped to establish the community of Ringo, named for friend, William Ringo. Ringo was a booming community until the railroad came through to Ramona and by passed it.

Georgia and James had a daughter, Olive, who became fa mous here and across the country. But, before that, she helped her mother serve meals to tank farm and oil well workers in their boarding house. Eventually, the James Stokes family es tablished the family home near Dewey.

Will Rogers introduced Tom Mix to Olive Stokes at the 1904 World’s Fair. Five years later, they met again, after Tom moved to Dewey. They were soon married and lived on the Stokes land until they moved to Hollywood to become big movie stars. Un fortunately, they divorced in 1918.

Several years before Bartlesville existed, the Federal gov ernment set aside land for a cemetery, which became the Stokes Cemetery, making it the oldest non-Indian cemetery in what is now Washington County. It is on the west side of the

Caney River near BarDew Lake on Road 1400 in Dewey. No ar rangements were made to maintain the cemetery, so some pi oneer families would gather once a year to clean the area and decorate the graves. The call would be sent out asking people to bring tools and lunch, so they could spend the day cleaning the cemetery.

Some of the people buried in Stokes Cemetery include Jarvis Tyner, the first burial; William Ringo, the first white man buried ther;, Mellie Smith, the first teacher in the area, hired by Nelson Carr to teach his children; Edward Lee Bennett, who built the first log cabin in 1879, on what became the Stokes farm; Frank Eaton’s (Pistol Pete) mother and stepdad; plus most of the Stokes family. A few families are still using Stokes Cemetery.

Cornerstone fully embraces this educational model, placing Christ as the Arbiter and Originator of truth, beauty, and goodness.

The community is invited to a one-of-a-kind, exciting fundraiser for Cornerstone Classical Academy on Saturday, October 29th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Unity Square, downtown Bartlesville.

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Cornerstone Classical Academy

Hybrid Homeschool Program Celebrates 9th Year

Perhaps the greatest task of parenting is equipping children with the education and wisdom necessary to navigate life in all its stages. For many, that means entrusting their education into the hands of a public or private school system. For parents who choose to homeschool, it is a very personal and individualized decision. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to home schooling.

Nine years ago, the Bartlesville homeschool community welcomed a new educational opportunity when Cornerstone Classical Academy opened its doors. Two of the original steer ing committee members who have backgrounds in classical education, Heather Deal and Bobbie Kirkland, have seen many phases of the school with the current year being the largest enrollment yet. The class sizes are intentionally small yet they want families to know this education option can be found in Bartlesville.

Cornerstone was the first school of its kind to introduce the “blended” or “hybrid” model, servicing Bartlesville and the sur rounding communities. The enrolled students meet two days a week for in-class instruction by an instructor and are schooled at home the remaining three days under the parents’ guidance. The lesson plans for the entire week are developed by the classroom instructor and are given to the parent weekly as they coordinate together. This met the need of several area families who needed to schedule homeschooling around jobs, or simply needed structure in their teaching schedule.

The goal of Classical education is not to simply acquire knowledge or learn subjects, it is for students to have holis tic wisdom for life and learn the art of learning. Simply stated, classical education is the disciplined pursuit of wisdom with a predictable pattern of gaining basic facts, analyzing and eval uating them, and then expressing understanding about them, which can be applied to all later learning.

Classical education provides tools students need to think well, and for Christian classical educators, the end goal of thinking well is Godly wisdom. Classical education is a time-tested approach to learning, designed to de light and inspire.

The structure of Classical education is built upon what is called the “Trivium,” divided into three stages, aligning with the students’ natural development. First is the Grammar Stage, where students utilize their love of facts, memorization, and stories to learn and retain information. For example, at Cornerstone, the grammar students learn songs and chants to remember the rules of phonics, spelling, parts of speech, math facts, geography, etc.

Second is the Logic Stage, which captures young adoles cents’ natural inclination to debate, as they winsomely explore logical implications of ethical and moral questions. Lastly, old

er adolescents enter the Rhetoric Stage, where their desire for independence manifests in creative and eloquent communica tion. Classically educated students will either let the ideas and subject matter change the way they think or reject it as unwor thy; and they will be able to tell you “why.”

Classical education is exciting! It engages students as they learn history chronologically with hands-on experiences such as festivals, fairs, plays and feasts. During their history festivals, students learn songs, dances, plays representing the period of history they are studying. The blended model of Cornerstone provides a collective community of families and educators cul tivating the desire to learn and explore.

Each stage of the Trivium builds upon the other as sub jects are integrated to create complex, abstract thinkers. Cor nerstone students study the grammar and syntax of language, both English and Latin. They approach the subjects of science, the arts, literature, math, and history as vehicles by which the art of learning is expressed. This intertwined model allows stu dents to work together, developing the ability to find common ground so they “might reason well” like the Apostle Paul speaks of in Acts 17. Cornerstone fully embraces this educational model, placing Christ as the arbiter and originator of truth, beauty, and goodness.

The community is invited to a one-of-a-kind, exciting fundraiser for Cornerstone Classical Academy on October 29th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Unity Square, downtown Bartlesville. You can learn more about the school and help raise money by enjoying an evening of putt-putt golf, with each unique miniature “green” designed and sponsored by various local businesses. Kids and adults are welcome to wear family friendly cos tumes and enjoy goodies while they play.

To learn more about Cornerstone, please visit their website at www.cornerstoneclassicalacademyok.com or send them an email at cornerstoneclassicalacademy@gmail.com.

by Jay Webster

We Americans love our Heroes.

Washington, Lincoln, John Wayne, Rosa Parks … Tom Cruise as Maverick. We like to celebrate their rugged individualism, their moral compass, their determined passion that compels them to go against the flow. I’m getting amped just thinking about them.

We love seeing Washing ton depicted leaning into the night against the cold and against the odds as he forces his way across the Potomac. We cheer when Robin Williams inspires us to stand defiantly on our desk in Dead Poets’ Society or Rudy is lifted on the shoul ders of his Notre Dame teammates. Our heart even stirs when

we see the lonely Marlboro Man out on that range doing “man work,” alone … because, by God, someone’s got to do it and the only comfort he needs is a job well done and a cigarette.

You doubt me, but if party leaders showed up tomorrow and told us we are no longer driving on the “right” side of the road because that’s just what the other side wants us to do, you can bet that more than half of our neighbors would get on board, car wrecks and all.

We love this rugged quality so much it even inspires the names we give our cars: Intrepid, Explorer, Challenger, Firebird, Viper, Yukon and Tundra, Bronco and Mustang, Es cape, Edge, and Expedition. These are not vehicles for mall parking and grocery shopping — these are ad venture wagons. They carry our alter egos. They match our de mand for living like heroes (who happen to need 12 cupholders, leather seats, and butt warmers).

Heroes inspire us. They bring out the best in us. We point these people out to our kids as examples. We train our kids to follow in their footsteps, to be leaders and stand up for what’s right. We tell them that a hero is someone who is faced with a challenge and is determined to overcome — not just because they want to, but because they have to.

America is known the world over as the cowboy, the titan, the rockstar, the brave and the free … as leaders. Even now, the world “looks to us.”

That’s why it’s so surprising to me that as a nation of individ uals we’ve turned into a herd of cattle when it comes to politics.

Ouch. I know that was abrupt … and harsh. I’ll give you a minute. Okay. Ready?

Here’s the deal. There’s a disturbing trend in Amer ica today that’s only getting worse with each passing election. More and more, both parties seem to be calling for (demanding) our total party line acceptance. They don’t want our indepen dent thinking, they want our compliance (otherwise it’s suggest ed that we’re giving in to the other side and letting them win). You must accept the party as a whole. If there are extremists in your party that are borderline pathological, you have to support them anyway. If someone says something stupid you’re required to validate them. If someone proposes something ridiculous it’s on you to justify it. It’s not enough for us to be “anti-them” we have to be fully “pro-us” with no questions asked.

How are our leaders doing all this? It’s pretty simple really. They blanket the airwaves with fear. They know the most com mon response to fear is anger, so they use it to motivate us, se cure our loyalty, and get us to hate other Americans. We fear we will lose “our America.” We fear we will lose “our freedoms.” We fear a take over by “them.”

Here’s what I’ve learned as your humble corespondent … the thems are just as afraid of your America as you are of theirs . And that fear (and the vitriol and rage that follows) is only getting stronger — and it’s all part of the plan.

The stakes are apparently too high for independent thinking or “rugged individualism.” There is only room for absolute conformity.

Where are the American individuals, the heroes who will say, “No.” Who’s going to be brave enough to not buy into the whole party package? Who’s going to investigate and read and change channels occasionally (if not just turning the TV off all to gether)?

Who will be brave enough to put country above party and not let the “Idol of Party” rule their lives or families or churches? Who will take the time to read and listen and not just party line vote? A bad person who shares your party affiliation isn’t better than a good American who happens to be on the other side of the aisle.

Maybe the most disturbing part of this trend is all the talk of a new civil war. I don’t know if that’s a reality or not. To some degree it’s not hard to imagine. And, maybe for some that seems like a solution. You go your way and we’ll go ours.

You doubt me, but if party leaders showed up tomorrow and told us we are no longer driving on the “right” side of the road because that’s just what the other side wants us to do, you can bet that more than half of our neighbors would get on board, car wrecks and all.

The stakes are apparently too high for independent think ing or “rugged individualism.” There is only room for absolute conformity.

What news network is your network? FOX, CNN, MSNBC, OAN … Which one do you subscribe to? Okay, fine. We believe all these networks have a political base they serve: liberal or conservative. Right? Now ask yourself when was the last time your news network was critical of a member of their party affili ation? When was the last time they did a hard-hitting, in-depth review and called someone out from their own party base? You can’t do it. It doesn’t happen. They’re not here to inform, they’re here to reinforce.

When other countries broadcast news that only agrees with their party, we call it State Run News. Here we call it a trusted new source. The only one that tells us the truth (that we want to hear).

But wait … there’s more. Our party leaders not only want our unflinching loyalty (and full acceptance), they also want to be first in our lives. You may be part of other groups (a family, a race, a religion, or be a Netflix or Hulu subscriber, and all that’s fine), but the party must come first. If your church or religion disagrees with the Party line, change churches. If family mem bers have another party affiliation it’s Okay to keep them, but be suspicious of them and lower your estimation of their morals and intelligence.

The trouble is, unlike our last civil war, there are no clean lines. There is no “North and South.” We are intermingled and intertwined. The war is with the people in the cubical next you, in the pew in front of you, in the grocery line beside you, in your house. How are we going to wage that war? What a disturbing end to “the great experiment.” Perhaps John Steinbeck was right when he wrote: “We have overcome all enemies but ourselves.”

Look, I know my little column isn’t likely to change anything. I just want to try and bring some awareness. There is a flow, a current that is happening … and unless we choose differently we will continue to be caught up in it. We don’t have to agree with each other to listen to each other and treat people with respect and hold ourselves to American ideals.

We don’t have to keep answering the demand for outrage and anger. We don’t have to hate our neighbors because our party tells us to. We can topple the Idol of Party and pol itics … if we want to. But it’s on us.

Godspeed, friends. Get outside. Breathe the air and greet your neighbor. It can only help.

ABILITY WORKS WOODSTOCK OR BUST

The Sky’s the Limit for Fun

Tulsa Air & Space Museum a Fun, Unique Experience

by Maria Gus

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s the Tulsa Air and Space Museum!  Venture to the skies and beyond while viewing priceless ar tifacts from history. Take a look at the universe and beyond at the planetarium, learn about the Tuskegee airmen in their special ex hibit, or conduct your own mission using their flight simulators. Bartians and earthlings of all ages will enjoy this one of a kind treasure in Tulsa.

HISTORY

The story of TASM be gan in 1998 in a 1940s han gar on the Spartan School of Aeronautics campus. In 2005, TASM moved into the Sher man and Ellie Smith Hanger One where it is currently located, on the north side of the Tulsa International Airport. Thanks to the Tulsa County Vision 2025 proposition, the James E. Bertels meyer Planetarium opened in 2006, providing many Oklaho mans their first experience in a planetarium.

According to Alex London, curator of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, the aerospace attraction  has a lot to look forward to for the remainder of 2022. The Aviator Ball II takes place on October 8th. This unique event will allow those who have purchased tickets exclusive access to NASA personnel as well as a great environment of food, drinks, and entertainment. “TASM will also bring in some exciting new artifacts, including a large International Space Station Mockup and other fantastic NASA artifacts,” said London.

In addition to hosting events and special exhibits, TASM has one of the most extensive Spartan Aviation collections in the world. The historic Tulsa company has had a presence in the area since its beginnings as an aircraft manufacturer. Even tually, Spartan went on to produce live-in trailers and then it became the well-known technical school it is now. Today, the TASM collection includes the Spartan Executive, a one-of-akind prototype aircraft. They also accommodate a large col lection of artifacts from Oklahoma’s own Bill Pogue, a storied NASA astronaut aboard the Skylab Space Station.

Bartlesville teachers and parents like Angela Gerber and Alana Murphy say that TASM is a fantastic museum to explore the incredible world of aviation. “TASM became a fan favorite in our house,” said Gerber. “Each of us found something to love!”

Gerber said the vintage air planes and flight simulator were popular for her family, but as a history buff she re ally enjoyed learning about the Tuskegee airmen from the special exhibit. “TASM is a true gem for family fun in Tulsa,” added Gerber.

Murphy said her son is a true fan of aviation and wants to become a pilot someday. “Each time we visit TASM he comes home with a new aircraft to re search,” said Murphy, “Our whole family loves going and there’s so much vari ety. We cannot wait for the next fly-in.”

London said TASM is always looking for more volunteers. “We love when individuals show interest in volunteering!” add ed London. Those interested are welcome to visit the muse um in-person and speak with the front desk staff or they can email info@tulsamuseum.org. TASM offers detailed tours any time and the planetarium shows are guided by their planetar ium manager. TASM also regularly hosts events for families at the museum which you can find on their website at www.tul samuseum.org.

With a mission of “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium (TASM) has carved out a unique niche in the Oklahoma museum communi ty, exposing students to real-world applications of STEM since 1994.

Winter is coming... Are you Ready?

TRUSTED SINCE

FINANCIAL FOCUS

TO RESPOND WHEN RISK

When you begin investing, you’ll generally assess your comfort with risk, as your investment choices will be guided at least partially by your risk tolerance. But once you actually experience the ups and downs of the market, this tolerance could be tested.

Risk tolerance may appear less bothersome in the abstract but seem quite different in reality. For example, you might initially think you wouldn’t be fazed by short-term market downturns, no matter how severe. However, when the financial markets really decline, as happened when the COVID-19 pandemic struck last March, you might find yourself being more concerned than you thought you would be.

Before you change your investment strategy, it's important to understand the potential tradeoffs. By limiting your downside risk by investing less aggressively, you may also limit your upside potential. You might need to change your strategy in other ways, such as saving more or working longer. That said, the tradeoff involved in reducing your downside risk may be worth taking, if it helps you cope better with wild market swings, as the best strategy may be one you can stick with through the inevitable ups and downs of the markets.

Because market fluctuations are a normal part of investing, here are some additional suggestions that may help you focus on your long-term strategy.

Look past the immediate event. While the market’s pandemic-driven fall was sudden, its recovery was also fairly quick. Eight months after its March meltdown, the market had regained all the lost ground and reached a new record high. During the midst of what appears to be a real threat to your investment portfolio, it can be difficult to anticipate a more favorable environment. Yet, while past performance can’t guarantee future results, every historical market decline has been followed by a recovery.

Understand that the Dow isn’t your portfolio . When the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the other major market indexes such as the S&P 500 fall precipitously (or shoot up), it makes headlines. But the Dow and the S&P 500 only track the performance of large U.S. companies – and while their performance may be an indication of the U.S economy, they aren’t going to track the results of your portfolio, which should ideally include a personalized mix of large-company stocks, small-company stocks, international stocks, bonds, government securities a nd other investments.

Keep your emotions out of your investment moves The market will fluctuate constantly – but you should always try keep your emotions in check. Excess exuberance when the market rises, or extreme despondency when the market falls, can lead you to make poor decisions. Specifically, we may buy when we feel good (when the markets are up) and sell when we feel badly (when markets are down). Your heart and your emotions may drive your financial goals –creating a comfortable retirement, sending your kids to college or leaving a legacy for your family – but when you invest for these goals, you should use your head.

Ruby Celebration

The Center Turns 40, Broadway in Bartlesville!, Holiday Show On Tap

For 40 years, The Center has served Bartlesville as “the center” for arts, events, and community. Visitors and locals have experienced a wide variety of events and activities at The Center, and countless memories have been made. The building is a dynamic part of our community that has touched millions of lives over the past four decades.

Bartlesville Community Center Trust Authority Chairman Chris Cook shares that, “The Center has been a focal point of arts and enter tainment of not only Bartlesville but the region and beyond. Being a world class audi torium with excellent acoustics makes it a spe cial place to enjoy a concert, show, or play. It is also a gathering place for many organizations including nonprofits that would not have this type of space otherwise for events. The Center has done wonders for tourism and all the jobs and resources that come with out-of-town guests. It is also a central show case for artists and their work.”

As a nonprofit organization, The Center relies on a variety of funding sources to help underwrite internationally acclaimed artists, educate young audiences, create important community programs, and maintain the remarkable facility. Contributions are crucial to the mission of the Bartlesville Community Center.

As we enter the last quarter of 2022, citizens are invited to participate in building up The Center’s legacy by contrib uting to its 40th Anniversary RUBY campaign. Donations and seat sponsorship gifts will directly strengthen the endowment, thus ensuring The Center’s future. More information on how to sponsor a seat in memory or honor of an individual or sponsor a business can be found at www.bartlesvillecommunitycenter. com or by calling 918-337-2787.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin to open Broadway in Bartlesville! 20th season

Broadway in Bartlesville! proudly presents the North Amer ican debut of R.E.S.P.E.C.T., an electrifying tribute celebrating the legendary Aretha Franklin. This joyous concert event will play Sunday, November 13, 2022 at The Center for arts, events, and community, and opens the series twentieth season at 7:30pm.

The supreme talent bringing this show to life has been found in New York’s Trejah Bostic, the lead singer of the band, supported by vocalists Meghan Dawson, Nattalyee Randall and Ashton Weeks, who also serve as the evening’s Hosts, and Jas mine Tompkins, the vocalists’ understudy.

The tour’s incredibly talented on-stage live band features Music Direction and Keyboards by Darnell White (Revelation The Musical, Gospel at Colonus), Rocco Dellaneve (Keys), TJ Griffin (Drums), Kenneth “Gypsy” Simpson (Guitar), and Owen Williams (Bass).

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. showcases the soundtrack of an era that

brought Aretha Franklin worldwide acclaim singing hits such as, “Natural Woman,” “Think,” “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me,” “Chain of Fools,” “Respect,” and many more.

Tickets for R.E.S.P.E.C.T. are available by phone at 918.337.2787 and in person at the Community Center box office from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For 24/7 ticket sales, visit bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com.

Special thanks goes to The National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the following local spon sors who make the Broadway in Bartlesville! 2022-2023 series possible: Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Adams * American Heritage Bank * Arvest Wealth Management * bMonthly Magazine * Cono coPhillips * Copper Cup Images * Mr. and Mrs. Paul Crawford * Diversified Systems Resources * Examiner-Enterprise * Green Country Village * Image First Hospitality * Keleher Architects * KGGF-AM KGGF-FM KUSN KQQR * KRIG KYFM KWON KPGM * Cortney McClure Design * Nowata Road Liquor *Phil lips 66 * Price Tower Arts Center * Robinett/King * Dr. and Mrs. Richard Rutledge * Dr. and Mrs. William D. Smith * Sparklight * Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory * Truity Credit Union * Visit Bartlesville.

Motown Christmas tribute concert plays The Center

The Center presents Motown Christmas on Friday, Decem ber 9th at 7:00 p.m.

This festive show covers the season’s favorites as well as the very best of Motown. Usher in the holidays entertained with songs originally by The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, and more, infused with holiday songs sure to spread joy and cheer. Non-stop hits from talent ed performers will make you think you are back in the heyday of Motown!

Tickets for Motown Christmas are $21 for adults and $11 for students and go on sale at 9am on Friday, October 14th. They may be purchased by phone at 918-337-2787 or in person at the Community Center box office from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For 24/7 ticket sales, visit bartlesvillecommuni tycenter.com.

Making a Difference

by Maria Gus Kyle Carlson will be Missed by Many in Bartlesville

“Salt of the earth,” a phrase meaning a good and honest person. In the ancient world, salt symbolized purity and wis dom. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the phrase as a way to teach his followers to be present to each other, demon strate wisdom, and preserve the good in the world. Kyle Carl son made a difference through his goodness, honesty, purity, and wisdom. Kyle Carlson was the textbook definition of “salt of the earth.”

Bartlesville lost Kyle Carlson suddenly on September 10, 2022. His time in Bartlesville was brief, only living here for 13 years, but his impact was significant and his loss will be felt by so many.

Arriving in Bartlesville in 2009, Kyle married the love of his life, Hollie, in 2012. In 2013 they had a son, Kody. “Kyle was my forever,” said Hollie Carlson about her beloved cowboy. “He made me crazy, all while showing me how much he loved me.” A little bit country, a little bit rock & roll, Kyle was always up for any adventure with Hollie. “He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need,” added Hollie. “But he didn’t know how truly special he was. He was always striving to make improvements any way he could — in his marriage, fatherhood, and team rop ing. I learned so much from him that he will never know.”

Known as the Lookin’ Sharp Laundry and Dry Cleaners guy, he was often seen in his signature hot pink shirt, picking up and delivering dry cleaning for the company he operated with his mother, Barbara Carlson. Barbara said, “At first he didn’t want to wear it, but he did because it was what I wanted and he loved his mama.” Beyond his deliveries and standout uniform, Kyle made friends wherever he went. Kyle always took the time to chat up customers, ask about their lives, sell Blue and Gold Sausage for his stepsons Connor and Cameron, or take time for a kind word or a laugh.

Kyle was a husband, a son, a brother, a step-father, and fa ther to a young son to whom he was completely devoted. Carl son was also a bail bondsman, a team roper, and dear friend to many. The loss of Kyle Carslon will be felt deeply, a friendly guy who always showed up, giving back to the community any way he could.

Brother Bret said Kyle made a difference through his com petitiveness. “Kyle expected the best out of you because you were going to get the best out of him,” said Bret.

Sister Tami Brinkman said that she loved that he would always spin her around the dance floor at all of the various fundraisers they attended. “I loved the smiles it put on peo ple’s faces”

Sister-in-law Lynne said Kyle could always be counted on, whether it was pulling pranks a plenty as the Carlson’s are known for or going above and beyond in sharing a workload.

Brother-in-law Koby Brinkman said Kyle made family a pri ority. “He was a wonderful uncle to my daughters; a best friend

to Tami; and a caring, sharing, and fun-loving brother-in-law that I will miss so very much.”

Friends are heartbroken at his loss. Fellow roper Shay Wal ters said he learned a lot of tips from Kyle in roping and in life. Kim Greenfield says she’ll miss watching how he loved his fam ily, “I was blessed to know him, be a part of his life, and be tak en in by him as the little sister he never wanted.” Robin Mackey said Kyle Carlson was an amazing friend, father, husband, son, uncle, sibling, roper, dancer, “you name it, he was awesome at it.”

Jenny Jenkins said the difference he made was how his presence changed her friend Hollie’s life. “Seeing her find true love, building a life with her and the boys, I’m glad she was able to experience that, even though it was 12 short years.”

Kyle Carlson made a difference in this columnist’s life, too. He was my Cub Scout partner in crime as our boys are best friends. He always showed up, helped make things better, and demonstrated the best of humanity. He’d encourage you when you wanted to give up. I saw that in his interactions with his son, my son, and even me.

One thing is for certain — Kyle Carlson loved his wife Hollie, as it was so clearly evident during her battle with breast cancer. “I could never fully express how wonderful he has been through this most challenging time in our marriage,” said Hollie during her cancer journey. “He is my rock, my protector, and my safe place. He lets me cry when that’s all I need and he finds a solu tion if there is one to be had. He knows me better than I know myself sometimes, and honestly that blows me away. He works very hard at everything he does, and he’s a wonderful daddy and loves that job the most. Kyle is kind, smart, ornery, and handsome. I am a lucky woman.”

Bartlesville was ever so lucky for the difference Kyle Carlson has made in the community.

Billie Roane

by Lori Just City Council Ward 4 Incumbent Looking for Re-Election

The City of Bartlesville consists of five wards represented on the City Council by a resident of that ward. All eligible vot ers of the ward may vote for their representative during the City Coun cil election, which is held every two years; every even-numbered year.

Voters in three Bartlesville City Council wards will have a choice to make in the November 8th election. In Ward 4, incumbent Billie Roane was appointed to the vacant seat by the Council in Spring 2021, af ter former vice mayor Alan Gentges stepped down to pursue a position as the Bartlesville municipal judge. She was selected from a group of seven candidates who expressed interest and completed an interview process. Roane is set to run again for this seat.

“Last March, the city began accepting resumes for a re placement for former Vice Mayor Gentges,” Roane said. “With my involvement in the community through non-profit boards and volunteering, my family, community leaders and business associates — including my supervisor and friend, the late Jim Bohnsack — encouraged me to submit my resume. Following interviews, a special April Council meeting was called, where I was appointed unanimously by the Council. Being a City Councilor has provided many opportunities to be successful in helping a diverse community. With God’s blessing, I want to continue being a voice and vote for the people of Bartlesville, and serving on the City Council is the greatest opportunity to accomplish that goal.”

Roane has had many years of management in business and in serving on non-profit boards of directors, as well as holding executive positions in several local organizations. She attri butes her volunteer efforts to hainge given her valuable expe rience in these community organizations’ purpose and those in the community they serve.

“Bartlesville is a unique city in that it has kept its culture and tradition of respect for the contributions to commerce, the arts, and each other,” she said. “Bartlesville has proven the ability to overcome great obstacles, including natural disasters and even the attempt of a very large corporation takeover of one of its own. Bartlesville is and always has been an innovative city of movers and shakers, working hard and smart to be successful and look ing for opportunities to encourage others to do the same.”

Since her childhood, Roane’s family made yearly fall visits to Bartlesville and Woolaroc because her dad was a great admirer of Frank Phillips. Her husband, Tom Roane, and her moved to Bartlesville in 2011 after retiring from their “on the road” life of

traveling the Midwest and Oklahoma towns with Tom’s career in retail management and city management.

“I have been in the right place at the right time with the right people during my life — a caring and hardworking fam ily, an amazing husband and friend, and encouraging people in business and church all willing to encourage and help me be successful,” Roane said. “They have shared their wisdom, compassion, intelligence, and experience. All I had to do was pay attention. I have had the honor and privilege of working alongside so many of the most industrious, compassionate, and humble people throughout Bartlesville, along with those they serve. They have found a place in my heart that reminds me of what a responsibility it is as a City Council member to make good decisions and to help and encourage others on to success.”

Roane believes it is because of all these encounters she has the experience, the confidence, and the commitment which makes her the ideal candidate to continue serving as Ward 4 Bartlesville City Councilor.

To learn more about the upcoming election, please visit oklahoma.gov/elections.html.

Non-Profit Showcase!

First Washington County Non-Profit Showcase Set

Dear Readers ,

Right here in Washington County, Oklahoma are so many non-profit organizations that do amazing things each and ev ery day. Unfortunately, many of our local citizens are not aware of those services or ways to support those doing such great things for those in need. With the help of bmonthly Magazine, Journey Home, Northpoint Church of Dewey, and Washington Park Mall, we are excited to announce our first annual “Wash ington County Non-Profit Showcase!”

The goal of this showcase is to do two things: First, bring awareness to the community of services that may be available to them. Secondly, bring future support to our great non-prof it organizations that are in need of volunteers, financial assis tance or other areas of need. Our goal for this first event is to be able to showcase around 40-50 local groups, with other activi ties going on, in and outside the mall area, to help bring in fami lies. We will have food trucks in the parking lot, we are working on bringing in area police, fire and EMS groups to allow kids to get up close with equipment, bringing in AirVac Helicopter, and

more. Bartlesville Radio will be doing a live broadcast during the day as well to help bring awareness to this event.

Booths will be on a first-come basis, and you can regis ter your organization by calling Brennen with Journey Home at 918-841-2485 or Chad with Northpoint Church at 417-434-6110 for more information. We will have a small booth fee of $25. At the close of the event, all participating groups will be placed in a drawing to receive ALL the funds brought in by registration. You are encouraged to offer door prizes, perform service as able or anything to make your service available on scene. We look forward to having you a part of this wonderful opportunity for your organization and our family and friends of Washington County!

We are BETTER TOGETHER with you!! ~ Brennen Bissinger, Journey Home ~ Chad DeGonia, Northpoint Church, Dewey ~ Keith & Christy McPhail, bmonthly Magazine

Wes Barnhart & Clint Eads

Duo was Bartlesville Wrestling’s Early Royalty

by Randy Standridge

Dan Gable, one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, once said “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” I read that and in stantly thought of two youngsters I coached at an early age for just a few years that went on to be high school state cham pions in wrestling. Clint Eads and Wesley Barn hart were those two boys, and they were the first and second state champi ons from Bartlesville High School after the merger of College High and Sooner High in the early 80s. Clint was a year older than Wesley and graduated in 1995, while Wesley fol lowed in 1996, both state champions their senior years.

I can still remember the first time I saw Wes. It was about 1984 and I was coaching the YMCA team, primarily novices or first-year wrestlers, and we practiced in the Central Junior High wrestling room in the basement. We had about 25 kids and the room was rather crowded. Kent Bottenfield, Wesley’s stepdad, brought him at about 6 or 7 years old, along with his brother Justin, who was a few years older. Wesley was built for wres tling. He was small with a very muscular frame and his quick ness and endurance were unbelievable. He quickly picked up moves and you knew he was going to be special.

Clint came on board maybe the year after, when I was coaching the full team — both novice and advanced. His family had moved recently from Texas, where he had started wrestling at 5 in Dumas. He had an older brother that was wrestling in junior high and helped develop his skills. I wish I could claim some credit, but he was already on his way to greatness. He was quiet and reserved, but he was a fast learner and worked hard at perfecting his skills.

Wes in elementary was a four-time YMCA State Champion and had a sixth-place finish at Tulsa Nationals one year. In ju

nior high his overall record was 53-4, undefeated at 16-0 his freshman year and was a two-time con ference champion. In his high school years he was State runner-up his junior year in 1995 with a 30-4, record followed by a 30-2 record his senior year when he won State. His overall high school record was 91-16. He was on the Oklahoma All-State team and after high school he wrestled at Missouri Val ley College and UCO. He also was the 1996 State runner-up in pole vaulting.

Clint won numerous championships in elemen tary, junior high, and high school. In 1994 he took third in State and then was crowned the State Champion his senior year in 1995. His overall high school record was 64-6, going 27-6 his junior year followed by a perfect 37-0 his senior year. In his final year, he was taken down only once by an opponent, only eight matches went to the fi nal whistle, 29 matches ended in a fall or technical fall, and he was named Outstanding Wrestler at three tournaments. During his career he was the USA Under-16 Cadet Freestyle Nation al Champion in 1993 and a member of the 1994 USA National Dual Team Oklahoma with a record of 6-0. He was awarded a wrestling scholarship at the University of Oklahoma in 1995.

Both of these young men went on to college, with Wes at taining a BS in Education at OCU followed by a Masters in Ed ucation Leadership at Southern Nazarene University. He then spent 20 years in Education and coaching before he started his own business, the Oklahoma Vault Club, where he has coached 17 State Champions in the pole vault. Wes currently resides with his wife and two children in Oklahoma City.

Clint completed his college degree in Business Administra tion at Oklahoma Wesleyan University and his current position is Director of Payroll with ConocoPhillips at the Research Cen ter. Him and his family live in Bartlesville.

Celebrating Success September Students of the Month

County Tech and

September Students

Month.

students

About Tri County Tech

Here’s to High-Fiving Life!

by Lori Kroh

You don’t know what you don’t know.

I learned that lesson the hard way, and to this day I quote it quite often.

I had a crippling fear of heights. My knees would grow weak and I would crawl on the floor rather than get too close to the edge. If I was up too high at a hotel, I could never peer over the balcony. It hindered my life. I decided that for my 25th birthday, the best way to deal with a fear of heights was to jump out of a plane at 10,000 ft. If you look at the Price Tower and then imag ine the height being 48 times itself, you can see the perspective of how high I had to go to face my fears.

I found a school for skydiving and about 10 of my closest friends showed up ready to celebrate the folly of a whim. We had all day long to perfect the performance and master our minds. I remember that the font was oversized and I had to sign a lot of papers. They literally stated you could die by engaging in this activity. Please initial here.

Of course it would be a tandem jump, as my instructor would be attached to me for the duration. He would pull the chute and I would follow his lead for safety. We were hooked together by carabiners and cords and my confidence came be cause his long hair made him seem like one who was going to win at this game of life.

I still have the VHS tape of me smiling and laughing and looking so calm. It was very easy to learn the processes and the equipment and I practiced perfectly. Real life is so different.

You don’t know what you don’t know.

My friends and I climbed into an airplane where all the seats were removed. The sun was shining and the pilot told us it would get warm and he was going to climb to about 14,000 feet. We would be jumping at 10,000 feet for the optimum expe rience. It was a shell of a plane and I immediately thought, “This tin can is going to fly us above 10,000 feet?” As the propeller started to turn, so did my stomach.

The plane started to taxi down the runway and pick up speed. All my friends were attached to their tandem leader and my guy had the music blaring. He had strapped a boom box to the walls and pouring out of the speakers was the music adren aline junkies wanted, I guessed.

It was hype music with a lot of screeching guitars and bang ing drums. They were all slapping our shoulders and yelling out bursts of “Yeah Dude!” and high-fiving one another. I distinctly remember thinking I was going to die and I was the dumbest person I knew. The plane lifted off as the concert of confidence continued. I sat there wide-eyed and prayed so hard my Guardian Angel started to giggle. Or at least, it seemed that way.

We climbed higher and higher. The noise from the inside of that plane mixed with the hot air lured me into a trance and my nerves started to settle. ”How bad could it be,” I wondered?

You don’t know what you don’t know.

I will never forget that feeling of seeing the huge door being opened.  It was all fun and games until someone threw open the door and the fear rushed in with the wind. I wish I had lis tened to that music better.  I wish I had said I love you more. I wish I knew my Guardian Angel’s name so I could yell for him on the way down.  I had no idea the courage it takes to confront your biggest fear.

With my guy attached to me, I had walked like a duck until I saw the vast chasm of blue. I could not see the ground when I peered out. I grimaced as I dangled my legs over the edge. I was going to go out into the air and I had to trust the one with me. Relying on others can be so hard.  “Live, Lori! Live,” I shouted. We would rock three times and hurl ourselves into the wild blue yonder.  Out I went into the atmosphere of the unknown. We fell free for about 30 seconds and the wind was fierce.  I know we were at speeds of 120 mph.  I saw the horizon spinning and everything I thought I knew did not matter. Then he pulled the ripcord!

We slowed to under 20 mph and there was no sound. Up in the sky, the Earth was so quiet.

I absorbed the sound of peace.

We made crazy eights in the sky as I watched the sun set ting in the distance. I saw the most glorious tangerine-orange sunset and we carried on a conversation about how to live life. We took our time and I enjoyed the end of the day, realizing I had created a memory forever.

You don’t know what you don’t know.

It took facing death to truly live life!  “I needed to high-five more,” he said.

When we landed, I jumped up and down and cried tears of joy and relief. I loved gravity.

I loved everyone around me and I loved that I faced my fear. Here’s to high-fiving life!

andRomance Reflection

15, 2022 Get Happy

Joan Ellison brings Judy Garland’s original symphonic arrangements back to life in a nostalgic trip.

19, 2022 RESONANCE

Jay Hershberger, the first winner of the BSO Young Artists Competition in 1978.

28, 2023 Take Me Home

The music of John Denver, with Jim Curry and band, featuring John Denver’s original orchestrations by Lee Holdridge.

11, 2023 Romance

the winner of the 2023 Young Artists Competition, the concert also features concertmaster Sheri Neubauer.

May 6, 2023 REFLECTION

Decades of great music as reflected in the BSO of today. Our exciting orchestra led by our longtime Maestro Lauren Green.

Resonance, Romance & Reflection

by Maria Gus

As the Bartlesville Symphony Or chestra prepares for its upcoming sea son, audience members can expect a beautiful landscape of sound full of opportunity. The community’s profes sional orchestra promises to deliver great music of both the recent and distant past, inspiring and sustaining while looking to the future.

The BSO was first founded in 1957 with beginnings as the Frank Phillips Men’s Club. The Phillips Symphony was an entirely volunteer orchestra led mostly by Bruce Price, a mathemati cian at Phillips Petroleum Company. By 1976, the orchestra incorporated and became the Bartlesville Sympho ny. In 1977, Lauren Green became the conductor and continues to serve as maestro today.

For Green, the future of BSO is bright and includes innovative and enjoyable concerts featuring an imag inatively wide range of musical styles. “Concerts are also times to look forward as well as backward,” said Green. “Our upcoming season is a great example of this, with two pop concerts that recreate the amazing music of two great artists, Judy Garland and John Denver.” Green added that the overall title given to the season “Resonance Romance Re flection” relates to the three classical concerts, each of which seemed to evolve around one of those concepts.

Bartlesville’s orchestra is one piece of the beautiful creative tapestry that highlights a love of music and culture. A love, says John Jenkins, that is enhanced by the community’s compassion for others. “I have enjoyed learning this city’s history as well as witnessing the strength and cultural richness of this communi ty,” said Jenkins, BSO’s new executive director. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to see how BSO might use the power of music to serve populations who otherwise would not have access to a concert experience.”

That power of music is carefully curated into the upcom ing BSO season by telling a dynamic story through different styles and sounds. The pops concerts in October and Jan uary highlight two very different artists beloved by many. “ While miles apart musically and a few decades distant chronologically, both artists carved for themselves a unique place in American popular music,” said Green. In October, Joan Ellison will not only recreate the sound and style of Judy Garland, but utilize the very same orchestral arrangements that Garland used in her films and concert performances — from Hollywood to Carnegie Hall. In late January, Jim Curry and his band will join the orchestra in recreating the look and sounds of John Denver, also utilizing Denver’s original ar rangements which were created by the great Lee Holdridge.

Jim has created a national follow ing with his accurate portrayal and beautiful musical renditions of the beloved singer.

For BSO, the “Resonance, Ro mance, and Reflection” of the sea son will highlight not only musical styles, but an expression of feeling that accompanies the concerts. The “Resonance” highlights the amazing acoustics of the incredible Bartlesville Community Center. The “Romance” creates an experience based upon the full expression of the widest range of musical emotions and orchestral sounds. The “Reflection” concert will be one of reflecting on the past — a reflection full of gratitude and beauty.

“What’s impressed me about Bar tlesville is that many people are aware of how incredibly blessed they are to have a full orchestra for a city this size,” said Jenkins. Said Maestro Lau ren Green, “I’m quite fond of how this season has come into being and am looking forward to each of the concerts. They will each be very special, and as a season they’ll combine so well into a wonderful and meaningful mix, as always.”

For more information on the BSO you can visit bartles villesymphony.org. To renew or purchase a season subscrip tion, visit the BSO online or call 918-336-2787, or visit the box office at The Center at 300 SE Adams. Blvd. For questions, you can contact executive director John Jenkins by email at  john@bartlesvillesymphony.org.

John Jenkins

Lauren Green

Around here, we value value.

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A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Reba’s Place

by Kelly Bland

It’s been said  George Strait could sing the phone book and it would be a number one hit...  That may very well be so – BUT - here in Oklahoma we’ve got a little gal with her own Midas touch and mesmeriz ing voice. I’m talking about  R eba McEn tire and it was her singing of the National Anthem back in the day that set her apart and put her on the road to fame.  You know, they say all roads lead home. And making that saying seem true, Reba’s path has led her back to the little town where the local barber shop still has a picture of her daddy getting his hair cut hanging on their wall.

Down close to the Red River,  Atoka, Oklahoma seems to look just like other small towns.  Along the highway running through you’ll pass the Tractor Supply, the Ford House, a few restaurants and hotels. But hidden off the main road is the old downtown area ,where the sidewalks are clean, the historic buildings have a fresh coat of paint, and it almost feels like you just parked your car in Mayberry.  On the corner of Court and Pennsylvania streets is the spot where the biggest thing in tourism is about to open its doors — formerly the Masonic Lodge but soon to be better known as Reba’s Place

After a wonderful breakfast at  Jackson’s Family Din ing (which I give two thumbs up) — John Hurd and I walked across the street and were greeted by iconic, well-known con sultant,  Mr. Kurtess Mortensen , and  Mrs. Garett Smith , gen eral manager of  Reba’s Place (and Reba’s niece)!  Outside this three-story, soon-to-be attraction, construction was taking place in the streets, creating an outdoor plaza on Pennsylvania and an amphitheater out back.

On the inside, the first two floors will be all restaurant — and not just any restaurant!  “Think polished wood, tooled leather, lots of blue, and very upscale,” said Mortensen, with a twinkle in his eye.  The venue will even have platform booths with priva cy curtains, creating a star-studded Hollywood,  B rown-Derbyfeel dating back to the days of Frank Sinatra.  Much like private balcony booths in an opera theater, the second floor offers an upscale experience complete with private rooms, fancy chande liers, and an open-loft view of the stage floor below.

“Everything we serve is going to be 100% made from scratch,” Mortensen shared, and told us that scratch even in cluded the hamburger buns!  But the big news is all about the beef!  Reba’s Place is set to be the “world-premiere launch site for the Choctaw beef program.”  Ranch-raised Native American beef will go from the ranch to a new Atoka processing facility for Choctaw beef, and that facility will be delivering cut beef to Reba’s Place fresh daily.

Now, if you’re wondering about the mu sic?  Let me assure you, there’ll be plenty!

“

Live music every day, all day” is what Mortensen said could be expected.  When asked as to who just might be on the stage, he told us from the well-known on occasion to the not-known – yet; but ensured us that what guests could count on is good music and good food.

“We want it to feel like something be tween Oklahoma and Nashville,” he told us. And with Blake Shelton’s stomping grounds just a short drive down the road, it might seem the road between Oklahoma and Nashville is only as long as the drive be tween Atoka and Tishomingo!

“

We want to provide an incomparable experience,” Garett Smith said with a smile.  “There’s nothing else like us.”  With seating for 300 and a community that has definitely gotten behind the vision, it was Mr. Hurd’s and my impression that what is going on in Atoka definitely is a rare find!  Smith went on to talk of the “Get ‘Er Done Gals ” in town who planted and care for the beautiful downtown flower beds overflowing with potato vines, Ameri can flags, and colorful petals.  Smith and Mortensen went on to praise the Atoka city council, the mayor, and the Choctaw Nation for their vision for Atoka and said  Reba’s Place was glad to be part of the good vibes that already existed there.  If coopera tion were personified, Atoka would be a great example.  Here you have city leaders, tribal leaders, a country music legend, and even the Baptist Church all working together for the good of their community.  When I asked Mortensen how Reba and team want ed folks to feel after visiting, the word he chose was “inspired.”

Inspired…

We felt it as we strolled along the downtown streets of Atoka.  We felt it as we toured the three stories of Reba’s Place. We felt it as we heard the passion and looked into the eyes of Garett Smith.  We also felt it as we listened to Kurtess Mortensen talk about the value of serving and making a positive difference in communities.

While they may not be singing the phone book down in Atoka, if you were to flip to the Yellow Pages under the topic of “Rural Rarities,” you can betcha Reba’s Place would be at the top of the list.  We hope you’ll put it on your list of places to visit as well, and take a moment to breathe in a little bit of Atoka goodness down in Southern Oklahoma.

Just in case you can’t wait until the grand opening later this year to find out a little bit more on Atoka and  Reba’s Place — pull up the latest podcast episode of “Coffee with John & Kel ly, ” where we’re talking all things Atoka!  And thanks for reading along in this month’s “On the Road” column!

History Depends on the Historian

Indian Territory Pioneer Association’s Circle of Life

by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum

President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs brought forth the 1933-1942 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and 1935-1943 Works Progress/Projects Administration (WPA) creating em ployment and hope for jobseekers during the recovery of Amer ica’s Great Depression. While both entities worked towards re building/construction projects, in 1936, the WPA presented the Oklahoma Historical Society and the University of Oklahoma with a “writers’ project” grant for an interview program which employed over 100 field workers to capture the migration and settlement of Oklahoma. The  Indian-Pioneer Papers Project resulted in more than 11,000 interviews which have been transcribed into 112 volumes, detailing Oklahoma’s deepest roots.

In addition, from 1936-1938, field workers across 17 states captured living history and personal accounts of slavery and pre-Civil War era experiences by interviewing more than 2,300 former enslaved persons. The result of the  Slave Narrative Project was 17 volumes of edited transcripts allowing readers to walk miles on the bare feet of America’s greatest travesty.

Locally, the effort of the  Indian Territory Pioneer Association (I.T.P.A.) was to capture the grit and determination of the risk-taking people who pioneered into Indian Territory seeking hope for a better tomorrow. The original “Old Settlers” organiza tional meeting was held at Jacob Bartles’ Dewey Hotel and the inaugural meeting took place in 1887, open to all families who resided in I.T. prior to 1885…but the meetings “fizzled” out.

Webster defines pioneer as “a person who helps develop something new and prepares the way for others to follow ”… people who chiseled a path by which we followed, leading future generations.

Their first reunion was held at the Washington County Free Fair building, November 25, 1915, with an estimated 600 in attendance for the Thanksgiving celebration, and Oscar Drum captured a panoramic photo of the gathering. Eligibility was changed to I.T. pioneers who settled in the Caney River Valley prior to 1907, the year of statehood.

Arriving before noon and staying late into the evening to en joy food, conversation, games and entertainment, they re-lived the by-gone days and “chewed a little fat.” Even notable celeb rities like Pistol Pete and Oklahoma Governor Johnston Murray enjoyed the event. And Joe Bartles, Nellie Johnstone Cannon, Frank Carr and Harry Roll filled open ears with the history they experienced coupled with a few hand-me-down stories.

In 1965, at the 50th reunion, the charter was amended to read anyone whose parent, spouse or self had resided in Indian Territory or the Osage Nation for more than fifty years and in cluded children and grandchildren of pioneers to enhance the membership and attendance. Participants enjoyed BBQ, square dances, fiddling and dance con tests, and renewed friend ships…eighty-five year old Pearl Kitterman won the jig dancer contest.

Annual meetings continued through 1973, meeting at the Dewey Fair Grounds and Dewey High School Fieldhouse. Their only break came during the 1918 flu pandemic when the fair building was used as a hospital and gatherings were forbidden by law. The I.T.P.A. initiated the placement of the “First I.T. Post Office” monument at the Bartles Turkey Creek Trading Post site with a donation from Don Tyler and the organization’s descen dants became the Washington County Historical Society, the organization that currently maintains the Dewey Hotel…com pleting the circle of the “Old Settler’s” origin.

Joe Bartles, Frank Eaton (Pistol Pete) and Scott Bruner of the Indian Territory Pioneer Association.

Ray Charles & Me. . .

. .

.One More Time

by Rita Thurman Barnes

“Here we go again. She’s back in town again. I’ll take her back again, one more time.” I don’t think I have to bust out in song for many of you to recognize those lyr ics from the song by the great Ray Charles, so I’ll spare your ears the punishment. But, as the “one more time” part of that song played in my brain, I thought it was a decent lead-in to my recent whereabouts.

I’ve never kept secret the fact that I am not a native Bartian and that I still salute every time I cross the southern border into Texas. But, for those of you who don’t know, I’ve now actually lived in three different locations as of our most recent move. We made a move to the Owasso area about a year ago to be closer to our kids in Tulsa but upon realizing we saw them as much when we lived in Bartlesville, we moved back home. And thus, I am home again, one more time.

Writing is like water to me. I can hardly live without it. I be came serious about it when I sent a letter to the editor of the Bartlesville newspaper during a teachers’ strike many years ago. I was hired by the paper shortly after that and didn’t stop writing for them for nearly twenty years. Bartlesville Monthly Magazine then hired me, and I wrote here until just about a year ago. I then concentrated on my Facebook group called Once Upon a Time in Bartlesville, but I missed the challenge and the privilege of writing as I had in the past and I’m so grateful to be back with bMonthly. I missed the connection with my readers and the chance to say what’s in my heart and on my mind.

A lot has happened since I last wrote to you, so I’ll try to bring you up to date. We sold the lovely home we bought in the Owasso area on the first day we listed it and sold it to one of three potential buyers. We’ve owned a lot of houses in the 54 years we’ve been married but we’d never experienced a real estate market like that one.

We started looking for an apartment or a small house to lease and couldn’t find a thing. We ended up in a large apartment downtown where hubby had to take the dog down the elevator to do her business several times a day, so when we had the chance to get back to a house on terra firma, we took advan tage of it. We both grew up downtown and have always loved it and always

will. We hope to remain here, not far from the high school from which we both graduated, for as long as we can.

Back to my writing, I’m still trying to put together another book which, ironically may be titled, “Bartlesville – One More Time . . .” so I hope you’re as happy to have me back as I’m happy to be back again with you for “Just One More Time . . .

The Spirit of the West

Wolf Creek Ranch Provides Authentic Western Experiences

by Abigail Singrey

Mark and Kelly Spencer were first drawn to the beauty of Wolf Creek Ranch. Located 18 miles out of Bartlesville in Osage County, Wolf Creek Ranch was purchased by the Spencers six years ago. Previously, they had lived on a ranch in Nowata County that was part of the Spencer family’s original Indian al lotment.

The Spencer name is familiar around Bartlesville. A fifth-generation rancher, Mark Spencer grew up in the area, and the couple moved back to town as newlyweds. Spencer has been in the restaurant business for years, first with Ster ling’s Grille, then opening the River Grille in Bentonville, Arkan sas, with several partners, and finally founding Bartlesville icon Painted Horse Bar and Grille. He and his wife also own and op erate Spencer Management, a commercial janitorial business. Now married for over 30 years and long-time Bartlesvile-area residents, they decided they wanted to do something new.

“We were talking about bucket lists, and I had done every thing I wanted to do but own a horse,” Kelly said.

They began looking for the right property and found Wolf Creek Ranch. Now, she’s checked that off her list, as the ranch has 25 horses, including the two draft horses that pull the wag on. Other horses are available to ride, including horses suited for any level from beginning riders to more experienced. Some of their most beautiful horses are former wild mustangs.

Now Kelly shares the joy she gets from that bucket list item of owning a horse with others through ranch rides and horse manship lessons.

Kelly loves seeing the “confidence visitors gain by doing something they’ve never done before.”

The Wolf Creek Ranch is part of the burgeoning agritour ism movement. Agritourism attracts visitors to a farm or ranch to provide an interesting or educational experience. With its rolling hills, roaming cattle, and beautiful creeks, Wolf Creek Ranch evokes a historic time. “We get to take visitors on a real Western experience,” Mark said.

In addition to rides, the Spen cers host a variety of events out at the ranch. Space is available to rent for weddings, family reunions, and more in an 8,000-square-foot barn that functions as the hub of the property. Painted Horse pro vides catering services to the ranch. The Spencers also wel come more casual events, such as camping or hiking. They’re cur rently upgrading their camping fa

cilities, hoping to attract more guided group camping events. The property also has RV hookups. Recently, the Women Art ists of the West came out to take photographs, enjoy a trail ride, and eat dinner. Some of Spencer’s favorite gatherings involve a wagon ride to the top of a hill, where guests are greeted with a chuck wagon serving dinner or simply s’mores.

“Then we can look at the stars and watch the moon rise,” Spencer said.

Also a working ranch, Wolf Creek is home to a cow and calf herd of Black Angus cows. They are raised on the ranch, with calves born every spring and weaned every October. Some are shipped to market, while others are processed and used in Painted Horse Bar and Grille. The Spencers also offer half beef for sale (half a cow, for those not fa miliar with the term).

For the Spencers, though, the most important part of the ranch is the fact that they get to share it with others.

“We are thoroughly blessed by God to have the property and be able to invite all these people to see the beauty of the landscape and know that there is a God.”

Apollo 7 Mission

Mission was a Precursor to a Trip to the Moon

by Jay Hastings

Project Apollo was the third human spaceflight program of the United States. The program was named by NASA manager Abe Silverstein after Apol lo, the Greek god of light, music, and sun. Regarding the naming of the project, Silverstein explained, “I was naming the spacecraft like I’d name my baby.” Sil verstein said he chose the name at home one evening in 1960, because he felt “Apollo riding his chariot across the sun was appro priate to the grand scale of the proposed program.”

Apollo was preceded by the two-person Project Gemi ni, conceived in 1961 to extend spaceflight capability, and the 1958 Project Mercury, the first space flight program. While the Mercury capsule could support only one astronaut on a limited orbital mission, Apollo was designed to carry three. Missions included ferrying crews to a space station, circumlunar flights, and eventual crewed lunar landings. The Apollo missions ran from 1961 to 1972, with the first crewed flight, Apollo 7, in 1968.

Apollo 7 launched on October 11, 1968, and the mission lasted 10 days, 20 hours, nine minutes, and three seconds. The crew consisted of Walter M. Schirra Jr., Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham. It would be Cunningham’s and Eisele’s only space flight. Then-45-year-old Schirra Jr. was originally a Mercury 7 astronaut with two missions already un der his belt; Apollo 7 was his last, as he had already decided to leave NASA before being selected for the mission.

Apollo 7 would become known as a shakedown mission for an eventual trip to the moon. It was the first time three astronauts were sent into space for an extended period of

time, and also the first time NASA broadcast a live television feed from space.

During the mission, though, there seemed to be a great deal of tension between controllers on the ground and the Apol lo crew. Schirra had re portedly been angered by NASA managers allowing the launch to proceed de spite high winds. During the mission, there were arguments over a televi sion broadcast, complaints about the food, and un happiness with the space suits, which required 30 minutes for astronauts to use the restroom — and those were just some of the complaints.

There was a lot of lingering tension regarding safety con cerns after a cabin fire in 1967 killed the entire crew during a prelaunch test of Apollo 1. After the fire, the Block II CSM was extensively redesigned with more than 1,800 changes recom mended, 1,300 of which were implemented for the Apollo 7 mission.

During the three-man Apollo flight, Schirra seemed to have strong feelings about what it meant to be a mission com mander. He insisted to make the point the crew was in charge, noting nobody on the ground was taking the risk he and the other crewmembers were. To make matters worse, Schirra de veloped a head cold on the second day of the mission. Later, he argued the crew was not going to wear their space helmets upon re-entry because he needed to be able to blow his nose. Schirra eventually won that argument.

On October 22, 1968, at 07:11, splashdown occurred in the Atlantic Ocean. The mis sion was considered successful and confirmed the Block II CM would be habitable and reliable over the length of time required for a lunar mission. Eventually, a total of 12 astronauts walked the moon during six subsequent Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972.