Volume I, Number 2
December 2014
The reason it is called Lantow Field See Story Page 2
Art World Page 9 Homeschoolers Page 12 Shop Talk Page 6 Veterans News Page 8 A Christmas Story Page 4 VFW Goes Smokeless Page 13 Franger Chicken Page 13
TAKE ONE ALWAYS FREE Always Available Online at
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Toys for Tots distribution set for Dec. 19-21 See page 11
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December 2014
Lantow Field honors brothers
the landing, then returned to battle after recuperating in England and was killed in action November 11, 1944. The youngest, William, died last year in Claremore. Oldest brother Larry was sent home after a petition by the citizens of Rogers County helped to bring him home before the end of the war. His tank was one of the first to enter Germany. Larry is now 97 and living in Tulsa. His mind is very sharp, and remembering the events of his and his brothers action in World War II is very vivid. “We were in Belgium about to enter a village, when we were waved down and told that a machine gun was in the town’s tower,” Larry said. “We took the tower out.” “I got to spend about an hour with Norman in England where he was recuperating,” Larry said. “It was funny, when we said goodbye I thought he would turn around and wave, but he never did.” He
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
battle in France. Both he and Robert are buried in the huge cemetery near Omaha Beach, Colleville Sur Mer. Their graves are side-by-side. As for Larry, he arrived in England from the United States via the Queen Mary. The Queen Mary departed New York June 7, one day after D-Day, “It took us five days to reach Glasgow,” Larry said. When he arrived and was assigned to his company, he was told they had a grand total of seven tanks. “My CO said I got three, he had four.” The usual complement for a tank company was 16, seven for each sub-commander, and one for the unit commander. Eventually they got their full complement and entered the battles at full strength. Larry’s group were replacement officers, due to the fact that all of the officers who were originally with the unit were either killed or wounded in the initial landings. When Larry arrived in France he landed on the beach at Omaha, two months after the original landing. His unit quickly moved out into the French and Belgian countryside, driving the Germans back to Germany. See Lantow, page 3
The Rogers County Magazine is published monthly by the First of the Month with up to 20,000 copies distributed throughout all of Rogers County and including Pryor, and the parts of Owasso and Collinsville that are in Tulsa County. It is available for free pickup all month long. Publisher Bill Richey Editor Candy Richey Delivery Josh & Feline Brackett Call for 918.810.6036 or email us at rogerscountymagazine@gmail. com story & advertising information
While the rest is history, and many other young soldiers from Rogers County and the nation faught and died to keep the world free, the Lantow brothers were some of Rogers County’s best. The memorial is being planned and fund raising has begun to gather the estimatead $30,000 necessary to bring it to reality. Many families could use an end of year tax deduction, and all donations will be welcome. If you would like to donate to the permanent memorial to the Lantow brothers and their service to our nation, write a check to VFW/Lantow. All funds are restricted to the memorial and 100 percent will be used to that end, with no administration or other fees whatsoever. The VFW is a 501c3/C19 non-profit organization making your donation tax eductible. See the January edition of Rogers County Magazine for the story of William Lantow, his capture by the Chinese in Korea, as well as a story about the Frenchman who has spent the past 70 years maintaining the gravesites of the Lantow brothers in France.
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Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing. Sir Winston Churchill
Lantow, continued from page 2
Four Claremore sons serve honorably is thankful for that brief time together. with the Greatest Generation Norman died in action after returning to Claremore, it seems, as never been short on heroes. Many served in our nation’s wars, and few families gave as much as did the Lantow family. Most who attend football games at Claremore High School’s Lantow Field don’t remember why it is named such, and an effort is underway to ensure that nobody ever forgets again. Recently passed by the Claremore School Board was a project to place a permanent memorial between the flagpoles honoring all four Lantow brothers, two of whom died in Europe after D-Day. Coordinated by Claremore’s Joe Ronnie Hooper Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars, fund raising has begun to build four monuments to the four brothers, Robert and Norman, who both parachuted with the 101st Airborne Division behind enemy lines June 6, 1944, Larry who was a tank driver with the 3rd Armored Division of the 1st Army and served in the Battle of the Bulge, and the youngest, William, who served as a Marine in Korea. Robert died June 13, 1944 in action, Norman was wounded in the early skirmishes after
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Artists rendering of the monument set to be installed at Lantow Field.
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A Christmas Story By C.L. Huber We were preparing for a birthday. A very special birthday and each of the four children in my family were working on it. We all had a small oatmeal box, the round ones that are about eight inches tall. Each oatmeal box had a square hole cut in the side. That hole, when the box was laid on its side, served as a small bed. Our job in the coming month was to fill that bed with pieces of straw that would be the cushion. Every day we strived to earn another piece of straw to fill the bed. We earned the stuffing by doing things that were in excess of our daily chores. A little kindness here, helping out there, but all good things would earn additional straw. The bed we were preparing was for the birth of Christ. While it was all symbolic, we felt very important in our quest to have the fullest, softest bed.
It was during one such Christmas that we had one of our best. It was a lean Christmas, and there was not going to be a lot of presents that would be placed under the tree, but our oatmeal box beds would be there. This Christmas there wasn’t enough to buy a Christmas tree. One thing we had an abundance of was tumble weeds. We also had an abundance of imagination, because Mom is a brilliant artist. The art projects she kept us busy with all year long helped develop our imaginations. We made our own Halloween costumes. One year my sister and I were pumpkins… which we made out of paper mache. There were no better pumpkin costumes for 1000 miles. It was no surprise that even without an evergreen tree adorning our
A Walk-About in Downtown Claremore It used to be that downtown Claremore had more old merchandise stores than new items. That has changed dramatically in the past year or two. As you peruse the shops that are thriving in downtown, one thing is for sure. You don’t have to go any further for boutiques of ladies clothing, accessories, new and antique items, unique gift shops with items from little girls tutus to team wearables to specialized finishes for interior decorating. The Grapevine features various ven-
dors with new items in a huge variety so that you could feasibly find something for everyone in one place. Not to be outdone, Willowtree Mall also features various vendors of new and antique goods. The Burlap Closet has some of the cutest fashions for ladies and they also carry jewelry and accessories. Waterfront Framing and Art is the premier framer in northwest Oklahoma, specializing in custom framing as well as already framed fine art and
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home, there would be a Christmas tree. There always was, only this year it was definitely going to be different. We went on a tumble weed quest with Mom. During that time, there was still a lot of undeveloped land where we lived, and with the unofficial state tree being plentiful, we had many from which to choose. We got three, each in different sizes. Back at home, we took those three tumble weeds, with the largest on the bottom, and stacked until we had a pyramid shaped pile of tumble weeds. We tied them together, and then took great glee in spraying our Christmas tree white with flocking. We then went about decorating it with the traditional bulbs, garland and tinsel. Tinsel. That was always an adventure. In a family of six, six different ways of applying tinsel could be found. But Mom’s way was the way we were to decorate. After all, See Christmas, page 5
gift art. Of course, Dorothy’s Flowers has been the favorite florist in Claremore for many years, and they have a great selection of gift items. You’ll not starve to death as you walk the downtown area. Claremore’s oldest cafe is Dot’s, and they feature breakfast and lunch, boasting the best burgers in Claremore. Dot’s is open to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Boom-a-Rang Cafe also features breakfast and lunch, but also dinner as their hours are from 7a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. See WALKABOUT page 5
December 2014 Christmas, continued from page 4
she is the family artist. Mom’s way of applying tinsel is one strand at a time. Carefully. To me, that is nothing short of torture. I like to take a bunch, and toss on the tree. Consequently, Mom did most of the tinsel. She still does. The folks managed gifts for all four kids. They always did, though they were never sure quite how they would accomplish the task. Probably most families are that way. But the leanest Christmas’ were the ones I remember most because we pulled together to accomplish the impossible. We all understood the gifts that weren’t under the tree were the ones our parents wrapped us up in. That was the gift of love, a gift that was never in short supply. We had other lean Christmases, and we had ones that were plentiful but all were filled with the joy of being together. WALKABOUT continued from page 4
There are a lot of events happening in downtown, and not the least is the parade on December 13. Be sure to get there early enough not only for the best views of the Christmas Parade, but also to shop in these wonderful shops. Until you have perused the entire stores, and then looked again, you won’t be able to take it all in because there is so much to offer.. There are many others with fun merchandise. Some carry the Chalk Paint that is in demand for creating those unique looks throughout your home, a bicycle shop and a book store,, a jeweler and more. It is very enjoyable to just go from shop to shop to see what they have for you.
www.TheRCMag.com Christmas was never Dad’s favorite holiday, for several reasons. The biggest reason was the job of putting
all of the toys together fell upon him, and he was not the most mechanically inclined of people. He was notorious for checking the oil in the car and then driving after topping it off. His only problem with that was he tended to forget to put the oil cap back on. Not only does it make a big mess, but he blew more than one engine. So when it came time to put together the Christmas toys, he sometimes spent until 5 a.m., (about the
It’s only 25 cents! A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team’s bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience. “Oh, I really liked it,” she replied, “especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn’t understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents.’” Dumbfounded, her date asked, “What do you mean?” “Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: ‘Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!’ I’m like .... Helloooooo? It’s only 25 cents!”
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time we were waking up to see what Santa had brought) getting things put together. The year that was the worst was the year they bought my brother a train. It wasn’t your normal Lionel train… no, the folks didn’t do things that way. This train had about a 12’ oval of track upon which a kid-powered hand car ran circles. The track probably wasn’t too tough, but that hand car caused Dad to say some things that kids aren’t supposed to hear. Another interesting gift was one that Mom and Dad gave to my son, James. He was about four, and Mom had found this wonderful robot that ran around on his wheels and had records that played in his back. It was a very cute red robot, but there was something different about it. As we put the record in his back, we heard it begin to play. It was saying something, but we couldn’t understand it. We thought maybe we put the record in backwards, but after turning it over, got the same results. A rather long speech it was, but totally unintelligible. We went for the instructions to see what we had done wrong. A small problem was discovered, the instructions were in Japanese. We went looking for the warranty… it was also in Japanese. It finally dawned upon us that the records were not defective, they were in Japanese. Some of our family members are now gone, but every holiday season our minds wander back to those times when we were all together, and enjoying the more simple things in life.
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What is my CHECK ENGINE or SERVICE ENGINE SOON light? All modern vehicles are equipped with an onboard computer diagnostic system (OBDII) that constantly monitors your vehicle’s major operating systems and most importantly the power-train (engine and transmission). The main purpose of monitoring these systems is to insure that the vehicle is operating at top efficiency with the lowest possible emissions. As fuel economy and emission control has become increasingly important and complex, your vehicle’s electronics systems need to constantly adjust and fine-tune various parameters according to driving conditions (such as vehicle load, temperature and air/fuel
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mix to name just a few). When the computer reads that any of these parameters do not fall within the acceptable range for operating the vehicle, your CHECK ENGINE LIGHT is lit to
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warn you that you may have a serious problem and to take your vehicle to a certified technician What is the check? Reading the codes from your car’s computer system is similar to a doctor measuring your blood pressure when you schedule a visit. High blood pressure doesn’t tell the doctor what is wrong with you it simply lets the doctor know there is something wrong and points him or her in the right direction to find out what it is. Just like the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT codes tell your technician there is something wrong and points him or her in the right direction, too. If the code indicates a problem with your O2 (oxygen) sensor system, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new O2 sensor. Additional diagnostics pinpoints the exact cause of the “trouble” code so you don’t pay for parts or services you don’t need. Be wary of garages that read your code and tell you immediately that you need a major repair. What does the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT usually mean? There are hundreds of codes that could trigger your CHECK ENGINE LIGHT for dozens of reasons each. Even the most common reasons can have many possible causes. Some top CHECK ENGINE LIGHT codes are: Problem with the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor or circuit. You may not notice any serious drivability problems, although there may be symptoms such as a general decrease in power or sluggishness. This could be caused by a simple connection problem of the sensor, a wiring connection may be bad or dirty or the Mass Air Flow sensor may be faulty. System Running Too Lean. An oxygen sensor detected a lean condition (too much oxygen in the exhaust). You may notice a lack of power, detonation (spark knock) and/or a hesitation/surge on acceleration which could be caused by a dirty Mass Air Flow sensor or air filter or a vacuum or exhaust leak in the system. System Running Too Rich: The oxygen sensor detected a rich condition (or a too-high fuel to oxygen See SHOPTALK, page 7
December 2014
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SHOPTALK, continued from page 6
ratio). You may experience misfires with this condition. This condition can be caused by a dirty or faulty Mass Air Flow sensor, air filter, a blockage or restriction in the airstream, a fuel pressure, fuel injector or fuel delivery problem. Cylinder Misfire: A P0300 series of codes indicates a random or multiple misfire in your engine. You may find your engine harder to start, the engine may stumble, idle rough and/ or hesitate among other driveability symptoms. This could mean anything from faulty spark plugs or spark plug wires, a bad ignition coil, a vacuum or air leak, to a serious mechanic problem in your engine. This code is serious when flashing and can cause faulty catalytic converter(s). Knock Sensor Circuit Malfunction: Your vehicle’s computer constantly adjusts and retimes the engine so that it doesn’t produce harmful pre-ignition detonation or knock. With this malfunction you may notice drivability problems including, not surprisingly, knocks and a lack of power and hesitation. It could mean the knock sensor is faulty and needs to be replaced, that there is a wiring short/fault in the knock sensor circuit or that you have other problems that the knock sensor cannot control. Insufficient EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Flow: Your vehicle recirculates exhaust back into the combustion chamber to better achieve optimal combustion chamber temperature and to reduce NOX (a harmful greenhouse gas). This light triggers when there is insufficient EGR flow in the combustion chamber and you may notice a pinging when the vehicle is at higher speeds. There may also be other symptoms. It could be a faulty sensor, valve or blockage in the EGR (tube) from a carbon buildup. Catalyst System Efficiency below Threshold : The oxygen sensor after the catalytic converter is detecting that the converter is not working as efficiently as it should be (according to specs). You will likely not even notice any drivability problems though your vehicle may have anything from an oxygen sensor not reading (functioning) properly to a damaged exhaust
manifold or a bad catalytic converter. These are just a few of the hundreds of codes, causes and symptoms, each has multiple fixes. What happens when I ignore the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT or put off service when my technician tells me what’s wrong? There are two kinds of CHECK ENGINE LIGHT alerts. A non-flashing but lit CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, is usually a less severe problem that shouldn’t cause immediate problems but needs to be checked as soon as possible. Also, a flashing and illuminated CHECK ENGINE LIGHT means your vehicle senses a critical system error (such as a major cylinder misfire) and you need immediate attention before potentially breaking down and possibly damaging other critical and expensive parts. In this case, continuing to drive can lead to further damage rather quickly or can leave you stranded. As quite a few of the systems work interdependent of one another, an error in one system can affect the operation in another. EVAP codes (vacuum related), EGR, temperature, speed sensors, etc. can all have an effect on how the transmission acts and shifts or how the engine performs or the cooling fans turn on, etc. Ignoring these important warnings may create other critical issues. Finally, if you live in one of the areas that require it, you certainly cannot pass state mandated Emission/ Smog inspection with your CHECK ENGINE LIGHT on.
Larry Banzet is the owner of Boomer’s Auto Repair, one of the most respected repair shops in Claremore. He can be reached at 918.342.1030, Boomer Auto Repair shops are located at 815 W. 1st St. and 16251 S.
Alphabet prayer A grandfather overheard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in reverent, hushed tones. “What are you doing?” he asked. “I’m praying, Grandpa,” she said. “I can’t think of the right words, so I just say all the letters. God will put them together for me, ‘cause he knows what I’m thinking.”
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Author Unknown As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away. I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying: “You shouldn’t even be allowed to drive a car at your age.” And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot. I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he
The United States of America did not create religioius liberty. Religious liberty created the United States of America. Bobby Jindal
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went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, ‘Looks like you’re having a problem.’ He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and I went inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him. The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, ‘What outfit did you serve with?’
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He had mentioned that he served with the First Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal .... He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off. For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: ‘Congressional Medal of Honor Society.’ I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America. Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them, and who continue to support them. America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don’t stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them! Remember, Freedom IS NOT free. Thousands have paid the price, so you can enjoy what you have today.
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Art is like any other discipline in that they all have basics that must be learned to really progress. And they are similar in other things; music has tension and release; writing has suspense and release; dancing has slow movements and fast, and they have other similarities: they all have a basic form or structure. Even architecture had form and structure and it has open areas (release) and halls or small areas (tension) so no matter what the discipline we still have to learn the basics so we can adapt an idea to our sensibilities. Do you ever look at the architecture around you? Frank Lloyd Wright said form follows function and he pushed form to accommodate light and shadow, but his work also had great form. I visited a home in Apple Valley where they had built the house on a hill where a rock commanded the hill. Since it was fairly impossible to remover the rock the house was designed around the rock; unlikely, perhaps but it did have a stable form and it did work. In music if you don’t know the chords and their relative notes your music will not sound much like music; but follow the basic form and you can create all kinds of basic music. The Guggenheim Museum in this country is a marvel as well as the one in Spain. The Philbrook Gallery in Tulsa is one of only five in the United States that is a historic home and art collection. It is also listed in the top 50 museums. Gouda, was an architect during the Baroque Period and his building design was definitely different, but I thought most of it very beautiful. I don’t know if he has any work in this country or not, but his native country has many beautiful pieces. I believe there is a cathedral that is still being worked on in Spain. He pushed form in a new direction. Bartlesville has two buildings worth visiting; one is the Frank Lloyd Wright Building, one of the few skyscraper type buildings he designed. Another
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building in Bartlesville is the Community Center, designed by one of Wright’s students, William Wesley Peters. Do you ever just visit a town for the buildings you might find there? You should, and not only take in the quaint shops, but the architecture. Sketch what you see, perhaps it is just a door, or maybe a light pole, but look around you for interesting things to draw or paint. Once you are really comfortable with your basic ability, you will see things in a different way. Think about what the basic shape of the item is; oval, tubular, cone shaped or box. Cars are basically boxes with axels and wheels; buildings are basic boxes; people are a combination; and roads while they appear flat have a texture and they offer lessons in perspective exercises. Even rocks are basic boxes. The next time you look at the sky, think of the ball you are walking on and its function in the sky. Where does a cloud float? Have you ever imagined yourself on a cloud watching the earthlings? It is amazing what you see; everything that doesn’t fly has to have a resting place on some portion of the earth, even if it is moving (at night there is no color without light) Look for shadows as well as reflections. I am certain you know all these things, but take the time to really look. Look at the basic shape first, then the colors and the reflections. Ideas will be so fluent that you can’t keep up with them all, but it will make it easier for you to get in touch with the basic structures and movement of what you are going to tell in your story. Be different, don’t just copy what someone else offers; take your own photographs or go on location and make it fun. Happy Painting
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Colleen A. Baker-Huber is a life-long artist and has taught art for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree of Fine art from Cal Poly Pomona. She has enjoyed acceptance at The Art Affair in Laguna Beach, California for several years, and has paintings in private and public collections world-wide. If you have any questions about her art or prints you can reach her through email at cocobien@verizon.net. She is also named in Marquis’ Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who of Women of the World. She has a couple of websites, the newest and most complete is located at www.ColleenBakerHuber.com and fine art giclees from her work can be ordered from there. All of her work is printed by www.GGiclee.com located in Verdigris.
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The Eight Foot Toilet While we strive to have no errors in the Rogers County Magazine, stuff happens. We made a couple in our first edition, including one for the phone number of Concealed Carry Classes. It is correct in this issue, and we corrected it immediately on the website when we were made aware. Any inconvenience it caused, we are sorry. However, errors can sometimes be beneficial. Such was the case many years ago, when in an ad for a publication I worked for a mistake was made. The copy was to read eight foot cab over camper with toilet, but it came out reading eight foot toilet with camper. The advertiser wanted us to make another error the next issue because he had a swarm of people coming in to see the eight foot toilet.
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December 2014
Got a taste for flavor? Some like it HOT, some mild, and for a lot of us, an in-between flavor is the best. No matter what your taste demands, Fire ‘N The Hole in Owasso has what you need. Never before has a store provided such variety of sauces, salsas, dips and tastes all in one place. Over 30 different sauces and dips are available daily for tasting at the tasting bar. Owner Kathy Miller is committed to downtown Owasso, and wants to bring life to the downtown area. What better way than to spice up her customer’s lives with great flavors. In addition to the sauces, salsas and dips, the store also offers Attitude T-shirts and barbecue aprons There is such a variety here that gift baskets of different sauces with a t-shirt or apron thrown in would make great
gifts for all of your family. Fire ‘N the Hole is open special hours for the holidays. November 28-December 23 they’ll be open Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Christmas Eve 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They’ll be closed December 25 and 26, but open again for the oliday hours until December 31st which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. January 1 they will revert to their regular hours of Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 126 S. Main Street, their phone number is 918.804.8686. They also have a website located at http:// firenthehole.webs.com/ and their facebook page is at facebook.com/firenthehole. If you are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, police department or fire department show your valid service ID and receive a 15% discount.
Concealed Carry classes help protect your 2nd Amendment rights It is a relaxed and fun class, but when you complete it you will know the laws concerning carrying concealed weapons in Oklahoma. You will be prepared and ready to apply for your Concealed Carry Permit, and the class is only $50. With 40 years experience, Oklahoma Concealed Carry, Inc. provides the weapons and ammo for target practice, and a class chocked full of information and law. Most classes are held Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Other days and times are available, and special group classes can be arranged. For information contact Oklahoma Concealed Carry at 918.378.7663 and check them out on their Facebook page.
Politians are a lot like diapers. They should be changed frequently, and for the same reasons. Benjamin Franklin
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Toys for Tots collection continues until December 18 Rogers County ABATE and Veterans Motorcycle Clubs held their annual Toy Run November 8 and made a dent on the number of toys that will actually be needed to fulfill children’s Christmas dreams. These motorcycle riding Santas celebrated the 14th straight year that they have held the Toy Run. It is one of their favorite activities and lookforward to it every years. All the toys they collect go to the Marine Corps League’s Toys for Tots campaign and they hope to inspire the rest of the community to help make childrens’ Christmas memorable. The Rogers Mayes and Craig Coun-
The Beautiful Rose The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, it seemed the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, a young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement, “Look what I found!” In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with its petals all wornnot enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise, “It sure smells pretty and its beautiful too. That’s why I picked it; here it’s for you.” The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow, or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.” But instead of him placing the flow-
ty Toys for Tots collection boxes are distributed all over the region including banks, retailers and of course at Claremore’s JR Hooper Memorial VFW at 1717 W. DuPont, which is also where the Toys for Tots distribution to families will take place December 19-21. Last year, 13,997 toys were given to 1,971 children, and the need this year is even greater. “It is through the generosity of Rogers, Mayes and Craig County citizens that we are able to bring children’s dreams to reality,” said Marsh. Fill up your local collection boxes with un-
er in my hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time that weed-toting boy could not see; he was blind. I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun as I thanked him for picking the very best one. “You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play, unaware of the impact he’d had on my day. I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight. Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see the problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that’s mine. And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose, and smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man. Author Unknown
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wrapped gifts through December 18. No preregistration to receive gifts is reqquired, however pickup of the toys must be by a parent or guardian. Proof of assistance must be shown such as a DHS check stub or identification card. No children are allowed at the distribution. Hours of distribution are Friday, December 19 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday 9-5, and Sunday 1-5. For more information contact the local coordinator MSgt Dale Marsh, USMC (Retired) at 539.664.6426 or email at T4TClaremore2011@gmail. com.
Lesson from a Southern woman:
“You’re only helpless when your nail polish is wet. Even then, you could pull a trigger if ya had to!”
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The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Homeschool Moms One of the questions people have about homeschooling is about time. Specifically, just how much time does it take every day to homeschool? We all know that school teachers spend a large amount of their “free time” grading papers, planning lessons, dealing with issues with individual students, etc. As a result, when the topic of homeschool comes up, the image of having zero time to yourself, screaming kids running around, hair pulled out, and a block of chocolate washed down with a bottle of wine as “medicine” comes instantly to mind. They seem to think that not only are we completely off-our-rocker-nuts, but that we spend every single moment of our day obsessing over how to teach our kids in the way they learn best. Not hardly. I spend an inordinate amount of time cruising eBay for used books and curricula, and many of us are self-described, “Curriculum junkies,” so we pick up random things that we might need in the future, or that are special somehow, but once the curriculum is set for the year, we mostly just stick to the plan. Some moms plan an entire semester of school for their kids, and are able to stick to it, more or less. There are others who plan absolutely nothing
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and yet their kids are every bit as well-educated and balanced as those of the well-planned-mom. There’s no right or wrong here – you really have to find what works for you. I am more of a note-taker. I write in detail what we covered, but the “plan” for the week looks more like a shopping list than a lesson plan. Each week, I make a list of what subjects I want to cover on which day, filling in the details as we go along. It works for me, and doesn’t take more than about 20-30 minutes each week to deal with. The curriculum for each subject has a list of assignments, so it’s not as though I have to figure that out, we just do the next thing in the book unless there’s a reason not to do so. Owing to the fact that I’m not a big “planner” in this area, purchasing or acquiring curricula via other avenues is my best bet. The purchased curricula seem to have better laid out lessons, which save me time and stress. If you are trying to do this without paying for anything, you’ll have to do a fair amount of planning just to make sure you’re covering what needs to be covered. When it needs to be covered is up to you and your kids. What happens when the best laid plans of mice and moms goes awry? This is where my lack of being a “planner” comes in handy. The reason
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December 2014
I don’t do a large amount of planning is that it irritates me to no end when something has to change. Because when something has to change, you have to erase it all from your planner and re-write it. For whatever reason, this makes me angry, even when the change had purpose. Sometimes though, you have to throw out the plan and be spontaneous. The ones who seem to have the most problem with tossing out the plan are the ones who seem to do the most planning. There are the “Type A” personality traits that surface and will not allow for variations to the “Plan.” This certainly isn’t true for all, or even most, but my experience has been that when the kids are pushing back or fighting you every step of the way, there’s a reason, and it’s our job to figure it out. Often we are the ones who need to step back and breathe. I hear moms talk about throwing in the towel and putting their kids back into school after a string of frustrations. It seems to happen more frequently at this time of year, after the initial honeymoon wears off, the excitement of sleeping in goes away, and reality sets in. Sometimes, once the kids realize that they are not beholden to a schedule, they abuse the privilege. It happens, and if you are dealing with this now, please do not give up. Be firm, be consistent, and be patient. There were a couple of weeks this year where I cried almost every day because one son would not do his work without fighting me every step of the way. My poor husband had to listen to me whine, and then the kid felt bad making me upset. The truth is that being with your kids every day can be stressful, it can be frustrating, and it can be infuriating
HOMESCHOOL, continued from page 12
See HOMESCHOOL on page 13
when nothing you say or do seems to work out quite the way you planned. It can also be the most rewarding thing you ever experience, so don’t sell yourself short. What’s a frazzled mom to do? Loosen up. Take the kids to a museum or the park and enjoy each other’s company. Don’t focus on making everything a learning experience, just realize that play is how kids learn. All baby animals learn through play, and humans are no different in this regard. Plato knew this over 2,000 years ago and kids have not changed. Our demands upon them are what have changed, and it’s time we get back to basics in the child education arena. Remember to give breaks frequently, especially in the younger grades. Kids are not wired to sit still for hours at a time. They truly need regular breaks for play, and to get some of the wiggles out. One of my twins needs to be moving, all the time. It drives me insane, but allowing him to stand to do his work helps a lot, as does bouncing on a trampoline while he answers math questions. The beauty of homeschooling is the ability to tailor your teaching style to the needs of your kids. Take full advantage of this while you make sure to plan a little quiet time for yourself ... even if it is while you are locked in the bathroom, pretending to shower for 60 minutes. Gail is a mom to four children, two of whom are homeschooled. She teaches violin and viola, and wrote Teach Your Kids Music in 12 Weeks. As Editor-in-Chief of Learning Tangent Homeschool Magazine (www.learningtangent.com), she oversees the daily operations of the magazine, and lends moral support and shares information with current and potential homeschooling parents. She can be reached via email at info@learningtangent.com.
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Claremore’s JR Hooper VFW Post and Bingo goes smokeless After losing two members of the VFW and Auxiliary in the past couple of months, Claremore’s JR Hooper Memorial VFW is going smokeless beginning December 1. This will affect all events happening at the Post, except the Bar, where smoking will still be allowed, at least for now. “We have had many people want to rent our hall but chose not to because of smoking mostly during Bingo, and the lingering effects even days after use,” said Post Commander Bill Richey. “When we lost comrad Rick Gowan and Auxiliary member Shirley Kizer, who also served as Bingo manager for many years, it gave us the
impetus to cut the smoking.” Both members lost their lives to lung cancer caused by smoking. “We have been wanting to do it for a long time, and it is in their memory that we are doing this.” The post will be welcoming E-Cig use by their patrons, but no cigarettes, cigars or pipes will be allowed. “Bingo players will now be able to enjoy their games without the smell that comes with cigarettes,” “Richey said. The Post is working hard at scrubbing all of the tables, chairs, walls and fixtures of residual smoke. They want to make sure that everything smells fresh and clean.
See more of Sure Lick d. Hown at www.surelickhound.com © Franklin Shruggs, and and Franger Chicken www.frangerchicken.com © Melody Brunsting, the authors. The cartoons are a regular feature in Rogers County Magazine and will be rotated each month.
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Claremore’s Christmas Parade set for Dec. 13, 6 p.m. Applications are now available for our annual parade! This year’s theme is Clearly Christmas. Learn more at www. claremore.org or click here to download the application. Santa Cash Now through December 19 Pick up your tickets simply by shopping local! Join us at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs on December 20 for your chance to win. You could win up to $10,000! Visit www.claremore.org for contest rules and a list of participating locations.
St. John Clinic Urgent Care Opened November 17 This new clinic at 1901 South Falcon Avenue provides care for illnesses and injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Business hours for St. John Clinic Urgent Care will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information is available atwww.stjohnhealthsystem.com/urgentcare. St. John Clinic Primary Care Opened November 21 This new medical team at 1901 South Falcon Avenue consists of primary care and specialty physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and their staff. Specialties in-
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clude cardiology and obstetrics/gynecology. St. John Clinic Primary Care will have business hours of Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at www.stjohnclinic. org.
December 2014
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The Parting Shot
Autumn in the Park
Santa Claus Visits at Will Rogers Memorial Museum December 6, 13, and 20 - 10 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by Will Rogers Memorial Museum for a visit with Santa Claus! Admission to the museum will be free for the event. Learn more at www. willrogers.com. Christmas Open House Dec. 6-10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Support and celebrate Check out the gift selection at Uptown Boutique! This new business is located at 1301 Country Club Road. Learn more by finding Uptown Boutique on Facebook!
Collinsville Christmas Parade set for Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. The annual Collinsville Christmas Parade will take place on Main Street Saturday, December 13, at 11 a.m. This year’s theme is “Jingle All the Way.” If you have participated in the parade in the last couple of years, you will receive an invitation in the mail this week. If not, we would love to have you join us this year! Please complete the entry form (you can get it at the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce office) and return it to the Chamber office with your entry fee no later than Friday, December 6. For more information contact Melissa Carlson, Chamber Manager, at 918.371.4703.
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Autumn in the Park, available in Fine Art Watercolor Paper or as a Gallery Wrapped Canvas, 20x24” Fine Art Giclees. Photo by Candy Richey, see www.CandyRichey.com for more. Like Us on our Facebook Page at Facebook/RogersCountyMagazine and mention Autumn in the Park to win a fine art print on Watercolor Paper.
A single glass of milk One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?” You don’t owe me anything, she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said....“Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he
not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Many year’s later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save
her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge of the bill and it was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words..... “Paid in full with one glass of milk” (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands.”