June:july 2014 by Etown Magazine

MAN DAY

Run for the Roses The Dachshunds are at it again!!!

Smokin’ Red dirt

Etown • 227 W. Broadway • Enid, OK 73701

PAID

Permit No. 2000 Oklahoma City, OK

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

bbq recap Commuting to the Big Screen

Dr. Tim Fagan

Dr. Tim Fagan’s career-spanning efforts to bring dental services to underserved areas of rural Oklahoma culminated earlier this year in a huge undertaking: the Oklahoma Missions for Mercy two-day free dental clinic. The fifth annual event attracted its largest turnout yet, drawing 1,465 people from Northwest Oklahoma and surrounding areas to receive a record $1.34 million in free dental services. “It was first-come-first-serve, with no financial requirements,” he says. Patients came from as far away as Guymon and Vinita, as well as from Southern Kansas and the Texas panhandle. “We had a bus start out in Guymon at midnight, and make a stop in Woodward, to bring in

patients,” he adds. “All of Northwest Oklahoma is considered a dental shortage area, particularly as you go further west from Enid.” More than 1,700 volunteers were involved in staging the clinic and dentists came from as far away as New York State to contribute to the cause. “We had anywhere from 300 to 500 motel rooms filled all across town,” Dr. Fagan notes. Dr. Fagan served as chairman for Enid’s first ever OkMOM event and is also the immediate past president of the Oklahoma Dental Association, which has taken on several projects to address the shortage of dental care in rural areas. Six years ago he helped successfully lobby the state legislature for a student loan

repayment program that provides funds to dental school graduates willing to move to underserved counties where at least 30 percent of their practice is Medicare or Medicaid recipients. The program benefits students, too, who often rack up $250,000 in debt by the time they graduate. His group also sponsors MobileSmiles, two clinical vans equipped with two dental chairs each, which travel the state, providing services for a day or two at a time in various communities. Dr. Fagan is a native Oklahoman who grew up at McAlester before moving to Norman to complete his undergrad studies and earn a doctorate of dental surgery at the University of Oklahoma. He chose to specialize in pediatric dentistry. “Already in

high school I was a little league coach and just always enjoyed working with children,” he recalls. In 1984, when he was ready to start his own practice, he chose Enid. “My grandparents lived here in Enid, so I had visited while I was growing up. I always had a good time here,” he recalls.

Over the years, he has served as president and board member of the Opportunity School Inc., board member and secretary of the Youth and Family Services Center of North Central Oklahoma and executive board member for the Great Salt Plains Council of the Boy

Scouts of America, in addition to filling high profile leadership positions within the dental profession. “I feel really blessed to be here in Enid with a great practice,” he concludes. “This is just my way of giving back.”

E contents June/July 2014

Run for the Roses…

Man day

PROOF OF GOOD BEER at Proof Wine & Spirits

Let’s Celebrate Food!

CONTEST COOKS GRILL TO THRILL

The Monster in the Mirror

An Enid favorite returns July 19th. Little dogs with big hearts are making a run for the roses at the Paws 4 the Cause Dachshund Dash

Guys like to do things that make noise, things that allow them to be-well guys. That may be the reason Man Day has become so popular in the Enid area.

Sure, you can stop and guzzle a cup of gas station coffee over ordering a delightfully frothed latte at Davinici’s Coffeehouse, but we all know which cup is going to taste better.

There are so many things about summertime to love; sunshine, bare feet, pool parties, picnics, and yummy fresh food!!

While the annual Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt Barbecue Festival has grown into a community-wide event that includes great local music and art, as well as food, its heart and soul is still the dozens of cooks — some novices and some among the nation’s saltiest pros — who descend on downtown Enid for two days of camping, cooking and plotting victory.

True horror relies on doubt. It can be doubt in the people you’ve loved, doubt in the principles you’ve held, or even doubt in the tangible – what you see, hear, and feel.

June/July 2014 Volume 8, Number 3 Managing Director Frank Baker Art Director Theotis Pace Project Coordinator Lynne Benkendorf Etown Promotions Director Cathy Nulph Writers Candace Krebs Robert Barron Jacque Hince Cathy Nulph Trina Walker Liz Cady Photographers Muncy Photography Nancy Killam Kelly Killam Cammeron Kaiser MotoPhoto Dawn Muncy Lori Coonrod Lisa Bland-Selix Account Executive Cathy Nulph Cover Conte Matal Photographer: The Grays

SUGGESTIONS Do you have an idea for future stories for Etown? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always looking for good ideas of people and places to feature. If you have a suggestion give us a call at 580-548-8186 or e-mail fbaker@eaglemkt.com.

Story by Robert Barron Photos by Cammeron Kaiser

Landscaping can vastly increase interest in a home. Jennifer Fugazzi, of Paramount Homes suggested having a landscape architect look at your home and assess what is there and offer suggestions. Among her suggestions is creating a more formal look that will better match the home’s style. Geometric shapes and straight lines are effective. Also, keep in mind that landscaping is more than greenery, it includes lighting, fences, rock features, paths, ponds and more. Even if the existing trees and plants are effectively laid out, they may still be enhanced by a curved pathway, a bench and some well-placed lights. Landscaping is important and can be more valuable to your bottom line. Curb appeal is extremely effective and gets them through the front door.

Most common things, sharp edging on the yard, proper curbing to garden, colorful flowers, that come back each year and are low maintenance. Keep hedges trimmed back, fresh mulch and more rocks to garden area. Paramount Realtor Sondra Hernandez said simplicity is always good. Some simple fixes are mulch, borders and attractive rocks. In areas where grass does not grow flowers could be incorporated, she said. “You can put in deciduous plants with whatever type of plant doesn’t take a lot of maintenance. Take a trip to the local

landscaping greenhouses and ask them for ideas on low maintenance plants and bushes,” Hernandez said. “They are always helpful.” That may not increase the value, but it will make the home more appealing to an individual shopping for a new home. Hernandez said when people drive up to a house that is plain with no color, they may not even walk into it. But with flowers in a well-maintained yard, they are likely to show more interest in the house.,; it will invite people in. Also make sure trees are trimmed and limbs are away from the roof A bright and well-maintained yard invites people in. A well-maintained yard is

Pat Cronkhite more inviting than grass and it shows the potential buyer that you have maintained the house as well. “If a yard is overgrown, it becomes a maintenance issue for someone else,” Hernandez said. Realtors are now entering the best season for house buying, she said. The spring and summer months are typically the best times because people are looking and are more willing to buy a home. Among the things people often do to their homes is adding color to the area. “It’s not so much landscaping as just curb appeal,” said Pat Cronkhite, Paramount realtor. “That’s very important to the sale of a home.” Homes should be attractive, neat and clean on the outside and adding color adds to the attractiveness of the home. People may drive by a home and see the yard that is attractive and well-maintained, is neat and clean and want to see the home. “The first thing you have to do is get them in the door,” Cronkhite said. “First impressions of a house are very, very important.” If people saw the house from the street and are walking up to it, any aesthetics that make the home attractive, or even a little unusual are important. “When they open the door, they already have a good impression of the house. When it’s attractive, it makes the sale of the home easier,” Cronkhite said. Although adding landscaping does not add to the value of a home, it does add to the attractiveness, which can make the home easier to sell. For advice on how to make your home more attractive to buyers, or anyone looking to buy or sell a home, call Paramount at 237-6200.

Sondra Hernandez

105 N. Grand Enid, Oklahoma 73701

www.ParamountHomesRE.com Etown Sponsor Content

Celebrating Juneteenth By Liz Cady Photos Provided

History was made on June 19th, 1865, albeit, quite a bit late.

First Row From Left To Right: Alfred Shannon, Ronnie Green, Dale Holt, Al Hinton, Haman Edwards, Larry Cheadle Second Row From Left To Right: Jessie James, Windell Harrison, Ralph Ballard, Hughe Richardson, Sonny Larwence, Michael Speight, Steve Holt Third Row From Left To Right: Terry Sear, Cecil Spencer, Heb Bradden, Lee Prince, Sly Foster Super Bowl Brother’s Not In The Photo: Tony Stokes, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Durley, Donal Neal, Ronald Kelly, Henry Mitchell, Debert Hunter, Melvin Branch, Martin Belcher, John Holt, Vernon McVay

It was on that day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that slaves were now free women and men. This news arrived nearly two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation. Several stories have been told as to why this news arrived so late to Texas and the surrounding area: the first, the messenger with

this news was murdered on his way to Texas; the other, the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations and reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest. No matter which story told, the result was the same: June 19th became a day of celebration, one to record for the history books and move forward as free men. Alfred Ray Shannon, a noteworthy chef

at Richill’s during his time in Enid, had family who happily rejoiced with the news of June 19th, and it was he, during the 1970’s, who decided that celebration of that very day needed to happen in Enid. “Juneteenth is in my family history, in my roots from East Texas. As a little boy, we would go back for vacations in our hometown, and I always thought it was just a family reunion, but the reason was June-

teenth,” details Alfred, who is so often remembered as Alfred “Spring” Shannon, a nickname he received while in high school track. He continues, “There are a tremendous amount of people who never heard of Juneteenth. They know the slaves were freed late in this region, but they never knew why Juneteenth became this celebration.” That’s when he and his friends put their heads together to start the Juneteenth Celebration in Enid, Oklahoma. Calling themselves the Super Bowl Brothers as they were friends united by a deep love and enjoyment for the Super Bowl, in which they gathered together every year to host, they began what is now a fortyyear tradition. The first Juneteenth celebration in 1975 in Enid didn’t exactly get off without a hitch. In fact, Alfred remembers it as being extremely chaotic. “We had many more people than we expected, and instead of starting small with hot dogs and chips, we had whole fresh chickens that we wanted to grill. We weren’t organized enough to have the equipment we needed, and it was one of the most terrifying moments of my career,” he attests. However, thanks to Alfred’s commitment, as well as the rest of the Super Bowl Brothers, and the addition of sponsors, such as the Zaloudeks, Stephen Jones, the Jantzens, Dick Autry and many, many others, Juneteenth found its way to become the celebration it is. Alfred’s vision was to have this become a community celebration, and forty years later, it is indeed just that. The Super Bowl Brothers has grown as a group too, now focusing its resources on helping the community through sports teams and senior citizen groups. Their largest event remains the Juneteenth celebration in Government Springs Park, a day to be celebrated as freedom for all.

Run for the Roses… The Dachshunds are at it again!!! by Trina Walker Photo by Dawn Muncy

An Enid favorite returns July 19th. Little dogs with big hearts are making a run for the roses at the Paws 4 the Cause Dachshund Dash “It is a fine tradition of community support to champion animal related causes,” said April Danahy, marketing director for Security National Bank. Jonie Ehrman, owner of the Groom Closet, is an event sponsor and a racer. Her first racing pup was Mary. “It didn’t go so well. She loved visiting the audience more than running,” laughs Jonie. Mary now cheers from the sidelines as Betty gets the glory on the track. “Betty won her first year in the puppy division but her little legs are just too short to keep up.” she said. Sanctioned by the National Dachshund Foundation, the champion and reserve

champion are eligible to race in Findlay, Ohio at the national dachshund races. More than a race, the Dachshund Dash supports causes for animals in Enid. The Enid SPCA is the recipient of money raised this year. Vickie Grantz, SPCA director, is thrilled to see some of their wish list items become reality. Landscaping is first on the list. Vickie is working with Enid Master Gardeners to design an esthetically pleasing, pet safe area for the animals. Shade is needed along the dog runs and in the play yard. “In addition to trees we have planned structures to provide instant shade and act as a base for growing vines,” she said. This project is estimated to cost between $3000 and $5000. Vickie also says a temperature controlled cargo vehicle is needed.

“We are part of the OSU Vet rotation. A cargo vehicle would allow us to transport multiple animals being spayed or neutered,” she said. Transportation would also make out-ofstate adoptions possible. The Enid SPCA is 100 percent locally funded by donations. They are not part of the national SPCA nor do they receive any state or national funding. “We survive on the generosity of individuals in our community,” said Vickie. Despite limited funding, the SPCA continues to provide a low cost spay and neuter program as a community service. Reducing the number of a reproducing pets keeps the number of unwanted pets down. Attend the Dash and remember that this year your support will also be saving animals’ lives.

Furever Friends Seeks To Find Pets Forever Homes By Candace Krebs

For T. J. Chesnut, it was a rare white-haired full-blooded German Shepherd that got her hooked on saving abandoned pets. “He was just absolutely beautiful,” she recalls. She couldn’t sleep after seeing his picture and knowing he was in desperate need of adoption. So the next morning, she paid out of her own pocket to rescue him from the pound and spent the next six weeks helping him regain his health and his sense of trust. When he was ready, she facilitated his permanent adoption by a single woman who to this day loves him like a family member. That was three years ago. Eventually Chesnut became part of a small but mighty contingent of women who make up the Furever Friends animal rescue group, founded in June 2011 by Melba Shaw Evans. Other core members of the group include Ginger Pitts, Amy Ebel and Kimberli Groom. By forming the group, the women have been able to raise funds for rescues, adoption, fostering and vet bills while providing each other with advice and mutual support. “I had no idea when I got into it how big the problem was,” Chesnut says now. “It can be overwhelming.” Last year, the group spayed or neutered more than 600 animals. One of their primary

goals is to make sure every animal is fixed and is never used to intentionally breed more animals for sale. Their total veterinary bill runs to roughly $30,000 a year. Successfully treating just one dog for parvovirus can easily cost up to $600, Chesnut says. During many months, especially in the spring and summer, the city animal shelter is completely full, which means any new animals brought in are immediately put down. The shelter also struggles to keep up with posting photos of the animals that are available for adoption, Chesnut says. That’s where Furever Friends steps in to fill the void. None of the women get paid; every penny they raise goes to the animals. They’ve been gratified by the way the community is stepping up to support their efforts. Relying heavily on social media to get the word out, the group now has more than 4,000 followers on Facebook. Wheatland Animal Clinic contributes to their undertaking by allowing them to run a tab for vet services. In addition, about 17 people provide temporary foster homes for unwanted pets

awaiting new homes. (City ordinance limits each resident to five animals, so more foster homes are continually needed in order to save more animals.) With the support of the community, Furever Friends has been able to facilitate hundreds of adoptions a year. The group keeps careful records and requires new owners to sign contracts saying they will bring the animals back if they can’t keep them. The group’s members dream of the day the community will have a “no kill” shelter. Such a move would give them more time and less pressure to find every animal a good home. Many states have gone to that. But for now, there’s a five-day deadline for adoption, and Furever Friends works frantically to save every pet. “We just keep trudging along,” Chesnut says. “A year ago we thought we were finally making a dent in it. Then we got hit with the shelter being full again. There’s just such an overwhelming overpopulation. We get so many calls everyday.”

What is RSVP?

RSVP Board of Directors--Back Row: Kelli Schovanec, Dianne Frantz, Valerie Snethen, Megan Liebl, Sherry Summers, Karen Kretchmar, Chad Caldwell, Doris Hesser, Bobbie Stoner, Chief Brian O’Rourke, Chuck Kearney. Front Row: Christy Baker, Executive Director, Judy Gregory, Judy Zaloudek and Kari DeLier

It stands for Retired Senior Volunteers Program. Sort of a Clearing House for older folks.

RSVP lines them up, takes their names and finds out where their skills lie and how they can best be used in the volunteer job market, not only in Enid and Garfield County, but the four surrounding counties as well. RSVP is Mobile Meals of Enid, and RSVP is staff and volunteers picking up and delivering meals on Christmas Day so seniors can celebrate too. RSVP is the entity that brings community attention to the plight

of an impoverished elderly woman whose husband is dying of cancer, who doesn’t have a Christmas tree or a present to put under it. RSVP is the office providing a severely disabled young man with an extra meal when he can’t manage the can opener that day. RSVP is all of that and so much more. It is volunteers doing office work so that other volunteers know when, where and how to get their jobs done. It is volunteers knocking

Marjorie Nivison and Beverly Richter share a hat.

The Ladies of ARK(Acts of Random Kindness) Back Row: Annie Pelto, Sandy Foster. Front Row: Sherry Walls, Cindy Milacek, Jennifer Baker, Ina Long

on doors every day with a smile and a greeting, delivering more than just a container of food to an elderly person who may not see another soul all day. It is a concerned volunteer letting us know when an elderly person DOESN’T answer their door. It is the worried volunteer entering a home in response to a faint cry and calling 911 for an old man who has lain on his bathroom floor for two days.

Leilanni Lewis, Mary Green(standing), Maudie Roberts, Joan Bushnell

It is volunteers toting that bale and pushing that barge for the food bank so that others less fortunate can eat a healthy meal that week. It is volunteers waiting patiently in a doctor’s office for a little old lady who had no other way to get there, and yet another waiting at the hairdressers or the bank, or pushing a grocery cart so a blind man can buy his food. It is volunteers making library trips for the homebound. It is gentlemen doing their part to show nature’s beauty throughout the city. RSVP coordinates the volunteers that save Enid more than $3 million dollars every year. RSVP are the volunteers that show that Enid, Oklahoma is more than Hometown USA through the efforts of their work, and RSVP creates, and often funds, many of the programs to help not only the elderly in the community, but those simply not as blessed as others. RSVP is the Mother Ship and its volunteers are her heart. As Susan Shorter said best, “When I was about 3 years old, I can remember my mom telling me if I got lost in Champlin Park, that little brick building on the corner is where I should go for help.” And it still is, some sixty years later. If you need help, go to that little brick building on the corner.

Bobbie Stoner, Cathy Stocker, and Judy Zaloudek

Beulah Davidson, Christy Baker, RSVP Executive Director, and Jo Dobbs show off their Volunteer of the Year Honors.

Susan Shorter, Ginger Row, and Pam Miller

Brent Kroeker

MAN DAY By Robert Barron Photos by Jim Lind

Guys like to do things that make noise, things that allow them to be-well guys. That may be the reason Man Day has become so popular in the Enid area. Saturday, March 29, the eighth annual Man Day was held southeast of Ames. Brent Kroeker, spokesman for the event said it started out as the “anti-Valentines Day.” Events included a shooting range, skeet shoot, mechanical bull, paint ball, junk car pond race. During the day there was a smoked chicken barbecue and in the evening a shrimp boil. “It was an all-day event,” Kroeker said. “A friend of mine was lamenting all the work

he had to do for Valentine’s Day. We decided we needed to have a Man Day or anti-Valentine’s Day,” he said. They talked about the things they would like to do. Those included grilling steaks, and shooting and it took off from there. This year there were 300 participants and they added a poker tournament and basketball games. “It’s enough for everyone to get involved,” Kroeker said. A $50 donation is required to enter. The reason the Man Day is done is to raise money as a funding mechanism for water well drilling in Niger, which is an activity of the Mennonite Brethren Church. There are a number of Enid

churches involved in that project, which has been ongoing since 2003, he said. Kroeker has gone to Niger every year. The funding pays for pumps and needed material. They have drilled between 80-90 water wells in Niger at a cost of about $2500 each. “That’s a big part of it since the beginning. Godly masculinity. There isn’t a good place to go where guys can enjoy themselves like this without all of the other nonsense,” Kroeker said. The guys enjoy seeing things blown up and those instincts are instilled in nature by God, he said. “We can do that without partying or any unproductive stuff,” Kroeker said. They use the term Godly Mas-

culinity to check whether events they are doing are consistent with their mission of masculinity. “We like to say it’s more fun than a 5k, but you don’t have to run,” he said.”Most fund raisers are 5k runs, but here you pay $50 and don’t have to run. We call it a No k,” he said. The participants are allowed to eat Twinkies and snacks all day as men like to do, he said. The first year the event had 17 men participate and it has grown to 300. The Man Day event is sponsored by a core group of members of about eight churches. Those participating range from 18 to 75-years old. “There were targets out there, but I don’t think we want a good accounting of shots

fired,” he said. They maintain rest room facilities and the property is owned by one of the participants, he said. “What makes it even more unique is that everything we provide is donated, food, ammo, drinks, so when people show up every penny ends up in Niger,” he said. One water wells tends 1500 to 1800 people in a country where many people have no other access to water, and drink from rivers and ponds. This year the event raised about $40,000, the most they have raised and donations are still coming in. He said the money will build approximately 15 wells. “People will have water next year, that didn’t have it this year,”

Kroeker said. There are no public water systems in Niger. When people move away from daily existence, it frees them to do other things. In the case of the well drilling groups it is the first contact with the villages for church planners. It is a missionary work in a country 98 percent Muslim. “When missionaries talk about Jesus it isn’t always heard, but when you talk about drilling water wells, people listen,” Kroeker said. Niger has a 60 percent infant mortality rate. So next year, when you hear explosions and shots being fired and men yelling, it isn’t a war starting, it’s just a bunch of guys being guys, and it’s all for a good cause.

A job brought Mark Jopling from Texas to Oklahoma but it was a good ol’ Oklahoma girl that kept him here. Mark and Cheryl met at the Elm Street Baptist church in Woodward. It was in this Western Oklahoma church that they married and began their lives together. Moving to Enid in 1981 did not lessen their connection to church. “It was the oil boom and I was offered a job with Ward Petroleum.” Enid was not home to either but once they discovered Emmanuel Baptist Church they knew they had found family. “There were many wonderful churches in Enid,” said Mark. Emmanuel was just the perfect fit for them. Mark and Cheryl have been attending Emmanuel for 20-years. Pastor Wade Burleson had been at Emmanuel about 3-years when the Jopling’s started attending. For the first few years they were just

members, learning about the church and building their faith. “We gradually became involved in a variety of jobs, from the finance committee to teaching adult Sunday School classes,” he said. For Mark there is no single area he feels the most fulfilled in. Mark just loves knowing that he has a part in building the faith through the work he does. He views the church as one body and everyone comes together as different parts of that body to make it whole. A mission trip to Niger a few years ago was an eye-opening experience for Mark. “We were there to drill water wells. Once the wells were drilled we were able to open up and have conversation about Christ and our faith.” Niger is one of the poorest places in the world. The poorest person in Enid would be considered middle class there, said Mark.

Mark feels blessed to have visited this part of the world and experienced first-hand how mission work heals not only the physical but the spiritual. Emmanuel is also involved in medical missions helping to send doctors and nurses to impoverished countries. The work of the church gives Mark and Cheryl an outlet of new life in Jesus Christ. “It is fulfilling to do what we can,” he said. Whether it is drilling water wells in Niger or teaching Sunday School classes, being a part of Emmanuel has allowed the the Joplings to grow in their faith and build a strong lasting bond with their church family. “It is about relationships and building a community,” he said. “Emmanuel is busting at the seams and people are responding to our message of grace.”

PROOF OF GOOD BEER at Proof Wine & Spirits By Liz Cady Photos by Nancy Killam

Proof ’s Hayden Staerkel, Mitch Zaloudek , Zach Noell of Proof

Cindy & Aaron Allen

Carmen Ball, Cindy Allen & April Danahy

Sure, you can stop and guzzle a cup of gas station coffee over ordering a delightfully frothed latte at Davinici’s Coffeehouse, but we all know which cup is going to taste better. Same thing, you can open a can of beer from that 24pack that has been sitting in the hot car for a week or you could grab a bottle of craft beer from Proof Wine & Spirits… Again, we know which one is going to taste better. Perhaps, “taste better” is a bit of an understatement. Since 2009, Proof Wine & Spirits has been breathing in a breath of fresh beer to the Enid community, focusing on the high demand for craft beers. With past experience at Brown’s Bottle Shop in Stillwater and as a student in Hotel & Restaurant Administration, respectively, owners Zach Noell and Hayden Staerkel want to provide Enid with the best selection possible. Co-owner Hayden Staerkel details, “Demand for craft beers has steadily increased since we opened. We contribute this to a growing interest in bolder, more flavorful brews.” Customers not only get to enjoy a vast selection of craft beers at Proof Wine & Spirits but also are able to mix and match brews with the “World Tour” option, a mixed 6-pack of customer-selected beer. “Between the success of our ‘World Tour’ and getting to better know our customers’ needs, we immediately identified a high demand for craft beers and continue to add new beers and expand our selection,” adds coowner Zach Noell. Zach and Hayden have also lent themselves for beer tastings in order to bring the world of craft beer to more people. Beer tastings typically have a small guest list, allowing for a customized and personalized atmosphere, in which Zach and

Ryan Zoloudek, April Danahy, Cindy Allen, Mary McDonald

Hayden can answer any and all questions about the sample beers. Beer tasting events focus on a variety of colors and flavors of beers, and overall, for attendees to have fun! The beer that Zach and Hayden were most excited about at one of the first beer tastings they have attended was Prairie Bomb, an Oklahoma brew that won the Beer Championship Series. While difficult to find, it is a beer that both owners love and wanted to have others taste for themselves. Prairie Artisan Ales describes the beer on

Gerry Allen and Frank Baker w/April Danahy Photo Bombing!

its website as an imperial stout aged on espresso beans, chocolate, vanilla beans and ancho chile peppers. Now, there is indeed a beer not found in a 24-pack! Whether a proclaimed beer connoisseur just hoping to find something a bit different, make a stop at Enidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Proof Wine & Spirits and have Zach and Hayden guide you to a new and delicious cold brew.

“Continuation of a Legacy” by Audra W. Harris Photos by Nancy Killam

Jennie Sutton and Angie Baez

Scheffe Prescription Shop employs highly qualified workers, including Pharmacy Technicians, Jennie Sutton and Angie Baez. Both have been friendly faces at the 127 E. Randolph Avenue location for years. The responsibilities of a pharmacy technician are great. They are the link between the doctor who wrote the prescription, the customer, the insurance company and the pharmacist. The main responsibility of these employees

is inputting the prescription in the computer correctly for the pharmacist to view and then fill. It is the technician’s job to make sure that this is done correctly, which can sometimes be difficult when deciphering a stereotypical doctor’s messy handwriting. In addition, a pharmacy technician is also responsible for billing the insurance company, and ensuring that the Sheffe customer pays as little as possible for their prescription. Pharmacy technicians also process

customer requests when it comes to their prescriptions. Jennie Sutton has been with the Scheffe family for the last ten years. She earned her Pharmacy Technician certification at Autry Tech in Enid, although she is originally from Billings, Oklahoma. While she still does not live in Enid, Sutton was happy to be brought to this location to work for a great local company. Sutton says her favorite part of the job is the computer aspect. “We do

the same job every day, but I love the challenge that working with the computer system brings.” She also enjoys figuring out the insurance claims. Angie Baez is another pharmacy technician with Scheffe’s. She started out with this company six years ago as a clerk and was licensed to be a pharmacy technician at Scheffe’s itself. While not an Oklahoma native, this California girl moved here for the safe, easy going community, and a slower pace of life. Being bilingual, Baez’s favorite part of her job is working with the Spanish speaking customers, especially those who have been misunderstood by other pharmacies. “I enjoy helping people overcome that language barrier” she says. Scheffe Prescription Shop employs many great people. To work with Sutton and Baez, visit them at the Randolph location in east Enid. Jennie Sutton and Angie Baez

127 E. Randolph • Enid, OK 73701 • (580) 233-2152 * 1925 W. Owen K Garriott Road • (580) 242-3784 330 South 5th • Enid • (580) 233-2128 Etown Sponsor Content

Let’s Celeb Downtown Kitchen Store Presents

Let’s Celebrate Food! By Ebby Stratton

Photos by Holly Gannett

Summertime Eats

There are so many things about summertime to love; sunshine, bare feet, pool parties, picnics, and yummy fresh food!! I love heading downtown to Enid Farmers Market and finding fresh Oklahoma grown foods. When the tomatoes arrive, I get so excited knowing a homegrown sliced tomato will be savored at my next meal. I seldom turn on my oven in the 28

summer. We grill everything we can; grilled veggies are one of our favorite meals. Another favorite is grilled shrimp scampi with grilled asparagus – I think we eat this at least once a week. Salads of every kind are served at lunch and dinner! Lighter food is called for on Enid’s hot summer days! One of my favorite summertime activities is pool time with friends. I

am blessed to have a best friend that has an amazing pool paradise. We gather most weekends to take a dip in the pool, visit, and of course, eat! I decided to share some of my favorite summertime eats. I hope you try a few and let me know if you love them as much as I do!

brate Food CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA SALAD Easy, tasty, fresh and screams summertime!! 2 boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced Your favorite Caesar salad dressing 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, minced 1 10 oz. pkg. frozen sugar snap peas 1 carrot, thinly sliced 1 cup torn fresh spinach 8 oz. bowtie pasta, cooked

ASIAN NOODLE SALAD

This is a recipe of Ree Drummond – The Pioneer Woman. Hope she doesn’t mind that I shared it!!

Sauté chicken in 3T. Caesar dressing in skillet about 5 minutes. Add green onions, sugar snap peas, garlic, and carrot. Cook until veggies are crisp-tender. Add spinach and wilt. Add this mixture to cooked pasta and toss. Add Caesar dressing to taste. Sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese if desired. I often add a little more color and crunch by adding fresh red bell pepper.

1 package linguini noodles, cooked, rinsed and cooled ½ head sliced napa cabbage ½ head sliced purple cabbage ½ bag baby spinach 1 red bell pepper, sliced thin 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin 1 orange bell pepper, sliced thin 1 bag bean sprouts Chopped cilantro, up to one bunch, to taste 3 green onions, sliced 2 cucumbers, peeled and sliced 1 can cashews, lightly toasted For the Dressing: 1 lime, juiced 8 T. olive oil 8 T. soy sauce 2 or 3 T. sesame oil 1/3 cup brown sugar 3 T. fresh ginger, chopped 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced 2 jalapenos, chopped Chopped cilantro Mix salad ingredients together. Whisk dressing ingredients and pour over salad. Mix with tongs or hands and serve.

TAMMY’S SALSA

This may be a southern thing, but in my family lots of recipes have a name attached. Usually, the person shared a food we all loved. And when we say ‘Make Tammy’s salsa’, there is usually a cold beer served right there with it!! In my recipe box, this recipe is written on a paper plate – with stains all over it!! Tammy made up the recipe and my hubby wrote it down as she prepared it for us at the beach!! 1 large can diced tomatoes 1 jalapeno, sliced juice of 1 lime 2 cloves garlic ½ t. cumin ¾ t. chile powder Salt and pepper to taste Put jalapeno, garlic, spices, lime juice, and juice from tomatoes into blender. Puree until well minced. Add tomatoes and blend until little or no chunks are left. Taste for seasonings; start with less as you can always add more.

Downtown Kitchen Store Brithday Party at DKS Photos by Nancy Killam 1 Lin Pethod, Callie Gentry and Mollie Matthews concentrate on making their cakes look just right. 2 Mollie Matthews and Meg Davis get some more frosting to make life a little sweeter. 3 Callie Gentry, Mollie Matthews and Meg Davis use the techniques they have been taught to frost their cakes. 4 Back row standing left to right: Â Lin Pethod, Emma Davis, Olivia Rott, Lillian Merritt, Grace Bowles. 5 Modeling her new chef hat, Meg Davis prepares to do some serious cake frosting. 6 Jessica Chambers 1

Brithday Party at DKS Photos by Nancy Killam 1 Danielle Fenton & Jeff Murphy 2 Cammeron Kaiser, Jessica Andrew, Gary Skelton, Lisa Bland Selix 3 Brad Nulph and Rick Evans4 Cathy Nulph & Cj Holsten 5 Dan Kurtz 6 Janis Stovall 7. Cathy Nulph & Cj Holsten

Commuting to the Big Screen By Liz Cady Photos by The Grays

Hollywood, a town of lights, cameras and action! Ever since the first movie hit the big screen, Hollywood has been transporting moviegoers to far away places while filming, for the most part, in the center of Los Angeles. But, just as technology has introduced telecommunication to most work forces, so too has technology impacted Hollywood. Movie production now takes place in all 50 states and different countries, moving past the built sets and static displays held in a studio. This means home base for those in the film industry doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be in Los Angeles, as no matter the home location, filmmaking will involve travel.

Conte Matal(assistant director) Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Joel Coen & Erhan Coen on the set of “The Big Lebowski” 1998

Kathryn Tucker, Conte Matal, Tom Cruise on the set of “Oblivion” 2012

Conte Matal with Robert DeNiro & Al Pacino on the set of “Righteus Kill” 2007

Years ago, Conte Matal received his big break in the movie industry and was asked to move to California to work on “The Doors”. With his wife and son, Conte made a name for himself as an assistant director in Hollywood and has an impressive list of movies on his resume. However, between the numerous trips back to Enid during the summer and Christmastime to visit family, plus the increasing trips from L.A. to movie sets around the country, Conte decided he might as well commute from a place he loves. Now, Enid is home, and Conte stays close to his family in between commuting to big sets. Though Enid is lacking in the lights, lines and hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, it is that quietness that brought Conte back to Enid.

“I tell people that (Enid) is a nice-sized town, where you can get anywhere in 15 minutes or less, and the people are so friendly.” Becoming an assistant director takes time and a lot of hard work, but Conte was intrigued by the process of capturing images and turning them into a finished project. Thankful for his Dad Merrill Matal, his mom Linda Noteware and wife Kristi for being strong influences in getting him into his film career, Conte’s hard work got him to where he is today. As an assistant direction, movie production begins a couple of months before the film starts shooting. “In the time prior to the movie, we go location scouting, create schedules for the prepping, as well as the filming of the movie,” explains Conte. From there, Conte meets the cast, gets schedules to their agents and arranges camera and makeup tests. All of this occurs before any filming takes place. Conte continues, “Once filming begins, assistant directors are the communicators on the set, telling crew and casts what scenes we are filming during the day and what time to

Tyler Matal & Adam Sandler on the set of “That’s My Boy” 2012

Robert DeNiro & Conte Matal on the set off “Righteous Kill” 2007 hard but have a fun time doing so, and [Bill] made it fun.” Memories like these make work enjoyable, the process worthwhile and the finished project fun to watch. Work continues for Conte, which means more trips to and from Enid in order to help capture imagines to turn into a blockbuster hit. But, there is no place like home, and Enid is proud to be called just that.

be on the set.” That’s no small feat as a typical crew consists of around 160 people, not including all of the background actors that appear in the movie. Though he was first inspired by Star Wars and horror films and had aspirations to only work in horror films, Conte has come a long way since then as he admits that his favorite movie he has worked on is “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape”. He explains his choice, “We worked on that movie between

October and January, and we were constantly surrounded by Christmas. My wife Kristi and my son Tyler visited the set, and Tyler, who was six at the time, got to be an elf in the film.” Working on over 50 movies, Conte has met and befriended many of the big names in Hollywood. However, on set, they are just normal people doing a day’s work. “Bill Murray would invite me to his trailer just to ask me about my life. On set, we like to work

Conte Matal & Cheech Marin on the set of “Paulie” 1998

Tyler Matal & Tom Cruise on the set of “Paulie” 1998

Conte Matal & Al Pacino on the set of “Jack and Jill” 2011

Morgan Freeman & Conte Matal on the set Conte Matal & Bill Murry on the set of “Rushmore” 1998 of “POblivion” 2012

Sam Elliott & Conte Matal on the set of “Tombstone” 1993

Leadership Greater Enid XXIII Community Project Photos by Nancy Killam

1 Paula Snodgrass 2 Jerald Gilbert 3 Michon Goerdt, Robin Pokorny, Paula Snodgrass, Traci Layton 4 Michon Goerdt, Traci Layton 5 Jerald Gilbert, Robin Pokorny, Traci Layton, Nick Nulph, Devon Toland, Paula Snodgrass, Michon Goerdt, Kyle Hockmeyer, Dusty Conner 6 Devon Toland 2

Summer fashion

The flowers are blooming, and so should we. Now is the time to add a pop of color to your everyday wardrobe. Thankfully, fashion for summer is fun, fun, fun! Mixing prints like floral with leopard is a fashion DO and wearing a bright shoe or handbag that contrasts with the rest of your outfit is also quite acceptable. In fact, mixing prints and bright colors can be super-cute and fashion forward for all ages. I brought in my partner-in-crime and former diva, Jess, to help show off these lighthearted, breezy summer trends. Enjoy! â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Cathy See ya around E-town!

Cathy Nulph 1

Hospice Circle of Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mint Julep Jubilee Photos by Provided 1 Andy & Kelly Ward 2 Dianne Frantz & Hallie Caldwell 3 Dr. Samantha Moery & Shannon Bowden 4 Dianne Frantz, Marva Garber & Diana Allen 5 Caroline Dupuy & Chad Caldwell 6 Dr. Samantha Moery, Monty Moery, Jamey Shepherd, Clark Edwards, Kelly Ward 4 3

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Growing Through The Years With

Grace: The Ties That Bind Us by Jacqueline Hince Photos Provided

“Carpe Diem…” Seize the day - Francis Bacon

Summertime is a time for gathering. Between graduations, weddings, Memorial Day, Independence Day, among other holidays, there are ample opportunities to see and visit loved ones; something Lori Long urges people to do. “Summertime can be glorious if we will only seize the opportunities of the longer daylight, the vacation days and build the ties that continue to bind us with friends and family,” says Long. Long plays an active role in running her family’s business, Greenbrier Villages and has her Master’s degree in Gerontology. Through this series, Growing Through the Years with Grace, Long works to educate and provide vital information to others on the aging process. This article focuses on seizing the day, and taking time to enjoy your current role in life. “As we Grow Through the Years with Grace we realize that so much of our opportunities and enjoyments come from deep within ourselves as we choose to engage in life Guida Bingham & Family and in relationships,” says Long. Summer offers a unique time, where days are long and kids are out of school, to plan and attend family reunions. “Family reunions are a special time to bond many generations and a wide expanse of the family relatives,” says Long. She encourages her clients and their families to get together as frequently as possible. “When you come together as a family, bring memorabilia, pictures of ancestors and use this as a time of reminiscing. Don’t forget to share stories of the family heritage, make copies and handouts for the younger generations. Share what are some of the exciting things and accomplishments being done with various family members of all generations from the older to even the youngest,” says Long. She adds that in today’s mobile society with text messages and e-mails it’s easier than ever to plan large family gatherings. Even if your family has never participated in a reunion perLori Hackett-Long, Allison Naifeh-Dick, Gail Hackett, Steve Hackett and haps now is the time to start. “It is time for a new generation to Branden Hackett get back to the tradition of family reunions,” says Long. “Back to the ‘Good Ole Days’!” Long is enthusiastic about creating a lasting bond with loved ones. She feels strongly that families should “Seize the Day!” because you never know what you can learn from both older and younger generations, how you can connect, and what ways you can help each other grow to become better, and to become closer. “Let’s choose to invest in life and relationships,” says Long. “That’s something no one can take away. No matter what circumstance, no matter your

health. You have the opportunity inside you to go out and make the most of your time and your relationships with others.” While discussing family gatherings it’s easy to put the responsibility of planning reunions on older generations, yet Long says that’s not necessarily the case. “We might expect one generation, or the older people to be the ones to bring family together but, as we’re going to dive into now, sometimes the roles need to change.”

In Long’s book, Not Bound By Age, she explains that roles are “described as a set of behaviors that are expected from a person occupying a particular social position”. For example, as a mother, you have a role to fulfill that includes taking care of your children, driving them to school, making sure they are fed and rested. Other roles include being an employee, a spouse, an adult child or even a senior citizen. You can often fill several roles in one day. Your roles are also always changing

Mittelstet Family

and shifting as life progresses. “As we grow older our roles need to change,” explains Long. “Your mother or mother’s mother may have been the one to plan a family get together or reunion, but now perhaps they are transitioning into a new phase of their life, like retirement for instance. This then leaves the adult child as the glue that keeps the family reunions or gatherings a continued tradition.” Transitioning from role to role can come with challenges. Some especially difficult transitions come as one ages and lets go of roles they’ve held for most of their life. Roles that fade with retirement or watching your children move out of the house. As Long writes, “Roles form a foundation for an individual’s identity and positive feelings toward self. ‘Therefore to maintain positive feelings

toward self, an elderly person must adopt other meaningful social roles to replace those that have been lost’.” Long says one way to do that is to invest in other relationships, get involved in activities like volunteering, and work to find fulfillment in your new current role. “Roles change,” says Long. “But they are nonetheless important and are significant and as we understand how to grow through the years with grace. Our roles are always changing and that’s o.k. A different role sometimes is needed and required for different time periods in life. It is important to understand that every one of those roles impact you in a positive way as long as you find the value of the role you have.” As you deal with life changes there are ways you can help ease the transition of roles.

Try to focus on the food, focus on a person, never lose hope no matter the situation, find a group or hobby to reenergize you and work on gathering with family and loved ones. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, over the next several weeks there are numerous opportunities to gather together and celebrate and honor your mother, father or loved ones. Long reiterates, “Summer is just a glorious time and not a day should be wasted. ‘Seize the day!’ Seize the time you have to together and reinvest in each other.” So be encouraged to create the bonds in your family that will tie you together through the ups of holidays and celebrations, and through the downs of illnesses and grief. If you band together, you can get through anything.

Gail Hackett with children Lori Hackett-Long, Allison NaifehDick & Steve Hackett

Herman & Gail Hackett

Percy Family

Daniels Family

Greenbrier Assisted Living Open House Photos by Lisa Bland-Selix 1 Charisse Pierce visiting with open house guests 2 Jeanice Grajales shows Allan and Mary Lou Sloup some of the new amenities at Greenbrier Assisted 3 Living 3 Lova and Chuck Brown get the grand tour from Steve Hackett 4 Mike Weatherford greeting guests 5 Bonnie Smith, Charisse Pierce, Stacy Cushman 6 Jeanice Grajales shows Allan and Mary Lou Sloup some of the new amenities at Greenbrier Assisted Living 5 7 Steve Hackett visiting with Julie Nelson 8 Marlene Bloss gets the Red Hat treatment from Events Coordinator, Kim Strain 9 Jim Thorpe & Jeanice Grajales giving a tour to open house guests 10 Kim Russell, Dawn Holden, Kathy Wickens

March of Dimes March for Babies Photos by

1 Autry Technology Radiology Class 2 Messer Bowers Company 3 Chisholm Middle School National Honor Society 4 Rebecca’s Journey/Ambassador Family 5 In Memory of Lily & Maddox

6 emily’s team 7 Groendyke Transport Inc. 8 Go Blue! Coldwell Banker

t r i d d e R ’ in k o Sm

p a c e r q bb CONTEST COOKS GRILL TO THRILL Nearly 70 teams came to town and got their “cue” on for April’s Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt Barbecue Festival

Ralph Williams, Lynne Benkendorf While the annual Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt Barbecue Festival has grown into a community-wide event that includes great local music and art, as well as food, its heart and soul is still the dozens of cooks — some novices and some among the nation’s saltiest pros — who descend on downtown Enid for two days of camping, cooking and plotting victory. Old pros like Butcher Barbecue, the third place finalist in the last season of the BBQ Pitmasters reality TV show, and Wildcatters Q Crew, a local team that finished in the top 35 teams in the nation last year, set up shop just down the block from newbies like Jason Strickland and Klaus Humbert, who were cooking only their second contest ever.

Autumn Suckow On Friday, beautiful blue skies greeted nearly 70 teams and an appearance by the National Pork Producers Council traveling road trailer, which kicked off the evening of barbecue by handing out free pork samples. Officials from the Oklahoma Pork Council and from Roberts Ranch of Oklahoma, a local hog farm and the event’s title sponsor, prepared and served more than 700 pork burgers. Those samples were mere appetizer, however. The main event on Friday evening allowed 1,800 ticketholders to sample ribs and sides at 19 booths before voting for their favorite entry in the People’s Choice contest. Many of the People’s Choice participants also cook the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s officially sanctioned Saturday com-

petition. But Friday’s informal fun has a laidback flavor all its own. “It’s all about cooking with friends and enjoying a beautiful day and helping the community and having a good time,” summarized Clay Williams, of Carrier, who was participating in the People’s Choice event for the second time. How had he changed his cooking strategy from the previous year? “Cook more ribs,” he said with a laugh, estimating that once the event opens, the participating tents go through a rack a minute. His Beer Buddies team cooked 16 racks, and the meat was gone right on schedule. (The pan of cherry cobbler lasted a bit longer.) At their booth nearby, Strickland and Humbert, who are both residents of Tulsa,

Grand Champions - Whiskey Pit

First Place Pork - Smokin’ Hot J’s

Pelagic Tank Kids Q- First Place 11-15yr olds. Iron Ironwheel Cookers

had a special green coleslaw — sans mayo — to hand out with their ribs. “I don’t like coleslaw, so we played around with it until it was excellent,” Strickland said. “We make sure it’s fresh, so everything’s crunchy.” They left out the jalapeno peppers they normally include, however, wanting to insure broad appeal. The two had high hopes of besting some of their more seasoned competitors on Saturday (and possibly cooking up some catering jobs as well.) “We lost by two votes,” Strickland said of their October debut in Sand Springs at another KCBS-sanctioned contest. The two guys met while working together at an oil refinery in Tulsa and named their team Bully BBQ after their shared love of bulldogs (an English bull dog in Strickland’s case and a pit

bull in Humbert’s.) As so often happens, their first taste of success lit a fire. The two heard about the Enid contest because Humbert now works for Marsau Enterprises, an oilfield company based in Enid. They were having a great time at the contest, saying the organizers took exceptional care of the cooks. Also competing in the People’s Choice event was Phillip Kirk, a local and head of the team Purple Voodoo. He has employed the tactic that a bright splash of color is the best way to stand out in a crowd. He was sporting a custom top hat made to match his team’s logo and proudly displaying a new mascot, a life-sized skeleton purchased from a local Halloween store last fall. Instead of the purple cupcakes they’ve been known for

1st Place Brisket - Bubba-Q’s

Reserve Grand Champion - Smokeaholics

in the past, the team handed out cake balls, which were gone in record time. Kirk’s team was a strong returning contender for the People’s Choice trophy after winning runner-up last year. He was also entered in the KCBS-sanctioned competition the next day, but chose to do the People’s Choice event for the social aspect. “It’s our hometown, and all of my family is here,” Kirk said, motioning to the large and happy group assembled around him. “This event is my chance to see people I haven’t seen in awhile.” As dusk fell, people gravitated inside Convention Hall for big band music and dancing, while the cook teams settled in for a serious night of barbecue under a clear sky. By Saturday afternoon, a hot wind was

Maria Raes -StarTek Peoples Choice- 1st Place. Purple Voodoo

Band outside of convention center

Jen Jenson grill winner blowing. Suspense hung over downtown Enid along with the meaty fragrance from dozens of smokers. The moment of truth had arrived. Hundreds crammed into Convention Hall to await the awards ceremony presided over by organizer Lynne Benkenddorf. It was time to disperse trophies, cash and bragging rights. From the stage, Benkendorf explained how the festival had raised more than $30,000 for a variety of local charities. Then she began to announce the winners. She started with the People’s Choice trophy, which for the first time went to the always-easy-to-find team decked out all in purple. Assembled at a table in the center of the hall, the group from Purple Voodoo whooped and joyfully high-fived each other. The boys from Bully BBQ got to hear

Pelagic Tank Kids Q- First Place 10&Under. Greybeard Babies BBQ

Rob Johnson, Jessica Andrew, Jason Maly their name called, but only once. They placed tenth in the chicken category. Local professionals Wildcatters Q Crew had a great showing in Enid. (They are off to a sizzling start this year, coming in second at their very first competition in Ft. Worth to start the season.) Tracie Brown’s doublechocolate cheesecake dessert came in sixth; the team took second in pork ribs, fifth in brisket and fourth overall. After the competition, a satisfied Jeff Brown flashed a score sheet showing that his team’s entries had all ranked first at each of their respective judges’ tables. Ultimately, however, the day belonged to a team not exactly new to the competition. Merle Grauer, head cook for the Whiskey Pit BBQ team from Salina, Kan., was

Cindy Allen, April Danahy, Carmen Ball

elated by his victory, seemingly more thrilled about a hundred dollar bet he’d made with another Kansas team Smokeaholics at one o’clock the previous morning than about the winning $2,000 check formally presented to him by event coordinators. “I just had to keep that hundred in my pocket,” he joked as he grinned and accepted congratulations from the other competitors. Smokeaholics, a team from Hays, won reserve grand, after topping the chicken and ribs categories. This was Grauer’s fourth year to cook in Enid, as part of a team that has evolved and changed names over the years. Last year, his team also had a strong performance, coming in fourth overall. His specialty is pork; at the time of the Enid contest, he ranked second overall in the nation in the pork category.

For the serious competitors, a year of barbecue was just beginning. Grauer said he covered 40,000 miles in 2013 and had 25 to 30 contests on his schedule for 2014. He was headed to Iowa the following weekend. But he said the Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ festival has put itself on the map in a big way. “I love it,” he said of the contest. “If I was only going to do four or five contests a year, this would be one of them.” While the pros were headed to other contests, for many locals, the annual festival is the one big barbecue extravaganza they attend all year. As the crowds at Convention Hall dis-

persed, Vonda Benton and her daughter Melina were standing together holding a dessert plate that was empty except for a few delectable looking crumbs. For the last three years, they’ve entered the dessert competition under the name Benton’s Sugar Mafia. They had just received third prize for their five-layer red velvet chocolate cheesecake (in their first year they tied for first and earning a perfect score.) The two estimated they spent $35 just on ingredients and at least eight hours crafting the intricate white leaves that crowned the white frosted cake. In addition, Benton made more than 200 mini-cupcakes that were handed out by the team Sanders and

Son during the People’s Choice event. (Melina is engaged to a member of the team.) But being part of the fun was well worth it to them. Seeing the barbecue teams come to town injects fresh enthusiasm into the community every year, and it’s something they look forward to. “I love to bake, and this is a creative outlet for me,” Benton said. “We usually start now thinking about what we’ll do for next year,” her daughter added. The 2015 festival is already on the calendar for the third weekend of April. It will mark a major milestone — the event’s tenth anniversary.

AmTryke Award

Purple VooDoo Kid’s Q Blake Sanchez

Reserve Grand Champion Dessert PBR BBQ

Enid Fire Dept. Helping with Kid’s Q

David Bouska – Butcher BBQ

Ambuc BBQ Team

Ameera & Gabby Barbour – Team BBQute

AMBUCS – Terri Clingenpeel, Tim DeClerck, Anna Blubaugh, Ron Janzen, Dewey King, Alecia Pettigrew

Tonkawa Casino – Brittany Allen, Donnie Chalepah

Liam Shaw

Big Woody – Mike Oaks & Robert Johnson

Pigheaded Irishman BBQ Team

Lemonade Louie BBQ

Autumn Suckow

From Rhode Island, Florida to Colorado and points in between they came! The 9th Annual Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ is in the books and we couldn’t have done it without the commitment of our sponsors, volunteers, community and the City of Enid, thank you! Seventy barbecue teams invaded downtown Enid April 11 & 12th to compete in a Kansas City Barbecue Sanctioned contest totally filling the newly built parking lots across from the magnificent Convention Hall. Once again our community welcomed them with open arms as the cooks, judges and visitors set out to present and witness the best barbecue imaginable. The two-day event kicked off the week before with the Pioneer Cellular Youth Art

Show opening held at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Over 150 students from Northwest Oklahoma competed this year and we proudly gave students and their schools nearly $4000 on behalf of Pioneer Cellular. On the eve of the barbecue contestant’s arrival, Convention Hall was packed with eager parents, grandparents and family as they watched and waited for the crowning of March of Dimes Little Miss Red Dirt. Forty young ladies vied for the title as they and our community helped raise over $12,000 for March of Dimes. The Oklahoma skies were also in our favor this year, treating our visitors and friends

to a warm and sunny weekend. As music filled the streets and echoed from within Convention Hall, smoked billowed from the village of competition barbecue cooks and thousands feasted on pork sandwiches and ribs all marking another successful year and over $33,000 raised for local charitable organizations. Thank you, Enid and Northwest Oklahoma, and we look forward to celebrating our 10th Anniversary next April! Best in BBQ – Lynne Benkendorf

1 March of Dimes Litte Miss Red Dirt Photos Nancy Killam 1 Rebecca Jane King 2 Winners of Little Miss Red Dirt 3 Emma Lawson 4 Kaydence Seabolt 5 Jelani King 6 Ava Voth

7 Kayli Miles 8 Madison Nulph 9 Alyssa Lutton 10 Cadence Jackson

Roberts Ranch Red Dirt BBQ Make & Take Art Photos by Nancy Killam

2 1 Kingsly Painter 2 Hannah Mills working on a masterpiece 3 Marianne & James Mills making pot holders 4 Emily Martin 5 Angela Chavez

Roberts Ranch Red Dirt BBQ Big Band Dance Photos by Nancy Killam

1 Cathy Nulph, Jamie Foster, Tani Mahaffey 2 Big Band members 3 Dancers 4 Dancers 5 Doc playing trumpet 6 Dancers 1 2

The Monster in the Mirror

True horror relies on doubt. It can be doubt in the people you’ve loved, doubt in the principles you’ve held, or even doubt in the tangible – what you see, hear, and feel. This last type is probably the most common in horror fiction for good reason; when reality starts to bend or falter, doubt begins multiplying until there can be no trust in anything, and without trust, one can only ever be in a constant state of unease. The new film Oculus succeeds so thoroughly because it deals with every aforementioned type of doubt, and it transfers these kinds of mistrust to the viewer. The basic premise, clear even in the trailers, is nothing new for a horror film; two young adults revisit a traumatic event from their past, an event caused by an old, macabre, everyday object. The film’s hook – that these people may actually be insane – is not innovative territory either, but in most current horror entries, this element usually gets reduced to a predictable, third-rate plot twist. However, Oculus isn’t out to make us rethink the way we’ve watched it up until a certain point. It wants us to question it from the very beginning. Having the film center on the doubt these siblings feel about what they saw and the fact that their questions can’t be answered completely negates criticisms of characterization I might have had. The characters’ father, the murderer of their mother, is not given any backstory that could lead to such a heinous crime, and

in another movie this would be a problem. But if this demonic possession of theirs – a mirror – really was to blame, there would be no backstory for him. It would just be a random

act of sadistic evil, which is exactly what the man’s children would love to believe, but they are forced to consider that they may not have

known their father as well as they thought. We only see the past through their memories, but if their memories have been corrupted? That’s what makes the film so frightening. Most people say they are only afraid of stories that can really happen, and I agree. And, I’m terrified of mental illness – the idea that one’s mind can warp stray thoughts into images and sounds infinitely more brutal and destructive than the worst fairytale creature. Perhaps I’m being a bit too easy on a film with definite flaws, but few movies truly understand what it takes to make a genre work so well. Few movies understand that it isn’t as scary to look into a mirror and see a monster behind you as it is to look into a mirror and, just maybe, see a monster in your own eyes.

Teague Bickford Financial Advisor Teague Bickford is a newlywed and newly relocated Edward Jones Financial Advisor. He and his wife recently moved to Enid as he pursues a job that combines his passion for helping others and an interest in markets and finance. “Educating clients on investments and guiding them on strategies to help them fulfill their financial goals and dreams is extremely gratifying for me,” remarks Teague. As a financial advisor Teague says he has the opportunity and privilege to work with many wonderful people. Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Teague met his bride, Cindy while studying business at Oklahoma State University where he earned a double major in Economics & Management. In early 2011 Teague and Cindy moved to Oklahoma City, where Teague began his career as a financial advisor with Edward Jones. “After interviewing with several firms, I chose to work for Edward Jones because of the culture that exists within the firm and its focus to always do what is right for the client,” says Bickford.

Married just last June, Teague and Cindy are excited about their relocation to Enid and the opportunities that come with it. “It has been very humbling and an extreme honor to be invited to Enid by Joe Newsom to help him transition into retirement and take on the responsibility of serving the clients who have trusted him and Edward Jones for so long,” says Bickford. “Working alongside Joe, one of the best in the business, is a real privilege.” Teague spends his days visiting with clients and trying to get to know them on a personal level. It’s imperative to Teague that he fully understands his clients’ situations as he advises them on their finances.

“My most rewarding moments in this role have come when clients thank us for helping them achieve their financial goals.” says Bickford. Described as hard working and compassionate, Teague says his friends and family find him easy going and family oriented. “God and family are my utmost 58

priorities. I am thankful to work for a company that affords me the flexibility to make family a priority,” adds Bickford. Though recently married, Teague hopes

one day to add to his family, and says he and his wife are excited about their future here in Enid. “In our move to Enid, we have been reminded of God’s

perfect timing and we strive to live our lives according to the plan that He has for us,” says Bickford. “As Cindy and I get more involved in the community we look forward to meeting more great people and enjoying the wonderful pace of life that Enid offers.”

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

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