Ladies in Blue |
Small Town Sweetheart
Love
Life FEBRUARY 16 Vol. 12 Number 12
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CONTENTS
FEBRUARY 2016
Publisher
13
FEATURES 9 Drumming Off the Pounds
DEPARTMENTS
10 Ladies in Blue
Brad Carter
Managing Editor
Mindy Wood
Creative Direction
Layers Media, Inc.
Cover Photo
Layers Media, Inc.
Writers
Andrea Beck Jamie Bergsten Tim Farley Kristi Prince Thresa Swadley Mindy Wood
Distribution
The Shawnee Outlook is delivered FREE by direct mail to 25,000 homes and businesses. Distribution includes Shawnee, Tecumseh, McLoud, Meeker & Prague.
Comments or Suggestions?
Write to: Shawnee Outlook PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 Website: www.shawneeoutlook.com E-mail: info@layersmedia.com
To Advertise Call Brad at 445-3033 or 808-0963.
6 ART GUIDE
13 The Lost Art of Letter Writing
6 NUTRITION 101 20 SONIC CONTEST
18 Cold Remedy
26 SHAWNEE HISTORY
21 Love Giving Life
30 EVENTS
25 Small Town Sweetheart
30 GREEN THUMB
29 Luggage with Love
Palmer Graduate 29 Years Family Practice Sports Physician Clinical Nutritionist Certified Animal Chiropractor Spinal Decompression Massage
Dr. Willa Weisel D.C.
Advertising Sales
10
Michael Keith
“Sole Support” Orthotics
Volume 12, Number 12 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Layers Media, Inc. © 2016 Layers Media, Inc.
Articles and advertisements in Shawnee Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Layers Media. Layers Media does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Shawnee Outlook does not constitute endorsement of products, services, political candidates/parties or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Shawnee Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
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ART GUIDE
NUTRITION 101
Enjoy the Arts in Shawnee As I was compiling events for February, it was fun to see a family theme developing. From activities and concerts for children to plays depicting family drama, this will be a good month to take the family and enjoy the arts! I hope to see you there! For the younger crowd, the MabeeGerrer Museum will offer after school art classes with Yoko Loftis on Tuesdays from February 9th through March 18th. The classes are for ages 7-18. Register at mgmoa.org/classes. Want to see some true southern family drama? Enjoy Shawnee Little Theater’s production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Wendy Flora. Shows will take place February 12-20. For ticket information visit shawneelittletheatre. com. St. Gregory’s University will present the Pulitzer winning play, Wit, February 18-21. The play tells the story of a cancer patient from diagnosis through death. Tickets will be available at the SGU box office before performances. Visit stgregorys.edu/events. For those looking for musical performances, OBU’s Division of Music will be presenting several recitals and concerts by students, faculty, and guests. Highlights for this month include the Annual Concerto Aria Concert (14th) and a children’s concert, Carnival of the Animals (18th). A complete calendar of their events can be found at: okbu.edu/fine-arts or call 405.585.4301. Expand your horizons and visit the Third Thursday Poetry Readings at Benedict Street Market at 7 p.m. There is an open mic session where you can share your own poetry or just sit back and be inspired by others.
Have you taken advantage of the downtown third Friday events with your family? Highlights for February 19th will include: • A demonstration of lamp worked glass by Susan Chambers at The Arts at 317. • Free Valentine pictures at Main Street Photo Studio and Gallery. • Trio Antiqua playing music by Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn at Broadway Arts Gallery. Want to learn a new skill? Create family heirlooms? Consider learning to crochet at The Arts at 317 on February 23rd. Visit prhdesignsllc.com. If winter is getting you down, Cold Remedy will take place at 7 p.m. on February 25th. Get your tickets before they sell out at inkandletters.com/ cold-remedy. Do you want to learn a new craft? Consider basket weaving with Pauline Asbury on March 5th at the Mabee Gerrer Museum. Register at mgmoa. org/workshops. Think you have a dysfunctional family? You might feel differently after seeing OBU Theater’s Oedipus the King, March 4-6. Purchase tickets okbu.edu/ theatre or call (405) 585-4350. Don’t forget the Mabee-Gerrer Museum’s exhibit of Wounaan Baskets from the Rainforest of Panama that runs through March 13, 2016. This is an exhibit you will enjoy!
Thresa Swadley is a freelance cellist/teacher who has been active in the Shawnee Arts Community for almost 20 years. She is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and teaches cello there. Thresa is a member of the OBU/ Shawnee Community Orchestra and plays in Trio Antiqua, a baroque music trio. Visit http://www.celloladyok.com. 6
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Mock Garlic Mashed “Potatoes” I have wanted to try out mashed cauliflower for a long time now and I finally got to. I played around with the fresh garlic and used too much at first. In the first batch I used 3 cloves of garlic but then went down to 1. You could sauté the garlic instead to help tame down the taste. But overall, the results were great for a mock mashed potato, I will surely make these again. For a dairy free option, use unflavored soy or almond milk. Ingredients: • 1 large head of cauliflower • 1 clove of garlic • ¼ cup nonfat milk • Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Boil a large pot of water, add cauliflower, and cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. When done add cauliflower, garlic, and dashes of salt and pepper to a food processor. While mixing, slowly add in the milk until the desired consistency is achieved. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Makes: 4 servings, ½ cup each Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 56 Total Fat: 0.5 g Saturated Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 108 mg Total Carbohydrates: 12 g Fiber: 5 g Protein: 4.5 g Nutrition 101 Tip: Vegetables can be hard to get in but every time you do, it is so worth it. Vegetables offer so many nutrients to our body, it is like medicine. Potatoes are technically in the vegetable category but our body processes them like they are carbohydrates. If you have diabetes or are aware of the amount of carbohydrates you consume, you know how quickly the carbs can add up with potatoes. Cauliflower is a great source of vitamin C and manganese, both of which are antioxidants. Mashed cauliflower is just as easy as potatoes too – just boil and mash. Remember – shoot for 5-7 fruits and vegetables together a day.
Andrea Beck, a Registered Dietitian, received her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from UCO in Edmond. She offers her nutrition consulting services and strongHER workouts through Anytime Fitness and teaches nutrition at St. Gregory’s University. Andrea is an active member of Junior Service League. Visit www.strongherfitness.net for more information.
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Tickets can be purchased from a Lions Club Member or at the door February 26th.
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Drumming Off the Pounds It’s no secret that exercising can be boring and monotonous, but Shawnee fitness instructor Teri Sigman has found a new, upbeat way to keep a person motivated. Sigman, a certified Zumba teacher, is now teaching a new workout called Pound Fitness that combines drumming movements with music. Ripstix are lightly weighted and engineered specifically for exercising. The Ripstix are similar to drumsticks, but weigh less. “It is a great calorie, toning, core, and stress exercise,” she said. According to the website, Pound Fitness is a full body workout that fuses fuses cardio, Pilates, isometric movements, plyometrics, and Isometric poses into a 45-minute series. This particular fitness class had never been offered before in the Shawnee area until Sigman approached St. Gregory’s University and the Shawnee Senior Citizens Center. She also teaches the class at the Seminole Wellness Center. “Instead of listening to music we literally become the music that combines cardio and strength training,” she said. Sigman claims people can burn more than 900 calories per hour, strengthen and sculpt seldomused muscles, and drum their way to a leaner, slimmer physique while rocking out to their favorite music. “They (students) love it,” she said. “It’s for anybody and the moves can be modified so if you have knee or back problems, you just hit the air instead of the floor with the Ripstix. I’m a Zumba teacher and the first time I did it, it really got my heart rate up. It’s just different from anything else out there. It’s fun and to me it’s a total body workout.” In a single 45-minute class, Sigman said she burned 733 calories. “It’s a stress reliever. If people like music they can get into it,” she said. “Every song
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has a different routine so you may hit the ground in front of you, behind you or to the side.” The stress relief was evident among some students at St. Gregory’s. “I had several college students come and they asked if I would be interested in teaching the class in the student lounge during finals week,” she recalled. “We were moving all the time, but there is no dancing. Seldom will your feet move.” At 55 and in shape, Sigman still had to work hard to finish the fitness routine. “It took me a couple of weeks to work past the first three songs,” she admitted. Sigman saw the first Pound Fitness video about a year ago and received training and certification to teach the class in Tulsa. The classes never get monotonous since Sigman changes the song play list, which includes country, rock-n-roll, and pop songs. The classes at St. Gregory’s are taught at 6:30 p.m. on Monday and
Wednesday in the Mabee Aerobics Center. Sigman teaches the Seminole Wellness Center class at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and at the Shawnee Senior Citizens Center beginning in February on Thursdays at 6 p.m. Sigman believes the benefits to the Pound Fitness class are numerous, including the development of a person’s rhythm, timing, coordination, speed, agility, endurance, and musicality. “People can reduce their waistline and slim their thighs,” she said. Numerous studies have proven the powerful brain boosting, street-relieving effects of drumming. The rhythm of drumming permeates the entire brain to improve focus, increased higherlevel thinking, and decision-making skills. It also boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and decreases chronic pain, anxiety, and fatigue, the studies show.
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Ladies in Blue The Shawnee Police Department now has three female officers, reaching a higher number of women on the force than they’ve had in recent years. Vivian Lozano, an officer since 2007, serves in the interest of public safety with Elisa Mudd, hired in 2014, and Shala Richardson who joined last year. They may face stereotypes as often as they encounter danger, but they love what they do; especially the unique qualities they say being a woman can add to police work. With glossy hair pulled back, light makeup, and petite build, they are all girl behind the badge and gun; but make no mistake: these ladies will meet with force any threat to the public they’ve sworn to protect. Since the 1970’s, research consistently shows women are as capable as men in law enforcement as cited by the National Center for Women & Policing. Interim Police Chief, Mason Wilson, said they are trained and equipped to handle anything the shift throws at them. Wilson has responded to numerous calls with each of them and watched them prove themselves. “There’s nothing they can’t do,” he said. Lozano, Richardson, and Mudd agreed they had to prove to their male counterparts they could handle themselves equally when facing a potentially stronger male. They shrugged it off as “male instinct” or being the “big brother” without offense. They shrug off a lot, and sometimes they say the stereotypical sentiments from the public are downright funny or sweet. Elderly men or women tend to call them ‘honey’ just as they might call a male officer ‘son.’ They’re not offended because “they don’t know any better.” The same goes for the benign public intoxication calls. “We hear ‘sweetie, honey, baby,’” said Lozano. Mudd laughed, “I’ve heard a couple of times, ‘You can arrest me anytime.’ That’s probably the worst, but you just try to stay serious and not get embarrassed.” All three chorused the most common lines from
by: Mindy Wood
men, “You’re too pretty to be a cop, too little, too young,” as they joked about it. They will demand respect when comments are deliberately disrespectful or the situation is simply ridiculous. Mudd was transporting a man to the county jail who did his best to ‘sweet talk’ his way out of it even after he’d already been booked. “’Please, honey, please sweetie just let me go.’ I said, ‘It’s not helping you. You just need to quit because it’s Shala Richardson, Elisa Mudd, and Vivian Lozano not getting you anywhere.’” to the hospital and she won’t leave him. We’ve As they roll their eyes and laugh off the tried project safe, tried talking, tried everything comments, they celebrate the unique perspective and she still goes back. As much as I try, she’s still they bring to the otherwise all male patrol. Each are there, with a baby crying in the background,” said on a different shift, so there is one female officer Lozano. “That’s hard.” on patrol at all times. “We’re more emotional and These and other tough calls haven’t dampened sensitive than they are. We handle different things their enthusiasm for police work. Lozano and differently. It makes us stronger together, united,” Richardson hope to work in criminal investigation. said Richardson. Mudd is thus far satisfied with patrol, but she’s Women and children are often more comfortable also an MP for the National Guard and doesn’t see with them than with fellow male officers. Vivian herself ever leaving law enforcement. Lozano is on the Coordinated Community Response Mudd grew up in a law enforcement family team that specializes in domestic calls. She said often and always wanted to be an officer. Richardson victims are more open to her likely because males are knew she wanted to pursue a law enforcement the aggressors in these homes. career in high school and Lozano had wanted to be Richardson said, “I had a child wrap themselves an officer since she was a child. Each of them say around my legs and want to show me everything they hope to be role models for girls and women they have and talk.” Mudd said, “I hear kids say, who want to consider fields primarily staffed with ‘Look Mommy, a girl cop, a pretty cop.’ But I don’t men. hear, ‘Look a guy cop’ when the guys show up.” Only an average of 8.1 percent of small Lozano, Mudd, and Richardson agreed the agencies have female officers on staff. For more toughest calls are domestic violence, especially information on police careers for women, visit involving children. “Going to the same house where womenandpolicing.com. she’s been getting beaten up, has a black eye, has been
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The Lost Art of Letter Writing
by: Mindy Wood
Delores Wilsie
In the age of hyper-communication via text messages and emails, hand written sentiments and long, cozy letters, are almost non-existent. According to the United States Postal Service, first-class mailings have dropped by 50 percent in the last decade. Maybe the scarcity of these documents makes the occasional letter that much more special to those who are lucky enough to receive one in the mail. The Shawnee Outlook met with a group of women who cherish letters they say still brings them joy today. Mattie Morgan Saunders, Flora McKee, and Delores Wilsie shared their stories regarding their special memories penned thoughtfully by friends and loved ones. Saunders was Prague’s first female mayor between 1960-1964 and an advocate for women’s rights. Her letters were from several dignitaries including two Oklahoma governors, David Boren and Henry Bellmon, former First Lady Betty Ford, and even a
letter from the White House in 1975. Among her treasured letters are also those from her daughters in law. “In the 50s, 60s, and 70s hand writing letters was the thing. We had typewriters but I loved letters and I loved writing long letters. My daughters-in-law would send me a letter when they had their babies and they wrote them because they knew I appreciated them. I recently found them and sent the letters to them. They told me they were really glad to get them because they remembered this or that, something they’d mentioned and forgotten,” said Saunders. Letters from the war are especially treasured. Sandra Wilkins, a historical fiction author in Meeker said she cherishes a love letter her grandfather had written her grandmother. He was stationed “somewhere in England” at the time of its writing. Dated May 19, 1944, its time-worn pages and faded ink recite to a girl back home how much she is
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continued from pg. 13
loved and missed. “As I sit here now looking at your picture while I write this letter, I can’t see how I was ever lucky enough to get a sweet girl like you. Sweetheart, I love you so much. You get more beautiful every day. Darling I can’t hardly wait to be together again. Pictures make me homesick but I love to get them. I wish we had a baby…but with this war on, one can’t tell what will happen. I guess we will have to wait until this war is over.” Wilkins said, “The letter is special to me because although he could joke around, he was a fairly quiet person. It was amazing to see him express his feelings for her in the letters--and to know they had an enduring love. I do like writing handwritten notes and cards. I might not do it as much as I’d like, but I enjoy doing it. It seems like a more personal way to express yourself.” Letters during World War II were the only way to communicate with “the boys” overseas. Saunders remembered just how important they were as she had brothers in the service. “My mother would just pace the floor and the first thing you knew, she was gone. She would walk five miles to town to the post office. She thought she could get the letters faster if she went to the post office before they were delivered to the mailbox. We received a telegram once, and the family’s faces
just fell. Usually that meant someone died, but it was a Merry Christmas message.” Saunders, Wilsie, and McKee all remembered in those days the post office delivered on Sundays and holidays because they knew how important it was to hear from loved ones in the fight for freedom. Flora McKee, age 98 had two brothers in the service during WWII. “I came from an era where we did a lot of letter writing, especially during the war. Some of the letters had black places marked out, censored what they had written. I still have some of them. I can remember penny postcards and three cent stamps,” she smiled. Saunders remembered a letter her grandfather received with black pencil marks on it, resembling a smoke screen all around the letter. “He knew when he saw it that his sister had died before he opened it. Back then if you got a letter with black on it, it meant bad news.” Rarely do they receive letters now, but when they do it’s a treat. Delores Wilsie received a letter from a former student, an all grown up second-grader who appeared with his son in a band. She wrote him when she saw the picture in the paper telling him how proud she was of him. “He wrote me back the sweetest letter, how much it meant to him and the difference our
Flora McKee
family made on his life,” she said. If the thought of expressing an entire page of words seems daunting, there are how-to articles online and even a book, “How to Write Heartfelt Letters to Treasure” is available on Amazon.com. Next month is National Card and Letter Writing Month, so celebrate by sending a line to someone you know and don’t forget to let the letters from your own past smile on you today.
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CPCDC provides alternative to payday loan lenders According to the statistics from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, with more than 20,000 across the U.S., there are more payday loan lenders in the U.S. than franchise locations of either Starbucks or McDonald’s. The golden arches boast a paltry 14,267 franchises by comparison. The wide presence of this specific kind of lending institution, which can charge between 300 to 1,333 percent of annual interest when issuing short term loans, speaks to the doldrums of many Americans’ financial situations. A survey by www.BankRate.com showed that roughly 63 percent of Americans have no savings for medical emergencies or large car repair bills. With so many working people just one emergency away from needing a quick cash infusion to cover the bills, payday lenders serve a role to individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have access to short term loans. The Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation is one organization that has undertaken the task of providing similar, but significantly cheaper services, to Tribal employees and Native Americans in need of a short term loan. To stem the tide of those ensnared by predatory loan costs, finance professionals like the CPCDC’s Tina Pollard are there to help. As a certified credit counselor, she works with clients from all walks of life who, for a variety of reasons, find themselves turning to these kinds of lending institutions.
Pollard was at the state capitol during a 2013 legislative session and witnessed the army of lobbyists that payday lenders’ profits can afford. She noticed that during a legislative debate on whether to loosen regulations on the industry, there were 26 payday lending lobbyists present. David Blatt of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, a longtime proponent of better options for low income borrowers, agreed with Pollard’s assessment. Though the bill passed both houses of the statehouse, Governor Mary Fallin eventually vetoed the legislation. “They’re pretty well represented at the capitol,” said Blatt in an email. “It’s been a while since there’s been a serious effort to legislate on this issue, but the major operators all have contract lobbyists, as does their association.” Blatt said that despite arguments that the industry provides a service to an underbanked sector of the American economy, studies have shown that many of these borrowers have less expensive options. In an emailed response, he pointed out that one common argument for these lenders is that their customers would otherwise attempt to take out even more expensive, online payday lending.
“The majority of the people I see do have bruised credit,” said Pollard. “Just on average their credit scores are around 500, which is in the risky area, and many of those are due to payday loans or medical bill collections. Once something reports, it reduces your credit score and doesn’t go away for seven years. Even if you pay it.”
Citing a Pew Studies report, Blatt wrote that “comparing usage in states with permissive and restrictive laws, Pew was able to conclude that in states that restrict payday lending, 95 out of 100 would-be borrowers elect not to use payday loans at all – just five borrow online or elsewhere.”
Pollard’s personal experiences play a central role in her work, as she cites her own past financial situation when speaking with clients at the CPCDC, saying “I’ve made all the mistakes, I’ve taken the payday loan route.”
Waking up to how they work
“The reason I had to rebuild my credit was because I had six knee surgeries in a row,” she elaborated. “Once you have a surgery, you don’t pay just one doctor. Every physician, physical therapist and anesthesiologist bills you separately. Everyone wants a payment arrangement, and ultimately there are only so many payments you can make.” Pollard said that many of those she counsels were in situations like her own, with little savings but who are working. Others are seeking to recover from a divorce where one spouse’s bad habits destroyed the credit score of the other.
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make it easier for payday lenders to charge more, and in many cases our legislators are woefully unaware of the problem.”
“It’s frustrating because the education is not there, and until Oklahoma gets incensed about the predatory problem, it’s not going to change. There have been attempts at the state legislature to www.shawneeoutlook.com
“If the media took a closer look at the borrowers and showed how destructive these loans and fees are to families, things might change,” said Pollard. Yet there does seem to be an increasing awareness of the potential problems that are arising from many communities’ reliance on predatory lenders as the primary financers in low-income areas. Author Mehrsa Baradaran, has written extensively on the $89 billion economic impact the short term lending industry has in the U.S. in her recent book “How the Other Half Banks.” In an interview with PBS News Hour, Baradaran pushed back on the logic that higher interest rates and fees charged to those using these kinds of loans were levied because those borrowers had fewer assets to leverage as collateral.
The prevalence of payday loan lenders are often seen in areas with lower per capita incomes.
“It is certainly a higher risk to loan to someone who is low income. However, there’s a lot of studies to show that the price that they’re actually charging isn’t the cost of the loan. It’s also fairly misleading when you compare it to the credit markets that the middle class and higher income have access to,” Baradaran said. She went on to note that most upper and middle class borrowers don’t pay the market prices for credit, whether on mortgage, student loan or other credits issued by banks. “Any sort of bank credit you get is heavily subsidized by the federal government,” she pointed out, meaning low income users of short term lenders often pay far more to borrow. As Pollard explained, even if one discounts the interest rates, predatory lenders make a profit on their initial loan in the fees. “The first two and a half payments only go to pay off the fees, you’re not touching principal,” she said. “On a $500 signature loan, you’d typically pay $200 for it. At a normal bank, there’s usually no fee and you just pay the interest.” These lenders also sell signature loans by telling clients they’ll help build their credit scores, a claim that doesn’t always pan out given the nature of the lending product. Without at least 12 months of credit history, consumers pay more in interest and the benefit to
their credit score is minimal. With short term loan renewals occurring every two to three months, the credit report is cut short and the client’s overall credit score doesn’t improve. Payday loans are not typically reported to credit bureaus because they are paid in full or a new loan is taken out each payday, essentially starting the whole process over again. Despite being outnumbered and outspent, advocates like Pollard at the Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation continue to help those they can. “I have better options now because of what I know,” Pollard said. “I’ve been where all my clients have been, and I do what I do because I have a passion for it. I want to help them build their credit so that they’re in my position. It just takes them coming in the door.” To learn more about credit counseling and short term loan services available to Citizen Potawatomi Nation employees and other members of federally tribes, please contact the Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation at 405-878-4697 or by visiting www.CPCDC.org.
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REMEDY Cold Remedy, a curated evening of music and poetry, is the brainchild of graphic designer Corey Fuller, who had the vision to provide an art event during the coldest part of the winter. “January and February can be depressing in the arts,” said Fuller. “Once one gets into the spring and summer there are festivals and outdoor art shows. By placing the show at the end of February, I wanted to show that I am over it, I am ready for art and music.” In addition to creating an art event in the winter, Fuller wanted to provide a music and art venue in Shawnee outside of the local universities. He desired a place where people could congregate and enjoy coffee, art, music, and poetry all at one place. He stated, “There is a vast amount of musical and artistic talent in Shawnee, but a lot of it seems to be underground. I wanted to create hatches or windows for it to occur.” Shawnee resident Lucas Simmons has been involved with the event since its debut three years ago through his band Massey, which has been the main act for the event. Simmons feels that events like Cold Remedy connect people to the arts: “We have to inject ourselves into the daily schedule of the people of Shawnee and they are very responsive.” He went on to say, “February is the coldest time of the year and everyone has come off their Christmas high, and
Massey performing at last year’s event
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A C U R ATE D E V E N I NG OF M US I C & POE TRY it is refreshing to hear the creativity.” Simmons’ band, Massey, is a local alternative folk rock group. Simmons talked about how Massey is inspired by playing at the event. “The band enjoys playing for Cold Remedy as it is always a really good turn out and warm atmosphere.” He went on to say, “We enjoy playing in Shawnee as we know most of the people who come to hear us perform and they are honest with us about the music we are producing.” The band will play new music for this year’s event. The music is narrative in nature and is connected to Oklahoma folklore and to the culture of the area. Since the band has yet to record their music, one has to attend events such as Cold Remedy to enjoy their unique style. Not only will Simmons provide music for the event, but he will be displaying his art as well. He has an art degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and is currently working on a M.F.A at Oklahoma City University. Simmons will be showing large oil paintings and drawings, and describes his style as contemporary realism. He referred to his art as “a catharsis for a young man that is realizing that he is living in a post consumer society.” He went on to say that his work points to the way that humans affect the environment and how we have affected it since the 1700’s, especially in the way that humans use plastic. He strives to show that our use of the environment causes climate change and species extinction, problems without easy answers. Other highlights for this year’s Cold Remedy will include the opening band Judith, a relatively new Oklahoma City area band that is an all-female American folk trio that is quickly becoming known for their storytelling lyrics accompanied by guitar and dual violins.
by: Thresa Swadley
In addition to Simmons’ art, Molly Hennesey, another Oklahoma artist, will also be displaying her art at the show. Hennesey was also involved in last year’s event as she created the limited edition print that was included with ticket purchases. There will also be poetry read during the event. This year’s Cold Remedy will take place on February 25th at 7 p.m. at 602 E. Highland in Shawnee, OK. The venue is the building with the “More Cola” mural on the corner of Pennsylvania and Highland. There are four levels of tickets for the event. They range from basic admission with coffee to the “Works Package” that includes admission, coffee, a limited edition print created for the event, and an issue of Ink and Letters, an arts magazine published by Fuller and Brent Newsome. Both Newsome and Fuller are professors at Oklahoma Baptist University. Cold Remedy has limited seating available and tickets have sold out quickly the past two years. Tickets are available online: inkandletters.com/ cold-remedy.
Lucas Simmons
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4 WINNERS will be chosen at random from correct entry forms. Each WINNER will receive a $ 10 GIFT CERTIFICATE for Sonic
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Life by: Mindy Wood
It’s not every day that the chance to save someone’s life is within one’s power, but Rae Ann Gossett and Stephanie Tyler chose to make that sacrifice. Gossett and Tyler donated a kidney to each other’s husband who had both been diagnosed with kidney failure. Gossett didn’t hesitate as soon as she knew her husband Allen would be eligible for a kidney transplant. After lengthy tests, she was approved as a match for her husband. However, a couple less than 15 miles away were in the opposite situation. Eric and Stephanie Tyler in Harrah were not so fortunate. When doctors at the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute realized Rae Ann Gossett also matched Eric Tyler and Stephanie Tyler matched Allen Gossett, they asked Rae Ann if she would be willing to participate in a paired exchange. She would give Eric Tyler her kidney and Stephanie Tyler would donate hers to Allen. They agreed and successfully donated a kidney to each other’s husbands; August 31, 2015 Allen received his from Stephanie and September 2, 2015 Eric received Rae Ann’s. Rae Ann and Allen were on a float with other donors and survivors in the Rose Bowl Parade last month for Life Share, an organ and tissue
transplant procurement organization. Rae Ann said being in the parade and hearing the stories from other donors and survivors was overwhelming. She felt humbled by it. “I learned there were two women who donated a kidney without a loved one on the waiting list. I just thought, wow, that is really special. People in the crowd were cheering us on shouting, ‘I’m an organ donor too.’ It was amazing to be part of that. There were pictures of people who had died and donated their organ and pictures of those who died waiting for a transplant. I felt very honored to be able to represent organ donation.” Allen was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy December 2014 after failing a medical exam for a life insurance policy. He had 17 percent kidney function. IgA nephropathy is a slowly progressing kidney disease whose symptoms are silent until function becomes significantly impaired. The disease can be slowed with medication with early diagnosis. It was too late for Allen. They hoped to hold off dialysis for a year, but by May 2015 he was on the painful treatment to extend his life. “At that time they told us we could see about getting him on the transplant list,” said Rae Ann. Allen begged her not to donate her kidney, >
“How can you find the words to thank someone who has changed your life”
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not to even consider it. She would hear none of it. The thought of saving her husband’s life and ending the debilitating side effects of dialysis simply wasn’t a question; it was the imperative of a loving wife. Separate doctors, specialists, and even social workers counseled Rae Ann and Allen through the process to ensure that both were comfortable with her decision and that both met the health criteria. When they learned another couple could benefit in a kidney exchange, they agreed. It was good news for the Tylers. Eric, a diabetic who was diagnosed with renal failure in March 2012, had been on dialysis for two years. His diagnosis had also been a shock because Eric had taken good care of himself. On dialysis, Eric’s wife and two children had watched him deteriorate to the point he was forced to go on disability. Fragile, gaunt, and sick he was not doing well. When he signed up for a transplant in May 2015, their transplant coordinator told them it would take at least two years to get a live kidney donor. To their amazement, just two months later they were preparing for surgery. They didn’t know until a week after the transplant that their donor, Rae Ann Gossett lived just 12 miles away from their Harrah
home in Shawnee. Both families met to express their gratitude. “How can you find the words to thank someone who has changed your life,” said Stephanie. “For my kids to witness such an act of kindness,” her voice broke, “during our recovery time we did a lot of sitting in our chairs and we just held hands and looked at each other like, ‘I can’t believe we did it.’” Eric Tyler said, “There was a lot of emotion on our wives’ part because they were the ones donating, saving our lives. I was just in awe and grateful they were there, that they were our wives.” Both couples said their experience brought them closer together and made them stronger. They hope to raise awareness about organ donation. Some research shows kidney donors live longer than the general population. The long term risks are very low. Gossett said the health screening process is rigorous; unless donors are in perfect health, they cannot donate. “They will not risk your health in order to do a transplant,” she said. Those who receive transplants risk rejection of the organ, sometimes up to three transplants fail even with rejection drugs. Eric and Allen are doing well. Allen has been able to decrease his rejection drugs and Eric is
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expected to return to work in the near future. Oklahoma Department of Public Safety reported as of January 2015, over 48 percent of Oklahoma driver’s license holders are organ donors. Everyday 22 Americans die waiting for an organ transplant. Rae Ann and Stephanie are putting together a team of organ donors to run in the Memorial Marathon in April in Oklahoma City to raise awareness. For more information about organ donation, visit lifeshareok.org.
Keeping Friends and Family Heart Healthy in Shawnee
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OHH interventional cardiologists serving the Shawnee clinic (from left): Naveed Ahmed, MD; Suresh Chandrasekaran, MD; Bryan Perry, MD; Parker Truong, DO; Soni Zacharius, MD; Ronald White, MD; Michael Schoeffler, MD; Aamir Hameed, MD; and Nabhan Al-Nabhan, MD. Not pictured: cardiothoracic surgeon John Randolph, MD.
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Small Town Sweetheart When the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, Prague resident Brooke Watkins was just a freshman in high school. She was busy with dance, track, and her own basketball games, so it’s doubtful she ever gave much thought to spending time as an NBA cheerleader. Fast forward eight years though, and you’ll find Brooke in her third season as a part of the 20-member Thunder Girls squad. Now she can’t imagine her life without this amazing experience. “I decided to try out (that first year) the night before auditions,” she said. “I had a feeling in my heart that I should push my limits and step out of my comfort zone to try something new. At auditions, I just thought about having fun and dancing with all my heart, like I always had growing up.” Brooke began dance lessons in Prague when she was four years old, studying under Aonisty Parks at Dream Catchers Dance Company. She went on to win multiple national competition titles as a dancer there and still conducts workshops and private lessons at that studio, now located in Shawnee, when time allows. Working as a Thunder Girl has offered Brooke not only great experiences on the court but off of it as well. “The team and the amazing organization are what keep me coming back,” she said. “I can’t imagine not being surrounded
Photo by Layne Murdoch, NBAE/Getty Images
by some of my best friends doing what we love and getting tremendous opportunities to help others. I love our community involvement and the abilities we’re given to reach out and help others.” The group’s holiday appearances are her favorites, she pointed out. “We do Thanksgiving dinners and play with the kids, and I love doing that. At Christmastime we go to Target with underprivileged families and help them shop so they can have a Christmas. The Thunder Girls are teamed up with the grandparents, and we help them pick out stuff for themselves, because for most of them, they haven’t bought themselves anything in years. It’s really a life-changing experience.” The season’s schedule can take a toll on the personal life of squad members, as each Thunder Girl is either a college student, has another job elsewhere, or both. For Brooke, a double major at UCO in professional media and strategic communications, time management is very important. On game days, she normally arrives at the arena about 2 ½ hours before tip-off, and will still be around fulfilling her duties long after the final horn. She must fit in at least two workouts per week with her trainer, make appearances on behalf of the Thunder organization, and practice routines for nearly ten hours each week. It’s a grueling schedule when combined with her college classes, but “we really support each other and get each other through the hard times.” Like the players on the floor, the Thunder Girls have their own fans. People sometimes stop Brooke to say they recognize her or tell her they think they’ve seen her before. “Fans are some of my favorite memories! They’re always so sweet and excited! We’ve had fans at watch parties, games, and appearances that are just so happy to see us. One of my favorite little girls is one I always see at games, and when we walk by, it doesn’t matter what she’s doing; she’ll light up and scream, ‘The cheerleaders!!!’ and give us all high fives and hugs. Moments like that are my favorite.” Back in December, a special honor was bestowed upon Brooke, when she learned she’d be serving as the cover model for the Thunder Girls’ 2016 calendar. “It’s something that’s special to all of us,” she said, “because we work so hard for it. I was extremely honored to be the cover girl this year. It’s a very exciting time at the release party, because we see the calendar for the first time that day too. We were happy for each other and love all of the pictures.”
by: Jamie Bergsten
Chasity Tackett Speaks at Neighboring 101 Graduation
Photo by Layne Murdoch, NBAE/Getty Images
Brooke and some fellow squad members recently returned from a trip to Canada where they promoted the NBA All-Star game, which will be held this month in Toronto. They assisted with children’s basketball clinics, performed at Calgary’s college basketball games, and visited the area’s landmarks. “Canada was amazing!” she said. “We had so much fun, and all of us said we’d love to go back. The people were so nice, and the food was fantastic!” While serving as a cheerleader in this capacity has its share of glitz and glamour, it’s also an opportunity for squad members to represent the Thunder in a truly positive way. “The Thunder Girls really take pride in what we are and what we stand for. We push ourselves to be the best on and off the court. We seek to be professional, friendly, and caring women who are passionate about what we do. We love being role models to others, we love our jobs, and we always try to be the best we can be. We love OKC!” Brooke is the daughter of Mark and Shelli Watkins of Prague. She was a 2012 graduate of Prague High School, where she was state runnerup in the high jump, a two-time state runner-up in the long jump, and a two-time All State basketball player. www.shawneeoutlook.com
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SHAWNEE HISTORY
A Swiss Count Tours Indian Territory – 1832 In 1803, France purchased a large center section of America. Several exploratory ventures crossed the Mississippi River and found a lot of good land, rivers, and a host of different Indian tribes. They were the “Plains” Indians as opposed to the “Woodland” tribes among the eastern states. The growth of population in the eastern half of the United States became a political force to move the tribes west. Presidents Jefferson, Monroe, and Calhoun wanted to move all Indians east of the Mississippi River to the west side resulting in the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Five southern tribes: Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Chickasaw were the first to be moved. This movement took several decades. These tribes and others were settled into Indian Territory now called Oklahoma. Henry L. Ellsworth, former judge and recently appointed Indian Commissioner for the U.S. Government, conceived the first effort to relocate the tribes. In an array of accidental meetings between acquaintances and friends, he selected three men to accompany him on his westward trip: Washington Irving, American writer; Charles Joseph Latrope, an English writer whose wife was a daughter of the Swiss Councilor of State; and a nineteen-year-old Count Albert Alexandre de Pourtales, a Swiss Confederation family of nobility. Three of the above described their venture into Indian Territory by later writing books and articles. But nothing was found in printed form by Count Albert until 1965. Mr. George F. Spaulding and wife traveled to Munich, Germany where they met and visited with Countess Mechtild Harrach who lived in Silesia before WWII. She displayed a trunk containing artifacts which had belonged to her great-grandfather, Count Albert. Included
were letters and journals written in French by the Count. He did not write a published book, but he wrote letters to his mother. They were not translated, nor was their existence even known, for 133 years. Count Albert was born in 1812 in the Swiss Confederation within Prussia. The family lived in Neuchatel and were of nobility. They were friends of Frederick the Great. As a youth, Albert visited with six Osage Indians in Geneva. He immediately desired to visit them in their native land. His personal letters made numerous references to the Osages living in Indian Territory. He visited their camps. He met many individuals and gave many gifts. His writings described clothing, hunting skills, physical looks, and the food they consumed. From New York by steamboat, the group reached Saint Louis, Missouri by September 15, 1832. After purchasing wagons, horses, and supplies they moved to Independence, Missouri. Moving south and west the group visited the Osage Agency on October 3. This was their first vision of the Osage tribes. Leaving Kansas and going due south, they visited other sites and individuals. They soon found the main destination point: Fort Gibson on October 8, 1832. Within the broad circle tour in the heart of Oklahoma, Commissioner Ellsworth proclaimed two large surveyed sections were selected for future resettlement: Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties. The Ellsworth tour was successful. A few decades later five tribes were relocated to their allotted land: Iowa, Sauk and Fox, Kickapoo, Absentee Shawnee, and the Citizen Band Potawatomi. The apprehension of leaving the life of nobility and venturing to the unknown vanished when the Count met the Osage. He learned the culture and the danger the tribe faced. The radical change
by: Dr. Robert J. Barnard
from his own culture to the humbling activities in a strange setting brought him to a higher level of maturity. He was able to see the native environment of Oklahoma before it changed in future decades. He was in the “Cross Timbers” and began chasing a bison. He broke away from the group as he attempted to shoot the animal. He was in the wilderness and far away from the tour column. He was lost, without food and water, and he had no ammunition. Night came. He tied up the horse and spent the night in a tree. Hours later he heard a shout. A large number of friends were looking for them. The experience may have provided a lesson about caution. After a few days of rest at Fort Gibson, Count Albert visited with nearby Cherokee and Creeks. The Count and helpers cut down a large tree to build a canoe. Down the Arkansas to the Mississippi they floated. They found a steamboat going upstream to the Ohio River, they boarded boat to New York. Five and a half weeks later he reached New York. Finally, he was going home. In later years he became a Prussian diplomat. Count Albert came to America wearing continental clothing. He left in Buckskin from head to toe. A grateful appreciation to Mr. George F. Spaulding for his supportive book. On the Western Tour with Washington Irving: The Journal and Letters of Count de Pourtales University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, Oklahoma
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Luggage with Love February brings Valentine’s Day. The conversation of “love” is everywhere. Romantics search for the perfect gift that will show that special someone just how much they care. But, what is love? How is it best expressed? What makes a gift say, “You are special?” Through no fault of their own, many foster children in our area have a clouded view of love. They have experienced more hurt in their short lives than most adults can even fathom. For these innocent kids, everyday life may mean fending for themselves, neglect, abuse, domestic violence, and confusion. They have no idea of their value. The Shawnee Board of Realtors is making an effort to show these children love, and they are doing it with luggage. During January’s monthly meeting, Terry O’Rourke, Shawnee Board of Realtors President, challenged local realtors to collaborate with Luggage with Love for their 2016 service Project. Marcie Carrico, executive director of Luggage with Love, opened the meeting with a short film entitled, “Removed” (www.removedfilm.com) that shows a young girl being removed from her home where abuse and domestic violence are a daily occurrence. She cries hysterically for the baby brother she mothers as he is placed in one police vehicle and she in another. A social worker hands her a black garbage bag containing a few items that she managed to retrieve in the chaos. The only world the young girl knows is completely disrupted. “Someone hurts you so bad, you stop hurting at all until someone makes you feel again and then it all comes back. I am unseen, unheard,
unanswered. That’s what I am if even I am anything.” The girl’s words brought the group of realtors to tears. Similar scenes take place every day. Calls come at all hours of the day and night asking if foster parents can take a child in crisis. Emergency circumstances often require the immediate removal of children leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their back. In some interventions, a social worker may have time to gather a few belongings, but they have no idea what the favorite shirt is or the much-loved stuffed animal. Workers do what they can and often only have a garbage bag to collect items for the child. It’s an unintended message. “How much more can you do to humiliate a child than to place their things in a trash bag and tell them to go,” asked Marcie. She and her family have firsthand knowledge of the trauma. They have fostered 18 children over 13 years. This is the reason Marcie created “Luggage with Love.” They are a faith-based nonprofit organization whose motto is, EVERY CHILD CLOTHED; EVERY FAMILY LOVED. It is their desire to serve foster families on the first night of a placement by providing clothing and supplies to newly placed children across Oklahoma. They hope that giving these children some basic supplies they can call their own, will bring some peace and comfort into a disrupted situation and allow foster parents to focus on the immediate emotional needs of the kids. Luggage with Love has a warehouse in Norman where they store suitcases filled with age and gender appropriate items. Each suitcase has two new outfits, new underwear, new shoes, hygiene items, school supplies, and a Bible. The suitcases contain coats in the winter and swimwear in the summer. For babies, the suitcase will also contain diapers, blankets, bibs bottles, and formula. When Luggage with Love receives a call from either a social worker or family, Marcie and her team will pull the suitcase and get it to the designated volunteer driver. The driver will contact the foster family and deliver the suitcase within 12 hours. Luggage with Love began in Canadian County
by: Kristi Prince
last year to the praise of Senator James Lankford and Lana Freeman of Foster Care and Adoptive Association of Oklahoma. With the help of the Shawnee Board of Realtors, Luggage with Love launched in Pottawatomie County on February 1. Marcie challenged the realtors to form teams that will partner with businesses and churches to raise money, provide supplies, and volunteer as delivery drivers. The board eagerly accepted the challenge, ready to help. Marcie was able to share this partnership with the local DHS foster care workers and they are extremely excited about what it will mean to kids in their care. At the end of the film, though still wary, the once empty eyes of the young girl now have a bit of a spark. “My story doesn’t have to be what defines my future. Glimmers of light give me hope.” Shawnee Board of Realtors and is showing love with the gift of luggage to foster children in crises in our community. There are many ways to help and support Luggage with Love. All volunteers are background checked and trained. For information contact Marci Carrico at 405-613-9518 or email info@ luggagewithlove-ok.org. They are on Facebook as “Luggage with love.” If you are interested in foster care, please contact Andrea Stasyszen at 405-878-4083 or by email Andrea.stasyszen@ okdh.org. www.shawneeoutlook.com
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EVENTS
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY-MARCH 27
MGMO presents the Wounaan Indians of the Darien Rainforest from Panama, some of the finest basket weavers in the world. Colorful baskets show intricate, detailed patterns indicative of their land and heritage. Visit mgmoa.org for more information.
FEBRUARY 9
From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. the Shawnee Public Library is giving teens a chance to experience STEAM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics in a dynamic way. The group will build basic circuitry using 3D doodler pens and much more!
FEBRUARY 12-20
SLT presents Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” the classic Pulitzer Prize winning drama of 1955. See their website for show times and more information.
FEBRUARY 18-21
SGU’s drama team will present “Wit” by Margaret Edson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play illuminating the beauty of life at the brink of death. Dr. Vivian Bearing is a professor of English who finds herself stricken by ovarian cancer. Edson elegantly ties together Vivian’s study of metaphysical poetry, her teaching career, and her experiences with diagnosis and treatment in a moving and poignant drama. The performance is at 8 p.m. Thursday through Friday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
FEBRUARY 25
Flex your child’s creative brain muscles by exposing them to wooden building kits! The Shawnee Public Library will host Hammer Time! for kids ages 6-11 and is on a first-come firstserve basis. Call 405-275-6353 for reservations.
FEBRUARY 26
The Shawnee Lions Club will hold their 12th annual Chili cook-off from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church on 10th and Union. Tickets are $7 for adults, children $4. Cash and check accepted at the door. The Lions Club is a charity service organization promoting social, civic, cultural, and moral welfare of the communities they serve.
FEBRUARY 26-27
Outlaw Kart Supply presents Sooner Kart Racing Nationals at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center. The 4th annual event features kart racers from all over the country to race for national titles. Racing events are Friday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Check their Facebook page, “Outlaw Motorsports” for more details. 30
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GREEN THUMB
February Gardening Tips With the new year, have you made resolutions? Added items to your bucket list? Or do you just plod along, like the proverbial old-gray-mare, day after day? You know what they say, “If you do what you always did, you’ll get what you always got.” Let me share with you how I’m going to change things up this year: I start many of my plants from seed, but I admit that I often go to the local garden center and buy some vegetable plants that are already a few inches tall. However, I have been learning more about heirloom varieties. These plants have a history of being passed down within a family or community, similar to the generational passing of heirloom jewelry or furniture. People say heirloom plants often have a depth and richness of flavor you will never find at the grocery store. Luckily, these seeds are fairly easy to come by these days. I’m sure I’ll still plant the usual “tried & true” plants, but I will try a few heirloom varieties as well. There is good and bad news regarding this venture. You see, an heirloom variety has a long history of being rich in flavor and sentiment, however, this also means it was not commercially bred to resist certain diseases, etc. Most of us like our dependable tomato plants, for example, because we want as few problems as possible. This year however, I’m going to spice things up a bit, by trying striped tomatoes, purple carrots, red celery and watermelon radishes. I’ll keep you posted. Winter is also a good time to do a soil analysis. Sometimes, I am tempted to add fertilizer or other garden amendments just willy-nilly, but a good soil test is the only accurate way of determining exactly what your soil needs are. Check out the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service fact sheets at: http://osufacts.okstate. edu to learn more about this subject or a multitude of other lawn and garden topics. According to the OSU fact sheets
mentioned above, mid-February to midMarch is the best time to: • Plant your favorite “cool season” veggies, such as cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, lettuce (leaf or head), onions, green peas, potatoes, spinach, and turnips. • Spray peach and nectarine trees with a fungicide before bud-swell, for prevention of peach-leaf-curl. • Fertilize trees, including fruit and nut trees annually. • Spray on and around rose bushes with Lime Sulfur, to kill blackspot spores. If you are thinking of adding or replacing any landscaping, check out oklahomaproven.org. It is full of helpful information on plants that are welladapted for use across Oklahoma. Click on the different tabs to explore the full website and to discover all the information there.
Article and Photo by Debi Renegar, Master Gardener with the Multi-County Master Gardener Association
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