Hot 100 2015

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Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Section C, Page 2

Winners — Best Shopping Ag & Lawn Equipment Store................................LOWE’S Antiques............................................... HATTIE’S HOUSE Appliance Store....................................................LOWE’S Best Selection of Wine............. MUSKOGEE BEVERAGE Place to buy a Boat.............................. BASS PRO SHOP Carpet Store.........................................................LOWE’S Casino........................................................... CHEROKEE Cellular Phone Store.................................................AT&T Children’s Clothing Store................................. DILLARD’S Consignment Store.............................NICOLE’S CLOSET Convenience Store............................................QUIKTRIP Discount Store.................................................WAL-MART Drugstore/Pharmacy..................ECONOMY PHARMACY E-Vapor Store................................................EVOLUTION

Staff photo by Kandice Lawson

Muskogee Phoenix readers chose Lowe’s in multiple categories under the “Best Shopping.” Lowe’s won Ag & Lawn Equipment store, Appliance store, Carpet store, Hardware store, and Home Improvement store.

Furniture Store............................................. BOB LOFTIS Pawn Shop........................................................ US PAWN Place to buy a Gift........................................... DILLARD’S Pet Store............................................................... PETCO Grocery Store................................................ HOMELAND Pool/Spa Shop............................. SANDY’S POOL & SPA Hardware Store....................................................LOWE’S Recreational Vehicles......ROAD TRACK & TRAIL (RT&T) Home Improvement Store....................................LOWE’S Satellite TV Provider................................... SUDDENLINK Jewelry Store.......................................HALEY AND LOYD Shoe Store...................................... BROWN’S SHOE FIT Liquor Store.............................. MUSKOGEE BEVERAGE Shopping Center............................. ARROWHEAD MALL Manufactured Home Store..................CLAYTON HOMES Smoke Shop.................................................. CHEROKEE Medical Supply Store.................ECONOMY PHARMACY Surplus Store.................................... SOONER SURPLUS Men’s Clothing Store....................................... DILLARD’S Tire Store............................................. DISCOUNT TIRES Musical Instrument Store......................RICKETTS PIANO Used Car Dealership........KYLE EDWARDS BUICK GMC New Car Dealership....... JAMES HODGE AUTO GROUP Women’s Clothing Store.................................. DILLARD’S

Phoenix readers choose best of Muskogee More than 1,700 total ballots were submitted to the Muskogee Phoenix by deadline and counted in the Best of Muskogee readers’ choice contest.

The final ballot was published in the Muskogee Phoenix on Sunday, July 5 and online at www. muskogeephoenix.com from June 30 through midnight July 12.

The final ballot listed the top five vote-getters in 151 categories classified under Best Shopping, Best Services, Best Food, and Favorite People.

“There were a few handfuls of categories where it came down to the final vote cast on the final ballot to determine the winner,” said Rhon-

“It’s true that being nominated for consideration is an honor. (Vote-getters) were truly surprised to be recognized by their clients and customers.”

— Rhonda Overbey, Phoenix Advertising Manager

da Overbey, Phoenix advertising manager. “This was the first year that technology allowed us to produce an online ballot and the community really embraced the digital option.”

Incomplete and late ballots were tossed out as well as ballots that exceeded the one ballot per person per day criteria. Ballots were crosschecked using IP addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and names using the digital voting platform for verification.

“It’s true that being nominated for consideration is an honor,” Overbey said. “Phoenix readers may be surprised to know that when the top five vote-getters were contacted, even the advertising staff was moved by their humility. They were truly surprised to be recognized by their clients and customers.”

All nominees will receive a certificate for being recognized and winners will be awarded a wooden plaque from the Muskogee Phoenix for display in their business.

Overbey added, “The Phoenix staff is proud to honor our readers’ choices as the Best of Muskogee!”

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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Teacher and coach respected, honored as mentors, role models

By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer

Muskogee’s top teacher and coach are known for earning the respect of students and parents.

The Hot 100 top teacher is Hilldale Middle School history and civics teacher Dorothy Allen.

The top coach is former assistant Hilldale softball coach Mike Mills.

Hilldale head fastpitch softball coach and middle school principal Darren Riddle called Allen a “great role model.”

“She earned the respect of the kids,” Riddle said. “She taught some of their parents and grandparents. She is someone who, for us, is a mentor teacher.”

Riddle said Mills, who recently accepted the head fastpitch job at Wagoner, “relate(d) well with our kids.”

“He was a good role model for them,” Riddle said. “He could joke around with them and then get serious. He was part of our state championships in both softball and baseball.”

After teaching more than 7,000 students in 47 years, Dorothy Allen IS Hilldale Public Schools history.

And she isn’t anywhere nearly finished with her profession.

“I don’t see any end to it. It’s my life,” Allen said.

Allen spent her entire career at Hilldale. She said she began there as an intern.

She said it’s easy to say what has kept her at Hilldale.

(See MENTORS, 4C)

Staff photo by Cathy Spaulding

Veteran Hilldale Middle School history and civics teacher Dorothy Allen seeks to help her students become good citizens. The American flag in her classroom was given to her by a former student.

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Mentors Continued from Page C3

“The administration, my colleagues, the students and parents of the Hilldale community,” she said. “We all work together.”

She said she was thrilled to be named the top teacher on the Hot 100 list.

“Oh my goodness,” she said. “This surprised me.”

Allen said she teaches civics and history to help students become “people who honor this country, do the right thing and obey its laws.”

She said one former student, George Faught, grew up to become an Oklahoma state representative.

Mills also said he was surprised to hear about his honor.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” he said.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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A graduate of Northeastern State University, Mills said he was a pastor at various churches for 10 years.

“Nine years ago I moved to Muskogee,” Mills said, adding that he still works as an interim pastor of Ash Street Baptist Church.

Mills said he’s been at Hilldale for nine years, teaching middle school geography as well as coaching. This school year, Mills will be the head softball coach at Wagoner.

“I enjoy interacting with the kids,” he said, adding that he seeks to make a difference in their lives.

He seeks to teach kids more than the essentials of sports.

“I’m really trying to teach them life skills,” he said.

Phoenix file photo Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 Mike Mills, who coached Hilldale softball and baseball, embraces Kyla Ibarra after the Lady Hornets were upset or cspaulding@musk- by Newcastle in the Class 4A state semifinals last October. Hilldale was seeking to repeat as champions and Mills ogeephoenix.com. was a part of that as well as Hilldale’s baseball championship in 2012.

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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Winners — Favorite people Administrative Assistant.................................. JENNIFER COTNER Firstar Bank Insurance Agent.......................................................... DAVID KOLB State Farm Insurance Attorney..................................................................... RON WRIGHT Interior Decorator........................................................ KATHY HALL Auctioneer...................................................... FRANK BARTHOLET Window Designs by Kathy Auto Mechanic......................BRIAN SLADER at Brian’s Automotive Loan Officer..............................SHIRLEY HILTON, Armstrong Bank Auto Salesperson................................................. KYLE EDWARDS Nurse.........................................................................BRETTE FAST Bail Bondsman......................................................... GENE POINTS Optometrist........................... BILL PARKER, Muskogee Eye Center Banker............................................ CHRIS CONDLEY, Firstar Bank Pediatrician................................................................ TRACY HOOS Premier Pediatric And Adolescent Care Barber..............................................................JOHN TARKINGTON Pharmacist........................... GREG CZARUK, Economy Pharmacy Chiropractor............................................JANWAY CHIROPRACTIC Postal Carrier....................................................... DARLA ROGERS Coach............................................................................MIKE MILLS formerly of Hilldale Real Estate Agent................................................... SHAWN RAPER ERA C.S. Raper & Son Real Estate Dentist...............................................................ANDREW WALKER Teacher..................................................DOROTHY ALLEN, Hilldale Doctor........................................................................... EVAN COLE Maternal and Family Medical Practice Veterinarian........................................................LARRY HAMILTON Honor Heights Veterinary Clinic Financial Adviser................................................. CHRIS CONDLEY Firstar Bank Volunteer.............................. MICHAEL TORKELSON, Firstar Bank Funeral Director................................................ CARTER BRADLEY Waiter/Waitress.........................................AMY KAISER, Mahylon’s Bradley Family Funeral Home Hair Stylist......................................................................SUE PHAM Hollywood Hair Home Builder.......................................... SLAPE CUSTOM HOMES

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Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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Winners — Best services Auto Body Shop............................KYLE EDWARDS BUICK GMC Accountant/CPA/Tax Services............. MOFFITT, PARKER & CO. Auto Detail Shop.................................................TENDER TOUCH Auto Glass Tinting................................................. THE TINT LADY Bank........................................................................FIRSTAR BANK

Florist................................................................BEBB’S FLOWERS Funeral Home....................... CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME Hair Salon........................................................HOLLYWOOD HAIR Heating & Air Conditioning.........................HIX HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING

Barber Shop...................................... A-1 FAMILY HAIRCUTTERS Home Health Care Service......................HOMETOWN HOSPICE Bed & Breakfast ����������������������������� GRAHAM-CARROLL HOUSE Hospice.....................................................HOMETOWN HOSPICE Carpet Cleaning.......................................................... CLEAN PRO Massage.............................................................................HOLLY’S Check Cashing Service................................................ WAL-MART Hotel/Motel...............................................................HAMPTON INN Computer Repair Service.............................. PC LANDING ZONE Institute of Higher Learning...................NORTHEASTERN STATE Day Care Center........................JACK & JILL LEARING CENTER Insurance Company...................................................STATE FARM Day Spa..............................................................................HOLLY’S Landscape/Lawn care.............................CONDLEY LANDSCAPE Dry Cleaners........... ARCHER CLEANERS & SHIRT LAUNDERY Mortgage Company...............................................FIRSTAR BANK Electrician...................................................ETCHISON ELECTRIC Museum.............................. OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME Employment Agency............................. CHEROKEE TEMPS INC. Family Entertainment......................... GREEN COUNTRY LANES Fitness Center..............................................CHAMPION FITNESS

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Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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THERE S MORE! The REST of the BEST...inside…

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BEST OF MUSKOGEE

Celebrate

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2015

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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Section D, Page 2

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Home construction a joint effort, Slape says

By Travis Sloat

Phoenix Correspondent

Louie Slape said he was proud to win Best Homebuilder for the fifth year in the Phoenix Hot 100 Contest.

Slape, the owner of Slape Custom Homes, said he was also thankful for the people of Muskogee.

“I enjoy working with the people,” he said. “You have to communicate well with them, and once you do that, you build a relationship. I think I’ve developed a friendship with everyone I’ve ever worked with.”

Slape said he’s been in the construction business for 40 years but can’t recall when he built his first home.

“It was a long time ago,” he said. “I feel like we’ve been blessed, and I think it’s because we try to treat everyone fairly, and we try to make everyone happy. The whole process has to be a joint effort between the homeowner and me. We have to be a cohesive team.”

Slape’s homes can be found all over Muskogee and the surrounding area. Linda Newton, a recent customer of Slape’s, described her experience with him as “fantastic.”

“He’s very good,” Newton said. “Louie is very

understanding, and he does his best to work with his clients. He really gets to know them. There were a lot of things we weren’t too sure about, and he was very good about guiding us. He got to know us so well, he’d often say, ‘I knew you’d like that.’”

Slape said the process starts as soon as the client meets him in his office.

“We’ll sit down and talk about what you’re wanting,” he said. “We’ll talk about what type of house and the general ideas.

Then, we’ll start working on plans. We’ll keep tweaking and making adjustments until we get it exactly like the customer wants. We do not get in a hurry.

“We try to answer all the questions the customer has up front,” Slape continued. “We want the customer to know exactly what they’re getting, and I want to know exactly what I’m giving them.”

Newton said she and her husband were 100 percent satisfied with the finished product Slape provided.

“I would say that for us, personally, we made the right decision in going with him,” Newton said.

“You have to make your own decisions. Building

Submitted

Slape Custom Homes won Best Homebuilder for the fifth year.

a house is lots of money, but with Louie, he fit so well with our personality.

He’s very accommodating but not a pushover by any means.”

Slape said that when

you buy a custom-built home from him, he stands behind it long after the construction is over.

“They’re not just buying a house,” he said. “They’re getting my name on the

house and me standing behind it. I’m not just there until the warranty runs out. That’s not how it works with me. I want to thank everyone in the area for their support.

We try to be a good part of the community and try to offer a good product for our customers.

“It looks like the community feels that way too.”

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Section D, Page 3

Winners — Best services Nail Salon......................................................HOLLYWOOD NAILS

Plumbing Service............................................HOGLE PLUMBING

Nursing Home.............................................. EASTGATE VILLAGE RETIREMENT CENTER Real Estate Company.............................ERA C.S. RAPER & SON REAL ESTATE Oil & Lube...................................................................... DISCOUNT Roofing Company...........................................TEDDER ROOFING Painter...........................................................SHERWIN-WILLIAMS Tanning Salon................................................................ULTRA TAN Pest Control.........................BAN-A-PEST EXTERMINATING CO. Travel Agency.............................................................................AAA Pet Grooming....................................................HONOR HEIGHTS Vision Center................................................ TRIAD EYE CENTER Photography Studio.....................................RUTH KELLY STUDIO Weight Loss Center......................................CHAMPION FITNESS Place of Worship.... FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MUSKOGEE Wrecker Service.....................MORGAN TOWING & RECOVERY Place to Work.........................................................FIRSTAR BANK

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Section D, Page 4

Winners — Best food Bakery............................................................................................HARMONY HOUSE Bar/Nightlife.........................................................................................MAX’S GARAGE BBQ.............................................................................................................MAHYLON’S Birthday Cake....................................................................................SWEET & SASSY Breakfast..................................................................................................PAUL’S DINER Buffet................................................................................................GOLDEN CORRAL Catfish......................................................................................BAKER’S FISH HOUSE Cheese Dip.................................................................................................EL CHARRO Chili................................................................................................SPEEDWAY GRILLE Cup of Coffee..............................................................................................ERLY RUSH Date Night Restaurant..........................................................................RED LOBSTER Donuts............................................................................................. CHANDLER ROAD French Fries................................................................................BEACON DRIVE INN

Shop local

Fried Chicken............................................................................ CHARLIE’S CHICKEN Hamburger..................................................................................BEACON DRIVE INN Homestyle Cooking................................................................ANNA’S COFFEE CUP Italian Food..........................................GINO’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA Mexican Food.................................................................................................... CHAVAS Margarita...............................................................................................................CHILI’S Milkshake......................................................................................................... BRAUM’S Oriental Food.....................................................................................................SAKURA Pizza.................................................................................................................PISANO’S Place for Lunch.................................................................................SWEET & SASSY Salad Bar.........................................................................................GOLDEN CORRAL Sandwich shop................................................................................................. SUBWAY Seafood................................................................................................RED LOBSTER Sports bar.............................................................................BUFFALO WILD WINGS Steak.....................................................................................................................OKIES

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Section D, Page 5

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Muskogee Beverage’s family approach spans three generations

By Kandice Lawson Phoenix Staff Writer

Winning the title for best liquor store and best wine selection, Muskogee Beverage has served patrons for six decades.

The owner of Muskogee Beverage, Allen Hiller, said he loves running the store and strives to be the best and offer the best selections.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years,” Hiller said. “If customers come in and ask for me, I show them around and help them find anything they need or I can order it for them.

I’ve been doing this a long time. I’m getting pretty good at it.”

Muskogee Beverage has been family owned for three generations. Hiller said when he was growing up he had no plans to run the store.

“My father owns The Castle of Muskogee, and when he started The Castle of Muskogee I took this over and started running it for him,” Hiller said. “I kept doing it, and then he sold it to me. I’m happy I’m here. It’s a good business. When I was a teenager I didn’t imagine this.”

Hiller has owned the store since 2006, and it was passed down from his grandfather to his father and eventually to him.

“It started fairly small, but it has grown,” Hiller said. “Our sales keep increasing every year, so we’re doing great. We’ve expanded things over the years and gotten bigger and bigger for the last 60 years.”

He said Muskogee Beverage is home to one of the

Staff photo by Kandice Lawson

Muskogee Beverage General Manager Sydney Deerinwater organizes the store’s selection of wine. With more than 2,500 different wine selections in the store, Muskogee Beverage is home to one of the largest wine selections in Northeast Oklahoma.

largest wine selections in northeastern Oklahoma, with more than 2,500 brands.

Between American whiskey, Canadian whiskey, Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, vodka, gin and liqueurs, there are thousands of choices throughout the store, he said.

“We have the ability to get new products every week,” Hiller said.

“A lot of people come in and they order special cases. Our inventory is large. We try to keep our customers happy.

We really try to have everything that’s available in the state. Our customer service is great

too.”

Hiller said a favorite among customers is microbrewery beers.

“Microbeers are beers that are not brewed,” he said. “Budweiser has a huge brewery. They brew and ship it all over the world. Microbreweries only brew a little bit at a time, so it’s harder to get,

and you can get a lot of different flavors.”

Muskogee Beverage General Manger Sydney Deerinwater has worked in the store for more than two years. She said she enjoys helping people find that perfect wine or drink.

“We’ve had people come down from Fort Smith to get bottles and people

drive from Tulsa just to come here. It’s exciting,” Deerinwater said. “I enjoy getting to see all the new products and getting customers into new products they may enjoy or fall in love with.”

Reach Kandice Lawson at (918) 684-2914 or kandice.lawson@muskogeephoenix.com.

Hot 100 Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Section D, Page 6

Mahylon’s goes beyond barbecue

By Travis Sloat

Phoenix Correspondent

Muskogee residents have enjoyed Kenny Greer’s slowsmoked barbecue for 20 years, so it’s no surprise that Mahylon’s Barbecue was voted Best Barbecue in town.

Mahylon’s was opened in September 1995 by Greer and his father, and Greer said he owes his dad a debt of gratitude.

“He helped me get started and showed me the barbecue ropes,” Greer said.

And although the restaurant started as strictly a barbecue joint, Greer said they’ve continuously updated their menu to provide a wider selection of eats.

“We started out centered on barbecue, and we’ve stuck to that,” he said. “But over the years we’ve branched out and done things that aren’t barbecue. When you say the name Mahylon’s, it’s synonymous with barbecue, but we’ve found people come here for a lot of other things as well.”

Jim McDonough said he’s been coming to the restaurant regularly ever since it opened.

“I love the brisket,” McDonough said. “The food quality is always consistent. You always know what you’re going to get when you walk in here. I’m not surprised at all that they won.”

Terry Milan, who was having lunch with McDonough, echoed his sentiments on consistency.

“When I’m trying out a new barbecue restaurant, I always try the brisket,” Milan said.

“That’s my measuring stick to determine if it’s a good place to eat. The brisket here is simply outstanding, but I like everything. I’m having the chicken salad today.”

It’s not just the locals who patronize Mahylon’s. Celebrities far and wide have been known to stop in for the barbecue, and some have been catered to by Greer and company

Waitress Rachel Parker takes orders from Tody Etchison, Kenny Palmer and Kevin Etchison. The guys ordered a chicken fried steak, a wrap and a club sandwich, respectively.

at different venues in Muskogee.

“We’ve had Jimmy Johnson, the NASCAR driver, stop in,” Greer said. “Just last week we had Stacy McGee and Robert Thomas stop in. We feed Richard Petty out at Davis Field, and we’ve served a lot of artists at the Muskogee Civic Center.

“The importance of Mahylon’s, being in Muskogee, is that we employ quite a few local people,” he continued.

“Those paychecks are going to the local economy here. We’re a quality restaurant, and we have a very clean environment. We also have outstanding service, and we strive for that each day we’re open.”

The wait staff’s friendliness is not lost on the customers.

Both McDonough and Milan said they think the service is top-notch, and that, along with the food, keeps them coming back.

Greer said they have “some things up their sleeves” for celebrating the restaurant’s 20-year anniversary in September.

“We’ll be promoting the business and saying thank you,” he said. “And we’d like to say thank you specifically to our customers, our family and our friends for helping us achieve this award and for helping us celebrate 20 years. Without them it’d be impossible.

We look forward to serving a quality product in a clean and The ribs are smoked and served up on pieces of white bread, friendly environment for many while the sides usually need another plate. years to come.”

Muskogee Phoenix

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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Sunday, July 26, 2015

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