Oklahoma Living September 2010

September 2010 www.ok-living.coop

Hollywood comes to Oklahoma

• ECO tourism

• A reliable landscape

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ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF OKLAHOMA SEPTEMBER 2010 VOL. 59 NO. 9 www.ok-living.coop

The landscape of reliability Vegetation management programs keep your power flowing . . . . . . . . 8

Co-op director pens over 100 novels Dusty Richards is an award-winning Western writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Is Oklahoma the new Hollywood?

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Incentives lure filmmakers . . . . . . 20

Tourism goes green ECO program highlights energy conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Departments Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Co-op Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Ask Willie Oklahoma Outside . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 This ‘n’ That . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Oklahoma Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Oklahoma Eats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Trading Post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Photo Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

ON THE COVER The Oklahoma Film and Music Office is working to bring big-budget Hollywood productions to Oklahoma.

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C O M M E N TA R Y

Climate legislation stalls

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espite much debate and pol i t i c a l m a n e uvering, Congress has so far failed to enact comprehensive energy and climate change legislation. With legislators’ focus now on Chris Meyers the mid-term elections General Manager, this November, it is unOklahoma Association likely there will be any of Electric Cooperatives comprehensive energy or climate legislation taken up this year. There may still be a chance for narrowly focused energy legislation targeted at offshore drilling or renewable energy standards, but nothing comprehensive.

Why has Congress failed to pass any kind of climate legislation? There isn’t widespread disagreement about the need to take steps toward cleaner fuels and reducing green house gas emissions. Partisan politics aren’t entirely to blame either. The real problem lies in agreeing how to transition our energy sources in an affordable and achievable way and over what time frame it can reasonably be accomplished.

The path forward is a very difficult one. It is difficult because this transition has global, national and local economic consequences that vary widely. We

will continue to use a wide variety of energy sources, such as coal, natural gas, oil and nuclear as well as renewables such as hydro, wind and solar. The market share of each of these is what will shift.

Globally, our dependence on fossil-based fuels and our investments in plants and equipment that burn fossil-based fuel is significant. There are entire sectors of the economy built around each of these fuels. Very large investments made by utilities and heavy industry designed to consume those specific fuels. We potentially strand large investments made by these industries if we abandon fossil fuels. Energy legislation also has an impact on the consumer in terms of cost, not to mention the livelihoods of millions of workers who work in those industries.

There are also physical barriers to making the transition. For example, renewables like wind and solar are located in areas where there is not enough transmission capacity to move the power they generate. There needs to be an investment in high voltage transmission lines before renewables can play a larger role.

Climate legislation has stalled but it will be back.

It’s not reasonable to expect such a complex issue be solved in one legislative session. It may take several sessions to achieve the compromises necessary to get anything passed. In the meantime, Oklahoma’s electric co-ops will continue to work on the critical issues important to you as both a consumer and member-owner of energy assets. OL

The co-op commitment to affordable power for all

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klahoma’s electric cooperatives deliver affordable power to you every day. It’s why electric cooperatives were created, and it’s a commitment we plan to keep.

In the 1920s and early ’30s, central station elecJohn Bruce tric service was a luxury President, that only 10 percent Oklahoma Association of rural residents naof Electric Cooperatives tionwide enjoyed—and those who had power paid dearly for it. When Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Warm Springs, Ga., in 1924, he was dismayed to find electricity for his small cottage cost four times what it did at his estate in New York. After being elected president, he created the federal Rural Electrification Administration by Executive Order to make power affordable for all Americans. As a result, electric co-ops were born.

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Innovations in line building pioneered by coop engineers and the competitive pressure co-ops placed on investor-owned utilities to serve rural areas slashed the cost of providing electric service in the countryside by 50 percent or more.

In the decades since, co-ops have established a proven track record of offering stable and affordable electric rates. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in fact, shows that since 2000, co-op electric rates have consistently run lower than the industry average. This is further proof that we’re committed to keeping electricity bills within your means.

But the struggle for affordable power that farmers and their neighbors fought three-quarters of a century ago has flared up again through the debate over climate legislation. Other issues might be more pressing for Congress at the moment, but the debate will continue.

Our job, on your behalf, is to work closely with Congress to find the best solutions for addressing climate change while keeping the price of electricity within your means. OL

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Chris Meyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Manager John Bruce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President J. Chris Cariker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice-President Glenn Propps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary-Treasurer

Staff Sidney Sperry . . . . . . . . . . Director of Public Relations

& Communications Chelsey Simpson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor Larry Skoch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising Manager Christy Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office Manager Emilia Buchanan . . . . . . Communications Assistant Tricia Dameron . . . . . . . . . . Communications Intern,

Food Editor

Editorial, Advertising and General Offices P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309 Phone (405) 478-1455 Oklahoma Living online: www.ok-living.coop

Subscriptions $2.88 per year for rural electric cooperative members. $5.75 per year for non-members.

Cooperative Members: Report change of address to your local rural electric cooperative.

Non-Cooperative Members: Send address changes to Oklahoma Living, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.

Oklahoma Living (ISSN 1064-8968), USPS 407-040, is published monthly for consumer-members of Oklahoma’s rural electric cooperatives by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, 2325 E. I-44 Service Road, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.

Circulation this issue: 316,792.

Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and ­additional mailing offices.

The Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives is a statewide service organization for the following electric cooperatives: Alfalfa, Arkansas Valley, Caddo, Canadian Valley, Central Rural, Choctaw, Cimarron, Cookson Hills, Cotton, East Central Oklahoma, Harmon, Indian, KAMO Power, Kay, Kiamichi, Kiwash, Lake Region, Northeast Oklahoma, Northfork, Northwestern, ­Oklahoma, Ozarks, People’s, Red River Valley, Rural, Southeastern, Southwest Rural, Tri-County, Verdigris Valley, and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.

CO-OP LIVING

Ask Willie!

If you have a question for Willie, send it to: editor@ok-living.com, ATTN: Willie Dear Willie, I’ve seen a number of wireless charging mats for electronic devices that claim to save energy. What type of savings can we expect from these units?

Terry in Binger

New photo contest

Win $300 and have your picture published in Oklahoma Living

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or several years now, Oklahoma Living has held a recipe contest to raise money for charity, but this year we decided it was time for something new. Goodbye pie, hello blue sky ... and green grass, scruffy pets, dimpled babies, flaming foliage, weathered old barns and anything else you want to send us. There are no themes or categories; we want all of your best Oklahoma photos.

One grand-prize winner will receive $300 and publication in Oklahoma Living’s December issue.

Twelve other winners will receive $50 in travel vouchers to spend at Oklahoma’s state parks and state-owned golf courses, and their photographs will be published in Oklahoma Living. The winning photos will also be used to create a calendar, which will be sold through the magazine to raise money for this year’s charity, the Oklahoma Spay Network.

This wouldn’t be a fair contest without rules, so

here they are: Submitted photographs will not be returned, and winning images become the property of Oklahoma Living for use in print and on our website. Entries may be mailed as 8x10 prints or on a CD. Digital entries must be high resolution. Photos must be taken in Oklahoma. All entries must be received by October 1. There is a $5 entry fee for each photograph submitted. Proceeds will benefit the Oklahoma Spay Network. Make checks or money orders payable to Oklahoma Living.

Mail prints or CDs to: Oklahoma Living Calendar Contest 2325 E. I-44 Service Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Include your name, telephone number and mailing address with each entry. Good luck! OL

Terry, Although charging mats may be great to have around for convenience, it’s unlikely that they will save much energy. These products generally consist of a platform big enough to fit three or four phones or mp3 players along with a specialized case for each electronic device that allows it to work with the platform. After everything has been set up, users can simply drop their devices on the platform and they will immediately begin charging, eliminating wires and reducing clutter.

Claims of energy savings arise from the fact that these products can charge multiple electronic devices at once and, in some cases, stop charging as soon as the device’s batteries are full (thus reducing so-called “vampire” load that occur when chargers continue to “suck” energy even though they’re not in use).

The two leading manufacturers of these wireless charging mats, PureEnergy Solutions Inc. and Powermat USA, use different technologies for their mats. PureEnergy uses conductive technology, like a normal charger, via a series of metallic strips on the pad that transfer electricity directly to metal conductors on the back of the device case. Powermat uses induction to charge devices, an approach in which the mat uses electricity to generate a magnetic field that is then re-converted into electrical power by the device’s case.

Both companies’ devices draw around 0.5 watts of power when plugged in but not in use. When compared to Energy Star–rated chargers, which draw an average of 0.12 watts when not in use (for a 5-watt cell phone charger), it’s easy to see that the vampire load of a wireless power mat is roughly equivalent to leaving four standard chargers plugged in all the time.

Additionally, Powermat incurs further losses when it is charging devices due to the reduced transmission efficiencies involved in conveying electricity through induction. All of this means that these wireless charging mats aren’t a good way to save energy—in fact, in many situations, they actually use more than a normal charger.

Source: Cooperative Research Network. OL SEPTEMBER 2010 5

CO-OP LIVING

The landscape of reliability

Vegetation management programs keep your power flowing safely

By Megan McKoy-Noe

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rees may seem harmless on a calm, sunny day. But add a bit of wind or ice on a stormy night and those towering pillars may threaten your home’s electric supply.

“A great majority of our storm outages are related to trees contacting power lines,” comments Ken Guffey, director of safety and loss control for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives.

“Regular trimming of trees and brush along power lines helps cut down on the number of outages as well as annoying blinks.”

Electricity interruptions can occur when branches break and fall across power lines, or when trees tumble onto power lines. When strong winds blow, limbs growing too close to power lines may sway and touch wires. These momentary power disruptions (commonly called “blinks” or ‘blips”) aren’t just mild annoyances—they could cause damage to some equipment. And then there’s arcing—when electricity uses a nearby tree as a path to the ground.

That action poses hazards to anyone in the vicinity.

To fight these potential problems, utilities wage a never-ending war. Vegetation management crews work, in some cases, year-round to clear growth away from power lines as a way of reducing potential outages and safety risks.

“Your local co-ops are committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable power, and our vegetation management program is key to fulfilling that promise,” stresses Guffey Vegetation management crews look for foliage growing under lines, overhanging branches, leaning or other types of “danger” trees that could pull down a power line if they fall, and trees that could grow into lines. As a rule of thumb, 25 feet of clearance should be available on each side of utility poles to give power lines plenty of space.

“This job never ends,” explains Guffey. “By the time our crews finish clearing trees and brush from hundreds or even thousands of miles of lines, it’s time to go back and to clear away new growth.”

Vegetation management programs have met with widespread success. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which oversees reliability of the transmission system that blankets the United States, most of Canada, and one Mexican state, tracks bulk power supply-related outages.

The group lists the period between July and September as “high-risk” for outages due to seasonal tree and shrub growth.

Aggressive upkeep has led to a drop in vegetation problems. For the first time ever, no summertime transmission outages were reported last year.

“Managing vegetation along North America’s 350,000 miles of transmission lines is an ongoing challenge,” acknowledges Rick Sergel, NERC president & CEO. “I commend transmission owners and operators for this achievement, which clearly dem6 OKLAHOMA LIVING

onstrates the industry’s dedication to improving performance in this area.”

Making the Cut Typically, a utility will not remove trees. Instead, errant limbs and branches too close to power lines are trimmed away.

“The Tree Care Industry Association [TCIA, formerly the National Arborist Association] receives a lot of calls from homeowners complaining that their utility company ‘drastically’ cut trees near power lines,” shares Tchukki Andersen, TCIA staff arborist.

are employed. A V-cut prunes branches back toward the center of the tree’s crown, basically carving a Vshape through the middle to provide line clearance.

If limbs grow too close to lines on one side of a tree, side trimming takes place—branches on the entire side are removed. Finally, the notch method clips limbs on one side of a tree from the top to a safe area underneath, leaving a canopy that will not cause any problems.

If you want to remove a tree near a power line, your co-op will work with you. Contact the office before tackling the project for more information.

Branching Out While trees and branches remain the primary cause of outages, other offenders abound—vehicles running into poles or animals getting too close to polemount transformers or equipment in substations.

Electrical components can also be damaged by lightning and even drifting balloons.

Cooperatives, with a focus on keep electricity reliable, have a number of programs geared towards reducing power interruptions. A 2009 study by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) found 89 percent of cooperatives across the nation operate aggressive tree trimming programs. Lightning arrestors are used by 83 percent of co-ops, and another 82 percent have field personnel patrol distribution facilities to look for potential trouble spots. Animal guards, mainly used to protect against squirrels, are installed by 81 percent of co-ops.

Your Part

Your co-op respects your property, and decides how to trim trees based on the amount of clearance needed around wires, voltage coursing through lines, the tree’s growth rate and the right-of-way maintenance cycle (how frequently trimming along the line is performed). Most lineworkers and crews hired to perform vegetation management treat trees with care, often following TCIA guidelines.

“When evaluating the quality of such activities, consider that a utility’s primary objective is to prevent outages as well as electrical hazards,” explains Andersen.

Members who are distraught by tree trimming practices should weigh their frustrations against the alternative: potentially unreliable electric service and the possibility of prolonged outages.

For long-standing trees that have grown too close to overhead lines, several trimming options

Although a tree-lined street may sound ideal, trees planted too close to power lines will be trimmed to prevent power fluctuations and outages. So get your yard off to a good start—keep utility poles in mind when planting trees.

In general, tall-growing trees or varieties boasting wide canopies shouldn’t be placed near utility poles.

A local nursery can generally provide information outlining how tall and quickly a tree will grow.

Trees are a valued part of every yard’s landscaping, and with proper planning your trees can grow to their full potential without causing power line woes. Several guides are available for prospective planters; to learn more visit the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org.

Safety plays a big role in your utility’s right-ofway trimming practices. Children climbing trees could come into contact with a live wire if trees are too close to power lines. Notice any dead, dying, or severely leaning trees near power lines in your area?

Be sure to alert your local electric cooperative. And don’t worry—if high winds or heavy layers of ice bring down trees and power lines near your home, local co-ops have line crews on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond. OL

SEPTEMBER 2010 7

CO-OP LIVING

Invest some time in next year’s garden

Summer is almost over, but a good gardener’s work is never done

By Allan Storjohann

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or many gardeners, Labor Day is the light at the end of the tunnel. After a long, hot summer, the temperatures have finally cooled and a little rain has fallen, giving plants some new vitality. For the next eight weeks—right up to the first frost in late October—we should experience some delightful weather. Good growing conditions will bring a healthy growth spurt in many trees, shrubs and perennials. Fall blooms and new leaves on trees that defoliated during the drought will be a ­welcome surprise.

Almost every year, I am tempted to kick back and relax after a summer of hard work—but that would be a major mistake since much of next season’s success will depend upon how I finish up this one. So, are there some specific things that gardeners can do now—before the rush is on to winterize—that will help the garden and landscape be ready for the next growing season? Absolutely! Here are several suggestions for end-of-season activities around the home and garden.

One of the most important things to accomplish before winter sets in is to clean out the weeds from

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If you must prune shrubs, do so carefully. Fall is the perfect time, however, to divide crowded perennials like these irises.

Gently pull apart the root balls and plant the divided plants about 18 to 24 inches apart.

all your flower beds and vegetable gardens. Perennial weeds like Bermuda grass, Johnson grass and field bindweed can develop a strong hold in the late season. You get rid of these noxious weeds in a number of ways.

Hand weeding is the most time consuming and generally does not get all of the roots and stems of the pesky perennial grasses. We now have a number of products labeled for grass control that will not harm the ground covers, perennials and shrubs in

CO-OP LIVING your planting beds. Look for products with the active ingredient sethoxydim. If you want to clear an area for a future garden or flower bed, you can use products that contain glyphosate. Remember, this will kill any green plant that it is sprayed on, so be care­ful. Neither of these herbicides are persistent in the soil, so don’t worry about planting into treated areas after the weeds are gone.

If you are averse to chemical use, simply smother them out with a commercially available weed barrier, black plastic, old carpet or very thick mulch.

Every couple of years, your perennials will let you know that they need to be divided. Flowers will be fewer and plants will appear stunted and crowded.

This is a great time to dig up and divide plants like irises, daylilies and Shasta daisies. Gently lift them from the flower bed, pull them apart and, after removing bad leaves and roots, replant them with generous spacing, between 18 and 24 inches.

Many ask if they can prune back their shrubs in the fall. Perennials can be cut back with no negative effect; however, pruning shrubs too heavily can stimulate branches to sprout at a time when the plant really needs to save energy prior to winter.

Your plants will need sufficient reserves of carbo­ hydrates and nutrients to make it through the long, cold winter ahead. If you must prune, just remove seed pods, straggly shoots and damaged branches.

September is a great month to plant colorful

Top Tasks for Fall: – Tackle weeds – Divide perennials – Plant autumn annuals – Seed your lawn – Prune carefully annu­als, such as pansies, ornamental cabbage and kale. The pansies will bloom all winter long when temperatures are higher, and the kale lasts as a colorful decoration until we get down into the single digits. Garden mums can be planted or set around in pots for decorations. I always buy the mums that are not in full bloom yet, so I can enjoy them longer in the garden.

This is also the time of year to spray for nuisance bugs. I always spray around the foundation of the house and outbuildings, up and down tree trunks and in areas that I have noticed ants, roaches, spiders and caterpillars.

As the growing season ends, an opportunity to save money arrives. Many of your plants can easily be propagated by taking stem cuttings and rooting

them in water. Coleus, sweet-potato vine, verbena and begonia are examples of some of the plants you can carry over as small rooted cuttings and save a bundle of money next spring when it’s time to plant the flower garden again.

For all the gardeners who like to mow yearround, this is the time to overseed your Bermuda grass lawn with perennial rye for winter color.

It is also the time to seed fescue in the shady areas of your lawn. A number of great blends of coolseason grasses are on Allan Storjohann Allan serves as ­manager the shelves at your local for Oklahoma City’s lawn and garden store.

Myriad Gardens and hosts For full-sun areas, I a ­popular garden show on would encourage you to KRMG radio out of Tulsa. He use perennial rye as your can be reached by email at algardens@cox.net. seed, as it will die back next June when it gets hot and the Bermuda will take over again. Fescue is a bit more persistent and will look spotty in the lawn; it is best-suited as a permanent grass in shady areas.

If you would like to ask a question about your lawn, landscape or gardens, send me an email! OL

SEPTEMBER 2010 9

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his election is free of annoying advertising and campaign promises, but it does have one thing in common with November’s coming drama: Your vote is essential!

We use a two-phase system to pick the winners of our annual Best of Oklahoma Living contest, with phase one involving a write-in ballot and phase two acting as a run-off between our collective top picks. The write-in portion of our contest is complete, so now it is time to circle your favorites and send in your new ballot.

If you need extra motivation, don’t forget that there is a prize involved for you, too. If you vote in the at least four categories, you will be entered to win one of three $100 credits on your electric bill. Prize winners will be selected by random drawing. Good luck!

1. Small town:

5. Place to find a bargain:

2. Mexican restaurant:

6. Actor or actress:

Copper Penny, Cushing Tulsa Flea Market Yard/garage sales

Guthrie Medicine Park Tahlequah

El Charro Papa Poblanos, Idabel Ted’s Cafe Escondido

James Garner Reba McEntire

3. Cabin getaway:

Great Salt Plains Keystone Dam My yard/porch

Beavers Bend State Park Robbers Cave State Park Tenkiller State Park

4. Place to ride a bicycle: Lake Hefner Trails, Oklahoma City River Park Trails, Tulsa

Mail ballots to:

7. Bird-watching spot:

8. Blog:

www.blogoklahoma.com www.thepioneerwoman.com

Best of Oklahoma Living PO Box 54309 Oklahoma City, OK 73154

Name: ____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________________ Your electric co-op: _____________________________________

No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Ballots must be received by November 4th to be eligible. Ballots must be original copies of Oklahoma Living, not photocopies or faxes.

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CO-OP LIVING

Investing 101: Know where to put your money

By Katie L. Reim

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f you had $1,000 to invest, what would be your best choice?

Eileen St. Pierre, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension personal finance specialist, said if you do not have an emergency savings account, your $1,000 should definitely go to starting that account.

“Investing is a lot more than picking that one stock that’s going to shoot through the roof and allow you to retire at 30,” St. Pierre said. “Investing is a process that helps you achieve your financial goals.”

The first step in investing is determining what your financial goals are, such as making a down payment on a house, having a secure retirement or funding your child’s college education.

St. Pierre said for the average investor, the easiest way to build assets is to save consistently.

“Set aside a certain amount of money each month to fund your financial goals,” she said. “Have the money automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account by your investment company if you don’t think you will be disciplined enough to do it yourself.”

If the money is for your retirement, have the money taken directly out of your paycheck and

put into your 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan, taking advantage of any employer match. This type of investing is called dollar cost averaging and will help you avoid having to time the market when buying securities, St. Pierre said.

It is also important to know how long you will need to invest your money to achieve your financial goals. This will help determine the types of securities you choose for your investments.

“For a short-term goal, safety of principal is most important, so you would invest the money in a low-risk investment like a money market account, sacrificing some return,” she said. “On the other hand, if you’re saving for retirement, you will need to earn a high enough return to offset inflation and rising medical costs and make sure your money grows enough so that it lasts. This will require investing some part of your retirement portfolio into stocks.”

Determine how much risk you are willing to take on to reach your financial goals. Stocks are riskier than bonds and bank CDs, but we expect to earn a higher return on stocks to compensate for that risk. St. Pierre said that is the tradeoff. If you are not willing to take on enough risk in your long-term investment portfolio, you may fall short of your

financial goal. Then you may have to save more and/ or lower your expectations. It is important to have a diversified investment portfolio. Hold enough different securities so that if one performs badly, it will not drag down your entire portfolio.

A mutual fund or an ETF holds a large number of securities, so when you buy into the fund, you will own a share of all the securities. It is important to understand what types of securities the fund invests in and the total cost of your investment including mutual fund fees or ETF trading commissions.

“Everyone has the capability to be a successful investor,” St. Pierre said. “Remember investing is a disciplined process. Take your time and make educated decisions.” OL

SEPTEMBER 2010 11

Co-op director pens over 100 novels

Dusty Richards is living his dream as an award-winning author of westerns

By Kathy Holsonbake 2007. The Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock recognized Richards with the Cowboy Culture Award for his achievements in western writing and for helping aspiring authors hone their craft. This summer, Richards’ book Texas Blood Feud won the Will Rogers Medallion award for best fiction of the year.

The secret to his success is simple: His books are about people. Richards’ life has been about people, too, helping them to find their way, promoting the Western way of life and simply being a good neighbor. The heroes in his books don’t seem much different than the 72-year-old author, who worked on ranches and cowboyed as a teenager, tried his hand at being a bull rider, became a rodeo announcer and auctioneer, and finally took a shot at his lifelong dream.

“You have to have a real, strong, hero,” he says. “In some ways, that hero has to be bigger than life. That hero has to have a cause, and you have to let the reader see that hero succeed or fail. It’s the conflicts that keep you hooked.”

Richards’ road to western writing took him many Dusty Richards clutches places before his first book was published. He was a his Wrangler statue rodeo announcer, a licensed auctioneer and worked after ­accepting a Western in management at Tyson Foods for 33 years. He Heritage Award for his novel The Sundown Chaser. toiled away at his dream job for 10 years before his first book was published in 1992. Noble’s Way follows the efforts of a man named McCurtain who is was one of a few writers trying to find a place where he won’t be persecuted. hired to carry on CompHis first professional nod of approval came from ton’s story lines after he the Oklahoma Writers Federation in 2003. He won passed away in 1999. the Fiction Book of the Year Award for The NatuRichards and his ral. The book chronicled the life of a present-day wife, Pat, spend hours ­rodeo announcer who meets a rookie bull rider researching each book, from Arkan­sas. Richards 20 years with the Rodeo often using firsthand of the Ozarks helped flesh out the story. A year lat- accounts such as diaries er, his book written under the name Ralph Comp- and letters to put palatable facts with his colorful ton won the same award. Ralph Compton was a fiction. He keeps a journal of folks he meets and popular western writer who had several books on often uses some of their mannerisms or characterThe New York Times best-seller list. Dusty Richards istics to give life to his imaginary characters.

“You got to give them detail,” Richards says. “You have to let readers know how the characters feel.

They ought to be able to feel the sand behind the hero or heroine’s teeth.”

Historian and Guthrie resident Sheldon Russell And unlike many of his counterparts, Richards continues his thrilling Hook Runyon mystery writes about strong, independent women of the ­series with The Insane Train. After a deadly fire at West. a California insane asylum, Hook Runyon must “The women I know can do what a man can do. help transfer the surviving patients to a new locaI don’t figure it was that much different back then. tion in Oklahoma. After a series of unexplained Research and history show how tough women were. murders along the route, Runyon puts his own They didn’t always need rescuing or saving; many safety at risk to uncover the true killer. Look for of them could get by on their own just fine,” he The Insane Train this November. ­explains.

Yukon resident Robin Munger’s first book, MomRichards is currently working on finishing his my’s Shoes, is an ode to a favorite childhood pas100th novel for publication. No doubt he pauses time—playing dress-up. This sweet children’s book from time to time to reflect on the life of a teenage is about a little girl who loves dressing up in her boy who sat on a long-dead author’s cabin steps, mommy’s shoes, especially the high heels. dreaming of the day when he could take his own place in the annals of Western literary history. OL

Check out these Oklahoma reads: Author Rilla Askew frequently uses Oklahoma’s history and landscape as a springboard for her characters’ development and struggles. This holds true for Strange Business, Askew’s most recent work published by the University of Oklahoma Press.

Experience, memory and town-consciousness bind this collection of ten stories spanning 25 years in fictitious Cedar, Oklahoma.

In Building One Fire, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chad Smith and renowned CherokeeOsage scholar and author Rennard Strickland, present a unique look at Cherokee art through the lens of Cherokee philosophy. Building One Fire presents more than 200 art works by some 80 artists, which speak to what it means to be Cherokee.

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Courtesy of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Hall of Fame

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ith a smile as broad and as bright as the Arizona sun he grew up under, western author Dusty Richards accepted the Western Heritage Award for Outstanding Western Novel and said with a tip of his hat, “Thank God for the Cowboy Hall of Fame!”

The National Cowboy Museum honored the Ozarks Electric director with this year’s Outstanding Western Novel prize. The Western Heritage Awards recognize artists who keep the spirit of the American West alive through books, songs, films or television. The awards are in their 49th year and have recognized such western literary icons as Elmer Kelton, Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy.

Richards’ book, The Sundown Chaser, follows the life of Herschel Baker, a Montana sheriff who is forced to deal with a horse thief who just happens to be the father who abandoned Herschel when he was a boy. The book is the third installation in a series of five.

Richards has dreamed of writing western novels since he was a boy watching his cowboy heroes at the Saturday-afternoon movies. He started the cowboy dream when his family moved to Arizona: he had a horse of his own, worked on ranches and competed in rodeos. One memory is still vivid after half a century.

“I had a chance to visit Zane Grey’s cabin when I was trout fishing,” Richards says. “I asked the lady who owned the land if I could go sit on the cabin porch. When she asked why, I told her because one day, I’d be on a shelf next to Zane Grey. She told me, “Go ahead—something might rub off ’.”

It worked—Richards is a prolific western writer, with several trophies on his shelf. In addition to the Wrangler—a handsome bronze sculpture of a cowboy astride a horse, which is awarded to each Heritage winner—Richards has won awards from the Oklahoma Writers Federation and the Western Writers of America. He won two Spur Awards in

O K L A H O M A T R AV E L S

Go ductless

Exiting the ductwork highway could save $250-450 annually

By Eric Cody and Brian Sloba

I

nside walls, along ceilings, and under the floors of many homes lies a highway system of ductwork that delivers cool air in summer and warm air during winter. But even in the best of systems, as much as 20 percent of the hot or cold air never reaches your living space.

That’s because conditioned air must first warm or cool the duct before air at the right temperature comes out. In addition, seams and joints allow conditioned air to leak into wall cavities while bends and turns hamper air flow. While sealing and insulating ductwork will help, the vast majority of the highway remains hidden behind walls and not easily accessible.

Alternative to traditional ducted systems A proven alternative around this issue exists—ductless heat pumps (DHPs), also called “mini-split” heat pumps because they are suitable for conditioning smaller areas and consist of a separate outside compressor and one or more inside air-handling units.

A complete DHP system includes these main components: 1) An outside compressor unit. 2)One or more indoor air handling units mounted on a wall or ceiling. 3) Refrigerant line(s)—insulated copper tubing running from a compressor to air handling unit(s), generally running along the outside of a wA handheld wireless remote or wall-mounted control unit with programmable thermostat After decades of use in Asia, Europe, and in American commercial buildings, DHPs may be poised to gain a share of the U.S. residential market.

These devices use an estimated 50 percent 60 percent less energy than electric resistance heating systems. There are claims that they may even exceed the efficiency of ducted heat pump systems by more than 25 percent, although comparative performance data does not yet exist.

Reduce monthly bills Ductless heat pumps cost more up-front but will save homeowners money compared to electric resistance heating systems, such as baseboard or radiant ceiling heat. They even offer some advantages when compared to conventional air-source heat pumps. DHP features include: — Elimination of duct-related losses, typically in the range of 15 percent to 20 percent.

— Inverter technology, allowing compressor and fans to run at variable speeds, contributing to improved energy efficiency by avoiding on-off cycling losses.

— Different comfort levels in different zones, unlike centralized systems that have only offer a single temperature set point. This feature contributes to savings by avoiding heating or cooling of spaces not being used.

— Some current DHP models produce as much as 60 percent of full heating capacity at outside air temperatures as low as 17 degrees Fahrenheit, making the need for a supplemental heating system less essential.

Ductless heat pumps are not cheap. For new homes, a DHP may cost as much as 30 percent more than a ducted system. The total installed cost of a 1.25-ton DHP system for heating and cooling a single zone typically runs about $4,000. Costs are in a state of flux and vary considerably depending on specific installation factors and competition among contractors. But consumers can expect to save between $250 and $450 per year compared to electric resistance heating.

In addition to the initial cost, the primary drawback associated with DHPs may be aesthetics. The indoor air handling unit must be mounted on a wall or ceiling in each room. The refrigerant line typically runs along the outside of the home and enters a room through a small hole. The line continues along the inside of the wall until it reaches the wall-mounted unit.

As with any purchase, contact a reputable contractor and talk to someone who has installed a ductless heat pump. OL SEPTEMBER 2010 13

Meet Jingles and Sassy!

These sweet sisters would love to find a home together. They are expert lap dogs and would enjoy an older companion who has plenty of lap time to spare. They are about 7 and have great dispositions. Both are spayed, up to date on their shots, and ready to go home with their new family. All perspective adopters must be willing to fill out an application and pay an adoption fee.

14 OKLAHOMA LIVING

If you can give them a home, call Lenora at 918-225-2140 or email cimarronhumane@yahoo.com. Many rural communities are facing an animal overpopulation crisis, so please adopt your next pet from a local shelter and spay or neuter every animal in your care. Visit www.petfinder. com to see a list of adoptable animals in your community.

You CAN have too much of a good thing.

For information on low-income spay/ neuter programs all across Oklahoma please go to: www.okspaynetwork.org or call 580-924-5873 SEPTEMBER 2010 15

T H I S ‘ N ’ T H AT

Events for a good cause, flea remedy, songs and hobbies Inspiration Hill will have a gospel concert September 4 at 7 p.m. The concert will feature Dave McVay, The Graves Family and Tom Borror. Inspiration Hill is 2.5 miles north of Wellston at 880669 S. 3330 Road. A love offering will be collected. Call 405-3564051 for more information. Concerts are the first Saturday of the month, May through October.

The Mid-States Bit & Spur Swap Show and Sale will be September 11, at the Craig County Fairgrounds in Vinita. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. New dealers welcome! Indoor tables will be provided. Bits, spurs and ranch cowboy gear only! No regular set up fee, but dealers are expected to make a donation to help pay the rent. Shoppers & swappers get in free!

See map and more details at www.bitsandspurs.com.

The Bulls & Broncs Rodeo Benefit for the Cox City Church will be September 18 at 8 p.m. at the Rush Springs Rusty Arena, just north of Highway 17 on Highway 81. Admission is $8 and $6 for children 6–12. To learn about entry fees or the calf scramble, please call Lloyd Wright at 580-658-6040 or Jodie Wright 405-756-6893. For event information, please call Keisha McDonald 405-444-0445 or Jaclyn Fox 580-476-2024.

The Coalition of Christian Cowboys, a 501(c)(3), is sponsoring a bluegrass festival on September

16 OKLAHOMA LIVING

18 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bristow City Park Amphitheater. Tickets are $10; children under the age of 10 are free. Proceeds help individuals and families in times of crisis. For more information, contact Mike Newell at 918-367-6762 or 918-706-4230.

The annual Pernell School Picnic will be on September 17 and 18 at Lake Humphrey pavilion near Marlow. The BBQ meal will be Saturday night at 6 p.m. Please bring a covered dish to go with the BBQ. Bring lawn chairs and any pictures you may have. For further information, call Oleta Henderson Blackburn at 580-658-5355.

The Oklahoma Two-Cylinder Club is hosting 20th Annual National Two-Cylinder Tractor Show at the Major County Historical Society grounds on September 24 and 25. For more information visit www.oktcclub.com or call James at 580-227-0202.

The 15th annual Lebanon Stampede and Bar-H Trail Ride will be October 2. Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. and benefit the Lebanon volunteer fire department. For more information call 580-221-0552 or 580-795-4515.

The Porter School Alumni Committee is sponsoring an all school reunion open to anyone who ever attended Porter Schools. The date is October 2 and the start time is 1 p.m. The reunion will be held

in the First Baptist Church activity building. For information you may contact us at porteralumni@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 304, Porter OK 74454, or call 918-527-9016.

The Outback Toy and Poker Run will be October 9 at the Aline Fair. The parade line-up beings at 9 a.m. The poker run begins at 11 a.m. Call to reserve your t-shirt and for more information: 580-554-1291 or 580-554-1290.

The Henryetta All School Reunion will be October 8–10. For registration forms or to schedule activities, visit www.henryettaok.com.

The Bluestem Baptist Church in Dewey is planning their 50th Anniversary Celebration for November 6 and 7. Plans are underway for a comeand-go visitation on the 6th and a church service, luncheon and afternoon service on the 7th. Please save these dates. We are looking for former members and friends. Please send your name, address, phone numbers and/or email address to bluestembaptistchurch@sbcglobal.net. If you have relevant pictures, please send them to Bluestem Baptist Church, 327 East Durham Road, Dewey, OK 74029 or call 918534-2837 for more information.

I am looking for a homemade flea remedy for pets to put in the pet’s food or another way to deter fleas.

T H I S ‘ N ’ T H AT Please write Kathy Bridgewater, Rt. 1, Box 235 B, Cleveland, OK 74020.

Looking for mobile loading cattle chute.

Must be in good condition for operating farm. 405-203-4902.

I am looking for the words to an old gospel song that my mom used to sing a lot. The only words I remember are: “Sick here, but well over yonder. Poor here, but rich up will be. Homeless down here, we may wander.

We’ll have mansions beyond the dark sea.”

Please write Tahoma Spears, Rt. 1, Box 15, Gore, OK 74435.

I am looking for any relatives in the Ragland family. Enoch Cullom Ragland was born in Tennessee January 18, 1871. He was killed near Park Hill in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, in 1921. He married in Jackson County, Tennessee, January 11, 1894. He married Ollie Carter, the daughter of John and Jane Carter. They had six children: Ova, Martha, Mack, Harve, Tammie and Nettie Ragland. Enoch Ragland had one brother, Howard. Please send any information on the Ragland family to Beulah Box, 26352 Highway 82, Park Hill, OK 74451.

I am looking for a pattern for the 4-H apron we made in Wagoner County in the

’40s. Also I misplaced the name and address of the lady that was kin to Catherine Roberts.

Please write Purna Roberts, 204 South Curry Street, West Plains, MO 65775-3912.

I would like to purchase a hard-cover copy of Kit Carson. I read it around 1960 in junior high. Sharon McClatchey, 4467 W. 90th Street North, Porter, OK 74454-2645.

I would like to find a pattern for a Holly Hobby rag doll and its clothes and bonnet.

It was a McCall’s or Simplicity pattern from the ’70s. Please call 580-704-2684.

I am looking for a song that was sung by a group of girls visiting the Haskell Free Will Baptist Church in the ’50s. It had these lyrics: “Christians say they love the Lord, yet they seldom read his work and they never take the time to pray. (The time to pray.) But, as for me and my house, we’ll serve the Lord.”

I need the words and music to that song. I’ll pay for it and the postage. Please write Wanda R. Adams, 8845 Chestnut Road, Henryetta, OK 74437. OL

Oklahoma Living’s October photo contest topic is “Cat Capers.” The deadline for photo entries is the 10th of September. Send entries to editor@ok-living.com or P.O. Box 54309, OKC, OK 73154-1309.

See this month’s winners on page 38.

Send in your This ‘n’ That for free E-mail us at: editor@ok-living.coop Write us at: Oklahoma Living PO BOX 54309 Oklahoma City, OK 73154

SEPTEMBER 2010 17

18 OKLAHOMA LIVING

CO-OP LIVING

Kickboxing on the agenda for Women in Ag and Small Business

By Donald Stotts

O

klahoma’s Statewide Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference will take place October 14–15 at the Moore-Norman Technology Center.

“The focus of the two-day conference is to provide the latest information on topics that empower women to solve issues and concerns of importance to them, their families and communities,” said Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension farm management specialist.

Cost is $40 if registering by October 7, and $50 thereafter. Registration includes two continental breakfasts, two lunches, all refreshment breaks and conference materials.

Keynote speakers will be Michele Payn-Knoper and Karen Hill. Knoper of Cause Matters Corp. has become a nationally known spokesperson and advocate for agriculture in recent years and a leader in the use of social media.

“I encourage the ladies to consider different ways to celebrate what is important about our industry, lifestyle and legacy,” she said. “I’ll warn everybody that, as part of that, we will be doing some kickboxing. It underscores that we are in a fight to get the word out about the importance of what we do, and provides comedic relief as well.”

Hill, president of Training Professionals Inc., will provide participants insights gleaned from her 30 years in training and working with all types of businesses and clients, from OSU and the University of Oklahoma to state agencies, banks and “nearly every type of organization in between.”

“I’ll be focusing on how ‘Yesterday’s Peacock is Tomorrow’s Feather Duster,’ which is about the

rapid pace of change, how it impacts us and what we need to do to stay current in a continually evolving society and marketplace,” Hill said.

A number of concurrent sessions will be offered during the conference. Doye said participants will be able to choose among sessions that interest them the most—from methods for managing stress, surviving an Internal Revenue Service audit and choosing the right kind of life insurance, to understanding fencing-property laws, farm safety, growing certified organics and many others.

“We’re very pleased to have truly excellent speakers from industry, government and Extension, experts in their respective fields who will be presenting the most timely information available,” Doye said.

The Moore-Norman Technology Center is located at 13301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. A mini-mall showcasing Madein-Oklahoma products and a series of educational displays relevant to Oklahoma’s rural prosperity also will be featured.

Registration forms and additional information are available at http://www.

OKWomeninAgandSmallBusiness.com or by emailing Doye at damona.doye@okstate.edu or call 405-744-9836. OL

SEPTEMBER 2010 19

Filmin

g “Bar

king W ater”

Jill Simpson

Is Oklahoma the new Hollywood?

Not yet, but the state film office says maybe someday

F

resh out of film school at the University of Oklahoma, Jill Simpson packed her bags and headed to Los Angeles.

“I had to leave at 22,” Simpson says.

“There was really nothing I could do to pursue a career in the film industry here.”

Nearly 30 years after leaving, Simpson is back in Oklahoma.

As director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, a state agency, Simpson is using a cash incentive program to build Oklahoma’s film industry – and it seems to be working.

In 2009, Oklahoma landed “The Killer Inside Me,” an A-list film starring Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba. Production also started in July on a new film, “Bringing Up Bobby,” starring Milla Jovovich, Marcia Cross and Bill Pullman.

With top films coming into Oklahoma, it appears the state’s film industry is finally booming, but some insiders

20 OKLAHOMA LIVING

By Lindsey Morehead are worried a new moratorium on tax credits may cause the industry to bust.

“We’re a tiny office of five people and a tiny budget,” Simpson says.

“The cool thing is we’re 0.8 percent [$534,600 in 2010] of the [state] tourism budget and our numbers that we generate, they go up every year. We were projected to hit $42 million in impact this year, but they did away with some of the tax credits at the legislature, so a couple of projects are questionable whether they are actually going to film.”

“Saving Grace,” 2006 Starring Holly Hunter Filmed in Oklahoma City

The mission of the state film office is to promote Oklahoma as a location for producing motion pictures, television programs and commercial productions. To do so, the agency offers up to a 37 percent film enhancement rebate on qualified Oklahoma expenditures to companies filming in the state. The rebate is capped at $5 million per year.

The office also connects filmmakers to local production contacts, maintains an online database of almost 1,000 possible filming locations and provides productions with support.

“It’s become a game of incentives,” Simpson explains. “The film productions will go wherever they get the best cash incentives and they’ll often make their story fit wherever that is.”

“An example of that is Clint Eastwood in ‘Gran Torino.’ This one sticks out in my mind,” she says. “That [script] was set in Minnesota. The Hmong community that it’s centered

on is primarily located in Minnesota, but they ended up shooting in Michigan because Michigan had a better rebate.”

To attract more filmmakers to Oklahoma, the state film office and finance companies learned to couple the film enhancement cash rebate with state tax credits. “...That’s how we got the films that have been here so far is by using the tax credits to help attract in-state investors into these projects,” says Chad Burris, president of the Tulsa-based Indion Entertainment Group, a film finance company. “It helps subsidize some of the costs of the projects to filmmakers that otherwise might not have looked at Oklahoma as a realistic, viable location.”

Those credits are now gone.

To help cope with an expected revenue shortfall, the state legislature approved a two-year moratorium on the Rural Small Business Capital Credit,

which filmmakers often used to help finance productions. The credit offered a 30 percent tax credit for investments in qualifying projects. A moratorium was also placed on the Small Business Capital Credit.

“Our decrease in certified revenues was $1.2 billion, so we had a big gap to fill,” State Treasurer Scott Meacham explains. “The governor ultimately decided to do a package of pretty significant spending cuts, but also to put a moratorium on some tax credits.

With those particular credits, there had been a lot of questions and controversies about whether the state was getting as much revenue [in] as it was giving out.”

Meacham says several documented cases of abuse – none of which related to the film industry – also prompted the governor and legislature to take a closer look at whether the tax credits were working.

“We’ve been working for five years now and have some limited success,” Burris says, “but finally last year we sort of felt like we got our legs under us with ‘The Killer Inside Me.’ The momentum was there with us sort of pushing this on both coasts. We had people in the industry paying attention and really taking Oklahoma seriously and we had a number of films that were slotted.”

“Elizabethtown,” 2004 Starring Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst and Susan Sarandon Filmed in Oklahoma City and El Reno

Now Burris says many of those films will likely not come to Oklahoma.

“It’s horribly frustrating,” he says.

“One, because we’ve been working on it for so long and these are high profile films. [Two], they would have meant a lot to Oklahoma.”

Simpson and Burris both say they’re concerned about a possible public relations fallout from the tax credit moratorium. Burris says some filmmakers were put in a bind after the moratorium eliminated a significant portion of their production budget.

“The film industry is so small,” Burris explains, “...and most of us from

Oklahoma can appreciate being from that ‘small town’ sort of dynamic, which is when something happens to someone, it typically doesn’t take a long time to spread around. So, Hollywood, [with] this happening, people are going to talk.”

But Meacham says the credit was never really intended to be used for film production.

“Twister,” 1996 Starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton Filmed in Waurika, Wakita, Ponca City, Pauls Valley, Norman, Maysville and Guthrie

“The Rural and Small Business [Capital] Credit was more of a job creation credit created a few years ago,” he says. “They figured out how to stack these credits.”

Both credits were scheduled to expire Jan. 1, 2012, which means the moratorium effectively sunsets the credits now. Meacham said there is no way to know whether the legislature will choose to reinstate or eliminate the credits in 2012.

Without a significant part of its financing package, Simpson acknowledges Oklahoma may lose films – and its footing – to other states.

According to a 2010 special report by the Tax Foundation, 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico presently offer movie production incentives, 28 states offer incentives in the form of a tax credit and every state at least has a government film office.

So, why are states competing for films? It’s simple: money.

In 2005, the state film office commissioned an economic impact study by the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business that determined for every dollar spent on the film industry in Oklahoma, $1.72 came back.

For “The Killer Inside Me,” Simpson estimates the state payout, after the production paid state taxes, was about $70,000. She values its economic impact at more than $5 million.

“To me, a $70,000 payout [isn’t bad] when you consider the impact to the state in jobs and money spent,” she says. “They get per diem when they’re here... to spend and that’s if they want

to go to Cattlemen’s [Steakhouse in Oklahoma City] for dinner, if they want to go to a movie, if they want to buy a pair of cowboy boots. That’s money spent primarily in Oklahoma.”

But a 2010 special report by the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C., determined movie production actually “offers little economic bang for the taxpayer’s buck when compared to other industries.”

“Film production has an economic impact multiplier of 1.92,” the report states. “This is only slightly larger than a new hotel, 1.91, and much less than automotive manufacturing, 2.25, and nuclear power plants, 2.51.”

But Guthrie Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mary Coffin says while the film industry’s economic impact may be hard to quantify, it is undeniable.

Guthrie has played host to a number of films, including “The Killer Inside Me,” “Twister” and “Rain Man.” The new film “Bringing Up Bobby” will also be partially shot in Guthrie, as well as in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Luther.

“Rain Man,” 1988 Starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise Filmed in El Reno, Guthrie, Oklahoma City and Hinton

“A lot of the bigger movies that film here stay for a while,” she says. “They rent buildings from us, they buy gas and food, a lot of them even shop here for things for their set. So that impacts our sales tax. And we also have the tourist end of it.”

In July, Guthrie’s tourism department received inquiries from 36 states and Puerto Rico, many from individuals who say they saw Guthrie’s name roll by on a film’s credits.

“This past quarter, the sales tax revenues were down 6.5 percent,” Coffin says. “The tourism dollars that came in from the bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels and inns, they weren’t down.

In fact, we had an increase. So, that shows me we’re doing something right.”

The Chickasaw Nation is also realizing the importance of film.

David Rennke, director of the tribe’s multimedia department and

producer of the film “Pearl,” says the nation is investing in film as a way to preserve its culture and create quality jobs.

“Dillinger,” 1973 Starring Warren Oates, Cloris Leachman and Richard Dreyfuss Filmed in Enid, Nash and Oklahoma City

“[Chickasaw Nation] Gov. [Bill] Anoatubby has always had this vision of preserving the culture,” Rennke says, “bringing it to newer generations and sharing it with the rest of the world.”

And, film is a business, he says.

“It’s a great way to bring tourists and attention to south central Oklahoma. With good locations, it’s great for period pieces like ‘Pearl’ where you have to recreate areas from other times.”

“Pearl” tells the true story of Pearl Carter-Scott, a Chickasaw youth from Marlow, who in 1928 became the youngest licensed pilot in the U.S. Filmed in Guthrie, it was the tribe’s first feature film, created with help from the state film office.

“We kind of demonstrated with ‘Pearl’ [that] you can make an absolutely top-notch Hollywood film all in Oklahoma,” Rennke says. “We’ve shown the film at almost 30 film festivals and screenings all across the U.S. and the world and we have had a tremendous response. People are amazed it’s not a big-bucks Hollywood film.”

Burris, also a Chickasaw, has independently produced five films, two of which were selected to air at the Sundance Film Festival, “Barking Water” in 2009 and “Four Sheets to the Wind” in 2007.

“What I think is interesting is the parallel between their vision for the future of their tribe and my vision for the future of the film industry here,” Simpson says. “We’re trying to keep young people here… We work really hard to try and build something so that if people want to stay here, they can.”

As the industry grows, Simpson says she expects quality, high-paying jobs to follow, but only if the state backs the program.

Continued on 31 SEPTEMBER 2010 21

OKLAHOMA EVENTS

September

September 23 Southwest Senior Games, Duncan 580-252-2900 September 23–25 Tri County Free Fair, Carnegie 580-654-1035 Fall Bluegrass Festival, Duncan 580-255-7042 September 24–26 International Festival, Lawton 580-581-3470 September 25 Western Days, Cache 580-429-4534 Canna Festival, Carnegie 580-654-2475 Festival at the Farm, Durham 580-655-4467

Northwest

August 30–September 2 Woodward County Free Fair, Woodward 580-254-3391 September 4 Watermelon Festival & Community Fair, Ringwood 580-883-2706 September 8–12 Garfield County Fair, Enid 580-237-0238 September 9–11 Woods County Free Fair, Alva 580-327-2786 September 11 Harper County Fair, Buffalo 580-735-2252 September 14 Kay County Free Fair, Blackwell 580-363-4195 September 17–19 Sand Fest, Waynoka 580-824-1717 September 18 Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Enid, Enid 580-242-2233 September 18–19 Fine Arts Festival, Ponca City 580-765-9746 September 24–25 Old Time Threshing Bee, Fairview 580-227-2265 Standing Bear Powwow, Ponca City 580-762-1514 September 24–26 Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride, Watonga 580-623-4215 Southwest

August 30–September 3 Comanche County Fair, Lawton 580-355-1176 September 3 First Friday Art & Antique Stroll, Mangum 580-782-2444 22 OKLAHOMA LIVING

September 3–5 PRCA Rodeo of Champions, Elk City 580-928-3311 MRCA Rodeo Finals, Duncan 580-255-3231 September 4 Gotebo Get-Down, Gotebo 580-583-5351 September 4–7 Cheyenne & Arapaho Labor Day Celebration, Colony 405-664-3668 September 5–November 14 Maize, Chickasha 405-222-0624 September 8–11 Custer County Free Fair, Clinton 580-323-2291 Kiowa County Free Fair, Hobart 580-726-5643 September 8–October 31 Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, Weatherford 405-556-1069

September 26 Route 66 Hoot, Scoot and Poker Run, Sayre 580-928-2514 Central

September 2–4 Hughes County Free Fair, Holdenville 405-379-3977 September 4 Loose Caboose Festival, Purcell 405-527-5214 September 7–11 McClain County Free Fair, Purcell 405-527-2174 September 8–11 Oktoberfest, Choctaw 405-390-8198 September 9–11 Pottawatomie County Free Fair, Shawnee 405-273-6092 September 10 Circuit of Art, Norman 405-360-1162

Founder’s Day, Piedmont 405-863-3234

Mayes County Fair, Pryor 918-825-0157

Seminole County Fallen Heroes Memorial Ride, Seminole 405-257-2100

Okmulgee County Fair, Okmulgee 918-758-1015

Bluegrass Concert/Jam, Del City 405-677-7515

Osage County Free Fair, Pawhuska 918-855-7660

September 17–18 Heart of Oklahoma Quilt Festival, Shawnee 405-273-9585 September 18 Fort Reno Ghost Tours, El Reno 405-262-3987

September 10–12 House Beautiful Show, Tulsa 405-278-2826

September 18–19 Lucky Dog Productions Barrel Racing, Shawnee 870-930-7717

September 11 Indian Nations Artifact & Fossil Show, Tulsa 918-284-8216

September 23–25 Tombstone Tales, El Reno 405-262-3987

Roadkill Chili Cook-Off, Jay 918-253-4307

September 24 Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Purcell 405-701-2664

September 15–20 Rogers County Free Fair, Claremore 918-341-2736

September 25 Heartland Classic Car & Bike Show, Purcell 405-924-0115

September 17–18 Pioneer Day & Rodeo Festival, Skiatook 918-396-3702

Suckerday Festival, Wetumka 405-452-3237

September 17–19 Eastern Shawnee Tribal Powwow, Seneca 918-666-2435

September 30–October 2 International Bluegrass Festival, Guthrie 405-282-6646 Northeast

September 3–5 Cherokee Heritage Center Arts & Crafts Fair, Tahlequah 918-456-6007 Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival, Grove 918-786-8896

September 10–11 Storytelling Festival, Oklahoma City 405-270-4848

September 10–11 D & G 4-D Barrel Race, Duncan 405-222-8366

Western Days, Mustang 405-376-2758

Wyandotte Nation Tribal Powwow, Wyandotte 918-678-2297

September 10–12 Cleveland County Free Fair, Norman 405-360-4721

September 4–6 Labor Day Pasture Roping & Western Weekend, Bristow 918-367-7077

Southern Winds Film Festival, Shawnee 405-213-1959

September 5–6 Living Legends Rodeo, Henryetta 918-652-3331

September 17-18 Old Greer County Western Heritage Trail Ride, Mangum 580-782-3258 September 18 Arts in Action Festival, Frederick 580-335-2126 September 18–19 Fall Festival, Elk City 580-225-0207 Western Spirit Celebration - A Cowboy Gathering, Duncan 580-252-6692

September 10–19 Seminole Nation Days, Seminole 405-257-7200 September 11 Fall into the Holidays Arts & Crafts Show, Stillwater 580-455-2273 Made in Oklahoma Festival, Seminole 405-382-3640

September 11–12 King’s Champion Medieval Faire, Tulsa 918-596-5977

Stone River Music Festival at Seven Springs, Chandler 405-589-1692

September 9–11 Muscle Car Ranch Swap Meet, Chickasha 405-222-4910

September 11–12 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races, Fort Cobb 405-641-6386

September 9–12 Grand Lake Bike Rally, Ketchum 918-782-4300

Ottawa Tribal Powwow, Miami 918-540-1536

September 6 Labor Day Celebration, Henryetta 918-652-3331 September 9–11 Bluegrass & Chili Festival, Claremore 918-341-2818 Delaware County Free Fair, Jay 918-253-4332

Biker Days in the Great Osage, Pawhuska 918-287-3249 Oklahoma Indian Summer, Bartlesville 918-331-0934 Oklahoma Scottish Festival, Tulsa 918-740-7738 September 18 Arts & Crafts Fair, Broken Arrow 918-251-1591 Black Buggy Day, Chouteau 918-476-8222 Cowboy Trade Day, Catoosa 918-343-0149 Fall Cruise Night & Burnout, Gore 918-489-2755 Fishing Clinic, Braggs 918-487-7125 Nuyaka Creek Winery Fall Wine Festival, Bristow 918-756-8485 Woolaroc Fall Trail Ride, Bartlesville 918-336-0307 Bluegrass Festival, Bristow 918-367-6762 September 18–19 Living Legends Junior Rodeo, Henryetta 918-652-3331

Western Heritage Weekend, Dewey 918-534-1555 September 24–25 National Hook ’N’ Cook-Off, Ketchum 918-782-3214 September 24–26 Fin & Feather Fall Festival, Gore 918-487-5148 Pelican Festival, Grove 918-786-2289 September 25 Car Show, Hominy 918-885-4939 Route 66 Cruise Night, Miami 918-542-9693 September 26–October 1 Northeast Oklahoma Art Show, Pryor 918-824-2787 September 30–October 1 Ancient Cherokee Days, Tahlequah 918-456-6007 September 30–October 10 Tulsa State Fair 918-744-1113 October 1–2 Miami Native Oklahoma Weekend (NOW), Miami 918-542-4481 Southeast

September 1–4 Pontotoc County Free Fair, Ada 580-399-8661

September 2–6 Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival & Powwow, Tuskahoma 580-924-8280 Labor Day Weekend Trail Ride, Octavia 580-244-7261 September 9–11 Pittsburg County Free Fair, McAlester 918-423-4120 September 10 Fall Fest, Atoka 580-889-6246 September 10–11 Outdoor Sportsman’s Festival, Poteau 918-647-8648 September 11 Amish Auction, Craft & Antique Show, Clarita 580-428-3458 Boggy Bottom Classic Car & Truck Show, Atoka 580-889-6065 September 16–18 Choctaw County Free Fair, Hugo 580-345-2423 September 23–24 Autumnal Equinox Walks, Spiro 918-962-2062 September 26–October 31 Fall Fun on the Farm, Pocola 918-626-4053 OL

SEPTEMBER 2010 23

24 OKLAHOMA LIVING

SEPTEMBER 2010 25

O K L A H O M A T R AV E L S

No Reservations:

Oklahoma’s soulful jazz heritage

By Melyn Johnson

G

Enter our photo calendar contest for a chance to win $300! Details on page 5.

26 OKLAHOMA LIVING

et yourself tuned in to Oklahoma’s rich arts with a musical road trip.

Start your journey with a visit to the southwest side of the Bricktown Ballpark and visit the mosaic that celebrates the music history of Oklahoma City’s Deep Deuce area.

Next is a stop at the one-time home of modernist poet, educator, columnist and politician Melvin Tolson in Langston, just northeast of Oklahoma City. Be sure to watch the movie “The Great Debaters” with Denzel Washington starring as Tolson before you embark. In Langston, tour the Heritage Center dedicated to Tolson, who taught at Langston University, a historically black college, for 17 years and served three terms as Langston’s mayor. Poet Langston Hughes described him as “no highbrow. Students revere and love him, kids from the cotton fields like him and cow punchers understand him.... He’s a great talker.”

Continue your tour by heading up Hwy 33, then taking the Turner Turnpike into Tulsa.

Here you’ll visit the Greenwood District, once a hotbed for jazz and blues, and the site where Count Basie first encountered big-band jazz. When the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 destroyed much of the district, the community rebuilt from the ashes. Today, the Greenwood Historical District showcases its heritage through the Greenwood Cultural Center and the Mabel B. Little Heritage House.

Proceed on to the Jazz Hall of Fame, housed in the historic Tulsa Union Depot and devoted to gospel, jazz and blues musicians.

The on-site music library holds video, audio and photographic materials about featured artists. Photographs of jazz greats line the walls and an art gallery completes the museum with sculptures depicting musical themes and performers.

Don’t miss Cain’s Ballroom if you’re exploring Oklahoma’s vibrant musical heritage. Built in 1924 by Tulsa entrepreneur Tate Brady, Cain’s went from a garage to a dime-a-dance joint and a dancing academy before becoming one of the state’s top performance venues.

The highlight of the ballroom is a historic, maple, spring-loaded dance floor designed in a “log cabin” or concentric square pattern.

Lighting the dance floor is a four-foot neon star and a silver disco ball. The walls are decorated with oversized photographs of various musicians who played Cain’s, including Bob Wills, Johnnie Lee Wills,

Ernest Tubb, Ted Williams, Tex Ritter, Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Between the portraits are black, fiddleshaped fixtures illuminated by a single red bulb. Cain’s is known throughout the music industry as not only “The Home of Bob Wills,” but also as the “Carnegie Hall of Western Swing.”

Your next trek will take you down the Muskogee Turnpike, out of Tulsa and south on Hwy 69 to Muskogee where you can visit the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Here they have exhibits featuring many famous Oklahoma musicians.

Continue traveling south on Hwy 69 into Rentiesville, the home of the Down Home Blues Club. This was the childhood home of famed blues guitarist D.C. Minner. The club now features blues artists’ memorabilia and the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame. A special evening at the club can include discussion and exploring the blues at this one-time, prohibition-era juke joint located in a historic all-black town. When you’re here, you are taking part in Oklahoma’s music heritage.

Find details on all of these sites and more on www.TravelOK.com. OL

Initially built as a garage in 1924, Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is still a great place to catch a show.

What makes you proud to be an Oklahoman?

Cast your votes on page 10.

SEPTEMBER 2010 27

O K L A H O M A E AT S

O

klahoma’s apple season spans from mid-July to late October. But you can help your fresh picks last even longer by keeping them in the refrigerator or individually wrapped in newspaper and stored in a cool, dry place. Be sure apples are kept separate from potatoes, since they emit a gas that hastens apple spoilage. One rotten apple really can spoil the whole bunch, so be selective when choosing fruit for longterm storage. Common varieties of Oklahoma apples are (listed in order by their ripening date) McLemore, Gala, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Fuji.

Vanilla Applesauce with a Crunchy Meringue Cap Contributed by Molly Wizenberg, an Oklahoma City native who blogs at http://orangette.blogspot.com. Her first book, A Homemade Life, was published last year and contains personal essays on food and life.

The applesauce can be made up to three days before the meringue. Leftovers should be sealed airtight and stored in the refrigerator. Although the meringue will soften to a more spongy texture, it still tastes delicious for a day or so.

Adjust the sugar level in the applesauce to taste.

28 OKLAHOMA LIVING

Applesauce: 3 pounds . . . . . . . a pples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch-thick slices ½ cup . . . . . . . . . . good-quality apple juice or cider 1 T . . . . . . . . . . . . fresh lemon juice ½ cup . . . . . . . . . . granulated sugar, or to taste ½ t . . . . . . . . . . . . . pure vanilla extract Meringue: ½ cup . . . . . . . . . . egg whites (from about 4 large eggs) pinch . . . . . . . . . . salt 1 cup . . . . . . . . . . granulated sugar

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine apples, apple juice and lemon juice. Cover the pan; place it over low heat and bring the mixture to a simmer.

Cook, stirring often, until the apples are tender and beginning to fall apart, about 20 minutes. Stir in the sugar to taste and cook until it dissolves, stirring about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and, using an immersion blender or potato masher, puree the mixture to a smooth sauce. Stir in the va­ nilla extract, then set aside the applesauce while you prepare the meringue.

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Pour the egg

O K L A H O M A E AT S whites into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment—or, alternatively, a medium mixing bowl. Add the salt. Beat the egg whites at medium speed until they are opaque and loosely foamy. Increase the mixer speed to high, and add the sugar in a very slow and gradual stream; do not rush. Beat until the meringue is glossy and bright white and holds very silky peaks. Spoon and scrape the applesauce into a baking dish or several individual-size baking dishes. Molly likes to use a 2-quart Pyrex bowl or about 10 half-cup ramekins.

(You may have a little leftover meringue.) Using a rubber spatula, scoop the meringue on top of the applesauce, and gently coax it evenly to the edges of the dish. Slide the dish or dishes into the oven. Bake for about 1 hour, 45 minutes, or until the meringue is firm and feels crisp and dry to the touch. Cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Apple-Stuffed Mushrooms Reprinted from Rodale’s Garden-Fresh Cooking by Judith Hurley. Copyright © 1987 by Rodale Press, Inc. By permission of Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098.

12 ��������������������������� medium-size mushrooms (about 1½ to 2 inches in diameter) ½ cup ��������������������� finely minced peeled apples (use sweet cooking or baking apples)

1 t ��������������������������� lemon juice 2 t ��������������������������� crumbled blue cheese 1 T ������������������������� finely chopped walnuts, lightly toasted 1 T ������������������������� fine, lightly toasted whole-grain bread crumbs

½ cup ��������������������� golden raisins ⅓ cup ��������������������� ground almonds 3 T ������������������������� honey 3 T ������������������������� maple syrup 1 t ��������������������������� finely grated lemon peel 1 t ��������������������������� ground ginger

Wipe mushrooms clean with a soft cloth. Remove stems; reserve for another use. Hollow-out mush­ room caps with a small spoon. In a small bowl, stir together apples and lemon juice. Stir in cheese, walnuts and bread crumbs. Fill mushroom caps.

Place under broiler about 4 inches from the heat source. Broil for about 5 minutes or until filling is heated through and lightly browned.

To prepare the pastry: In a small bowl, stir together whole-wheat flour and white flour. Cut in butter with pastry blender. Add yogurt and, using your hands, mix well. Form dough into a ball; flatten slightly and dust with flour. Wrap with waxed paper and chill for 8 hours or overnight.

In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add raisins, almonds, honey, maple syrup, lemon peel, and ginger. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out one-half of the dough in a 14x8inch rectangle. Spread half of the filling over the dough. Starting from the short side, carefully roll up dough, jelly-roll fashion.

Using a metal spatula, transfer dough to a baking sheet that has been lightly coated with vegetable spray, seam-side down. With a sharp knife, cut ½-inch slashes into the dough at 1-inch intervals. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned. Place pastries on a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm. OL

Apple-Ginger Strudel Reprinted from Rodale’s Garden-Fresh Cooking by Judith Hurley. Take note: the pastry dough needs to chill for 8 hours before the strudel can be assembled.

Pastry: ½ cup ��������������������� whole-wheat pastry flour ½ cup ��������������������� unbleached white flour ½ cup ��������������������� butter, softened ½ cup ��������������������� plain yogurt Filling: 4 cups �������������������� peeled, thinly sliced baking apples 1 T ������������������������� lemon juice

SEPTEMBER 2010 29

30 OKLAHOMA LIVING

Film

Continued from 21 “I kind of bristle a little bit when people talk about film or music as ‘the arts,’” she says.

“They’re industry. They’re economic drivers and the states that have gotten behind those programs, they’re doing nice business. And Oklahoma needs to diversify its economic base; we just do. We can’t rely on oil and gas for everything.”

Simpson looks to New Mexico, one of Oklahoma’s chief competitors for films, as inspiration.

“The Outsiders,” 1983 Starring Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise Filmed in Tulsa

“The State of New Mexico got behind their program,” she says. “They went from doing roughly $20 million a year in impact, which is about what we were doing the past few years, and with steady support of the state, they have been able to turn that into a program that does about a half a billion [dollars] a year and have gone from 100 crew members to about 3,000.”

For now, Simpson says the current state film enhancement rebate is a good one, even without the tax credits. Eventually, she plans to ask the legislature for either incremental increases to the $5 million a year limit or to lift the cap.

“Honestly,” she says, “with the economy the way it is, we’re just trying to hang on.”

But Simpson plans to keep working. After all, she’s got an industry to build.

More and more film students graduate every year and someday she’d like for them to work right here in Oklahoma.

For a complete list of productions filmed in Oklahoma, visit www. oklahomafilm.org. OL SEPTEMBER 2010 31

TRADING POST The Oklahoma Living Trading Post reaches over 650,000 readers every month. Rates are $1.00 per word.

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32 OKLAHOMA LIVING

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New photo contest

Win $300 and have your picture published in Oklahoma Living

F

or several years now, Oklahoma Living has held a recipe contest to raise money for charity, but this year we decided it was time for something new.

Goodbye pie, hello blue sky ... and green grass, scruffy pets, dimpled babies, flaming foliage, weathered old barns and anything else you want to send us. There are no themes or categories; we want all of your best Oklahoma photos.

One grand-prize winner will receive $300 and publication in Oklahoma Living’s December issue. Twelve other winners will receive $50 in travel vouchers to spend at Oklahoma’s state parks and state-owned golf courses, and their photographs will be published in

Oklahoma Living. The winning photos will also be used to create a calendar, which will be sold through the magazine to raise money for this year’s charity, the Oklahoma Spay Network.

This wouldn’t be a fair contest without rules, so here they are: Submitted photographs will not be returned, and winning images become the property of Oklahoma Living for use in print and on our website. Entries may be mailed as 8x10 prints or on a CD. Digital entries must be high resolution. Photos must be taken in Oklahoma. All entries must be received by October 1. There is a $5 entry fee for each photograph submitted. Proceeds will benefit the Oklahoma Spay

Network.

M a k e checks or money orders payable to Oklahoma Living.

Mail prints or CDs to: Oklahoma Living Calendar Contest 2325 E. I-44 Service Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Include your name, telephone number and mailing address with each entry. Good luck! OL

SEPTEMBER 2010 33

L

ittle drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the beauteous – land.” That old primary poem describes the philosophy of the Oklahoma Department of Recreation and Tourism’s growing ECO program. Partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, ECO (Encourag­ing Conservation in Oklahoma) strives to ­promote, educate and encourage sustainable travel in the state. That basic mission offers an ocean of opportunities and a world of challenges.

To get the program rolling, ECO organizers chose pilot projects to represent six of the seven tourism categories they have identified, which includes lodging, restaurants, events, state parks and other

increase recycling. The money gained recycling the cans will be used for further improvements.

In addition, the 22 cabins in the park have been made more energy efficient by the replacement of roofs and windows. New electrical appliances cut down on the use of electricity, and the park is monitoring electrical usage related to heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems.

The Oklahoma State Parks system also is cleaning up its act and passing on the good will. It is the first park system in the nation to work with Clean the World, a Florida organization that takes used soaps and shampoos from the hospitality industry, sanitizes them and distributes the clean soap to populations in need. Keystone was the first of the

Tourism goes green

By Elaine Warner

air purifiers in our rooms for a cleaner environment,” he adds.

Little changes add up

Maple Place Bed and Breakfast is comprised of the Main House (built in 1902), a cottage and the Yellow House, for a total of eight rooms. Owner Jennifer Kisling says she uses many of the same ­resource-saving methods that are recommended for single-family homes.

“Each room has a private bathroom, so we have lots of hot-water heaters, each wrapped with a thermal blanket to save energy,” she says. “We’ve changed out almost all our light bulbs with CFL [compact florescent lamp] bulbs. We’re also encouraging our guests to recycle the plastic water bottles we leave in their rooms. We’re planning a year-end review of our energy use, and next year will be making month-to-month comparisons. We’re a small property, and every penny counts.”

Jessica Blackstock, sustainable initiatives coordinator for the Department of Recreation and Tourism, recognizes that participants are in a variety of circumstances. She says, “We have to consider where a property is and what they can and can’t do.

[The program] has to start where they are. Change doesn’t happen overnight, even when people want it to. It’s hard where the infrastructure doesn’t exist.”

Ask Janelle Skaggs of the Oklahoma Tourism Information Center, a Kay Electric member. Curbside recycling isn’t available, so they have to go the extra mile.

“It’s not easy,” she says. “There’s a recycling center in Ponca City, where I take cardboard, magazines and aluminum cans, while glass and plastic goes to Tonkawa. I load up as much as I can get in my car and make the trip every couple of weeks.”

Small amounts of extra effort can add up, though.

Last year the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon crew recycled more than a ton of cardboard, plastics and paper products as part of its pilot project. The Polo Grill, one of Tulsa’s premier restaurants, recycles glass and fuels its catering vehicle with a bio­ diesel product made from used cooking oils; vegetable scraps go into a compost pile. Future plans include involvement in a farm-to-school program and community gardening.

Green all the way The renovated lodge at Roman Nose features more natural lighting and local materials. Landscaping utilizes cedar mulch and native plants, which require little water. (Photo E. Warner)

outdoor recreation, visitor centers, attractions and marinas. Those pilot projects include the Colcord Hotel in Oklahoma City, Keystone State Park in Sand Springs, Maple Place Bed and Breakfast in Enid, the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, the Oklahoma Tourism Information Center in Blackwell, Polo Grill in Tulsa, and the Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.

And what are these headline projects doing? We checked in with all six to find out.

Cleaning up

Keystone State Park’s biggest effort launches September 4 and is called You CAN Do It, designed to cut down on the littering of aluminum cans and 34 OKLAHOMA LIVING

state’s parks to participate.

The Colcord hotel is also getting in on the act. In the first six months of 2010, the Colcord donated 385 pounds of soap equaling 4,102 bars—enough for 410 children for one month. According to health organizations, millions of deaths can be prevented with simple hand washing, but in many areas of the world there are no supplies available.

According to Jeff Erwin, the Colcord’s general manager, the hotel also uses low-flow toilets and special showerheads for water conservation. Loadcontrolled air handlers and high-efficiency lighting cut down on electricity use. “We have triple-paned windows, which reduce energy consumption, and

One feature of the ECO program is a certification process. The pilot projects will provide feedback for further refinement of the program. Any organization falling into one of the seven categories is welcome to participate. Each category offers three levels of certification—silver, gold and platinum.

The Canebrake, an eco-resort and member of Lake Region Electric, was the first organization to be certified as a sustainable tourism destination.

Certified gold in lodging and restaurant categories, the property is also double certified by the Department of Environmental Quality’s Energy Star program. The list of innovations at Canebrake is long, including using insulation made of recycled cotton and denim.

Other certified properties include the National Center for Employee Development in Norman—the first platinum-certified property in the state—and A

Owner Lisa Bracken does enjoys The Canebrake’s Yoga Barn, which has cork flooring a recycled denim insulation. (Photo Adam Miller) Roman Nose Park Manager Travis Lindley shows off a new information kiosk constructed from red cedar. (Photo E. Warner)

Perfect Place to Stay, a short-stay rental home in Durant that is silver certified.

Some eco-adaptations are obvious. A good place to look is Roman Nose State Park, where the lodge has been undergoing major renovation. The beautiful wood in the lobby is recycled; the matching exterior stone on an extension is from a nearby quarry; large windows and skylights improve illumination; and all the new kitchen appliances are energy efficient. The lodge, scheduled to ­reopen this fall, will also feature mattresses with replaceable toppers, making it less expensive to maintain quality.

Travis Lindley, park manager, touts ecofriendly measures throughout the park. His favorite project points out the win-win aspects of working with the environment.

“We’re replacing metal gates, fences and

kiosks with structures made from cedar from the property,” he says. “We limb it, debark it and stain it, and the debris is used for mulch, tent pads and erosion control.”

The result is fewer invasive cedars, and park necessities that require little expense and manpower to produce. And the result is an attractive fence or gate that blends with the natural features of the park.

Whether the steps are small—like changing a light bulb—or as large as a ton of recycled trash, these efforts add up. With the impetus and encouragement of the ECO program, Oklahomans involved in all aspects of the state’s third-largest industry are making Oklahoma a healthier, happier and more beautiful place.

For more information about ECO, go to www.ecotravelok.com. OL

Being efficient has a larger impact if you are part of the hospitality industry, because your building might contain a dozen bathrooms and a thousand light bulbs. But the same principles apply on any scale. Here are some takehome tips from the ECO ­projects:

– Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. – Put a thermal blanket on your water heater.

– Install low-flow toilets and showerheads.

– Start a compost pile for your fruit and veggie scraps.

– Consider all of your options when you remodel, and look for ­opportunities to use reclaimed and local materials.

– ­ Do a year-end review of your utility bills to help quantify your ­savings. Compare this year’s bills to last year’s.

SEPTEMBER 2010 35

36 OKLAHOMA LIVING

REACH MORE THAT 650,000 READERS ACROSS OKLAHOMA WITH AN AD IN OKLAHOMA LIVING CALL LARRY SKOCH 405-478-1455

SEPTEMBER 2010 37

PHOTO CONTEST

“Brush with celebrity” C

ongratulations to September photo contest winner, Marlie Leathers.

Next month we want to see pictures showing “Cat Capers.”

Photos are due by September 10, and will run in the October issue. The winner will receive an Oklahoma Living coffee mug. Please send your name, address and name of your electric cooperative, along with a description of the photo, to Oklahoma Living, PO Box 54309, OKC, OK 73154-1309 or e-mail them to editor@ok-living.coop.

Photos will not be returned and become the property of Oklahoma Living for use in print and/or on the internet.

RIGHT: Marlie Leathers from Rattan, Okla., met World Champion PBR Bullrider Guilherme Marchi of Brazil in DeKalb, Texas.

RIGHT BOTTOM: Lexie Vinson, age 7, showed her heifer in the Junior National Hereford Show in Tulsa.

While there, Abbey Yates, Andrew Farish, Harlee and Lexie (L to R) enjoyed meeting Alabama’s lead singer, Randy Owen.

ABOVE: Brother and sister James and Jordynn stand with their grandpa, Randy McCoy, and Rowdy the Redhawk at the Bricktown Ballpark.

RIGHT: Kay Electric member Mary Kerfoot was thrilled to meet Reba McEntire and get her autograph.

Reba McEntire is a finalist in this year’s Best of Oklahoma Living contest.

ABOVE: Oklahoma Electric member Teresa Spencer submitted a picture of her great aunt Inez Hensley receiving an award for the Ladies’ Volunteer League in New Blaine, Ark., from then-Governor Bill Clinton.

Upcoming photo contests: October: “Cat Capers” November: “Basketball” Send entries to

editor@ok-living.com Or mail them to:

Andrea Withrow met Garth Brooks at a philanthropic event attended by several celebrities.

“It was an amazing encounter,” Withrow said. “And for the record, he is the nicest, most down-to-earth gentleman I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

38 OKLAHOMA LIVING

Lake Region member Teresa Murray won a trip to Hollywood to meet Patrick Dempsey. Murray sold 90 bottles of Avon cologne that Dempsey promoted.

Photo Contest c/o Oklahoma Living PO Box 54309 Oklahoma City, OK 73154

SEPTEMBER 2010 39

40 OKLAHOMA LIVING