keep the change
GRACIOUS GUESTING
f you’re planning vacations for the new year, you’re well aware that lodging is a large portion of any travel expense. One way to alleviate these costs is to stay with family or friends living in the area, but this often places a burden on the host. Here are some tips to ensure an overnight stay is a benefit to both you and your host.
• Ask, don’t tell. If you’re needing a place to stay, a polite request will always be better received than a simple, “We’re coming to town and want to stay with you.” Don’t assume your family and friends are eager or available for overnight guests. If they’re not, try asking if they know of any other options in the area – maybe they have a friend who owns a vacation rental or know of other options for short-term guests.
• Make expectations clear. Are you hoping to spend a large portion of your time with your hosts? Or are you just needing a place to crash? Either might be fine for your hosts, but it’s less awkward if you’ve discussed this beforehand. Also, discuss meal plans. Are you hoping to eat together, or will you be dining out? Will you bring/prepare your own food? Will you need a place to store this food? All of these are good points to discuss in advance – and if you’re hoping to share regular meals with your host, offer to contribute. Ask if you can help in the kitchen or cook any meals for the group. If you’re not a chef, offer to buy takeout.
• Clean up after yourself. Don’t leave your things strewn everywhere, of course, but also offer to help wash linens or take out the trash at the end of your stay.
Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and sharing her favorite tips and deals.
Angela Rowland
NEXT STEPS FOR A NEW YEAR
s anyone else trying to wrap their mind around the fact that we are now in 2025?
People weren’t kidding when they told me that time flies by faster the older you get.
Well here we are – back to another beginning of the year. Back to thinking about how we want to make this year the best year yet. I know I always do at this time of year.
Maybe it is a goal for travel, health, finances, time with family, more time spent with God, sleep, stress management, career or something else that has been on your mind this past year. It can be overwhelming to think about it all at once. That is where I think I usually go wrong – trying to do it all at once vs one focal point at a time.
When thinking about your health and the goals you want for yourself this coming year, focus on one thing at a time. A few things to consider as you think about your health goals include:
1. Getting in 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
Easy Weeknight Taco Soup
Most of us like to have dinner done in about 30 minutes instead of hours on a weeknight. I know I also like to have as few dirty dishes as possible, so having dinner cooked in one pot is a double win.
Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion
½ medium bell pepper
1 (15 oz) cans crushed tomatoes, undrained
12 oz bag frozen corn
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
14 oz low sodium broth
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Pepper to taste
Directions:
Add beef to a large pot and cook over medium heat. While the beef is cooking, add the onion and bell pepper to a food processor or blender and blend until finely diced. Once the meat is browned, drain the beef fat and add back to the pot. Add diced vegetables to the beef and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for about 20 minutes. Serve with toppings
2. Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water.
3. Finding joy in your day to help with stress management.
4. Meal planning and prepping.
5. Reading food labels when grocery shopping.
6. Eating out fast food less.
7. Getting 10,000 steps in a day.
8. Filling half your plate with vegetables at lunch and dinner.
9. Not snacking late at night.
10. Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake. Do any of those sound doable for you and something that would help you work towards your goals? If health is on your list for 2025, I would love to help you set those realistic goals. At Laser Focus Health and Wellness, I always offer free consultations to go over all my services and how I can help. As you start off the new year, add this taco soup recipe to your menu.
of choice. Avocado is one of my favorites to put on this one.
Makes: 4 servings
Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 395 Total Fat: 11g Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 89mg Sodium: 1,420mg
Carbohydrates: 64g Fiber: 14g Protein: 44g
Nutrition 101: Talk about getting some vegetables into your soup. My kids aren’t huge fans of big chunks of vegetables in their soups/chilis, so by putting them into my food processor first, they are getting in all the vegetables without the chunks. If your family also isn’t a huge fan of beans, go ahead and put the beans in the processor with the vegetables. By buying your tomatoes already crushed you get the same result with the tomatoes. Enjoy the soup (and all the hidden veggies).
What’s better than fun and free? When you host a Mary Kay® party, you could earn FREE* Mary Kay® products! Whether in person or virtually, get some friends together, and you could score some serious swag, such as Mary Kay® products women love. Contact me to get started.
Conway Independent Beauty Consultant www.marykay.com/dconway5 405-788-6353
Adult: $7.00 Child under 10: $4.00 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
LUNCH 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM DINNER 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Tickets Adult: $10
Children (12 and under): $5
Available from any Lions Club member or at the door. Follow us on Facebook and www.shawneeoklions.org DINE IN or CARRY OUT
Everyone is Invited!
PATCH Coalition will be holding monthly meetings on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 12 p.m. Locations vary.
PATCH Areas of Focus:
• Tobacco Prevention & Control
• Child Health
• Obesity
The mission of PATCH is to improve the health and wellness of all residents through community partnerships and to reduce youth substance & alcohol use.
Friday, February 22, 2019 First Baptist Church
Adult: $7.00 Child under 10: $4.00 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
• Community Collaboration & Development
• Mental Health & Substance Abuse
• Prescription Drug Misuse/Abuse
For more information, contact Lindsey Smith with Gateway to Prevention and Recovery @ lindseysmith@gatewaytoprevention.org
art of the matter
CREATIVE START Begin The New Year With Inspiration
SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM, CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS
MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART
We are embarking on another year hopefully filled with art and creativity.
We are kicking it off at the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art with Museum Selfie Day on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Come by the museum and take a selfie with your favorite piece. Do you prefer paintings or 3D objects? Realism or impressionism?
Appropriately, January is also International Creativity month. Begin the new year with creativity. It is what makes life fun.
A fun and creative piece in the museum is “As Kids Go” by Sam Gilliam.
He created a print then added texture and paint to the surface. There are lots of colors and shapes swirling about the center. Sam Gilliam was an abstract painter, sculptor and art educator. While he was born in Mississippi, he lived most of his life in Washington D.C. He became well known in the 1960s for his drape paintings – large, unstretched canvas that he painted then draped outside buildings or in galleries. In the 1970s, he started working with several printmaking techniques. In the 1980s, he experimented with angular, geometric canvases attached in a row and painted with bright acrylic paint.
His artwork can be found in museums across the country.
Another creative piece is by Absentee Shawnee and Seminole artist Benjamin Harjo Jr. He takes more traditional Native American themes and ideas and adds bright color and fun shapes. Benjamin worked primarily with gouache, pen and ink, and a variety of printmaking methods. In “Giving a Helping Hand,” the body of the person is abstracted into a variety of shapes and colors, but we can differentiate the face and the prominent hand.
Kim Camp’s “Good Morning Everybody! Sun’s Up and It’s Time for Toast
As Kids Go by Sam Gilliam
and Coffee!” really does wake you up. Kim does not just paint on a surface but creates a three-dimensional heart figure with legs that dangle from the chair that juts out from the canvas. The heart figure is reading a paper and drinking coffee from a straw. The use of bright colors, unexpected materials and 3D elements makes even the grumpiest non-morning person smile. Kim is an Oklahoma City artist working in a variety of mediums.
Hopefully seeing a few bright, colorful and creative pieces will get your creative juices flowing.
For videos on other creative crafts, check out mgmoa.org/art-projects/
Creative Collage
Supplies: paper, magazines, scissors, glue, paint
Find images or parts of images that you like in magazines and cut them out.
Create a collage of images that you like by gluing those cut out images onto the paper.
Now add some colorful paint.
S Good Morning by Kim CampRomano
SMALL STEPS
Persistence Could Mean Big Changes, New Year Of Growth
BY JOHN BOBB-SEMPLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POTTAWATOMIE
ix years ago, I made a decision that changed my life: I lost 75 pounds. But I soon realized losing the weight wasn’t the end goal; it was just the start. It was about learning new habits, changing how I think and aligning my behaviors with what I value – discovering what it means to grow each day and bringing that energy to my community.
As we celebrate the start of a new year, many of us think about where we are and where we want to go. It’s a time full of hope – but it’s also a time to commit to making real changes. Did you know nearly a quarter of New Year resolutions fail in the first week? By the time you are reading this, 43 percent of resolutions are often forgotten, and by mid-February, 80 percent have faded. Only 9 percent of people keep their resolutions for the whole year.
This isn’t about why we fail; it’s about how we can succeed. What if instead of aiming for a single goal, we focused on growing and becoming better over time? This idea fits perfectly with the goals of the recently published Pottawatomie County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA): identifying challenges and setting meaningful goals to improve our community.
In 2024, more than 60 multi-sector partners in Pottawatomie County came together to conduct the county’s first comprehensive, community-driven CHNA. Their efforts engaged nearly 3,200 residents, highlighting the power of working together. This milestone demonstrates what is possible when we unite as a community to address challenges and plan for a healthier future. Lasting change requires more than willpower; it demands a supportive environment, clear strategies and a willingness to adapt when things don’t go as planned.
Growth isn’t about checking off a box. It’s about creating a life and a community that matches our hopes and dreams for ourselves and our neighbors. That change in mindset made all the difference for me.
When I started my weight-loss journey, I didn’t change everything at once. I made small, sustainable adjustments to my diet and routine while relying on encouragement from those around me. These small steps added up, showing me
that progress comes from persistence and support.
This perspective is at the heart of Pogo and our community's many aligned health initiatives. By working with committed partners – from the Pottawatomie County Health Department and Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health Center to SSM Health and Gateway to Prevention and Recovery – the CHNA fosters a collaborative approach to tackling complex challenges. These organizations bring unique strengths to the table, but they share a common vision: a healthier, more connected community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, be seen and heard.
That’s why initiatives like the CHNA are so important. Conducted every three years, the CHNA brings together healthcare providers, community groups, faith organizations and policymakers to identify critical health needs and develop strategies for lasting community-wide change. This year’s assessment – in partnership with the University of Oklahoma’s Hudson College of Public Health – engaged nearly 5 percent of the county’s residents through surveys and community conversations. It’s a powerful example of what happens when we focus not just on problems but on the potential for real improvements.
Following the 2021 CHNA, programs like Veggie Rx and mobile food services addressed health challenges like food insecurity, which impacts 19 percent of county residents. These efforts align with the CHNA priorities of improving food access and nutrition; behavioral health; neighborhoods and the built environment; and social connections and belonging. By tackling these issues, the CHNA and upcoming
Bobb-Semple
Community Health Improvement Planning fosters a stronger, healthier community.
Our collective efforts extend beyond healthcare, but achieving these goals – both personally and as a community – is challenging. Whether it’s reducing the stigma of mental health or creating more opportunities for physical activity, meaningful progress often requires overcoming systemic barriers and sustained commitment from all stakeholders.
Ten percent of households rely on walking as a primary mode of transportation, while 9 percent depend on rides from friends or family – a statistic that highlights barriers to mobility and underscores the need for accessible opportunities for safe active transportation. This insight fits within the broader challenges of housing and transportation.
If you participated in the Groove Around the Globe Challenge this past fall, you’ve already made a fantastic start toward tackling some of our challenges. It showed how taking even small steps – such as walking more or sharing goals with friends – can spark real change.
Launching this January, the Stick to Your Resolution Challenge invites everyone to build lasting habits. Whether you want to improve your health or connect with others, the key is to take consistent steps forward. Check out the details on Pottawatomie Go’s social media.
Community-wide programs like Exercise and Eats or the upcoming Stick to Your Resolution Challenge encourage residents to set goals and follow through with them. These initiatives are critical, particularly when nearly a quarter of those lacking social connections report no physical activity outside of work during a normal week.
Another upcoming benefit for the overall well-being of our community is the Pottawatomie County Retreet program on March 8 that seeks to restore trees lost in the 2023 tornado, beautifying our community, improving mental health and encouraging physical activity. Sign up today for a tree or volunteer to help. Trees are available while supplies last.
Reflecting on my own journey, I realize the parallels between personal and community growth. Both are rarely linear. They come with setbacks, detours and moments of doubt. Yet, they are also filled with breakthroughs, discoveries and triumphs that make the effort worthwhile. Whether you’re striving to improve your health, maintain your mental well-being or make a difference in your community, the journey of growth shapes us all – individually and collectively.
That’s why community initiatives like the CHNA are vital. They create the conditions for success by addressing systemic barriers, fostering collaboration and empowering individuals to take charge of their health and well-being. You can access the CHNA results at gopogo.org/chna.
As Maya Angelou said, “Every great journey starts with a single step.” As we look ahead to the new year, let’s build on that spirit. Let’s set inspiring goals that challenge us, help us grow and bring our community closer together. Let’s commit to becoming – not just for ourselves, but for each other. Let’s embrace the challenges, celebrate the progress and support one another along the way. Because the person you want to become isn’t waiting at the finish line; they’re with you every step of the way, growing, learning, and evolving. And that, more than any resolution, is a goal worth pursuing.
BETTER HEARING, BETTER
STORYTELLING
CPN Members To Help With New Trail Of Death
Art Installation Near Kansas City
COURTESY OF CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION
Citizen Potawatomi Nation members have the chance to contribute to a Kansas art installation that will help tell the story of the Potawatomi Trail of Death to hundreds of thousands annual visitors.
The Johnson County Park and Recreation District in Kansas, announced last fall that “Fire Keepers Circle” by artists Leah Yellowbird and Aaron Squadroni was selected as the winning design from among three finalists.
“Fire Keepers Circle” consists of a panel that features four layers. The spiritual layer expresses the spirit of
the fire keepers. The trail path shows the route from Indiana to Kansas. The ancestral layer represents the number of Potawatomi who made the journey in 1838. The contemporary layer will include submissions from Potawatomi tribal members that will be imprinted on the metal.
The piece will be fabricated over a period of five to six months and then installed in the park. An official ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled for July 2025.
The announcement follows months of research, planning and consultation
with CPN tribal members. JCPRD officials appreciate CPN’s help to reach this important milestone.
“I’m just really grateful for all of the relationship building and the number of participants from Citizen Potawatomi Nation that just really helped guide the process and provided really great input,” said Susan Mong, JCPRD superintendent of culture. “I think the product is going to be amazing, but the process has been really beautiful to have everybody engaged.”
Mong said the county recognized the unique nature of this public art
Johnson County (Kansas) Park and Recreation District officials commissioned “Fire Keepers Circle” by artists Leah Yellowbird and Aaron Squadroni to tell the story of the Potawatomi Trail of Death with planned contributions from Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal members. — Photos submitted
project and knew they would need to consult Native American artists for this special work.
“With all of our public art projects, we typically will put an artist call out,” Mong said. “In this case, it was across the nation. So, anybody across the United States that had an affiliation with a Native American tribe was invited to apply.”
Three finalists were selected and received the goals of the project and a site visit. The finalists also received a stipend to develop a design.
“It’s always our practice to have or to support three artists and pay them for their creativity to come up with those concepts,” Mong said. “We had this wonderful opportunity to share those three proposed designs not only with the community here in Johnson County, but also to bring those three designs down to the Reunion (Festival).
“That was really special to engage
members of CPN from across the country around those designers and find out what emotions each of the three designs evoked in everybody. That’s so that we can get a sense of what people are gravitating towards.”
Considering the community input, the art selection committee then selected the winner.
“The community input coalesced around who we ended up selecting,” Mong said. “There seemed to be a lot of energy around ‘Fire Keepers Circle.’
“All three artists that were finalists were so heartfelt in the time and energy and emotion that they put into creating their proposal.”
Mong and other Johnson County officials were working with Yellowbird and Squadroni as the fabrication process begins, and community engagement will continue.
“The design of the piece includes (multiple) layers,” Mong said. “One is a contemporary layer that has all of these metallic feathers that are meant to have a little movement that will flutter in the wind. The imprints on those feathers are going to be created by members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation as a way to represent all of those lives and the beauty of the Tribe.”
Tribal members will have an opportunity to create a design and submit it to artist Leah Yellowbird. The designs will be imprinted on the metallic feathers of the piece’s contemporary layer.
“That’s going to be a really neat way for people all over the country to make
their mark on this piece through those individual feathers,” Mong said. “We’ll also have opportunities for people from all over the country to send a sentiment or a design or something that represents a loved one or something about their families.”
Yellowbird is assembling an informational packet that will help Tribal members add to part of the design that resembles a feather.
“We’re going to ask people to put a pattern on that feather, whether it’s a pattern that’s on your regalia that you wear, a pattern that your family uses on their regalia or it’s something you have in your house or something that you love, something that moves you,” Yellowbird said. “Draw the pattern on and then we’ll put it on the metal. And then they’ll be able to pick out their feather on the sculpture. I think it’s kind of cool to be a part of this memorial and say, ‘Here I am.’”
Yellowbird and Squadroni plan to begin their outreach to CPN Tribal members in January 2025.
The park located near the Kansas City area receives more than 800,000 visitors annually. JCPRD officials are also preparing for a large increase in visitors when the 2026 FIFA World Cup visits the region. Mong is hopeful this new art piece will help local and international visitors gain a greater understanding of some aspects of American history.
Mong said many tribal Nations have their own removal stories but not every
Leah Yellowbird
story is acknowledged. Working on the public art project has helped her gain a greater understanding of history, an experience she hopes others will appreciate.
“It’s been a really great journey for me to just learn about what that next generation is doing to keep the memory, to keep the story and that pride of that connection alive,” Mong said. “I’m interested to learn more because I know that this is really the tip of the iceberg of other events that have happened around me and places I grew up.”
In addition to the art, Mong said the county is planning an interpretive panel near the art that will explore some of the history involved. CPN will be involved in the production of the panel as well, she said. She also was deeply grateful for the chance to meet Tribal citizens at the 2024 Family Reunion Festival and to connect with the Cultural Heritage Center staff.
“Everyone who did offer feedback
at the Family Reunion, each comment was read by our committee and was appreciated,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to the (CPN) community and the staff of the Cultural Center. And for everybody that took time during the Festival to provide that feed-
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back, it was really important and really appreciated.”
To learn more about the Johnson County Heritage Park public art project, visit cpn.news/heritagepark.
I’m Ryan Busler, a licensed sales agent in Shawnee, Oklahoma. When it comes to Medicare, it’s important to consider all of your options. What works well for your neighbor may not be the best fit for you. I know the ins and outs of Medicare, and I’m ready to answer your questions and help you find a plan that fits your needs.
Call today to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans in your area
Follow Yellowbird’s work at facebook.com/LeahYellowbirdArt. S ©2024 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Y0066_SPRJ83891_C SPRJ83891
Ryan Busler Licensed Sales Agent 405-256-3342, TTY 711 ryan@navigatingrx.com www.navigatingrxcom Sí, hablo su idioma.
community HERO’S RETURN
Korean War Veteran's Remains Returned To Family 70 Years Later
BY DAVID DINSMORE
More than 70 years after going missing in action, a Korean War veteran returned home to Oklahoma last fall to be buried with his family thanks to new technology and the tenacity of relatives he never met.
Jesse Leroy Mitchell was born Feb. 3, 1929, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to
Jesse Leroy Mitchell died in a Korean prisoner of war camp in 1951 and remained interred in Hawaii from 1954 until DNA testing helped identify him in early 2024 before returning last fall to Shawnee for burial with his family.
Jesse Junior Mitchell and Bertha Lenore Baggs Mitchell.
In 1948, Leroy enlisted in the U.S. Army and re-enlisted March 22, 1950. He was stationed at Fort Ord, California, in April 1950 and eventually deployed to Korea as part of Charlie Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division.
Later that year, Leroy’s family in Shawnee received a telegram informing them that the Army had declared him missing in action as of Nov. 4, 1950, said Daniel Mitchell, Leroy’s nephew who later helped his family in its search for answers. With diplomatic relations
between the U.S. and North Korea nonexistent at the time, the latter provided no published list of prisoners of war captured during that time.
They later discovered the North Koreans had assigned the captured Cpl. Mitchell to Camp #5 near Pyoktong. Little information exists as to the exact conditions of the camp outside of reports from other troops imprisoned there, but those accounts indicate an environment rife with illness, malnutrition and exposure.
After the signing of an armistice in the summer of 1953, more information became available as prisoners of war began returning after their release.
“They interviewed the survivors to try and see who they knew in the camps who died,” said Daniel, who received his middle name of Leroy in honor of the uncle who was killed four years before he was born.
A handful of men from Camp #5 stated they knew that North Korean forces had captured Leroy and held him there until he died in late August 1951. The Army was able to then confirm for his family back in Oklahoma that he had died as a prisoner of war.
In 1954, Operation Glory helped secure the return of remains of fallen service members to the U.S. where attempts at identification took place.
Processing procedures by North Korean forces included the confiscation of dog tags and other identifying materials from prisoners of war as they entered camps, and these did not always return with the remains. Given the resources and methods available at the time, officials could not positively discern the names of hundreds of those who returned.
The military laid many to rest in The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – also known as the Punchbowl Cemetery – on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii.
Leroy’s parents had settled in Shawnee and lived here for most of their lives. Leroy’s younger and only brother, Billy Joe Mitchell, had joined the Army during the war as well, but he never deployed to the Korean theater as part of a sole survivor policy that kept the only remaining son or daughter from facing combat as made famous most recently by the film, “Saving Private Ryan.” This ensured Daniel’s father returned to the family after the war.
The effect of Leroy’s death and the
aftermath, however, hung over the family for most of Daniel’s upbringing as he could recall.
“Every time I would talk to my grandparents or my father about Leroy, they usually wouldn’t talk very much,” Daniel said. “It was usually three or four sentences, and then it was over.”
Daniel, however, still had the desire to find answers for his family despite limited information and unforeseen setbacks, such as a 1971 fire at a facility in St. Louis housing military records from the Korean War time period.
Decades later, he was working as an electrical engineer at Tinker Air Force Base when he discovered information about the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which is an agency within the U.S. Department of Defense whose mission is to recover and identify unaccounted personnel listed as prisoners of war or missing in action from designated past conflicts from countries around the world.
Using the little information he’d received from his father and grandparents, he began researching and
connecting with organizations and individuals working in that same vein to help return fallen service members home. Many were family members of other veterans of the conflict sharing what information they had in case it could help someone find a long-lost loved one and in hopes someone else may have information they could use.
One of the administrators of the Korean War Project at koreanwar.org reached out to Daniel about providing DNA samples to the DPAA. He received a kit from the agency in 2013 and sent his sample for analysis.
Two years passed before he received a response, which was an inquiry as to whether there were any other closer living relatives than a nephew who could provide mitochondrial DNA as passed down by the same mother. Leroy’s brother was still living, and Daniel and the DPAA worked to collect a sample in 2015.
Billy Joe Mitchell passed away the following year before any response came from the DPAA.
Daniel continued his search and
continued seeking new information that could help bring Leroy home.
In April 2024, one of Daniel’s sisters stopped by his home unexpectedly to deliver the news that she had just gotten a phone call from the DOD. The news puzzled Daniel until she revealed the reason for the call.
“They’ve found Leroy,” she told him.
After the phone call, they received a personal visit from an agency member who explained to them the process undertaken to identify their uncle more than 70 years after his death.
In the time since the Mitchells submitted their father’s DNA sample, the DPAA received funds from Congress to exhume the remains of those buried at the Punchbowl in Hawaii. The Mitchell family learned that Leroy had returned to the U.S. as part of Operation Glory in 1954, and the DPAA had identified him in the last group of those they analyzed.
Mitchell arrived at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City on Oct. 8 in preparation for his final honors.
The family arranged with Walker Funeral & Cremation Service in Shawnee to have Leroy’s remains returned to the resting place of his parents. Active duty personnel from Fort Sill provided military honors for Leroy’s ceremony in Shawnee, and Walker documented Leroy’s return and ceremony in a video posted to his obituary page available at www.walkerfuneral.com.
“What was important to us was that this man was honored properly and that a light would shine on him appropriately as it should for all who have served as he did,” said Mark Riley, owner and president of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.
Riley said he was not aware of how much the DPAA is currently doing to return fallen heroes to their families like this.
“It was amazing to be a part of honoring someone who made this kind of sacrifice for others,” Riley said.
After his experience, Daniel said he would love to see the DPAA receive wider attention than it currently does.
“Their job seems just impossible, but they’ve got thousands of stories of people they’ve identified from World War II to Korea to Vietnam,” said Daniel, who added he encourages everyone he meets to contact them about missing loved ones. “You need to go to DPAA. mil and contact them. They need all the information we can provide.”
The DPAA’s work – along with Daniel’s determination and patience – have helped bring about a sense of closure for the Mitchell family.
“One of the things I have been telling everybody (since the identification of Leroy’s remains) is that when you have an MIA in your family, you have this small hope in your heart that maybe they could be found,” Daniel said. “One of the things I can be proud of his service is that … in South Korea today, there are millions of free people walking around that his service helped with.” S
over the fence
DON’T BOTHER
Drastic Changes In Definition Of ‘Neighborly’
BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
Have you ever in your lifetime borrowed a cup of sugar from a neighbor? Have you ever collected a neighbor’s newspaper while he was out of town? Or have you ever watched a neighbor’s child while she ran errands? I’ll bet you have probably experienced this kind of neighborliness at one point or another. I sure have. In fact, these kinds of things were quite common when I was growing up 30 years ago. However, the landscape of American neighborhoods is shifting.
kids anyway. Living peacefully disconnected lives – though certainly tempting at times – surely cannot create the kind of community we all want.
During the mid-2000s, two faculty psychiatrists from Harvard Medical School, Jacqueline Olds and Richard Schwartz, observed that the definition of “neighborly” had not only changed during the past 50 years, it had nearly reversed. Being “neighborly” during the post-World War II era meant bringing food to a grieving neighbor, sharing yard tools or stopping by to check in when you hadn’t seen a neighbor in a few days.
Now, they noted, the opposite is becoming truer. A “neighborly” homeowner would never stop by unannounced for fear of appearing rude or intrusive. “Neighborly” means not playing loud music and not letting one’s yard get out of hand. Now, one of the best compliments given to a neighbor is that they don’t bother anyone. Yep. “Not bothering anyone” is frequently considered a neighborly accolade. How can this be?
To me, “not bothering anyone” shares more in common with indifference than it does to any definition of neighborliness I’ve ever known. And a neighborhood ideal of “indifference” doesn’t sound like the sort of place I want to raise my
Yes, it developed into the makings of a Hallmark movie, but it begs the following question for those of us who feel overwhelmed with the frenetic pace of life we have created: What beautiful gifts are we forfeiting when we fail to notice the people around us?
A few years ago, I read a true story about a rare neighbor. He was a senior adult in his mid-80s living alone, and a young family with a two-year-old daughter moved in next door. He and the two-year-old became quick friends. The neighbor was kind and gentle, and he grew to love the little girl. He looked forward to watching her grow up, but sadly the neighbor passed. Soon after, the elderly neighbor’s daughter came by with a large plastic sack. He must have known he was dying soon because in the sack were Christmas presents for the little girl for the next 13 years. He had always commented that he would live to be 100, and he had bought enough gifts to see the little girl through her 16th birthday. I don’t know this man’s name, but he deserves to have this beautiful story told.
Why?
Because he represented to us what it should mean to be “neighborly.” He reminded us again of the basic goodness present in humankind. Sure, it’s an incredibly touching story. Most of us couldn’t write a story like that if we tried, but amid the extraordinary, let’s not miss the ordinary. This neighbor simply took the time to care with intention. On purpose. Yes, it developed into the makings of a Hallmark movie, but it begs the following question for those of us who feel overwhelmed with the frenetic pace of life we have created: What beautiful gifts are we forfeiting when we fail to notice the people around us?
This young couple probably wasn’t in the market for a new friendship. They likely would have told you they didn’t have time to get to know their neighbors. I’ll bet their social circle already seemed full. Besides, being neighborly these days means leaving each other alone, but each Christmas for the next few years, they’ll be reminded – especially their little girl – that we are better off together.
May 2025 be the year you make room for one more in your circle.
Brandon Dyer
Primrose Sock Hop
Thursday, February 13th
5:00-6:30 pm
Hop into Primrose for a fun night of music, delicious food and a specialty cocktail!
Primrose Sock Hop
Thursday, February 13th • 5:00-6:30 pm
Primrose Sock Hop
Contact Jill at (405) 273-0925 for more information or to save your seat!
Hop into Primrose for a fun night of music, delicious food and a specialty cocktail!
Thursday, February 13th
5:00-6:30 pm
Contact Jill at (405) 273-0925 for more information or to save your seat!
Hop into Primrose for a fun night of music, delicious food and a specialty cocktail!
Contact Jill at (405) 273-0925 for more information or to save your seat!
Townhome Villas, Independent & Assisted Living
Townhome Villas, Independent & Assisted Living
RISING TIDE
Tragedy
Leads To New Parks, Safety Measures After 1928 Flood
BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER
How many times have you driven down some of Shawnee streets close to downtown or gone over “tunnels” that you didn’t even realize were there? Or crossed over a bridge or maybe even glanced out the car window to see deep cement-sided creeks and maybe, just maybe, wondered how and why they came to be?
Have you been to Redbud Park on Dill Street between Broadway and Beard Streets? Or been across the street at Larch-Miller Park for a picnic?
These two park areas have those very deep man-made ditches. Remember just earlier this year when east Main Street was blocked off for several months when a new bridge was built over a very deep ditch? How do all these long-time projects connect in Shawnee? And why?
Back in April 1928, the town was deluged with more than seven inches of rain in a very short period of time. That in itself could cause flooding, but because – unbeknownst to many – Shawnee is bordered in the south and the east sides by the North Canadian River. That same river runs through Oklahoma City – now called the Oklahoma River that partially serves as a tourist attraction – and all the way this way to the east and beyond.
its fledgling stage and not designed to alleviate that possibility. Work began with help from the city, state and federal governments and also from organizations, individuals and companies.
The trenches were dug deep along the path of Shawnee Creek to ensure the water would flow away from citizens’ homes and businesses. Ideas also began developing as the system meandered into what was the middle of town at the time. Why not use the system to beautify the area as well? It was a long, expensive and tedious project, but after seeing what could happen if the river wasn’t tamed, the workers were eager.
Redbud Park and Larch-Miller Park near the intersections of Dill Street and Broadway and Beard came from beautification ideas tied to projects meant to protect residents after flooding damaged and destroyed 153 homes and 26 businesses in Shawnee in April 1928. — Photo submitted
A tributary from that river also comes up through the east side of town, and years ago was dubbed Shawnee Creek. On that day in 1928, it flooded. It wasn’t just a “flood.” Six people died, and nearly every home and business in the East Main area up to Tucker Street was destroyed. One hundred and fifty three families lost their homes, and 26 businesses were damaged or completely destroyed. There was a total loss of $300,000, which today would be well into the millions.
City leaders took charge with concerns that this could happen again. The drainage system in Shawnee was still in
Plans were made to also utilize the area for the citizens of Shawnee – not just for safety but for beautification. So once the huge trenches were constructed – often 15 to 20 feet deep and wide in some places – rails were placed around the edges for safety, and city leaders and volunteer organizations appropriated funds to keep the areas maintained for citizens to enjoy.
Even today, driving just north of Wallace Street on Broadway you can see the parks on both sides of the street. Stop and visit, use the picnic tables and admire the work so many were involved in nearly 100 years ago. At one time, there was a little house kept up by the Garden Club on the Beard Street corner and used by groups like the Camp Fire Girls. In the past, those parks were one of the top spots used for personal and professional photography.
Some citizens today aren’t as aware of the “low places” nearer to the east side of downtown that runs to the northwest, but because of the foresight of early city leaders, it’s no longer a flooding issue. On top of that, we have some beautiful little parks. They’re simple little parks and still well kept, but they came about because of tragedy.
Michael P Garbutt, AAMS™
4010 N Kickapoo Ave, Ste 1 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-214-1978
David W Spires, CFP®
Chris Jones
mental health
S SETTING BOUNDARIES Finding Ways To Separate Work From Self
etting boundaries at work is a process
BY ALICJA CARTER
For many of us, setting boundaries at work is a process. Personally, my process started with experiencing a number of consequences from not having limits. These manifested in the form of severe migraines, increased alcohol consumption, an uneventful social life, pressure in my chest and immediate feelings of dread and resentment when I opened my eyes in the morning.
It was only after getting fired from a previous job that I finally surrendered and admitted I could not be the end all do all. I walked around in a daze for the following three weeks, trying to uncover who I was outside of keeping others happy and getting the job done. Even though my previous employer left much to be desired, it was me who ignored the red flags, avoided asking for help and refused to walk away. I was going to take me with me wherever I went next and would eventually drive myself into the ground again. I had to reprioritize my values.
I decided to put my mental, emotional and physical wellness at the top and made a promise never to sacrifice it again … for anyone. I still valued harmony and progress but no longer at my own expense. Whether I believed it or not, I had to act as if I deserved care, too. I had to keep a hold of the tools and teachings that I kept passing along to everyone else. I had to get comfortable being uncomfortable and ask for what I needed to be okay.
Setting boundaries at work is challenging
• Helping and producing makes you feel good about yourself and gives you a sense of purpose.
• You are excited about your work and get great satisfaction and enjoyment from it. The more the better.
• Others are working just as hard and need a break, too. Setting a boundary may mean that the work doesn’t get done, or worse yet, others have to pick up your slack.
• Saying “no” or asking for what you need may cause others to be irritated or upset with you.
• You have been ignored, reprimanded, teased or fired from previous employment when you ad-
vocated for yourself.
• Asking for help and support makes you feel like a burden on others.
Setting boundaries at work is doable
Boundaries can look different for everyone and can change as needed. Here are a few examples of what boundaries could look and sound like at work. Of course, these may all be easier said than done, but it doesn’t mean these actions are impossible or unnecessary. They just might take some time and support.
• Set and stick to your working hours, even if you’re working from home. Consider putting a message at the bottom of your email that reminds people when you will be available to answer emails. Make
Carter
plans for yourself outside of work so that you will be less likely to stay late or take on more.
• Get out of your own head and work with your manager to get clarity on organizational, team and individual priorities — then prioritize ruthlessly. And remember, not everything is a priority. Next time you need to create some space in your calendar, consider saying, “Thanks for thinking of me for this project. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the capacity to take it on right now. I’m happy to help in the future, but I’ll need more notice to fit it into my schedule.”
• Remember that your coworkers' feelings, attitudes and behaviors may not require your input or energy. You are welcome to allow them to ride their own wave. If it begins to affect you, you are within your rights to have a conversation with them or notify your supervisor.
Setting boundaries at work is necessary
Setting boundaries with your colleagues and encouraging them to do it with you can enhance your understanding and connection with one another, lead to more realistic goal setting and increase your sense of work satisfaction. Defining and maintaining your personal boundaries ensures that you will be cared for. Oftentimes, we over help and over produce in hopes that this out-
pouring will fill our cups. We hope that the people we care for will be sure to care for us in return. The money we make will relieve our fears of the future. Our many achievements will prove us worthy. However, all we are doing is teaching people that we are always available to give and all we need from them is to take, and we are left feeling empty. Rather than giving our energy away to external things hoping that it will come back to us, let’s just start with us. Let’s put first things first and ensure that we are cared for. Then we can evaluate how much is left to give and who is deserving to receive it.
If you need additional support, do not hesitate to text or call 988. You can
call if you are feeling sad, down, scared, worried, or even lonely. You can also reach out if you are in a mental health crisis and need immediate support. A trained professional is on the other end of the line ready and waiting to connect with you.
You are also more than welcome to contact Gateway to Prevention and Recovery at (405) 273-1170 ext. 0.
Alicja Carter, MHR, BHWC, is the Wellness Director at Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. She has worked in the behavioral health and addiction treatment field for 15 years. Alicja is passionate about living a well life and collaborating with others for the purpose of stimulating positive change in her community.
Dr. Brian Chaffin DC
NATIVE CONNECTIONS GRANT PROGRAM
• Promotes the health and well-being of Native youth who represent the future health of their communities.
• Helps American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities identify and address behavioral health needs of our Native youth.
• Supports grantees in reducing suicidal behavior and substance use among Native youth up to age 24, and supporting youth as they transition into adulthood.
• Promotes suicide and substance abuse prevention resources to our tribal members as well as our community.
• Encourages youth to develop strong bonds by arranging activity schedules around the AI/ AN youth and provide consistency (regularly scheduled activities).
• Plans monthly events for AI/AN youth and their families to attend. The grant has reached out for Native Instructors to teach our AI/AN youth traditional, native skills.
Jan. 1-Feb. 16: The MabeeGerrer Museum of Art will host the Called by God: The Art of Religious Life special exhibit through Feb.16 featuring artwork ranging from the sixteenth century to contemporary that includes monks, nuns, priests, and other people who have dedicated their lives to God. Curator of collections Delaynna Trim will lead a reception and gallery talk at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the museum at 1900 W. MacArthur. Information: mgmoa.org
Jan. 16: The Friends of the Shawnee Library will host a luncheon and membership meeting at noon at 101 N. Philadelphia. Memberships, new or renewed, can be purchased at the door. Joshua Brunet, a talented illustrator of children's books, will present a program on his work.
Jan. 17: The Shawnee Public Library will host Art Fun! at 10 a.m. at the library at 101 N. Philadelphia, giving children and their caregivers the chance to explore their interests and discover one of the many ways that they can express themselves through art as part of the library’s Creativity Unleashed series. Information: (405) 275-6353
Jan. 19: Celebrate Dolly Day, a nationwide celebration of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Dolly Parton's 79th birthday. Sign a birthday card to say
Happy Birthday to Dolly and Thank You for Dolly Parton Imagination Library from 2-4 p.m. at the Shawnee Public Library. Information: (405) 275-6353
Jan. 21: Join the Shawnee Public Library for a painting class taught by the one and only Bob Ross as participants watch one of his specials and follow along with their own paints and canvases. Art supplies will be provided. Registration required. Information: (405) 275-6353
Feb. 1: Surrender to the classic rock sounds of Cheap Trick that made voting members want to want them as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road. Information: firelakearena.com
Feb. 2: Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma will host its monthly public run 1-4 p.m. at 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud. Ride the rails on powered ⅛-scale locomotives right outside of Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: locotrains.org
Feb. 6: Kids can ignite their curiosity and creativity with the Shawnee Public Library’s STEAM Kids series with this month focusing on the investigation of Bee-Bots. Information: (405) 275-6353
Feb. 7: Songwriter Night @ Music Unlimited is back with Janice Francis-Smith
as this month’s featured artists at 7 p.m. at 1109 W. Kickapoo Spur. Information: kevinhall8384@gmail.com
Feb. 7: Redeemer Lutheran Church will host a free monthly movie night presented by for a fun night of fellowship, movie, pop and popcorn at 7 p.m. at 39307 MacArthur St. Parents and grandparents can enjoy a worry-free evening of movie entertainment while the kids watch an age-appropriate movie. Information: facebook.com/ redeemerlutheranshawnee
Feb.7-16: Shawnee Little Theatre will stage a production of Misery, the story of an injured novelist recovering in the home of an obsessive fan based on a 1987 Stephen King and adapted for film in 1990. This nail-biting cat-andmouse game will have audiences on the edges of their seats. Information: shawneelittletheatre.org
Feb. 8: Blacktop Mojo with special guest Brayden Stewart will rock the stage with a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Feb. 15: Comedian and “country boy counselor” Teddy White Tee will take the mic along with special guest Matt Ferrell for a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at
10 W. Main. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Feb. 22: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host a monthly SWANshop art workshop from 9 a.m. to noon focusing on art and nature. These workshops will feature a monthly theme with this month’s participants exploring and expressing sources of love, compassion and emotional balance, growth and healing energies of nature. Information: mgmoa.org/ swanshops
If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@ shawneeoutlook.com. S
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