Shawnee Outlook

keep the change

PREPARE FOR GATHERINGS

WFIND BALANCE WITH POTASSIUM

otassium is an essential mineral for healthy bodily functioning, but it has been deemed a “nutrient of public health concern” due to its overall low consumption in the United States and its important role in our body.

Potassium works closely with sodium in a mechanism referred to as the sodium-potassium pump. The sodium-potassium pump plays an essential role in the body, especially kidney filtering, male fertility, brain and heart functioning. These pumps are also important for electrolyte and pH balance. Potassium levels can be checked with a simple blood draw at your doctor's office. Potassium levels should be between 3.70 to 5.20 millimoles per L (mm/L).

Angela Rowland

e’ve just wrapped up a school year and are heading into summer with barbecues and family gatherings galore. The question always seems to be – what do we bring? One of the greatest contributors to overspending is unexpected expenses. A need pops up and we pay whatever the cost to cover it. Let’s not let gatherings be one of those expenses. Let’s commit to being prepared.

• Bring a dessert. Have a couple of go-to options in your back pocket. At least one side and/or dessert that you’re confident in preparing and make it a goal to keep the necessary non-perishable ingredients on hand. Be determined to have those cookie ingredients in your pantry, pre-buy box mixes if you prefer for both baked goods and sides like pasta salad or Spanish rice. If you already have something in your kitchen ready to whip up on a moment’s notice, surprise requests for guests to bring something won’t have you running to the grocery store for pre-made options that will cost significantly more.

• Healthy options. Maybe you prefer healthier choices over bringing cookies. Often, healthy choices also mean perishable goods, which might be trickier but not impossible to keep on hand. Of course, veggie sides can be kept in the freezer or pantry, but it’s also possible to keep salad kits or bags of mandarin oranges always stocked in your kitchen. Be sure to choose options your family will eat, too, so you can consume them if it doesn’t look like you’ll be invited anywhere before they go bad.

• Drinks. Keep drink mixes or bottled sodas in your pantry, particularly if you find them on sale – even if you wouldn’t typically consume these. These items won’t expire any time soon and will keep you from having to run out and grab something.

Low levels of potassium can increase the risk of kidney stones, affect the bones in the body, calcium levels and increased blood pressure. The most common times a person has low potassium levels is after long bouts of diarrhea, vomiting, diuretics, laxatives, dialysis, intense sweating or starvation (eating disorders). On the other side of the spectrum is having too much potassium in your blood. People living with Type 1 diabetes, liver disease, adrenal insufficiency, congestive heart failure and kidney disease are at risk for having too much potassium in their blood. Symptoms of severe high potassium can be heart palpitation, muscle weakness and burning and prickling sensation in the arms and legs.

The National Institutes of Health has a list online of how much potassium each person needs based on age, sex and if pregnant or breastfeeding. The top 10 highest foods with potassium are dried apricots, cooked lentils, acorn squash, prunes, raisins, baked potato, canned kidney beans, orange juice, boiled soybeans and bananas.

Nutrient Rich Salad

We often need a meal that is balanced, but we don’t always have time to cook it. One reason I love a salad meal is because of the variety I can have with it and put it together so quickly.

Ingredients:

2 cups leafy lettuce

¼ cup feta

½ cup canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained

½ cup raw chopped veg-

etables such as cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, carrots and more

2 pickled okras

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

Directions: Combine all ingredients together to make a salad. Use dressing of choice. Makes: 1 serving Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 395, Total Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 33mg, Sodium: 1,064mg, Protein: 21g, Carbohydrates: 31g, Fiber: 11g

Nutrition 101: When talking about great sources of potassium, kidney beans are on the list. Potassium is just one great nutrient in beans. Beans are nutrientdense, delicious, diverse, filling, cost-effective and easy to store. They are also linked to a reduced risk of some diseases, and your gut bacteria love them. So, why not eat more? Beans often get used in Mexican dishes, soups and chilis. With beans being so versatile and there being so many varieties, don’t limit yourself on how you use them. Putting them on a salad is one quick and easy way to add in some protein and fiber to the meal. Your gut will thank you.

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Andrea Beck, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, received her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She offers personal training and nutrition education through an Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and share some of her favorite tips and deals.

ART OF WAR MGMoA Pays

Homage To Military Heroes

With Art Pieces In Collection

SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS

MABEE-GERRER

MUSEUM OF ART

Having just observed Memorial Day, I thought it might be nice to highlight some military connections with the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.

Did you know that the MGMoA has the World War I uniform of Fr. Timothy Murphy, OSB? He was the first U.S. military chaplain to die in WWI. He had been a monk at Sacred Heart/St. Gregory’s Abbey, so we have his uniform in our collection. In addition, we have a glass negative photo of him wearing his uniform. He served as headmaster and professor at Sacred Heart College and then pastor of St. John’s parish in McAlester. He was the first rector of the new Catholic University of Oklahoma in Shawnee, which became St. Gregory’s University.

Also, did you know that the MGMoA is a Blue Star Museum?

Being a Blue Star Museum means that all active duty personnel and up to five family members receive free admission from Armed Forces Day (May 18, 2024) through Labor Day (September 2, 2024). We have been part of that National Endowment for the Arts program for many years now, but the MGMoA decided that we wanted to do more for active and retired military by making the admission fee for active and retired military half of the normal adult admission rate year round.

Fr. Gregory Gerrer painted two Choctaw code talkers from WWI – Otis Leader and Joseph Oklahombi. He painted a bust or headshot as well as a three-quarter length portrait of both men.

Oklahombi was awarded the Silver Star with Victory Ribbon by Gen. John Pershing and the Croix de Guerre from France’s Marshal Henri-Philippe Petain. Leader received a

Heart, two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Croix de Guerre. These men were two of 19 Choctaw code talkers who prevented the Germans from deciphering messages from the front lines by passing messages using this Native language. This technique was used more frequently in WWII.

The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance during WWI due to the poppy fields of Flanders. This was popularized by Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem “Flanders Fields.” University of Georgia professor Moina Michael campaigned to have the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in the U.S. Anna Guérin and Earl Haig did the same in the UK. The American Legion Auxiliary and the Royal British Legion sold poppies to support wounded veterans.

For more ideas for poppy art projects and videos, check out www.mgmoa.org/art-projects

Purple

Art Project: Poppy Flower

Paper plate or egg carton

Red paint or marker

Black paint or marker

Scissors

Cut the paper plate or egg carton cup so that you have four petals. Paint the plate or egg carton cup red for the flower petals. Once dry, paint the very center black for the black seeds.

For something different, use watercolors on a coffee filter then use a black button in the center for the seeds. Be creative in your use of materials.

OSCAR

NOMINATED

Scott George has worked in Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Housing Department since 2005.

Day-to-day, he works to help Tribal members as they navigate housing issues, such as buying a home.

This year, George also became the first Native American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Music (Original Song) and the first member of the Osage Nation to be nominated for an Oscar.

George wrote and composed the music and lyrics for “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a Martin Scorsese-directed film based on a book by David Grann about the Osage Reign of Terror. The movie garnered 10 nominations at the Oscars, including one for leading actress Lily Gladstone – who made history as the first Native American actress to be nominated.

The song was originally on the Oscar shortlist, and George didn’t expect it to go any further from there. In fact, when the Oscar nominations were announced Jan. 23, he was on his way to work.

“I was supposed to be at a meeting, and I had all my stuff, getting ready to walk out the door, and my wife said, ‘Wait, they’re supposed to announce it.’ I said, ‘I can’t wait, I’ve got to go,’” he said. “I got on the road, and my phone started blowing up.”

When asked what his thoughts are on being nominated before the awards ceremony, he

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Photo submitted

said he still hadn’t quite grasped the reality of it.

“At this point, it’s just shock and thankfulness,” he said. “It’s a weight I haven’t felt yet. It hasn’t really sunk in.”

However, he did express gratitude that the song is being recognized the way it is.

“There’s no orchestra,” George said. “There are no string instruments or anything involved in this. It’s just our voices and the drums. For somebody to sit there and think we’re worthy of even being considered, that’s pretty cool.”

It all started with the Osage Nation Language Department, which worked with filmmakers to incorporate the Osage language into the movie. Director Martin Scorsese and actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Gladstone had all attended ceremonial dances while filming. Scorsese decided he wanted to bring that element into the movie at the end.

“We knew those songs weren’t appropriate for this situation,” George said.

However, in talks with Scorsese’s team, they decided on an idea that would work.

“We couldn’t use the songs we sing all the time, so we had to create something,” George said. “We went back and forth and talked about what we wanted to say in the song, making sure we had the words right, coming up with a tune that would carry it. And then we created two songs. Vann composed one, and I composed one.”

George wrote and composed the music and lyrics for “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a Martin Scorsese-directed film based on a book by David Grann about the Osage Reign of Terror. The movie garnered 10 nominations at the Oscars, including one for leading actress Lily Gladstone –who made history as the first Native American actress to be nominated.

George’s friend in the language department, Vann Bighorse, contacted him to let him know what the filmmakers wanted, and they started to discuss how to go about making it happen.

Initially, he said, they didn’t plan on being involved with the filming.

“What they saw was our dance, and our dances are ceremonial,” George said. “So there was no way we were going to recreate that. Not for the movie.”

In addition to the ceremonial nature of the dances, many of the Osage songs are borrowed from the Ponca Tribe, and many songs include names of individuals who have family still living.

Ultimately, it was George’s song that ended up in the movie.

Following the movie’s release, George also found himself enlisted to help with the nomination process.

“There’s a lot of paperwork I had to fill out to even get the song submitted,” George said. “It had to be in written music, like notes and the whole works. I haven’t read sheet music since fourth grade.

“We don’t really regard ourselves as musicians. We’re referred to by our people as drummers and singers, and that’s pretty much how we identify ourselves.”

Fortunately, a friend of his knew how to write music, and he was able to get the music in written form so they could submit it for consideration to be nominated.

As singers for the tribe, George and his wife Taveah were also involved in the filming of the scene where the Osage sing “Wahzhazhe” at the end of the movie.

He described practicing the scene the night before then spending the next day filming.

“That same song we sang probably a dozen times, and the dancers danced around like it was the first time they’d done it, so they were getting tired,” George said.

Once the movie was released, Osage tribal members also attended multiple premieres in Tulsa, New York and Los Angeles.

“Pretty much all of us caught ourselves looking at the people we knew,” he said. “In New York, the second time we saw it, we got to really see it.”

For the premieres, George said Apple Studios sent limousines to pick everyone up and take them to the airport, then had staff at the hotels to greet them all and assist them during their stay.

“Apple treated us like kings,” he said. “It was really amazing.”

The Los Angeles premiere took place during the Hollywood writers strike, so none of the actors were allowed to be present. However, George estimated that about 70 members of the Osage tribe were invited, and they were asked to sing on the red carpet and again inside the Dolby Theatre.

As for the movie itself, he said he thought they did a great job telling the story to the world, and he praised Gladstone especially for her role.

“As a Native American, you have feelings about what was

done to us or how we were treated, and sometimes how we’re still treated,” George said. “I expected the movie to ignite that again and leave me with a bitter feeling, but it really didn’t.

“I think (Gladstone), to me, she captured what I remember that generation to be. I wasn’t alive during that generation, but the generation after that, they still retained the way they responded to things and acted, how they talked and their mannerisms. I don’t know how she captured it, but she did.”

Overall, he said it had been an eventful summer with activities, such as premieres added to his already busy daily life of family, full-time job and singing at powwows.

It helped, he said, that the premieres were quick, one-day events. Still, he said after so much going on, there were days he and his wife just wanted to stay home.

“This morning, I needed to take my laptop down to a meeting, and I walked down there with my drumsticks instead of my laptop,” he laughed. “I don’t need my drumsticks until tomorrow. I’ve been a little scattered.”

Though the award went to another nominee, George said his song will continue to be used by the Osage people.

“We have every intention of using that song later on,” he added. “It serves two purposes, I guess, in that regard.”

George and other Osage singers performed during the awards ceremony. See the performance at cpn.news/ OscarPerformance.

NEW APPROACH

Engage Free Clinic Creating, Sharing New Model For Underserved Rural Communities

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Portions of the Oklahoma healthcare community gathered for the Rural Healthcare Solutions Conference at Aydelotte Baptist Church in Shawnee hosted by the Engage Free Medical Clinic and Pharmacy.

The conference featured a meeting of free clinic directors followed by a general session. The speakers included Bill Sisson, who has 31 years as a free clinic consultant; Daryn Kirkpatrick, regional administrative director in District 6 of the Oklahoma Department of Health; and Frank Kelly, director of the Engage Free Clinic. All of the presenters spoke on the crisis in rural health care and efforts to combat it.

The opening featured an Oklahoma Senate proclamation to the Engage Free Clinic recognizing their five year anniversary from Oklahoma Senator Shane Jett.

Sisson then spoke on the challenges facing rural healthcare.

“Overall, Oklahoma rural healthcare has suffered the last few years... heavier patient loads with lower reimbursements from insurance and Medicare postpandemic coupled with shortages in the medical fields have produced severe challenges for rural health care,” he said. “As of 2024, 26 rural hospitals are currently at risk of closing.”

Kirkpatrick shared how the Oklahoma Department of Health is assisting rural Oklahomans through various expanded efforts.

Kelly spoke at length about rural free clinic issues as well as revealing their new free clinic model.

“For rural free clinics, a classic problem has become worse: budgets are tight, volunteers are few, new technology can be financially out of reach and needs

are generally higher,” Kelly said. “This, along with other factors, has resulted in many traditional faith-based free clinics closing when they're needed the most, especially in rural areas. A new approach is needed.

“As a 100% volunteer, community and individually supported primary care free clinic and pharmacy, Engage has provided over $500,000 worth of medical care and over 5,000 prescriptions free to uninsured working patients in the rural Shawnee, OK area for just under $30,000 in total expenses to us since 2019. As a faith-based organization, we do it because it's our calling.”

The Engage Free Clinic and Pharmacy was formed in 2019 by Aydelotte Baptist Church as a standalone ministry and is a 100 percent volunteer and donation driven community organization that serves Lincoln, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Hughes Counties.

They also provide consulting services to other free clinics and startups.

The mission at the Engage Free

Medical Clinic is to live out the gospel message, helping promote the welfare of the community by providing free, high quality and comprehensive health care and wellness services to the economically disadvantaged and uninsured. They seek to implement the latest technology in an economic way – including telemedicine – to fill the critical void in rural free health care.

As the Engage Clinic celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2024, they considered their own vision for the next five years.

“Because of other clinic closures, our own area of service has expanded to four counties, creating many new challenges,” Kelly said. “Engage struggled in this new environment to provide the same traditional care we always had.”

In response, Engage decided to create a new free clinic model that integrates cutting edge technology in a necessary and purposeful way customized for rural free clinics. This plan has generated interest in the healthcare community as

Photos submitted

a way forward in rural free healthcare.

“Our plan involves three different types of clinics connected by telemedicine capabilities,” Kelly said. “We will keep our main clinic and pharmacy and add telemedicine upgrades. We will have a second type of clinic that will have all of our main clinic features but without the onsite pharmacy. The third will be a pop-up type clinic with just a nurse, chaplain and telemedicine equipment, then the physician will connect to the nurse and patient via telemedicine. Both the second and third type will get prescriptions from our main clinic by mail order.”

This provides many unique opportunities.

“We gain a lot of flexibility with this new model,” Kelly said. “We can connect to doctors via telemedicine in urban areas and reach patients in areas where there are shortages. With a nurse being with the patient, doctors can get good information using telemedicine. We can also test markets with a popup style clinic before we deploy more permanent resources, saving money in the long run.”

Bringing telemedicine equipment to rural clinics with small budgets has also been another problem they have solved.

“Telemedicine equipment could easily cost $10,000 plus per year per unit, putting it out of reach for most rural free clinics,” Kelly said. “We put our own telemedicine package together for a one time cost of around $3,000. We have also located foundation funding to provide it to rural clinics for free.

“We will also implement other components such as a better intentional care program for our medical volunteers and simple technology to enhance in sharing the gospel, medical, lifestyle and social care through our own YouTube channel. It allows us to fulfill our gospel mission to love our neighbors.”

Engage is connecting volunteers with patients who need them. As of the fall of 2023, they have also begun a partnership with Oklahoma Baptist University’s nursing school as a place for their students to get clinical

training in an experienced, free clinic environment.

Kelly also spoke about helping other rural free clinics.

“We've already had interest and inquiries from other groups, so as we get everything up and running over the next few months, we will also share our new model here in a downloadable, detailed clinic plan from how to set up a free clinic clear down to equipment lists to get started,” Kelly said. ”We feel this is important. We want churches and other groups to know they can also fill the void in their own communities with confidence. We want them to see our model in action and will even visit other clinics as we are able to share what we are doing. We want to see the rural free clinic system rebuilt. We want to heal people. As a faith-based entity, we feel this is our calling to help everyone.”

The Engage Free Clinic is rapidly moving forward using this new model. They just signed an agreement with the department of health enabling Engage to use the Hughes County Health Department in Holdenville for their new satellite clinic free of charge and have plans to open another branch in Chandler within the next few months.

It is also important to Engage to support and care for its volunteers in the medical profession by giving them

an environment where they can just focus on their calling: helping people. Engage also strives to care for them outside of our building as they practice in a very stressful time.

Their new clinic model for 2024 features their brick and mortar base clinic and pharmacy – supplemented with different types of satellite clinics supported by the main clinic – to offer flexibility in serving the primarily rural areas around them. This will connect patients not only Engage’s clinics but providers from anywhere in the state to enable Engage to get medical care into areas where it is lacking or even nonexistent. Their volunteer staff keeps our costs down and going where it should: patient care.

The Engage Free Clinic typically – but not exclusively – focuses on the uninsured gap of working families who often go without health insurance because of cost.

Engage’s goal is to provide needed care to both maximize long term health and minimize uninsured getting emergency care, which many people even with traditional insurance pay for through higher costs and premiums. Engage's pharmacy is fully licensed and carries a full schedule of non-narcotic medicine – including diabetic insulin –free of charge for their patients. S

education ECONOMIC CITY

Sequoyah Hosts 35th Annual Fifth Grade Entrepreneurship Event

BY DAVID DINSMORE

Today’s students are tomorrow’s business leaders.

While educators operate under this concept in some form, one Shawnee school has been helping set its students on this path for decades.

Sequoyah Elementary School hosted its 35th annual Economic City last month, which was the culmination of work put in by students, teachers, guardians and current community leaders as a first foray into the world of entrepreneurship.

The event offers fifth grade stu-

dents the opportunity to start their own business to operate by offering a good or service during Economic City day at the school. Students work with teachers and business leaders from within the community to create their business plan and focus on things to consider when choosing its purpose and creating strategies they can use to make it successful.

The process starts about a month before the actual event to ensure students get the chance to work with people who have experience starting a business, running a business, mar-

keting and advertising for business and financing a business. They discuss identifying their target market within the school and refine their ideas to fit it appropriately.

“They work very hard at school and at home as parents get involved,” said Taryn Burks, who teaches fifth grade math and English language arts at Sequoyah. “They have to find investors for their products. They have to create posters and signs.”

When the day arrives, students and their guardians create a marketplace at the school by setting up stations in

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Photos by David Dinsmore

the hallways, gymnasium and outdoors to peddle their wares. Within this Economic City, students provide a wide range of offerings including food, crafts, games and experiences to customers that include their fellow students, staff, faculty and other participants, who pay to enjoy these goods and services.

“They get to shop (during Economic City) in Kindergarten, first, second, third and fourth grade, and when they get to fifth grade, they get to create their own business,” Burks said.

Some of their business strategies derive from their own experiences as shoppers in lower grades. Students can run with concepts they know are popular every year while others look to trailblaze new ideas for their fellow students to enjoy. Whether it is a box of popcorn or the chance to sink a coach in a dunk tank, students’ ideas demonstrate the creativity and enterprising spirit they bring to Economic City, and they learn lessons about how to position a business for success in ways a textbook may not be able to provide.

Though the primary market comprises Sequoyah students and staff members, it is not unheard of for middle and high school students who are former Economic City participants to visit the school on that day to add to the coffers of the fifth grade entrepreneurs.

“We love seeing that support for our fifth graders,” Burks said.

After the close of business, students tally their take and keep 75 percent of their proceeds with the remaining 25 percent going toward the fifth grade field trip to the Oklahoma City Zoo at the end of the year.

One of the best aspects of Economic City for Burks is witnessing students applying some of the concepts they have learned during their time at Sequoyah, she said. Teachers often get questions from students about why they have to learn certain things throughout the years, and Economic City helps answer some of those inquiries.

“This really gives them the opportunity to have real-world experience running their business,” said Burks, who added that this year’s Economic City included about 45 student-run businesses. “They are dealing with real money and real products.”

Economic City has had such a successful run at Sequoyah that it now spans generations. For instance, student Peyton Montgomery ran her ice cream stand during this year’s Economic City alongside her mom Janna McAlister, who participated in the event herself when she attended the school.

During the event in May, the school also announced a milestone accomplishment made possible by every student at Sequoyah. Burks said educators set a goal at the beginning of the year for students – Kindergarten through fifth grade – to answer 1 million cumulative math questions using the program they utilize to help practice those skills, and during Economic City, the confirmation arrived that the students achieved that goal. This accomplishment earned the Sequoyah students a block party heading into the last week of school. S

www.ExtremeRoofingSolutions.com

A over the fence

HANDS TOGETHER

Commonality Found In Simple, Social Behaviors

BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

couple of years ago, I went to three graduations within one week. My oldest son graduated both from Shawnee High School and the pre-engineering academy at Gordon Cooper Technology Center. My oldest daughter graduated the eighth grade from Grove. Graduations are an exciting and meaningful milestone in a person’s life indicating accomplishment. There is certainly meaning in what a person graduates from: the content, the information, the subject matter. There is also immense value in the completion of the process itself. It says something about that person. Not just that they have knowledge, but that they also have a measure of grit, of following through. Therefore, we celebrate such accomplishments.

I imagine you have been to a graduation ceremony at some point. Perhaps many. There is much pomp and circumstance. There are speeches, awards, special recognitions, but the primary purpose for it all is for the graduates to cross the stage, hear their name called and have the moment they have earned.

Something else special happens at that moment. The audience claps. They applaud the graduate for their accomplishment, and it happens on cue almost automatically.

Have you ever thought about this ubiquitous social behavior? A collection of several thousand people in Jim Thorpe Stadium on a Monday night in May from every corner of our community came together and instinctively expressed a loud and unified voice of acclamation for these students. Families certainly clapped and hollered for their graduates, but they also clapped for strangers, displaying their support each time their hands came together in unison. There was no practice held beforehand for this. There was no instruction from the speaker or cue card held up telling us when to begin or end, nor were we advised how fast or how loud our claps ought to be. In fact, some clapped louder than others, especially for their loved one. Some clapped slowly. Some barely clapped at all. Each was unique but all were collected up into one, single voice.

Is this learned? Is it innate? Maybe a little of both? I don’t know. Yet, it is observable, and it is infectious.

Picture a school of fish or flock of birds. How many times have you seen their direction change almost all at once and

then change yet again? What is interesting about this social behavior is that it very much mirrors changes observed in our clapping, albeit much faster. In either case – the change in the flock's direction or the change in the clapping intensity as it is winding down – begins with a small change inside of the whole and instinctively spreads. In other words, collective change does not happen all at once. It starts with a few, and it grows. It begins at the micro level, the grassroots level, the local level before it spreads to the whole. What struck me about that Monday night inside Jim Thorpe Stadium was the beauty of how rare such unity has become. It spread with such simplicity and grace. It spread with smiles. It spread with ease. What would it look like to grow this in our daily lives? What would it look like to initiate small changes locally, within our own hearts even? Could it cause a shift in this poisonous culture of contempt we see growing in our world that has grown for those who don’t look like us, vote like us, worship like us or love like us? What if instead we initiated a culture of care by recognizing the humanity in each person we meet, each person we work with and especially each person we disagree with and instead embraced a willingness to love our neighbor as ourselves? Could these changes begin with just a few and spread into our businesses, our schools and our halls of government? Could loving our neighbor as ourselves also extend from our hearts into the toxic corners of social media? I believe it can. I believe it must, and I believe it is up to each of us to initiate the change that creates the world we all want.

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Brandon Dyer

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BEARD CABIN

Preserved 1890s Dwelling Provides Glimpse Into ‘Early-Day’ Shawnee

BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER

With recent discussion about conserving Shawnee’s past, the Beard Cabin has often been mentioned, but some residents may wonder what exactly is the Beard Cabin and what is its story.

In September 1891, a year and half after the famous land run in what would become Oklahoma, the federal government agreed to open the land that became Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties. Hopefuls lined the borders to make the dash to hopefully get a 160-acre plot of their own.

There had already been much movement in the area along cattle trails, hunting excursions, religious groups establishing churches and schools among the tribes and simply travelers from one place to another. Many were aware of possibilities in the land, whether to farm or build a business.

plans for their property and for what he and others envisioned as a town. He was soon involved in banking and other trades, was the town’s first mayor and partly responsible for getting the railroads to locate in Shawnee. He later traveled into other areas helping map out towns along the railroad lines.

Meanwhile the couple had a fine, larger home built with the little “honeymoon” cabin continuing as storage.

In 1909, the Beards eventually moved permanently to Sapulpa where Henry “built” a Main Street building and was appointed as a marshal to the district court in Tulsa. Later, the family –who then lived at the Beard’s Shawnee address – donated the little cabin to the city, and it was moved to Woodland Park on land the Beards had donated to the citizens of Shawnee.

The Ray and the Beard families – connected by their children, Etta Ray and Henry Beard, who planned to be married – had acquired property in the original land run. They saw even more opportunity to the east, so a plan was made. The couple along with Henry’s brother, John, and sister, Lola, would make the run. At the last minute, Henry was detained with business in Oklahoma City, but the others went ahead. The ladies were told the best way to gain a quarter section was to quickly step across the starting line and plant their stake.

The Beard family built a cabin in the 1890s and has served many roles in the community since its early days. It now sits on the grounds of the Pottawatomie County Museum at 207 N. Minnesota. —

That starting line was what is now Kickapoo Street. Since that area was so heavily wooded, it was expected land seekers hoping for farmland would continue their dash. The plan worked. Etta Ray got 160 acres at the corner of Kickapoo and Highland south to the present Main Street and east to Union. Lola got the quarter section north and John – aboard a speedy horse – claimed the one east of Etta’s.

Etta related later that she immediately began chopping down a tree to show that she was “proving up” her claim. Her father was coming with a wagonload of supplies and lumber, and John Beard came over later to help erect the house. Meanwhile, Etta and Lola made the 40-mile trip back to Oklahoma City to file their claims and for Etta to tell her fiancé that she had been successful. Six weeks later, she returned to the city, and the two were married.

Henry Beard wrote that coming through the trees and seeing the little house was “delightful.” It was a perfect place for the newlyweds to get started, but Henry was a businessman who had

The little house was eventually “adopted” by the Camp Fire Girls. The exact timeframe is unclear, but some reports estimate it was in the 1930s. The girls’ dads repaired what the weather had done over the years, and their mothers cleaned it and made new curtains. The girls dressed in period costumes and gave tours.

In 1999, the cabin was moved again – this time next to the iconic Santa Fe Depot – creating a perfect historical site depicting early-day Shawnee. Many events and tours have taken place in that area over the years, and the Pottawatomie County Historical Society has maintained the little cabin as it might have been when it was the first home in what became Shawnee.

These memories of our past can be seen in the museum area on East Main and Minnesota streets.

Photo submitted

mental health

JOURNEY TO ACCEPTANCE

Addressing LGBTQ+ Issues Through Personal Narrative

BY TODD MAY

Growing up, June was always one of my favorite months. It made me think of summer barbecues, church camps and outings at the lake.

As an adult, June is still my favorite month, but for different reasons. June is LGBTQ+ pride month, and this year I have been connecting to the wonderful LGBTQ+ community in Shawnee. When doing so, I found that many people in this population feel isolated and disconnected from the greater Shawnee community. My goal is to help bridge that gap and to create a space of learning and understanding. I knew from a young age that I was different. I could never articulate what I was truly feeling at the time, but I knew more than anything that I was supposed to be a boy. I have early memories of arguing with my mother before church almost every Sunday morning about wearing a dress to church. Throughout my adolescence, I tried to ignore these feelings, even wearing makeup and dresses trying my best to fit in with the girls. I wanted so badly to be who my family wanted me to be, even going as far as attending OBU.

It was there I realized I could no longer ignore these feelings. I remember sitting on the couch in the basement of my dorm one night watching video after video of various transgender men and their lives. I knew then I needed to transition. I was terrified that I would lose all of my friends and family, especially those I made at OBU, but I am so happy to say that was not

the case. I am grateful for the friends I made at OBU and the amazing support system they have been for me. They have shown me how life-changing that community can be. I would eventually transition 5 years later at twenty-three.

Although my journey has been met with much support, I have had some very hurtful things said to me while just trying to exist in town. I have also heard a number of similarly negative experiences from my LGBTQ+ friends. Unfortunately, harsh judgements, hurtful words and hateful actions can have severe consequences for my community.

In March of this year, a transgender boy, Nex Benedict, was assaulted in a bathroom after a year of endless bullying from his peers. Nex died the next day. This tragic event could have been avoided. No child should have to fear for their life in a school, but for our queer youth that is the unfortunate reality. A state survey by the Trevor Project found that over 48 percent of LGBTQ+ youth in Oklahoma have considered suicide with 16 percent making an attempt. Another study showed 79 percent of LGBTQ+ youth report issues with anxiety and another 62 percent report depression. These issues can lead LGBTQ+ youth to seek out unhealthy coping skills for relief. Over 56 percent of LGBTQ+ youth reported drinking alcohol, and 34 percent reported using marijuana. People often blame individuals for these problems, but these issues do not exist in a vacuum. The recent uptick in anti LGBTQ+ legislation in this state

on top of the increase of bullying in schools has contributed significantly to this mental health crisis.

So, what can be done? For any LGBTQ+ folks who may feel isolated, there are resources available and people who care.

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth. Their trained counselors understand and are available for support 24/7. They will listen without judgment. All of your conversations are confidential, and you can share as much or as little as you’d like. Text ‘START’ to 678-678, Call 1-866-488-7386, or connect to www.thetrevorproject.org to chat.

Rural Oklahoma Pride helps the 2slgbtqia community in rural areas of Oklahoma. Check out www.ruralokpride.com to learn about events and opportunities to get involved.

Emmanuel Episcopal and St. Paul's Methodist Church are churches in Shawnee that I have personally found to be welcoming and affirming.

988 is available for anyone needing extra support. You'll be connected to a mental health professional to talk you through what's going on and get the resources you need for either yourself or your loved one. About 90 percent of the time, things can get sorted out with just a phone call. But if you need more help, they’ve got you.

If you are an ally looking for ways to offer assistance and support to the LGBTQ+ community, consider the following suggestions:

Mental Health America is a great

resource for gaining greater understanding and accessing images you can use to help you advocate for LGBTQ+ Mental Health on social media during the month of June and beyond! Check out www.mhanational.org/lgbtq/pride and follow Gateway to Prevention on Facebook.

Rural Oklahoma Pride is an organization you can donate to. These funds are used to support LGBTQ+ folks in this state, and it allows them to help facilitate events that allow for community connection. www.ruralokpride.com

Take time to authentically listen to the LGBTQ+ people in your life and community. Ask them how you can best support them and then follow through in being that support. This is a wonderful tool for creating an understanding and caring community.

Have conversations with your children about our community, and teach them to treat everyone with kindness no matter what.

Speak up for us when you hear hateful things and consider voting for those who are actively working to protect our rights. Use your voice to amplify the voices of those who have been ignored and hold those who spread hate accountable. Your voice is one of the most powerful tools you have in creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks.

If we keep listening, learning, understanding and advocating, I truly believe we continue to make Shawnee a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. Do not hesitate to contact Gateway to Prevention and Recovery at 273-1170 for additional support. We are honored to walk alongside you.

Todd May, BA, CMII, BHWC, is the adolescent and transitional age youth program coordinator at Gateway to Prevention and Recovery and has three years of prior experience as a case manager. He is a proud transgender man, OBU Grad, and a participant at Emmanuel Episcopal.

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June 1-June 27: Jones Theatres will host is 2024 Kids Camp movie series with $1 seats at 10 a.m. every Thursday and Saturday at Cinema Centre 8 at 3031 N. Harrison with favorites like the “Despicable Me,” “Sing” and “Secret Life of Pets” film franchises on the big screen. Information: (405) 275-7512 ext. 2 or connor@jonestheatres.com

June-August: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will offer free admission thanks to the generous sponsorship of BancFirst, Avedis Foundation, St. Gregory's Abbey, and Monks Marketplace. Information: mgmoa.org

June 8: Corn Stock returns with its annual cornhole tournament and festival with registration at 10 a.m. and the tournament scheduled through 2 p.m. in historic downtown Shawnee. The event helps raise money for the Shawnee Police Department’s Cops N Kids event in August, which helps build positive relationships between law enforcement and first responders and the communities they serve. Corn Stock features a cornhole tournament for all ages and abilities, food trucks, vendors, a family fun zone and more. Information: copsnkids-shawneeok.com/ cornstock

June 13-27: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art presents Concerts in a Courtyard every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the museum at 1900 W. MacArthur. Schedule and information: mgmoa.org

June 15: Come cruise-in to Redeemer Lutheran Church for its Coffee & Cars Cruise In from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 39307 MacArthur St. also featuring a working train set, donuts and other snacks.

June 15: Jackson Taylor and The Sinners will bring more than 20 years of songwriting and recording history to its show at 8 p.m. at the historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main Street with special guest Adara Kay. Information: ritzshawnee.com

June 20: The Third Thursday Poetry Reading will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lunch Box at 217 E. Main St. featuring Zachariah Hobia from Wetumka. Hobia looks at art "not only as a means of self-discovery, but also as a means of communication." As usual, the featured reading will be followed by an open mic session for attendees to read up to two poems of their own or from a favorite poet. The Lunch Box will open at 6 p.m. with desserts and drinks available.

June 20: Bikes on Bell Nights in association with The Toolbox, Law Tigers and Bell Street Tattoo will feature a monthly family-friendly gathering/celebration of motorcycle enthusiasts, riders and their friends and family with events, vendors, giveaways and charity fundraising, A portion of the proceeds will benefit Shawnee High School band boosters. Information: facebook.com/ToolboxLLC

June 21: The Arts @317 will host its own Block pARTy from 5:30-8:30 p.m. featuring Jeff Gullett, a glass artist who will be showing his vases, crosses and some of his most popular items – his birds. Kevin Hall is returning to play a few tunes outside under the awning from 6:30-8:00 p.m. weather permitting. Also on display is the work of about 50 other different Oklahoma artists. Information: (405) 659-8193

June 22: The Knights Auto Club Annual Car Show will start roaring at Boy Scout Park at 1400 E. Main St. with a family-friendly event free to spectators as show cars vie for door prizes and awards for the winning rides. Information: knightsautoclub.com

June 22: Hayden Haddock will take the stage with special guest Showdown starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. Information: rtizshawnee.com.

July 2-30: Bring your creativity, your curiosity and your family every Tuesday in July for Art Mania at the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art. Starting at 11 a.m., the museum will give guests the chance to learn, explore and have a blast >

with fascinating history nuggets and engaging art projects inspired by the greats like Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Frida and da Vinci. Grab your paint brushes and get ready for an artistic adventure that will make your summer a masterpiece. Information: mgmoa.org

July 2: Wisconsin-based rock group The Almas will join Haggardz Hellraizerz to play a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. Information: rtizshawnee.com.

July 2-4: Celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks displays across three nights in Shawnee. Kickapoo Casino will host its show on July 2 after dark with FireLake Casino taking to the skies on July 3 before the Grand Casino caps the festivities lights up July 4.

July 7: 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

July 7-12: The International Finals Youth Rodeo is the ultimate rodeo event for up-and-coming cowboys and

cowgirls. This six-day event features two performances each day by contestants from all over the United States. Bring the whole family out to the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at 1700 W. Independence to watch this exciting youth rodeo that includes barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding. A full Western trade show will also be held at the expo center, and concessions will be available throughout the rodeo grounds.

July 10: Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member Tyler Strobel will perform a free piano concert showcasing classic, original and contemporary compositions at the Citizen Potawatomi Cultural Heritage Center at 1899 S Gordon Cooper Drive. Information: potawatomi.org/event/ an-evening-with-tyler-strobel

July 13: Elvis impersonator Trent Smith returns to the Historic Ritz Theater with an unforgettable Elvis tribute starting at 7 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com

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If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.

BUCK DAY COUNTY