Shawnee Outlook

Now Hear This | Geometric Art

MAY 22

Vol. 19 Number 3

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BancFirst’s Brightest

Following the success of our BancFirst Student Board members

Chris Copeland Student Board 2007-2008

How do you think growing up in Shawnee helped shape you into the person you’ve become/prepared you for your job?

C: I received a well-rounded education and leadership experience in the Shawnee community through tennis, Boy Scouts, church, and more. After graduating from Shawnee public schools, I felt well prepared for college at OSU, which led me to my current career in the oil and gas industry. I live in Oklahoma City now and regularly visit Shawnee to see family and enjoy the small-town feel.

Shawnee High School - Valedictorian (2008) Oklahoma State University - B.S. & M.S. in Accounting (2012) Certified Public Accountant (2013) Current employer: Continetal Resources Senior Data Analyst (2013) - Analyze key operational and financial data. Lead data analytics initiatives to automate processes and assist with strategic decision making.

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Any special memories of your time on the BancFirst Student Board?

C: As a 17-year-old boy, I probably wasn’t thrilled to spend some of my free time hanging out at BancFirst to learn about banking/finance. However, I’m glad my parents encouraged me to participate in programs like this to gain important real-world experience. Practical experience has helped me solve many problems in my career and life.

How has BancFirst Student Board contributed to your success?

C: I opened my first personal bank account while on the BancFirst Student Board and still bank there today. I didn’t know much about banking or finance before being on the board. At the time, I was good at math but had no idea I’d become a CPA and financial data analyst. Now I feel very comfortable handling my personal finances – it sure helps to have some prior experience.

Shawnee

Te c u m s e h

McLoud

CONTENTS

9

PUBLISHER

MAY 2022

departments

9 Shaping Up:Examining Geometric Art, Native American Cradleboards

6

KEEP THE CHANGE

6

NUTRITION 101

19 Gold Star: Veterans Committee Aims To Complete Monument For Military Families

13

OVER THE FENCE

22

MENTAL HEALTH

24

SONIC CONTEST

25

SHAWNEE HISTORY

30

CALENDAR

27 Now Hear This: Local Audiologists Offer Tips For Better Hearing Month

MAY

Bethel Acres

MANAGING EDITOR

David Dinsmore

ADVERTISING SALES

Brad Carter

CREATIVE DIRECTION Kelsey Walker Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

27 features

Okie Icon Media

2022

Tag Agency

WRITERS

Andrea Beck David Dinsmore Amber Duboise-Shepherd Brandon Dyer Holly Gordon Ann McDonald Angela Rowland

DISTRIBUTION

The Shawnee Outlook is delivered FREE by direct mail to 25,000 homes and businesses.

CONTACT US

PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 info@shawneeoutlook.com

To Advertise, call Brad (405) 445-3033

Volume 19, Number 3 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2022 Okie Icon Media Articles and advertisements in Shawnee Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Okie Icon Media. Okie Icon Media does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

The acceptance of advertising by Shawnee Outlook does not constitute endorsement of products, services, political candidates/parties or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Shawnee Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

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5

keep the change

INTENTIONAL PURCHASING

I

have previously indicated that my goal this year is to not purchase “new” things. For the last six weeks, I’ve made it a further goal to purchase nothing other than groceries. Here’s what I learned: • I am too quick with the “buy” button. Over those six weeks, my kids still needed Angela Rowland things for schoolwork and extracurricular activities – things I might normally have just hopped on Amazon to get while I was thinking about it – but being resolved not to purchase them meant I had to think harder about what we really needed. Sometimes, I would discover we couldn’t avoid it, and I would ask my husband to make the purchase because a) he hadn’t made the commitment and b) he would be much less likely to throw in extra items. In the future, I plan to give myself a week before making a purchase so I have time to think through the need.

• I have so many things I’m not using. I found many of the things I thought I needed to buy were things I already had and had just forgotten where I put them. Being forced to look for them saved me money spent on duplicate items. In other instances, I was able to substitute a “necessary” item for something else I had that would work just as well.

• I don’t need to shop just because there’s a sale. Knowing I couldn’t buy extra things enabled me to delete email advertisements or steer clear of the clearance aisle and seasonal sales just because they’re there.

In the end, I realized how much happier my budget really was when I was no longer impulse buying or jumping on Amazon without thinking about my purchase. These are all changes I plan to keep. S 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.

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nutrition 101

GETTING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PROTEIN

I

have seen an increase in protein intake with so many of the recent fad diets. A lot of patients are worried they are not getting enough protein. Once I show them how much protein their body actually needs, it is easy to see that the majority of us are getting adequate amounts and some are consuming way too much.

First, we need to address the question of how much does your body need. Protein needs come from a simple math equation. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is your weight multiplied by .36. For example, a 150 pound person x .36 = 54 grams of protein. Some examples of high protein foods are: three ounces of salmon with 19 grams of protein; one cup of tofu with 20 grams; two eggs with 12 grams; onquarter cup of nuts with 7 grams; one cup of kidney beans with 14 grams; one cup of lentils with 16 grams; three ounces of chicken with 27 grams; one cup of Greek yogurt with 24 grams. From the above numbers you can see how we can easily fulfill our bodies’ protein needs from a variety of animal-based and/or plant-based foods. Serious athletes only need a small amount more depending on training and should be spaced around workouts.

The second question addresses some of the harms of eating too much protein.

The National Library of Medicine references many adverse effects associated with increased protein intake, including weaker bones from calcium loss, liver function, kidney stones, increased cancer risk and coronary artery disease. Most research shows that your kidneys can only process a maximum of 30 grams of protein at a meal, so it does not benefit your body to have a nine ounce piece of meat over a three ounce piece.

Pineapple Salsa

Hello summer. Let all those fresh fruits and vegetables make their way into your meals. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce along with it. This recipe can be used as an appetizer, a side dish or on top of tacos.

Ingredients: • 2 cups of pineapple, chopped into • 1 red bell pepper, chopped small cubes • 1 green bell pepper, chopped • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed • ½ red onion, chopped • ½ cup frozen corn, thawed • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped • 2 tomatoes, chopped • 1 freshly squeezed lime Directions: Place the chopped pineapple in a strainer and allow the juices to drain while you are chopping the other vegetables. Add all other ingredients with the pineapple to a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.

Makes: about 14 servings, ½ cup each Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 54 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 43g Carbohydrates: 11g Dietary Fiber: 3g Protein: 2.5g Nutrition 101: I love sneaking in beans anywhere I can because of the combination of fiber and protein. Fiber helps with blood sugar control, heart health and staying regular while protein helps you stay fuller longer and muscle repair. The Blue Zones diet that I talk so much about is a huge advocate of beans based on the research linked to a longer, healthier lifespan. With beans also being very budget friendly, you easily can find at least one way to add them into your diet. S Andrea Beck, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, received her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Central Oklahoma. She offers personal training through an online class and nutrition services through SSM Health St. Anthony in Shawnee. Contact her at Andrea.beck1@ssmhealth. com or through her Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.

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art of the matter

SHAPING UP

Examining Geometric Art, Native American Cradleboards SUBMITTED BY AMBER DUBOISE-SHEPHERD, MGMOA MANAGER OF EDUCATION & OUTREACH

These cradleboards are examples of the use of geometrical art in various Native American cultures.

W

hat is geometric art?

Geometric art is the use of shapes, lines, symmetry and even math to create art pieces. The geometric art movement gained traction in the early 20th century by artists, but geometric shapes and patterns have been around for centuries in all cultures of the world. You might have seen some of these shapes like the Mandala, which is a circular arrangement of shapes.

Geometric artists may use shapes such as triangles, squares, circles or just straight lines. As stated earlier, geometric art can also have a math influence from the study of geometry, which is a mathematical discipline related to the shape, size and relative position of an object that includes popular formulas like the Pythagorean theorem, a2 + b2 = c2. Enough about math, though.

Let’s take a closer look at how geometric art relates to Native American cradleboards.

Currently at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, there is a temporary exhibition of native and indigenous cradleboards.

Cradleboards were one of the ways Native mothers would carry their babies with them, and it provided protection and easy transportation. Sometimes, the mother would carry their baby in their cradleboard on their back or from strong ties that would hang from a post so the baby could see out while the mother worked. Cradleboards are still used today by some Native families. One of the cradleboards in the exhibition was used by the MGMoA manager of education when she was an infant.

The pictures in this article are of a Crow cradleboard, a Northern Cheyenne cradleboard and a Potawatomi doll cradle.

These cradleboards show various and bright geometric shapes.

The Crow cradleboard has two big matching diamond patterns with a few colorful triangles, and the shape of a cross in between the diamonds. The Northern Cheyenne cradle has a green diamond shape with a white step-diamond in the middle with smaller red squares inside the pattern. On the Potawatomi doll cradle, there is a lot of symmetry with geometric flower shapes and diamonds and lots of color. www.shawneeoutlook.com

9

All these cradleboards were made using geometric patterns.

The artist would have had to carefully plan out the patterns so all the seed beads they used would line up perfectly. This took a lot of counting and some math to make sure all the beads lined up nicely to create the geometric shapes.

Hopefully you are inspired by these cradleboards and the geometric art. You might even see geometric patterns around your home in the shower tile, the floors, or even on furniture, blankets and clothes. Try creating your own geometric art. All you need is a piece of paper and a drawing tool, and remember to use only shapes like triangles, circles, squares and lines. You can even find shapes like a square box or lid of an old container for a circle and use it to trace lines on a paper. Color the shapes with bright colors like the artists chose for the seed beads for the cradleboards.

Come discover the geometric patterns in the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s newest exhibition: “Tkenagen Mnowabmenagwet: The Beauty of Indigenous Cradleboards,” which is on display through June 19 at 1900 W. MacArthur St. S

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over the fence

ROOT CAUSE

D

Truly Addressing Concerns Requires Some Digging

BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

Using my hands I pulled up on the root ball to remove it when I I have a picture from eight or nine suddenly felt resistance. A larger root was still attached. Rather years ago of my four kids and me than cut it free with the shovel, a little brute standing under a mulberry tree in force was my tool of choice. Each tug revealed our backyard. They were much younger then more root, which had still been in the ground. and full of curiosity. The boys were up in the I did finally remove the entire cluster, but only tree. I had one daughter on my shoulders, and after removing one root that was more than five the other was standing next to me holding my feet long and quite thick. That small seedling I kept hand. It was summertime, and the mulberry tree was pruning each year wasn’t very impressive above ground, covered in ripe fruit. We picked and ate as many berries as but it was creating quite a stronghold under it. we could stand under its canopy.

Seeing for the first time the extent of the problem that We talked about how thankful the birds must be this had been steadily growing underground, I felt silly for not time of year for such tasty treats and how unfair it is that having fully dealt with it to begin with when it would have they don’t have to ask permission for seconds on dessert.

This caused a lightbulb to go off for one of my children, Brandon Dyer been much easier. I treated the symptom and ignored the cause like turning the radio up in your car when the enwho suddenly realized why birds sometimes have purple poo. I chuckled as his precious little mind raced with a thousand gine starts making noises. Prolonging decisive action increases new questions. Since we were on the subject, I explained that’s cost in the long run. often why mulberry seedlings show up in our flower beds. They “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best weren’t interested in hearing about that, however. They just kept time is now.” spotting bigger and bigger berries for me to pick. I miss those Perhaps for the purposes of this story, this Chinese proverb days. should be reversed. The best time to remove an intrusive tree was A few days ago, I was working in our flower beds pruning and 20 years ago. The second best is now. removing dead growth from last season. Again, those pesky mulWe all have habits, attitudes or behaviors we know we need to berry seedlings were waiting for me. There is one in particular address. Temporary solutions won’t solve the problem. We have that regrows every year. I cut it at its base, and it always regrows. to cut out the cause. The best time to quit smoking was 20 years I’ve known I needed to dig up the roots at some point if I wanted ago. The best time to live an active lifestyle was 20 years ago. The it to be gone for good, but it has always been easier to just prune best time to go back to school was 20 years ago. The best time to see a therapist was 20 years ago. The best time to find your purwhat I could see and deal with it next year.

This year, I decided it was finally time to dig up the root ball pose was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. that had formed. I was ready to deal with it once and for all. I Go ahead and do the thing you have avoided. Walk through grabbed a shovel and sliced through the dirt under the roots with the pain that was delayed. The price paid gives the prize value and ease to cut the smaller roots loose and pry it up. No problem. teaches you just how strong you really are.

S

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community

GOLD STAR

Veterans Committee Aims To Complete Monument For Military Families

BY DAVID DINSMORE

T

he Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Park committee is working to complete a monument to the families of fallen service members to recognize the sacrifices required away from the battlefield, and they are asking for members of the community to help finish making this memorial a reality.

The term Gold Star family applies to any immediate family members of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict. This modern term traces its roots to flags and banners first flown by families during World War I. The flags included a blue star for every immediate family mem-

The Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Park committee has laid the foundation for a Gold Star Memorial Monument similar those in about 100 communities nationwide honoring the sacrifice of families who have lost loved serving in the military, and they are beginning a fundraising campaign to bring in the necessary money to complete the project alongside the name wall in the park at 407 N. Broadway. — Photos submitted ber serving in the armed forces, according to information available from the United States Army. If a loved one died during a time of conflict, the blue star was replaced by a gold star and signified to the community the price that the family had paid in the cause of freedom.

In the spirit of that tradition, the Woody Williams Foundation has been working to establish permanent Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments

in communities across the nation to recognize and pay respect to the sacrifices made by families in that area. As of late April 2022, the foundation has worked with 175 communities across all 50 states and one U.S. territory with 94 monuments installed and 79 in progress.

One of those monuments in progress will stand in Shawnee’s Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Park alongside the www.shawneeoutlook.com

19

wall displaying the 7,568 names of veterans with associated Oklahoma addresses when killed in wars from the SpanishAmerican War through the present, said Al Brase, the park committee’s treasurer.

Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments are a two-sided tribute made of black granite with the front side featuring the inscription, “Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.” The other side uses the four granite panels that communities can customize to tell the unique story of their Gold Star Families through the concepts of homeland, family, patriotism and sacrifice.

At the center of this tribute is an empty silhouette formed between two of the granite panels of a saluting service member, which represents the legacy of the loved ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, according to information from the Woody Williams Foundation.

For Donna Warren – memorial park committee member and a Gold Star mom – the empty silhouette also stands as a reminder of the service members whose absence remains for the families living with a space in her family that will remain open.

Since losing their son Eric Warren in Afghanistan where he served as a combat 20

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corpsman with the U.S. Marines, Donna Warren and her husband Marvin have found ways to improve the lives of veterans in their community and beyond through work like they do with the committee. They understand from their own experience how much support the families of service members need too.

Some of those include those who have lost a loved one while serving in the military but not in combat, Warren said. A death of an active service member in any way during a time of conflict – such as an accident or illness – deems a family Gold Star status, though their loved one may not have their name etched into a memorial like those dedicated to service members killed in action.

“The importance of this Gold Star memorial is that it includes those families in a monument,” Warren said. “All of the people who don’t have their children’s names on a wall, this is important to them.

"The thing that all Gold Star families want is for that member to be remembered.”

Brase said he worked with the foundation to help customize the monument that will stand in the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Park at 407 N. Broadway.

From left to right on the backside of the monument, the first panel signifying homeland has the flag of Oklahoma with

a rising sun in the background. The sun represents the beginning of the day, life and being. The family panel has loved ones watching their sons and daughters serve in the nation's military branches.

The patriot panel features the service these families provide for the protection and freedom of the nation. The sacrifice panel depicts the ultimate sacrifice families endure from losing their loved ones for our freedom. On the top is the following inscription: “We pay tribute to all Oklahomans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Nancy Ford grew up with the understanding of what that sacrifice means.

Her father, William Mendenhall, died aboard a submarine in World War II in the Pacific theater. He never got a chance to meet her before leaving for war, but her mother always made sure Ford knew about his bravery and his service.

“It’s amazing what sacrifices families all across this country made, where it was a father or a son or a brother,” Ford said. “We sent our best people.”

A graduate of the US Naval Academy originally from the Ohio area, Mendenhall does appear on the wall at the current memorial in Shawnee because his address of residence was in Oklahoma, where her mother and she were living while he was overseas.

Following his death, Ford’s mother had to decide the best way to care and provide for her daughter and herself. She eventually worked her way to law school and remarried, but she always kept the memory of Mendenhall alive.

Yet, because he died at sea in a submarine, it was not until decades later that the family learned where his final resting place was. They did not have a graveside or battlefield they could visit to pay respects and remember.

Along a similar line, some family members in Oklahoma may not be able to visit the resting place of their loved one or a memorial honoring their name if inscribed on a monument in a different state where the service members resided

at the time that they died. Ford said one of the biggest advantages of having a Gold star memorial monument in Shawnee is providing a place for family members who have lost loved ones during times of conflict to have somewhere to pay honor to them regardless of where they may rest or are memorialized.

As of late April, crews had completed work on the concrete foundation for the monument, but the committee was still seeking partners and donors to raise the remainder of the funds to complete it.

Ford remembers the tradition of the stars on the flag from the one she saw hanging in her grandmother’s window representing the three servicemen in their family. Establishing a Gold Star Memorial Monument in Shawnee would help ensure this legacy continues.

“It’s worth honoring the individual and their family,” Ford said. "It helps us appreciate the sacrifices they make and those who are here who have to carry on.

"It's not just the person who died. It's also their family who has to figure out how to move forward with honor. “ To donate to the completion of the Gold Star Memorial Monument in Shawnee, send a check payable to the Shawnee Community Foundation with the memo “Gold Star Families” to P.O. Box 1447, Shawnee, OK 74802.

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mental health

BEGIN AGAIN

M

Recognizing Progress Amid Failings

BY HOLLY GORDON

ost adults have watched a baby pull themfor those sore shins; sunscreen is handy on sunny days; selves up on the edge of a sofa and take new walking shoes are worth the investment in foot those first wobbly, unsure steps. Inevitacare; location of the nearest bathroom is important; bly, the baby will topple over and quickly look to the rest days are vital even if they don’t feel like it at the adult to be reassured of their safety. Soon, however, time. they will be cruising from one piece of furniture to What if you want to quit smoking? What if you’ve Gordon another and will take great glee in their independence tried a million times before, and you slipped and startand newly learned skill. They tried something new, fell many ed smoking again? OK, no judgment here. Let’s talk through it. times and used the last toddling attempt to build their confiCravings are going to happen. It is a part of the quitting prodence and abilities. cess. Remember the last time you practiced quitting tobacco?

Many of us have had this experience: try something new, What were your successes? Did you shift a daily smoking locafail at it and begin again. We never really have to start over as tion? Knowing when and where you typically smoke is a great we have past triumphs and failures to build upon. We can apply start. Those routine shifts can help disassociate cigarettes with this resiliency practice to nearly anything we are striving for. a certain activity or location. For example, if you go outside OK, sounds great, but what does that look like with our with your coffee and first cigarette in the morning, you could work commitments, family time, social obligations and all that have your coffee on the sofa or backyard swing. comes with “adulting?”

What tactics did you try that didn’t work out so great? StopFirst, let’s pause for a moment, and take a deep breath to get ping at the drive-thru for tacos seemed like a good idea to avoid recentered after that last sentence. Inhale. Exhale. the craving until your gurgling belly told you otherwise. All of Alright, let’s break this down with a few scenarios. those habits and routine changes you tried before are coming You want to add a meditation or mindfulness practice to along with you in this attempt. Congratulations on continuing your day. You download a free meditation app to your phone to show up for yourself. and take five minutes in a quiet space – perhaps the bathroom There are many ways to gather support for your next quit if needed. Your mind goes into spirals within the first few sec- attempt. You can ask a friend to be an accountability partner, onds of the meditation. Failed meditation? Not at all. That is ask on social media for support or reach out to the Oklahoma what brains are supposed to do. Begin again, friend.

Tobacco Helpline for a free quit coach who will be with you In the next or the 80th meditation session, can you iden- along the way. tify when your brain wanders off and bring it back to the sesThere are several ways to get a free tobacco quit coach, sion? That’s a win. That is the meditation. It is a consistent, such as visiting okhelpline.com, calling 1-800-QUIT NOW or gentle redirection of your “monkey mind” to the breath or texting Text QUIT to IQUIT (47848). You don’t have to do it your defined anchor point, but why? Mindfulness brings a alone, and you’re not starting over. You’re just beginning again. sense of calm and balance in mind and body and can help At some point, many of us have gone from a toddling child with anxiety, which many of us experience. We can practice to a walking or even running adult. We’ve built resilience over beginning again and again. I’ve been practicing daily medita- time, practiced skills, grown our knowledge base and gained tion for two years, and I’m still figuring it out but feel much confidence in ourselves. It’s OK to fall down. It is part of the more centered. process of beginning again. Keep going, friend. You can do What if you want to begin a walking routine in your week? hard things without doing them in a hard way.

You’ve got everything you need to begin this new habit. You’ve If you would like additional support to begin again or navigot walking shoes, a buddy to go with you and readiness to get gate the next steps of your recovery journey, Gateway to Pregoing. Will you start out with a 5K race? Probably not, but as vention and Recovery is here to help you. Call (405) 273-1170 you practice beginning again each time you go for a walk, you ext. 0, and let’s do it together. S build your confidence and probably your distance.

You will encounter days you do not want to go, and that’s OK. Holly Gordon is the healthy living program coordinator for The weather will not always cooperate and sickness will happen. Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. She uses her love of comThat’s also OK. Just begin again on the next day you can. munity and connection to come alongside folks to support their You may discover you can walk further; stretching is helpful wellness efforts in a sustainable way.

22

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www.shawneeoutlook.com

shawnee history

RAIL SERVICE

"I

Shawnee Hosted, Helped Thousands Of WWII Troops Stopping

By Train At Local Refueling Depot

BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER

f Shawnee citizens were also on the high seas to At the Western Union office, she learned it was too late to open up service depots, the sailors and marines accept telegrams except emergencies. So she wrote the solwould always wear a smile.” dier’s father a letter, enclosed the message his son had writThat comment in 1943 was from a Marine who had vis- ten and sent him the dollar. ited the troop train service depot at the local Rock Island deSome days as many as three or four troop trains were pot. It opened in November of that year with the American serviced in Shawnee. There were from five to 20 coaches Legion and other organizations to a train. The women working involved. the service depot estimated there While the service was operatwere around 60 occupants in each ing, the project’s chairman esticoach. That meant there might be mated that two train carloads of as many as 1,000 servicemen travmagazines were handed out to eling through Shawnee in one day. servicemen. Boys who had been Those men were pleased to get on troop trains for as long as six or any gift offered, but playing cards seven days were very appreciative seemed to be the favorite. The solof those magazines given them as diers said the cards helped pass well as matches, postcards, playing the time while they were travelcards and puzzles. Many sent back ing or during the long hours they thank you notes commenting on might be sitting somewhere along what a good project it was. Cards As a fuel stop for troop transport trains, the tracks waiting to move. and letters came to the depot or Shawnee briefly hosted as many as 1,000 The magazines were donated the American Legion post. Some- servicemen per day at points during World by citizens from Shawnee and times, the address of the original War II. Citizens and groups were able to help from neighboring towns. Those recipient was on a magazine, and by providing small services and materials playing cards, postal cards and that person received a personal like magazines, matches, playing cards and matches – for cigarettes provided postcards for the appreciative men passing note. by the military – were gifts from through town. ­— Photo submitted If the notes from those visitindividuals, businesses and even ing servicemen meant what they local farmers. There was no charge were saying, Shawnee could expect to get a big boost when for any of the items. Even the depot’s telephone bill was paid the war was over. Many of the military travelers were so im- each month by a different Shawnee firm. pressed with the kindness of the citizens some vowed that Shawnee was fortunate to have the opportunity to do its someday they may make Shawnee their home. part. That opportunity was because the town was a refueling When the depot project was still young, a citizen received station, and all troop trains stopped here. City officials, busia letter from a Baltimore boy who had been on one of the ness firms, clubs and ordinary citizens cooperated to make trains. Later, his mother also wrote to thank Shawnee for the the project the success that it was. kindness shown to her son.

The American Legion was the sponsor with several orAnother letter received by one of the women who worked ganizations working at the depot one day a week. That inat the depot was from a boy in Denver. He was reading a cluded Stanolind Pipe Line Auxiliary, Ladies of the Catholic magazine she had donated, even though he had never been Church, American Legion Auxiliary, Navy Mothers, Rock in Shawnee. It had been put on a train here then carried Island Service Ladies and Shawnee Schools Parent-Teacher to another train in Denver, and the recipient wanted her to Association. know how far the magazine had traveled.

When the U.S. went to war, the whole country was inOn Father’s Day, a soldier gave one of the women volun- volved, whether it was going into battle or donating a magateers a dollar and asked her to send his father a telegram. zine. Everyone had a part. S www.shawneeoutlook.com

25

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www.shawneeoutlook.com

health

NOW HEAR THIS

Local Audiologists Offer Tips For Better Hearing Month

BY DAVID DINSMORE

I

t may be cliché to joke about how loud grandma has the TV or a husband misses what his wife says, but there are everyday signs that many people ignore that could indicate a developing hearing problem.

That’s one of the reasons the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association established May as Better Hearing and Speech Month as a way to raise awareness about hearing problems, to encourage people to think about their own hearing and to inspire them to get their hearing checked.

On April 18, Shawnee Mayor Ed Bolt issued a proclamation for the city’s observance of Better Hearing Month this year while recognizing the efforts of local audiologists like Dr. Kurt Kalies and Dr. Calyn Russ.

Kalies and Russ practice audiology at Hearing Health Care Inc. at 3954 N. Kickapoo Ave suite 5, and they each have seen the results of people ignoring the early signs of hearing loss during their years evaluating and treating patients. They understand how important it can be for some to understand the risks associated with hearing loss before permanent damage occurs.

“Hearing is something people take for granted,” Kalies said.

“People will have their eyes checked. They’ll get their teeth checked, but they forget all about their ears. A lot of times, we’ll

Audiologists Dr. Calyn Russ and Dr. Kurt Kalies work with patients to evaluate their hearing and provide the highest levels of treatment and service for hearing aids and assistive devices through their fullservice Hearing Health Care, Inc. practice located at 3954 N. Kickapoo Ave. suite 5.

Call (405) 273-6203 or visit hear4life.com for appointments and information. — Photos

by David Dinsmore end up seeing people after they start having problems.

“By the time they come in, a lot of the things could have already been prevented or slowed down.”

Often, hearing problems first become apparent through communication difficulties and familiar behaviors – such as the aforementioned TV volume – but a lot of recent research points to links between mild hearing loss and possible increased cognitive decline, dementia, falls and short term memory loss if not treated with appropriate amplification.

Mild hearing loss does not just manifest in people’s inability to hear sounds as much as certain sounds that allow them to better understand what’s being said or happening around them, Russ said. Those experiencing hearing loss will use context to try and fill in the gaps of what they are not hearing, which puts extra strain on their cognitive processes and keeps them in a state of “constantly playing catch-up.”

“By the time (the hearer) has figured out what the person has said and decoded it, (the speaker) has already moved on to the next idea,” Russ said.

This can limit the ability of the hearer to create short-term memory associated with the event, Russ said. The effort of decoding or asking people to repeat themselves can wear on the hearer and lead them to isolate themselves more from social www.shawneeoutlook.com

27

interactions that have become increasingly difficult.

This may lead to cognitive decline as they avoid the stimulation that comes with socializing.

Another unrecognized sign of hearing loss can take the form of controlling the conversation, Kalies said. Those experiencing hearing issues may talk over those with whom they are conversing because if they can lead the conversation, it means they don’t have to adapt based on what the other participants are saying.

“It’s easier to talk than to listen,” Kalies said.

Hearing is one sense that works around the clock analyzing sounds and creating impressions in the brain, Kalies said. During sleep, the brain sorts through what the ears have transmitted and tries to store away the information appropriately. If what the ears hear is inaccurate, however, this can cause the brain to create memories and impressions incorrectly. The cumulative effect takes its toll.

With mild hearing loss, there are often very few symptoms that people are experiencing hearing loss, Kalies said. They often think that life is just getting a little harder.

Many people do not realize that hearing loss technically qualifies as a disability, Russ said, and often their friends and loved ones overlook that when trying to navigate communication.

“It’s the only disability that people have where other people get mad at you for having it,” Russ said.

There are some steps that people can take prior to experiencing hearing loss, Kalies said. One of the most important steps is to schedule regular appointments to have hearing checked by an audiologist. Just like a family physician needs a baseline weight to determine a patient’s gains or losses, an audiologist can establish a starting point for people’s hearing to determine if they are maintaining hearing performance or if there has been decline since the last examination.

At Hearing Health Care, Inc., Kalies and Russ employ a variety of techniques and tools to understand their patients’ hearing health and concerns. They use video otoscopy, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing, otoacoustic emission testing, a variety of speech tests, reception evaluations and Real Ear measurements.

Some of the issues Kalies and Russ have observed do not come from hearing loss across the spectrum but often loss of certain pitches. Kalies illustrated the concept with people with 20/20 vision who could have issues with color blindness that still affects their perception of the world around them.

Another step people can take to protect their hearing is to avoid using cotton swab products like Q-Tips to clean their ears, 28

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Kalies said. The ears’ structure allows for self-cleaning when operating properly, but when people have manually cleaned them incorrectly, it falls to professionals like audiologists to correct this with proper cleaning.

“For most people, it’s a one-time thing,” Kalies said. “Get it out of there and reeducate them by telling them to quit poking stuff in there.”

Other health factors like diet and exercise can also help people maintain good ear health, Kalies said. The structures in the ear that participate in receiving and passing along sound require adequate blood flow like nearly every other vital system in the body, so any steps that improve cardiovascular health can impact hearing as well.

There are also obvious ways to protect against hearing loss like avoiding or reducing loud noises with proper equipment and planning, Kalies said. There are even apps for smartphones that can measure noise levels so people can make informed decisions about protecting their hearing.

Like brain cells, the nerves in the inner ear cannot regenerate, Russ said. Once lost, they are gone for good, and when that happens, audiologists must switch from evaluation and prevention to treatment with tools like hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Though there are a variety of options for where to get hearing aids, there are some aspects for people to consider before purchasing, Kalies said. The state of Oklahoma requires those with a high school equivalency to pass a test to dispense hearing aids, but patients may encounter problems that could diminish the effectiveness of the aids they purchased if the vendor cannot address them. An audiologist is best equipped to provide not only the right equipment but also the proper fit and settings based on a complete picture of each patient’s individual needs using an informed evaluation of their environment, lifestyle, family history and other factors.

“We try to provide resources and answers for people who have problems and guide them the right way,” Kalies said.

Hearing Health Care, Inc. – which was the first AudigyCertified practice in Oklahoma for ranking in the top 3-5 percent of the hearing care industry for independence, competency, and excellent patient care – offers a variety of hearing aids from advanced technologies to the most basic assistive devices. They also can provide evaluation and programming for cochlear implants along with help with other concerns like custom and stock ear protection, tinnitus treatment, dizziness treatment, aural rehabilitation and counseling. They also help with hearing aid repair and customizations in their full-service, in-house lab.

This last aspect of the practice is what drew Kalies to audiology. He was an engineering major at Oklahoma State University when he returned home to Shawnee for a break. While visiting his father – who owned the audiology practice at the time – at work, Kalies began tinkering with the hearing aids available at the time to see if he could apply his engineering skills to repair or modify them to improve their performance.

After getting some hands-on experience with the technology used by audiologists, Kalies changed paths and went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and complete his doctorate with the University of Arizona and now has more than 30 years of diverse clinical experience.

Russ’s first encounters with audiology came at a much younger age. Diagnosed with progressive hearing loss at the age of 8, she received her first hearing aids as a child. She did not take to them initially and became adept at reading lips as her hearing loss progressed. By the time she was in graduate school, Russ – who came to practice with Hearing Health Care, Inc. more than three years ago – had experienced nearly every stage along the spectrum of hearing loss. A professor convinced her to undergo the cochlear implant procedure, and she has since been able to use her own personal experience to relate to her patients or their parents on a personal level.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Hearing Health Care, Inc. at (405) 273-6203 or visit hear4life.com. S

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Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers. Restrictions apply. Valid and redeemable only when presented at a participating location. The UPS Store centers are independently owned and operated. © 2016 The UPS Store, Inc.

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29

calendar All events are subject to change and incorporate a variety of guidelines regarding public health measures. Please contact each organizer for complete and up-to-date information.

May 10: Shawnee Forward's Tasty Affair and Auction starting at 6 p.m. boasts two dozen local food vendors serving up various dishes and drinks to patrons and an annual auction with packages and experiences that will keep you raising your paddles. Information: bit.ly/ sftastyaffair May 12-21: Shawnee Little Theatre will stage the Broadway hit, “Legally Blonde: The Musical.”

Based on the hit movie, this musical adaptation follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action packed and exploding with memorable songs and production numbers, this musical is so much fun it should be illegal.

Information: shawneelittletheatre.com or (405) 275-2805 May 13: The Heart of Oklahoma Youth Rodeo is open to all people 19 and younger. Four different age groups will compete in barrels, poles, goat tying, breakaway roping, ribbon roping, tie-down calf roping, steer stopping, steer breakaway and team roping at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence. Information: hoyra.net May 14: Riverside Rebellion will bring its original American rock-n-roll sound to the Ritz Theater starting at 7 p.m. at 10 W. Main St.. Their music incorporates genres like blues, Southern, rock, Americana, classic rock, country and funk.

Information: ritzshawnee.com May 14: Oklahoma-based rock band Christy Bryant & the Twist of Fate will play the FireLake Casino starting at 8 p.m. at 41207 Hardesty Road. Information: facebook.com/ ChristyBryantandTwistofFate

May 19: The Third Thursday Poetry Reading will feature Katey Johnson, an award-winning poet and screenwriter from Cushing. She has published two books of poetry, “Resting Soil” and “Fifty Shades of Gray: A Tangled Collection”. Her latest screenplay, a spoof titled “Magnum Farce,” was a DeadCenter Film Festival finalist in 2021, and her psycho-thriller, “The Handler,” won best screenplay at the Oklahoma Horror Film Festival.

Johnson will begin her presentation at 7 p.m. at the Lunch Box at 217 E. Main followed by open mic readings. The Lunch Box will open at 6 p.m. for those who want to order food.

May 20: The Arts @317 will host its own Block pARTy 5:30-8:30 p.m. at 317 E. Main St. with featured artist Larry Peery, a retired teacher and counselor who took up woodworking several years ago. He will be displaying his bowls, pens, gnomes and other works and will be available to visit with guests about his work. Other things may be happening as well depending on the weather. Information: (405) 659-8193 May 21: Art therapist Dr. Madeline Rugh will lead the Art, Nature, and Healing Workshop: Inner Pilgrimage starting at 9 a.m. at the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art at 1900 W. MacArthur.

Finding and honoring their path through life using the seven-circuit labyrinth on St. Gregory’s Abbey grounds, participants will listen as they walk. They will record their impressions of path work through a variety of art media. Information: mgmoa.org/workshops/ May 28: The Veterans of Foreign Wars welcome any volunteers to help place American flags at 8 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery at 1400 N. Center in preparation for Memorial Day observances. They will retrieve the flags starting at 8 a.m. on May 31.

May 30: Memorial Day services will be held at the following times and places: 9 a.m. at Resthaven Cemetery at 44909 OK-3 in Shawnee; 10 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery at 1400 N. Center;

and 11 a.m. at Woodland Veteran Memorial Park at 407 N. Broadway. Speaker will be Gen. David Stevens.

June 3: Hair metal will rule the night as Villains Dance and Crue Nation rock the stage at the Ritz Theater starting at 7 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. June 4: Black Rodeo USA is proud and excited to present the Oklahoma Invitational Black Rodeo featuring national rodeo competitors and an educational celebration of Juneteenth with a special tribute to Buffalo Soldiers. The rodeo starts at 7 p.m. featuring bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, steer undecorating, ladies barrel racing and relay races at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence.

Information: eventbrite.com/e/oklahoma-blackrodeo-tickets-301817523337 June 4: spOKeLAHOMA welcomes cyclists for Fenrir Unchaind, central Oklahoma’s newest, biggest, craziest gravel event. No lotteries, no cap, no nothing. Just a throwback graveler event for those who love to ride starting at the shop’s location at 111 N. Broadway in Tecumseh.

Information: bikesignup.com/Race/OK/ Tecumseh/FenrirUnchaind June 4: Popular 1980s band Queensrÿche will take hold of the flame and the stage at the Grand Casino and Resort with special guest Great White. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the event center at 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Information: grandboxoffice.com June 7: The City of Shawnee Department of Recreation and First United Bank will present a free Retirement Planning Tips workshop starting at 6 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center at 401 N. Bell, featuring guest presenter Paul Bass highlighting tips for ages 50s and 60s.

Information: (405) 878-1528 If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.

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We express our gratitude for our dedicated team of healthcare providers for continuing to work and see patients during these difficult times.

We commend our teams willingness to keep seeing patients as their need arises and that we are able to provide both Home Health care and Hospice throughout the COVID crisis.

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• All RB On Call Staff • Volunteer Program Supports Families and Veterans • Bereavement Programs open to the public year round

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