Shawnee Outlook

SNACK FOR LESS

Fall brings more opportunities for relaxing at home with a snack or grabbing a snack on-the-go as we rush from one activity to the next, but snacking is a habit that can get quite costly. Here are some suggestions to lower your costs.

• Make your own. Obviously, it’s easier to grab a snack that’s already done for you, but if you have an hour or so available just once a week, use it to prep snacks to last all through the week. Make oatmeal energy balls, Rice Krispie Treats, trail mix or even granola bars. Search for recipes online. Most are easier than you think.

• Portion your own. Individually packaged snacks may be convenient, but it’s a convenience you pay for. Buy crackers, nuts, popcorn and chips in bulk and use reusable silicone bags to make your own to-go packaging. Apple sauce and canned fruit can also be portioned out into small reusable cups or pouches. If you set aside time once a week or when you get home from the grocery store to pre-portion those goldfish crackers, you won’t be tempted to grab tiny bags that cost so much more per bag.

• Grow your own. OK, maybe you don’t want to grow it, but choosing healthier options is always a better choice. Portion baby carrots, celery, blueberries or apple slices (use lemon juice to keep them from browning) into individual servings. You could use small reusable cups for ranch or peanut butter if you like to dip your fruits and veggies. Keeping a bin in the pantry and/or fridge with snacks already prepped will save you and your family a lot of decision fatigue and energy when looking for a quick pick-me-up midweek.

of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and share some of her favorite tips and deals.

GROCERY BILL SAVINGS TIPS

don’t know how you feel, but I really thought when grocery prices went up that they would eventually come back down. I think it is officially safe to say that those prices are not coming back down. Not everyone got pay increases to go along with the rising prices of groceries. So how are we to afford healthy eating and not just buy cheap processed junk food? I wanted to share a few tips that I use myself that may help you when planning out your meals.

1. No food waste. I feel like wasting food is the biggest waste of money. You are not only wasting just the food, but also the money spent on that food. Don’t buy more than you need for that week, especially produce.

2. Anything extra that you do have, freeze it. Did you end up cooking too much, or are your fruits and veggies about to go bad? Freeze them. Frozen fruits go really well into smoothies or to be used to naturally flavor water. Oftentimes, my kids prefer eating the frozen fruit over the fresh anyway. Frozen vegetables can always go into soups or casseroles.

3. Don’t go to the store hungry. Everything looks so yummy when you are hungry.

4. If able to, don’t take your kids with you to the store. I always end up with so much more than I was planning on buying when I take the kids with me.

5. Buy the produce that is on sale. If pineapple is on sale that week, then we are getting pineapple. If watermelon is on sale that week, then that is the week we are getting watermelon.

6. Buy in bulk where you can. If it is food that you can freeze or food that won’t go bad fast, those would be good items to buy in bulk.

7. Plan meals around the sales ad. Once you see what all is on sale that week, that is the best time to plan your meals.

8. Go into the grocery store with meal plans in mind and a grocery list. Hopefully a few of those tips will help you continue to buy good healthy food that your body needs. Below is an egg substitute that is very cost effective.

Flax Egg

Eggs are a common food found on a person’s food sensitivity list. This particular one can be really hard as it is in so many foods. I also cook using eggs often. Making flax eggs is just one way to continue cooking your recipe but substituting the egg.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp flax seed, ground 2 ½ Tbsp water

Directions: This makes one egg. Double up for each egg needed. Mix the two ingredients together and let sit for about 5 minutes. Add to your recipe.

Makes: 1 egg replacement

Calories: 35 Total Fat: 2.5g

Saturated Fat: 0g

Sodium: 2.5mg Carbohydrates: 4g Fiber: 2g

Protein: 1g Cholesterol: 0g

Nutrition 101: Eggs are not a food I automatically recommend to take out of your diet. There are a lot of great benefits to eggs, but those who struggle with a food allergy to eggs or want to completely take out all animal products need a way to cook without eggs. When the flaxseed is mixed with the water, the fiber forms a sticky gel similar to the consistency of egg whites. This helps bind ingredients together, creating a smooth batter. You can choose to buy flaxseeds whole and grind them yourself or buy them pre-ground. Flaxseeds are typically sold on the baking aisle. Whether you are going vegan, have a food allergy or just want the additional fiber, it is worth giving this substitution a try.

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 online platform, StrongHER along with functional nutrition and labs through Laser Focus. For inquiries, visit strongherwithandrea.com, or the Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.

Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother

Angela Rowland

MUMMY DEAREST

Museum Features State’s Only Two Mummies

SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM, CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS

MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART

With October upon us, you’ll see “mummies” all over the place – in people’s yards, in the stores, on TV, etc. Some are scary, and others are funny.

Did you know the only place to see real mummies in Oklahoma is the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art? And we have two mummies. Both of our mummies are female. We know this because we had them CT scanned a few years ago at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee just down the road from the museum. The scans tell us that Tutu was in her 40s or 50s when she died, and that she had given birth. For as much as we know, we are still researching and learning new things.

The ancient Egyptians mummified people as part of their religion. They believed that the soul of the person left the body when they died but then returned later. In order to preserve the body, they removed the organs and put them into canopic jars – stone jars with gods’ heads on the lids – that you can see at the museum. The rest of the body was packed with herbs and a type of salt called natron. After 40 days, the body would be wrapped in linen, ready for burial.

But people were not the only ones mummified. Animals were mummified as well. Some were mummified as offerings for the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. Some were mummified as a way to honor their much-loved pet. Cats were offered to the goddess Bastet. She was the goddess of pregnancy and childbirth as well as protection against diseases and evil spirits. Not all offerings were actual cat mummies, some – like one on display at the MGMoA – is just linen wrapped to look like a cat mummy.

The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will celebrate all things ancient Egypt on Mummy Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 4 at 1900 W. MacArthur, including its collection of mummified people and animals.

The ancient Egyptians mummified many types of small animals. You can also see a mummified hawk on display that is probably an offering to Horus, the hawk-headed god of the sun, sky and healing. The museum also has mummified fish, including an almost 3-foot-long perch. Even crocodiles were mummified.

If you really like mummies, you should come by the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 for Mummy Day. This is a free, all ages event to celebrate all things ancient Egyptian. There will be games, activities and so much more. You can take a photo with Tutu or ask an expert all your mummy questions. Come learn about mummies. They are much nicer than in the movies. Tutu loves for people to come visit her.

Check out www.mgmoa. org/art-projects for more

activities including how to make a paper mummy, a coloring sheet of Tutu and more.

Project: Popsicle Mummy

Supplies:

• Yarn (preferably white or cream)

• 2 popsicle sticks (preferably one large, one smaller)

• Googly eyes

• Glue or glue dots

Attach the smaller popsicle stick to the larger one approximately 1/3 of the way down with glue or glue dots in a “T” shape. Wrap the yarn around the popsicle sticks by crisscrossing the center, then wrapping outwards toward the bottom then back up to the arms. Once you are satisfied with the wrapping, cut the yarn and either tuck the yarn into the wrapping or glue it down. Attach the two googly eyes on the top.

PROTECTIVE ORDERS

Recent State Laws Help Provide Housing, Living Cost Options For Violence Survivors

BY KAYLA WOODY, CPN HOUSE OF HOPE PREVENTION SPECIALIST

There are many barriers to safety in an abu sive relationship. Leaving is often the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence. Not only is the abuser a threat to the victim’s safety and well-being, but victims also struggle to find basic needs like housing and financial stability to meet those needs. The lack of safe and affordable housing is often one of the primary barriers survivors face when they do choose to leave. One way to ease the burden on individuals facing domestic violence in Oklahoma is through the Oklahoma Residential Landlord Tenant Act authored by Sen. John Montgomery. It states:

• A landlord cannot deny a tenancy or retaliate against a tenant because the applicant or tenant has previously terminated a rental agreement because the applicant or tenant is a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking.

• A victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking may terminate a lease without penalty by providing written notice and a protective order of an incident of such violence within 30 days of the incident unless the landlord waives such a time period.

• A landlord cannot deny, refuse to renew, or terminate a tenancy because the applicant, tenant, or member of the household is a victim or alleged victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking regardless of whether there is a current protective order in place. This senate bill was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt on May 4, 2023, and will go into effect on Nov. 1, 2023. Along with the difficulty of locating housing, individu-

als need utilities in the home. Most times when moving into a new residence, individuals are responsible for placing deposits for electricity, gas, water, trash and sewage services. They also must meet certain credit requirements. This can be difficult for someone who has experienced financial abuse or used what little funds they have saved to flee the abuser.

Another way the state has moved toward assisting victims of domestic violence is House Bill 2242 – Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Bill – authored by Sen. Adam Pugh. The bill:

• Requires public utilities and municipally owned utility providers to waive the initial credit and deposit requirements for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking who provide an existing protective order, documentation from a representative of a certified domestic violence shelter or program, or documentation from law enforcement personnel.

“This bill will ensure victims don’t stay in a dangerous situation simply because they have bad or no credit or lack the money for a housing deposit. No one’s life is worth that, and I’m glad this protection is now law in Oklahoma,” Pugh said.

The bill was approved by Stitt on May 2, 2023, and due to an emergency clause in the bill, the requirements took effect immediately.

If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, intimate partner violence, and/or sexual assault and would like more information, please contact the House of Hope at (405) 275-3176 or visit us online at facebook. com/cpnhouseofhope.

Scan this code to visit the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s athome project page. S

GOOD PLAN

Local Agents Help Medicare Plan Seekers Find Best Fit

BY DAVID DINSMORE

Choosing the right Medicare plan for next year comes with enough concerns during the annual enrollment period, which takes place Oct. 15-Dec. 7 this year.

Those sifting through the bevy of options and benefits with an agent should not have to also wonder if that person may be taking advantage of them.

Some new protection measures this year aim to help plan seekers know that their agent is operating ethically in their best interest. When seeking information or asking about plans other than their current plan, customers or their legal representatives must provide

Ryan Busler and the team at Navigating Medicare can help those seeking to change or establish a new plan for 2024 during the open enrollment between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. Visit navigatingrx.com or call (405) 256-3442 for more information. — Photos submitted

written permission to an agent 48 hours prior to having that conversation.

“For my current clients, I have sent them all a form to sign and send a picture to me if they want,” said Ryan Busler, regional manager with Navigating Medicare. “People need to be aware that if they want to meet or discuss changing their plan, the first thing I’m going to say is that I need to email or text you that form.”

This requirement includes phone

conversations regarding changing plans or other plan options other than a customer’s current plan, Busler said. Plan seekers should be very cautious dealing with anyone who does not follow this new guideline this year.

“That should be a red flag,” said Busler, who works from his office in Shawnee and oversees agents who cover all of Oklahoma and surrounding states. “Anyone who doesn’t ask for that, they’re doing it wrong. If they’re

not doing that right, what else are they not doing right?”

Another possible benefit of this measure could help cut down on the number of people who unwittingly change their plan when working with someone they don’t know because they were not aware of what was transpiring during that conversation, Busler said. He has seen this firsthand with a family member who received a phone call that resulted in her enrolling in a plan that did not have prescription drug coverage.

“You would think she would have come through us, but she wasn’t even aware it happened,” said Busler, who helped her dispute the change with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “They had a recording of her saying the word ‘Yes,’ but she wasn’t saying yes to the question, ‘Do you want to enroll in this?’”

An exception to this new measure is if plan holders only want to discuss changes within their current plan and do not want to talk about changing plans, Busler said. No written permission is necessary in these cases.

Additionally, agents should identify within the first couple minutes of meeting not only what companies they represent but also how many plans they represent in each area, Busler said. For instance, he would need to tell a client he’s meeting that he represents 72 of the 75 plans available in the area with three plans that restrict the involvement of agents. This helps shoppers determine whether they may be receiving limited options from their agent, who may represent plans from only one company that may not be the best fit for them.

“My recommendation is to work with someone who represents all your options,” Busler said. “And you should work with someone you can find again. Someone could call and enroll you, and they live in North Dakota. There may not be a simple way to ever get hold of them again.”

As with any year, those on Medicare plans should take special considerations during the annual enrollment period when reviewing their current plan and available plans to ensure it will fit their needs in the coming year, Busler said.

do to get people engaged is beneficial.”

Most plans also offer fitness benefits, Busler said, and there are local organizations where plan holders can employ these.

Another change has come from an increased environment of competition in the supplement market, Busler said. This shift began in recent years with new companies entering that sector, but now more of the established companies have started to offer some of the same features to keep pace.

“If you’re on a Plan G or Plan F and it’s been going up, if you’re healthy, you may be able to switch to something that’s more affordable,” Busler said.

The supplements are also adding more benefits to some of their plans, Busler said, such as gym memberships, dental benefits and more.

With the enrollment beginning soon, there are some preparations anybody looking for new or a change in plans can undertake to help make that conversation most effective, Busler said. A complete list of prescription drugs, any medical professionals they currently see and current pharmacy information will narrow down which plans cover those specific criteria to ensure a smooth continuation of care. They should take care to include specialists they may not see as regularly, whether it’s a mental health practitioner, chiropractor, dentist or otherwise.

period as they host seminars and general education events throughout the community, Busler said. He has also partnered with local patient-centric businesses and groups to help them begin to get their questions answered about Medicare plan options, he said. For instance, he will be available in-person at The Clinic Pharmacy at 3210 Kethley Road from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. most Mondays during the enrollment period.

For those who are tech-savvy, Busler has established a selfservice portal at navigatingrx.com that will allow him to be their agent while giving them the ability to make decisions efficiently on their own if they’d like.

One aspect of the Medicare system that some do not realize is that if they have any kind of plan, they do have an assigned agent earning a commission somewhere regardless if the plan holder knows them, Busler said. Choosing a local agent, however, can make a big difference in making sure the plan fits the needs of its recipient.

“No one product is the best move for everyone,” Busler said. “It’s a commitment we’ve made that if someone comes to us and they’re on a good plan, we’ll tell them not to change.

Working with an agent can help them work through the variety of options, and services like Navigating Medicare are available at no cost to those who are eligible.

“You are getting someone who studies the plans, and that can be very valuable,” Busler said.

In addition to the changes in procedures for agents to discuss changes in plans with clients, some plans themselves feature new options and benefits this year, Busler said. For instance, more plans have added more giveback elements that help plan holders receive some money back from their Part B deductible monthly during the course of the year.

“This helps cut down costs for patients,” Busler said. “They’ll get it back on their Social Security check.”

There are also plans that include a companion benefit, Busler said, which provides for someone to come “hang out” and assist the plan holder with tasks around the house.

“Loneliness has become an epidemic,”Busler said. “Anything we can

The Navigating Medicare team will not just wait for plan seekers to contact them with questions during this enrollment

“When you treat people right, they notice that. They’ll refer you to their friends. For me, it’s looking at each person individually and trying to find what fits your budget best and what fits your lifestyle best.”

For more information and a list of upcoming education events, visit navigatingrx.com or call (405) 256-3342.

LITTLE WARRIOR

Family Faces Little Girl’s Rare

BY DAVID DINSMORE

With

Joy

Opal Rose Trimble is one in a million.

That has little to do with a rare neurological condition she has battled since she was four months old. Her indomitable spirit and her family’s visible faith throughout her journey have caught the attention of her family, friends, teachers, doctors, online audiences and national television news programs.

Acute flaccid myelitis also falls into the “one in a million” category in terms of rarity, mom Gretchen Trimble said, who added that some statistics suggest it's actually more in the range of one in 10 million people affected. The neurological disease typically targets the spine and causes unpredictable

and varied symptoms in those with it. The disease first appeared on the radar of the Centers for Disease Control in 2014, making research and treatment regimens comparatively new in the realm of healthcare. There is known exact cause and as of yet no known cure.

In Opal’s case, a common cold virus became the catalyst for AFM impacting the part of her spine that affects neurological function from the neck down, Gretchen said. That virus had worked its way through the whole house from her parents and two older siblings

– Nelvin and Sherry Kaye – to four-

month-old Opal at the time in 2019.

What began with typical cold symptoms became more of a flu-like illness, Josh said. Within a few days, it became apparent that something progressively worse was happening.

Initially, Gretchen – who had recently returned from maternity leave –was at work when she received a phone call from the director at the daycare program that watched Opal. The director let her know that she seemed a little more fussy than usual, and they weren’t sure if she was just missing mom or something else.

Opal Rose Trimble battled back from paralysis from the neck down at four months old as the result of a rare medical condition to the point where she is practicing walking with her legs by the age of five. — Photos submitted

“I knew right away when I walked into the room there was something wrong beyond just not feeling well,” Gretchen said. “When I picked her up, she was dead weight.”

She picked up her oldest two children from daycare and school and took Opal to her Dr. Ryan Aldrich, who ran the standard tests for viruses and other diseases. They monitored her overnight, which brought a high fever and lack of appetite, and she tested positive for flu the next day in the office.

Josh had been traveling for his work at Oklahoma Baptist University and arrived later that evening, and he went with his family to Children's at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center to seek specialized care. Beyond Opal’s lethargy, her labored breathing concerned the doctors as they looked for answers.

Amid the uncertainty and emotional turmoil, Josh said he could see God at work. For instance, the night they arrived in the first room Opal stayed at the hospital, they discovered their pastor at the time had also been admitted to INTEGRIS in the room right next door, and he was able to check on them regularly during his brief stay.

For the first three days at the hospital, doctors ran more tests as they treated her deteriorating breathing and lack of appetite. They moved her to the children’s intensive care unit, where the doctor working the unit stood at the foot of Opal’s bed in a manner that caught Gretchen’s attention.

“I remember standing behind him thinking it was odd,” she said. “He watched her for about five or 10 minutes without saying anything, and finally, he turned around to me and asked, ‘How long has it been since you noticed her arms move?’”

This led to a new battery of tests, including an emergency MRI that led to her diagnosis of AFM that left Opal paralyzed from the neck down.

“As soon as she was diagnosed – and by God’s good grace – they contacted the CDC because it is such a rare condition,” Gretchen said. “Opal was the youngest on record at the time worldwide and third in the history of Oklahoma. Most kids are between four and eight years old.”

Doctors sedated her and intubated her trachea to assist with her breathing. This lasted weeks as doctors began implementing what were experimental treatments and therapies at the time considering how the medical community only had very recent data about the newly discovered AFM, which has had fewer than 1,000 diagnoses globally since that time.

Opal would eventually need a feeding tube and trach tube placed for ventilation, and Gretchen said some of the early estimates indicated that Opal would spend her whole childhood needing the trach with very little recovery to her motor functions.

During this time, the Trimbles did what they could to make sure they gave their older children as much attention as they could while Gretchen stayed full-time at the hospital. Additionally, friends and family made efforts to support the family as best they could, including one day when nearly dozens of people who had attended the funeral of a former OBU figure in the city gathered in and around Opal’s room when they received the diagnosis.

During her stay, the Trimbles would post Bible verses on the wall to help encourage them, the staff and anyone who visited Opal’s room, Josh said. They also had a word of the day reflecting a virtue from those verses.

“We turned her room into a sanctuary,” Josh said.

Gretchen said there were times that her faith bordered on the point of crisis, but there were reminders throughout the process that kept them moving.

By the end of her stay in the ICU, Opal had regained some fingertip movement in her hands, but her arms and torso still showed no improvement. The Trimbles transitioned to Bethany Children’s Health Center where they say God began opening unexpected doors that would have implications for the whole family.

During the four months of in-patient therapy – three hours per day –and training for Josh and Gretchen to learn what Opal would need at home to continue progressing.

One morning, her doctors told the Trimbles that they would like to see more movement in Opal’s upper body, so they all prayed together at that time. The evening arrived, and Josh needed to return to Shawnee. He approached Opal’s bedside to tell her goodbye and gestured to her with a fist against his chest like a heartbeat to indicate that even though he was physically leaving her, his heart was still with her. Suddenly, Opal raised her hand and mimicked his gesture.

“That was significant because we had seen hand movement to this point, but we hadn’t seen arm movement like that,” said Gretchen, who witnessed the moment from the bedside and captured it on video. “That showed intentional movement, which was so encouraging.

the Trimbles to share their story and faith on Good Morning America.

“We were able to glorify God in that,” Josh said. “He does not waste the pain of his children.”

By the time she left Bethany, Opal had regained use of about 75 percent of her upper body, including starting to sit up with assistance. She also transitioned her off of the ventilator despite doctors’ early predictions, though the trach and feeding tube remained in place.

Following her stay there, the Bethany center invited Josh to come speak to the board. While speaking with the CEO at that time, Josh acknowledged the role Bethany Children’s Health Center played in his family’s life, and he wanted to know more about opportunities to get involved there.

“It was obvious God was in this place, and He’s continuing to do marvelous work,” Josh said. “My family is evident as such.”

The following summer, the CEO reached out to Josh and hired him for his current job as the chief of foundation management for Bethany Children’s Health Center. He started that job the week exactly one year after Opal went home from the facility.

“God is a God of details,” Josh said.

The challenges, however, were far from finished.

“We were ready to go home, but it was one of the hardest times of our lives,” Gretchen said. “All of a sudden, it was 100 percent up to us.”

Opal’s care required frequent maintenance of her trach and feeding tubes on top of her extensive therapy schedule, and in any rare instance when neither parent could stay with her full-time, she required monitoring by a nurse.

A month after her first birthday in 2019, the Trimbles received another blessing when doctors no longer felt the trach they had thought Opal would need indefinitely and removed it. That’s the first time they remember hearing her voice.

“She would not be quiet, because she was mesmerized by her own voice,” said Gretchen, who explained that the trach had bypassed her vocal chords the whole time she had it in place.

In the four and a half years since her diagnosis, Opal has tackled constant therapy sessions locally, within the state and beyond in places like Dallas and Baltimore. She even undertakes some tasks at her house as the Trimbles have been able to receive some equipment to help her continue her journey.

said. “But she has the best spirit.”

As she marks her fifth birthday this month, Opal has recovered almost 100 percent use of her upper body and has begun showing progress in her lower body. She has begun practicing walking with assistance using her legs and standing particularly with orthotics.

Each stage of progression has come slowly with long stretches in between, which can take a toll.

“It has been a mentally taxing journey wanting so much for your child to be able to do something but being at the mercy of rehab and healing,” Gretchen said. “We get asked all the time if Opal will ever walk … and it’s so hard to answer.”

During the tough times, the Trimbles credit their faith in helping not only guide them through the strain but to find the unexpected blessings that come with it.

“God has convicted me that it’s OK not to know,” Gretchen said. “God has given us peace to continue to believe big and pray big and expect big, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Opal also accomplished another task that at times seemed unlikely when she started pre-K this fall at school, which she attends three days a week with two days of clinical therapy.

“That’s not something we take lightly,” Gretchen said. “There were so many unknowns, but we understand that developmentally it’s so important for her to go to school.

“We’re two months in now, and she’s thriving.”

They’ve not only seen the impact Opal’s journey has had on her along with their own lives but also in the lives of Nelvin and Sherry Kaye.

“Those three kids are as thick and as tight as siblings should be,” Josh said.

Gretchen has noted the level of empathy her two oldest have developed and their desire to help anyone who needs it.

“Our lives have been impacted in every facet,” Gretchen said. “But so much good has happened through them.

The goal going forward is that as long as she keeps showing progress, the Trimbles will keep giving her resources and opportunities to meet new goals.

That video received a huge audience online and caught the attention of news producers, including some who invited S

“Opal has never known life without therapy,” Gretchen

“The realities of her condition are ever-present,” Gretchen said. “But our perspectives have changed so dramatically throughout this process. If we count our blessings, there are so many more good things in this journey than bad. We make a conscious effort to celebrate the good things. It’s OK to acknowledge the bad, but we focus on the good to propel us forward.”

PLANTING SEEDS

Fruit Produces Sometimes From Unpredictable Sources

BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

Tucked in the storage compartment of my guitar case is a package of vinca flower seeds. This is the same guitar I’ve had for nearly 30 years when I bought it from Music Unlimited here in town as a freshman at Oklahoma Baptist University. When I was 15, I picked up one of my dad’s guitars and learned a few chords. After three years of “tryin’ to make sense of all these strings,” it was time to have my own.

I had saved up money from my job waiting tables at Red Lobster and paid about $500 for the guitar and the case together as I recall. I’ve played it so much over the years that the frets and finish are pitted and worn. It’s traveled all over with me from Montana to Mexico and been tolerated by faces and places long-forgotten by my fragmented memory.

Not all the time, but sometimes, I like to play this Takamine G series on my back patio. Its booming and bold tones are soothing but easily swallowed up by the outdoors. On one such occasion recently, I noticed something green growing up from a large crack in the concrete. This is not all that uncommon. Weeds volunteer in these cracks regularly, and I uproot their unwanted presence as soon as I see them.

What they say is true; the only thing you have to do to get weeds to grow in your garden is nothing. It’s also true for cracks in your patio concrete. But this plant was different. I recognized its dark green, divided leaves which were growing from a small, trailing vine. There was even a little yellow bloom.

Another clue I had was knowledge of my son and his friends hanging out on my patio a few weeks prior. It was one of their final hangouts before departing for college, and they decided to treat themselves to some fresh, juicy watermelon.

I’m not really clear on the exact details of what transpired with this watermelon, but let’s just say that the boys weren’t all that surprised to find out a very healthy watermelon vine was growing from one of many seeds that didn’t quite make it to the trash. Frankly, their only surprise was that there weren't more.

I chose not to pull it up. This now massive vine has completely taken over my back patio. It is measuring roughly 20 feet by 10 feet wide and growing two little melons of its own.

Two years after I bought my guitar, I was in Mexico for a mission trip. The night before we were to begin our work building a church building, a local pastor was speaking to us about the importance of the work we were there to accomplish and the many people who would benefit from this one week of work long after we were gone.

As a very small token of his thanks, he gave to each of us a packet of flower seeds to remember that seemingly small offerings of love can produce quite beautiful outcomes. Whenever I see the vinca seeds in my guitar case, I remember that pastor and wonder about the beautiful moments that have perhaps occurred under the roof of that little church building over the years.

A lovely coworker of mine spent 30 years teaching music in public education. Unlike my fragmented memory, she doesn’t forget a name nor a face she taught. They haven’t forgotten her either. She invested in the lives of many, many children in this community in her 30 years. Odds are she taught you or someone you know too.

Many of these precious kiddos went on to have children of their own whom she also taught. One of these students was so inspired by the love and care my coworker showed her and her family that she went to college to become a teacher herself so that she too can plant seeds in the lives of children and watch them grow.

We all know the myriad lessons that planting seeds can teach us, but one can never underestimate the value of repetition. It is good and right to spend our lives tending to the important responsibilities we have to care for ourselves and our loved ones, but let us also learn to turn our attention outward, planting seeds in the lives of others that will produce fruit that we may never directly enjoy ourselves. Let us give of ourselves generously in this way out of gratitude for those who gave generously to us.

Brandon Dyer

2. Fill

FLUFFY STUFF

Shawnee Once “Cotton Capital” Of State

BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER

issue of the

That’s the label Shawnee earned less than 10 years after the “Run” in 1891 onto the land where the town

Pottawatomie County provided good land for growing the product, but with the building of factories and especially with the coming of the railroads, Shawnee was soon the headquarters.

The west side of the county where Shawnee sits – being in the Cross Timbers area and highly forested – did not have many cotton farms, but the properties on the east side and especially

lina researched the project and said that Oklahoma was ranked fifth in cotton production among all states. The building of the new factory continued, and it was reported that the Shawnee Cotton Mills Company had “already got out elegant letterheads. “ That year, 47,000 bales of cotton were sold in Shawnee. In late summer 1911, the Choctaw Cotton Oil Co. was completed on South Beard. The next year, the first bales were auctioned off at Main and Bell at $11.10. Fifty thousand bales were baled that year, and in 1912, that number was expected to be a repeat.

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and one-fourth of the meal that year with the balance of the product (oil and grain pulled from the cotton bolls) to be “ex-

The cotton compress itself was established in 1899, and by1902, it employed 40 men and handled 30,000 bales. At the same time, 60 men worked at the oil mill facility. By 1905, due to the weather, there was a 10 percent drop in sales and others had entered the market. The newspaper reported “things looked blue.” But “salesmen from Forest City (which Shawnee often called itself) worked hard and found markets back east and even in Liverpool, England, where consumers paid a high

The county ginned 45,500 bales of cotton that year. The cotton industry in the county continued to expand. A new $10,000 gin was built in 1907, and the first bale was sold for 21 1/2 cents per pound. The average price sold “on the streets of Shawnee”

The year 1909 was big for the industry as Shawnee was picked for a $300,000 cotton mill. Some businessmen from North Caro-

Over the years, cotton continued to be a farm staple in Shawnee and the surrounding county into the 1920s and ‘30s. While much of the country was suffering from the Great Depression and western Oklahoma had the Dust Bowl, Pott County escaped the worst. Cotton survived better than other crops, even in the area’s drought, but the market was strong. In 1934, the Shawnee Cotton Oil Mill advertised for the farmers’ cottonseed to be ginned into meal for their animals. Cotton itself was used in many materials, and in 1939, a local men’s shop ran an ad during National Cotton Week urging local folks to “Buy Cotton … Help the Farmer.”

As World War II began, newspapers read “Cotton Pickers Badly Needed.” They were to be paid $1.25 per 100 pounds. Cotton Picker sacks were available at Sears for $1.66. The owner of the Shawnee Cotton Oil Mill revealed that the local plants were shipping low grade lint to various munition plants to be used for making explosives.

For a while after the war, there was still the competition of whoever brought in the first bale and the best. In 1946, first prize in the county was $300. But then came studies by state farmers, dealers and experts about continuing to grow cotton in Oklahoma. By 1955, cotton as king in Pott County was disappearing. The last cotton gin in Shawnee was razed from once there being five. Alfalfa, wheat and other crops were replacing the longtime money maker. In 1950, the attack of the boll weevil and other crops taking its place resulted in the last local cotton being plowed under. But for many years, Shawnee was the Cotton Capital of Oklahoma.

In the early 20th century, Shawnee had a flourishing reputation as the cotton capital of the state. — Photo

Sharing Journey Important For Those In Recovery

The disease of addiction has a way of stripping away the most beautiful, tender, unique and meaningful parts of a person’s life and the lives of those who love them. The journey through addiction can be dark, depressing and damaging.

Regrettably, some people’s paths continue to wind until they are eventually cut short. Yet, we cannot forget that for so many, recovery is possible, and lives of all affected can be restored.

It is important for people in recovery to be able to share honestly and openly about their experiences and to believe that the good, the bad and the ugly of their stories can be used to help someone else. Whether we are sharing or listening, both actions stand to break down the stigma of addiction and bridge the gap to community connections.

Gateway is proud and appreciative of Michael Rambin’s willingness to share a piece of his story.

Please note that content may be triggering to some readers.

Looking back, how did your journey towards using substances begin and where did it take you?

MR: I was grounded from ages 12-18. I didn’t get that many opportunities to experience my adolescent years. I kind of went “all out” when I was able to move out of my dad’s house and away from my abusive stepmother.

After high school, I joined the Navy as an engineman. I ended up going to the brig for three years and then was discharged. When I came home, I got a job as a framing carpenter, got an apartment with my high school sweetheart and started a family.

Mostly, I just smoked marijuana and

drank until I was about 24, and I tried “speed” for the first time at work with some buddies. It seemed to help me stay focused and work quicker. I didn’t use daily, and I never suspected that what I was doing would have such a negative impact on my future.

I went from the occasional “line” to the needle by the time I was 26. By age 28, I was a full fledged IV drug addict. My children’s mother did what she thought was best for our boys and did not allow me to see them.

I was headed down a path of destruction as I went from meth to cocaine and back to meth. Manufacturing meth became my primary job. On Nov. 12, 2002, I was shot in the abdomen. The bullet hit my liver, and my gallbladder and right kidney were destroyed. I was in the hospital for six weeks. Lucky to be alive,

dealing with. However, it only made it worse in the long run. Did you experience a “rock bottom”?

MR: I lost my dad to cancer in 2017. I lost my youngest brother and the guitar player for our band in 2018 to alcoholism. He was 33 and had pretty much drank himself to death.

I ended up back on the needle looking for any way possible to not deal with the loss of my brother. I found myself back in jail twice in six months and on the news for following someone I thought was my wife. I was so confused, and the drugs weren’t helping matters at all. I still fight the guilt of watching Ronnie drink himself to death and not trying to help him, but I didn’t feel like I was in any position to tell someone else what they should be doing with their life. What was your turning point? Who or what helped you?

MR: In June 2019, I decided that I wanted to quit and just stopped using. I relied on my own self-control and some professional help in my corner. I made it three and a half years. At the end of De-

cember 2022, I had had a huge trigger surface that I wasn’t prepared for. I used for about two weeks and then went back to Gateway.

My current wife has also been a huge help to me by never giving up and setting boundaries. Also, my ex-wife and sons have been a huge supporting factor in my recovery.

What internal/external challenges do you face on your recovery journey?

MR: My health issues are a huge internal challenge. I’ve had both knees and one shoulder replaced. I have had cancer in my thyroid, two cervical fusions and various other surgeries. These issues keep me from working, can bring up feelings of inadequacy as a man and even cause depression.

What does your life look like today?

MR: Today my life looks so much better. I still attend Gateway for group and individual counseling. These things have been key to my recovery. I get to play in the band with my two oldest sons and restore the relationship we lost due to my addiction. I also get to explore new tal-

ents like painting and serve in my community. I would like to continue sharing my story with anyone who may have interest. I have no desire to ever go back to that lifestyle again.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with those reading this article?

MR: What works for me may not work for you. I would suggest to anyone that struggles with addiction or other mental health issues to reach out to someone, whether Gateway, NA, AA, a school counselor, etc. Recovery is possible for anyone. Don’t give up! You’re worth it!! If you or someone you know would like support on their recovery journey, do not hesitate to reach out to Gateway at (405) 273-1170 ext. 0 or send us a message through our Facebook page, Gateway to Prevention and Recovery, Inc.

Michael Rambin has worked as a carpenter and musician for 20 years. He has been active in his recovery process for 5 years and attending Gateway regularly again since 2021. He has been a proud Shawnee resident for 7 years now.

Financial strategies built just for you

I was released from the hospital to my dad’s house on Dec. 31, 2002. When I went back to Oklahoma in March 2003 to have the bullet removed, I surrounded myself with “old friends” and ended up going to prison. I served 26 months on a five-year sentence and moved back to Texas.

I started playing music with my brothers, and we formed The Rambin Brothers Band. It felt great to play music and be clean and sober for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. I also met a nice woman, got married and we had a baby. This was my second chance at a family. However, we threw all that away when we started using meth together. Thankfully, my ex-wife is sober now and has come a long way. Our eventual divorce was hard on me, and I continued to use meth even more to hide the hurt I was

Michael Rambin shares his story of recovery from drug addiction, which includes discovering a love for music and art.

Rambin

Oct. 9: The Shawnee Family YMCA Golf Classic will tee off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Elks Lodge and Golf Course at 13500 Acme Road. Information: facebook.com/ shawneeymca

Oct. 10-Nov. 14: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host After-School Art Classes every Tuesday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at 1900 W. MacArthur St for students 5-18 featuring instructions from artists, educators and thespians. There will be a reception following the Nov. 14 session for all classes. Information: mgmoa.org/asa-class

Oct. 13: Justin Ross & Deadwood Revival will play the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. starting at 8 p.m. Information: ritzshawnee.com

Oct. 13-27: Enjoy live music at Theopolis Social Club from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays at 419 E. Main St. The lineup includes Greg Zink and Lacy Saunders on Oct. 13, The Band Called Quest on Oct. 20 and Chanda Graham on Oct. 27. Information: facebook.com/theopolissocialclub

Oct. 14: The CPN House of Hope is hosting its second annual Color Fun Run to raise awareness for domestic violence from 9-11 a.m. at the CPN Festival Grounds located at 1702 S Gordon Cooper Drive. Information: facebook. com/cpnhouseofhope or (405) 275-3176

Oct. 14: The 19th annual FireLake Casino Car Show roars into town 1-4 p.m. at 41207 Hardesty along with the Children’s Halloween Costume Contest at 3 p.m. Information: firelakecasino.com

Oct. 14: SwagTwag Productions will bring its sketchhybrid comedy show to the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. starting at 8 p.m. Information: ritzshawnee.com

Oct. 19-29: Join OBU Theatre as it journeys “Into the Woods JR.” featuring this family-friendly adaptation of the hit musical hit by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine featuring classic characters for the tales of the Brothers Grimm. Information: okbu.edu/theatre

Oct. 20: The Arts @317 will host its own Block pARTy from 5:30-8:30 p.m. featuring its third annual Christmas Show. Several artists will be on hand to reveal their items for Christmas 2023. You will find wonderful items for your holiday decorating as well as gift ideas at this event at 317 E. Main. Information: (405) 659-8193

Oct. 20: Lace up your running shoes for the OBU Bison Starlight Stampede 3K, a fun and fitness event for all skill levels under the stars at Oklahoma Baptist University Recreation and Wellness Center at 500 W. University. Information: okbu.edu/events

Oct. 21: Gordon Cooper Technology Center presents the Battle on the Big Screen esports tournament from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its campus at 1 John C. Bruton. Information: battleonthebigscreen.com

Oct. 22: Skating, ballet and traditional circus acts will collide at the Circus on Ice at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main. Information: ritztheatre.com

Oct. 26-28: Come join the spooky fun at Monsters on Main downtown near Main and Bell streets presented by Community Renewal, featuring carnival rides, costume contests, live performances, kids activities, artisan vendors, food trucks and – most importantly – candy. For the first time, the event will also feature special performances by Cirque Adventure: A High Flying Acrobatic Circus Show. Information: communityrenewal.org/events >

Oct. 27: FireLake Casino will host its annual Halloween costume contest starting at 6:30 p.m. at 41207 Hardesty. Information: firelakecasino.com

Oct. 28: Uplift Mentoring and Oklahoma Baptist University partner up for the Bison Buddy Fun Run and Sports Clinic starting at 8:30 a.m. at 500 W. University featuring OBU athletes and coaches. All proceeds benefit the programs of Uplift Mentoring. Information: upliftmentoring.com/funrun

Oct. 28: Cruising for the Kids is a 100+ mile blind motorcycle poker run benefitting Cops n' Kids starting at 10 a.m. at Sehorn Yamaha at 2555 N. Harrison. Information: copsnkidsshawneeok.com

Oct. 28: Things will get hairy at the FireLake Arena when the sharp-dressed men of ZZ Top bring their catalog of smash rock hits on their Raw Whiskey Tour. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at 18145 Rangeline Road. Information: firelakearena.com

Oct. 28: Magicians and amateur séance workers John Shack and Jeff Richardson will conjure up some fun at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main. Information: ritztheatre.com

Oct. 29: Cargo Ranch will celebrate its 15th anniversary with the Cargo Crazy Circus Rodeo 3-6 p.m. at 8895 Coker Road. Information: cargoranch.org

Oct. 30: Kickapoo Casino welcomes costumes candy seekers to its Drive-Thru Trick or Treat 7-8 p.m. at 38900 W. MacArthur St. Information: kickapoo-casino.com

Oct. 31: Grab your candy cauldron and hit the streets for treats during the official citywide trick or treat from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. throughout town.

Nov. 4: Scare up some post-Halloween fun at Mummy Day at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1900 W. MacArthur. Information: mgmoa.org

Nov. 5: Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma will host its monthly public run 1-4 pm. At 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud. Ride the rails on a powered ¼-scale locomotive right outside of Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: locotrains.org

Nov. 9: Legacy Parenting Center will host its seventh annual Tapas and Trivia fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence to help fund its educational and diaper programs for young families. Information: legacyshawnee.org

Nov. 10: Comedian, musician and armchair philosopher Chad Prather will take the stage starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main. Information: ritztheatre.com

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