Shawnee Outlook

Dentist Leads Team on Mission Trip | Functional Art in Daily Life

OCTOBER 17 Vol. 14 Number 8

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CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2017

18

Publisher

Okie Icon Media

Managing Editor

David Dinsmore

Advertising Sales

Brad Carter

Creative Direction

Kelsey Walker & Fawn Wilson Olivarez

Cover Photo

David Dinsmore

Writers

Jamie Bergsten

Andrea Beck

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David Dinsmore

Catherine Finch

Ann McDonald

Angela Rowland

Cindy Stober

Thresa Swadley

FEATURES 8 Functional Art Provides Pieces to Use in Daily Life 11 Block Party Focuses on Building Relationships Through Recreation 12 Couple Grinds Out Success in Business, Marriage Through Commitment 15 Local Dentist Leads Team of Students, Professionals on Mission Trip to Jamaica 18 Pott. County Residents Find Ways to Help in Wake of Hurricane’s Destruction

Distribution

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by direct mail to 25,000 homes and

businesses.

Contact Us

PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 E-mail: info@shawneeoutlook.com

To Advertise call Brad at (405) 445-3033.

DEPARTMENTS 6 KEEP THE CHANGE 6 NUTRITION 101 20 SONIC CONTEST

22 St. Anthony Shawnee Physician Talks Usefulness of Fitness Trackers

21 SHAWNEE HISTORY

23 Future Tense: More Than Doughnuts

30 ART GUIDE

Volume 14, Number 8 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2017 Okie Icon Media

26 MENTAL HEALTH

24 Business Owner, Music Artist to Begin Local Film Production Next Month

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.

29 The American Experience: On the Hardwood

Working hard to improve your quality of life.

TA N YA L R O L A N D Attorney at Law

The Clinic Pharmacy Tim Barrick, DPh.

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639 N. Kickapoo, Shawnee • 405-273-2050 www.shawneeoutlook.com

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KEEP THE CHANGE Membership Has Rewards for Family Activities Finding free family fun is always ideal, but there are some places worth going to that you’ll just have to pay for. The good news is many of these places still offer ways to save if you know where to look.

Two of the more popular places for family fun and learning in the area are the Oklahoma City Zoo and Science Museum Oklahoma. Both of these offer memberships to families who want unlimited visits along with other perks. If these are places you like to frequent, a membership may be well worth the cost.

But, wait. It gets better.

If you know the right time of year, Mathis Brothers Furniture offers discounted memberships to each of these locales. This month happens to be the right time to snag a family membership to Science Museum Oklahoma.

Simply visit Mathis Brothers and look for the display to grab your membership at a significant discount, which is typically $99 for a family “Silver 6” membership. In addition, there is an optional add-on for about $40 that also offers admission to a handful of other Oklahoma museums, including the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole – great news for those of us in Pottawatomie County.

The other benefit to museum membership is the Passport program that allows free access to multiple museums in every state and some internationally. If you like to travel, this little pass could unlock family fun across the entire country.

If the zoo is more your style – or you want to invest in both – look for those passes to go on sale at Mathis Brothers in May. Memberships to both locations also include discounts on food and gift shop purchases as well, which adds even more potential savings to your experience.

To learn more about the benefits of membership, visit sciencemuseumok.org/membership or zoofriends.org/ membership.

If you’d like to read more about my frugal journey, scan the QR code to visit my blog on the topic!

Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and even posts some of her favorite tips and deals on her blog (steadfaststeward.blogspot.com)

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NUTRITION 101 Weight Loss Cumbersome When You Only Slumber Some My second son was born on Sept. 3, so one of the most important things to me right now is sleep. Sleep is so beneficial to our everyday lives and even more important when we have a weight loss goal.

Have you ever heard of the “hunger hormone?” The hunger hormone is called ghrelin and gives signals to the body to help control the amount of food we eat. Ghrelin is a hormone that increases hunger.

The Brigham Health Hub listed research that showed sleep patterns influence the amount of ghrelin produced in the body.

Sleep-deprived adults tend to have higher ghrelin levels, leading to more hunger and feeling less full compared to adults who get 7-9 hours of sleep. Studies also show that five nights of poor sleep can increase fine lines and wrinkles by up to 45 percent. People who work nights are especially susceptible as are those with small children who stay up late to get things done after the kids are asleep.

When I meet someone who has plateaued at a certain weight for some time but appears to be doing everything right, the first thing I ask is, “How much sleep are you getting each night?” The importance of sleep is easily overlooked and is often treated as no big deal, but it could be what’s holding you back from reaching your weight loss goals.

If you wake up early to exercise, you need to go to bed early too. Getting that 7-9 hours of sleep a day will help your brain and your appetite. If your day allows you to take a nap, I recommend you do so. You may think that taking a nap is a waste of time, but if you are well-rested, you will likely be much more productive in the long run.

Turkey Quinoa Chili Now that I have joined the mom-of-two club, I definitely don’t want meals that are taking up a lot of my time in the kitchen. Once the kids are in bed, I don’t want to be spending time in the kitchen cleaning. I would rather be resting myself. Fall brings on the crock-pot and chili combination for sure.

Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil 1 pound lean ground turkey 1 medium white onion, chopped 1 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic powder ½ tsp black pepper 1 tbsp chili powder 2 tsp chipotle, no salt added, seasoning

2 tsp cumin 3 small sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 1 cup uncooked quinoa 28 oz can diced tomatoes 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained 3 cups vegetable broth

Directions: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the turkey, onion and all seasonings. Cook and stir, breaking up the turkey as you go, until the turkey is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Transfer meat mixture to crock-pot. Add the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 5-6 hours, until the potatoes are tender. Stir in any additional broth if chili is thicker than you would like.

Makes: 6 servings Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 383 Total Fat: 10g Saturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 53mg Sodium: 736mg Total Carbohydrate: 50g Dietary Fiber: 10.5 Protein: 25g Nutrition 101 Tip: This one dish offers so many different nutrients. Just the fact that you are getting a full serving of protein and a large dose of fiber in one bowl is pretty great. The combination of protein and fiber makes for a very filling meal. Anytime you can have the benefits from sweet potatoes, tomatoes, quinoa and beans in one bowl, it is going to be a nutritious, powerhouse meal.

Andrea Beck, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer, received her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from UCO in Edmond. She offers her nutrition consulting services, personal training and strongHER workouts through Anytime Fitness Shawnee. Andrea offers personalized meal plans and workout plans. Andrea specializes in weight loss, running, childhood obesity, pregnancy health and diabetes. Andrea is an active member of Junior Service League and her church, Life Church. For nutrition or exercise questions, you can contact Andrea at andrea.beck@anytimefitness.com

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Functional Art Provides Pieces to Use in Daily Life Functional art refers to utilitarian objects that have been created to bring art and beauty into our everyday lives. Shawnee is fortunate to have many artists who work within this scope, giving options to those that want to purchase beautiful objects to use around their homes.

Fire pits are not something that people typically equate with art, but once people see the beautiful pieces created by David Haslam, they might change their minds. Haslam’s pieces are round balls created by joining the ends of propane tanks that are cut and then welded together. He then etches custom designs into the balls, creating distinctive works of art.

Haslam began his interest in art while he was still in high school and took a drawing class, he said. Though he continued to use these skills while working as a sign painter, he always enjoyed fabricating metals and was ready to move his career in a new direction. Using his drawing skills, he creates custom patterns and then designs the individual fire pits.

“Customers can pick a theme, and I then do the artwork and create the fire pit using a plasma cutter to cut the design,” Haslam said. “I do all of the work myself, from the welding to finishing them with sandblasting.”

Haslam’s firepits can be found at Rock Creek Pools at 618 W. Kickapoo Spur.

Those looking for smaller items to use around the home can find Larry Peery creating many useful wood products, including writing utensils, bowls and even coffee scoops. Like Haslam, Peery’s interest began in high school, where he took a woodworking class but he said he put it on hold for many years while he was an educator in the Shawnee area.

Many of his items started out as projects with or for his grandchildren. Peery said he began making ink pens when he took a couple of penmaking classes with his grandsons.

Now all of his grandchildren – especially his granddaughter – enjoy making pens and doing other woodworking projects with him.

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David Haslam – who makes custom fire pit designs like this – is an example of many local craftspeople focusing on creating functional art pieces.

Photo ubmitted

Once Peery became comfortable making pens, he moved on to make solid wood pieces like rolling pins.

Peery said he then began to work on segmented wood projects, on which he glues wedges of wood to create patterns and visual effects.

When creating segmented projects, each piece has to fit perfectly together, Peery said. The first project that he chose to do was a genie bottle because he thought, “It is going to be a

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wonder if it actually works.” Since the first segmented piece, he has also created bowls and other lovely pieces with segmented wood.

Peery said he works with the wood’s imperfections to create his unique pieces of art. An example of this is in his pens in which he fills wormholes with turquoise that gives each pen a unique pattern and his bowls, which he stains to bring out the individual grain found in each piece of wood.

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Nancy Hunter has had her art displayed in galleries around the country in states like Washington and New Mexico before setting it aside for family needs. An Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in art, Hunter decided to take classes exploring different media to add to the painting skills she had developed earlier in her life. She has become known for beautiful mugs that she makes, especially those made with micaceous clay.

Micaceous clay mugs are known for neutralizing the acid in the coffee, giving it a smoother flavor, Hunter said.

They also have a distinctive sparkly finish that is often found in Southwestern cooking pottery and dishes.

Hunter said she enjoys making mugs because there are so many different ways to decorate them. She loves the challenge of working with the clay and sculpting it until it eventually turns to stone. In addition to mugs, she also makes custom dinnerware, bowls and pots.

Most importantly, Hunter said she wants her art to be integrated into the daily lives of those who purchase her pottery.

“Many times someone purchases a mug, and then they put it up on a shelf to look at and never use it,” she said. “I want people to use my pottery in their daily lives.”

Both Peery and Hunter display and sell their art at the Arts @ 317 located at 317 Main St. Haslam, Peery, and Hunter will all take custom orders for their artwork.

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Block Party Focuses on Building Relationships Through Recreation Community Renewal’s block party Sept. 16 was more than just hot dogs and inflatables.

It was about relationships.

The organization’s Friendship House coordinator Travis Flood led the event to catch up with as many residents of the Kickapoo Park neighborhood – formerly known as Prince Hall near the corner of 7th Street and Pottenger Avenue – as possible. After all, they will soon be neighbors to him and his family.

Community Renewal is continuing to move forward with its Friendship House project, where Flood and his family will eventually live and work within the neighborhood, he said. The house will exemplify the group’s goal to “restore community through intentional relationships” by serving as a gathering place for the neighborhood. Whether hosting club meetings, after-school events, advocacy sessions, birthday party or a barbecue, Flood and his colleagues are aiming to make the house a staple within the neighborhood to help families “be the best they can be.”

Some familiar faces from previous events who knew about the organization’s plan to build the Friendship House came to the block party last month wanting updates about when it was going to be completed, Flood said. The first block party hosted by Community Renewal last fall had organization members spending most of their evening explaining their goals and plans for the house. Having covered that information last time helped them focus on catching up with people they met previously at the first block party and other events hosted since then. They also met new residents who had heard of the group’s efforts from their neighbors.

“It’s been pretty neat watching that evolve,” Flood said.

That said, there is still some work needed to spread the word about what Community Renewal aims to bring to the neighborhood, Flood said.

Some of the common misconceptions about the group is that they are a home-building initiative in line with Habitat for Humanity or a religious organization that just sprouted within the city.

“I still have people that stop me during the day and ask me, ‘Now, which church are you?’”

Flood said. “We’re not a church. We’re an everybody organization.

“We’re excited about the relationships we are

by David Dinsmore

Community Renewal hosted its second block party last month at the corner of 7th Street and Pottenger Avenue to continue growing relationships with the neighbors of their planned Friendship House project.

Photo submitted

building with those awesome families and their kiddos.”

Flood said the block party this year followed other events hosted by the organization like holiday meals and was a precursor to other planned events Community Renewal will host prior to the house’s construction, such as a crafting day that will give residents the chance to make holiday decorations they can display on their doors or elsewhere.

The main focus of these activities is for Flood and his family to get to know people who will eventually become their neighbors, a familiarity necessary for creating the types of close-knit communities that are the focus of the organization’s efforts.

“We know that if we just go and plop a house in the neighborhood and just show up after it’s finished and go ‘Hey, we’re to help,’ more than likely that’s going to fail,” Flood said. “We know that relationships are the key.”

The Friendship House serves as a tool, but it’s knowing the people in the neighborhood – sharing in their goals, struggles and successes – that provides the means for making a difference,

Flood said. So no matter when the walls go up, they will continue to make the community their own by staying involved with the current residents there.

Community Renewal is continuing its efforts to raise funds and take the necessary steps to complete the Kickapoo Park Friendship House in addition to a second project planned near the corner of Bryan Avenue and Main Street, Flood said. To find out more about the organization and all of its efforts in the community, visit communityrenewal.org. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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Couple Grinds Out Success in Business, Marriage Through Commitment The Cotts are not afraid of commitment.

After dating long distance for more than a year and across two time zones, Joshua Cotts knew they were on their way to the altar, he said. Five months before getting married, however, they jumped into another kind of relationship when they became partners not in life but in business.

Joshua – originally from Seminole – had been working in the ministry from age 11, mostly serving in a worship music capacity, he said. He had taken on the role of youth minister not long before meeting Bailey, whose own family was heavily involved with Living Word Church at 3831 N. Kickapoo St. This shared passion for ministry led to a relationship between the two, and even after she moved to California to attend a ministry-focused school they stayed together, Joshua said. In addition to his ministry duties in Seminole, he also was working at McAlister’s Deli in Shawnee while keeping an eye out for opportunities to start his own business.

Bailey was no stranger to food – or at least beverage – service either having worked for a local coffee vendor, Joshua said. The idea of running her own shop came to her during that time as well, prior to ever laying eyes on Joshua and learning of his goal of starting a business.

After connecting their own individual desires to go into business, the Cotts – though without the matching last name at the moment – decided they wanted to try their hand at owning their own coffee business, Joshua said. Figuring out how that business would take form, however, took a lot of discussion and consideration.

“When we started talking about it, we both decided that we might want to move one day,” Joshua said. “So we decided we could do a coffee truck.”

Out of that plan came Euphoria Coffee Company, which the couple has operated for the last three and a

Joshua Cotts prepares a beverage for a customer at Euphoria Coffee Company, a business he and his then-fiancee Bailey committed to five months before they actually walked down the aisle.

Photo by David Dinsmore

half years. Originally parked in the parking lot of the Homeland grocery store on North Harrison, the business relocated to the campus of Living Word Church where Joshua said family connections have made things a little more optimal.

After tracking down all of the essentials needed to get their business brewing, the Cotts found themselves confined to their coffee truck for 10 hours a day trying to make their business work, Joshua said.

The early days – literally in the case of a business in which mornings see many seeking their kind of product – of their company saw them huddling together in the cold winter months as their generator power went to water pumps, blenders, grinders and other coffee-related equipment rather than a heater. It required them to have faith that customers would find

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them and keep coming back as financial security for both of them depended on their success.

Since then, they have added staff members that allow them to take weekends off and even opened another location in Benedictine Hall on the St. Gregory’s University campus, Joshua said. This has allowed them some more free time, but in the process of getting to this point they learned that the daily grind of working together not only built a framework for business success but also helped their marriage thrive.

“For the first year, we worked every day together in this little box,” Joshua said. “We’re so glad for it, because it’s really caused us to come closer together and grow as a couple.

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Local Dentist Leads Team of Students, Professionals on Mission Trip to Jamaica Dr. Daryn Lu knows that some people might make biting remarks about dentistry, but for many who do not have access to services it can make a crucial difference in their lives.

That’s one of the reasons Lu – who practices locally at Family Dental of Shawnee at 19 W. Interstate Parkway – led a team of dentists and students to operate a clinic for a week in July in an underserved area of Jamaica.

Lu was in his second year of dental school at the University of Oklahoma’s college of dentistry when he heard about the Christian Dental Society’s mission opportunities, he said. He signed up that year and continued going every year after that until he graduated.

This year, Lu led a team comprised of 27 students, eight overseeing dentists and one volunteer on a trip to Treasure Beach in Jamaica’s St. Elizabeth Parish. The area consists of four coves and their associated communities surrounding the bays in the southwest part of the island in a location that is a “very bumpy two to three hour drive from Montego Bay,” Lu said.

The Christian Dental Society – which traces its history back to 1962 – has been providing services in the area via dental missions for so many years that the local church has actually added a clinic onto its campus, Lu said. Generally the society brings in four teams back-to-back for a week at a time in order to help meet the needs of the residents and nearby communities.

His team arrived over a weekend to prepare the facilities so they could start see patients during the course of the next week, during which more than 480 patients cycled through their chairs in four days. They also spent time walking around the community spreading the word about the clinic’s services, hours of operation and other details, Lu said. This time also gave new and returning dental workers the chance to get to know the people in the nearby community and a small taste of the culture there.

One of the aspects of the trips to Jamaica compared to other trips Lu has taken in order to provide dental care is the quality of the facilities, he said. Often – particularly in developing countries – the types of services provided can only reach the limit of overall health standards available.

“There’s always questions about sterilization and things like that,” Lu said of other overseas dental trips during which he served.

The Treasure Bay facilities available to the teams that arrive to provide care gives them the

by David Dinsmore

A team of 27 students, eight dentists and one volunteer provided dental care to more than 480 patients in four days in an underserved community in Jamaica in late July.

Photos submitted

ability to focus on routine care like cleanings and fillings, Lu said. When working with poorer populations in areas that do not have access to dental care, much of the professionals’ time is spent Dr. Daryn Lu pulling teeth and doing more responsive care rather than being able to focus on preventative measures. Providing tips on regular maintenance like they were able to do on this trip – especially to parents with young children – can go a long way in affecting not only a patient’s oral health over their lifetime but also their overall health as it connects to good dental hygiene.

“When you’re able to show someone how to take care of themselves … that’s a game changer,” Lu said.

Of course, there were situations on this trip when patients required more involved care. In one case, a young girl with a decaying front tooth whose family had walked a few hours to the clinic arrived in tears because she was afraid she might have to lose her tooth just a few weeks before the start of school, Lu said. The endodontists – who specialize in procedures involving the softer inner tissue of teeth – that came on the trip were able to help her keep her smile intact going into the school year.

Seeing real-world success stories like that can have a big impact on dental students as they are preparing to enter the professional world, Lu said, but work on missions can also provide a lot more than enforcing fundamentals and improving

skills. The missions give students a patient base that did not necessarily grow up with toothpaste and mouthwash advertisements telling them how to maintain a healthy mouth. The students are able to connect with patients and find ways to explain the concepts of good dental habits and routine care to a receptive audience, which helps reinforce the importance of patient education in the minds of the students.

The need for that education does not stop once they board the plane back home, either. Lu said one of his first jobs in the field of dentistry was with the Oklahoma Dental Foundation’s Mobile Smiles initiative. This program brings two RVstyle units into underserved areas of Oklahoma to provide dental care to residents there. He saw firsthand that even in an information-saturated society like the U.S., there can still be many people who are unaware of basic dental principles and the impacts they can have someone’s overall health.

“That was a big eye-opening experience,” Lu said.

That also reinforced his desire to continue serving people’s needs using his training not only with annual trips to exotic places but also on a regular basis close-to-home, Lu said. He would like to get to a place professionally where is able to provide regular care in his practice a few days a week and also head up a team that focuses more on dental outreach and the education that comes with it.

“That’s definitely a weird dental bucket list item of mine,” Lu said. “When I was in school, I heard somebody say … the best part of dentistry is giving it away.” www.shawneeoutlook.com

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Sandra Ferris and Jesse Hernandez package supplies as part of a donation drive last month hosted by Blackburn Chapel Baptist Church in Bethel Acres to continue helping residents and rescuers in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Photos by David Dinsmore

Pastor Larry Sparks stopped the interview briefly to take a phone call.

It was from a lady he had met sometime ago who wanted to know when she could come by Blackburn Chapel Baptist Church to donate items that members were taking to the Houston area, Sparks said. For a couple of weeks, volunteers from the Bethel Acres-area church and nearby community received, sorted, packaged and loaded essentials into an 18-wheeler trailer that hit the road Sept. 15 to bring continued support for those affected by Hurricane Harvey and the workers helping with recovery.

Along with a trailer filled with physical supplies like bottled water and cleaning supplies, the church loaded about a dozen people into the its bus to travel to Houston to assist in clean-up efforts for a week, said Lee Mullendore, men’s ministry director at Blackburn Chapel. They brought along a tractor and other tools for helping “mud out” homes, repair electrical problems and fulfill any need they could.

The relief efforts put together at the church were representative of the local community’s willingness and eagerness to help people in the Houston area anyway they could in the days after Hurricane Harvey, Sparks said.

“It’s not just someone giving 10 palettes of this or that,” Sparks said. “It’s everybody bring18

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Pott. County Residents Find Ways to Help in Wake of Hurricane’s Destruction

ing a case of water and bringing their prayers and whatever else they have to give.

“Whatever it is, it all counts. It’s good for the community. It shows unity.”

Blackburn Chapel’s efforts started as an idea in a men’s group at the church to organize a way to make it easier for their neighbors and friends to get involved, Mullendore said. Before long, word about their donation drive spread, and they were unloading cars and trucks carrying hundreds of items from places as far away as Miami, Oklahoma.

“A lot of people want to help, but they just don’t know how or where,” Mullendore said about a week before he drove the truck to south Texas.

“We felt this was the best way to open it up to the community. Everybody wants to give a little.”

Sometimes that giving spirit comes in the form of supplies, and other times it manifests in skills and training, as was the case for Capt. Scott Killgore of the Shawnee Fire Department. As Harvey’s devastation became apparent, Killgore said he received a phone call from his deputy chief about forming a team of certified rescue technicians to aid in rescue and evacuation in the Houston area.

Killgore called up Travis Cooley, Chip Sheppard and Patrick Winsett from within the department to organize their swift water gear and

by David Dinsmore

two department boats in preparation for rescue operations in the Houston area, he said. The next morning they were underway to the checkpoint set up at College Station, Texas, from where the Shawnee crew dispatched to the base of operations set up at Houston’s Memorial City Mall.

“We didn’t really exactly know what we were getting into when we left,” Killgore said. “There were rescuers from all over the nation there.

“This was a tragedy I’ve never seen anything like.”

In the first couple days after the storm, Houston-based rescuers did not have enough boats to respond to calls and couldn’t take on any extra people they encountered to and from those calls, Killgore said. By the time his team and others from around the country arrived, rescuers were lining up their boats to respond to calls while also organizing into strike teams to conduct search and rescue along a grid system broken down into 15-mile areas. The teams went door-to-door – or sometimes balcony-to-balcony based on the water level in the area – ensuring there were no residents trapped in their homes or other buildings.

Sometimes they would encounter residents standing along the water’s edge who were coming to see the state of their neighborhood, Killgore said. The residents were able to provide information about some of their neighbors to help

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the teams understand where and for whom to search. Regardless, the teams still made a point of going home-tohome whether neighbors believed the residents evacuated prior to the storm.

“We’re going to be here until we check every house,” Killgore told residents.

When they came off of active searches and resumed standby status, teams found places to camp in and around the mall, Killgore said. The ice rink inside became a favorite location for rescuers to set up after spending the day or night in the hot late-summer weather of south Texas. During these down periods, visiting rescuers found that in the midst of tragedy, Houstonians displayed “unbelievable thoughtfulness” in offering help with food, laundry and showers.

Likewise, many private citizens from Houston and beyond aided in addition to organized rescue efforts by taking to their air boats, fishing vessels and other flat-bottomed watercraft to find people in trouble. Killgore said in one instance his team respond-

ed to an emergency call from a couple of kayakers caught in a strong current.

They arrived within a few minutes, but members of the “Cajun navy” had been passing by in an air boat shortly after the kayakers made the call and were able to pull them out of that situation.

“When it comes down to it, when times are hard, people come together, and the human factor is very prevalent,” Killgore said. “It was an absolute honor to be there and help people who needed help.”

THE FIFTH ELEMENT 16 e main

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Children please bring your extra candy to our dental office. In return you will be given a goody bag with a new toothbrush and lots of other fun prizes. Your name will also be put into a drawing for a new bike. A girl and boy will be chosen.

Your candy will then be donated to a Group called Blue Star Mothers that sends care packages to our deployed Soldiers.

For more info call 405-273-2002 Monday-Friday • 7:30 am - 4:30 pm 2510 E. Independence • Shawnee, OK www.shawneeoutlook.com

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SHAWNEE HISTORY

Shawnee Helped Write First Chapters of National Literary Icon’s Career

by Ann McDonald

Burton Rascoe’s writings about his hometown of Shawnee sometimes seemed less than complimentary, but if the reader was aware he was a literary critic, then it was understandable.

Rascoe was just a boy in 1903 when his father uprooted his family in Kentucky to join the other adventurers in the Oklahoma Territory.

Young Rascoe was torn between fear and excitement as they boarded the train after his teachers told him the territory was wild and full of rough people. The curious 11-year-old secretly hoped it was.

Arriving in Shawnee, he was disappointed to find a more progressive and lively city than the one they had left. His parents’ disappointments were more dire. His father found the town full of saloons, his chosen vocation. His mother bemoaned their poor accommodations due to the shortage of housing, and she was forced to do her own work. She was used to a housekeeper, but none were available.

Rascoe himself, after some adjustment, leaped into his new life. Shawnee wasn’t a wild Western town but one with schools, churches, railroads, factories, banks, newspapers, clothing stores, sweet shops, nickelodeons and all signs of civilization. By the time he was 14, he was firmly involved in his new life.

Football at Shawnee High School was at the fledgling stage with only three or four games per season, and players had to provide their own equipment. Rascoe needed $18 for a football “costume,” which included moleskin pants, sweater and cleats. He and a teammate got jobs digging potatoes for 78 cents a day. When the crop was depleted, he had $30 to buy his sports gear before opening an account at the First National Bank with $10.

Seeing his father struggle to keep his saloon open, Rascoe went out on his own determined to support himself while attending SHS, where he was a class officer and editor of the paper. He took a job before school at the Carnegie Library starting the stove and sweeping up. Rascoe delivered the paper for the Shawnee Morning News but worked that job into being supervisor over all the other carriers. In October 1907, his first work was published when he won an edi-

Burton Rascoe got his start as a writer in Shawnee before moving to Chicago and New York publications.

Photo submitted

tor’s contest for the boys. Each had attended the circus then wrote about their impressions.

Rascoe loved books, so he gravitated to others who spoke his language, such as newspaper writers and Father Gregory from the nearby Catholic college. They would meet at the City Cafe to discuss Plato and Sophocles. He was soon elevated to reporter and an editorial writer at the paper, and at the library he agreed to ghostwrite speeches for “club women” for a nominal sum.

The teenage boy was soon supporting himself and living in his own rooms. In 1907, when Oklahoma became a state – bringing in prohibition – open saloons were closed down. His father and many others were charged with bootlegging when caught selling whiskey at Benson Park. The elder Rascoe traded their property in town and moved the family to a farm near Seminole.

Meanwhile, the younger Rascoe – with new clothes and money in his pocket – treated him-

self to a trip to Chicago. Once back home in the routine of school and work, he was drawn to the excitement and opportunity of the big city. So the 18-year-old left Shawnee before graduating high school and enrolled at the University of Chicago.

Classrooms proved too boring for him, so in a couple of years Rascoe dropped out and joined the staff of the Chicago Tribune. Before long he had worked up to the job of literary editor. He became well-known as a critic, and his writing had little regard for policies and politics.

Yet, he hadn’t forgotten where he got his start. In 1915, Rascoe traveled back to Shawnee for a visit with his wife and new baby. He had just moved from Chicago to New York to join the New York Tribune. He also had begun a career in a new form of writing, publishing several books including what some consider his most important work, “Titans of Literature” in 1932. “Before I Forget” published in 1936 chronicled his days in Shawnee.

Rascoe visited Shawnee in 1937 when he came to Oklahoma to speak at the state’s library association. A year later, he came to present the original manuscript of his four best-known books to Shawnee’s Carnegie Library. Making the gift, the former employee said he hoped to encourage young writers in his hometown who might think “the road from Oklahoma to national literary fame almost impassable.” Thrilled with the acquisition, librarian Trimmier Funk said the manuscripts would be available for inspection by interested visitors.

Rascoe also promised to send about 800 books from his personal library of 1,100 volumes. His wife and he were moving from their home in upstate New York to an apartment in New York City.

Rascoe died on March 19, 1957 at age 64. He was recognized as one of the most important journalists and critics of his time, and his work is still referenced by many. He was in Shawnee less than 10 years, but he often commented on how formative a time it was for him.

A literary giant called Shawnee his hometown. www.shawneeoutlook.com

21

St. Anthony Shawnee Physician Talks Usefulness of Fitness Trackers Fitness devices are on While 10,000 steps is a the rise as companies have great goal to strive for, it’s upgraded from the average definitely not a one size fits clip-on pedometer to gadall kind of goal. gets that calculate not only “Depending on an inthe steps you take but the dividual’s situation and miles you travel, the calochoice of activity, one may ries you burn, how much Dr. Braden Parmer need less or potentially you sleep and more. The list more than 10,000 steps in of advanced features could go on and one day to achieve the recommended on, but the real question is: how help- physical activity goals,” Parmer said. ful are these devices? Do they actually “Also keep in mind that the CDC help us meet our healthy goals? recommendations include muscle “The usefulness of fitness track- strengthening activities at least two ing devices depends upon the extent days a week, and these activities that they are being utilized,” said may not be captured in step counting.

Dr. Braden D. Parmer, family medi- However, any goal that’s set to moticine provider at St. Anthony Shawnee vate people to be more active is a good Physicians. “They can be great moti- goal in my opinion.” vational tools to encourage physical So, how do you go about finding the activity. They can also provide good right fitness tracker for you? feedback for users, helping them to “Someone shopping for a fitness modify their physical activity levels.” tracker may want to consider their In the fitness device world, 10,000 preferred activity,” Parmer said. “For steps is the magic number that every- example if someone is a swimmer, one should reach, but it’s not always then a device that is waterproof and made clear as to why. tracks laps in the pool would be the “The physical activity guidelines best fit whereas a cyclist might want put forth by the (Centers for Disease one with GPS capability that can track Control) recommend at least 30 min- their cycling,” Parmer said. utes of moderate-intensity aerobic Dr. Parmer’s office is located at St. activity at least five days a week. The Anthony Physicians Family Healthcare, 10,000-steps goal is roughly equiva- 3204 Medical Park Drive. To schedule lent to a total of 30 minutes of physi- an appointment, please call 405-878cal activity,” Parmer said.

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Future Tense: More Than Doughnuts

by Catherine Finch

Each month during the school year, “Future Tense” will feature student writers sharing something they enjoy about the community – whether they are temporary visitors to local universities or lifelong residents.

Community. We crave it. We create it. We cling to it.

As a senior at Oklahoma Baptist University, I look back at my time at OBU and realize community has been at the heart of my experience.

While OBU has been the place where my personal community has been fostered, my community reaches beyond the campus grounds and stretches into the city of Shawnee itself.

Taking Shawnee at face value, you would not label it a “college town.” While Shawnee does not have the same attractions as Norman or Stillwater, Shawnee offers more than what meets the eye.

For me – and countless other OBU students and faculty – community in Shawnee can be found no more than one minute away from campus.

Baker’s Dozen, a doughnut shop located at 2804 N. Kickapoo, is by far one of my favorite places in Shawnee. As soon as you walk into the shop, Nikki Uch – co-owner with her husband Van – will most likely greet you with a winning smile and ask how she can serve you. The shop has a wide layout with several big tables, which encourages sticking around to eat your doughnuts with your friends. My friends and I have made countless post-exam doughnut runs to Baker’s Dozen, relishing the taste of the doughnuts even more so than finishing an exam.

While community with my friends is fostered in the doughnut shop, Nikki goes beyond creating a place where friends enjoy hanging out and helps build a sense of community between OBU

OBU students gather for snacks and laughs at Baker’s Dozen doughnut shop around the corner from campus.

Photo by Catherine Finch

students and the city. Nikki goes beyond gracious host and takes an interest in you as a person – and not to get into your wallet.

As I have gotten to know Nikki, my appreciation for Baker’s Dozen has grown. Nikki and her husband not only own Baker’s Dozen, but also Giorgio’s Pizzeria at 1601 N. Harrison. While running both of these businesses takes an inordinate amount of energy, Nikki has told me, “You guys are my Red Bull.” Nikki thrives off of seeing her customers enjoy themselves and their fellow diners. When a large group of my friends and I wander through the doors of Baker’s Dozen, I know we will always stay to eat our doughnuts there, because we enjoy the atmosphere and Nikki’s company.

Amyy Schumer, an OBU student who works at Baker’s Dozen, witnesses the community connections in Baker’s Dozen from behind the scenes.

Encounters with GOD Richard Selzer (great surgeon and man of great faith) tells the story about what he could not do.

“I stand at the bed of woman whose face after surgery was twisted in palsy, and clownish. The cause, a tiny facial nerve that had to be severed during surgery. (In this life), she will be thus from now on. I had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh; I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had to cut the little nerve.

Her young husband is on the opposite side of the bed and together they seem to dwell in the soft light, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask, he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily?

“Baker’s Dozen is a business like I’ve never seen before. We care about our customers and our products. Mrs. Nikki is 100 percent about giving and kindness, and she is always encouraging us to give free doughnut holes and take care of our customers before anything else. Our customers are our family, and we hope to care for them as such.”

If you go to Baker’s Dozen, take the time to talk to Nikki. Seriously. I wish I had taken the time to meet and talk to her a lot sooner than I did. Baker’s Dozen is more than a place of sweet treats; Baker’s Dozen is a pivotal piece in the grand community puzzle of Shawnee. So, go grab a doughnut – or a dozen – and see for yourself why Baker’s Dozen is where I find my community in Shawnee.

Catherine Finch is senior communication studies major at Oklahoma Baptist University.

“Will my face always be like this?” she asks. “Yes.”, I say, “it will. The nerve had to be cut.” She nods and is silent. But then young man smiles, “I like it,” he says, “it is kind of cute.”

All at once I know who he is. I lower my gaze.

One is not bold in an encounter with a god.

Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth and I am so close I can see how twists his own lips to match hers, to show her that their kiss still works.”

The doctor was not bold in his encounter with this young man with the attributes of GOD. But the bride was - allowing him to twist his form to match hers and show her such great love.

Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son. . . . Blessed are all they put their TRUST in Him.

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23

Business Owner, Music Artist to Begin Local Film Production Next Month Michael Brendan doesn’t need much help staying busy.

He has been running his Shawnee-based business, MC Flooring, for about five years. He performs and records as a hip hop artist under the moniker M.i.C. on top of managing other artists through his Loud Nation Music enterprise.

Brendan said he also makes a point of helping his community as much as possible, such as organizing an annual stocking drive around Christmas to provide gifts for low-income children who might otherwise not receive anything for the holidays.

Now he’s adding movie producer to his list of titles.

The movie, “Broken,” will begin production in November in Shawnee if current schedules hold, said director Mark Williams, owner of the Oklahoma City-based Native Boy Productions.

Brendan began working on the script for “Broken” about four years ago, he said. The story revolves around Jordan, a Native American woman who moves back to her neighborhood known as 7th Circle after losing her dance scholarship at Butler University. Back home she reunites with lifelong friends who have fallen into bad company surrounding them in the neighborhood and encounters reminders from her childhood when her father went to prison.

The characters in the movie came to life in Brendan’s script directly from people he knew growing up in the neighborhood, he said. The original concept began in settings more traditional to cinematic depictions of Native American life as it took place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. As he began developing the characters, however, he started to realize the story needed to take place here because the community shapes who they become just as it did the real-life people on whom Brendan based them.

“Each of the characters is taken from somebody in my life,” Brendan said.

Williams said he agreed that moving from a reservation to a Native American community within Shawnee did more for the story.

“It’s better to get away from the cliches in film,” Brendan said. “A lot of her problems are universal.”

The pair also made other changes to the story to steer away from cultural norms perceived from outside the Native American community. For instance, Jordan’s passion and talent for dance causes her to be a little more self-conscious than if she had earned a scholarship as a talented basketball player. Brendan said many within Native 24

www.shawneeoutlook.com

by David Dinsmore

A makeup artist prepares lead actress Ashley D. Merritt for a scene shot earlier this year for the movie “Broken,” which was written and will be produced locally this fall by Native Boy Productions and Loud Nation Films.

Photo submitted

American communities highly regard athletic accomplishments, whereas more artistic talents and pursuit can receive more negative reaction.

As a result, Williams said he has seen many talented kids he grew up with or has known over the years push aside their abilities in order to keep from ridicule. Part of the motivation to produce the film is to show the strength gained by Jordan through her love of dance rather than something more highly regarded within her circle, such as sports talent.

Though they sought to stay clear of cliches, Brendan and Williams did not want to completely disregard all elements of the Native American cultures in which they were raised. One of the biggest reasons for Jordan’s dance pursuits comes from her experience as a jingle dancer at powwows, Brendan said. In this way, her heritage aided in the discovery of who she is and what she can do.

The decision to make the central character a woman was deliberate. Statistics show Native American women deal with domestic violence and other abuse at levels that are surprisingly high yet often not largely publicized like other minority statistics might be. Though it makes the subject matter of the film grittier, Brendan said it was important to him to tell the story from this perspective to put a face to these statistics, even if it is in fiction.

The close-to-life feel Brendan and Williams are seeking in the film has influenced a lot of decisions

from the writing to the cinematography, they said.

The crew – alongside award-winning director of photography Kyle Bell – will use handheld cameras to shoot the scenes to give a documentary style to the film that anchors the reality of the events that take place. The decision to shoot in November’s cold landscape will help reflect some of the bleak and stark feel of the challenges the characters must face.

“Nothing feels warm about these characters and what Jordan is going through,” Williams said.

Jordan’s desire to stay above all of the negative influences in her neighborhood and circle of friends might be a struggle, but it is one that Brendan and people who are now growing up like he did will recognize, he said. As a business owner, musical artist, manager and now film producer, Brendan said he would like the story and his ability to get it to the screen to show kids that there is a reason to push through all the bad and work hard to move beyond their circumstances.

The film currently has an active campaign on the website, Indiegogo, Williams said. Through this, donors can help bring the movie to life and also receive the chance to be a part of the film onand off-screen.

“We’re looking forward to putting a great film out there that Shawnee can be proud of,” Brendan said.

For more information and to view a trailer for the film, visit brokenthemovie.org.

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MENTAL HEALTH

Understand the Difference Between Habit, Obsession Some people occasionally think they are OCD – which stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder – because they repeat certain actions or behaviors, but there is a difference in repetition and this condition.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a “common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.”

These symptoms can manifest as a combination of obsessions, compulsions or both. The thoughts and behaviors associated with this disorder might impact a person’s work, school and personal relationships.

One half of the disorder comes in the form of repeated thoughts, urges or mental images that cause anxiety, such as a fear of germs or contamination; unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts; or aggressive thoughts towards others or self. The other component of obsessive-compulsive disorder has a bearing on the behaviors derived from an obsessive thought, such as excessive cleaning or hand washing; ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way; repeatedly checking to make sure tasks have been accomplished like the door being locked or the oven being off.

It’s important to understand that not all rituals or habits are compulsions, as it is natural for most people to verify tasks or list items are complete.

It crosses over into the realm of OCD – which affects more than 200,000 people per year – when people can’t control thoughts or behaviors that they recognize as excessive and spend at least one hour a day on focusing on them. Even when they perform the behaviors, those with the disorder might only experience a brief relief from anxiety and recognize significant problems in their daily life caused by these thoughts or behaviors.

It’s common for those with OCD to also have a tic dis-

WELCOME HOME

by Cindy Stober

order, which can show up in motor and vocal functions.

Motor tics cause sudden, repetitive movements like eye blinking and movements, facial grimacing, shrugging and head or shoulder jerking. Common vocal tics include repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing or grunting sounds.

Symptoms manifest differently in individuals as they could come and go, ease over time or worsen, and people find different ways of coping with them. Those with OCD might avoid situations that cause their obsessions to surface, or they might turn to substances like alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.

Often adults with OCD can see that their obsessive thoughts or resulting compulsions don’t make sense, but most children – and a few adults – might require the attentiveness of a parent, teacher or caretaker to recognize that their behavior is out of the ordinary.

Treatments for OCD can include the use of medications, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. Most patients respond to treatment, but there are also patients who might continue experiencing symptoms. This is especially true if other mental disorders are compounding the issues leading to OCD, such as anxiety, depression or body dysmorphic disorder – in which a person believes that a part of their body is abnormal.

Those concerned they might be dealing with OCD should consult their physician about their symptoms as the disorder does require a medical diagnosis for treatment. If left untreated, OCD can interfere in all aspects of life.

For general information on mental health and to locate treatment services, check out the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at https://ok.gov/odmhsas or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

For local help, contact Gateway to Prevention and Recovery 405-273-1170 for information and referral.

Cindy Stober has been working in the behavioral health and addiction treatment field for over 15 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor and is the Clinical Director for Gateway to Prevention and Recovery in Shawnee, Stillwater, Chandler and Seminole. She is a Nationally Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor II and has been providing services for problem gamblers and their families for over 10 years. Cindy is active in her professional development and is a graduate of the National Council for Behavioral Health Leadership Program.

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The American Experience: On the Hardwood

by Jamie Bergsten

Shawnee’s two universities, Oklahoma Baptist and St. Gregory’s, have become increasingly popular with international students in recent years. These young people have left exotic foreign locales to relocate to Oklahoma, and here’s why.

On a world map, just south of India, there is a small dot – an island – that’s home to 22 million people. Known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” Sri Lanka is a blend of cultures, languages and races dating back more than 2,500 years. That history is influenced primarily by Buddhism and Hinduism but claims a democratic tradition as well.

Sri Lanka is also home to Swaranga Fernando, a new member of the St. Gregory’s University basketball team who is thrilled to be in America chasing her dream. When people ask Fernando what made her decide to attend school in Shawnee, her response is always, “It was God’s plan.”

As a high school senior in 2014 – about to play in an international tournament in Jordan – she was a skills demonstrator at a coaches camp. A U.S. scout who worked for the International Basketball Federation was the keynote speaker, and he was impressed with her abilities, Fernando said. He recommended her to the coaching staff at Tyler Junior College in Texas, and an unprecedented event occurred.

“I’d never thought of coming to the U.S. to play basketball,” Fernando said. “My sister was studying here at the time, but in my mind I was only thinking about a college education. I was the first Sri Lankan – male or female – to attend a U.S. college on a full basketball scholarship. Being in contact with scouts and traveling to play college ball were alien words not only for me but also for many youngsters in my country. That’s why I say this was God’s plan. My being here has broken barriers for other Sri Lankan players to come here too.”

Fernando spent one year at Tyler before transferring to Louisiana State University-Eunice. Now a junior, she looks forward to playing for coach Jenone Bell at St. Gregory’s this season. Of her three American schools, Fernando said that she enrolled at each sight-unseen.

“I just packed my bags and went,” she said laughing.

Fernando said there have been plenty of benefits along her journey.

“I love to see different cultures and get to know people,” she said. “The best part about living here is meeting new people, traveling to different states to play games and tasting different cuisines. So far, I’ve been able to meet people of different ethnicities, social backgrounds and cultures. Being here

Swaranga Fernando will bring her skills from the island nation of Sri Lanka to the St. Gregory University women’s basketball team.

Photo by Jamie Bergsten

has opened my eyes to worlds that I wouldn’t have ever thought existed. It’s been a great learning curve and experience.”

Being so far away from home has downsides too.

“The hardest part is living away from my parents and sister,” Fernando said. “Our family is close-knit, and even though I’d traveled to different countries for basketball purposes, I’d never lived away from my parents for long. Thank God for advancements in technology; I get to speak to them every day.”

Her sister is currently a student at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth where she’s a member of the basketball team as well, Fernando said.

Her father – a former player himself – has had a major role in her career. He’s a retired aeronautical engineer for the Sri Lankan Air Force and now serves as the head men’s basketball coach for Sri Lanka’s Army team.

“Having a father who played the sport and coached it, it’s not a surprise that my sister and I ran around the court, dribbling aimlessly, until he got done with coaching,” Fernando said. “I don’t remember exactly when I started playing, but I joined my school team at age 11.”

Fernando also had the opportunity to play for the Sri Lankan National Youth Team and toured China, Spain and Jordan participating in FIBA championship tournaments through the years.

A standout track athlete during high school, she said she was a sprinter and long jumper as well.

The Cavalier family has made a great impression on this newcomer so far.

“I’m getting to know people, and this is like my second home,” Fernando said. “The people are very friendly and make sure that all students and staff are happy. From the top of the organization to the bottom, people care about each other.”

Growing up, Fernando attended the only private Catholic school in Sri Lanka, so she said she finds it endearing that many SGU employees say the university feels like home to them as well.

Even with so many accomplishments, there are still a few Fernando said she would like to fulfill.

“I want to play for an NCAA Division I school next year if I get the chance,” she said. “I’d also like to represent Sri Lanka by playing for the national women’s team.”

Already a standout student, Fernando has big plans after basketball as well.

“I want to take back home what I’ve learned from this great country and share my knowledge with my people,” she said. “I’ve been greatly blessed to be able to play basketball at the college level in the U.S., and that’s a rare opportunity.

There are many youngsters in my country that I know are craving to improve their game and can benefit from my experience. I want to conduct a basketball academy for kids so I can help them develop their skills and knowledge of the game.

“I’ve learned many things, not only athletically but also academically. My dream is to become a CPA and join one of the ‘big four’ accounting firms in the world. As people say, America is indeed the ‘land of opportunity,’ and I’m proud to say I’m one of the many who’ve been blessed to experience it.” www.shawneeoutlook.com

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ART GUIDE

October Arts Events St. Gregory’s University will kick off its theater season with “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. Productions will run Oct. 5-8.

Tickets will be available at the door.

Information: stgregorys.edu.

The net benefit Oklahoma CareerTech graduates add to the state’s economy.

Shop the Friends of the Library Book Sale Oct. 5-7 at the Shawnee branch of the Pioneer Library System at 101 N. Philadelphia. Thousands of books will be selling from 50 cents to $1. Information: pioneer. libnet.info.

The Friends of the Mabee Gerrer Museum of Art will present a lecture and reception for the exhibit, “Women’s Point of View,” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6. The exhibit focuses on the female perspective of a male-dominated society by young women from Saudi Arabia. Information: mgmoa.org/ calendar.

Studio 112 and a Half will celebrate its one-year anniversary by partnering with St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital for the “Breast Cancer Warrior” art show. The show will open at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 with an artist reception and a breast cancer awareness presentation by St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital. The show will feature artwork by cancer survivors Ellen Fausek and Bonnie Knippenberg. Hospice nurse Gay Pasley will also have works in the exhibit.

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$

Personal income generates state revenue: community investments, first-time homebuyers and leisure spending lead to a more viable economy. Oklahoma’s highly skilled workforce has grown, too. Health care professionals, electricians, web designers,

MILLION

network security technicians, CAD drafters and welders - they’re all vital for a sustainable Oklahoma.

X1,000,000

The total value of 1,901 contracts the Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network has helped 800 Oklahoma companies secure.

But these developments aren’t going to build themselves. It takes a skilled workforce to bring big ideas to life, and Oklahoma’s new construction and economic development projects are no different. Graphic designers, fabricators, welders, crane operators, masons, hospitality and restaurant professionals, engineers — they’re all needed to build a business structure from the ground up. But we aren’t just building buildings; new infrastructure, a diversified economy,WWW.GCTECH.EDU and power for Oklahoma’s economic engine | 405.273.7493

Shawnee Little Theater auditions for “Lion in the Winter” will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 8-9. Information: shawneelittletheatre.com.

Art class “Landscapes” with Jude Delaney will be offered Oct. 10-Nov. 7 for children ages 7-18 at Mabee Gerrer Museum of Art. Registration required: mgmoa.org/after-schoolart-class.

Country music superstar Charley Pride will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Firelake Grand Casino’s event center. Tickets: grandboxoffice.com.

Take the family out to Boo on Bell Oct. 19-21 to enjoy the annual Halloween festival. There will be live music, vendors, carnival and trick-or-treat for the children. Information: https://sseffshawnee.org/ events/boo-on-bell.

OBU’s Preparatory Department is accepting spring enrollment forms, with early enrollment due on Oct. 20.

Information regarding music lessons: https://www.okbu.edu/fine-arts/music/preparatory-department.

Homecoming at OBU will include several events that are open to the public, including the Fine Arts Showcase at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 and Art on the Hill at 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. Information: https://www.okbu. edu/calendar.

Enjoy some spooky fun at OBU Theatre’s production of “The Addams Family.” Shows will run Oct. 26-Nov. 5. Tickets: https://www.okbu.edu/ fine-arts/theatre.

Join the St. Gregory’s University community for “Solstice,” the opening dance recital for the academic year. Performances will be Oct. 2729 in Sarkey’s Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be available at the door. Information: stgregorys.edu.

The OBU English Department Reading Series is hosting horror novelist Andy Davidson at 7 p.m. Oct. 30.

The reading will be held in Geiger Center room 212 and is open to the public. Information: https://www.okbu. edu/humanities/language-literature/ visiting-writer-seminars/index.html.

are all part of the blueprint.

POWERING OKLAHOMA’S ECONOMY.

OKCAREERTECH.ORG | 405.377.2000 | 800.522.5810

* “Cost-Benefit Analysis of CareerTech Careers Majors” – Lifetime Income Gains and the Impact on the Oklahoma Economy.

A study prepared by Mark C. Snead, Ph.D., March 2013. Okcareertech.org/about/intiatives/elevating-oklahoma.

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www.shawneeoutlook.com

Thresa Swadley is a freelance cellist/teacher who has been active in the Shawnee Arts Community for 20 years. She is a member of the OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra and is a Suzuki-certified cello teacher. Please contact her if you know of an upcoming arts event. Email: tswadley@sbcglobal.net.

A SPACE

for Health & Healing

St. Anthony Shawnee Women’s Center The second floor of the St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital’s new West Tower houses the Women’s Center. This state-of-the-art facility includes six labor and delivery rooms, 18 private postpartum suites and a secure nursery equipped for babies in need of special care. Patients will find comfort in large rooms featuring flat-screen televisions, bathrooms, and wide windows.

Delivering more than 800 babies every year, the staff and physicians of St. Anthony Shawnee are blessed to grow with your family.

1102 W. MacArthur in Shawnee stanthonyshawnee.com

FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR WOMEN’S SERVICES PHYSICIANS, CALL 405-273-5801.

Paul Jennings, MD • Elise Slaybaugh, MD • Darin C. Sparkman, MD • Stephen Trotter, MD • Shannon Plumb, PA-C • Jessica Strong, APRN

www.shawneeoutlook.com

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