June 2023

JUDGE JOHN MICHAEL

1n 1999 he helped start the Garfield County Specialty/Drug Court which has seen hundreds of successful graduates get their lives back on track and become excellent contributors to society. He continues to volunteer his time as the Drug Court Judge in retirement and takes great pleasure in its success.

Judy Helberg, former Specialty/Drug Court Coordinator said “I could write forever on what Judge Michael has done for Specialty Drug Court. He always has the hard job of keeping clients in line, and it’s not always easy. He listens, is patient, and tries to understand all sides to a situation. Clients finishing the program often say he was always fair and respected him to the fullest. Judge Michael has always looked at Specialty Court as something God has called him to do, and helping people change their lives by getting employment, education and in some cases reuniting families that have been affected by addiction is all the satisfaction he needs for the job.”

John Michael was born in Ada to a preacher at the Christian church. In 3rd grade he moved to Cherokee, then to Pond Creek in 11th grade. For college, John attended Phillips University and East Central before graduating with his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State. Desiring to be a lawyer, he attended the Oklahoma University School of Law, graduating with a juris doctorate in 1971. John was in private practice in Medford before running for Associate District Judge in Grant County. In 1985 he was appointed District Judge in Garfield County where he remained until his retirement in 2005. He was so well respected that he faced only one contested election in over 30 years on the bench.

The current Specialty Court Coordinator, Kara Savage, said “Judge Michael has had an immense impact on this community over the last 20 years, one graduate at a time. He is passionate about the success of each participant and remains persistent so that each one of them end up a productive citizen of society.”

Judge Michael lives with his wife Cheri, with whom he has one adult son, Johnie. He also has two other sons, Seth and Drew from a previous marriage and 4 grandchildren.

For Judge Michael’s honorable service to the community, he is a true “Local Legend.”

Whew! What a great last few months it was. By the time you are reading this, we have held our 2nd annual Best of Enid Awards Show and announced winners in 50 categories from all over our fair town. We really appreciate all those that voted, sponsored, participated, attended and hope to do it again next year! Check out July issue for a great rundown of the event and all the winners!

As for June, schools out – except for some kids who will enjoy the events described in this month’s cover story. I attended many a VBS in my day, and will always remember the fun times I had learning about Christ and the Bible. So here’s to the volunteers that make it happen every summer at all kinds of churches in our communities.

Happy Summer everyone!

Robert Faulk Editor

BY C A ITLYNDECKER

Back to SChool... in

For some, summer means vacation; for others, summer means life is just heating up between summer leagues, games and various activities and still for others summer is a time to look forward to going back to school—vacation Bible school!

Although school is usually the last thing on anyone’s mind and certainly any child’s mind of things hoped for, Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a time that youth, teens and adults of all ages look forward to for a time of games and entertainment, food and fellowship and an opportunity to learn truth and insights beyond anything out of a textbook.

While many churches in the Enid community offer vacation Bible schools and similar programs both in and out of the school season, six churches in particular invite you to an inside look at what their VBS 2023 plans hold and further invite you to come, have fun and be a part of them!

OAKWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The Oakwood Christian Church invites area youth going into kindergarten through those who have completed fifth grade to go on a galactic adventure during their four day VBS program themed, “Christ the Lordian.”

The VBS program will be July 24 through the 27 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the church, but youth should be prepared to be transported to another place far, far away to ride ships through the

galaxy, meet new and familiar characters and learn stories of God’s protection over various people in the Bible from a time long ago.

The Star Wars themed adventure will navigate through a series of lessons created by children’s minister Corey Briix using games, hands-on activities and props designed by Briix and some of the approximately 300 volunteers who come together every year to

make VBS special and something to remember. This year, interactive props and games have been designed with the help of local pilots to give youth a hands-on experience while pointing them to see “Jesus is the Way” both long ago and now, for characters of the Bible and for us today.

Briix said that Oakwood Christian welcomes any youth within the age range to come and experience the adventure, hoping that they will have fun, hear about Jesus and hopefully see him through the VBS adventure and in real life through the volunteers and staff.

Crosspoint Church

Taking another step back in time toward castles, knights and medieval quests, Crosspoint Church invites youth ages 4 to those who have just completed fifth grade to explore deeper insights behind each part of the armor of God while discovering what they believe and why in this year’s VBS program themed, “Keepers of the Kingdom: Standing Strong in Today’s Battle for Truth.”

July 9 through 13 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm youth will be engaged by captivating dramas hosted by high school youth from the Enid community that weave a medieval story to introduce some of the truth unlocked each day. Each day focuses on a different part of

the armor of God where youth will discover it isn’t mere metal or a fairytale, but provides truth they can be equipped with to take with them. In addition to the dramas, there will be themed songs, crafts and games as part of the action planned to make the adventure come to life for everyone as well as a night to collect an offering for a missions organization.

Hayley Abbott, director of children’s ministry at Crosspoint, says she personally is excited to teach over the armor of God and use the curriculum of the VBS which the church has used for years due to its Biblical accuracy and unhindered truth. Abbott said she feels it’s very important for children to feel welcome and when they come for them to have fun, but most importantly hear the truth of Jesus. She further encourages any youth both in and out of church within the age range to join Crosspoint this summer in their VBS quest through medieval times with timeless truths by signing up on the church website or contacting her with any questions at children@crosspointenid.com.

World Harvest Church

Colorful characters, action-packed adventures and exciting insights from Scripture await for those ages 4 to 11 at World Harvest Church this summer for their Lego-themed VBS adventure titled, “Build.”

Each day of July 17 through 21 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm youth will build their faith while disassembling a Lego character to find Scripture and truth hidden within each part that they can apply to their lives. This hands-on VBS includes live skits, live worship, games and more for an interactive experience youth can get into while learning to construct their faith on Scripture and truth. Taking the adventure a step further, the final day is allotted as a family night where families of the youth are welcomed to come watch a recap of the week, enjoy food and fellowship with bounce houses, a dunk tank and activities for both youth and the whole family to have fun and spend time together.

Chelsea Singleton, children’s director at World Harvest, says the program has been over a year in the making to provide youth both an epic, exciting adventure and place to learn and really think, showing the need to build their lives on the solid rock of Jesus. She encourages youth and families to mark their calendars for this constructive VBS and prepare to be engaged on a great adventure that the whole family can be a part of.

First Baptist

From slips and slides to colorful moves and strategic plays, First Baptist Church of Enid invites youth of the Enid area who have completed pre-K through fifth grade to level up and see how Jesus guides them through all directions of life while having fun on the move through its game themed VBS program, “Twists and Turns: Following Jesus Changes the Game.”

For four days July 9 through the 13 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm youth will be welcomed for a meal before starting around the board on a rotation of music, recreation, Bible stories and activities that maneuver them on an interactive adventure centered on Psalm 25:4 to see how Jesus can guide them through their own twists and turns in life beyond the finish line of VBS. The end of VBS is not the end of the fun though. Every member of the family is in mind and invited to be taken to another level for a family day July 16 to have fun, share a meal, see and hear highlights of the VBS and see their youth participate in some of the activities from the week so no one misses out!

Dakota Unruh, worship and communications pastor, says the church is eager and in prayer to teach youth through Scripture and keep Scripture as the central part of the VBS from the fun and games to the lessons to teach youth genuine truth from it and hopefully be reflections of that as well in how they serve.

Jonathan Gilliland, lead pastor at First Baptist, says the church is excited to teach the next generation about Jesus while connecting with them and their families to get to know them, and he invites anyone to check out VBS and bring their youth within the age range for the truth, fellowship, fun and games happening at First Baptist this summer.

Emmanuel Enid

For those eager to get out and move, Emmanuel Enid opens its doors and floors to those who have completed pre-K through fifth grade for its interactive, hands-on VBS, “Ready, Set, Move! Follow Jesus Wherever He Goes.”

Every morning July 10 through the 14 from 8:30 am to noon, youth are invited to bring their enthusiastic energy, smooth moves

as well as real thinking caps to engage in creative arts and crafts, motion-inspired songs, fast-paced games and vivid Bible stories told and displayed by characters that present the Scripture for each day and challenge youth to go further with it. Every step along the way there is a short time following to dive into the questions of why youth are doing what they’re doing to allow youth to really think and find deeper purpose founded in Scripture while also having a blast.

Lori Westfall, children’s pastor at Emmanuel, welcomes any and all youth within the age range to get ready for the action by registering on the church website, set their calendars and go to Emmanuel to have fun and grow! Westfall says the goal is to spread the Gospel and to help kids to truly know God better whether they don’t know him and are willing to come or do and can grow even more in that. Youth of all backgrounds are welcome and eagerly invited to get ready, be set and come move!

Grace Mennonite Church

It’s a fun time! It’s a time to learn about Jesus! It’s a fantastic, superhero themed VBS from Grace Mennonite Church for any and all

youth ages 5 to those who have completed 5th grade to embark on and find the best of both worlds.

June 26 through the 30 from 6 pm to 8:10 pm youth will be a part of episodes of action as they take on large group music sessions, two daily teaching sessions of Bible stories and missions, crafts and hands-on activities to flex their skills and knowledge of God to new limits and find that He is greater than any superhero of the comic strips or movies. Volunteers of the church and community come together to present this action-packed and fast-paced adventure that keeps the hands and feet as well as the minds of its partakers active and in motion to give a high-quality experience where youth can have fun while also learn more about an infinite God who is both incomparably powerful and perfectly loving.

Mike Sommerfeld, pastor at Grace Mennonite, says the church sees VBS as a success and something to celebrate when they see youth really realizing who Jesus is and coming to know him personally which is the goal of the VBS program. Sommerfeld encourages anyone to call with any questions they may have whether about the VBS or volunteering, and for either way to prepare to come on an adventure with Grace Mennonite Church to see and learn more of a God who is better than any superhero of our time.

With so many and many other VBS programs going on in the Enid area, the only challenge is to decide which one to sign up for and partake in! For many families the question may be posed: why choose just one? With different dates and themes, youth can go on multiple adventures this summer with committed volunteers and staff to have a blast while learning truth and insights to equip them as they step out of the VBS adventure and into their real lives.

Some churches may appreciate an RSVP or sign up which may be wise to ask as the days of their program draw closer, but for all churches the heart and goal is to have their doors open to give youth a place to come, have fun and learn, keeping the welcome sign foremost which always says the more the merrier and is an open door for people to come as they are.

Volunteers and staff within the church often work unseen long hours (and sometimes nights!) to bring the VBS together—creating décor and props, rehearsing skit lines, reviewing material and more—to give every youth who walks through the door the best experience they could have, so while they don’t ask for a thank you, they certainly deserve one or at least respectful participation with this in mind by those who do attend. However, whether regularly attending a church already, new to the area or not one for church on Sunday, families of all backgrounds and experiences are invited and eagerly welcomed to bring their youth for VBS to get plugged in to the community, give youth an experience they will not forget and one that just may impact their life.

Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

Children's Book Review The Wild Robot Escapes

Author: Peter Brown

Published in 2018, The Wild Robot Escapes is the second book in the Wild Robot series by author Peter Brown. It is a middle grade book that comes in at right under 300 pages. The story continues with Roz, the robot, as she is sent to live and work on a farm. Don’t worry, there is enough of a recap in the first chapters that you’ll be fine if it’s been awhile since you read the prior book.

Roz has been repaired from her injuries sustained on the island, and she is sent to Hilltop Farm to help Mr. Shareef and his two children with their tasks. Roz befriends the cows and other animals and fixes up all the old, rusty farm equipment too. Everyone treats her well, but she knows deep

down that she’s not herself, that she’s not with her son, Brightbill, and that she’s not home. What she yearns for the most is to be reunited with her son and for them to return to their island. When the opportunity finally arises for the two, they must face obstacle after obstacle to find their way. They have to fend off a persistent wolf, survive a group of hunters, climb over a steep rocky slope, fight violent ocean waves, and more.

The Wild Robot Escapes, like the first book, has a lot of chapters, most just one or two pages long. It can make for easier reading for children, but it also makes the story feel a little choppy. But regardless, Roz and Brightbill are fantastic characters, full of love and kindness and bravery. The third book in the series is due out in September of this year, so there’s still time to catch up if you need to. While kiddos are sitting in wheat combines this June going back and forth and round and round, they can enjoy reading about Roz’s experience with the animals and machines on her farm.

Adult Book Review

Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

In the Lives of Puppets

Author: TJ Klune

In the Lives of Puppets is the latest release from author TJ Klune, well known for his two prior books, The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. Like the others, In the Lives of Puppets is classified as contemporary fantasy, but with an abundant amount of humor thrown in too. The book is billed as Pinocchio meets Wall-E meets Wizard of Oz, with a little bit of Swiss Family Robinson as well. In the Lives of Puppets is not quite as polished as Klune’s others, but what is lacking in the plot is made up for by the wonderful cast of characters.

Giovanni was once an inventor for the Authority, but then miraculously escaped and has remained undetected for years. He lives in his series of treehouses now with his son, Victor; a sarcastic, sadistic robot, Nurse Ratched; and an anxiety-ridden vacuum, Rambo. The latter three think they are doing something kind when they find a decommissioned robot and power him back up, but it alerts the Authority to their location – and they come take Gio away. Victor, Nurse Ratched, Rambo, and Hap, the new addition, must cross thousands of miles to get to the City

of Electric Dreams to save him. But can they overcome the numerous obstacles – getting kidnapped by a traveling curio museum, avoiding detection by the human-destroying HARP, and most importantly, getting Gio to even remember them again?

In the Lives of Puppets has similar themes as the other books – love, hope, bravery, family – and if you’re already a Klune fan, you’ll certainly enjoy his unique mix of charming and wacky in this one. If you’re looking to read your first book by the author, though, The House in the Cerulean Sea is probably a better starting point. While it falls a little short compared to the others, In the Lives of Puppets is still hilarious and heartwarming and entertaining.

Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of In the Lives of Puppets today!

EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU

ON Wellness News from

Keeping Up With Your Prostate Health Can Save Your Life

Get to know the simple ways that you can stay a step ahead of this dangerous cancer. Dr. Casey Cochran, DO, provides some useful information.

What purpose does the prostate serve?

It’s out of sight and usually out of mind, but the prostate – the walnut-sized gland that sits between the bladder and the penis, in front of the rectum, in men – cannot be ignored. It produces a fluid that is important in male fertility, as well as another fluid that lubricates the spinal cord. In addition, urine passes through the urethra, which goes through the prostate. If there is an issue with the prostate, such as prostate cancer, it can affect a man’s health, self-image and lifestyle.

How common is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 out of every 100 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, and on average three of those men will die because of it.

How do you get screened for prostate cancer?

Even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms, all men 55 to 69 years old should talk to their doctor about getting routinely screened. Men who are 70 and older generally can skip routine screenings.

Fortunately, prostate cancer can be detected early with simple testing, including a rectal exam by the physician or a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This simple blood test is commonly used to measure the blood level of a protein (called PSA) that is created in the prostate. The test can be performed in the office by a primary care doctor or urologist. It’s recommended to get tested annually.

Is there a genetic component to prostate cancer?

African American men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it. Prostate cancer can also be triggered by genetic factors such as family health history. If one or more immediate family members have had prostate cancer, you should mention it to your doctor.

What are some symptoms of prostate cancer?

• Difficulty urinating

• Frequent urination

• Blood in urine or semen

• Painful or burning urination

• Trouble emptying bladder

• Painful ejaculation

• Pain in back, hips and/or pelvis

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician immediately.

Are there ways to lower your risk of developing prostate cancer?

There are proven strategies and behaviors to lessen your risk of cancer in general. They include:

• Lower alcohol consumption (or stop altogether). Drinking alcohol increases your risk of several types of cancer. It also impacts your sleep, mental health, skin, energy levels and weight. Men are recommended to keep consumption to two drinks daily (one for women).

• Get moving. Around 40% of all cancers can be associated with being overweight or obese. Regular physical activity can improve your brain health, strengthen bones and muscles, improve your sleep, lower stress and even lower blood pressure, to name a few benefits.

• Protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can be extremely harmful to your skin. Wear SPF, protective clothing/gear (hat, sleeves, sunglasses) and stay out of the direct sun when you can.

• Eat colorfully. In general, eating healthily allows your body to function at its best potential. Limiting sugar intake has a number of benefits. It reduces the risk of disease, lowers risk of depression and aids in weight management, and more. Fill your plate with brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and steer clear from overly processed snacks.

“Early detection of prostate cancer can lead to successful treatment,” added Dr. Cochran. “It’s best to detect prostate cancer through screening when there are no symptoms or when they are at an early stage, when it is highly treatable.”

You can take steps to stay healthy and live a long life for yourself and your family. We’re here to help!

Dr. Casey Cochran, DO

BYSOP H I A FAULK

National Best Friend Day Teen SCENE

The main quality I look for when choosing friends is being hilarious. If you are not funny then I don’t know how we could be friends!! Me and my friends are always laughing at some point which can really bring you up if you’re feeling down on yourself. I think a lot more teens need to find better friends for themselves because you ARE your friends. If they are doing something they shouldn’t be doing then it’s going to put a bad look on YOU. This occurs a lot in high school friend groups and I wish some people would try to better themselves by finding new friends.

Hey y’all, and welcome to the June Teen Scene article in Enid Monthly. Congrats on making it halfway through 2023!! June 8th is National Best Friend Day so this month I’m going to tell you all about my best friends and what I look for in friends. Let’s go!!

My first best friend was Mallie. We’ve known each other since pre-k but became really close in the 5th grade. She is one of the funniest girls I know and never fails to put a smile on my face. Even though she can be a little slow at times I love her so much and couldn’t ask for anyone better. During cross country season Mallie started being friends with a girl named Maritza, they instantly clicked. Since I was always with Mallie I started to get to know Maritza and we also became close and now our Trio is unbreakable. One of my favorite memories with them is when we had our first sleepover together, we stayed up till 6 in the morning just talking.

This year I took Speech and Debate and I didn’t really have any friends or know anyone in that class. I started talking to this girl named Aspen and we instantly became friends. We started hanging out more at tournaments and talking all the time during class. She had a love for running so she asked me about the track team and I gave her a little push to join and after she did we became besties. At every track meet it would always be me and her together unless one of us was running. She even got me to teach her how to play tennis!! One of my favorite memories with Aspen is whenever we took funny pictures in the 5th hour using the panoramic setting on our camera and made each other look so dumb.

Being a good friend to others is also very important because you never know what they could be going through. Even if it's simple it's always important to let someone know you are there for them when they think no one else is. If you see someone having a bad day don’t be rude, just mind your own business or ask them what's wrong. When I notice one of my best friends is down on themselves I always try to make them laugh and cheer them up so maybe you should try it too!!

Thank you for reading this month's article, I hope you enjoyed it!! I would love to hear about your best friends so email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com also if you have any comment, questions or ideas for upcoming articles let me know there too! I hope you all have a wonderful June and a Happy Fathers Day. Bye for now!!

JUNE 1–31

10 am–5 pm

Tuesday–Saturday

Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St)

JUNE 1–JUNE 3

NJCAA Division II World Series

David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

JUNE 1

6 pm

Trivia

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 2

6–9 pm

First Friday: Tunes in June Downtown Enid

7 pm

Live Music: Stacey Sanders

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

7 pm

Extreme Dwarfanators Wrestling

Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)

Enid's Enid's E-vents E-ventsE-vents

June Events

JUNE 3

10 am–2 pm

Garden Festival

Garfield County OSU Extension Center (316 E. Oxford)

11 am–3 pm

History Alive!

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.)

Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893

5 pm

Homes School Outreach Program

Kickoff to Summer Luau

Meadowlake Park (1200 W. Rupe)

7 pm

Live Music: The ReVolt

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

7:30 pm

Auto Racing: Sooner Late Models

Enid Speedway (312 E. Oxford)

8 pm

Live Music: Fortunate Soul Moose Lodge (302 E. Purdue)

JUNE 4

9 pm

Karaoke

RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 6

6 pm

Singo!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 7–11

Connie Mack State Baseball Tournament

David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

32 teams compete for one berth in the Connie Mack World Series.

JUNE 7

9 pm

Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 8

6 pm

Trivia

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 9

7 pm

CDSA Wine Tour

Non-Profit Center (114 S. Independence)

Wine and Food from the USA, France, Greece, the Marshall Islands and Belgium.

7 pm

Live Music: Greg Demyon

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

7–9 pm

Live Music: Museum after Dark — Village Sounds

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St)

JUNE 10

9 am–12 pm

Enid Cars & Coffee

Blazes BBQ (1002 W. Willow)

10:30 (Registration)

C.H.R.O.M.E. Poker Run Elks Lodge (520 W. Oxford)

7 pm

Live Music: Lane Haas

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

7 pm

Comedy Night RED (302 E. Maple)

8 pm

Live Music: Dually Noted

Moose Lodge (302 E. Purdue)

JUNE 11

9 pm

Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 13–17

Summer Chautauqua

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.)

American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1. Characters include Pearl Carter, Rose Cousins, Amelia Earhart, Jackie Cochran and Chuck Yeager.

JUNE 13

6 pm

Singo!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 14

9 pm

Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)

If you would like a free listing for your event, please email robert@enidmonthly.com by the 5th of the month PRIOR to your event! Events are as accurate as possible as of print date. Please see VisitEnid.org for any updates/changes.

JUNE 15

6 pm

Trivia

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 16–17

7–11:30 pm

Car Cruise

Van Buren

Join car enthusiasts as they show off their cars to crowds of visitors who bring lawn chairs and blankets and line Van Buren to watch all the vehicles cruise by.

JUNE 16

7 pm

Live Music: Lane Haas

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 17

7:30–10 am

Woodring Regional Airport

Breakfast Fly-In

Woodring Regional Airport (1026 S. 66th)

11 am–3 pm

History Alive!

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.)

Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893

5–8 pm

Van Buren Cruisers Car Show

Central Christian Church (1111 W. Broadway)

7 pm

Live Music: Sean Thane

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

9 pm

Juneteenth Party RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 18 9 pm

Karaoke

RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 20 6 pm

Singo!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 21 9 pm

Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 22–24

Phillips University Alumni Reunion

NOC–Enid (2929 E. Randolph)

JUNE 23

7 pm

Live Music: TBD

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 24

8 am

2023 Mud Volleyball & BBQ

CW Scooters (3630 N Van Buren)

6 pm

Doug Thompson Hypnosis

Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence)

Doug Thompson combines hypnosis and comedy to create a one-of-a-kind show!

7 pm

Live Music: TBD

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

9 pm

Pride Rave

RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 25

6–8 pm

Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat Races

Champlin Pool (400 W. Cherokee)

9 pm

Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 22 6 pm

Trivia

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 23–24

7:30 pm

Live Theater: Savage in Limbo Gaslight Theatre (221 N. Independence)

JUNE 27

6 pm

Singo!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 28

9 pm

Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)

JUNE 29

6 pm

Trivia

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

JUNE 30–JULY 1

7:30 pm

Live Theater: Savage in Limbo Gaslight Theatre (221 N. Independence)

JUNE 30

7 pm

Live Music: Rocky Kanaga

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

BYDALE N MCVAY

THE LAW OF THE Land Shed Hunting – A Family Affair

Welcome to Summer, Okie friends! Hope y’all we able to bag a big ole’ Tom turkey this Spring. Don’t fish? Whatever shall you do between Turkey season and Dove season? While I like to fish and predator hunt, if those things aren’t for you but you are itchin’ to get outside try shed hunting!

If you aren’t familiar, shed hunting is exactly what it describes: “hunting” for sheds of antlers of deer. Typically, Whitetail bucks shed their antlers between December and April, making spring or early summer the perfect opportunity to get back into the woods.

Why do deer shed their antlers you ask? Hormonal changes, including a significant drop in testosterone levels which causes the antlers to weaken and eventually fall off.

Where/how to search? If you are like me, I like searching every square inch of my property or hunting lease. Not only do I love the search itself, it beats the heck out of a treadmill. My daughter is 8 years old and also loves wearing her cowboy boots crashing up and down the creek. She’ll find little “sea shells” and pretty crystallized rocks and whatnot to put in her fanny pack. She LOVES when she finds the deer sheds before I do (don’t tell her I pretend to not see them). Occasionally we’ll take a picnic and some water and sit on a falling log under a shade tree and just enjoy nature. While confined to our house I’d be lying if I said my kids didn’t enjoy their iphones, I’m blessed in the fact they all love sports and the outdoors (well, the last is a stretch for my 14 y/o, but still).

One caveat: Unless you are going in March or early April, I’d suggest loading up on the bug spray. In 8 years I don’t think I’ve seen my daughter as upset as she was when we found an embedded tick on her. Snakes and other creepy crawlers are starting to move around, so I prefer a knee high pair of Muck boots as well.

Get outside. God has given us a beautiful Earth for us to explore and appreciate nature and the like. Who knows, you might work off some of those Lenox or Lottaburgers without even thinking about it. See ya next month!

OBA Commitment

The theme for Enid monthly articles for this year was “The OBA Commitment.” And throughout the past year, we’ve had several articles to try and convey people's expressions of commitment to the OBA mission. As the new Communications Director, who stepped into the year halfway through, I can say that this year’s Class of 2023 embodies our theme well.

Now we want to take a moment to recognize this senior class's achievements. We will have five Valedictorians, two Salutatorians, eight students graduating with honors and a National Merit Scholar. That’s over half the class. One student passed all nine of their AP exams. We have three students attending college as athletes after successfully leading their teams this year. This year’s seniors have one of the highest collective ACT scores in OBA history and already acquired hundreds of hours of college credits. We had three students win the Oklahoma Arts Excellence Award and one write and direct their own play. They’ve excelled as members of Gaslight teens, church youth group leaders, travel sports team members, and one already sworn into the Air National Guard.

While these students are standouts in terms of academic excellence, they shine in other ways. When I asked some of OBA’s faculty how they would describe this year’s senior class, they said things like: relational, loyal, and unified. These are all traits that they can take with them into their future endeavors. The one trait that stood out among the rest was that they are “zealous in their choice to serve.” These seniors have learned ‘to do hard better’ because of overcoming challenges like emergency online learning as freshmen and an irregular learning environment of social distancing and quarantines as sophomores. They will continue to serve others upon the completion of their time at OBA.

We’ve highlighted a few individual class members here and there over the past year, but this entire class deserves to be celebrated. They are not only smart, high achieving, and excellent in academics, but they are also kind and wonderful leaders. We look forward to seeing the Class of 2023 grow into great contributors and become ambassadors for OBA and our kingdom mission. Congratulations, Class of 2023! We are so proud of you.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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EASY SUDOKU

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HARD SUDOKU

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THOMAS-GARFIE

COUNTYMASTE

Super Food or Super Weed

Purslane is propagated from seed, stem cuttings, divisions of root systems, and transplanting them. One plant can produce over 50,000 seeds. Seeds remain viable in the soil for several decades. Decades!! Purslane seeds can be sown outside after the last frost by sprinkling them onto moist soil and pressing them in lightly. As a cutting, each piece of stem can create a new plant. To propagate a stem cutting, cut a six-inch long stem and remove the leaves from the bottom half. Plant the stem in soil with half the stem underground in an area with bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist.

Low in fat, cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrates, high in potassium, protein, vitamin A (seven times more beta carotene than carrots!), vitamin C, and Omega-3 fatty acids, and containing eight essential amino acids and antioxidant flavonoids and polysaccharides used in therapy for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and type 2 diabetes, this superfood has it all. Additionally, lab tests show that a compound of this plant helps kill liver cancer cells and plant seed extracts are active against brain and lung cancer cells. Best of all, this plant tastes yummy with a slightly citrusy, salty, with a peppery kick and a juicy crunchy texture. You can eat the leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds, either raw or cooked.

Common Purslane has been consumed for thousands of years in the Mediterranean, Mid East, Asia, and by the indigenous North Americans both fresh, cooked, and juiced or decocted as medicines. In spite of all the beneficial health uses and time-worn testing, common purslane has been called “a noxious weed” by the USDA.

Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) also known as hogweed, pigweed and pusley, is an annual succulent that looks like a tiny jade plant with alternating leaf clusters at stem joints. Each fleshy, flat green leaf is oval to spoon-shaped and broadest near the rounded tip. The half-inch wide small yellow flowers that bloom midsummer through early fall, have five notched petals. The flowers blossom at the stem joints, with just a single bloom opening at a time.

Purslane loves full sun and our Oklahoma heat. A good place to plant them is next to walls or fences which reflect heat. Plus, they are not picky about soil. As a weed, these plants can be found easily growing in sidewalk cracks and on the side of the road. But if you are growing purslane for food, these will grow larger, juicier plants in loamy, porous soil without much water.

Harvest mature leaves about 50 days after you plant the seeds. Cut a single stem at a time or most of the plant. Leave about 2 inches above the soil and it will regrow. Oddly enough, the time of day that you harvest makes a difference in the flavor. Plants harvested in the morning taste tart and the evening cuttings have a sweeter flavor. Stems can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week in a plastic bag.

Purslane can be dried and used as a dried herb or like cornstarch thickener. Some cooks serve purslane steamed like spinach. A refreshing way to enjoy purslane is in a salad.

So, you decide – Super Food or Super Weed?

"Live the Creed"

their own project, which was helping an individual move from one house to another, that had no other way, which I thought was cool,” said Tipps, “and other groups did all kinds of different things, from helping out at the ESPCA, to a food drive for Loaves & Fishes, to volunteering at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center.”

Vickie Grantz, the Executive Director of the ESPCA, was delighted to have the athletes volunteer. “This is the first time we have had a group of minors volunteer like this, and it was a great experience for us and the animals. They were very professional, worked hard and wore the animals out. The Cross Country and Pom teams helped us get our food pantry organized, pulled weeds in our yard and socialized the dogs and the cats. We’d love to have any of the kids back, and anyone else that would like to volunteer,” said Grantz.

On Saturday April 29th, more than 200 Enid High Student Athletes and dozens of coaches fanned out across the community to help local non-profits, community groups and individuals in the first “Students Serving Others Day.” The idea of a specific day to help the community came from Enid High Athletic Director Billy Tipps. “We did a similar day at a previous school I was at, so I’ve been wanting to do something similar here for the last three years, but had not had the time to get it organized. But this year, with the help of Assistant Athletic Director Lyndsay Watts, we were finally able to get it done, and it was awesome!” said Tipps.

Each team could choose its own project and did not have any specific requirement, other than it had to be service-oriented and helping someone else. Some teams came up with their own projects with ideas from the players or coaches, and for some, the projects were suggested by the athletic department. “The baseball team found

Assistant A.D. Watts said “This was just an amazing way for us to show our appreciation for the community for giving is this beautiful gym and the other facilities and support they have blessed us with. We just wanted to serve them in some way.”

The day went so well, Watts and Tipps believe the event will continue to grow and want to try and do a similar event in the fall and the spring next year. “I just can’t say enough how much we appreciate the coaches and the students giving their extra time to this. We know that they are inundated with things on their plate, so for them to come out on a Saturday morning, with great attitudes and seeing how much they got from giving back was really, really cool,” said Tipps.

RE al Life

THE MORE YOU KNOW….

BYMOLLY NICHOLAS

Realtor®, real estate agent, real estate broker—it’s hard to keep up with all the lingo involved in a real estate transaction. A good place to start is by learning what a Realtor® really means. Realtors are real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of Realtors®, the largest trade group in the country. If you’re unsure, be sure to ask your agent if he or she is a member of the NAR. Realtors are also held to a higher ethical standard than real estate agents because they must adhere to the Realtor Code of ethics.

Realtors are also required to complete a minimum of 21 continuing education hours to maintain their license. Required

courses include Broker Relationship Act, Code of Ethics and Rules Contracts and Forms, Fair Housing, Hot Topic (pertinent current events) and Professional Conduct.

There are numerous opportunities around the state to obtain CE credits, but we are fortunate to have one of the best all-inclusive opportunities right here in Enid! Each of the courses are open to the public so if you are an Oklahoma Realtor®, Property Manager, or ANY person interested in the business of real estate you need to be at the NWOK Realtor® CE Xtravaganza to be held August 3, 2023 at NWOSU, Enid Campus from 8-5. The CE Xtravaganza is a great opportunity to expand real estate knowledge and/or get Realtor® continuing education hours from Oklahoma’s best of the best certified real estate instructors. Featured courses include: High Standards: Professionalism & Ethics in RE, Estate Planning, Real Estate Etiquette, Broker Relationship Act, Title Insurance, Defects & Disclosures: The OK Residential Property Disclosure Act, Contracts, Pricing Property, Property Management, Fair Housing, Social Media, and Open Houses That Work.

Vendors and local Real Estate Companies will be on hand to answer questions and share business information. There will be numerous door prizes and lunch and snacks will be provided. Cost is $35 per participant. For more information please contact NWOAR office at 580-242-1670.

Happy Cooking

BYMONIC A RORICK Chicken Ceasar Pasta Salad

Summer is coming, and I really dislike heating up the house with my oven and other appliances, so I have decided to make some lighter fare this year. So I told the Hubs to be prepared for lots of salads and sandwiches for the warmer months. And I started with one of my favorites...Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad. This salad pulls in the fresh green Romaine lettuce with cooked pasta and chicken with the distinct flavor of a good Caesar dressing. It is a fantastic entrée, but could easily be served as a side dish as well.

Now, I made this salad the other evening for our dinner, and we had leftovers FOR DAYS!! I mean, this salad makes ALOT!  So be prepared....or you may want to cut the recipe in half. However, it would be the perfect salad to take along to a picnic or get together where there will be many to feed.

I will say to make sure you use a Caesar dressing that would be a good stand-alone dressing. My favorite is Brianna's Caesar Dressing. (not advertising at all, but if anyone has the contact....) I fell in love with this dressing when the bakery was open and it was the dressing for The Nook's Caesar Salad. It's got a fantastic balance of garlic and parmesan flavor with black pepper. I highly recommend it! But, any creamy Caesar dressing will work, but it does need to be creamy so it will "hang on" to the different pieces of the salad. If you use an oil-based Caesar, the oil and seasoning will simply sink to the bottom of the bowl, removing the opportunity for that garlicy-parmesan flavor in every bite.

This salad is also very versatile as well. I have a cousin who made the same salad with chopped up breaded chicken tenders and cooked mini cheese tortellini. You could also add 1/2 cup or so of real bacon bits, or 1/2 cup of a vegetable like sliced cucumber moons, sliced fresh mushrooms or fully cooked and cooled peas. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination!

So try it and see what you think. Happy cooking!!!

Chicken Ceasar Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 8 ounces bow tie pasta

• 3 hearts of Romaine, chopped (I used pre-chopped hearts of Romaine)

• 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded*

• 5 ounce bag Caesar croutons

• 12 ounces creamy Caesar dressing (my favorite is Brianna's)

• 6 ounces parmesan cheese, shredded

*I purchased pre-shredded rotisserie chicken from my local grocery store.

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside in a large bowl and chill.

2. Cut hearts of Romaine into 1 inch pieces and shred rotisserie chicken then add to the large bowl with pasta.

3. Pour dressing over salad and toss to fully coat noodles and lettuce.

4. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bacon and top with croutons. Toss to combine.