March 2022

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

2 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Sponsored by

DALE GATES “He spent countless hours working with students to prepare for speeches, job skill demonstrations, and parliamentary procedure activities and contests.”

In his more than 20 year tenure at Autry Technology Center, Dale Gates impacted Autry students, faculty, staff, and ultimately our community, in immeasurable ways.

As Director of Curriculum, Dale worked to ensure the best quality instruction at the school, and even developed new programs and revamped existing ones. Overseeing Trade & Industry programs, countless people obtained certificates under Dale’s leadership. These graduates launched into careers with unique skill sets, little to no debt, and improved quality of life.

was leading the way for a successful and smooth accreditation process. The school was first fully accredited in 1987, according to autrytech.edu. Maintaining accreditation involves interviews and a strict audit of the Gates retired from Autry Tech in 2019. organization.

During his Autry tenure, Gates prepared students for speech competitions within Career “Dale’s attention to detail was very evident & Technical Student Organizations (CTSO). in both his professional and personal life,” “Through his guidance and direction, many Strate said. “He was an instrumental leader students were successful on the district, in Autry Technology Center’s 2017 accredistate and national levels as contest winners tation process. He gathered and compiled and officers for their student organizations,” information and data from all departments Strate said. as well as worked with all staff members in preparation for the evaluation. He was very Before working at Autry, Gates held mul- thorough and left no stone unturned in this tiple Agriculture Education positions from process.”

1981 through 1995, in Kingfisher, Stillwater and Fairview, Oklahoma. Making his pasGates’ legacy at Autry, and across Northsionate career in education - from start to west Oklahoma, has continued long after finish - an effort to enhance student's lives his 2019 retirement. and prepare them for the future.

Gates was known for his competitive edge, specifically in preparing students for speech competitions. He spent hours on end with students, and sometimes coworkers, preparing them for presentations by listening and taking notes. He knew how to instill “Dale Gates had a huge impact on student confidence, and could take a presentation successes in leadership and professional from average to attention-grabbing. development contests during his tenure at Autry Technology Center,” Janet Strate, AuIn 2017, Gates had one more large feat try’s Director of Full-Time Programs, said. to accomplish for Autry Tech, and that ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 3

MARCH 2022

VOL. 2 • NO. 6

LOCAL LEGENDS...........................

Dale Gates

3

4 DOWNING'S DOODLES................. 4 COVER STORY......................... 6 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR...........

Enid Outlaws Ride Again

FIT TIPS WITH FAST............

22

5 Things to Prepare for Baseball Season

24 THE GARDEN PATCH..........25 PUZZLE ANSWERS..............

The Dirt on Successful Gardening

12

PRIDE OF THE PLAINS........

26

14

LONGHORN ROUNDUP......

28

ADULT BOOK REVIEW...............

16

ENID MONTHLY'S INAUGURAL "BEST OF ENID" AWARDS ANNOUNCED..........................

CROSSWORD PUZZLE.........

16

REAL

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW........

17

THE WORDY GIRL................

34

KRISTI'S KITCHEN...............

38

FOCUS ON HEALTH.............

Putting Athletes Back in Action

TWEEN SCENE......................

Women's History Month The Magnolia Palace

Hometown Hoopsters

Northwind

17 ENID'S E-VENTS.................... 18 THE LAW OF THE LAND......20 SUDOKU PUZZLES....................

Donovan Rieman

Track Season

30 LIFE.............................. 32

Spring Into a New Patio Project

Conversions, Reach, and All That Gibberish Shepherd's Pie

Bobwhite! Bobwhite!

Publisher and Editor: Robert R. Faulk Designer: April Prenzlow

109 E. Randolph, Enid OK 73701 405.826.0418

LETTER from the EDITOR

For ad placement, specifications and rates, call: Robert R. Faulk at 405.826.0418 or robert@enidmonthly.com Tracy Crissup at 817.372.1135 or tracy@enidmonthly.com

enidmonthly.com

Enid Monthly is a monthly publication by Enid Monthly, LLC serving Enid and Garfield County. Enid Monthly is free to the public. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Enid Monthly is not responsible for the care and/or return of unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, photography, books, or any other material that is submitted for possible publication.

4 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

I don’t know about you, but March is one of my least favorite months. It’s the end of what is usually a pretty cold and crappy winter around these parts, it can rain, sleet, ice, snow, rain, or be 75 degrees. Spring break is in March, which was always a nice respite from school for some, but I actually liked school, so that was a drag for me. But this March is a little different for us here at the Enid Monthly as we are in the middle of taking nominations for “Best of Enid 2022!” Each time I see a nomination form turned in, I smile a little knowing that there are businesses around town that people enjoy enough to submit a nomination. We are accepting nominations until March 31, so go to enidmonthly.com/wp/nomination-2022 and nominate your favorite business! Can’t be a part of the vote without a nomination so get yours in today!

RO

B E RT FA U L K

Robert Faulk

Editor Enid Monthly

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 5

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Ride

Again

Court is now in session. Your Enid Outlaws return to the hardwood on March 11th for season two. The Outlaws capped off their inaugural season in 2021 as champions of The Basketball League. The 120-107 win over the Syracuse Stallions at the Stride Bank Center followed a 21-point win on the road ending the best of three series in just two games. They are looking forward to this season and the chance to connect even further with the Enid community along with the challenge of defending the title.

Developing Dreams The Enid Outlaws basketball team is a player development-based business that is owned and operated by Jonathan Reed and On Point Operations Group. The group focuses on developing the professional basketball careers of players ages 18 and up.

The Outlaws are made up of players ranging from those with no experience to some that have played in college or professionally overseas. Nine of eleven players that were on last year’s team and finished the sea-

son received professional contracts. They went on to play with NBA G League and professional teams including notable leagues in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, and Estonia.

Out of the nine, four are expected to return this season. The remaining players will not be returning as their seasons with their current teams will not be completed before the Outlaws season starts. This year, the TBL season starts in March. Most overseas leagues will not end until April or as late as May. Reed said the team was able to recruit what he referred to as “young new talent” to complete the roster for the upcoming season.

The process of celebrating the successes of current and past players and finding new talent to develop is the model which the organization strives to uphold. The idea is to develop players and hopefully keep them for the year preparing them for the next level. Once they advance in their careers, the focus shifts to new up-and-coming players. Following players’ careers as they move forward is an exciting aspect of the development league. Fans continue to cheer for them while getting to know the new faces in the Enid Outlaws uniforms.

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 7

Front Row L to R: Dance Team Members Chloe Gustafson and Mia Searcy Back Row L to R: Rashard Stringfield, Director of Basketball Operations DeCarlos Holmes, player · James Helzer, player · Mark Dannhoff, Head Coach Jonathan Reed – Team Market Owner (TMO) · Emannuel Toney – Assistant Coach · Jean Felix Moupegnou · James Helzer · Cara Helzer – Marketing and Media Director

Generally, one or two players will return each spring and summer from other endeavors, however, the goal is to move players on to a higher level. The coaches and staff take care of them, doing their very best for a year to prepare them to meet the objective to move forward.

So far, they have signed four players that formerly played in the league on other teams. According to Reed, “We have had a lot of interest from players that went and played on other teams that either saw our venue or saw us online and they wanted to play for our organization because of the way we develop players and the way our fans were and the way the arena was.” Reed shared the organization has received a lot of compliments from people around the league and people around the world. He said they complimented the way they do business and the way they treat their people. Reed said, “That’s been a very positive thing.

Major props to the City of Enid and everyone involved in the operation. We have done a good job in putting it all together and making it a positive experience for fans and players. It is obviously getting noticed around the league.”

Notable players from last year’s roster include Chance Comanche, Omega Harris, Devon Harris and Lindy Waters III. 8 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Following up on his MVP season last year in the TBL, Comanche is a candidate up for the MVP in one of the leagues in Turkey. Omega Harris went on to play in Armenia and was one of the top players on his team, helping lead them to a division title. He will return to the Outlaws this season. Devon Harris will also return to Enid. He played for a team in Estonia during the off-season. Lindy Waters III went from the Outlaws to the Oklahoma City Blue, the G League for the OKC Thunder.

He played 28 games for the Blue before the Thunder announced on February 10th they had signed him to a two-way contract. Waters made his debut on the court on February 11th against the Philadelphia 76ers.

the fans by having fun and providing an entertaining product. The Outlaws want the fans and people in Enid to have something they can be proud of. Reed said, “we want them to know that when they attend games they are going to get a show every time and not just have a bunch of guys running around acting crazy.” The organization wants to provide a good, family-friendly environment where people can have fun and hopefully stay around long term. Reed said he has no plans to go anywhere outside of Enid. He said, “it is where we built this thing.

We named it after the city and want it to be here.”

The organization is looking forward to building on the support and Three players from last season will return to play in Stride Center for relationships that were started with the first season. According to Reed, another season. In addition to Omega Harris and Devon Harris, post they are looking for ways to partner with people to help promote their player Quantel Denson will return from Kansas City. businesses and are open to helping with publicity. They want to be in the area as much as possible. The unique thing about this level of A Program to be Proud of basketball is the players can interact with the community on a deeper The organization not only develops players but also develops staff, level. New Marketing and Media Director, Cara Helzer will be working dancers, front office people and coaches as well. This season will inwith reaching out and connecting with people to find ways the team clude several new faces in operations. Last season’s head coach took can give back to the community and make connections and is a good a head coaching position in Mexico. In addition, the assistant coach contact for community organizations and businesses that are interestfrom last season accepted an associate head coaching job at Langston University. The position at Langston was one of his dream jobs. He ed in partnering or presenting an opportunity.

wanted to work for an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and UniversiFans can expect a lot more in the entertainment department this year. ties). Reed was excited for the assistant coach and shared, “I thought They want to build on the fans. momentum from last year to make it was super cool that he was able to leverage some of the experience he got in our basketball academy for the prep school after he came in and more entertaining for the fans with more give-aways, and fan participawe hired him as the assistant for our pro team and then actually worked tion opportunities. for the semi-pro team, then the pro team and then got a job in college”.

The league is implementing technology to improve the fan experience overall. Reed said there are several “cool” things he plans to inIn regards to developing more than players, Reed said, “ If we were to win a championship year in and year out I would love that, but the vest in and maybe add in the second part of the year. He said some biggest thing is that we help people to their next level and develop of the technology will involve fans' cell phones. They want to make the them the right way.” The goal according to Reed is to ultimately please experience the best and are hopeful for another winning season.

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 9

Strength in Staffing Head Coach Mark Dannhoff is from a college background. Reed believes he will relate to the young talent on the team. In the process of selecting a coach, they wanted to get someone that could work with young talent and work with the player development mindset to develop young guys into being pros. His experience as a professional player will help him to mentor the players and show them how to be professionals. He will be able to assess them and help give them a plan on how to achieve their goals to develop and grow as basketball players on the court.

Although this is the first season together the staff appear to have known each other for years. The staff will play a key role in the success of the season.

Marketing and Media Director, Cara Helzer has a passion for the game that stems from her own experience as a player throughout high school. She is a certified Kindergarten teacher and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. She is married to player James Helzer who joins the roster for the Outlaws for the first time this season.

Rashard Stringfield, Director of Basketball Operations, is in his first year in Enid with the Outlaws. He was with the TBL last year as Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach for the Little Rock Lightning. He graduated from Philander Smith College HBCU in Little Rock in 2020. Stringfield met Reed during the 2021 combine. Reed offered him a tour and shared his vision, ultimately recruiting him to join the staff. Stringfield believes everyone is a coach in their own way and strives to follow Coach Mark’s advice “be a star in your role.”

Player Development Director, Jean Felix Moupegnou, spent the last year in France, however, he will be familiar to some as he played in Enid in 2008 for the Oklahoma Storm. He has friends in Enid with whom he has stayed in touch throughout his career and is looking forward to being back in the community. He said “it’s a great town with great people.

I love Enid.”

Reed is very confident that between Coach Dannhoff and himself, along with the staff they have, they were able to put something special together in Enid that no one else can do in the country right now. He said, “I feel good about it, we do however have a lot of rivalries, they have added so many teams in the league it’s going to make it a lot more competitive, a lot more difficult to win a championship.”

Due to the increase in the number of teams, another round of playoffs has been added however Reed believes the Outlaws are ultimately in a good position to show what they can do. He shared they are not afraid of competition, and he avoids giving in to feeling pressured. He said, “I go in and I do what I can do and then sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. The biggest thing is we are going to do things the right way with the right people and just move forward no matter what.”

10 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

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Swadley’s 4722 W. Garriott Rd. (580) 297-5227 Mon-Sat: 10:45 am - 9 pm www.swadleys.com

Urban Fire 4(580) 297-1171 4125 W. Garriott (Food Court) T-Thu: 11 am – 8 pm Fri/Sat: 11 am – 9 pm Sun: 11 am – 8 pm

Enid Brewing Co. & Eatery 126 S. Independence (580) 297-5214 Wed-Thu: 11 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat: 11 am-11:30 pm, Sun: 9 am-2 pm www.enidbrewing.com

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 11

FOCUS

ON

Wellness News from

Putting Athletes Back in Action

Troy Wilczek, DPT, helps patients recover from injuries at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center’s Center for Rehabilitation. Below, he discusses how to avoid sports injuries and how physical therapy can help patients heal.

Q. What are the benefits of pre-season strength training and conditioning?

A. There are numerous benefits to participating in a strength and conditioning program year-round, but especially pre-season. It helps increase strength, agility and endurance to improve athletic performance, and can also serve as injury prevention. Performing a focused program can help improve mobility and coordination, address muscle imbalance and increase joint stability.

weeks, or as long as six to eight months or beyond in cases of severe injuries. Your doctor and PT can give you an individual prognosis.

Q. Do you have any additional advice to remaining healthy and free from injury?

A. The best advice I can give is to stay ACTIVE. Year-round physical activity is the best way to stay healthy and in good physical condition.

This does not mean you have to train at maximum intensity year-round.

Find an activity or hobby of a lesser intensity Q. After a sports injury, what are some comthan your usual sporting activities that keeps mon mistakes I need to avoid? you active. One of my favorite things to tell patients is a play on Newton’s first law: “A body A: The number one mistake that people make in motion, stays in motion.” This can apply to following a sports injury is attempting to return people of all ages, athletes or not. Get moving to sports activity too soon. By working with and stay moving. your doctor and a physical therapist (PT), we can help you prepare for your return safely.

To schedule an appointment, call 580237-8278.

Q. If my injury requires surgery, how long does rehabilitation typically take?

Physicians are on the medical staff of St. Mary’s ReA. There are a lot of variables that factor into rehabilitation time. This can all depend on the type and severity of injury, muscular conditioning prior to surgery and type of surgery. Return to sports can occur in as few as three or four 12 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

gional Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 13

BY

SOP

L U A F HIA

K

Ruby Bridges

y r o t s i H s ' n e m Wo h t n o M Frida Kahlo has been one of my inspirations for this past year. She is a Mexican painter that put a lot of dedication into her work. She is inspirational to me because her work has meaning behind it. Like her “The Two Fridas” painting. It’s about how the way people see her vs. how she sees herself. I think this painting relates to me in a way where people see me as a very educated and great girl but I know that sometimes I’m not all of that.

- Giselle

na and is currently 28 years old. She is known for her kindness and her charity. In 2021, at the Starlight Gala, her acts were recognized and she was given a charity award. Her acts of kindness have changed people’s lives, including mine. Georgina inspires me to be a better person, help others, and most importantly always love my family.

- Valeria

Frida Kahlo

Photo by JD Lasica from Pleasanton, CA, US, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As you may or may not know March is known for being Women’s History Month, so two of my best friends, Giselle, and Valeria, and I are going to tell you about a woman in history who has inspired us. Let’s go!

A woman in history who has inspired me is Photo by Guillermo Kahlo, Public domain, Ruby Bridges. When I was little my dad and I via Wikimedia Commons read a book about her. I then sent her a letter about how she was super cool and inspiring. I chose Ruby Bridges because she was one of Many women have changed the world in the few first African American children to attend an all-white school. She was very brave very good ways but one woman that stands out the most for me is Georgina Rodriguez. and I hope to be as brave as she was.

-Sophia Georgina was born in Buenos Aires, Argenti14 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Thank you for reading this month's article.

We hope you enjoyed it! Be sure to emails us what woman in history that’s inspired you!

Also email us if you have any questions, comments, concerns or ideas for upcoming articles @ tweensceneenid@gmail.com! Have a great March and don’t forget to wear green on St. Patrick’s day ;)! Byeeee!

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 15

Adult Book Review

Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

The Magnolia Palace Author: Fiona Davis

Author Fiona Davis’s latest release – The Magnolia Palace – is another wonderful work of historical fiction, with her same trademark topic and format. In her novels, Davis takes iconic places in New York City, such as the Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, and the Barbizon Hotel, and then imagines the lives of the people inside – with a dash of a mystery thrown in too. She also uses dual timelines – but they don’t become jumbled, confusing messes like with other authors.

vist intern, she stumbles upon a treasure hunt for the place – and what they find might just answer the decades-old question of the missing Magnolia Diamond and Mr. Frick’s suspicious death.

Davis talks more in her Author’s Note about the novel, explaining how she based Lillian on the real-life Audrey Munson, and what parts are facts and what parts In The Magnolia Palace, the location is the Frick Mansion in 1919 and are fictionalized. She also gives 1966. The earlier timeline focuses on Lillian Carter, a very popular art- numerous resources for further reading about the charists’ model who has posed for sculptures all around NYC. But after she acters and the Mansion. The Magnolia Palace is a very pleasant read – is forced to leave that life behind, and thanks to a case of mistaken and quite informative as well. With its unique combination of history, art, identity, she is hired as a private secretary for the daughter of steel architecture, and mystery, this is a great book to reach for next. baron Henry Clay Frick. Fast forward almost 50 years, Veronica Weber is just trying to launch her modeling career when she is snowedVisit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of The in inside the Frick Mansion, now a museum. Together with an archi- Magnolia Palace today!

Puzzle Answers on Page 24 16 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Children's Book Review

Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

Northwind

Author: Gary Paulsen Northwind is the final book by the great Gary Paulsen, who sadly passed away last October.

Published posthumously in January of this year, Northwind is a beautiful adventure story for readers aged 10-14. As the book jacket says, this book does with the sea what the classic Hatchet did with the woods.

Leif was orphaned after his mother died in childbirth, and now as a young boy, he must leave his camp after a plague kills all the others. He sets out in a dugout canoe heading north along the coastline and soon faces numerous challenges.

He runs out of his meager food supply quickly, so he has to craft his

EASY SUDOKU

own fishing spears in order to catch salmon to eat. He has to find dry mouse nests and kindling to start fires with. He has to check for animal scat – and a few times keep calm as he finds himself face to face with black and brown bears. He has to learn about tides and currents and swells – and even once a vicious whirlpool. He handles everything with stunning maturity though and sees each opportunity as a way to learn more about both himself and the world around him.

Northwind is just what you would expect from Paulsen, and the story is in fact inspired by his own sailing adventures and love of the sea.

Readers will delight in all of the animals – whales and dolphins and eagles and penguins – as well as the beauty of the coastline and the ocean. You might just find yourself inspired to have a [less extreme] adventure of your own in the great outdoors!

Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Northwind today!

HARD SUDOKU

Puzzle Answers on Page 24 ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 17

Enid's

E-vents

March Events MARCH 1-7 11 am Northwest District Junior Livestock Show Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue) Steers, Heifers, Ewes, Breeding Does, Breeding Gilts & Barrows; Premium Sale March 7 MARCH 1-31 Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm All Aboard: Examining the Orphan Trains Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th) MARCH 1 5:30 pm Baseball: Enid High v. Piedmont David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) MARCH 2 7 pm Live Music: Night of Hip Hop w/KO, Trip G and Same Ol’ Jo CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren)

9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple)

8 pm Karaoke CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren)

Meadowlake Disc Golf Course (1200 W. Rupe) Charity disc golf doubles tournament

9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)

MARCH 8 5 pm Baseball: Enid High v. Tahlequah David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) MARCH 4 9 pm Live Music: Gus Burnes The Alibi (224 W. Broadway) MARCH 5 10 am-5 pm The Market: Spring Craft Show Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence)

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

MARCH 3-5 OSSAA Class 4A Area 1 Basketball Tournament Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)

7 pm Live Music: Stacey Sanders Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

OSSAA Class 3A Area 1 Basketball Tournament Enid High School (611 W. Wabash)

9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)

MARCH 3 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

MARCH 6 11 am Mulligans over Meadowlake

18 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

6 pm-7:30 pm Festival of Flavor Prairie View Elementary (4700 W. Willow) Sample favorites from several Enid restaurants 7 pm Dancing with the Stars Live Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) MARCH 9 9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) MARCH 10 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

8 pm Karaoke CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren) 9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)

MARCH 11-13 12 pm-6 pm Friday, 9 am-5 pm Saturday, 9 am-3 pm Sunday Enid Coin Club’s 45th annual Coin, Token & Paper Money Show Hoover Building (316 E. Oxford) MARCH 11 7 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws vs.

Potawatomi Fire Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)

9 pm Live Music: Knight Ryder The Alibi (224 W. Broadway) MARCH 12 7 pm Live Music: Krislyn Arthurs & The Trainwrecks CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren)

7 pm Live Music: TBD Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) MARCH 13 4 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws v. Waco Royals Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) MARCH 16 9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) MARCH 17 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

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.

8 pm Karaoke CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren) 9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) MARCH 18 9 pm 21 & Up Micro Wrestling CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren)

9 pm Live Music: The Peachtrees The Alibi (224 W. Broadway) MARCH 19 9 am-2 pm Weekends on Maine Enid Brewing Co. & Eatery (126 S. Independence) Maine St. will be blocked off between Independence & Washington, live music, vendors

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 7 pm Party: Xtreme Bulls After Party & Dance CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren) Show your ticket stub to Xtreme Bulls and get in Free!

7 pm Live Music: Lane Haas Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 7:30 pm Auto Racing: Late Models Enid Speedway (302 E. Oxford)

7:30 pm Enid Ultimate Challenge: Xtreme Bulls Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) MARCH 20 4 pm Enid Outlaws TBL basketball vs. Little Rock Lightning Stride Bank Center (302 S Grand) MARCH 22 6:30 pm Baseball: Enid High v. Union David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) MARCH 23 8 pm Live Comedy Show Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) MARCH 24 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

8 pm Karaoke CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren) 9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple)

9 pm Live Music: Van Damage The Alibi (224 W. Broadway) MARCH 26-27 11 am-7 pm Red Brick Road Food Truck & Art Festival 200 block of E. Maple $3 daily admission, $5 for both days

1 pm & 3 pm Saturday, 3 pm Sunday Gaslight Children’s Theatre presents Puss in Boots Gaslight Theatre (221 N. Independence) MARCH 26 8:30 am Knees 2 War 10K, 5K & One-Mile Fun Run Central Assembly Family Life Center (1202 W. Oxford) Pre-register at Knees2War.org

10:30 am-3 pm Boy Scouts of America Car Show Garfield County Fairgrounds (111 W. Purdue) 1 pm Baseball: Enid High v. Jones David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) 7 pm Live Music: TBD Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 8 pm Live Comedy: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)

9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) MARCH 27 4 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws v. Rockwall 76ers Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) MARCH 29 5:30 pm Baseball: Enid High v. BT Washington David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) MARCH 31 1 pm Baseball: NOC-Enid Jets v. Murray St. David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 8 pm Karaoke CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren) 9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)

9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) MARCH 25 5:30 pm Baseball: Enid High v. Woodward David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 19

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Bobwhite! Bobwhite!

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Y Unfortunately, my boys don’t have the birds (pheasant OR quail) numbers that I grew up with. We’d limit out on both species on most days. We’d hunt before school in the morning after practice, then leave the shotguns in our unlocked vehicles until we could go again in the afternoon after school. Obviously, that’s another thing my boys won’t experience in today’s world, leaving a shotgun in an unlocked vehicle on school property, but I digress.

We knew where a couple of coveys of blue quail were each year, and we’d be careful to not shoot too many of the blues. Bobwhite coveys were typically in the same abandoned homesteads that were overgrown with weeds and surrounded by milo circles. We’d follow the dogs until a point, then all heck would break loose with birds flying everywhere.

No one seems to know exactly why the quail population has continued to decrease. Some blame the weather; others blame the increase in predators. We found two wild coveys on a quarter of mine last weekend and we almost felt like screaming in joy that we actually found some birds. My hope is we’ll have some good moisture and weather and the birds will return before I reach an age where I can no longer walk all day searching for them.

Many moons ago when I was in kindergarten, I was assigned a role in a school play. I cannot recall what the play was called (or what it was even about), but I was a quail. My speaking role consisted of me saying “Bobwhite! Bobwhite!” while mimicking the sound of a quail whistle. While I’m sure it was an Emmy-worthy performance, the sweet sound of “bobwhite” whistles is music to my ears even to this day.

Growing up I was privileged to have access to sandhills with plum thickets galore. We’d walk from thicket to thicket, not knowing whether to expect a flushing covey or a cock pheasant. While I’ve spent a considerable amount of time teaching my boys to be both proficient and safe with a firearm, we laugh now at the fact when I was a kid I had a single shot 20 gauge with no safety. It had a hammer that had to be pulled back before being able to fire, and it took everything I had to get the hammer back. As such, I’d stop and pull back the hammer anytime the dogs would go on point and then walk until the birds would flush. Absolutely 100% not safe, but luckily no mishaps.

20 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

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As a college baseball player, I have been through many different pre-season training programs. Through the years, I have picked up a lot of information - some good, some bad. In the interest of time, I will only include the information that I found benefitted me most for preparation. These tools can be used for all age groups, from little league to college athletics, and can be done at home.

1) Band Work: This is probably the most important. The arm undergoes a lot of stress with starting a throwing program. Understanding this and being proactive in preparing for this will set you up for success. Band work is the best way to ensure that injury risk is kept to a minimum allowing you to perform at your full potential throughout the season.

Internal and External Rotation: open the door and close the door During this movement, you will use an object that is around 2-5 Lbs (this could be any household object like a can of veggies or a full water bottle). For the first movement, you will lie on your side with your throwing arm down. Make sure your elbow is by your side and bent at 90 degrees. Holding your weight in your throwing arm, rotate your arm so that you lift the weight up and arm crossing your body. Then release

22 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

5 Things to Prepare for Baseball Season back down. Repeat this movement 10 times as far as your range of motion will allow comfortably. Then, switch sides and repeat the same movement 10 times. Ideally, you will work up to 3 sets of 10 on each side.

2) Flexibility: Making sure that your body is flexible will help you perform at your best and also limit injury risk. All baseball athletes should be doing some sort of full-body stretch routine nightly. A very important stretch that cannot be skipped is the sleeper stretch. This is for the rotator cuff, a group of muscles that make up the shoulder joint. To perform this stretch, you will lie on your side with your throwing arm down and extend your arm perpendicular to the body. Then, you will raise your hand straight up, keeping your elbow on the ground. Use your non-throwing arm to push your hand toward the ground in the direction of your feet. Do not use a lot of force here, only push until you feel a good stretch in your shoulder. Try to work up to 3 sets of 10 seconds every night. This can be done on both shoulders but the throwing side is most important.

3) Leg Strength: Your legs and core are the

driving force for power and velocity. For baseball players, these groups of muscles are the most important for throwing harder and hitting the ball further. A favorite of mine for leg strength is the Bulgarian split squat. To perform this movement, grab a chair and face away from it. Place the top of one of your feet on the seat of the chair so that you are in a lunge position on the front side. Then, drop your back knee to the ground until your front knee reaches 90 degrees. When the angle of the front knee hits 90 degrees, push through your front heel to drive yourself back to the starting position. Try to do this movement 2-3 times per week for 3 sets of 10 on each leg. If that is too easy, try adding some hops in that position at the end of the 10 reps.

4) Core Strength: Having a strong core will complement the strength of your legs. Almost

every movement done on the diamond is done with some type of twisting motion, so my go-to for core strengthening is the Russian Twist. This movement is pretty simple but not easy. Sit on the ground and lean back until you feel your abs start to engage - your weight should be between your sit bones and your low back. Then, twist only your upper body from side to side. Balance can be aided by keeping your heels on the ground - for more of a challenge, lift your heels off the ground. Try to work up to 3 sets of 15 on each side.

5) Connecting Upper and Lower Half: It is great to have good leg and core strength, but we do not hit or throw a baseball with our feet. Therefore, the ability to take the energy created in the legs and translate it to

the upper half is very important. If you are at a gym, power cleans are ideal, but a well-performed squat jump will do the trick and this can be done without equipment. For this movement, you will stand with your feet directly under your shoulders and pointed forward. Next, squat down until your hips are closer to the ground than your knees. Your bodyweight should be balanced between the balls of your feet and your heels at the bottom of this movement. Reach your arms down and back past the hips then throw them forward and up as you push through your feet and jump into the air. Land squarely on both feet and repeat the movement. Work up to 3 sets of 10-15 and try to do that 2-3 times per week.

Nutrition Tip: You will be on the road a lot this season, so you need to load your travel bag with nutrients that will benefit your game. I recommend a fat source and a carbohydrate source before games. My favorite pre-game snack is mixed nuts and crackers. This will give you some quick energy and also long-sustaining energy to make it through the game without spiking insulin which can cause a ‘sugar crash”. After the game, you will need protein to aid recovery, and sometimes that $10 spending limit just doesn’t cut it at your local fast food joint. I always packed some beef jerky to get the necessary protein for post-game recovery.

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 23

PUZZLE ANSWERS CROSSWORD PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 16

24 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

EASY SUDOKU FOUND ON PAGE 17

HARD SUDOKU FOUND ON PAGE 17

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The Dirt on Successful Gardening

Mud Pies by Ludwig Knaus, 1873, oil on canvas (public domain) The secret to a successful garden stems from the ground up. You have to have good dirt. So, are you ready to get your hands dirty?

There are several different factors to consider for good soil. The best, and overall least expensive method to determine the quality of your soil is to have your soil evaluated by professionals. Contact the Garfield County OSU Extension Office at 580-237-1228 to get specific information about sampling and testing your soil. Testing costs about $10 and will save you time and money selecting fertilizers and conditioners for your soil. Then it becomes a simple matter of maintaining quality dirt for a quality garden or lawn.

The three key macronutrients to healthy soil are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. If chemistry is not your strongest skill set, fear not.

Most lawns and gardens need to supplement only one or two of these, yet most common fertilizers are made up of all three. While bringing one nutrient up to needed levels, it is possible to over-fertilize the other two. A soil test and proper selection of fertilizer can prevent costly mistakes. When you have your soil tested, recommendations are made for supplementing your dirt properly. A good ratio of one part nitrogen, two parts phosphorus and five parts potassium (N:P2:K5) is the best generic nutritional balance. If you are building raised bed and starting with fresh soil, ensure the balance of the soil has all three of these key nutrients by reading the label on the bag before purchasing your dirt.

The texture and structure of your soil are as important as the nutrients in the soil. Nutrition does little good if it is unable to reach your plant.

Soil particles are divided into sand, silt, and clay-based on the size of the particles. Too much sand allows for fast drainage and has low water and nutrient holding capacity. Clay soils have high water and nutrient holding capacity but drain slowly. Silt adds an organic component that helps to balance the density of the soil. Having all three particulate sizes in the right proportions are called loamy soils. These are ideal soil structures for water-holding capacity, aeration (oxygen), and rate of release of nutrients. How these clump together determines the structure of your soil.

The best structure for plant growth is granular dirt.

Take some time to play in the dirt this month. As you begin planting this month and next, you will be glad you took the time to prepare the foundations for a healthy yard and garden. Next month we will look at maintaining the quality of your soil through composting and mulching.

In the meantime, I highly recommend reading ”Composting: Nourishing the Soil” by Liz Ball and illustrated by Jim Anderson. It is available at Enid Public Library. Also, check out the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service fact sheet HLA-6004 from February 2021 called “Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide.” It is available through the extension office and by downloading from https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/ oklahoma-garden-planning-guide.html.

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 25

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Not satisfied, Rieman continued to put in extra work, like attending several offseason camps which turned into more offers from even bigger schools. “I started really getting recruited midway through my senior season.

Coach Woods really helped get the word out to get teams interested. I took an official visit to HarRieman said that he was alvard, which was cool, but a total culture shock. My other official visit ways a little taller than everywas to Kansas State, and I knew right away it was the place I wanted to one, but that he didn’t start filling out until his Junior year. “I really grew into my athleticism. Around be. Coach Wyatt was awesome and being a part of the Big XII was an the summer of my junior year I got really dedicated in the weight room amazing opportunity, so I took it,” Rieman said. and with (strength and conditioning) Coach Baldwin’s help made a big jump.” That big jump started paying dividends and turned into his first Rieman gives a lot of credit to his coaches at Enid High as well as his teammates. “I love my teammates at Enid. We are really a brotherhood scholarship offer from Northwestern OSU in March of his Junior year. and get along really well. I can’t say enough about Coach Woods, Coach Baldwin, and Coach Sears. They keep us accountable on the field and in the weight room. Having a strength and conditioning coach like Coach Baldwin has especially made a difference. Our whole team has improved in strength and speed since he’s been here,” said Rieman.

Looking back, it was hard to imagine the formerly skinny kid that has played Defensive Line since 5th Grade would turn out to be the first Power 5 signee from Enid since Austin Box in 2007.

But that’s exactly what happened with Enid Senior Donovan Rieman. Going from the EJRT Silverbacks to the Waller Middle School team, then Enid High, and next year Kansas State, has been quite the journey.

Rieman’s grandmother, Rachel Reaves, who he lives with, is especially happy for Donovan. “Donovan is almost a perfect kid,” she says, “he might have a little bit of a messy bedroom, but I am so proud of what he has accomplished. He gets great grades, which is important, and I really saw another level of dedication last summer with summer pride.

He seemed to make up his mind that he wanted a scholarship and really went for it, which translated to the field. I am just so excited for him.”

So if you see a little more purple in town, or hear a few more EMAW chants on Saturdays in the coming fall, it just might be in support of one of Enid’s own. Good luck Donovan!

26 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 27

Longhorn Roundup Track Season Written by Mayowa Ogunsola, CHS Sophomore Looking forward to the upcoming track season there is a great deal of expectations and goals for the upcoming season among the athletes. This year they are entering the 2022 season with new coaches and athletes, so everyone should be anticipating positive outcomes for the new season.

“We hope to return a great team of athletes with experience and leadership skills. They are hard workers, and it has led to their success,” said Coach Coleman. They are also looking at a very successful season for these young athletes, but with encouragement and cheering from the student body, they should be able to take home the grand prize. Based on what has already been taking place, new routes will be taken to acquire the aspirations for this upcoming season. Coach Coleman stated, “Again we have a lot of experience and leadership from the past years, which will help with a good group of younger athletes. This is always important to success.”

In previous years, Chisholm High School Track has taken home several championships, such as in 2016 (boys and girls), 2017 and 2019 (girls). They were also runner up in 2015 (boys) and 2017 (boys and girls). Hoping to acquire another championship this year, the athletes 28 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

have been training and preparing with the help of each other and the coaches. Coaches and players are putting forth their best effort to prepare for the approaching season. Everyone will also be seeing new forms of leadership and achievements in all areas. Based on previous years, the athletes have normally done very well in certain areas, but this year everyone should be seeing many new achievements from the Chisholm track athletes, whether it’s physically or mentally. With this group of students, this should be a great and successful season for everyone.

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Enid Monthly's Inaugural "Best of Enid" Awards We are excited to introduce the inaugural “Best of Enid” awards! We will be giving out awards to 50 of the best businesses and service providers in town to honor their hard work and dedication to the people of Enid! Nominations are now open!

May 23rd. While we love our advertisers and sponsors, no preference or consideration will be given as it pertains to voting. Winners are who they are, so good luck to advertisers and non-advertisers alike!

Winners Nominations: The finalists (top 5 finishers) will be invited The nomination period runs from February 1 to our festive “Best of Enid Awards Show” that to March 31. Anyone can submit a nomination will be held in June. All finalists will be recogin any category. You can see the eligible cate- nized at the show, so everyone goes home gories below. a winner! A complete list of winners and runners-up will be featured in the July edition of Businesses must be in the Enid or North Enid the Enid Monthly along with a photo gallery area. Nominations are submitted by going to from the gala event. enidmonthly.com, email to robert@enidmonthly.com or by Facebook direct message. HERE ARE THE CATEGORIES FOR BEST OF You can submit a nomination in one or several ENID 2022 categories.

• Best Accountant Any business that is nominated will be eligi• Best Apartments ble for votes, as long as the nomination is in • Best Attorney the proper category. There will be no limit to • Best Auto Maintenance & Repair number of businesses in each category. If you • Best Bank/Credit Union are nominated, you are in!

• Best Bakery: Cakes, Cookies, and Sweets • Best BBQ Voting • Best Boutique THERE WILL BE ONE ROUND OF VOTING • Best Breakfast/Brunch Spot • Best Burger Voting will begin on April 1, 2022 and end at • Best CBD/Cannabis Store 5:00 p.m. May 20, 2022. You may vote multi• Best Coffee Shop ple times each day, but our voting system will • Best Car Dealership not allow you to cast consecutive votes within • Best Childcare Provider a short time span. Top five vote getters will be • Best Children's Party Spot announced (in alphabetical order) the week of • Best Chiropractor 30 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Best Dental Care Best Entertainment/Nightlife Best Eye Care Best Family Doctor Best Financial Planner Best Fitness/Gym Best Florist Best Funeral Services Best Hair Salon Best Heat & Air Best Home Builder Best Home Maintenance & Remodeling Best Insurance Agency Best Jewelry Best Landscaping/Lawncare Best Liquor Store Best Local Restaurant Best Massage Therapy/Therapist Best Medical Spa/Skin Care Best Mexican Dining Best Orthodontist Best Pet Grooming Best Pharmacy Best Photographer Best Physical Therapy Best Pizza Best Plumber Best Realtor Best Roofing Best Senior Living Best Surgeon Best Urgent Care Best Veterinarian Best Wings

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RE al Life BY

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Spring Into a New Patio Project

It's that time of year to begin planning and installing Spring and Summer living spaces for your home. An outdoor patio can provide a beautiful and relaxing extension to your indoor living area. In addition, a well-done outdoor space will add interest and value to your property.

Tips compiled here can help you determine how to avoid costly mistakes when planning a budget for the project.

enly broken. Divide the total patio size by the paver's surface area, and you have the material costs.

Properly Price Installation Labor estimates are wildly unreliable. Plan to hire a professional to install the paver and ask them to walk through your space to get a realistic quote. Not only does their rate depend on the size of the patio, but Price a basic patio at the bottom of your budget. also on how much time is needed to complete the work and how many A plain concrete patio can cost around $6-$12 per square foot. Col- people are needed to finish the job. The location and even the weathored or customized concrete er conditions could transcan be as much as $20 per form costs. Ask the installers square foot. Get fancy with to price their work based on bluestone or travertine pavyour materials. They usually ers, and expect costs to surneed to lay deep sand and pass prices for sandstone in gravel before setting brick some markets. Installing a and stone pavers, so that plain concrete patio is typicaltime counts too. Although ly going to be the rock bottom some materials require less of the budget; prepare for that prep work, others make for and follow these suggestions a time-consuming job given for getting the most for your your yard configuration. Only money. professionals can share the cost of tool rental they might Know exact measurements need but don't already have.

To estimate the cost of a Ask for a complete quote that paver patio, you first have to covers this. If your vision infind out the number of pavers volves installing fences, or that you need. You can deterother boundaries, there might mine the number of pavers be additional costs and a city that you need by identifying permit to consider. your desired patio size. Measure the length and width of your patio in feet. Multiply the width by Ask Around the length to find the square footage (E.g., width x length = patio sq ft.).

Just like you would when planning for a major purchase, shop around Assuming the width is 12 ft., and the length is 10 ft., 12 x 10 = 120, and before deciding on one kind of material or professional landscaping your patio size is 120 sq ft. Next, identify the paver size. Keep in mind company to build your patio. Compare costs and quality. Check online the length and the width of your bricks or paving stones in inches. You reviews for contractors before committing to this big-ticket purchase. might have to cut some pieces to make them fit perfectly; be sure to use the right tool to do this, so you don't damage valuable materials. It As with all projects, starting with a solid strategy and reasonable budis suggested to add 5-10% more pavers to replace any that are mistak- get leads to less stress and more success!

32 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 33

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Conversions, Reach, and All That Gibberish B ET H C U M

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“We surpassed our expected reach by 5,000, and we made three more sales than predicted! I’ve attached a PDF presentation with a breakdown of the data,” I said in a recent email.

You need more than likes, comments, and shares.

You need new customers.

“My supervisor forwarded this to me and asked me to explain what it means,” I received back.

This is a sentence included in most proposals I send to potential clients. I stand by the fact that anyone examining Facebook engagement data should see a sales report as significantly more important…

Yet, reach still matters.

I’ve learned that terms and definitions are the biggest hindrances to successfully presenting data to clients. In an effort to not be a buzzword dropper, I’ve started breaking down terms to better explain reports.

Imagine with me, if you will, a meeting room full of people giving project updates.

“And, we had 105,000 engagements in two weeks on the YouTube Ad,” I report excitedly.

“Is that good?” The Business Owner responds with a blank expression, much to my dismay. *Silence* “I just genuinely have no idea,” he responds.

“That’s the most effective Google Ad Campaign I’ve run.”

Some time passes.

“We’ve engaged nearly 250,000 people on Facebook in the last seven months,” I say.

“Now, that’s amazing! That’s a quarter-million!” he responds.

In this campaign, Google engaged more than nine times more people in 10 days than Facebook.

I left the room thinking, “How can I show him that, while the second number was higher, we’re talking 10 days versus 210 days? This makes the first number immensely more impressive.”

The balance between conversions (people who turn into customers) and reach (people who see your advertisement) is obvious: 20 social media followers who turn into 15 customers is more impressive than 10,000 followers who turn into 12 customers. Conversion is always more important.

Here’s where the gibberish comes in: Reach remains vital. Reach is the first step in the journey, but engagement is the only way to take the 20 and 15 and turn them into 10,000 and 8,000!

34 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Digital marketing reports matter because they tell you: • Whether you’re reaching your target audience.

• If you are reaching your target, what your target likes and doesn’t like.

• What your customers engage with and actually buy.

• What your customers engage with, but never buy.

• Whether you’re correct about your target audience.

• Wait, turns out this demographic likes my product more!

• Whether you should even be on a certain social media platform as a business.

On that note, I’m a firm believer in sending real, honest reports to clients, even if the numbers are bad. It’s the only way to learn what’s going wrong and what needs to happen to make things go right.

Often, you need one bad month of a campaign to get to the great months!

So, here we go! If you use social media to promote your business, the handy little Insights button on your menu will allow you to see how your page performed within specific dates. The terms below will help you translate: Reach - The number of unique human beings who saw your post or ad online.

Impressions - In Facebook and Google, this is the number of times your post or ad was seen, including repeat views by the same person.

Engagement - Reactions, comments, shares or clicks on your post or ad. This is the number of times it was actually engaged with.

Target Area / Geofencing - Geofencing is a fancy-sounding term. It can be complex, with new tools allowing you to geofence specific floors in specific buildings. At its core, Geofencing is targeting a group of people in a specific area. A Facebook Ad run to only be seen by people in Enid = geofencing.

Followers - Someone who clicks to like or follow your page, bringing your posts into their unique newsfeed.

The Follow button is becoming less and less relevant. In the world of pay per click and pay to be seen, many people find that their views on individual posts far surpass their number of followers.

This is because Facebook allows you to target and reach people who haven’t agreed to follow you yet.

Clicks - This is mainly a Google term. Your Google Ad report will tell you how many people clicked on your ad. This is valuable information and shows clearly the success of the campaign.

This can also be used in Facebook and Instagram Ads, as the Ads track link clicks.

Conversions - People who your ad reached, who engaged with it, then clicked on the call to action, and finally became a lead or customer - making them a conversion.

If you have a high reach and low conversion, you should ask questions about your product, including its price and description. If you have low reach, but a high percentage of conversion, you should ask some technical questions about how your ad is set up.

If you’d like to talk more about deciphering campaign data, gaining reach, and ultimately conversions, email me at elizabeth@wordygirl.com. Mention this article for a free consultation!

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 35

REAL ESTATE ROCKSTARS Liz Price, Realtor

Sondra Hernandez, Broker/Owner

Torrie Vann, Realtor

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Coldwell Banker Realty III 101 N. Van Buren Enid, OK 73703 (580) 233-8833 (O) / (580) 747-6079 (C) Email: tvann@cbrenid.com www.sellingenid.com

Century 21 Homes Plus 715 W Maine Enid, OK 73701 (580) 233-3500 (O) / (580) 541-4938 (C) Email: rlty3@aol.com www.enidokrealtorLiz.com

Starr Prince, Broker Associate

Tara Dalton, Realtor

Tanner Fore, Realtor

McGraw Realtors 1220 W. Willow, Ste. A Enid, OK 73703 (580) 297-5250 (O) / (580) 541-8008 (C) Email: ishinerealestate@gmail.com www.ishinerealestate.com

Coldwell Banker Realty III 101 N. Van Buren St. Enid, OK 73703 (580) 233-8833 (O) / (580) 484-1427 (C) Email: tdalton@cbrenid.com www.enidsbest.com

Cobblestone Realty Partners 402G S. Oakwood Rd (580) 297-9901 (O)/ (580) 478-5446 (C) Email: tannerfore@gmail.com www.cobblestonerealtypartners.com

36 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

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risti's itchen K K BY

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Shepherd’s Pie

When trying to think of a recipe to offer for March, I immediately knew it had to be associated with St. Patrick’s Day. But to be honest with you, even though I have celebrated it most of my life, I never really knew what the holiday was about. So I went to google to find out. The easiest explanation I could find was by Ree Drummond. Here is how she explains St. Patrick’s Day. “Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, known for bringing Christianity to the country. He lived in the fifth century and was actually born in Roman Britain—not Ireland! When he was 16, he was captured by Irish raiders and was sent as a slave to present-day Northern Ireland where he became a shepherd. He grew close to his Christian faith during these difficult years and then went on and spread Christianity to the Irish through baptism and confirmation. As the feast day of Saint Patrick, it was and still is a holy day in Christianity. The day was first established in 1631 as a modest religious holiday, and honoring Ireland's patron saint. Because it fell right in the middle of Lent, people began using it as a reason to celebrate and take a break from the restraints and abstinence of the period leading up to Easter. However, it didn't actually become a public holiday in Ireland until 1904! Wearing green clothes became common in the U.S. at St. Patrick's Day parades and celebrations in the 1800s. It was a symbol that Irish-Americans used to honor their heritage and seems to have stuck all these years later.”

So, let’s celebrate by making a shepherd’s pie! I’ve never shared my recipe for shepherd’s pie because no one has ever asked. My guess is because most people would much rather buy it than make it, but we know you love to cook, so here it is!

38 | MARCH 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

March Recipe

The Dinner Diva’s Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

2 pounds ground beef cooked and drained. (reserve ¼ cup of oil) 4-5 T flour 2 cups beef broth 1 32 oz. bag or 2 16 oz. bags of frozen vegetables. (corn, green beans, carrots & peas) Granulated garlic, onion, salt and pepper 5 large russet potatoes, cooked, seasoned & mashed.

1 cup heavy whipping cream ¾ cup sour cream 4 T. of salted butter.

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Start with cooked ground beef and reserved oil. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and cook for 3-4 minutes while continuously stirring. Gradually add in Beef stock.

3. Season liberally with granulated garlic, onion, salt & pepper.

4. Add in frozen vegetables. Continue stirring until the gravy has thickened. Transfer to a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

5. Add heavy whipping cream and sour cream and butter to mashed potatoes. Season with garlic, onion, salt & pepper.

6. Top beef mixture with mashed potatoes.

7. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

8. Place the pan in the oven, uncovered.

9. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until hot in the center and the cheese is bubbly.

10. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes to allow the gravy to thicken a little.

ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 39