Images Muskogee, OK: 2010

2010 | IMAGESMUSKOGEE.COM ®

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MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA

ROLLING IN THE DOUGH Eateries make a living with fresh-baked fare

WORKING WONDERS Higher ed programs develop world-class workforce

Best Buds Azalean reasons to enjoy spring

What’s s e Online Music hall of fame video hosted by American Idol contestant

SPONSORED BY THE GREATER MUSKOGEE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM

Muskogee’s Largest & Most Elegant Bed & Breakfast Voted Phoenix Readers Choice Award 2006 & 2007

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hether you seek an evening escape or need a beautiful place to plant for a couple of months, the Graham-Carroll House awaits. Five unique guest rooms on three levels provide the space, serenity and essence of home that can only be found in one location. Just be aware, you may not want to leave ‌ Majestic 19-Room English Tudor Manor House Featuring: t )POFZNPPO 4VJUFT t 1SJWBUF #BUIT XJUI 8IJSMQPPM 5VCT GPS 5XP t /FX 1SJWBUF (BSEFO )PU 5VC XJUI .VTJD t 3PPGUPQ 1BUJP t -JHIUFE 7JDUPSJBO (BSEFOT XJUI 'PVOUBJOT 'JTI 1POET t 5XP $PVSTF (PVSNFU #SFBLGBTU

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Janette Calhoun 577-6044

Vonda Haddock 682-4741

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Selling Muskogee with integrity, competence and reliability since 1948.

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(918) 687-6394

At Interstate Properties, it’s more than just buying or selling property. We’re about ďŹ nding a home to raise your family, locating that perfect spot for your business and helping you make real estate investments for your family’s future.

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Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) company, announced the affiliation of The Fuller Agency, Inc., which will now operate as Prudential Fuller Realty.

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th anniversary issue

2010 EDITION | VOLUME 5 ®

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA CO NTE NT S F E AT U R E S 10 ROLLING IN THE DOUGH Muskogee eateries make a living with fresh-baked fare.

MUSKOGEE BUSINESS 22 Green Country Gets Greener Eco-conscious initiatives grow to become a community hallmark.

24 Biz Briefs 25 Chamber Report 26 Economic Profile

14 THE SOUNDS OF MUSKOGEE City celebrates music history while cultivating the next generation of performers.

D E PA R TM E NT S 6 Almanac: a colorful sampling

16 WORKING WONDERS Higher education programs develop a world-class workforce.

18 ONE FOR THE BOOKS Muskogee mayor challenges the city to read.

of Muskogee’s culture

18 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Muskogee

29 Sports & Recreation 30 Health & Wellness 31 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know

27 GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE Consortium brings together public schools, private schools and higher education.

28 BEST BUDS The month-long Azalea Festival springs Muskogee into action.

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ON THE COVER Azaleas at Honor Heights Park Photo by Antony Boshier All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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imagesmuskogee.com THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

What’s Onl Online n

“Changing lives … creating opportunities for a world-class workforce” Your One-Stop Shop for:

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s "USINESS 3OLUTIONS

We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.

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RELOCATION Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

s 6ETERANS 3ERVICES s 3OLUTIONS FOR )NDIVIDUALS WITH $ISABILITIES s 7ORK+EYS #ERTIFICATION

(918) 682-3364 (888) 980-WORK www.easternwib.com www.workforceok.org

VIDEOS In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.

FACTS & STATS Go online to learn even more about: • Schools • Health care A Proud Member of America’s Workforce Network EWIB is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services are Available Upon Request to Individuals with Disabilities Financed in whole or in part by funds from the U.S. Department of Labor as administered by the OESC.

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• Utilities • Parks • Taxes

LOCAL FLAVOR From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE Images gives readers a taste of what makes Muskogee tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.”

– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

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MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA SENIOR EDITOR JESSY YANCEY COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SUSAN CHAPPELL STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHARON H. FITZGERALD, MICHAELA JACKSON, LEANNE LIBBY DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER COLIN WRIGHT

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SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

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CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

1002 N. Main Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 683-7881 Fax: (918) 683-7884 bdbcpa@swbell.net

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CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Images Muskogee is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism 310 W. Broadway • Muskogee, OK 74401 Phone: (918) 682-2401 • Fax: (918) 682-2403 www.muskogeechamber.org

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VISIT IMAGES MUSKOGEE ONLINE AT IMAGESMUSKOGEE.COM ©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

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Almanac

Tributes to Tribes The Five Civilized Tribes Museum showcases the history and heritage of the Cherokee‚ Chickasaw‚ Choctaw‚ Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole nations. The historic Union Indian Agency Building, which dates to 1875, houses the museum.

In addition to its permanent collection, the museum has several major art shows a year, including an exhibition of student art, a competitive art show and Art Under the Oaks, which features an arts market and festival.

The museum store offers handmade American Indian handiwork such as beadwork‚ baskets‚ pottery and jewelry.

What’s Online e Go to the Interactive section of imagesmuskogee.com to see a quick video of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum.

Field of Dreams Hatbox Field was a historic Muskogee airport that once welcomed the likes of pilots such as Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. Today‚ the only flights that occur there are when baseballs and softballs take to the air.

Love-Hatbox Sports Complex opened in the late 1990s on the airfield grounds. The site includes 10 baseball fields‚ eight softball diamonds‚ two full-size football fields and a 13-field soccer area.

There’s also a skate park‚ the 3.1-mile Centennial Trail and the popular River Country Family Water Park.

On the average summer day‚ as many as 3‚500 people are at the 120-acre sports complex.

What’s Online e Experience the energy of tournament time at Love Hatbox Sports Complex in a quick video at imagesmuskogee.com.

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Amazing Accolades Recently, Muskogee has received quite a few pats on the back.

In 2008, the ACCRA Cost of Living Index ranked the city as the fifth least expensive in the entire country.

According to the study, the cost of living here is 14.8 percent below the national average. Muskogee rated third lowest for transportation costs.

Speaking of travel, the American Bus Association named Muskogee’s Christmas Kingdom one of the top 100 events to visit in 2009. It was the only Oklahoma event to make the list.

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Crowning Events Visit The Castle of Muskogee‚ and you may think you’ve been transported to medieval Europe.

Muskogee resident Jeff Hiller originally built the 30‚000-square-foot castle to house his fireworks business‚ but over the last 14 years it has become better known as the site of the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival.

Held every Saturday and Sunday (and Memorial Day) in May‚ the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival attracts more than 72‚000 people each year.

The Castle also hosts several other annual events‚ including the Haunted Castle Halloween Festival in October and the drive-through Christmas Kingdom‚ known as one of the largest inflatable holiday displays in the world.

Pass the Popcorn Goodbye, Hollywood. Hello, Muskogee.

Film enthusiasts flock to the city for the annual Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival in April. The festival finished its first decade in 2009, running for 11 days at various downtown venues.

The action includes an opening night reception, film screenings and an awards gala.

The 11th annual event hits the screens April 15-25, 2010.

Support for Veterans Atten-hut. Muskogee is the only city its size to have a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

The facility is one of the area’s largest employers. In 2008, a national call center, which brought more than 100 jobs, was added to help answer questions that veterans might have.

The regional office now employs more than 1,200 people.

The city is also home to the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, which provides services to more than 44,000 veterans in eastern Oklahoma.

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Almanac

Fast Facts Q The 101-year-old Griffin Foods, a supplier of syrups, jellies and other condiments, is based in Muskogee.

Q Muskogee is home to the Oklahoma School for the Blind.

Q Northeastern State University celebrated its centennial in 2009.

Retired War Hero One of only 16 WWII submarines still in existence in the United States can be found at Muskogee’s War Memorial Park.

The USS Batfish, known as The Champion Submarine-Killing Submarine of WWII, ran seven patrols, mostly in the South Pacific. On part of the invasion of Iwo Jima, it sank three Japanese submarines in 76 hours, a record that still stands today. The sub earned a number of awards, including 10 Bronze Stars, nine Battle Stars, four Silver Stars and a Navy Cross.

About 10,000 visitors tour the submarine each year.

Q The earliest record of a Girl Scout cookie sale is by Muskogee’s Mistletoe Troop, which sold cookies as a service project in 1917.

Q Muskogee is the birthplace of country music singer and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.

Muskogee At A Glance Muskogee POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE) Muskogee: 40,099 Within a 30-minute drive: 230,000 LOCATION Muskogee is in northeastern Oklahoma, about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa and 50 miles west of the Oklahoma-Arkansas state line.

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BEGINNINGS Muskogee traces its origins back to 1872 when the Missouri-Kansas & Texas Railroad became the first rail line to cross Indian Territory. The town was named for the Muscogee Creek tribe that long inhabited the area.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism 310 W. Broadway P.O. Box 797 Muskogee, OK 77401 Phone: (918) 682-2401 Toll Free: (866) 381-6543 Fax: (918) 682-2403 www.muskogeechamber.org

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What’s Online e Take a virtual tour of Muskogee, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesmuskogee.com.

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Rolling in MUSKOGEE EATERIES MAKE A LIVING WITH FRESH-BAKED FARE

STORY BY CAROL COWAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

Where To Go Amish Country Store and Fudge Factory 2410 N. 32nd St. (918) 686-0243 Harmony House 208 S. 7th St. (918) 687-8653 Johnny V’s Ristorante & Pizzeria 325 N. Main St. (918) 682-0900 Miss Addie’s Café & Pub 821 W. Broadway St. (918) 682-1506 Twisted Joe’s 501 N. Main St. (918) 687-5755

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f you’re hankering for some home-baked, made-from-scratch goodness, look no further than these Muskogee restaurants and bakeries, all of which make their dough by making dough – and in some cases, batter. Just one thing, though: There’s no carb counting allowed.

For moist, chewy cookies made from a secret family recipe, Harmony House on South Seventh Street delivers the goods. “Our most popular cookie is the Lemon Crinkle, and the second-most popular is the Chocolate Crinkle,” says owner Beth Stacey, who started the restaurant with her mother and late grandmother 17 years ago. “Every day, we bake six different kinds of cookies, all from family recipes. We also bake cinnamon rolls, the dinner rolls that we serve, about 15 different kinds of pies, and special-order birthday and wedding cakes.”

You can find the recipe for Harmony House’s decadent chocolate chip pie – a customer favorite – along with recipes for its soups, salads, sandwiches and popular lunch specials in the Harmony House cookbook Stacey sells at her restaurant.

But the cookies? Uh-uh. You’ll have to visit Harmony House to get some more of those.

Miss Addie’s Café & Pub on West Broadway has a cookbook, too, and over the course of nearly 20 years in business, the restaurant’s M U S KO G E E

the

Dough

What’s Online e Find out what else is cooking in Muskogee in the Food section of imagesmuskogee.com.

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customers have purchased 12,000 copies.

“The cookbook contains 300 recipes, and you can try every one of them at the restaurant – from salad dressings, entrées and casseroles to desserts,” says Toby Feickert, who owns Miss Addie’s with his wife, Bernadette.

In addition to its regular fare, Miss Addie’s has an extensive custom baking menu that includes pies, cakes, cheesecakes, fruit cobblers, cookies and a dozen different types of sweet breads, all baked on site from scratch.

“Our most popular dessert is our baked fudge, which is kind of creamy like fudge syrup on the bottom and regular fudge on top; it’s served with ice cream,” Feickert says.

“Our most popular cakes are Hummingbird Cake – made with pineapple, banana, walnuts and pecans – and Italian Cream Cake – made with coconut and pecans. My personal favorite is our bread pudding with vanilla raisin sauce.”

Another local establishment gives its dough a twisted spin. Joe and Miriam Sommers fell in love with soft, freshbaked pretzels when they lived in Philadelphia for a time.

In fact, they loved them so much that when they moved back home to Muskogee, they started making their own.

That was more than a decade ago, and since then, Twisted Joe’s hand-rolled soft pretzels have become a Muskogee staple.

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Using recipes they created and perfected, the Sommers’ make the dough, roll the pretzels, and bake nine different varieties of their delicious treats.

“We have plain – with just butter and salt,” says Joe’s mother Barbara, who helps out at the store. “We also cut those up into nuggets and serve them with warm cheese, and we have sweet glazed nuggets and cinnamon-and-sugar nuggets. We do garlic pretzels and Parmesan pretzels; we roll hot dogs up in pretzel dough and bake them; we do little pretzel pizzas. And we make some with this sweet crunch topping made with pecans and brown sugar.”

Customers can find them all in Twisted Joe’s display window at the store in Arrowhead Mall. The establishment also has branched out to a second location in Oklahoma and another in Texas.

Over on Main Street, Johnny V’s Ristorante & Pizzeria makes its own garlic bread, rolls and pizza dough. The family-owned establishment prides itself on using the same recipes passed down for four generations, making very few changes over the years.

And you can find homemade breads, cheeses, fudge, pies, jams and jellies made by Amish artisans at the Amish Country Store and Fudge Factory on U.S. Highway 69 North.

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From left: The hand-tossed Goodfella’s Pizza at Johnny V’s Ristorante & Pizzeria; Italian Cream Cake and a coffee from Miss Addie’s Tea Room

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The

Sounds Muskogee of

CITY CELEBRATES MUSIC HISTORY WHILE CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD

Singin’ in the Fame Some of the diverse musicians inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum: Toby Keith Cherokee National Youth Choir Vince Gill Woody Guthrie Merle Haggard All-American Rejects Patti Page Leon Russell Gene Autry Carrie Underwood

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rom rhythm and blues and bluegrass to symphony and jazz, Muskogee’s vibrant music scene is as distinctive as the Merle Haggard classic Okie From Muskogee and as colorful as the 8-foot-tall fiberglass guitars displayed around town.

“I guess it’s in the water. All kinds of music are going on in Muskogee all the time, and that’s literally everything from the churches to the nightclubs. There’s always a place to play,” says Max Boydstun, who approaches his presidency of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum as a labor of love. “I’ve been a banker forever, but music’s my passion. I started playing music in this town when I was 14 years old, and I’m 59 now. I don’t play professionally anymore, but there are still some young guys out there doing the same thing I was back in the ’60s.”

And they’re doing it in venues such as Jasper’s Saddle Club, Johnny V’s Loft and Max’s Garage. Describing itself as an “Automotive Honky Tonk,” Max’s Garage was launched in an old Goodyear tire store and today is a restaurant and music complex featuring four stages and room to dance.

Harley Hamm Jr. has certainly done his share of performing at Max’s. A singer and lead guitar and bass player, Hamm is associated with six bands in the area, including the R&B group Full Flava Kings and The Funky Mothers.

“There’s a lot of great talent out of Muskogee,” he says. “The older talent really sticks together.”

A self-taught guitarist, Hamm teaches guitar

at Square Deal Music. Budding musicians in search of instruction also make their way to John Michael’s Music & Sound, where about 150 students take weekly classes in guitar, bass, drum, piano and voice.

John Michael Medeiros and his wife, Jan, founded the music shop in 1981. The store specializes in guitars, guitar amps and drums, and Medeiros designs and installs commercial sound and video systems. Thus, he’s turned over the events and promotions side of the business to his daughter, Raegan Medeiros, the spark plug behind Rock Camp.

Launched in 2008, Rock Camp is a five-day summer event for fledgling rock stars ages 10-17. For $150, 12 students per week receive music instruction, attend classes on songwriting, stage presence and poster design, and learn to work together. Divided into two groups, the bands perform a Friday finale concert.

“It’s one of the coolest things we’ve ever done as a promotion,” Raegan says of the camp, which had a waiting list in 2009 and promises to be a huge hit in 2010. “Every year it gets bigger.”

Who knows? Some Rock Camp graduates may someday be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. That wouldn’t surprise Boydstun. “The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame is really to honor the past, present and future artists and musicians who relate to Oklahoma music. It covers all genres,” he says. “We’re very blessed in this state to have fertile ground for people in the arts and especially in music.”

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Clockwise from left: Harley Hamm Jr. performs with six area bands and teaches guitar lessons; Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum honors musicians past and present; Roxy Theatre frequently hosts live music.

ANTONY BOSHIER

STAFF PHOTO

What’s Online e Tour the Hall of Fame with American Idol contestant Colton Swon or listen to live music at Max’s Garage in two quick videos at imagesmuskogee.com.

IAN CURCIO

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Working

Wonders HIGHER ED PROGRAMS ADVANCE WORLD-CLASS WORKFORCE

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STORY BY LEANNE LIBBY

W

Mani Shanmugamani teaches a computer usage course at Connors State College.

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cost per clock hour, starting at $1.75, provides career-advancing training at a budget-friendly cost. “It’s a short investment of time and money,” Benjamin says.

By offering courses in the evening, during the weekend and online, residents can advance their careers while keeping their current job.

Indian Capital also offers daytime programs in a wide range of industries, from culinary arts to heating and air conditioning maintenance.

The continuing-education nature of many of Indian Capital’s programs results in a swift, visible economic impact. “You immediately see people go back out in the community and apply their skills,” Benjamin says.

Northeastern State University also offers a variety of continuing education programs, with many targeted to enhance career skills, particularly with computers. Other Muskogee area career-focused educational facilities include Bacone College, which has a Division of Adult Education that caters to nontraditional students and offer many classes for degree programs off-campus, and Virgil’s Beauty College, a nationally accredited cosmetology school that has been training future beauticians for nearly 40 years.

More Insight Bacone College www.bacone.edu Connors State College www.connorsstate.edu Indian Capital Technology Center www.ictctech.com Northeastern State University www.nsuok.edu Virgil’s Beauty College www.virgilsbeauty college.com

ANTONY BOSHIER

hen it comes to workforce development, Muskogee means business. Residents of the city have a wealth of choices to train for and advance their careers.

At Connors State College, experience meets intuition in an innovative program. The college now has ESP – the Education Stimulus Program. Effective in May 2009, qualifying residents who have lost their jobs may take up to nine tuition-free hours of classes to help them quickly return to the workforce.

Donnie Nero, the college’s president, says the program will remain active as long as there is a demand in the community. “We want to make sure we change, so we are providing a program our area’s employers need,” he says.

Initial enrollments included students in computer and child care classes, he says.

Thanks to a partnership with Muskogee’s Workforce Oklahoma Board, students also may receive funding toward fees and books.

Elsewhere on campus, Nero says programs are seeing consistent increases reflective of growth in career fields such as nursing. He praised the strong relationship among the city’s education community, which continues to pave the way for students to have a seamless experience should they need to move from one campus to another to complete their studies.

Staying attuned to the business community’s needs remains critical, Nero says. “We want to work with our business partners to make sure we offer classes in occupations where there is a demand for jobs,” he says.

Muskogee’s practice of education and business partnerships has a clear economic benefit. “The majority of our students remain in the area and contribute to the local economy,” Nero says.

Residents wanting to develop or hone skills may turn to evening, weekend or online classes at Indian Capital Technology Center.

Classes lasting eight to 12 weeks often feature instructors employed in the content area and involve extensive hands-on learning.

While the average student is a woman returning to school in her 30s and early 40s, the center is seeing increasing male enrollment, according to Lisa Benjamin, the center’s adult career development coordinator. Classes for health and medical careers are some of the fastest growing, she says. Indian Capital’s low

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Portfolio

Muskogee Mayor John Tyler Hammons

One for the Books MAYOR PROMOTES LITERACY WITH CITYWIDE READING CHALLENGE

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uskogee Mayor John Tyler Hammons is 21 years old and not long out of high school, yet he is still very connected to the public school system – and he has brought his constituents with him.

Hammons conceived the Mayor’s Reading Challenge in 2008 to urge parents to get more involved by reading the books their children are required to complete before graduating from Muskogee High School.

“I saw something in the paper about a Big Read initiative in Tahlequah that challenged citizens to read more, so I called one of my former teachers – Melanie Carey – along with Jan Bryant at the public library, to see if this could be accomplished in Muskogee,” Hammons says. “Sure enough, high 18

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school students here are required to read 20 specific books from their freshman through senior years, so we prompted adults to read those same books as part of the Mayor’s Reading Challenge.”

The program began in September 2008 and lasted the entire academic year, finishing in May 2009, when the city sponsored an essay contest for adult participants to write about any of the books. The top three essay winners received cash prizes.

“The library really couldn’t keep track of how many people participated in the reading program, but I know that all 20 books were always checked out of the library throughout the year,” Hammons says. “Whenever someone returned a book, someone else

immediately snatched it up.”

Books in the program included Julius Caesar, The Grapes of Wrath, 1984 and The Tortilla Curtain.

“The Giver by Lois Lowry is my personal favorite, so to kick off the program, I posed for a promotional poster that depicts me reading The Giver,” Hammons says. “The message was basically that the mayor enjoys reading in his spare time, so maybe everyone else should give it a try, too.”

What’s Online e Mayor Hammons discusses the reading program he established in a quick video at imagesmuskogee.com.

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rts of all mediums are center stage in Muskogee, and live theater is certainly no exception.

Muskogee Little Theatre, a nonprofit artistic organization that bowed in 1972, presents its productions in the former Sequoyah Elementary School building at the corner of Cincinnati and D streets.

The school cafeteria has been transformed into a staging area and the gold curtains that grace the stage are actually from the old Ritz Theatre in Muskogee that was demolished several years ago.

Muskogee Little Theatre struggled to survive during its early years, but in 1980 finally began scheduling a full season of performances with accompanying season ticket sales.

Since then, several upgrades to the theater building have been made, including adding a painted mural on its west wall and creating basement dressing areas by digging out four feet of dirt underneath the stage.

Other recent improvements include installing a security system and adding central heating and air conditioning.

Each year, the troupe produces four to seven plays during a season that stretches from July to the

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following June. The remainder of the current 2009-10 season includes productions of To Kill a Mockingbird from Oct. 16-24, 2009, The Foreigner from Feb. 12-20, 2010, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast from April 8-18, and Greater Tuna from May 21-29.

Then every June, Muskogee Little Theatre hosts the Milties Awards Ceremony to honor the just-completed season’s best director, actor, actress, character role, production and various

other awards. The theater troupe as a whole has garnered its own share of accolades over the years, including the 2006 Octavision Award that recognizes the Oklahoma community theater with the greatest vision of the future.

What’s more, in 2008 the Muskogee Little Theatre was named Oklahoma Theater of the Year.

The Muskogee ensemble consists of volunteer actors from throughout the community.

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Portfolio

he saying “everything old is new again” certainly rings true in Muskogee, where antiquing is a favorite pastime among both residents and out-of-town visitors.

And for good reason – the city is home to a collection of shops specializing in collectibles, from high-end to flea market offerings, earning the nickname Antique Country.

“A person could spend several days here and still not visit all of the antique stores that Muskogee has to offer,” says Sue Harris, president of the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. The Chamber office and Muskogee Tourist Information Center offer free copies of the Muskogee Shopping Guide, which details all of the town’s antique shops.

“Main Street is anchored by one of the oldest hardware stores in the country – Hoop’s Hardware – and then all the way up Main Street are unusual stores for people to do their antiquing at reasonable prices,” she says. “Those stores are very down to earth. They’re the kinds of places where you can discover that unusual

piece you’ve been looking for.”

One such establishment is Peak’s Place, which is actually a tack shop for cowboys as well as a gift and antique shop. “Owner Henry Peak is almost always on the premises to chat with the customers in his downhome style,” Harris says. “Peak’s Place is a fun adventure where customers can get a true flavor of Muskogee.”

Several larger businesses peddle their wares on U.S. Highway 69, including Old America Antique Mall, McClain Furniture and Scentury Marketplace.

“Muskogee is centrally located in the United States, so if you’re traveling from Texas to Branson [Mo.], as many do, you can come right down Highway 69 and visit dozens of fascinating shops right here in town,” Harris says.

ANTONY BOSHIER

Welcome to Antique Country T

Peak’s Place sells antiques and equestrian equipment.

Good to the Last Crop I f it’s grown or produced in Oklahoma, chances are you can find it at the Muskogee Farmers Market.

Debuting in 1995, the market moved to its current location at Okie Square in April 2007. City leaders say the relocation to Okmulgee Street has contributed greatly to recent downtown revitalization efforts.

Nowadays, the Muskogee Farmers Market is bustling on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and the downtown site has provided increased visibility for vendors. In addition to loads of fresh produce, patrons will find Amish baked goods, grass-fed beef, cut flowers, herbal soaps and soy candles.

Open from the third Saturday in April through October, the market also hosts special events such as Herb Fest, Grill Crazy, Harvest Festival and the Muskogee Salsa Tasting Contest.

But the vendors themselves are one of the more interesting aspects of market days.

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“One of our vendors is a 90-year-old farmer – Durl Doyle – who drives in from Stilwell, hauling all of his produce to market in his own pickup truck,” says Doug Walton, manager of the Muskogee Farmers Market.

John and Pearla Shimack, owners of JPS Farms in Okay, are two more distinctive tenants. Pearla is originally from the Philippines, so the couple grows a variety of more unconventional produce such as bitter melons and Asian green beans.

“We also have a booth run by Maria Ledezma, nicknamed The Tamale Lady, who serves burritos, tortillas and authentic Mexican tamales that are still in their cornhusk wrappers,” Walton says. “In addition, the market features The Wine Guy – Rick Gibbens of Sailing Horse Vineyards in Eufaula – who produces wine with unusual names such as Red Tractor and Bo Peep. Rick does real well at the Muskogee market.”

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River Country Family Water Park

Creating Quite a Splash

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STAFF PHOTO

iver Country Family Water Park has been a refreshing summer destination for Muskogee residents for 10 years.

The park was an instant hit when it opened in 2001 as part of the LoveHatbox Sports Complex. The recreation destination sits on land that once housed an airport.

After the airfield was abandoned, the city of Muskogee decided to convert it into a sports complex, with the water park sitting in the middle of the 400acre site. These days, about 800 people visit River Country each day during the warm-weather months.

Attractions there include two large water slides, a lazy river, swimming pools, a sandy beach and a Crawdad Corner with interactive spray features and slides for small children. A climbing wall is also available for an additional fee.

The pool attracts visitors from up to an hour away, in part because it is sized perfectly for families. It is large enough to satisfy all ages, though not too vast to worry moms and dads.

To celebrate its 10-year anniversary in June 2009, the water park hosted activities such as a fashion show, belly flop contest and (toy) turtle race.

River Country also offers a variety of fundraising opportunities for local charities. The facility also offers summertime swimming lessons and aquatic fitness classes.

The water park is a major attraction throughout the region. City officials estimate that 50 percent of participants who use the facility come from outside of Muskogee within a 30-mile radius.

Only 120 acres of Love-Hatbox are currently being used today, and officials say that the remaining 280 acres are for the city to develop whenever the time is right. – Stories by Kevin Litwin I M AG E S M U S KO G E E . C O M

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Business

GreenCountry

Greener

Gets

ECO-CONSCIOUS INITIATIVES GROW TO BECOME A COMMUNITY HALLMARK

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STORY BY MICHAELA JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

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ortheastern Oklahoma is known as Green Country, and here in the foothills of the state, Muskogee is a green city any way you slice it.

The local government is aggressively promoting environmental responsibility on all fronts, and organizations from health-care providers to educational systems are supporting the efforts through targeted awareness programs and earth-friendly live/work practices.

Project Go Green, the city’s official save-the-planet measure, offers residents and businesses of Muskogee ideas and resources to make green the natural shade of day-to-day living. Recommendations range from cutting back on plastic by carrying reusable water containers to saving energy by washing clothes in cold water.

The community places a strong emphasis on instilling in young people the importance of a sustainable lifestyle, beginning with educational recycling programs in elementary school. The Go Green Initiative is a systemwide awareness and action program implemented in fall 2009 that organizers hope will both open students’ and teachers’ eyes to the need for change environmentally, as well as develop lifelong recycling habits. Plans include establishing an energy patrol, which will recruit students to inspect school buildings for opportunities to be more efficient, and the recycling of materials such as printer cartridges.

So far, the reception of and support for the program has been tremendous, says Wayne Johnson, director of maintenance and facilities for Muskogee Public Schools and chair of the Go Green Initiative committee.

“We’ve tried to do this before, and it was more of an uphill battle, but now I think society is changing. I think that’s one of the things that is great right now, because to have a Go Green Initiative, you can’t just have one or two

people. It has to be everybody involved, or at least a large majority involved,” Johnson says. “The awareness of our young people has really made a big difference. It used to be mostly teachers who had that awareness, but now it is a student-involved – and almost to the point of a student-led – initiative. ” Northeastern State University is also on the crest of the sustainability movement. The school has established Green Notes, a program that offers students tips for green living and brings environmental awareness seminars to campus.

Another sector on the leading edge of Muskogee’s green transformation is health care. Muskogee Community Hospital, which opened in early 2009, is one of the nation’s most environmentally friendly medical facilities.

The hospital is both LEED-certified and the first health-care facility to receive the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Award. According to the EPA, the hospital exceeds the energy efficiency standards for the year 2030.

Avant-garde green features include LED lights with 40,000-hour lives in operating rooms, cork flooring in patient waiting areas, low volatile organic compound paints and glues, and ground source geothermal heating and cooling. Roughly 77 percent of all trash, or more than 1 million pounds of would-be waste, was recycled during the construction of the building.

The facility is ahead of its time now, but when plans began a few years ago, the concept of an eco-friendly hospital was unheard of, says Mark Roberts, hospital president.

“When I first started talking about the fact that we were building a green hospital, people literally would say, ‘What color green?’” Roberts says. “But I don’t want to make it look like we’re geniuses, because it seems at some point, it’s just the right thing to do. And I don’t know who could argue the other side.”

Left: Muskogee Community Hospital is energy efficient even in the operating room. Above: Muskogee Public Schools and the city of Muskogee each have established green initiatives to promote sustainable practices such as recycling.

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Business

Biz Briefs BUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE MUSKOGEE’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Scorecard BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$557,323 Retail sales ($1,000)

$14,135 Retail sales per capita

$58,968 Accommodations and food service sales ($1,000)

2,993

O-I Biz: glass manufacturer Buzz: The largest producer of glass containers in the world, O-I makes bottles for Heinz ketchup and jars for Gerber baby food. The global corporation operates a plant in Muskogee that has been open since 1946 and employs more than 200 trained workers. The Muskogee facility also manufactures glass containers for companies such as Campbell’s‚ Pepsi and Prego. www.o-i.com

ARMSTRONG BANK Biz: family-owned bank Buzz: Founded in Vian in 1909, Armstrong Bank celebrates 100 years of service in 2009.

The regional financial institution has two locations in Muskogee – one downtown on West Broadway and the other on the east side of town on Chandler Road. The bank prides itself on having a strong focus on the needs of the customer and community. www.armstrongbank.com

LAKELAND FLORIST Biz: floral arrangements and gifts Buzz: Lakeland Florist opened in Muskogee 40 years ago in 1960. The flower shop is still family owned today. The business sells arrangements for any occasion, from formal events such as weddings to “just because.” The florist also offers container plants and a selection of gift baskets, including gourmet fruit and one designed for chocolate lovers. www.lakelandflorist.com

CREEK NATION CASINO – MUSCOGEE Biz: gambling destination Buzz: Located on the south side of town, Creek Nation Casino opened in 1993 as a high-stakes bingo hall. Today, the attraction features more than 400 electronic gaming machines and also offers a variety of card games, including blackjack and Texas Hold’em. www.creeknationcasino.net

Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

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Business | Chamber Report

Leading-Edge Leadership MUSKOGEE CHAMBER OFFERS NETWORKING, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

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The Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism staff

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eye-opening way to see that anybody can have access to government.”

Locke’s leadership classmates included a cross section of the community. Thanks to the class, he has colleagues he can call in areas ranging from the gas company to the library, media and state government.

“It’s another way to connect with people outside your usual social circle,” he says.

Each leadership class takes on a project. Locke’s class purchased one of the public art guitars the area is known for and commissioned an artist to paint it and add a tactile dimension before it was put on permanent display outside the Oklahoma School for the Blind.

“It is a beautiful campus, and during our visit there we were so impressed with the school and wanted to help draw attention to it and the work that is done there,” Locke says.

Leadership Muskogee and Youth Leadership classes spend a day visiting the area’s tourist attractions, ensuring locals know what Muskogee offers visitors. Stops include hands-on visits to the area’s five museums.

“We find the majority of them have never seen their own city’s attractions, and they just love this day,” Harris says.

“It’s a great way to help them learn about all the wonderful things Muskogee has to offer.”

– Leanne Libby

ANTONY BOSHIER

he Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism knows enthusiastic residents often are an area’s best ambassadors. To that end, their leadership programs ensure residents have opportunities to get to know the region – and each other, to make a positive difference in Muskogee.

Youth Leadership Muskogee, designed for high school sophomores and juniors, includes a rigorous application process followed by leadership training and a comprehensive education about the community.

When students transition into a full-time career, they can join Muskogee Young Professionals, or MYPros, which began when two area young professionals realized they were blessed with a wealth of young workers but few opportunities for them to forge connections. The hope is that learning about the area early in their careers will help them build connections that encourage them to stay.

“MYPros provides opportunities for them to network and finds community projects for them,” says Sue Harris, president of the Chamber.

Harris says MYPros has experienced strong growth in recent years, with current membership around 250. In addition to spearheading their own events such as a recent football tournament, MYPros also volunteer at events for the Chamber, Harris says.

For adult leadership opportunities, the Chamber provides the Leadership Muskogee program.

“It’s an opportunity for individuals to connect with others and achieve a more dynamic setting in the local community,” says attorney Chad Locke, who went through the program in 2008. “You get an inside look at city government, county government and spend a day at the capitol. It’s an

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Business | Economic Profile

MUSKOGEE BUSINESS CLIMATE Muskogee is the third-largest manufacturing community in Oklahoma. Items produced here include machinery, rubber items, food products and consumer goods. The city also is an important transportation, trade and industrial center in the Arkansas River Valley.

TAX STRUCTURE

0.65% County Sales and Use Tax

4.0% City Sales Tax

4.5% State Sales Tax

9.15% Total Sales Tax

ECONOMIC RESOURCES Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism 310 W. Broadway Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 682-2401 www.muskogeechamber.org Muskogee Development 216 W. Okmulgee St. Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 683-2816 www.muskogee development.org

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

TRANSPORTATION

REAL ESTATE

AIRPORTS

$75,750

Davis Field Airport 1200 Sabre St. Muskogee, OK 74403 (918) 683-0699 Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport One Airport Blvd.

Bentonville, AR 72712 (479) 205-1000 www.nwara.com Tulsa International Airport 7777 E. Apache St. Tulsa, OK 74115 (918) 838-5000 www.tulsaairports.com

Average Home Price

16.09% Home Turnover Percentage

INDUSTRIAL SITES Davis Field 550 acres available EastPointe Business Park 56 acres available John T. Griffin 117 acres available Muskogee Industrial Complex 16 acres available

BUS SERVICE Union-Greyhound 1111 S. Main St. Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 682-1371 www.greyhound.com PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Muskogee County Transit Authority 1320 N. Mill St., No. 126 Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 682-1721 RIVER

Port of Muskogee 180 acres available Southside, 248 acres available

MORE EO ONLINE imagesmuskogee.com More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

Port of Muskogee 4901 Harold Scoggins Drive Muskogee, OK 74403 (918) 682-7886 www.muskogeeport.com RAIL SERVICE

City of Muskogee 227 W. Okmulgee St. Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 682-6602 www.cityofmuskogee.com

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BNSF Railway Co. www.bnsf.com Union Pacific Railroad www.up.com

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Education

Great Minds Think Alike CONSORTIUM BRINGS TOGETHER PUBLIC, PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION

look at specific careers and determine the amount of education you would need and the salary range,” Godwin says. She also notes the consortium’s mission extends to adults as well.

Programs such as the career inventory system can help unemployed or underemployed adults find a fresh path.

Its longevity has made the consortium the go-to group for county leaders with education questions. Chamber representatives and development officials also have joined.

“So you have the heads of all these entities sitting together and talking in a relaxed atmosphere,” Godwin says.

“It’s great for problem-solving and gathering brain power.”

Such cooperation has eased the process of designing curriculum, transferring credits and finding solutions to solve local businesses’ training needs. A recently formed task force can swiftly address staff and training needs resulting from layoffs.

“It’s a quality we almost take for granted,” Godwin says. “We’re not worried about whose student this is or other territorial issues. We all truly believe our community and its development come first.”

– Leanne Libby

STAFF PHOTO

W

orking together as the Muskogee Area Educational Consortium, education representatives from all sectors of Muskogee County have built strong partnerships to offer students greater benefits. The group has become a key gathering place for everyone from early childhood educators through graduate school administrators.

“We are unique,” says Sue Godwin, the group’s co-founder and institutional services coordinator at Indian Capital Technology Center. “We are the only one we’re aware of in the state that meets on a monthly basis.”

After meeting regularly for more than 10 years, Godwin says, the group has a comfort level that helps them cut through red tape as well as work together to achieve education goals benefiting the entire community.

Collegiate members include Northeastern State University, Bacone College and Connors State College. The organization also includes primary and secondary schools within the Haskell, Warner, Hilldale and Fort Gibson systems, as well as area private schools and the Oklahoma School for the Blind.

Career development is a priority for the group, Godwin says.

“We want to help kids understand what careers there are and why they are important,” she says.

For the past two years, the consortium has sponsored a math and engineering competition where students gather at Muskogee Civic Center for competitive math tests and a design contest. The first year, contestants built rubber band cars.

In its second year, the contest challenged students to design mousetrap cars.

Nearly 400 students took advantage of the opportunity to apply their classroom lessons in a creative setting.

The consortium’s latest initiative is a Web-based career inventory system, which helps area students research their interests and career possibilities.

“You can log on, build a portfolio, Three area colleges are members of the educational consortium.

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Arts & Culture

PHOTOS BY ANTONY BOSHIER

Azaleas in bloom at Honor Heights Park

The Community’s Best Buds AZALEA FESTIVAL SPRINGS CITY INTO ACTION

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o one needs a calendar to know when spring arrives in Muskogee. It’s all about the azaleas.

Every April, Honor Heights Park bursts into 40 acres of blooming color for the annual Azalea Festival. The month-long festival draws crowds of roughly 250,000 for a parade, art shows, film festivals and a simple excuse to stop and smell the flora.

The tradition began more than 40 years ago when the city’s parks and recreation superintendent discovered that he could grow the flowering shrubs

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quite successfully.

“In the early days, azalea plants around here were not common,” says Mark Wilkerson, director of the Muskogee Parks & Recreation Department. “It started as kind of something new. The azaleas were unique, and he planted so many of them that it made for really a fascinating show.

So we quickly got a reputation for the Azalea Festival as an event.”

To date, more than 30,000 of the plants have been grown, representing 625 varieties.

The event has blossomed, too, with

many community organizations hosting events throughout the month of April to complement the festivities.

The Flower Power Bike Ride, Flower Power Run and Area Quilters’ Guild Show are among the festival’s most popular spin-offs. Other featured activities include a historic downtown trolley ride, horse and carriage rides through Honor Heights Park and walking and driving tours that visitors can take at their own pace.

Things also heat up on parade day, usually held the second Saturday of April. The Exchange Club Chili and BBQ Cook-Off is one of the Azalea Festival’s most popular activities.

Each year, more than 100 teams compete for prizes and bragging rights. During the 25 years they’ve held the event, the nonprofit Exchange Club has served up 300,000 pounds of barbecue and 20,000 gallons of chili.

More importantly, the club has raised more than $800,000 for local charities.

As a matter of fact, the day of the parade and cook-off draws more visitors to Muskogee than any other day of the year.

“I think the other thing that makes the festival popular and successful is that it’s springtime. We’re coming out of winter, and now it’s springtime, and people are looking for opportunities to get outside and enjoy the springtime weather,” Wilkerson says. “Spring is in the air, and people are wanting to enjoy the beauty of the park.”

Whether warm weather comes early or late, Muskogee residents know that spring hasn’t officially sprung until the azaleas bloom.

– Michaela Jackson

What’s Online e Learn about the flowers, fun and festivities at the Azalea Festival in a quick video at imagesmuskogee.com.

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Sports & Recreation

Three Rivers Run Through It NEW RIVER CENTER PROVIDES BOATERS ACCESS TO NATIONWIDE WATERWAYS

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ever mind the fact that Muskogee is smack dab in the middle of the U.S. of A. Anyone who’s landlocked in this town bears that designation by choice.

The eastern Oklahoma city is connected to just about every port city in the country – and beyond – by the McKlellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The River Center at Three Forks Harbor, a new $12 million facility at the convergence of the Arkansas, Verdigris and Grand rivers, gives recreational boaters access to a vast network of waterways that spreads from New Orleans to the Great Lakes and everywhere in between.

“There’s a great adventure, or at least the opportunity of a great adventure, to take a boat from Three Forks Harbor and go to the Gulf of Mexico if you wanted to, or all over the inland waterways,” says Scott Robinson, port director. “When we travel all over the country and say ‘Port of Muskogee,’ people don’t understand. They say, ‘You’ve got a what? An airport?’ And when they understand that it’s a river port and that you have access to all of the inland waterways in the United States, and to the world, really, through the Gulf of Mexico Port of New Orleans, they’re amazed by that.”

The harbor, one of the only inland ports in the country to offer a 100-ton travel lift for hoisting boats out of the water, draws water enthusiasts from all over.

When harbormaster Wayne McManus and his wife moved to Muskogee from Alabama to run Arrowhead Marina at Three Forks Harbor, they came all the way by boat. And their journey isn’t uncommon.

“A boat just pulled into the marina a few minutes ago that came down from Lake Michigan,” McManus says. “We had a boat leave here last fall that is now docked in California. Two gentlemen left here last week headed for Houston, Texas. One of our regular tenants is currently on the Gulf of Mexico in Orange Beach, Ala. You get the idea.”

The River Center’s primary purpose in Muskogee is to give the community at large recreational access to the same water resources that commercial and industrial outfits have taken advantage of for years. As such, the facility appeals widely to water lovers beyond boaters, offering annual events such as a Cardboard Boat Regatta, a Kids’ Fishing Rodeo, and runs and bike rides along the river. A pier also offers casual anglers the chance to cast a line.

“Sitting outside my office right now, I can see what looks like a grandpa and his grandkids, little ones, and they’re out here on the pier fishing,” Robinson says. “And to see that every day makes me feel like we have accomplished something important to Muskogee and to Oklahoma.” – Michaela Jackson

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Three Forks Harbor, home to the new River Center, draws recreational boaters from Michigan to Alabama.

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Health & Wellness

Nurturing Nurses MUSKOGEE REGIONAL PARTNERS WITH COLLEGE TO BOOST NURSING PROGRAM

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In exchange for funding the chair position, beginning with the 2009 fall semester Bacone is providing 20 tuition scholarships each year for full-time nursing students selected mutually by MRMC and the college. For each semester that a student accepts the scholarship, the student owes six months’ of employment to the hospital.

The MRMC-Bacone partnership is initially for three years, with an automatic three-year renewal.

With Jett sharing her time between the academic and clinical settings, Fulton says the college’s curriculum will be stronger, and the tricky transition for nursing students to the world of hospital care will be easier.

“A majority of nurses right out of school end up leaving their first job within a year,” she says, adding that one of the new program’s goals is “to give them lots of support and mentoring as they embark on their new career to make them successful.” In the future, Fulton says she’d like to see a “nurse residency program,” bringing first-year nurses back to the classroom periodically for instruction and encouragement.

Muskogee Regional is a 329-bed hospital that employs more than 200 nurses, and Fulton says the hospital continually recruits additional nurses at all levels. With 23 medical specialties, the hospital’s services include a Cancer Treatment Center, Rehabilitation Center, emergency services and the Pavilion, a comprehensive mental-health program.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

STAFF PHOTO

f you need to get something done, do it yourself.

That’s the premise behind a new partnership between Muskogee Regional Medical Center and Bacone College that will result in more nursing students at the college and more nurses caring for patients at the largest hospital in the community.

Diane Fulton, MRMC chief nursing officer calls the new program “a win-win.”

“We know that there is a shortage of nurses, and one of the big reasons is because there is a shortage of faculty,” Fulton says. “Instead of waiting for somebody else to solve our problems, we, the hospitals that need the nurses, need to work with the schools to produce more nurses and make sure that they’re successful when they graduate, which will benefit the hospital.”

On June 1, 2009, Stephanie Jett began her new job as MRMC associate chief nursing officer, a half-time position.

The other half of her time is spent as department chair of Bacone’s Billie R. Tower Nursing Program. While Jett was already director of the Bacone program, she vacated that job for the new position, paid for by MRMC.

Muskogee Regional Medical Center

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Community Profile

MUSKOGEE SNAPSHOT Surrounded by rivers, lakes, gardens and woodlands, Muskogee offers residents and visitors a host of reasons to get outside and play. Or venture indoors to one of many arts centers, museums and historical sites.

CLIMATE Oklahoma has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Dry, sunny weather generally prevails throughout the state.

27 F January Low Temperature

48 F January High Temperature

70 F July Low Temperature

95 F

elementary schools, two K-8 schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The city is also home to the Oklahoma School for the Blind, as well as a wealth of institutes of higher education.

HEALTH CARE The 329-bed Muskogee Regional Medical Center offers full inpatient and outpatient services. The 45-bed Muskogee Community Hospital, which opened in 2009, operates as a general acute care facility. The Veterans Affairs Medical Center has 50 beds and offers primary care providers and outpatient services.

Thomas-Foreman Historic Home 1419 W. Okmulgee St. Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 686-6624 The Five Civilized Tribes Museum 1101 Honor Heights Drive Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 683-1701 www.fivetribes.org

MORE EO ONLINE imagesmuskogee.com More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

July High Temperature

EDUCATION

ARTS AND CULTURE

Between them, the two city school districts – Muskogee Public Schools and Hilldale Public Schools – operate a pre-kindergarten center, nine

Three Rivers Museum 220 Elgin St. Muskogee, OK 74401 (918) 686-6624 www.3riversmuseum.com

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1986

Sooner Realty Properties, LLC Phone: (918) 260-5286 E-mail: kamlesh912@gmail.com www.soonerrealtyproperties.com

Specializing in sales of:

Kamlesh Aggarwal Broker/Owner

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Hotels/Motels Office Buildings Land Development Investment Properties

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advertisers Armstrong Bank www.armstrongbank.com Arrowhead Mall www.arrowheadmallmuskogee.com Bethany D. Bowline CPA Inc. PC Dal-Tile www.daltilecareers.com Donna Elliott – Century 21 www.realtor.com Eastern Workforce Investment Board www.easternwib.com

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Greater Muskogee Chamber of Commerce www.muskogeechamber.org Indian Capital Technology Center www.ictctech.com James Hodge Ford www.jameshodgefordlm.com Love Bottling Company www.lvbeverages.com Muskogee Regional Medical Center www.muskogeehealth.com

Gaddy Drug

Sooner Realty Properties

Georgia Pacific Corporation www.gp.com

St. Francis Home Hospice www.saintfrancis.com

Graham-Carroll House www.bbonline.com/ok/grahamcarroll

Tulsa Better Business Bureau www.tulsabbb.org

M U S KO G E E

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M U S KO G E E

I M AG E S M U S KO G E E . C O M

33

Ad Index 8 A R M S TRO N G BA N K

C 4 G R E AT E R M U S KO G E E C H A M B E R O F CO M M E RC E

3 3 A R ROW H E A D M A L L 5 B E T H A N Y D. B OW L I N E C PA I N C . P C 1 9 DA L-TI L E 2 D O N N A ELLI OT T – C E N T U RY 2 1 4 E A S T E R N WO R K FO R C E I N V E S T M E N T B OA R D 3 3 GA D DY D R U G 3 1 G EO RG I A PAC I FI C CO R P O R ATI O N 1 G R A H A M - C A R RO L L H O U S E

32 I N D I A N C A P ITA L T EC H N O LO GY C E N T E R 8 JA M E S H O D G E FO R D 5 LOV E B OT T LI N G CO M PA N Y C 2 M U S KO G E E R EG I O N A L MEDICAL CENTER 32 SO O N ER R E A LT Y P RO P ERTI E S 3 0 S T. FR A N C I S H O M E H OS P I C E 2 1 T U L SA B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E AU