2019 January We Are Sand Springs Magazine

Jan - Feb 2019

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Index Letter From The Editor Finding Joy in 2019 Senior In The Spotligh: Aden Baughman Letter From City Manager New To The Scene: Xcape the Quandary Sand Springs Atletics: Baskeyball & Wrestling Construction Updates Where Are They Now: Forrest Crawford Sandite Chatter We Are Sand Springs Calendar Sandites in Service: Student Council Setting Healthy Goals

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A new year seems to bring such anticipation.

We make big declarations of fitness goals, relationship binding, and lifestyle changes at the start of the year and I think that sometimes our aspirations are so grand that we forget the details that will go into making the changes in our lives. In 2019, I purposely am making my goal be one that will have effects in my life that will ripple into other areas.

This year, I aspire to find Joy. Just JOY! Sounds simple but I bet this goal will shine a light into areas in my life that need a little polishing. I would consider myself to be a happy person, as it is, but joy is different than happiness. My goal isn't happiness but pure joy in life.

I invite you to join me this year as I look for joy in the little things each day. “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.�

- Mark Twain

Danielle Myers

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Finding Joy in 2019

FINDING JOY IN 2019!

There are so many ways to find joy in Sand Springs. This edition of We Are Sand Springs we give you a few things to find joy in right here in town. Do you know of an organization or individual spreading joy in Sand Springs? We want to know about it, email us at info@wearesandsprings.com.

Take time today to find joy in your life and community. Opportunity to be joyous is all around us every day. We just have to train ourselves to see it.

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Shop Local You can find these offers and more @ We Are Sand Springs on Facebook under offers!

www.facebook.com/WeAreSandSprings January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 7

Senior In The Spotlight

Aden Baughman

A mere 16% of applicants get accepted into the the USATF Junior Olympic Nationals, Baughman won United States Air Force Academy every year. that 800 meter run as well.

Among the applicants holding their breath and Yet, athletics pose only half the battle for those waiting to hear whether they’ll make it in is our newest looking to become one of the few to make it into the Senior In the Spotlight Aden Air Force Academy. The Air Baughman.

“There’s a lot of trails for a lot of different Force looks at everything when choosing their elite, including things. One day it will be a Katy Trail kind of Baughman is hoping to run academics, athletics, and overall his way into Colorado Springs, day. It’s nice, flat, straightforward and we can character. They’re looking for a do a lot of distance on that.” all with the help of his academic well-rounded individual. success and championship speed on the track at Sand Springs Public Schools.

Baughman showed us that in his interview.

Running cross country and track for Charles Page High School, the soon-to-be honor graduate also runs in an outside-the-school indoor track league, in which he holds the 800 meter Oklahoma Indoor Track record for.

He tells us he loves Sand Springs, the opportunities he’s been presented, the teachers who have guided him along his way, and the friend’s he’s made. He even says Sand Springs Parks have provided him tons of opportunities to get a good run in.

A decorated athlete through and through, “There’s a lot of trails for a lot of different things.

Baughman is used to winning. In the 2017 Class 6A State One day it will be a Katy Trail kind of day. It’s nice, flat, Meet, Baughman took home the state championship in straightforward and we can do a lot of distance on the 800 meter run. Later that year, after qualifying for that.”

Aden Baughman

Senior In The Spotlight

But running is only half of Baughman’s story. He’s also a physics fanatic, hoping one day to achieve a career in aeronautics… maybe NASA?!

He and some of his Sand Springs running friends have spent their free time building rockets. Currently, they’re constructing a 12-inch aircraft … all with the support of their peers and teachers.

With such lofty aspirations, Baughman says home will always be home. Sand Springs is a place he says he’s never wanted to leave behind.

“At some point after I retire and I get old, I want to come back here and help with the cross country and track program like my coaches did. It’s just home to me, really. It’s where I’ve grown up, it’s where I’ve learned how people are.”

His Sand Springs coaches were both military… Cross Country Head Coach and Mayor Mike Burdge and his indoor track coach and past Angus Valley Elementary Coach Chris Corbin.

But even bigger than his dreams for his future, he says he wants to give a piece of advice for younger students in the school system…

“It’s never too early to start thinking about your future. You can change your mind, but that’s why you start early. The earlier you start, the better it is.”

“It’s never too early to start thinking about your future. You can change your mind, but that’s why you start early. The earlier you start, the better it is.”

January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 9

CITY OF SAND SPRINGS Letter by City Manager Elizabeth Gray

Dear Citizens, Happy New Year! It is a great privilege to continue to serve you and an honor to add my name to the list of those who have served as City Manager for the City of Sand Springs! I appreciate the dedicated employees of our city and our local business men and women working tirelessly toward a bright and prosperous 2019 for our community.

The vision of industry and philanthropy held by our founder Charles Page continues to thrive; and men and women are following in the steps of our former Mayor John M. Hess and working toward Sand Springs’ consistent and orderly growth.

Our citizens and children are blessed with a host of names that encourage us as philanthropists, athletes, astronauts, educators, artists, sculptors, scientists, engineers, mathematicians, soldiers, policemen, firemen, businessmen, farmers, ranchers, industrialists, entertainers, ministers, attorneys, judges, friends, and neighbors.

The City of Sand Springs was incorporated as a city in 1912, just five years after statehood. This year we will celebrate 107 years of prosperity and fellowship!

Our City Council is elected by a vote of the people and serve without compensation. I would like to personally thank each of our Councilors for their gifts of time and talent to our community.

Sincerely,Elizabeth A. Gray City Manager City of Sand Springs

January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 11

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uzzles, riddles, and clues, OH MY! Sand Springs has it’s very own Escape Room, Xcape the Quandary; and we have Thomas and Zaneta Tucker to thank for it. An escape room is a physical activity that requires the participants look into the clues, and solve the puzzles to effectively, escape the room.

Xcape the Quandary currently has two games available with a third in the works for early March. Missing is the beginning level room where the participants play a detective attempting to find a missing girl. Escaping the 20th floor is a much more challenging room; where participants attempt to escape an elevator and the 20th floor of a hotel while a fire threatens to consume the building and an escaped convict is on the loose.

In April Thomas and Zaneta Tucker plan to have mobile escape rooms available to rent on site where larger parties can run through 15 minute mini-games of a hostage situation or outbreak scenario.

Thomas and Zaneta have a large family and focus their efforts on providing the community with opportunities for families to work and communicate together.

“We decided to open up in Sand Springs because we thought it would be nice to have more things for families to do together locally. Escape rooms in general are great family building relationship and team building activities.”

We look forward to seeing Thomas and Zaneta succeed in the Sand Springs community and to see their impact on the familial quality time of the Sandites we know and love!

January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 15

US-412/US-64/SH-51 Bridge Rehab over Adams Road The $3.4 million bridge rehabilitation project to replace the US-412/US-64/SH-51 bridge decks and portions of the substructures over Adams Road that began Feb. 5, 2018, has now been completed and lanes have been opened to traffic. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says the on-ramp near Arby’s in downtown Sand Springs entering eastbound to Highway 412 has also been opened.

YOUTH BASEBALL AND SPLASHPAD Parking Lots Project in Case Community Park Work continuing to be done at the Youth Baseball Field and new Splash Pad parking lots. Both lots will be created this winter, adding modernized parking for the upcoming 2019 seasons!

KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST Bathrooms

MORROW ROAD Widening Project Earlier this fall Crossland Heavy Contractors was awarded the $1.4M construction contract for the Morrow Road Widening project by the City of Sand Springs. Crews and equipment are mobilized crews and equipment to the site on the Monday following Thanksgiving.

The project will rebuild Morrow Road from Broad Street to Highway 97. The primary elements include removal of the existing 2-lane asphalt roadway, relocating an existing sanitary sewer force main, extending a new gravity sanitary sewer main, extending a new water main, and widening the roadway to 3-lanes of concrete paving.

In order to complete these work elements to coincide with the planned spring 2019 opening of the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center, crews will begin utility work on the east (HWY 97) end while simultaneously beginning roadway work on the west (Broad Street) end of the project.

During the process, portions of Morrow Road will be closed throughout the schedule, which is scheduled to conclude before March 1, 2019, dependent on weather and associated construction delays.

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Public restrooms are in the works for Keystone Ancient Forest, according to Grant Gerondale with the City of Sand Springs. Currently the city is in the concept/design stage and is planning the project out. There currently is no timeline on when it could start or be completed.

BILLIE A. HALL PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER New Building Crews are still working to build the site of what will be a courtroom, fire training and conference areas, and an emergency operations center in the Sheffield Crossing area just to the east of Highway 91 before you get to Broad Street. The $10.7 million project is expected to be completed in mid-April 2019.

HIGHWAY 97 Trails The Highway 97 trails look to be completed. The project mostly wrapped up in the fall of 2018. TJ Davis with the City of Sand Springs Public Works Department says final approval and inspections still need to be done by ODOT, and he will meet with them once that happens. The newly-constructed trails now take you from 41st Street by Reasor’s all the way to the Arkansas River Bridge.

January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 19

Where are they now?

Forrest Crawford

Where Are They Now? Crawford was inducted into the 2006 SSEF Hall of Fame, a 1970 graduate of Charles Page High School.

Before his high school years, Crawford grew up in an all black neighborhood south of the railroad tracks, referred to as the Booker T Washington neighborhood (not to be confused with the Tulsa high school), attending the neighborhood school in the process.

I grew up in a largely segregated community, down south of the river, just across the railroad tracks.

When it came time for high school, Crawford said Sand Springs had started integrating schools the mid1960s. Though name calling and some pushing and shoving in the hallways came as the price tag, Crawford said his time at Charles Page High School wasn’t as significant as you might think, with sports propelling him through his time there.

I played football, I wrestled, and I ran track throughout my entire career of schooling.

Teachers, coaches, and administration alike…

Crawford tells us he remembers many of them making a difference in Sand Springs. Just to name a few….

Wrestling Coach Bobby Lyons.

Debate and Public Speaking Coach C.W. Mangrum.

English Humanities Teacher Mr. Huff.

Teacher Margaret White.

Crawford graduated Charles Page High School and went to play football at the collegiate level at

Northeastern A&M Junior College in Miami, Oklahoma, being named team captain during his two-year tenure there.

Then, urged by a NEO assistant coach to finish out his football career at another college where the coach

I grew up in a largely segregated community, down south of the river, just across the railroad tracks. had accepted a new position, Crawford’s mother put him on a Greyhound bus in the summer of 1972 and sent him to Ogden, Utah, to attend Weber State College.

With two more years of football under his belt and another team captain title, Crawford stayed one more year after his football years to get his Sociology degree… a feat which he says was significant because most players wouldn’t finish and get their degrees.

A Master’s Degree from the University of Utah Graduate School of Social Work followed, along with a move back to Weber State College in 1977 to work as the school’s Clinical Social Worker, Counselor, and Advisor to African American students.

While at Weber State College, Crawford had the chance to take classes, and eventually leave for Brigham Young University (BYU) to get his Doctorate of Education.

To say Crawford was “involved” during his time in Utah would be an understatement.

Forrest Crawford

Where are they now?

If I was to leave a thought to aspiring teachers, community leaders, and students who are growing up to be leaders in the Sand Springs community, I would use a mantra I have heard many times over, ‘Care No Matter What.’

In 1991, he founded Utah’s first MLK Junior Human Rights Commission, and for that, he was awarded with high honors in Washington D.C., crowned with the National MLK Human Rights Award.

Weber State College, now Weber State University, became his home where he continues to teach to this day.

In the mid 1990s, Crawford became a member of the International Society for Teacher Educators, eventually rising to become the organization’s Secretary General from 2009-2014. This alone allowed him to see the world, sending him to more than 30 different countries.

Though other awards accompanied Crawford’s career, he says he still hasn’t forgotten where he came from. He tells us he still keeps in touch with some of his Class of 1970 classmates, and even nominated his classmate Dianne Dinkel to win the SSEF Hall of Fame bid in 2013, which she did.

When asked what Crawford would leave the students, community, and future leaders of Sand Springs, he told us this: If I was to leave a thought to aspiring teachers, community leaders, and students who are growing up to be leaders in the Sand Springs community, I would use a mantra I have heard many times over, ‘Care No Matter What.’

January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 21

#wearesandsprings

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The Sand Springs Rotary Club's Annual Chili Cook Off is right around the corner.

Friday, February 22nd 11:30am - 1pm @ Case Community Center On February 22nd, 2019 dozens of members of Sand Springs' local philanthropic chapter of the Rotary Club will gather with their homemade chili to compete for your tastebuds and votes.

Arrive to the competition on time as this event, for many years, has been very well attended and chili is available while supplies last.

Good luck Rotarians! May the best chili win.

Tickets are $10

January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 23 July 2018

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NEW YEARS DAY

DRESS UP YOUR PET DAY

KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm

2 SSPS PROFESSIONAL DAY: NO SCHOOL

21 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY: SSPS NO SCHOOL

3 STUDENTS RETURN TO CLASS

7 SAND SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPEN FORUM At Tulsa Technology Center from 12-1P.M.

28 SAND SPRINGS MUSEUM TRAVELING "ALL BLACK TOWNS " EXHIBIT FROM OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY January 28-April 2

21 BOYSCOUT TROOP 507 MULCH SALES BEGIN Jan 21- Feb 18

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10 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm

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SAND SPRINGS SALVATION ARMY: 5th Grade and Up Volleyball Sign Ups Start First Week of February!

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Happy New Year!

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GROUNDHOG DAY

CPHS CAREER FAIR

ANNUAL ROTARY CHILI COOK OFF AT CASE COMMUNITY CENTER

2-3 SAND SPRINGS COMMUNITY THEATRE: ALADDIN AUDITIONS

14 VALENTINE'S DAY

23 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE: DOG DAY From 8am - 2pm

3 SUPER BOWL LIII

17 NATIONAL RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS DAY

4 SAND SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPEN FORUM At Tulsa Technology Center from 12-1P.M.

18 PRESIDENTS DAY: SSPS NO SCHOOL

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9 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. " - Helen Keller January 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 25

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Healthy Goals, Expectations & Finding Joy

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e have all had those years…. you know, the years where we make a New Year’s resolution and break it by the end of January 2nd. We say to ourselves, “next year” and the year comes and goes with the blink of an eye.

In 2019 collectively, we say “no more.” For most individuals, we learn how to set goals when we are young. Some are achievable, some are a little more far fetched. But what is a good model for creating goals? How do we know if they are too far fetched or if they are stretching us as human beings?

The SMART model has been around for ages, created by George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham in the 1981 issue of Management Review. The article entitled “There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management goals and objectives" outlined a way to create Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Goals that have these traits tend to be goals that are not only within our capabilities, but tend to stretch our abilities and makes achieving goals a regular part of life.

“Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments.”

We hold expectations for others, for food, even the movies we go see, and especially for ourselves.

Over time, simply because we are human, we fail the expectations we hold for ourselves. When these expectations are not lived up to, there is a kind of inequality to the relationship we hold with our best self. When we hold the inequality inside of ourselves, the feelings turn from disappointments to resentments.

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"Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments."

Keeping a running list of expectations for ourselves and speaking them into the light allows us to keep the expectations in check. How often do we realize that the expectations we hold for ourselves, the expectations others hold for us, and the busy daily schedules we try to keep are filling up our lives to the point of exhaustion? Forgiving ourselves is key to living a joyful life in 2019.

Finding Joy While the year is still new, take time to notice the beauty around you. Too many times we blink and the year is gone before us. The key to finding joy in 2019 is not in the grand gestures, rather it is in the minute details of daily life. Rarely can we take a 6 month sabbatical to immerse ourselves in nature; but multiple times a day we have 30 seconds at a stop light to take a look around and give thanks. A mentor of mine regularly participates in “Stoplight Prayers,� giving thanks for the time and opportunity at a stoplight to enjoy God’s creation.

It is these small actions and daily disciplines that allow for the joy in our lives to present itself.

And this is truly what I believe, that joy is always in our lives, we simply need to take the time to notice it.

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