Ponca City Monthly April 2021 by Ponca City Monthly

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APRIL 2021

GROWING A CITY WIDE LANDSCAPE ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Ponca City Country Club Scores Hole In One Coach Kristin Smith Celebrates 30 Years Sexual Assault Awarness Month

VIEW DIGITAL EDITION AT PONCACITYMONTHLY.COM April 2021 1

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April 2021

APRIL 2021

FEATURES

10 Coach Measures Success

With Heart Rather than Hardware Coach Kristin Smith Celebrates 30

Years with Ponca City Hi-Steppers

Landscaping a City with Ponca City Horticulture Department

14 Cityscaping

20 Stars Aligning in Fairfax

Hollywood Descends on Osage County

31 The Rules Lawyer Holds Court Promoting Board Gaming in Ponca City 52 Hole In One Investment in Historic Club Renews

Enthusiasm, Activity

53 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Staggering Statistics for Ponca City

GARDENING

7 Growing Good Mental Health

Finding Solace and Healing Through Plants 27 Backyard Gardener Get Your Garden Ready for Spring

19 Master Gardeners

•

VOL. 2 NO. 4

FOOD 56 Scalloped Potatoes

Perfect for Easter Dinner

62 Taste Of The Town Jalapeno Grill

CALENDARS

36 April Around Town Local Event Calendar

51 Chamber Link

April Chamber Events

34 Sounding Off

Music in & Around Ponca City

49 ARTSPACE

The Art of Michelle Wittmer

EDUCATION

41 Mathematics

Education Month Erika Johnson with Pioneer Tech is a Math Champion

Planting the Seed and Paving the Way

42 Pioneer Tech Spring Open

60 Plants for Pleasure

61 Education Corner

For a New Generation of Gardeners

Annual Plant Sale

HEALTH & BEAUTY

45 What Your Tongue Says About Your Health

46 Four Tips To Get You Motivated

HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT 28 Stew on That

by Rachel Stewart

28 Crossword Puzzle 44 Crossword Puzzle Answers 58 Ponca City Monthly’s Geocash 4

April 2021

Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Wagner Associate Editor & Advertising Director Robyn Ryan Staff Writers Carey Head Jennifer Vaughan Brenda Baugh Jay Wagner Lauren Payne Ad Designers Robyn Ryan Kelsey Wagner

ARTS

Publishing Company MyMediaMatters Marketing Agency

Enrollment Underway Jump Start Your Future College Life

BOOK REVIEWS

32 Adult Book Review

Back from Death’s Doorstep

3 Children’s Book Review 3 Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11

Magazine Designer Andrew Hicks Copy Editor Sherry Cable Staff Photographer Jay Wagner Lauren Payne Office Manager Brenda Baugh Contributing Writers Paul Muehlberg Rachel Stewart Patrick Jordan Adam Leaming Lorrie Layton Kat Long Steve Scott Jacque Blackwell Nancy Laffey Kera Kester Carol Conner Brandy Valentine John Andrew Sherry Muchmore Terri Busch Erika Johnson Circulation Manager Brenda Baugh

© MyMediaMatters, LLC, dba Ponca City Monthly 2021. For permission to reproduce any article in this magazine, contact admin@my-mediamatters.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Letter From the Editor

Planting Seeds I do something I call “planting seeds.” Yes, I do plant physical seeds, but the seeds I’m referring to here are metaphorical seeds. That’s the only way I know how to describe what I consider a very proactive method to put my thoughts, ideas and vision out to the world in the hopes that others may share in my vision, and my ideas will come to fruition. How do I plant seeds? I share. I share my thoughts, ideas, dreams and visions. Not all the time, but I look for those rare opportunities when the moment is right. Sometimes it puts me in a vulnerable place. Sometimes it may make me appear a bit detached from reality or overly zealous. It takes practice and gumption to share your innermost dreams. But the more you do it, the easier it gets.

And things that I’ve shared have come to fruition! Most are small. But a few are BIG. One conversation about my dream to start a magazine made all the difference in the world, and brought me my amazing employee, Robyn Ryan. If I hadn’t shared my vision with her, Ponca City Monthly may not even exist. Many people feel in order to make something happen, they must do it themselves. Perhaps they feel they have ownership in the idea or they feel they are the only one capable enough to do it. I will say this, if you keep your ideas hidden away locked in a dark room, they will not grow. Just like plants and people, your ideas need sunshine, water, fertile ground and love in order to thrive. So take my advice — dream BIG, share your ideas, be vulnerable, don’t be afraid to fail and open yourself and your ideas up to others. Now get out there, plant some seeds and watch them grow.

editor@poncacitymonthly.com FREE PUBLICATION

APRIL 2021

GROWING A CITY WIDE LANDSCAPE ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Ponca City Country Club Scores Hole In One Coach Kristin Smith Celebrates 30 Years Sexual Assault Awarness Month

VIEW DIGITAL EDITION AT PONCACITYMONTHLY.COM

ON THE COVER

Pictured on the cover: Brandy, Terri and Sara From the Ponca City Horticulture Division see Cityscaping on Page 14 Photography and Design by: Andrew Hicks

Ponca City Monthly is a Member of the Society of Professional Journalists. We believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. We strive to ensure a free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. We pledge to: Seek the Truth, and Report It; Minimize Harm; Act Independently; and to Be Accountable and Transparent. To read our full pledge, visit: spj.org/ethicscode.asp

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April 2021

Growing Good Mental Health Finding solace and healing through plants

Story Contributed by Jacque Blackwell, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate Photos by Lauren Payne/Staff Photographer

Mental health. Plants. Do the two go together? This mental health professional says, “Absolutely!” I grew my green thumb nearly a year ago. Before that, I killed succulents and aloe plants like it was a sport. I couldn’t keep anything alive to save my life! I even tried my hand at gardening. I planted these beautiful yellow mums that were supposed to be indestructible. They died in my yard about two to three weeks in. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong (actually, I was just neglecting them … oops). I have worked in the mental health field for about 3 ½ years. I’ve worked with hundreds of children and families, helping them process their feelings and thoughts and teaching them the dreaded word every teen and even some adults (like me) hate: coping skills. As a regular, everyday individual who struggles with her own mental health, I hate the word “coping skill.” It’s dumb. For years, I taught these skills and at some point, deep breathing can only get you so far. It wasn’t until last year when I didn’t think I would make it, that I realized that coping skills go much deeper than just “deep breathing.” Last year, COVID-19 hit. We were all stuck at home, not able to leave, expected to do our jobs at home, all while homeschooling our children. I didn’t want to hang out with my friends, and I was too afraid to see my family. These “coping skills” I tried just weren’t working and my anxiety was getting out of control. Then the worst thing that could possibly happen, happened. My father was diagnosed with Leukemia in March and died in May. What was going on? I thought COVID-19 had a good hold on my anxiety before and the world said, “hold my beer.” That month was a complete blur to me and as the days went by I remember thinking, “I have got to do something to control this, and I need to feel grounded.” Nothing in my life made sense at that point, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to find joy in anything. My sister-in-law was pressuring me to get a plant, of all things. She brought two plants from her MASSIVE collection. I told her I

would kill them. For some reason after that, she took me to Lowe’s and bought me several plants. At this point, I’m thinking, “Well, it’s your money and if that’s how you want to waste it …” THEN her friend comes over and brings me ANOTHER plant. THEN my sister brought me cuttings of a pothos and I thought, “This thing doesn’t even have roots … ?” Out of guilt and a little curiosity, I decide to at least try, because they’re gifts, and I shouldn’t kill things that were gifted to me. Before you know it, I was spending hours on the internet researching how much sunlight a pothos needs, how many times I needed to water a nerve plant and what the heck am I supposed to do with a croton? I was even looking up the long scientific names and figuring out the different families each type of plant

See Growing Continued page 8

April 2021

Growing Continued from page 7

belonged to. One morning I woke up, looked at my plants and saw a houseplants can reduce cortisol levels (the chemical in your body that little leaf curling into existence. That was the day I became hooked. I produces stress) even more so than reading a book. Gardening can wanted to get more plants and buy more pots and soil and fertilizer. also help burn some calories! Starting a plant collection has helped I felt grounded for the first time since my father’s tragic passing. I can me be more social with others (join my plant group on Facebook: proudly say that I have handfuls Plant People of Kay County). of plants that I’ve kept alive As a mental health therapist, I try my best to not only focus for over eight months! on feelings but all aspects of wellness. Therapy isn’t a “one size Now, I know all of us are fits all” experience. I could teach someone mindfulness all day, anxiously awaiting the arrival but it’s going to look different with each person. We are living of Spring, and for the flowers in unprecedented times (remember that word cortisol, we’re to bloom and the trees to stressed!). I’m surprised not everyone is in therapy at this point, turn green. Close your eyes because it seems like this world is going for a moment and think crazy! So about that. How does that whether it is make you feel? Now imagine houseplants, walking into your house on a gardening, gloomy, cold day, but you’re working out, welcomed with green, happy maybe you’re plants. I feel like it’s spring every time I’m in my living room, learning (the chemical in your body that produces even though it’s been pretty disastrous outside this winter. how to bake stress). bread, do A 2015 study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that interacting with indoor plants may reduce something psychological and physiological stress, and other studies have for yourself to shown that just gazing at a plant in your office can reduce anxiety help you recharge during these stressful times. Taking care of plants levels (that’s why I have a huge snake plant in my office!). Not only has shown me the importance of taking care of myself, and it’s a that, but plants can bring more air flow into your home and purify reminder to practice self-care. the air from harsh chemicals. So what reason do you have to NOT My life, my body and my mind are important, and I have to take care get a houseplant? Gardening has also shown a plethora of physical of it the only way that I know how – with plants! and emotional wellness, as well. Gardening and taking care of

Gardening and taking care of houseplants can reduce cortisol levels

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Coach Measures Success with Heart Rather than Hardware Coach Kristin Smith Celebrates 30 Years Story by Carey Head/Staff Writer

ne of Ponca City’s winningest coaches has the ribbons, trophies, bowl game invitations and the national reputation which publicly acknowledge her success. For Kristin Smith, the true reward is the longstanding relationships she enjoys with her team members. This year marks the 30th consecutive year Kristin has coached the Ponca City High School dance and drill team known as the Po Hi-Steppers. Each 36-member team, comprised of returning and new dance athletes, is shaped by Kristin’s dedication to respect, discipline, pride and academic performance excellence. Over her coaching career, Kristin has affected hundreds of lives both on and off the floor.

In addition to Hi-Steppers, Kristin Smith is an English teacher at Ponca City High School. She and her husband Don Bohon have been married for 22 years. Their children are Luke, Po-Hi freshman, and Rheagan, a student at East Middle School. Both students are active in the orchestra, as well as district and traveling team sports. Donnie is Chief of Ponca City Police. (Photo by Jes McIntosh)

10 April 2021

She reflected over the three decades of coaching teams of 36 dancers in a recent Zoom meeting. “One of the absolute best parts of coaching for so long is the relationship I have with the girls 10, 15 years after this is all over,” Kristin shares. “Those re l at i o n s h i p s are priceless. Weddings, baby showers – if those girls, so many years after high school, still want me to be part of their lives then heck yeah, I’m going to be there. I want to be there for their big events.” Kristin joined the Ponca City High School faculty two years after graduating Oklahoma State University in 1989 with a bachelor’s

degree in English. As a stipulation of the teaching contract, the English teacher also would acquire the Po Hi-Stepper Coach title. As a former Hi-Stepper, Kristin was excited for the chance to coach the sport she loved.

Drill team is classified as a sport and is under the supervision of the Athletic Director. Kristin believes this business relationship helped lay the foundation for her coaching career success. “Jerry Runyan was the first Athletic Director,” Kristin says. “Basically, I was a kid out of college. I didn’t have a lot of teaching experience, a m lot of coaching fro e, ar s er pp Ste 2020-2021 Po Hiexperience. He Senior members of the Abby ia Aguilar (Lieutenant), en ss Ye , ks Hic was awesome zie er kin wv left, Ma in), Chloe La Torran Cremers (Capta and just a really Anderson (Lieutenant), mille Busch Ca d an , (Lieutenant) lls good mentor.” We n yto Pe t), an ten (Lieu by Jes) (Lieutenant). (Photo by

aphy Jes McIntosh, Photogr

She explains how Jerry taught

See Hi-Stepper Continued on page 12

Life's Valuable Lessons

Learned From Kristin Smith Story by Carey Head/Staff Writer

A number of former officers shared lessons learned from Coach Smith on and off the dance floor, as well as favorite memories. It’s a tribute to Kristin and the lasting affect her guidance has had on their lives.

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Ms. Smith has shown me more life skills than I can count. She is a prime example of a role model, and I hope one day to have an impact on my community as she has in Ponca. Torran Cremers Captain, 2020-21 She always taught me to push myself and never settle for anything less than my best. She also taught me many life lessons of responsibility, hard work, teamwork and leadership. Makenzie Cummings Captain, 2019-20 A few big lessons were the importance of discipline: Sometimes you can try your absolute best and it still isn’t good enough to get what you want. And hard work will pay off in the end even if it’s not in the way or at the time you were expecting. Being Ms. Smith’s niece there were tons of special memories I had with her on the team. One is definitely finally winning Nationals my senior year as Captain. But the one that sticks out the most was marching off the field for the last time after performing the best kick in my Hi-Stepper career and embracing her in a hug before I was even finished whistling everyone off. We were both crying because we knew our time on the team together was coming to an end, but I know we were both so Captain Katherine Parr is embraced by Coach Kristin thankful to get to share Smith after the final home football game high-kick perthis passion. formance. The two celebrated the evening's milestone, Katie Parr as well as their family tie. Kristin is Katherine's aunt. Parr is a 2018 graduate of Ponca City High School.. Captain, 2018-19 (Photograph by Mert Marten)

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Lessons Continued on page 13 April 2021

Hi-Stepper Continued from page 10

her how to balance discipline and motivation with enthusiasm and fun. “He explained, ‘This is how you build a program. This is how you get kids interested. This is how you keep kids interested.’ He was just so willing to talk to me any time I had a question.” Jerry returns the compliment to his then new Stepper coach. “People who are successful are people who can mix motivation and discipline and make it work. And these were the two qualities I saw i n her,” he says in a recent telephone interview. “Some people use too much discipline and turn kids off. (Kristin) was a goal setter and didn’t tolerate mediocrity. I think that was a key to the program’s success. She supplied the motivation and the discipline. When I would visit other schools and see the other girls and, they didn’t quite

match our kids.” Kristin is a 1985 Po-Hi graduate and was coached by Po-Hi English teacher and accomplished athlete LeeAnn Cavener. Kristin describes the experience as rewarding. “My years as a Stepper were so positive, so many fond memories, and I wanted that for the kids.” In an email interview, LeeAnn admits coming into the Stepper coach job cold. “My hiring (as English teacher) was contingent upon taking the Hi-Steppers. I had no idea what I was getting into! My background included sports, band and twirling, not dance.” She coached the Steppers from 1978-85. During that time the HiSteppers performed to live music provided by Po-Hi’s Big Blue Marching Band rather than recorded music. Her teams performed at the World’s Fair in New Orleans, on the State Capitol lawn, during halftimes at OSU and at national competitions, “which we won,” she adds. After her retirement from coaching the squad, LeeAnn explains the new coaches in the intervening years before Kristin took command, “were intent on making the group their own and using their own backgrounds as the model for what they wanted the organization to be.” She continues, “When Kristin took over, she recognized the importance of traditions, the expectations of the fans and community, and the benefits of a quality organization that required discipline and teamwork.”

The 2018-19 Po-Hi Steppers were photographed in a casual portrait of 2018 while on the steps of the Marland Mansion. This team went on to be crowned National Champions at the last American Dance/Drill Team national competition held at the University of North Texas in Denton. The pandemic has caused the cancellation of the 2020 national competition with travel restrictions affecting team participation in the 2021 event. This means the 2018-19 squad continues to reign as national champions. (Photo by Jes McIntosh, Photography by Jes)

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The six years between LeeAnn’s retirement from coaching in 1985 and Kristin becoming coach in 1991 brought a few changes to the Stepper program. The result is that Coach Smith inherited a different level of team discipline than the one

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she experienced. “I will just say that things had gotten very lax before I took over. When I was on the drill team it was very strict, very disciplined and I coach like I was coached: (you are) Ladies at all times, on time, good grades, expectations. When I took over the discipline wasn’t there. And I can tell you my first team straight up hated me.” She continued, “I’m not just teaching them to be great dancers. I’m teaching them about life lessons, how to be great citizens, their worth and what it means to be a young lady in these times. “I’ve always lived by the rule, ‘You can be on this team as long as you don’t bring disrespect to the team. You bring disrespect to the team, then you are no longer on the team.’”

the gym. It’s a whole other facet that when I was 21, I never even thought about.

“I’m not just teaching them to be great dancers. I’m teaching them about life lessons, how to be great citizens, their worth and what it means to be a young lady in these times."

This philosophy extends to her team’s use of social media and the policy she felt compelled to enact. “I cannot allow on social media what I would not allow in the gym. I would not allow names, foul language in

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“Social media is the devil. It just is,” Coach Smith states flatly. “The problem is with social media you no longer have a safe place. If someone was mean to you, bullying you, then you could get away from it at home. But you can’t get away from it anymore. And it is constant, and it is really very, very hard for girls to navigate, especially at this age.”

Many things have changed in the years since Kristin’s Stepper career began in high school. But the inspiration remains the same. Her former Coach LeeAnn Cavener explains it best: “Kristin worked harder than any Stepper ever. She had a tremendous drive and dedication that is evident in the quality of the team she has maintained for 30 years. She also recognizes, having grown up in Ponca City herself, that being a Po Hi-Stepper was the dream of many young girls and recognizes the awesome responsibility that holds for over three decades!”

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Continued from page 11 One of my favorite memories was sitting down with Ms. Smith and talking before National’s performances. There was a special connection I felt after working hard all year, being a senior, reminiscing on my time as a Hi-Stepper and Captain and being able to talk about life with my talented coach.

Emily Ponce Captain, 2016-17

Coach Kristin Smith taught all of her girls the importance of being a teammate and having respect. She was strict, but cared for each one of us. Before every performance, she gave each of us a high-five and said, “good luck!” (even though none of her Steppers needed luck for their routine; we could do it in our sleep). She truly is one of the most amazing coaches that I am so lucky I got to know personally. In the words of my late father, “Po-Hi Rocks!” Julie Wheeler Cordell Captain, 2004-2005

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GROWING A CITY WIDE LANDSCAPE t starts with a seed, or in this case 50,000 seeds.

Tucked away out of sight, located just behind the former Parks and Recreation main offices are three tiny greenhouses. From the outside, they appear nondescript. Measuring roughly 20 foot by 50 foot, with large metal fans, they are made of a variety of opaque materials and serve two primary functions: let in sunlight and keep out the cold. “We live and die by the weather,” says Terri Conner, as she recalls the last big freeze. Drastic measures were taken in the mid-February freeze to save the delicate plants. Heaters helped stave off the bitter cold and preserve the precious stockpile of plants.

In addition to Terri, these three greenhouses also have three other full-time employees, Brandy, Sara and Tammy, which make up the entire Horticulture Division. Terri serves as the Horticulture Supervisor of the small division. Their division may be small, but they have a tremendous number of plants they care for. “The City of Ponca City is so lucky to have Brandy, Sara and Tammy,” says Terri. “They plant the whole city of Ponca City. They grow, dig, fertilize, trim, make cuttings, weed, spray… they do so much.” “We start with seeds. The seeds get sown in little rows with heating pads underneath to keep them warm. As they sprout and grow, we move them up to six packs.” Terri points to Brandy behind her to illustrate the process. Brandy sits at a table, six-pack plastic trays filled with dirt in front of her. She is taking germinated seeds, separating them and placing each individual plant into dirt pods, one at a time. Tedious work. “These are Zinnias,” says Brandy with a smile, “they are annual flowers.” Unlike perennials, which re-bloom each spring, annual

14 April 2021

flowers grow, bloom and die each year, and do not re-bloom. Annual plants shed seeds and must be regrown from the seeds. Ponca City takes its landscaping seriously. From the downtown cityscape filled with raised brick flower beds every block, to the sprawling gardens of the Marland Mansion, flowers, shrubs, trees and bushes of all kinds are cared for by city employees. The flowers are meant to be enjoyed by the citizens and improve quality of life, but they also serve a very important role in tourism, by beautifying the city. According to a report by the U.S. Forest Service, “A well-landscaped community increases home values, reduces crime rates and improves air quality, as well as quality of life.” “Why do people love our city? Why do they love our downtown and our library and Enrique’s? Because they are beautiful in the summer. The horticulture division puts their blood, sweat and tears into taking care of our flowers,” says Eric Newell, Director of Parks and Recreation with the City of Ponca City, who oversees the horticulture division. “Flowers are an inviting thing to any city. They make you stop, and pause and look. Flowers are good for a person’s well-being. Flowers just make you happy,” says Terri. Terri says landscaping city properties for a city as big as ours, is not an easy undertaking. “We’re appreciative of the city to [get to] do this. We love doing it. It is very hard work. You just have to have it in your genes to do this,” says Terri. The Horticulture Division begins planting April 15 and continues planting well into June. With over 50,000 plants to place, it takes several months to complete. Terri says a few years ago, after years of doing it with hand shovels, they now have an ingenious tool they’ve used for a few years to help make planting easier. “This has saved us so much time and backache because we don’t have to bend over as much, and we can go faster. We can go in there and drill 100 holes where we were previously doing it with a hand shovel,” says Terri. Terri describes the tool as a “collective” invention, born purely out of need. A three-inch

Continued on page 16 April 2021

Cityscaping

Continued from page 15

diameter auger on the end of a three foot metal rod, attached to a powerful drill. “We’ll get the augers and the guys in the park department weld them together for us. I just can’t tell you how great that invention has been,” Terri says. The second and third greenhouses contain annuals, but also perennials that are dug up each year and saved to be replanted the following year. Saving and replanting perennials and sprouting and growing annuals in-house lowers the cost of maintaining landscaping by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Plants of all shapes and sizes line every aisle of the greenhouses. Tall, small, wide, angular and even tropical plants are grown or kept, all eventually used somewhere on city property to beautify the city. “Guatemalan rhubarb!” says Terri, pointing to one of the tall tropical plants, “but not the kind you eat. They get large and have red blooms on them. These could be anywhere.”

16 April 2021

You may find Guatemalan rhubarb at Cann Gardens, on Grand Ave., at the Police Department or even at the Ponca City Airport, planted alongside the colorful chili pepper plants, also planted by the city. “We kind of think about that in our planning,” Terri says. Each garden is designed to match the setting, “office, restaurant … we try our best.” The stock of succulent plants has been expanded as well, primarily because they have a much lower need for water. All flowers on city property are watered by hand by the horticulture employees. Terri describes the group of “gals” in horticulture as ‘Plant Addicts.' As they each travel on weekends or holidays on their own personal time, if they discover new types of plants they think would do well in Ponca City, they bring them home. The horticulture gals are a tightknit group who truly love what they do. “They’re a good group of people that share, multitask and care about each other, and just work so well together,” says Terri.

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April 2021

Thank You! Ponca City Monthly Magazine is available at no cost to you because of the support of advertisers. Thank you to the businesses and individuals listed below for your generous support in our first amazing year! 420 Dispensary A-1 Heating & Air ABT Solutions Aftershave Barbering Co. Alliance Home Health Alliance Ponca City Amazon Hub AMC Urgent Care Anderson Flooring Ann Bandy, State Farm Insurance Asthetic State of Mind Bob Askew Auto Intintions Barney’s Barber Shop Bintz Pharmacy Bivin & Associates Boettcher, Devinney, Ingle & Wicker Suzanne Boettcher Brace Books & Moore Brandts Ace Hardware Cherokee Strip Credit Union Jodi Cline, Edward Jones Community National Bank Frances Coonrod, Century 21 Group One Danny’s BBQ Head Quarters DDS Dentures & Implant Solutions Deli-icious Diner Russ Didlake, Keller Williams Dorada Foods Evans & Associates Ferguson, Mulligan & Poet First National Bank Flat Branch Home Loans Frocks & Fashions Frontier Siding & Windows Ft. Knox Marty Sutton-Garner Mark Gibson, Metro Realtors Grand Cigar Liz Greene, Keller Williams H&R Block HRI Roofing and Post Frame HealthBack Home Health Healthworld Heather Cannon Honda

18 April 2021

Henneberry Orthodontics Hoddy Glass Holmes, Yates & Johnson Honey Bee Boutique Hospice of North Central Oklahoma Hydrate You Mobile IV J.W. Cobbs Family Restaurant Kanza Human Development Division Kem’s Gym Klinger’s Collision Center Dr. Phillip Knight John Kramer, CPA Lakeside Grill Lander’s Windows Liles and Company Loftis & Wetzel Insurance Frank & Albina McEnroe Marland Mansion Marland’s Place Martin, Jean & Jackson McGee Jeweler Mary Beth Moore, Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors Harry Myers, Centery 21 - Group One Napoli’s Italian Restaurant Nicholson Auction & Real Estate Northern Oklahoma College OMPA Opportunity Center Osage Casino Paladin Apartments Parker Pest Control Personnel Staffing, Inc. Phillips 66 Pioneer Technology Center Becky Poet, Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Ponca City Dental Group Ponca City Energy Ponca City Federated Music Club Ponca City Home Sweet Home Ponca City Housing Authority Broadway Plaza Apartments Ponca City Humane Society Ponca City RecPlex Ponca Playhouse

Provisions Coffeehouse & Eatery Quality Pools & Spas Quality Water Ponca City Main Street Ray’s Sewer & Drain Cleaning RCB Bank Donna Reid, Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors Renfro Family Foundation Rusty Barrell Sakura Savoir-Faire Salon Schwabbe & Associates Sheffield Travel Agency Dr. Peter Sinton Sparklight Standing Bear Stewart Title & Abstract Stuteville Chevrolet Stuteville Ford Sugar Lips Salon & Boutique Supported Community Lifestyles TPI Staffing Nancy Taylor Terron Liles The Gift Shoppe The Hippee Collective The Perk The Ponca City Real Estate Co. The Renaissance The University Center Toni’s Westside Healthmart Trout Funeral Home TS Fork Tyndall Family Dentistry United Way Veterans Parade Regina Vidrickson, XP Realty VFW Walker’s Hardwoods Ward’s Air Conditioning Yvonne Pendley Wehrle, Remax Kenny Wheel, Farmer’s Insurance Wild Wood Weddings Win-Co Finance Winterrowd Talley Architects

Master Gardeners

Planting the Seed and Paving the Way For A New Generation of Gardeners Story and Photos by Lauren Payne/Staff Writer

Master Gardener programs, also known as Extension Master Gardener Programs, are local volunteer programs located all across the United States and Canada. These programs strive to foster both a passion and knowledge of gardening in young gardeners and adults alike. These programs are rooted in education, and that’s what makes them unique from other social garden clubs. “Every single meeting has an educational element and every meeting is different,” Agriculture Extension Educator for the Kay County OSU Extension, Shannon Mallory, said. “We also offer continued education, training, workshops and even a test to become certified. Master Gardeners continue to learn, so they can spread that knowledge to their communities.” Part of the experience of being an active Master Gardener also involves consultations. Members of the community, relatives and friends reach out for advice and sometimes assistance in keeping their plants healthy. The Kay County Extension had over 400 consultations in the Ponca City and Kay County area last year.

they’re always looking for more. A 10-week training course is offered in the fall, followed by a test to complete certification at the Pioneer Technology Center. Workshops are hands-on and taught by university professionals, department specialists and teachers that keep the content interesting and well-taught. The host of the Oklahoma Gardening show has also hosted workshops taking an in-depth look at landscaping.

Master Gardeners continue to learn so they can spread that knowledge to their communities.

“Not that we’re all experts, but you can contact a nearby Master Gardener for help,” Mallory continues. “Even if it’s like, ‘Hey, I’ve got a sickly tomato plant! Can you come check this out?’” The Kay County Extension also plans several activities for the young gardeners of our community. They support booths at the Herb Festival and the Kay County Free Fair. Kids at the Herb Festival can stop by and “Plant a Plant” to take home. At the fair, second to fourth graders come through to watch a 5- to 10-minute program on topics like the migration of a monarch butterfly, pollinator plants or the basics of how to plant a seed. The members also visit Washington preschool, with activities reaching 300-400 kids each year. Several Master Gardeners are former teachers and educators that combine their passions for educating with their continued passions for gardening. There are over 40 Master Gardeners in the Kay County Extension, and

Meetings are the first Thursday of every month. This month’s meeting was held outside at the Cann Gardens in Ponca City. Members are busy gearing up for their annual plant fundraiser and the Herb Festival. Last year, both events were canceled due to COVID-19, so they’re especially enthusiastic to kick this year off right. “It’s been interesting, but we’re really looking forward to the upcoming year and hopefully, things will get back to, well, the new normal,” Master Gardener of the Kay County Extension, Linda Heitz, said.

Heitz has been an active member of the Kay County Extension since 1999. “When we were new, we were trying to figure out just exactly what we were doing. The more we learned the better we got and the more fun we had. In over 20 years, we’ve gotten to travel to so many places we probably wouldn’t have without this group. When we were small and starting out, we used to invite the husbands to travel – which was great, because they carried the luggage,” Heitz joked. “Ninety percent of the time, we work outside helping someone. There’s a learning side and a helping side – we all enjoy both sides. Beginner gardeners will find out what works and what doesn’t, just like us Master Gardeners, as is the same in life,” Heitz commented. To help support the Master Gardeners plant fundraiser or for more information on how to join, contact Shannon Mallory at the OSU Extension office at 580-362-3194 or via email at shannon.mallory@okstate.edu. Order forms for the fundraiser are due by April 1 and can also be picked from any local Master Gardener.

April 2021

Stars Aligning In Fairfax Hollywood Descends on Osage County

Story by Carol Conner/The Fairfax Chief Historic Photos from Field of Cane – The Early Years of Fairfax, Oklahoma They say the isolation we’ve experienced due to COVID-19 does funny things to our brains – so when we see Martin Scorsese one week, then Leonardo DiCaprio, then Robert DeNiro on the street in front of The Fairfax Chief – we have to wonder if they’re real or we’re just seeing things! But the squads of cars that suddenly appear out front and disgorge mostly dudes who don’t look like they’re from here are clearly real. And that’s reality in Fairfax right now. These huge stars and lots of other movie folk are in town because the movie based on David Grann’s 2017 best selling book, Killers of the Flower Moon, is beginning production in Osage county. The story happened right here a century ago – but the forces

that created the cabal of murderers in Fairfax also created a powerful force for keeping the story under wraps. Grann, a best-selling author already, came to Fairfax and GrayHorse years ago. He did detailed research, talked to descendants of murder victims, spent hours with archival material. Then, before he even finished the book, the movie rights were sold for millions!

See STARS Continued page 25

20 April 2021

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Fairfax’s train station, the cause for the location of the town. It was located on the east end of Elm Street, across from the current Osage Nation Fitness Center. Businessmen in GrayHorse learned that the train was not coming through that location, but five miles away. They worked to move the town to its’ present location. The station figures in the Killers of the Flower Moon story.

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Football

Prom

Weddings

Basketball

Hugs

Play Dates Baseball

Tennis

Wrestling

Banquets

Graduation

Volleyball

Gyms

Shopping

, 5#0 &

Game Day

A Night Out

School

Theatre

The Lighted Parade

Dog Parks

Tourism Main Street Wildcats Amusement Parks

Lakes

Friends Crazy Days

Jobs

People

Co lle ge

Golf

Draggin’ Grand Cheerleading Parades Festivals Travel Track

Goblins on Grand Community

Vacation

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Parties

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Each Other

BrewFest

Family

Restaurants

Swimming

For the Love of Ponca City Let’s All Mask Up! Crossword Answers on Page 40

24 April 2021

Friday Night Lights

For the Love of ...

First National Bank in Fairfax in the early 1900’s. Banker William K. Hale’s scheme was to have his nephews marry and then murder Osage women so he would eventually benefit. His schemes were uncovered by the newly formed FBI, giving them their first successful case.

STARS Continued from page 20

The book took away some of the suppression of the story surrounding the murderous events here. That wrapper of silence will be further dispelled when the movie, directed by Scorsese, is finally released to the public – probably in a couple of years. Our story, the one Grann told so artfully, has had a deep, distressing impact on most who have read it. Scorsese and DiCaprio signed on to the movie quickly. And those two do not take on such a difficult story without lots of background research. Scorsese has met with GrayHorse Osages more than once; listening intently to their stories. Movie people, especially location managers, started filtering into the Osage more than a year and a half ago. The locations of the gruesome murders are in or near Fairfax, so they were checking out the actual sites of the crimes. The Production Director, Jack Fisk, has spent hours and hours looking at locations, talking to locals, absorbing pictures and research. There are often whole clutches of folks standing in the middle of our streets – trying to figure out the best photo angles for the film, we suppose. Casting calls, some in real time before COVID-19, some virtual after, have given many locals a chance to show off their acting abilities.

Dumpsters and debris that has been removed from the First National Bank building. Workers have removed asbestos, carpet, mold and other nastiness, then others are building, plastering and painting to make the building as original as possible for the movie. Photo by Joe Conner

in old pictures of our town, and in treasured old Osage clothes. Pawhuska’s piece of the story is that the final effort to convict Bill Hale took place at the Osage County Courthouse – placed strategically on a hill above the downtown. But Pawhuska will likely get the ironic task of mimicking Fairfax in the 1920s – even down to covering the street north of the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile with dirt! Lately, construction crews are preparing an old bank building on Fairfax’s Main Street for filming. The crews come from all over – we talked to one from Cuba and one from Venezuela. The building’s owner says these workers are awesome – carting out old plaster and replastering a wall in a day. Carpenters, painters and even drapery makers are crowding Elm Street now. And the stars? Seems like they really don’t want to be followed around, as they get plenty of that wherever they go. But when they’re right across the street from my office? They’re really pretty darned visible, even with their masks, their baseball caps and their sunglasses. That they care enough to come and get a feel for where the story happened reassures locals that the story will be told accurately.

This week brings the news of four Indigenous actors being Steven Pratt was one of the Osage elders who met with Leonardo signed to play the family of DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese. The two requested the meeting to When COVID-19 hit us all last year, the Osage women who were gather further information about the impact of the killings. (This the movie folks – and everyone else – murdered – by poisoning, by picture is courtesy of Steven Pratt) left. All was quiet on our streets. shooting and by blowing up their home. Tantoo Cardinal, But then last fall, a few movie folks Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins started filtering back in. Treats, our and Jillian Dion will join Lily Gladstone, who will be the female lead. gem of a local coffee shop, started seeing lots of folks with out-of-state accents. So, star sightings will continue here. We’re pretty sure it’ll be the first time so many stars have aligned in Fairfax! Location folks left notes on local doors, saying their site might be of interest to the crew. Costume designers and set designers were interested

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26 April 2021

Backyard

Gardener Get Your Garden Ready for Spring

Story & Photos Contributed by Kat Long/Contributing Writer So, first thing: Happy one-year anniversary Ponca City Monthly. And, if you have survived the last year, oh dear reader, congratulations to you as well. We all have lost loved ones this year, and many of us have battled COVID-19. With vaccinations circulating throughout our community, anyone who wants to get vaccinated for COVID-19 should be able to get on a list to receive a vaccine. Please reach out to the Health Department and get on their list, but there are also Tribal resources and many of the pharmacies have access to vaccines as well. I know Backyard Gardener and all, but if you don’t take care of your own health, how are you supposed to garden? And that brings us to the topic of the month: long-term (perennial) and short-term (annual) gardening. Spring is in the air, though not quite here, so don’t jump the gun on putting out those tender seedlings you have been fostering for the last few weeks. However, feel free to start sowing seeds for hardier plants. Which ones? I am so glad you asked!

Annuals Vegetables and some herbs fall into the annual planting category. It would be great if cucumbers and tomatoes overwintered and popped back up like blueberries and strawberries, but we live in Oklahoma, so nope. If you are strictly a flowers and landscape kind of gardener, might I suggest putting in some kale or cabbages this year with your landscaping? They are pretty and edible. Sage, lemongrass, onion chive and garlic chive plants have the prettiest seed flowers. They look like great big white, purple or pink pom-poms rising above the other flowers. You can cut the leaves all season and add to salads and stir-fries. All the vegetables we grow in Oklahoma are annuals, but some are hardier than others and getting them in to the ground now will guarantee an early harvest before the June heat. Go ahead and seed your garden for kale, broccoli, lettuces (though you may have to cover them if we get one more cold snap in April) mustard greens, cauliflower or any of the cabbages. All of these plants thrive in a little colder weather. If you plant in early

April (I put many of these seeds out in March), you should have greens by the end of May to graze on while you get the rest of your garden going. All these plants are considered annuals, but may continue to grow through the winter months and give you seeds next year or reseed themselves and pop up like magic next spring. We like magic. Magic is nice.

Harden Off Your Seedlings Now, about those seedlings. Feel free to start to harden them off in early April. I am talking about those tomatoes, peppers, beans, etc. … All the “you have to get them started in February” seeds that you are foaming at the mouth to get outside. Keep this in mind: they have been warm and loved for the last two months and if you take them from your house and plunk them into the ground one of two things will happen: They will survive the shock but not grow on your schedule, and you will have peppers in September instead of July and that kind of defeats the purpose of starting the seedlings early, Yes? The other option is worse: they die. So, let’s go with another option: harden the little babies up so they want to be outside. Hardening means just that: tender plants are made hardier by slowly introducing them to their new, harsher environment. Take their trays out on nice mornings or afternoons (days are getting longer) and let them hang out in a shady spot for a few hours and then bring them back inside. Gradually lengthen the time they spend outside; this will take about two weeks, so early April is a great time to get this accomplished. April 15 is the usual last freeze date for our area, so putting them in the ground after 4/15 is 90% safe. April 17 is a Saturday this year and is a good target

See BACKYARD Continued page 29 April 2021

appy spring! Can y’all believe that it’s finally starting to get warmer? I feel like this winter was extra brutal and lasted way longer than normal winters, so I’m especially thankful for the shining sun and warm days. But warm days turn into hot days, and hot days bring with them … bathing suit season. I know that this is sometimes a dreaded season for women and men alike. Being in tiny and/or skintight garments (that are the exact same size and shape as underwear, but for some reason it’s acceptable to be in your swimsuit in public, but very much frowned upon and/or illegal to be in your underwear in public) can bring about insecurities or make you feel uncomfy. I get it. While I am not a personal trainer or nutritionist or in any way a healthy person, I did want to offer some advice on how to get that “swimsuit body.” Bear with me, don’t stress, it’s super simple. First, you must have a body. This is a very important step in obtaining a swimsuit body, please

GARDENING GUIDE by Patrick Jordan

ACROSS 1. More recently manufactured 6. Final 10. Rudely talk back to 14. Japanese cartoon genre 15. Great Lake near Niagara Falls 16. Bird that says "Caw!" 17. Find the truth through research (3 wds.) 19. Cause anger in 20. Paid notices in the Ponca City Monthly 21. Cutlass car company, briefly 22. Picked on playfully 24. Smell ___ (be suspicious: 2 wds.) 25. Blue-eyed cat breed 26. Factory employee (2 wds.) 30. Yearns (for) 31. Belonging to that guy 32. Impact sound in comic books 36. Clearasil target 37. Casper's a friendly one 39. He lost to the tortoise 40. Christmas song 41. Get ___ of (discard) 42. Nabisco wafer brand 43. Squirting toy (2 wds.) 46. Spring, summer, fall, and winter 50. Sell to a pawn shop 51. Left the room 52. Highway distance unit 53. Serving of butter 56. Gripping tool 57. Sunsweet product (2 wds.) 60. Fashion magazine since 1945 61. Car, for short

28 April 2021

62. 63. 64. 65.

Frequently Must have Observes Talk like a braggart

DOWN 1. Nothing, in Spanish 2. City in Garfield County 3. Women's hairpieces 4. Australian ostrich relative 5. Newspaper writer's stories 6. Result in (2 wds.) 7. Semicircles 8. Settle onto a sofa 9. Most irritable 10. "Get lost!" 11. Come up, as the sun 12. Shoe bottoms 13. Resident of Stockholm 18. Design defect 23. Elephant's flapper 24. Heavenly flier 25. Pair for sliding down slopes 26. Devise a course of action 27. Cuckoo, slangily 28. Hollywood's Hathaway 29. ___ Island (northeastern state) 32. Egg white whipper 33. Sentry's "Stop!" 34. Folk singer Guthrie 35. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner 37. Seniors at family reunions 38. Chart-topping tunes 42. "Well done!" (2 wds.) 43. Sorrow 44. Horned African grazers, briefly 45. A firefighter may slide down one 46. Three plus four 47. Banish from the country

24 28

29 31

39 42

43 48

don’t skip it. Any body will do, short, tall, thin, big, pear-shaped, apple-shaped, basketball-shaped, etc., they’ll all work. Second, put a swimsuit on said body. Boom. That’s it. You’re done. You now have a swimsuit body. Rock it. Swim, lie on the beach, get on the boat, get in the water with your friends or kids or family and take the pictures. Make really fun memories and try not to stress about how you look. You look fabulous. We all have stuff we don’t love about our bodies, whether it’s stretch marks or cellulite or certain, um, assets not being big enough or small enough, but when you focus on those things you end up missing out on the good stuff. I know it’s sometimes easier said than done, but give it a shot. (And if you’re finding it hard to give it a shot, try taking a shot, which sometimes helps too.) Also speaking of boats, I’m currently taking applications for friends who have boats. If anyone is interested in applying, please let me know.

48. Walkway in a theater 49. Knight's faithful horse 52. TV remote button that silences the sound 53. Pocket bread

54. 55. 58. 59.

Highest poker cards Camping shelter Feel sorry for doing Alien's saucer (Abbr.)

BACKYARD Continued from page 27

date to get cucumber, squash, tomato, pepper, etc. … seedlings in the ground.

Spring Seed Swap

when it goes into full flower.

True perennials still need some care and love each year. Let’s look at a bulb like irises. Perennials April 10 at City Central Irises increase their stems every flowering season as their Many herbs are perennial or biannuals. The from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. rhizomes (sun-loving tuber root) difference? Perennials will come back year after Bring plants or seeds to swap or just swing get bigger. I have a row that is year from the root system or bulb. Fruit bushes and seven stalks deep right now and trees are all perennials; tulips, irises and daffodils by to chat and get some seeds. needs some thinning. Fall is the come back from the bulbs. Biannuals are plants like best time to do this, but you can sage, parsley, some lettuces and kales and thyme, also separate/thin them early to name a few. These plants will grow one year, spring before they really get overwinter to various degrees depending on cold and snow in our going. Caution: if you thin bulbs in the spring, you may not get the area, and then bloom flowers and seed the next season. I love my sage flower quantity or quality you are used to. Note: If your irises’ leaves are withered on the ends from the ice and snow, don’t worry too much. They will still flower, no problem. With your fruit trees and bushes, prune them when it is still cold or in the fall. If you need to trim them back a bit in the spring, try to do it before they bud and flower. In the spring, there is a lot of sap flowing and you can kill fruit plants if you trim too much. Check out the OSU Extension guides for more information on fruit trees and plants. I talk about the OSU Extension sheets a lot, but the topics and info are so helpful to assist with questions or just plain old “can’t remember” things like pruning, trimming, fertilizing and planting for our growing zones here in Oklahoma. I hope to see you at the Spring Seed Swap on April 10 at City Central from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring plants or seeds to swap or just swing by to chat and get some seeds. Time to dig in the garden, Hoorah! And of course, Happy Gardening.

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“Rules Lawyer”

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Promoting Board Gaming in Ponca City Story & Photos Contributed by John R. Andrew

When someone remembers their favorite board games, it is typically something like Monopoly, Clue, Sorry or any other popular board game that nearly everyone recognizes. Board gaming has evolved, however, in the last 10 years. Just as technology has advanced due to new techniques and processes, so have board gaming mechanics. Kickstarter and similar crowdfunding programs have allowed for creators to publish games without the backing of large publishers and have also allowed for smaller publishers to break through and become players in the industry. This has allowed for the proliferation of new ideas. Euro games, which evolved in Europe (go figure), demonstrate tight rules sets where luck is nearly nonexistent. Settlers of Catan was one of the first of these, which evolved into what are known as worker placement games. Deckbuilding games showed that building a deck of cards DURING a game out of a combined pool of cards was a legitimate and fun format. These mechanics have combined with the worker placement of the Euro games to create many new and exciting titles. Ameritrash games (this label was mostly coined by Euro players who dislike any luck in games, and it stuck) involve theme mostly, and have mechanics where sometimes luck plays a major part. In our games of Nemesis (think the movie franchise Aliens) an Alien Queen may come through the pipes while you are winning and decide you are tasty. She will eat you. Whole. And you are out of the

game. Usually this is late in the game and the game itself has been a fun experience, and this game has become one of my group’s favorites. While I have played board games since I was a small child, in the past 10 years I have become a collector of these new gaming experiences. These experiences allow people to gather as a group and compete or work together and have a fantastic social experience that cannot be found in video games. I can get a group together and we can do the following: • Wake up on a spaceship fighting aliens and each other

while we try to survive. (Nemesis)

• Build a city of woodland creatures under the shadow of

the Evertree. (Everdell)

• Compete to build the most dwellings in an elemental

world while fighting monsters. (Dwellings of Eldervale)

• Work together to survive a dark fantasy world after the

death of King Arthur. (Tainted Grail)

• Build competing empires in a peaceful near future while

developing scientific and exploration breakthroughs. (It’s a Wonderful World) As we come out of the current public health situation that has stifled groups getting together, I am going to be running these games and more for anyone who wants to try them out. Starting on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m., we will be running rotating games at Hall of Heroes at First and Cleveland. Anyone is welcome to sign up to play either individually or as a group of 2-3, or you can come and just watch a game. We typically play until about 10 p.m. We are also looking at having groups get together on Saturdays to play games that take a longer amount of time to complete. Other groups are also forming on Wednesday nights at Hall of Heroes to play and demonstrate different board games. All our events can be found on the new “Ponca City Board Game Network” on Facebook. Feel free to join us and see what is new in board gaming! If you have a group that plays on a certain night or are wanting to put a board game night together, join us and promote your events as well. Our group is open to promoting this hobby in Ponca City. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see everyone soon!

April 2021

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BRANDTS

ADULT BOOK REVIEW BY LORRIE LAYTON

Back from Death’s Doorstep: A Story of Faith & Overcoming the Odds by Benji Evans LOCAL AUTHOR!

Benji Evans, the author of Back from Death’s Doorstep, is a local Ponca Citian. On Father’s Day weekend 2016, he woke up just “not feeling right.” Within 24 hours, he was at the Ponca City ER because he just didn’t feel right, but it was a lot worse. (Imagine trying to explain that to an ER doctor!) Benji was diagnosed with pancreatitis, which was aggravated by his diabetes. Even though he was being given insulin, his blood glucose kept climbing – it should have been going down – while his heart rate continued to increase and his blood pressure dropped. None of that was as it should be. It turned out Benji was in diabetic ketoacidosis and extremely ill. Benji was transferred to Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, where his status continued to worsen. His doctor suggested Davina, Benji’s wife, call the family in. And that, folks, is just a summary of the first 20 pages of Benji’s story. The rest of the book is told by a cast of characters: Benji, Davina, Benji’s mom, dad, sister and several of Benji’s friends. They share how Benji dealt with one crisis after another as he fought for his life. Over the next six months Benji

32 April 2021

had 15 surgeries and procedures, coded three times, was lifeflighted three times and received 42 units of blood. Benji’s complete recovery took 18 months. The Evans family is adamant that Benji would not be alive without prayers (a multitude of them) and God’s grace, as well as blood donors who gave him the gift of life, one unit at a time. Back from Death’s Doorstep is a refreshing and uplifting book. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.

CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW BY LORRIE LAYTON Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz

Target age: 9-12 years Alan Gratz is an extremely talented storyteller; he excels at historical fiction. As the U.S. approaches the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Mr. Gratz offers a compelling look at the tragic events of that one day and the subsequent fallout over the following two decades. September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon’s going to work with his kitchen manager father at Windows on the World, the world-famous restaurant at the top of the North Tower (of the Twin Towers). He isn’t at school because he stood up to a bully – with his fists – and got himself suspended from school. As they commute, Brandon’s dad tries to help Brandon understand that he can’t just go around punching people he doesn’t like, that there are rules. If you punch someone, you get suspended from school – no matter what your reason. His dad explains that our actions must have consequences. If not, we become the bully, because that’s what a bully is – someone who pushes people around and never gets in trouble for it. Shortly after this conversation, Brandon

becomes separated from his dad when the first plane slams into the North Tower. September 11, 2019, Afghanistan: Reshmina, a young girl growing up in the shadow of the Taliban, loves learning and dreams of a future with more options than just marriage, keeping house and caring for children. On this day, Reshmina encounters a wounded American soldier who asks her for help. According to her family’s beliefs, one must offer refuge if a person asks for help – and Reshmina’s father chooses to behave honorably, even though it will put their family in danger.

These two stories intersected, and I came away reconsidering my definition of a bully. I highly recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEWS PROVIDED BY BRACE BOOKS

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Music in & Around Ponca City

Sounding Off Story by Steve Scott

Larry Newsom t the moment I’m kicked back, holding a drink and admiring the new lounge at the Rusty Barrell Supper Club in Ponca City. I fondly remember many years ago when Bill and Judy Coddington invited me to indulge a busker fantasy of mine to play guitar one evening at the club and entertain the guests. While I am primarily known for my keyboard talents, I have always loved playing the guitar and that was a memorable evening for me.

Morrison 33 is in full rehearsals preparing for an outdoor festival gig this summer and are accepting bookings for openings starting mid-April. Backroads Music is coming off three performances in March and are booking gigs for April and beyond now. Ridin’ High continues to bring on the entertainment, and April is no exception. They have the Dave Holland Band on April 10, The J.D. Brower Band on April 17 and Gannon Freeman & CCrev on May 2. The karaoke nights and corn hole tournaments are very popular. Updates happen regularly, so check their Facebook page for the latest!

Ironically, I am writing this April column on March 1, exactly one month from the hallowed day celebrated by jokesters around the world. However, I have to wonder if April Fool’s Day might be canceled this year. After all, how can anyone or anything out-prank what we have all been through the last year? The real fun will begin soon, when everyone starts showing up around town with face mask tan lines. The Bandstand

"How can anyone or anything out-prank what we have all been through the last year?"

Rockers Mother Kelly auditioned and found a drummer that is fitting in very well. He has huge shoes to fill, but the band is excited with what is happening. The public loves a great comeback story, and Mother Kelly is in a position to provide just that. I know I can’t wait to hear them!

Ready for a post-pandemic return to the music scene, Dirty Erin is masked-up and rehearsing. They are preparing for an outdoor festival in early summer and are ready to start booking again. Some of the new songs being added to the set list by the Hayes Brothers Band feature Eddie Holick and his fiddle-playing expertise. With new material and good weather, the band is ready to start booking events.

34 April 2021

Back2Sighs is booking weekto-week, and still hosting karaoke regularly. Look for live band announcements as they happen. Rock ‘n’ roll stalwart The Fox Sports Bar appears ready to resume live entertainment, and noted they will be contacting local bands to start setting dates.

Astoria and Vortex lounges in downtown Ponca City are fantastic places to be. Besides excellent libations, Astoria continues to offer unique food entrees that you can eat in, take out or have delivered, and Vortex has food vendors on weekends. Food and drinks? Count me in! Be sure and check out the Facebook pages for all of the local bands, bars, lounges and clubs. Local Stars This month I’m featuring well-traveled headliner Larry Newsom. Larry’s solo act is legendary at bars and lounges across Oklahoma, but he didn’t get to this point without “paying his dues.” For

over 30 years, Larry shared the stage with many incredible musicians, journeyed a lot of miles and spent countless hours rehearsing to hone his skills in playing guitar and singing. Larry noted, “Without music I would quickly cease to exist. I know we’ve all been thru a lot lately, and people need some good news. I feel the tide is changing for the better, and I want to be part of the solution.” In 2019 he performed over 60 live shows, sitting on a bar stool for three hours singing original songs, covers and requests. Then the 2020 pandemic hit, and he fell victim to the shutdown of live entertainment everywhere. But his enthusiasm never wavered as he experienced a renewed passion for writing songs and worked on a record contract in Nashville (details about the new album release soon). Bottom line, Larry is the “consummate musician,” with a dedicated following. He is performing steadily in 2021, and this month’s dates include April 17 at the Moose Lodge in Enid, April 23 at Back to Sighs and April 30 at the Platinum Cigar Bar in Bartlesville. He is also a regular at Zanotti’s in Stillwater, so check his Facebook page for times and places. Finally As Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, “It’s always something.” First, we have a continuing pandemic, and then, on top of that, we have two months of record-breaking snow, ice and below zero temperatures. How is a bar supposed to make a living? With over one-third of our fellow Oklahoman’s having received a COVID-19 shot, hopefully the “numbers” will drop down and everyone can start being happy and feeling safer each day. And maybe they will once again discover the wonderful bars and lounges we have in Ponca City. Just “reading the tea leaves,” I’m sure that when the customers start coming in, so will the live entertainment. If anyone has information on live music events, please write me at smscott54@hotmail.com.

April 2021

April Around Town

Check out these great events happening around Kay County. See more information at poncacitymonthly.com.

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New Life Trails Easter Egg Hunt

2pm | 2420 Kingston Rd. Egg Hunt; Face Painting; Petting Zoo and more. $5 Admission

Evans Children's Academy of Performing Arts Presents "Oklahoma" April 9 - 11, & 16 - 18 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays 2:00 on Sundays$5 Admission Tickets On Sale Now

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Remembrance Release

11am | 2203 North Ash We will be holding a balloon release at Northern Oklahoma Youth Services to remember the lives lost in Oklahoma.

Silvan Zingg Piano Concert

7pm | 701 Monument Road The Pioneer Woman Museum is excited to announce they will be hosting a piano concert by Silvan Zingg, a Swiss musician who specializes in boogie-woogie, blues, and jazz. FREE!

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36 April 2021

2021 Kay County Boots and Badges

7pm | 201 South Main Newkirk Come cheer on your favorite first responders as they compete in events including corn hole, 3 on 3 basketball, tug of war, fire hose control and gun belt relay!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

My Life in Quilts Trunk Show

12pm | 1904 N Pecan Rd Take a quilting journey with the Pioneer Area Quilters Guild

Spring Cleanup Spring Clean-Up begins Saturday, April 10 and goes through Saturday, April 17. That's a WHOLE week of throwing your junk away for FREE!

The Pioneer Women Musical

7pm | 104 East Grand April 23 & 24 at 7:00 pm April 25th at 1:30 pm Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the unveiling of Ponca City's Pioneer Woman Statue, the Pioneer Women musical theatre by Debra Harden Rue is based on the twelve statues commissioned by E.W. Marland in 1928.

Submit your events to our community calendar at Poncacitymonthly.com

Celebrating the Benefi ts FOR Thank you Ponca City OPEN MEN'S GROOMING in & supporting of Local Power!WALK-INS foryourbelieving very own Municipality! CHILDREN'S CUTS HOT LATHER SHAVES

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Tues-Fri • Equal or greater reliability. “Owned by the Customers we Serve!” Reinvestment 9-6 • Customer-focused mission is to serve the customers. Reliability & Sat • Emphasis on long-term community goals. Accessibility 9-1 • Quick response from crews located in the community. Community • Local employment. • Economic development – not-for-profit electricity OurLocalPower.org Hours: attracts business. PROFESSIONAL • Control over the electric distribution system aesthetics and design. th Tuesday-Friday: 9am-6pm Did you know you own Pioneer Shopping Center • Innovation techniques and technology to meet BARBERS your public power utility? P energy O N C Aneeds. C I T Y ,City O K Saturday: 9am-3pm Ponca CO-OWNER/BARBER Learn more about Our Local Power •BARBER Local Power supports other entities such as police, fire, Arbona Amy Rae SERVICES by visiting www.OurLocalPower.org park and recreation, library, to name a few, by FOR MENtoAND contributions the city’sBOYS general fund. CO-OWNER/BARBER Toni Smith • Customers have a direct and powerful voice in decision• Perms • Grooming making through their communities elected officials. BILINGUAL BARBER Come see us at Ponca City’s • Color • Beards • Local Power makes a difference every day: you live in a Sandra Walker Earth Day Celebration, • Razor Fades • Hot LocalLather Power Community. Appreciate it and support it! after 1 pm Available Thursday, April 22, 9-1 • Flat Tops Shaves Local Power by visiting at Unity Gym. • More! •Learn Cuts more about Our

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Ponca City’s Earth Day Celebration is Wednesay, April 22, 9-1 at Unity Gym.

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April 2021

Ponca City Country Club

Scores A Hole In One Investment in Historic Club Renews Enthusiasm, Activity Story by Carey Head/Staff Writer Fans of the Ponca City Country Club have a tradition of stepping forward with additional private investment to keep the Club and its facilities in top shape. Past fundraising campaigns have provided for the remodel of the Tom Glasscock Dining Room, the glass-walled lounge overlooking the Arkansas River basin and the 19th Hole grill room.

A 2020 private gift from Carl and Brenda Renfro funded the purchase of much-needed equipment for course and landscape care, as well as funds to hire additional grounds crew staff. The Renfros are continuing the momentum with an additional gift to establish the golf pro shop in a completely remodeled facility to include men’s and ladies’ locker room and meeting facilities, a golf simulator, bag storage, golf club cleaning and repair space and much more. The Ponca City Country Club Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the naming of the golf pro shop The Carl and Brenda Renfro Golf Center. The public is invited to tour the newly remodeled Golf Center after its scheduled opening April 15. A naming ceremony is planned at a future date.

Construction continues as the April 1 opening date looms for the new golf pro shop at Ponca City Country Club. A leading gift from Brenda and Carl Renfro has inspired PCCC members to join in funding the refurbishment project. Taking a break from overseeing the progress are, from left, Carson Walker, Assistant Golf Pro; Latham Dorris, Golf Shop Manager; Chad Barney, General Manager; and Brenda and Carl Renfro. (Photo by Carey Head)

38 April 2021

The Board also approved the renaming of the Club’s tennis facilities in memory of Stanley Lewis Wheeler. The lifelong Ponca City resident passed away Dec. 13, 2020. Stan enthusiastically recruited new players to the sport. He was a member of Ponca City High School’s tennis team; attended Central State University (now University of Central Oklahoma) on a tennis scholarship, coached high school tennis and served as president of the Ponca City Tennis Association. According to family, “His love of tennis showed as he was able to bring more than strategy and technique to his lessons.” The Stan Wheeler Tennis Center will include the two indoor tennis courts, four outdoor, lighted tennis courts and pro shop. Tennis pro Hutton Jones already is in residence and teaching group and individual tennis lessons.

Hutton plans to incorporate the popular pickle ball into the roster of programs which should include adult and junior league play, as well as clinics and tournament play. He is committed to both the Ponca City Country Club and the community. In a recent interview Hutton said, “I want to dispel the myth that tennis is dead. It absolutely is not. Statistics show there are 17 million playing tennis and 14 million say they want to learn to play.” He added, “There’s no reason this can’t be a very active tennis program here. I love the challenge of it.”

A design option under consideration is this backlit, 4-foot by 10-foot sign honoring the late Stan Wheeler. Placement options include a prominent position so it is easily visible from Pecan Road. (Graphic provided by Chad Barney)

Ponca City Country Club has roots that reach to the days of E.W. Marland when the land and facilities were known as Marland Institute. Marland Oil Company constructed dormitorystyle buildings to house some of the men

Tennis pro Tom Gullikson, left, and local tennis expert Stan Wheeler take a break from the action at an annual “Land of Opportunity Tennis Classic” event. During the 1980s and early 90s, the Tennis Classic gave amateur players the chance to play on teams coached by notable tennis pros as it raised money to benefit Land of Opportunity Village services for the mentally handicapped adults. Stan will be memorialized with the renaming of the Ponca City Country Club’s tennis complex as the Stan Wheeler Tennis Center. (Photo provided by Ponca City Country Club)

See COUNTRY CLUB Continued page 40

You Are Welcome Here…

I would like to extend a personal invitation for you to consider becoming a member of your Ponca City Country Club. Please give me a call for more information and a tour. Chad Barney, General Manager, 580-762-2436, cbarney@pccclub.com

So Much to Offer for Families, Couples and Singles! GOLFING • DINING • TENNIS • SWIMMING • MUCH MORE!

Ponca City Country Club 1101 N. Pecan

poncacitycountryclub.com

18-hole par 72 Perry Maxwell-designed scenic golf course on 260 acres. – Ad sponsored by Carl & Brenda Renfro –

April 2021

This undated photo shows the Ponca City Country Club clubhouse, right, and the swimming facilities, lower left, as the property appeared 60 years ago. Vehicles shown in the parking lot date from the mid 1950s. (Photo provided by Ponca City Country Club)

COUNTRY CLUB Continued from page 39 employed in the oil company’s management. In 1928, an 18-hole, sand green golf course was constructed to provide recreation for these men and other Marland Oil employees. That same year Marland Oil Company merged with Continental Oil Company and the completed golf course became Conoco Golf Club, according to research conducted by Frank Rogers, club historian. Conoco Golf Club continued to operate until 1944 when Dan Moran, Continental Oil Company president, decided to get out of the golf business. He put into motion the resources and people to realize his vision of Ponca City Country Club. By December 1945, 251 charter members had been recruited, shares of stock sold and construction of a new clubhouse begun. Through the decades, major projects and renovations have created the Olympic-size swimming pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, 18hole golf course with grass greens, golf shop, enlarged dining room and additional spaces to provide recreational, social and business spaces for Ponca City and North Central Oklahoma. It is home to the nation’s longest-running proam golf tournament, The Cherokee Strip Golf Classic.

Donus Parker, left, and Chad Barney pause while admiring the progress of the GolfCenter's remodel in this photo taken March 10. Donus is the general contractor overseeing the $250,000remodel which began Dec. 20, 2020, and is due to be open to the public April 1. The remodel is made possible through an earmarked gift from Brenda and Carl Renfro. (Photo by Carey Head)

The Ponca City Country Club as it appeared March 10, 2021. The indoor and outdoor tennis courts and pro shop will become the Stan Wheeler Tennis Center after the PCCC Board of Directors voted unanimously to honor Wheeler and his contribution to the Club and its tennis program. (Photo by Jay Wagner, Ponca City Monthly)

40 April 2021

Mathematics h t n o M n io t a c Edu Erika Johnson With Pioneer Tech Is a Math Champion Story & Photos Contributed by Erika Johnson There is no denying the presence of mathematics in every career. You can't eliminate it from life however much a person or student may wish to do so. Yet, the challenging subject of math is resented by many and avoided by others. This is the battle I fight every day in my classroom at Pioneer Technology Center (PTC). Thankfully, I am blessed to work in CareerTech where the struggle to make valuable connections between real-life context and the math classroom is championed. Because of this, the daunting task of making math meaningful, attainable and engaging keeps me motivated. My students are enrolled in a variety of programs at PTC; more specifically Welding, Construction, Industrial Technology, Biomedical Science, Automotive and Business Information Technology Education this semester. They are thrilled to come to campus for their programs, but not always thrilled to be attending my math class for 50 minutes every weekday. A few may come through my door on the first day excited to learn math, but the majority enter with their shoulders slumped and a gray cloud hanging over their heads. This is where I enter as the champion or superhero for mathematics. Swooping in from around my desk, I welcome them into my universe of Algebra, Geometry, Math of Finance, Math Analysis and more. A world that isn’t bleak and intimidating, but one that is intriguing and, dare I say it, fun! Students interact with each other by conquering the challenges of math

concepts, or breaking-out of virtual escape rooms, and inspiring each other to explore solutions. They become problem solvers and thrive in an environment where they are engaged and invested in their own learning experience. Through competitions and activities that get them up and moving around the classroom, they discover that mathematics is not onedimensional on a simple sheet of paper, but rather multidimensional surrounding them in their environment. This excitement for learning is what I love to see in my students.

I want them to value

mathematics as a treasure.

I want them to value mathematics as a treasure. Undoubtedly, certain aspects of number algorithms do not apply to all career choices, but every career invokes the practice of mathematics. Every program area at PTC demonstrates the integration of mathematics in their respective fields. My students get to experience this firsthand. The subtle turn of my curriculum toward their program connects students to the mathematical concepts represented in their area of interest. Striving to create an environment where students face difficult problems with determination is my classroom goal. Teaching the future workforce to embrace challenges with logic and reasoning guides them to a more satisfying and successful career experience.

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Pioneer Tech Spring Open Enrollment Underway Jump Start Your future Story & Photo Contributed by Terri Busch Communications & Marketing Coordinator/PTC Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) offers full-time or part-time education and training to meet the needs of both high school and adult students needing career training. With a variety of programs, students can choose options such as Automotive Service Technology, Biomedical Sciences Academy, Business Information Technology Education (network services, computer repair services and cybersecurity), Construction Technology, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Firefighter/EMT, Fleet and Facilities Maintenance, Health Careers Certification, Industrial Technology, Machining Technology, Medical Assisting, Practical Nursing, Teacher Preparation and Welding Technology.

Through the ABE/HSE program, adult students without a high school diploma can gain the knowledge they need to earn their high school equivalency.

PTC provides free tuition to all juniors and seniors within the district.

PTC provides free tuition to all juniors and seniors within the district. High school students attend on a parttime basis, depending on their class schedules at their home high school. Adult students have the option of attending on either a parttime or full-time basis. Tuition for adults varies, depending on the program they enroll in. Financial aid and scholarships are available to eligible applicants. Along with quality career-specific programs, PTC offers programs that allow students to find success in core academic subjects.

42 April 2021

In addition to providing programs for the emergent workforce, PTC also provides an array of services for existing companies, startup businesses and industries relocating into the service area, as well as adults who seek to update or enhance existing job skills.

PTC’s Business and Industry Services (BIS) area offers client-based and training programs, such as self-employment training, entrepreneurial services, small business management, agriculture business management, bid assistance, leadership development, business coaching, safety training, industry training and the business incubator program.

Through the adult training and development program, Spring courses are open for enrollment. Training is available in healthrelated fields, welding, special interests, online classes and many more. This Spring students and adults can sign up to discover a new career that they’ve always wanted. Enroll today by calling 580-762-8336 or visit pioneertech.edu.

Se Habla Español

1100 Hanna Drive

Celebrate all your holidays and special events in this exceptional, custom-built home in Ridgevale Estates.

Give me a call or text me for information about this beautiful home.

Happy Easter!

Frances Coonrod

580-761-1712

CENTURY 21 GROUP ONE

Frances.Coonrod@gmail.com

Treatment programs include, but are not limited to: ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

CHF/Cardiac Care Orthopedic Needs Wound Care Needs Medication Education Blood Disorders Pain Management

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Diabetes COPD CVA Post-Surgery or Injury Needs

ACCEPTING COVID-19 PATIENTS TELE-HEALTH PHYSICIANS’ VISITS

580.765.8155

1924 Lake Road•Ponca City•Fax: 580.763.4549

Law firm

Boett

Boettcher | Devinney Ingle | Wicker

INJURY LAWYERS

Personal Injury ♦ Social Security Disability Workers’ Comp Medical Malpractice ♦ Truck Wrecks

580-765-9660 or 866-800-9660 www.boettcherlawoffice.com 115 East Grand, Ponca City

Offices also in Tulsa, Stillwater & Oklahoma City April 2021

No matter what your health care needs may be, we are here to help.

Kanza Human Development Division

Cradle To College & Beyond

OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 8 am - 4 pm

EDUCATION Begins with Child Care, Johnson O’Malley Program, Higher Education and Graduate Assistance EMPLOYMENT/TRAINING Begins with Adult Education, Adult Vocational Training and on-the-job training. Developing business opportunities for tribal members to be employed in all areas of a business.

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Closed Federal & Tribal Holidays. To set up an appointment, please call

580-749-5420

Bring your Tribal card, driver’s license, proof of residence and Social Security card.

CHILD CARE Providing child care for tribal members who are parents, single or married, who need employment, education or training to be self-sufficient.

N E W E R A N I D I WALK-IN CLINIC, NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY Ponca Plaza Shopping Center, 2101 N 14th, Suite 114

580-762-1552

Open 7 Days a Week • Mon.-Sat. 9-8:30 & Sun. 10-5:30 MINOR EMERGENCY

• On-site lab • EKG • On-site digital x-rays • Laceration/wound care • IV fluids & medications • Flu shots • Sports physicals • Fracture care: splints/casting, crutches & follow-up care

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE

• Treatment for work-related illness/injury • Follow-up with continuity of care • Pre employment physical exams • DOT physical exams • Referrals to physical therapy • Specialists & specialized testing • Employee drug screening (DOT/non-DOT) • Pulmonary function testing • Basic vision & hearing testing

COVID-19 TESTING – Results in 15 Minutes! FDA-APPROVED RAPID TEST We can file these tests with your insurance!

44 April 2021

OFFICE LOCATION City Central Building 400 E. Central Avenue Suite 206

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kanzahumandevelopmentdivision.com

The Kaw Nation has opened an office in Ponca City to better serve all federally recognized tribal members. The Kanza Human Development Division staff offers assistance with education, employment/training and child care.

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Crossword Puzzle on Page 28

HEALTH&Beauty What Your Tongue Says About Your Health Story & Photo Contributed by Dr. Brandy Valentine/ Lotus Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Your tongue is a window to your health. Think about it - your tongue is the only muscle in your body you can actually see, and therefore it gives you an idea of the state of your internal environment. The tongue is an invaluable diagnostic tool in Chinese Medicine, but anyone can use it to evaluate and improve his/her health. The first step is to get a visual baseline of your particular tongue geography by looking at it in the mirror at the same time every day in a well-lit area with a white background. Pay close attention to the tongue coat, tongue body, and anything else such as teeth marks, spots or cracks. Your tongue coating should be thin and slightly white. A thick tongue coat generally means digestive upset of some kind, which is usually worsened with cold, raw, spicy and greasy foods or drinks. Iced tea and water with ice can be hidden culprits. Soups and stews with wellcooked protein and vegetables, are basic recommended remedies. Another easy fix is to make sure you chew your food until it is juice before swallowing. A dry or cracked tongue could mean you are dehydrated or that you are not getting good nourishment from your food. How do you fix that? Drink more water and eat more apples, pears and vegetables. Drinking enough water is so simple, yet most of us stay chronically dehydrated. My maximum guidelines for water consumption in a healthy person are about half of your body weight in ounces of water

per day (200 pounds = 100 ounces). Your tongue should be slightly red or pink. If it is purple, then you have what is called stagnation. That stagnation can be caused from pain, stress or feeling stuck in your relationship, job or life in general. Movement is the answer. Start by taking short walks or stretching for 15 minutes daily, get out of that job or do something new in life that excites you. Do you see teeth marks on the sides of your tongue? If so, you are probably a worrier, running thoughts through your mind constantly and overthinking everything. The easy fix here is journaling. We run thoughts through our minds, because the information is important. As soon as that information is written down, our minds can rest assured that the important information is stored and no longer needs remembered.

This tongue has teeth marks (overthinking), a thin white coating (mild dairy sensitivity or missing gall bladder), red tip (insomnia or anxiety) and is slightly pale (anemia or fatigue — does more for others than herself). In conclusion, your tongue is a window to your health that can be seen by the naked, untrained eye. You will quickly notice that your tongue changes when the way you feel changes. Making small adjustments to your diet or lifestyle directly influence its geography.

April 2021

HEALTH&Beauty Four Tips To Get You Motivated Story & Photo Contributed by Kera Kester, NASM Certified Personal Trainer ovely are the days we feel invincible. Heads are held high and our stride is pumped with empowerment, drive and hope. If only it could always be that way. Instead, we all come to face … those days. The days we feel like kicking our feet up or sleeping during a scheduled workout. The nights we don’t feel like eating clean because junk food beckons us from our cabinets or TV commercials. How do we handle times we feel unmotivated and impulsive? I have four tips that can calm your nerves and aid in consistency and discipline!

1. Short and sweet beats long and dreary

If you’ve planned for hour-long workouts, pushing through to accomplish them can be good! But if you are stressing yourself to reach a specific time limit every single session, you may become overwhelmed and burnt out. When motivation is low, don’t mentally fatigue yourself with the idea of begrudgingly forcing an hour of struggle – aim for 8-30 minutes instead. Utilizing every minute wisely will reap far greater benefits than lackadaisical form and halfhearted reps. For instance, a 15-minute HIIT workout or an 8-minute TABATA routine does much more for your body and goals than it may sound like! Furthermore, just that initial bodily movement can provoke endorphin stimulation and before you know it, you’ll be excited to exercise longer!

2. Rest days do not equal failure

If you are doing moderate to vigorous exercise then rest days are vital for success – especially when it comes to muscle growth. Fibroblast cells help the muscle tissue in your body to grow and heal from microscopic tears induced by exercise. This is a good thing because more muscle = higher resting state caloric burn. During rest, your body also replenishes glycogen storage (from carbohydrates) that your body uses for energy. But what if you take an unscheduled rest day during a week? It is common to get deflated when an exercise routine is missed. However, just like one cupcake won’t burn all of your hard work to the ground, one extra rest day won’t either. In fact, your body will enjoy the extra recovery and repair time so you can feel more refreshed and energized for the next workout! As long as you get right back on track, it is well. Furthermore, rest days do not always mean complete inactivity. Instead of always doing full body, work 1-2 designated muscle groups on specific days. This allows rest periods for different muscle groups during the rotation as opposed to taking whole days off.

3. Leave room in your plan for spontaneity and creativity

If doing burpees or lifting weights makes you want to cry on a particular day, then take that day to play tennis or complete an uphill hike. Do something you’d enjoy! There is a VAST number of activities, many of which don’t include not one dumbbell or push up. At times, consistency demands fresh ideas. Exercise is not a prison sentence. It allows you to get outside, have a relationship with the community, enjoy the life that you are gifted with and uncover your strength and power in various ways.

4. Know your goals and prepare for days lacking motivation

A plan and realistic time frame will work wonders when you want to drop the ball or give up completely. Write your plan out, get an accountability partner, meal prep – vision and preparation changes everything. I commonly hear phrases like, “I missed my morning workout and only got 5 hours of sleep so I might as well indulge in this whole bag of Cheetos. Everything else is thrown off today anyway.” Don’t allow one or two areas of difficulty to make you throw everything out the window. Stay with what you can and get back on track where necessary. Consistency will become easier as your healthy choices develop into habits. The truth is, we all have days we don’t want to eat a vegetable or even look at exercise equipment. Thankfully, there is a beautiful gift called balance. However, it isn’t found immediately. This is why fitness isn’t just a three-month fatblast program – it is a journey and a lifestyle. Give yourself time to work through schedule and life changes that will inevitably come. The worst thing you can do is be too hard on yourself. We are our own worst critic so I can almost guarantee that you are doing better than you think you are! Just taking the initial step into fitness is a leap of accomplishment. Whether your victories are small or big, you put in work to achieve them and every single one should be celebrated. You know I am cheering with you and here to offer any help! Wishing even greater peace, love, joy and health to you all – we got this!

Just taking the initial step into fitness is a leap of accomplishment.

46 April 2021

At the

PONCAN THEATRE 104 East Grand Avenue (580) 765-0943

APRIL 23-24

7:00 P.M. Historical Prologue

7:30 P.M. Pioneer Women

APRIL 25

1:30 P.M. Historical Prologue

2:00 P.M. Pioneer Women Tickets available online @ poncantheatre.org or at the box office. Ticket - $25 Orchestra Seat Ticket - $50 (for Saturday night only, includes postparty)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT cougarue@sbcglobal.net

April 2021

48 April 2021

Story & Photo by Brenda Baugh/Staff Writer

ike so many residents of Ponca City that have moved away to experience all that the world has to offer, somehow, they make their way back to where it all started for them. Is it because of the residents that make up this community? Or is it because of the slower pace compared to larger cities? Or is it because of the fond memories they created earlier in their lives? Like so many others that have chosen to return home, Michelle Wittmer found herself returning to her cherished hometown. It was here in Ponca City that Michelle would meet the woman who would have the biggest influence on her and her desire to pursue a career in Art – Maxine Warren. While discussing Maxine, Wittmer became very emotional. With tears streaming down her face, Michelle stated, “She became a close friend. She not only taught me how to draw, she taught me how to think creatively.” This friendship continued into Michelle’s adult years as the two women would visit often. These visits included discussions of art, Wittmer’s return to Ponca City, life and the colorful flowers Michelle would bring her from her garden. This beautiful friendship started in a classroom and continued on until Warren’s passing in 2014. After finishing high school, Michelle attended Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) in Okmulgee. There, she received a Graphic Arts Degree and moved to Tulsa. With her diploma in hand, Michelle set out to pursue employment in the graphic arts. Wittmer quickly obtained employment through The Tulsa World &

Art Space

The Art of Michelle Wittmer

See ART SPACE Continued on Page 50 April 2021

J.W. COBB’S Family RestauRant

3200 N. 14th Ponca City 580-762-8525

ART SPACE Continued from Page 49

HOURS Mon.-Sat. 7 am - 9 pm Dine-In, Take Out, Curbside, Catering

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Tulsa Tribune, which had entered into a joint operating agreement in the 1940s. There she created advertising for both publications before moving to Dallas, Texas, a year later.

Get smart about your discounts! Call me at 580-762-4461

The apple does not fall far from the tree. After growing up in photo labs during her childhood and seeing both parents’ passion for art, Michelle’s daughter followed her mother’s footsteps by attending OSUIT, receiving a degree in Graphic Arts and then moving and getting a job in Tulsa right out of college.

KENNY WHEELER

216 E. Grand Ave. Ponca City, OK 74601 Lic: #3000167216

HARRY MYERS, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE Your Friend in Real Estate! Call or text me on my “Sell Phone” 580-382-1979. he.myers@yahoo.com CENTURY 21 - GROUP ONE 525 Monument • Ponca City • 580-762-0400

50 April 2021

discovered photography when she took a class in college, but it was during her employment at the lab that she discovered what editing could do for her photos. She soon learned that her love for graphic design and photography are equally matched.

Michelle stayed in the Dallas metroplex for several years even though, like for most, driving there can be survival of the fittest and downright terrifying for a young woman from Oklahoma. After moving to the other side of the Red River, she started working for a large photo lab, which is where she met her husband. The father of her child also shares Michelle’s love for photography. Wittmer

Currently, Michelle Wittmer has several of her abstract paintings displayed at The Perk on 14th Street. To learn more about Michelle or to see more of her artwork, which includes brightly colored photos of the Oklahoma skyline, pencil drawings of celebrities or mesmerizing paintings, please visit her social media pages: Facebook @mwittmer3 Instagram @michprod

APRIL EVENTS THURSDAY, APRIL 1

✄ ✄ COUPON ✄ ✄

Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. at the Chamber Office.

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Office Closed for Good Friday.

TUESDAY, APRIL 6 Ponca City Business Council will meet at 8 a.m. at the Chamber Office.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

CHOPPED BEEF SANDWICH

BUY 2, GET 3RD FREE!

Must present coupon. Not valid with other offers. Expires April 30, 2021.

SLAB RIB SPECIAL

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1217 E. Prospect•Ponca City•767-8304

Community Development Committee Meeting at 10 a.m. at the Chamber Office.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

Customer Service Training at 11:30 a.m. at the Chamber Office. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20

Ambassador Committee Meeting at 8 a.m. at the Chamber Office.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21

Finance and Executive Committee will meet at 11 a.m. at the Chamber Office.

THURSDAY, APRIL 22

– Locally owned and operated –

Tourism Bureau Meeting at 9 a.m. at the Chamber Office.

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

WIN-CO FINANCE 416 W. Grand • Ponca City • 580-767-1200

Ponca Politics Committee Meeting at 11 a.m. in the Summit Room at City Central.

Tamra Newlin, Manager • Diana Almanza, Asst. Manager

Ponca Politics Oklahoma Legislative Update at noon with Senator Coleman, Rep. Luttrell and Rep. Pfeiffer in the Summit Room at City Central.

Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm • Saturday 9 am - noon

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FRIDAY, APRIL 23

TUESDAY, APRIL 27 Chamber Board Meeting at 11 a.m. in the Summit Room at City Central.

TUESDAY, APRIL 27

Business after Hours from 5-7 p.m. hosted by Osage Casino.

For other events taking place, go to visitponcacity.com

PONCA

CHAMBER OF

CITY

COMMERCE

www.PoncaCityChamber.com • 580-765-4400 April 2021

Ponca City Federated Music Club was founded in April of 1921 by Frances Smith Catron, Ponca City’s First Lady of Music, and Mary Virginia Marland. On this 100th Anniversary we celebrate with the multi media musical theater production of PIONEER WOMEN!

A C C N ITY O P

Celebrating 100 Years! 1921 – 2021

FED D E M U E R AT B SIC CLU

52 April 2021

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Staggering Statistics for Ponca City Story by Jennifer Vaughan/Staff Writer

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an annual campaign held within the month of April to boost public awareness about sexual abuse and to teach communities and individuals how to prevent sexual violence. While it’s easy to turn a blind eye about such a sensitive subject, our community deserves better, as sexual assault does affect Ponca City and our surrounding areas. In 2020, there were 23 instances reported to the Ponca City Police Department (PCPD) of rape in the 1st degree. They responded blaming. Victim blaming refers to a practice to five calls related to rape in the 2nd of questioning what a victim could have degree, commonly referred to as statutory done differently so as to stop a criminal rape, which is based solely on the victim offense from happening, thus implying the being too young to legally consent and the fault of the crime lies with the victim instead suspect being 18 years of age or older with of the perpetrator. It does not matter what no force used. There were eight reported life choices the survivor has made, what cases of sexual battery where the victim clothing was worn, what substances were was over the age of 18, but the act didn’t consumed or if a previously consensual constitute rape. The PCPD also responded relationship with the perpetrator had to 28 reports of lewd molestation, which occurred. No human being deserves to be includes varying circumstances, but the sexually assaulted for any reason, and the age of the victim is under the age of 16 entirety of blame should always remain on and the perpetrator is at least three years the perpetrator. When survivors of sexual older. With a combined 64 reported cases assaults disclose their experience with related to sexual assault in 2020, we know someone, it requires extreme vulnerability that actual number of instances is much and overcoming deep emotional barriers. higher, as statistics show that nearly three Survivors should always be believed, out of four sexual assaults go unreported. supported and heard, and never blamed in With that taken into consideration, there any way. Victim blaming severely hampers were likely nearly 200 sexual assaults not our ability to best support people who even reported, in addition to the 64 that have entrusted us with their story. At its were reported right here in our community core, victim blaming increases the sense just last year. of shame and self-stigma that invariably comes from internalizing the emotional The statistics may be staggering, but and mental injury perpetuated. Being there are ways you can help. Begin by blamed for traumatic experiences can lead educating yourself and others about victim to increases in mental health challenges,

PONCA CITY STATS 1 IN 4 GIRLS AND 1 IN 13 BOYS experience sexual abuse in childhood

MORE THAN 1 IN 3 WOMEN

experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during her lifetime.

NEARLY 1 IN 4 MEN

experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during his lifetime

NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN

are more than 2.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women of any other ethnicity. The PCPD received 64 calls related to sexual assault in 2020, but with 3 out of 4 sexual assaults going unreported, the actual number of sexual assaults in our community in 2020 was likely over 250.

See AWARENESS Continued Page 55

April 2021

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SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE AGENCIES IN KAY COUNTY Ponca Tribal Victims Services 580-718-1199 Find on Facebook!

Survivor Resource Network

580-762-2873 www.SurvivorResourceNetwork.org

Otoe-Missouria Tribal Victim Services 580-723-4466 ext 181 www.omtribe.com

Kaw Nation Domestic Violence Program 580-362-1098 Find on Facebook!

Tonkawa Tribe Victim Services 580-628-2561 Find on Facebook!

Dearing House

580-762-5266 www.DearingHouse.com

Toni’s

AWARENESS Continued from Page 53

such as depression, anxiety and to empathize with others and PTSD. The cultural tendency for victim perpetuate public stigma. blaming also decreases the likelihood If you or someone you know is that people will seek help and support a survivor of any type of sexual due to fear of being further shamed or assault, our community has the judged. It even prevents people from resources to help. reporting crimes; With collaboration this is often true between service not only in cases they of sexual abuse, IF YOU OR SOMEONE providers, work together but also in cases YOU KNOW IS A to ensure clients of domestic abuse receive exactly the or hate crimes. SURVIVOR OF ANY type of assistance The challenge TYPE OF SEXUAL they need. to changing and Compassionate ASSAULT, OUR dismantling victim and trained blaming lies in COMMUNITY HAS advocates assist the fact that such THE RESOURCES TO survivors of responses are sexual abuse HELP. often automatic in navigating and emanate the method of from people’s reporting the desire to feel safe themselves. Blaming victims allow us to crime, submitting evidence and feel that the world is just, that we have undergoing a checkup. They control over what happens to us, so we also provide traditional cultural are able to avoid traumatic experiences healing for tribal members, ourselves. While these attitudes grant counseling, support groups, advocacy, referrals, us some sense of control over our court case management, housing lives, they also compromise our ability assistance and more.

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301 W. Grand Ponca City

Hours: Monday - Friday 8-6 Saturday 8-2

509 N. 1st St. • Ponca City • 580-762-1736

Showroom Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10 am - 5:30 pm, Sat. 9 am - 2 pm

April 2021

Scalloped Potatoes Side Dish Perfect For Easter

Recipe & Photo by Paul Muehlberg/Contributing Writer These decadent potatoes are the perfect side dish to your Easter dinner. I use a mandolin to slice the potatoes extra thin which allows the potatoes to soak up the cream sauce. Leaving the skins on help form a crispy crust. Enjoy!

DIRECTIONS INGREDIENTS • 5 Shallots, sliced ¼” thick • 6 garlic cloves, minced • ¼ cup chicken fat, duck fat or bacon fat • 1 cup whole milk • 1 cup heavy cream • 1 tablespoon, kosher salt (Morton), more as needed • 2-3 sprigs of thyme, tied • Freshly ground black pepper • 3 pounds russet potatoes, scrubbed and rinsed • 4 ounces of cheese such as gruyere, swiss or cheddar, grated

56 April 2021

Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat a large saucepan garlic and shallots through the sieve and into over medium heat; add the oil. When the the milk and cream mixture. Season with freshly oil starts to shimmer, add the shallots and a ground black pepper. pinch of kosher salt. Lower heat to medium While the milk and cream mixture is low and continue to cook until the shallots are translucent and just beginning to brown simmering, slice the potatoes using a mandolin about an 1/8 thick. (Note: If around the edges, 8-12 you don’t have a mandolin, minutes. Add the garlic you can use a knife, but I and continue to cook for prefer using a mandolin for Prep Time: 15 minutes another 2-3 minutes. Next, more evenly cut slices. If you add the heavy cream, milk, Cook Time : 60-75 minutes haven’t used a mandolin 1 tablespoon of kosher salt before, be careful; they are and the thyme. Increase Servings: 6 very sharp!) Next, arrange the the heat to medium; when sliced potatoes in a 2-3 quart the milk and cream begin shallow baking dish layering to simmer, reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer for another and fanning out around the outside edge of 3-4 minutes or until the shallots and garlic the baking dish until you get to the middle. are tender. Be careful to not overheat/boil the Add the milk and cream mixture to the baking cream and milk mixture; the fat will separate dish. The milk and cream mixture should come from the milk solids and your cream sauce just under the top edges of the potatoes. Next will break and will have a grainy texture. Next, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and remove the thyme. Using a fine mesh sieve, bake for 60 to 75 minutes, or until the potatoes strain the milk and cream mixture into a small are fork tender. Next, remove the foil from the mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula smash the baking dish and cover the top with the cheese. Set oven to broil and broil on the top rack until cheese is bubbling and browned 1-2 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 15-20 minutes and serve.

Reasons relevant for everyone:

• We are the Information Center for Ponca City. • Our Chamber Directory, with the City Resource Guide, is published new every year. • Our Member-to-Member Discount Card is supplied to our members at no cost and is a great benefit. • We provide networking opportunities, including our monthly Business After Hours. • We offer leadership training through our Leadership Program. We are in our 35th year of Leadership Ponca City. • We promote the Tourism Industry in Ponca City. This industry brings jobs and sales tax dollars to Ponca City for everyone’s benefit. • Chamber staff provide job recruitment services for Ponca City. For example, helping recruit a pastor, doctor, engineer, etc., to relocate to Ponca City. • The Chamber’s members can affect governmental outcomes on a local, regional, state and even national level by uniting as one voice.

Reasons relevant for retail businesses: • We promote “Shop Ponca First,” which includes campaigns like our Santa Buck Giveaway, Crazy Days and Cash Mob. The Santa Buck Giveaway retail promotion is the largest retail event in Oklahoma. • We market Shop Ponca First and why it is important. This campaign educates people that shopping Ponca first provides jobs for our family and friends. Plus we educate that when you Shop Ponca First you provide needed sales tax dollars to our City and also help our local business community support all of the charitable needs in Ponca City. • The Chamber offers free customer service training, called Customer Service Training. • Our Chamber Buck program – In 2020 almost $200,000 was spent through this program keeping money in Ponca City with our Chamber members. • Our Member-to-Member Discount Card is supplied to our members at no cost and encourages Chamber members to shop with each other. • Our Chamber Directory is our version of the Yellow Pages! Chamber members look there first when looking for a new service provider or retail business. Every resident and business in Ponca City will receive a copy of this directory. It is also used to promote relocating to Ponca City.

• We host Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies for all new businesses, major remodels, business relocation and new owners. • The Chamber provides at least six educational lunch and learns benefiting business. • The Chamber’s Tourism Bureau promotes Ponca City through advertising and attending tourism trade shows. This brings people to our community and has a direct impact on our retail industry.

Reasons relevant for an industry: • We provide business training at the high school to show what quality work ethic is and why it is important. • We help give industry a voice at the State Capitol, in Washington D.C. and at City Hall through our Ponca Politics Committee and Forums. • We communicate the needs of industry with our City and with Ponca City Development Authority. • We discuss, on a monthly basis, the infrastructure issues in Ponca City. • The combined efforts of all the Chamber committees lend support to the quality of life afforded in Ponca City that attracts people to locate here. • We partner with Ponca City Development Authority when needed.

Reasons relevant for an individual: • Our “Stuff the Bus” program helps all children of Ponca City by providing supplies for any student that needs them so that all students are on a level playing field when it comes to receiving an education. • We give individual members the opportunity to have a voice and to understand the political issues facing our community through Ponca Politics Forums and committee participation. • Individuals can have a voice in the infrastructure needs of Ponca City through our Community Development Committee.

PONCA

CHAMBER OF

CITY

COMMERCE

April 2021

For more information on joining the Chamber, phone 765-4400, email rich@poncacitychamber.com or drop by the Chamber Office, located at Fifth and Grand Avenue.

Why Join?

Post Frame Buildings Barn Homes Custom Options Available All Types Of Roofing Give us a call…

Ponca City Monthly’s very own geocache-style game where following the clues can lead you to

50 in Chamber Bucks.

GeoCashing Story by Jay Wagner/Staff Writer

580-716-2188

March's Geocash was found by Durell Patterson. We’d like to congratulate him on his $50 reward in Chamber Bucks, which was awarded for the return of our special code!

License # 80004316

Good luck to next month’s geocachers and happy hunting on your next Geocashing quest!

Fully insured for your protection.

Contest Rules:

Be the first to find the cache, and bring in the special code for your prize. Also, inside the container will be a collectible coin to keep! The cache will only be hidden for a limited time for each issue, so hurry to find it fast!

www.hrirp.com •

@HRI Roofing & Post Frame

Need a Doctor? Phillip J. Knight, MD has been practicing general medicine for 40+ years and is now accepting new patients!

To schedule an appointment, please call

580-765-2498 Office located in Doctor’s Park at 400 Fairview, Suite 15, Ponca City 58 April 2021

If you are the first to find the cache, please retrieve the special code and coin, but leave and sign the included note saying that the treasure has been found. Once the deadline has passed, the code will no longer be valid for the prize. A new PC Geocash will be placed as the next issue of Ponca City Monthly is released. Winners may not win more than once per calendar year.

April Clue:

In 1927 I sent my submission To be the one of a dozen To win his commission Though I lost out on votes I did win his favor And was paid to create Three works of my labor While one was destroyed Another was hidden away The first later restored The second discovered in hay And the third is held In prominent regard Pondering intently On legacy’s reward Three figures capture Moments frozen in time A lofty commission paid By a man in his prime Which of my three works Has the distinct pleasure Of being this month’s keeper Of Geocash treasure?

Durell Patterson, Winner of March’s Geocash

March Winners 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Durell Patterson Anna, Alice, Calder & Patrick Charlotte Angie & Brantley Brewer E. Anderson M. M. McDougall Denise, Maggie, Dew & Jones Becky Williams Kenna, Spencer & Reagan

Location of March's Geocash at the Louis Fluke Flag Plaza, Marland Grand Home

Difficulty: Terrain: Size: Deadline:

Bring the Special code to:

→→→

Difficult (located in 30 minutes) Easy (mostly flat surfaces) Small (size of a golf ball) 20th of each month

My Media Matters / Ponca City Monthly City Central 400 E. Central, Suite 203

FORGET

APRIL SHOWERS…

IT’S RAINING SAVINGS! $

$ $

EASY CREDIT APPROVAL * GREAT PRE-OWNED INVENTORY! *See dealer for details

2415 N. 14TH • PONCA CITY • 580-765-5533 StutevilleFordPonca.com • StutevilleLincoln.com April 2021

Plants For Pleasure The Ponca City Council of Garden Clubs Annual Plant Sale Story Contributed by Sherry Muchmore

Plant's For Pleasure Saturday, May 1 Cann Gardens 1500 E Grand Ave 8 a.m. a until noon or sold out.

The Ponca City Council of Garden Clubs is digging in the dirt again this year in preparation for their annual "Plant's For Pleasure" Saturday, May 1st on the patio of Cann Gardens. Sales will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until noon or sold out.

For those interested in donating plants or letting gardeners dig, contact:

Anyone wishing to donate plants may drop them off during the week before the sale at the Muchmore home - 2 Hillcrest Drive across from Cann Gardens - leave on the West porch; or, Friday afternoon, April 30th, at Cann Gardens. Make sure they’re potted and identified.

Janet Ray 716-0241 jray617@hotmail.com Sherry Muchmore 763-1562 lilred@poncacity.net

Don’t miss out – these are “tried and true” Kay County grown; and, if you need help or information on planting, there will be Master Gardeners on hand to answer questions.

e c n e i r Expe ! h s e r the F A unique dining experience, TS Fork is a destination for locally sourced and farm-fresh food in plentiful servings with wonderful ambiance and atmosphere.

Dinner served by reservation Friday and Saturday nights. Set menus may be viewed online or on Facebook. Catering & weekday parties available.

RESERVATIONS ONLINE OR BY PHONE www.TSFork.com – 800-928-1840 60 April 2021

Carol Bouldin 716-2629 clb1935@gmail.com

It’s great to be back home, and I’m ready to meet all your real estate needs.

Mark Gibson, Realtor Metro Brokers of Oklahoma

e me a call! iv g , th o b r o g in ll Buying, se

(580) 761-8124 oo.com

r@yah markgibsonrealto

“I remind our students that they may not find their dream job right out of college; what they will find is a sense of achievement and a plethora of additional skills and life lessons.”

Education Corner College Life

Story Contributed by Adam Leaming, CEO/University Center Contributing Writer In April, colleges are preparing students for finals, graduation, and enrollment for the summer and fall semesters. It’s an annual rite of spring that we shift into a higher gear and we build to the crescendo that is May. As we turn our sights to graduation and spring, the UC typically hosts a career and job fair with PCDA. Over the past three years, this event has grown with the number of jobs and businesses present and the number of students and community members who attend. We are aiming to conduct this annual job and career fair for individuals looking to advance their carrers. One of the biggest challenges here at the UC is creating pathways from degrees to employment for our students. We want our students to find success and a great career fit upon graduating. However, there have been times we witness students who experience difficulty in launching their career after graduation. This is a difficult situation our former students find themselves in, and one that I had to overcome, as I had a, “failure to launch,” upon graduation. What I like to remind these students is that in those trying times it’s not the “degree” that solely defines your college education. It’s the skills, lessons and achievements you acquire during the pursuit. Perhaps your degree is in a field that is in a current shortage of opportunities, but what’s not in shortage are the skills acquired, such as research, collaboration with others and seeing projects through to completion.

When I first graduated, I felt I had a solid plan in place for the future. I was prepared and had a great opportunity lined up for myself. But as you can suspect, it was quickly apparent I was not in the place that I felt I was going to thrive. I was back to the drawing board, but I was not alone. I carried with me a work ethic, responsibility, and an attitude of becoming a self-starter and creating a new opportunity. I drew on experiences that shaped me through college, and I turned my attention to reflecting on potential opportunities where I felt I could grow and bring benefit to an organization. Each of these skills was manifested and shaped throughout my college experience at NOC and NWOSU. It wasn’t long before I found my fit and I started with the Ponca City Public Schools as a substitute teacher. From there, as I began my career, I returned back to school to create more opportunity. I enrolled at the University Center at Ponca City. After a few more years of school I had developed more knowledge, passion and skills to utilize for the future. Today, I remind our students that they may not find their dream job right out of college. But what they will find is a sense of achievement and a plethora of additional skills and life lessons that are not listed on their diploma. Sometimes it’s these skills, attitudes and abilities that employers find the most benefit from bringing to their organization. I encourage them to take a step back and recognize that while current economic realities may be one way, they’re shaped and equipped to find success in the future.

April 2021

T e h n t o w of TASTE Jalapeno Grill Sizzles for Lunch and Dinner

Story & Photos Contributed by Nancy Laffey Sometimes the best food comes The portions are MONSTROUS; in a pearly white Styrofoam box, and and for a very reasonable price, because they describe their food as anyone’s appetite could be well “Southern California Street Food,” I satisfied. The telling sign of good was ready to be wowed with flavor. nachos is in the chip, and these Getting a restaurant off the ground were substantial enough to take on is hard work, and it takes courage all those toppings without getting to open a business during a global soggy or crumbling into tiny bits. pandemic. I wondered: “What kind Every chip was ready to be of awesome food awaited me made “nachoed,” and by some feisty every chip had people behind the some happyscenes with this s o m e t h i n g kind of courage?” 408 E Hartford Ave coating it. Let me Open: Traveling to tell you there was Monday - Sunday California just to not a single naked 10am - 8pm partake in the chip! I could tell street food is on that the chicken my bucket list, so I on my nachos was was pretty excited to get that food made in-house and was incredibly right here in Ponca City. New-to- tender and flavorful in large bits. Of town in 2020, the Jalapeño Grill is course there was shredded cheese, tucked inside the Hartford Square sour cream and guacamole. But the Shopping area at Fifth Street and other flavors in the pico de gallo Hartford Avenue right next to Sears. and that fresh cilantro woke me up!

Jalapeno Grill

The outside panels give you a clue of what’s to come with graffitistyle artwork; inside you’ll find a funky taco mural and corrugated metal elements that feel clean and edgy. The menu features the usual Mexican fare with some intriguing specials like the California Burrito. I went with a safe option in the chicken nachos; I was feeling less adventurous that day and called in my lunch for a pickup. The service was friendly, and the food was worth the wait.

62 April 2021

I think my favorite part of the nachos that brought it all together was that they were gloriously coated in a creamy white queso with spicy bits of heat. I could only eat half of the nachos, and the portion was easily shareable with a friend. I look forward to getting something more unique off the menu the next time I try out the Jalapeño Grill.

P O N C A

C I T Y

Recycling Center 1001 W. Prospect, Ponca City (580)-762-7296

Operated by Supported Community Lifestyles

Wednesday through Sunday 9 am – 5 am Please pre-sort all items to save you time

Please remove all bags and strings

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ACCEPTED: CARDBOARD

Corrugated cardboard, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, brown paper bags

PAPER – All paper must be pre-sorted:

Newspaper Magazines, catalogs Office paper Computer and white office paper (no color) Telephone books Books Shredded Paper – Bagged

TIN/STEEL CANS GLASS Green Brown / Amber Clear

ALUMINUM CANS

VARIOUS ASSORTED METALS Copper Brass Aluminum foil / pie tins Steel Water heaters

LATEX PAINT

Good paint in the original can. Rusted cans are not accepted. No containers larger than 1 gallon.

ELECTRONICS

Computer towers / laptops (hard drives destroyed by DocuGUARD Certified Shredding for no charge) Keyboards Computer Mouses Printers / copiers / scanners Cell Phones Wire / Cables

April 2021

Kindly the father said to him, “I’ve left you to the end.”

“I’ve turned my own name around and have called you Dog, my friend.”

Have a Pawsitive Easter! Volunteers needed.

Connecting Animals In Need With People Who Care.

580-767-8877 • nokhs.com These ads are being paid for by a generous donor.

Ponca City Monthly April 2021

Articles inside

Taste Of The Town

Master Gardeners

Education Corner

Sounding Off

Cityscaping

Adult Book Review

Mathematics Education Month

Chamber Link

What Your Tongue Says About Your Health