Ponca City Monthly February 2023

Letter from the Editor

Three years – such a short time, and yet it feels like an eternity.

Three years ago, in February 2020, the world, though we didn’t know it, was living its last full month of pre-pandemic life. Life, as we all knew it then, was set, with only small, incremental changes happening over time. Some ideals and long-standing traditions once thought of as the very foundations of our modern culture were ripped from the clutches of society as we were thrown into a new paradigm of reality. Once the pandemic hit, within the span of a week, social gatherings and hugging became off-limits, even for extended families. Expectant mothers who had been planning baby showers and gender reveal parties found themselves with no parties to plan and in the midst of a world riddled by a disease where it was not clear how dangerous it was to newborns.

Parents canceled play dates, families postponed vacations, and oncea-week Zoom meetings replaced daily chats by the water coolers at work as employees retreated to their homes for the health and safety of everyone in the office. Grocery store trips became more missionfocused; shopping was secondary to ensuring protection for yourself from exposure to illness. Many decided not to venture out of the house, instead buying food and home goods online as home delivery options geared up to meet demand.

People sat in their homes and were forced to learn to keep themselves occupied. Without the ability to gather to watch live sporting events, see movies in a theatre, spend time with family and friends or collaboratively work with other people, the world changed, not slowly and incrementally, but swiftly. In three months, we all realized that dystopian storylines aren’t just plots in books.

Every year that passes, society continues to move forward. We tread carefully, with a full sense now of knowing that life can change in a matter of a week. We all appreciate baby showers, family vacations, and work collaborations more than we did before. Life isn’t “back to normal;” we’ve all changed too much for that. We’ve learned from our experiences through the pandemic; we learned who we are because we were forced to slow down and be still with our own thoughts.

We’re all stronger for having gone through these last three years. Recovery takes time, but we’re getting there. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward,” and that is what we must continue doing as individuals, as a community, and as a society.

editor@poncacitymonthly.com

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

On the cover: Rich Cantillon, Chamber CEO. Read more on page 26.

Cover Design by Andy Hicks

Photos by Kelsey Wagner

seed reef

is an immersive, sculpted paper installation of a coral reef threatened by bleaching and pollution, created by artists Malcolm Zachariah and Emma Difani. Visitors can walk “underwater” through the screen printed, sculpted paper reef as it transitions from a colorful, vibrant section full of corals, fish, and other sea life to a barren wasteland of bleached coral skeletons. The artists, whose creative partnership formed through a shared love of material, nature, and experimentation, use their individual practices of printmaking and kirigami (cut and folded paper) to construct an immersive paper environment reflecting the consequences of climate change.

This exhibit is on display through February 18th at the John McNeese Art Gallery located in City Central at 400 E. Central in Ponca City. For more information, please visit pcarts.org

hotosbyAndyHicks

Visitors are encouraged to help restore or “seed” the damaged reef by constructing their own corals and reef inhabitants to add to the installation. This process simulates actual coral restoration efforts using nursery-grown fragments. By crafting corals, visitors are helping seed the bleached region of Seed Reef, bringing it back to a healthy, thriving state and mirroring the actions we must take to understand and remedy our complex relationship with this planet and preserve its biodiversity.

For

Seed Reef at City Arts, the installation grew with the help of new collaborators.

Local artists Dale Coons, Summer Gardner, Andy Hicks, and Theresa Sacket created new sculptural pieces for the installation.

The exhibit is serenaded with sounds created by Dan Moyer

Special thanks to Terron Liles with City Arts, Factory Obscura, and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition.

WAREHOUSE WORKERS

$ 15 20/hour and up

Plus shift differential pay for night shift. Now taking applications for warehouse workers at our Ponca City Distribution Center.

We are seeking individuals who possess a desire for long-term employment in a temperature-controlled environment that is fast-paced, team-oriented with opportunities for advancement.

Albertsons offers excellent pay and benefits including:

$2,000

payable the first year!

H Medical, dental, vision, disability & life insurance

H Paid vacation

H 401K with company contribution

H Retention bonuses

H Production bonuses

Interested applicants should apply online: albertsons.com/careers No phone calls, please.

Timeless Taste

A Peak Behind the Doors of the Historic and Private Marland Oil Co.’s Boardroom and Office

Story and Photos by Everett Brazil, III / Staff Writer

THE CONTINENTAL BUILDING AT THE PHILIPS66 REFINERY IS A NONDESCRIPT STRUCTURE AT THE FACILITY, A LARGE, FIVE-STORY OFFICE BUILDING TUCKED AWAY ON THE PROPERTY WHERE MARLAND OIL CO.’S OFFICES ONCE WERE HOUSED. THE RED BRICK STRUCTURE TODAY IS DWARFED BY THE NORTH AND SOUTH TOWERS, JUST OFF SOUTH AVENUE IN PONCA CITY. DUE TO THE TOWERS STANDING IN THE FOREGROUND, IT IS BARELY VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE THE REFINERY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST STRUCTURES AND MOST IMPORTANT ERECTED AT THE REFINERY STILL STANDING.

While it now remains largely empty, its spirit is still seen as the seat of Marland Oil Co.’s house of operations, long after the company merged with Continental Oil and later became known as Conoco.

Walking the halls of the building, one sees a quiet emptiness, floors with offices that were once filled with activity and the hustle and bustle of an active oil company. That history seems lost today, and nearly all offices are empty, though some still contain a glimpse of the past. Each thing seems frozen in time, from remote chairs and items resting on the desks, all just an echo of their past usefulness.

A short elevator ride to the fifth floor at the top of the structure shows a much different environment from the floors below, as a door opens into the Marland Oil Co.’s boardroom, and through a second door, E.W. Marland’s

office itself, a site so stunning to not be believed unless one were actually there.

Erin Liberton is the Senior Advisor of Field Communications at the refinery. Her hands hold a special set of keys that gives her exclusive access to Marland’s boardroom and office, mostly for tours of the facility.

“Marland had exquisite taste and spared no expense in his office and his homes,” she said. “He really sought out the nicer things in the 1920s.”

Many of the decorations of the offices have a story of their own, starting with the boardroom table, which was recovered from a sunken ship that he had purchased and had refurbished and placed in the meeting room.

A portrait of Marland above the fireplace shows the oil magnate watching over company board proceedings, and the woodwork around that portrait has intricately ornate sculpting,

representing many aspects of the oil industry in that time period.

A television near the south window, accompanied by an iPad on the previously sunken boardroom table reveals the only representations of modern society in the room, at least if one does not look out the windows to a modern refinery in the background.

It is only a few steps into the office of Marland himself, where much of the furniture, and even the flooring, is original to the office he once inhabited. Gone is Marland’s desk, and it is largely unknown where it may have once sat, but much remains the same, starting with a large rug created in India, one that itself cost a fortune, spreading across the floor of the office. The fireplace in his office was created out of ornate black Italian marble.

Even the chandeliers lighting the office, once valuable in their own right, have a much more exquisite value today.

“In 1976, the two solid silver chandeliers were appraised at a value of $120,000 each, and an extra $60,000 to $80,000 for the historic value,” Liberton said.

The most impressive part of Marland’s historic office was a view to the north, where a grand garden once blossomed under the spring and summer sun, with a much more expansive view of the Ponca City community.

Only a sliver of the garden remains near the structure, the rest having been taken over by the towers.

For all the money, time and resources Marland poured into the office and boardroom, it would change hands through several oil companies in a series of unforeseen events.

“They were decorated to Marland’s specifics, but unfortunately, he didn’t have much time to use them, because Marland Oil Co. was in financial trouble,” Liberton said.

Continental Oil and Transportation would merge with Marland Oil Co., with the company retaining the former’s name, which would later be rebranded as Conoco.

Though short-lived, there was much leading up to the building of Marland Oil Co. and the Continental Building itself, and much more history after the fall. Even after vacating the company, Marland would continue to build a legacy well into the future.

The building was designed by architect Solomon Layton, who was also behind other high-profile structures in Oklahoma at the time.

“(Layton) was also the architect of the Marland Grand Home and Marland Housing Addition north of South Avenue, and the Oklahoma State Capitol,” Liberton said.

“Solomon Layton, at that time, was doing a

lot of different things.”

While the design of the building was through Layton, it was John Duncan Forsythe who was the mastermind of the Marland office and boardroom, which would include the Italian marble fireplace.

“It was completed at a cost of $50,000,” Liberton said.

Marland had only a short time to continue his business in his office building following an ill-conceived business deal with J.P. Morgan, Jr., a practice he had done before.

“He fell on hard times, and he had secured a $30 million loan through J.P. Morgan, Jr. Morgan called the vote, and he had the board majority, and they elected to replace him with Texaco President Dan Moran,” Liberton said.

Marland had exquisite taste and spared no expense in his office and his homes. He really sought out the nicer things in the 1920s.

They also merged with Continental Oil Co. Moran would serve as CEO of Continental Oil Co., later known as Conoco. He was the first CEO for Conoco.

As company leaders, Marland and Moran were complete opposites, nearly night versus day. Marland built a career off Kay County oil and poured it back into the community, with public artworks such as the Pioneer Woman Statue. It was also a welcoming, happy culture at Marland Oil Co.

Moran, however, had a different approach to managing the business.

“Moran was the president from late 1928 to 1947. It was said he would stand at the windows watching the employees for the slightest of imperfections,” she said.

Though not the most-liked CEO, Moran did leave his own legacy in the refinery, namely in the Moran Dining Room, adjacent to the Continental Building through a covered walkway, known at the refinery as “The Catwalk.” Like Marland’s offices, it looks like it hasn’t aged in generations and was themed after his MO Ranch in Hunt, Texas.

“The Moran Dining Room was built in 1939, and he brought his tile workers from his ranch to do the tile work,” she said. “Their work of tile laying can be seen throughout

the community.”

The Moran Dining Room is used to this day for special events, she said.

Marland was released as CEO of his own company in 1929, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing greater works through a foray into politics, at both the state and federal levels, as a U.S. Representative for Oklahoma’s Eighth District from 1933-35 and later as the 10th Governor of Oklahoma from 1935-39.

The Continental Building is now largely empty. What stands now is just a memory of the office activities of yesteryears. The large, looming towers stand stoically between the original office building and the city itself, whose histories are so intricately connected. The refinery is still the largest in the region, however, and is still going strong, she said.

“Refinery operations are running as planned and run rates are strong,” Liberton said. “The refinery’s biggest areas of production are diesel, gasoline and jet fuel. As diesel demand has grown, we’ve shifted to produce more of that.”

As for Marland’s office, and his neighboring boardroom, they are stuck in a state frozen in time, between separate generations, between worlds, remembering the past,

while still looking forward to the future.

“The Marland boardroom and office are special jewels at the Ponca City refinery. I’m very proud of our heritage companies, and now Phillips66 continues to maintain them to protect and preserve the incredible history that exists,” Liberton said. “Mr. Marland started a refinery in Ponca City that was significant to the area at the time and more than 100 years later, we are bigger and better than ever, and the largest refinery in a multi-state area, so to have references back to Marland’s days are very special, and something we honor at Phillips66.”

128TH ANNUAL CHAMBER CELEBRATION Award Recipients

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Legacy Signs

INDUSTRY OF THE YEAR: Evans and Associates Enterprises

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Joe Glaser

OUTSTANDING CITIZEN: Natalie Fraser

Rick was born and raised in Ponca City and graduated with the Wildcat class of 1977.

Rick was selected as captain of his high school wrestling team his senior year. That same year, Rick attended Northern Oklahoma College on a full ride wrestling scholarship. Rick met his future wife, Kim Ewy at Ponca City High School and the two high school sweethearts married in 1980. Rick started his professional career working for Bill Wright Masonry in 1976 and continued there until 1984. Kim started working for Southwestern Bell in 1980, and in 1984 her job moved them both to Enid.

Rick and Kim opened Superbodies Fitness Center, Inc. in downtown Enid in 1984. Later Rick took a job with Combined Insurance Company of America, in 1985 where he worked for 29 years. Rick went from salesman to a salaried executive in less than five years. In fact, Rick was of the youngest to achieve “Executive Status” in the company, at young age of 29 years old.

Rick’s family has owned Rusty Barrell Supper Club in Ponca City since 1976, and the restaurant has always held a special place in Rick and Kim’s heart. Rick retired from Combined Insurance in 2014 to help his stepfather, Bill Coddington, in the family restaurant business. In 2016 Rick and Kim purchased The Rusty Barrell Supper Club, and along with their amazing staff, continue to run the family business today.

When Rick came back home to Ponca City, he wanted to reconnect with his hometown, and he immediately got involved in the Chamber of Commerce. Rick was accepted into the Ponca City Leadership class of 2018, the 32nd class. Rick was a member of the Marland’s Place board from 2018-2022. Rick is a member

of the First Presbyterian Church. Rick was a Chamber board member from 20182020 and has been a member of the Chamber Executive Team since 2020.

In 2022, Rick and Kim celebrated 42 years of marriage together. Rick and Kim enjoy spending their spare time cooking for family and friends, traveling to new restaurants (doing opposition research), and they especially enjoy spending time on some beach somewhere whenever the opportunity arises.

FUN FACT ABOUT RICK: Rick has also been an exercise junkie his whole life. Dating back to his wrestling days. One thing he started doing at age 50, was to do as many continuous pushups as his age. So far so good, 63 this year.

Introducing 2023 Chamber Chair Rick Hancock

GOING FLOW WITH THE

Jesse Beck, Director of Environmental Services

Having a well-run City with departments that perform effectively is critical to creating vibrant quality of life in any community. While every department is critical to the success of the whole, the work of some departments falls under the radar. Environmental Services is one such department. Jesse Beck, Director of Environmental Services, says if he’s doing his job effectively, he disappears. When things are going smoothly in the various divisions of Environmental Services, your water is running, your toilets are flushing and your trash is being picked up each week.

According to the City’s website, “The Environmental Services Department consists of Water Production, Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection, Wastewater Treatment, and Solid Waste Collection and Landfill. The mission of our department is to protect the environment and enhance the quality of life for our customers by delivering safe drinking water, performing effective wastewater treatment and providing efficient collection and disposal of solid waste.”

Jesse got his degree in Geology and Geophysics from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. After graduating, he worked in the environmental field for several years before taking a job with the City of Ponca City’s Geographic Information Services Department. He left that position to take the role of Assistant Civil Engineer with the City, before moving into his current position as Director of Environmental Services.

Jesse explains each of the arms of the Environmental Services Department in a little more detail. Jesse says he runs the department with the help of “three very knowledgeable superintendents.”

Todd Smith is the Water Utilities Manager. Jesse calls Todd an “innovator” and says he’s been really impressed with the work he’s seen from Todd and his team at the Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Plant. Our community’s main water supply is from a well field. This water is treated at our Water Treatment Plant. Jesse puts the filtration process in layman’s terms, “It starts with pouring the water through gravel, then through finer gravel, then sand and then an activated charcoal layer. Then they chlorinate it and they add some fluoride for our teeth and ship it on out. It’s deceptively simple. It looks very easy, but it’s quite the operation to maintain.”

An average of 8.5 million gallons of water

Story and Photos by Chelsea McConnell / Staff Writer

is treated and distributed to our community and rural water districts in the area on a daily basis.

Darwin Haney is the Water Distribution & Wastewater Collection Superintendent. The City’s site explains it like this, “The Water Distribution Division is responsible for distributing potable water to City’s residential, commercial, industrial and wholesale customers. The division achieves its goals by maintaining 223 miles of water mains, over 11,400 water meters, varioussized valves and approximately 1,017 fire hydrants located within the City.” Jesse says, “Darwin’s been really good about

implementing a maintenance program that stays on top of potential problems.” They snake the sewers, run chemicals through them to keep roots from growing into them and take other preventative measures to keep water flowing in our community.

Even with preventative maintenance in place, sometimes things don’t go their way. Jesse says we’ve had more issues with our waterlines this summer than in the past due to the lack of rain. We have a lot of heavy clay soils in our area. When that soil is wet, it can expand up to 50%. When the soil is dry, it contracts just as much, if not more, damaging our network of pipes. This has had City water crews out fixing issues a lot over the past six months. “I don’t think I’ve gotten a single complaint about my water crew. Everyone sees how hard they work. They’re out there at two in the morning. They’re out there when it’s 110 degrees. They’re out there in the worst conditions. And they work hard. They don’t sit around, they don’t cuss and they don’t make a mess. They get the job done, clean it up as best as they can, and then they leave. I’ve gotten several phone calls from people saying, ‘you know, it kind of sucked that I didn’t have water today, but I saw what they were doing and thank you.’”

Tim McNew is the Solid Waste Superintendent. His division is responsible for refuse collection, recycling and landfill operations. They pick up trash twice weekly for local residents and once weekly for commercial customers. They also do spring cleanup and fall leaf collections each year. Our local recycling center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5

p.m. Jesse’s predecessor partnered with Supported Community Lifestyles to arrange local pick up of recyclables. SCL offers a paid curbside recycling pickup service. Jesse says the service is great as it saves time and gas residents would otherwise spend hauling the recycling themselves. Another part of Tim’s division is the Landfill, located southwest of the City. Commercial and residential customers are welcome to bring trash to the landfill for safe disposal of the items.

Jesse’s been in his position as Environmental Services Director for about half a year now. He spends a lot of time reading articles, publications and, of course, studying the Master Plans created for our City. He’s eager to learn about the various aspects of this new role and credits his Superintendents with being very helpful when he has questions and as he seeks to learn from their years of experience. “All three of them have been very positive and really good at teaching me what I need to know. I’ve been very grateful for that.” As a part of his position, Jesse also has to consider the bigger picture. He must actively prepare for the future of water in our community. “As water becomes a more precious resource in the future, we’ve got to be thinking more innovative thoughts. It’s kind of an exciting time to be in this seat for that, but it’s also a little scary. I like carrying that weight in a way, but I also take it very seriously.”

All of Ponca City’s different departments play a huge role in making the world go round, so to speak, here in our lovely little community. The work done within the divisions of the Environmental Services Department is critical to the well-being of our citizens.

Catching The Train

History of the Tonkawa Train Depot

For many decades, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) Railway depot in downtown Tonkawa played an integral role in the business development of the community. From shipping out agricultural commodities like cattle and wheat to larger markets, to bringing in needed equipment for the burgeoning Three Sands Oil Field and even the endless line of passengers boarding and departing the train, it helped keep the community alive.

Many years later, the depot would fall on hard times. The ATSF would pull out the tracks and the facility would change hands several times, in the process slowly becoming derelict and on the brink of extinction.

A coordinated effort came together only a few years ago, renovating the property and not only saving the depot from demolition, but also preserving a piece of Tonkawa history.

The ATSF Railway had service in what would become Kay County prior to the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run. It operated a spur line south into a cattle depot known as Kirk, and Land Run hopefuls rode the train from Kansas to the site, walking the rest of the way to what would become Newkirk, in the Northeast section of the future County K, later Kay County.

Tonkawa also was founded during the land run, and several years later, they also partitioned the railway for trackage into the community.

“The Cherokee Strip Land Run was in 1893 and that was the beginning of the settlement of this part of the country,” said Evelyn Coyle, who was president of the Tonkawa Historical Society (THS) when they acquired the depot and chairperson of the ATSF depot rehabilitation committee. “Most of the men that made the Land Run were farmers and ranchers. They staked their claim for land and became cattle ranchers and raised wheat.”

Getting those agricultural commodities to market would necessitate rail service.

“The only way to get the cattle to market was to have cattle drives. Then, in 1899, the people decided the best thing to do was to get the railroad in the area,” she said. “The track was laid from Blackwell to Tonkawa, and they had a way to get the cattle to market.”

The ATSF brought the line to a dead end at the depot, bringing in passengers and equipment to the community, and taking more passengers and commodities outside of Tonkawa.

“The tracks were laid in 1899, and the depot was established within a couple of years,” she said.

Story and Photos by Everett Brazil, III / Staff Writer

A second depot was established in Tonkawa, serviced by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, known simply as the Rock Island Line, which connected Tonkawa with Enid. Once only a few blocks away from the ATSF’s depot, it is now demolished.

At the center of the trade was a traditional depot, constructed at a standard size for most depots of the area, 24 ft. by 80 ft. As oil field activity picked up, so would the size of the depot.

“In 1922, the Three Sands Oil Field was developed, which is south of Tonkawa,” she said. “At that time, they added a freight room because supplies came in for the oil field.”

By the mid-1940s, passenger rail added a new, unexpected passenger service, that of prisoners of war (POWs) during World War II,

who were held at a new camp near Tonkawa, today a historic landmark.

“In 1943, the POW camp a mile north of Tonkawa was under construction, and a track was laid to the area, and supplies were sent there,” she said.

That was also the time passenger service in general began a shift to alternative transportation.

“In 1946, the Santa Fe bus started serving Tonkawa, and they added 16 ft. to the south side of the depot for a waiting room,” she said. “In time, after the bus quit (service in Tonkawa) came in the Mistletoe Express, which leased it for a short time.”

The depot would close in 1971, though ATSF would continue operations in Tonkawa, at least for a time.

“They kept their personnel because they did bring in boxcars to haul the wheat out,” Coyle said.

It would eventually be reopened by the THS, and it would be a long road to get the depot to the THS, however.

“In time the depot was closed, and they did allow the THS to use the waiting room as a

museum,” Coyle said. “In time, the building (to the west) was acquired by the THS, so they moved out of the depot.”

The depot was later sold to an unknown individual, who later sold it to adjacent property owners, and the depot in itself would be owned by a private company, which used it for storage. They would later deed it to the THS.

“I think they were through using it, and didn’t have a use for it anymore,” she said.

What was seen as a major donation to the THS required a lot of work to rehabilitate, since at that point it had become severely derelict.

A gift would come through Preservation Oklahoma, a not-for-profit that identifies buildings across the state that are in severe risk of loss due to neglect, among other reasons.

“In 2008, the depot was put on the Oklahoma’s Most Endangered List,” she said. “In 2009, we were honored at a banquet at the State Historical Society.”

That may seem incongruent, as the depot was represented for its dilapidated state, but that was the point, to recognize buildings that could be lost, and encourage residents to work to save it.

Tonkawa residents were up to the challenge and rolled up their sleeves to save the ATSF depot, ready for whatever challenge came their way.

The problems were legion for the historic facility. When asked about the problems of the facility, Coyle replied simply, ‘everything.’

“It was terribly rundown, and it was over 100 years old,” she said. “We had to reroof it, we had it scraped and repainted and had it repaired on the inside.”

The renovations were entirely self-funded, she added, indicating it was a true community effort to restore the depot.

“We didn’t have grants; people donated and made contributions,” she said.

As for the paint, it was in the depot’s original colors, she said.

By 2010, they reopened to the public, at least with the public seeking permission to use the facility, a museum piece that was available for everything from birthdays

to anniversaries to class reunions, while also serving as a form of an outdoor museum display.

“They rent it out for birthdays and anniversaries, and other kinds of functions, renting it from the THS,” she said.

The highlight of the depot may not be the depot itself, but the caboose living next to it, sitting on tracks brought to the site.

“It was formerly the Opportunity Center’s thrift store, the Caboose Thrift store, near South Street in Ponca City,” she said.

Coyle is one part of a large team of community supporters who saw a dire need to save the depot and return it to its former glory, a chance to save it for many generations at a time when a piece of Tonkawa’s rail history could have been lost forever, but it is now protected for community functions and rail enthusiasts alike. For a small town like Tonkawa, it is the best feeling, preserving a unique piece of history, something that makes Tonkawa its own community.

“The depot represents what helped Tonkawa develop; it was very important,” she said. “I think it is wonderful because we saved history.”

“The depot represents what helped Tonkawa develop; it was very important. I think it is wonderful because we saved history.”

CHAMBER of Success

Everett Brazil, III / Staff Writer

Rich Cantillon has spent the better part of two decades promoting the Ponca City community through the Chamber of Commerce. It is a family tradition, a lifelong love of small-town Oklahoma at home in Kay County. That time is coming to an end, as he enters retirement, but his legacy, and love of the Ponca City community, will continue to live on for many years.

Cantillon has served as Chamber CEO for 18 years, filling the role his entire tenure with the organization, and he reflects on his years at the Chamber and the connections he has made within the community.

“It’s been very rewarding,” he said. “I’ve been very blessed, and that made my job very enjoyable, with such a great leadership team.”

Cantillon came to the Chamber as a businessman himself, the owner of a photography studio in Blackwell. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who also owned a studio, and who himself would go on to be a part of the Chamber of Commerce.

“My dad was a photographer in Ponca City, and he always supported the Chamber,” he said. “I grew up knowing about the Chamber, and knowing it was important to support us.”

– Maria Edgeworth

Cantillon also saw that importance through his own experiences.

“I owned a photo studio for 14 years in Blackwell,” he said. “When I had the studio, I was part of the Blackwell Chamber, and the Chamber, at that time, 1995, we were celebrating our Centennial.”

As a business owner, he knew he didn’t want to simply be a member business, but to promote the Chamber and business community itself, a business owner who wanted to make the community better.

“I knew that was when I was working to be part of the Chamber,” he said.

Cantillon’s experience with the Blackwell group made him the perfect candidate when Ponca City’s organization sought help to run the Chamber.

“Ponca City had lost their CEO and they reached out to me, and I turned them down because I was happy in Blackwell,” he said. “They reached

out to me again, and I felt it was God’s calling.”

While he was part of the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce, it was in Ponca City’s respective organization that he truly saw a way to turn the community around, and not just locally, but across Kay County, and even assisting chambers across the state.

He began as his career at the Chamber as CEO 18 years ago and has remained in the same position ever since.

He soon found a long list of agenda items that fell into his lap, the first of which was uniting the Ponca City community, which included Ponca City Public Schools, Development Authority, Main Street, City Hall and of course, the Chamber.

“When I was hired, I was asked to create unity in Ponca City. This was an issue at the time, and today, you will not find another city that has leadership that works as well together as we do,” he said. “We are all focused on the future and working together to make great things happen.”

Building great customer service within the community was also a task he dealt with.

Chamber Staff: Zach Trantham, Tourism Coordinator; Tiffany Herman, VP; and Rich Cantillon, CEO. Not pictured is Kelly Cross, Director of Membership Development.

Gary Scott, SVP; Troy Campbell, SVP; Kerri Bowman, VP and Darin Kirchenbauer, SVP

Gary Scott, SVP | Troy Campbell, SVP | Kerri Bowman, VP | Darin Kirchenbauer, SVP

“In my first months, I was asked to visit every Chamber member,” he said. “Today this is one of our most successful projects of the Chamber. We offer quality customer service training that continues to be rated high by employees that participate.”

The has been the limit for Cantillon and the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. Business promotion came natural to

Rich, who once owned a photography business himself, and understood the struggles that small business owners face.

“As a business advocate, they are the ones that promote the local economy,” he said.

Chamber activities certainly include promoting the business community locally, but there is so much more they

Story from Past Chamber Chair: Bill Coleman

I was flying to DC with Rich for the Chamber Fly In. We were on Southwest, so I took the window seat, and he took the aisle. We got buckled in and Rich said, “Hey I don’t mean to be a snob, but I love to read when I fly so I won’t be talking much”. Well, I felt like I just won the lottery and thought I just might close my eyes and take a nap. I looked up, and there was HJ Reed with P66, he looked at the empty middle seat and sat down with us. Rich did his same speech about not being a snob and wouldn’t be talking. HJ took that as a challenge, Rich wound up reading TWO PAGES of his book and talked almost the entire flight. I did not get a nap in :)

do to build up the Downtown District and bring new people to the Ponca City community.

One way is building up the local schools, teaching the youngest generations about how important the community is, and how important it is for them to be a part of it, as well.

“I am proud of our PCPS listening when we have said people, we are showing Ponca City; to have commented on the need for this or that, with our school facilities,” he said. “In just two years, you will not find another rural school in Oklahoma with the facilities we will have.”

Politics also became first and foremost, as they welcomed many political leaders to town hall meetings, from local leaders to those serving in Washington, D.C. More recently, those include State Rep. Ken Luttrell and Sen. Bill Coleman, along with U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and Rep. Frank Lucas.

“We have hosted every governor, lieutenant governor and several Congressmen in Ponca City during the past 18 years,” Cantillon said.

Cantillon has a team of other staff members and community volunteers who all work together to help promote Ponca City’s business community. One of the staff members is Zach Trantham, who has been the Chamber’s Tourism Director for the past four years. He travels far and wide to spread word of the little golden nugget that is Ponca City.

“I promote and market our attractions in Ponca City,” Trantham said of his role. Though he’s only been with the Chamber for four years, he has known Cantillon for many more years, really

Zach Trantham and Rich Cantillon with Governor Kevin Stitt

27 years as he grew up near him, living next door in his formative years. Cantillon wasn’t just an influence at a young age, but also today, working at the Chamber.

“He’s been a great person to work for, he’s a good mentor,” Trantham said. “He’s very family-oriented, which is something I like because we’re like a family here, being a small office.”

His effect on the office will leave an impact on those who worked under him.

“He’s energetic, very friendly, able to keep calm in situations that may be a little stressful,” Trantham said. “If it was a stressful situation, we’re fine, too, because he’s letting us know it’s going

to be okay.”

The staff are emotional to see him leave but know the legacy he left during his nearly 20 years at the Chamber, and will always be grateful for the impact he left on the organization.

“I’m sad to see him go, but it’s greatly deserved,” Trantham said. “His impact has been great for Ponca City and the State of Oklahoma.”

As for Cantillon, he can still cherish the connections he’s made through the years, knowing he made an impact on the community.

“I have really enjoyed the friends I’ve made across the state, and across the country,” he said. “I can’t get over how much support Ponca City has given the Chamber. I feel like our Chamber and

community are very resilient. This is why we are so successful – we work well together.”

Craig Stephenson, Ponca City Manager; Rich Cantillon, Chamber CEO, Sue Lunsford, Diane Anderson and Mayor Homer Nicholson

ATTENTION ALL TRIBAL MEMBERS:

Kanza Human Development Division

Cradle To College & Beyond

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.

CHILDCARE Providing childcare assistance for tribal members who are parents, single or married, who need employment, education or training to be self-sufficient.

To set up an appointment, please call 580-749-5420.

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

OFFICE LOCATION and HOURS

City Central Building, Suite 206

400 E. Central Avenue, Ponca City

Monday thru Friday 8 am - 4 pm

Closed Federal & Tribal Holidays

The Kaw Nation has 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. kanzahumandevelopmentdivision.com

TASTE OF HEAVEN FUDGE

HAPPY VALENTINEʼS DAY!

ACROSS

by

1. Settled a bill

Patrick Jordan

5. Concerning any leader of the Catholic church

10. Quick drink

14. Red "Sesame Street" monster

15. Similar

16. Sheet of window glass

17. Highway interchange with four curves

19. Jessica in "Fantastic Four" films

20. Come inside

21. ___ Bell (Disney fairy)

23. "The Science Kid" in PBS programs

26. Family room

27. Sandwich shop order (Abbr.)

28. They provide revenue for magazines

29. Copied with transparent paper

31. "Pop Goes the ___"

33. Possessed

34. James seen in "Misery"

35. Reveal thoughtlessly, as a secret

38. Watermelon's covering

39. Clock's hour-announcing sound

40. Be dull enough to cause yawning

41. "Orinoco Flow" singer

42. Lubrication liquids

43. Satan, for one

44. Cooks on a barbecue

46. Far from conceited

47. Classic actor ___ Mineo

49. Atlantic food fish

50. Radio cohost on "Frasier"

51. Hi-___ graphics (very clear images)

52. Grand jury investigations

54. Batman and Dracula wear them

56.Valentinewordfoundinsidethis puzzle'sfourlongestanswers

57. Natives of a country bordering Austria

ook, I may ruffle some feathers saying this, but if you leave your kids with a sitter (or grandparents) and go somewhere without them, get some adult time away, go do something fun … how could you do that? Why would you have kids just to leave them with other people? How could you leave those sweet angels without their parents? No, literally, how? What’s your sitter’s name? Can I have her phone number? Will your parents watch my kids too? Can I come with you to the kid-free fun thing? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, my two favorite things in the world are 1. Being with my kids and 2. Not being with my kids. As much as I love those sweet, adorable little energy-sucking goblins, I do not always love answering 312 questions in the span of 8 minutes. I love being able to think my own thoughts

and not have to figure out the answer to the question, “What would happen if I was metal and weighed 900 pounds and jumped off a building but everyone on the ground was made of slime?” (The correct answer, by the way, is that slime people would survive if they were pummeled by a 900-pound metal man.) One thing people don’t tell you about becoming parents? The number of times you’ll have to get up right when you’ve sat down, because someone wants a drink, or snack or help with a toy. Or that when you have kids, you’ll never truly be alone, even when you’re using the bathroom, someone is yelling at you through the door asking where that favorite Hot Wheel is. So yeah, time away from my kids? Sign. Me. Up. Never mind that I miss them literally 10 minutes after I drop them off at grandma’s, I somehow find the strength to power through. Anyways, if you’re the type of parent that wants to do the occasional fun adult-only thing, will you be my friend?

and Italy

62. Prayer-concluding word

63. Felt 55-Down

64. Use an axe on, as firewood

65. Like a lemon's taste

66. Doesn't stand upright

67. Pop superstar ___ Perry

DOWN

1. Chest muscle, briefly

2. "___ hands on deck!"

3. "That's what I think," in texts

4. Bird that symbolizes peace

5. Went separate ways

6. Tim who speaks for Buzz Lightyear

7. Harbor structure

8. Alias-indicating letters on wanted posters

9. Place for passing cars on a highway (2 wds.)

10. Reach across a river, as a bridge

11. Take advantage of (3 wds.)

12. Ready for a night's sleep (2 wds.)

13. Drive, reverse, etc.

18. Came to a close

22. "Well, ___ about time!"

23. Shopping place

24. Steve known as the Crocodile Hunter

25. Mel Gibson's "Lethal Weapon" costar (2 wds.)

27. Sunlight rays

30. Moth-repelling wood

31. Cries mournfully

32. Flowed back, as the tide

34. Youngster

36. Stand up

37. They help loose pants to stay up

39. Gigantic

43. Egg quantity in a supermarket

45. Skating rink's surface

46. Motorized bikes

47.

Answer on page 61

Bursting water balloon's noise

48. Pleasant smell

50. Poe's "Nevermore" sayer 53. Crooked 54. Pepsi or Coke

55. Unwell

58. Tell fibs

59. "Now I understand!"

60. "___ if I can help it!"

61. Espionage agent

to TRIAD’S 2023

NEW YEAR’S BABY

Dr. Sean Reid, OBGYN and the Triad staff would like to congratulate Daniel and Katy on the birth of their daughter, Wrenlee on January 2, 2023. Thank you for trusting Triad with your pregnancy!

NOC Livestock Judging Team Honored at Governor’s Mansion

Story by Scott Cloud/Director of Public Information, Northern Oklahoma College

The NOC Livestock Judging Team was recognized at the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion Tuesday, Dec. 6, after winning the 2022 North American International Livestock Exhibition (NAILE) Junior College Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky.

Team awards included High Team Overall, High Team Swine, Second High Team Oral Reasons, Sixth High Team Beef and Seventh High Team Sheep.

In individual results, Cooper Thompson was the 7th High Individual, Blake Peterson was the 9th High Individual and 7th High Individual Beef and Olivia Gerloff was 5th High Individual Swine.

Earlier this judging season, the Mavs won the October American Royal Judging Contest in Kansas City.

Coach Jennifer Bedwell said she is proud of this group of sophomores.

“When I took the position of livestock judging coach in March of 2020, I immediately began recruiting this group of kids,” she said.

Parker Fleming – Jasper, Georgia; and Aaron Mahan – Huntsville, Arkansas.

Earlier in the fall, the Mavs competed at the Cimarron Classic at Oklahoma State University, State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Tulsa State Fair, Aksarben Stock Show in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Flint Hills Mid-America Class.

The Mavs were high team at the Cimarron Classic, high team at the State Fair of Texas (sophomores) and fifth high team (freshmen).

At the Tulsa State Fair, the Mavs’ sophomores were fifth, while at Flint Hills the Mavs’ sophomores were second and the freshmen fifth high overall.

The judging teams at Oklahoma State University and Tuttle High School will also be recognized.

Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-

campus, land-grant institution that provides high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities and services.

NOC serves nearly 4,000 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. Seventy-five percent of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.

The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.

For more information about Northern Oklahoma College, please call (580) 6286208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.

Judging team members include Kale Campbell – Jet, Oklahoma; Cooper Thompson – Adair, Oklahoma; Kash Butler and Kord Butler – Grove, Oklahoma; Doug Hewitt – Cleveland, Oklahoma; Sydney Alsip –Verona, Kentucky; Brylee Williams – Princeton, Missouri; Olivia Gerloff – Bland, Missouri; Kylee Cannon – Kansas City, Missouri; Anna Hannon – Rensselaer, Indiana; Blake Peterson – Remington, Indiana; Emma Carley – Boise, Idaho; Hannah McElrath – Calhoun, Georgia;

“Hailing from all over the country, they are some of the most talented livestock judging students of their age. I am extremely proud of their success, and I look forward to what the spring has in store for us.”

The NOC Livestock Judging Team was honored Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City for winning the NAILE Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky, in November. The NOC team won the Junior College Contest and have won both major judging contests this fall. (photo provided)

YEARS OFSERVICE

Celebrates 50 Years of Service

Galaxie Business Equipment is a familyowned business that has sold office products to Southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma for over 50 years.

The business was started in 1972 in Oxford, Kansas, by James and Dolores French. It was based in the garage of their home. James would travel to local schools and businesses to clean and service typewriters. The business grew; and in 1981, they relocated to Winfield where they opened their first shop. Nathan French, James and Dolores’ son, became an employee soon after.

As technology changed Galaxie Business Equipment altered its services. In 1984, they became an authorized Sharp Dealer. Hon Office Furniture and Office Supplies joined the selection, as well.

Milton Konstantinidis, James and Dolores’ son-in-law, relocated from Australia in 1993 and started Galaxie Businesses Equipment’s IT department. Today, Nathan French is the CEO. Trudy French, his wife, is the

40 FEBRUARY 2023

treasurer and secretary. Konstantinidis is the president.

“We have 20 employees and 12 of us are family,” said Lindsay French, Marketing Coordinator. Her husband, Eli French, is vice president. “Somehow, we all get along!”

The Ponca City location opened in October 2021. Eli had been selling to Ponca City for years. After some setbacks, Galaxie Business Equipment opened its second location at 122 N. First St. It is the business’ showroom.

Inside the showroom is a design station where customers can see the samples of the materials and fabrics available for office furniture. Each fabric is unique so clients can fully customize their office space.

The French family keeps their business fun for employees and customers. To celebrate Galaxie Business Equipment’s 50th anniversary, Nathan and Trudy hosted a surprise scavenger hunt for their employees.

It took them to all the major landmarks in Ponca City and ended at the Country Club with a surprise anniversary dinner.

“I saw a lot of Ponca City that day,” Lindsay recalled with a laugh. “It was a great time. Our strengths as a team were reinforced and everyone’s families participated.”

Lindsay also started a passion project for the anniversary. Many of Galaxie Business Equipment’s employees have been there long-term. Throughout the year, Lindsay has been interviewing employees and posting spotlights highlighting them on the company website.

Annually, Galaxie Business Equipment hosts an ugly chair contest for their customers. Businesses are encouraged to post the ugliest chair they have in their office, whether old, dirty or “downright ugly.” The team will choose the chair they think is the ugliest and that business will receive a new office chair.

50

Coming Together in Song

Story and Photos by Marlys Cervantes / Contributing Writer

music and writes theatre productions. Rue sang with the event under the direction of composer Jay Rouse in 2021, so she is familiar with how it works.

The composer/director Choplin says, “She had a very generous spirit and worked hard to bring the community together in song. This upcoming trip will have a special significance as we remember Davidson.”

When First United Methodist Church of Ponca City started its Meet the Composer series, the choir understood the power of music and its importance to both worship and to this community, a community that thrives on concerts, theatre and all sorts of musical experiences.

For its 40th anniversary of Meet the Composer, the church will bring back North Carolina-based composer, conductor and humorist Pepper Choplin. Choplin was previously in Ponca City for the event in 2016. After working with the choir on the event that time, he even invited the choir members to sing PSALM 23, a cantata he directed at Lincoln Center in New York.

Co-director of the event is church organist Debra Rue, who is in her third year serving the church as organist and also composes

Rue is delighted to work with Marta Sullivan in leading the choir this year in an event that “brings the community together to share their gift of song and fellowship.”

“Music brings people together,” Rue says, “and that’s what we’re hoping to achieve – to mark not only the 40th anniversary of Meet the Composer at FUMC but also to celebrate the 130th anniversary of FUMC and Ponca City.”

This year the commissioned piece of music will be in honor of the church’s previous Director of Music Joycelynn Davidson, who passed away in October after a long battle with cancer, during which she continued to guide the music program at the church.

Rue says, “I know [the music composition] will be a tribute and spiritual reflection of her love of music that will be meaningful to all.”

Delaine Kutz, who has been part of Meet the Composer since she joined the church in 1998, says her husband Rod has been part of the event since its inception in 1983.

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

~ Plato

Pepper Choplin

Dee talks about the closeness she felt for Davidson and how much the commissioned work will mean to the choir.

“Joycelynn and Pepper had a comradeship, a closeness, that was unbelievable,” Kutz explains. “They clicked immediately when they got together. They were right on the same beat.”

Sullivan has been serving the church as interim music director during Davidson’s illness and since her passing. She will be assisting the choir in rehearsals prior to Choplin’s arrival.

When asked some of his favorite memories about coming to Ponca City, Choplin says, “The singers in Ponca City have been very well prepared. When we have the extra time, we can really dig into the music. It’s always great to hear real people adding their breath and voices to the music I’ve worked so hard to compose.”

Many voices do come together in song, from all walks of life. Even Albert Einstein is known to have said, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”

Sullivan anticipates having a choir of 40-50 members and looks forward to preparing them. She has participated in the Meet the Composer series since the times when Dolan Bayless, now in Kirkwood, Missouri, was at FUMC leading the program.

As an outsider looking in, a person who knows and cares about many of these individual singers, I have to add that sometimes I have to feel the universe aligns at all the right times. Sullivan has participated with FUMC’s music program on numerous occasions in the past. In addition, if you know her at all, you know she served the hospice program in our community for 17 years. Our church and, in particular, our choir, has been hit with numerous losses in the past couple of years. Let me just say, I am a believer in paths crossing right when they need to do

so, and many of these intersecting paths have certainly done so right when it was most apropos.

2023 is a big year for First

United Methodist Church. The year will begin with January and February rehearsals for Meet the Composer and a public concert on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m.

First United Methodist Church plans for the concert, which will include not only the nationally known composer Choplin and FUMC choir members but also music friends representing many denominations throughout Ponca City, to kick-off its 130th anniversary celebration that will culminate in October. Coordination of the anniversary celebration will be chaired by Rue and Suzi Lenhart, and the community will be welcome to attend future events as well.

Those involved in this musical adventure, with their love of music, their blending of voices and their honoring of loved ones now gone, hope you’ll join them in celebration of music, life and love this Feb. 19. As Martin Luther said, “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” Come treasure it a bit as you fill the pews in the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church.

Wall of Composers

FUMC Choir Loft

ATTENTION PATIENTS

OF DR. PATRICK GRAY

Dr. Gray is retiring effective February 28, 2023.

We are pleased to announce that TRIAD COMPLETE HEALTHCARE (2ND LOCATION) will continue to provide the same quality care in the same office. Your charts and records will remain in the same office and the office can be reached at the same phone number. 580-762-3696 400 Fairview, Suite 17 Ponca City

“I Wish My Parents …”

Story by Kendra Stolhand/Staff Intern

Author’s note: This was a really hard topic to write. To find inspiration, I turned to several of my friends, my classmates, college students and even a few adults and asked them the question, “What is something you wish you could change about the communication with your parents?”

As students enter high school, there is a shift in communication between parents and teens. There is an awkward “growing pain” between freshman year and senior year. These high schoolers are slowly discovering their opinions and are becoming independent. While freshmen are not yet able to drive, vote or even buy spray paint at the store, some seniors are already taking college courses or getting engaged. These four years are where teens are finally getting some freedom to discover themselves and that can cause these “growing pains” at home. According to high school students from all four grades, here are the two most popular traits they wish their parents could be more open toward.

Be a Good Listener

“I wish that my parents could recognize the difference between venting and asking for a solution.”

High school is hard. Lots of students just need to vent. Much like having a friend, counselor or therapist, a parent’s whole job is to listen and offer solutions when it is needed; however, it is important to know the line between just needing to talk about their feelings or to help solve their problems. It is as easy to differentiate between

the two as to ask the question, “Is this something you need help fixing or would you just like me to listen?” Sometimes, simply asking if they need a solution or someone to listen can make a difference in communicating.

Connect With Them

“I wish they would quit comparing how I am to how they were at my age.”

While society is in constant change, some things never change. And while parents had to deal with a few of the same problems their kids do in today’s age, there are obviously some major differences. Without open communication, it is impossible to relate to another’s life experiences. While the age difference between students and their parents may make

it difficult to see from the opposite perspective, it is up to both the teen and parent to fill in that gap. As stated before, some things never change no matter what years anyone attends high school – dating, bullying, final exams, stressful teachers or even the driver’s ed trash cans some classrooms still use even though driver’s ed has not been taught since the early 2000s. Some things do change- the use of cell phones, social media, chrome books, stricter security rules (author’s note: Every time I ask my mom how she got away with doing things in school, her response is always, “It was the 1990s, we just kind of did whatever we wanted.”) or even the difference in school since the pandemic. The world is constantly changing. Be open-minded when talking to a parent or teen about today’s issues.

These “growing pains” are just the rocky start of a teen becoming an adult. Soon, these teens will be in college, have jobs, get married, enlist in the military, learn trades or even have kids of their own. They need support in the years leading up to when they become adults. Although these four years seem hard, open communication and connection is key.

Story, Photos and Layout by Kendra Stolhand/Staff Intern

PONCA CITY MAIN STREET OFFICE

City Central • 400 E. Central Suite 201G 580-763-8082

OUR MISSION is to serve Ponca City and its citizens by promoting quality of life through the revitalization of downtown. Our Vision is to make downtown the heart of our community! Our Transformation Strategies are Arts & Entertainment and Community Connection.

Backyard Gardener

FEBRUARY: Love Your Pets and Plants

In honor of February being Responsible Pet Owners month, let us talk about plants: the good and the bad when dealing with our four-footed friends. We all, as pet owners, have a horror story or two about the dog that ate the two bags of chocolate (thank goodness she was big enough to handle it) or the cat that continues to try and eat the lilies no matter how many mothballs you put in the planter.

If you must have your plants indoors, there are some safe, even edible, plants for the nonhuman babies in our life. Listed below are some of the good and bad guys of the plant world. Ones that you might not think are so bad, but when you weigh less than 10 pounds (cats and small dogs) a couple of chews on these things can send them into the beyond, and we really don’t want that.

But let us start with some of the plant good guys.

Bamboo. Lucky, pretty, fast growing and edible. Other safe plants include spider plants, Christmas cacti, Boston fern, air plants and African violets. Basil, sage and

thyme are safe herbs. Believe it or not, there are some herbs that pets should not eat. I’ll get to those in a few.

Pro Tip: To keep bulbous plants away from pets when overwintering is to just cut the tops off the bulbs and store them in the garage or storage room wrapped in brown paper or straw in a tub or container. This way the bulbs stay viable, you can plant them back outside and your fur babies will never be tempted to chew on a lily or elephant ear leaf. Keep in mind, I am the lazy school of gardening. If the bulb can’t handle the Oklahoma cold, well, it really doesn’t need to be in my yard, now does it?

Strategies for keeping cats out of planters include planter covers made of plastic that can surround the plants, much like a mini-greenhouse or a removable cloche cover (glass or plastic) for smaller plants. This would work on taller, skinny plants like lilies, Sago palms, corn plants or succulents which are all unsafe for pets, but wouldn’t work well on spikey, spreading plants like aloe vera, asparagus ferns or elephant ears.

To recap, unsafe plants inside include cyclamen, pothos, corn plants, aloe vera (that one surprised me) jade, lilies, philodendron and the herbs lavender and oregano. This is not an inclusive list, but these are very popular indoor plants. Well, maybe not the herbs. Now let us talk about succulents. These are a gray area, as some are OK for cats and dogs but others like aloe vera are very toxic.

Succulents

To start, the toxic ones are, as mentioned above: aloe vera, euphorbia, jade and kalanchoe. These all cause gastrointestinal distress to varying degrees depending on the size of the pet, un-coordination and lethargy; with euphorbia also causing skin and eye irritation.

Story and Photos by Kat Long / Contributing Writer

Some safe succulents are hens and chicks, haworthia (also known as zebra’s cactus) and burro’s tail which has the most adorable red or pink flowers if you take good care of them. Did you notice all the safe ones are named after animals? I don’t know if that is 100 percent true, but it is a fun fact on this list.

Pro Tip: Ask a pro. Ponca City has a great local plant shop which opened in 2022: The Root Shop. If you have questions about gifting a plant to people with pets, owner Kristen

Suggs can make some suggestions for safe plants, as well as assist with care for any of the plants in her shop. Maybe we can talk her into sprouting some garden starts for us as well. One can always have hope, right?

In the Garden

As we get through February, start collecting your seeds, thumb through those seed catalogs and websites, design those new gardens and get ready to get your hands back in the dirt. Maybe not March this year, but definitely April will be a planting month.

Pro Tip: Get with friends and family who bought hay or straw to weatherproof their houses during the cold snap before Christmas. Hay/straw is a great mulch for your garden areas, and the hay bales will already be starting to decompose by the time you acquire them in March or April to mulch your beds

or walkways. If you have chickens, use these bales around your chicken coop or housing area. The chicks will love scratching it into the ground.

Some of the seed catalogs I have received so far are listed below. We growers have to get through these cold months somehow. Thank goodness for the sporadic warm days scattered through winter in Oklahoma which allows us to mulch and plan new gardening areas. And as always, Happy Gardening!

Park Seed

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Seeds ‘N Such

WillHite Seed Inc

Territorial Seed Company

Gurney’s Seed & Nursery Co.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Jung Seeds & Plants

Seed Savers Exchange

Annie’s Heirloom Seeds

Kids Say the Darnedest Things TEXAS TECH RED

It is now the single most depressing time of year. The last tackle has been made, the final field goal has been attempted, and the 2022 college football season has officially come to an end. This always brings a sense of melancholy to my household, but our undying love for the sport and for the school that holds the key to our hearts (Oklahoma State University, obviously) brings a hilarious story to mind, and one that was of course unintentionally provided by my oldest daughter.

For the entirety of her scholastic career (all four years), we have argued over what I pick out for her to wear to school. Every single morning, Monday-Friday, you can find us both intears over the fact that I idiotically would be dress her in anything other than leggings and

some variation of unicorn T-shirt. We typically end most mornings with some sort of compromise and truce; however, one morning in particular, I completely crossed the line and made an unthinkable error in judgment; I tried to dress her in red (GASP)!

This decision caused an entire upheaval of our morning! She immediately began crossing her arms and shaking her head. She could not wrap her head around the fact that I, a person she loved and trusted, thought wearing red was an acceptable thing for a dedicated Pokes fan to do! She believed in her heart and soul that wearing red obviously says to the outside world that you are an OU fan, and that was NOT something she was prepared to do that day, or any other day! I knew I was losing the battle, and that it was time to call-in reinforcements – her daddy!

He calmly assessed the situation and took her concerns fully into account (mostly because as a 4th generation Cowboy himself, he too refuses to wear anything resembling crimson

in the color wheel). After hearing both sides, and taking my *subtle* glare into account, he swooped in and saved the morning by declaring that the outfit was not “Sooner” red, but indeed more of a “Texas Tech red,” and “though we do not support, advocate for, or care anything about the aforementioned Red Raiders in this household – we are not exactly opposed to sporting their hue of red outside the comfort of our own home.” She carefully listened to what he had to say, and after a few more minutes of steady reassurance that the mere act of wearing red is not an immediate indicator of Norman loyalty, decided that she would concede her distaste, and walk begrudgingly out of the house and onto the bus.

It has been several years since that eventful morning, and I still giggle each time I think back on it. And even though I consider that morning to be a “mom-win,” I feel I should share that she has not donned one single red outfit since.

Story by Hayley Harrison / Staff Writer

FOOD CRUSH FOOD CRUSH

Story and Photos By Amy DeWitt Geurin/Contributing Writer

Is there a more universally loved food than pizza? Exploding with the perfect symphony of textures and flavors, pizza is arguably the perfect food. It’s acceptable to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is incredibly diverse with unlimited topping possibilities. It’s the undisputable ultimate latenight snack. It’s convenient; it’s affordable; and it’s available almost everywhere. With so many choices, narrowing down where to get your hands on a prime slice of pie can be tough.

Originally from Palermo, Italy, owner Jimmy Krivaqa opened Napoli’s Italian Restaurant in 2009 and has steadily offered guests a selection of Neapolitan-inspired pizza, along with numerous other well-loved Italian dishes. Featuring six varieties of pie with fixed toppings, the option to customize

a pizza that caters to the guest’s specific taste is also on the menu.

The Margherita Pizza is the star in Napoli’s pizza lineup. Known for the ingredients representing the colors of the Italian flag, Napoli’s interpretation of this globally adored, humble pizza highlights fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, spinach and Napoli’s homemade pizzola sauce, all blanketed in gooey mozzarella cheese. The crust is chewy (in a good way) with blistered bubbles around the edges, baked in a blazing hot brick oven. This is an unfussy pizza that is satisfying. If a pizza loaded with meat is preferred, Napoli’s has a Meat Lovers option with pepperoni, Canadian bacon, Italian sausage and hamburger.

With a sizeable menu, the variety can seem never ending. One favorite is the Three-Meat Combo – shrimp, veal, chicken and mushrooms sauteed in a brandy wine cream sauce served over spaghetti. Regardless of what is ordered, it is basically impossible to not go crazy over the homemade garlic rolls. These delicious bites of heaven are drenched in butter, garlic, herbs and parmesan. Order a side of the Alla Panna sauce (a creamy, tomato-based sauce made from scratch) for dipping and it will be a challenge to not finish the entire basket of rolls in record time.

There is a strong link between food and mood, and pizza equals happiness. It’s a delicious boost of serotonin. While Napoli’s may not be the first place to come to mind when the craving for pizza hits, it should be. It isn’t a corporate pizza restaurant with thousands of options created by focus groups. No. It’s an Italian family sharing pizza the way they know it, and we are luckier for it. Grab a pie and a bottle of wine and indulge yourself. After all, it’s una bella vita. Happy Eating!!

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN …

Oklahoma City and you’re looking for pizza, head to The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen in Midtown. Sit on the rooftop patio (weather permitting), order the Quinn’s Burrata and a Blanco, slightly well done. Order a side of the secret sauce. Finish things off with one of Hall’s incredible homemade cookies (gluten friendly and vegan varieties also available). The Brown Sugar Snickerdoodle is always a winner.

TOP THREE FOR ME

The Alla Panna sauce. This dreamy, creamy sauce is great on everything. Napoli’s has a fantastic lunch menu. Affordable and hearty. Have an air fryer? Warm up leftover pizza at 360° for 5 minutes. Perfezione!

Get Fit!

KERA KESTER

There is a common belief that many people who make new goals at the start of the year will quit within three to four months. Whether this is true or not, don’t let that be you! We as individuals can live complex lives. Amidst all the factors that play a role in what we say and do, how can we make sure that we are successful with new goals? Here are my top three tips for not only success, but sustainable success.

1. Discipline over motivation

Many initial decisions that we make are fueled with vigor, logic and drive. The emotional high we experience is an amazing gauge as to what gets us excited and gives us something to look forward to … it’s a beautiful thing. However, that amped feeling of motivation will come and go. There’s no way to get around that. So, when we don’t feel like continuing with good or wellplanned-out choices, me must allow discipline to take the wheel as motivation moves to the backseat. When we start an exercise or nutrition plan and don’t see preferable changes quickly – discipline over motivation. When you don’t feel like treating someone in a loving way –discipline over motivation. When your emotions

are trying to rule your mind and will – discipline over motivation! We don’t grab habits like food off a shelf, instead we must build them. Building something indicates that it may not be easy and it will definitely take time. When it comes to creating beneficial habits and seeing longterm changes, discipline will lead to consistency which will lead to success!

2. Protect your good choices

In a way, good choices can protect us. Take for example, deciding to take a walk and think for a couple of minutes instead of lashing out at someone. This can help stabilize our mood. Furthermore, it can keep us from saying something we’d regret later on. So, if our good choices can protect things like our mood and relationships … then shouldn’t we protect our good choices just the same? Therefore, one awesome protection mechanism is setting boundaries that give you the capability of actually sticking with your choices. If that means making schedule changes or having to get more comfortable with the word “no,” then do it! Another option to try is digging into a deeper “why.” You have a reason for the decisions that you make. Sometimes it’s easy to avoid taking the time to really dig in past the surface level. If you’ve started working out, instead of stopping at “because I want to look good,” dig in deeper. Maybe, it’s to help make sure that you live longer for the sake of those who love and rely on you. Boundaries and a deeper “why” are lifesavers and can ensure that you continue having the perseverance to stick with beneficial decisions you’ve made.

3. Prioritize keeping promises to yourself

Some of us care so much about keeping our word to others, which is admirable. However, we are sometimes a little lax with the promises we make to our own selves. One of the best character-building habits you can make is keeping your own word to yourself! If you made the decision to take better care of your body this year, then do it! If you promised yourself that you’d learn a different language or be a more empathetic person, then do it! Failing is a part of life. We will all hit a day or even a week where things may not go 100% right or may even go completely off the rails. We may hit a period where we aren’t seeing as much success in an area as we’d hoped or would like to. But there is something to be said about relentlessly holding onto a good promise, no matter the perceived odds.

We have so much potential to reach the good goals that we make for our lives! We, ourselves, are the greatest limitation for our success. Imagine what we could do, if we just make true effort to avoid being short-sighted, avoid impulsively giving into emotional or mental battles and try our best to develop in perseverance. Bad news – moments of weakness will come. Good news – there are many solutions and avenues of help that can be found! Get with a like-minded and helpful community … you don’t have to be alone in this! Additionally, sometimes it’s as simple as just calling the bluff of what comes against your success and surprising yourself by overcoming it. Let’s not only start the new year strong but walk through it just the same! Happy February!

Hope is Haute

SATURDAY

FRIDAY FEB. 25 at OSAGE

FRIDAY FEB. 25 at OSAGE

MARCH 4 at OSAGE

CASINO

CASINO

Doors Open at 6 pm for Cocktails and Heavy Hors d’ Oeuvres

CASINO

Cocktails at 6 pm Fashion Show at 7 pm

Cocktails at 6 pm

Fashion Show at 7 pm

Fashion Show at 7 pm

$30 Tickets are available online @ survivorresourcenetwork.org via PayPal

$30 Tickets are available online @ survivorresourcenetwork.org via PayPal

$30 Tickets are available online @ survivorresourcenetwork.org

Tickets also available online for your chance to win a Louis Vuitton Purse! $25 each or 5 for $100.

Don’t miss this fun event benefitting

Don’t miss this fun event benefitting Survivor Resource Network!

Don’t miss this fun event benefiting

Survivor Resource Network!

Survivor Resource Network!

We are always looking for personal care assistants to join our team! We provide great care to our clients and a great place to work.

Ensuring your loved one’s safety while keeping them in the familiar environment and comfort of their own home is the most important thing we do.

Story by Adam Leaming, Ponca City Public Schools / Contributing Writer

Much has happened since our community passed our nearly $50 million school improvement bond in October 2021. It was heavily discussed that Ponca City Public Schools would be aggressive in the design, planning, and construction of each of the promised projects.

After eighteen intense months, it’s evident how our progress is meeting each of the stated goals we ambitiously pitched in October 2021. While most of us are thinking if we’re keeping up with our New Year’s resolutions, PCPS is optimistic this summer could be record breaking. I do not have the history to make this claim as the biggest summer of school improvement in the history of Ponca City Public Schools but I would love to know a time in our past that will rival what will unfold in the coming months.

The first project that’s currently underway is the nearly $7 million Anderson STEM remodel at the high school. When I say this space is going to be world class, I feel like that’s an understatement. Our Board has set lofty goals for this space. This project is now scheduled to be completed and ready for this Fall. I can’t wait to show this space off to the public in the Fall, and watch our first Wildcat students using this space!

By the time this goes to print, the Concert Hall addition will be underway. A little over $5 million will be expended to bring top notch classroom

spaces that match the design and acoustics of the existing concert hall. Our students will have this space available to them in the Spring of 24. Be wary, there will be many fewer parking locations in the 5th Street park due to the construction!

Several other projects will occur this summer including a remodel of Liberty Elementary. Liberty’s main office, classrooms, cafeteria, gym, and some exterior work will help freshen and brighten the school. The main office upgrades will help alleviate crowded spaces and give our staff the room they need to operate the school. This project is nearly $1.5 million and will be finished by August of 2023.

Baseball, Softball, and Tennis will see major work. All three projects will have work occurring and the goal is to have them completed before each respective season begins. Each of these projects aim to bring new bathrooms and stadium enhancements for our students and patrons. Several additional features will happen with these projects, and I hope you can take some time to catch a future ballgame and enjoy the experience for yourself!

Lastly, we will be back in the high school working on renovating the remaining bathrooms. In addition,

we begin work on our new indoor facility and athletic field this summer. Wildcat Academy and West Middle School get additional secure entry enhancements. That area is scheduled to be completed this summer as well. All told, the school district will have a little north of $30 million in active construction occurring this summer. It’s going to be a wild ride to ensure we achieve a product that meets the needs of our students and community. I am loving this opportunity entrusted to see these goals achieved. Watch our social media pages and website for the latest updates on the new construction happening in our schools! Thank you Ponca City!

STREAM IT

STREAM IT

Editor’s Note: Streaming has changed the way humans consume television. With nearly every episode of every show ever created available at our fingertips, many viewers are discovering shows they may have missed when they originally aired. Though times and technology change, good storytelling never goes out of style. Our new monthly series “Stream It” will help introduce our readers to some of the best that streaming TV has to offer.

Story by Hayley Harrison / Staff Writer

My favorite question to ask in casual conversation is: “So what shows are you watching?” I think this is because outside of the occasional work-related function, or 1st grade basketball game, television fills the many gaps in my slim social calendar. I just love it. Throwing on my stretchy pants and perusing my glorious library of streaming services is my idea of pure bliss. And if you are reading this and nodding your head in agreement, well you’re my kind of person, and I hope you enjoy reading this column just as much as I enjoy writing it.

So, to kick-off our inaugural “Stream It” column, I would like to shine a light on a show that is the most meaningful, relatable, soulful and hilarious 30-minute reprieve that I have had the pleasure of watching in a very long time. My absolute favorite; Ted Lasso.

Ted Lasso tells the story of an American football coach (Jason Sudeikis) who makes the morethan-difficult decision to leave the states and hop across-the-pond to become the head coach of a professional soccer (or football, depending on where you are geographically) club in the UK. Ted knows little-to-nothing about the “world’s most beautiful game”, but between his ever-present optimism, quirky personality, and help from his closest friend/ assistant, Coach Beard, he is able to win over the respect of his team, while simultaneously capturing the hearts of the audience.

Ted’s philosophy on life is based around his favorite Walt Whitman quote: “Be curious, not judgmental”. Whoa, right!? I think about that quote every single day. And in the end, that’s the reason why I love Ted Lasso so much. He is the embodiment of kindness, understanding, and facing life’s troubles with an excellent sense of humor. But he is also a completely relatable person who fails and maybe doesn’t always say or do the right thing, but he never gives up and he never loses sight of the bigger picture and purpose. And that is why I’m begging you to put this phenomenally brilliant show on your “watch list”. After all, if Brené Brown said that her life was changed after watching Ted Lasso, I’m pretty sure it can have a pretty stellar impact on the rest of us.

You can stream both seasons of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+

BOOK REVIEW

RISING TIGER

BY BRAD THOR

Recently I saw a friend purchasing several titles by Brad Thor. I’d never read any of Thor’s books, so I asked my friend about them. It turns out Brad Thor is his favorite author. He said that if I like Tom Clancy’s work, I would definitely like Brad Thor. Since Tom Clancy is my favorite author, I had to see for myself.

Rising Tiger is Brad Thor’s newest book in his Scot Harvath series. Harvath, a former Navy SEAL, is an operative for the Carlton Group, a private Black Ops network. He is a man of integrity and intense loyalty. In the field, Harvath excels in surprise, speed, and devastating violence.

Eli Ritter, a previous employee of the State Department, has been surreptitiously mediating an Asian version of NATO, which would bring together the United States, India, Australia, and Japan to ward off the growing threat from China. When Ritter is killed in India, the US government has serious doubts about it being a robbery gone bad – like

Review By: Lorrie Layton

PROVIDED BY BRACE BOOKS & MORE

the Indian Police have suggested. Harvath is tasked with finding who killed Ritter – and who sent the killer.

While in India, Harvath is paired with Vijay Chabra, an Indian ex-cop who has excellent contacts and even better instincts and street smarts. The two recognize each other as the professionals they are and work together as seamlessly as two longtime partners would.

Meanwhile, Indian intelligence operatives are striving to determine who murdered the Indian Chief of Defense Staff, a strong supporter of the proposal to form an Asian NATO, by causing his helicopter to fall from the sky. They believe the murder was sponsored by China, India’s longstanding political and economic rival.

Surprisingly (not), these story lines cross paths, resulting in a rollicking thriller. Two thumbs up.

The Renfro Family Foundation encourages you to support the Father-Daughter Dance, benefitting the Opportunity Center on February 4th, the Mutt Gala, benefitting Northern Oklahoma Humane Society on February 11th and the Renfro Lectureship Oak Ridge Boys Concert at NOC, benefitting student scholarships on February 16.

Carl Renfro President

Randy Renfro Treasurer, CPA

Rick Renfro Secretary, Restaurateur

Cindy

Gorrell

Vice President, Investments

Directors

Brenda Renfro

Rich Cantillon President Ponca City Chamber/Tourism

Jeff Cowan RCB Bank, Retired

T.L Walker Executive Director Standing Bear Foundation

We are proud to support Ponca City 501c3 organizations through charitable grants.

Jerod Helling RCB Bank, Market President

Puzzle on Page 35

CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW

Review by Lorrie Layton

PROVIDED BY BRACE BOOKS & MORE

THE DOOR OF NO RETURN BY KWAME ALEXANDER

Wow. Just wow. I’m familiar with author Kwame Alexander’s work. He has written adorable and fun picture books, as well as novels in verse for middle-schoolers and young adults. I’ve read and enjoyed several of his books, but The Door of No Return took my breath away.

Kofi and his family live on the banks of the river Offin in present-day Ghana. Kofi loves his family. He loves the fireside stories his grandfather, the village storyteller, shares. He loves the kind and beautiful Ama, who he knows in his heart will one day be his wife. And he loves swimming; the villagers say Kofi is like a fish in the water.

The annual wrestling contest is the highlight of the upcoming Kings Festival. The best wrestlers from each village face off. This is a time of joyful feasting and intense fights. The victorious wrestlers gain glory and honor for themselves and their villages.

Kofi’s older brother, Kwasi, is one of six young men chosen to represent Upper Kwanta in the annual wrestling tournament. After the festival, Kwasi plans to go study with a master and become a kente weaver. Unfortunately, there is an accident during the wrestling

tournament that brings Upper and Lower Kwanta to the brink of war.

While Kofi has been told he mustn’t ever go to the river after nightfall, he has never been told why. Tragically, one night he risks a trip to the river only to be abducted by rival villagers, tortured and then sold to pale-faced men who load him and others onto a huge ship called the USS Georgetown.

Kwame Alexander said he wrote this book because, “I wanted to speak the truth about the history of African Americans, because while most of us are aware of the American part, it’s time for us to know more about the African part, right?”

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Saturday March 18th 9:00 am at Ponca City RecPlex 1604 W. Grand Sign up by March 4th to receive a shirt on race day!

For information or to register for these events, call 580-767-0430, visit poncacityok.gov/parksandrec or scan the QR code above.

110 N. 5TH

Gem Stones & Rocks

Stop by and watch us shape and polish stones.

Come see our Fairy Garden!

Geode Cracking: Bring in your own or purchase one of ours.

DOWNTOWN PONCA CITY • 580-716-9993

Cocktail Month

Make Your Valentine A Jack Rose

Let’s step back in time and experience one of the original cocktails. The Jack Rose is an OG, and I’m not just saying that because it was known to be frequently imbibed by an infamous gangster. This tart, light, fruity cocktail is made with citrus, grenadine, and Applejack, a fantastically fascinating but little-known spirit.

The Jack Rose is liquid history. The base spirit is an apple brandy called Applejack. Originally it was made by freezing cider and removing the ice. This would concentrate the remaining juice, which would then be fermented, and distilled, a primitive technique known as “jacking.” This was often referred to as “Jersey Lightning.” I like that! If a liquor can cause permanent blindness, you know it’s the good stuff!

Applejack is still produced by Lairds. Lairds is not only the oldest distillery in Jersey but also the oldest official distillery in America. It’s said that during the Revolutionary War, Robert Laird supplied George Washington and his army with enough Applejack to drown a Redcoat.

In the 1905 issue of the National Police Gazette, Frank J. May, a New Jersey bartender, is credited as the creator of the Jack Rose. Frank commonly went by the nickname, “Jack Rose.”

Many people attribute the drink to “Bald Jack Rose,” an earlytwentieth-century masterful poker player and mafia gangster. He had alopecia, hence his nickname. His favorite drink is said to be Applejack brandy, with lemon and grenadine. Unfortunately, the cocktail had been popular and widespread well before the height of Bald Jack’s career.

OF THE

Jack Rose is a three-part ensemble, comprised of a spirit and two complementing components that broaden and balance its flavor. It consists of Applejack, lemon, and grenadine. Grenadine is a pomegranate syrup, and it’s quite easy to make your own high-quality version. Equal proportions of POM pomegranate juice and sugar are heated until the sugar is dissolved to create grenadine. Trust me, it makes a significant difference in cocktails.

I realize this may be the first time you’re hearing that grenadine is pomegranate syrup rather than cherry syrup, and rest assured, you’re not alone. It wasn’t all that long ago that I learned this myself.

When it comes to picking out your liquor, don’t skimp on the sauce and grab any old bottle of apple-flavored brandy. Lairds or Calvados are great options for real Applejack brandy and won’t break the bank.

Now you’re ready to make Jack Rose your Valentine and have a fabulous February. Cheers and enjoy!

2 oz Applejack

¾ oz Lemon

½ oz Grenadine

In a cocktail shaker full of ice, add in all your ingredients and shake. Strain into a chilled coupe glass, garnish with a lemon twist, and enjoy.

Mixed by Jill Rowe/Staff Writer