Ponca City Monthly June 2023

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Letter from the Editor

There’s a term that I’ve become familiar with in the last ten years, and that word is “organizational silos.”

Organizational silos in business occur when a company has groups of experts separated by department, specialization, or location — a very common approach. These teams of experts are able to tackle problems in their specific departments with ease. Specialized departments eventually even create their own unique work cultures and will have their own unique team dynamics.

However, problems begin to manifest when employees aren’t just separated physically, but when their own department-specific goals begin to take priority over the goals of the company.

This term is most often used in business between divisions and teams, but I think it applies equally to communities. When we have different groups of people, separated both physically and by organization, those organizations begin to separate themselves and tend to pursue their own goals, instead of the goals of the community.

Organizational silos are a natually-occuring phenomenon. People naturally tend to seek out others who share the same belief systems. It’s important to become self-aware of this behavior, and to enact systems that help us to break down these silo walls, and to force ourselves and our organizations to see the world from outside viewpoints.

There are several things you can do to become aware of these silos and work to overcome them:

1. Ask people outside your business/organization for honest feedback

2. Be open to change based on that feedback

3. Bring new people into your organziation with vastly different viewpoints or backgrounds

4. Meet with other businesses/organizations regularly to collaborate and share ideas

5. Shift mindsets by engaging in cross-training or by taking part in new experiences

6. Have an “Abundance Mindset”. Remember that in order to become better, your business/orgnization should focus on collaboration, not competition. We truly are all in this together.

I see this magazine as a means of breaking down organizational silos. I’ve heard dozens of stories from people who read an article in Ponca City Monthly that gave them an idea on a new way to collaborate. Because in the end, everyone in the community wants the same things – we all want to make our community better. We can accomplish so much more when we all work towards the same goals.

editor@poncacitymonthly.com

On the cover: Marshal Clayton Johnson, read more on page 26

Cover Design by Andy Hicks, Photo by Kelsey Wagner

Newkirk’s Apple Market Gets Shiny Update

Story by Everett Brazil, III/Staff Writer

Small-town grocery stores are special places for the communities they serve, as they provide a place to shop without having to go to larger communities, especially when one is tired after a long day at work. They also employ local residents, including high schoolers, helping to keep money in the community. Shoppers in Newkirk regularly visit Apple Market, located on South Street, a facility that has just about everything needed in a small town.

The store now has a new look, though, and a step inside the refurbished facility reveals a new, high-class image, from a clean storefront to new registers, flooring, coolers and racks that not only expand the facility, but also the shopping experience at home in Newkirk.

The store was owned locally for many years, then known as Heartland. It was later acquired by the Brown family, who rechristened it as Apple Market, making it one of the latest in a string of Apple Market stores across the state.

“The Browns took it over in 2010, and it is family-owned,” she said. “They have stores across Oklahoma, and they have 12 stores now.”

O’Brien is excited about the renovations, not because there was a problem with the store, but because it sorely needed an upgrade for the customers.

“There was nothing wrong with the store itself, it just gives the customer a more modern store with more selections,” she said. “The store next door was previously a doctor’s office, and we bought the facility next door.”

Buying that unused space was an important move, as it allowed Apple Market to expand into new space, which made room

for more coolers and freezers and an overall larger store.

Getting there, however, took a lot of time and planning. It wasn’t an overnight project, but one that was in the design phase over several years.

“Planning began two years ago. We bought the space to expand,” O’Brien said.

Erika O’Brien is the general manager of Apple Market.

The work initially began in December 2022, with help from store representatives. Work finished in May.

A step inside the front door today reveals a whole new landscape, or storescape, starting with all-new registers, new vinyl flooring that mimics wood flooring, as well as an expanded front space. All frozen and cooler cases have also been upgraded, save for the produce department, but they have their own improvements.

“Produce is the only department that does not have a new cooler, but we added new refrigerated produce displays for the department,” O’Brien said.

Even moving shopping carts out in front of the store has helped make room for more products inside.

“We have an outdoor cart corral, and that is now where we keep our carts. They aren’t new carts, but they are kept outside so we have more space inside,” she said. “We definitely have more space, more pallets of sale items,” she said.

Even a drive to the store is a better experience, as the parking lot was repaved by Evans & Associates in April.

What didn’t change?

“The storage room stayed the same,” she said.

Regardless of storage space, the store is more than able to accommodate the new products and provide a new, better shopping experience, whether for local customers or someone simply stopping in on a trip, showing that Newkirk has a high-class facility for grocery shopping.

“We added 30 new doors in the frozen section,” she said. “The remodel will bring in new faces who want to see the changes, and I can’t wait to get better deals for our customers as our store grows.”

Harvesting New Memories

Harvest Hall Is Ready For Your Special Event

Story by Everett Brazil, III/Staff Writer

Darion Schieber has made a mark on the Ponca City and Newkirk communities. A Dallas transplant, she married her husband Jared Schieber, a Newkirk native, after meeting in college. As a business owner and mother, she has helped other mothers in the area with The Farmhouse Kids, a boutique dedicated to mothers and their young babies. She and her husband have set new sights on helping the community gather together with Harvest Hall, a place for families to join in celebration in a small, low-key environment, nestled in downtown Ponca City.

Harvest Hall opened in March and has already seen great activity.

“I am so pleased with the success. People are booking me in advance, which is great,” she said.

While Harvest Hall is only a few months old, the building itself, located at 201 N. Second St., has a history of its own, changing hands several times, from transportation to clothing stores.

“It used to be the Union Bus Station, then it was John’s Apparel,” she said.

The John’s Apparel sign still adorns the former storefront. “It was also a boutique

and has been vacant for a couple of years,” she added.

There weren’t a lot of changes to the facility when the Schiebers took it over, save for efforts to improve the facility in terms of beauty.

“It was just aesthetics and bringing in a little bit of charm,” she said. “It was a gem waiting to be utilized.”

The Schiebers saw a need for a small meeting facility and worked to make it happen, meeting all the needs of a small group gathering for a celebration, complete with a courtyard. The inside has its own atmosphere. There is also outdoor heating on the patio for celebrations on cooler nights.

“There are wooden tables, industrialtype chairs, a kitchenette and minibar,” she said. “The occupancy is 49, and we have seating for that, and seating with little sofas.”

The Schiebers saw the Harvest Hall as a place to meet. One of the reasons was for getting people and their families out of the house.

“People don’t want to to have events at home anymore, they want to go somewhere, and have it there instead of in the house,” Schieber said.

There are several places groups can meet for large gatherings like the area high school promenades. Harvest Hall provides a quiet place for much smaller, familyoriented gatherings.

“We have the Wildwood Events Center (near Newkirk) and Marland Mansion that host big events, but there was nothing like that for smaller groups,” she said.

The events at the Harvest Hall are much lower key, but still cover a variety of events,

including anniversaries, baby showers, birthdays, class reunions and so many others.

Due to the small size of the facility, there are requirements for meeting and costs for those gathering.

“Harvest Hall events have to be at least three hours and are $225,” she said, “If the event wants to add an extra hour, it is an extra $75.”

Booking an event is easy, but does require an advanced cost.

“In order to book, to secure your party, you have to pay half in advance of whatever package you’re booking,” she said.

Packages can be found on their website, harvesthallpc.com.

They are already booking through the summer, but they also plan to have special events

of their own at Harvest Hall.

“During Crazy Days, we are having a vendor fair at Harvest Hall where businesses can set up and do a pop-up on July 28,” she said.

No matter how many vendors book or families gather, the Schiebers are excited about the future of Harvest Hall.

“We’re growing, and as we grow, I’ll include more,” she said.

For more information, including booking, visit theharvesthallpc.com or e-mail theharvesthall@outlook.com. You can also connect through Facebook and Instagram.

“Fry-day” June 18, 2021

FUN, FAMILY EVENT!

“FRY-DAY” • JUNE 16

Standing Bear Park

Standing Bear Park South 4th Street • Ponca City

South 4th Street, Ponca City

Serving starts at 6:00 p.m. until its gone

Serving starts at 6 pm and continues until food is gone.

Fun, Family Event! Kids activities and live music!

KID’S ACTIVITIES AND LIVE MUSIC!

Tasting kits $10 in advance or $12 at event.

Tasting kits $10 at the event

Kids under 10 eat free with grown ups. Teams compete for your vote for favorite fish, meat, sides and desserts.

Kids under 10 eat free with grown ups. compete for your vote for favorite fish, meat, sides, and desserts

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH

Proceeds provide essential services to child abuse victims.

Proceeds provide essential services to child abuse victims.

Party at the Palace/Auction Chamber Fundraiser

Tickets will be available Monday, July 10th and are $50.

tickets at www.dearinghouse.com or call 762- 5266

H ARMON Y HOUSE

A House of Recovery & Hope

Harmony Of Recovery

Story by Everett Brazil, III/Staff Writer

Harmony House has a long and storied history of helping those in need in the Ponca City community. The two-story structure is tucked away in a quiet section of downtown Ponca, and the rooms of the structure were once filled with love and support in helping those struggling with substance abuse problems. The building has seen its glory days in the past, but the organization is still here, and is reaching out to the community to once again bring that hope back for those who need it.

Harmony House sits a few blocks south of Grand Avenue on Third Street. It isn’t just the building itself, but also an organization that operates the facility for 12-step groups providing recovery tools for those struggling.

The organization’s mission statement reads, “At the Harmony House, a house of recovery and hope, provides meeting space for groups who seek to help others in their recovery from addiction. The primary purpose of this organization is to provide a safe, clean environment that provides a culture of recovery and hope for all who attend.”

Joe Fowler is the treasurer of the Harmony House Board of Directors. He opens a

door inside the entryway of the building, revealing a rectangle of tables and chairs, which wait patiently for those struggling with addiction to seek help in the hall. There are racks along the walls that are filled with pamphlets offering information on full recovery, and what the organizations do to help those who are struggling.

“The auditorium is used by these 12-step groups for workshops and regular and state events,” he said.

Twelve-step programs were created to assist those with substance abuse issues find a way to fight addiction, to find help, to find a life free from addiction and there is a wide range

of programs that can address lifestyles that negatively impact a person.

“There are more than 200 12-step groups in the world. Anything that might be a life-changing lifestyle, there is probably a 12-step program out there in the world,” Fowler said. While that certainly includes drugs and alcohol, it can also include anger management or overeating, he added.

At its peak, there were many such

organizations meeting at Harmony House, filling not just the auditorium, but also classrooms and even a library upstairs, as well as activities in the basement.

Three of those are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and AlAnon. AA focuses on treatment of alcohol addiction, while NA looks more at drugs specifically. Al-Anon is available for family members and friends of those addicted, including teenagers and children, those who haven’t given up hope for their addicted loved one or want to find ways to help their hurting family member.

Harmony House was originally known as the Salvation Army Citadel, but they would later move out, and program supporters saw it as an opportunity to take up residence in the building. In the mid-1980s, they found a way to make that happen through an ambitious fund-raising activity.

“At the time of the renovations to the building, Conoco was the largest corporate donor. More funds were raised through charitable family foundations as well as donations from public individuals. Phillips 66 continues to be a local corporate donor to Harmony House. ”

“They would soon house numerous programs helping community members struggling with deep addictions, as many as 12 at one point,” he said.

Time takes a toll on everything, including Harmony House, and the facility would see a long decline from problems out of their control. The basement itself once saw a lot of activity, including a kitchen facility, with a large stovetop and oven in a concession stand area. The kitchen saw many meals made for participants, but like so many parts of the building, the kitchen sits unused, a ghost of the activities that once took place there, due to problems outside the kitchen itself.

“The basement and upstairs floor were fully occupied by 12-step groups. In the basement, the HVAC went out and there were no funds to fix it, so it was unable to be used,” Fowler said.

Severe rains also caused damage to the floor.

“The heavy rains caused the basement floor drains to back up,” he said.

It takes a few flights of steps to visit the second story, once a safe place that housed many Al-Anon meeting rooms, which

There is a long history of addiction recovery groups in Ponca City, and the Harmony House building would play a lead role in those groups in most recent years.

The Salvation Army was earlier housed in the structure, and the recovery programs at that time met in a house only a few blocks away. They date back about 80 years’ worth of recovery.

“Years ago, the only 12-step group in Ponca City was AA, and they met in a little house,” he said, which was located near the current Ponca City News office. “It became inadequate due to the number of people seeking help for addiction. A larger meeting place was needed.”

“Al-Anon is a family group, if you have a family member or a friend who is struggling,” he said. “If they have children or teens, the Al-Anon group will help them.”

included a library with materials that could be checked out. Behind locked and closed doors, however, a thick layer of dust covers everything in the rooms, untouched from years past when they were alive with activity for those struggling with addiction, or maybe those supporting family members who needed help. Windows that haven’t been viewed through in years look out onto the roofs of neighboring buildings.

It didn’t help that the facility was constructed without an elevator, with only several flights of stairs to get upstairs or down into the basement. That has made it difficult for the Board of Directors to maintain the facility.

“We have too much building,” he said. “We have no elevator and unused space. We took the Al-Anon family group that was meeting upstairs and put them into the auditorium because some of the members couldn’t walk upstairs.”

Only a handful of groups are still meeting,

primarily AA and Al-Anon. NA moved to a new facility several years ago.

“Now, we have five groups presently meeting, 14 meetings per week, with those groups, which equate to 772 meeting hours per year,” Fowler said. “NA moved to a local church about a year and a half ago.”

Harmony House does receive funds from those groups that still take advantage of the facility, but that is only for renting space in the facility and won’t cover needed expenses, especially in a building that has too much unused space. Likewise, funding they receive does not go back into independent recovery organizations.

“Harmony House itself is a 501(c)(3) organization with the state of Oklahoma and the federal government. We, as the Board of Directors, can receive funds from anywhere,” he said. “The 12-step groups are fully selfsupporting. They just rent our rooms.”

The rent is intentionally set at a low rate

in order to accommodate the groups and ensure that they can afford to use the facility. However, this reduced rent is not sufficient to cover the costs of maintaining and upkeeping the building. Fowler explained, “Charging higher rent is not a viable solution to cover our maintenance expenses and keep our building operational. Our reliance was meant to be on corporate and private donors to sustain Harmony House.”

“Our main emphasis as a Board is to make the public conscious of us,” he said.

More than that, they want families to know that loved ones have a resource for help, as do they.

“We’d like the public to be cognizant that there is no family that has not been touched in one way or another by substance abuse, whether they be a family member, a friend or a person themselves,” he said. “With recovery, a person’s story also touches the life of everyone they touch, just as the addiction behavior also touches everyone’s life. People have for years been coming to Harmony House.”

The biggest lesson, the biggest thing Harmony House does is to not just provide a place for recovery, but to treat those with an addiction as a person, when so many might feel isolated by the addiction, a person who feels guilty of addiction, who simply needs help. Someone who sees no way out, but their family does, and seeks that treatment for them.

“Harmony House is here so people will have a place to come together as a 12-step group to help each other, to help them get well,” he said. “A substance abuser is not a bad person. They are just a sick person, and Harmony House wants to provide a place for them to meet to help themselves.”

More information: Aaoklahoma.org/locations/ harmony-house. Contact: Harmony House, Attn: Board Of Directors, P.O. Box 424, Ponca City, OK, 74602. Joe Fowler, 580-716-6366

Because of the reduced number of groups renting the facility and also a reduced number of donations, Harmony House’s Board is reaching out to the community to help keep the facility running.

Pictured L to R: are Harmony House Board members Marsha Sanders, Joe Fowler, and Becky Fowler, Joe’s wife who was assisting the Board at the United Way Day of Caring. (Harmony House Board members not pictured are Robyn Ryan, Forrest Malcom, Michelle Matney, Mercedes Avila, and Amie Pickard.)

What the Future Holds

Story by Kendra Stolhand

For many seniors, graduation marks the end of an era. After years of hard work, students finally receive their diplomas and are ready to start the next chapter of their lives. But what lies ahead for these new graduates? Here is what some of the 2023 Senior Wildcats are pursuing in the near future:

Madison Robbins was recently married in December of 2022. Her love for the law will take her far, in fact, all the way to Hawaii! There, she is going to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, supporting her new husband all the way!

Ryleigh Rowe, a newly graduated senior, plans to work as a lifeguard this summer while observing occupational therapists throughout Oklahoma before attending college to receive a degree in Occupational Therapy. But until that happens, Rowe will be spending as much time on the lake as possible!

Kylee Hardesty will be making coffee at her summer job until she moves to Stillwater to study Massage Therapy.

Lynna Storm plans to travel the world this summer with her mother, starting with Greece!

There are many paths to take for seniors postgraduation. The most common option is to pursue further education, whether that be at a four-year college, trade school or even a graduate program. This path can open up a variety of new opportunities and give young adults the knowledge and skills they need to reach their goals.

For those who don’t want to continue their studies, there are plenty of other options. Joining the workforce is a great choice, as it can provide a steady

source of income and the chance to gain valuable experience in a particular field. Additionally, seniors may opt to start their own businesses, which can be a great way to express creativity and potentially turn their passions into a career.

Of course, not all students are looking to jump into the professional world right away. Many choose to take a gap year, during which they can travel, volunteer or intern at an organization. This can be a great way to gain a new perspective on the world and figure out what they want to do with their lives.

No matter what path a senior chooses after graduation, there are a few key things to keep in mind. It’s important to stay organized and plan ahead. This includes researching the different scholarship options available and finding out what it takes to apply. Additionally, it’s important to take the time to reflect on what you want out of life and make sure that the path you choose aligns with your goals and values.

Graduation marks the start of a new chapter in life. Seniors have a variety of options available to them; and with the right preparation and support, they can make the most of their post-grad experience. Whether they choose to pursue further education, join the workforce, start a business or take a gap year, seniors have the freedom to choose the path that’s right for them.

Above all, Ponca City is beyond proud and will greatly miss the 2023 Senior Class. Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat!

Cap and gown picture taken by Photography by Jes

Ponca City Chamber Partners and Community,

I am honored and delighted to introduce myself as the new President and CEO of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce, effective June 5, 2023. I am beyond excited and eager to serve our dynamic Chamber and vibrant community as I transition into this new role.

As a long-time resident with strong roots in our community and serving as the Superintendent of Ponca City Public Schools, I have had the opportunity to engage and work with many of you closely. With deep involvement in our community, I understand the incredible potential and opportunities the Ponca City Chamber and our community hold. The importance of strong relationships and collaboration with elected officials, business leaders, educational partners and our citizens are critical components to success. With experience in working with multiple stakeholders in Ponca City, I believe in working as community partners to develop positive, solution-based strategies that will lead to thriving opportunities for our great municipality.

Our well-established Chamber will continue to take risks, embrace change and be bold in serving Ponca City. I look forward to working with our amazing Chamber team of Tiffany Hermann, Zach Trantham, Kelly Cross and our incredible Board of Directors to serve our community. We are all looking forward to working with our Chamber partners and community members to create a positive impact on businesses, residents and visitors alike as we work alongside each of you to further enhance the vitality and prosperity of our community.

As the CEO of the Ponca City Chamber, my primary focus will be advancing the growth and success of our local businesses. I will work tirelessly to provide valuable resources, support and advocacy for our Chamber partners to help navigate challenges, explore new possibilities, provide networking opportunities, promote our businesses and help our partners reach their business goals. Together we can build a stronger, more resilient business community fostering economic development and prosperity for all.

I also recognize the importance of engaging with our community at large. The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in connecting businesses with our entire community, and we must build meaningful relationships and partnerships that benefit our residents and promote social responsibility. A strong economic environment requires a strong community. We must all realize it will take community leaders, business owners, educators and citizens who realize that we all share the responsibility of creating economic success and happiness within our city. Loving our community starts with each of us. If everyone leads, we can become a force of greatness to create a stronger and more successful community for all.

I know I have big shoes to fill, but I am excited to build on well-established best practices to bring new ideas and initiatives to the Chamber. From innovative programs to strategic partnerships, we will explore new avenues for growth and success. I welcome ideas, feedback and suggestions from our Chamber partners and the community. After I assume this new role, I will be reaching out to schedule face-to-face meetings with you to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to further develop our Chamber to build a strong, personal relationship with our member partners. I am no stranger to complex situations, and if we work together, we can create positive solutions for the betterment of our community. I look forward to meeting and collaborating with each of you as we embark on this exciting journey together.

Thank you for your continued support, and I am committed to leading our Chamber with integrity, passion and a steadfast dedication to Ponca City.

Together we thrive!

Shelley Arrott

Flawless Floors Anderson Flooring Celebrates 20 Years

Summer is close, and a number of people are working on their homes, whether those homes are being renovated for a new look or to put it on the market as they are moving to a new home. Many of those changes involve flooring, from carpet and vinyl to tile, to have the best feel of the house. Some may choose to take advantage of offerings from big stores like Lowe’s, but Kay County residents have a local alternative, one with decades of experience in the flooring industry through Anderson Flooring.

Anderson Flooring is a family company that is located only a few blocks away from the Downtown District on First Street. Matt and Brian Anderson operate the store, providing Ponca City and Kay County communities with the best flooring available.

The brothers came into the business naturally, as their father was into laying carpet for many years before opening the store himself.

“We opened in 2003. Our father and stepmother, Tim and Sharon Anderson, started it,” Matt said.

The store opened out of decades of experience in flooring.

“(Our) father was a carpet installer for more than 37 years, so it made sense to open a flooring business,” Brian said.

The brothers would soon take over the store, continuing through today.

Story by Everett Brazil, III/Staff Writer

Matt Anderson Brian Anderson

Professional Auto Body Repair

ATTENTION ALL TRIBAL MEMBERS:

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.

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

“I did a lot of the installment for six-seven years after we opened, and Brian came in and helped with sales as customer service,” Matt said. “Brian came back in 2005 to help run the store, and did that for several years and helped grow the business.”

Tim Anderson started out in carpeting, a type of flooring that adds comfort under the feet. Through the years, the company has added other types of flooring, and many other construction benefits, all to provide a local way to improve a home in Ponca City.

The flooring includes hardwood, vinyl and carpeting, but they offer so much more.

“We do bathroom remodels, kitchen remodels, window treatments,” Brian said. Matt continued with more of what Anderson Flooring offers to a community looking to improve the home.

“We do window treatments, which are solar shades, wood blinds and plantation shutters,” he said. “We are full service.”

The Andersons work across the community, from Ponca City to Kaw City to Perry, about a 40-mile radius from Ponca City.

“We do new construction, commercial work, small businesses,” Brian said.

Matt elaborated on how they help the client, a person looking to upgrade their home.

“Anything in a home, we can help you get done,” Matt said. “We help you pick the flooring that fits your house the best, and see it all the way through, and that is the same of bathroom remodels. We pick the plumbers and electricians, everything you need on the project.”

Their work hasn’t gone unnoticed by their customers, as many have come back for more home improvements.

“We have a lot of returning customers, and some customers have returned from day one,” Matt said.

Whether returning customers, or someone new looking to improve their home, Anderson Flooring has what it takes to make a house a little more like home, all with the customers in mind.

“You can make people’s houses better, and that is a sense of accomplishment when you work at a person’s house and it looks 1,000 times better,” Matt said.

They also have a chance to help to support the community, which may be the biggest gift of all.

“It lets us support our community, whether that is schools or youth sports,” Brian said. “We do a lot of work with whoever needs it in the community.”

Anderson Flooring is located at 509 N. First Street. For more information, visit Poncacity.abbeycarpet.com or call (580) 762-1736.

CLAYTON JOHNSON

From Ponca City

Police Chief to US Marshal

When you think of a U.S. Marshal, what comes to mind? Do you picture the rugged, untamed “Wild West,” with U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon riding in on horseback to save Dodge City on an episode of Gunsmoke? Or do you start imagining Men in Black scenarios, with top-secret intel and ultra-dangerous assignments? For me, it was a mixture of both. For whatever reason, I had always found the U.S. Marshal Service to be shrouded in mystery. I knew the Marshal Service was vitally important to our well-being and security, but I couldn’t say exactly why and I certainly couldn’t match a face with the immensely important and prestigious office that is the U.S. Marshal Service. However, that fortuitously changed a few months ago, when our Ponca City Monthly team was granted an opportunity to sit down and have an insightful

conversation with the Honorable Clayton Johnson, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Our team met up with Marshal Johnson at his office, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Upon arriving, we weren’t sure what to expect, but the moment that we entered the marshal’s office, it was immediately clear that it was a department chockfull of people who truly love what they do. From the “wall of shame,” which was filled with hilarious pranks and anecdotes left by team members of the marshal’s office, to the comical, lively banter that was always at play in the background, it was quite apparent that Marshal Johnson’s positive leadership, kind demeanor and keen sense of humor had cultivated an exceptionally-positive working environment, even in the midst of the very serious situations that they are faced with handling each and every day.

After having the good fortune of meeting several

Story by Hayley Harrison / Staff Writer

U.S. Marshals began their service in the Oklahoma territory in 1889, as part of an effort to oversee what was then known as the Indian Territory. When Oklahoma became a state in 1890, the U.S. Marshals Service offices in Oklahoma were divided into three districts in accordance with the Federal District court system. These districts still exist today and are referred to as the Northern, Eastern and Western districts. The US Marshals in Oklahoma have a long history, with many giving the ultimate sacrifice. In fact, since the U.S. Marshals’ inception in 1789, over half of the marshals and deputies that have lost their life in the line of duty have lost it in Oklahoma.

of Marshal Johnson’s deputies, we settled into his office to begin the interview. Marshal Johnson’s office was noticeably orderly, with various mementos and criminal justice books lining his shelves. There was a beautiful Pendleton blanket displayed, given to him by Bill John Baker, Chief of the Cherokee tribe, as well as treasured family photos of his trips abroad taken with his wife Nancy.

We began by asking Marshal Johnson about his initial introduction into law enforcement (if by this point Marshal Johnson’s name has been ringing a bell for you, it is for very good reason). He explained that his career in law enforcement began in 1982, right here in

Ponca City, when he was just 21 years old, working as a reserve officer. After much thought and consideration, he made the decision to transition from being a part-time reserve officer to working as a full-time police officer in 1986. He steadily rose in the ranks until 2002, when he was ultimately appointed the Chief of Police, and he remained in that position until his formal retirement in August of 2011.

While speaking with Marshal Johnson, it was immediately evident just how deeply he cares for the people of Ponca City and how sincerely grateful he is to have been granted the opportunity to serve them. He spoke with

Though Marshal Johnson did indeed retire from the Ponca City Police Force in August of 2011, he did not bask in the glow of retirement for long.

Marshal Johnson was inducted into the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2012.

much reverence, appreciation and gratitude for both the mentorship and opportunities bestowed upon him by his predecessors at the Police Department, even attributing his pursuit of higher education to the guidance of his former Police Chief Raymond Ham. He made it quite clear that he is certain he would not be in the position he is in today without the help, foundation, guidance and principles that were instilled in him throughout his time with the Ponca City Police Department.

Though Marshal Johnson did indeed retire from the Ponca City Police Force in August of 2011, he did not bask in the glow of retirement for long. For it was in the same month that he was formally appointed the United States Marshal for the Northern District of Oklahoma, by President Obama. And though it may seem as if it was a quick, streamlined process from Ponca City Police Chief to U.S. Marshal, Marshal Johnson assured us that much work was being put in behind the scenes to make this career move possible. He explained that the entire process of becoming a U.S. Marshal took roughly two years, and it began with an

the Ponca City, Oklahoma Police Department as a Reserve Officer. In October of 1986, he was hired as a full-time police officer for the department. During his police career, he worked in the patrol and detective divisions and promoted through the ranks of the agency. On November 1, 2002, he was appointed Police Chief for the Ponca City Police Department. He served in that position until his retirement in August of 2011. Marshal Johnson holds a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Management from the University of Central Oklahoma. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and he completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University. Marshal Johnson served as a council member for the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) from 1999 until 2011 and he served as the Chairman from 2003 to 2009. Marshal Johnson and his wife still live in Ponca City, but also maintain a second residence in Tulsa where he stays during the work week.

interview with former Oklahoma governor Brad Henry. After his interview with Governor Henry, Marshal Johnson waited another two weeks before learning that he had been given the governor’s recommendation. After the recommendation was given to

President Obama from Governor Henry, Marshal Johnson had to again wait for his nomination to pass through the Senate Judiciary Committee and then onto the U.S. Senate Floor for a vote of confirmation. Upon passing the Senate’s vote of confirmation,

In 1982, Marshal Johnson joined

Marshal Johnson was formally appointed by President Obama, making him the first Ponca Citian to hold the office of U.S. Marshal.

The U.S. Marshal Service can be traced back as far as 1789 when Congress passed the Judiciary Act. The mission of the Marshal Service is to “enforce federal laws and provide support to virtually all elements of the federal justice system by providing for the security of federal court facilities and the safety of judges and other court personnel; apprehending criminals; exercising custody of federal prisoners and providing for their security and transportation to correctional facilities; executing federal court orders; seizing assets gained by illegal means and providing for the custody, management and disposal of forfeited assets; assuring the safety of endangered government witnesses and their families; and collecting

and disbursing funds.” There are only 94 U.S. Marshals throughout the entire United States, and three of those 94 Marshals are located here in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is separated into three separate “marshal” districts: the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts. As previously stated, Marshal Johnson is the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Oklahoma, which encompasses

Craig, Creek, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Rogers, Tulsa and Washington Counties. It is worth noting that after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the McGirt v. Oklahoma case, most of Marshal Johnson’s district landed within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation Reservation, though most of the district is split between the Muscogee Nation and the Cherokee Nation. That means that all crimes committed within the reservation become federal cases, versus cases of the state. As the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Marshal Johnson is the formal custodian of all federal prisoners within his district, so as you can imagine, the number of prisoners that Marshal Johnson was responsible for more than tripled overnight. We asked him how he handled the sudden and vast increase of federal detainees, and he was quick to respond that he “has a

Collection of Police, Fire and Military Coins in Marshal Johnson’s office.

The staff of Ponca City Monthly toured Marshal Johnson’s office on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Pictured left to right: Robyn Ryan, PCM Advertising Director & Associate Editor; Hayley Harrison PCM Staff Writer & Office Manager; Marshal Clayton Johnson; Kelsey Wagner, PCM Owner & Editor-in-Chief

protecting yourself and helping you prosper today, tomorrow and into the future.

On August 22, 2011, Clayton Johnson was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Marshal for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

On September 11, 2017, Marshal Johnson was notified that he was being retained by President Donald J. Trump. Marshal Johnson is responsible for United States Marshals Service operations in the 11 counties of northeastern Oklahoma. In addition, he serves on the Director’s Marshals Advisory Council.

very good working relationship with the Muscogee Nation and the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee Marshals” and that the Marshal Service also provided him with ample staff to help mitigate the effects of hosting a much larger detainee population.

It is an understatement to say that Marshal Johnson has had a remarkably successful career. He has accomplished many incredible feats, including graduating from the National FBI Academy and completing the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University. He told us that when he began his career in law enforcement, he had two goals: “To become the Chief of Police in his hometown and to become a U.S. Marshal.” And though he worked tirelessly in pursuit of those goals, he also wanted us to know that he would’ve never achieved them without asking for advice and support along the way.

Though Marshal Johnson’s job is no doubt a stressful one at times, it was plainly evident that he absolutely loves what he does, and that he is passionate about helping others. He values his relationships with his deputies and department team members, and he has done a phenomenal job of creating an environment that people look very much forward to working in. He told us that he kept a journal during his

time as a police officer and at the top of the journal it said, “When I’m Chief …”. He made various entries in the journal, that said things like, “When I’m Chief, I’ll give up my personal parking spot,” and “When I’m Chief, I’ll make sure that everyone on my staff goes to retirement planning classes early in their careers so that they’ll be able to take care of themselves and their families later in life.” And to me, those entries are direct representations of the kind of person and leader that he

is. A person that feels a calling to serve and does so with the upmost honor, thoughtfulness and dignity.

We concluded our interview with Marshal Johnson by asking him the one thing that he would like everyone to know. Without hesitation, he said the one thing that he would want everyone to know and take away from our interview is “how important local law enforcement is and how deserving they are of community support.”

Many mementos decorate Marshal Johnson’s office in Tulsa including this orignal Ponca City Police Office Placard which he saved from the trash. This placard was originally used in mugshots to show the booking ID and date, but was being discarded as it was no longer useful past the year 1996.

It is an understatement to say that

Marshal Johnson has had a remarkably successful career.

Applications are available for the 37th Ponca City Leadership Class!

You can pick an application up at the Chamber Office at 5th and Grand Avenue or we can email it to you. Deadline to turn in an application is Friday, June 23rd by 5 p.m. Interviews will take place in July and the Class will be announced in August.

PONCA CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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Lucky Lady Jane: It’s All in the Blessings

“I used to think I was lucky, but later in life I realized I’ve truly been blessed.”

~ Jane Morris

When I went to Jane Morris’ house for our interview it was another rainy day at the end of a gloomy week. However, all that changed as soon as Jane opened the door to her home. I was greeted by her pooch Libby and an adorable and entertaining little girl named Eloise. The gloom was gone, and we immediately fell into a wonderful afternoon of discussion, stories and laughter — not necessarily in that order.

When I had asked about an interview, Jane first adamantly declined. She feels the story about her flying and awards has been told and there simply would not be readers for it. She’s far too humble. Besides, we have a wide readership, and not everyone knows Jane, and they certainly don’t know the depths of her life story. Also, I’m a firm believer that people never realize the most interesting parts of themselves, the things others would latch onto if they only knew, the inspiration and uniqueness that they themselves never see.

So much bravery seems to be in this story, and when I mentioned a little bit about who I was going to interview to a colleague of mine, Amy McWhirt, Humanities faculty at Cowley College, she said, “I know sometimes people, especially people who have accomplished exceptional things, get to a point in their lives when they feel like they have told their story so many times that there is nothing new to say. It is important to tell the story again, though. Young people desperately need models of bravery. They need to be inspired by people who accomplished things they can’t even imagine from the confines of a modern childhood.”

Jane and I talked a bit about bravery and youth today, about how hard it is for parents and mentors to encourage it due to the world in which we live, but how much it’s needed in the challenges they will meet. That led us to her story.

Flying seemed a normal pathway for Jane because her dad was in the agribusiness and flying was a fast way to travel places, but get home quickly. They and the Johnson family in Newkirk purchased a small Cessna airplane together and took advantage of doing just that. When Jane later went to the

Story & Photos by Marlys Cervantes/Staff Writer

University of Oklahoma, she took Aviation as part of her education. Once you do that, she mentioned, you continue it, or the time and money you’ve put in just isn’t worth what you’ve already done.

So, Jane ended up continuing to the point she was a flight instructor at OU and on staff in the Transportation Department. It was in 1974 while on staff that she ended up lucky to fly a crew for Conoco with all their heavy camera equipment to Ponca City. The weight could have been a huge issue on the plane they were in, but with Jane’s management of its weight, the weight of the fuel and her knowledge of the flight path (she’s a Ponca City gal, and that’s where they were headed), she impressed this group. In the end, one of them wrote a story for the Norman Transcript about this female pilot that put her in the eyes of people who needed to see her since it was not the norm for a woman to pilot large aircraft at this time.

As it turned out, there was only one way to truly continue training in 1977, and that was in the military, so it was off to U.S. Naval Aviation Flight Training as one of the few women in aviation officer candidate school. In September 1978 there were three women and 300 men in the pool waiting for training. This is when luck hit again and Jane heard that United Airlines was now required to hire women. Rather than send her application in, she flew to their Denver

office dressed in her military uniform, handed her resume to the receptionist for a process that normally takes months, and said she had brought reading material and would just … wait. It worked. They interviewed her that day, she was hired and the rest really is history.

In listening to Jane’s story, I cannot help but think of the numerous times I tell my college students they must be prepared and watch for the doors that will open for them. They cannot stand by and wait. Doors open to possibilities we cannot imagine if we will only keep our eyes open to the world. Jane is an example of someone watching, listening, waiting for the wonderful openings that will come.

Due to her taking that monumental step with all the confidence she could muster in the moment the universe presented to her, Jane is the first female to fly the 747-400, a huge aircraft (seriously, look it up — its maximum take-off weight is 875,000 pounds). It flew longrange flights of 15 hours when manufactured. Jane’s petite frame captained this massive aircraft for many years.

Another of Jane’s missions that has helped many others besides herself is on the family front. When she became pregnant, United (and other airlines) didn’t allow pilots to fly. She went to court taking this maternity issue to be able to fly while pregnant. She lost. However, the judge in the case called her over and told her she needed to file it as a civil case under the handicapped issue instead. As much as she didn’t want it considered a disability, since that went completely opposite to her point, she refiled and won.

The funniest (at least it certainly seems so to me) part of this is, Jane really felt this would

“I used to think I was lucky, but later in life I realized I’ve truly been blessed.”

Jane with her dog Libby, and her grandaughter Eloise Talley.

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only help her right then and only others later. She’d waited about 12 years to have this first child, so she really wasn’t anticipating more. Instead, she and Tom have five children, so it did indeed come in handy to her that she followed through on the case.

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Her son TJ, who lives in Ponca City right now, will begin his work with the airline in June, and Jane hopes he enjoys it as much as she did. TJ’s twin is Suzy Jesse who lives in Oklahoma City and works as a dietician. Suzy and her sister Sally recently had their wedding receptions at their mom’s house and the flowers and photographs were amazing. Another daughter Polly Krantz lives in Oklahoma City raising two daughters, Annabelle Jane and Caroline Grace. Caroline just shared a fun birthday celebration with her grandma Jane, where she turned 7 and Jane turned 70. Son Skip is homebound in Ponca City after an accident years ago, and Jane

tells the story of prayers and faith that have led her and her family through the journey with him. Then, there is Sally Talley, an architect here in Ponca City who mentioned her mother when Sally was featured in the Breaking Barriers feature article of Ponca City Monthly in August 2020. Editor Kelsey Wagner has had her eye on an article about this “badass Jane” ever since. Sally mentions in the article that her mom’s encouragement was crucial to her pursuing her dream: “It really was because of her that I didn’t even really realize I was going into a maledominated industry. It just wasn’t even ‘a thing’.”

No doubt that makes Jane happy to know. She tells me, “It was my mother that said, ‘You can do anything you want to do.’ Naiveté is a blessing.” It’s hard for me to imagine Jane as anything close to naïve.

Jane flew her aircraft for United until it was retired. United has

Jane was greeted by her daughters when she arrived in Oklahoma City after her final flight as a Commercial Airline pilot. Pictured L to R: Suzy Jesse, Polly Krantz, Jane and Sally Talley.

a mandatory retirement age of 65, and Jane’s 747-400 was retired just before she hit that, so they retired together on Oct. 28, 2017, with a last flight.

With a crew of four, Jane captained her last flight from San Francisco to Seoul, South Korea. When she took off in San Francisco, Air Traffic Control allowed her to do a “bay tour” of San Francisco, which is a beautiful sweep of the coastal area. After exiting in Seoul, Jane and her crew were then treated to First Class flights back to the States where her family greeted her in Oklahoma City.

Jane admits she’s been lucky at every step to achieve as she has in her career. She lived in Denver, then Oklahoma City, but moving back to Ponca City was when life really started to feel right. She says she loves what Ponca City has to offer if you want a career and family. She had her parents to help, but it’s also the

environment here as opposed to other places she has lived — the people, the community.

The support is welcome when pursuing such a career. Aviation takes a variety of skills. A person needs to be adventuresome and must have coordination. There’s quick thinking and times you must be able to think through excessive details, such as the time when Jane had the camera crew on board with all the added weight.

Jane’s father helped give her the beginning skills and the desire to keep building them, and her mother imbedded that confidence within her that she could go far. However, Jane tells us that, while there was definitely luck involved, she now knows the level of blessings she’s had in her life.

Jane expresses the one thing she’d tell young people today is, “If you develop faith, it can carry you through all things — good things and tough things.” Jane Morris is an amazing example of a young woman before her time. Thanks, Jane, for helping us remember what a real badass is — without the need for a comic book or a movie screen. Thank you for reminding us that we need to watch for those doors, maybe not waiting for them to open, but so that we can barrel right on through to make our own way, create our own blessings. I do

believe yours have become your family’s, and now they are ours. Thank you, Jane, for sharing the blessing of you … with us.

Rather than send her application in, she flew to their Denver office dressed in her military uniform, handed her resume to the receptionist for a process that normally takes months, and said she had brought reading material and would just … wait. It worked. They interviewed her that day, she was hired and the rest really is history.

Jane with grandaughter Eloise Talley.

Each month Ponca City Monthly will be highlighting an area community member in our Good Citizen Spotlight. The goal of each spotlight is to honor a citizen who is making our community a better place every day through the goodness, kindness and strength of his/her character.

SPOTLIGHT

Lisa Sloan & The Givers Changing Lives with

Compassion

Story by Chelsea McConnell/Staff Writer

Lisa (Breedlove) Sloan is the founder and facilitator behind the local movement and Facebook page called The Givers. Through The Givers, Lisa acts as a philanthropist and a community servant. The Givers is a charitable community group with a different take. The Givers doesn’t seek donations for its organization. It seeks donations for groups or citizens in need when the need arises. In this regard, there is no money to be exchanged. When a need comes to Lisa’s attention, she shares it via The Givers page and anyone who is interested can help fill that community need directly. Lisa helps facilitate the giving in any way possible and/or necessary.

Lisa’s story with philanthropy started about 11 years ago. Lisa herself was going through a very hard time when she had her lightbulb moment about helping others. She was lying in bed one night, unsure of what would come next and feeling like she was at the end of her rope. Unable to sleep, she got on Facebook and saw a post from a woman who needed a heater. Lisa had an extra heater and decided in that moment to give it to the woman in need. At one of her lowest points, her heart told her to help someone else and she hasn’t stopped since. Lisa puts it this way, “When I had that little moment, I decided you have to be the change you seek. Sometimes if you don’t have joy, you can find it by giving, and that’s what I did.”

From there, Lisa began facilitating all sorts of projects for community members in need. She would see a need and think of a way to fill it or find her heart hurting for a person or group of people and know instinctively that she could help. Lisa initiated a coat drive one winter. Over 1,000 coats were given out to citizens in need at that one event. In 2016, The Givers hosted the Queen for a Day event in support of the Domestic Violence Shelter & Outreach Services. This event was a day of pampering for women from the Domestic Violence Shelter. The Shelter was filled with women trying to get back on their feet despite the hard blows life had dealt them. Lisa shares about how this event came to light, “I started thinking about how hard that would be, to need to be

hand up

your best when you’re at your worst. You’ve got to go out into the workforce to interview for a job, and you’ve got to be your best, but you don’t have anything.” Through the efforts of Lisa, the other Givers and many local businesses, the women got makeovers and were given new makeup and other self-care items to help them feel their best. The women even got Michael Kors bags and Rustic Cuff jewelry.

In 2021, The Givers worked to provide a safe place for the less fortunate in our community to spend their Christmas. This idea stemmed from Lisa thinking about Mary and Joseph and wondering what they would have done had there not even been room in the stable. From there Lisa thought about the folks in our community with no place to go

at Christmas and the movement started. Lisa got a quote from the Rose Stone Inn for how much it would cost to rent all their rooms for two nights. She then put the amount needed out to The Givers page and had it funded in a matter of hours. From there, things snowballed in the best way possible. They added a dinner for the folks spending Christmas there and even gifts to go with it.

Lisa and The Givers also help with smaller needs like when a little boy got his bike stolen and they replaced it, or when a young man couldn’t afford to go to prom this year and they paid for a ticket and got a tux donated. An elderly woman couldn’t pay her gas bill, so Lisa reached out to The Givers to help and soon after her bill had been covered for an entire year. Sometimes a family needs just enough food

“Sometimes people just need a ”

to get them through to the next payday; The Givers are there to help.

Lisa also serves on the New Emergency Resource Agency Board of Directors and is very passionate about volunteering with that organization. NERA is our local food

and resource center and can help with food, utilities, rent and prescription costs. Lisa is passionate about feeding our community and goes a step further in this personal mission by filling the Blessings Box at the Poncan Theatre as often as possible. She said she’s even filled it multiple times in one day just to go back and find it empty again.

Lisa’s family is of the utmost importance to her and she is grateful to them for supporting her giving for all these years. Lisa’s husband is Darren Sloan. Lisa says, “He and my children – Evan, Peyton, Riley and Cade – have had to make great sacrifices for me to be able to do what my heart calls me to do, both financially and time wise. My neighbor Dave buys me lotto tickets in hopes that one day I can build the homeless shelter that I want. Darren says it wouldn’t do any good for us to win because I would give it all away. For Christmas Eve, when other families are having a wonderful dinner, my family gets pizza because I’m busy trying to help our community feel the blessings in Christmas. I appreciate their sacrifices and believing in my mission. I couldn’t do any of this without their support.”

Lisa recognizes that people often need help and often don’t want to ask. “Sometimes people just need a hand up and there are people in the world that will take advantage of the system. But then there are people that are just stuck in the middle. They don’t need help all the time. They just need a temporary hand up.” Lisa has proven she’s more than willing to be that helping hand. She uses her community connections to help when and where she is led to help. Through creation of The Givers, Lisa’s blessing our community one need at a time.

If you’d like to help, you can find more information about The Givers on their Facebook page at Facebook.com/ thegiversponcacity.

All photos are from Lisa/The Givers Facebook page. One is of an award she received from the North Central Board of Realtors called the Eagle Award.

Kaw City Museum

Keeping The Past Alive

An oxbow of the Arkansas River circles around Kaw City, just over the county line into Osage County. The historic community is surrounded on three sides by the river, which once had connections to fellow communities of Uncas and Washunga, sister cities that supported each other in Kay and Osage Counties. Two of those towns are completely gone, flooded underneath the waters of Kaw Lake, but a few Kaw City supporters have kept their memories alive, preserving them long after the communities drowned.

Kaw City was also covered in water, but still has a presence in the area. It was relocated just west of where the original Kaw Nation capitol city once stood. On a cool Wednesday morning, several Kaw City Museum board members and enthusiasts

meet to discuss what is great about the community, including Gordon and Dorothy Smith and Jack and Carolyn Godberson.

“Everyone knew everyone, and the kids could ride their bikes and everyone could socialize at the parks,” Dorothy said.

The Kaw City Museum stands on a hill above the Arkansas River and Kaw Lake, overlooking where the community once stood, which includes the town’s railway depot, constructed and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF). An adjoining facility connects to the depot through a breezeway, bringing the history of Kaw City to life for a modern public to view.

“The depot was in the original Kaw City. They moved it in 1972 after the railroad company donated it to the museum,” Carolyn said.

Stepping inside the museum, one is quickly inundated with historical artifacts, from beadwork to firearms, century-old telephones and their adjacent switchboards. A collection of dolls young girls once played with is seen in the cabinets, and a myriad of photos of early frontier life represent local history.

A hallmark display is a treaty signed by the Kaw Nation, dating back to the 1820s. “It was between the Kaw Tribe and U.S. government. It gave them permission to cross Kaw Tribal land,” Dorothy said.

Much more is seen through the breezeway, where names of patrons are etched into pavers, along with portraits of Kaw City’s graduating senior classes.

Further into the museum and entering the depot itself, a depiction of what a prairie home’s interior once looked like brings history to life, and there are plenty of early photos representing how life in early Kay County was seen in the eyes of those who lived it.

The museum represents what made Kaw City great, but also Washunga and Uncas, three sister communities that had so much in common, so many connections, even to this day.

An outpost known as the Kaw Agency was formed in 1880, which would last until 1892. It would later be named Washunga, after the last Kaw chieftain, in 1902. Kaw City was also established in 1902, only a mile south of Washunga. A ferry and bridge connected the two cities.

Uncas was established in 1895, several miles west of Kaw City, named after a Mohegan chief in Michigan.

The ATSF Railway first arrived in what would become County K, later Kay County, north of Newkirk. A line would eventually extend to Kaw City and Uncas, connecting the communities to Newkirk and Pawhuska.

Story by Everett Brazil, III/Staff Writer

The connection of the railway into the communities helped bring industry to Kaw City, including the agricultural trade.

“It was a pretty good hub for grain, and the cattle were loaded onto cars about two miles east of Kaw City,” Gordon said. “They brought the cattle in on cattle drives and loaded them onto cars.”

ATSF also impacted Uncas.

“They dealt in a lot of grain in Kaw City, but Uncas had a small elevator,” he said. “It didn’t store as much, but it took care of people on the farms. The next biggest elevator was Newkirk, about 12 miles (northwest), and it was a big hub for grain also.”

Oil was discovered in Kay County about 1910, and a well was sunk near Kaw City in 1919, in the north end of what would become known as the Burbank Field, named for the community east of Ponca City, south of the sister cities. The railroad would help expand the industry in the area, bringing oilfield workers and equipment into the communities.

The oilfield wealth would bring culture to the area, including churches, opera, theater, movies, hotels, grocery stores, a drugstore with soda fountains and so many other businesses.

“It was just amazing what we had in the old Kaw City,” Dorothy said.

Cold winds would soon blow through the communities, starting with a heavy flood in 1923 that left the area devastated, the first of several. They would be a chilling harbinger of what would come decades down the road.

“One of the floods in the 1930s wiped out the town, and it destroyed the bowling alley and pool,” Gordon said. “I can remember one year, the Kaw City floods, you could feel the gas pipelines around town because you could see the bubbles.”

In the 1940s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began exploring the idea of damming the Arkansas River, flooding a portion of the Kaw Nation Reservation, which would eventually destroy the sister communities. A Blackwell benefactor donated funds to preserve those hometowns and stop the dam process, but the Corps of Engineers won, and construction of the Kaw Lake Dam began in the 1960s, with work completed a decade later. It would only be a few years before the lake filled, submerging the three towns.

“They started buying land in 1966. They said it would take 10 years (to fill), but it filled up in only two,” Cynthia said.

Reeling from the coming loss of the community, many residents sought to keep some form of memory of the community and decided to create a museum representing the history of Kaw City. They found the perfect facility in the ATSF Railway Depot, then under severe dereliction. ATSF would pull their tracks out in the 1970s, as they would be inundated by the lake, and thus deeded the depot to Kaw City for the Kaw City Museum.

They chose a spot on a hill overlooking the original Kaw City for the depot’s new home.

“They had a huge celebration when they moved it,” Dorothy said.

Robert and Annette Cline were behind the railway depot museum, though moving it wouldn’t be that easy. A parade heralded its moving but overhanging powerlines proved to be difficult. They chose instead to showcase the depot’s outhouse in the parade, with the depot moving later. The outhouse still sits outside the depot at the museum.

“One of the floods in the 1930s wiped out the town, and it destroyed the bowling alley and pool”

“On the day of the parade, they couldn’t move the depot because of high (power) lines so they moved the outhouse in its place,” Gordon said.

The depot would prove to be a special museum, recognizing not just Kaw City and the frontier way of life, but the petroleum and railroad industries that made Kaw City a special place itself. They received so many donations that it would necessitate a new facility that the museum could grow into. The effort to build that new facility began in the 1990s, with Kenneth Brill providing the funds to move forward with the addition, allowing so many donations to find a new home. It was dedicated on May 28, 1995.

The Kaw City Museum has a modern facility and board of administrators, including president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and historian/editor. They alone keep the museum alive.

The museum is available to the public in the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends, Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m., though tours can be arranged in private.

“All they have to do is call for tours,” Carolyn said.

Nothing exists today of the sister cities in terms of the communities themselves, but there were some things

salvaged, at least to a certain extent. The Kaw City Cemetery was already above the lake, near the present-day museum, and the Washunga Cemetery was relocated to Newkirk, across from the local community up north near Kansas.

“Kaw City didn’t have to move its cemetery, because it was always on the hill,” Jack said. “The depot has been deemed a historic place.” There is some semblance of the original Kaw City in the modern community, as well.

“There were several houses that have been moved up here,” Dorothy said.

As for Uncas, it is reported that very little exists at all.

“The (town) pool barely comes out of the water,” Gordon said.

It has also been noted that the towns can be seen under the waters of Kaw Lake, if the weather conditions are right and one knows where to look.

As for the museum, though it is only seasonal, there have been many people who have donated, come back to visit and simply reminisced about growing up in those communities, sharing what it meant to grow up in those sister communities.

“We have elderly people coming from all over when they lived in Kay County, and I take them in for tours,” Dorothy said.

The museum stays open for seniors, alumni and those who want to learn local history, through donations, whether that be donations of historical items or monetary donations. One form of donations is in the breezeway, with a short floor of brick pavers with names of donors who believe in the Kaw City Museum.

“We have named bricks that we sold and that is how we keep it going and pay the utilities,” Carolyn said. “That is the only way we stay open, is with donations.”

The landscape has completely changed since the Arkansas River was dammed for Kaw Lake. Kaw City was the luckiest of the three sister communities, in that a few buildings, including the depot, were salvaged and moved to the new community.

As for Kaw City, and maybe the sister cities as a whole, the memories are still alive, and not just at the museum, but with those who once lived there.

“It preserves history, the history of the family connections, and those who come to the museum every year,” Dorothy said. “It is a reunion of sorts, everyone who lived here comes back and looks at history. They love to come back because this is their history.”

“All they have to do is call for tours.”

Local Heroes Protecting Ponca City: A Day in the Life of Firefighters Dedicated to Community Safety

Story by Chelsea McConnell/Staff Writer

When choosing a career path, there are a million different ways one can go. Many believe the most rewarding job is one that allows you to help people. Lieutenant Darren Pressnall and Rookie Joshua Evans with the Ponca City Fire Department share this belief. Both chose careers as firefighters and are currently working in Ponca City, helping to ensure the safety of our community.

Some might be convinced that a typical day in the life of a firefighter is a little work, mostly play and a solid night’s sleep. That could not be farther from the truth for our local firefighters. In truth, there is no typical day when it comes to being a firefighter. Any number of calls can come in, usually ranging from seven on an average day to 20 or more on a busy day. Chief Butch Herring shares that many

of the calls our crews get are actually ambulance calls. Luckily for our community, they typically only see around two structure fires per month. Crews in Ponca City work 24-hour shifts beginning at 8 a.m., working one day on, then two days off. This averages out to about nine shifts per month, depending on overtime and vacation. Many have second jobs.

Lieutenant Pressnall walks us through what a typical shift might look like for him. “We get here at eight o’clock. We have truck checks. We go through all the trucks, fire ‘em up, check the lights, sirens, pump ‘em, go through all the equipment, circulate the water, make sure the water’s in and make sure the pumps are working well. We have to have everything ready to go for our 24-hour shift. We go through ice chests and stock them with water.

Pressnall and Evans in front of a fire truck. Note Pressnall’s gear on the ground by the passenger-side door. All the firefighters leave their gear in a ready position to ensure the quickest response time possible.

Evans demonstrates the battery-operated stretcher to move patients in and out of the ambulance comfortably.

We check every apparatus. We set up the tower, make sure the ladder’s not acting up or anything. Some nights we get a late-night fire, so sometimes we get back and still have a few hoses that we have to change out or do something else to.” Each person has different beginning of shift duties depending on their rank and job. Evans explains that ambulance crews will have to do similar tasks with the

FLAGDAYISJUNE14

by Patrick Jordan ACROSS

1. It flows from volcanoes

5. Citizen of Italy's capital

10. Snow-melting spring event

14. Fluid in a battery

15. "Carmen" or "Aida"

16. Part played by an actor

17.Hesignedthebill establishingFlagDay(2wds.)

20. Work with needle and thread

21. Microscope part

22. Natural ability

23. Sounds heard in a herd

24. Very small

25. It can raise blood pressure

28. Made a knot in

29. ___ polloi (common people)

32. Raise with a crane

33.FabledcreatoroftheU.S.flag (2wds.)

35. Namesakes of a "raggedy" doll

36. Distributed the poker cards

37. Like some medicines and exams

38.TheblueontheU.S.flag representsit

40. Dog affliction

41. Prefix meaning "environmentally friendly"

42. One of 12 on a ruler

43. Replies disrespectfully

44. Composer Johann Sebastian ___

45. Uncle's spouse

46. Standing on the beach

49. Norway's capital

50. Resort with mud baths and massages

53.With"The,"U.S.flag'snickname (3wds.)

ambulances, including supply and equipment checks.

When not out on calls, crews are often in some type of training either related to EMS or Fire Training, as they have specialists in both on staff. Additionally, the Ponca City Fire Department encourages all employees to seek upward mobility. This means firefighters

and ambulances, so all personnel hired on in Ponca City have to pass all the fire training requirements, as well as have their EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification. This is a fortunate thing for residents in Ponca City. Our crews can respond to fires and also medical emergencies. Chief Butch Herring explains further why this matters. “You might be assigned to a truck at the beginning of the shift, but the calls come in and you wind up needing to get on an ambulance and do an ambulance call. We have two ambulances that are staffed 24/7 with EMS personnel. But if you need a third ambulance or a fourth ambulance, depending on what the call volume is for that particular point in

56. In this location

57. Fermented apple juice

58. Jeopardize

59. Female sheep

60. Delicious

61. Picnic invaders

DOWN

1. Trips around a racetrack

2. Parkland measurement

3. Watch, as a TV show

4. Classified section notices

5. Roping and riding shows

6. Begins the business day

7. ___ wear (clothing store section)

8. Museum display

9. Most impressively dressed

10. Yours ___ (letter-closing line)

11. "There's no place like" it

12. Alda of "M*A*S*H"

13. Departed

18. Gamer's admisson of defeat (2 wds.)

19. Country singer ___ Travis

23. Soccer superstar Lionel

24. Line on a book's cover

25. Remove beard stubble

26. Gin and ___ (bar order)

27. Beatles drummer ___ Starr

28. Educate

29.

30.

31.

33.

34.

36.

39.

40.

43.

44.

45. Valuable possession

Trumpets and trombones, e.g.

County next to Kay

Spots of land in a sea

Seat in a public park

Pot ___ (beef dish)

"America's Got 22-Across" performance, at times (2 wds.)

They tell fibs

Wayne ___ (Batman's residence)

Hot and humid, like summer weather

Drills a hole

46. Tennis great Arthur ___

47. Dinty Moore product

48. The tortoise defeated him

49. Gambling statistics

50. "Wheel of Fortune" option

51. Crow, to a corn farmer

52. Makes a request of

54. Hollywood's Long or Vardalos

55. 401(k) alternative, for short

“It’s the best job in the world. I love it. There’s never a dull moment. I love the excitement of it, the brotherhood with the guys and I love to help people.”

time during the day, then people may have to be reassigned from a fire apparatus to an ambulance apparatus.” Lieutenant Pressnall adds, “We have to adapt, a lot.” This sort of flexibility allows local crews to be more responsive to the needs of our community.

These crews also handle the fire inspections for all commercial properties in Ponca City, visiting each property twice annually. This is done to ensure public safety. If a fire was to break out, something as seemingly simple as a blocked exit could lead to a fatality. Our fire crews are dedicated to avoiding those situations. So diligent are they in these inspections, that Ponca City was recently raised from a Class 3 to a Class 2 Fire Insurance Rating. The ratings are given by the ISO (Insurance Services Office), and the system is on a 1-10 scale with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst. Our department’s goal is to prove to the ISO that we are familiar enough with our commercial buildings and the hazards associated with said buildings that we have the ability to put enough water on any fire to put it out. Class 2 is a very prestigious ranking.

On top of normal duties, local crews are also active within the community. They host Fire Prevention Week every October which takes them into local elementary schools where they teach over 3,000 students about the importance of fire safety. They often host station tours as well. They take part in

community events like parades, Touch-ATruck and Goblins on Grand. Last year, crews chose 16 angels from local Angel Trees and made Christmas wishes come true all over our community.

When asked why they love the job, Pressnall and Evans both rank the team dynamic right up there with the other aspects. Lieutenant Pressnall shares, Rookie Evans adds, “When I first started, I didn’t realize how good a group of guys we have here. It’s definitely pretty eye-opening when you first start. They welcomed me right on in. And I really do like being in the back of the ambulance and dealing with different patients. It’s very enjoyable. Whatever position I need to be in, I don’t mind one bit.”

Our citizens are fortunate to have Lieutenant Pressnall, Rookie Evans and all the other firefighters on staff who work each day to ensure the safety of our community.

Firefighter sliding down the pole seconds after a call comes in over the speaker.

Bradford Clark

Bradford Clark

Bradford Clark

Brews Casino - Braman

County Coupons

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ashley.bradford-clark@rockandbrewscasinobraman.com

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Get Fit!WITH KERA KESTER

Hello beautiful people! I am pretty excited about this month’s topic because it was requested by a wonderful lady that I had the pleasure of meeting at my gym. So, without further ado, let’s jump in! Movement is a beautiful thing! The benefits of taking care of our bodies go far beyond just feeling good about, and within, ourselves. It extends to our family and job life, as well as our quality of experience. However, just like all things, too much of something can have adverse effects. Being injured or feeling dangerous pain and discomfort are some issues that my heart hopes for you to avoid as much as possible. Therefore, I’d like to share three warning signs of injury or overtraining.

1. Skin Warnings

Skin discoloration, swelling or sharp, stabbing and deep bump pains are a few indicators of injury. Your body will use these signs to signal inflammation, overtraining and the need for rest and recovery. There is much emphasis on paying attention to how our muscles and energy levels feel; however, these outward signs are just as telling and should get attention as well.

2. Muscle Warnings

Muscle cramps or pain during contraction, persistent stiffness or soreness that remains for excessive periods of time are something to look out for. If you cannot even walk in a day or two following a leg day, then you may have pushed a little too hard. You do not have to go max effort every single workout. This is why cardio days or de-load weeks are so common. Bodies thrive on balance, and no goals should require you to hit or dramatically pass your energy and muscle peak limits during every single session.

3. Capability Changes

Mobility and range of motion regressions, significant weakness and changes to your gait (walking pattern) are common tells of present injury or the risk of. Of course, dynamic stretching or warming up may

make all the difference you need. However, if after stretching or warming up, you are still unable to utilize your usual range of motion then taking a rest day may be a good idea. We all have off-days but if you do not have the strength you normally have for a lift or activity, then forcing your body may have the opposite effect that you desire.

We all have limits to what we can endure and what we can do. There is a healthy pain of discomfort that requires pushing past our limitations for the sake of progression. On the other hand, there are types of pain that we

should yield to instead of aiming to tough it out. So, what do you do if you are currently facing any of the above?

Here are some great ways to give your body the rest and recovery it deserves for all the hard work it does day in and day out.

• Get adequate sleep and hydration.

• Eat well-balanced and nutrient-dense foods.

• Consume enough calories to fuel your activity level and internal organs.

• Attend to your stress levels and mental health.

• Cut back on your degree of exercise output for a necessary amount of time.

• Use helpful agents like ice or Epsom salt baths, heating pads, massage tools or light stretching.

• Speak with professionals in the healthcare and fitness industry.

Our bodies are extremely resilient! With the right amount of attention and care, we can conquer the world. I pray nothing but the best for you on your fitness journey and in each of your beautiful lives, in general. Recovering or not and in whatever state we find ourselves in, let’s aim to keep our hope, joy and vigor alive! Happy first month of summer!

EXTRA CARE

(Not required by Medicare):

• Community bereavement support including Butterfly Wings support for those who experience a miscarriage or infant loss

• We Honor Veterans Program

• Community equipment loan program

• Educational in-services to the community

BASIC CARE (Required by Medicare):

• Nursing service with 24/7 emergency care

• Personal care by Certified Nursing Assistants

• Medical social services

• Spiritual support and counseling

• Light housekeeping services

• Volunteer services

• Bereavement services

• Ancillary services: Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, Speech therapy and Dietician service

• Durable Medical Equipment and supplies for palliation of the symptoms for terminal illness

• Medications used to treat symptoms of the terminal illness

I’VE COMMITTED A

I know you’re thinking “Rachel, why would you confess a crime? Four, five, even upwards of ten people will read this and will immediately call 911 and turn you in to the police.” Well, because it was funny and embarrassing, and I will always choose entertainment over dignity (and a potential arrest). Chief Bohon, if you’re reading this, please stop now. Let me paint the scene for you…I’m shopping at Marshalls, and I see my best friend. She has her back to me, but we’ve been best friends for 23 years, so I could recognize the back of her head in a crowd of 10,000 people. Blindfolded. That’s how confident I am. I am absolutely beside myself with excitement because, while she is my best friend, we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like, so to spend a few moments shopping with her is such an unexpected treat. So, as quietly and swiftly as a fox, I

sneak up behind her, and because of who I am as a person, instead of greeting her with a “Hi!” like a normal human being, I pinch her on her butt. And for added measure, I give a little “woo!” as I pinch. She whips around, and mid-whip, I realize I have made a grave error. This is not my dear friend Jessi. This is a stranger. It felt like slow motion. Her butt cheek is still firmly squished between my fingers as I realize it isn’t her, but the action is already in motion, I can’t stop it now. She screams. I snatch my hand back off of her butt. We make eye contact. A mixture of emotions cycle across both our faces. Shock, fear, horror, confusion. Apologies start falling out of my mouth like vomit. I am talking so fast trying to explain myself, I sound like an auctioneer. After I finally was able to spit out my explanation, we were both able to laugh about it, and thankfully, she was very kind, but what I’m even more thankful of is that she didn’t beat me up. Or have me arrested. So what’s the lesson here, folks? Don’t assault people, unless you’re absolutely certain they’re your friend.

ACCEPTING NEW PRIMARY

Things the Garden (Yard) Taught Me This Month

Story and Photos by Kat Long / Contributing Writer

Funny. We (people) believe ourselves to be the gardeners, the keepers of the seed and the growers of the things. The yard taught me this week … it does what it wants. I did try some new things this spring, and here is my report on what the yard taught me this month.

Succession Sow

Succession sowing is a definite must in Oklahoma. You want to grow things from seed? Then plant seeds. And repeat two weeks later. And then again, two weeks later. I have never grown pollinating flowers successfully. Since my sunflowers are not allowed in the front yard anymore, I researched the best way to grow flowers from seed. And for Oklahoma, that means succession sowing. Starting in the fall. So here is what I did along my fence line. My privacy fence, which used to be the backdrop for my sunflowers, is about 45 feet long. It runs along most of the north part of the yard. Three years ago, I moved the orange day lilies from their happy little clump by my front door and spaced them out along the fence line. And they were sad looking the first year. And the second year.

This year, however, I took a chance and bought lots of perennial, butterfly and pollinator bags of seed anytime I had a spare $10. I scattered some seeds in the fall (on sale and Dollar General flower seed), but really started succession sowing when it rained in February; I went out and sprinkled the first $10 bag along the fence line. And continued to do this after each rain through May. There weren’t a whole lot of opportunities, because it didn’t rain often. I did get all three bags sprinkled by and around the day lilies. I also added seeds I had picked up, as one does, in my travels which included sweet alyssum, clover, delphinium and others I don’t remember.

Fast forward to this month of June. There are poppies and little sunflowers, delphinium, clover, nasturtium and the day lilies look full and happy again. This flower thing really does take quite a bit of time to get right. If you want to use this method for growing produce, every two weeks plant some more of your carrots, squash, watermelons, beans, okra or other hot-weather-loving plants. This will ensure that some of your seeds will have the correct soil/water ratio to sprout and grow. Especially carrots. You can sow them every two weeks right up to October and overwinter them for a spring harvest. But we will talk about fall gardens in August.

Hyssop

Bees

Use the Fungicide

As you may (or may not) know, I garden by the survival method: if the seed, plant or produce grows and survives in the yard, fabulous. I usually do not go to extraordinary measures to keep them alive other than watering, adding compost and pulling weeds. Enter the apple tree saga. For the last four years, I have been waiting for my apple trees to give me some apples. The nectarine tree started fruiting the year after I planted it. The compost pile is right next to it, which may have something to do with its hardiness. But I digress.

Of the three apple trees planted in the yard, two of them get the most horrible orange rust spots every summer. The one orange rust-resistant tree has bloomed two years in a row, but no apples. This year, enter the copper fungicide. I sprayed all the trees when the first leaves emerged. Waited until the blossoms were gone, and then sprayed again. Spraying fungicide, even one labeled “Organic” will harm the pollinators, so spraying must be done later in the evening when they are not collecting pollen or laying eggs.

Still, I probably have cut down my ladybug population, but darn it, I want some apples. On the upside, the apple leaves are green and spot free. Yay fungicide!

Best Tool EVER

Back to the sunflower remark from earlier. I have grown sunflowers in my north yard by the street for 12 years. They replant themselves every year: easy peasy. This year, all the sunflowers must be relocated. I have given several dozen sunflower starts away and have pulled hundreds out of the yard. I replanted about 25 of them on the east side of the house with a handy-dandy tool called an auger. Not just any auger, but an auger that fits on a regular drill. And then you “drill” holes. In the ground. Just the right size. This is a gamechanger for me. Garlic? No sweat. Use the auger. Relocating plant starts? No problem, use the auger. It is not expensive (under $25), saves your back and if you have kids in the 8- to 10-year-old range, they might even help in the garden if they get to use power tools. BONUS!

We had two seed swaps this spring, and I hope everyone who attended and picked up some seed or plants is having good luck with everything. It’s not too late to put the sun-loving plants in the ground, including okra, Malabar spinach, cucumbers or sunflowers. Heck, you can even put some tomato or pepper plants in the ground this month and get a decent harvest. And there is always the fall garden which can be planted from seed starting in early August for a nice October harvest. I hope I saw everyone at The Herb Festival at LA Cann Gardens or the Farmer’s Market. If you attended Herb Festival, get those plants in the ground. And of course, Happy Gardening.

Do You Suffer From Any Of The Following?

• Overactive Bladder

• Bladder Leakage with Coughing or Sneezing

• Vaginal Dryness

• Painful Intercourse

• Chronic Vaginal or Bladder Infections

• Vaginal Laxity

• Difficulty Achieving Orgasms

• Enlarged Labia

• Hemorrhoids

• Episiotomy Scarring

• Vaginal Atrophy

• Lichen Sclerosus

• Having to adjust your social activities out of fear of leaking

If you suffer with any of these symptoms, we can help. Please contact Chestnut Wellness to discuss our Mary Cherry Procedure.

At Chestnut Wellness we are dedicated to making you a better you.

Review By: Tara Anson

PROVIDED

BOOK REVIEW

BY

BRACE BOOKS & MORE

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here

BY JENEVA ROSE

If you haven’t jumped on the Jeneva Rose train yet, get there NOW! It is moving fast, and she is taking the book world by storm. Steamy romance, thrilling twists and mystery all wrapped up in one, you won’t be sorry. If you have already picked up a Jeneva Rose novel, then you should know this might just be her best one yet!

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here starts out with our main character Grace heading out on her vacation. A busy New York City girl, who likes to throw a dart at a map to figure out where to go to unwind for a bit. When the dart lands on a secluded ranch in Wyoming, what could possibly go wrong? The gorgeous mountains, wildlife and peaceful nature is everything she was looking for. No cell phone service is a little disheartening, but that just means no emails or phone calls from work!

As she settles in to her quiet Airbnb at the dead end of a gravel road, surrounded by nothing but beautiful scenery, she can’t help but notice the owner of the ranch is not so bad to look at either. When he takes an interest in her as well, she dives in. She’s only here for a short time, what’s the problem with a summer-time romance? But as things heat up between the two of them, Grace soon discovers the whole town has something to hide. From missing tourists, screams in the night, unexplained fires and murder, this book is a roller coaster of emotions, as Grace decides if she should stick around to help out, or hightail it back to the city as fast as possible! You Shouldn’t Have Come Here will leave you begging for more.

FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS

• A new rod and/or reel from our huge selection

• Tackle box or bait bucket filled with lures, jigs, etc.

• Novelty bass or crappie sandals or other water shoes

• Boating supplies… life vests, anchors, horns, rod holders

• Camping needs… lanterns, flashlights, inflatable beds, tenting supplies

• Top of the line fish fillet knives, electric and manual

• Gift certificate for bait, tackle, snacks or any other store item

June is a exciting month in Ponca City!

The Renfro Family Foundation supports many events (most benefitting non-profits) taking place, and we encourage you to get out and support them too!

Carl Renfro President

Randy Renfro Treasurer, CPA

Rick Renfro Secretary, Restaurateur

Cindy Gorrell Vice President, Investments

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

Directors

Brenda Renfro

Rich Cantillon

Ponca City Chamber, Retired

Jeff Cowan

RCB Bank, Retired

Jerod Helling RCB Bank, Market President

T.L Walker Executive Director Standing Bear Foundation

Review by Lorrie Layton

CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW

PROVIDED BY BRACE BOOKS & MORE

DINGED

By Tommy Greenwald

Yes, I know we aren’t currently in football season (except for those of us who believe it is always football season), but this is such a great book I just couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Caleb Springer is a freshman quarterback who is, unbelievably, a starter on the Walthorne Wildcats varsity football team. Caleb has an innate gift – quarterbacking is instinctive to him. It’s not just his superb athleticism; those split-second decisions required of a quarterback are intuitive for Caleb. He dreams of playing in the NFL and the Super Bowl, just like his dad. Caleb has a couple of the greatest best friends ever, an amazing girlfriend and a team captain who hates his guts.

Caleb’s girlfriend, Nina, is beautiful, smart and talented. She’s into photography and plays bass in a band. Her band – Fluffy Pillow – is really good and plays local gigs to standing-room-only crowds. She knows how much Caleb loves football and how talented he is, but doesn’t really understand how someone could choose to play the game, considering the documented connection between repeated concussions and early-onset dementia. Nina cares enough about Caleb that she braves sharing her concerns with him, whether he wants to think about it or not.

Caleb’s dad is Sammy “Dinger” Springer, who was a famous NFL wide receiver. He has instilled in Caleb the belief that athletes must always behave with dignity, take responsibility when you lose, never behave like you’re better than others and never ridicule your opponent when you win. Sammy Springer is Caleb’s hero, but lately he’s been forgetful, acting odd and will escalate into a fit of rage over the tiniest things. It’s easy to explain away those instances, but lately they have begun happening much more frequently.

This was truly a wonderful book. Enjoy!

Believe it or not, when it comes to selecting a movie or TV show to watch with my husband, we occasionally achieve the impossible, we agree on something! For us, the magic of comedy binds us like superglue. We revel in the absurdity, the slapstick and the sheer silliness that brings tears of laughter streaming down our faces. And in the pantheon of comedy gold, “Dumb and Dumber” stands as an undisputed champion. One of my favorite scenes is when Harry stumbles upon an old newspaper clipping framed in a bar. And with wide-eyed wonder, he spots the headline and triumphantly declares, “We’ve landed on the moon!” It’s a moment that perfectly captures the film’s offbeat humor and reminds us of the hilarity that unfolds in every scene.

As I delved into my research for the monthly article, I chanced upon the Moonwalk cocktail not long after enjoying the movie. A smile crept across my face as I recalled that amusing quote, and instantly I knew I had discovered the perfect topic to explore in my writing, the Moonwalk cocktail!

In the summer of 1969, the world held its breath as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took their first steps on the moon. Upon their return, the astronauts embarked on a whirlwind world tour, embracing their newfound status as global icons. And as they began this extraordinary journey, a special drink awaited

The Moonwalk

1 oz. Grand Marnier

1 oz. Grapefruit Juice (Freshly Squeezed)

1/2 oz. Rose Water or Rose Water Syrup

Top With Champagne

OF THE MONTH

them. The Moonwalk would become synonymous with their momentous achievement.

Our hero behind the bar, Joe Gilmore, was the head bartender at London’s famous Savoy Hotel’s American Bar. Gilmore’s creative genius had no limits, and he loved crafting drinks for special occasions. He mixed a few simple (yet complementing) ingredients to create this special tribute drink. The Moonwalk begins with a foundation of Grand Marnier, which is an orange liqueur. To counterbalance the sweetness, Gilmore included the lively tang of grapefruit juice, giving it a refreshing citrus flavor. However, what truly takes this cocktail to another level is a delicate touch of rose water, which adds a subtle floral essence. Finally topped off with the fizziness of champagne, bringing a sparkling brilliance to the mix.

The drink was delicately transported in a flask from the Savoy, making its way to the triumphant astronauts. They were pleasantly surprised to receive a heartfelt letter from none other than Neil Armstrong himself. His kind words conveyed thanks for the cocktail, mentioning that it was the first drink they indulged in upon emerging from their quarantine period.

So, my fellow cosmic travelers, raise your glasses high and toast to the moon and the stars. Get ready to sip and boldly go where no cocktail has gone before!

Combine all the ingredients except for the champagne in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Top with champagne and enjoy!

Mixed by Jill Rowe/Staff Writer