March 2024 Ponca City Monthly

Through the Lens of Mr. Ralph “Joe” Cassity

Pet

Hygienic:

Fly

Trouble’s

Kaw Lake Camping Page 21

Local

Pictured: Mr. Joe Cassity, Read Story on Page 25

Cover Design by Andy Hicks

Photo by Marlys Cervantes

Letter from the Editor

Letter to the Editor

Well folks, it’s been a long, dark sludge through winter. We’ve been surviving on a less-than-ideal amount of sunlight for the last four months and some of us are really feeling the effects of it’s abcence. For these reasons and many others, I’ve never particularly liked winter. We all can relate to that feeling when the sun sets at 5:45 pm. When your work day is over at 5 pm, and it’s dark by 6pm, somehow it feels like time for bed by 7 pm. The winter months have a way of slowing us down, and can, when we let them, steal some of our joy. It’s very easy to begin to feel hopeless in winter, like the sun might never shine again. When the sadness creeps in we are scrambling to find ways to feel more joy.

Last year I read a book in the very midst of winter called “Wintering,” and it really changed my negative views on winter. Instead of a time that is dark and dreary, it explains how winter is simply a reflection of life as it truly is - imperfect and sometimes sad. Winter brings a different kind of joy than spring sunshine. Winter is solemn and quiet – a time of rest and of reflection. It’s a time to slow down and be still.

In life, there are events and seasons that are fun and exciting and there are other times of sadness and sorrow. Katherine May, author of: “Wintering” said, “Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.”

I think that’s such a beautiful concept. She continues, so poignantly, to illustrate that learning to embrace winter is similar to learning to embrace our own sadness. And that it’s not something to be ashamed or afraid of, it’s simply another part of who we are.

Katherine writes, “If happiness is a skill, then sadness is, too. Perhaps through all those years at school, or perhaps through other terrors, we are taught to ignore sadness, to stuff it down into our satchels and pretend it isn’t there. As adults, we often have to learn to hear the clarity of its call. That is wintering. It is the active acceptance of sadness. It is the practice of allowing ourselves to feel it as a need. It is the courage to stare down the worst parts of our experience and to commit to healing them the best we can. Wintering is a moment of intuition, our true needs felt keenly as a knife.”

February 8, 2024

Dear editor,

I would like to address a few misconceptions that seem to have developed regarding the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City. Regarding the statue, we do not intend to move it, alter it, or change the name of the iconic work of art. Sculpted by Bryant Baker and dedicated in 1930, the Pioneer Woman statue is a fixture of the Ponca City landscape and a beloved symbol both locally and well beyond the city limits.

In regard to the museum, we began conversations with senior leadership and board members at the OHS over a year ago about how to reinvigorate it and tell a broader story about the women, both known and unknown, who have made major contributions to advancing Oklahoma. The museum’s exhibits have grown stagnant over the years and many of us feel there is a more exciting and dynamic story to portray than what we are currently doing. A name change for the museum has only been discussed as a part of these potential changes. I should note there is precedence for this within the OHS In 1995 the Western Trails Museum in Clinton was changed to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and it is now one of our most visited sites.

It should be noted that no final decisions have been made, and we have only been in the conversation phase for these ideas. We currently do not have funding to accomplish the wholesale exhibit changes that would be required for this work. If any changes are to be made, they would require approval from our board of directors in a public meeting before we can move forward.

I should also note we did not begin any of these conversations because of Ree Drummond or the nickname she has given herself. Ree Drummond is a wonderful ambassador for Oklahoma, and the OHS has nothing but good things to say about her. Our only motivation in any potential changes at the museum is to improve the visitor experience, provide a first-class educational opportunity, and hopefully, inspire more people to come to Ponca City.

If you would like to share your thoughts, please send an email to pwmuseumfeedback@history.ok.gov

Executive Director, Oklahoma Historical Society

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DISPLAYS

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TWO DAYS: FRIDAY 12 - 5 pm & SATURDAY 9 am - 4 pm

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Featuring Western Memorabilia, 101 Ranch collectables, firearms, leather goods, spurs, saddles, rare photos, posters, ephemera, books, artwork, coins, tokens, clothing, glassware, pottery and other items of interest.

Featuring Western Memorabilia, 101 Ranch collectables, firearms, leather goods, spurs, saddles, rare photos, posters, ephemera, books, artwork, coins, tokens, clothing, glassware, pottery and other items of interest.

Featuring Western Memorabilia, 101 Ranch collectables, firearms, leather goods, spurs, saddles, rare photos, posters, ephemera, books, artwork, coins, tokens, clothing, glassware, pottery and other items of interest.

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Business Spotlight

Sugar & Grind

“Grand & 2nd to None,” once again!

Story by Chelsea McConnell | Staff Writer

Any local who’s been around for a time will remember the Daily Grind sandwich shop that was a staple of downtown Ponca City from 1999 to 2012. The Grind menu featured delicious coffees and expansive lunch options with a variety of sandwiches, paninis, soups and salads. Signature sauces and dressings topped off menu items making them that much more delicious. Over the years, many Grind staples became local favorites that kept customers coming back for seconds. Much to the community’s chagrin, owner Janna McDonald closed the business in 2012. As Janna’s brother & sister-in-law, Scotty and Melody Fisher often got asked if and when the Daily Grind was going to open its doors again.

Scotty Fisher has worked with his family since he was eight years old. As an adult, he continued working in the family business as an electrician. Melody is a nurse and worked in the field for 24 years before getting the itch to change paths.

In April of 2023, Scotty’s dad started talking about selling the building that had once been home to the Daily Grind. Scotty and Melody decided to purchase the building. Then it became time for the elbow grease, so to speak. The property had previously been rented out and needed some serious TLC to get it back to the condition Scotty and Melody envisioned. While getting the building back up to code, they also added an oven to the kitchen for Melody’s baking.

enough to once again gain popularity with community members. However, they wanted to put their spin on things so they opened Sugar & Grind. They included two of their daughters in the plan and have even put them to work helping run the business. The family was able to open the doors in October of 2023 and has been enjoying the ride ever since.

Sugar & Grind boasts the same delectable recipes customers came to know and love from the Daily Grind. Scotty and Melody decided to spotlight Melody’s love of baking by adding the “Sugar” element and featuring a surprise menu of baked goods that change each week.

Scotty and Melody knew they wanted to make the business their own while still honoring what it was in its former iteration. The two knew the Grind menu was beloved

Scotty and their daughter Hannah work the kitchen while Melody and their daughter Jayna work the front-of-house operations. Scotty also handles a lot of the back-of-house operations while Melody does the weekly baking, specialty ordered baked goods

and event catering. Sugar & Grind serves breakfast from 8:00-10:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Scotty and Melody have partnered with Tate Burdick of Nova Coffee, who is on-site from 6:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., to provide customers with coffees, espressos, blended drinks, teas and more. Tate’s expertise was a good fit for the business since the Grind had previously served coffee, but it doesn’t happen to be something either Scotty or Melody wanted to pursue. Both the Nova Coffee menu and the Sugar & Grind menu feature the type of variety that will allow most customers the opportunity to find something they will enjoy.

Scotty and Melody are also having fun adding new and different things to the menu. One such item is Chicagostyle hot dogs. The signature Chicago dog is known for

its poppy seed bun that holds an all-beef dog covered in yellow mustard, sweet relish, onions, tomatoes, sport peppers and dill pickle spears. Scotty and Melody have replicated the original, complete with the same brand of hot dogs sold in Chicago. It’s sure to make you feel like you’re in the Windy City!

Sugar & Grind does event catering as well. Last fall they partnered with the Grand Cigar & Lounge to cater brunch for their Ladies Champagne Bingo event. Melody put together a spread of brunch items that would make any mouth water, including cruffins (a cross between a croissant & a muffin), pastries, scones, quiches, fruit spreads, fresh fruit, mousses and more. All the dessert and breakfast items came in multiple flavors and varieties. Melody does all the set up for catering events like this one, making things super easy on her clients. You can either suggest menu ideas or let her run with a theme. For this event, the GC&L gave her free rein and she knocked it out of the park.

Customers can also rent the back room at Sugar & Grind for special events. Melody can put together event menus featuring Sugar & Grind sandwiches, her sweets and any other items a customer wants. Over the Christmas holiday, she put together a sweet treat menu for a special event that got rave reviews.

Scotty and Melody have exciting plans in store for the future of Sugar & Grind. The community’s response to having their beloved sandwich shop back has been great so far, and the couple is looking to bring even more to the table, pun intended, when it comes to their offerings. On top of specialty catering, Melody and Scotty are looking forward to hosting tailored events like a Valentine’s Day date night with more upscale menu items like steak and lobster. The couple is planning to purchase a larger refrigerated pastry case and create a bigger space to showcase the amazing sweets and treats Melody makes each week. A bigger case will allow Melody to offer a bigger variety on a regular basis. Scotty also plans to have a food truck eventually to help the business participate in off-site events.

Scotty and Melody Fisher are excited to be downtown carrying on the essence of the Grind with their own special spin. They look forward to participating in community events and aim for Sugar & Grind to become a staple in the rotation for local diners. Check out their Facebook page at Sugar & Grind for more info. You can see their menu at sugarandgrind.com, or better yet, stop in for breakfast or lunch today!

PONCA CITY

• Chamber of Commerce, 5th & Grand

• Ponca City RecPlex, 1604 W. Grand

• Homeland, 2005 N. 14th

• Homeland, 904 S. 4th

• Ponca City Discount Foods, 2405 N. 14th

• Equity Bank, 3rd & Grand

• City Central, 400 E. Central

• Walmart, 1101 E. Prospect

• RCB Bank, 14th & Highland

• El Patio, 731 N. 14th

• First National Bank, 1501 E. Prospect

• Rusty Barrell Supper Club, 2005 N. 14th

• Osage Casino C-Store, 64464 US-60

• Danny’s BBQ Head Quarters, 1217 E. Prospect

• Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant, 2213 N. Waverly

• Community National Bank, 709 E. Prospect

TONKAWA

• Venture Food Market, 1315 N. Main

• NOC Student Union, 1220 E. Grand

• United Supermarket, 1221 W. Doolin

• Apple Market, 601 W. South

Mariana’s Oklahoma Adventures

Story by Everett Brazil, III| Staff Writer

Mariana Horinek has been on a journey. She has visited all 77 counties in the state, viewing the rich history and culture found in local communities. She has also seen many parks and museums along the way and eaten wonderful food at local eateries. It is an effort to learn Oklahoma’s history through their respective courthouses, in her own personal way, outside of a textbook and off the beaten path, a chance to see what Oklahoma truly has to offer.

The Newkirk homeschooler finished her journey this past fall in far western Oklahoma, which included the Panhandle.

“We really took a trip to every courthouse in the state. Honestly, we had an adventure,” Horinek said of her years-long expedition. “We would go to a courthouse, take a picture and look around the grounds.”

It began only a few years ago as a way to learn and explore history across the state while still being able to quarantine away from others during a pandemic.

“It all started with COVID-19, which was my freshman year,” she said. “My mother had an idea to do Oklahoma history and have a more hands-on learning experience.”

Her first foray into exploring Oklahoma and her courthouses started fittingly enough in neighboring counties.

“The first counties we went to were Osage and Washington, and we kept going,” she said. “It was

a really special trip, because we were going to Missouri on vacation.”

All other trips were planned, however, as an excursion to groups of counties to visit their court facilities, and anything else historical along the way, a chance to learn Oklahoma history in person.

Every county in the state has a courthouse, and a few struck her memory of her excursions along her journey, including one in the Panhandle.

“One of those was in Boise City. It was in a roundabout (street), and I thought that was a cool thing,” Horinek said. “For some reason that one stuck out more.”

Most of those trips were taken on weekends, so they had to adapt to get pictures, as government buildings are closed on weekends.

“We actually didn’t go in any of them, so I’ve only been in the Kay County Courthouse,” Horinek said. “With us traveling on Saturday and Sunday, they weren’t open where we could go inside so we

walked around them and looked at the architecture of the buildings.”

Even if the courthouses themselves were closed, she still found other ways to learn history in her adventures across the state.

They explored many local parks as part of their adventures when traveling.

“We went to Tenkiller Lake and camped in the back of our car,” she said. “We visited Robber’s Cave State Park and the Red River Museum near Idabel.”

Those museums were another educational experience, providing her a chance to learn about local history, something Horinek may not have learned otherwise. They visited museums in western Oklahoma, including the Museum of the Great Plains in Lawton.

“It was really hands-on learning about history, and I thought it’d be good for kids as well,” Horinek said. “They had a map on the floor where you could see where you were and a magnifying glass so you could see closer.”

Another museum in the Panhandle was more general, but had an extensive collection of artifacts.

“In Boise City, there was a museum, and it was filled with history. You couldn’t go through all of it, you’d have to spend the whole day in there,” she said.

That highest point was Black Mesa, in far northwest Cimarron County, the westernmost county in the state. Cimarron County borders Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. The state’s lowest point is near Idabel.

“We hiked Black Mesa. It was an eight-mile hike, so that was a lot of fun,” she said.

As for the view from the roof of Oklahoma, it was beyond what she could have expected, being at such an elevation.

She also learned much about how diverse the geography of the state is, from eastern to western Oklahoma, northern to southern.

“It is amazing how many different ecological regions we have and how diverse Oklahoma is as a state, with having the mesas in the Panhandle, the flatlands and the mountains,” she said. “Usually, I see Oklahoma as a flatland, but there is a lot more diversity than that. Being from a small town, you don’t see everything.”

A Newkirk native, she has many memories inside the Kay County Courthouse, so she saved the local one for last. Horinek wanted to visit the other 76 facilities first.

“We wanted to finish in Kay County because this is home,” she said.

Horinek has stepped foot in all 77 counties, seen their respective courthouses and many other parks, historical locations and attractions across the state. She has learned so much in her explorations, including history, culture and the backroads of Oklahoma that not everyone gets to see, which was the point of the trip in the first place, all with her family.

“Since I’m homeschooled, I already spend time with my mom, but there is something special about taking a trip, not knowing where you’re going, just having an adventure,” she said.

Courthouses, parks and museums are only part of what Horinek learned along the way. She has also learned much about the geography of the state.

“I’ve actually been to the highest point, and the lowest point, in Oklahoma, or at least as far as we could get, because there wasn’t a marker for the lowest point,” she said.

“There was a lot of brush because it is a little bit drier out there. There were a few trees, but nothing like here, where there are a lot of trees and grass,” Horinek said. “The view was good because you could see a lot of mesas. It was like being on a mountain top, but not quite.”

The overall exploration, taking the backroads to where they were going, countrysides they had never seen, made for a truly immersing event, a real-life study in Oklahoma, all done in person. They knew the route and had fun exploring what makes Oklahoma truly an amazing state.

“Sometimes, using an Oklahoma atlas, I would tell Mom, ‘We’re going to turn here, down a backroad.’ It would lead us where we’re going, but just the longer route, scenic route,” Horinek said. “There is so much more to Oklahoma.”

This attractive, permanant display showcases Oklahoma’s pioneering women from pre-statehood to today. The Museum’s mission is “Preserving the legacy of women from all races, creeds and nationalities who have made significant contributions to the history of Oklahoma.”

Trouble’s a Brewin’ Possible Name Change

Inspires Storm of Controversy

Story by Carey Head | Staff Writer

“Preserving the legacy of women from all races, creeds and nationalities who have made significant contributions to the history of Oklahoma.”

— Pioneer Woman Museum

Few topics, in recent memory, have sparked such debate as the possible renaming of the Pioneer Woman Museum. In reviewing comments, most, if not all, are based upon sentiment rather than fact.

The Pioneer Woman Museum has been under the governing arm of the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) since its legislative-decreed transfer from Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation in 1991. Nearly all operational decisions, including displays, are in OHS control. Locally, Friends of the Pioneer Woman is an important advisory board providing guidance, volunteers and resources enabling the PWM to stay in touch with its community and hold important fundraisers.

Discussion of the possible rebranding of the Pioneer Woman Museum among OHS staff and stakeholders began two years ago. January’s local reporting of this conversation ignited a friendship-testing firestorm that begs for a deep breath and a press of the “pause” button.

It also inspired a statement from the OHS following the reporting of the conversation. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society:

“As a part of a broader strategic initiative, the Oklahoma Historical Society has had internal conversations regarding the mission and branding of the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City for the past year or so. While no final decisions have been made, any future changes will recognize the unique role the museum plays in the community and will seek to engage visitors in an enhanced manner. If any changes are made, the OHS will keep the public informed.” - OHS Official Statement, Feb. 12, 2024

The tight lips of the Oklahoma Historical Society and absence of any further clarification adds fuel to this rumor’s fire.

Ponca Citian Marsha Sanders answers a Fox25 reporter’s questions while participating in a recent rally at the Pioneer Woman Museum.

Trait Thompson, OHS Executive Director

“The (Pioneer Woman) Statue is not being renamed. The Statue is not being moved.”

These statements were made by Trait Thompson, OHS Executive Director, during an interview following the January 17, 2024, OHS Executive Committee meeting.

But for one exception, Thompson’s response to further questions was “I stand behind my statement,” referencing the official OHS statement above.

The exception he made to his mantra?

“Ree Drummond has absolutely nothing to do with the possible re-branding of the Pioneer Woman Museum,” Thompson said.

(Editor’s Note: Be sure to read Trait Thompson’s Letter to the Editor, located on Page 5)

Ree Drummond Shares Her Side

Ree, herself, underscored this statement by providing one of her own through an email interview. She wrote, “Thank you for asking me about the Pioneer Woman Museum

From Zero to Sixty(Six)

name change. The first I heard of this was the recent public dialog on Facebook. “To confirm, I am not part of the effort to change the name of the Pioneer Woman Museum. I have zero trademark concerns with the museum—on the contrary, I know how beloved a place it is for Ponca City and for so many who have visited through the years. I have met so many visitors at The Mercantile who have stopped at the museum and loved their experience there.”

Where Do Our Elected Officials Stand?

Senator Bill Coleman and Representative Ken Luttrell provided insight into the proposal during a recent lunch interview. When asked if he thought the rebranding rumor was true, Sen. Coleman replied, “Well, I would say it’s valid. But we are at Step 1 of Step 2,000. Nothing has been brought before the Oklahoma Historical Board.”

He continued, “It was only a passing conversation, ‘What if we could rebrand this museum to be a museum for all Oklahoma women who were pioneers, not just in

“To confirm, I am not part of the effort to change the name of the Pioneer Woman Museum.”

Rebranding Zooms Former Western Trails Museum from Last to First

Story

by Carey Head | Staff Writer

Clinton’s Western Trails Museum didn’t attract much traffic to its displays. Opened in 1968, the museum sought to tell the story of the Chisholm Trail. The name, like its mission, competed with other Oklahoma museums seeking to tell their stories of prairie history. Or, as Pat Smith says, “too many with the same ol’ country history.”

As a tourism traffic generator, Western Plains Museum ranked at the bottom. Something needed to be done to help both the Museum and its host city. Turns out, the Museum’s location on the famous Route 66 was a potential game changer.

Pat Smith is Director of Oklahoma’s Route 66 Museum, one of many Route 66 tributes on the famous highway which extended from Chicago to Santa Monica, California.

In 1991, Western Trails Museum, like the Pioneer Woman Museum, was part of the 8-museum transfer from Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation to the Oklahoma Historical Society. In 1993, the shift from Western Trails to Route 66 began.

“Route 66 is the most famous road in the world. This museum tells the complete story of the road’s history.”

To complete the name change required a change in mission. She said a “pitchforks and torches” attitude was exhibited when OHS first mentioned the intent to rename, and restate the Western Trails Museum to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum.

– Ree Drummond

“Sometimes, you know how it is — that people so used to the name are afraid of what would happen to all that history. Now, they see what a wonderful calling card the (renamed) museum is for Clinton.”

Funding for the change came from the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 as well as state and private funding. “A town of 10,000 raised $200,000 which, in today’s terms, is equal to $400,000,” Smith says. “Artifacts in (this) museum now have all been donated to the museum. Local people gave Route 66 items. We have some wonderful artifacts.”

Oklahoma’s Route 66 Museum is now among Oklahoma Historical Society’s top-performing museums with a gift shop generating record-setting tourism dollars. When it opened in 1995, it inspired other Oklahoma communities along Route 66 to join in the museum project by constructing satellite exhibits in their own towns. Each of these exhibits tells the local story of Route 66 and directs visitors to the next exhibit.

“Visitors tell us we have the widest selection of Route 66 merchandise of any Route 66 museums,” she said. “We’re one of the few museums that’s not in the red,” Smith explains. “Admissions and gift shop (sales) provide funding for operations, overhead, even staff salary.”

Smith draws from this experience as she encourages, “Don’t live in fear because change is great. The name change has brought so much more to Clinton, so much more overall dollars, more people coming through Clinton.”

settling the State?’ I think that is what they are looking into and until they get that concept figured out there really isn’t anything that will change at that Museum including the displays.”

However, Coleman believes the subject of the displays is a concern. “That’s one of the things that spurred this conversation is the fact that they have not changed out displays in quite some time. I think they are just looking at freshening it up.

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“Now, whether that includes a name change? Only time will tell. But they’ve certainly been notified that Ponca City does not want a name change on the Pioneer Woman Museum,” he added.

Representative Ken Luttrell said, “We had the opportunity to sit down with Trait Thompson and we had a robust discussion with the Mayor, City Manager, Carl Renfro and other people that were present, at Standing Bear Museum, and I can give you a little background – I don’t know how this conversation was leaked – from a conversation just going on around the Historical Society –but what brought it about was they looked at the old (Western Plains) Museum out at Clinton which was the least visited museum in the state of Oklahoma. Nobody cared, nobody driving up and down the highway cared about stopping (there).

The most recent installation to open at the Pioneer Woman Museum is a collection of artifacts from the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch and their Wild West and Near East show. Bessie Herberg is the subject of the elaborately framed portrait.

“That’s the one they rebranded the Route 66 Museum. Now it’s the most visited Museum in the State of Oklahoma. And the people didn’t want the name to change. The oldtimers said ‘but this has always been the name … Why would we want to change it?’ Well, sometimes change is good,” he said.

“We learned, as I already knew, that Ree Drummond has absolutely nothing to do with this, absolutely nothing,” Coleman emphasized.

“So that’s been false. The statue has nothing to do with it. The statue will remain where it is and will retain its name of ‘Confident,’” explained Coleman. “So, the only thing that could possibly change, and remember, we’re talking ‘possibly’ here,” is the museum’s name.”

The most recent installation to open at the Pioneer Woman Museum is a collection of artifacts from the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch and their Wild West and Near East show. Bessie Herberg is the subject of the elaborately framed portrait.

He added, “The Cowboy Hall of Fame rebranded and became the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum, which opened up a whole lot more for them to draw visitors to the museum. So, we’ll see where it goes but right now there is no name change that’s gonna happen. It’s far, far away.”

Bottom line? Sen. Coleman said, “The Oklahoma Historical Society’s vision hasn’t been discussed or determined other than ‘could we make it more all-encompassing to draw people to Ponca City to visit the Museum’?”

Fly Away This Summer: Flight Academy

Story by Marlys Cervantes | Staff Writer

“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space.”

~ Wilbur Wright, Aviator

Are your youth looking for something adventurous to do this summer? If so, Northern Oklahoma Flight Academy (NOFA) may be the perfect fit for them this June when it hosts its 21st Academy for middle school and high school students.

Bert Blanton, who along with serving as President of the Ponca City Aviation Foundation and Director of the Booster Club, is the overall Coordinator for the Academy. Blanton says, “I appreciate seeing students grow and meet challenges as they move through the classes.”

Blanton coordinates the high school classes and Tamara Bucher, who handles Marketing and Public Relations for the Booster Club and serves as President for the local chapter of Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) which restores

antique and replica aircraft and supports pleasure and training aircraft, coordinates classes for middle school students of the Academy. Bucher stresses, “The nice thing about our Flight Academy is it’s not very expensive compared to others.” The Academy here in Ponca City is less expensive than many around the country and still offers as much or more than others.

Bucher, a pilot herself who also teaches classes at the Academy, says, “We start off with these kids in middle school and fly gliders

outside. They learn to troubleshoot when the gliders end up on roofs or don’t fly where they planned. We see them grow as they move from our first classes on to the next.”

In talking about the classes with both individuals, we discuss how classes look at careers involving aviation; building and flying of kites, model rockets, airplanes and hovercraft; flying computer flight and spacecraft simulators; flying radio-controlled models and drones; mechanics; and even log flying lessons. The flight simulators are remarkable, and students are always surprised by their capabilities. The advanced class works with space flight too, and Blanton says, “We land on the moon!”

Besides all the planning, the

Academy takes money to keep this cost down. There are grants that assist with this and events that help raise those funds. The Booster Club works in conjunction with the PC Aviation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that can raise funds and receive donations to assist the Flight Academy. It is managed by an 11-member board and sponsors the monthly fly-in breakfasts and NOFA.

The Fly-in/Drive-in Breakfasts are held on the first Saturday of each month from 7-10:30 a.m., and the meal selection is excellent costing only $10 a person and $5 for children. Bruce Eberle is the breakfast coordinator and around 25 volunteers assist him in keeping the morning running smoothly for those attending. Service is good, and the conversation is lively. It’s also a great opportunity to see past photographs of the airport and the equipment used at the Flight Academy.

Anyone interested in aviation or supportive of these activities can join the Booster Club. They meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and generally have a speaker and dinner. There is a form to complete and dues to pay, but you can pick it up at the meeting, if interested. For more information, you can check out their page on Facebook, Ponca City Aviation Booster Club or contact club president Don Nuzum at nuzumdl@ poncacityok.gov.

If interested in the Flight Academy, you can find information and forms for it on the Booster Club site, the Northern Oklahoma Flight Academy

Facebook page or by picking up forms inside the Ponca City Regional Airport building. Enrollment closes on March 15, or when each class is full, so you want to register now if you are interested in a spot.

There are beginning classes for middle school students, such as Basic Aviation I and II, and then Advanced Aviation Technology. These are followed with a variety of options for later or experienced middle school and high school students, such as Drone Pilot Training, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Space Flight Technology and Airplane Pilot Training. The last session is Airplane Flying Lessons. Last year there were eight students ready for actual flying lessons.

Many students come to more than one session and then return the next summer. In addition, former students who have gone through the program are often hired to work as aides during late summer, telling the instructors how much more they then learn as they teach the students taking classes. It’s amazing to hear about these former students and the pride the Academy instructors have in their achievements. One aide comes back, bringing her own tool set and repairs all of the model crafts the students fly (and wreck) during the weeks, saving them

major funds; one is now a military and life flight helicopter mechanic; a couple were recently in the Air Force Academy with one then serving as an Air Force pilot and the other earning her Ph.D. A recent aide, who they’ll miss this summer, just found out he received a NASA internship after being at the University of Alabama. The achievements are many, and these students began parts of their desired careers at our local Flight Academy.

Coordinator Blanton knows just how important internships can be since his first was with NASA at only 17 years

old when he was first sent to Wallops Island, Virginia, with a radar van to assist with testing data. From there he was sent to Fort Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, for rocket research testing in the upper atmosphere within the Northern Lights. His work was so exceptional, with him often getting readings on his van equipment while those in the buildings didn’t get readings on theirs, that they offered him a job in Australia, but it was time for him to return to his college studies. His scholarship alternated semesters of study with field work.

Meals Since 1987!

ScratchMade Food!

Why not share your pot of gold with the wonderful non-profit organizations doing great things in this community? We do! Ponca City’s future is brighter than ever!

Carl Renfro President

Randy Renfro Treasurer, CPA

Rick Renfro Secretary, Restaurateur

Cindy Gorrell Vice President, Investments

THURS: All-American Buffet 10:30 am - 2 pm FRI: BBQ Buffet 4-9 pm

• Salad Bar 4-9 pm

SATURDAY: Breakfast Buffet 7-11 am • Baked Potato Bar 4-9 pm

• Salad Bar 4-9 pm

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

Blanton understands the importance of an early start moving toward your passions. He began his flying with lessons by helping the man who did the work spraying the fields on their family farm. Much like Blanton seems to feel, Amelia Earhart said, “There’s more to life than being a passenger.” Blanton wanted to move toward the pilot’s seat, and now he and others at the Academy help youth do the same.

The stories from their lives and the years they’ve worked at the Academy are many. Blanton says, “If you don’t have stories, you haven’t done anything.” You really should sit and just listen to his stories sometime. He says his friends and family have told him he should write them down but he’s too busy. I believe it. He’s far

too busy still living new stories to write down the older ones.

There’s a wooden sign posted inside Building 15 where the Flight Academy is held. It says, “A Mile of Road Will Take You Nowhere, A Mile of Runway Will Take You Anywhere.” If you’d like Blanton, Bucher, Jane and the other instructors to help your youth take off for their Anywhere, you might want to get that registration in, if you haven’t already. As I’m writing this, I’ve already heard of registrations not just locally, but from as far away as South Dakota. They come from near and far to take advantage of the opportunities this experience offers. Let’s be sure we fill the seats!

Kaw Lake Camping Season!

Whether you’re looking to beat the heat or explore Oklahoma’s beauty, Kaw Lake provides many recreational opportunities year-round. Kaw Lake has seven campgrounds and nine boat ramps that can be found on Recreation. gov. Fishing and duck hunting are popular activities on this lake and can be successful from the shoreline or by boat. There is over 31,000 acres provided for public use, including hunting. Sarge Creek Cove has several campsites with horse pens so you can bring your equine friend along for a stay and hit the trails near the entrance of Sarge. Osage Cove has a multiuse trail for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Sandy Beach is the lake’s designated swim beach and is located just east of the dam. Don’t forget to grab a life jacket off the life jacket loaner board if you forgot to bring your own! Please return it so others can use it when in need.

The staff at Kaw Lake have been busy planning and implementing improvements. New restroom facilities have been provided at Osage Cove A and C loops, Fisherman’s Bend, Pioneer Park boat ramp, Coon Creek Cove boat ramp and Washunga Bay. Coon Creek Cove received a new highwater boat ramp, a new courtesy dock and new asphalt. McFadden Cove also received a new courtesy dock. Recent asphalt work has been performed at Sarge Creek Cove, Washunga Bay and Kaw Dam Road. The Sandy Park boat ramp has been

Campground Open/Close Dates

Bear Creek Apr. 1-Nov. 30

Coon Creek Cove Mar. 15-Oct. 31

McFadden Cove Mar. 1-Nov.30

Osage Cove Mar. 15-Oct. 31

Sandy Park Apr. 1-Oct. 31

Sarge Creek Cove Mar. 15-Oct. 31

Washunga Bay Mar. 15-Nov. 30

installed below the dam to give boating visitors access to the Arkansas River. Without volunteers, it would be difficult to keep up with Kaw Lake’s campgrounds and day-use areas. We are very grateful to have such a wonderful team of volunteers who donate their time to the lake. Volunteers perform a variety of duties, but a couple of big ones are keeping the campgrounds clean and visiting with the public. Not only is volunteering a rewarding experience, but volunteers are offered to stay at 50-amp sites with full hookups. Gate attendants serve as important members of the team as well and they are also offered 50amp sites. If interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer or gate attendant at Kaw Lake, you can contact the

office at 580-762-5611.

All nine boat ramps are open yearround. Sandy Beach is open from May 1-Sept. 30. There is a $5 dayuse fee to utilize the beach and all boat ramps unless you are camping with Kaw or have a valid annual pass. Reservations and day-use permits can both be purchased online at Recreation.gov or by calling the Recreation.gov team at 877-4446777. We recommend making your reservations or day-use purchases before heading to the lake to avoid service signal issues. Kaw Lake has something for everybody, so we hope to see you there!

Through the Lens of Mr. Ralph “Joe” Cassity

Story by Marlys Cervantes | Staff Writer

“If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday.”

~ Pearl S. Buck, American Novelist

Education has always been important in Joe Cassity’s life, and it’s no surprise that it led him back to teaching right here in Ponca City even though he could be retired, starting as a substitute for seven years but moving to full-time teaching in 2019. Cassity taught on military bases and spent 29 years primarily teaching history classes in Taiwan at Fu Jen Catholic University and Ming Chuan University.

Cassity grew up in Ponca City and credits the schools and community here with much of his success and interests. He remembers teachers at East Junior High like Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. McCartney piquing his interest in teaching. Prior to that his educators had been female, so he hadn’t realized it was a profession he could pursue even though the interest was within him.

Other activities also added momentum

to this path. A summer 1956 vacation to the southern Illinois home of President Lincoln added to his intrigue with history, and when he went to OSU’s history department, the group “felt like home.” In Stillwater and making friends from many other places, he learned how lucky he was to have had the Ponca City Library since so many students had never been to a research library. Joe was able to tell them about ours and how he was able to access information like that while growing up here. He hopes students realize what they have right here at home.

Cassity earned his B.A. and M.A. in History at OSU where he was also in ROTC and later, on the GI Bill, earned his J.D. at OU and is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He has many stories from his travels, education (both taking and teaching classes), his time in the Army Reserves and simply life in general to add to a classroom setting with students. There’s much to be said about the life he’s lived.

Mr. Cassity teaches in an inconspicuous room at PoHi, Room 104, on the lower level of the main building at the high school. On the outside of his door is a sign that indicates he is a Veteran, thanking him for his service. Inside, there are books piled everywhere. Everywhere. He teaches various history classes and economics. He loves what he teaches, and he is always ready to help his students if they come to him—before class, between classes, after school. His desk is topped with

were people so happy in the 1920s?”

books, papers and files. He has his laptop, but it appears he considers time face-to-face with students much more valuable than virtual activity. The personal touch has worked for him in more successful ways so far.

He emphasizes liking to get the class participating daily to help them absorb information and come up with ideas on their own. The time period they were studying when I visited was the Roaring 20s, and the class was tasked with reading and writing a short paper with a focus on “Why

Many in the class immediately raised their hands to volunteer to present their ideas on the topic, and they were interesting and diverse, with ideas such as moving into cities with more people, access to neighbors and art and shopping, good music, entertainment and fashion, and even simply being able to pay bills and not be looked down on by others around them due to the high cost of living today. The answers were many and diverse, and the class was unafraid to speak up.

With time left in class, Mr. Cassity talked about the differences between the end of WWI and WWII and what the country learned from the first. He explained the many jobs lost at the end of WWI and the devastation caused by that, so at the end of WWII there were many benefits, such as the

GI Bill, unemployment for soldiers until they could find jobs, benefits for hiring soldiers and more. It led to a smoother transition for communities welcoming the military back into their midst and helped the transition to peacetime not feel like such a disaster.

It is obvious Mr. Cassity enjoys getting to know his students. When he calls roll, he only calls the names of those he doesn’t see, and he asks about a variety of activities they each have going on in school and such. When there was time at the end of class, the class members talked about if their families were from Ponca City or elsewhere. The subject brought up more interesting stories between all of them. It was an interesting way to learn quite a lot in a very short amount of time.

Joe Cassity has much to

share. I have no idea how long he will continue teaching. Maybe he continues to be inspired by Abraham Lincoln who said: “I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”

Even after his teaching ends, I expect he will continue to write. He has written about 20 articles on Oklahoma history already. The history textbook on the students’ desks in the classroom was titled “America Through the Lens,” and all I could think of was what a gift to see it through this man’s eyes.

After class was over and everyone left, I asked what his favorite personal story was to talk about when he taught a particular point in history. In my short time knowing him, I’ve heard several interesting stories, so I just had to know his favorite. He said, “The day I met John F. Kennedy in Oklahoma City before the 1960 election. It was outside the Municipal Auditorium, and Ponca City folks had taken a bus there.” Of all the places he has traveled, his favorite brought him right back home. You have to love that. Home is right where Mr. Joe Cassity belongs.

The Go Lightly Chiropractic—Revolution Wellness, 205 E Grand, capitalizes on the historic building’s charm including exposed brick walls, restored tin ceilings and the addition of decorative lighting. Parking and access to the clinic is available at both north and south entrances.

Chiropractic Practice Seeks to ‘Wow’ Clients

Atransformation in the traditional presentation of chiropractic care has come to North Central Oklahoma with the opening of Go Lightly Chiropractic — Revolution Wellness in downtown Ponca City. Dr. Seth and Ashley Miller have relocated the Go Lightly Chiropractic practice from its Fifth Street location to 205 E. Grand, the former Liles and Company site.

Rebranded as Go Lightly Chiropractic — Revolution Wellness (GLC-RW), the Millers offer traditional chiropractic care with a welcoming interior space that takes full advantage of the historic building’s charm. With access and parking available at both the south (Grand Avenue) and north entrances, customers are greeted with an expansive, well-lit lobby featuring soaring ceilings with restored stamped tin paneling, exposed brick walls and artfully painted concrete floors.

Both Seth and Ashley knew what not to do when designing their new customer care spaces. Seth gave the example of his former waiting room. “A few of our clients mentioned

how they felt like they were sitting on top of each other, and that the space was dark and outdated.”

Ashley adds, “Here, we want to give our customers the ‘Wow!’ factor from the moment they walk in the door.”

This isn’t the typical medical practice waiting room where the vibe is nonexistent and décor is an afterthought. The new waiting room is intentionally bright and modern. Groups of chairs, sofas and tables allow clients to get comfortable while awaiting treatment. And they are invited to peruse the new frozen food and supplement offerings.

A lighted freezer cabinet displays an assortment of CleanEatz Kitchen meals available for purchase.

Ashley researched numerous internet sites to determine if there was a frozen, low-

Seth Miller, Doctor of Chiropractic, and his wife Ashley will conduct the ribbon cutting for their new location, Go Lightly Chiropractic—Revolution Wellness, 205 E Grand, on Friday, March 1. The annual Ponca City Main Street “Ladies Night” will take place from 5 - 9 p.m. the same day. The Millers are planning specials, giveaways, food tastings and more in celebration of their new location and its many offerings.

calorie and nutritious meal option the chiropractic practice could endorse. In choosing CleanEatz Kitchen, she says, “I like their clean ingredients list, that their menu changes monthly and that meals are prepared in their kitchen, flash-frozen to preserve quality and then shipped straight to us.”

Among this month’s “Grab ‘N’ Go Meal” selections are Caprese Chicken Lasagna, Lemon Herb Chicken, Cauliflower-Crust BBQ Brisket pizza and Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese. Meals include Keto, extra protein and gluten-free options. All are created to be under 600 calories while delivering a generous portion that is easy to prepare. Low-calorie snacks, iced coffee mixes and dessert bars are also displayed.

Dietary supplements from Transparent Labs are available at GLC-RW.

According to the Transparent Labs website, the company is committed to using 100% authentic ingredients. Labeling is full-disclosure of ingredients — including the inactive ingredients such as stevia extract, natural flavoring and citric acid — without the use of artificial sweeteners, colors, fillers or preservatives. Certificates of analysis and certificates of composition are available.

Another client “Wow!” offering is the Relax Well Pod™. The Pod, an Oklahoma business first, according to Ashley, offers a multisensory experience. A menu of 22 preset wellness programs provide support for stress management, relaxation, toning and firming, workout-free

Customers select frozen meals for purchase at Go Lightly Chiropractic—Revolution Wellness. Within hours of opening at their new location, 205 E Grand, sales of the meals were moving quickly. CleanEatz Kitchen meals are prepared in a central kitchen, flash frozen for shipping directly to GLC-RW and include Keto, gluten-free and other specialized nutrition offerings.

wellness offerings.

weight management and much more.

The Pod goes beyond a traditional massage chair to offer complete relaxation on an ergonomic bed. Extra features include adjustable thermal dry and radiant infrared heat, full-length vibratory massage, aromatherapies, multicolor lighting, cooling face fans and interactive guidance. Client sessions are typically 30 minutes, with the Pod sanitized between sessions.

The practice also offers B12 injections. Go Lightly Chiropractic — Revolution Wellness plans to add a hyperbaric chamber and cryotherapy to their

Dr. Miller earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University, Atlanta, Georgia, in 2013 after completing some 330 hours of coursework. He specializes in Full Spine, Thompson and Activator Adjusting. The “Go Lightly” name is an homage to his mother’s maiden name.

Go Lightly Chiropractic — Revolution Wellness is located at 205 E. Grand Ave in Ponca City. Hours at this new location are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Telephone: (580) 3824560. www.Golightlychiropc.com.

Facebook: golightlychiropracticrevolutionwellness

Sales Intern Evan Peitz, left, and Ashley Peitz Miller, Go Lightly Chiropractic —Revolution Wellness owner, assist John and Lindsey Andrew with the purchase of CleanEatz Kitchen frozen meals. The grab-and-go meals are popular with busy folks looking for nutritious and convenient meals..

The “Relax Well POD Deluxe” system is a multi sensory experience that goes far beyond a massage chair. Clients can choose from among 22 pre-programmed experiences include stress or weight management, relaxation, fitness and more.

Local Cooking Class Offers the Pot to Cook In, Too

Story and Photos by Carey Head | Staff Writer

“Our goal is to meet short-term needs while helping achieve long-term success.”

— Christopher Radaker-James, Executive Director Ponca City-based New Emergency Resource Agency, or NERA, offers a cooking class that does more than prepare a tasty recipe for an appreciative audience. It gives participants the recipe, the ingredients AND the cookware.

Kat Long leads NERA’s “Crockpot Cooking” class. Her recipes include underused ingredients found in the grocery center. This lesson in nutrition, combined with unusual ingredients are creating a winning experience for her students.

The class begins at 11 a.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. The group meets in the NERA classroom, 112 S. First Street. Spring dates for Crockpot Cooking are March 19, April 16 and May 21.

The classes are open to the public. Those needing cooking tools including a crockpot, can opener, ladle or plastic containers should pre-register for the class.

“To receive cookware, (customers) need to visit NERA beforehand for the physical form or sign up on our website,” says Executive Director Christopher Radaker-James. “They may fill out the form during the class, but they wouldn’t be offered cookware until they return for the next class.”

Those attending the cooking class in person enjoy free snacks and being first in line for shopping at noon. Videos of the cooking class are available at the agency’s website, www.neraok.org.

“About a dozen people attend faithfully every (cooking class) and the online videos are our most-watched content,” he adds. “I always learn new ways to use NERA food.”

Radaker-James is working to re-focus

from slow cookers. “We plan to move on from crockpots to another way of cooking some time next quarter. We hope to offer new types of cookware at that time,” he said.

Meeting Short-Term Needs

New Emergency Resource Agency (NERA) is a Food and Resource Center affiliated with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. It is one of only 12 official Food Resource Centers in Oklahoma. NERA has been certified by the Regional Food Bank for adopting and adhering to the Food Bank’s exceptional standard of service, as well as in produce delivery. NERA is a United Way Partner Agency.

NERA’s service area includes residents ranging from the Kansas state line, south to Red Rock, and I-35 east to Shidler. Radaker-James explains, “those with a 74601, 74604, 74631, 74647, 74651, 74632, 74633, 74641, 74652 or 74653 zip code may be eligible for our services.”

New Emergency Resource Agency’s Executive Director Christopher Radaker-James, left, and Becca Hodgson pause for a moment in the warehouse side of NERA’s grocery distribution building. Becca is Community Engagement Coordinator and leads volunteer training.

Guests seeking assistance for the first time need to visit NERA and bring their ID as well as a recent proof of address such as a current bill in the applicant’s name.

“Day

Bags” Fill a Food Gap

“If you need groceries right now and don’t have the documents needed then bring your ID and you will receive a bag with one day’s worth of groceries, known as a ‘day bag,’” he says. “Day bags are provided to individuals with no place of residence. If they state that they cannot store food for more than a week, they are eligible for day bags.”

Day bags are assembled by staff and volunteers before guests arrive. Perishable foods are added just before distribution. Brown paper sacks with handles are used to create the day bags. Each includes a protein, piece of fruit and a carbohydrate. Of particular use are pop-top cans.

Volunteers Enjoy a Variety of Action Options

“The public can donate time or finances,” says Radaker-James. “Our capacity to serve North Central Oklahoma is directly linked to our community’s generosity.”

Among the volunteer options are receiving food donations, stocking shelves, pre-opening shopping sacks and assisting guests with shopping. Each volunteer meets Becca Hodgson, the NERA Community Engagement Coordinator, or CEC.

“Our Community Engagement Coordinator trains every volunteer on diversity and equity, so all clients and potential clients are provided the same opportunities.”

He adds, “We ask that new shopping volunteers either plan a meeting with Becca or come an hour before shopping times. Anyone who is physically able may stock shelves or preopen shopping sacks. We mostly do that from 9 to 11 most weekday mornings.”

Volunteers can sign up for involvement at NERAok.org.

Radaker-James cautions, “To maintain a safe work environment, it is our policy to not work alongside any individual found guilty of a violent or sexual crime.”

A Little or a Lot, Even Plastic Sacks Count

“We always need shopping bags,” Radaker-James says. In addition to those brown paper bags with handles used for day bags, donors are encouraged to recycle plastic shopping bags for NERA clients to use upon “check out” after gathering food supplies.

In addition to rolls of toilet paper and paper towels for use in the Resource Center, Radaker-James points out the special needs for March.

“Spring break is in March, so, 63 percent of our clients will need to provide more meals for children in their household.

Any food products marketed for children would be particularly useful.”

Ponca City Public Schools will observe Spring Break March 1826. Blackwell, Tonkawa, Newkirk, Kildare, Peckham and Shidler schools will break the same week in March with Friday, March 15, as an additional day of no school.

Helping Achieve Long-Term Success

Additional classes and opportunities provided by NERA to the public include a monthly nutrition class. This free class is offered at 11 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Pre-registration is not needed. Free snacks are provided and attendees will be first in line for shopping at noon. The class is led by the Kay County OSU Extension Office.

Quarterly calendar offerings include a Financial Stewardship Class and a Resource Fair. The Financial Stewardship Class is free with no preregistration required. It is provided by WealthWave, the “How Money Works” company. Next class will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 2.

NERA hosts neighboring organizations in a quarterly Resource Fair. Guests are provided help with job searches, housing, dealing with domestic violence and more. The next Resource Fair will be at noon, Wednesday, March 5.

To simplify keeping up with the multitude of NERA action, sign up for the free newsletter at neraok.org.

NERA’s

current grocery store hours are:

Monday: 3 – 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday: noon – 3 p.m.

Wednesday: closed

Thursday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Friday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

NERA will close March 29 for Good Friday observance.

Plastic shopping bags (from any retailer) are easy to recycle at NERA. Simply drop off your bundle at NERA during business hours. The bags are used by clients to carry home their food donations.

The New Emergency Resource Agency offers day bags to clients experiencing homelessness or unable to store food. Pop-top proteins, such as these examples shown here, provide nutrition and convenience. These items are in short supply at NERA so the community is welcome to purchase a few extra for donating to NERA. (Photo by Carey Head)Emergency Resource Agency’s Executive Director Christopher Radaker-James, left, and Becca Hodgson pause for a moment in the warehouse side of NERA’s grocery distribution building. Becca is Community Engagement Coordinator and leads volunteer training.

Backyard Gardener

580-765-5566

410

www.loftiswetzel.com billwetzel@loftiswetzel.com

Let’s Talk Potatoes

Story by Kat Long / Contributing Writer

Made

March 11

April 8

To grow things is to lose things — TikTok@Fromthegarden.

Spring is coming; don’t be afraid. If you never grow, you’ll never know.

Potatoes in the ground.

Potatoes above ground. Whether you are for potatoes or against them, growing them is a great property in the garden. I have grown potatoes early and late in the season, but I have never grown them with the intention of planting something directly after harvest. Let’s talk potatoes and sweet potatoes.

You may or may not know that sweet potatoes are not potatoes. Potatoes are part of the nightshade family and sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family. Cool thing is, you can plant sweet potato slips right after you harvest your potatoes.

I have a new bed for pots and sweet pots this year. Both of these, though from different families, share some of the same diseases: blight and bugs. For this reason, I try to switch up beds for them every year or grow them in cages every other year. New bed is newspaper, then two layers of cardboard and a good layer of leaves. Water all this thoroughly and then top with a mixture of topsoil, compost and vermiculite or perlite to cover the cardboard. Water again and then top with hay, straw or some type of mulch. Now, keep in mind I start new beds in November and December. I got one done in December, and I completed another one in February. The December bed is where the potatoes are going this year.

This bed is about two feet by six feet and I am going to use a two-by-two-foot area for the potatoes. Now, you all know I am

Last Frost Date

April 1-15 for our zone climate map, but according to the hardiness zone map, we are in zone 7a. When I first started gardening, Ponca City was in zone 6b. Welcome to global warming. It is real for us gardeners. What is the difference between the climate map and the hardiness zone? What you plant and when. The climate map indicates the last freeze date for our area can happen more or less between April 1 thru the 15th. Those who know, don’t plant anything that can’t handle a cold snap until after April 15th. This includes your tender plants like summer squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, etc… However, according to the hardiness zone, things that can handle some cold including potatoes, hardy greens like kale and wild lettuce as well as your cruciferous veggies like cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc… do just fine with an earlier planting: before that last frost date. It’s now March. You need to start your seeds, or find someone to start your seeds for you, if space or animals are an issue, so you can get these early plants that can tolerate some cold, into the ground by mid-March.

Another tip is don’t forget to harden off your plant starts. You can’t just take these babies from the warm house and plop them into the cold, cruel ground. The baby plants (starts) need to be gradually introduced to their new (harsher) environment. I have a couple of businesses interested in starting seeds for you as part of their business model. Sunny Creek Trading Post is starting mine for me, but I will need to harden them off after I pick them up. Four to six weeks for the baby plants before hardening them off. Plants need to have at least four leaves on them to survive the process. The initial shock of changing their environment will slow down their growth.

Sunny Creek Trading Post can be found on Facebook and they are located here in Ponca City.

The Painted Leaf Plant Studio is a new plant nursery located in Newkirk. They are primarily focused on colorful houseplants.

a sucker for the sunflowers. However, sunflowers are bad companion plants for sweet potatoes. One of the reasons I am using this bed is because it is in a sunflower-free area. To prep the two-by-two-foot area, I added another layer of compost and dirt and covered it with more straw. I have some potatoes with eyes growing in the kitchen and then I picked up some more seed potatoes at Atwoods. The kitchen potatoes are yellow pots and the seed potatoes are red pots. I am packing them in pretty dense about two inches apart. As the branches grow up, I’ll add more dirt and mulch around the base. I have a couple of chicken wire fence circles I can put around them to give them a little extra support and hold the dirt and mulch around the plants. Pictures to come. These went in the ground in February. The plan is to harvest the potatoes in May and plant sweet potato slips right after. This gives me time to grow the sweet potato slips.

If you would like to check out the hardiness map, you can find that here:

planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

If you would like to see the last frost date map, you can find that here:

http://bit.ly/42nKdjk

Let’s talk companion plants. First, the bad. No squash, tomatoes or sunflowers. These are all longer-growing plants and will attract the same blights and bugs that will attack the potatoes. For good companion plants for both potatoes and sweet potatoes, try pole beans (not bush beans), corn and nasturtiums. Pole beans and corn will add some shade later in the growing season for your sweet potatoes. Nasturtiums provide great groundcover and will companion vine nicely when your sweet potatoes come in. Other flowers that will be great in this area would be yarrow and sweet alyssum.

This new bed sits in full sun, but on the north side of the house. The potatoes will be on the far north side of the bed. On the far south of the bed, I am putting some of my favorite pole beans, — Scarlett runner beans. Moving north from the beans, will be

interplanted beets, kale and bok choy. Right by the pots will be two types of radishes. Now, back to the saying “We are gardeners. We grow things we won’t eat.” I eat radishes; I just don’t eat all the radishes. However, radishes are great companions that keep potato bugs away, so in the ground they go.

This is the first bed of 2024 to be planted. I have a pop-up cloche tent to put on this bed so the plants will be protected until the temp is over 50 every day. If you are starting your own seeds for this season, get on it. And of course, Happy Gardening.

CHAMBER BUZZ

Story by Shelley Arrott, Ponca City Chamber of Commerce CEO | Contributing Writer

Who doesn’t love a little nostalgia?

With the appointment of a new Executive Committee Member, Ashley Miller, to the 2024 Chamber Board of Directors, I started thinking about the history of our past Chamber Chairs. You see, we thought we may have a Chamber Chair first in the making. Ashley is our Vice-Chair, but will eventually move into the Chamber Chair’s seat in two years. Ashley’s brother, Erik Peitz, was our Chamber Chair in 2019, and we think when Ashley becomes Chamber Chair in 2026, it will be our first brother and sister duo to serve as chairs!

So, please step into a moment of nostalgia for our organization’s rich history as I take a stroll down memory lane recollecting the connections of some of the remarkable individuals who once held the prestigious position of Chamber Chair. Through the ebbs and flows of time, the past Chamber Chairs form a dynamic tapestry of interconnected

leadership, weaving a thread of continuity that binds the history of our chamber into a resilient and vibrant narrative.

This month, let’s start by exploring the influential roles of four Northcutt men who served as chamber chairs of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. C.E. Northcutt was the Chamber Chair in 1933 and was the mayor of Ponca City from 1935-38. He was a physician in partnership with Dr. Niemann, and together they ran the Niemann-Northcutt Clinic in Ponca City located on the 4th floor of the Security Bank Building now known as City Central. Then in 1941, the 2nd Northcutt, L. (Lawrence) R. Northcutt served as the Chamber Chair, and he was a pharmacist at Northcutt Rexall Drug in Ponca City, which we believe was located at 4th and South Avenue. C.E. and L.R. Northcutt were brothers.

The 3rd Northcutt serving as a Chamber Chair for the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce was C.D.

Northcutt in 1950. C. (Clarence) D. (Dewey) Northcutt came to Ponca City and worked for his cousin, C.E. Northcutt as the office manager for the Niemann-Northcutt Clinic while he established his law firm. C.D. attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated when he was 20 years old, but could not take the bar exam until he turned 21 years old. C.D. was awarded the Outstanding Citizen award in 1982 and was later inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2001, along with many other accomplishments. Gayle Northcutt Young, a current resident of Ponca City, is the daughter of C.D., and several other relatives still live and work in Ponca City today.

The final Northcutt serving as Chair of the Chamber in 1964, was Paul E. Northcutt. Paul came to Ponca City to practice law with his beloved brother C.D. in 1950 after graduating from the University of Oklahoma School of Law. Paul and his brother C.D. were both decorated war veterans. Northcutt and Northcutt

Law Firm was located on the 2nd floor of the Security Bank Building. The Northcutt, Clark, Oldfield, and Jech law firm, founded by Senior Partner, C. D., is still serving northern Oklahoma today at City Central.

Brothers C.E. and L.R. were cousins to brothers C.D. and Paul. These two sets of brothers left an enduring legacy as past Chamber Chairs united in their commitment to economic growth and community engagement. Their collaborative leadership has set a standard of excellence for our organization, showcasing the powerful impact of familial bonds and shared vision.

After nine months with the Chamber, I have had many people help me discover some incredible history of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce! Thank you to Suzanne Zanardi, Gayle Young, Bobby Gibson, Pat Mulligan, Larry Bittman, Kelly Johnson and Larry Murphy to name a few. Stay tuned for more nostalgia next month!

Stew On That

by Rachel Stewart / Contributing Writer

We’ve all heard of FOMO, right? Fear Of Missing Out? I have that terribly. I’m like a baby that fights its sleep because it doesn’t want to miss out on any action going on. And don’t get me wrong, I want to go to the event, the concert, the game, whatever, but my FOMO is pretty specifically targeted to my (3ish) friends. Let a couple of my friends get together and don’t invite me? Guess whose house is going to be burnt down. (That was a joke and an excessive one, I agree, I would probably never burn down a friend’s house out of anger that they made plans without me.) How dare you be together, chatting, gossiping, drinking wine, having the time of your lives, while I’m at home BY MYSELF negotiating with my two tiny terrorist roommates that I’ll give them a quarter for every bite they take of broccoli (it was a nickel, but they are surprisingly good negotiators given how little life experience they

have at ages 5 and 11). It’s no longer FOMO for me, they are the ones that should have fear if I ever catch them together and they didn’t include me in the group chat of plan-making. How dare you be at El Patio enjoying lunch, laughing, margarita-ing it up, and I’m at home, like an idiot, cleaning or doing something else that’s stupid. I make the sacrifice to only have a few close, dear friends (it isn’t a sacrifice, literally no one else will be friends with me, I think it might be because I joke/threaten arson, but I’m not completely sure), and they have the audacity to think they get to socialize without me? Think again. And you’ll have to think at your parents’ house, because yours will be nothing but ashes (LOL, joking again, please don’t call the police on me).

2024GIRLSCOUTCOOKIES*

by Patrick Jordan

ACROSS

1. Bumps on witches' noses

6. Performs in a play

10. Therefore

14. Job-resigning phrase (2 wds.)

15. Masterful achievement

16. Superman or Black Panther

17. Rene of "Thor" films

18.Peanutbutterandchocolate cookies

20. Enjoy Girl Scout cookies

21. Harm severely

23. Seasickness feeling

24. Magician's trick-ending phrase (hyph.)

25. Participate at a karaoke bar

26.Caramel___(chewygluten-free cookies:2wds.)

31. "When the ___ breaks, the cradle will fall..."

32. NASCAR legend Earnhardt

33. Mom's spouse

35. Oscar winner Thompson

36. County events with blue ribbons

38. Lima's country

39. Initials meaning "No more details!"

40. In ___ straits (desperate)

41. Make extremely happy

42.Brownie-inspiredcookieswith caramelcreme

46. "Lost Ark" raider Jones, to friends

47. Annoyingly clumsy people

48. "Very well, then!" (3 wds.)

51. Feeling achy

52. Haul a broken-down car

55.Cookieswithacoolsensation (2wds.)

57. Desire greatly, as a favorite food

59. Aware of, as a secret (2 wds.)

60. Ditch around a castle

61. Like most salaries

62. ___ Parks of civil rights fame

63. 11-Down lay them

64. Tries for a prize on "Wheel of Fortune"

DOWN

1. Barbed ___ (fence material)

2. Seawater color

3. It forms on unused steel

4. "___ the season to be jolly..."

5. Food-processing organ

6. Rhyming synonym of "factual"

7. Frosty the Snowman's eyes

8. ___-of-war (picnic game)

9. Cockers and springers

10. "It wasn't as ___ I could help it"

11. Female coop occupants

12. Strong impulse

13. Home-run great Sammy

19. Knight's jousting weapon

22. "Much ___ About Nothing"

24. Caesar's outfit

25. Night sky shiner

26. One of two in 1,000,000

27. Like the air in a jungle

28. "So long" in Paris

29. Example of perfection

30. Listing on a car repair bill

31. Place a wager

34. "With all ___ respect..."

36. Make room in one's schedule (for): 2 wds.

37. Overly stylized

38. +

40. Cloth for jeans

41. Special ___ (sci-fi film tricks)

43. Austria's capital

44. Sits on perches like 11-Down

45. A barber cuts around it

48. Swirl with a spoon

49. "What a disaster!" (2 wds.)

50. Life stories, for short

51. Doe's mate

52. Uber alternative

53. Baking chamber

54. Marries

56. Creamy Christmas beverage

58. Megan Thee Stallion's music

* March 12 is National Girl Scout Day

“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.”

– Maria

For more tasty food fun, check out @foodcrushok on IG and Facebook.

A Sweet Success

Story & Photos By Amy Dewitt Geurin | Contributing Writer

Cake has been around for centuries. Literally. According to food historians, round cakes with icing were first baked in the 17th century. So, to create cakes that stand out amongst the massive crowd of what is available now takes an enormous amount of imagination, perseverance and talent. Lively colors, eye-popping designs and supreme flavors have made A Sweet Success the most sought-after custom bakery in Kay County.

Tiered cakes are the showstoppers. Those gorgeous, tall, jaw-dropping wedding cakes found online are perfect examples of what Laura Shiek can, and does, do. Laura opened A Sweet Success in 2008, working out of the commercial kitchen at

Affairs to Remember. Laura moved into her own shop soon after and A Sweet Success quickly blossomed into a busy and beautiful small business.

Cake is an art. With cakes as visually stunning as Laura’s are, it would be easy to think that the aesthetic is the priority, but that’s not the case. To have a soft, velvety texture that melts in your mouth and bursts with flavor, yet can stand up to the frosting is perfection in a bite. Each cake is luscious and flavorsome and completely irresistible. The ratio of cake to frosting is flawless. Aesthetic is very important, but if it doesn’t taste great, what’s the point?

Perhaps the most anticipated bite of food in Kay County, the Christmas tree cookies

Top Three For Me

The buttered pecan cupcakes with buttercream. Heaven on earth as a cupcake. Handcrafted, artisan sweets are hard to come by and these are worth every penny. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Sweet Success isn’t just for events! Order cake whenever you want! Made it through a rough week? — Order that cake. Finished a project at work? — Order that cake.

are decadent. Individuals and businesses alike eagerly wait every year for these expertly baked sugar cookies, piped with green frosting, studded with sprinkles and topped with a single piece of candy. When orders go live, be ready. These are super popular and limited, get that order in and always order one more dozen than you think you need. These are the most tempting cookies and that extra dozen will replace what you told yourself you were “just going to try out.” Try them out with a strong cup of coffee in the morning and thank me later.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “A party without cake is just a meeting.”? It makes sense. Parties are meant to be fun, and cakes are synonymous with happiness. Instead of quickly picking up a bland supermarket standby for your next event, consider ordering a custom superstar of a cake that will delight everyone. Supporting small business AND treating friends and family to something exceptional, does it get much better? Happy Eating!!

A Sweet Success is available by order only.

Email: Laura.sheik580@gmail.com

Phone: 580.761.1308

For more information, check out @ASweetSuccess on Facebook

LA or NYC or Vegas or … any place where Milk Bar has a bakery, go there. The classic Birthday Cake is most popular, as it should be. Inspired by boxed vanilla funfetti cake mix, this layered, sweet, colorful cake will have the nostalgia coming in full force. The Cereal Milk ice cream with corn flakes is surprisingly perfect. The Milk Bar Pie is sticky and buttery and gooey and salty yet sweet and impossible to stop eating. Get yourself to a Milk Bar, or find yourself a friend like Paul Muehlberg who can make you the Milk Bar birthday cake even when it’s not your birthday ��

Get Fit!WITH KERA KESTER

Hello, all of you beautiful people! As March has come upon us, I have been noticing many fans yelling and stomping with team spirit. As a huge fan of fitness, I was inspired and HAD to drop in and share about what is near and dear to my heart. There are many exercises that are easy to like. However, there are others that are beloved by many because of their countless benefits. If you are ablebodied and/or doctor-cleared, then making five specific exercises staples in your fitness routine can be a huge win. In the spirit of March Madness, here are the five exercises that I fan girl over!

1. Squat

The squat is one of the greatest exercises of all time. Why? It recruits so many muscles at once. This increases caloric burn and adding increments of weight makes strengthening or growing more muscles at one time a sure shot! Muscles used in the squat are also utilized during everyday tasks. This makes everyday living and other factors such as flexibility, mobility, balance

and stability more efficient. Additionally, squats increase explosiveness and power which are needed to create forward momentum. Forward momentum is used for activities like running or even simply walking. Whether you’re an athlete or not, the cardiovascular improvement, injury prevention and muscle or bone maintenance benefits are reason enough to incorporate squats into your fitness regime!

2. Deadlift

The deadlift is a king exercise amongst the many. We use our back and core in almost everything we do. Due to the deadlift being a full-body movement, it is a key way to strengthen those areas as well as all others. This exercise is even said to reduce lower back pain. Not only will you build necessary muscle, but you can even FEEL as strong as a superhero while doing this simple movement pattern. Just the benefits of better grip strength as you age, anabolic hormone release and posture improvement alone make this exercise completely worthwhile!

3. Bench Press

The bench press utilizes pectoral chest muscles as well as the shoulders and triceps. It is a favorite of many. Like the deadlift, it is easy to feel strong when executing this movement properly. This exercise is one of the many that are known to increase muscular strength and build muscle mass. However, it has also been shown to correct muscular imbalances. Muscles can become short and overactive or lengthened and underactive. These imbalances cause other muscles to overcompensate in order to make up for the under or overactive muscles. Lack of mobility or injury can occur when this takes place. The bench press requires muscle stabilization and increased core strength. For this reason, it can correct

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muscle imbalances over time as muscle strengthening and increased mobility are consistently developed. The increase in bone density is especially important as we age. Opening doors and pushing a stroller or shopping basket is something we will all do for years and years to come!

4. Row

The row is an exercise with many different variations. Not only are there many ways to get creative with this exercise, but it is a staple for working your mid and upper back muscles. The rotator cuff and shoulder stabilizers are also developed which makes for a great way to prevent shoulder injury and increase shoulder strength. This movement also helps to improve efficiency in the squat, deadlift and bench press!

5. Plank

If you want to improve posture, work your full body and enhance muscle definition, then the plank will be one of your best friends. Your core will hate and thank you all at the same time! It is wonderful for injury prevention, as well as improving

strength, balance, flexibility and stability. The best part about this exercise is that it requires no equipment and can be done anywhere! Not only will your physical endurance be tested, but it will also challenge your mental endurance and toughness. Mood enhancement and stress relief has been shown to occur after a good, old-fashioned plank session! You can even switch things up and add side planks along with your front plank. Time how long you can hold it and increase that time consistently. Just wait and you’ll soon experience how great your future self will feel!

There is no magic or one size fits all to exercise selection. Numerous exercises that work wonders for the body were not included on this limited list. However, these are my top go to’s that I’ve seen reap crazy benefits for many others, including myself! Consistently execute these with proper form while going at your own pace and fitness level. I can only imagine how beautiful the results of these exercises will be for you. Happy March and much love to you all!

Book Reviews

HEROES

by Alan Gratz

Frank and Stanley are best friends who bonded over their love of comic books. Actually, they’re writing their own comic with an original hero. Frank writes the story while Stanley does the illustrations. The year is 1941 and both their dads are stationed at Pearl Harbor. Everyone talks about the war In Europe, but most Americans believe we should stay out of the war – it doesn’t affect us.

On the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, Frank and Stanley have just boarded the U.S.S. Utah for a personal tour. When a whole squadron of fighters show up, the sailors cannot believe the Army or the Navy would be conducting another drill. As they watch, they’re amazed how realistic the drill seems – until they realize those are Japanese fighters dropping real, honest-to-goodness bombs and torpedoes on Pearl Harbor.

Japan has just declared war with the U.S. As torpedoes hit the Utah and the deck is strafed with bullets, the boys struggle to escape as the Utah begins to roll over. They are miraculously able to swim back

to the air station and reconnect with their families.

The women are providing first aid for injured sailors, but there’s one submariner who’s so seriously injured that first aid won’t be enough. Stanley and Frank use their small aluminum motorboat to get the submariner to the hospital. On the way, they rescue another sailor in the water who is surrounded by flames. When the boys get the two sailors to the hospital, a rifle is shoved in Stanley’s face.

See, Stanley is a Japanese American. Frank knows his friend is a true-blue, patriotic American, but many Americans aren’t so willing to trust anyone who looks like the enemy. They could be a spy!

This novel is amazing – and don’t worry, it ends wonderfully!

Reviewed by Lorrie Layton

A COWBOY’S DESTINY BOOK

# 1 IN THE KELLY CAN SAGA

By E. Joe Brown

E. Joe Brown is an Oklahoma native, with many ties to the Ponca City and 101 Ranch area. An Oklahoma State University graduate, he then went to the military where he had the pleasure of seeing many parts of the world and experiencing things one can normally only dream. Once his military career was over, he still had strong roots planted in Oklahoma, and chose to write the Kelly Can Saga based on stories that were shared with him from the 101 Ranch and other adventures in the area.

We join Charlie Kelly in 1913, as he lives and works with his family. While there is always ranch work to be found, his family tends to have to move around a bit, mostly due to his father’s alcoholic tendencies. Charlie has big dreams of being a top hand someday and he is realizing that constantly having to clean up his father’s messes won’t get him where he wants to be: The Miller Brother’s 101 Ranch! While living on a ranch in New

Mexico, his father takes it a bit too far and Charlie decides now is the best time to leave the family “legacy” behind and make a name for himself.

Charlie splits from his siblings and mother with only his horse and a few biscuits in his saddle bags, to make his way to the 101 Ranch in Oklahoma. His journey is nothing short of adventures, misfortunes and a tangled love affair. Once Charlie makes it to the ranch, he finds more challenges of every day ranch life and impressing the love of his life.

Book #2 in the Kelly Can Saga, A Cowboy’s Fortune, has recently been released. Both books can be found, signed by Joe, at Brace Books.

Reviewed

by

Tara Anson

OF THE MONTH

Mixed by Jill Rowe/Staff Writer

Before becoming an Okie, my dear friend Jerry and I had an annual tradition of attending the Ohio Renaissance Festival, particularly during their pirate-themed weekend. Just two buccaneers in full pirate regalia, plundering about. If you haven’t stepped into the magical realm of a Renaissance Fair, trust me, you’re missing out on something truly enchanting. And when you finally make it there, you MUST treat yourself to a colossal turkey leg (rumor has it, it might be ostrich meat), and if you’re a fellow enthusiast for spirits like myself, a hearty mug of mead is an absolute must.

Mead, often dubbed as

gift from the gods, a belief shared by many other societies. The term “honeymoon” comes from the custom of giving newlyweds honey wine to ensure a happy marriage. While mead production declined when other wines became cheaper, it’s making a comeback today, appealing to modern tastes and becoming a fast-growing part of the drinks industry, blending old 1½

Combine gin, mead, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and honey syrup (prepared with equal parts honey and hot water) in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well to chill. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon slice.

Story by Kelli Northcutt| Contributing Writer

Most people can identify a healthy food. They can sort the healthy from the unhealthy and even understand they should eat more of the former. Only 22% of Americans follow recommended dietary guidelines though. Why don’t more of us eat healthier when we know that certain foods are “healthy” and that we need to eat them?

This month challenge yourself to earn points each day for eating fruits and vegetables. Each week, keep a tally of your total number of servings of fruits or vegetables and give yourself one point for each serving. See if you can increase the number of points you earn each week. Check off the fruits and vegetables that you try this month for an added challenge!

Harvard Medical School suggests that many people think eating healthy is too restrictive and requires foods that are low fat, low calorie, low sugar and therefore low in taste. Other people see healthy eating as taking too much time, find it too expensive, or even too complicated to prepare healthy meals or snacks. One of the easiest ways to eat healthier is to add more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. They both help to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer and have even been shown to improve mental health! Some easy tips for adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet:

• Follow the 1-2-3 method - Take the guesswork out of adding fruits or vegetables to your diet. Eat one serving with breakfast, two with lunch, and three with dinner and snacks.

• Drink your fruits and veggies in a smoothie – Use fresh or frozen fruits and add a handful of spinach or kale.

• Top cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt with fruit.

• Add fresh or frozen vegetables to scrambled eggs or premade egg bites.

• Mix berries or chopped fruits into batter for pancakes, muffins, or waffles.

• Add vegetables to your sandwich or wrap at lunch.

• Eat a side salad and load it with the chopped veggies or fruits of your choice.

• Add extra vegetables to pasta sauces, casseroles or soups.

• Steam, microwave or roast vegetables for an easy side dish.

• Incorporate fruit into your dessert!

• Pack dried fruit for a snack at work.

• Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or juiced vegetables and fruits all count! If you don’t have time to prepare a fresh fruit or vegetable, all of the other options are great! Frozen or canned fruits and vegetables may be cheaper and last longer.

Garett