Issuu

Celebrating Educators | Medicare Guidance

Walktober

OCTOBER 2026 Vol. 23 Number 8

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SHAWNEE, OK PERMIT NO 33

LEGENDSHVAC License #00117413

FALL TUNE-UP SPECIAL Get your home holiday ready

BETTER PERFORMANCE

LOWER ENERGY BILLS

A MORE COMFORTABLE HOME

FALL TUNE-UP

$75

Keep your system running efficiently Help prevent costly repairs Stay comfortable all season long

10% OFF YOUR REPAIR

if there is an issue with your system within 30 days.

FREE FURNACE / SYSTEM REPLACEMENT ESTIMATE Find the best solution for your home. No obligation, just expert advice.

(405) 259-2677 REMODEL | REPAIR | IMPROVE

FALL INTO A FRESH NEW

KITCHEN

KITCHEN PACKAGE

Cabinets | Countertops Sink | Faucet | Installation

$5,999 STARTING AT

TRANSFORM YOUR KITCHEN FOR LESS

More than a remodel. A space you’ll love coming home to.

MODERN FUNCTIONAL DESIGNS

INCREASE YOUR HOME VALUE

A SPACE FOR MORE MEMORIES

CALL TODAY FOR A

FREE DESIGN CONSULTATION WITH A REMODEL ESTIMATE 2

www.shawneeoutlook.com

(405) 494-4220

GRETCHEN

WILSON October 17

GRANDBOXOFFICE.COM www.shawneeoutlook.com

Let us take care of new installs, change outs, and maintenance.

Lucky Day Call or text today! 405-275-1122

www.luckydayhvac.com

www.shawneeoutlook.com

P’s Foundation Repair Floor Leveling LLC TIMMY PIERCE 405.585.8317 Shawnee, Oklahoma

OCT

Bethel Acres 2026 Tag Agency

878-0040 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-1pm North of Hardesty Road & Hwy 102

CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2026

features

Okie Icon Media

MANAGING EDITOR

David Dinsmore

ADVERTISING SALES

Brad Carter

CREATIVE DIRECTION Kelsey Walker Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

PUBLISHER

departments

12 Celebrate. Educate. Repeat.: Avedis Champions Local Educators At Annual Event

6 KEEP THE CHANGE

14 Lemonade Stand: Local FiveYear-Old Raises Money For Kids

9 ART OF THE MATTER

WRITERS

Andrea Beck Paulann Canty Brandon Dyer David Dinsmore Ann McDonald Macy Muirhead Lauren Roth Angela Rowland Carmen Wolf

PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 info@shawneeoutlook.com

To Advertise, call Brad (405) 445-3033

7 NUTRITION 101 11 OVER THE FENCE

19 Walktober: This Month, Check Out The Best Walking Spots In Pottawatomie County

23 SHAWNEE HISTORY

24 The Bigger Picture: Advisors Combine Medicare Guidance, Financial Health To Provide Broader Planning Options

28 FOR THE ROAD

26 ASK PAULANN 29 CALENDAR

Keep Oklahoma in your Wallet APPLY * FOR A

BancFirst Credit Card *With approved credit. The creditor and issuer of this credit card is Elan Financial Services, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

Volume 23, Number 8 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2026 Okie Icon Media Articles and advertisements in Shawnee Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Okie Icon Media. Okie Icon Media does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Shawnee Outlook does not constitute endorsement of products, services, political candidates/parties or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Shawnee Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

Choose the card that fits your spending and lifestyle. • Rewards • Cash back • Low introductory rate • Personal or Business

SHAWNEE TECUMSEH | MCLOUD 405-273-1000 www.shawneeoutlook.com

keep the change

OOPS, I PAID IT AGAIN

e’ve all done it — clicked on a purchase we didn’t intend, failed to cancel a “free” trial, forgot to turn off a subscription or incurred a late or overdraft fee for a bill we intended to pay. It’s easy to see these charges come through, get frustrated and let our mistakes crash through our budget, but the truth is, many companies Rowland are able and willing to reverse accidental charges, fees or orders if we simply ask. • Retailers. Many online retailers are happy to cancel orders made within a certain window after purchase. If you didn’t mean to click “go,” simply reach out to customer service as quickly as possible. Most orders can be fully canceled and refunded if you ask within the first hour — and sometimes longer. Outside of that window, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to customer support to see if another solution can be reached to help recoup that money. • App Purchases. If you’ve made an unintended digital purchase — whether renting a movie on Amazon, paying for an app you didn’t intend or having a child approve an in-app purchase — many of these are actually reversible if you reach out to customer support (even if the FAQ says they can’t). Even if it’s a subscription, fees can often be refunded. • Banks. Most financial institutions are able to reverse fees — even if it wasn’t an error. These reversals tend to only be allowed once in the lifetime of an account, so it doesn’t fix bad habits. Yet, we all make mistakes, so reach out to customer support and ask if they can help. Two things to remember when reaching out for help in these tricky situations: 1. Kindness goes a long way. 2. Be willing to respectfully accept “no” as an answer. At least you tried. S

Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and sharing her favorite tips and deals. 6

www.shawneeoutlook.com

nutrition 101

EAT THE RAINBOW: ADD MORE COLOR TO YOUR PLATE TO BOOST NUTRIENTS

hen you hear the phrase “eat the rainbow,” it isn’t just about making your plate look pretty. The different colors found naturally in fruits and vegetables often represent different vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and plant compounds. Eating a variety of colors is a simple way to give your body a wider variety of nutrients. Red foods like tomatoes, watermelon, red peppers and strawberries contain nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants, including lycopene and anthocyanins that can support heart and overall health. Orange and yellow foods including carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, oranges and yellow peppers are often rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, such as beta-carotene. Our bodies can convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is important for healthy vision, skin and immune function. Green foods like broccoli, spinach, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and green peppers provide nutrients that may include folate,

Rainbow Coleslaw

I personally love this coleslaw on top of my fish tacos, but I have also eaten it on other dishes or just as a side dish. This could easily be made in bulk if needing to take a side to a gathering. Ingredients: 16-ounce bag colorful coleslaw mix 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 ½ Tbsp honey ½ tsp whole celery seed or dill ¼ tsp salt 1/8 tsp black pepper Directions: Place coleslaw mix in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the ACV, olive oil, honey and seasonings. Whisk well. Pour dressing over the coleslaw. Cover and refrigerate for 30– 60 minutes. Toss again before serving.

vitamin K, vitamin C and fiber. Leafy greens are an especially nutrient-dense addition to meals. Blue and purple foods — including blueberries, blackberries, purple cabbage, grapes and eggplant — contain colorful plant compounds called anthocyanins. These antioxidants help protect our cells from oxidative damage. Even white and tan foods deserve a place on the plate. Cauliflower, onions, garlic, mushrooms and potatoes provide their own combination of nutrients and beneficial plant compounds. You don’t have to eat every color at every meal. Instead, look at what you eat throughout the day or week and challenge yourself to add more variety. Try berries with breakfast, colorful vegetables at lunch or an extra vegetable with dinner. A great place to start is this month’s Rainbow Coleslaw recipe shown below. With colorful cabbage and carrots tossed in a simple homemade dressing, it’s an easy and delicious way to put more colors — and more nutrients — on your plate. Makes: 6 servings, 1 cup each Nutrition Facts per Serving: Calories: 105 Total Fat: 5g Saturated Fat 0g Sodium: 125mg Carbohydrates: 15g Fiber: 3g Protein: 1.5g Nutrition 101 Tip: Rainbow coleslaw is an easy way to add several colors of vegetables to your plate in one serving. Each color provides different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, so remember: the more naturally colorful your plate, the greater the variety of nutrients you’re giving your body. S Andrea Beck, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, received her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She offers personal training and nutrition education through an online platform, StrongHER along with functional nutrition and labs through Laser Focus. For inquiries, visit strongherwithandrea.com, or the Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED TRUSTED FOR OVER 35 YEARS 37803 W 45th ST Shawnee, OK 74804 405-643-4495

4131 N. Harrison St. Shawnee, OK 74804 405-489-4744

25 Ken Del Dr. Shawnee, OK 74804 405-449-5633

19702 S Gordon Cooper Dr. Tecumseh, OK 74873 405-708-3881

NUTRAFOL now available

Call 405-759-4300

SERVICES Visit First Med for non-life threatening but time-sensitive conditions or injuries.

Cold/Flu/Allergies • Pediatrics • Musculoskelatal Injuries Onsite X-ray • Physicals-Sports/DOT/FAA • Lacerations Skin Care Conditions • Motor Vehicle Injuries 405-759-4300 Urinary Infections • Workers Comp Injuries • GI Issues

Hair Wellness from Within Clinically shown to promote hair growth and improve hair quality. MAGNOLIA CLINIC 4409 N. Kickapoo Suite 121 –Shawnee, OK 405.585.0475

KATIE FROST APRN-CNP 8

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Hours of Operation: Monday 9 AM - 6 PM Tuesday 1 PM - 6 PM Wednesday 8 AM - 5 PM Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM Friday 8 AM - 2 PM

art of the matter

Docents are trained volunteers who can help bring to life the stories behind the art and artifacts featured in a museum and deepen the experience of visitors.

DECENT DOCENT

Trained Volunteers At Museum Can Enhance Visitors’ Experience SUBMITTED BY CARMEN WOLF, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF MABEEGERRER MUSEUM OF ART

alk through a museum with a knowledgeable docent, and something interesting happens. A painting you might have glanced at becomes a story. An unfamiliar object suddenly has a connection to a place, a person or a moment in history. You begin noticing details you might otherwise have missed. That is the magic of a good docent. Docent (pronounced DOH-sent) comes from a Latin word meaning “to teach.” In a museum, a docent is a trained volunteer who helps visitors discover the stories behind the art and objects they see. But calling a docent simply a “tour guide” doesn’t quite capture the role. A good docent doesn’t just recite names, dates and facts. Instead, docents encourage visitors to look more closely, ask questions, make connections and sometimes see a familiar subject in an entirely new way. That is especially important at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. Our collection spans thousands of years and includes art and objects from around the world. Visitors might encounter ancient

Egyptian objects, medieval and Renaissance works, paintings from Europe and America, Native American art and objects from cultures they may know very little about. That can be exciting — but it can also be a little overwhelming. A docent helps make those experiences approachable. For schoolchildren, a docent may be the person who introduces them to a museum for the very first time. For adults, a docent may share a story or point out a detail that changes the way they see something — even something they have walked past many times. And for visitors who think they don’t know anything about art, a welcoming docent can help remove the feeling that there is somehow a right or wrong way to experience a museum. Perhaps most importantly, docents help create conversations. Museums are filled with objects, but those objects tell stories — about creativity, belief, daily life, history, technology, beauty, conflict and the people who made and used them. Docents help bring those stories into the present by connecting them with the people stand-

ing in the gallery today. And you don’t have to be an art historian to become one. Imagine standing in a gallery with a group of visitors and watching someone suddenly notice a detail in a painting they had completely missed. Or seeing a child’s face light up when an object from thousands of years ago becomes more than something behind glass — it becomes part of a story they can understand. Maybe someone asks a question that leads the whole group in an unexpected direction, and you find yourself looking at the object differently, too. Those moments of discovery are what make being a docent so rewarding. The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is welcoming people who would like to experience those moments for themselves. You don’t need to arrive knowing everything about art, history or ancient cultures. Curiosity, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are a wonderful place to start. We can help with the rest. And somewhere along the way, you may discover that helping someone else see the museum with new eyes changes the way you see it too.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Become a Docent for a Day

Museums aren’t the only places where you can find things worth looking at and talking about. Create your own mini art gallery at home — and then become its docent. Choose 5-8 things for your exhibition. You might use your own artwork, family photographs, pictures cut from old magazines, postcards, interesting objects from around your house or anything else you think belongs in your museum. Arrange your collection in a special place and give your exhibition a name. You can even make small labels for each piece with its title, artist or creator (if you know it) and why you chose it. Now it’s time to become the docent. Invite your family or friends to visit your exhibition and give them a tour. Tell them something about each piece, explain why you included it Scan this code to visit and ask them what they notice. the Mabee-Gerrer Docent Tip: You don’t have to Museum of Art’s atknow all the answers. Great docents home project page. ask great questions. Try asking: What do you notice first? How does this make you feel? What story do you think this tells? S

Your ad. Their mailbox.

HOUSE OF

TREASURES • Home Knick Knacks • Pictures • Crafts • Seasonal • Lots of stuff!

Every month.

Items from

25¢

Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm Closed for lunch 12pm-3pm • Saturday 10am-1pm

517 N Kickapoo • Shawnee, OK

Call Brad at (405) 445-3033

3601 N Harrison, Shawnee, OK 405-481-9700 travis@bhhsbenchmark.com travisarealtor

TRAVIS ALEXANDER, REALTOR 10

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Saturday November 7th 10:00AM - 2:00PM They’ve been waiting over 2,000 years… the only Egyptian Mummies in Oklahoma are ready to meet you!

FREE TO ALL

over the fence

HIGH STEAKS

Not All Opinions, Preferences Have To Be Do-Or-Die

BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY ow do you like your steak serious one, of course. But even when the stakes are higher, we cooked? That was a question often behave the same way. Interestingly enough, it’s not entirely I asked people hundreds of our fault. times as a server at Red Lobster here Our brains are wired to keep us alive. in Shawnee working my way through One way they do this is by recognizing college at Oklahoma Baptist University. patterns in order to predict outcomes You know the options: rare, medium rare, while burning as few calories as possible to medium, medium well and well done. Each of conserve energy for more dire circumstances, those appeared in orders I submitted on many like escaping your older brother when he realoccasions during my time there. People often voiced izes you stole his Twix bar. Wait, was that just me? Right. strong opinions about their preference — quite playGot it. Well, it’s a good thing I was a little faster than my fully of course — particularly those at each end of the brother, because I sure wasn’t stronger. spectrum. Another way our brains are wired to keep us alive For those who preferred their steaks well done they is by assessing what is familiar and what is unfamiliar. Dyer would say something like, “I don’t want any part of my We tend to be drawn to what is familiar and unsure steak mooing.” Those who preferred theirs rare would about what is unfamiliar. But the more we are exposed say, “Just warm it up a little on each side, please.” Obligatory to the unfamiliar the more likely we are to be favorable toward chuckles always followed in each case as I continued taking or- it. Psychologists call this tendency to like something more the ders. Not one time did anyone say, “Doesn’t matter to me.” more we are exposed to it the mere exposure effect. We do Growing up I never saw anyone in my family order their steak this with all kinds of things: food, ideas and people. What is anything other than well done. Not once. So naturally that’s how familiar is often considered good, and what is unfamiliar is I always ordered mine. Like a lot of folks, I developed playful often considered less good. opinions about why it was the best way to eat a steak and why For example, when I was younger I thought of myself as people who had even a little pink in their steak were vampires for a Chevy guy. I drove a Chevy truck. My closest friends drove eating blood. One day while on a break between shifts, a cowork- Chevy trucks. Chevys were the best. But then a friend bought a er ordered a steak for lunch. As he cut past the grill marks into Ford truck. I couldn’t believe it. We were Chevy guys. But he rethe warm, pink center of his expertly prepared medium steak I ally liked it and showed me all the little differences. He told me decided to tease him a bit. “Mooooooo. How can you eat that he liked some things better about his old Chevy, but the Ford had bloody mess?” He told me it’s not blood, it’s juice, and asked me some features that he liked even more. I wasn’t so sure. But the how I like my steak. I proudly replied, well done. He said, “I get more I drove around with him in his truck the more I realized it. That’s exactly how I used to order mine until a friend invited that it was a pretty good truck too. Perhaps even better in some me to try a bite of his medium steak. Have you ever tried a bite ways. Fortunately, my frontal lobe has more or less fully develof medium?” He sliced off a piece and offered it to me. As I took oped since my teenage years — depending on who you ask anythat first bite, I immediately realized my life would never be the way — and I no longer feel the need to defend emotional attachsame. It was the most delicious thing I think I had ever eaten in ments to automobile companies. My therapist calls this growth. my entire life. And what’s more, it didn’t require a gallon of steak What I have learned from steaks, trucks and too many other sauce to chew it. It practically dissolved in my mouth. My days of subjects is that there is no shortage of opinions to fuss about in eating dehydrated steak were over. this world. Some of them are very important, but most of them I learned a valuable lesson that day and have had to relearn aren’t. Lightening up now and then could do us all some good. it over and over again since. The lesson is this: I’m not always So order your steak differently. Test drive a different brand of as right as I think I am. In this case, I had never tried steak any car. Make a friend with someone on the other side of the aisle. other way. How could I be certain my way was the best? Not only You see, the goal of familiarity is not about changing your mind did I blindly believe my way was the best, I poked fun at others or switching teams, it’s about insight. Insight creates empathy for having the audacity to believe anything different. Now the and together they teach us to appreciate each other in spite of subject of how one likes to eat their steak is not a particularly our differences. That’s who we really are. S www.shawneeoutlook.com

education

CELEBRATE. EDUCATE. REPEAT. Avedis Champions Local Educators At Annual Celebration Event BY LAUREN ROTH

Keynote speaker Damon West addresses an audience of more than 2,400 area educators at the Celebrate Educators event held Friday, Aug. 28. — Photos by Jesse Monday

he signs of a new school year are unmistakable: school-supply aisles picked clean, new backpacks waiting by the door and families updating their social media timelines with annual first-day photos. And behind every one of those traditions is an educator preparing to welcome, encourage and challenge a new group of students. Among those educators, nearly 2,400 observe the annual tradition of reconvening every August at FireLake Arena in Shawnee to kick off the new school year at Avedis Foundation’s annual Celebrate Educators event, which welcomes teachers, support staff and administrators from 21 public school districts throughout Pottawatomie County and neighboring communities of Seminole, Prague, Meeker, Chandler and Little Axe. Presented at no cost to attendees, this one-day professional development event is part of a countywide initiative of Avedis Foundation to recognize, inspire and celebrate the educators who serve local students and families. “Educators do far more than teach — they ignite and encourage potential, strengthen families and directly shape the future of our communities,” said Avedis Foundation President and CEO Dr. Kathy Laster. “For nine years, this event has given us the opportunity to begin the school year by celebrating the far-reaching impact our dedicated educators make on their students.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

“We hope the nearly 2,400 educators who attended this year’s event felt enthusiastically celebrated, energized and confident that this community recognizes and deeply values all they do.” As educators entered the FireLake Arena, the atmosphere lived up to its celebratory theme. Attendees posed for photos, danced to music from DJ Litebrite and reflected on the start of a new year with the Mirror Man. Prize drawings throughout the event added to the excitement, with several guests taking home gift cards, technology items and other giveaways. Local students also played a starring role in welcoming and celebrating their educators, beginning with a high-energy opening ceremony that featured a band, cheer group and more than 50 students representing Bethel, Dale, Earlsboro, McLoud, Meeker, North Rock Creek, Prague, Seminole, Tecumseh and Varnum public schools. Student performers appeared under the direction of Joseph Craven and Desiree Whiteman of Shawnee Public Schools and Katie Marrs and Jacee Miller of Tecumseh Public Schools. Scout Troops 444 and 477 presented the colors under the direction of Cindy White while the Shawnee Public Schools Choir led by McKenzie Graves performed the national anthem. Students serving as event hosts included Kaydence Staude of Meeker; Memphis Morgan and Ella Parks of Seminole; Kamora Jones, Karma Mason, Mary Beth King and Madison

Corneil of Shawnee; Maddilyn Taron of Tecumseh; and Braxton Runyan of Prague.

Becoming the Coffee Bean

Celebrated author, philanthropist and international speaker Damon West delivered the event’s keynote address, sharing a deeply personal story of addiction, incarceration, redemption and personal accountability. A former Division I quarterback at the University of North Texas, West saw his football career end following an injury. His life later unraveled into addiction and criminal activity, culminating in a 65-year sentence in the Texas prison system. During the more than seven years he spent in a maximumsecurity prison, West encountered an inmate who introduced him to a metaphor that would transform his outlook on life. Placed in boiling water, a carrot becomes soft. An egg becomes hard. A coffee bean, however, responds differently: Rather than allowing its environment to change it, the bean transforms the water around it. That lesson became the foundation of West’s coffee bean philosophy. Today, he travels the country encouraging educators, students, athletes and organizational leaders to respond to adversity with faith, purpose and resilience. His message emphasizes that people may not be able to control their circumstances, but they can control how they respond – and how

they influence the world around them. Across an audience preparing to guide thousands of youth through another school year, West’s message resonated: every educator has the power to transform the environment around them.

A Community Effort

Audrey Seeliger — Avedis Foundation’s director of external relations and public events — credited much of the event’s success to a year-long collaboration among the Avedis staff and local superintendents. “Our Superintendent Planning Committee worked tirelessly throughout the past year to plan this highly anticipated event,” Seeliger said. Seeliger offered special thanks to Julie McCormick, superintendent of Gordon Cooper Technology Center; Brad Hawkins, superintendent of Maud Public Schools; Dr. Jason James, superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools; Robert Kinsey, superintendent of Tecumseh Public Schools; and Sally Thomason, superintendent of Pleasant Grove Public Schools. Through their collective efforts, Celebrate Educators once again gave local teachers, administrators and support professionals something they spend much of the year providing to others — encouragement, gratitude and an unmistakable certainty that their work matters. S

CUSTOM GRANITE, MARBLE & ENGINEERED STONE SCOTT STEVE MARY FAX: 405-273-4141

SOONER STONEWORKS LLC

12 0 YEARS

125 W. MACARTHUR • SHAWNEE, OK 74804

405-214-7400

Cooper Funeral has been family owned and operated for 4 generations and 120 years in business. 210 WEST WALNUT • TECUMSEH, OK

405-598-2124

www.cooperfuneral.com www.shawneeoutlook.com

community

LEMONADE STAND Local Five-Year-Old Raises Money For Kids In Need With Summer Classic SUBMITTED BY LOOK FOR THE GOOD POTT COUNTY

ost first lemonade stands end with a shoebox of quarters and a proud kid covered in sugar. Five-year-old Merritt Grace Nichols had bigger plans. On an unusually toasty September morning in Shawnee, the Dale kindergartner set up shop at a stand she painted herself. From behind her hand-painted counter, she slung cups of sugary goodness all morning, each one topped with a gummy candy and a handwritten thank-you note. More than 20 customers stopped by — young and old — including the local mailman. It was by every account a wonderful morning — even in the heat — but the sweetest part wasn't the lemonade. Merritt raised more than $100 with the goal to give half of it to Legacy Parenting Center to buy diapers for Pottawatomie County babies in need. “Because it is so nice to help babies that don't have any diapers,” Merritt said. “I can be helpful.” Merritt's parents, Dodge and Allie Nichols, are both teachers in Pottawatomie County. Raising a generous kid is one of their biggest hopes for Merritt and her 2-year-

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Five-year-old Merritt Grace Nichols of Dale sold lemonade at her handpainted stand last month to raise $50 for Legacy Parenting Center to provide diapers for local families in need.

old brother, Bowen. Soon, Merritt will personally hand-deliver her $50 donation to Legacy Parenting Center. “We are honored that Merritt and her sweet family chose to partner with us for this special day,” said Lacey Holt, executive director of Legacy Parenting Center. “Community supporters are vital to helping Legacy spread our mission, but it’s extra special when it’s a child helping other children. We have so much hope for the future of our community because of special young people like Merritt.” The timing couldn't have been better. Every September, Legacy Parenting Center holds its communitywide diaper drive in support of National Diaper Need Awareness Week. Like so much else now, diapers aren't cheap. According to the National Diaper Bank

Network, parents spend an average of about $70 a month – about $840 a year – to diaper a single baby. Nationally, roughly 1 in 2 families struggle to afford the diapers they need to keep their babies clean, dry and healthy. Here at home, Legacy Parenting Center is stepping up to help close that gap. In September, Legacy Parenting Center partnered with more than 110 locations across Pottawatomie, Seminole and Lincoln counties to spread awareness about diaper needs in the community. One of those partners was the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce, which led its fourth annual Tecumseh Diaper Dash. Throughout the month, community members donated unused diapers at participating local businesses. “At the heart of it, this is simply neighbors taking care of neighbors,” said Kim Elliott, executive director of Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce. “When you see a 5-year-old like Merritt understand that so naturally,

it’s a pretty beautiful reminder that you’re never too young or too small to make a difference.” Diapers are a need that's easy to overlook until you're the one facing it — and one that a kindergartner with a lemonade stand understood the gravity of without anyone having to explain it twice. She may only be 5 years old, but Merritt grasped something a lot of adults take years to learn. Good doesn’t need to be big. Sometimes, it only takes a drop. Got a good story to share? Submit it to Look for the Good Pott County at pottcountygood.com. S

When you go with us, you’re ALL SAFE. • All your home/business security needs

• Structured ethernet wiring

• Surround sound installs

• Builder packages available

• Inside/outside professional TV Mounts

• 24/7 monitoring, no contract

405-413-9442

SCAN ME

spikemike46@gmail.com OK License # AC440850

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

Financial strategies built just for you Michael P Garbutt, CFP®, AAMSTM

Brent S Morris

Jacob Russell

Trey Thee III, CFP®

Financial Advisor 3813 N Harrison St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-214-4971

Financial Advisor 4010 N Kickapoo Ave, Ste 1 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-214-1978

Financial Advisor 923 E MacArthur St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-788-0040 Financial Advisor 318 W MacArthur St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-395-2006

David W Spires, CFP®

Financial Advisor 39004 W MacArthur St, Ste 110 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-878-0990

Chris Jones

Financial Advisor 2510 E Independence St, Ste 100 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-395-0068 MKT-5894M-A-A1

www.shawneeoutlook.com

ENJOY THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASONS WITH

Healthy Hearing Don’t let the best moments fall through the cracks. Call for your evaluation today!

405.777.4272 SHAWNEE 3954 N Kickapoo, Ste 5

Dr. Calyn Russ-Whitt Dr. Nicole Smith Audiologist Audiologist

Hear4Life.com

It’s time to schedule your Annual Medicare Plan review. Scan the QR code or call us to secure your place on the schedule.

Call Today 405-256-3342

by calling this number you will be connected with Ryan, a licensed insurance agent

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Let's GO

WALKTOBER

This Month, Check Out The Best Walking Spots In Pottawatomie County BY MACY MUIRHEAD

Lace up and get to stepping this Walktober on the county’s best trails and sidewalks.

here’s a particular kind of morning we get here in October. It's cool enough for a jacket, though you'll probably shed it by lunch. Gold light saturates everything, and we get that first real breath of fall air after a long (and in this year’s case, very long) Oklahoma summer. It is — without question — the best walking weather Pottawatomie County gets all year. With all that in mind, Pottawatomie Go wants you to get outside and get to stepping this month. Walktober — which launches Oct. 1 — offers participants a monthlong steps challenge on the free Wellbeing+ app and a chance to challenge others and themselves. Beat your daily average, climb the leaderboard and compete

against your neighbors. The top stepper at the end of October takes home an Oura Ring courtesy of BancFirst, and we'll be handing out plenty of other prizes too. Walking is about as close to a miracle habit as it gets. Regular walks are linked to lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, stronger bones and muscles, deeper sleep, better memory and less stress and anxiety. A recent study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine even found that people who

walk 7,500 steps or more a day were more likely to live longer. To get you started, we’ve rounded up some favorite walking spots if you need a break from your neighborhood sidewalks or backroads with recommendations straight from the residents of Pottawatomie County.

Shawnee Airport Trail

This 3.21-mile paved loop circles Shawnee Regional Airport, passing Dean Weigant Park (aka Slide Park for the longtime locals out there), Lion's Club Park, the Sister Cities Peace Garden and Oklahoma Baptist University along the way. It's lit from dusk to dawn, so it's safe for an early morning or after-dark lap, and the north leg dips through a lit tunnel www.shawneeoutlook.com

> 19

beneath the airport runway and along the stunning fields of St. Gregory’s Abbey. If you time it right, you might also catch a Bison touchdown at Crain Family Stadium.

Rotary Briscoe Boy Scout Park

A half-mile asphalt loop that's almost entirely shaded by mature trees makes this spot one of the shadiest loops in town. The lightly hilly terrain gives you an extra boost to the glutes, and it even features a StoryWalk from Shawnee Public Library with rotating picture book pages for kids to read as they go.

Joe Taron Recreation Area

If rugged is more your speed, this is your spot. Set on the shores of Wes Watkins Reservoir near McLoud, this spot trades pavement for wooded trails with red clay soil, post-oak thickets and a seasonal creek cutting through part of the property. Perfect for the walker up for a challenge.

Firelake Walking Trail

Tucked around the pond near the FireLake ball fields, this path is quiet and private, complete with a peaceful fountain out on the water. It’s an easy add-on in between double headers or before stocking up on groceries nearby.

KidSpace Park

Tecumseh's 18-acre go-to. A 1-mile-long paved trail winds through the park past tennis and volleyball courts, softball fields and a skate park. The trail's shady back half features a set of permanent outdoor musical 20

www.shawneeoutlook.com

instruments, letting walkers pause and play a few notes mid-route.

St. Gregory's Walking Labyrinth

For something off-the-beaten-path, follow the offshoot of the Airport Trail west on MacArthur Street to the historic grounds of St. Gregory's Abbey, where a stone walking labyrinth sits among the trees. Who knows? You might even run into our friendly neighborhood monks.

McLoud Veterans Memorial largest Park

One of Oklahoma’s playgrounds is ringed by a nearly halfmile, ADA-accessible paved trail, so moms and dads on pickup duty can rack up steps while keeping an eye on the kids on the playground, ninja course or pickleball courts.

Slick Humphrey Park

Shawnee Airport Trail

The Lawrence Wahpepah Walking Trails wind through the park's newer southern expansion, tracing the water and tree line around several ponds. A peaceful, low-traffic option if you want a walk that feels further from town than it actually is.

Bethel Community Center

A small walking track loops around the town’s softball and baseball fields, offering an easy, low-key option between fall ball games or for a flat, quiet lap after work.

Shawnee Mall

When the weather doesn't cooperate, the mall is a reliable backup. Lace up for a climate-controlled, flat and fully indoor loop past shoppers and storefronts. You’ll just have to try to keep up with the speedwalking regulars. Wherever you live in Pottawatomie County, there's a good stretch of pavement or trail close by. None of these are meant to be a solo trip either. Call up your buddy, grab your spouse or challenge your coworker that always claims he’s in better shape than you, and take a lap. If all else fails, dogs make great walking partners too.

How to Join

Ready to take on Walktober? Head to gopogo.org/walktober to download the Wellbeing+ app and sign up. Oct. 1 launches the challenge, so get to walking and check your standing throughout the month. Whether you're chasing the grand prize or just trying to beat your own daily average, every step adds up. Let's make this the most-walked October Pottawatomie County has ever had. S

JOURNEY TO HEAL T H E A B S E N T E E S H AW N E E T R I B E P R O U D LY O P E R AT E S N AT I V E C O N N E C T I O N S , A F I V E - Y E A R G R A N T P R O G R A M AWA R D E D I N SEPTEMBER 2023. O U R M I S S I O N I S C L E A R : S U I C I D E A N D S U B S TA N C E A BU S E P R E V E N T I O N A N D L I M I T I N G T R AU M A I M PAC T W H I L E P R O M O T I N G M E N TA L H E A LT H A M O N G A M E R I C A N I N D I A N / A L A S K A N N AT I V E ( A I / A N ) YO U T H ( AG E S 1 2 - 2 4 ) . N AT I V E C O N N E C T I O N S @ A S T R I B E . C O M 4 0 5 - 2 7 5 - 4 0 3 0 ( E X T. 3 5 3 6 )

JOURNEY OR HN EA J OTU ELY T O H E A L

T H E A B S E N T E E S H AW N E E T R I B E P R O U D LY O P E R AT E S N AT I V E C O N N E C T I O N S , A F I V E - Y E A RTG PR MS AWA R DN EE DE I NT R I B E P R O U D LY O P E R AT E S N AT I V E HREA N ATB S EONGTREAE H AW S E P T E MCBO EN RN 2 0E 2 3C. T I O N S , A F I V E - Y E A R G R A N T P R O G R A M AWA R D E D I N O U R M I S S I O N I S C L E A R : S U I C I D E A N D S U B S TA N C E A BU S E SEPTEMBER 2023. P R E V E N T I O N A N D L I M I T I N G T R AU M A I M PAC T W H I L E P R O M O T I N G O U R M I S S I O N I S C L E RI:VSEU I C I D E A N D S U B S TA N C E A BU S E M E N TA L H E A LT H A M O N G A M E R I C A N I N D I A N / A L A S K A N NA AT E NETS I1O2 -N2 4A ( A I / A N ) YOPUR TE HV ( AG ) . N D L I M I T I N G T R AU M A I M PAC T W H I L E P R O M O T I N G

M E N TA L H E A LT H A M O N G A M E R I C A N I N D I A N / A L A S K A N N AT I V E ( A I / A N ) YO U T H ( AG E S 1 2 - 2 4 ) .

N AT I V E C O N N E C T I O N S @ A S T R I B E . C O M 4 0 5 - 2 7 5 - 4 0 3 0 ( E X T. 3 5 3 6 )

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Company LLC

405-334-9475 COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

STEVEN JOHNS 405-334-9475 DAVID JAMES 405-503-5533

Company LLC

405-334-9475

2102 B N. KICKAPOO, SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA

www.shawneeoutlook.com

shawnee history

PAPER OR PLASTIC

Grocery Stores Have Adapted To Customer Needs, Preferences During The Last 100 Years

BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER

rocery stores have changed since Shawnee was established well over a hundred years ago. In fact, grocery stores have changed significantly even in recent years as self checkout options have become more common. Folks even have the option to purchase their groceries online. Yet the first few decades, Shawnee families went to the corner grocer to purchase their food. The customer likely “ran a bill” and paid it at the end of the month, payday or when the crops came in. About 90 years ago, the Shawnee newspaper printed a list of the 35 grocers here in town at that time. At that time the city limits ended south at the river and north at MacArthur Street, and it's easy to see that there really was a store on about every corner. Fourteen of those grocery stores were on Main Street — sometimes more than one of them on a single block. The 300 block of Main featured three grocer options for local shoppers. Just like today, customers had their favorites. Some were listed as fresh fruits and vegetables vendors while the next one boasted about their meat in their ads. So likely the customer did have to visit more than one to fill their needs. Bass Wilkes Grocery at 23 W. Main St. was one of those that seemed to have everything, such as coffee for 29 cents a pound, bacon for 28 cents a pound and eggs for 27 cents a dozen. They even had a phone number (615) and a delivery service. One well-remembered store as the population moved away from downtown was Garrett's Sunshine Store on the corner at 701 N. Beard Ave. Their place was well stocked with items like wax paper (a 40-foot roll for 15 cents) and liquid house cleanser (two cans for 9 cents). The building that featured a signature painted sign can still be seen. Then through the 1940s during World War II, it was a tough time for everybody, including grocery stores. Owners had to abide by the rules of rationing. They were not always able to obtain items that customers hoped for, or they could only give out what a government-issued stamp allowed. It had to be fair for everybody, and people learned to get along with what was available. The war ended and larger full-service stores either ap-

Grocery stores like the M&P have taken many forms in Shawnee as the population size, location and preferences have changed in the last 100 years. — Photo submitted peared or expanded, such as the M & P Store, Thurmans, Stubbs and Williams moving into the neighborhoods with services like a butcher to custom cut their meat. There might be soda cases, racks of candy and boys to carry out the groceries. As Shawnee's population grew and spread out over the years, so did its grocers. Companies came to town and opened their big stores, making it harder for the local, homeowned businesses to keep up. An IGA store opened in the Del Plaza shopping center, Standard Humpty Dumpty replaced some houses on the east side of the 200 block of North Beard Avenue with its supermarket, and a Safeway opened out on Broadway. A local businessman built his Pratt's Food on Main Street, then another out on Harrison Street. Citizens had their choice of fine places to shop for their groceries in Shawnee, but as it has been throughout history, people's needs and wants changed again. Families began eating out more, stopping for fast food or having food delivered. Large retailers like Walmart carry a lot of grocery products, will load them in customers’ cars or even deliver them to their home. Some grab what they need in the dollar store or even at the gas station. While the need for families to put food on the table has not changed, the city has seen many innovations in the method and places where they obtain their groceries. S www.shawneeoutlook.com

health

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Local Advisors Combine Medicare Guidance, Financial Health To Provide Broader Planning Options BY DAVID DINSMORE

hoosing Medicare coverage has never been as simple as finding the plan with the longest list of benefits. The most important questions are usually more personal. Does the plan include a person’s doctors and preferred hospital? Does it cover the prescriptions that person takes? Can the planholder comfortably manage its premiums, copays and potential out-of-pocket expenses? This fall, Ryan Busler with Navigating Medicare is encouraging area residents to begin with those familiar questions while also looking ahead to a larger one: How will health care expenses fit into their overall financial picture during retirement? “There’s only so much I could do if all I was doing was the insurance,” Busler said. “This is letting me help people in a greater capacity.” Medicare’s annual enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, giving eligible participants an opportunity to evaluate coverage for the coming year. As in previous years, Busler said the first priority should be determining whether a plan meets each person’s medical and prescription needs. Promotional benefits can attract attention, but they should not outweigh the essential elements of coverage. “The first thing we look at when it comes to insurance is, ‘Is this going to meet your medical needs?’” Busler said. “You really have to look first: Is this going to meet my medical needs? Is it going to cover my drugs? And then, how do we get the most while doing that?” That approach has been a consistent part of Navigating Medicare’s work. No single product works best for everyone, and a plan with appealing extra benefits may be a poor choice if it excludes an important doctor, hospital, pharmacy or prescription. Local knowledge becomes especially important when provider networks change or new plans enter an area. An advertisement or telephone representative may describe a plan’s benefits without understanding how well that plan works with the medical professionals and facilities a person uses in and around Shawnee. “If you talk to someone on the phone and they switch you to a new plan, do they actually cover all your doctors?” Busler said.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Ryan Busler with Navigating Medicare in Shawnee is teaming up with local financial advisor Larry Gill with Clinton Wealth Management to help area residents consider not only what Medicare coverage fits their medical needs but also how health care expenses relate to their broader financial outlook. Visit NavigatingRX.com or call (405) 256-3342 to set up an appointment with Busler. — Photo submitted Planholders should review the annual notice of change sent by their insurer, but Busler acknowledged that these documents can be lengthy and difficult to interpret. To simplify the process, he created an online tool at NavigatingMedicare.com/anoc. Users can scan their insurance card to pull up information concerning their plan and changes anticipated for the next year. The tool may help some people determine that their present coverage continues to meet their needs. Others may discover a change that warrants a more detailed conversation. For those needing personalized assistance, Busler said a one-on-one appointment remains the best setting. A complete review can account for the individual’s physicians, specialists, prescriptions, pharmacy, hospital preferences, financial resources and expected use of medical services. The local relationship also remains valuable after enrollment ends. Questions can emerge throughout the year when someone receives a bill, changes prescriptions, begins seeing a new specialist or needs help communicating with an

insurance company. Working with someone nearby provides a point of contact who understands both the coverage and the local health care landscape. This year, that service-oriented approach is expanding into a new service called Navigating Capital that Busler is pursuing with Larry Gill, an investment advisor representative associated with Clinton Wealth Management in Shawnee. Gill said he has worked in financial services for about 50 years and serves clients in a fiduciary capacity, requiring recommendations to be made in customers’ best interests. “Our objective is to simply help clients achieve their objectives,” Gill said. One goal is to help clients reach what Gill calls a “workoptional lifestyle.” Rather than arriving at retirement with no choice but to continue working, a person may be able to decide whether to retire, work part time or pursue another source of income. That kind of planning includes examining the return needed to support a desired lifestyle, estimating how long a person’s money may last after accounting for inflation and identifying changes that might be necessary to keep a financial plan sustainable. Health care belongs in that discussion because premiums, copays, prescriptions and uncovered services can consume an increasing portion of a retiree’s income. Even a Medicare plan that properly covers someone’s doctors and prescriptions may create pressure elsewhere in the household budget if its total costs are not considered alongside income, savings and other obligations. Busler recalled recently meeting with a customer whose health-related expenses represented a substantial portion of her monthly income. Her situation demonstrated why it can be difficult to separate health coverage from housing, food, transportation and other basic financial needs. It also showed the importance of planning before available choices become limited. One frequently misunderstood expense is long-term care. Busler said people sometimes assume Medicare or a Medicare supplement will pay for an extended stay in a long-term care facility. When they later discover the limitations of that coverage, the cost may threaten savings they expected to use for other needs. These overall financial conversations do not have to happen in a single meeting designed to help address a customer’s Medicare options, Busler said. After that decision Scan to use Navigating Medicare’s plan review tool to help decide whether to keep or consider changing your plan during this year’s enrollment period Oct. 15-Dec. 7. Or visit NavigatingMedicare.com/anoc

has been addressed, clients interested in a broader review may complete a fact finder and schedule a later meeting to discuss their goals, resources and possible financial gaps. These conversations may include retirement income, investment portfolios, long-term care exposure, Social Security timing and whether existing estate-planning documents should be reviewed. The relationship between Busler and Gill developed naturally. Gill said he had referred clients, friends and others to Busler for Medicare assistance because he trusted Busler’s knowledge and work. “He does a great job for them,” Gill said. “To transition this into helping some of his clients in areas that they may be underserved right now is a really nice opportunity to be of service.” Busler also sees the expanded relationship as an extension of what originally drew him to Medicare work. Having previously worked as a teacher and missionary, he said the role combines education with an opportunity to serve people. “Being objective and giving all their options, it combines those two loves,” Busler said. People approaching age 65 may benefit from starting the conversation about their Medicare options several months before their birthday. The appropriate steps can depend on whether they plan to continue working, have qualifying employer coverage, receive Social Security or intend to retire when they become Medicare eligible. A brief conversation may reveal that no immediate action is necessary. In other cases, it can help someone avoid an enrollment mistake or penalty and establish a timeline for making the necessary decisions. Existing Medicare participants should begin by gathering their insurance card, annual notice of change, complete prescription list, preferred pharmacy and the names of all physicians and specialists they want to continue seeing. They should also consider how often they normally receive care and whether they expect any significant treatment in the coming year. Most importantly, Busler recommends evaluating coverage based on the care a person needs rather than the promotional benefit that first catches their attention. Once the right health plan is in place, the larger financial conversation can begin. For Gill, the long-term objective is straightforward: examine the client’s investments and planning needs, identify areas that may have been overlooked and help make the future more secure. To schedule a one-on-one appointment with Busler, visit NavigatingRX.com or call (405) 256-3342. For more information about Medicare plan reviews or to view upcoming plan changes, visit navigatingmedicare.com/ anoc. S www.shawneeoutlook.com

ask Paulann

YEARS IN REVIEW

Finding The Value, Meaning In Each Season Of Life BY PAULANN CANTY, MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST, MS, LMFT

ear Paulann, sometimes we allow the world I’m getting older around us to dictate how we and I’m starting to feel will behave and to determine invisible. I used to be pretty, but our value based on complinow that I’m older I feel like peoance. In regard to women, our ple ignore me or don’t even notice culture has celebrated outward Paulann me. It’s like people look right past beauty and youthfulness while me now. I don’t even really know what distancing from defining, acknowledgquestion to ask. I just hate this feeling and ing or celebrating the inner beauty and want it to go away. I want to feel like I wisdom that come with time and lived matter again. experience. Thank you for your courage expressed We’re doing better, but it often seems in such open, vulnerable thoughts. At like a steep uphill climb. How the world our core, we all want to know we mat- around us chooses to see us has a lot of ter. We tend to look at those around us power over how we measure our value. to measure if we matter and how much. The information we gather can be helpWant Paulann to answer ful in our ongoing journey of becoming the best, truest version of ourselves. In your question in a that shared space we choose when we future issue? Send it to will adapt to those around us and when askpaulann@gmail.com. we will be uniquely ourselves in spite of Submissions anonymous. pushback from others. Unfortunately,

www.shawneeoutlook.com

A quick internet search confirms that the role of older women is an active and important topic. We can see attempts to do better and also see evidence of how much more there is to do to recognize the worth that older women bring to the table. If nothing else, that outward look tells us we are not alone and gives us an opportunity to join forces with others to bring about change. I don’t want to downplay the value of joining hands to change our world or the impact of what remains unchanged. However I am aware we often diminish ourselves in ways that trap us in a mindset that overrides our growth. Sometimes outside information from others moves us to question our worth. But sometimes our own belief that we are “less than” attaches outside information that appears to confirm what we already feel and fear is true. You say you are getting older — which

is a statement of fact — but you follow that by telling me the ways you feel unseen and dismissed. Often our feelings tell us more about how we see ourselves than what others are actually seeing. Aging definitely presents some outside challenges. But perhaps the greatest obstacle for healthy aging is our own difficulty broadening our definition of self and embracing change in ways that allow us to continue to become uniquely ourselves. I read a book a few years ago titled “The Fourth Quarter Of Your Life: Embracing What Matters Most” by Allen Hunt and Matthew Kelly. I was intrigued by the title largely because it described where I find myself in life — closer to the end than the beginning. It was a little unsettling to acknowledge that I am in the fourth quarter. It was also comforting to know that I didn’t have to keep playing the game of life with the same freshness and energy that seemed natural in the first quarter. I could acknowledge that the second half brings a different level of awareness that includes both recognized accomplishments and wear and tear. Perhaps the greatest value of halftime is the chance to review the game played so far. To choose what we will continue and what we will change when we return to the field. What if you are at a halftime in your life with the chance to acknowledge and celebrate the first half already played? What if you let yourself explore the options for playing the second half in a way that makes room for a change in pace and perspective? It would be unrealistic to think we will watch the passing of

WelcomeHome Home Welcome • Quick Approval • Quick Approval • First-time • First-time

Homebuyer Loans Homebuyer Loans

• FHA, VA & • FHA, VA &

USDA Loans USDA Loans

• Jumbo Loans • Jumbo Loans

Construction • •Construction to to Permanent Permanent Financing Financing

• •DebtDebt

Consolidation Consolidation

Flexible • •Flexible

Repayment Options Repayment Options

CANDA WHITE CANDA L. L. WHITE

Mortgage Loan Consultant Sr. Sr. Mortgage Loan Consultant NMLS# 46922 NMLS# 46922

Office: 405-273-1761 Office: 405-273-1761 Direct: 405-615-3603 Direct: 405-615-3603 cwhite@firstunitedbank.com cwhite@firstunitedbank.com cwhite.firstunitedteam.com cwhite.firstunitedteam.com 2675 N. Harrison | Shawnee, 74804 2675 N. Harrison St. St. | Shawnee, OKOK 74804

Member Housing Lender. NMLS# 400025. Member FDIC.FDIC. EqualEqual Housing Lender. NMLS# 400025.

life without any sense of loss or regret. In fact, it is often that same loss and regret that becomes a fertile field for growth that brings endurance, resilience and wisdom. The halftime reflection that informs us about how we want to continue the game. The game changer may rest in whether I see the halftime review as judgement of my value, my worth, or as two quarters’ worth of information that will help me sort out what to keep, what to set aside, what to adjust and how to continue to keep my head in the game. “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo comes to mind as I reread your thoughts. Edward is a pristine china rabbit — self absorbed with his own perfection and value — who is thrust into a life changing journey that reminds us of the difficult and painful process of becoming real. I believe what he discovers is a hope and possibility for all of us — that it is far better to be real than to be perfect. The fourth quarter of life may come at different times for each of us. I hope you will use the same courage that allowed you to express your thoughts to me, to guide you as you embrace your ever changing self in the remaining chapters of life’s game. S Paulann Canty is a licensed marriage and family therapist and longtime Shawnee resident whose practice, Growthlines LLC, has decades of experience helping community members with a range of issues. She believes seeking therapy takes courage, and she will be answering questions from the community in the Shawnee Outlook every month.

FREE.* FUN. FABULOUS! What’s better than fun and free? When you host a Mary Kay® party, you could earn FREE* Mary Kay® products! Whether in person or virtually, get some friends together, and you could score some serious swag, such as Mary Kay® products women love. Contact me to get started. *Availability and criteria to earn free products are established by participating independent Beauty Consultants only.

David Conway Independent Beauty Consultant www.marykay.com/dconway5 405-788-6353

• SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS • IN HOUSE LAB & DIGITAL XRAY • ACCEPTING MOST INSURANCES INCLUDING AETNA. • CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING SOONERCARE PLANS.

SHAWNEE FAMILY MEDICINE CLINIC OPEN MON-FRI 8AM-5PM

2400 N. Harrison | Shawnee, OK | 405.395.4441 www.shawneeoutlook.com

for the road

Pogo’s Wellness Tip of the Month

WALK BACKWARDS

ounds strange, works surprisingly well. Walking backwards for even a minute or two (somewhere flat and clear, obviously) engages muscles your normal stride skips and sharpens balance and coordination. Try it in a hallway or an empty stretch of trail. Just don't do it at the exact moment your neighbor is out for a jog. Put those steps to good use and join the Walktober steps challenge. The person who logs the most steps by the end of the month takes home a new Oura Ring, courtesy of BancFirst.

NEED A LOAN? We can help!

NO CREDIT CHECK WITH A CLEAR CAR TITLE!

3 AUTO-SECURED loans INSTALLMENT loans SIGNATURE loans

3 AFFORDABLE

monthly payments

3 NOT A PAYDAY LOAN 3 DEBIT CARD payments accepted

WE ACCEPT ITIN NUMBERS

3 QUICK APPROVAL process

Call or visit us, and we’ll help you get your loan quickly, with monthly payments you can afford!

redrivercredit.com

* All applications subject to our liberal lending policy.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

calendar Oct. 9: Oklahoma Baptist University presents Lamppost 2026, a free literary conference exploring the transformative power of Great Books, inspired by Augustine’s “Confessions.” Sessions run from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 500 W. University. Registration required. Information: okbu.edu/events/lamppost Oct. 9-31: Sunshine Shelly's Pumpkin Patch welcomes families to pick pumpkins from the vine, explore a fiveacre corn maze and enjoy hayrides, corn pits, giant slides, a barrel train and pirate ship at 7110 N. Harrison St. Hours are 4-10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 1-6 p.m. Sundays and 4-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. Information: facebook.com/sunshineshellys. Oct. 10-11: Collectors will gather at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center for Rose Rock Cards & Comics, a two‑day show featuring vendors, trading, rare finds and family‑friendly fun. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days at 1700 W. Independence St. Oct. 10, 24: Shop local farmers, crafters, artists and food vendors at the free Common Ground Community Market from 8 a.m. to noon at the OBU Intramural Fields behind the Recreation and Wellness Center, 500 W. University St. Information: rawc@okbu.edu.

Oct. 15: Bikes & Rods of Shawnee roars into downtown at 6 p.m. This free monthly family-friendly community gathering celebrates all things motorcycle and hot rods. Oct. 15: With the closing of the Lunch Box, Third Thursday Poetry's new home becomes the Owl Shoppe at 6 E. Main St. near the intersection of Broadway and Main. Ben Myers, a former Oklahoma poet laureate, will be the featured reader. The Owl Shoppe will open at 6 p.m. for those who want to order a meal; Ben's presentation will begin at 7 p.m., followed by an open mic for those who want to share a favorite poem or read something they wrote. Oct. 17: Country music star Gretchen Wilson brings her Still Here for the Party Tour to the Grand Casino at 7 p.m. at 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Information: grandboxoffice. com. Oct. 24: Postponed from July 4, watch the sky light up during the annual Grand Casino Fireworks Show at the Grand Casino Resort, 777 Grand Casino Blvd. The show begins at dark and can also be viewed from spots around Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: facebook.com/ grandcasinoresort.

Oct. 10: Help improve the health of the planet during Making a Difference: Styrofoam Recycling from 10 a.m. to noon in the Shawnee Public Library parking lot, 101 N. Philadelphia Ave. Drop off clean foam and see it compressed into reusable plastic through a partnership with Churches Caring for Creation. Information: pioneerlibrarysystem.org. Oct. 10-11: Collectors can browse, trade and hunt for rare finds at Rose Rock Cards & Comics, a two-day card and comics show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, Avedis Conference Center, 1700 W. Independence St. Oct. 12, 19, 26: Join the Pottawatomie Go team for Get Moving: Lunch and Walk from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Shawnee Public Library, 101 N. Philadelphia Ave. The Walktober activity combines a downtown walk with lunch while promoting strength, balance and mobility. Information: pioneerlibrarysystem.org. Oct. 13: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art hosts Fall Art Mania, a family-friendly hands-on art workshop from 10 a.m. to noon at 1900 W. MacArthur St. Information: mgmoa.org. Oct. 13: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art presents ASA Ceramics with John Bartos from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1900 W. MacArthur St. Information: mgmoa.org.

STRONG COMMUNITIES

START WITH US At Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County, relationships are the foundation of a thriving neighborhood.

Through programs like Everyday Dads, Block Leaders, and neighborhood events, we help people reconnect, rebuild trust, and renew hope—one relationship at a time.

Get involved today! Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County on Facebook or www.communityrenewal.org

www.shawneeoutlook.com

calendar Oct. 24: Step into a classic whodunit at the CLUE Murder Mystery Dinner starting at 7 p.m. at The Apothecary, 4901 N. Kickapoo Ave. The interactive experience includes themed dinner, character profiles, professional photography and awards for best dressed, performance and detective. Information: facebook.com/ events/923562256840991.

Nov. 7: Scare up some postHalloween fun at Mummy Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, 1900 W. MacArthur St. Information: mgmoa.org.

Paddles with a Purpose, a pickleball tournament fundraiser for Uplift Mentoring, on Nov. 8.

Oct. 25: The Red Earth Chamber Series will present its second concert, entitled “Modern America,” at 3 p.m. on the east side of Oklahoma Baptist University at 500 W. University St. inside Shawnee Hall room 300A. Professional musicians from OBU and OKC will play four multimovement pieces by modern American composers in honor of the 250th birthday of America. Admission is free. Wear what you want, clap when you want and bring your kids. 10 and above recommended, but younger accepted.

Nov. 8: Swing into Paddles with a Purpose, a pickleball tournament fundraiser for Uplift Mentoring’s work to provide 1-to-1 mentoring relationships for children in Pottawatomie County. Information: upliftmentoring. org/pickleball

Nov. 14: Get ready for the holidays during Adult Pottery Gingerbread & Christmas Tree Trays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, 1900 W. MacArthur St. Registration available through the museum. Information: mgmoa.org. S If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.

Oct. 27: Oklahoma Baptist University invites students in grades 9-12 to Discover Teaching, a free event introducing careers and degree paths in education through hands-on sessions in subjects including art, math, music, reading, science, Spanish, special education and theatre. The event will be held on the second floor of the Geiger Center, 500 W. University St. Registration required. Information: events. okbu.edu/event/discover-teaching. Oct. 31: Grab your candy basket and enjoy the official citywide Trick or Treat from 5:30 to 9 p.m. throughout Shawnee. Information: shawneeok.org. Nov. 1: Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma will host its monthly public run 1-4 p.m. at 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud. Ride the rails on powered ⅛-scale locomotives right outside of Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: locotrains.org Nov. 3: Downtown Shawnee welcomes everyone to join the monthly Main Street Shop & Stroll, featuring boutique shopping, dining and prize drawings. The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. along Main Street. Information: facebook.com/ events/1763730051717142 Nov. 6: Songwriter Night @ Music Unlimited is back with a collection of featured artists every month starting at 7 p.m. at 1109 W. Kickapoo Spur. Information: facebook.com/ musicunltdok 30

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Mark Maynard Owner / Operator

6022 Hwy 177 Shawnee, OK 74804 mark.allamericanstoneworks@gmail.com 405-585-0937 | Office 913-909-1750 | Cell allamericanstoneworks.com

4151 N. Harrison St. Shawnee 405-765-1091

GI issues? No referral necessary! Trisha Taron, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CGRN

14114 U.S. 177, SHAWNEE, OK 74804 | 405-777-4033

Monday-Saturday 9AM - 7PM www.shawneeoutlook.com

FIRELAKE CASINO

HUNTER’S

PACKAGE S AT U R DAYS I N O C T O B E R

$200 HOT SEATS

HUNTER’S PACKAGE

Every Hour 6–10 PM

Giveaway at 10:30 PM

Earn 50 points Sunday–Saturday for your chance to win a package including: Ground Blind, Trail Camera, Food Dehydrator, Food Vacuum Sealer and a $200 Bass Pro Shops Gift Card

& e g e l l Co otball o F L F N -Em k c i P U

Must be a Hot Rewards Club member. Must be present and wagered on the day of the drawing. Players must report to Players Club for verification. 18+ to enter. Valid ID required. Must take prize giveaway. No cash substitutions. FireLake Casino reserves the right to cancel or change a promotion without further notice. FIRELAKE CASINO PRESENTS

SATURDAY LIV MUSIC 8 PM -

IN OCT

12 AM

mon

h alf

fts

ppy hour ha

on all

d ay – f r i d ay

noon–2 pm AND 5–7 PM 32

www.shawneeoutlook.com

College & NFL football Football U-Pick-Em

Pick the winners of the OU and OSU football games each Saturday and the winners of the Sunday Night and Monday Night Football games.

If your pick wins get a $10 Bonus Play!

College & NFL Football WATCH PARTIES

Come out and watch football at the Center Bar.

EXTEND FireLake THEHotelFUN!

BOOK A NIGHT AT THE FIRELAKE HOTEL Call 405.878.8770 or visit ﬁrelakecasino.com