Shawnee Outlook

Diaper Drive On Deck | Social Media & Mental Health

COPS N KIDS AUGUST 23 Vol. 20 Number 6

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CONTENTS

AUGUST 2023

features

9 On The Road: Fr. Gerrer Drew Great Artistic Inspiration From His Travels 10 'Honor Your Choice': New Superintendent Excited For Future Amid Unique Back-ToSchool 13 Be The Change: Annual Diaper Drive On Deck As Legacy Gathers Partners, Donors 19 Cops N Kids: Free Event Seeks To Promote Positive Community Relationships

Okie Icon Media

MANAGING EDITOR

David Dinsmore

ADVERTISING SALES

Brad Carter

CREATIVE DIRECTION Kelsey Walker Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

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13

PUBLISHER

WRITERS

Andrea Beck Mitchell DeShazer David Dinsmore Brandon Dyer Ann McDonald Angela Rowland Delaynna Trim

CONTACT US

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

To Advertise, call Brad (405) 445-3033

departments 6

KEEP THE CHANGE

6

NUTRITION 101

22

OVER THE FENCE

24

SONIC CONTEST

25

SHAWNEE HISTORY

26

MENTAL HEALTH

29

CALENDAR

Volume 20, Number 6 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2023 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.

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keep the change

BE A LOYAL SHOPPER

M

any stores today offer loyalty programs, but are they worth keeping up with? Often, the answer is yes.

Here’s how to make the most of what’s offered: • Discounts – Loyalty programs often come with the perk of exclusive discounts – whether that means cheaper movie tickets on Tuesdays, Angela Rowland access to sale prices at the grocery store or points to redeem for free food – sometimes both. When these programs are free, it makes signing up an easy decision.

• Coupons – Some programs include coupons that will be mailed or emailed to you. If you are a frequent customer of a business, these perks can offer big savings in the long run. If your inbox is getting too crowded and you realize you don’t shop enough to need the regular reminders, feel free to unsubscribe. You can always resubscribe later – and the bonus is that you may get a discount just for signing up again.

• Birthdays – Loyalty programs with free birthday perks are always worth signing up for.

Many restaurants offer a free meal, but keep track of when these are valid. Some last the whole month, others for only a week or so, and some, like Starbucks, are only valid on your actual birthday. If you want a list of retailers with birthday perks, do a quick Google search – many deal blogs have comprehensive lists. Sign up for the ones that interest you. It’s best to sign up before your birthday month, though, or you may miss out.

• Account Info – A sleeper perk of having accounts with online retailers is the ability to access previous purchases. This can come in handy when needing to remember what product you loved and want to order again, or if you have a problem with an order – especially if it has a warranty or guarantee. 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 share some of her favorite tips and deals.

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nutrition 101

BACK TO A ROUTINE

S

chool is starting back up for many of our children. For some, it is hard to stick to a routine of home cooked meals at home and/or getting in regular exercise during the summer months. I would suggest taking this time to look at your schedule now and decide how to make these things happen with getting back into a normal routine. Also, decide what are those specific goals for yourself and write those down.

You don’t have to start working on every single goal right off the bat. Pick one goal at a time and start with a realistic plan. Do you need to plan time for meal prep on the weekends? Or maybe you can batch cook in the evenings so you will have extras for lunch. Maybe you need to write out your meal plan for the week and make sure you have all ingredients on hand for that week.

For those that have the nutrition part down, start planning for what a workout will look like. Look at your schedule and decide when and where a workout can fit in. Literally write that workout down on your schedule as if it were a doctor’s appointment.

Will that workout be outside or with equipment you have in your home or will it be at a gym? Will you need to set your alarm earlier or move things around in your schedule to make that workout happen?

Some people just aren’t morning people and would rather workout in the evening. You could plan on walking in the door after work and starting your workout immediately before dinnertime. There is no wrong time to get in your workout as long as you are getting one in.

If one of your goals is going to be making sure you get in more vegetables, use the salsa recipe below to add more veggies to the diet in an easy way.

Salsa

I love how simple salsa can be. It is made quickly and tastes so much better when made fresh versus buying it in a jar.

Ingredients: 1 1/4 lb ripe roma tomatoes (about 5-6) 1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes 2 green onions, ends trimmed ¼ of a medium red onion, chopped 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded

1/3 cup fresh cilantro 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice ½ tsp chili powder ¼ tsp ground cumin ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (more or less depending on spice desire)

Directions: Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend for about 30-60 seconds. Stir and re-blend if needed. Can serve right then or let sit in the refrigerator. If you have time, the flavor will become stronger after letting the salsa marinate for a couple of hours. Store all leftovers in the refrigerator.

Nutritional Information per serving Makes: 14 servings Calories: 22 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 129mg Carbohydrates: 2g Dietary Fiber: 1g Protein: 1g Nutrition 101: It is garden season. The garden has been full of onions, cilantro, peppers and tomatoes – all the ingredients for a great salsa. During garden season, you find just about any reason to put salsa on something. Looking for new ways to include vegetables with meals? Salsa is a great way to add vegetables to your meal. 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. For inquiries, visit strongherwithandrea.com, or the Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.

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A divorce and separation support group

Begins August 16th • 7pm-8:45pm Every Wednesday, through November 15th

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Find help. Discover hope. Experience healing.

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art of the matter

ON THE ROAD

The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is hosting a special exhibition right now featuring the travel exploits of and the art it inspired for Fr. Gregory Gerrer.

Fr. Gerrer Drew Great Artistic Inspiration From His Travels

SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM, CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS AT MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART

D

id you travel somewhere this summer for vacation?

Maybe to see family or friends or just to see someplace you had never been before?

Fr. Gregory Gerrer traveled extensively during his lifetime.

He moved to the U.S. from France with his family when he was just 5 years old. In the spring of 1886, he traveled by train from Omaha, Nebraska to San Francisco, California, then to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. He traveled while performing with the Hurlbert & Leftwich Circus in 1891. In December 1891, he decided to become a monk at Sacred Heart, which later became St. Gregory’s Abbey.

The current exhibit at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, “Fr. Gerrer’s Travels,” explores some of the places Gerrer traveled to during his lifetime. We get to see where he traveled through his eyes by looking at the paintings he made during and after these travels. During 1904, he traveled all around Europe including Florence and Vienna. In 1907, he travelled with Fr. Chrysostom, who was writing for the Catholic Encyclopedia to trace where Christopher Columbus first landed in the Western world. You can see some of his paintings from this trip to Cuba in the exhibit. He visited New York and Canada many times including in 1917 where he visited Cap Trinité and Cap Éternité as well as Reversing Falls, which features underwater ledges that can cause

the to move in either direction. These small paintings he would have painted right there looking at those natural landmarks. This is called “plein air” painting – painting outside.

Gerrer traveled extensively throughout North America from Canada, throughout the US, and into Mexico. In 1930, he again visited Europe, including Bruges, Belgium; Rhonda, Spain; Venice, Italy; as well as Tétouan and Tangiers, Morocco.

You can experience all these places and many more in “Fr. Gerrer’s Travels.” There is even a creativity corner at the museum to create your own travel postcard and other activities and books about world travel for all ages. The MGMoA is offering free admission until the end of August thanks to the generous donors, Avedis Foundation, BancFirst, and St. Gregory’s Abbey.

Art Project: Design A Map for a Fictitious Country

Scan this code to visit the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s athome project page.

Supplies needed: paper, pencil, colored pencils You get to create your own country. What would be in your country – mountains, lakes, rivers, deserts or beaches? Would there be lots of big cities, small towns or just countryside? Would this country be big or small?

Use your creativity.

For some ideas and other map activities, check out www. mgmoa.org/art-projects. S www.shawneeoutlook.com

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education

‘HONOR YOUR CHOICE’

New Superintendent Excited For Future Amid Unique Back-To-School

D

r. Aaron Espolt did not get what some may consider a typical “settling in” period for his new role as superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools, but he did not shy away from a different start than he may have imagined.

“Different doesn’t scare us,” Espolt said of his team.

When the final bell of the 2022-2023 school year rang, he knew this summer would be anything but typical. Though school leaders start getting ready for “backEspolt to-school” far sooner than students or their families do during the summer months, this was particularly true in a year that not only saw a change in leadership at the highest level but also a near-end-of-the-year disaster that dealt considerable damage to school facilities and resources.

Following the April 19 tornado, Espolt – who served as assistant superintendent and chief financial officer last year – and his colleagues throughout Shawnee Public Schools made it top priority to assess and confirm schools’ ability to bring students back to classrooms to finish the year.

“We wanted to give our kids some closure, and we moved mountains to accomplish that,” Espolt said.

The next step of ensuring school facilities would be properly ready to welcome back students in the fall took precedence during a large portion of the summer even as leadership also looked beyond the physical environments provided to students.

“Even in May, August felt like it was tomorrow,” Espolt said. “Whatever we needed to do didn’t need to be done just

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www.shawneeoutlook.com

BY DAVID DINSMORE

Students return to Shawnee Public Schools on Aug. 10, and new superintendent Dr. Aaron Espolt is eager to not only continue the process of rebuilding after the April 19 tornado but also finding the opportunities in the destruction to improve upon what schools are already doing. ­— Photos submitted out of haste or urgency but also out of a sense of how this is going to improve the experience of Shawnee schools for years to come.”

School officials didn’t want to only address the immediate needs to get students back to the facilities that host their academic and extracurricular activities, Espolt said. They sought to build a longterm plan that could use the destruction as an opportunity to put in place elements of the school experience that will impact Shawnee students beyond the 2023-2024 school year.

“We want to focus on how we ensure that whatever actions we take, we’re doing

them with due diligence, we’re thinking through every step, we have a long-term vision in place,” Espolt said. “Everyone says ‘Shawnee Strong.’ That’s just what we do in Shawnee and how we battle through things and how we persevere. Our goal with this recovery is not to just be Shawnee Strong but to have a stronger Shawnee.”

To help identify those opportunities for improvement, Espolt wants to make sure all facets of Shawnee Public Schools and the community it serves play a role in helping shape this vision, he said. While administrators can take a high-level view of what the schools need, policymaking cannot stop there. The process should look

more cyclical as insights from those “doing the work” within each school provide guidance for those who put changes in place.

“If we’re not hearing from those in classrooms, in buildings, driving buses, out in the community … then we are only getting one perspective,” Espolt said. “We will continue to try to hear all the perspectives and all the voices.”

The schools function not only as a resource for the students, faculty and staff but also play a role in the overall community, Espolt said. Therefore, community outreach and building relationships with the individuals, businesses and organizations that make up the community – and may one day rely on the students entering classrooms this month – becomes essential when developing a long-term vision for Shawnee Public Schools. As of late July, administrators had begun and were in the process of scheduling “listening tours” around the community.

“Our goal is to be as open and transparent and honest as possible,” Espolt said. “To be truly transparent, it means being open and vulnerable in asking, ‘Where can we improve?’

“We need the community’s assistance and support and to walk alongside us to determine a common vision and goal of what we want to achieve.”

While the goals Espolt described for the schools and community will have a long-range focus and take time to achieve, he and his team were working hard to make sure the staff, faculty and environments were ready to welcome students back to school for the 2023-2024 academic year.

“I’m looking forward to smiling faces, and not just the smiling faces of our kids but also our staff,” Espolt said. “Even though it may look different in some ways, the quality experience will still be there.”

For many students walking through the doors on Aug. 10, this will not be the first time in their education careers that external factors caused some parts of their school year to be atypical or unknown as they started. Educators are taking lessons from the return to school following the abrupt early end of the 2019-2020 school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and finding ways to apply them to a year where some things require some adaptation.

“Our mission here at Shawnee Public Schools is to redefine,

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reimagine, redesign what school looks like, and we do that on a daily basis,” Espolt said. “We can’t sit here and pretend that every student needs the same thing, because we know we deal with individual and unique students. We learned that lesson through COVID.” Teachers and staff at the schools had to not only prepare for adapting to the tornado recovery but also any issues that may have arisen in the lives of their students since the tornado. Espolt said that while there may be new or unique challenges kids bring to school stemming from the storm, preparing to care for the whole student beyond just academics should always play a role for educators entering a new year.

“Anytime a student comes to us with any kind of concerns or anxieties or worries or issues that they are bringing, our job is to address them,” Espolt said. “If we can’t meet their basic needs, we’ll never be able to achieve the outcomes we want to see for them.”

There’s also an element of shared experience following the tornado as staff members had personal losses from the storms just as their students and families may have, Espolt said. This was an event shared by the whole city and not just one school or district. Officials lived that experience whether at home or dealing with the obstacles associated with building back at the schools.

“We live in this community,” Espolt said. “We know how it feels. We lived it with our students.”

Espolt said he hopes families feel confident and comfortable expressing their needs to school personnel. While every student may not need the same level of support during the school year, it is important for those who do to be able to ask and receive it.

“My plea to the community is to let us know how we can support you and utilize the resources we do have available,” Espolt said. “Our vision here at Shawnee Public Schools is to honor your choice.

“Choice is everywhere. A parent can choose to stay at home and keep their students at home or learn virtually or go to a different district. That’s a choice that they have, but they’re making a choice to trust us with their most valued possession, and so we want to honor that.” S

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FREE EVENT! 11AM-3PM

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AUGUST 26, 2023 SHAWNEE EXPO – 1700 W. INDEPENDENCE

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community

BE THE CHANGE

Annual Diaper Drive On Deck As Legacy Gathers Partners, Donors

BY DAVID DINSMORE

P

andemic. Shortages. Inflation.

Tornado.

Families in Shawnee and surrounding areas have had a rough stretch during the last few years providing necessities and stability for their dependents, and Legacy Parenting Center has seen demand for aspects of their services increase exponentially.

Though Legacy Parenting Center primarily serves clients in providing education for local parents and guardians of young children, it also helps meet some of the physical needs of

To help meet increased need for diapers by local families, Legacy Parenting Center is looking to increase its roster of community partners and donors during the national Diaper Need Awareness Week diaper drive Sept. 18-24. — Photos submitted these families as well, including providing diapers.

Those participating in the organization’s education initiatives as part of the program, but they also provide them to families on an emergency basis, Legacy executive director Lacey Holt said.

Legacy families receive diapers through the organization’s Earn While You Learn Parent Education Program

and through emergency diaper assistance, executive director Lacey Holt said. As of late July, Legacy was currently distributing more than 36,000 diapers a month to approximately 450 babies. That’s about a 55 percent increase from what the demand they saw last July, and Legacy is on track to distribute almost half a million diapers in 2023, which is up from 282,000 in 2022. > www.shawneeoutlook.com

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Legacy is a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, which allows them to increase their ability to buy large quantities of diapers at an affordable cost. These supplies in the past have typically gone to benefit the clients who come to them for their educational programs. Network membership also helps in identifying and securing grant opportunities in addition to other resources and advocacy efforts.

In 2010, the diaper network conducted a study that showed roughly one in three families with very young children find themselves choosing between buying diapers and other necessities for the household, whether its food, fuel or other needs. Holt said updated numbers from a similar study this year shows that number has increased to 47 percent with the impact of events of the last few years.

“They have to sometimes sacrifice purchasing something else important for the family to buy diapers, or they can’t purchase enough diapers for their baby,” Holt said. “It’s nationwide and not just here.”

Every quarter, Legacy also surveys its own clients, and in June, they focused specifically on diaper needs, Holt said.

Of the families that answered, 93 percent stated that Legacy was their only source for diapers; 78 percent expressed concern about affording diapers; and 43 percent said they have faced the choice of buying diapers versus other family necessities.

“I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t get diapers through Legacy,” client Anna said. “Legacy gives me more security in making sure my children have everything they need.”

While the annual diaper drive does help fill Legacy’s diaper coffers for a time, it also serves as an opportunity to highlight this year-round need on a communitywide scale, Holt said. The organization is not just seeking donations from groups and individuals able to contribute hundreds or even thousands of diapers. Every donation at any time makes a difference for a baby in this area.

Some larger organizations have made the drive a competition internally between departments or locations, Holt 14

www.shawneeoutlook.com

said. Last year, the largest donating entity was Bethel Public Schools, which hosted a challenge among grades to see which could bring in the most diapers with a special award for the internal winner. The schools generated about 7,400 donated diapers.

This year in particular presents a special set of obstacles as businesses and organizations that have served as dropoff locations or contributors are facing problems stemming from the April 19 tornado that swept through town, Holt said.

“We’re having to think logistically about being respectful of what happened in our city but also recognizing that our demand is also increasing,” Holt said. “Some of that is also because of the tornado.

“We’ve had families who haven’t needed our help in the past coming to us to help get back on their feet because they just finished paying for their deductibles and repairs.”

The challenges stemming from the storms have also opened opportunities to form and grow new and current community partnerships, Holt said, and they are also working on building relationships in surrounding communities where they serve families, such as Tecumseh, Seminole, McLoud and others.

Locally, churches and other community organizations can begin in August forming a plan and setting goals for the diapers they want to bring in during the entire month of September, Holt said. Participants don’t have to only wait until the official Diaper Need Awareness Week starting Sept. 18. Legacy has resources available with signage, forms, statistics and other tools to help galvanize their employees and members during the drive.

Participating collection sites can arrange either drop off or pick up with Legacy once the diapers are collected.

Not only does highlighting the diaper drive help spread the word about Legacy’s services to those participating, but it also helps some community members in need of help realize there are resources available that maybe they didn’t realize.

“Diapers are as important to a baby as clothing, food and shelter,” Holt said. “If you don’t have a child in diapers, it

may not be something you think about very often.”

Though any donation is welcome and much appreciated, Legacy finds many people donate smaller sizes, but they often have gaps more often in donations of larger sizes four and up. Additionally, Holt said they have had an increase in allergies and sensitivities among their babies, so if diaper drive participants are able to make it work, donating premium brands like Huggies and Pampers can help reduce these concerns as well as the cost to the organization to meet those needs.

Whether it’s 20 diapers or 20 boxes, donations accounted for half of the diapers given to babies in this area by Legacy last year, and Holt said they are needed more than ever before even as Legacy taps into bulk-buying resources its not had to utilize in past years.

“We want to be able to help as many babies as possible,” Holt said.

For more information about the diaper drive, volunteer opportunities or services available, call Legacy at (405) 432-2844 or visit legacyshawnee.com/dnaw.

Check out facebook.com/ legacyparentingcenter for more information as the drive approaches. S

As of late July, Legacy was currently distributing more than 36,000 diapers a month to approximately 450 babies. That’s about a 55 percent increase from what the demand they saw last July, and Legacy is on track to distribute almost half a million diapers in 2023, which is up from 282,000 in 2022.

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community

COPS N KIDS

Free Event Seeks To Promote Positive Community Relationships FROM STAFF REPORTS

O

nce again, law enforcement from local departments, sheriff ’s offices, state troops, tribal agencies, military units and federal entities are joining communityminded organizations in answering the call to make Cops N Kids a memorable event for area youngsters – and their grown-ups too.

The free, family-fun event will light the lamps and sound the sirens from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. MacArthur with plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained.

“There truly is no other event in our community quite like Cops N

The free Cops N Kids 2023 will feature games, activities, food, giveaways, Santa Claus and family fun for everyone along with the chance to explore the vehicles and gear of law enforcement and the men and women who use them to keep their communities safe. — Photos submitted Kids” said Tara Andrews, who serves on the board that helps plan the event.

“Every year, I look forward to seeing the thousands of kids and families interact with the great police and first responders and get to know the ones who keep us all safe.”

Chief among the goals for the event and its planners is the mission to promote positive relationships between youth and families and law enforcement in Shawnee and throughout the State of Oklahoma, said Vivian Lozano, Shawnee Police Department’s

public information officer and one of the planners of the event. Often, the only encounters some kids have with members of law enforcement happen when they are responding to a negative event, whether at home, school or elsewhere.

“The whole premise is for children to get to know that police officers are the same as everyone,” said Darren Rutherford, president of the Cops N Kids board. “They have families. They have children. They are who you run towards when you need help. Not > www.shawneeoutlook.com

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away from. They aren’t to be feared but respected. They will be kind and understanding. Just that kind of understanding is our goal.”

Cops N Kids seeks to meet this goal with an event that goes beyond a meet-and-greet by giving children and their families the opportunity to not only get to know the people behind the badge – whether local police, sheriff ’s offices or tribal agencies – but also check out some of the vehicles, gear and resources they use to keep their communities safe.

Attendees can climb inside a squad car and check out all the communications equipment, try on a protective vest and helmet used for special tactical purposes, explore a surveillance and mobile command center and learn the special working relationship between officers and their K9 partners 20

www.shawneeoutlook.com

among many other unique opportunities to see the job up close and personal.

The first 1,000 kids in attendance will receive a free snow cone from Kona Ice plus a goodie bag with a Tshirt and other fun giveaways, Lozano said. All attendees also can register for a chance to win a bike and other great prizes during the event, including bicycles given out at the end of the day.

While they last, free hot dogs will also be up for grabs at the event, and a food truck will be available for those seeking other fare.

It’s not just law enforcement who work to keep their communities safe.

First responders from other agencies charged with protecting families from fire, managing wildlife in their habitats, treating and transporting the sick and injured and guarding against

disasters as part of the military will also be in attendance to help highlight their missions.

Among some of the most popular attractions featured by first responder agencies are the helicopters and fire trucks available for kids and their adults to check out while at Cops N Kids. There is also an annual surprise vehicle arranged by Lozano that makes an appearance during the event.

Cops N Kids will also welcome another special guest when Santa Claus arrives to take free photos with those who want to check that off their list early this year. Seeing as the event takes place during the big guy’s offseason, Lozano said he’ll be stopping by this year while on vacation and dressed accordingly.

Local and regional organizations will join the law enforcement agencies

and first responders with their own offerings of games, giveaways and fun activities and give attendees the chance to discover and learn more about other resources that support healthy and happy family members of all ages.

The event started at a local park in 2017 with about 700 kids register-

ing as attendees, but that number has swelled to more than 2,000 at previous events, said Lozano, who first came up with the idea for the event. For health and safety purposes, Cops N Kids canceled its 2020 and 2021 events, but it came roaring back last year to the delight of the bustling crowds.

For the most up-to-date informa-

tion about Cops N Kid 2023, check out facebook.com/Shawneecopsnkids or instagram.com/copsnkidsshawneeok.

For more information about the Cops N Kids organization and its supporting events like CornStock and Cruising for the Kids, log on to https://www.copsnkids-shawneeok. com or call (405) 501-3357. S

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over the fence

TURN OUR ATTENTION

Ignoring Distractions Shows Respect For Loved Ones

H

BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

ruminating about the past? If you’re like me, I doubt you ave you ever been at a party or an would really want to know that answer. So event and struck up a conversalet’s just agree it would be too much. Way tion with someone who can’t too much. And who loses when our attenhelp but look past you or side to side while tion is running wild in every direction exyou are in the middle of a conversation? cept right here, in this very moment where How did that feel? Did it seem like this perit can both experience and create beauty? We son was interested in what you had to say? do. But also, our loved ones and friends. Our Now before this veers off course and begins to co-workers, our hobbies, our goals, our dreams. resemble judgment, let me openly admit that I’ve Author John Tarrant says, “Attention is the most been guilty of this too. I’m quite sure I have anyway, basic form of love.” I came across that sometime this although I can’t think of a specific experience. I’m past year, and it has really stuck with me. Think about quite sure of this likelihood because I’ve been a huBrandon Dyer it, how do you show someone that you love them? man being for a long time now and am all too aware Well, I suppose we could make a pretty meaningful of the difficulty we seem to have wrangling our own attention. There are moments when we’ve got our attention list of ways. But one surefire way is when we give to them in a headlock, being fully aware in the present moment, able moments of our undivided attention, where they can see to give people the attention they deserve. And of course that nothing in the world is more important to us in that there are far too many times when our mind is bouncing moment than they are. We see them. We hear them. They from thought to thought like a monkey jumping through matter enough to us that we are willing to ignore all other trees, unconcerned with the feelings of the person in front suitors of our attention and hand this moment over to them.

How much better could our lives be if, without judgment, of us or how our apparent lack of interest might make us we recaptured some of our mindless attention to screens, look like a jerk.

The easiest way to see this is with our addiction to our worry, and rumination and chose instead to deploy it in the devices. How many times have we been in a conversation only realm it is capable of having any effect at all: this preswith someone (an in-person conversation, that is) when a ent moment? How might our perspectives change if we saw text or some other notification comes through and our at- our attention as a basic expression of what we love? Perhaps tention instinctively diverts to our device and away from the we would begin to remember what it is like to be Pavlov in-person individual speaking? All too often. I’ve actually again and no longer feel like his dog. S had to go into my settings on my phone and limit the number of notifications I receive because I got a little tired of feeling like Pavlov’s Dog every time I heard a buzz or a ding.

I mean, who’s supposed to be in charge anyway, me or my phone? Diverting my attention to my device had become a conditioned response as I anticipated that lovely little dopamine hit on the other side of my lock screen. For many of us, this continues all day long as the present moment battles for our attention against the foes of technology.

But technology is not the only thing we allow to steal our attention and rob us of the beauty of the present moment. If you could document your thoughts for one day, how much time do you suppose you would spend worrying Sunday Service 10:30 am & Wednesday Service 7:00 pm about the future? How much of your time would be spent 22 E. Dunloup • Shawnee, OK • (405) 395-2980 • www.taprootchurchok.org

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Word S rambl

3 WINNERS will be chosen at random from correct entry forms. Each WINNER will receive a $5 SONIC GIFT CERTIFICATE.

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DIRECTIONS: 1. Unscramble the 4 scrambled SHAWNEE OUTLOOK Advertisers 2. Fill out this entry form and mail to: Shawnee Outlook P.O. Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 3. Winners are announced in the next issue of the Shawnee Outlook.

4. If you are a winner, we’ll mail the gift certificate to the return address on your envelope. (Make sure you include one!)

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shawnee history

TIME CAPSULE

O

Records Capture Moment Of Time For City In 1906

BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER

The ladies weren’t left out either. She could work at the klahoma is young compared to the other states across the country. When traveling, it’s fascinating canning factory; as a trimmer at the millinery company; as to see buildings labeled from the 1700s. If some- a laundress either washing or ironing; or as an employee at thing here is dated before 1900, it’s considered a treasure. one of the three “racket stores,” which were the forerunners So, imagine the changes seen in Shawnee since before state- of five and ten cent stores. A favorite job may have been as a dipper at the Shawnee Candy Co. There was a Ladies’ Tailorhood.

Shawnee’s estimated population from the recent 2020 ing College for those desiring to learn that trade.

Shawnee had quickly grown from a forest to a bustling census was just over 31,000. In 1906, it was about 17,000, but considering it had only been settled 15 years earlier, it was town. To house all the folks were 16 boarding houses, 15 a thriving community. There were five banks, four newspa- “furnished rooms” and nine hotels plus the individual homes. There were 46 gropers, 35 real estate and loan cery stores – literally about offices, 25 lawyers, 31 physione in every other block. And cians, 29 restaurants, 18 barthere were 16 meat markets. bers, 11 dressmakers, 26 saThe home’s cook likely made loons (most located on Main a trek to buy her fresh goods Street), eight blacksmiths and every day, had them delivered a bath parlor. or sent her younglings when Mostly because of the railthey got home from school. roads, Shawnee was booming.

Schools – five at the time About every fourth breadwin– were also close to home, ner was employed by either dispersed to each ward. UpRock Island, Santa Fe or MKT. Shawnee was already a bustling community in the days per-level classes were held on He might be a switchman, leading up to statehood thanks to industry supported by the second floor of Central conductor, car inspector, fire- the railroad activity in the city. — Photo submitted School located about where man, lamp tender, watchman, car builder, brakeman, wiper, baggageman, freight agent or the Municipal Auditorium is tod with grade schoolers on the first level. Attending high school was not a priority. The any of the other dozen positions.

By 1906 – when Oklahoma was on the brink of statehood, SHS class of 1906 had six graduates, only one boy. Most of cotton was a big industry. The town was named the “Cotton them were already working or learning a trade. Only those Capitol of the State” and not only because of the growers, contemplating becoming a doctor or lawyer continued their but also the buyers, shippers and workers at the compresses. schooling. To become a teacher, one only had to pass a test Again, it was the railroads that helped that industry just like and were often not much older than their pupils.

Shawnee boasted 13 churches and dozens of organizait had earlier with the potato crop and the fur trade.

There were plenty of jobs among other small industries, tions and societies, many of which may be still familiar toincluding shoemaker, gunsmith, paper hanger, cigar maker, day, such as the Elks, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, Masonic, teamster, butter maker, hatter, broom maker, bill poster, tin- Woodmen of the World. There were also trade and labor groups each in their own division, such as the Meat Cutters, smith or maybe a tick maker at the mattress company.

He might work at the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Com- Bricklayers, Bartenders, Barbers, and railroad employees.

There was plenty to do for Shawnee citizens in 1906 bepany, the horse and mule company, the beet sugar manufacturer or be an oiler at the Shawnee Ice Co. There were sides work, such as visit the parks, the theaters (live shows), the obvious professions that are still around today, such as and baseball games, but mostly it was about work and buildconstruction work, bricklaying and curb setter – which were ing their town, none of whom could have anticipated the busy community it is today. S those who installed curbs while streets were being laid. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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mental health

SOCIAL MEDIA

H

Make It Work For Your Own Mental Health

BY MITCHELL DESHAZER

ow many times do you pick up your mobile device to check your social media? How often do you catch yourself mindlessly scrolling?

Social media can be a nice recreational tool and a way to connect with our family and DeShazer friends. Have you ever thought about using it for achieving your health and recovery goals?

Taking steps to improve our health – whether physical, psychological, financial or relational – takes time and practice. Often, healthy patterns don’t happen by default and our patterns for functioning in life get shaped unconsciously from our upbringing and the cultures from which we live. Tech is a part of our culture, and whether we are aware of it or not, it is a present part of our lives every day. Just like with any tool, we have the choice to wield its potential for our own betterment.

In the last couple of years, I began observing my use of tech and how it influenced my life. I noticed that I was feeling negative after scrolling my social media and very reactive toward others. I took time away from the device, and when I returned, I consciously decided to begin filling these spaces with media that helped enrich my day instead of triggering frustration. The results were formative, and I noticed that I was directing the use of this very powerful tool to better my own life.

In the past few years, various social media accounts have begun devoting themselves to helping people grow. In my personal life and practice, I have found that consuming materials from these sources has contributed to my own development and allowed me to offer a practical resource for the patients I serve. Here is some information that may be a good jumping off point for you: Take some time to observe yourself and how you consume social media. Ask yourself what inspires you, what brings you joy and what is depleting you when you engage with your social media accounts.

This may also be a good time to reflect on the function of your social media use. Social media in itself is not bad, but sometimes it may be functioning for more than entertainment and maybe a distraction from something more serious happening in our lives.

Purge or silence what isn’t working or triggers you. Most social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram have features for unfollowing. If you don’t want to cancel a person, consider unfollowing or silencing them for a period of time. Most social media accounts don’t even inform the followers of these changes, so you don’t have to worry about offending others.

26

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Helpful tech resources Check out what some of our Gateway Staff members are engaging with:

“I found this podcast helpful when I was diagnosed with ADHD.” “I’m on a bipolar Facebook support page. I find it extremely helpful. Anytime I post on the page, no matter the time of day or night, I will have several people reach out to me. You can just search bipolar support group. A lot of options will come up, but this is the one that I am a part of.”

“I’ve been using the Ten Percent Happier app for about four years now. I like the courses, podcasts and additional features.”

“The Libby app allows me to enter my library card number and borrow books and audiobooks from the public library.”

“I prefer Reddit. I’m in a sciatica, neurodivergent, and ADHD subreddit. They have all been a great support.”

“I am a part of the Be The Bridge Facebook group to help me engage in thoughtful conversations that challenge my racial biases.”

“This has been a really helpful group for me as I started my recovery journey around food and body acceptance.”

Reset your algorithms. This is often done by who you follow and what you search for on your social media. As you connect with healthier media sources, your feeds and recommendations will begin to change.

Add inspiration and tools for helping you achieve your goals.

Think about where you are and what goals for growth you have for yourself. Consider searching on social media for accounts that connect with your goals and passions. This can be done by using hashtags (#) or by simply typing in keywords (e.g., addiction recovery, emotional wellness, healthy eating, parenting, etc.).

Although it may take some additional awareness and intentionality, we have the opportunity to set up our mobile devices to work for us. We can fortify our mental health and nourish our nervous system by limiting doom scrolling, comparisons and our compulsion to never miss out. Instead, we can choose to connect with people that make us better, learn new skills and embrace life-giving content. We can also “go offline” every now and then and take in the present moment. We can do what works best for us.

If you or someone you know needs recovery support, please reach out to Gateway at 273-1170 x0. We are excited to be a part of your journey.

S Mitchell DeShazer is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the clinical director for Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. He has worked with various individuals, couples and families with the goal of helping to improve individual and relational health.

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Monday 9 AM - 6 PM Tuesday 1 PM - 7 PM Wednesday 8 AM - 5 PM Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM Friday 8 AM - 2 PM

calendar Aug. 1-27: Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art presents a limited exhibit, “Fr. Gerrer’s Travels,” featuring paintings by Fr. Gregory Gerrer inspired by his travels to places like the Bahamas, Cuba, Europe, Morocco and the U.S. A free reception and gallery talk hosted by the MGMoA Friends will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 at the museum at 1900 W. MacArthur. Information: mgmoa.org Aug. 11-12: The FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival offers two days of balloon glows, balloon launches and balloon rides with a carnival, inflatables, food trucks, vendor market and live music in a family-friendly environment in and around Raymond Peltier Park at 1702 S. Gordon Cooper. Check out the festival website for a list of entertainment and events.

Information: firelakeballoonfest.com Aug. 11-12: The Outdoor Nation Expo returns to the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road with a free event to help families find all the ways to enjoy the great outdoors featuring camping, hunting, and fishing events along with booths and attractions. Information: outdoornationexpo.com Aug. 12: Doggie Dip Day is back at Shawnee Splash with small dogs getting their turn in the pool from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and large dogs from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Information: facebook.com/shawneesplash Aug. 12-13: Camp Monster Nation will rumble into Shawnee with 1,800 tons of dirt and smashed metal as six 10,000-pound monster trucks and machines perform feats in two jam-packed hours of high-flying horsepower starting 6 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence.

Information: shawneeexpo.com/events Aug. 17: The Third Thursday Poetry Reading welcomes Jessica Isaacs to the Lunch Box microphone at 7 p.m. at 217 E. Main.

Isaacs is the winner of the 2015 Oklahoma Book Award for Poetry for her appropriately titled, “Deep August.” Her more recent poetry has appeared in a number of journals. As a member of the faculty at Seminole State College, she is the organizing director of its annual creative festival, Howlers and Yawpers. Open mic readings will follow her presentation. The Lunch box will open at 6 p.m. for those who want to order drinks and/or dessert.

Aug. 18: The Arts @317 will host its own Block pARTy from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with featured artist John May, who creates a variety of pieces out of coins, such as bells, rings and necklaces.

At 6:30 p.m., Kevin Hall will provide some live music under the awning at the shop at 317 E. Main. Information: (405) 659-8193 Aug. 18: The Pioneer Library System and City of Shawnee are hosting Movies in the Park featuring “Monsters University” at 8:30 p.m. in Farrell Park at 804 S. Park Ave. Information: facebook.com/ShawneePR

Aug. 19: The William Lee Martin Comedy Stampede Tour will charge into the Historic Ritz Theatre at 8:30 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. with the comic’s signature storytelling brand of laughs that has earned him a national reputation and following.

Information: ritzshawnee.com Aug. 20: The Motor City Madman Ted Nugent takes the stage at the Heart of Oklahoma with high-octane guitar-shredding style that has garnered international acclaim during his nearly six-decade career. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with the show starting at 6:30 p.m. at 1700 W. Independence. Information: shawneeexpo.com Aug. 26: The Rocket Man Run is an annual 5K race and onmile fun run hosted by the Gordon Cooper Technology Center Foundation to raise funds to meet its goal of helping students succeed. The event is set to start at 7:30 a.m. at the Gordon Cooper campus at 1 John C. Bruton. Information: runsignup. com/Race/OK/Shawnee/RocketManRun5KFunWalk Aug. 26: Cops N Kids returns with a full afternoon of family fun featuring law enforcement and first responders from all levels showcasing the skills and tools that help keep communities safe. The event will also feature games, food, inflatables, giveaways, vendor booths and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at 1700 W. Independence. Information: facebook.com/Shawneecopsnkids.

Aug. 26: The Junior Service League will host its Kick Off Supper 2023 supporting scholarships for the Shawnee High School class of 2024 with a dinner and entertainment 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the gym at Shawnee Middle School at 4300 N. Union.

Information: jslshawnee.org/kickoff-supper Aug. 29: United Way of Pottawatomie County will pit local chili-makers against one another for its Kickoff Cookoff from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Gordon Cooper Technology Center at 1 John C. Bruton. Attendees will enjoy a variety of locally entered chilis with all the “fixins” at this come and go event.

Information: unitedwaypottco.org/chili-cookoff

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calendar Sept. 3: Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma will host its monthly public run 1-4 pm. At 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud.

Ride the rails on a powered ¼-scale locomotive right outside of Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: locotrains.org Sept. 4-10: The Pottawatomie County Free Fair will get underway for a week of family-fun events every day at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at 1700 W. Independence. For questions regarding the fair, schedule, events, time or any other question, contact (405) 273-7683 or pottcofreefair@gmail.com. For more information, visit freefair.org.

Sept. 8: Show your support for local heroes by participating in the annual Guns N’ Hoses golf tournament benefiting the Shawnee Police Foundation hosted at FireLake Golf Course at 1901 S. Gordon Cooper Drive. Information:

30

www.shawneeoutlook.com

shawneepolicefoundationok.com/golftournament Sept. 8-10: ANiME Oklahoma is the premier family-oriented anime convention in the state and will bring three days of fun with more than 340 hours of programming along with more than 40 vendors. Information: facebook. com/animeoklahoma or animeoklahoma@ gmail.com Sept. 14: The Community Market of Pottawatomie County is excited to host its annual Harvest Moon dinner. This event is its largest fundraiser and directly impacts the service they are able to provide to hungry families in communities in Pottawatomie, Seminole and Lincoln counties. It will be a night full of good food, great drinks and even better company. Information: classy.org/ event/harvest-moon/e496199 If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com. S

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Hot Seats Every Saturday in August

BACK TO

SCHOOL

EATS HOT STU RDAY EVERY SA

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OCTOBER 14 Mark your calendars for the 19th Annual FireLake Casino Car Show

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FIRELAKE CASINO

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE August 1–31 Donate BRAND NEW school supplies for local students & receive a $10 Bonus Play.

Supplies must be in original packaging. Must show proof of purchase.