Shawnee Outlook: January 2025

Korean War Hero's Return | CPN Art Installation

JANUARY 2025 Vol. 21 Number 11

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SCAN ME

CONTENTS

JANUARY 2025

19

departments

9 Creative Start: Begin The New Year With Inspiration 11 Small Steps: Persistence Could Mean Big Changes, New Year Of Growth 13 Storytelling: CPN Members To Help With New Trail Of Death Art Installation Near Kansas City 19 Hero’s Return: Korean War Veteran's Remains Returned To Family 70 Years Later

6

KEEP THE CHANGE

7

NUTRITION 101

22

OVER THE FENCE

24

SONIC CONTEST

25

SHAWNEE HISTORY

27

MENTAL HEALTH

29

CALENDAR

JAN

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

TRAVIS ALEXANDER, REALTOR

Okie Icon Media

MANAGING EDITOR

David Dinsmore

ADVERTISING SALES

Brad Carter

CREATIVE DIRECTION Kelsey Walker Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

13

features

PUBLISHER

WRITERS

Andrea Beck John Bobb-Semple Alicja Carter 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

Volume 21, Number 11 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2025 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

GRACIOUS GUESTING

I

f you’re planning vacations for the new year, you’re well aware that lodging is a large portion of any travel expense. One way to alleviate these costs is to stay with family or friends living in the area, but this often places a burden on the host. Here are some tips to ensure an overnight stay is a benefit to both you and your host.

• Ask, don’t tell. If you’re needing a place to stay, a polite request will always be better received than a simple, “We’re coming to town Angela Rowland and want to stay with you.” Don’t assume your family and friends are eager or available for overnight guests. If they’re not, try asking if they know of any other options in the area – maybe they have a friend who owns a vacation rental or know of other options for short-term guests.

• Make expectations clear. Are you hoping to spend a large portion of your time with your hosts? Or are you just needing a place to crash? Either might be fine for your hosts, but it’s less awkward if you’ve discussed this beforehand. Also, discuss meal plans. Are you hoping to eat together, or will you be dining out? Will you bring/prepare your own food?

Will you need a place to store this food? All of these are good points to discuss in advance – and if you’re hoping to share regular meals with your host, offer to contribute. Ask if you can help in the kitchen or cook any meals for the group. If you’re not a chef, offer to buy takeout.

• Clean up after yourself. Don’t leave your things strewn everywhere, of course, but also offer to help wash linens or take out the trash at the end of your stay. 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.

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nutrition 101

NEXT STEPS FOR A NEW YEAR

I

s anyone else trying to wrap their mind around the fact that we are now in 2025?

People weren’t kidding when they told me that time flies by faster the older you get.

Well here we are – back to another beginning of the year. Back to thinking about how we want to make this year the best year yet. I know I always do at this time of year.

Maybe it is a goal for travel, health, finances, time with family, more time spent with God, sleep, stress management, career or something else that has been on your mind this past year. It can be overwhelming to think about it all at once.

That is where I think I usually go wrong – trying to do it all at once vs one focal point at a time.

When thinking about your health and the goals you want for yourself this coming year, focus on one thing at a time. A few things to consider as you think about your health goals include: 1. Getting in 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

2. Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water.

3. Finding joy in your day to help with stress management.

4. Meal planning and prepping.

5. Reading food labels when grocery shopping.

6. Eating out fast food less.

7. Getting 10,000 steps in a day.

8. Filling half your plate with vegetables at lunch and dinner.

9. Not snacking late at night.

10. Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake.

Do any of those sound doable for you and something that would help you work towards your goals? If health is on your list for 2025, I would love to help you set those realistic goals.

At Laser Focus Health and Wellness, I always offer free consultations to go over all my services and how I can help. As you start off the new year, add this taco soup recipe to your menu.

Easy Weeknight Taco Soup Most of us like to have dinner done in about 30 minutes instead of hours on a weeknight. I know I also like to have as few dirty dishes as possible, so having dinner cooked in one pot is a double win.

Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef 1 medium onion ½ medium bell pepper 1 (15 oz) cans crushed tomatoes, undrained 12 oz bag frozen corn 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce 14 oz low sodium broth 1 Tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin Pepper to taste Directions: Add beef to a large pot and cook over medium heat. While the beef is cooking, add the onion and bell pepper to a food processor or blender and blend until finely diced. Once the meat is browned, drain the beef fat and add back to the pot. Add diced vegetables to the beef and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for about 20 minutes. Serve with toppings

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of choice. Avocado is one of my favorites to put on this one.

Makes: 4 servings Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 395 Total Fat: 11g Saturated Fat: 4g Cholesterol: 89mg Sodium: 1,420mg Carbohydrates: 64g Fiber: 14g Protein: 44g Nutrition 101: Talk about getting some vegetables into your soup. My kids aren’t huge fans of big chunks of vegetables in their soups/chilis, so by putting them into my food processor first, they are getting in all the vegetables without the chunks. If your family also isn’t a huge fan of beans, go ahead and put the beans in the processor with the vegetables. By buying your tomatoes already crushed you get the same result with the tomatoes. Enjoy the soup (and all the hidden veggies). 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.

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Vegan chili too!

21 Annual st

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Chili Feast 28TH

FEBRUARY

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2025

LUNCH 11:0011:00 AM - AM 1:30- 1:30 PM PM and DINNER 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

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Adult: $10 Children (12 and under): $5 Available from any Lions Club member or at the door.

Follow us on Facebook and www.shawneeoklions.org

Everyone is Invited!

al u n n Lion’s CLub hA

PATCH Coalition will be holding monthly meetings on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 12 p.m. Locations vary.

15t

Chili Feast The mission of PATCH is to improve the health and wellness of all residents through community partnerships and to reduce youth substance & alcohol use.

Friday, February 22, 2019 First Baptist Church PATCH Areas of Focus: Child under 10: $4.00 Adult: $7.00 • Tobacco Prevention & Control • Child Health • Obesity

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM and

4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

• Community Collaboration & Development • Mental Health & Substance Abuse • Prescription Drug Misuse/Abuse

Gateway to Prevention & Recovery For more information, contact Lindsey Smith with Gateway to Prevention and Recovery @ lindseysmith@gatewaytoprevention.org 8

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art of the matter

CREATIVE START Begin The New Year With Inspiration

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

W

e are embarking on another year hopefully filled with art and creativity.

We are kicking it off at the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art with Museum Selfie Day on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Come by the museum and take a selfie with your favorite piece. Do you prefer paintings or 3D objects? Realism or impressionism?

Appropriately, January is also International Creativity month. Begin the new year with creativity. It is what makes life fun.

A fun and creative piece in the museum is “As Kids Go” by Sam Gilliam.

As Kids Go by Sam Gilliam He created a print then added texture and paint to the surface. There are lots of colors and shapes swirling about the center. Sam Gilliam was an abstract painter, sculptor and art educator. While he was born in Mississippi, he lived most of his life in Washington D.C. He became well known in the 1960s for his drape paintings – large, unstretched canvas that he painted then draped outside buildings or in galleries.

In the 1970s, he started working with several printmaking techniques. In the 1980s, he experimented with angular, geometric canvases attached in a row and painted with bright acrylic paint.

His artwork can be found in museums across the country.

Another creative piece is by Absentee Shawnee and Seminole artist Benjamin Harjo Jr. He takes more traditional Native American themes and ideas and adds bright color and fun shapes. Benjamin worked primarily with gouache, pen and ink, and a variety of printmaking methods. In “Giving a Helping Hand,” the body of the person is abstracted into a variety of shapes and colors, but we can differentiate the face and the prominent hand.

Kim Camp’s “Good Morning Everybody! Sun’s Up and It’s Time for Toast > www.shawneeoutlook.com

9

and Coffee!” really does wake you up. Kim does not just paint on a surface but creates a three-dimensional heart figure with legs that dangle from the chair that juts out from the canvas. The heart figure is reading a paper and drinking coffee from a straw. The use of bright colors, unexpected materials and 3D elements makes even the grumpiest non-morning person smile. Kim is an Oklahoma City artist working in a variety of mediums.

Scan this code to visit Hopefully seeing a few bright, the Mabee-Gerrer colorful and creative pieces will Museum of Art’s atget your creative juices flowing. home project page.

For videos on other creative crafts, check out mgmoa.org/art-projects/

Creative Collage

Good Morning by Kim CampRomano

Supplies: paper, magazines, scissors, glue, paint Find images or parts of images that you like in magazines and cut them out.

Create a collage of images that you like by gluing those cut out images onto the paper.

Now add some colorful paint. S

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Swing by to check out our New Year Specials!

Let's GO

SMALL STEPS

S

Persistence Could Mean Big Changes, New Year Of Growth

BY JOHN BOBB-SEMPLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POTTAWATOMIE GO

ix years ago, I made a decision that changed my life: I lost 75 pounds. But I soon realized losing the weight wasn’t the end goal; it was just the start. It was about learning new habits, changing how I think and aligning my behaviors with what I value – discovering what it means to grow each day and bringing that energy to my community.

As we celebrate the start of a new year, many of us think about where we are and where we want to go. It’s a time full of hope – but it’s also a time to commit to making real changes. Did you know Bobb-Semple nearly a quarter of New Year resolutions fail in the first week? By the time you are reading this, 43 percent of that progress comes from persistence and support.

This perspective is at the heart of Pogo and our commuresolutions are often forgotten, and by mid-February, 80 percent have faded. Only 9 percent of people keep their res- nity's many aligned health initiatives. By working with committed partners – from the Pottawatomie County Health olutions for the whole year.

This isn’t about why we fail; it’s about how we can suc- Department and Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health Center to ceed. What if instead of aiming for a single goal, we fo- SSM Health and Gateway to Prevention and Recovery – the cused on growing and becoming better over time? This idea CHNA fosters a collaborative approach to tackling complex fits perfectly with the goals of the recently published Pot- challenges. These organizations bring unique strengths to tawatomie County Community Health Needs Assessment the table, but they share a common vision: a healthier, more (CHNA): identifying challenges and setting meaningful connected community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, be seen and heard. goals to improve our community.

That’s why initiatives like the CHNA are so important.

In 2024, more than 60 multi-sector partners in Pottawatomie County came together to conduct the county’s first Conducted every three years, the CHNA brings together comprehensive, community-driven CHNA. Their efforts healthcare providers, community groups, faith organizaengaged nearly 3,200 residents, highlighting the power of tions and policymakers to identify critical health needs working together. This milestone demonstrates what is pos- and develop strategies for lasting community-wide change. sible when we unite as a community to address challenges This year’s assessment – in partnership with the University and plan for a healthier future. Lasting change requires more of Oklahoma’s Hudson College of Public Health – engaged than willpower; it demands a supportive environment, clear nearly 5 percent of the county’s residents through surveys strategies and a willingness to adapt when things don’t go and community conversations. It’s a powerful example of what happens when we focus not just on problems but on as planned.

Growth isn’t about checking off a box. It’s about creating the potential for real improvements.

Following the 2021 CHNA, programs like Veggie Rx and a life and a community that matches our hopes and dreams for ourselves and our neighbors. That change in mindset mobile food services addressed health challenges like food insecurity, which impacts 19 percent of county residents. made all the difference for me.

When I started my weight-loss journey, I didn’t change These efforts align with the CHNA priorities of improving everything at once. I made small, sustainable adjustments to food access and nutrition; behavioral health; neighborhoods my diet and routine while relying on encouragement from and the built environment; and social connections and bethose around me. These small steps added up, showing me longing. By tackling these issues, the CHNA and upcoming www.shawneeoutlook.com

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Community Health Improvement Planning fosters a stronger, healthier community.

Our collective efforts extend beyond healthcare, but achieving these goals – both personally and as a community – is challenging. Whether it’s reducing the stigma of mental health or creating more opportunities for physical activity, meaningful progress often requires overcoming systemic barriers and sustained commitment from all stakeholders.

Ten percent of households rely on walking as a primary mode of transportation, while 9 percent depend on rides from friends or family – a statistic that highlights barriers to mobility and underscores the need for accessible opportunities for safe active transportation. This insight fits within the broader challenges of housing and transportation.

If you participated in the Groove Around the Globe Challenge this past fall, you’ve already made a fantastic start toward tackling some of our challenges. It showed how taking even small steps – such as walking more or sharing goals with friends – can spark real change.

Launching this January, the Stick to Your Resolution Challenge invites everyone to build lasting habits. Whether you want to improve your health or connect with others, the key is to take consistent steps forward. Check out the details on Pottawatomie Go’s social media.

Community-wide programs like Exercise and Eats or the upcoming Stick to Your Resolution Challenge encourage residents to set goals and follow through with them. These initiatives are critical, particularly when nearly a quarter of those lacking social connections report no physical activity outside of work during a normal week.

Another upcoming benefit for the overall well-being of our community is the Pottawatomie County Retreet program on March 8 that seeks to restore trees lost in the 2023 tornado, beautifying our community, improving mental health and encouraging physical activity. Sign up today for a tree or volunteer to help. Trees are available while supplies last.

Reflecting on my own journey, Scan the QR code I realize the parallels between per- to learn more about sonal and community growth. Both the Pottawatomie are rarely linear. They come with County Retreet setbacks, detours and moments of program.

doubt. Yet, they are also filled with breakthroughs, discoveries and triumphs that make the effort worthwhile. Whether you’re striving to improve your health, maintain your mental well-being or make a difference in your community, the journey of growth shapes us all – individually and collectively.

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That’s why community initiatives like the CHNA are vital. They create the conditions for success by addressing systemic barriers, fostering collaboration and empowering individuals to take charge of their health and well-being.

You can access the CHNA results at gopogo.org/chna.

As Maya Angelou said, “Every great journey starts with a single step.” As we look ahead to the new year, let’s build on that spirit. Let’s set inspiring goals that challenge us, help us grow and bring our community closer together. Let’s commit to becoming – not just for ourselves, but for each other.

Scan the QR code to Let’s embrace the challenges, access the results of the celebrate the progress and Pottawatomie County support one another along the Community Health way. Because the person you Needs Assessment. want to become isn’t waiting at the finish line; they’re with you every step of the way, growing, learning, and evolving. And that, more than any resolution, is a goal worth pursuing. S

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culture

STORYTELLING

CPN Members To Help With New Trail Of Death Art Installation Near Kansas City COURTESY OF CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION

C

Johnson County (Kansas) Park and Recreation District officials commissioned “Fire Keepers Circle” by artists Leah Yellowbird and Aaron Squadroni to tell the story of the Potawatomi Trail of Death with planned contributions from Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal members. ­­— Photos submitted

itizen Potawatomi Nation members have the chance to contribute to a Kansas art installation that will help tell the story of the Potawatomi Trail of Death to hundreds of thousands annual visitors.

The Johnson County Park and Recreation District in Kansas, announced last fall that “Fire Keepers Circle” by artists Leah Yellowbird and Aaron Squadroni was selected as the winning design from among three finalists.

“Fire Keepers Circle” consists of a panel that features four layers. The spiritual layer expresses the spirit of

the fire keepers. The trail path shows the route from Indiana to Kansas. The ancestral layer represents the number of Potawatomi who made the journey in 1838. The contemporary layer will include submissions from Potawatomi tribal members that will be imprinted on the metal.

The piece will be fabricated over a period of five to six months and then installed in the park. An official ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled for July 2025.

The announcement follows months of research, planning and consultation

with CPN tribal members. JCPRD officials appreciate CPN’s help to reach this important milestone.

“I’m just really grateful for all of the relationship building and the number of participants from Citizen Potawatomi Nation that just really helped guide the process and provided really great input,” said Susan Mong, JCPRD superintendent of culture. “I think the product is going to be amazing, but the process has been really beautiful to have everybody engaged.”

Mong said the county recognized the unique nature of this public art www.shawneeoutlook.com

>

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project and knew they would need to consult Native American artists for this special work.

“With all of our public art projects, we typically will put an artist call out,” Mong said. “In this case, it was across the nation. So, anybody across the United States that had an affiliation with a Native American tribe was invited to apply.”

Three finalists were selected and received the goals of the project and a site visit. The finalists also received a stipend to develop a design.

“It’s always our practice to have or to support three artists and pay them for their creativity to come up with those concepts,” Mong said. “We had this wonderful opportunity to share those three proposed designs not only with the community here in Johnson County, but also to bring those three designs down to the Reunion (Festival).

“That was really special to engage

Leah Yellowbird 14

www.shawneeoutlook.com

members of CPN from across the country around those designers and find out what emotions each of the three designs evoked in everybody. That’s so that we can get a sense of what people are gravitating towards.”

Considering the community input, the art selection committee then selected the winner.

“The community input coalesced around who we ended up selecting,” Mong said. “There seemed to be a lot of energy around ‘Fire Keepers Circle.’

“All three artists that were finalists were so heartfelt in the time and energy and emotion that they put into creating their proposal.”

Mong and other Johnson County officials were working with Yellowbird and Squadroni as the fabrication process begins, and community engagement will continue.

“The design of the piece includes (multiple) layers,” Mong said. “One is a contemporary layer that has all of these metallic feathers that are meant to have a little movement that will flutter in the wind. The imprints on those feathers are going to be created by members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation as a way to represent all of those lives and the beauty of the Tribe.”

Tribal members will have an opportunity to create a design and submit it to artist Leah Yellowbird. The designs will be imprinted on the metallic feathers of the piece’s contemporary layer.

“That’s going to be a really neat way for people all over the country to make

their mark on this piece through those individual feathers,” Mong said. “We’ll also have opportunities for people from all over the country to send a sentiment or a design or something that represents a loved one or something about their families.”

Yellowbird is assembling an informational packet that will help Tribal members add to part of the design that resembles a feather.

“We’re going to ask people to put a pattern on that feather, whether it’s a pattern that’s on your regalia that you wear, a pattern that your family uses on their regalia or it’s something you have in your house or something that you love, something that moves you,” Yellowbird said. “Draw the pattern on and then we’ll put it on the metal. And then they’ll be able to pick out their feather on the sculpture. I think it’s kind of cool to be a part of this memorial and say, ‘Here I am.’”

Yellowbird and Squadroni plan to begin their outreach to CPN Tribal members in January 2025.

The park located near the Kansas City area receives more than 800,000 visitors annually. JCPRD officials are also preparing for a large increase in visitors when the 2026 FIFA World Cup visits the region. Mong is hopeful this new art piece will help local and international visitors gain a greater understanding of some aspects of American history.

Mong said many tribal Nations have their own removal stories but not every

story is acknowledged. Working on the public art project has helped her gain a greater understanding of history, an experience she hopes others will appreciate.

“It’s been a really great journey for me to just learn about what that next generation is doing to keep the memory, to keep the story and that pride of that connection alive,” Mong said. “I’m interested to learn more because I know that this is really the tip of the iceberg of other events that have happened around me and places I grew up.”

In addition to the art, Mong said the county is planning an interpretive panel near the art that will explore some of the history involved. CPN will be involved in the production of the panel as well, she said. She also was deeply grateful for the chance to meet Tribal citizens at the 2024 Family Reunion Festival and to connect with the Cultural Heritage Center staff.

“Everyone who did offer feedback

at the Family Reunion, each comment was read by our committee and was appreciated,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to the (CPN) community and the staff of the Cultural Center.

And for everybody that took time during the Festival to provide that feed-

back, it was really important and really appreciated.”

To learn more about the Johnson County Heritage Park public art project, visit cpn.news/heritagepark.

Follow Yellowbird’s work at facebook.com/LeahYellowbirdArt. S

Get local help with your Medicare questions I’m Ryan Busler, a licensed sales agent in Shawnee, Oklahoma. When it comes to Medicare, it’s important to consider all of your options. What works well for your neighbor may not be the best fit for you. I know the ins and outs of Medicare, and I’m ready to answer your questions and help you find a plan that fits your needs.

Call today to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans in your area Ryan Busler Licensed Sales Agent 405-256-3342, TTY 711 ryan@navigatingrx.com www.navigatingrxcom Sí, hablo su idioma.

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community

HERO’S RETURN

Korean War Veteran's Remains Returned To Family 70 Years Later

BY DAVID DINSMORE

M

ore than 70 years after going missing in action, a Korean War veteran returned home to Oklahoma last fall to be buried with his family thanks to new technology and the tenacity of relatives he never met.

Jesse Leroy Mitchell was born Feb. 3, 1929, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to

Jesse Leroy Mitchell died in a Korean prisoner of war camp in 1951 and remained interred in Hawaii from 1954 until DNA testing helped identify him in early 2024 before returning last fall to Shawnee for burial with his family.

Jesse Junior Mitchell and Bertha Lenore Baggs Mitchell.

In 1948, Leroy enlisted in the U.S. Army and re-enlisted March 22, 1950.

He was stationed at Fort Ord, California, in April 1950 and eventually deployed to Korea as part of Charlie Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division.

Later that year, Leroy’s family in Shawnee received a telegram informing them that the Army had declared him missing in action as of Nov. 4, 1950, said Daniel Mitchell, Leroy’s nephew who later helped his family in its search for answers. With diplomatic relations www.shawneeoutlook.com

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between the U.S. and North Korea nonexistent at the time, the latter provided no published list of prisoners of war captured during that time.

They later discovered the North Koreans had assigned the captured Cpl. Mitchell to Camp #5 near Pyoktong.

Little information exists as to the exact conditions of the camp outside of reports from other troops imprisoned there, but those accounts indicate an environment rife with illness, malnutrition and exposure.

After the signing of an armistice in the summer of 1953, more information became available as prisoners of war began returning after their release.

“They interviewed the survivors to try and see who they knew in the camps who died,” said Daniel, who received his middle name of Leroy in honor of the uncle who was killed four years before he was born.

A handful of men from Camp #5 stated they knew that North Korean forces had captured Leroy and held him there until he died in late August 1951.

The Army was able to then confirm for his family back in Oklahoma that he had died as a prisoner of war.

In 1954, Operation Glory helped secure the return of remains of fallen service members to the U.S. where attempts at identification took place.

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Processing procedures by North Korean forces included the confiscation of dog tags and other identifying materials from prisoners of war as they entered camps, and these did not always return with the remains. Given the resources and methods available at the time, officials could not positively discern the names of hundreds of those who returned.

The military laid many to rest in The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – also known as the Punchbowl Cemetery – on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii.

Leroy’s parents had settled in Shawnee and lived here for most of their lives. Leroy’s younger and only brother, Billy Joe Mitchell, had joined the Army during the war as well, but he never deployed to the Korean theater as part of a sole survivor policy that kept the only remaining son or daughter from facing combat as made famous most recently by the film, “Saving Private Ryan.” This ensured Daniel’s father returned to the family after the war.

The effect of Leroy’s death and the

aftermath, however, hung over the family for most of Daniel’s upbringing as he could recall.

“Every time I would talk to my grandparents or my father about Leroy, they usually wouldn’t talk very much,” Daniel said. “It was usually three or four sentences, and then it was over.”

Daniel, however, still had the desire to find answers for his family despite limited information and unforeseen setbacks, such as a 1971 fire at a facility in St. Louis housing military records from the Korean War time period.

Decades later, he was working as an electrical engineer at Tinker Air Force Base when he discovered information about the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which is an agency within the U.S. Department of Defense whose mission is to recover and identify unaccounted personnel listed as prisoners of war or missing in action from designated past conflicts from countries around the world.

Using the little information he’d received from his father and grandparents, he began researching and

connecting with organizations and individuals working in that same vein to help return fallen service members home. Many were family members of other veterans of the conflict sharing what information they had in case it could help someone find a long-lost loved one and in hopes someone else may have information they could use.

One of the administrators of the Korean War Project at koreanwar.org reached out to Daniel about providing DNA samples to the DPAA. He received a kit from the agency in 2013 and sent his sample for analysis.

Two years passed before he received a response, which was an inquiry as to whether there were any other closer living relatives than a nephew who could provide mitochondrial DNA as passed down by the same mother. Leroy’s brother was still living, and Daniel and the DPAA worked to collect a sample in 2015.

Billy Joe Mitchell passed away the following year before any response came from the DPAA. Daniel continued his search and

continued seeking new information that could help bring Leroy home.

In April 2024, one of Daniel’s sisters stopped by his home unexpectedly to deliver the news that she had just gotten a phone call from the DOD. The news puzzled Daniel until she revealed the reason for the call.

“They’ve found Leroy,” she told him.

After the phone call, they received a personal visit from an agency member who explained to them the process undertaken to identify their uncle more than 70 years after his death.

In the time since the Mitchells submitted their father’s DNA sample, the DPAA received funds from Congress to exhume the remains of those buried at the Punchbowl in Hawaii. The Mitchell family learned that Leroy had returned to the U.S. as part of Operation Glory in 1954, and the DPAA had identified him in the last group of those they analyzed.

Mitchell arrived at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City on Oct. 8 in preparation for his final honors.

The family arranged with Walker Funeral & Cremation Service in Shawnee to have Leroy’s remains returned to the resting place of his parents. Active duty personnel from Fort Sill provided military honors for Leroy’s ceremony in Shawnee, and Walker documented Leroy’s return and ceremony in a video posted to his obituary page available at www.walkerfuneral.com.

“What was important to us was that this man was honored properly and that a light would shine on him appropriately as it should for all who have served as he did,” said Mark Riley, owner and president of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.

Riley said he was not aware of how much the DPAA is currently doing to return fallen heroes to their families like this.

“It was amazing to be a part of honoring someone who made this kind of sacrifice for others,” Riley said.

After his experience, Daniel said he would love to see the DPAA receive wider attention than it currently does.

“Their job seems just impossible, but they’ve got thousands of stories of people they’ve identified from World War II to Korea to Vietnam,” said Daniel, who added he encourages everyone he meets to contact them about missing loved ones. “You need to go to DPAA. mil and contact them. They need all the information we can provide.”

The DPAA’s work – along with Daniel’s determination and patience – have helped bring about a sense of closure for the Mitchell family.

“One of the things I have been telling everybody (since the identification of Leroy’s remains) is that when you have an MIA in your family, you have this small hope in your heart that maybe they could be found,” Daniel said. “One of the things I can be proud of his service is that … in South Korea today, there are millions of free people walking around that his service helped with.” S www.shawneeoutlook.com

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over the fence

DON’T BOTHER

Drastic Changes In Definition Of ‘Neighborly’

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BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

ave you ever in your lifetime kids anyway. Living peacefully disconnected lives – though borrowed a cup of sugar certainly tempting at times – surely cannot create the kind of from a neighbor? Have you community we all want. ever collected a neighbor’s newspaper A few years ago, I read a true while he was out of town? Or have you story about a rare neighbor. He ever watched a neighbor’s child while was a senior adult in his mid-80s she ran errands? I’ll bet you have probaliving alone, and a young family bly experienced this kind of neighborliness with a two-year-old daughter moved at one point or another. I sure have. In fact, these in next door. He and the two-year-old kinds of things were quite common when I was became quick friends. The neighbor growing up 30 years ago. However, the landscape of was kind and gentle, and he grew to love the little American neighborhoods is shifting. girl. He looked forward to watching her grow up, During the mid-2000s, two faculty psychiatrists but sadly the neighbor passed. Soon after, the elderly from Harvard Medical School, Jacqueline Olds and neighbor’s daughter came by with a large plastic sack.

Richard Schwartz, observed that the definition of Brandon Dyer He must have known he was dying soon because in “neighborly” had not only changed during the past the sack were Christmas presents for the little girl for 50 years, it had nearly reversed. Being “neighborly” during the next 13 years. He had always commented that he would the post-World War II era meant bringing food to a grieving live to be 100, and he had bought enough gifts to see the little neighbor, sharing yard tools or stopping by to check in when girl through her 16th birthday. I don’t know this man’s name, you hadn’t seen a neighbor in a few days. but he deserves to have this beautiful story told.

Now, they noted, the opposite is becoming truer. A “neighWhy? borly” homeowner would never stop by unannounced for fear Because he represented to us what it should mean to be of appearing rude or intrusive. “Neighborly” means not play- “neighborly.” He reminded us again of the basic goodness ing loud music and not letting one’s yard get out of hand. Now, present in humankind. Sure, it’s an incredibly touching story. one of the best compliments given to a neighbor is that they Most of us couldn’t write a story like that if we tried, but amid don’t bother anyone. Yep. “Not bothering anyone” is frequently the extraordinary, let’s not miss the ordinary. This neighbor considered a neighborly accolade. How can this be? simply took the time to care with intention. On purpose. Yes, To me, “not bothering anyone” shares more in common it developed into the makings of a Hallmark movie, but it with indifference than it does to any definition of neighborli- begs the following question for those of us who feel overness I’ve ever known. And a neighborhood ideal of “indiffer- whelmed with the frenetic pace of life we have created: What ence” doesn’t sound like the sort of place I want to raise my beautiful gifts are we forfeiting when we fail to notice the people around us?

Yes, it developed into the makings This young couple probably wasn’t in the market for a new friendship.

They likely would have told you they didn’t have of a Hallmark movie, but it begs the time to get to know their neighbors. I’ll bet their social circle following question for those of us who already seemed full. Besides, being neighborly these days feel overwhelmed with the frenetic pace means leaving each other alone, but each Christmas for the next few years, they’ll be reminded – especially their little girl of life we have created: What beautiful – that we are better off together. gifts are we forfeiting when we fail to May 2025 be the year you make room for one more in notice the people around us? your circle. S

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RISING TIDE

Tragedy Leads To New Parks, Safety Measures After 1928 Flood

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BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER

ow many times have you driven down some of its fledgling stage and not designed to alleviate that possiShawnee streets close to downtown or gone over bility. Work began with help from the city, state and federal “tunnels” that you didn’t even realize were there? governments and also from organizations, individuals and Or crossed over a bridge or maybe even glanced out the car companies. window to see deep cement-sided creeks and maybe, just The trenches were dug deep along the path of Shawnee maybe, wondered how and why they came to be?

Creek to ensure the water would flow away from citizens’ Have you been to Redbud Park on Dill Street between homes and businesses. Ideas also began developing as the Broadway and Beard Streets? Or been across the street at system meandered into what was the middle of town at the Larch-Miller Park for a picnic? time. Why not use the system to These two park areas have beautify the area as well? It was those very deep man-made a long, expensive and tedious ditches. Remember just earlier project, but after seeing what this year when east Main Street could happen if the river wasn’t was blocked off for several tamed, the workers were eager. months when a new bridge was Plans were made to also utibuilt over a very deep ditch? lize the area for the citizens of How do all these long-time Shawnee – not just for safety projects connect in Shawnee? but for beautification. So once And why? the huge trenches were conBack in April 1928, the structed – often 15 to 20 feet town was deluged with more deep and wide in some places than seven inches of rain in a Redbud Park and Larch-Miller Park near the – rails were placed around the very short period of time. That intersections of Dill Street and Broadway and Beard edges for safety, and city leadcame from beautification ideas tied to projects in itself could cause flooding, meant to protect residents after flooding damaged ers and volunteer organizations but because – unbeknownst to and destroyed 153 homes and 26 businesses in appropriated funds to keep the many – Shawnee is bordered Shawnee in April 1928. — Photo submitted areas maintained for citizens to in the south and the east sides enjoy. by the North Canadian River. That same river runs through Even today, driving just north of Wallace Street on BroadOklahoma City – now called the Oklahoma River that par- way you can see the parks on both sides of the street. Stop tially serves as a tourist attraction – and all the way this way and visit, use the picnic tables and admire the work so many to the east and beyond. were involved in nearly 100 years ago. At one time, there was A tributary from that river also comes up through the east a little house kept up by the Garden Club on the Beard Street side of town, and years ago was dubbed Shawnee Creek. On corner and used by groups like the Camp Fire Girls. In the that day in 1928, it flooded. It wasn’t just a “flood.” Six people past, those parks were one of the top spots used for personal died, and nearly every home and business in the East Main and professional photography. area up to Tucker Street was destroyed. One hundred and Some citizens today aren’t as aware of the “low places” fifty three families lost their homes, and 26 businesses were nearer to the east side of downtown that runs to the northdamaged or completely destroyed. There was a total loss of west, but because of the foresight of early city leaders, it’s no $300,000, which today would be well into the millions. longer a flooding issue. On top of that, we have some beautiCity leaders took charge with concerns that this could ful little parks. They’re simple little parks and still well kept, happen again. The drainage system in Shawnee was still in but they came about because of tragedy. S www.shawneeoutlook.com

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mental health

SETTING BOUNDARIES

S

Finding Ways To Separate Work From Self

BY ALICJA CARTER

etting boundaries at work is a process

For many of us, setting boundaries at work is a process. Personally, my process started with experiencing a number of consequences from not having limits. These manifested in the form of severe migraines, increased alcohol consumption, Carter an uneventful social life, pressure in my chest and immediate feelings of dread and resentment when I opened my eyes in the morning.

It was only after getting fired from a previous job that I finally surrendered and admitted I could not be the end all do all. I walked around in a daze for the following three weeks, trying to uncover who I was outside of keeping others happy and getting the job done.

Even though my previous employer left much to be desired, it was me who ignored the red flags, avoided asking for help and refused to walk away. I was going to take me with me wherever I went next and would eventually drive myself into the ground again. I had to reprioritize my values.

I decided to put my mental, emotional and physical wellness at the top and made a promise never to sacrifice it again … for anyone. I still valued harmony and progress but no longer at my own expense. Whether I believed it or not, I had to act as if I deserved care, too. I had to keep a hold of the tools and teachings that I kept passing along to everyone else. I had to get comfortable being uncomfortable and ask for what I needed to be okay.

Setting boundaries at work is challenging

• Helping and producing makes you feel good about yourself and gives you a sense of purpose.

• You are excited about your work and get great satisfaction and enjoyment from it. The more the better.

• Others are working just as hard and need a break, too. Setting a boundary may mean that the work doesn’t get done, or worse yet, others have to pick up your slack.

• Saying “no” or asking for what you need may cause others to be irritated or upset with you.

• You have been ignored, reprimanded, teased or fired from previous employment when you ad-

vocated for yourself.

• Asking for help and support makes you feel like a burden on others.

Setting boundaries at work is doable

Boundaries can look different for everyone and can change as needed. Here are a few examples of what boundaries could look and sound like at work. Of course, these may all be easier said than done, but it doesn’t mean these actions are impossible or unnecessary. They just might take some time and support.

• Set and stick to your working hours, even if you’re working from home. Consider putting a message at the bottom of your email that reminds people when you will be available to answer emails. Make www.shawneeoutlook.com

27

>

plans for yourself outside of work so that you will be less likely to stay late or take on more.

• Get out of your own head and work with your manager to get clarity on organizational, team and individual priorities — then prioritize ruthlessly. And remember, not everything is a priority. Next time you need to create some space in your calendar, consider saying, “Thanks for thinking of me for this project.

Unfortunately, I just don’t have the capacity to take it on right now. I’m happy to help in the future, but I’ll need more notice to fit it into my schedule.”

• Remember that your coworkers' feelings, attitudes and behaviors may not require your input or energy. You are welcome to allow them to ride their own wave. If it begins to affect you, you are within your rights to have a conversation with them or notify your supervisor.

Setting boundaries at work is necessary

Setting boundaries with your colleagues and encouraging them to do it with you can enhance your understanding and connection with one another, lead to more realistic goal setting and increase your sense of work satisfaction.

Defining and maintaining your personal boundaries ensures that you will be cared for. Oftentimes, we over help and over produce in hopes that this out-

pouring will fill our cups. We hope that the people we care for will be sure to care for us in return. The money we make will relieve our fears of the future. Our many achievements will prove us worthy. However, all we are doing is teaching people that we are always available to give and all we need from them is to take, and we are left feeling empty. Rather than giving our energy away to external things hoping that it will come back to us, let’s just start with us. Let’s put first things first and ensure that we are cared for. Then we can evaluate how much is left to give and who is deserving to receive it.

If you need additional support, do not hesitate to text or call 988. You can

call if you are feeling sad, down, scared, worried, or even lonely. You can also reach out if you are in a mental health crisis and need immediate support. A trained professional is on the other end of the line ready and waiting to connect with you.

You are also more than welcome to contact Gateway to Prevention and Recovery at (405) 273-1170 ext. 0. S Alicja Carter, MHR, BHWC, is the Wellness Director at Gateway to Prevention and Recovery.

She has worked in the behavioral health and addiction treatment field for 15 years. Alicja is passionate about living a well life and collaborating with others for the purpose of stimulating positive change in her community.

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NATIVE CONNECTIONS GRANT PROGRAM Hi ko te wa Ke ka “Journey to Heal” • Promotes the health and well-being of Native youth who represent the future health of their communities.

• Promotes suicide and substance abuse prevention resources to our tribal members as well as our community.

• Helps American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities identify and address behavioral health needs of our Native youth.

• Encourages youth to develop strong bonds by arranging activity schedules around the AI/ AN youth and provide consistency (regularly scheduled activities).

• Supports grantees in reducing suicidal behavior and substance use among Native youth up to age 24, and supporting youth as they transition into adulthood.

• Plans monthly events for AI/AN youth and their families to attend. The grant has reached out for Native Instructors to teach our AI/AN youth traditional, native skills.

118 24

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Happy New Year!

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IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMIND OUR AI/AN YOUTH OF THEIR CULTURE AND END GENERATIONAL TRAUMA. If you would like more info about our program, or would like to volunteer as an instructor, please reach out to Valerie Scarberry, MA by email at vscarberry@astribe.com or by phone (405) 827-6489.

AST Native Connections is committed to meeting the needs of our community! www.shawneeoutlook.com

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calendar Jan. 1-Feb. 16: The MabeeGerrer Museum of Art will host the Called by God: The Art of Religious Life special exhibit through Feb.16 featuring artwork ranging from the sixteenth century to contemporary that includes monks, nuns, priests, and other people who have dedicated their lives to God. Curator of collections Delaynna Trim will lead a reception and gallery talk at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the museum at 1900 W. MacArthur. Information: mgmoa.org Jan. 16: The Friends of the Shawnee Library will host a luncheon and membership meeting at noon at 101 N. Philadelphia. Memberships, new or renewed, can be purchased at the door.

Joshua Brunet, a talented illustrator of children's books, will present a program on his work.

Jan. 17: The Shawnee Public Library will host Art Fun! at 10 a.m. at the library at 101 N. Philadelphia, giving children and their caregivers the chance to explore their interests and discover one of the many ways that they can express themselves through art as part of the library’s Creativity Unleashed series.

Information: (405) 275-6353 Jan. 19: Celebrate Dolly Day, a nationwide celebration of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Dolly Parton's 79th birthday.

Sign a birthday card to say 30

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Happy Birthday to Dolly and Thank You for Dolly Parton Imagination Library from 2-4 p.m. at the Shawnee Public Library. Information: (405) 275-6353 Jan. 21: Join the Shawnee Public Library for a painting class taught by the one and only Bob Ross as participants watch one of his specials and follow along with their own paints and canvases. Art supplies will be provided.

Registration required.

Information: (405) 275-6353 Feb. 1: Surrender to the classic rock sounds of Cheap Trick that made voting members want to want them as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road. Information: firelakearena.com Feb. 2: 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 Feb. 6: Kids can ignite their curiosity and creativity with the Shawnee Public Library’s STEAM Kids series with this month focusing on the investigation of Bee-Bots.

Information: (405) 275-6353 Feb. 7: Songwriter Night @ Music Unlimited is back with Janice Francis-Smith

as this month’s featured artists at 7 p.m. at 1109 W. Kickapoo Spur. Information: kevinhall8384@gmail.com Feb. 7: Redeemer Lutheran Church will host a free monthly movie night presented by for a fun night of fellowship, movie, pop and popcorn at 7 p.m. at 39307 MacArthur St. Parents and grandparents can enjoy a worry-free evening of movie entertainment while the kids watch an age-appropriate movie.

Information: facebook.com/ redeemerlutheranshawnee Feb.7-16: Shawnee Little Theatre will stage a production of Misery, the story of an injured novelist recovering in the home of an obsessive fan based on a 1987 Stephen King and adapted for film in 1990.

This nail-biting cat-andmouse game will have audiences on the edges of their seats. Information: shawneelittletheatre.org Feb. 8: Blacktop Mojo with special guest Brayden Stewart will rock the stage with a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main. Information: ritzshawnee.com Feb. 15: Comedian and “country boy counselor” Teddy White Tee will take the mic along with special guest Matt Ferrell for a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at

10 W. Main. Information: ritzshawnee.com Feb. 22: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host a monthly SWANshop art workshop from 9 a.m. to noon focusing on art and nature. These workshops will feature a monthly theme with this month’s participants exploring and expressing sources of love, compassion and emotional balance, growth and healing energies of nature.

Information: mgmoa.org/ swanshops S If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@ shawneeoutlook.com.

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SHAWNEE 405-273-2002 smileshawnee.com

HARRAH 405-445-6999 smileharrah.com

DR. RENALLA ELLIS

DR. COLIN ROBERTSON

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS. CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

Gordon Cooper Technology Center – Public Safety Center One John C Bruton Blvd • Shawnee, OK 74804

210-596-9406

www.shawneeoutlook.com

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