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The American Experience | Boxer Has Learned How Winning Is Done

Dragginâ€™ Main AUGUST 17 Vol. 14 Number 6

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Consistency is the Mark of a Champion CONGRATS TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO COMMITTED TO BETTERING THEMSELVES THIS SUMMER. We want to thank Shawnee Public Schools, Avedis Foundation, the coaches, and all the parents for making this summerâ€™s Performance Course training program a success! We had over 200 participants representing many sports and backgrounds and we look forward to seeing their hard work pay off during the 2017-2018 sports seasons. We will be offering more trainings throughout the semester. For more information about our programs, please contact Jeff Diamond (405) 834-1308. 4

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CONTENTS

AUGUST 2017

Publisher

Okie Icon Media

Managing Editor

David Dinsmore

Advertising Sales

Brad Carter

Creative Direction

Kelsey Walker & Fawn Wilson Olivarez

Cover Photo

David Dinsmore

Writers

Jamie Bergsten

Andrea Beck

Alicja Carter

Dr. Lori Crow

David Dinsmore

Ann McDonald

Angela Rowland

Thresa Swadley

FEATURES 9 Shawnee Indie Rock Group Lemon Tie Blend Styles, Saxophone for Unique Sound 12 Downtown Auto Body Owner Revs Up New Business 14 Boxer Has Learned How Winning is Done Ahead of Main Event Title Fight 18 The American Experience: In the Pool 22 Healthy Ways to Get Back on Track Before School Starts 23 ‘Little’ Efforts Have ‘Big’ Impact on Shawnee Kids’ Lives 25 Poverty Workshop Grad Drafting ‘Blueprints’ for Success

Distribution

The Shawnee Outlook is delivered FREE

by direct mail to 25,000 homes and

businesses.

PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 E-mail: info@shawneeoutlook.com

To Advertise call Brad at (405) 445-3033.

DEPARTMENTS 6 KEEP THE CHANGE 6 NUTRITION 101 20 SONIC CONTEST 21 SHAWNEE HISTORY

26 MENTAL HEALTH 30 ART GUIDE

27 Former Wolves Player Set to Lead the Pack 29 For Antique Gun Show Duo, Old West is Best

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

Reconsidering Credit Credit cards often get a bad rap, and for the most part it’s well-earned. However, I fully believe that credit cards are a tool. Like most tools, if used without care, much harm can be done, but if used wisely they can be quite useful and constructive. Now before I get hate mail, I know that in an ideal world a cash-based system would be the best way to deter overspending. I also know, though, that in my busy life I don’t always have time to keep up with cash. Credit cards can protect you in the event of fraud, making them safer to use in places where information is stolen more easily like online and at gas stations. Be sure to use a budgeting software like YNAB to track your spending so you aren’t spending money you don’t have. Did you know credit cards can also make money for you? Assuming you don’t carry a balance and therefore do not owe interest nor carry a card with an annual fee, a good reward card can really be a boon to the budget. Many cards offer easy rewards programs with retailers like Amazon or Sam’s Club, offering you cash or credit for things you actually buy. Consider saving up rewards to help your Christmas budget – you could add quite a cushion for gift money. Our mortgage company even offers a card to help us pay down our home loan with rewards. Look for a card with rewards you can use. In addition, many stores offer credit cards. I do not recommend signing up for every card offered, but if a store you shop at often offers a card that will save you money on every purchase I think it’s a wise choice. Maybe it’s time you took a new look at credit. If you’d like to read more about my frugal journey, scan the QR code to visit my blog on the topic!

Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and even posts some of her favorite tips and deals on her blog (steadfaststeward.blogspot.com)

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NUTRITION 101 Pregnancy Doesn’t Have to Stop You Completely As many of my readers know, I am currently eight months pregnant with my second sweet boy. So, if you are thinking about getting pregnant, or are already pregnant, this article is for you. A healthy pregnancy is very important to everyone. You are not only taking care of yourself, but taking care of the health of a tiny, growing baby. It is mind-blowing what a woman’s body is capable of doing. The thought of growing another human being is pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, I see many women stop exercising during this important time. Exercise helps so much with pregnancy. Unless your doctor says otherwise, this is not a time to quit but rather a time to keep your body strong. During the first trimester, it can be very hard to want to stay active. Most days after my daily routine, all I would want to do is sleep, but my friends at the gym helped me keep going during this time. Even just one support person to meet at the gym can be very helpful. Make sure to still get plenty of sleep along the way to help grow that precious baby. My doctor told me my maximum heart rate while running and the maximum amount of weight to lift safely. You can get these numbers from your doctor as well. Knowing these numbers helps ensure the safety of the baby while you are taking care of your body. Exercising while pregnant helps you mentally as well. Sometimes we just need that “me time” to forget about life stresses and just enjoy you. Having a stronger body can help you during the actual delivery and during recovery as well. We all want to get back to where we were as soon as possible. The more “in shape” your body is, the quicker this will happen. During the summer, it can be very hot outside. Make sure to either do your exercise during the cool parts of the day or inside. Water is a must before, during and after exercise to help keep you cool. Be sure and don’t overdo it but keep moving throughout your pregnancy. If you need help setting up a plan while you are trying to get pregnant or now that you are pregnant, please contact me and I would love to help. See below for one of my favorite pregnancy snacks.

Frozen Banana Bites As I mentioned above, taking care of your body physically during pregnancy is very important. We also need to take care of our bodies during this time with our nutrition. When craving chocolate, this is a great go-to snack. Ingredients: 3 bananas ½ cup dark chocolate chips

1/3 cup nut butter

Directions Slice half of the bananas and place on a foil-lined pan. Spread the nut butter on top of the cut bananas. Slice the other half of the bananas and sandwich them on top of the nut butter. Freeze the bananas for 15 to 20 minutes. While the bananas are in the freezer, melt the chocolate in the microwave in a glass bowl for one minute, stir the chocolate until smooth. Dip the bananas into the melted chocolate and place back onto the foil. Put the bananas back in the freezer for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened. Makes 6 servings Nutritional Information Calories: 230 Total Fat: 14g Saturated Fat: 4.5g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 2mg Total Carbohydrates: 28g Dietary Fiber: 4g Protein: 4g Nutrition 101: Potassium is very important for your body during this time. Bananas can be put in smoothies, eaten on cereals or just grab one for an on-the-go snack. Your body needs this important nutrient, so don’t skip out. Andrea Beck, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer, received her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from UCO in Edmond. She offers her nutrition consulting services, personal training and strongHER workouts through Anytime Fitness Shawnee. Andrea offers personalized meal plans and workout plans. Andrea specializes in weight loss, running, childhood obesity, pregnancy health and diabetes. Andrea is an active member of Junior Service League and her church, Life Church. For nutrition or exercise questions, you can contact Andrea at andrea.beck@anytimefitness.com

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Shawnee Indie Rock Group Lemon Tie Blend Styles, Saxophone for Unique Sound Lemon Tie is a new pop rock band that has made its home in Shawnee. The group originally came together to play for Arts Trek at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in 2016. By the time they took the stage again in 2017, they had produced an EP and started their own recording studio. They are currently in the process of making a music video. Lemon Tie’s musicians are Ashley Berry on vocals and rhythm guitar; Jon Tucker on lead guitar; Matthew Roland on baritone sax; and Wesley Eaves on drums. Berry and Roland serve as the group’s songwriters. A unique feature of the band is that they use baritone saxophone for the “bass” of the band instead of using a more traditional upright bass or bass guitar, Roland said. This was not an intentional decision in the beginning, and they even wrote the first couple of songs for bass guitar and upright bass. But then Roland played the lines on the baritone sax and it became their signature sound. “The bari sax has a natural magnetism to the sound,” Berry said. The band’s name originally came from a song that Berry wrote that had a line that used the phrase “cherry tie.” “We did not think that Cherry Tie worked for the name of our band so we began substituting other fruits with the word ‘tie,’” Roland said. “Someone finally said Lemon Tie, and it stuck.”

Drummer Wesley Eaves, guitarist Jon Tucker, vocalist Ashley Berry and saxophonist Matthew Roland make up the new indie band Lemon Tie. Photo submited

Though all of the band members had known each other for years, they were all previously playing and working in very different styles of bands, they said. They describe their creative process as being four individual styles that ultimately come together creating their unique sound. Berry composes the lyrics and melodies of their songs and then brings them to the band with her rhythm guitar, she said. They then jam together with Eaves laying down a beat on his drums, Roland creating a bass line on his saxophone and Tucker working his magic on the lead guitar. The band’s first EP, “The Vacant Walls,” is a group of five songs with all of the lyrics by Berry, they said. It is an interesting mix of styles, and one

sees why the group’s sound has been compared to The Cranberries, Violent Femmes and Barenaked Ladies. The band’s members are never quite sure how well founded are the comparisons that people make for their music, Berry said jokingly, but they do agree that they tend to have a bright-colored, 1980s neon style to their sound. In the beginning, the band spent most of its time playing outdoor festivals, including Norman Arts Walk, the Oklahoma City Arts Festival and the Plaza Art Walk, Berry said. They will be returning to the Ada Fest on Aug. 26. They have begun to play at more indoor venues and will be playing for the gallery opening of Untitled in the Deep Deuce district in Oklahoma City on Aug. 31. They said they hope to eventu-

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ally expand and tour outside the state of Oklahoma. The group also wants to help other bands and musicians that are starting out, they began a recording studio that will travel to wherever the groups are comfortable rehearsing, said Kane Berry, Lemon Tie’s manager. Roland and he do most of the studio work. “It is easier on new artists to record where they are comfortable,” Kane Berry said. “We take the studio to them and assist them with promoting themselves.” Like most musicians, the band members combine their love of music with the practicality of needing other streams of income to make a living, they said. As mentioned, Kane Berry and Roland run the recording studio while Tucker and Eaves both play with other bands in the Ada area. Ashley Berry is a vocal performance major at East Central University. In the future the members of the band said they hope to one day make Lemon Tie their full time job. “Every musician’s dream is to make a living doing what they love,” Berry said. They hope to have a music video and second album completed by the end of August, Berry said. Those interested in learning more can visit facebook.com/thelemontie or their website at lemontie.bandcamp. com.

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Live Longer, Better

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY Inspired by the world’s longest-lived cultures, Blue Zones Project® is all about making healthy choices easier right here in Pottawatomie County. Grab some friends, family, or neighbors and join us for an upcoming Kickoff Event. You’ll learn more about opportunities this Project is bringing to our community and discover how you can help lead the way to a better Pottawatomie County. Event is free and fun for all ages.

August 26th | 10 am - 12 pm Performing Arts & Athletic Center Shawnee High School Gym

RSVP and learn more: BlueZonesProjectPottawatomieCounty

communityrenewal.org To RSVP for Info Lunch on August 16 at 11:30, email maile@communityrenewel.org Info lunches held every second Wednesday.

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Join City, Tribal, County and State Emergency Responders as they combine forces with one another to host Cops N Kids Event on Saturday, August 26 from 1-4 p.m. at 101 E. Highland

Events will include: * Rides in emergency vehicles and the opportunity to safely experience emergency responder equipment * Dunk tank * Face painting * Games and scavenger hunt * Inflatables * Finger printing * Petting zoo

* Prizes and giveaways * Bicycle maintenance and bike rodeo (kids must provide their own bikes to participate in the bike rodeo) * Car seat checks * Fire alarm giveaways * Tow sack races * 3 Legged Races ood and

F will drinks ded i be prov ts! to gues

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Downtown Auto Body Owner Revs Up New Business The key to top-finish auto body work is in the details. Mikey Johnson, owner of Downtown Auto Body at 118 W. Main St., has learned since opening his shop earlier this year that the same goes for running your own business. “You can’t learn just one aspect of the business, because if you only learn one aspect it kind of locks you in,” Johnson said. “Learn everything from the front door to the back door.” Johnson’s career with cars began long before he opened Downtown Auto Body, however, as he found tinkering with classic cars got his motor running at the age of 14, he said. “The hot rods got me here,” Johnson said. “Once I built some and messed with them, I wanted to learn everything about them.” After high school, he enrolled in programs at Gordon Cooper Technology Center and Francis Tuttle Technology Center to pick up all he could about not only classic cars but also repairing and working on newer production cars as well. As he was going through those programs, he built up professional experience working in body shops in Shawnee and Oklahoma City and made contacts he drew from later when starting his own shop, Johnson said. Those contacts were able to provide a lot of perspective and lessons from which he has drawn in the last few months. As someone who has seen his share of dream cars come across the shop floor, Johnson is familiar with the concept of building something that will go the long haul, he said. “Everybody’s dream when you’re in a body shop as a technician … is for it to be yours,” Johnson said. “I want something that’s lasting.” Part of that dream included having a showroom window, Johnson said. He and his staff feature cars in the showroom facing Main Street that have earned honors at top shows like 12

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Classics on display are only part of the attraction for new customers of Downtown Auto Body, which offers a full line of repairs and service whether part of an insurance claim or otherwise. Photos by David Dinsmore

the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas and in magazines, and the skills it took to catch that kind of attention are the ones he expects his crew to bring to every repair. These types of window displays are a little more common in body shops in larger cities, but Johnson said he wants to make sure Downtown Auto Body keeps a small town feel while providing the best service with top of the line techniques and equipment, such as their premium downdraft paint booth. The display cars also have caught the attention of people passing by his shop, which is in the same location as a previous body shop, Johnson said. “You’d be amazed how many have come down to see what cars we’ve put in here,” Johnson said. Johnson’s drive to succeed not only as a technician but now as a shop owner also caught the attention of former instructors, who recommended recent Gordon Cooper graduate RaeLynn Burk check out opportunities for on the job training with Johnson, she said. “I get to work on cool hot rods,

which are the prettiest kinds of cars,” Burk said. Burk also attended Gordon Cooper, earning about a dozen I-CAR certifications that have added to her collision repair knowledge and skills, she said. Getting to work on the variety of vehicles they’ve seen in a smaller shop that requires everybody pull their weight has given her a lot of opportunities she might not have gotten from larger shops that offered her a job. One of the advantages of owning a shop is being able to provide the

by David Dinsmore

kind of quality work and customer service Johnson thinks shops should provide, he said. It takes a passion on top of skills to run a shop, whether it requires staying until the small hours of the morning or working around a customer’s schedule for pick up. The satisfaction for Burk comes in getting to see see with her eyes what she pictured in her mind when the damaged vehicle pulled into the shop, she said. When the painters lay over the body work she completed and everything is flawless, that’s what keeps her coming in every day. This sometimes means going beyond just working out a deal with the insurance company, Johnson said. It requires doing the job right even if they have to eat a little bit of the cost, because what rolls out of his doors is more than a repaired vehicle. It’s his shop’s reputation. “When somebody has a wreck, you’ve probably caught them on one of the worst days of their lives,” Johnson said. “You’re dealing with somebody who doesn’t want a lot of hassle, a lot of headache. When they come to pick that up, they don’t want to have to nitpick stuff. “We’re going to fix the car the way it needs to be fixed.” Call 405-432-5343 or visit facebook.com/downtownautobodyshawnee for more information.

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For children birth through 5 years. Provides learning through music, singing, movement and listening activities. Mon.-Wed., a.m. classes.

Beginning Keyboard Classes Kindergarten to first-grade class Second to third-grade class

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Choirs and Ensembles

Shawnee Honor Choir, grades 3-7 (auditioned) Concert Choir, grades 8-12 (auditioned) Discovery Singers, ages 7+ (non-auditioned) String Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble

 Choir Auditions – August 15-17 3-5 p.m. | Raley Chapel, Room 143

For information regarding Kindermusik or choirs, contact Conchita Hansford, 405.585.4323, 405.273.2273 or conchita.hansford@okbu.edu.

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Boxer Has Learned How Winning Is Done Ahead of Main Event Title Fight Local boxer Dennis Knifechief will go toe-to-toe with the state’s middleweight boxing champion for a shot at the title in front of a hometown crowd Aug. 18 at the Firelake Arena in Shawnee. This fight will be the first in which Knifechief will face off as part of the card’s main event, he said. For the last year he has been part of “co-main events,” but he said he is ready to be the top bill at a fight on his home turf. “It’s finally here,” Knifechief said. “I’ve put a lot of great fights together … now it’s time to deliver.” Knifechief started fighting professionally about five years ago and trained on his own for the first year and a half, he said. He decided to step into the ring after talking to someone he worked with who was boxing in amateur bouts.

by David Dinsmore

“I found out I had a lot of heart, and I had a good chin,” Knifechief said of his first fight, which he lost in a decision. That didn’t stop Knifechief from coming back and getting a knockout win in his next fight. Since then, he has taken lessons from his wins and losses, and he’s never been afraid of a challenge, Knifechief said. Some of the losses he has taken have been to national Golden Glove contenders and former Olympic boxers. With every hit he has received and delivered over his 15 professional fights – during which he has gone 8-6-1 with three KOs – he has learned something not only about his opponents but also himself, Knifechief said. He also has learned the value of finding a good Dennis Knifechief shadowboxes while warming up for a conditioning session a few weeks coach and the importance of a designed before his first main event fight Aug. 18 at Firelake Arena. training regiment. Photo by David Dinsmore

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Until recently, Knifechief’s passion for boxing had him on the road to Okmulgee to work with a trainer twice a week after classes he was taking at Seminole State College, he said. Now he has established with a trainer at Western Avenue Boxing Gym in Oklahoma City. On top of training sessions at the gym three or four times per week, Knifechief also undertakes conditioning workouts locally featuring running, weight and flexibility exercises, he said. Knifechief will be stepping into the ring with Bo Gibbs Jr. – who has a 19-1 record with eight KOs – to fight for the state middleweight title. According to services that track boxing on the state level, Gibbs went undefeated his first 19 fights but took his first loss by TKO in his last fight in a super middleweight bout against Derrick Adkins in March at the Firelake Arena. “I’m not going to look past (Gibbs’s record),” Knifechief said. “It’s going to make for a great fight. He’s an aggressive fighter. I’m an aggressive fighter.”

Yet records do not always tell the full story of a fighter, Knifechief said. Some boxers take on opponents with losing records early in their professional career to help build momentum and experience while keeping their win column filled. Other excited and inexperienced fighters will look to take on challenges above their abilities to see what they can do and what they need to improve. “I already took those big jumps, and I wasn’t ready,” Knifechief said. “My plan is to headline a few more fights out here and be around locally and beat bigger guys here in my hometown and then eventually start going out to other areas (around the country).” The fight against Gibbs will not be Knifechief’s first title bout. The Shawnee and Tecumseh native became familiar with the feeling of wearing a championship belt after he took the state junior middleweight title from Maurice Williams with a TKO last November at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Williams took it back in the same manner in May.

Now punching up to a new weight class, Knifechief has set his sights on getting back on the titleholders list, he said. Knifechief won his last fight at the middleweight class in March with a KO of Steven Crowfield to eliminate that opponent from contention for the upcoming bout against Gibbs. On top of pursuing a business degree at Seminole State, Knifechief’s experience in the ring has kept him busy with motivational speaking opportunities at schools in the metro area, he said. Having boxing as an outlet has kept him from heading down a path of the bad decisions he was making before he put on the gloves. “I’m trying to inspire the people I’m around,” Knifechief said. Prior to boxing, Knifechief admitted to having issues with substance abuse and wandering around without a direction in life, he said. Boxing has given him the discipline and focus to get away from destructive behavior and form a plan. “Nobody’s perfect, and I’ve made mistakes but had to pick myself up and get back on track,” Knifechief said.

“That’s what boxing helps me with.” If local boxers can continue to have success, Knifechief would like to be part of establishing a boxing program in Shawnee that would be free to young kids in need of some focus in their lives as well as a way for other members of the community to get fit. Knifechief draws strength and inspiration from being a member of the Pawnee tribe, adopting the nickname “Pawnee Express” given to him by his promoter, he said. Knifechief also points to his faith in God as central to his growth as a person. “I always try to give glory to God,” Knifechief said. The Firelake Championship Boxing event sponsored by Automax will start at 6 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Firelake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road. Tickets and information are available on HD Promotion’s website hdboxing.net and at firelakearena.com. Those who can’t make it to the fight can watch a replay on Aug. 26 on KOKH-TV, Oklahoma City’s Fox affiliate. Check local listings for more information.

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The American Experience: In the Pool Shawnee’s two universities, Oklahoma Baptist and St. Gregory’s, have become increasingly popular with international students in recent years. These young people have left exotic foreign locales to relocate to Oklahoma, and here’s why. Suzanne Afchain left her island nation in the South Pacific to call Bison Hill her home. The nation of New Caledonia – Afchain’s birthplace – can be tricky to spot on a world map. Located about 750 miles east of Australia, it consists of a main island called Grande Terre and several smaller islands. While part of the French Republic, its status is in between that of an independent country and an overseas territory of France. The geography includes stunning turquoise waters, white sand beaches, a mountain range with peaks over 5,000 feet high and a coral reef second only in size to Australia’s Great Barrier. Such diversity means New Caledonia is also home to a variety of plant and animal species found nowhere else. Okies might wonder why Afchain would choose to leave such tropical beauty to come here, but she said the choice was obvious for her. “I think OBU chose me,” Afchain said. “I came for its swimming program and Coach Sam Freas. I started swimming competitively when I was seven but really seriously when I was 12 and haven’t stopped since.” For those who don’t know much about Afchain’s homeland, she offered this insight. “Life in New Caledonia is pretty simple and cool,” Afchain said. “Everybody is chill there. Living around the sea with the sun makes people happy. So many cultures interact: French, Australian, Chinese and obviously Melanesian. It’s a mix between tradition and modern ways.” Afchain’s hometown of Dumbéa is a suburb of the capital city Nouméa and features a mix of urban growth in the south with protected bushland in the north, she said. Being so far away from home isn’t always easy, but 18

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Suzanne Afchain of New Caledonia swims into her senior year at OBU starting this fall and looks to make a splash in NCAA Division II competition. Photo by Jeremy Scott/Oklahoma Baptist University

friends and coaches help. “Besides my family, I think the food is what I miss the most,” Afchain said. “America has some French restaurants and bakeries, but it doesn’t have Caledonian, Pacific food. I miss the seafood and spicy food – not the kind that burns your mouth but the one that makes you feel good. One of my friends found me a sauce that I use when I’m at school, so I feel a little bit like home with it. I miss the weather too – warm even in winter.” Some might wonder if Afchain even owned a coat before coming here, but she said the answer is yes. “I did my high school in France at a boarding school in the mountains at 2,000 meters altitude, so it snowed for eight months of the year,” Afchain said. Speaking of seasons, New Caledonia’s are the opposite of Oklahoma’s, she said. “This last Christmas was the first time since I was 12 that I spent it at home,” Afchain said. “I usually go back during summer here, but it’s winter and still school there. They have summer holiday between December and February.” French is the most common language spoken in New Caledonia, but there are other native Kanak languag-

es as well. Afchain said she doesn’t speak Kanak, but that her mother and sister do. Schools now require it, but she didn’t have the opportunity while a student there. “I regret that I don’t speak any of the Kanak language,” Afchain said. “It would have been cool, and I think it’s part of what makes the identity of New Caledonia – the languages.” Afchain began learning English at age 10 but said she’s learned it better with experience here. “I was able to speak it but got way better when I came to the U.S.,” she said. One of the hardest parts of school, however, has been discerning the accents people use, Afchain said. “I still get confused sometimes, but friends in class explain things to me,” she said. There are other parts about life here that Afchain has come to appreciate. “I used to tell my American friends that the biscuit for breakfast is your best invention,” Afchain said. “The ribs here too; we don’t have ribs as good as you have or the barbecue. The donuts are really good too and the Thanksgiving meal.” Not all food has met her palate’s approval though.

by Jamie Bergsten

“The gravy sauce – I really can’t eat it,” Afchain said. “I also tried once a salad where you mix marshmallow and fruit and cream. I had it for Thanksgiving, and I wasn’t a fan.” With her senior year about to begin, Afchain said she has big accomplishments behind her but goals still to reach. “I always wanted to go as far as I can in swimming,” Afchain said. “It’s my motto in life as well. Being part of Team France was a big thing, but representing New Caledonia in the Pacific Games in 2011 was the biggest one, I think. I felt so proud to represent my country and compete at home in front of them. I really want that 10 years from now I can tell that I killed it in my senior year of college and don’t have regrets. In the short-term, OBU is now NCAA Division II, so it would be amazing to win nationals.” Afchain’s coach said he thinks that goal is totally attainable. “Suzanne is a wonderful young lady, a good person, a talented girl,” Freas said. “She’s an asset to our team. I think she’s very capable of winning a national championship with hard work and training.” For Afchain it seems not long ago her college career at OBU was just getting off the blocks, she said, but now she’s quickly approaching the finish. “My freshman year seems like yesterday, and now I’m a senior,” Afchain said. “I want to go to graduate school and get an MBA next, but first I have to graduate.”

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SHAWNEE HISTORY

Locally Raised Hollywood Star Made 1948 Visit After Some Time on the Trail Samuel “Buren” Ely wasn’t born in Shawnee in 1919, but after living in Ada and Enid his family moved here in time for him to go to Washington School, Central Junior High and Shawnee High School. His father was an evangelist with the Church of God, and the family lived on South Kickapoo. Buren was an accomplished guitarist and used his musical talent in his father’s church services. When he was about 16 his parents divorced, and his mother moved out of town with the younger Ely children. Buren stayed in Shawnee for a while and then took his guitar and headed out on his own, which was not unusual for teenage boys in the mid-1930s. He found work in Houston playing his music and then was hired by an Albuquerque radio station. Convinced his future was in California he spent four years struggling there before returning to Texas and local rodeo shows. World War II opened up opportunities with traveling bond drives where he met many Western celebrities. In 1944, Buren Ely signed with Republic Studios and became Monte Hale. Before long, he was appearing in some of the first Westerns in color and in 1946 starred in his first major role, “Home on the Range.” He first played himself in the popular Westerns of the day but then branched out into other roles. The now-famous Monte Hale was also a recording star with “Statue in the Bay” coming as one of his biggest hits.

Hollywood star Monte Hale – known locally as Samuel “Buren” Ely – starred in his own line of comics starting in 1948. Photo submitted

He also was featured in a series of Western comics and in 1948 his own title of “Monte Hale Comics” appeared, eventually producing 50 issues. The boy Shawnee remembered as Buren Ely visited his hometown for a couple of days in April

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1948 to renew old acquaintances. The local newspaper reported how he wandered about town meeting former classmates as well as youngsters who just wanted to see the 6’4” cowboy star. It was said he was dismayed to learn his former high school had burned just a month earlier. He had hoped to visit the familiar place but did relate stories about teachers and friends he remembered. Hale walked the downtown streets, giving autographs, waving to locals and telling stories of a boy growing up in Shawnee, especially fishing Squirrel Creek. It was said it took more than a half hour for him to walk four blocks of Main Street. A collector of law officers’ badges, Hale was presented with several while in Shawnee from the sheriff, police chief and the fire department, which he said now brought his total to 524. The badges decorated the interior of his streamlined Buick which some locals reported seeing at Van’s Pig Stand. Hollywood slowed down the production of Western B-movies in the 1950s, but Monte Hale didn’t slow down his work. He concentrated on personal appearances and did some TV work. His last appearance in the movies would likely be the one most recognized by today’s fans. He was hired to teach rope tricks to James Dean for his role in 1956’s “Giant” and also played Bale Clinch, Rock Hudson’s lawyer in the movie. Monte Hale died at age 89 in Studio City, California, the small town boy from Shawnee who made good in the career of his dreams.

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Healthy Ways to Get Back on Track Before School Starts Can you believe it’s alpreparing children for ready August? the upcoming transition As the first day of school by getting back to school draws near and summer fun year routines, such as starts to fade, a renewed foa realistic bedtime and cus on routine and healthy your morning routine. habits come to the forefront. Visit the school before This year, St. Anthony Dr. Lori Crow the school year begins. Shawnee Physicians pediaThis is a great opportutrician Dr. Lori Crow hopes a little early nity for kids of all school ages to get preparation will help you start the acquainted with the school and the school year off on a healthy foot. teachers, which can help ease some back to school anxiety. Rest up for better learning Talk about situations that could During the summer, children and cause stress like homework, making teens tend to go to bed later and sleep friends, encountering older kids and in. Their body clocks need to adjust to encounters with strangers. the earlier wake-up times for school. Validate the child’s worry by acNow is a good time to start. knowledging that, like any new activFor grade school students, experts ity, starting school can be hard but recommend an average of 10-11 hours soon becomes easy and fun. of sleep each night. Teens likewise need about 8-10 hours of sleep each Avoiding back-to-school illness night to function best. Despite our greatest efforts, it’s not To ease the transition back to a normal bedtime, Dr. Crow recommends uncommon for kids to get sick at the inching your routine back by 15-30 start of a new school year. “Back-to-school time is an excelminutes each night over the course of seven to 10 days. By keeping a regular lent time for parents to make sure bedtime – even on weekends – your their children have had an annual child will be less likely to slip into physical and are up to date on vaccines,” Dr. Crow said. sleep deprivation. Aside from making sure your child Dr. Crow also recommends keeping electronics out of the bedroom. Using is up to date on vaccinations, the next electronics before bed leads to poor most important way to prevent illness quality sleep as well as less sleep. A is to teach your child good hand hyrelaxing, age appropriate bedtime rou- giene. The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following: tine can help kids wind down. • Wet hands. Easing back-to-school • Lather your hands by rubbing anxiety them together with the soap. The transition back to class as • Rub and scrub for 20 seconds. summer ends can be a stressful time • Dry hands with a clean towel. for children and parents alike. • When washing with soap and wa“It is normal for children and their ter won’t work, hand sanitizer is parents to feel some anxiety when a good alternative. heading back to school,” Crow said. With a little planning, a good rou“But you can ease those nerves and tine, adequate sleep and illness preanxious feelings several ways: vention, your child will be ready to A week or two before school, start learn. 22

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‘Little’ Efforts Have ‘Big’ Impacts in Shawnee Kids’ Lives

By David Dinsmore

Marilyn Bradford and Bo LeFlore have shared many laughs during their nine years together in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Photo by David Dinsmore

It takes some effort for Bo LeFlore to easily summarize the impact her relationship with Marilyn Bradford has made. In place of “the right words,” however, stands a 2017 high school diploma with LeFlore’s name on it – making her the first in her immediate family to make it across the stage. And LeFlore said she might not have made it if Bradford hadn’t matched with her through Big Brothers Big Sisters in Shawnee. The organization pairs volunteers with kids in need of some extra support and stability, said Danielle Wellman, senior program specialist with Shawnee’s BBBS office. The matches meet either once a week during school or within the community based program where they can meet up for a variety of activities. “I almost say we have an unending waiting list when it comes to our school based program,” said Wellman, who has worked with the local BBBS office for seven years. “If you talk to the counselors and the principals and the teachers in those schools they can give you a handful of kids every single day that could benefit from having a mentor.” Bradford and LeFlore began their Big/Little journey when LeFlore was in fourth grade at Horace Mann Elementary School. LeFlore said at the time she thought they were going to focus mostly on schoolwork. This is a common misconception among those unfamiliar with BBBS, Wellman said. Though some matches do focus on education as part of the child’s goals, the relationships are simply based on sharing

thoughts and activities. Often, the simple activities are best for developing the relationship within the match, Wellman said. BBBS encourages low or no cost activities like going for a walk or painting nails as long as whatever they are doing helps build the relationship between the Big and the Little. As Bradford and LeFlore grew closer they branched out into the community based program that allowed them to spend more time outside the school setting, they said. Each of them discovered new interests and experiences through years of band concerts, bird watching, driver’s education and tennis matches. “After knowing (Bradford) even more, she brought me out to who I am today,” LeFlore said. “It’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” Despite having a busy schedule and involvement in multiple activities, LeFlore said she pushed herself to achieve with Bradford and others encouraging her and reminding her that not everybody could persevere and succeed like she was doing. “The importance of mentorships – which Big Brothers Big Sisters fosters – is critical,” said Bradford, who retired from her position as superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools during her time with LeFlore. “I wish there were more people out there who were willing to be mentors.” Success stories like LeFlore – who will attend Seminole State College this year in pursuit of an education degree partly inspired by Bradford’s background – make all the day-to-day challenges more than worth it, Wellman said.

Cody Green is on track of becoming another of those successes as he enters his senior year in the fall. He got matched with Kris Steele – former Oklahoma Speaker of the House – in 2011 through the school based program, and the two have also eventually moved into the community program. “I didn’t expect to get to hang out with my big brother that much,” Green said. “I’ve never had someone to grow up with and hang out with.” Before becoming a Little Brother, Green said he used to get into a lot of trouble. Now he is on track to graduate this year thanks to the encouragement and guidance he has received from Steele. “The impact has been huge,” Green said. The enrollment process for BBBS involves talking to teachers, family members and others about children’s states of mind entering the program to figure out what needs they have and what goals need to be set, Wellman said. The BBBS staff shares those with the volunteers and follow up regularly to see where the children are in terms of working toward those goals, from simple things like receiving more encouragement to support for bigger issues. There is always one goal, however, that every volunteer should have in mind no matter the child’s individual needs, Wellman said. “At the end of the day we always tell our volunteers ‘being a Big is being a friend,’” Wellman said. “We want to know that we’ve provided that child with another positive friend, and they know that someone cared about them.” For more information about volunteering, call 405-275-3553. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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Poverty Workshop Grad Drafting ‘Blueprints’ for Success by David Dinsmore

When Tiffany Walker fills a backpack with school supplies to give to a student in need, she knows the impact it will have in helping that student succeed in the coming school year. She also knows it does not go far enough to overcome all the challenges that student’s family will face over the next year and beyond. Walker knows because she’s been there. Walker graduated three years ago from a workshop based on the book “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’ By World” by Philip DeVol offered by Neighboring 101 and focused on helping local people in poverty build resources to improve their lives and their community. After she completed the program, Walker said she started looking for ways that she could apply the community-focused principles in “Getting Ahead” to her neighbors in Pottawatomie County. From that desire came Blueprints, she said. “It’s for the entire family,” said Tiffany Walker, organizer of the event. “What we’re trying to do is promote sustainability within families.” The backpack giveaway will roll out at 10 a.m. Aug. 12 at the Shawnee Municipal Auditorium at 401 N. Bell St. Participants will need to bring a photo I.D. and a piece of mail confirming residence in Pottawatomie County. The event – which has been known as Back2Basics the past two years – represents the type of community action Walker is trying to create with Blueprints as it goes through the process of establishing itself as an organization, she said. The giveaway not only is a time to hand out school supplies to students in need, but it plays host to numerous civic organizations, government services, employment agencies, health and wellness groups, religious institutions and other people focused on lending whatever support they can to locals with needs. After hearing the local Salvation Army in 2015 was looking at scaling back their annual school supply drive, Walker saw an opportunity to not only fill that need but to use that event to connect local resources with people in the community who are in need of them, she said. In the first two years, the group gave 600 and 1,200 backpacks to students who needed them, Walker said. During the events, representatives from service organizations were able to meet with people in need face-to-face to talk about what is available and how they could help. Through donations received by citizens and the help of local businesses, Walker said, Blueprints is looking to meet and exceed 1,200 backpacks this year. Planning for this year’s giveaway – which will

Patricia Steele, Tiffany Walker and Gary Frazier fill backpacks with school supplies in preparation for the Blueprints back to school event starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 12 at the Shawnee Municipal Auditorium at 401 N. Bell St. Photo by David Dinsmore

be known as a Blueprints rather than Back2Basics to avoid confusion with the former Salvation Army program of similar name – did not begin in the offices that provide assistance, Walker said. It started on the doorsteps of the people who need it. Walker and those helping her get Blueprints started went door-to-door in neighborhoods of families who attended past events to ask what types of things they need for the following year beyond pencils and paper, she said. They also hosted three question and answer sessions in different neighborhood centers to hear about challenges facing residents. “Sometimes we put on these events, but we don’t ask people what they actually need,” said Walker, who knows from personal experience with poverty what it’s like to need help but not know where to get it. “You’re in that place where you’ve lost motivation, you feel like your community has turned its back on you, you don’t know who to ask.” The first steps toward gaining some momentum out of poverty can mean someone “breaking the barrier” between those in need and the agencies who can help, Walker said. Having a voice in the process is important, but just as important is having an ear that will listen to that voice, said Gary Frazier, mixed martial arts fighter and owner of the gym 405 Fitness at 214 W. Main St. “Most of the time that’s what people want, somebody to hear what they have to say,” said Frazier, who got involved with Blueprints after a social media post asking for opportunities to help his community caught the eye of a mutual

friend of Walker. Some of the concerns and needs revealed by participants surprised Blueprints members and friends, Frazier said. It seemed among top needs for the school year for families was a sufficient source of hygiene articles like shampoo, toothpaste, feminine products and other essentials. “School supplies are nice, but what about a coat or some other clothing?” Frazier said remembering conversations he had while participating in the Q&A sessions. “Most kids have those clothes they’re going to wear the first day, but what about that next day? What about when it gets cold?” The ability to obtain these essentials is a need that doesn’t fit in a backpack, and they are the kinds of things local organizations try to provide if they know who and where they are needed, said Walker, who works full-time with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services partly due to connections she made through the Getting Ahead program. Her relationship to Neighboring 101 has given her a chance to work with DeVol in developing an action-oriented curriculum for Blueprints as an extension of the Getting Ahead program from which she graduated, Walker said. She knows having mentors and direction coming out of the program can go a long way in a graduate’s success just as it has for her. “If you would have told me four years ago that I’d be doing this kind of work, I’d have thought you were crazy,” Walker said. “I’m getting to give back in the greatest way I can.” Those interested in finding out more about Blueprints or the school supply giveaway can call 405-434-9420 or email blueprints17@gmail.com. www.shawneeoutlook.com

MENTAL HEALTH

Social Connection Plays Key Role in Health, Happiness by Alicja Carter

I’ll Smile No one can steal my smile away I worked too hard to wear it Just go ahead, try as you might I’ll just grin and bear it I like the way it feels on me I’m always giving it away Smiling is contagious It might just make one’s day Happy is so much easier Than carrying a frown It’s the message I’ll deliver Keeps me from getting down I make more friends and get results More often than I don’t And troubles still come find me But to lose my smile, I won’t And as I spread my joy around The thought is sinking in My days have been much better Since I’ve plastered on my grin And I bet it brings God pleasure To see I’m happy all my days Some folks just might catch it As I smile along my way So take a lesson from me Just fake it till it’s real This smile I’ve worn around so long Became just how I feel -Sheila Hughes Alicja Carter, LADC, BHWC, has been working in the behavioral health and addiction treatment field for nearly ten years. She is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Wellness Coordinator/ Coach for Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. Alicja is passionate about collaborating with others for the purpose of stimulating positive change in her community. 26

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On June 24, 2017, I celebrated my grandfather’s life at his memorial service in Kansas City. My grandfather had the amazing ability to be fully present with the people he encountered throughout his day, be it the mailman or the mayor. He looked a person in their eyes and really wanted to know how they were doing. He would exclaim,”that’s wonderful!” as they shared about progress they had made, no matter how small the step. He would take me along to the drugstore to meet with his friends or share stories of people’s lives as we rode around town together. It is not surprising that nearly 200 people came to pay their respects for my grandfather, John Belger II. He knew a thing or two about social wellness. Social wellness has been defined as the “subjective experience of feeling close to and a sense of belongingness with others.” Research suggests that there is a strong, positive correlation between our perceived connectedness and our mental health. Findings from The Science of Happiness, Health & Social Connection suggest that the benefits of high social connection include: • 50% increased chance of longevity • Lower rates of anxiety and depression • Higher self-esteem and empathy • Better ability to regulate one’s emotions The dangers of low social connection include: • Slower recovery from disease • Higher susceptibility to anxiety and depression • Increased antisocial behavior and violence • Suicide For some, connection to anything or anyone can be difficult and even dangerous depending on past experiences or current circumstances. Due to a fear

of rejection and judgment, it can be intimidating to walk into a new class, stick out a hand or start a conversation. Yet, those that are able to find healthy connections are better equipped to put down destructive, compulsive habits. This is a benefit to not only them but the community as a whole. Strong social connection can be experienced in various ways. Many individuals find a sense of belonging when enjoying nature, volunteering, reading a good book or meditating. One reason I choose to live in Shawnee, hundreds of miles away from my family, is because I have found my place … my people. Whether I am getting my tires filled at Bunk’s for a road trip, stopping by Pure Nutrition for a shake or checking into Anytime Fitness for a workout, I get more than just their service; I get their concern, interest and friendship. I look forward to bumping into acquaintances at Aldi, crashing a Community Market block party or listening to others during a Sunday 12-step meeting. I experience strong bonds with the women (and Vincent) in my Zumba class that can only come from loud beats and crazy dance moves. We may not know one another’s last name or life story, but we know we would do what we could to lend a hand if needed. These examples only scratch the surface of the deep bonds that I have forged during my 16 years in this community with friends, bandmates, cast members, coworkers and patients alike. If you doubt your place or purpose in this community, let me assure you that you belong. If you are open and willing to a new and positive experience, you will find it. If you can’t do it on your own, my friends and I will help you. For local help and information, contact Gateway to Prevention and Recovery at 405-273-1170.

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Former Wolves Player Set to Lead the Pack “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing,” Dale Carnegie once said. The famed author was known for developing leadership courses – many aimed at job performance – and he could have been paraphrasing the last few years of Todd Boyer’s stint as Shawnee’s baseball coach. The accolades presented to the 2017 Wolves squad were just winding down when Boyer announced his move to SHS athletic director. With three consecutive Class 5A state titles under his belt and a 52-game winning streak in the works, he went out on top, Boyer said. “This was an incredible group of young men,” he said of last year’s team. “They truly cared about each other, not only as teammates but also as friends.” Boyer led the program for 11 seasons and has been with Shawnee for 26 years thus far, he said. He’s had fourteen NCAA Division I players and a total of 60 collegiate athletes under his wing, which is a success story in itself. His influence wasn’t lost on his players either, said A.J. Barron, a recent graduate and former player under Boyer. The biggest thing Coach Boyer taught him wasn’t really even about baseball. “He taught me how to be a respectable young man and was always giving life lessons and showing a good example of how to act,” Barron said. “He was a great coach, but he looked at us players like his own kids and shaped us into good young men.” This fall, Barron joins the Seminole State baseball program, coached by Shawnee native and Wolves alum Dax Leone. “I’m hoping to start my freshman year, but if not I’m going to work hard and earn my opportunity to play,” Barron said. With Boyer’s move to administration the country’s top-ranked high school baseball program needed a new leader and found him in another Shawnee graduate. Kevin Paxson was recently named the Wolves’ head coach and said he is thrilled about the opportunity. “I’ve coached at several places and all were great, but I grew up in Shawnee, played here, served as an assistant coach for both Jeff Shafer and Todd Boyer, and I think this is the best place to be,” Paxson said. “I want my kids (triplet boys, age five) to graduate from Shawnee and experience some of the same things I did playing for the Wolves and getting an education here. I’m really excited to have the chance to be the head coach at SHS.” After several key players graduated, some may think Paxson will be rebuilding the program.

by Jamie Bergsten

The “three-peat” state champion Shawnee High School baseball team will look to continue their winning ways under new coach Kevin Paxson next year. Photo submitted

However, he said it looks more like they’ll be reloading. “It’s hard taking over a program that’s had this kind of success, but I know I’m going to have a roster full of what I like to call ‘Shawnee kids,’” Paxson said. “These guys aren’t scared to get after you and compete. They’re kids that are hardnosed and hardworking. When I have that type of kid coming through the program, we should be able to overcome any adversity and have a successful season.” His returning players have been busy since state tournament time, playing summer ball with Shawnee’s league team or travel programs, Paxson said. Boyer also sees great things ahead. “The 2018 baseball team will be representative of all the Wolves teams over the last 26 years and will be a scrappy group of players who’ll play the game the way it’s supposed to be played: hard, respectfully, and for your teammates. The future is bright for Shawnee baseball.” Returning starter Kade Self is ready for the challenges ahead. “There are some talented young guys on our squad, and I’m ready to show them how to compete and win some ballgames. I’m not sure what changes will come with Coach Paxson, but he and Coach Boyer are both terrific coaches and men. We’ll be working hard to get better and make another title run.” Boyer knows he may feel a void next spring when the season rolls around. “I’ll miss the close relationships built with players and the great friendships created with other coaches and their staffs, and I’m sure I’ll

miss the competition on game days,” Boyer said. However, Boyer said he knows he’s handed over the program to another winner, since he coached Paxson years ago. “Kevin was a young man with a great work ethic,” Boyer said. “He was usually one of the last players to leave every day when practice was over. I remember him always staying late to work on his swing long after his teammates had gone home. As a coach, he’s very much the same person. He’s always stayed and worked with a player on a skill that would allow that individual an opportunity to be successful.” Paxson never dreamed that he’d someday be leading the team for which he played, he said. “Coaches Shafer, Boyer and Fluke all came my sophomore year,” Paxson said. “I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. All I was focused on was getting some playing time on varsity. I never dreamed I’d be replacing one of them one day.” Both Boyer and Paxson had the joy this summer of watching a new group of athletes take the field, they said. Boyer’s grandsons Carson and Turner played, and Boyer enjoyed watching them because “it’s pure excitement on their part and always something new for them when they play. It’s what the game is supposed to be: fun.” Paxson’s sons played T-ball for the first time, and he said it was awesome watching them. “T-ball can be very comical at times,” Paxson said. “I believe my boys had a great experience, but they told me their favorite part was getting snacks after the games.” Shawnee High will open its 2018 season in early March. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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For Antique Gun Show Duo, Old West is Best by David Dinsmore

Matt Cox and Wes Lanier have logged thousands of miles traveling to antique gun shows all over the country to find pieces and fellow Old West enthusiasts. Then they decided to make things easier on themselves by starting their own show in Shawnee. The 5th annual Indian Territory Antique & Collector Arms Show will lock and load Aug. 12 and 13 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence St. The show will feature dealers from around the country, including Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Colorado, Cox said. Vendors will stock their tables with items dating back to the Old West like antique and rare firearms, ammunition, memorabilia, artifacts, currency and more. “While it’s not the same guns (people see at local gun shows), it’s also not the same dealers,” said Lanier, who added that they require dealers to keep 90 percent of the table antique and collector items. “It’s something you don’t really see around here.” While the show leans toward the duo’s Western preferences, dealers also bring items from both World Wars and a few rare, newer collectible guns, Cox said. Cox and Lanier founded C&L Antique Arms and began hosting the Indian Territory Antique & Collector Arms Show based on a mutual interest, but each set their sights on collecting from different vantage points. Cox’s passion came seemingly from a genetic drive to do so passed down by his grandmother, he said. She always had a variety of collections going across a variety of interests and encouraged him to do so from a young age. “When I was a little bitty kid, I always collected rocks,” Cox said. “I’d always fill up my mom’s purse with rocks wherever we went.” From the scrounging around on the ground, Cox moved on to collecting bottles for a while when he was a kid until he discovered a love for all things Old West, he said. He started collecting coins from that era before discovering a particular interest in 19th century guns. Lanier said his influences came from a different source. “I watched too many John Wayne movies and listened to Marty Robbins growing up,” said Lanier jokingly before adding the fact that he also grew up around cowboys who got him interested in the types of things he now collects. A small part of the appeal comes from landing a good deal on a piece with some monetary

Indian Territory Antique & Collector Arms Show founding duo keep the focus on firearms and related items from the Old West and beyond. Photo by David Dinsmore

value, but a large part of it is the story attached to items in their collection, Lanier said. “I enjoy some of the history of the pieces, the background of them,” said Lanier, who added that some of the customization allowed by the manufacturers at that time made for some truly unique guns. “When you read some of the business models like Winchester’s, (they) would literally make any kind of modification into a firearm that you were willing to pay for.” Though they like seeing what other dealers bring to their tables, one of the most enjoyable aspects for the duo,is getting to tell the history of their own pieces, Lanier said, especially to younger enthusiasts who might grow up to be the next generation of caretakers for these items. C&L Antique Arms and the annual show they host stems from a shared passion and is partly a side business for Cox and Lanier, they said. Both work full-time for OG&E with Cox serving as a foreman with the power supply division while Lanier works with those responsible for keeping vegetation from encroaching on the company’s infrastructure. The two met long before their days at OG&E and the start of the Indian Territory Antique & Collector Arms Show, Lanier said. They were both students at the same high school, though they didn’t really hang out until later in their time there. They both had an interest in modern guns and went through that phase around the same time before primarily focusing on antique firearms, Lanier said. In the meantime, their mutual collecting interest continued to the point where they were

traveling the country to antique gun shows in places in Wyoming, Colorado and Tennessee, said Cox, who after high school pursued his interest in gunsmith school and graduated from a program at Murray State College in Tishomingo. Though their focus is Old West arms and items, their collection has benefited from modern technology, Lanier said. A lot of the established collectors hadn’t really branched out to include online resources as part of their searching, which gave the pair some unique opportunities when they first started seriously collecting. “We found a lot of stuff (online) that wouldn’t have been available to us otherwise, because we wouldn’t have been able to afford it with the other dealers,” Lanier said. When Cox and Lanier realized they had built a big enough network and knowledge base to bring a show close to home, they began looking for a place to host it where locals with an interest in antique guns could come see some without committing to a weekend trip out of state, Cox said. They determined Shawnee was ideal because it was not saturated with the “typical” gun shows featured in Oklahoma City, but it was close enough to the metro area to make it easily accessible for out of state participants. The show takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 12 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 13. Admission is $7 per day and $10 for both days. Kids ages 12 and under are free with purchase of an adult ticket. Attendees can also receive $1 off admission by bringing in this article, a firearm or related item. For more information, call 580-272-6808, 580-272-8530 or email 1866winchester@gmail. com. www.shawneeoutlook.com

OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra

ART GUIDE

August Arts Events Auditions for the 16th Season of OBU/SCO Jim Hansford, conductor

August 28

MON

For information contact: Dr. Jim Hansford 405.255.2984 or 273.2273 jim.hansford@okbu.edu

7 p.m. Raley Chapel Oklahoma Baptist University Audition Requirements

• Have a prepared piece (solo or etude) to demonstratate your skills • Be prepared to sight read a short musical excerpt

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Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s Primary Partners will present “Making Mummies with Alyxandria Moon,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 8. Tuition is $5 per child. Registration: www.mgmoa.org/primary-partnersclass.

Retired OBU art professor Steve Hicks is displaying his whimsical Van Gogh series at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s gallery at St. Anthony’s Hospital through the month of August. Information: www.mgmoa.org/ st-anthony.

Shawnee artists Meredith Bailey, Lisa Vernon and Susan Beth Wilhelm will have their art on display at the Celebration of Life Art Show at Integris Cancer Institute through Sept. 8 in Oklahoma City. Information at integrisok.com/cancer-instituteoklahoma-celebration-of-life.

Firelake Grand Casino will host Jake Jam 2017 at 4 p.m. on Aug. 19. This year’s artists include Granger Smith, Midland, Kevin Fowler, Michael Ray and Frankie Ballard. All ages are welcome. Tickets: www.grandboxoffice.com.

Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host a special exhibit “The Art of Color” through Aug. 20. This is an exhibit put together from the museum’s own collections. There will be a closing reception hosted by the Friends of the Museum at 7 p.m. on Aug. 11. Join Shawnee musician Shanda McDonald and her band, Ladies at Play, for an evening of contra dance at Oklahoma City’s First Unitarian Church at 7 p.m. on Aug. 12. Information: www.ladiesatplayband.com. Take advantage of the opportunity to hear Oklahoma’s former Poet Laureate, Ben Myers, at Benedict Street Market Poetry Night at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18. Myers is a professor of English at OBU.

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The Downtown Block Party will feature the band Inside Out at the Celebration of Life Park. There will also be bounce houses for children, food, art and coffee and wine tasting. Join the fun on Main Street from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 19.

Check out Shawnee Public Library’s Story Time and Wiggle to the Music Story Times beginning August 22. Story Time is available both at the Shawnee Public Library and at the Shawnee Mall. Programs are geared for ages 2-5. Information: pioneer.libnet. info. Shawnee’s community chorus, Sine Nomine, will hold auditions at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 at First Baptist Church at 227 N. Union Ave. Auditions can also be scheduled by arrangement. Sine Nomine rehearses on Monday evenings. Contact Herb Moring at 405273-1445 or 405-388-2211. Purchase your tickets for Lost 80’s Live concert at Firelake Arena on Aug. 25. Enjoy the music of Tony Hadley, Cutting Crew, Wang Chung and other 80s favorites. Tickets: www.firelakearena.com. The OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra will hold string auditions at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 in Raley Chapel at OBU. The group rehearses on Mondays 7-9 p.m. Information: jim.hansford@ okbu.edu.

Thresa Swadley is a freelance cellist/teacher who has been active in the Shawnee Arts Community for 20 years. She is a member of the OBU/ Shawnee Community Orchestra and teaches cello to all ages and levels. Please contact her if you know of an upcoming arts event. Email: tswadley@sbcglobal.net.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

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