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Vol. 15 Number 5

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CONTENTS

JULY 2018

Publisher

Okie Icon Media

Managing Editor

David Dinsmore

Advertising Sales

Brad Carter

Creative Direction

Kelsey Walker & Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

Cover Photo

FEATURES 9 12

Over the Fence: Stories From Community Renewal

Fred, Family Keeping Folks on the Road for 50 Years

Patient Won’t Let Rare Disorder Keep Her Down

Reading is FUNdamental This Summer

Grand Casino ‘Dream Team’ Brings FirstClass Entertainment to Area

Find Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere

Ritz Theatre Staging a Comeback with Help from Safe Events for Families

DEPARTMENTS

Andrea Beck Jamie Bergsten

David Dinsmore

Brandon Dyer

Jeremy Johnson

Ann McDonald

Angela Rowland

Thresa Swadley

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.

6 KEEP THE CHANGE 6 NUTRITION 101 20 SONIC CONTEST 21 SHAWNEE HISTORY 30 ART GUIDE

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.

Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant 322 W. MacArthur St. • Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804

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Writers

SSM Health Medical Group Offering Sensory Processing Disorder Support Group

Tasha York

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KEEP THE CHANGE

Still Time for Summer Reading Summer is halfway finished, but it’s not too late to get your kids reading. Whether you have little or big ones at home or in your life, there are many free options to encourage them to finish their summer reading strong and earn free books in the process • Library Reading Program – The most obvious source for a reading program is our local library. If you opt to enroll at the Shawnee branch, your child can get a free small prize each week they visit the library and can also get a chart to track their reading and earn up to three free books While you’re there, check out the calendar for fun and free programs for children and teens happening through the rest of the month. • Half-Price Books – This bookstore chain has three locations in the Oklahoma City area and is a great choice for finding deals on books. You can also sell your own books here. Head to hpb.com/fyb to print a chart to track your child’s reading. When they have completed 300 minutes, take their chart in to a retail location and exchange it for $5 in book bucks they can spend on anything in the store. • Barnes & Noble – If your child is in first through sixth grades, visit barnesandnoble.com to print a form where your child can document eight books they have read this summer. Then they can take their completed form to a retail location and choose one from a selected list of books to take home for free. While it seems summer is speeding by, don’t miss your chance for the children in your life to earn free books. Hurry, though, as most of these programs finish at the end of July.

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)

TA N YA L R O L A N D Attorney at Law

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NUTRITION 101

Keep Fit and Swim with Water Exercises This Summer Many people get out of the habit of exercising during the summer because of busier schedules, vacations and kids being out of school. A great way to stay active in the summer is through water aerobics. As temperatures get warmer and the summer heat draws near, the desire to exercise in the burning sun might suddenly not seem so appealing, and so naturally jumping into any body of water becomes alluring. Water aerobics is great for the joints, muscles and heart. You can do just about anything in the water that could be done on land. I meet so many people that don’t exercise because joint pain keeps them from being active. By exercising in the water, you take off all that pressure that is normally on your joints. You can then squat, jump, lung, bicycle – all in the water. The buoyancy of the water helps take off some of the impact we tend to place on our body. By swimming laps, you are working your full body and getting your heart rate up. I used to never know you could sweat in the water, but it is possible. With your heart rate up and using your bigger muscles, you have one of the best workouts possible. Since water flows in multiple directions, the resistance in the pool can range from four to 42 times greater than air, ensuring the body’s muscles get a great workout. Depending on cardio activity, weight and other factors, the body can burn between 400 to 500 calories in an hour of exercise in the water. Water weights even allow you to work your upper body while in the water. If you don’t have access to a pool, now is the perfect time to even go out to the lake.

Guiltless Brownies I have quite the sweet tooth, so I am always looking for ways to have a little treat in my day. Bananas can be a great way to make something taste sweet. Add almond butter to bananas, and you already have a winning combination. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can even share it with your dairy free and gluten free friends. Ingredients: 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa 3 medium overripe bananas 3 Tbsp hemp protein powder

½ cup almond butter 1 Tbsp stevia

Directions: Microwave almond butter until melted; about 30-60 seconds. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Spray an 8x8 pan with cooking spray. Pour blended ingredients into pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Allow to cool and then place in refrigerator. Serve cold. Makes: 15 brownies Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 82 Total Fat: 5 g Saturated Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 2 mg Carbohydrates: 8 g Fiber: 2 g Protein: 3 g Nutrition 101 Tip: Hemp protein is a plant-based protein. It provides 22 percent of your daily value of protein and 48 percent of fiber as well as magnesium, iron and zinc. Hemp contains all nine essential amino acids with the bonus of good-for-you essential fatty acids. You can use this protein powder just like any other – baking, smoothies, add into oatmeal, etc. Hemp doesn’t have much flavor, so you can mix it into just about anything. 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 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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A Summer of Gratitude

The net benefit Oklahoma CareerTech graduates add to the state’s economy.

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Join us in giving thanks to God for all things bright and beautiful!

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper - Sunday, July 1 Ice Cream Social - Wednesday, July 8 from 6-8 pm Worship, Hymn Sing and Potluck - Sunday, July 29

Adult Sunday School 9:30 am. • Worship 10:45 am. Reverend Amy Busse, Pastor & Alice Sanders, Music Director 120 N. BROADWAY, SHAWNEE, 405-275-1084 UNITED IN FAITH. UNITED IN SERVICE. UNITED IN LOVE.

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The total value of 1,901 contracts the Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network has helped 800 Oklahoma companies secure. But these developments aren’t going to build themselves. It takes a skilled workforce to bring big ideas to life, and Oklahoma’s new construction and economic development projects are no different. Graphic designers, fabricators, welders, crane operators, masons, hospitality and restaurant professionals, engineers — they’re all needed to build a business structure from the ground up. But we aren’t just building buildings; new infrastructure, a diversified economy,WWW.GCTECH.EDU and power for Oklahoma’s economic engine | 405.273.7493 are all part of the blueprint.

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POWERING OKLAHOMA’S ECONOMY.

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* “Cost-Benefit Analysis of CareerTech Careers Majors” – Lifetime Income Gains and the Impact on the Oklahoma Economy. A study prepared by Mark C. Snead, Ph.D., March 2013. Okcareertech.org/about/intiatives/elevating-oklahoma.

SSM Health Medical Group Offering Sensory Processing Disorder Support Group Everyone absorbs and processes information about their surroundings in their own way. Some children have difficulty interpreting their environment and responding to it in daily life. This neurological condition is known as sensory processing disorder. Parenting a child with SPD can be challenging. As a pediatric nurse practitioner at SSM Health Medical Group in Shawnee, Julianne Clark has had many conversations with parents about their concerns for their child and about support for the parents. These conversations led to an idea: a sensory processing disorder support group for parents. “Many parents felt like they were the only ones facing these challenges,” Clark said. The sensory processing disorder support group provides parents an opportunity to discuss their situation and to learn more from each other. The support group is led by Clark and occupational therapy assistant Deandra McDonald with a specific topic being discussed each month. “Our goal is to help parents connect with their kids and the world around them,” Clark said. SPD is a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes through the senses. Children affected by SPD are affected in one or more of the five senses comprised of hearing, touch, smell, sight and taste. The world can be an unbearable source of stimuli to children who have SPD, because the information is sensed but perceived abnormally. Although it is not yet recognized as a distinct medical diagnosis, many children face challenges every day. Approximately five to 16 percent – about one out of 20 – school age children have environmental sensory difficulties. The average

Pediatric nurse practitioner Julianne Clark and occupational therapy assistant Deandra McDonald host a sensory processing disorder support group at noon on the third Friday of every month at SSM Health Medical Group at 3315 Kethley in Shawnee.

age of children with SPD ranges between 4-11 years old. If parents notice their child displaying symptoms and behaviors associated with SPD – such as oversensitivity to sensory stimuli like sounds, touch or lights – they are encouraged to talk to their medical provider. “We hope this group can create new friendships and encourage positive relationships,” McDonald said. The support group meets every third Friday

TEMPORARY RELIEF OR GLORIOUSLY CHANGED? What has the Spirit of God done to you? Two hundred years before Christ, there was Greek poet/physician named Nicander who left a recipe for making pickles that might illustrate a wonderful permanent change the Spirit has done to you. There are two Greek words in his recipe that are very important: Bapto and Baptizo; Two words used in the New Testament that mean dip and immerse. 1. Nicander said to make pickles you first dip (bapto) the vegetable temporarily into boiling water to prepare the skin of the vegetable for the pickling solution. In Luke 16 Jesus used this word dip to tell of a temporary relief that the rich man wanted.

of the month at noon in the Therapy Services gym at SSM Health Medical Group located at 3315 Kethley in Shawnee. Parents, teachers, therapists, paraprofessionals and anyone wanting more information about SPD are invited to attend the meetings. The support group is free, and registration is not required. The topic for the group meeting on Friday, July 20 is about returning to school and tips for kids while in the classroom this coming school year. Sundays:

2. Nicander then said that the vegetable must be immersed (baptizo) in the pickling solution where it is permanently changed into something totally different. NO GOING BACK TO BEING A VEGETABLE AGAIN. The apostle Paul used this word in 1 Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized (baptizo) into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free. NO GOING BACK TO BEING A LOST SINNER AGAIN.

8:00 AM 9:30 AM 10:45 AM 6:30 PM

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First, I am glad that we can all be baptized into the one body of Christ. Second, we all should be glad that it is not a temporary relief but is a permanent change! Glory Hallelujah! We have been permanently changed by the Spirit of God. We've been born again!

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spOKeLAHOMA

113 N. Bell Ave | Shawnee | 405.742.0736 | www.spokelahoma.com Summer is here! Time to ride! We can help you with 0% financing on all bikes (for qualified buyers with approved credit) for up to 12 months! Come ride our selection of bikes including the AMAZING Lauf True Grit! spOKeLAHOMA is your local full service Move Naturally store. In addition to bicycle building, sales and service we also support runners and hikers through a variety of products and events. Check us out on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/spOKeLAHOMA for events, information and products.

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Over the Fence:

By Brandon Dyer, executive director of Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County

Stories from Community Renewal A few weeks ago, I heard a story that made me proud to be from our incredible town. A son was working in the heat one afternoon to mow his mother’s lawn. The mother had served our community for many years as a police dispatcher and administrative assistant and had recently experienced some serious health problems that left her unable to care for her yard. The son suffered from his own health problems, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him from taking care of his ailing mother’s yard. In an effort to do a very good thing, the son became overheated. A nearby neighbor called 911, and the fire department arrived to help the son recover. As they were tending to the son, one of the firemen observed the situation and felt compelled to go the extra mile. He took the lawn mower and finished mowing the yard. No big deal according to his battalion chief. It’s what the fire department is all about: lending a hand and going the extra mile. And he’s right. Our fire

department is fantastic. Stories like this happen every day in our community. Why? Because our community is full of hard-working, selfless folks who do the right thing when given the opportunity. These are people who go the extra mile when a need is perceived and who understand that neighborhoods are full of neighbors who are worth knowing and looking out for. They realize that what we have in common is more important than what we don’t. These days it’s easy to become convinced that this simply isn’t true. At times, we let our

differences dictate our attitudes. It’s easy to define people by what they are not, such as how they are not like us, do not vote like us, do not raise their kids like us, do not possess a certain faith like us or do not manicure their lawn like us. When we allow ourselves to dismiss folks by our perception of difference, we begin to lose a little bit of what it is to be human. Fragmented, isolated society is no society at all. The world is a better place when we look for points of commonality and use them as bridges to build meaningful relationships however messy they may be at times. So get to know your neighbors. Smile. Invite them over for a barbeque. Learn their kiddos’ names. Be helpful when there is a need. Take them food when they are sick. Mow their grass when they are out of town. These simple acts of kindness matter. They’re not isolated, but rather, they’re woven together like tiny thread in the beautiful tapestry of human community. We really are better together.

Classen Family Medicine 432 N. Broadway Ave. Shawnee, OK

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Jeanie K. Johnson Simpson, PA-C PA Simpson received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Biology and Chemistry. She received her Masters of Medicine from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Physician Assistant program in 2005. PA Simpson resides in Shawnee with her husband, Chris and two daughters, Gracyn and Evy. PA Simpson been practicing family medicine in Seminole for the last 12 years but will be moving her practice to Shawnee in February, 2018, where the same great care in Family Medicine will be provided. PA Simpson enjoys treating diabetes, hypertension, pediatrics, women’s health, and other aspects of family medicine. Classen Family Medicine Shawnee will also be adding Aesthetic Medicine to include injectables and lasers.

Now Accepting New Patients 12

www.shawneeoutlook.com

A collaboration of the Greater Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and Shawnee Economic Development Foundation 231 N. Bell • P.O. Box 1613 • Shawnee, OK 74802-1613 405.273.6092 • 405.275.9851 • Fax 405.275.9851

Tracy Quallls CEO

Kaylee Wilburn Director of Membership

Tim Burg - Director of Economic Development

Patty Wagstaff Director of Operations

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Amber’s Pizzeria now offers home delivery and catering.

We protect it. You live it.

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Fred, Family Keeping Folks on the Road for 50 Years by David Dinsmore

Fred Rutherford knows what it takes to keep things rolling. He politely excused himself from the interview as it was wrapping up. After all, there were customers pulling into the parking lot of his downtown location, and he needed to greet them as soon as they arrived. “I always felt like when a customer walks in the door, I want to make sure they get waited on,” Fred had said earlier during the interview before putting this tenant into practice. “It seems like that’s always worked.” For the last 50 years, he has built Fred’s Tire and Battery on this philosophy. It was second nature for him step away from the conversation to meet his arriving customers at their car to discuss the tire they needed repaired. Son Darren Rutherford and daughter Gena Hutcheson have taken on their dad’s principles as they have helped him grow the business to two locations at 2533 N. Harrison and 16 W. Highland – along with several other ventures – over the last couple decades and turning Fred’s Tire and Battery into a staple within the community. “It gets in your blood,” Hutcheson said. “When I get out of the car at the grocery store, I’m looking at all the tires of the cars in the parking lot. “I never really wanted to do anything different.” Fred’s experience keeping Shawnee on the road goes back further than when he opened his own shop in 1969. The son of county Undersheriff A.I. Rutherford, Fred grew up in this community. When he was about 10 years old, there was a service station about a block from his house. He started helping there, and no matter what they needed from him – fixing flats, changing tires, washing cars – he happily went about getting it done. Fred said the work always came naturally to him, and he enjoyed it. “I guess after a while, they thought I was helping enough they started paying me,” Fred said. He worked there during the summers and after school until football and basketball obligations started taking up his time, which led him to pick up some paper routes, Fred said. After graduating, he went to work at Tinker working with aircraft sheet metal. Fred enjoyed the work there for seven years, but he found himself drawn back to working on cars in his hometown. Fred bought a place on Highland Street and began operating his own tire shop. He started his days at 6 a.m. and shut the doors about 11 p.m. as he built his reputation among residents and passersby in need of tires, batteries and other service. After a year of working those hours seven days a week, he was able to bring in some help. Before

Fred Rutherford and his children, Gena Hutcheson and Darren Rutherford, have been providing tires and service to Shawnee and beyond for 50 years at its locations at 16 W. Highland and 2533 N. Highland. Photo submitted

he knew it, he had about six guys working for him servicing his new and recurring customers. “I saw the pride that my dad took in waiting on customers; every customer that walks in he wants to take care of,” said Darren, who added that the family element of the business expanded when his grandfather A.I. started working at Fred’s after retirement from the sheriff’s office. “It’s personal, so it’s always been personal to me also.” By 1975, he bought the station across the street at 16 W. Highland and moved his offices to that location in 1978, where he and his family have been servicing Shawnee – and many other clients beyond the city – for the last 40 years. “It was like being on vacation once we started closing at 1 p.m. on Saturdays,” Fred said. “I probably went home about 5:30 p.m.” The new location gave him the chance to offer alignment services and expand his business to help more customers, but that is only one of several new ventures Fred and his family have undertaken over the years. He started a service truck component to his business that allowed him to provide roadside and mobile assistance. They went into the wholesale business in the mid-1980s, delivering tires around the state for years. They also began a trucking business to haul tires to and from places in the Midwest, such as plants in Michigan and depots in Ohio. Darren has played a big role in some of Fred’s ventures beyond the retail locations. As the city has expanded north, he developed the idea of adding a second location at 2533 N. Harrison, which opened in February 2010. “The studies show people want to shop closer

to home,” Darren said. “The closer you can be to the rooftops, the better off you are.” In addition to trying new businesses and focusing on customers’ needs, Hutcheson said the other key to keeping it all going has been evolving with the trends within the business world. From advertising on cable television to internet marketing, they have made sure to keep Fred’s Tire and Battery’s name in the minds of people locally and beyond. Through it all, Fred’s local locations have done what they need to get their customers what they need. In addition to cars and trucks, they have provided a variety of specialty tires and service for farm equipment, motorhomes, lawnmowers, handcarts, trailers, semis and more. “It took a little bit of everything to keep it going,” Fred said. They’ve even seen their share of celebrities and state leaders – from governors to country music star Toby Keith – come through their stores, but no matter who they are Fred and his staff have tried to provide the same level of service to each customer, Hutcheson said. Even Fred himself has taken on a bit of famous reputation from his television commercials, but he doesn’t really put much stock in that kind of status. At age 75, he’s still the guy who tries to make sure every customer gets greeted and served as best he can – though if he still could he’d be back with the guys mounting tires, too. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve had to just sit back and answer the phone and wait on customers,” Fred said. And he has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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Patient Won’t Let Rare Disorder Keep Her Down by Jeremy Johnson

In late October 2017, Sandra Powell began feeling a tingling sensation in her feet that shortly accompanied pain in her legs. Like anyone, Powell wanted to know what was happening. As the pain got worse, she visited the emergency room where she was told that the problem was likely due to blood clots in her legs, but testing revealed none. Powell later went to another emergency room where they admitted her to the hospital. After further testing, Powell was diagnosed with a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder in which a person’s immune system begins attacking the nervous system and results in nerve damage, effectively stopping neurons from the brain from reaching the arms, torso, and legs. The cause of GBS is currently unknown. Many times, it is accompanied by a viral infection like the flu. The resulting damage can cause pain, unsteadiness, weakness in the extremities and even paralysis. In the following days, Powell’s condition caused paralysis in her arms, torso and legs. By mid-November, Powell was wheelchair-bound and fully dependent upon others to care for her. In less than three weeks’ time, Powell watched her mobility degenerate as she went from being a healthy and independent woman to being completely dependent on others to help her with basic tasks like eating, bathing and dressing. It was in late November that Powell was referred to Action Physical Therapy to begin care under physical therapist Jason Gates, who has been practicing for 18 years. Powell, with the assistance of her children, came into the clinic in her wheelchair when Gates performed Powell’s initial evaluation. Gates prescribed physical therapy three times a week to begin exercises to help Powell regain her mobility. Identifying which exercises a person can perform while in a state of near-total paralysis is not always the key, physical therapy assistant Kaitlyn Rider-Gunter said. It is helpful to simply ask the patient to try to perform necessary exercises necessary even if she is unable to perform the move18

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Occupational therapist Julie McCoy and physical therapy assistant Kaitlyn Ride-Gunter with Action Physical Therapy work through some exercises that have helped patient Sandra Powell go from wheelchair-bound to independent following her struggle with a disease that attacks her nervous system. Photo by David Dinsmore

ment. Attempting the action gets the neurons firing and is the first step in regaining mobility. As Powell began her regimen, she was able to quickly begin regaining her ability to perform minor tasks, such as sitting on her own and keeping her balance. “Her first major accomplishment was getting to sit on the edge of the mat for about 10 seconds, occupational therapist Julie McCoy said. “That was a huge victory. “That was the first time she felt like ‘I might get better.’” From that point onward, Powell set herself to becoming the independent woman she was just a mere three weeks prior. She said she could not allow GBS to control her life. “I don’t want to say the word ‘can’t,’” Powell said. “I refuse to say that word, because I’m going to do whatever I can to do better.” Powell continued setting goals for herself that she would go on to achieve. With the assistance of Gates, Rider and McCoy, Powell continued the exercises that brought her back to a normal life. Rider worked with Powell to regain mobility in her legs, arms and torso. McCoy worked with her fingers, shoulders and elbows. McCoy also worked with Powell’s family on how to care for

Powell at home – such as helping dress her or helping get her in and out of the car without hurting anyone in the process. Over the course of the following months, Powell continued reaching her goals. By April 2018, Powell amazed the staff as she walked into the clinic unaided by a cane, walker, wheelchair or any other assistance. “Sandy came into the clinic,” Rider emotionally recalled, “and stretched her arms into the air as high as she could and said, ‘Powell is in the house!’” Since that time, Powell has continued to reach her goals. In addition to walking on her own, she has begun driving. Today, Powell only comes in

twice a week as she works to regain complete control of her fingers. Her final goal is to be able to go back to work. In six months’ time, Powell went from full mobility to being unable to even move a finger and back again with the help of her therapists at Action Physical Therapy. Powell said she has been able to hold on to hope thanks to her friends who have offered many prayers for her and through her children who have stayed with her and cared for her during a difficult time. Gates summarized Powell’s story by saying the care they strive to perform is most succinctly summarized by German physiotherapist Berta Bobath, who said, “Give life, not exercise.”

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Short-Lived but Celebrated Amusement Park Once Called Broadway Ave Home Not long after settling, the citizens of Shawnee built a city to rival many of the same size throughout the country with homes, businesses, schools, churches and theaters for traveling shows. Charles Kirst owned the Broadway Heights addition north of town where he had built a home. His dream was to build a park. The forested land featured a ravine fed by a spring behind Kirst’s house. He planned to dam it up so that it formed a lake eventually 10-15 feet deep. With the shade of the surrounding trees, it would provide an ideal pleasure resort – and “a money maker for its promoters,” as Kirst said in a newspaper report. In May 1905, Kirst joined other residents on North Broadway to encourage the extension of the electric car line from the city. Property owners were told they would need to raise $15,000 for the project. The line would reach all the way out to Kirst’s Broadway Heights just north of today’s Independence Street. With the arrival of the car line, Kirst’s amusement garden would include picnic and baseball grounds, a summer theater and a lake for swimming and boating. During the following year, finances were secured, and plans completed. In early 1907, the earthen dam across the ravine behind Kirst’s home was finished, and water began to back up to make the lake. It soon covered five acres and was nine feet deep. Construction began on a theater, skating rink, dance hall and swimming club house. The longawaited Broadway Amusement Park opened in late June, and on July 4, reports said it was “deplorable” that the park couldn’t accommodate all those who traveled out to celebrate and get away from the heat

JULY

Broadway Amusement Park stood near modern day Broadway Avenue and Independence Street where a lake, theater, skating rink, dance hall and swimming club drew crowds from the city for a couple years just after the turn of the 20th century. Photo submitted

of the city. As the car line moved farther north from the city, North Broadway adjacent to the park became a hot real estate area for those with money to buy property across from the resort. Costs, however, were beginning to cause concern for Kirst and his investors, so a new company took over the park intending to complete and improve what was already there. A country club might be built north of the park to bring more interest.

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By 1908, Broadway Park was advertised as “Always Cool” and open every evening with boating, dancing, skating and swimming. A band concert and fireworks were planned for July 4. But the demise of the dreamed-of amusement park was already in the works. The Interurban Traction Co. had almost overnight built their own park between Shawnee and Tecumseh. It far outclassed anything the owners of Shawnee’s first amusement park had ever imagined. Benson Park not only featured a lake and picnic area but had a roller coaster and theater. Later, it even had an indoor swimming pool. Broadway Park investors could not compete, and after another struggling summer, it was little more than free picnic grounds and place for youngsters to play in the shade. By 1911, a newspaper article suggested citizens take a walk out to North Broadway, “If you enjoy a concert go out as far as the old park” and listen to the birds. The Kirst house still stands today on the west edge of what was for a short time Broadway Amusement Park. Kirst’s daughter, Minnie, later married Dr. John Walker, and they lived for years in what local historians call the “Walker House” on the corner of Broadway and Cammack. Kids growing up in the area would be familiar with “Broadway Woods.” Located behind the First Christian Church sits the wooded area damp with a small spring. Observing the land, one can see the depression where there was once a lake. Current residents in the area outlined by Broadway to Federal to Union to Independence often wonder why their houses settle so much … they live in a lake bed.

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Reading is FUNdamental This Summer A break from the typical school schedule seems appealing to most students. Less required reading and homework might seem like a good deal for parents, too. However, there’s a condition known as the “summer slide” that affects school children, and it’s been studied extensively by Johns Hopkins University researchers, who tracked students from first grade through age 22 and found a large portion of the reading achievement gap can be explained by lack of access to summer learning opportunities during elementary school. Sadly, the decline is far worse for lower-income students. The Pioneer Library System has taken steps this summer to reduce barriers for would-be young readers by doing away with fines associated with children and teen materials, according to a press release from library officials earlier this summer. Starting June 1, Pioneer Library System – including the Shawnee and Tecumseh branches – stopped assessing overdue fees for youth materials checked out of its collections, according to the release. Library staff recommended this initiative to remove any concerns from young cardholders who might not check out books from the library for fear of accruing fines. They decided encouraging kids to read was more important than any money such fines might bring into the system. “Ultimately revenue from these fines adds up to less than a quarter of one percent of our operating budget,” Pioneer Library System executive director Lisa Wells said in the press release. “Our conclusion is that the roadblock is greater than the revenue for this group of most (impressionable) young minds.” This initiative comes on the heels of the Pioneer system’s optional MyCard program started in 2015, which allows children and teens to obtain a library card without a parent’s signature that they can use to check out three items at a time. This program is also fine-free. The implementation of the new fine-free youth materials initiative came in conjunction with the start of the statewide summer reading program, which for members of the Pioneer Library System could result in 22

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earning prizes for reading. “Our branch provides three free books to children over the summer weeks to reward their continuing reading efforts during that time,” Shawnee branch manager Peggy Cook said. “They’ll also receive small fun prizes each time they visit. Children who check out books can use their receipts to enter quarterly drawings for special items funded by the Friends of the Library. All of this is intended to help children enjoy visiting the library, choose books to read and keep reading and building their skills.” Incentives from programs like those offered by the library can only go so far, however, as parents and family members must find a way to encourage the children in their lives to read during the summer months. “Make reading fun,” said Starla Howard, Title I reading specialist for Shawnee Public Schools. “Family members can expose new readers to different genres, such as picture books, chapter books, comic books, poetry, biography, fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, etc. Sitting in a loved one’s lap with a good book – and snack – can be a very positive and encouraging experience as well as a way to develop a fond memory.” Struggling readers require even more reinforcement, Howard said. Many students receive assessments of their reading aptitude during the school year, so it is important to find books that fit their individual skill level to keep them from getting discouraged and frustrated. Daily reading is key during the summer. “They need not only to read but to be read to,” she said. “Dollar stores have fun, inexpensive manipulatives like magnetic boards, dry erase boards, markers, notepads and books that parents can use to help their children.” For today’s children, reading is not only restricted to the printed page, said Glenda Pitts, children’s services manager at the Shawnee library. Technology –including the library’s own digital database of books accessible on smartphones and tablets – have made it easier for some kids to discover the joy of reading. “Reading is actually increasing,” Pitts said. “Young readers can choose traditional books or digital ones. Shaw-

nee’s checkouts for children’s materials were slightly higher for this past year, but our checkout for digital items grew by a large measure.” According to library statistics, there are nearly 7,500 children’s and teen items checked out each month. Participation by parents and caretakers also plays a crucial role in keeping kids’ noses in books, Howard said. “Bedtime stories are the best,” she said. “Engage in discussions about books by asking questions, making predictions and talking about the pictures, characters and setting. Allow your child to see you reading, too. Encourage wordplay such as rhyming and reading environmental print like signs and cereal boxes. Early literacy skills can be learned anywhere – in the dark, by the pool, in the car, at the park or on a walk or bike ride.” Shawnee Public Schools is also offering students the opportunity to bring in their gently-used books to trade so they’ll have new books to read and enjoy during the summer.

by Jamie Bergsten

The Eagles in Flight summer school program will be offered to district Native American students in grades Kfifth from July 16-26. Parents can call (405) 878-1030 for more information. The Ramp Up summer school program will take place in July for second and third graders at every Shawnee Public School elementary site as well as for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. “Just as you have to practice swimming, soccer, baseball, football, piano, etc., you also have to practice reading,” Howard said. “Fortunately, as you can see, there are ample opportunities and programs available in our community for remediation as well as enrichment. Find one that works for you and your child.” The Shawnee Public Library located at 101 N. Philadelphia is open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m-5 p.m. on Saturday; and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Call (405) 275-6353 or visit pioneerlibrarysystem.org for more information.

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Grand Casino ‘Dream Team’ Brings First-Class Entertainment to Area A familiar sight while driving through Shawnee on I-40 are the billboards promoting artists like Loretta Lynn, Kevin Costner, Vanilla Ice and other household names performing at the Grand Casino. The tickets for these performances are affordable, often at better prices than for other concert venues in the state. One might ask how this is possible. The answer is that there are three people who form the Grand Casino “event dream team,” a group that works tirelessly to bring first-class, affordable entertainment to the Shawnee area. The team consists of Dan Kuziej, director of sales, events and spa; Tecumseh native, Michelle O’Bright, event manager; and Melissa Cole, the administrative assistant. The three have worked together for five years, though O’Bright and Cole have been with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation for a combined total of 25 years. “It takes a team to put together the events and concerts that we do on a regular basis, but we enjoy working together,” Kuziej said. “This is the best team I have ever worked on in the 30 years that I have been in this industry. “Artists and events that come to the Grand Casino are so blown away by the amount of service that we give them that they contact us and want to come back.” Typically, the team has found that most of the artists who come to perform at the Grand Casino are enjoyable to work with and remember that it is their fans that have enabled their artistic success. “Vanilla Ice spent the evening on the casino floor talking, joking and taking selfies with people,” O’Bright said. “Comedian Heather Land did a meetand-greet before her show. They know that it is their fan base that gave them the careers they now enjoy.”

Michelle O’Bright, Dan Kuziej and Melissa Cole spend their days bringing in a variety of top talent to the area to entertain visitors of the Grand Casino. Photos submitted

When brainstorming about artists that the team wants to bring to central Oklahoma, they work to bring in artists who have not already saturated the state. “One of our criteria is that they cannot be performing all over the area,” Kuziej said. “We work to bring them to the Tulsa casino, the Grand Casino and then the WinStar (World) Casino, which basically allows them to hit the north, central and southern regions of Oklahoma.” While many casinos in the area bring in mostly country music stars, the Grand Casino works to bring a variety of entertainers, such as Al Pacino – who did a speaking engagement – or comedian Vicki

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Lawrence, and more recently a Prince tribute band. “We want to attract people who have never been to the casino before, people that might not like country music but that will enjoy another type of music or artist,” Kuziej said. Part of the event experience at the Grand Casino is the value. Not only do the tickets sell for a fraction of what one typically pays for similar tickets at bigger event centers, but every seat in the house offers an intimate experience for those attending. Even though the room can seat up to 1,400 people, the design makes it so that there is not a bad seat in the house, and everyone feels personally connected with the performer. The latest project that the team is producing is titled “Play It Loud,” which began filming in April. “We are working to showcase area artists through live streaming, social media and networking,” Kuziej said. “‘Play It Loud’ will not only showcase music and talent but will give backstories and interviews and compile them all together.” The casino will then offer a free concert in August showcasing the talents of the artists from the documentaries. Looking into the future, the team dreams of producing more outdoor concerts and events. They said their hope is to take an existing barn on the property and turn it into something similar to the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheater for outdoor concerts and events – a better outdoor venue than they have had in the past. They coordinate the annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks show and last year hosted Jake Jam, but they would like to create a more permanent location to be used for these types of events. For more information regarding upcoming concerts and events at the Grand Casino, visit their website, www.grandresortok.com/entertainment.

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Find Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere

Back by Popular Demand!

Submitted by Visit Shawnee

One of the most-cited advantages to living in Shawnee is its proximity to urban activities, but fewer people talk about its proximity to the great outdoors. With myriad spread-out green spaces scattered throughout the city, lakes and pools, a lengthening system of sidewalks, multiple golf courses and beautiful college campuses, it’s hard not to stumble across a place where you can enjoy the lovely weather. So grab your sunscreen and check out some of these suggestions.

Fishing Shawnee is close to several lakes and ponds stocked for fishing. The closest – Shawnee’s own Twin Lakes – is just a brief drive to the west. Approximately 100,000 people enjoy the recreation opportunities of the Shawnee Twins Lakes each year. A fully enclosed fishing dock provides yearround, all-weather fishing opportunities. Fishing is allowed on both lakes along with hunting for duck, rabbit, quail, squirrel and dove in designated areas. Driving just a little further along the highway will lead you to Wes Watkins Reservoir. According to Oklahoma Wildlife Department officials, Florida largemouth bass have been stocked the past three years to bolster the trophy bass potential in the lake. Wes Watkins is predicted to be one of the state’s premier bass fishing sites and has 27 RV hookups with electric and water available and 33 primitive camping areas and restrooms. Be sure to do the necessary research regarding permits and licenses for wherever you go fishing, and don’t forget to bring the proper gear.

Golf If you’re the sort of person who enjoys a round of golf, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite sport closer to home than you might realize. FireLake Golf offers various price points and memberships and is notable for being Shawnee’s only daily 26

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fee golf course. The other two other golf courses in Shawnee – the Country Club and the Elk Lodge – each require membership and offer extensive amenities.

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Disc Golf If you have something lighter in mind, there are also disc golf courses in Shawnee. While disc golf might take a lot less preparation and equipment than traditional golf, it still might behoove you to get some practice in. The baskets at Boy Scout Park could make for a good place to hone your skills; while the park lacks enough baskets to make a full course, the wide-open spaces will allow for greenhorns to get comfortable with their throws. Feeling a little more confident? Check out the OBU Disc Golf course. Beginning behind Taylor Residence Hall, the course is a permanent fixture and is well-marked with tee boxes, signage and baskets. The course is wellrated on the internet and should offer a challenge to amateurs and enthusiasts alike.

Swimming Swimming is such an important part of summertime that it hardly needs mention. Everybody knows and loves Shawnee Splash – our community’s water park featuring a shallow play area, regulation pool area, sprayground area, diving area, climbing wall, slides and more – but there’s also the Splash Pad at Boy Scout Park, which is a fixture that includes a sprayground area for small children. If chlorinated water isn’t your scene, swimming is also allowed at the Twin Lakes – just make sure to check where swimming is allowed.

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Ritz Theatre Staging a Comeback with Help from Safe Events for Families The red letters standing on top of the lighted marquee served as a beacon of entertainment in downtown Shawnee throughout much of the city’s first few decades. The Ritz Theatre was a state-of-the-art movie palace where residents walked under that familiar marquee to buy their tickets to experience the latest silver screen exploit that the folks in faraway Hollywood were offering up. From “The Wizard of the Oz” to “Murder on the Orient Express” to “Jaws,” the theater was part of the cultural fabric of the town. The talking pictures, however, went silent years ago at the Ritz, but community leaders have come together to not only save the theater but to once again make it a destination for downtown entertainment. “The long-term goal is that we want to put the Ritz back on the map,” said Dell Kerbs, president of Safe Events for Families. “Our goal is to make it a showpiece of the downtown area.” The original building is believed to have been constructed in 1897 and opened shortly after that as a dry goods store, officials said. It was transformed into a silent movie theatre with a 25-foot screen in 1911 when Jake Jones Sr. purchased the property and opened it up as the Cozy Theatre. The theater inside the Federal Revival-style two-story building was remodeled several times over the years, including work in 1937, 1948, 1956 and 1966. It first accommodated the booming vaudeville circuit, then larger screen movies and eventually “talkies.” In 1926, the theater was renamed the Ritz Theatre, and that same year the town’s first talkies were shown inside the movie palace that would eventually feature lighting fixtures designed and made by Johnny Jones, son of Jake Jones Sr. The theater’s run though would come to an end in 1988 when it closed its doors. At the time, it was the oldest and longest running family owned and operated movie theater in Oklahoma, officials said. The Jones family eventually gave the theater over to the Society for Revitalization of Downtown Shawnee, Inc. That group reopened the Ritz to showcase musicals and other theater productions. About a year and half ago, the group and subsequently the theater came under the umbrella of SEFF, which had the membership and experience to handle such an undertaking. “It became a bigger project that they could handle on their own,” Kerbs said. The nonprofit 501C3, with its 17 board members, hosts 16 events annually, including Trail Days last, the Redbud Festival in April, Boo on Bell

by David Dinsmore

Thought to have opened as a dry goods shop in 1897, the Ritz Theatre on Main Street entertained generations as a stage and movie theater before closing its doors in 1988. Safe Events for Families is undertaking the process to bring it back using live entertainment and a lot of vision. Photo by David Dinsmore

around Halloween and of course the town’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting. But with so many events already on their proverbial plate, they still felt drawn to take on the challenge of repairing and reinvigorating a 100plus year-old theater. “We didn’t want to lose an historical icon in the community,” Kerbs said. “It was just perfect match for SEFF and the Ritz. We have the artists and entertainment shows already outside, so why not bring those into the theater as more of a yearround opportunity? We are trying to bring it back to its glory.” If places like the Ritz disappear into history, the result is usually irreversible, SEFF community coordinator Ed Bolt said. “If you lose a building like that you will never get it back,” Bolt said. “We couldn’t let it fall into (disrepair).” The first thing the group did to the 330-seat capacity theater was get a cleaning company to come in and clean all the old cloth seats. They then set out to clean and repaint the lobby area, install a new sound system, install new LED light bulbs and repair the building’s air conditioning system. Those upgrades have allowed the group to begin hosting events at the historic theater. The first was a Led Zeppelin tribute band show that took place last fall, and then the first comedy night was held at the Ritz early last month. Next up at the theater is Elvis impersonator Cody Ray Slaughter performing on July 21, a comedy night featuring Daryl Felsberg on August 4 and Johnny Cash impersonator Philip Bauer taking the stage on August 18. The money generated from the shows will be used to continue to do even more of the necessary

renovations and upgrades to the building, SEFF officials said. “We have to do some additional work on the inside,” said Kerbs, who says the group will be looking at a $2-3 million capital campaign within the next year to help fully fund the entire project. “We need to install new carpet and new tile in the entryway and down through the theater itself. We are also looking at the walls with the thought of exposing some of the natural character of the property back to its original state.” Part of the larger renovation plans for the Ritz also include maximizing the space of the entire building. The second floor was once used as a boarding house and then later as a hotel. SEFF leaders said the group envisions it being used as possible office space or as an event space. “We want to keep having acts down there,” Bolt said. “We will use it a ton during our festivals, but ultimately we have to develop a plan on how it can be used by the community that will allow groups to help us renovate. We are only limited to our imagination on what it can become.” Even though the renovation project is still essentially in its infancy, the reaction by the people throughout the community has been overwhelmingly positive. “A lot of the community remembers going there for movies,” Kerbs said. “They love to come in and reminisce, and they want it to be there and be there for their kids and grandkids. “It has been amazing to see them bring in their family and tell them ‘I watched movies here.’ We want it to be here for years to come. The building deserves that. The town of Shawnee deserves that. We owe it to ourselves to keep a historic treasure like the Ritz alive in our community.” www.shawneeoutlook.com

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ART GUIDE

July Arts Events

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Enroll your children in the Creative Arts Camps at Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. Offerings for July include: The Art of Cartooning, Exploring Watercolors and Creating Art Piece by Piece along with a Primary Partners class for ages 3-6. Registration: www.mgmoa.org/ classes. The Grand Casino will host the Shine Benefit Concert with country vocalists Gene Watson and Mickey Gilley at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 7. The concert provides opportunities for youth and non-violent criminal offenders to perform community service and assist with beautification projects. Tickets: www.grandboxoffice.com. Hornbeck Theatre’s Kid’s Movie Camp will continue Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. through the first week of August. Admission is $4 and covers movie, popcorn and a drink. Information: www.jonestheatres.com/hornbeck-theatre.

payment: www.okbu.edu/fine-arts/ music/preparatory-department/index.html. Check out the Shawnee Public Library events page for several July activities for children that will include the ROARchestra with the OKC Zoo and Tunes and Tales with cellist Erin Yeaman. Information: pioneer.libnet.info/events. Poetry Night will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 19 at the Lunch Box on Main Street. The featured poet will be Dorothy Alexander. Shawnee Little Theater season tickets are available for the 20182019 season. The season will include “Hands on a Hard Body,” “Peter and the Star Catcher,” “Sweeny Todd” and “Noises Off.” Tickets: www. shawneelittletheatre.com. Get out on a Friday evening and enjoy the Block pARTy on July 20 on Main Street. Eat dinner at one of the downtown restaurants and then walk the businesses and art galleries open for the evening.

FREE ESTIMATES Tecumseh Public Library is offering a beginning clogging class starting from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, July 9. The class is open for all ages, and those participating will learn a routine to perform at the Frontier Days Parade in September. Registration: pioneer.libnet.info/events.

EXPERT COLOR MATCHING COLLISION & FRAME REPAIR Head to Edmond for a night out and enjoy art by local Shawnee WARRANTY ON ALL REPAIRS Artists at the Integris Cancer InstiLimit one coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers. Restrictions apply. Valid and redeemable only when presented at a participating location. The UPS Store centers are independently owned and operated. © 2016 The UPS Store, Inc. Offer Expires 12/31/2018

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Do not miss the opportunity to see Don Felder, former lead guitarist of The Eagles, in concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Grand Casino. Tickets: www.grandboxoffice. com. Sign up your children for fall music lessons through Oklahoma Baptist University’s Preparatory Department. Online enrollment and

tute Art Show from July 26-September 9. Local artists presenting will include Meredith Bailey, Beth Wilhelm and Lisa Vernon. Information: integrisok.com/resources/ news/2018/24th-annual-art-showat-integris-cancer-institute. Homeschool parents can enroll their children in homeschool band or strings for the 2018-2019 academic year. Enroll: www.okhomeschoolbands.com.

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. Contact her if you know of an upcoming arts event. Email: tswadley@ sbcglobal.net.

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