Issuu

How 'America's Drive-In' Got Its Start | Circle of Care Fostering Hope

'This is Our

Home' JULY 19

Vol. 16 Number 5

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SHAWNEE, OK PERMIT NO 33

Enriching the lives of our patients and their families every day.

Heartland Home Health Care

Heartland Hospice Services

• Home Care Elite 2004 - 2016

• SHP Best Hospice Caregiver Satisfaction Superior Performer Award 2016, 2017 and 2018 • All RN On Call Staff • Volunteer Program Supports Families and Veterans

• Best of Shawnee Award 2016, 2017 and 2019

• Bereavement Programs open to the public year round

• Accredited by Accreditation Commission for Health Care • All RN On Call Staff

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BEST WISHES TO AN ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE & LONGTIME FRIEND After 37 years of dedicated service, Stephen Trotter, MD, will retire from SSM Health Medical Group July 5, 2019. Since 1982 when he began practicing Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shawnee Medical Center Clinic, Dr. Trotter has been an exceptional partner and friend to the community. His loyalty to the medical profession and commitment to providing the highest quality of care to his patients has been invaluable to the Shawnee community. We are honored by his choice to spend 37 years with us. 3315 Kethley Rd Shawnee, OK 74804 SSMHealth.com A department of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee ©2019 SSM Health. All rights reserved.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Thank you, Dr. Trotter, for your exceptional service and best of luck in your future endeavors.

CONTENTS

JULY 2019

Publisher

Okie Icon Media

Managing Editor

David Dinsmore

Advertising Sales

Brad Carter

Creative Direction

Kelsey Walker & Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

Writers

Andrea Beck

Jamie Bergsten

David Dinsmore

Brandon Dyer

Ann McDonald

Angela Rowland

Jan Tipton

Cover Photo

David Dinsmore

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

FEATURES 9

Circle of Care Fostering Hope For the Future

Shawnee Gem and Mineral Club Has Been Rocking For More Than 30 Years

Over the Fence: Share the Popsicles

Experience Matters When It Comes to Providing Hospice Care

Artist Used Skills, Support to Rebuild Her Home After Fire

Veggie RX Addresses Chronic Diseases Through Lifestyle Changes, Not Pills

How 'America's Drive-In' Got Its Start In Shawnee

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

DEPARTMENTS 6 KEEP THE CHANGE 6 NUTRITION 101 24 SONIC CONTEST 25 SHAWNEE HISTORY

26 MENTAL HEALTH 29 THE BRIGHT SPOT 30 CALENDAR

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

Summer Fun Out of the Sun L

ast month, we touched on outdoor options to kick off your summer, but as the heat increases, there also are plenty of great options for indoor fun. • Visit the library – Always my top choice for free family fun. There is still another month left in the Summer Reading Program, so check out their calendar for fun activities your littles will enjoy. • Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum, Seminole – Did you know if you sign up for a membership, you can add the Oklahoma Museum Network to your membership for an additional $55? That network gives you access to five children’s museums across the state, most notably including Science Museum Oklahoma in OKC. Plus, it gives you a discount in their gift shops. • AMC Summer Movie Camp – Head to the Hornbeck every Wednesday at 10 a.m. through July to enjoy a family-friendly film. The cost is $4 plus tax per person and includes a movie ticket and Kids Pack concession comprised of popcorn, fruit snacks and a drink. Check out amctheatres.com/summer-movie-camp to see a schedule of what’s playing. • Explore Shawnee – Shawnee has some fascinating places. The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Citizen Potawatomi Heritage Center and recently re-finished Pottawatomie County Museum are all interesting points to visit. Check out VisitShawee.com for more information and ideas. If you can gather a large group, the Round House Factory – featured on The Travel Channel – offers tours to groups of 30 or more. Visit their website, www.round-house.com, for booking information. • Braum’s Farm Tour – If you like factories and are up for a bit of a drive, check out the Braum’s Farm in Tuttle. It’s free but requires a reservation. Visit braums.com/tours for information. Many of the above locations require reservation and some are closed on Mondays, so be sure to look them up before heading out. 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) 6

www.shawneeoutlook.com

NUTRITION 101

Eyeing More Ways to Play With Your Food According to the World Health Organization, the rate of vision impairments nearly triples for Americans as they age from 65 to 85 and older. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss. Genetics does play a part in this diagnosis, but lifestyle factors including smoking, physical activity and dietary patterns also modify this risk. Research suggests Americans are not eating enough of the foods and nutrients that protect eye health, particularly the antioxidant carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Foods rich in these nutrients include dark leafy greens and green vegetables. Catechins found in green tea are also thought to positively impact the eye. Eating more vitamin A, C and E rich foods has been linked with lower risk of cataracts and AMD. Foods high in these vitamins include sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, cantaloupe, peppers, mangoes, oranges, kiwi, broccoli, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower oil and wheat germ. Eating styles rich in vegetables and fruits are associated with lower risk for cataracts, glaucoma and AMD. High meat consumption, especially red meat, has been linked to increased risk of these conditions. Mediterranean style eating patterns have been associated with lower risk for AMD. The American Optometric Association recommends consuming 500 mg per day of vitamin C, 400 mg per day of vitamin E and 40-80 mg per day of zinc. So in short, there is an abundance of evidence linked to eating more fruits and vegetables for better eye health, especially as one ages. It is just another reason to consume ample amounts of fruits and vegetables. Below is a fun way to do just that.

Lion Snacks Sometimes, food choices can just get boring, especially for your kids. Introducing more fruits and vegetables can be challenging for some, so why not make it fun? My 4-year-old devoured this whole thing and thought it was so cool when I brought it to him. He wanted another one immediately. Ingredients: 2 pineapple rings 1 strawberry ¼ of small banana 6 strands of broccoli slaw

2 blueberries 2 cuties 1 raisin

Directions: Place pineapple rings on the plate. Place cuties around the pineapple for the lion’s mane. Top with banana, blueberries, strawberry and broccoli slaw. Slice raisin in half for the mouth. Makes: 1 lion snack Nutritional Information per Serving Calories: 131 Total Fat: 0.5g Saturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 0.5mg Total Carbohydrates: 30g Dietary Fiber: 6g Protein: 1g Nutrition 101: Feel free to have fun with this. Play around with the produce you already have. I didn’t go and buy anything particular to make this; it is just what I had on hand. You can slice kiwi thin for green whiskers if you don’t have broccoli slaw. As you read in the article above, getting in more produce is great for our eye health at all stages of life. There are countless reasons to push more produce on our kids and to eat more ourselves. Chips and junk food can be an easy go-to instead of grabbing a piece of fruit, but the internet can give you a ton of ideas on presenting food in fun ways to help get your child to eat more produce. We have to lead by example for our kids, and making food fun is just one way to do that. Andrea Beck, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer, received her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from UCO in Edmond. She offers personal training services through Anytime Fitness and nutrition services through SSM Health St Anthony Shawnee. For nutrition or exercise questions, you can contact Andrea at andrea.beck1@ssmhealth.com.

W. John Haddad, MD, FACC is back in Shawnee with Oklahoma W OHH South welcome OHH South welcomes Heart Hospital.

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Oklahoma Heart Hospital is nationally Long-time Shawnee cardiologist W. John Haddad recognized as a top performing facility Long-time Shawnee cardiologist W. John has joined Oklahoma Heart Hospital andHaddad will providing exceptional patient satisfaction. be seeing at the OHH Southand campus. has joinedpatients Oklahoma Heart Hospital will We are proud to proudly have cardiologist, Dr.John W. Dr. has Shawnee beHaddad seeing patients atcardiologist theserved OHH South campus. Long-time Shawnee W. Haddad patients locally for the last 20 Shawnee years andwill is has joined Oklahoma Heart Hospital Dr. Haddad has proudly served John Haddad serving local patients inand the excited to patients continue your care OHHcampus. South. be seeing thelast OHH South patients foratthe 20at years and is OHH cliniclocally in Shawnee. Dr. Haddad has proudly Call 405.608.3800 forserved an appointment. excited to continue your care atShawnee OHH South. Call 405.628.6535 for an appointment. patients locally for the last 20 years and is

Call 405.608.3800 for an is appointment. Oklahoma Heart Hospital nationally recognized excited to continue your care at OHH South. as a top-performing facility Call 405.608.3800 for an appointment. Oklahoma Heart Hospital is providing nationally exceptional recognized patient satisfaction. We’re proud to welcome as a top-performing facility providing exceptional Oklahoma is nationally recognized Dr. HaddadHeart to theHospital OHH team! patient satisfaction. facility We’re proud to welcome as a top-performing providing exceptional Dr. Haddad to the OHH team! patient satisfaction. We’re proud to welcome Guardian of Excellence Top 100 hospitals & health systems Dr. &Haddad the OHH team! Pinnacle of to Excellence 6 consecutive years with great heart programs

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Now Accepting New Patients Shivendra Bansal, MD Family Medicine

SSM Health St. Anthony is pleased to welcome Shivendra Bansal, MD, to SSM Health Medical Group. As a family medicine specialist, Dr. Bansal offers a full spectrum of services for infants, children and adults. His education and training from American University of Integratives Sciences, Sint Maarten, Caribbean, and family medicine residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, make him uniquely qualified to provide compassionate, personalized care to patients of all ages.

Now accepting new patients. Call 405-272-5801 to schedule an appointment.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Circle of Care Fostering Hope for the Future by Jamie Bergsten

Circle of Care is building two homes and a clubhouse on Hardesty Road aimed at keeping multiple siblings in the foster care system under one roof.

Photo by David Dinsmore

n the state of Oklahoma, if a sibling group of three kids is taken into foster care, there’s about a 65 percent chance they’ll be kept together. If four children are involved, that number drops to 45 percent, and with six siblings or more, they’ll stay together in only about 1 percent of cases. An Oklahoma City-based nonprofit is aiming to improve those statistics, and Shawnee is part of their focus. Circle of Care was founded with the help of the United Methodist Church and provides foster care and residential services across the state. They launched a plan to raise $5 million to fund the building and maintenance of eight homes across Alva, Elk City, Enid, Tulsa, Shawnee and Woodward. Each home is intended to house a foster family who lives there free of charge in exchange for keeping large sibling groups together. Money was largely donated by churches and civic groups, but in the case of the Shawnee properties, the Avedis Foundation was an integral partner. The group provided a grant for half of the total needed to build on the site near the corner of Rock Creek and Hardesty Roads. Construction on the eight residences is taking place in intervals, beginning with the Vera Mae Home in Alva, which was the first to be completed and occupied. The focus then shifted to Woodward and Enid before ground was broken in Shawnee back in February. Each home here will have four bedrooms and 2½ baths with a clubhouse to be used for trainings, supervised visits, counseling sessions and meetings in between the two houses. Richardson Homes is overseeing the construction, and completion is anticipated this fall. A 2008 federal law states that unless conditions are unsafe, child welfare agencies should

make “reasonable efforts” to keep siblings together in foster care or to otherwise provide frequent visitation. However, even with that provision in place, brothers and sisters are often kept apart. Circle of Care began recruiting foster families to live voluntarily in the finished projects if they agree to keep those siblings together in one home. Sarah Steffes, Circle of Care vice president of development, explained how the six communities were chosen. “For several years, Circle of Care has had a strategic plan to expand services into western Oklahoma, and we were able to secure church partnerships to make these homes possible in Alva, Woodward and Elk City,” she said. “We already had one home in Enid, so it was natural to add another one there, so the two homes can be supportive of one another and enable us to potentially place a sibling set of greater than six on the same site. We also had a desire to expand services in Shawnee and gained the support of the Avedis Foundation, making this project possible.” Steffes said that Circle of Care doesn’t have plans to expand this campaign beyond the original eight homes and will continue supporting its current operations. “We currently have community foster care campuses in Tahlequah, Coweta and Gore as well,” she said. The children placed in the Shawnee homes, as well as the other six, are not required to have been in Methodist Children’s Home placement. They can be from anywhere in the foster care system. Circle of Care will maintain ownership

of each home, but the families residing there do have certain responsibilities. “We evaluate several factors when recruiting and approving a family,” Steffes said. “We look at financial stability, healthy relationships and physical health. We complete the appropriate background checks as required by DHS. The family must be willing to go through the training and approval process to become a Circle of Care foster family. Once approved, we’d like them to take up to five foster children into the home ongoing. This will give us a greater chance of placing sibling groups of three to six in the same location.” Circle of Care will provide continual training and support services for the families, as well as welcome baskets for new placements, clothing allotments, community activity funds, respite care and annual training required for DHS certification. In return, the families will be required to maintain the cleanliness of the homes and grounds. They’ll be responsible for costs like cable, internet, and phone as well as other incidental expenses. Furthermore, they’ll play a crucial role in interacting with the community as Circle of Care’s goal is to wrap volunteer, church and civic groups around the homes as a form of support for the foster families living there. “The entire project in Shawnee is approximately $800,000 for the two homes and clubhouse,” Steffes said. This includes funds not only for initial construction but also for future maintenance needs. Circle of Care officials are working to have all eight homes completed and operational by the end of 2020. For more information on this project or becoming a Circle of Care foster family, contact the organization at www.circleofcare.org or (405) 463-6626. www.shawneeoutlook.com

Shawnee Gem and Mineral Club Has Been Rocking For More Than 30 Years

by David Dinsmore

om Morris’ son wanted to go to a rock show. It was the mid-1980s, so for most people this meant wild hair and loud guitars. His 10-year-old had something else in mind. This rock show involved the findings of mineralogy enthusiasts. It featured the kinds of material they found on various excursions and brought home to cut and polish. Like most people, Morris had never given much thought to the world below his feet. He had hunted for arrowheads as a youngster but turned his attention to what was in front of him as he grew older. After attending a couple rock shows, however, his family joined the Shawnee Gem and Mineral Club founded by Bob and Nancy Hicks, and suddenly his perspective changed. “There’s a world of color out there that you don’t know about,” said Morris, who has since served in a variety of roles including president of the club since joining nearly 30 years ago. “A lot of people might look and think, ‘that’s just a rock.’ It is just a rock, but if you know what you’re looking for and cut and polish the right one, they’re absolutely beautiful.” The club was designed to educate people about how to find, identify and process the geological bounty just below their feet, Morris said. In the past, the club would go to local schools and do presentations about mineralogy. Today, the club tries to conduct field trips for its members once a month unless the temperatures are extreme, current club president Mandie Briant said. They travel to quarries and places like the popular rock-hunting area known as White Mound in southern Oklahoma. They sometimes team up with other area clubs to look for gems, minerals, fossils and more. Education plays a key role in their monthly meetings, which occur on the second Tuesday of every month in the conference area on the western side of the First United Bank building at 912 E. Independence St. The club puts together an activity or project geared toward children starting at 5:30 p.m. “We like to get the younger ones involved so they can see having a hobby in rocks and minerals can lead to other places and other fields,” current president Mandie Briant said. “We do a lot of crafts, and that gets their imagination going.” The general meeting follows at 6:30 p.m. and can include demonstrations of processing techniques, presentations from other gem and mineral enthusiasts, guest speakers on special topics and 10

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Members of the Shawnee Gem and Mineral Club go on field trips to find geological treasures located just beneath our feet and hosts monthly meetings that include demonstrations, presentations and more. Photos submitted

having a few laughs with fellow rock enthusiasts. Involvement in clubs in this vein comes with potential long-term educational benefits. The local club belongs to the Oklahoma State Council of Mineralogical Societies, Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies and American Federation of Mineralogical Societies. Some of these organizations provide money toward scholarships for students interested in pursuing a career in geology, which can help pave the way to

attractive careers. There are also more immediate perks to being part of a mineralogy club. Going on field trips and pursuing the hobby has allowed members like Morris and his family to travel while scouting across this state and beyond in search of new finds. They’ve seen these places in a way many may miss. After coming home, processing their findings helps develop skills that can be applied in a variety of fields. Morris said joining the club has led to him dabble in activities like silversmithing, spear making, faceting, cutting and tumbling “Master of none of it; piddled in all of it,” said Morris, who was a heavy equipment operator and supervisor at Tinker Air Force Base until retiring in 1999. The Shawnee Gem and Mineral Club provides

a great opportunity to meet people from a variety of backgrounds and share ideas, and some who come have interests that extend beyond filling boxes with rock collections, Briant said. For instance, some members of groups like this tie it into their business or hobby of jewelry making. Being able to locate and process their own raw materials can help them create unique pieces and decrease their costs. “It’s a great place to meet neat friends and go have some fun,” Briant said. Those interested can find the Facebook group called Shawnee Gem and

Mineral Club and ask to join. There is a Facebook page listed as Shawnee Gem and Mineral Society that is not active and is not monitored, Briant said, so Facebook users should make sure they find the group listed Shawnee Gem and Mineral Club. Those interested in finding out more by phone can call Briant at (405) 403-4878 or attend one of the meetings on the second Tuesday of the month. Guests are always welcome. The membership fee per year is $20 for a family and $15 for an individual.

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Over the Fence:

Share the Popsicles

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

f I ever wanted to know where my kiddos were when they were younger, all I had to do was call my neighbor’s house two doors down. You see, they were grandparents, but their own grandkids didn’t live nearby. They loved when our kids would stop by for a visit so the couple could pinch their precious little cheeks and listen to their make-believe stories. On their back porch was a small refrigerator that they kept stocked with popsicles, and as everybody knows, popsicles are kid magnets. Our children would visit with their neighborhood grandparents over an ice-cold popsicle and then walk the short distance back home thinking they had outsmarted the neighbors again, not realizing it was a fair trade. Recently I learned of a little 6-year-old boy that wanted to get the neighborhood kids together to play. He lives in a great neighborhood where neighbors know each other by name and the sound of kids playing outside can be heard on any given day. He asked his parents for help. When they asked him what he would like to do with his friends, his face lit up. He wanted to have a water balloon fight for the ages with all the kids in the neighborhood. What a fantastic idea for a hot summer day. They suggested that he come up with some invitations to deliver door-to-door to invite them, so that’s what they did. While they were making the invitations, he had an idea. “I’ve got it! Water balloons AND popsicles.” Now the plan was complete. What kid could ignore water balloons AND popsicles? They gathered the invitations and went around the neighborhood passing them out. The neighborhood kiddos came, and they had a great time throwing water balloons, getting wet and eating popsicles. They all returned home with sticky fingers and worn out little bodies, having made new

friends in the neighborhood. When I heard this story it made me wonder, why do children seem to know things intuitively about community that we as adults often forget over time? Children seem to understand that it’s important to be around each other. This boy knew that he could make water balloons himself and eat popsicle alone, but there was something better about doing that with other people. Something more enjoyable, more fun. We tend to forget the simple things as we get older. We sometimes forget that kindness matters, and people deserve to be loved and that compassion makes us whole. Children might not often articulate these basic human qualities in this manner, but they tend to live their lives as if these things are true. The boy in this story was displaying generosity. He had a fun idea and he wanted to share it.

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Even with boys and girls he didn’t know – even perhaps because he didn’t know them. It brought them all together even if for a little while. We could learn something from him. We need to be together now more than ever. We are all so painfully aware of what makes us different, but what makes us the same? What basic human qualities can we emphasize to remind us that we are really no different from our neighbors? In the end, we all want to be happy and healthy, and even though our instinct sometimes tells us otherwise, we cannot find happiness and health living isolated lives inside busy neighborhoods. We need each other if we are going to lead the sorts of lives we all want. So, share the popsicles or whatever community-building medium you prefer. Enjoy life together. Let’s show the kiddos of our community how to make a better world.

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Experience Matters When It Comes To Providing Hospice Care by David Dinsmore

here is no instruction manual when it comes to saying goodbye to someone reaching the end of their fight with a dis-

ease. Families must process what’s best for their loved ones during their final days while also grappling with their own feelings and fears moving forward. Learning to grieve is not a skill many people practice before facing it, which is why having nurses, social workers, chaplains, aids and volunteers with extensive experience can make a big difference in helping patients and their families through the most difficult situations, Heartland Home Health and Hospice Care administrator Susan Ward said. “I have employees who have been with me for 15, even up to 20 years here,” Ward said. “That’s very unusual in a discipline like hospice where your job is to be with your patient until they come to the end of their life.” Founded as Hospice of Shawnee in the 1980s under the supervision of the hospital, one of the local nuns saw the need to provide home care for those approaching the end of their lives and 14

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helped create a volunteer organization to provide services, Ward said. The home health component of the organization also began under the supervision of the local hospital. “It’s interesting to have a legacy like that,” said Ward, who started working for the group now known as Heartland in 1991. In 1992, Medicare began requiring hospices to be licensed under an approved provider. The hospice received the seventh license issued by the state of Oklahoma and has continued to operate since despite changing its name in 2003 after getting purchased by Heartland. The years of experience garnered by Heartland’s staff has helped the organization stand out among its peers nationally, Ward said. Strategic Healthcare Programs – which analyzes quality information submitted by more than 1,000 similar organizations – has placed Heartland among its top hospice leaders for three years in a row with scores above the benchmark number set by SHP in a variety of categories. “Our teamwork has made the difference,” Ward said. “It’s a privilege to work with them,

and we get to impact our community.” The nature of the job does not fit the personality of everyone who enters hospice care, but those who do it well have found it “stunningly rewarding,” Ward said. Those who thrive in hospice work see it as a gift they can provide to their community, but they also see their patients and their families as a gift. One of the requirements for hospices working under Medicare guidelines is to provide a volunteer program that can provide a minimum of five percent of the hours of service a hospice gives annually, Ward said. Heartland’s volunteer base provides an average of about 15 percent of its hospice time. The talents and activities provided by the volunteers has included a wide variety of skills, Ward said. Some have learned sign language to help with communicating with patients or their family members. Others have used their military experience to provide veteran recognition services. Some have even taken up the art of the manicure. “Some of the guys taught themselves to

paint fingernails,” Ward said. “They go to the nursing home to paint fingernails, and the women line up to have the guy do it. It’s very funny.” Heartland’s volunteer coordinator Karen Cleveland-Herron has been combing the community looking for more hands to help for about 15 years. She has been able to build up a robust roster of volunteers thanks to the relationships she has been able to form and maintain with local churches, nonprofits, businesses and individuals. Another factor of hospice’s care comes from providing bereavement care for the families of their patients, Ward said. Heartland’s bereavement coordinator Jennifer Freed leads a grief support group every Tuesday that is open to the public, but she also provides grief education seminars periodically throughout the year that go beyond support to provide clinical education for those who are grieving to help identify any issues it might be causing in their lives now. On the home health side, Heartland’s staff focuses on helping patients get back to the highest level of independence they can following an injury or illness, Ward said. The staff provides support and education to help these patients learn to manage their new challenges moving forward. This can include nurses who monitor a patient’s progress and help them understand their medication and other therapies, or it could require hands-on care

at home by physical, occupation and speech therapy professionals. “Our job is to try to help patients function as effectively as they can at home,” Ward said. While the staff’s focus continues to be providing care for their neighbors in Shawnee and surrounding communities, ownership by a large organization – Promedica-owned HCR Manorcare now oversees Heartland – brings access to resources that enhance local caretakers’ ability to treat patients at home. This includes the organization’s Advanced Disease Management program, which brings in a nurse practitioner to exam and treat patients in the home under the guidance of the patient’s physician. The nurse practitioners provide care with two focuses: managing symptoms and pain stemming from an underlying advanced disease and discussing how the patient wants to proceed as the disease progresses. They call these “goals of care discussions.” This includes deciding if or when the

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patient would want to admit to the hospital as their condition worsens, if they would rather seek alternative treatments and what details they need to specify in their advanced medical directive. The program does not take the place of the physician, Ward said, but it supports the treatment plan put in place by those doctors. Ward said it currently is limited to patients who live in Shawnee and along the I-40 corridor to Oklahoma City. With long-term local experience and access to larger resources, Heartland’s staff continues to carry out the mission set forth by the volunteers in the early days of the organization, and that experience can help patients and their families anticipate and understand the road ahead of them. “What you really want is to be with people you love in a familiar place,” Ward said. “It’s so much more comforting.” For more information about services, volunteering or meetings, call (405) 214-6441.

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Artist Used Skills, Support To Rebuild Her Home After Fire by David Dinsmore

LeAnne Henry Wright channeled her skills as an artist and craftsman to help rebuild her family’s home after a fire, create a new functional space for Emmanuel Episcopal Church and to teach students the importance of self-reliance and expression. Photos by David Dinsmore

eAnne Henry Wright had been thinking about making a change. After living in the same house for nearly six years – the longest she remembered staying in one domicile – she started feeling the urge to wander, whether it be to the mountains or just another town. A fire, however, was not on her list, but one engulfed her family’s home in the middle of one night in March 2017. As they began cleaning up the remnants of their belongings, Henry Wright remained unsure what she wanted to do with the house. Part of her wanted to rebuild the basics of the house, sell it and move forward, but as the community began to rally her family, it struck her. “It was so clear to me that this is our home, this town is our home,” Henry Wright said. “There was nothing left to do but create.” An accomplished artist and craftsman, Henry Wright found it natural to begin to redesign her home and all it represented. She did this by putting into practice the same philosophy her father conveyed to her most of her life that guided her 18

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as an artist. “Fixing things with your own hands, you’re never really stranded,” Henry Wright said. “I’ve always solved problems with my hands.” Her journey started in northwest Oklahoma while living on a hunting preserve managed by her parents about 45 minutes from the nearest town where self-reliance was essential. Her father taught her how to weld when she was in fourth grade, and she continued developing her practical craftsman skills until they started feeding into her creativity. Attending college on a track and field scholarship, Henry Wright had a job in a work study program where others took notice of her ability to solve problems. An injury derailed her athletic pursuits, but by then her creativity had caught the attention of an art professor who was able to replace her track award with a complete art scholarship. Henry Wright began painting on small canvases she could afford on a college budget until one of her professors, Jack Titus, brought her a four-foot-by-six-foot watercolor canvas to chal-

lenge what she could accomplish. “Since then, I’ve never done anything small,” Henry Wright said. The large format led to her winning a sixmonth, all-expense-paid internship in New York, which allowed her husband and her to live and work there while learning the ins-and-outs of the business side of art at its highest levels. By 2017, she had acquired a variety of skills by trying her hand at a variety of projects that ranged from painting to creating custom pieces of furniture and beyond. She poured this experience into working with local contractors and craftsmen to rebuild her home. “It was inspiring to connect with where I was and create a new space for my family,” Henry Wright said. She built a unique countertop for a bathroom that required her to explain to her plumber its functionality. She drew custom handrails for her split-level house, and she made life easy on the painters by only asking them to buy white paint for the walls. “I’ll bring the color,” said Henry Wright, who

retains one painting from each series she creates and wanted her walls to be a “clean palette” on which to display them. The result was a home that serves almost as a portfolio for the artist and testament to what can come out of self-reliance bolstered by support by caring community members. As those around her provided for her family during the year they were rebuilding, Henry Wright received the opportunity to give back after Emmanuel Episcopal Church elected her to a position of overseeing a new construction that would add classrooms, gathering space and an expanded kitchen that could serve the community. In the midst of rebuilding her own house, she helped convert a house near the church into the “Porch House” they could use in the interim for class space and to serve sack lunches for the community rather than demolish the existing structure and absorb it into her new project. She worked with Greg Cullison – who at one point helped secure her house after looters helped themselves to some belongings following the Wrights’ house fire – in creating a useful space for the community to use that was beautiful and respected the history of the century-old church and self-reliance to more than 40 private students. She tries to convey art’s role in helping to which it belonged. On top of these recent projects as well as her them work through issues in their lives and how personal work creating art for shows and custom their creativity can help them tackle their own pieces of furniture for clients, Henry Wright also problems – even if its something as big as creattries to pass on what she has learned about art ing a new life for your family. Rugged versatility is what makes Kubota tractors the perfect choice for getting

“It’s key to be able to fix things yourself,” Henry Wright said. For more information about available pieces or custom work, search Art by LeAnne Henry Wright on Facebook, @henrywrightart on Instagram or visit leannehenrywright.com.

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SSM Health St. Anthony welcomes rheumatologists Ahmed Morsy, MD, and Omar Silvestre, MD, to SSM Health Medical Group. Dr. Morsy and Dr. Silvestre are honored to provide new services to Shawnee and the surrounding communities. As board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians, they are highly experienced in all aspects of rheumatologic diseases and personalized treatment plans.

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SSM HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP

Veggie RX Addresses Chronic Diseases Through Lifestyle Changes, Not Pills

ealing with a help of Andrea Beck, chronic disease Registered Dietitian, as is not easy. It’s a well as other SSM Mediday-to-day journey. cal Group staff memWhen managing bers, participants attend chronic disease, there various cooking demonare a variety of medistrations, educational cations that can help, programs and grocery but physicians at SSM Dr. Mitchell Wolf store tours throughout Health Medical Group the course of the prohave found another prescription gram. They are provided a calento help … the Veggie RX project. dar of events and have a private “When I started practicing Facebook page to communicate medicine, I was convinced I could and share their recipes, meals, ask help my patient’s chronic diseas- questions and receive help. es with all the wonderful drugs “I am thrilled when I have a available,” said Mitchell Wolf, patient who wants to learn about MD, SSM Health Medical Group. other options to treat their health “As a medical community, we have issues besides pills,” Dr. Wolf realized that lifestyle changes, said. “I know that there is a good even simple ones, can make huge chance they will be able to reverse positive changes on the manage- and maybe even eliminate their ment of chronic disease.” chronic disease in a healthy way.” The Veggie RX project is deAt the conclusion of the prosigned to improve the health of gram, the follow-up metrics – inpatients through education on cluding body measurements, vital health and nutrition as well as signs and lab values – will be reasgiving them access to healthy sessed to determine success. Posifood with Veggie RX, which in- tive stories and testimonials are cludes prescriptions for fruit and already coming out of the program. vegetables. In addition, partici“Amazingly, the patients who pants receive an orientation about have taken this approach have how the program works, and they been able to reduce or stop their receive vouchers, courtesy of SSM medicines, they feel much better Health St. Anthony Hospital – and I don’t have to manage all the Shawnee, to purchase fresh fruit side effects from their medicaand vegetables for their family. tions,” Dr. Wolf said. “It’s a winThe voucher amount is based on win for everyone.” family size and are redeemable at The program is free to the parFirelake Grocery. ticipants, being made possible As part of this innovative pro- through the combined efforts of gram, Dr. Wolf has been writing Dr. Mitchell Wolf, Andrea Beck, prescriptions for 53 families who RD/LD, staff of SSM Health Mediwere recruited to participate in cal Group, SSM Health St Anthony this trial program. Hospital -Shawnee and Lindsay Another component of the Goodson from Blue Zones Project program is education. With the Pottawatomie County. www.shawneeoutlook.com

How 'America's Drive-In' Gots Its Start In Shawnee Submitted by Visit Shawnee

Photos submitted

onic Drive-In is a popular American fast food restaurant, wellknown for its happy hour drinks and slushes, 50 cent corn dog days and its roller-skating carhops. It truly is “America’s Drive-In.” With more than 3,500 locations nationally as of 2016, it has become a household name across the Midwest. That said, Sonic is more important to Shawnee than many other local town, and that’s not just because we have five of them within driving distance. Sonic Drive-In got its start right here in the Redbud City of Oklahoma. Founder Troy Smith owned and operated a couple of restaurant businesses before finding success with the Top Hat, a walk-up root beer stand that Smith assumed management over on June 18, 1953. On a fortunate trip to Louisiana, Smith witnessed a prototype drive-in that used speakers for 22

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ordering. Borrowing the idea to use an intercom system, Smith tried it at Top Hat – and it was a huge success, tripling sales with both the convenience and the novelty. After incorporating the technology, three more drive-ins were built in Woodward, Stillwater and Enid by 1959. Of course, they had one logistical hurdle in the way – the name Top Hat was already trademarked. They needed a new name that coincided with their slogan, “Service with the Speed of Sound.” Sonic – a synonym for speed, a short and catchy twosyllable word, a play on their innovation to use an intercom – was their answer. The name stuck, and the first official Sonic-branded signage was put in over the restaurant in Stillwater. From here, the company would grow to become a widely recognized brand in small towns of Texas, Kansas, Ar-

kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and beyond. Fast forward to today, and Sonic’s corporate office stands in OKC’s Bricktown not more than 40 miles from the place where it all began. With memorable commercials and ad campaigns, the brand’s strength across the Midwest is a sign that maybe having to change their name wasn’t such a bad thing after all. While the franchise has gone seminational at this point, Sonic Drive-In still has a profound effect on our local community. The restaurants in Shawnee today are owned by the Winterringer family, who have been involved in managing Smith’s own restaurants locally since the very beginning. Not only that, Troy Smith donated $5 million in company stock to the Shawnee Family YMCA shortly before he passed away.

Go check out the commemorative plaque installed on the Sonic at 450 N. Harrison upon its exterior, northfacing wall. Fans of Sonic will find the trivia fascinating, as it lists the dates and locations where Sonic Drive-In restaurants have been opened in the city of Shawnee. The location of the original Top Hat location that became the first Sonic Drive-In was located at 1814 N. Harrison before it was eventually demolished. As of the writing of this article, the Sonic Drive-Ins that are open in and around Shawnee include: 4625 N Kickapoo Ave. 4439 N Harrison St. 2131 N. Kickapoo Ave. 450 N Harrison St. 40210 Hardesty Rd. On your way in or out of town, stop by and grab a cherry limeade. You’ll be tasting a little bit of Shawnee history. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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SHAWNEE HISTORY

Jefferson Elementary School's Roots Extend Back More Than 100 Years

by Ann McDonald, Courtesy Pott Co. Historical Society Member

s Shawnee grade schools go through upgrades and preparations are being made to erect a new building, the local school landscape continues to change dramatically after more than 100 years in existence. Education began almost as soon as the dust settled after the run in September 1891. Early settlers set up subscription schools in their homes, churches and business buildings. Within a couple of years, a school board was established, and Shawnee Public Schools were born. The next major effort came in constructing a grade school to serve the neighborhood children in each section of town, and that dream was realized by 1904. Today, 115 years later, only two of those schools still exist – Jefferson and Horace Mann, though neither exist in their original buildings. Franklin and Washington were the other two ward schools. Jefferson – which currently aims to add new rooms and a parking lot – has a particularly storied history among all Shawnee schools, beginning with the tornado just 20 years after it was built. That deadly tornado tore off the top floor of Jefferson, but after sweeping off the debris and sealing what then became the new roof, classes continued in the first floor and the basement. Younger students were moved to nearby churches and some older ones to other schools. About 10 years later, the old building was razed, and Shawnee’s Jefferson School became the first building in the region to be constructed with funds from the Public Works Administration created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal. Described as “state-of-the-art,” that building is still part of the school today. During the same time, the federal highway de-

Damaged by a tornado and later rebuilt under the New Deal, Jefferson Elementary School has continued teaching young students for more than 100 years. Photo submitted

partment was widening and paving Highway 270, which included Kickapoo Street. Parents worried for children living west of Jefferson and having to cross a busy highway brought plans to construct a pedestrian underpass. The road was already scheduled to close from Federal to Highland for construction. Already concerned, area merchants were distraught when they learned about the planned underpass, which would make the project last even longer. It was decided that the safety of the children was most important, and even today, the underpass is still used. It remains locked except when students arrive and leave the campus. The new school and the underpass were completed in the spring of 1934. The school board held off opening classes there until the fall, and its opening became a big event with speeches and bands. Teachers gathered their children from the various locations where they had been attending and marched them to their new school. In 1950, with a pupil population of 363, four

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new classrooms were added on the north end of the original L-shaped building for first and second grades. There were no cafeterias in most of the schools as most students went home for lunch at this time. Most lived within walking distance and could make it there and back during the designated lunch period. Those who brought their lunches used a classroom as a lunchroom. In 1954, a building was erected on the north end of the playground, and hot lunches became available. Over the years, there have been many changes to not just Jefferson but to Shawnee schools overall. Changes in population size and residential concentrations have changed the landscape of the town, and citizens are more mobile. Many neighborhood schools have disappeared. Jefferson has gone through changes as well, such as grade centers and a pairing with Washington. The building itself is not original and even now continues to receive additions, but the school has stood at the same place and has continued to educate children for more than 100 years.

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MENTAL HEALTH

Childhood Experiences Could Explain Adult 'Bad Habits'

f you stopped people on the street in Shawnee and asked them why they thought teens drank alcohol or began smoking tobacco or marijuana, you’d probably get answers like peer pressure, media influence, role models, rebellion or fun. It is unlikely that many people would say “toxic stress,” that is until recently. The science behind toxic stress or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has been explored and valued by professionals during the last 10 years. In fact, several agencies and organizations in Pottawatomie County are adopting trauma-informed approaches that assist in preventing ACEs or reducing their impact on the individual. The ACEs study began in the 1980s when insurance and health care company, Kaiser Permanente, interviewed the dropouts from their weight-loss program to find out why they quit despite successfully losing weight. What they found was that more than half of the dropouts had been sexually abused as children. As the participants began to lose weight, they felt vulnerable rather than satisfied. Many reported that having more weight served as protection from unwanted advances. Researchers at the company were so curious that they surveyed more than 17,000 of their own employees to find out the types of stressors individuals may have experienced growing up as well as the impact those stressors had on health outcomes when they became adults. The study identified 10 major stressors: • Physical neglect • Emotional neglect • A family member who is depressed or diagnosed with a mental illness • A family member who is incarcerated • Witnessing a mother being abused • Physical abuse • Sexual abuse • Losing a parent to separation, divorce or other reason • A family member who is addicted to alcohol or another substance • Verbal abuse You may decide to count how many you had growing up prior to the age of 18. Don’t worry; you are not alone. Nearly 64 percent of adults have at least one, and those with one have an 87 percent chance of experiencing two or more. Science is also finding other stressors to possibly add to the list, such as natural disasters, racism and historical trauma. Stress is not bad in and of itself. Stress produces chemicals in our brain that motivates us to start a new project, 26

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complete a difficult task or care for the people around us. We learn to cope, develop confidence and work through problems. However, experiencing major stressors like the ones listed above on a consistent basis can have a significant impact on a person’s brain, social connection and coping skills. For instance, an adult that reports an ACE score of four or more is more likely to experience: • attempted suicides • multiple marriages • health related issues • chronic depression • auto-immune diseases • work absences • substance use disorders Perhaps you can identify with some of the ACE categories but see yourself as healthy and happy. You may have had factors in your life that built up your resilience. You had at least one adult who cared for you, had your back when the going got tough and loved you dearly through it. Maybe you had friends whom you could confide in or talk to when you needed companionship. Maybe you had teachers or coaches in your life who noticed that you were capable and helped encourage you throughout school. Perhaps you developed a belief that your life could get better, and you could make it happen. These are factors that increased your resilience and enabled you to move through these ACEs with fewer consequences. So, as we move about our days and share space with one another, let’s consider that everyone has a set of past experiences that impacts the adults we are today. Those of us who can identify with the ACEs have most likely found ways to cope that have brought about both achievements and negative consequences. Acknowledging ACEs is not a way of placing blame or offering excuses but rather a way of creating awareness that some of our bad habits or health problems as adults may have their roots in experiences we had little choice over as young people. Maybe we are not lazy, uncaring, sickly and irresponsible. Maybe we are doing our best to survive and are looking for healthier connections and options in order to properly heal. Jan Tipton, MAT, CPS, has been working in the substance abuse prevention field for more than 25 years. She is a prevention specialist working at Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. She is passionate about all children getting a chance to grow up and achieve their dreams.

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*With approved credit. Annual percentage rate for qualified borrowers with auto debit from BancFirst account, on new loans or refinance of non-BancFirst loans. Model year limits may apply. Offer expires August 31, 2019.

Handcrafted native products from all over!

2025 South Gordon Cooper • Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801 Monday-Friday 8AM - 5PM & Little Axe Tuesdays and Thursdays 8AM - 12PM

Please call 405-275-4030 for additional details

If you’re being abused, you’re not alone any longer. There is help. And there is hope.

Emergency Crisis line:

405-878-4673 (HOPE) visit cpnhouseofhope.com for more info Call 911 if you are in immediate danger

It’s time to say eNOough www.shawneeoutlook.com

We have wipers to fit most cars for under $6. We now offer a full line of small batteries. Including batteries for flashlights, key fobs, door openers & even hearing aids.

Cheaper than the big box stores!

4TH OF JULY SPECIAL

15% OFF

BATTERIES 15% OFF AC TUNE UP EXPIRES JULY 31, 2019

10% OFF ALL ENGINE REPAIR EXPIRES JULY 31, 2019

LOCALLY FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1974

2 Locations 2533 N. Harrison • Shawnee, OK 405-273-5050 16 W. Highland • Shawnee, OK 405-273-8500

FREDS TIRE AND BATTERY

www.visionbank.bank

Shawnee Prague Meeker (405) 395-9455

www.shawneeoutlook.com

(405) 567-2222

(405) 279-4600

THE BRIGHT SPOT Amid the bad news and bickering out there, sometimes it’s nice to read a little encouragement. The Bright Spot is a space to share some inspiration or reassurance with the community through poetry or prose. If you have an idea or something to brighten someone’s day, submit it to editor@shawneeoutlook.com. John Doe By LaToya Martin Why have you chosen me? Why am I considered your best friend? Why do you see your happiness in my future? Daily, you send me your many gifts. Oh, how thoughtless are you. When I awaken, you are there silently holding my hand Preparing to lead me into my day. As night approaches, you comfort me As I wish for more tomorrows. You include yourself in my prayers Even though you are strongly against them. Why have you chosen me? From where did you come? Your many words are silent, and yet you are well-heard. You will not accompany me in my future, But I must acknowledge that you were a part of my past. You once departed, but why did you return? How dare you invite yourself back into my life. Do you not respect my wishes? You are no longer welcomed here, Because my will is to live. So goodbye, Cancer.

In The Shadows by Kay Lynne Vance Oh, precious one hidden in the shadows, do not fear. You may feel unimportant, but you are greatly beloved! You do have a purpose. You are a part of God's plan. You have a place. The Lord will reveal your hidden treasure. He will draw forth your shining light. You will not be put to shame. Your flower may look small to some, but this bright color has a story. You are well able to brighten someone's day! A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. No need to try to judge or speak of lack of strength. God Himself will direct your steps. Just drink of the Water of Life; feed on the Bread of heaven. Abide in His Word. God is good. He is your loving Abba Father. Fear not, nor be anxious. Even small faith is still faith! Did not Moses start with trembling and fear? Yet, look what great things God worked through His obedient servant! So, take your staff in your hand. Even if you should stumble, you are not utterly cast down, for the Lord will uphold you with His hand. He is your strength. He is everything you need.

Reasons By Sheila Hughes When times get real tough, Not one thing going my way, I just must thank the Lord For all these reasons I have to pray. And when my funds run short And tensions know no relief, That just gives one more good reason To cause me to fall upon my knees. And when life, it wears on me, And I can't seem to get ahead,

273-5777 TERMS

Just another superb reason To close my eyes and bow my head. And when the whole world comes against me, And evil seems to take the reins, Thank you, dearest Lord above For the gift I have to pray. So, when times are good or bad, All's well, or gone astray, I just must thank God For all the reasons I have to pray.

No Mistakes By Sheila Hughes Sometimes life just overtakes you. You feel you may just die inside. The one you love has had a struggle So dire, this time it took his life. Just remember who’s in charge here, And that our God don't make mistakes His divine plan ever unfolds. His own, in His time, He takes. Those of us left to carry on Must grow from the loss we bear. Dear daddy now knows glory In the arms of the Father and in His care; And the scars left on our broken hearts, We must wear them as if crowns. Just thank the Lord and relish The treasures within his life we found. He left behind such goodness With me and each of you. His mission to make the world better Is now our duty to carry through. God said to consider all things blessings. We earn wisdom, and its time comes. Charlie's not gone at all, you see, God just called a saint on home. Custom poems for any occasion, email Sheila at heavenlyexpressions2019@gmail.com.

olverine Storage 273-5777

• ACREAGES • MONTHLY PAYMENTS • LOW DOWN

1509 N. SHAWNEE ST. SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA 74804

Owner Financing • Multi-County Availability

www.property4sale.com

www.shawneeoutlook.com

CALENDAR

July Events July 7-12: The International Finals Youth Rodeo, one of Shawnee’s biggest annual events, rides into town pitting some of the best young rodeo performers in the world against each other in events like barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding for the chance to win $250,000. Information: ifyr.com.

We are excited to announce that BioTE is coming to Shawnee!

July 8: The Shawnee Public Library will help news consumers do their own research with its “How do I know if the story is real?” event examining ways to verify if that online news story is accurate, if those coupons or miracle cure on Facebook are real and much more. Information: (405) 275-6353. July 19: Downtown Block Parties take place each month on the third Friday from 6-9 p.m. When the weather is nice, vendors and food trucks set up in Celebration of Life Park on the corner of Main and Philadelphia. Shops and restaurants located on Main Street stay open a little later to allow for visitors to eat, browse, and stroll.

Call today for details.

Best of Care. Close to home. MAGNOLIA CLINIC 4409 N. Kickapoo Suite 121 Shawnee, OK 405.585.0475 Hours of Operation 8:30 AM-5:00 PM • Mon thru Fri KATIE FROST APRN-CNP 30

www.shawneeoutlook.com

July 19: Arts @ 317 will be featuring the work of guest artist Gary Royse during the third Friday Downtown Block Party starting at 6 p.m. Arts @ 317 will also feature musical guest Katie Carmichael at its 317 E. Main St. location.

Boxmasters play starting at 8 p.m. at the Grand Casino. Information: grandboxoffice. com. July 27: It’s now or never to get all shook up as Elvis hosts the Shawnee Senior Center’s 50s dance 5-10 p.m. at 401 N. Bell St. There will be a costume contest along with door prizes. Come dressed up and ready to boogie. Bring family, friends and your classic cars. Information: (405) 878-1528. Aug. 2-4: The Slamboree Car Truck & Bike Show rolls into the Grand Casino with early registration 12-5 p.m. Friday, the show taking place 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and an after-party at the Liquid Lounge rooftop pool hotel 8 a.m.-3 pm. Sunday. The events aims to be one of the biggest contributors to Toys for Tots in the Midwest. All vehicle types are welcome. Cars, trucks, street rods, rat rods, motorcycles, lifted or lowered will be in attendance. Information: (405) 209-9339. Aug. 3: Local talent to take the stage 6:30-10 p.m. at the Shawnee Showcase at the Ritz. The event highlights the talents of some of Shawnee’s rock bands, featuring the duet of Nate Shipman & Nathan King, Tommy Smith, Blackwater Smoke, Shoulda Been Blonde, Shiloh Steel and Halo on Fire. The Ritz is located at 10 W. Main St. Information: facebook.com/theritzofshawnee.

July 19: Get ready to party with Bocephus when Hank Williams Jr. rocks the Firelake Arena with a concert starting at 8 p.m. at 18145 Old Rangeline Road. Those ready to get things started early can pre-game at the 99.7 Hank FM Tailgate Party starting at 2 p.m. with live music, good eats, and a rocking start to a full day of Hank. Information: firelakearena.com/events/hank-williams-jr.

Aug. 9-10: The FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival will offer two days of balloon glows, balloon launches and rides, and family friendly entertainment in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Come and watch thirty balloons fill the sky, catch quality live entertainment, and experience some of Oklahoma’s best vendors and food trucks at 1702 S Gordon Cooper Dr. Information: firelakeballoonfest. com.

July 22: Join the Shawnee Public Library in reliving the July 20, 1969 moon landing of Apollo 11. Watch the footage, tell stories of where you were that memorable day in history and discuss the facts, myths and legends of this historic event. Information: (405) 275-6353.

Aug. 9-11: Outdoor Nation Expo invites you to hunt, fish and explore at FireLake Arena during the balloon festival. Tons of events for the whole family with over 120 hunting and fishing vendors and attractions, including demonstrations, competitions and more. Information: visitshawnee.com/events.

July 26: A goliath in entertainment will sling his sound as Billy Bob Thornton and the

If you know of any events you’d like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.