Issuu

Red Cross Month | Turning Tragedy Into Inspiration

MARCH 20

Vol. 17 Number 1

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SHAWNEE, OK PERMIT NO 33

SURGICAL CARE CLOSE TO HOME SSM HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP IS PROUD TO BRING THE EXPERTISE OF TWO GENERAL SURGEONS, JENNIFER L. WENTZEL, MD, AND IAN CASSADAY, DO, TO SHAWNEE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. Dr. Wentzel treats patients with a wide variety of conditions and illnesses. After completing her undergraduate degree in biology from Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Wentzel earned her master’s degree in science from Pennsylvania State College of Medicine. She then went on to Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, formerly The Commonwealth Medical College, where she received her medical degree, followed by a general surgery residency at Grand Strand Medical Center.

Jennifer L Wentzel, MD, MS, General Surgeon

Dr. Cassaday offers several types of laparoscopic surgical treatments, and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in diverse surgical environments – from general surgery in rural areas to trauma surgery while serving with the U.S. Army. After completing his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University, Dr. Cassaday earned his medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He then went on to complete his general surgery categorical internship and general surgery residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. Dr. Wentzel and Dr. Cassaday are accepting new patients, and look forward to forming strong relationships and helping patients make the best decisions for their health.

Call 405-273-5801 to schedule an appointment.

Ian Cassaday, DO, General Surgeon

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CONTENTS

MARCH 2020

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 David Holland Carolyn Lawrence Ann McDonald Angela Rowland

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

Red Cross Month Highlights Year-Round Commitment to Prevention, Education, Relief, Service

Over the Fence: Baked With Love

Heart For Service, Broad Perspective Leads From Bedside Nurse Role to Hospital President

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

21 DEPARTMENTS 6 KEEP THE CHANGE

2 Friends Turn Tragedy Into Inspiration With Year's Worth of Positive Words

6 NUTRITION 101 24 SONIC CONTEST

Local Lego Robotics Club Places Among Top Teams in State in 1st Year Competing

25 SHAWNEE HISTORY

Opioid Epidemic Can Be Fought At Local Level

30 CALENDAR

29 THE BRIGHT SPOT

Visit WWW.TCPSHAWNEE.COM to sign up for the Mobile App!

Volume 17, Number 1 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. ÂŠ 2020 Okie Icon Media

Articles and advertisements in Shawnee Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Okie Icon Media. Okie Icon Media does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Shawnee Outlook does not constitute endorsement of products, services, political candidates/parties or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Shawnee Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

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THE CLINIC PHARMACY (SHAWNEE) www.shawneeoutlook.com

KEEP THE CHANGE

Design On a Dime I

am in the middle of a master bedroom design, and I have been looking for ways to keep costs down while bringing style in. Here’s what I’m doing: • Need furniture? Shop the dent and ding section of local furniture stores. They may have a treasure that’s barely damaged or easily fixed. Also look online. Wayfair, Overstock and IKEA all offer affordable options but always check with Amazon as well as they may have the same option for less. Amazon also offers free returns on many items, which is nice when you can’t try before you buy. Some of these sites offer “wish lists.” Add things you like to your list so you can keep track and so they can notify you of sales. • Paint your walls. It’s the easiest way to cause a dramatic difference for less. Quality paint may cost a little more, but it will go further. Choose one with primer so you can use fewer coats. Also, be sure to watch out for sales. Ace Hardware has been known to have buy-one-get-one sales on paint. • Reuse what you have. Maybe repaint your headboard. If you don’t have one, go to garage sales – my headboard is an old door I found for $30 – and then paint it the color you want. Plan your color scheme around things you already own. Pull in unused baskets or shelves from another room. Get creative with what you have. • If you don’t love it, don’t buy it. It can be easy to get caught up in buying cheap to save money, but you’ll save more by being patient and only spending on what you truly love. Take your time – buy new pieces as you can and build up to your dream design.

If you’d like to read more about my frugal journey, scan the QR code to visit my blog on the topic!

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

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NUTRITION 101

Fitness Should Stay All In Family

umerous studies, surveys and statistics show that overweight and obesity in the U.S. has increased significantly over the last 50 years. I don’t think we need research to tell us that anymore as we are living in the middle of it now. As American lifestyles become even more sedentary, overweight and obesity are expected to increase, especially in children and adolescents. It is a well-known psychological fact that children model the behavior of the primary adults in their lives. Seeing their parents exercise and having fun while doing it can positively influence children’s views about exercise for a lifetime. Being a positive exercise role model makes an even bigger impact than just telling a child to “go exercise.” When talking with families about their child’s health, I have found it more beneficial to focus on the parent’s physical activity rather than just the child. The popular old phrase “actions speak louder than words” works perfectly for this scenario. Making exercise seem like a chore or requirement may cause kids to view it negatively and resist efforts to increase activity. When seeing a parent fit exercise into an already busy schedule can help the child realize the importance of making time for exercise and committing to fitness goals. Parents and children exercising together is important not only for fitness but also for connecting and staying connected. With group exercise, children learn how to interact with other family members, important life lessons, communication skills and confidence. Activities can include but are not limited to badminton, volleyball, kickball, basketball, soccer, floor hockey, Frisbee, jump rope, hiking, dance classes, walking a family pet, roller skating and riding bikes. Chores can even be a fun activity when all done together. Get up and move and do it together.

Carrot Cake Balls Whether you are a vegetarian, lactose intolerant, watching sodium, gluten free or have other dietary requirements, you will enjoy these little bite-size treats. Ingredients: 2 medium or 1 large carrot ½ cup pecans ½ cup coconut flakes 1 cup oats ½ cup pitted dates

¼ cup almond butter (or nut butter of choice) 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions: Add the carrots into a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Pulse pecans and coconut in a food processor until a sandy texture. Add the oats and dates and pulse again until a sandy texture. Add the remaining ingredients, including the carrots, and blend until a dough comes together. Shape the dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Store in the refrigerator. Nutritional Information per serving: Makes: 21 balls, 1 ball per serving Calories: 73 Total Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 1.5g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 5g Carbohydrates: 6g Dietary Fiber: 2g Protein: 1g Nutrition 101: Carrots lately have been getting such a bad rap for being “high in sugar,” so now they are no longer good for us. I really hate hearing this, so I wanted to do an entire article to glorify the wonderful carrot. Carrots originated in Central Asia and the Middle East. Available in a variety of hues including white, yellow, dark red and purple, carrots often are associated with the color orange. Carrots are affordable and easily accessible year-round. Preparation techniques include roasting, pureeing, stewing or juicing. Although naturally sweet, carrots are low in calories. A seven-inch long carrot only contains 30 calories with two grams of fiber. Orange carrots also contain potassium, important for blood pressure and cardiac and renal health. Carrots are best stored unwashed, tightly sealed and in the coolest part of the refrigerator. So, don’t listen to the nonsense about carrots having too much sugar and enjoy. Andrea Beck, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, received her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She offers personal training through an online class and nutrition services through SSM Health St. Anthony in Shawnee. For inquiries, you can contact her at Andrea.beck1@ssmhealth.com or through her Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.

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Red Cross Month Highlights Year-Round Commitment to Prevention, Education, Relief, Service by David Dinsmore

March is American Red Cross month as the organization focuses on “blue sky” fundraising to ensure local chapters like the on located in Shawnee that serves 24 counties has the resources staff and volunteers need to respond to disasters, provide education, implement preventative services and more that serve communities in the south central and southeastern portions of the state and beyond. Photos submitted

hen it comes to the American Red Cross, many people can picture what they have seen on television following a disaster. Volunteers wearing the familiar symbol flash across the screen as they help rescue people from flooded areas, serve meals and basic needs from response centers or tents amid the rubble of a community and in the case of major disasters there may be a phone number or information about how people can donate to help relief efforts. Yet, when the cameras have moved to the next major news item, the work does not simply end for Red Cross personnel and volunteers, said Mike Mlyneck executive director for the local chapter. Local posts like the South Central & Southeast Oklahoma Chapter headquartered in Shawnee stay busy responding to individual disasters. “We’re constantly responding to home fires, which don’t always draw a lot of attention,” said Mlyneck, whose staff had already started working on responses to three home fires on a normal

Friday afternoon in late February. “It’s something we’re doing day in and day out.” March has become American Red Cross month across the U.S. with proclamations made on every level of government, including a mayoral proclamation in Shawnee. “We’ll do those in some of the bigger communities in the area we serve,” Mlyneck said. His chapter serves the following counties: Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Coal, Garvin, Haskell, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Okfuskee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Seminole and Stephens. In addition to the office at 232 N Broadway in Shawnee, they also work out of offices in Ardmore and McAlester. They also have agreements with other municipalities in their area that allow them to coordinate responses locally in the event of disasters or other needs. One of the major focuses of American Red Cross month is a push for fundraising, Mlyneck

said. March 25 specifically is the giving day for the organization. “Traditionally, we try to do more of what we call ‘blue sky’ fundraising,” Mlyneck said. “Everyone tends to notice when something bad happens or goes wrong, and that’s when we’ll kick into high gear with fundraising because obviously we’re spending a lot more money when we’re responding to major events. “The smaller events like home fires don’t hit the news that often. Those aren’t things we typically receive a lot of fundraising for, but it’s something we always have a need for. We have to support the supplies and the training for our folks to respond and help the people during that.” In addition to responding to disasters, the South Central & Southeast Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross also goes to great lengths to provide preventive and education services. One of the biggest efforts undertaken comes from smoke alarm installations in the area, Mly- > www.shawneeoutlook.com

neck said. According to recent numbers provided by Mlyneck’s chapter, his group has installed 181 alarms in 113 homes throughout the region. A big focus has been on people living in smaller communities with older homes that are more susceptible to catching fire. Many in these areas also have fewer financial resources to get some of the necessities to help keep their homes safe. “We partner with the local fire departments and go knock on doors,” Mlyneck said. “We make sure they have smoke detectors, that they’ve checked them, and if they don’t, we install them for free.” In Shawnee, they usually do install events in October during fire prevention week, but nationally the American Red Cross will feature its Sound the Alarm installation campaign April 18-May 3 this year. Mlyneck said his chapter likes to focus on home fire prevention efforts outside the traditional spring campaign dates, especially in the fall as the weather cools and people begin using heaters that may increase the risk of a home fire. Other prevention activities focus on working with educators and youth organizations to teach kids the importance of disaster preparedness, Mlyneck said. Pedro the Penguin is the central character of a program geared toward kindergarten through second

grade students that teaches them how to be prepared and take action for either home fires or a local hazard. This program accompanies The Pillowcase Project for students in third through fifth grade centered on personal and family preparedness, safety skills and basic coping techniques. Upon completion, kids receive a sturdy pillowcase they can use to build a personal emergency kit that can be easily grabbed in the event of a disaster.

Spring Storm Home Safety Checklist Assess. Take a walk around your property often to see if there is any and make necessary repairs. Small damage to roofs and chimneys that occurred during winter can turn into big headaches after any severe storm. Make sure gutters are clear and draining properly. Consider investing in a chimney cap – they’re great at keeping out moisture from heavy rains, which can damage stainless steel liners or cause mold. Trim and prune trees. Remove dead branches that could end up being dangerous projectiles in a severe storm and cause damage not covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Are any hovering near the power source to your home? Most arborists recommend that trees and limbs be at least 10 feet away from your home. Hire one to come out and identify any problem areas or enlist a knowledgeable friend. Ensure sump pumps are working. Spring runoff and torrential rainstorms can all result in flooded basements. Make sure your pumps are running smoothly so they can do their job when you need them. 10

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“It started as more of a fire program, but here in Oklahoma it really helps with tornadoes,” Mlyneck said. “My kid is one of those who had the program come through his school, and he’s been using that pillowcase since then.” The Red Cross also features an app that provides warnings for different areas, which allows users to set alerts for their own area and those of loved ones they want to monitor.

Secure backyard items. Your backyard oasis can turn into a danger zone in a severe storm. High winds can turn unsecured items into missiles. If you’ve received a warning that a severe storm is approaching, move these items – patio furniture, lawn chairs, propane tanks, grills, flags, poles, bird feeders and potted or hanging plants – inside your home, shed or garage if possible. If you can’t bring furniture or heavy items in, try using a rope or garden hose to tie them down securely. Familiarize yourself with your insurance coverage. Every homeowner should know exactly what their policy covers or doesn’t cover so there are no surprises in the event of storm damage. Damage to your swimming pool, for example, may not be covered. Be ready for power outages: • Think ahead. Make ice. Lots of it. Fill up empty soda bottles with water and freeze them and leave them in your freezer. These will come in handy in both a cooler or the refrigerator, like an old-time icebox. • Stay informed. Know your electrical company’s phone number to report outages and listen for updates. If you don’t have a battery-operated radio, get one. • Use a cooler for essential foods. This way you can keep the refrigerator closed and keep the foods that you ab-

Another task the Red Cross undertakes all year is collecting blood via donors in the community, Mlyneck said. These drives are separate from the Oklahoma Blood Institute blood drives, but both organizations work to make sure the supply of blood remains suitable for the needs of the state whether in times of crisis or not. The local chapter takes on these responsibilities and more with a staff of three people, Mlyneck said. This

solutely need to access cool and safe. • Disconnect. If you have an electric garage door opener, be sure to disconnect it before you’re stuck in the dark, without a vehicle. • Batteries. It’s always a good idea to have extra batteries, some drinking water and a good first-aid kit on hand. • Think camping. Either get a camp stove (always use it outside) or use the grill to cook if you’ve lost power. If you have a lot in the freezer, and it’s going to be a long time without power, you may just want to invite the neighbors over and grill up as much as possible before it goes bad. • Keep your cell phone charged before the power goes out. Other safety tips to consider: Know your town’s evacuation route and where shelters are located. If you have to evacuate at a moment’s notice, you don’t want to be searching for information. Know your community’s warning system. And be sure everyone in the family is aware of what the signal sounds like. Be sure you’re receiving severe weather alerts on your cell phone. Most cell phones are automatically equipped with emergency alerts. Check with your carrier.

means that 90 percent of the work relies on dedicated volunteers. “Every time I go before (civic groups or organizations), they always ask what they can do,” Mlyneck said. “I tell them I need their time, their talent, their treasure and their blood. “Volunteers are what we are constantly needing.” Volunteering with the Red Cross has a lot of benefits via the training they provide so their people are prepared to serve people in the worst circumstances, Mlyneck said, but it also requires a great commitment from those who vow their time to helping others in need. It isn’t simply an hour out of the day when the need arises. “There’s an investment on the part of volunteers,” Mlyneck said. “We don’t people just coming off the street to respond to a home fire that doesn’t have any basic knowledge of psychological stress and awareness. “We’ve got to have you trained and ready, because when something goes down, we don’t have the time to do the training then. We have to respond.” For more information about local Red Cross programs and services, call (405) 273-8800.

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Over the Fence:

By Brandon Dyer, Executive Director of Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County

Baked With Love

ooking out my Nashville hotel window, I could see the line. It was coming from the doorway, and it wrapped around the corner. There must have been 100 people in that line, and they had come from all over for the same thing. They came to eat at Biscuit Love. Biscuit Love started in 2012 serving delicious Southern brunch out of an Airstream food truck. In 2015, it opened its first storefront in the Gulch, an up-and-coming corner of Nashville. It now has three locations in the area, and the lines stream outside each location daily with hungry patrons. I can attest; the food is delicious. While I was in Nashville for a conference, I ate there three times. Each biscuit dish was plated perfectly and cooked to perfection. The food really was incredible. However, they aren’t my favorite biscuits. Eight years ago, we bought a fixer upper in a neighborhood we love. I’m not sure what we were thinking because it needed a lot of work, but we put in the time and sweat to make it a home. Perhaps the thing we love most about our home is our neighbors. A few months after moving in, my phone rang early one morning. It was my neighbor. Her kiddos were all adults now, and she

had come to love my kiddos and enjoyed seeing them play in the backyard. She knew a new school year had just begun, and she wanted to make sure my kids were off to a great start. So, she had prepared something for them. She made them hot biscuits for breakfast. Who doesn’t love hot, homemade biscuits? The thing I loved most is that she asked me to meet her at the fence in the backyard, where she had the plate wrapped with towels to keep them warm. The kids devoured them with a little help from me, and we were off to school. I’ll admit, I’m biased, but I’m quite certain those were the best biscuits I’ve ever eaten. I mean can you believe it? My neighbor met me at the backyard fence with home-

made biscuits. You’re probably a little envious. I would be, too. Like most gifts, what makes them special is not always the gifts themselves but the thought behind them and the effort it took to offer them. Even as I’m writing this article, it is dawning on me that my neighbor had the audacity to wake up early to mix the ingredients, roll them out, cut and bake them and call me before I had even poured my first cup of coffee. I’m honestly astounded at her thoughtfulness. She has since done this a couple of more times. When was the last time you inconvenienced yourself on behalf of a neighbor? If it’s been a while, don’t feel bad. We can’t all wake up early to make scratch biscuits, but

what can we do? It seems to me that our broken, fractured world is held together by the glue of love. The thing about love is that it doesn’t do much good unless we express it, unless we offer it to someone else. That requires intentional effort, which is often inconvenient. Love has to cost us something to be valuable. It requires a little skin in the game, and it’s the only way to assuage the entropy of life. Good doesn’t just happen. Good must be brought forth. If we don’t bring it forth into existence, then it can’t be experienced by others, and we can’t make the world a better place. So, let us look for those moments to bring forth good into our world for others to enjoy. Odds are that it will enrich our lives as well.

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Heart for Service, Broad Perspective Leads From Bedside Nurse Role to Hospital President

by David Dinsmore

or Angi Mohr, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee is as much home as the community it serves. After working for the organization for nearly 28 years in a variety of roles, Mohr took on the mantle of president of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee in February. “Establishing roots was incredibly important to me as I transitioned into adulthood,” said Mohr, who graduated from Tecumseh High School. “This hospital is a piece of that. For me to be the leader of this organization is incredibly rewarding.” Mohr started working in local health care as a staff nurse in labor and delivery in 1992 at the former Mission Hill facility, where she served until it merged with its crosstown counterpart to form Unity Health Center in 2002. Mohr initially moved through a few different areas before she found her place in the emergency department. She spent time working her way up from staff nurse to charge nurse before taking on the director role in that department. She later had an opportunity to move into an operations role within the administration but hesitated the first time it became available. “It was an incredibly difficult decision for me to leave the bedside nursing type of care,” Mohr said. “I had such a love for what I was doing.” When the administrative opportunity arose again, she answered the call. Mohr became the assistant vice president of nursing in 2009 and worked in that role before assuming the chief nursing officer title in 2011. In 2014, she took on the duties of chief operating officer in addition to the job she already was doing. “I feel like doing both is what helped me step even further in my career because I really got to see things from all different levels and aspects,” Mohr said. “It wasn’t just through the nursing viewfinder or just from operations.” After she reached her executive 14

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Angi Mohr assumed the role of president of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee in February after 28 years of serving as a staff nurse, charge nurse, emergency department director and executive in the local health care system. Photos submitted

role, the now-retired chief executive officer Chuck Skillings began mentoring Mohr and teaching her from his own broad experience within the local health care system. Skillings served the organization now known as SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee for 42 years before his retirement in February. After joining Shawnee Medical Center Hospital in 1977, Skillings moved into the role of director of emergency services. He later became part of the administration working in physician recruitment. In 1993, Skillings was appointed executive vice president of the hospital before becoming the CEO in January 2000.

Skillings oversaw many changes during his time as CEO, including the merger that created Unity Health Center followed by joining the SSM Health system in 2012. During that time, the campus at 1102 W. MacArthur expanded considerably, including the most recent West Tower addition that houses many services like labor and delivery and the intensive care unit. His work earned him statewide esteem as he received the 2018 W. Cleveland Rodgers Distinguished Service Award from the Oklahoma Hospital Association. He has served on numerous boards locally and beyond, including vice chair of the Ave-

dis Foundation Board, appointee to the Oklahoma State Board of Health, member of the Board of Directors of the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation and past chair of the Oklahoma Hospital Association Board of Trustees. Skillings is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives. While Skillings was performing an evaluation soon after Mohr assumed an executive role, she “made a joke and told him I wanted his job someday.” Their relationship continued to grow, and it became more apparent over time that she would be the right fit to step into his office when he began to consider retirement. “I’ve had three great mentors over the course of my career, and he’s definitely at the top of the list,” Mohr said. Mohr saw her work as taking care of the providers who were taking care of the patients needing help, and she understood the importance that role played in making sure the people in the community she calls home get the care they deserve, she said. The smaller size of SSM St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee means that even in a higher administrative role, Mohr does not feel too far removed from the bedside care patients receive, which keeps her connected with the overall organizational mission that “through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God. Our Mission and Values of Compassion, Respect, Excellence, Stewardship and Community are lived out every day.” Mohr’s history within the organization made the transition to president easier for her than it may have been for someone who had to adapt after coming in from outside the organization and community, she said. The new job, however, does require her to change her perspective to make sure she is doing what’s best for those receiving and providing local health care now and in the future. As the new president, she sees her work requiring a focus on three key components every day. The first

is ensuring that patients receive the exceptional care cited in the organization’s mission statement. This focus seems to be firmly in place locally as indicated by three consecutive years of top marks from Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems based on inpatient satisfaction scores. The second and third focuses center around the physicians and employees at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee, Mohr said. This entails making sure they have what they need to provide the desired level of care. “If I keep those three things at the center of all the decisions that I make … those are the driving elements of where we want to go in the future,” Mohr said. “Losing sight of those things is where I would see a failure.” Another aspect of the job Mohr is anticipating involves community outreach and involvement, she said. She is excited to be able to share with community members some of the achievements – such as the high inpatient satisfaction scores – the organization has received to demonstrate the type of care that is available to them locally. “I don’t think we talk about those

things enough,” said Mohr, who said working with community partners like the Avedis Foundation, Blue Zones Project of Pottawatomie County and United Way can help leadership get even more involved in the community. Beyond the professional accomplishment, the promotion to president has great personal significance for Mohr, who was born at Mission Hill where she later started her career. She raised her family here, and it is home in every sense. Her husband Bricen Mohr served 20 years in the Shawnee Police Department before retiring to run the family farm. Her three children grew up here, and Mohr’s passion for her work seems to have transferred to her two oldest. Her son, Collin, works as a radiology director in Oklahoma City, and her daughter, Abbie, is a senior at Northeastern State University where she plans to pursue a career in occupational therapy. Her youngest, Isaac, is heavily involved in Future Farmers of America in addition to a litany of outdoor activities. “I live here, so it’s incredibly important for me to be here leading,” Mohr said.

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Julie Brittain and Tonya Ricks started Living52 to inspire people to find inspiration despite bad circumstances by offering insights about one word per week for a full year. For more information, visit living52words.com. Photos submitted

2 Friends Turn Tragedy Into Inspiration With Year's Worth of Positive Words by Carolyn Lawrence

ne word, just one word can hold an enormous amount of power or bring pain. The right words can either connect us in our human experiences or can tear us apart, leaving us disconnected and isolated. Words handpicked with intention can pave the trail that guides us all in the same direction, finding common ground and possibly discovering that we can all relate to one another in more ways than we could have imagined. These concepts led two friends and Shawnee residents to create an initiative to inspire thought provoking conversations and share their experiences. Tonya Ricks and Julie Brittain have launched a platform called Living52 that focuses on one word per week for a year that allows others from all walks of life to share their journeys through trauma, struggles and darkness to find that those events served a greater purpose. According to the mission statement found on living52words.com, the purpose of the initiative is â€œTo inspire people through words and

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actions to invest in themselves and their community, connect with others and grow in ways that matter. Our hope is to reach the humanity in others by seeing it in ourselves – changing lives one word, one week, one year at a time.” These remarkable women have both endured the unthinkable and unimaginable for some. Despite life’s unexpected twists and turns, Brittain and Tonya have risen again with love, passion and living, which is where Living52 finds its breath. “Tonya and I have been friends for 17 years,” Brittain said. “We both are married moms in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and have raised our children together.” Ricks is married to Dave with two sons, Taylor and Braden, while Brittain is married to Michael and has three kids, Jordan and Raegan – who are twins – and Bauer. “Shawnee is a fun, small town, and a great place to raise your kids,” Brittain said. “We’ve always had our own separate group of ‘best friends’ that we’d known for years, but God brought us together in a very special way for a different purpose. Tonya and I started spending time together through two mutual friends, Anne and Terry, in 2003. “We all spent so much time together doing school parties as homeroom moms, drinking wine and talking about creating a project together.”

Brittain is a writer, and she saw a good story in the details of their lives as “moms whose dreams were bigger than the town they lived in.” Before she could finish that project, however, their circle found themselves dealing with the death of their friend, Anne, who was killed in a car wreck. “We didn’t really know what to do next,” Brittain said. Unfortunately, that was not the last time tragedy would strike. Tonya’s son, Taylor, was killed in a car wreck four years later at the age of 16 years old. Three years after that, Brittain had an asthma attack that caused her to code three times and left her in a coma for weeks. She spent months in the hospital recovering. “I shouldn’t have lived,” Brittain said. “But I did and again didn’t really know what to do with it.” After both women suffered from depression, loss and survivors’ guilt, they craved relief. They became thirsty for human connection. That desire eventually led to the formation of Living52. “My want is to give others a place to be vulnerable,” Ricks said about the initiative.” Despite all of the different methods of communication available, Brittain said there is one driving force for many people. “There is a large need to be heard,” Brittain said. “It’s really all people want.” They reached out to another friend, Heidi Pre-

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sley, to join in the creation process as she was in a seasonal shift in her life. So many ingredients went into this recipe of purpose. The words were diligently thought out for more than a year and were picked to shift people’s attitudes from negative to positive so they can focus on what’s good about their life and other people. The goal is to connect people by reading, thinking about the word and sharing what the words mean to them. There is no agenda on the part of the founders beyond humans connecting online without the animosity commonplace today. By creating this initiative, Brittain and Ricks said they are reminded of why their experiences with trauma have made them stronger as a result of those events. Inspiring hope can be a matter of finding the right words, which “matter like the air we breathe. They affect what we think of ourselves, others and our everyday attitude. Let’s shift our attitudes. Let’s be more thoughtful of what we put out into the world.” Brittain and Ricks also invite participants to share their desire to encourage, connect and inspire perspective by being a featured blogger for one of chosen words to share what it means to them. For more information about joining the initiative, visit living52words.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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I CAN SEE IN YOU THE GLORY OF MY KING There is a song we sing at Liberty entitled “I Love You with the Love of the Lord.” It has the words “I can see in you the glory of my KING.” Have you ever had anyone look at you that way?

Matthew 17:20

Writer Katie McCabe described her mentor, Charles Savedge, as a man “who changed a room simply by walking into it. He believed so completely in his many students and colleagues that we had no choice but to believe in ourselves.” Inspired, encouraged, and challenged by her mentor, McCabe wrote that even though it was fifteen years later, everything she did was an attempt to find the person he saw in her. Have you any idea what Jesus sees in you? Do you know how much He believes in you and I?

9:30 AM

There is a terrible pestilence ravaging China. By the time you read this, may God have granted a solution to this disease. As medical professionals are trying to stem this ravaging killer, they are being joined by the church which has been driven underground in the great country. Many Christian believers, normally out of sight because of their persecution, are wearing yellow jackets and are passing out masks and tracts to those who are suffering. Have they seen the glory of our KING in their neighbors? Jesus said the KING will say “in as much as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40

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The NanoBotz Lego robotics team consisting of homeschool students from Shawnee competed in FIRST Lego League events for the first time this year and placed well in several categories. Photo submitted

Local Lego Robotics Club Places Among Top Teams in State in 1st Year Competing

by Jamie Bergsten

s parents look for worthwhile activities in which their children can participate, several basic principles might come to mind: the promotion of teamwork, creativity, confidence, inclusion, fun and learning. Not many will meet all of these criteria, but robotics is one that fits the bill. For a group of local children, it’s not just a great hobby but also provides challenging, life-changing skills as well. Charles Mashek and his wife Lara are coaching the members of NanoBotz, a team consisting of robotics enthusiasts ages 9-14. The eight-member group, all children from a homeschool background, is mentored by Allison Reed, an electrical engineer for Boeing in Oklahoma City. Instruction and professional assistance also come from Austin Doran, a mechanical engineer at Eaton Corporation in Shawnee. Club members are from three Shawnee families, and most are new to the robotics world. “We started working together in August,” Lara Mashek said. “All of the kids were rookies but one. My older daughter, Elizabeth, participated in FIRST Lego League for one year when she attended Grove School. Two other team members – my daughter,

Sarah, and Theron Kidd – also had experience with the Lego Mindstorms robotics kits they’d used at a Gordon Cooper summer STEM camp.” FLL is a robotics competition with a series of events held around the world. It uses theme-based challenges based on real-world problems. Each has three parts: the robot game, the innovation project and the core values that emphasize teamwork, discovery and innovation as students do hands-on learning. The NanoBotz participated in the 2019 challenge, City Shaper, which sought ideas for improving transportation, the environment and new buildings. “We met one to two times per week for three to five hours at a time during competition season (the fall semester), and we’re continuing to meet twice monthly during the spring,” Lara Mashek said. “A local church has generously allowed us to use their facilities for training and the storage of our equipment.” Practices consist not only of working on robot design, programming and the innovation project but also on team-building activities. “It’s usually a task that the team is assigned to do in a specific amount of time, such as trying to untie a human knot made by all the team members randomly

grasping each others’ hands or trying to build a tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks while each team member uses only one hand,” Lara Mashek said. FLL uses these same types of challenges at its competitions for teams to demonstrate its core values of teamwork, innovation, inclusion, impact, discovery, and fun. “Our team participated in the Dell OKC FLL scrimmage hosted by Dell Computers in Oklahoma City,” Lara Mashek said. “This scrimmage is specifically for first- and second-year teams so that students can see what it’s like to participate in a competition before the qualifiers begin. We placed second in innovation project at that scrimmage. “We then took on a regional competition at Tulsa Memorial High School in November. This was one of about 10 qualifiers held across the state, and teams get to choose which one they’d like to attend. We received second place in core values and scored in the top five out of 20 teams, allowing us to qualify for the state competition.” At that state contest, also held at Tulsa Memorial, the NanoBotz received an award for third place in programming. > www.shawneeoutlook.com

“We were absolutely thrilled to qualify for state in our first year,” Lara Mashek said. “One of our goals is to improve our robot design next year based on the feedback we received this year. We’ve got significant room for improvement in that area and in the robot performance aspect.” During that portion of the competition, students run their robot through a series of pre-programmed steps in order to score as many points as possible in two and a half minutes. Team members cited several reasons that they enjoyed participating with the group. “I really liked coming up with solutions to our problem and making the skits to explain our problem and solutions,” Elizabeth Mashek, age 13, explained. “I like to fiddle with Lego with our friends,” said 9-year-old Avelin Kidd. “I learned that some people don’t like to work together, but you just have to work together. I’m looking forward to making it to internationals and winning it.” Lora Nichols, the senior member of the group at age 14, said, “I enjoyed learning programming this year, and also I learned that you have to think outside the box. I’m looking forward to mentoring the team next year.” By age 15, American students have aged out of FLL’s program. Lara Mashek said that although the group is typically autonomous in nature, they did get some help from the coaches at Grove School, including Roger and Lori Farris. “Also the scrimmage allowed us to get feedback from other coaches, teams and judges in order to improve our designs and project prior to competition,” Lara Mashek said. Gideon Nichols, one of the team’s youngest members, shared his thoughts about this robotics season. “I enjoy building things,” he said. learned how to program.” When asked what his future goals are, 10-year-old Gideon said, “Winning.” For more information on FLL, visit https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/what-is-first-lego-league. 22

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SHAWNEE HISTORY

1948 High School Fire Devastated Students, Citizens, But Did Not Keep Them Down Long by Ann McDonald, Courtesy Pott Co. Historical Society Member

t wasn’t the biggest fire or the costliest – nor was there loss of life – but it was likely the blaze that most impacted Shawnee. On March 27, 1948, sad citizens watched in the early Sunday morning hours as their high school burned. The first alarm sounded about 4:30 a.m. when flames were discovered in the auditorium. It quickly spread along the oil-soaked wood floors, and soon, most of the building was engulfed. Fire Chief Wilmer Wicker admitted the school was lost. In 1908-09, with $85,000 from a bond issue, the “magnificent” structure was constructed on the corner of Highland and Union, the first school in Shawnee strictly for high school classes. Forty years later, there was talk that the building was outdated and too small for the growing town. A new building may have been welcome, but to see the old school – full of memories for so many – crumbling in the flames was devastating. Before all was lost, teachers and students managed to retrieve records and supplies from their classes, and even some band instruments were saved. Boys climbed up an outside ladder and threw books from the library window while Mrs. Aline Christian, the school’s librarian, directed the chosen texts from the ground below. They were stacked on cafeteria tables that had also been saved and set up across the street. Yet, 30 new typewriters weren’t as fortunate nor was artwork in that department. The seniors watched the flames engulf room after room, sad that they might not have a yearbook. Almost before the embers cooled, Oklahoma Baptist University officials offered rooms at the college so classes could continue. Monday morning, principal A.W. Brokaw directed teachers and students to meet at Shawnee Hall on

The 40-year-old high school burned on March 27, 1948, displacing students for 18 months while crews constructed a new building that today serves as a Head Start program facility downtown. Photo submitted

the OBU campus for instructions. The displaced high school students would attend classes beginning at 12:30 p.m. with the college classes held in the morning. Most of the high school classes were held in Short Hall, a former Navy base building near the campus. Once the problem of continuing classes was solved, there was the dilemma of what to do about a town without a high school, which also meant no longer having a basketball court and auditorium. Those facilities had been in the middle of the building that now was nothing but a pile of ashes. Where would a new one be built? In the same place or farther out into the growing community? The school board chose the same location and approved architectural drawings of Hugh Brown and Albon Davis and hired Cowan Con-

struction to complete the job. The building would have many fireproof features, including tile floors and walls. Meanwhile, the displaced high school students remained at OBU the next year, although several had dropped out. The SHS class of 1949 was the smallest it had been in many years. With students spread about, it was difficult to maintain the usual closeness among classmates. Contractors worked day and night to get the new building ready for the second semester of the 1949-50 school years. Eighteen months after the fire, students were back in class at the new Shawnee High School, considered to be one of the finest in the state. About three years later, a 1,000-seat auditorium was added to the east end of the building, and in 1959, a gym was built on the north side

of the campus. The “new” structure housed high school students for about 25 years, when a new building was built on the west side of town. For a time, the fine building was the home of a mid-high and later used as the junior high. The building is still in use today as a Head Start facility. Shawnee has maintained fine facilities for the youngsters in the community almost as far back as the town has existed. And in 1948, it was a devastating event to see the heart of town collapsing among the flames. Many residents had enjoyed those halls of learning and the friendships built there. Oh, and the SHS Class of 1948 was able to recreate their Caldron, the school yearbook, and the next year the Wolves basketball team played their games at the Municipal Auditorium. www.shawneeoutlook.com

MENTAL HEALTH

Opioid Epidemic Can Be Fought At Local Level

ccording to the National Institute on Drug abuse, more than 130 people in the United States die each day from an opioid overdose. The misuse of, and addiction to, opioids – including prescription pain relievers, heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl – is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total “economic burden” of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment and criminal justice involvement. In 2012, Oklahoma was ranked the number one state in the nation in prescription painkiller abuse. I, along with so many others, was oblivious about the epidemic until I started in this field in 2018. I have pastored churches for the past 20 years in Oklahoma and New Mexico. My wife and I decided to move back to Oklahoma from Hobbs, New Mexico, in July 2018. I needed a break from church ministry but still had a desire to help people in my local community. I was told by a friend that Gateway to Prevention and Recovery was hiring a Partnership for Success Coordinator. This job provides education and resources to individuals and community partners about the safe usage, storage and disposal of prescription drugs. I knew nothing about the PFS Coordinator position but knew about Gateway and the great things they have done in the areas of mental health and substance abuse. After a couple of lengthy interviews, I was offered and accepted the job. I honestly had no intention of developing a passion for the work. At first, it was simply a job to get us back to Oklahoma. During the past couple of years, I have been blessed to work with some incredible people, both at Gateway and in our community and have developed a passion for this work. At Gateway, we believe two things very strongly. First, we believe that “local people help solve local problems,” and “people support what they help create.” We work with our community partners to reduce the number of opioid deaths and provide those who are addicted treatment options. Gateway would be very limited getting this message out if it were not for people in our community and our community partners. Because of statewide and local partnered efforts, opioid overdose

deaths have been on a downward trend since the year 2012. The work is far from over, and it is important for us to work together as a community to continue the downward trend. So how are you able to help as an individual? Here are some ways you can partner with us: • Engage in a local coalition: Coalitions have members from such diverse sectors of the community as employers, youth workers, faith community leaders, school administrators, teachers, counselors, public health and human services personnel, treatment professionals, law enforcement and county court services personnel, local pharmacists and doctors as well as other committed individuals, including people from the recovering community. Coalitions can disseminate relevant information, develop and implement action plans, and conduct educational sessions and informational campaigns throughout the community. PATCH (Pottawatomie Alliance Toward Community Health) is the local coalition you can become a part of and engage in. • Educate yourself: Learn more about opioids so you can help people who are most at risk for opioid use disorder and overdose in the community. • Lock up your medications: Locking up your medications is a must. Even if you don’t have prescription medications, over-the-counter medications can be just as dangerous to children and pets. ¨• Refer to treatment: Help those struggling with opioid use disorder find the right care and treatment. Contact Gateway’s Treatment Program at (405) 273-1170 ext. 0 for assistance. • Ask about alternate treatment options: The phrase “ask your doctor” should mean exactly that. You should not be afraid to raise questions about what you are being prescribed and why. • Properly dispose of unused medications: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lists the locations of medication drop boxes throughout the state. You can find these locations at www.dea.gov. Creating change in our community doesn’t happen overnight, and it requires hard work. But the return on your investment of time, money and effort is worth it. If one life is saved, it’s priceless. Visit www.gatewaytoprevention.org and www.okimready.org for useful resources.

David Holland is the PFS Coordinator for Gateway to Prevention. He is also the pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Shawnee. He has been married to his wife, Connie, for 29 years. He has three children – Trevor, Maddie and Traye – and a son-in-law, Corey, who is married to Maddie. He has two grandkids – Jaxon, 19 months, and Taya, 2 months. He loves the Lord and his family. He loves being back where he grew up and helping make a positive change in the community. 26

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THE BRIGHT SPOT

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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. Open a Totally Free Checking and get your Hey, account What's Happening in thechoice 'Hood? ofLynne a FREE Studio California® By Kay Vance Cutlery Set or Craig Did you hear? That ®cornball lady on the corner Bluetooth Speaker! Even her man tried to warn her. She called Mr. Jones up there in Norman... Turned her whole backyard into a garden! “Bring compost down here and dump it! Smooth it out, boys, don't lump it!” Never mind she's 100 years old; her story has not all been told. She planted that whole yard with Indian corn. If that1old man was named Pa Kettle, then 2055102-mail they'd call it Kettle-Korn!

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CALENDAR

March Events (405) 275-7172

March 5-April 2: Professional dance instructor and choreographer Juan Cabral will lead a five-week series at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays to help you discover the dance within you and the power of moving naturally. Dancing is a great way to get in more natural movement plus it helps us to downshift while spending time with others having fun. All skill levels are welcome and partners are not needed to participate. Information: (405) 275-6353.

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March 5: The Oklahoma Baptist University Bison Jazz Orchestra and Symphonic Winds will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. that will also feature the OBU University Chorale, Bisonettes and Bison Glee Club. The concert will also include the premiere of a new work by Dr. James Vernon. The concert is free and open to the public. Information: (405) 585-4301. March 7: Shawnee’s premier familyfriendly comic book and pop culture convention is back for its second year. Uncanny Comic Expo will feature a sellout number of vendors packing the floor inside the FireLake Arena from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and activities overflowing outside with attractions for everyone in the family, such as comics, cosplay, gaming and more. Tickets are $10 and kids 12 and under are free. Information: uncannycomicexpo.com. March 7: The Shawnee Family YMCA will host its annual father daughter dance with an unforgettable night of music, food and a special gift for every girl at 6 p.m. at 700 Saratoga St. Information: (405) 273-4386. March 10: Oklahoma Baptist University will present the Digby Bell Recital featuring “Tutti: A Musical Journey.” The recital is held in honor of Dr. Digby Bell, late husband of Dr. Carol Ann Bell, retired professor of piano at OBU. Digby and Carol Ann Bell were wellknown in Oklahoma as a duo pianist team. Information: (405) 585-4301. March 13: The Ritz Theatre of Shawnee will present Collected Fictions: A Bizarre Night of Magic featuring Jeff Richardson and John Shack at 7 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. Information: facebook.com/theritzofshawnee.

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March 13: He may love Sundays, but Craig Morgan will light up a Friday night at 8 p.m. at the Grand Casino event center. The country music artist will perform some of his best songs that hit close to home and show what he means behind the title of his new album, “A Whole Lot More to Me.” Information: grandboxoffice.com.

March 14: Whether you’re a little bit country or a little bit rock ‘n’ roll, The Ritz Theatre of Shawnee will have a show for with Rock ‘N’ Country featuring Jeremy Fullbright Band and High Water Gamble at 7 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. Information: facebook.com/theritzofshawnee. March 16-19: Kids can brush up on their tactical skills during spring break at Nerfed Shawnee at 1 E. Main St. Nerfed Camp will teach team building and related skills while allowing campers to compete in various competitions that focus on agility, tactical skills, accuracy, sharp shooting, etc. One or two day all-inclusive day camp packages are available, and registration is due by March 10. Information: (405) 585-1321. March 20: The monthly third Friday Downtown Block Party will get going at 6 p.m. along Main Street with vendors, farmers market and food trucks set up in Celebration of Life Park on the corner of Main and Philadelphia. March 20: The Arts@317 will host their feature artist Kathy Shumate and her alcohol ink paintings on tile and feature author Philip Cimei will be discussing his book, “The Perfect Religion, A Beacon to the True Kingdom of God.” This event will happen during the third Friday Downtown Block Party 6-9 p.m. at 317 E. Main St. April 4: Audiences will likely not follow the suggestion of Larry the Cable Guy’s new tour title, Remain Seated, when he will bring them to their feet with his trademark brand of humor that made him a star of the big screen, small screen and stage. Information: firelakearena.com. April 4: Talk of the Town orchestra will play The Ritz Theatre of Shawnee with it 4000-tune repertoire of big band arrangements covering swing, jitterbug, ballads, waltzes, Latin, polkas, Dixieland, blues, country and Western, two-step, patriotic and gospel styles ranging from the 1800s to today’s music. Information: facebook.com/theritzofshawnee. April 9: Oklahoma Baptist University will host the 7th annual Bison Hill Jazz Festival that features an educational festival for area schools during the day and ending with a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Raley Chapel in the Yarborough Auditorium on the OBU campus. The concert is free and open to the public. Information: (405) 585-4301. If you know of any events you’d like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.

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