Issuu

Distance Learning Causes Mixed Reactions | Ministry Expands

MAY 20

Vol. 17 Number 3

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SHAWNEE, OK PERMIT NO 33

12589 Big Sky Drive Shawnee, Oklahoma

405-818-3905

AmericanSanitizerCo.com American Sanitizer Co was founded in and is based in Shawnee, OK. We specialize in wholesale and bulk/volume sales and are currently supplying Governments, Tribes and Corporations all over the country. We purchase by the semi truck load and supply Oklahomans with thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer every month. You can buy one gallon, a case, a pallet or a semi load! We also have smaller bottles in stock as 5 packs in 1oz, 2oz, 3.3oz and 4oz.

Our Hand Sanitizer is a Gel that leaves hands soft and is never sticky. It is FDA approved and is AMERICAN Made! Hand Sanitizer, KN-95 Respirator Mask, Disposable Nitrile Gloves and other hard to find items in stock and available to the public or in bulk. We fill any size order! Free Delivery Available! Or Come pick it up at the Ranch We also ship nationwide!

Use Coupon Code SHAWNEE to save 25% anything on our website! Visit our website to place an order online.

OFF

We accept PayPal and credit cards by website. Text or call in your order to 405-818-3905 if you want to pick up in person and pay with cash, check or credit card.

STREAMING ONLINE

PLAYITLOUDSHOW.COM

Shawnee’s premier location for weddings, receptions, birthday parties, meetings and more! With a sleek, modern design, high quality audio-visual capabilities, and on-site chairs, tables, and linens. Occasions has everything you need for your special day!

SUMMER’S

HERE!

www.occasionsok.com

SUMMER’S

HERE!

We look forward to celebrating with you in the days to come!

TIME TO GET 405-306-6271 OUTDOORS!

Call us today or visit our website to schedule your event!

TIME TO GET OUTDOORS! spOKeLAHOMA spOKeLAHOMA

spOKeLAHOMA

LAHOMA

Road Road&&Gravel GravelGrinders Grinders

ve Naturally store, catering to: Bike Campers Bike Campers

Runners

• We are Oklahoma’s newest Giant dealer. Hikers

SUMMER’S • 0% financing W.A.C. (through Synchrony Financial).

• HomeOutdoor of the Oklahoma General Enthusiast Gravel Growler.

HERE!

Runners Hikers • Join the growing Shawnee bike community. General Outdoor Enthusiast HELPING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR AVAILABLE! HUMAN POWERED GOALS! FREE • GIFT WeCERTIFICATES are Oklahoma’s newest Marin dealer $10 OFF PICKUP AND DELIVERY ON A SERVICE ITEM ON A SERVICE ITEM • 0%HELPING financing with approved credit YOU ACHIEVE YOUR Only one coupon is redeemable per Only one coupon is redeemable per purchase. purchase. Offer expires May 31, 2020. Offer expires May 31, 2020. HUMAN GOALS! 113 N. Bell AvePOWERED | Shawnee, OK | 405.777.6213 | www.spokelahoma.com (through Synchrony Financial) ACHIEVE YOUR 4 •www.shawneeoutlook.com RED GOALS! If approved and a purchase is made that same day, customer

TIME TO GET OUTDOORS!

spOKeLAHOMA

CONTENTS

MAY 2020

Publisher

Okie Icon Media

Managing Editor

David Dinsmore

Advertising Sales

Brad Carter

Creative Direction

Kelsey Walker & Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

Cover Photo

David Dinsmore

Writers

Andrea Beck Jamie Bergsten Alicja Carter David Dinsmore Brandon Dyer 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

Illustration Artist Develops Skills in Fiber Arts as Creative Outlet

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

Over the Fence: The Real McCoy

Distance Learning Causes Mixed Reactions for Local Teachers, Students, Parents

DEPARTMENTS

Ministry Expands After-School Clubs at Local Elementary School

6 NUTRITION 101

Coping in the Midst of Covid-19

Local Organizations Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic

6 KEEP THE CHANGE 24 SONIC CONTEST 25 SHAWNEE HISTORY 29 THE BRIGHT SPOT

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.

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

OBU Music Preparatory Department

The Clinic Pharmacy

Summer Lessons

Tim Barrick, DPh.

405-273-9417

3210 Kethley Road Shawnee, OK 74804

Piano • Voice • Guitar and more!

Cell: 405-740-2898 Fax: 405-273-8849

June 1July 24, 2020

email: srprx@sbcglobal.net

THE CLINIC PHARMACY (SHAWNEE)

WARREN M. ANGELL COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

ENROLL NOW

okbu.edu/prep www.shawneeoutlook.com

KEEP THE CHANGE

Grocery Shop From Home N

ot long ago, I discussed grocery alternatives, and now more than ever, that’s useful knowledge to have. So, I want to do a brief recap of ways to get food in your home in the midst of a pandemic. By the time this reaches your mailbox, we may have come out of hiding, but if you’re still shy about walking into a store, here are some other options: • Grocery Pick-Up: Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, of course, but Firelake Grocery also offers pick-up. Visit firelakefoods.com to order. You can set a date a few days in advance and then add to your list as you think of items. Use code W0KFNKYKNY to save $10 on your first order over $50. Crow’s Market on Main St. also offers curbside pick-up if you call ahead. • Local Delivery – Both Homeland (order.homelandstores.com) and Aldi (shop.aldi.us) deliver via Instacart. Your first delivery is free. • Online – Amazon Pantry offers free shipping over $35 for Prime members. Pantry orders take 1-2 weeks, but you can fill a box of things you may not be able to find locally. Or try out Imperfect Foods. You can find all kinds of produce – both organic and conventional – as well as organically raised meats and other health-conscious food items for a great price and delivered to your door. Simply set up delivery, and then about five days before your delivery date, the “window” will open to select what items you would like shipped. Then, you’ll have fresh foods delivered to your door. Again, this is a great chance to order food items that may be harder to find locally. Visit imprfct.us/v/angela_2756 to save $10 off your first order. Also visit RetailMeNot.com to find any current coupon codes for 50 percent off your first order, which stacks with the $10.

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)

www.shawneeoutlook.com

NUTRITION 101

Juicy Tips On How To Fit More Produce Into Your Day

ou may have heard the term “juicing” before or heard of a juicer but may not really know where to start. Juicers can be expensive, but I would recommend starting off with a simple one to find out if it is something you will actually continue to do. I found a used one on social media for $20. I always liked the idea of juicing but never took the time to learn more about it or know how to start. I asked multiple friends on simple recipes to get going. From there, it was fun to just play around with different produce. Here are some tips to get you started: • Drink juice as soon as possible after making it because it can go bad quickly. Only make one to three days’ worth at a time. • Clean your juicer as soon as you are done with it to make clean-up easier. • Don’t use the green stems on a carrot. Most roots can be used, but the carrot stem contains toxins that affect the body. • Don’t overstuff your juicer. • If trying out ginger in a juice, remember a very little goes a long way. • Run your juicer for about 20 seconds before you put food in, and let it run for about 20 seconds when done. • Use stems and leaves to get bonus nutrients (just not with carrots). • Save your blades and don’t juice the pits of any food. • Don’t pre-chop fruits or veggies too far in advance. Produce starts to lose its nutrition as soon as it is cut. I hope these tips help to get you pointed in the right direction. Once I started juicing, I haven’t been able to stop. I have 16 ounces of celery juice almost every single day, usually right before my actual breakfast. Below is the recipe.

Celery Juice This doesn’t quite seem like a “recipe” to me because it only has one ingredient. But it does give me the opportunity to bring up juicing. I also like to occasionally mix beets, carrots, ginger or cucumber in with the celery juice for a variety of flavors. Ingredients: 1 bunch of celery Directions: Wash celery well. Place celery in juicer one to two stalks at a time until 16 ounces of juice is made. Depending on the size of the bunch, it typically takes the entire bunch to make a full glass. Makes: 1 – 16 oz Nutritional Information per serving Calories: 84 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 430mg Total Carbohydrates: 19g Dietary Fiber: 7.5g Protein: 4g Nutrition 101: Juicing has many benefits, but there are a lot of questions behind juicing. One of the concerns with juicing is the “waste” of the pulp. I personally like to use the pulp in recipes. So far, I have only used the pulp to make stock, and I put about ½ cup of the pulp in my morning smoothie. A benefit of juicing is getting a lot of nutrition to your body. I personally don’t like celery, so I don’t get the benefits of celery. Celery has a lot of health benefits for the liver. By drinking the juice of it and then using the pulp in my daily smoothie, I am able to get all the health benefits. I don’t typically put fruit in my juice because the sugar content can add up really fast. It appears to be harder for people to get in vegetables vs. fruit, so this can be an easy way to get two servings of vegetables in a drink. 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.

WWW.COFFEENCRAFTSOK.COM

Check out our Facebook page for all upcoming events!

210 WEST WALNUT • TECUMSEH, OK 74873 “Serving Families Since 1906”

405-598-2124

www.cooperfuneral.com

CoffeeNCraftsOK JAMES COOPER

LYNN COOPER

JIM COOPER

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

405.395.4441

J. COOPER

HOURS: Mon-Thur 8am-5pm

www.ClassenMedicalComplex.com Jeanie K. Johnson Simpson, PA-C PA Simpson received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Biology and Chemistry. She received her Masters of Medicine from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Physician Assistant program in 2005. PA Simpson resides in Shawnee with her husband, Chris and two daughters, Gracyn and Evy. PA Simpson has been practicing Family Medicine for over 14 years. She moved her practice to Shawnee in February of 2018 from Seminole. She treats all aspects of family medicine and especially enjoys pediatrics, diabetes and dermatology. For the past several years, PA Simpson has also been performing cosmetic procedures such as Botox and Juvederm injections as well as laser therapy, through her own company Lily Kate Aesthetics, LLC. CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT www.shawneeoutlook.com

The City is following the Governor’s guidelines for the

Open Up and Recover Safely Plan

PHASE 1 - PART 1 APRIL 24, 2020

Hair salons, barbershops, spas, nail salons, and pet groomers—all have to follow certain guidance from CDC and State

PHASE 1 - PART 2 MAY 1, 2020

Dining, entertainment venues, movie theatres, sporting venues, gyms, tattoo parlors, and churches—all have to follow certain guidance from CDC and State

PHASE 2 MAY 15, 2020

Organized sports, bars, weddings, funeral homes, nursery areas in places of worship—all have to follow certain guidance from CDC and State

PHASE 3 JUNE 1, 2020

Further details for Phase 3 will be provided once the state enters Phase 2.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Retail and other essential businesses and organizations should continue to follow CDC guidelines on social distancing and proper sanitation protocols.

WEBSITE FOR STATE OURS PLAN https://www.okcommerce.gov/covid19/ours-plan/

This website includes general guidance for the reopening plan as well as specific guidance for various businesses such as administrative offices, bars, places of worship, and various entertainment facilities.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

www.shawneeok.org

Illustration Artist Develops Skills In Fiber Arts As Creative Outlet

by David Dinsmore

elocating requires people to make decisions about what to take and what to leave, but it also can lead to opportunities to create something new. That’s what Greta Lyn Baxter found when she moved with her family to Shawnee in 2016. Baxter graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia with an illustration degree. She took on work for the first two or three years right out of college providing editorial illustration for different publications. After that, she switched over to more work with fine arts and started to sell her work out of galleries. She focused on watercolor pieces featuring mostly botanicals and plant life, which led to a solo show at the Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando. Then, life at home began to change. “Once I had kids, it was a little tricky here for me to maintain deadlines and do as much work as I had done before,” Baxter said. When her husband took a job as assistant professor of animation and photography at Oklahoma Baptist University, Baxter had already picked up the hobby of knitting and crocheting regularly, but the change in locale inspired her to follow those burgeoning skills even further by learning how to spin fiber. “I decided to delve deeper into that just to explore and try something new, being in a new place,” Baxter said. “It was interesting to me, so I just thought I would sort of follow the rabbit hole down and see where the fiber arts led.” Baxter had seen this skill in action as a child growing up in Massachusetts, where a cousin had a wheel she used to spin yarn. This cousin also taught Baxter and her sisters to knit Annette my sisters when they were young. She also made mittens for many people in the town. Baxter kept the pair she received until they had worn considerably, so she set out to find yarn to make a replacement pair of mittens that were similar. She began looking for suitable materials at craft stores to make the garments herself, and after a fruitless search for the exact fiber she wants, she decided to learn how to make it herself. “In the very beginning, it was just like training your hands to have muscle memory for the motions,” Baxter said. This practical starting point led to the skills she has developed in spinning fiber, and the work fit with her growing role as a mother along with her drive as a crafter and artist. Her schedule gave her the time and space needed to practice the necessary techniques in addition to an outlet with which to channel her desire to create. “When I was first learning to spin, I just had little hand spindles, which are sort of like a primitive

After primarily working as an illustrator for various publications and watercolor artist, Greta Lyn Baxter began developing fiber arts skills as an outlet as her family and role as a mom began growing. Photos by Benjamin Baxter

tool,” Baxter said. “I would hide them in my closet so the kids couldn't get to them, and then I would just pull it out and spin when they were napping.” Spinning allowed her to work in whatever time frame fit as she could work on a project for a few minutes, put it down and come back to it later very easily, Baxter said. She also could accomplish a lot in 10 minutes, so if she got interrupted by little ones then she could go back later and pick up right where she stopped. This flexibility differed from her work with painting, which requires longer periods of focus and access to a greater number of resources. “For me, drawing and starting with a blank watercolor paper and trying to capture the essence of anything you're painting … was hard if I got interrupted by the kids or had all of my supplies out,” Baxter said. Yet, she has found some similarities between painting and spinning. Baxter said one of the biggest comparisons coms in working with an end goal in mind. When taking on a daunting project, having a clear idea of what she ultimately wants to create helps her keep her head down and grind through the process until her work begins to take the form of what she pictured at the start. “With watercolor painting, you start with really light washes from the very bottom up. It takes a while to get it to look the way you want it to look

in the end. “It is a building process, especially with yarn, because you're building like strands of fibers at a time. The end result, you really don't get to feel it and have it until a whole skein of yarn is done, but it takes lots of hours before you know that is in your hands.” In addition to the actual task of spinning yarn at home, Baxter has come to enjoy the process of sourcing and selecting materials with which to work. “There's a connectedness that comes from building relationships with the agricultural aspect of spinning,” Baxter said. “You're not working with manmade fibers, but you're working with the raw materials of wool or alpaca. So, they come from farms, and they have their shepherds, and they have their stories.” Baxter finds her materials in a variety of ways, whether at trade shows, festivals, online or referrals. For instance, when her family travels to different parts of the country to visit loved ones, she will use resources like localharvest.com to find area suppliers of wool and other fiber materials. Oklahoma has an event called Fiber Christmas in July – July 24-25 in Kellyville this year – where shepherds set up booths to sell raw and clean processed fiber along with tools and other resources for those who work in the fiber arts. These types of events are also good places to meet others with the same interest and gain tips and insight into techniques that can www.shawneeoutlook.com

CUSTOM GRANITE, MARBLE & ENGINEERED STONE SCOTT STEVE MARY FAX: 405-273-4141

SOONER STONEWORKS LLC

618 KICKAPOO SPUR • SHAWNEE, OK

405-214-7400

help improve the final product. As her skill has grown, she has become more efficient at her craft. She can create a four-ounce skein of yarn in about 30-45 minutes to comb the material and two or three hours to spin it. In addition to practice, Baxter also sought to learn more about spinning techniques from books from the library, and now she is part of virtual groups of spinners who share advice and things they’ve learned to help with others picking up the craft. When time allows, she also meets with a group of spinners in Guthrie to ply their craft and have some fun. “I think for any niche group, there's

like a camaraderie knowing that you're not gigantic,” Baxter said. “Because Instagram is so popular, it's a place for spinners or any maker like that to sort of show off what they're making. So, there is a younger generation of people my age coming up and exploring these things, especially people who are pursuing sustainability and are interested in making their own clothes or making fabric. Though she does not have an online store to sell her fiber, she will make something by request. Baxter also continues painting as she can, and her work is featured at gretalynbaxter.com.

Sunday Service 10:30 am & Wednesday Service 7:00 pm 22 E. Dunloup • Shawnee, OK • (405) 395-2980 • www.taprootchurchok.org

TEMPORARY HOURS In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have adjusted to the following temporary hours: Health Center (LAC) 8a-5p Mon–Fri Little Axe Pharmacy (drive-thru only) 8a–7p Mon–Fri | 9a–5p Sat–Sun PlusCare (PC) 11a–7p Mon–Fri | 9a–5p Sat–Sun Optometry: 8a–5p Mon–Fri Shawnee Clinic: CLOSED. Call LAC for appointment. Shawnee Clinic Pharmacy (drive-thru only) 11a–7p Mon–Fri | 9a–1p Sat All patient visits by appointment ONLY, please call ahead. LAC 405.447.0300 / PC 405.447.0477 / Optometry 405.701.7606

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Clinic and status updates:

http://www.asthealth.org/covid-19 and follow us on Facebook. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Call Center:

877.215.8336 (for everyone)

NEW! 24/7 AST Health System 24-hour LIVE Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Number: 405.695.1787 (for Absentee Shawnee Tribal Members and ASTHS patients)

www.shawneeoutlook.com

NEAL’S HOME FURNISHINGS C EST.

1965

LOSE YOUR RAZOR Corner of Main & Bell • Shawnee www.nealsfurnishings.com • 405.275.7500

Entertain Your Sense of Style at Neal's

You only live once. That’s worth protecting. Natalie Arnett, Agent 700 E Independence Street Shawnee, OK 74804 Bus: 405-273-4644 natalie@nataliearnett.com

A conversation about life insurance now can make a big impact on your family (and even your retirement) later. LET’S TALK TODAY.

USE OUR LASER NOW OFFERING LASER HAIR REMOVAL Quick and Effective for All Skin Types 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:

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) Bloomington, IL 1708142

www.shawneeoutlook.com

KATIE FROST APRN-CNP

Monday 9 AM - 6 PM Tuesday 1 PM - 7 PM Wednesday 8 AM - 5 PM Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM Friday 7 AM - 2 PM

Over the Fence:

The Real McCoy W

hen we were kids, my brother and I used to tag along with our dad to various gun shows around the state. Bristow, Tulsa State Fairgrounds, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds and Shawnee Expo Center are the ones I remember most. We didn’t particularly enjoy it, but it got us out of the house and kept us out of trouble – for the most part. I doubt we even had a choice to be honest. The bright side was we always got to spend our saved up dollars on some gun show trinkets designed to keep kids entertained while their dads were wheeling and dealing, trading old treasures for new. It was usually some variation of a handmade rubber band gun or maybe a cap gun. Our dad was never into modern guns. He preferred antique rifles. Gun show days were filled with conversations about muzzleloaders, muskets, flintlocks, caplocks and Kentucky rifles. Kentucky rifles were definitely my favorite. They dominated the American frontier for 100 years and were as much works of art as they were anything else. Collectors would pay top dollar for fine specimens. Dad owned several back then. He even built a few replicas as a hobby. As a matter of fact, the market was flooded with replicas. Sometimes sellers would try to pass off replicas

as originals in attempts to fleece unsuspecting buyers. I remember one time in particular that dad and a friend were negotiating with a seller over a particular rifle. The seller believed it to be a replica, and therefore the price was much lower. My dad and his friend believed it to be original. They knew what to look for. That was the moment his friend tossed out an expression that I’ve heard a thousand times since. “This is the real McCoy,” he said. If you are a little bored during these quarantine days, run a Google search on the etymology of the phrase “The real McCoy.” There is no certainty as to its origins, but it was likely a Scotch whisky slogan from 1856. “A drappie o’ the real McKay.” McKay later morphed into McCoy as it traveled to America. I always ignorantly assumed it was a reference to the Hatfield and McCoy feud. Nevertheless, we all know this phrase means we are dealing with an original, not a one-off imposter. Our lives have all shifted dramatically during these ‘Rona days. Those of us “non-essential” workers have by and large learned to work from home, which offers a mixed bag of rewards and challenges. Everyone reading this has now likely had their first Zoom call if they hadn’t before. While

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

I’m thankful for the technology that makes possible these video calls, I look forward to the day when we no longer have to make Zoom calls to collaborate with staff, colleagues and friends. Given the circumstances, it has proven to be a beneficial one-off, but I am convinced now more than ever that it can never be a permanent substitution for face-to-face interactions. Relationships are living and breathing creations brought to life and maintained by human interactions. They are fragile and unique and must be cared for with intention. They are not static but instead are dynamic. This means our relationships are either growing together or they are drifting apart. There is no cruise

control compatibility. A coworker of mine has a beautiful, full of life 3-year-old little girl. Periodically during our daily Zoom calls, she will pop into the room to see what mommy is up to. Sometimes, she will see the video call on the computer screen and buzz on by. Other times, she will crawl up into her mother’s lap and wave at the screen. We smile and wave back, but to be quite honest, she’s not that impressed. She may be 3, but she can spot a fake when she sees one. Faces on a screen are simply not the real McCoy, and she knows it. In-person interactions are far more valuable to her. They are for me too. I can’t wait for the real thing.

E& J’s We are your mechanics.

275-8016

WELCOME HOME

ASE Certified 1026 E. Highland • Shawnee, OK

Canda White Sr. Mortgage Loan Consultant NMLS# 469222

• Quick approval • First-time home buyer loans • FHA, VA & USDA loans • Jumbo loans

• Construction to permanent financing • Debt consolidation • Flexible repayment options

Call m e today!

912 E. Independence St. | Shawnee, OK Office: 405-273-1761 | Direct: 405-615-3603 Fax: 405-395-9699 Email: cwhite@firstunitedbank.com Web: cwhite.fubmortgage.com

MORTGAGE Banking :: Mortgage :: Insurance :: Wealth Management

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Distance Learning Causes Mixed Reactions For Local Teachers, Students, Parents

by Jamie Bergsten

obody expected this school year to end – sort of – in March. There were no end-of-year field trips, awards programs or goodbyes. In fact, it halted at what most would call the busiest, craziest and most fun time of the whole experience. Proms and entire sports seasons were cancelled; graduations were put on hold. It is safe to say the 2019-2020 school year won’t be forgotten. However, in some ways, school didn’t end. In fact, it is taking place in living rooms and at kitchen tables everywhere. Parents have suddenly been thrust into the role of teachers, and school employees are using a variety of innovative ways to reach out to students. It hasn’t been easy, but learning is still taking place. Per the state’s recommendation, each school district could choose its own distance learning plan. Melanne Greenwood, McLoud Middle School principal, said she has learned a lot about communication and outreach during this time. “My teachers have craved the interaction with each other … just as much as the students have craved it from them,” Greenwood said. “It’s been important to set a schedule for all so that we’re engaged and available. “We’ve set weekly goals to personally contact each family just to let them know we’re there to support them. We’ve seen the importance of just being there to hang out on a Zoom call and let kids ask questions and talk to one another. “My teachers have been amazing in coming up with things for students to do to prove daily challenges or project-based learning and have shown flexibility in working with students on Google Classroom. They’ve all shared that they’ll come back with a much broader base of how to teach and use technology in the classroom.” Many districts have continued to provide meals for students as well. Mike Crawford, superintendent at South Rock Creek, has been packing and delivering lunches to three different sites for an average of 67 students. He credits Tina Parris, the school’s food service manager, with keeping supplies available. Krouch Elementary School paraprofessional Angela Hill boards a bus each weekday to assist in the delivery of breakfast and lunch to Tecumseh students. The route, which takes nearly 90 minutes, is one of 13 Tecumseh Public Schools is using to get food to students in need. By far, the most common remark from local teachers at this time is how much they miss the kids they work with. “While learning is going smoothly for my families, I miss my students tremendously,” said Rachel Schooler, a teacher at Grove School. “I feel like there’s no closure for our school year. So much of what we do in pre-K is hands-on in the classroom, and much 14

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Students like Emily Davis have had to utilize a variety of settings, media and resources at home while completing the academic year via distance learning. Photo submitted

of it goes along with learning to be ‘at school.’ “I miss reading to the kids and talking about our story, the funny little things they say and do, the hugs and closeness that being in a class seven hours a day brings.” One of the keys for Schooler’s students has been the extent at which their families have gotten involved in the process of learning at home, she said. “I’ve had amazing parent participation, which is a blessing,” Schooler said. “I know many parents are working and trying to do school with more than one child. That’s hard. “I pray we get back to school this fall and return some normalcy to our lives. I also hope my students and I can have a get-together soon to say a proper goodbye.” South Rock Creek teacher Lisa Walker has similar feelings. “I’ve learned from my students how important social interaction is,” Walker said. “I receive emails every day from middle schoolers – yes, middle schoolers – telling me how much they miss their teachers and friends. Many hate distance learning for various reasons. “As for me, it’s forced me to learn more about technology and using it as a teaching tool, which is a good thing. However, I’ve learned there are some things that just can’t be taught without face-to-face interaction. Trying to teach how to write an argumentative paper without one-on-one conferences is frustrating to say the least. Besides just missing my kids, I miss our class discussions, hugs, and simply teaching them and watching them ‘get it.’” Some teachers have developed their style around

being physically present with their students, making the separation required by distance learning. “As a ‘seasoned’ educator, I miss the personal contact,” said Susan Brooks, also at South Rock Creek. “I’m very kinesthetic. Online teaching doesn’t ‘lend a hand’, no pun intended, to that style of teaching.” Cindy Sealy, another South Rock Creek veteran, echoed a similar response. “I have a desire to teach, elaborate, and be creative with my kids,” Sealy said. “This is so sad. I don’t think people are meant to communicate like this.” Some teachers have also seen other disadvantages of having to abruptly institute distance learning programs in households with a wide range of resources and needs. “I’ll say that this distance learning experience has made it more evident that I’m meant to be in a classroom, face-to-face with my kiddos,” McLoud Elementary teacher Summer Yort said. “I need to show them they’re loved and that their learning environment is safe. “Even though I’m communicating online, not all are responding for various reasons. I feel like they’re lost in the cracks of this epidemic, either by not having the resources to complete their work or a safe place to enable them. “Families have become even more stretched because of lack of jobs, having more people at home all the time, limited resources and high stress. I really hope that during this time, families have tried to relax and realize everything will be okay. “ Parents are making the best of their new role as well. “I’ve always had an appreciation for educators,

and it’s only increased over this time,” South Rock Creek mom Kelli Adams said. “We’ve relied on schoolwork, both provided lesson plans and tools like Khan Academy, to keep our kids engaged so that we parents can continue working. My boys have enjoyed the flexibility to work from any room in the house or even outside.” Kerri Foster, whose daughters attend Dale Schools, sees this as a unique opportunity. “The time I’ve had ‘teaching’ my girls has had its ups and downs,” Foster said. “My oldest still greatly dislikes math, and my youngest can’t stand reading. None of that has changed. However, the why is what I’m trying to use this time to figure out and maybe take a swing at changing.” Foster has encouraged her reluctant reader to try reading to their dog, on a horse in the pasture or in her room. “She’s actually been looking forward to reading time,” Foster said. “I think this learning from home can help kids catch up on their skills if we parents put in the effort. “I’m trying to find a way for them to love the things they’ve hated. That way, when we return to school, they may not mind doing those subjects.

It’s worth it to make good out of this insane situation. Working from home and teaching is a whole new ballgame.” Students’ feelings about distance learning vary, but they too are coping. “Obviously, this isn’t the ideal way to finish out my freshman year, but I’d much rather be safe than have an ideal educational experience,” North Rock Creek student Hannah Ehtisham said. “I think this time has the potential to build some important characteristics in students. For me, it’s improved my work ethic. At NRCHS, we’re one-toone with technology, meaning our assignments, announcements and materials are all posted to Google Classroom. I think that’s been beneficial to both students and teachers because of convenience and efficiency. It’s made the work easy to view, and teachers can reach out to students whenever they need to.” Shawnee High School senior Kaitlin Koons is obviously disappointed. “The first seven months of the year were full of fun events everyone gets to experience, but the last two months were supposed to be just for us seniors, and it’s hard knowing we didn’t get to be a part of those unique memories,” she said.

MAY SPECIAL

25 off

any new door

WE ARE OPEN FOR TELEMEDICINE VISITS. Get the care you need from your own home, using your smart phone or your computer. Now accepting new and established patients for telemedicine visits.

2508250 N.

40 405-

F A M I LY M E D I C I N E

Open Mon-Thur LACEYOpen MCCRARY APRN Mon

KEITH A. A. MD CONAWAY, MD MDAlicia ALICIAChanski, CHANSKI, APRN DANAAPRN HANEBUTT APRN Keith Conaway, Alicia Chanski, Keith A. Conaway, APRN

Open Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm & Friday 8am-2pm

2508 N. Harrison, Shawnee • 405-585-2030 www.shawneeoutlook.com

www.shawneeoutlook.com

V Call Terry Rodgers, Betty Phillips or Kennzie Mendoza

405-273-2412 Hello! Would you like some insurance? Call today for a better bargain on your auto and home coverage!

Better Service. Better Value. Better Overall.

Agent & Registered Representative Farmers Insurance & Financial Services

mcappo@farmersagent.com

Securities offered through Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC, Member FINRA & SIPC.

• LIFE • AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS quote@valentineinsurancegroup.com www.valentineinsurancegroup.com

tjohnson;Oklahoma City;Sunbelt Heating and Air Conditioning;C15930-492521;8.75” x 4.96”-4c (20Sp-B6)

Leading-edge technology. Installed with old-fashioned responsibility. RECEIVE UP TO

$1,600

IN REBATES

when you purchase the Lennox® Ultimate Comfort System*

www.sunbeltair.com 405-273-5772

2020 East MacArthur • Shawnee, OK Your Comfort is Our Highest Priority State lic# 2033 Offer expires June 12, 2020. *Rebate requires purchase of qualifying items between March 9, 2020 to June 12, 2020. Qualifying items must be installed by June 19, 2020. Rebate claims (with proof of purchase) must be submitted (with proof of purchase) to www.lennoxconsumerrebates.com no later than July 3, 2020. Rebate is paid in the form of a Lennox Visa® Prepaid card. Card is subject to terms and conditions found or referenced on card and expires 12 months after issuance. Conditions apply. See www.lennox.com/terms-and-conditions for complete terms and conditions. © 2020 Lennox Industries Inc. Lennox Dealers are independently owned and operated businesses.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Expert Innovation-20SP-4c-B6.indd 4

4/27/20 11:18 AM

Ministry Expanding After-School Clubs At Local Elementary Schools

by David Dinsmore

ounded in 1937, Child Evangelism Fellowship has established a presence in 200 countries including all 50 states in the U.S. It currently works with about 25 million kids per year through a variety of programs ranging from camps, fairs and internet clubs. Child Evangelism Fellowship’s primary efforts come in the form of 5-Day Clubs and Good News Clubs, the latter of which meets with kids each week at schools, community centers, homes, apartment complexes and churches in the neighborhoods where kids live. “We get to go in there for an engaging, active kind of hour with the kids, and they get to hear that God loves them and God cares about every part of their lives,” said Shawn Crawley, central Oklahoma coordinator for Child Evangelism Fellowship. “We can share that message with the kids each week.” Oklahoma received its state charter from the larger organization in the 1950s, said Barry Williams, state director for Child Evangelism Fellowship of Oklahoma. For much of that time, the clubs met at home, churches, apartment complexes and other places, but a Supreme Court ruling in 2001 allowing religious organizations to form extracurricular clubs at schools in the same way as groups like 4-H and Boy Scouts of America can opened new doors to take Good News Clubs to more kids. “That's when that mission kind of changed and started to open the door for us to be in elementary schools,” said Williams, who took over as state director in June 2019. The organization has spent the past year and a half focusing its efforts on building partnerships with local schools and districts throughout the state, Crawley said. This revitalizing of the state chapter as a whole has the goal to get Good News Clubs going in elementary schools by working with school administrators to get permissions to hold the clubs and then find church partners to sponsor these after-school clubs. “The work in Oklahoma has been quiet for quite a while here,” Crawley said. “There's always been a few clubs going on in the state but not really systematized interaction between them until the last couple years.” The group started a club at Jefferson Elementary this past school year and had plans to start at Horace Mann Elementary in the spring before the pandemic affected the rest of the school year, Crawley said. Will Rogers also made plans to start a club in the fall pending school facilities reopening on schedule in the face of the public health emergency. Though a religious organization, the club meetings are not like a traditional church service, Craw-

Child Evangelism Fellowship has established Good News Clubs in local schools this past year with others starting in the fall – assuming a regular school year in light of the current public health emergency – that have partner churches and trained volunteers leading Christian-focused after school activities. Photos submitted

ley said. Leaders emphasize a lot of interactive elements like stories, games, memory challenges, songs and other activities to keep the kids’ focus during the weekly, hourly sessions. “The kids are doing something active every few minutes at a time for the whole hour,” Crawley said. “Many if not most schools have after-school programs and different kinds of things, and so whether it's just another club from a school that already offers a bunch of those or it's just a change of pace for the normal after school activity cancellations … we get to spend time every week in a very fun environment with these kids.” In the central Oklahoma chapter, there are about 108,000 elementary students at 249 schools in six different counties with which the organization would like to partner, Crawley said, but getting clubs started close to his home in Shawnee can help build momentum and experience for the rest of the region. Child Evangelism Fellowship also puts a lot of resources into training the volunteers who help lead these clubs. The organization offers its curriculum via trainings that take place in-person and online regionally and internationally as well as through seminars and conferences. Having a broad base of volunteers from all walks of life with proper training and a unified focus can really help make the clubs more dynamic for each kid that attends, Crawley said. Whether it’s an older volunteer who seems to fit a familial role missing in a child’s life or a college student who can serve as a role model, each person has something that may

have an impact on the students. Just before officials began shutting things down in the face of the current public health emergency, organization leaders had scheduled a meeting with local religious, business and private groups to broaden the awareness of the efforts they have undertaken in the community to set up Good News Clubs during the current and next school years. They plan to reschedule that meeting when it becomes clearer when such activities may safely take place again. The work done by Good News Club volunteers and partners fits a model that is prevalent locally with organizations that help with physical needs via feeding, housing, treating, protecting and empowering people of the community, Crawley said. “Here in Shawnee, what we have is so many effective and important nonprofit entities and agencies,” he said. “We're another link in that chain so that we can support the spiritual life of the community in this particular way. “We're all kind of wanting to be a part of this notion of linking the community together and ministering in nurturing the needs of the whole person, so that's kind of more our approach to that and our opportunity to do that.” Though raising awareness does help garner resources and manpower for the Good News Clubs, Crawley said, it can also bring about other support for the organization’s values. “For people who are minded this way, they can be praying about this, whether they're coming alongside a school to pray for the kids or the teachers or whatever,” Crawley said. “People just can www.shawneeoutlook.com

help spread the word. Put some stuff on Facebook for people to follow the ministry. There's already been some stories that have circulated about the work this going on in Jefferson Elementary in particular, just some things that have happened already. So, for people to be able to help us tell the story here in central Oklahoma as our footprint kind of grows.” In fact, the current crisis has led to some conversations and innovations about how to stay connected with club members when they cannot meet in-person, which could help the clubs continue to stay involved with their members and their families, Williams said. The plan for the fall is if for some reason schools are not open by September, they will use some of the techniques they are using now to launch virtual clubs to at least start the year. “We've done a few things even during this time period where our clubs upload weekly so kids can still be a part of it, even if it's just being a part of it virtually,” Williams said. “We want to be able to stay connected and minister to those kids. “I would encourage people that if they want to see a Bible club brought to their school to please reach out to us. We will take the necessary steps to do the training and to provide the curriculum and everything they need to get this up and going in their school district.” Regardless of whether participants of Good News Clubs attend church with their families, Crawley said Children Evangelism Fellowship staff and volunteers want to make sure they hear what the Bible has to say about them and what is going on in their lives in a setting where they spend much of their time during the year. “We want every kid to be able to hear the good news that we bring,” Crawley said. “People are important from the perspective that God made you and God loves you, and you don't have to look hard at all to find testimonies – nearby, nationwide, globally – of lives that are changed when people realize they matter. For a kid to know that and then go home and live that … that change gets noticed (by other family members or loved ones).” Visit cefofok.com or CEF of Oklahoma on Facebook for updates and more information about getting involved. 20

www.shawneeoutlook.com

WE ARE ESSENTIAL. WE ARE OPEN. WE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR PAIN OR OTHER DYSFUNCTIONS.

WE ALSO OFFER TELEHEALTH AND FREE SCREENINGS.

Call today to schedule your appointment!

“Awesome people that do a fabulous job! Would not recommend going anywhere but here!” ACTION PHYSICAL THERAPY OK SHAWNEE 2508 N. Harrison Shawnee, OK 74804 405.214.0300

HARRAH 20926C SE 29th St Harrah, OK 73045 405.391.2300

“Excellent people to have working on my knee, friendly smiles, lots of patience!” SEMINOLE 2309B N Milt Phillips Seminole, OK 74868 405.303.2050

TECUMSEH 503 N. Broadway Tecumseh, OK 74873 405.598.2899

MIDWEST CITY 1113 S Douglas Blvd Midwest City, OK 405.931.2518

www.actionphysicaltherapyOK.com

MAY

Bethel Acres Tag Agency

2020

2008

878-0040 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-1pm North of Hardesty Road & Hwy 102

Re-Elect Darren Rutherford June 30, 2020

www.rutherford4ward4.com

COMMUNITY DRIVEN & FAMILY FOCUSED www.shawneeoutlook.com

theupsstorelocal.com/6963

Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers. Restrictions apply. Valid and redeemable only when presented at a participating location. The UPS Store centers are independently owned and operated. © 2016 The UPS Store, Inc. Offer Expires 12/31/2018

2700 N Kickapoo 2700 N74804 Kickapoo Hours: Shawnee, OK Mon - Fri 08:00 AM-06:30 PM (405) 585-2907 09:00 AM-02:30 PM Shawnee, OK 74804Sat store6963@theupsstore.com Sun Closed theupsstorelocal.com/6963 (405) 585-2907 store6963@theupsstore.com theupsstorelocal.com/6963

2700 N Kickapoo Shawnee, OK 74804 (405) 585-2907 store6963@theupsstore.com theupsstorelocal.com/6963

Hours: Mon - Fri 08:00 AM-06:30 PM Sat 09:00 AM-02:30 PM Sun Closed Hours: Mon - Fri 08:00 AM-06:30 PM Sat 09:00 AM-02:30 PM Sun Closed

1725 N Kickapoo St Shawnee, OK 74804

WE ARE OPEN!

We can Ship for Mother’s Day, Graduation & Weddings. Taking phone orders for curbside pickup or delivery 405.275.5525

www.shawneeoutlook.com

(405) 395-9455 | 4301 N Harrison, Shawnee | visionbank.bank

ClearView Jumbo 99% Stabilized Chlorine 3” Tabs

This is a Shawnee Outlook Promo ONLY. You MUST present this ad at time of purchase! NO EXCEPTIONS! Offer expires May 30, 2020 No refunds, exchanges, returns for sales prior to, during or after this promotional period.

99.99 50 lbs

911 E. MacArthur Street, Shawnee, Ok 74804 • 214-POOL www.shawneeoutlook.com

Whose Logo is This?

3 WINNERS will be chosen at random from correct entry forms. Each WINNER will receive a $10 GIFT CERTIFICATE for Sonic.

HAR

Contest

2533 Shaw 405-

(405) 275-7172

DIRECTIONS 1. Identify the 6 SHAWNEE OUTLOOK advertisers by their logos. 2. Fill out this entry form and mail to: 312 N HARRISON AVENUE, SHAWNEE, OK Shawnee Outlook (NAME OF BUSINESS) (NAME OF BUSINESS) P.O. Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 Vintage • Antique • Wood Crafted • Metal Art 3. Winners will be announced in the Glass Art • Artisan Foods • Boutiques • Repurposed next issue of the Shawnee Outlook. 4. If you are a winner, we’ll mail the Junk • Beautifully hand crafted, unique items gift certificate to the return address on your envelope! (Make sure you VALID IN MAY 2020 WITH COUPON. for the WWW.COFFEENCRAFTSOK.COM include one) (NAME OF BUSINESS) (NAMEpage OF BUSINESS) Check out our Facebook for all upcoming events!

underbird Casino

VOTE

Players Club 405.360.9270

15% OFF BATTERIES

The way2020 Family Medicine used to be, with more than 20 years medical experience JUNE 5-6, BEARD9 AM to 4 PM 15% OFF “Our Urgent Care option treats injuries or BRAKES FREDSTIRE.NET 16505 COKER ROAD, BETHEL ACRES

immediate care, not serious enough to re

405.301.2270 Batteries terstate PATIENTS : ACCEPTING NEW

VALID IN MAY 2020 WITH COUPON.

Food vendors on Sky site.Drive www.ExtremeRoofingSolutions.com 12589 Big (NAME OF BUSINESS) $3 admission (10 and under free) Shawnee, Oklahoma

ide ension/Steering • In ov r p e w s e c 2508 N. Harrison Shawnee sp YOUR NAME: ervi mentsSPECIAL SCHANGE APPOINTMENTS 405-818-3905 Brakes • Su • WALK-IN OIL n g BUY ANY F li A 405-585-2030 Tires • (NAME OF BUSINESS)

CoffeeNCraftsOK

10.00 OFF s following the Governor’s guidelines for the PHONE NUMBER:

Open Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM

Jamie Blades

APRIL WINNERS

AmericanSanitizerCo.com Angie Franklin Ryleigh Chance

FREE MO

Only locally owned and operated Family Medicine

THE COST OF A STANDARD OIL CHANGE OF $32.95

WITH THE ME

Up and Recover Safely Plan American Sanitizer Co was founded in and is based in Shawnee, OK. We specialize in wholesale and bulk/volume sales and are currently supplying Governments, Tribes and Corporations all over the country. We purchase by the semi truck load and supply Oklahomans with thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer every month. You can buy one gallon, a case, a pallet or a semi load! We also have smaller bottles in stock as 5 packs in 1oz, 2oz, 3.3oz and 4oz.

Use Coupon Code SHAWNEE to save 25% OFF anything on our website! L o c a t e d a t 6 2 2 622 W Ayre in Shawnee | 405-273-6162 Visit our website to place an order online.

W Ayre St, Store Hours: 7:30 AM- 3:30 PM Phone 405-273-6162

Monday-Friday 7:30 AM -3:30 PM

We accept PayPal and credit cards by website. Text or call in your order to 405-818-3905 if you want to pick up in person and pay with cash, check or credit card.

storefront location

SE 1 - PART 2 AY 1, 2020

free local delivery!

storefront location Our storefront location, SCI Supply, offers a wide selection of SCI products. Instore & curbside pick-up available!

every purchase provides jobs for adults with special PHASE n e e d s !3

PHASE c o n t a c t u2 s: P h o n Every e : 4 0 5 purchase - 2 7 3 - 6 1 6 2provides jobs for storefront location adults with needs! MAY w15, 2020 JUNE 1,special 2020 ww.southcentralind.com storefront location

Our storefront location, SCI Supply, offers a wide selection of SCI products. In-store & curbside pick-up available!

Our storefront location, SCI FREE LOCAL DELIVERY! Organized sports, , entertainment Further details for Our storefront location, Supply, offers a wideSCI Supply,ofoffers a wide selection products. , movieWWW.SOUTHCENTRALIND.COM theatres, bars, weddings, funeral Phase 3SCIwill be Infree 1 qt disinfectant withselection First purchase! store in-store & pick-up ofcurbside SCI products. Ing venues, gyms,sci supply homes, nursery in WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.provided once the ONE COUPON PERareas CUSTOMER/ACCOUNT. EXPIRATION DATE JUNE 5, 2020. IN-STORE PURCHASES ONLY. available!pick-up store & curbside L o c a t e d a t 6 2 2 W A y r e S t , state enters available! o parlors, and places of worship—all Phase 2. Sattoerde aHto u6 r2 s2: W7 : 3A0y rA eM -S t3 ,: 3 0 P M L o c 24 www.shawneeoutlook.com hes—all have to have to follow S t o PrheoHnoecertain u4r0s5: - 72 :7330- 6A1M6 -2 3 : 3 0 P M every purchase

Phone 405-273-6162

provides jobs for

SHAWNEE HISTORY

Former Bank Building at Main and Broadway on National Register of Historic Places by Ann McDonald, Courtesy Pott Co. Historical Society Member

hawnee has another building added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Oklahoma History Society’s State Historic Preservation Office. This brings the number to 11 structures and one district. The newest addition to Shawnee’s historic places is what was constructed as the State National Bank building – many may know it as the old American National Bank – at 2 East Main on the northwest corner of Main and Broadway. The bank was developed in 1902 by city leaders, Willard Johnson and George McKinnis, and the building itself was built in 1928. It’s listed for its significance in Shawnee commerce and economics as well as for the architecture. American National Bank occupied that location for many years, and the upper floors of the building were home to many local businesses, including doctors, dentists, lawyers and oil companies in the six story building. Shawnee citizens remember the elevator with the operator that took them up to their destination as well as the newsstand in the back of the bank manned by a disabled World War II veteran. The State National Bank closed in 1933 as part of the national Banking Holiday but reopened the following year as American National Bank. About 1964, the bank itself moved a block north to a new building, but many of the business offices remained in the upper floors. For a while, the building held a mini-mall of small retail stores and now is the home of several radio stations, including KIRC-FM Real Country. The former American National Bank joins other downtown structures on the National Register as well as what’s called the Bell Street Historic District. It’s the block of Bell Street on which the Hornbeck Theater is located from Ninth to Main Street. The Aldridge Hotel is on the list, originally known as the Hilton Phillips Hotel when it was built. Another downtown building was first called the Billington Building but is more familiarly known today as the Masonic Building at 23 E. 9th. The Santa Fe Depot that goes back to 1904 and the Beard cabin – the first dwelling reportedly built in Shawnee – are on the register and are both located at 614 E. Main and maintained by the County Historical Society. The Pottawatomie County Court House – a Works Progress Administration project in 1936 – is also on the register, one of the first in Shawnee to be listed in 1984 after the original group in 1973-1974.

The building at 2 E. Main St. – colloquially known as the old American National Bank building – is one of 11 structures and one district in Shawnee on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo submitted

In 1974, the depot was the first from Shawnee to be registered, then St. Gregory’s Abbey and College was added the following year. It was another 10 years before any other local structures made the list, and those were homes. Those homes – more than 100 years old – include what’s popularly called the Governor’s House at 618 N. Park. When Shawnee was one of the towns in the running for the state capitol after Oklahoma was admitted to the union in 1907, the house was reportedly one of the promises made to the voters. Shawnee fell third behind Oklahoma City and Guthrie. Other Shawnee homes recognized on the register include the Walker House at 1801 N. Broadway built by Charles Kirst, the H.T. Douglass Mansion at 100 E. Federal, the Nuckolls House at 200 E. Federal and the George Kerfoot House at 740 N. Beard. The homes were not only show places but built by prominent families in town like the Kirsts,

whose patriarch developed the north Broadway area including Broadway Lake. Dr. Walker, for whom the house is known, was his son-in-law. Douglass was a banker, the Nuckolls family built the Shawnee Garment Factory and Kerfoot was owner of the Mammoth Department Store. The National Register – operated by the U.S. National Park Service – is primarily used to identify historically significant buildings and help build community pride in the history of the community. While there are no specific regulations for changes that may be made to these properties, they could lose their listing to the National Register. Upgrades like central heat and air, safety glass in windows, etc. are encouraged, but changes to the architecture are discouraged and technical assistance is provided by the national headquarters. The National Register also suggests promoting those on the list with brass plaques and brochures to alert visitors and citizens alike to the historical points in town. www.shawneeoutlook.com

MENTAL HEALTH

Coping In the Midst Of Covid-19 “And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.” — Kitty O’Meara

hat does your world look like today? It is likely that you have made considerable efforts to create a new normal in the face of the coronavirus and navigate the vast sea of information, emotions, responsibilities and uncertainties. There is no doubt that you have been quick thinking, brave, open-hearted and creative. As you continue to wake up and face each day with courage, consider these suggestions to strengthen you on your journey.

Reestablish a Routine

Since the middle of March, most people have thrown out their shiny 2020 calendars as each day blends into the next. Not being chained to a schedule can feel liberating and give space to downtime. However, because the coronavirus has lasted longer than a weekend or even a long vacation, too much “free time” can leave individuals feeling foggy, aimless and even out of control. Reestablishing a reasonable routine can help people gain a sense of agency over their lives, which can lead to increased feelings of security and purpose and decreased experiences of anxiety and depression. Reestablishing a routine is less about being productive and more about persevering through this uncertain time. Rachel Noble, director of women’s behavioral health at the Inova Health System, offers suggestions for your reestablish your routine:

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Wake up around the same time every day. Brush teeth in the morning and evening. Wash face in the morning and evening. Take medications. Shower regularly. Be good to loved ones and pets. Move your body regularly. Eat a vegetable every day. Drink lots of water. Talk to a friend on the phone. Cross one item off your to-do list. Say aloud one thing for which you are grateful.

Reach out

This is always easier said than done. However, connecting with others is more important now than ever. When people hear someone’s voice and see their face, even if it is through a screen, it reminds them that they are not alone. People listen to concerns and burdens feel lighter. People lend an ear to a family member or friend and they can see light again. For many individuals, too much time alone in their own thoughts can start to feel overwhelming and even paralyzing. Talking with others who share similar struggles or can listen nonjudgmentally can bring great relief and even help them make it through to the next day. Gateway to Prevention and Recovery would love to connect with you. • If you would like to get support for a substance use or mental health issue, contact us at 273-1170 ext. 0 to schedule an assessment. No copays at this time. • If you would like to speak to a professional about the challenges you may be facing since COVID-19, contact us at 273-1170 ext. 0, M-Th 8-5 and F 8-3. Free of charge. • As of April 20, anyone can connect to a Social Distancing Support Group via Zoom thanks to Partners in Caring, a collaborative healthcare team serving Lincoln and south Pottawatomie counties. Visit Gateway to Prevention and Recovery on Facebook for meeting details.

olverine Storage

www.shawneeoutlook.com

• “Like” Gateway to Prevention on Facebook for daily updates on local resources as well as Wellness in Recovery activities and encouragement.

Redefine your Mindset

Each day has its challenges. Many days the biggest battles are in the mind. Reestablishing a routine and reaching out can help people manage the extreme thoughts, emotions and behaviors that are inevitable during the COVID-19 crisis. Other suggestions to help redefine your mindset include: • Let go of the “right way” and find “your way” to move through each day. • Consider the idea that your worth is not based on productivity. After all, as life is being stripped of its deadlines, formalities and to-do lists, it is people that have remained a priority. • It works if you work it. While the challenges are different for every person, obtaining clarity, especially during a pandemic, takes work. While Amazon, Netflix, sugar, CNN and substances can offer comfort and distraction from your current situation, they will rarely offer perspective or peace. Actions such as taking a walk, sharing what you’re grateful for and setting your boundaries will help you find more stable footing. Please do not hesitate to contact Gateway to Prevention and Recovery at 273-1170 ext. 0 or on Facebook if you have questions or are in need of any additional support.

Alicja Carter, LADC, BHWC, has been working in the behavioral health and addiction treatment field for nearly 12 years. She is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Wellness Director for Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. Alicja is passionate about collaborating with others for the purpose of stimulating positive change in her community.

A wonderful outdoor shopping event with a large variety of quality vendors.

Vintage • Antique • Wood Crafted • Metal Art Glass Art • Artisan Foods • Boutiques • Repurposed Junk • Beautifully hand crafted, unique items

JUNE 5-6, 2020 9 AM to 4 PM

Come join us for a relaxed, family friendly event!

16505 COKER ROAD, BETHEL ACRES Food vendors on site. $3 admission (10 and under free)

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! MAY SPECIAL

COOLANT FLUSH 10% OFF EXPIRES MAY 31, 2020

TEMPORARY HOURS

FIRST HOUR EVERY DAY IS FOR 55 & OLDER CLOSING DAILY AT 5 PM & SATURDAY AT 1 PM

AC SERVICE $10 OFF EXPIRES MAY 31, 2020

15% OFF

BATTERIES FRONT LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

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.shawneeoutlook.com

RE FOR COVERAGE FOR THE THINGS YOU CARE FOR COVERAGE

nce ance

FOR THE THINGS YOU CARE FOR

■ Automobile insurance ■ Homeowners insurance ■ Life insurance

WNEE, OK 74804 NT.COM om/kjames2

Kelli James

Your Local Agent 444 W FEDERAL ST, SHAWNEE, OK 74804 ■ Automobile insurance KJAMES2@FARMERSAGENT.COM https://agents.farmers.com/kjames2 ■ Homeowners insurance

■ Life insurance Call 405.585.2944 today! Let me help you get the most value out of your Kelli James insurance coverage.

Restrictions apply. Discounts may vary. Not available in all states. See your agent for details. Insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange and other affiliated insurance companies. Visit farmers.com for a complete listing of companies. Not all insurers are authorized to provide insurance in all states. Coverage is not available in all states. Life Insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, 3120 139th Ave. SE, Ste. 300, Bellevue, WA 98005.

ffiliated insurance companies.

Your Local Agent 444 W FEDERAL ST, SHAWNEE, OK 74804 KJAMES2@FARMERSAGENT.COM https://agents.farmers.com/kjames2

Call 405.585.2944 today! Let me help you get the most value out of your insurance coverage.

www.edwardjones.com

Left to Right: CHRIS JONES, Financial Advisor MICHAEL GARBUTT, Financial Advisor JIM SMITH, Financial Advisor Logo with Registration Marks JACOB RUSSELL, Financial Advisor DAVID SPIRES, Financial Advisor

To contact a local Edward Jones Financial Advisor please call 1-800-ED-Jones Member SIPC

www.shawneeoutlook.com

THE BRIGHT SPOT Amid the bad news and bickering out there – and now with the current public health crisis – 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.

Stay focused on doing what's right. Morning light follows the darkest night. "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."

The Sounds and the Silence

Now, Going Forward

The streets seem silent In a town shut down. Many jobs seem lost, No one knows the real cost. Signs are posted everywhere. They tell a story we all must share. Let's look at things that have not changed. The seasons roll through right on time. The animals follow their usual routines. Listen to the songbirds, whatever they say. There's always joy along the way. Laughter returns to brighten our day. There really is a balance in it all. As the night grows darker, The stars shine brighter. Where there is an injury, The healing begins. Where we see a negative, We also find a positive.

The beauty of this mess is evident, even when we have to look for it with meaningful intent. It can be found in the care we are giving our elders the first hours of the morning, or when we step back from them, with their safety in our thoughts, when we run across them in the late afternoon. Those actions mean we are honoring them in a way we had not before and should have and will now, going forward. It rests itself in the meals we never intended to prepare because life’s business never allowed the time for it. Now we stand at the stove with our babies watching from the table as we talk and teach them the knowledge we have but never thought it sufficient enough to be part of their education process. Those actions mean we are giving them time and knowledge we may not have given before and should have, and we will now, going forward The time that was filled with the active events on the calendar are now spent in a quiet place in our minds, connecting with our own soul’s thoughts. It is a time

By Kay Lynne Vance

By Melissa High

that reminds us how much we love spending time with who we are and how we may have missed entertaining ourselves. That action helps us to love ourselves again in a way we did not before and should have, and we will now, going forward. When the house gets too small and we just have to move, we step out into the world, and as we move our bodies around the earth, we see the things of beauty in our environment – the trees, the birds, the stars and all the wonders in the sky. We may not have slowed down long enough before to see how much a walk around the earth can feed the soul and should have, and we will now, going forward. This fear and this chaos have brought us to a place that we may never have been before, but the beauty that is mixed into it is so apparent, t hat we will never forget. It has shown us to intentionally seek the beauty now, going forward.

Accused but Not Guilty By Patrick Breen

People get accused of a lot of things throughout their lives. Some are fair and some unfair. God died even for the accusers who say you're guilty. Most people have no idea if you are or not. God is our Counselor, our Redeemer, our Skywalker. In our lifetime, as God caught us in the air, we were accused; on a sinner-stair. Guilty or Innocent? God found us cold-blooded innocent. We are justified in His warm blood. We are free

First United is a financial services organization dedicated to helping you protect and make the most of your assets. But we’re a lot more than that. Banking and finance are what we do, not who we are. We meet others where they are and help them get to where they want to be. We share lifelong relationships by giving our time and our hearts to our communities. We make a difference in the lives of others by inspiring and empowering all to spend life wisely. Spend life wisely is a holistic approach to life that encompasses Faith, Financial Well-Being, Health and Wellness, and Personal Growth.

Spend life wisely; that’s not a slogan. It’s our promise.

Shawnee Harrison 2675 North Harrison St. 405-273-6100

Shawnee Kickapoo 4439 North Kickapoo Ave. 405-878-3700

Access your Banking

Explore our Pillars

FirstUnitedBank.com

SpendLifeWisely.com

Member FDIC.

Equal Housing Lender. NMLS# 400025.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

HELPING HANDS

Local Organizations Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic F or the last few weeks, communities across the nation have hunkered down while waiting to hear that the spread of the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes has begun to slow. Whether it’s business and school closures or concerns for high-risk patients and family members, the measures taken by state and local officials have impacted nearly every resident. However, it is not lost on many that just as they are impacted, they also can make an impact. As a result, organizations, individuals and groups have spent the time organizing local responses to help their neighbors weather this figurative – and given the season, maybe even literal – storm. Here is a roundup of local efforts found by the Shawnee Outlook staff, but if you know of any efforts to help those in need in this community, please share them with editor@shawneeoutlook. com or through facebook.com/shawneeoutlook.

Life.Church

Virtual Diaper Drive

Mission Shawnee

Legacy Parenting Center is in need of diapers and wipes. SCI Supply will be running a virtual diaper drive. You can help supply Legacy Parenting Center with the resources families in our area need from home. A bundle of diapers and wipes for $40 will provide diapers for one child for one month. How to participate: 1. Call or message SCI Supply at (405) 275.3851 and mention the Virtual Diaper Drive. 2. Complete your purchase of diapers (sizes 3, 6, and newborn) and wipes for local families over the phone. 3. Let SCI Supply deliver your order directly to Legacy Parenting Center.

Gateway to Prevention and Recovery Any community member can contact our Shawnee office at 273-1170 ext. 0 MondayThursday, between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-3p.m. and speak to a behavioral health professional free of charge.

Community Renewal Community Renewal is providing a list of resources that it updates every weekday. Visit communityrenewal.org to find a link to its resource page. 30

www.shawneeoutlook.com

If you’d like to support Digital Missions and the COVID-19 Response, you can give directly to these funds through the Life.Church app or at www.life.church/giving.

Immanuel Baptist Church Visit ibcshawnee.org/serve-coronavirus or call (405) 273-2105 for opportunities to serve, such as: Signing up to deliver groceries, prescriptions, DVDs and other essentials to those in need. Sew face masks for health care providers. Make care packages for health care providers. Providing free to-go meals from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. every Thursday at Mission Shawnee at 126 S. Center St.

Mission Shawnee is providing its first-ever at-home learning kit. Community members can help us reach more students without access to educational resources by purchasing a kit for a child in need. Each kit costs $25. We are working alongside Shawnee Public Schools to tailor the kits to follow each grade level curriculum for the remainder of the year. Each kit gives students hands-on reading and math manipulatives, S.T.E.M experiments, social emotional curriculum, arts & crafts activities and basic school supplies. All kits include guided instructions for parents and students to be able to engage in learning together.

Shawnee Forward The organization is gathering and posting information for local businesses to help understand the impact of the current crisis and where they can find help. Visit shawneeforward.com.

SSM At SSM St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee, the safety of our patients, visitors, employees and physicians are our top priority. During this crucial time, we ask our community to visit our website www.ssmhealth.com or follow us on

From staff reports

Facebook facebook.com/stanthonyshawnee/ for updated information on our visitor policy.

United Way

United Way Worldwide has begun a COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. Visit unitedway.org/recovery/covid19 for more information.

Oklahoma Blood Institute Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments can be made by calling 1-877-3408777 or clicking here or visiting a donor center listed below: Ada – 1930 Stonecipher Blvd. Central OKC – 901 N. Lincoln Blvd. Edmond – 3409 S. Broadway, Ste 300 North OKC – 5105 N. Portland Ave. Please be aware of and observe all local distancing guidelines and social restrictions when deciding how to donate.

American Red Cross The Red Cross is seeking people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 and may be able to donate plasma to help current patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections or those judged by a healthcare provider to be at high risk of progression to severe or lifethreatening disease. People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma that can attack the virus. This convalescent plasma is being evaluated as treatment for patients seriously ill with COVID-19. Historically, convalescent plasma has been used as a potentially lifesaving treatment when new diseases or infections develop quickly, and no treatments or vaccines were available yet. The Red Cross has been asked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help identify prospective donors and manage the distribution of these products to hospitals treating patients in need. If you’re fully recovered from a verified coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis, please review information and fill out the Potential Donor form at redcrossblood.org. A Red Cross representative will follow up with prospective candidates to confirm eligibility.

We express our gratitude for our dedicated team of healthcare providers for continuing to work and see patients during these difficult times. We commend our teams willingness to keep seeing patients as their need arises and that we are able to provide both Home Health care and Hospice throughout the COVID crisis.

Enriching the lives of our patients and their families every day. Heartland Home Health Care • Accredited by Accreditation Commission for Health Care • All RN On Call Staff

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

Phone 405-214-6441

Phone 405-214-6442

heartlandhomehealth.com/Shawnee heartlandhospice.com/Shawnee www.shawneeoutlook.com

STAY HOME

STAY CONNECTED Follow us for updates on our reopening.

FireLakeCasino 32

www.shawneeoutlook.com

FIRELAKECASINO.COM