What’s Happening on Page 16!
VOL 21 ISSUE 1
January 2014
ROGERS COUNTY NE Oklahoma’s Leading Consumer Newspaper
MMS-Payne Welcomes New Ownership
Vendors Wanted for Spring Show Save the date for the 2014 Rogers County Home and Garden Farm and Ranch Show. By Carol Beck-Round While most of us are hiding underneath warm blankets to stave off the cold, plans are already underway for the annual Rogers County Home and Garden Farm and Ranch Show set for March 21-23 at the Claremore Expo Center. What better way to end the winter doldrums than with seminars, exhibits and demonstrations to get you prepared for spring? Since 1988, the Rogers County Builders Association, a non-profit, has been partnering with area businesses and organizations to bring the show to The 2014 Rogers County Home and Garden Farm and Claremore, according to Brett Knapp, Ranch Show members include (back row from left): Anthony homebuilder and general manager of Tucker, Driven Digital; Ron Burrows, Claremore Expo Center this year’s show. general manager; Savannah Haddock, Value News; Ann This year’s show, as in the past, Baker, Master Gardeners Association of Rogers County cowill feature a wide variety of exhibits president; (front row): David Moore and Bethany VanHorn, from home interior galleries, designer Driven Digital; Brett Knapp, RCBA; Chris Burdan, BancFirst; showcases, kitchen and cooking demonstrations, backyard landscaping, Laurel DeLammermore, RCBA; Bill Biard, Hammett House; (continued on page 24) and Jimmy Holmes, Installed Building Products.
Don’t Let Tax Time Cause Panic or Fear H&R Block offers Peace of Mind for Rogers County and Tulsa taxpayers. By Carol Beck-Round
Preferred Customer Requested Delivery January 3-6, 2014 Dated Material
PRSRT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1000 TULSA, OK
Everyone knows what April 15 means. Tax time. But there’s no need to panic or fear the process if you have a well-known tax preparation service taking care of you. H&R Block is one of the world’s largest tax service providers, preparing one in every seven U.S. tax returns each year. In Rogers and Tulsa County, the Claremore and Owasso offices are opened year-round, not just at tax time. Bob Brun, H&R Block franchisee and Certified Public Accountant, owns and operates the Claremore office and in partnership with Pat Etzkorn owns and operates the Owasso office. “Both Pat and I are Enrolled Agents,” says Brun, “meaning we can sit before the IRS and represent our clients if necessary.” Both offices offer a wide variety of services including: the preparation of individual, business, farm, corporation, trust and estate tax returns, as well as
payroll and bookkeeping services. H&R Block’s client focused philosophy for the past 55 years has been to help clients with their tax and financial needs. Brun says “we deliver Block's client philosophy by providing
our clients with professionally prepared and accurate tax returns and obtain for them the maximum refund available and/or minimize their tax liability in accordance with the U.S. and State Tax Codes. We want (continued on page 24)
The professionals at H&R Block in Claremore and Owasso are ready to assist taxpayers with the preparation of their tax returns. Seated is Dawn Lund. From left, standing, is Henry Harrison, Wilma Benefield, Bob Brun, franchisee, and Pam Ziriax.
www.valuenews.com South Tulsa 39,625 homes (This is a geo-demographic mailing list and delivered to homes in Mid-Town and South Tulsa.)
Bixby, Jenks Glenpool & Sapulpa 23,266 homes Bixby- 74008–7,178 Glenpool–74033–3,700 Jenks–74037–5,010 Sapulpa–74066–7,378
Paid Mailing Circulation
Ryan Payne became owner and operator of long-time Claremore funeral home in October. By Carol Beck-Round When Ryan Payne began a parttime job at 19, he didn’t know it would one day lead to a career in the funeral home business. Payne, born and raised in Rogers County, was a college student when he began working at the Musgrove-Merriott-Smith funeral home. On October 1, 2013, he officially became the owner and operator of the oldest funeral home in Rogers County after long-time owner Jim Smith and his wife/business partner, Cindy Smith, retired. Previously enrolled at Northeastern State University, Payne transferred to Will Rogers Junior College – now RSU – when he was hired by the funeral home in 1994 to do lawn care and maintenance, clean cars and sometimes help with visitations. “I was doing work that no one else had time to do,” he says. Although Payne enjoyed the job, he says, “Basically, it was a way to help pay my way through college.” A biology major, Payne soon discovered he loved helping people and assisting with funeral services. “When I started helping out with the services, I found I enjoyed it. It didn’t take too long for me to realize I wanted this to be my
full-time career.” Prior to this realization, Payne was considering a career with the Corp of Engineers – “At least, I had that in the back of my mind,” he says. “I’ve always loved science, especially wildlife biology.” After receiving his associate’s degree in biology from WRJC, Payne enrolled at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he earned his degree in mortuary science in 1997. Between his days at WRJC and UCO, Payne spent a year interning at Musgrove. “It was a state requirement for me to get my funeral license, so it was just kind of understood that I’d return full-time to the funeral home after college. After UCO, I went to work there full-time, beginning my career in this business.” Payne attributes his success to mentors Paul Merriott and Jim Smith. “They shaped my career,” he says. “Paul offered good advice and Jim always let me ‘find my way.’” According to Payne, “Jim would let me try new things and if they worked out fine, go ahead and keep doing them. If they didn’t work out, Jim told me to (continued on page 24)
Ryan Payne is the new owner of MMS-Payne Funeral Home. Payne took over the reins after purchasing Musgrove-MerriottSmith in October, 2013.
Owasso/Collinsville 18,374 homes Owasso–74055–12,055 Collinsville–74021–6,319
Rogers County 22,655 homes Claremore–74017–8,951 74019–5,739 Catoosa–74015–2,584 Chelsea–74016–1,796 Inola–74036–2,159 Oologah–74053–1,426
Broken Arrow 34,022 homes 74011–9,439 74012–19,111 74014–5,472
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