When I decided to leave the hardwood forests and the corn fields and my family in Wisconsin for the prairies of Oklahoma, my parents were deeply concerned but for two different reasons. My father was worried because I was going to Oklahoma Baptist University to pursue a degree in church music. An electrician by trade and a pragmatist by nature, Dad wondered what kind of job his church music major son would be able to get after graduation. He wasn’t optimistic that a degree in church music would lead to a regular paycheck, so maybe he was secretly afraid that after graduating I would move back home, lay claim to my old bedroom, and sponge off the old man. In his mind studying church music wasn’t practical. A degree in church music was about as helpful as a doctorate in Elizabethan poetry, for instance, in preparing me for any vocation Dad understood.

Mom had a different concern. She didn’t trust my plan, which was to get my degree then return to Wisconsin and go to work in a church. Mom was convinced that I would get to Oklahoma, fall in love with a local girl and stay in Oklahoma. I told her that would never happen. I was a Wisconsin boy who loved the Packers, squeaky cheese curds and snow way too much to stay away. I would be back home before she knew I was gone.

At the beginning of my junior year I met a pretty, bright freshman from Macomb, Oklahoma named Debbie. She smiled at me and that was that. Two kids and a granddaughter, four dogs, a couple of cats, and several generations of gerbils later, here we are. We will be married thirty years this summer. And you know where I live.

Dad was pleased, albeit surprised that the salary for a music minister provided nicely for my little family. And Mom was right; I’ve spent nearly half my life in Oklahoma. I tell people that enough red dirt has worked its way between my toes that I feel like I belong. But the best part of Mom’s rightness is Debbie. It is good to live anywhere so long as she is with me.

I stumbled at bit at the beginning and almost blew it. Our first date was wonderful. We arrived back on campus around curfew time. We were on the porch of her dorm trying to figure our how to say goodnight, enjoying those deliciously awkward first date moments when the dorm mother, a gruff but kind woman poked her head out of the door and said, “Kiss her and get it over with!” Without thinking I leaned down kissed the first thing I ran into – Deb’s forehead. I floated back to my dorm.

A mutual friend met me as I walked to my room and asked about our date. I told him it was fabulous. Then he said, “Well, I hope you didn’t try to kiss her. She hates it when guys try to kiss her on the first date.” I felt faint. Shivers shot through my body. I really liked this girl, and the thought of ruining the whole thing with a rushed kiss to the forehead made me feel sick.

I asked her to church the following Sunday night and on our way home in a voice full of genuine contrition, I apologized for kissing her on our first date. Then I waited a full month before I tried to kiss her again, but when I did, it was a good kiss. A really good kiss. A few weeks later that I found out she thought the forehead kiss was sweet, the after church apology was a little weird, and waiting a month for the next kiss filled her with doubts about me. I also discovered that our mutual friend had a thing for her. Can you say sabotage?

Fast forward twenty seven years.

Our youngest child, Zach, was preparing to leave home for college when he looked at me, his teenaged brow furrowed with worry. “Dad, I’m concerned,” he said gravely.

“Really? What about?” I asked.

“I watched how hard it was on you and Mom when Lindsay left. I’m just worried that when I leave you’ll fall apart.”

I smiled. “We’ll miss you, son, but we’ll be okay.”

“That’s not what I mean,” he said. “I’m afraid your marriage will fall apart without me around. I mean, what will you do with yourselves?”
Now I laughed. “Hey! Your Mom and I did quite well together before the thought of a man-child ever cross our young minds. We’ll be just fine. I loved her then, I love her more now.”

So happy Valentine’s Day, Deb. Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone, young and old, who have been fortunate enough to find the one you cannot imagine living without. Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone searching for their one and only, their true love.

And for the record, Deb encourages me to watch the Packers whenever they are on television, she had cheese curds shipped from Wisconsin for Christmas, and when it snows she flashes that smile and says, “You’re excited, aren’t you?” Now that’s evidence of true love if ever there was.

There are all kinds of reasons people avoid the gym. Everything from boredom to the need for accountability keeps people from living a healthier lifestyle. With Operation Boot Camp, that’s no problem. They’re keeping their clients on their toes with fun workouts, valuable tips, and encouragement to see them obtain the results they dream about.
The franchise, Operation Boot Camp is based on the idea of creating group workouts with capable instructors who provide challenging workouts in a positive atmosphere. People of all fitness levels are welcome. The program includes a workbook that helps track nutrition and eating habits, the results of their initial fitness test and the goals clients hope to reach upon graduation.
New owners of the local franchise, Terry and Anja Grissom say their comprehensive program targets both exercise and diet, with equal attention to the importance of healthy eating. “If you keep eating the way you’re eating and work out with us, you’re going to be healthier, more toned and maybe lose a little weight but if you want to see really good results then you have to change what you’re eating,” said Terry. “Our focus on nutrition is one thing that sets us apart,” added Anja.
Every morning their group meets at 5:45 a.m. for a 45 minute workout with the group and instructors. “A lot of people think that’s really early, but it’s amazing how much better your day goes when you work out in the morning and then you’re not trying to find time in the evening,” said Anja.
Workouts incorporate cardio and strength training with stretching and flexibility in fun routines. In fact, Anja says you never know what to expect. “It’s always different. We tell people, ‘if you didn’t like what we did today, come back tomorrow and it will be something different,’” said Anja. Everything they do, from soccer to Frisbee in the park are all “Boot Camp” approved and usually outdoors barring bad weather.
Don’t let the ‘boot camp’ title scare you. Anja and Terry Grissom promise customers a positive environment, full of people who are trying to live healthier lives. “People come in at all different fitness levels and we have at least one instructor for every seven or eight people. We modify the workouts for everyone’s level. It’s a very positive atmosphere,” said Anja.
In fact, Anja says they become like family. “We really build a social network. We’re friends who cheer each other on; we’re there for each other.” said Anja. “We also hold each other accountable. When someone isn’t there, we’re checking on them. Sometimes people are sick or discouraged.” Instructors also show their dedication by providing recipes, shopping lists, and motivational tips. They even text their clients every morning. “We’re kind of their second alarm clock,” laughed Anja.
The Grissoms also make sure the program is affordable. “When you break it down to a thirty day program, the cost is only $5 a day. If you cut out that daily trip to McDonald’s which you should do anyway, then you’ve paid for it,” said Anja. “We know that this economy is tough and we don’t charge what larger areas do for this program. We want this to be affordable,” said Terry.
In addition to keeping themselves in shape, the Grissoms enjoy watching the program affect their clients. “They cry when they share how they’ve come out of depression, gone off their medications and talk about how much better they feel about themselves when they see those significant results. We love to be a part of that transformation,” said Anja.
For more information about joining Operation Boot camp, contact the Grissoms at 888-734-8669 or visit operationbootcamp.com

When David Little decided to make his way in life he was barely seventeen. Like many ambitious young men in the 1940’s, he sought a brave new world with almost nothing. He left his parent’s farm in an old car and a brown paper sack for a job working in construction for his uncles in Oklahoma City.
He learned the construction business and developed exceptional skills in his trade. When he came to Shawnee, the community took notice of his efficient craftsmanship and he started Shawnee Construction Company.
Today it is Westchester Development, a third generation business that spans commercial and residential real estate with Westchester Real Estate and Management Company, home design through L& L Design, foundation repair with Westchester Foundation Repair, and more. David’s sons, Mike and Bryan Little, run the day to day operations of the businesses. Mike’s son Matthew Little works in the estimation department.
Mike Little grew up working alongside his father David and uncles who invested their lives in their business and their community. They built most of the new housing additions since the sixties and Mike remembers his dad built the first public housing addition in Shawnee followed by housing for the elderly and other community projects. His family follows that tradition of community investment in partnerships with the local housing authorities and organizations like Project Heart, Youth & Family Resource Center, Faith Seven and South Central.
While they develop all across the state, their primary focus is Shawnee. They are responsible for the development of Northridge, Smoking Oaks, Highland Farms, Harbour Estates, and more recently Unity Health Center’s new office park, and The Timbers.
Mike, his brother Bryan and uncle Bill Little own The Timbers, Inc., an addition meeting new needs in the community. “We have a lot of single women, young married couples, people from OBU and St. Greg’s who wanted smaller but nice, new homes but at a lower price. People are excited to find out they can still buy a new home in the $130’s,” said Mike.
While Mike admitted that business is good in spite of a tough national economy, he noted that a third generation business doesn’t come easy. “My dad was always positive about Shawnee and taught us how to ride out the ups and downs; and why it’s important to do a good job, hire quality subcontractors, and pay our bills on time. We’ve never had a lawsuit or a lien filed against us. We strive to be consistent.”
Mike said they are proud to be a part of Shawnee’s generous and growing community where good old Oklahoma principles are alive. “Shawnee is a wonderful place. We’ve been fortunate here and hopefully we’ve added to the community as well.”
Mike Little remains optimistic about Shawnee’s future and certain that the same opportunities his dad enjoyed sixty years ago are here for the next generation.

Debbie Hoag, owner of Rising Star Gymnastics, is excited about Shawnee’s future gymnasts. Ralph and Debbie Hoag moved here from the East Coast two years ago to start a ranch for their horses and are now located in the Coca-Cola building where they opened their gym August 17th.
Hoag, former competitive gymnast, owned a gymnastics company for fourteen years. With nearly forty years experience, Hoag is certified through the USAG (USA Gymnastics), taking students from beginner to advanced, levels one through ten and from bronze through platinum in the United State Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs. Hoag is a professional member of the USAG, the organization responsible for running the Olympics.
Beyond trampolines and tumbling, Coach Hoag teaches the kind of gymnastics Americans enjoy on TV. “I teach artistic and rhythmic gymnastics or ‘real gymnastics.’ Artistic gymnastics is the high bars, pommel, parallel bars, floor exercise, balance beams, uneven bars, rings, vault and then rhythmic gymnastics is the ribbon, the hoop, rope, clubs, and the ball.”
According to Hoag, gymnastics begins with conditioning the body. “You have to teach skill progression and parents sometimes don’t understand why their child isn’t learning a back handspring the first lesson. Safety is first. Until a child is stretched and strong enough to do that move, I will not do it. I teach the skills the right way, in an order where children learn it safely.”
Hoag offers a Junior Olympics program for parents who prefer a recreational approach to the sport but will soon offer competitive teams as the program grows. As for training for an Olympic medal, that depends on the parents. “Training for the Olympics is a seven days a week, six or seven hours a day commitment. That’s a big commitment for busy families so right now we’re focusing on the JO program which is how all the elite gymnasts begin.”
In addition to the obvious health benefits, Hoag says gymnastics gives kids a head start on life lessons and improves their skills in other sports. One parent who also had her child in soccer got feedback from the coach. “His soccer coach noticed a difference in his performance and asked what other sport he was playing. When he found out she had him in gymnastics he told her to keep it up. I’ve heard parents tell me things like that many times. ‘Gymnastics training does carry over to other sports.”
Admirers of the sport also notice it comes with some risks. Flipping, flying and twisting through the air, fearless gymnasts are upside down in mid air. Getting them to that point means overcoming fear, building confidence, and reaping the benefits of hard work. “When they have to work through that fear now while they’re younger, they’ll get through those moments in life when they’re older. We like to think in the gymnastics world, ‘start here and you can go anywhere.’” They also learn how to get along, work together and set goals. Priceless lessons for life in the real world.
Rising Star Gymnastics offers recreational classes to students 2 to 18 years and birthday parties. For more information or to check for openings, contact the office at 273-1068 or online at rsgymnasticsok.com.

Two things you never expect to hear in one breath are “free” and “wrecker” but at Brown and Sons Wrecker Service they’re giving away plenty of free services. 1-800 Tow Free gives customers free insurance billing, free emergency car unlock for trapped children, free abandoned car removal, a toll free call and more.
Owner and managers, Scott and Tina Brown wanted to offer customers better service and less hassle. As it turns out, he’s also saving customer’s money by educating them about the insurance and auto club market. Brown said customers should be aware of what they’re really paying for. “An auto club charges up to $120 a year for wrecker insurance while an insurance agency charges, $10. Some people have both, not realizing they’re already insured.”
When a motorist is stranded and calls their auto club for a wrecker, they could wait for hours or worse, the wrecker never shows up. “That’s because the auto club is calling the cheapest possible wrecker they can find and in some cases, they are unable to locate a wrecker in the area.” Brown also said those wreckers are more likely to be inexperienced with substandard equipment.
Brown and Son’s free insurance billing means that there’s less confusion and faster service. A customer isn’t waiting for an agent to find a wrecker and call them back. The customer is in complete control. “We take the middle man out of the picture so you can deal with me directly. That makes it faster for everyone and you don’t have to worry about sitting on the side of the road for hours. We’re offering a direct billing program so customers don’t even have to call their agent and then wait for reimbursement for the ticket they paid to the wrecker.”
Brown said some insurance providers are taking good care of their customers. “State Farm Insurance is the most proactive about their towing coverage for the customer. Because they put codes on their insurance cards, I can immediately verify if their policy covers wrecker service. They let them tow who they want.” If someone is uncertain about their policy coverage, Brown said they work with the customer to get them off the road as quickly as possible with the best price.
When it comes to customer service, their style is more “hotel concierge” than a gruff wrecker service. They’re open 24/7. They accept credit cards instead of a cash only policy. With towing costs ranging from $75 to $150, that poses a problem for people who carry minimal cash. They also have spacious indoor storage so damaged cars aren’t left in the elements. “We’ve been in business for 45 years because we’re customer service oriented. We make sure people get their things out of their car, we don’t leave adjustors standing out in the rain and we’re not looking for ways to charge you more money; just provide great service at a reasonable price.”
For more information, visit www.1800towfree.com or call them at 405-273-0470.

Attorney Greg Wilson is not your stereo typical lawyer. His reputation as a savvy trial and general practice attorney is marked by his efforts to build relationships with his clients based on accessibility, excellence, integrity and keeping up with the changing demands of society.
Although his most common cases are trial intensive, such as criminal, family, and personal injury, he also handles civil litigation, bankruptcy, and probate. Recent cases Wilson has won have been popping up in the news. His client was awarded $175,000 in a medical malpractice suit and recently he proved a man innocent of child molestation charges. Another tough case he won was a domestic abuse case in which the jury also found his client innocent. Although cases like these can be tough to prove, Wilson says he particularly enjoys trial work.
Wilson said he sticks to his integrity and always works for the best possible outcomes in his cases, regardless of who he represents or their position in a case. “Even in criminal cases, we don’t run our clients through the system with a premature plea or probation. We first determine if our client has a winnable case. If not, we work hard to get the best possible results. Too many people end up with something on their record when it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Wilson also strives to demystify law and individual rights to clients who are inexperienced in a courtroom. “We like to help people who don’t have a lot of money or influence to get a fair shake in court. We like to explain things and make sure they’re fully informed as we go along.”
Most people don’t expect their attorney to be as accessible as Wilson tries to be either. “I stay up on all my cases and keep my clients proactively informed so they don’t have to make several calls to find out what’s going on. One of the most important things I strive for is to make sure our clients trust this firm to stay on top of their case, moving it forward for the results they expect,” said Wilson
Wilson said times are changing the way some attorneys charge for their services. “We try to offer flat fees whenever possible. Clients know what to expect from the beginning and that frees us up to focus on moving their case forward rather than keeping track of how much time we spend on their case. We’re continuing to work on innovative ways to practice law that keeps up with the changing demands of society.”
Some things about Wilson’s practice will stay the same. “We sincerely want to help people. We’re not all about the money and we work clients’ cases as if it were our own. We take their cases personally and we walk them through the challenges of the case to get them the best possible outcome.”
For more information about Wilson Law Firm you can contact their office at 275-9994 or visit their new location at the corner of Broadway and Highland.

Tulsa native Billie Letts, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller, Where the Heart Is visited Shawnee as a keynote speaker for the Red Dirt Book Festival, an event that draws Oklahoma writers and vendors to celebrate Oklahoma authors and poets every other year.
Where the Heart Is sold more than three million copies worldwide after Oprah Winfrey selected it for her book of the month club. It later became a movie starring Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd in which Portman starred as a pregnant 17 year old girl who is abandoned by the baby’s father. She finds herself living in a small town Wal-Mart until the night she delivers her baby. The story is about how the simple people of an Oklahoma town take her in and how she learns to trust people again while struggling to make a life for herself and her child.
Billie Letts is the author of several screen plays and three other novels, The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, Shoot the Moon, and Made in the USA. Her first novel was based on several short stories her husband called “Tales from Wal-Mart” and after an editor encouraged her pursue it as a novel, she wrote Where the Heart Is.
When Oprah Winfrey called to give her the good news, Letts was in total shock. “It never entered my mind. I thought you had to be somebody,” she smiled and continued soberly, “and I wasn’t anybody. I didn’t expect people outside our culture to get it. So it was a huge surprise.”
But people did get it and they told her about it. “I got letters from people from all over the world. A person from Bulgaria where they don’t even have a Wal-Mart and I thought, ‘how can they identify with this character?’ I figured it must have been that they found some connection through her loneliness, her anxiety and fear of being left alone in a strange place with no money or anyone to help her,” said Letts.
Letts was awarded the prestigious Walker Percy Award in 1994 and in 1999 she was given the Oklahoma Book Award for fiction. For a celebrity, award winning author whose first book reached an international audience, Letts is pretty humble about it all. “I never could have imagined myself with this kind of reputation and it still seems strange to me. It always surprises me when people ask me for my autograph. I want to say, ‘I’m really nobody.’”
Like many Oklahomans who find prestige and success, she hasn’t forgotten where she came from. In fact, all of her books are set in Oklahoma towns with Oklahoma characters. When I asked her why she said, “It’s what I know. It’s the voice I hear when I write dialogue. It’s my voice.”
She talked about the reasons why she’s proud to be an “Okie” and why she believes Oklahomans inspire people from other cultures. “I think first and foremost we survived the Depression and the Dustbowl where we were hit so hard. We’re Okies, we’re resilient and we come back. We have a way of doing that,” said Letts, citing the Murrah Bombing and the May 3rd tornado. “We have an ability to laugh at ourselves. We tell stories on ourselves that don’t always make us look good but silly or foolish but we laugh about them. We tend to open up and lay ourselves out there and say, ‘this is who I am, this what I do and I hope you like it.’”
Letts said those values, the influences of her Oklahoma upbringing and her life played a large part in the development of the characters in her books with which people identify. Letts was born in Tulsa and raised by working class parents who were uneducated, like many parents from the Depression era. Like Lett’s main character in Where the Heart Is, they were survivors. “My family members were survivors. They could have found work other places but they stayed.”
Letts, who didn’t become an author until age 54, said her career as an English teacher at Southeastern Oklahoma State University also nurtured her writing skills. “When I started teaching, I wasn’t a professor but an instructor so I got stuck with all the composition classes. I had lots of papers to read and grade and through the problems my students encountered while writing, I learned how to avoid certain pitfalls.”
Billie isn’t the only talented one in her family. Her late husband was a writer, an educator and a busy actor who starred in more than forty plays and movies. Her oldest son Shawn is musician and composer in Singapore; her younger son Tracy, playwright and actor, won a Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for drama.
Although Letts has not written anything since her husband died in 2008, she promised to write again next year. No doubt her audience eagerly anticipates the next novel she will publish, inspiring readers everywhere to learn from our do-or-die Oklahoma spirit.

For the fourth year in a row, Shawnee’s Faith Christian Outreach is working to make Christmas just a little happier for local children.

Children’s Pastor Destry Newman said the church’s Bikes for Kids program was created with the hope of making a child’s Christmas special. What started with that simple idea has grown over the years and now impacts children all over Pottawatomie County, thanks to donations and a support team of volunteers.

In 2006, Newman said FCO was able to give away 166 bicycles. In 2007, that number grew to 272 and in 2008, 414 children received new bikes.

“This year I expect to give away over 500,” he said.

The best part of the Bikes for Kids program is that children from all over the area can benefit. Bike recipients do not have to come from one church or attend a specific school or live in one particular neighborhood. FCO asks for help in finding local children and families in need.

At the beginning of November, more than 4,500 nomination forms were sent to local schools, including Wilson, Jefferson, Horace Mann, Sequoyah, Will Rogers, Grove, North Rock Creek, Pleasant Grove, South Rock Creek, Barnard, Krouch, Cross Timbers, Earlsboro, McLoud, Bethel and Macomb. Parents, guardians and teachers were asked to nominate students in Pre-K through fifth grade.

“Those nominating students are asked to explain in detail why the child needs a bike and what specifically contributes to their situation,” Newman said.

Two teachers participated in the nomination process last year. Newman said he had hoped for more of a response because teachers spend several hours with their students each day and can usually tell when a child’s family is struggling for one reason or another.

Volunteers review the returned forms to make sure the requests are legitimate. Then, bicycles are purchased with donations that have been collected. Volunteers as young as 10 are part of the selection process. Newman said children really enjoy helping to pick out different styles and kinds of bikes.

As an adult, Newman said he tries to put himself in the child’s position to decide what he or she would want. He added that some families take time together to go to a store to purchase a bike. Newman said this step is meaningful for families and gives children a sense of ownership in the program. Other families set aside the evening before and the day of the distribution to volunteer their time together.

Newman acknowledged that many of the children who receive bikes through FCO’s Bikes for Kids are being raised by a grandparent or someone other than their parents.

“Family members in this situation are many times under a great deal of financial and emotional stress, so they are very thankful for the gift of a bike,” he said.

In the short time Bikes for Kids has been in existence, local school organizations and business have jumped in to help. Volunteers send acceptance letters, load, unload, label, organize the bikes at the distribution site and make cookies for the big day. Over 150 volunteers make the event the success it is and each child receives a T-shirt recognizing the contributing organizations.

“It is especially inspiring to see students using their time to help set up and distribute the bikes,” Newman said.

Newman is not daunted by the state of the economy, nor is he concerned about the generosity of Shawnee residents this year. Instead, he is encouraged. He pointed out that, as the economy began to take a downturn last year, FCO still received enough donations to give away more bikes than ever before.

“I know that even in economically challenging times, God still uses people to bless children,” he said.

Newman explained that families going through hard times often feel alone. By sharing the love of God through the giving of bicycles, Faith Christian Outreach is able to help a family in more ways than one. Not only is the church relieving some financial stress, but they are also able to send a spiritual message to the family of the child receiving the gift.

“Our hope is that this ministry helps those families to know that they are not alone and that God is using His people to bless them so that they know that God loves them,” Newman said.

Volunteers, bike recipients and their families all benefit from Faith Christian Outreach’s Bikes for Kids event. While Newman said the smiles on the children’s faces say it all, he added that the volunteers are blessed immeasurably.

“You can’t outgive God,” he said, explaining that he knows some families make sacrifices in order to participate and give a bike to someone else. He has seen these families receive blessings in return for their unselfishness.

Bikes for Kids gives volunteers a chance to experience the true meaning of Christmas. Just as God gave his only Son on Christmas day, we have the opportunity to give to others.

“This event reminds us to be thankful for the many ways God has blessed us rather than to focus on what we don’t have or still need to buy for Christmas,” Newman said. “It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, but this event gives us the opportunity to pause and really focus on what is truly important.”

The church and the Shawnee community have benefited as well. Through this program, some families have become active members of the church and now volunteer on a weekly basis. What started with the simple gift of a bike, has become a blessing for families that are now reaching out within the Shawnee area to help even more families in need.

Nominations are due by December 7. This year’s distribution date is set for 10 a.m. December 19 at the Expo Center. For more information on the ministry of Faith Christian Outreach or their Bikes for Kids program, call (405) 275-2988.

Local Elk’s Lodge 657 has long held a reputation for generosity in our community and this time, word is spreading across the state and even the nation about their newest efforts to supply children and teachers with much needed school supplies.
Parents cringe every fall when it’s time to purchase school supplies because they know how expensive it is. Somehow they manage to send them ready for their first day. The problem is those supplies don’t last all year. Many parents can’t afford to purchase a second round of learning ammunition and often teachers, passionate about their students, scrounge to foot the bill. The cost teachers take on ranges from $500 to $1,500 a year. However, more and more teachers and their students are going without.
When Cleb Fails, an Elk’s Lodge board member, heard about it he couldn’t look the other way. “I don’t have the heart to let that student go without,” he said with fervent sincerity. “If they don’t have supplies, they’re not going to be encouraged to do their work.”
Elk’s Lodge member Toby Blaylock, of Blaylock Insurance Agency, partnered with Cleb Fails and sent out folders to every elementary and middle school. Fourteen schools responded with a stack of lists from teachers. “One of the most common things they listed was an electric pencil sharpener,” laughed Fails. “These kids just wear them out.” Although some of the requests were beyond their ability to fund, they will amply supply classrooms with supplies like paper, pencils, erasers, crayons, glue and more.
Fails and Blaylock began collecting money and recruited Candy Swinney and Charlotte Barnett to help with fundraising. Swinney located a signed Heisman Trophy soon to be auctioned off. “It’s beautiful,” Fails said with pride. They also plan to auction off other OU and OSU memorabilia and anything Fails said anything people want to donate.
“I put a collection jar out at the Senior Golf Tournament at the Elk’s Golf course every Wednesday so they remember to donate. I know businesses have been hit up for donation after donation but I’ll take a hundred dollars or even just ten. Something to help. So far we’ve raised $2,100 and we haven’t even scratched the surface.”
Hypnotist Johnnie Fredman will entertain families at the Elk’s Lodge December 11th for the cause. “He’s donating his time and the Elk’s donated the floor which usually costs about $250. Adults tickets will sell for $10 and kids for $5 with all the proceeds funding our project,” said Fails. “He’s a wonderful person,” said Blaylock, “and he’s got a great program. We’re looking forward to that.”
Blaylock said they’ve collected 1,000 pencils. “Local banks and insurance companies have donated pencils, individuals are giving as much as $100 and Citizen Pottawatomie Nation just gave us a large donation,” said Blaylock. “I even have some places who are donating reconditioned computers.”
According to Fails the Elk’s Kids new school supplies program is going statewide. “I was at a local meeting and some state Elk’s dignitaries attended. When I presented it to the board they went crazy over it. One of the state guys asked me to tell him more about it and then the next thing I know it’s going statewide. I get fired up about that,” said Fails. “It may go national and being one of the largest organizations in the U.S. you can just imagine what this will do.”
Teachers will receive classroom supplies in January. Fails promised that the program will remain active all year, beginning again in late May for the fall semester and again in January when students run out. He feels confident in the Elk’s Lodge and the community. “When you mention kids, those guys out there just open their hearts.”
Elk’s Kids is a program that assists children in the community throughout the year. For more information about how you can get involved or if you would like to make a donation you can contact Cleb Fails at 760-7022 or Toby Blaylock at 275-8535.

“Knock him down again, Tara, then help him up and tell him he was knocked down by a girl.”
Tara was an eight year old soccer player who told her parents she wanted to play on the Almor West Elementary School little league football team. I’m not sure how many parents dream that their precious little princess will grow up and play football someday, but I know Tara’s parents weren’t among them. Their eye darted nervously, up and down as they broached the subject of their baby girl hitting the gridiron with the 3rd and 4th grade men. “Tara wants to play on your team, but she can’t, right?” In retrospect, I think they hoped I would say no, but being slow on the uptake, I missed the subtle message. “Sure,” I said. “What position do you think she’d like to play?” “Kicker,” her dad sighed. “She plays soccer and she wants to be the kicker.” I thought kicker was a great place for Tara to play, but then I asked a team-changing question. “We’ll be doing some pretty tough contact drills. We’ve got to teach these kids to hit people. They’ve got to get over years of parents and teachers telling them not to hit other kids. Can Tara participate in the hitting drills? She might feel left out if she doesn’t. And I’m afraid the other boys won’t accept her if she doesn’t take part in everything the team does.” Her parents reluctantly agreed that Tara could be part of the hitting drills if she wanted to be.
At first, our boys didn’t react well to Tara’s presence on the team. “Girls can’t play football,” they said. I think some of the boys’ parents thought the same thing.
Nevertheless, about a month later Tara started the first game of the season by kicking off to our opponents. Then she took her place as our starting nose tackle on defense and the starting left guard on offense. Our sweet, soccer playing Tara was a brute on the field, terrorizing any boy who dared line up against her.
Word got out that there was a girl on the Almor West 3rd and 4th grade team, but no one suspected she was lurking in the middle of our offensive and defensive lines. Most of our opponents assumed our quarterback was the girl because he wore his beautiful blonde hair in a long mullet that hung out the back of his helmet well past his shoulders. They never dreamed that the anchor of our defensive line, the big, strong kid in the middle who kept knocking their center into the quarterback, was the girl.
We were playing one of our rivals and Tara got down into her stance in front of the center as she always did. As he snapped the ball Tara lunged hard at him. She hit him with both hands in the shoulder pads knocking him backwards. She jumped over the poor kid and tackled their quarterback. Three times in a row, in a display of quickness and ferocity I rarely witnessed in little league football, Tara knocked the poor kid right on his back. As they lined up for the fourth time Tara looked like a hungry jungle cat ready to pounce on her defenseless prey. She dug her toes into the ground for leverage, so she could shoot forward like a sprinter. She got so low she had to turn her head sideways to look the center in the eye. He snapped the ball and for the fourth time, she drove him backward and onto his back, only this time she didn’t jump over him. Tara just stood there, towering over the kid. She didn’t taunt him. She didn’t say a word, even. She just looked down at him. But the boy, in a fit of frustration I’m sure, jumped to his feet and kicked her in the shin. Exhibiting self-control beyond her years, Tara didn’t react. It was like nothing happened, like she felt nothing. The referees however, noticed what happened and kicked the boy out of the game. While hitting is encouraged in football, kicking is not. There are standards, you know.
I continue to be amazed at the barriers, prejudices, and fears that can be overcome by someone with a little bit of talent and a lot of heart. Girls can’t play football. Really? Tara didn’t know that, and I’m glad.