Punk rockers with anger issues? That’s what you might think if you saw these girls competing. They’re a mix of toughness and athleticism with a dab of aggression thrown in just for good measure. Who are they? Roller derby girls!
One might think the wild outfits and attitudes would give these girls a bad name. Actually, most of them have “regular” day jobs and many are wives and mothers. They are 18-40 somethings who are teachers, photographers, librarians and store owners by day. When it’s derby time, however, they literally transform.
Roller Derby is an extremely physical sport, so while it pays to have some athletic ability, the skills necessary to compete can be learned by those willing to put forth the effort. Shawnee’s Cara Thomas is a member of the Tornado Alley Roller Girls (TARG) also known as Oklahoma City Roller Derby (OKC RD). Thomas describes the sport as being “almost like football on roller skates. It’s more athletic and less aggressive than we get credit for.”
Thomas became a roller derby fan in 2006, but chose not to compete at the time. She recalled thinking that if the sport had been around “back in the day” it would have been a perfect fit for her. However, after having two children and entering her thirties she felt she was too out of shape and too old to participate.
Last year, while working as a child advocate, Thomas began to experience “burn out.” Around the same time, she went through a divorce and decided to make some changes in her life.
“I decided to turn the page to the next chapter of my life and surround myself with positive, powerful and influential women,” she said.
Thomas showed up to OKC RD tryouts in October, having not been on roller skates since the fifth grade. The girls welcomed her and she found a new home with her teammates. That month, she made the “Fresh Meat” team, and worked her way up to the next level just two months later.
“These women are my new family and through them, I find strength to deal with anything life throws at me! It’s the best decision I have ever made.” Thomas said.
For those who may not be familiar with roller derby, games are called “bouts” and each team has five players on the track at a time. Each team has a “jammer” who is identified by a star on her helmet. The jammer tries to make her way through a group of skaters called the “pack,” which is made up of the other players from both teams. Everyone skates around an oval track. Some leagues use flat tracks and others use banked tracks. OKC RD is a flat track league. The goal is to get your team’s jammer through the pack while blocking the other team’s jammer using legal blocks.
“There are legal and illegal blocks, and we can’t throw elbows into someone’s nose—although the fans sure would like to see that action!” Thomas said.
Jennifer Pitts, another derby girl who hails from Shawnee, added that the team gets a point for each member of the other team their jammer passes. Skaters who are caught throwing illegal blocks are sent to the penalty box.
“It’s amazing how popular the sport and our league is becoming,” she said. “There are usually 300-400 people in attendance for each home bout and some bouts are literally standing room only.”
TARG is divided into levels of players. Newbies pass their minimum skills requirements to become Fresh Meat. The next level is the Expo Team, which is the equivalent of a “B” Team. The Home Team is made up of the league’s best skaters. Skaters advance at their own pace based on skills and attendance.
Pitts is Fresh Meat. She began skating with Thomas in December and continues to increase her endurance on the track with the team’s 120 lap warm ups around OKC RD’s track.
And for all this hard work and training…what prize are these girls trying to win? Pitts said the ultimate achievement is “being awesome” and Thomas, a member of the Expo Team, answered “bragging rights.”
From pigtails to tattoos, these girls have it covered in the glam department as well. Each player chooses a nickname and a number. Skate names are kept on a registry to ensure that no other skater is using the same one at the same time.
Many players develop an alter ego based on their nicknames. TARG skaters wear team jerseys and roller skates, but the rest of a skater’s outfit is up to her. Thomas, whose skate name is mAlice N Underland, describes her character as a “dark” Alice in Wonderland. She wears black and white checkered tights with orange fishnet stockings over them. Her helmet includes pigtails made of black tulle and checkered ribbons. Other players wear tutus, knee socks and miniskirts. Some of the bout makeup has fake blood incorporated—anything to make a skater look intimidating and tough to opponents.
“It’s fun to get into character for our fans!” Thomas said, adding that her jersey number is 186 in honor of one of Shawnee’s exit numbers off I-40.
Because Pitts is Fresh Meat, her character is still in development. Her skate name is Electra Shock and her number is 220 v (as in volts). Her uniform will feature lightning bolts and may include some temporary tattoos or other surprises, which will be unveiled later.
TARG typically has one home bout each month and one or two road bouts a month. Home bouts are held at the Oklahoma City Farmer’s Market, located at 311 S Klein. Tickets are $12 (or $10 in advance) and children 12 and under are free.
In Shawnee, tickets may be purchased at mAlice Palace Baby Punk store, 402 E Highland. Partial proceeds from each home bout are donated to charity. For more information, visit http://www.okcrd.com.

Written by: Denise Quinalty

Some men and women are just braver than others. While the rest of us sit on the banks of the river or in a boat on the lake waiting for the fish to bite, others are out in the water trying their luck in a more…unconventional…way.

Handfishing, hand-grabbing, hogging, grappling, stumping and tickling are a few of the terms used to describe catching flathead catfish with your bare hands. In Oklahoma, most people refer to the sport as noodling.

Oklahoma’s 2010 Fishing Guide explains that hooks, poles, ropes and other devices are not allowed and are a violation of “the ‘hands only’ noodling law.” Noodling is allowed year-round unless restricted due to special area regulations.

The sport has surged in popularity over the years thanks to two documentaries on the topic. Okie Noodlin’ was released in 2001 and was followed by Okie Noodlin’ II in 2008. The director of the two pieces, Bradley Beesley, helped found a tournament honoring the sport. It is held each summer in Pauls Valley. The day’s festivities include the crowning of the Okie Noodling Queen.

Beesley describes the process of noodling as involving fishermen wading “along the shore wiggling their fingers in murky crevices waiting for a nip. Once the noodler gets a bite, he shoves his hands down the attacker’s jaws and wrestles him to the surface.”

Bethel Acres area resident Chad Guess has been noodling for 16 years. His first experience with the sport was at Lake Thunderbird where he and a friend “observed an old man jamming a stick under the concrete and cussing profusely.” When the two decided to investigate, the man dared Guess to stick his hand under a concrete slab and try to grab a fish.

“I did and a small catfish grabbed onto my finger and shook the fire out of me,” he said.

Guess’s friend took the next turn and the two have been noodling partners ever since.

Instead of lakes, Shawnee’s Derek Ramsey sticks to smaller creeks. He and his friends look for trees and brush piles in the water, which make great hiding places for large catfish…as well as other less desirable creatures.

“We’ve come across snakes and huge turtles,” Ramsey said, adding that running into beaver is also a concern.

Ramsey and his friends take a straight stick and feel along the creek banks for holes or “wallered out” places where fish might hide. He has seen holes anywhere from one to five feet deep and knows of people who go into holes leaving only their ankles sticking out. This type of hole diving makes teamwork essential, and also the safest way to noodle. Spotters help wrestle large fish to the surface and come in handy to help block a fish’s escape route.

“You really don’t want to do it by yourself,” Ramsey said.

Guess emphasized the safety rule of always noodling with a partner. “I can’t stress enough about trusting the person you are noodling with as you may count on that person saving your life. There are a lot of things that can go wrong under the water that requires a person to act quickly and know when you need help,” he said.

The largest fish Guess and his noodling buddies brought in weighed 84 pounds.

“I stress the word ‘we’ because without my partner and I helping each other, whether it be moral support or keeping each other from drowning in open water while we were fighting a big fish, we would not be involved in this sport. Do not go noodling alone in water over your head—you’re only asking for trouble,” he cautioned.

Guess explained that injuries are normally minor when compared to the end result—a 40-pound catfish that will feed several adults. The scraped and bloody knuckles that come with the territory only add to the dinner conversation.

“My interest in this sport is mainly for the meat and the time spent with my friends,” Guess said. “My wife is a teacher at Bethel Acres and would rather chase parked cars than try noodling, but it never stops her from enjoying a good meal of Cajun fried catfish.”

Beesley found that serious noodlers can be a bit “cultish” in their ways. They are sometimes suspicious of newbies asking questions and the possibility of getting their holes raided. Guess agreed that noodlers simply do not trust other noodlers.

“Finding good reliable habitat or holes takes lots of time and hours in the water searching and working,” he explained. “When someone observes you and they know what you are doing they will remember that place and come back later to investigate.”

Ramsey explained that some noodlers “stage” their own holes. Some of them sink upside down bathtubs or barrels, thereby creating a habitat that they can come back and check on a regular basis.

If you get the chance to try noodling, just remember to put on your game face and go for the glory. While some participants end up with only scrapes and bruises, others come out with a fish story they can truly brag about.

by: Denise Quinalty

News Channel Four’s Jim Gardner is something of a frequent flyer in Shawnee. Although the helicopter reporter is more often heard on News Channel four than seen flying overhead, last month he was in Shawnee for the Gordon Copper’s Youth Aviation Academy at Shawnee Airport. He comes every year for the event and for the Home and Garden Show at Shawnee Mall with KIRC Radio.
He’s probably best known for his coverage of the May 3rd tornado in 1999 and the El Reno tornado in 2006 that won him international recognition and numerous awards. He started out in Los Angeles, reporting on the L.A. riots and even the O.J. Simpson chase.
Gardner grew up on a ranch in Oklahoma and moved to Los Angeles in 1983 with his first wife who was chasing a singing career. After he got his pilot’s license he landed a flight job shuttling movie stars around for film work. “I was very fortunate to work for the company I was with in L.A. They were a great group of people who taught me a lot and gave me a lot of experience. I worked my way up and got a contract with K-CAL as the morning pilot. It was tough at first.”
Gardner found himself flying a reporter around an area with as many as ten to fifteen pilots and sometimes more. “During the L.A. riots we were flying at 2 a.m. with as many as thirty five helicopters in the valley. We never had any problems though,” said Gardner. “Everyone was very professional and we had a helicopter frequency that lets everyone know where you are.”
It wasn’t until his cameraman suggested he try his hand at reporting that he decided to give it a shot but something else provoked him too. When the helicopter reporter Rob Marshall smugly informed Gardner, “You could never do what I do…there’s only a few people who can do this,” it was time to take on the challenge. “I thought, ‘okay if you want to think that,’ but I’m the kind of the guy that when someone throws me a challenge, I’m going to take it. So after I did about four or five reports, they were like ‘why do we have this Rob Marshal guy when we can just have Jim talk?’ That’s how I got started.”
The first time he covered a story his cameraman was silent in the back. “I thought I must have really messed up but he said, ‘Honestly man, I thought you were going to fall flat on your face but that was awesome!’”
He also wasn’t afraid to ask for pointers. “I’m a firm believer that I’m never too big to ask questions or get advice. So I would call the anchors and they were really nice. One of the anchors made 13 million a year and you’d think they wouldn’t give you the time of day but they were great. They gave me a lot of encouragement.”
Fifteen years of fires, mudslides, floods and dodging gunfire in high speed chases eventually became enough excitement for Gardner who decided to come back home in 1996. “It was divine intervention. I made two phone calls and the second one landed me a job at News Channel Four and it’s been great.”
Helicopter reporting in Oklahoma proved to be far less stressful. “They asked me about storm chasing and if I was okay with that. I laughed and said, ‘well storms don’t shoot back!’ We’ve only got three helicopters in the city, two at the time. It’s a lot more laid back,” said Gardner.
It also leaves him time to invest into kids who love the helicopter. He often speaks at schools about the value of education, believing in yourself and pursuing your dreams in spite of obstacles. “I tell kids in school, ‘don’t ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. If you want to do it bad enough, you can do it.’ For me, it took me longer to get my pilot’s license than it did everyone else but I kept after it.”
His story made a difference to a boy struggling with reading. “I was talking to a third grade class about reading and when I asked them if they like to read, one little boy said no. I went up to him afterwards and asked him why. ‘Everybody makes fun of me because I read slow.’ I told him my son read slow too and if you want to do it then you can do it. The teacher called me back and said, ‘ever since you talked to him he’s been reading like crazy.’ Something like that is the greatest thing in the world. No matter what stories I cover that I may think are a big deal compares to having an effect on a kid’s life.”
That’s saying a lot for someone who’s won five Emmy awards, six Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters awards and two Pilot of the Year awards. His coverage of the May 3rd put him runner up for the Pilot of the Year Award from the Helicopter Association International (HAI). The following year he got a call from HAI. “In 1999 they gave it to a search and rescue crew in Australia but I was honored to be nominated. Then a year later they called me and said, ‘the board of directors saw your coverage of the May 3rd tornado and what you did was so impressive they decided to carry your nomination over to this year. It’s the first time in history HAI has done that and you’ve won.’” Bell Helicopters also awarded him their Pilot of the Year award.
In 2006 he and his cameraman, Dan Anderson received a National Emmy in New York for the El Reno tornado coverage, beating out Katie Couric and members of CNN’s newscast. “I guess they have to do this stuff,” said Gardner with modesty. “But that’s not why I fly and like I tell anyone, I just do the best job I can.”
From a struggling pilot to an award winning success, the experiences he gained made him the quick thinking, cool headed reporter he is today. His accomplishments are a reflection on Oklahoma talent and hard work. Oklahoma is lucky to have him back.

by: Mindy Wood

A few competitive cheerleaders from Shawnee and surrounding areas have a lot to be proud of. Last January and February, the team at Victory Elite Cheer’s All Star gym took the NSA National Championship in Tulsa and the ASC Nationals in Oklahoma City by storm as they matched their talents against girls whose teams outnumbered their own and whose experience they thought they were no match for.
As it turns out, they were up to the challenge. Because the team has one member who fits into the senior age bracket, the team was forced to compete on the senior level against girls who were older and enjoyed more experience. To make it even tougher, their own team has only ten girls but they were facing off with teams of at least fifteen to twenty girls. With fewer girls to a team, it can be more difficult to demonstrate strength, skills, and impress judges.
Victory Elite Cheer owner and head coach, Allyson Moore says she taught them to keep it all in perspective. “I told them they had to focus on themselves, not anything else. They tuned into what they were supposed to do and they did really well. They were freaking out a little when they saw those girls but I reminded them that they were competing against their score card.”
The judges kept it in perspective as well, sending them back with six titles in the Mini Division National Championship. Emerson Newell, who placed first in Best Cheerleader, also won first with Bailey McIntosh in the Duo Mini Division. McIntosh also took first place in Best Tumbler and second place in Best Cheer. Darion Rhodd and Harper Morris scored first in Best Jump Junior and Youth Division, respectively. Miranda Maltos won first place in Youth Best Cheerleader.
At the ASC, their team won second place in the Level Two Small Senior and a half paid bid to compete at the 2010 International All-Level Worlds Championship. That makes them the first gym in a 65 mile radius to win a bid that allows them to compete on a world scale. “They won runners up, losing first place by only half a point. Given the division we were in and the number of girls we had, I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Moore.
Last November, the girls qualified for a bid to compete at Las Vegas for American Cheer Power’s “Nations Best Individual Nationals.” Each girl will compete for the chance to win a $5,000 scholarship and an appearance on the cover of American Cheerleader Magazine. “This is the huge nationals competition that girls work for to attend at the end of the season. You have to win a bid to be eligible to qualify in order to go to Vegas,” said Moore.
Moore says their recent win is that much sweeter because of where the girls started less than a year ago. “Last year it was tough. As far as their skill levels go, we couldn’t even do preps. Less than a year later they’re doing straight up extensions and skills like their leg positions in the air show that they’ve come up two levels in one year. They’re very dedicated and for them to start out where they did and score what they have, I’m so proud of them.”
Allyson Moore has spent sixteen years in competitive cheer and eight years coaching. Moore is from Holdenville and says she saw the need to for an all star gym in Shawnee that offered both recreation and competitive cheer. “Shawnee is where I’ve always wanted to be, I just love it. I have a lot of people I know here and I could see that the Shawnee needed this.” Moore also continues to train and compete herself in the Open Six, the highest level offered in Cheerleading and is an OSU National Competition Cheerleader.

by: Mindy Wood

While not every day can be Christmas, to adopted children and their parents, many days must feel like this traditional gift-giving holiday. Adoption is a year-round gift experienced by both the children and the parents involved.
Howtoadopt.org says that 20,000 or more U.S.-based infants are placed for adoption each year. The number is often higher in many other countries. While the specific reasons for placing a child for adoption are varied, the Web site says that lack of resources and support are the greatest contributors to the decision to seek out a better life for a child.
The Web site showhope.org states that every 18 seconds another child becomes an orphan somewhere in the world. This site explains that a child who experiences the sickness and death of a parent is just surviving the first of many tragedies ahead. In many cases, adoption may be the only hope these children have for a healthy, productive future.
Shawnee residents Sydney and Paul Gore know how life-changing adoption can be. The Gores moved from Edmond to Shawnee two years ago when Paul accepted the pastorship at Aydelotte Baptist Church. Sydney is a homemaker and proud mom to five-and-a-half year old Kate, two-year old Solome (pronounced solo-may) Noel and seven-month old Isaiah Natnael. Solome means “peace” and Natnael means “gift from God” in Amharic, a Semitic language spoken by the Amhara in north central Ethiopia.
Kate joined the family through from Russia in 2005 and the Gores decided to adopt again in 2007. At that time, they planned to adopt a child from central Asia, but the process stalled. Realizing God had other plans, they eventually chose to adopt a child from Ethiopia. Finally, in January of this year, Solome joined the family followed shortly by Isaiah who came home in February.
The couple explained that many factors help potential parents make the decision to adopt. They admit that the process is different for each family, but for them, it was about the gospel.
“Jesus Christ is God’s only Son but through faith in Him we can become God’s adopted sons and daughters. So the amazing truth that we have been adopted into God’s family motivates us to adopt children into ours. Even families who aren’t led to adopt are motivated by this truth to support adoption and orphan care in the world,” Paul shared.
The Gores have had very positive adoption experiences. They believe every family should at least consider adoption. A family thinking about such a step must decide between domestic or international adoption. One reason the Gores felt guided to international adoption was through the experience of serving at an orphanage overseas during their own teenage years.
“We encourage couples to think carefully about whether domestic or international adoption is right for them. In the end, whether families adopt in the U.S. or elsewhere, children are children and they all need loving homes,” Paul said.
The Gores explained that adoption requires commitment. Time, paperwork, financial responsibilities, answering personal questions and travel may be required, depending upon the situation. They added that adopting a child of a different ethnicity may require “extra courage” due to what they see as mixed feelings in the media regarding multi-ethnic adoption. They hope their family will serve as an example of just one of many success stories.
“One of the things we celebrate as a family is how God brought us together through the blessing of adoption,” Sydney said.
The Gores noted several differences in what an orphan in the United States might experience versus how those in Africa live. While a child in our country is placed in foster care until he is adopted or “ages-out” of the system, children in Africa are placed into orphanages. The Gores said these children receive few educational opportunities and are released from the system as teenagers with little to no support.
During their own trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capitol, they observed contrasts in the population. They saw tall, modern buildings and also shanty-style structures covered by tarps. Some people talked on cell phones as they walked down the street and others led donkeys or goats. While differences existed in the city, something that was consistent at the two orphanages they visited was the great care given by the nannies and the active and friendly nature of the children. The couple said obvious needs included clothing, medicine and attention.
Ultimately, the Gores believe that children with parents have a better chance in life.
“We wish for others to know that adoption is not second best or a last resort; it is a wonderful and viable way to create or build a family. There is a stigma associated with adoption that shouldn’t exist. Instead, adoption should be celebrated by the community and supported whenever possible.”

by: Denise Quinalty

Randy Booker’s warm smile and kind demeanor are a welcome sight in a world troubled by worry and sorrow. His mirthful eyes and thankful attitude would lead anyone to believe he’s lived a quiet and carefree life but nothing could be further from the truth. Randy Booker has experienced more than his fair share of grief and loss but he’s never let it get him down. In fact, this survivor is grateful to be alive and tells his inspiring story to anyone who will listen.
Tragedy touched Randy’s life at thirteen when he lost his father to a horrific car accident. Blinded by trees, they hit a truck on their way to a fishing trip. Randy was thrown through the front windshield and back before landing on the tail gate. An 88 year old man drove up and pulled Randy’s burning body from the car to safety. His father and his dad’s friend died.
The doctors didn’t expect Randy to live. He suffered a concussion, required 300 stitches and sustained severe burns on his back, arms and stomach. Young Randy held on and survived eight surgeries in two months. To everyone’s amazement, he made a miraculous recovery.
Missing his father’s funeral was tough but he says there was some closure to the accident when he got a chance to meet the man who saved his life. “He was a small, frail black gentleman and I just thanked him but I didn’t shake his hand, I embraced him like I’d known him all my life and we just cried. Two months later he died. If the Lord hadn’t sent him when He did, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Randy.
Randy says his grief didn’t embitter him. “I never blamed anyone. A lot of people blame God but I didn’t. I never wondered if I did something wrong. Accidents happen.”
Randy’s trials were far from over as he would face death four more times. In 1974 he nearly drowned when his friends asked him to retrieve some water skis on the lake. Although he couldn’t swim, he bravely trusted a life jacket. It failed, somehow getting over his head and kept him struggling for the surface. They heard him half way across the lake but by the time they reached him he was already on the shore, passed out. To this day, no one knows how he managed wash up alive.
Again 1984 he was on a lake with his girlfriend and her son. The boy’s arm floats blew onto the water. Although he was only knee deep, Randy ran after it and underestimating the speed of the wind and how quickly a lake floor can drop off, he plunged into deep water. He panicked and nearly drowned again. Once more, a man drove up and saved his life.
In 1989 he lost his brother and admits he was emotionally exhausted, still scarred from the trauma of his father’s death. His mother, whose strong faith and moral support was like a rock in his life, was slowly dying with Alzheimer’s. For the first time in his life she couldn’t help him cope. She died in 2001.
Life was about to get worse for Randy Booker. In January of 2002 his doctor diagnosed him with mitral valve failure, a condition affecting the hearts ability to pump blood. It was far worse than that. “When they did an ultrasound they found my blood was backing up into my lungs. Two weeks later they did open heart surgery. The surgeon told me I was within hours or days of going into congestive heart failure. He said, ‘you do not know how fortunate you are.’”
Although he was glad to be alive, Randy had to face changes in his life. “I was a marathon runner and active in sports like kickboxing, baseball, basketball and I had to give it up. Taking blood thinners meant that I could bleed to death and die if I fell and no one would know it.”
In December of that same year, Randy suffered another setback. He had a stroke and doctors warned he could no longer work as more would inevitably occur. Another stroke followed three years later. It was so massive doctors were puzzled that he lived through it and warned that he faced two years of recovery, with little hope of walking or regaining his speech.
It wasn’t the first time Booker was faced with a long recovery. But he admitted he did wonder at times, ‘what next?’ He says looking back, God made sure there were people along the way to encourage him and strengthen his faith. When discouragement and hopelessness crowded his mind, he says he had to make a decision. “A lot of people get to the point where they quit fighting and give up. I couldn’t. I decided I wasn’t going to give up. I was thankful and blessed to be alive.”
Booker not only regained his speech, but today he walks more than five miles a day and enjoys a very simple life. He is well known to downtown merchants as the ‘Mint Man’ because he carries mints with him everywhere he goes and a story he tells to anyone who will listen. “I don’t know why but I started doing that a few years ago. I give a mint to anyone who wants one and if my story will inspire someone and encourage them that anything is possible with God, I tell it.”
Randy says he takes life a day at a time, always hoping to make to brighten someone else’s life. “When people ask me why I smile all the time, I tell them the joy of the Lord is my strength. It’s to the point now where people will ask me to pray for them. It makes my day to think maybe I’m making a difference.”
Randy enjoys attending church, visiting with friends and outdoor drama. He learned that though life simple, it is precious and he’s thankful for every moment of it.

by: Mindy Wood

He was supposed to be on vacation. Colonel Dr. Michael Dye recently retired from the military and had just settled east of Shawnee where he was waiting to start as SMCC’s newest orthopedic surgeon when the tragedy of Haiti’s quake shook the world.
When massive devastation hits a disadvantaged country, the needs are endless. There was only one thing for Dr. Dye to do. “The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons put out a call for volunteers because there’s such a big need for orthopedic surgeons after a disaster like that. So I put my name in the hat and let them know I was available.” His trip Haiti would mean conflict with his pending schedule at SMCC, so he requested permission to postpone his first day of work. CEO, Jeff Griffith and the executive staff were thrilled and agreed to let him start upon his return.
“Next thing I know, I got an email from someone in Marquette, Michigan looking to put a team together including a family practice doctor, hand specialist, an ICU nurse, psychologist and an orthopedic surgeon with trauma experience.”
Dr. Dye knows all about trauma and making the best out of a bad situation from his experience in the USAF when he travelled with U.S. Special Forces, performing surgery quickly in tight places. As the first commander of the new Expeditionary Medical Flight for the 16th Medical Group in Hulbert, Florida, he created and deployed the first Special Operations Surgical Teams and Special Operations Critical Care Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. “The USAF designed a very compact surgical unit where we could carry everything we needed to perform surgery in backpacks, very small defibulators, very small anesthesia units. With just five of us we could do surgery in a building of opportunity anywhere. We could sustain up to five major casualties or twenty minor casualties for up to seventy-two hours then fly them out to another area,” said Dye. “They could literally throw us in the back of a Blackhawk helicopter, put us down anywhere and we could set up an O.R.”
That experience proved useful in Haiti where resources are limited and conditions are crude. When they arrived in the town of Les Cayes, a city where refugees from Port Au Prince fled, they began operating at the local hospital that day. “If you go in an inner city hospital, it’s a lot like what you see in a third world country only a lot less resources and a lot more hectic atmosphere. There were flies in the operating room. The operating rooms had glass blocked windows in the back which provided most of the light since only one bulb out of eight in the O.R. lamp was working. We used our LED head lamps and that was really helpful.”
The people in Les Cayes flooded the hospital mostly with broken bones and fractures, usually thigh and shin bones with a few c-sections in between. The town was the end of the road for people coming from Port Au Prince. For one week Dr. Dye and the team from Michigan worked long hours at the hospital providing care to a multitude of patients. “The hospital was overflowing; people were on mats on the floor in the hallways.”
Dr. Dye said he marveled at how the people managed in such conditions. “For two weeks they’re sitting there with broken or fractured femurs, waiting with no pain medicine but they were so stoic, so quiet,” said Dye. “They would moan when you moved them but they are very tough people. The other thing that amazed me were these patients who had nothing but they were clean because their family bathed them, cooked for them, changed their clothes and did whatever they needed. They were very well cared for by their families. They’ve very nice people and it was great to see that they cared so much.”
These nice people had terrible stories to tell. “The stories from Port Au Prince were heart rending and our psychologist really saw more of that than we did. Basically if you see the construction there they build for hurricanes, not earthquakes. Loose cinderblock construction with big concrete slabs on top and for walls means that when the earthquake hits, the slabs come down like a stack of dominoes. People are crushed beneath it. We heard stories of people whose arms and legs could be seen sticking out of collapsed buildings.” The psychologist worked with Haitians to deal with the tragedy and loss they experienced.
While in Les Cayes, the team also reached out to refugees living in “tent cities” where people found temporary shelter. They provided sleeping mats, diapers and formula for the makeshift orphanage where children awaited a reunion with parents or people who would care for them. “The guy that flew us in was going back and forth brining in supplies for the people,” said Dye.
The efforts that Dr. Dye and the Michigan team made were continued by a team from Maine. “It was great because we could show them what we were doing and hand off our patients to them. They were going to be there another week after we left so at least there was some continuity.”
As the reports of Haiti’s losses continued, Dr. Dye said that help was pouring in steadily. “Everyone was showing up and trying to see what they could do to help. There are 180 orthopedic surgeons who gave up their time to help and 500 hundred more who volunteered and are waiting to go, plus all the donations coming in. It’s nice to see that kind of outpouring and it was rewarding to be a part of it.”
As to giving up his vacation time before beginning his practice, Dr. Dye doesn’t have any regrets. “I’m glad I got to do it. It was interesting and I think we did some good.”

by: Mindy Wood

If you picture Shawnee’s Senior Citizen Center like a nursing home, you’ve got the wrong idea. They may be elderly and retired from work but these young-at-heart Shawnee residents are very productive and full of life. Music, laughter and energy fill the atmosphere where friends gather to dance, play games, and volunteer their time for a host of good causes.
In fact, a lot of people under 50, the entry level age at SSC, can’t wait until they’re “of age” to join the fun loving crew. Director Kate Joyce said, “The number of people retiring earlier in life is rising. According to AARP the average age is 50 so that’s why the senior center entry is that age. We have people who get excited when they get to join. It’s a fun place to learn things and find things to do.”
What’s all the shouting about? Participants gather to shoot a game of pool, play cards, make quilts, or even enjoy wood crafting. One of the most popular, and most therapeutic, activities is dancing. Twice a week two different bands play country and western music. Senior citizens flock to the event and a few even leave their walkers and wheel chairs to cut a rug with their friends. “Having a place to dance gives them an opportunity to meet new people or bring friends with them and enjoy something everyone likes anyway: dancing and listening to music.”
According to some experts, dancing provides seniors who may experience loneliness and isolation a chance to reconnect with people. Touch eases the feelings of loneliness and the exercise is beneficial as well. Twice a week senior citizens take advantage of another exercise called Tai Chi. “The type of Tai Chi we use was recommended to us by the Safe Communities Program because the movements strengthen the muscles that prevent people from falling,” said Joyce.
The ‘Cowboys, Indians, and Outlaws’ are a group of seniors who enjoy wood carving on Tuesdays and the house is usually packed with participants at varying skill levels. “Some have been wood carving for 20 or 30 years and those who are skilled will show the new people who want to learn. They start out carving soap and move onto soft wood, then hard wood. Chief Jerry Haney, of the Seminole Nation, participates and when people ask questions he’ll share with them. They’re there for four or five hours and turn out some beautiful work. It’s a very active class and they’re so funny,” said Joyce.
Making a difference in their community is also something rewarding that participants share. Whether they teach a class, volunteer in their churches or simply answer the phones at the center, they love investing into others. “Even if it doesn’t seem like a lot, they do it and they do it religiously. We have the ‘Adopt-a-Unit’ program where they make ‘cool collars’ for soldiers predominantly now in Afghanistan and some in Iraq. They send portable food, hygiene items and games to provide some care from home. We’ve been doing that for four years.” The Corbett Story Band has volunteered for twenty years and the duo, Tom and Eulene Cook for several years have also provided music for dances at the center.
The senior center plays an important role in improving participant’s quality of life and longevity after significant life changes like retirement or the loss of a spouse. “It’s difficult for a lot of people after retirement and there are a lot of people who simply die.” Joyce said they’ve seen several people come in with signs of withdrawal and depression and in a few weeks or months, their countenance is much brighter when they come through the doors. “It gives them things to look forward to. They begin to make plans on their own to do things and they know there are people looking forward to seeing them outside their own home or outside family members. ”
The senior center staff and participants become like family. “The seniors who come have so much fun and they come at specific times of the day, so we’re a part of their schedule and we get to be a part of their family. They bring their kids or grandchildren down and they dance with them or go play dominoes or cards with them.”
Their motto, “Where Age is Just a Number” suits this active crowd of people who are truly young at heart. For more information, visit www.shawneeseniors.org.

by: Mindy Wood

If you’re one of those people who start a fitness program every time the newest infomercial flashes across the screen then you know its one thing to start something and another to finish it. Making a life change isn’t easy but as our contestants are finding out, it’s definitely worth every ounce of effort. Overcoming obstacles from the inside out, their hard work is paying off.
Since contestants aren’t allowed to weigh for the first half of the contest, they showed up nervously for their first team challenge where trainers would weigh them to determine their progress. With contestants losing an average of at 12lbs each and a tie for the first team challenge, it was an exciting night. Tina Falcon lost the most weight at 19.2 lbs in just four weeks. Team Black shed 12 lbs more than Team Red but no one really cared. Everyone clapped and cheered for each other, no matter what team they were on.
In fact, the teams seem to be color blind. Kendra Spicer, Tina Falcon, and Nikki Redding from Team Black joined with Jennifer McAlister from Team Red to run the Hope for Haiti 5k in Oklahoma City last month. Tina Falcon broke the ice, “Jennifer said, ‘well you guys are on Team Black so I should get out of the picture,’ and I said no way. We’re all a team. So we rode together and had a blast doing this. Kendra said, ‘I want to see everyone succeed just as much as I want to see Tina or Nikki.’”
While camaraderie and sportsmanship thrive, some found themselves discouraged. By week five in the program, contestants begin building more muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, the numbers on the scales don’t move as drastically as they did the first few weeks. What they don’t realize is the gradual shift in inches and body shape that isn’t measured on a scale.
Jennifer McAlister says having her trainer Robert Navarre made a big difference. “I hit my brick wall one night and let it all out,” said Jennifer McAlister. “I cried and he just encouraged me. ‘Hey the tears look like sweat and the sweat look like tears,’ he said. ‘You can do this; you’re not giving up on me now!’” And she didn’t. “Having a trainer helped me work through it because I probably would have left.”
“It can get really frustrating,” said Robert. “In that moment you just don’t want them to lose focus on all the hard work you’ve done. The results will catch up on the scales. You can’t put too much focus on that number and we talked about other results, measurements and strength that come through this.”
Some brick walls are harder than others. When Shelly Harrell discovered her husband Curtis had testicular cancer, she had to make a decision. “I feel like I have that much more of a reason to press on. My weight is like his cancer. He has to beat cancer and I have to beat this. I have to be healthy for him and my family. He was insistent from the first day they admitted him to the hospital that I would do this. It’s that much more important to me.”
Keith King says brick walls have a way of bringing out the best in him. When LaDawn Hladik urged her spin class on through the toughest moments, she said something that stuck with King. “She said if you don’t give it, your trainer can’t get it from you. The hardest part is looking inside and realizing you have more to give.”
All in all they seem to be keeping their perspective. “When you feel better, you’re more willing to do things you haven’t done before,” said King. “Summer is coming and it’s going to be more fun to take my girls to the pool. It’s a lot more about how you’re willing to treat yourself and see the possibilities of being healthy. While I used to say I was worth a candy bar or deserved those empty calories I put into my body, now I see this as my family is worth me busting my tail three or four hours a day so I have more longevity. I told myself for so long [being in shape] isn’t that big of a deal but it is.”
As to other results, Tina Falcon said, “The first team challenge we did I could only run half a lap and had to walk the rest because I couldn’t do it. The other day I ran three laps. I can see my strength and endurance coming up. I want to keep up with everyone else in the challenge but I realize the big picture is that in the long run it’s all going to benefit me. I have to keep going.”
So far everyone is still on board for the ride to a healthier lifestyle. Cheer them on and watch them sweat it out at www.shawneeloser.com where you’ll catch videos, read blogs and check out the pictures.

by: Mindy Wood

The educational staff at St. Gregory’s University brings new meaning to the philosophy of ‘No Child Left Behind.’ While elementary and high schools are making strides to meet the specific needs of students with learning disabilities or differences, most universities are playing catch up. At St. Greg’s they hope to set an example through their program, Partners in Learning.
The program begins with the student’s IEP evaluation from high school, picking up where their senior year left off. The PIL program provides academic and social or emotional support for students with a wide range of diagnoses. Students with ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, Down ’s syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and other challenges are finding success with this adaptive approach to learning. Whatever the student needs, the PIL staff looks for the solution.
What does that look like? Students who struggle with processing a lecture and taking notes simultaneously can benefit from another student’s notes or are allowed to record a professor’s lecture. Peer tutors provide better support for students, especially a tutor who has taken the same class or understands a subject extensively. Extra time for testing is also allowed. A counselor provides help for students who may find it difficult to handle college life and it’s new social stigmas.
Rosalyn Gille said history was a subject she had to approach differently. “For history I had my friend Evan tutor me. I told him it was better for me to talk about history in a conversation because that helps me remember. For me I think about information in pop culture terms or think about the funny things I learned about it and that helps me remember. I’ve learned that just because I have ADHD doesn’t mean I’m not smart, it just means I have different avenues of learning.”
PIL coordinators make themselves available to students for help obtaining services, course schedules, communication between professors and students; but even more importantly, they help students understand their learning styles and differences. Realizing their potential is something that Carl Hubbell, program director, takes very seriously. “I try to show them that a disability isn’t really a disability. We have one student whose doctor told his parents he would need help getting dressed. He’s graduating with a degree. It’s amazing.”
As an inclusion teacher for twelve years, Hubbell helped teachers modify the lessons while retaining the integrity of the material. His philosophy is to address the learning style rather than focus on the disability. “These kids can learn. I just have to find out their method of learning and then let them learn by themselves. They might not even know their learning style, so that’s what we help them with.”
Hubbell does a lot more than that. Tuesday nights he offers a class on how to study for tests, how to take a better test and how to write a better paper. Throughout the week, students come and go all day in his office where he proof reads papers. “One of the things I offer kids is to proof their papers before they turn them in. I don’t have to know anything about the topic or have the answers but I can read a paper and see if it’s well written. I let them be the authority on the subject. I let them know if it’s a paper their professor is going to like.”
Next to his office is a small study area where students can also take tests when necessary. “We have additional test taking time and they can take it in my office so they’re not looking around at everyone else thinking, ‘I’m the last one in class and everyone has gone. I’m stupid.’ If they need five hours to take a test, they get it.”
“I was a horrible test taker,” said Rosalyn. “I know the material, I study hard but when I’m testing I feel rushed in my head and empty. It’s great to come down here and take my time. I need complete quiet where no one else can be around me.”
The program results are stunning. “I’ve seen test scores go from 40’s to 90’s. I’ve seen improved writing skills, memory, better understanding. I can talk with different students about subjects they’re not familiar with and I know they understand what they’re talking about. I don’t need an evaluation to test to know that they’re learning because they’re doing it. I’ve never been so proud to be a part of program that can have a really important impact like this.
While their methods clearly work, Hubbell says the real success behind Partners in Learning rests with the students they assist. “These kids are amazingly focused. They’re always studying. They have such a drive to learn and be successful. I’ve never in my entire life seen so many students in one location that have this drive,” he said with a smile. “I tell them they make me look good, ultimately they make themselves look awesome. It’s not me. It’s them.”
While other colleges like OU and Seminole State College are implementing similar programs, St. Greg’s is definitely an example of how effective adaptive learning programs can be for students who need a little more help. For more information, contact their offices at 878-5100.

by: Mindy Wood