Enjoying the Dog Days of Summer

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July 25, 2024

Firelake Fireflight Balloon Fest — Photo courtesy Citizen Potawatomi Nation

No matter your interests, Oklahoma harbors a community event for you this month.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma Comic Con comes to the Cox Business Convention Center Aug. 10-11. And one of the city’s most anticipated events, the Blue Whale Comedy Festival, kicks off Aug. 22 with shows around downtown through the 24th. You can also venture over to Expo Square for the Tulsa Punk Rock Flea Market on Aug. 31.

In OKC, the Painting Palooza runs Aug. 11-17 at the Champion Convention Center. During the event, participants can learn art techniques from world-renowned instructors. You can also head to 300 Park Dr. for OKC Litfest, which features free workshops and gatherings of like-minded readers and writers.

Every corner of Oklahoma bustles with activities in August. Visit Gordon Cooper Dr. in Shawnee for the FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival on Aug. 9-10, or the Sequoyah State Park Lodge in Hubert for the Big Om Yoga Retreat on Aug. 9-11. Other can’t-miss events include the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival & Rodeo, Aug. 10 at Jeff Davis Park; the Will Rogers & Wiley Post Fly-in, Aug. 10 at Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch in Oologah; the Oklahoma Festival of Ballooning, Aug. 23-24 at 640 S. 40th St. in Muskogee; and Rocklahoma, Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at 1421 W. 450 Rd. in Pryor.

Photo: FireLake Fireflight Ballon Festival; photo courtesy Citizen Potawatomi Nation

Hold Onto Your Seat

By

Drew Joseph Allen

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July 25, 2024

Cuckoo courtesy Neon Rated — Cuckoo; photo courtesy Neon Rated

The heat continues to rise as we move into August, a month full of off-kilter selections. Horror, comedy and thrillers take up most of the month, so grab a pal and head to your nearest theater.

Starting the month off a little weird, we have Cuckoo. Gretchen (Hunter Schafer, Euphoria) travels to her father’s home in Germany, where she meets his immediately off-putting boss Mr. Konig (Dan Stevens, Downton Abbey). The trailer shows her working a front desk – but after hours, things start to get a little spooky. Strange noises, bloody images and everyone around her acting particularly nonchalant about the whole thing makes Gretchen realize she’s in for more than she bargained for. It hits theaters on Aug. 2.

If you want comedy, music and a little bit of Irish flare, look no further than Kneecap. Set in West Belfast, the film follows the rise of hip-hop trio Kneecap, a group that sings politically charged lyrics in both English and Irish. The actual band members will portray themselves, with supporting roles from Michael Fassbender and Simone Kirby (His Dark Materials). It was the first Irish language film to premiere at Sundance and looks to tell a fun story with light drama when it comes stateside on Aug. 2.

For a crime thriller with some big names, don’t miss The Instigators. Starring Casey Affleck and Matt Damon, the story concerns two bank robbers who must go on the run after a robbery goes awry – only they also drag their therapist (Hong Chau, Downsizing) along for the ride. Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity), who is well known for his action flicks, this has good potential for excellent late summer fare. The cast also includes Paul Walter Hauser (I, Tonya), Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me By Your Name), Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible) and Alfred Molina (Frida). It has a limited release on Aug. 2 followed by a streaming release to Apple TV+ on Aug. 9.

If you’re looking for a “could be good, could be awful” adventure, I suggest Trap. Starring Josh Hartnett as Cooper, a serial killer dubbed “The Butcher,” the plot shows him attending a concert with his daughter – only to discover the entire thing might be a trap set just to catch him. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the movie seems to have a lot going for it. However, as we’ve seen in the past, Shyamalan has a knack for blowing a great premise. Hopefully it will do better than his daughter’s film The Watchers, which was a bomb critically and financially, when it comes out on Aug. 9.

Lastly, another entry in a long running franchise hits theaters with Alien: Romulus. Set between the events of Alien and Aliens – creative names here – the story follows a group of fresh faced space colonists who come in contact with a deadly xenomorph. The trailer has plenty of chest-exploding alien attacks and will almost assuredly result with all but one human dead. Cailee Spaeny (Civil War) leads the cast directed by Fede Alvarez (Don’t Breathe) in what looks to be a fun entry to the sci-fi genre. It releases on Aug. 16.

Suzen M. Rodesney

By

Mary Willa Allen

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July 25, 2024

Suzen M. Rodesney, director of the Oklahoma Department of Mines (ODM), grew up a military brat, the daughter of an Air Force officer. She attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in accounting, and after graduation, immediately began working at the ODM. She is a self-described “lifer” – having stayed within the department for her entire professional career. She was named executive director in September 2023. We caught up with Rodesney and got her thoughts on …

… what the ODM does for Oklahomans.

The Oklahoma Department of Mines regulates the mining industry in Oklahoma, and is also charged with oversight of non-mining blasting in the state. The Department of Mines issues permits, inspects for health and safety, and sees that reclamation occurs when mining ceases.

Mining is a dangerous business, and keeping fatalities at a zero level is a priority. We can achieve this goal through regular mine site inspections and comprehensive mining training. Our Oklahoma Miner Training Institute trains and certifies miners in all levels of expertise.

Oklahomans benefit from all the products mined in Oklahoma. The Gathering Place in Tulsa had all of the rock installations and building details provided by one of Oklahoma’s permittees. The headstones in the Oklahoma National Cemetery are made of polished granite from Oklahoma. The balustrade in our state Capitol is made from alabaster found near the Alabaster Caverns State Park. All the roads and infrastructure of Oklahoma is made with Oklahoma minerals. It is over a billion dollar industry in Oklahoma.

… what drew her to the ODM.

The Department of Mines embodies one of the sources for the primary sector of our state’s economy. The extraction and production of raw materials, such as mining, has been a long-standing industry in Oklahoma, predating statehood. My great grandfather worked in the Oklahoma coal mines and died of black lung disease. I believe that any industry in Oklahoma, especially mining, which has such a long-standing generational influence, is one of which to be proud.

… her favorite part of the job.

I never thought that a task that some would consider as mundane, such as putting my signature on a permitting document, would be so important. I realize that it represents an opportunity for a business to operate a mine site in Oklahoma and provide a product used to enhance or provide infrastructure for the state.

… her proudest achievements thus far.

I believe that advocating for the agency, its staff, supporting our mission and embracing the positive influence we have on Oklahomans and the effects of mining in their immediate surroundings is a terrific accomplishment.

I am pushing for more technology, more visibility and continued excellence from my staff, and have been relaying that information to the Oklahoma legislature. I am very proud that as a woman in a heavily positioned male industry, that females are rising as leaders alongside me. Many of the Oklahoma mining companies have more female geologists, engineers and technical staff that support this face of employment. In fact, just this year, the first ever female was selected as the chair for the Oklahoma Aggregates Association.

… what she wants people to know about ODM.

There is a saying: “If it can’t be grown, it must be mined.” It has been estimated that every American will need 3.03 million pounds of minerals, metals and fuels in their lifetime. And Oklahoma mining helps meet those needs! There are over 750 mining permits in the state of Oklahoma. The products mined include gypsum, limestone, granite, shale, sand and gravel, dimensional stone, tripoli, clay and salt. There are permitted mine operations in 76 of the 77 counties in Oklahoma. Over 85 million tons of minerals were mined in Oklahoma in 2023, which was the largest recorded production. Oklahoma ranks in the top 5 states for gypsum production.

… ODM in ten years.

One of the missions for the Department of Mines is to protect the property of the state. At the Department, we take that directive seriously. Mining operations post a performance bond that is used to ensure that proper reclamation of the mined land occurs. When companies default on that responsibility, we will collect that bond, and it is used in third party contractual arrangements to get reclamation completed. We are building a reclamation team this year, to make sure that these reclamation projects are completed. I want the mined Oklahoma lands to be restored. There are several Oklahoma mining operators who really set the bar for these projects. They contain beautiful landscaping, ponds, grazing lands- you would never know that a mine sat on the property.

I would really like to continue building on the communication efforts between the agency, mining operators and Oklahomans. Making sure that everyone complies with the law is an obvious duty. The harder part is to help the public understand how mining companies operate, and the daily concerns that are faced. More and more companies are taking to heart their responsibilities to create a sustainable industry. They work on being good neighbors, implementing conservation efforts, using renewable sources of energy, and limiting waste through more reuse and recycling efforts. The Department of Mines can continue to partner with the industry to encourage these work practices.

… the more you know.

Oklahoma’s Tar Creek area, in northeastern Oklahoma, has been designated as a Superfund cleanup site due to the lead and zinc mining that occurred up until the 1970s. The Picher, Oklahoma area was officially unincorporated in 2013, and since 2019, the EPA has designated funding for the cleanup of the area. These lead and zinc mines were the nation’s largest, producing over $20 billion of ore between 1917 and 1947. The lead and zinc needed for World War I and II efforts were produced in these mines.

The Tornado Capital of the World

By

Carol Mowdy Bond

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June 25, 2024

53724465640_187df1b6a4_o — The Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross offers speedy and comprehensive assistance to victims of severe storms and tornadoes. Photos courtesy the American Red Cross

At the end of May, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that Oklahomans endured a record-breaking tornado season this year with 95 tornadoes, and numbers are still rising. That’s over double the average total from January through May (41). April’s 2012 record of 54 twisters was broken with 55 this year.

Tornadoes, violently rotating columns of air touching the ground, usually attach themselves to the base of a thunderstorm. This weather phenomenon, which can happen in any month but is most common in the spring and summer, can propel semi-trucks through the air, flatten structures and create deadly flying debris. One of eight “Tornado Alley” states, Oklahomans see an average of 13 cyclones in April and 37 in May, which are the state’s peak months.

Assessing the Damage

Implemented in 2007, the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) describes the strength of a tornado based on the amount of damage caused. An EF-0 weighs in at light damage (40-72 mph), with an EF-5 packing over 200 mile-per-hour winds.

2024 is the first time in 11 years that two EF-4+ tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma. In fact, it was also 11 years ago that USA Today dubbed Oklahoma as the Tornado Capital of the World, with the most tornadoes per square mile on Earth.

Apparently, Okies can blame all that cellar (or cramped closet) time on meteorology, timing, topography and geography.

Tornadoes pack a punch on densely populated areas as well as farmland, impacting food production and grocery store prices. To rectify this, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers disaster assistance programs to farmers and ranchers to help restore crops, land, infrastructure, deal with excess livestock losses and damages, and obtain money for food and grazing losses.

This year, Gov. Kevin Stitt also signed bills to fund statewide rebuilding efforts due to tornado damage. The new laws create a revolving fund to pay for recent and future emergency and disaster rebuilding needs, and went into effect immediately.

$45 million seeds the relief program, with funding for infrastructure repair, temporary housing and shelter, matching federal relief programs and filling lost revenue gaps.

A Helping Hand

The American Red Cross and other nonprofits like it spend millions of dollars annually to help with disaster relief, financing meals, shelter, blankets, cots, emotional support, health services, spiritual care, financial assistance, relief supplies, disaster relief vehicles, warehouse space, staff, volunteer travel and technology expenses. In states hit by this spring’s storms, the Red Cross provided non-stop help to thousands, including launching 70 disaster relief operations and distributing tens of thousands of supplies and ready-to-eat meals in 25+ states.

On the heels of the deadly late May storms in northeastern Oklahoma, the Red Cross responded quickly.

“We make it a point to have a shelter open as soon as we can after storms come through, because we know that what people need first is a safe place to stay,” says Matt Trotter, the regional director of the Red Cross serving Kansas and Oklahoma.

In Claremore alone, the nonprofit helped hundreds, serving 6,500 meals, providing nearly 30 overnight shelter stays and passing out critical relief items.

The Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross offers speedy and comprehensive assistance to victims of severe storms and tornadoes. Photos courtesy the American Red Cross

The Red Cross of Oklahoma’s hundreds of volunteers work alongside other disaster relief specialists, providing help to Oklahoma through its four chapters. Their reunification programs also help people contact and locate loved ones in disaster areas.

Law enforcement sometimes closes disaster areas such that outsiders cannot enter, so racing in to help isn’t always a smart or safe idea. Instead, anyone may volunteer by applying at redcross.org/volunteer, give blood and present financial donations.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) maintains the State Emergency Operations Center, which serves as Oklahoma’s command center for reporting emergencies and coordinating response activities. The OEM provides delivery of state and federal aid to those affected by catastrophic events in any Oklahoma location. In the spring, the OEM maintained contact with statewide emergency managers and coordinated efforts with numerous entities including the Red Cross.

“Coordinated through the OEM, the Oklahoma National Guard (OKNG) provides a wide range of support as needed and requested,” says Col. Shane Riley, director of OKNG’s military support. “Most recently, the OKNG supported the response to tornadoes in Sulfur (EF-3) and Barnsdall with liaison and planning support, as well as search and rescue and heavy equipment operators for warehouse support.”

Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human services information may dial 2-1-1, 24-hours a day, or dial 9-1-1 for emergencies only.

Preparing for a Tornado

Preparing for a tornado means planning far in advance. It’s also helpful to know the difference between tornado watches and warnings; the first urges people to stay alert, while the second indicates that a tornado has been spotted in the area and to take cover immediately. Learn about safe shelter locations and what to do if you are caught outside or in your car.

The OEM suggests an emergency plan and a disaster supply kit containing items including food and water for up to five days, a first aid kit, flashlight and batteries. A battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm should be part of the information system.

Go to redcross.org to learn how to prepare a tornado plan, assemble a disaster supplies kit, and learn what to do before, during and after a tornado.

A Novel Approach

By

Sharla Bardin

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June 25, 2024

Jenks East Elementary School Tulsa OK Library unveiling August 2018 4 (1) — In Oklahoma alone, there are 410 registered Little Free Libraries, appealing to children and adults alike. Photos courtesy Little Free Library

Gregory Yankey created a little library on his front lawn to encourage readers, highlight his hobby and foster fellowship in the neighborhood.

The bookshelf, built to resemble a train caboose, also helps him share a love of reading with others. He places books on the shelf that kids and adults are encouraged to pick up and read for free.

“I’ve always wanted to put a library in my front yard,” he says. “I think it just made it a more welcoming place.”

Yankey’s library is part of the Little Free Library organization. The nonprofit uses a network of volunteer-led book-exchange boxes to give people free access to literature of all kinds. The effort aims to expand access to reading and build community bonds. These libraries are also having a big impact; they’re now found throughout the United States and in 121 countries.

Oklahoma has 410 registered Little Free Libraries that appear on the organization’s world map on its website, says Margret Aldrich, director of communications with the Minnesota-based nonprofit.

Aldrich believes the sense of connection within communities is one of the reasons for the program’s universal appeal.

“Little Free Libraries offer a simple but powerful way to build community, share your love of reading and provide access to books to inspire others,” she says.

Yankey mentions that his library, named the Owasso Yankey Garden Railroad Library, was a way to combine a few of his interests – as he’s a teacher, woodworker and train enthusiast.

The little library also complements the rest of his train-themed yard, which includes space to run a model train and locomotive-themed planter boxes. His library is 4 feet wide and 16 inches high, “so it can hold quite a few books,” he says.

Yankey, who opened the library last fall, says kids enjoy the spectacle, and he often sees visitors stop by to check it out. One of his reasons for wanting the library was to promote conversations among neighbors.

“I want to see a society where people are not glued to their electronic devices, and they’re out talking to one another, interacting and being neighborly,” he says. “And I want my home to be a welcoming place to others.”

Rachael Laib, another Little Free Library volunteer, says encouraging community interactions also was a reason she wanted to install her library in Moore nearly seven years ago.

“The vision was to get people out in the community and walking around,” she says.

Laib’s library includes a variety of children’s books, self-help books and new releases. She also promotes the library through her Facebook page, Old Town Little Free Library.

“I think it’s just encouraging people to consider others and to share the joy of reading,” she says.

Amberly Shroyer of Norman is in the process of creating her own small library. The 11-year-old calls it “Amberly’s Magical Bookshelf,” and her prototype design features fairies and flowers. Amberly plans to include a QR code where recipients can fill out a form to share the books and authors that interest them. She mentions that one of her long-term goals is to start a reading program in the community.

“I hope it develops to where I can read to people and teach people how to read,” she says.

About Little Free Libraries

There are more than 175,000 registered, volunteer-led Little Free Libraries around the world, with 50 states and 121 countries served.

To find one in your area or to create your own, visit littlefreelibrary.org.

Expanding Access, Saving Lives

By

Carol Mowdy Bond

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June 25, 2024

COM-CN Exterior — Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation is the first physician training program on a Native American reservation and in affiliation with a tribal government. Twenty-five percent of the inaugural graduating class matched with rural or tribal residency programs. Photos courtesy OSU-COM at Cherokee Nation

Healthcare challenges impact all 77 Oklahoma counties, but disparities are larger and more prevalent in rural areas. Issues range from general access to a clinic to the lack of long-term care options and a shortage of emergency medicine services and physicians.

According to the 2022 U.S. Census, 1,294,542 people were living in non-metropolitan areas in 59 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. This rounds to about 32.6% of the state’s population. At this time, rural Oklahomans only had access to 39 critical access hospitals, 131 rural health clinics, 118 federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and 41 short-term/prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals. (Both PPS and FQHC serve underserved areas or populations.)

Additionally, 2022 Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Office of Primary Care data shows nine Oklahoma counties with shortages of providers for the entire population of the service area. Approximately 64 counties showed a shortage of providers available to the population in the service area with incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

While these numbers are alarming, the OSDH and area partners are working to make a change.

“The OSDH engages local health systems to establish partnerships to advance the agency’s mission to protect and promote health and cultivate conditions by which Oklahomans can thrive,” says Erica Rankin-Riley, the public information officer for the OSDH’s office of communications. “Oklahoma’s rural residents face significant barriers to accessing primary, dental and mental healthcare.”

Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation is the first physician training program on a Native American reservation and in affiliation with a tribal government. Twenty-five percent of the inaugural graduating class matched with rural or tribal residency programs. Photos courtesy OSU-COM at Cherokee Nation

Besides the healthcare provider shortage, other challenges include transportation, distance, financial means, language barriers, health literacy, privacy and trust.

“As an extension of county health departments, Mobile Wellness Units help fill healthcare gaps in rural areas,” says Rankin-Riley. “Regional county health department engagement teams work with existing healthcare providers to partner and provide access to primary and preventive services in statewide communities.”

Another agency in the fight for healthcare access is the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health (OORH), which coordinates, plans and promotes healthcare for underserved, rural Oklahomans. Working with rural communities to ensure their healthcare infrastructure is economically viable, the OORH broadens and improves access and quality. The effort revolves around three areas: stabilizing rural hospital finances, increasing access to quality care, and educating the public and policy makers about the importance and unique nature of rural health.

Addressing the lack of medical professionals in rural areas, the Oklahoma Workforce Training Commission establishes and administers programs and services to support and increase healthcare availability in rural locations. In tandem with partners including the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, a new program was implemented to forgive student loans for new medical professionals who work in rural communities.

The Future of Rural Medicine

This past May, Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation graduated its inaugural class of doctors from a first-of-its-kind medical school. Opened in 2020, the campus is located in the heart of Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, and is the first physician training program on a Native American reservation and in affiliation with a tribal government.

About 35% of the inaugural class matched with rural or tribal residency programs, and during their rotations, students encountered patients suffering challenges related to living in rural areas. OSU’s partnership with the Cherokee Nation emphasizes serving and improving health outcomes for both Indigenous and rural areas, and builds a sustainable pipeline for rural and underserved Oklahomans.

“A child growing up in northeast Oklahoma no longer has to leave this region to pursue their dreams of becoming a doctor,” says OSU president Kayse Shrum, D.O. “They can attend medical school, complete their residency training and practice medicine, all in the rural community of Tahlequah and under the auspices of OSU Medicine and the Cherokee Nation.”

Patriotism Abounds

By

Drew Joseph Allen

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June 25, 2024

Parade31 — LibertyFest, Edmond Photos by Eriech Tapia

The Fourth of July, arguably Americans’ favorite holiday, offers Oklahomans plenty of ways to celebrate. So grab your family, your lawn chairs, your appetite and the most patriotic, red-white-and-blue outfit in your closet and head out to any of the following get-togethers to enjoy the day.

LibertyFest

Citywide, Edmond
Through July 4

LibertyFest’s festivities are vast, with some starting as early as June 27 and running through the holiday.

Supporting the Edmond Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee, the Liberty Sprint 5K and 1-mile fun run is a highlight of the festivities.

“This year, we have completely redone the Liberty Sprint to make it a timed competition,” says Eriech Tapia, director of communications for the festival. “Outside of the Liberty Sprint, we will continue the LibertyFest Parade and fireworks, along with many other family fun events including a car show, concert in the park, rodeo and patriotic radio show,” he says.

The entire festival is put together by volunteers, and has been an Edmond tradition since 1972.

“We work all year on the many events we bring to the community and have a great team of dedicated volunteers,” says Tapia. Barring the radio show and rodeo, most events are free of charge.

Folds of Honor FreedomFest

Tulsa River Parks
July 4

Located at the expansive River Parks trail system in Tulsa, FreedomFest is one of the largest firework displays in the area.

“This year’s events will feature family friendly activities on both sides of the Arkansas River at River West Festival Park and Dream Keepers Park, beginning at 6 p.m.,” says Tonja Carrigg, the director of community relations for River Parks Authority.

The show will be broadcast live on News on 6 and the Tulsa CW.

“New in 2024 is live Monster Energy BMX shows, as well as live music and DJs to keep the party going until the fireworks launch,” says Carrigg. Entry is free.

Yukon’s Freedom Fest

Chisholm Trail Park and City Park, Yukon
July 3-4

Activities for Yukon’s Freedom Fest happen on both July 3 and 4 this year, with plenty of offerings for the entire family.

“This year at Yukon’s Freedom Fest, guests can look forward to the cherished traditions along with exciting new additions,” says Jenna Roberson, the public information officer for the City of Yukon. “The festival’s agenda includes several free live outdoor concerts, food trucks, contests, kids’ activities and more.”

The fireworks begin at 10 p.m. both evenings.

“Bring your family, lawn chairs or blankets, and enjoy the celebrations,” says Roberson.

Admission is free.

Celebration in the Heartland

Happy Tails Dog Park, Moore
July 4

Celebration in the Heartland is marked by a giant fireworks show timed with live music. You can also enjoy food trucks, vendors and activities throughout the day. Live music includes G4 Guitar School, The Broadcasters, and the Jason Young Band.

“Moore Parks and Recreation Department puts on the festival every year,” says Teresa Smith, a marketing specialist for the City of Moore. “The fireworks show is about twenty minutes and is one of the largest shows in the state.” Entry to the park is free.

Other Events to Visit

All events are on Independence Day unless otherwise listed

Blanchard’s Indepedence Celebration
July 2 • Hwy. 62 & N.E. Tenth St., Blanchard
Vinita Fireworks Show
July 2 • Craig County Fairgrounds, Vinita
Red, White & Boom
July 3 • Scissortail Park, OKC
Bartlesville 4th of July Freedom Fest
Sooner Park, Bartlesville
Tribute to Liberty
Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, Midwest City
Fire on The Water
CrossTimbers Marina, Sperry
Home of the Brave Fest
Crystal Beach Park, Woodward
Boomer Blast
Boomer Lake Park, Stillwater
Freedom Celebration Parade
Downtown Pawhuska

Catching Criminals

By

Rebecca Fast

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June 25, 2024

CENFEX — Alongside a fully functioning forensic toxicology lab, the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS) program offers an explosives and fire range to help students gain hands-on experience. Photo courtesy OSU-HSC

Forensic science – the application of scientific principles and methods to examine and interpret evidence in matters of civil and criminal law – is a diverse and evolving field. New technologies are emerging in real time, and universities are doing their part to offer students a variety of degree plans and real-world experience to support successful careers.

Jason Beaman, D.O., M.S., M.P.H., FAPA, is a forensic psychiatrist, an associate clinical professor and the interim chair for the School of Forensic Sciences at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS) in Tulsa. The forensic sciences program offers master’s degrees and doctorate degrees, alongside graduate certificates and even forensic nursing courses.

“Our Doctor of Forensic Sciences (DFS) degree is geared towards people who have professional experience and don’t need to take certain classes because they already have the applied on-the-job skills, while our Ph.D. program is more for individuals with research and academic interests,” says Beaman. “We offer real-life experiences for our students. We have a full-functioning DNA lab, forensic toxicology lab and an explosives and fire range. We also offer internships with the Tulsa Police Department and Medical Examiner’s office.”

With plans to grow the program, Beaman says OSU-CHS will offer new programs this fall, such as crime analysis, and threat assessment and management.

“We’ve expanded our coursework into studying serial killers, and I’m offering a class this summer over the events at Waco,” he says, referring to the 1993 government siege and massacre of a compound belonging to a religious cult, the Branch Davidians, in Waco, Texas. “Next summer we’re having a class where we’ll be evaluating the Oklahoma City bombing through the lens of a forensic psychiatrist.”

At the University of Central Oklahoma, the Forensic Science Institute offers undergraduate and master’s degrees in forensic science and is adding a doctoral program in the fall. Photo courtesy UCO

At the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond, the Forensic Science Institute offers undergraduate and master’s degrees in forensic science and is adding a doctoral program in the fall. The Institute’s undergraduate program is a concurrent bachelor’s degree program which requires students to double major, and the combination depends upon the student’s interests and desired career field.

“We offer four different forensic science (FS) tracks: forensic investigations, FS-digital forensics, FS-chemistry and FS-molecular biology,” says Cait Porterfield, a forensic sciences instructor at UCO currently working towards her doctorate in educational psychology and instructional technology. “For example, if you want to be a DNA analyst, you would choose FS-molecular biology and couple it with a biology degree, or if you want to be an investigator, you would choose forensic investigation and couple it with a criminal justice or psychology degree. The forensic science degrees only add 36 additional credit hours, so it usually takes five years instead of four to complete, but you graduate with two diplomas.”

Porterfield also notes that all of the Institute’s undergraduate and graduate programs are accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and many faculty members previously had distinguished careers in the field.

“Our professors offer insight from actual investigations they’ve worked,” she says. “We also offer our students many opportunities for internships, or what we call practicums, working with the Edmond Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Medical Examiner’s office, Indigent Defense System and the Innocence Project. Forensic science is such a unique field that regardless of what you’re interested in, there’s a job for you. If you enjoy art, you could be a forensic artist, or if you really like computers, you could be a digital forensics examiner, where you examine cell phones, computers and social media activity.”

Another interesting component to the field is the role forensic scientists play in court proceedings through testifying.

“Many of our courses offer students the opportunity to analyze evidence and then testify to that evidence in a mock courtroom,” says Porterfield.

Looking towards the future, Beaman says the field of forensic sciences has a bright future.

“We’re moving from general examiners into more subspecialty areas, and the requirements to perform these types of evaluations and procedures are becoming more strict,” he says. “It’s a profession with a thriving job market in Oklahoma as well as throughout the country.”

Background image cutline: Alongside a fully functioning forensic toxicology lab, the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS) program offers an explosives and fire range to help students gain hands-on experience.
Photo courtesy OSU-HSC

War’s Effects Ricochet

By

Bonnie Rucker

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June 25, 2024

War6 — While many Oklahomans fought in World War I, farmers at home experienced yo-yoing prices for their crops depending on national need. These skyrocketing then plummeting prices would be one element that led to the Great Depression.

This month marks the 110-year anniversary of the beginning of the first World War in Europe. And while the United States would not enter the war until 1917, the effects of wartime were felt around the world. Oklahoma was not exempt. So while the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo may have felt completely removed from life in rural Oklahoma, the reality was a different story.

“There was widespread reluctance in Oklahoma, and in the United States in general, about getting involved in [the war],” says Matthew Pearce, Ph.D., who serves as state historian with the Oklahoma Historical Society. “But where Oklahomans first felt an impact when the war broke out was in agricultural prices.”

Joseph Oklahombi was the most-decorated World War I soldier from Oklahoma. Buried in Broken Bow, Oklahombi was one of the initial Choctaw code talkers. Photos courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society

Due to German blockades of British and French ports, as well as patrolling German U-boats in the Atlantic, many Oklahoma agricultural exports such as cotton and wheat were unable to get through. Prices for these goods then plummeted. But the pendulum would swing in the other direction soon.

“As the United States became more and more involved with supplying the Allied powers and then directly getting involved militarily, food prices increased,” says Pearce. He shares that it then became farmers’ perceived patriotic duty to plant more crops, with slogans such as “food will win the war” becoming the norm.

Ultimately, the effects of World War I in Oklahoma would be a driving force into the Dust Bowl era and the Great Depression. Pearce explains that agricultural demands of the war led to an increase in mechanization of farming, price stabilization at a federal level for the first time, and an increase in crop production to meet the war-time need for food. But these three changes, after the war ended, put Oklahoma farmers into an impossible situation: Federally-driven price stabilization ended, but due to expanded farming operations and increased (often financed) equipment holding, they were compelled to continue farming at war-time capacities. This was at least part of the reason for the over-farming situation of the Dust Bowl.

The worldwide conflict would forever change the landscape of this brand new state. Pearce explains that like many Americans, Oklahomans were at first reluctant to get involved in the war in Europe. There was very active membership in the Socialist Party in Oklahoma at the time and they in particular saw WWI as ‘a rich man’s war’ but ‘a poor man’s fight.’

“Oklahoma is still very much a rural state [at the time], but [in regards to] agricultural prices, it’s nonetheless tied to those international markets,” says Pearce. “And so [Oklahoma] is going to have to get involved whether it likes it or not.”

The Importance of Code Talkers

During World War I, a special group of Choctaw Native Americans from Oklahoma made a major impact.

Pearce explains that commanding officers on the Western front were concerned that the Germans had cracked their communications codes. Then one day, they overheard some Choctaw soldiers conversing in their native language.

After some initial testing and the development of codes for military terms, the Choctaw Code Talkers were able to serve the war effort by communicating in their native language over the radio from one command post to another. The message would then be decoded on the opposite end by another Code Talker. According to Pearce, there were 19 original Choctaw Code Talkers, and later citizens of the Cherokee, Cheyenne and Osage tribes joined the effort, too.

A Change of Direction

By

John Wooley

-

June 25, 2024

Musician Jake Erwin (left) says a highlight of his career has been opening for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Photo courtesy Jake Erwin

Tending a garden. Hiking. Camping out. Just a few of the little pleasures in reach of most of us, should we choose to indulge in them.

For some, however, simple things like those stay tantalizingly out of reach. If you’re a working musician who spends a lot of time on the road, for instance, you’re not likely to settle down anywhere long enough to start a garden, and whatever hiking you’ll be doing will be mostly in airport terminals, your camping out in hotel rooms, buses or vans.

Which helps explain why Jake Erwin, longtime bassist for the Western-swing trio Hot Club of Cowtown, has moved back to Tulsa.

“I’ve thought about it for a long time,” he says. “I’m very grateful that I got to do what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a musician and travel and make a living doing that. But in the past few years, I’ve come to realize that it’s such a sacrifice of time – just day-to-day. You’re in airports, you’re in hotels, and I wanted to do something else with a lot of my time and energy.

“I still haven’t figured out what that is,” he adds with a laugh, “but I knew I wanted more time to have a garden and go hiking and camping and enjoy other things in life. I was just spending way too much time on the road.”

So he returned to the town he grew up in and left back in the late 1990s, when he and some local friends moved to Norman after high school – with the intent of going to college at OU.

“They did go to school there, but I got sidetracked by music,” he notes with another laugh, “and I ran away with the circus.”

Music had been a part of his life long before the move, although the upright bass wasn’t his original instrument of choice.

“I’d fooled around, trying to play drums, trying to play guitar a little bit,” he recalls. “I was kind of a punk-rock kid in high school, and a lot of that music led me back to American roots music: early country and western and honky-tonk, early blues – a lot of early blues – and jump blues, and Western swing. The upright bass seemed to be something they all had in common, all of these styles that I was getting interested in.

“I got my first bass in Muskogee. This was before I moved to Norman. I’d looked all around Tulsa trying to find a used bass. The really fine orchestral basses were hugely expensive, way out of my league. But I found this old used bass fiddle in Muskogee at a pawn shop. I remember driving out there and checking it out, and of course I had to put it on layaway because I couldn’t afford to buy it all at once. Finally, after a couple of payments, I got that bass – and I played it into the ground.”

Erwin had found himself especially attracted to a style known as slap-bass, in which, essentially, the strings are slapped rather than plucked. Over the years, Erwin has emerged as one of its leading practitioners. He started building that reputation around 1997, when he, as he put it, “ran away with the circus,” joining the hard-touring rockabilly band Kim Lenz and the Jaguars.

“We traveled all over the country,” Erwin remembers. “That was my first professional band, and it was just fortunate that they were getting that much work.”

He was living in Dallas and still touring with Lenz and the Jaguars a couple of years later, when he first met guitarist Whit Smith and fiddler Elana James, from Hot Club of Cowtown, who had moved from New York to Austin, via San Diego.

“They had splintered off from a much bigger Western swing outfit, and they were working on this trio,” he says. “I met them in Austin, and then I’d see them on the road occasionally. Then I got to do a recording session that both of them were on, with a guy named Dave Stuckey.”

The session produced Get A Load of This, an all-star Western-swing CD released in early 2000 and credited to Dave Stuckey & the Rhythm Gang. It was, says Erwin, “a good opportunity to get to know Whit and Elana a little bit better and to get to work with them for a few days.”

At the end of that year, Erwin found out they were looking for a bass player.

He was living in Austin then, where he had been working with the likes of the Asylum Street Spankers and Wayne Hancock. “I wasn’t playing with anybody regularly at the time, so they [Smith and James] hired me to do a tour,” he recalls. “I think we were in North Carolina, I’d never played any gigs with them, so we just rehearsed a couple of days and started the tour.

“It was great – a good fit. I worked with them for the next 20 years.”

His personal highlight of that two-decade stretch? Touring as the opening act for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan in 2004.

“We did several dates with them that summer, and it was just incredible, because we got to meet them and Willie started coming out and doing a song with us at the end of our sets,” he says. “We were just this tiny opening band that these crowds, largely, hadn’t heard of, and he was coming out and doing that, which was just incredible. It was great to play with him, and such an honor to open for those guys.”

Although he’s no longer the full-time bassist for Hot Club, he still works with the group on a part-time basis, something he doesn’t intend to quit doing.

“In fact,” he says, “I spoke with Whit yesterday and he asked me about some upcoming dates. I’m hoping I can do some of those. I love playing with them, and anytime I can, I will.”

It’s clear that while he’s thinking seriously about the kind of day job he’s going to seek as a replacement for his music career, Erwin is not about to give up the bass. Since returning to Tulsa, he’s performed with such well-known area acts as the Tulsa Playboys, Janet Rutland, Shelby Eicher, and Jacob Tovar, and he’s working with guitarist Mike Ritchie in a new string-jazz trio called Combo Nouveau, influenced by guitarist Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France (which inspired Hot Club of Cowtown’s name).

“I love music,” he says. “It’s always going to be a part of me. I can’t get it out of my system, and I hope I can always continue to play. But I’m really interested in doing some kind of public service. I can’t be a salesman and sell people stuff they don’t need. I’ve just got to figure out where to land.”

Whenever that landing comes, it’ll likely be in Tulsa, where he not only can put in a garden and do some hiking and camping if he wants, but also continue to slap his upright bass on stages all across the area.

“I’ve had the good fortune to meet a lot of great musicians in Tulsa, just in the last year or so,” he notes. “I’m thankful to be getting work around here and meeting more people. It’s terrific.”

Some have said, regarding the music scene, that Tulsa is the new Austin. Having now spent some time in the music scenes of both places, would Erwin subscribe to that theory?

“The bar is high in Tulsa,” he says. “Tulsa has amazing talent, amazing musicians. But I wouldn’t necessarily compare it to Austin. I’d say Tulsa is the new Tulsa.” He laughs again. “It’s its own thing.”

Assessing the Damage

A Helping Hand

Preparing for a Tornado

About Little Free Libraries

The Future of Rural Medicine

LibertyFest

Folds of Honor FreedomFest

Yukon’s Freedom Fest

Celebration in the Heartland

Other Events to Visit

The Importance of Code Talkers

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