Stephne Snipes tried to enter a homeless shelter that also offered an addiction treatment program, and her life – already in tatters – went from bad to worse.

“They did a background check and found I had a warrant, so I ended up in Oklahoma County jail,” says Snipes, 52.

Snipes says that the warrant was issued when she did not pay fines and fees stemming from her second DUI. It was not a freak occurrence for Snipes, who has a master’s degree in social work and who has struggled with alcohol addiction for decades. A 30-day treatment program and a 12-step program had helped Snipes stay sober from 1988 to 2001.

“After that, I had a lot of different losses in my life, including both my parents and a divorce,” Snipes says. “My life started falling apart again and I didn’t do the things I needed to do to help with my recovery. I was under a lot of stress. It doesn’t take long to fall back. Within five years, I had lost everything.”

Snipes had spent 10 days in jail when representatives of Oklahoma City’s NorthCare Day Reporting Center contacted her. The NorthCare Day Reporting Center is a pre-trial program that is designed to serve mentally ill persons and individuals with co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders that are in the custody of the Oklahoma County Sheriff and are awaiting sentencing for appropriate criminal offenses.

NorthCare’s program permits clients to live in the community and helps them enter programs to face their challenges – so long as the client checks in regularly in person, phones in several times a day and continues to follow program parameters.

“I thought, ‘Why not try it?’” Snipes says. “At first I thought that I couldn’t check in every day in person and call three times a day. But it was very, very helpful.”

Today Snipes has undergone treatment, is sober, has reformed her relationship with three grown children and is working on rebuilding her life.

“It was a real blessing,” Snipes says of the program.

Snipes isn’t the only one who has benefited from day reporting – not by a long shot.

“The day reporting program has about an 87 percent success rate,” says Randy Tate, chief executive officer of NorthCare.

Tate describes the parameters for potential clients for NorthCare’s pre-adjudication programs.

“The program excludes anyone with a violent criminal history,” he says. “We have staff that go to the jail every day to see if new admissions meet the criteria for the program and if they want to participate. We have the D.A. release them to us, we evaluate them, get them into the programs they need and create a schedule for them.

“A lot of times, if they do well in the program, the charges go away,” Tate adds.

Blake Tabler, 19, also knows how the program works. He’s come a long way in a short period of time.

“I was 15 when I started smoking, and I fell in with the wrong crowd,” Tabler says. “That led to drugs, and I used meth when I was 17. I was hooked from the first time.”

Tabler says his parents knew he had developed a drug habit and that he moved away from home as soon as he turned 18.

Shortly thereafter, Tabler was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of meth and marijuana.

“My parents were relieved when I got arrested, because they thought I was going to die,” he says.
Tabler was headed toward a youth boot camp-type program in the state prison system when he too was offered the opportunity to enter NorthCare’s day reporting program.

After eight months in a sober living environment, Tabler has now moved back in with his family. He just earned his GED and is looking forward to starting college in June to study nursing.

“I’m really excited about school, and things have been going great,” Tabler says. “The day reporting program has been very helpful. It gets you into routines and helps you discipline yourself.”

Tate says that only one thing prevents the 30-year-old nonprofit agency from contributing to the success stories of more Oklahomans like Snipes and Tabler: money.

“There absolutely is demand, but it takes funding,” Tate says.

Funding is exactly what the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is looking for in its current budget proposal, to enable a Smart on Crime initiative that has garnered near-universal support from around the state.

Smart on Crime, endorsed by the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association and the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council, proposes to use evidence-based programs in the areas of criminal justice diversion, pre-sentencing engagement and reintegration to reduce recidivism and decrease demand for correctional beds. If fully enacted as proposed by ODMHSAS, Smart on Crime would dramatically expand funding for myriad programs to try to take the pressure off the state’s prison system, save taxpayer dollars and save lives. Programs would include the expansion of day reporting opportunities, drug courts and those that specifically address Oklahoma’s shocking rate of women in prison.

Those in the penal system would receive the treatment needed for mental health and addiction issues; and those leaving the system would warrant “soft landing” programs to help with reintegration into society.

Oklahoma Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Terri White makes a strong argument for the wisdom of Smart on Crime.

“Programs like these are extremely successful in Oklahoma,” White says. “With the money we have, we do incredible work. We were one of only six states to earn a ‘B’ grade from the National Alliance on Mental Illness in terms of services – and no one got an ‘A’. Our drug court is a national model. Oklahoma City has an amazing day reporting program, but it’s only in Oklahoma City. Our 24/7 first responders program has a 97 percent success rate in keeping people from being arrested – but it’s only in Tulsa.

“What Smart on Crime does is to make these many services available statewide, or at least widely available,” White continues. “We want to expand these programs into local communities that don’t now have access to them. We want to make sure they are available at the local level.”

White points out that Smart on Crime is not about being soft on crime.

“No one is saying that no one belongs in prison,” White says. “There are people who are scary and dangerous and need to be in prison.”

However, there are also many people in the criminal justice system that are better serviced by mental health and addiction treatment – and it is this group that causes prison overcrowding.

“We’ve realized that there is a much more efficient, less expensive way to deal with people with criminal justice for non violent and mental health issues,” White says.

Evidence strongly supports the Smart on Crime approach.

Out of 25,000 inmates, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections estimates that nearly 12,000 have a history of – or are currently exhibiting – symptoms of severe mental illness. Seventy-nine percent of female inmates and 46 percent of male inmates have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Of these individuals, 57 percent were incarcerated for non-violent offenses. Out of all inmates in DOC custody, 33 percent were imprisoned for drug and alcohol offenses, and at least 50 percent were incarcerated for a crime related to substance abuse.

The average cost to maintain an inmate in prison is $48 per day. For someone in a prison mental health unit, the cost jumps to approximately $175 per day. Providing appropriate mental health services to someone in the community to keep them from entering the criminal justice system costs approximately $25 a day; and, providing appropriate substance abuse services to someone in the community to keep them from entering the criminal justice system costs less than $15 a day.

White says that the demonstrated cost savings is a key reason why Smart on Crime has the support of law enforcement and political leaders.

“Oklahomans are fiscally conservative, and this is a fiscally responsible way to deal with non-violent offenders,” she says. “Why spend $19,000 a year keeping a non-violent offender in prison when a program costs an average of $5,000 a year?”

The price tag for the entire slate of Smart on Crime initiatives is more than $95 million. But supporters assert that savings would offset the cost in just three years and that those savings would only continue to increase as more appropriate clients were reached.

Consider just the savings provided by NorthCare’s prison alternative programs.

“We looked at a five-year period and counted the number of jail bed days we’d saved the county,” says NorthCare Chief Operating Officer Clark Grothy. “We deducted the cost of services and found that we’d saved the county $850,000. If you looked at Smart on Crime in the same way, the savings would be tremendous.”

But it isn’t just the financial prudence of Smart on Crime that engenders support for it.

“Sure, we look at the stats, we see the money that can be saved,” says State Rep. Pat Ownbey (R-Ardmore). “But it’s a chance to save lives, to save families and to save children. Children with a parent in prison are more likely to go to prison themselves. It’s a cycle we haven’t been able to break.”

Ownbey prompted a study last year on prison reform and was stunned with what he discovered.

“Some politicians might feel like, ‘Let’s just lock people up and throw away the key’, but today you can’t afford that,” he says. “And these are people who don’t need to be in prison. There are a lot of women in prison who don’t need to be there, and who other states would not have incarcerated.”

Ownbey says he learned a lot in meetings with Texas officials.

“Texas has been a model for prison reform,” Ownbey says.

When White and her staff initially introduced the Smart on Crime proposal, Ownbey was impressed and pleased. He’s been a vocal supporter ever since.

“When you look at the success of the programs, whether it’s drug court or psychiatric intervention – they work,” Ownbey says. “You can’t help but be impressed with the stats.”

Indeed, based on statistics compiled by ODMHSAS, Smart on Crime programs are effective. The re-arrest rates for drug court graduates after four years are less than half those of released inmates. Mental health courts have reduced jail bed days by some 90 percent.

Smart on Crime also is structured to reach individuals at varying points of contact – from early interception to reintegration after incarceration. White says the proposal is like a menu.

“If we’re given a certain amount of money, we will have a dialogue with the governor and legislature about what to invest in,” White says.

“They will be able to look and see that if they invest in this, the return will be this. We’ve been able to show them what the returns are.”

That cafeteria approach to funding Smart on Crime is likely to come in handy. White and Ownbey say that Gov. Mary Fallin has proposed investing $3 million in it this year.

“Ninety-five million was not realistic, but I am encouraged that we will see some investment in Smart on Crime,” White says.

While Ownbey says he also thinks $3 million is possible, he also would like to see the legislature look at the bigger picture of the whole fundamentals of the budget.

“I wish we could look at it like, ‘Do we really need government to do this?’” he says. “We really need to ask tough questions about what we want government to do.”

In the meantime, supporters hope for some funding to start the process of Oklahoma becoming smart on crime.

“We’re 46th in the country in per capita funding,” White says. “The challenge is are we doing enough?”

The average American household probably doesn’t eat lentils on a regular basis. However, lentils are a great source of fiber, offering 16 grams per one cup serving. The ratio of fiber in lentils is filling and aids in cholesterol removal. Because of its low glycemic value, lentils help control blood sugar levels. Lentils also contain an excellent amount of protein, folate, magnesium, zinc and iron.
You will find the lentil at the bottom of the food pyramid, ranked as one of the healthiest foods a person can eat. The Great Food Almanac by Irene Chambers offers a clever anecdote that rings true: When Jack traded the family cow for the handful of legumes that grew into the beanstalk, he ended up with the goose that laid the golden egg. The moral: He who eats low on the food pyramid will end up on top of the heap.

Snobby Joes
1 c. uncooked lentils (brown or French)
4 c. water
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 green pepper, seeded and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. salt
8 oz. tomato sauce
1/4 c. tomato paste
2-3 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tbsp. yellow mustard
Cook the lentils until soft. Drain and set aside. About 10 minutes before the lentils are done, preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion and pepper in oil about seven minutes, until softened. Add garlic and sauté for one minute. Stir in cooked lentils, chili powder, oregano and salt. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste and cook for 10 minutes. Add maple syrup and mustard and heat through. Turn off heat and let the pot sit for 10 minutes so that the flavors can meld. Serve open-faced with a hearty piece of whole grain bread.

Recipe from Veganomicon by I.C. Moskowitz and T. Hope-Romero

Oklahoma is wild. More than 150 years after settlers began arriving, there are still areas with landscapes that have remained virtually unchanged. Some areas are remote, isolated and difficult to explore but offer rewards of spectacular scenery and natural experience. Other areas are being restored to primal state after decades of serving as ranches. Still others are less remote but no less wild.

Glover River

The Glover is Oklahoma’s only untamed river. It flows freely for 32.6 miles in southeast Oklahoma’s McCurtain County, unfettered by dams or obstructions, through pristine forest. There are few inhabitants, no communities, convenience stores or formal campgrounds, just a few primitive camping sites.
Traveling the Glover requires training and preparation. Only experienced whitewater canoeists and kayakers with advanced skills should attempt the trek. And it requires knowledge of weather and river conditions. Sudden storms can cause dangerous flash floods.
The upper river flows through high bluffs with steep sides. The lower river is floatable most of the year and sections can even be traversed on tubes. But even here, there are whitewater rapids.
The Glover flows through private land, much of it owned by the Weyerhauser timber company. The Department of Wildlife Conservation requires a permit for these areas, $16 a year for Oklahomans, $25 for out of state with a special $5 three-day permit for non-fishing and non-hunting use.
The best times to traverse the Glover are October through May or June. The upper river is almost always too low in summer.
The Glover flows through an isolated area from the town of Battiest to a junction with the Little River at Glover. The dense woods are scenic, especially in spring.
It also offers fine fishing, especially in upper sections, which have protected pools with perch, small mouth and large mouth bass and other species.
The Glover also can be run in short sections, utilizing eight access points. But remember there are no pickup services – you have to make your own arrangements to get in and out of the river.

Charon’s Garden Mountain

Charon’s Garden Mountain isn’t much of a mountain – until you get there. Then it’s a grand and rugged 1,905-foot granite peak that offers rare beauty and great challenge to a climber.
It is in a remote 4,500-acre section of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, which is quite a wild place itself, called Charon’s Garden Wilderness, named for a Greek mythological character.
It is not an easy area to reach. It is, says Refuge Manager Jeff Rupert, “very rugged, very remote.” One climber called it “the epitome of isolation.”
It is not much visited. Other mountains, wildlife viewing areas and attractions in the 60,000-acre Refuge are easier to reach. The 22,000-acre public use area includes 15 miles of hiking trails, plus several lakes and a number of designated climbing routes in various places. A million and a half visitors come every year. But only 550-600 venture into the Wilderness.
A commenter at www.sumitpost.org, a website for climbing enthusiasts, describes the mountain as such, “Perhaps the most appealing attribute of this mountain is its elusive nature – it truly is hardly even identifiable until you’re standing directly beneath it, and then it is monolithic, rewarding the climber for his extended approach with terrific views.” Backcountry camping permits are required at $2 per person. Only about 1,000 can be issued in any year. And there is no camping at Charon’s Garden Mountain.
Late fall to early spring is the recommended period to visit. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees and winter weather can be harsh, although there will be periodic 70-degree days. The Wichita Refuge began in 1901 – six years before Oklahoma statehood – and was expanded to a game reserve in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt and became the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge in 1935. It’s the oldest of the 550 refuges administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nickel Preserve

Tucked in Oklahoma’s famed Cookson Hills is the largest privately protected conservation area in the Ozarks region.
It is the J.T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve, formed by The Nature Conservancy in 2000 with a gift from John Nickel. The 17,000-acre preserve overlooks the scenic Illinois River. Spring-fed creeks meander its steep slopes and valleys, through oak and hickory forest and pine woodlands. Its diverse blend of prairie, shrubland and savanna provides habitat for many bird species.
Visitors can drive through it on a six-mile county road. There are also three hiking trails, two self-guided, which begin at Preserve headquarters six miles off Highway 10 near Eagle Bluff.
The land was assembled by Nickel, a native of Muskogee who first visited it on an agriculture field trip while a student at Connors State College.
Nickel studied architecture and was involved in a number of businesses, including a vineyard and winery in Napa, Calif., before returning to Oklahoma and a family nursery business.
In 1958, he formed Greenleaf Nursery, which became one of the largest wholesale nurseries in the country, shipping trees and plants to garden centers and landscape contractors across the country.
And he bought the land for a ranch.
But he also began talking with the Nature Conservancy about preserving it. That led to his donation.
Before the Conservancy took over, invasive and non-native grasses and plants had proliferated. It has replaced Bermuda and fescue fields with native prairie tallgrass and used prescribed burns to restore historic conditions. The result has been, the Conservancy says, “an astounding increase in botanical diversity and abundance.”
The Conservancy calls it “perhaps the last landscape-scale opportunity to address these threats” of invasive species and other threats to the ecosystem.
Among other things, the Conservancy is re-introducing elk, an animal absent from the area for half a century.

Chickasaw Recreation Area

What is now the Chickasaw National Wildlife Recreation Area was once America’s seventh national park.
It was initially designated Sulphur Springs Reservation in 1902, five years before Oklahoma statehood – and the town of Sulphur was actually relocated to make way for it. Then in 1906, it became Platt National Park and once was the most visited park in the national system.
But the character of the area changed over the years and shifted dramatically after Lake of the Arbuckles was built in 1966. In 1976, all park and recreation areas were consolidated into the Chickasaw Recreation Area.
Today, many of the springs no longer flow, and the lake is perhaps the biggest tourist draw.
With 36 miles of shoreline, 2,300 acres of crystal clear water and deep rock cliffs, Lake of the Arbuckles is one of Oklahoma’s best fishing lakes, with white bass, catfish, crappie and other species. It also is popular with divers because of its clear water. The wildlife area is also home to deer, wild turkey and game birds.
But the region has been a popular spot to visit for centuries, largely because of its water.
The first land was bought from Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes to preserve the sulphur springs believed to have medicinal properties. At one time there were 33 named springs; today only five still flow, as development and weather have changed the aquifer supplying the water.
But it still draws 1.2 to 1.4 million visitors a year, mainly from Oklahoma and Texas, and some families have had regular gatherings there for decades.
The original 640 acres is still part of the park and it still offers spectacular wooded hills in what is not a remote area.

Cooper Wildlife Area

In far western Oklahoma on nearly 17,000 acres of rolling sand hills and river bottomland is the Hal and Fern Cooper Wildlife Management Area, which fronts four miles of Highway 3-183.
It’s the kind of land Western movies often depict and many people think of when they hear Oklahoma. It is grass prairie and sagebrush and sand plum thickets. The 5,400 acres of bottomland has cottonwood, American elm, hackberry and eastern red cedar trees intermixed with grassland, salt cedar and sand plum.
The area is where the Canadian River begins, formed by the union of Wolf Creek and the Beaver River.
Hal Cooper ranched there for decades. After his death, his widow Fern arranged to transfer the land to the state for the wildlife area in 1992. It’s one of Oklahoma’s best quail-hunting regions but also has fair numbers of wild turkeys and other wildlife.
The area is northwest of Woodward, adjacent to the Fort Supply Reservoir.
It’s fairly dry – about 20 inches of rain per year. The sandy bottomlands have bluestem grasses, sagebrush and sand grasses. Dunes have thickets of sand plum. Some trees grow along the river, mostly elm, black willow, soapberry and cottonwood, with some hackberry.
The area is managed for wildlife, although some cattle run through grazing leases in the summer. Windmills and solar pumps provide water for wildlife and a few areas are planted with ragweed, croton and sunflower to provide wildlife food.
Fort Supply draws the most visitors. Most of Cooper’s visitors are hunters, mainly in the fall, seeking quail and dove.

In this time of flux – the last weeks of winter that are a little too warm to be considered part of that cold season, yet there’s still a nip in the air – it’s tough to pick out wine that is truly satisfying. A red may provide a little too much heft for the warmer temperatures, yet a white wine may not warm your belly quite as much as you would need. What do we do? Perhaps a compromise is in order.
Pinot noir, a light-bodied red wine, provides just enough weight to feel comforting, yet the fruity overtones of the grape provide a crisp, refreshing taste on the palate.
“Pinot noir has gained in popularity in Oklahoma over the past several years,” notes Steve Kennett, manager of Old Village Wine & Spirits.
The recommendation: Kennett says his customers most often prefer Angeline ($17), a moderately priced pinot noir from California. This wine pairs well with fish and grilled meats.
If you like that, try this:
Mirassou Pinot Noir ($10): A solid wine from a reliable California winery.
Hob Nob Pinot Noir ($12): This French wine is popular as much for its great taste as its affordable price.
Whetstone Pinot Noir ($47): This California wine is a great choice for a splurge.

Pho Da Cao
This place has all the standard, tasty Asian cuisine – egg rolls, steamed dumplings, wonton, fried rice – along with some dishes that may be unfamiliar to traditional Asian cuisine diners – fresh vermicelli with grilled Asian pork patties, tamarind soup with shrimp and tomatoes, green mussels stir fry with black bean sauce – but it’s Pho Da Cao’s pho that is the scene-stealer. Bowls of rice noodles, bean sprouts, peppers and herbs all swimming in an inviting bowl of warm broth. Top that bowl with slices of steak, chicken or meatballs, and you have a meal that is one-dish comfort. 9066 E. 31st St., Tulsa. 918.270.2715. www.phodacao.webs.com
Picasso’s on Paseo
Picasso’s on Paseo is definitely an artsy place. Located in Oklahoma City’s arts district, the restaurant – like many surrounding establishments – features artwork from local artists on its walls. Art – the edible kind – is also served on plates. The pizzas served are very good, piled with typical pizza fare like mushroom, bacon and onions, and not-so-typical toppings, like figs, pine nuts and proscuitto. But if you’re going to visit Picasso’s just one time, make it for Sunday brunch. Crepes, eggs benedict, fritatta – it’s heaven. We recommend the sunrise sandwich: a fried egg, bacon, chorizo and provolone served on a bun alongside roasted potatoes. 3009 Paseo, Oklahoma City. 405.602.2002. www.picassosonpaseo.com
Lambrusco’z
Lambrusco’z is one of those wonderful, magical places where even the pickiest eater can find something that he is happy to devour. Sandwiches, salads, soups – it’s all there, just waiting to be chosen. Not just for lunching, Lambrusco’z is also a great place to visit for dinner, be it for 4 or 40. Their party menu offers samples of delectable beef tenderloin, grilled chicken, shrimp cocktail, deli meats, cheeses, pickles and endless dips and sauces. You must try Lambrusco’z famous feta salsa: a mix of feta cheese, olives and other tasty ingredients. Pair the feta salsa with sun-dried tomato dip, mozzarella and pitas to make a tasty feta salsa appetizer pizza. 41st and Peoria, Tulsa. 918.496.1246. www.lambruscoz.com