The summer months, despite the often oppressive heat, also bring with them prime vacationing time. A popular weekend getaway in Oklahoma often involves a cabin and a lake – a much needed respite from the worries of everyday life. Below are some options for the coming weeks and months, filled with not only cabins as a home away from home, but also outstanding activities to do with family and friends.
Long Lake Resort Located in Poteau, Long Lake Resort has everything you’ll need for a perfect summer escape. Choose between lakeside suites, couple’s cabins or two bedroom cabins. There’s also an RV park and plenty of activities including biking, boating, disc golf and even a petting barn. Herds of buffalo also roam nearby for some photo opportunities. Prices on rooms range from $125-$250 per night. longlakeresort.com
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone ParkCamp-Resort Located in Eufaula, this is an all-in-one vacation destination. Perfect for a family outing, rental cabins come with all the modern amenities you’ll need. Yogi and Boo Boo make the rounds for pictures, and with 600 miles of shoreline from Lake Eufaula, the activities like putt putt and paddle boating are hot tickets. Cabins run from $158-$262 depending on the amount of rooms needed. keystonelakejp.com
The Cabins at Broken Bow Lake If you’ve got a massive family gathering to plan, this is an excellent option. Located in Broken Bow, the cabins can accommodate anywhere from nine to 22 people. The lake has a variety of recreations like scuba diving, water skiing and jet-skiing. There’s also the Forest Heritage Center Museum located nearby at Beavers Bend State Park, along with horseback riding, fishing, paddle boats and golfing. The nine person cabin will run around $450-$500 while the twenty-two person cabin will be near $1,200. thecabinsatbrokenbowlake.com
Buffalo Trails Cabins & Petting Zoo For something a bit more intimate, this is just the ticket. Located in Hugo, the cabins are decorated and designed to evoke the feeling of the old west. From a bathhouse to a saloon, a stable and a jailhouse, the options are plentiful for a fun weekend back in time and away from city life. There are plenty of mini horses, donkeys and goats to pet and take pictures with, as well as ax-throwing, corn hole, sluice mining, and a party foam machine. Cabins all cost $130 per night. buffalotrailscabins.com
Rustic Retreat For something a bit fancier, this should check all your boxes. Located in Broken Bow, the luxury cabins come with king beds, elevated ceilings and a walk-in shower and Jacuzzi. Surrounded by beautiful pine trees and oaks, there are plenty of hiking trails, as well as boating, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. For those seeking some thrills, there’s horseback riding and ATV rentals, too, as well as winery and brewery tours. Rentals cost between $200-$1000 depending on the time of year and the size of the cabin. rusticluxurycabins.com/rusticretreatcabin
Beaver Dunes Park If instead you just have a day of free time, check out the park. Located in Beaver, the location offers 520 acres of dune buggy riding of 300 acres of sand hills, as well as fishing and hiking. Sand volleyball, basketball, and horseshoes can also be played. If you want to spend the night, the grounds have ten campsites with water and electric hookups. [email protected]
Happy trails!
Main image cutline: Cabin rentals are a quintessential part of Oklahoma summer vacations. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation
Despite its mysterious origins, the labyrinth is one of the most distinct manmade designs, appearing in places all over the world for thousands of years. Although its winding pattern may resemble a maze, a true labyrinth has only one path that leads to and from its center.
The labyrinth’s unicursal pathway is commonly regarded as a metaphor for enlightenment and introspection, leading those who take it away from outside distractions before returning to the place they started.
Oklahoma is home to many labyrinths, several of which are located on college campuses. Students can benefit from the solace that labyrinths provide, encouraging mindfulness and reflection.
“The beauty of a labyrinth is that you take your whole self into it – mind, body and soul,” says Diane Rudebock, professor emerita of kinesiology and health studies at the University of Central Oklahoma. “[While] your body is moving, your mind is free to let thoughts come and go.”
Retracing the History of Labyrinths
Labyrinths have existed for more than 4,000 years. Although their exact place of origin is unknown, ancient cultures often carved their unique designs into coins, tombs, caves and jewelry. There are several types of labyrinths, which are classified by their number of circuits, or how many times the path encompasses the innermost point.
One of the most popular designs is the Classical Labyrinth (also known as the Cretan Labyrinth). This design includes seven circuits and originates from the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. According to legend, King Minos of Crete commissioned Daedalus to build a labyrinth that would imprison a ravenous Minotaur. Against all odds, Theseus braved the labyrinth and reemerged a hero, having slayed the beast.
The Greek myth inspired architecture during Medieval times, which gave way to another popular design: the Chartres labyrinth. Built around 1200 A.D., the first labyrinth of its kind was inlaid into the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France. Its design is divided into four quadrants, consisting of 11 circuits.
Unlike the Greek myth, the Chartres Labyrinth was used as a contemplative tool, paralleling the journey to redemption. Many people continue to use labyrinths as a walking meditation.
UCO was the first public university in Oklahoma to have a labyrinth. Photo courtesy UCO
Labyrinths at Oklahoma State University
OSU offers two different labyrinths on campus, the Morill Labyrinth and the Botanic Garden Labyrinth, which are free and open to the public. Both labyrinths were constructed in 2016.
Lou Anella, director of the OSU Botanic Garden, says that the university’s intention was to offer students a space to meditate and find peace.
The Morrill Labyrinth is located next to the Morill Hall and features three spiraling stone pathways that converge to a center point. The three sides of the labyrinth represent the connection between mind, body and spirit.
The Botanic Garden Labyrinth is a seven-circuit, Classical design, spanning half of a mile. The university created this labyrinth by planting Bermuda grass and using spray paint and stakes to map where to mow.
“We’ve really tried to put more things in the garden that entice people to come,” says Anella. “[The labyrinth] is a benefit to the community and is something that families enjoy with their children.”
The Southeastern Oklahoma State University Labyrinth
Located behind the Fine Arts Building, the SOSU labyrinth is a five-circuit Medieval labyrinth made of bricks and grass. The installation of the labyrinth was spearheaded by Charla Hall, professor emeritus of psychology at the university. As a trained labyrinth facilitator, Hall introduced several of her students to labyrinth walks, which helped build up momentum to construct one on campus.
At the time of the labyrinth’s construction, many students, faculty, and alumni showed up in support of the project. The labyrinth, which was slated as a two-day project, took only one day to finish due to the enthusiasm and cooperation of the community. Adding beauty to SOSU’s campus, the labyrinth provides a peaceful spot for students to reflect and relax in between classes.
Labyrinths at the University of Central Oklahoma
Labyrinths have become mainstays of UCO’s student life since the construction of its first one in 2013. Rudebock was instrumental in raising awareness about the transformative benefits of labyrinths. Introduced to walking meditations in 2000, Rudebock is also a certified labyrinth facilitator.
She began bringing a large canvas tarp with a labyrinth design as an activity for students to participate in during UCO’s summer leadership academy in 2003. Over 70 students tried the labyrinth during these retreats. The activity became so popular that the university began spray painting a design into the grass, where it eventually constructed its outdoor labyrinth.
From then on, students and faculty expressed interest in having a permanent, on-campus labyrinth. In 2013, UCO commissioned Marty and Debbie Keerman of Labyrinth in Stones to create the university’s outdoor design, which is a replica of the 11-circuit Chartres labyrinth in France.
“We were the first public university to have a labyrinth in Oklahoma,” says Rudebock. “To be able to have that available for our students, our staff, our faculty, the community – it really was a dream come true.”
In 2022, UCO installed a second labyrinth inside its gymnasium. Painted on the floor, this is a seven-circuit, Classical design. Faculty and students incorporate the indoor-and-outdoor labyrinths into their daily activities, using them as gathering places for musical performances and yoga classes. The university also observes Worldwide Labyrinth Day, which takes place every first Saturday in May.
Rudebock notes that there is no right or wrong way to explore a labyrinth, encouraging others to find one nearby.
“Bring your whole self … and prepare for an experience, whatever it may be,” she says. “When you experience a labyrinth, it meets you where you are.”
Main image cutline:At Oklahoma State University, the two constructed labyrinths offer students a space to meditate and find peace. Photo courtesy OSU
Oklahomans may be looking for a new hobby to take on this summer, and one possibility that is both entertaining and has a very low cost for entry is disc golf. For less than $25, a disc golf player can get started with one or two discs for practice. Even better, any open outdoor area can be the ideal spot to perfect your throws.
How It Works
Disc golf is played in much the same way as traditional golf. The goal of disc golf is to land a disc in the goal or basket with the fewest amount of throws possible. Each “hole” has a “tee-off area” as a starting point, and when the two-meter rule is in effect, players receive a penalty stroke if their disc lands two meters above the ground while still in-bounds. This typically occurs on wooded disc golf courses where the disc lands in a tree. Most courses are either nine or 18 holes, and most courses are free to play.
More experienced players may carry a putter, midrange and driver – and some carry anywhere from 15-25 discs during a golf round with a mix of all different styles of discs. Players will carry their discs with either a backpack or, in some cases, they will use a disc golf cart.
Not a Frisbee
A golf disc is not the same as a Frisbee – it is not designed to be caught by human hands, is only 21.2 centimeters in diameter, 1.6 centimeters high and designed to be thrown around 350 to 400 feet. The world record for distance with a golf disc is around 1,100 feet. A Frisbee, on the other hand, is designed to travel 50 to 100 feet and measures 27.4 centimeters in diameter, with a height of 3.2 centimeters.
Disc golf is often confused with ultimate Frisbee, but the two sports are very different. In “ultimate,” there is only one general disc used. An ultimate Frisbee is a large diameter disc that weighs in at 175 grams, while the object used in disc golf can range from 150 to 180 grams. Due to its smaller size, it’s a denser form of plastic.
Getting Involved
There are over 150 disc golf courses in Oklahoma, with some locations offering multiple course configurations and options. There are seven courses in the Oklahoma City metro and 22 courses in the Tulsa metro.
Locations are ranked and graded on discgolfscene.com. Tulsa’s busiest course is known as “Bear’s Lair” and is located at the top of Chandler Park, and one of the top rated courses in the state is at The Lodge at Taylor Ranch (Moccasin Creek) in Pawhuska.
There are groups that sponsor competitions and work to expand disc golf awareness and course options in Oklahoma. In Tulsa, the Tulsa Disc Sports Association serves the disc golf community and works in conjunction with the Tulsa City and County Parks Departments, other local clubs and volunteers. The association installs, maintains and improves disc golf courses and has been in operation since the 1970’s.
In Oklahoma City, the OKC Disc Golf Association does similar work and hosts an annual event in August. The gathering, called “Okie Dubs,” is held on the 12th and 13th and is one of the bigger “doubles” style events in the state, according to Mark Larsen, vice president of the OKCDGA. Okie Dubs usually brings anywhere between 280-300 players.
Main image cutline:The Oklahoma City Disc Golf Association hosts the Okie Dubs tournament in August, which typically welcomes nearly 300 players to the metro. Photo courtesy the OKCDGA
Jim Halsey may be pushing 93, but the Tulsa-based country-music impresario remains remarkably busy, doing what he’s done for decades, and still doing it the way he’s always done it.
“I’m in the middle of a five-year plan,” he says. “This is something I started in 1952 with Hank Thompson, setting out our plans of where we wanted to go, how we were going to achieve our goals, and where we were going to end up in five years. I’ve done that ever since – for 70 years now.
“So we’re about two-and-a-half years into our latest five-year plan. I don’t know of anybody else that does this, but I’ve had one for everybody I’ve ever worked with. It started with Hank Thompson, and then when we went with Roy Clark, we had a five-year plan. Wanda Jackson. Reba McEntire. At the end of our five years with Reba, we’d gotten her two Grammys, two platinum albums, gotten her on television, gotten her in the MGM hotel [in Las Vegas], with all of that culminating in Carnegie Hall.
“With our five-year plans, each artist is different and has different requirements. The same thing is true for my company and myself, personally. It’s ‘Where am I right now? What do I want to accomplish and achieve, and where do I want to be five years from now?’”
No matter whether it’s for his acts or himself and his company, he adds, no five-year plans are ever the same. “They change because we’ve either accomplished something we’d planned, or we’ve grown, or we’ve learned. The business changes. Life changes, but it all harmonizes and it will adjust itself to what we’re doing.”
And speaking of harmonies: One of Halsey’s current five-year plans involves The Oak Ridge Boys, that veteran vocal supergroup he’s been managing for a half-century, ever since he oversaw their transition from gospel to mainstream country music in 1973.
“Part of it includes a fifty-year celebration,” he notes. “How do we recognize and honor those 50 years without doing some sort of a tribute show, where everybody comes out and sings a tribute song? There have been so many recently – Lee Greenwood, George Jones. Ronnie Milsap’s coming out with one. And the Oaks have been on most of them.
“What we’re talking about is something different, honoring where we’ve been, rather than someone else coming up and making the tribute. Of course, we’ll bring in other people to help us, but we’re going to give thanks, and honor our 50 years, and celebrate them.”
His personal five-year plan includes developing a museum to display a portion of the memorabilia he’s acquired over his seven-plus decades in the music business. Since 2020, some of it has been featured in the Jim Halsey Legends of Country Music exhibit at the Wagoner City Historical Museum; at this writing, he says, plans are underway for more of it to be housed in a new building in his hometown of Independence, Kansas. And he’s still looking for other opportunities to display pieces of a personal country-music-related collection that’s as vast as any in the world.
“The only place you’ll find as much memorabilia as we have in Wagoner is in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville,” he says. “We’ve got archival items from the artists we’ve been involved with, and that includes Grammys, gold and platinum records, awards and citations, posters, and important contracts. A lot of museums don’t show contracts. I show contracts – my contracts with Roy, with the Oak Ridge Boys, with Wanda Jackson, Conway Twitty, Dwight Yoakam, Reba McEntire. I don’t display the intimate details, but they show what our obligations were to them, and what their obligations were to the business.”
At one point, during the 1970s and ’80s, the Tulsa-based Jim Halsey Company was the biggest country-music booking agency in the entire world. It seemed at the time as though every country act of any consequence was represented by Halsey and his agency.
Still, he remembers, there were a few who, for some reason or other, never became clients.
“One of the first ones was Willie Nelson,” says Halsey. “Joe Allison, the great songwriter and producer, kept touting me on Willie Nelson. He had an album out on Willie – on Liberty Records, I think – with all those great songs that Willie had written. This was in the early ’60s, and of course Willie was clean-shaven and had short hair.
“Willie and I got together, and I had a plan for him, but I couldn’t get anything going at all. Boy, did I believe in him. But I couldn’t get him on package shows. I couldn’t get him interviews or anything. He tried, and we tried, and then we finally got together and I said, ‘Willie, I’ve tried all that I can try, all the magic that I made work with others, and we just can’t do it.’
“But – he did.”
The other big name that comes to Halsey’s mind is Oklahoma superstar Vince Gill.
“You know, every time I see Vince, he says, ‘I tried to sign with your agency and I could never get past your receptionist,’” says Halsey. “And I always tell him, ‘I don’t know how that happened. It must’ve been a substitute.’ You know, I would see everybody.”
On the other hand, there were also immensely talented performers represented by Halsey who he believes didn’t have the impact they should’ve had on a national and international basis. At the top of that list are two Tulsa-based artists, Don White and the late Debbie Campbell.
“Debbie was an outstanding singer, one of the best ever, and while she achieved local success, she never became that national star,” he explains. “The same with Don, a really good songwriter and really good performer.
“There were a lot of artists, too, we worked with before they did hit, and people would say, ‘Why are you sticking with them?’ “
Those acts, he adds, include a performer who became one of Halsey’s biggest success stories.
“People thought that about Roy Clark,” he says. “They’d say, ‘You know, he’s super talented, but there are a lot of people out there who are so talented they never make it.’ He did a little bit of everything. But how do you pinpoint that?
“When I signed Roy and we made our five-year plan, the first person I called was [music promoter] Hap Peebles in Wichita. He had a package show going out, with five or six big stars, playing dates in Wichita, Kansas City, Lincoln, Omaha, places like that.
“Hap told me, ‘I don’t have any money. We’re all booked up. The show’s all set, and it goes out next week.’
“I said, ‘Would you give him a hundred dollars? Anything?’
“He said, ‘No. I don’t need him.’
“I kept talking to Hap, and I said, ‘Listen, believe me, this guy’s going to be really great, and I need these six dates you’re doing.’
“Finally, he said, ‘I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll have a hotel room for him, and I’ll feed him.’ And those were the first six days I ever booked with Roy.’
“So,” he adds, “Roy went on the show with these big superstars. He opened the show; Hap gave him 15 minutes. And by the time the tour was over, every one of those superstars had gone to Hap and said, ‘Listen, why don’t you put me on before that guy? He just stops the traffic so much that it’s hard to get ‘em back.’ At the end of that tour, a totally unknown person, Roy Clark, was closing the show.”
Main image cutline:Jim Halsey, a legend in the country music industry, continues working to improve the industry for his clients. Photo courtesy Jim Halsey
If you’ve got an affinity for birds, beers or perhaps both, the upcoming Wild Brew event is a match made in heaven. The event, helmed by the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center, is a one-of-a-kind affair that combines top-notch food from the Tulsa area with first rate local beers, wines and spirits. On top of that, there is live music, demonstrations from local artists, opportunities for selfies with an array of live birds, plus a silent auction. The live birds include a Narragansett turkey, a red-tailed hawk and a golden pheasant.
Local Tulsa artist Josh Stout will be on site doing a live painting that will be auctioned off during the event.
“We will have an art gallery set up at the event with donated artwork from well-known local artists who support the Sutton Center’s conservation work,” says Christina King, communications officer with the research center. “People will be able to purchase artwork during the event.”
The annual fundraiser supports the Sutton Center, an internationally recognized non-profit established in 1983 that’s best known for its work with bald eagles. A decade ago, the bald eagle was on the endangered list. Now, they fly the Oklahoma skies with regularity. After this success, the Sutton Center is now trying to save more endangered birds, such as the masked bobwhite and Attwater’s prairie chicken. The center also keeps tabs on bald eagles through satellite tracking, surveys and a live nest webcam. All in all, the center operates with the goal of finding conservation solutions for birds and the natural world through science and education.
On top of protecting birds like the bald eagle, the Sutton Center also launched a major study of Oklahoma’s breeding birds for a five year statewide survey. The results will help to understand how these Oklahoma animals are faring.
There are also “All About Birds” Ambassador Programs, meant to share the Sutton Center’s expertise with students all across the state of Oklahoma. Each program combines science and environmental education along with interactive presentations, activities and live animal guests.
“We have several very exciting projects happening at the Sutton Center and around Oklahoma,” says King. “We are well known nationwide, but a hidden gem locally!”
Conservation internships bring high school and college students into the fold on real projects, as they play a role in wildlife conservation. Satellite tracking of young bald eagles lets students and the public continue to follow the birds on their journey.
The Sutton Scholarship Award, with support from NatureWorks and corporate sponsors, recognizes Oklahoma high school students who demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate current conservation topics in compelling ways through different art mediums. Coupled with the viewing of baby bald eagles, there are also videos of the eagles hunting, feeding and defending their nests.
As a non-profit, the best way to help the Sutton Center is through donations or the volunteering of your time. The Wild Brew event, hosted at Tulsa’s Cox Business Convention Center on Aug. 26 from 5-8 p.m., is also a wonderful way to help the center and have a great time doing it. General admission is $75. The live local music includes Shelby Eicher, Kyle Reid, and Biscuits and Gravy.
Drink a beer and save a bird!
Main image cutline: The George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center offers education and programming alongside its Wild Brew event. Photo courtesy the Sutton Avian Research Center
If you’ve lived in Oklahoma long enough, you know the state has a multitude of architectural wonders within its borders. The types of structures vary, from Under Her Wing Was the Universe, a sprawling native prairie structure located in Enid, to the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in downtown Tulsa – said to be one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States.
Both Tulsa and Oklahoma City have foundations for architecture, and both seek to spread awareness of the ample hidden (and not-so-hidden gems) in the state.
“The mission of the Oklahoma City Foundation for Architecture is to promote excellence in our built environment through education, recognition and preservation,” says Melissa Hunt, the foundation’s executive director. Offerings include monthly programming alongside events and tours, she says.
The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture is also pushing relevant architectural information out to the people.
“The TFA is working to spread awareness through our many tours and programs, as well as the work we do advocating for historic preservation in our community,” says Amber Litwack, TFA’s executive director. “Along with our public programs, we keep a calendar of speaking engagements for a variety of audiences.”
Each foundation has a number of engagements to keep the public excited. A popular event called Drinks x Design sees patrons gather for refreshments and tours of designs throughout OKC.
“We also have an architecture scholarships program and the Lynne Rostochil National Register Grant program,” says Hunt.
The grant, named in memory of an architectural historian and photographer who advocated for the preservation of Oklahoma’s heritage, is used to help fund the preparation of National Register nominations for structures, sites and districts in the state. A past program was the Celebrate 100 book, a guide to architecture in central Oklahoma from the past century.
“It’s out of print now, but I do have a few copies in my office and it’s available online, too,” says Hunt.
Tulsa’s foundation also works diligently to keep its audience connected.
“We host a wide variety of tours, programs and events for a range of audiences and ages,” says Litwack. Popular choices include the Second Saturday Tours, which feature a different location every month with conversational walking tours, elucidating building features and different historical perspectives. Those who want more can visit the Tulsa Underground Tunnel Tours, featuring the history of prominent buildings and tunnels that connect downtown.
Everyone has favorites, and although narrowing it down isn’t easy, both Hunt and Litwack have a few of their own.
“The Gold Dome,” says Hunt. “It’s one of the most recognizable and unique pieces of architecture in our city. We’ve lost so many important landmarks in Oklahoma City, and I hope this one can be saved.”
Litwack lands on the John Frank House, a home specifically designed by Bruce Goff to showcase Frank’s love of pottery.
“It’s special to me because the property was clearly a labor of love,” she says. “The home is truly unique.”
Places to Visit:
Church Studio –Tulsa – Historic, state-of-the-art recording studio that’s been fully restored
Coleman Theatre –Miami – Iconic theatre built in 1929, home to the “Mighty Wurlitzer” pipe organ
Marland’s Grand Home –Ponca City – Restored home of oil tycoon and Oklahoma’s tenth governor, E.W. Marland
The Gold Dome – Oklahoma City – Geodesic major landmark that originally housed Citizens State Bank
Guthrie Scottish Rite – Guthrie – One of the world’s largest Masonic Centers, the great Temple of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
Historic Mattie Beal Home –Lawton – Restored neoclassical house with self-guided tours and events
Belvidere Mansion – Claremore – Three-story mansion built by John M. Bayless in 1902
Main image cutline: Bits of stunning architecture can be found across the state – including in downtown Tulsa at what was once a Warehouse Market. Photo courtesy Tulsa Foundation for Architecture
There’s nothing more American than celebrations for the Fourth of July.
For nearly 250 years, we’ve been taking time during the heat of summer to remember that fateful July day when the future was sealed for our country. And, really, the celebrations remain much as they were that first July holiday.
Considered the curmudgeon of the founding fathers, John Adams insisted for the rest of his life that the celebrations should happen on July 2; but the fourth day of July was chosen for good reason. The vote to declare independence from Britain was taken on July 2, but the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted by the Continental Congress two days later. The final signatures weren’t obtained until Aug. 2, but the struggle for independence from Britain was already underway.
The first celebration of this momentous day took place the very next year in 1777 and has continued annually – though organized events don’t seem to have gained popularity until after 1812. The Fourth of July was established as a federal holiday by Congress in 1870 and became a paid holiday in 1938. These early festivities included frivolity that we would recognize today including food and drink, music and parades, but also included mock funerals for England’s King George III and public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Since those days we may have given up the practice of hosting mock funerals for royalty, but we’ve certainly added a lot of fun. Since the end of the war for independence, Americans have enjoyed hosting Fourth of July barbecues, waving sparklers and American flags, attending parades and rodeos, listening to patriotic music and the ever-popular wearing of red, white and blue apparel.
But there’s one means of celebration that probably comes to mind first when you think of the Fourth of July: fireworks. Fireworks themselves have been around for a lot longer than our country, so how did they become so ubiquitous during this holiday? The answer is that the precedent was set from the beginning. During that first anniversary celebration in 1777 in Philadelphia, cannons from ships on the river fired a 13-gun salute to honor the 13 original colonies. And that evening, a fireworks display also began and ended with 13 rockets. So you could say that we have been using fireworks to celebrate the birth of our nation from the very start.
Fourth of July Celebrations
No matter where you are in Oklahoma when the Fourth rolls around, there are celebrations galore. Be sure to check websites for the latest info.
The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) is the nation’s largest water and wastewater utility membership association. NRWA trains, supports and promotes professionals who serve small communities (under 10,000 in population) in all 50 states. The association draws from numerous federally funded programs to bridge the gap between regulatory requirements and resources available in rural America.
NRWA’s Oklahoma entity, the Oklahoma Rural Water Association (ORWA), focuses on water and wastewater system sustainability for generations to come. ORWA is the primary driver for federal and state programs used to ensure safe and plentiful drinking water and environmentally sound wastewater treatment.
Brandon Bowman, ORWA state programs director, says some programs are funded by NRWA via grants from the USDA-Rural Development and the EPA, which are then implemented by ORWA. Among these are the apprenticeship program, along with the EPA water and wastewater training and technical assistance programs.
Federal/NRWA funded programs also include the Source Water Protection Program – which helps communities develop plans to prevent, reduce and/or eliminate pollution from impacting raw water sources. The Energy Efficiency Program helps systems save power, materials and revenue by improving efficiencies in operations and power consumption.
State funded programs include the Long Range Sustainability Program, the Water Loss Reduction Program, the Rate Analysis Program and the Disadvantaged Community Program. These programs help systems improve technical, managerial and financial sustainability.
“The Circuit Rider Program provides regular on-site technical assistance visits, conducts training classes for operators and provides emergency response assistance,” says Bowman. “Circuit Riders travel from system to system, providing help and solving problems when needed.”
The Wastewater Technician Program involves a team of technicians who also travel from system to system, helping lagoon and small sewer treatment system operators solve issues and improve operations. The techs provide on-site support, particularly for locating leaks in the sewage collection system so they can be rapidly repaired.
And specialists in the EPA training and technical assistance programs, while complementing the work of the Circuit Rider and Wastewater Technician programs, provide training in issues impacting systems, such as emerging contaminants, PFAs, and lead and copper rule revisions.
As a nonprofit, NRWA rallies resources in emergency situations. In Dec. 2021, the NRWA responded to an outbreak of storms and over 30 tornadoes in four states – resulting in water and wastewater systems that were dramatically affected, impacting 13,000 rural Americans.
“Before ORWA’s creation in 1970, small water and wastewater systems had no voice at the state capitol or in Washington, D.C.,” Bowman says. “The majority of Oklahoma water systems are considered small. The strength of our nation lies in rural America, and our water and wastewater systems are the lifeblood of that strength.”
Get Involved
The public may attend governing board meetings for their local water and wastewater systems, and support initiatives that improve system sustainability. It’s also wise for the public to be informed by understanding why systems set rules and take actions, such as rate setting and seeking funding for infrastructure improvements.
Individuals may look for opportunities to run for governing board seats. And if a system is not already a member, the public may encourage their system to join ORWA. With membership open to all Oklahoma public water and wastewater systems, ORWA encourages all systems to become members.
Main image headline:The employees of the Oklahoma Rural Water Association focus on water and wastewater system sustainability for generations to come. Photo courtesy ORWA
Health boxes by Rebecca Fast Doctor profiles by Tracy LeGrand and Rebecca Fast
Photo courtesy Saint Francis Health System
Michael Malloy, M.D. Rheumatology Saint Francis Hospital, Warren Clinic Tulsa
During his residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash., Michael Malloy, M.D., rotated through the field of rheumatology and quickly realized it was the perfect fit for him.
“I loved the long-term relationships with patients, the science and art of diagnosing, and treating the various immune and musculoskeletal related conditions,” says Malloy, who works at Saint Francis Health System’s Warren Clinic – Rheumatology. “Rheumatology is a specialty that combines the immune system and musculoskeletal system in a unique way.”
He says it’s fulfilling to see patients with any sort of disability (such as not being able to close their hands or walk without assistance) receive specialized treatment and then later do those skills, as well as other activities, in their daily lives.
Malloy began his career in the advent of biologic medications within rheumatology.
“I feel like the discovery of biologic medications has truly been the most significant breakthrough in the field of rheumatology in the last 30 years,” he says. “There are also numerous other medications which have been developed recently, including JAK inhibitors.”
Malloy is quick to share the spotlight, and says he works with a wonderful team at Warren Clinic Rheumatology. He mentions that the practice is expanding soon.
“I also feel like what I do is a ministry, and I am reminded daily of the mission statement of the Saint Francis Health System: ‘To extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ in all we do.’” – RF
Photo courtesy SSM Health Saint Anthony
Chad Glenn, M.D. Neurological Surgery SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital OKC
A board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumors, Chad A. Glenn, M.D., is a Louisiana native who earned undergraduate and medical degrees at Louisiana State Univ. – Shreveport before completing his neurosurgery residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He completed his fellowship – which specialized in the skull base and cerebrovascular issues – at Case Western Reserve University and served as faculty at the University of Oklahoma before transitioning his practice to SSM Health.
The most rewarding part of Glenn’s vocation is helping people during stressful times. He says neuroscience builds “deeper, longer-term connections with patients. Neurosurgery is, no doubt, an opportunity to integrate medical science into many aspects of my job, but the subspecialty where I focus my time allows me to see fewer patients for longer periods, which helps me get to know them and, I hope, helps me make a positive impact on their health and their lives.”
Glenn has amassed a pro team that offers the best possible care.
“Because I focus my practice primarily on brain tumors and other cranial issues, we are able to be very specialized in what we do,” he says. “I’m so fortunate to have been able to select a team that I know is the best of the best; we not only work well together, but everyone keeps patient advocacy at the top of their minds, no matter their role. When a patient has been referred to a brain tumor specialist, they are often very anxious. To us, being present, caring and comforting to them and to their families goes hand-in-hand with providing top-notch medical care.”
Cutting-edge medicine draws patients and referrals to Glenn from around the state to provide individualized treatment.
“There are no ‘one-size-fits-all’ technologies, but rather, we evaluate each person’s unique needs and work together to build the care plan that works best for them,” says Glenn. -TL
Photo courtesy George Monks, M.D.
George Monks, M.D. Dermatology Tulsa Dermatology Clinic Tulsa
Harboring a passion to help people, George Monks, M.D., who works with the Tulsa Dermatology Clinic, was drawn to his specialty because he could care for patients of all ages.
“I love the patient interaction, visual nature of the field, and that it combines so many different disciplines,” he says. “It’s very rewarding to alleviate the pain and suffering – both physical and emotional – that skin conditions can cause.”
He says people may not realize that dermatology is a blend of all medical specialities, requiring a knowledge base of multiple fields.
“Our skin is often a window to understanding manifestations of systemic disease,” he says. “Dermatology residency is the most competitive residency to be accepted into, and major advances in cutaneous therapeutics have revolutionized our field.”
With a special interest in skin cancer and psoriasis, Monks says every day is different, and he performs numerous in-office procedures and surgeries. He also served as president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association during the pandemic, from 2020 to 2021.
“Dermatology has recently undergone a renaissance in treatment advances,” he says. “We now have much more effective treatments for skin cancer, psoriasis and eczema with the development of biologics, JAK inhibitors and other small molecule medications. It’s a very exciting time.” – RF
Photo courtesy INTEGRIS Health
Jose El-Amm, M.D. Nephrology INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute OKC
As the medical director of the INTEGRIS Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute – kidney transplant division, Jose El-Amm, M.D., says the most rewarding part of his career is visiting patients after a transplantation.
“The hope and relief on the patients’ faces and family members is indescribable,” he says. “Physicians and surgeons get the most credit, but none of this is possible without a dedicated transplant team. Transplant coordinators, social workers, pharmacists, financial coordinators, administrators, floor nurses and physician assistants are intricate parts of the team and are a must for a successful transplant. And none of this will happen without the extreme generosity of the organ donors and their families.”
When El-Amm relocated from Michigan to Oklahoma City in 2008, he says transplant nephrology was a budding subspecialty. He credits the referring nephrologists for trusting him to take care of their patients following transplantation. Today, the institute performs around 100 kidney and pancreas transplants a year.
El-Amm’s special interests and research in the field of transplantation includes desensitization, paired kidney donation, newer immunosuppressive medication with less toxicities and high risk transplant recipients.
“Transplant patients have to routinely undergo lab testing for the rest of their lives to check on their kidney function and drug toxicities,” he says. “They are usually on multiple medications that suppress the immune system, and unfortunately these drugs have multiple side effects. We try to find the best combination of medications that will protect the kidney and/or pancreas without harming the patient.” – RF
Photo courtesy Norman Regional Health System
Marilyn Appiah, D.O. Obstetrics & Gynecology Norman Regional Health System, Care for Women Norman
Marilyn Appiah, D.O., helps to bring new life into the world. An Oklahoma native and graduate of Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, Appiah completed her residency in Akron, Ohio, before returning to Oklahoma to be near family. She joined Moore Medical Center soon after the facility had been ravaged by a May tornado, and later joined Norman Regional Health Center.
The doctor says she continues to be humbled and moved to work in the field of reproductive health, providing best-in-class care to women.
“It has truly been a journey, and continues to be,” says Appiah. “I was called by God at an early age to become a physician and did not deviate from it. Obstetrics and gynecology – OB/GYN – is an exciting field, which can be both rewarding and heartbreaking.
“The most rewarding part is being part of bringing new life into the world,” she continues. “I love hearing the sound of babies [first] crying and seeing patients with their significant others, bonding with their baby, or in some cases babies – plural. I enjoy educating patients, watching them grow in their knowledge, and, in doing so, becoming their advocate.”
Appiah’s typical day includes performing deliveries and then “going back to the office and getting home late at night, only to repeat the next day,” she says. “There is rarely a dull moment. OB/GYN is a complex, evolving field – and an exciting field.”
Giving birth is as old as time, and is a process often enhanced by modern medicine when the need arises.
“One of the biggest breakthroughs are robotics,” she says. “Patients recover faster and are able to return to their everyday lives quicker.” – TL
Photo courtesy OU Health
Barish Edil, M.D. Surgery University of Oklahoma Medical Center, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center OKC
Barish Edil, M.D., F.A.C.S., a Wisconsin native and University of Wisconsin graduate, came to the University of Oklahoma for a general surgery residency and research fellowship in surgical oncology. He was inspired by both his patients and his mentors to enter “the very technical and challenging field of pancreatic surgery,” he says. He went on to complete highly specialized training at John Hopkins Medicine, and served as faculty there – where he delved deep into cancer vaccine research. Edil was later recruited back to Oklahoma and now serves as the chair of the surgical department at OU, and serves as surgeon-in-chief for OU Health.
“Now as I’m older and more reflective, what drives me in the field are my patients,” says Edil. “They’re very brave in dealing with challenging problems, and to help them through that process is very rewarding.”
With administrative duties involving the oversight of 60 surgeons, Edil spends much of his day ensuring his department is functioning well, and keeping up with the clinical component of his work – seeing patients. In addition, he embraces the role of educating the next generation of physicians in the OU residency program.
Around 50% of people will be diagnosed with a form of cancer in their lifetimes, and pancreatic cancer in particular typically inspires some nihilism, says the doctor. He’s working to change that.
“Cancer care is amazing, and it’s become a team sport,” he says. “I’m a surgeon, and I’m part of a team. We’re hitting for the fences to get as long a life as possible. People should know that care of cancer is changing dramatically and quickly. I’m just one of multiple people taking care of cancer patients. Cancer care is a lot of people.”
Helping people to live longer is Edil’s primary motivation. To that end, during his Hopkins residency, Edil developed a minimally invasive laparoscopic whipple technique; today, the technique is lauded as one of the biggest surgical advancements in thirty years.
“Back in the ’80s, there was a 30% mortality rate with the operation, and in the ’90s, the guy who trained me at Hopkins took it down to 2%,” says Edil. “In the early 2000s, I was part of the generation that made it minimally invasive.” -TL
Photo courtesy Dean McGee
Mahmoud Khaimi, M.D. Ophthalmology Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Medical Center OKC
A native of Detroit, Mahmoud A. Khaimi, M.D., received his medical education in Michigan, including a residency in ophthalmology. Applying nationwide for a fellowship in the subspeciality of glaucoma, Khaimi was thrilled to join the world-renowned Dean McGee Eye Institute, moving his wife and then-one-month-old baby to OKC. Khaimi was recruited to stay as a glaucoma specialist and cataract surgeon and, a decade later, says his six children are true ‘Okies.’
Khaimi’s non-surgical days start early – seeing patients from newborns to those in their 90s who’ve been battling glaucoma for decades. He finds the most rewarding part of his career involves daily efforts to prevent patient blindness.
In 2015, the doctor pioneered a new type of canaloplasty – a glaucoma surgical procedure – and recently developed a corresponding ergonomic surgical device to perform it. His surgical innovations have stood the test of time and are now used internationally “so that ophthalmologists worldwide can treat their patients with glaucoma,” says Khaimi.
Preserving eyesight starts with vigilance, he says.
“The biggest thing with glaucoma is awareness, because it can be brewing in your eyes and you have no idea of it. By the time you do, it’s pretty far along in the disease process,” he says. “It can be the silent thief in the night, stealing your vision – and you don’t know until you wake up. It’s a progressive disease, so getting to an eyecare provider to get your eyes dilated and checked out is key. It’s especially recommended if there are risk factors of age, family history, and race – as Black and Hispanic populations are much more likely than other races to develop it. Also, eye trauma and other conditions can lead to glaucoma. You want to have a baseline comprehensive eye exam for comparison.”
Khaimi is pleased with breakthroughs in his field, such as minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, and is especially proud of the work he and his colleagues are doing at Dean McGee.
“I think I was always a closet Okie, and I would love Oklahoma to know that we at Dean McGee are doing amazing, groundbreaking things that send ripples worldwide,” he says. – TL
Health Boxes
Mental Health According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a mental health crisis is any situation in which people’s behavior puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others, and/or prevents them from being able to care for themselves or function effectively. Behaviors surrounding a mental health crisis can include social withdrawal, rapid mood swings, abusive behavior, psychosis and paranoia. If you believe an individual is a threat to him/herself or to those around him/her, call 911 and explain that this person is experiencing a mental health crisis, and ask for someone who is trained to work with people with mental illnesses. – National Alliance on Mental Illness
Heart Health Cardiovascular disease includes heart disease, stroke, heart failure and hypertension, or high blood pressure – and the United States experienced a steep rise in cardiovascular disease deaths during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Heart disease also remains the leading cause of death in the United States and globally. Preventative care is key to avoiding cardiovascular disease and should include knowing your familial risk, eating healthy, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, living tobacco free and closely monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. – American Heart Association
Digestion 101 Constipation is typically described as fewer than three bowel movements a week and can be occasional or chronic. Treating constipation depends on the underlying cause – which can range from having a poor diet and getting too little exercise to more complex issues such as blockages and/or neurological problems in the colon and rectum. To avoid constipation, eat plenty of high-fiber foods, stay active and hydrated, keep stress levels low and try to create a regular schedule for bowel movements. – Mayo Clinic
Common Cancers Approximately 39% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Common cancers affecting men, an estimated 43%, are prostate, lung and colorectal cancers. For women, an estimated 50% of all new cancer diagnoses will include breast, lung or colorectal cancer. While cancer symptoms vary, they can include bladder issues, a persistent change in bowel habits, a persistent cough, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, and changes in breasts – a lump or firm feeling, nipple discharge and/or itchy, red, scaly, dimpled or puckered skin. – National Cancer Institute
Sleep Recommendations Nightly sleep recommendations vary by age, with suggested quantities being at least 7 hours of sleep for adults, 8 to 10 hours for teenagers, and 9 to 12 hours for school-aged kids. A sleep deficit is created when a person consistently gets less sleep than needed. Despite the number of hours, if you can wake up feeling rested and productive throughout the day, then you’re more than likely getting enough shut eye. – Sleep Foundation
Vision Health A healthy lifestyle not only supports your overall health, it helps protect your eyes. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can all cause eye health and/or vision problems – and smoking increases your risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. To care for your eyes, have routine eye exams, wear sunglasses and protective eyewear when needed, and allow your eyes the chance to rest when working on your computer with the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. – National Eye Institute
Author Carmen Fields prefaces Going Back to T-Town, a fine new book about her Tulsa-based band leading father, Ernie Fields, with lyrics from a well-known song written by another musical Oklahoman, Elk City native Jimmy Webb. The lines, from the Webb composition “Didn’t We,” are all about trying and not quite succeeding, ending with the question, “Didn’t we almost make it this time?”
Although “Didn’t We” is a love song, Carmen Fields chose those lyrics to reflect something else: the whole idea of “making it” as a performer.
“However you measure ‘making it,’ being a big name, a recognizable name throughout the country – he didn’t make it in that sense,” she says of her dad. “He had some close calls. He got the chance to go to New York City, but he was impatient about making the big time and didn’t stay as long as he could have or should have. He was proud of his accomplishments, but he never achieved the level of Duke Ellington, Count Basie or Cab Calloway.”
Yet, throughout his decades as a bandleader and trombonist, Ernie Fields at least carried on a serious, long-term flirtation with music-business stardom. He toured throughout the country, especially early in his career, headlining at many venues and providing a decent living not only for himself but for his band members as well. His music was noticed by critics and industry insiders, with a number of stories and mentions of the Ernie Fields Orchestra seeing print in local and national publications, especially during the 1940s. And he not only recorded periodically for a number of labels; he also had a big hit record later in his career: a rockin’ version of the big-band standard “In the Mood,” which made it all the way up to the No. 4 spot on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 in late 1959. It earned him a gold record (signifying sales of more than 500,000).
On top of all of that, he may have been the first person ever to lead an integrated orchestra.
“He insisted that he was, and Mother thought so as well,” says Carmen. “But all I could find on Dave Duncan was information from things like the census and the city directories; I couldn’t get a lead on anyone to verify that.”
She does know that in early 1928, her father, who was Black, hired Duncan, a white musician and arranger from Ponca City, as a member of the Ernie Fields Orchestra. It was a revolutionary and potentially dangerous move in those Jim Crow days, especially for a band that regularly toured in the South. According to the book, Fields told him that if it was ever necessary, Duncan could say he was the group’s manager.
Going Back to T-Town is full of revelations like that, eschewing a strictly chronological narrative in favor of one that focuses on the group and its members from the very beginning. This was, the author assures us, intentional.
“I’ve had people ask why I didn’t start with his being born and all of that,” she recalls. “I very purposefully wrote it the way I did because I wanted the arc of his story to start with his discovery by [famed record producer] John Hammond and end with his biggest triumph, ‘In the Mood.’
“I was conscious of the fact that I didn’t want it to be like a doctoral dissertation. That comes from my journalistic background. I wanted to tell a story, and I wanted to anchor the stories in the book, wherever possible, in actual events, which is why I used a lot of newspaper accounts and things like that.”
Carmen Fields went from writing and editing for the Boston Globe to a position as news anchor on Boston’s WGBH-TV. Later, she got into television production and scriptwriting; the 1993 PBS American Experience documentary she wrote about the Greenwood race massacre was also called “Going Back to T-Town” – a line from one of her father’s earliest recordings, 1939’s “T-Town Blues.”
“I would say I’ve been working on the book, on and off, for over 30 years,” she notes. “My father [who died in 1997] was still alive when we started talking about it, and he was very excited and engaged.
“I think the light bulb really went off in my head when the musicians who’d been in his band started dropping like flies. There were a good dozen of them I would’ve liked to have looked in the eye and have them confirm or deny the stories I’d heard – and maybe add new ones.
“The actual writing of the book,” she concludes, “happened during the pandemic; that’s when I no longer had the excuse that I didn’t have the time to get it done.”
Going Back to T-Town combines her father’s memories with reminiscences from many of his band members, along with the newspaper and magazine references she mentions. And, as she dug deeper and deeper into her father’s musical past, she says, “I was surprised by the number of musicians in his band who became famous or had careers in their own right. Before, I’d had no sense of that; I’d just seen them as boys in the band. So I gained a particular respect and even awe for the work that my father did in melding these often talented and brilliant people, with all kinds of problems and personalities, into a great organization.”
The book includes an annotated list of personnel from the Fields bands, and those interested in jazz, blues and big-band-era music will find such familiar names as trumpeter Miles Davis, saxophonist Earl Bostic, trombonist J.J. Johnson and Freddie Green, who left Fields to start his near half-century as Count Basie’s guitarist. Familiar Tulsa-based musicians who appear in the book include Tulsa Sound pioneers Rick Eilerts, Leon Rollerson and Mike Bruce; Ernie Fields’ son (and Carmen’s brother) Ernie Jr., who worked years with his dad before becoming a top music-business figure on the West Coast; and two of T-Town’s top musical legends, Western-swing innovator Bob Wills and impresario Jim Halsey.
“I don’t know how he and Bob Wills met, but for whatever reason, they clicked,” says Carmen. “Bob Wills gave him advice on booking strategies and opened a lot of doors for him.
“Jim Halsey was still in college when he started booking Dad. They just bonded. Even after Dad was no longer leading bands, they continued to collaborate on booking. He was the one who advised Dad to have both a Tulsa and California address on his letterhead, and he did that right up until the end.”
While Ernie Fields was one of the first bandleaders to integrate his orchestra, he was also one of the last – if not the last – of Oklahoma’s so-called “territory” outfits, big-band-styled groups that spent much if not most of their time playing in and around only a few states. After his rivals had given up, he kept the Fields Orchestra going, Carmen says, “through sheer will and business sense. I can remember him getting up and saying, ‘Let’s see …where can I go find me some money today?’” She laughs. “He was a business strategist to the very end.”
Carmen Fields plans to introduce the book at three different events in June. The first is set for June 15 in Oklahoma City, as a part of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Juneteenth celebration. The second and third are both scheduled for June 17: From 1-4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church North Tulsa, 1414 W. Greenwood Ave., and later that evening at the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame in Rentiesville. The latter two are presented in conjunction with Tulsa’s Magic City Books.
Image cutline: Pictured is the group talent scout John Hammond and agent Willard Alexander heard circa 1940. Photo courtesy the University of Oklahoma Press
