Resident pushes recycling program

Caleb Soptelean

Mustang resident Brian Figgins asked city council last week to form a committee to implement a recycling program.

Figgins, who previously served as a volunteer for Union City’s recycling program, said he has to drive to Yukon in order to recycle unwanted items.

Curbside pickup and a drop-off location are two options for such a program, he said, noting a drop-off site would cost less. Volunteers could sort recyclables before the city pays to have them hauled away.

Susie Shields is president of the Oklahoma Recycling Association and was the recycling coordinator for Canadian County for four years in the early 1990s.

Shields helped start recycling programs six Canadian County cities but couldn’t get one established in Mustang because the city wouldn’t cooperate.

Mustang’s Wal-Mart had been in the recycling business but wanted to get out of it, Shields said. Wal-Mart was willing to donate a green recycling bin to the city, but because the city wouldn’t find a place to put it, the bin was sent to Yukon.

“They (Mustang volunteers) were so disappointed they were not able to get the city on board,” she said. “The city of Mustang would never cooperate with my citizens’ group, so we just finally gave up.”

Starting a citizens’ committee that works with the Oklahoma Environment Management Authority is key to getting a recycling program started in Mustang, Shields said.

OEMA is a Title 60 public trust that owns or operates six transfer stations in the state as well as Union City’s 120-acre landfill.

OEMA General Manager David Griesel said the organization “most definitely would be interested in helping” Mustang with a drop-off recycling program. OEMA would provide transport of recyclables from the drop-off site for a “very nominal fee,” Griesel said.

The city could also purchase a chipper to produce mulch, which could then be used on city parks or given away or sold to city residents, Figgins said.

Shields said the DEQ offers 25 percent matching grants to communities for recycling equipment, such as bins.

Councilman Scott Gibson, who serves as the city’s representative to OEMA, said he’s interested in getting more information about recycling.

"All in"
Area men try their luck in state races

Caleb Soptelean


Mustang man runs for governor

Mustang resident Jim Evanoff has decided to run for governor.

Evanoff, 66, is running on the Republican ticket. He has a platform of 10 issues he would like the public to vote on if he becomes governor. He plans to use his office as a bully pulpit to get the initiatives on the ballot.

“I’m tired of the same rhetoric I hear from politicians on both sides,” said Evanoff, who once previously ran for Mustang City Council.

Making it illegal for attorneys to run for the state Legislature or governor is just one of Evanoff’s initiatives.

“The lawyers have so infiltrated our government they are passing laws to further their own profession,” he said. “I personally have never seen an attorney solve a problem,” the full-time engineer said. “I have seen them make money off of other people’s problems, and I have seen them reach a resolution to a problem through the court. However, I have not seen them solve a problem. To provide for three really independent branches of government -- recognizing that the attorneys have full control over the judicial branch -- they should be excluded from serving in the other two branches.”

Other initiatives Evanoff is pushing include abolishing the state income tax by Dec. 31, 2008; requiring the state to build and operate two refineries that would convert coal and natural gas into gasoline and diesel fuel at a profit of no more than 18 percent; and requiring non-violent illegal aliens to work on county-run “farms.”

“The county can use their labor to offset the cost of incarceration,” Evanoff said.

He would also like to require the state to take the organs of executed persons for transplant; mandate that trials begin within 240 days of lawsuits being filed; require insurance companies to pay life insurance if the insured is killed by a terrorist act; make it illegal for corporations to check the contents of a computer other than those they own; and create a state Constitutional Amendment defining the conditions under which a city, county, or the state can exercise the right of Imminent Domain.

Evanoff believes a Labor Party should be created through the initiative process because “the Democratic party now represents all of the left wing fringe groups and no longer represents the working class people in America.”

Evanoff is married to Darla Sue. The couple has three children: Jonathan, a painter who lives in Kansas City; Karissa, a 2006 Mustang High School graduate and soon-to-be Oklahoma State University student; and nine-year-old Jaisa.

His Web site is okinitiatives.com. Evanoff will face Congressman Ernest Istook, Tulsa state Sen. James Williamson, and Tulsa businessman Bob Sullivan in the July 25 primary election.


Minco man hopes 4th time's the charm

A Minco man is running for state superintendent of public instruction.

Bill Crozier, 59, is challenging Democrat incumbent Sandy Garrett, 63, for the state’s top education job.

A Republican, Crozier wants to use the office as a bully pulpit to address several issues that are affecting teachers. These include intelligent design, which he favors; increasing teacher pay; adequately funding teachers’ retirement; and using business techniques to help the education system run more efficiently.

Crozier has lived in Minco off and on since 1952. He was a teacher in both high school and college for 10 years, worked as a legal liaison for the Oklahoma Tax Commission for four years and was an accident investigator for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for five years. He also worked as a civilian employee for the U.S. Air Force in government contracting.

This is his fourth try for public office. “I thought I’d try one more time,” he said.

Crozier was defeated by Democrat incumbent Tom Steed for a U.S. Congressional seat in 1972 in southwestern Oklahoma and lost to U.S. Senator David Boren in 1984. He also ran for governor in 1986, but lost in a runoff election for the Republican nomination to George Mothershed.

“I’m not really opposed to Sandy,” Crozier said. “She’s been there a long time. She’s been doing a good job, but there are issues she can’t address (because she would offend the establishment).

“Someone has to support the teachers in opposition to the Legislature,” he said.

Crozier believes local school districts have the authority to implement the teaching of intelligent design, even though “local districts think they don’t have the right to do it.” He would like to adopt intelligent design on a statewide basis, which would make Oklahoma the first state to do so.

Crozier laments the state losing teachers to Texas and wants to pay Oklahoma teachers “the same as Texas plus seven percent” to make up for the fact that the Lone Star State doesn’t have an income tax.

He advocates more cooperation between teachers, parents, students and school administrators. This is in contrast to the current situation, which consists of a “top down” authoritarian system where administrators tell teachers what to do. Crozier likened this to the U.S. Army.

He isn’t afraid to voice his political opinions. He doesn’t like the fact that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibits school districts from reporting information on students who are illegal immigrants.

There have been 40 abortions since the Supreme Court legalized the procedure in 1973. Crozier called the some 40 million illegal immigrants who have relocated to the U.S. since 1973 as “God’s judgment because of Roe v. Wade.”

Crozier has a bachelor’s degree in education and political science from Oklahoma University and a master’s degree from Central Oklahoma University.

'07 City budget approved
Thumbs up for the new budget, impact fee, bond next

Caleb Soptelean

Council last week unanimously approved the 2006-2007 General Fund budget.

The $13.6 million budget represents an 11 percent increase over last year.

In addition to the budget, council is slated to give final approval to a new development impact fee during the June 20 council meeting. The impact fee would raise $1 per square foot on any residential building. Commercial impact fees would be levied based on size of the water meter. City officials estimate this would raise $500,000 a year to pay for improvements to the sewer system, water wells and lines and treatment for arsenic in the water.

During last week’s council meeting, local developer Robert Crout called the proposed impact fees “horrible” and said impact fees in Edmond and Norman “killed the growth of small houses.”

Crout said Mustang is not ready for a $1 per square foot impact fee and suggested a lower fee that could be paid over three years.

“Compared to Norman and Edmond, we’re an emerging third world country,” he said. Crout suggested the city and developers each pay for half of the necessary infrastructure investments.

Council will vote on final approval of a new general obligation bond in the near future. The 10.25 mill bond issue would go before voters sometime in late 2006 or early 2007.

City Manager David Cockrell said he is unsure when the council will vote on final approval of the bond issue, the general parameters of which were approved during a special budget meeting on Thursday, June 1. The bond will pay for baseball fields, street improvements, fire trucks and police communication equipment.

Council also approved a one percent pay raise for the Fraternal Order of Police. Although the raise was small, City Manager David Cockrell noted the police officers “just came out of a two-year contract that was rather lucrative.” They received raises of two and seven percent each of the last two years, city Human Resources Director Laura Anderson said.

Items of note that were approved as part of the 2006-2007 budget include: funding for wildland fire uniforms; a $5,000 increase in July 4 fireworks; a brush truck for the fire department; two police patrol cars; an intoxilyzer and two handheld radar guns; a pickup truck for Community Development; a permanent bathroom at Wild Horse Park; repainting the park swimming pool before the summer of 2007; $276,000 for street repair and paving; and an increase from $5,000 to $7,500 for the Chamber of Commerce.

Technology big winner at school board

Carol Brimm

Mustang School Board threw their support behind technological improvements for the next school year at Monday’s school board meeting.

The board voted unanimously to spend $25,290 on a school messenger system that will make automated phone calls notifying parents when children are absent without permission and can also be used to advise of school closings. Karl Springer told the board this is something he has wanted for five years.

“With this system every parent in the district can be notified within 30 minutes if Mr. Springer determined an emergency or a snow day required the school be closed,” Geromy Schrick, Director of Technology advised the council. He said the automated system would call the home first and then each number on file until the phone was answered.

The board also approved the use of $375K in MAPS funding to replace computers at the high school, mid high, and north middle school.

Small package—big heart

Stacy Barnes

Just five weeks ago two-year old Harmony Downey was a carefree toddler. Today she is fighting for her life, enduring chemotherapy and invasive testing in and out of hospitals. Her mom, Shelly Sparks, took Harmony to the emergency room May 10, 2006, just two days after her second birthday.

“I knew she was sick. She went from getting up and playing all the time to sleeping all the time,” said Sparks.

But nothing prepared her for what the doctors would say.

“When they checked her in the hospital she had no white blood cells. She went straight from the emergency room to the ICU for the first three days where they started giving her blood transfusions because her counts were so low,” Sparks said.

The diagnosis—Asymptomatic Lymphatic Leukemia, or ALL. The treatment—two and a half years of chemotherapy and countless tests. Harmony just finished her 35-day induction period with the chemo and now has a week “grace period” where she will not take any treatments. Instead, on Monday Harmony underwent a spinal tap and a bone marrow aspiration, which will tell the doctors how her body is responding to the treatments.

Chemotherapy is hard on every cancer patient and little Harmony is no exception. Instead of running and playing with her big sister, Symphony, Harmony can no longer walk and has started crawling again.

“The chemo is causing some kind of nervous problem with her legs,” Sparks said. “She is crawling instead of walking. She’s lost her hair. She’s moody and she’s been gaining weight because the chemo makes her hungry all the time.”

Up until now the doctors have been giving Harmony medicine through a pick line, which can’t get wet. Soon they will put a port in her chest to deliver the medicines she needs and that will allow her to take regular baths again.

Sparks, a single mother who works at Hair Razzors in Mustang, says she had a hard time accepting that her little girl was so sick.

“It took two or three days to settle in that this was really happening,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it was true. When I was still pregnant with her they told me she was going to have Downs Syndrome and then later they said she was going to be born with a heart problem. I think she has been sick for a long time. I just didn’t recognize the signs.”

Harmony’s dad, Gary Downey, graduated Mustang High School in 1995 and works at Wal-Mart Tire and Lube. Both Downey and Sparks have been in contact with Ally’s House, a foundation established to help Oklahoma children who have been diagnosed with cancer. Sparks says they have been a tremendous help to her.

A garage sale will be held this Sat., June 17 at the Mustang Trade Center behind McDonalds from 6 a.m. - noon. Portions of the proceeds will go to help Harmony and the Ally House.

There will also be a booth available with information for people who wish to add a name to a WWII registry.

Mustang feed store owner protests proposed trailer ordinance

Caleb Soptelean

A proposed commercial trailer ordinance resulted in some strong complaints from a Mustang feed store owner last week.

Carol Hightower said her business will likely have to close if the proposed ordinance goes into effect, and council responded by postponing a vote on the new ordinance.

The ordinance would prohibit parking commercial trailers in front of a building line on commercial property for more than 48 hours. It would require Hightower to move several trailers in front of Norman’s Kennel Supply, something she said she cannot do without closing the business.

Hightower said the business has been in its current location behind Pizza Hut for 16 years. She believes the ordinance would target only her business. “From what I’ve seen, I don’t know what’s going to be affected besides me. You leave me no way to comply with this ordinance.”

Hightower said the fire chief suggested they put trailers in front of the business 16 years ago because they could not store hay inside the store due to it being a fire hazard. The business could not solve the issue by putting up a fence in front of the trailers because “we were told we could not construct a fence because it would obstruct fire and police personnel,” she said.

Councilman Len Scott asked Hightower if she could relocate some of her trailers to an adjacent lot located on the east side of the feed store. Hightower said she might be able to do this, but noted there would likely be a problem with access to the property. This is because she only owns half of an alley that divides the properties and the ally is used by other businesses, including Homeland IGA.

Hightower noted Norman’s Kennel Supply has been in town for 20 years, and said it would be a shame to lose it because there are no other feed stores in town.

Referring to complaints council has received about the trailers, Councilwoman Kathleen Moon said, “What changed is a subdivision that came in since you’ve been there.”

The vote was unanimous to postpone a decision on new Ordinance 967.

City’s chamber funding up 50%

Caleb Soptelean

Mustang’s city council recently approved $7,500 for the chamber of commerce for economic development.

The funding allocation represents a 50 percent increase over last year’s total of $5,000. The previous year it was $3,500. In fiscal year 2004, the city budgeted $1,000 but didn’t pay anything, said Finance Director Brenda Wright. She couldn’t remember why.

In FY2003, the city only gave $500. In FY2002 and FY2001, only $180 was given and that represented membership dues, Wright said.

Cockrell said the large increase is justified due to the chamber’s “tremendous output. We work so well in partnership.”

The $7,500 figure was “worked out at the board retreat” between Cockrell and 14 chamber board members, Chamber Executive Director Becky Julian said. Cockrell is an ex officio, non voting member of the board.

Cockrell suggested the figure to the council, and they agreed to it. The funding measure was approved last week as part of the 2007 Fiscal Year budget.

Cockrell cited $5.9 million in sales tax collections the city received in fiscal year 2006 as a sign of the chamber’s worth. The total represents a historic high. The city collected $5.5 million in FY2005 and $4.9 million in FY2004, Wright said.

In addition, Cockrell said significant commercial and residential growth in the city prove the chamber’s effectiveness.

Becky Julian has been the chamber’s executive director for two years. She notes that during her time in the position, the number of chamber members has increased from 132 to 250-plus, an increase of more than 50 percent.

Good news and bad news for area wheat crop

Rebecca Barnes

While nobody expected 2006 to be a bumper year for wheat, area farmers fared better this season than many of their peers across the state. And while the drought meant smaller yields for most, the news was not, in fact, all bad.

“The yield has been lower than normal, but the quality has been above normal,” said Don Hubbard, location manager at Banner Co-op Elevator Association in Union City. “We’ve had heavier test weights than we usually see, and it’s been less weedy.” Hubbard said that the cause is the same for both the low yield and the high quality: lack of rain.

“Lack of rain means fewer weeds,” he said. “Also, if it rains after the wheat matures, the rain will bleach it out and that lowers the test weight. Ideally, we want rain when it’s growing and none when we’re cutting it.” He said the yield this year was about 60 percent of what he sees in a normal year. “But the quality is 60 percent better,” he said.

Todd Reed, manager of Minco Grain, put this year’s yield at closer to 50 percent.

“We made about half of what we would with a normal crop,” he said. “Normally we average about 35 bushels an acre, and this year we averaged more like 18. But the quality was good, and test weights were better than normal.”

Reed said that the high level of stress caused by the dry conditions meant a higher-protein yield.

“The more stress the wheat goes through, the higher the protein,” he said.

High-protein wheat is useful for things like noodles, but for products like bread, it must be blended with lower-protein wheat from areas that received more rain, he said.

Senior needs may be met with grants

Carol Brimm

Approximately 30 senior citizens came to the city council meeting last week to address their need for a larger sink in the senior center, a handicap accessible van, more handicapped parking spaces and upholstery cleaning for senior center furniture.

Donn Bennyhoff, President of the Senior Supporters, told the council that the pans used by aging services are 14 x 20 inches and five inches deep and water gets on the floor causing a safety hazard when they are washed. He advised the council that after speaking with Don Hudman, Executive Director of Area-wide Aging Agency the senior center would be applying for non-profit incorporation to be eligible for a grant, which could fund a new sink.

City Manager David Cockrell said he had also been in contact with Mr. Hudman and they discussed the possibility of a church or other eligible non-profit organization applying for the grant to fund the sink for the senior center.

Mayor Landrith made a motion to include $3,500 in the budget for the sink. Councilman Len Scott said he is not trying to make life hard on the seniors, but doesn’t believe the council should spend taxpayer’s money if the opportunity is there to fund it for free. Landrith declared the motion dead for lack of a second. Cockrell advised the upholstery cleaning was already in the budget, which was unanimously approved.

When contacted by the Times, Hudman said the Community Enhancement of Nutrition Assistance (CENA) grant was designed by the Department of Commerce to assist independent senior centers for things that are beyond it’s use as a meal site. He said he is currently seeking clarification from the Department of Commerce regarding the eligibility rules.

“We are searching for an eligible non-profit to provide the funding to,” Hudman said. “There are pitfalls in the seniors incorporating as a non-profit. It can cost up to $1,000 and the process sometimes takes nine to ten months. I can’t help but think we can find a way to help in this endeavor.”

Hudman also indicated that he and Cockrell had discussed the need for additional handicapped parking spaces at the town center.

“The building meets general handicap rules, however the number of handicap spaces needs to be increased when you are serving senior citizens. We learned at a recent public hearing that attendance at the site could be enhanced if other users of the town center did not take up handicap sites in front of the senior center,” Hudman said.

Hudman said he would also be talking with Cockrell about the possibility of state grants awarded annually for the purchase of a handicap accessible van called 53-10 vehicles.

City looking for way to make sewage bill averages more customer friendly

Carol Brimm

City Manager David Cockrell says he and his staff are looking for ways to make the minimum cost of sewer service more customer friendly. However, Cockrell says, city ordinances would have to be changed before the city could have the legal ability to look at individual cases.

VonTress, a senior citizen who moved into a Mustang Apartment last month, brought her issue before the council after receiving her first water bill. She told the council that the minimum sewer average of $25.88 places an extra burden upon senior citizens who live alone because their water usage is much less than that of a family of four.

“Nobody is trying to put an extra burden on seniors,” Councilman Scott Gibson said to VonTress. “That is an inflammatory statement and I want to quell it.”

Cockrell said this is a challenging issue faced by many cities.

“Since there are no sewage meters, the city calculates the average usage of the entire customer base in December and January and that amount is used as a minimum monthly sewage fee on new customer’s bills. New customers pay this minimum average until the next December and January when the amount is reset based on that customer’s actual usage, which is sometimes less and sometimes more than the average,” Cockrell said. “We haven’t raised the average in four years. If we recalculated the average now it would go up.”

“We have discussed this in past council sessions and other options become very challenging. We’re looking for fresh ideas and will bring the council a report in 30 to 45 days,” Cockrell said.

Founding Citizens
Mohr & Dolton families have long history in Mustang
Part two of Louis Dolton's story

Stacy Barnes

Louis Dolton’s family came to Mustang in the late 1800s. His parents, Elza and Louisa (Mohr) Dolton, met and were married in the town. He was born and raised in Mustang and graduated from the local high school in 1946. After serving a year in the Army during the Korean War, Dolton returned to the area and attended college at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.

On a visit home he met the girl who would become his wife, Darlene Johnson of Wheatland.

“There was a group of kids playing softball and I tried to get a date with her aunt, Luzell—she had an aunt the same age,” Dolton said. “Her aunt wouldn’t go and Darlene said ‘he’s got a car and he’s in college—you’re crazy if you don’t go.' So Luzell said, “you go out with him then” and the next weekend I had a date.”

Luzell ended up marrying Dolton’s brother. Darlene and Louis had two children, Louis Jr., who lives in Topeka Kan., and Paul, who lives in Ventura, Calif. Both boys followed in their father’s footsteps, serving in the armed forces. The Dolton’s have five grandkids.

In 1962 the couple moved to California for Dolton to take a teaching job with the Los Angeles schools. He had taught in several different Oklahoma communities, but left the state for higher pay he said.

“In Oklahoma, I taught in rural areas mostly. My first job was in Hennessey and I taught in a one room school in El Reno,” he said. “I had six boys in the sixth grade named Larry!”

They settled in Torrance, Calif., and Darlene eventually became manager of a school cafeteria, while Dolton continued his teaching career and later “spent 15 years making the train stop and go at Disneyland.” Sadly Darlene passed away about a year and a half ago. Dolton is currently working on his Ph.D., in philosophy.

He says growing up in Mustang was “a lot of fun”. He recalls that during WWII some things were hard to come by in these parts.

“I remember we couldn’t drive cars. We had to ride in a wagon to grandpa Mohr’s on Sundays because we didn’t have gas,” he said. “Margarine came in at that time because of rationing. They rationed sugar and butter and they couldn’t sell yellow margarine. You got margarine and a package of coloring.”

People had to mix the dye in with their margarine at home if they wanted it to be yellow.

Dolton spent his summers working in dairies and one summer had the privilege of operating the first dried milk making machines in Oklahoma City. He says ball games where very popular and that everybody went to watch the softball and basketball games that were played.

Some may recall the musical group “The Dolton Gang”, which was the family band. Each member of the family played an instrument. Louis played the guitar; his brothers Joe and Ronnie played the steel guitar and accordion respectively; their mother, Louisa, played the bass drum and their dad, Elza, the drums.

“We played at dances all over Canadian County,” Dolton said. “We had a Saturday morning spot on KTOK that was sponsored by the Red Feather Drive-in.”

The group played their instruments live every Saturday for the show. Ronnie still entertains. As an ambassador for Camping World, Ronnie lives in a motor home, traveling across the country, entertaining everywhere he stops.

Dolton remembers his childhood days in Mustang fondly and visits the area frequently.

“It was really a fun time growing up here in Mustang,” he said. “I didn’t think so at the time, but looking back, I thought it was absolutely fantastic until somebody told me how poor I was.

“Grandpa was always the president of the farmer’s union and we had box suppers once a month. Ball games were the principle thing to do then. I warmed the bench a lot.”

He says before he was old enough to play there used to be a lot of baseball games played in the area.

“Baseball was big in Mustang before my time. They would set up in pastures and build backstops and travel from town to town,” he said.

Over the years Dolton says he has enjoyed watching the city progress and now when Dolton comes back he says things are quite different than they were during his days here.

“I get lost,” he said. “But everything is really nice and it’s still a great place to raise a family.”

Happenings @ Town Center
Comedy workshop for teens coming to library

Desiree Webber, Steve Hewitt and Gloria Shotwell

Musician Monty Harper will present “Wacky, Witty, Way-out Pet Songs” on Thursday, June 22, at 2:00 p.m. at Town Center. Monty Harper is an award-winning children’s songwriter and recording artist. His songs are imaginative, humorous, upbeat and intelligent. They inspire kids (and adults!) to move, clap, laugh and sing along.

Free tickets are available at the Mustang Public Library on a first-come basis as long as supplies last beginning Thursday, June 15th. This program is made possible through a matching grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council.

The OU Comedy Improv will present a workshop for teens on Friday, June 23, at 1:00 p.m. Participants will learn basic skills for improvisational comedy. The OU Comedy Improv is a student organization with the University of Oklahoma. They perform around Norman and surrounding areas plus give classes and workshops on acting, mime and improvisation. The workshop is free and open to teens ages 12 to 17. Please call 376-2226 to pre-register.

If you are taking a long drive for your vacation, then you may want to consider an audio book for the trip. Books on cassette tape or CD-ROM check out for two weeks. There are a variety of titles including best sellers by James Patterson, Sue Grafton, W.E.B. Griffin and Danielle Steel, to name a few. The Harry Potter books are also available on CD-ROM and cassette along with a variety of children titles. For more information about library services and programs, please call 376-2226.

The Mustang Senior Center will host its Father’s Day Party this Friday, June 16th, at 10:45 a.m. Participants will elect a “Father of the Year.” The chosen father will receive gifts donated by ProLube and All Night Auto. For more information, contact the Senior Center at 376-1297. Party attendees are invited to stay for lunch, which starts at 11:30.

Lunch that day will be a soft taco with ground beef, chili beans, tortilla chips with salsa and bread pudding for dessert. Lunch reservations must be made by noon on Thursday, June 15th.

There will be a variety of programs at the Mustang Senior Center next week. On Monday, June 19, there will be a baseball trivia program before lunch, on Tuesday Vista Care will present a program on dementia and what a person can do to help himself, on Wednesday the Center will celebrate Jane Russell’s birthday with the showing of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” at 12:30 p.m. Carmen, a licensed beautician will also be at the Center on Wednesday to give haircuts for $6.00.

Those interested in receiving haircuts need to contact the center for more information. On Friday, June 23, there will be a “Read My Lips” contest at 11:00 a.m.

There are a few more openings for the Mustang Senior Center trip to the Cherokee Casino on Friday, July 28th. Participants will leave at 8:00 a.m. The cost is $25.00 per person and includes bus transportation, an “all-you-can-eat” buffet, and $10.00 from the casino upon arrival.

The Senior Center is traveling to Tahlequah on Saturday, July 29th, to see the Golden Oldies show presented by the River City Players. Northeastern State University’s Summer Series has been entertaining audiences with Branson-style productions since the late 1970’s. One of the former stars that have made it big in the music industry is Carrie Underwood, the 2005 winner of American Idol.

Cost is $59 per person and includes lunch, Deluxe Motor coach Transportation, and the River City Players’ presentation of “Golden Oldies.” Registration deadline is June 30th. For more information about Mustang Senior Center programs and events, call 376-1297.

Mustang Parks and Recreation’s Mad Mondays or Wacky Wednesdays is a fun day designed just for 1st through 5th graders. Starting at 9:00 a.m., participants enjoy games, the climbing wall, sports, crafts along with swimming in the afternoon. There are new themes and activities each week. The cost is $15.00 per day and space is limited.

On Monday, June 19th, the children will be treated to an opportunity to learn about fishing and fish identification at the Wild Horse Pond by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Call 376-3411 for more information.

Monday Night Swim is the perfect time to take the family swimming. The pool is open Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the cost is $10.00 per family or $3.00 per person.

Regular hours are Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Season Passes start at $45.00.

Looking for a great birthday party? Check out the Aquatic Center’s daytime birthday parties packages. Parties include two tables under the Big Umbrellas for two hours plus drinks and ice cream for 15 children/adults plus the birthday child for $100.00. Additional children or adults are $4.00 per person.

Make your reservations at the Aquatic Center or call 376-9049 for availability.

To view the Community Calendar for a listing of programs and events, check the website at www.cityofmustang.org or tune into channel 20.

Lights! Camera! Action!

Carol Brimm

For Susan Emberton, daughter of Steve and Kathy Emberton of Mustang, her Film Making 1 class assignment to make a short film wasn’t just “homework” but a step into her future. Emberton, who grew up in Mustang, was home schooled and currently attends the University of Oklahoma majoring in film and video studies.

Emberton who wrote, directed, edited, set the lighting and shot the film, said it had to be less than 10 minutes, shot in 16mm black and white, and the subject was unlimited. She said video games have been her hobby since childhood, so she decided to make a video game based movie entitled, “The Rise and Fall of the Ego”.

The four-minute film was shown Friday night at the DeadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City. The film, according to Emberton, is about two scientists who are working on a secret government project to build the first autonomous android. The android has the likeness of one scientist and the mind of the other. Each scientist thinks he should be in control of the android, but when it is activated it is more powerful than both of them.

Emberton constructed the set using old electronic equipment from the 1970’s and her friends, Michael Whitley and Forest Sharp played the scientists. The movie was set to the song “Traces of the Cave” by a local band, Ghost of Monkshood.

Sports
Anderson leads MHS over PC West

Caleb Soptelean

Junior Steven Anderson scored seven points down the stretch to lead Mustang High School’s summer league team to victory over Putnam City West on Thursday.

The game was a defensive struggle, with Mustang holding on for a 36-31 victory.

Mustang was ahead 21-15 when PCW went on a 16-4 run to lead 31-25. The Broncos came back with an 11-0 run to win.

“Anderson made two shots in the middle of the lane and then got fouled on a dunk and made the free throw,” said coach Allen Green.

Anderson’s key points came right after PCW switched from man-to-man defense to a 2-3 zone.

Green encouraged his charges to attack the zone, and they did.

Anderson “has really good hands around the basket,” Green said, adding that when he gets the ball close to the basket he’s either going to make it or get fouled.

Others who played well in the win were senior off guard Colter Baskett and junior forward Austin Feuerborn.

With the win, the Broncos were able to correct mistakes they made earlier in the week in a 71-58 loss to Edmond Memorial.

In that game, Green said his team played hard but “made some mistakes” in the second half, including turnovers, taking ill-advised shots, missing free throws and letting the opposition score transition baskets.

“The score was not indicative of the game,” he said.

The Broncos led a couple times in the third quarter before Edmond Memorial pulled away in the final frame.

Top players for Mustang were Feuerborn, Anderson and point guard Austin Davidson.

This week, Mustang played Bishop McGuiness on Tuesday and will play Stillwater on Thursday, June 15.

All games are played at Edmond Memorial High School, 1000 E. 15th St.

Sports
Boomers picking up steam, go 5-4

Caleb Soptelean

The Mustang Boomers American Legion baseball team rebounded from a slow start to win five of nine games last week.

The Boomers entered the week at 2-11 but now stand at 7-15.

Mustang took doubleheaders from Lawton and Moore and defeated Joplin, Mo. in a game played at Claremore on Saturday.

The Boomers fell twice to both Bartlesville and Rogers County.

“We’ve improved,” said coach Shannon Enfield. “We’re a relatively young team. We’re playing everybody (on the 21-man team) and playing hard.”

Against the Lawton Colonels on Monday, June 5, the Boomers won 14-12 and 11-4. Winning pitchers were Brent Crain and Zac Tidholm. Steven Teter picked up a save in the nightcap by tossing three innings of relief.

David Grellner and James Madison had three hits apiece in the first game, while Marcus Hughes contributed with a home run and five RBIs.

In the second game, Scott Gholston provided offensive highlights by stroking two hits and knocking in three runners.

Justin Vincent and Sean Iago picked up wins against Moore on Tuesday and Thursday, June 6 and 8. The Boomers won 8-6 and 13-7. Brock Feldman had two hits and two runs scored in the first game, while Grellner and Hughes each had three hits in the second.

Bartlesville topped the Boomers by scores of 8-6 and 6-3 on Friday, June 9. Losing pitchers for Mustang were Crain and Hughes.

Against Joplin, Mo., the Boomers won 16-12. Tyler Wilson picked up the win in relief after Justin Vincent started and pitched four and one-third innings. Grellner threw two innings to pick up a save. Chase Ashley contributed with two hits and two RBIs, while Grellner added two hits and three RBIs.

The Boomers fell to the Rogers County Rangers 11-7 and 11-4.

Josh Crossley and Mike Hefta were pitchers of record.

Zac Tidholm started and pitched five innings in the first game, but it ended when Crossley gave up a walk-off grand slam in the seventh after allowing a double, wild pitch and two intentional walks. That was the first time one of Enfield’s teams had lost on a walk-off grand slam, the longtime coach said.

Enfield said he will begin leaving his starting pitchers in longer now that they are in better pitching condition.

This week, the Boomers were scheduled to play at Burkburnett, Texas on Monday and Edmond Stars on Tuesday before hosting the Oklahoma Bandits on Friday.

Mustang will travel to travel to Stillwater on Saturday and play the Oklahoma Outlaws on Monday.

Sports
Mustang Red team continues to dominate

Ron Fields

It was a dominating week for Mustang’s Pure Prairie League Red team.

The freshmen Broncos manhandled four of five opponents and finished the week unbeaten to roll to an impressive 10-1 record.

The Broncos capped their week with a 19-0 rout of Putnam City West on Friday night. That win came after the team routed Norman North 15-0. The Broncos also routed Enid 18-5 and Yukon 11-0.

The only test of the week came against Edmond Santa Fe and the Broncos needed extra innings to hand the Wolves a 5-4 loss.

Mustang finished the week by outscoring their opponents 68-9.

“We are hitting the ball well, considering we didn’t face a lot of pitchers that threw strikes during the week,” Mustang coach Rennie Whittern said. “Combine that with swinging the bat well, and we are scoring a lot of runs.

“I knew we were going to be a good team when we put this group together, but I didn’t expect us to get off to this kind of start,” he said.

“But it is not how you play at the beginning of the year that matters, it is how you play at the end of the year. I don’t see anything to hold us back, and I can see we have been improving since the start of the season.”

Bronco hitters hammered Putnam City West pitching from the start. The Broncos scored runs early in the game and rolled to an 11-0 lead through the first two innings.

In the win over Norman North on Thursday, the Broncos again jumped on pitching early, scoring 10 runs in the first inning and all 15 runs in the first three to roll to the 15-0 win.

Cody Creek had a two-run scoring single and Billy Easley an RBI single to highlight the inning. Mustang also scored runs off walks and errors.

Norman North pitching walked nine batters in the first inning and committed three errors.

Dustin Donathan’s two-run scoring double keyed a three-run second inning and a 13-0 lead. The Broncos added two more runs on bases loaded walks in the third inning.

An 11-run first inning burst sparked the 18-5 rout of Enid on Wednesday night. Mustang again scored all 18 runs in the first three innings.

Jake Matson drove in a pair of runs with a double and an error in batting twice in the inning. Austin Conway added a two-run scoring single and Donathan drove in a pair of runs with two hits in the inning.

Mustang sent 16 batters to the plate in that first inning.

The Broncos added six more runs in the second inning to open a 17-1 lead. Kevin Cavin doubled to start the inning, and after two walks loaded the bases. Matson singled in the first run of the frame. Donathan followed with an RBI single, Creek drove in two with a double and Easley plated a run with a single.

Donathan went 3-3 on the day with three runs scored and three runs batted in. Creek and Matson also had three hits, Creel drove in two runs and Matson three.

The toughest game of the week came on Tuesday. Conway’s run scoring single in the bottom of the eight inning gave the Broncos a 5-4 win over Santa Fe.

Mustang had to come from behind in the contest, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth and one in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

The Broncos trailed 4-1 in the sixth inning. Kyle Hodges and Scott Wainscott both reached on errors and Donathan doubled to plate both runners and cut the lead to 4-3. Easley’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the tying run and sent the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Hodges singled, advanced to second base and Conway’s single drove in Hodges with the game winning run.

In the 11-0 win over Yukon on Monday, Mustang took advantage of eight Yukon errors to roll to the rout.

The Broncos have another busy week, starting tonight with Choctaw in an 8 p.m. game at Choctaw. The team will compete in the Yukon Tournament starting Thursday. The Broncos play Chickasha at 5:45 p.m. Thursday in the first round of pool play, meet Choctaw 1 at 5:45 p.m. Friday and play at 9 a.m. Saturday against Edmond North.

The winner of pool 2 and the runner-up of pool 1 play at 6 p.m. that night and the winner of pool 1 and the runner-up of pool 2 play at 8:15 p.m. in the semifinals.

The third place game will be played at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and the championship game will start at 3:45 p.m.

Mustang follows that tournament with an 6 p.m. game at Bridge Creek and will host Choctaw and Putnam City North in a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Sports
Freshman White squad gets in winning column

Ron Fields

Mustang’s Pure Prairie League White team found its way into the win column, but it was still a long week for the youngest Bronco team.

The White team split a doubleheader with Norman North on Saturday, beating the Timberwolves 7-3 for their second win of the week and the season. Norman North came back to win the second game 14-3.

Mustang, who went into their first full week of PPL play with an 0-6 record, went 2-4 during the week and are 2-10 overall. The Broncos lost 16-6 to Enid on Friday, beat Choctaw 7-2 on Thursday, lost to Norman North 7-3 on Wednesday and dropped a 13-5 game to Bridge Creek to open the week.

“We are playing a lot better,” White team coach Royce Young said. “We did get better pitching this week. We had a talk with the pitchers after the Bridge Creek game (the staff walked 19 batters) and stressed to them about control and throwing strikes. We have the best we have played all season following that game.

“The team is coming along,” he said. “We are now playing teams more our age instead of older teams like we did in those two tournaments to start the season.”

In the win over Norman North on Saturday, the Broncos scored five runs in the third inning to overcome a 2-1 deficit and got a more steady pitching performance to post the 7-3 win.

Bronco pitching gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but settled down and allowed only one run the rest of the way.

Zac Beiber gave the Bronco offense its first spark of the game with a run scoring single in the top of the second. Kyler Peters had singled and stolen second base before Beiber’s base hit.

Mustang put together five hits to score five times in the third and open a 6-2 lead. Christian Keller tripled to open the inning and he scored on a double by Chase Hagan. A Grant Gossman double plated Hagan and singles by Peters and Beiber and an RBI on a ground ball by Tanner Hamilton opened the 6-2 lead.

Mustang held onto their four-run lead by adding a run in the top of the sixth inning on Peters’ RBI single. Keller had singled and two outs later Peters lined a base hit to drive in Keller. Peters finished the game 3-3 at the plate with two runs batted in.

In the nightcap, Norman North erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the second inning and scored all 14 in the first three innings in rolling to the 14-3 win.

The Broncos tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second on Brock Baker’s two-run scoring single. Colby Gering had drawn a walk and Grant Gossman doubled before Baker’s hit.

Down 14-2, the Broncos scored another run in the fourth inning on a Gering RBI single.

On Friday night the Broncos rolled to an early lead, but couldn’t stop the Enid bats and fell to the Plainsmen 16-6.

Baker gave the Broncos a lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run scoring single. Enid answered in the second and took control of the lead over the next two innings.

In the first meeting of the week with Norman North, the Timberwolves took a 1-0 lead by beating the Broncos 7-3. Peters led the Mustang hitting in the game, going 1-2 with an RBI. Gossman, Hagan, Jace Chestnut also had singles in the game.

In the first game of the week against Bridge Creek, the Broncos kept the game close until the late innings. Bridge Creek scored after the time limit had run out to take a 13-5 win. Bronco pitching walked 19 batters in the contest.

Gossman had a two-run scoring triple.

Sports
Five MHS grads play in all-city games

Ron Fields

CHOCTAW - Lucy Ramon did all she could for the West Sunday in the annual All-City Basketball game at Choctaw High School.

Hometown favorite Danielle Cox just did a little more.

Cox scored 18 points to spark the East to a 62-48 win over Ramon and the West in the girls’ game. The West boys did come back to win their game 63-56.

Five former Mustang players competed in the All-City event. Ramon was joined by Lauren Reel and Amber Maples. Donnie Woodard and Andrew Roberts played for the West boys team.

Ramon and Reel, who played last week in the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-State game, got one more chance to play on the same team in the All-City game on Sunday.

It was the first time the contest has been played in Choctaw and it is the latest the game has been played. In past years the game was played in late May.

Ramon was the key figure in the game for the West, finishing with 16 points, one-third of the West’s total output. The West worked the ball inside to Ramon all night long and the former Lady Bronco responded by burning the East defense.

But the West defense couldn’t stop the scoring of Cox, Midwest City Carl Albert’s Brianne Grisham and Del City’s Brittney Bennett. The trio had an answer for every West score.

The scoring of Ramon and Stephanie Stewart kept the West team close in the first half. Ramon hit three shots in the lane that had the West team within one point twice in the first half. The East turned shots from Bennett, Grisham and Cox into a five-point, 28-23 lead at the intermission.

Ramon continued to get her points in the second half, but it was Cox that took over the game for the East. She scored 12 points in the second half and led the East to a 10-point lead. The West team cut the lead down to six late in the game, only to see the East pull away in the final minutes.

Ramon led the West scoring with 16 points and her former teammates, Reel and Maples both had one point. Stewart finished the game with nine points, Olaitin Adesola of Putnam City West had six and El Reno’s Jaclyn Rhodes had five. Cox led the East team with 18, Grisham scored 10 and Bennett 10.

In the boys’ game, Woodard and Roberts contributed to the West’s 63-56 win over the East.

Woodard scored six points and Roberts two as the West team led most of the way.

Putnam City West’s Rod Sloan played a key role in the West’s win. Sloan led the West in scoring (12 points) and also won the slam dunk contest during halftime.

Woodard had two field goals in the first half that saw the West take a 24-23 lead. In the second half Woodard added a third field goal and Roberts scored a bucket. The West offense came alive in the second half and outscored the East 39-33.

Sloan led all scorers with 12, Edmond Santa Fe’s Drew Haymaker scored 10, Andy Shaw had eight, Kevin Freeman of PC West eight, Julius Arnett seven and Woodard six. Brandon Bently of John Marshall led the East with 11 points and Eric Robinson of Norman North scored eight.

Business
Kidville kids enjoy summer

Jennifer Manley

School’s out for summer! And that means the kids need to be entertained everyday and all day. But parents, not to worry, Kidville Childcare can help.

Owner Debbie Culp understands how important it is to choose a day care center you can trust. She knows that your children are precious to you and you should know that they are in good hands at Kidville.

“I look at the kids and care for them just like I would my own,” Culp said. “They are very precious.”

Kidville has been open for over two years now and has been voted the best daycare center in Mustang for two consecutive years. She says it is hard work and takes a lot of determination and of course, God’s help, but she hopes to continue serving her community in this way for years to come.

“I feel very blessed,” she said. When making your career choice, Culp believes that “you might as well do something from your heart and kids are that for me.”

She created her center to be a “helping hand for parents” while simultaneously striving to give children a positive, Christian, healthy atmosphere to learn and flourish in. Culp tries to make it the best experience for children, allowing both fun and education to reach them.

And now that it is summer, Culp has plenty of fun summertime activities planned for the kids.

Kidville kids will be treated to exciting adventures such as field trips to the Ominplex, the Orr Family Farm, swimming, skating, movies and more. Culp promises lots of fun while also keeping their minds active and involved. She believes it is important to keep them in a routine of learning so that they are ready for school to start again.

Culp has surrounded herself with a great, loving, energetic staff and credits them with the success of the center. She also gives much credit to her husband Cliff who is often on hand to help as well and whom the kids adore.

“I feel very fortunate that I have gotten the staff that I have,” she said.

To be a part of this summer fun and to get your kids involved with the great staff at Kidville, call 745-4663 for enrollment information. Or visit the center and see for yourself at 1711 ½ E. Hwy. 152 in Mustang. Kidville can care for your kids, ages 2 – 12 years old, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Business
Party guests bounce with glee

Jennifer Manley

Looking for a fun way to get your summer started? Well you can get the party started in a big way with Bounce Around Inflatables.

Bounce Around Inflatables is a locally owned and operated business specializing in fun inflatable rentals for parties and community events. Theresa and Chris Dennis started their business in April.

As proud parents of a small child, they saw firsthand the enjoyment that comes from these inflatables. So they decided to share the fun and encourage everyone to experience it.

Not only would these fantastic inflatable moonwalks, slides, obstacles courses and more provide hours of fun for a child’s birthday party but they could also entertain large groups at school, church or community events. You’ve probably seen them at carnivals but may never have considered renting one for yourself. But now you can.

Bounce Around Inflatables makes it affordable and convenient for everyone to take advantage of this fun. Some can be rented for just under $100 for up to four hours of fun or you can go all out and rent several to use all day long. They even offer a discount for multi-item rentals.

And with the variety of inflatables, you are sure to find something for everyone of any age and any size party or event. Little girls may enjoy a fun Princess Bounce or Castle Bounce while boys will love the specialty character ones such as a Builder Boy Bounce, Sponge Boy Bounce or even a cool Web Slinger Bounce for your little superheroes.

Older kids will love 22 ft. giant slide or testing their athletic skills in an obstacle course. Theresa says the obstacle course is especially fun and will definitely wear you out.

Any of these items will provide hours of entertainment and long-lasting memories. Schools, daycares and churches can use them for their next event or even as great fundraisers. The opportunities are endless.

Bounce Around Inflatables offer rentals seven days a week. Set up and instructions are included. Call Bounce Around Inflatables for your next event. They have two numbers to better serve you.

Call the office at 483-5675 or you can reach Theresa directly at 659-0381. Bounce Around serves Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.

Business
Affordable guns & ammo store

Jennifer Manley

For almost five years now, Big Boy’s Guns and Ammo has been providing customers with everything guns and ammo. Owners and Mustang residents Mike and Bridgette Blackwell opened their store in the hopes of creating a convenient and affordable one-stop shop for buying, selling and trading firearms.

With exceptional service, a huge selection and a friendly knowledgeable staff, it’s no wonder that the store has already had to expand to meet the needs of its customers. And Mike hopes to expand further in the future. His customers have proved to be loyal and he is proud to serve many local law enforcement personnel as well.

More importantly, at Big Boy’s, the owners strive to make it affordable for everyone. Mike believes it is the “gun store you can afford.” So, whether you are an avid hunter, a collector of antique weaponry or just looking for a home security item, Big Boy’s Guns and Ammo has something for you.

They carry a full selection of new and used firearms, ammunition and accessories. Everything you need to maintain and operate your firearm. They carry antique, military as well as modern firearms.

The staff is always welcoming and willing to offer help and answer any questions. They will gladly accommodate your special orders if they do not have what you need in stock. And if you are new to the gun world, they can help you get acquainted with the right firearm for you. Perhaps you have an old gun you inherited and would like to know its worth, bring it in and they will give you a free appraisal.

They specialize in guns and ammo, yes, but they pride themselves on the service they provide. So, why battle traffic and crowds in those big named stores when you can shop locally and get the service you deserve and the prices you want.

Big Boy’s Guns and Ammo is located at 7211 S. Council Rd. in Wheatland. The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 745-7179 for more information.

Business
Craftsmen for hire

Jennifer Manley

Andy OnCall is a handyman repair service that provides qualified craftsmanship on any and all small jobs, repairs and maintenance for your home. For over four years, the company has been providing homeowners with excellent service and peace of mind.

Owner Linda Frost says they will repair, replace, update, modify, install, refurbish, re-new almost everything inside & outside the home. She prides herself on being able to help homeowners in almost any capacity. No job is too big or small.

Frost has qualified and highly skilled craftsmen available, covering most all trades in the industry. Some specialize in certain areas while others are extremely multi-skilled and well rounded in many types of work. When the call comes in, they analyze the job based on your description and send a craftsman qualified for that particular job. Frost believes this is a major advantage to customers.

“All our craftsmen have years of experience and must meet our strict criteria regarding background and character,” Frost said. “As the owner, I have my own personal yardstick to determine if a craftsman measures up to the company’s high standards.”

Not only do the repairmen meet such standards but there is another valuable aspect to their service: FREE estimates. That’s right, the handyman assigned to your job will come to your home, assess the situation and determine the fee.

“Taking the time to look at the project and visit with the customer to determine exactly what he or she wants done is important to us,” Frost said.

So not only are you getting qualified craftsmanship but also you are getting it at a fair, upfront and honest price. According to Frost, their motto is “No pay ‘til job’s OK!” No money will be exchanged until the job is completed to the customer’s satisfaction. This not only proves that the company is confident in what it does but it also gives you as a customer an extremely valuable sense of security.

And you’ll be glad to know that they price by the job not by the hour, so you don’t have to worry about a job costing more because it takes longer than expected. Andy OnCall believes in efficiency as well as quality so you should expect a totally hassle-free experience.

Once you try Any OnCall, you’ll want to use them for all of your home repairs whether it is a leaky faucet or the tedious tiling of a bathroom. If you need a handyman don’t hesitate to call your local “Andy” today.

Andy OnCall is located at 1631 N. Meridian in Oklahoma City. They serve the entire metro area including Mustang and Yukon. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can learn more by visiting them on the web at www.andyoncall.com. Call 943-9004 to get your Andy OnCall handyman.