Prestidge tapped for head coach position

Eric Bradshaw

In a special Wednesday night meeting of the Mustang Public School Board, the decision was made to promote high school football offensive coordinator Ty Prestidge to the position of head coach and assistant athletic director.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind this morning,” Prestidge said Thursday, after finding out he had procured the position. He said that the team would probably need an additional coach but had not yet thought through it.

The former offensive coordinator of the football team and a close friend of former head coach Todd Dilbeck, Prestidge brings experience and stability to the Mustang Broncos and is well-qualified for the position he will occupy next to current athletic director Mike Clark.

The new head coach has held the position of athletic director at three schools – Purcell, Plainview, and Empire Public Schools – and has led the football program of six schools with a record of 62-95 in his 14 years as a coach. Since he joined Mustang, in the summer of 2002, he has graduated one son Casey, and will soon graduate Cole Prestidge, who blocked for quarterback Matt Edmonds during the team’s state championship run. The senior recently signed with Northeastern A&M in Miami. Casey played running back and outside linebacker for the team.

Prestidge coached the Westmoore Jaguars prior to the Mustang Broncos and led them to a 1996 season in which they were undefeated in their district and a state runner-up in 1991. Prior to the Jaguars, he coached the Plainview Indians into the quarterfinals in 1986 and helped coach the Ringling Blue Devils into the quarterfinals in 1978, 1979, and 1982. With a resume so long and impressive, the coach might have been a top choice even if he was not already a part of the team.

The coach said that his plans are to continue the tradition of the team and hopes to improve a bit on it, even with the loss of 23 seniors this year.

“I like to go by the philosophy that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “We do, of course, always hope to improve on it just a bit.”

Council says no payment necessary

Stacy Barnes

City Council gridlocked Tuesday over a measure that could have potentially allowed the volunteer members to either be paid a small fee or deduct city related expenses from their income taxes.

The agenda item was proposed by outgoing City Council member Wendy Wilkerson whose term expires in May. She said she felt the measure might make the positions more appealing to others.

“If people are not going to have to operate at a loss or spend a lot of money to be a Council person perhaps it would make it a little more attractive,” she said. “A thinking person would do the numbers. It’s not a very smart thing financially. I’ve spent thousands of dollars in legal fees since I’ve held the position through no fault of my own.”

If the measure had passed, an ordinance or resolution would have been drafted and put to a vote of the people. Mustang voters weighed in on the issue once before on June 14, 1994. The proposition then would have allowed the Mayor to be paid a fee not to exceed $500 per month and other Council members a fee not to exceed $100 per month. The issue was voted down 232 to 41.

Ward 3 Councilman Scott Gibson said things have changed in the past 12 years and he thought the city should revisit the issue.

“The town is totally different than it was in 1994,” he said, pointing out that other municipalities pay their council members varying compensation and some allow tax write offs in lieu of money.

Wilkerson said she did not think there should be a distinction between the amount of compensation the Mayor received as opposed to other Council members since they are all part of the same entity. She proposed $25 per meeting for every sitting member and that any compensation not take effect until the member’s next term.

“I’m asking for a gradual introduction and for it not to take effect until the next term a Council member is elected to so it is not something that is done for those currently sitting on the Council,” said Wilkerson.

The motion failed due to a 3-3 tie with Wilkerson, Gibson and Kathleen Moon, voting for; and Keith Bryan, Joe Conner and Len Scott against. Mayor Chad McDowell who usually casts the tie-breaking vote in these cases did not attend the meeting.

Oliver! Success!

Carol Brimm

An entire auditorium of elementary students sat silent and spellbound for three hours Friday as Mustang High School students performed a special matinee of Oliver! The hard work, dedication and musical mastery of students, teachers, volunteers and sponsors paid off handsomely in a production that was wonderfully entertaining.

Emily Farnham, drama teacher and director of the play, deserves high praise for bringing together 80 actors, 35 crew members, 14 musicians, and a host of volunteers, woodshop students, art students, parents, teachers and business sponsors to produce such a seamless performance.

The play begins when Oliver, played by Reba Baker, asks for more food at a London workhouse. Baker, a senior in varsity choir who plans to attend Southern Nazarene University and major in music education, did an excellent job portraying a strong, tough, scared little boy. As she sang “Food, Glorious Food” her years of vocal training were evident in her performance.

Actor Antonio Gloria was very believable as Mr. Bumble the hard-hearted workhouse official who sold Oliver into servitude and Erin Keel, who played Widow Corney did a great job pretending to ward off Bumbles clumsy advances while actually luring him into marriage. A comic element was brought to the story when the funeral director, played by Brian Abraham, his wife, played by Jessica Wheeler, their daughter, played by Hannah Otto and the shop clerk, played by Devon Hannaford had a rough and tumble scene that allowed poor Oliver to escape.

Enter the Artful Dodger who lures Oliver into a life of crime. Tara Dillard transformed herself into the tough, likeable little pickpocket, Dodger. As Dodger swaggers across the stage, you believe, for a moment, that these are the dirty streets of London where a youth must do what he can to survive.

Fagin, played by Mark Fairchild, trains “Fagin’s Boys” in the fine art of thievery as he leads the chorus in the song “Pick A Pocket or Two”. Fairchild, a senior in Drama and Varsity Choir, is perhaps the most experienced actor in the play. He has performed in Shakespeare in the Park and Cimarron Circuit Opera Theatre and plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma and major in theatre or theatre education.

“My passion is the theatre,” said Fairchild, “it’s what I want to do when I grow up.”

Aaron Lechliter plays Bill Sykes, Fagin’s boss. Sykes is the true “criminal” in the group. Lechliter’s heavy steps and deep gruff voice produce a feeling that this man is dangerous, which proves to be true when Sykes kills his girlfriend Nancy.

Dia Baker, a sophomore choir student, plays Nancy who is truly the heart of the play. Baker, who has been in choir since 6th grade, does a wonderful job singing “As Long As He Needs Me” when describing her love for evil Bill Sykes. It is Nancy who defies Sykes and tries to reunites Oliver with his wealthy grandfather, Mr. Brownlow, played by Andy Washington. Sykes kills Nancy, Fagin changes his ways, and the play ends with Oliver, now the picture of health, living in the lap of luxury. Rags to Riches…every little boys dream.

Farnham said the success of the play is due not only to the daily 3-hour rehearsals since January, but in large part the help and support of everyone in the school and community.

Thanks begin with Greg Johnson and Stephanie Abell who took 14 exceptional MHS band students and melded them into an excellent orchestra. Ms. Abell also choreographed the entire show, and her depiction of students as a horse and carriage was wonderful. Mike McGarry’s class built the set, Gail Wilson’s art class painted them. Mr. Marzec’s class designed the program cover and the organized Ms. Dillard helped with ticket sales.

Karen Fairchild and MHS drama and choir parents made sure the cast had food at rehearsals and Vicki Lennert, dubbed the fastest stitcher in the Midwest, made most of the costumes. English teacher, Gayla Case shopped thrift stores to outfit the workhouse and Fagin’s boys and Shannon Rigsby did the head shots. All of this would not have been possible without the support of MHS administration and staff and the sponsorship of the Mustang Chamber of Commerce and local area businesses.

New steakhouse to open soon

Eric Bradshaw

A new restaurant is coming to Mustang but not just any restaurant. Winding Creek Steakhouse promises to be a high-quality establishment where you might take a date or celebrate a special occasion.

While area residents have had to go to Yukon or Oklahoma City for a nice steak, owner Ina Unsell is launching her business all the way from Del City into Mustang, just off Highway 152, in the Castlerock Plaza. It will take over the location of the former restaurant Favorites.

“We chose Mustang because it was a small town but up-and-coming and full of friendly people,” Unsell said, who plans to move to the town shortly. “I’ve attended church here and a Chamber of Commerce luncheon and everyone has been friendly and welcoming. We looked at a number of locations in the Oklahoma City metro area but they were either not big enough or the people weren’t as friendly.”

With an extensive menu that includes at least four cuts of steak, seafood, and chicken, Unsell promises that everyone can find something they like at affordable prices and for their particular diet. The restaurant also offers rooms that may be used for special events. Unsell noted that the rooms would be large enough to accommodate groups such as the Kiwanis Club or the Chamber of Commerce.

“We are trying for high-quality here,” she said. “We are going to improve on the décor a bit and we are currently remodeling the kitchen. Our wait staff will be dressed in black pants, white shirts, and aprons.”

The restaurant will offer no lunch menu but will have prices running the whole gamut to make Winding Creek accessible to all.

“We will have items for diabetics or those who can’t have sugar, for the kids, and our precious senior citizens,” Unsell said.

Unsell has been interested in the restaurant business since her parents’ own establishment opened in the 50’s and 60’s, a place she describes as a mom-and-pop coffee shop over in Del City.

The owner’s own favorite menu item will be the chicken-fried steak, she said.

“We won’t have those chicken-fried steaks that are all crust and an itty-bitty steak,” Unsell said. “It will be a light crust with a thick steak. We won’t skimp you on the food. More than likely, you’ll need a to-go box.”

The target date for the grand opening event is tentatively set for March 8 at 11 a.m. Winding Creek Steakhouse will be open daily Monday through Thursday and Sundays from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant also offers delivery and catering services for offices, individuals, and special groups.

Commercial trailers may have to move

Stacy Barnes

“Shall we preclude commercial businesses from, as a part of their business, storing goods or operating any part of their business from a trailer that is located in front of their business?” That is the question posed by City Manager David Cockrell to Council members Tuesday as he presented them with a proposed first draft of an ordinance designed to deal with that issue.

He said the Community Development Department has received numerous complaints about trailers that are being used for storage on commercial sites in public view and the proposed ordinance, which gives such business owners six months to remove the trailers, is necessary because some business owners are choosing to expand by using these trailers.

Council voted unanimously to have City Attorney John Miller finalize a draft of the ordinance. As currently written, the proposed new ordinance states that commercial trailers cannot be parked in front of the building line on commercial property for more than 48 hours, but Cockrell said that needs to be reexamined to allow for special short-term occasions when a business may require the use of a trailer for a slightly longer period of time.

It also states that:

Trailers cannot be used for storage and they will be considered an “accessory building”.

- Commercial trailers cannot be visible from any adjacent right-of-way and must be screened from view by a walled enclosure extending at least two feet higher then the highest trailer.

- Exterior finish and architectural design must harmonize with the main building to which the enclosure wall is aligned.

The ordinance defines a commercial trailer as, “a portable structure supported by wheels, jacks, skids or blocks without a permanent foundation which is towed or hauled by another vehicle and used for carrying materials, goods or objects in furtherance of any commercial or industrial purpose, or used as a temporary office or for storage purposes, and shall include portable pod or cargo units.”

Cockrell said some parts of the ordinance need to be revisited before he brings the final proposal to Council.

In other business Council voted to:

- Approve the preliminary and final plats for East Hills Patio Homes. This development will be located in the 2000 block of East Hills Drive and will consist of 12 duplexes.

- Approve a five-year tower lease agreement between T-Mobile and the City of Mustang to install telecommunications antennas on the Mustang water tower. T-Mobile will pay the city $93,000 over a five-year period for the use of the tower.

- Accept and award bids for construction of an 8” water line to serve the Lakepointe Estates Addition near S.W. 89th and County Line Road. The City received eight bids on the project ranging from just under $26,000 on the low end to almost $64,000 on the high end. Council awarded the bid to the lowest bidder, Utility Services Associates Construction Co. Inc. who bid $25,916.60 on the job.

Cockrell said the city has worked successfully with the company in the past. It is owned by local resident Tony Ellison. The water line improvement is necessary because that subdivision is the only one that receives water directly from the city’s well field. Blending is necessary in order to meet the federal arsenic standards in that area during peak usage times.

Police shoot at resident in high speed car chase

Eric Bradshaw

A Mustang resident led police officers on a six mile chase through the city yesterday, starting in the area of highway 152 and E. Trade Center Terrace and ending at the house of the driver's relatives at 322 S. Mustang Road.

Citing a call from the relatives' house, police intended to initiate a traffic stop of the vehicle when Matthew Eugene Jackson, 20, took it upon himself to rack up charges of attempting to elude police officers, two counts of running a police road block, resisting arrest, and an attempted assault of an officer with his vehicle.

“We got an initial call from 322 S. Mustang Road,” Police Captain Willard James said. “They told us that a man had thrown two bricks to gain entry into his relatives’ residence and that he was observed in the area of Walgreens. Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop. At this point we knew he had a felony warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear in the Canadian County Court.”

James noted that the vehicle took SH 152 east from the E. Trade Center Terrace intersection to SH 4, then proceeded south to S.W. 89 Street. Jackson led police east to Morgan Road, and then north to SH 152, where he attempted to ram a police unit.

Turning at the Sonic located at SH 152 and Chalyn Lane, he continued south down Chalyn and cut into the Mustang Elementary parking lot, James said.

One of the two school resource officers attempted to stop Jackson in the parking lot, standing nearby but outside his vehicle and the 20-year-old driver tried to hit him with the vehicle. The officer made an evasive maneuver and shot three times at the driver, away from the school, the police captain said.

The chase continued with the driver cutting out onto S. Mustang Road up to the 100 block, through a few yards, and then back onto S. Mustang Road. Four police units attempted to block the driver. He rammed two units causing approximately $2,000 worth of damage, said James.

“The officers said that he was making faces at them when he rammed them,” James said. “When he exited the vehicle where he was finally stopped at 322 S. Mustang Road, the relatives’ address, he cursed and yelled at police officers and a N26 tazer was utilized to gain control of him.”

Eyewitness Mel Edwards, who saw the apprehension of the suspect on Mustang Road described the scene.

“Here come these two unmarked police vehicles with their lights flashing coming southbound on Mustang Road and then this vehicle turns onto Mustang and is going northbound at a high rate of speed,” Edwards said. “The car cut into the driveway and through a yard and then back onto Mustang Road. One of the police cars rammed him but he straightened up and then he was hit again. I was talking to my neighbor and he said that the kid jumped out and he and his mother were hugging.”

Captain James confirmed that the suspect had grabbed hold of a relative but that he was not sure if he was embracing her or holding her in some other way. Once in custody, Jackson continued to resist arrest, James said. The 20-year-old was taken to the local hospital for a medical evaluation and was later to be transferred back to the Mustang police station.

Happenings @ Town Center
Spring Break camp registration due March 3

Desiree Webber, Steve Hewitt and Gloria Shotwell

A trip to see “The Odd Couple” on Friday, March 31, has been planned by the Mustang Senior Center. Attendees will leave the Center at 5:00 p.m. to eat dinner at one of the restaurants in Yukon and then travel to The Stage Door to see the play. Tickets for the play are $5.00 per person. There will be a $2.00 charge for gas and dinner is Dutch treat. For more information regarding Senior Center programs and services, please call 376-1297.

It is income tax season again and the Mustang Senior Center has made arrangements for free and discounted income tax assistance for seniors. Bruce Stevens, with Stevens & Christopher, Inc., will provide free filing assistance for senior citizens, age 65 years and older, who require only simple income tax forms. Participants will need to bring last year’s income tax forms, any 1099s or W-2s with them. Please call Bruce Stevens at his office at 376-5456 to schedule an appointment. You will need to mention the Mustang Senior Center in order to receive free tax filing assistance. Bruce Stevens will give a discount to seniors needing to file more complicated tax forms, if they mention the Mustang Senior Center. Tax forms are available at the Mustang Public Library.

The Mustang Senior Center Birthday and Anniversary Party will be this Saturday, March 4, at 5:00 p.m. A covered dish dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. and musical entertainment begins at 7:00 p.m.

Kids in grades first through fifth will have tons of fun at our Annual Spring Break Camp. Children will play games, make crafts, have contests and even participate in a fishing derby. The cost is $75.00 for the entire week. Spring Break Camp runs March 13th through the 17th from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Parents must register their children by Friday, March 3rd.

Aerobic classes are in full swing. Yoga kickboxing is just one of the classes available at the Recreation Center. A complete schedule may be viewed at www.cityofmustang.org.

Summer Camp registration for new campers will begin February 27th. Register early, as space is limited for this terrific camp. Each week is full of activities, field trips and swimming. Call Dee Cope at 376-3411 for information or to receive an enrollment form.

Dr. Mary Ann Bauman has published a new book entitled Fight Fatigue: 6 Simple Steps to Maximize Your Energy. Unlike most books that tell you to eat better, sleep more and take your vitamins, this book has a different slant. For years, Dr. Bauman has kept abreast of studies on the mind-body connection. She believes, for example, that there is a connection between a person’s self-esteem and energy, that often individuals waste time and energy in order to be a people pleaser. In addition Bauman make connections between a positive outlook and our immune systems. In the book Fight Fatigue, Bauman explains how individuals can improve their energy by following six steps to change their behaviors. Fight Fatigue is in the library’s New Books collection.

The Mustang Public Library is hosting a week of fun events during Spring Break, March 13 through 17th. Preschoolers will enjoy St. Patrick Day Story Times on Monday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. or Tuesday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m. Wiley “Coyote” Smith will present “Recollections of the Wild West” on Tuesday evening, March 14, at 7:00 p.m. School-age children, parents and grandparents will travel the Chisholm Trail with Coyote Smith through entertaining stories. Tweens and teens are invited to register for the decoupage craft programs. Tweens, ages 9 through 13, will make decoupage trinket boxes on March 16 at 11:00 a.m. and teens, ages 13 to 18, will make a decoupage picture on canvas. The decoupage classes are free but pre-registration is required. There will be a come and go craft program for children on Friday, March 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Children can make kites, rainbow streamers, and shamrock necklaces. St. Paddy Day refreshments will be served.

The next “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma”—Vietnam book discussion program will be Tuesday, March 7, at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Stanley Adamiak, from the University of Central Oklahoma, will present on the book America’s Longest War. This historical account tells how the United States became involved with Vietnam soon after World War II ended. Copies of America’s Longest War are now available for check out. The Vietnam book discussion series is made possible through a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

There will be a surplus equipment auction at the library on Saturday, March 4, at 10:30 a.m. Used computers, cash register, fax machine, computer speakers, desk jet printer are in the auction. A buyer must purchase the entire lot. Interested parties may stop by the library and view the items. For more information about the auction or library services and programs, please call 376-2226.

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

MHS DECA team to compete at State

Eric Bradshaw

The Mustang High School DECA team will vie for trophies in the state competition, with 29 marketing and business students attending with teacher Diane Cerny.

DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America. The MHS program is in its fifth year of competition. According to Cerny, they have qualified for nationals every year and have three seniors running for the state DECA office.

Categories in the competition include advanced computing (two teams of seniors, one sophomore and a few juniors), accounting, a math test (one junior competing), sports and entertainment marketing, travel and tourism (with 10 students competing) and scrapbooking.

Senior football player Jason Price will be competing in the retail merchandising category.

“I’m very proud of my kids,” Cerny said. “All but two members of the team have been in one of my classes.”

The MHS DECA program also has a senior Brittany Atwell who is running for the state DECA office. If she wins, she will hold the position during her freshman year in college.

Mike McGarry aka Superman

Carol Brimm

Mike McGarry, woodshop teacher and cross country track coach at Mustang High School, is better known to his students as Superman. He earned this title not because of his skill with a wood lathe or even by coaching the boys track team to its first State Championship in 2005, but because he is an adventure racer.

Adventure racing is an ultra-endurance event that requires teams to run, bike, paddle, climb, swim, rappel and hike through rugged terrain in state parks. The race can last 6, 12 or 24 hours. Teams must use map and compass to navigate the course without knowing until the day or night of the race where they will be required to go or what they will be required to do. The object of the race is to find markers and overcome challenges along the trail. Once the race begins, there is no stopping until the end.

Adventure racing tests the participant’s ability to think, strategize and anticipate while enduring extreme mental and physical exhaustion. Many teams don’t even finish. At the end the prize is a banner emblazoned with the team’s place in the race. No money, no trips, no trophy, just a banner!

“We race for the glory,” McGarry laughed.

McGarry 48, John Lunn 47, and Dennis Williams 39, are known as the Trekking Teachers. Lunn is a principal at Lake Park Elementary in Putnam City and Williams is the Chairman of the History Department at Southern Nazarene University. The team began adventure racing together in October 2004 and has competed in five races. They try to compete in at least two or three events each year, and they faced their toughest challenge on Friday, Feb 18 when they entered their first 24-hour race.

While most Mustang residents were huddled by the fire watching the temperature drop and the freezing rainfall, McGarry and his team were at Robbers Cave State Park in southeastern Oklahoma. At 1 a.m. Saturday morning with the temperature holding steady at 23 degrees and a wind chill of 12 the race was on. The team ran, in the dark, 1 ¼ miles up a hill, pushed a canoe ¾ miles to the lake, paddled across the lake and back, and as the sun was rising set off on a 20 mile trek on mountain bikes. During the ride the wind froze their fingers and the water bottles, filled with a combination of water and Gatorade, turned into frozen slush.

“It was actually pretty good,” said Lunn, “sort of like a Sonic drink.”

Stopping only long enough to warm up, get food and plot a new course, the team began running.

“As long as you were moving you were okay,” said Williams “but if you stopped you froze.”

Ten miles through the brush and along park trails they ran, and then back on the bikes for another 20 miles up hill and down, on dirt roads around the park. At 10:30 p.m. Saturday night it was over. They finished. The Trekking Teachers placed 2nd overall in the event against teams from Colo., Texas, Kan., Ark., and Okla. They fell into bed and were up the next morning by 7 a.m. They were sore for several days.

“But it was a good sore,” McGarry said.

Adventure racing is similar in some ways to the reality show Survivor. Perhaps because Mark Burton, producer of Survivor, also made ECO Challenge, an adventure racing reality show. Like the contestants on Survivor, the teams sometimes form alliances when markers are very hard to find but McGarry said, as soon as the marker is found it’s each team for themselves again. Along the way they are faced with both physical and mental challenges, much like the immunity and reward challenges on reality T.V. In past events they had to solve a wooden puzzle, go on a scavenger hunt, sing karaoke and swim across a lake at night.

Training for these events is a lifestyle for the three men. Each runs long distances each week and spends as many hours in the gym as possible. They try to meet once a week to practice biking, canoeing and running together, sometimes at night. It builds endurance and teaches them to be prepared for the unexpected.

Although the team has competed only in Oklahoma so far, there are adventure races somewhere in the United States every weekend and some corporate sponsored professionals compete in races across the world. One of the biggest races is the ECO Challenge, which is held in a different country each year. It last 7 days and cost $10,000 to enter. But for the average amateur, adventure racing is not an expensive sport.

“Anyone can get started with just the things they have in their garage and a good mountain bike,” said Williams. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Adopt-A-Pilot program takes flight at Mustang school

Eric Bradshaw

A Mustang resident graduated Mrs. Christy King’s fifth grade class from the Southwest Airlines Adopt-A-Pilot program after spending a day each week for four weeks giving them a presentation of real world applications of math and science.

Bill Harnly, a pilot with Southwest Airlines, was only too pleased to participate, having encouraged his daughter’s school, Mustang Trails, to take on the four-week mentorship program in which pilots volunteer their time and correspond from the “road” via electronic mail and postcards.

“I love the program and will continue coming here as long as the school will have me back,” Harnly said. “It’s great to see the kids show excitement about math and science. I think the real world applications are helpful to them. It’s not their typical day studying at the school.”

Harnly spent his time in class discussing the science of flying, incorporating the study of gravity and lift and conducting a few experiments in class. He also tried to present them with an idea of how other professionals that help run Southwest Airlines, such as flight and gate attendants, use math and science in their daily work.

“When I was away,” Harnly said, “They tracked my trips. They calculate the miles and the teacher has them do reports on the cities that I visit.”

The Southwest Airlines Adopt-A-Pilot program will reach more than 30,000 students nationwide this semester. The program has been recognized by former Secretary of State Colin Powell as a significant contribution to the community.

Next year, Harnly says he hopes to continue with the program and come to his daughter Sydni's class, who is now a fourth grader at the school.

Where are they now?
A look at what some former Mustang students and residents are up to today
MHS grads reaching for the stars

Stacy Barnes

Mustang High School seniors Carrie (Diehl) Helm and Jimmy Helm had not spoken to each other until graduation night in May 2000 when the two were on the bus heading for Project Graduation, an all night alcohol-free party hosted by the PTSA for graduating seniors.

Carrie says the pair struck up a conversation that night and that led to a date. And although the couple went to separate colleges, Carrie to Oklahoma City University and Jimmy to Oklahoma State University, they stayed in touch via computer and eventually began dating their sophomore year in college.

“We went on one date. Then he went to OSU and I went to OCU,” she said. “It wasn’t until the next year that we started dating.”

After Two years at OCU, Carrie transferred to the University of Central Oklahoma where she majored in communication education. Jimmy remained at OSU obtaining a degree in broadcast journalism. The couple married in December 2004 and now lives in Oklahoma City where Jimmy is a producer for the 5-6:30 p.m. weekday news on channel 9. Carrie said his duties include writing scripts, calling camera shots and monitoring time for the newscasts.

Carrie graduated in December and is substitute teaching and hoping to land a job as a Drama teacher while also working on another exciting project—a possible recording contract for her Christian musical group, Beyond Chance.

The five ladies of Beyond Chance met at church and formed the group three years ago—by chance—when they were singing in a Christmas choral concert and a soloist had to back out. A fellow church member noticed how well they sounded together and suggested they form a group and they followed his advice. Members of Beyond Chance are Shandy Baggs and Misty Farmer (sisters), Jenny Diehl and Carrie Helm (sisters) and Kristin Fitzgerald.

Beyond Chance has performed in area churches and at women’s retreats. They sang the national anthem twice at NBA Hornets games, and have performed at various other venues across the metro. They recorded their first CD, which Carrie says was a huge financial undertaking, costing over $10,000 to produce. Members of their church, Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City, lent the group money to fund the effort. In fact, Carrie says it was a church member who sent the CD to the recording company.

Beyond Chance auditioned for the Oklahoma City-based MC productions just a couple of weeks ago and the recording company has expressed interest in signing the group. Carrie said they are in the process of retaining legal counsel before signing a contract, but expects the group to sign.

“We didn’t really realize we were on an audition, but we were,” she said. “They want to sign us!”

Carrie has come a long way from her days at MHS—days that she says are filled with memories of Drama classes and classmates, many of whom she still keeps in touch with.

“I was a huge drama freak in high school,” she said.

One thing Carrie says she notices on her frequent trips back to town is the growth. The school expanded since she and Jimmy left by adding the band room next to the auditorium, but even more has changed in Mustang’s business district.

“Every time I come here I see a new business,” she said. “I have been really amazed the last few years watching the businesses grow and the people move in. At first I thought the growth would be a bad thing. I thought it would change Mustang, but it hasn’t really. I would come back and raise my kids here.”

Jimmy is the son of Allen and Dee Cope and Carrie is the daughter of Dr. Mark and Judy Diehl.

Foster Care is love in action

Carol Brimm

Close your eyes and imagine yourself as a small child. Now imagine that your parents abuse and neglect you. You live each day in fear and pain until suddenly an unknown social worker appears in your room, stuffs all your clothes in a garbage bag and whisks you off to a group facility run by the Department of Human Services. You are scared and alone. You don’t know anyone. You don’t know what’s going to happen to you and you may never see your home again.

This happens every day to thousands of children across the United States. It is said that on any given day there are 1,500 children in Oklahoma alone waiting for a foster care family.

It is the mission of The Bair Foundation to bring hope into the lives of children who have long since given up hope by providing quality foster care to sexual, psychological and emotionally abused children.

Bill Bair knew that each child is a precious gift of god when he answered a call from the Lord to care for children. It has been almost 40 years since he quit his job and with his wife Marilyn, proceeded on faith to establish The Bair Foundation, a Christian foster care ministry. They began by taking troubled teens into their home and over the years God has truly blessed this ministry and allowed it to make a real impact on the lives of children and teens.

Today The Bair Foundation reaches out to children in seven states, finding homes and families to care for children who would otherwise have to face the world alone.

“Abused children often have behavioral or emotional problems that make it difficult for them to get the help they need in standard DHS foster care,” said Stephanie Sitz a foster family developer in The Bair Foundation’s Oklahoma City office.

The Bair Foundation fills that gap with therapeutic foster care parents and therapist who bringing hope into the lives of children who have long since given up hoping. Many of these children are school age or teenagers who are difficult to place because some foster families are afraid of what an older child will do. Without a foster family to care for them, some of these children will age out of the system at age 18 without ever finding the love and stability they so desperately need.

“Anyone can be a foster parent as long as they have room in their heart and their home for a child,” said Sitz.

The vision of The Bair Foundation is to provide the highest quality foster care to children across America. Foster parents in their organization come from a variety of family structures and range in age from 21 to 72. Each foster care applicant undergoes a thorough background check, including a search for criminal records and several home visits. Economic status is not a factor in becoming a foster parent; however the foundation requires families to have an income in addition to the monthly payments received from DHS to provide for the needs of the child.

Potential foster care parents must attend 6 weeks night and weekend classes provided free of charge by the foundation to prepare them for state certification in therapeutic foster care. These classes are important because they prepare therapeutic foster parents to deal with the behavioral and emotional problems often found in abused children. A licensed therapist counsels the children and families and makes regular home checks.

The Bair Foundation is a non-profit organization with offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City which are funded by the state. They work with DHS to place children in therapeutic foster care. The Oklahoma City office serves Logan, Lincoln, Oklahoma, Canadian, Grady, Cleveland, McClain, Pottawatomie, and Seminole counties. They currently have 67 children placed in therapeutic foster care homes and have only one family available now to take another child.

“Most judges want to place the child within 40 miles of their own family so siblings can visit each other,” said Sitz. “This means that we need foster parents from across the state to meet the needs of children in their local area.”

The foundation website describes those who become foster parents in this way:

“Each child is a precious gift of God and by recognizing this and planting a seed of hope in the life of a child who has never known hope, you become a living, breathing testimony of the unconditional love of Jesus Christ to children who desperately need to know that they are loved.”

Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent or wishing to donate to the foundation can call Stephanie Sitz at 405-759-2670 or visit www.bair.org for more information.

Teachers of the Year: Marsha Dunford

Stacy Barnes

Like everyone, ninth grade Pre-AP English teacher Marsha Dunford has had her share of ups and downs. Last year was arguably one of her hardest. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent an unusual treatment called “brachytherapy”, which consists of one week of intensive radiation instead of the usual seven weeks at lower doses.

Now Dunford is cancer free and happy to have been chosen Mustang Mid High’s Teacher of the Year. Teaching is Dunford’s second career. She spent 12 years working as a court reporter.

“I made three times as much money, but it just wasn’t satisfying for me,” she said. “I always wanted to be a teacher—always. When I got out of high school we just didn’t have any money and I wasn’t really encouraged so I didn’t go to college.”

Dunford started working her way through college after the youngest of her four children entered school full time. After graduating she began her teaching career in the Mustang School District eight years ago and says she still loves it.

“I like dealing with the kids,” she said. “When they walk in here in August and I see those innocent little faces I just think, ‘Wow, I could introduce them to so many good novels and good authors.’”

In fact, the English teacher says one of the best things about her job is introducing her students to new pieces of literature; especially stories and authors they may have heard are difficult, like Shakespeare and the novel Great Expectations.

Dunford says she understands ninth graders are often frustrated because they are too young for some things they want to do (like driving) and yet too old for many other things. She allows her students to celebrate their birthdays in her classroom, complete with singing and cookies or cupcakes.

Reading and playing cards on the internet are some of Dunford’s hobbies.

“I love to play spades, that’s my thing. I’ll just get on there and play for hours,” she said. “They’ve got the site blocked here (at school) and that’s probably a good thing.”

Both Dunford and her husband Steve served in the US military, she in the Army National Guard and Steve was a Marine who served in Vietnam. One of their children just graduated from Navy Boot Camp and another is leaving for the same camp this month. Their oldest son is married and has one child, and their youngest child is a senior at Yukon High School this year.

Dunford said she did not expect to be voted Teacher of the Year.

“I was so shocked I think my mouth just hung open,” she said. “But I was honored. It’s really an honor to be voted on by your peers.”

Sports
Lady Broncos are flown over

Mike Zink

6A No. 9 Del City upset the No. 3-ranked Mustang Lady Broncos 56-52 in the first round of regional action Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles advance to area finals Thursday to face the No. 6-ranked Edmond Santa Fe Wolves.

The Eagles came out and did something that no other team has been able to do all year in blanketing the Lady Broncos from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

The game-plan was simple for the Eagles going into the regional championship game and the team executed it flawlessly giving head coach Deanna Duerson her 17th win and a trip to the area finals.

The game-plan was simple said Duerson after the game “just shut down their inside game and seal off any penetration to the basket.”

The Broncos grabbed the early 2-0 lead on a lay-in by Kasey Tweed who would be forced to leave the game later in the quarter after rolling her ankle. Tweed would return for the second quarter but was held scoreless the rest of the way.

The sister act of Lucy and Lacy Ramon was limited to just seven points from the charity stripe to cut the Eagles' lead to 16-9 going into the second quarter.

The Eagles scored the first five points of the quarter before the Broncos got on the board with Autumn Foley finding Lucy Ramon in the lane for the easy bucket.

The Broncos scored the next four points with Jordan Pyle twisting in the lane for an easy lay-up followed by a 7-foot jumper by Lacy Ramon to cut the lead to 21-15 with 5:44 left before halftime.

Senior Amber Maples added four points just before the half knocking down a 5-foot jumper and hitting both ends of a two shot foul to close out the half trailing 25-19 at the break.

The Lady Broncos fought their way back on back-to-back 3-point bombs from Lauren Reel to cut the Eagles lead single possession late in the quarter.

The Lady Broncos grabbed their first lead since the first quarter on a trey from deep in the corner by Katilyn Ellison giving the Lady Broncos a slim 28-27 lead with seconds left in the quarter.

Mustang was whistled for a reach-in foul with no time left on the clock sending Porshea Jefferies to the line tying the game at 28-28 going into the break.

The Lady Broncos looked as if they were going to take control of the game coming out of the break with Reel hitting a wide open trey from the top of the key. Lacy Ramon followed suit by putting back a Maples miss with two points of her own the give the Lady Broncos their biggest lead of the night 33-28 to start the quarter.

The Lady Broncos would stretch the lead to 35-30 with Lacy Ramon grabbing another offensive board and fighting her way for two points off the glass before the Eagles would fight their way back.

The Lady Eagles regained the lead scoring the next six points to take a 36-35 lead before Lacy Ramon tied the game at the line.

The “never say die” Lady Broncos found Reel in the corner for another trey and Lacy Ramon added three points from the line taking a 42-38 lead late in the quarter.

Del City finished the third quarter with five straight points from Tiffany Goldwire outscoring the Lady Broncos 8-2 to knot the score at 44-44.

The Lady Eagles turned up the heat in the final quarter outscoring the Lady Broncos 12-8 to take command late in the game and advance to the area finals with a 56-52 win. Lucy Ramon led the way for the Lady Broncos scoring all eight points in the quarter.

Tiffany Goldwire led three Eagles in double figures with 12 points while Lucy Ramon led all scorers with 18 points for Mustang.

Sports
Bombers advance at the expense of the Broncos

Mike Zink

The Mustang Broncos lost their bid to advance in regional action Friday night with a lopsided 51-33 spanking at the hands of Midwest City Bombers at Norman High School.

The Broncos finished the season with a respectable 12-11 record under head coach Alan Green.

“It’s been a quality season we have a winning record, a legacy these seniors can leave for the classes to come,” said Green after the game.

The Broncos tied the game early in the opening quarter with Donnie Woodard hitting an open Nathan Walters with a pass in the lane drawing the foul from Jarod McDaniel. Walters converted the old fashioned three-pointer knotting the score at three apiece.

Austin Feuerborn later hit Balensiefen in stride for an easy lay-up cutting the Bombers lead in half with 4:35 left in the quarter.

The Broncos closed out the quarter with Kevin Kerner weaving his way in the lane for the easy finger roll lay-up finding its way over the front of the rim to cut the Bombers lead to 18-7 to start the second quarter.

The Bombers lived up to their name in the first quarter scoring 13 of their 18 points from beyond the arc with Jarod McDaniel leading the way with eight points.

“They’ve got shooters but I’m an inside-out guy I don’t want to give up the inside and when they started scoring from the outside it loosens things up,” Green said. “We got to give them credit because when we tightened up on the inside they hit a lot of three-point shots.”

The Bombers stretched their lead to 34-17 at the break behind a 10-point quarter by senior Xavier Alexander.

Kerner and Balensiefen combined for eight of the Broncos 10 points in the quarter with Andrew Roberts adding a lay-up late in the period.

“Xavier Alexander is one of the best post players in the state so we were specifically trying to clamp down on the inside and take him out of his game,” Green said.

Walters brought the Broncos back in the third quarter scoring seven points in the period and Woodard catching fire from outside the line knocking down two treys cutting the Bombers lead to 51-33 to start the fourth quarter.

The Broncos came within a single point from matching their total output in the first half scoring 16 points in the quarter keeping the game in range for the Broncos.

“I told the kids at halftime we were down by 13 to PC North and we cut it to three so anything can happen,” said Green.

“Bottom line: we have a bunch of winners on this team so I didn’t think for a minute we were about to get blown out. I knew they would fight their way back,” added Green.

“Sometimes when a team gets a bigger lead they will tend to coast and I know my guys would keep fighting and we made it respectable.”

The Broncos matched their third quarter total scoring 16 points in the final period with Walters scoring eight points including a turn-a-round trey at the buzzer. Roberts and Woodard added five points with Kerner rounding out the scoring in the final frame with an uncontested lay-up.

Despite outscoring the Bombers in the final frame the first half deficit was too much for the Broncos to overcome falling at the feet of the Bombers 64-49 putting an end to the Broncos season.

“This is Midwest City, they have a great basketball program just coming off a state tournament, they got guys on their team that played in the State semi-final game last year,” Green concluded after the game.

Sports
The girls, the boys, the alumni

Eric Bradshaw

The high school boys and girls soccer teams started off the 2006 preseason with a series of scrimmages and a boys alumni game.

The girls became Metro Conference champions after attending the Yukon Spring Thaw that doubles as their conference tournament.

The boys participated in the Yukon Spring Thaw and in scrimmages at Edmond North and Norman.

Below is a summary of the soccer preseason thus far. The teams begin their regular season at Yukon, on a Tuesday, March 7.

The Girls

The Mustang soccer Lady Broncos earned the title of Metro Conference champs after beating Edmond North and three other teams at the Yukon Spring Thaw to end the tournament 4-1.

“The Yukon Spring Thaw has doubled as the Metro Conference tournament since our schedule does not allow us time for both a district and metro championship,” head coach Mike Mason explained the following Monday.

The one loss for the girls was to Putnam City North in their initial game, with a final score of 3-0.

“They scored two goals in the first fifteen minutes,” Mason said. “We improved after that but still lost.”

Against Edmond Santa Fe the team played better, with a 2-0 win to end Thursday night's portion of the tourney.

“We were better but still having trouble getting shots on goal,” Mason said of the game. “Our two scorers were Aly Murray, who scored in the first four minutes of the second half, and Meghan Vance, who scored in the first six minutes.”

On Saturday, the team beat Putnam City West first, taking a number of shots on goal for a 5-0 shutout.

In the first half, Brook McDonald stole a ball and scored 24 minutes in.

The second goal of the first half came when sophomore forward Nicole Farquhar, was tripped from behind on her way into the box and scored on the penalty kick.

In the second half, Murray received a ball from Kendra Nummy about 20 minutes into the half. Nummy sent a powerful corner kick right to Murray who was positioned in front of the goal.

“The second half of the game was basically a Kendra Nummy and Alley Murray show.” coach Mason said.

Nummy set Murray up again to set up Mustang with a 4-0 lead then set the final nail in the coffin with a second shot after her initial one bounced off the crossbar.

By the fourth game against Putnam City, Mason noted that his girls were focused.

“Ashlyn Boswell centered the ball to Nicole [Farquhar] and we scored in the first 21 minutes,” coach Mason said. “We had nine shots in the first half, six of which were on goal [scored or stopped by either the goalkeeper or one of the goal's bars], and one that went in.”

In the second half, a corner kick met freshman Melissa Addington 15 yards from the goal. Addington finished for the first score of the half.

Ally Murray received a ball from Vance, 8 minutes into the half. Vance scored a goal herself after being set up by Farquhar for the last score of the game. It was another shutout by junior goalkeeper Ashton Glover who alternates with senior goalkeeper Becky Hiltebran.

The fifth game for the Lady Broncos, the championship game, pitted them against Edmond North, at 3-0-1 in the tournament.

“We had three shots, they had four, Mason said. “It was very intense because they kicked us out of the district championship last year and we have an intense rivalry with them.”

The highlight of the game was the winning goal scored by Farquhar in the final fifteen minutes of the game.

The game began with Aly Murray scoring in the first five minutes, shooting from a corner kick on the left side by Brenna Skillern.

Edmond North came back when Hiltebran called for a long ball but collided with an Edmond North player and allowed a goal, leaving the game tied until Farquhar game-changing shot.

Edmond North frantically scrambled for a goal for the final fifteen minutes, but left the Mustang team with an early championship title prior to their regular season.

The Boys

With eight senior players returning this year, coach George Schroeder says that he is “looking forward to a good year.”

The Varsity and JV boys teams both participated in the scrimmages. Mustang beat Edmond Santa Fe 3-0, lost to Putnam City North 1-3, beat Putnam City 2-1, and beat PC West 1-0. The team tied Edmond North 1-1.

“The Varsity team has also been playing at Norman,” the coach said. “They beat Edmond Memorial 10-1 and lost to Tulsa Memorial 3-0. They've played six games in four days so they were pretty exhausted by their sixth.”

Schroeder noted that the team had picked up talented freshman that would make a difference this year and hoped to improve on the team's 4-8-1 season last year. He also noted that the team was playing with more confidence than he had seen from them last year.

The Alumni

Varsity beat alumni soccer players 7-5 in a special alumni game held Wednesday, Feb. 24. Some 36 alumni players from all the way back to the coach's graduating class came to the event.

“It was a great time,” said coach Schroeder, “We had quite a few recent grads. The Varsity had a great time.”

Five sets of brothers faced off during the game. Senior Josh Cooper scored against his elder brother, Michael Cooper, who played on the alumni team as goalkeeper. Jovi Tran, an alumni, scored on his brother Tommy, who now plays on the Varsity team. Adrian Kovatana and alumni Jeremy Kovatana were present as well as Varsity player Corey Langston and older brother Landon.

Brothers Dustin and Keith Hagan were two brothers, both alumni that played.

Coach Schroeder and his assistant coach Evans Dressel joined the action.

“I got in on the second half a bit,” Schroeder said. “We got an assist to Jimmy Nummy, who scored for the alumni.”

Sports
Player of the Week: Nathan Walters

Mike Zink

Senior Nathan Walters was a pivotal force in the middle for the Broncos this season improving in almost every phase of the game. In his third game of the season he tied the Broncos single game scoring record against Choctaw, dropping 33 points against the Yellow Jackets.

“He’s a force in the middle as well as being our leading scorer last year and this season,” head coach Alan Green said. “He’s averaged 12.0 points per game, eight rebounds per game and has had numerous double doubles this year.”

Walters has become multi-dimensional, improving on the offensive side of the ball and becoming a polished scorer from the perimeter as well as a more consistent contributor in paint.

“He got a lot more face up shots this year compared to last,” said Green. “Something that we talked about last year was being more than a one-dimensional player because it would be easy for defenders to take the ball away. He’s worked quite a bit on his perimeter game this year.”

“He gets 8 to 10 rebounds every night and that’s just 8 or 10 less shots that the other team gets,” adds Green.

“Generally he is going to give you over 10 points a night so he’s been huge for us.”

Walters has been more of a complete player, opponents doubling down on him and thus allowing his teammates to contribute in the scoring. He gives up the ball while drawing double coverage from the other team’s best players.

“The other team had to worry about him in the paint because he was going to get his points and boards so they focus in on him more,” Green explains. “Since he was more consistent and solid every game we had numerous guys that were able to lead us in scoring.

“Last year he would get in double digits every now and then. We didn’t know for sure until the season ended that more than likely he would consistently get double digits in scoring and rebounding. This year it was expected of him and he still came through so for the most part it would be his consistency.”

Walters ended the season with 18 points and 8 rebounds against Midwest City in the first round of regional action last week.

Q&A:

What is your favorite food?
Chicken Fried Steak and Mashed Potatoes

What is your favorite subject?
Math

What's your favorite movie?
SAW 2

What is in your CD player right now?
Rascal Flatts

Who is your favorite athlete?
Tim Duncan

Parents' names?
Robert & Sharon

College?
Anywhere that wants me

Sports
Special Feature: MHS Trainers

Mike Zink

Senior Hannah Spitler sits on the end of the Mustang Broncos bench as one of the varsity trainers for the team.

“Being a trainer is just like any other sport. You have your enrollment sheet that has to be signed by the head trainer,” says Spitler on how she became a trainer.

A trainer’s job is more than just sitting at the end of the bench during a game; you have to be at every practice.

“During practices you just have to be around and pay attention,” says Spitler. “If someone gets hurt you have to do the best you can to help them.

“I think most of the girls that are athletic trainers are interested in the health field but it is not a requirement. You have to be at least a sophomore to be a trainer.”

Spitler says that she has learned more from being on the bench for the Broncos than any teacher can ever teach in a classroom. “Being on the bench I’ve learned how they work as a team and the respect that they have for one another and the coaching staff.”

Before you can ever become a student trainer you need to get the permission of the head trainer at that school which in this case is Chris Basco.

“My job basically is Prevention, Evaluation and Rehabilitation of all the athletic injuries within the Mustang district,” says Basco. “Most of the time that is just the high school but if Mustang North calls and wants me to look at something or take care of a kid up there I run up and do that. Same thing goes for Mustang South and the Mid High.”

Basco is more than qualified to teach any student trainer what it takes to become a member of the Bronco staff. “I have a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and then I have a master’s degree in Sports Administration,” adds Basco.

The rewards more than make up for the long hours that are required of Basco during the week being at both the girl’s and the boy’s practices throughout the week along with being at every game.

“It’s pretty rewarding to see the young athlete that had some problems physically that you helped make them better and they go out and have a successful season in whatever sport,” says Basco.

“I’ve done a lot of different things but I am at a high school now basically because I think athletics are most pure at this level,” adds Basco. “Kids still play because they love the game and they play with the heart and intensity that is at the high school level.”

“I’m very happy to be here because the staff is so wonderful to work with and outside of work we are like a big family,” concludes Basco. “If someone needs something all you have to do is pick up the phone and anyone is ready to come at a moment’s notice and same thing goes for me. We just kind of help each other out.”

Sports
Wrestling

Eric Bradshaw

Wrestlers Jake Edmonds, Logan Rankin, and Blake Ramey competed Feb 24-25 in the state tournament.

“Anything can happen in the state tournament,” the wrestling head coach David Rankin had said after the three placed in the regional tournament.

Jake Edmonds, at 145 lbs., paired off with Ponca City opponent Tannor Shelton and lost narrowly, in a 8-7 decision.

Shelton lost to Tahlequah opponent Kelly Henderson in a 15-3 majority decision. Henderson went on to win the championship in the 145 lbs. weight class.

Edmonds also faced off against a Norman North opponent in the loser's bracket, winning in a 9-4 decision over Arsenio Thurman.

Edmonds lost out once again to Sapulpa's Corby Ray in a 9-4 decision. Ray went on to take third in the state tournament.

152 lbs. wrestler Logan Rankin paired off with the grappler who would become the 5A 152 lbs. state champ, losing with a 18-5 majority decision to Sapulpa's Kyle Blevins. The senior wrestler faced No.1-ranked Andrew Thigpen next, who ended up third at the end of the day, winning against Rankin with a pin in the first 21 seconds.

Thigpen lost to Mikey Keating of Ponca City in his initial match of the tournament but later beat the wrestler 5-1 to take third.

As with Edmonds and Rankin, senior homecoming king Blake Ramey too went to the loser's bracket.

Ramey began with Sand Springs senior Morris Cheatwood, a seemingly even match. A 9-2 decision later and Ramey ended up in the loser's bracket.

Starting with Tahlequah opponent Hunter Palmer, Ramey tried to recover a chance at placement, beating Palmer narrowly in a 4-2 decision and falling finally to Richard Lopez of Edmond Memorial at 3:16.

Patrick Finn, of Westmoor, took first in the 189 lbs. weight class, beating Hunter Palmer in his first match with a majority 12-0 decision, beating Morris Cheatwood 9-2, and easily taking Chris Hall, of Midwest City, in the championship game with a 10-1 majority decision.

Lopez took third place, facing Ramey's other opponent, Morris Cheatwood in the loser's championship game.

This will be the second state tournament for Jake Edmonds. The junior will have one more shot next year.

For Logan Rankin and Blake Ramey though, there will only be the next level of competition, the college level, if they choose to continue to compete.

Business
N-Touch monitoring systems now available in Mustang

Jennifer Manley

Do you live alone? Do you worry about what could happen if you had an accident and couldn’t call for help? Or do you have a parent or grandparent whom you worry about? What if they slipped, fell, or injured themselves and were unable to get to the phone? If you have found yourself or someone you love in one of these situations, wouldn’t it put your mind at ease knowing that help is only the push of a button away 24 hours a day?

Thanks to Ryan Orton, you can now rest easier knowing that help is always available at a moment’s notice. Orton recently opened N-Touch in Mustang. N-Touch provides monitoring systems to those who need and want this added sense of security. Orton equips clients with two wearable pendants that provide immediate access to help in many forms. Not only can emergency help be called, but also clients provide the monitoring system with a predetermined call list for non-emergencies.

Here’s how it works.

If you have an accident, like a slip and fall, you simply push the button, a signal is sent to the central system and you will hear “what is your emergency?” immediately from the central monitoring system. You tell them what you need and whom you would like called. So, if you need only minor assistance, they will call your family, friend or neighbors. And if it is a more serious accident, they will dispatch emergency services. Or if you are unable to respond, if they don’t hear any response, they will automatically call 911.

The system works within a 150-foot radius so even if the accident occurs outside, at the mailbox for instance, you will be able to access the system.

Not only is it an exceptional service, it comes at an exceptional value. The service costs only $29.95 per month. Better yet, Orton believes in reliable, trustworthy service with absolutely no hassles. There are no installation fees, no contracts and no “terms.” Orton said there are no obligations and welcomes anyone to try the service. You could terminate your service at any time with no penalizations.

“We are not out to take advantage of anyone,” said Orton.

Orton makes it easy to subscribe to the service and it is just as easy to use. Orton said that the system is not at all intimidating and completely user-friendly for anyone.

If you would like a system for yourself or would like one for a loved one, stop by the office at 1100 N. Mustang Rd. or call 1-866-869-7316 for more information.

Business
Handyman Outlet is honey-do dream

Carol Brimm

Handyman Outlet, located across the street from the old Washita Valley Theatre in downtown Chickasha, is a family owned surplus store with everything the do-it-yourselfer could want. The store celebrated their 10-year anniversary last year and their deals get better every year.

The store has a constant turnover of surplus, overstocks, shelf pools, discontinued, and slightly damaged merchandise in addition to new and surplus merchandise that is always available.

“The store has over a million feet of trim,” said Michael Mills, son of the owner Joe Mills.

The outlet has indoor and outdoor lighting, unfinished pre-made kitchen and bath cabinets, kitchen sinks, exterior doors, peel and stick tile, snap lock laminate wood flooring, mattresses, barstools, air conditioners and a huge selection of kitchen and bathroom fixtures.

“We have 10,000 different door pulls and knobs,” said Mills, “and customers can get a new twin size mattress for only $99 or laminate wood flooring for just $1.19 a square foot.”

The store carries a full line of plumbing, electrical and paint supplies. These are new, not overstocked items. The Handyman Outlet has weekly and monthly specials that include too many items to mention, but owner Joe Mills and his son invite you to come in and see for yourself the quality and savings you can find in their store.

Mills and his son both grew up in the Pocasset – Ninnekah area and they believe the way to be successful is by selling good products at exceptionally good prices. They invite you to come on in and get started on that Honey-do list.

Business
Dr. Raymond E. Cook

Jennifer Manley

It is over a two months into the New Year and perhaps your resolutions aren’t exactly being fulfilled yet. If you are like millions of Americans, one resolution on that list was to lose weight. Well, if the dieting and exercising isn’t giving you the results you would like, perhaps it is time to try a different approach.

Dr. Raymond E. Cook is a nationally known weight loss physician with over 45 years experience. Cook served many patients with a variety of services throughout the years but recently he decided to focus all his attention to his weight loss program. He knows the importance of helping people control their weight and also understands that it is an ever-growing problem in the country.

He believes wholeheartedly in his program and is confident in his ability to help even the most difficult of cases. “I know the safest and fastest ways to lose pounds and inches,” Cook said. “My program is quick, easy and safe.”

Many physicians refer their patients to Dr. Cook because of the results and safety of his program.

Most importantly, Cook knows that everybody is an individual and he directs his treatment based on that fact. His system works to solve the problem by eliminating the hunger and the cravings. He calls it a “stabilization of the individual.” His program balances your system and can increase your metabolism.

He believes it is more fun to do lose weight the right way. Cook promises his patients the impossible, or what you thought was impossible. He says you can eat anything you want and even eat every meal out!

“You get to live a normal life,” Cook said.

Not only can he fix the problem of insatiable cravings, but he also makes it so that you don’t have to live off planned, prepackaged, tasteless dishes that you feel awkward bringing with you every time you dine out with friends.

If you have tried everything else, and nothing seems to work for you, there is another option that doesn’t involve surgery. Cook especially loves helping those who have been unsuccessful in the past. So, if this is you, consider calling Cook today. He offers every potential patient a free consultation where he will gladly answer any questions you may have.

Dr. Cook’s weight loss program is safe, effective and affordable and worth inquiring about. You have nothing to lose. Stop by his office at 2400 Tee Circle in Norman, where everyone goes when everything else fails. Call now for a new thinner you! Call 321-8530 to schedule your free consultation today.

Business
There's a new broker in town

Carol Brimm

As Mustang grows, so does the need for professional realtors. Jim Williams, a new real estate broker, saw the growth and decided Mustang was the perfect location for his new real estate office. The firm currently employees seven Realtors, but Williams plans to begin interviews soon and increase that number to 20. The current staff has over 23 years combined real estate experience.

“Deer Creek and Edmond are running out of space,” Williams said, “so people are moving this way. It just makes sense to be here.”

Williams believes Mustang has a lot to offer homebuyers and sellers.

“People wave at each other here. They know their neighbors, and that makes for a great quality of life,” he said. “The combination of small town atmosphere and short drive to the city makes Mustang a great place to live.”

Regal Realty is a full service real estate office. They can assist clients with financing, inspections, or anything else required for closing. Many people think a realtor’s job ends when the contract is signed, but that is not the case, said Williams. Realtor’s work hard to make sure everything gets done properly so the transaction is fair and smooth for everyone involved.

“At Regal Realty our clients will be treated like royalty,” said Williams.

Regal Realty and Regal Residential Mortgage are subsidiaries of Regal Group LLC. Jeff Presley, a mortgage broker with Regal Residential since 1998, is working closely with Regal Realty to provide financing options for homebuyers. The real estate firm also works closely with area builders, and currently has nine new constructions listed in the area.

“Everyone deserves to live to the best of their means and every Realtor’s goal should be to help everyone have the home of their dreams. In Mustang, dream homes are everywhere you look,” said Williams.

Williams, a manufacturing supervisor until his retirement in 2002, is an Accredited Buyers Representative, a designation earned by only three percent of American Realtors. He is looking forward to serving both buyers and sellers in Mustang.

The office is located across from Wal-Mart at 1104 E Hwy 152, Suite 1 next to Total E-Clips style shop. For more information call 256-0921.