Walk for Jesus on the 2 mile track, Promoting Christian unity. We are simply demonstrating that Jesus is alive through gospel music, preaching and testimony.
There will be children’s games, bouncy house, free Tshirts and free lunch. Come enjoy the fellowship of the body of Christ.
6th Annual Walk for Jesus
Meetings Made Easy
The conference room at momentumHQ has been well utilized since opening in February. From private meetings with our members and their clients to people needing a professional meeting space at the hourly rate of $25 every once in a while, it can fit everyone’s needs. There is a large screen TV for presentations, a conference phone line and dongle that allows multiple calls to connect in, and even an interactive desk with bicycle pedals for those who need to wiggle a bit in an extended meeting. The room can fit up to 12 people and has a fun mural design on the walls to keep things lively. If you find yourself frequently spending more than $25 meeting with clients at a coffee shop or over a lunch, we encourage you to utilize our conference room for your next meeting! Once you’re here, look around and discover which membership level is best for your business needs. With 24/7 access options, you can work whenever it makes sense for your schedule. Curious to look around without making a commitment? Book a tour at no charge at www.momentumHQ.org.
mHQ Member Highlight
JP&L Professional Services: Joelle Passerello
Joelle’s experience in the corporate world alongside becoming a mother allowed her to create her own business offering professional services at affordable rates. She can handle document creation, updating manuals and procedures, bookkeeping services, notary services, and more. If you find yourself in need of a fresh set of eyes to get over a hurdle to improve your business, give her a shout or stop in at momentumHQ to meet her.
Indian Hills Plaza Business Spotlight Do you need a new screen for your cell phone? Or maybe your computer needs repaired? Reeves Technology Solutions is the place to take your electronics when they start to fall apart! Software and hardware can be addressed at Enid’s #1 Premier Repair Shop.
United Way Seeking Chili Chefs
ENID, OK – The 37th Annual United Way Chili Cook-Off, presented by Cintas, will be held at the Stride Bank Event Center Arena on Friday, October 25th, 11am -1pm, with the theme of “90s Chili Cook-Off.” Organizers are seeking 50 cookoff teams.
Each chef and their team will prepare a minimum of 4 gallons of chili. It must be cooked in advance, brought in hot and ready to serve. Initial judging begins at 10:00 am. Booth spaces are first come, first served, unless you choose the “VIP Access” option for an additional $50.00, allowing early set-up on Thursday, October 24th from 2pm – 5pm. If you have a large item such as a vehicle, please call the office. Booths are approximately 8’x10’ with one large table provided.
ROASTERS ARE THE ONLY METHOD OF HEATING ALLOWED. (No additional electrical appliances are allowed, i.e., TVs, radios, crock pots, etc.) You will need to provide an extension cord and/or power strip at least 100 ft, tape to secure your cord to the floor, a long-serving spoon, cooking utensils, oven mitts, etc. You may also want to provide cheese, chips, or other condiments. Top Dollar Chili, which may include your company’s in–house chili fundraiser dollars, needs to be in a decorative container clearly stating such.
The theme, “90s Chili Cook-Off” is a new creation by the committee, Committee Chair Tiffany Sprague said. “The committee felt that the chosen theme needed to fit with United Way’s 90th Anniversary. So, we expect to see contestants decked out in classic and new character costumes with booths decorated with themes ranging from Clueless to Hip-hop. Our chili competitors are extremely inventive, and I’m sure will amaze us with their creativity—which leads to a fun-filled event,” Sprague said.
The Chili Cook-Off committee anticipates chili entries to compete in three categories: Judge’s Chili Choice, Best Decorated Booth and Top Dollar Chili! The tasting begins at 11am.
All funds raised benefit the 15 partner agencies of United Way, along with discretionary giving designations.
David Lawrence, Board President of United Way of NW OK stated, “The United Way Board of Directors, along with the Campaign Team – led by Mike and Kelley Wright – also are excited about the 2024-2025 campaign. The Chili Cook-Off is the last fundraising event of the year for our agencies and the campaign. Last year’s event raised over $25,000. We anticipate this year will be an even greater success.”
The fifteen United Way partner agencies are: Booker T. Washington Community Center, Cimarron Council Boy Scouts of America, Community Development Support Association, Catholic Charities, Denny Price Family YMCA, Garfield County Child Advocacy Council, 4RKIDS, Hedges Speech and Hearing, Human Services Alliance of Greater Enid, Loaves and Fishes of NW Oklahoma, Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, RSVP of Enid and North Central OK, The Salvation Army of Enid, YWCA of Enid, and Youth and Family Services.
Get your team registered TODAY by stopping by the United Way office at 205 W. Maple Ave., Suite 400, in the Triangle Business Center, calling 580-237-0821, or emailing Kim Pendergraft at kim@unitedwayenid.org.
Keith Holsten – Local Legend
Keith Holsten has called Enid home for most of his life. He graduated from Enid High School and went on to earn a degree in marketing from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Keith and his wife, Ramey, are parents to four adult children and one adorable Great Pyrenees named Jasper.
Keith got his start in business with Edward Jones a little over 20 years ago. When the time was right, he branched out, first with a partner and then eventually hanging out his own shingle. Opening his own financial services business was a gamble. “It was a huge leap for him,” said Ramey, Keith’s wife. It paid off, though, and K/H Financial is a thriving part of the Enid business community.
Although K/H Financial won “Best Financial Planner” in this year’s Best of Enid awards, for Keith and the team at K/H, life is about so much more than business. Charitable giving is baked into the very fabric of K/H, and every year, the team gets together “where we set our goals for giving back,” explained Ramey. Some organizations that are particularly dear to Keith’s heart are 4RKids, the Enid SPCA, Main Street Enid, and Enid Public Schools (EPS). In fact, K/H has a special program called “Back a Teacher,” which is a grant program. Any EPS teacher can apply, and every month of the academic year, one lucky recipient is awarded $250 toward his or her classroom.
In his spare time, Keith enjoys spending time with his family, spoiling Jasper, and sailing. Yes, sailing. While there aren’t many opportunities to set sail here in Enid, that has not stopped Keith from indulging in his love of the water. Some years ago, he and his wife drove to Florida, bought a sailboat, and pulled it back to Oklahoma. The boat is now housed in a slip on Kaw Lake, and Keith hits the water whenever he can.
Like everyone featured in this column, Keith would never call himself a Local Legend. However, his drive, kindness, philanthropic efforts, and compassion definitely make him one. Ramey said, “He is very humble. He truly feels like his business is so successful because of his team. He likes people to know that he couldn’t do what he does by himself.”
Keith brings excellent business sense and financial advice to Enid. But more importantly, he brings a love of family and an unshakeable dedication to giving back to the community. And those things are what make Keith this month’s Local Legend.
September Letter from the Editor
Everything begins with a single step. Whether you’re reflecting on the past or looking forward to the future and setting goals, it all begins with a step. And that outlook can translate to all aspects of life. So, when you’re looking ahead, or behind, keep in mind that all progress is progress, even if that progress is small. For this month’s cover story, we’re discussing the Great Land Run race and its history along with stories from some of the runners. When thinking of running a half marathon or even a 5K, many people are simply intimidated by just the thought of it, but if the stories from some of the Great Land Run race runners highlight anything, it’s how their journey, too, began with just a step. So, when you’re tackling life and its many, many obstacles, remember that everything begins with just one step. And day by day, step by step, we’ll make it through the motions. And if you take your first step now, you might be ready to take on that half marathon for the Great Land Run race in 2025! After all, everything begins with a single step.
A Single Step
Every year, Enid hosts the Great Land Run racing event. Started in 2008, the run is a fun, spirited event that usually attracts several hundred athletes. Presented by Wymer Brownlee and Koch, the event commemorates the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893, which gives runners and walkers the chance to race, and most importantly, also raises funds for schools in Garfield County. With the 17th annual Great Land Run just around the corner, Enid Monthly is shining a light on both the race itself and the inspiring stories of some local runners.
It’s been said that “A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.” In the case of Enid runner Jason Watkins, it would be accurate to say that a streak of nearly one thousand runs began with a single pair of cowboy boots. And for fellow runner Johnette Kemph, also of Enid, what has become an epic quest of finishing half marathons across America began with some neighborhood mailboxes. For each of these hometown runners, running has taken them on journeys that they never imagined. Like the thousands of people who participated in the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893, Jason and Johnette are staking their claim—only instead of homesteads, their claims are firmly planted on the annals of Enid running lore.
Although Jason’s running story really did begin with cowboy boots, those came a bit later in life. As a youth, Jason grew up on a farm in nearby Burlington, and he was not a track star. In fact, his school did not even offer track or cross country. Instead, he played basketball. “We had winter basketball and summer basketball,” he recalled. In college, he met his wife, Sheila, and in 1993, he graduated from Rose State College with an associates in radiology. One thing led to another, and eventually Jason found himself at the helm of his own business, Health Link Mobile X-Ray.
Building a thriving business is an impressive accomplishment, but as any business owner knows, it is also a demanding one. In the thick of both growing the business and raising two growing kids, Jason eventually found himself at a crossroads. “I was up to about 228 pounds,” he said, “and I just didn’t take care of myself like I should have.” So about 12 years ago, he woke up around the first of January and said to himself, “I’ve got to do something different.” The “something different” ended up being a lap around the local high school track with a pair of cowboy boots. Unsurprisingly, Jason recalled saying to himself, “Well, this is kind of hard.”
He didn’t know it at the time, but that one lap would change his life. Undaunted and undeterred, Jason bought himself a proper pair of running shoes, and then he ran some more. Impressively, it only took him about a month to go from the cowboy boots lap to his first 5K, which was the now defunct “Warm Your Heart 5K” hosted by the Junior Welfare League. His daughter encouraged him, saying “Dad, if you’re going to run, don’t squeeze your fist, hold your hands like you’re holding a potato chip in each hand.” Father and daughter ran that 5K together, and Jason has been running 5K’s ever since.
In addition to 5K’s, Jason has run a slew of other races. Gradually, he shed pounds and added miles. He had not originally intended to run longer distances, but they kind of snuck up on him. He said, “You’re only half crazy to run a half marathon,” and so he ran one at Woodring Regional Airport, on the eastern outskirts of town. Jason just kept going, eventually finishing the Tulsa Route 66 half marathon and the Oklahoma City Memorial marathon. Looking back, Jason credits his successful journey of fitness and improved health to God, saying, “I just feel blessed that I’ve been given an opportunity to stay healthy.”
If Jason began running with cowboy boots, Johnette began with mailboxes. Now a retired lady of a certain age, Johnette worked for 35 years as an insurance adjuster. She spent 25 years with General Adjustment Bureau and the last 10 with Progressive, all based here in Enid. Her job was demanding, and it took her all over northern Oklahoma. “I spent long hours in a truck,” she said, “so fast-food heaven!”
The years took their toll, and eventually Johnette had had enough. “I was grossly overweight when I retired,” Johnette said, and her doctor had concerns about the potential for diabetes. So, Johnette began going to Zumba classes at the gym. One of her Zumba friends, Tami, wore tee shirts from 5K races she had done, and somehow those shirts caught Johnette’s eye. They sparked her curiosity about running, and then she mustered up the courage to go to meetings for the Enid Running Club. From Johnette’s rookie viewpoint, the long-time runners seemed impossibly grandiose, and she recalled griping to her coach, Glenn, that “I couldn’t run very fast.” And Glenn replied, “Have you ever thought about how many birthdays you’ve had?” Taking up running in one’s mid-sixties is not for the faint of heart, and yet that is exactly what Johnette did.
Like Jason, once Johnette started running, she did not stop. She mixes up the running with plenty of walking, but she still gets the job done. In fact, Johnette is now part of an elite group of racers called Mainly Marathons, whose members strive to complete races in all 50 states. Along with a close-knit group of girlfriends, Johnette has conquered half marathons almost everywhere, with just about 12 states left to check off their list. “We have three coming up in September, in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho,” she said. “It’s a girl’s trip, our break from reality. You don’t mess with tough old women!”
Both Johnette and Jason are active members of the Enid Running Club (ERC), which organizes the Great Land Run race. The ERC is responsible for setting up the race start/finish line, providing chip timing, etc., and they do it with a small army of volunteers. According to Jason, “It’s a ball of volunteers. Whether it’s handing out water, helping with registration, helping set up the equipment…there’s always room for volunteers.”
The ERC has helped with the Great Land Run race event from the beginning. Starting with a 5K in 2008, the event has since added a 10K and a half-marathon. As the event has grown, so has the behind-the-scenes effort to ensure a successful race day. In addition to the ERC, the generous contributions of many others in the community help to maximize the positive impact that the races have on the community. ERC President Eve Switzer said, “It’s just a large process. There are so many parts, and we couldn’t really do it without all our partners and help from the schools and help from our sponsors.”
In 2008, when the Great Land Run Foundation started the race, they could not have foreseen the sheer amount of support that would eventually be raised for schools. As of 2024, the Foundation has donated over $500,000 to Chisholm and Enid public schools. According to Dr. Dudley Darrow, who is the superintendent of Enid Public Schools and also a board member of the Great Land Run Foundation, the funds have been a tremendous gift.
Dr. Darrow explained that the Land Run funds are unrestricted, meaning that schools may use the money as they see fit. For Enid’s students, the funds have supported the purchase of classroom technology such as SMART Boards, tools in the high school fabrication lab, and resources for the aviation class at Enid High School.
The future is bright, too, as Enid High plans to launch a Vocational Agricultural (“Vo-Ag”) program in the 2024-2025 school year. Land Run funds will be directly supporting that effort, with Dr. Darrow reporting that they will be “using these funds to help kick this off. You know, we’re a Vo-Ag community and a very agribusiness community. And it’ll just help us get this program off the ground.”
Working in collaboration with Autry Technology Center, Enid High has planned a robust program that aims to help students who are interested in exploring careers in the agricultural industry. Dr. Darrow said, “It’s everything related to ag. As you know, we live right in the middle of the country where agriculture is a huge part of our life. And when you start looking at the industries in the Enid area, a lot of them can be tied back to agricultural skills and, you know, agricultural mechanical skills…meat judging, welding, and there’s windmills. There’s just a ton of opportunities for our kids to get a good start and a good foundation for their training.”
Regardless of what careers students end up pursuing, the new Vo-Ag program will teach things that can be used in all areas of work and life. Every student who participates will learn to embrace fundamental professional values such as hard work, curiosity in learning new things, and setting and working towards goals. One class or workshop can be the first step for a student on a journey they never could have imagined, but one that ends up being incredibly enriching, just like Jason’s cowboy boots.
Jason never imagined that a single lap in cowboy boots would someday lead to his current streak of over 900 consecutive daily 5K runs. He has no plans to stop, either, even working in his daily runs when he is on vacation. Even better, that journey has put him in a position to help others. When his friend Dan asked for help on getting started with running, Jason’s answer was simple. “Just walk out your door,” he said, “Walk away from your house for 15 minutes and turn around and go home.” Dan did walk out the door, and he worked his way up to four miles a day. He’s even begun a streak of his own, recently informing Jason that he had done 15 consecutive weeks and lost over 40 pounds in the process.
Johnette’s jogs between mailboxes amounted to a similar outcome. She never imagined that running between mailboxes with her little sidekick, Zeek, who does 3-5 miles a day with her, would someday take her (and two of her best running friends) on a three-state tour in September of this year. The group is headed to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and they plan to smash three half marathons in one combined trip. Johnette said, “It’s a good way to combine getting some exercise and also having fun. This has been a godsend, this group of ladies. We lean on each other.”
The 2024 Great Land Run itself will also forge a new path this year. For the first time, the races will start at Red Bird Farm, a Christmas tree farm and local agritourism destination at the north end of Enid on Hwy 81. Kent and Becky Evatt opened Red Bird Farm in 2018, and both are part of the Enid Running Club. They are huge supporters of the running community, and there is a lot of excitement in the air about this charming venue. Jason said, “My house was up at the top of the hill directly behind Red Bird Farm, so it’s kind of a throwback…if I run the race this year, it’ll be on that same area I used to run at all the time.”
Approximately 100,000 people participated in the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run. That historical event was ostensibly about land, but in another sense, it was also about stories: the stories of Native Americans, of government officials, and with particular resonance here in Enid, of settlers. Thousands of people and countless stories were woven together to create the fabric of northern Oklahoma. People took steps forward (or galloped on horses) without knowing exactly how their stories would go but hopeful at the creation of forging new ones. Fast forward to 2023, when over 200 athletes crossed the finish lines of the Great Land Run 5K, 10K, and half marathon. Every finisher began their race long before the starting gun, though. For Jason, Johnette, everyone in the Enid Running Club, and yes, for everyone else who has ever laced up their shoes and walked out the door, it all began with a single step.
Game Warden of the Year
This article might come off a little bias towards Oklahoma game wardens, and if it does, it was intentional. Like police officers and fire fighters, I give these men and women all the kudos they deserve. I’ve always thought it must be a bit daunting for a warden to walk up on someone in a field knowing the majority of people they approach are likely toting a firearm. That said, I’ll give praise to Blake Cottrill (Garfield Co), Phillip Cottrill (Major Co), and Marshall Reigh (Grant Co.). These are all friends of mine and literally all guys I’d trust with about anything. They work long hours, and they work hard. More than anything, they all are of the opinion of trying to educate violators instead of simply issuing tickets.
I did a ride along with Warden Reigh at Kaw Lake recently. We made what seemed like a million contacts, and for the most part, people were compliant and had the requisite boating regulations in order. He’s always told me he’d rather educate folks than simply write tickets for lesser violations. Funny story, when I first met Warden Cottrill (Philip, not Blake), he was the local warden. I shot a turkey and had drug it 100 yards to my truck to tag it. He was sure to inform me it needed to be tagged where it was shot as opposed to moving it prior to tagging it. I’ve hunted my whole life, but I reckon I wasn’t aware of that rule. Instead of giving me a fine, he let me know the regulations.
Back to the premise of this article: Warden Reigh was just awarded “Game Warden of the Year” for the entire state. I know of no other person that likes to hunt/fish as much as him (and his wife and daughter). He mentions the best part of his job is spending time working with the public. He gets to spend his time outdoors, and he hopes to do more checking of compliance rather than writing tickets.
His father was the Payne County Warden beginning in 1976. They traveled all over the U.S. hunting and fishing, and he instilled the love of the outdoors in his children. Therein lies the love for the outdoors.
There are currently 118 wardens in the state, making it the 2nd largest law enforcement agency. You must have a bachelor’s degree with 16 hours of “upper level” science to apply. Game wardens are referred to by many as the “Swiss Army Knife of Law Enforcement”, which is certainly applicable. They handle not only law enforcement duties but answer questions all day (and sometimes night) about what someone can do/cannot do.
I’ve rambled long enough. My friend and the Grant County Warden, Reigh, just won this prestigious award out of over 100 wardens. I literally don’t know a more “down to earth” guy that loves his/her job more than he does. I don’t hate being a lawyer by any means, but I also don’t love my job like he does. Congrats pal.
Rising Voices
One of Enid’s cultural gems is the Enid Symphony Orchestra. While the ESO has been around in one form or another since 1905, it was just last year that they celebrated their “Silver Season,” which marked the 25th anniversary of the renovation of the Joan Allen Symphony Hall. As the orchestra heads into the 2024-2025 season, aptly named “Rising Voices,” the series promises to be an epic one. There are six main shows planned between September 2024 and April 2025, with the Edward Jones “Harvest Wine” series taking place in August.
The August schedule consists of four smaller, intimate shows designed to showcase individual artists. Executive Director Victoria ‘Tori’ Moreira said, “The cool thing about Harvest Wine is it’s not usually classical music,” and this year’s slate promises to deliver a fun, eclectic range of music. Artists scheduled to perform include a local indie folk singer-songwriter, a jazz trio, a Broadway cabaret duo, and an opera tenor.
Kicking off the official start of the season is the September 14th concert, which will highlight women composers, including Lili Boulanger, Vítězslava Kaprálová, and Florence Price. “We’re calling it ‘Rising Voices’ because the composers of this concert, a lot of them were women who died very young, and it makes you wonder what kinds of songs they would have written had they lived longer,” explained Moreira.
Guests are encouraged to bring their young ones to the October show, which will feature Prokofiev’s beloved classic Peter and the Wolf, along with Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, the symphony will perform its traditional holiday concert, this year featuring vocalist Joan Allison, who “specializes in jazz, blues, music from the 40s and 50s…we’re going to be doing a bunch of holiday hits that she’s going to sing with the orchestra,” said Moreira.
In February, audiences will be treated to a romantic concert that includes the Carmen Fantasy and the Romeo & Juliet Suite, with flutist Juliana Overmier at the helm. Finally, the season will conclude on April 12, with a concert aptly named “Transcendence.” The performance will feature Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and Roger Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.
Now in her second year as Executive Director, Moeira is looking forward to the road ahead for ESO. She and Artistic Director Douglas Newell are especially excited about continuing to forge relationships with other organizations in Enid. Last year, for example, ESO worked with Enid Public Schools in bringing Carnegie Hall’s “Link Up” program to elementary students. ESO also hosted a group from Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, where “we had them come in, and we’d play a bunch of toy instruments, and it was awesome,” said Moeira. This year, she and Newell wanted to figure out how to do something in connection with animals, and so at the October concert, ESO will be hosting the Enid SPCA. “We’re doing an adoption event with the SPCA in our parking lot the morning of the concert, because it’s all animal themed!”
Moeira encourages everyone to come experience the ESO. “We really want these concerts to be an experience, an evening out. Our box office and bar open at 6:30. People can check in for concerts and have a drink, and then the concerts start at 7:30, and they’re about an hour long. And then we have the reception afterwards.” Season and individual tickets are available at the Enid Symphony office or at www.enidsymphony.org.
INTEGRIS Health Welcomes New Family Medicine Physician
INTEGRIS Health Medical Group welcomes Larin McMartin, D.O., a family medicine physician with INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Enid Medical Plaza.
She has special interests in mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder, birth control and sexually transmitted infection prevention and treatment, LGBTQIA gender-affirming health care, pediatrics and preventive medicine.
McMartin earned her medical degree at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She then completed her family medicine residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.
McMartin is an Oklahoma native excited to return to her home state to provide primary and preventive care. As an osteopathic physician, she takes a holistic approach to health and understands the importance of the mind-body connection. She offices at INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Enid Medical Plaza, located at 620 S. Madison, Suite 204 in Enid, Oklahoma. For more information, call 580-977-1965.
Adult Book Review: The Secret Hours
Author: Mick Herron
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa
If you’ve ever wondered, yes, booksellers are human – we fall into reading slumps too. Lately I just haven’t been as motivated to pick up a book or stick with one. So, I turned to my tried-and-true remedy to break out of the rut: a spy thriller. The Secret Hours, by author Mick Herron, is out this month in paperback and is part-standalone, part-prequel in the Slough House series. While it doesn’t have the short, snappy chapters that I had in mind, the opening scene is certainly a thrilling enough hook and the deeply dry humor kept me going throughout.
The Secret Hours has two timelines, one of present day MI5 in Britain and one of Berlin shortly after the Wall came down. In the first, two civil servants have been tasked with Monochrome, an inquiry to find any misconduct in the Secret Service’s history. The mission seems to be going nowhere at all until someone anonymously leaks an important case file. When a witness is called to testify, she recounts what happened in Berlin all those years ago, when an agent’s cover was blown and an operation went very wrong.
In typical fashion, this spy thriller is full of code names and secret identities and falsified records. I felt a little lost for much of the book, meeting all the different characters but having no clue how they were connected. Readers’ patience will be rewarded by the end, though, because it’s brilliant when all the pieces come together. Herron has created such a sharp, entertaining world with the most memorable characters, and I’m really excited now to go back and start the series from the beginning.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of The Secret Hours today!
