Author: Karen McManus Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
Author Karen McManus broke onto the scene in 2017 with One of Us Is Lying (later adapted into a hit show), and she has fairly consistently hit that same high mark with the five books that have followed. Nothing More to Tell is her newest release, a young adult novel published in late August 2022 that, like some of the others, focuses on a small group of high school students as they deal with a murder on their school campus. If you’re in the frightening mood for Halloween – or perhaps missing Only Murders in the Building – then this thriller would be a great choice to pick up.
The story alternates perspectives between Brynn and Tripp, students at a private school in Massachusetts. Four years ago, everyone’s favorite teacher, Mr. Larkin, was found murdered behind the school, and Tripp was one of three students who found the body. Now, Brynn is an intern for a true-crime podcast and questioning everything anew. As the two start following leads, they realize that maybe Mr. Larkin wasn’t the fun, adored person they thought he was. And why was it that no family or friends of his were there at the funeral? This story has everything you want in a whodunit – changed identities and stolen cash and ultraviolet powder and spur-of-the-moment fact-finding road trips.
Having the dual points of view doesn’t seem to add much to the reading experience; if anything, it makes things confusing at times. But overall, the book is a good, suspenseful page-turner. You can easily read fifty pages without even realizing it. As well, there are seemingly many loose threads that the author could pick up and run with for a future book. As the days get shorter this fall and the season gets spookier, Nothing More to Tell will definitely have you checking over your shoulder more often!
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Nothing More to Tell today!
Kaycee Babek of Meeker, Oklahoma, was named Miss NOC Enid 2022 at NOC Tonkawa Tuesday night in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center in Tonkawa.
She was crowned by Miss NOC Enid 2022 Mia-Claire Jones and Miss Oklahoma 2022 Megan Gold.
Babek received a $1000 scholarship expense award, Miss America crown and pin, sash and a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses. She will advance to the Miss Oklahoma Scholarship Pageant in Tulsa next June.
The new Miss NOC Enid is a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine.
For the talent competition, she performed a juggling act to “Say Hey.” Her Social Impact Statement was “Calling All Future Foster Parents.”
Isyss Morgan of Enid was the 1st Runner Up and receives a $600 scholarship expense award. Others in the competition included Ashleigh Miller of Cushing, Oklahoma, and Carson Collins of Mannford, Oklahoma. Miller and Collins each received a $250 scholarship expense award.
Miss NOC Enid 1st Runner Up Isyss Morgan and Miss NOC Enid 2022 Kaycee Babek ((photo by John Pickard/Northern Oklahoma College)
Candidates were judged in artistic expression, presence and poise in evening wear and on-stage question. Earlier in the day they were individually interviewed by the judges.
Dr. Edward Dixon, NOC Fine Arts Division chair, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. Miss Oklahoma 2022 Megan Gold performed for the audience.
Special entertainment was by Miss NOC Enid 2022 Mia-Claire Jones who played a piano selection.
NOC President Dr. Clark Harris, presented the official 2022 Miss NOC Enid portrait to Miss Jones.
The Miss NOC Tonkawa competition was also held, Kira Pendleton of Tonkawa was the winner.
We have had a problem come up in our home where the hubby has developed an allergic reaction to mammalian meats (ie: beef, pork) called Alpha Gal Syndrome or AGS. So, as you can imagine, this has thrown the Rorick household into a tizzy!! We are beef eaters! We LOVE a good steak with a potato and salad as much as the next Enidite. Needless to say, this has been an adjustment for us, and an adjustment to most of my recipes. However, we persevered, and have moved these items out of our diet. All of this is to say, I have had to adjust my traditional lasagna recipe to exclude the meat. But in doing so, I was wanting to make sure that the protein and the flavor was still there…thus the 5 Cheese Lasagna was born.
Now, this is not your typical cheese lasagna, as you can tell by the ingredients, but it is flavorful, and the Hubs ate it up!! The 5 cheeses, though not featured in traditional form, are mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, ricotta, and cottage cheese. Now. I know there is a debate on whether or not cottage cheese should be added to lasagna, but I was also going for a certain texture to replace the texture of the meat. I used large curd cottage cheese to achieve this. But, if you are adamantly opposed to cottage cheese, you can substitute additional ricotta for it. Also, you will notice that parmesan is not listed in my ingredients, but it is the major cheese ingredient in the Alfredo sauce. (By the way, you may make your own homemade marinara and alfredo…or use whatever brand you choose. That is completely up to you, but I do find that a chunkier marinara stands up better in this dish since you will have the extra liquid of the alfredo). So I hope you will try this non-traditional cheese lasagna and let me know what you think!! Happy Cooking!!!!
5 Cheese Lasagna Recipe
9 Ready to bake lasagna noodles 1 jar marinara sauce 1 jar Alfredo sauce 1 can Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained 1 15oz ricotta cheese 1 15oz large curd cottage cheese, drained 1 8oz pkg Italian blend shredded cheese 2 eggs 1 Tbls Italian seasoning 1 Tbls dried basil 1 Tbls parsley
Prepare a 9×13 baking dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, lightly whisk eggs. Add drained cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, 1 cup Italian cheese blend, Italian seasoning and basil. Mix well.
Place 1/4 of marinara evenly across the bottom of baking dish. Place 3 lasagna noodles side by side on top of sauce. Evenly spread another 1/4 of Marina sauce atop noodles. Then evenly spread 1/2 alfredo sauce over sauce. Next, evenly spread 1/2 cheese mixture over alfredo. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Italian blend cheese over top. Then, repeat the layers a second time. After the second layer is complete, top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles. Top with remaining marinara, then Italian blend cheese.
Cover the entire dish with foil and bake at 350° for 35-45 minutes or until noodles are al dente. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is golden brown. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting to allow lasagna to set.
October! Autumn and our thoughts turn to falling leaves and wood smoke, football games and tailgate parties, corn mazes and…PUMPKINS! Most anywhere you go you will find something to do with pumpkins. The coffee shop has pumpkin spice lattes. The bank teller has little plastic pumpkins at their window. The grocery store is selling pumpkin rolls. Bath and Bodyworks and the Hallmark store have pumpkin candles on display. Even the dollar stores, the pharmacies, and Hobby Lobby have their Fall and Halloween decorations for sale–including pumpkins and Jack O’Lanterns.
Why do we scrape out a perfectly good pumpkin, cut a face in it, and stick a candle inside… and who was Jack? The tradition of using a round vegetable to mimic a human face goes back thousands of years in Celtic cultures. The idea really took hold during the Celtic festival of Samhain, originally celebrated on November 1st. On Samhain eve, also known as All Hallows Eve when the spirits of the dead mingle with the living, these carved vegetable heads were used to ward off restless souls. Because metal lanterns were expensive, people would hollow out root vegetables such as beets, potatoes, and turnips, plentiful at the end of harvest, and put a burning coal inside. Carving the faces allowed the light to shine through the holes without extinguishing the ember.
The original Jack O’Lantern comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him but didn’t want to pay for his drink. He convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to pay for their drinks. But once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, preventing the Devil from changing back to his original form. Jack made a deal with the Devil, only to trick him several more times while extracting a promise that the Devil would never take his soul. Soon after, Jack died. However, God would not allow such an unsavory character into heaven. The Devil would not allow Jack into hell. Instead, he sent Jack off into the dark night to eternally wander the earth with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip. The Irish began to call this ghostly man as “Jack of the Lantern” or simply “Jack O’Lantern.” The Celts would carve out vegetable head lanterns to scare away Jack should he come wandering by on Samhain Eve.
The idea of Jack O’Lanterns immigrated to America with the Irish and Scots around 1840. The use of a pumpkin for the lantern is uniquely an American inspiration born from Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The headless horseman threw a flaming pumpkin at Ichabod Crane who was then never seen again. Pumpkins are indigenous to the Americas, even though gourds can be found worldwide. The best type of this winter squash to use for carving is a classic medium-sized, round orange pumpkin with a thin rind. Some notable varieties of carving pumpkins are Autumn Gold, Harvest Moon, Captain Jack, Howden, and, of course, Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins. Their thin flesh and rind make them easy to carve but are not particularly tasty for baking or cooking. However, their seeds, when toasted, make a delicious snack.
So this October, when you carve your pumpkin and enjoy your seeds, remember Stingy Jack who was doomed to wander the earth, and poor Ichabod Crane who was never seen again. On the night when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest make sure your candle glows brightly.
Y’all know a frog’s favorite restaurant? Ihop, of course!
Talk of restaurants got me thinking about a delicacy I enjoy. . .fried frog legs. Before you start “hopping” on out of here, hear me out. They taste like chicken. I know, everyone says everything tastes like chicken but these are legit.
I recently took an excursion with my game warden buddy from Grant County to find us some dinner. Sporting a Savage .22 with a suppressor, the little kermits had no chance. Creeping around in the mud and the Lillie pads, we’d see some bulging eyes barely above the water. It didn’t take long to get my limit of 15 frogs.
There are different methods of frog hunting, depending on your local game regulations. Most frog hunting is done at night, by shining a bright light into the water or shoreline to locate the frogs. While the light somewhat seems to daze the frog, many hunters grab them by hand. Others use a “gig” which is a multi-pronged spear on the end of a long pole giving one greater access to the frog. While I’ve done both hand-frog hunting and gigging, this time the rifle proved effective even during the day.
Once you’ve acquired your frogs, it’s time for the cleanin’. Cut the legs off right above the hip and slice down each thigh with a sharp knife. Grab the hanging skin with pliers then pull it free. Some don’t but I sip off the feet as well. Leaving the feet off can end in a good show once they hit the frying pan, as they tend to kick and jump in the grease. Below is the best way I’ve found to cook ‘em. Frogs may be taken year round, but no more than 15 per day. As always, be sure to check your local regulations and keep Oklahoma beautiful.
Easy Fried Frog Legs
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
salt and pepper
Cajun seasoning
garlic powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
vegetable oil for deep frying
Wash the legs thoroughly, and soak overnight in saltwater. Drain and pat dry. Preheat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or skillet to 375 degrees. In one bowl, whisk milk and egg together. In another, blend flour and seasonings. Dredge legs into the milk-and-egg mixture, then into the flour, twice. Deep fry until the meat begins pulling away from the bone, usually around 2 minutes.
Kindness: the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate without expecting praise or reward.
Although being kind to one another is encouraged every day, United Way of Northwest Oklahoma, and many others in Alva, Enid, Kingfisher and Woodward, have joined forces to shine a bigger light on kindness through observing Kindness Day in Northwest Oklahoma on Friday, Nov. 18. The international observance of World Kindness Day is Nov. 13.
This special day was introduced in 1998 to promote kindness throughout the world. It is observed in many countries including Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
“The United Way of Northwest Oklahoma has been observing this day to promote planned and random acts of kindness in the area since 2014 and have been expanding the reach into northwest Oklahoma by including Kingfisher, Alva and other communities who have kind hearts and willing spirits,” said Dan Schiedel, Executive Director of United Way of Northwest Oklahoma.
Several Kingfisher and Alva community leaders and volunteers have been meeting to discuss plans for the day and welcome everyone who would like to be involved. “We have various acts of kindness happening so far from thank you notes and goodie bags to kindness messages, paying for fountain drinks for unsuspecting individuals and more,” Cindy Harris of Pioneer said.
Various groups from the NW area are planning acts of kindness throughout the day. Some of the groups are Kingfisher Public Schools, Stepping Up, Foster Feet, YMCA, NOC, The Rotary Club of Enid, NWOSA, Carver & Fowler Kids, Pioneer, Campus Cabinet food pantry, Vance Airforce Base, Kingfisher NBC Bank, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, NWOSU Art Society, NWOSU Medical Sciences Club, NOC Baseball and Softball Teams, Cheer Squad, Northwest Technology Center, Alva State Bank, Washington Elementary in Alva, girl scouts in Waynoka, Kayla’s Kindness, Kingfisher Coalition, Food Pantries and all 26 Jiffy Trip locations.
Any club, school class, group, business, etc., who would like to be involved in the Day of Kindness and wants to be added to the overall list that will be shared with the media and others of those planning acts of kindness may contact Dan Schiedel @ dan@unitedwayenid.org. Also, anyone who wishes to sponsor the Day of Kindness in Northwest Oklahoma please contact Dan Schiedel, CEO and executive director of United Way of Northwest Oklahoma, at (580) 237-0821 or dan@unitedwayenid.org.
Staying up to date with trends and new releases in the social media and search engine marketing realm is a top priority at Wordy Girl Creative.
New features are often celebrated, but sometimes they’re a cause for pause, like the MetaVerse or Instagram’s “Shake Violently to Report a Technical Issue” feature. Per my usual quote on this: “[They] were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should,” as Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park.
Here’s my deep dive into the ever-evolving social media landscape:
LinkedIn Announces Native Scheduling Option
LinkedIn’s developers announced a scheduling tool is in the works. This is reason to celebrate in the social media marketing world! According to the announcement, made via Twitter by App Developer Nima Owji, a small clock will appear in the bottom right of the LinkedIn post creator, allowing users to schedule when their post will go live.
LinkedIn announced to Social Media Today, “We’re working to bring native post scheduling to members and pages soon. Stay tuned for updates on future rollout plans.”
Not a lot of information yet, but certainly a game-changing concept.
Photo: Socialmediatoday.com
Meta Provides Algorithm Insight
Reels are all the rage these days! Data shows reels take up 20 percent of users’ time on the internet. With that in mind, it is clear that Meta wants more reels posted on Facebook and Instagram.
Just posting a reel isn’t a promise for traction, as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’ve stepped into this newer craze. If you’ve entered into the video and reel world, Meta has announced some helpful tips to get more views.
Here is how the platform breaks down reels and videos:
“With Reels and Stories, people connect with others through engaging short bursts of entertainment. With Video on Demand and Live, people discover videos they care about and connect with their friends and fellow fans around that content.”
For maximum distribution, Meta gave the following tips:
Originality. Straight from the horse’s mouth, we hear that the more original and unique, the more the algorithm will share your video content.
Videos that capture attention will be shown more. This means once people start watching it all the way through, the algorithm will show it to more people to watch all the way through. Think quality footage and clear, gripping narration.
Brand loyalty is also important, as the platform says, “When people regularly come back to view an account’s videos, we take it as a strong, positive signal for distribution. This is especially true when we see that people actively search for your content or seek it out on video-first destinations like Facebook Watch, or directly on your account.”
Don’t take it lightly that Meta is opening up about algorithm tips. We’ve been trying to crack the code for years, and the platform is finally assisting businesses in reach! Check out bit.ly/metareelstipsfor the full instructions on gaining video and reel traction.
Reels vs. Videos – A Topic Worth Mentioning
Meta reported that videos take up 50 percent of users’ time on Facebook, in a 2022 report by TechCrunch! It’s important to note that videos and reels, while essentially the same medium, are different tools.
A reel is a short, engaging snippet intended to fall in line with a string of reels for entertainment purposes. A video is significantly longer – up to seven or 10 minutes on social media, with the goal of connecting you with meaningful content. There is value in videos of length! Per the article mentioned above, these are still integral in gaining traffic online.
I’ve heard a lot recently, “Well, isn’t that way too long? I thought everyone did little 15 second clips now.” They do, but those are reels! There is a time and place for a well made video.
If you’d like to discuss this difference further, email me at elizabeth@wordygirl.com for a free consultation.
Instagram Users Don’t Want to Shop in the App
A recent report shared that the current Instagram ‘Shop’ tab will soon be erased from the platform. The company has reported a goal of moving to a ‘simpler and less personalized version of its retail product display. This is a big change in the e-commerce world, as in-stream commerce has appeared to be an area of growth for Meta.
The report shows that the platform has goals to focus on reels and videos over in-app shopping. Reels and videos, the topic of the week!Visit socialmediatoday.comfor all the scoop on this announcement.
Keeping up with new features is a great way to ensure you’re always tweaking your social media marketing strategy to get the right eyes on your content.
What new social media developments are you most excited about? We’d love to hear from you on Facebook or the blog.
Oklahoma Bible Academy remains dedicated in its commitment to promoting unity within its school body. To do so, this year OBA kicked off the school year with two separate retreats for both high school and middle school students and teachers. All high school students, along with several teachers, traveled to Camp WOW in Stuart, OK for a two-night, three-day getaway. They enjoyed low and high ropes courses, waterfront games, late-night parties, teacher-led bible study and worship sessions, individual personal worship times, and class and gender-specific small group discussions. Each class also met to discuss possible community service efforts for the upcoming school year and made plans to pursue such efforts. Bible sessions focused on how to build one other up this year spiritually, physically, and academically. It was a grand time of fellowship and fun!
Interpersonal communication and relationship building were key aspects of the trip for students. Discussion groups focused on reflecting on bible study sessions and looking at how to promote unity within each class individually and the school as a whole. Freshman Sophie Petka remarked of the trip, “I really enjoyed the [discussion] groups. It was really nice to bond with the class and get to know people better.” The trip was also unique in that all classes, freshmen through seniors, were in attendance. Emmaleigh Pendleton, freshman, enjoyed the opportunity to mingle with students outside of her class, “I enjoyed being more connected not only to kids in my grade but the whole high school!”
The middle school students and teachers likewise went to Boiling Springs State Park in Woodward, OK for a one-night stay where they enjoyed a scavenger hunt, games, and a bible study session. The Boiling Springs trip was planned and executed by high school leadership students. When asked about her first OBA event as a sixth grader, Erin Sandwick commented, “I learned to build others up and not tear them down. It was a good experience and I can’t wait for next year!”
Of special note to both students and teachers were the intentional relationships built outside of the classroom that is sure to impact the school year ahead. High school Spanish teacher Amanda Autry recalled, “It’s always good to have fun experiences with students outside the classroom. I got to observe their talents and how they relate in real-life moments.” Students also remarked on the teacher-student bond, Freshman Reagan Miller said, “I loved getting to hang out with my teachers because I got to have a deeper connection and friendship with them.”
OBA’s desire for both trips is to see the seeds of unity spread throughout the year. Students and teachers alike were so grateful for the opportunity to fellowship in a unique way and cannot wait to see how the trips continue to affect the spirit of unity alive in the school body today.
attractive young brunette ponytail female asian doctor wear white coat with pink ribbon explaining breast self examination to woman at clinic - a model and xray display
Early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer. Rebecca Lewis, DO, a family medicine physician and obstetrician at St. Mary’s Physician Associates, discusses why and how women should perform breast self-exams.
Q. When should women begin breast self-exams?
A. Women should begin breast self-exams by the age of 20 and they should perform the exams monthly. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) to learn when self-exams are right for you.
Q. Is there a specific time of the month that women should perform monthly self-exams?
A. If you are still menstruating, it’s best to perform the exam about three to five days after your period begins, when breasts are less tender. Try to do your exams at the same time each month.
Q. Please describe how to perform a breast self-exam.
A. First, lie on your back with one hand behind your head. With your fingers, gently press down on the breast. You can use circular or up-and-down motions. Repeat this process on your other breast.
Next, while sitting or standing, gently squeeze the nipples to look for any discharge.
Then stand up in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. You want to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel. Observe the shape and outline of your breasts and look to see if the nipples turn inward. Look for any changes in the texture of the skin. Examples include dimpling, indentations and puckering.
Lastly, repeat the mirror portion of the exam while standing with your arms above your head.
Q. Are breast self-examsa replacement for mammograms?
A. No. Beginning at age 40, or younger if you have a family history of breast cancer, women should get an annual screening mammogram. When combined, breast self-exams and annual mammograms may increase your odds of early detection of breast cancer.
Q. What should I do if I discover a lump?
A. If you find a lump or another abnormality, don’t panic. Many lumps are benign growths that are not cancerous. However, it is important to report any changes in your breast to your PCP or gynecologist. You will need an appointment to evaluate your breast health.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lewis, call 580-233-5553 or book online at stmarysphysicianassociates.com
For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.
