The Enid Outlaws will attempt to repeat as The Basketball League Champions starting tonight, Wednesday, June 8th against Dallas Skyline. Based on the Outlaws excellent regular season record of 20-4, they received a bye in the first round of the playoffs to set up this best 2 of 3 matchup here at home.
Dallas Skyline finished the regular season 18-6 and faced the Sugar Land Imperials in round 1. Dallas swept Sugar Land 2-0 by scores of 113-98 and 125-111, setting up the second-round matchup with Enid. Dallas is led by the two headed monster of Guard Alexander Cooper (#30) – (20.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 5.1 RPG) and Guard Logan Hicks (#2) – (20.4 PPG, 45.5% 3-Point). Forward Marcus Merchant (#11) led the league in blocks at 2.4 per game. He is also a good rebounder at 9.8 RPG, so the Outlaws will need to keep him off the boards as much as possible.
Despite being part of the same conference, Enid and Dallas only played once this season. In that game, Enid dominated from the tip and won going away, 136-110. Kadavion Edwards had 31 points on 11 of 15 shooting to pace the Outlaws. Ricardo Artis II had 22 points to go along with 21(!) rebounds. The Outlaw defense was able to slow down their star Cooper, who only had 3 points on 8 shots.
Despite the lopsided victory, Enid is not taking their opponent lightly. Team Market Owner Jonathan Reed said “We’ve been working hard to prepare for this round, and the guys are looking good. We really need to get this first one, so we start off on a good note and are able to make another championship run. Ricky (Artis) and Chuck (Guy) both played for Dallas before, so it’ll be fun for them to compete and get a win against their old team, too.”
Tipoff for Game 1 is at 7:00 p.m. at the Stride Bank Center. Tickets start at $10 and are available at www.stridebankcenter.com or at the ticket office prior to the game. Game 2 is Thursday, June 9th also at 7:00 at the Stride Bank Center.
Summer is my favorite time of the year because we usually get to go on VACATION!! This month I am going to tell you about the best and worst parts of my favorite vacations I’ve been on. Let’s go!
Cancun, Mexico- My favorite part of Cancun was the beautiful beaches, unlimited Bahama Mama smoothies, and our resort. My least favorite part was well…… I don’t even remember half the trip, because it was a while ago, but I think I loved all of it, especially accidentally riding a dolphin like a horse (even though they told me not to!)
London and Paris- I LOVED everything about this trip. We were only supposed to visit London but my dad surprised us with train tickets to Paris for my birthday!! In London, my favorite part was getting to see the beautiful historic castles! My least favorite part was my dad had Gout and couldn’t walk very well so it made me feel bad for him. My favorite part of Paris was the Eiffel Tower and the pastries. I have never tasted the best macarons IN MY LIFE!! I also fell in love with Raspberries one morning when we got breakfast. I took a bite of a unique pastry that was like a pie crust with banana pudding with fresh raspberries all over it and powdered sugar on top. I took a couple of bites and then ate all the raspberries and now they are one of my favorite fruits.
Costa Rica- Costa Rica is so beautiful. My favorite part of Costa Rica was ziplining across the canyons and rainforests of Central America. Before we get to the least favorite part here is a fun fact about me, I am terrified of fish!! When we got to swim with dolphins there was a bunch of fish in their area and I kinda freaked out and cried the whole time.
Carnival Cruise- My favorite part of the cruise was getting to dress up for different events, getting a huge suite with A WALK IN CLOSET (because my dad is good at getting nice deals) and hanging out with my uncle. I also met one of my friends Maliyah, who lives in Texas but we are still in touch. My least favorite part of the cruise was we didn’t get “free” unlimited drinks like we did at the resorts, so no tasty drinks ☹
Cancun, Mexico 2.0- My favorite part about going back to Mexico was playing beach volleyball, sitting by the pool listening to music and our excursions. My least favorite part was on one of our excursions and I had to go snorkel which I don’t like because I don’t wanna get eaten by sharks and the saltwater always gets in my mouth and eyes BUT the fish are beautiful.
My dream vacation would have to be to Greece or Bora Bora. I want to go to Greece because I always see the most beautiful pictures from there and it would just be a really cool place to visit. I want to go to Bora Bora because the water is so clear and amazing. The over water bungalos seem like really cool places to stay in as well.
Thank you for reading about my favorite moments on these amazing vacations. I am so thankful I have the opportunities to travel to these cool places with my family. I really would like to hear about your vacations so email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com. Have a good summer and a Happy Father’s Day!
The Enid High Baseball team looked a little young out there this year, but they sure didn’t play like it. Even though the team only had two Senior contributors (Aydan Voitik and Reece Slater), they went 25-10, won regionals and made the State Tournament for the first time in 13 years. “We had a really good season this year,” said 7th year Head Coach Brad Gore, “even though we were young, we just kept getting better. Unfortunately, in the State Tournament game we just couldn’t get our bats going, and score some runs, even though we had some really good pitching.”
Several talented youngsters showed out all year such as Sophomore Shortstop Garret Shull who hit over .500, led the team in RBI’s with 48 and had 5 HR’s and 16 doubles. Fellow Sophomore, Catcher McCage Hartling was also really good both at the plate (hitting over .400) and behind it taking care of his pitchers and the keeping the other teams from running all over the place.
Second Baseman Brock Slater also impressed as the leadoff hitter. Coach Gore noted that Slater does “everything well, gets on base, good defensively, just really steady for us this year.”
The future is bright for these young players, which is illustrated by this story from Coach Gore “Our state tournament game didn’t start until like 10:30 p.m. and we didn’t get back until 3 a.m. Coach Baldwin, the weightlifting coach, told them they would be exempt from weights that morning, but every single kid showed up at 8 a.m. to put the work in. That’s big-time commitment to the program.”
Summer League will have started by the time this article comes out. Enid players have the opportunity to play on one of three different teams in the Connie Mack league. The Majors team is made up of the best kids from all over and is usually guys that have graduated or the best of the best younger players. Enid High School sponsors two teams – the Blue and the White. The Blue team are generally the high school starters or boys that are in line for contributing quickly. The White team is made up of the guys looking for their shot and allows the younger kids to get plenty of playing time. The middle school has a team that plays in the state “Red Dirt League” and is coached by Jordan Langton. “The summer is all about getting better,” Coach Gore says, “we really focus on development and having a middle school program really helps build camaraderie and pride in Enid Baseball. This, along with Coach Baldwin’s weight program, has really helped us reached a higher level. All in all, Enid baseball is in great shape.”
Enid summer baseball plays their games at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in downtown Enid. They will also host the Connie Mack tournament this summer, so be sure to get out and catch these great kids playing some good baseball.
Enid Plainsmen/Pacer Pride of the Plains is Proudly Presented by Slater Mechanical!
If you have ever been to an Enid Noon Ambuc event in the last 64 years, chances are you’ve seen Dewey King hard at work. Even at the ripe young age of 93, Dewey will put on his nicest clothes, and help serve the community at almost every club event. He joined Ambucs in 1958 as he worked at Liberty Federal Savings & Loan. After 20 years there, he started King Appraisal Company, from which he retired in 2012.
Dewey was married for 71 years to the lovely late Betty Lou and where you saw one, you often saw the other. They have one child, Debra, who is a physical therapist.
Longtime friend Anna Blubaugh said of Dewey “A gentleman is a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of correct behavior, is courteous and honorable. Dewey King is a gentleman. I am blessed to have him as my friend.”
Dr. Dwight Olson, who has known Dewey from Ambucs for 40 years says that Dewey is the sharpest dresser in the club. “He always has on a tie looking good, and Betty Lou was with him often, also dressed to the nines. He is very committed to the goals of Ambucs. He makes Ambucs a priority and his example of a member of a civic organization is extraordinary. Another thing that impresses me is his deep faith. His prayers are legendary, he always has a smile on his face, and will listen to anyone. He keeps his opinions to himself, unless you ask, then he will give you his honest opinion. He is quiet but confident, and I can’t think of a better local legend.”
Local Legends is Proudly Presented by Humphrey and Guarantee Abstract Co.!
June is one of my favorite months. School has just gotten out, we typically get to take our summer vacation (see Sophia’s story in Teen Scene this month) and it is the first full month of lake season. Hot, sunny and beautiful. This June is exciting for another reason: the inaugural Best of Enid 2022 Awards Show! We have had some great sponsors sign up like Ediger’s Diamonds, Golden Oaks Village, Wing Stop, Bath Planet of Oklahoma, TLC Dental, Ladusau Evans, The Rustic Spa, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Esplanade at Stonebridge Village and First Baptist Church. We are really happy to be able to highlight the great businesses in Enid on a fun night where we can get together and celebrate you. Join us at the Stride Center on June 3rd by calling Robert at (405) 826-0418. Don’t worry, if you can’t make it, you will get a chance to read all about it in next month’s issue. In the meantime, drink plenty of fluids, stay cool and have a great June!
It is impossible to visit Enid businesses without finding women playing an integral part in their success. Four out of every ten businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, and women are making up a larger and larger part of the workforce. In this month’s edition, we profile three amazing women who are excelling in traditional and non-traditional fields, alike.
Family Ties
Amy Parrish did not intend to work in the family manufacturing business. She had a degree in fashion merchandising and had spent the last decade doing hair and owning a local spa. But she found herself on her own, with two children and needing something substantial to do to support her family. Her dad, Jim Parrish, invited her to join the family business.
PT was founded by Amy’s grandfather, RC Parrish, in 1951. In 2004, it grew into one of Enid’s largest employers, and Amy was a great fit. “I started in the credit department learning the ins and outs of the business. I got to learn about our product and interact with our customers on a daily basis through the billing process. I knew I eventually wanted to transition to sales, and after a couple of years, that’s what I did,” says Amy.
As a manufacturing company, PT designs, manufactures, and distributes all kinds of products, but its specialty is industrial hose fittings and related parts. “Our parts are used in a variety of industries all over the world, from agriculture, to oil and gas, to transportation and a lot more,” says Amy.
Being a woman in a male-dominated field presents unique challenges, which Amy is more than capable of handling. “Being a woman initially gets you attention when you visit with certain companies, but you have to know your product still in and out. They lose interest quickly if you don’t know what you are talking about, so I needed to learn from our people everything about the products, the right terminology, and how they are used. Without that, I wouldn’t have gotten very far.”
Since joining PT, Amy has been there while the company has grown significantly over the last 18 years. After spending several years in sales, she saw a need for someone to head up marketing specifically, so she stepped into that position. “As the Director of Marketing at the time, I was excited to redesign our catalog and tried to find ways to use technology to market our products in a more innovative and upscale way. We are almost all “Made in America” products, and we are proud of that, so we started using that in our marketing. We developed an app and a website and wanted our customers to have easy access to ordering and communicating with us. I am proud to have been a part of some of these efforts.” Amy says.
After attending several conferences, Amy saw a need in the company for other processes that have helped move PT into the 21st century. Amy says, “As I transitioned to Vice President of Corporate Communications, my brother Matt, who by this time was named President, and I thought it would be a good fit to spearhead some other internal projects. While I am still very hands-on with our customers, I have enjoyed modernizing and focusing on safety plans in all of our departments. I have an open-door policy and feel like I am approachable, and employees can come to me with any manner of ideas. It is especially cool to see the increase of women on the manufacturing floor. While we have always had some women there, we have several women supervisors including a shop foreman, and a manager of one of our distribution centers, who do a great job for us, and women now make up over half of our overall employees.”
While quite different from owning a day spa, Amy loves working with her family and the industry they are a part of.
Barbie Beast
When meeting Emme Hughes out and about, you’d have no idea that she was a welder by day and an auto racer by night. She’s almost always made up, wearing dresses or nice clothes, and looks more like a barbie than an industrial welder.
“I have always loved dressing up,” Emme says, “I’m sure I got that from my mom. I love pretty clothes and makeup and looking nice.” However, behind that ruby red lipstick is an aggressive auto racer who has dominated grown men on the track and an accomplished welder who started her own metal fabrication business at 18.
“I started racing when I was 9 or 10. There were a couple of other girls, but I almost always raced against boys and, eventually, as I moved up, sometimes 45-year-old men. They thought they could intimidate me because I was a girl but quickly found out I could really race. I think that really is what has made me a confident young woman today,” Emme says.
This confidence led her to start her own business right out of high school. “I have always loved working in a shop. My PaPa is my best friend, and he taught me to weld several years ago. It was fun being in the shop with him and seeing what he loved to do. I liked making things and using my creativity in that kind of environment. Even though I was learning a trade, it was nice being around my PaPa too. After graduating high school, I thought I would try and make it a career. I know it is unusual for a girl to do something that seems so “manly,” but I think I was born to do it,” Emme says.
At EH Metal Works, Emme does almost anything that has to do with the fabrication of metal products. “I can do almost any kind of welding there is. My PaPa had a plasma table that wasn’t used very often, so I got busy learning how to use it as well. Now I can use it to custom fabricate lots of different products. From signs to parts, gates, and more.”
However, being a woman in a field dominated by men has its challenges. Emme says, “I may get more attention by being a woman in a male field, but occasionally I’ll get that person who assumes I have a husband that does the hard work instead of me. It’s easy to let them know that I am the only EH in EH Metal Works!”
Emme has had some great women to look up to, she says. “My mom (Angie Hughes) is one the most hardworking people I know. She is responsible and friendly, and that’s where I get my outgoing personality from. And my MaMa has taught me financial responsibility. She always said PaPa knows how to make and spend the money, but I know how to save it! I have really taken that to heart and know the difference between wants and needs to make sound financial choices.”
Emme is excited about the future and hopes to learn how to powder coat and expand her offerings. “My name and reputation are important to me. I want to know how every step is done in a project, even if I hire it out. That way, I can make sure it is done right.
“I also want to be a good example to other young women and girls and show them they can do whatever they want, even if people think it’s a man’s job,” says Emme.
Enid’s OG #Bossbabe
Jada Crosswhite may not have been selling her toys to her friends as a toddler, but if you know her now, it wouldn’t surprise you if she had been. “I have always loved sales, and for whatever reason, I have been good at it. I went to college for a bit but racked my brain to figure out what I could do to be able to quit school and my mom not be mad at me,” laughs Jada. So she went to cosmetology school and opened her first business in Mangum.
“I liked doing hair, but I had this empty space in the salon, and people sitting there waiting, so I thought I needed to sell SOMETHING there other than hair products, so I put some jewelry and clothes there, and it did great!” Jada said.
Anyone who has ever been successful at retail knows that it’s way more complicated than it looks.
“I learned everything I know about retail from google. Where to get product, how to ship, how to make labels, and everything else. From there, I started to go to ‘market’ in Dallas and met with wholesalers and decided what I wanted to carry,” said Jada.
After a few years in Mangum, her ex-husband’s job brought her and their kids to Enid.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for a bit, and while I loved spending time with my kids, I was BORED,” says Jada. “I had to do something, so I started Pearl Junkie, a retail boutique in downtown Enid. At the same time, I got in pretty early selling SeneGence products. My love for the company, and relationships I built, allowed me to develop a team of great saleswomen, and SeneGence invited me to train other distributors around the country.”
At the same time, much to her surprise, Pearl Junkie was also on fire.
“I never intended to be this big businesswoman. I just wanted something to do, but at the time, Enid needed retail. All my friends were hungry for cool fashion, and I was able to provide them with something fun and trendy. I started using social media before it was really required, and along with the contacts I made selling SeneGence, I started to get all these online orders for our clothes. It became a big business really quickly when I started shipping.”
Jada sold the retail store in 2018 and opened Pearl Parlor, also downtown, as a salon and small retail store.
“Pearl Parlor was fun, and I liked doing it, but I got an offer from a friend to purchase it, so why not,” said Jada.
“Retirement” was not in the cards for Jada. However, she just can’t sit around. She started ANOTHER retail business, “She…” in 2019.
Jada says, “I had been begging Micah to rent me his little building downtown, and he finally did. We had open retail there for a few months until Covid hit, so we closed down. I was doing so much online that it made sense, and I felt some responsibility to the community and my employees. We moved it to a building north of town, and I do open certain times of the year to the public, such as this summer a couple of days a week.”
As if thousands of mail orders a month are not enough, Jada and her husband have started a designer cattle business and a flower farm.
“I like making people happy and meeting needs,” Jada says, “I have a passion for what I do and love making women feel more confident about themselves. I especially love to help people learn to do what I have done, even if it is a competitor. There is enough business for everyone, and if you work hard, are consistent, and love what you do, you won’t work a day in your life.”
I have started an experiment since retiring. As some of you may know, I LOVE cooking, baking and all things food. As a result, I have an EXTENSIVE cookbook collection that my husband says “just takes up shelf space,” so I am looking to change that. I plan to start cooking out of those cookbooks, a recipe a day if I can, and I hope to share some of my favorites with the Enid Monthly readers. This is my way to get back into cooking in MY kitchen, opening these books that I love, and maybe help my husband and I eat a little healthier. Now, don’t get me wrong, not every recipe will be listed as healthy, but it will DEFINITELY be healthier than going through that drive-thru. So I hope some of you will enjoy this journey of mine and maybe try some of the recipes as well.
To get started, I will share one of my favorite go-to recipes for a good breakfast or snack. In my 6 years in Junior Welfare League (JWL) and 3 years on the cookbook committee, this recipe from JWL’s Stirrups Cookbook (pg. 97) became a go-to for me….and I had bananas turning that needed to be used!
Kona Inn Banana Bread is the BEST banana bread recipe THIS baker has EVER come across!!! You can use the cake flour that the recipe calls for, but I like the texture that bread flour gives this sweet bread. On occasion, I will add 1/2 cup of chopped Oklahoma pecans to the mix. Just make sure to add them to the dry ingredients first. This recipe is easily made into muffins. A 4 oz scoop of batter into a well-greased muffin tin is plenty to get a beautiful muffin. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
I hope you will try this recipe!!! Whether baking in a loaf for a gift or muffins for breakfast, this Kona Banana Bread will be a huge hit! Happy Cooking!!
KONA INN BANANA BREADRECIPE Credit: JWL Stirrups Cookbook
2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup softened butter 6 bananas ripe and mashed (3 cups) 4 eggs, well beaten 2 1/2 cups cake flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt
With electric beater, cream together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add bananas and eggs until well mixed. Sift together dry ingredients 3 times. Blend with banana mixture but do not overmix. Pour into 2 lightly greased loaf pans. Bake 45 minutes to an hour, at 350°, until firm in center and the edges begin to separate from the pans. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes in the pans.
Some men are reluctant to seek routine medical care. Casey L. Cochran, DO, a physician at St. Mary’s Family Medicine North, discusses how men can take charge of their health.
Q. What are some of the top health concerns for men?
A. Top health concerns for men include heart disease, colon cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use and obesity.
Q. What can men do to stay healthy and prevent disease?
A. To improve your health, make sure you eat a balanced diet consisting of plenty of fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats and whole grains. Exercise and staying physically active is just as important. If you use tobacco, quit.
Men should get annual check-ups after the age of 35. It’s important to have open discussions with your primary care provider (PCP) about any urinary changes.
Q. What types of health screenings can men do themselves without going to the doctor?
A. Men can do testicular evaluations at home by checking for any abnormal testicular lumps. They can also monitor their blood pressure.
There are several screenings that men should seek through their doctor. Men with no family history should begin prostate cancer screening at age 50. Those with a family history of prostate cancer should begin earlier at age 40. Annual rectal exams and PSA tests are the best way to get screened.
Everyone is recommended to have a colonoscopy starting at age 50. If you have a first-degree relative that was diagnosed with colon cancer, your screening should start 10 years prior to their age of diagnosis.
Q. If someone has health concerns, why is it important to seek immediate care?
A. It is important to catch disease at early stages when it is more treatable and to prevent further complications.
Q. If someone does not have a primary care provider (PCP), how can they find one?
A. Here at St. Mary’s Physician Associates, we offer primary care services for the whole family. We have several locations to make it convenient for patients to access the care they need.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cochran, call 580-249-3782 or book online at stmarysphysicianassociates.com. For physician referral assistance, call 580-599-6391.
For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
Author: Sally Hepworth Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
The Younger Wife is the newly released psychological thriller from author Sally Hepworth. She emerged on the scene with the success of her last two books, The Mother-in-Law (2019) and The Good Sister (2021), and as you can guess from the title, The Younger Wife follows in that same vein of domestic suspense.
The book opens with a riveting cliffhanger – a wedding chapel, a woman’s scream, and an officiant covered in blood – before immediately jumping back in time. One year prior, Stephen Aston is introducing his new fiancé, Heather, to his two adult daughters, Rachel and Tully – and getting a less than stellar response. As the plot unfolds and the wedding nears, each character seems more and more like they could be the one responsible for the shock at the altar.
For Rachel, after she finds nearly $100,000 cash stowed away in her mother’s belongings, she begins to look more closely at her parents’ seemingly perfect marriage. For Tully, her husband has lost their money on a bad investment, and shoplifting is the only thing that can ease her anxiety. Heather, not only is she three decades younger than Stephen, she has lied about her childhood and her own family. When Pam, Stephen’s ex-wife, starts accusing him of things, is it the Alzheimer’s affecting her memory, or is she telling the truth? And Stephen, a top-rated heart surgeon, he couldn’t have a violent streak in him, could he?
The story alternates points of view between Rachel, Tully, and Heather, and as you get closer to the end, the short, snappy chapters really build the suspense. This book would make a great book club pick because there is so much to unpack – the characters, all the family secrets, and of course, the ending. The Younger Wife is not quite at the level of the author’s prior two books, but it is still a wonderful, twisty thriller that will have you staying up way too late to finish!
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of The Younger Wife today!
Author: Erin Entrada Kelly Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
We Dream of Space is a chapter book by author Erin Entrada Kelly for children aged 8-12. Originally published in hardback in 2020, it has just recently been released in paperback as well. The author has previously won the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, and now We Dream of Space has been named a Newbery Honor Book. This book is a work of historical fiction, focusing around the space shuttle Challenger and spanning just the first month of 1986.
Cash, Fitch, and Bird live in a somewhat dysfunctional family, and they each stay in their own little bubbles. Bird enjoys taking apart machines and drawing their schematics – for fun! Fitch spends most afternoons at the arcade trying to beat his own high score. Cash, the oldest one, has broken his wrist and is on the verge of failing seventh grade for a second time. Their science teacher, Ms. Salonga, has been teaching about the Challenger for weeks, and Bird decides she wants to be an astronaut herself when she grows up. When the space shuttle tragically explodes though, it actually pushes the siblings closer than they’ve ever been before.
This book isn’t a necessarily light read and it doesn’t have an abundance of humorous moments. But it does tackle a lot of things kids go through. Fitch is dealing with emotions and keeping them in check. Cash is trying to discover what he’s good at and what he enjoys doing. Bird is facing peer pressure for being the smartest one in the class. They’re learning about friendships and how to treat people. They’re learning about teasing and bullying. They’re typical middle schoolers trying to figure things out. We Dream of Space is a really solid read – even for adults – and it leaves you with a very heartwarming conclusion.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of We Dream of Space today!
