Bert has been a mainstay in the Enid Community for many years. His strong leadership skills and gentle influence has made him the “go-to guy” for many local, state, and national projects. Over the years he has helped Enid become a better city with his knowledge in all areas of Finance, Public Utilities, Health Care, Education, Postal Operations, Local State and Federal Government Relations, Industrial Development and vast knowledge in policymaking, long-range corporate strategy, and making successful corporate business decisions.
Bert served the country in the U.S. Army Reserves for 6 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Finance from Phillips University, getting his degree as a non-traditional student. He later earned an Honorary Master of Law Degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Bert Mackie continued his 58-year banking career with the same institution. He began his career in 1962 in the Bookkeeping and Proofs department of Security National Bank. He held positions in all areas of the bank until becoming President in 1990. Bert held this position until 2006 and continues to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the bank’s Board of Directors.
Bert is a kind man who most consider a friend. He certainly is that to the Enid Community.
Mr. Mackie has served on numerous boards including Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Security National Bank and an Asset Manager for the Hamm Financial Group, Director of ONEOK Inc. founding member of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Oklahoma Academy for Goals, Board of Governors for St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, President of Oklahoma Jaycees, the Garfield County Joint industrial Foundation and Enid Economic Coalition, United Way, Northwestern Oklahoma State University Foundation Investment Committee, Northern Oklahoma College Board of Trustees, and Enid Higher Education Council.
Bert is a past regent on the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and while serving as Chairman of the Board the state started the Concurrent Enrollment program for high school seniors. He served on the governing board of the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and an advisory board member of Oklahoma City University School of Business. President Ronald Regan appointed him to the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service, where he served for 10 years, cutting costs and stabilizing rates and even served as Chairman of the Board.
Bert has been a strong advocate for higher education in Oklahoma and a leader in fundraising efforts for student scholarships, particularly through the Enid Higher Education and Scholarship campaigns. In 2011, Northern Oklahoma College formally dedicated their planetarium as the “Bert and Janice Mackie Planetarium.” They have touched so many lives through their dedication, service, support of the college, to higher education, and the Enid Community.
Bert resides in Enid and is married to Janice. Together they have two sons, Dr. Stephen Mackie of Ames, and David Mackie and family of Oklahoma City.
Cold weather provides plenty of inspiration for cooking up some super satisfying meals to warm you up from head to toe. A big batch of homemade stew just has a way of warming a body up just thinking about it. The other great thing about stew is that it can accommodate a cadre of those vegetables we need to nourish us after a holiday season of sweets and treats. Making a great stew is more about the technique of bringing out the best in each ingredient. Here are some ideas to help you make a perfect stew, for you!
You can stop with potatoes, carrots, and onions or jazz it up with the addition of green beans and perhaps some chunks of butternut squash or a little parsnip surprise. I love to include a few Brussels Sprouts cut in half, but they are not popular with everyone. They are easy to ladle around when dishing up the stew. Who knows if one stumbles onto a little mini cabbage—they might like it! Ok enough for wishful thinking, but they are good for you!
You won’t need to be exact when it comes to ingredients for a stew, so don’t think you have to measure every morsel going into it. If you love carrots, then include lots of them. I love onions for the flavor they bring to the stew. They just have a way of simmering in combination with the beef that builds a lot of flavors. I suppose you could season your stew pot by starting things off with a strip of bacon before ever browning the stew meat. Bacon is always a great flavor maker.
I’m always on the lookout for lean stew meat during the winter. I like to keep some on hand in the freezer for those days when I just want to hibernate and not make a trip to the grocery store. Spread the pieces out on a small baking sheet to freeze then store them in a plastic bag. This is great if you want to be able to parcel the stew meat out according to how many portions you will want. (I plan to have enough stew on hand for a day or two of warm satisfying lunches of course.)
Browing the stew meat is important, so start with blotting the chunks dry with paper towels then dusting them with some flour or corn starch. I prefer Wondra flour for dusting my stew meat before browning. I season the Dutch Oven or stew pot with a small amount of grapeseed oil. It is very important not to crowd the pieces of meat when browning as this can hamper the browning process or even lead to a large mass of gray globby stuff in the pan. It may be necessary to brown the meat in several batches to avoid crowding.
Once the meat is browned, deglazing is the most fun part of making a good stew. With all the meat in the bottom of the pan add a splash of red wine or cooking sherry and enough beef broth to just cover the chunks of meat. Sometimes, I use a can of V-8 juice to deglaze. It is downright exciting as that liquid hits all those bits of browned flour and meat juices in the pan and sizzles up into a cloud of promise for the good stew to come. Cover the pot and simmer over low heat until the meat becomes tender. This will probably take about 15 to 30 minutes to tenderize the stew meat over low heat.
While the meat cooks and tenderizes, you can prepare the vegetables. Try to keep things like carrots and potatoes in similar sizes that work well in a spoon when cutting up the vegetables. If the carrots and potatoes are too large it will be difficult to enjoy them in combination with each other and the broth. I keep frozen green beans on hand to add to soups and stews, but I include them a little later in the process than the other vegetables so they maintain their bright green appearance.
You will want to include additional liquid for the final simmer of the stew. Canned tomatoes along with additional broth work beautifully. You can also add a zippy note to the stew with a cup or so of prepared salsa.
Recently, I made the stew by adding chopped onion and Poblano peppers to the saute’ of the stew meat with about a teaspoon of ground cumin. The cumin didn’t dominate the stew, but it did add just a hint of the Southwest. We loved it.
I hope this inspires you to simmer up some stew to satisfy your hungry on a cold winter evening!
Even the most committed exercisers may be struggling to stay active at a time when most of the population is largely confined to their homes. In fact, for those who are accustomed to exercising in a gym or group setting, finding the motivation to keep moving at home can prove particularly challenging. Bolstering immunity and good health, however, has never been more important. A new research review highlights the power of regular, daily exercise on the immune system and the importance of people continuing to be physically active, even during a lockdown.
The new research review, which is published in the international journal Exercise Immunology Review, highlights the importance of staying physically active at this time. The research confirms what you and other health and exercise professionals have been undoubtedly communicating to your clients: being in isolation without access to gyms and sports clubs should not mean people stop exercising. Rather, keeping up regular, daily exercise at a time when much of the world is in isolation can play an important role in helping to maintain a healthy immune system.
Does Strenuous Exercise Help or Hamper Immunity?
The analysis, which was led by Dr. John P. Campbell and Dr. James E. Turner from the University of Bath’s Department for Health in the United Kingdom, considers the effect of exercise on immune function. According to researchers, many studies over the past four decades have investigated how exercise affects the immune system. It is widely agreed that regular moderate-intensity exercise is beneficial for immunity, but a view held by some is that more strenuous exercise can suppress immune function, leading to an “open window” of heightened infection risk in the hours and days following exercise.
In a benchmark study in 2018, this “open window” hypothesis was challenged by Campbell and Turner. They reported in a review article that the theory was not well supported by scientific evidence, summarizing that there is limited reliable evidence that exercise suppresses immunity, concluding instead that exercise is beneficial for immune function.
“. . .exercise can help the immune system find and deal with pathogens.”
In the short term, they concluded, exercise can help the immune system find and deal with pathogens. In the long term, regular exercise slows down changes that happen to the immune system with aging, which subsequently reduces the risk of infection.
In the current review, Turner, Campbell, and colleagues examined whether the immune system can change negatively or positively after exercise and whether athletes get more infections than the general population. The researchers concluded that infections are more likely to be linked to inadequate diet, psychological stress, insufficient sleep, travel, and, importantly, pathogen exposure at social gathering events such as marathons, rather than the act of exercising itself.
“Our work has concluded that there is very limited evidence for exercise directly increasing the risk of becoming infected with viruses,” explains Dr. Turner. “In the context of coronavirus and the conditions we find ourselves in today, the most important consideration is reducing your exposure from other people who may be carrying the virus. But people should not overlook the importance of staying fit, active, and healthy during this period. Provided it is carried out in isolation—away from others—then regular, daily exercise will help better maintain the way the immune system works, not suppress it.”
Dr. Campbell wants to alleviate people’s fears that exercising might suppress the immune system and therefore increase one’s risk of contracting coronavirus. “Provided exercise is carried out according to the latest government guidance on social distancing, regular exercise will have a tremendously positive effect on our health and well-being, both today and for the future.”
A few more tips from researchers: At this current time, the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene when exercising, including thoroughly washing hands following exercise, cannot be overstated. To give the body its best chance at fighting off infections, they also suggest that, in addition to doing regular exercise, people need to pay attention to the amount of sleep they get and maintain a healthy diet that is energy balanced to account for energy that is used during exercise.
7 Steps for Decreasing Infection Risk
Maintain good personal hygiene when exercising, including thorough hand washing after exercise.
Exercise regularly for a positive effect on health, well-being. and immune system function.
Get enough sleep.
Maintain an energy-balanced healthy diet.
Positively manage stress.
Limit travel.
Limit attendance at social gatherings.
Article reprinted with permission of the American Council on Exercise
Hello to our readers out there in the world! It’s Sophia and Mallie writing the January column in Enid Monthly. We are very excited to share some things about the new year with y’all. Let’s get straight down to business.
So we all know that this last year has been really tough for a lot of people and families including ours. So we wanted to discuss why it has been hard. There are many reasons why people lost their jobs because of COVID-19 making it hard for them to support their families.
“For me this year has been tough because I didn’t get to do all of the fun things I wanted to do like go on vacation/traveling, going to trampoline parks and things like that, I also didn’t get to go swimming that much because of COVID, but the hardest part was wearing a mask everywhere I went.” -Mallie
“For me this year has been tough mainly because of having to go virtual for school and wearing a mask everywhere, another reason is that I was really scared, because I worried about getting my grandma sick if I got the virus or if I went over to a friend’s house, I could get their family sick if I had it and had no idea I did. Some other things are also not being able to go on summer vacation or traveling. But on a positive note we got through it and are hoping that 2021 will be way better!” -Sophia
We also wanted to talk to you about some of our New Year’s Resolutions:
“My New Year’s resolutions are to make all A’s on my report cards, having the motivation to do things and not just sit and be on my phone all day, get better at tennis, eating healthier, cleaning up after myself better, and having a healthy day routine.” -Sophia
“My New Year’s resolutions are to get good grades, to get better at soccer, and pay attention more in school so I can achieve good grades.” -Mallie
For the new year, we are mainly looking forward to going on fun vacations (hopefully with each other), as well as going back to school, hopefully with no mask, and the COVID-19 virus to be gone along with 2020. Last, we are most excited to watch the New York City ball drop and as soon as it hits midnight we will call out JUMANJI to get out of the 2020 and into 2021!
We are both hoping everyone has a great 2021! Thank you for reading our January column! Email us your New Year’s resolutions at tweensceneenid@gmail.com! See you next month. BYEEEEEE!
Title: One by One Author: Ruth Ware Reviewed by: Michaelene M
If you could snoop in real-time to what music a celebrity was listening to…would you? How about your next-door neighbor? Your friend? Would you let them know it was you listening in, or would you snoop in anonymity? Allow us to introduce you to Snoop, a music-streaming app where you can do just that!
But the company may be in trouble. During their skiing work retreat in the French Alps, the co-founders and employees of Snoop must decide whether to take a buyout or wait until a new update rolls out, one that could take Snoop to a whole new (and extra creepy) level.
It’s just another day on the snow-covered mountain…until one of the company’s co-founders disappears in what looks like a skiing mishap. It quickly snowballs into business as NOT usual when an avalanche forces them all together and the employees begin to disappear. One by one.
Readers looking for murder mystery on the slopes Clue-style will find Ruth Ware creates a masterfully suspenseful thriller, perfect for winter reading. Between the chilly setting, the creepy app, and the dynamics of the Snoop employees, readers will be on the edge of their seats until the very end.
One by One is available as a hardback in our physical collection. It is also available as an ebook and an audiobook on the Oklahoma Virtual Library. Call us at 580-234-6313 to place a hold.
Title: Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story Author: Kevin Noble Maillard Illustrated by: Juana Martinez-Neal
Fry Bread is a children’s picture book filled with warmth that centers on food, family, and culture of a Native American family. Each member works together to create fry bread, a traditional recipe that’s been passed down but the ingredients vary between Native communities.
This beautifully drawn picture book centers on each element of making fry bread and in the passing down of tradition to another generation. The story uses all the readers’ senses as it captures a moment of family connection and celebration. Each illustration throughout is intentional and depicts a different aspect of Native American culture. An additional Author’s Note at the end provides further background and education on Native ancestry, and it’s a brilliant addition to an already vibrant story.
The inclusion of the fry bread recipe at the end offers readers an opportunity to try their hand at this traditional recipe. Fry Bread is a heartfelt and joyous book that invites readers of all ages to continue to learn and celebrate the history and culture of Native Americans.
Fry Bread won the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal. It is also a 2020 American Indian Youth Picture Book Honor Winner. Find Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story in the library’s physical collection. Call us at 580-234-6313 to place a hold and pick up through Curbside Delivery.
The Dumbell Nebula is a fascinating nebula shaped like a dumbell. Nebulae come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. This is one of the easiest to see aside from Orion and the Ring Nebula.
The year 2020 has been a wild ride. From COVID-19 to elections and natural disasters, it’s safe to say most everyone is looking forward to what 2021 has in store (hopefully not more of the same…) On this month’s Cosmic Mariner, we’re traveling into the world of the magical photon, AKA light, as we gaze upon the many cosmic wonders you can see from your backyard in Enid, America. That’s right! Every photograph you’ll view in this article was captured from my driveway or in the surrounding plains. Want to know what’s even cooler? Almost every one of these objects is visible with a pair of plain old binoculars! So, without further ado, let’s marvel at the curiosities our universe has to offer.
Vibrant colors radiate from the Orion Nebula on a crisp evening in Enid, Oklahoma. This photograph is a grouping of 17 images stacked together to capture the most detail possible.
1. We’ll begin by viewing one of the most recognizable and easy to find objects in the night sky. The wondrous and ever-so colorful Orion Nebula. Visible to the unaided eye, albeit under darker skies, this enormous conglomerate of gases is one of the most dazzling objects to look at. This stellar nursery has provided astronomers with valuable insight into the evolution of stars and stellar objects while simultaneously captivating emerging astro-enthusiasts around the globe. If you look closely, you can see the Trapezium cluster of stars located at the center of Orion. These luminous stars help illuminate the enormous cloud of gas that surrounds them. This incredible structure is visible in winter months when the constellation of Orion is high in the sky. To view it, simply look at the middle of Orion’s sword. You can’t miss it.
Jupiter and the 4 Galilean moons (2 of which are shown here), first discovered by Galileo, shine like stars in the darkness of night. The word “planet” actually means “wandering star.”
2. Next up is Jupiter! While this gigantic Jovian planet is undeniably tricky to photograph up close in “stellar” detail, it’s the perfect planet to look at with a pair of binoculars or small telescopes. While the Great Red Spot can be tricky to see at times, mainly because Jupiter is almost 535 million miles away, the planet itself, including its colorful bands, is spectacular. In addition, simple binoculars reveal the ever-changing Galilean moons of Jupiter! From left to right on the image above, you can see Callisto, Ganymede, Europa, and Io. That blue-tinted moon, Europa, is one of our most favored places for life in our solar system! Unfortunately, you can’t see Jupiter’s 75 other moons…
Mizar (Left) and Alcor (Right) shine in the crisp air of an Oklahoam evening. A third star appears just above Mizar.
3. Next up is the second star in the handle of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major)! Mizar, as it’s called, is a rather ordinary star. You sometimes use it when you say to your friends/family “Hey, there’s the Big Dipper.” However, Mizar is unique and has a fascinating tie to ancient human history. If you look closely at the image above, you’ll notice a second bright star near Mizar; Alcor. In ancient cultures around the world, these stars were used to determine the resolving power of a person’s eyesight. If one could see both stars, they were likely to survive longer as they would become archers. Those who couldn’t see the stars were delegated to the front lines. But, if you look even closer…Mizar has another star right next to it. That’s because this star system is a sextuple system. That being said, through a high powered telescope, similar to mine, only three can be seen.
The luminous stars of globular cluster M13 shine their brilliant blues and yellows during a warm summer evening in Enid, Oklahoma. This cluster has stars that vary in color. This is why this formation is so enticing.
4.) Last, but not least, is M13, my Dad’s favorite Messier object and, perhaps, one of the neatest star formations in the night sky. This massive conglomerate of stars is known as a globular cluster. M13 is the most well known of the objects due to their brightness and easy location to find. Simply look at the constellation of Hercules in the summer months. M13 is located ⅓ of the way from the left star of the top two stars. Or, to simplify, use a star map on your computer/phone. This beautiful formation is home to hundreds of thousands of stars and covers roughly 145 light-years from side to side. That means, going back to the first episode of the Cosmic Mariner, if you traveled from one side to the other at the speed of light, it would take you 145 years! So cool! As is the case with the other objects listed, you can see M13 with a simple pair of binoculars.
The Sombrero Galaxy, a distant galaxy from our Milky Way, is perhaps the neatest galaxy visible in the summer sky. It does, in fact, look like a sombrero.
Now that you’ve got a few things to look at, get outside and rediscover our innate fascination with the cosmos above! In the meantime, enjoy these photos and photographs of other, more difficult to find, objects that occupy the wondrous void above.
Column by Susie Skaggs, Garfield County Master Gardener
Planting a container/pot garden has no limits. It doesn’t matter if you have a large garden, small yard, or a windowsill, there is a plant container/pot for every space. I had fun creating special “garden rooms” with my garden pots this past spring and summer. The Covid-19 shutdown allowed me time to watch gardening programs that encouraged planting in pots. In many instances, one can control what you plant, color schemes you want, plantings by plants, plantings by seeds, be it flowers or vegetables, trees, really the possibilities are endless. Planting in pots is a teaching tool about nature and gardening for children. They can use their imagination, improve their skills in math, art, and reading. Containers and pots can be used by anyone with a disability or other medical issues. One can keep any height and in a small area that is easy attainable.
What I found fun was learning I can use any kind of pot I want. I used clay, ceramic, plastic, cracked pots, fancy decorated ones, tall pots, short and round ones, a washtub my Dad used for planting and I used for my red, white, and blue petunias. My watering cans that were rusty on the bottom were used for kitchen herbs along with my first metal coffee pot used on the stove back in my teens. I did puncture holes in the bottom for drainage. I encourage you to check out various yard sales, auctions, junk shops, and even trash piles on the side of the road. Create your own plan and enjoy. Don’t be afraid to try what you like and if it isn’t working, dig up, repot, take and keep notes on what works and what doesn’t, and try again. This is one of the lessons I learned during Garfield County Master Gardeners class.
There are plants that can be planted in containers for spring, summer, fall, and winter. What you plant depends on what can withstand our Oklahoma heat, strong winds, and sudden fluxes in temperature. I kept my container garden very simple. Leading up to my pool area are concrete stairs. I wanted it to be fun, colorful, tropical, to make it inviting. It is an area easy to water. So no dragging a water hose around in the heat. I do encourage you to take a picture of your plantings. I did not. This is what I planted using plants that could take the heat most of the day and as the sun settled in the west the plants and flowers had some reprieve from the sun: Elephant ears, lemongrass, citronella, hot pink Ice plant, Ipomea Margarita Sweet Potato vine, Color Blaze Torchlight, and Rediculous, coleus, herbs of Rosemary, Chives, and for color and scent, more red, white, and purple petunias, blue Mexican heather, various colors of Vincas and various succulents. For this year, my plan worked and it kept me plenty busy. For fall and winter, I planted pansies. Bulbs of any type can be planted.
Here are some additional tips for container gardening:
• Use potting mix with moisture. • If you are going to cover drainage holes, use broken crock shards, gravel, or old window screen. There is debate about covering drainage holes. Ultimate goal: you want good drainage. • To conserve on potting mix, fill large pots with plastic bottles, plastic packing material, then potting mix. • Unpot plants by turning upside down and tap out of the plastic container and gently loosen roots with your fingers or if roots are larger, take a knife to make shallow vertical slices through the root ball in two or three places. • Depending on the size of the plant, plant large plants 1-3” below the rim of the pot. • Water well when you are finished planting. You may have to add more potting mix and water again. • Fertilize from time to time. Pots do require more watering and the nutrients are depleted. • One last fun tip. If planting seeds for flowers, for example, and they are all pink, you might forget what you planted. Paint the rim of your pot the color of the flower.
What is shared in this article is a small part of container gardening. I still have so much to learn. Visit and research websites that offer information on container gardening. One of the best resource websites is the Oklahoma State University Extension. (osufacts.okstate.edu). You will find fact sheets on just about anything you want to plant and grow. You can also call Garfield County Enid Extension for guidance!
My wish is to encourage you to make your own plan, find your own special garden room retreat, and enjoy your time with nature and what it has to offer in any season!
the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.
Reaching a state of wellness is a combination of several factors, as shown by the “Wellness Wheel” above. Nutrition, Physical Activity, Renewal, Resiliency, Relationships, Sense of Purpose, and Self Talk all play a role in the overall wellness of an individual. Realizing what segment is not working, or finding out what is working helps us find balance. When we examine what is going well in life, we attract more of it.
A sunny fall day attracts outdoor exercisers to the Enid Recreational Trails.
According to Rebecca Kroeker, of ATS Counseling Agency, “Self-talk is a critical factor in obtaining wellness and adding to our happiness. Happiness is found in the truth. Reality can be harsh, but it also can be a blessing.”
Rebecca Kroeker, MHR, LPC – ATS Counseling
She adds that our “self-talk” is crucial to lasting changes. “We don’t have to obey our thoughts,” she explains, “We are free to accept them, reject them, challenge them, reframe them or ask our brain to find another thought! So, when we face obstacles or life just doesn’t behave, we can choose to focus on the negatives or see the silver linings.”
Kroeker describes the idea of an actual “happiness equation” developed by Mo Gawdat, a former Google [X] executive. In 2001, he realized that despite his incredible success, he was desperately unhappy. A lifelong learner, he attacked the problem as an engineer would: examining all the provable facts and scrupulously applying logic. Eventually, his countless hours of research and science proved successful, and he discovered the equation for permanent happiness.
(Mo Gawdat images used with permission.)
Thirteen years later, Gawdat’s algorithm would be put to the ultimate test. After the sudden death of his adult son, he and his family turned to his equation- and it saved them from despair. In dealing with the horrible loss, he found his mission: he would share his equation with the world and help as many people as possible become happier. He authored a book called Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy, that Kroeker highly recommends.
Kroeker explains his equation as, “Happiness is equal to or greater than the difference between events of life and your expectations.” Gawdat chose to somehow make sense of his personal tragedy and move forward to help others. When Kroeker asked permission for his book to be featured in this article, Gawdat’s response was, “Thank you for spreading happiness.”
Kroeker also compares the idea of unreasonable expectations to that of a “Bridezilla” who has so many high expectations of her wedding day that one little problem seems to ruin it all. Using Gawdat’s equation, it’s easy to see why the controlling bride would not be as happy as one with simpler expectations.
Happiness and subsequent wellness are daily work. Negative self-talk is one of the biggest adversaries of true wellness, both mentally and physically. When we dwell on negative thoughts, stress chemicals are released that damage our bodies and brain. According to research, to remedy this situation, we need five positive thoughts for every negative one. Experts suggest memorizing on 5-7 positive thoughts so we are prepared to counteract any negative ones. One way to do this is to assign one positive thought to each of the five fingers on our hand, and then recite them when the need arises.
Focusing on gratitude is another helpful tool. It’s a personal choice of how we “ground” ourselves and practice mindfulness. “Just 20 minutes a day of slow, methodical breathing and exploration of statements of gratitude, scripture, or other uplifting thoughts can create feelings of gratefulness and connection. Kroeker tells of one patient who practices a ritual that has been passed down in their family to set a positive tone for the day ahead. A wrapped package is placed at the foot of their bed daily to remind them that “Every Day, Life is a Gift.”
Jonathan Bushman, DO – Reliant Health and Wellness, PLLC
As a doctor of osteopathic medicine, Dr. Jonathan Bushman of Reliant Health and Wellness, PLLC, views the patient as a whole person…physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many patients can become overwhelmed by the amount of change that needs to occur, to the point they may never start on their journey to wellness. “A fixed mindset equals no change” he explains. “They must believe they are capable and have the means to make the change.”
A Health Coaching Program is now offered by his office to address managing weight issues, diabetes prevention, hyperthyroidism, heart disease, depression, and medication management.
“Change occurs when the pain of remaining the same is worse than the pain of change,” says Bushman.
Lupus, fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis…not the description you would expect a personal trainer to give of herself. Kat Kannberg is living proof that people with chronic health issues still need to strive for daily exercise to feel their best. “Movement is key,” says Kannberg.
Kat Kannberg, Personal Trainer at Finer Physiques with Kara Bergdall, Competition client.
Kannberg has been a fitness trainer at Finer Physiques since 2011 and has a robust clientele to show for it. Many female clients cite wanting to regain the body they knew before their children were born, another is tired of wearing “mom” swimsuits and is focused on building muscle for an upcoming family beach vacation. A select few even train to compete in serious physique and fitness contests.
Ashley Voss works on the leg press.
Tina Lavicky uses free weights to define her upper body.
Kara Bergdall, Competition client, shows her muscle definition.
One standout client is Carolyn Poplin, 71, who immediately volunteers the opinion that “Kat is the best trainer around!” Poplin trains three times a week for 30-minute sessions upon the advice of her doctor, to strengthen her joints and core and improve her breathing capability. She is reducing the size of her food portions, adding in more fruit and vegetables, and avoiding heavy meals in the evenings. Along with an increase in water intake, she is also reducing the amount of red meat she eats to help with her gout issues. She reports a steady, slow loss of about 15 pounds at this time.
Carolyn Poplin strength trains for her health.
Poplin comments that there are no limitations on age at Finer Physiques, and she feels very comfortable working out there.
Every person seeking Kannberg’s expertise is required to complete a health profile questionnaire, including exercise and nutrition habits. Kannberg is an advocate of clean eating, which means avoiding high sugar, fried or over-processed foods. Instead, she recommends fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant-based proteins, lean meats, and fresh herbs and spices for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Striving to eat cleanly at least 80% of the time is a good way to keep nutritional goals realistic!
Many Enid citizens are actively pursuing a state of wellness. The temporary ice rink installed downtown for a “Holidays on Ice” event, attracted many seeking outdoor fun and exercise.
Libby and Heidi Long ice skate for fun.
The Enid Recreational Trails is a permanent fixture that many local people frequent in their quest for wellness. It’s a great place for walking, running, biking, fresh air, and fellowship.
Jeffrey Falcomata works out for his needs.
One late fall day, the most inspirational person encountered on the trails is Jeffrey Falcomata. He is witnessed faithfully completing his strength training routine by utilizing the stretching area near the trailhead parking lot on South Cleveland Road. He explains that he uses the sturdy bars to anchor his resistance bands as he works to restore strength to his chest muscles. He is unable to do push-ups or lift heavy weights for his workout, as he is still recovering from having a 3 cm tumor removed from his brain and spine in 2019.
Although the surgery was successful, it caused a loss of hearing in his left ear and sight problems in his left eye. These obstacles do not deter him from completing his exercises as planned. Due to the changes in his health, he was forced to retire at age 60, but he does not speak negatively about anything, he chooses to see the silver linings.
Without question, Jeffrey Falcomata has achieved a state of personal wellness…his unique state, and he’s truly inspirational!
For most seniors playing high school football, it will be your last time under the Friday night lights. Your last time strapping on the helmet. The last time you join your teammates in competition on the football field. For CJ Adams this may not be the case.
CJ is a two-sport athlete at EHS. He plays football and basketball. He started playing for EHS as a sophomore after moving to Enid from Texas.
After having an outstanding Senior year CJ was tabbed Co-Defensive Lineman of the year and 1st Team All District in arguably one of the toughest football divisions (6A-1) in Oklahoma. It seems that CJ may have an opportunity to continue his athletic and academic careers at the next level.
CJ Adams and Anna Hempfling
As the Summer before his Senior year approached CJ as well as other athletes wondered how COVID 19 would affect their season.
“I was scared at first that we were not going to be able to play” CJ said when asked what his thoughts were leading up to the season. “We (EHS Football Team) really wanted the opportunity to show that the hard work we put in would pay off.”
In June, as the summer strength and conditioning program took off, CJ and his teammates began to work. “Our numbers this summer are outstanding. Our student-athletes are showing up and putting in the work. Even with the modifications put in place due to COVID 19, Enid has had one of the most attended summer conditioning camps in years. Enid High School athletes are here and excited.” Coach Tipps, EHS Athletic Director said.
CJ Adams and Carl Adams (Father)
This hard work paid off for CJ and the Plainsmen. Enid Football won more games and was more competitive in their losses than they have been in many years.
When asked what he thought helped bring a change of culture to the program was the constant push from the coaches and the fact that the Seniors had the mindset of “it’s time to go, it’s time to take this seriously”.
“CJ didn’t miss a day, from summer workouts or throughout the season. CJ led by example. He simply worked harder than others.” Said Enid High Head Coach Rashaun Woods.
It is safe to say that CJ has worked himself into having an opportunity to play at the next level. He has received multiple offers from colleges and is excited to see where his future leads him.
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