Outlook 2013

Outlook 2013H

EA

LTH

Y C

ITY

Staff photo by Cathy Spaulding

New LED lighting at Five Civilized Tribes Museum give more natural and more energy-efficient lighting for the museum’s exhibits. The light-ing was installed last year. Muskogee museums have updated their technology, improved facilities and added new displays in the last year.

Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013Muskogee Phoenix

Reaching tomorrow

Muskogee’s city parks always change to meet theneeds of new generations. They also have a traditionto maintain.

Story on Page 2

Parks play role incommunity’s health

Muskogee’s “newest” health care system offers a long-standing tradition of health care as well as advancedtechnology and programs to take it into the future.

Story on Page 4

New health systemspends $2M on tech

New magnetic resonance imaging services and apush for greater energy efficiency are on tap at theJack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center.

Story on Page 9

VAMC expands for new MRI suite

By Cathy SpauldingPhoenix Staff Writer

Community gardens, ex-ercise equipment, splashpads, miles of jogging trailsand butterflies.

Muskogee’s city parksalways change to meet theneeds of new generations.They also have a traditionto maintain.

Muskogee Parks andRecreation Director MarkWilkerson said Muskogeeparks play an importantrole in the community’shealth.

“When you talk aboutwell-being and physical fit-ness, there is a crisis ofobesity and a lack of phys-ical activities in the coun-try,” Wilkerson said.

Muskogee parks offer allsorts of ways to get fit —and new ones are on theway.

The 29-acre Ruby Park,at the corner of Augustaand Gulick streets, has jog-ging trails running up anddown its gentle hills.

“We’re planning a newtrail loop on the east sideof the park,” Wilkersonsaid. “We’re also planningan outdoor exercise stationfor Ruby Park.”

This isn’t just a chin-upbar Wilkerson’s talkingabout. The station will fea-ture places where peoplecan do leg presses, leg lifts,arm presses and other ex-ercises previously limitedto health clubs.

“That will be our firstoutdoor fitness station,”Wilkerson said. Otherparks could get similar ex-ercise stations in the fu-ture, he said. The improve-ments could be ready byMemorial Day, he said.

“We also got a grant toseek extension to our trailsystem,” Wilkerson said.

Smaller, neighborhoodparks also are getting cityattention, Wilkerson said.Langston Park on EuclidStreet and Douglas-Max-ey Park on South SixthStreet are getting newplayground equipment andbasketball courts, he said.

Parks are now places toget wet, as well as fit.

Rotary Park on South24th Street got a newsplash pad and new play-ground equipment in 2012.

Similar improvementsare planned for BeckmanPark on West Broadway.

Living things and edible

things are growing at twocity parks, as well as at theMartin Luther King Cen-ter.

Muskogee’s first commu-nity garden sprouted upwest of Spaulding Park.Another one is growingatop the hill at CivitanPark. Wilkerson said gar-deners get their ownplaces to grow flowers, andvegetables.

Several parks, includingRuby and Rotary Parks,have a new look with bet-ter signs, Wilkerson said.

Butterflies are comingthis year to Muskogee’sgem, Honor Heights Park.

The Honor Heights but-terfly garden is almostcomplete and should havebutterflies by Mother’sDay, said Matthew Weath-erbee, president of Friends

of Honor Heights Park.Weatherbee said he sees

the butterfly garden serv-ing two missions, with ed-ucation being the maindraw.

“Whether you’re a first-grader or a senior citizen,you should be able to leavethe park knowing some-thing you didn’t know be-fore,” he said.

The garden will not justbe a place to learn aboutbutterflies, but also aboutplants, he said.

“We have some teachinggardens planned.”

Weatherbee said he al-so expects the butterflygarden to be a top touristdraw.

Reach Cathy Spauldingat (918) 684-2928 [email protected].

Muskogee Phoenix Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 Page 2Outlook 2013

2307 Bus. Hwy 69 S. Checotah

www.easttomchevy.com Shop us online 24/7

1-877-835-4685 1-877-835-4685 LOW APR

FINANCING AVAILABLE

*All discounts & rebates are applied.

021710013501

LOCAL FOLKS TRYING TO MAKE A POSITIVE

DIFFERENCE

3300 Gibson St., Muskogee 918-781-8200 or

1-877-229-7136 (Okla. Residents)

Oklahoma School For The Blind

021700362201

We the staff of Oklahoma School for the Blind,

would like to Thank the Greater Muskogee area

community for your continued support in all our endeavors

throughout the year.

Muskogee Parksand RecreationDepartment

ADDRESS: 837 E. Ok-mulgee Ave.

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5p.m. weekdays.

SERVICES OFFERED:Oversees and maintainsMuskogee city parks,Swim & Fitness Center,Kiwanis Senior Center,Muskogee Teen Centerand Martin Luther KingCenter.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 45 full-time,20 part-time and 100 sea-sonal.

KEY PERSONNEL:Mark Wilkerson, director;Rick Ewing, park superin-tendent; Joel Everett,events coordinator.

PHONE: (918) 684-6302.

WEBSITE: www.cityof-muskogee.com

MUSKOGEE PARKS• Beckman Park, North

16th Street and Broad-way.

• Bill Pool Park, Gawfand Foltz Lanes.

• Civitan Park, 3301Gibson St.

• Douglas-Maxey Park,South Sixth Street andWest Southside Boule-vard.

• Elliot Park, AltamontStreet and Tower HillBoulevard.

• Grandview Park,south of 315 Peak Blvd.

• Gulick Park, SouthSeventh and Elgin streets.

• Love-Hatbox SportsComplex, 34th and Arlinestreets.

• Honor Heights Park,Honor Heights Drive.

• King Park, GibsonStreet and East SideBoulevard.

• Langston Park, Euclidand Sandlow streets.

• Optimist Park, South Fand Independencestreets.

• Palmer Park, HonorHeights Drive and Deni-son Street.

• Ruby Park, Augustaand Gulick streets.

• Rooney Park, 2300Military Blvd.

• Rotary Park, South24th and Elgin streets.

• Spaulding Park, EastOkmulgee Avenue andEast Side Boulevard.

• Turner Hill Park, North12th and Terrace streets.

CENTERS• Muskogee Swim & Fit-

ness Center, 566 N. SixthSt.

• Martin Luther KingCenter, 627 N. Third St.

• Kiwanis Senior CitizenCenter, 119 SpauldingBlvd.

• Muskogee Teen Cen-ter, 322 Callahan St.

• River Country FamilyWaterpark, 3600 Arline St.

Park systemplays vital

role inMuskogee’s

health

Staff photos by Cathy Spaulding

A pavilion provides the crowning touch to the new butterfly garden at Honor Heights Park. Butterflies could befluttering by Mother’s Day.

At top: A new sign gives an elegant look to Rotary Park, which also boasts new sidewalks and playground equip-ment.


Sure, you might thinkmuseums are only filledwith pictures and old stuff.But Muskogee area muse-ums keep finding new at-tractions, new technology,new programs and newways to show what theyhave.

For example, if youhaven’t visited Three RiversMuseum in a while, youmight think it was a differ-ent place.

A wooden bench, wherepassengers used to wait fortrains at Muskogee’s KatyDepot has returned toMuskogee. Three RiversMuseum Director Sue Tol-bert said that when the

Katy Depot was torn downyears ago, many of its itemswere auctioned off. A Tulsachurch had the bench anddonated it to the museumin 2012, Tolbert said.

The museum also hasnew photo displays of sur-rounding communities, suchas Wagoner, Checotah, evenRed Bird.Tolbert said thosedisplays were put up short-ly before Christmas.

A model horse that oncewas part of a display at Bul-ly Good Saddle Shop now ispart of the museum’s newLivery Stable display. Tol-bert said the horse had beenin storage and was recentlyrestored.There also is a newcrank-operated record play-er in “Miss Alice’s” parlor.Tolbert said the record play-

er, which dates to the 1920s,was donated about sixmonths ago.

Three Rivers Museum al-so oversees the Thomas-Foreman Historic Home.The farmhouse, built in1898, was the home of JohnR. Thomas, a federal judgeover Indian Territory. It lat-er was the home of authorand historian Grant Fore-man.

Tolbert said people areworking on updating a care-taker’s home behind theThomas-Foreman home.People also are planting1,000 daffodils along thefence of the historic house.

Things are lookingbrighter, more lifelike atFive Civilized Tribes Muse-um. The museum, whichspecializes in showing artand artifacts of the Five Civ-

ilized Tribes, recently in-stalled LED lighting for itssecond-floor exhibits.

Museum Director MaryRobinson said the LEDlamps deliver a brighter,more natural lighting on thepaintings and art than theolder lamps.The lamps alsohelp cut utility bills, shesaid. The new lighting was

funded by grants from theCity of Muskogee Founda-tion.

The museum also addednew strings of light insideits historic displays on thefirst floor, Robinson said.

Historic displays also arechanging, she said. In Janu-

Muskogee Phoenix Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013Outlook 2013

Page 3

Our service department features skilled technicians, factory-trained to service products we sell. We also stock a large inventory of accessories and parts for the products we carry and have the latest computer technology to quickly find any part you may ever need. AGCO Parts PM360 Preventative Maintenance Program protects your equipment from unnecessary down-time and costly repairs. Your AGCO Parts Dealer has the expertise to maximize your equipment’s performance and keep you field ready. Be ready this season by: • Installing Genuine AGCO Parts • Scheduling regular maintenance check-ups This is our 63rd year as a Massey-Ferguson dealer as Bill Chupp Sr. signed the contract with Massey-Harris on Feb. 18, 1950.

CHUPP IMPLEMENT CO.

South Hwy 69 4701 S. Mill, Pryor, OK 74361

Phone: (918) 825-2044 Fax: (918) 825-1768

800-713-8220

021700740001

Ed Newell, Owner NEWELL WOOD PRODUCTS

Hwy. 69 N. Muskogee 686-8060

Pole Barn Supplies Lumber & Metal Quality

Service

021700323801

ACT NOW Insurance Low Rates

M-Fri 8:30-6, Sat 11-4 Auto*Home*Life

703 N. York 918-687-1112 Call Tracy McGee

021710630401

Ataloa LodgeADDRESS: 2299 Old

Bacone Road.HOURS: Wednesday-

Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5p.m. Sunday- Tuesday 1to 5 p.m.

SERVICES OFFERED:Collection of American In-dian artifacts.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: Two.

KEY PERSONNEL:Cultural interpreter, JohnTimothy; gift shop manag-er Roseanne Spinks.

PHONE: (918) 781-7283.

WEBSITE: www.ba-cone.edu/Ataloa

Five Civilized TribesMuseum

ADDRESS: 1101 HonorHeights Drive.

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Sat-urday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

SERVICES OFFERED:Display of Native Ameri-can art and artifacts fromthe five Civilized Tribes —Cherokee, Choctaw,Chickasaw, Muscogee(Creek) and Seminole.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: Two full-timeand two part-time.

KEY PERSONNEL: Di-rector, Mary Robinson;Gift store manager MaryBeth Nelson; assistant col-lection manager AmandaBarnes; administrative as-sistant Linda Holmes.

PHONE: (918) 683-1701.

WEBSITE:www.fivetribes.org

Oklahoma MusicHall of Fame andMuseum

ADDRESS: 401 S.Third St.

HOURS: 10 to 5 p.m.Tuesday through Saturdayand by appointment.

SERVICES OFFERED:Showcase showing arti-facts owned by such starsas Carrie Underwood andVince Gill. Space forevents such as concertsand banquets.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: Two full-timeand one part-time.

KEY PERSONNEL: Ex-ecutive director JermaineMondaine; assistant exec-utive director MichealRappe; manager and cu-rator Ronald Boren.

PHONE: (918) 687-0800.

WEBSITE:www.omhof.com Three Rivers

MuseumADDRESS: 220 Elgin

St. HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5

p.m. Wednesday throughSaturday.

SERVICES OFFERED:Located in a former rail-road depot, the museumkeeps artifacts relating tothe area’s history.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: One full-time.Four part-time.

KEY PERSONNEL: Ex-ecutive Director Sue Tol-bert; front desk workersJudy Dodson, Jean John-ston, Faye Waits, LauraHarris.

PHONE: (918) 686-6624.

WEBSITE:www.3riversmuseum.com

Thomas-ForemanHistoric Home

ADDRESS: 1419 W.Okmulgee Ave.

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5p.m. Friday and Saturdayor by appointment.

SERVICES OFFERED:Historic home of territorialJudge John R. Thomas,then historian Grant Fore-man.

KEY PERSONNEL: Ex-ecutive Director Sue Tol-bert; front desk workersJudy Dodson, Jean John-ston, Faye Waits, LauraHarris.

PHONE: (918) 686-6624.

WEBSITE:www.3riversmuseum.com

USS Batfish andMilitary Museum

ADDRESS: 3500 Bat-fish Road.

HOURS: Winter hoursthrough March 15 — 10a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday; Sun-day, 1 to 5 p.m. Summerhours — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Wednesdays through Sat-urdays; Sundays, 1 to 6p.m.

SERVICES OFFERED:World War II submarineand military memorabilia.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: One.

KEY PERSONNEL:Rick Dennis, manager.

PHONE: (918) 682-6294.

WEBSITE: www.uss-batfish.com

Museumsupdate tech,

offer newdisplays


New LED lighting at Five Civilized Tribes Museum give more natural and more energy-efficient lighting for themuseum’s exhibits. The lighting was installed last year.

Above left: A Tulsa church recently presented Three Rivers Museum with a bench where passengers once wait-ed at Muskogee’s Katy Depot. The bench is one of many changes at the museum in 2012.

Above right: The USS Batfish gangway has new steel supports, making a safer walk to the historic submarine.

(See USS, Page 5)

Outlook 2013Muskogee Phoenix Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 Page 4


Muskogee’s “newest”health care system offersa long-standing traditionof health care as well asadvanced technology andprograms to take it into thefuture.

Muskogee Regional Med-ical Center and the formerMuskogee CommunityHospital merged and tookthe name EASTAR HealthSystem in November.

When the new name wasannounced, Chief Execu-

tive OfficerKevinFowler saidthe nameand the starlogo reflectwho the sys-tem serves.

He said stars have beenseen as guiding lights,sources of comfort for trav-elers.

The combined hospitalshave a total of 320 beds, 45at its East Campus, 2900N. Main St., and 275 at themain campus, 300 Rocke-feller Drive.

In 2012, the health sys-tem spent more than $2million on equipment andtechnology officials believewill enhance patient care.

For example EASTAR’sEast Campus offers newequipment that speeds thetime for bone density scansand mammograms andgives doctors clearer im-ages.

The Lunar iDXA bodycomposition scanner takes

48 seconds todo a spinalscan and 48seconds to dohips. EAST-AR had itsfirst patienton the iDXAon Dec. 13.

“With our previous bonedensity scanner, it took 15minutes,” said EASTARDirector of RadiologyStephanie Adams.

The new machine canhandle a range of patients,Adams said.

“We can do pediatricstudies, orthopedic studiesand take body compositionscans as well as bone den-sity scans,” she said. It canhandle people up to 450pounds. It’s a big table de-signed for big people.”

The iDXA also can givedoctors information on apatient’s potential of get-ting a fracture within 10years, Adams said.

“And the scans on screenhave better resolution,” shesaid. “The technology ad-vancement with that tableis way ahead of what wehad before.”

People getting mammo-grams at the east campusalso can get their resultsmore quickly with the newSelenia Dimensions digitalscanner, installed in mid-January.

“It’s lightning fast,” saidmammography technicianMargie Angus.

Information from themachine goes directly tothe physician, who canview the image within min-utes, officials said.

“And the images are somuch better,” said mam-mography technician San-dra Medlin.

Many women’s imagingservices previously done atthe main campus or Prov-idence Imaging Center arenow done on the east cam-pus, Angus said. Provi-dence closed in December,but staff and recordsmoved to the east campus,she said.

The east campus alsohouses the sleep center,outpatient surgery and oc-cupational health services.The occupational medicine

clinic offers such servicesas pre-employment physi-cals and screenings, suchas when employees are in-jured at work.

The ComprehensiveCancer Center at EAST-

AR’s Main Campus also isshowing growth, said Be-linda Farmer, EASTAR’sdirector of radiation oncol-ogy.

One big sign of growthis the High Dose

Brachytherapy program,which allows a physicianto treat a smaller area in ashorter amount of time.Farmer said a patient un-dergoing this therapymight be treated in three

to five days instead of 28days.

“It’s very specialized,”Farmer said, adding thatthe treatment is effectivein early stages of breastcancer, cervical cancer, or

lung cancer.Brachytherapy also

drastically reduces side ef-fects of cancer.

The west campus, ormain campus, continues tohouse the emergency cen-ter, in-patient surgery, acomprehensive cancer can-ter, rehabilitation, physicaltherapy and other servic-es.



EASTAR Health System, a merger of Muskogee Regional Medical Center and Muskogee Community Hospital, opens the door on a varietyof new possibilities in regional health care. This is the lobby of the East Campus, 2900 N. Main St.

EASTAR Health System

ADDRESS: Main Cam-pus, 300 Rockefeller Dri-ve. East Campus, 2900 N.Main St.

HOURS: Main Campusopen 24-hours each day.East Campus hours varyby service.

SERVICES OFFERED:Variety of health services,including emergency,OB/GYN, cancer center,imaging center, pain man-agement.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 868 employ-ees, including 114 on themedical staff. Also, 89volunteers.

KEY PERSONNEL:Chief Executive OfficerKevin Fowler; Chief Med-ical Officer Dr. Jay Grego-ry, MD; Chief OperatingOfficer Jim Davidson;Chief Financial OfficerMatt Romero; InterimChief Nursing Officer An-gelina Bullard; Chief Qual-ity Officer Becky Elliott;President of medical staff,Dr. Dwayne Atwell.

PHONE: Main Campus,(918) 682-5501. EastCampus, (918) 687-7777.

WEBSITE: www.east-arhealth.com.

New system spends $2M on tech

The Lunar iDXA scanner can do a full body scan or a spinal scan in a fraction of the time it took for older scan-ners. The iDXA is one of many examples of new technology and treatments available at EASTAR Health System.

Fowler

Adams

Two hospitalsmerge to form

new healthcare system

ary, the Cherokee displaywas changed to celebrate itslanguage.The display’s newtheme is Progress of Lan-guage, from Sequoyah toWindows 8. It features acomputer keyboard pad withletters from the CherokeeSyllabary.

The museum also contin-ues to put the numerousphotos, documents and oth-er works in digital formatfor computer records.

Ataloa Lodge Museum, onthe Bacone College campus,also is digitizing its invento-ry, said John Timothy, cul-tural interpreter at the mu-seum.

“It has been a continuingproject since 2010,”Timothysaid.“It is an ongoing projectthat we expect to have com-pleted this summer.”

Timothy said the numberof Ataloa visitors has in-creased.

“I see in the near future

Ataloa Lodge being recog-nized as not only a place ed-ucators can bring studentsto learn but a place for edu-cators to learn as well,” hesaid.

Oklahoma Music Hall ofFame continues to be in de-mand as a venue for con-certs, banquets, meetingsand other events, saidOMHOF Executive DirectorJermaine Mondaine. Themuseum also features cos-tumes, music, records, gui-tars and other artifacts fromits famous inductees, includ-ing Carrie Underwood,Vince Gill and Wanda Jack-son. OMHOF, located in aformer Frisco railroad de-pot, also features education-al exhibits.

“Kids can learn the fun-damentals of music,”Mondaine said.

The USS Batfish is on se-cure footing, thanks to newmooring lines made of 1 1/2inch galvanized steel cable.The new mooring is among

a slew of improvements atthe military museum.

Other improvements in-clude a safer gangway sup-

ported with steel I-beamsand concrete supports.

Future improvements atthe Batfish include recreat-

ing a Walk of Honor and pro-viding a shelter for the mastfrom the USS Oklahomabattleship.


Continued from Page 3


Page 5

021700033201

918-686-6551 Muskogee

M,T,Th,F 11-4, Sat 9-11

918-473-0110 Checotah

M,T,Th,F 5-7:30pm

Walk-In Diet

& Medical Clinic

Coughs • Colds • Flu • Earaches • Sore Throats

• UTI • Stomach Issues • Rashes

• Allergies • Eye Infections

Minor Medical

Now Treating

Accepting Health Choice Insurance

& SoonerCare

Proud Sponsor Of Eufaula Proud Sponsor Of Eufaula Community for 27 Years! Community for 27 Years!

918-689-7767 800-545-5358

www.eufaulafordmercury.com

Selmon Rd. & 6th St. Eufaula

021700295001

Nobody Beats A Eufaula Ford Deal!

021700089001

021700089002

USS Batfish gets new mooring lines, gangway supports

NURSING HOMES NURSING HOMES NURSING HOMES

HOME HEALTH HOME HEALTH HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE & HOSPICE & HOSPICE

021700527801

021700671301

TRADITIONS HOME CARE, INC

CARING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AT HOME IS A PROUD

FAMILY TRADITION.

GENERATION AFTER GENERATION....

Located In McAlester, Poteau, Morris, Park Hill, Red Oak and Porum Good Neighbor Hospice

1122 N Main Muskogee, OK 74401

www.goodneighborhospice.com 918-681-4988

Serving Northeastern Oklahoma

Patient admission and services are provided without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), communicable disease, or place of national origin.

021710607001

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED US

��

“Providing comfort and compassion for the terminally ill

and their families from the people you know and trust.”

Locally Owned and Operated by Robert and Jennifer Gaddy and

Cindy Johnson.

021700795201

021700354405

Muskogee Phoenix Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 Page 6

HOME HEALTH HOME HEALTH HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE & HOSPICE & HOSPICE

NURSING HOMES

HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE & HOSPITAL

Health Care Directory

615 S. Co. Club Rd. Muskogee, OK 74403

918-686-8100

COUNTRY GARDENS Assisted Living Community

021710751902

PLEASANT VALLEY HEALTH CARE

CENTER 1120 Illinois St.

Muskogee, OK 74403 918-682-5391

021700210602

BROADWAY MANOR HEALTH CARE CENTER

1622 E. Broadway Muskogee, OK 74403

918-683-2851

021700280402

CHECOTAH NURSING CENTER

321 SE 2nd Checotah, OK 74426

918-473-2251

021700824402

EASTGATE VILLAGE RETIREMENT CENTER

3500 Haskell Blvd. Muskogee, OK 74403

918-682-3191

021700094702

BRENTWOOD EXTENDED CARE

& REHAB 841 N. 38th Street

Muskogee, OK 74401 918-683-8070

021709493902

FORT GIBSON NURSING HOME

205 E. Poplar Fort Gibson, OK 74434

918-478-2456

021700299302

4717 W. Okmulgee Muskogee, OK 74401

918-683-2914

021700274402

GRACE LIVING CENTER

GOOD NEIGHBOR HOSPICE

1122 N. Main Muskogee, OK 74401

918-681-4988

021710607002

201 W. Okmulgee Checotah, OK 74426

918-473-0505

021700607102

105 Mimosa Tahlequah, OK 74464

918-456-6851

021700607101

Hometown Hospice

2307 S. York Street Muskogee, OK 74403

918-681-4440

021700138401

GOOD SHEPHERD HOSPICE

1145 N. Main Muskogee, OK 74401

918-682-3800

021700795202

OUTREACH HOME SERVICES

2303 S. York Muskogee, OK 74403

918-682-6400

021709327802

SOONER HEALTH SERVICE

928 N. York Muskogee, OK 74403

918-683-7113

021700850602

EUAFAULA MANOR NURSING & REHAB CENTER

1033 Hospital Road Eufaula, OK 74432

918-689-3211

021700527804

TRADITIONS HOME CARE, INC McAlester, Poteau, Morris,

Park Hill, Red Oak and Porum 918-426-0983

021700671302

ONE HEALTH HOME HEALTH

1624 W. Okmulgee Muskogee, OK 74401

918-682-4194

021711261802

021700354401

Phone (918) 744-7223 • Toll Free (800) 659-0307www.gracehospice.com

Not affiliated with Grace Living Centers.

Grace Hospice helps you embrace every moment.We provide expert medical care and counseling services toour patients including:

� Nursing services 24 hours/7 days a week� Medications related to the terminal illness� Pain and symptom management� Emotional, spiritual and bereavement counseling� Family support services for friends and family

Grace Hospice serves all of Northeastern Oklahoma, includingMuskogee. Please call 918-744-7223 to learn how we can helpyou and your family.

The Family’s Choice.

Because everymoment counts...

021711433901

2303 S. York Muskogee, OK 74403

918-682-6400

OUTREACH HOME

SERVICES LLC

021709327801

021700354404


NURSING NURSING NURSING HOMES HOMES HOMES

Caring for others... Caring for others... Caring for others...

Caring for Caring for Caring for others... others... others...

“Leaders in Quality Care” “Leaders in Quality Care” “Leaders in Quality Care”

• Locally Owned & Operated • Locally Owned & Operated • Locally Owned & Operated • Over 40 Years Experience in Nursing Homes • Over 40 Years Experience in Nursing Homes • Over 40 Years Experience in Nursing Homes

• Supervised by a Registered Nurse 24 Hours A Day

• Private & Semi-Private Rooms • Medicare Skilled Unit-

Medicaid Accepted • Hospice Contract

918-683-2851 918-683-2851 918-683-2851 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

021700280401

B ROADWAY M ANOR B ROADWAY M ANOR B ROADWAY M ANOR Health Care Center Health Care Center Health Care Center

1622 E. Broadway • Muskogee, OK 74403 1622 E. Broadway • Muskogee, OK 74403 1622 E. Broadway • Muskogee, OK 74403

021700274401

021700824401 021700824401 021700824401

Checotah Nursing Center now offers spacious, newly redeco - rated rooms with private bath. We offer in-house physical, occupational and speech therapy. We offer specialized nursing and hospice & respite care.

Choosing an alternative home for your loved one is not an easy task, and we are here to help. Please come by for a tour, we would be happy to answer your questions.

0217105751901

E ASTGATE V ILLAGE H EALTHCARE C ENTER

Caring for Generations Through Excellence

3500 Haskell Blvd. (N. Country Club & Haskell Blvd.) • 682-3191

72028

We are searching for the BEST of the BEST nursing professionals to become a part of our family. We offer a great working environment with support from our

entire team of professionals. Benefits and wages are very competitive. Please come by and visit us about a new job opportunity.

Caring for Generations Through Excellence Eastgate Village Healthcare Center is locally owned and operated with over 50 years of Experience, having proudly earned a Reputation for Quality and Excellence. We

are Dedicated to providing Quality Care and Services in a warm, loving environment by People who care to give the very best.

QUALITY CARE & SERVICES • Rehab Services • Hospice Care • Laundry Services

• Medicare Unit • Church Services • Nutritional Services

• Planned by a Registered Dietitian

021700354406


By Wendy BurtonPhoenix Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Chero-kee Nation’s health caresystem saw big changes in2012, with more to come in2013, officials said.

Connie Davis, executivedirector of health servicesfor the Cherokee Nationsaid the tribe is “excitedabout the progress we’vemade this past year acrossour system.”

“The support we’ve re-ceived from Principal ChiefBill John Baker, as well asthe Tribal Council, hasbeen outstanding and hasbeen a large part of thedriving force behind thesepositive changes,” Davissaid.

Progress includes a re-newed focus on third partybilling efforts, expandinghours at clinics to increaseaccess for patients whohave trouble getting infrom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. andthe recent completion of anumber of expansion proj-ects at W.W. Hastings Hos-pital — including a newemergency room, urgentcare center and expansionof space for optometry, or-thopedic services andwarehouse space.

W.W. Hastings HospitalChief Executive OfficerBrian Hail said the hospi-tal opened the new emer-gency department and newurgent care department inOctober, and the hospitalhas since seen improved ef-ficiency in services.

The new system chan-nels less critical patientsto get treatment by aphysicians assistant ornurse practitioner and al-lows doctors to treat themore critical patients, Hailsaid.

“The national average foran emergency departmentis 3 percent that use thatstrategy, and with our ef-forts to expand the size ofthe emergency departmentand improve the processes,we have decreased our per-centage from 6.4 percent in

August to 2.8 percent inNovember after openingthe new emergency depart-ment,” Hail said. “That isconsidered to be an impor-tant indicator of the func-tioning of an emergency de-partment, and we havemade this a top priority sothat we better serve all of

our patients that come herefor emergency care.”

Another major accom-plishment for the hospitalin 2012 is the completionand opening of its new an-nex which houses optome-try, orthopedic, podiatryand physical therapy serv-ices.

“As we see more patientsand recruit additionalproviders to take care ofour patients, we have ex-panded our facility to ac-commodate the growth,”Hail said.

Davis said the healthsystem expects to see con-tinued progress in 2013 “aswe look forward to startingconstruction on a new JackBrown Youth RegionalTreatment Center that willexpand our ability to seeyouth for alcohol and sub-

stance abuse issues from acurrent level of 20 patientsper treatment cycle to 36patients.”

The tribe is also in theprocess of expanding itsRedbird Smith Health Cen-ter in Sallisaw and hasplans for further construc-tion activities that will betaking place in 2013 and2014 at health centers inJay, Stilwell andBartlesville to expand ac-cess to clinic services to ourpatients in those commu-nities.

At Three Rivers HealthCenter in Muskogee, 2012saw additional health careprovider jobs, Davis said.

The goal for 2013 is toimprove access to care forpatients by extending op-eration hours from 8 a.m. to8 p.m.

“They expect to meet thisgoal by the summer of2013,” Davis said.

The Cherokee Nation al-so recently announced twomajor changes — a newhealth plan they hope willpump about $80 million in-to expanding or replacingthe tribe’s eight health cen-ters, including Three RiversHealth Center and W.W.Hastings Hospital.

The largest portion ofthat plan includes buildinga new $50 million hospitalnear W.W. Hastings.

The new facility will be-come a surgical hospital,and Hastings would be-come an outpatient center— freeing up ample spaceat the existing hospital toexpand clinical servicesand serve more patients.

The Cherokee Nation al-

so announced recently itwill raise the salaries formore than 200 employeesat its eight health centersand at Hastings.

Nurse practitioners,physician assistants, phar-macists, doctors and den-tists on average werescheduled to see an 11 per-cent pay increase phasedinto their paychecks begin-ning Feb. 10.

The $5 million pay in-crease is part of a compre-hensive plan by PrincipalChief Bill John Baker, thetribal council and healthadministrators to improvequality in and access totribally operated health fa-cilities, according to a me-dia release.

Reach Wendy Burton at(918) 684-2926 or [email protected].


New magnetic resonance im-aging services and a push forgreater energy efficiency are on

tap atthe JackC. Mont-gomeryVA Med-ical Cen-ter.

TheMedicalCenter,locatedatopAgencyHill onthe westside ofMusko-gee, isexpand-ing to ac-commo-

date the MRI suite, which willinclude a new MRI machine, plusspace for offices, clinics and labs.The 4,500-square-foot addition isthe medical center’s first majorbuilding project since the bedtower was finished in 1997, saidNita McClellan, the center’s pub-lic information officer.

She said the addition will be afree-standing building with aglass-enclosed connection to themain hospital. The addition willhave enough space for two MRImachines, she said.

“Right now, we don’t have anMRI machine, so we have to sendpeople to another facility for im-aging,” said Jordan Benware, act-ing associate medical center di-rector. “That causes a hardshipon the families if they have to goto another facility.”

Benware said the new MRImachine should be in place bythe end of April. The new servicewill enable the medical center toadd two radiation technicians tothe staff, he said.

“I think the MRI is the projectI’m most excited about because itimpacts patients,” Benware said.

Ground was broken for the fa-cility in October 2011.

The medical center also isworking to become more energyefficient by adding solar panels,

he said.Crews already are working

atop the medical center’s roof, in-stalling solar panels above anatrium. Other solar panels willbe installed in two medical center

parking lots. People who parkacross from the medical center’smain entrance and in a lot be-hind the free standing buildingswill have covered parking andprotection from the elements,

Benware said.“We could probably save about

$50,000 in energy costs,” Ben-ware said, adding that he expectsthe solar panels to be installed byspring.

Jack C. Montgomery VA Med-ical Center also boasts of newprograms on a smaller scale.

The medical center began afree valet parking service for vet-erans in November.

Veterans who wish to use theservice may drive to the main en-trance and hand their keys to theattendant. The attendant thengives the veteran a numberedticket and parks their vehicles.The program is managed by Lib-erty Management Services, LLCof Fort Smith, Ark.

Jack C. Montgomery VA Med-ical Center continues to be aleader in providing health careto veterans throughout northeastOklahoma. The main hospitalhas 111 inpatient beds. The med-ical center also operates outpa-tient clinics in Tulsa, Hartshorneand Vinita. The hospital also sup-ports Fort Gibson NationalCemetery and the Tulsa Vet Cen-ter. The medical center’s cancerprogram recently received full ac-creditation with six commenda-tions from the American Collegeof Surgeons Commission on Can-cer.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at(918) 684-2928 or [email protected].

““II tthhiinnkk tthheeMMRRII iiss tthhee

pprroojjeecctt II’’mm mmoosstteexxcciitt--

eeddaabboouutt

bbee--ccaauusseeiitt iimm--

ppaaccttss ppaattiieennttss..””— Jordan Benware,

acting associate medical center director, Jack C. Montgomery VA

Medical Center


Page 9

VAMC expands for new MRI suiteJack C. Montgomery VAMedical Center

ADDRESS: 1011 HonorHeights Drive.

HOURS: Emergency Depart-ment and Inpatient Wards —24/7; Primary and SpecialtyCare, Business Office and otherAdministrative Departments —8a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday.

SERVICES OFFERED: Healthcare for veterans, plus behavioralhealth service, clinical pastoraleducation, programs for formerprisoners of war, health promo-tion, disease prevention program.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:Approximately 1,100.

KEY PERSONNEL: MedicalCenter Director James R. Floyd,FACHE; Acting Associate Med-ical Center Director Jordan Ben-ware; Chief of Staff ThomasSchneider, D.O.; Associate Direc-tor for Patient Care ServicesBonnie Pierce, MSN, RN, CENP.

PHONE: (918) 577-3000 or(888) 397-8387.

WEBSITE: www.muskogee-va.gov.

Benware

Cherokee NationW.W. HastingsHospital

WHERE: 100 S. BlissAve., Tahlequah.

OWNER: Cherokee Na-tion Health Services.

KEY PERSONNEL:Connie Davis, executivedirector of health services;Brian Hail, chief executiveofficer; Mitchell Thorn-brough, chief operating of-ficer; Valerie Rogers, chiefnurse; Dr. Doug Nolan,medical director.

PHONE: (918) 458-3100.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: Approximately900.

NUMBER OF PA-TIENTS SERVED: 42,412patients served in emer-gency room in 2012,400,000 annually for theentire hospital.

WEBSITE: www.chero-kee.org/Services/Health/Default.aspx.

Three Rivers Health Center

WHERE: 1001 S. 41stSt. E., Muskogee.

OWNER: Cherokee Na-tion Health Services.

KEY PERSONNEL:Jamie Evans, medical di-rector, and Cindy Martin,assistant clinical adminis-trator.

PHONE: (918) 781-6500.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 170.

NUMBER OF PA-TIENTS SERVED: 40,000active patients and150,000 outpatients peryear.

WEBSITE: www.chero-kee.org/Services/Health/Default.aspx.

Staff photo by Wendy Burton

Nurse Manager Rebecca Shepherd, left, Supervisory Clinical Nurse Jonathan McBride and Executive Directorof Health for the Cherokee Nation Connie Davis meet during a shift in W.W. Hastings Hospital’s new emergencydepartment, which was completed in late 2012.

Cherokee Nation health care system expands, broadens reach


Workers install the support structure for solar panels to go atop the roof of the Jack C. MontgomeryVA Medical Center. Officials say solar panels on the roof and over covered parking areas could cut en-ergy costs by $50,000.


Outlook 2013A

CH

IEV

EM

EN

T


Michael Hait, right, tries on a military cap for Larry Cragg and Susan Winters in the new dressing room at Muskogee Little Theatre. The dress-ing room and new restrooms were part of an addition at MLT in 2012.

Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013Muskogee Phoenix

Sharpening talents

Students won’t be working on muscles or cardio whenthey use fitness equipment at Indian Capital Technol-ogy Center. They’ll be building career opportunities.

Story on Page 13

ICTC preparespupils for careers

Muskogee’s major initiative to improve everythingfrom education to making the city a desirable place tovisit has been moving things along.

Story on Page 14

Initiative bringsAction in Muskogee

Bacone College encourages student to perform at toplevels both on the athletic field and in the classroom.

Story on Page 19

Bacone pushesachievement


What used to be Sequoy-ah Elementary School atthe corner of Cincinnati Av-enue and D Street has seena lot of action over the past40 years.

The list includes:• At least two “monkey

trials” in Inherit the Wind.• Huge, man-eating flow-

ers in “Little Shop of Hor-rors.”

• Small town Texasshenanigans in “SordidLives.”

• Trouble that starts withT, rhymes with P andstands for pool in “The Mu-sic Man.”

Since 1972, MuskogeeLittle Theatre has used thatold school’s auditorium topresent a variety of musi-

cals, dramas, comedies andmysteries.

MLT plans to keep ongrowing.

The community theateris seeking to build a new fa-cility, which might or mightnot be at its present loca-tion, said MLT ExecutiveDirector Coni Wetz.

The new theater is in theplanning stages, Wetzstressed, adding that she

does not have too many de-tails. However, she did sayplans call for a new 250-seat theater with an orches-tra pit and overhead spaceto “fly” backdrops, curtainsand lights up and down.Plans also call for a largerlobby to accommodate thelarger crowds as well as re-ceptions and dining. Therealso could be space for edu-cational programs.

“Our summer camp fillsup fast,” Wetz said, refer-ring to MLT’s popular youthsummer camp.

The camp culminateswith a musical producedand performed by areayouth.

Wetz said MLT officialsare working with an archi-tect on the plans. MLT alsois working with the City ofMuskogee Foundation on agrant to help finance thenew facility, she said.

MLT originally receiveda grant from the Founda-tion over three years. How-ever, the Foundation laterwas asked to restructurethe grant. Wetz said MLTis working on an amendedgrant application.

In the meantime, theshows must go on.

The MLT building got aboost last spring when vol-unteers built new bath-rooms, dressing rooms anda storage facility. Before theaddition was completed —just in time for “The Soundof Music” — male theater-goers had to go to a back-stage area to use the rest-rooms. The dressing areawas in a cramped base-ment.

“It was a wonderful do-nation,” said MLT boardpresident Cindy Smith. “Ithas a wonderful greenroom, wonderful restroomsand a wonderful dressingroom with a sink.”

The theater buzzes withall sorts of activity.

“We make sure we haveall kinds of shows for allkinds of people,” Smith said.“In this season, ‘The MusicMan’ was a good familyshow for everyone. It wasfollowed by ‘Sordid Lives,’an adult play and a good

date show. Our Christmasshows speak for them-selves. ‘A Few Good Men’ isa serious show, but also agood date show. ‘The BuddyHolly Story’ is a strongshow for everyone.”

She said the motto of theMLT’s play selection com-mittee is “butts in theseats.”

Not only does MLT seekto get “butts in the seats,”the theater also seeks themon stage and backstage aswell. Volunteers drive thetheater.

“We have volunteerscome up to work on a spot,they can be ushers,” shesaid. “On larger shows, wehave wardrobe people, kidwranglers, a myriad ofthings.”

Susan Winters, the stagemanager for MLT’s “A FewGood Men,” said she firstgot interested in the the-ater while watching a pro-duction of “Love Letters”about 10 or 15 years ago.

“I really prefer to workbackstage, being able to seea production from anotherperspective,” Winters said.



021700139601

MLT seeks to build new digs

Muskogee Little Theatre

ADDRESS: 325 Cincin-nati Ave.

SERVICES OFFERED:Community theater pro-ductions.

KEY PERSONNEL: Ex-ecutive Director ConiWetz; Board PresidentCindy Smith.

PHONE: (918) 683-5332.

WEBSITE:www.muskogeelittlethe-atre.com.


Michael Hait, right, tries on a military cap for Larry Cragg and Susan Winters in the new dressing room at Muskogee Little Theatre. The dressing room and new rest-rooms were part of an addition at MLT in 2012.

While Michael Hait watches, Mike Perez checks thesleeves of a white shirt donated to Muskogee Little The-atre recently.


Students won’t be work-ing on muscles or cardiowhen they use new fitnessequipment at Indian Cap-ital Technology Center.

They’ll be working on ca-reer opportunities in ath-letic training, physical

therapy andsports medi-cine.

Those aretwo job andcareer possi-bilities ICTCoffers stu-dents at its

Muskogee campus.With four campuses in

four counties, ICTC is aleader in training peoplefor college and careers.“We’re looking at all ourprograms to make sure thecredentials and certifica-tions are industry-drivenand focused,” said ICTCSuperintendent TomStiles. “Our goal is that allour career majors are busi-ness and industry fo-

cused.”ICTC seeks to meet ris-

ing health care needs ineastern Oklahoma — aswell as western Arkansas— by coming up with newcareer majors and pro-grams.

Sports medicine is oneof the new allied healthcare programs high school

students cantake at theMuskogeecampus.This is thefirst year theprogram hasbeen offered,and the class

filled up fast. InstructorMeagan Caldwell said theclass is geared to help leadstudents toward a careerin athletic training, physi-cal therapy and fitness.

“Physical therapy is anespecially growing fieldwith baby boomers aging,”Caldwell said. “Athletictraining is a hot buttonarea for the kids. They’reinterested in athletics andmedicine.”

The new fitness equip-ment, which arrived in Au-gust, includes treadmills,stationary bikes, weightedballs, stretch bands andweights. The program alsohas padded tables wherestudents can learn physi-cal therapy and taping.Students also learn to useultrasound and TENS(transcutaneous electricalnerve stimulation) units.

ICTC’s Muskogee cam-pus is growing in otherways. Carpentry studentsare putting up the frame

and will do the roofing fora new administration onthe campus, 2403 N. 41stSt.

ICTC is moving its ad-ministration offices tomake room for a new al-lied health/nursing build-ing. The allied health/nurs-ing building will be part ofa joint facility and pro-gram with Connors StateCollege’s Port Campus, lo-cated just north of ICTC.

Assistant ICTC Super-intendent Tony Pivec saidICTC’s new administra-tion building could be doneby August. Bids for the al-lied health/nursing build-ing could be taken in Sep-


Page 13

I N C O M E TA X I N C O M E TA X I N C O M E TA X A N D A N D A N D

I N V E S T M E N T I N V E S T M E N T I N V E S T M E N T G U I D E 2 0 1 3 G U I D E 2 0 1 3 G U I D E 2 0 1 3

021700143801

021700354301

021700210001

021700689101


FORT GIBSON — Fort Gib-son’s four schools press on tokeep up with changes in educa-tion and technology.

“Common Core State Stan-dards are changing how we’reteaching and how our kids are

learning,” Superin-tendent DeraldGlover said. “Anda big, big part ofthat is technology.”

The district hasa goal for each stu-dent to have a

tablet computer or laptop.But this isn’t some “Let’s buy

all our students a computer” pro-gram. At Fort Gibson, studentsare picking up some of the slackby bringing their own tablets orlaptops to school.

Glover said the school is work-ing on details of its Bring YourOwn Device policy.

“After three years of study andresearch, this is what we feel isthe best and most effective plan,”Glover said.

A proposed bond issue, set forMarch, includes individual de-

FG schools tackle changing standards

ICTC preparesstudents for

careers

Indian CapitalTechnology Center

ADDRESSES andPHONE NUMBERS:

• Muskogee, 2403 N.41st St. E., (918) 687-6383.

• Tahlequah, 240VoTech Road, (918) 456-2594.

• Stilwell, Oklahoma 59and Maryetta Road, (918)696-3111.

• Sallisaw, 401 Houser,(918) 775-9119.

HOURS: 7 a.m. to 10p.m.

SERVICES OFFERED:Education and training toprepare people for jobsand ensure success in theworkplace.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 185 full-timeand 225 part-time employ-ees at the four campuses.

ENROLLMENT: 1,357full-time students; 2,160adult and career develop-ment students; 24,672taking various programsthrough business and in-dustry services.

KEY PERSONNEL:Superintendent TomStiles; Assistant Superin-tendent Tony Pivec; Busi-ness and Industry Ser-vices Director Kathy Adair;Adult Career Develop-ment Director Sue God-win; Muskogee DirectorRoger King; Tahlequah Di-rector Robin Roberts; Sal-lisaw Director Curtis Shu-maker; Stilwell DirectorDan Collins.

WEBSITE:ictctech.com.

Glover


Fort Gibson High School students Ashlyn Frix, left, Courtni Carman and Morgan Green, have lunch in the recently-remodeled TigerRock Cafe. Fort Gibson Schools have a total of 1,860 students. (See TEACHERS, Page 15)

Stiles CaldwellStaff photo by Cathy Spaulding

Indian Capital Technolo-gy Center students HannahMackey, right, and MylaLove, center, put a TENSmuscle stimulator onclassmate Au’Ceanna Jackof Muskogee. The highschool students are activein ICTC’s new sports med-icine program.

(See WE’LL, Page 18)



Muskogee’s major initia-tive to improve everythingfrom education to makingthe city a desirable placeto visit has been movingthings along.

Action In Muskogee wascreated in 2012 as a wayto combine resources, hearthe public’s opinion, andform actionable ideas tomake improvements toMuskogee.

After five meetings inwhich the public partici-pated, initiative chairswere chosen for one of nineareas on which the meet-ings became highly focused— a cleaner and morebeautiful Muskogee, com-munity pride, making

Muskogee a great place tolive and a great place tovisit, health and wellness,a stronger economy, com-munity infrastructure, ed-ucational excellence, and amore safe and secureMuskogee.

In late November, theAIM Steering Committee,led by Chair Tim Faltynand Co-Chair Lisa WadeRaasch, began appointingchairs of each initiative.

Those chairs, along withmany volunteers called

“champions” for each ini-tiative recently began hold-ing meetings, or have ini-tial meetings scheduled inthe next couple of weeks.

“At our last steering com-mittee meeting, we gaveour initiative chairs a toolkit so they could have morefocused meetings in eachof their areas,” Faltyn said.“Today Gwen Coburn gath-ered her 26 champions, andthey began researching theresults from the five AIMmeetings on educationalexcellence.”

Faltyn and Raasch bothsaid the first of the meet-ings on educational excel-lence was high-energy andinspired.

“It was an incrediblemeeting,” Wade Raaschsaid. “What was clear is

everyone had a shared ap-preciation for the educa-tional system here. Therewas a recognition there isso much good going on hereto build on and none whothink the challenges thatexist are insurmountable.”

Once the groups estab-lish what their first goalsare, and the steering com-mittee votes to move aheadon each of those suggestedgoals, AIM will make an-nouncements to let thepublic know what action isongoing.

“Since we’ve begun AIM,I’ve received so much feed-back, phone calls, withideas for our initiatives,”Faltyn said. “People wantto give their input and wewant it.”

Those who want to par-

ticipate in initiative meet-ings can go to the Musko-gee Port Authority websiteat www.muskogeedevelop-ment.org and click on theAIM icon on the right sideof the page.

There is a form to fill outand submit there, but peo-ple can also call one of thechairs to volunteer theirparticipation, Raasch said.

“The public is invited toany and all initiative meet-ings, whether they are in-terested in participating orjust want to know what’sgoing on,” Raasch said.

Meeting dates and timeswill be posted on theMuskogee Developmentwebsite as well.


Staff photo by Wendy Burton

Co-chairwoman Lisa Wade Raasch and Chairman Tim Faltyn look over Action in Muskogee documents during a recent meeting. The AIM initiative to form actionableideas to make improvements to multiple areas of life in Muskogee was kicked into action in 2012, and hopes to see concrete results in 2013.

KEY PERSONNEL: ChairTim Faltyn, Co-chair LisaWade Raasch.

• Steering Committee:Mayor Bob Coburn, AnnBarker Ong, D.J. Thomp-son, Earnie Gilder, Eric El-gin, Gene Wallace, JimEaton, Lindsey Holloway,Marlon Coleman, MichelleGreen, Mike Ebert, MikeGarde, Nate Burden, NitaMcClellan and ShIron But-terfly Ray. Staff support:Brien Thorstenberg, Joyce

Wooten and Marie Seabolt.• Initiative chairs: Educa-

tional Excellence, GwenCoburn; Safe and Secure,Marlon Coleman; StrongEconomy, John Barton;Community Pride, JimEaton; Clean and Beautiful,Wren Stratton; Great Placeto Live and Visit, Al Stevens;Health and Wellness, Dr.Tracy Hoos; Community In-frastructure, Doug Walton.

WEBSITE: www.musko-geedevelopment.org.

Initiative brings Action in MuskogeeAction in Muskogee


Both the Cherokee Na-tion and the Muscogee(Creek) Nation reportabundant progress in 2012,and big plans for 2013.

Some of the accomplish-ments announced by theCherokee Nation include:

• The opening of its new-ly expanded Cherokee Na-tion Casino in Fort Gibsonand a new casino in Ra-mona — both with 100 per-cent Cherokee employ-ment;

• Expansion of W.W.Hastings Hospital, includ-ing a new emergency room;

• Becoming the first Na-tive American language ful-ly integrated into Gmail;and

• More than $231 millionin contracts captured byCherokee Nation business.

The Cherokee Nation’shome building programwas also said to be a majoraccomplishment in 2012.

About 30 Cherokee fam-ilies became first-timehomeowners in 2012 underPrincipal Chief Bill JohnBaker’s new-home con-struction program. Cur-rently, 1,300 Cherokees aresigned up under the pro-gram, and the CherokeeNation plans to build 300more homes in 2013.

“Health, Homes andHope” is Baker’s focus in

2013, he said.“I am more focused than

ever on creating a healthyCherokee Nation —healthy Cherokee familiesand healthy economicgrowth,” Baker said. “Ourgoal in 2013 is to build onthe foundation that waslaid last year.”

Some of the accomplish-ments announced by the

Muscogee (Creek) Nationin the past year include:

• The purchase of theRiverwalk Crossing inJenks;

• Entering in a tobaccocompact with the state thatresulted in increased rev-enue;

• Numerous facility andcapital improvement proj-ects;

• The establishment ofthe Muscogee (Creek) Na-tion Higher Educationscholarship FoundationProgram; and

• The establishment of atribal employment rightsoffice.

“During this past year,we have worked hard tostrengthen our Nationthrough a strategic plan-

ning approach, Muscogee(Creek) Nation PrincipalChief George Tiger said inhis recent State of the Na-tion address. “This strategicplan was the product ofrepresentatives from ourthree branches of govern-ment working cooperative-ly together. This againproves that Muscogee soli-darity works.”

Among announced proj-ects for the Cherokee Na-tion in 2013 are:

• Major improvements tothe tribe’s health care sys-tem, including a new $50million hospital, and anoth-

er $30 million to expand orreplace the tribe’s eighthealth centers;

• The opening of the newVeterans Center in June;

• Opening of a new earlychildhood center in Stil-well; and

• Raising salaries formore than 200 employeesat its eight health centersand W.W. Hastings Hospi-tal;

The pay increase — a $5million impact — is part ofa comprehensive plan byBaker, the Tribal Counciland health administratorsto improve quality in andaccess to tribally operatedhealth facilities, accordingto a CN media release.

Among announced proj-ects for 2013 for the Musco-gee (Creek) Nation are:

• Designing a major ex-pansion of the River SpiritCasino, which includes ho-tel rooms, a theater, spaand other amenities;

• Establishment of anon-profit foundation to ac-cept tax-deductible dona-tions to provide Creek stu-dents with scholarships;

• A health care projectthat will not be officiallyannounced until August,but is said to be a game-changer for Creek healthcare.


Cherokee, Creek nations tout progress in 2012, have big plans for 2013Cherokee Nation

TRIBAL ENROLL-MENT: 318,836.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 8,900.

KEY PERSONNEL:Principal Chief Bill JohnBaker, Deputy Chief S.Joe Crittenden.

WEBSITE: www.chero-kee.org.

Muscogee (Creek) Nation

TRIBAL ENROLL-MENT: 75,000.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 1,800.

KEY PERSONNEL:Principal Chief GeorgeTiger, Second Chief RogerBarnett.

WEBSITE:www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov.

Submitted photo

Mandy Adair and son Tosley Martin, moved into their new home on Bryant Road inTahlequah recently. The family was among 30 to become first time homeowners in 2012as part of Principal Chief Bill John Baker’s, left, New Home Construction Program.

021700827501


Page 15

vices for students who donot bring their own. Thebond issue also includesnew roofs at several build-ings, new science labs andbuses, plus new instru-ments and uniforms for theband.

The Common Core Cur-riculum, a sweeping newcurriculum affecting all Ok-lahoma public schools alsochanges how teachers worktogether. Fort Gibson Mid-dle School Principal GregPhares said one example isthe geography class, whichis learning about how theTitanic sunk in the northAtlantic in 1912, and theclass would learn aboutwhere it sunk. An Englishclass reads literature aboutthe historic sinking. A sci-ence class features lessonsin buoyancy, Phares said.

New programs at thehigh school include a one-trimester elective FAFSAclass, which gives seniorsa time to focus on prepar-ing for college. During theclass, students fill out col-lege applications, scholar-ship applications, and learnhow to best present them-selves to recruiters.

High School Principal

Gary Sparks said theschool also offers an ACTpreparation class and anafter-school program to

help stu-dents pre-pare for thecollege en-trance exam.

SeveralFort Gibsonfacilities also

boast a new look.High school and middle

school students have sev-eral options to dine at therenovated Tiger Rock Cafe.The school cafeteria wasrenovated in time for thestart of the 2013 schoolyear. The cafeteria offers avariety of seating options,including bench-style seat-ing, bar-style seating alongthe walls and several sizesof tables.

Seniors have their ownplaces to meet and eat dur-ing lunch. Last year, FGHSadded a commons area,where students can gatherbefore or after class. Sparkssaid the area is a good spotfor club meetings.

“And we’ve had differentspeakers from universities,so it’s worked out prettywell,” Sparks said.

The commons area,which features dining ta-

bles and flat screen TVs isopen to all students, exceptduring lunch. That’s whenseniors get the place all tothemselves.

Reach Cathy Spauldingat (918) 684-2928 orcspaulding @muskogeep-hoenix.com.


Teachers coordinate lessons under CCCFort Gibson Public Schools

ADDRESS: 500 RossSt.

SERVICES OFFERED:Educational services frompre-kindergarten through12th grade.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 220, including130 certified employeesand 90 support employ-ees.

NUMBER OF STU-DENTS: 1,860.

KEY PERSONNEL:Superintendent DeraldGlover; High School Prin-cipal Gary Sparks; MiddleSchool Principal GregPhares; Intermediate Ele-mentary Principal SherryRybolt; Early LearningCenter Principal ShellyHolderby.

PHONES: Main, (918)478-2474; High School;(918) 478-2452; MiddleSchool (918) 478-2471;IES, (918) 478-2465; ELC(918) 478-4841.

WEBSITE: www.ftgib-son.k12.ok.us

Sparks

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES

* Substitution for Sick Leave * Replacement for Maternity * Reduction of Overtime Expense * Special Projects * Substitution for vacation * Payrolling During Peak Seasons * Staffing for Flexible Workloads * Total Project staffing-Crew &

Supervisors * Programs to cut Permanent payroll

Costs * Reduction of Payroll Paperwork * Full Staffing for High Turnover

Departments * Continued Staffing During Hiring

Freezes EEOC

FOR SHORT-TERM NEEDS O UR SERVICES INDUSTRIAL

TECHNICAL CLERICAL

Muskogee, Okla. (918) 682-1457

Providing Quality Service At Competitive Prices.

CHEROKEE TEMPS: The Complete Human Resource Management

Company

Specializing in: * Short and Long Term * Temporary Employment * Payrolling Services

021700338001

021700276601

• Food Packaging • Manufacturing & Assembly • Warehouse & Distribution • Oil & Gas/Energy • Light Industrial • Skilled Trades • Administrative & Clerical • General Labor • Government • Bottled Beverage Packaging

Action Group Staffing takes pride in finding the right

person, for the right position, for the right client 24 hours a

day, 7 days a week. Welcome to Action Group Staffing!

418 Eastside Blvd • 918-683-5550

Steel Building Systems and Components

2210 Hwy 69 South Wagoner, OK 74467

918-485-2034 Fax 918-485-2131

www.muellerinc.com (Check with us for

employment opportunities) EOE

021700560601 021700560601 021700560601

EAST CENTRAL ELECTRIC

Making Life Better

P.O. Box 1178 Okmulgee, OK 74447-1178

918-756-0833 “Check With Us

For Employement Opportunities”

021700710801

1140 N. Main, Muskogee • (918) 683-6800 www.ok.expresspros.com

021700295101

021700354403


EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES

918.684.2364 918.684.3334 Fax

www.muskogeeregionalmedical.com

021711436401

3143 N. 32nd Street Muskogee, OK 74401

918-683-3695 [email protected] 02

1700

0566

01

Competitive wages, Health, 401K and other benefits available

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE JOB OPENINGS!! JOB OPENINGS!! JOB OPENINGS!!

METAL ROOFING AND MANUFACTURING

Roofer/Driver • Class ACDL License Required

021700295301

021700354402


tember with constructioncompleted by fall 2014.

“Over the next two orthree years, we’ll be invest-ing close to $12 million inour campuses,” Stiles said,referring to the ICTC-

Muskogee and ConnorsPort campuses.

The culinary arts pro-gram at ICTC’s Muskogeecampus also has grown.The campus recently ex-panded the area to have alab and classroom, doublingthe size of the learning

area.“Now, instead of sharing

kitchen facilities with foodservices staff that’s doingdaily meals, I have a class-room and I have a lab,” saidculinary arts teacher Geor-giann Belton.

Other campuses also areexperiencing change.

Two ICTC programshave been awarded a$40,000 grant through sup-port of the Google DataCenters Grants Fund. Thegrant will be used to buynew technology for itsTahlequah campus and abranch of Oklahoma Schoolfor Science and Math at theStilwell campus. Equip-ment funded by the grantincludes tablet computers,e-readers and UniCamfiber optic connector instal-lation tool kits to help trainstudents in fiber technolo-gy. The grant will help stu-dents in Tahlequah’s En-terprise Network Profes-sional program be able touse innovative technolo-gies.

ICTC also is working onan a nationally accreditedadult career developmentparamedic program in co-operation with KiamichiTechnology Center.



LOOK WHAT WE REMOVED FROM OUR CAMPUS.Starting March 1st, EASTAR Health Will Be 100% Tobacco Free. As a healthcare leader in our community,

our priority is the health and well being of every person we serve. Through our new tobacco-free policy, we

further reinforce our purpose to model, promote and teach healthy behaviors. If you’d like more information on

the resources we offer to help tobacco-users quit, please visit EASTARhealth.com/tobacco. For assistance

and support, call the National Quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

LOOK WHAT WE REMOVED FROM OUR CAMPUS.

Learn more by visiting EASTARhealth.comMAIN CAMPUS: 300 ROCKEFELLER DR., MUSKOGEE | 918-682-5501

EAST CAMPUS: 2900 N. MAIN ST., MUSKOGEE | 918-687-7777

021711435

501


021700104101

‘We’ll be investing close to $12M’

Indian Capi-tal Technolo-gy Centersports medi-cine instruc-tor MeaganCaldwell ob-serves ICTCstudent MylaLove as shedoes legpresses. Fit-ness equip-ment is part ofthe newsports medi-cine programat ICTC’sMuskogeecampus.

Staff photo byCathy Spaulding


Page 19


Bacone College coachesencourage runners to runfaster, hurdlers to stephigher, football players toget tough.

Their shouts, plus cheersfrom fellow athletes, echothrough what once was aWalmart store at the cor-ner of Shawnee Bypassand York Street. The oldstore is seeing new activi-ty as Bacone’s GinnyPalmer Student Life Cen-ter. The center opened lastspring, along with the Ba-cone Commons, the newhome of the library and

WelcomeCenter.

“After theregularclasses areover, alltypes of ac-tivity picksup here,”

said Bacone’s assistantvice president of studentlife, Sheila Hopkins, rais-ing her voice above thechatter. “Right now wehave the track team andthe football team practic-ing.”

People also come to theStudent Life Center toshoot pool, play ping pongor other board games. Orthey may come to have asnack, buy a book or meetwith people in StudentServices or residentialservices. The Native Amer-ican Student Associationhad its queen coronationpageant in a Student LifeCenter’s meeting area. Thearea houses the campusprint shop.

“We also have movienights here and a SuperBowl watch party on a 12-foot screen,” Hopkins said.“We have planned studentactivities here two to threenights a week.”

And Bacone is not fin-ished. Builders are addingoffices to the old Walmart.

“We’re relocating theathletic department of-fices, which are now locat-ed in the Warrior Gym an-nex, said Alan Foster, as-sistant vice president forathletics.

Bacone Commons, locat-

ed in a former grocerystore, houses the WelcomeCenter.

“That’s the place wherestudents can find admis-sions, financial aid, advise-ment, the registrar andstudent accounts all in onelocation,” said LeroyThompson, vice presidentof Christian Ministriesand acting vice presidentfor enrollment services.“No more running all over

campus.”Thompson said that

within the course of onemonth, the Welcome Cen-ter processed at least 400students.

“We could not have ac-commodated that manypeople in one place before,”he said.

Of course, Bacone Col-lege is more than a build-ing. There’s that traditiongoing back more than 130

years to provide a Christ-ian higher education to

American In-dians. Ba-cone has newprograms inboth thoseareas.

Kyle Tay-lor, directorof American

Indian Recruitment, saidBacone has a goal of havingAmerican Indians make up

51 percent of its enrollmentby the year 2020. Toachieve this goal, Baconehas initiated new studentrecruitment scholarships.He said the goal is to track,recruit and grow AmericanIndian students.

Bacone also is deepeningcommitment to its Ameri-can Baptist roots with aLearning Work Communityfor students of that denom-ination.A campus building

was remodeled last sum-mer as a dormitory for thestudents. Thompson saidthe program is open to stu-dents who are children ofAmerican Baptist churchstaff members.

“They could be related toa youth leader or thechurch secretary,” he said.The community also isopen to students belongingto an American Baptistchurch with ethnic mem-bers.

Bacone also has severalnew outreach programs forthe Muskogee area.

One is the Lorraine Ba-cone Learning Work Com-munity.Thompson said theprogram is for studentswho went through a De-partment of Human Ser-vices program such as fos-ter care or a group home.The program pays 100 per-cent of a student’s roomand board.



Connors State College instruc-tor Diane Adair guides beginningnursing students through theirlab class.

As they change bedding andbathe their mannequin patients,Adair seeks to instill confidencein these students. Much of thatconfidence comes in knowing thatsuccessful students will find jobsupon graduation.

“We have a 98 percent passingrate,” Adair said. “Over the lastthree semesters, our studentsfound jobs.”

Connors State College seeks tomeet Muskogee’s rising healthcare staff demands with trainedgraduates.

Connors remains committed toproviding quality education notonly in health care, but also agri-culture, business, child care andother areas. CSC President Dr.

Tim Faltyn saidConnors is seekingquality studentsfor these programs.

“We have a lotmore scholarshipmoney for stu-dents,” Faltyn said.“If a student is de-

siring to come to college, whetherit be in health care, agriculture orgeneral studies, we have morescholarship money across theboard.”

Connors began offering onesuch incentive in 2012 throughthe Muskogee Difference Health-care Scholarship. The program,announced last August, pays tu-ition, fees and books for Musko-gee residents seeking a healthcare-related degree at CSC. Stu-dents seeking the scholarshipmust agree to work in MuskogeeCounty upon graduation, Faltynsaid.

The Muskogee DifferenceScholarship now is offered to anystudent living in MuskogeeCounty.

Connors also offers a wildlifestudy program through its agri-culture department, Faltyn said.

“It already has maximum en-rollment,” he said, adding thatthe program is designed to teachwildlife science and environmen-tal science.

CSC has just the right “class-room” at its 1,327-acre ranchsouthwest of Warner. The ranchalso is the site of Connors annu-al Summer Wildlife Academy, of-fered to junior high and high

school students across Okla-homa. More than $104,900 ingrant money has been awarded tofund the program.

All three campuses are under-going major building changes.Each campus now has a successcenter, where students can re-

ceive tutoring in math, English orother areas.

“We have as many as six tonine people every afternoon,” saidCSC Port Campus CoordinatorRhoda Strode.

Students have access to com-puters and a tutor to help them.

Sometimes students come in justto use the computers, saidChelsea Hayes, math tutor andinstructor at the Port campus.

Campuses also have undergoneupgrades in security, includingmore secure door locks and 120cameras around the Warner andPort campuses.

Connors also is building an al-lied health facility at its Portcampus. The building would beconnected to a similar facility be-ing built at the adjacent IndianCapital Technology Center.Ground for Connors’ new facilitycould be broken this spring.

Connors also is expanding andupdating the student union onits Warner campus. Completion isexpected in 2014.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at(918) 684-2928 or [email protected].

Connors focuses on quality education

Bacone pushes athletic, academic achievement

Connors State CollegeADDRESS: Route 1, Box

1000, Warner; Muskogee WestCampus, 2404 W. Shawnee By-pass; Muskogee Port Campus,2501 N. 41st St. E.

OFFICE HOURS: 8 a.m. to4:30 p.m. Classes available vari-ous times during days andevenings.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:200.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: To-tal enrollment, 2,102.

KEY PERSONNEL: President,Dr. Tim Faltyn; Vice president ofAcademic Affairs, Dr. Ron Ram-ming; Vice president of Fiscal Af-fairs, Shirley Twilley; Port Cam-pus coordinator, Rhoda Strode;West Campus coordinator, MikeJackson; Connors DevelopmentFoundation director, Ryan Blan-ton; College and Community Re-lations director, Lyndsey Sullivan.

PHONES: Warner, (918) 463-2931; Port and West campuses,(918) 687-6747.

WEBSITE: connorsstate.edu/

Bacone CollegeADDRESS: 2299 Old

Bacone Road.SERVICES OFFERED:

Liberal arts college affiliat-ed with the American Bap-tist Church with an em-phasis on higher educa-tion for Native Americans.

NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 150.

ENROLLMENT: 735 onthe main campus. 135 inthe division of adult edu-cation.

KEY PERSONNEL:President Dr. Robert Dun-can; Executive vice presi-

dent anddean offaculty,RobertK.Brown;vicepresidentof fi-nance,

Mustafa Yunden; vicepresident of Christian Min-istries, Leroy Thompson;assistant vice president ofstudent life, Sheila Hop-kins; assistant vice presi-dent of athletics, AlanFoster; director of Ameri-can Indian recruitmentKyle Taylor.

PHONE: (918) 683-4581.

WEBSITE: www.ba-cone.edu


Connors State College nursing students, from left, Kimberly Suzuki, Kayley Lewis and Susan Travischange the bedding for their “patient” during a class at CSC’s west campus. Nearly all of CSC’s nurs-ing students are likely to find a job after graduation.


Bacone College student Amber Scott of Corpus Christi, Texas, weaves her way over and under hurdles duringtrack practice. The college’s new Ginny Palmer Student Life Center features athletic practice facilities, a bookstore,a meeting area and a snack bar.

Duncan

Hopkins

Taylor

Faltyn

““IIff aa ssttuuddeenntt iiss ddeessiirriinngg ttoo ccoommee ttoo ccoolllleeggee,,wwhheetthheerr iitt bbee iinn hheeaalltthh ccaarree,, aaggrriiccuullttuurreeoorr ggeenneerraall ssttuuddiieess,, wwee hhaavvee mmoorree sscchhoollaarr--

sshhiipp mmoonneeyy aaccrroossss tthhee bbooaarrdd..””– Dr. Tim Faltyn, Connors State College president


Tulsa’s Only Bladeless Cataract Surgery Provider

Triad Tulsa6140 S. Memorial Dr.(918) 252-2020

Triad Muskogee3131 Military Blvd.(918) 687-6600

Dr. Marc L. Abel | Dr. Ryan P. Conley

TriadEye.com

Advanced Cataract Surgery | LenSx Bladeless Cataract Surgery | Corneal Transplants

Multifocal Lens Implants | Advanced Custom LASIK | IntraLase | INTACS | ICL

See More of Life

Triad Eye Medical Clinic has Tulsa’s only LenSx femtosecond laser for true, bladeless

The IntraLase™ iFS machine is the most advanced LASIK device in use today.

femtosecond laser to achieve incredible

The Most Advanced LASIK Technology

Documents

Outlook 2013