Susen Hunter

Susen 

Hunter 

Vegan 

Visionary 

Cori 

Emmett: 

Released 

Page 6 

Goldskye 

Ranch Resort 

Fun Family 

Getaway 

Page 15 

MAY 

2013 

FREE 

Southwest Oklahoma’s Monthly News and Entertainment Magazine 

Brad Good 

‘Round Here 

Page 22

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CONTENTS 

MEMORIES OF YESTERYEAR 

THE FOOD CHAIN 

BY ARLIE WOOD 

PAGE 12 

THE DOMESTIC DIVA 

CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO 

WITH FRESH SALSA 

 

TAKE A DAYCATION 

DAVIS, OK 

BY JIM JOPLIN 

PAGE 18 

TAYLOR B’S BEAT 

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PAGE 30 

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Susen Hunter spent her 

formative years on an awardwinning 

dairy farm in Pennsylvania. 

She was a member of 4-H clubs 

for horses, dairy, livestock, and 

gardening, as well as a member of 

the United States Pony 

Club and the Future 

Farmers of America. 

Her family’s 400 acre 

operation ranked as 

one of the top three 

dairy farms in the 

state, and she often 

competed at the state 

and national levels in 

many events with a 

variety of animals and 

projects. 

Her diet was 

dairy-free due to her 

intolerance of lactose 

which was diagnosed 

when she was a baby. 

Then, when she was 

13, she had a traumatic 

experience that would 

set her on the course 

to eventually becoming 

vegan. This turning 

point came after a 

male calf had escaped 

from an enclosure and 

she found him curled 

up asleep with two of 

the family dogs. She 

adopted him as a pet 

and named him Fat 

Face. Fat Face learned 

to come when she 

called, and she moved him into the 

horse barn and pasture where he 

stayed with the horses and dogs. 

Over the course of several weeks, 

 

personality and enjoyed being 

spoiled. 

Susen was deeply attached 

to Fat Face, but the time came 

Susen Hunter 

Vegan Visionary by Audrey Dolar Tejada 

when her father loaded him up 

with the other male calves to 

take to auction.No amount of 

pleading could spare his life. 

Susen realized the fate that 

awaited him. Despite the sanitized 

advertising and euphemisms 

used in the agribusiness industry, 

Fat Face would be taken to a 

slaughterhouse. From that point 

forward, Susen never again ate red 

meat. 

Eventually, she would go on to 

be a pescetarian in her 20s (vegan 

except for the consumption of sea 

food) and then ovo-pescetarian in 

her 30s (vegan except for eggs and 

sea food.) By the time she reached 

40, she was ready to commit to 

being 100% vegan (no animal 

products consumed at all.) 

Susen believes 

people should adopt a 

vegan lifestyle for three 

main reasons. First, 

the consumption of 

only plant based foods 

results in overall better 

health. “The standard 

American diet has led 

to more heart disease, 

cancers, and other 

diseases prevalent in 

our society,” she said. 

“Three out of every 

 

attributed directly to 

what someone has put 

in their mouth. Decades 

of research prove that 

plant based diets are 

a healthier alternative 

 

Second, plant based 

agricultures are more 

easily sustainable 

and have a less 

harmful impact on the 

environment. Finally, 

being vegan means 

choosing compassion 

over cruelty. 

What is often 

perceived as “the 

preaching or arrogance 

of vegans,” she said, is actually “an 

overwhelming sense of sadness 

and frustration felt by vegans who 

know how animals are really treated 

on farms, in slaughterhouse, 

in circuses, in zoos, and in 

laboratories.” She shows me a new 

tattoo on her right arm. “AHIMSA” 

is written out in an elaborate script, 


harm none. It is a Buddhist, Hindu, 

and Jainist principle of nonviolence, 

compassion, and respect for all 

sentient life. 

After high school, Susen earned 

multiple degrees, including a B.S. in 

Psychology, a B.A. in Comparative 

Religions, and an M.A. in 

Education. She is also an ordained 

minister with a D. Div. degree and 

has performed over 2,000 wedding 

ceremonies. 

After retiring 

from an 

earlier 

career, 

she went 

to culinary 

school and 

earned her 

 

as a sous 

chef. She 

has taught 

cooking 

courses at 

the Penn 

State and 

Purdue 

extension 

programs and 

spent some time in the Caribbean 

where she was a private chef 

aboard yachts. 

After settling north of Nashville, 

Tennessee, Susen landed in 

Lawton four years ago for family 

 

thought was, “What am I going to 

eat? I’m going to starve.” 

She was quickly installed as the 

produce manager at the Health 

Food Center at the corner of 

Sheridan and Gore. “Thirty years 

ago, we ate tofu, beans, rice, nuts, 

fruits and veggies. That was it,” 

she recalled. Since then, vegans 

have achieved critical mass in 

the mainstream with companies 

 

enjoy. 

As a result, the Health Food 

Center now has a large selection of 

prepared vegan foods, faux meats, 

dairy-free cheeses, and dairy-free 

milk alternatives. Susen expanded 

the produce section, and organic 

produce now arrives twice a week 

to restock. Year round, there are 

several varieties of apples, citrus, 

greens, fresh berries, sprouts, and 

salad mixes, along with organic 

garlic, ginger, and more. The store 

also stocks the staples found in 

the vegan kitchen, such as quinoa, 

rice, tofu, nutritional yeast, and raw 

nuts. 

For people who would like to 

transition to veganism, the number 

one step, she said, is to “Cut out the 

 

sweeteners, and high fructose 

corn syrup are the top priorities to 

eliminate. Become aware of what 

you put into your body; start to 

consciously think about what you 

eat. Transition to more plant based 

foods every day. Cut the red meat, 

poultry, and other meats. Then, 

cut dairy and eggs out of your diet. 

Whatever you want, believe me, 

there is now a vegan version.” 

As we sit together in her historic, 

 

Russell terriers, Poohkie and 

Buttons, are at her feet. The dining 

 

of antique pewter wares, vintage 

china, Victorian era furniture, and 

a large,original oil painting of the 

Hunter family castle in County 

Ayrshire, Scotland. Her Lawton 

homestead includes an acre of 

land inside city limits on which she 

creates a lush and bountiful organic 

garden. 

Susen preserves, cans, and 

dehydrates her own produce, hosts 

juicing parties with friends at her 

 

to cater a vegan party on-site as a 

personal chef. 

She can often be found 

representing 

the Health Food 

Center at local 

health fairs 

at Cameron 

University 

and Ft. Sill. 

Susen teaches 

cooking classes 

for several 

organizations 

around town 

including a 

bariatric support 

group. 

She also has 

been active in 

the Plant-a- 

Row campaign 

encouraging gardeners to plant 

extra rows of vegetables earmarked 

for donation to the Lawton Food 

Bank. 

Her dream is to open a vegan 

deli and raw juice/smoothie bar in 

Lawton to give people a healthier 

option than the fast food and chain 

restaurants that are available. With 

the high demand for healthier food 

choices, the concept is a much 

needed and welcome addition to 

our community. 

Overall, Susen brings 

tremendous creativity and a wealth 

of knowledge about the vegan 

lifestyle and urban homesteading 

to Lawton. She is a visionary and a 

pioneer with decades of experience 

behind her who hopes to be a 

catalyst for change in Lawton by 

introducing a healthier way of living. 

You can follow Susen’s healthy 

living chef page on Facebook 

atwww.Facebook.com/GreenVees. 


y hanging lanterns, Oklahoma 

singer Cori Emmett was embracing 

her freedom. She stood in front 

of a microphone with oversized 

headphones on and sang and 

did not leave this space. But each 

song she recorded for “Released” 

suggests she was soaring. 

There is little wonder why 

Emmett sounds like she has grown 

wings and 

 

recording in a 

Nashville studio 

has been her 

hope since 

taking part in a 

talent show at 

 

“I felt like 

I have been 

working all my 

life on music and 

 

free to record 

this project,” 

she said. “I 

was recording 

in Nashville 

which is where 

I wanted to be, 

working with 

people at the top of their game.” 

To get there, Emmett began 

playing shows throughout the 

southwest Oklahoma and Texas 

circuit. She gave a performance 

at Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid 

Lounge during the Country Music 

Awards (CMA) Festival when she 

was 12. 

She has since gone on to play 

at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar 

in OKC and Thackerville, NBA 

Thunder Opening Day Celebration 

and Oklahoma City’s Opening 

Night New Year’s Eve Celebration 

for three years. In between shows, 

she began playing guitar at 13 and 

Cori Emmett 

Released 

formed a band, No U Turn, by the 

time she was 14. 

A culmination of her past 

success, “Released” also captures 

her in the present and secures her 

future in country music. Emmett 

is letting loose and expressing 

more than a concept or a feeling, 

however. This record is about 

breaking free — as a singer, an 

artist and a woman. 

She started making trips back 

and forth to Nashville over the past 

year where she learned from her 

mentor, Katrina Elam, a singersongwriter 

who had a number one 

hit with “Easy” by Rascal Flatts and 

 

she wanted to draw attention to 

her vocal prowess, and she said 

she saw the potential each track 

 

blessed to have a friend who held 

a key to hundreds of songs written 

by some of the best writers in the 

business, and out of these, Emmett 

 

ready for radio before heading 

to the Alex the Great Studio in 

Nashville. 

Sessions commenced when 

Emmett joined up-and-coming 

producer and Ten out of Tenn 

founding member Kevin Grosh in 

the studio. They started with “Girls 

Night Out In Dixie,” a track Emmett 

 

“I was like, ‘oh man, that is the 

toughest one,’” she said, “because 

the timing was 

so tricky and 

they had a 

skeleton track 

so all the music 

was not on 

there yet. I am 

pretty tough on 

myself because 

all the others 

were easy 

compared to 

this one.” 

But she 

makes it sound 

easy singing 

 

in a threatening 

rumble before 

taking over 

like a tempest: 

“We’re hell on 

wheels when we show up,” she 

sings, “a little bit of pretty and a 

little bit of tough.” She may be 

indulging in late night revelry at 

the honkytonk with her female 

cohorts, but she is asserting 

her independence by rejecting 

cowboys, too. 

Emmett plots her revenge by 

 

true dating strategy in “Act Like 

A Lady.” Her scheme is far more 

subtle than smashing a Louisville 

slugger into car like Carrie 

Underwood does in “Before He 

Cheats,” but Emmett does more 

damage by whispering sweet little 

Photography by Steve Miller 


lies, dancing with other guys and 

calling back when she feels like it. 

 

but induces chills when adding a 

touch of vibrato to a single note 

or lifting her voice to harmonize 

on “Try,” a track written in part by 

Hillary Lindsey and Luke Laird. 

Lindsey won a Grammy Award for 

Best Country Song for “Jesus, Take 

the Wheel” recorded by Underwood 

herself, while Laird has written with 

Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum 

and Little Big Town. The song rocks 

 

strength and resiliency Emmett is 

known for. 

Emmett later admits to her one 

and only weakness in “Can’t Say 

No To You,” a sonnet-like country 

love song. She’s nobody’s fool 

and has never had a problem 

with saying goodbye, but Emmett 

cannot resist a good thing when 

she sees it. She knows the heart 

wants what the heart wants. 

“Darlin’, stars shine whenever 

you’re with me,” she confesses.“I 

melt like the ice in my sweet tea. 

I’m bulletproof; I just can’t say no 

to you.” Emmett makes this song 

a vulnerable moment for her as 

delicate piano and guitar melodies 

compliments the tenderness in her 

voice. Songwriter Sarah Buxton, 

who also penned “Stupid Boy” for 

Keith Urban, shares songwriting 

credit for this track. 

Although Emmett is no stranger 

to recording in studios, working on 

this project was like nothing she 

had done before. 

“I had been in the studio doing 

recordings since I was 10 years 

 

“I didn’t just go in and record one 

song. They took me through each 

one and I recorded it several times 

and went in and listened and chose 

parts that I liked best. I knew I had 

done pretty good when Kevin yelled 

and got all excited and came into 

 

Emmett said she felt as if 

the producers she worked with 

understood what she wanted 

to accomplish. Sessions found 

Emmett crafting her songs and 

taking full reign of her sound to 

ensure each track would be what 

she wanted in the end. 

“We would send the tracks back 

and forth and I would tell them that I 

wanted a little less on this and more 

on that as far as instruction. It was 

a tedious process because I had 

to know what I wanted it to sound 

like — what kind of vibe and feel I 

wanted for my listener,” she said. 

One of the songs 

listed on “Released” 

comes from her 

original work. Back in 

2007, she impressed 

Chris Hicks, a 

musician who had 

toured with Reba 

McEntire, Brooks 

and Dunn, and Sara 

Evans, and who 

now is the director 

of the Academy of 

Contemporary Music 

“School of Rock” 

at the University of 

Central Oklahoma 

(ACM@UCO). After 

showing him what 

she was capable of 

with her voice, they 

wrote songs together. 

She chose one of 

their collaborations, 

“Country Bound,” a 

tune she wrote with 

her sister, Chelsey. 

“This song is the 

roll your windows down, turn the 

radio up and hit the old dirt road 

theme,” she said. “This one really 

makes me feel free.” 

 

she is throwing a release party 

for “Released” on May 3 at the 

Hastings location in Lawton. She is 

scheduling several performances, 

including playing at the Lawton Arts 

For All Festival on May 10 and is 

opening for Diamond Rio in Hobart 

on May 25.To follow her concert 

schedule, country music fans can 

 


MAY 2013 

calendar of events 

Community 

MAY 2 

Lawton-Fort Sill National Day of Prayer 

New City Hall, Lawton 

Intercession from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. 

Programs from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. & 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

580.248.6927 

MAY 4 

Spring Garage Sale 

1-78th Parking Lot, Fort Sill 

8 a.m. 

fortsillmwr@gmail.com 

Lawton March for Babies 

Goodyear, Lawton 

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

580.730.8946 

MAY 6 

Relay for Life Golf Scramble 

The Territory Golf Club, Duncan 

11 a.m. 

580.255.2869 

MAY 7 

Huntington’s Disease Support Group 

1st Tuesday of each month 

Westminster Presbyterian Church 

7 p.m. 

MAY 18 

Bark for Life 

Altus Dog Park 

9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

amandamhagg@gmail.com 

Lawton Public Library 

MAY 2 

Get Loose with Mother Goose 


Every Thursday, 10:15 a.m. 

Ages 0 - 3 & caregivers, 580.581.3450 

After School Book Club 


Every Thursday, 4:30 p.m. 

Ages 3rd - 5th Grade 

580.581.3450 

Weekly Story Time 


Every Thursday, 11 a.m. 

Ages 0 - 6 & caregivers 

580.581.3450 

MAY 3 

Story Craft 


Every Friday, 10:30 a.m. 

Ages 2 - 6 & caregivers 

580.581.3450 

MAY 28 

Teen Book Club 


6:30 p.m. 

580.581.3450 

Area Events 

MAY 1 

Lawton Noon Lions Carnival 

Great Plains Coliseum, Lawton 

Through May 5 

580.351.2857 

MAY 3 

Rock ‘N Rumble Car Show and Cruise 

Main Street, Altus 

Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. 

580.482.0210 

MAY 7 

Taste of Home Cooking Show 

McMahon Auditorium, Lawton 

6:30 p.m. 

580.581.3600 


MAY 9 

Freedom’s Thunder Motorcycle Safety Rally 

Sheridan Theatre/ Impact Zone, Fort Sill 

8:30 a.m. 

580.442.4215 or 580.442.4466 

MAY 16 

Family Game Night 

Great Plains Technology Center 

10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

580.695.5535 

MAY 18 

Armed Forces Day Parade 

6th & C Avenue, Lawton 

10 a.m. 

580.355.3541 

Red River Rocketeers Rocket Launch 

Cape Greenwood, Duncan 

12 p.m. 

580.656.4781 

www.rrrocketeers.homestead.com 

MAY 31 

14th Annual Carp Tournament 

Duncan Lake, Duncan 

Friday, 5 p.m. until Saturday, 2 p.m. 

580.255.9538 

Fishing and Tackle Show 

Stephens County Fairgrounds, Duncan 

Friday, Noon - 6 p.m. & Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

580.656.6181 

Health and Fitness 

MAY 4 

Technicolor Run 

Cameron University Football Stadium 

9:31 a.m. 

580.580.5406 

Local Flavor 

MAY 3 

24th Annual Chisholm Trail Stampede PRCA 

Rodeo 

Stephens County Fairgrounds, Duncan 

7:30 p.m. 

580.467.2800 

MAY 4 

Saturday Morning Kid - Friendly Hikes 

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center 

9 a.m. Every Saturday. April 6, 13, 30, 27 

Arts 

MAY 10 

Arts for All Festival 

Shepler Park, Downtown Lawton 

Friday,4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday, 

Noon - 5 p.m. 

580.248.5384 

MAY 16 

Lunch Bag Lecture 

Leslie Powell Gallery, Lawton 

12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. 

Illustrating for American Greeting Cards: The Strawberry 

Shortcake Story 

Featured Speaker: Muriel Fahrion 

580.357.9526 

Theatre 

MAY 3 

“Tuesdays With Morrie” 

Centenary United Methodist Church, Lawton 

Friday & Saturday 8 p.m. 

580.591.6730 

Seniors 

Beginner’s Painting Class 

Each Monday, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

Center for Creative Living, Lawton 

580.248.0471 

Basic Beginner’s Basket Weaving 

Each Monday, 10 a.m. 

Center for Creative Living, Lawton 

Call Eleanor @ 580.248-0471 

Seniors Quilting Bee 

Each Tuesday, 10 a.m. 

Medicine Park Community Center, Lunch provided! 

580.529.2739 

Mountain Boomers Hiking Club 

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center 

Second Monday of every month 

9 a.m. 

580.429.2197 



Community News 

LaSill Optimist Youth Orchestra 

Last fall the LaSill 

Optimist Youth Orchestra 

began rehearsing under 

the baton of Ms. Kathy 

Liticker. The group is now 

preparing for their Spring 

Concert on Monday, May 13 

in the Prairie Building at the 

Lawton Colliseum Complex 

at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 

The concert will include 

“The Russian Sailor’s 

Dance” by Gliere, “Two 

Waltzes” by Chopin, 

 

Berlioz and the beautiful 

“Rhosymedre” by Ralph von Williams. 

LOYO is a new opportunity for music students 

in grades 9-12 to have a full orchestra experience. 

Participating students are from the greater Lawton-Ft. 

Sill area. The ensemble includes the full complement 

of winds and percussion along with the string sections. 

Being a member of LOYO helps young people 

develop life skills that encourage them to be better 

students and successful 

leaders in their career of 

choice. These talented 

students work toward 

excellence, responsibility, 

and teamwork. 

Any interested young 

musicians in the area are 

encouraged to contact Ms. 

Liticker, 330.671.6765 or 

kliticker@lawtonps.org, to 

be included on the mailing 

list for auditions next fall. 

Messages may also be 

left with Susan Diekman at 

580.353.2574. 

The LaSill Optimist Club is generously sponsoring 

this new organization. The Optimists goal and purpose 

is to support youth activities in our community. Their 

 

youth of SW Oklahoma. Optimist projects vary from 

 

essay and oratorical contests for college scholarships 

and the Childhood Cancer Foundation. 

A Salute to Arts for All 2013 

Southwestern Medical Center invites you to an 

opening reception at the Pride Gallery where they 

will be presenting “A Salute to Arts for All 

Festival 2013,” as a tribute to Lawton’s Arts 

for All Festival. 

The opening reception for this show will 

be held on May 2, from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 

The exhibit will run from May 2 through 

July 12 in Southwestern Medical Center’s 

Pride Gallery in Lawton. 

In a salute to Arts for All 2013, the Pride 

Gallery is exhibiting two Arts for All artists. 

 

uses dynamic color in a contemporary yet primitive 

style to portray scenes of rural New Mexico and 

Oklahoma . Jim’s work will be seen throughout the 

festival grounds since he is also the designer of this 

year’s Arts for All logo that will be used on all t-shirts. 

Gary Tai Poon is a master of traditional Chinese 

bamboo brushwork. His work has been featured 

throughout China and the United States. He uses 

watercolor on silk with a strong use of black and 

subtle color. Working on silk requires 

exact strokes as lines cannot be altered or 

diluted. 

2013 Arts for All Festival T-shirts will be 

available for purchase prior to Arts for All at 

the Pride Gallery exhibit opening. They will 

be available at a discounted price. 

For more information on this exhibit, 

contact the Pride Gallery curator, Diana 

Brown, at 580.492.5500. 

The Pride Gallery is located inside 

Southwestern Medical Center, which is located at 5602 

SW Lee Boulevard in Lawton. 

The Arts for All Festival will be held May 10 - May 

12 at Shepler Park in downtown Lawton. For more 

information on the Arts for All Festival, visit www.artsfor 

allfestival.org for a complete listing of artists and a 

schedule of events. 


New Home 

on the Horizon? 

Call Kathy Suttles 

It’s not about loans ,it’s about lives. 

Office 580.699.5881 

Cell: 580.695.7555 

ksuttles@firstmortgageco.com 

NMLS #2024 

NMLS #233437 

Paws For A 

Cause 

Pet Expo 

Great Plains 

Coliseum 

Saturday, May 4th 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

A family fun event 

for everyone 

including the 

critters! 

Animal Rescues 

Pet Organizations 

Vendor Booths 

Contests & Prizes 

Drawings and 

More! 

For more 

information call 

580.536.9530 


We all look forward to the 

greening of spring, but let us go to 

the grocery store while turning back 

the calendar 75 years. 

We go to the small produce 

 

potatoes and yams, cabbage, 

turnips, beets, and onions. All of 

these staples will keep for months 

without refrigeration. 

There are no tomatoes, sweet 

peppers, peaches, nectarines, kiwi, 

 

celery and iceberg lettuce that have 

been rushed by railroad, packed 

in ice in refrigerated cars, coming 

from thousands of miles away. 

We have apples, bananas, 

oranges, and grapefruit but high 

speed refrigerated transportation 

is many years down the road; still 

the orchards in Florida, Rio Grande 

Valley, and California are producing 

great quantities of fruit in their warm 

sunlit climate. 

How can that fruit go to market 

in Lawton, Oklahoma, without 

 

wooden boxes-- dried fruit. Apples, 

apricots, peaches, and other fruits 

which can be soaked in water, 

cooked, and used like fresh fruit in 

cobbler, pies, or my favorite, fried 

pies. 

All winter we have gone without 

fresh vegetables like tomatoes, 

okra, corn, but now spring is 

coming on and everyone is rushing 

to have a garden. Small or large, 

they will bring fresh vegetables, 

but you need plants to start that 

garden. 

 

around the southeast corner of 8th 

street and H Avenue where a large 

corner lot has been covered with 

wooden frames with glass doors on 

top. In spite of the winter weather, 

tomato, pepper, onions, and sweet 

potato plants have thrived in these 

Memories of Yesteryear: 

The Food Chain 

frames called hotbeds. 

Making these hotbeds function 

requires several things and the 

Lawton area was unique in that 

supply. Several dairies sold milk, 

butter, and cream but there was 

a byproduct that didn’t sell so 

readily-- manure. 

Each hotbed required an eight 

to twelve inch layer of manure at 

the bottom where the fermentation 

by Arlie D. Wood 

provided 

heat to the 

hotbed. This 

was topped 

with about 

eight inches 

of soil in 

which the 

seedlings 

were grown. 

My father 

was often 

paid to haul 

manure from 

the dairies 

in his wagon 

and paid to 

deliver it to 

this plant 

operation for 

preparation 

of new beds. He also plowed 

garden spots; sometimes for a pig 

or goat which we butchered, or 

even for produce from the garden. 

Some people prepared their 

own gardens with a garden plow 

designed to be pushed by one 

person. The ground was hard and 

ropes were often tied to the plow 

so one person could push while 

another pulled. Some spaded 

large areas by hand 

for their garden 

doing whatever they 

possibly could to 

get those ripe juicy 

tomatoes, okra, 

tomatoes, peppers, 

onions, yams, 

potatoes, squash into 

the pot and on the 

table after a winter’s 

absence. 

Today’s fresh 

produce department 

existed only in those 

gardens planted in 

about every available 

square foot of soil. 


Great selection of foods 

for special dietary needs 

Gluten-free, wheat-free, 

organic and fresh products 

 

 

 

Sports and Fitness 

 

 


Imagine stumbling 

upon treasure somewhere 

close to home. Some 

 

with stacks of cash 

while others dream of 

 

with diamond jewelry. 

But there are a few 

that seek an escape 

from their everyday 

routines and distractions 

like cellphones and 

computers. 

They need not look any 

farther. The GoldSkye Ranch 

Resort in Fletcher, Oklahoma 

values outdoor recreation, 

show-stopping entertainment 

and a simple kind of life above 

everything else. 

Tucked away in a small 

town but surrounded by 

natural splendor, GoldSkye 

fosters the perfect atmosphere 

for families to enjoy.According 

to manager Misty Terry,this 

was the idea from the 

beginning. Owners Allen and 

Goldie Dickey bought the land 

in 2009 and opened in 2010 to 

ensure their family and others 

could enjoy time together. 

“They wanted to not only 

give their kids and their 

grandkids a place to go as 

a family but also for other 

families to go and have that 

adventure as well — that maybe living 

in a big town would maybe never have 

 

or go camping and be away from 

everything.” 

 

horseback riding are only some of 

the actives open to GoldSkye guests. 

GoldSkye Ranch Resort also invites 

guests to stay in one of its rustic 

cottages and serves as a backdrop 

for beautiful outdoor weddings and an 

ideal location for corporate events. 

“It’s our secret, but once you get 

there, you won’t want to leave,” Terry 

 

concerts, and we try to do thing that 

 

Oklahoma City. We wanted this to be 

Goldskye Ranch Resort 

Fun Family Getaway 

closer to home.” 

GoldSkye is currently scouring 

the region for homegrown acts with 

its ongoing “GoldSkye’s Got Talent” 

 

live voting is set for May 4. Judges 

will name the winner and GoldSkye 

 

musicians twenty free hours to record 

and produce tracks in its studios along 

with a generous cash prize. 

Music matters to owner Allen 

Dickey — he has worked with 

Nigerian-born British singer-songwriter 

Sade and other European acts and 

has plans to build a studio on the 

resort. 

“That is his passion — he loves to 

sing, he loves to produce, he loves 

by Sarah Brewer 

to write. He is always 

thinking of new things for 

us to do — that is what he 

wants to do,” Terry said. 

In addition to serving 

as a mecca for musicians 

and developing artists, 

GoldSkye hosts and 

promotes local acts and 

invites more widely-known 

artists for performances. 

Some of the artists that 

have graced the stage at 

GoldSkye include Lonestar 

and JB and the Moonshine 

Band. Country duet Steel 

Magnolia made an impression 

Terry counts as one of her 

fondest memories. 

“Steel Magnolia went 

above and beyond for us. We 

had a young child who had 

Down’s Syndrome and she 

was dancing the whole time 

she was there. They [Steel 

Magnolias] actually brought 

her on stage and she danced 

and sang — everything. It 

was such a good moment for 

us to just sit back and see 

that we were able to give this 

little girl something she could 

remember forever. 

Goldskye sponsors several 

underprivileged children so 

 

gatherings and other outdoor 

activities during its summer 

camp. Seeing the excited smiles on 

 

enjoys, according to Terry. 

“That is what we love to do — we 

love to give that experience and that 

is the hope for our upcoming camp — 

 

to come and help out so we can bring 

more kids that have never been on a 

 

the country, but some for these kids 

have never done anything like that 

before. It is a big plus for us to see the 

smiles on their faces.” 

GoldSkye Ranch Resort is 

located at 14277 NE Dillan Ln in 

Fletcher, OK. For more information, 

call 580.549.4013 or visit www. 

goldskyeresort.com. 


The Domestic Diva 

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Fresh Salsa 

Easy Blender Salsa Peach Mango Salsa Salsa Verde 

1- 14 oz can diced tomatoes 

1- 10 oz can orginal Rotel 

1/2 small onion, roughly 

chopped 

1 clove garlic, peeled and 

smashed 

1/2-1 jalapeno, seeded or not 

(depends on how spicy you like 

it) 

1 teaspoon honey 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 

small to medium size handful of 

cilantro, washed 

juice of 1 lime 

Put all the ingredients in the 

base of a food processor or 

good blender and pulse to 

combine for 30 seconds or so 

 

chopped and salsa is desired 

consistency. Taste for seasoning 

and adjust to taste. Serve with 

chips or over tacos. 

1 large ripe peach 

1 large ripe mango 

3 medium-size tomatoes 

1/2 sweet onion 

1/2 green, red, or yellow bell 

pepper 

1 clove garlic, minced 

2 teaspoons (or more) minced 

fresh Jalapeno pepper 

1/2 cup (or more) freshly 

chopped cilantro 

1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 tablespoon sugar 

Peel the mango and peach and 

chop both into small chunks 

Dice the tomato, sweet onion, 

and bell pepper into small 

chunks. In a mixing bowl, stir 

together the peach, mango, 

tomato, onion, bell pepper, 

garlic, Jalapeno pepper, 

and cilantro. Add the lemon 

juice, salt, and sugar and stir 

well to coat. Let rest at room 

temperature for 15 minutes for 

 

until needed.This salsa can be 

frozen for later use! 

4 medium to large tomatillos 

1/2 of a white onion roughly 

chopped 

1/2 cup loose packed cilantro 

leaves 

juice of one lime 

1 small jalapeno seeded and 

roughly chopped 

pinch of sugar 

salt and pepper to taste 

Preheat your broiler. Remove 

papery husks and stems from 

the tomatillos and cut them in 

half. Line a baking pan with foil 

and place tomatillo halves cut 

side down in the pan. 

Broil tomatillos 6-8 minutes, until 

 

easily pierced with a fork. 

Place tomatillos, onion, cilantro, 

lime juice, jalapeno and sugar 

into a blend and puree about 10- 

20 seconds (until well mixed). 


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PET OF THE MONTH 

MEET 

ROCKY 

ROCKY - M, Lab Mix, approximately 5 months old. 

Currently weighs 23 pounds and will probably be around 

the 50-60 pound range as adult. He was found out 

wandering the streets of Lawton and no owner came 

forward to claim him. He is not quite sure of himself, it 

seems he is afraid on how to act. He is very loving, loves 

to give kisses and to be petted. He is doing really well 

on housebreaking and loves ropes, bones and sticks 

as chew toys. He gets along with other dogs small or 

large and cats. He would do well with children as long 

as you teach him some manners. Rocky is looking for a 

wonderful home. If you would like to adopt Rocky and 

give him a place to call home, please contact Jennifer at 

580.699.3140 or email her at cmccullough17@live.com 


Over the next few months, I’ll be 

sharing a number of “daycations” 

that you and your family might 

enjoy. As the name implies, these 

destinations would make for perfect 

day trips. 

 

Oklahoma, located on Highway 7, 

85 miles west of Lawton. The trip 

only takes about an hour and a half, 

and there are activities that are 

great for the entire family. 

 

before crossing over I-35, at the 

Bedre Chocolate Factory. Bedre 

is an American Indian company 

 

in the heart of Oklahoma. This 

manufacturing facility is owned and 

operated by the Chickasaw Nation. 

 

any sweet tooth, including gourmet 

chocolates, gift baskets and other 

traditional candies. While on site 

guests may step into the viewing 

gallery and see chocolate being 

made before their eyes. Chocolate 

is produced and packaged Monday 

through Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. If 

tour groups consist of more than 

eight guests, appointments are 

required. 

If you’re a gambler, Treasure 

Valley Casino, an oasis for the 

traveler and local gamer alike, is 

located just over the interstate. 

Take a Daycation 

Davis, OK by Jim Joplin 

 

experience for electronic gamers 

and table aces. Four hundred of 

today’s hottest e-games line the 

 

can choose from Texas Hold ‘em, 

blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em, 

and Three Card Poker. The Main 

Street Grill is located on-site. The 

Inn at Treasure Inn is attached to 

 

As you make your way into town, 

you’ll immediately cross the 

railroads tracks, where you’ll 

see the old Santa Fe Depot. 

Refurbished 1907, the Santa 

Fe Depot features history of 

Davis, Murray County, Turner 

Falls Park and early-day 

families. The Depot is listed 

on the National Registration 

of Historic Places. Native 

American 

exhibits 

with 

original 

beaded clothing 

items donated 

by family 

of Nelson 

Chigley are on 

display, along 

with a loom 

dating back to 

1850. Military 

exhibits, vintage 

clothing, large 

 

Daily, Price broom factory, school 

picture displays, and a territorial 

room displaying home life in prestatehood 

days are also featured. 

When you’re ready for some 

grub, you should check out Smokin 

Joe’s Rib Ranch which features 

a wide variety of barbecue items 

including smoked ribs, pulled 

pork, chopped beef and smoked 

brisket as well as delicious 

homemade sides. At the end of a 

delicious meal, try to save some 

room for a one-of-a-kind dessert, 

Strawberries on a Cloud. Smokin 

 

catering services. Located at 3154 

Jolleyville Rd near Turner Falls, 

there is always a hungry crowd 

enjoying great barbeque. For 

directions or more information call 

580.369.2818. 

If you’re looking for an awesome 

cultural experience, I suggest you 

check out the Chickasaw Culture 

Center just east of Davis. The 

 

a diverse history of the people. 

That means that it’s the perfect 

place to introduce children to their 

ancestors. Through rich, colorful 

interactive exhibits, history comes 

alive in a tangible way. With walkthrough 

exhibits, live storytellers 

and hands-on classes, kids can 

learn and still be entertained. For 

more information about the Center, 

visit www.chickasawculturalcenter. 

com which includes information 

about operating hours, ticket prices, 

and much more. 

I’ve barely touched on all of the 

fun and interesting things to do in 

and around Davis. Check it out for 

yourself, and you’ll see how this 

could be a great daycation with 

your family. 


ACROSS 

1. Wings 

5. Finger or toe 

10. Garments of goat hair 

14. Classify 

15. Beautify 

16. Exploded star 

17. Valentine 

19. Pace 

20. Poetic dusk 

21. Gladden 

22. Mob 

23. Toil 

25. Calabash 

27. An Old Testament king 

28. Denim 

31. Love intensely 

34. Informs 

35. Eccentric 

36. Not 

37. A sudden short attack 

38. Portend 

39. French for “Friend” 

40. Communion table 

41. A tart fruit 

42. Lawfulness 

44. Perish 

45. Angry 

46. An informal term for 

money 

50. Country estate 

52. Lift 

54. Rodent 

55. Two-toed sloth 

56. Silver-grey wingless insect 

58. Camp beds 

59. Contemptuous look 

60. Initial wager 

61. Leg joint 

62. Excrete 

63. Bambi was one 

DOWN 

1. Something of value 

2. Not upper 

3. Sporting venue 

4. French for “Summer” 

5. Showy bloom 

6. Something to shoot for 

7. Satyr 

8. Insurgent 

9. Explosive 

10. Domestic breed of rabbit 

11. Council chamber 

12. Keen 

13. Satisfy 

18. Make fun of 

22. Embraces 

24. Deviate 

26. Unique 

28. Disorderly revelry 

29. Cocoyam 

30. Biblical garden 

Solution on page 27 

31. A Freudian stage 

32. British title 

33. Come into being 

34. Unsteady in gait 

37. Flutter 

38. Red vegetable 

40. Winglike 

41. About a US quart 

43. Excite 

44. Abandon 

46. Inhabits 

47. Pee 

48. Hindu social division 

49. Aromatic solvent 

50. Mire 

51. Nameless 

53. Away from the wind 

56. South southeast 

57. Craze 


CHEERS! 

A Beverage and Cigar Experience by Travis Storck 

Temps are warming up and I’m 

starting to crave lighter, crisper 

beverages and trying to expand 

my cigar experiences to the 

milder side too. Went to my local 

sources and picked these up to 

give them a go. 

312 Urban Wheat - Goose 

Island 

Pours a light, hazed pale yellow 

 

nice retention, foamy lacing. 

Smell of fresh grain and straw, 

some lemon. Flavor of wheat 

 

 

for some recognition, some 

sweetness. Very low hop 

bitterness. Mouthfeel is a bit 

thin, simple yet very drinkable, 

especially when the temps really 

begin to rise. 

Wild Raspberry Ale - Great 

Divide 

Pours an interesting, clear, 

deep ruby color with a small 

 

leaves patchy lacing. Smell of 

tart raspberries is immediate, 

some malt sweetness. Taste 

begin with light malt sweetness 

leading in to a good dose 

of juicy raspberry, while still 

maintaining an amber ale type 

backbone. Balanced hops really 

help the fruit bust through. Well 

done, crisp and refreshing. I’m 

really wanting some cheesecake 

about now. 

Electra Moscato 

(2010) - Quady 

Winery 

Admittedly, I grabbed 

this one because 

of the label. Upon 

pouring, not getting 

much aroma, except 

a little pear. First sip 

 

on the tongue. Picked up some 

peach, little more pear, light 

citrus. Good sweetness. Much 

lower alcohol content than most 

at only 4.5%. Quite yummy. 

Especial No. 3 - Montecristo 

Wrapper is light brown, minimal 

veining, seams well hidden. 

Great construction. The pre-light 

draw gave hint of nuttyness. 

Burn was smooth, needing no 

corrections throughout. First 3rd 

was mild and muted. Second 

3rd began to open up with nuts, 

slight hints of cocoa, touch of 

pepper in the back. Last 3rd 

mirrored the second. I’d have 

 

more but it is a much milder stick 

than what I’m used to. Overall 

good smoke and will get again. 

Vintage 1999 Connecticut - 

Rocky Patel 

Picked this up in preparation 

for the event on May 10th at 

Cigar Oasis as a rep will be onsite 

and want to be up on their 

 

 

 

looking cigar. Once lit, the burn 

was razor smooth. First 3rd was 

slightly bitter, some almond 

 

smoke. Second 3rd, mellowed 

out, opened to mildly toasted 

nuts. Last 3rd, really opened 

up to more intense nuts, wood, 

earth. Very good mild-medium 

smoke. 


Place a digit from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every 

column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. 

Solution on page 27 

Largest Selection of Fine 

Cigars, Briar Pipes, Full 

Line of Accessories, 

Members Lounge, Lockers 

618 SW C Avenue 

Lawton, OK 

580.357.2830 

“Where Cigars Are A Lifestyle” 

OKIE Magazine is YOUR Magazine 

Send your community news and 

events to 

editor@okiemagazine.com 

to have them listed in the 

OKIE Magazine Calendar of Events 

The 

Cajun Peddler 

1930 NW Ferris 

Suite 15 

580.591.2832 

Like us on 

Facebook! 

4th 

Anniversary 

Event 

May 10 

5 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

Featuring Rocky 

Patel Cigars 

Cigar Roller 

Onsite 

Ask about joining 

our Cigar Club 

The 

Cajun 

Peddler 

A Little Bit of the Cajun 

Country Right Here in 

Lawton! 

We have new items 

including boiled 

peanuts and a wide 

variety of boudin. 

ZAPPS Chips, Cajun 

Coffee, and 

much more. 

We Do Special Orders! 

Open Noon - 6 p.m. 

Monday - Saturday 

Come in and shop 

for a spell! 


It must come with 

the territory. Red Dirt 

country is a sound 

steeped in tradition and 

 

southwestern soil from 

which the genre gets 

its name. Several local 

musicians have gone on 

to interpret the essence 

of the southwest in their 

art. 

One musician who 

intuitively knows what 

this spirit sounds like is 

Brad Good. 

Originally from 

Apache, Brad Good 

has been making his 

mark by playing shows 

at venues across 

Oklahoma, Texas, 

Kansas, Arkansas, and 

Missouri for several 

years. 

He graduated from Oklahoma 

State University in Stillwater and 

got his start in music sometime 

about 1993 when his friend Shane 

McGrew was looking for a bassist 

and harmony singer in Stillwater. 

Good went in to audition and the 

two formed a band with guitarist 

Rocky Sutton and drummer Tom 

Privett. With a soulful, raspy voice 

and plenty of stories to tell, he 

began branching out as his own 

artist with their encouragement. 

“Those guys kinda took me 

under their wing, and brought 

me along on bass — and then 

eventually guitar — and the 

writing developed after that. It was 

just something somebody told me 

I was good at, so I kept doing it,” 

he said. 

His own sound rests 

comfortably among music by 

American rock legend Bruce 

Springsteen and criticallyacclaimed 

singer-songwriter 

John Mellencamp as well as 

Brad Good 

‘Round Here by Sarah Brewer 

Texas country artists like Robert 

Earl Keen. Good cites those 

 

shared with other artists like 

Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason 

Boland & the Stragglers, The 

Great Divide, No Justice and 

Stoney Larue, as the source for 

his sound. 

“It was a cool time to ‘cut my 

teeth’ in Stillwater when there was 

a lot of music happening there,” 

he said. “The Red Dirt movement 

there at the time kinda shaped us 

all to an extent. I grew up listening 

to southern rock and country and 

 

it all molded me.” 

After years of forging his 

sound and establishing a strong 

presence in the scene, Good is 

 

record this spring. 

He went in to record and 

produce his single, “’Round 

Here,” with Mike McClure at The 

Boohatch studio in Ada, and after 

releasing the song as a single on 

iTunes and Amazon, 

Good went on to record 

and produce a batch of 

ten more original songs 

with Salim Nourallah 

and Matt Gaskins at 

Pleasantry Lane Studio 

in Dallas. With a voice 

tinged by nostalgia, 

he makes it clear that 

his roots are integral to 

his identity. “We grow 

cotton and we raise 

cane; we spend our 

Sundays prayin’ for rain,” 

he asserts. “Just look at 

my hands — see them 

red dirt stains. Anywhere 

else it wouldn’t be the 

same.” 

The tentative title 

of the album, “Third 

Generation Son,” comes 

from a lyric embedded 

in “Highway Headed 

Home,” a retrospective tune that 

 

again. Violins murmur before 

Good begins to sing. Feather- 

 

feelings of security, making it the 

perfect song for cruising some 

back roads in any state you pick. 

Each song tells a story, and 

these tales run the gamut. Some 

are lighthearted, some are 

serious, and some are true stories 

set to a tune. According to Good, 

each member of the production 

trio had something to contribute 

during studio sessions. 

“Salim has awesome ideas. He 

 

he and I either agreed or didn’t, 

and Matt Gaskins was kinda 

the tie breaker when it came to 

that. We all had input. They were 

awesome, and always willing to 

let my identity come through as 

an artist without letting me mess 

things up too bad.” 

Good said he gets his 


inspiration from various places; 

the fate of a relationship, an 

instance from his childhood, 

something that made him laugh 

or just scenery that captures his 

attention. 

“There’s several of my 

 

autobiographical, and some 

that are 

biographical 

from a friend’s 

perspective. 

A couple are 

straight up 

 

for the most 

part, you 

gotta know it 

to write it. At 

least for me.” 

He 

assumes 

another 

perspective 

in “Rich Man,” 

a timeless 

cautionary 

tale that 

sizzles with 

battling guitar 

harmonies 

and bass 

lines. Raw 

and startling, 

Good warns 

about living in 

loneliness — the kind of poverty 

that can come when priorities 

are skewed and twisted beyond 

recognition. “He don’t get no 

richer, just gets real cold,” Good 

observes. “Try as he may he 

cannot make change, and his 

life unchanged it will remain the 

same.” 

Good also made the record 

by teaming with musicians Matt 

Gaskins, Milo Deering, Raegan 

Felker, and backup vocalist 

Beverly Perry as well as guitarist 

Daniel Hines from the Dallas 

band Left Arm Tan. They fused 

each part of every song together 

and Good said he could not be 

happier with the results. 

“We really just pieced it 

together a little at a time,” he said. 

“They were great to always make 

sure my identity came through. I 

listen to most of the tracks, and 

think “man, that couldn’t have 

been any closer to what I had 

in mind.” And then there’s been 

some ideas that developed during 

tune that lingers with him even 

when he less than fully conscious. 

“A couple of my songs have 

been written in my sleep too, 

actually,” he said. “Just woke up 

with the whole thing in my head, 

got up, wrote it down, and went 

back to sleep — that’s happened 

— so it comes from all angles, 

really.” 

An audience 

knows when 

an artist is in it 

for the love of 

the game, and 

Good said the 

best part of 

playing gigs and 

making music is 

seeing his work 

resonates with 

listeners. 

“It’s just a lot 

of fun — work 

too, but fun 

— and when 

you hit a good 

lick at a show, 

and people are 

 

and having a 

good time, it’s 

really cool. And 

seeing people 

Courtesy of West Texas Media Group 

singing along to 

songs you wrote 

and knowing they 

the process as well. 

relate to them — that’s really cool. 

Some of the material on the Last month, the Texas Regional 

record has been incubating for Radio Music Awards named 

some time, and Good said the Good a future face to look for 

songs that have stuck with him in 2013. He played a showcase 

at The Thirsty Armadillo in Fort 

record. 

Worth on April 20 with the other 

artists and said he was glad to 

have met these talented singers 

years. Some of it came together and songwriters. He also said he 

is thankful to have made a lasting 

always something I’m working impression with his music. 

on even though no one knows it “Over the years, writing and 

usually until I have it done.” singing songs has become what 

He loves what he does, and I do,” Good said, “and I feel really 

his art certainly imitates life — blessed to have the opportunity 

inspiration strikes Good at all to share my music with folks, and 

hours, and when it does, he is hopefully they’ll keep coming 

quick to record a few lyrics or a back.” 


Lawton purred from the other 

side of my moonlit window. The 

cars and horns, the thumping 

and gunshots, were all a part 

of living in one of the rougher 

neighborhoods. 

It was the 

spring of 1996 

and my husband, 

myself and our 

three month 

old daughter 

lived in a small, 

but cute, two 

bedroom house 

in the area of 

17th and Smith. 

I remember 

how excited I 

was when we 

got a new door 

that had a peep 

hole that I could 

look out. This 

was a big deal 

because, at 

least weekly, a 

stranger would 

knock on the 

door and ask 

if we could 

spare money 

for their “kid’s 

prescriptions” 

or “gas” for their 

invisible car. I would be able to 

look out before unlocking my 

home. 

This particular night, my 

husband and I had gotten the 

baby to sleep, and had gone 

to bed early. Around eleven 

o’clock, I was pulled from a 

deep sleep by banging on our 

front door. I tried to wake my 

husband, but due to an accident 

out by Medicine Park where he 

had broken his ankle two days 

before, he was on strong pain 

relievers and proved impossible 

to wake. 

I walked to the front door and 

looked through the peephole. 

Even with the porch light, all 

The Night No One Died 

I could see was a shadowy, 

 

 

side of the door and not in clear 

view of the peephole. I started 

to walk away and go back to 

bed when the person started 

banging again. This time the 

banging was so hard as to rattle 

the walls, shaking them with 

each blow. The person outside 

the door was breathing heavily 

enough that I could hear him 

from inside. He banged again 

with persistence. I heard my 

baby daughter rustle in her bed, 

disturbed by the banging but not 

woken. Bang! Bang! Bang! 

I ran to the bedroom and tried 

again to 

wake my 

husband, 

but it was 

useless. 

 

He snored 

away 

unaware 

of the 

dangerous 

situation 

that was 

developing 

around him. 

Bang! Bang! 

Bang! 

By this 

time, I had 

begun 

shaking. I 

 

and ever 

 

my being 

was on 

heightened 

alert. I 

looked in at 

my sleeping 

daughter. 

I grabbed the phone and tried 

dialing 911 but my hands were 

shaking so badly that I missed 

 

getting it right. 911’s number 

gave me a busy signal. I did not 

even know that could happen. I 

fumbled the numbers again. All 

the time, Bang! Bang! Bang! 

The banging was bad 

enough, but being able to hear 

 

me deep inside. In my head, I 

wondered what would make a 


person breathe so intensely that 

they could be heard through 

a wall. I thought it must be 

someone animalistic, feral, and 

dangerous, possibly from drugs 

or insanity. In my head, I kept 

thinking, “Please, just go away.” 

I threw the phone down 

when 911 was still busy on the 

second call. I again thought of 

my daughter sleeping in her crib. 

The banging was getting louder, 

and more forceful. The breathing 

was heavier, more excited 

sounding. BANG! BANG! BANG! 

 

to the bedroom where we kept 

a blue-steel Ruger .22. I called 

out to my husband twice, but he 

continued to sleep. I checked 

the safety and slid the clip in 

place, before running back into 

the living room. 

I knew I was shaking too 

badly to have much aim and I 

needed to steady my hands. 

The only thing between the 

front door and my daughter’s 

bedroom was an over-sized blue 

chair. I dropped to my knees 

and rested my arms on the chair 

which helped steady my hands. 

With my back to my daughter’s 

room, I leveled the nose of the 

gun with the mid-section of the 

door. I ran through my head all 

the gun safety rules that I had 

been taught. Never point a gun 

at someone unless you intend 

on killing them. Always keep the 

safety on unless you intend on 

 

shook out my shoulders and 

focused my aim. My daughter’s 

steady breathing told me she 

had resumed peaceful sleeping. 

Bang! Bang! Bang! 

I knew that I was shaking 

violently enough that I would 

probably miss a few shots, 

but if I unloaded the full clip I 

would at the very least injure the 

person enough to protect my 

child. I knew it was imperative 

to wait until whoever it was 

busted through the door before 

 

Day” law required that a person 

must be in my home before I 

 

Furthermore, I needed the visual 

for good aim and I wanted to see 

the person I was going to kill. I 

also considered that I was only 

about eight feet from the door, 

and that I would have to unload 

the clip quickly. I could still hear 

the banging, the breathing, but 

 

could see the wall shake as if in 

slow motion. There was a feeling 

of imminent danger and resolve. 

All I could think was, “My baby,” 

while waiting on the person to 

break through my door. 

There was no question as 

 

gun. My mind had grown cold, 

and calculating; my motherly 

instincts were reared back in full 

force. I was as cocked as the 

gun. I sat on my knees with my 

 

metal loop that encompassed 

the trigger so I would not 

 

Suddenly, my neighbor from 

next door’s voice permeated the 

night, “Oh, God. Let me in. It’s 

Chris.” Nose down, safety on. 

Disengage. Reevaluate. I shook 

my head. 

I raced to the door with the 

gun in my hand. He stood on the 

other side panting, holding his 

infant daughter to his chest and 

a non-descript handgun hung 

 

hand. He pushed in to the house 

and shut the door behind him. I 

knew him too well to be afraid; 

it was not in him to hurt another 

human. I took his baby, Makayla, 

from him and he clutched his 

chest trying to regain his breath. 

He was obviously shaken. I told 

him to sit down on the couch 

while I carried his daughter in 

and laid her next to mine in the 

crib. She felt warm and smelled 

of coco butter and baby power. 

I laid her in the crib and the 

babies snuggled against each 

other peacefully. Snores came 

from my bedroom where my 

husband still slept oblivious to 

the drama. 

I returned to the living room 

where my neighbor sat with his 

elbows on his knees and the gun 

hanging between his clasped 

 

“She pulled a gun on me. We 

 

the gun and was going to kill us,” 

he said, speaking about his wife 

as he looked across the room to 

the doorway where the babies 

slept. 

He asked if he could leave 

Makayla and the gun with me for 

the night. I brought him a towel 

from the hall cabinet to wrap his 

gun in and I stashed it on the top 

shelf of the cabinet. After he left, 

I ejected the clip from my Ruger, 

double checked the safety, and 

put it back where it belonged. I 

looked in on the sleeping girls 

one last time and thought how 

 

 

went to bed, I lay awake for a 

long time looking at my bedroom 

ceiling unable to sleep, listening 

to the sound of Lawton purring 

outside my window. 


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JULIUSTHEROBOT 

By Jordan Godlewski 

Manda Shae Dickinson is a student at Cameron University 

pursuing a Bachelors degree of Fine Art in painting. Along with 

being a student at Cameron, Dickinson is a Internet entrepreneur 

managing several blogs and social media sites for various projects. 

For the past several months, Dickinson has been experimenting 

with a variety of new media such as video and animation. One 

of Dickinson’s current projects is a coloration on a videogame 

commentary channel titled LolitaPlay! 

Dickinson said the creation of her art is driven by the many 

decisions that she makes every day. 

“Actually, it’s kind of funny, making art is a huge force in what 

drives my decision making in most areas of my life,” Dickinson 

said. “I’ve known for a very long time--since I was probably about 

12 years old--that I wanted to work in art, so trying to make 

consistent decisions that further my life in that direction drives 

both my goals and my want to make art.” 

There are many different ways that an artist might describe their 

work; Dickinson chooses to describe it as ‘gross.’ 

“My favorite description of it so far has been ‘gross’,” said 

Dickinson. “By my peers it is used in an endearing sense, but 

when my work is presented to outsiders the term becomes wildly 

accurate.” 

“I describe my work as being very technical. My entire process 

goes through several stages from thumbnails, to sketches, to 

penciling, and final polishing of an artwork. I also work in a range 

of styles--varying from cartoons, surrealism, expressive realism, 

and sometimes a combination of all of these.” Dickinson said. 

Read more about Dickinson at OKIEmagazine.com 

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It is a sad day in America 

when the best collaboration 

between country and rap 

artists remains “Over and 

Over” by Tim McGraw and 

Nelly. 

“Accidental Racist,” 

a song by Brad Paisley 

featuring LL Cool J, is a 

song on Paisley’s latest 

album Wheelhouse. It 

has garnered universal 

disdain from music critics 

and political talking heads 

alike. Not accidental yet 

completely racist, two 

grown men demonstrate a 

 

 

The song’s story 

is told primarily through Paisley’s point of view. 

The opening lines describe him half-apologizing 

 

 

 

meant to say is I’m a Skynyrd fan.” However, he later 

calls himself “just a proud rebel son with an ol’ can 

of worms / lookin’ like I got a lot to learn but from my 

point of view.” 

Describing himself as “a proud rebel son” 

discredits any good will Paisley may have been 

attempting to establish. Regardless of what positive 

things have come from the American South since 

 

States of America – which called themselves rebels 

– has since been used and interpreted as a symbol 

of white supremacy. Thus, identifying as a “proud 

rebel son” in this context denotes acceptance of the 

white supremacist concept. 

He continues on with a misunderstanding of 

history, claiming “they called it Reconstruction, 

 

 

“Rubble” cannot be interpreted as a metaphor 

for lingering hostile race relations, as he literally 

described the Reconstruction era in the previous 

 

widespread ruins of a war a century and a half ago 

remain in this modern age. 

LL Cool J’s verses see the song take a turn 

for the worse. He opens by 

addressing Paisley with “Dear 

Mr. White Man,” an antiquated 

phrase from slavery or minstrel 

show days. Before anything 

else comes from him, LL raps 

from a place of accepted 

inferiority. 

He later bargains with 

Paisley in an attempt to level 

and understand one another. 

In the most discussed line of 

the song, LL claims “if you 

don’t judge my gold chains / 

I’ll forget the iron chains.” As 

comedian Stephen Colbert 

sarcastically said on his show, 

“That’s a pretty good deal, 

Paisley. LL will forget 250 

years of enslavement if you 

accept his taste in accessories.” 

 

Django Unchained for being historically accurate, 

wants to “let bygones be bygones” in a completely 

unnecessary conversation, and memorializes 

Robert E. Lee. The confusing, race-apologizing 

lyrics are headache-inducing at best and infuriating 

at worst. 

The choice to bring in LL Cool J to rap on a 

song about cultural racial tension is a curious one. 

Although a pioneer for rap and hip hop, he has never 

been known for socially- or politically-conscious 

lyrics. Ta-Nehisi Coates of The Atlantic wrote of the 

 

Talib Kweli to record a song about gang violence in 

L.A., and [he] wouldn’t call up KRS-ONE to drop a 

verse on a love ballad.” LL Cool J is simply out of 

place in this song. 

Both men have defended “Accidental Racist,” 

stating that it was intended to begin a conversation 

rather than solve any perceived problems. The 

real conversation it started is simple – one man 

 

deep-seeded history, and the other apologizes 

for belonging to an ethnic group. Neither side is a 

positive way to handle this contention; neither is 

 

Taylor B, an Army Brat via Fort Sill, accepts 

all complaints and correspondence at taylorb@ 

okiemagazine.com. 


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