Outlook 2014 COMMUNITIES Photo illustration by Jerry Willis Visions of a dynamic downtown Muskogee include a walkable corridor along Fourth Street that connects “a vibrant cultural district” with retail, dining, lodging and entertainment opportunities. Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014 Muskogee Phoenix Growing together The Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce takes a lead role in a lot of areas, including support- ing area businesses and promoting Muskogee tourism. Story on Page 2 Chamber boosts business, tourism A five-year $2.5 million grant awarded by the City of Muskogee Foundation in 2011 has brought notice- able changes to the city’s parks. Story on Page 3 City parks make improvements The Martin Luther King Center focuses on the com- munities’ youth. Several programs have been added to the center, and major changes are on the horizon. Story on Page 4 MLK Center sees big changes coming muskogeephoenix.com
Transcript
Outlook 2014C
OM
MU
NIT
IES
Photo illustration by Jerry Willis
Visions of a dynamic downtown Muskogee include a walkable corridor along Fourth Street that connects “a vibrant cultural district” withretail, dining, lodging and entertainment opportunities.
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014Muskogee Phoenix
Growing together
The Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commercetakes a lead role in a lot of areas, including support-ing area businesses and promoting Muskogee tourism.
Story on Page 2
Chamber boostsbusiness, tourism
A five-year $2.5 million grant awarded by the Cityof Muskogee Foundation in 2011 has brought notice-able changes to the city’s parks.
Story on Page 3
City parks makeimprovements
The Martin Luther King Center focuses on the com-munities’ youth. Several programs have been added tothe center, and major changes are on the horizon.
Story on Page 4
MLK Center seesbig changes coming
muskogeephoenix.com
By Elizabeth RidenourPhoenix City Editor
Treasure McKenzie hasa “Real. Okie.” passion forMuskogee.
As president and chiefexecutive officer of theGreater Muskogee AreaChamber of Commerce, herpassion translates into ajob requirement.
“I’ve been at the Cham-ber for 13 years, and I’vebeen the president for al-most two years,” McKenziesaid. “I have been able towitness change. I’ve seenthis chamber grow to be arelevant and invaluablepart of this community.”
Muskogee’s chambertakes a lead role in a lot ofareas.
“The chamber doesthings that no other organ-ization in town does,” shesaid.
The chamber uses rev-enue generated by an 8percent hotel and motel taxto promote Muskogeetourism. The 5 percent in-crease has nearly tripledthe Chamber’s tourismbudget.
According to a 2011 re-port, tourism generated$79.35 million for Musko-gee County, created 600jobs, and added $9.33 mil-lion to payrolls. The report,McKenzie said, shows trav-el during the reporting pe-riod generated $4.6 millionin state tax receipts and$1.9 million in local tax re-ceipts, earning the county aranking as the 11th in thestate when it comes to gen-erating travel dollars.
McKenzie said trackingdata compiled by thechamber shows 1.35 mil-lion visitors came toMuskogee in 2012. Each
visitor, she said, spends anaverage of $45 a day, and“that number triples if theyspend the night.”
The Chamber boasts amembership of 630. But,that’s not just Muskogeebusinesses.
“Anybody can join thechamber,” McKenzie said.“We are the glue that holdsbusinesses together. Weconnect commerce. Thestronger the membershipis, the better and more ef-fective we can be.”
Muskogee’s chamber isactive in business develop-ment. The chamber andthe city recently hired Re-tail Attractions, a consult-
ing firm that will activelyrecruit retail business.
The chamber promotestourism through advertis-ing, networking, and host-ing events like the Bass-master fishing tournamentand a national motocrossevent.
The chamber holds com-munity development pro-grams. In addition to Lead-ership Muskogee, a YouthLeadership class is provid-ed for area high schoolsophomores and juniors.Another leadership event,the Women’s LeadershipConference, also is an an-nual event.
“It’s to help women to be-come stronger businessleaders in the community,”McKenzie said.
Recent projects arechanging the face ofMuskogee.
“Progress sometimeslooks like the Hunt’s build-ing,” she said.
The former Hunt’s store,which is directly across thestreet from the Chamber,is being demolished tomake room for a greenspace.
And progress also devel-ops, she said, from the Ac-tion in Muskogee initiative,an initiative that has blos-somed into many projectsto improve Muskogee.
“It’s an exciting time tobe a part of the progressand watch it all unfold,”McKenzie said. “I can’twait to see what Musko-gee’s going to look like fiveyears from today and 10years from today.”
Change already has beenhappening in the Chamberoffice.
“We’ve expanded thechamber’s office to includea downstairs board roomand the Okie store,”McKenzie said.
The Okie store has T-shirts for sale, but they al-so plan to add additionalitems that promote theMuskogee brand — the Ok-ie brand.
“We’re working on get-ting our products devel-oped,” McKenzie said.
The Chamber also re-
cently presented a designfor new signage to directvisitors to local attractions.
Another projectMcKenzie hopes to see inthe next few years is con-struction of a new tourisminformation center. Thecurrent building has no in-sulation, which makes ithot in the summer and coldin the winter.
And for everyone whowants to know whenMuskogee will get an OliveGarden restaurant,McKenzie said that untilpeople shop local and quitspending money in other
cities, that will not happen.Potential new businesseswant to know enough mon-ey is being spent here tomake their move hereworthwhile.
“If you’re shopping out oftown, our stores aren’tmaking the money for anew business to want tocome here,” she said.“They’re looking at the bot-tom line we already have.They’re all looking at thesales we already have.”
Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Treasure McKenzie shows off some of the items available for purchase at the cham-ber. A variety of other items are being produced that will be for sale in the chamber.
Greater MuskogeeArea Chamber of Commerce
ADDRESS: 310 W.Broadway.
HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to 5p.m.
SERVICES OFFERED:The Greater MuskogeeArea Chamber of Com-merce is the unified voiceof business dedicated tobuilding and promoting abetter business and com-munity environment.
NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: Seven full-time and one part-time.
KEY PERSONNEL:Treasure McKenzie, presi-dent and chief executiveofficer; Alisha Tanksley,vice president of Chamberand Marketing; Anita Buc-ciarelli, director of Tourismand Marketing.
BOARD OF DIREC-TORS: 25 members onthe Board of Directors.
A five-year $2.5 milliongrant awarded by the Cityof Muskogee Foundation in2011 has brought notice-able changes to the city’sparks.
“We are in our thirdyear,” said Mark Wilkerson,Parks and Recreation di-rector.
Several projects haveseen positive responses inthe past years. Wilkersonsaid the Parks and Recre-ation Department hasmade playground improve-ments a top priority overthe last several years.
Robison Park just fin-ished its third phase of ren-ovation. The park receivedan extension of the trailand the addition of the fit-ness equipment and theparking lot.
The neighborhood nowcan access the splash pad,basketball courts and a soc-cer field at the park.
“We’ve spent now overthe last six or seven yearsin excess of $900,000. It’sreally becoming noticeableto people,” Wilkerson said.
Plans have been startedfor the design of a newskatepark in Robison Park.
“It will be funded in partby the foundation moneycoming in the fourth year.Hopefully it will start in2014, but we won’t have themoney available until Ju-ly,” Wilkerson said.
Beckman Park receivedmajor upgrades, includinga new splash pad and play-ground.
“It’s a huge improve-ment,” Wilkerson said.
New signs for all theparks are proof of the revi-talization process.
“One of the things thatis happening in all of theparks is the new signsmade with native stone. Forme, that’s a huge differ-ence. Those are beginningto appear all over town,”Wilkerson said.
In the last budget yearthe city saw the arrival ofcommunity gardens at theteen center. The opening ofone on Chandler Road is inthe works, Wilkerson said.
The Papilion, which fea-tures a garden and butter-fly house, opened at Honor
Heights Park.“That was a five- or six-
year long project. Friendsof Honor Heights, Georgia-Pacific and the City ofMuskogee Foundation allhelped to make that a real-ity,” Wilkerson said. “Wefinished our first year, andthat was a tremendous suc-cess.”
A grant to buy some ad-ditional adjacent propertyis in the future for HonorHeights.
“Another huge improve-ment is we are building anew playground. It’s in thedesign process right now,and we hope that it’s builtby summer this year,” Wilk-erson said.
The playground will belandscaped with elementsof nature to accent thepark.
This year, a new additionto the park’s Garden ofLights Festival was an iceskating rink. The skatingrink is a fixture and willreturn next year, Wilker-son said.
“It met our expectationsin regards to the traffic andthe money.”
A grant submitted re-cently includes three newcomponents for CivitanPark. The plan to add asplash pad is in the works.There are several otherprojects that aren’t current-ly included in the five-yearfoundation money plan.
A trail grant has beenawarded to fund a new trailalong Coody Creek. Thegrant also will benefit dogowners. The talk of havinga dog park has circulated inthe Parks and RecreationDepartment for some time,Wilkerson said.
The issue was finding theright spot. The propertyalong Coody Creek will fitthe bill. The plans for theupgrade are projected tohappen in 2014 or 2015.
The Love-Hatbox SportsComplex property consistsof 300 acres, and 120 acreshas been developed, Wilk-erson said. A water parkwas built on the propertyand has been a great suc-cess for Muskogee. It gener-ates money and it serves asa tourist attraction.
“Our proudest examplemost people look to is thewater park,” Wilkerson
said.The Love-Hatbox Sports
Complex also is the site foranother big future projectfor the Parks and Recre-ation Department.
“What started this con-versation was the desire tohave a new expo fair-ground-type facility,” Wilk-erson said.
There has been a designprepared for that with adirt floor arena.
“This could be anywherefrom $20 million on up,”Wilkerson said.
In addition to the Expocenter, there’s a proposalfor an amphitheater withopen areas for events.
“We hope to some dayhave a music festival,”Wilkerson said.
A plan to potentiallymodernize the Swim andFitness Center is being dis-cussed. Wilkerson said theproposal includes twogyms, an indoor walkingtrack, and would double thecenter in square footage.
The Muskogee Parks andRecreation Youth VolunteerCorps is a program thatgives area youth the oppor-tunity to participate in con-structive and meaningfulservices to the community.
“Our Youth VolunteerCorps was named theChapter of the Year or Na-tional Affiliate of the Year.We are extremely proud ofthat accomplishment,”Wilkerson said.
NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 45 full-timeemployees, 25 part-timeemployees, and 125 sea-sonal employees.
SERVICES OFFERED:Enriching the lives andmeeting the recreationalneeds of Muskogee citi-zens.
KEY PERSONNEL:Mark Wilkerson, director.
PHONE: (918) 684-6302.
WEBSITE: www.cityof-muskogee.com.
Grant funds parks improvements
Staff photo by E.I. Hillin
Muskogee Parks and Recreation Department Director Mark Wilkerson says the de-partment has made playground improvements a top priority over the last several years.A five-year, $2.5 million grant awarded by the City of Muskogee Foundation in 2011has brought noticeable changes to the city’s parks. More improvements are expect-ed in 2014.
Phoenix file photo
Jaiden Alexander, 11, and Jessie Eatmond, 16, use HealthBeat exercise apparatusat Robison Park. The park just finished its third phase of renovation.
Several programs andservices have been added tothe Martin Luther KingCenter during the past fewyears, and major changesare on the horizon.
“We focus on youth at thispoint,” with a variety of ac-tivities, said Derrick Reed,the center’s programs direc-tor. The 5,000-square-foot
facility also can be rentedout for parties and otherspecial events, he said.
Eachschool day,school busesdeliver stu-dents to thecenter, wherethey enjoy asnack and re-ceive help with their home-work. For those studentswho don’t have homework
to complete, there are edu-cational activities for them.
“We cater to kids from allover the school district forfirst through eighthgrades,” Reed said.
Activities are held at thecenter all year. In the sum-mer, “we’re a site for freesummer lunches for youth,”he said.
On Friday and Saturdaynights in June and July, thecenter is the location for
Night Hoops. Outside, thereare basketball games, tour-naments, volleyball andJupiter Jump. Inside, par-ticipants enjoy concessions,arts and crafts, movies andgames. Open to youth andadults, Night Hoops aver-aged 300 nightly last sum-mer, Reed said.
The center’s programsare funded through the
ADDRESS: 627 N. ThirdSt.
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Monday through Friday; after-school program is 3:30 to 6p.m. Monday through Friday.Special events on weekends.
muskogee.com (click onParks and Recreation, Recre-ation Centers).
MLK Center focuses on youthStaff photo by Anita Reding
Muskogee students Alexis Hamm, left, Kennedi Thompson, Anthony Jones, Anaria Barnes and Donae Williams run up the steps to the Martin Luther King Center. Thestudents are participants in the after-school program at the center.
Civic and church groupsoften use the building formeetings, and it is some-times rented for specialevents, such as baby show-ers and family reunions.
The programs at the cen-ter began four years ago,Reed said. Before that, thebuilding was used just as ameeting place.
“We’ve outgrown thespace,” Reed said
Plans are under way for anew 18,000-square-footbuilding to be constructednear the current location.
The building will includeclassrooms, a large multi-purpose room, a resource li-brary, computer lab andconference rooms with di-viders.
The extra space willmake it possible to conductmultiple events at the sametime, he said.
Cost for the project is$4.5 million.
“At this moment, we arereaching out, seekinggrants,” Reed said.
The goal is to breakground in September andstart construction of thenew facility this year.
A fundraiser gala washeld last month. Many ofthe 400 who attendedpledged to make donationstoward the building costs,Reed said.
The Muskogee MartinLuther King Task Force al-so will be requesting fundsfrom the City of MuskogeeFoundation and will at-tempt to seek approvalfrom voters for capital im-provement bonds, he said.
One of the major goals forthe next 10 years is “to bet-ter serve kids in the Musko-gee area,” Reed said.
More space at the centerwill make it possible toserve more children andhave more events.
Plans for the proposednew facility were designedafter members of a taskforce received feedback from
the kids and others who usethe facility, plus a series ofcommunity meetings.Those
involved in brainstormingthe plans began to refer tothemselves as the “Dream
Team,” Reed said.“We’re just dreaming big,”
he said. “The sky’s going to
be the limit,” regardingwhat services can be offeredto the community.
Deja Jones, 7, eats a snack during the after-school program at the Martin Luther King Center.
The building for the Martin Luther King Center has 5,000 square feet of space. The building is used for after-school programs, communityevents and meetings.
Visions of a dynamicdowntown Muskogee in-clude a corridor alongFourth Street that con-nects “a vibrant culturaldistrict” with retail, dining,lodging and entertainmentopportunities.
Plans for a Fourth Streetcorridor, identified by theAction in Muskogee initia-tive, is considered key tothe success of its signaturedowntown projects. Most ofthose initial projects aredesigned to re-energizeMuskogee’s downtownarea.
“The vision is to createan energetic, engagingdowntown,” said AIMspokeswoman KimbraScott. It would be “an-chored on one end by a vi-brant cultural district andon the other by ArrowheadMall with opportunities forretail, dining, lodging andentertainment in between.”
Scott described the pro-posed Fourth Street corri-dor as key to “a downtown
development plan (that)will establish a frameworkfor a development processboth public and private.”AIM organizers see an im-proved Fourth Street “as
an importantpedestriancorridor link-ing many ofthe impor-tant fea-tures” indowntownMuskogee.
Those features, Scottsaid, would include theMartin Luther King Jr.Community Center andMuskogee Little Theatreas cultural hubs on thenorth and south ends. Aproposed hotel and conven-tion center would spur thedevelopment of entertain-ment and dining venues inbetween, while ArrowheadMall would serve as adowntown retail center.
Gary Sparks, a manag-ing partner and co-founderof Tulsa-based architectur-al firm hired to conduct a
Phoenix photo illustration by Jerry Willis
A walkable corridor is planned along Fourth Street to connect a cultural district in-cluding museums and a new Muskogee Little Theatre to Arrowhead Mall.
Below: An artist’s conception of the planned Fourth Street corridor.
Corridor wouldboost downtown
Action in Muskogee
ADDRESS: MuskogeeBusiness Development,216 W. Okmulgee Ave.
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Fri-day.
SERVICES OFFERED:The Muskogee City-Coun-ty Port Authority’s busi-ness and economic devel-opment division works inpartnership with the city ofMuskogee to implementan economic developmentprogram designed to in-crease business invest-ment and job opportuni-ties in the Muskogee area.
NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: Port authority:10; Muskogee Develop-ment: Three.
KEY PERSONNEL:Scott Robinson, port au-thority director; MarieSynar, interim director ofbusiness development.
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downtown engineering as-sessment, said the FourthStreet corridor wassparked by a previousstudy. He described thatcomponent as a “particu-larly unique part of theoverall vision.”
“We look at how far peo-ple are willing to walk, andthis corridor is kind of likea mall,” Sparks said. “If youhave one thing anchored atone end ... and another oneat the other end, then youcreate a space available forother shops in between.”
Lisa Wade, co-chair-woman of the AIM steer-ing committee, said thestudy provided a map ofpresent projects and oth-ers in the idea or planningstages that helped meld
the concepts that producedAIM’s signature projects.Being able to visualizethose components sparkedthe idea for the FourthStreet corridor that wouldlink Muskogee Little The-atre and the museum dis-trict to Arrowhead Malland a new King Center.
“With the creation of awalkable environment, ourhope is there will be an in-crease in pedestrian traf-fic,” Scott said about theFourth Street corridor.“That will not only lead toadditional business devel-opment in downtown andstimulate the local econo-my, but it will also rein-force the sense that down-town is the heart and soulof our community.”
EASTAR Health Systemhas undergone manychanges in the past 10years, and more are expect-ed during the next 10, saidTony Young, chief executiveofficer of EASTAR HealthSystem.
Young, who becameEASTAR’sCEO in2013, is look-ing to the fu-ture for EAS-TAR, whichoffers med-ical serviceat two loca-tions — the Main Campuson Rockefeller Drive andthe East Campus on MainStreet.
“What you saw in thelast 10 years was a majorshift to outpatient servic-es,” Young said.
That shift will continuewith more and more med-ical treatment being pro-vided on an out-patient ba-sis, he added.
The major changes dur-ing the past few years in-volved the merging of twohospitals and change ofownership of both. Musko-gee Regional Medical Cen-
ter was previously city-owned.
“The city fathers saw itwas difficult to operate,”Young said.
In 2007, the city enteredinto a long-term lease withCapella Healthcare, a com-pany that owns and/or op-erates hospital facilities insix states.
In 2009, a group of doc-tors formed MuskogeeCommunity Hospital,which they operated until2012.
“Capella was asked tocome in and consider alease or purchase,” Youngsaid.
A lease was entered into,and Capella will be pur-chasing the facility thisyear, he said.
EASTAR is a major em-ployer in the area. Majorcapital projects in 2013 to-taled $3,330,470, and theannual payroll was $57million. Ninety-one volun-teers provided 26,039hours of service to patientsand families last year. Alsoin 2013, EASTAR paid $4.5million in property taxesand provided $25.5 millionin uncompensated andcharity care. Annual sup-plies purchased by EAST-AR last year totaled $40
million.New and or expanded
services at the Main Cam-pus last year included sen-ior care (geriatric psychi-atric) progressive care unit,obesity treatment center,physical medicine and re-habilitation, trauma cen-ter/Green Country Emer-gency physicians, andstroke center/neurology.
New and or expandedservices at the East Cam-pus included Women’s andChildren’s Center (includ-ing a special care nursery)a comprehensive breastcare center, diagnostic im-aging center, inpatient andoutpatient surgical servic-
es, occupational medicinecenter and a sleep center.
A full-service medical fa-cility, EASTAR Health Sys-tem also offers a cancercenter, a cardiac catheriza-tion lab, cardiology servic-es, home health, and an in-tensive care unit.
The hospital has a three-year plan in place, but doesnot have a plan beyondthat. What will happen inthe next 10 years in healthcare in general “is any-body’s guess,” Young said.“You just don’t know, withthe technology, with med-ication.”
Although specifics re-garding changes and ad-
vancements in health careare difficult to determine,Young said, “I see this as athriving regional hub forthis part of the state” withgood, broad health services.
EASTAR will become a“regional health system”during the next 10 years,Young said. “We’re going toexpand our services sothere is no reason to go toTulsa,” because the samequality of care will beavailable in Muskogee.
Preventative medicinewill also be a major focus.
“We’re going to see hospi-tals and doctors partner-ing together” with more ofa focus on “what can we doto improve the health ofthe community,” Youngsaid.
EASTAR is continuing torecruit physicians to con-tinue to expand its servic-es, Young said.
And change is the key inpreparing for the future,Young said.
“The biggest way to beready is to be open tochange,” he said. “In healthcare, if you are not open tochange, you are not goingto survive.”
ADDRESS: Main Cam-pus, 300 Rockefeller Dri-ve; East Campus, 2900 N.Main St.
HOURS: Main Campusopen 24-hours daily. EastCampus hours vary byservice.
SERVICES OFFERED:Variety of health services.
NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 870.
KEY PERSONNEL: Ad-ministrative team: TonyYoung, chief executive of-ficer; Jay Gregory, MD,chief medical officer;James (Jim) Davidson,chief operating officer;Scott Bailey, chief finan-cial officer; Deborah (Deb-bie) Kifer, RN, MSN, chiefnursing officer; James(Jim) Wells, chief qualityofficer; Tracy Cox, physi-cian recruiter; Dr. DwayneAtwell, president of themedical staff; Mike Gilpin,director of marketing; BillPeterson, human re-sources; and DelaineBartsch, administrator ofthe women’s and chil-dren’s center.
PHONE: Main Campus,(918) 682-5501. EastCampus, (918) 687-7777.
WEBSITE: www.east-arhealth.com.
Young
Staff photo by Anita Reding
Joe Hester, dosimetrist, and Dr. Selam Negusse, a radiation oncologist, discuss a radiation treatment plan for one of EASTAR Health System’s patients.
EASTAR sees health care changes ““IInn hheeaalltthh ccaarree,, iiffyyoouu aarree nnoott ooppeenn ttoocchhaannggee,, yyoouu aarree nnoottggooiinngg ttoo ssuurrvviivvee..””
— Tony Young, chief executive officer of EASTAR Health System
Muskogee Phoenix Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014 Page 8
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Outlook 2014A
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Staff photo by E.I. Hillin
Roger Kimball screws a panel back in place after performing maintenance on a plane at the Davis Field Airport. The airport offers mainte-nance and fuel to planes flying in and out of Muskogee. The airfield serves both business and the military.
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014Muskogee Phoenix
Building tomorrow
Many projects have been completed and more areplanned at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Cen-ter, but personalized care will remain a major focus.
Story on Page 10
Personalized carefocus at VAMC
Hilldale Public Schools officials are working to main-tain the same steady growth the district has experi-enced over the past 10 years.
Story on Page 10
Hilldale Schools seesteady growth
After 10 years, downtown Muskogee is the sameplace it’s always been — only vastly different.
Personalized care focus at VAMCBy Anita RedingPhoenix Staff Writer
Many projects have beencompleted the last 10 yearsand more are planned at theJack C. Montgomery VAMedical Center, but the di-rector said personalizedcare will remain a major fo-cus.
Director James R. Floydis responsible for the overalloperations of the medicalcenter, but he said he enjoysgoing out in the hallways,and spending “one-on-onetime” with veterans andtheir families.
“You learn so much aboutthem,” he said, as he findsout where they are from andhelps them get to their des-tination in the hospital.
He also said he also en-joys establishing long-termrelationships with the veter-ans.
Significant accomplish-ments during the past 10years include:
• 2004 — Added an addi-tional 81 parking spaces.
• 2006 — Officiallychanged the name of the fa-cility to the Jack C. Mont-gomery Veterans AffairsMedical Center in honor ofWorld War II veteran andMedal of Honor recipientJack C. Montgomery.
• 2007 —Opened anew Inpa-tient Rehabil-itation Unit;establishedprostheticsservice;opened an op-tical shop for veterans andemployees; established theOperation Enduring Free-dom/Operation Iraqi Free-dom Program to coordinatethe care of veterans whoserved in Afghanistan andIraq.
• 2008 — Opened a trau-matic brain injury(TBI)/Polytrauma Supportclinic.
• 2009 — Opened an out-patient clinic in Vinita totreat veterans who live inMayes, Craig, Ottawa,Nowata and Rogers coun-ties.
• 2011 — Established theVeterans TransportationService for veterans withspecial needs and thosewithout transportation toand from outpatient ap-pointments; completed a
$3.2 million renovation ofthe surgery suit; completeda new parking lot thatadded 87 parking spaces.
• 2012 — Implementedfree valet parking to veter-ans 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-day through Friday.
• 2013 — Installed solarpanels in three parking lotsand over the hospital’s atri-um; celebrated 90th an-niversary; was recognizedas a top performer on keyhealth care quality meas-ures for 2012 by The JointCommission, an independ-ent panel that accredits andcertifies health care organ-izations; began using fiveZenex disinfection systems,which work by pulsingzenon, an inert gas, twice asecond at high intensity inan ultraviolet flashlamp; in-stalled 18 self-serviceVetLink kiosks, which allowveterans to check in for ap-pointments, view upcomingappointments, update per-sonal information, review
insurance information andcheck their account bal-ances; began offering on-sitemagnetic resonance imag-ing (MRI) services.
Several projects are be-ing planned and are eitherin the design phase or theconstruction phase, saidAmanda Riggs, chief of engi-neering service.
A full facility stand-bygeneratorwill benefitthe medicalcenter andthe commu-nity, Riggssaid.
“This isjust to contin-ue supporting our medicalcenter in the event of a ma-jor disaster,” she said.
The generator wouldmake it possible for themedical center to continueoperating.
A storm shelter for pa-tients and employees in thefive small cottages acrossthe street from the medicalcenter also are beingplanned.
Another project is a park-ing garage which will go outfor design this year.
“We have been request-ing funding for it for sever-al years and just got fundsfor the design,” Riggs said.
A security and surveil-lance package will be goingout for design this year.With the package, the hospi-tal will be “bringing up ourcurrent equipment to a bet-ter technological standard,”Riggs said.
Other projects plannedinclude an employee park-ing garage and renovationof inpatient wards. Both willbe designed this year.
During the next 10 years,the medical center will con-tinue to keep up with the“changing initiatives ofhealth care, in our perspec-tive veterans health care inparticular,” and Riggs’ de-partment will support thoseinitiatives, she said.
Floyd said he is lookingforward to the challenge ofbuilding and remodeling theinfrastructure to adapt tonew technology and main-
taining the historical signif-icance of the facility duringthe next 10 years.
Another 100,000 squarefeet is needed at the medicalcenter, and the staff is look-ing at projects to add onspace, he said.
Maintaining the histori-cal appearance of the out-side of the building is im-portant, he said. “It hasmemories for a lot of fami-lies who come here.”
One of the major goals forthe staff during the next 10years is for the medical cen-ter to be a highly efficientfacility, operating with aslittle operating expense aspossible, in order to use theavailable money for the pa-tients, he said.
To help prepare for thefuture, the medical centernow has a full-time planner.This will “position us tohave a master plan for thecampus ... facilitate betterdecision making in the fu-ture,” Floyd said.
SERVICES OFFERED:In-patient and out-patienthealth services for ap-proximately 38,000 en-rolled veterans. In additionto the main facility inMuskogee, services areoffered at three communi-ty-based outpatient clinicsin Tulsa, Hartshorne andVinita.
NUMBER OF EM-PLOYEES: 1,200.
KEY PERSONNEL:James R. Floyd, director;Richard L. Crockett, asso-ciate medical center direc-tor; Dr. Thomas D.Schneider, chief of staff;Bonnie Pierce, MSN, RN,associate director of Pa-tient Care Services.
PHONE: (918) 577-3000, (888) 397-8387.
WEBSITE:www.muskogee.va.gov
Staff photo by Anita Reding
Billie Waltz, a registered nurse, takes the blood pressure of veteran Donald Caffey of Keota. Waltz is a member of the Patient Alignment Cen-ter Team at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center. Caffey served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Army.
By Cathy SpauldingPhoenix Staff Writer
Hilldale Public Schoolsofficials are working tomaintain the same steadygrowth the district has ex-perienced over the past 10years.
They also seek to keep upwith changes in technologyand academic demands.
Assistant Superinten-dent Faye Garrison hasseen such changes. Tenyears ago, as principal atHilldale Upper and Lowerelementary schools, Garri-son faced crowded class-rooms and a change fromhalf-day to full-day kinder-garten. A successful bondissue solved that problemwith additional kinder-
garten classrooms and oth-er improvements in 2005,she said.
“We have controlled ourgrowth,” Garrison said,adding that the district haskept a firm grip on trans-fers.
A $7.4 million bond issuepassed in 2013 helps Hill-dale keep up with growth.
Framework has begun on
a new band room, whichcontractors say could bedone by the start of the2014-15 school year. Dirtwork has begun on newkitchens and cafeterias foreach campus. The bandroom and cafeterias alsowill feature safe rooms toprotect students from se-
Staff photo by Cathy Spaulding
Hilldale School Superintendent Dr. Kaylin Coody discusses school progress at a recent community forum. Suchforums help the district plan for the future.
Fort Gibson had other firsts, such as the first telephone, first drama theater, first steamboat land ing, first school for the blind, first highway to Fort Smith, the first interurban, which connected Fort Gibson to Muskogee, and one of the first post offices.
Discover Fort Gibson Oklahoma’s Old e st Town
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vere weather, said Superin-tendent Dr. Kaylin Coody.
The bond issue also fundsadditional classrooms at themiddle school, and parkinglot and traffic flow improve-ments at the elementaryschool.
Hilldale also has seenchanges in technology, Gar-rison said.
“We are working towardone-on-one computers,” shesaid, referring to programsin which each student has alaptop or tablet computer.
“A couple of classes al-ready are doing this,” Gar-rison said.
Hilldale schools are pro-gressing in other ways.
“I’m very proud of ourstaff and our students,”Coody said. “We really haveput a push on attendance. Iam so proud to say our ele-mentary school, first semes-ter, had nearly 100 studentswith perfect attendance.When you think about the
weather we had and the ill-nesses we had, I thinkthat’s pretty amazing.”
In January, Hilldale Mid-dle School was named aState School of Characterfor 2014, after receivinghonorable mention in 2013.
“Bottom line is are weteaching our students totake care of each other treateach other with dignity andrespect,” Coody said.
Officials are planning forcontinued growth over thenext 10 years.
“Our kindergarten class-es are jam-packed; they arefull to the gills,” Coody said.“Our ninth grade class is ahuge class, the biggest onein the district.”
Garrison said she antici-pates eventually needing abond issue for more ele-mentary classrooms, maybeeven a whole new elemen-tary.
Hilldale relies on par-ents, teachers and taxpay-ers to help chart its coursefor the future.
Coody has encouragedsuch input through severalcommunity forums and on-line surveys. The forums
not only include school up-dates and concerns, they al-low patrons to share theirdesires and ideas.
“It’s an opportunity forpeople to express and com-municate their concerns,”Coody said after one forumheld in late January. “Wewill use this information toguide us,” Coody said.“Some of their ideas arewonderful ideas, but wewon’t be able to use them.
But, it definitely helps ushave long-term planning.”
Garrison said she ex-pects continued improve-ments in technology overthe next 10 years.
“If we had a money tree,I see definite growth inbuildings and one-on-onetechnology.”
Workers fill a hopper with Quikrete as they work on aband room addition at Hilldale Middle School and HighSchool. It is part of a $7.4 million bond issue voters ap-proved last March.
By Cathy SpauldingPhoenix Staff Writer
After 10 years, downtownMuskogee is the same place
it’s always been — onlyvastly different.
Gone are the buildingsthat once housed the Bully
Good Saddle Shop andKress Department Store.The old Hunts DepartmentStore is on its way toward
demolition.Yet, residents living in
the historic Manhattan,Surety and Doyal Blandbuildings can see what’s go-ing on downtown. TheManhattan and Suretybuildings, both built before1920, and the Doyal Blandbuilding have been convert-ed into apartments over thepast 10 years.
The Severs Block Build-ing on Broadway saw new
life after be-ing destroyedby a fire in2006.Ground floortenants nowinclude theRustic Ele-
gance shop and Dolce FromHead 2 Toe salon.
Michael Davis, owner ofSquare Deal Music, 212 W.Broadway, has watched thechanges in downtownMuskogee. He said he seesone example across thestreet from the store in theYou’ve Got to be Junkingand Working Art Studio. Hecited Studio Broadway, abusiness offering classes inacting and film-making, as
Traffic flows past signs of change in downtown Muskogee. The Surety Building, home of the former McEntee and Sons Jewelers has been converted into senior apart-ments while the former Hunts Department Store is under demolition.
Downtown sees big changes
Davis
(See DOWNTOWN, Page 13)
another example.“People are ready to help
downtown and to see it re-vitalize,” Davis said. “I’dlove to see more improve-ment.”
Downtown MuskogeeInc. guided much of down-town’s development andpreservation since 2008.The organization is part ofOklahoma’s Main StreetProgram, a state agencydedicated to building busi-ness and preserving histo-ry in the heart of citiesacross the state. Muskogeewasted little time gettingits program going.
In 2011, the OklahomaMain Street Center recog-nized Downtown MuskogeeInc., for getting at least $5million in private and pub-lic money invested intodowntown projects in onlythree years since it beganin 2008.
Lisa Susanne has beenexecutive director of Down-town Muskogee Inc. sinceAugust. She said she’sworking with a new board
with new officers.“We are poised now to be
taking more of a leadershiprole in downtown preserva-tion and revitalization,” Su-sanne said. “By definition,that’s the whole reason theMain Street program wascreated.”
Susanne said preserva-tion “enhances the flavor ofa community.”
Pat Curtis, owner ofRicketts Piano Sales, 407W. Broadway, said he hasenjoyed the downtown lo-cation.
“This is old town,” Curtissaid. “Rent is reasonable.We’ve been at this locationsince who knows when.”
Several restaurants, barsand cafes — includingMax’s Garage, 112 N. MainSt., Pisano’s Pizza , 102 N.Second St., and Sweet-n-Sassy Baking, 126 S. MainSt. — beckon people to eatand unwind.
Downtown Muskogee al-ready is a job hub, Susannesaid.
“Several thousand peo-ple a day work here,” Su-sanne said, listing the VARegional Office and Musko-gee Public Schools amonglarger employers.
Susanne said that 10
years from now, “we expectto be a very different land-scape.”
The Action in Muskogeeinitiative will help reachthis goal, she said.
“A centerpiece of the AIMprogram is downtownpreservation, book-endedby the new Martin LutherKing Center and the newMuskogee Little Theatre,”she said.
Encouraging more peo-ple to live downtown is an-other goal, Susanne said.
“We must look beyondlow-income senior housing,”she said. “We need to ap-peal to a demographic thatwants to live downtownthat has access to restau-rants and entertainment
here.”Downtown Muskogee
Inc. is poised to help theAIM initiative make thegoal come true, Susannesaid.
“We have a new staff andnew board members inplace, a fresh set of peopleat the helm,” she said. “Wehave a fresh, enthusiasticgroup of people.”
Traffic on Broadway passes the big windows of Dolce From Head 2 Toe salon as Ashley McGlothlin cuts Chris Emler’s hair. The salon is one of the key tenants of thehistoric Severs Block Building, a historic downtown Muskogee building restored in the past 10 years.
DowntownContinued from Page 12
The historic Surety Building has been converted into apartments.
The entrance to Ricketts Piano Sales shows evidence of a former clothing store.Downtown preserves much of its retail history, even as other businesses come in.
Davis Field Airport hasbeen providing service tothe Muskogee area since1942.
It originated as a mili-tary airport to provideground air support, and to-day it serves a multitudeof purposes.
“On any given day themission of the airport maychange and take on otherresponsibilities along withthe flying mission,” saidGarry Lynn, Davis FieldAirport manager.
The airport’s capabilitiesinclude handling airline-size aircraft as well asheavy air traffic. In 2013,Davis Field was used for avariety of city and privatefunctions.
“The airport has acted asa forward operating basefor the Oklahoma State
Emergency Managementfolks as well as FederalEmergency Managemententities during the icestorm in early December,”Lynn said.
The city of Muskogeeowns Davis Field Airport.Lynn said they frequentlyreceive corporate and gen-eral aviation aircraft thatconduct business with thecity.
Davis Field also providesa shelter for private air-craft. A private hangarpark is available for clientsto lease property from thecity and build a largerhangar to house their air-craft.
“It is very important thatbusinesses can visit theirassets in a timely manner,and having an airport thatcan handle corporate jetsor other business aircraft isa plus,” Lynn said.
The airport often works
with ambulatory medicalpatients that arrive anddepart by air.
Flight instruction is alsoavailable at the airportfrom Davis Field Aviation.
The airport is used as ahost to a squadron of theCivil Air Patrol. The patrolparticipates in search-and-rescue missions.
Five people are em-ployed at the fixed base op-eration, and one full-timecity employee manages theairport. The airport staffoffer many services, in-cluding maintenance,avionics and fuel for avia-tion customers.
“The city has a T-hangarcomplex that will shelter34 small general aviationaircraft,” Lynn said.
New additions and proj-ects have been in theworks during the past yearat the airport.
A new terminal has
opened as of late July forcustomer use. Upgradedtaxiway lighting will serveas visual approach aids.
“The airport staff is inthe process of closing out anearly $2.3 million taxi-way rehabilitation rejuve-nating a 50-plus-year-oldtaxiway system,” Lynnsaid.
Safety is a top priorityfor the staff at Davis Field.Renovations are being con-structed to keep guestssafe and happy for returnvisits.
“Staff is working withengineers to do some ma-jor repairs to the second-ary runway in 2014-2015and then a rejuvenationproject for the primaryrunway in 2016-2017,”Lynn said.
Global Positioning Sys-tems, or GPS, approachesare now available to fourrunways making it easier
to find the airport in se-vere weather conditions.
Military remains firmlyrooted in Davis Field Air-port.
“A $23 million ArmedForces Reserve Center hasbeen built on airport prop-erty that the city ofMuskogee has deeded tothe Oklahoma MilitaryDepartment which reflectsthe City of Muskogee’slong-time commitment tothe military,” Lynn said.
In the next five to 10years the staff would liketo provide a flight school.
“Our hope is to try tolure aviation businesses tothe airport and developsome of the 1,600 acresthat makes up the proper-ty,” Lynn said.
The future of DavisField Airport continues tobe a positive moving force.Lynn said the main goalis to keep it active.
“As the ever-shrinkingmonies are available tosmaller airports, activityis the key to continuedfunding sources that areso important to the air-ports continued opera-tion.”
Roger Kimball screws a panel back in place after performing maintenance on a plane at the Davis Field Airport. The airport offers maintenance and fuel to planes flyingin and out of Muskogee.
Airfield key for business, military
Muskogee Phoenix Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014 Page 16
NURSING NURSING NURSING HOMES HOMES HOMES
Caring for others... Caring for others... Caring for others...
Caring for others... Caring for others... Caring for others...
