The Okeene Hospital staff would like for you to join us in celebrating 60 years of service at a come-and-go cookout at the Okeene Community Building from 11-1 on Friday, July 1st, 2011. Hot dogs, lemonade and cookies will be served. Don’t forget to stop in and register for a door prize! 

Where we came from to where we are today, a short history of the Okeene Municipal Hospital:

Medical services have been available in Okeene since 1915 when the first brick hospital was built. Since then the hospital has not only changed owners but locations multiple times with the current facility opening its doors on July 22, 1951. It consisted of 21 beds at a cost of $220,000.00 and was built by the town, community and federal funds. The board at the time was Ottis Goforth, Joe Naylor, Edgar Ellis, Ed Luetkemeyer, Harry Geis and E.F. Oblander.

The North wing of the hospital contained offices and rooms for three doctors and one dentist. The doctors at that time were; R.C. Tavlvin, C.H.Williams, K. Godfrey and dentist J. Murdock. The east wing had 2 isolation rooms with the remaining being private and semi-private rooms. The West wing contained the Lab, X-ray, Emergency room, Surgery and Central supply. The South wing was the O.B. rooms, nursery and kitchen. The basement contained storage and the laundry.

June 16, 1955 a preceptor program started and continues to this day with great success. Dr. B. Dotter joined the staff in 1961 and Dr. Lagan came on staff in 1965, the same year the hospital added a portable heart monitor and a new X-ray machine.

On January 26, 1969 a new wing was added with a four bed ICU equipped with monitors and an oscilloscope at the nurses’ station. The new wing contained 24 beds and the X-ray, Lab, lobby and clinic were also enlarged. The town also purchased the Schallmo facility with 50 beds to be used as extended care and nursing home.

In 1974 a new addition was added to the clinic to accommodate four doctors and Dr. Fred Winters opened practice in dentistry and is still seeing patients today.

In 1991 the OB and delivery wing renovation was completed.

In 2007 a $7.5 million dollar renovation and expansion project was completed making the current hospital a 17 bed critical access facility that currently employs over 80 professionals and 5 M.D.’s and one Physician Assistant.

None of the building or renovation projects would have been possible had it not been for the overwhelming support and love of the Okeene community. The hospital mission statement reads: “We are committed to serving those who entrust their lives and the lives of those they love with all of the compassion and dedication that we would expect to receive ourselves. We believe our first responsibility is to provide the absolute best care to the men, women, and children who are in need of health services. We accept all people equally, regardless of financial, racial, or social standing.”   It is a statement that all hospital employees can be proud of,  knowing that for 60 years, they HAVE provided the Absolute Best Care to you, our friends, neighbors, family — our community!!

Congratulations, Okeene Municipal Hospital on 60 years of success, you continue to  be one of the largest employers in Okeene, we are truly blessed to live in a community with such a facility!

       The McCall’s say they have never worked so hard or been so happy….in fact, they went out and made it official a couple weeks ago…they “sealed the deal”  and got married.  CONGRATs, Richard and Donna!  OCC would like to thank the folks in Okeene who have been so supportive and patient and they look forward to many years in our great community. 

       Please join us as we celebrate OCC being our Business of the Month at the Open House Thursday, June 23 from 5-7pm where you will find great specials and T-Shirt give-aways.

 Mr. & Mrs. Karbs move back to the OKC for about 3 years while he worked in the Village @ Cassidy Square until they made their way back to Okeene in 1970. 

 The old Kampus Korner was thriving and Ron /started the Razor’s Edge Barber Shop there & cut hair there until it burned down in 1986; it was then that he moved to his current establishment at 120 E Oklahoma. 

Ron & Sue raised their 2 children, Randy and Ronda (Jinkens) in the Okeene schools. 

After 50 years of cutting hair, 41 of it in Okeene, Ron is not ready to retire yet; he says he will cut hair as long as he’s able, especially since a few years ago he started having 3-day weekends, now Ron has plenty of time to fish and watch his OU Football games.

Razor’s Edge is open Monday-Thursday 7:30-5:30

 Please join us for our Business of the Month Open House this Thursday, May 26 from 3:30-5:30

Dobrinski chevrolet began in October 1983 when Jim Dobrinski, along with partners Buck and Jamie Nease, bought the Chevrolet business from former dealer Trigg Snyder.  Jim was joined by brother Mike in May 1985 when he graduated from Oklahoma State University.  The brothers expanded their business to Kngfisher in 1988 by purchasing the Chevrolet-Oldsmobile business from Joe Haller.  They added Buick and Pontiac in the late 90′s and witnessed the birth and death of the GEO franchise as well as the demise of Oldsmobile in December 2000.

After the 9/11 attacks, the automotive industry led in the rebuilding of American confidence with teh “Keep America Rolling” campaign which made interest-free financing an everyday expectation fro the average new car buyer.  With business volumes growing, the need for new efficient facilities was addressed in teh spring of 2005 with the froundbreaking of new locaions in both Okeene and Kingfisher.

The businesses and both communities suffered a tragic loss in October 2005 with the death of Jim Dobrinski.  With overwhelming support of employees and customers, the new dealership homes were completed in Okeene in January 2006 and in Kingfisher the following May.  Overcoming adversity was necessary once again with th market collapse in the fall of 2008 which eventually led to the bankruptcy of General Motors and the end of Pontiac alsong with Saturn, Hummer and Saab.

With a slowly improving economy led by agriculture and the petroleum industry, Dobrinski’s of Kingfisher and Okeene are back to full employement of 21 and 15, respectively, including Jim’s daughter, megan and husband Mitch Graham in Okeene and Ali’s husband Kirk milligan in Kingfisher.  General Motors granted a GMC franchise to Mike in July 2010 to add to Cevrolet-Buick in Kingfisher.

Both Mike and Nancy are please to continue the family business in their hometown and look forward to serving Okeene and Northwest Oklahoma for many years to come.

 In 1902, the bank was nationalized as the First National Bank of Okeene with H.C. Boardman as president and J.C. Fisher as cashier.

In September 1908 it was changed to its present name of State Guaranty Bank to take advantage of the new Oklahoma State Guaranty Law.

In 1909 State Guaranty Bank and Farmers & Merchants of Okeene (organized in 1903) merged. Later in 1914 O.E. Durham and associates purchased the Boardman interest in the bank.

The Citizens State Bank of Okeene was organized in 1901 where Otto Graalman was elected Assistant Cashier in 1905. In 1927 The Citizens State Bank was merged with State Guaranty Bank into the first 25 feet of its present bank building. O.E. Durham was President and Otto Graalman Vice President. The bank continued to grow and by 1985 had acquired another 75 feet north and the remaining block to the west.

After the death of O.E. Durham, James Durham became President of the bank in 1975 bringing many new innovations such as computerization to banking in Western Oklahoma. Mary Lou Durham was named Assistant Vice President in 1981, becoming Vice President and Secretary until her death in 2007.

Otto Graalman served as a Vice President, a director and Honorary Vice Chairman of the Board until his death in 1982. At that time, Robert Graalman, Jr. was elected as a director of State Guaranty Bank.

In March of 2004 James Sublett was named President and Kenneth Westfahl Executive Vice President. James Durham was named President and Director Emeritus of the bank.

Today, State Guaranty Bank remains locally owned and managed by the Durham and Graalman families who are committed to provide friendly, efficient and sound banking services to the Okeene and surrounding communities.

The SGB Open House will be held January 21

Today, after 10 years in business, the Okeene dog biscuit manufacturer produces 10 pallets of treats every hour and has grown to employ 107 people. It ships over 300 different items all over the world under an assortment of brand names.

Mountain Country Foods ships an average of 5 truckloads of product out every day. The plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

Dixon and partner Doug Ford of Utah decided to build the factory in Okeene because it is in the heart of the wheat belt of the United States. Wheat is the primary ingredient used in making dog biscuits.

Mountain Country Foods used 15 loads of wheat from the Okeene Mill just last week and will purchase more than 500 loads of wheat annually. MCF has grown to be one of the Mill’s biggest customers.

 Another reason the plant was built in Okeene was that Dixon wanted to bring his family back to Oklahoma, and he knew Okeene would be a business-friendly community in which to build and operate a factory.

To celebrate its 10^th anniversary, Mountain Country Foods is taking its employees and their guests on a cruise in December.

MCF would like to thank all its business partners in Okeene, and, especially, the City of Okeene for all the help provided over the past 10 years.

1942      Mary Cook (Cotner)

1943      Doris Westfahl (Dean)

1944      Betty Ann Flamming (Holbrook)

1945      Norma Jo Thomas (Pavey)

1946      Helen Rae Westfahl

1947    Wilma Westfahl (Marcoax)

1948    Mary Agnes Pekarek (Nault)

1949    Donna June Smith-  El Reno

1950    Barbara Bixler -  Waynoka

1951    Reelma Jeanne Hawkins— Dover

1952    Joan Dixon- Canton

1953    Bonnie LeGate (Fountain)

1954    Kay Camp

1955    June Cravens (Noble)

1956    Judy Gorman (Bell)

1957    Cindy Wheeler- Watonga

1958    Kay York (Sproul)- Hennessey

1959    Charlene Heffel (Brown)

1960    Pat Carter-Waukomis

1961    Sandra Greer -Watonga

1962    Cheryl Semrad (Hassman)-Waukomis               ^{Miss Oklahoma 1963}

1963    Janis Hoffman (Hudson)

1964    Rose Ann Haffey (Woodman)

1965    Peggy White (Tampkins)

1966    Cindy Bode (White)

1967    Jane White (Spencer)

1968    Mary Jac Schwartz (Rauh)

1969    Denice Westfahl (Haworth)

1970    Janel Haffey (Buchanan)

1971    Connie Scheffler (Warren)

1972    Jan Williams (Ausberger)

1973     Dale Bierig (Douglas)

1974   Tammy Irwin (Beam)

1975    Karen Westfahl (Cox)

1976    Connie Dobrinski (Williams)

1977    Linda Bruster (Young)

1978    Tammy London (Nault)

1979    Pam Bierig (Cosby)

1980    Tammy Smith (Ballard)

1981    Traci Lamle

1982    Penny Dixon (Earl)

1983    Anita Bruster (Cosby)

1984    Carol Wright (Bovee)

1985    Jenese Pfaff (Glover)

1986    Becki Boeckman (Kershner)

1987    Felicia Nusz (Reasnor)

1988    Lori Geis

1989    Niki Nusz (Lipps)

1990    Rhonda Tucker

1991    Tina Dungan (Rackley)

1992    Terri Fisher (Busch)

1993    Laci Osmus (Strickler)

1994    Shalla Droke (Terrell)

1995    Joelle Parrot

1996    Amie Schwartz (Hood)

1997    Ali Dobrinski (Milligan)

1998    Amber Windle (Hills)

1999    Jolene Geis

2000    Carissa Patzkowsky

2001    Bambi Root (Knopp)

2002    Lauren Outhier

2003    Kim Brown (Miller)

2004    Kylie Dixon

2005    Ali Nault

2006    Meghan Dixon

2007    Whitney Day

2008    Jill Boeckman

2009   Jessica Parrish

If you have contact info for these individuals, please forward the info to the
Okeene Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 704, Okeene, OK  73763 or okchamber @pldi.net

Queen’s Name_____________________________________

Maiden Name _____________________________________

Mailing Address ___________________________________

Phone __________________________________ 

E-mail __________________________________

 Any other information you have to pass along?

All events located at Okeene High School

Friday, August 13

 7:30—12:00    Fair Exhibits Entered……….…………..(Gym)

11am-1:30pm   Concessions………..…………….(Gym Lobby)

 Saturday, August 14

9:00 a.m. Wheat Walk/Run……………..……….(OHS Track)

10:00 a.m.      Whea Esta exhibits and booths open..(Gym)
                              Baby Pageant check-in
 10:30 a.m.       Baby Pageant………………….……… .….(Gym)
11am—1:30 pm  Concessions………..………….(Gym Lobby)
4:30 p.m.        People’s Choice BBQ Tasting.(N. of Cafeteria)
5:30 p.m.        Indian Taco Dinner………………….(Cafeteria)
7:00 p.m.        Award Program………..…….….(Auditorium)   
                             Queen Pageant……………….….(Auditorium

Children 0-36 months of age are eligible to strut their stuff in the baby pageant.

 Three places will be awarded in each age group:

0-12 months, 13-24 months, and 25-36 months.

The babies will be judged by a panel of three judges.

No pageant dresses please. Sunday best, party attire, or a favorite play outfit are all good choices.

 Parents are welcome to assist the infants and toddlers across the stage if needed.

Please pre-register your child before August 10th by calling Carrie Luckie at 822-5243.

(This will decrease the amount of time the babies and siblings spend waiting; making it more enjoyable for them and the parents!!)

 The Baby Pageant, hosted by the Child Study Club, will take place at 10:30am August 14^th.  Board your little darlings decked for the ship deck, whether they arrive in their travel attire, Bermudas or swimsuit, this is one contest sure to make you giggle as they jiggle!  Grandmas, we have opened this up so your out-of-town grandchildren can participate.  Registration starts at 10:00am but the best thing to do is to call Carrie Luckie at 822-5243 to pre-register, this will decrease the amount of time the babies and siblings spend waiting; making it more enjoyable for them and the rest of us!!!