New brand honors Oklahoma baseball legend Mickey Mantle, emphasizes team affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers

Oklahoma City’s Triple-A baseball team officials tonight revealed the team’s new name and brand, the Oklahoma City Comets, during an unveiling ceremony at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The OKC Comets name pays homage to Oklahoma baseball legend Mickey Mantle, whose nickname was “the Commerce Comet.” The brand’s light blue and red colors and logo, with a baseball shooting through the sky like a comet, honor the team’s long-time affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“We wanted our new name and brand to be something that reflects Oklahoma’s rich baseball history and our affiliation with the Dodgers but is also uniquely ours and embraces the future of our city and state,” said Oklahoma City Comets President/General Manager Michael Byrnes. “Mickey Mantle-the Commerce Comet-is an iconic baseball figure for our state, our city, our team and our ballpark. In addition, the OKC Comets name and different marks that display images of space suggest a look toward the future and enables us to have a bit of fun bringing our new identity to life for our fans.”
Byrnes said the local community and key stakeholders played a significant role in selecting the new name. Over the past two years, team officials hosted focus groups with members of the community and reviewed the high volume of feedback received from fans via social media and email submissions.
“We appreciate our community of fans who provided input into the new name and brand and who have supported this team throughout the years-since 1962,” Byrnes said. “Our commitment is to continue to provide the same fun, family-friendly game day experience our fans have come to expect-now with new signage, new uniforms and mascots.”
The team remains the Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A affiliate through at least 2030 under the current Professional Development League license, featuring players one step away from Major League Baseball for years to come.
Work is underway to replace signage, uniforms and other graphics with the OKC Comets brand, which will greet fans when the new season begins in April 2025. Fans who want to get a jump-start on displaying the new brand can purchase OKC Comets merchandise online or at the Team Store, located on the west side of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Season memberships for 2025 are currently available for purchase.

Protecting, Building Generational Wealth With Heart

Certified Real Estate Planner, helps families achieve financial goals with expertise through real estate planning.

Story by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Matt Neill has a heart for helping people build, protect, and transfer generational wealth through real estate investments for which they’ve worked hard. Neill does this as an Oklahoma Certified Real Estate Planner.
“What we do is help families and individuals build, protect, and transfer generational wealth,” said Neill, a Realtor with Keller Williams Central Oklahoma. “We aim to help people come up with a comprehensive plan.”
Neill explained that developing a comprehensive plan is like a chair. “A chair has four legs,’’ he said. “If you’re developing a comprehensive plan, you generally have a financial planner, a CPA, and a trust or estate attorney. What those three things don’t do is specialize in real estate. Real estate planning would be the fourth leg that really makes it solid because we are going to have a perspective different from all of those, as well as complementary to them. We’ll work with them to develop a comprehensive plan-like what they have with their liquid assets held by their financial planner.”
Neill said each client may have a different plan for their property going forward. “When you have multiple investment properties, you think about legacy and you could be blessing your family and extended family,” he said. “And you may be in a situation where your family is very well taken care of and you have different goals that you’d like to achieve in life-that may be donating to a charity that you like, such as a scientific organization.”
Neill said with charitable gifts there are options. “There are vehicles out there called Charitable Remainder Trusts, or CRTs, that if people want to pass a portion of their wealth to those organizations, they can do that-the key is they have to be aware of it,” he said.
Neill said tax shelters are another option. “There is a product out there called the Delaware Statutory Trust, which is a real estate product,” he said. “It still has the tax shelter of the 1031 exchange, so it will grow and appreciate like real estate, and provides monthly income and benefits of depreciation without the burden of rentals.”
Neill said there are other products out there to consider when reviewing your real estate plan. “There is a product called a HECM mortgage, which is basically an FHA reverse mortgage, which can allow you to use funds from your current paid off property to potentially purchase investment properties and create income streams that can help fund some of that life that you desire,” he said. “There are options out there. It’s about finding out what the client truly desires. That’s really our goal here.”
Neill said he offers other real estate planning services. “We help people in trying times when people pass away with trust sales and sometimes unfortunate probate sales,” he said. “We help investors eliminate capital gains taxes and help seniors downsize and find a more appropriate living environment.”
Neill said sometimes people aren’t sure what to do, where to go, and how to get there. “We solve all their problems with a complete solution. We have some resources that can help them age in place, so they can enjoy their real estate longer,” he said. “It’s about what the client needs are and where they want to go, and how do we meet those goals together with other resources that I have connections with to give them a really comprehensive plan.”
Neill became a Certified Real Estate Planner through a special program done by Keller Williams.
It is a 12-month training program with 5 specialized certifications:
1. Senior Relocation Services (SRS)
2. 1031 Exchage (1031X)
3. Delaware Statutory Trust (DST)
4. Trust Sales
5. Probate Sales
Keller Williams Certified Real Estate Planner (REP) unlocked upon completion of all 5 modules and comprehensive exam. Knowledge checks each month.
Neill has also earned his Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) through the National Association of Realtors.
He will have an information table at the Second Half Expo which will be held Saturday, October 19th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St. in Oklahoma City.
The Expo is tailored to people in the “second half” of their lives who are looking to connect with the resources needed to live the way that they have always imagined.
“Have you ever wondered to yourself, ‘How can I make my home better so that we can age in place safely?’ There is a company called, Age with Intention that looks at that exact thing. We will be giving away a free one-hour in-home assessment to help someone to enjoy their home longer, or “age-in-place” from that company, so be sure to stop by our booth at the Second Half Expo,” he said.
Neill said as a Christian, he has a desire to serve others.
“I’m a Christian, and I do believe Jesus calls us to serve. And that’s really where my heart to serve comes from,” he said. “What I want to do is give people options so they can make the best choices for themselves. And so that was why I got into it. I was like “I need to get in front of people I don’t know, that don’t know me, that I know I can serve, because I’m going to have a heart for them. I’m going to listen to what they want to do and find the best way to accomplish those goals.”
Neill said his journey through real estate has been rewarding and enjoyable. “I will tell you it’s an adventure because every client is different. Real estate is exciting. Every home sale is different. How we get it ready, the people involved in the sale, what their goals are, all those are different,” he said. “And for me, that’s fun, because it provides variety and challenges, and it really gives me a sense of accomplishment when it’s done right and done well.”

For more information call Matt Neill on his mobile (405)757-9980, at his office (405)330-2626, or email him at: mattneill@kw.com.

By Marise Boehs

George M. Sutton Wilderness Park
Norman • 225 N. Webster Ave
This 1.4 mile loop is a popular area for birding, fishing, and hiking. Located in the city of Norman, it is a popular spot for runners, dog walkers and others out for some fresh air and exercise. It has numerous benches and rest areas. You may see small mammals such as rabbits, skunks, opossums, and squirrels, as well as birds and waterfowl.

It is open during the day only. Bring your own water and snacks as none are available in the park area. Dogs on a leash are acceptable. Bike riding is prohibited

Martin Park Nature Center
OKC • 5000 W. Memorial Rd
The OKC Parks and Rec website says this is “more than just a park, a hub for nature exploration and education for visitors of all ages. Guided hikes, education programs and an interactive learning center provide visitors a place to learn about nature and wildlife in a serene, suburban environment”.

But if you just want to take a nice nature hike this is the place. I walked about 2 miles and didn’t come close to covering all the trails. I had to keep reminding myself I was, in fact, in  NW Oklahoma City. Although I heard no cars or sirens or trains.
Just don’t go on Monday or Tuesday as the park is closed. The rest of the week it is open 7am-8pm.

M.E. Copelin Nature Trail
Yukon • 2200 S Holly Ave (in City Park)

While this little nature trail is part of the City Park in Yukon it is nonetheless a beautiful little trail. It is very peaceful and quiet, not very long and can easily be worked in with a walk of the park’s concrete paths. Find it tucked away in the vicinity of the Holly Trail.

If you have a favorite park you would like to see highlighted let me know.
For more photos and details of the trails in this article, check out my blog at www.mariseboehs.com/blog.

Story by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

The State Capital Publishing Museum will host its annual fundraiser, A Night for the Museum, on Thursday Oct. 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the museum located at 301 West Harrison Avenue in Guthrie.
This year’s event will honor former Oklahoma Senator AJ Griffin Ph.D., who was instrumental in passing legislation allowing the museum to acquire the historic building it is working to restore and refurbish.
This year’s fundraising goal is just over $200,000.
Guests can enjoy an open bar courtesy of The Wander Inn, while taking in a live performance by Jazz Hall of Fame artist Justin Echols on the piano. The event will also include a special Whiskey Pull, where attendees can donate for the chance to pull a bottle of whiskey, with selections ranging in value from $50 to several hundred dollars.
The evening will feature both live and silent auctions, hosted by Bray Auctioneers. Items up for bid include vacation packages, service packages from local businesses, gift baskets, and one-of-a-kind items. Proceeds from the event will go toward the ongoing restoration efforts of the museum.
Additionally, a live demonstration of antique printing equipment will occur, offering guests a unique glimpse into the rich history of the publishing industry.
“This event gets better every year, and this year will set a new high bar,” said Kord Stockwell, president of the State Capital Publishing Museum Board. “We have a lot of progress to be proud of, and the community support is what’s making that possible. Come join us and see what’s happening.”
The State Capital Publishing Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was in the State Capital Publishing Museum on Nov. 16, 1907, that President Theodore Roosevelt sent a teletyped message congratulating Oklahoma Indian Territory for becoming the 46th state in the Union.
Today, the museum’s board is actively repairing, restoring and preserving the facility and its artifacts, with the goal of educating the public on Oklahoma’s history through the printing industry.
By the mid 1970’s the building was in a sad state of repair. Local citizens, concerned that the structure might be lost to history, began a movement toward preservation. They raised money to purchase it from the private owner, who deeded it to the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce, who then donated it to the Oklahoma Historical Society to be used as a museum.
OHS began the enormous task of preserving the building. After rehabilitating most of the first two floors, the building was opened as a museum in 1982. No effort was made to rehabilitate the top two floors due to funding issues. The roof was replaced in 2003, which finally stopped further water damage to the top floors, but the existing damage is extensive. It was always a “three-season” museum. The only climate control was an antiquated boiler system, feeding old-fashioned radiators, as the building has never had a modern HVAC system. In 2012 the boiler broke down and was deemed irreparable. The building was closed in 2012.
After some shifting in state government, the State of Oklahoma almost forced OHS to sell the building to a developer with plans to convert the building into affordable senior housing by using low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC). Fearing that much of the rich history of the building would be lost forever, concerned citizens from all over the state of Oklahoma began a concerted effort to stop the conversion. A coalition of private citizens, City Council, the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce and others successfully negotiated a deal which allowed the current owner (/dba The State Capital Publishing Museum) to take title to the property, along with the historical contents, on June 27, 2018.
As part of that deal, The State Capital Publishing Museum has committed to spend a minimum of $262,000 towards repairing, preserving and restoring the building by June 27, 2023. This amount was agreed upon based on two assessments of the building’s current worth. That “initial” investment of $262,000 represents a fraction of what it will take to completely restore and renovate the building.
“We’re rehabilitating the building that we’re in,” said Sam Sims, secretary of the State Capital Publishing Museum Board. “We’ve done our best to keep it up, and we just need to keep going on it so that we can open it up to the public. We want to make sure that the facility itself is in working order, and we want to make sure that some of that printing equipment is brought back to working order, as well. It’s a piece of Oklahoma history, and we don’t want to let it go. We’re in it for the long haul.”
Tickets for A Night for the Museum are available for purchase at https://publishingmuseum.org, with prices starting at $100. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

At the September 19, 2024 Champions of Health Gala, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, RSVP of Central Oklahoma, Inc., was honored to receive the 2024 Champion of Senior Health Award.
RSVP of Central Oklahoma, Inc., is an AmeriCorps Seniors program dedicated to improving the lives of adults age 55+ in Oklahoma County by connecting them with meaningful and rewarding community volunteer opportunities, and by fostering a culture of equity and unity based in service throughout the region and beyond.
“We are honored to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the Champion of Senior Health Award,” said Laura McRaniels, Executive Director of RSVP of Central Oklahoma, Inc. “Since 1973, RSVP has helped foster a sense of purpose, has built connections, and has provided an array of opportunities for retired and senior adults in central Oklahoma to employ their strengths, expertise, and interests in service to others, which in turn lifts up the entire community. Research has shown that volunteering has significant positive health outcomes, both for volunteers and for those receiving services. We are grateful to be able to work with such diverse, talented, and caring people to meet a wide range of needs in the community, and also for the support of AmeriCorps, United Way of Central Oklahoma, and our nonprofit community partners.”
Each year, Champions of Health recognizes and celebrates organizations and people working to improve health outcomes and equity throughout Oklahoma, with the senior health category specifically honoring innovative programs and inspiring people who are meeting the needs of older adults and equipping them to lead better, healthier lives.

Stay Active and Engaged: Senior Programs with the Metropolitan Library System
The Metropolitan Library System offers senior citizens a range of convenient services. From audiobooks on CDs, Playaway devices and eAudiobooks via hoopla and Libby, to assistive listening systems at Capitol Hill Library, there’s something for everyone. All branches are fully accessible, with ramps, parking and elevators at key locations like Belle Isle and Downtown. Seniors 65+ can also enjoy the Library By Mail program, delivering materials right to their doorstep. The library also offers large print versions of books. Service animals are welcome, and adult changing rooms are available at Belle Isle and Downtown. Sign up for a library card today and learn more at metrolibrary.org. Plus, stay engaged with these events at your local library.
Stay Active & Independent for Life (SAIL)
A program designed to increase muscle strength, range of motion and improve daily living activities, including chair exercises.
• Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 at 10 a.m. at Choctaw Library
• Oct. 7 at 2:30 p.m., Oct. 9, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 at 2 p.m. at Northwest Library
S.A.L.T. Council (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together)
Learn about the latest crimes and scams targeting seniors and how to protect yourself! This program is part of TRIAD, a collaborative effort between the sheriff’s office, local police departments and senior citizens to reduce and prevent crimes against seniors.
• Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. at Warr Acres Library
Tai Chi
Let’s get stronger together! Tai Chi improves balance, strengthens muscles and builds confidence to prevent falls. This low-impact, dance-like exercise can be done almost anywhere. Registration required; space is limited.
• Oct. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17 at 10 a.m. at Belle Isle Library
• Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 at 1 p.m. at Choctaw Library
Total Wellness
A free program by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department to help adults prevent diabetes and heart disease through weight loss and increased activity.
• Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 at 5:15 p.m. at Midwest City Library
• Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 at 5:15 p.m. at Northwest Library
• Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 9:30 a.m. at Del City Library
• Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 4:30 p.m. at Almonte Library
Alzheimer’s Support Group
The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group provides a supportive community for caregivers, offering comfort, practical advice and a safe space to share experiences.
• Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. at Bethany Library

Dear Savvy Senior, I recently turned 65 and would like to know if am supposed to get the pneumonia vaccine? And if so, which type of vaccine do I need and is it covered by Medicare? Relatively Healthy

Dear Relatively,
Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does indeed recommend the “pneumococcal vaccines” for pneumonia for adults age 65 and older. They’re also recommended for younger people with long-term health issues or weak immune systems, as well as children under 5 and people who smoke.
Pneumonia, which can happen anytime – not just during the cold months – can be a serious and even life-threatening condition. Each year, pneumonia causes a whopping 1.5 million people to visit medical emergency departments in the U.S. and causes roughly 50,000 deaths.
A recent study found that the use of pneumonia vaccines is associated with a 24 percent decreased risk of death, but vaccination rates aren’t that high. Around 67 percent of adults over the age of 65 are vaccinated against pneumonia, and just 24 percent of younger people (19-64 years old) at risk for pneumonia are vaccinated. The main reasons for this are because many people are unsure whether they need the vaccine, while others aren’t even aware a vaccine exists.
Types of Vaccines
There are three different vaccines available, some more appropriate for certain people than others. They are the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine PPSV23 (Pneumovax23), the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) and PCV20 (Prevnar 20). The numbers indicate how many strains, or serotypes, of streptococcus pneumoniae are included in the vaccine.
So, which vaccine should you get?
If you’ve never been vaccinated for pneumonia, the newer PCV20 is the top choice – it covers the 20 most common serotypes now.
If that vaccine is not available in your area, you can get the PCV15 vaccine, followed one year later by PPSV23.
If you had the earlier PCV13 (but not PCV15), or the PPSV23 at or after age 65, you’re likely eligible to get the PCV20 for increased protection.
But because of the different possibilities, you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the most effective option for you.
Side effects of these vaccines tend to be mild, but may include feeling achy and tired as well as redness, swelling and soreness where the injection was given.
You’ll also be happy to know that Medicare Part B covers both single dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots, and you only need to get it once. Unlike the flu shot, which is given annually.
Most local pharmacies and community health clinics offer pneumococcal vaccines, but you may want to call ahead just to be sure.
For more information, visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage at https://www.CDC.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/index.html.
Other Vaccines
To avoid getting pneumonia as a consequence of a viral infection, you should also consider getting a flu shot, RSV shot and a Covid-19 booster in the fall.
While vaccines cannot prevent every case of pneumonia (or other conditions they’re given for), those who get them usually have milder infections, a shorter course of illness and fewer serious complications than people who don’t get vaccinated.
The flu shot and Covid booster are both covered by Medicare Part B, while the RSV vaccine (which is recommended every other year) is covered under Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans. All three shots can also be given simultaneously.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit https://savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Oklahoma Highlights the Benefits of Employing Older

Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services, a franchise with over 125 franchise partners across more than 35 states and international markets, has grown rapidly in recent years by building a workforce of talented caregivers – most of whom are seniors themselves – who create meaningful relationships with their senior care clients. In celebration of National Employ Older Workers Week, which ran September 22-28, Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Oklahoma recognizes the contribution of older workers to the workforce and encourages more employers to consider them for employment.
The United States is undergoing a demographic shift, with older Americans staying in the workforce longer and contributing valuable skills, experience and commitment. National Employ Older Workers Week aims to increase awareness of this growing labor segment and to promote the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which provides job training and employment opportunities to older Americans. Seniors Helping Seniors® services proudly supports this initiative by prioritizing the hiring of active seniors as caregivers.
“Seniors Helping Seniors® locations prioritize hiring active seniors because they bring unmatched experience, reliability and empathy to the caregiving role,” said Kevin Richardson owner of Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Oklahoma. “We encourage all companies to explore the benefits of employing older workers-just as we have seen the positive impact firsthand in our care services.”
Nearly 12 million older, disabled and chronically ill Americans rely on in-home care each year, highlighting the vital role caregivers play in providing essential support. As Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise community continues to grow nationwide, it offers rewarding career opportunities for caregivers who are passionate about helping others while serving as a valuable resource for family caregivers who may be facing burnout.
“Caregivers are the heart of our mission, playing a crucial role in the well-being of countless individuals,” said Richardson. “With nearly half of all U.S. caregivers aged 50 and older, many face their own health challenges. That’s why we prioritize hiring senior caregivers and offering robust support to safeguard their mental, physical and emotional health.”

Call 405-562-6000 or visit www.shscentralok.com to visit with Kevin or the Seniors Helping Seniors staff. You can also email help@shscentralok.com.

By Marise Boehs

With CaptionCall service and phone persons with hearing loss can read their phone conversations in big, clear text with home caption phone service. They can count on instant, accurate closed caption phone calls and can keep up with conversations and connections.

The CaptionCall phone displays large, easy-to-read text that automatically captions a conversation. It dials, rings, and work just like a regular phone.

There is no cost for service or phone and delivery, installation, training and support are complimentary. The phone is hearing aid friendly and has bluetooth connectivity. Features include speakerphone, answering machine and custom audio

While the “no cost” aspect of this service often leads to skepticism, Lezley Bell, Senior Account Manager for CaptionCall by Sorenson, explains, “This is a federally funded program that is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We have had a tax on all our phone bills, nationwide, every month since 1990.”

No-Cost Closed Caption Phone Service

You decide how you want to use CaptionCall: customize it to your liking and try out all the features or simply pick up the phone and talk. It works like any other phone except the CaptionCall phone that comes with your service has a large interactive screen so you can turn on phone call captioning and read the text of your conversation in real time.

The phone is designed  to be technologically advanced on the inside and simple on the outside. You’ll be comfortably enjoying captioned calls right away, whether you choose our Red Carpet Service installation by one of our trainers or if you or a loved one follow our guided setup.

There’s no cost for people with hearing loss who need captions to use the phone. If you qualify for CaptionCall, you can also get our mobile captioning app, CaptionCall Mobile

How does CaptionCall work?

CaptionCall works just like any other phone call, except you don’t have to struggle to hear it. Your phone calls are transformed into text and displayed on the big, auto-scrolling screen as the person’s talking.

What are the qualifications to receive a CaptionCall phone?

Anyone who qualifies for the CaptionCall service will receive a CaptionCall phone to access their call captioning. To qualify for CaptionCall, you must have hearing loss that necessitates the use of captioned telephone service. You must complete an easy self-certification process and provide other mandatory registration information.

As part of the qualification process, Bell explained, “An applicant must verbally say yes I understand this phone is only for people with hearing loss that need captions for their phone calls.”

Does using CaptionCall impact my phone services?

No. CaptionCall works seamlessly with services from your provider, including call waiting, call forwarding, voicemail, and caller ID.

By Nick Thomas

It’s been 14 years since 85-year-old screen legend Tony Curtis died at his Nevada home on Sept. 29, 2010. The much-loved actor left behind a body of work that included over 150 television and movie roles in such classics as “The Defiant Ones,” “Some Like it Hot,” and “The Sweet Smell of Success.” Curtis remarried for the last time in 1998 and his new bride, Jill Vandenberg, was some 40 years his junior. The pair became inseparable, traveling the world together. But back in Nevada, the couple founded Shiloh, a horse rescue ranch.
“I was horrified to learn that tens of thousands of unwanted American horses are slaughtered each year for human consumption in Asia and Europe,” Jill told me in 2006 when I met her and Tony on their ranch. “I realized I could do more to help horses.”
“We were driving in the car one evening and Jilly told me she wanted to save some of those horses,” Tony recalled to me. “I told her let’s go do it!”
They did, and the couple soon acquired 40 acres of desert outside Las Vegas, eventually transforming the barren area into a nurturing ranch where hundreds of horses were saved. I still recall Curtis’s joy when I asked him to comment on the success of the Shiloh sanctuary: “It picks up my spirits to see the good work done there,” was his reply.
Today, Jill Curtis is now Jill Curtis-Weber after marrying Todd Weber three years after Tony died. The couple met at a country and western club in Vegas and were married six months later. After selling the Nevada ranch and her Las Vegas home, they moved to Deadwood, South Dakota, often romanticized as the heart of the American West with history steeped in gold rushes, outlaws, and frontier legends such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
“We both loved the history of the Old West and began traveling around selling our horseshoe art,” said Jill, when I met up with her recently at her shop in the heart of downtown Deadwood. “When we came here we loved it and decided to stay.”
Along with her husband and mother, Sally, the trio run “The Lucky Horse Co.,” a thriving Western-themed business specializing in decorative horseshoes and other gifts (see www.shilohhorserescue.com). Their charming little shop, an open-air wooden structure built around a living tree, is located on the main street of Deadwood. It’s filled with hundreds of Western art pieces, showcased by unique horseshoe art – beautifully painted or decorated horseshoes for wall hangings and intricate pieces welded into artistic shapes.
“We make everything here in Deadwood by hand,” said Jill. “Todd does all the welding for the horseshoes and also teaches gold panning to tourists! He built the shop around the tree and based it on an old livery stable from the late 1800’s. The profits go towards supporting Shiloh.”
With her deep passion for horses, it was a natural progression for Jill to expand into Western art. She relocated Shiloh Ranch from Nevada to Newell, about 30 minutes from Deadwood, where the ranch has rescued and rehabilitated over 700 horses since its founding. She remains grateful to her previous husband for supporting her horse rescue efforts and recognizes some similarities between Tony and Todd.
“Todd has the same sense of humor and wit, and is very intelligent and kind,” she said. “I think Tony would have liked him. Todd is very supportive of my past life and has never felt he had to live up to Tony, who had a larger-than-life personality. We were ready to start a new life, a simpler life, in this beautiful historic Old West town. Tony and I watched and really enjoyed HBO’s ‘Deadwood’ series, so I believe he would absolutely love that I now live in the town.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. See
https://www.getnickt.org.