About

About the Route 60 Sentinel

The Route 60 Sentinel is an online news, editorial, and humor blog for Northwest Oklahoma.  The Sentinel is entirely comprised of volunteer bloggers and citizen journalists.  Content ranges from completely serious to utterly absurd.

Featured Writers:

Mark Keefer (Primary Editor and Co-Founder):

Mark was born and raised in Northwest Oklahoma.  As a child, he watched as the T-37s and T-38s roared over head.  He smelled Champlin Refinery in all of its glory and later saw the glow in the sky from the fire.  He was nearly ran over numerous times by farmers during harvest.  He attended Tri-State back when it was more than a one hour event and the carnival wasn’t “over there by the pool hall.”  Yes, Mark is a true Northwest Oklahoman.  Fun Fact:  Mark hopes one day to be inducted into the mythical “City Fathers” club in Enid.

Tammy Wilson (Co-Founder):

Tammy Wilson grew up in Enid, graduated from Enid High School, and studied Political Science at Phillips University and Journalism and Drama at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva.  She is a paralegal for attorney Stephen Jones and was recently elected to serve as Enid’s Ward 5 City Commissioner.

Wilson has been active in Enid for several years and is a member of Leadership Greater Enid Class XVII.  She is the creator and coordinator of Enid’s Halloween festival, Scare on the Square, as well as Oklahoma’s only bacon festival, Baconalia, and co-coordinator of the Fling at the Springs music festival that takes place at Government Springs Park.  She also facilitates “I Love Enid,” the umbrella organization for these events that also provides the community with a website that lists places to go and a comprehensive calendar of things to do in Enid as well as assists other organizations with event planning and fund raising such as United Way’s 2nd Chance Dance, Enid’s Grown Up Prom.  All of these projects are not only to enhance the quality of life in Enid, but also to enhance the local economy by promoting Enid activities and businesses.  She also volunteers with the Enid Farmer’s Market.

Tammy is married to Marty Wilson, and they have four children.  She enjoys studying local history and lore and is the co-author of the book, “Ghostlahoma – Over 100 Years of Oklahoma’s Haunted History” which has proven to be a successful tourism tool for several Oklahoma communities, including Enid.

Linus Black:

Linus was born in Enid, where he lived for the first 18 years of his life. He attended SWOSU, where he earned both a bachelors degree and a Masters. Since then, he has wandered around western Oklahoma, spending time living in Weatherford, Alva, and finally Woodward.

Kristi Balden:

While writing for various blogs and websites has been something I’ve only dabbled in for the last couple of years, writing has always been a part of who I am. My family is probably more excited than I am about my new adventure here on the Route 60 Sentinel. These are the kinds of pieces that my family was forced to read because they were the only audience I had for my strange brand of meaningless humor. To know that there are even a few people out there who share my desire to smile about something stupid, is heart-warming.

Keith Ames:

Keith Ames is a freelance writer and lover of history.  He is also a political junkie who has lived in Western Oklahoma his entire life.  He hopes to one day publish novels, but for now he is looking forward to testing his craft on the Route60Sentinel.

 Sarina Houston:

Sarina comes to Enid after spending four years in the UK eating crumpets and jet-setting to Europe’s best vacation destinations. She has lived in 12 homes in six different states and two different countries. Somewhere along the way, she picked up a handsome military husband, two equally handsome little boys, a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Science, and a knack for writing. When she isn’t writing articles or flying airplanes, she can be found battling ninja warriors, racing Hot Wheels, or picking bits of dried Play-Doh out of the carpet. She can’t stop drinking coffee and will sleep any chance she gets. Sarina is chasing careers in both aviation and journalism, and like everyone else, continues to seek the ultimate life balance.

Melodie Lunday

Melodie Lunday is an Artist for Reborn Artwear, a wife, and mother of a teenaged daughter, who has spent 6 years volunteering in Enid Public Schools.

Eric Bielawski:

Eric Bielawski joins the Route 60 Sentinel a well traveled man.  A veteran of many worldly armed conflicts, Eric has spent time in Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, briefly in Canada, and finally Northern Oklahoma.  An opinionated man, Eric is not one to bite his tongue, primarily because it was cut off in a P.O.W. camp.  Seriously.  Eric lives in a small, but cozy log cabin with his trusty German Shepard, Adolph.  Eric has no wife, but has 5 kids.  Anke & Dietrich Bielawski of Berlin, Germany; Carl Bielawski of Seoul, South Korea; Phuoc Bielawski of Da Nang, Vietnam; and Eric Bielawski (Jr)-Jones of Montreal, Canada.  Eric spends his days crafting hand-carved canoes, weaponry, and reading.

Heather Meinders:

Heather has lived most of her life in Northwest Oklahoma, except for her college years, which were spent on the west coast.  She considers herself an independent, opinionated woman, and a committed professional.
In college, Heather was actively involved with several student activist organizations, including PETA, Green Peace, and Amnesty International.  She considered herself an active vegan for many years, however, that all changed once she came home to Oklahoma.  Heather now proudly eats meat on a regular basis.