Mary Shellhammer feeds her miniature horses at her home in Coyle, Okla. Saturday, June 18, 2011. Shellhammer breeds the horses to show and to sell. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman

On Saturday, I had an assignment in Stillwater that completely fell through as I was halfway up the turnpike on my way into town. It was my only assignment of the day, so I thought I might as well go ahead and take a trip to my old college town and see if I could find a picture in the way that Oklahoman photog John Clanton often does on Sundays.

I drove around for a while, but when the temperature is more than 100 degrees, there aren’t a lot of people who stay outside. So with my gas gauge drooping, I decided I had better leave town.

My last-ditch effort was to take a route that goes between Perkins to Guthrie instead of heading straight for I-35. Every time I go this way, I notice all of the mini horses and desperately want to stop.

Wendy, one of Mary Shellhammer's miniature horses, eats alone in a barn in Coyle, Okla. Saturday, June 18, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman

It would turn out to be my lucky day as I noticed a woman out and about around horses. I quickly pulled in and introduced myself to Mary Shellhammer.

After following her around for a few minutes, she invited me inside to share about her life and her love for horses.

–zachgray

 …

Jordan Perl (left) of California, and John Parkhurst of Tennessee, celebrate with recently altered signs after hearing that Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn lifted his hold on Senate Bill 1067. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Last Sunday I wrote about the activists who staged a campaign outside the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City. Their hope was to convince Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn to lift his hold on Senate Bill 1067. After camping outside the building for 11 days, the group got word on Tuesday that Coburn had lifted his hold. Activists changed their signs to read “Dr. Coburn just said yes,” and celebrated outside the building where Sen. Coburn has offices in Oklahoma City.

With Josh Parolin (left) of Los Angeles, Ca., in the foreground, James Block and LaShaye Leopold, both University of Oklahoma students, (at right) embrace as they celebrate with supporters of Senate Bill 1067 outside Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Abby Freeman, of Washington DC (left) and other supporters, get a hug from Oklahoma City resident Paul Young after he left his office downtown to celebrate with supporters of Senate Bill 1067 outside Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Young, who works downtown said he first heard of the bill after he saw people holding signs in Oklahoma City. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton…

Members of the Coburn Say Yes campaign sleep outside the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

There’s more than 50 of them. They are mostly on the north side of the building where  the wind isn’t as bad, packed into bright sleeping bags and blankets. Nobody’s moving at 7:30 a.m.  Clasps on flags ping against poles at Park and Broadway. Thirty minutes later, cell phone alarms start chirping from underneath sleeping bags, and across the street valets at the Skirvin Hotel help guests with their bags.

Abby Freeman (right) joins others in a group hug for a friend during a meeting on Sunday morning in Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Several young women from Antioch, Calif., pack their equipment into a red pickup with shoe polish on the windows. They drove for 34 hours to spend a couple of nights outside the Chase Tower in downtown Oklahoma City, but they’ve got to get back home by Monday night.  People have come from as far away as Virgina, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. and Washington state. They are a part of the Coburn Say Yes campaign. Most were inspired by a documentary called Invisible Children about a war that’s older than they are. Sen. Tom Coburn has put a hold on Senate Bill 1067. Members of this peaceful campaign say they’re not leaving Chase Tower until he lifts the hold.

Lisa Dougan hugs Jenny Le, of Antioch, Ca., who drove 34 hours to spend a few nights outside the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Tomorrow morning they’ll be up early, holding signs and greeting employees at the tower, but today is Sunday. They meet in a circle on the sidewalk; one group leaves to walk to church. Abby Freeman, a student from Washington, D.C., high-fives other students and asks if they are happy. “We’re doing it, we’re doing it. It’s going to happen,” she says of the group’s efforts to raise awareness. “These are lives that we’re changing.”

-John Clanton…

Professional Bull Rider Mike Lee listens to spiritual music during a church service at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

As church services begin, Mike Lee sits alone near the top of section 117. Below him, on the arena floor, employees tape up advertisements in anticipation of the PBR event in a few hours. Gates squeak gently before slamming shut, bulls fidget in their pins, and lights flicker on around the arena. As spiritual music continues, Mike, a professional bull rider from Decatur, Tx.,  leans back in his chair, his eyes closed. “I’m not thinking about bull riding,” he says after the service ends, “Thinking is too slow for bull riding.” Mike attends the PBR’s christian outreach, called Riding High, every week in a different arena around the country. Mike says he’s looking for something to give him peace. “You got to have your heart right when you’re on a bull.”

To see more pictures of the PBR event in Oklahoma City, click here.

-John Clanton…

Michael Avilla plays on the living room floor at his family's home in Midwest City on a recent Sunday. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

At his home in Midwest City, Michael plays with his toys in front of the television and looks up occasionally to watch a scene from Kindergarten Cop. When a neighbor comes by the house to visit, Michael backs toward him laughing, and hoping for a pat on the back or a hug.

-John Clanton…

Michael Watkins looks for customers for Terror on Tenth Street Haunted House in Oklahoma City on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Michael Watkins stood at the corner of 10th and Virginia and waited for traffic. For now, he’s wearing a deranged clown costume and holding a plastic meat cleaver. This is his first year working the Terror on Tenth Street Haunted house. After a haunted tour, I stand outside talking to the cast that inhabits the small house on weekends. They talk about scaring people so badly they’ve had punches thrown, broken windows and people running out the front door. Malinda Frisch, who volunteers with her grandson, dresses up as Nurse Ratchett and Dr. Hatchet. “This is our favorite time of the year,” she says. This is beter than staying at home. This is our family time.”

Malinda Frisch poses in her costume outside the Terror on Tenth Street Haunted House in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton…

Antonio Aguirre fulfills a promise as he and his family visit the National Shrine Infant Jesus of Prague at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Prague, Oklahoma on Sunday, August 2, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Antonio Aguirre promised he would do this. He stands in line after Mass with his daughter, Galilea, strapped into her car seat, waiting for his turn to approach the National Shrine Infant Jesus of Prague. Like other visitors to Mass at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church on Sunday, Antonio, who lives in Oklahoma City, wants a chance to touch the robes of the small Shrine. He stands at the front of the sanctuary for several minutes, bending his head close to his daughter. He gets Galilea out of her car seat and holds her up to the Shrine. A family member gently touches Galilea’s forehead and cheek with the tiny robes.

St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, located in Prague, Oklahoma, about an hour east of Oklahoma City, celebrated the 60th Anniversary of becoming a National Shrine on Sunday, August 2, 2009. There was Mass, a barbeque lunch, Novena Prayers, and outside, a small carnival with horseshoes, inflatable toys and volleyball games.

Inside the church, Antonio’s family moves aside, letting others take their turn.  We quickly find a bilingual teenager to translate for us. “He says he promised he would bring the baby when she was two weeks old.” says the teenager as Antonio speaks in Spanish. “Promised who?” I ask. Nodding toward the shrine he says, “Him.”

-John Clanton…

Ronnette Jenkins (left) and JoJo Shells ride their horses near NE 50th and Post Road in Oklahoma City on Sunday, July 26, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Ronnette Jenkins dreams of starting up her own Round-Up club. Leather boots and saddles creak together as she stops her horse in an elementary school driveway on Sunday afternoon. Ronnette has been around horses her whole life. She convinced JoJo Shells to get on one about 3 years ago, and their sons are riding too. “It’s nature,” she says, “Peace of mind. It relaxes you when you got good horses.”

-John Clanton…

Jay Miles holds his son Jay Jr., as they spend time together on the shores of Lake Hefner on Sunday, July 19, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Jay Miles relaxes on the trunk of his car under a shade tree. Behind him, sailboats take to the water at Lake Hefner. “We like the breeze. Don’t have to worry about the heat,” said Jay, who explains that the family visits shady spots at the lake almost every day. Jay and his wife Melydia talk about their car, a 1973 Impala that Jay is remodeling, about the boats, car shows in the summer, and about their young son, Jay Jr.,  who manages to crawl into the front seat as we talk.

-John Clanton…

Chad Johnson works out at Eastside Boxing in Oklahoma City on Sunday June 28, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Chad Johnson got a late start as a fighter. He trains at Eastside Boxing, a gym where trainers hope to change young people’s lives through boxing. Johnson, who works as a banker, is an amateur, but hopes someday to get 20 fights as a professional boxer. Sunday evening finds Chad alone at the gym near 36th and Lottie, working on a punching bag behind a window full of boxing trophies.

-John Clanton…