June 11, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Letter to Editer On behalf of the students, parents and faculty of Elk City High School, I wish to express appreciation to the civic clubs, churches, organizations, businesses and individuals for the generous support in providing numerous scholar- ships, awards and recognition to the graduating class of 2019. At our recent Brown and White Assembly, students received $1.6 million in scholarships contributed by the Elk City community, colleges, universities, technology centers and the military. These contributions are an inspiration to many students. Also, 32 of our seniors received Oklahoma Promise, which pays tuition at Oklahoma colleges and universities up to five years. Aspecial thanks goes to Joyce Roberts , Latia Murray, Danny Ogles, Tyler Greer, Lauren Shelton, Nan Moyer, Tiffany Shelton, Justin Ediger, Amanda Greer and Linda at Homeland for their help in making this year’s assembly a success. Sincerely, DeAnne Bell Counselor Elk City High School Gambling for faster decision, Oklahoma could win big or gain zilch Enid News & Eagle, Okla. cal industry helped fuel the defendant. Hunter’s team as- may have to reconsider their opioid crisis. Reuters reports An Oklahoman’s It’s obvious that strategic municipal and state govern- serts the company contribut- ed toa public nuisance, which strategy.” By going it alone - and not changes are needed to tackle ments sued drugmakers in memories of D-Day our state and national opioid federal court in Ohio, where could cost up to $17.5 billion over the next 30 years. joining a bigger, consolidated crisis. that judge is pushing for a J&J attorneys have said case - Hunter is gambling Oklahoma Attorney Gener- settlement before the trial the company only made two for a quicker resolution for The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City al Mike Hunter has hoped the scheduled there in October. products - both designed to Oklahoma versus winning no state could receive a sizable Paul Hanly, a lead attorney reduce the likelihood of abuse Early on June 6, 1944, Ed O’Brien and the other Army judgment to set up a settle- for plaintiffs in the Ohio liti- or diversion - comprising a additional money. Air Corps members stationed temporarily at Lincoln Army ment akin to the Oklahoma gation, told Reuters anyone tiny market share of opioids “Particularly when we're Air Field in Nebraska were called out of their quarters to Tobacco Settlement Trust. who cares about public health sold in Oklahoma over the talking about [attorneys hear a major announcement: D-Day operations had gotten ‘The high-profile opioid issues should care about the past several decades, and general], who are politicians, underway several hours earlier. trial has national implica- industry's fate in the Okla- that the drugs were regulated O’Brien, 93, of Oklahoma City, recalled that a major tions as it plays out in a homa case. It’s a big deal. and approved atthe state and who want to be able to tell the Allied offensive against the Nazis had long been expected Cleveland County courtroom. Purdue Pharma, the federal level. people, ‘Gee, this is what I’ve -- troops and equipment had been assembling in Britain for ‘The civil case is an non-jury company that produces the With hundreds of pending done for you.’ They are not months. Unknown was the exact date. trial, which means Cleveland opioid OxyContin, reached a cases, the nation is vigilantly interested in waiting two or County District Judge Thad $270 million settlement with watching Oklahoma’s strat- On D-Day -- 75 years ago Thursday -- roughly 156,000 Balkman will make a finding Hunter’s office last March. An three years [for a settlement], Allied troops (73,000 of them Americans) landed by sea and in the case, as opposed to a $85 million settlement with “This case will set a prec- they want it now,” Ausness by air at Normandy, France, which was heavily fortified by jury returning a verdict. Teva Pharmaceuticals was edent,” University of Ken- said. “Of course, the risk of German machine-gunners. “Everybody understood that this This is the firsto go to trial announced last month. tucky law professor Richard that is you may lose.” was the major turning point in the European war,” O’Brien of some 2,000 lawsuits filed Johnson & Johnson, which Ausness told National Public Oklahoma may win big said. “At the time it was announced ... there was still quite by states, local governments manufactures the opioid pill Radio. “If Oklahoma loses a question about whether they were going to be able to stay and Native American tribes Nucynta and the fentanyl - of course, they'll appeal if or gain nothing more. Stay on the beaches.” alleging the pharmaceuti- patch Duragesic, is the lone they lose - but the defendants tuned, Allied troops did stay, but they suffered aterrible toll, with more than 4,400 killed. According to the U.S. National D-Day Memorial Foundation, 2,499 Americans died in ac- tion that day on the two American beachheads, Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. One of O’Brien’s close boyhood friends, Joe Passmore, was killed on D-Day while parachuting into enemy terri- Meth continues to tory. A cousin of O’Brien, Bob Coffey of Oklahoma City, piloted a glider on D-Day and lived to tell about it, but many others weren't as fortunate. That duty “was just asking for death,” O’Brien said. “They called gliders ‘the flying cof- fins.” take toll on Oklahoma O'Brien, who enlisted in 1943, served as anose gunner The Oklahoman, Oklahoma supply them. produced meth, flooding the group Healthy Minds Initia- on a B-24 crew that flew 50 missions in Europe beginning City Oklahoma was among region with crystal meth and tive is teaming with national in the fall of 1944, about four months after D-Day. By that the national leaders in 2004 “ice.” As The Oklahoman’s time, he recalled, the German Luftwaffe had been weak- Speaking ofa continued when, in response to contin- KS, McNutt reported Sunday, consultants TriWest Group to ened considerably, which improved his crew’s chances of rise in the use of a powerful ued growth in the number of the availability and purity of produce a plan, working with surviving each mission, but even so, “I just can’t believe we drug in Oklahoma, the head meth labs across the state, it Mexican product increased of the Department of Mental approved legislation limiting the addiction problem. community members and all got through. We didn’t lose any ofthe crew.” Health and Substance Abuse the amount of tablet-form In 2015, 265 overdose state agencies. There were some close calls, however, including during a Services said people don’t cold and allergy medicines deaths in Oklahoma -- nearly raid on Innsbruck, Austria. The Germans “were well alert- realize how significant it is that could be bought at one one-third of all fatal over- ‘The program director for ed to us,” O’Brien said, and when his plane and the others -- “although they will pretty time. The tablets contain doses -- were due to meth. the Zarrow foundation notes neared Innsbruck, “the flak (ground fire) just surrounded quickly I think.” pseudoephedrine, a key in- That was 162 more than the that meth is a health problem me.... I figured we'd never get to the bomb target.” Terri White wasn’t talk- gredient in making meth. number of meth overdoses One quote attributed to Albert Einstein is, “Older men ing about opioids and other The change worked, as the just five years earlier. and a major law enforcement start wars, but younger men fight them.” How true: The old- prescription painkillers, number of meth labs plum- In 2017, 327 Oklahomans concern. est member of O’Brien’s 10-man crew was 26. The pilot was which have dominated the meted. Instead of closing as died from meth overdoses, “There’s really nothing like 23. O'Brien and two others were just 19. “I’m very proud news in recent years. White many as 100 labs per month -- making it the state’s No. 1 and very fortunate to have finished those missions,” he says. was referring to methamphet- highly dangerous work given killer. it,” she said. “We hope this On returning to the United States, O’Brien married his amine, which, she noted, “is the labs’ toxicity and flam- What can be done to curb meth plan will become a tem- sweetheart and together they raised three children in a making a massive resurgence mability -- narcotics agents the problem? In Tulsa, of- union that lasted 67 years. O’Brien spent most of his career in Oklahoma.” were closing perhaps 15 to 20 ficials hope they have an an- plate that other communities This is truly disconcerting, per year. swer. This summer they will can use and even scale up to as acivil servant, including 20 years in the public affairs and underscores the sad truth However, soon enough begin a program, funded by office at Tinker Air Force Base. that despite the best efforts there was an increase in the the Anne and Henry Zarrow become a statewide plan.” He will turn 94 next week. On Thursday, the 75th an- ofothers, addicts will always number of small, portable Foundation, that deals first Fingers crossed it works niversary of an event that changed the course of World War look for ways to get what they “shake-and-bake” labs. And, with treatment and support I and thus the world, “Of course, I'll think ofJoe and all the need and dealers will always Mexican drug cartels moved and then with prevention. and this scourge is abated, guys beside him,” O’Brien said. So should we all. try to find innovative ways to in to fill the void of locally ‘The mental health policy even alittle.