July 30, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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ews Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Weekday Editi Veteran teachers bring experience to Elk City, Merritt Dat». Rudi Nix begins her teaching career this year at Elk ee | City Elementary School. She went to Elk City schools and is a graduate of Elk City High School. Staff photo by Don Munsch. New teachers ready av for school year SeeS By Don Munsch, Editor Veteran teachers Kenzie Gifford, left, and Amy Murphy begin their first year at Elk City Elementary School this Elk City and Merritt school districts go back to school year. Both of them will teach second grade. Staff photo by Don Munsch. on different weeks in August, but new teachers in both By Don Munsch, Editor row and taught fifth grade in Midland, Texas, for a year. districts are equally enthusiastic about the coming year. Courtland Awbrey knew she wanted to be a She did her student teaching in Broken Arrow. She came Seven teachers shared their stories with The News teacher from a young age, and even played a back to Elk City after having her baby to be closer to family. about their new schools. Four experienced and three game that revealed her interest in that career. ia § honestly wanted to be a teach- brand-new teachers described their thoughts on what Awbrey will teach third grade at Elk City Elemen- er since I was 5 _ years old,” she — said. drew them to teaching, their teaching styles and the im- tary School, while her colleagues Amy Murphy and While other kids played house, she played teacher. pact they want to leave. Elk City begins classes on Aug. Kenzie Gifford will teach second grade at Elk City El- “T acted like I was a teacher and taught my friends 15, while Merritt schools begin a week earlier, on Aug.8. ementary School. Pam McCown will teach English or my toys or whatever it was,” she said. “I had First-year teacher Rudi Nix begins her career this year classes and some other subjects at Merritt High School. a few really good teachers that really made me at Elk City Elementary School. James Pruitt and Kay- All of them bring veteran experience to their schools. know that that was exactly what I wanted to do.” la Hawkins will begin their careers at Merritt High An Elk City native, Awbrey graduated from Elk City ECHS AP English teacher Cindy Wood and history teacher School and Merritt Elementary School, respectively. High School in 2013 and graduated from Oklahoma State Kevin Black were those teachers, who have both retired. Aw Nix graduated from Elk City High School in 2015 University in 2016. She taught third grade in Broken Ar- See Veteran teachers page 2. See New teachers page 12. Retailers gear up for tax-free weekend Aspen will offer 25 percent off on ev- Lori Weatherly, owner of The Vogue Bou- ery thingin the store - on top of the tax tique, which sells women’s clothing, shoes J : : break - and will have sales racks. The and accessories and children’s shoes, said store sells such as items as shoes, back- tax-free weekend is busy time for her store. backs and purses in addition to clothes. See Tax free page 2. S is New Elk City School District Athletic Trainer Joseph Leven sits in his office at the Pio- SY y neer Center in Elk City \ Wednesday. Leven is _ the first on-staff full- April Osborne, manager of Carousel Connection in Elk City, left, looks time trainer for the dis- through some clothes at her store, while Courtland Awbrey, left, employee, trict. Staff photo by Wil- and Lori Weatherly, owner, of The Vogue Boutique, also look at some inven- liam B. Carroll. tory in their store. Tax-free weekend runs Friday through Sunday. Staff photos by Don Munsch. By Don Munsch, Editor fers clothing for older kids, such as teens. Tax-free weekend maynotbringtheshoppers “Baby shower gifts are [popular],” she to stores the way a Black Friday might, but it said. “And once school’s in, we sell a lot still spurs large sales, Elk City retailers said. of the sports T-shirts for different schools.” On tax-free weekend, shoppers may buy Elk City schools get The store will have a $5 rack with items such as shoes and clothing under $100. T-shirts for different area schools. and receive the tax-free benefit. A list of items “With the economy slowing down, it’s just eligible for exemption on tax-free weekend getting slower, but it used to be really big,” can be found here: https://www.ok.gov/tax/ documents/Pages%20from%20Chapter%20 65% 20Sales%20and%20Use%20Tax.pdf she said about tax-free weekend. She said the period before Easter used to be the store’s biggest shopping time. Still, tax-free week- first full-time trainer Retailers on Main Street gladly receive the end will prompt a lot of customers to drop in. By William B. Carroll, Sports Editor The district recently hired Joseph Leven to crowds coming this weekend, when the tax- Travis Moran, manager of Aspen cloth- For some time, it has been a goal of the fill the role of full-time athletic trainer. Leven free period runs from Friday through Sun- ing store at 101 N. Main, said people who athletic department at the Elk City School will also teach anatomy and physiology anda day. Some stores will be open on Sunday. drop in on tax-free weekend can help them- District to have an on-staff full-time care and prevention class at the high school. April Osborne, manager at Carousel Con- selves to free coffee, water and soft drinks. athletic trainer for the district’s numer- According to recently retired athletic direc- nection, said her store will have sales “While they last,’ Moran said. ous sports offerings. Beginning this fall, tor Bill Weatherly, having a full-time athlet- this weekend. The store specializes in The day is big for business, but that goal will be realized with the hir- ic trainer forthe district has been a long-time baby and children’s clothing but also of- it’s not as large as Black Friday. ing of the district’ first full-time trainer. See Trainer page 2. nu IN ill WMI Weather ’ / 74 Vol. 117, No. 61 Mail delivery View online . sorslsagesel , tomorrow 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com