July 30, 2019 Issue, Page 2 of 12

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Round Town August 3 Tax free Continued. Elk City Motor-Speed- “Everybody gets to takes advantage of some store- way regular show 7:30. wide sales,” Weatherly said. “We always make it fun and have a lots of great things for people to come out p-m. to see us. We take full advantage of it. We're nor- keare es oo nee mally not open on Sundays, but we open on Sunday to take full advantage of it during tax-free weekend.” August 8 Gifford Murphy Awbrey The store will be open from 1-4 Sunday and will have lots First day of school for Veteran of sales during the tax-free period. Tax-free weekend has increased back-to-school business, she said. Oklahoma law- Merritt Public School. makers passed Senate Bill 861 in 2007 that created the tax-free holiday to be held on the first weekend of August each year. teachers “It’s definitely right up there with Black Friday,” August 10 Weatherly said. “Black Friday is hard to beat; every- Elk City Motor-Speed- body’s in the mood for Christmas shopping and stuff. But way regular show 7:30 it’s definitely a fun, summer back-to-school holiday.” the last three years. The thus far in her career. In the Brittini Flowers, owner of 580 Mercantile, which sells teachers talked to The past, she taught math and p.m. News in a joint interview. clothing and a variety of other goods, said tax-free week- had different students all day “T’ve lived here and I’ve end tends to be an annual top 10 day or period for business. McCown long, so it was harder to form driven back and forth the The store and other businesses on Saturday benefited from relationships. She will have August 12 Continued. past four years,” Gifford extra foot traffic with the Sizzlin’ Summer Sidewalk Sale. said, explaining why she the same students all day brey picked elementary “This will be our third weekend open, and last year, I Teacher Appreciation long this year as she and Gif- grades to teach because high came to Elk City to teach. feel we did really well,” she said. “It’s a busy weekend like She said the school district ford will teach all subjects. Dinner. Elk City, Mer- school grades “kind of intim- idate” her, she said, laughing. is “very open minded” and McCown will teach Eng- this weekend. Lots of people out on the streets and stuff.” ritt, Canute, Hammon “I graduated college when “growth-motivated, which lish I and IV, an ACT With the block party going on this weekend, it should pull I was 21,” she said. “So I is something was some- prep course, academic team more people into the store, which will be open 1-4 Sunday. and Western Oklahoma just knew that being a young thing that was really needed and creative writing at Mer- nowadays in this society. Trainer justing tooneathletes, teacher in high school would ritt High School. This will see Leven at games tend- Christian School. be very difficult, and I just “T'm excited to work with be her 13th year in educa- games are really like the little kids. a school that is so growth- part of his role. tion and her 11th in public I feel like they are very [im- motivated,” she _ said. “The primary goal of pressionable]. I could really The teachers outlined the education. She taught two Cotninued. August 13 any trainer is the care make a difference for them.” reasons why they want- years for a non-profit adult goal of his. Weatherly ed to become teachers. and prevention of ath- Special Elections. Awbrey thinks she will ed. Her last job was teach- said in a previous interview “First, I had a teacher tell letic injuries,” he said, face a transition in teach- ing at Western Heights High that he was excited that the ing here because her last me this would be a good job School in Oklahoma City. district would have an ath- To that end, Leven will schools were in larger cities. for me and I didn’t want to letic trainer on staff and work with athletes before, August 15 believe her,” Murphy said. She married the principal, during and after games to “But I’m really excited,” that it would be of great Cliff McCown, at Burns First day of school for she said. “I’m excited to “She told me that for sev- long-term benefit to the ensure athletes maintain teach with some of the eral years in high school that Flat-Dill City High School district’s student athletes. their physical fitness. From Elk City Public Schools. people that taught me and this would be my job, and T and said it made more sense Leven, anative of Newkirk, overseeing student nutrition I think I'll learn a lot be- didn’t want to agree with her. for her to move here than it said he was extremely ex- before and after games to ing a smaller town ver- But the more that I helped cited to get the opportu- did for him to move to OKC. rehabilitation and physical sus being in a big place.” other people in my class and “We were both widowed nity, especially as a young therapy after games, Leven August 17 She said building relation- even in college, I just felt and we’re in our 60s,” said trainer fresh out of college. will be working to ensure ships with students is the like she was right and this Leven is a 2017 graduate Elk City Motor-Speed- Pam McCown, a Moore Elk City athletes remain safe. most important part of the is where I belonged, helping of Southwestern Oklaho- other people [by] teaching.” native who attended East Leven said one of his fa- way regular show 7:30 job, and has had a good ex- ma State University with a perience in her career so far. Gifford said she al- Central University. “So bachelor’s degree in athletic vorite aspects of the job is p.m. “J lean more toward ELAR ways knew she would this is a change. I own a training. Since receiving his helping athletes who have [English Language Arts and become a teacher. home in Oklahoma City bachelor’s degree, Leven suffered injuries through Reading] — that was my thing “I was the one that they and we'll be moving back has worked as a graduate rehab and seeing them get when I was in school — but pulled up front to re-teach there when we retire five assistant at SWOSU and back on the field to com- August 24 when I taught third grade in something because I thought years down the road.” recently received his Mas- pete. He said that while he Elk City Motor-Speed- Broken Arrow I kind of re- about it in a different way; ter in Education in May. never wants to see a stu- She said she has heard ally enjoyed math, because I it made sense differently Leven is no stranger to “great things about Merritt,” dent athlete get injured, he way regular show 7:30 didn’t understand math very in my head than maybe the Elk City, having served as does enjoy the opportunity well whenever I was young- way the teacher had taught and she likes the staff and a trainer last season for Elk p.m. er, so I felt like I had the it,” she said. “So I figured she looks forward to using City football. He said dur- to help them get back to top advantage of teaching them I would be good at it.” the STEM lab at the school. ing his time with the team he form following an injury. because I knew different Both teachers said the first “It’s a good opportu- got to know the players and Leven will oversee all Elk tricks and things that helped year is hardest for teachers, nity for me,” she said. coaches and knew that Elk City student athletes includ- August 30 the kids that struggled.” as the job requires forming City was a great opportunity. ing high school and junior She describes her style as 81st Annual PRCA She will teach all sub- relationships and dealing “T am really excited to high students. If that wasn’t enthusiastic and is excited jects in third grade here. with paperwork, _ profes be able to get this experi- enough, he will also be Rodeo of Champions. “Tt’s a new building, new sional development, train- about teaching at Mer- ence,” Leven said. “I re- teaching classes and helping school year, new kids,” ings and other requirements ritt. She became a teach- ally want to impact kids in with Mercy Hospital’s clinic she said. “I’m excited to the job entails. The first year er in her 30s and took a a way that they will want to on Mondays and Thursdays. August 31 get a feel of what teach- demands a lot of learning break from teaching and go and help someone else.” This summer Leven has ing in a small town is like.” the ins and outs of the trade. did other work before go- Leven was at the Pio- been busy in Oklahoma City 81st Annual PRCA Murphy comes to Elk City Classroom management ing back to the profession neer Center Wednesday from Graham, Texas, where is the most challenging as- she calls an “adventure.” inspecting the equipment working with Mercy as part Rodeo of Champions. she taught fourth-grade math. pect of the job, because “T love kids, I love teach- in the training rooms on of his new job. His official A Jacksboro, Texas, native, no one-size-fits all mod- the bottom floor of the fa- start with Elk City High she attended Midwestern el applies, Gifford said. ing, I love the subject mat- cility and making a list of School will be Aug. 6, he said. State University in Wichita “So what works to settle ter,” she said. “I get in items he will need before Leven recently __final- September 1 Falls. She has been teach- down one class might not be trouble with math teachers, the start of the school year. ized plans to relocate to 81st Annual PRCA ing for five years, all of it in the same thing that works for because I say it’s not just “One of the things I enjoy Elk City and he said and fourth grade. Her husband’s the next class,” she said, add- a core subject, it’s the core most about the job is making he and his fiancée Jenna Rodeo of Champions. job brought her to Elk City. ing that she has always had subject because you have to one-on-one connections with Eidem are planning to Gifford, an Elk City na- to tweak or add something students and being able to have English. A good writ- make Elk City their home. tive who attended SWOSU, to her strategies to calm see them grow,” Leven said. taught at Clinton for the down or refocus students. ing background, a good Leven explained that his “T think Elk City is a great September 2 last four years. She taught For Murphy, forming rela- reading background, criti- job as a trainer involves community and I am re- third grade her first year tionships has been the most cal thinking skills — all of a number of separate as- ally excited and ready to get Labor Day. and taught second grade challenging aspect of the job it you get in English class.” pects. While many will things going,” Leven said. NEAR FREE HEARING SCREENING (Git ) HEARING AID CENTERS 2900 W 3rd St. ¢ Elk City, OK 73644 AND CONSULTATION (580) 302-6130 Your time is now, call today! www.heargearok.com