December 10, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Weekday Edition Board decides on approving new football coach By Don Munsch, Editor The Elk City Public Schools board was set to yote on approving a new varsity head football coach at its meeting Monday night, said Elk City Superintendent Rick Garri- Crews do some final pieces of work on the Highway 6 northbound lanes on the bridge over son. Interstate 40 in Elk City. The northbound lanes should be done in late December or early Janu- Because the News went to press Monday morning, we ary, according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Staff photo by Don Munsch are unable to share the news of the vote for this edition. Finish date for northbound The school district has been looking for a new coach since Elk City varsity coach Todd Beer announced his res- ignation after the season. He is in his fifth year at the school Highway 6 lanes pushed back and coached the team for two seasons, during which time the Elks were 0-20. The News will have a story on the new coach or coach- | ing situation in the Friday edition. By Don Munsch, Editor in 2015, and although they were safe for travel, they were in An Oklahoma Department of Transportation official said dire need for repair. he anticipates work lasting a few more weeks on the north- Stan Hinds, construction inspector for ODOT who is based bound Highway 6 lanes that travel over Interstate 40. in Clinton, said the delays can be attributed to weather and A diverging diamond interchange is being built for traffic days when concrete could not be placed because of the low on the bridge, and northbound lanes were expected to be temperatures. He said Thursday the forecast looked promis- finished by late November, ODOT officials said. However, ing for the next several days. ODOT now expects the completion date to be the last week “The way we're seeing it is we've got another good week of December or the first week of January. of pretty weather; after that, I can’t answer that,” Hinds said. The DDI seeks to make traffic run smoother on both sides “Looks like we’ve had a pretty mild winter so far. We’ve of the road. ODOT said on its website that the twin bridges just had a few cold days and windy days.” in Highway 6 over I-40 were deemed structurally deficient See Highway 6 page 2. Theatre group ready to give ‘Christmas’ cheer Matthew Blakeburn, State Rep. Harold Wright [District 57] talked Daniel Mildren and to the Elk City Rotary Club last week about Mark Henry star in criminal justice. Staff photo by Don Munsch. the Untitled Pop Up Theatre rendition of State representative, district “Every Christmas Story Ever Told [And discuss criminal justice Then Some!],” written by Michael Carleton, By Don Munsch, Editor James FitzGerald Criminal justice reform was on the minds of State Rep. and John K. Alvarez. Harold Wright and his daughter, District 2 District Attorney Photo Submitted. Angela Marsee, when they dropped by the Elk City Rotary Club last week. Wright also gave away prizes in the form of By Don Munsch, Editor just wants to do “A Christmas Carol” at Christmas-time, but state maps for correctly answered questions. Untitled Pop Up Theatre will perform “Every Christmas the other two actors persuade him to do more than that clas- At one point, Wright, who represents Distict 57, asked Story Ever Told [And Then Some!]” Friday through Sunday sic story from Charles Dickens. Rotarians to give their definition of criminal justice or why at the National Route 66 Museum’s Western Oklahoma His- “They call them BHCs, below holiday classics, so they society had criminal justice, with Wright hearing that two torical Society building, 2803 W. Third St. present a lot of BHCs throughout the night along with teach- purposes ofcriminal justice: the need for accountability and Tiphani Currell, UPUT director, said the show is a fast- ing about different traditions around the world and ending rehabilitation. One Rotarian said public safety served as the paced comedy that promises an evening of entertainment. with a Christmas singing of every song you can think of,” purpose of criminal justice, and she won a state map from “Tt’s not a new play, but I don’t think anybody out here has Currell said, describing the show’s plot. Wright. ever done it before,” Currell said. Something in the story will grab each audience member. “Ultimately, public safety is the primary purpose of crimi- The story centers on three people telling stories of Christ- “There’s definitely something for everybody there; you nal justice, and it’s sort of been twisted a little bit, the think- mas. The three actors use their real names: Matthew Blake- will resonate with one part of the story, at least,” Currell ing that criminal justice is justice for criminals, and that’s burn, Mark Henry and Daniel Mildren. One of the characters See Cheer page 2. See Representative page 2. DA’s office reaches settlement agreements for overpayments The office of District 2 Settlement agreements overpayment of wages, and _The release stated the Sal- involvement in this matter a 10-year period, the release District Attorney Angela have been reached with ev- that specific issue has been aries and Compensation Act, that further clarification is stated. The District 6 Dis- Marsee said in a news re- ery elected county officer submitted to the District 6 commonly referred to the needed regarding proper trict Attorney disqualified lease Thursday that it has who was overpaid, the DA’s District Attorney. “Salary Act,” is the general application of the statutory his office, and the Attorney reached settlement agree- release stated. The DA’s of- “After further review of law applicable to the salaries formula. Therefore, my sec- General appointed Marsee ments, in lieu of criminal ac- fice said $401,765.51 has al- the investigation and audit of county officers. ondary objective was to seek to oversee the matter, the tions, for recovery of wage ready been repaid to the tax- findings, my primary objec- “The investigative au- protections and protocols to release stated. Marsee was overpayments made to elect- payers of Grady County, and tive was to secure the resto- dit indicated that the Grady ensure the proper future ap- assisted by the District 21 ed Grady County officers as the remainder will be repaid ration of taxpayers’ funds as County overpayments were plication of the statutory for- indicated in an audit that oc- pursuant to payment agree- expeditiously as possible to the result of annual percent- mula, and I have requested District Attorney’s Office, curred over a 10-year period. ments or agreed judgments. ensure that those funds could age increases rather than a that the Attorney General is- the Office of the State Au- That period was from July The audit showed that be utilized for the benefit of misapplication of the statu- sue a legal opinion.” ditor and Inspector, the At- 1, 2008, to Aug. 31, 2018, three Grady County Fair- the citizens of Grady County tory formula,” Marsee said. The audit showed _tomey General's Office and for the Grady County Spe- grounds employees may and the State of Oklahoma,” “However it became appar- $727,343.03 was overpaid to the Oklahoma State Bureau cial Investigative Audit. have erroneously received Marsee said in the release. _ ent during the course of my elected county officers over _ of Investigation. mn Weather 53 / 32 Vol. 117, No. 99 Mail delivery View online r IML un ll A ll Ss tomorrow 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com