December 27, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 18

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Western Oklahoma ya Since 1901 x Friday, December 27, 2019 nd Edition ODOT urges caution on roadways By Don Munsch Editor Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials remind drivers to practice caution as the holiday travel continues through this weekend and into next week with New Year’s Day on Wednesday. Motorists should expect little to some precipitation through the next few days, according to The Weather Channel forecast. There is an 80 percent chance of light rain today and a 50 percent chance of showers Saturday, but rain chances de- crease after those days with mostly partly cloudy to some sunny skies for the next days. The only precipitation chance will be 10 percent, which comes on Wednesday, according to a Weather Channel forecast. New Year’s Day calls for mostly sunny skies with a high temperature of 52. ODOT officials said daily traffic advisories can be found on www.odot.org and by following @OKDOT on Twitter and Facebook. For turnpike information, contact the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority at 405-425-3600 or visit www.pikepass. com. Here are ODOT’s 12 Travel Days of Safety Tips: . Buckle up. PRON ANRWNE . Don’t text and drive. . Use the left lane only for passing safely. |. Move over for flashing lights. . Plan routes before - KnowB4UGo. . Use the ODOT app for online travel tools. '. Winterize your car now. . Designate a driver; donit drink and drive. |. Share the road, allow merging. 10. Slowdown in work zones and obey speed limits. 11. Set aside distractions; drive alert. from the new bridge on Highway6 in Elk City. Motorists can expect mostly clear weather 12. Make sure everyone is buckled up and car seats are se- after Saturday. Staff photo by Don Munsch. cure. Farmrail president to fill board seat Judy Petry, president and general man- and industry officials, the release stated. member carriers. ager of Farmrail System, Inc., has been She joined Farmrail six years after “The territory and traffic mix are vastly named by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy founding in 1981 as its system expanded different in the 49th state,i Petry said in to fill a vacancy on the seven-member beyond the original 80-mile Weather- the release. iBut the principles and dis- board of the state-owned Alaska Rail- ford-Erick line acquired from bankruptcy ciplines of railroading are the same ev- road, which operates freight and passen- by Oklahoma Department of Transporta- erywhere. I look forward to providing ger services over 482 miles ofline as that tion to restore service, the release stated. management guidance to a critical public stateis only rail carrier, according to a re- Petry advanced from accountant to asset that is a unique transportation life- lease from Farmrail. controller and was promoted to her pres- line.” Petry, who lives in Elk City, becomes ent leadership post in 2014, later accom- This added out-of-state responsibility the sole experienced rail executive on the panied by a three-year term as chair of will involve quarterly board meetings board, bringing a 32-year history of pro- the American Short Line and Regional and as-needed teleconferencing, the re- fessional relationships with government Railroad Association, representing 468 lease stated. Signature gathering for petition seeking to end certain sentence Personal banker enhancements to begin By Darla Slipke The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City ple impacted by the criminal justice system. retires after 38 years By Neva Pyatt e If supporters collect nearly 178,000 Personal banker Sandy OKLAHOMA CITY - A sentencing valid signatures within a 90-day win- Posey retired last week from reform group can begin collecting sig- dow that ends at 5 p.m. on March 26, First National Bank in Elk natures Thursday for a constitutional the measure will be put to a statewide City, having spent nearly ballot initiative that would prohibit the vote in 2020. It would appear on the four decades at the bank. A use of prior felony convictions to en- ballot as State Question 805. The ballot retirement party was thrown hance sentences in nonviolent cases. initiative would ask voters to add a new in her honor. It also would allow people who are article to the Oklahoma constitution. She started working at in prison for felony sentences that were Supporters of the initiative argue that First National Bank in Elk enhanced based on one or more former Oklahoma has an incarceration crisis City in 1977 and continued felony convictions and whose sentences that’s driven in large part by the use of to work there for the next are greater than the current maximum extreme prison sentences. 12 years. After those dozen sentence that can be imposed on a per- “People accused of crime in Oklaho- years, she quit and went to son convicted of the same felony with ma can have years, decades or even life work for one of her friends no former felony convictions to seek a in prison stacked on top of their sen- as a secretary for the next sentence modification in court. tence if they’ve ever been convicted of four years, but Posey re- The change would not apply to people a crime in the past,” said Kris Steele, turned to the bank in 1993, who have been convicted of a violent executive director of Oklahomans for giving her a total of 38 years felony. Criminal Justice Reform. “These sen- at First National Bank. A violent felony is defined as any fel- tence enhancements can be applied at “After retirement, my ony offense that’s listed in Section 571 the complete discretion of prosecutors.” plans include spending more of Title 57 of state statutes as of Jan. In Oklahoma, people spend near- time with kids, grandkids 1, 2020. That section of state law lists ly 70% longer in prison for property and friends as well as a new 52 crimes that are classified as violent. crimes and 79% longer for drug crimes grandbaby coming in Febru- ing. Thereis such a Christian like sisters and brothers. Domestic violence crimes are not in- than the national average, Steele said, ary which will be our 11th atmosphere here, which is Itis a place where we share cluded on the list. referencing a report by FWD.us, a bi- grandchild,” she said. “I made possible by Sandy our cares and our prayers. The initiative petition was filed by partisan political organization. He said will miss the people here as Werner, the CEO, and David I will not only miss my co- Oklahomans for Sentencing Reform, those long sentences weaken families, they are like second family. Atkinson, the president.” workers, butI have a special a coalition that includes business and communities and the workforce and While it is a work place, it She added, “I have co- bond with many of my cus- faith leaders, elected officials and peo- is a place for family gather- See Signature page 5. workers here that are more tomers.” UNE Weather tomorrow 3/38 Vol. 117, No. 102 75 cents, 14 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com