January 22, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Serving | | S@ Western Oklahoma iuya} Since 1901 Wednesday, Ji 22, 202 Weekday Edition Commissioners approve Paper publishing new fingerprinting system days change In an effort to improve internal efficiencies and to serve for police department readers, advertisers and community more effectively, The Elk City News started delivering the paper to readers on publishing dates of Wednesday and Saturday beginning last week. By Don Munsch, Editor an original set of inked impressions for the agency’s arrest Nothing will change about the paper as far as content The Elk City Police Department will employ a new pro- file. That made each arresting agency acquire three sets of and coverage. Readers can expect the same level of focus cess for taking fingerprints that will be easier, faster and rolled inked impressions for each person arrested by that and emphasis on news that matters to them and the com- more accurate. agency, Holland’s info said. At last week’s Elk City City Commission meeting, on Jan. The process was cumbersome, as in order to acquire munity. 15, commissioners approved a 10 print and palm print Live those prints the officer would use a “very messy tube of ink Upon newspapers’ arrival to our office on Tuesday and Scan devise, software and equipment from iTouch Biomet- smeared atop a glass top where the arrestee’s fingers would Friday from the printer, The News still will deliver the pa- rics. The purchase was for $22,000. be rolled into the inked surface,” and then the officer would per to local stores and businesses that day for purchase. “With the number of people that we have to process either place the finger on the paper fingerprint card, and roll it from. Thank you for your understanding as we make the tran- for crimes or for work — people have to have fingerprints for side to side, on three different fingerprint cards. sition to new publication dates of Wednesday and Saturday work — this will speed up the process for us,” City Manager “Tt took as long for the arrestee to clean the ink off their and for your continued support of The News. Lee Litterell said in an interview Thursday. hands as it did the officer taking the fingerprints,” Holland The police department had been using the ink-and-roll said. The only modernization to the technique occurred with methods, going all the way back to when the police depart- the creation of an ink pad being used instead of a tube of ink Icicles cling to the ment opened its door in the early 1900s, police Chief Eddie being spread over the glass surface. bottom of this pe- Holland said in information sent to The News. Because of how fingerprints were processed by the system destrian sign Friday Holland’s information stated that former FBI director J. in place, agencies such as the FBI and state bureau of inves- afternoon at Ackley Edgar Hoover mandated that all police agencies making ar- tigation could reject the prints if they were not done proper- Park West near Elk rests had to finger print “each and every person arrested and ly, and they could be hampered by uncooperative arrestees. City Elementary for that agency to mail an original inked set of prints to the “As a result of all these factors coming together most School. Icy weather FBI and the state criminal investigative division. The main rolled ink fingerprint cards were rejected by the FBI or lead- delayed the start of purpose of these cards was to positively identify arrestees ing state investigative agency as not usable for identification school this past Fri- and maintain a fingerprint repository and criminal history of purposes,” Holland’s information stated. “As computers day, but The Weather that arrestee.” came along and began assisting in finger print identifica Channel forecast In addition, the originating arrest agency also maintained See Commission page 2. calls for the tempera- ture to be in the 50s ‘this Friday after be- Author encourages ig in the 40s for the first part of the week. young people in Staff photo by Don Munsch. their writing By Manda Smith, Contributing writer Moccasin workshop Roy Deering said books can have an impact on a reader that can last a lifetime, Deering, an author, father and teacher from Ada, visited to be held beginning Elk City Carnegie Library last week. The native Oklahoman had a great deal to say about read- in early February ing, writing and national parks, with national parks being a setting for his second book. A series of books will be based By Don Munsch, Editor there. People interested in learning about Cheyenne culture and Deering spoke passionately about how the books we read shoe craft can take part in a project to make moccasins at as children influence our lives and connect the generations. Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Cheyenne be- “T like people to love books and appreciate them,” he said ginning in early February. at his library visit. “Books have an impact on us. It’s not The park will lead a make-and-take project in which par- the story; usually, it’s what happens when you’re reading it. ticipants create their own beaded moccasins. This workshop What’s going on when you're reading it, or who read it to is designed to provide participants the opportunity to learn you. Great books stay with you for life.” a traditional skill over a period of several months and re- Roy Deering. Photo by Manda Smith. He offered encouraging words for young writers to not member the "clash of cultures that culminated at the Battle See Author page 2. of the Washita," according to a news release from the park. The first class will be from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the park. Kevin Mohr, chief of interpretation at the park, said the park Business, Baptist Village to hold blood drives worked with Southwestern Oklahoma State University and had a craft workshop in 2016, and people who came to the By Don Munsch, Editor Friends began with the title of “The One ...’ ” followed by a events at SWOSU in Weatherford and at the park wanted to With January being National Blood Donor Month, a local situation that occurred on the show. do more and have more in-depth workshops. assisted care home and business are doing their part to help “Some of our friends and neighbors are facing another “We decided, well, heck, why not make moccasins? They with blood supplies by holding blood drives next week. year of difficult and life-threatening health challenges,” said seem to be very popular,” he said. Oklahoma Blood Institute will hold a blood drive with John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Texas Blood So the park again collaborated with SWOSU to do three Northfork Electric Cooperative on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. Institute, in a news release from OBI. “We invite you to moccasin-making workshops at three different sites, and 30. Look for the Bloodmobile at 18920 East 1170 Road in make a resolution in 2020 to give blood or platelets on a there were four sessions at each site. This started in 2017 Sayre. Each blood donor will receive a free, limited edition, regular basis to ensure that the right blood is available for and ended in 2018. And because of the demand and logistics long-sleeved T-shirt. patients at the right time.” involved in the putting on the workshops, the park decided The next day, on Jan. 31, Baptist Village of Elk City will Blood recipients have the opportunity to send a message to do the classes again and applied for a National Park Ser- be the site of a blood drive, also coordinated through OBI. of appreciation to their individual blood donor, anonymous- vice grant. The park received the grant and another work- The drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone wanting ly, through Oklahoma Blood Institute’s Thank the Donor™ shop will be held. to schedule an appointment should call Melena McGlone program, the release stated. Through the project, people will learn about the Washita at 580-821-1331. Donors will receive a “Friends”-themed OBI’s release stated that every two seconds, someone attack, moccasins and the culture of the Cheyenne, Mohr T-shirt. “Friends” is the former NBC sitcom that aired from needs blood, and the supply must be constantly renewed. said. 1994 to 2004. Donors will receive a shirt with the mes- One blood donation can save up to three patients’ lives. If “Moccasins are very indicative of tribal cultures of the sage “The One Where They All Donated.” Episodes of the See Blood drive page 2. See Workshop page 2 Weather r Vol. 118, No. 6 Mail delivery View online . ill!Int tau Ml. tomorrow \ / 28 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com