March 21, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Western Oklahoma 90 turday, March 21, 2020. Wi ceed Edition Ec Elk City businesses: Don’t forget about us Editor's note: This is the second story in a series on how fected by the economy. the coronavirus is affecting Elk City. The News is looking “Some of our products, we’ ve already gotten emails from at how various entities in our community — from the hos- our vendors stating that we expect up to six weeks in delays pital to schools to businesses, among others — are coping on some of our merchandise,” Weatherly said. This shelf has a hole where hand eer with the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of the products her store stocks that do come from normally is stocked. The United store sold Coming Wednesday: Exploring how churches are hold- China are expected to be delayed. out of the product, but had plenty of toilet ing online services now. In May, she will have owned the store for 14 years. She Paper onthat same day last week. Local For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please ac- went through a recession before, so hard times are not new. grocers are doing what they can to meet cess the websites of the World Health Organization and the “T've never seen it like this before,” she said. demand. Staff photo by Don Munsch. Centers for Disease Control at https://www.who.int/emer- For her business, during the last recession, she offset the gencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 and https://www. bad effects by picking up a jewelry line, and last time, her Area residents cope cdc. gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.himl, respectively. business did not have to compete too much with online sales. Now, The Vogue has to compete with online, a down with new normal of By Don Munsch, Editor Business leaders on Main Street in Elk Street hope peo- trend in the economy and social media impact. “We've been smart with our financial decisions and ple buy local during these trying times when the economy coronavirus is starting to feel the effects of the coronavirus. we've put stuff aside for times like this,” she said. “We hope to never have to use it, but we’re prepared in case the Merchants on Main Street talked on Friday about how worse case scenario would ever happen. You never want to By Manda Smith,Contributingwriter Sunday afternoon looked like any normal March day at they will cope with an economy that some analysts say is in experience it, though.” United Supermarket: City. a recession or will plunge into a recession, with coronavi- If people do stay home more, she will probably do more People from Elk Cityand surrounding towns shopped for tus being the catalyst. live sessions on Facebook and help promote what she can. their families. They had differentages, backgrounds and Lori Weatherly, owner of The Vogue Boutique, said she She asks people to support local merchants during this lifestyles, but they had the same thing on their minds: CO- is not seeing as many people coming through the door. She time, adding that everyone is in this together and “it’s go VID 19, commonly known as the coronavirus. said that slower traffic can be attributed to people being af- See Don’t forget page 2. City leaders won’t dictate Danny and Christy Farrell, parents from Reydon, came to shop for their family of six, after finding Sam’s in Okla- homa City mostly depleted. “We just came from Sam’s; we don’t need toilet paper,” Christy said with a laugh. “But they had hardly any canned goods.” Danny added, “It’s ridiculous, it's getting blown out of closings in Elk City - for now proportion. We aren’t doing anything different right now, just trying to practice clean hygiene.” By Don Munsch, Editor Some closures are occurring here with city-operated proper- Ricky Tarbet from Sayre did have to go search for toi- Cities across the country are requiring restaurants and bars ties until April 4. let paper, while he was working west of Odessa, Texas, to and other businesses that attract dozens of people to close in City-owned facilities to be temporarily closed until April bring home to his wife. She called him, frantically saying reaction to the spread of the coronavirus. Aare: But in Elk City, Elk City City Manager Lee Litterell said Elk City National Route 66 Museum Complex the local stores were sold out and they were almost out at the city won’t ask businesses here to close or put time con- Elk City Convention Center home. “Crazy people are cleaning the grocery stores out and straints on them. Elk City Carnegie Hall “Right now, we’re leaving it up to the business person,” he Elk City Gathering Place I don’t understand it,” Tarpet said. “It’s all crazy. I just needed a little 12 pack and I almost didn’t get that. It’s like said Tuesday. “Even though other communities are forcing Elk City Boy Scout and Girl Scout Building closures, we’re not doing so at this time.” All Baseball and Softball Fields “War of the Worlds’ out there.” ‘He seemed to echo the sentimentthat people are blowing But things could change if the immediate area suffers CO- The Elk City Carnegie Library will be closed until April VID-19 infections, as the city could then change the course 4, but the city will offer curb-side service and residents are things out of proportion, adding, “The‘flu kills a lot more people.” on recommendations, as developments can change daily. For encouraged to sign up for digital library card by logging onto now, the city asks residents to follow the Centers for Disease https://www.elkcity.com/departments/carnegie-library/. Billy and Lori Cassel of Elk City said they were living Control and Prevention guidelines on being safe during the Also, Buck’s Lodge will be closed until April 4, and the en- See New normal page 2. pandemic. trance for City Hall will be limited to the lobby only. All One event that probably will be canceled is the city’s an- transactions will take place the front glass. Elk City man nual Turkey Hunt, set for April 8-10, said Jim Mason, direc- tor of community and economic development. The city is working in conjunction with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order to protect vulnerable populations in tem- The city is working with numerous public health organi- porarily closing some city facilities and postponing certain injured in crash zations, and leaders are in constant contact and will be tak- ing direction from those organizations, a city release stated. scheduled events until April 4. See Closings page 2. By Don Munsch, Editor An Elk City man was injured in a wreck Tuesday in Washita County. Dustin Moss, 26, was transported by Sinor EMS to Alli- Adviser: Elk City must ance Health Clinton and then transported by Sinor EMS to OU Medical where he was listed in stable condition with prepare for coronavirus effects leg and head injuries, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report. Jim Soliz, 42, of Altus, the driver of the other By Don Munsch, Editor effects of the downturn in the economy for the next three vehicle, was not injured. While health experts and the Centers for Disease Control months. The wreck occurred at 8:40 a.m. on State Highway 44, and Prevention officials are advising Americans to avoid “[ think y’all as leadership need to be on the same page on about 2 miles north of Burns Flat in Washita County, OHP- crowds and stay home to combat the coronavirus spread, the this as far as your approach,” she said. said, city will have to prepare for what could happen here in the Another area will leaders also have to look at is the sick Moss’ 1994 Ford van and Soliz’s 1999 Freightliner Semi fallout of the virus’ spread. leave policy for employees, she said, and leaders should the were southbound on 44 when Soliz stopped for oncoming Meredith Meacham-Wilson, city financial adviser and cutting all discretionary spending and hold off on capital traffic to make a left turn. Moss failed to slow for Soliz and CPA from RS Meacham CPAs and Advisors in Clinton, said projects as much as possible. collided with his vehicle, OHP said. the city needs to be prepared for dealing with what’s com- “T think one thing we have to realize and remember is that The wreck was Investigated by Trooper Michael Eckhardt ing with the effects of the coronavirus spread, such as being what we're doing we have to make sure that the things we do and he was assisted by Trooper Travis Hale, the Burns Flat mindful of sales and use tax and people who can’t pay util- or don’t do don’t have a negative impact on our hospital to Fire Department, Foss Fire Department, Burns Flat EMS ity bills. Overtime will spike in public safety sectors, such where they get overran with more than what they can and Sinor EMS. police and ambulance services. She said the city will see he See Effects page 2. 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