April 8, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 9

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Serving Western Oklahoma Weekday Edition Health department Christy Luttmer, who works at Simon’s Catch restaurant in releases testing info Elk City, delivers food to a customer Friday By Don Munsch, Editor evening at the restau- Forty-five people were tested for COVID-19 at a mobile rant. Staff photo by testing site Friday in Elk City, according to information re- Don Munsch. leased Monday by the Beckham and Greer County Health Department. As of right now, the Beckham and Greer County Health Department does not have any plans to do another mobile testing, said Arielle Howard, health educator of health de- partment. The testing was held at the Elk City Convention Center. Restaurants a djust to “People are allowed to call to make an appointment to Ss get tested,” Howard said in a response to emailed ques- tions. Brandie Combs, regional director of the District 5/South- west Oklahoma Beckham County Health Department, said new way of business in arelease that people can get updated on the latest infor- ‘mationby accessing www.coronavirus.health.ok.gov. See Testing page 2. City can crack down A bottle of white, a bottle of red critical infrastructure sector, such as gyms, salons, massage Perhaps a bottle of rosé instead parlors and movie theaters, where counties have community on non-compliant We'll get a table near the street spread effective through April 30. In our oldfamiliar place + Requires restaurants in all 77 counties to provide take- businesses during crisis You and I, face to face out and delivery options only and closes all bars through Attorney general warns resident of scams A bottle of red, a bottle of white April 30. It all depends upon your appetite * Postpones all elective surgeries, minor medical proce- By Don Munsch, Editor I'll meet you any time you want dures and non-emergency dental procedures until April 30. If non-essential businesses decide to thumb their nose at In our Italian restaurant. * Issues a statewide “Safer at Home” order for adults over Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order and remain open, author- - “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” by Billy Joel from the age of 65 and vulnerable individuals with serious under- ities can take action against them. the album “The Stranger.” lying medical conditions until April 30. Elk City City Manager Lee Litterell said Friday that the Prohibits visitations to nursing homes and long-term care city will follow the direction provided by the district attor- Editor’s note: This is the sixth story in a series examining facilities through April 30. ney’s office. how Elk City has reacted to the coronavirus crisis. * Limits gatherings to no more than 10 people through “Any violations would be prosecuted in district court, not April 30. municipal court,” Litterell said in an email. “However, local By Don Munsch, Editor Questa Williamson, manager from Simon’s Catch in Elk law enforcement would be required to enforce and investi- Nobody can nab a table by the street or enjoy a bottle of City, said her restaurant management had been considering gate within the city limits just like they do with other state wine in a restaurant these days, but people can still enjoy fine closing the dining room in the restaurant before it was man- statutes. Both Title 21 O.S. 1321.1 et seq and the Title 63 food from delivery or pickup in Elk City. dated. She said it has been challenging to put plans into place O.S. 683.23 (OEMA violations) would appear to be poten- Two restaurants in Elk City are adjusting after Gov. Kevin without the dining room and make the right decisions for tially applicable. It appears to me that the Title 21 misde- Stitt’s amended executive order. both employees and the restaurant. meanor provisions are likely appropriate in the majority of Stitt’s executive order provides for the following state- Business had been good in the few days right after the res- situations. wide measures: taurant closed its dining room, Williamson said. “Because of the ever-changing situation, we will start with * Closes all businesses not identified as being within a See Restaurants page 2. a warning system progressing from verbal to written warn- ings and then finally a ticket,” he continued. “If a ticket is issued, the officer in most circumstances would just cite and Pharmacy closes doors but remains release with a date to appear in district court in approximate- ly 60 days. This recommendation is not an attempt to limit officers’ discretion or to say that circumstances may open, offers curbside pickup See Non-compliant page 2. By Don Munsch, Editor information, more facts and knowing exactly where we're Pharmacies are essential businesses in the wake of Gov. headed, we'll make that decision,” he said. “But unfortu- Library to hold Kevin Stitt’s executive order regarding what businesses may remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul Jones Drug in Elk City decided to shut it doors dur- nately, at this time, I don’t know when exactly that would be.” Customers like curbside pickup, he said, and it’s some- poetry contest ing this time, but the business offers curbside pickup and thing the pharmacy has offered before because the building free deliveries. The business can also mail prescriptions that are next day delivery for those people who might live out- lacks a permanent drive-through. The curbside pickup start- side town and don’t want to travel, said Rodney Skinner, ed around March 19 or so. Patrons can pick up their prescrip- The Friends of the Elk City Carnegie Library will host a pharmacist and owner of Paul Jones Drug. tions in the rear of the store, where a drive-through exists poetry contest, with entries due by April 28. In addition, the business will sell items inside the store if a next to a parking lot. There are five age groups to participate in: Adult, High School, Middle School, Intermediate School and Elemen- customer requests something in stock. “Employees and customers have both really adjusted well “If there’s a way we can serve you, we're going to do it,” to it,” Skuinner said. “We pride ourselves on fast and effi- tary School. Skinner said. “For us, this business has been here for over Participants in each age group will submit an original 100 years and we plan to stay here, and we take our job very cient service, and I think we’ ve been able to accomplish that. poem for a chance to win a cash prize and a free book. En- Getting people in and out on a timely fashion so they can seriously and we appreciate the community letting us take trants can submit their work to the Main Library by email care of them.” give back to their day is important. It’s gone really well.” to library @elkcity.com Entries will be accepted until 6 p.m. Skinner said the decision to shut doors was all about re- Limited interactions — including close interaction — occur April 28. Only one entry person is allowed, according to a ducing risk. between employees and customers when employees deliver news release. “For us, it’s twofold: We’re not only trying to protect our prescriptions outside. Over-the-counter items in the store To participate, people can email their typed entry to Elk patients but our staff as well,” Skinner said. “And being a that customers want, such as cough drops or aspirin, can be City Carnegie Library at library @elkcity.com. place that we often have several customers inside the store delivered outside, as well, Skinner said. Entrants should include their current grade. If they are and being a pharmacy where sick people come get their Curbside delivery is just something that stands out in the an adult, they should indicate their age level [adult], name, medicine, we felt it was necessary to accomplish keeping mailing address and phone number on their original poem. employees and staff safe so that we can be here throughout grand scheme of things, as Skinner said there’s been a big The library wants to assure participants that judging will be the entirety of the situation.” move for the use of telemedicine. fair and anonymous, and their information will be kept by He said he was not sure when the business will reopen its “Because what you’re ultimately trying to do is reduce the library and not given to the judges. doors, as the situation tends to change daily. the number of interactions you're having each day,” he said, See Library page 2. “Tt’s one of those things as we get closer to having more adding that is true across health care, not just pharmacies. «ALU IN Weather tomorrow ® 59/39 Vol. 118, No. 26 75 cents, 8 pgs. 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