May 13, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving _ Western Oklahoma Canute High School announces top graduates 7 p.m. Friday on paragonty.com. Canute High School Principal Kevin Merz said if the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lift regula- tions on gatherings, then a graduation ceremony at the audi- torium on the elementary school campus, where commence- ment ceremonies have been held before, would be held June Elliott Waggoner Woodson Strain 19 as an alternate date. Brianna Elliott Elliott said earning the co-val distinction was an honor. Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories on “T’ve worked hard for it,” she said. area high schools’ valedictorians and salutatorians. Elliott now plans to go to Southwestern Oklahoma State in By Don Munsch, Editor Sayre for her first year and then probably transfer to SWOSU Beutler Four students share the top two spots in Canute High in Weatherford. She eventually wants to earn a business ac- School's graduating class of 2020, with three valedictorians counting degree. and one salutatorian achieving the highest honors. “T summer interned at the bank, and I liked doing that, so Brianna Elliott, Baylee Waggoner and Noah Woodson are that will give me the option to work at the bank and business the co-vals and Kirstyn Strain is the sal. The school has al- gives you the option to do almost anything, so I just thought ready had its virtual graduation and will air its ceremony at See Top graduates page 2. Whinery Elliott Snowder Elk City seniors to have parade graduation Sunday J Canute announces The parade route will from south on Pioneer to 3rd Street its top junior high Spray Zor and then east on 3rd to Main Street and school students then south to 7th Street. Map provided. ‘Ackley Park By Don Munsch, Editor Canute Public Schools announced its top junior high Route 66 RV Park honor students (ninth-graders), with profile information provided by the school district: Co-Valedictorians: Peyton Dawson, Parker Jacks, Rook Walker and Kyron Whinery. Co-Salutatorians: Taylor Beutler, Brody Bryant, Owen By Don Munsch, Editor thoroughfare. Elliott, Jade Gray and Isaac Snowder. The 2020 Elk City High School graduation ceremony Attendees may park on both sides of the parade route in Peyton Dawson will be a parade with graduates that begins at 2 p.m. Sun- parking lots and parking space, the school district stated Peyton was born June 20, 2004, in Clinton, Oklahoma. day in Elk City, with with 3rd Street serving as the main See Parade page 3. Peyton is the daughter of Bobby and Jami Dawson. Peyton Auto dealerships forge ahead is the granddaughter of Carolyn Smith, the late Steve Eng- land, and the late Eddie and Diane Dawson. She has attended Canute Public Schools since the fourth amid pandemic grade. Peyton is an active member of the Canute Junior High and High School basketball teams. She is also on the academic team and a member ofthe GT program. Peyton also has a 4.0 GPA. Peyton plans to complete high school and then puruse a By Manda Smith, Con- affected in some way by the the auto industry is no ex- has given Barber-Dyson a college education. Peyton is undecided on where she plans tributing writer ception. chance to give their custom- ‘See Canute page 2. Every business has been coronavirus pandemic, and In recent months, automo- ers a lot of room to buy the tive sales across the country vehicle of their choice. Elk City resident featured in national magazine have dropped as the virus “Honestly, the hail storm collapses customer demand. probably couldn’t have hap- With people losing their pened at a better time be- over the country — he has been to 46 states since he started — and said he hauls everything: food, beverages, materials jobs, getting pay cuts or hav- cause it allowed us to give for factories. He once stayed on the road for four months ing uncertainty about their folks some huge savings,” straight one time without a break. His company requires a economic future, they just David Dyson said. “We will 17-day minimum for truckers, he said. aren’t spending money on either fix the hail damaged Albert said a longtime friend, Andrea Billups, writes for vehicles right now. vehicle and give you the dif- People and called Albert and asked if he could featured for David Dyson has been ference, or we'll give you the magazine story on essential workers. helping people find transpor- the hail money right up front “[ really didn’t take it very serious, and so I called my fleet tation for almost 26 years, on top of everything else. manager and Itold her about it and she said it sounds good,” ever since he and Bruce Because of the coronavirus, Albert said. Barber bought Bob Maine all manufacturers, but espe- Randy Albert with his big rig in Elk City. Staff, photo Albert said it was “pretty exciting” to be featured in Peo- Motors in 1994 and created cially Ford, they came out by Don Munsch. ple. Barber-Dyson Ford Lincoln with zero percent interest “It’s kind of a dull life trucking, but it’s a hard life and in Elk City. His son Corbin on almost everything, lots of By Don Munsch, Editor you've got to be gone” for long spells, said Albert, who has now works beside him. Da- huge rebates that apply too. Randy Albert finds himself on the frontlines in his job dur- has two children: a son, Dylan, 27, and daughter, Alyson, vid Dyson gave some insight We've been very busy.” ing the coronavirus pandemic. 15, and has gotten back together with his ex-wife Teresa Re- into what’s going on with With being busy comes And now the world can appreciate Albert, who lives in jino, and they are planning a September wedding. the local car dealership dur- worries about following so- Elk City, and others by reading about their work in the new- Albert talked about the realities of being a trucker and how ing this uncertain time. cial distancing guidelines, est edition of People magazine. lengthy experience for the same company can be a benefit “The virus has affected but they are asking potential Albert, a truck driver, was featured along with people in for those who drive a truck for a living. Roads have been everybody, but we never buyers to call and make an other professions, such as a paramedic, supermarket cashier “really light” since the pandemic started, Albert said. shut down, being an essen- appointment. and nursing home supervisor, among others, in the May 11 “It’s been creepy it was so dead,” he said. “It’s nice to not tial business, especially our “For the most part, people edition. have to worry about it, because that vehicle is so big: This service department,” he said. are calling to make appoint- An Elk City native, Albert, 52, started with CFI Contract vehicle is 75-foot long and almost 10-foot wide from mirror The coronavirus, paired ments,” David Dyson said. Freight Inc., based in Joplin, Mo., in July 2018 and didn’t to mirror and almost 14-feet tall. So it’s pretty tough when with the recent hail storm “Of course, we schedule our have any experience in trucking before that. He travels all See Magazine page 3. that hit the community, See Dealerships page 2. Weather Vol. 118, No. 36 Mail delivery View online AEA tomorrow oe 87 / 65 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com