May 20, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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See Saturday for the high school graduation section! Serving Western Oklahoma Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Weekday Edition A different kind of commencement Top, vehicles carrying Elk City ; High School seniors wait Sunday [ m at the ECHS parking lot before the graduation parade started. & The school district opted to go with a parade for graduating | a seniors because of the coronavirus pandemic. ECHS seniors Mikah Butler, left, and Ethan Beck smile as they participate in graduation parade, held Sunday on the streets of Elk City. Photos by Terri Chervenka. Many of the vehicles in the parade were decorated with pleted the grade in Mexico. Educators here thought it would messages, balloons and posters, with several of the posters be beneficial for her to learn the basics in English. Her par- showing the senior from his or her extracurricular activity. ents agreed and she repeated first grade. One message read on the back ofa pickup: “I’m not one for “T remember my very first day of school here in Elk City, speeches. So see ya.” Oklahoma: I was terrified because I couldn’t understand a Garcia’s speech, along with those of the school valedicto- single word that anyone was saying,” Garcia said, recalling rian and senior class president, could be heard on a local ra- she was separated from other students for a certain amount of dio station and Big Elk TV before the parade. Garcia, whose time in order to listen to translations. She received a headset By Don Munsch, Editor speech began about 15 minutes before the parade was sched- and a set of flash cards that translated words from Spanish uled to start, thanked “everyone who has played a role” in to English, and that, she said, was how she learned English. Anahi Garcia wants people to hear her story with an open her life the past couple of years, including teachers at ECHS. Garcia said she she was terrified her first couple of years heart and mind. She also thanked her siblings — a brother and sister — and her here in the U.S. because she thought everything she owned She described her story in her salutatorian address given parents. could be taken away from her at any moment. before the Elk City High School graduation parade Sunday afternoon in the streets of Elk City. The parade began on “Thank you for supporting in everything I do and loving “T felt confused as to why I had to leave all my clothes, me endlessly,” she said. toys, friends and family behind,” she said. “I lived in fear, Pioneer and then went to 3rd Street before ending up on 7th She then discussed her story, in which she said she immi- and I hid behind it. Growing up, I never told anyone I was Street. A traditional graduation ceremony with “Pomp and Cir- grated to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 7. She said her undocumented. It wasn’t until this year that I truly started cumstance” held at the Pioneer Center could not be conduct- parents wanted her and her siblings to have a better life than to accept that being an immigrant is part of who I am and ed this year because of circumstances with the coronavirus what they had growing up. there’s no shame in it.” pandemic. “My parents were willing to give up everything they knew She was hesitant in discussing her story, because growing and owned in order to provide for their family,” she said. up she was taught to keep it to myself, but “something inside Garcia said the family moved to the U.S. with literally just of me is telling me to share my story with you all this day.” Elk City High School the clothes on their backs. “The amount of courage and hope that it takes to do that is She didn’t want to offend anyone by sharing her story, she said, but she simply wants to make a difference. announces Brown unimaginable,” she said. She said moving to another country entails a lot of chal- “If this only makes a difference in a handful of people, I will be content,” she said. “If there’s somebody like me and White awards lenges, the first being learning a new language. She said the out there, I want to let them know that they are not alone, people at the elementary school who enrolled her suggested because that’s how I felt growing up.” By Don Munsch, Editor that she repeat the first grade even though she had just com- See Parade page 2. Elk City High School officials released the Brown and White Award winners last week. Money amounts were not divulged in scholarships. Elk City merchants get back to business College/University/Tech University Scholarships By Amanda Smith, Contributing writer “[’m a people person, and I love coming to work and see- Oklahoma State: Dylan Anderson, Ashley Ault, Lyn- With the state entering Phase II of reopening on Friday, ing people and talking to them,” she said. “Things still aren’t sey Boyd, Bryce Butler, Alexis Hargrove, Emily Hat- merchants in downtown Elk City look forward to customers back to normal, but there are a few more people starting to field, Savannah Kauk, Bryler Nichols, Macie Whitson, regularly coming through their doors. get out.” Manuelito Sanchez, Emilee Stout Elk City resident Brittini Flowers has owned 580 Mercan- Flowers said she was concerned about things slowing OSU “Go Pokes”: Savannah Kauk tile for three years and thinks our state’s leaders have busi- down, but said things are looking up for 580 in May. Boone Pickens: Alexis Hargrove nesses’ interest at heart. “May is typically a busy month for us with gradua- Joe. D. Hall Family OUS Scholarship: Lynsey Boyd “Currently, I think everybody, state representatives includ- tions, Mother’s Day and other events, like weddings,” she University of Oklahoma: Dylan Anderson, Dextin Bar- ed, are just trying to do what is best for everyone,” she said. said. “I was honestly prepared for a slow month, but we are ham, Alexis Hargrove, Emily Hatfield, Savannah Kauk, “The answers and the ‘right’ thing to do isn’t just an easy; on par with last year’s numbers. Which comes as a huge Manuelito Sanchez, Taylor Segler, Brianna Spady, Sierra ‘yes, let’s open’ or ‘no, shelter in place.’ I think opening the relief with March and April being so slow.” Touchstone and Alexander Witherby state up in phases is a realistic approach. We have been back Elk City native Brady Butcher, whose family has owned Mark and Jacque Albert OU: Brianna Spady open since May Ist.” Carrol’s Shoe Corner since 1983, said his business had re- UCO: Makynzie Polcyn,Kaitlyn Hebel,Autumn Inman Lori Weatherly, originally from Garden City, Kansas, has lied on online traffic the last couple of weeks. SWOSU: Alexander Witherby, Baylee Miller, Rossy made Elk City her home with her family and has owned The “We were mainly focusing on the website and shipping Garcia Vogue Boutique for 14 years. orders in the past couple weeks, but as the state has reopened Southern Nazarene University: Gavin Chadwick “We’ve been open for a couple of weeks now,” she said. we have seen a lot more foot traffic,” he said. “However, we USAO: Tate Trotter and Jacey Guymon “It’s uncharted waters. I know with our business, the ex- still do have pickup and delivery services.” Ottawa University: William Wright penses don’t stop, so you have to find a way to safely open The pandemic has made pickup and delivery of many dif- OBU: Greyson David your business and take lots of precautions. We have to learn ferent goods available to consumers, and it’s done so well Texas Christian University: Kimberlie Garcia new ways to do business.” that many businesses plan to keep doing it. Western Tech Center: Donavan Rupp, Lex Dugger, She said in-person business is still kind of slow, but she is Flowers spends a lot of time each week making sure her See Brown and White page 2. \ xing forward to seeing her customers again. See Merchants page 3. Weather Vol. 118, No. 38 Mail delivery View online AEA tomorrow oe 87 / 65 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com