May 27, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, May 27, 2020 WTC and technical gaps that ex- intendent, she said, “I am added value to their future. Drive-in next new film set to be re- leased in theaters is Chris- ist in our local workforce, excited and honored to be- As a result, I developed a topher Nolan’s “Tenet” on then utilize this data to de- come Western Technology passion for CareerTech edu- July 17. ship skills to guide and fa- termine the best way to ad- Center’s next Superinten- Continued from page 1. cation, but mostly for the “T get a complaint about cilitate its growth.” dress occupational skill gaps dent. In my tenure at WTC The Winchester Drive-In students and clients served. every day, “Why are you not She sees that WTC has and implement instruction, I have had the privilege to delayed its initial opening showing new movies?’ ... a rather large footprint in whether through WTC’s work with staff on both the I look forward to providing for the season for about a month due to the pandemic. because there’s none out,” Oklahoma, serving _ five full-time or short-term deliv- Full-Time and Business progressive leadership as ery arms. It is both an excit- and Industry Services Divi- But Guthrie’s Beacon Drive- Egbert said. counties within its regional Western Technology Center ing and yet challenging time In remains closed; according Located just south of technology school district, sions. The staff at WTC are diligently strives to fulfill its to Facebook, it is planning to Chickasha, the Chief Drive- and she discussed her vision for education. However, I creative, talented, and com- mission of ‘Educating Peo- open in June. In operates year round and for WTC. am confident WTC will dis- mitted. I am privileged to ple for Success. Tough choices “WTC will continue to cover creative solutions for includes full food service. be their leader as we work Many drive-ins, like the provide quality workforce educational excellence and together to deliver quality Corning lives in Weather- That meant it could stay Winchester and Admiral education and build on our continue to provide oppor- ford with her husband Audie open despite the pandemic, workforce education. When Twin, are forgoing their although not without big previous successes as we tunities for students to excel 1 initially began working at and daughter Katie. Their usual double-headers to cut endeavor to become western in a system of competency- son, Grant and his fam- down on the time people changes. based technology educa- Oklahoma’s first choice in WTC, I quickly recognized The drive-in has instituted education,” she said in the tion.” ily, wife Christina and sons spend outside their cars. the positive changes technol- “With one movie, then a car fee that allows people release. “WTC will system- And reflecting on be- ogy education made in stu- Hudson, Hunter and Noah you’ve got less lines in the to bring in outside food and atically assess occupational coming WTC’s 6th Super- dents’ lives and how WTC live in Ada. bathroom,” Massad__ said. drinks and has started requir- “There’s no intermission to ing people to wear masks come get more food. ... Of course, that’s how we make our money.” outside their cars. Egbert’s husband, Greg, installed a door to close off the conces- Thousands of unemployment The Admiral Twin was reopening with its conces- sions closed last weekend, sion area so that people can no longer walk in but instead must order on Facebook or claims remain ‘pending’ or denied entirely and Smith said he is work- by phone, pay at the front ing on a plan to reintegrate window, take a pager that the theater’s food service, buzzes when their food is perhaps even using a smart- ready and then pick up their phone app that would allow By Dale Denwalt, The Unemployment Assistance decreasing number of new focus on the continuing de- order at the back window. Oklahoman claim if denied for tradition- claims, it’s still about 20 cline,” said Mark Hamrick, people to order and pay from adistance. Entertaining payoff Oklahoma’s — unemploy- al assistance, but more than times larger than pre-pan- senior economic analyst at The Tulsa theater also has The thank-yous from cus- ment agency has a backlog 58% of the nearly 31,000 demic levels. PUA claims were also de- Bankrate. “But at 2.4 mil- introduced online ticketing tomers make the hassles of more than 45,000 unfin- “There’s still a lot of cause ished or unpaid claims in its nied. lion new claims last week, via Fandango to cut down worthwhile, Egbert said. for concern. Yes, new claims on contact between staff and “T’ve told all the film com- system, and those are just The 45,000 pending claims have fallen, but initial claims the seismic impact should patrons. panies, ‘Ineed upbeat films.’ the approved eligible ones. include those with inaccu- not be dismissed because are still incredibly high. Off- Limited capacity .. T showed ‘Wizard of Oz’ The OESC denied 199,627 rate responses to the state’s the-charts high,” said Uni- earlier shock waves were Massad said he capped the claims as ineligible, or about questionnaire or _ insuffi- and ‘Twister’ for two weeks, versity of Central Oklahoma larger. This number of new cient information needed to Winchester at about 50% ca- but people were so excited 47% of all claims made with economist Travis Roach. claims alone is about equal pacity to ensure safety and for those two movies,” she the state since the spike in verify someone is eligible. unemployment began in Other claims in this category “We want to look for a posi- to the population of the city social distancing, and is re- said. “It was really cool.” quiring customers to wear March. Reasons for denial can include possibly ficti- tive light in numbers like of Houston, Texas.” Massad said the option for masks in the concession people to stay in their cars include applications from tious applications that were this and see something go Additional help area. people who were fired, vol- flagged for review. down, but it’s like rummag- has given drive-ins a unique untarily quit or the employer Nearly 80% of about ing through a plane crash.” For people who have ex- “We're closing the gate advantage. He has been in- hausted their regular unem- because we're ‘full’ and protested on other grounds. 210,000 eligible Oklahoma The most recent claims undated with calls from we're nowhere close to full.” Fake claims will also trig- unemployment insurance could be by individuals who ployment benefits, the OESC concert promoters, churches ger a denial. Trey Davis, a The Chief Drive-In The- claims have been paid out recently exhausted their sav- has announced a 13-week atre in Ninnekah also has and schools wanting rent the spokesman for the Oklaho- during the COVID-19 out- ings or whose employers extension is now available. limited its capacity. Owner Winchester during the week ma State Auditor, said state break, while nearly 73% of held out longer than others Claimants are eligible for Barbara Egbert said she to put on events. officials identified 14,856 about 13,000 eligible claims before implementing lay- “People that want to stay fictitious applications _be- the extension through Dec. capped the number of ve- for Pandemic Unemploy- offs. 26 if they file and qualify hicles at 50 during the initial in their car do, and it’s not tween March 15 and May ment Assistance were paid, Nationally, more than 2.4 for federal Pandemic Emer- outbreak but has started let- a problem. . . I would say 16. A joint state and federal million people filed initial gency Unemployment Com- ting in about 80 cars as more more than half the people are task force is investigating according to the Oklahoma businesses are reopening. doing that right now, which another 80,000 potentially Employment Security Com- claims last week. That num- pensation. The drive-in can accommo- is great,” he said. mission. ber also fell, but 25 million fraudulent claims among the “The online application Backlog Americans are still on the date about 300 vehicles. “We have a security guard nearly 200,000 denied. process is up and running,” “We're not going to be out front ... and he had about The total ineligible claims The U.S. Department of unemployment rolls, accord- making as much money a dozen people (opening number includes claims by Labor reported 23,880 new ing to the latest data. said Secretary for Digital as we used to. Hopefully, weekend) roll down their people who were otherwise claims were filed in Okla- “With a ninth straight Transformation David Os- trowe. “Individuals should things get better towards the windows and go, “Glad we ineligible for unemployment homa during the week end- week of new weekly job- got in line. What’s showing like gig workers, indepen- ing May 16. Two weeks less claims being counted summer (if) we get some login to their ui.ok.gov ac- movies to come out.” count and follow the instruc- tonight?’ ... I thought that dent contractors and the self- earlier, almost 94,000 Okla- in the millions, although at Not a blockbuster employed. Those employees homans filed for unemploy- a lower level than before, tions to apply for PEUC re- Movie studios have dra- was very telling of the world can file a federal Pandemic ment. Even with the rapidly one might be tempted to lief.” matically revamped we're in now: ‘We don’t their release schedules due to the care what’s on, we’re com- pandemic, meaning drive- ing to the movies because ins are limited to recent re- leases and retro titles. The it’s the only entertainment out there.”” Alcohol delivery, curbside "ElkCituNews pickup become Oklahoma law USPS # 173-020 By Carmen Forman, The became law Thursday, and bars that hold the proper interact with others and even 580-225-3000 Oklahoman makes permanent relaxed liquor license also will be disrupted our restaurant and Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC Some Oklahoma _ busi- rules the ABLE Commission able to continue delivery and alcohol habits,” said Lisette 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 nesses will be allowed to implemented in light of the curbside pickup. Barnes, president of the Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 continue delivering beer, coronavirus pandemic. Only employees of those Oklahoma Beer Alliance. POSTMASTER: Send adress changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 wine and spirits under a new “Something we found out businesses will be allowed Josh Umholtz law. during this crisis is curb- to deliver spirits, wine or “But the ABLE Commis- SUBSCRIPTIONS Publisher State legislators and Gov. side delivery of alcohol, the beer. Such deliveries cannot sion and government lead- Deliverd by mail: $75/yearly Don Munsch Kevin Stitt have made per- world didn’t end,” said Sen- be done through a third party ers have responded quickly $50/six months Ealitor manent rules that allow ate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R- company, like Postmates or and adapted to the situation No refunds on subscriptions. Brittany Howell restaurants, liquor stores Oklahoma City. DoorDash. by temporarily allowing for Classifieds and grocery stores to offer Businesses that hold a Breweries and small farm curbside sales and deliver- editor @ ecdailynews.com D’Ann Brasuell curbside sales or home de- retail spirit license will be wineries will only be al- sports @ ecdailynews.com Graphics Supervisor liveries of sealed alcoholic allowed to continue deliv- lowed to do curbside service. ies of alcohol. This change ads @ ecdailynews.com Neva Pyatt beverages. ery and curbside pickup of “COVID-19 has temporar- has been very popular with classifieds@ ecdailynews.com Advertising Senate Bill 1928, which sealed alcohol. Restaurants ily shifted the way we work, Oklahomans.” Send obituaries to ads @ecdailynews.com by 9 a.m. Monday for Tuesday and by 9 a.m. Thursday for Friday.