June 10, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Weekday Edition Commission fires Agencies to receive FEMA funds city manager ican Red Cross, HELP, Inc. Food Resource Center, Commu- nity Action Development Corp. for Sayre/Carter and Erick/ Texola and Western Oklahoma Family Care Center. Board By Don Munsch, Editor members determined how the funds awarded to Beckham Elk City is looking for a new city manager after the Elk City City Commission terminated Lee Litterell in a special County were distributed among the emergency food and emergency meeting Thursday. shelter programs run by local service agencies. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive The commissioners called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. these funds and any additional funds made available under and then went into an executive session that lasted around 50 minutes or so. In open session, they voted 4-1 to fire this phase of the program. Western Oklahoma Family Care Center, Community Ac- Litterell, who had been with the city for seven years. Jeff tion Development and HELP, Inc. Food Resource Center Jackson issued the dissenting vote. Commissioners Cory Spieker, Rick Shelton and Larry Muck and Mayor Nick were the local organizations chosen to receive some of this Archer all voted to dismiss Litterell, who served as assis- supplemental funding. They provide a variety of help to Elk tant city manager before being appointed city manager in City and the surrounding communities. January 2015. Cheeri Anthes has volunteered at the HELP, Inc. Food “It’s been an honor to serve the city of Elk City for the Pantry in Elk City for 10 years and lives in Elk City. Help, last seven years and I wish them nothing but the best,” Inc. was started in 1983 to provide food to people and fami- Litterell said in the City Hall parking lot after the meeting. lies in need in the community. He said the commission did not tell him why he was be- This year has been tough, with layoffs hitting the oil and ing fired. Litterell plans to work again, he said. gas industry before the pandemic hit. “I don’t know what, but I’ll look for something,” he said. Directly after the meeting, Muck declined comment, “We had already seen our jump in numbers at the begin- while Shelton said there was not one particular issue that ning of the year due to the oilfield decline, then the corona- led to Litterell’s dismissal. virus hit us, and we have had 218 new families sign up, we “For the good of the service for the community” was saw over 500 families in a month,” Anthes said. how Shelton described why he voted yes on the termina- Despite the increase in need, HELP has plenty of food for tion. Client Linda Dykema waves from the van as everyone. During a regular commission meeting held June | at the she picks up some food from the HELP Inc. “We get USDA products, meat, produce, and canned EIk City Convention Center, some residents expressed Food Pantry. Photo submitted by Cheeri Anthes. goods,” Anthes said. “That stock has not slowed down a bit. concern about a reported sewage line leak in a creek that We haven’t had a shortage at all.” leads to Elk City Lake. By Manda Smith, Contributing writer Along with the food from the USDA, the food pantry re- Reached Friday by email regarding Litterell, Archer A local board met in late May to determine how federal ceives a lot of donations from the community. See Manager page 2. money will be divided among charitable groups in Beckham “We pick up food weekly from Walmart, part of the Feed County. America program, and Homeland and United also donate Guard members That money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency - $18,452 - will supplement emergency food and food every week,” Anthes said. “Little Caesars and Chicken Express donate leftover frozen bread.” clean state nursing, shelter programs in the county. On May 28, the Local Board met at the Community Care Center in Elk City to determine These donations are then prepared for families, although some changes have been made because of the coronavirus. the allocations for this year’s funds, meant to expand the VA centers “We used to be a client choice pantry until the virus hit; capacity of food and shelter programs in our area. we had to change it overnight to prepackaged bags to be The Local Board includes representatives from the Amer- See Funds page 2. Congressman, senator offer views of protests The offices of U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas and Sens. James life and liberty, we all share the responsibility of standing uf Lankford and Jim Inhofe were contacted by The Elk City to injustice. But, as we continue to uphold that responsibil- News last week and asked to respond to the demonstrations ity, we must not allow our communities’ meaningful protests occurring in several U.S. cities regarding the death of George to turn into violence and destruction. Floyd. Inhofe’s office did not respond to a request. Below “T condemn the harmful actions of the few that wish to re- are the responses from Lucas and Lankford. sort to violence and destruction, but to those demanding jus- Congressional Democrats on Monday were scheduled to tice and reform: Oklahoma hears you. America hears you.” reveal legislation that would reform police policies. The [A spokesman from Lucas’ office said this statement alsc A National Guard member cleans an area News went to press early Monday afternoon. was shared on Twitter and Facebook.] inside of a nursing center. Submitted photo by From Congressman Lucas: From Sen. James Lankford: Tom Ivester. “J, like every other American, am deeply disturbed by the “The past two weeks have been exceptionally painful for By Don Munsch, Editor death of George Floyd. As local, state, and federal officials our nation as we grieve for the loss of life, emotional damage Army National Guard members can be called to provide investigate the horrifying event that led to Mr. Floyd’s death, to our communities and families, and damage to property anc assistance during natural disasters and civil disorder. I pray for comfort for the Floyd family and their community. businesses. Last week I sent a note - https://www.lankford They can also be called on to do other duties that don’t get “In the days following the death of George Floyd, thou- senate. gov/news/press-releases/special-edition-lankford-let- much attention, such as the service Oklahoma guard mem- sands of Americans, including those in Oklahoma, joined in ter-52920 - on the death of George Floyd and on our nation’s bers did in late May. meaningful and legitimate demonstrations demanding jus- ongoing dialogue on racial reconciliationjust Tom Ivester, an attorney in Elk City and a member of the tice and reform. As a nation founded upon the principles of See Protests page 2. Army National Guard, said guard members participated in cleaning area nursing homes and Veterans Affairs nursing homes on May 27 and 28. “One of the missions the governor has given the National Guard is to disinfect the nursing homes through the state, I-40 wreck injures Texas man and so we’ve stood up eight disinfection teams, for a lack By Don Munsch, Editor Burns was transported by Elk City EMS to the Elk City One man was injured after a two-vehicle wreck Friday Airport and Air Evac to OU Medical Center where he is of a better term, to go around the state disinfecting nursing morning in Beckham County. listed in good condition with arm and leg injuries. Cruz and homes,” he said. The wreck just after 8:45 a.m. on Interstate 40 at mile his passenger, Jenaneth Hernandez, 48, of North Carolina, In late May, nursing homes in Cordell, Sayre and Elk City marker 38 in Elk City when a 1995 Ford Pickup driven by were cleaned, Ivester said, identifying Bell Avenue Nursing were not injured. Kallan Burns, 31, of Childress, Texas, was going west on Center and Elk City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center as the OHP stated a distraction in Burns’ vehicle appeared to be 1-40 and collided with another vehicle, a 2020 Kenworth, two centers here in Elk City. Deep cleaning also was done driven by Eric Cruz, 38, of North Carolina, according to a the cause of the collision. at VA centers around the state. A total of 212 nursing cen- report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Cruz’s vehicle The wreck was investigated by Trooper Kaleb Kemp, who ters were cleaned. Air and Army National Guard members was stopped on I-40 in the #2 lane while waiting for a prior was assisted by Beckham County Sheriff’s Office, Elk City worked on the project. crash to be cleared from the roadway when Burns hit the rear Police Department, Elk City Fire Department, Elk City See VA page 2. of Cruz’s vehicle. EMS and Air Evac. «ALU Uh Weather tomorrow & 94166 Vol. 118, No. 46 75 cents, 8 pgs. 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