June 27, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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q Ce Serving a Western Oklahoma Since 1901 | Saturday, June 27, 2020 Weekend Edition New interim city manager Commissioners to hold special meeting gets acclimated to job By Don Munsch, Editor The Elk City City Commission met Friday afternoon ina special meeting to consider a prisoner public works project By Don Munsch, Editor the right direction at the right speed and all that, I don’t want contract between the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Tom Ivester is getting his to be an interference,” he said. “I was given the guidance and and the city of Elk City. the direction by the commission to steer the ship until they feet wet at Elk City City Hall. The Elk City News went to press Thursday afternoon. figure out the direction they’re going to go.” Tvester stepped into the in- The newspaper will have an update in the July 1 edition. terim city manager job after One of his priorities now is ensuring water and sewer leaks Commissioners discussed the contract between the city are properly managed and that the upcoming July 4 celebra- being approved by the Elk tion is done in a safe manner. Plus, he said streets and city and prisoner laborers at the June 17 meeting and asked for City City Commission last more time to consider the contract. Kye Harper, former hu- services are his other priority areas. week. manresources director for the city, said at that meeting that As far as doing any long-range planning, he said “moni- “We've got a good staff in the city had a June 18 deadline to make a decision on the toring and shepherding” would be the way he describes his place, and I’m just trying to approach in that capacity. contract, but Harper said she would call the prison and ask learn the ropes and do an as- for an extension. “We’ve got the CAPPs [Community Action Project Plans] sessment to figure out where program in place, we’ve got the projects coming up,” he Prison laborers do a number of jobs around the city, in- we are before any big deci- said. “I see my job more as get the day-to-day stuff [done]. cluding mowing and mechanical work. Tom lIvester sions are made and try to get Make sure everything keeps going — leaks are fixed, streets a good overview of what’s going on in talking to the director heads,” he said. are looked at, trash is picked up. And then shepherd the long- term projects through while I’m here until the city commis- Two area residents Ivester, a local attorney, took over the interim city man- ager job after the city commission terminated City Manager sion decides on a long-term direction.” The commission had a meeting on Friday to discuss the hurt in crash Lee Litterell on June 4. Ivester said his first task will be to prison labor contract. The issue came up at a June 17 meet- By Don Munsch, Editor conduct an assessment of what city staffers are already do- ing. Ivester was sworn in later in that meeting. The News Two area residents were injured — one critically — after a ing and get a feel for where his services will be best needed. went to press Thursday afternoon. one-vehicle wreck Sunday night in Beckham County. “We've got a lot of good people, and if the train is going in See Manager page 2. The wreck occurred just after 9:45 p.m. on Highway 152, about a half-mile west of County Road 1830 and 4 1/2 miles Rafael Velazquez of west of Sayre, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Redlands Contracting Jesse Bowman, 46, of Sayre, who was driving a 2007 enjoys a meal Dodge pickup, was transported by Elk City EMS to OU Wednesday at the Medical Center where he is currently listed in critical condi- Cimarron Ridge tion with head, trunk internal and leg injuries. His passenger, Apartments, which Jamie Simpson, age 33, of Erick was transported by Elk City provided the lunch as EMS to OU Medical Center where she was listed in good a show of condition with head and trunk internal injuries, OHP said. appreciation for She has been discharged, an OU Medical spokesman said construction crews’ Thursday. work on the Highway Bowman was driving east on State highway 152, departed 6 bridge and road the roadway to right, entered back on the highway, overcor- going over Interstate rected and went into a broadside, the OHP report stated. The 40. Also shown here pickup rolled through a fence an undetermined number of times before coming to rest on its wheels. is Bridget Curtner, an employee of the ‘The wreck remains under investigation. It was investigat- complex. The ed by Trooper Pate Gossen, who was assisted by the Sayre Fire Department, Sinor EMS and Beckham County Sheriff apartments, along Office. with Timbercreek and Raintree apartments, are under new Lucas co-sponsors management, Sky Realty. Submitted legislation supporting rural hospitals photo. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Frank Lucas (OK- Fireworks 03) last week joined his House colleagues - Congressman Michael Guest, a Republican, and Congresswoman Terri Sewell, a Democrat - in introducing the PPP Access for Ru- show to be ral Hospitals At, which can be read here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/1 16th-congress/house-bill/ 7208 2g=%7B %22search %22%3 A %5B %22michael+guest held in Elk City %22%SD%IDES=68r=1 The legislation would allow smaller hospitals that are part of a larger health care system to waive affiliation require- By Don Munsch, Editor ments to be eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program, Area residents wanting to celebrate something in this a news release from Lucas’ office explained. The language summer of the pandemic can look forward to the fireworks is narrowly tailored to ensure rural hospitals, or those most display to be held July 4 at Ackley Park West in Elk City. in need, are able to participate in the Paycheck Protection The fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m. on the Fourth, said Program, the release stated. ECFD Assistant Chief Billy Sizemore. Elk City Fire Depart- “Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Oklahoma’s rural ment will be set up in the parking lot of the baseball and hospitals have provided critical care to thousands of families softball 5-plexes to produce the show. who call rural Oklahoma home,” Lucas said in the release. “This year we will have over 1,000 shells with about 468 “While facing unprecedented challenges and financial hard- shots,” Sizemore said in an email. ships, our state’s rural doctors, nurses and healthcare work- People may shoot off their fireworks in both Ackley Park ers are fighting on the frontlines day in and day out helping and Ackley Park West in designated areas from 6-11:59 p.m. keep our communities healthy. Their dedication and com- Dumpsters will be set up in the designated areas for people mitment to our communities is why it’s critical now more to dispose their trash. The fire department will distribute than ever that Congress ensure our nation’s rural hospitals trash bags. have the resources and payroll assistance they need in order Please see attached map on parking and viewing areas as to keep our families healthy.” well as where fireworks may be shot. See Hospitals page 2. Weather Vol. 118, No. 55 Mail delivery View online LALA tomorrow 1/72 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com