June 27, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, June 27, 2020 Manager helping with the rock yard that heads of several city sion has approved contracts and Meals on Wheels,” he to do a more permanent re- functions — such as Meals that.” Ivester said he has an open- said. The rock yard is near on Wheels or Elk City Con- “T see my job as collect- pair on the sewer leak that door policy. If residents have ing all the data and making the train track in an area vention Center, to name a occurred, concerns or issues they want sure it’s presented to the city near Walmart in the indus- couple — have said they need “We continue to monitor to discuss, they can call or commission on Friday so trial park, The city takes in prison labor or part-time the lake,” he said, noting come by. If he is not avail- they can make an informed, large rock and then crushes help. He said those depart- he is investigating whether there needs to be further able, he will respond as soon data-driven decision on what and sells it, Ivester said. It is ments will be tasked with the costs and benefits are of used in roadways and con- coming up with vital options clean-up and if there is a as he can. Some issues can the prison inmates,” Ivester struction projects. Inmates if the commission decides need, he will try to find out be resolved quickly, such as said. help with the unloading and to cease using inmates. He what that looks like. “I’m the adult swim lap lane at the As of Tuesday, he said loading of rock. said a combination of part- still getting a handle on all city pool, Ivester said. The challenge of having time or full-time employees he had talked to half of the department heads and was prisoners is it takes a lot or a reduction in services in Dorma Lee Johnson still talking to department of effort to manage them, those areas might be consid- Dorma Lee Johnson, 95, of supervisors. He found mixed Ivester said. ered. Elk City, Oklahoma was born opinions. “Sometimes contraband As far as the safety of on August 23, 1924 in Doxey, There exist pros and cons is passed back and forth,” Elk City Lake, Ivester said Oklahoma. She is the daughter to prison labor, he said. On Ivester said, adding the he will follow up, explain- of W.P. and Lucinda (Blocker) workers are criminals and ing the city has done quite Dallas. Dorma went to walk the one hand, the city re- ceives cheap labor and the there’s a lot of extra equip- a bit to ensure the safety of the Heavenly streets of gold with her Lord and Savior on added benefit of trying to re- ment maintenance that has the lake and has coordinated Sunday, June 21, 2020 at Bell habilitate prisoners. to be done because prison- with the Department of En- Avenue Nursing Center in Elk “And you get actual ers are “not necessarily tak- vironmental Quality, The City, Oklahoma. work done that needs to be ing good care of [the equip- safety of the lake emerged Dorma married the love of Dorma is survived by a son, done, especially the mow- ment].” at a commission meeting in her life, Lonnie Johnson on Danny Johnson and wife, Al- ing and weed-eating and Ivester said he’s aware early June. The city commis- April 22, 1946 in Elk City, ice of Mustang, Oklahoma; Oklahoma. The couple en- daughter, Peggy Griffin and Hospitals eligible for PPP provisions if the health system has lines providing needed care, Unfortunately, our hospi- check Protection program available to some of our joyed over forty years of mar- husband, Jeff of Phoenix, Ari- riage and family together. zona; brother, Franklin Dallas more than 500 employees tals have seen interruptions rural hospitals, saving jobs For many years of her life of Phoenix, Arizona; sister, Lucas continued: “The across all of its facilities, the in their normal operations and helping to ensure hospi- Dorma lived and worked on a Vinita Powell of Oklahoma PPP Access for Rural Hos- news release stated. Smaller during the pandemic, result- tals with the most need are farm. She would share stories City, Oklahoma; and grand- pitals Act would provide hospitals included in large ing in decreased revenues able to weather the financial with her family of farm life children, Ali Diotte, Grant additional funding through health systems have been and financial hardship. I’m and living through the Great Johnson, Danna Vergin, Zach- hardships brought on by the the Paycheck Protection left ineligible to apply for proud to join Congresswom- Depression. She later worked ary Griffin, Blair Uhas. pandemic.” for Damron Jewelers during Program for our nation’s PPP loans. These hospitals, an Sewell in introducing this She is preceded in death by Joining Congressman the 1960’s. rural hospitals and would many of them rural, have bill that would provide pay- her parents, W.P. and Lucinda Guest and Congresswoman She enjoyed poetry, play- Dallas; husband, Lonnie John- ensure that those that are un- “experienced — tremendous roll assistance to our rural Sewell as original cospon- ing bridge, bowling, as well as son; one brother, Lando Dal- der the umbrella of a largerfinancial burdens during the hospitals, which could help reading. She loved her faith, health care system are eli- COVID-19 pandemic and ensure their continued vi- sors of the bill are Reps. Lu- family, and friends. Dorma las; two sisters, Aileen Camp gible to apply for Paycheck have expressed the need for ability.” The release stated. cas (R-OK), Jim Hagedorn and Billie Sue Gowdy. greatly enjoyed going to Protection Program. loans. the payroll assistance that “We are still in the midst (R-MN), Bennie Thompson church and was a member of Memorials can be made to I’m proud to join my col- could be provided by the of a pandemic that has tak- (D-MS), Greg Murphy (R- the United Methodist Church the charity of your choice in leagues Congressman Guest PPP if the restrictive provi- en a devastating economic NC), Bradley Byrne (R-AL), in Elk City, Oklahoma. care of Martin-Dugger Funer- and Congresswoman Sewell sions were eliminated”, the toll on our communities. It Trent Kelly (R-MS), Roger Private family services will al Home, P.O. Box 707, Elk Williams (R-TX), Andy be held. Services have been City, Oklahoma 73648. in introducing this impor- release stated. is more critical than ever tant piece of legislation as “Rural hospitals in Missis- that our rural hospitals on Harris (R-MD), Phil Roe entrusted to the care of Rich- Online condolences can be Congress works to ensure sippi and across our nation the front lines fighting CO- (R-TN), Greg Steube (R- ard and Tammy Dugger and sent to the family by using the staff of Martin-Dugger Fu- the online guest book at www. our rural hospitals are able provide critical services to VID-19 have the resources FL), Chris Stewart (R-UT), neral Home in Elk City, Okla- martin-duggerfuneralhome. to weather the financial un- their surrounding communi- they need to keep our com- David Kustoff (R-TN) and certainty brought on by CO- ties,” Guest said in the news munities healthy,” Sewell Steven Palazzo (R-MS). VID-19.” release. “During this CO- said in the release. “The PPP Currently, small, rural VID-19 crisis, our doctors, Access for Rural Hospitals hospitals that are part of a nurses, and healthcare work- Act would make additional larger health system are not ers have been on the front funding through the Pay- Billie Sue (Wilson) Counts Billie Sue (Wilson) Counts, City, Oklahoma. 81, of Elk City, Oklahoma Funeral services will be held was born on October 5, 1938 2:00 PM., Saturday, June 27, in Cordell, Oklahoma. She is 2020 at the United Methodist the daughter of Bill Lee and Church in Elk City, Oklahoma. Iva Estella (Norwood) Wilson. Rev, Danny Ringer will offici- Billie went to be with her Lord ate, and Rev. Ben Pascoe will and Savior on Wednesday, assist. Interment will be at June 24, 2020 at Elkwood As- Fairlawn Cemetery, Elk City, sisted Living in Elk City, Okla- Oklahoma. Services have homa. been entrusted to the care of Billie graduated from Thom- Richard and Tammy Dugger Join local doctors, nurses, and hospitals in voting as High School, Class of 1956, and the staff of Martin-Dugger ers, Trevor Powers and Jaxson She went to South Western Funeral Home in Elk City, Powers all of Marlow, Okla- YES on State Question 802. Oklahoma State University on Oklahoma. homa, Josh and Julie Herren aBand Scholarship for playing Cherishing her memory is the Clarinet. one son, Scot “Bo” Hansford of Reydon, Oklahoma, Carter ING YES on 802 Billie married her best Counts and his wife, Teri of Gilliland of Elk City, Oklaho- friend and sweetheart, Larry Freeport, Texas; two daugh- ma, Jentry Herren of Reydon, Dean Counts on June 14, 1958 ters, Becky Galmor of Sayre, Oklahoma; two brothers, Dar- in Thomas, Oklahoma. She Oklahoma and Lisa Gilliland ren Wilson and his wife, Joi Expand healthcare to nearly worked for Shell Oil Company and her husband, Teddy of of Weatherford, Oklahoma, 200,000 hardworking Oklahomans as a bookkeeper and then be- Elk City, Oklahoma; eleven Warren Wilson and his wife, came the owner and operator grandchildren, Jamey Herren of B&B Quick Stop where and his wife, Judith of Rey- Delores of Clinton, Oklahoma; she worked until she retired in don, Oklahoma, Jaicee Pow- one sister, Brenda Thoma- 1989. Billie worked along side ers and her husband, Paul of son and her husband, Bryan Larry at their business Counts Marlow, Oklahoma, Melissa of Edmond, Oklahoma; one Save 28 rural hospitals at risk of Oil Company after she retired Ford and her husband, Billy of brother-in-law, Louis McCall closing from B&B Quick Stop. Elk City, Oklahoma, Jobe Gil- of Watonga, Oklahoma; one She enjoyed walking her liland and his wife, Chelsi of basset hounds, taking walks, Carter, Oklahoma, Allison Gil- sister-in-law, Joyce Owen of, and working in her yard, Bil- liland and her husband, Randal Edmond, Oklahoma. lie also loved watching her Brown of Elk City, Oklahoma, She is preceded in death by grandkids and great grandkids Conley Gilliland and his wife, her husband, Larry; parents, |Ni , Protect 14,000 essential healthcare playing sports. She was an Caitlin of Elk City, Oklahoma, Bill and Iva Wilson; one sister gat N jobs avid fan of Oklahoma State Sydney Counts, Rachel White, and best friend, Galeela Me- University and the Oklahoma Nathan White, Amber White Call. City Thunder. Billie loved to and Payson Townsend all of visit Galveston, Texas with her Freeport, Texas; sixteen great- Memorials can be made to son. They would always listen grandchildren, Tyson Gilli- the Elk City Animal Shelter in Bring home $1 billion of our tax dollars to the song Galveston, sang by land, Raegon Gilliland, and care of Martin-Dugger Funeral every year from Washington, DC Glen Campbell and written by Ali Gilliland all of Elk City, Home, P.O. Box 707, Elk City, Elk City’s own Jimmy Webb. Oklahoma, Anthony Gilliland, Oklahoma 73648. Billie was an active mem- Lexi Gilliland, Shooter Gillil- Online condolences can be ber of the United Methodist and and Stryker Gilliland all of Church in Elk City, Oklahoma Carter, Oklahoma, Carter Gil- sent to the family by using and of the United Methodist ‘Women. She was also a mem- ber of the Elks Lodge in Elk liland, Copelain Gilliland and Emma Brown all of Elk City, Oklahoma, Autumn Jo Pow- the online guest book at www. martin-duggerfuneralhome. com. ~Sin YES on 802 ‘Oklahomans Decide Healthcare Paid for by Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Vote YES on 802, Tuesday, June 30: GREAT P NSat REGIONAL MEDICALE