July 4, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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TZ Serving ‘wm, _Western Oklahoma Uy Since 1901 turday, July 4, 2020 Weekend Edition Elk City has several grads who Voters answer yes to State Question 802 want to be a Few Good Men By Don Munsch, Editor Oklahomans voted to expand Medicaid on Tuesday, but did so by a slight margin. But a narrow victory is still a victory. On State Question 802, voters passed the measure by 6,518 votes, with 340,279 people casting yes votes [50.48 percent] and 333,761 casting no votes [49.52 percent], ac- cording to ok.gov/elections. The expansion will go into ef- fect by July 1, 2021. The expansion will help those people who cannot afford health insurance and had fallen into an income bracket in which they are not covered by Medicaid. Medicaid expansion will be funded thorough a 90-10 match rate, whereby Oklahoma will be responsible for the 10 percent and the federal government for the 90 percent, said Corey Lively, chief executive officer of Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City. Also in Tuesday’s Republican Beckham County Sheriff primary, incumbent Sheriff Derek Manning defeated Wes Elk City High School 2020 graduates joining Marines, are, left picture, Marine from left, Evan Kosbau, Gregory Muck, Daymon Carlisle and Elijah Henry 1,340 to 930, or 59 percent to 41 percent. In the Beckham County Commissioner District No. 2 primary, recruiter Hinds, and right picture, from left, Tristen Butler, Alex Witherby and Dextin Barham. Staff photos by Don Munsch. incumbent Tate J. Finnell defeated Rodney Russell 454 to 256, or 64 percent to 36 percent. discusses State Question 802 may have passed overall on a state level, but it lost in most counties, as The Oklahoman re- By Don Munsch, Editor Kosbau said Harper sold him on the Ma- ported that just seven of 77 counties approved the mea- life in the Elk City High School spring graduate Eli- tines. sure. State Question 802 was defeated in Beckham County, jah Hinds found something he wanted in the “Tt was Sgt. Harper and the way he pre- 2,210 to 1,275 votes, or 63 percent to 37 percent. Corps US. Marine Corps. sented himself and the way he spoke about Lively was pleased about the 802 approval. By Don Munsch, Editor Hinds talked to Marine Corps recruiter the Marines, and he just made it sound like “A lot of hard work by a lot of people has paid off,” Sgt. Brian Harper joined Sgt. Brian Harper, and when he and Harper there’s a purpose for being there,” Kosbau Lively said. “What I think this does is it’s a first step for the U.S. Marine Corps met, Hinds weighed the most in his entire said. Other Marines also spoke highly of our state to solidify the steps for Medicaid expansion, to years ago because he want- life: 301 pounds. He has dropped to 245 Harper's recruiting skills. solidify the ability to provide health care for the gaps, those ed to be a part of “best of pounds, and said he appreciated how Harper Kosbau said he has seen how the Marines 225,000 people. This has been a long, long time coming. the best” and earn the title worked with him. have helped other people he knows, how it We're now the 37th state to do this, and it really is an in- of Marine. “T believe that’s the huge deal with why I helped them better their lives. credible moment.” The state has a high number of uninsured people, and “To be less than 1 per- joined the Marines, and I just crave that dis- Muck said he didn’t want to go to college those people are already accessing health carer predomi- cent of Americans that will cipline,” Hinds said. just yet and that he didn’t want to work in nantly through the emergency room, Lively said. ever wear the uniform that He is going to a pace where discipline is the oil field. His grandfather was in the Ma- “And that’s because they don’t health insurance and they we wear, and just from all abundant. ines, and Gregory saw joining the Marines can’t go to their primary care physician or they can’t go of the stories I ever heard “Now I just feel like I’m finally getting as a good opportunity. He wants to be in in- to a specialist to prevent some of these disease processes about the Marine Corps,” fantry. he said, his voice trailing what I need,” he said. He will need to drop from happening,” Lively said. Medicaid expansion will off, indicating how much about 10 more pounds before boot camp. “Just the challenge of it all,” he said about help them have the ability to go the doctor to prevent high- Hinds along with fellow ECHS 2020 se- why he joined. He wants to put in his four cost episodes of care, he said. that branch of the military service appealed to him. niors Gregory Muck, Daymon Carlisle and years and then eventually become a regis- See 802 page 2. Evan Kosbau sat down at the ECHS library tered nurse one day. Harper, a Marine Corps recruiter in Weatherford, a couple of weeks ago to discuss their rea- Elk City won’t have Carlisle said he joined the Marines because has been in the Marines for sons for joining the Marines. Nine ECHS he “wanted to be something greater than my- nearly six years and wants seniors joined the Marines. On Wednesday, self and serve my country.” He wants to be a additional graduation to stay in the Marines for three more seniors — Alex Witherby, Dextin diesel mechanic in the Marines. He will see his career. He will be a Barham and Tristen Butler — talked about how the first four years go and then will de- recruiter for another year joining the Marines. The two other students cide on his future after that point. ceremony and a half. This is a special to join the Marines are Vincente Arvizu and Hinds said he would like be in Motor T By Don Munsch, Editor duty assignment. He coy- Tyson Gilliland. in the Marines and he plans at this point to Elk City High School’s class of 2020 will not have an- ers nearly 60 schools in “Tt’s been astounding to get so many young re-sign for four more years after the initial other graduation ceremony, as a senior survey conducted by towns all over the region. individuals out of one school from one grad- four. After the Marines, he would like to go the Elk City Public Schools did not show enough support to “T have a lot of people uating class,” said Harper, a Marine recruiter to college and study forensic science. hold another ceremony. join for all kinds of rea- who is based in Weatherford. All seven of the ECHS grads said they are The school district sent a survey to seniors to see whether sons,” Harper said. “It’s Overall, Harper gives high marks for this ready for boot camp. Hinds said achieving they wanted a July ceremony, which would have been held just for whatever they’re group of ECHS recruits. success in boot camp is dependent on “how in the Pioneer Center. Of the 144 seniors, 35 said yes and looking for. Most of the “This graduating class has been absolutely bad you really want it.” 28 said no. Eighty-one seniors did not respond. The results timeI see it for the physi- were discussed at the Tuesday end-of-fiscal-year school amazing,” Harper said. “It started off with During the Wednesday interview, With- cal and mental challenges board meeting. one kid for me, and he graduated last year. erby said he chose enlisting in the Marines of boot camp and also Because of the low percentage of seniors wanting a formal He introduced me to a lot of these young in- to “better and challenge myself, to give my- earning the title as well [of ceremony, the district chose not to have a formal ceremony, U.S. Marine].” dividuals and it just went from there.” self opportunities that I wouldn’t have oth- Superintendent Rick Garrison said. The class of 2020 did After signing up, the The seniors have various ship-out dates, erwise just by going to college or entering have a parade in May in Elk City, mainly along 3rd Street, to recruit will have a physi- and each of them has had at least one rela- the work force.” He decided on the Marines allow families and the community an opportunity to recog- cal — the testing includes tive who served in the military. after graduation. nize the senior class. a lengthy questionnaire “To be a part of something better and to Had he not entered the Marines, he would Garrison said he didn’t see how the district could make about medical histories challenge myself” is how Kosbau described have attended Southwestern Oklahoma State a ceremony special if just a small number of students ap- — and then take an aca- why he joined the Marines. University. peared, with board member Kirby McBroom agreeing that it demic test, Harper said, He had an uncle who was a Marine for 27 In the Marines, if he qualifies, he hopes to wouldn’t make sense to have a ceremony if just 40 students Background investigation years and a grandfather who was in the Air be a cryptolinguist, which is a translator. He showed up. questionnaires also are Force for 26 years. Kosbau wants to enter looks forward to the experience of getting to “T think most kids have just moved on,” McBroom said. conducted, and recruiters Motor T, which is a school for mechanical meet new people and visiting places. He will Board member Kris Waters said she thought students who can talk to teachers about training, or do crime scene investigation. ship out several months from now, and will wanted a ceremony would want something meaningful, and prospective recruits. Drug He plans to attend college after the military work at two different jobs between now and she didn’t think with a small turnout that it would be mean- testing also is done. stint, and he has an interest in forensic sci- then and spend time with friends and family. ingful. See Recruiter page 2+) ence and criminal justice. See Marines page 2. See Ceremony page 2. Weather Vol. 118, No. 57 Mail delivery View online LALA tomorrow / 71 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com