August 5, 2020 Issue, Page 9 of 9

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The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, August 5, 2020 Employees parable-sized communities. that said there has to be dedi- cessful.” Ivester said Boone’s gross cated safety officer with no Mason said the city tried annual income was a little other duties. its best to recruit major in- Continuedfrom page 1. said. more than $63,100, and “What I found out is in the dustries under his watch. then adding up his other ex- majority of towns and mu- He points out that his two employer, and the city has “But in a town the sign of done that and designated the Elk City you can’t do that,” penses — such as health nsur- nicipalities, it’s an additional major successes were the assistant fire chief to do that Boone said. ance, retirement and taxes duty for somebody else,” downtown building exte- — his total package came Ivester said. rior modification program role. Ivester said he assigned With Elk City’s size, not out to $81,235.84. The to- Harper and Mason told and partial sales tax rebate various other duties to dif- having that officer is not ferent employees. possible, he said. tal amounts of Mason and The News last week that program. In that rebate pro- Harper were $97,392.54 and they thought their jobs were gram, Mason said, of the The city’s budget that In June, Jim Mason, direc- $71,070.86, _ respectively. necessary for the city. the city commissioners ap- tor of economic and commu- The taxes employers have amount the new retailer sub- “T loved my job,I loved mitted to the state, a potion proved several weeks ago nity development, and Kye to pay are for Federal In- my coworkers,” Harper said, was 75 percent of what last Harper, director of human re- surance Contributions Act adding she holds no grudges was returned to the city. The year’s budget was, Ivester sources, also were terminat- [FICA] and Medicare. but that she is worried about rebate is 50 percent of that said. Because of that situ- ed. Their combined total sal- portion the first year and Boone touts his perfor- liability for the city as far ation, jobs had to be cut to aries and benefits amounted 25 percent the second year. mance as the safety officer, as the city not having a hu- save on labor costs. The city to around $250,000, Ivester The new retailers had to ap- pointing to his high rating man resource department. has 157 full-time employ- said, with those employees’ of the Total Recordable In- The HR department ensures ply to the program and be ees, with 179 overall, count- job duties being distributed cident Rate, established by that the city is in compliance approved prior to receiving ing summer time help. to other current employees, the Occupational Safety with all state, federal and lo- the rebate and they had to Employees work under Ivester said. and Health Administration, cal statutes. send to Mason’s office their at-will status, which means Boone _ disputes the monthly report to the state which measures safety inci- “Now there’s not someone they can be terminated at $250,000 figure. dents occurring under total there to do that permanently, tax commission. If they any time with no reason “Maybe Tom just saw the work hours. He said he was full time,” she said. “But failed to send in a copy of given. At-will laws of some salary for my department, able to reduce that rate in his they ran a lot of years with what they submitted to the form are prevalent in almost which is only me, but the time working for the city. human resources before I state, then they could be every state. Ivester pointed salary for department was He misses his job and his came along.” dropped from the program. out, though, that under at- more than what I actually employees and would he Mason said there “abso- The program continues, Ma- will laws, people can’t dis- make,” he said. Boone said love to have his job back, lutely” needs to be an eco- son said. missed for discriminatory he was making less money although he said he doesn’t nomic development director The city attracted 77 new reasons, such as their race - $10,000-$11,000 annually see that happening. in Elk City. businesses to town and or religion or other personal - than other safety coordina- Ivester said the city has to “T think the programs that passed the Community Ac- factors the law protects. tors who worked in munici- have someone designated to I put in place when I was tion Project Plans during Some smaller communi- palities of the same size. He perform the safety officer here have really helped our Mason’s tenure, and Mason ties that have close to 25 said some other department duties, and it has that person community to grow, espe- said he hopes the city lead- employees can assign health heads in the city also were now. The city also will do all cially the ones that we put in ers stay the course and do and safety duties for em- making the same amount of the required safety training. for the merchants and build- what the city said it would ployees and be covered by money less than employees But he said he could not find ing owners,” he said. “Those do when taxpayers approved the state laor law, Boone in similar positions in com- any specific laws required programs were highly suc- CAPPs last year. Mask Advances in treatments trict will ask that students any of those questions then acquire masks because they should not send their there may be times when child to school,” Coffman they need to wear them. said. reducing COVID-19 Continued from page 1. No decision has been Also at the meeting, health screenings were discussed, Coffman said she thought there was a good representa- deaths, doctors say made on mask-wearing, but and parents will receive a tion of ideas at the July 29 By Chris Casteel, The be lifesaving for patients who Elk City Superintendent questionnaire from schools meeting and students spoke Oklahoman are critically ill with CO- Rick Garrison will highly in which they will monitor up as well as residents and Though confirmed cases VID-19,” according to the recommend and encourage their children’s health each staffers. of coronavirus in Oklahoma World Health Organization. the use of masks in schools day before they head off to “T felt like there was a dia- rose by more than 22,000 in “For patients on ventilators, by students and staff, Coff- school. logue between all of them,” July, there were fewer deaths the treatment was shown to man said. She said the dis- “And if they answer yes to she said. last month from COVID-19 reduce mortality by about than in April, when new cas- one third, and for patients es numbered less than 3,000. requiring only oxygen, mor- NFEC to hold Multiple factors may be at tality was cut by about one work: Young people, who are fifth, according to prelimi- less likely to suffer serious nary findings shared with symptoms, accounted for a WHO.” annual meeting large portion of the cases in Dr. Dale W. Bratzler, July, while long-term care Chief COVID Officer at the facilities have mostly stayed University of Oklahoma, locked down to protect the said, “We have drugs that vulnerable. Also, deaths lag have been shown to reduce Northfork Electric Coop- Sons of the Sage, a Western numerous door prizes. mortality, two of them in erative’s 81st Annual Meet- Those drawings will be held diagnosis and hospitaliza- randomized trials - dexa- Swing band. Following the ing will be held under the the week of Aug. 17 and the tions, so the picture could methasone and Remdesivir. entertainment, the business pavilion at the Sayre Mu- portion of the meeting will worsen. “Remdesivir __ primarily winners will be announced nicipal Park on Aug. 15, be called to order by Jim- ‘on Facebook, Instagram and But local and_ national shortened hospital stays and with drive-through registra- my Taylor, president of the medical experts point to an- had a trend toward reduced on NFEC’s website. tion beginniong at 9 am. board of trustees. During this other reason: Treatments of death rates. Dexamethasone, “Inthe interest of the health All members that register time, elections for trustee the most serious cases have a drug that has been around and safety of our members evolved quickly and are now their attendance will receive Positions in districts 3, 4 and forever, actually reduced and employees, free swim- saving many lives. an NFEC cap and a tomato 5 will be done. Currently ming, miniature golf and death rates, particularly in slicer knife, an NFEC news serving in districts 3, 4 and Dr. Kersey Winfree, chief people sick enough to be on the buffet lunch will not be medical officer at SSM telease stated. 5 are James C. (Jimmy) Tay- a ventilator. “Our goal is to shorten lor, Ransom Snowden and available this year,” the re- Health St. Anthony, was “Then there’s a lot of re- this year’s event to include Brent Meador, respectively. lease stated. “Although we among the physicians who search around the monoclo- the business meeting and the An election by ballot will are taking extra precautions, spoke on a virtual roundta- nal antibody drugs, those members should be aware of ble last week. drugs that attack the immune announcement of the grand take place for Trustee Posi- “On the positive side, T prize winner,” the release tion No. 4. Members will the risk of contracting CO- system -- Tocilizumab is one would say that our treat- stated, decide between incumbent VID-19 in large gatherings. -- where a large observation ment options are widely ex- Legals NFEC officials ask at- Ransom Snowden and chal- We encourage all attendees panded from what they were study showed a fairly dra- tendees to use the RV park lenger, D&B Farms, Inc. to wear a mask. A limited two months ago and we do matic reduction in mortality. ANYONE HAVING FINANCIAL entrance on the west side of - Brandon Hickey, Vice number of disposable masks see what I believe are better These drugs work by blunt- INTEREST IN A 1960 STUDEBAKER the park where registration President - Designee. All will be available for those outcomes as it relates to the ing the immune responses ‘VIN#60S16222, CALL JAMIE 580- to the virus, so the immune 363-3939. of members will be done in members will be able to vote who don’t have one.” length of stay in the hospital a drive thru style method. for any candidate, regardless People can learn more and the number of patients system doesn’t attack the (Published in the Eik City News August Once registered, members that wind up needing ICU body.” 5, 12 and 19, 2020.) of district. Members will about this year’s meeting will have the option of re- also vote on a proposed by- by visiting the co-op’s Face- (intensive care unit) care,” Deaths climbing maining in their vehicle and he said. The number of deaths has SWOSU law amendment. book page. listening to a short range FM This year’s grand prize Remdesivir is an antiviral been climbing in Oklahoma broadcast of the meeting, or winner will take home Established in 1939, drug that has been undergo- and nationally, There were Northfork Electric Coop- 59 deaths in Oklahoma from a limited number of socially a Kubota Z121S Kom- ing tests as a treatment for erative serves 6,554 meters July 24 through July 30, an Continuedfrom page 1. distanced seats will be avail- mander mower, sponsored COVID-19. According to an increase of 51% from the through 2,586 miles of distri- and Marketing Office in able for members who would by Lindley Farm Equip- article in the New England week of July 17 through July bution lines in all or portions Room 205 of the Hays Ad- like to be outside, the release ment in Cordell, the release Journal of Medicine in May, 23, according to the Okla- ministration Building. Tick- stated. If people aren’t feel- stated. The recipient of that of Beckham, Custer, Dewey, “Remdesivir was superior homa State Department of ets are $15 in advance and ing well or are a high risk prize will be drawn and an- Greer, Harmon, Roger Mills to placebo in shortening the Health. Nationally, deaths $20 on the day of the show. for infection of COV ID-19, nounced at the conclusion of and Washita counties. The time to recovery in adults topped 1,000 most days last For additional information they should stay home or the business meeting. People Cooperative’s headquarters hospitalized with COV- week, about SWOSUpalooza, call utilize the optional drive in/ do not need to be present to are located at 18920 E 1170 ID-19 and evidence of lower But they have not reached the SWOSU Public Rela- drive out registration. win the grand prize this year. Ra in Sayre. Northfork Elec- respiratory tract infection.” the levels seen early in the tions and Marketing Office Entertainment will be pro- Members in attendance tric is an equal opportunity Decadron, or dexametha- pandemic in relation to the at 580-774-3063. vided from 9 to 10 a.m. by also will be eligible to win provider and employer. sone, a corticosteroid, “can number of cases.