August 8, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Committee meets to discuss Rodeo set to be plans heading into school year held in September By Don Munsch, Editor The document contains information on how the district The Elk City Rodeo of Champions is set to be held this will head back to school as safely as possible as the CO- year in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. VID-19 pandemic continues. Larry McConnell, president of the rodeo board, said One of the features of the plan is the district’s position on while the rodeo will be held, no decision had been made the wearing of masks, of which the district will “highly” on the parade, also an annual event. The parade will be encourage for all staff members and all students in grades discussed at the rodeo board meeting Tuesday, he said. 4-12. The rodeo will be held at 8 p.m, Sept. 4, 5 and 6 at the “The use of face coverings will be highly encouraged for Beutler Bros. Arena. As far as whether social distancing all students in grades PK-3 when social distancing is not would be mandatory, McConnell said the rodeo won’t re- possible or as deemed appropriate,” the Return to Learn quire that unless state or city officials implement restric- document stated. Bus drivers, cafeteria staff and office staff, tions. Elk City Public Schools nurse Sarah Senger, during high-traffic hours, are also highly encouraged to “The masks will be a suggestion, but that will be an op- left, talks to the educators, parents and wear masks. tion,” he said. others at a meeting Wednesday night at Elk Additionally, all school visitors will be required to wear a For more information on the rodeo, access https://www. City High School as the district prepares to mask upon entering any school building, and visitors will be open schools in the middle of a pandemic. screened at the school office. Social distancing will be re- Family praises Standing to Senger’s left is school nurse quested and hand sanitizer will be required of visitors, who Lindsay Marks. Staff photo by Don Munsch. also must fill out a short health screening questionnaire. “T told my principals the other day that two things are By Don Munsch, Editor Members of the Safe & Healthy Schools Districtwide hospital for care going to happen: We’re going to start and we’re going to be able to manage and use our plan and make decisions on what we have done up to this point with the situations we’ve Planning Committee on Wednesday received a copy of the Return to Learn plan that will be given to the Elk City Public given to Elk City had,” Elk City Superintendent Rick Garrison said at the be- ginning of Monday's meeting, adding that situations have Schools board at its Monday meeting. man, the first See Plans page 2. City could help health department Beckham County in coronavirus testing COVID-19 victim Employees to get tested By Shonda Little, Contributing writer Beckham County has now recorded the first COVID-19 death to occur within the county. By Don Munsch, Editor ing trail at the park will have to be blocked off, and dirt work Guadalupe (Lupe) Caudillo, 68, succumbed to his illness The city of Elk City might play a role if the local health should begin this week or next week. at July 30 at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in department needed help with COVID-19 testing. Also in the report, Ivester said his intent is to possibly sell Elk City. Interim City Manager Tom Ivester said at the Elk City City The Gathering Place, a community building available for According to his family, Caudillo had been at GRPMC Commission meeting Monday that the city could help out rent located at 916 S. Main St. The building is no longer since his wife Beatrice took him to the emergency room at if there needed to be a large group testing situation, which, used much and needs some work done on it, Ivester said. Las. July 21. in his estimation, would call for 35 or more tests. The city “Rather than put some more money into it, [we could] pos- However, his family also said the first signs of the vi- would not do the testing, as the city would help arrange the sibly sell it,” he said. He welcomed commissioners’ input or rus arrived on July 14 when he and his wife were traveling testing through the health department. objections about selling the building, which according to the home to Elk City from a family gathering in Yukon. “The health department is not set up to do more than a city’s website, can seat 110 people and has a full kitchen and “He had a slight cough and wanted to stop for cough couple of dozen a day,” Ivester said, noting the city has a two large rooms. drops,” the family said. “There was maybe an itch in his mass testing plan and is working through those logistics if it During public comment, resident Marilyn Johnson com- throat, but nothing beyond that.” needs to be implemented. plained about loose dogs and their owners [for more details, ‘The family said Caudillo was not displaying most of the As a test pilot program, city employees were to get tested see guest column on page 4]. Ivester said the city is advertis- symptoms typical of COVID-19, aside from the cough. He by the end of business on Thursday, Ivester said. ing now and is about to hire a second animal control officer. had no fever and was able to continue with his normal life Elk City Public Schools’ decision on whether they con- Also at the meeting, commissioners approved, among oth- routines. tinue in-house or distance learning depends on active cases er measures: As the week progressed, the cough continued to worsen in the county, Ivester said. ¢ A resolution declaring the intentional, reckless and/or until his wife insisted that he seek medical care at the ER. In other developments, Ivester told commissioners that a negligent production, promotion, sale and marketing of opi- Had the pandemic not been known, the cough would not groundbreaking should begin shortly for the multipurpose oids, “including the unlawful diversion of prescription have been as worrisome absent other symptoms. activity center at Ackley Park West. He said part of the walk- See Testing page 2. See Praises page 2. SWOSU unveils back-to-class plan From Southwestern Oklahoma State University The following items provide details about fall operations Southwestern Oklahoma State University faculty, staff, on campus: students, and administration have met numerous times over Fall 2020 Schedule Vehicle that overturned on I-40 westbound the past two months planning the reopening of SWOSU for Classes will start on Aug. 17. Campus will be closed on Wednesday. Photo submitted. Illinois man injured face-to-face classes, according to a news release. Univer- Labor Day, Sept. 7. Fall Break will be canceled and classes sity officials said preventing the spread of the coronavirus will meet on Oct. 15 and 16. Commencement (delayed from among the community has been the key focus of their plan. May) will be held on Noy. 20-21 with limited guest partici- The following items comprise a general outline of the plan, with the university planning to teach traditional face- pation. Classes will meet as usual on Nov. 23 and 24. After Thanksgiving Break, in order to minimize the in I-40 crash to-face classes. SWOSU will rely on guidance from state spread of the virus from potential holiday travel, all classes By Don Munsch, Editor and federal health authorities if changes are needed. will transition to virtual. There will be three days of virtual An Illinois man was injured in a wreck Wednesday after- For the latest on reopening plans, go to this link on the Dead Days, Nov. 30-Dec. 2. Virtual finals will start on Dec. noon in Washita County, near Canute. SWOSU website and continue watching for more up- 3 and end on Dec. 9. Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported Herbert Preinitz, 62, dates: https://share.swosu.edu/Fall20Reopening See SWOSU page 2. See Wreck page 2. Weather Vol. 118, No. 65 Mail delivery View online Dee tomorrow oi 98 / 73 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com