August 15, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, August 15, 2020 Campus district is on pace to spend what you should have been $872,658.19 of that $2.5 mil- paid during the year, then have gotten an increase of about $400,000 because of that your local revenues are down and then state aid is also down, so it’s a missed in a few years we might be able to replace. That money lion this year. The state is not they take that amount away the chargeables being down could be better used on an Continuedfrom page 1. doing well financially, Garri- the following year in your last year. opportunity that we will not improvement that we know going to take our carry- son said, and the chargeables state aid, Garrison said, add- “Because the state educa- get back of being able to will be used. This becomes over from [$2.5 million] to from last year are down. ing that’s why it’s important tion overall allocation was keep our General Fund Bud- even more important in the about $1.6 [million],” Gar- Garrison explained in an to factor that into the dis- cut about 7% along with get at a healthy amount.” budget situation we are in rison said about this fiscal email that chargeables are trict’s carryover every year. other state agencies, we not On the positive side, the now. These funds may be district has saved money and year. “And I say that as my those revenues that are con- This past fiscal year, he only did not get our increase the only liquid money we throat crackles a little bit.” tried to keep the carryover could possibly have to re- sidered ‘local” such as ad said, the district's charge- we should have gotten that He said that amount of de- amount to $2.5 to $2.6 mil- place air units with building valorem, gross production ables were way down, so would keep us level [but] lion. Projected expenditures crease is “very unnerving, and auto license. The way instead of the state taking we took about a $50,000 cut damage as we navigate all are $16.6 million and rev- very unsettling” and that the school funding formula money away from the dis- from what we got in state enues are $15.7 million. the cuts.” there are “many, many fac- works is, in one year if your trict in the state aid formula aid last year,” he said. “So Trustees approved using “T know I cry a lot about tors that go into that.” The chargeables are up from this year, the district should it’s kind of a double cut in the State of Oklahoma Roof the budget and that we never Asset Management Program have any money, but this way more than necessary or $200 level of federal unem- Stimulus appropriate. He said he was not in- and hiring Ford Roofing & year, we really don’t have volved in the inner circle ployment benefits. Sheet Metal Co. of Lawton any money,” Garrison said. Continued from page 1. “The first COVID pack- negotiations and he can’t say “It’s a huge amount of for $844,539 and Oklahoma “Tt’s a really tough budget When The Elk City News age was necessary, but we whether it would be $600 or Office of Management and money, it’s a huge amount year. I feel fortunate that asked U.S. Rep. Frank Lu- can’t go overboard, we can’t $200 or some other amount we're not going to have to Enterprises Services for of negotiations going on,” Jet [House] Speaker [Nancy] in the next stimulus, but $29,558.87 to resurface the cas’ office for his opinions he said. “If we get it right, make any drastic changes Pelosi basically change the “you want to make people Pioneer Center roof. Jeff about the next stimulus pack- going into this year. We American economy using whole, but you don’t want to then we hold the economy age, the newspaper was re- pretty well kept everybody Jung, vice president of Ford this as an excuse,” Lucas discourage them from going together until we can de- in place and rehired.” Roofing and Sheet Metal ferred to an interview Lucas said in the radio interview. back to work. So it’s a fine velop a vaccine or therapeu- Co., talked about the project did last week with KWOX- The district received a Lucas said there’s “much line, and that’s really one of tics or the ability to treat it. and showed aerial images of K101 radio in Woodward. settlement of $4.6 million argument” among the “pro- the bigger sticking points Congressman Lucas, who If we get it wrong, then we for an insurance claim for the Pioneer Center. The roof business” community in right now.” represents Oklahoma’s 3rd risk recreating the Great De- hail damage, with the Pio- at the Pioneer Center was Congress that if the federal Lucas also thinks employ- District in Washington, said pression of the 1930s and we neer Center being part of damaged from a hail storm unemployment benefit was ers need liability protection, the claim. Trustees approved and was deemeda total loss, he thinks another stimu- more than people were earn- because many people could cannot let that happen.” lus package will occur, but doing the Pioneer Center but Garrison said the roof ing in their regular job, then sue their employers because Republicans and Demo- that is dependent on what roof project, with the cost was in good enough shape that would discourage them of COVID-19 or the threat crats have agreed to provide is put together. He noted his at around $874,000, which for an overlay. from going back to work. of contracting COVID-19 at another round of stimulus came from the claim fund. Among other action, the party, the GOP, produced a “And that wasn’t the goal,” work. Lucas said Democrats checks to Americans, vari- Other projects could be done board approved handbooks $1 trillion proposal for the Lucas said. “The goal was to will have to accept some ous reports said. Still, it’s not with the claim money. second go-round of federal make sure people could pay form of liability protection for certified staff, support clear when negotiations will “We have about 30 line stimulus, while Democrats their rent, feed their children, just as Republicans will staff, substitutes and stu- items on the claim that we wanted a few trillion dollars buy their groceries, take care have to accept some sort of restart on the next stimulus will be going to prioritize in dents; a contract for the more, which Lucas said was of their necessities.” increase from the proposed package. the coming months,” Garri- Paragon Communications son said in an email. Live and on Demand School Streaming Services for Big Murder in federal court to possessing ment for carjacking resulting He said the district may marijuana with intent to dis- in death, life imprisonment not fix some properties that Elk sports and events and for tribute. He was sentenced in were included in the claim the 2020-21 school year; and Continuedfrom page 1. for kidnapping resulting in if officials think it was just that case on April 18, 2018, the district’s distance learn- stabbing and cutting her cosmetic or that in the next to 10 months in prison, the death, and 25 years impris- with a sharp object.” ing plan. release stated. few years the building may The arson count alleged onment for arson. There is Trustees examined the Re- During the early evening not be used. he maliciously set fire to the no parole in the federal pris- “This opens the door for tur to Learn plan, which of Nov. 21,a jury found Bull- victim’s dwelling in Ham- some discussion on when details in myriad ways how coming guilty of first-degree on system. mon. the Elementary Bond comes the district will attempt to felony murder, carjacking This case is in federal Beginning Nov. 12, 2019, back up for a vote in 2030 of start school safely in light resulting in death, kidnap- a jury heard evidence that court because Bullcoming is what the district may want to of the pandemic. Garrison ping resulting in death, and Bullcoming beat the vic- try to do if the community described the document as arson of a dwelling, the re- a member of the Cheyenne tim, his ex-girlfriend Linda was willing to continue the lease stated. The jury was and Arapaho Tribes, the of- Ad Valorem and Sales Tax ever-evolving. “Lindy” Zotigh, in her home unable to reach a verdict on Bond with no tax increase,” “This is a moving target,” and then bound her mouth fenses occurred in Indian first-degree premeditated he said. “Bottom line is, we Garrison said. “We’ve got a and wrists with duct tape. Country under the jurisdic- murder. The verdict was re- don’t want to put a million lot of people spending a lot Evidence at trial showed turned on what would have tion of the Cheyenne and dollar roof on a building that of time on it.” that, using her vehicle, he been the victim’s birthday. drove her to a field in Indian Arapaho Tribes, and the Citing Bullcoming’s three Country and “made her walk prior convictions for vio- vehicle used in the carjack- Pike Albert Word, III approximately 50 yards away from the road, where lent crimes against women, ing had traveled in interstate Pike Albert Word, IIT was by his father Joe Newton Judge Goodwin sentenced commerce. The victim was Smithey; maternal grandpar- he stabbed her 48 times and born on July 31st, 1968 to Bullcoming to life imprison- Phyllis Diane Harless and ents Arthur and Elva Harless; slit her throat,” the release also a member of the Chey- stated. ment for first-degree felony Pike Word, Jr. in Elk City, patemal grandparents Pike Evidence also showed murder, 25 years imprison- enne and Arapaho Tribes. Oklahoma and passed away and Lucille Word; cousins on August 7th, 2020 in Flower Buddy Harless and Michael that he then drove Zotigh’s vehicle back to her home, Lawrence Ray “Dusty” Mound, Texas with his moth- Harless; aunt Susie Harless; er and his sister by his side. and uncle Jerry Harless. which he set on fire. Volun- Wooten He attended the Merritt He is survived by his moth- teer firefighters from Ham- School System beginning in er Phyllis Smithey of Flower mon noticed fresh blood in Lawrence Ray “Dusty” kindergarten and graduated in Mound, TX; his sister Jodie the residence, and a special Wooten was born April 1, 1986, where he was the Presi- Morgan, her partner Andrew agent with the Bureau of 1971 in Oklahoma City, Okla- dent and Salutatorian. In 1996 Cochran, niece Piper Morgan Indian Affairs found fresh homa to Catherine Jo and Ray he graduated from the Uni- and nephew Newt Morgan, blood on the headrest of the Lee Wooten. He passed away versity of Central Oklahoma all of Flower Mound, TX; Saturday, August 8th, 2020 in in Oklahoma City and from brother in law Cleve Morgan vehicle. Both blood samples Medicine Park, Oklahoma at there entered the financial ser- matched the victim, while of Denton, TX; cousin Rob- the age of 49 years, 4 months vices sector where he enjoyed in Zimms and her family of blood on the vehicle’s dash- and 7 days. asuccessful career with many Tuttle, OK; cousin Stephanie board matched Bullcoming, Dusty spent his childhood exciting promotions and re- Harless and her family of Yu- prosecutors said. inTexas and Oklahoma. At the locations including Overland kon, OK; uncle Carroll Har- The Bureau of Indian Af- age of 17 he made his home in Dusty is survived by his Park, KS; Dallas, TX; and fairs arrested Bullcoming in Oklahoma. He made a living Houston, TX. Jess and cousin Cheryl Eslin driving a truck and also in the son, Skyler Wooten, New Pike first enlisted in the and their families of Rogers, El Reno on Sept. 8, 2017, Hampshire; his father, Ray AR; and his son Trey Word oil field where he preformed National Guard in 1987 and for failing to appear before Lee Wooten, Oklahoma; 1 various duties and was one after several years of reserve of Houston, TX. Pike is also the Tribal District Court for that could never stay still for sister, Sheila Word, Texas and duty he entered the military survived by a wealth of other the Cheyenne and Arapaho any length of time. Dusty also a host of other relatives and full time in 2001 for the Texas family, friends, and veterans Tribes in Concho on Sept. had a passion for motorcycles friends. Army National Guard where who have celebrated his life 7 on a charge of traffick- and owned one as long as the he achieved the officer status with us and mourned his pass- ing in controlled dangerous family can remember. He took Services will be held Sat- ‘of Major. Pike had assign- ing. substances. Evidence at trial pride in everything he did and urday, August 15, 2020 at the ments in Beaumont, Austin, His memorial service will showed that he had scrapes had a playful soul. He was Fairlawn Chapel at 2:30 PM. and San Antonio, where he be held at 10:00am on Satur- and cuts on his arms, hands, the best person anyone knew, Burial will be at the Fairlawn found lifelong friends and his day August 22nd, 2020 in the had a heart of gold and if you Cemetery under the direction military calling along the way. Fairlawn Chapel at Fairlawn and legs, as well as blood on knew him there were never of Chris Whinery and the staff He retired upon honorable Cemetery, Elk City, Okla- his belt and sandals. DNA any ill words said about him. discharge in 2017 and relocat- homa. The family requests analysis confirmed the blood He is preceded in death by of Affordable Cremation Ser- no flowers but donations can ed to the Fort Worth Area to on his sandals belonged to his mother and 2 brothers, vice-West. Condolences can be closer to his mother, sister, be made on Pike’s behalf to the victim. On Dec. 5, 2017, Bobby Joe Wooten and Jessie be made online at www.clas- niece, and nephew. the Pancreatic Cancer Action Bullcoming pleaded guilty James Wooten. sicfunerals.com Pike is preceded in death Network.