August 22, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

Page Text

Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekend Edition Elk City superintendent reports positive coronavirus cases, quarantining Veteran, By Don Munsch, Editor Only a few people have tested positive for the coronavirus ready to deal with them. “So far we have been able to manage them and stay in longtime since school began in Elk City on Aug. 13, Superintendent Rick Garrison said Tuesday. The district had five students test positive and four staff school,” Garrison said. “Our hope is these numbers will stay within these manageable limits and we can continue to stay in school.” community activist dies members quarantined going into the start of the school year. Garrison said principals and staff have “done a great job “These were cases that were not necessarily part of the of getting school started and managing all the things we are school other than their days bled over to our report date so asking from them. Sarah Senger and Lindsay Marks, our we took over management as we got them back in school,” two school nurses, have been incredible. In our Covid cases he said. “Most of these have already returned or will this they have taken the lead in dealing with the students and par- week.” ents as we work together to keep everyone safe. They have Since Aug. 13, the district has had no staffers test positive started putting out a Facebook post several times a week to and four students test positive. This has resulted in quaran- give an update of where we are at.” tining about 22 students in the district, Garrison said. He appreciates how parents have been willing to work the “These numbers reflect about 1.8% of our student body,” district as it deals with starting school and virtual school and Garrison said. distance learning, including those students who are coping Garrison said the district’s protocols seem to be working, with illness or are quarantined and must manage the CO- and officials expected to have some positive tests and were VID-19 protocols. Church finishes fundraising, looks Joe Britton shows the certificate he forward to new foster home received when he accrued 75 years in the American Legion. Staff photo by Don Munsch. By Don Munsch, Editor Joe Britton, a World War II veteran who was active in many parts of the Elk City community, died Wednesday. He was 96. Britton lived at Elkwood Assisted Living in Elk City. Earlier this year, he celebrated 75 years with American Legion Post 181 in Elk City. Post 181 started after World War I, said Post 181 Commander Jerry Thompson, in an interview earlier this year. ‘A Navy veteran, Britton grew up in Elk City and was born 12 miles south of town, in the Taylor community. He served in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a submarine tender and repaired submarines dur- ing the war. He was home on leave when he joined the American Legion, The News previously reported. In a Masonic Lodge bio provided to The Elk City By Don Munsch, Editor trying to do in a residential care type situation,” Rodgers News, Britton, after his time in the service, ran a dairy Anew home for foster children to be built across the street said. for four years. from the Elk City United Methodist Church has reached its Circle of Care recruits and will do training for the foster “He then sold bread on routes to the area grocery stores fundraising goal, pastor Scott Rodgers of Elk City UMC parents, based on Circle of Care and Department of Human and worked for Johnson Bakery, Bond Bread and other said last week. Services requirements, Rodgers said. companies for about twenty-five years,” the bio said. The church partnered with Oklahoma United Methodist Rodgers said it was “pretty exciting” to see the fundraising “He then worked for the County Commissioners build- Circle of Care for Children and Youth, or Circle of Care, finished. The church wanted to finish fundraising by Easter, ing bridges. In 1981 Joe ran for County Commissioner based in Oklahoma City, for the project. in April, but the church didn’t have worship for 11 weeks and was elected. He served for ten years and retired in “The church raised the $200,000 and Circle of Care because of the pandemic. So the church decided to finish this 1991. Governor David Walters then appointed him as matched that $200,000,” Rodgers said. “We're now finish- summer, and was able to accomplish the goal. State Highway Commissioner for District Five where ing up and getting a builder. ... And as soon we get a builder, Several banks gave money and other donations came from he served for four years. While serving he received an then we are ready as ready can be to break ground.” private giving. Some other businesses have offered in-kind award from the ‘Good Roads Association’ for his work Most builders said it would take six to seven months to gifts, and another church has offered inside furnishings. in transportation.” build a house, and the home should be open sometime next See Foster page 2. See Britton page 2. year, by late spring or early summer, Rodgers said. But that Lucas applauds U.S. Department of is dependent on finding a builder and starting construction work in October. Once the church finished its portion of fundraising, the church steps out of the way and Circle of Care chooses a builder, Rodgers said. Circle of Care will find foster parents Commerce’s investment in 3rd District and children to live in the home. On its website, Circle of Care said it “works to recruit, train, and provide ongoing US. Rep. Frank Lucas, who represents Oklahoma’s 3rd plans and fortify programs to assist communities in respond- support to foster parents. We have a contract through DHS District, said he welcomes federal money coming to the area ing to the coronavirus pandemic, the release stated. to provide these services anywhere in the state.” for economic development and other programs. Part of the “Today’s investments in Oklahoma come at a crucial time The church, located on Country Club Boulevard, will do money will be used in Burns Flat. as communities across our great state continue to meet the a shower for the foster parents when they arrive and then In a news release from his Washington, D.C., office, Lu- challenges of the coronavirus pandemic,” Lucas said in the any time new children come to live at the home, Rodgers cas applauded U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and release. “Through these funds provided by the CARES Act, said. One of the best features of the home — to be called the Economic Development Administration after the U.S. our local communities will continue to meet the immediate the Cimarron House — is that it can handle a multiple sib- Department of Commerce’s EDA awarded $1.2 million in needs of Oklahomans and better plan for a full recovery. I ling group. The house will be 2,700 square feet with four CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to three EDA Eco- look forward to working with community leaders to ensure bedrooms. Keeping a sibling group together is a goal of the nomic Development District organizations across Oklaho- these funds are deployed quickly to help my fellow Oklaho- home. ma’s 3rd Congressional District. mans and local businesses, and I thank Commerce Secretary “That’s a really big help, and that’s one of the things we’re The funds will be used to update economic development See Lucas page 2. Un nm Weather A / 69 Vol. 118, No. 67 Mail delivery View online Ge s cee a8 ‘ tomorrow 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com