September 2, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, September 2, 2020 Revenue Financing Modern Frontier. “With the pending com- pletion of the new conven- tion center, Omni Hotel, Continued from page 1. president and CEO of Okla- Continued from page 1. federal CARES Act, most First. Americans Museum complete the nearly $10 homa Bank and Trust, said slowdown in air travel earmarked for debt service. and the recent expansion of million project, officials in the release. “We are hon- were expected. Carrier, who is retiring in USA Softball Hall of Fame said. The building construction ored to help with financing Airport trustees cut the October after 13 years lead- Stadium,” he said, “we are is currently about 65% com- for this project.” operating budget by $5.7 ing the CVB, is optimistic in entering an era when OKC plete. Corn Bible Academy million, or 11%. Filling the his outlook and in Oklaho- should be a national leader “Oklahoma Bank and serves students in grades gap is $24.7 million from the ma City’s marketing as The in the industry.” Trust is happy to support 7-12, providing a faith- Corn Bible Academy and is based education to students glad to welcome them to the from all across Western community,” Keith Ventris, Oklahoma. Could the coronavirus make for a lighter flu season? By Soumya Karlamangla, what the interaction is if very low, while the U.S. has Bronstein said. concentrated among people Los Angeles Times one is co-infected by the not, they point out. “Tt doesn’t look like CO- of color as well as those who LOS ANGELES - Among flu as well as COVID-19,” Cherry also warned that VID is going away anytime are lower-income, in part the many questions con- said Dr. Alexander Li, dep- some strains of flu could soon,” he said, because their jobs tend to fronting public health ex- uty chief medical officer for also be more dangerous than Many doctors said they make them more exposed to perts is one that could de- L.A. Care Health Plan, the others. Researchers recently were concerned that people the virus, said Univesity of termine the next turn of the nation’s largest public health reported a strain of flu cir- may not get their flu shot be- California, Riverside epide- plan. “Having COVID plus cause they’re worried about miologist Brandon Brown. coronavirus pandemic: What flu together is probably bad culating in pigs that could happens when COVID-19 news.” infect humans and cause a visiting clinics or pharma- When flu season begins, meets influenza? pandemic. That would make cies due to COVID-19. The essential workers already A handful of studies from matters much more compli- exposed to the coronavirus The coronavirus has al- COVID-19 pandemic has China and the U.S. identified ready killed more than patients with influenza and cated _ and deadly. led to a drop in people seek- in their workplace will be at 170,000 Americans in six “T think the important ing routine medical care, risk of contracting two virus- COVID-19, but with mixed thing is to keep our fingers months. The flu season, including a reduction in es. And people who are able which typically runs from results. Some found that the crossed,” he said. to stay home, who otherwise October through April, usu- patients seemed sicker than Eyen in a normal flu sea- scheduled childhood immu- COVID patients without the son, many people die from nizations as parents avoid may have caught the flu, will ally leads to tens of thou- the doctor’s office. be less likely to catch the flu flu; some found no differ- it. In the 2018-19 season, ap- sands of deaths. If both viruses begin _ sickening ence. proximately 34,200 people Ultimately, the flu season and COVID-19, Americans simultaneously, Ifa patient shows up at a died of influenza in the U.S., may shake out much like “Tt more just irons down that could create what Cen- hospital with both infections, three-quarters of whom were the pandemic itself _ un- the disparities that are here,” ters for Disease Control doctors may not quickly di- older than 65 - an age group evenly. Deaths have been Brown said. and Prevention Director Dr. agnose both illnesses, since also particularly vulnerable they have virtually identical to COVID-19, according to Robert Redfield recently called “the worst fall from symptoms. If the condition is the CDC. Dr. Gary Lee Ford spotted, there is little known a public health perspective about how to treat such pa- To prevent these deaths, that we've ever had.” experts widely recommend- Dr. Gary Lee Ford, 75, tients. There are medicines ed the flu shot, with the best of Elk City, Oklahoma was But in truth, no one knows what is going to happen as that reduce the severity of a time get it in September and flu infection, and medicines born on November 16, 1944 fall approaches. It’s likely October. Though the flu is in Clinton, Oklahoma, He is that do the same for COV- that the flu season will be- most dangerous for children, the son of Ray and Ruth Ann come yet another part of life ID-19, but the drugs are dif- pregnant women and older (Clark) Ford. Gary went to be affected by the pandemic ferent and may not mix well. adults, the vaccine is recom- with his Lord and Savior on in strange and unexpected ‘When the coronavirus pan- Friday, August 28, 2020 at his demic began earlier this year mended to everyone over 6 ways. months of age. residence in Elk City, Oklaho- in the United States, the flu ma surrounded by his loving Experts say it’s possible As with COVID-19, stop- that the social distancing season was tapering off. Flu family. peaks in the U.S. in ping young people from measures and widespread typically December and January. falling ill protects others. A He attended grade school at closures of businesses in Indianapolis Country School But flu season occurs young, healthy person who just east of Clinton, Oklahoma of Martin-Dugger Funeral place because of COVID-19 Home in Elk City, Oklahoma. during the Southern Hemi- gets the flu shot reduces his and a short time in Hobert will reduce the spread of sphere’s winter, which co- own chances of becoming and Elk City while his moth- Cherishing his memory is the flu so that it’s even less his loving wife of fifty-three prevalent than in a typical incides with summer in infected, as well as the pos- er attended LPN school. He years, Lou Ford of the home; season, as appears to have Thethe Northern Hemisphere. sibility of spreading the vi- graduated from Clinton High experience there typi- daughter, Toye Crouch and her happened in other coun- provides an indication rus to someone who may not School in 1963. He attended cally Southwestern State College husband, Cody of Elk City, tries. But they worry that if of what kind of flu season recover as quickly. Oklahoma; son, Ty Ford and restrictions ease, this silver for two years before enter- might be seen in the north “Everyone is waiting for a ing the University of Hous- his wife, Tiffany of Elk City, lining may not last. Oklahoma; daughter-in-law, starting in the fall. vaccine for COVID, and the ton College for Optometry, “Tf things are moving in But in 2020, there have thing with influenza is, we Patty Ford of Shawnee, Okla- In 1967 he married Carol Lou the correct direction, then we been virtually no cases of the do have a vaccine. We have a Hinz in Clinton, Oklahoma homa; grandchildren, Kenlee could have reopening, and flu in countries such as Aus- reliable, effective vaccine,” Crouch, Tate Crouch, Av- that might actually coincide tralia and Brazil. Experts say said Dr. David Bronstein, a and they lived in Houston as ery Ford, Cooper Ford, Trip with the middle of the flu Gary continued school and Ford and Taylen Ford all of season _ you could actually that limited air travel and pediatric infectious disease worked at NASA on Apollo 11 Elk City, Oklahoma; nephew, have increased transmission social distancing measures specialist with Kaiser Per- part-time. Upon graduation Rick Smith and his wife, To- may have reduced the im- manente. from that,” said Dr. Geoffrey from the University of Hous- nia, Matt Ford and his wife, Leung, ambulatory medical portation of the disease into In the 2018-19 flu season, ton he enlisted in the United Kenna all of Clinton, Okla- those countries as well as its the vaccine was considered States Army Volunteer Draft homa; nieces, Vanessa Baker director at Riverside Univer- sity Hospital System in Cali- spread within. 29% effective and just under and served two years at Reyn- and her husband, Kenneth, fornia. “It really behooves us There’s also some think- half of the American popula- olds Army Hospital, Fort Sill, Janet Weichel and her hus- ing that the coronavirus it- to do as much as possible to self might have kept the flu tion received it, according to Oklahoma as a Captain. band, Steve, Lissy Ford all of prevent any flu cases we can the CDC. Gary moved to Elk City in Clinton, Oklahoma; brother- with the traditional tools.” from gaining a foothold _ 1970 to begin his optometry in-law, Joe Hinz and his wife, that only one respiratory vi- ‘Those numbers may seem Rosemary of Newton, Kansas; The reopening of schools practice. In several years Dr. in particular could be risky. tus can dominate at a time. low, but they belie the immu- John Edwards joined the prac- sister-in-law, Nita Kay Ford of Though children’s suscepti- Experts say that phenome- nization’s true value, Bron- tice and it became Dr. Ford & Clinton, Oklahoma. non could theoretically work stein said. The shot not only Edwards until his retirement He is preceded in death by bility to serious illness from COVID-19 has seemed rela- in both directions, but they reduces people’s chances of in 2015. his son, Shelby Ford; parents, tively low, kids are particu- wouldn’t count on it. falling sick at all, but also He was active in Elk City Ray and Ruth Ford; brothers, larly vulnerable to the flu. “Usually when one is the severity of the illness, so Education Foundation, Ki- Joe Mac Ford and Doug Ford; sister, Joy Smith and in-laws, The virus runs rampant at there, the other isn’t at least they’re less likely to end up wanis, and taught Sunday Elmer and Agnes Hinz. schools and then children that’s sort of the dogma,” in the hospital. School at First Baptist Church Memorials can be made said Dr. James Cherry, an in- The CDC estimates that for forty-years, He served on take it home to their fami- fectious disease specialist at to HELP, Inc., Gideons In- lies. in the 2018 season, the flu the Oklahoma State Board of ternational, or the Elk City the University of California, Leung and other experts vaccine prevented not only Optometry and was an active Education Foundation in care recommend that people get Los Angeles. “Conceivably, flu could in some way could 3,500 deaths, but also 58,000 volunteer for HELP, Inc. of Martin-Dugger Funeral Funeral services will be held the flu shot to reduce their people from being hospital- Home, P.O. Box 707, Elk City, chances of falling ill with dampen the coronavirus, but ized. Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at Oklahoma 73648. I think this is August and influenza and to lessen the Tf the coronavirus surges 10:00 a.m, at the First Baptist Online condolences can be severity of illness for those that’s several months away, this winter, clearing patients Church, Elk City, Oklahoma. sent to the family by using so anything about that will Rev. Danny Ringer, Pastor who do contract it. They also the online guest book at www. advise that people stick to be speculation.” out of hospitals could be Jase Hargrove, Rev. Billy martin-duggerfuneralhome. the masking and social dis- Experts are quick to dis- the difference between life Smithey and Rev. Keith Rus- com. tancing measures mandated courage assumptions that the and death, experts say. The sell will officiate. Interment ‘The family would like to to control COVID-19, be- US. will see very little flu flu shot then can be seen as will be held at Fairlawn Cem- invite all that cannot attend cause those should also help just because that was Aus- a tool to preserve resources etery, Elk City, Oklahoma. to watch the service live on keep influenza at bay. tralia’s experience. Australia for COVID-19, for which Services have been entrusted Martin-Dugger Funeral Home “The part that scares me has also managed to keep there are fewer treatments to the care of Richard and Facebook page or on You- the most is we don’t know its coronavirus death count and a higher mortality rate, Tammy Dugger and the staff Tube.