September 9, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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= 7 Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 WeekdayEdition Area optometrists working with SWODA to provide eye care assistance Reduced-cost eye exams and eyeglasses are now avail- Rodney Skinner, pharmacist and owner able to area residents, as area optometrists in cooperation of Paul Jones Drug, center left, and Rick with South Western Oklahoma Development Authority Skinner, contractor, center right, shovel dirt (SWODA) Aging Services are doing their part to help at the new site of Paul Jones Drug in Elk people, according to a SWODA news release. City. The pharmacy had its groundbreaking The release said SWODA and the optometrists will Sept. 2 on the property of where it plans make it possible for senior adults with vision impair- to move on North Main Street in Elk City. YAUL JONF® DRUG PHAR... ACY ments and those who can’t afford treatment to receive Also pictured here are, far left, Gina Meador, needed services. pharmacist and a former Paul Jones Drug y MA To qualify, people must be 60 years of age or older owner; Jeff Waters, Elk City market president and/or an ADvantage consumer. People also must live in of Great Plains Bank; Ashlee Skinner, Beckham, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Rog- Rodney’s wife; and Bill Osborn, partner with er Mills or Washita counties and they must meet certain Paul Jones Drug. Staff photos by Don Munsch. income and resource guidelines. If people are a senior and/or disabled Advantage applicant, they must not be case-managed by any agency other than SWODA Aging Paul Jones Drug holds Case Management. People can apply now through to May 31, 2021, by contacting Tangela Henry at 800-627-4882, ext. 126, or ceremony for its new building 580-562-5026. If an individual is aSWODA ADvantage consumer, he or she will need to contact his or her SWO- By Don Munsch, Editor Rodney Skinner, pharmacist and owner of Paul Jones DA Aging Services Case Manager. Paul Jones Drug will move to a new location next year, Drug, said the biggest advantage to moving to a new location People will need to provide verification of income and and when the pharmacy moves, it will add a feature lacking is access to customers, especially as it pertains to COVD- resources through such documents as tax records, bank now at its current location: a drive through. 19. The new location will allow them to get their medicines statement or Social Security check stubs. All information A fixture in the 100 block of North Main Street in Elk City through a drive-through. Also, he said his pharmacy had to will be held confidential. since 1901, Paul Jones Drug had a groundbreaking Sept. 2 comply with some new regulations that have been imple- “SWODA Aging Services thanks all optometrists who at its new property in the 800 block of North Main Street. mented regarding compounding, so the new building will be See SWODA page 2. Aconcrete slab already rests in the new spot of Paul Jones able to meet the standards. Hofmeister Drug, to be located next door to Lupe’s restaurant. See Jones page 2. Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame encourages school blood drives as inductees for 2020 revealed supply plummets City, Oklahoma. His parents, John A. and Anna Faye, raised John and his three brothers, Richard, Tommy and Ronnie, on OKLAHOMA CITY -— State Superintendent of Public their nearby farm where they always had something to do, Instruction Joy Hofmeister urged schools last week to host according to the recent release. Still, all of the O’Hara boys drives for staff and students to help ensure the Oklahoma found time to devote to sports, and in those days, you could Blood Institute can meet demand, as blood supplies have find one on just about every team. dwindled because the COVID-19 pandemic, John’s mother was actually found swinging her handbag at “Blood drive cancellations are driving supplies to criti- one of the opponent’s fans who asked, “How many of those cally low levels,” a news release from Hofmeister’s office blankety-blank O’Hara boys are there?” said. “To maintain a strong blood supply, 1,200 donations a He was active in his family’s Catholic community and day are needed in Oklahoma. With more than 30% of total struggled with choosing his life’s vocation. He had always donations in the state collected from donors associated with loved sports and thought he would like to coach football education groups, school-based drives are critical.” John Barton O’Hara John Paul Smith but he also considered entering the priesthood. His wife, the Hofmeister said schools can play a critical role. former Saundra Cutright from Canute, and children, Chad, “One of every three units of blood used in our state is col- The Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame 2020 inductees Koby and Shelley, loved hearing that story and were happy lected from blood drives held with the educational system,” were announced Thursday, with new members being John he had chosen to coach. They were his biggest fans and en- Hofmeister said in the release. “School-based drives are Barton O'Hara and John Paul Smith. thusiastically supported his many coaching jobs. During his essential to ensuring a strong blood supply for our friends They will officially be inducted Sept. 11 during the half- years at ECHS, he was actively involved serving as class and neighbors. I encourage all educators to uphold the Okla- time of the Elk City-Guymon football game. Qualifications president and FFA president. He lettered in football, basket- homa Standard of helping one another through difficulty by for honorees include the inductee having been a resident or ball and baseball. He was awarded All State football and All supporting blood drives.” having worked in Elk City and ideally have attended Elk Star Conference in basketball. OBI officials said they have taken measures to ensure the City Schools at some point. They must have brought posi- He graduated from Panhandle State after completing his donation process is safe, implementing social distancing tive pride and recognition to Elk City for exemplary leader- freshman year at OU. While at Panhandle, he captained the within designated spaces and spreading drives across mul- ship in their chosen occupation leading to state and/or na- football team three years and played baseball. He was vot- tiple days to reduce the number of donors at a given time. tional achievement, according to a news release from the Elk ed Collegiate All-Conference for three years in both offen- Additionally, sanitation practices, particularly in high- City Chamber of Commerce. sive and defensive play. He was chosen for the Outstanding touch areas, have been enhanced above the customary med- The Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame was jointly created Aggie Football Award. ical-grade procedures, the release stated. Temperatures are by the City of Elk City, The Elk City Public Schools and the His coaching career included: screened outside the donation area, and donors and staff Elk City Chamber of Commerce in 2015 with the purpose Magnum High School head football coach, 1967 wear masks. Donors can also complete health screening being of providing examples for students who show how fel- Amarillo Palo Duro HS Offensive Line Coach, 1968 -1970 questions before arriving at the blood drive site to encourage low students have had successful leadership roles not just Midland Lee High School [Texas] offensive coordinator, minimal contact between blood drive staff and donors, the locally but also at the state and/or national levels, according 1971-1972 release stated. to information previously provided to The News. Baylor University offensive coordinator, 1973-1982 Healthy students 16 and older are eligible to donate if they John Barton O’Hara was born in the community of Elk See Leadership page 2. See Supply page 2. Weather Vol. 118, No. 72 Mail delivery View online ON. somnorrow 96 / 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com