September 19, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Py P~ Announcement The Elk City High School football game against Elgin scheduled for Sept. 25 at Big Elk Stadium has been canceled, according to ECHS athletic director Brian Hunt. The school is working on a possible re- scheduling of the game at a later time and date. Serving Western Oklahoma Saturday, September 19, 2020 Weekend Edi Educator remembered as someone who Fall Festival to be demanded the best from her students held in Elk City By Don Munsch, Editor Wham built a closeness to students and people in town, The 47th Annual Elk City Fall Festival will be held Carla Garrison said Elk City lost a positive force for edu- she added. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday cation and the arts with Juanita Wham’s passing last week. “She’s definitely going to be missed,” she said. at the Elk City Convention Center at 1016 East Airport Wham, 85, died Sept. 12. Her funeral services were Friday Justin Ediger, co-choir director at Elk City High School, Industrial Road. in Elk City. said he did not work with Wham in the school setting, as The Elk City Chamber of Commerce said ina news She invested considerable time helping educate the com- he arrived a few years after she had retired in 1996, He said release that it is billed as the largest arts and crafts show munity’s children in arts education and was involved forWham helped establish the Elk City High school choir pro- in Western Oklahoma. As in years past, this year’s event decades in the Miss Elk City/Queen of the West pageant, gram as a top-notch program in the state of Oklahoma, as will feature artists and crafts people who will be display- Garrison said. she taught a lot o people over her years at ECHS, including ing their items for purchase throughout the entire week- “Juanita was a very loving, caring person and probably Broadway stars and former Miss America Susan Powell. end. the biggest contribution she made was when she was teach- “T also was able to see under her direction in the chancel “From fine arts, to pottery, to ceramics, to custom-made ing and doing music in the schools,” Garrison said. “Beyond choir at the United Methodist Church and then ended up tak- jewelry and more, the Fall Festival is a terrific way to get that, she was a significant part of the arts council. She just ing over for her there,” he said. “Just a lovely lady with a lot a head start on your holiday shopping,” Chamber Execu- had so much enthusiasm for Elk City and she wanted Elk of musical knowledge, and if I could use one word to define tive Director Susie Cupp said in the release. “This is defi- City to be a thriving community.” Juanita, it would be class.” nitely one of our favorite events according to our local Wham taught vocal music at Elk City High School. At Elk Ronda Mikles, executive director of the Miss Elk City/ residents and the many visitors from around the region City First United Methodist Church, she directed the bell Miss Queen of the West pageant board, said Wham was a and the committee does an outstanding job in pulling it choir and church choir. “special lady” who will be “greatly missed” and was one all together,” “T got to know her in Sunday school and other places as of those people who, when someone said her name, people Along with over 100+ professional booths expected at well, in UMW — United Methodist Women — and things like smiled, Wham began working with the pageants in 1970 and this year’s event in the north exhibit hall, there will be that as well,” Garrison said. was a member of the pageant board member for those 50 several great food vendors located at the outdoor food Wham spent a great deal of her time working trying to years. court by the big white tent north of the north exhibit hall. help the community. She was around talented people at the high school and Those confirmed for the show include: “T don’t know how things will work without her around,” could see the girls who had pageant potential, Mikles said. * Merritt Ag Boosters, which will be located in the she said. See Wham page 2. North Exhibit Hall-East room) will be serving up grilled onion burger, hot dogs, chips and drinks. * MMP Concessions, which will be serving deep fried oreos, corn dogs, curly fries, nachos, cheese on a stick, fountain drinks and fresh squeezed lemonade. * Blue Mountain Smoke, which will have their BBQ pulled pork, brisket, sausages and sides. * Pacific Brim, which will be serving Polynesian cui- sine along with deep fried burgers, fries and deep fried dogs. * Abby’s Authentic Mexican Food, which will be serv- ing tacos, burritos and drinks. * Also, Sno-Way Shaved Ice, which will be available with their snow cones, cotton candy, caramel apples, car- amel popcorn, soft pretzels and fresh lemonade. ‘See Festival page 2. anos Census awareness School nurses play critical raised in immigrant communities despite role during COVID-19 bureau troubles Lindsay Marks, left, By Jessie Christopher Smith, Gaylord News and Sarah Senger, WASHINGTON - Oklahoma may have been spared right, pictured here at missing thousands of immigrants in the 2020 census when Elk City Elementary a federal judge temporarily stopped the Trump administra- School, are school tion from ending the census early, according to civil rights nurses for Elk City groups. Public Schools. Staff The United States Census Bureau had set an Oct. 31 dead- photo by Don Munsch. line for ending the count, but suddenly moved it up to Sept. 30. The census is supposed to count every person living in the U.S. starting April 1, but the Trump administration has tried By Manda Smith, Contributing writer ence, and eight years at ECPS. repeatedly to find ways to exclude undocumented residents Nurses are an essential part of any school staff. They are Marks credits her children with her move from the hospi- from the count, which critics say would undermine reap- usually behind the scenes, dispensing medications, cleaning tal setting to the school system, saying, “I initially made the portionment of legislative districts and funding formulas for up scraped knees and elbows, and doing any other number of change because J had three very small children at home that federal aid to the states. scenarios you could think of when it comes to dealing with I needed to be more present for.” In Oklahoma, undocumented workers made up an esti- students. This change enlightened her to how much she loves work- mated 3% of the workforce in 2016, according to the Ameri- This year they have had to shoulder more responsibility ing with young people of all ages. can Immigration Council. But their fear of the federal gov- with COVID-19, making every aspect of our lives more “T always thought the little ones were my favorites, but I ernment has made them harder to reach by census workers, complicated. have loved teaching and interacting with the middle school said Jose Rubio, deputy executive director of Dream Action t Lindsay Marks, 32, and Sarah Senger, 46, both of Elk and high school kids as well,” she said. Oklahoma, an immigrant advocacy group. City, are the nurses taking care of the students in the Elk Senger also partly went into school nursing because of her “We feel the worry or stress from people in the undocu- eanswe City school district. Marks has a master’s degree in nursing, kids. mented community that have to fill out the census,” Rubio with 10 years of experience and two years at Elk City Public “T wanted the chance to share the same schedule with my said. “And yes, the reassurance is supposed to be that they Schools. Senger has a bachelor’s degree in health and sports sons, butI also wanted the opportunity to work with kids won't share this information with anybody and it won’t ever sciences, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, 21 years of experi- See Nurses page 2. See Census page 2. Weather A Vol. 118, No. 75 Mail delivery View online SN tomorrow ~ 80 / bd 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com