November 4, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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Announcement Beginning Noy. 9 the 20th street bridge between Pioneer Road and Falcon Road will be closed for new bridge construction. iy Serving ; Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, November 4, 2020 Weekday Edition March of Dimes month Inflatable holiday decor makes for merry Merritt Above is Libby at birth. Left, Libby celebrated this Halloween as Tinker Bell. Submitted photos. nicknamed, bore a brimming grin as she dug into her cake and leaped around her presents for her second birthday. Co- vid-19 naturally limited those who could celebrate her birth- day, but the tenacious toddler didn’t mind anyone’s absence. “She is really small for her age and maybe she will always be,” her mother Melissa said. “People will joke that they cannot believe a noise so loud could come out of someone so small.” For Libby’s young life, she has always been the belle of the ball. Her mother was 39 when she discovered her preg- nancy and her father wasn’t too far ahead in his mid-40s. The toe haired, big grinned Libby easily settled into being the family’s baby. After all, she is the youngest of six. With one older sister and four older brothers, the cherub faced beauty made the family complete. However, her origin story is one that underscores the im- portance of the March of Dimes and the importance of con- tinuing to focus on the health of premature babies. As her mother was nearing the 27th week of pregnancy, school teacher Melissa’s feet started to swell. By Shonda Little “She was 12 weeks early and we spent 51 days in the NICU,” Melissa recounted. “It’s the scariest thing I have 11-year-old Micah Callaway is looking forward been through, especially as a mother.” to decorating Merritt Schools for Christmas. Every year, nearly 380,000 babies are born prematurely, Melissa had no way of anticipating Libby’s early birth at Submitted photos. or before 37 weeks gestation, in America. According to the March of Dimes website, babies born in Oklahoma are 28 weeks. “About October 6 or October 7, my feet were swelling. I Eleven-year-old Merritt Public Schools Micah Callaway among the most at risk in the nation with 11.5% being born was a small child when his passion for holiday inflatables was in premature range. In fact, the Sooner State was scored a told my doctor when I went for an appointment. I think my sparked. His next door neighbor during his elementary years, D- by the non-profit organization focused on early births. blood pressure was about 160/90, but it is also all really a longtime Public Service Company of Oklahoma’s Frank Young blur. I might not remember some of it.I know I was scared,” adorned his yard with fantastical blowup figurines for every While the risks of premature birth may include cerebral passing holiday. palsy, chronic lung disease, blindness and hearing loss, Elk Melissa added. Through Frank’s patient kindness, the young boy became City’s two-year-old Libby Lewman has not been slowed After Melissa saw her local doctor, the doctor immedi- enticed into the hobby of spreading holiday cheer. “He started asking for inflatables for his birthday and down by her early arrival. ately sent the mother to Oklahoma City to see a high-risk Christmas,” Micah’s mother Christian recounted. “Then he Her mother now credits in part the medical advancements specialist. started working with his dad to save his own money to buy when treating premature babies aided in part by the March “T tried to tell myself that this pregnancy would be like my more.” Both of Micah’s parents are Merritt school teachers. His of Dimes for her thriving toddler. oldest son’s. I kept telling my husband that. I had gone into mother Christian teaches pre-k and his father teaches middle On October 15, little Libby, or Libby Lew as she has been See March of Dimes page 2. school social studies. Having moved to the country, Micah misses living in town by his beloved neighbor Frank. ‘Though closer to the school, the relocation provided a co- ECPD makes large heroin arrest nundrum for young Micah. On one hand, he had a four room basement to store his ever-growing collection of inflatables and plenty of yard to display them. He worried the effort would be in vain, however. “He lived in the country and didn’t think anyone would By Shonda Little speed violation. see them,” explained Holly Stover, his father’s childhood As the officer approached the front door, he stated that he friend. ‘Two out-of-state men traveling along I-40 are now being observed that the temporary tag on the vehicle had expired Stover graduated from Elk City High School in 1997 with Micah’s father Cody. She and her husband attended Sunday held in the Beckham County Detention Center after a rou- in 2018. The officer then made contact with the driver, iden- School with the Callaway’s. Their children were being raised as tine traffic stop conducted by the Elk City Police Depart- tified as Roderick Todd Torrence. equally close friends. ment allegedly uncovered a large amount of marijuana and Torrence is listed as 48-years-old and his residence is list- Quickly, the solution to Micah’s decorating problems became apparent. Rather than fearing his designs would go black tar heroin believed to be intended for distribution. ed as homeless. unseen in front of his country home, Micah would comman- According to the probable cause affidavit, an ECPD of- Torrence was asked for his driver’s license and gave the deer the Stover’s front yard in the Fox Ridge addition. This ficer was on routine patrol on I-40 at approximately 12:11 officer a driver’s license issued from California. Torrence Halloween alone, he would display over a dozen festive in- flatables, ranging in height from waist high to towering nearly a.m. on October 21 in the center median near the 39 mile was then asked for the vehicle’s insurance. He complied and as tall as their cream brick house. marker monitoring the eastbound traffic. At that time, the handed it to the officer. When Holly stepped outside to see the creation of her officer reportedly observed a silver Chevy SUV, bearing a The officer asked Torrence to exit his vehicle and to have friends’ young son, she couldn’t help but smile. “This kid lives for this,” Holly laughed. temporary tag from California, traveling toward him. The a seat in the front passenger seat of his patrol vehicle. Holly's assessment is not incorrect. If anything, she officer stated that he observed on his radar that the vehicle Again, Torrence complied. underestimates the amount of time and energy young Micah was traveling 75 mph in a 70 mph zone. When the officer returned to his patrol vehicle, he asked pours into his holiday decor. Not long after his family moved to the country, his former neighbor Frank sold his home to The officer pulled onto I-40 and began following the ve- Torrence where the vehicle’s temporary tag came from. travel the country with his wife. His parting gift to Micah was hicle. He then activated his emergency lights and made a According to the report, Torrence replied that he had just gifting his collection of inflatables. traffic stop on the vehicle near the 40 mile marker for the See Arrest page 3. See Holiday page 2. Weather . Vol. 118, No. 87 Mail delivery View online MAL tomorrow / 48 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com