December 9, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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Serving Western Oklahoma 90. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Edition Synchronized Christmas light extravaganza on Elk City home they figured out they just need plugged in. At that point in the song, all the surrounding lights light up.” ‘This year, Dunlap spent about five days hanging and arranging his lights. Along with his family, he aided annually by one of his best friends. “TJ Jones was out here all day, every day for five days. We worked ourselves to the ground, but we got ‘em up perfectly,” he boasted. ‘Though hanging the 50,000 some lights is no small venture, Dun- lap described plugging in the numerous extension cords as the most labor-intensive venture. “The number of extension cords you need to pull this off is the most surprising part,” Dunlap described. “Laying them out and plugging them in takes two days alone. Some areas need two or By Shonda Little started out doing it for our kids, but it has really become my hobby. three cords. I thought when I started that you would just go buy Some guys hunt, some guys fish, some guys restore cars. I do Christ- extensions, but you really have to build them. It isa real DIY project. On the outskirts of Elk City in the Swales Addition, Christmas mas lights.” ‘We have 32 cords going to the trees alone. There’s probably close to lights are meticulously hung upon the house, barn and yard of 115 Compared to his current display, Dunlap started small. 400 cords or more altogether.” Gamble Lane. Props are displayed to add to the ensemble. They “I think we had about 10,000 lights that first year,” he said. “Now Dunlap draws inspiration from multiple sources. He has found burst with light then suddenly dim with no discernible pattern, that we are running about 50,000.” social media groups dedicated to just this hobby. Through it, he has is, until the FM radio is turned to 88.1, He and his wife Lynn, who is the manager of MRC Muscle Recov- See Lights page 2. ‘Then that random flickering is no longer random at all. Specta- ery and Supplements, share three sons — a 15-year-old, a 9-year- tors are dismayed that the display is synchronized to classic Christ- old and a newborn. ‘The Christmas lights venture quickly became a mas songs and Americana favorites. family affair. “It's a whole show,” said homeowner and Christmas light aficio- “Thad a bad car wreck several years ago and had to have many sur- nado Dustin Dunlap. geries on my leg, so I can’t get up to the top of my house like I would ‘The idea took route for the Elk City man in 2013 as he stumbled like. Our oldest boy does all that for me. Everyone has chipped in upon discounted Christmas lights at the local Walls. Since child- one way or another — pitching ideas, plugging stuff up. If we go anywhere for a trip, we stop at Christmas stores or will look at oth- hood, the 1999 graduate of Burns Flat High School has loved load- ing up in the family car to peer out at unique displays. er’s lights,” he explained. He had seen synchronized arrangements on social media, in ‘he father of three also buys the lighting and music program parks and on homes. from the same company that he manufactures his synchronizing He recounted, “I put them in the basket and thought, ‘Why not equipment. try?” “We add new songs every year,” he said. “We started out with just Dunlap researched technological gear he would need to turn his a few, but I think we are up to 14 songs this year. It would take bargain buy into the holiday celebration of his youthful dreams. He about 45 minutes to watch the entire show. We have a few songs bought a FM radio mini director that would transmit the songs to from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a song from Mariah Carey, a cars. song from Frozen. We have comical ones. One is pretty neat where “We were doing it the first year on a learning curve,” he joked. “I a old woman is telling a old man that his lights don’t work, but then An alleged UAB member sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for drug conspiracy charges i By Shonda Little At the time that these admitted crimes were committed, court documents and public records reportedly show that Shepherd was “a UAB member incarcerated in a Oklahoma prison serving time for Elk City Chamber of “On November 13, 2018, I en- tered into a conspiracy to possess multiple state convictions arising out of Beckham, Custer and Okla- with the intent to distribute and homa Counties.” distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the United State Attorney Timothy J. Downing said that, in spite of that, Shepherd and other UAB members orchestrated a drug-traf- Commerce Nominating Western District of Oklahoma ficking operation, primarily focused on the distribution of metham- and elsewhere. Specifically, on phetamine, using a contraband cell phones. November 13, 2018, while I was Non-incarcerated people were believed to be involved. Committee announces an inmate at Dick Connors Cor- rectional Center in the Northern On November 30, 2020, United States District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Shepherd to 25 years in federal prison. nominations District of Oklahoma, I agreed ‘This incarceration will only begin after Shepherd completes all the with another image at the same remaining time in his state sentences. ‘The Nominating Committee has nominated the following board Shepherd members beginning January 2021: facility to violate federal drug Shepherd’s codefendant in this case, Michael Lee Chism, had pre- ‘Three year term: laws — possession with intent to distribute and distribute metham- viously plead guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the in- Kanyon Cunningham of Cunningham Dental, DDS; Tami Filling- phetamine in Oklahoma City in the Western District of Oklahoma. tent to distribute, along with possession of a fire arm with further- ham of Main Street Coffe and Cafe; Justin Koch of Edward Jones; I knew this essential objective of the conspiracy. There was inter- ance of a drug-trafficking crime. Christie Spieker of Mountain Man’s Axe Throwing and Grub; Shi- dependence among the members of the conspiracy. I had a person Chism was given five years in federal prison. Joah Stover of Stover Family Chiropractic. coming from Elk City, Oklahoma, within the Western District of “L hope Universal Aryan Brotherhood members take note of this President-Elect: To serve as president beginning January 2022. Oklahoma, who wanted to purchase methamphetamine. I depended federal sentence as they continue their dangerous gang activities Pam Muncrief of PK and Company, PLLC. on the other inmate to supply approximately and have his contact from state prison and conspire to distribute drugs in our state,” said Additional candidates may be nominated by petition bearing the on the street deliver this methamphetamine to my buyer who would United States Attorney Donwing. “This case is another reminder signatures of at least ten(10) voting members in good standing of arrive for the pickup in Oklahoma City. Additionally, I relied on that that contraband cell phones in our prisons remains a major public the Elk City Chamber of Commerce. Such a petition must be filed inmate to tell me where the deal would take place in Oklahoma City safety issue and our office will continue to vigorously purse crimi- with the Nominating Committee by December 14, 2020. The de- so that I could direct my buyer to that location,” federal court papers nals who continue to distribute drugs in our state even after they termination by the Nominating Committee as to the legality of any showed the Elk City man Colby Shepherd signed last week in federal are incarcerated.” such petition shall be final. If no petition is filed by the designated court. ‘The case was investigated by the United States Homeland Secu- date, the nominees shall be declared elected by the Board of Direc- His admission was part of plea agreement with U.S. Attorney rity. tors at their regular December meeting. Nominating Committee Timothy J. Downing, “This lengthy prison sentence of a drug-dealing gang member members are: Chairman, Sandy Werner, Melody Cummings, Matt Hamm, Linda Kilhoffer, Janel Spitz, Amy Vickers and Jeff Waters. According to a press release from the United States Justice De- should send a clear message to both criminals and law-abiding citi- ‘This Committee will nominate five new board members and their partment, Shepherd is a member of the Universal Aryan Brother- zens that Homeland Security Investigations will never rent in our term will begin January 2021. hood, or UAB, a known white supremacy prison gang. efforts to hold criminals accountable while protecting the general ‘The Nominating Committee shall also nominate a President-Elect Shepherd was indicated in federal court on February 19, 2019, in public,” said Ryan L. Sprawling, special agent in charge of the HSI from the existing board or any person that has been absent form a three-count indictment of drug conspiracy and possession with office in Dallas. “This felon’s attempt to sustain his illegal drug deal- the board for no more than three years. The President-Elect's term the intent to distribute methamphetamine. ing business while incarcerated highlights the distance he went for will begin in 2022. The Nominating Committee must be members He plead guilty to the second count on September 13, 2019. personal gain. This result serves as a stark reminder that HSI's reach in good standing, three of whom shall be former Presidents, and His sentencing last week shows that he will spend the better part has no limits.” two of whom shall be neighbor current Board members nor former of 25 years in federal prison. See UAB page 2. Presidents. They are selected by the current Chamber President. a Te Weather tomorrow om 64/41 Vol. 118, No. 99 75 cents, 12 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com