January 6, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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= ————— Wednesday, January 6, 2024 NCLUS Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901. us Weekday Edition Merritt man charged with assault Covid Vaccine now on a medical care provider available to 65+ age By Shonda Little had noticed a rifle sitting beside the bed. By Shonda Little ‘The first deputy went toward the room to move the weapon and A 60-year-old Merritt man has been charged with felony assault the suspect followed him, allegedly stating that he was going to A press release sent by Brandie Combs, the regional director of a medical care provider. shoot himself in the head. of the Oklahoma State Health Department, indicated that those While the report is public record, the Elk City News is withhold- ‘The deputy and the female subject grabbed his arm, to prevent older than 65 are now eligible to receive the vaccine. ing the suspect’s name due to the nature of the call. The report is him from entering the room. Combs noted that during the week of January 4 will be fo- being published to illustrate what medical care workers and local ‘The suspect then fell down unresponsive, according to the report. cused on those who currently qualify, namely first responders, law enforcement face in their daily work. He was transported to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center's medical staff and those over 65. At approximately 7 p.m. on December 24, the Beckham County emergency room. She described the response as “overwhelming” and that they Sheriff's Office received a 911 transfer from the Elk City Police De- After arriving at the ER, the man became combative and was are working to avoid long lines. partment advising that they had received a call from the suspect. It threatening harm to the staff, the report states. ‘There are two ways to make appointments. One can be found was stated he seemed to be intoxicated and that he may be having He was handcuffed to the hospital bed. through a link provided through the Beckham County Health suicidal thoughts. ‘The man reportedly continued to be combative. Department's Facebook page. Two BCSO deputies made contact with a female subject at the res- ‘The deputy exited the room to get a second set ofhandcuffs. When ‘The scheduling application is “very simple” and does not re- idence. The female subject advised that the suspect was her uncle, quire an email account or the creation of a log-in or password. that he was drunk and making suicidal comments. he returned, a nurse advised the man had “aggressively pulled out Individuals seeking assistance can also call (580)585-6668 his IV and while the staff was trying to dress the wound, he began to ‘The female subject then took the deputies to the suspect’s room try to bite them and was slinging blood at them. The hospital staff from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or after where he was lying in a bed. hours at (405)219-9102 or (405)215-8758. advised that they would not be treating him due to his behavior.” ‘The suspect reportedly became agitated but was willing to talk to ‘The man was then placed under arrest for attempted assault. “Again, we really hope residents will choose to use the app one of the deputies. rather than calling to schedule but want to make both available ‘TThe female subject reported that the suspect had attempted to ‘An Elk City Police Department unit assisted in the transport. in case there are any challenges with technology.” ‘The doctor on duty advised that they tested the blood they had take pills earlier in the day, but she had kept him from doing so. Space is limited at the vaccination clinics and people are ad- One of the deputies asked if the suspect had any guns in the resi- taken from the suspect and said the suspect was clear to leave. vised not to bring extra people with them. dence. The female subject advised that she knew of two in his room. ‘The suspect reportedly became combative again while being Exceptions would be for those with mobility issues. ‘Asecond deputy entered the room and the suspect yelled for him transported to the police car for transport to the Elk City jail. Combs wanted to communicate that they are not expecting a to get out of his house. ‘The man has since been released on bond. shortage of the vaccine. Ifa person misses the first clinic, others ‘The deputy backed away and the suspect followed him into the ‘This report withhold’s the name of the charged person to help the will be available within the week or following week. living room and sat in a chair. public understand the wide array of issues that local law enforce- ‘Additionally, local hospitals and others providing Covid vac- When the first deputy returned, the second deputy advised he ment and medical staff face. cinations will have their own system. Mormon missionaries hope to share their faith with Elk Citians By Shonda Little each other. I liked that.” However, when Covid-19 hit, Muhlstein found Caleb Muhlestein is a soft-spoken 19-year-old his time on the tiny Caribbean island cut short. from Redford, Idaho. “In early April, 2020, I was sent to Oklahoma,” “It’s a real small town,” he laughed. “Both my he said, “I went to Ardmore and I was there for parents are Mormon and I was blessed to be raised three to four months. I loved that community, too. in this faith that brings me so much peace” ve liked everywhere I have been.” ‘Muhlestein graduated from high school in 2019. For the last five months, Muhlestein has been As common within the Mormon faith, he began in Elk City. Along with his two roommates who his mission shortly after high school. He says that are also on Mormon missions, he lives in an apart- it is typically a two-year period Mormon youth ment beside Walmart. spend serving their church and spreading their “Elder Van Tassell is 20-years-old and from gospel before fully entering adulthood. Tremonton, Utah. It is an agricultural community “Tleft to serve the Lord in June, 2019, and went and he was also raised in the faith. Before Elk City, to the Dominican Republic,” Muhlestein recalled. he has been in Tulsa, Gutherie and now in Elk City “[ really enjoyed the people in the DR. They really for about six months. Elder Chaston is 20-years- value friendship in a way you don't see other plac- old and from Roy, Utah, which is also a small com- es. People are really humble and less privileged. munity. He has been on his mission for about two There is also more diversity than I had in my small years and is actually going home Monday. He town of Redford. Everyone was best friends with See Missionaries page 2. Former Elk City Housing Director reflects upon Covid Her retirement started out where the adventure began.” “We couldn't go into the ER be- her through text because she home, she was allowed to return as planned, She took trips and Bell was sent home with in- fore she was being shipped and couldn't take off oxygen to talk. early without a second negative enjoyed her family. She wore structions of taking zinc and we couldn't go in while she was I talked with the nursing staff, test. masks when the situation called vitamin C. in Altus. The only time we got but understood they were too In the meantime, her son for it and washed her hands re- “J felt bad all week. Then on to see her was when they were busy to talk to us until they were Casey tested positive for the petitively. Friday, Casey took me to the transporting her to the ambu- going off shift. We were really virus. He says that he had no ‘Then, at the end of October, doctor. That was October 30. lance. I looked at my brother grateful for the nurses who took symptoms. she began to feel sick, but not in The doctor gave me a steroid Casey and thought that this the time to tell us what was go- “It's hit and miss that way, I a worrisome way. She traveled and two z-packs, hydroxychlo- might be the last time we ever ing on. They were basically doing guess,” Casey stated. “I would with her friend Bob to Missouri roquine and said I should take see our mother alive.” double or triple rounds because have much rather been sick than for a fishing trip. vitamin C and vitamin D,” Bell While Bell said that she of the protective gear they had my mother.” “I didn’t feel totally up to par explained. doesn’t have a lot of recollection to wear to go into a Covid room.” Bell is slowly getting back to before we left, but it was noth- By November 1, her condition of her time at Altus, her sons re- Bell was eventually moved to normal. ing to be alarmed about. It was had worsened. member clearly the anxiety they a Covid rehabilitation center in “My doctor has said that it just a weekend trip. We left on a “By that Sunday, I felt so bad. felt about her dire situation. Norman. This was done to free will be March or April before 'm ‘Thursday. I spent most the time Casey took me to the ER and my She was personally feeling the up her critical care bed. 100%,” Bell stated. “But I'm hap- sleeping in the trailer, feeling oxygen saturation was 50%. My same anxiety, which resulted in Just before Thanksgiving, she py to feel as goodas I donow. My By Shonda Little worse each day. By the time we pulse was between 40-50. I had her being put on medicine to was given the first Covid test to AIC, or blood sugar, is normal. came home on Sunday, I knew I pneumonia. I was very sick. The help calm her as she grasped for come home. She needed to have Ym on no medicines except the For awomanin her 60s, Kathy was really sick,” Bell explained. hospital said they didn’t have a breath. two consecutive tests to return zinc and vitamins C&D. I lost 54 Bell would be considered the pic- Her oldest son Corey didn’t bed here, so I was taken to Jack- Bell also suffered side effects to her family. pounds since this started, most ture of health. She worked at the know what to think when his son County Memorial in Altus of the medicines she was being “My first one was negative, in that first two weeks.” Elk City Housing Authority for mother called him on that fate- by ambulance,” Bell remem- given. ‘The steroids shots have so I was getting excited. I still Up until testing positive, she thirty years, retiring last spring ful Sunday to ask for an appoint- bered, a complication of raising blood wasn’t feeling good, but I was so was as spry as her children. as their executive director. ment to urgent care. From there, she received four sugar. Though not diabetic, she ready to come home. Then my Since returning home after her Bell hoped for her early re- “She was just really emphatic bags of plasma with antibodies was forced to take insulin shots next one was positive. They told month long hospitalization, she tirement to be full of trips and that she needed to go,” Corey and was placed on a high-flow to combat that. me I was going to have to wait is learning her new limits. leisure with her sons Corey and recounted. “She got there and oxygen source. “It was the most helpless another week. I melted down,” Casey said, “I can see her get- Casey and her friend Bob. tested negative for the flu, but “It was just a step below a feeling,” said Casey. “We were Bell recalled. ting frustrated because she is positive for Covid. I guess that's ventilator,” said older son Corey. mostly communicating with Because she was going to her doing things step by step now. Vol. 119, No. 2 «OLA Ut Weather tomorrow 44/30 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com