February 17, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 10

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News/Obits February 17, 2021 kind of people. Getting the re- Fletcher to ranchers trying to decide if sold in Amarillo as well. self,” he stated. Round or when they want too sell their cattle or hold on. And, having “I watch a few satellite sales, too,” Fletcher said, “I'm still in Fletcher and his wife are enjoying the new home he re- porting and the grading right is Continued from page 1 training, but so far, it is freaking cently finished. His son is cur- a big responsibility. I'm just one those numbers available to cat- tle producers can change how awesome and working with Nick rently serving as a medic with guy reporting from a few sale Town they may do it the week before.” makes it even better.” the Army Rangers. To him, that barns, but together, the infor- the whole country. We will Barely a month into his new With the position, Fletcher makes sense considering how mation we turn in helps set the February 20 see they are heifers or maybe position, Fletcher is burning up will also be allowed to utilize his much his family values are a they are yearlings or fluffy cat- the road to sale barns daily. He military years toward an even- tour de force of hard work and markets week to week. When ith Annual Father/ tle. Then the USDA takes those calls himself fortunate to be able tual retirement plan. dedication. you know as many people in numbers from all the guys like to do this job at the Oklahoma “So that's cool, too, that I will “I like to learn and be chal- agriculture as I do, you take to Daughter dance, Hearts me watching all these differ- City Stockyards and the nearby be able to use my years with the lenged, too, and it can’t be more heart that getting it wrong can ent sale barns and they put the OKC-West. His assignments Army Rangers toward retire- fun than when it is something have a real impact on how they for Hearing Fundraiser, number out. That then moves already include grading some ment in this formula they have. you are interested in,” Fletcher the contracts on the CME. So produce and will likely have him It’s really about the best job I stated. “This is getting back to market their cattle in the future. this information is important monitoring the cattle that are could have dreamed up for my- my roots and being around my T'm just excited to get to do this.” Convention Center. “T also perform background things that I couldn’t do from family, including husband Brian, Kilhoffer me and put them in the com- puter. That generates the court checks, which is often for many home. We changed to having sons Logan and Luke and step- February 26 docket for when they want to reasons. Mostly it is for employ- court once a month instead of sons Chase and Mason, as well Continued from page 1 appear. I keep up with the court ment purposes. We may get a once a week. Usually, we would as extended family. Elk Creek Strutters records and when a warrant has call to see if someone has any- start at 1:30 pm and it was “My oldest is getting at an age been issued.” thing outstanding with us. I get first come, first serve. Now we where he is all about soccer and Located inside the Elk City Po- Hunting Heritage Ban- While Kilhoffer does help requests for background checks start at the same time, but it lice Department, Kilhoffer said is very strict. We have a bailiff my youngest is all about foot- she enjoys her coworkers and compile the initial court date, for people seeking their con- ball,” Kilhoffer said. “I try not to quet, Convention Center she does not actually get to ap- cealed carry licenses. Alot of the who stays in court. Most of the be a helicopter mom, but I still the overall work environment. people stay in their cars until “T really do love what I do. It prove it ifa defendant can make background check requests I get am. I like being outside and do- payment arrangements. are for people wanting to live in we are ready for them and we ing things like hiking. We love is a really laid back and relaxed work hard to bring them in very atmosphere. Every day is differ- “For that, they need to appear the United States. That is actual- being down at the river. I just quickly so we can get this done like seeing them be happy.” April 1 ent so it doesn’t ever get boring at their first court dates. They, of ly something that happens pret- in an orderly manner. We don't or monotonous,” Kilhoffer ex- course, can choose to pay in full, ty often,” Kilhoffer explained. really end up staying much later. Though she said that she Shop Hop, participat- plained. but if they need to make pay- Like so many other elements Before we would always be done doesn’t often watch movies, her ‘The various assignments she ment arrangements, they need of public life, Kilhoffer has wit- by 3:30 pm and now the latest favorites are musicals and docu- ing businesses open late is (is) tasked with are just as di- to discuss that with the judge nessed the Covid-19 pandemic that we have stayed has been mentaries. Kilhoffer's favorite verse. and we will approve it. After that until 4 pm. We end up working create a huge impact upon the foodis crab legs. “Thave a lot of different jobs,” has been approved, then I can otherwise regular functions of down on the docket because so As far as her position as court utnil 7 p.m. Kilhoffer stated. “My main job help them make arrangements,” her job. A partition has been many people will have paid off clerk, she plans to stay put. is associated with dealing with she said. added for safe social distancing. their fines before that month “While I was working from the paper side of things like the However, her responsibilities “We used to have court every comes around. Our next court home during Covid, I really incident and accident reports. If extend far beyond the normal Thursday,” Kilhoffer_remem- date is on March 11.” missed being at the office every- April 3 someone wants to pay their tick- business operations of the Elk bered. “Last April, I was sent Kilhoffer joked that, while it day. I like doing what I do and I ets, I take care of that. I write in City Police Department and the to work from home and would may sound cliche, her favorite enjoy working with my cowork- Chamber of Com- the tickets as they are given to Elk City Municipal Court. come in a few days a month for hobby is spending time with her ers and the public,” she added. merce Annual Easter road. While our guys are run- Winter hours toiled in temperatures ate them. The biggest thing that drive around and look at all the ning the equipment, sanding, with below negative wind chillwe need is for everybody to stay snow or ice. I understand that. I Egg Hunt. putting out salt, I may put in 16 factors, Bagby’s spirits were home unless they have to get really do. But it’s just not worth Continued from page 1 hours working with them and high in spite of the task before out. It makes it a little harder the risk to be out in this if you overseeing the efforts,” he said. them. when you have one of the plows can keep from it especially when ‘As snow began cascading over “This is what we are best at,” or front-end loaders going and it is below freezing and we are April 10 treated water — about 1,600 the weekend, Bagby shared a he reiterated. “Everybody here you have to stop for a vehicle. gallons of it,” he said. video of his crew leaving the city takes this job seriously. Our We understand that there are still getting snow or ice,” Bagby Annual Southwest As any western Oklaho- barn on the 500 block of East families live here, too. We want reasons beyond people's control advised. man can testify, no two winter Third Street via text message. everyone to be safe.” that requires them to leave the At about noon on Sunday, Farm & Home Expo and storms are the same. For that The white flurries and head- With often little time to stop, house. You know, maybe they Bagby estimated that about reason, the Elk City Street De- lights were the only illumination one of the biggest challenges the have to get to work or are com- three inches of snow had fallen Bull Sale, Convention partment has multiple methods in the sky.) Elk City Street Department fac- ing home from it. Maybe they and stated that his crew was of attack. “1am Sunday morning. Street es during winter weather clean- need to get to the doctor or have “staying ahead of the storm.” “If it is coming in ice, we start department doing what we do ups is finding time to eat. something that they really need. Center. sanding, If it is snow, when it best,” he quipped. But, in a job that demands “Sometimes the guys jump in But we just really hope that, un- constant diligence, Bagby and gets no more than two inches, At 7:51 am, he sent two more equipment at 6 am and don’t less it is necessary, please don’t we are out clearing it. We focus videos of a caravan of large get out until 6 pm. But, our city get out in this weather. We his crew are already looking first on the bridges, inclines, equipment doctoring the main manager makes sure we have want you to be safe, too, and we ahead to possible bad weather April 11 intersections and emergency thoroughfare of Third Street. everything we need. The pub- want to do our part to get it as next week. routes and then go from there. “Street department at it lic is always great about drop- safe as possible as quick as pos- “Oh yeah, we will be gearing Annual Southwest In some parts of the city, we have parking lots owned by the again,” he lightheartedly added. ping things off. We get a lot of sible, Sometimes people just up for it before we have finished city where we can move all the With the seemingly endless baked goods and really appreci- get cabin fever or they want to with this one.” Farm & Home Expo and snow. If that isn’t available, we push it to the side,” he stated. Bull Sale, Convention Bagby oversees a crew of six- Principal Debra Webb, High meeting will be held on March 8 Board employment of existing cafete- teen. School Activities Director Brian ria workers and coaches. Center. “During times like this, we at 6 pm at the Elk City Board of are basically operating with all Hunt, Dean of Students Bran- The board previously voted Education. hands on deck. We rotate with Continued from page 1 don Shelton, Pioneer Center to approve the employment of The board also learned that six guys on call to work 12 hour Director Justin Ediger and IT paraprofessionals Cassidy Sapp Due to the COVID-19 shifts and then will be replaced Jamie McClure, Assistant Director/PowerSchool Manager and Karen Ramirez (Herrera) the OSSBA and Education Lead- by another six-man crew who High School Principal Amanda Tony Chauncey. for the 2020-2021 school year. ership Conference with be held pandemic, many events will put in another 12 hours. Friesen, High School Assistant ‘The board also approved the ‘The next regularly scheduled on August 26-29, 2021. ‘Then we try to keep at least a few available to jump in to take have been cancelled, care of anything unforeseen post-poned or modi- that might pop up, which almost always happens when you are I-40 wreck Sunday was weather related talking about Oklahoma weath- fied. Please check with er. The weather service does A personal injury collision oc- a guard rail and rolled two and cal Center in Oklahoma. Listed ed and released. the best they can to give us the curred Sunday at approximately half times down and embank- in stable condiiotn with a head Condition of the driver ap- the event coordinator most accurate picture possible, 11:05 a.m on Instertat 40 near ment, through a chain-linked infjury. peared to be normal, seatbelts but you have to prepare for the mile marker 40, in Elk City. fence landing on it’s top. Also in the vehicle as a pas- where in use by all occupants. worst and hope for the best. You A 2008 white Ford F250 driv- Hamel was transported by senger was Ethan Deer (20) of to make sure of any may get a certain area of town en by Suede Hamel (18) of Still- Elk City EMS to Great Plains Perkins, transported by Elk City Cause of the collision was due that just gets hit a little harder water, was traveling eastbound Regional Medical Center in Elk EMS to Great Plains Regional to the speed of the vehicle on a changes. or maybe trees fall down in the on I-40 and lost control striking City, then was sent to OU Medi- Medical Center. Deer was treat- snowy road. “ElkCituNews Hofmeister remarks on new CDC (USPS # 173-020) 580-225-3000 guidance for schools to safely reopen Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC OKLAHOMA CITY - State Superinten- available at cdc.gov. in place. The challenges of education in the 109 W. Broadway, El Ik City, OK 73644-4736 dent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister “As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations midst of this pandemic have been extraor- Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 made the following remarks after today’s re- continue trending downward and Oklaho- dinary, just as the challenges of COVID-19 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 port by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control ma state and county health officials make have impacted nearly every aspect of Amer- and Prevention (CDC), which builds upon tremendous headway in vaccinations, the ican life, But through continued vigilance SUBSCRIPTIONS Josh Umholtz previous evidence that PreK-12 schools can CDC report further underscores that in- and resourcefulness, we can and will ensure Deliverd by mail: Publisher safely open with proper precautions to re- person instruction can be done safely when brighter days ahead for Oklahoma students. $75/yearly Amy Loynd duce spread of COVID-19. ‘The full report is appropriate, science-based precautions are ‘We can accept nothing less.” $50/six months Business Manager No refunds on subscriptions. 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