February 20, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Weekend Edition Elk City Manager provides Local volunteers storm update step up for the Northfork reports short electricity outages vulnerable in Fa historic storm By Shonda Little For nearly 40 years, Oklahoma has not endured a week or more of consecutive days below freezing — that is, until this last week. Adding to the chaos and potential danger has been not one, but two winter weather storm events dumping snow upon western Oklahoma. ‘The result has been hard, especially for the most vulnerable. As longtime Elk Citian Tani (Merideth) Little can testify, the reasons that different individuals were facing perilous situa- tions are as numerous and diverse as the people themselves. “{ don’t like the word homeless because of the stigma and just negative thoughts that so many have with that,” Little stated. “Instead, I think of it more as people who don't have a place to. call their own at that the moment. Some may have truly been living without much shelter for awhile. Others may be people who were staying with a friend or family member and, for whatever reason, cannot anymore. Others may be people who actually do have a house, but for whatever reason, maybe they didn’t have heat. Maybe their heater had been broken and they couldn't afford to get it fixed or maybe their electricity was out. Some just have homes with not much insulation and therefore just not about to get it warm enough to be safe. Some had bust- ed water pipes. This was just a really dangerous situation for a whole lot of people.” So, as the Arctic blast turned an unseasonably warm western Oklahoma almost suddenly into a frozen tundra, Little began worrying about people she knew who were in one of these pre- Crews worked throughout the storm to try to clear roads as soon as possible. For more winter pho- carious situations. She started driving through Elk City, look- tos see page 8. Photos submitted by Tim Bagby. ing for a handful of people and families she knew who could be especially vulnerable. By Shonda Little we told all our non-essential staff to stay home until at least noon. Unbeknownst to her, a fellow Elk Citian Patsy Sullivan was ‘The storm didn’t come in as severe as had been predicted, but it has simultaneously doing the exact same thing. “The snow storm is finally over. We ran two crews, two graders, still been pretty bad and looks can be deceiving when you are talking “Thad befriended a lady in a wheelchair and two young men four sanding trucks, four plows and three front-end loaders. We put about snow and frozen roads,” City Manager Tom Ivester explained. in over 120 man hours over 100 lane miles pushing snow,” said Elk While the roads were a main concern, Ivester detailed other areas who stayed with her. They had come here from Nebraska to es- City’s Street Department Supervisor Tim Bagby at approximately 7 of concern — particularly busted water pipes in Ell City businesses, cape Covid and didn’t have permanent place to stay. Then there pam. on Sunday evening. government buildings and homes. were a few others that I knew could also be in this situation. With a small, but efficient crew of 16, Bagby and his staff faced the “Tt has gotten so cold that we are having quite a few pipes bust ‘A few years ago, I might could have put anyone who needed it historic snow storm. In addition to the rare length of consecutive throughout town,” Ivester said. “We are urging all our residents to in a hotel room by myself, but I knew now I would need help. days below freezing with many nights and early mornings achieving let their faucets drip and to open the cabinets to allow that heat to God just put it on my heart to go to Facebook and ask others a double digit negative windchill factor. The severity was something get to their pipes and hopefully prevent some of this.” if they could just give maybe $5-10. Well, that has now turned. that many in his staff had yet to see. “T spent half the day on Tuesday dealing with frozen fire suppres- into buying 35-40 hotel rooms and putting up 75-100 people in However, Bagby said that was not the only unique element in ad- sion systems,” Ivester added. “That is your sprinkler system that is those rooms. I mean, I just cannot say how much the people of dressing the disaster. in ceilings. We had one burst at Homeland. ‘The city was able to get “We have the best city manager on this side of heaven. He was out in and help them. We also had some burst at the Pioneer Center Elk City turned out as God’s children helping others. There were with the crew every night. He could have been home with his family. at the high school. The basketball court received a lot of water. We also people that I got to know when my son was in the cutting Big ups to Tom Ivester,” Bagby emphasized. brought in an outside company to help dry out the basketball court horse world who stepped up for Elk City. These are people who Bagby was asked if, in his eight years of experience with the city, to try to minimize damage and help with manpower.” live out of state and most of them have never even been to Elk he had ever had a city manager physically participate in the clean up Ivester also said that he had been advised by North Fork Elec- City and yet they were doing all they could for us. It has been in this manner.” tric Co-operative that Wednesday might see small power outages as really touching. And at the same time I was doing this, Pasty “No,” Bagby stated. “He is hands on. He was with a different driver electric companies throughout the region struggled to keep up with Sullivan had also made a similar post on her social media doing each time.” demand, Frozen gas wells, fuel lines, pipelines and wind turbines the same thing. This brought the two of us together and we were Not only in speaking with Bagby but also Ivester, it was apparent contributed to this. able to join forces. Whenever I have been out of town, she has that he had been active in the recovery. On Monday, NFEC reported no outages. been able to be here to do the work and I have been able to when “We had the plow trucks, graders, front end loaders out. The plow On Tuesday, NFEC had two rolling outages. The first began before she isn’t able to be around,” Little explained. is what we use to scrape off the main routes and emergency routes. 7 a.m. and affected 484 co-op members located west of the Sayre ‘The front-end loader grabs the accumulated snow. This crew has re- and Berlin areas. ‘As the seemingly endless rounds of snow and frigid ally dedicated themselves to the safety of Elk City. As for the city, See Storm page 2. See Volunteers page 2. Long-time Northfork Electric Cooperative manager retires united to joyfully wish him well operations, Copeland was asked that and to always try to follow years of friendship, is that he is as well as his knowledge and in his golden years. to serve as interim general man- the golden rule,” said Copeland. an extremely caring individual. commitment to the cooperative In appreciation for Copeland’s ager in May of 1992. Having “My ambition has been to main- He is far from a micro-manager program.” 33 years of service to the coop- quickly proven himself an excel- tain a culture where our employ- and tends to stir the direction of “Because I'm not originally erative, NFEC will host a come lent leader, Copeland accepted ees don't dread coming to work his supervisors with words and from the area, when I came to and go reception on February the job permanently just a few each day. In this business, we ideas instead of a hardline di- work at NFEC I had no relatives, 25, from 1 to 3 p.m, at the Ur- months later in August. Cope- spend more time at work than rection,” said NFEC Operations and no association with schools ban House in Sayre. All are wel- land’s goal became three-fold: to Manager Richard Bowdre. we do with our families. Treat- or churches in the area. Scott come to attend the celebration.maintain an organization made ing others as you would like to “Working for Scott the made me feel like part of a fam- Copeland began his storied up of good quality individuals, be treated is imperative. That past eight years has truly been ily my first day and has contin- history at NFEC, at the age of providing them with the best applies to not only those we a pleasure. He has been a won- ued so for the last 20 years,” said 29, in 1988 as staff assistant af- training, tools, and equipment, work for but those that we work derful mentor. He entrusts his Bowdre. “That's just who Scott = ter working as a materials man- to make sure NFEC members alongside each day.” employees to do their job to the is, a firm believer that family is ager and assistant administrator have adequate power in the lo- Copeland sustained his first and someone who is always best of their abilities. He has al- Scott Copeland at a small rural hospital. At the cations they need, and that it is pledge to create a good environ- ways been present in the back- willing to work with employees time, Scott, his wife, Vickie and as reliable and affordable as is ment to work in every single ground to provide the support, when a family crisis arises. And Long time Northfork Elec- their three sons, Christopher, practical. day that he managed the co-op. resources and training needed here at NFEC we've have had tric Cooperative General Man- Kyle and Kevan were residing in Throughout his years at NEEC employees heartily con- for employees to excel,” said Lisa our share of those, especially ager, Scott Copeland, officially Cordell. “The local co-op man- NFEC Copeland accomplished cur and appreciate their leader's Dailey, Chief Operating Officer during 2020.” retires this month, closing out ager was aware of the open po- that goal with honesty, integrity, efforts to cultivate such a place at NFEC. “His leadership style Copeland's contributions to a successful career that has sition at Northfork and recom- and genuine concern for those to work, has created an environment the co-op community go beyond spanned more than three de- mended me to Troy Reeves, who served by NFEC. “Ibelieve that “For the last 20 years I have where leaders flourish. I know NFEC as he has served on the cades at the co-op. While Cope- was NFEC’s general manager at integrity means doing the right had the privilege to work for I am a living example of how board of the Oklahoma Associa- land will certainly be missed by that time,” explained Copeland. thing even (or maybe especially) Scott at Northfork Electric. much a person can grow under tion of Electric Cooperatives for many, co-workers and friends Rapidly gaining an extensive when no one is watching. My One thing I have learned about his leadership style. I will miss nearly 30 years, on the officer celebrate his success and have Knowledge of the cooperative’s parents raised me to believe Scott, especially in the later his support and encouragement See Copeland page 2. Vol. 119, No. 15 a Te Weather tomorrow 50/30 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com