February 27, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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February 27, 2021 Ne that hasn't always been possible. week period will be business as much relief after I got my shot. Vaccine and beyond through this whole “Well, today we did all have So we have all just done what we usual. I looked around and could see terrible ordeal. Then when it sore arms and some of us had to do to get through this.” “You hate to think of tradi- was opened up for teachers, they that on my colleagues, too. And couldn’t lift our arms the full Currently, Elk City High tions being erased. We always I want to be clear — whether stepped up to get this organized way up.” she joked. “But those Continued from page 1. School is on the A/B schedule knew we would eventually re- someone is a secretary, teachers, quickly,” Friesen advised. sweet nurses came around to with half the students attend- bound ffrom this, but none of custodian, principal or the many Like most Americans, Friesen check on us and give Tylenol to ing in-person class on Mondays us wanted to see our kids go other staff we depend on, we are has heard warnings of reactions anyone who needed it. So far, no Oklahoma State University to enter into administration. and Wednesdays and the other through another year where all colleagues. And I want to re- to the vaccine. She knows that one was sick with that first dose. ‘Though she says she misses be- half attending on Tuesdays and those traditions weren't pres- ally make sure that the commu- runs the risk of multiple sick But even if that does happen for ‘Thursdays. ent. And more than that, we nity knows how much our school staff in a day’s period. Still, after some of us, I think we would all ing in the classroom, she also Friesen is hopeful that, after wanted them to learn in the best nurses have done for them and all they have been through, she do that to get back to our calling enjoys the expanded opportu- Spring Break, the final nine- environment possible. I felt so all of us. They have gone above is confident they will soldier on. — teaching our students.” nity to work with educators and support staff. “T want to say that we couldn't two and then to a lieutenant on with one two days ago — the only place in western Oklahoma of the people suffering there was get through our day without the cafeteria workers, the cus- Chervenka the fire side. I always liked work- ing both fire side and EMT, so grass fire north of town by the that keeps five staffed trucks at uplifting. They would just say, windmills. I could fight fire ev- all times. We are prepared at all ‘hey, we get to live in paradise. todians, the secretaries, the paraprofessionals, the bus driv- Tm excited to do both. At that eryday. I love doing that because times to be able to go out and re- ‘This is one of the most beauti- Continued from page 1. time, Pat Williams was doing my of how much it helps those spond to multiple things at once ful places on Earth. What comes ers,” Friesen stated, “It is all a network that comes together to current job as chief medical of- people who are looking at their and even help in surrounding with that is sometimes you are make each school day work. As the oilfield. A job opportunity ficer. He got hurt. I had already home get burned up or their communities,” Chervenka said. going to have a typhoon, or ba- all of this has continued to go came open at the Elk City Fire taken the paramedical classes pasture messed up. But I have Chervenka likes being on call sically a hurricane’ That was an on, we have worried first about Department and he decided to and he needed someone to fill in this pull to the ambulance, too. I as he feels dedicated to his co- amazing attitude to me. They our students, their educations pursue it. for him. After he retired, I ended do less of the fire stuff now, but workers and the community at are going through this terrible and mental health and physical “We had always heard that it up being here in this position,” I still get to do it enough that it’s large. He enjoys hiking in the time and that is their perspec- health. We have worried about was hard to get on here because Chervenka said. not out of my life by any means,” mountains of Colorado with tive,” he said. their families. But, we have it is a really tight knit group. As To Chervenka, there is no he explained, friends and family. He also has The Covid-19 pandemic has also worried about our teach- a volunteer fireman at Canute, ers and how their health could I had worked with the Elk City such thing as a perfect position As chief medical officer, Cher- used vacation time to serve shifted some of Chervenka’s be affected. And they have been Fire Department and knew for him in the fire department venka stays busy even when within an international volun- work focus, Little in his job has rockstars through this — often because he passionately loves they aren’t experiencing a high teer EMT service, Team Rubi- been unchanged. making three lesson plans of some of the guys. Honestly, every service they offer the com- volume of calls. The paperwork con. “Oh goodness, we have done a distance learning, virtual learn- I really didn’t think I would munity. is extensive and he credits his “It’s through the World ing and in class learning. I know get hired. I knew a lot of other “Yeah, I do miss the comrad- assistant chief medical officer, Health Organization. So far, I lot of testing,”he exclaimed. “We as a former classroom teacher people were probably hoping for ery of staying up at the firehouse Brian Pierce, for helping with have only gotten to go out once. have also had to change some of that just one of those things is that job. Rick Shelton was the with the guys, but I'm still up that workload. ‘We went to Saipan to respond to our protocols on how we arrive a lot, so doing all three really is chief then and he had known there all the time and get to be “We have to maintain the li- atyphoon and it was an amazing to treat patients and transport alot. But they have done it flaw- me from working together. Iwas around. It’s not quite the same censing not only for our depart- experience. We spent 16 days them. The nature of the job is lessly and without complaint. If kind of shocked when I got the as when we are actually staying ment, but a few other area de- there and it was so interesting to we are very close to each other anything good has come from job, but I was even more excited. there for your shifts. I work 8-5 partments. That of course also get to see a different culture. You and often our patients. When this pandemic, it has been see- I was surprised and happy — you are ina, like, four foot by six ing the passion that so many Monday through Friday now, requires a lot of extended educa- hate for that to happen when within our staff have for our that’s the best way to describe but I go on every intensive call. tion. We do pride ourselves for they are experiencing a tragedy, foot truck, you are pretty close. students and for each other. It it. They welcomed me with open I try to consult on those that wanting to stay up with the best but it was also heartwarming to Everybody worked hard to do ‘was really like we all said that we arms,” Chervenka remembered. maybe aren't quite to that level, and newest developments. Bri- see how excited and welcoming their part, to minimize expo- had to batten down the hatches Chervenka was hired for en- but close. And we all help each an takes care of a lot of the edu- sure and remain healthy and out they were to those of us there to and just make it work. Everyone gine one in Elk City, He also im- cation stuff for us. He's always help. I did use my vacation days of quarantine. I don’t know how other within the department, so has stepped up. We know that mediately went to work on the on top of the new standards and to go do that and that is kinda many shots I have given. Well sometimes if it has been slower studies show that two-thirds of ambulance side. on my side and they have a big research. We are very patient how everyone else on that mis- into the hundreds andI hope to students do better when they “T worked my way to engine fire, I get to help. I got to help care driven and we are really the sion was. Hearing the attitude give more as it opens up.” are in the actual classroom, but Round From Granite, they have Jace thing like the tournaments from Berry. decades ago,” he said. “We want From WOC-Tonakawa, they the little kids to come out and have Ayden Page. Town From Binger, they have watch the big kids play. We play Garrrett Farrow. From SWOSU, with wooden bats and we play they have Matt Milner. until someone wins. We are very April 1 From Mooreland, they have old school in it. Arnold shows up Shop Hop, participat- Carter Sampson. From Garber, they have Jace at Canute games and he comes ing businesses open late Shipley. to the Mudcat games. He and utnil 7 p.m. The 19 and under team is his wife Donna are always in the coached also by Chuck Maddox stands. They have spent their and Keyshaun Smith. April3 ‘The Rt. 66 Arnold Lankford lives being baseball parents. He Chamber of Com- Tournament will be held at Ack- taught me how to be acoach and ley Park from July 15-18. Le- a baseball player. He also taught merce Annual Easter Grand praises the local sponsors me how to be a dad. This is the Egg Hunt. he has, but remains looking for more. best way I know how to honor “We just want this to be a one of the bests.” April 10 Annual Southwest Farm & Home Expo and per summer season with the Mary Wheeler Classic played us there,” LeGrand added. Bull Sale, Convention During that time, LeGrand team, but LeGrand says he is Center. with Lankford’s two aware that could put some of Mary Louise Wheeler was sons. During this year’s tourna- the most deserving players out bom February 24th, 1936 in Continued from page 1. ment, he will retire #22 in honor of the game. Canute, Oklahoma to Cathe- April 11 of one of them. “The raffle was a hit last year. Annual Southwest Lankford was influential in “He died in an accident. He And that was great because we rine Elizabeth “Katie” (Gross- luring him to Western Oklaho- passed away in a snowboard- got to make sure the best person man) and Anthony Henry Farm & Home Expo and ‘ma State College in Altus. ing accident. Last year we gave got the slot for that. I don’t ever “Tony” Spieker. She passed Bull Sale, Convention “At first, I thought he was just Arnold the Lifetime Mudcat want to be the coach that leaves away in Elk City, Oklahoma at Center. being so good to me because I ‘Award. Each team that plays the best one behind because the age of 84 years, 11 months was a baller. But then I realized will get a player who makes the they can't afford it. Again, I got he was just as good to the kids all tournament team based on that from Arnold,” he said. and 26 days. Due to the COVID-19 who were the worst on the team. their performance and the win- The Oklahoma Mudcats are Mary grew up in Canute, pandemic, many events I didn’t realize that I was miss- ner will get to name the MVP. an all western Oklahoma team. Oklahoma and attended Holy ing the kind of father figure that I don’t believe in participation He currently has seven mem- Family School graduating in have been cancelled, he is until I was lucky enough to trophies, so that is how Mudcats bers from the current Canute 1954, After graduation she post-poned or modi- get him as my coach,” LeGrand do it,” LeGrand said. High School State Champion- ters, Lyola Steffes; brother, said. Currently, they have filled the ship team. was married to Jim Haden later Daniel Spieker; sister-in-law, fied. Please check with While LeGrand attended teams brackets. New teams will ‘They include Kane LeGrand, that same year on November Lauralee Spieker. the event coordinator WOSC, he played for Lankford come from all over Oklahoma Colt Randall, Colby Maddox, 13th. Being the wife of a ser- Mary is survived by her hus- ina summer college team. and Texas. Kyron Whinery, Keenan Smith vice man, they moved to many band, Richard, of the home; 4 to make sure of any “I also worked for his land- ‘Additionally, they will raffle and Brady Bryant. changes. scaping business and he was just three guns to help cover the From Calumet, they have Seth different places _ including children, Debbie Brown, Elk as hard on us and just as cool to costs for the players on the Snyder. From Navajo, they have Utah, Arkansas, South Caro- City, OK, Toni Falen and hus- Mudcat team. Each player nor- Kelby Schomaker and Caden Ko- lina, Texas and even overseas band, Doug, Elk City, OK, Guy mally would need about $1,500 ran. in Germany. After Jim’s dis- Haden and wife, Deborah, Ru- "ElkCituNews charge from the military, they idoso, NM and Jimmy Haden BESSIE COMMUNITY made their home in Dill City, and wife, Suzie, Abilene, & FIRE DEPARTMENT Oklahoma. In 1976, Mary ‘TX; 9 grandchildren, Kendall owned and operated Haden’s Brown Webb, Michael Falen, (USPS # 173-020) 580-225-3000 PANCAKE Floral and Gift shop in Elk City for a number of years and Misty Falen Roberts, Tori Falen, Steven Haden, Alys- also owned the franchise for sa Haden, Chyenne Haden, Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 SUPPER Danahoo’s Golden Chicken. She was also employed at Braum’s and Elk City Floral Crissy Haden Rozeboom and Lexi Haden; 16 great grand- WHOLE HOG SAUSAGE children; sister, Viola McAd- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 and Gifts. She was later mar- ams; brother, Hugo Spieker; LOCATION ried to Richard Wheeler on the father of her children, Jim SUBSCRIPTIONS Soh Uinhoks June6, 1985 in Elk City, Okla- Haden and a host of other rela Deliverd by mail: Publisher: BESSIE GYM homa where they continued to tives and friends. $75!yearly Amy Loynd (Curbside Delivery Will be Available) make their home. Mary also Memorial services will be $50/six months Business Manager enjoyed collecting dolls and held at a later date. Arrange- No refunds on subscriptions. Neva Pyatt MONDAY, MAR. 1°, 2021 Jjewelry, drawing, gardening ments are under the direction Advertising Director 4:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. and decorating for the Christ- of Chris Whinery and the staff, [email protected] D’Ann Brasuell mas holiday. of Affordable Cremation Ser- [email protected] Production Manager Adults - $10.00 She is preceded in death vice-West. Condolences can [email protected] Maréesa Margeruii Children under 12 - $5.00 by her parents; son, Patrick be made online at www.clas- classifieds @ecdailynews.com Customer Service Rep Proceeds go to the Bessie Fire Department Haden; sisters, Carola Wal- sicfunerals.com