April 14, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Weekend Edition The late James Banks honored Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a at Elk City Track Meet the 2019-20 fiscal year. $17.2 million figure is with most points scored by an Association Hall of Famer had the baton that Elk City in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information individual school. There were Mark Heard, officiated his had that race won. We were so few of them that they had funeral. was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons excited to be able to give the to all take up extra events Heard said that James award out again, but to be able to get enough points to win. would have been the perfect James took up pole vaulting student if class would have to give it to Elk City meant everything to us. It is what were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry that year and got second just only been held outside. to score extra points for the The following year, Adams James would have wanted,” team.” and her parents Dennis and she said. His heart, though, was Teresa TheBanks awarded district couldthe notwin- find Janie remembers her in running. He was already a ner of the 3200-meter relay brother as an avid hunter and twice-state champion in cross with the James Banks Memo- fisherman. He loved country country. rial Award. “His favorite event was in For several years, they music and his family. the 3200-meter relay. He ran could not hand out the hon- “He would have been a the anchor position, and they ored award because Elk City great father. As I have gone the fiscal year ended. He still hold the school’s record,” was no longer holding track through cancer the last couple Department of Human Services officials are working with Adams said. meets. That changed this year of years, I have missed him James had the opportu- when Elk City held its first more. Hepayroll/insurance was really my best Hunt, Taylor Easttom withwith son40 Porter. Western toBy the Littlefiscal year, but nity to go to college almost current Shonda meet in at least a decade. friend in childhood. When I 48 years, of anywhere he wanted, but was “I teared up when Coach Oklahoma Family Care Center, with Exec. always clear that he would Andy Pfeffer called me and had my tonsils out, I wanted When James Banks gradu- continues, and a final Dir. Liberty McArthur and Jo Miller, Director stay in western Oklahoma. said that they were having the to sleep in bed with him when ated from Elk City High School He preferred living a simple track meet and would want we were little kids. He would in 1999, he was a decorated of the Hope Medical Clinic at the Southwest country life. us to hand out that award have loved my daughter and track star. Though the gradu- “He loved being out here. again. He said that he told his Farm and Home Expo this past weekend. Photo ating class is most famous been a great uncle. She has In fact, his dream would have athletes that winning that gotten to know him just by Libery McArthur. for winning the school’s only been to live until his old age race was the most important state football championship, through our memories and on our Sweetwater farm,” his one because he remembered photographs. It’s a terrible Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning Banks and a handful of track sister gushed. “Give him an watching James run when he teammates accomplished what open field or a still pond and seemed unimaginable. They outscored teams with he was a happy man.” However, old age was not was a little boy. It made me feel good that James’s mem- ory was being honored and thing for a family to lose someone the way that we lost High-speed chase said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed James, butand flawless, it isthat an honor that doesn’t larger rosters to bring home the top prize. “I think there were only in James’s fate. He was killed in an oilfield accident on De- cember 13, 2001. that he still inspires our track athletes,” Adams explained. She and her family arrived others still remember him. Above all, he was proud of leads to suspect eight of them on the team,” James’s untimely death early to watch every event, but his track record. I think that Banks’ sister Janie Adams recounted. “The state cham- pionship comes down to the was the first amid his gradu- ating class. His track coach, Oklahoma Secondary Sports knew the 3200-meter relay was closest to their hearts. “I knew when the laston guy he would smile knowing that award was given to the Elk City – 1978, team.” 1982 and 1984 – and one state drawing AR-15 on satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to been a coach for 48 years – a head football law enforcement, Autism Awareness Month: coach for 40 years – and has an overall re cord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. BCSO deputy says “Our strength is going to increase dramati Elk City mother discusses needs, concerns and hopes for autistic children cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in goals. "My sister's daughter is just a few months older than him," Fite explained. "I started realizing as he was turning one that he was be- hind her in language development. I had thought before that Colton Officials in Beckham County have cut nearly $1 million was just an easy baby. He during an ainterview didn't cry lot and wasin the easyathletic office to soothe. Heat from their estimated budget this year, with the final didn't babble and make noise like infants often do. As he got older, approval of the 2019-20 fiscal year budget coming in the though, I realized how many more words that my niece knew and started to become concerned." Her son was meeting all his physical milestones, but language was still not progressing. the2019-20 search isbudget at their on to find The accident weeklycoordi an offensive Occurred meeting Monday. The fina just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 "We kind of thought that he was maybe just a well-loved baby be- cause he had really only spent one-on-one time with adults. I was over to the state by the first of October. leaving him with just one person at a time while I worked, so it was Cain tried to repair something under his 1986 Ford F350 like he didn't need to say a word for something he wanted because someone was always there to do that for him," she said. excise board gives the final approval Woodall Sheltonand signs off on it When Colton was approximately His startingtwo-year-old, FiteMonday date is the first had heard after By Shonda Little about the SoonerStart Program. She felt it would be a benefit to him Hartman, Beckham County Clerk. Beckham County Sheriff’s Office, Carter Fire, Elk City Fire, to have that type of therapy. our first phase of the CAPS County officials said in April that changes in the budget "We were seeing a nurse practitioner at the time because his doc- On March 29, a Beckham County Sheriff’s Office deputy was noti- tor was no longer seeing him as a patient in that way. I had been told fied that 39-year-old Jessie Earl Woodall of Sayre was westbound on that the program was mostly for SoonerCare kids and didn't know I-40 tion near Canute. scheme for the Elk offense. On the de if they took private insurance. It turned out that they did. That was The deputy knew that Woodall was a suspect in a domestic assault the beginning of our journey," Fite recounted. and battery case in Washita County. The SoonerStart Program saw him once weekly until Colton be- Woodall was said to be in a maroon car traveling on I-40. The The county cut $998,696 from its budget, Hartman said gan school. deputy also noted that Woodall had outstanding felony warrants "I had asked them if they thought he was autistic. They had said through Beckham County District Court for “various weapon viola- they didn't. They understood my concerns and felt he benefitted tionsdepartment due to him being a convicted felon.” or every official gives their estimate of what Woodall was believed to be armed with at least one handgun. from the program but didn't think he was autistic. My husband is a they’re needing for the year,” Hartman said. “The excise physician's assistant, and we talked about it a lot. We would go back “After watching I-40 for several minutes, I did not see the vehicle and forth on if we thought he was. He would flap his hands and line pass me. I was then updated that his cell phone was now pinging at could stay on the floor the things up even as a baby. I know now those are both symptoms. It the Brian Road apartments in Elk City. I overheard a Elk City Po- wasn't until he went to the Stanbro Clinic in Oklahoma City that he lice Department unit advise that they had located the vehicle at the was diagnosed. I think everyone bases autism on movies like Rain- apartments, but were unsure which unit he entered,” the deputy a.m. with Hot Hash and man or the Accountant. Those aren't what autism looks like in real wrote.“We don’t know those figures yet,” she said. “We’re kind life for the most part. It is a spectrum. It is not one size fits all," Fite While watching the vehicle and waiting for more officers to arrive, advised. the deputy observed two male subjects walk toward the vehicle in As Colton officially received his diagnosis as he was entering el- question and enter it. year before and current year figures and help the county ementary school, Fite and her husband drove him to Edmond twice The vehicle left the apartments and the deputy attempted to a week for early intervention. catch up“Butto the car.made 20 percent cuts; some offices we’ve By Shonda Little At approximately 6:55 am, the deputy activated his emergency "I read everything that I could find on it, and everything says that lights signaling for the car to pull over. Amanda Fite, a registered nurse who works at Great Plains Re- early intervention makes all the difference. I wanted that for him. “I get thenthose activated my siren,from giving the driver an audible A fire thatCenter, burned of waitsignal and to gional Medical stillthe Team Chip remembers Tae Kwon the excitement she felt when We would be there for three hours each session, and we did that for final figures them, it’s kind pull over, but the vehicle kept increasing its speed traveling east on sheDo building found Tuesday out she would afternoon become a mother.inWhile the she 1400didn't know two years," she said. 7th Street. I then advised my dispatch that I was going Colton is now 8. He is mainstreama definitein many date ways.set His forlanguage the Commissioners gave their final approval forto befigures the in pur- what to expect when she found out her son has autism, she also suit,” the deputy stated. gushed that he has taught her new things about the world. skills have evolved, but sometimes he struggles with social interact- ing. While fleeing, the vehicle reportedly ran through a four-way stop fire chief "Not everyone forgets thetoElk City raise a Fire little Department. scientist," No she smiled. first weekend in November. at 7th Street and Randall at over 70 mph and continued to travel Like most occurred. pregnant women, "For whatever reason, kids on the spectrum tend not to have a injuries Two she was eager people in the to give buildher child the east.there, at least one account in there,” Hartman said. best footing in life. She took her prenatal vitamins, ate well, and strong body core, and he deals with that. We didn't know how to go The deputy alleged that the vehicle nearly hit other vehicles head- ing read escaped unharmed. The main part of the books. about this because he was loving and would make eye contact. Those on. Hartman could not provide an exact figure. The public fire aoccurred Fite, 2007 SayreinHightheSchool hot water heater graduate, area.early in her recognized are the 75 children stereotypes that you hear — that a child this year. That figure was up from 40 last year. won't make eye $12,130. sonThe insurance Colton's company life that perhaps healso was is investigating. not meeting development See Autism page 2. See Chase page 2. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 30 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 57 / 45 99/70 75 cents, 12 pgs.pgs. 75 cents, 10 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com