May 5, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 15

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Wednesday, May 5, 2021 Weekend Edition As Mother’s Day approaches, Lt. Col. John Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Paul Smith remembers his last matriarch the 2019-20 fiscal year. By Shonda Little “I lived with my mother’s mother, my Granny Jackson, but I was pretty well raised going between my two grandmothers’ When 1991 Elk City High School$17.2 graduate John million Paul Smith, figure is with houses. My Grandpa Smith died in 2004. Then my Granny Jack- now an Army Lieutenant Colonel and Chaplain, makes his son and my father both died in 2005. I had already gone through in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information annual pilgrimage to his hometown, his first stop was to his this terrible loss of my mother as an infant and that did leave a was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Granny Smith’s house. void. I was blessed with these family members who did all they On April 25, two weeks to the day before Mother’s Day, An- could to fill it. Then within a year, three of them were gone, nie Bell Smith drew her last breath. Though Smith acknowledges just leaving me with my Granny Smith. I had to rely on her for were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry that he will always miss the love and wisdom his sweet grand- everything as far as parental guidance. I was grown and married. mother imparted upon him, her decades of devotion prepared I had been in the military for a decade. Still, there are things her family for the day that she would go home. whenThe youdistrict are stillcould new to adulthood not find and making decisions as a “About this time last year, she was very ill. The doctors had parent where you want to turn to your elders for. That is what said that there wasn’t much they could do and told us that my Granny Smith has been for me all these years,” he explained. her time was probably near. We gathered together as a family. When Smith recounts his youthful rites of passage, his Somehow, miraculously, she made her way back to us, but that grandmother played a vital role in so many. was the first time I had ever really thought about living my life “She got me my first car. It was a goldish-brown Cutlass Department of Human Services officials are working with the fiscal year ended. He without her. After she was better and was able to come back to Supreme. Recently I bought my daughter her first car, so I am her home, I told her that. Her response was, ‘You know I have carrying on those things that she taught and did for me. She lived 95 current years on fiscal this earth, Hunt, needpayroll/insurance to the year,right? but You know I have had a good wanted me to be independent and not to rely on someone 48 years, with 40 of life, right? You know I have had a full life, right? You know that else for a ride. My Granny Smith made every day count. She continues, I have done all that I could to love you all and ainfinal and invest you all, looked after others. If you didn’t have clothes to wear, she would right?’ I said yes to all of those questions. She then said, ‘So, be- buy you some. If you were hungry, she would feed you,” Smith “When I became serious about finding the person that I cause of that, when I move on, it will be like I am still here with remembered. wanted to spend my life with, I looked for the qualities that I you,’” Smith recounted. Smith enlisted in the Army in 1994. With each step along the Smith is no stranger to loss. At just three months old, his way, eventually elevating from an enlisted soldier to an officer, See Smith page 2. mother tragically died. Granny Smith’s work ethic and belief inspired him. Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed ECHS Graduate Opening flawless, and that doesn’t Rise Bungee Fitness for Women in August ton – 1978, 1982 and 1984 – and one state satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to comfortable. been coming together in the been a coach last for for 48 somethingyearsnew– afor head football exercise. “Fitness has always been two years for me. I feel like I’mfor I40 coach started searching years – and hason anthe inter-re overall something that is important to living the life I had alwayscord hoped net, and that is when I found of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- me,” Shefferd stated. “I am also for, and this is the next step in Sling Bungee Fitness. I fell in all about empowering women. 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. “Our strength is going to increase dramati that,” she explained. love with it almost immediately. I know how important it is for Shefferd was known for her It is fun, and it is funny. You cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in women to have the support of skills on the soccer field when know that you kind of look silly other women. There have been she graduated from Elk City doing it, especially the first cou- times in my life when I was High School in 2002. She then ple of times, but you also know missing support from my fel- poured herself into her daugh- that it is a high-intensity, low- low women, and I can tell that ter, 11-year-old Elise. impact workout. It has a high it can make all the difference. “I decided in 2017 that I want- cardio value. I couldn’t wait to Officials in Beckham County have cut nearly $1 million It was in a mission to put those during an learn ed to go back and finish college. interview more,” inShefferd the athletic office at recounted. from their estimated budget this year, with the final two things together that I found I graduated from Southwestern Though she enjoyed the new approval of the 2019-20 fiscal year budget coming in the By Shonda Little bungee fitness, and I’m excited Oklahoma State University in fitness routine from the begin- to now be bringing it to Elk City 2019 with my associate’s de- ning, her real eye-opening mo- Erin (Barnett) Shefferd knows this summer.” gree in general business. Then in ment was when she realized too well the seemingly endless demands upon modern women And, for Shefferd, 2021 feels like the perfect time to embark October, I married my husband how much it benefited her in- Matt. He is from Las Vegas but jured knee. As Mother’s Day approaches, 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 in 2021. While balancing ca- over GPRMC Women’s something underCenter upon this lifelong ambition. moved to Sayre when he was 15. “It actually helped heal the to the state by the first of October. reers, family, sometimes even “Having a fitness center for Cain tried to repair his 1986 Ford F350 Western Oklahoma is home for knee because the impact is so furthering their education, find- women has always been a dream both of us,” Shefferd stated. low,” she emphasized. ing the time and new ways to stay healthy and fit can be chal- of mine. It is not this way for ev- eryone, but I like working out in For the last year, she has Still, as much as she relished Director celebrated excise board gives byanddaughter the final approval signs off on it lenging. She also understands stayed home with her daughter His starting bungeedate fitness, is the first Mondaysays Shefferd after a place that is by women and for as the Covid-19 pandemic forced she didn’t feel confident enough Hartman, Beckham County Clerk. from first-hand experience how Beckham By County Shonda Little Sheriff’s Office, Carter Fire, Elk City Fire, women. I’m just more comfort- the child into virtual learning. our first See phase of the CAPS County officials said in April that changes in the budget important it is for women to able doing that. Everything has Fitness page 2. “Last July I was also looking As 19-year-old Elk City woman Madilyn Cummings reflects have a workout place that feels upon her mother Miranda, motherhood is at the foundation. tion“That’s schemenotforjust the because Elk offense. she On is mythemom,” de Cummings gushed. “Ever since my sister Aaralyn and I were little our- selves, we have seen how seriously she takes her job delivering babies at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Everywhere we go,The county people know cuther. $998,696 We canfrom be in its budget, a store or atHartman said a restaurant, and people will come up and give her updates on their babies. They are so excited to tell her how they are doing and thank department her for taking careor of every them official giveswere while they their estimate giving birth.ofShe what they’re really takesneeding for thewoman each pregnant year,”to Hartman said. “The heart because excise she knows how important we were to her. I can tell that whenever she runs into her old patients. She takes care of her patients like could stay on the floor the she would have wanted a nurse to take care of us when we were babies.” Cummings has been attending Southwestern Oklahoma a.m. with Hot Hash and State“We University in Weatherford since she graduated from Elk don’t know those figures yet,” she said. “We’re kind City High School in 2020. “I moved back home this week now that the semester is over. I told my mom that I am never moving out again,” Cum- for the community & and surrounding areas. yearlaughed. before “Iand current year figures with and Momhelpand the county Canute Annual Fish Fry The volunteer fire department uses the money raised to purchase fire fighters gear & repair the trucks. The funds also help when the mings love being at home As she and her little sister have been busy with school, “But we’veactivities, extracurricular made 20jobs, percent cuts; some and friends, Aaralyn.” officesquality spending By Paula McRee fire department applies for grants which require matching funds. time together as a family was not always easy. After all, they The Forestry Department donates used trucks and the volunteer were excited to play sports and spread their wings as they A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon The Canute Volunteer Fire Dept. will have their Annual Fish May firemen refurbish the trucks. Among the 20 volunteers, the Canute earned their driver’s get those licenses, final figures fromand theirit’s them, mother kind Miranda was of wait and serving both as the director of GPRMC’s Women’s Center and 7thDo building from 5-8 P.M.Tuesday afternoon at the Canute in the Fire Station which1400 is on 4th and fire department is very fortunate to have many guys that are me- the Med-Surge Department. Commissioners gave their final approval for the figures Schiedel. Fish, French fries, coleslaw, beans, hush puppies, and Tex- chanically inclined who have helped ato build definitethe date fireset for the department’s “Mom has always been a really hard worker. She has as toothpicks are on the menu and this all for a donation! fleet, maintain & make any necessary repairs. The trucks pictured taught that to my sister and me. If something around the are the “before and after” pictures of first the truck whichinwas weekend donated November. house broke, she fixed it. She is too stubborn to give up and fireorigin The chiefofor thethe Elkwas fish fry City Fire around started Department. No fisher- by the Forestry Department. 1984 by avid call a man. And, you know what — she always seems to get it men injuries occurred. Ronald Warnke, Ray Two people Rogers, inBeck. and J.D. the build Ronald Warnke, The volunteer firemen do all of this in an effort to keep the fire there, worked at least out. She putsonethat samein account there,” energy into her staffsaid. Hartman and her ing escaped unharmed. The main part offire father of Fire Chief, Jeremy Warnke, was the Canute thechief for ratings down to help citizens have lower fire insurance ratings. If patients. She will never leave the hospital short-handed, so years. occurred fireThese 3 men donated catchesheater theirwater in the hot area. for the fire dept. to host a you are not able to attend and would like to donate (tax deductible) Hartman there could were times not that weprovide figure. exactother an each didn’t see muchThe public because 75 children this year. That figure was up from 40 last year. $12,130. See Cummings page 2. fishThe fry. insurance It turned outcompany to be a veryalso effective fund raiser is investigating. and contin- you may send donation to Canute City Hall attn.: Fire dept. PO Box ues to raise money for the department. It’s also a great get together 220, Canute, OK 73626. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 36 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 70 / 48 99/70 75 cents, 12 pgs.pgs. 75 cents, 14 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com