May 8, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Saturday, May 8, 2021 Weekdend Edition Local mom reflects on Mother’s Day Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Holiday impacted by loss of daughter eight years ago the 2019-20 fiscal year. $17.2 million figure is with By Shonda Little many things. We had to adjust camp, and it was still hurt- in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information in more ways than I could have ing in the same place. There was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons In 2012-2013, 11-year-old imagined.” was no bruising or swelling. I Nesha Greer became somewhat Bell was young herself when didn’t think it was a big deal. of a local celebrity as she bat- her firstborn came into her I happened to be taking her were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry tled a rare bone cancer. Team life. She gave her daughter a little sister J to the doctor and Nesha t-shirts were sported by name that was unique as her had Nesh come along to have everyone from little babies to own, combining her name with the doctor look at her knee. senior citizens. Her story was her sister’s to come up with I wasThe district really doingcould not find it thinking told on social media, in newspa- Kenesha. that the doctor would tell her it pers, and tv news throughout “I knew when she was born was fine. He ended up spend- the state. that we would call her Nesha,” ing most of the visit looking Now, eight years after the Bell recounted. “Of course, I at her leg. He finally said that beautiful young girl ultimately the fiscal year ended. He called her Nesh most of the he wanted to do an x-ray. That Department of Human Services officials are working with succumbed to her illness, her time. It just fit her.” turned out to show a three-inch mother, Perisha Bell, says that Two years later, Bell had her crack in her femur. He ordered Hunt, payroll/insurance to the still holidays current fiscal aren’t the year, same. but second daughter Jaidyn, who a ct scan to follow-up,” Bell 48 years, with 40 of “Mother’s Day is hard,” Bell goes by the simple nickname J. recalled. admitted. “I still don’t really do continues, The andbrother family baby, a finalCasen, On June 12, 2012, the doc- anything for it. We go to the joined the crew in 2009. tor’s office called and asked her Perisha Bell and her three children before her daughter Nesha was diagnosed with cancer. beach, usually Alabama, for Nesha had been a perfectly to come in to speak directly Courtesy photo. Christmas. The water is too cold healthy child by all medical with the doctor. to get in, but we have the beach standards until she suddenly “You know when they don’t would stay calm. He told me confirmed by the surgeon who because they are so dry and give all to ourselves to enjoy. Losing started having leg pain in June tell you over the phone that to stay off the internet, which performed it a very matter-of-fact. She of course, was the first thing I Later her biopsy. on the sheriff’s on Tuesday office FB page, Manning a child changes life forever. of 2012. something is wrong, but I still did when I got home. As soon “Isaid sheriff’s don’t do wellofficials had found documents that confirmed2. with surgeons See Nesha page It teaches you to enjoy the “She had hurt her leg play- would have never of dreamed moments as they pass in ways ing flag football at the end of cancer,” she said. “He told us it as I looked it up, I knew that it that you didn’t before, but it school. Then a week or two was cancer, but he was acting flawless, wasn’t and that doesn’t good.” also takes the enjoyment out of later, she fell in a hole at church like it wasn’t a big deal, so I Bell’s motherly instinct was One Church’s Princess for a Day program seeks satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to ton – 1978, 1982 and 1984 – and one state donations for next year 32 years been a coach for 48 years – a head football By Shonda Little coach for 40 years – and has an overall re of service cord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- Candelon Sloan and Alicia Price, directors of One Church’s 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. “Our strength Princess for is going a Day to increase program, know just dramati how important prom is recognized cally,” for he said. young girls.“The [players’] After all, confidence the two Elk City in mothers are not only raising their own daughters but remember their days as eager for retired teenage girls anticipating the annual formal dance. “When I was a teenager, I always went straight to prom from a track meet,” Sloan recounted. “I didn’t do all the nails and did Elk City chief during an interview in the athletic office at my own hair. Prom has changed quite a lot since then, and I can Officialswhy understand in these Beckham County young girls havetocut desire nearly go all out as$1their million from do. friends their estimated That is why webudget continuethis year, with the final this.” The Elk City Fire and EMS approval of the 2021 is Sloan’s and2019-20 Price’s fiscal first yearyear budget at the helm.coming Princessinfor the a Day was founded a decade ago by Price’s little sister Addie and celebrated their now retired her friend Melissa. Chief, Billy Word Monday eve- “They both moved out of Elk City this year. They came to Alicia the 2019-20isbudget at their weeklycoordi meeting Monday. The fina ning at the Convention Center. andsearch Theand me on to find accident asked an Occurred if we offensive would just take itafter 6 p.m. over. My in a hay and husband fieldI 3 Billy has worked in Elk City have five kids between us, and I stay over to the state by the first of October. pretty busy with that task. Cain But, as ourtried pastorto says, repair something we are commanded undertohis 1986 Ford be the F350 church. I since 1989. Courtesy photo. knew this was a worthwhile ministry, and I wanted to be a part excise of it. My board husbandgivesand Ithe are final approval volunteers andyouth with the signs off onSo group. it His starting date is the first Monday after are Alicia and her husband. Anything that improves the lives of Hartman, Beckham County Clerk. Beckham County marijuana grow Beckham these County young kids, Sheriff’s especially Office, these juniorCarter Fire,high high and Elk City schoolFire, our first phase of the CAPS County officials said in April girls, I feel called to help with. Something that changes that takesina the smallbudget sacrifice like this can leave a huge impact upon their hearts,” house bust makes national news Sloan tion said. for the Elk offense. On the de scheme The formal dresses are stored throughout the year in the church’s closest. Then, as prom season approaches, the women openTheup for a one-day county boutique from cut $998,696 for girls itswho cannot budget, afford prom. Hartman said to give Oklahomans access to medical marijuana, passed by a re- “We have cookies and drinks waiting for them,” Sloan ex- sounding majority. When the final votes were tallied, the yes votes plained. “We want them to feel exceptional. We try to only take had secured nearly 57% of the population. department one or two backor at aevery official time so we can gives give their estimate individual focusof towhat However, many who supported the state question have shared a they’re needing for the year,” Hartman said. “The excise them.” common concern with those who didn’t. While Sloan and Price were successful in helping every girl couldmedical “There’s a legal way to go about growing stay on the floornow,” marijuana the who asked, Sloan advised that they could have used more size said Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning. “We have many 18+ dresses. growers and dispensaries who are following the letter of the law. “We are also running short on shoes. We have purses, jewelry, a.m. with Hot Hash and and “We otherdon’t accessories. We tryfigures as muchyet,” as weshecansaid. to have this bekind a Those are not our concern. We are after those that are putting it on know those “We’re the black market.” one-stop place,” Sloan said. On Tuesday morning, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Now, with prom season mostly behind them, the two organiz- other local law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant on ersyear before and are already seekingcurrent donationsyearfor figures and Sloan next year. help is the county hopeful a Beckham County grow house. Agents believed this grow house to that, rather than stuffing their prom dresses in the closet never be allegedly selling marijuana on the black market. to be“But wornwe’ve again,made 20 percent that teenage cuts; girls will some find it inoffices their hearts to Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman Mark Woodward pay it forward. explained that mission. “Those dresses mean the world to the kids who cannot other- A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon getafford wise thosethem. final Wefigures have from them, it’s been blessed kind so far of wait by the girls and who “We had recently executed a search warrant on a grow house in Do building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 have been selfless enough to give their dresses to next year’s Logan County that we had reason to believe was supplying their a definite date set for the Commissioners gave their final approval for the figures product to the black market. This Beckham County investigation princesses. Prom is still fresh on everyone’s mind. This is a good resulted in part from that. This was part of an ongoing investiga- time for us to ask people to donate their 2021 dresses if they feel fire chief for the Elk City Fire Department. No first weekend in November. moved to do so.” tion that will continue long after today.,” Woodward explained. injuries occurred. Two people in the build Woodward said that the grow house had an Erick address but is there, Just atSloan like least gave one out account her innumber there,” Hartman to girls still said.of in need ing escaped unharmed. The main part of the in a rural area. attire after the one-day boutique, she is again offering it to girls By Shonda Little Hartman could not provide an exact figure. The public fire occurred in the hot water heater area. “It 75 children was thiscloser to Erick year. That than figure Sayre, was “Woodward up from said. “It was in 40 last year. seeking to donate. $12,130. The insurance company also is investigating. See Bust page 2. She can be reached at (580)799-7996. On June 18, 2018, Oklahoma State Question 788, which stood Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 37 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 74 / 46 99/70 75 cents, 8 pgs. 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com