May 29, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Saturday, May 29, 2021 Weekend Edition Chervenka named new Elk City Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Fire Department chief the 2019-20 fiscal year. $17.2 million figure is with in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry The district could not find the fiscal year ended. He Department of Human Services officials are working with Hunt, payroll/insurance to the current fiscal year, but 48 years, with 40 of continues, and a final Mental Health Awareness Month With conditions already dry, Chervenka cautions those living at the edge of town to Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning keep their yards cut short to avoid long, dead grasses helping fuel wildfires. When Elk City officials said sheriff’s localhad found shares personal documents that confirmed away from the fire station, Chervenka enjoys hiking in Colorado with his daughters Courtesy photos. flawless, and that doesn’t struggles and triumphs By Shonda Little By Shonda Little sured that the transition would be seamless. “Every single one of our people are committed to the job for 100% Every year in May, numerous medical, psychology, and chari- The Elk City Fire Department has long held a reputation for its of their shift and even when they are off,” Chervenka explained. table groups highlight mental health awareness. dedicated staff. From the top of the organization to volunteers, “You would almost say that we are dorks about learning new things satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to ton – 1978, 1982 and 1984 – and one state “Of course, we know that people in American and around the their people regularly stay on for many years if not most of their in fire and medical. You never hear a complaint when we have to do world have personalized struggles with their mental health ev- professional careers. continued learning because all our people actually want to do that. ery month throughout the year. Some are acute and spontane- When ECFD Chief Billy Word resigned in August 2020, he was Leadership is important, been a coach of course, butfor 48isyears this – a head probably football the easiest ous, others are chronic and some are both. Mental health is not leaving over three decades of service to the department. His last group in the world to lead because everyone wants to do more andre coach for 40 years – and has an overall a one-size-fits-all bill. But, because of the shame that has been name, along with a few others, had been synonymous with the cordfor learn more. They are all here of 307-147 the rightand a playoff reason, whichrecord of 44- is serving long associated with it, it’s been a quiet struggle for many for ECFD. Starting his career in 1989 as a volunteer and later going full- our community. It does feel24. He played football at Oklahomaperson like a big responsibility to be the State. “Our too strength long. That is cangoing to increase be deadly dramati at times. We would not shame a time, Word became assistant chief in 2011 and ascended to the chief who is now the chief, but our people make that easy. I’ve been fortu- diabetic patient for seeking medical cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in care, but that happens trag- position in 2014 following Rick Shelton’s retirement. nate enough to work with the most dedicated people in our depart- ically far too often for patients who are struggling with men- City Manager Tom Ivester said that city leadership would be tak- ment and the surrounding departments.” tal health issues. It is often misunderstood because it can have ing their time, reviewing applicants for the position from within the Chervenka is a western Oklahoma boy at heart. As a 2003 gradu- many catalysts or take many forms. It can be predictable and department and outside the department. ate of Canute High School, he knew that he wanted to build his adult unpredictable. That’s no different than any other medical issue, On April 30, ECFD’s chief medical officer, Kyle Chervenka, ac- life close to home. His father, a volunteer himself, got him involved but the stigma will often keep people from seeking help. Then cepted the position. He said the prior chiefs are hard acts to follow. with Canute’s volunteer fire department. His mother had worked we will see people desperate to seek help, and the treatment is “I had put my name in that many months ago when it first be- for Sinor’s EMS Service. during an interview in the athletic office at Officials in so expensive. Beckham We don’t talkCounty have cut about mental nearly health more $1in May million came available, but it wasn’t something I was thinking about all the While still volunteering at Canute, he took EMS classes to conjoin from it because their estimated doesn’t happen inbudget otherthis year, months. Wewith talkthe aboutfinal it now time because we all had so much going on with the EMS, Covid, and the two. soapproval we can draw of the 2019-20 attention fiscal to it. year budget Attention coming inand brings education, the helping when and where I could on the fire side. Tom called me and “I was younger and only doing it as a volunteer then, but it would education brings hope,” said Oklahoma counselor Shae Louis. asked me to come in to talk and if I was still interested. I can’t say be frustrating to go on calls in Canute for people needing medical For Elk City resident Denton Wood, he is aware that internal how humbled and honored I am that the city would put this kind of help and not being able to assist because I wasn’t an EMT. I decid- and external forces can impact mental health. confidence in me,” Chervenka said. ed to take the classes to become one. That wasn’t for any money the2019-20 search “When Iisbudget on to was The accident at their find growing anup, my Occurred weekly offensive meeting coordi parents just after were 6 p.m. Monday. good in aand The fina hayinvolved field 3 However, because Chervenka was well-acquainted with the ECFD parents who seemed happy most of the time. I don’t think I gave staff’s expertise both individually and as a group, he also felt reas- See Chervenka page 2. over to much the to thought state by the mental first of health October. because it was not something I Cain tried to repair something under his 1986 Ford F350 needed to worry about. If I did, I thought the answer could be found Biblically. Now I do believe that theology can hold many excise lessons andboard gives parables the final to help approval you with and signs life’s struggles. off think I also on it Elk City Commission votes to use part of sales His starting date is the first Monday after it can be misleading to think that you can be immediately healed ofHartman, Beckham Beckham depressionCounty County Sheriff’s through that Clerk. Office, avenue. Carter Fire, Some Elk City well-meaning Fire, people our first phase of the CAPS want that to be true, but if your faiththat County officials said in April changes doesn’t in theresolu- find a quick budget tax to fund city employee salaries tion to that, it can only make it worse. My journey through all of this tion has taught scheme me that for the Elk the On offense. besthething de that we can all get is giving ourselves some grace when we are struggling and being By Shonda Little Elk City re-appointing sales tax revenue for a previous period from mindful of what you say to others when they are struggling,” July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. Wood explained. The was Wood county borncut $998,696 into a family offrom its budget, educators. Hartman He graduated said from The Elk City Commissioners held their second regularly scheduled City Manager Tom Ivester asked the city’s financial adviser, Mer- meeting on Wednesday, May 19 at 2 pm in the Commission Cham- edith Meacham-Wilson, to explain. Elk City High School in 2004 and was seeking a life goal to coun- bers at Elk City Hall. Merchant-Wilson detailed that Elk City’s current sales tax was sel others. department Wood becameora every official gives youth minister their estimate at a church in Sentinelofwhilewhat The meeting began with a prayer and the flag salute, lead by new 4.5%. they’re needing for thewithyear,” Hartman said. “The excise commissioner Rod Carver. Of that, 1.5% goes to debt services and cannot be touched. A taking full-time education an Elk City trucking company. The commission then approved the minutes from the May 3 meet- half percent goes to the hospital and 1% goes to the CAPPS project, In August 2008, his life would change with brutal swiftness. ing. which voters approved. could stay on the floor the Wood and a co-worker were traveling back to Elk City from a The meeting kicked off with a public hearing for a dilapidated Meacham-Wilson said that the remaining 3% is not voter restrict- job site in Pratt, Kansas. He remembers taking books to read on building. The building was listed as 818 N. Washington. ed. the trip and affectionally discussing family with his co-worker. An employee for the city addresseda.m. with Hot Hash the commission, andthat stating Out of that 3%, the city pays for services such as the police and Driving home in the early afternoon, the pair was in a vehicle “We don’t know those figures yet,” she said. “We’re kind the structure is in a “poor state.” fire department as well as city improvements. collision that would take his co-worker’s life and leave him para- The problems listed to the home included holes in the roof that She said that, as she and Ivester have been discussing the upcom- lyzed. were said to be beyond repair. ing budget, Ivester had emphasized the need to ensure that city em- “He was a wonderful man and everything that you are sup- year before and current year figures and help the county The employee stated that the property owner agreed that the ployees were always able to be paid. posed to be. I had enjoyed working with him, but we had had structure needed to be torn down and, as has been down in the past, The second agenda item was slated to address that issue, asking a perfect day. This was on a Friday, and we were in deep talks “But we’ve made 20 percent cuts; some offices would be able to make a payment plan with the city to fund the re- the commission for authority to use more of that money for em- about what we were going to do for the weekend and looking moval of the structure. ployee compensation if needed. forward to being back with our families. It was kind of carefree. Mayor Nick Archer said, “This seems pretty straightforward.” Commissioner Rick Shelton said that he agreed with the proposal, Up to the point of the accident, it was like a perfect day,” he A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon get those final figures from them, it’s kind of wait and recounted. No one else spoke during the hearing, including the owners or noting that continuing to train new employees after losing crucial Do building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 The collision happened at Bouse Junction of Highways 422 anyone on their behalf. employees can be costly. Commissioners gave their final approval for the figures a definite date set for the and 281. The hearing closed. The agenda item passed 5-0. The regular portion of the meeting then began. On agenda item three, the commissioners were asked to approve “An off-duty paramedic happened to be driving by and saw the firefirst The chief for item agenda the Elk was City Fire Department. to consider No declaring that structure at or disapprove the purchase of a property first weekend located oninSouth November. Wash- impact. He came running over and was already radioing Wood- 818injuries occurred. Two people in the build N. Washington to be a dilapidated building that was a detriment ington. ward Hospital. I remember every part of it and was panicked but there, at least one account in there,” Hartman said. also oddly calm. It was like I knew it was real and didn’t at the ing escaped or hazard unharmed. to the health, safety, andThe main welfare part of the of the community. Ivester explained that this was the old Peeler Soccer Park that had The commissioners voted to classify the fire occurred in the hot water heater area. building as dilapidated. been operated on the field for decades. Hartman could not provide an exact figure. The public On the second agenda item, the commission asked to consider 75 children this year. That figure was up from 40 last year. $12,130. See Awareness page 2. The insurance Resolution No. 2012-1, company which would alsobe is investigating. a resolution of the City of See Tax page 2. 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