July 7, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Weekday Edition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a The Real-Life Notebook: Elk City Baptist Village couple leaves the the 2019-20 fiscal year. world together, as they wished $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 and was going to throw it. They are supposed to be shot off from a tube, but I thought there was no fun in that. I took it out of the tube and had lit it and was about to throw it. The fuse coiled were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry around my hand and lit the top of it, blowing up in my hand. It went off, and my index and middle finger went with it. Three- The of my fourths district could ring not finger find and the top of my thumb are gone now, too.” Although this fateful tale would be a headline in most people’s lives, it is but a side note for Wilson. His six decades of life have been proven to be anything but typical. the fiscal year ended. He Now, looking back on his six decades, he says every misstep Department of Human Services officials are working with and misadventure was an essential part of his journey that was guiding him to where he was always supposed to be — in a tiny Excitement is mounting in Sayre, Oklahoma as it prepares to to the current fiscal year, but town in western Oklahoma, marriedHunt, to thepayroll/insurance love his life, raising welcome visitors for the first-ever Dust Bowl Days Farm & Ranch Festival scheduled 48 foryears, with 40 July 10-11, 2021.of Sponsored by the Sayre kids and grandkids and reporting on the sports activities of the Chamber of Commerce and the work of the Dust Bowl Days Festi- continues, and a final community that he has made his own. “This is home,” Wilson gushed. “All the God things in my life val planning team, this event promises to offer fun for the entire family. have put me exactly where He wanted me to be, and I am simply Sure to be a fan favorite, the festival parade kicks off at 10 a.m. grateful that He knew better than me to get me here.” Saturday morning on Main Street in Sayre. With over thirty en- As a child, Wilson and his two sisters were adopted by his tries and counting, there will be unique family farm floats as well Jim and Barbara Parrish passed away within a day of each biological father’s sister and husband. The aunt and uncle who as other floats, vintage and old farm equipment, new farm equip- other last week at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. became their parents lived on a dairy south of Kansas City in a ment, Later NFEC onbucket Tuesday on the trucks, sheriff’s tumblers, office horse FB page, riders Manning and more. Par- GPRMC has coined the devoted couple the “Real Life Note- small town called Harrisonville. said sheriff’s officials had found documents ticipating during the morning will be local businesses that have that confirmed book.”. Courtesy photo. “I had really bad asthma as a kid, so you can imagine what prepared free giveaway gift boxes for some lucky customers - just being on a farm did for that,” he recounted. visit the local stores and sign up. The boxes will be given away dur- flawless,“Weand were putting that doesn’t up dusty milo and hay bales. I had a hard time breathing a lot. ing the Saturday night program at the park. Many of the floats By Shonda Little and some farm equipment will be parked on the festival grounds It doesn’t matter if it is Christmas or your birthday or you are sick, on a dairy, those cows have to be milked twice a day. So at Sayre City Park for up close viewing, however visitors will not Sixty-year-old Shawn Wilson has been covered in just about be able to get on the equipment. Rounding out the morning and every form of media possible. From television to print, bill- we learned from an early age to work hard. If it hadn’t been for following the parade will be a “meet & greet” hosted by the Sayre boards to social media commercials, and, of course, the radio asthma, I probably would have stayed right there my whole life satisfied that Shortgrass Countrythe Museum, circumstances through for any of which he our elected cameintoat- officials and worked on that dairy, tonbut – I 1978, 1982 didn’t likeand 1984to–be having and in one the state tendance. This will be an opportunity for festival fans to meet and airwaves that he has dominated for three decades. The coverage he receives this time of year outside of his longtime gig as sports hospital.” visit with the dignitaries, as well as see the progress that has been director for KECO 96.5FM is typically devoted to firework safety. Wilson graduated from been a coach high schoolforin48 years 1979 – a head and ttendedfootball the made on museum renovation. The museum will be open to the In 2015, Wilson was with his family at Elk City’s Ackley Park University of Missouri for one for coach year40as a wrestler. years – and has an overall re public during and after the parade. “I realized pretty quick that cord of college 307-147lifeandwasn’t for me. a playoff I was record of 44- The festival opens at 12 noon! The north entrance to the park when he accidentally suffered a severe injury to his right hand kind of adrift, so my grandmother came to me and gave me 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. will be open. “Our Theissouth strength goingentrance to increase willdramati be blocked off. Parking is free when an artillery or mortar-style firework blew up in his hand. and visitors will be directed where to park on entry. Though all $2,350 — her burial money. She said, ‘Take this and go make a cally,” he said. “The The frightening incident left him with much of his dominant life for yourself in Oklahoma.’ I had two uncles and an aunt who festival activities are [players’] confidence in close proximity in parking areas, there to the right hand gone. will be a Cowboy shuttle available for anyone who would like a “Every year I tell kids that fireworks are dazzling but danger- were living in Oklahoma City and working out at Fort Reno. ride over to the pavilion. Handicap parking will be available west ous. Then I show them my hand as proof,” Wilson explained. I got my first job at the State Fair of Oklahoma. That wasn’t of the swimming pool. It is a free festival; however, cars will be “This was totally self-inflicted. The Fourth of July is that time the state fair we have every year in September, but the actual stopped at the gate to receive a festival map and parking instruc- of year when grown men delight in acting like 12-year-old boys. company. At that time, they had a lot of things going there, like tions. All of the festival activities are free to the public (except for I was with my family; my little sister was visiting from New the big rodeos and big Appaloosa sales. I would check out all the Officials shopping and in Beckham eating). County The Sayre Golfhave cut nearly Association has $1 million partnered during an interview in the athletic office at Jersey. I was showing off and took that artillery-type firework See Notebook page 2. withfrom their estimated the festival to providebudget a “cooling this year, off” areawith for allthe finalfans. festival approval Located just of southeof the2019-20tennisfiscal year courts budget and a coming short walk fromin the the grounds, the new Clubhouse will provide a gathering room with tables & chairs and AC. There is also a large covered patio on the Kids in Care ResourcesFoster care support south side for shady, outside seating and bathrooms are available. the2019-20 Snacks, search LiveThe music isbudget sodas and on beginsOccurred accident at their to adult find an weekly beverages offensive will be coordi just after under the pavilion meeting Monday. sold in the at61:00 p.m.p.m. The fina clubhouse. in awith hay the field 3 band group looks for partners in Beckham County Easyover first come, to the Money. Cain tried state by Limited first to the will seating firstbe repairOtherwise, served! ofavailable somethingbring October. underyour in front of the stage, chairsF350 1986 Ford his lawn and settle in for an afternoon of great music. Following Easy Money a home. When a child is taken into protective custody, DHS also excise will be boardMerrick The Joe gives & the final approval Friends band. Theyand signs will off on perform it from hopes to find a kinship His starting placement date to put themis the firstthe in. So, Monday after goals are 2:30-4:30 p.m. There will be a break in the music from 5-6:30 p.m. keeping siblings together and a familiar adult with a safe home to Hartman, for Beckham the Dust BowlBeckham County Derby! County Following Sheriff’s Clerk. Office,theCarter Derby, Fire, the Tarking-Tones Elk City Fire, put them there. These kinship placements our first canphase of the CAPSor be a grandparent County Band take officials the stage forsaid an in hour ofApril that songs, rousing changes in the by followed budget the an aunt or uncle. It isn’t always that, though. An example I would Slim Pickins Band from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Scheduled for around give is a sibling group taken into custody in the Burns Flat area. 8:00 p.m. will be a short, but very special program hosted by tion scheme Monte Tucker. forWinners the Elk offense. On the giveaway of the business de boxes will be an- One of their teachers was willing to take them but she did not have enough individual beds for each sibling. So one of two things could nounced followed by a tribute video titled “So God Made a Farm- have happened. The children could have been placed in a shelter or er” featuring footage of 24 family farms located around Sayre. It group home-type setting for the night, which can often be more The to promises county be a cut $998,696 touching tributefromto the itsmany budget, Hartman families who havesaid traumatizing to the child. These children end up in foster care for lived years loving and taking care of their land, passing the family all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it may be an abuse case, but other values of hard work down from generation to generation. times, their parent is having a personal struggle. It is important to department Activities duringor the everydayofficial gives their include free wimming estimate of what (1-5 p.m.), free remember that these children love their parents despite whatever they’regolf miniature needing (1-8 p.m.)for the andyear,” many Hartman said. “The activities planned in the excise Ro- has brought them into this situation. Being removed from the home deo Arena and the Learn & Play area. Kids will enjoy participating is already going to be traumatizing enoughcouldsostay we on don’thewantfloor to the com- in old-timey games from days gone by, a corn hole contest, arts & pound that with the children being split up or taken to a shelter. So crafts activities that involve lots of seeds, earthworms and soil ba- many of these emergency placements happen in the middle of the bies, hay bale climbing and a huge sand pile! The Salt Fork Crafts- a.m. with Hot Hash and night when the kinship adult cannot get to a store to buy a new mat- men Blacksmiths will have live demonstrations all afternoon in tress. Also, it can be costly to buy all these things at once. We don’t “We & the Learn don’tPlayknowarea.those Visitorsfigures yet,” she will enjoy somesaid. “We’re wild and kind wooly By Shonda Little want the children to have to go into a shelter for either of these fun going on in the arena all afternoon. There will be farm and reasons. So, we will get that call, and we will rush to get that kinship ranch branding, wild steer racing, mutton busting and farm and Though both Rachel Hensley and September Garcia live in Clin- placement the cribs or the beds that they need.” yearibbon ranch before and Most roping. current year involve events figures and help thebetween competition county ton, the co-founders of Kids in Care Resources work to assist foster Currently, Kids in Care Resources operates out of the law office of the farmers and ranchers! The highlight of the arena events will care families throughout western Oklahoma. “ButDust the first we’ve Bowl made 20 apercent Derby, wild race cuts; andsome offices between competition Juan Garcia in Clinton. The group’s primary counties that they provide services to are “We have a backroom there where we are able to keep cribs, mat- the farmers and ranchers that promises to be hilarious. Plan on Beckham, Blaine, Custer and Washita. tresses, sheets and things like bunk beds. We keep diapers, new being around the arena at 5:00 p.m. for some belly-busting laughs A firewethat “But, burned work hard to the Team Chip accommodate any Tae Kwon request that we can,” pajamas, socks and underwear on hand, too. In the past, we have andget those final figures from them, it’s kind of wait and fun! Do building Hensley Tuesday advised. “We afternoon have never said no in whenthe 1400been asked had people bring their gently used children’s clothing, but we simply we have Hungry tummies? No worry! Located in the center of the Commissioners gaveEd’stheir final approval forShak the figures to help.” didn’t have enough room to store allaofdefinite date are that. Those set for alsothe things grounds will be MeatHead Bar-B-Q, Slife’s Snak (ham- Kids in Care Resources, a 501(c)3 charity, was founded by Hensley, that we can get to the foster families a day or two after. For what- burgers, Indian tacos and funnel cakes) and Kennemer’s Snow Garcia and other volunteers primarily to aid in the needs when a ever reason, some of the homes wherefirst weekend children in November. Cones! During the early afternoon in the concession stand located fire child chief is first for into taken thefoster Elk City care. Fire Department. No these are taken into near the arena, the Sayre High School Senior Class will be selling injuries occurred. Two howpeople custody do not want to send any of their personal items. We keep “It is kind of mind-blowing ofteninathe build cannot be placement car seats for that reason, too. Our biggest objective is to be able to lotsthere, at least one of homemade sweets,account in there,” ice cream Hartman and sundaes, said. frozen lemon- ingbecause made escaped unharmed. the home is lacking aThe bed,”main Hensleypart of the “One of keep the things that a foster family will need on that very first night explained. ade and more! Starting at 4:00 p.m., the Sayre High School FFA ourfire occurred biggest goals is in thetohot always keepwater siblingheater groups area. together if we can. Hartman could not provide an exact figure. The public 75 to children be this year. able to $12,130. ThatDHS’s meet figurerules was up andfrom take40them last on year.the first night,” See Dust Bowl page 2. TheThe insurance Department company of Human Servicesalso has aisrule that investigating. every child taken into their custody must have their own bed in order to be placed in See Foster page 2. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 52 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 85 / 67 99/70 75 cents, 8 pgs. 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com