August 18, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Wednesday, August 18, 21 WeekdayEdition Elk City Chamber of Commerce@ Elk City man arrested for domestic abuse in Retail Meeting the presence of children Date set for downtown teacher appreciation event reportedly showed the officer “very large and severe bruising on her arm, leg and foot.” By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan that she expressed to the association that Elk City does not want She then allegedly stated that to be left behind, that they want to stay in the loop. She said that Stephen Jacob Phillips had hit ‘The Elk City Chamber of Commerce Retail Meeting was held at a meeting should be happening soon. her the previous day with an 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13 at Main Street Coffee & Café. Attendees electric cord. Another attendee shared that he had officially received word the included Chamber Director Susie Cupp, several owners and em- ‘The woman provided the of- ployees from local businesses and representatives from ‘The Elk day before that an international car club would be bringing their ficer with an electric cord that City News and The Beckham County Record. annual convention to Elk City next year, more details will be she said had been the one used Topics of discussion included reviews of the Sizzlin Summer Side- available at a later date. in the alleged incident. walk Sale and No Sales Tax Weekend. Other topics included the Attendees also discussed the collapse of Dollar General's roof. “The cord she provided me annual Teacher Appreciation Dinner and other events. ‘There were a few reports of minor damage in neighboring stores was bent and shaped in a way Attendees said that while their sales were still good, neither their which had to undergo full inspections by the fire department. indicating it was used for as- Sizzlin Summer Sidewalk Sale nor their No Sales Tax Weekend Other topics included the museum now having two day passes, a saulting a person,” the officer were as good as last year which they deemed “exceptional.” The desire to see Elk City have named districts identified by nice signs Jacob Phillips opined. “She also stated that consensus seemed to be that last year because nobody could go and updates on the chamber’s building and website. Stephen had grabbed her neck, anywhere and also had spare money from not taking vacations By Shonda Little but I did not observe any inju- as well as having stimulus money, that sales at the two occasions Cupp shared that the new building is “amazing” and that the ex- ries. I did observe less severe citement is building for its projected finish date of late September were higher than normal. One attendee also speculated that their A 22-year-old Elk City man injuries to her chest area, such No Sales Tax Weekend was affected by the lack of options for men or early October. She also said that progress on the new Visit Elk is being held in the Beckham as marks and scratches.” and boys as well as a lack of selection for tweens. City website is going well. County Detention Center af- The officer then contacted ‘The next topic was the Downtown Teacher Appreciation Night, An attendee pitched the idea of a monthly shop crawl as a way to ter Elk City Police say that he Phillips, who reportedly stated an annual evening of honoring area teachers through discounts bring an activity to downtown during the non-summer months. committed domestic abuse in that he was “drunk and did not and stores being open until 7 p.m. After some discussion it was Other attendees liked the idea and decided to hold it on the first the presence of a child. remember hitting her with a decided to hold the event on Tuesday, Sep. 21 as many teachers ‘Thursday of every month beginning on Sep. 2. Other details are ‘The charge is a felony. cord,” have shared that Tuesdays work best for them. It was also de- forthcoming. ‘The investigation began at During the investigation, the cided that a list of participants would be made and flyers would Unfortunately, not all topics of discussion were positive ones as 1:13 p.m. on August 10. At officer determined that small that time, an Elk City Police children were inside the resi- be taken to the schools as well as the event being announced at attendees shared concerns over an increasing presence of graf- Department officer was dis- dence during the alleged as- the annual Teacher Appreciation Dinner, which was held Mon- fiti on buildings as well as a scam targeting businesses in which patched to the 1800 block of sault. day, Aug. 16. retailers are contacted about some sort of school booster or fun- West 7th Street in reference In court papers, Judge Mi- draiser that they solicit money for, claiming to be with a local At this point an attendee shared that all retailers should join the to a possible domestic assault chelle Kirby Roper denied Phil- Route 66 Association, as membership includes being listed in a school. They also discussed a duo of men that have been coming andbattery. lips a bond until he appeared directory of businesses. The association was also mentioned in into stores to sell paper, claiming that your neighbor is buying During the investigation, the before the court. the discussion of the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which is in from them and employing other unsavory tactics. They say that it officer made contact with the Online court records do not 2026. Chamber Director Susie Cupp said that the association can- is important for other retailers to be aware. alleged victim. indicate that Phillips has been not do anything until the state tourism department makes deci- ‘The next retail meeting will be held Friday, Sep. 9 at 9 a.m. at ‘The officer asked the woman arraigned as of yet. No future sions at which point the association will follow them. Cupp said Main Street Coffee & Café. what had occurred, and she court dates are listed. Basic Wrecker Service Class to be held at Western Technology Center in Elk City Michael Estrada, owner ofHaines Wrecker Service, will instruct class on September 11-12 and cleaning trucks from the now what a privilege it was. they have cameras either on time I could walk. Really, some ‘They knew what needed to be their windshield or grill. When of my earliest memories are be- done, and they were happy to you realize how expensive and ing in the shop. They are some pass it along to us,” Estrada sensitive these cameras are, of my fondest memories, too. gushed. naturally, we have to make ‘This has been a family business Just as he learned the trade sure that we are hauling them from day one, and it remains from his elders, Estrada is now so that they don’t cause injury. that way today.” equally happy to pass that For that reason, I went and got His grandfather was a World knowledge onto others. Tesla certified. We are right War II veteran, and his grand- As a GenXer, Estrada has the here on I-40, so we have more mother a wartime bride. As perfect combination of old- Teslas than some people may members of the “Greatest Gen- school grit and determination realize driving by daily. Well, if erations,” the Haines couple teamed with knowledge of the they end up needing a wrecker put great stock in hard work ever-developing new technolo- service, we want to keep that and family values. They had gies. business in Elk City. Tesla is far three children — two sons, “Oh, it is impossible for me to from alone with the new tech- Tim and David, and one daugh- list all the ways the industry nology evolutions. They just ter Mary. has changed in my lifetime. seem to be the most known. “['m Mary's son, so that is why When I was a kid, we were We are working with several I have a different last name starting out with CB radios. companies, both foreign and than Haines. Working with Then we eventually got cell domestic, to stay ahead of the family is rewarding, but we all phones. Now we have dispatch- curve,” Estrada advised. know it can be stressful. I miss ing apps for those phones. Ev- ‘These lessons and more will be my grandfather so much, but ery year, we go to trade shows indluded in his upcoming 16- we also butted heads some- and conventions to make sure hour course. Michael Estrada, owner of Haines Wrecker Service, is a member of the Oklahoma Wreck- times at work. Of course, we that we are on top of the lat- “The wrecker service is not an er Association and a Department of Public Safety certified trainer. Courtesy photo. would make up quickly like est technology on the market. easy industry. It’s not uncom- nothing happened. When he Just last week, we were in San mon to get calls at 3 am. In died, I acquired the bank loan. Antonio at a trade show. Any- fact, it almost seems a certain- By Shonda Little City. has technically been in the My grandmother had always one working in the automotive ty when you are dog tired. I've The class will be held a second wrecker business for 29 years. taken care ofall the books and industry, whether a mechanic, been called out on many of my Beginning at 8 am on Septem- “I say 29 years because that worked right alongside us un- day on September 12. Each day wrecker, body shop guy, etc., kids’ birthdays and holidays. ber 11, Michael Estrada, owner _willend at 5 pm. is kind of technically when til her death. I graduated from can testify that cars are chang- But, it is also a good living that of Haines Wrecker Service, will they could finally put me on Elk City High School in 1993. Estrada, amember of the Okla- ing ata rapid rate with the new will always be needed. I believe be instructing a 16-hour class homa Wrecker Owner Associa- the payroll,” the 47-year-old When I was that age, I don’t technology in them. We are in these kinds of careers and on the basics of the wrecker tion and a state-certified train- Elk City native laughed. “My think I realized how lucky I was seeing an increasing amount am happy to share my service industry at the West- er with the Oklahoma State grandfather Robert Haines had to get to work with and learn that can partially drive and ern Technology Center in Elk Department of Public Safety, me out here sweeping floors from my family as I did. know park themselves, which means See Haines page 2. Vol. 119, No. 66 a Te Weather tomorrow 91/68 75 cents, 10 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com