August 21, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Elk City musician to tour with nationally-acclaimed jazz band Jenny Jarnagin will serve as pianist and organist for Louis Prima Jr and the Witnesses By Shonda Little Since Jenny Jarnagin returned to her western Oklahoma roots over a year ago, she has been a busy girl. Jarnagin has taken up a full schedule of teaching piano to local students, helping to organize Sayre’s first annual Dust Bowl Days and creating a full art exhibit at Elk City’s National Route 66 Mu- seum. She coined the show, which was akin to something that could be found in a high-brow art studio in a swanky metropolitan, “Moth- er Road.” But, with a refined talent, Jarnagin craftily brought ru- ral Oklahoma and the wide-open prairie to life in her pieces. Although most of the pieces have already sold, Jarnagin will not close the exhibit until September 4. And to add to her busy summer, Jarnagin married Dusty Drake on June 11. “He is the love of my life,” Jarnagin gushed. “I had missed him for over 20 years. We were close while in college at Southwestern in Weatherford back when we were kids, and nowIget to have him as the love of my life. Everything about coming home has been like a rebirth. I can always judge where I am in life by my creative output at the time. Well, this last year, especially this summer, has been prolific for me. I have been creating a lot of paintings, writing a lot of music. I'm probably in the best place that I have been in over 20 years.” ‘As summer turns to autumn, Jarnagin has been excited to have her students back in full swing. However, just as the teacher and pupils were settling in, the clas- sically-trained musician received a call she couldn't ignore. “This is huge!” Jarnagin said. “For an artist, this is an offer you “Our musicians are coming from all over,” Jarnagin explained. can’t turn down. Louis Prima, Jr. and the Witnesses are legend- “Our saxophone player is from LA, Marcos Paulo's. There will be ary in the jazz and swing genre. It is high-energy swing music.” at least four horns. Louis Prima plays the trumpet.I willbe room- ‘The tour will run from August 26 to September 2. ing with our female lead singer, Kate Curran. She is from New “We will start in Boston and end in Chicago and perform pretty York. A.D. Adams will be on drums. I originally knew him from well every day,” Jarnagin explained. my time in Phoenix. There will be three rookies on the tour, with She is eager to play with the large ensemble. See Jarnagin page 2. Burns Flat man held without bail in Beckham County Detention Center Friends to Payne allegedly attacked two people with transform yard a knife at Elk City birthday party tery upon another by mean to the neck and head area.” friend followed Payne outside. into “float” for of any deadly weapon, or by The detective was advised “When interviewed, Payne said such means as is likely to pro- that Oklahoma Highway Pa- that he retrieved his tactical duce death, or in any manner trol troopers had located and pocket knife and was going to ninth year attempts to kill another and maiming with the intent to in- flict upon another person any detained a male subject that ‘whop’ his son in the head with could have possibly been the it for attacking him,” the detec- suspect. tive penned. “He stated before Encourage others to do injury which disfigures person appearance or disables any or- That man was identified as Payne. he could walk back to hit his son, the family friend tackled the same gan of the body. ‘The detective was also advised Payne onto the ground. Payne By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan By Oklahoma statute, each of that the homeowner was hav- stated the knife opened easily these alleged crimes requires ing a birthday party with im- with one flick, and he opened it Sally Beck moved in to her home on Broadway in Elk City those convicted to serve at mediate family and friends in as they hit the ground. He said ‘ten years ago. It just so happens that her home happened to least 85% oftheir sentence and attendance. The homeowner he was mad and embarrassed sit near where the route of the annual Rodeo Parade ends. register as a violent offender. and his father, Payne, report- his son had beat him up in While she and her friend, Sandy Bledsoe, were watching the Joe Payne According to the probable edly got into a verbal alterca~ front of everyone and ‘snapped parade that first year from Beck's new yard, the ladies found cause affidavit, an Elk City Po- tion that then escalated to a pretty quick.’ A witness re- themselves inspired. “Sandy said we should put something in lice Department detective was physical altercation inside the ported seeing Payne make an the yard and entertain them because they're entertaining this By Shonda Little contacted by an ECPD sergeant home. upward motion with the knife whole half of town,” Beck recalled. at approximately 10:40 pm After the physical altercation onto the friend’s neck, then So for nine years now the ladies have been transforming A 62-year-old Burns Flat man on August 13 to investigate a is being held in the Beckham in the living room, multiple fled the scene.” the yard into a “yard float.” After each parade they decide on County Detention Center stabbing. witnesses stated that Payne ‘The detective opined that she the theme for the next year and over the next months gather ‘The alleged stabbing had re- said, “I brought you into this believed it was reasonable to decorations from wherever they might spot them. Past themes without bail after Elk City Po- portedly taken place on the world, and I'll take you out,” believe that Payne had the in- lice allege that he violently at- have included Alice inWonderland, the 1950s, Age of Aquarius 200 block of Sycamore in Elk the detective wrote. tention of causing great harm and last year, the roaring ‘20s. “We're not professionals at any tacked two individuals with a City. Payne allegedly uttered these or death to his son by verbal- knife ata recent Elk City birth- Upon arrival, the detective was words as he was exiting the izing the threat, retrieving and of this, we're strictly in duct tape,” the friends laughed. “We day party. put together what we thinkis right,” they continued. “This lets advised that a male subject at house. The detective added attempting to use this weapon us have fun; people have joined us; the largest crowd we've had Joe Lynn Payne now faces two been taken to Great Plains Re- that the physical altercation of choice being the tactical felonies that are considered gional Medical Center by am- continued in the front yard as in the yard was 63.” violent — assault and bat- bulance for “a severe laceration the homeowner and a family See Float page 2. See Payne page 2. «OLA Weather tomorrow & 86/ Vol. 119, No. 67 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com