December 8, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021 Weekday Edition Elk City gets new Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a the 2019-20 fiscal year. museum curator $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 Above, Mayor Nick Archer talks to the Oklahoma Munici- pal Leagues’ Leadership class about the CAPPS project as well as other current city issues. Later he fielded questions the fiscal year ended. He from the group about the city, downtown revitalization Department of Human Services officials are working with projects, and the new bridge project.; Left, Cheryl Adams, OML, and City Manager Tom Ivester meet during the OML Hunt, payroll/insurance to the current fiscal year, but Leadership class meets at Western Technology Center. Staff photos by Sheryl Ponce. continues, and a final Oklahoma Municipal League learns about Elk City Bradley Fritch By Sheryl Ponce, staff writer “Eddie Holland, the Chief of Police came in, speaking on Lead- 48City years, withCity of Elk 40 has of hired Bradley Fritch to be the curator Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning ership Elk City. We find it important for our members to learn of the Elk City Museum Complex, that includes the Old Town The Community Leadership Development of Oklahoma Mu- about other municipal leadership programs, because they walk said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed Museum, the National Route 66 Museum, the Farm and Ranch nicipal League’s (OML) Leadership Class met at Elk City’s cam- away with different ideas to add to their programs. Maybe they Museum and the Blacksmith Shop. pus of Western Technology Center on Friday. The group of leaders don’t have one at all and they can reallyflawless, see theand thattsdoesn’t benefi of and are He recently married Jackie Hernandez Fritch and they will from across the state gathered on Thursday evening to tour the encouraged to start one,” she explained. Elk City museum complex, Christmas in the Park and tried their The OML leadership class has projects and requirements, make their home in Elk City. He earned his Bachelor of Arts hand at axe throwing in Mountain Man’s Axe Throwing and Grub. much like the Elk City Leadership Classes. degree in History with a minor in International Studies from Cheryl Adams, the program manager for the OML, runs the “They do what we call ‘the good, the bad, the ugly.’ They get Oklahoma University and his Master of Arts in History/Mu- leadership program, which is in their ninth year. Last year they experience in presenting, sharing about their communities and satisfied seum thatfrom Studies the the circumstances through University of which he Central came to Oklahoma. Most were unable to function because of the Pandemic, but have start- the other class members learn from that process. This process recently he was the Education Specialist for the Chisholm Trail ed to travel again. allows the fellow class members to gain knowledge about other Museum in Kingfisher. “Each year we travel to six different cities and towns across community projects or see that they are have similar problems For an in-depth interview and his plans for the museum see the state. Our members of OML cities host us. There are some and issues. They do a final project, by writing a response to a RFP the next issue of the GoWest magazine that will come out later requirements for the host city, like a hotel and meeting facility. (Request For Proposal). They gain the experience of what it takes We go into the communities and usually do something fun the to bring a business this month. ton –into your 1978, 1982community,” and 1984 – andAdams one noted. state evening before. Mountain Man Axe throwing was so much fun The projects are real requests for businesses to come into a and we took pictures at Achley Park, then some of the members went and spent tax dollars in your community,” Adams said. Friday’s they have the class session of the trip. They focus on town, the leadership been aclass coachmust provides write for 48 yearsa response – a head football coach for 40 years – and has an overall rethe Depart- They have speakers ment of Commerce talk cord of on economic 307-147the andRFP development, a playoff recordasofwell to them, to that proposal. 44- as talking Returning to community development, economic development and leadership. Mayor Nick Archer spoke to them first, along with City Manager Tom Ivester, who stopped by to greet them. 24.all to the class about Heofplayed football the steps it at Oklahoma takes “Our State.as well as for a RFP The Elk City News strength is going to increase dramati the cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in See League page 2. Officials in Beckham County have cut nearly $1 million from their estimated budget Elk this City year, with the of Chamber finalCom- approval of the 2019-20 fiscalmerce. year budget coming in the Perseverance brings achievement during an interview in the athletic office at Now, I am returning to the Elk City News as a staff writer. I have been asked why. The an- 2019-20 budget at their weekly meeting Monday. The fina cated to being a good example for her children, eight-year-old The accident Occurred just afteris6 p.m. swer simple.in Ia love hay Elk field 3 City Julian, five-year-old Draven and three-year-old Zayden. and over to the state by the first of October. I love telling the stories. “I think I went to the 11th grade. I dropped out at 17 or 18 Cain tried to repair something underithisis a Whether 1986 Ford F350 personal fea- and I’ve tried to go back before I moved out here. I was in the adult search is on to find an offensive coordi ture or something new, I love education in Clovis, and then when I moved out here I didn’t excise board gives the final approval listening toandpeople. signs off It onis it my continue with anything and I would tell someone who was think- desire to tell a story, through Hartman, Beckham Beckham County County Sheriff’s Clerk. Office, Cartereyes another’s Fire,andElk City Fire, perspec- ing about dropping out not to do it,” she continued. our first phase of the CAPS County officials said in April that changes in the budget The path she chose to take was not an easy one, but this last tive. I want to be unbiased time she returnedHistostarting schooldate she is the eemed firstto be Monday after more determined and honest in my reporting. than other times. I hope I am able to accom- “Just keep going. If I had kept going, I wouldn’t have had Sheryll Ponce plish this. I know I will make to stress and worry. I stressed and overthought everything. I mistakes. I know I will miss tionI scheme It has been almost three de years, from its thought I wasn’t smart enough and I didn’t have the time. just for the Elk Theoffense. countyOncut the$998,696 budget, something, Hartman but I will try tosaid do maybe four, since I wrote for put all of that stuff aside, and got up every morning and just put my best. my feet on the floor and just did it. Keep going, it’s not worth the Elk City News. I was hired I want people to want to read stopping right now, just because how you feel about yourself or department to write for the or Elkevery official gives their estimate of what City Daily the paper. I hope that I can Newsthey’re and needing then workedfor thefor year,” Hartman said. “The excise your intelligence,” Hamrick said. contribute something that Marti Hamrick, Elk City, reaches her goal of earn- Brad and Dayva Spitzer at She has been able to reflect on the reasons why she did not will cause someone to pick ing a High School Equivalency diploma before she turns finish before and encourages others could stay onher not to follow the floor path, butthe to the Beckham County Record. up the paper and read some- 30-years-old. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce I loved doing both, but as my thing he/she did not know. I focus on the future. When she felt like stopping, she had teach- ers and people in her life that encouraged her to continue. She responsibilities grew at BCR, I will commit to doing my best By Sheryl Ponce, staff writer a.m. with Hot Hash and gives credit to her teacher, Darrel Greene at the Burns Flat cam- found “We don’ttaking myself knowon those more figures to yet,” captureshe said.and events “We’re kind feature pus of WTC, and Diana Patterson-Smith, Workforce 2000 Coor- than I could handle. I made special people and businesses When Marti Hamrick started back to school in Western Tech dinator for their belief in her ability to finish. She also thanked the decision to step down and around town. Regional Adult Learning Center, Burns Flat, she was determined yearmissed beforeit.and current year figures and help the county Teresa Burkhart, who always gave her positive words throughout I have I would like to thank those to achieve her High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma. Origi- her studies. Currently, I am Director of who have the confidence in nally from Clovis, California, she quit school because of life’s “But we’ve made 20 percent cuts; some offices “If I was encouraged as much as these guys have been to me, I Western Technology Regional me to want to read what I circumstances and tried to return to adult education, but never may not have dropped out. They have told me, ‘you got this, you Adult Learning Centers and write. I will be working closely finished until recently. She passed all five tests on the HiSet HSE can do it.’ If it wasn’t just go because you have to, but someone willget those final continue figuresadult to serve from them, with it’s Shondakind of Little,wait and I together examination and is ready to continue a career in the health care actually making me feel like I was doing the right thing. Not just learners and teachers for hope we can make a difference A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon profession. being seen, but the effort I was putting in was a definite worth date it,the set for I may Commissioners WTC. I have gave my also achieved their in final approval for the figures Do building “This Tuesday means the afternoon world to me. To in thepeople, other 1400 it might seem BCR and ECN. As always, have finished high school,” she noted. master’s certificate as a Life let me know if there is some- like something small. But, I’m trying to show my kids that it Hamrick tried to go back to adult education a couple of years doesn’t matter what you have going on. It doesn’t matter what first weekend in November. Coach and taking coaching cli- thing coming up or an inter- fire chief for if thethere Elk is City Fire Department. ago, but she admitted that she let her circumstances get in the happens in life, something that you No want to do and ents. My husband and I have there, at least one account inesting there,”story that needs Hartman said. to be injuries you put occurred. the time Two and eff people ort into it, itincan build Hamrick said. way of completing the tests. She felt like it was easier not to fin- thehappen,” a mobile DJ business, Ponce told. ing Shescaped earned her unharmed. CertifiedThe mainAide Nurses part of the certification ish, although it was something she always wanted to do. (CNA) Hartman could Productions, playingnot music provide an exact figure. The public fire occurred in the hot water heater area. while studying to pass the HiSet test. Her focus has been 75 dedi- $12,130. children this year. That figure was up from 40 last year. for special occasions and the Sheryl Ponce The insurance company also is investigating. See Achievement page 2. 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