March 5, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 28

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Western Oklahoma ‘Since 1901... ste Elk City’s Justin Smoot Becomes Acupuncturist at Integris Cancer Institute Smoot watched his father, Jeff Smoot, help people in his Myofasic Pain Clinic with myofasicial massage therapy. He learned about healing through the touch and that the body has an energy that can be manipulated. “I could see my dad do it and he saw that in me. It was solidified when I was younger, in my teens or early 20s. He was working on something and he told me, ‘You know, I’m a healer. And I think you're a healer, too. So, just so you know, I feel like that’s your path, too.’ At that point in my life, I was like, ‘Oh, you stop,” he continued. As he grew to pursue his own education and career, Smoot knew that his father was right. After obtaining his degree at OSU, he moved to Austin, Texas, and enrolled in a Graduate program for Traditional Chinese Medicine. He achieved his Masters in Acu- puncture and Oriental Medicine in 2010, to become NCCAOM Ivester Explains Water Line Project certified for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Smoot returned to Elk City to set up an acupuncture practice in his father’s clinic, then returning to school to be certified in massage therapy. Later, he began working in Oklahoma City at the Oklahoma Chiroprac- By Sheryl Ponce AY \ ae tic Group as an Acupuncturist and Massage Therapist. ‘There, he was working independently, and that was when Integ- Over the past few Elk City Commissioner's Meetings there has By Sheryl Ponce ris Cancer Institute (ICI) contacted him. Their acupuncturist was been discussion about replacement of waterlines around Elk City. The town has not completed a project of this size in over leaving and because of Smoot’s credentials, they were interested Integris Cancer Institute in Oklahoma City announced that Jus- three decades. According to City Manager Tom Ivester, the cost in his abilities. will come in around $1.7 million. tin Smoot, MAOM, DIPL, OM(NCCAOM), LMT Acupunctur- “The hospital has been kind of one of my goals from the begin- ist would be seeing patients at their facility in Oklahoma City. “We are getting a loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources ning, to get in to the mainstream medicine setting. So, I've just Board to to do this project. Originally, we designated a por- Smoot is a graduate of Elk City High School and is a Nationally been on my own, either working out of my dad’s place for a while tion of the surcharge on our water bills to pay for our new wa- Board Certified Acupuncturist. He is also a Licensed Massage and then working with the chiropractors. I have just kind of been ter plant. We paid that loan off early, and we are designating ‘Therapist in Oklahoma. scraping and scrapping, so the hospital was a big dream of mine. the portion of that surcharge to the water main replacement Smoot attended OSU and earned his Bachelors in Physiology They found me based on my credentials, my national licensing. program. We will be using that money to pay off the loan, and with a Minor in Biology. He wanted to attend medical school, es- ‘They called me and asked if it was something that I was interested See Project page 2. pecially studying on the holistic side of the science. in doing,” Smoot said. “Once I graduated from high school and went to went to OSU, I At the ICI, they had pioneered the program because it is a cancer was thinking medical, or something along those lines. I felt like center. There are different departments, part of that is called the 1 wanted to help people feel better. It's always been what I want- ed to do, help people. When I was at OSU, initially, I wanted to Wellness Center. That is where Smoot has begun seeing patients every Tuesday and Thursday. Questions arise on do physical therapy and then go the medical school route after- wards. And that didn’t work out,” Smoot said. “That is where they do the chemo, and in the same building is the proton therapy. So all the cancer modalities are there, includ- social media after Beckham County He continued to explain, “I just kind of knew I wanted to do ing acupuncture. There are physician offices that are also upstairs something holistic, like I wanted to go the route of medicine that from us,” he added. has holistic theory to it. I like ‘hands-on’ helping people, because Because of his knowledge in pain therapy, he is able to help you can do a lot with your hands,” See Smoot page 2. murder suspect makes Skate Palace Still Going Strong bond Troy Jones trial scheduled for August | Hl By Shonda Little On January 22, 2021, 26-year-old Sayre man Troy Justice Jones was charged with murder in the first degree with child abuse in enhancement. At that time, Jones was accused of causing the death of a two-year-old child. Jones had reportedly said that he saw the child do a “full gainer,” but a physician at OU Medical Center allegedly claimed that she had seen children take falls from multiple-story buildings with fewer injuries. ‘The truth in conflicting accounts will go before a jury. The trial is currently scheduled from August 8-12, beginning at 9 am each morning. On February 18, 2022, the trial was ordered through the Beckham County District Court. All motions from the state and the defense are ordered to be filed by April 29, and responses to any motions must be filed by Although the building is over 40 years old, it remains solid in providing a quality eve- Mel Davis, owner ofthe May 20. Responses to those motions are due by June 17. ning of skating and parties. Staff photos by Sheryl Ponce. Skate Palace In the process, Jones waived his right to a speedy trial. Jones had remained in the custody of the Beckham County By Sheryl Ponce around 40, but that is all. Detention Center until he was bonded out of jail on February Cost entry has not increased over the years, going from $5 to 25, a week to the day after his trial was scheduled. After 33 years, owners Mel Davis and his wife, Misty, along $8 for skaters and $10 for rollerblades. The age groups have also This sparked some to make social media posts questioning with his son, Mike Davis, can all still be found at Elk City’s Skate remained steady. how or why Jones was able to get a bond in the first place. Palace entertaining 40 to 100 kids on skates or rollerblades. The “The kids are usually anywhere from seven to 13-years-old. Judge Michelle Kirby Roper denied Jones’s bond when the building opened in 1978 by the original owners Mr. Bill Massey When the girls hit 13, they slow down, because they start looking probable cause affidavit was filed in January 2021. Roper con- and his wife. Davis purchased it from him in 1984, while still in to go out on the drag, so we lose them. The boys are out here until tinued to deny bond when Jones made his first appearance be- the Air Force, they are 15. We also have parties. It’s $125 for a two-hour party, fore her court. “My uncle and my partner, Lee Cantrell and his wife Esther, and you get 25 skaters with that,” Davis said. However, when Jones appeared via video conference before were my partners and they ran it for six years till I retired from Davis has added lights and continues to host traditional skat- Judge Stephanie Jones on March 22, 2021, a bond was set for the Air Force. After they retired, I bought them out a few years ing games, while adding a few of his own making. The biggest $500,000. later. I got here in the fall of 1989, and I've been here going on change he has seen over the years has been in the kids. ‘The Beckham County District Attorney's Office had request- 33 years. Can you remember where you've been every Friday and “Kids have changed. The parents used to discipline more, and ed at that time that Jones remain with a denied bond. Saturday for the last 33 years?” Davis laughed. they were more disciplined at home. Now we have them sneak- The bond conditions set at that time stated that, should He modified a few things in the building, including moving the ing in vapes, doing stuff like that, but we have rules. There’s no Jones be able to make bond, he needed to obtain a substance snack bar and putting in new air conditioning. Attendance has smoking or vapes. If we catch them, we throw them out. If they're abuse evaluation, comply with the findings of it, have no been steady over the years, still having 80 to 100 every Friday and Saturday night. Davis said that in the fall, it slows down to See Palace page 2. See Jones page 2. Vol. 120, No. 19 «IU IN Weather tomorrow 53 / 28 75 cents, 10 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com