March 30, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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IH k L yy Serving 5 Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Weekday Edition Methodist Circle of Care Seeks Foster Parents for Sibling Foster Home ‘The Circle of Care sibling home is located across from the Elk City United Methodist Church on Country Club. The house should be completed before April 24th. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. ECHS Principal Eyes By Sheryl Ponce that would serve them. The parents would be responsible for utilities, cable, and internet, if they choose to get those things. Trends and Activities As the Elk City Methodist Circle of Care sibling foster home We are really looking for a family who has a heart and passion nears completion, according to CEO Keith Howard, applications with some experience parenting kids. Those who believe in the By Sheryl Ponce for foster parents are being taken. They are actively recruiting mission of keeping siblings together in foster care are important Elk City High School principal, Jamie McClure graduated families that might be a good fit for the home. elements. We think those parents come in all shapes and sizes,” from Elk City in 1996 and continued his education, on a base- “Currently, our plan is that the home will be up and running Howard said. ball scholarship, at Pratt Community College in Kansas. He by April 24. As soon as we identify a foster family that seems like ‘The right family could be from anywhere in Oklahoma or even then went to SWOSU to complete a degree in business. Later a great fit, we'll be looking to move that family in shortly there- move to Elk City from another sibling home in the Family of Care he went back to achieve a degree in education, going on to get after,’ Howard said. system. The other homes in the state include Alva, Woodward, his Master’s degree in administration. He is married to Felicia, who is in charge of infection con- ‘The foster family needs to be responsible, mature and healthy. Enid, Shawnee, and Gore. The Elk City location is the seventh trol and employee health at Great Plains Regional Hospital. ‘They must be at least 21-years-old with stable living arrange- home built. ‘They have two children, 11-year-old Kami and nine-year-old ments, with healthy relationships whether single, married or di- “I think the foster parents have a lot of grace, empathy, and Lola. McClure comes from a family of Elk City educators. His vorced. The parents should to be able to meet the emotional and flexibility. I think that allows them to be able to take larger sibling father Danny McClure retired from teaching, his brother Jay is medical needs of a child, as well as being able to manage personal groups,” he added about what the parents have in common. also a teacher, and his sister Kim is an elementary counselor. ‘The time between application to approval takes about 90 He has experienced education from all angles and has seen and household financial needs. changes over the past few years. “I think it will be a family with some experience, parenting days. This is the amount of time it takes to become fully licensed, “One of the biggest changes I have seen is with kids, con- kiddos, who have a heart to keep siblings together. I think for trained and approved. This process is very similar to the one De- cerning the options that they have now. They have choices not this specific home (in Elk City), it probably would be better with partment of Human Services (DHS) requires. There are some only in school, but outside of school, too. With electronics and pieces for the Circle of Care that are different. All of the children the social media it is different. As far as I can see, they have dif- a two parent home, because they will be taking the larger sibling ferent avenues to express themselves and avenues to be able to groups. That’s not a must. So please be clear on that. We also have are in placement through the DHS foster system. do things. Those are ever changing,” McClure said. some wonderful single parents, who have had sibling homes for “We are one of the private providers that have our child place- He went on to talk about technology or cell phones in the us in the past, as well,” he continued. ment agency. So, we have a contract with DHS to recruit, train, classroom and education, “Technology (cell phones) has some As part of the application process, there will be a home study and support foster homes. It is the same as DHS going out to re- pros and cons, We have seen some good things with technology that have allowed us to do new things with our kids. We have completed, along with background check and fingerprinting. cruit new homes. We do the same with Circle of Care. The pool of found that some kids really like the electronic side of an online ‘There will also be 27 hours of training. The parents will also need children are the children who are in the DHS foster care system. platform for school, and some of those things. Social media and to be CPR and First Aid certified. ‘They (DHS) look through all placements, and they identify which the phones can be an issue. It takes a lot of their time. We're “We also provide ongoing support as the foster care agency See Foster page 2. See Principal page 2. Javorsky Cast as Eliza Doolittle in RCCT’s ‘My Fair Lady’ this point in rehearsals,” Perry said. He noted that some of the cast members will be playing mul- tiple roles, especially in the ensemble, which is relatively small. Perry said that they are all working hard on the songs and cho- reography and he is pleased with their progress. Lori Park is the musical director, and Perry is directing the choreography. ‘The lead character, Eliza Doolittle, is being played by Melissa Javorsky, who is no stranger to the stage. She started doing the- atre in high school and continued throughout college. She gradu- ated from SWOSU in 2001 with a major in communications and a minor in public relations. “I have been in ‘Little Women,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast, and “Music Man.’ I was Laurie in ‘Oklahoma’ here at Red Carpet. That was the last time I played here,” Javorsky said. She has not been in a production since her appearance in ‘Oklahoma’ and began to miss it. In that production she played Carnival Starts Thursday, opposite her husband, Wesley Javorsky, although they were not married at the time. Runs through Sunday “Icame back because I missed it. This time I will be Eliza Doo- little. I’m really excited to get to play her. She's definitely differ- Elk City Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the Great ent in the accent. The ‘cockney’ accent is what is the hardest part Plains Amusements Carnival beginning Thursday, March 31st of playing her, trying to get it down because it’s so different. It’s through Sunday, April 1st. The carnival offers wristbands for easy to go into a British accent, but it’s a lot different when you $25 from 12 p.m .to 4 p.m, on Saturday, and 12 p.m .to 5 p.m. Rehearsals are underway for Red Carpet Community The- have to go into the cockney,” she explained. on Sunday. The wristbands will cost $30 on Thursday evening from 6 p.m .to 10 p.m., Friday evening from 6 p.m to 11 p.m, atre’s production of the musical “My Fair Lady.” The show is being Although Javorsky has played British characters before, she and Saturday evening from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Regular tickets directed by Clinton’s Zach Perry and sponsored by First National has to practice this dialect. She is perfecting it by watching tuto- may be purchased for $1 each, with varying tickets per ride. Bank and Trust of Elk City. It will open Saturday, April 23rd at a rials and figuring it out that way, but it is the music that has her ‘The carnival will be in town setting up, Monday through 2p.m. matinee. drawn to the character. ‘Thursday, in Ackley Park west. This is an annual fundraiser for “[ am really proud of the cast so far. Everyone is working ex- “For me, the music is the best part of the show. The songs the Chamber, which funds numerous actives throughout the See Javorsky page 3. year. tremely hard. I couldn't be any more proud of where they are at Vol. 120, No. 26 View online LA Weather tomorrow 143 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com