August 24, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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oboe Becklam Couuty Voting Ends Friday Don’t miss out out on your chance to shout out your favorite businesses! Voting ends September HOTTEST 26! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hottestbiz- BUSINESSES inbeckhamcounty USPS 0004097 Volume 35, beckhamcountyrecord.com Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Number 5 Area coaches and athletic directors remember Beckham County Media sports reporter Kerry Hookstra Throughout that time, Kerry remained anyone. Instead, he always put a positive spin that allowed me to put the previous week be- dedicated to promoting the local athletics pro- on a negative situation. What was probably the hind me no matter how bad I felt it was,” said grams, their coaches, and, above all, their stu- most remarkable thing about Kerry was that he Sayre Public Schools Athletic Director Brian dent-athletes. did all of these things for not only all the teams Richardson. When Kerry unexpectedly died at Great at Sayre but all the teams of all the area schools. Elk City Public Schools Athletic Director Bri- Plains Regional Medical Center at the age of 74 Kerry covered Sayre and Erick sports in the be- an Hunt echoed those sentiments. He praised on August 14, the area's athletic directors all ex- ginning for the Sayre Record. His role expanded Kerry’s ability to uplift coaches even when their pressed their admiration for Kerry’s work. to covering several schools after the paper was seasons weren’t going as they had hoped. “My first introduction to Kerry Hookstra sold and changed its name. “It really breaks my heart to hear that Kerry was in May 2006 after he called me to introduce Our football team traveled to Shamrock, has died,” Hunt said. “The community has lost himself and inform me that he would be cover- ‘TX, this past week to scrimmage the Irish, and a good and faithful servant. Our coaches could ing my girls’ basketball team at Sayre. From that I talked to a couple of long-time coaches who always feel confident that Kerry wasn’t out to point until recently, I talked to Kerry Hookstra were extremely saddened to hear of the passing get some negative news. Even on games that we without fail almost every Sunday night about of Kerry. They echoed these same things about have lost, he would highlight the best parts. Sayre sports. Kerry. The number of coaches and players that Merritt Public Schools Athletic Director Kerry was a very genuine man who always Kerry Hookstra impacted in his long career as Oran Laub spoke of Kerry's ability to put young, made you feel comfortable as a coach to talk a sportswriter spans at least three states that I new coaches at ease. about their teams to him. On Sunday nights, know of and measures in the thousands. “Kerry was great at working with us however when he called, he knew that the last thing you I will miss Kerry's kind words and loyalty we needed. Our interest is making sure our kids wanted to do was rehash a horrible loss or sev- and his ability to make you feel like everything get in the paper and are covered because they eral horrible losses, and he knew that. Howev- was going to be ok. But, most importantly, I'm work so hard at their athletics and academics. er, after getting off the phone with him, things going to miss those Sunday night phone calls Kerry Hookstra seemeda little better, which is important in the See Hookstra page 2. For two decades, Kerry Hookstra diligent- coaching world. Kerry was not only a fan of your ly served as the sports reporter first for the team but a fan of the kids. He always knew our Beckham County Record and then later for the players, their strengths and weaknesses, and our team’s strengths and weaknesses. Kerry al- Sayre and Elk City Public Elk City News after the two joined to become lowed coaches to talk to him off the record and Beckham County Media. never once printed a disparaging word about Schools hold active shooter Sayre and Elk City Public Schools training before school started 2 sme : hold active shooter training before school started By Shonda Little After the board receives it from an auditor, they will then compile and complete the budget. With the new school year kicking off this ‘The board did convene in an executive ses- month, the Elk City School Board met for their sion, but only to discuss contracts. regularly scheduled meeting on August 8. “Tt was nothing out of the ordinary,” Sparks The meeting was primarily standard busi- said. ness with no significant news yet to report. ‘The board approved the library deregula- Superintendent Mike Sparks advised that tions for elementary, intermediate, middle, and By Shonda Little sessions — one in the morning and one in the school is still awaiting their estimate of high schools. the afternoon. In total, we trained 101 teach- needs report, which is expected later this Sparks explained that this would help as li- Over the summer, Americans were left ers that day,” Weygand advised. month. brarians are becoming increasingly difficult to spellbound after yet another school shooting. After the ECPD posted photographs from find. Tragically, nineteen small children and two of that training session on their Facebook page, ‘The board voted to approve a countract with Detective Weygand was contacted by Sayre Today’s Scripture their teachers were murdered in Uvalde, Tex- Cortney Everett for the psychometrist and diag- as. Public Schools to conduct similar training nostician for Elk City Public Schools. To compound the angst and fear, a second there. Sparks stated that this would allow the controversy erupted after a video of law en- ‘The detective conducted that training on James 2:17 school psychologist to be freed up for students forcement waiting outside the school, failing August 17. to respond for over an hour. Weygand acknowledged that the num- In the same way, faith byitself, if in need of specialty care. Parents, including many within Beckham ber of school shootings had left many public accompanied by action, isdead. Sparks also said that the district is up about County, voiced their concerns on social media. school employees wanting to have up-to-date 200 new students. Administrators from Elk City Public training should the unthinkable unfold at The board approved trading two older, Schools and Sayre Public Schools took notice. their schools. However, Weygand also cited smaller vehicles for two Suburbans purchased In addition, Elk City Police Department Detec- the Uvalde response as increasing concerns. from Barber-Dyson Ford. After the trade-ins, tive Sammy Weygand stated that he and fel- Weygand has extensive training in this the total cost was $67,636. low local law enforcement officers, including area from three different programs, includ- Sparks also emphasized the need for the new school resource officers from the ECPD and ing ALICE, ALERRT, and the Federal Law En- school bond, stating that since school started, Beckham County Sheriff’s Department, took forcement Training Center. two buses broke down. notice. Beckham County Media has selected not Detective Weygand was first asked to con- to disclose fine details of the training in order One of the buses is estimated to cost ap- duct active shooter training with Elk City Pub- not to give any potential shooters knowledge proximately $10,000 to repair. lic Schools in partnership with the schools. of the schools’ defenses. Constituents will vote on the school bond issue to replace the buses on Tuesday. “We did Elk City’s on August 6. 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