February 4, 2023 Issue, Page 3 of 10

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News February 4, 2023 The Elk City News -3 Heather Winn named OSU Extension Distinguished Educator By Gail Ellis ticipated in Fabrics and Fashions, the Make it Yourself with Wool “Extension became known smoothie or after-school contest and citizenship activities that developed her leadership for Character Critters and snack, all of which emphasize STILLWATER - Oklahoma State University Extension has skills. She served as a state 4-H vice president during her fresh- character development in our the importance of nutrition, announced Heather Winn as the 2023 Distinguished Educator. man year of college. county,” she said. movement and physical activ- Winn, the Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H educator for OSU “The whole reason I became an employee of Extension was Winn continued focusing on ity. Extension in Cherokee County, was recognized during an awards from those experiences I had in 4-H,” she said. leadership, citizenship and re- luncheon in Stillwater on Jan. 25. ‘After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Winn took cord-keeping once she moved In 2022, Winn partnered ‘The annual honor is presented to a county educator, district a temporary job teaching high school home economics. When to the 4-H educator role in with Oklahoma's Tobacco program specialist or area specialist for his or her dedicated ser- she interviewed for a 4-H/special projects educator role in Mc- Cherokee County, but when Settlement Endowment Trust vice. The individual is known for a state, regional or national Curtain County, the hiring committee called that same night to program, the Tahlequah Farm- the FCS position in that office reputation that upholds OSU Extension's highest standards. offer her the job. became available, she wanted ers Market and the Health Co- “Heather has used her significant talents to advance Extension “Thad this strong feeling about working for Extension and be- to diversify her skill set. alition to establish the Chero- through her roles in the different counties she has served,” said ing able to work with kids in the same way I had been mentored “We focused on having a Damona Doye, vice president of OSU Extension. “She has pro- as a child,” Winn said. strong connection to other kee County Extension office as vided leadership to a variety of initiatives at the local, district She spent eight years in McCurtain County, coaching district agencies in the county,” she a food hub for a pilot mobile and state levels, and her great networking skills have led to fruit- officers and state ambassadors, teaching youth how to document farmers market project. said. “I'm a member of the ful collaborations with many different groups and agencies.” their hard work in 4-H record books, and helping young minds Cherokee County Health Co- She said she’s grateful for ‘This year marks Winn’s 28th year in Extension, a career en- discover leadership possibilities above and beyond their home alition, and we've partnered the OSU Extension state spe- riched by childhood memories made in a Muskogee County 4-H county. with many different groups cialists who help her and other club. Her mother, also a past 4-H’er, felt it was important for With support from other Extension mentors, Winn advocated in the community like the county educators stay rele- Winn and her two younger brothers to explore the organization's for school enrichment and introduced the Ag in the Classroom Cherokee Nation, Northeast- opportunities. program to teachers in her district who were interested in agri- ern State University and the vant and in tune with today’s Winn and her siblings showed cattle and lambs, and she par- culture and citizenship. Cherokee County Health De- trends in family and consumer partment.” sciences. Her Extension columns in “The need for life skills is Elk City man charged with domestic the local Sunday paper are never going to change,” she widely read, and Cherokee said. “The information people County's partnership with assault and battery by strangulation area Head Start locations learn from Extension pro- helped facilitate a successful gramming is valuable. We class on the Active Parenting: need to teach people how to Elk City woman charged with domestic assault First Five Years curriculum. Winn was also part of the feed their families and manage their home finances.” team that brought the An- and battery in the presence of a child nie’s Project to Oklahoma and conducted its pilot program in Winn’s two sons, 26 and 20, are her life, and she embraces 2006, The nonprofit provides the adventures of being a boy Beckham County Detention separately. mom as they race dirt bikes, educational programs to en- Center on a $1,500 bond. “As I spoke to Thacker, I ‘The investigation began at observed scratches on his neck courage women in modern hunt, fish, camp, golf and ex- approximately 11:58 pm on and hands,” the officer report- farm enterprise. plore other outdoor hobbies. January 20 when Elk City Po- ed. “I asked Thacker how he In 2019, Winn helped co- Growing up, they were also ex- lice Department officers were got the marks. He stated that ordinate a study on home posed to 4-H and learned skills dispatched to the 400 block of he got them from Reynolds. childcare providers with the they will carry with them for a North Otis. He stated that he had to ‘choke University of Oklahoma called lifetime. ‘The call for service was in her out’ to get her to stop. I Happy Healthy Homes. OU reference to an alleged physi- did not observe any marks on researchers were interested in Winn said the OSU Exten- cal assault. Reynolds while speaking to learning if lessons they had sion Distinguished Educator “Tparked my unit in the 400 her.” developed for home childcare award is the highlight of her block of North Otis and could The officer also stated, providers were effective. A career, and she wants to ac- immediately hear yelling,” the “none of the parties wanted to series of sessions had been reporting officer wrote. knowledge the many Exten- cooperate and were not going conducted in Oklahoma City, sion educators who influenced The officer then walked to separate.” and the scientists wanted the Maxwell Thacker Breanna Reynolds to the home in question. The ‘The officer then reportedly second half of the project to be her life from a 9-year-old 4-H home’s garage door was re- spoke to a neighbor who alleg- shared in rural counties, member to the experienced By Shonda Little Beckham County Detention portedly open. edly stated that “both parties Winn and her Extension Extension employee she is to- “In the garage, I could ob- were physically fighting.” Center on a $5,000 bond. serve the two individuals argu- peers began teaching the ses- day. A 31-year-old Elk City Stemming from the same Children were allegedly sions in local childcare facili- ing,” the officer stated. “T've come full circle, and I man was charged with felony incident, a 26-year-old Elk present in the home during ‘The officer also alleged that ties but had to revamp their the reported altercation. couldn’t have done it without domestic assault and battery City woman was charged with strategy in 2020 when the pandemic prevented their fi- all the people who helped me the individuals were “visibly by strangulation in Beckham misdemeanor assault and bat- “I later observed a bruise intoxicated.” County District Court on Jan- tery in the presence of a child ‘Thacker and Reynolds were forming on Reynold’s neck. nal in-person workshop. in my career and taught me uary 23. on January 23, both identified at this point. I decided to place both par- “We worked with home how to be a good educator,” Maxwell Jude Thacker has Breanna Reynolds has The officer reportedly ties under arrest for domestic childcare providers to make she said. “When I see fami- since been released from the since been released from the spoke to Thacker and Reynolds abuse,” the officer advised. sure they had access to partici- lies I've worked with find suc- At approximately 6:35 pm pate virtually,” she said. “We on January 21, the officer re- cess in the community, I know taught a lesson on how to use Providing comfort and Supportfor End of Life chotces portedly interviewed Thacker. Thacker was reportedly Zoom. Going from completely we're making a difference. I love what I do, and I do what I read his Miranda right. in-person to all virtual was definitely a learning curve for love — how can you beat that?” Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- During the interview, Thacker allegedly admitted all of us, but we received a lot OSU Extension uses re- sources for people who ar: the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer that he choked Reynolds dur- of great feedback.” search-based information to or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical ing the fight. Winn is comfortable tog- help all Oklahomans solve lo- det: and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. At approximately 6:56 pm gling back and forth between cal issues and concerns, pro- on January 21, the officer in- 4-H and FCS activities. One mote leadership and manage For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: terviewed Reynolds. week she’s teaching Yoga for resources wisely throughout Reynolds was also report- Kids at a school, Head Start or Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsistrator edly read her Miranda rights. another community backdrop. the state’s 77 counties. Most Reynolds allegedly admit- The next, she’s demonstrat- information is available at lit- Pat Welsh, RN/ Joordinator of Patient Ca ted to pushing Thacker. ing how to make a healthy tle to no cost. 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