May 10, 2023 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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2- The Elk City News May 10, 2023 to him, I was like, ‘Hey, could Round you teach me how to rope? This guy told me that you're really ATTY good.’ He (Haley) was like, ‘Ab- Town solutely, just come on out to May 10 my house.” ECHS Brown and White Thomas had a horse that Assembly they turned into a breakaway horse, and Haley taught her May 11 how to rope. She started at the Elk City Chamber of Com- NWOJR and the Texas JRCAs merce Community event at Acldey Park, Free activ- first, and from there she began ities. to compete in Little Britches rodeos. She entered break- May 27 away, goat tying, pole bend- G&S Promotions Gun ing, and barrel racing. As she Show, Elk City Convention entered high school, she com- Center. Sc UM Smee peted in breakaway roping and Pictured is Bullet with Abigail Thomas and her family and friends. From left are Cale him, and practicing carrying goat tying in the High School May 28 Brooks (Abigail’s fiancé), Cash Fuesz (boyfriend of Caroline Thomas), Caroline Thomas, the flag,” Thomas noted. Rodeo Association until she G&S Promotions Gun Georgia Thomas, Cadlyn Smith, Bullet, Abigail Thomas, her mother Christi Thomas, her Since being given the Spirit graduated. Show, Elk City Convention father Josh Thomas, Lyz Luttrell, and Rob Bomhoff. Courtesy photo. Center. Rider title, she is looking for- Her plans were to join the ward to the first ride across the OSU rodeo team, but Covid hit Boone Pickens Stadium. and shut competitions down. Do you have an event or “Lm currently just really something else you would Thomas decided to put it on looking forward to that first like to share with the com- the back burner and concen- run of the first home game munity in the Round Town of the season. I think that it’s trate on her interior design Calendar? going to be a total adrenaline major, The major is demanding Email the information rush. I know I'm going to be so and continues to take up a lot for the event to elkci- [email protected] nervous, but I think it's going of her time. She hopes to go to be so much fun,” she said. into residential interior design ‘Thomas is no stranger to upon graduation. Canute riding or being around hors- While completing an in- es. She has been riding since Cemetery she was a child, and at about ternship in Tulsa this summer, she will also be tending to her Association 11 years old she met Steve Ha- Spirit Rider responsibilities. ley. She was introduced to him ‘The Canute Cemetery Board ‘Thomas’ family will be on the is requesting your help. when he came to her home to sidelines in the fall to cheer her The Canute Cemetery is a pick up some horseshoes. nonprofit organization that “My mom always had hors- and the Cowboys on. seeks to maintain the Canute es for us growing up as little ‘Thomas is the daughter of Cemetery. Previously the Canute Cemetery was cleaned & Last year spirit team and helpers include Brayden Smith, Zach Bahm and Rob Bomhoff kids. So, I rode my whole life. Josh and Christi Thomas. She mowed before Memorial Day by on Bullet. In the front ar Fallon Cunningham, Katie Whitfield, Lyz Luttrell, Abigail I met a really nice man (Ha- is the sister to Caroline and volunteers. Due to the drastic de- ‘Thomas, Torin Enevoldson, and Coach Jennifer Roberts. Courtesy photo. ley). This is kind of where my Georgia Thomas. Her grand- cline of volunteers over the years story starts. Steve dropped by she must put in the work with parents are Emory and Jane Spirit we can longer expect a handful of and the team. So, after that volunteers to carry such a load. first year I was like, ‘I really, re- Bullet. This summer she will our house to pick up the horse- ‘Thomas. Abigail and her family ‘The Canute Cemetery Board begin to ride him. It will be ally want to do this.’ I tried out shoes that he had bought from live next to her uncle and aunt, is now requesting your help by Continued from page 1. after my first year on the team, her responsibility to condition this guy (a farrier). And he (the John and Megan Thomas and donating money to cover the cost and Rob (Bomhoff) got it that him and spend time with him farrier) leaned over and kind of of the upkeep of the cemetery. Thomas has been on the their three boys Jack, Luke and ‘The cemetery is in continuous ground team and tried out year. He did an amazing job. It on Jennifer Roberts’ ranch, whispered in my ear, ‘This man Nate. need of spraying, mowing and was very, very well deserved,” who is the team coach. is a dependable, real fair and for the position last year but ‘Thomas continued. “They (her family) are really weed eating, Funds are also need- “Tll have to ride Bullet at credible horseman. He could ed to fill in the potholes on the did not give up her pursuit of She was determined, and teach you so much if you were excited. They've been rooting the ranch three times a week roads. With the rising cost of ma- being named the Spirit Rider. she put in the work with the interested in that.” Thomas for me since I first got on the terials and the loss of volunteer She tried out again this spring team. Thomas kept showing at aminimum. So, it will prob- said. team, and so they are super, manpower, Canute Cemetery is and earned the title that comes up on time and being consis- ably be three to five times a “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, super excited. My parents al- requesting for donations to be with the responsibility of tak- tent with doing a good job week. I will get him ready for that sounds like so much fun.’ made to the Canute Cemetery ing care of Bullet throughout on the ground team. In the the football season. I'll start ways try to get to all the games Association. You may mail your Thad been wanting to compete the summer. spring she tried out again to riding him the first week of and hadn't really networked either way, but they'll definite- donation to: Canute Cemetery Association, PO Box 247, Canute, “T fell in love with Bullet. I be named the Spirit Rider. June. I will start getting him to figure out how to get there. ly be up here this fall,” Thomas OK 73626. like the atmosphere on the field Now that she has the title, in shape, getting in tune with I went up and started talking concluded. A cemetery is a place filled with indispensable people. We have an obligation to crew backstage because there thing for my children? Could provide our deceased loved ones with a well maintained final rest- are so many things going on. “This whole show takes As I See It... I push them out of the nest to let them learn to fly on their ing place that honors their life place over three days; there- and sacrifices. Your generous do- fore, the set doesn’t change and shouldn't do. I could give entitlements. She paid for his own? I did not have the luxury nation can help ensure that we much but a lot goes on. What some of the best lectures to entire education. The moment of being rich, but [have helped fulfill that mission. Please share was nice is we had people my students in school, or so he graduated she was done. them along the way. The ques- with family, friends and if you show up just to be backstage, I thought. I'm sure they were She would have paid for as tion is whether I really helped know of a family buried in Can- they wanted to work,” Christy rolling their eyes behind my many degrees if he continued them, or did I cripple their ute Cemetery, please pass this added. back, but that’s okay. I tried. to go to school, but as soon as ability to fy? I don’t know the along. The show opens June Today I heard Kevin O'Leary answer to that question. he finished, she was done, too. 16th and runs the 17th and What I do know is some- talk about what his mother did In turn he set up trusts 18th, then again, the follow- at his graduation. He said that thing I was told a long time Thriller ing weekend. Follow them on for his own children with upon graduation she told him the same stipulations. When ago, and that is when you do Continued from page 1. the Red Carpet Community she would not be writing him they completed their educa- something for someone who ‘Theatre's Facebook page. They any more checks, and he was tion, the money stopped. His is able to do it for themselves, the only light is their silhou- are still looking for sponsors appalled. He had no job and son was not a good student you are telling them that you for this show, email them at ette. They will be running up [email protected] to help no income. Her response was, and thought it was not fair. don’t think they can do it and down stairs in the dark. with underwriting the pro- “Dead birds don’t learn to fly.” He said the same thing to his on their own. This has been By Sheryl Ponce This is an interesting ap- son, “Dead birds don’t learn to a powerful way of thinking This show requires a large duction. proach to teaching children fly.” Now his son is one of the about helping someone. rElkCituNews how to become independent youngest engineers at Tesla. As I see it, would I rather be ‘As graduations approach and learn how to make their As I heard the story, I won- supportive of another person’s there is much said about the own way in life. He said that dered if I had had money efforts, or helpful by doing it future and what kids should his mother did not believe in could I have done the same for them? (USPS # 173-020) Advice & Goodbye: 580-225-3000, Most all my family inherit- phone number: 580-472-3472, Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC eda heart condition called Atri- so call me if you know me. I've 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 al Fihrillation, where the heart enjoyed writing letters to the Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 Ireat is incomplete. A person editor and short articles for A Native Elk Citian Leaves hate to leave home, but it’s with A-fib is about five times this paper. The editors have POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO Box 964, Elk City, OK 73648 more likely to have a stroke. been magnificent! Some of for Tennessee: Goodbye to all time. I got Covid like many of Covid just made it more likely! my favorite stories have been my Classmates and friends you - it was rough, and turned ‘The fix is not difficult; I should SUBSCRIPTIONS Josh Umholtz....Publisher from Canute and Elk City! I'm into Long Covid - June to De- about the old, Spanish Fort have done it long ago. Since I South of Canute. Most folks Deliverd by mail: Sheryl Ponce... Staff Writer going back to Chattanooga, cember. probably wouldn’t make it thru $75/yearly Neva Pyatt...Advertisig Director TN where I attended college in Then in January I had a another stroke, I'm scheduling think it was on my childhood $50/six months the’60s. My two grandsons go Stroke, brought on by Covid, to get my heart taken care of. farm, but I've found it near St. No refunds on subscriptions. Zadie Eakins...Advertising Director to school there, my two sons the doctor said. How humiliat- If you have A-fib, please see a Francis Church, Call me and D'Ann Brasuel....Design/Layout work there, and one of my ing to be on the floor and not doctor about what can be done we'll talk about it! elkcitynews @gmail.com Nahka King... CSR/Delivery daughters is in Nashville. I'm be able to get up! How much I to fix yours! My stroke didn’t God bless you all, and “Hap- [email protected] 77, and| find I need more help appreciated all the staff at our hurt - it just turned me into a py Trails”, as Roy and Dale said, Hours: [email protected] Mon - Thur 9-4 + Friday 9-12 as time goes on. I was born good hospital - Great Plains cripple. “until we meet again” here and raised at Canute. I Regional Medical Center! Tl still have my same Ertis Johnson