February 10, 2024 Issue, Page 4 of 20

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4 - The Elk City News February 10, 2024 NFEC Youth Tour contest held January 30, Elk City Teen Takes Holland and Horton win free trip to Washington D.C. Home Prize From National Western Stock Show Auction (DENVER, Colo.) - Luke Thomas of Elk City, Oklahoma, was the beneficiary of Bluepeak’s winning bid for his Reserve Grand Champion lamb at the National Western Stock Show's Auction of Junior Livestock Champions in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 19, 2024, It’s the second straight year Bluepeak has supported a ju- nior livestock exhibitor hailing from a Bluepeak market in Oklahoma. Mike Harry, Bluepeak Chief Development Officer and member of the National Western Junior Livestock Auction Committee made the winning bid on behalf of Bluepeak. A majority of the winning bid price goes directly to the ju- nior exhibitors - 4-H and FFA youngsters ranging in age from 9 to 18 - while 10% of each bid price is donated to support the National Western Scholarship Trust which awards 110 scholar- ships annually, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per student, for youth studying agriculture, rural medicine, and veterinary NEEC 2024 Youth Tour finalists (pictured, 1 to r) Bryson McKenzie and Jantz Horton from Hammon, Tavi Holland science. and Avery Cannon from Cheyenne with NFEC Youth Services Coordinator Connie Ferrero. Horton and Holland were To check out service options or sign up for the latest Blue- selected to represent NFEC on the 2024 Youth Tour. McKenize and Cannon will attend the 2024 Leadership Summit peak expansion updates in Elk City, visit mybluepeak.com. where they will also receive $500 scholarships. About Bluepeak Northfork Electric’s 2024 As Youth Tour winners, is taught by Ms. Cole. Smith says. ‘The finalists presented Bluepeak is a new kind of internet provider bringing fast, reliable, Youth Tour delegates emerged Holland and Horton will each is instructed by Ms. Morgan their essays and completed affordable internet to places that have needed better options for too from four finalists on Tuesday, receive an all-expense paid Lady at Leedey. As runners- an interview during the Youth long. The company has roots serving Midwest communities going January 30 during the coop- trip to Washington D.C. June up, both Cannon and McKen- Tour Banquet at NFEC head- back 30 years. As the need for internet in the region has evolved so erative’s annual Youth Tour 14- 20, 2024 with delegations zie have the opportunity to quarters in Sayre. has Bluepeak, upgrading and expanding service to several markets Finals Banquet. of other co-op students from serve as delegates at the 2024 in South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, Oklahoma, Wyoming and A panel of judges deter- North Dakota with the newest cutting-edge technology. These expan- Tavi Holland, a junior from across the country, During Leadership Summit in Okla- mined the winners based on sion efforts include multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects, com- Cheyenne High School, and their trip to Washington D.C., homa City on March 18, 2024 the finalists’ interviews, in- munity involvement and growth through local hires. Bluepeak is earn- Jantz Horton, a junior from the youth will visit the capi- where they will receive a $500 cluding their knowledge of the ing the trust of customers and businesses through simple, affordable Hammon High School, were scholarship. Students attend- tal city's many memorials and Rural Electrification Act and offerings, responsive, reliable customer service and transparent pric- named winners of the contest. museums, Mount Vernon, and ing Leadership Summit will electric cooperatives. ing. The company’s unique approach to delivering internet service has Holland is a student of Ms. Lia the Arlington Cemetery. increase their understanding ‘The group will also have the of how leaders create change, lighted with the judges’ deci- earned Bluepeak accolades for customer satisfaction, network perfor- “We couldn't be more de- Hillman and Horton is a stu- dent of Ms. Mary Cole. opportunity to visit with many overcome obstacles, and serve mance, workplace culture and meaningful community partnerships. sion. All four of these students Visit www.mybluepeak.com to learn more. “Tt is our goal with the op- elected officials. others through their behavior portunity to educate our youth Runners-up in the local con- and attitude. will make exceptional repre- about the history ofrural elec- test were Avery Cannon from The Youth Tour Contest of- sentatives of their schools, trification, | member-owned Cheyenne High School and ficially began earlier in the NFEC and the state of Okla- electric cooperatives and the Bryson McKenzie from Ham- school year when 11th grade homa,” said Ferrero. Don’t let the bed bugs Seven Cooperative Principles,” mon High School. McKenzie students in the NFEC service The NFEC Youth Tour con- said Connie Ferrero, NFEC’s Youth Services Coordinator. was the alternate finalist, par- territory were asked ticipating in the absence of write an essay of no less than to test is open each year to all 11th grade students who live bite: what to know “This year’s finalists prepared Leedey High School, Kristen 500 words with the writing or attend school in the NFEC well for the contest and shared Smith, who was unable to com- prompt of “Describe a book or service territory. Details for By Gail Ellis pensive, heat is the most ef- fective regimen because it kills a great deal of knowledge and pete due to illness on Tuesday. article that has inspired you the 2025 contest will come out all life stages of the bed bug, enthusiasm during their inter- Cannon is also a student of and why.” ‘The contest finalists when the 2024-25 school year Bed bugs are a growing views.” Ms. Hillman and McKenzie were chosen based on their es- begins. problem said Kevin Shelton, Oklahoma For as long as humans have State University Extension en- been around, so have bed bugs. tomology and plant pathology Unlike traditional pests, bed associate specialist. Young Mother Completes First bugs cannot be blamed on pets or lack of cleanliness. Bed bugs Bed bugs can adapt the rate they mature based on tem- can affect people of any race, perature and food resources age or social class around the available at a given time. They Step in Career Goals world. Because humans are can stretch their maturation the primary food source for period bed bugs, hotels and homes out to upwards of five to six months, Shelton said. Kincaid helped her get started, but Redd had to take care of Quick tips when bed bugs her girls and tried to work a full-time job. She was waitressing at are ideal spaces for the creepy are suspected crawlers to infiltrate. Identification is the biggest the time and did not attend classes regularly. “I didn’t go as often as I should have. But then whenever I Bed bugs have become a hindrance when it comes to started going, in 2023, to Western Technology Center, the teach- major concern in global tour- bed bugs. It is important to er was Janis, too. There was just me and one other person. I feel ist destinations such as Paris, remember that if you wake up like that’s when I really started taking it seriously. I was on top France, where the 2024 Sum- in bed with a bite, it does not of going (to class) and getting the hours that I needed. I started mer Olympics will be held later mean it came from a bed bug. working at home, and I really kept up with it at home,” Redd said. this year. In a nationwide sur- Learn more about accurately She was working but now has a one-year-old daughter, Ivy vey compiled by the mattress identifying bed bugs in the Redd, that she also chased after. Her goal was to spend 15 hours a review company Mattress fact sheets “Help! I Think I week on their online program, Essential Education. Clarity in 2023, Oklahoma Have Bed Bugs” and “Prevent- “[ want to say that some days I'd be on it (online) all day long. City was the ninth worst city ingForBed Bugs.” ‘Then I wouldn't do it for a few days, and then I would get back on for bed bugs, based on service furniture or mattresses it for several hours,” Redd admitted. requests. that have been infested, cover When it comes to bed bug them in plastic bags and set Math proved to be the hardest test she has had to pass. Be- infestations, _higher-density them outside in the summer cause she dropped out before she had completed Algebra I, she populations have the poten- heat to kill the bed bugs in and had not been instructed in the other math content that she was going to have to know to pass the test. This included Geometry tial to see more reports of on the item. and Algebra II. bed bugs. Dense populations Vacuuming the bugs into “[ finished the whole math course on the online program. They aren't necessarily more sus- a sealed bag and disposing is give you everything entirely to pass the test,” she added. ceptible to infestations, it just also a quick way to remove in- After Redd had her twins as a teenager, she did not have the means there are more people festations from homes. Amber Redd. support to return to school and take care of them. She credited to How report them. to remediate bed bugs When staying in a hotel, do her grandmother, Brenda Patton, for helping her with her twins. not set luggage down on the She said that she was with her every step of the way, so the twins While they are a nuisance, Due to a printing error a corrected photo along with story is being would stay on the same schedule. bed bugs do not transmit dis- floor or bed until inspecting re printed. Redd would tell others who are in the same situation, to never eases to humans. Bites can the area, The bathtub is a safe give up. cause allergic reactions in place to store luggage initially By Sheryl Ponce “Even if you put it down for a while, you can always go back some people, but others never because bed bugs cannot climb to it. It’s not easy, but if you continue, you can do it. It is worth show a physical reaction. the surface. If there is evidence After dropping out of school in the ninth grade, Amber Redd it,” she said. ‘The most effective solution of bed bugs, request a new earned her High School Equivalency diploma, which was former- She quit the last job, which was when she decided that she for bed bug removal is calling room from management. ly known as a GED. Last week she took her final two tests of the wanted to look forward to doing something more with her ca- a trusted pest control special- Used furniture is an easy HiSet exam and passed the entire series of five tests in math, reer. She didn’t want to look for another dead-end job that had ist. These experts are equipped way to potentially introduce no future. to not only assess the situa- science, reading, writing, and social studies. She is now on the path to going to college to major in social work or psychology to “{'m going to keep the ball rolling. I don’t want to put a pause tion within your home, but bed bugs into environments, in between. I don’t want to waste any more time. I have an op- also provide the most efficient and Shelton advises residents work in the field of alcohol and drug addiction. portunity to finish school. NowIjust think about that if I would remedy. to be cautious when picking Redd was born in Sayre but always lived in Elk City. She at- have graduated when I was supposed to eight years ago, and went Oklahoma State University up furniture from thrift stores tended school at Merritt until her freshman year in high school. directly into college, I could be finished with a degree right now,” Extension specialists advise and other alternatives. She became pregnant with her twin daughters, Arabella and Se- Redd said. how to choose a bed bug re- Learn more in the fact sheet renity, who are now nine years old. Since passing her last test, Redd has already started the pro- mediation service in the fact “Bed Bugs: Reduce Risk While “[was a teen mom. I got pregnant when I was 15. I did alter- sheet “Choosing a Pest Man- cess of completing her FASFA to enroll in SWOSU. She plans on agement Professional for Bed ‘Thrift Shopping,” native school in Elk City for just a year. When I ended up giving going to the college to have them help her with scholarships and Bug Control.” OSU Extension uses re- birth, I didn’t go back,” Redd explained. enrolling in classes. Redd wants to attend classes in person be- Traditional insecticides do search-based information to She later went to adult education at Elk City in the little rock cause she wants to learn everything she can and have the full not have much impact on these help all Oklahomans solve lo- building when she was 19 or 20 but did not finish then. college experience. If she tackles her education the way she has pesky houseguests unless used cal issues and concerns, pro- “T went there (adult ed in Elk City) for a while and Janis (Ki completing her high school equivalency, she will fulfill her career directly on the pest. Penetrat- mote leadership and manage caid) was there. So, Janis started out as my teacher and has al- goals in no time. ing heat at around 120-130 resources wisely throughout ways been my adult teacher,” she continued. Redd is married to Micheal Redd. Their blended family con- degrees Fahrenheit has proven the state’s 77 counties. Most When Redd returned to adult education, the school had sists of one-year-old Ivy Redd, nine-year-old twins Arabella and the best method for treating moved to Western Technology Center in Elk City. Kincaid con- Serenity Callahan, and his boys, Micheal and Blaine Redd. They infested spaces. information is available at lit- tinued to teach in the program. make their home in Sayre. Although tedious and ex- tle to no cost.