November 23, 2024 Issue, Page 3 of 18

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The Elk City News SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024 + 3 Beckham/Roger Mills Unit of OREA meeting, Nov. 8 President Linda Long greet- lute. Judy presented today’s ognized for having Novem- assportunlimited.com. Interim studies have finished. In new business, the next ed Oklahoma Retired Educa- program, “Veteran's Day; ber birthdays. ‘They enjoyed ‘The minutes were approved Protecting pensions and a regular meeting is scheduled tors of Beckham/Roger Mills which is celebrated on the hearing the melodic voices of and the treasurer's report was COLA for retirees are areas of for December 13. Carla made Unit to a regular meeting, No- Lith hour of the 11th day of the retirees as they sang the accepted. In committee re- concern, She reminded mem- a motion, Tana seconded, to vember 8, 2024. She welcomed the 11th month every year. birthday song to celebrate the ports, Glenda noted an in- bers to turn in their volunteer continue with the Scholar- members, Glenda Ivins, Cathy She presented each retired birthdays. Tana presented the crease to 70 members. She hours to Gwen. ship Auction/Christmas Par- Lewis, Stephanie Malone, teacher with a special red pop- devotional, a beautiful “Prayer also shared the Membership In unfinished business, Lin- ty at the December meeting. Tana Feldman, Janice Mol- py, lapel pin to wear on Veter- of Thanksgiving” Americans Minute that provides infor- da noted November 18-22 is Stephanie has the Devotional. let, Cindy Wood, Larry Long, ans Day. Mary Fern, Carla and have much to be thankful mation about the benefit of American Education Week. Linda reminded members of Judy Haught, Carla Garrison, Judy read the poem by John for—Veterans certainly de- During AEW, November 20 the TRS Forum, Monday, No- Identity and Fraud Protection Brenda Quinn, Jodie Laufer, McCrae, “In Flanders Fields?” serve our thanks and praise. for OREA members. For ques- is Retiree Day. Members will vember 11. The meeting will Mary Fern Carpenter, Joyce McCrae wrote his now famous Courtney Roberts from tions or assistance regarding gather at Poppy's, 11:30 am., be held at Caddo-Kiowa Tech- Roberts, Dennis McRee, June poem in 1915 after seeing pop- AMBA was on hand to share ID Protection, go to http:// to share a delicious meal to- nology Center, Ft. Cobb, OK Lovelace, Linda Maberry, and pies growing in battle-scarred information about the Pass- gether. Linda also announced at 10:30 a.m. offeraura.com/amba. Linda Gwen Pasby. fields. His poem helped popu- port Program. For assistance gave the Legislative report, that PAC donations will be Mary Fern was happy to June gave the invocation. larize the red poppy as a sym- or additional information, stating that the recent pres- accepted anytime between the win the door prize. Linda ad- Judy led the USA Flag salute bol of remembrance. members can go to Passport idential election went well current date and December journed the meeting. and the Oklahoma Flag sa- Tana and Judy were rec- at 800-410-4211 or support@ with a large turnout of voters. 31, 2024. National Family Caregivers Month winds down with Elk City Chamber of Commerce information about financial help for taking a break By Joanie Swanson, SWODA AAA providing care for someone 60 years or older who has two such as attending a doctor's appointment, getting a hair- Nominating Committee Nominations or more impairments in Ac- cut, meeting friends at a cof- The Nominating Com- tures of at least ten (10) nominate 7 new board November is National Fam- tivities of Daily Living—such fee shop, or enjoying a mov- mittee has nominated the voting members in good members and their term ily Caregivers Month, a time as dressing, bathing, eating, ie. The service can also allow following board members standing of the Elk City will begin January 2025, to honor the dedication of transferring, toileting, or caregivers to simply take a beginning January 2025: Chamber of Commerce. five for a three year term caregivers who selflessly care walking—or requires substan- much-needed nap and re- THREE YEAR TERM: Such a petition must be and one with a two year for their loved ones. In south- tial assistance due to cognitive charge. Teresa Kilhoffer, Wright filed with the Nominating term. western Oklahoma, the South or other mental impairments. ‘To apply for respite services, Wradio 101 .7 KKZU The Committee by November The Nominating Com- Western Oklahoma Develop- Research shows that care- caregivers can contact Joanie Zoo 26, 2024. mittee shall also nom- ment Authority (SWODA) givers experience _better at SWODA AAA by calling Cara Long, Union on The determination by inate a President-Elect ‘Area Agency on Aging (AAA) health, reduced stress, and im- 1-800-627-4882, ext. 126. Main the Nominating Com- from the existing board or offers a program that may help proved caregiving outcomes SWODA AAA is committed Ronda Smith, Interline mittee as to the legality any person that has been many caregivers in the region. when they can take occasional to serving all eligible individu- Mortgage of any such petition shall absent from the board for ‘The SWODA AAA, in part- breaks from their responsibil als regardless of race, national Sydney Smith, Chris- be final. If no petition is no more than 3 years. The nership with Oklahoma Hu- ities. Respite services provide origin, ancestry, color, reli- tensen Law Group filed by the designated President-elect's term will man Services’ Aging Services caregivers with the opportuni- gion, gender, age, or disability. Shannon Whitson, The date, the nominees shall begin in 2025. Division, provides _ respite ty to step away, even if only for For more information, vis- Mix Boutique be declared elected by The Nominating Com- services to eligible caregivers. a few hours. it SWODA AAAs website or TWO YEAR TERM: the Board of Directors at mittee must be members Caregivers are defined as in- Caregivers can use respite reach out to their office for as- Julie Byerly, Homestead their regular December in good standing, three dividuals of any age who are services for various activities, sistance. of Elk City meeting. of whom shall be former PRESIDENT-ELECT Nominating Committee Presidents, and two of (Serve as President begin- members are: Chairman, whom shall be neither Holidays can Inspire Change ning January 2026) Mark Norton, Elk City Housing Authority Pam Muncrief, Akins, Emily Johnson, Kevin Linda Kilhoffer, Shaley current Board members nor former Presidents and any two from the Cham- As we near the year’s end, trying to develop new ways of org (800) 522-9054 to find Additional candidates Sikes, Christie Spieker ber membership. They are it is normal to reflect on the living is difficult, especially on out about Substance Use, Pre- may be nominated by pe- and Angela Wyatt. selected by the current days and months lived and to your own. It is often necessary vention Services, Support and tition bearing the signa- This committee will Chamber President. ask, “how did I do this year?” to find someone who knows ‘Treatment. If you're seeking New Year's is traditionally the more about or has experience treatment, please visit www. time to make personal goals. with the desired outcomes findtreatmentgov, Call or “Where do I want to go? What we seek. To improve physical Text 988 Mental Health Ho- do I want to accomplish this health, consider joining a gym, tline, (800) 273-TALK (8255) year?” Physical health, rela- for example, or talk to some- or (800) 662-HELP (4357). tionships, — education/career one in your circle who has a To learn more about the development, finances, and higher level offitness. Finding substance misuse prevention “being my best self? are often support is helpful, as is having efforts going on in your coun- areas of focus for our reso- someone who is in the same ty please visit: https://www. lutions. All are good areas to process to lean on. Regardless swoda.org/substance-use-pre- evaluate and try to improve. of the changes you're trying vention-treatment-and-recov- One way to write your res- to make, please don't give up. ery/prevention/odmhsas olutions is to use this sentence Persistence is refusing to quit This program is funded by stem: “This is the year I finally and giving maximum effort. Oklahoma Department of b Scouts - Hot Cocoa ——” Fill in the blank with If this is the year you want to Mental Health and Substance @hRISTMAS ‘TREATS By: your resolutions and then be- do something about your sub- Abuse Services, Substance Good Shepherd Hospice gin trying to build the plan to stance use, then you may have Abuse and Mental Health Homestead of EC + Clinton get there. Want to run a mar- questions. “Who can I talk to? Services Administration, the JOPM Q athon? You're going to need Where can I go for support or Center for Substance Abuse to get moving. Want to buy a help? Do I even really have a and Prevention, South West- house? Get on a budget. problem?” In Oklahoma, you ern Oklahoma Development Change can be scary and can use www.OKImReady. Authority, and local coalitions. a Examination of Energy Generation By Rep. Nick Archer for the next 25 years, mostly about 38 percent. thanks to the transportation David Mismukes from the In October, I participated sector. Petroleum Alliance of Oklaho- in an interim study on ener- He ended his presentation ma shared some recommen- Nov. 29-Dee. 1, 2024 gy generation that focused on by highlighting the SPP’ need dations from his organization. advancing electric generation for more transmission, relat- He started with the idea that One CHRISTMAS BVE in Oklahoma to meet our eco- ing a $7.7 billion transmission utilities should set up a “pass- SUBVERGREN MALL nomic needs. portfolio approved by their through” tariff, or “sleave,” ‘SHIGHTLY AT 7:30PM [SUNDAY AT 2:30PM The study opened with membership last week. Next, specifically for new and exist- Oklahoma Secretary of Ener- it goes before their board of ing data centers. These centers, gy and Environment Ken Mc- directors. expected to play a big role in Queen, who said the study's Next up was Chad McDou- Oklahoma’ increasing elec- goal was to identify any reg- gall, chairman of the Petro- tricity demand, would be eli- ulatory or statutory impedi- leum Alliance of Oklahoma. gible if they meet a certain size ments that slow the addition of generation and transmis- He pointed out that from 2010 to 2023, Oklahoma missed out on fully tapping into the or investment level. David recommended that utilities be required to provide PARTICIPATING sion in Oklahoma. Casey Cathey, vice pres- potential of natural gas. He a proposed tariff to the Okla- ident of engineering at the also mentioned that around homa Corporation Commis- Southwest Power Pool (SPP), 50 percent of the state's elec- sion (OCC) for review and discussed a few of the biggest tricity comes from natural gas, approval within 90 days. challenges facing the SPP, while 42 percent is generated ‘To sum up, I believe wind including the severe winter by wind. energy poses significant chal- storms in 2021 and 2022. He Chad mentioned that nat- lenges, while natural gas offers talked about the rapidly grow- ural gas generation has grown more reliable and beneficial ing electricity demand on about 6 percent, while wind energy solutions, Bill filing the SSP, with 85 percent load has shot up by 740 percent. begins November 15, I'll share growth expected by 2050. Even though people say re- more updates as we move for- Casey pointed out that a newables help lower electric- ward. 1.5% — year-over-year load ity costs, in Oklahoma, wind Please feel free to reach out growth would have been im- generation has gone up by to my office if you have any pressive ten years ago. Right 900 percent since 2010, but questions at (405) 557-7312 or now, we're looking at least 3% annual growth, and some- residential electric rates have at [email protected]. It is truly an honor and priv- IOLIDAY @)RAWING ®ECEMBER 19, 2024 | SMAINSTREET COFFEE |BPM still increased by 34 percent. times even over 5%, with this Meanwhile, natural gas pric- ilege to represent you at the trend expected to keep rolling es have actually dropped by State Capitol. l