June 21, 2025 Issue, Page 9 of 10

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NEWS The Elk City News SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2025 • 9 OCU announces new athletic director OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklaho- Jones said ma City University has announced she is excited to the hiring of Sadiaa Jones as the become OCU’s school’s next director of Athletics. Athletics direc- Jones has been the executive tor and to be athletic director for Dallas College moving back to since June of 2021. She’s an Elk her home state. City native with a history of ath- SADIAA JONES “I am ex- letics leadership positions in state tremely grateful schools. She will begin work at to President Evans and the search OCU remotely on June 16 and start committee for giving me this in- on-campus work in mid-July. credible opportunity to lead OCU “We are excited to welcome Sa- athletics,” Jones said. “I am excited diaa to the Oklahoma City Univer- to have the honor of working with sity family, and we look forward to a coaching staff and student athletes her impact on our Athletics pro- of an athletic department with such grams,” OCU President Kenneth an accomplished history.” Evans said. “Her experience, lead- Jones holds a master’s degree in ership skills and familiarity with Education Administration and a Oklahoma college athletics will be a bachelor of science degree in Health great benefit to our program.” and Physical Education Recreation Jones previously served for five from Southeastern Oklahoma State years as athletic director at Semi- University, and an associate’s degree nole State College in Seminole, and in arts from Seminole State College. for five years as associate athletic Prior to entering athletics admin- director for compliance and student istration, she served for six years services at Northwestern Oklaho- as an assistant women’s basketball ma State University in Alva. coach at California State Universi- She started in June of 2021 at ty Fresno. She competed in college Dallas College, a member of the athletics at both Seminole State and National Junior College Athletic Southeastern Oklahoma State. Association. Her duties there in- clude oversight of multiple campus Jones will replace interim Athlet- ics Director Bill Raynor. Northwest SCABA Holds Regional Meeting branches and a $4 million annual “We thank Bill and are grate- operating budget. She also served as commissioner of the Dallas Athlet- ic Conference, overseeing athletics ful for his leadership over the past year,” Evans said. For more information about at Route 66 Museum Complex competitions between Dallas Col- OCU Athletics, go to [www.ocus- By Sheryl Ponce to bring a side dish. expectations. smiths have the chance to expe- lege’s six branches. ports.com]www.ocusports.com. SCABA began in 1995 with The activities of the club have rience the lost art. Members of The Northwest chapter of 13 charter members on Jim Om- grown, setting aside different the SCABA support their com- the Southfork Craftsman Art- ey’s ranch near Freedom. It was Saturdays and up to four per munities by providing black- ist-Blacksmith Association will decided that because there may month in the four different re- smithing demonstrations at Weekly Oklahoma Oil be holding their June meeting on not be enough people interest- gions of the state. They teach more than 30 outside events and Saturday, June 28th, at 9 a.m., in ed in blacksmithing, the club each other through sharing celebrations. and Gas Report the Elk City National Route 66 would be open to all craftsmen. ideas and working beside the For more information contact Museum Complex’s blacksmith The club is named for the Salt more accomplished black- Garber at 580-302-1845. The shop. The host will be Don Gar- Fork of the Arkansas that runs smiths. meeting is free and open to any- Oil & Gas Report for the State of Oklahoma ber. Lunch will be served, while through northwest Oklahoma, The meetings are open to the one interested in learning more for June 10 - 16, 2025 those attending are encouraged and club grew past their original public and informal, so non- about the blacksmith trade. Southwestern Oklahoma State University Student Parker Jacks Interns at Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma WOODWARD – June 11, He spent ternship so far been the op- made notable contributions to 2025 – Farm Credit of Western much of his portunity to gain first-hand our team this summer and has Oklahoma is proud to welcome early child- learning from some of the most been professional, receptive and Parker Jacks as our 2025 sum- hood helping experienced professionals in inquisitive. mer intern. A native of Canute, on the family this field, and the chance to see “We consider it a privilege to Oklahoma, Parker is a junior at farm. exactly what makes Farm Credit work with talented, passionate Southwestern Oklahoma State “My grand- so special in the credit and fi- students like Parker Jacks,” said University, pursuing a degree in PARKER JACKS father and un- nancial services industry,” Jacks Livingston. “Investing in the fu- accounting. cle are cattle said. ture of agriculture is at the heart “Our summer internship producers and have been very According to Jacks, the work of what we do.” program plays a key role in de- influential with my involvement environment at FCWO is one Farm Credit of Western Okla- veloping the next generation of in agriculture. During late grade of the best that he has ever homa serves more than 6,500 agricultural professionals,” said school and throughout high been a part of and appreciates loans across Western, Central, Greg Livingston, President and school, I was an active member that every employee that he has and Southwestern Oklahoma CEO of Farm Credit of Western of 4-H and FFA which allowed worked with is supportive, re- with nine branch locations in Oklahoma. “Many of our cur- me to show heifers in livestock spectful, and honest. Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Clinton, rent employees began as FCWO competitions and accumulate “The thing that surprised me Enid, Elk City, Guymon, Tuttle, interns. This program allows some awards along the way,” the most about this internship and Woodward, and field offices students to gain hands-on ex- Jacks said. “Having been a part was the sheer amount of work in Beaver and Boise City. perience in every area of our or- of agriculture from a young age, that goes into the financial ser- Farm Credit of Western Okla- ganization—including lending, I have been aware of, and grate- vices that Farm Credit provides. homa is part of the nationwide credit, marketing, appraisal, hu- ful for, Farm Credit of West- While surprising, this did teach Farm Credit System and in- man resources, accounting, IT, ern Oklahoma because of their me a very important lesson: cludes both Federal Land Bank and administration.” heavy involvement in agricul- communication. For this system Associations and Production Parker grew up in the small ture and their contributions to to work, all employees must be Credit Associations. We provide community. His childhood the communities in which they open to collaborating with one financing for farms, ranches, home is situated outside of Ca- operate,” Jacks said. another,” Jacks said. homes, and rural needs. Farm nute, Okla. where he graduated Jacks heard about the intern- This young man is spot on. Credit of Western Oklahoma is high school in 2023 as Valedic- ship through his academic ad- Communication, teamwork an equal opportunity and equal torian of his class, which, ac- visor at SWOSU and jumped at and customer service are three housing lender. Learn more at cording to Jacks, is one of his the opportunity to apply. of FCWO’s top priorities. Ac- farmcreditloans.com. most proud moments to date. “My favorite part of the in- cording to Livingston, Jacks has SENATE NOTES FROM SEN. BRENT HOWARD | JUNE 16, 2025 The Senate adjourned this year prohibition on cellphones other House bills I coauthored. the cause of the shortfall. The year’s legislative session at 12:25 in schools to minimize distrac- These measures enact govern- Select Committee to Review a.m. on Friday, May 30. We ad- tions in the classroom. In addi- ment transparency reforms, Mental Health Finances, a spe- journed Sine Die after a mara- tion, we expanded Oklahoma’s restrict the disclosure of grand cial committee formed by legis- thon day of acting on remain- Promise so children of teachers jury transcripts and clarify what lative leaders, convened several ing policy items and voting to with more than 10 years of class- records criminal defendants can times to question the mental override many of the governor’s room experience will qualify for subpoena from a law enforce- health commissioner and other vetoes. This session was both this full-ride college scholarship. ment agency following their ar- agency leaders. These meetings productive and successful. I’m I’m pleased the Senate and the rest. often left us with more questions proud to share that 16 bills I au- House overwhelmingly over- On the final day of the ses- than answers about the agency’s thored or coauthored have be- turned the governor’s veto of sion, the Senate and House financial troubles and how they come law. the 340B Drug Nondiscrimina- voted nearly unanimously to developed. Legislative over- When we closed out the ses- tion Act, legislation for which remove Oklahoma’s mental sight of the agency will contin- sion, the governor had signed I served as the primary Senate health commissioner following ue during the interim to ensure 132 bills, while 305 measures be- author. The bill originally passed a roughly $30 million budget accountability and proper use of came law without his signature. both legislative chambers with shortfall at the Department of taxpayer dollars. The governor The Legislature also overrode broad, bipartisan support. When Mental Health and Substance has already appointed an interim 47 of the governor’s vetoes. The this new law takes effect in No- Abuse Services. This shortfall, mental health commissioner to governor had 15 days from the vember, it will put an end to which appears to be part of a reassess the agency’s operations. end of the session to act on the discriminatory pharmaceutical broader pattern of financial mis- With the session over, I’m 21 bills still awaiting final action. practices that have, in recent management, jeopardized pro- grateful to be back home, and Among the new laws enacted years, arbitrarily restricted 340B vider payments and led to the I’m looking forward to spending this session are key tort reforms hospitals and providers — in- Legislature approving an emer- more time meeting with constit- to enhance legal protections for cluding many local health care gency appropriation to cover uents across Senate District 38. businesses, along with other facilities — from partnering the agency’s payroll through the To contact me at the Capitol, initiatives aimed at driving eco- with more than one pharmacy. end of the current fiscal year. Re- please write to Senator Brent nomic growth and making Okla- After working on several ver- moving the commissioner, who Howard, State Capitol, 2300 homa more business-friendly. sions of this legislation over the led the agency for the past 16 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 427, We also passed a series of edu- past few years, I’m relieved to see months, was a difficult but nec- Oklahoma City, OK 73105. You cation reforms focused on im- this measure finally enacted into essary decision that we did not can email me at Brent.Howard@ proving academic outcomes, in- law for the benefit of providers come to lightly. oksenate.gov or call (405) 521- cluding a renewed emphasis on and patients. The Legislature Multiple audits and investiga- 5612. in-person learning and a one- also overrode the vetoes of three tions are underway to uncover