August 16, 2025 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025 Weekend Edition First Presbyterian Welcomes New Pastor By Sheryl Ponce as an on-air personality in Kansas, Okla- quires a bachelor’s degree, but there was the community as their pastor. homa, Texas, and Missouri. an alternative path to become a Presby- As a newcomer to Elk City, Mead is Sunday, July 20th, Pastor Craig Mead “I moved back to Kansas in 2002. My terian pastor. ready for the challenge of getting to know and his wife Theresa walked into Elk dad died in 2000, and in 2002, my mom Mead took the opportunity to attend the community and the different facets City’s First Presbyterian Church, located was diagnosed with cancer. My wife, Dubuque Theological Seminary where of the town. He said as each town has its on the corner of 2nd and Washington, to Sharon, and I moved back to Kansas to he completed the three-year Congres- own personality, he looks forward to ex- become their new pastor. After sever- basically look after my mom. Then mom sional Leadership coursework required ploring Elk City’s. al years without a formal minister, the passed away, and four years later, Sharon by the Presbyterian Church (USA). He “The best thing I have found so far is church has welcomed the couple to their died from cancer,” Mead explained. then became commissioned to St. Marks the warm welcome I have received from church and the community from Beaver He went back to his hometown to take Presbyterian Church in Haysville, Kansas the church and the community,” Mead City, Nebraska. care of this mother; he returned to the in 2005. said. Mead was born in Wichita and grew Presbyterian church where he was raised. Mead served as a pastor in churches at He went on to say that he wants people up in Belle Plaine, Kansas. He graduated Mead started talking to the minister, who Viola and Conway Springs, Kansas, along to know that they are welcome in Elk City from high school there and continued was a friend of his father, who encour- with the Presbyterian Church in Beaver Presbyterian Church, “I want people to his education in broadcasting school. In aged him to go to Presbyterian seminary. City, Nebraska. He was contacted by the Pastor Craig Mead 1974, he began a career in radio, working Although to attend the seminary it re- Elk City church and since has moved to See PASTOR page 2 Motivational ECPD Looks to Marketer Jeff Henderson Talks Protect Seniors from FOR the Brown Financial Scams and White By Sheryl Ponce In efforts to help local citizens ages 55 By Sheryl Ponce years old and older, Major John Cook and the Elk City Police Department As part of the Elk City Public School’s have put together a Financial Securi- back to school professional development, ty Training. It will take place Sept. 4th, Jeff Henderson who is an entrepreneur, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Elk City’s speaker, pastor, and business leader, came Western Technology Center. Lunch will The FBI went on to report that seniors to Elk City to deliver words of inspiration be provided during the training. may be less inclined to report fraud be- to the Elk City staff, community business Reservations need to be made to cause they may be ashamed of having been leaders, and organizations. Elk City Super- Major Cook by emailing cookj@elkci- scammed. They lose confidence in their intendent Mike Sparks invited him to be the ty.com or phone him at 580-225-1212. partners. Common elder fraud schemes keynote speaker for the school’s professional The purpose of the training is to teach include romance scams; tech support development but also invited the communi- seniors how to protect themselves from scams; grandparent scams; government ty to be a part of the morning. fraud or other financial threats. impersonation scams; sweepstakes/char- “Inspiration has an enemy, and it’s called The speakers for the event are Carissa ity/lottery scam; home repair scams; TV/ everyday life. He’s (Henderson) not here to King, founder and attorney from King radio scams; or family caregiver scams. sell anything. He’s not here to give curricu- Legal, PLLC., and Kevin McCullough, When reporting a scam, get the lum. He is here about the power of people Investigator and Outreach Coordinator names of the scammer and/or the com- and the power of purpose. I’ve shared this from the Oklahoma Department of Se- pany; the dates of contact; the methods with you last year, but again and again, peo- curities. of communication; phone numbers, ple quit jobs. They don’t quit a purpose,” This training will be an opportunity email addresses, mailing addresses, and Sparks said in his introduction of Hender- for senior citizens to learn tools that may websites used by the predator; methods son. help them remain financially safe and of payment; when the funds were sent, Henderson began by saying that he was secure. Scammers are constantly seek- including wire transfers and prepaid there to encourage everyone. He said to ing ways to prey on the most vulnerable cards, account names and numbers; and make two columns. The first column was and trusting individuals in the commu- descriptions of the interactions with the called encouragement. He wanted to en- nity. According to the FBI’s Elder Fraud scammer. courage everyone. The second was hope. He website, “Seniors are often targeted be- The ECPD training will be one to at- said that he hoped that everyone would look cause they tend to be trusting and polite. tend to find out the latest information, as for something so they could be hopeful. They also usually have financial savings, well as how to combat being scammed He continued to talk about inspiration own a home, and have good credit—all and the latest information about the is- and what the community and schools are of which make them attractive to scam- sue. Contact Cook about attending the in favor of, which could be people, parents, mers.” training on Sept 4th. Jeff Henderson and students. He encouraged the crowd to have purpose and then gave his own per- marketing into being a pastor for 18 years him to say that it was a brilliant strategy to sonal background. and now traveling around the country and get the company’s name in the media. “I grew up in Atlanta, and just to give talking about business. How did that hap- With that story, Henderson went on to you a little context, I’m a preacher’s kid, so pen?” Henderson began. say that each person has a choice as to how I promised myself I would never, ever, ever He then told his story about Chick-fil-la, he/she sees a situation. He learned that it work at a church. So I worked at a church where he worked in marketing. He devel- is an opportunity to have two people see for 18 years, and if you don’t get anything oped the idea of putting a cow at each place the same event in two very different ways, out of what I say today, you remember right in the Georgia Dome. At the endzone, the which is a leadership principle that becomes now, never say you’re never going to do crowd was angry from a call and threw the a life principle. something. Okay, so how have I developed cows on the field. Henderson believed his an interest in marketing? I had to get from career was over, but his manager came to See HENDERSON page 2 Elk City School Board Tables Energy Proposal to Special Meeting Superintendent Mike Sparks By Sheryl Ponce Agreement and Ideal Impact Lease Pur- $717,923 with additional savings and bene- chase Agreement. The group came into fits. After the board members listened to the The Elk City Public School Board met Monday evening at 6 p.m., in the admin- the school and did a billing analysis, show- ing the annual energy spent was $406,722; proposal and hearing Spark’s opinion of the services, which included the nod from Tony Sparks Welcomes Staff to New School Year istration’s board room, for their regular the demand portion was at 49 percent or Chauncey and Dustin Marks, they decided By Sheryl Ponce a superhero, Superman. monthly meeting. Katie Archer and Kris $200,498; and energy rates ranging from not to take action during this meeting. “Every year I get to hear Mr. McClure Waters were not present for the meeting. $.043 to $1.05. Agreeing to the lease and Storm indicated that he would like Ar- Early Monday morning, the Elk City (Jamie) tell the high school kids, ‘Guys, The other members continued the business agreement would be EUI (KBtu/sqft) from cher and Waters to hear the proposal to give Public Schools staff gathered in the Pio- you may not realize it now, but you are of the board. 60.2 to 31.9. their input before they agree to go ahead neer Center Auditorium for a morning growing up in a great place, a place that President Brandon Storm opened the The 15 year’s savings would be from with the proposal. Those members present of professional development that start- cares about you.’ You fast forward to meeting and moved to item 7I and 7J, due $3,986,005 to $4,394,826 with a net 15 year’s did not question that it was a good agree- ed with Superintendent Mike Sparks’ having those senior exit interviews, and to a guest presentation concerning an en- savings from $3,268,082 to $3,676,903. The words of encouragement. Sparks started ergy proposal from Ideal Impact Services district improvements would be at a cost of See PROPOSAL page 2 with a video and presentation dressed as See SPARKS page 7 Weather Vol. Vol. 117,121, No.No. 54 33 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 95 / 73 75 75 cents cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com