October 18, 2025 Issue, Page 8 of 12

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8• SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2025 The Elk City News CareerTech helps workers, businesses through Rapid Response Oklahoma CareerTech’s Rapid more employees or shutting down contact information to the tech cen- transformative and impactful and Response program works to help altogether. ter assigned to that business, and result in helping these businesses to people who have been laid off from “This is the state of Oklahoma staff from the tech center will reach succeed, eliminating the need to lay their jobs, but it also aims to help and Department of Labor’s way of out to them. Through the tech cen- off or close.” companies avoid layoffs in the first providing whatever resources we ters, the workers can learn which place. can to companies that are strug- industries and businesses are hiring OKLAHOMA CAREERTECH: The program, which launched gling, in the hopes of reducing or so they can make smart decisions OKLAHOMA’S WORKFORCE earlier this year, is a partnership be- eliminating further reduction in about which training programs to LEADER tween Oklahoma CareerTech and force layoffs and helping them be- enroll in. The Oklahoma Department of the Oklahoma Employment Securi- come viable,” he said. Approximately 90 people from Career and Technology Education ty Commission. The funding comes The program is exploring op- companies around Oklahoma have provides leadership and resources from Workforce Innovation and tions with two companies to help expressed interest in the Rapid and assures standards of excellence Opportunity Act Title 1 Dislocated them increase efficiency and prof- Response program and have been for a comprehensive statewide sys- Worker grants. its through collaboration with Ca- referred to several tech centers in- tem of career and technology edu- The program has three roles, reerTech technology centers, he cluding Southern Tech and Francis cation. The system offers programs said Gerrod Walker, Oklahoma Ca- said. Tuttle Tech, Walker said. and services in 29 technology cen- reerTech Rapid Response regional The program helps workers who Layoff aversion funding has ter districts operating on 63 cam- coordinator: to help businesses have been laid off through no fault also been allocated for customized puses, 395 PK-12 school districts, considered at risk for layoffs or of their own by providing tuition as- training through Northwest Tech, 16 Skills Centers campuses that in- shut-downs; to help workers who sistance for CareerTech programs. and the program is working with clude three juvenile facilities and 32 Miss Elk City Teen Promotes have been laid off; and to use Ca- reerTech’s business and industry “Dislocated workers, through Rapid Response events, are pro- Metro Tech to provide training assistance through layoff aversion adult education and family literacy providers. connections to bring employers to vided information about the pro- funding, he said. The agency is governed by the ‘Helping Hands, Helping job fairs presented by Rapid Re- sponse coordinators. gram and an ability to sign up for the program through a link or QR “The use of those funds has been approved to help the companies State Board of Career and Technol- ogy Education and works closely Hearts’ Platform Walker called layoff aversion an “exciting prospect,” explaining that the Rapid Response program pro- code. These workers are already at verified reduction-in-force events, so they pretty much qualify in most increase efficiencies and profits through collaboration with our CareerTech technology centers,” with the State Department of Ed- ucation and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a By Sheryl Ponce is homeschooled, therefore, she can vides training assistance at no cost cases,” he said. he said. “These funds can be used seamless educational system for all step out whenever she is needed to businesses at risk of laying off Rapid response will send worker to receive training that could be Oklahomans. During the Miss Elk City/Queen because she has time to make up of the West contest, Bailey Gossen her work. was crowned Miss Elk City Teen. She will be representing Elk City in the Miss Oklahoma Teen June 8th through the 13th, playing the piano “I always want to be there for them no matter what, I’ll put them before myself,” Gossen added. She would like to make more ap- CANUTE as her talent and “Helping Hands, pearances in and around Elk City Helping Hearts” as her platform. and would like everyone to know Gossen’s favorite piano composi- that she wants to partner with lo- tion is what she played on the piano cal organizations to uphold her in the local contest called “Solfeg- platform. To contact Gossen for a gietto.” She has played the piano personal appearance or learn more since the age of four, and she only about her platform, call her moth- recently entered the pageant world er at 405-818-2796 or email her at where she has found success in this [email protected]. local contest. Three years ago she Gossen is the cousin of Kaya was Junior Miss Washita County Carpenter and the niece of Lake and currently is Teen Miss Washita Carpenter. She is the daughter of County. These two pageants got her Kamie and Ben Gossen. She is the started in competitions. sister of Korben Gossen and Kend- “My platform really focuses on allyn Gossen. serving your community with your The 13-year-old eighth grader talents, and I’m trying to get other likes competing in pageants be- people to use their talents and their cause of the sisterhood within the God given skills to serve their com- organization. She said that they munity in their own way,” Gossen all cheer for each other while be- said. ing supportive, no matter who she She continued to say that she is competing against. Watch for will always use her time and skills Gossen to perform her piano piece Canute Junior High girls to help others in Elk City, no mat- during the state pageant. are Hobart Bearcat Cross ter what she has going on. Gossen Country champs Junior High girls Quilt Retreat Corrections Mikinna Carnes-1st Bracket Ridling- 2nd Milee Porter- 4th By Sheryl Ponce and it is the Western Oklahoma Lainey Gray- 12th Quilters’ Guild Retreat. Annie Schuster-14th It is regrettable that mistakes There is no show associated Blakelee Kamphaus-15th were made in last week’s story with this retreat. Gloria Goddard’s Katie Atha- 30th about the Western Oklahoma Quil- phone number was also incorrect. Ivy Cortez- 33rd ter’s Retreat. It was reported to be Her correct number is 580-799- Zoe Montoya- 45th the Quilt Whisperers’ Quilt Show, 2620. High School girls Brooke Thomas- 8th CBA Casady Marshall- 33rd Junior High boys Toby Porter- 20th Trent Range- 69th Isaac Guitierrez- 73rd Elementary boys Dax Dunlap- 42nd Mega Breeze & Mini Breeze We proudly support the students, Call For Pricing! Parts staff and administration Available! at Canute Schools 580-225-6554 ~ Great Plains Bank One of the largest metal 918 N. Van Buren suppliers between Elk City, OK 73644 ~ First National Bank OKC and Amarillo www.janningwelding.com Farmers Union Co-Op Gin 720 S. 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