February 14, 2026 Issue, Page 2 of 13

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NEWS 2• SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026 REPORT Continued from page 1 on to approve the consent agenda that consisted of the Jan. 12th minutes and the financial transactions. Those included the superintendent’s financial report, the treasurer’s report, the activ- ity fund report, and the new encumbrances and change orders as submitted. In the superintendent’s report, Sparks said that the district received their mid-term adjustment that was an increase of $166,000. The state of Oklahoma put an additional $87 million into paying for insurance for the MISDEMEANORS & FELONIES MISDEMEANORS State of Okla vs Brandy M Snodgrass Domestic assault & battery. Threatening an act of violence FELONIES State of Okla vs Trentity K Simpson Rape State of Okla vs Barry L Hargis DUI "There will not be any changes or exceptions to the publication of these records." MARRIAGES & DIVORCES MARRIAGES Alan Morgan Jr, Elk City – Chelsea Aaron, Elk City Phillip Lowman, Elk City – Seprina Callahan, Foss Patrick Brown, Elk City – Alexandria Holley, Elk City DIVORCES Jacinda King vs Russell King Carrie Campbell vs Kent Brown The Elk City News teachers of the state. He added that it goes back to the elimination of property tax issue. “The budgets are going to be flat. They’re not sure how they’re going to pay for some of this stuff. And yet, they continue to cut things. And so again, if they do away with the property taxes, that is 30 percent of every school district’s local budget. It will also affect your county sheriffs, and it will also affect your ability to do county roads. And so obviously, there are133 bills currently at the legislative session over that, but we continue to be in good shape. We’ve done a good job with our money,” Sparks said. He continued to say that the carry-over will be in the $24 million range, and he expects to spend approximately $19,500 million by the end of the year, which would be their goal. He wants to be fiscally responsible now, so the district does not get tight with money over the next two years. The next item on the agenda was to convene in executive session to discuss staffing for the 2026-2027 school year. They went into session at 6:26 p.m. and reconvened at 6:49 p.m. No action was taken or comments made. The board approved the contract of Superintendent Mike Sparks without discussion, and then they went on to approve the employment of several indi- viduals. Those included Hollie Husband for Title I Intermediate School; Sherri Jill McDaniel as Title 1 Intermediate School; Tristan Williams for Title I T/A Intermediate School; Janice Hicks for HS/MS Choir Accompanist; Nikelas Cloud as Assistant High School Boys Soccer; and Bobby Jay as custodian at the middle school. In the superintendent’s report, Sparks went over the Energy Savings Report. They have had a savings of $23,735.79. They expected to save $25,000 which means the company will be cutting a check for the difference. They project a savings of $173,000 a year. Over the life of the project the should save $3.7 million for the district with an $800,000 investment. Sparks also talked about the Hunger Free Oklahoma program. The district is currently $3000 ahead, which is $2,600 ahead of expenses. They are looking at the after-school feeding program, which would allow more students to eat another meal. The district is not trying to make money, but they want to make sure they can continue to support every kid eating for free. There was no new business, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m. The next meeting will take place March 9th, at 6 p.m., in the Board of Education conference room. ROTARY ance. Quinn told the Rotarians that they can reduce or control premiums by comparing different companies; bundling policies; improving loss prevention; maintaining a clean driving record; and/or asking agents about discounts. Quinn also encouraged the Rotarians to ask the insurance com- missioner about disputes or questions concerning a company. He further said that the commissioner is an elected official and is charged with regulating the insurance industry to protect consumers and ensure a solvent, competitive market. While Quinn did not officially ask for votes, he was open to an- swering questions after the meeting concerning his bid for the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner. The meeting was adjourned shortly before 1 p.m. The next meeting will be held at noon every Thursday in the same location. For more information about the organization, see their Facebook page or ask a local Rotarian. complex during the year. The member must accompany the family. The final membership is an Individual Membership for $20 and entitles the member unlimited visits to the museum complex during the year. To join contact Cindy Wood at the Old Town Museum, or another member of the board. Mail the dues to P.O. Box 542, Elk City, OK 73648. The president, Linda Long, and president-elect Dan Storm, along with membership chair, Cindy Wood, invite everyone to become a part of Western Oklahoma history by joining WOHS. Membership in the organization is important to the future of preserving the rich history of the region and recognizing those individuals and events that make Western Oklahoma great. The Western Oklahoma Historical Society was established 1967 as a 501C-3 organization that gives financial and voluntary support for the National Route 66 Museum Complex in Elk City. According to membership chairman Cindy Wood the 2026 membership drive has started, and it will run through the month of March. The Society is active in the community by being a member of the Elk City Chamber of Commerce, and maintains the WOHS website, www.westernoklahomahistoricalsociety.org. Continued from page 1 insurance score are also factors in the rates. There are regulatory rules and the legal environment that make a difference in the cost of insur- WOHS Continued from page 1 their families to guests to unlimited visits to the museum complex during the year. The guests must be accompanied by the member. The Family Membership is $35 and entitles the member and members of his/her immediate family to unlimited visits to the museum OBITUARIES YVONNE FAYE MURPHY SMITH (USPS # 173-020) 580-225-3000 Is published once weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO BOX 964, Elk City, OK 73648 Sheryl Ponce, Staff Writer SUBSCRIPTIONS Deliverd by mail: $50/yearly print only $60/yearly print & online $40/online only No refunds on subscriptions. [email protected] [email protected] Neva Pyatt, Advertising Director Ashley Moore, Advertising Director [email protected] Nancy Karnowski, CSR Yvonne Faye Murphy Smith completed her earthly journey on January 28, 2026, leaving behind a life marked by faith, service, and devotion to others. She was born March 31, 1935, at the family farm home in Republic County, Fairview Township, Kansas, to Glenn E. and Leona Faye Stephenson Murphy. She attended rural grade school through the eighth grade and graduated from Belleville High School in 1953. Following graduation, she attended and graduated in 1956 from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Topeka, Kansas. During her pediatric rotation at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, she met the love of her life, Douglass Jensen Smith. Yvonne and Douglass were married on September 25, 1956, at Westside Christian Church in To- Providing comfort and support for End of Life choices Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual resources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. For questions regarding hospice service or eligibilty, contact: Carrie Perry, RN - Administrator Brianna Barker, RN - MANAGER OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES SOME OF THE MOST COMMON CONDITIONS ARE: • Cancer • Failure to Thrive • End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) • End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) • End Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) • End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) • End Stage Liver Disease • End Stage Renal Disease • AIDS/HIV • End Stage Neurological Disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s Professional, Passionate Advance, Attentive ... Our Difference is Our Care peka, Kansas. Together they shared 68 years of marriage marked by faith, resilience, and enduring love. They began their married life in Columbia, Missouri, then moved to Springfield, Missouri, before settling permanently in Elk City, Oklahoma, where they raised their four children and built a life of service to their community. Yvonne was one of the most spiritually filled individuals many had ever known. In times of trouble and in times of joy, she consistently checked in with herself and with her Lord. She walked with Him daily, knowing that she was His and that He was hers. A life defined by service, Yvonne believed deeply in serving her church and her community. Alongside Doug, she initially served at First Christian Church in Elk City as a youth volunteer before transferring their membership to the United Methodist Church in Elk City, where they spent many years as youth leaders and Sunday school teachers. Scouting was central to Yvonne’s life and family. She served faithfully as a Boy Scout den mother and was deeply involved in Girl Scouts as well. Through her leadership and encouragement, both of her sons and all three of her grandsons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, a legacy of character, perseverance, and service that reflected her values. Yvonne cared deeply for the arts and devoted countless hours to community theater organizations, including the Red Carpet Community Theater. She also served as a “grandparent” for the American Kids Organization, where four of her grandchildren participated, nurturing and encouraging young performers with the same warmth and pride she gave her own family. She devoted many years to caring for her family at home while Doug worked. When her youngest son, Mark, began school, she returned to nursing, working parttime as a nurse at Community Hospital and part-time as an instructor at a Vo-Tech LPN program, before continuing to serve for many years at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in a variety of roles, retiring in 2015. While juggling family, work, volunteering, and her many other commitments simultaneously with remarkable grace, Yvonne earned her Associate’s degree from Sayre Junior College and her Bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, graduating magna cum laude. Yvonne never sat still. She balanced work, family, volunteering, and large seamstress projects with astonishing energy and grace. A master seamstress, she could take on intricate projects with patience and precision that amazed her family. She went all out on home art projects and lovingly made handmade Valentine’s cards with her children every year, turning ordinary moments into lifelong memories. She always said she would never take credit for either her children’s successes or their failures, yet she quietly drove each of them to be the very best they could be. She lived by the same standards she instilled in her children, modeling integrity, discipline, faith, and service every day of her life. Yvonne possessed what her family lovingly called “pure iron patience.” Loud children never bothered her. Chaos never rattled her. She believed wholeheartedly that children were the most important work, and she treated every child, her own and those she served, with dignity, encouragement, and deep respect. She instilled in her children and grandchildren a love of learning and a yearning for knowledge, just as she modeled throughout her own life. As the mother of four Have you ever considered becoming a hospice volunteer? A fulfulling experience in the spirit of giving and receiving. THE BRANDING IRON restaurant $15.99 Thursday Night Steak & Shrimp Buffet $12.99 Friday Night Catfish & Ribs Buffet Carrie Perry, RN Locally owned & operated. Proudly serving central western Oklahoma since 2011. Dine-In or Carryout Available 1200 S. 10th Street • Clinton, OK • 580-323-5554 children, she was consistently present as a mentor, coach, and cheerleader. Her guidance was steady, her encouragement constant, and her love unwavering. Yvonne Faye Murphy Smith leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, creativity, learning, and devotion to family and community. She lived as a true servant of God’s Kingdom, carrying out her faith through quiet acts of love, teaching, guidance, and unwavering presence. Though her earthly life has ended, her influence remains deeply woven into the lives she shaped. She now rests in the presence of the Lord she walked with daily and is reunited with her beloved husband, Douglass Jensen Smith. She is survived by her children and their families: Stephen Smith and wife Judy, and their daughters Terri Richards (husband Mike) and Lisa Schmid (husband Joe), along with their children Landen (wife Amanda, daughter Elliana) and Taylor (husband Edgar, son Xavier), Brianne, Jessica (husband Greg, children Graham, Eloise, and Adelaide), and Joey (wife Brittany); Sheri Lashley, and her children Jason Lashley (wife Kayla) and Stephen Lashley (wife Taylor, daughter Jensen); Lori Hunter and husband Dan, and their daughter Jacqueline Hunter; Mark Smith, and his children Taylor McKay (husband Brad, children Madeline Faye and Jackson) and Murphy Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Leona Murphy; her husband, Douglass Jensen Smith; and her grandson, Brian Smith. In keeping with her lifelong dedication to helping others, Yvonne has made a final gift to medical science by donating her body to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center for research and education. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Elk City United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or the Elk City Arts Council. A traditional funeral will not be held. Elk City United Methodist Church, PO BOX 868 Elk City, Oklahoma, 73648-0868 Elk City Arts Council, P.O. Box 683, Elk City, OK 73648