May 1, 2026 Issue, Page 10 of 12

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10• SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026 NEWS The Elk City News Oklahoma CareerTech ECHS Esports Team Wins celebrates Day at the Capitol Oklahoma CareerTech students education and family literacy -- finding jobs, continuing education and professionals will gather at the will be at the Capitol, along with or entering the military -- of 94%. state Capitol on April 28 to share professionals and students from CareerTech student organiza- with legislators and other state of- every division and the respective tion membership reached 122,929, ficials the good news of CareerTech CareerTech student organizations. with members in Business Profes- and the difference it makes in Okla- They will be sharing CareerTech sionals of America; DECA; Family, homa. successes, including the increase Career and Community Leaders of CareerTech is a national leader in K-12 enrollments of more than America; FFA; HOSA; SkillsUSA; in workforce education, showing 151,000 in fiscal year 2025, a goal and Technology Student Associa- what people can do when edu- set for 2028 but achieved two years tion. cation is aligned with workforce early; a new Skills Centers facility at Oklahoma CareerTech also needs, said Brent Haken, Oklaho- Northern Oklahoma Community served 10,604 businesses in FY25, ma CareerTech state director. Corrections Center in Vinita and helping them to strengthen their plans for a new facility at J.H. Lilley workforce and contribute to the “Our programs are reaching Correctional Center in Boley; the state’s economic growth. more students and adult learners new Oklahoma Career Readiness “CareerTech works every day than ever before, providing them Diploma; growth in apprentice- with business and industry, open- with the skills they need to thrive ships, for which CareerTech has ing doors of opportunity for stu- in high-demand industries, and taken the lead in Oklahoma; and dents of all ages and strengthening we want to continue to grow and a record high membership in Ca- Oklahoma’s economy,” Haken said. help more Oklahoma individuals reerTech student organizations for and businesses,” Haken said. “To the fourth consecutive year. OKLAHOMA CAREERTECH: achieve our goals of increasing ca- In FY25, Oklahoma CareerTech OKLAHOMA’S WORKFORCE reer readiness in Oklahoma and recorded systemwide enrollment LEADER growing the state’s economy, we of 517,752. Technology center en- The Oklahoma Department of need a serious investment in work- rollments -- business and industry Career and Technology Education force education.” training, adult and career devel- provides leadership and resources Booths and displays will be set opment, secondary and postsec- and assures standards of excellence up on the second floor of the Cap- ondary full-time programs and for a comprehensive statewide sys- itol in the Supreme Court hallway, single-course programs -- were tem of career and technology edu- and other displays, including buck- 352,663. Secondary technology cation. The system offers programs By Sheryl Ponce et trucks provided by Meridian and center enrollments were 24,662. and services in 29 technology cen- The Elk City High School’s eSports team became State Champions in the Super Smash Brothers tournament. Pontotoc technology centers, will CareerTech offered programs in ter districts operating on 63 cam- The members of the team include Quinn Brewer, Mayson Rheaume, and Andrew Mathis. They are coached by be outside the building. 394 K-12 school districts in FY25. puses, 394 PK-12 school districts, Kaleb Murray. CareerTech students will pres- Its 29 technology center districts 20 Skills Centers campuses that in- ent demonstrations and projects had 63 campuses. The 63rd campus clude three juvenile facilities and 49 and talk with policymakers during the event, and CareerTech award winners will be recognized in both the House and the Senate cham- was added in May when Gordon Cooper Technology Center add- ed a fifth instructor to its aviation maintenance technology program. adult education and family literacy providers. The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Tech- MERRITT bers. Enrollment in adult education nology Education and works close- Representatives of CareerTech’s and family literacy was 11,089, ly with the State Department of delivery arms -- technology cen- with 49 providers offering AEFL Education and the State Regents ters, K-12 schools, the Skills Cen- programs at 125 sites. for Higher Education to provide a ters School System in Oklahoma CareerTech program com- seamless educational system for all correctional facilities and adult pleters have a positive placement -- Oklahomans. With gratitude, the Parker Family Thank You Oilerettes are Slow Pitch Softball District Champs. The family of Harvey Parker We thank you for the food, flowers, tist Church for the delicious meal, would like to thank everybody plants, cards, phone calls, visits and to Whinery’s Funeral Home for that has reached out to us during prayers. Thank you to Homestead their compassion & service. A spe- the difficult time of losing our of Elk City & ACG Hospice for cial Thank You to Robert Lakey for Dad & Papa. What a comfort to their tremendous care. Thank you the kind words & the “so Harvey” know he touched so many lives. to the ladies at the Sayre First Bap- funeral service. The Role of the Hospital in a Rural Community Has Changed By Michael vices, and coordination with ditions and provide guidance Robinson, MD fellow hospitals, EMS teams during health transitions for Family Med- and public health programs. elderly patients. In doing so, icine, Great For families who live miles we help maintain the health of Plains Region- from the nearest city, these ser- entire families and communi- al Medical vices are essential. ties. Center Rural hospitals play a criti- The challenges facing ru- cal role in emergencies. When ral hospitals are real: staffing Aiden Orgain launched a solo bomb over the left field Jaden Hartman had a 3-run homer in last Monday’s In a rural community, the a patient experiences a serious shortages, financial pressures fence making the 3rd sophomore to hit one out in 3 battle against Hollis adding to the run started by hospital is more than a place injury or a sudden health crisis, and long distances make deliv- straight games. Aaron Partain. where people go when some- the minutes saved by having ering care more difficult than thing is wrong. It is a resource, quality care close to home can metro hospitals. Yet despite We proudly support Yes Finance a safety net and, at its core, the make a life-or-death difference. these challenges, we do what heartbeat of local health care. But the hospital is not only we can to ensure patients have the students, staff and Over the past few decades, for emergencies; it’s where pre- access to comprehensive care administration at the role of rural hospitals has ventive care, early detection when they need it most. changed dramatically. While and routine screenings happen. In many ways, the hospital Merritt Schools inpatient care remains import- ant, we now support our com- These efforts can help prevent emergencies from occurring in has become a cornerstone of the community it serves. It is 1414 W. 3rd St., Elk City, OK ~ Great Plains munities in many ways: we the first place. where neighbors find help, re- Bank provide emergency care around the clock, outpatient clinics for Rural hospitals serve as a support network for families. assurance and expertise with- out traveling hours away. And 580.225.1525 ~ First National ongoing health management, imaging and laboratory ser- We work with expectant moth- ers, help manage chronic con- in a rural community, that pres- ence matters more than ever. LocalLoanGroup.com Bank