November 14, 2026 Issue, Page 11 of 13

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026 • 11 NEWS The Elk City News SWOSU Surgical Technology Earns National Accreditation, Expands Enrollment General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute And Museum Invites The Public To Honor Veterans This Veterans Day HOBART, Okla. – This Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum invites everyone to stop, remember, and say thank you to the men and women who have served our nation in uniform. As a token of gratitude, every veteran who visits the museum during the month of November will receive a free challenge coin. THE HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the fighting of World War I came to an end. One year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 the first Armistice Day. Congress made it a national holiday in 1938. In 1954, after millions more Americans had served in World War II and Korea, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation renaming it Veterans Day so the holiday would honor American veterans of all wars. For several years in the 1970s the holiday was moved to a Monday in October, but in 1978 it returned to November 11, where it remains today because of the historic meaning of that date. WHY VETERANS DAY MATTERS Memorial Day honors those who gave their lives in service. Veterans Day honors everyone who has served, living and gone, in war and in peace. It is a day to thank the neighbor, the parent, the grandparent, and the friend who raised a hand and took an oath to defend this country. “Veterans Day is not just a date on the calendar. It is a promise that we will never take for granted the people who courageously stood watch so the rest of us could live free,” said Dr. Jill Green, Executive Director of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. “Every veteran has a story of service and sacrifice. At our museum, we work every day to make sure those stories are told and that the next generation understands what they mean.” A MUSEUM THAT HONORS ALL WHO SERVED The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum honors those who have served our nation from World War II to the present. Visitors can explore the story of General Franks’ distinguished 38-year military career, along with the service of the generations of Americans who wore the uniform before and after him. General Franks has always believed that leadership belongs to everyone in the ranks. When a veteran once told him it was an honor to serve under him, he answered, “No, it was my honor to serve alongside you.” Because General Franks was Commander of U.S. Central Com- mand on September 11, 2001, and became the first commander in the War on Terror, the museum is also home to what is believed to be the largest permanent 9/11 exhibit west of the Mississippi. At its center is a 14-foot, 3,000-pound steel I-beam from the World Trade Center. The exhibit preserves the story of that day and the service and sacrifice that followed. PLAN YOUR VISIT The museum is located at 507 S. Main Street in Hobart, Oklahoma, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., including Veterans Day. Admission is free. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Veterans are especially encouraged to visit throughout November, bring their families, and pick up their free challenge coin. For more information, call (580) 726-5900 or visit www.tommyfranksmuseum.org. ABOUT THE GENERAL TOMMY FRANKS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND MUSEUM Founded in 2006 by General Tommy Franks and his wife, Cathy, the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum in Hobart, Oklahoma, honors military service from World War II to the present and offers leadership programming for all ages, free of charge to schools and school-age students. Learn more at www.tommyfranksmuseum.org. SWOSU Accepting 2027 Distinguished Alumni Nominations Nominations to the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) are now being accepted for the 2027 induction. Recognized as “SWOSU’s highest honor,” the Hall of Fame was established in 1976 by the university to recognize outstanding former students and to celebrate their achievements. There are 132 SWOSU graduates who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Information on the Hall of Fame and a nomination form are available online at Distinguished Alumni – SWOSU Foundation or nominations may be submitted by mail to: SWOSU Burton House Attn: Alumni Association, Distinguished Alumni Selection 100 Campus Drive Weatherford, OK 73096 In addition to completing the nomination form, nominators are encouraged to provide supporting items which further distinguish the nominee and assist in selection. Such items may include but are not limited to: Current biography Letters of support Newspaper and magazine articles Personal stories or other items of interest Those SWOSU graduates who are selected for induction into the SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame for 2027 will be honored at the SWOSU Convocation activities in May 2027. Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has earned national accreditation for its Surgical Technology program. The achievement recognizes the education and clinical training students receive at SWOSU and opens a path to national certification for graduates. After completing the program and meeting examination requirements, graduates can take the Certified Surgical Technologist examination to earn the credential. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) awarded accreditation effective Sept. 18, 2026. The program began through a partnership between SWOSU and Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City. “Our students are at the heart of this achievement. National accreditation opens a pathway to certification, and adding a spring start creates more opportunities to enter the profession,” said Ashley Davis, director of SWOSU’s Surgical Technology program. “This progress reflects the hard work of our faculty, staff, and students, and the support of our clinical partners and university leadership. Together, we are helping prepare the next generation of surgical technologists to serve Oklahoma communities.” SWOSU is also making room for more students to enter the profession. The first spring classes begin Jan. 11, 2027. With up to 12 students entering each fall and spring, the program will double its annual admission capacity to 24. Prospective students will have two opportunities each year to begin their training instead of waiting for a fall start. Students earn an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology through a combination of online lectures, laboratory instruction and clinical education at approved affiliate sites. The program prepares graduates for entry-level surgical technology positions. Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms, maintain sterile conditions and provide instruments and supplies during procedures, all responsibilities that support patient safety. Clinical partners across Oklahoma help students put those skills into practice. Students gain experience in health care settings that connects classroom and laboratory learning with the responsibilities they will take on in the operating room. With national accreditation and an additional admission period, SWOSU can offer more students a path to a degree and national certification in surgical technology. The program’s growth also expands the university’s capacity to prepare skilled professionals for the hospitals and surgical facilities that serve Oklahoma communities. Applications are currently open for the spring start. The program accepts applications on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis. Program information and application instructions are available at https://www.swosu.edu/ allied-health/surgical-technology/index.php. October GRF collections 50.7% over monthly estimate OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 10, 2026) – General Revenue Fund collections in October totaled $1.1 billion, which is $362.7 million, or 50.7%, above the monthly estimate. This total is also $382.8 million, or 55%, above collections from October 2025. GRF collections for the first four months of fiscal year 2027 stand at $3.1 billion. This is $497.4 million, or 19.1%, above the year-to-date estimate and $429.9 million, or 16.1%, above collections from the same period in FY 2026. “October results were strong across the board, with collections well above estimates and prior-year totals,” said OMES Director Mark Wood. “Year-todate income tax collections were PUBLIC AUCTION significantly up as a result of tax returns filed prior to the extended deadline on Oct. 15. Additionally, gross production taxes exceeded estimates due to higher oil and gas prices.” October’s above-estimate performance spanned all categories, with notable gains in gross production tax on oil and individual income tax. 79 ACRES WASHITA COUNTY FARMLAND WEST OF BURNS FLAT,OK TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2026 @ 10:00 A.M. SELLING 79 ACRES OF HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE CROPLAND SALE SITE: At the farm located from the West edge of Burns Flat, go west on CR # 1140 - 3 miles, then South on CR # 2110 - 2 miles, on the West Side. Or from Canute, OK, go 5 1/2 miles South on CR # 2080, then East 3 miles on CR # 1160. LEGAL DESCRIPTION: The S ½ of the SE ¼ of Section 17, Township 10 N., Range 19, W.I.M., Washita County, OK, less & except approx. 1 acre. Containing 79 acre +/-. Surface rights only. The farm is a highly productive farm which lies very well. Bases for the farm are: 41.70 Ac. Wheat & 18.4 Cotton TERMS: 10% of the purchase price due day of sale to be placed in escrow, balance due at closing. Possession will be given after the 2027 Wheat harvest. Sellers: Heirs of the Helen Schneberger Estate Do not miss this opportunity to buy some very good - highly productive cropland in this area !! Submissions for the 2027 SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame selection and induction process must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2026. Questions may be directed to Ms. Mady Taylor, SWOSU Assistant Director for Alumni & Friends, at [email protected], 580774-7068. The SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame is administered by the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement and is stewarded by the SWOSU Alumni Association. The Association is committed to keeping SWOSU’s alumni and friends informed, involved, and invested in the university community and the future of the institution. Working closely with SWOSU, the Association offers communications, events, benefits and services for the university’s current and future alumni and friends. The Association is a subsidiary of the SWOSU Foundation, Incorporated.