April 19, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 14

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|, See Big Elk sports page 11 News WEEKEND Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 EDITION Friday, April 19, 2019. Thanking our local police department dispatchers EMS also for Elk City.” COLD-WAR Elk City PD takes calls for fire and EMS departments and then relays those calls to those departments, but they do their own dispatch after that point, she said. Denley OKLAHOMA and another dispatcher were sent to obtain their instructor license, so they will be train- ing dispatchers at the PD to get their emergency medi- cal dispatch certification. At Elk City PD, Denley said the station for the most part tries to have two dispatchers per shift, and when the Elk City PD starts dispatching for fire and EMS, Denley hopes a third person will be available. Dispatcher work requires a certain kind of flexibility, and By Don Munsch the work can be stressful, as Editor dispatchers must be able to multitask. They may have two Landry Brewer chooses the Cold to three phones in their ears War as his favorite era of history in at the same time and monitor which to teach and study. G \ those situations and must pull As part of interest in that time, he that information together. has written a book called Cold War “In law enforcement, there Oklahoma, set to be released April is nota typical day,” Denley 29 with book signings to be held in said. May in Elk City. Domestic violence calls are Cold War Oklahoma tells the Brewer the most unpredictable situa- story about events and historical tions for dispatchers, Denley figures in the Sooner State during Elk City Police Department dispatchers, from left, Mercedes Rollins, Leslie Denley said. But dispatchers can also the time from the mid-1940s [after World War II] to the early and Brigette Kilpatrick pause for a moment at the police station on Tuesday morning. 1990s when the U.S. and Soviet Union had a frayed relation- receive calls, for instance, in Staff photo by Don Munsch. which someone asks for help ship and came close to engaging each other in a nuclear war in catching their dog that had [Cuban Missile Crisis, which occurred in the early 1960s). By Don Munsch surrounding counties, is Denley has worked at the gotten loose from the owner “[ was just fascinated and I’ve always been as far back Editor honoring those people who police department going on outside. Ican recall, as a child of the 80s, by the Cold War,” said answer 9-1-1 emergency calls nine years, and she covers “Typically, we won't get Brewer, who teaches history and political science for South- Leslie Denley pondered and dispatch first responders. the day shift, 7 am. to S p.m. those on 9-1-1, but we've also western Oklahoma State University-Sayre campus. “As the The ELK City PD has nine Tuesday through Friday. Her been trained so that, when Cold War was winding down, I turned 12-, 13-years-old.” her words for a few moments when asked about the most total dispatchers. job is somewhat different the elderly call, they're very Inhis position, he is encouraged to research and write, and challenging aspect of her job. “T would have to say for me from the other dispatchers, reluctant to call, so typically in the last couple of years or so, he has learned an extensive The job entails its share of itis officer safety,” Denley she said. we try to help them even if amount ofinformation on how the Cold War affected every- challenges, to be sure. said about the most demand- “For the police department, they're just looking for a day Oklahomans and how the state played a role in military Denley works as acom- ing component of her work. Thandle the sex offender reg- phone number,” Denley said, policies. For instance, there were 12 intercontinental bal- munications corrections “They are your brothers and istration for Elk City PD, the Technology can help listic missiles stored near Altus Air Force Base. training officer at the Elk City sisters, and so to me the most Elk City jurisdiction and the dispatchers these days, such “In October 2016, I was made aware of some documents Police Department, where challenging thing is making violent offenders,” she said. as when a person has been that discussed the intercontinental ballistic missiles near she does dispatch duties. This sure that their safety comes “So it’s kind of an extra [duty] involved in, say, a wreck, and Altus Air Force Base in the early 1960s,” said Brewer, who first and that I'm getting all on top of [dispatch]. And then that individual calls to report graduated from Elk City High School in 1994 and earned all week, April 14-20, is National Public Safety Telecommuni- the information that they we operate the 9-1-1 dispatch injuries but cannot provide a five of his degrees from SWOSU. “I had grown up in Western for police department as of precise location. Oklahoma, occasionally hearing something about missile cator Week. The Southwest could possibly need when this time and the jail. ... Even- “We can pinpoint you ona sites or missile bases and having absolutely no idea what Oklahoma Regional 9-1-1 As- I'm sending them [blind] to sociation, which encompasses somewhere. It’s all communi- tually, we're going to take they were. And then when I was 40 years old, almost 41, I Beckham County along with cation.” over dispatching for fire and See Dispatchers page 2. learned the significance ofthe Atlas Missile Program for the nation and I learned the significance of the Atlas-F Missiles being placed near the Altus Air Force Base during the Cold War as part of the American Cold War nuclear arsenal.” ‘That got the ball rolling for Brewer, and he wrote a paper about those missiles in the journal of the state historical Agreement approved for society, called “The Chronicles of Oklahoma.” He traveled around to civic organizations to speak about the missiles, and he also spoke at the SWOSU campuses in Weatherford and Sayre. “In the process, I also placed a historic marker at one of activity center in Ackley See Cold War Oklahoma page 2. By Don Munsch percentage cost and that they time tables may not be read-__funds toward and for the com- Editor could potentially fluctuate. _ily known. Winters explained _ pletion of the Water SMART “Twanted to see something the architect's basic services Grants application for the Loose Ccattle The Elk City City Commis- _allittle bit different,” he said. _provided in the agreement i ionepprovedvatiertwics ta: | “Thalanguagehersbelngnot aiearthitectural; mechank, © PUTCO eee ae bling in previous meetings, an toexceed certainly helps my _cal, electrical, plumbing, fire ™ters. The money woul agreement between the Elk comfort level.” protection, structural and _-_-& toward 970 water meters By Don Munsch City Industrial Authority and Postic said company esti- civil engineering. being installed throughout Editor Studio Architecture of Okla- _ mates the design plans forthe “We're going to look to you _the city. The cost is $150,350, homa City for services related building would take seven to guys andthe city tohelpde-_and the grant would pay for Alfred ‘Tetanysoin wrote thet in the spring, ‘a young man's to the Elk City Activity Center nine months. _ fine the image that you want,” nearly half-$75,000- andthe | fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. in Ackley Park West. “That’s the time that we be- Winters said. city would pay for the rest, Elk City Police Chief Eddie Holland will you tell that cows, Commissioners approved lieve that it would take us to He said important to $75,350. Water meter installa- on the other hand, love the spring because of what they find an amount not to exceed work with you guystomake spend sometime tofind out sion began this year. in the pastures. $673,800 for the architect's sure we understand correctly _ what city leaders want the Tas ergo oon Cows are apt to wander around in search for grass, and can basic services and an amount _ what the city’s looking for and _ building to project to the proved $29,920 forthe sometimes get loose from their properties and be an issue for not to exceed $7,550 for make sure that it falls within community. City leaders will Tesurfacing and repair of four | jaw enforcement to deal with. The Elk City Police Depart- geotechnical and engineering __the [defined] budgets and seek input from residents and _ tennis courts in Ackley Park ment asks cattle owners who live in city limits or nearby to and surveying servcies fora meetsallthe [specifications] users on building features. for $29,920. contact them with their information so police may know how total of $681,350. of the facility,” Postic said. “Itis your building-it's not * Approved a bid for to reach themif the cows roam away from the property. George L. Winters, prin- “After that process is over, it ours,” Winters said. $134,498 from RJR Enter- Holland calls the police department's request to cattle cipal of Studio Architecture, would move onto bidding and Amongothermoves,the prises Inc. for the Ackley owners a courtesy service, and it is strictly voluntary on the and John Postic, also from construction.” commission also approved: ari West Splash Pad. Part of cattle owners. | . Studio Architecture, spoketo _He said the design period “Rick Shelton tobe the new ee et a auote fot “Aname and phone number is all we need,” Holland said, the commission. is sort of arange because it mayor pro tem. Allen Robin- ca) Shimek eaes gs noting it’s livestock that police are concerned about, or at Commissioner Jeff Jackson can fluctuate based on ifcity son, who leftthe commission _ Hossco Construction LLC for | Jeast those animals that have the potential to get out on the said his concern from the last officials need to consult with last week ashistermended, —_ $47,390 for the replacement roadways. Police also need owners’ locations. meeting was a big portion user groups and because the —_ was the former pro tem. of the roof at Elk City Fire ofthe fees were basedona decision-making processes’ *A resolution to provide Department. 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