May 28, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 20

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Due to earlier press times for Memorial Day, see Friday for - Elk City High School graduation coverage. | x See Big Elk sports page 20 Ww RY ElkCit News dild (ea Tuesday, May28, 2019 Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 MID-WEEK EDITION Rennels retires from Canute after 30 years organizations - American coming to Canute. Medical Association, World “When I got my teaching Health Organization and the certificate that spring, the Centers for Disease Control science teacher left here, so and Prevention - have done Iwas able to walk right into extensive research and have this job,” he said. “I had two concluded that there is no kids left in school. Iwas very link between vaccines and fortunate.” autism, seizures and other Rennels graduated from conditions. school in Hammon. In He said if people want to teaching all these years, the see what vaccinations have profession reassured him done to contribute to public when he saw people use rea- health, all that they have to son and not depend on “their do is visit old cemeteries and emotions and prejudices and see the number of children superstition — all of those who died up until the 1950s, things. If they are able to when vaccinations became overcome those and just hold the norm. arational conversation with Great Plains Regional Medical Center CEO Corey “Now you don’t see that ~ me, then I think I've done my Lively and Chief Nursing Officer Gayle Sturgis show Canute High School teacher Richard Rennels, left, was it’s arare thingto see a child job, and I guess I get a sense the Silver Award. Photo Submitted. recognized by Superintendent Jill Henderson and his that dies,” he said. colleagues at a retirement party Monday at the school. children died all the time, “Used to, of satisfaction from that.” ‘The learning process in the He was named teacher of the year for the high school. and I can’t figure out why classroom can create differ- ‘Staff photo by Don Munsch By Don Munsch to come to conclusions, with people don’t see that and accept what science has done with these vaccinations.” ent atmospheres for teach- ers, as it can be both fun and stressful, Rennels said. GPRMC Editor people’s refusal to get their children vaccinated serving Richard Rennels wants an as one example. Rennels taught biology, physics and chemistry as well as earth science, biology Rennels said he plans to move to Oklahoma City soon. His son and his wife and two receives award emphasis placed on science “Vaccinations have ILand physical science at grandkids live there. He also education. stopped - virtually eliminat- CHS. Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City has Having taught science at ed and eradicated - horrible has ason in Seattle. received an award that recognizes its efforts in providing Canute High School, where diseases that use to plague “In a school this size, you “T have been meaning to quality to its patients. he recently retired after 30 mankind,” said Rennels, 74. just said. basically do it all,” he retire for along time, but I like what do,” he said. The hospital received the TMF Hospital Quality Im- years, he sees a need for the “Tremember when the polio provement Silver Award from TMF Health Quality Insti- public to be more knowl- He also was in charge He made the decision last tute, with the TMF Hospital Quality Improvement Award edgeable. vaccine came out. I knew of the gifted and talented people who had polio. But we program during his time at summer while seeing his son program being sponsored by TMF, the Arkansas Hospital in Seattle. In retirement, he Association, Oklahoma Hospital Association, Oklahoma “T think the country is in haven't had diseases for so Canute, for the last 25 years. plans to have a small farm State Office of Rural Health, Texas Hospital Association dire need of science educa- Jong people take it casually.” Before starting work as a south of Shawnee. It’s his tion,” he said. He said he didn’t know of teacher, he worked in oilfield wife’s family farm, which and the Texas Organization of Rural and Community ‘On Monday, the school anyone in his community services. He put instruments has 40 acres. He also plans to Hospitals. had a retirement party at the back then who didn’t want on drilling rigs. He did that spend time traveling, includ- The program recognizes hospitals in Arkansas, Missouri, school for the teacher, who their children vaccinated. work until the oil bust in the ing to Washington state. Oklahoma and Texas that have undertaken quality initia- during lunch discussed his “People who don’t want mid-1980s. Canute Junior High and tives to improve outcomes in patient care and improve plans for retirement along their kids vaccinated is just “So I went back to school High School Principal Kevin their performance on specific national quality measures, with the current state of sci- beyond me.” he said. and got a teaching certifi- Merz said Rennels will be said Marnie Tosh, director of marketing and business development for GPRMC, in a news release. This program ence education. Rennels rejects claims cate,” he said. missed and said he is “one of When it comes to science, about vaccines causing He attended Southwestern akind.” The person who was established in 2004 as a non-competitive recogni- he said too many people do autism or seizures. He Oklahoma State University, tion program designed to identify exemplary outcomes not use scientific reasoning mentioned how how health and he did not teach before See Rennels page 2. achieved by hospitals. ‘The 2018 TMF Hospital Quality Improvement Award program is based on achievements in 2016 and 2017, and it honors hospitals that are performing quality initiatives aimed at improving outcomes in patient care by recogniz ECHS gets greenhouse See GPRMC award page 2. for 2019-2020 school Summer Arts By Don Munsch electric are the only utilities concrete sidewalls to help The greenhouse will | | ten : Editor wt pln a it hevid here, andit enhance learning because it t . a e greenhouse will cost will have a 12-year guaran- Elk City High School alittle more than the money _tee on the polycarbonate, Bela those atidenta wie students will benefit froma provided inthe grant, Dill- _ Dillinger said. The green- more inclined to be hands-on greenhouse next school year _inger said. house will have a shade in their approach. —_e ahead sea ete apa £ eee company, a “And so many people don’t school’s ag depart- together, like $14,60 or Sunglo, has . ment has been awarded al- _ something like that,” she aYouTube video onhowto Know where their food comes most $15,000 in an Oklahoma said. “We are possibly going _ piece together the green- from,” she said. “They don’t CareerTech lottery grant, toget the concrete donated. house that follows along with _ know peanuts and potatoes said ECHS agteacher Karie And en we would just to themanualthat willcome ——_grow under the ground. They Dillinger. pay like the waiver forthe with kit. ‘The grant will be used footings and whatever the “That's encouraging,” she bein Tow that asparayiis, tobuy agreenhouse whose formsare-called to putcon- said. “The company said it You're actually eating the [be 2 toner dimensions will be 15 feet crete down.” should take five days to put it stem ofa plant. Just little Chidren particioate in last years Sumner Aris progam. 3 inches wide by 30 feet Dillinger said other together.” things like that [it's about} | File photo. long. The greenhouse, to greenhouses at schools she’s. _But Dillinger said that Be : be erected next to the ag taught at didnot have afull time frame “seems a little Rare ee By Don Munsch building on the north side concrete floor. Theyhada ambitious” given time con- y Duye groceries. Editor ofcampus outside the main _part concrete base, suchas a_ straints educators have to Dillinger also said some school building, will include concrete sidewalk, and then _deal with during school students get a science credit Enrollment for the Elk City Summer Arts Program will heat and evaporative cooling, peat gravel. hours and finding time todo through ag classes, and so start Tuesday and Wednesday in the lobby between the cedar benches anda potting © “Andyouendupdoingis _it when students would be ‘ Lagstedents witt | Sua” Powell Auditorium and classrooms. The auditorium table. spraying Roundup for weeds _ available just 45 minutes ata S*lence and ag students is on the campus of Elk City Middle School. _ 7 Students in grades nine just constantly,” she said, ex- time given they have to goto _ be benefit from the green- All students from the Elk City area are invited to partici- through 12 will use the plaining part of the compli- other classes. house. She said a plant sale pate. Classes will be held May 30 through June 26, Mondays greenhouse, which Dillinger cation ofhavinga floor that is “Even if we could get it will be held next sprin; through Thursdays. . . hopes can be put up before not concrete. builtin a month, that would si ‘The program is offered to children through the Elk City winter next school year. ‘The kit forthe greenhouse _be wonderful,” she said. at will feature anne: Arts Council with help from the United Fund and Elk City “Tdeally, we're going to includes everything, she ‘The school can’t spend bedding plants, vegetables Public Schools. Children will be able to choose among art, put the greenhouse directly _said, such astables, misting _the grant funds until July and house plants. That sale creative writing, drama, dance and Yoga for Kids. south of the ag building systems, lights and doors. 1, in accordance with grant wil help generate funds for ‘We've done this since the '70s,” said Carol Wilson, trea- to kind of protect it from “So it’s just labor that stipulations. euaiewandisbleep on the surer for the arts council. “In fact, our new art teacher for the wind,” she said,noting _ we're going to have to worry “But we're hoping to get Ps pkeep this year was in the summer arts program when she was in the heater will be electric about,” she said. the site prepared ahead of greenhouse and eventually and not gas, “so water and ‘The greenhouse willhave __ time,” she said. possible expansion. See Arts page 2. IHL Ml Mtl INN Weather 15 6 Vol. 117, No. 43 Home delivery View online ‘ sores aot » tomorrow oo” 75 cents, 20 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com