November 15, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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i Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 November 15, 2019 Elk City Elementary School held a Veterans Day celebration on Monday with a music program filled with songs from students. Left, front row, Josie McCon- nell, Luz Alvarez and Emma McPherson, and back from left, Bently Bustin, Jesus Luna and Karson Stevens participate with other choir members in a part of the ceremony called “The Lights of Freedom.” Right, Lauren Johnson joins her classmates, including Branson Cobb behind her, in speaking at the ceremony. Staff photo by Don Munsch. Elk City veteran served the nation during Vietnam By Don Munsch, Editor and lived with his sister. He graduated from Hooker High sion, in an outfit called The Gunfighters, The company he Be a John G. Thomas grew up adele fast, going off to the Vietnam School. “After I graduated high school, I got drafted,” he said. was in was based in Chu Lai, Vietnam. More information on his outfit can be found here: http://www.a-1-6.org/index.htm War soon after high school. He served in the Army and did his basic training at Fort Thomas served in combat infantry and was in Vietnam for These days, one can find Polk in Louisiana, and then after basic training and Advanced one year, from April 1968 to April 1969. He received the him working as a mechanic at Individual Training, he served in the Ist Battalion, 6th Infan- Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal, and three Anadarko Dozer & Trucking try in the 198th Light Infantry Brigade in the Americal Divi- See Veteran page 2. in Elk City. Elk City school board member resigns He continues to work, he said, because he needs the re- sources to pay for his wife’s medications. She suffers By Don Munsch, Editor time on the board. from dementia. He takes care The Elk City Public Schools board had its second resigna- “I learned a lot about the school system,” he said. “I of her and does the cooking tion in three months as the board approved Seat 3 member worked in school systems for 40 years; here in Elk City, 26 and cleaning. Jim Blevins resigning his seat Monday night at the monthly [years]. I feel like we accomplished some things, [such as] On Veterans Day, Ameri- meeting. the new grade school, which we really needed. The football John G. Thomas — cans honored those who have Blevins departed for the same reason Darin Schmidt left field facilities were needed.” served in the armed services, including people like Thomas. in September: a move out of district. Like Schmidt, Blevins The biggest challenges facing the school district remain Originally from Garden City, Kansas, Thomas, now 71, will now live in the Merritt school district boundaries. finances and the teacher shortage, he said. moved to the Oklahoma Panhandle after his parents died Kelsey Merz was appointed to Schmidt’s Seat4 last month, “We need to find somehow figure out how we can encour- The district will now look to appoint someone to fill age college kids to come back to get into teacher education Blevins’ seat. Superintendent Rick Garrison said Tuesday where we can start filling some positions,” Blevins said. Students to go door-to- that he hopes to have some appointees at next month’s meet- ing. The board votes to approve appointees. Interested indi- Board President Brandon Storm told the board he appreci- ated Blevins’ work on the board and the athletic department door to collect food viduals can contact the district to fill out an application. The board will have seats 4 and 5 on the ballot at the next acumen he brought to the table. “Mr. Blevins has been with us and given us real good input school board election, incidentally, and statutorily qualified and some insight from past experience as being the athletic By Don Munsch, Editor people may file for those seats between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. director here of the school system, and we’re going to hate Elk City High School National Honor Society students Dec. 2-4. to see him go,” Storm said. will go door-to-door Sunday to collect canned foods that Blevins had served since 2013 and said he enjoyed his ‘See Board member page 2. will be donated to Help Inc. Rossy Garcia, NHS president at ECHS, said students will visit select neighborhoods for the project. Candidate profiles for the 2020 Miss “We split into groups and go door-to-door, asking for canned donations,” she said. Anything non-perishable will be accepted, she said. Sixty-nine students in NHS participate Elk City/Miss Queen of the West in the project, which is a requirement, Garcia said. Students will be visiting neighborhoods from 1:15 to 4 p.m., and they will be in groups of three to four people. NHS reporter Savannah Kauk said she expects the project See Food collection page 2. Pastor reaches plea deal in sexual battery case Ki Dixie Boyce-Smith Madison Clark By Don Munsch, Editor A Beckham County pastor reached a plea deal with the Beckham County District Attorney’s office last week in a sexual battery case. Jessie Marion Ashley, 89, accepted the agreement with victim approval rather than have a lengthy and costly jury pLAYBILD trial and appeal process, a news release from the DA’s office stated. On Nov. 6, Ashley pleaded no contest to one count of sex- ual battery. He was sentenced to five years suspended sen- Faith Steedman Lexi Neahring Lily Parker Alexis Walker tence with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The The Miss Elk City.Miss or The Vogue in Elk City, 109 Sophomore at Northern first two of those years of Ashley’s sentence will be super- Queen of the West pageant is N. Main St. Information listed Oklahoma College Tonkawa vised by the ODOC, the release stated, and he is to have no at 7 p.m, Saturday at the Kelli with the candidates includes Britney Reyna contact with any victims. O'Hara Center for Performing the social impact statement, Substance Abuse in Adoles- He was scheduled for jury trial to begin this past Tuesday Arts in Elk City. Current title talent and their school. cents before the Honorable Jill Weedon. holders are Macy Eminger, Miss Elk City Jazz Vocal: “Almost There” “With every case that comes before the Beckham County Miss Elk City 2019, and Ava Karli Lovelace Senior at Elk City High District Attorney’s Office, we strive to consider the wishes Cruchon, Miss Queen of the Let’s Talk School of victims nme as well; as justice for ; and protection of the com- West 2019. Tickets are $15 Vocal: “Softly and Tender- Darcy George munity, "the DA's office stated te Gat hudieey page2, Lynzie Herron amd are available atthe door ly” See Candidates page 2. Weather “4 Vol. 117, No. 92 Mail delivery View online : iui Inu % tomorrow / 39 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com