February 29, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 14

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 19 Health officials Plans in place to respond to Elk City High School band members going to state in Stillwater in April are front row, left to coronavirus right, Jeryn Smith, Emilee Stout, Campbell Jacobsma, Jada Kimball, Sara Coffey, Anahi Gar- cia, Makenzie Polcyn, Kim Garcia, Austin Sharp, Danni Sottile and Dean Asher. Middle row are Rudy Gill, Bryce Butler, Ariel Linker, Emma Sibley, Riley Reed, Charli Rickert, Britney Reyna, By Don Munsch, Editor Rylee Yeager, Paige Lane, Kia Sharp, Katelyn Pierce and Josh McDowell. Back row are Cy Local officials said they are ready to respond if the coro- Barker, Cooper Church, Ethan Banks, Aiden Freeman, Alex Witherby, Drake Pena, Mason Fri- navirus spreads to Oklahoma. There are no confirmed esen, Dylan Anderson, Hayden Stout, lan Lewis, Kaden Elledge, Kaleb Odom and Jamie Mu- cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma, state health department sick. Staff photos by Don Munsch. officials said this week. During a news conference Wednesday, President Donald Trump discussed preparations being made for the corona- virus in the U.S. Trump named Vice President Mike Pence Elk City High School sets record to coordinate the administre ion’s response while asserting that “the risk to the American people remains very low,” according to a story from the Los Angeles Times. for band members at state Public health officials who flanked Trump at a rare news. By Don Munsch, Editor Katsura Parallel Dimensions 2 Percussion Ensembles: conference in the White House briefing room were notice- More than 40 Elk City High School band students quali- Campbell Jacobsma, Cooper Church, Cy Barker, Drake ably less upbeat, repeatedly warning of the risk that the fied for the state solo and ensemble contest after their show- Pena, Alex Witherby, Mason Friesen, Aiden Freeman, Kaden deadly COVID-19 virus - which has infected 60 Ameri- ing at district last weekend. Elledge, Aaron Frye, Josh McDowell and Hayden Stout. cans, including a newly confirmed case Wednesday in The 41 band students will travel to Stillwater on April 22 Valley of the Kings Mixed Ensemble: California - could still spread quickly in the United States, for the state contest. Jamie Musick, Kaleb Odom, Steven Steele, Dylan Cook- the Times reported. “T’'m real proud of them,” ECHS band director Tim DeWitt sey, Ariel Babb, Dean Asher, Kim Garcia, Rylee Yeager and “The trajectory we're looking at in coming weeks and said Wednesday morning in the ECHS band hall office. “As Jeryn Smith, months is very uncertain,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, princi- far we know, it’s a record the number of students who are go- Solos: pal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and ing, as far as the almost 30 years ofsitting in this room here.” Aiden Freeman, Mason Friesen, Josh McDowell, Sara Prevention. He said the band program’s goal was to get kids more Coffey, Jamie Musick, Kaleb Odom, Steven Steele, Ariel “We can expect to see more cases in the United States,” competitive in the solo and ensemble events. Babb, Charli Rickert and Austin Sharp. said Alex Azar, the secretary of the Department of Health “We do large group really well,” DeWitt said. “I feel like Brass and Percussion Ensemble: and Human Services to grow this program we’re going to get more kids audition- Kaitlyn Pierce, Kaleb Odom, Jamie Musick, Bryce Butler, Minutes after Trump spoke, the CDC confirmed a new ing for honor bands and doing the solos and ensembles at the Emily Stout, Ian Lewis, Sara Coffey, Kim Garcia, Manuelito case of the virus in California in a person who reported no state competition.” Sanchez, Dylan Anderson, Campbell Jacobsma, Aaron Frye, travel to an affected country or exposure to another known To qualify for the state competition, students have to re- Cooper Church, Mason Friesen and Alex Witherby. patient, the Times reported. The CDC did not say where ceive a Superior rating in the district competition. That com- Woodwind Choir: the person lived, but said the case could be petition for Elk City students was held in Weatherford last Anahi Garcia, Britney Reyna, Paige Lane, Charli Rickert, See Virus page 3. weekend. Forty-one middle school students earned Superior Makenzi Polcyn, Cristtan Holley, Steven Steele, Jada ratings. See Band page 2. Bank owner Elk City High School students qualifying for state: named to OSU Rotary Club seeking locations Board of Regents Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt for Lending Library boxes last week named Jimmy D. Harrel, CEO of the Bank of Western Oklahoma, to the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical Colleges. Stitt made the appointment on Feb. 21. On that day, Stitt also named Anita L. Hol- Jimmy D. Harrel loway to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Harrel is filling the seat of Lou Watkins, whose term ends April 4, 2020, according to a news release from the gover- nor’s office. Harrel will serve an eight-year term beginning April 5 and expiring April 4, 2028. “T am thrilled to appoint two strong leaders and proud Oklahomans to the OU and OSU A&M Board of Regents,” Elk City Rotary Club members want to deliver these Lending Stitt said in the release. “Anita is an accomplished accoun- Libraries to neighborhoods across Elk City. Damon Butcher tant and business leader who will bring her professional ex- works with sons Grayson and Zane on a Lending Library container on Feb. 22. Staff photo by Don Munsch. leader and OSU alum who will bring his wealth of expe- By Don Munsch, Editor which a person can leave or take a book. rience and commitment to Oklahoma’s students to support Elk City Rotary Club members gathered at the home of Rotarians are asking for home owners to volunteer to have the OSU A&M Board of Regents. I have full faith they will Rotary Club President Jeff Waters on Feb. 22 to make Lend- one for their neighborhood. If people would like to be the serve our universities and state well as we continue to move ing Library boxes for the public. location for one of these libraries for their neighborhood, the needle toward becoming a Top Ten state.” Harrel said in the release that he was “very excited and Now they just need to know where to place them. they can contact Project Chairman Jim Mason at City Hall at humbled” that Gov. Stitt would ask him to serve on the Twenty Little Free Lending Libraries will be placed in 225-3230 and leave their name, phone number and address. Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents. neighborhoods in Elk City. The local club desires to have “It’s very rewarding,” Rotarian Lisa Church said about “T look forward to working with the Governor and the these little libraries placed, one per neighborhood, through- helping out on the project as she painted a box in the garage. See Harrel page 2. out the community. The little libraries are enclosed cases in See Boxes page 2. my 74/ Vol. 118, No. 15 75 cents, 10 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com