April 15, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma ‘Wednesday, April 15, 2020 ing United for groceries or trance only. You have to Businesses The store has also started of Elk City and surrounding other necessary items, the come to the west door and doing grocery pickup. towns to know the store is employees there are being exit through the east door. “All you have to do is call trying to conduct business as Continued from page 1. keep the spread of this vi- very diligent with sticking Everything is one way, and the store, and we will do usual. “We can keep a safe dis- rus down,” he said. “We are to guidelines. we have put arrows on the your shopping for you. Then “We do have new rules tance from everyone and here if you need us. Remem- “We have put Plexiglas floor where people aren't you can come in and pick it help them. We have been ber, we have families, too. at the checkouts, passing each other back and we are following now, but shields up or call the store when you acting like everyone is sick So please stay home if you and employees are trying forth.” get here, and we will come I want people to know we and stay a safe distance. We have a fever, cough or cold; to sanitize their hands after While Elk City hasn’t out and bring it to you.” are still here,” he said. “If also wear gloves and change don’t go in public. Sum- every customer, and sanitize made store occupancy lim- McGee is choosing to stay somebody wants something gloves after every custom- mer is coming, and none of their workspace after every its a rule, United has already positive and calm during special from produce, or er,” us want to be home for the customer,” McGee said. put this precaution into prac- this time, saying, “I’m not a special kind of meat, or During this time, it is im- summer. Stay safe.” “Sometimes that is impos- tice. too worried; maybe I’m na- something from the deli that portant to stick together as a Another essential business sible, but basically, they are “We haven't had to tell ‘ive. I feel like we are taking isn’t on the menu, don’t be community, and Webb and remaining open is the Unit- sanitizing as much as they anyone they can’t come in every precaution we can to afraid to call us and ask. We his employees would like ed Supermarkets location in can. Masks are not manda- stop spreading it. I would be the store yet, but we can only are still here for our commu- people to follow general EIk City. David McGee is tory yet, but they can ab- allow 93 people in the store lying to you if I didn’t think guidelines on keeping safe. the manager, and sometimes solutely wear them if they nity.” at one time to keep with so- about it, that anyone could “To keep our employ- checker, stocker or whatever want to, and a lot of people cial distancing guidelines, so get this. But if I let it con- For more information or to ees and the public safe, else the store or the public in the store do wear masks. we are keeping count when sume me, I wouldn’t be able order a grocery pickup, call we would ask the public needs him to be. We also have made one door someone enters and leaves,” to function.” United Supermarkets at 580- to please stay home and With many people visit- exit only, and one door en- McGee said. He also wanted the people 225-2288. USPS er than touching the bell. with the closures of prima- Sentenced said. They will maintain a safe ry and secondary schools During the phone conver- distance, and instead of across the country.” sation, Behenna mentioned asking you for a signature The release also stated that Continued from page 1. on the mobile device, they the U.S. Surgeon General Continued from page 1. Homeland Security Inves- the government informant, throughout the country to will ask you for your first ini- prison for the charge of tigations, the OKC Police Brent Elisens, who sparked has said there is currently ensure that they are avail- tial and last name. Then the attempted use of a weapon Department, the Edmond the investigation after alert- no evidence that COVID-19 able for employees and that carrier will leave your mail of mass destruction. On the Police Department, the ing his own attorney “Julia” it is “working tirelessly to or package in a safe place is being spread through the two charges of malicious at- Oklahoma Highway Patrol to Varnell’s alleged plan just keep the supply chain for for you to retrieve. People mail. tempt at destruction of prop- and the Oklahoma Bureau these items flowing in the should not try to take their Specifically, according to erty used in commerce and/ of Narcotics and Dangerous as Elisens was receiving in- carceration for an unrelated face of national challenges.” delivery directly from a car- the World Health Organiza- or affecting commerce, Var- Drugs. The FBI worked in In addition, the USPS said rier, and they should please tion, “the likelihood of an nell was given 250 months, conjunction with BancFirst charge. it is “reinforcing workplace give them the time to walk infected person contaminat- or at little over 20 years. The during the investigation. Elisens was then used behaviors to ensure that con- away before collecting it.” ing commercial goods is low three counts are to run con- District Attorney Angela as an informant during the tact amongst our employ- USPS officials also said and the risk of catching the currently. Marsee also provided a case. He was paid over ees and with our customers they are updating cleaning virus that causes COVID-19 In addition, Varnell will tance. $20,000 for participation in reflects the best guidance policies to ensure that all from a package that has been be required to be under life- However, on the same day the investigation. regarding healthy interac- cleaning occurs in a manner moved, travelled, and been time supervision after he that Varnell was formally Behenna made reference tions, social distancing and consistent with CDC guid- exposed to different condi- is released from prison and sentenced, his lead attorney to the fact that Elisens con- risk minimization. We have ance relating to this pandem- tions and temperature is also will also be required to pay Behenna filed an appeal with timed to supply Varnell implemented measures at ic and are issuing a “daily fines and court costs. the Tenth Circuit court. low.” retail facilities and mail pro- cadence” of employee talks, “The investigation of Var- Reached by telephone, with drugs while doing un- USPS also quotes the cessing facilities to ensure articles, videos and other nell was the result ofthe tire- Behenna told The Beckham dercover work for the FBI, appropriate social distanc- communications to ensure CDC, which said, “in gen- less efforts of the FBI Okla- County Record that she was in spite of strict instructions ing, including through sig- employees have the latest eral, because of poor surviv- homa City Joint Terrorism grateful that the judge fol- from the FBI not to do so. In nage, floor tape and ‘cough/ information and guidance. ability of these coronavirus- Task Force and nearly 100 lowed federal sentencing her estimation, the FBI had a sneeze’ barriers.” USPS also is updating its es on surfaces, there is likely of our partners from federal, guidelines and considered laser focus on Varnell, even The Postal Service said it leave policies to allow liber- very low risk of spread from state and local law enforce- Varnell’s history of mental though he demonstrated a has changed delivery pro- al use of leave and to “there- products or packaging that ment. We cannot thank these illness when giving his sen- lack of interest in the report- cedures to eliminate the re- fore give our employees the are shipped over a period departments enough for their tence. ed plot on several occasions, quirement that customers ability to stay home when- of days or weeks at ambient work to bring Varnell to jus- Although she was com- sign Mobile Delivery De- ever they feel sick, must temperatures. Coronaviruses tice,” said Melissa Godbold, pletely certain about every she said. vices for delivery. provide dependent care, or are generally thought to be special agent in charge of issue that the appeal will ad- Elisens then arranged for “For increased safety, em- wish to abide by state or lo- spread most often by respi- the FBI’s Oklahoma City dress, she said she plans to Varnell to meet with an un- ployees will politely ask the cal shelter-in-place require- ratory droplets.” field office. “I remind the “revisit the entrapment and dercover FBI agent called customer to step back a safe ments. We have entered into public that combating terror- outrageous conduct on the “The Professor” in order to Currently, USPS stated, distance or close the screen agreements with our unions ism, both domestically and part of the government.” build what Varnell believed there is no evidence to sup- door/door so that they may and management associa- internationally, has been and “Tt is unfortunate that this leave the item in the mail re- tions to provide 80 hours port transmission of CO- will continue to be the FBI's sting operation under the to be a bomb. The FBI has emphasized ceptacle or appropriate loca- of paid leave to non-career VID-19 associated with im- number one priority.” FBI continued even after it tion by the customer door,” employees for issues related ported goods and there have The FBI's statement said was clear to them that Var- on multiple occasions that the release stated. to COVID-19, and have ex- not been any cases of CO- the investigation was con- nell didn’t have the means the public was never in dan- Additionally, if a delivery panded the definition of sick VID-19 in the United States ducted by the FBI Joint Ter- to carry out an attack. I wish ger and that the bomb was requires a signature, carriers leave for dependent care for associated with imported rorism Task Force, includ- they would have taken a inert, though Varnell_ was will knock on the door rath- covered employees to deal goods. ing members of OKC FBI, different course,” Behenna apparently unaware of this. census year, census work- highlight how important it is Census Oklahoma.” “Since then we had to cer- caused some places like li- Choctaw Chief Gary Bat- ers would have started going tainly make many changes braries where citizens used to make sure we’re counted ton said the lower number door to door to conduct sur- in our plans, we've been put- to obtain information about so people know we're here Continued from page 1. was used to determine the veys and collect information ting more into advertising on the cens and if there’s need for fed- of trust in government. money the tribe received from citizens yet to turn in the radio and in newspapers But, he said, it is necessary eral resources we can have “Some people just do not from grants. their responses. instead of outreach.” to keep the future in mind as an accurate count.” trust the government, and “What hurt our tribe in However, the census bu- “Tt certainly was not the data from the census will be City by city, county by again we try to reassure the particular, was being one of reau has delayed nonre- way we wanted to go as we utilized for the next 10 years. county response rates and importance of the census” three federally recognized sponse checkups until May know many people need “I just encourage everyone state by state response rates because “every person that tribes to go by Choctaw,” and has extended the online one-on-one conversation to to take some time to make are obtainable on the in- does not fill it out, the state said Melissa Landers, senior self response deadline in better understand why it is sure to fill out the census be- teractive maps that can loses roughly $1,675 in (fed- director of membership ser- light of the pandemic. important to take the cen- cause times like now when be reached via this link. eral) funding per year,” said vices and head of the com- “In response to the CO- us,” said Yager. we're talking about who has https://2020census.gov/en/ McGoldrick. plete count committee for VID-19 outbreak, the cen- McGoldrick said the medical supplies and things response-rates.html Much like states miss- the Choctaw Nation. “We sus bureau is extending the state’s efforts to promote of that nature, a lot of those Gaylord News is a report- ing out on money due to learned after the fact that un- self-response phase by two the census has also been decisions are based on the ing project of the University residents not completing the less our members had actu- weeks, until Aug. 14. Ad- hindered by social distanc- census,” said McGoldrick. of Oklahoma Gaylord Col- census, tribal nations also ally specifically written in ditionally, other phases are ing requirements that have “Times like now really lege of Journalism and Mass miss out on money in the Choctaw Nation of Okla- being extended two to four form of grants if their citi- homa, we didn't get counted. weeks,” said Kirk Martin, Conservation district: Funds are zens are not counted. That was obviously devas- director of performance and Native Americans were tating.” accountability for the Okla- available for cost share assistance undercounted by nearly 5 “T worked with the Choc- homa Department of Com- The North Fork of Red sistance include: livestock lic and staff during the cur- percent nationwide in the taws quite a bit and I know merce. River Conservation Dis- pipeline and watering facil- rent health crisis, the district 2010 Census. they have done a tremen- Cities and universities trict announced last week ity, water wells and ponds, is currently teleworking to Nearly 80 percent of the dous job trying to get their across the state have been that funds are available for forage and biomass planting, continue the important work Choctaw Nation of Oklaho- citizens mobilized in 2020,” pushing to make sure every- cost share assistance on si range plant, and brush man- of conservation. Please con- ma was 1 d due to differ- said McGoldrick. “We have one is counted. lect conservation practices. agement. The cost-share rate tact the North Fork of Red ences in the way members’ also been working with sev- “The city of Oklahoma The state of Oklahoma has is 50 percent for qualifying River Conservation District provided limited funds to practices up to a maximum tribal affiliation was record- eral other tribes including City was working with the conservation district to payment of $2,500. The dis- at 580-928-3113,ext. 3019, ed. the Chickasaw and Mus- help landowners implement trict will be accepting ap- to arrange delivery of an ap- partners to do a lot of face- Some 159,630 _respon- cogee (Creek) Nation and I to-face outreach, up until measures that address their plications from April 13 to plication. District staff are dents said they were “Choc- know almost every tribe had COVID-19 hit,” said Kristy resources concerns. May 15, 2020. available by phone from 8 taw,” while 24,000 others a coordinated census effort.” Yager, of the Oklahoma City Conservation _ practices Because of the safety and a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday said “Choctaw Nation of By this point in a tvpical public information office. available for cost-share as- health protocols of the pub- through Fridav.