April 22, 2020 Issue, Page 3 of 20

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Page 3 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma ‘Wednesday, April 22, 2020 High unemployment claims trend continues OKLAHOMA CITY —- force. the initially reported total of seasonally adjusted insured “Our numbers for last receives the go ahead for re- The number of initial Unem- For the week ending April 47,744. unemployment rate for the week are still extraordinarily lease and processing of Pan- ployment Insurance claims 11, 2020, unadjusted initial Nationally, the seasonally country was 8.2 percent for high as additional employers demic Unemployment As- dipped slightly from the pre- claims in Oklahoma totaled adjusted initial claims to- the week ending April 4, up cut staff and implemented sistance claims,” Roberson vious week as COVID-19 48,977, a decrease of 11,557 taled 5,245,000, a decrease 3.1 percent and the high- layoffs to adjust to this dra- said. “We remain optimistic related closures and the en- from the previous record- of 1,370,000 from the pre- est seasonally adjusted rate matic downturn in the econ- these funds will be available ergy crisis continue to take setting adjusted week high vious week’s revised level since the previous high of omy,” said OESC Executive a toll on Oklahoma’s work- of 60,534, revised up from of 6,615,000. The advance 7.0 percent in May 1975. this week to assist gig work- Director Robin Roberson. ers, independent contractors, “As an agency responsible OESC escalates training of and other self-employed in- for connecting displaced workers with unemployment dividuals seeking relief.” benefits, we continue to The national weekly sea- initial complex claims agents make tremendous strides is sonally adjusted disbursing funds to provide claims report is one of ten relief.” components in the Compos- The agency now has ite Index of Leading Eco- OKLAHOMA CITY - to COVID-19 and the energy specialist has dropped to awaiting authority from US- around 1200 claims repre- nomic Indicators. To smooth Success in dramatically crisis.” 31 seconds on average. The DOL to implement the next sentatives manning the call out the volatility in the reducing call center wait The number of Tier 2 longest wait time was less phase of Pandemic Unem- center and the online chat weekly initial claims data, times has enabled OESC to claims agents continues to than 36 minutes compared to ployment Relief to gig work- feature, including 200 Tier 2 a 4-week moving average is increase training of Tier 2 grow. OESC added an ad- over 7 hours one week ago. ers, independent contractors specialists to handle escalat- used to assess trends. claims service agents, ditional 26 agents today to The number of people who ed claims with eligibility or and other self-employed in- In Oklahoma, the less vol- Tier 2 claims service assist with these more com- gave up waiting for a claim other issues. The call drop- agents handle the more com- plex claim issues. Training is specialist has dropped from dividuals. atile initial claims four-week off rate has fallen below one plex issues of an individu- continuing daily and, on the over 86 percent last week to The agency is one of 26 percent as Oklahomans are moving average climbed al’s unemployment claim to weekend, to further expand 1.04 percent as of this morn- states already paying the ad- successfully connecting with 11,785 to 44,975 for the better facilitate resolution, the overall number agents to ing. ditional $600 weekly benefit claims agents. week ending 4/11/2020. explain eligibility require- 200 by Monday. “We are proud of the as- amount authorized and fund- Out of work Oklahomans The advance unadjusted ments, request specific doc- “We have 11 retirees who sistance we’ve received and ed by the CARES Act. These are encouraged to first file number for continued claims umentation, place outgoing have come back to help us of our ability to be respon- initial claims online as this totaled 87,512, an increase additional benefit payments calls to provide claimant get these claims processed,” sive to the needs of almost remains the fastest way to of 32,483 from the previ- assistance, and address em- Roberson said. “Along with 200,000 Oklahomans out of will continue through July file a claim. A new mobile ous week. The continued ployer concerns who protest many volunteers from other work and looking for relief,” 25, 2020. app is nearing completion four-week moving average a claim for qualifying deci- agencies, we are making Roberson said. “We look The agency is also already and will soon be available as increased 17,758 to 46,166, sions to terminate employ- strides daily to improve the forward to being able to of- assisting claimants with the another tool for claimants to While the number of un- ment. claims process.” fer assistance to claimants additional 13 weeks of ex- file a claim, submit eligibil- employed Oklahomans has “Training of Tier 2 claims Today, OESC has more who don’t qualify for regular panded benefits for individu- ity documentation, and oth- topped 200,000 since mid- service agents typically than 940 active Tier 1 agents unemployment assistance in als whose regular unemploy- erwise communicate with takes six weeks,” said OESC working call center lines. the very near future.” OESC. March, many employers ur- ment benefits have expired gently need workers. Look Executive Director Robin During the first three hours OESC has ramped up its “The ability to assist in- or are set to expire. for jobs at www.okjobmatch. Roberson. “We’ve reduced of operation, more than procedures, call center, and dividuals who don’t qualify that training down to a few 3,100 calls had been an- website to assist Oklaho- Filing online at www.oesc. for regular unemployment com. hours to increase our ability swered out of 3,200 calls mans apply for unemploy- ok.gov remains the quickest benefits or have exhausted Unemployment — Claims to respond to the tremendous received. The average wait ment assistance and to pro- way to process an Unem- their benefits will be avail- may be securely filed online influx of wage claims related time to speak to a claim cess claims, The agency is ployment Insurance claim. able as soon as Oklahoma at www.oese.ok-gov. Elk City policeradio log April 17 8:49 am. - suspicious roadway almost hit report- dog at large, possible ag- parent at address. 7:32 pm. - breaking 12:35 a.m. - suspicious person(s) 2700 block of ing party unknown make or gressive, unable to locate. 7:00 p.m. - noise distur- and entering 100 block of vehicle(s) 1100 block of South Randall. First As- model. 3:43 p.m. - fire-smoke 20 bance 500 block of North Hughes Access Road. Older West 3rd. Pizza Hut, two sembly of God, male subject 1:24 p.m. - reckless driver block of Oakridge Drive. Jefferson. Neighbor is hit- van is parked over at hotel, vehicles, one in parking lot, sleeping out behind bushes 2900 block of South Main. Smoke coming from house, ting his own dog with a stick yellow tap e on the door and other is driving slow in the in front of office. Atwoods, flat bed crew cab no fiames, behind Atwoods, and subjects have been loud people are going in and out. area, made contact with van 9:36 a.m. - alarm/business truck, all over roadway. house has two white trucks. Aggressive dog inside van. all day. Reporting party does she is just using the WIFI. 2700 block of West 3rd. 2:47 p.m. - remove subject 4:49 p.m. - remove subject want contact. 7:54 p.m. - disturbance Parties ad- 1:26 a.m. - assist other 12:24 p.m. - alarm/busi- from property 2300 block of from property 800 block of vised of options, log printed Ackley Park. Male subject, agency 5 plex. Received ness 3500 block of SOuth ‘West Country Club. Subject South Oliver. Four adults for animal control officer. brown hoodie and boots. call about vehicle that was Main. Midwest Inspection won't leave residence. Re- will not leave home. Report- drivign around the school Services, vault door mo- porting party just wants him ing party has two juvenile in and behind dumpsters. Un- able to locate. tion. Negative cotnact with key holder. Alarm company to leave. Reporting party called back and brother has home people smoking 10- 75 and drinking. Reporting Elk City PD arrests 2:48 a.m. - alarm/business called back and cancelled. left the residence. pasrty just returned home Elk City police made one with dangerous weapon. 300 block of West 3rd. GAS, 12:29 p.m. - accident/no 2:55 p.m. - assist other and found them. Reporting arrests April 18. omestic abuse: commits as- upstairs balcony, unable to injury 800 block of West agency I 40 eastbound. party is taking the jvuenile. All individuals arrested saults and battery against a reach key holder. 3rd, Black pickup and silver Oklahoma Highway Patrol 6:49 p.m. - assault 700 are presumed innocent un- person lived 5:10 a.m. - EMS/Ambu- pickup parking lot, Hit each and Beckham County adi- block of North Randall. Re- vsed. Front end damage got less proven guilty. lance 300 N. Garrett. Elk other at Sonic, vehicle not in porting party got jumped by or living in City Nursing, 67 year old roadway. off Access Road, vehicle three juvenile female sub- Arrests and complaints: the same male subject, diabetic, no- 12:42 p.m. - motorist as- running around 100 miles jects. Reporting party knows Jeffery Johnson, 21, kid- napping. Domestic assault household ticed right side weeak, high sist 500 block of East 3rd. per hour. and goes to school with the Lights. blood pressure, slurred Semi was lost helping them 3:24 p.m. - animal call 200 juveniles. Reporting party is and battery by strangulation. with the de- speach, get back at right road, road- block of South Adams. One also a juvenile and is with Domestic assault and battery fendant. Johnson 6:00 am. - escort 700 way is clear, block of South Eastern. Load 1:01 p.m. - reckless driver will be blocking traffic, re- 2700 block of East Highway questing escort to Highway 66. Loves East, coming into 6. _, Camera, Elk small black car all over “ElkCituNews X USPS # 173-020 Action 580-225-3000 Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 POSTMASTER: Send adress changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 Josh Umholtz SUBSCRIPTIONS Deliverd by mail: Publisher 2-2 How are you or your kiddos during this time at home? We would $75/yearly Don Munsch ‘$50/six months Editor love to see your creative ways of keeping everyone busy and No refunds on subscriptions. Brittany Howell entertained while practicing social distancing. Classifieds editor @ ecdailynews.com D’Ann Brasuell Please send photos including names, ages and a description sports @ ecdailynews.com Graphics Supervisor of the photo to [email protected] or via Facebook! ads @ ecdailynews.com Neva Pyatt classifieds@ ecdailynews.com Advertising