June 24, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

Page Text

y Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, June 24, 2020 Weekday Edition Commission Scouts thriving in Elk City tables contract Organization makes adjustments to on prison labor deal with coronavirus threat By Don Munsch, Editor Elk City City Commission spent considerable time at its June 17 meeting discussing whether to continue with hay- ing prison laborers in town, but opted to give the matter more deliberation and tabled the agenda item. The city contracts with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for the prison labor. Inmates, who come from Granite, do a number of public projects, such as mowing/ weed-eating right of ways and other city property, repair- ing streets, doing mechanical work and other jobs. The contract said the city would request 35 workers and pay Members of Troop 144 are, left picture from the DOC $4,725 per month, an amount that includes the left, Luis Arrieta, Matthew Platt, Corey base cost and a 10 percent administrative fee. Flowers,Thomas Smyth, Tristan Billingsley, Also included in the contract were stipulations about Dawson Michel, Tyler Brooks, Tatum Bron, transportation and supervision of laborers and work or- Dillon Baker, Cade Ellis and Ethan ders, job duties and any training. The DOC wanted an an- Schneberger. Pictured in the right photo are swer from the city about the contract by June 18. Dillon Baker and Ethan Schneberger. Kye Harper, human resources director for the city, talked to the commission and said there were some city Submitted photos. departments, such as the convention center, that depend heavily on prison laborers when they need people to work By Manda Smith, Contributing writer “We went to his first Cub Scout meeting, and they were the building when it has large events. Scott Ellis enjoyed Boy Scouts when he was a youth, and looking for some extra help, and I volunteered, and I’ve “There’s pros and cons,” Harper said about prison labor. now years later, he is watching his son benefit from the or- been here ever since,” Ellis said. “When the boys turn 11, “The expense, though, is a huge con. I don’t know how to ganization. they switch from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, and I switched put a positive spin on that.” The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth over with them. Now the group I started with is in 8th grade. She said the city wasn’t getting a good value from the organizations in the United States, with over 2 million youth It’s been a lot of fun, and I enjoy being involved.” prison labor. participants and over a million adult volunteers. Boys across From ages 11 to high school age, boys are welcome to join During the discussion, Commissioner Cory Spieker said he thought seasonal workers would be an option. Harp- the country have been learning a variety of skills since the Troop 144, with the age differences allowing the younger er, when asked for her recommendation, said places like BSA was formed in 1910, and Elk City has a thriving troop. boys to learn from the younger ones. Ellis explained that the convention center could use inmate help, around 10 Ellis, Elk City resident and local optometrist, has been when the young men are no longer Cub Scouts, they are ex- people, and then hire seasonal help when it is especially an assistant Scoutmaster for eight years, ever since his son pected to take on leadership in the group, with Scoutmasters needed, such as at Christmas time. Cade became a Cub Scout in first grade. He was also a Scout being more of a guide. Department representatives and heads at the meeting of- himself growing up. See Scouts page 2. fered heir insights about inmate help, with Mike McFall, water department superintendent, saying he has had some “really good” workers who came from the prison labor Finishing touches continue to be done on the pool, but said overall he thinks it is a “babysitting service” southbound lanes of the Highway 6 bridge to have the prison laborers. over Interstate 40 in Elk City. The diverging See Labor page 2. diamond interchange is expected to be done in August, with all construction work done by the end of summer, according to the Oklahoma voters to Oklahoma Department of Transportation. See more about this diverging diamond decide on Medicaid interchange project in the upcoming issue of GoWest magazine, scheduled to be on expansion newsstands Saturday. Staff photo by Don Munsch. By Don Munsch, Editor Beckham County voters will go to the polls Tuesday to make their opinions known on political primary and school board candidates and State Question 802. At least one local hospital administrator hopes voters say yes to 802. State Question 802 centers on expanding Medic- aid in Oklahoma. “Medicaid expansion has been happening in the United States since 2011, and to date, approximated 36 states have expanded Medicaid, and basically what that means is, it’s bringing health insurance coverage [to] low-income adults Districts can apply for emergency relief funds between ages 18 and 65,” said Corey Lively, chief executive OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Super- ed to schools “most significantly impacted by coronavirus,” officer for Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City. intendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister announced OSDE stated in the release. “And it’s really designed to help those individuals who are June 12 they have partnered to give eligible Oklahoma Hofmeister said the partnership will help educators bridge working Oklahomans — people who get up and are produc- school districts an opportunity to apply for $16 million in the “digital divide” and strengthen distance learning in the tive members of society every single day — but fall into a very emergency relief funds through the federal Coronavirus, wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. specific category of income and that is, by definition, income Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Okla- “As we plan for a new school year after the major disrup- that does not exceed 133 percent of the poverty level.” homa State Department of Education (OSDE) stated in a tions we experienced this past spring, we must do all we He said to think about this way: An individual to a family release. can to ensure districts can provide digital instructional de- of four making $17,000-29,000 a year who does not have Incentive grant funds were made available through $8 mil- livery and social-emotional supports to every student when access insurance through his or her employer. lion from the OSDE set-aside amount from the Elementary needed,” Hofmeister said in the release. “This is no easy task The most significant benefit of 802 is it gives insurance and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and as districts grapple with budget shortfalls and various un- coverage to the most vulnerable population, with Lively ex- $8 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Re- knowns stemming from the pandemic. School leaders are plaining it features those people who put off health care for lief (GEER) discretionary funds. Under the CARES Acct, the rising to the challenge, however, and these incentive grants elective situations because of costs and then they get sicker and OSDE funds must meet “emergency needs” of districts in will go a long way toward helping fuel their heroic efforts.” See Expansion page 5. response to COVID-19, while GEER funds must be expend- See District page 2. mm Mm sn Weather / 69 Vol. 118, No. 52 Mail delivery View online eer LE) tomorrow 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com