July 25, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, July 25, 2020 ODOT project will be considered will be installed in the mid- Almquist took questions struction for ODOT. substantially complete by dle of DDI for bicyclists and from Rotarians, including For more information early September. pedestrians. how crew workers keep cool on the DDI, access https:// Continuedfrom page 1. Travelers will notice the “It's really going to clean in hot weather to whether www.ok.gov/odot/What’s_ change - State overhead signs on the south up that interchange and be the lightpoles on the bridge New/I-40_and_SH-6_Di- Highway6/I-40 — is about and north ends of roadway really nice,” Almquist said. could sustain Oklahoma verging_Diamond_Inter- $12 million.” placed before entering the “It’s going to have some winds. change.html. He said ODOT should be DDI. These signs will give lighted oil derricks out there “This is going to be so Almquist said the con- able to allow traffic around directions, such as, if one and some elk [statues] that good for Elk City,” Almquist struction work on the bridge Sept. 1 on the Elk City DDI, is heading north, destina- the city of Elk City has said about the DDI. “I’m near the Elk City Conven- which is the first DDI in the tions to the east [Clinton}, helped us do as far as aes- excited. Will [Snipes] is ex- tion Center should be done state. After that point, there north [downtown Elk City] thetics.” cited. The leadership of Elk soon, in the next week. The will be some work done and west [Sayre]. The new ODOT will use form lin- City is excited.” Snipes is bridge work near the Elk around the road until nearly interchange will be safer, ers on the bridge work, the assistant division engi- City Police Department will the end of October. But the Almquist said. A sidewalk Almquist said. neer with Division 5 Con- take up to a year. Coins This situation, OBA main- branch in Elk City, said his seen a lot of effects. We still total value of coin in cir- tains, is creating a critical bank has not had any issues, have been able to order coins culation is $478 billion, Continued from page 1. issue because recirculated and First National Bank of and there’s been a limit on up from $47.4 billion as of Consumers then shopped coins represent more than Elk City President David that but those have recently April 2019, the OBA release online or, if in person, used 80% of the supply, with the Atkinson also said the coin loosened up.” stated. debit and credit cards to remaining amount being shortage hasn’t affected his She said there is still limit The Federal Reserve proj- avoid physical contact as- new coins produced by the bank or the local market. on what the bank can order, ects the gap between supply sociated with using cash, Mint. “And as far as we know, but it is a reasonable limit and demand to be between the OBA said. The coins that “There is adequate coin the other banks, their cus- and certainly something the in the economy; however, tomers are not being affect- bank can work with. 23 to 3.5 billion coins each they would have received in the slowed pace of circula- ed by this either,” he said, Rievley said she has seen month through the end of change were then not being tion means that a sufficient noting it was from what he an increase of customers 2020, according to the re- circulated back into the sys- tem. amount of coins is not read- heard from another bank bringing in change to cash lease. “Tn the beginning of 2020, ily available where needed,” and not every other bank in in, and that situation hap- The OBA said it conducts more than four billion coins Beverage said. “If you have town. pens during tough times. more than 70 educational were deposited - or recir- spare change, we encourage “What I have seen is we The bank accepts change programs and seminars each culated - each month,” said all Oklahomans to check have received direction from from customers but does year, which reach more Adrian Beverage, chief with their local bank to see the Fed [Federal Reserve] not accept change from non- than 5,000 bankers across lobbyist for the Oklahoma if they are accepting rolled that due to this coin short- customers. Bank of Western the state. OBA represents Bankers Association, in the coins, use exact amounts age, they limit the amount of Oklahoma will roll coins as approximately 200 banks release. “Those numbers when purchasing items, or coin that we can order,” said a service for its customers, across the state and serves as dropped to less than two bil- deposit them in grocery store Jolene Rievley, assistant vice said Lake Carpenter, senior the primary advocate for the lion beginning in April.” coin-cashing machines.” president of Bank of West- vice president of the bank. banking industry. It’s also As businesses are reopen- Representatives from ern Oklahoma. “Those lim- “We're just trying to keep ing, demand from merchants some banks in Elk City said its were in effect for a few things as business as usual as heavily involved in fraud to stock their coins at higher they have not struggled with weeks. And actually, this much as possible — it’s ever training and prevention as levels is rising, but large a lack of coins. week, starting yesterday, the changing,” Carpenter said. well as legal and compliance numbers of coins remain Jeff Waters, president of 20th, they did increase lim- As of April 2020, the U.S. services and communica- with consumers, OBA said. Great Plains Bank 3rd Street its a little bit. So we haven’t Treasury estimates that the tions for its member banks. Johnie Clayton Thomas L. V. Baker, Jr. Johnie Clayton Thomas, 92 L. V. Baker, Jr., 92, of Elk guished Service Award by the of Elk City, Oklahoma was City, Oklahoma was born to Oklahoma Heritage Associa born on April 22, 1928 in But- L. V. Baker and Hazell Siglin tion in 1977 and again in 2000, ler, Oklahoma. He was the Baker on July 20, 1928 in Elk and in 2016 they were honored son of Miles Arthur and Lil- City, Oklahoma. He passed by the Oklahoma Historical ly (Frazier) Thomas. Johnie away on July 20, 2020 at Elk- Society with induction into the left this earth and went to be wood Memory Care in Elk Oklahoma Historians Hall of with his Lord and Savior on City, Oklahoma with his loved Fame. Thursday, July 2, 2020 at the ones by his side. He served for ten years on Woodward Alliance Hospital He graduated from Elk City the Elk City Board of Educa- in Woodward, Oklahoma. High School and received a tion, including as President Johnie graduated Staf- B. S. and an M. D. from the promoting the bond election ford High School in May of wife, Darlene Faye Thomas; University of Oklahoma and that made it possible to build held Saturday, July 25, 2020 1949. He met the love of his three sons, Jason Thomas of served his surgical residency a Fine Arts building and was at 2:00 p.m. at the First United life, Darlene Faye Albrecht, Elk City, Oklahoma, Rodney at Parkland Hospital in Dal- also active in the Chamber of Methodist Church, Elk City, while he was driving the Staf- Thomas of Canadian, Okla- las. In college he was active Commerce. Oklahoma, Rev. Scott Rodg- ford school bus in Stafford, homa, and Garry Thomas and in campus life, including Beta He and Pat began raising ers will officiate. The family Oklahoma. She was a student his wife Stacy of Elk City, ‘Theta Pi fraternity and playing Texas Longhoms and devel- would like to extend the op- riding the bus. He married Oklahoma; daughter-in-law, clarinet in “The Pride of Okla- oped a great attachment to portunity to those that can- Darlene on July 3, 1949 in Carla Thomas of Elk City, homa.” their cattle and their ranches. not attend to view the service Wheeler, Texas. His brother, Oklahoma; twelve _grand- He began his career as a They began this journey in live on the Facebook page of James Thomas and his cousin, children, Steve Thomas and general practice physician 1971 with the purchase of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home. Robert Frazier stood as wit- wife Tina, Clayton Thomas, and surgeon in Elk City and five head from the Wichita Services have been entrusted nesses for the couple. LD. Thomas and wife Cher- over the years delivered well Mountains Wildlife Refuge, to the care of Richard and After getting married, Joh- rie, Tammy Yell and husband over 3000 babies. He served acquired their ranch in 1972, Tammy Dugger and the staff nie and Darlene moved sev- Mark, Chad Thomas, Jar- as Chief of Staff of the local established the Safari B brand of Martin-Dugger Funeral eral times while working at rod Thomas and wife Lea, hospital during construction of of Texas Longhorn cattle, Home in Elk City, Oklahoma. what he loved, which was Stephanie Edney and husband what is now Great Plains Re- and over the course of now L. V. is survived by his wife farming and ranching. They Gabe, Shawnda Herring and gional Medical Center. five decades have raised over Pat; their children Rand Baker first moved to the Lone Wolf, husband Andrew, Stacy Davis L. V. and Pat Kelley met in 3700 head. Additionally, they and his wife Jeannine, and Oklahoma area for a couple and husband Shawn, Steven Elk City where both were liv- raised several species of ex- Karen Baker Renfroe and her of years, then on to the Foss, Thomas and wife Michelle, ing and working, and married otic animals, including zebra, husband Bruce; and grandchil- Oklahoma area. In 1958 the Geoffrey Thomas and wife July 13, 1960. giraffe, rhea, impala, oryx and dren Brandon Baker and his couple moved to what is now Tisha, and Sarah Ball and As a memberof the Elk City blackbuck antelope, mouflon wife Liza, and their children called the Thomas home place husband Justin; twenty-seven United Methodist Church, he and aoudad sheep, and fallow Graham, Clark, and Matthew; southeast of Elk City, Okla- great grandchildren, and five served on many boards and and sika deer. Many became Brett Baker and his wife Ni- homa where they currently great-great grandchildren. sang in the choir for many dear pets, including Yoda, a cole, and their children Han- reside. He is preceded in death by years. bottle-fed giraffe, Tarzan the nah and Holden; Jack Renfroe Johnie was a member of the his parents, Miles Arthur and He was a charter member zebra, Jane, a sika deer, and and his wife Lauren; and Ally First Church of the Nazarene, Lilly Thomas; two brothers, of the Elk City Arts Council, Grandma, the lead aoudad. Renfroe and her fiancé Justin Clinton, Oklahoma where he Trace Thomas, and James serving as President twice and L. V’s contributions to Lindner. was baptized on October 2, Thomas; three sisters, Nora helped establish the Elk City the national Texas Longhom He is preceded in death by 2005. ‘Twyman, Dollie Newton, and Red Carpet Theatre, serving Breeders Association of Amer- his parents, Loren V, and Ha- Mamie Davis; and one son, as its first President and was ica, its members, and the Tex- Memorial services will be a founding member of the as Longhorn breed spanned zell Siglin Baker. held Saturday, July 25, 2020 Steven Thomas. Memorial contributions may Memorials can be made to Oklahoma Community The- several decades. He served as at 10:00 am at the Clinton national president, was a high- be made to the Elk City Mu- Nazarene Church, Clinton, First Church of the Nazarene ater Association. He was seum Complex, the Elk City Oklahoma. Rev. Mark Ers- in care of Martin-Dugger Fu- appointed by two governors to ly sought-after show judge, neral Home, P.O. Box 707, serve terms on the Oklahoma served as a mentor to numer- United Methodist Church or kine will officiate. Services Elk City, Oklahoma 73648. Arts and Humanities Council. ous youth and adults, and was the OU Foundation designated have been entrusted to the Online condolences can be a breeder and owner of numer- for Pride of Oklahoma March- care of Richard and Tammy He and his wife Pat helped ing Band in care of Martin- Dugger and the staff of Mar- sent to the family by using the create the museum complex ous champion cattle. tin-Dugger Funeral Home in online guest book at www. in Elk City, soliciting grants L. V. loved his family dear- Dugger Funeral Home, P.O. Elk City, Oklahoma. martin-duggerfuneralhome. and donations and collecting ly. His children, grandchil- Box 707, Elk City, Oklahoma Johnie is survived by his com. artifacts and exhibits. They dren, and great grandchildren 73648. were charter members of the brought him great joy and he Online condolences can be Western Oklahoma Historical loved to play with them, travel sent to the family by using Send obituaries to Society and were inducted into with them and be in the middle the online guest book at www. of whatever they were doing. martin-duggerfuneralhome. obits @ecdailynews.com its Hall of Fame in 1979. L. V. and Pat received the Distin- Memorial services will be com.