August 1, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, August 1, 2020 Tourney Carpenter from the chamber, Chamber of Commerce, or is why this tournament was over the years are Leon Stu- constantly monitor feedback Smoot. Local car dealerships designed to show apprecia- art, Bob Maine, Charlie Joy to make sure the tournament Barber/Dyson and Doug tion for the companies that and J.W. Armstrong along Continuedfrom page 1. maintains the reputation that Gray as well as GAS, Pega- have been steadfast, sup- with many other members of and took over as Commit- has been built since origina- sus, Hutton, Inc. and Hutch’s porting Elk City. The indus- the chamber and community. tee Chair from Mel Lantz in 2010.” tion, the release stated. have already claimed their try doesn’t just effect the oil “Smoot, the Chamber of “Anyone who wants to spot as a hole in one sponsor. and gas companies, but it ef- Since the time of manual Commerce, the Elk City scorekeeping, Smoot has participate by sponsoring a “Although some of the oil fects everyone.” Golf and Country Club and seen the tournament become hole or being a vendor on companies have left the area, The tournament began the tournament committee completely computerized the course can help,” Smoot some are still sending teams when Gene Grubitz real- work hard each year to put and improving each year. said. “Call the chamber or to be a part of the tourna- ized what a huge impact the on an event that keeps teams She said that the committee, find us on Facebook. The ment,” Smoot said. “No industry was having on the deadline has passed, but we one wants to lose their spot. community, thus forming an competing for an invitation who consists of Rob Mun- are open until all of the spots The Elk City Daily News appreciation week. The golf to the Elk City Chamber of crief, Ricky Nagle, Aaron Kauk, Justin Robinson, Jor- are filled.” reported that in 1971 Okla- tournament was one part of Commerce Oil and Gas In- dan Williamson, David Dy- Anyone interested can homa Governor David Hall the appreciation week. dustry Appreciation Golf son and Quint Nichols along contact Susie Cupp, execu- declared Elk City the gas Other people who have Tournament,” the release with Susie Cupp and Sharon tive director of the Elk City capital of the world, which contributed to the success stated, Civic grew when he met his wife mittee would put on highfa- Betty, a Foss native. She then worked for Dr. Feath- Jutin fashion shows. The oil industry would put out food first came to be - to show the oil and gas industry com- ing into our town from other ECHS Continued from page 1. Continued from page 1. erstone, Dr. Sugarman and booths. This tournament and places they were welcomed Inflation, naturally, leaves Students simply choosing Dr. Lebron. The couple has the committee has done ev- and appreciated.” their classes in the spring the notion of a brand new three children. erything to make it better Like the industry it hon- does not complete their en- vehicle at that price as nos- “Elk City was already and change with the times, ors, the tournament has seen rollment, the release stated. talgic as the 5 cent cup of my home, but she made it but it was fun to watch back “You must be here on your its ups and downs. coffee. However, Maine my real home,” Maine re- then.” “Tt was hard to hold to- specified day,” the release thinks there’s an essential counted. “There was this Maine is reluctant to take stated, adding students need need for local businesses to smart, beautiful girl and credit for the tournament’s gether for some of those to bring their driver's license join the Chamber of Com- she loved Elk City as much success, both past and pres- years in the 80s,” Maine and car tag numbers for merce or other civic groups as I did. She seemed to like ent. Instead, he praises other said. “It was sad times for parking permits. as a timeless benefit. me alright, too. Marrying a club and committee mem- the gas guys, and the com- “These youngsters aren’t as involved in those things as We were as young men,” younger woman keeps you young.” Although not a golfer bers. “Wayne Woodman and Ralph Albert were guys who mittee adapted, but the goal has been the same. We want to show the oil and gas in- wocs Continued from page 1. he said. “It is important be- when he first helped with the did so much,” he explained. dustry how much we appre- WOCSis still accepting cause you can come together legendary tournament, he “Rocky Andresen is another ciate them and are rooting applications for enrollment to make great events that do recognized the sport’s ben- guys who has done a lot of for the fall semester. Miller for them.” great things for your com- efit. He sold his dealership work.” can be reached at 580-323- Through Maine’s business munity. That’s how the Elk to David Dyson and Bruce Maine was around Elk 9150 or principal@wocs. success, he thinks the Elk City Oil and Gas Apprecia- Barber in 1996. City before the oilfield was org. tion Tournament got started. City Chamber of Commerce Western Oklahoma Chris- “After I retired, I really a major economic driver. It has changed through the started golfing. It is a great He thinks the tournament was vital. He hopes the 50th tian School was founded in years from its start, but the game if you want to get pa- helped bridge the gap early tournament will remind 1987. The Weatherford cam- longevity and the benefits tient while getting mad at into the industry’s Beckham younger business people that pus was added in 2007 and show why it is important.” yourself,” he joked. County’s development when the chamber is their secret the Elk City campus started Maine was not an avid As Maine reflects on the longtime residents were both weapon. in 2011. The school pro- golfer when he pitched in on tournament’s decades of excited for economic growth vides Bible-based academic “When I was a young- the tournament’s first year. instruction for WOCS stu- success, he also notes that it and apprehensive of an in- ster, you just wouldn’t be in As a chamber member, he has evolved from its origin. dustry they didn’t under- dents beginning with pre- business and not be in the kindergarten and continu- still understood the tourna- “When we started out, I stand. chamber,” he said. “I was ing through sixth grade. ment’s success would reap think it was known nation- “Many of us were very ex- president a few years and I The school offers computer, benefits for the community wide because the only peo- cited to have the oilfield here can tell you that it made my art, music, physical educa- at large. ple who could play were in when it first started,” Maine tion and Bible in addition business stronger and this “T was a marshal for the oil and gas,” he said. “They said. “Back then, some of the to the standard curriculum. town stronger. Get involved. first 24 or 25 years. That just would bring their wives or old-timers didn’t know what WOCS is accredited through means you move the slower girlfriends. These guys were to think of all these changes. Create new events and make the Association of Chris- golfers along to keep the coming from all over the A lot changed quickly, but these kind of events better tian Schools International tournament flowing,” he ex- country. The hotels would just as quickly they saw how and stronger. Getting to 50 (ACSI) and the Oklahoma plained. benefit and so would the good it was for the town. years is awesome, so let’s State Department of Educa- His devotion to Elk City shops. The women’s com- That is why this tournament take it to 100.” tion. Unemployment “Claims are now and al- after the office opened and waiting on hold for several ways have been scanned for waited nearly six hours to hours or spending a long day fraudulent pattern recogni- discover her claim had been in a workforce center line. tion,” said Shelley Zumwalt, flagged for fraud and the Continued from page 1. ployment Security Commis- “IT know that it is, you the employment commis- office needed to verify her thousands of dollars in de- sion employees labeled him know, super annoying for layed or missing unemploy- as being in the Navy. sion’s interim director. “It’s identity. a common deterrent ... here “T got to the point where people that it happens to, ment benefits. Former U.S. Army ser- Even after explaining his in this state, but also nation- I was ... eating ramen ev- and it’s definitely not ideal geant Ashton Fowler had situation on the phone with ally.” ery day, because I literally given everything they’ve his last day in the Army on a call agent and being re- Around the end of May, cannot afford to go get gro- been through, but ... if we March 12 then filed for un- assured the problem was benefits froze for Shawna- ceries, because I put gas in see activity that looks like a employment on March 13. straightforward to fix, Fowl- sea Renae, a server working my car,” she said. “I was so in Norman. She spent two stressed out.” fraudulent act, we do have to He waited a month and a er still had thousands of dol- weeks calling and eventually Although Zumwalt said a flag on our end just to make half before his first payment Jars derailed by a typo. arrived. “Today when I got here, decided to visit the employ- relatively small portion of sure that it is a legitimate “Tt was supposed to be a it was like 7:15 a.m. maybe, ment commission in person the 89,000 claims identified claim.” quick process,” Fowler said. and the line was already at the Will Rogers Building as potentially fraudulent are While many claim issues “But then when the corona- around the corner,” Fowler in Oklahoma City. wrongly flagged, she ac- can be solved by simple virus happened, everybody said, describing his fourth “It’s just super stressful knowledges the frustration when I’m not working for felt by those affected. overrides or data entry by a flooded in ... literally the trip to the Workforce Center same week.” in Chickasha, Oklahoma. reasons that I cannot control, “We're obviously going to claim agent, getting access After approximately a While the issue with and the people that say, ‘Hey, err on the side of being over- to that help is the bulk of the month, Fowler’s benefits Fowler’s claim is unique, his we're here to help,’ are liter- protective as opposed to un- battle for claimants. stopped coming due to an frustration is not. ally nonexistent to help, un- der,” Zumwalt said. Gaylord News is a report- error on his claimant pro- Many claimants run into less you sit in their office,” Claim issues are generally ing project of the University file. Although he provided trouble when their claim is Renae said. “I’m frustrated not addressed until a claim- that it took so long with so of Oklahoma Gaylord Col- information displaying his locked after being wrongly ant can speak to a claim employment with the Army, flagged for potentially fraud- little contact with them.” agent on the phone or in per- lege of Journalism and Mass Fowler said Oklahoma Em- ulent behavior. Renae arrived 10 minutes son. Doing so often requires Communication. Meal on Wheels Aug 4 - Baked chicken, veggies, salad, garlic bread texas toast and strawberry er, macaronie salad, biscuit 1510 W. 9th, 580-225- potatoes and gravy, green and chocolate chip cookies. shortcake. and dessert. 5821. beans, beets, biscuit and Aug 7 - Beef tips and Aug 11 - Baked pork Aug 13 - Pizza, salad and Aug 3 - Steak fingers, chocolate pudding. noodles, squash, cole slaw, chop, home fries, broc- peanut butter bars. gravy, potatoes and gravy, Aug 5 - Ham steak, sweet biscuit and fresh fruit. coli and cheese, corn salad, Aug 14 - Georgia chick- winter blend veggies, pea potatoes, green peas, tossed Aug 10 - Chicken tenders/ wheat roll and lemmon bars. en, creamy potatoes, peas salad, texas toast and spice salad, rolls and desert. gravy, creamy potatoes, ca- Aug 12 - Meat loaf, and carrots, cole slaw, bis- cake. Aug 6 - Lasagna, capri pri veggies, jell-o-salad, cheesy potatoes, cauliflow- cuit and cantaloupe.