December 16, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901. Weekday Edition Elk City rodeo stock contractor rebounds Elk City man jailed make NFR on domestic assault By Shonda Little Up until this year, Rhett Beutler imagined that he had seen just and battery in the about everything there is to see within the rodeo business or heard of it in the very least. The stock contractor, of the legendary Beutler and Son fame, hails from solid stock rodeo stock himself with the presence of a minor iconic family producing some of the most successful bucking bulls and broncs in the rough-and-tumble industry's history. By Shonda Little ‘Through that, Beutler has had a front-row seat to countless gnarly injuries and breath-taking near misses. A 32-year-old Elk City man has been released from custody on a “{ felt pretty invincible,” the witty cowboy laughed. “But then I $2,500 bondafter being arrested last week on one count of domes- met October. I guess you'd say I've been having a 2020, especially ‘tic assault and battery in the presence ofa minor. since then.” At approximately 9:04 pm on December 5, an Elk City Police De- On October 6, the 43-year-old Beutler, his Pro Rodeo Hall of partment officer was advised for a call of service in reference to a Fame father Bennie and their cowboys were preparing to load cattle disturbance on the 200 block of Blackburn Boulevard. into a trailer when Beutler found himself on the business end of a ‘The call was from a third party caller who advised of a dispute certifiable ranching wreck. ‘between a male party and female party, the ECPD dispatcher in- “Dad was on his horse and I was on mine,” Beutler recounted. formed the officer. “We were having a hard time getting a few of these bigger calves on ‘Approximately four minutes later, the ECPD officer arrived at the the trailer. The plan was to do regular fall ranching chores — preg Blackburn residence. checking, weaning calves and working ‘em — that sort of thing. I ‘The officer noted that he observed the male party walking away could see this big bull was trying to get out of the trailer and see he from the front door of the residence. was probably gonna make the jump out. So jumped up on my horse At this point, a second ECPD officer had arrived on location and to get ready to rope him.” stop to talk, to the male party, later identified as Lance Corbett Ina split-second twist of events, the bull was pushing jumping Middleton. toward the stock trailer door when Beutler began to lift his lasso ‘Ihe reporting officer asked Middleton what had happened and rope over his head in case he needed to rope the bull. Instead, the Middleton answered that he and his wife had been arguing and that rope ended beneath his horse's tail, pulling it up and spooking the she was moving out, the probable cause affidavit states, equine. ‘The officerthen asked if the disagreement was only verbal or if “So the horse goes to bucking across the field and I stayed on for anyone hit anyone else. a good eight or ten hard bucks. Our pens are up on hard red rock Middleton reportedly answered, “No.” ground so that’s where I ended up bucked off. I hit the ground and Upon walking up to the home, the officer observed several bags knew I'd been rattled pretty good. I thought I might have broken my of clothing and baskets stacked near the front door of the residence shoulder or something like that,” he said. that the officer noted “appeared to have been packed and placed Beutler was stretched out flat on his back for a few seconds before there in haste.” Rhett, left and Jake Beutler . Submitted photo. ‘The residence’s front door was open, so the officer said that he See Beutler page 2. stepped inside to check on the female party. Inside the residence, he met with her. He stated that she was cry- ing and appeared “very upset.” Elk City plant nursery offers When he asked the woman what had happened, she reportedly said that she and Middleton were having an argument and that she had been packing belongings to move out with her children. “Lobserved a mark and redness on (omitted)’s forehead and asked Christmas trees for the full year (omitted) what happened to her head,” the officer wrote. ‘The woman reportedly said, “I don’t know. ‘The officer asked if anyone else was in the home and the woman revealed that two minor children were in the home. ‘The officer asked if he could see the childrento verify that they By Shonda Little ‘were okay. ‘Thechildren came out from the bedroom and appeared to be Tucked into a quaint greenhouse located at 2813 West 3rd Street, See Charges page 2. Aloha Gardens is situated by another iconic Elk City business, G’s Meeting of the SWOSU Garden. While the neighboring restaurant has served authentic Chi- nese food, Mexican dishes and chicken fried steak that is so good it shocks even the most discerning tastebuds, Aloha Gardens aims to provide an equally diverse list of products for plant aficionados. ‘This year, with Christmas right around the corner, Aloha owner Presidential Search Mechelle Berry providing a twist on the Yuletide mainstay — the Christmas tree. “Last year, I sold Christmas trees,” Berry recalled. “There is a risk Screening Committee to that and I didn’t end up selling enough to cover my costs. I de- cided after that I wouldn’t ever carry dead plants again, which is Delayed Until January basically what a fresh Christmas tree is. They have a shelf life and, if Due to the tremendous response of applications received on the they aren’t sold, then you are stuck with a dead tree. I decided this last two days of the application period that ended December 6, the year that I would encourage actually buyinga live tree that can stay ‘meeting of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Presiden- with you year-round.” tial Search Screening Committee will be delayed until January. Berry has offered the live trees before and saw success. 2020 is ‘The meeting was originally set for December 10 in Weatherford. taking that further. Jane McDermott, committee chair for the Regional University “Lam promoting the live trees,” Berry advised. “This come straight System of Oklahoma (RUSO), said regents want the screening com- from Oregon. I have pines, spruces, three shaped like an $ called ‘mittee to have ample opportunity to carefully consider every appli- the Blue Atlas and the Alberta pine. We have them in pots and you cation before providing their recommendations. A day/time for the can bring them in your home and decorate them. You want to find meeting will be announced later. a sunny spot in your house, but then you can take them outside ‘There are 71 applications for SWOSU president. Current Presi- and plant them. It becomes something you can enjoy not only at dent Randy Beutler announced his retirement effective June 30, that Christmas, but year round for many years. We have people who 2021. McCaffree said the regents are not reopening the application will decorate them this year inside their home and then for years Berry said. “Our customers come here because they are looking for period. to come outside. You get to have the ongoing memory of when you something different.” “We are pleased with the quantity and quality of the applications,” got it as you watch it grow. And, it is always a good thing to actually Berry originally opened Aloha Garden four years ago on 6th McDermott said. “We do thank the screening committee for their plant a tree rather than cut them down. These trees are the same Street. diligence on this assignment, and we look forward to getting their kind that you would buy if you were buying a dead tree to put in “T’ve loved plants for a long time. I guess you could say I kinda was recommendations in January and moving forward.” ‘There are 21 members of the SWOSU Presidential Search Screen- your house.” obsessed. Ireally started liking them while I was in college. It started. ing Committee as appointed by the RUSO Regents. The RUSO Re- ‘The trees come in options of 1.5-2 feet, 4 feet and 5 five, though out as a hobby, but it is probably what I should have gone to college gents will ultimately make the final hiring decision. Members of the they will continue to grow after they are planted. to do. My husband had rented the shop on 6th Street from Orville screening committee are: “These are easy trees to care for. They are pretty low maintenance Word. I realized there was enough room there for me to find a green- Regents and really just require water,” Berry added. house and finally pursue this professionally. I found a greenhouse Jane McDermott In keeping with her goal to provide specialty items not carried on Craig's List. It took about a week to put up and then I found plac- Connie Reilly elsewhere, Berry also has Christmas cactuses and Christmas succu- es to make an order. It just went from there,” remembered Berry. Lake Carpenter lents, Berry had a vision for her nursery. She wanted to cultivate an Amy Anne Ford “I am not carrying poinsettias because even Walmart has them,” See Trees page 2. See SWOSU page 2. «OLA Weather tomorrow 50/ Vol. 118, No. 101 75 cents, 12 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com