January 2, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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News/Obits January 2, 2021 Nursing that she needed something keeping up with them, work and master’s degree presented it- tion in education,” she said. “We more for herself and her babies. school. I had support from my self, she eagerly jumped and was Round often tell our youth that if they Partially inspired by an older sister Keri who literally moved even more excited for the teach- mess up and don’t finish high sister who was already a nurse, in with me to help care for the ing opportunity with WOSC. school that they will never be Continued from page 1. She credits her sisters, her Town she enrolled at Southwestern kids,” Barker-Walker remem- successful. I am proof that isn’t Oklahoma State University. The bered. parents, her children and her the case. Of course it is best to decide which of the two towns she liked best, but has a special path wasn’t easy, but she was Eventually, the balancing act husband with helping her on her follow the traditional route. But January 2 place for both in her heart. resourceful in utilizing work, paid off. Barker was a registered educational journey. if you don't, obtaining a GED, After all, graduating with performing well in college and Southwest Oklahoma Pig ‘Adult responsibilities forced funding and family to earn her nurse with a 3.8 GPA. Now she obtaining a gainful and reward- wants to encourage others to honors of cum laude and Theta Series Hog Show, Conven- her to get a GED in 1993, a year education. Tau both times, Barker-Walker ing career is definitely possible. after she became a mother for “[ was a single mom of three. consider this career. We see a lot of non-traditional tion Center South building. the first time to daughter Ali- I received full Pell grants and “{ didn't go into nursing for is grateful to bring her talents students these days and it is home to teach the next genera- sha. Audrey came in 1997 and worked work study at the col- the money, but I did realize it easier with online pre-reqs and her son arrived in 2000. lege. I budgeted. I worked seven would allow me to care for my tionSheof nurses.already believed with things like that for adult learn- January 12 “I worked retail in the Hous- days a week while in college un- family and get out of poverty. I need from homegrown nurses ers to do that now. It’s not easy, ton area for 10 years at Famous til I started nursing school and worked very hard.I love nursing. was great. The Covid pandemic but it is definitely doable.” Chamber of Commerce Footwear. I was a stay-at-home then I worked weekends. I drove Itis definitely a calling. It is all I has only amplified that, in her For more information on a Banquet, RSVP required. mom for a bit,” she recounted. to Weatherford and Oklahoma thought it would be and more,” opinion. She urges anyone in- career change to the medical But the same year she had her City daily during nursing school. she stated. terested in that career or even a field, contact SWOSU at Sayre or third and final child, she moved Thad kids that were in school Barker-Walker said that, career change to explore it. Weatherford, WOSC or vo-tech back to tiny Sayre. She decided and it was quite a challenge when the opportunity to get her “There is a huge misconcep- facilities. Due to the COVID-19 Stylist pandemic, many events had already had my book work Plains Regional Medical Center imenting. I wouldn't have gone they will maintain the love for done before I came in, so I got gala and proms. that route, but again, I was work- the art long term. have been cancelled, post- to observe clients under him “There’s not much that is ing with someone who had done “There is no wrong way or and eventually saw client” she more fun,” she grinned. them for years and that is what right way to be a stylist,” Mar- poned or modified. Please remembered. Since then, Marshall has she recommended. I watched her shall said. “You want to study “Lapprenticed through Bill In 2014, she took her exams added lashes to her array. dlosely and would spend hours social media trends, but that check with the event coor- Helton after a surgery forced me and was certified. “There are a lot of formal nightly watching video after doesn’t matter if it isn’t what to miss, It takes twice as many Marshall then added makeup ‘ways to go about that educa- video learning more,” she said. makes your clients feel good. dinatorto make sure of any hours going this route, but I to her services. She is veteran of tion, but I really mastered mine She advises anyone consider- Ultimately, what will make you changes. think [learned twice as much. I pageants, Mardi Gras, the Great through YouTube and self-exper- ing the profession to consider if stick with it is loving it” work. Rapper stage at the House of Blue, but Ofcourse, Filyaw dreams of home or missing their wife. You and, weirdly, that is how music actually winning the competi- turning his musician pastime “love the oilfield because its are doing all you can for them is. You are building it and hoping tion. It was a great day,” said a fraternity of brotherhood,” he when the job is there and, when Filyaw. into a profession. But, should said. “Everyone there is strug- it is not, then you find work for someone else likes it. Then you ‘The music industry is tough, that never come to pass, he is gling because they are missing yourself in construction. Either see they do andit only makes Continued from page 1. though. As exciting as the win also right at home in his current akid’s birthday or missing their one is working with your hands you give more of yourself to it.” Filyaw was equally inspired was, their big break did not by the rap scene surrounding come. search, the officer reportedly the officer wrote. Stolen Filyaw went into the only gave the officer permission to him in the East Tennessee area. work he knew — the work he search the vehicle. found two pairs of pliers, pipe ‘The vehicle was drive to the “Well, Eminem was my inspi- had watched his father and most While searching, the officer cutters, a small pry bar, a flat- ECPD for further inventory due ration,” Filyaw said. “He let all us men around him toil. Continued from page 1. reportedly founda syringe in the head screwdriver, a butane torch, to the suspected stolen items. from the trailer park know that “The oilfield then took me to middle console. a full face ski mask, a pair of ‘The officers also founda our music could be heard and be Pennsylvania and West Virginia,” Due to these factors, the He also located a semi-auto- white cotton gloves and a black checkbook. The owner of the chart breakers.” officer believed it was “extremely matic pistol, a digital scale, three bandana. checkbook came to the ECPD Tobe clear, Filyaw’s music he said. “West Virginia was really more syringes and multiple clear “From my training and expe- and identified it, his agricultural probable” the tools were stolen. cannot be compared to Emi- wild because they had coal and ‘The passenger reportedly baggies, the report stated. rience, these tools are commonly tax exempt card and other al- nem’s, though, and not because the oilfield in these same little ‘While continuing the vehide used as implements of burglary,” leged stolen items. town. You got to see every kind of his icon’s success. of hurt? he explained. While Filyaw’s tunes hit hard But eventually he found the Feds say gap in unemployment benefits unlikely on the lyrics with a strong beat call to return to Elk City. like his hero’s, he also leans into “Thad to put the musicon the country styling of his grand- hold. I wanted to come home and parent's youth. Ineeded to make a living. And, ‘The result cannot be assigned for all the places I have lived, Elk Dale Denwalt, The Oklahoman the number of eligible weeks to renewed programs are essen- for people who wouldn't other- to any genre. City is home. 10 rather than 11. tially identical to the ones that wise qualify for unemployment His freestyle rap took root ‘This is where my kids are and Because President Donald On Tuesday, however, a US. expired Dec. 26, so there won't because they are self-employed by 1996. where alot of people I love are. I Trump let two unemployment Department of Labor spokesper- be many changes, if any, to how ora gig worker. may leave for work, but this will programs expire before reautho- son told The Oklahoman that it OESC processes these benefits. “We would listen to rap mu- always be where my heart is,” he rizing them, there were ques- doesn't anticipate that eligible ‘The DOL spokesperson ‘The programs were created sic and rap over the top of them,” said. tions about whether claimants claimants will miss a week of added that new programs like this year in response to the he recounted. “I was spending Filyaw has been back in would lose a week of eligibility. benefits because of when the bill Mixed Earner Unemployment coronavirus pandemic's effect on part of my time at Mom's in Elk City for several years. He ‘The bill he signed, the 2021 was signed. Compensation will require more the nation's economy. In May, town surrounded by hip hop and remembers being approached Consolidated Appropriations ‘There could be, however, a time for states to implement. nearly 25 million people filed then the other half at my grand- by industry insiders like Marcus Act, extends Pandemic Unem- delay in receiving those funds. MEUC provides an extra $100 unemployment claims across parents’ house about 40 miles Goforth after the Nashville Art- ployment Assistance (PUA) and When will the money be per week for a niche group of the country. away listening to outlaw country. ist Showcase. Pandemic Emergency Unem- available? unemployed workers: Those who We did everything from hunting Recently he has been fea- ployment Compensation (PEUC) DOL plans to issue five earned at least $5,000 a year in Oklahoma's high-water and four wheeling to farming tured on alocally based podcast, for 11 weeks through March 14. pieces of guidance to states as self-employment income but are mark came in June, when OESC and raising Angus cattle. I loved Our Own Truth, with Dave Will I lose a week of unem- they restart these programs. disqualified from receiving the approved benefits for more than getting up early to help them. Wright and Jason Hughes. He is ployment payments? Uniil then, PUA and PEUC pay- PUA benefit because they are eli- 182,000 jobless claimants. You hear all that in my music. I Probably not. ments cannot be issued. gible for other state jobless aid. Renewing both PUA and scheduled to be on another Elk Some experts have ques- ‘The Oklahoma Employment What is PUA and PEUC? want every smile I ever smile and City based podcast, The Truth tioned whether the gap between Security Commission said it PEUC is available for people PEUC extended a lifeline to an every tear I ever cried reflected Teller by Matt Randolph. PUA and PEUC expiring, and expects to hear from DOL in the who have exhausted their 26 estimated 35,000 Oklahomans in my work.” His work can be found on when Trump signed the bill re- coming days. weeks of traditional unemploy- who remained on the program At first, Filyaw felt he was several streaming platforms, authorizing them, would reduce On the bright side, the ment benefits. PUA was created last week. just “fooling around” with including iTunes and Spotify. friends, not believing that their Apart from writing his own music could be taken seriously. lyrics, he also plays the guitar. State opts out of the Coronavirus But, he pressed forward and “And don’t forget that I can formed a band. The group be- do the cowbell,” he joked. came more serious in their art. Filyaw is currently working Task Force report ‘The highlight was being to finish a new album. The songs requested to perform in an upon it are the most personal he invitational contest at the famed has been willing to share. House of Blue in Nashville. “Pm giving my heart and Looking back, he laughs that soul to this one,” he said. “I guess he and his band mates must have that’s what happens when you Reese Gorman, The Norman said in a statement to The Tran- helpful,” said Dr. Jean Hausheer, some more information about looked like overeager country go through a breakup and your Transcript script. "The US. Department leader of the Healthier Okla- who knows what and where they kids. Squaring off against well heart is broken. You don't know of Health and Human Services homa Coalition COVID-19 Task are, especially at the federal level over one hundred competitors, which way to go from there. I Oklahoma is no longer recently began publishing daily Force. “We don't like to putall of where most of the funds origi- his crew whittled down the com- thinka lot of people can relate to requesting the weekly White national COVID-19 information our eggs in one basket and just nate to help states get through petition to win the top prize. that on some level. And if I get House Coronavirus Task Force on HealthData.gov which will look at one thing, but look at this," he said. "We need to know “Our band was called Whis- no where with it, it is therapy Report, despite being ranked give Oklahomans a more real- multiple methodologies.” they know. We need them to be key Road and we couldn't believe to put out there — almost like number one in test positivity time look at the data.” Hausheer said the White parroting back to us that they these country kids from eastern emotional cutting. It feels good and setting a state record for Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt House's methodology is obvi- understand what's going on Tennessee were not only on the to put your heart out there.” COVID hospitalizations on has been at odds with the re- ously different but that doesn't in Oklahoma and what our num- Monday. ports in the past. mean it's bad. "It's actually quite bers are so we can be assured As previously reported, the interesting, andI personally like "ElkCituNews Past reports have been to get the resources we need to report will no longer be sent out critical of Oklahoma's lack of to look at all of it.” address this pandemic." to each state every week; rather, COVID-19 restrictions and Dr. George Monks, president Oklahoma state Rep. Forrest each state now has to request precautions and have advocated of the Oklahoma State Medi- Bennett, D-OKC, said he can't the report individually. As first for Oklahoma to implement cal Association, said he loves to find a reason why officials would reported by Chris Polansky of a statewide mask mandate, look at the data, and that every not want to receive this report. (USPS # 173-020) KWGS, Oklahoma will no longer which Stitt has refused to do on bit of information the medical "Ifyou are in the middle of a 580-225-3000 be requesting the report. multiple occasions. In the most community receives is helpful. ctisis, you should avail yourself "As ofright now, they are recent report the state released "Iwould like to see it contin- of as much information as pos- Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC not planning to request them on Dec. 9, the task force noted ue to be made public," he said. sible,” Bennett said. "And I have 109 W. Broadway, El Ik City, OK 73644-4736 going forward,” Hayden Benge that “unlike other states in the Dr. David Kendrick, CEO of yet to heara good excuse as to Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 of Saxum Communications told Heartland, cases and new hos- MyHealth Access and profes- why we're not, taking everything Polansky. pital admissions (in Oklahoma) sor of medical informatics at that's on the table. It's frustrat- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 While the state is not are not plateauing.” the OU College of Community ing and I do wonder what we're requesting the White House Stitt's office did not immedi- Medicine, said having access missing out on." SUBSCRIPTIONS Josh Umholtz report anymore, the State ately respond to The Transcript's to the data is important fora Bennett said he believes the Deliverd by mail: Publisher Department of Health did point request for comment Tuesday. number of reasons. It provides public should be presented this $75iyearly Amy Loynd out that much of the informa- In response, some Oklahoma more information on which to report and that the government Business Manager tion used to create that reportis medical professionals expressed base their thinking, even if the should not opt out ofreceiving $50/six months now publicly available. that having more information information provided by the it, No refunds on subscriptions. Neva Pyatt “The most recent report we available could better help the White House and state health “You know, with all due Advertising Director have received from the White state navigate the pandemic. officials differs. respect to the governor's office, editor @ecdailynews.com D’Ann Brasuell House Coronavirus Task Force "We always look at all the “Admittedly sometimes it there's been an effort through- sports @ecdailynews.com Production Manager is posted on the OSDH website," data we can, and I think the creates some confusion when out this to sort of minimize the [email protected] Maressa Margerum Jackie Shawnee, chief of com- more information you have the numbers don't match exactly bad news," he said. "So, I'm re- classifieds @ecdailynews.com Customer Service Rep munications for the Oklahoma when you're studying a virus, a what we see from the state, but ally eager for an explanation as State Department of Health, novel virus, such as this, it's very that in and of itself gives us much as [everybody else]."