February 3, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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N a y Serving Sm, Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekday Edition Western Technology Vo-Tech board Ponca City man arrested member scheduled to give Ben Franklin in Elk City for domestic abuse in the presence of presentation at Carnegie Library By Shonda Little ances, faults and strengths. They had a child and interrupting “Join us for an afternoon with Ben- successes and failures. They had heart- ache and, just like those of us living, they of an emergency call jamin Franklin brought to life by Don didn’t know just how something would By Shonda Little Greteman,” the poster created by the Elk work out. I have always found Franklin City Carnegie Library proclaimed. to be one of our most intriguing Found- ‘A 60-year-old Ponca City ‘The event will take place at 4 p.m. on ing Fathers. Sometimes for us, we know man has been released from February 16 at the City Hall Commis- when we start learning the story how it the Beckham County Deten- sion Meeting Room, located west of the ends up. The American patriots won the tion Center after being charged library. Revolutionary War and created a repub- with assault and battery in the Additionally, the performance will be lic unlike anything the world had seen presence of a child and inter- broadcast on the Facebook page for the before or since. But for Franklin and his rupting a emergency call. Elk City Carnegie Library. Masks will be counterparts, they were going forward ‘At approximately 2:31 a.m. required for those who choose to attend. blind. They had no way of knowing if it on January 24, Elk City Police in person. Masks will also be available would work or what that would look like. Department officers were dis- for those who do not have them. It was an evolving story then just as it is patched to the 100 block of Greteman is a familiar face for those now,” Greteman explained. Roy Bennet South Pioneer Avenue in re- in educational circles in western Oklaho- After graduating from Burns Flat High gards to a disturbance, ma. A Burns Flat native, he grew up on School, Greteman went on to earn a col- ‘The ECPD dispatchers informed the responding officers that a farm outside of the tiny town in 1963. lege degree in 1967. With the Vietnam two juveniles were knocking on trailers in the area, stating their In those days, the military base was still ‘War raging halfway around the world, mother was hurt and in need ofhelp. operational. Greteman knew he would be entering Upon arrival to the scene, two ECPD officers began searching “Going to school with kids who were the military either through the draft or the area. from everywhere and had lived every- enlisting. He chose to join the United ‘The reporting officer wrote that he heardawoman's voice ask- where sparked my imagination from a State Navy and began his global adven- ing for help. The officer stated that he followed the sound of her young age. I loved American and Eng- tures, voice and located an open door to a trailer with a woman lying lish literature and the performing arts. By the time his military service was on the floor of the trailer. ‘Those fascinations came together to re- completed, Greteman had married his ‘The second officer located the children who were reported to ally make me appreciate how history can college sweetheart Barbara. The young bbe the juveniles who had been asking others for help. come to life and I think that is importantcouple spent a few of their carefree days The children were taken into custody by the second officer and for both kids and adults to help under- living in Florida before returning to his secured in his patrol car while the second officer continued his stand that these important people who hometown to begin both oftheir lengthy investigation. helped shape their contemporary times careers in education. When the reporting officer located the alleged victim on the and our present reality aren’t just names ‘Though Greteman now jokes that he floor of the trailer, she was also noted to be bleeding from her in a dusty old history book. They were himself flunked English during his fresh- face. Don Greteman. real, living people who had all our same men year of high school, the couple’s ‘The officer had dispatchers send an EMS to the location for human problems. They had petty annoy- See Franklin page 2. evaluationofthe alleged victims injuries. ‘The woman explained that she and her boyfriend, identified as Roy Edward Bennett, had been drinking earlier in the evening Meet the City: at a local bar. While walking back to their campsite, the woman reported- ly stated that she had fallen and drug Bennett down with her, causing both minor injuries. Upon arriving at the camper, the alleged victim said she sat The Elk City News is featuring a til his death.” outside on the picnic bench where she fell off the picnic table different city employee to introduce Although the water treatment and said that Bennett told her to go inside the trailer. citizens and visitors to the people plant services Elk City, it is ac ‘The woman reportedly recounted that Bennett shoved her in and departments that make the tually located closer to the Sayre the trailer while she was trying to enter. City of Elk City work area. ‘The officer wrote that this caused the woman to fall on the “T graduated from Sayre High floor of the trailer. By Shonda Little School in May of 1995, but I ‘The two adults reportedly continued to argue while the two had actually already become minor children were inside. ‘The City of Elk City’s Water employed with the City of Elk During the course of the argument, the alleged victim pushed Treatment Supervisor Johnny City since that previous March. Bennett to the bed, telling him to go to sleep, the affidavit stated. Brown light-heartedly quips My dad had come to me and ‘The alleged victim said that Bennett then became enraged and that the water treatment plant asked me if this is what I wanted hopped up, approaching her. is all he has ever known. to do for work. I really gave it ‘The woman said she became afraid that Bennett was going to Though he is playful in the some thought because I knew, attack her and reached for a knife located in the kitchen, using it answer, Brown is serious about watching him, what a big com- asa defense weapon, the officer added. both his commitment to the wa- mitment it would be. This is a ‘The alleged victim stated that one of the children woke up and ter treatment plant and City of 24/7 job. It doesn’t matter what was watching the fight and yelling for Bennett to stop. Elk City asa whole. you have going on. When that ‘The officer noted that it is unclear how the woman became Now the third generation in phone rings, you have to stop unarmed. his family to hold his position, and go take care of whatever See Domestic page 3. the 45-year-old has virtually problem has come up. I knew it spent his whole life on the job was a commitment, but then as site. Heck, even when he closes his eyes at night, the plant is not I gave thought to what I would do otherwise, nothing else felt Career and Technical Education Appreciation Month far. like something I would want to “I have moved four times do forever. This did. This place During a year of pandemic pandemic as it continued its focus on filling skills gaps for both em- in my life and three of those isn’t just my job. It is my home. changes, the Oklahoma De- ployees and employers in the state. houses have been within a quar- partment of Career and Tech- ODCTE worked with partners to launch several new educational WIC ‘The city even owns the water ter of a mile from here,” Brown rights underneath the land I nology Education kept its fo- initiatives in 2020, including a new energy career cluster to promote laughed. live on. There are wells on my cus on helping Oklahomans the benefits of pursuing careers in energy; online meat processing However, living in close prox- place. I knew even ifI had a day succeed while adding new courses to fill a workforce shortage in the meat processing industry; imity to the plant is just the tip where I was dog tired working, programs in response to new and a mobile meat processing laboratory. of the iceberg. His grandfather it wouldn't be work. This really needs. ODCTE worked with the University of Oklahoma College of Nurs- Grady B. Brown served at the is all I have ever known,” Brown Educating People for Success The Oklahoma CareerTech ing to revamp a nurse refresher course to get nurses back in the field same position and put in 32 said. System is celebrating Ca- faster. In addition, technology center nursing students across the years. His father Grady Edward ‘As Brown explained that the reerTech Education Month in February. Gov. Kevin Stitt recently state assisted with COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics. Brown followed in his father’s issueda proclamation declaring this month as Career and Technical water treatment plant is all he ‘The CareerTech Testing Center worked with the Oklahoma Vet- footsteps and put in 43 years has ever known, he really isn’t Education Appreciation Month in Oklahoma. erinary Medical Association to offer certification exams for veteri- and one day in the position. exaggerating. His father start- “Oldahoma CareerTech continues to deliver high quality educa- nary assistants and with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to use the “('m sure glad they decided ed taking him to the plant be- tion despite the pandemic. We remain laser-focused on the multi- Oklahoma Peace Officer Screening and Selection Exam developed by not to name me Grady,” Brown fore he was old enough to be in ple career paths for students and meeting the workforce needs of CTTC for OHP Academy applicants. grinned, “My dad and my grand- school. His earliest and fondest businesses and industries in the state,” said ODCTE State Director Oklahoma CareerTech also launched VirtualJobShadow.com to pa got to work just a little bit of | memories are there. Marcie Mack. “The work of Oklahoma CareerTech across the state _ introduce more state students -- more than 16,000 in 20 PK-12 and time together. Then my dad and “Back in the 80s when Bois_} provides meaningful results for Oklahoma's economy.” technology center districts - to nontraditional careers. The platform Iwere able to work together un- See Brown page 2. | Oklahoma CareerTech expanded its programs in response to the See Apreciation page 3. tl AUN UN Weather / y)8 Vol. 119, No. 10 Mail delivery View online Geen e e samme SF tomorrow 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com