March 10, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 10

Page Text

Weekday Edition guard for fallen service members. He saw things he hopes to forget and things he loves to remember On that particular day, the body of a young staff sergeant was — the ongoing conflict that soldiers face. being escorted into Elk City by a veteran's motorcycle group. The McDaniel was first honorably discharged in 1970, but he still community had rallied to bring in the bereaved family with honor. wanted to make a military career. In 1972, he enlisted in the Okla- McDaniel felt especially close to this story as a retired staff ser- homa National Guard. For 20 years, he served when tornados or geant. Like the deceased veteran, he had also seen combat. floods hit. Still, nothing was like combat, but he was willing to be In his finest dress blues, McDaniel stoically held a large Ameri- reactivated to full service. can flag as the procession drove by. He retired in 1992. He also put in 25 years with UPS. McDaniel has done this duty hundreds of times, but still treats Upon his military retirement, he became active in the honor each with meticulous care due to their individual sacrifices made. guard — standing for deceased service members to get their proper “I just want to honor my brothers and sisters in the service,” he acknowledgment. said. Today, he says military service is one of the things he is most ‘Approximately a year ago, McDaniel and his daughter Mandy proud of. watched a news feature about a veteran’s motorcycle club that “It is an honor. It was an honor to serve. I didn’t realize I was do- travels the state to install flagpoles to veterans. ing it the first time I did. I was in Vietnam, and my uncle got killed “My daughter looked them up and applied for me,” McDaniel there. His name was D.O. Cannady, and I was asked to escort his said. “But then we didn’t hear anything, so I thought that I hadn't body home. Now every time I think of my Uncle Okie. He was my been selected. I honestly forgot about it. Then a week or so ago, mother’s brother, and I was a young man. I didn’t fully understand they called me up and said that they would be coming this way.” it, but was honored,” he said. On Sunday afternoon, the group first traveled to Calumet to erect their first pole before coming to McDaniel’s home. “{ feel very honored. They are doing a whole ceremony. There will be about fifteen of them or so. I didn’t do anything that other Commissioners hold veterans didn’t do,” he said beforehand. In addition to providing the pole and necessary labor, the group also gifted McDaniel his first flag. quick first meeting ‘The ceremony went off without a hitch. McDaniel was happy to have the community come to his home on the 600 block of S. of the month Howard. By Shonda Little “They explained things like what each stripe means and each fold,” McDaniel advised. Starbucks location Last summer amid blazing heat, 71-year-old Johnny McDaniel probable near Walmart “I graduated in 1968 from Sayre High School and then enlisted,” was the first to arrive at Elk City’s Rotary Park. After serving over he recalled. “It was the only thing I wanted to do.” twenty years in the military, McDaniel now volunteers for numer- McDaniel quickly found himself in the heat of the Vietnam War, ous services to veterans and their families, including in the honor putting boots on the ground from 1969-1970 in South Vietnam. By Shonda Little Based upon social media comments following last week's Ell Elk City to officially hire new school superintendent City Commissioners meeting, local sentiment seems varied about the possibility that a Starbucks could soon go in near the By Shonda Little years at Anadarko. His wife has been a special education teacher, ‘Walmart shopping area. and there is always a need for that as well, however she has experi- While some residents articulated concern for existing, local- ly-owned coffee shops and restaurants, others were excited to Brandon Storm, president of the Elk City School Board, has re- ence teaching in traditional classrooms up to the second grade. We ported that the board has successfully hired a new school super- think we will also be able to utilize her. I know Mrs. Buckmaster has access the famed global conglomerate. intendent following the retirement of current superintendent Rick her eye on her,” Storm said. “The city manager's notes made up the bulk of the approxi- Garrison. Because Sparks played college baseball at Southwestern Okla- mately 20-minute meeting. The small agenda list otherwise “We won't make the official vote until tonight at the school board homa State University, Storm explained that he is already well-ac- ‘was comprised of run-of-the-mill items. ‘The commissioners met at city hall on Monday, March 1 at 7 meeting, but the board has offered the position to Mr. Mike Sparks, quainted with other Elk Citians. and Mr. Sparks has agreed to accept the position. Tonight is an es- “He is about the age of Brian Hunt, and they already know each pm for their regularly scheduled meeting. sential formality, but for all intents and purposes, Mr. Sparks is our other. We think they will work well together. We saw 19 applicants. ‘The meeting started with a prayer from Commissioner Rick new superintendent,” Storm said. We had a 20th candidate come in later, but that person was a little Shelton, followed by the flag salute. Following a long family tradition of public service, Storm has too late to be considered. We know that Mr. Sparks only applied Commissioners approved minutes from the previous been on the school board for eleven years. During his tenure, he with us this year. The superintendents within the state are a tight- month's meeting. Commissioners first considered the On-Road Memoran- has witnessed numerous unpredictable challenges the school sys- knit group. They all keep up with what is going on within each dum Agreement between the Department of Environmental tem has faced. school district. I think he had his eye on Elk City for a while now. Quality and the City of Elk City to provide financial assistance However, none can come near matching the Covid-19 pandemic. He has seen the numerous positive things we have been doing and Storm stated that Sparks has 25 years of experience in education, wanted to be a part of the school system. He also has fresh eyes and to replace an eligible diesel vehicle for the Elk City Sanitation Department in the amount of $213,039.75. including serving as a superintendent. feels he could help expand in those areas,” Storm said. Former City Treasurer Elesia Church was present to advise Storm believes that made Sparks the best candidate for what the ‘The board took months to interview and consider the perfect Elk City Public Schools system is currently facing. choice. Throughout the process, Storm recalled that Sparks had the commission upon the matter. “I have always been told that most of the time, you will find a been the unanimous selection. ‘As was listed on the agenda, she explained that the city candidate who is strong either in academics or athletics. It is not “We came up with a lot of questions to ask each person. Some- would only be responsible for $71,013.35. She said that the always easy to find a candidate who excels at both and, if you found times those individual candidates would give an answer that would remaining funds were being provided through a grant and that this is a budgeted item. that, you should grab onto that person. We believe Mr. Sparks is give us a new perspective, and we would do follow-ups with the that person. He comes with experience as the superintendent of the other applicants. At each turn, Mr. Sparks felt like the right choice. Church added that the grant process would likely take sev- 8th grade Pioneer Center in Chickasha. Before that, he had 14-16 See Superintendent page 2. eral more months, putting the city into the next fiscal year. Church also stated that the grant was coming through Volk- swagen as part of a settlement they were required to make. She added to receive the grant that the city would have to Amber Alert ends in Beckham County take a more aged piece of equipment out oftheir fleet and dis- able it. She said this could be from the city doing something as simple as drilling a hole in the gas tank. Suspect still held in Detention Center ‘The commissioners voted to approve. ‘The second and third agenda items were related. Item lege Station area indicate that Highlander with Texas plates. “We received notification last number two was the consideration of approving a payment of the College Station Police De- A statewide Amber Alert was night from the originating agen- partment responded to a call issued for all of Texas, as well cy that a credit card associated $2,322.50 to Myers Engineering for a sewer line relocation. regarding a missing person as surrounding states. Multiple with the female suspect in the Item number three was the consideration of approving a pay- at approximately 8:04 am on Beckham County residents re- Amber Alert had just been used ment of $2,615.15 to the same firm fora water line relocation. ‘Thursday. ceived the Amber Alerts on their at the Flying J Truck Stop in ‘The commission approved both items. Reports indicate that Nich- cell phones. Sayre. The Port of Entry officers ‘The commission then considered declaring multiple pieces of ols had been last seen with the Law enforcement had re- were notified, and the Beckham city equipment as surplus, which would allow them to be sold Nichols missing person, her three-year- ceived information that the two County Sheriff and Oklahoma old daughter, at approximately could be traveling west on I-40 Highway Patrol units responded at the upcoming statewide equipment auction. By Shonda Little 10:30 pm the previous night. toward Amarillo, to look for the white Toyota the City Manager Tom Ivester informed the commission that Nichols does not have full le- Sometime Thursday evening, woman was believed to be driv- city employees had advised him that most of the pieces of For the second time this year, gal custody of the child. Addi- Nichols was found near the one ing, equipment were no longer functional. an Amber Alert that had gone tionally, the child was reported mile marker in Beckham Coun- “ine POE officer made initial "Some of them can't even be used as spare parts anymore," nationally viral ended safely to have medical condition that contact with the vehicle, and a ty. Previous to that, she had he said. "For example, the police department is no longer using within Beckham County. The could place her in “immediate Beckham County deputy and used a credit or debit card at a suspect, 30-year-old Maranda danger of death or serious bodi- Beckham County convenience OHP trooper backed him up. Dodge Chargers." Nichols, is currently being held ly harm.” store that indicated she was in ‘The woman was taken into cus- The child's “life-sustaining” the area. tody without incident, and the ‘The commissioner approved the item. in the Beckham County Deten- medical ‘The fifth agenda item was related to a year-long project of tion Center awaiting transport tion had equipment and medica- Beckham County Sheriff Der- child was taken into protective been found in a College ek Manning explained that his custody. improvements that have been done at the Elk City Municipal back to the College Station, Tex- Station home. Airport. This payment was a budgeted item. The funding for staff was among the many agen- ‘The woman is currently in the aa area Nichols was believed to be cies who worked to bring the in- Beckham County Detention See Commission page 2. Police records from the Col- traveling in a white 2006 Toyota vestigation to a safe ending. See Alert page 2. Weather Vol. 119, No. 20 Mail delivery View online HQ UN tomorrow oo 75 / 53 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com