March 31, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 5

Page Text

Weekday Edition Elk City grad thanks FFA for a Elk City man’s professional career in politics car is stolen while he By Shonda Little was on delivery By Shonda Little the home. Kirby Smith is well known in A second officer arrived to western Oklahoma. Not only The need to lock your car assist did she grow up in a large fam- was never more apparent The man who answered ily, but she has also spent most than for an Elk City man who the door was not the sus- of her time outside of college returned to find his vehicle pect. The officers had that working for two prominent gone. man come outside while yell- politicians. ‘At approximately 11:34 ing into the house, asking for “I graduated from Elk City in am on March 15, the Elk City anyone else present to come 2004, got my bachelors from Police Department was dis- outside of the home. OSU in 2008 and my masters patched to the 1300 block of Eventually, the male sub- in 2001. It was never my in- South Randall in reference to ject the officer reportedly tention to get my masters, but a stolen vehicle. saw in the car came out. He it is just where life led me. I Upon arrival, the officer was identified as 24-year-old learned as much from my as- met with the alleged victim. Troy McClain. sistantship working with the ‘The man said he had parked ‘The officer asked the first residential life. Some of that his vehicle, but it was un- man jf the vehicle belonged housing is from World War II. 1 locked and had the keys un- to McClain. That man said learned to solve problems and der the front seat next to a that he did not know and that has come in handy in my building. The man said he that McClain had just come professional life,” she said. made a delivery at approxi- to his residence, Smith first went to work for mately 9:30 am and returned ‘The two officers searched Congressman Frank Lucas as an hour and a half later to the vehicle and attempted to a field representative in con- find his vehicle was gone. open the driver's door. The gressional district 5. ‘The man observed a black vehicle was locked. “Lworked to build and main- mongoose bike next to where ‘The keys were found with- tain relationships and tried to he had left his car. He filled in the house. help personalize the federal out a voluntary statement. ‘The officers found a back- government for our residents. Later that evening at ap- pack that McClain allegedly I tried to be a source of infor- proximately 4:24 pm, the said belonged to him. They mation. My job was to be his same officer was patrolling also found a small tin can eyes and ears in his vast dis- near the 400 block of South containing § methamphet- trict,” Smith explained. Adams when he spotted ave- amine. She praises Lucas as a hicle matching the descrip- McClain was placed under hands-on boss who treated his tion. The officer ran the tag arrest for possession of a sto- employees well. Smith, a ECHS graduate, is happiest in the field. Smith hails and confirmed that it was Jen vehicle. The owner was “His chief of staff has been from an agriculture family, but said she learned a lot about the the stolen vehicle. able to come claim his car. with him in some capac- industry’s diversity while at OSU. He parked to the south to During the interrogation, ity pretty well since the begin- observe if anyone came out McClain claimed that he had ning. You see a lot of turnover to the vehicle. gotten the car from Cody in congressional staffing, so gressman Lucas, but through won't say I was the best at a Eventually, he observed a Courtney and that Courtney what Frank is able to do is rare. the whole state. I am serving lot of it. But it forced me year white male wearinga red and had a black bicycle. Your calls and emails really do as his chief of staff. I have an after year to be in front of white shirt and gray sweat- ‘The officer later spoke with matter to him. He wants to emphasis of rural develop- people and speak. There is no pants walk out of the house’s Courtney. The officer opined know what is happening,” she ment, but I show up wherever way that I would be where I am front door and walked to the that Courtney was “highly said, I am needed. My goal is for without it. My momma was vehicle, The man reportedly intoxicated on methamphet- Smith says the same is true each community to almost the FFA sweetheart back in sat in the driver's seat. amine.” of her current boss, Lieuten- think that I live there because her day and my oldest sisters After approximately two McClain remains in the ant Governor Matt Pinnell. lam at everything.” were involved before I was. It minutes, the man exited the Beckham County Detention “I was with Frank for al- Smith credits her involve- has been a family tradition — vehicle and walked back into Center. most five years before coming ment in FFA for her career. one that I love. We all have to on with Lieutenant Governor Pinnell. His goal is to have the “T went in as this shy kid eat and your food comes from someone's hard work and long who was scared to talk to any- Cheyenne High School same kind of presence as Con- one. I won't say that I was that days. I want to be their advo- best at showing livestock. I cate.” Senior accepted into New restaurant slated West Point Prep School By Shonda Little to open in old Billy Sims building Jakob Ford, the 19-year- old son of Kari and Donnie By Shonda Little say, ‘Cousin Annie Bell, I have Ford, will be graduating from all that round to be able to lift his tiny high school in Chey- enne to embark on anew ad- Jackie Anderson has lived us all up,” she laughed. venture with the prestigious most of her life hoping that Anderson serves on the West Point Preparatory her family could bring their board of Lincoln New Age, a School. flavorful food to the people of group directed to helping Elk “The US Military Academy western Oklahoma. She has City youth. Prep School is a one-year daydreamed and toiled over “We will also provide little prep school that will sharpen this vision for decades. part-time jobs for kids as we the areas that I lack. If I do “My guy keeps a good eye on need them. It is good to learn well, I will then be accepted whats available in Elk City. He to work with grownups guid- into West Point. Most of the saw this building was coming ing you. They get to make a lit- students who are accepted for rent and told me about it. tle pocket money, learn about into this program do make it ‘As a seventh grader, Ford did I then started talking to family recipes and work ethic and are into West Point. The school not anticipate moving to New and wanted to make the dream doing something other than is on the West Point cam- York. He will miss his family come to life,” Anderson said. watching the ty,” she said. pus on the Hudson. I have ‘The fact that the upcoming Anderson and her family never been there. The fur- the most. Suga’s Cafe will be the first will be completing the paper- thest north that I have been talk about his time in the black-owned business in Elk work this week. is to Pennsylvania. It will be Navy and knewI wanted to City is not lost on Anderson. “That whole shopping area a whole new world. I am ex- go that route. I applied at However, she emphasized that of I-40 has a lot to offer and we cited and nervous. I've never all the military schools and the restaurant will be open to want to add one more thing. Annie Bell Smith is an elder within the community establish- When I say it will be soul food, been away from home, but decided that the first one I heard back from would be “Everybody loves good food ing Suga’s Cafe. Her recipes will be featured. Anderson said that 1 mean it will be soul food. I Tam also eager for this new the one I went to,” Ford ex- and that is the one thing I Smith is still active in the kitchen. don’t think there is anywhere adventure,” Ford said. plained. Ford will be attending the know we are good at. The name verse as the expertise going our heads. It will be a menu to get that outside of our prep school with approxi- ‘The lean teenager is ath- is after my grandmother. We into it. that is exciting and will have house on Sundays unless you mately 270 students, a vastly letic by nature, a standout called her Suga and she raised “My cousin makes the best something for everyone who drive to Oklahoma City.” larger number than his high on the basketball court and us all with love. She taught us sweet potato pie I've ever had. likes to eat. My cousin Annie Suga’s Cafe will be a fam- school graduating class. baseball field. He believes all how to cook. We will also We will have ribs and collard Bell is the oldest person in the ily affair. For that reason, An- His father, alsoaCheyenne have retail items in there to greens, but we will have spe- Lincoln Addition and in our derson invites all families to graduate, is a Navy veteran. See Cheyenne page3 sell. This will be a family place cial of Mexican casseroles or church. She will laugh and tell sit and enjoy their flavorful “T grew up hearing him for all to enjoy,” she said. whatever else might come into me that I am round and I will menu. ‘The menu items will be di- «OLA Weather tomorrow /36 Vol. 119, No. 26 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com