May 15, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Saturday, May 15, 2021 Weekdend Edition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Elk City High School counselor to retire and embark upon new beginnings the 2019-20 fiscal year. $17.2 million figure is with high school graduates sail City Public Schools in 1978. in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information across the stage and into the Three years later, Bell had com- was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons next chapter in their lives, she pleted her master’s degree and will join them on her own new took a job as a counselor at the adventure. iconic Longfellow School. were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry Bell will be retired. “The first class that I was A Sayre native, she mar- a counselor for graduated in ried her childhood sweetheart 1988,” she recounted. “I did kin- Joe The district in 1968. could The two not find dergarten for half the day and followed each other to Oklahoma State was a counselor for the other University and then Southwest- half. That transitioned into me ern Oklahoma State University, being the counselor at Grand- where they would both graduate view. I opened the doors there the fiscal year ended. He with education degrees. as their first counselor and Department of Human Services officials are working with “I had started out saying that spent almost 25 years there.” I would be an interior designer, Her husband Hunt, Joe left educa- payroll/insurance to the current fiscal year, but and now I know I had no busi- tion in 1991 to become an 48 years, with 40 of ness doing that profession,” insurance agent. She, however, continues, and a final Bell joked. “The funny thing remained a dyed in the wool is I found an old yearbook of educator. Above Wayne Poole shows Everett Long who attended the my mother’s where she said “At Grandview with the event Tuesday at Main Street Coffee and Cafe, what the in- she wanted to be an interior middle school kids, a lot of the side of a fire truck looks like. Check out even more pictures designer, and she must have put work as a counselor is more on from the event on page 8. Staff photo by D’Ann Brasuell. that in my head. I’m not sure guidance. I had my groups. I re- Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning that I would have been good at that. I found my place in the ally loved interacting with kids at that age in that way, and it world in education, though I am will probably always be some- Calling All Units said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed not sure I could have under- flawless, thing and I miss,” that Bell doesn’t said. DeAnne Bell prepares for her last Brown and White As- sembly. Courtesy photo. stood how much it would be at In 2008, her longtime col- that time. It was probably about league and friend Sherri Nutley my third year of college when I told her that she was retiring event was success On Tuesday, May 11th from 4pm-6pm at Main Street Coffee, By Shonda Little nuisances of middle school to decided to move my degree to and asked if Bell would be satisfiedElk downtown that thethe City, circumstances community gotthrough which a chance hefaces to put camewith to the overwhelming stresses of education. Joe got a job teach- interested ton – 1978, 1982 andin1984 pursuing – andher posi- one state badges and to get to know our local heroes which included Elk City DeAnne Bell has long been adult life paths. ing and coaching in Clinton, tion as the college coordinator Police Department and Elk City Fire and Rescue Men and Women. and I got hired to be a kinder- counselor a mainstay in Elk City Pub- After more than forty years, been a coach for 48 at the – years high school. a head football garten teacher. We then went to lic Schools. The imprint she she will retire at the end of the coach for 40“Iyears was so honored – and has anthat Sherrire overall Mangum, where Joe coached, would think of me. I held her has left upon four decades of 2021 school year. Bell has spent cord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- and I taught kindergarten. graduates spiders throughout the country. Generations of weeks preparing for the annual Brown and White Assembly. in the highest regard and 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. Coming to Elk City was a dream how much she had done for the knew May School Board “Our strength is going to increase dramati cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in of ours. Our parents were in high school seniors through students have looked to her to guide them through every- That’s not unlike most years for her. Sayre, and we could be close to them, and Elk City was really the year. At the time, I had been thinking of retiring, but I Meeting thing from the tender years of kindergarten to the weighted This year will be different, though. As the newly minted the place to be then.” The couple was hired by Elk Members learn cash carryover See Bell page 2. during an interview in the athletic office at larger than expected Officials in Beckham County have cut nearly $1 million from their estimated budget this year, with the final Elk City set to Paint the Town Purple approval of the 2019-20 fiscal year budget coming in the By Shonda Little for Alzheimer’s Awareness in June the During a meeting described as “short and sweet” by Elk City 2019-20 search Public The isbudget Schools on to School accident at their find an Boardoffensive Occurred President meeting weeklycoordi just after Brandon Monday. 6 p.m. Storm, members learned that the upcoming year would have a higher The fina in a hayboard field 3 cashover to the statepreviously carryover by the first of October. this assists them in getting Cain triedthan expected. to repair something under his 1986 Ford F350 new customers in their doors Board members met at 6 pm at the Elk City Board of Educa- so those customers can see tion in the board conference room for their regularly scheduled excise board gives the final approval and signs off on it everything His starting date is that our businesses the first Monday after meeting. have to offer here. We don’t As typical, they Hartman, read their Beckham mission County statement and approved Clerk. Beckham County Sheriff’s Office, Carter Fire, Elk City Fire, ourall have first thephase of the CAPS businesses finalized County minutes officials from the said in previous AprilApril 12 that meeting.changes in the budget yet, but we are so far planning Board members also approved minutes from a special board to have the Vogue, Main Street meeting held on May 3 at the Board of Education. tion scheme for the Elk offense. On the de Cafe, Lady Bugs Consignments, The special meeting was related to the sale of bonds for the Everett Blake, LaDonna’s Liquor school. and Wine, Pampered on Rt. 66, That meeting was held at noon, and was quick to approve the The county cut $998,696 from its budget, Hartman said and I think what will be the sale of the bonds. new Paul Jones Drug location. The biggest thing discussed was the financial position Elk City We may end up having more. Public Schools will department or be in during every thegives official 2021-2022 their school estimateyear. of what Each retailer will be running “Dare they’reI say, between needing forCovid money and the year,” state said. Hartman money, we “Thended excise their different thing during that up better than we expected to be this time a year ago. This time, butstay could participants only need on the floor the time a year ago, none of us knew what this would look like, and to support our local businesses. to go collect that stamp.” making this year work had many unexpected expenses, and we By Shonda Little other brain diseases,” said Julie While raising awareness for the Western said that the “big didn’t have money coming in from places we normally would. Western, Vice President of the a.m. with Hot Hash and cause of Alzheimer’s and other event” will be held that Friday We have been prudent in budgeting, and that put us in a good place.“We don’ttheknow extrathose figures yet,” fromshethesaid. state“We’re kind The Western Oklahoma local group. dementia diseases, we are part- at Ackley Park from 6-9:30 pm. We had monies come in and Covid Alzheimer’s Collaborative is Paint the Town Purple aims nering with local businesses in “Great Plains Bank, Moxy relief. Overall, this year has been a lot better than I would have inviting citizens of Elk City and to serve a dual purpose for the Realty, and Comforting Hands expected this time a year ago,” Storm said. year before and current year figures and help the county the surrounding communities residents of western Oklahoma. ways that can get new custom- ers in their doors,” Western Hospice have already sponsored Through that money, Storm said that Elk City Public School’s to help “Paint the Town Purple” The first objective is the most explained. free carousel rides, the train, Superintendent “But we’veRick madeGarrison has been 20 percent able to cuts; some address officesome from June 14-18. obvious — to continue to sup- Throughout the week, par- and the pool from 6-8 pm,” she infrastructure needs within the districts. The extravaganza will be the port treatments for patients noted. “We are talking about things that are physical like band third annual fundraiser but the suffering from dementia-related ticipating businesses will have A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon bingo cards that can be picked Additionally, a health fair get uniforms those andfinal Chrome figures from Books. them,had We have it’s kind ChromeofBooks wait for and second actual event. conditions and the caretakers Do building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 up at any site. will be held that will feature a couple of years, and some are getting older. We see changes “Of course, Covid shut us who dedicate themselves to the Commissioners gaveand their final approval “The theme is ‘Shop Local, a localdefinite home date healthset for the companies, in technology all the time, we are getting to thefor the that point figures down last year, so this will only many patients’ care. Share Awareness,’” Western hospices, assisted living centers, some of the older Chrome Books would be getting close to be- actually be our second event. “We are a non-profit orga- thefirst weekend in Institute, November. Wefire chief for the thisElk City Fire Department. and naturallyNo stated. “You do not have to pay Oklahoma Blood ing outdated. This will allow us to bite off bigger chunks of that are excited to get kicked nization want injuries back off occurred. because the Two people pandemic donorsintothe knowbuild that they can any money to get a bingo card. and Air Evac. earlier andatmake there, leastreplacements one accountasinneeded,” there,”Storm said. said. Hartman In the activity fund reporting, board members learned that wasing escaped of one unharmed. The mainany part of the Once you get that card, you will “The biggest thing we do ev- representative of deduct donations. We the golf and tennis Hartman teams are could not still an provide competing. exact figure. The public thefire occurredfor in the hot water heater area.serve two 75 children go intothis different businesses ery year is the ‘Longest Day,’ most years people with believe that we can year. That figure was up from 40 last year. $12,130. The insurance Alzheimer’s, company also dementia, and goals is investigating. at once. Our second goal is to get your stamp. We hope See Paint the town page 2. See School Board page 2. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 39 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 78 / 60 99/70 75 cents, 8 pgs. 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com