May 29, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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2 May 29, 2021 News/Obits Chervenka casionally with fire side. I’ll be doing more of that but won’t be doing as much of the actual fire- fighting. I’ll be on the command from the public about any con- cerns or recommendations they have. There will be a letter from the chief there that explains early in the morning and some- times doesn’t leave until 9 pm. Occasionally he gets lucky on a Continued from page 1. pretty quickly I wanted to stay side. It will be the same with the that. We are here to serve the weekend that he doesn’t have to down here as long as they would ambulance side. I’ll be going on public and welcome that kind of go in, though he doesn’t see it as or career purposes at the have me,” he said. calls often with both sides as feedback. We don’t want anyone luck for himself. He expressed time, but I could see the com- Chervenka started on engine it is needed. You can’t predict to think that they don’t have munity need,” he recounted. one before moving to the ambu- when you will have multiple a voice with their city govern- gratefulness to the surround- Like many young men his age, lance side. He’s taught extend- calls at once. Both of these guys ment,” he said. ing areas’ volunteer forces and he found work after high school ed-learning classes and made are great to work with and help Among the programs he is excitement to assist and be as- in the oilfield. He enjoyed the more fire and ambulance runs make my job easy. The nature working to institute would be sisted by their crews. job, but his true passion re- than he could count. of this kind of work is needing fire alarm checks. Though the mained with crisis response. “If this is something that you to be able to lean on the people department is still tweaking the “When we have to work those About a decade ago, Cherven- really love, I don’t think that you work with, and we definitely plan, he hopes to help citizens long days, we know that the ka learned the ECFD was hiring. you can get burned out on it,” he have that going on here,” Cher- prevent a disaster through sim- people we are helping are the He said that he thought being quipped. venka gushed. ple alarms. hired might be a long shot. He With Chervenka’s promotion ones having a bad day — not us. Less than a month in the Chervenka also encourages applied anyway. to chief over the entire depart- chief’s position, Chervenka high school students inter- We made this decision to serve. Former ECFD Chief Rick ment, Billy Sizemore and Brian stated that he is currently fo- ested in becoming a firefighter It’s amazing when you love your Shelton hired him. Pierce are now assistant chiefs. cused on updating policy and to speak with their high school job that long days don’t feel like “I was honored but surprised. Sizemore oversees the fire side, checking and inventorying coordinator to help facilitate job Chief Shelton had known me and Pierce oversees the medical, equipment. He is acutely aware shadowing. work. I don’t really like an ar- from Canute, but I knew that with Chervenka assisting both that technology is evolving at “The kids are our future. We ticle focused on me when the they probably had many deserv- in daily operations. a rapid pace and is determined want our young people to see us whole department does what I ing applicants. ECFD has been a Pierce will also continue to that the ECFD be at the cusp of as a department that is open to do with the same commitment.” tight-knit group for many years, serve as the public information new developments. them and their questions,” he so I was a little nervous. They officer. “We are also working on our said. Chervenka is the proud father were beyond welcoming. I knew “Before this, I got to help oc- webpage. We do want to hear Chervenka is at the ECFD of two daughters. Continued from page 1. had a son Blake. that it is not a one-size-fits-all Awareness same time. I have a buddy who But, with all the happiness he found in creating his own fami- answer but that depression can also evolve. He hopes to attain was an EMS from Burns Flat ly, Wood also has struggled with advanced degrees in theology who was later in a class with this depression. and disability education. paramedic. He started talking “I dealt with things from “Nothing is permanent. De- about me and didn’t know that the start, of course, but it was pression can get better and my buddy was my friend. This through time that the depres- then come back again. For me, paramedic said that he knew I sion came to hit me. I worried I’m most helped in studying the was paralyzed in that moment that I was going to be a burden human condition and extend- at the scene. He did his best to to my family and to Jo. It was ing that to others. None of us hold my head straight and keep even after we had our son that know what the real meaning of me calm,” Wood remembered. it became the worst. After my life is because it is different for Wood was transported to accident, I had gone back to everyone. There is beauty and Enid and had surgery the follow- school to get a theology degree heartache along the way. After ing day. The Enid surgeon, who to focus hard on becoming a I had my accident, I was driv- Wood described as phenomenal, youth minister. But I found my- ing to Leedey as a youth minis- recommended that Wood be self struggling with the ideas ter and had to stop because the transferred to one of three plac- that come with being disabled. I driving was almost traumatic for es for rehabilitation. will say, even myself after being me because I knew what could “They were all out of state, but paralyzed, that I had prejudices happen. I didn’t totally trust Craig in Denver. That is where I against other disabled people. I myself. It’s taken a lot of pain- went,” Wood stated. had to evaluate my beliefs and ful introspection to overcome Wood spent 158 days flat on all I had thought to be true be- things and I know that I could his back. Still, he enjoyed mak- fore to come to terms with that,” face that again. It’s conflicting ing friendships with the medical Wood said. when you have so much about staff and visits from his family Wood estimated that, approx- your life that you love —es- and his girlfriend Joanna. imately five years ago, he fell pecially your family. For those By the time he left the hospi- into a depression that matched struggling, there is nothing to tal the following April, he was or was greater than what he did be embarrassed about. You don’t confident that he wanted to when he first had his accident. have to think your story has to marry Joanna. “I didn’t know how to get be like everyone else’s or worse The couple has established through it. I didn’t want to than someone else’s to be valid. their home in Elk City and since bring my family or Jo and Blake Understanding that has been a through it. I couldn’t turn it off, huge help to me. I am open to either,” he said. learn about anything and see new 15’ flex-wing rotary cut- and was also a budgeted item. Wood looked to guidance, the humanity in others. Don’t Tax ter for the wastewater plant on agenda item five. On agenda item eight, the commissioners were asked to both in theological and main- stream therapy. He knows now be ashamed when you are in the struggle.” The bid came from Western approve or disapprove a change Continued from page 1. Equipment for the amount of $21,812. order for the Elk City Indoor Ac- tivity Center in the amount of Ross Phillips After the field ceased to be This was listed as a budgeted used, the property control was $9,422 to Joe D. Hall Construc- Ross Dea Phillips, 74 of item. returned to the family. The fam- tion. Alva, Oklahoma went to be with Mike McFall, a long-time city ily had sought to sell it and had employee, explained to the com- City Manager Ivester ex- the Lord May 21st, 2021 at his approached the city as a buyer. mission that the department plained that this was in order to home surrounded by family. Ivester explained the asking had requested the replacement stiffen the support for the roof. Ross was born February price started much higher than last year but didn’t receive it. He The motion was approved 5-0. 16th, 1947 in Enid, Oklahoma what was the final agreement of also said that it would eliminate The commission then ap- the son of the late George $50,000. many problems. proved payment application 9 and Beulah Jeanne Phillips. The property has 14 acres The commissioners voted to to Joe D. Hall General Contrac- Ross had 3 sisters, Yenna and will adjoin property already approve the agenda item 5-0. King (Enid), Melissa Atkinson tors, LLC, for the CAPP Project owned by the city. The commissioner approved (Arlington, Texas) and Becky Ivester stated that he felt the Elk City Activity Center in the appointed Commissioner Cory Seymour (Enid) price was too reasonable for the amount of $210,743. On June 3rd, 1968 Ross Speiker to the Elk City Planning This was a budgeted item. city to pass up. and Zoning Board and Elk City married Frances Reyes Phillips Mayor Archer stated that he Ivester told the commission who survives him at the home Museum Board, Commissioner felt this, too, was “straightfor- that parking limitations at the in Alva, Oklahoma. From this Rod Carver to the Elk City Air- ward.” port Board and Elk City Library softball and baseball fields were union three children were born: great grandchildren. Ross loved The agenda item passed 5-0. Board, Commissioner Rick Shel- being addressed by providing a Kerri Phillips (Alva), Stephen hot rods from early muscle cars Next on agenda item four, ton to the Elk City Housing Au- courtesy patrol to give disabled Phillips (Elk City), Michael Phil- to all types of Corvettes. Over the commissioners considered thority Board and Elk City Civic and elderly visitors golf cart lips (Alva), eight grandchildren the years he owned several, approving or disapproving pay- rides. and four great grandchildren. you could always find his red Center Board and Commissioner ment to Rainbow Fireworks for Ross was a 1965 graduate Corvette parked in front of the Rocky Andresen to the Elk City Additionally, he said two new the annual Fourth of July fire- of Enid High School; in July of Royal Game Room in Elk City Park Board and Elk City Cem- parking areas that will accom- works show held in Ackley Park. 1966 He began Basic Training which he and Frances owned for etery Board. modate 150 cars will be coming The amount was listed as for the United States Army several years. Ross loved to play The commissioner was then soon. $12,997.02. at Fort Polk in Louisiana. In pool and dominoes. asked to consider payment for City sales tax came in near The item also passed 5-0/ January of 1967, Ross received Ross had another hobby three invoices to Lochner for $1.2 million, up 18 %. The commission was asked to orders to be deployed to Viet- that began when he was a weather observation equipment consider approving a bid for one City Treasurer Jennifer Rain- nam as a Combat Medic where child and continued up until to the Elk City Municipal Air- ey said that this could be in part he served until December of his passing which was softball. port. Former City Treasurer Ele- credited to the visitors com- 1967; he was wounded in April Ross was a member of the Like sia Church was present and ex- ing to the softball and baseball 1967 and again in August 1967. Cola 1985 Oklahoma Class B plained that this was being pri- fields. Ross was awarded the National State Champions from Enid. marily paid for through an FAA Use tax was down 29%. The Defense Service Medal, Viet- The family remembers count- grant and was greatly needed. cigarette tax was also down, nam Service Medal, Vietnam less evenings and weekends The amount was for $20,500 though not by much. Campaign Medal, Purple Heart spent at Kellet Park in Enid and Medal, Bronze Star Medal, numerous weekends of softball Combat Medic Badge, First Oak all over Oklahoma. Ross took Meet the Leaf Cluster to Purple Heart Medal. He was very proud to serve his country and loved the great pleasure in watching his OU girls’ softball and going to the Women’s College World men he served with. Series at Hall of Fame Stadium Graduates Ross and Frances made their home in Enid, Oklahoma after his service ended with in Oklahoma City. His greatest passion in life was his relationship with his the United States Army. Ross Lord and Savior Jesus Christ In our annual tribute to included it in this edition. worked for the United States and his family, especially his area graduates included in We sincerely apologize to Postal Service for 33 years wife Frances. After retirement the May 26 edition, due to a impacted students and their before his retirement in 2001. Ross could be found at Sonic technical glitch, some gradu- parents, and we hope this re- He began his career in Enid as every afternoon during happy ate names do not match up a mail carrier. He served as As- hour picking up a Route 44 Diet print will properly honor them with the appropriate photos. sistant Postmaster in Alva and Cherry Limeade with Cranberry and give them the recognition To ensure our graduates are Postmaster in Cherokee and Elk for Frances, taking it to her properly honored and this they so rightly deserve. City. at work and then taking her treasured keepsake edition is From all of us at Elk City Ross was an avid fisherman deposit to the bank. Ross was a accurate and complete, we have News, congratulations class of and enjoyed fishing with his great husband, father, grandfa- reprinted it in its entirety, and 2021! children, grandchildren and ther and friend to many.