June 16, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Wndesday, June 16, 2021 Weekday Edition Elk City native made lifelong memories during the historic OU Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Women’s Softball team’s fifth College World Series championship the 2019-20 fiscal year. By Shonda Little to victory. “I grew up playing softball, and it was a great experience. I had $17.2 million figure is with Retired Elk City High School drama teacher Debbie Sisemore is toldinSadie Erickthat fiveplaying monthsand watching ago and softball that the had been child’s some of the information something of a local legend. Her contagious laugh and loud cheers most fun I had ever had. Her focus and talents are more was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons centered have engulfed Elk City’s basketball court, football stadium, and soft- around the arts. She just had never really had an interest. We had ball fields for generations of Elk Citians. great seats — right along the third baseline in the shade. I got some She is known for her passionate support for all things Elk City. great photographs of the game, and they were all taken by Sadie. It were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry “And when she isn’t cheering for the Big Elks, you know that she is was amazing to watch the Sooners and that great coach of theirs. yelling for those OU Sooners,” gushed her daughter Devin Sizemore Patty Gasso was right there in the middle of it with her team for Seager. the entire game. But, for me, as a mother wanting to share some- SoThe district as Patty could Gasso’s OUnot find softball team battled for the top Sooners thing that I love with my kid, that was the most amazing part. It was trophy last week, it was only fitting that Sizemore’s daughter and like for the first time, she really, truly understood what the game is granddaughter Sadie were amongst the thousands of excited fans. about and why people love it so much. I think that softball is much Seager and her daughter attended Wednesday’s game. more exciting than baseball anyways. To me, it is faster. I love the “I had bought the tickets for that day before the first game be- cheering. These are world-class athletes just like any men’s team. I the fiscal year ended. He cause I really thought that OU would win it in two games. I remem- thinkDepartment of Human that was important for Services officials Sadie to see, too. are working By the end ofwith that ber hearing that all season long, no team had beat them twice. They game, she was hooked. I think she will be a fan for life. As we were lost that first game of the series, so it ended up having to come down walking out of that packed stadium that day, she was smiling from Hunt, payroll/insurance to the current fiscal year, but to all three games. I would have loved to have been there for the 48told ear to ear. I said, ‘I years, with you, girl. 40isof This fun!’ This will be something actual championship games, but Wednesday was still really special,” that we both remember for the rest of our lives. When she is thirty continues, and a final Seager said. years old, she will remember this day with her mother at the ball Though being enthusiastic sports fans is a family trait for the Sise- field when she saw the OU softball team handle FSU on their way to more clan, Seager said that somehow her daughter Sadie had missed a World Series championship,” Seager recounted. Devin and Sadie Seager were all smiles watching being bitten by the bug. In the season’s last series, the Sooners faced off against the Flori- the OU Sooners dish out their first loss to FSU last That is until this last Wednesday when she got to breathe in the da State Seminoles. FSU was no small contender, dishing out a loss Wedneday. Courtesy photo. electric air and raw excitement of the Sooner women on the route to the Sooners in the first game of the series. Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning But, as Seager noted, Russo and her Sooners didn’t let a single said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed team amass more than one victory on them all season. During the Wednesday game that the Seagers attended, the Soon- feel like theand flawless, Western Oklahoma that doesn’t ers ignited their rally to propel them to the championship the Family Care Center was a great choice” stated Michael Hixson. See Championship page 2. Liberty McArthur, Director, ac- cepted the check and Susie Cupp with the Elk City Chamber of Commerce ton – 1978, 1982 andwas also– present. 1984 and one state Liberty talked about how the Lincoln New Age to satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to donation been a coach for 48will go–toa help years head servic- es that the Western Oklahoma football coach for 40 years – and has an overall re host annual Juneteenth Family Care Center provide the cord of 307-147 and a playoff community. 24. He played about football how at Liberty record Oklahoma currently of 44- also spoke State. they are celebration at “Our strength is going to increase dramati focusing on the homeless com- munity and helping those who Elk City’s Lincoln Park cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in had their life disrupted last year during the COVID-19 pan- The Lincoln New Age civic organization and their sister group, demic. Services provided by the Kiddie Korner, would like to invite the public to their annual Ju- Western Oklahoma Family Care neteenth celebration being held throughout the day on June 19 at Center are health care including Officials Lincoln Park ininElk City. Beckham County have cut nearly $1 million during an interview in the athletic office at medical and dental, rent assis- from “It willtheir estimated start about budget 1 pm and lasthis year, with throughout thethe final ex- evening,” Staff photo by D’Ann Brasuell tance, utility assistance, finan- approval plained Lincoln of the 2019-20 New Age fiscal year member Jackiebudget Anderson.coming“Whilein the this cial and life counseling along is a special holiday for black Americans to commemorate the day ‘FORE’ A GREAT CAUSE - in the Elk City Chamber’s Oil Western Oklahoma Family Care with the operation of Christi’s that the very last of our ancestors who were enslaved in America Michael Hixson of PSO along and Gas Industry Appreciation Center. Bazaar, located in downtown was finally freed, we want to extend an invitation to Americans Elk City. 2019-20 of all the budget races.isThis search on toisn’tatonly find their weekly black an offensive historymeeting coordibut is Monday. American The fina history. with employees, Brian Daly and Golf Tournament donated their “PSO is always happy to help The accident Occurred just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 Donations are always accept- On that day, America took another important step toward our Colin Lindamood who played winnings of $1,100.00 to the support the community and we ed and appreciated. over to the country’s state by founding the of promise first lifeofandOctober. liberty for all. We want to welcomeCainanytried andtoeveryone repair something who wantsunder to learn his 1986why about Ford F350 this is a sacred day for black Americans to come join us.” excise board gives the final approval that and signs off on it Arrest of Elk City man serves as community re- His starting date is the first Monday after Anderson believes that continued progress in America. Hartman, Beckham preserving County Clerk. we history is essential for Beckham County Sheriff’s KiddieOffice, Carter Fire, Elk tell Citywhat Fire, minder that not pulling over during a traffic stop our first phase of the CAPS “With the kids County means Juneteenth in our officials andsaid talkinabout Korner, Aprilhow thatthat will changes our yesterdays, but to our todays and our tomorrows. We will talk sit and relatesintothe budget not only Police officer said the man gave the road, that the vehicle con- Lasater immediately complied about how it relates to the state of the world today,” Anderson tion scheme for the Elk offense. On the de pursuit. tinued traveling southbound at with the officer’s orders. He was stated. At approximately 8:34 am on a high rate of speed. then placed in handcuffs and The Juneteenth holiday has long been the observation of the fi- nal emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Though June 3, the officer was parked “The vehicle turned west- placed in the backseat of the pa- The people enslaved county had cut been $998,696 declaredfromfree its under budget, Hartman the terms of said the in his marked patrol car in the bound into the Hutch’s JC park- trol vehicle. Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, those captured in bondage parking lot of Anadarko Dozer ing lot, leaving skid marks on “When asked why he didn’t on Galveston Island, Texas, were not aware of their legal libera- and Trucking on the 1100 block the roadway. The vehicle exited stop, Lasater stated that he was department tion until three oryears every later.official gives their estimate of what of South Main Street in Elk City. the parking lot and began trav- late for work and didn’t want they’re On Juneneeding 19, 1865,for the year,” federal troopsHartman arrived onsaid.the “The Texas excise island The patrol vehicle was parked eling westbound on West 20th to be ‘hassled.’ Lasater further in the government’s effort to ensure that those slaves’ freedom along the east side of the park- Street, still at a high rate of stated could stay that heon hadthe floor seen mythe po- was granted. The Confederacy had surrendered their efforts in the ing lot facing north to observe speed. The vehicle turned north- lice car in the Anadarko parking Civil War two months prior at the Appomattox Court House in southbound traffic on the busy bound on Washington Street,” lot,” the officer added. Virginia. a.m. with Hot Hash and thoroughfare. the officer wrote in the probable Lasater was transported to But neither the Emancipation Proclamation nor the Union vic- tory “We weredon’t known knowto thethose figures enslaved yet,” she people said. suffering on“We’re Galvestonkind The officer observed a tan cause affidavit. the Elk City Municipal jail and Island. Jayden Lasater GMC pickup bearing Oklaho- The vehicle then came to a was booked in without any fur- When United States General Gordon Granger and his men put ma tag traveling southbound stop on the side of the road in ther incident. Haines Wrecker year their before boots down andon current the island, year figures General and help Granger madethe thecounty decla- By Shonda Little on South Main Street at a high the 1300 block of South Wash- Service impounded his vehicle ration that “all slaves are free.” rate of speed. The front-facing ington. after being inventoried by the “But Over we’veAmericans 25,000 made 20 were percent stillcuts; beingsome offices enslaved in Texas be- Many American citizens do antenna of his radar unit was al- The officer noted that many reporting officer. fore Granger’s arrival. not realize that choosing not ready activated, and the display other vehicles were on the Lasater was charged with The jubilant celebration that spontaneously erupted has now A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon getcoined been those final figures Juneteenth from and is thethem, it’s kind longest knownof wait and African-Amer- to pull to over their automobile indicated that the vehicle was roadway while the driver was eluding or attempting to elude or Dostopbuilding Tuesday by when commanded afternoon travelingin77the 1400 miles per hour. The attempting to flee, including a a police officer and speeding in ican holiday. Commissioners a definite date set for the The following year gave became their thefinal first approval for the figures formally organized com- law enforcement can result in a posted speed limit for that road fuel truck offloading fuel in the access of 36 miles per hour or memoration of the historic day known as Jubliee Day. felony charge. is 40 miles per hour. Hutch’s parking lot. more. Forty-seven American states currently recognize Juneteenth as first weekend in November. Afire chief forElk 21-year-old theCity Elkman City Fire Department. After No the the vehicle passed The driver, who was identified Both counts have now been a state holiday. injuries learned occurred. of this after Twoatpeople traveling in the officer’s build location, he activated as Jayden Luke Lasater, exited filed through the Beckham there, “We willatbeleast doing one account a lot that day. inWethere,” will beHartman said. cooking hamburgers ing escaped excessive unharmed. speeds while late for The his main part of emergency lightsthe and siren the vehicle. The officer ordered County District Court. and hot dogs at some point that evening. The kids will learn, and firended up occurred also in thefelony hot water heater and began area.the vehicle. pursuing Lasater Hartman will play.could notthis provide an exact figure. love The public work with a 75 children thistoyear. $12,130. face That the figure bed ofwas theup from Lasater was 40 last bonded out of jail year. they For me, is a holiday about and persever- Theof eluding charge insurance company also or attempting Theis investigating. officer alleged that, rather truck and place his hands be- on a $3,500 bond. He is due back ance despite any and everything.” to elude police after an Elk City than pulling over to the side of hind his back. in court on June 28. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 48 Mail delivery Viewonline online Weather tomorrow 98 / 72 99/70 Vol. 75 cents, 8 pgs. 75 cents, 12 pgs. Home delivery 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 View elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com