June 19, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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Saturday, June 19, 2021 Weekend Edition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Memories, merchandise and Main Street: Elk City retailer reflects upon his father as he expands his business the 2019-20 fiscal year. $17.2 million figure is with For countless many, the type of fashion that he offered to Elk needed help with Carroll’s. in Erick Now, eightfive months years after ago andhas Carroll that theand died child’s Bradyinformation is the sole pro- City and the surrounding communities would have required a trip to Oklahoma City had he not offered it. He was dedicated — tried prietor, was heputsays intothatthe his National father’s Missing wisdomand Unidentified has both helped him Persons main- and true. tain the business and make it grow. At the time, Main Street was dotted with storefronts that were “We still carry Born and New Balance. Those are two brands Dad giants of their time in western Oklahoma. knewwere wellnot andreleased knew thatby our ouroffice customers- regarding would a NAMUS still want. Theyentryre- Directly across the street, his sister-in-law Joan operated the main some of our biggest sellers. But, when I moved home to help famed Fashion Corner. Further down, his brother Larry operated him, I had these ideas that made him a little gun shy. He taught me the famous Butcher and Company. invaluable things about what worked, but he also taught me not to “ItThe district wasn’t could all our not though,” family, find Carroll’s eldest son Brady re- be afraid to try new things and bring stuff that people aren’t used to counted. “There were several stores which had been there for a long seeing in Elk City,” Brady said. time and were really dedicated to Elk City. I went to school with The new offerings seem nearly endless. From Pendleton blankets, some of their kids. My cousins were helping my uncle Larry at their ponchos, and cups to high-end men’s swimming trunks., Carroll’s store. I was about 12 or 13 when Dad started Carroll’s. You can’t re- seems to be constantly evolving. ally understand at that age what your family business is, but it was “I need to mention Department our t-shirts of Human and caps, Services too,” Brady officials said. “I with are working make the fiscal year ended. He neat having other kids who were down there helping their parents.” sure to have the shirts printed on Decades later, many of the iconic stores that Brady grew up with See Carroll’s page 2. have been closed. Sometimes that wasHunt, payroll/insurance because of topsy-turvy retail to the current fiscal year, but markets in an oilfield town. Other times the treasured businesses 48 years, with 40 of continues, and a final sold to newcomers into the Elk City retailers game. Either way, Brady says that he learned solid business practices from his dad and those who were running downtown stores at the Family heirloom same time. Brady and Carroll Butcher “We have changed quite a bit since Dad has died, but we are also the same store with the same values. We still offer a few of the most popular brands from his time. I think he would now get a laugh about some of the things that I am trying out, but he would also returned: Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning By Shonda Little be tickled that some are working and are popular,” Brady explained. Brady’s path home to run the family business was exciting and Report from last week’s said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed unexpected. Carroll had founded the iconic store when Brady was Carroll’s Shoe Corner, located on the west side of the intersec- barely a teenager. flawless, and that doesn’t Elk City News helps direct tion of Elk City’s Main Street and Broadway, has been a staple in the A basketball standout, Brady went on to play collegiate ball at downtown retail district longer than most can remember. Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Northwest Kansas. The founder, Carroll Butcher, was rarely not found in the store. Then, he spent six years coaching and teaching at Stillwater High nostalgic pendant to Like the business he founded, he became an Elk City icon in his own School before taking the plunge to one of America’s biggest cities. right. He did his best to stay on top of shopping trends — always “I had visited New York City and thought it would be cool to have ton – rightful owner satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to eager to be looking for something new while he was at the market, the opportunity to see what life1978, 1982 was like and 1984 there,” Brady–said. and one state but equally committed to providing his foundational brands. By the early 2000s, though, he was beckoned home as his father been a coach for 48 years – a head football By Shonda Little coach for 40 years – and has an overall re cord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- Merely a week ago, the Elk City News printed a story about a St. Mathew’s youth mission work week 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. young of Wichita is “Our strength a thumbprint Falls, goingTexas, memorial motherdramati to increase pendant. cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in seeking the rightful owner In a narrative that helps prove that newspapers still greatly inform readers and reach citizens who aren’t newspaper sub- scribers, Ashlie Duncan found that the article quickly accom- plished its goal. “I had found the pendant several years earlier while I was liv- ing in Elk City.inI Beckham Officials looked for the rightful County have owner at the time, cut nearly but I $1 million during an interview in the athletic office at didn’t get anywhere with it. To look at from their estimated budget this year, with the final it, you knew it was special andapproval important of to thesomeone. 2019-20 The fiscal year front sidebudget had thecoming imprintsin of the a thumbprint, and the backside of it had the man’s name and the years that he had lived. I did forget about it for a few years. I had tried from the beginning to find who it was supposed to be2019-20 the search Thebut with, isbudget Ion to accidentmoved, their at and find an life Occurred weekly offensive just meeting coordi after got busy. Monday. 6 p.m.I in When a hay found The fina it field again, 3I reached out to the newspaper. I didn’t put it on social media this over to the state by the first of October. time,Cainso it tried took the to repair newspapersomething to find under the personhis 1986 Ford F350 it belonged to,” Duncan said. The detailed excise boardstory gives hithe newsstands final approval approximately and signs a week off onago. it His starting date is the first Monday after Within a mere few days, someone had reached out to her seek- Hartman, County ingBeckham it. Beckham County Sheriff’s Clerk. Office, Carter Fire, Elk City Fire, our first phase of the CAPS County “They officials contacted me,said and Iinhad April them that changes describe it and in the budget when they had lost it. Like I said, I wanted to make sure it was with the right tion person. scheme forThis theisElk something offense. On thatthe really de needed to be with the right person,” Duncan said. The person who reached out to her was Nikki Johnson, a resi- dentThe of western countyOklahoma. cut $998,696 from its budget, Hartman said “I had a teacher from when I was at school at Erick reach out to me. She knew the story and believed it was mine. I couldn’t department have been happier or when everyI found officialit. Igives thoughttheirit was estimatelost of what forever,” they’reexplained. Johnson needing for the year,” Hartman said. “The excise After Duncan and Johnson were able to speak, Duncan was could stay on the floor the convinced. “I had searched for his obituary years ago, but could never reach anyone. From that, I did know a little bit about David a.m. with Hot Hash and Cook. Thedon’t person whothose reached out to me she was said. able to verify kind it “We know figures yet,” “We’re was hers. She remembered when it went missing and could tell On Monday morning, June 14, 2021, some of the young people There is always time for snow cones and some putt-Putt Golf at me about his life,” Duncan recounted. of St. Matthew Catholic Church, under the direction of their pastor, the city park. At the end of the day after supper, there is a good year Duncan before placed and current it in the mail year figures As to Johnson. andsoonhelpasthe county Johnson Father Danny Grover, and Katie Bartlett, director of religious educa- movie each evening before lights out. Of course Friday is Free Day opened the package, memories came flooding. tion, embarked on a week long mission work week. which will be held at the Clinton Water-Zoo “But we’ve Johnson said, made “David20 waspercent my fiancé. cuts; He some worked offices in the oilfield Originally the group was to meet up with other young people from A special thank you to Janice Warnke and her sons, as they have and did everything that he could to give my kids and me a bet- around the country in OKC, but when too many backed out due to provided the campers and adults with a 3-stall shower trailer to use ter life.” A fire covid that fears, the burned nationwidetheOKC Team Chipweek mission TaewasKwon cancelled. So during their stay at the church where they are staying for the week. get those final figures from them, it’s kind of wait and Johnson recounted that Cook was fun-loving, generous, and Do than rather building Tuesday cancelling afternoon the mission week forinthe the 1400 local young people, The campers are also accompanied by adults Amy Estes, Kim Gar- hardworking. a definite date set for the Commissioners gave their final approval for the figures Father Danny said they would be here simply helping those close by. za, and Josh Werth. “He was a wonderful person,” Johnson said. “I will always miss Each day has different activities. The young people will be going to The young people participating this week are Jaicee Drinnon, him. It was emotional getting it back, but it was also a relief. fire each chief of the for the nursing Elkand homes City Fire to assist workingDepartment. with No Alzheimer’s Clara Crowley, Lauren Crowley, Destanie first weekend Warner, Sarain November. Werth, Emma Duncan was relieved that the pendant found its way to the injuriesthey Awareness; occurred. Two people will be helping with twoin the build Meals-on-Wheels routes; Garza, Meghan Kennedy, Cooper Bartlett, Tucker Garza, Payton there,it at person least one belonged to. account in there,” Hartman said. helping clean the Food ing escaped Bank; washing unharmed. Thewindows main partat oneofofthe the nursing Buckley, Colton Estes and Luke Spitz. “I’m happy for her getting part of her heart back. It is a little homes; and painting a parishioner’s home in Canute. Daily mass and As Mother Teresa stated: “Go out into the world and love the Hartman couldit not fire occurred in the hot water heater area. prayer experiences are also part of the activities. The day is not 75 all children this piece, but I knew wasprovide important anto exact figure. someone. Thehad I have public jew- youyear. $12,130. people That meet. Letfigure was up from your presence light40new lastlight year.in the hearts of The insurance work and no play. company also is investigating. elry stolen that meant a lot to me,” Duncan said. people. Be the living expression of God’s kindness. Weather Vol. Vol. 119, 117, No.No.549 Mail delivery Home delivery View online View online tomorrow 99/70 101 / 74 75 cents, 1212 75 cents, pgs. pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com