June 23, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

Page Text

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 Weekday Edition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Beckham and Washita County Scrapbooking Elk City Police group to hold June and July events in Canute the 2019-20 fiscal year. successfully bring multi-state hunt for $17.2 million figure is with missing and endangered in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons juvenile to an end were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry By Shonda Little Interstate 40 is the third- The district could not find longest interstate in the coun- try, stretching through eight states. On any given day, thousands of motorists cross Named in honor of the group’s original coordinator, the late through Beckham County the fiscal year ended. He Sumer Kamphous, Sumer’s Scrapbooking Heifers currently have Department of Human Services alongofficials the are working storied with highway two events planned for the summer. that runs parallel to the famed The first event will be held from June 25-27, and the second Route 66. Hunt,will will be held from July 16-18. Both events payroll/insurance be hosted at a The reasons for being on the to the current fiscal year, but 48 years, with 40 community barn near the Canute Volunteer Fire Department. roadofare as varied as the people journeying upon it. Most trav- continues, and a final “We will start that Friday morning at about 10 am, and elers are going about the road- we will go that night until the last person wants to go home. William Arnold way for its intended purposes We have been known to stay at it until 2 or 3 a.m.,” Herndon — hauling America’s goods, laughed. “We will get back up on Saturday and Sunday at the commuting to work, and vaca- same time. We try to be out of there by about 4 pm on Sunday.” tioning to places near and far. Herndon said that the Canute Volunteer Fire Department But, in the last year and a half, that same road has brought allows them to use the building for donations. more Later thanon oneTuesday case of on the sheriff’s potentially missingoffice andFB page, Manning endangered chil- “We don’t charge a cost to get in. We ask that anyone who said sheriff’s officials had found documents dren from other states to a safe ending, thanks to alert that confirmed citizens wants to join us leaves a little donation for the fire department and law enforcement. for graciously allowing us to use theflawless, facilities.and It has The most recent case occurred on June 14. thata doesn’t full kitch- On this date, Elk City Police had been informed of a BOLO, or Sumer's Scrapbooking Heifers got ladybug tattoos in en. Laura (Webb) normally brings something in a crockpot for “be on the lookout,” for an out-of-state tag from the state of Ten- Kamphaus's memory. Courtesy photo. us to eat on. You can bring snacks. It’s really just a fun way for nessee for a potentially missing and endangered juvenile. us to preserve our memories while having fun with our friends,” As a result of the ECPD’s keen awareness of the situation, the Herndon explained. child has now been securedand a 35-year-old Columbia, Tennes- By Shonda Little Fun with friends is essential to this group. satisfied see, man is inthat the circumstances custody at the Beckham through Countywhich he came Detention to Center. Last August, they ton – 1978, tragically 1982 and lost their 1984and founder – and key one orga-state In the BOLO, the officer read that a six-year-old child had been When most western Oklahomans hear the word “crop,” im- nizer, Sumer Kamphous, after a four-year battle with cancer. last seen with his stepfather, William David Arnold III. ages of amber wheat awaiting a summer harvest come to mind been a “Anyone else would have coach been deadforin48 sixyears – a head months,” football Herndon The BOLO stated that Arnold was believed to be traveling in or worrying that Midwestern corn will skyrocket livestock feed gushed. “Sumer gave it hercoach all for and 40 years – literally and has willed an to herself overall live re a hunter-green Chevy van. The year of the van’s production was in the fall. unknown. For Sumer’s Scrapbooking Heifers, the word has an entirely four more years. She lovedcord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- scrapbooking memories with her sons and was welcoming24. to anyone who wanted “I was informed that Mr. Arnold was possibly in possession of different meaning. He played football at to join in. Our Oklahoma State. “Our strength is going to increase dramati group kind of center around her and her organization, but we a shotgun and that he was a convicted felon. According to Mr. “You know that I have worked for Midwest Farm Supply cally,” Arnold’s hecriminal said. “The [players’] history, he was confidence convictedinof a felony in the state for many years, so learning that a crop is also when a group are committed to staying together in her memory. A few years of Georgia in 2015,” the officer wrote. of women gets together to scrapbook was kind of funny,” said ago, we went to a crop or a scrapbooking retreat, and she had On this same date, at approximately 3 p.m., the officer was in- event coordinator Melanie Herndon. See Scrapbooking page 2. formed that a vehicle matching this description was located near an Elk City restaurant on the 2100 block of South Main Street. The reporting officer met with a second ECPD officer at the lo- cation and positively Officials identified in Beckham the van County haveparked in the large cut nearly park- $1 million during an interview in the athletic office at Superintendent Garrison’s final ingfrom lot. their estimated budget this year, with the final The two of approval officers theconfirmed 2019-20 the the BOLO through the ECPD dispatchers. fiscaltagyear on the van matched budget coming in thattheof It was, in fact, connected to the BOLO for the missing and en- school board meeting dangered juvenile. the“We 2019-20were search side aThestore unaware isbudget on to find accident in the area,” theoffensive atiftheir an Occurred van weekly just after meetingor if occupied was coordi the reporting 6 p.m. ECPD Monday. Thein- they were in a hay officer field wrote. fina 3 “Due to over to the the fact thatstate we hadby information the first of October. that Mr. Arnold was armed “bittersweet” for board members with aCain for a while to see if Mr. Arnold came out.” excise A shotgun, short time repair tried Itomade gives boardlater, the thesomething the decision to set final approval officers under observed and uphis and Arnold 1986 Ford watch signs andoff theF350 theon van it child His starting date is the first Monday after walk to the van. ECPS Board President Brandon Storm excited for our first phase of the CAPS Hartman, “I accelerated Beckham County nold from Beckham getting toward County officials County the Sheriff’s to thesaidvaninand Clerk. in an vanOffice, April Carter to attempt that changes possibly prevent Fire, Ar- Mr. Fire, Elk City producingina the budget weapon. I incoming Superintendent Sparks observed Mr. Arnold look at me and quickly open the van door. Mr. Arnold sat in the driver’s seat and continually stared at me,” tion scheme forofficer the reporting the Elk offense. On the de stated. By Shonda Little floor at the Susan Powell Auditorium is “back in order.” As the officer held him at gunpoint, Arnold was commanded to With the last day of June finishing the fiscal year, not much new exit the vehicle while showing his hands. After ten years on the Elk City School Board, ECPS Board Presi- data was available. The county Arnold was thencut $998,696 asked to walkfrom its budget, backward toward Hartman the officer said be- dent Brandon Storm says that the summer months are normally the The board did not opt to go into executive session. fore laying upon his stomach. busiest for board members as they prepare for their new fiscal year On agenda item 7A, the board approved the request for the child Arnold was placed in hand restraints. While conducting a pat while searching to make the right new hires for resignations and nutrition program to continue with the Smart Campus Food Buying department down search, theorofficer everyasked official gives was if Arnold theircarrying estimate anyofweap- what retirements. Group through US Foods. they’re ons on needing for the year,” Hartman said. “The excise his person. This year’s first meeting comes with an extra dose of new chap- Storm explained that this allows multiple school districts to bind Arnold informed the officer that he had a shotgun inside the ters as the school turns the page on not only the seemingly endless together to buy in bulk to reduce foodcould costs. stay on the floor the van. challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic but also the retire- The board also approved the CCOSA District Level Services Pro- Once Arnold was secured in the patrol car, the two ECPD of- ment of Superintendent Rick Garrison. ficers approached the green Chevy van. gram agreement. “As a kid, Mr. Garrison went to the a.m. with Hot Methodist Hashwith Church and us,” Inside, the reporting officer observed the child sitting in the Storm is excited for the ECPS School Board to able to attend in- Storm said. “He graduated with board member Kris Waters. When person continuing education training. front“We don’t seat. passenger knowHe those figures assisted yet,”in the child she said. out stepping “We’re kind of the I was a kid, he and his buddies taught us how to play football. He is vehicle and walked him back. “We have two new members who have not yet been because they Elk City through and through. He is leaving us on a good note, and were not held in person last year due to Covid. We gain a lot from By this time, an ECPD detective had arrived on the scene. The year child wasbefore placedand current year inside the detective’sfigures and help the county vehicle. the school has made forward progress with us. He achieved what he these meetings,” he said. set out to achieve. He is an icon for Elk City Schools. Mr. Garrison While clearing the green Chevy van, the reporting officer dis- The board also approved open transfer students for the 2021- “Buta we’ve covered Mossbergmade .2020gauge percent boltcuts; actionsome offices shotgun sitting be- has gone above and beyond to help Mr. Sparks start off in the right 2022 school year. place and keep that forward progress going. Mr. Sparks is jumping in tween the front driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat. Storm said that this included approximately sixteen students The shotgun was collected and secured in the officer’s patrol with both feet. He is one of us, through and through. Mr. Garrison through pre-K to 12th grade. A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon went above our expectations, and I believe that Mr. Sparks will do get those final figures from them, it’s kind of wait and vehicle. “It’s a numbers game,” he said. “We are happy to take in more stu- theDo building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 same.” The officer then contacted the Maury County Sheriff’s Office, Commissioners dents. That is what we are here for. We After the call to order, the board opened to comments from the many as we take in, so we are happy toawelcome normallydate definite end set up releasing for the as which is Arnold’s homegave countytheirin final approval Tennessee. That for the had agency figures is- these new students.” sued the BOLO. public. Board policy requires that anyone wanting to make a pub- On agenda item 7L, the board approved continuing to use the re- lic fire first weekend in November. The county requested to put a hold on the child and stated that chiefmust comment for the notifyElk theCity Fire Department. superintendent 24 hours No before the habilitation services through Great Plains Regional Medical Center. they would be en route to Oklahoma to pick up the child. injuries occurred. Two people in the build agenda is publicly posted. “This one is a no-brainer,” Storm stated. “We are very fortunate to there, The at least officer was one account informed thatinthe there,” Hartman county did notsaid. currently No ingpublic comments escaped were made.The main part of the unharmed. have a state-of-the-art facility like Great Plains here at home. It is a have any arrest warrants issued for Arnold. Storm said that Mr. Garrison gave a “good run down of where luxury for a town our size. They can provide the best service around. Hartman could not provide an exact figure. The public fire occurred in the hot water heater area. 75 children this year. That figure was up from 40 last year. See Arnold page 2. they are on the third agenda item.” $12,130. The insurance Storm advised thatcompany also isdevelopments one of his favorite investigating. is that the See Board page 2. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 50 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 102 / 77 99/70 75 cents, 8 pgs. 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com