June 30, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 20

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Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Weekday Edition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a The Voice of Elk City: Legendary sports broadcaster recounts the long, winding road that the 2019-20 fiscal year. made Elk City his home $17.2 million figure is with in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons hospital.” Wilson graduated from high school in 1979 and attended the University of Missouri for one year as a wrestler. “I realized were pretty quick not released that by our college office life wasn’t - regarding for me. Ientry a NAMUS was kind of adrift, so my grandmother came to me and gave me $2,350 — her burial money. She said, ‘Take this and go make a life for yourself in Oklahoma.’ I had two uncles and an aunt who The district could not find were living in Oklahoma City and working out at Fort Reno. I got my first job at the State Fair of Oklahoma. That wasn’t the state fair we have every year in September, but the actual company. At that time, they had a lot of things going there, like the big rodeos and big Appaloosa sales. I would check out all the the fiscal year ended. He Department equipment and gasoftoHuman Services whoever officials was having the are working event — like with say if the Shriners were there or something that like,” Wilson said. Hunt, payroll/insurance While he had attended the University of Missouri, he had to the current fiscal year, but 48 Though joined a fraternity. years, with Wilson40hadofnot enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, ever the social butterfly, he promptly continues, and a final befriended members of the same fraternity at Norman. “This was my first real job. I mean, I had worked my whole life on the dairy, but we didn’t get a paycheck and have to budget Left, Wilson with his three children and daughter-in-law Tori after winning an oustanding service awards from the the money out. We would just go to Dad, and he would dole Oklahoma Secondary Sports Activities Assocation; Right, Wilson and his wife Gina outside of the First Christian it out as needed, so I didn’t really have a good concept of how Church in Elk City, where the family has been long-time members. Courtesy phots. muchLatertrouble on you couldon Tuesday gethe into if you started sheriff’s writing office FB page,checks Manning that wouldn’t cover. One night we had the White Rose Formal, said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed By Shonda Little too.” and I wrote about $2,300 worth of bad checks. I woke up the Although this fateful tale would be a headline in most next morning and knew I had messed up really badly. A friend Sixty-year-old Shawn Wilson has been covered in just about people’s lives, it is but a side note for flawless, Wilson.and thatdecades His six doesn’t of See Wilson page 2. every form of media possible. From television to print, bill- life have been proven to be anything but typical. boards to social media commercials, and, of course, the radio airwaves that he has dominated for three decades. The coverage Now, looking back on his six decades, he says every misstep and misadventure was an essential part of his journey that was Three Elk City residents he receives this time of year outside of his longtime gig as sports guiding him to where he was always supposed to be — in a tiny director for KECO 96.5FM is typically devoted to firework safety. town in western Oklahoma, married to the love his life, raising ton – 1978, 1982 and 1984 – and one state charged satisfied that the in steroid circumstances sting through which he came to In 2015, Wilson was with his family at Elk City’s Ackley Park kids and grandkids and reporting on the sports activities of the when he accidentally suffered a severe injury to his right hand community that he has made his own. been a coach Merritt middle school teacher when an artillery or mortar-style firework blew up in his hand. “This is home,” Wilson gushed. “Allfor the48God years – a head things in myfootball life The frightening incident left him with much of his dominant have put me exactly where He wanted me to be, and I amoverall coach cord of for 40 years 307-147 – and has an simplyre among those charged right hand gone. grateful that He knew better than me to andget ame playoff here.”record of 44- “Every year I tell kids that fireworks are dazzling but danger- As a child, Wilson and 24.his Hetwoplayed football sisters were at Oklahoma adopted State. by his “Our strength is going to increase dramati ous. Then I show them my hand as proof,” Wilson explained. biological father’s sister and husband. The aunt and uncle who cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in “This was totally self-inflicted. The Fourth of July is that time became their parents lived on a dairy south of Kansas City in a of year when grown men delight in acting like 12-year-old boys. small town called Harrisonville. I was with my family; my little sister was visiting from New “I had really bad asthma as a kid, so you can imagine what Jersey. I was showing off and took that artillery-type firework being on a farm did for that,” he recounted. “We were putting and was going to throw it. They are supposed to be shot off from up dusty milo and hay bales. I had a hard time breathing a lot. a tube, but I thought there was no fun in that. I took it out of It doesn’t matter if it is Christmas or your birthday during an interview or you office in the athletic are at Officials in Beckham County have cut nearly $1 million the tube and had lit it and was about to throw it. The fuse coiled sick, on a dairy, those cows have to be milked twice a day. So from their estimated budget this year, with the final around my hand and lit the top of it, blowing up in my hand. It we learned from an early age to work hard. If it hadn’t been for approvalPorter Heather of the 2019-20 fiscal Klaudia year budget Porter coming Travis in the Porter went off, and my index and middle finger went with it. Three- asthma, I probably would have stayed right there my whole life fourths of my ring finger and the top of my thumb are gone now, and worked on that dairy, but I didn’t like having to be in the By Shonda Little the2019-20 search isbudget at their on to find The accident weeklycoordi an offensive meeting Monday. The fina During the courseOccurred just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 of an extensive investigation by the Elk City over to Police the state by Department, threethe Elkfirst Cityofresidents October.have been charged 66 ToGo: Your new go-to Cain tried in connection to repair with something allegedly distributingunder his 1986 steroids. Drug Task Force and other law enforcement agencies assisted in theexcise TheFord board gives the final approval and signs off on it investigation. F350 District II His starting date is the first Monday after Although the official probable cause affidavit is not expected to THEY’RE OFFICIAL…The Hartman, Beckham be filed in Beckham the County Beckham County Sheriff’s County Clerk. Office, District Carteruntil Court Fire,later Elkthis Cityweek, Fire, ourCity Elk first phase Chamber of of theCom- CAPS County officials said in April a press release sent by the Elk City Police that Department’s changes in the budget Assistant merce held a ribbon cutting Chief John Cook alleges that Heather Porter, her husband Travis ceremony at 66 ToGo June Porter and their 25. Pictured left to right... tion scheme for 19-year-old daughter the Elk offense. On the Klaudia de Porter were involved in the distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Donna Arganbright, 101.7 During the course of the investigation, a detective obtained mes- KKZU; Victoria Estrada sages that were allegedly from Heather Porter from 2018 to the (Margarita’s daughter); end ofThe county 2020. The cut $998,696 detective statedfrom that its budget, she had Hartman used her said cell phone Owners, Margarita and Mar- on these particular dates to allegedly distribute a schedule III con- vin Gorden; staff, Caitlyn trolled dangerous substance electronically. Harris and Chris Galvan; department or every official gives their estimate of what Through an interview with a cooperating individual, law enforce- Burgundy Lee Hanrahan, they’re needing for the year,” Hartman said. “The excise ment reportedly learned that Heather Porter had been distributing Staff Writer, Beckham Coun- steroids from her residence on Calhoon Street in conjunction with tycould Mediastay andon Susie the Cupp, floor the her husband Travis Porter and daughter Klaudia Porter. Executive Director, Elk City In the early morning hours of June 24, law enforcement execut- Chamber of Commerce. Photo ed a search warrant on the Porter residence. A minor child was also a.m. with Hot Hash and provided by Sharon Carpenter, Elk reportedly in the know “We don’t home.those figures yet,” she said. “We’re kind City Chamber of Commerce. “During the course of the search warrant, multiple items were seized, and what appeared to be over almost 1,000 containers, bot- By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan for last once they get a taste of 66 ToGo’s world class frozen cus- tles and vials of steroids were seized from the residence along with year before and current year figures and help the county tard. The fresh made-in-house custard is so good in fact that Marvin other items that are considered to be evidence,” the press release The ribbon was cut Friday, June 25 as the Elk City Chamber of says that it “only takes a sample” of the creamy confection for most asserts. “But we’ve made 20 percent cuts; some offices Commerce officially welcomed 66 ToGo, LLC. Open since late No- “to become instant and on-going customers.” Vanilla, chocolate and According to the assistant chief’s document, Heather Kathleen vember, owners Marvin and Margarita Gorden explained that the butter pecan are offered in store everyday along with a fourth flavor Porter has been charged with felony counts of maintaining a place nostalgic restaurant was an original idea with a from-scratch con- that can be found daily on their Facebook page, website (66togo.us) where controlled dangerous substances are kept, possession of a A fire cept. that burned Stemming from both the theTeam feelingChip Taewest that the Kwon get those final figures from them, it’s kind of wait and side of town or phone menu. However, you don’t have to be living in or travel- CDS with the intent to distribute, child neglect and seven counts Do building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 lacked somewhere to eat as well as that it would be a convenient ing through Elk City to get your hands a definite on the date Commissioners frozen of violating the set forofthe 21 flavors gave their Security of final approval Communications for the Act. Travis figures Porter has location for oilfield workers, Marvin eyed the piece of the land that reportedly been charged with three felonies though the document the restaurant now sits on until the chance came to purchase it. custard offered in pints and quarts. The Gordens ship their cold cre- did not specify which charges he faces. Localschief fire and for thealike travelers Elk City watchedFire Department. and wondered construction ations to all 50 states through their website as No 66togoship.us. first weekend in November. 66ToGo is also perfect for families with their “Kids’ Meals on The following day, Klaudia Porter was also arrested. The docu- injuries began at the occurred. Two people corner of Business in the build 40 and Highway 6. Their curiosity mentthere, at least did not state one whataccount charges inhavethere,” Hartman been filed againstsaid. her. wasing satisfied when,unharmed. after several months, the part establishment’s Wheels”, a selection of entrees served in their choice of classic cars. escaped The main of the sign So come see Marvin and Margarita at 19677 route 66 North in Elk A call to the Beckham County Detention Center showed that appeared. Before long the doors of the Gordens’ brainchild were Hartman could not provide an exact figure. The public fire occurred in the hot water heater area. 75 children City. Openyear. this fromThat 10:30figure was9:30 a.m. to up from p.m. 40 lastday, every 66 ToGo aims to none of the three are in custody at this time, though it was not year. open and they were serving offerings of burgers, beer battered cod, $12,130. an The insurance of sidescompany – and somealso mightisnot investigating. clear whether or not they had bonded out. assortment want to save the best be the go to place for delicious eats and the ultimate summer treat. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 52 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 85 / 67 99/70 75 cents, 8 pgs. 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com