July 21, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Wednesday, July 21, 2021 WeekdayEdition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Elk City Crushers crush at state Red Carpet Elk City boys earn runner-up honors at state games the 2019-20 fiscal year. Community Theater $17.2 million figure is with announces 2021 slate in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information Group eyes new fundraisers was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons By Shonda Little were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic bore a crushing effect upon all the live arts. Shows were canceled as preven- tative measures for the virus’s seemingly endless spread. The The district could not find societal impact seemed to know no bounds. However, as fans are eagerly flocking back into the theater and other types of live revenue performances, the long re- strictions on the arts has fans flocking back in droves as the rules are lifted. the fiscal year ended. He “YouDepartment know whatoftheyHuman Services say — absenceofficials makesare theworking with heart row fonder,” laughed Red Carpet Community Theater president Hunt, payroll/insurance Sheryl Ponce. “I honestly would have been pleased for the to the current fiscal year, but variety show 48 years, that we with held 40 of earlier this summer to bring in $2,500. But, instead, we brought in $15,000. We had a full continues, and a final EC Crushers celebrate as slate of performers and a packed house. You could feel the they make it to the tournament people’s enthusiasm behind the stage, on the stage, in the finals. Courtesy photos. director’s box, and, most importantly, in the audience. It is easy to take something for granted that has always been By Shonda Little nine is impressive of these boys during league play. We won all there, but then for the first time in our lives, it was gone. our games but one. In that, we lost against Cheyenne. We got to TheLater on Tuesday pandemic made iton the sheriff’s beyond all ouroffice FBIpage, control. Manning know for me Over the weekend, the Elk City Crushers finished their long week come back and play them for the finals of the local league tourna- said sheriff’s personally officialsothers and many had on found documents the RCCT that board andconfirmed involved in Sallisaw at the Oklahoma Kids State Tournament by proving ment. The boys were out to get their revenge. We won that.” in our productions that we will never take this for granted that they will be a future force to reckon with. From there, the Crushers went on to regional play in Woodward again.” While the feisty group of 10 and under young men ultimately the first week of July. There they flawless, and that doesn’t earned second place, which Curtains will open on the RCCT’s first production since the came up one game shy of the championship, the boys were elated qualified them for the state championship tournament in Salli- COVID-19 pandemic struck on July 30. by their hard-earned wins. Head coach Jorey Price talked about saw. “We will have evening shows for those three weekend nights his deep with a deep sense of pride. “Through the Oklahoma Kids organization, the teams all come — Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Those shows start at 7:30 “The core of this team has been together since t-ball,” Price re- from local leagues like ours. Sallisaw is a good four-hour drive, p.m. and then we have a Sunday matinee. It is at 2:30. We satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to counted. “We have lost a few and added a few, but we have several but the kids soldiered through,” Price ton – 1978, gushed. 1982 and 1984 – and one state will then do it again the following weekend. The play is ‘Over that have been here since day one. We love them all and are proud Arriving on Tuesday, the team had a packed schedule all week the River and Through the Woods,’ directed by board mem- of them, regardless of how or when they got here. I can’t say how long. been a coach for 48 years – a head football ber Ashley Arganbright. We have an amazing cast that will be excited I and the other coaches and the parents are of this team.” “In our first game, we squared off40 coach for against years the PChas – and Naturals fromre an overall a gift to our audiences,” Ponce explained. Entry into the tournament must be earned through local play. Shawnee. They had beat us in our first tournament, so that had The cast includes Ben Dobbs of Rocky, Christy Russell of Elk cord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- For the Elk City Crushers, that came through the city league Play the boys fired up. We ended up beating them 3-0. Kentry Mar- City, Ben Mills of Elk City, Cat Tate of Elk City and Sharon 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. “Our strength is going to increase dramati with Kids, Inc. cum pitched a no-hitter.” and Jim Hull of Clinton. cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in “We started practicing in March, and then we did four tourna- The team then went on to take their first loss on Wednesday from Next, the RCCT will present “Clue” from September 24-26 ments during that time,” Price advised. “But, we are truly a league the Andarako Warriors. and October 1-3. team. We aren’t a traveling team. These boys did it up through “Keeson Taliaferro was awesome on the mound for the first three “For this production and our next, ‘A Christmas Pageant,’ we the ranks. We first played in our local league. In the nine tourna- innings. Cade Green also came in clutch. So even though we lost are looking for our director. Ideally, we would want someone ments we played, including this one, we were champions in four that one, we had great contributions,” Price said. with experience, whether directing, on the stage or both. It and runners-up in three. To make it to the finals in seven out of See Crushers page 2. during an interview in the athletic office at Officials in Beckham County have See RCCT$1 cut nearly page 2. million from their estimated budget this year, with the final approval of the 2019-20 fiscal year budget coming in the Hometown Heroes Meet & Greet a success the2019-20 search isbudget at their on to find The accident weeklycoordi an offensive Occurred meeting Monday. The fina just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 over to the state by the first of October. By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan time withCainthe tried to repair something community. I don’t thinkunder youhiscan1986 everFord F350 honor or spotlight our First Responders too much. I mean, they they go “I’m good. It’s awesome, it’s great. Better than honestly I ex- above excise board gives and beyond and wethe needfinal to approval recognizeand them signs off on it for that.” His starting date is the first Monday after pected,” Sicily McAbee, organizer of the Hometown Heroes Meet With music being played by 96.5 KECO, the crowd wandered Hartman, Beckham Beckham County County Sheriff’s Clerk. & Greet expressed when asked howour shefirst thought phase the event of the CAPSwas through the park enjoying free Office, hot hotCarter dogs andFire, Elk provided chips County officials said in April that changes in the budget City Fire, going. Dozens, possibly hundreds of people came out to Ackley by donors, seizing the opportunity to check out various emer- Park in Elk City on July 16 from 6 – 8 p.m. to take part in the gency response vehicles such as one of Elk City Fire Depart- event and thank their hometown heroes who ranged from po- ment’s tion scheme for theAlso fire engine. Elk present offense. was On the de Plains Regional Medi- Great lice, to fire, healthcare workers and more. Smiles adorned faces cal Center’s special ambulance that is fitted with their logo. A as children rode the carousel and jumped in the bounce house few representatives were there as well such as Director of Plant The county Kevin cut $998,696 Whenfrom its what budget, Hartman said and as families played putt putt and thanked First Responders Operations Martin. asked it meant to have for their service. been asked to participate in the event he replied “It means a lot Elk City Chief of Police Eddie Holland said “It’s not really surpris- because we deal with First Responders and the fire department department or every official gives their estimate of what ing,” when asked what it meant to him and his team that the all the time. They’re the ones that stabilize and bring patients to they’re needing for the year,” Hartman said. “The excise community wanted to put on this event, “the area has always us and we have to work with them, right? I mean, it’s teamwork. supported us 100%.” Chief Hollandcould continued onto That’s why we’re all out here.” stay on thetofloor say the that he thinks of the community as the department’s clients and that Outfitted in one of many shirts reading “Volunteer,” Ben Wat- they always provide the best possible service. “We may be small kins, General Manager for Maverick Natural Resources explained a.m. with Hot Hash and but we think big in hiring the best, most qualified candidates, “The reason we wanted to put this on and we were so supportive of the “We event don’t was know that those with figures all the yet,” of craziness sheCOVID said. we“We’re wantedkind in our training and in our level of professionalism. I would put to be supportive of our First Responders and of everyone who my personnel up against anyone in the state. ECPD will forever was on the front lines that dealt with COVID and everything else strive for continued excellence.” year before and current year figures and help the county going on. Another main reason we wanted to do this is that with While the event was free for the community, that would not have some of thewe’ve “But negative madeviews 20 of police cuts; percent acrosssome the US we wanted to offices been possible without sponsors such as Barber-Dyson Ford Lin- show that we’re very supportive of our police and our fire, our coln and Maverick Resources. David Dyson said of wanting to EMTs, our First Responders in the hospital. I just wanted to show help make the occasion possible: “It’s been a tough year and a half A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon for everybody, especially our First Responders and, and myself, our get thoseacross support final figures from them, the community. it’sglad So I’m kindeverybody of wait and came Do building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 my business along with Maverick Resources, just really wanted out.” a definite date set for the Commissioners Though some of First gave their final Responders approval for (and their the had vehicles) figuresto to do something to kind of spotlight those guys and gals. We also leave the event to attend to a call, Elk City Fire Chief Kyle Cher- wanted to put on a little bit of a community event to let people venka says “It’s an awesome thing that the community will get fire chief for the Elk City Fire Department. No first weekend in November. THANK YOU HOMETOWN HEROES…a flag that was proudly that have been cooped up get out. know that there’s a lot of folks together to do that for the First Responders and the PD, Fire, on injuries display atoccurred. the HometownTwoHeroes people in the Meet buildIN GOD WE that maybe couldn’t or can’t really afford right now to take their & Greet; there, at least one account in there,” Hartman said. EMS personnel. That’s just an awesome thing to be able to do. We ing escaped unharmed. The main part of the TRUST…ECPD says this decal will soon adorn all of its vehicles. kids out and participate in all the events and all the activities we just really appreciate all of them that put in the time and effort fire occurred in the hot water heater area. Hartman could not provide an exact figure. The public Staff photos by Burgundy Lee Hanrahan. 75 children have this there out $12,130. year. in That figure our wasSoupwe parks. from 40 lastto be wanted year.able to pay for See Heroes page 2. The insurance company also is investigating. that, let everybody do that for free and just have a really good Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 60 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 90 / 64 99/70 75 cents, 8 pgs. 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com