August 28, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Elk City Police Department addresses rumor Assures community that there is no cause for concern FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY...Carla Garrison, Judy Haught and Linda Stineman showcase the “Women of Oklahoma” By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan Traveling Trunk. At right, some of the items that were on display at the Elk City Carnegie Library. Staff photos by Burgundy “It has come to the attention of the City of Elk City and the Lee Hanrahan. Elk City Police Department that a rumor has been going around concerning the use of cocaine at the Elk City Public Schools,” begins a letter signed by Major John Cook and posted to ECPD’s Friends of the Library Facebook page. The letter continues on to say that the rumor (or technically rumors, as there’s one that involves the High School and one that involves the Intermediate School) and reports are false and “did not happen,” according to the letter. ‘The second part of the letter references the partnership that hosts special exhibit ECPD and ECPS have formed over the years including the School Resource Officers (SROs) of which, as of last year, there are now two. Major Cook shares that the partnership between the organizations includes “open lines of communication, re- spect and mutual trust.” Major Cook also explains that the main By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan the exhibit, which featured among others, an Edwardian outfit, substance issues that ECPS is currently facing are vapes and WWII nurse fatigues and a lasso, shows that “you don’t always some marijuana. He also states that “We are not naive enough ‘The Elk City Carnegie Library and Friends of the Library recently have to go somewhere else to learn new things about history or to say that it would never happen but rest assured school staff displayed a special exhibit. The exhibit, which was on loan from other subjects. It’s really here in the library.” the Oklahoma History Center (OHO), is a part of OHC’s “Travel- ‘The library also hada special display of books featuring women of See Rumor page 2. ing Trunks” program which allows schools and libraries to borrow Oklahoma that are available for check out; library staff would be small collections and bring the museum to their community. happy to help you find those books. Friends of the Library were able to borrow the “Women of Okla- homa’” trunk which enables all those who are interested to learn Also said of the exhibit was that “There’s probably a lot more fa- mous occupations and people that you might recognize by name As Oklahoma about “the notable women of Oklahoma through activities and celebrates Breast items that bring to life not only the stories of Oklahoma women, but not realize they were from Oklahoma.” but how they have shaped the state and the nation,” according to Traveling Trunks is a free program available to schools and li- OHC's website. braries. The trunks are loaned for up to a week and can either be Friends of the Library, says members Linda Stineman and Judy Haught, has a mission to “support our library through programs, picked up or you can pay to have them shipped. For more infor- mation you can visit okhistory.org/historycenter/trunks. Feeding financial support and education. We concentrate on promoting For more information about Friends of the Library you can vis- literacy, especially with children.” It was shared with The Elk City News that to be able to bring it the Elk City Carnegie Library at 221 W Broadway Ave or call (580)225-0136. Awareness month local lactation consultant Two Elk City High School alumni kick off touts benefits of nursing opening of Elk City Auto Mall with donation for both mother and child to Elk City High School Band program By Shonda Little David Pena and Scott Each year, in the month of August, Brown, owners of Big Elk breastfeeding is high- Auto Mall, are proud of the lighted by the Okla- Elk City BAND 0.S.S.A.A. ‘Sweepstakes Aovard ECHS band. The ECHS band is among the most homa State Depart- ment of Health and Human Services. Class, Pride, Tradition decorated in the state. Cour- Expression Lacta- tion has been a ser- Preset Bek vice long needed in napa Parade 8 Beckham County. Be- fore Kelsey Schones, a registered nurse, recently founded the company, local moth- ers had few options for additional breastfeeding assistance. ‘The staff at Great Plains Regional Medical Center could pro- vide guidance, as could their doctors. But, anything extra felt By Shonda Little scramble times of the mid-1980s, Brown was accustomed to wild overwhelming, The information had to either be searched out market upturns and downturns. So when one of the most recent on the internet or was too far away for a recently postpartum When Elk City native son Scott Brown was relocated to his be- struck, he decided to cash out of the business that had been his woman to seek quickly. loved hometown a decade ago, he intended to have a brief stay life’s blood for his entire life and continue to make his claim in his For that reason, Schones knewthat resource was long over- while opening a pipeline yard for Milford Pipe and Supply. beloved hometown. due locally. ‘The 1986 Elk City High School graduate left western Oklahoma “The stress of it caused me to have a couple of heart attacks a few After all, despite her extensive professional experience, in a hurry as a young adult — out chasing a high-flying oilfield years ago,” Brown recounted. “I had been fortunate to have been ‘Schones had found herself struggling to successfully nurse her career that comes naturally to those born and raised in the iconic successful enough to cash out and retire. But then I found retire- first child. The Weatherford native had believed her career ex- boom town. ment life was driving me crazy, too. So I'm someone who has to perience would make breastfeeding easy. However, upon the prodigal son’s return, Brown found Elk City to stay busy, and that’s kind of how this Big Elk Auto Mall came to However, Schones soon learned that the biological task now indeed be the greener pasture. be.” could often be jarring and taunting. “The homecoming was amazing,” Brown gushed. “So many of my By that, Brown means that he formed a business partnership “[ want to start by saying that no mother should feel like old friends were still here, and it was like we hadn't missed a day. with his lifelong friend, David Pena. their choice is not valid,” Schones said, “I have been in a place Thave a 16-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son now, so my “David and I go way back to Longfellow. I am old enough to re- with my oldest child where breastfeeding was simply not wife and I were just starting our family. [looked around and knew member when he was still fast and skinny, but he is old enough to working, That was really confusing to me because I had been a this was the kind of childhood and upbringing that I wanted my remember the same about me,” Brown laughed. nurse at Great Plains Regional Medical Center's Women’s Cen- kids to have. My wife agreed. I may have moved away for several Together, Brown and Pena formed an automotive repair shop on ter. I had helped many new moms start their breastfeeding, years, but Elk City is home. I've lived other places, so I'm here to South Main. and I thought I knew all the tricks. Then I became a mom and tell you — it doesn’t get better than this.” Like most folks who started their oilfield careers in the hard- See Brown page 2. See Breastfeeding page 2. 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