November 17, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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a= — Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekday Edition Elk City High School senior makes Oklahoma 4A Fast Pitch Softball All-State i John Paul Albert, Paul Albert, Beckham County District Judge Michelle Kirby Roper and Chad Roper at last week's Oklahoma Bar Association Convention. Courtesy photo. Beckham County Associate District Judge Michelle Kirby Roper wins Family Law Judge Le of the Year by Oklahoma Bar Association ie i By Shonda Little Longtime Beckham County attorney Paul Albert also Standing at five feet and four inches, Elk City High School se- nior Danni Sottile is proof that dynamite comes in small pack- celebrated as Family Law Attorney of the Year ages. After all, she has been a powerhouse both on the ball field and the classroom. Her awards and accolades stretch back nearly to By Shonda Little by other attorneys in that field, much less to win it. Sometimes her toddler years. But, after years of gritty, hard work, Sottile family law can be amongst the most heart-wrenching. You hate to recently added one of her most prized crownings. At last week’s annual Oklahoma Bar Association Convention, see families — kids and parents who love those kids — having to “I learned last week that I made Oklahoma All-State,” Sottile Beckham County Associate District Judge Michelle Kirby-Roper go through this arduous process. I take my responsibility in try- said. won the first annual Family Law Judge of the Year award. ing to find solutions in these tough situations seriously, so it was Getting the athletic standout to list her achievements is not ‘The event was held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Oklaho- heartwarming for me to know that my colleagues appreciate that easy. Her natural instinct is first to praise her coaches and ma City from November 10-13, hosting seminars on every ele- in me,” Roper said. teammates. ment of the law from estate planning, procedures, adoption law, ‘The award ceremony was held at the UCO building in Bricktown. “['m excited. Of course I'm excited. I'm just as proud of our and family law. “What made winning this award even neater was that Paul Albert team winning back-to-back academic state champs as a team, “L was so surprised whenI received the text message from a col- was also named Family Law Attorney of the Year,” Roper said. though. I love being with my team and working towards a Teague who said, ‘Iwant to be the first to congratulate you on win- “Paul is in Oklahoma County now, but he still has several cases goal. It’s a team effort, and I get to play with some of my best ning the Oklahoma Family Law Judge of the Year.’ I was in shock. that come before our court in Beckham County. He also has friends,” Sottile stated. It is such a big honor to know that I had even been nominated See Award page 2. For Sottile, life on the ball diamond started early. She has few memories before she was thrust headfirst into softball. “I think I was about four years old whenI first started playing,” Elk City High School senior is awarded sixth the 17-year-old recounted. “That was playing t-balll here in Elk City, but it went from there.” straight years in Oklahoma All-State Choir By the time Sottile was eight, she had taken a bold spot on the pitcher’s mound. Though that position is what she has been rec- ognized for as an all-stater, the ECHS senior also notes that she has a passion for every position. Cade DeWitt shares his enthusiasm for music and Elk City “I get to play the outfield with a traveling team right now, Epic school spirit with band director father 18u. I've gotten to play shortstop and pitcher. It is a total team effort,” she detailed. See Sottile page 2. His zeal for music, whether instrumental or vocal, comes natu- rally to him. After all, Cade is the son of Elk City High School Band Director Tim DeWitt. So from an early age, he has been surrounded by the wonders of music in all forms and genres. He recounts going to band rooms as an infant, eager to understand how the magical sounds were coming from many instruments conjoined to birth a song. “I always loved all the moving parts of it,” Cade recalled. “I would see Dad’s students and was excited to get bigger and learn how to do that stuff.” Just as he had hoped, Cade eventually got big enough to trans- form into a musician in his own right. He started out in the fifth grade playing in the school band. He was drawn to the French horn and continues to labor toward mastering it to this day. “The French horn was unique to me,” he said. “A lot of my friends and the other kids were wanting to play the trumpet or the saxo- phone or the drums. However, the French horn is what spoke to me, and I have loved playing it all these years. Because it is so Cade DeWitt similar, it also made it easy for me to be able to learn to play the trumpet alongside it.” By Shonda Little ‘As much as the band instruments may have been destiny for him as a band director's kid, Cade says his involvement in his now Southwest Rustic Passion — that is the word Elk City High School senior Cade favorite musical activity fell upon him by happenstance. DeWitt used over and over as he described not only his affinity for vocal music but for countless people he has been fortunate “[ was in the seventh grade, and all my friends were joining the choir. I had grown up watching my parents in the praise band at Market has great turnout to meet during his numerous years earning Oklahoma All-State our church, the United Methodist, so I knew I liked singing and Elizabeth Pampered on 66 from Elk City. See more honors in choir. See Senior page 2. photos on page 8. Staff photo by Zadie Eakins. Iummniugy = Weather Weather 55 / 32 Vol. 119, No. 92 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com