March 16, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 10

Page Text

; Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Remodel on Main Street Merrifield’s Office Supply Surprise Remodel : =a 2 Sen ton Named to Oklahoma Academic All State By Sheryl Ponce Early last week Elk City High School senior, Maddie Benton At left, Scott and Jon Merrifield.; Above, Jon Merrifield received a letter that named her as one of 100 Oklahoma Aca- stands at the old counter, as customers come into shop. demic All State seniors. She is the daughter of Abby and Mark Eventually, Hope Coulter will make a new counter space, Benton and sister to Reagan Benton. She credits her sister who replacing the current one. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. has influenced her drive to achieve the honor. “Going into my freshman year I knew I wanted to be su- been made to show off the original brick walls, which seems to per involved in different activities and to try hard to keep my create a difference in the ambience of the area. grades up. I had a great example in my sister, because she was “Kade (Hope’s husband) and Hope built the new shelves. I like also named to Oklahoma All State. So, I knew I wanted to take that you can see the merchandise up tall. It looks clean. We will a similar path,” Benton said. The third in a series by Sheryl Ponce get to the rest of the place when they have time to make them. She became involved in Key Club, National Honor Society Kade welded them, and Hope refinished the shelving,” he said. (NHS) and Interact Club. She currently serves as president of When brothers Jon and Scott Merrifield of Merrifield’s Office Not only does the store’s appearance look different, but so NHS and Interact Club, and Benton was president of Key Club Supply were approached by Jon’s daughter, Hope Coulter, about does what they have to sell. In the front, along with purses and last year. Being active in these organizations was important, taking out the well-established cedar shelving to begin trans- children’s items, they carry a line of men’s outdoor and personal but it did not take a back seat to her education. forming the store, they baulked at the thought. They wanted to gear called Mad Man. “I work really hard to keep my grades up because education put off any remodeling. “We have carried the brand for three or four years, but didn’t has always meant a lot to me. I want to set a good example “One weekend my daughter had threatened to tear the cedar have as much. When Hope went to market ... she went to town, by working hard to further my education, so I can help those shelves out to expose these pretty brick walls. I didn’t see it at 80 we have a lot more,” Jon reported. around me,” she added. that time, but Scott and I came back one Saturday, after being He also admitted that they would not have started the job, if Benton has followed the example of her sister, Reagan, down south on the farm, and I all could see was see our cedar Hope had not pushed it, liking things as status quo. while not trying to compete with her. She said that her sister shelves out on the sidewalk. I said, ‘Oh, Scott, I guess we're re- “It probably never would have been remodeled like this be- has been a good role model and that helped motivate her to modeling.’ So that’s how it started,” Jon explained. cause, you know, we're just hey, let’s leave it the way it is. Yeah, achieve. Benton has also been named Valedictorian of her se- During the next few weeks, Coulter and Jon’s wife, Rhonda, change is hard. That’s why Hope had to rip out the shelves with- nior class andis graduating with 21 hours of college credit. began selling excess merchandise to make more room in the out us being here, because we wouldn't let her do it and probably “Being smart isn’t exactly natural, so I definitely just showroom. After hours Jon and Scott pitched in with moving would have said, ‘Let's wait till next year, or let’s wait a couple of worked really hard studying. Iam always trying to intake every large shelves and pulling up carpet. months.’ It never would have happened,” he laughed. information in class, taking notes and spending hours outside “The exposed brick turned out good and really nice. ‘The ceiling ‘The lighting is next on his list of things to do, but as custom- See Benton page 2, was raised when we got rid of the ceiling panels. We insulated it ers come into the store, the difference is apparent. When talk- and pulled up the carpet. Now we have to seal the concrete,” Jon ing to Jon, a customer came through the doors and the reaction School Spirit continued. was immediately pleasing, proving that change is not all bad. “We Although they also need to replace the light fixtures, the store are also going to redo the marquee to the theater. It’s not going has been transformed to a more open concept. New shelves have See Merrifield page 2. Explodes at Merritt Elk City eye doctor accused of Public Schools drugging a woman in OKC By Sheryl Ponce Merritt girl’s basketball went all the way to the state tour- nament, but was beat by Pocola in a disappointing loss. The stu- dents and administration fought hard all year to create a sense By Shonda Little “Massoumi is seen pacing back and forth in the bar lounge of unity and spirit to support, not only this team, but all of the while looking at his cell phone multiple times as if he were waiting teams. Over the weekend, reports of local ophthalmologist Dr. Kam- for someone. Massoumi engages the bartender in conversation. ad by the cheer squad and student section called the “Oil ran Massoumi’s arrest for allegedly drugging a woman in Okla- Ashort time later, the bartender opened a bottle of what appears which includes all grades, student attendance at games in- homa City went locally viral. to be champagne or wine and poured it into a champagne glass creased with themed attire. According to the Oklahoma Medical Board’s website, Dr. Mas- in front of Massoumi. Massoumi grabbed the glass from the bar “We have had black-out, white-out, neon, red white and soumi’s primary practice is the Oklahoma Eye Institute based in counter and lowered it under the bar out of view from the bar- blue, and orange-out themes at games,” sophomore cheerleader Elk City. tender and other patrons. Massoumi can then be seen grabbing Peytyn Broadbent explained. ‘They started taking buses at the end of football season and ‘The probable cause affidavit filed in Oklahoma County also an unknown substance from his front left pocket before pouring continued to do so throughout the basketball games and play- lists Massoumi’s address in Elk City. the unknown substance into the glass of champagne. Massoumi offs. The number of students increased with each game, taking ‘The 54-year-old doctor was officially charged in Oklahoma then smelled the champagne and administered more of the un- two buses to the state game. County District Court on March 9. known substance into the glass. Massoumi placed the glass back “T feel like a lot more people came to the games and have Massoumi faces one count of mingling poison, drugs, or on the bar counter and returned the substance to his front right been supportive this year. We get a lot of people on the student sharp objects with food or drinks. pants pocket,” the detective added. pep bus, a lot more,” junior Reni Leverett said. ‘The affidavit was filed by a detective with the assaults unit Massoumi then allegedly removed the champagne glass and ‘The difference in this year, verses other years, may be at- with the Oklahoma City Police Department. tributed to a winning season, but it seemed to be more than bottle from the bar counter and placed it onto the table of a se- “As part of the assaults unit, on December 28, 2021, I was as- the win/loss record. ‘The spirit exhumed from the elementary cluded lounge area with an orange sofa inside the bar. students through seniors, with everyone wanting to be a part signed this case to investigate an assault complaint. During my “Massoumi remained inside the bar and in sight of the glass. of something larger than themselves. investigation of this case, I observed and obtained video surveil- while he continued to pace back and forth watching his cell “I definitely think it’s the students. They tried to include lance of the incident from the head of security at the Omni Ho- phone. Massoumi ordered two glasses of an unknown beverage everybody, saying ‘hey, let's do this’ to get everyone included. tel and Resorts located at 100 West Oklahoma City Boulevard in in whiskey glasses. He placed those whiskey glasses on the table ‘They would tell people to get their friends. Let's go out, let's go Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, where this incident occurred out! Let's do this! Let's show them that we're cool,” said Paytyn. separate from where he placed the champagne, but in close prox- on December 24, 2021,” the detective wrote. imity,” the detective added. ‘The cheerleaders worked hard to create more excitement in According to the probable cause affidavit, the suspect, later the pep assemblies by inviting the entire school. According to At approximately 11:58 pm, Massoumi reportedly exited the identified as Massoumi, entered the bar at the Omni Hotel lounge at approximately 11:48 pm on December 24. See Doctor page 2. See Spirit page 2. Iummniugy = Weather Weather /36 Vol. 120, No. 22 75 cents, 10 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com