December 17, 2022 Issue, Page 2 of 12

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2- The Elk City News December 17, 2022 Party Continued from page 1. with their families is as good as. it gets.” Annually, the ECPD hands out three awards during its Christmas party. “These awards are given based upon the votes of their peers,” Chief Holland ex- plained. “In other words, it doesn’t come down from the brass. Instead, the awards are voted for by their peers in the job. After all, they are the ones Pictured are Boyd Mouse and his family. From left are Boyd Mouse, Kristi Mouse, Brooks working day in and day out to- Mouse, Kirby Mouse, and Bryce Mouse. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. gether.” Autumn Hufford was named the ECPD Dispatcher of since he graduated law school. of the kids’ needs. They are all Mouse ‘The timing was not right then, adapting, and Mouse said he wished he had made the move the Year. “Autumn has been sig- but Mouse had an urge to reach Continued from page 1. out to Holloway. ten years ago. nificant for us,” Chief Holland “Holloway said, ‘Well, it’s “Like I said, God opened said. “Autumn is someone who the doors, but then he pretty is always super flexible. We all he and his family lived 20 miles funny you should ask, I'm re- much shoved me through. That east of Dallas in the Rockwall tiring. The Christensen’s Law is the way it was, and what I know that sickness has been area by Lake Ray Hubbard. Firm visited me before the tell people,” he admitted. rampant this year. That hits the ‘They had five acres that he de- pandemic, in the fall of last While Mouse is continu- police department like it does scribed as kind of in the coun- year, 2021. Clay Christensen ing to work with the clients he schools, other workplaces, and try. When the pandemic hit, visited with me and he wants brought with him from Dallas, the public in general. Autumn he began to work from home. to open an office out here’ he has plans to grow the firm ‘That is when he noteda differ- in Elk City. is always willing to cover for ‘There are three Christensen ence in what he wanted to do. “When I retire, however surgeries or sicknesses. She “While I was working from brothers, and two of them are long that is, God willing, I'll is also great at taking care of home I thought, ‘Okay, so this lawyers. They are farmers and practice 20 more years. Maybe the guys when they are out on is what it’s like to see my kids go ranchers from Thomas. They you know we have plans, but calls. If you think about a dis- to school’ Before I was leaving had been exploring the office they get changed. This is kind patcher’s job, it is very stress- at 6 a.m., and it was 20 miles to space around here, but the of the second half of my ca- work, it took two hours round pandemic stopped it,” Mouse reer, and I want to build a firm ful. It isn’t a type of work that trip,” he continued, added. here that will be here when I’m is cut out for everyone. They His world changed, the pace Mouse preferred to be with gone. That is the number one get these tremendously stress- became slower, and Mouse a firm rather than an indepen- thing on my plate right now. I ful calls and also have to docu- liked it. He was able to take his kids to school and do more dent attorney, so this seemed don’t need someone right now, ment them perfectly while do- to be a perfect match. He met but I want to figure out how ing so. Autumn has been with Autumn Hufford was voted as the ECPD Dispatcher of things with the family. “That time at home planted with Clay Christensen and can I get someone to move us for seven or eight years, and the Year by her peers. within ten minutes he told here like I did, to join our firm.” the seed for why I'm here. I Mouse he wanted him to join Mouse confessed. she has been great every step great for whatever position tell how good a community is had some bigger clients, and I them. Mouse has taken over a lot of the way.” he was applying for because based on how they treat their would see them on Zoom. They “T never thought I would of Holloway's clients, includ- The ECPD Officer of the weren't in their offices. I was leave my firm. As I started ing some of the surrounding Year award was then given to he is a smart and capable guy. kids and animals,” Holland in my office some, but largely doing the unthinkable, ev- towns as clients. He is open to Lt. Chris Counts. But, because of his experience, explained. “Well, Amber goes ‘we were at home. That started ery door opened. It’s like God becoming a part of the City of “Way back in the day, Chris work ethic, and demeanor, we above and beyond in that re- me thinking, ‘You know, can I opened the doors and pushed Elk City, but no offer has been had worked for the police knew we needed him at the gard. She treats every animal hang on to some of these cli- this through. He (God) literally made. department,” Chief Holland PD. He oozes professionalism that comes into her care like ents, if I were anywhere with opened the door. I get a little “This is probably a slower an internet connection? ‘That teary eyed because He pushed pace, but workwise there is recounted. “He then left law and is a super good guy.” they were one of her own kids. got the ball rolling in the latter us through it,” Mouse said. enforcement to take on jobs Lastly, the ECPD Leader- She is dedicated to their well- no slow down. We have been half of last year,” Mouse said. From the 52nd floor office blessed so far by the folks that in IT. Well, maybe two years ship award has been bestowed being. Amber also came into and a two-hour commute, to a He contacted his old Sun- have hired us. It’s been really ago, he was applying for an IT upon ECPD Animal Control a situation that really needed day school teacher and mentor, single floor building and a ten- good,” Mouse concluded. job with the city. He was told Officer Amber Stepp. someone to help organize the minute round-trip commute. Steve Holloway who had asked He returned to his roots and Mouse has bar admissions then that some positions were Holland said this is the operation. She has gone above him to come back to Elk City his hometown. in all Oklahoma courts, all Tex- open for patrol and decided to first year animal control offi- and beyond there, too. Animal “Everything's just amazing. as courts, US District Court for apply. So, needless to say, we cers have been included in that control is so much better for I can't believe it. We are doing the Northern, Southern, East- swooped him up quickly. Of voting process. Round everything that a small-town lawyer does, but I still have a ern, and Western Districts of Texas, as well as the US Court course, Chris would have been “People say that you can having Amber. The City of Elk City is fortunate to have her.” big case. It’s in Oklahoma City, of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. He Town one of my clients got into a is a member of the Oklahoma December 25 huge case. I’m still working on it, right here from Elk City. I have been very busy,” he said. Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. He was named by Lightning Strike Starts Fire Law & Politics as an outstand- Christmas Mouse said that he is I humbled to bring his fam- ing young lawyer in 2008 Texas Western Oklahoma Fam- ily here. The Mouse family has Rising Stars magazine; he also ily Care Center Free Com- lived here for four generations. published in Texas Monthly, “Iwas alittle anxious about and online at superlawyers. munity Christmas Dinner. coming back because I've been com. Convention Center from gone for 27 years. I left from He has been a member of 46 PM. Southwestern in 1994, Coming the Rockwall ISD Education back, Iwas blown away by what Foundation, the Promise Mak- December 30 the city has built. My boys and ers - a Father led Christian Noon Year's Eve Celebra- my girl play softball and base- Youth Devotional leader, and tion, Carnegie Library 11 ball, and they were blown away youth basketball coach in Park South Dallas YMCA. Mouse AM. by the 11 artificial turf ball- has co-authored, “Avoiding fields as well. A lot of it is the same, but a lot of those ame- Franchisor Liability for Dram Do you have an event or nities blow me away,” Mouse Shop Claims,” in Hospitality- something else you would added. Lawyer.com, October 2006 like to share with the com- His family, who consists Newsletter. munity in the Round Town of his wife Kristi, 16-year-old Some examples of his expe- Calendar? Bryce, 14-year-old Kirbey, and rience include representations Email the information 12-year-old Brooks, is loving in the following cases: Pub- for the event to elkci- Elk City. Although Kristi is an licly traded healthcare staffing By Sheryl Ponce [email protected] art teacher by profession, she company in defense of federal is staying at home, getting to class action lawsuit under Fair Credit Reporting act; publicly Elk City News’ production know the town, and taking care traded restaurant company re- manager D’Ann Brasuell and her family were sound asleep “ElkCituNews garding construction delay and negligent construction claims when neighbors Shane and involving damages in excess of Tracie Davis went outside to $1 million; apartment complex owner in defense of code viola- see smoke coming from Bra- (USPS # 173-020) tion litigation with the City of suell’s home. Living a street south side of the city on Carter “Thave been trying to think 580-225-3000 Dallas; national giftware com- over from them, the Davis’ ran Road at a reported house fire, ofa way to thank the guys who pany in defense of lawsuit for to their home, beating on the Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC violations of California Safe door to wake her and the fam- “Crews discovered the fire sawit. If they didn’t do that, we 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 Drinking Water and Toxic En- ily up while calling the fire de- to be on the roof/gable end may have been dead. The fire Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 forcement Act; real estate de- of the house. The fire was ex- velopment company in defense partment. tinguished within a matter of broke out by our front door, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO Box 964, Elk City, OK 73648 of indemnity and tort claims “The smoke blew into the minutes. A lightning strike was and our only other exit is a few in connection with class action opposite side of the house and determined to be the cause of feet from there. If they had not Josh Umholtz....Publisher ADA lawsuit; commercial real didn’t set our smoke detectors the fire, and the damage was seen it, it very well could have SUBSCRIPTIONS estate developer in gas pipe- off, but the fire department Deliverd by mail: Shery! Ponee....Staff Writer said it looked like they made confined to the roof. No inju- been terrible,” she said. line easement condemnation $75/yearly ries were reported,” the report $50/six months Neva Pyatt..Adverising Director and obtained $800,000 award; in time before any structural She also wanted to thank said. Zadie Eakins...Advertising Director and officers and directors in or electrical damage was done,” the Elk City Fire Department No refunds on subscriptions. defense of federal class ac- Brasuell explained. Brasuell said that they were D’Ann Brasuell..Production Manager tion securities fraud litigation for their quick response in put- [email protected] where they obtained dismissal Elk City’s Fire and EMS re- lucky, and that nothing per- Nahka King...SR/Delivery ting the fire out. Her family ekkcitynewsadvertising @gmail.com with prejudice of all clients in ported about the fire on their sonal was damaged. She was [email protected] Lemmer v. Nu-Kote Holdings, Facebook page. At approxi- thankful that they were able to was able to return to the home Inc., 2001 WL 1112577 (N.D. mately 2 a.m. they were on the get out of the house. that night without losses. Tex. Sent. 6. 2001).