June 21, 2023 Issue, Page 8 of 8

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8- The Elk City News June 21, 2023 Community Dylan Pollard is the newest Certified Flight Paramedic for Air Evac 21 in Elk City. He start- ed his career in Nov. 2022, and overcame one requirement of their medical crew within two years of employment. This certification is deemed difficult and requires extensive study time. Courtesy photo. Summer Time Is Pool Time Matilda Continued from page 1. wood; Brynlee Bustin, Elk City, playing Mrs. Wormwood; Samuel Holcomb, Leedey, play- ing Michael; Brailee Jones, Elk City, playing Mrs. Phelps; ‘Trever Dye, Sayre, playing Es- capologist; Abby Cox, Sayre, playing Acrobat; Emily Barnes, Elk City, playing Miss Honey; Rylee Yeager, Elk City, play- ing Agatha Trunchbull; Trever Dye, Sayre, playing Rudolpho, and Becca Barnard, Merritt, playing Sergei. Elk City Native is Newsworthy Lawyer Elk City, Blau hadn't dreamed ney from Elk City. of becoming another Atticus Then, in 2011, he started Finch or Thurgood Marshall, Blau Law Firm in Oklahoma though. “Neither of my par- City, specializing in criminal ents went to college, and we defense and civil rights litiga- were relatively blue collar, so tion. the idea of being a trial lawyer Though he'd enjoyed being a was pretty foreign to me when prosecutor, the pay left a lot to Iwas in school,” he said. be desired. “I didn’t go to law After graduating from OU's school to eat Ramen noodles law school in 2005, he began and sell my plasma,” Blau said. his legal career at the Oklaho- “Thankfully, I've been able to ma County Public Defender’s build a reasonably successful Office. He'd interned with law practice.” the Oklahoma County District Blau has argued in both state and federal court, but federal Attorney's Office during law court is the big league. Ed Blau school and hoped to get a job Federal court cases are se- there, but no positions were By Landry Brewer available. rious. Federal judges are ap- pointed by the United States Being a rookie lawyer and President and may serve for Ed Blau went to law school representing indigent clients life, and federal prosecutors out of necessity. who'd often been in the system are very well educated and very After graduating from Elk for several years was challeng- experienced. City High School in 1996, he ing. Especially because those Sometimes attorneys defend attended the University of dlients frequently had mental notorious clients. It comes Oklahoma in Normanas a pre- health or drug addiction prob- with the territory. med major in sports medicine lems—or both—contributing Blau gained international and was an athletic trainer. to their poverty. attention, however, when he As a student trainer, Blau represented a Republican state His clients would also often worked with pre-Stoops foot- languish in the notoriously senator accused of sex crimes. ball players like Demond Park- problematic Oklahoma County Many questioned how he could er, Stephen Alexander, and jail for months or years await- represent that kind of client. Kelly Gregg, as well as Eduar- ing adjudication. “It was inhu- “When you view your job as do Najera ofthe Kelvin Samp- mane,” Blau said. defending the Constitutional son-coached Sooners basket- In addition to having in- rights of those accused, it’s re- ball team. terned in the Oklahoma Coun- ally not that hard,” Blau said. During his junior year at ty DA’s Office, Blau support- “If the law doesn’t protect OU, though, he had an epiph- ed David Prater in his 2006 the most vilified in society, it any. “I realized I was misera- campaign against incumbent doesn't protect any of us.” ble in organic chemistry and Oklahoma County District At- Blau met several OKC televi- physics and needed to make a torney Wes Lane, When Prater sion reporters when he worked change,” Blau said. won, he offered Blau a job in in the DA's office, and some So, he did. his office. started calling him for his ex- He changed his major to According to Blau, a consci- pertise when he went into pri- business, then again to polit- entious prosecutor can posi- vate practice. tively influence society more He's provided on-air legal ical science. Though he en- than several dedicated defense analysis several times, includ- joyed his poly sci classes, he attorneys. “It’s also satisfying ing an April 2023 appearance knew that professional oppor- prosecuting violent criminals tunities with that degree were and those who traffic in illegal on KOKH FOX 25 explaining limited, and, like everybody drugs,” Blau said. why murder charges may result else, he'd have bills to pay in ‘The three years that he was from fatal Fentanyl overdoses. violent crimes prosecutor, he Though talking about the No Appointment Necessary gaWelcome To Stop By adulthood. “Being a political science never lost a jury trial. law on TV may make being a major qualified me to wait ta~ Blau also served as the assis- lawyer seem glamorous, Blau bles and attend law school,” tant district attorney who su- said that it isn’t. Just the op- Blau said. pervised the Oklahoma Coun- posite. “Being a lawyer is hard ty Drug Court program, which work and is relatively unglam- Not being keen on a wait- was chosen as the national orous,” he said. 810 W. 3rd, Elk City, Oklahoma staff career, he chose law drug court of the year. Helping school. those people overcome drug But at least he doesn’t have While growing up on Wil- addiction and avoid prison was to wait tables or sell his plasma cox Way and Shore Drive in rewarding for the young attor- to pay the bills. WWW.americanfamilywelilness.com