February 3, 2024 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Saturday, February 3, 2024 Weekend Edition Young Mother Completes First WOHS Gears Step in Career Goals Up for Annual birth, I didn’t go back,” Redd explained. Meeting She later went to adult education at Elk City in the little rock building when she was 19 or 20 but did not finish then. “I went there (adult ed in Elk City) for a while and Janis (Kin- caid) was there. So, Janis started out as my teacher and has al- ways been my adult teacher,” she continued. By Sheryl Ponce When Redd returned to adult education, the school had moved to Western Technology Center in Elk City. Kincaid con- tinued to teach in the program. The Western Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Di- Kincaid helped her get started, but Redd had to take care of rectors met for their regular monthly meeting Monday, Jan. her girls and tried to work a full-time job. She was waitressing at 29th, at 11 a.m. in the Western Technology Center in Elk City. the time and did not attend classes regularly. “I didn’t go as often as I should have. But then whenever I President Judy Haught called the meeting to order, and past started going, in 2023, to Western Technology Center, the teach- president, Doug Haught, gave the invocation. The next item er was Janis, too. There was just me and one other person. I feel on the agenda was the approval of the minutes and the trea- like that’s when I really started taking it seriously. I was on top of going (to class) and getting the hours that I needed. I started surer’s report. Both items were approved. working at home, andI really kept up with it at home,” Redd said. During the black smith committee report, there was a mo- She was working but now has a one-year-old daughter, Ivy tion made to purchase a piece of new equipment for the facil- Redd, that she also chased after. Her goal was to spend 15 hours ity, which was approved. The new artist at the WOHS Center aweek on their online program, Essential Education, “[ want to say that some days I'd be on it (online) all day long. is Jack Christian, who is a photographer. ‘Then I wouldn't do it for a few days, and then I would get back on ‘The membership chair Cindy Wood said that in February it for several hours,” Redd admitted. they will be sending out letters to renew WOHS memberships. Math proved to be the hardest test she has had to pass. Be- Pictured are the Elk City High School Homecoming Court. cause she dropped out before she had completed Algebra I, she ‘This will coincide with the groups’ Annual Meeting. It will take Seated are Luci O’Hara, Kaz Ulrich, Abby Brown, Emily had not been instructed in the other math content that she was place Feb. 19th at 6 p.m. in the Opera House. Rib Crib will be Lowrance, Summer Wiebe, Arleth Luna, Olivia William- going to have to know to pass the test. This included Geometry supplying the meat, while the members signed up to bring the By Sheryl Ponce and Algebra II. side dishes and desserts. During the Annual Meeting all of the “I finished the whole math course on the online program. After dropping out of school in the ninth grade, Amber Redd ‘They give you everything entirely to pass the test,” she added. committee chairmen will be giving their reports for the year. earned her High School Equivalency diploma, which was former- After Redd had her twins as a teenager, she did not have the New officers and board members will also be elected during ly known as a GED. Last week she took her final two tests of the support to return to school and take care of them. She credited her grandmother, Brenda Patton, for helping her with her twins. the meeting. Incoming president will be Mike Blevins. HiSet exam and passed the entire series of five tests in math, sci- ence, reading, writing, and social studies. She is now on the path She said that she was with her every step of the way, so the twins As part of the program and meeting, Judy Haught showed to going to college to major in social work or psychology to work would stay on the same schedule. pictures of postcards and newspapers that are on the WOHS Redd would tell others who are in the same situation, to nev- in the field of alcohol and drug addiction. website. Of special interest was a postcard from 1910, and an Redd was born in Sayre but always lived in Elk City. She at- er give up. tended school at Merritt until her freshman year in high school. “Even if you put it down for a while, you can always go back article by Mary Fern Carpenter called “My Recollections of She became pregnant with her twin daughters, Arabella and Se- to it. It’s not easy, but if you continue, you can do it. It is worth Living on Route 66,” which is about her life in Elk City. renity, who are now nine years old. it,” she said. ‘The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:40 a.m., and “[ was a teen mom. I got pregnant when I was 15. I did alter- their next meeting will be at their Annual Meeting the eve- native school in Elk City for just a year. When I ended up giving See Mother page 2. ning of Feb. 19th. ECHS Presents ‘Little Mermaid’ ‘The cast and crew of “The Little Mermaid.” By Sheryl Ponce Although she chose the show, she consulted the students about how they felt about it and whether they could get enough Elk City High School music department will be presenting people involved to produce it. She said that they agreed it could “The Little Mermaid” next week. The show will open Tues., Feb. be done. 6th for the elementary school, and Feb. 8th for the public. The “The kids are doing great. We have a 30-person cast and about public performances will take place Thursday, Feb. 8th, at 7 p.m., 18 crew members. It’s very student led. Students are running the Saturday, Feb. 10th, at 7 p.m. and Sun. Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. The cost lights, the microphones, and the fly system. ‘They're doing all is $10 per person, of it. Kids are running the quick changes back. They move the ‘The show is being directed by music director, Allyson Thomas. sets on and off. These are grades nine through 12th,” Thomas ex- This is her second production at the school. She has been a the- plained. atre person since she was six years old and worked professionally She opened auditions to the entire school, and not only to for the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival for about eight years. choir or musical productions classes. Thomas has two musical “My first musical that I ever was in was when I was six years See Mermaid page 2. Ariel, played by Jordan Thomas, and Prince Eric, old. It was “Little Mermaid,” Thomas said. played by Connor Beebe 8 1M 04879 "13151 6 Weather tomorrow 55 / 39 Vol. 120, No. 10 75 cents, 10 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com