April 27, 2024 Issue, Page 3 of 5

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The Elk City News SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024 + 3 Photos by Sheryl Ponce | Elk City News Fisher tells students about how he turned his life around to help others and eventually played college basketball. Sheryl Ponce| Elk City News ants of the 36th Annual Lt. Governor’s Turkey Hunt he front row are lay Shidler (Dept. of Commerce), Russ Rundle, Carter Madsen, Macy Smith, Jeremiah Johnson, Rylee Johnson, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Rick Nolan, and Paul Wilmarth. In the back row are Chuck Madsen, Chris Bran- ham, Heath Frazier, Nick Archer, Dallas W. Branch, Johnny Brown, and Bobby Armstrong, = = Ethan Fisher talks to Merritt students about the night that changed his life forever that landed him in prison for three years. ‘Choices Matter’ Presentation to Impact Merritt Students By Sheryl Ponce Photo by ECPD Chief Eddie Holland Sheryl Ponce| Elk Cty News Pictured are Jeremiah Johnson and his daughter Rylee, who Pictured are House District 55 Representative Nick Archer with Rylee and Jeremiah was one of two who got a turkey. Johnson with Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. Beckham County Student Resource Officer, Wendi Hol- The rifle that was given land, arranged for area schools including Erick, Sweetwater PINNELL He said that he cares about communities and the sales Pinnell then talked about his Chief of Staff Kirby away went to Rylee Johnson, and Merritt to participate in the Continued from page 1 tax that is brought in by those Smith, who is from Elk City. daughter of Jeremiah John- travelers. It is important to He said that she will never son. This is Johnson's fourth Highway Safety Department's the parks, the police and fire let him or the staff forget turkey hunt. The other young Choices Matter program. Guest were going to be awarding to communities for revitaliza- departments, and the cities. about Western Oklahoma hunter that got a turkey was speaker Ethan Fisher shared tion projects. New Route 66 ‘The towns live or die on sales and thanked the Chamber Carter Madsen, son of Chuck his story about the struggles tax. The Route 66 celebra- for the hospitality. He took Madsen. After the luncheon, he faced with bad choices that Ethan Fisher roadside attractions are need- ed to get more people to stop tion is coming up, and Pin- time to meet and greet those some of the hunters headed caused him to turn away from to audiences everywhere. in our city to spend money, nell wants to capitalize on the in attendance before he left home, while others went back college basketball scholarships As Fisher's story unfolded, Pinnell explained. event in every town along the to go to the turkey hunt in out to the fields to try another and eventually spending time he told the students about each famous highway. Woodward. round of hunting. in prison. time he was given the opportu- His story has been featured nity to play college basketball, in various publications that he made the wrong choices. He include radio, newspapers, podcasts, and television shows. turned to alcohol and drugs at four different colleges. Fisher Leadership Class X Learns About County Government His life's mission is to help oth- was the only one in the United ers in their journey to have a States to play college ball at the better life. As he told Merritt ages of 28, 29, and 30. This was High School students his story, after he spent three years in he confessed that each time he prison, gives a speech, he must relive “Prison is scary. Like I tell au- the past that continues to haunt diences all the time, I'll go back him. to prison in a heartbeat. I'll do “[ have sacrificed everything another three years, five years, ten years in those prison cells in my life for the last ten years to be standing on this floor with ifI can take back what I did. I all of you today. In ten years of can't. This is life. There's no re- sacrifice, I have lost friendships, wind button, theres no pause. The Elk City Chamber of Commerce Lead- relationships, houses, cars, and ‘The moment that each and ership Class X traveled to Sayre to learn more nearly financial ruin to do this every one of you gets up and about Beckham County Government on job that you guys are about to walks out of this classroom, April 17th. see. I hope you appreciate it you're faced with your choices. Along with the steering committee, they because I put my heart and You're faced with your deci- toured the Beckham County Court House, soul into this speech. And I do sions. 'm stuck with mine until watched a Drug Court Presentation, visited this for all of you. This whole the day I die?’ Fisher said. the Beckham County election board, the speech is about choice” Fisher He then told the story that Sheriff's Office and Detention Center, and said as he opened his talk. haunts him each day. He got the Child Advocacy Center. He went on to talk about how in his car, drunk, and killed a each choice and decision that man. This decision landed him the students will be making in prison. Fisher wept as he will impact their lives and the lives of other people that they may not have met yet. He chal- relived the tragedy that he can never get out of his mind. He CROSSWORD ANSWERS told the students that was why lenged them to think about ev- he told his story. He wanted to Sat., April 13 Sat., April 20 ery decision they make because help others to make the right it will impact their lives. choices. R[E[S|T DIE[SMHPIRIAIM) [BRI IIc B[O[S|S P “I wish I could go back and be a high school student and At the end of his speech, he was available to talk to stu- E[L[L[A Mlo[c[TMMR[U[LlE] [ifolt[aMMHlelaltH E start my entire life over. I can't, dents. They could use the E[BO|NMMA|T/O[L[1 MMOINAIN| [dfofo[RMMeEIN[slule R but that’s why I tell the stories so that you guys don’t have to drunk glasses to see what it was LiAlwi<elt{vle[R Mm] | [N[T[e[D DIR[A|M|A fT [MA c like to try to complete a sobri- walk in my shoes, Now speak- ety test or use the simulator to | GAD u[t[t FIUIRiMMP[R E ing of choice, did you know demonstrate what it feels like P[R/o/BlE L{tlo|wle|p s[Ple[c|i lal. fs PIE that 20 percent of the world’s driving drunk. population struggles with While Fisher shared his story R[oli {ts USM IRIA) [s[ARMBAININ [UL s|TIA[R mental health issues? That's of tragedy and hope, the impact AlB(LlE Mc SMBsleElnit| oleh Gle[N|uls URE one in five in this audience, he was able to make at Merritt iE H o[tfife} [efofo[p TIA[R[O|T Mg VIE|X he said. will be long lived. It was an as- A|N[D|1[R[O D|D/E[D TIR SMBRIE(LIAlTIE[o Fisher talked about how his sembly that seemed to bring wife asked him for a divorce home what could happen with DiTIR YR I Om DONE because of his depression and the wrong choices. AlciclelP|T wiAly[s ik o[R(TM [cleltla struggle with mental health. He Merrit’s prom was Friday also told the students how he night. The hope was to make a P[L/E/AMML OMA I TAGES OBE had faced suicide several times difference in one person mak- in his life, and how facing his ing the wrong choice this prom A[U[N|T Mme RIO[LIeE Zz E[c{clA[TMMEIRI IE fears has allowed him to speak night. R[eE|T/E MD K [NE |w E R[E[Lly plolzle