October 4, 2025 Issue, Page 11 of 12

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The Elk City News NEWS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 • 11 Antioch Christian Church Sets Goal for Food Drive By Sheryl Ponce regional food bank. Last year they merchandise or services from local lo Creek. There are backpacks for Oklahoma Realty, or Antioch Chris- ell and youth pastor is Kevin Mar- gave 1200 pounds to the charity and businesses. The drive kicks off Oct. Merritt and one for Elk City from tian Church to receive tickets. The tin. Sunday School begins at 9:30 Elk City’s Antioch Christian hope they can generate enough sup- 1st and runs through Oct. 31st. #1 Okie. This is a four-county char- church is open Monday through a.m., and worship service is at 10:30 Church has started their annual port to surpass that donation. “We have all kinds of donations, ity, and it reaches a lot of people,” Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or a.m. They also have a meal on Wed. food drive to benefit Help, Inc., When a person donates food and more that are still coming in. Sondra Weaver, Ministry Assistant, drop it off on Sunday morning. An- evenings a 5:30 p.m., and youth during the month of October. They items, he/she will receive one or We’ve got car wash gift certificates, said. tioch Church is located at 3200 W. class and adult Bible Study at 6 p.m. are inviting the community to assist more tickets that will go in a draw- and we’ve got stuff from Bella Vita, The drawing will be taking place Country Club, next to Homestead Classes will end by 7 p.m. Follow the them in achieving their goal of do- ing to win one of two prizes. The and we’ve got gifts from the Depot, Nov. 3rd. Food may be dropped Assisted Living. Antioch Christian Church on Face- nating 1500 pounds of food to this prizes will include various donated Grandview Pharmacy, and Buffa- off at Main Street Coffee, Western The church pastor is Jeff McDow- book, or call them at 580-243-5683. Great Plains Regional Medical Center Offers Mammogram Special This October: Care for Your Pair Elk City, Okla. — [Sept. 29, 2025] sis to provide a clearer, more de- fight against breast cancer. special is available October 1–31, GPRMC will honor the spe- cians who deliver high-quality, – Great Plains Regional Medical tailed view of breast tissue. Clinical Dr. Rafel Alvarez, a radiologist at 2025 for self-pay patients, paid cial pricing for all mammograms cost-effective care across 25 gen- Center (GPRMC) is encouraging studies show that this technology GPRMC, emphasized the impor- at the time of service with no in- scheduled in October, even if the eral and specialty areas. GPRMC women to prioritize their breast not only increases the likelihood tance of early detection. surance required. For women age actual appointment does not occur operates Western Oklahoma’s health this October with a special of detecting breast cancer early but “This October, we want every 40 and older, screening mammo- until after the end of the month. only physician-staffed, 24-hour $35 mammogram offer as part of also reduces the number of wom- woman to know that scheduling grams are covered under most in- Great Plains Regional Medi- emergency department and the its Care for Your Pair campaign. en asked to return for additional a mammogram is one of the most surance plans. cal Center is the largest health only 24-hour general and or- The promotion features Genius™ testing. By offering Genius exams, important steps she can take for her Women interested in sched- care provider in Western Okla- thopedic surgery centers in the 3D Mammography™, an advanced GPRMC is providing women a health,” Alvarez said. “With the ad- uling a 3D mammography exam homa offering a full range of region. As a nonprofit hospital breast imaging technology de- more accurate and effective tool for vanced imaging we have available or learning more about this vital medical services, including the accredited by The Joint Com- signed to improve early detection breast cancer screening. Early de- today, we’re able to detect concerns breast health procedure are en- region’s most comprehensive mission, GPRMC is committed of breast cancer. tection is proven to save lives, and earlier and give patients greater couraged to call (580) 821-5565. obstetrics and women’s health to meeting the highest standards Genius 3D Mammography uses regular mammograms remain one peace of mind.” Additional information is available departments. Based in Elk City, in patient care. Learn more at state-of-the-art breast tomosynthe- of the most powerful tools in the GPRMC’s $35 mammogram at www.gprmc-ok.com. GPRMC is home to 50 physi- gprmc-ok.com. DDS to host Regional Family Meetings in October, continue ‘No-Wait State’ progress Sept. 29, 2025 – More Oklaho- almost 2,700 waitlist families are The PossABLE Regional Family based on their application date. To sign up, find location details date, please contact DDSIntake@ ma families will be contacted to now approved or receiving ser- meetings provide resources and The upcoming October meetings or learn about the stipend, fami- LibertyHealth.com or call 405- prepare to transition on to Okla- vices. information to families as they are for families who applied for lies can call 844-944-9301 or vis- 500-1866. homa Human Services Develop- “I am thrilled we are continuing prepare. DDS has held more than DDS services between November it https://bit.ly/DDSRFM. mental Disabilities Services (DDS) the important work of connecting 30 of these meetings across the 2023 and December 2024. If you applied during this time ABOUT OKLAHOMA HUMAN beginning in October 2025. families to receive the vital support state so far. Sessions will take place from 10 period and did not receive an invi- SERVICES DDS is set to begin working they need for their loved ones to “These meetings have become a a.m. to 2 p.m. While registration is tation, please update your contact Oklahoma Human Services of- with Cohort 11, which includes thrive,” said Developmental Dis- staple of our efforts to get families required, the meeting is free. Ad- info in the designated section on fers help and hope to more than 756 people who applied between abilities Services Director Beth started off on the right foot and our ditionally, the cost of attendance the DDS website at: https://okla- one million Oklahomans each June 2024 and December 2024. Scrutchins. “We remain on-track goal is for families to leave with all can be offset with a $100 stipend homa.gov/okdhs/services/dds/ year through a wide range of ser- With the processing of Cohort toward becoming a no-wait state.” their questions answered,” said provided to families who need to ddswaitlist.html vices and support that promote 11, DDS’s historic progress to To support families positioned Scrutchins. “I highly encourage cover related travel or caregiver If you applied after Decem- their safety, independence and become a no-wait state is still on to transition onto services, DDS is eligible families to attend these up- expenses. Families who have at- ber 2024, you will be notified of wellbeing. Learn more at https:// schedule. The waitlist that once hosting two more Regional Fami- lifting and informative sessions.” tended previous meetings can reg- meetings in the future when your oklahoma.gov/okdhs.html and stood at 13 years in 2022 is now ly Meetings in Oklahoma City on Eligible families will receive ister to attend but will not receive group comes up for services. If you follow us on Facebook, Twit- reduced to just one year. So far, Oct. 13 and Tulsa on Oct. 15. invitations to regional meetings the stipend. are uncertain of your application ter, Instagram and YouTube. United Indian Nations of Oklahoma honors Indian Board- ing School survivors and the Native children who never returned home by observing Orange Shirt Day TULSA, Oklahoma — Unit- trauma that crosses generations,” ed Indian Nations of Oklahoma said Margo Gray, UINO Executive (UINO) asks everyone to join them Director and descendant of Indi- and Native communities from the an Boarding School survivors. “It United States and Canada in ob- is time for the federal government serving Orange Shirt Day on Sept. to operate not in denial, but with 30 to remember, honor and work to transparency. Survivors and their heal the trauma caused by residen- families deserve healing and an tial Indian Boarding Schools. acknowledgement of the federal “United Indian Nations of Okla- UINO Chairperson and Shawnee government’s sanctioned theft of homa calls on everyone to take part Chief Ben Barnes culture, language, and dignity.” in Orange Shirt Day to honor the For a decade, Orange Shirt Orange Shirt Day originated survivors and remember the vic- Day has been an annual day of re- from the experience of Phyllis tims of residential Indian boarding membrance, healing, and renewed Webstad, a Northern Secwépemc schools,” said Shawnee Chief and commitment to acknowledge the (Shuswap) woman from the Stswe- UINO Chairperson Ben Barnes. legacy of residential Indian Board- cem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (also “Oklahoma had more of these ing Schools. The United States and known as Canoe Creek Indian Thousands Attend Elk City Festival schools than any other state, near- Canadian governments, as well Band). ly 100, filled with Native children as religious institutions, operat- At the age of six, just like her who were forcibly taken from their ed hundreds of residential Indian mother and grandmother before families and subjected to unimag- Boarding Schools in the 19th and her, Phyllis was taken to St. Jo- Elk City’s 52nd Fall Festival The event featured gift items, tumn’s arrival and begun their inable trauma. Yet, to this day, there 20th centuries. seph’s Mission boarding school ushered in the season. seasonal decorations, and oth- Christmas shopping at the Elk has been no true accountability.” Part of the U.S. federal Indian operated by the Catholic Church in The annual event, held the er home products displayed City Convention Center. Barnes himself is a direct de- policy during that period was to British Columbia. On her first day 3rd weekend in September at at more than 100 professional For the first several years, the scendant of Indian Boarding assimilate and annihilate Native of school, she was stripped of the the Elk City Convention Cen- booths, and food vendors pro- event was held at various out- School survivors and has been cultures, even if it meant forcibly shiny new orange shirt her grand- ter and sponsored by the Elk vided attendees several dining door locations in downtown a vocal advocate for truth, justice separating Native children from mother had scrimped and saved to City Chamber of Commerce, options. Elk City and once in Ackley and accountability. their families. Well over 500 resi- buy and never saw it again. is western Oklahoma’s largest The Fall Festival committee Park. The festival permanently “On this day of remembrance, dential Indian Boarding Schools After becoming a mother herself arts & crafts show and draws presented awards in selected moved to the Convention Cen- we call on the United States to are thought to have been operated at 13 and dealing with a lifetime of thousands of visitors. booth categories along with ter in 1982. confront this history with hones- by churches and the federal gov- trauma, Phyllis and others began This year’s Fall Festival was the high school art. Awards This year’s Fall Festival Com- ty and action,” Barnes said. “That ernment in the United States, with the Orange Shirt Society in 2015. Saturday, September 20 and presented in the professional mittee members were Ronda means conducting a full and com- nearly 100 of those being in Oklaho- Since then, they have asked Native Sunday, September 21. booths category were Best of Smith, Chairman, Kathy Bell, prehensive investigation into every ma. The full extent of the atrocities communities and allies from across More than 4,000 attendees Show, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place for Emily and Jeff Johnson, Kath- residential Indian boarding school that took place in these institutions North America to honor boarding turned out for the two-day fine art, photography, pottery, erine Brown, LaDonna Thom- in the nation and providing the re- is still not fully known.“We cannot school survivors and the children event, including 3,060 people sculpture, and fine woods. as, Karen Touchstone and Susie sources and support that survivors heal what we do not confront. Sur- who never returned to their fami- on Saturday and 1,097 on Sun- For over half a century, fes- Cupp. and the families of those who never vivors and their descendants carry lies by wearing an orange shirt on day. tivalgoers have celebrated au- came home deserve.” Sept. 30.