February 7, 2026 Issue, Page 11 of 13

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NEWS The Elk City News SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2026 • 11 Alisen Bristow Awarded SWOSU’s 2026 C.B. Graft Rule of Law Scholarship Alisen Bristow of Mountain View, Oklahoma, has been named the C.B. Graft Rule of Law Scholar at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. Bristow is a junior at SWOSU, majoring in Nursing. The C.B. Graft Rule of Law Scholarship is named for the late Charles Bryan (C.B.) Graft. Graft was a 1967 SWOSU graduate and a 2018 SWOSU Distinguished Alumnus. Graft graduated from the University of Oklahoma Law School and opened his first law practice with the late Judge Charles “Buzz” Goodwin in Clinton in 1967. He later formed Graft & Cabaniss with his good friend, Ellis Cabaniss. In 1984, C.B. and his dear friend, Don McNeill, started their partnership in banking, leading to the founding of The Bank of the West. While C.B. enjoyed building and running a business, his Alisen Bristow true passion came from the deep friendships he formed over the years with the people of Western Oklahoma. The SWOSU Foundation, Inc. was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy, award scholarships, and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU. For more information about the Graft Rule of Law Scholarship Fund or any SWOSU Foundation, Inc., funds, please contact the SWOSU Foundation, Inc., at (580) 774-3267 or visit www. SWOSUFoundation.com LETTER TO THE EDITOR $28,530,000 Merritt Public Schools is requesting taxpayers to fund a bond issue Feb. 10th to pay for three projects. $22 million for an auditorium $3.4 million for ag building $3 million for athletic track If you wish to oppose a tax in- CBA crease VOTE No on February 10th. Early voting Feb. 5th and 6th at Beckham County Exhibition Facility (east of the Courthouse in Sayre). Billy Peston Merritt District LETTER TO THE EDITOR Since the ICE homicides in Minneapolis I have heard and read comments saying if you don’t want to be shot by ICE, mind your own business. That is a generally true statement. But that is the advice the Christian German nation followed as the Nazis took over. They minded their own business when the Nazis first took the disabled people, describing them as a “drain on society”. Trump uses those words to describe the immigrants he doesn’t like to justify their removal. They minded their own business when the Nazis next took the homosexuals, describing them as a threat to traditional family values. Right wing groups who support Trump use these words to attack homosexuals. They minded their own business when the Nazis then took the Jews, describing them as vermin . This is a term used by Trump to describe his political opponents. Finally they minded their own business when the people who opposed the Nazis were taken. Trump has described his political opponents, both Republican and Democrat, media outlets, groups of immigrants, and specific people as “scum and garbage”. Another Nazi phrase that Trump uses when talking about any group he doesn’t like is “poisoning the blood of the nation”. I am reading “Bonhoeffer” by Eric Metaxas. It’s about the Lutheran pastor who resisted the Nazis and was killed by them. It is difficult to read because we are mirroring what happened in Germany, only we are going at warp speed. The Trump ballroom proposal has the Nazi eagle instead of our traditional U.S. eagle. I don’t think all of the ICE agents start out as moral mobsters like the Proud Boys who are now joining ICE. The huge signing bonuses, high pay and rumored bounties for each person taken into custody are an attractive incentive to support your family. But they are being taught that they can ignore 4th amendment protections, that they can go door to door asking for identifications, that they do not have to identify themselves. They dress like storm troopers, not policemen.They are being told that all the people they are grabbing are violent criminals and that the people objecting to their actions are “domestic terrorists”. Each breaking of a car window, grabbing of a 2 year old child, gassing of a protester, taking into custody of an almost naked US citizen, and the other outrageous acts take them down the road to moral depravity. We as a people even get inured to the viciousness as we see it daily. An Auschwitz survivor said it wasn’t Hitler & Himmler who took her to the concentration camp; it was her neighbors. They turned her in, they came for her and put her on the train and guarded her, and they oversaw and committed the terrors in the concentration camps. We see daily how the people taken into custody are treated. Do we think they are better treated when they are in custody? The same Trump administration that is continuing to deny access to the 50% of the most pertinent Epstein files is denying Congressional and public access to the confinement (concentration) camps. Meanwhile Republican senators and representatives (including ours) have become Hitler’s German Reichstag, a rubber stamp for Trump’s decisions, a cheering crowd for his speeches, and its members swearing loyalty to him. Ron Svaty, 403 Court, Ellsworth,Kansas, 67439 785-531-1250 Bentli Whitson, Cruze Bittle, and Kate Stewart are selected as SWOK FCA All-Stars. These three will be recognized and celebrated for their dedication and desire to serve the Lord through FCA on February 22nd at the SWOK All-Star Banquet. CANUTE Delainee Moore represented the Canute FFA at yesterday›s State of the State address by Governor Kevin Stitt. She was invited after winning Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb at the National Western Livestock Show in Denver and, also, because she is an excelling 4 H/FFA student. CBA Academic Team takes the State Championship. SUPERINTENDENT'S HONOR ROLL 7th Grade: Railen Belcher, JadaLynn Blatnick, Annie Cong, Ellie Schmidt, Cullen Sloan, Adelyn Womack, Kate Zybach 8th Grade: Levi Bailey, Carter Evetts, Samuel Long, Ryan Long, Jaxon Motley, Molli O’Hara 10th Grade: Alex King, Audrey Stewart 11th Grade: Brylie Driskill, James Rother 12th Grade: Cruze Bittle, Mia Horn, Cami Moran, Kate Stewart, Bentli Whitson, Zack Zybach PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL 7th Grade: Graham Murray, Caleb Clabaugh, Brystal Britton, Mega Breeze & Mini Breeze Call For Pricing! Parts Available! 580-225-6554 One of the largest metal 918 N. Van Buren suppliers between Elk City, OK 73644 OKC and Amarillo www.janningwelding.com We proudly support the students, staff and administration at Canute Schools ~ Great Plains Bank ~ First National Bank Farmers Union Co-Op Gin 720 S. Main, Elk City 580-225-0191 www.elkcitycoop.com Ethan Cooke, Paizley House, Megan McQuinn, Kye Walter, Gia Laird 8th Grade: Deacon Graham, Bryndee Driskill, Brynlee Redcay, Cale Sloan, Kayley Yates, Finnlee Roberson, Cami Rice, Maddox Mickey, Austin Zybach, Kiersey Shaw. Tytan House. J.T. Miller. Graham Miller 9th Grade: Nathan Cooke 10th Grade: Olivia Church 11th Grade: Annelise Bull, August Dobrinski, Vince DuBois, Autumn Regier 12th Grade: Alayna Floyd, Gretta Geisler, Claire Lind, Genna Marin, Braxton Souza, Devyn Walters Josh Moran President/Owner 319 Industrial PKWY Elk City, OK 73644 580.225.2575 620 Highway 66, Canute, OK 73626 banksovereign.com | Member FDIC MORAN EQUIPMENT SERVING Oklahoma ~ Texas ~ New Mexico www.moranequipment.com