July 18, 2026 Issue, Page 10 of 12

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NEWS 10• SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026 The Elk City News YOU THE READER, NAME THIS STORY! By Alex Alvarez This is a very unusual “sports” column, but here it is! I received a call from a lady who would like us to write a story in our publication about one of her children who practices mixed mar- tial arts, of course, we, at Elk City News were interested. The lady was very proud of his success in amateur fighting, and he is sched- uled to fight for a title in his weight category in October just down the road 45 miles east in Weatherford, OK. It sounded like something we should cover since the “kid” is from Elk City and since Mixed Martial fore he realized that it would be ordinary Tuesdays that don’t make Arts is a sport I have never thought hard work. He, an Army sergeant, headlines but somehow add up to about for our sports column. even lost weight helping his broth- fourteen kids who all turned out It turns out that the “kid” is 25 er! That is how it all started. He got fine. She never made a show of what years old and is married, but read in even better shape than when he she built. She just built it, one kid at on, the story ended up being a lot was in Korea as a soldier because a time, until the house was full and more interesting than I thought! William would need someone in every single one of them that is of Let’s start with this: Yolanda Hull, good shape to help him train. Not age, was standing on their own two the lady who contacted me, never a lesson from big brother to little feet and the others on their way to counted her children out loud. She brother, the way people might as- be like their adult siblings: failing is didn’t have to. Eleven she carried sume, but the other way around not an option. herself, three more she chose just as — William, the younger, leading, It is rare to have a family this completely, and by the time anyone Shaquille, the older, following. Two big without additional challenges, bothered to add it up, the number and all national competitions were us to help “promote” William’s up- reunions, weddings and gradua- and this family has one very big grown men in a gym built by a was fourteen children, fourteen cancelled. coming fight, but, as you can see, tion parties, and getting his but on challenge: one of her sons, Shakur, coach who cared more about who kids who all, somehow, turned All other kids are always busy what we found out is that this sto- the ground “fighting” little broth- suffers from Lymphoma and is in they’d become than what they’d out productive. Every one of her with different things, including ry is much bigger than two young er. Now, inspired William, the one constant treatments. He obviously win. Steve Fisher still calls them school-age kids brings home good school kids still under the super- adult brothers training in martial who once, he helped grow earlier in has a different fight, a tougher one “his kids,” thirty and twenty-five grades, and every adult is produc- vision of Yolanda (most likely arts with one of them excelling to life, now says, “You inspired me be- for sure, but like his brothers, he is years old, and says it like he means tive. All who married, chose their the adults too): Angelique (32), the point of securing a title fight in fore I inspired you,” Shaquille told not likely to give up. So, in addition every word. He couldn’t be prouder high school sweetheart. No divorc- Shaqwan (31), Shaquille (30), the league he belongs to. The truth him once. “I just didn’t know how to leading her kids to do the right if he’d raised them himself. es. Two of them proudly wear a uni- Shakur (27), William (25), Pre Hull is, it is just part of a bigger story: much until I watched you not quit.” things, Yolanda also finds time to William has gotten so good, and form for their country, and none of (20), Hezekiah (19), Robert (17), someone gave much so this young William is now twenty-five to help Shakur and pray, pray, pray! I has fought more experienced fight- the fourteen has fallen through the Nevaeh (13), Jarrea (12) and Laylah man would continue looking ahead Shaquille’s thirty. While Shaquille can tell you by personal experience, ers, beating them more than losing cracks in a house that big. (8) are all hers. Then you have Da- to be better at whatever he chose: was overseas, William got the “bug” no parent wants to see their kids to them (four wins and one loss), Shakur, in the Army is taking preesha, Dupree Jr and Dominique he has a steady job and every eve- of martial arts and when big broth- suffer, let alone the thought of losing that he has earned a title fight in leave for health reasons; Shaquille, who are her adopted ones. This is ning he trains, now with his older er came back, he invited him to join one. Prayers for your family lady! October — “Rage in the Cage”, the Army sergeant, deployed to Korea arguably a story of a woman who brother, they do amateur fights. him at the gym. Shaquille accepted So, this story which was sup- amateur league he’s been climbing for a stretch that felt longer than it gave herself 100% to all these kids Now, to honor her wish let’s talk the invitation, which was more of posed to be about a fighter with a on the ranks for months to earn was, the kind of distance that turns so that they would always choose about William and of course, his a challenge, and vowed that he was brother as his sparring partner, and a shot at. And Shaquille, the ser- a phone call into an event. He came the “narrow” way, not the wide easy brother Shaquille who came back going to help little brother be the an upcoming cage fight in Octo- geant, the one who used to be the home different — not harder, just way, especially since they are all Af- from Korea after seven years of best he could be, just like he had ber, was only part of a bigger story, one people looked up to without settled, like a man who’d learned rican-American, the kind of Amer- duty protecting the American peo- learned in the Army. Not as a phase. which is about a mother who raised question, trains at his side and cor- exactly how much he could carry. icans who many think “always” fall ple (he is still in the Army but not As a calling, a brother’s calling. They fourteen people that the world is ners him like it’s the most natural Brought three grandkids for Yolan- through the cracks: “not my kids”, deployed thousands of miles away.) found Team Chip Gym in Elk City, better for having, with two of them thing in the world. Because to him da, and what Shaquille found when she said and continues to make Shaquille missed family birth- and found Steve Fisher, a Martial serving the country and two of it is. His little brother showed him he came home, was his little broth- them choose the right path. days, a graduation or two, but since Arts expert with many records to his them who just happen to be good something he didn’t know he need- er William throwing kicks in the Yolanda reached to Elk City he came back, he has not missed belt, the owner, who likes to say that at fighting in an octagon, and who ed. He’s just returning the favor. backyard. Originally, William was News because she was so proud of his brother’s fights or days at the he teaches life, with martial arts on step into a ring together to prove Yolanda will be there in Octo- a wrestler through high school and watching two of her sons take the gym since he started sparring for the side — and William has taken that you can be successful if you ber, same as she’s been there for college, and beating some of the top same “hobby”: Mixed Martial Arts him, and as long as he is back and every word of that seriously. work hard at your life’s choices…. every fight, every graduation, ev- three ranked players in his weight, with one of them truly excelling in not deployed elsewhere, he will Shaquille watched William and if you choose the “narrow” ery birthday, every parent-teacher unfortunately, it was Covid year this difficult trait and she wanted continue going to birthday, family move for maybe ten minutes be- way! conference, every one of the small Alzheimer’s Association Launches “Protect-Cog” Study To Test U.S. Pointer Lifestyle And GLP-1 Or Similar Drug To Cut Risk Of Cognitive Decline LONDON, July 13, 2026 — combining a proven multidomain nounced today for the first time represents the next phase in ad- ical step in prevention science,” inflammation and metabolism, The Alzheimer’s Association to- lifestyle intervention with a me- at the Alzheimer’s Association In- vancing research focused on risk said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., chief and vascular health. There is clear- day announced the launch of the tabolism-targeting drug, such as a ternational Conference® (AAIC®) reduction/prevention strategies science officer and medical affairs ly a need to better understand the PROTECT-Cog Study (Preven- GLP-1 agonist, can further reduce 2026 in London. for Alzheimer’s and other diseases lead at the Alzheimer's Associa- timing and use of these therapies tion of Risk fOr cogniTive dEcline the risk of cognitive decline, mild Building on the success of the that cause dementia. tion, and principal investigator of in prevention. through Combined Therapy), a cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s Association-led U.S. “PROTECT-Cog builds direct- the study. “By testing a combined The PROTECT-Cog Study will firstof-its-kind global clinical tri- dementia in at-risk older adults. POINTER, and LatAm FIN- ly on what we learned from U.S. approach that targets both lifestyle enroll older adults who are at in- al designed to evaluate whether The $100 million effort was an- GERS studies, PROTECT-Cog POINTER and takes the next crit- and biology, we have the oppor- creased risk for cognitive decline tunity to better understand how and compare two lifestyle inter- to meaningfully reduce the risk of vention approaches—a structured cognitive decline before symptoms program with intensive coaching begin.” and support and a structured-lite “Now is the time to accelerate program with the same core con- bold, science-driven strategies to tent but fewer participant touch- prevent or delay dementia,” said points—to evaluate their effects Joanne Pike, DrPH, president and on cognitive health. The study will CEO of the Alzheimer’s Associa- also assess the impact of adding a tion. “The PROTECT-Cog Study drug that supports healthier me- reflects our commitment to lead- tabolism and immune function to ing large-scale, rigorous research identify which intervention com- that explores and expands urgently bination is most effective at de- needed treatment options, includ- laying mild cognitive impairment ing how combining interventions while evaluating effects on frailty, may deliver even greater benefit quality of life, and overall health. for those at highest risk.” Participants will be followed for A growing body of research three years, with comprehensive demonstrates that modifiable life- cognitive and health evaluations style factors — including physical conducted every six months. activity, nutrition, cardiovascular "The Alzheimer’s Association health, sleep, and social engage- is uniquely positioned to lead ment — play a critical role in this next generation of demen- brain health and dementia risk. tia prevention research. Through The U.S. POINTER study showed our leadership of U.S. POINTER, that a highly representative popu- LatAm FINGERS, and the World lation of at-risk older Americans Wide FINGERS Network, the As- who followed a structured, mul- sociation has established the glob- tidomain lifestyle intervention al infrastructure, scientific exper- experienced significantly greater tise and partnerships required to cognitive benefits compared with conduct a study of this scale," said those using a self-guided ap- Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., senior proach. These improvements were vice president of medical and sci- equivalent to approximately one to entific relations at the Alzheimer's two years of cognitive advantage, Association, and staff lead on this along with additional benefits in project. reducing frailty and sleep apnea, and improving blood pressure reg- ABOUT THE ALZHEIMER’S ulation. ASSOCIATION At the same time, emerging The Alzheimer’s Association is a evidence from large real-world worldwide voluntary health orga- healthcare datasets suggests that nization dedicated to Alzheimer’s GLP-1 receptor agonists may re- care, support and research. Our duce dementia risk by 40–70% mission is to lead the way to end compared with other diabetes Alzheimer’s and all other dementia medications. Other studies sug- — by accelerating global research, gest that they are most protective driving risk reduction and early against dementia in patients with detection, and maximizing quality obesity or a high BMI. This is care and support. Our vision is a further supported by numerous world without Alzheimer’s and all mechanistic studies suggesting other dementia®. Visit alz.org or GLP-1 agonists play a role in brain call +1800.272.3900.