August 29, 2026 Issue, Page 13 of 14

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The Elk City News SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 • 13 NEWS Education tops the agenda at upcoming Sheep and Meat Goat Boot Camp By Trisha Gedon participants are encouraged to en- he said. “The care and production • Multi-species grazing the premier multi-day events in munications, program information roll early. The registration fee in- practices are similar, and both spe- • Recordkeeping the region and is an opportunity or reasonable accommodations STILLWATER, Okla. – Small ru- cludes camp materials, meals and cies have similar challenges. We • Birthing and neonatal care not only to interact with experts need to contact Erin Hubbard at minant producers looking for ways refreshments. have several industry profession- • Predator control from industry and academia, but 580-332-2153 or erin.r.hubbard@ to better manage their operations, This multi-day event is geared als and Extension specialists from • Nutrition also to network with fellow pro- okstate.edu at least two weeks prior or for those who are looking at toward both beginning and expe- OSU and Langston University who Freking said participants will ducers who may be in situations to the event. getting into the business, can make rienced producers to learn more will be on hand to share their ex- also visit a farm for some hands-on similar to your own or who may OSU Extension uses re- plans to attend the upcoming 2026 about the production of ruminant pertise.” learning and encourages everyone have developed solutions that search-based information to help Oklahoma Sheep and Meat Goat livestock, said Brian Freking, Okla- Some of the classroom and to dress accordingly. Ryan Reuter, could prove useful in your own all Oklahomans solve local issues Boot Camp. homa State University Extension hands-on topics include: a professor in the OSU Department operation,” Freking said. and concerns, promote leader- Slated Oct. 19-21 in Ada, Okla- area livestock specialist. • Vaccinating, tagging and cas- of Animal and Food Sciences, will For more information, contact ship and manage resources wisely homa, at the Pontotoc County “We’ve hosted the meat goat boot trating be on hand to demonstrate collar Freking at brian.freking@okstate. throughout the state's 77 counties. Agri-Plex, 1700 N. Broadway, the camp for a number of years, but last • Hoof trimming and aging technology similar to virtual fenc- edu or 580-332-7011. Most information is available at lit- boot camp is limited to 50 partic- year was the first time to combine • Farm business planning ing. Persons with disabilities who tle to no cost. ipants. Registration is $250, and it with sheep, and it was successful,” • Patch burning “The camp has become one of require alternative means for com- Federal Audit Exposes Recurring Problems In Oklahoma State Agencies Oklahoma State Auditor & In- good financial management. The Management and Enterprise Ser- this year’s report, $12.6 Million, are SNAP: facility. The project was later aban- spector (SA&I) Cindy Byrd today debt is piling up and Oklahoma vices (OMES), and the Oklahoma labeled as questioned costs. Total Starting in October of 2027, doned and taxpayers got nothing in released the Federal Single Audit taxpayers could be forced to refund Department of Mental Health and questioned costs for all DHS day- the federal government will slash return for their $6.2 Million. for FY 2024. This annual audit is millions of dollars to the federal Substance Abuse Services (ODM- care programs is $14.5 Million. SNAP benefits for states with an “Stopping fraud, waste, and a federally-mandated examination government.” HSAS). The risk of fraud remains ex- error rate of 6% or higher. Oklaho- abuse should be a non-partisan is- of whether the State of Oklahoma This year’s audit found ques- DHS failed to provide proper tremely high as DHS does not have ma’s error rate is currently 11%. If sue” Auditor Byrd said. “Taxpayers spent federal grant money in com- tioned costs totaling almost $25 oversight of its Child Care Desert adequate controls to identify fraud- DHS fails to rectify this problem, work too hard for their money -- pliance with federal regulations. Million. Questioned costs are any Grant Program (CCD), its Low-In- ulent activities at child care centers. Oklahoma taxpayers stand to lose money that the government takes The audit report covers roughly expenditures that do not comply come Heat and Energy Assistance LIHEAP & LIHWAP: more than $236 Million in federal from their paychecks -- to tolerate $14 Billion of expenditures which with the law, cannot be document- Program (LIHEAP), the Low In- DHS failed to provide oversight funding each year. this level of irresponsible spend- are audited based upon a formula ed, and/or appear unreasonable come Household Water Assistance which allowed a former employee OMES has $3.8 Million in ques- ing. A poorly-managed state gov- provided by the federal govern- or unethical. The combined ques- Program (LIHWAP), and the Sup- to misappropriate almost $2 Mil- tioned costs for the Emergency ernment does incredible harm to ment. tioned costs from the last five Fed- plemental Nutrition Assistance lion from LIHEAP and LIHWAP. Rental Assistance program (ERA). its own citizens. Mismanagement “This is the fourth Single Audit eral Single Audits stands at more Program (SNAP). That employee was the primary ad- This is in addition to the $15.8 Mil- scares away outside investment and in a row in which we have warned than $200 Million. CCD: ministrator with final approval au- lion in questioned costs identified capital. Mismanagement loses fed- lawmakers and agency directors “The federal government has DHS failed to monitor atten- thority over LIHEAP applications. previously in the ERA program. eral funding. Oklahoma must get about the consequences of mishan- the authority to demand all of that dance records. As a result, 23% of This employee appears to have ac- ODMHSAS spent $6.2 Million its act together.” dling federal money,” Auditor Byrd money back from the State of Okla- the facilities tested by SA&I were cessed expired applications and ap- on designs and planning for the The full FY 2024 Federal Single said. “While the amount in ques- homa,” Byrd said. claiming children attendance that proved payments under the names proposed Donahue Behavioral Audit is now posted here on the tioned costs has decreased from the The latest audit reveals particular significantly exceeded each facility’s of former LIHEAP recipients. He Health Campus. ODMHSAS failed Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspec- previous year, Oklahoma still has problems at the Department of Hu- licensed capacity. Approximately also had the ability to modify bank- to evaluate the feasibility or long- tor’s official website. impr ovements to make to ensure man Services (DHS) the Office of 95% of all CCD dollars tested for ing information. term funding requirements for the Kent Lashley Selected as Chief Executive Officer of Regional University System of Oklahoma OKLAHOMA CITY — The judgment and a clear commit- while ensuring its work is car- Oklahoma, building their ca- State College and the Universi- Regional University System of ment to public service,” RUSO ried out effectively and in accor- reers and their lives here. They ty of Central Oklahoma, with Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Board Chair Lake Carpenter dance with state law. The system are the teachers, health care courses in educational plan- Regents has selected Kent M. said. “He understands the op- governs East Central Universi- professionals, business leaders ning, U.S. history, transforma- Lashley, J.D., to serve as chief portunities and challenges fac- ty, Northeastern State Univer- and engaged citizens who in- tional leadership, organization- executive officer. Lashley will ing our regional universities, sity, Northwestern Oklahoma vest in and lead their commu- al culture and creative thinking. begin his duties Sept. 1. He and he is committed to further- State University, Southeastern nities, helping Oklahoma grow Lashley earned a Juris Doctor brings more than 17 years of ing RUSO’s mission. I am con- Oklahoma State University, and thrive. I look forward to from the University of Memphis progressive leadership in Okla- fident he will work closely and Southwestern Oklahoma State strengthening the pathways Cecil C. Humphreys School of homa higher education ad- productively with our univer- University and the University that connect RUSO students Law, a Master of Science in Ed- ministration and governance, sity presidents, RUSO staff and of Central Oklahoma. Together, with Oklahoma’s workforce and ucation from Harding Universi- including extensive experience stakeholders across the state to the universities serve more than its future.” ty and a Bachelor of Arts in so- in institutional operations, fi- expand opportunity for students 40,000 students across the state. Lashley has held senior cial science, summa cum laude, nance, legal and regulatory and strengthen Oklahoma.” “I am grateful for the op- leadership roles at Rose State from Harding University. His compliance, policy develop- As RUSO’s CEO, Lashley will portunity to serve RUSO and College since 2009, with expe- professional and civic service ment and stakeholder relations. lead the Board’s day-to-day work alongside the board, our rience spanning institutional includes work with the Okla- Lashley currently serves work and serve as the principal presidents, staff and partners,” operations, finance, legal affairs homa State Regents Council of as executive vice president ters, governance and strategic link between the regents and Lashley said. “Higher educa- and capital planning, including Business Officers, the Oklaho- and chief financial officer at planning while overseeing a $38 leaders of the six universities. tion has been the focus of my more than $60 million in cam- ma Association of College and Rose State College, where he is million operating budget and He will help the Board look career because of the difference pus initiatives. Before joining University Business Officers, a senior member of the pres- approximately 350 full-time across the system, prepare for it makes for students, families Rose State, he practiced corpo- the Midwest City Chamber of ident’s executive leadership employees. major decisions, plan for the and communities. Across all six rate law with The ServiceMaster Commerce and Creative Okla- team. In that role, he advises on “Kent brings a depth of high- future and respond to issues RUSO universities, graduates Company. He has also taught homa. institutional policy, legal mat- er education experience, sound affecting RUSO universities, are highly likely to remain in as an adjunct professor at Rose