
October 9, 2024
It’s Fire Prevention Week across the nation, and local fire departments, including the Elk City Fire Department, have been spreading fire awareness at local elementary schools and daycares.
Public Information Officer Brian Pierce says this year’s theme is “Make Smoke Alarms Work for You” and stresses the importance of having working smoke alarms installed in homes.
Elk City Fire Chief Kyle Chervenka says that thanks to funds raised at their latest golf tournament and a partnership with Sonic Drive-In, the department is able to provide and install smoke detectors in eligible homes.
Chief Chervenka mentioned that the goal of the program is to expand into other neighboring towns and counties. He also noted that the latest data shows that in the last 5 to 6 years, 98% of structure fires the Elk City Department responded to did not have working smoke detectors.
 
		Lankford blames Democrats for month-long shutdown, calls it “the craziest season”
Elk City, OK — U.S. Sen. James Lankford said the ongoing federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is the result of a Democratic decision to force a standoff, calling it “the craziest season” during an interview
 
		Archer, Moore help steer two new Oklahoma laws taking effect Nov. 1
Oklahoma City, OK — Two statewide measures with local fingerprints take effect Saturday, with Rep. Nick Archer of Elk City and Rep. Anthony Moore of Clinton helping carry the bills in the House. Sales tax break now
 
		Longtime Director of Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton Retires After 30 Years
Clinton, OK — Pat Smith, the longtime director of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, is retiring after 30 years of leading the museum. Smith has lived in Custer County for her entire life. She started
 
		Elk City’s Lincoln Teen Center Closing
Elk City, OK – Elk City’s non-profit hangout for teenagers will permanently close its doors Friday. Chuck Hargrove, President of LTC, inc., made the announcement today on Facebook. “It saddens me to post this! The Lincoln Teen
 
		Halloween safety reminders from Beckham County Sheriff and Texas DPS
Elk City, OK — With trick-or-treaters out Friday night, Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning is reminding families to think traffic first. “Kids get excited and run to the next house. They aren’t watching cars,” Manning said. “Make
 
		Public input sought for upgrades at North Fork Environmental Education Center
Sayre, OK – The North Fork of Red River Conservation District is preparing a grant application to improve the North Fork Environmental Education Center and is asking the community to weigh in. Residents can complete a short
 
		Affidavit: Oklahoma City woman charged in Clinton truck case
Clinton, OK — Ashley Dawn Beal, 40, has been charged in Custer County District Court after a white 2012 Ford pickup reported stolen in Clinton was stopped by police early Oct. 19, according to a probable cause
 
		Weatherford woman charged after short pursuit, police say
Weatherford, OK – A Weatherford woman is facing a felony after a short police pursuit on Saturday, Oct. 18, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Custer County District Court. Prosecutors charged Janel Frances Harper, 33,
 
		Deputies seize 68 guns, arrest Elk City man after video shows shots fired near pickup, affidavit says
October 27, 2025 Elk City, OK – An Elk City man faces four charges after deputies reviewed home-security video that allegedly showed him chambering a handgun and firing twice near a pickup as it left his driveway,
 
		Sheriff: Attempted break-in reported at former grow site south of Sayre
Sayre, OK — Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning says deputies are investigating an attempted break-in at a former marijuana grow site south of Sayre, where a resident still lives on the property. Manning said the call came
 
		SBA sets Nov. 25 deadline for drought aid in Beckham County, Wheeler and Collingsworth
Elk City, OK — The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses and private nonprofits in Beckham County in Oklahoma and Wheeler and Collingsworth counties in Texas to apply by Nov. 25 for low interest Economic
 
		Detective’s persistence leads to recovery of stolen property in Elk City
Elk City, OK — A Beckham County Sheriff’s Office detective recovered stolen property tied to an older theft and burglary from the Sayre area, after tracking leads to a home in Elk City. Sheriff Derek Manning credited
 
		Elk City man loses control on wet I-40
Elk City, OK – 27-year-old Elk City man was injured Saturday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 eastbound at mile marker 38 in Beckham County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Troopers said Brandin R.
 
		Public Relations and Marketing Team at SWOSU Earns Three Davey Awards
Weatherford, OK – The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Office of Public Relations and Marketing has won three honors in the 21st Annual Davey Awards, an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding work by in-house teams, small
 
		Partnership with Mexican Consulate Brings IME Becas Scholarships to SWOSU
Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) continues to expand opportunities for its students through its ongoing partnership with the Consulate of Mexico in Oklahoma City and the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME). Representatives from the
 
		Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant Set for November 15
Weatherford, OK – The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) annual Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant will take place on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the SWOSU Fine Arts Center. The event will begin at 7 p.m., bringing together seventeen
 
		SWOSU Researchers Study Rattlesnake Predator Interactions at Wichita Mountains
Comanche County, OK – Researchers from Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) recently conducted fieldwork at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, retrieving camera traps and snake replicas that had been deployed earlier this summer. The project is jointly
 
		ECPD executes search warrant in child sexual abuse material case; one arrested
Elk City, OK — Elk City Police served a search warrant Tuesday at a home on West 2nd Street as part of a child sexual abuse material investigation that began with a CyberTipline report from the National
 
		Deputies stage at county line as Roger Mills incident ends safely
Roger Mills County, OK – Beckham County deputies positioned at the Roger Mills County line late Friday after a report of a man firing from a vehicle with an AR-style rifle. Sheriff Derek Manning said he mobilized
 
		Lawmakers weigh cleanup plan for abandoned marijuana grows. Beckham County sheriff describes local fallout
Oklahoma City, OK – Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning says a statewide surge in abandoned marijuana grow sites is leaving rural neighbors with trash, chemical waste, and rising calls for help. His office has fielded complaints about
 
		Teen arrested after purse snatching leads to high-speed chase in Clinton
Clinton, OK — An 18-year-old Minnesota man was arrested Tuesday, Oct. 14, after a reported purse snatching in Weatherford and a high-speed chase that cut through west Clinton before ending at Oliver Avenue and Gary Boulevard, according
 
		Clinton man charged after police say child-exploitation files found on devices
Clinton, OK — Jason Scott Denney, 37, was arrested October 12 on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material and violating Oklahoma’s Computer Crimes Act, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Custer County District Court.
 
		Burns Flat man injured in Route 66 crash, OHP says
Canute, OK — A Burns Flat man was injured in a single-vehicle crash early Friday on Route 66, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Troopers said Jonathan C. McIntyre, 45, was driving west on Route 66 about
 
		Driver killed in single-vehicle crash north of Putnam
Putnam, OK — A 78-year-old Lawton man died Thursday after a rollover crash on Highway 183 about 4 miles north of Putnam, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Troopers said the southbound vehicle left the right side
 
		Government Shutdown Forces Cancellation of U.S. Marine Band Concert in Elk City
Elk City, OK – The highly anticipated performance by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, scheduled for Tuesday night at the Pioneer Center on the Elk City High School campus, has been canceled. The reason: the







