News

Nick Archer

Carl and Terry Billey have long been familiar faces within Sayre. The couple married early in life. Terry graduated from Merritt High School, and Carl calls Reydon High School his alma mater.

A 43-year-old former Elk City Police Department officer has been charged with second-degree burglary, unlawfully wearing a mask and hood, grand larceny, and child neglect.

On Friday night, hundreds of parents, friends, and family members gathered together to celebrate the 2023 Sayre High School graduating class. The new set of alumni now will venture out into the world, pursuing adulthood through college, vocational schools, the military, and private enterprise.

Brenda and Gary Quinn have seen a lot in their fifty years of marriage. They balanced careers and children, droughts and floods.

Dear Abby

There are ongoing debates about how much influence our childhood experiences have on how we currently think. Some say, “It’s past. We need to forget it and move on.” Others insist, “We can’t forget it. It’s impossible to be free of the past.” Who’s right?

Ducks and people. You begin comparing male and female ducks to us human counterparts, and you will find a drastic difference. And I’m not referring to our nonwebbed feet and wings.

Valedictorian Breegan Barnett Co-Salutatorian TreyKowing, Kellen Lamar, Serenity Leverett MerrittTeacheroftheYear Taler Wilson StudentofToday RielyHartman, Riley Herndon OklahomaAcademicScholar Kellen Lamar State Honor Society Ella Porter, Leia Snuggs, Reese Richardson, ColeCarter, JudeCallaway,Jenna Watkins, Bentli Whitson, Addison Darling, MyleighFlowers, Ainsley Partain, Breegan Barnett, Marlie Mong, Chloe Stout, Kellen Lamar, Serenity Leverett, Coy Bullard, Riely Hartman, Trey Kowing Oiler of the Year Case Carlson Merritt Honor Roll Superintendent’s AnthonyArizpe, Breegan Barnett, Gina Brasel, Peytyn Broadbent, Coy Bullard, Jude Callaway, Gracee Carnes, Cole Carter, Jalaine Chervenka, Rhiannon Clark, Savannah Craig, Aspen Criswell, Gabe Cumming, Addison Darling, Hudson Dyer, Jerzi Elizondo, Payten Fite, Myleigh Flowers, Arianna Fraga, Layton Freas, Jolea Gilbert, Makayla Graham, Addison Hartman, Riely Hartman, Trey Kowing, Aubrey Lamar, Kellen Lamar, Serenity Leverett, Caden McGilbert, Jacob Miller, Marlie Mong, Ainsley Partain, Liliana Patlan, Luke Peffer, Madison Pittman, Ella Porter, Olivia Reynolds, Reese Richardson, Jancy Rippetoe, Madison Robinson, Ryker Simpson, Gracie Smith, Hallie Smith, Leia Snuggs, Ashlee Sosa, Chloe Stout, Preslie Taylor, Jenna Watkins, Bentli Whitson, Jayme Whittemire, Brinlee Williamson Principal’s TylerAdams,Countri Blankenship, River Britton, Makenzie Brooks, Gloria Bustos, Case Carlson, Addison Carnes, Aiden Carter, JJ Cloud, Caleb Compton, Abbigail Contreras, Jayden Cook, Raydon Cordell, Jayden Darling, Anndria Dobbins, Dannielle Dobbins, Mos Flowers, Talan Frazier, Tyler Fuentes, Jenny Gilbert, Raegon Gilliland, Ali Gilliland, Devany Gonzalez, Gunner Goodall, Karissa Gordon, Alie Hamilton, Kaden Harrel, Destanne Harrell, Jose Hernandez, Kayde Herndon, Olyviah Herndon, Riley Herndon, Reece Hightower, Brylan Jones, Travis King, Cadence Krueger, Shelby Lively, Anthony McGruder, Embree Mc-Gurie, Dawson Michel, Adilyn Morrow, Tanner Newton, Alex Orgain, Major Paige, Aaron Posey, Tristan Prator, Madison Pruitt, Stephanie Robinson, Vincent Rocha, Kenya Sanchez, Mia Shepard, Phillip Shepard, Austin Smith, Caden Smith, Mika Stewart, Caleb Stone, Jason Tarver, Elizabeth White, Madalyn Wimberly, Christopher Zerbe Price Farms Scholarship $1,000.00 Reece Hightower Red Dirt AIM Scholarship $1,000.00 Reece Hightower National FFA Tractor Supply Scholarship $ 5,000.00 Reece Hightower AIM Scholarship Layton Freas, Reece Hightower Moran Equipment 2023 Scholarship $1,000.00 Bryce Hamby UCO Automatic Scholarship $2,000.00 Kellen Lamar UCO Automatic Scholarship Freshman honors $1,500.00 up to 4 years Emma Wells Elk City Kiwanis Club Scholarship $500.00 Riely Hartman Great Plains Bank $100.00 Reece Hightower, Jocelyn Kos, Trayden Britton, Payten Fite, River Britton, Jayden Darling, Anthony Arizpe FirstNationalBank $150.00 Tyler Fuentes, Case Carlson, Breegan Barnett Trayden Britton, Emma Wells, River Britton, Trey Kowing Rivers Edge Art Society $500.00 Jocelyn Kos Interbank $150.00 Tyler Fuentes, Jocelyn Kos, Layton Freas, Kellen Lamar, Jenny Gilbert, Jolea Gilbert, Jayden Cook, Jayden Darling Aaron Custer Scholarship $500.00 Case Carlson, Riely Hartman Beckham Roger Mills OSU Alumni Scholarship $1,000.00 Case Carlson Gravelle Scholarship $3,000.00 Case Carlson Academic Excellence Scholarship $1,000.00 Case Carlson Fuchs Family Scholarship $1,000.00 Riely Hartman Elk City Masonic Lodge # 182 Scholarship $1,000.00 Riely Hartman , Layton Freas Judith Bollinger Scholarship $500.00 RielyHartman Kiwanis Scholarship Trey Kowing Lindenwood Univ. Shooting Scholarship $5,000.00 Layton Freas Lindenwood Univ. Academic Scholarship $10,000.00 Layton Freas Lioness Scholarship $250.00 Jenny Gilbert SWOSU Regent’s Baccalureate Full Tuition Scholarship Kellen Lamar WOSC Top Ten Percent Scholarship $1,200.00 Breegan Barnett Western Oklahoma Education Expo committee Trey Kowing Jack and Jewell Walker Scholarship $1,000.00 Breegan Barnett SWOSU Academic Achievement Award JocelynKos,ShelbyLively, Serenity Leverett, Jenny Gilbert, Jolea Gilbert, Tristan Prator Shoot my Scholarship to WOSC Jayden Darling DAR Good Citizen Award Serenity Leverett SWOSU Athletic Scholarship $2,000.00 per semester Payten Fite SWOSU Academic Scholarship $1,000.00 Payten Fite WTC 13th year Scholarship Travis King SWOSU Academic Achievenment $1,000.00 per semester Riely Hartman Merritt Student Council $1000.00 Payten Fite, Jenny Gilbert Merritt Alumni $1,000.00 Breegan Barnett Elks Lodge Scholarship $1,000.00 Reece Hightower Elk City Lions Club $250.00 Jocelyn Kos Great Plains regional Medical Center $500.00 UCO Automatic Scholarship $1,500.00 Jocelyn Kos Mr. Shockey Algebra 1 - Cole Carter, Algebra 2 - Jayme Whittemire Mr. Johnson Science Awards Biology II Ella Porter, Chloe Stout Physical Science 2nd hour Leia Snuggs, Reese Richardson, Jude Callaway, Ainsley Partain, Chemistry Breegan Barnett, Physics Kellen Lamar, environmental Science Ella Porter, Chole Stout, Madison Robinson, Robotics Zayden Day, Kyler Roberts, Physical Science 8th hour Jose Hernandez, Hallie Smith Mrs. Richarrdson English 1: Arianna Fraga, Gunner Goodall, Jenna Watkins, Marlie Mong, Ainsley Partain, Reese Richardson, Ryker Simpson, Gina Brasil, Jude Callaway, Cole Carter, Addison Darling, Hudson Dyer, Myleigh Flowers, Talan Frazier, Devany Gonzalez, Bentli Whitson, Leia Snuggs English 2: Gabe Cummings, Jerzi Elizondo, Gracee Carnes, Luke Peffer, Alie Hamilton, Anndi Dobbin, Karissa Gordon, Aubrey Lamar, Jacob Miller, Jayme Whittemire, Aiden Carter Mrs. Tibbetts Music and Band All band students will receive a History Maker Award, Savanah Craig, Jack Duran, Karissa Gordon, Jocelyn Kos, Jayson Lanney, Madison Pruitt, Britany Puentes, Christopher Rivas, Makenzie Rodgers Outstanding Vocal Student of the Year for high school is Jocelyn Kos Awesome Alto Award- Makayla Graham, Alexis Carnes, Ariana Fraga, Super Soprano Award- Jenna Watkins, Mika Stewart, Mrs. Reeder hs English Senior English Anthony Arizpe, Jayden Darling, Layton Freas, Jolea Gilbert,Jocelyn Kos, Trey Kowing, Kellen Lamar, Caden McGilbert , Serenity Leverett, Ashlee Sosa Junior English Peytyn Broadbent, Jalaine Chervenka, Lilianna Patlan, Ella Porter, Chloe Stout, Coy Bullard, Madison Pittman, Olivia Reynolds, Phillip Shepard Freshman English Gracie Smith, Hallie Smith Backflip (Willingness) Award-MaKenzie Brooks Speech AlieHamiltonBest Speaker Chris Zerbe- Most Improved Academic Team MVP Jolea Gilbert Mr. Sanders History awards World History Jerzi Elizondo, US History Peytyn Broadbent, Kayde Herndon, Madison Pittman, Ella Porter, Olivia Reynolds, Madison Robinson, Tre Shepard Government/ Ok History Cole Carter, Myleigh Flowers, Ainsley Partain, Reese Richardson, Leia Snuggs, Bentli Whitson Mr.Richardsonscience Biology I awards Savanah Craig, Aubrey Lamar, Jayme Whittemire, Aiden Carter, Tralee McCain, Gabe Cummings, CalebStone Zobot Madison Pittman Mrs. Broadbent Digital Media Bonnie Bland, Computer Apps I Gracie Smith, Hallie Smith, Cole Carter, Reese Richardson, Computer Apps II Ella Porter, Chloe Stout, Case Carlson, Computer Programming

STILLWATER – Before the first scoop of potting soil goes into a planter, it’s a good idea for gardeners to sanitize the pots to help avoid any disease issues this growing season.