RE)—Garfield County Republicans can cast ballots today in the Republican Primary run-off election for Garfield County Sheriff. Sheriff Jody Helm and Cory Rink, former Covington Police Chief and Garfield County Deputy, are facing off in a contest that will decide who holds that office for the next four years. Polling places will be open today throughout the county 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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SS)--District officials say three more Enid Public Schools elementary classes are being quarantined as of Monday, as over 500 students and staff are now out of school due to COVID-19. According to data provided by the district, as of Monday 484 EPS students, 6.67% of current enrollment, are either in close-contact quarantine (453) or positive-case isolation (31). That rate is up over 2% from Friday’s numbers. Nine EPS staff members have tested positive and are in isolation, and 32 are in quarantine. EPS’ re-entry plan went into effect Monday, with masks mandated for all people on campus. A second option, virtual-only learning is available to students. Around 16% of all EPS students are currently enrolled in the virtual learning plan. The state health department recommends schools move to distance learning when counties are in orange level 2, or 25-50 positive cases per 100,000. The district began providing tallies of contract tracing cases on Friday, so far the only school district in Oklahoma to do so. Quarantined students continue to attend class via virtual learning, and the district provides WiFi hot spots for those in need. You can find the latest data by clicking on the “COVID-19 Update” link on the Enid Public Schools Facebook page. If you have any questions about precautions EPS is taking, you can read them in full at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZL99oQP2jwx8jjOR-I5wl8KB70d1iHAzZq6VNcaNMG0/edit#
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AR)-- Both Enid hospitals reported they had a COVID-19-positive patient die today. As of this afternoon, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center was treating 15 patients who have tested positive and Integris Bass Baptists Health Center was treating five. Enid News and Eagle reports a St. Mary’s spokeswoman said a COVID-19 patient also died Sunday and the information about the deaths has been forwarded to and is under review by the state health department. On Monday, the Garfield County Health Department held a drive-thru testing clinic and conducted 315 COVID-19 tests. Those results should be known in the coming days. As of this week, state health department officials said Garfield County is in the top 5 in average rate of new COVID-19 cases and is nearing the top 10 in total cases in the state.
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GC)--Putnam City High School has cancelled this Friday’s football game against Enid High due to COVID-19. The school was scheduled to play Enid High School at the Plainsmen’s first home game of the season. According to Putnam City’s superintendent, their district’s plans state they cannot attend activities, home or away, when the county they are playing in is in Orange Level 2 or higher. Garfield County is currently in Orange Level 2. OSSAA is allowing teams to have a “cancellation of game” during the regular season this year due to public health concerns. With Friday’s game being a non-district game as well as being in the regular season, cancelling the game will not count toward either school’s record. EPS Superintendent Dr. Darrell Floyd said, “We hope to reschedule the game in the future, depending on how the rest of the season goes.” EHS head football coach, Rashaun Woods, is working on a replacement game or scrimmage for Friday night’s originally scheduled game. More details will follow with updates.
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CV)— Fourteen new virus-related deaths and 650 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state since Monday, according to daily numbers released late this morning by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. A total of 54,172 Oklahomans have tested positive for COVID-19 and the total number of deaths increased to 744. There are currently 553 hospitalized with the virus.
There have been 795 positive COVID-19 cases, and nine deaths in Garfield County. 747 of those cases and all nine deaths have been in Enid. Currently, Garfield County is in a "moderate risk" category as defined by the OSDH, with 30.65 daily new cases per 100,000 population on average. In surrounding counties: Kingfisher County has reported 238 cases, Blaine County is at 62 cases, Major 43, Grant 22, and Alfalfa 12.
COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
08.25.20
|
Confirmed Positive Cases |
54,172 |
|
*Total Cumulative Negative Specimens to Date |
776,659 |
|
*Total Cumulative Number of Specimens to Date |
840,677 |
|
*Currently Hospitalized |
553 |
|
Total Cumulative Hospitalizations |
4,527 |
|
Identified Deaths in the Past 24 hours |
0 |
|
Total Cumulative Deaths |
744 |
*The total includes laboratory information provided to OSDH at the time of the report. Total counts may not reflect unique individuals. Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. As of 2020-08-25 at 7:00 a.m.
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SP)--A 15-year-old Enid boy was charged last week with rape by instrumentation as a youthful offender. Tebek Williams will face the same consequences as an adult defendant on the felony charge, which is punishable by no less than five years to life in prison without parole. Enid News and Eagle reports the teen is charged with sexually assaulting a 6 year-old girl at a residence in the 2000 block of East Maple. When being questioned by police, Williams reportedly admitted to the assault
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BS)--Oklahoma Blood Institute faces an immediate need for donors of all blood types. All healthy adults are strongly urged to donate blood as soon as possible at their nearest Oklahoma Blood Institute donor center or mobile blood drive. All donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Appointments are preferred to help with social distancing, but walk-ins will be accepted as schedules allow. CDC guidelines will be followed at all donor centers and mobile drives. Donors may visit obi.org or call 877-340-8777 to schedule their appointment now at Oklahoma Blood Institute’s Enid donor center located at 301 E. Cherokee.
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OC)--Contemporary Christian duo for King&Country will appear in a drive-in concert, 8:00 p.m. Aug. 27 in the parking lot at Chisholm Trail Expo Center on the Garfield County Fairgrounds. Spectra Venue Management, Stride Bank Center and Chisholm Trail Expo Center are teaming up for the drive-in concert experience. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8:00. Ticket prices will be per vehicle, with a maximum of five people per vehicle, and are $160, $210 and $310. Parking will be general admission within the designated price levels. Tickets go on sale to the public 10 a.m. July 24 at stridebankcenter.com, Stride Bank Center Box Office or at 855-TIX-ENID.
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DI)--August 28th and 29th the Stride Bank Center and Chisholm Trail Expo Center present Enid's Wheels and Reels, a series of movies being played at Garfield County Fairgrounds, where you are able to social distance and see movies on the big screen! Just like the drive-ins of the past, movies will be viewed from your vehicle. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. August 28th will be Shreck, and on the 29th you can see Grease.
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PF)--Spectra Venue Management, Stride Bank Center and the Chisholm Trail Expo Center announced a second drive-in concert experience scheduled August 30 featuring "Outdoor Floyd, A Socially Distanced Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular." The drive-in event will be held in the parking lot at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices will be per vehicle, with a maximum of five people per vehicle, and are $110, $160, $210 and $310. Parking will be general admission within the designated price levels. Tickets go on sale at noon on July 24 at stridebankcenter.com, Stride Bank Center Box Office or at 855-TIX-ENID. The first drive-in concert featuring King&Country will be August 27.
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