First day of school scenes

Presley Merdith, a second-grader at Chisholm Elementary, poses in front of a school bus on her first day back.

Will Rogers Principal Stefanie Pattillo, welcomes back Zaylen Smith, left and her brother.

Landri Bowen, left, a first-grader, stands next to her sister Paisley Bowen,a third grader, on their first day at Chisholm Elementary.

The Malony family gathers for a picture at Will Rogers Elementary School.

Nate Harner, a fifth-grader at Chisholm Elementary, steps out of the car as he is welcomed by Superintendent Bret Towne. Towne, a longtime administrator, has been a part of team planning hard to reopen the district during a pandemic.

Photos by Eriech Tapia

Sharie Wilkins loves a good cup of coffee. She loves the people who make up what she calls the “coffee community.” But most of all, she loves the growers who make Flatlander Coffee possible.

“Our hope and desire is to bring awareness to how hard people work in the coffee-growing regions to bring this amazing cup of coffee to us,” said Wilkins, who has owned the company since 2015.

“We purchase green coffee beans based on the relationships that we develop. They are amazing, wonderful, hardworking people who can teach us so much.”

These days the coffee comes from Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador, but Wilkins has also sourced beans from Colombia and Uganda.

“We sell small batch, locally roasted specialty coffee,” she said. “Our heart is in the cup.”

Flatlander Coffee is located on Route 66 near Edmond, and Wilkins employs contractors who help her with the roasting, packaging, delivery and market sales.

Wilkins loves to visit the Latin American coffee farms, which are called fincas. And since at least 10 percent of Flatlander’s proceeds go to charities in the communities where the coffee is sourced, she spends time looking for ways to help.

While spending time with the finca owner in El Salvador, an opportunity was identified and presented for Flatlander to partner with the community.

“We are currently in the process of constructing a library in the area surrounding the finca,” Wilkins said. “It

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), has developed a plan as directed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in Executive Order 2020-20 that will provide for the optional monthly COVID-19 testing of Oklahoma teachers and support employees.

“Testing plays a key role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in our schools,” said interim Health Commissioner Lance Frye, M.D. “The Health Department has placed a top priority in helping schools navigate through these uncertain times to protect our children, our teachers and communities.”

This plan provides all teachers and support staff free COVID-19 testing in their areas with help from publicprivate testing partners. Tests will be processed through Oklahoma Public Health Lab Network (PHLN) and other state contracted labs to ensure results will be provided in a timely manner.

“No matter the circumstances, learning cannot happen unless all parties – families, school personnel and students – are in a safe environment. This voluntary COVID-19 testing pro

Continued work on quiet zone improvements will impact the railroad crossing at Third Street. This work is part of an ongoing project to upgrade all eleven railroad crossings for implementation of the quiet zone in Edmond.

The Third Street project will begin on Thursday, Aug. 27 with a full closure of the railroad crossing. This work is expected to last approxi

KIMBERLY BURK/ARCADIA FAMERS MARKET PUBLICIST Flatlander Coffee owner Sharie Wilkins, left, and Ruth McAdoo greet customers at the Arcadia Farmers Market.

is their library/community center. They grow the coffee. We roast and sell the coffee. Together we build a lasting relationship.”

Wilkins also partners with Hope for Women, which works to empower women across the world through trade, spirituality and education. Every year, Flatlander sponsors a Ugandan woman for a one-year training program with Hope for gram is an important component of a layered approach to in-person instruction that will help mitigate risk of coronavirus exposure to everyone in the school community,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister.

The strategy to best serve Oklahoma teachers and support staff will be delivered to Governor Stitt for approval today, with additional details to follow next week. As COVID-19 research evolves and technology continues to advance, further modifications will be made with additional stakeholders to strengthen community mitigation actions and prevent the spread of the virus.

OSDH highly encourages Oklahomans to seek COVID-19 testing. Due to sufficient COVID-19 testing supplies and lab capacity, Oklahomans no longer need to exhibit symptoms or to have been exposed to someone who tested positive. Regional COVID19 testing sites are open in multiple cities in Oklahoma as a result of a cross-county, city and state health system partnership, and Oklahomans can find a free testing location in their community by visiting: https://coronavirus.health.ok.gov/testing-sites. mately four weeks with cooperative weather. Traffic will not be able to pass through the area, and motorists will need to find an alternate route.

Upgrades at the railroad crossings include removal and replacement of the current pavement along with the addition of medians. Rudy Construction is the contractor for the roadway portions of the quiet zone project at a total cost of $1,145,452.80. Women.

Wilkins has a booth at the Arcadia Farmers Market and also sells her coffee online, in retail shops and cafes and through special events and fundraisers. Even though orders can be completed online, she recommended that customers call her at 405-834-9819.

“I like to talk to people, especially if they want it ground,” she said. “I like to ask them how they are going to brew it, so we can grind the beans accordingly to ensure you experience your best cup of coffee.”

Flatlander Coffee will also be available at the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store, scheduled to open Sept. 1 at 212 Odor St. in Arcadia. Call 405-226-0346 for more information about the new store.

State giving teachers monthly testing option

Quiet zone work continues

--- KIMBERLY BURK