March 12, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Serving Western Oklahoma MID-WEEK Since 1901 EDITION Tuesday, March 12, 2019 State’s first Diverging Diamond Interchange coming to Elk City The greatest magicians from America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us Pioneer Center brings “America has Magic” ‘The Elk City Pioneer Center is getting ready for the next great event set for March 15 at 7:00 p.m. America Has Magic will be coming to Elk City for some great entertainment. America Has Magic is an exciting compilation of the world’s greatest and most well-known magicians, illusionists, mind readers, and variety artists. Direct from your favorite hit television shows such as America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Last Comic Standing, Ellen, and The Tonight Show, these mind-blow- ing and hilarious stars are teaming up to present an amaz- ing live theatrical experience that will never be forgotten. A performance full of side-splitting comedy, jaw-dropping magic, and audience interaction, America Has Magic promises to have the whole family raving about the show on the ride home and long after. Don’t forget to get your tickets and enjoy the fun. Tick- ets for adult will be $40 for general admission and, $15 for 16 and under general admission seating. Computer rendering of the soon to be constructed Diverging Diamond Interchange located off I-40. Go to www.elkcityschools.com/pioneercenter to pur- Photo submitted by ODOT chase online or go by the box office located at 300 N Boone in Elk City. The Oklahoma Transpor- Texas County. ship with the City of Elk City. ternatives Program projects tation Commission’s March The state’s first Diverging ‘The contract also includes in small communities with 4 meeting included a project Diamond Interchange will 1-40 Business reconstruction less than 5,000 in population. for Elk City. The commission approved be constructed at I-40 and SH-6 in Elk City thanks to in Sayre. A video detailing how drivers will navigate These are very popular and competitive grants that help Arkansas man grant funding for pedestrian approval ofa $28.6 million this new interchange once cities and towns provide a and bicycle transportation projects in small communi- contract by the Oklahoma Transportation Commis- constructed can be viewed at connected infrastructure www.odot.org under What's system for bicyclists and must pay ties and awarded contracts sion at its Monday, March New and then Major Proj- pedestrians. Approved proj- for major projects on I-40 in Beckman County, US-75 in 4 meeting. As shown in this computer rendering, the ects. ects include construction of The commission approved abike lane and sidewalks in $25,000 after Tulsa County, SH-37 in Me- Clain County and US-54 in new DDI will include bridge $7.5 million in federal fund- Thomas and an ADA compli aesthetics funded in partner- ing for 21 Transportation Al- See Elk City page 2. conviction I OKLAHOMA CITY - BRANDON BYRGE, 29, of Texarkana, Arkansas, has been sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $25,000 for interstate eran Editor transportation ofstolen property, announced RobertJ. Troester of the U.S. Attorney's Office. On June 5, 2018, a federal grand jury charged Byrge with transporting two drill bits from Oklahoma to Arkan- sas when he knew they had been stolen, converted, and taken by fraud. According to the indictment, the two bits to Lead were worth approximately $39,000. Byrge pleaded guilty on August 6, 2018. On February 26, 2019, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Byrge to two years of probation and ordered him to pay $20,000 in restitution and a fine of $5,000. On Don Munsch is the new and everything." taken him all over the state, at several papers. He has March 5, the court amended its judgment by ordering editor ofthe Elk City News. Munsch, a Northwest from North Texas to the held memberships in come that of the $20,000 in restitution, $18,000 go to Smith He comes to the paper Missouri State University Panhandle to Houston to the sportswriting and religion International, Inc., of Sugar Land, Texas, and $2,000 go after serving 2 1/2 years graduate, has worked in the Permian Basin to Central news writers groups, and to Bayless Sales & Services of Weatherford, Oklahoma. as assistant editor of The newspaper industry for more Texas. he has won some awards for These amounts reflect the costs to the companies of Pilot Point Post-Signal in than 20 years, having been a During his newspaper reporting and film reviews temporarily not having access to the drill bits, which Pilot Point, Texas, a weekly, staff writer in several stops stops, he has covered numer- over the years. ultimately were recovered. award-winning paper located across Texas. ous beats, such as education, "Lam excited to begin at This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI about one hour north of Dal- He also was an assistant entertainment, religion, the Elk City News," Munsch Major Theft Task Force, which consists of the FBI, the las. At the Post-Signal, he editor at two newspapers police and municipal and said. "I can't wait to make Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklaho- covered local government, before moving on to the county government, He also the newspaper an important ma Department of Agriculture. Assistant U.S. Attorney sports and, he said, "anything Post-Signal. His career has has done sports coverage voice in the community." Edward J. Kumiega prosecuted the case. SOQ 780 delivering desired results, on track to begin funding treatment services OKLAHOMA CITY, the Oklahoma State Bureau _ sending $10 million to the “Myths about SQ780 are _in facts, data or evidence.” felonies reclassified as mis- Okla. — State Question780 of Investigation. By those treatment services fund cre- adime a dozen because ‘This fact sheet refutes demeanors, meaning they is working as Oklahoma measures alone, SQ 780 is ated by SQ781. A final figure the facts show it is working common misconceptions would have more employ- voters intended when they working. will be determined by the exactly as voters intended, about SQ 780 and servesas ment, housing, education and overwhelmingly passed the Further evidence the end ofthe legislative session. _ for the betterment of Okla- arefresher on the nuts and financial opportunities. Bills landmark criminal justice voters’ will is being real- ‘SQs 780 and 781 were homa,” said Andrew Speno, _ bolts of the reform law ap- to make SQ 780 retroactive, reform initiative in 2016. ized comes from SQ 780’s placed on the ballot by an state director of Right on proved by voters in 2016. House Bill 1269 and Senate Inits first year since companion measure, SQ 781, _ initiative petition drive led Crime, acriminal justice If.applied retroactively, Bill 357, are under consider- taking effect July 1, 2017, which is on track to begin by Oklahomans for Criminal _ advocacy organization and SQ 780 would allow more ation this legislative session. SQ 780 decreased felony distributing treatment fund- Justice Reform (OCJR),aco- member of the OCJR coali- than 1,000 Oklahomans to “SQ 780 pushback is only charges for drug possession _ing on time, as scheduled alition of business, faith and tion. “Taxpayer dollars are _go home to their families. coming from establishment by 28.4 percent and property _to counties this July, pend- civic leaders that now exists being saved, public safety is Another 1,400 Oklahomans _forces that favor the type of crimes have fallen below ing legislative action this as a permanent nonprofit improving and implementa- could have sentences modi-__ excessive, ineffective prison 2015 levels, according to session. Gov. Kevin Stitt’s supporting criminal justice tionis right ontrack. Claims _fied and more than 60,000 sentences that have made the most recent data from executive budget proposed reform. tothe contrary are not rooted Oklahomans could have old See SQ 780 page 2. il Ill Ill UI Weather ik G7,VA Vol. 117, No. 21 Home delivery View online « ere (tas ont » tomorrow 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 ecdailynewsonline.com