April 12, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 14

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a © SeeHistorical page6 See Big Elk sports page 12 News WEEKEND Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 EDITION Friday, April 12, 2019 New City Commissioners sworn in Monday evening cher and Spieker. Bill Helton, first elected to mayor in 2015, and Commissioner Ward 1 Allen Robinson, first elected to commission in 2011, were given plaques for their time on the commission. This year’s election date was slated for April 2, butno election was held this year because there was only candi- date for each seat, said Cheryl Sipes, city clerk. Commission- ers serve for four years and the mayor’s term is two years. Before they received their plaques, City Manager Lee Litterell read a long list of happenings and accomplish- ments that occurred in Elk City while Robinson and Helton served the city. Those Russell named to achievements ranged from an industrial park being conceived and constructed Board of Trustees to the renovations to Elk City Carnegie Library to down- town revitalization tonew By Don Munsch business growth. Litterell also Editor mentioned the February voter passage of the Community Mark Russell of Elk City has been named to the Board of Action Project Plans, which Trustees of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University will provide for anumber of (SWOSU) Foundation Inc., according to a release from the community improvements. university. Litterell thanked Helton Jeff DeFehr of Weatherford was also named to that board, and Robinson for their work, which, with addition of Russell and DeFehr, now haas 20 and they received applause members. from the crowd inside the “Pm very honored that I was selected and look forward to packed commission meeting being a part of it,” Russell, a graduate of SWOSU, told the Elk room. Helton was a com- City News. Top, Elk City Clerk Cheryl Sipes gives the oath of office to Commissioner Ward 1 Cory missioner from 2013 to 2015 Part ofhis duties will consist of managing the assets in ‘Spieker, Mayor Nick Archer and Commissioner Ward 4 Rick Shelton. Bottom, outgoing before becoming mayor. place and growing those assets and trying to encourage Mayor Bill Helton, right, delivers some parting words at the meeting Monday. Staff “T'm so proud of this city alumni to contribute to the foundation, which, among other photos by Don Munsch. and its citizens, and I appre- functions, provides funds for student scholarships. ciate you,” Helton said after Russell (SWOSU Class of 1986) is chief executive officer of receiving his plaque. Great Plains Bank, a high-performing community bank with By Don Munsch Elk City Commission mem- to the new mayor, Nick Ar- Afterward, Archer, Spieker $750 million in assets and 21 locations, the release stated. Editor bers, including the mayor, cher, and new Commissioner and Shelton took the oath of During his tenure as CEO, Russell has led the organization while bidding adieu and for Ward 1, Cory Spieker. In- office. into a period of unprecedented growth, expanding into new City officials and family and giving thanks to the departing cumbent commissioner Rick Robinson said after the markets across Oklahoma and Texas and establishinga new friends gathered Monday at mayor and a commissioner. Shelton, who represents Ward corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City, the release stated. City Hall to say helloto new The oath of office was given 4, also was sworn in with Ar- See Officials page 2. Russell serves as a board member for the Community Bankers Association of Oklahoma and the Wichita National i Life Insurance Company. He previously served on the Oklahoma Bankers Association Board of Directors and as atrustee of the Graduate School of Banking of the South at School board addresses Louisiana State University. Russell lives in Elk City with his wife, Tammy. His son, Tyler Russell, lives in Odessa, Texas, and his daughter, Madison Russell Smith, and son-in-law Denver Smith live in Milford, Conn. need for high school roof DeFehr (SWOSU Class of 1990) is a co-owner of Western Equipment, a 101-year-old John Deere dealership with 14 locations and 400 employees in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. DeFehr and his wife, Melanie, live in Weatherford. help a case for aclaim. The They have three children: Will (SWOSU Class of 2015), Zoey roof replacement would cost and Ross. DeFehr serves on the governing board of the Staf- between $260,000 to $300,000. ford Air & Space Museum Foundation Inc. He is a deacon at Garrison hopes it can be fixed the First Baptist Church of Weatherford where he and his this summer. Money for the family are active members. roof would come from insur- Both DeFehr and Russell have been assigned to the Founda ance and district funds. Bond money could also be used. See SWOSU page 3. Garrison also discussed how the district needs to do I | other school improvements throughout the district. The improvements spanned sev- Evidence Elk City High School's deteriorating roof eral departments/areas that include building and main- tenance, technology, capital Two injured in can be found both on top of the building and inside the school, where, right, ceiling tile fell through a room because of moisture. Water caused damage on the sheet rock that had be replaced. improvements, activity improvements and transpor- tation/equipment. Sunday wreck ‘Those improvements the By Don Munsch and engineer were scheduled some day of it being damaged _ district will target are carpet- By Don Munsch Editor to visit this week toexamine _ and then we'll just pay for ing in four classrooms at Editor the roof, and Garrison said it. ’m not sure that’s ariskI _three campuses, which would Elk City Public Schools they'll depreciate it and then _ would mind taking.” be the high school, intermedi- ; a Superintendent Rick Gar- willdetermine the amountto He clarified that it is the ate school and middle school; Sen ee avin ae usta ten co rison told school district be insured. high school that is the most _ phone systems in the high staptianie Hayes #6. was-taen tn Gene laine Regioval board members Monday that “They won't pay full, but pressing area, explaining school, middle school and ep) ayes, 39, was taken t ans Regio the high school’s roofneeds whatever ourdeductibleis, that several areasneed roof _ intermediate school; repair of | Medical Center and was admitted in stable condition with replacing. they'll say we'll give you X work or have issues, suchas _ flooring in agclassrooms and _| leg injuries. Delanie Gilbert, 18, was taken to GPRMC and The school opened 20 years amount,” Garrison said after the auditorium and gym at —_ high school home econom- treated and released, according to the Oklahoma Highway ago and is onits original roof, the meeting. “The decision the Pioneer Center andthe _ics room; anew route bus; Patrol. Garrison said. The roofis we're going to make is ifall football dressing room. cameras for route buses; and The wreck happened around 10:15 am. at County Road_ deteriorating rapidly. they do is [pay for] the metal During the meeting,Gar- _repair of lockers in all build- 1090 and County Road 2000. Trooper Brandon Bussey said “That roofreally needsto [portion of the roof] is,ifwe ison told the board the high _ings. Gilbert was in her 2014 Cadillac SRX at the stop sign at CR be addressed,” Garrison said _take their money and we don’t school roof had some tears Board member Kirby Mc- 1090 heading in an eastbound direction. She failed to yield during the superintendent replace all the metal-whichI and rips and that its warranty Broom gave an update on the the right of way and collided with Hayes, who was in a 2001 financial report portion of the | Wouldn’trecommend that we —_ had expired, but district of- _ construction and funding GMC Jimmy traveling north on CR 2000. consent agenda. do, because then it’s just cos- _ficials think it took on some The Elk City Fire Department, Elk City EMS and Elk City Aninsurance underwriter © metic-then we may takerisk hail in the past, which could See Roof page 2. | Police Department assisted at the scene, Bussey said. (HL Ml Mtl INN Weather k 15 sy Vol. 117, No. 28 Home delivery View online é serolyarsael , tomorrow ra 75 cents, 18 pgs. 580.225.3000 ecdailynewsonline.com