June 14, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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Bit “ See Historical page7 1 SeeCommunity page 5 Serving Western Oklahoma WEEKEND Since 1901 EDITION Splash pad in the works By Don Munsch Editor Area children will need to wait a few more weeks before the splash pad is up and running at Ackley Park West in Elk City. “We're waiting for the ground to dry up enough that we can get our equipment in there and to start doing dirt work OM econ and get it leveled so we can get the plumbing in,” Elk City env Peso City Manager Lee Litterell said on Monday. He said city workers hoped to have gotten out there this week to get work completed. ‘The contractor, RJR Enterprises, will be responsible for pouring concrete for the slab. The work is supposed to be finished between now and July. “The projected completion date in middle of July, so hopefully sometime in the middle of July they can start using that splash pad,” Litterell said. In March, Elk City City Commissioners approved Thomas Curranwalked through Elk City on his way to California. He hopes to reach his destination, Newport Beach, engineering services from Myers Engineering for the pad. California, by foot by September. Staff photo by Don Munsch. The motion-activated pad, which is free to use, will be built between the parking lot and the restroom by the walking track, close to the Thunder Court. The pad will be open for certain months and hours of the day after it becomes Man walks for the Pediatric operational. ‘The fence for the Thunder Court, incidentally, was installed a few weeks ago. Cancer Research Foundation In an unrelated city development, Monroe Street near See Coming soon page 2. By Don Munsch talked about his journey And as far as Elk City, he weather has been crazy. Editor just before he left his enjoyed his time in town. “My longest stretch since hotel in Sayre. Curran was “J didn’t see one elk, February of not having any No blues or reds. No accompanied by his dog Wink though,” he said, mentioning, rain has been four days,” he "\\ divisions. until they reached Oklahoma though, that he did glimpse said. That is what Thomas City, when Curran took Wink an elk statue. Some bumps, but mostly \ Curran sees as he walks home because of ongoing ‘Compassionate’ people smooth travels \ across America. The weather issues. Curran along the way Before the trip, Curran Californian just finished the rented a car and drove the He said he knew when sold his restaurant. He halfway point of his journey dog to Palm Springs and he started the trip he would lugs around a cart with his here in Oklahoma that will dropped him off with a meet good people. belongings and tries to walk take him from North Carolina friend. He then resumed his “Thad no idea how an average of 20 miles a day. to California. journey. compassionate and warm- He takes highways and back He started his walk in As Curran passed through hearted the American people roads, and Route 66 has been early February and hopes the area, he said he traveled are,” he said. “We don’t hear part of his route. At night, to be done the second week 1,600 miles. that much about that in the he camps out, finds people of September, with Newport “t's been incredible,” news anymore. Out here, or host families to stay with Beach being the final Curran said, describing the there’s no red or blue or or even spends the night destination; he lives in nearby journey so far. “You've had anything like that. It’s just all in hotels. His trip is being Costa Mesa. He is walking an unprecedented winter good people. That’s been the privately financed. from one end ofthe country with weather. It seems like best part of the journey.” There have been a couple to the other as a way to raise money for the Pediatric it’s been more of a challenge to battle winter than any Cancer Research Foundation. of the other stuff I was Curran, 50, is quick to add he’s encountered a “couple ofjerks, as you can imagine, of setbacks thus far, as he had to cope with a bone spur in his foot and had to have it XTO donates check to ECFD Curran stopped in the expecting. But I tell you, it's but for the most part, it’s EIk City area this week and been amazing.” been great people.” But the See Walking page 2 Marc Johnson of XTO Energy, left, presented a check for $1,000 Tuesday to the Elk City Fire Department. Pay scale approved Receiving the check is Fire Chief Billy Word, who said the money will be placed into the general fund and be used for various purposes, or “general support.” XTO gives a check each year to the fire department. Photo for school personnel submitted, By Don Munsch teachers more than you give I think there’s a healthy better than that even after . . Editor other teachers,” Garrison balance of what we can we do some of this stuff,” E | k City man d les said, “We just felt like it was maintain for that. Idon't want Garrison said, referring to Elk City teachers will get the most fair, and from what to pay our people any less. some projects to be done A araise in the 2019-20 school _ T heard, that’s what most It’s just Ithink wehavea around the district before the | WD Texas wrec k year, as the school board schools are going to do.” financial obligation to make _fiscal year ends at the end of approved the administration Garrison said other sure we can stay afloat, too.” this month. of the increases at its regular districts, such as those inthe He said the Elk City school And during the By Don Munsch meeting Monday. Oklahoma City metro area, district will do all it can for Superintendent's Report, Editor The approval came during are giving pay raises in the _its teachers, pointing out they Garrison said bids should an action item on the certified $3,000-84,000 range plus the got a pay raise last year and _be back for Big Elk Stadium ' ina , , pay scale, support salary pay _state-approved $1,200. this year’s raise willbe anice lights and track on June 26. Sn Chey man died ina crmshs Taentay in: empha! scale and extra duty stipends. “They havealotofother _addition to that. Legislators. He hopes to have abidto the | County in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State lawmakers approved a _ financial things going on in seem more willing to board on June 27. Public Safety in Amarillo. $1,200 pay raise this session, the their districts,” he said. continue to increase pay. Garrison said he was Lucas Green, 36, died at the scene. The wreck occurred and school districts were Garrison said he is leery On the support salary pay not sure whether the new around 1:40 p.m. on U.S. 60, about a half-mile north of given freedom in how they of doing that kind of raise scale, Garrison recommended stadium lights would be Canadian: administer those raises in because of what could 50-cent an hour raise. And installed before the upcomin i na " their scales or steps. happen, for instance, with a on substitute pay, Garrison _ football season hecaee ofthe Green sas traveling south in: his 2012 Ford 250 pickup: “['m recommending tothe downturn in the economy. recommended $70 a day for __id process and availability when he veered off the roadway to the west and crashed board that we give astraight, The district then would certified people and $60 aday of company crews to do the head-on into a tree. His vehicle then caught fire, which across the board $1,200 overprice what they could for non-certified people. The work. ‘was extinguished by the fire department, DPS stated in a pay raise to all steps,” Elk pay for teachers and the class board approved the moves. Also Monday, the board news release. An eyewitness told DPS that the vehicle was City Superintendent Rick sizes would “go crazy.” During a discussion of approved, among other traveling at a high rate of speed when it passed the witness Garrison said. The steps refer “When the crunch comes _fund balance projections, measures: inthe rons, toapay scale and the number and we've all been here Garrison said he thinks the =A resolution for Rick iis witness al Sst tak [ie Waele ad na of years of experience a when the crunch comes - district will have a general Garrison to be Federal d : teacher possesses. that means they’re going to fund carryover of around $2 over the center double yellow line three times before [the “That kind of eliminates all have to [release] a bunch million going into the next vehicle] veered off the road and crashed into the tree,” the the guess work in trying to of teachers or fill up their fiscal year. release stated. give [for instance] five-year _ classes,” Garrison said. “So “J think we may do a little See Board meeting page 2. | ps continues to investigate the crash. il Il Mtl HUAI Weather loWA /6 6 Vol. 117,No.48 Home delivery View online ‘ sores aot » tomorrow wor. 75 cents,12 pgs. 580.225.3000 ecdailynewsonline.com