July 2, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma MID-WEEK Since 1901 EDITION Tuesday, July 2, 2019 7 I-40 update The City of Elk City announced last week that the Inter- state 40 eastbound on-ramp for Highway 6 will be closed for construction beginning July 8. ‘The on-ramp will be closed for six to eight weeks. The detour route will be the I-40 business loop east. Signs will be posted designating the route. ‘Nunsense’ coming By Don Munsch Editor Five nuns from The Little Sisters of Hoboken need money for a burial of some fellow sisters who died. What to do? Have a variety show to raise funds, naturally. Untitled Pop Up Theatre’s rendition of “Nunsense” will be performed at the St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Elk City July 11 and 12 - both shows are 7:30 p.m. performane- es - and will move to the City of Weatherford’s Pioneer Center, 1000 Gartrell Place, for a4 p.m. performance on July 14. “Nunsense,” a musical comedy by Dan Goggin, depicts how the Little Sisters of Hoboken do a variety show to raise Big Elk Stadium will get new lights and a track surface money to bury sisters who were accidentally poisoned. The soon. The new lights will be on four poles instead of musical began its Off-Broadway run in 1985 and has won six. Shown here are the three light poles on the visitor many awards, including Best Off Broadway Musical, and side of the stadium. Also shown here Is the track that and is one of the longest running Off-Broadway shows in includes portions that have become worn over the history. years. Staff photos by Don Munsch. Cast for the local production are: Sister Mary Regina (Reverend Mother): Tiphani Currell Sister Hubert: Tomara Armstrong Sister Robert Ann: Misty Musick Sister Amnesia: Carrie Stone School board approves Sister Mary Leo: Allysa Donaldson In “Nunsense,” the five sisters put on a cabaret-type show to raise money to bury their last four sisters who died after eating some soup that was accidentally poisoned. The new lights for stadium other nuns who died have already been buried. “One of the nuns knows a lot and was a performer, and so she thinks we don’t know what we're doing and we think we See Musical page 2. By Don Munsch those jobs is probably about years, Garrison said. The will notice the difference, Editor $100,000 less than what we poles are deteriorating to as they were accustomed to The Friday Night Lights will be brighter this season thought we're going to end up spending,” Elk City Su- perintendent Rick Garrison the point where the district needed to replace them. Plus, the new LED lighting seeing shadows before on the track because ofthe old lights’ reach. Firework laws at Big Elk Stadium. said. “We felt like our bids gives more options. “This new lighting system Elk City school officials came in competitive.” “The ones we have now, will be definitely noticeable,” By Don Munsch plan to have the new lights Garrison said the lights you have to warm up,” Gar- Garrison said. Editor at Big Elk Stadium up and and track are supposed to rison said. “Once you turn The district has been able running by the beginning be finished by the first home them off, you have to let to do allot of improvements Retail establishments in Elk City - Walmart and Dollar of the home football school football game. The football them cool down for 15 to 20 and maintain its $2.6 million General - receive a visit from Elk City Fire Department schedule this fall. season Kicks off on Sept. minutes. The LED will give carryover fund, he said. each year before the Fourth of July. On Thursday, the Elk City 6, with the Elks’ first var- us just a little more option Most of Thursday's meet- Fire officials inspect the stores to ensure they are not sell- school board approved bids sity home game on Sept. 20 out there as far as the light- ing revolved around closing ing any prohibited fireworks. for the new lights and the against Altus. ing as well as economics out financials for the fiscal “Over 20 years,” ECFD Assistant Chief Billy Sizemore, resurfacing of the track at ‘Money to pay for the lights of what the LED runs with year. Anew fiscal year bud- noting the number of years ECFD has inspected the stores the stadium. and track are coming from compared to what we have get begins July 1. for fireworks. Electrical Express of general fund dollars from the out there.” At the meeting, board Ifthe merchant is selling illegal fireworks, they are Edmond [$259,500] was 2018-19 budget. He said LED bulb runs members approved some required to remove them from shelves and put them in the approved for the lights and “We've done about close to cheaper than the traditional hirings, including Rick back of the store. Stores will sell whatever fireworks are General Sports Surfaces of $1 million worth of improve- bulb. The stadium has six MeNeil as the adult educa- delivered to their premises and may not be aware of which Fort Worth [$107,350] was ments here at the end ofthe poles now, but four new tion teacher, Shane Thornton fireworks are prohibited, Sizemore said. approved for the track. Earli- school [year],” Garrison poles will replace them. That as a lay coach and student “One of us is going to try to make our rounds,” he said. est completion date for both said. gives the sense of what these teacher, Kim Guymon as a “We go to all the fireworks stands and we do an inspection lights and track is Sept. 1. The track hasn’t had much LED options can do as far as “The combination of work done to it in 20 or so power. Fans and competitors See Elk Stadium page 2. See Laws page 2. Area schools reflect on ACT scores By Don Munsch profile, explaining that Aspire program that is used have anumber of opportuni- ontheir Aspire and then we _system, all of our students Editor because a student scores a for students between seventh ties through extracurricular can provide whattheyneed _ take itnow, which you’re 32on the ACT, that doesnot and 10th gradestogetkids _ activities to enhance soft to reach their goals,” Coff- including 70 percent of your Area school students ensure he will be successful. more prepared for the test; _skills found in the work man said. Kids who are probably aren't scored close to the state The same is true that just this coming year will bethe —_force. Garrison explained how going tocollege who are average on the ACT col- because akid scoresa15,he Secondyearfor Aspire. Itisa Students also are exposed the ACT became part ofthe taking a college entrance lege readiness exam, whose — won't be successful. He said Penchmark and curriculum- to the Individual Career accountability picture.The ©Xam. results were released in June scores are also not the sole lignmentsystem.Thehigh Academic Plan, which allows _ state required the ACT for Schools used to use End by the Oklahoma State Re- _ indicator for how the district School alsouses an ACT prep _ students to explore what everybody in 2015. of Instruction tests in high gents for Higher Education. _ evaluates teachers and a program. High school juniors they want want to do as far “We used to go to state- schools. ACT scores for math Elk City average compos- school. take the ACT. ascareer, academics and _—made tests forour Athrough and English are used in the ite score was a 19.0, while ‘The ACT measures math, “The score does definitely post-high school opportuni- FTeport card and account- accountability portion in the Merritt High School showed science, reading and English serve as aguidepost for us, _ties. ICAP has been in the ability,” Garrison said. | ——_A-F report card. A separate 20.2 and Canute High skills, with the highest score _butit'snot the whole piece _—-—Pilot phase forthe lasttwo “Well, we've shifted which _ science test and history test School showed a19.2.The being a 36. ofthe pie that weuse,”he YearSandthiscoming year I'm glad—statewide to using _are conducted, even though state average is 19.7 and “f'sdefinitely one ofour said. “We think there's alot it Willbearequirement, said the ACT for our account- the ACT has a science por- the national average is 20.8. . of the pie that _ Robin Coffman, curriculum _ability source. So what you tion. Scores are based on 2018 Dees Oe Pe ee more toastudent. The score director for Elk City schools. _used to have is just your top “The test must correlate exam. Tests were taken by __°Valuate ourselves with,’ doesn’t measure the disci- Career explorationextends 20or30 percent of your kids __ to our standards, and the juniors from last year’s class, Garrison said about the pline or the work ethic or all the way to elementary taking your ACT test because science on the ACT is more 2018-19. ACT. “Asthe state started passion or being able to work school. that's the college entrance —_anallysis than standards Elk City Superintendent making that making more with people. There’s a lot of “We know what the stu- [exam]. Most colleges use driven, so it doesn’t corre- Rick Garrison saidone test high-stakes for us, wehave things thatemployers want dents wanttodo,weknow _itfortheirentrance exam. _ate,” Coffman said. “So we should not be indicative of incorporated that.” outside that score.” what their projected ACT Well, because we're going to a student’s entire academic The district uses a ACT Garrison said students scores are going to be based —_use it in our accountability See Scores page 2. IHL Ml Mtl HUAI Weather ak 93/ Vol. 117, No. 53 Home delivery View online é serena tet » tomorrow 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com