July 9, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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inline to The Elk City Ne elkcityoknews.com Serving Western Oklahoma MID-WEEK Since 1901 EDITION United Fund to meet this month The Elk City Area United Fund Budget Committee will discuss funding requests when it meets at 9:30 am. July 24 at Great Plains National Bank, 1300 S. Main St., according toaletter from the United Fund. Representatives from member organizations should at- tend at the prescribed date and time allotted for a presenta- tion. Members from the different agencies should mail the requested information listed below to the Elk City United Fund, P.O. Box 801, Elk City OK 73648.: ~ Current list of board of directors ~ Outline or discussion of program work including num- ber of participants ~ Financial statements for last fiscal/calendar year end and most recent interim financial statement. ~ Budget for next fiscal/calendar year. ~ Copy of IRS form 501 C-3. ‘The above information is needed by July 22 so that the budget committee will have enough time to review it. ee Top photo, Sam Brewer, 12, of Elk City, and Spence Brewer, 10, of Elk Christmas in July City light off fireworks at Ackley Park West, while Hayden Williford, 10, of Altus and Jalynn Cape, 12, of is this weekend Elk City also participate in holiday By Don Munsch fun. Staff photos by Don Munsch. Editor ‘The 29th Annual Foss Lake Christmas in July Festival is Friday and Saturday, with all vendors in place by 1 p.m. Sparks flew in Elk City Friday. The event is one ofthe largest outdoor events in Western Oklahoma and includes activities for the whole family, ac- cording to anews release. for Independence Day ‘An opening ceremony honoring veterans and current military will begin at 6 p.m. at the Main Stage, north of the Marina on Cedar Point. A reception will be held for the veterans after the program in the pavilion on Cedar Point. The Altus AFB Honor Guard will present the colors, Ashley Tracy will do some patriotic music, Alex Costea will By Don Munsch attention and remedy. last year. set up in the parking lot at have a special message for those men and women who have Editor “One of the firing systems “We had to use some Ackley Park West. served and Ben Costea will close with taps. failed and there were 100 older equipment that we had During the evening, Friday evening will continue with the Michael Ragland Booming, colorful fire- shots that didn’t go off,” transitioned from, and one of families set up space in many Band doing a free concert on the main stage from 8-11 pm. works filled the Elk City Lenius said. “So they had to them failed,” Lenius said. areas ofthe park, with lawn Visitors should bring a lawn chair or a blanket. sky Thursday as residents rewire it and shot them off Elk City Fire Chief Billy chairs the preferred fixture Vendors will have jewelry, T-shirts, crafts and food, and celebrated the nation’s before midnight, because Word said the old style of for relaxation, although the kids can enjoy the pony rides. These vendors set up 243rd birthday at the annual we can't store those until equipment didn’t work. He some people chose blankets. Friday and will stay until late Saturday night. fireworks display at Ackley next year. And so probably said firefighters hooked up Youngsters shot off fireworks On Saturday, special events and activities begin with the Park West. about 30 minutes after the the fireworks to the newer and did other activities, such Fourth Annual SK Fun Run across the Dam starting at 7 ‘Then came Friday morn- show ended, the second show style of equipment. He hopes as riding bicycles and throw- am. Check-in begins at 6:15 a.m. at the Foss State Park ing, when cleanup crews - started.” next year, the fire depart- ing around a ball. See Foss Lake page 2. consisting of city employees Lenius laughed, as there ment will replace the old No major fires were re- and inmates from the prison was no second show planned, style with the new style. ported Thursday, Word said. in Granite - picked up trash of course. Lots of revelers “{ think the show went “We only had a couple and spent fireworks shells at the park certainly gave pretty well,” he said. “It was of dumpster fires and they and wrappers in Ackley Park the impression, though, that and Ackley Park West. The day’s festivities went their fireworks display was the first show ofthe night, a good show.” ‘The show featured many specialty effects in the were at the park with people throwing away stuff too soon,” Word said, referring SWOSU Bulldog off without a hitch. starting well ahead of the 10 “It’s a good year,” said Ju- p.m. time that the Elk City display, such as mini mice, smiley faces, jellyfish, single to disposed fireworks, Looking ahead, he said Angels Fund lie Lenius, director of the Elk Fire Department picked for hearts and double red and he would like to add to the City Convention and Visitors its show. Lenius recalled white hearts, said Elk City specialty component of the Bureau. that the fire department had Assistant Fire Chief Billy fireworks show next year. By Don Munsch Actually, there was one to replace part of the firing Sizemore, during a tour of Editor glitch that received quick system that caught on fire the fireworks launch site See Spark page 2. Southwestern Oklahoma State University recently cel- ebrated the fifth anniversary of the SWOSU Bulldog Angels Fund, according to a SWOSU release. The Bulldog Angels Fund was established by 2014 New pastor settles in SWOSU Distinguished Alumnus and Carnegie native Bill Howell to benefit SWOSU students who need financial help in times of crisis. SWOSU has locations in Weatherford and Sayre, and students at both campuses can benefit from the rogram. pastor at Elk City United Oklahoma Conference in others. Over 50 SWOSU alumni, emeriti and friends gathered Methodist Church. He 2006 and has been a pastor “P've always been in- recently in the Pioneer Cellular Events Center at SWOSU started in late June, replac- for 19 years. He served the trigued by science; I mean, I and heard testimonials from some of the over 100 SWOSU ing Terry Koehn, who is now last nine years at Heritage have a chemistry degree,” he students who have received assistance from the fund since District Superintendent for UMC in Broken Arrow. said. “I like trying to figure its start. Participants at the event also heard remarks from the “Green Country District” Elk City UMC will be his out problems, diagnosing SWOSU President Randy L. Beutler. of the Oklahoma Confer- fifth appointment and his things, not too dissimilar to “The Bulldog Angels Fund has been a tremendous re- ence of the United Methodist sixth church; he served two whatIdointhechurch. Asa _| Source for our students during very difficult times,” Beutler Church. Koehn moved to churches in one of his ap- pastor, looking at situations, said. “The entire SWOSU community is truly grateful to all Claremore, a bedroom com- _pointments. I'm an opportunities guy. All of our generous donors who have made the fund’s mission munity of Tulsa, and served “I took the MCAT and challenges present opportu- possible and who have changed the lives of our Bulldogs.” ate Elk City UMC for eight gotasfarasthatandnever _ nities. It'sno different from James South, SWOSU provost and vice president for Rodg: years. filled out the application the medical field when some- | academic affairs, discussed the Bulldog Angels program - By Don Munsch Rodgers, 43, grew up in and ended up going to the thing’s not working: ‘This along with other university-related topics - at an Elk City {bea Oklahoma City and attended seminary,” he said, recalling _ hurts. Well, OK, let’s figure Rotary Club meeting in late March The fund can help Editor Northeast High School. He —_his trek to the clerical life. “I out why that hurts so that we | students who get into a jam and need immediate financial - earned aBachelor of Science felt call to ministry andas can fixit’ Same thing inthe —_| help. Students can apply for up to $750 in aid and must Scott Rodgers originally degree inchemistry fromthe Iexplored that call, IknewI — church. When something’s disclose what crisis occurred that caused the need. A panel wanted to go to medical University of Oklahomaand = wanted tobe apastor,andso _not working right, how do we __| of students and faculty considers requests. school. aMaster of Divinity degree that meant gettinga master’s diagnose that and then find a “It’s a one-time award to a student,” South said in March, But he instead of wear- from Southern Method- of divinity.” faithful solution to fixing it, adding that students don’t have to pay it back. But students ing scrubs, he eventually ist University’s Perkins He was originally drawn _to resolving it?” are asked to pay it forward when they are able. became aman ofthe cloth. School of Theology. He was _to the medical field because Rodgers is thenew senior ordained as anelder inthe _he could be a position to help See UMC pastor page 2. See Fund page 2. IHL Ml Mtl INN Weather 99./73 Vol. 117,No.55 Home delivery View online « sores aot » tomorrow 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com