August 9, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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yy Serving 5 Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Friday, August 9, 2019 Weekend Edition ECHS Band gears up for season By Don Munsch, Editor Band season is in bloom, which means Elk City High School marching band members must tend to their plumes. Elk City High School band director Tim DeWitt demon- strated the correct way to march Monday evening during practice in the parking lot south of the Pioneer Center. A plume on a hat does not wobble, he explained to the band members. Rather, it stands straight up. Ina similar vein, band members must march straight, in a line, on the field during a performance. They were but two of the lessons learned on the first day offull band summer camp. Earlier, band members practiced some songs in the band hall, including the Coldplay song “Viva La Vida,” as part of this year’s theme for the band’s show. Senior band members received their band uniforms Monday night. Band members in other classifications will receive theirs throughout the week. “We're going to leam all of our pep music, we're going to learn all of our show tunes, and we’re going to come out and do some marching and maneuvering,” DeWitt said last week, describing what happens at band camp. “We'll break into some sectionals and develop some leadership. Through that week, we’ll all be looking for who we’re going to name as our section leaders, and we’ll probably incorporate some Elk City High School student Mason Friesen plays the marimba during a practice in the band large group games and some challenges, things like that, to hall Monday night, while fellow band member Bailey Carpenter and other band members learn build some fellowship and teamwork.” The band has 120 members this year, give or take, DeWitt a drill outside on the Pioneer Center parking lot. Staff photos by Don Munsch. said. Head major major will be junior Sara Coffey, while junior Carlie McKinnon and sophomore Danni Sottile are “T’m super excited about the opportunity to lead the band, jump in and see what I can do.” assistant drum majors. McKinnon and Sottile spoke about and we’ve got a great staff,” DeWitt said. “I think we’ve got The theme of the show is Uprising and features music the upcoming year before Tuesday’s practice. a show that the kids are really going to enjoy. The fans will from Coldplay, Muse and Lady Gaga. “Uprising” is a tune “7 think all we can do is grow,” McKinnon said, adding enjoy it, too.” from Muse. that she appreciates everything DeWitt has done so far in DeWitt said he hasn’t been this excited about starting a “It’s very energetic, and it’s going to be a crowd-pleaser ensuring band members have what they need and want and school year since his first year of teaching. for sure,” McKinnon said. that she expects band can be bigger and better this year. “T’ve kind of got that new car feeling,” he said. “I want to See Band page 2. DeWitt is in his first year as director, as he takes over for Randy Brooks, who retired last year after 26 years. Brooks is now working as an assistant band director at Nocona High School in North Texas. DeWitt was ECHS’s assistant band Local company rolls out new tires director last year. He has been at the school since 1997. gether we found some mate- tial that we can make these Elk City man [tires] ourselves that would pretty much last forever.” / They have had these kind charged in shooting ‘ires on their planters since 2012. Davis died in 2016. = By Don Munsch, Editor “Normally, you get one to An Elk City man has been two years of OEM [tires],” charged with the shooting | said Spencer Smith, son of| death of a man in Elk City Jimmy and also a farmer in on Aug. 1, according to a the area. probable cause affidavit re- “And this is in no-till con- leased on Wednesday. Kevin Harris, 50, was charged with first degree this business years ago.” murder in the shooting death “2012,” Spencer interject- of Robert Turnbow, 33. The ed. shooting occurred at a resi- 2f| “But it was too expensive dence in the 1000 block of * to do at that time,” Jimmy North Adams. Harris was said. “The way we did our denied bond, according to first group [of products], the affidavit. Turnbow’s last it was very expensive, so residence was unknown, ac- 4 Spencer and Jake found a Harris cording to an Elk City po- “| z / more economical way to lice release last week. The affidavit said a female Spencer Smith, Jake Hunter and Jimmy Smith pose with a picture of make these out of the same material.” witness told Elk City police that she spent the night prior Danny Davis and a tire their company makes. Submitted photo. Thus began 4AG, with the with Harris. She and Harris were in a relationship together for about two months. She said she and Harris went to a bar company explaining they to play in a pool tournament and during the course of the By Don Munsch, Editor wheels on their planters, “We were replacing them are tires “Made by Farmers tournament, Harris left her at the bar. She said she got a ride Jimmy Smith and fellow that they had stubble dam- sometimes every year, and 4 Farmers.” The business from Turnbow to Harris’ residence. grew by word of mouth, as farmer Danny Davis had age on them. it gets expensive and it’s a neighbors asked 4AG own- Once the witness and Turnbow arrived to the residence, been no-tilling cotton for Necessity being the moth- pain to do,” said Smith of ers to make some of the in- she spoke to Harris inside the residence. During the course several years. er of invention, the two Elk City. “So we got with a destructible gauge wheel of her conversation with Harris, she said Harris pulled out See Charged page 2. They discovered, years farmers put their heads to- friend of ours, Jake Hunter, tires for them. A company ago, trouble with the gauge gether. at Hunter Machine, and to- See Tires page 2. Commission OKs library furnishings, splash pad work By Don Munsch, Editor arrive in November, said Librarian DeAun Ivester. tial district to C-1 convenience commercial district. The The Elk City City Commission on Monday approved Also Monday, commissioners looked at the introduction company wants to use the property for business develop- funding for furnishings and shelving for the Children’s Li- of ordinances for changing two zoning classifications, one ment. The property is not in use at this time because of the brary at Elk City Carnegie Library. at 300 block of North Jefferson Street and the other at be- zoning classification. Commissioners also approved a pay application to RJR hind 907 N. Main St. Public hearings were held on both “We had no specific objections to it,” said Tom Johnson, Enterprises of Rogers, Ark., for $127,773.10 for work it did matters Monday and were also done at the July 30 at thechairman for the P&Z Board, about the zoning change, dur- at the splash pad at Ackley Park West. Planning and Zoning Board meeting. No action was taken ing the first public hearing. The library furnishings, from Lone Star Furnishings for because these were for discussion only and no action was But he said people who own a car wash on Main Street to $66,440.87 in Carrollton, Texas, will fully provide the Chil- called for in the agenda item. the east of the property of concern were concerned because dren’s Library with shelving, tables and chairs, the service For the zoning requests, Gas Investments and Holdings they thought it might cause traffic issues in the alley where desk, librarian’s work desk and soft seating, a document LLC, the petitioner for the property in the 300 block of Jef- their business exits. But he said they seemed “relatively sat from the city stated. The shelving and furnishings should ferson, has requested a change from single family residen- ‘See Commissioner’s meet page 2. LAMM Weather tomorrow 93/71 Vol. 117, No. 62 75 cents, 12 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com