September 6, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Serving Western Oklahoma Elk City native takes home bull rider top finish Donna Davis with twin Canute Public Schools Superintendent grandsons Henry and Jill Henderson talks to patrons Tuesday Reed Smith along with night at the Heritage Center in Canute. The her daughters Taylor town hall's focus was the upcoming school Smith and Jodi Davis bond issue. Staff photo by Don Munsch. watch as the skydiver enters the Rodeo arena Photo by Terri Chervenka. Canute residents Below a bullrider is seen trying to hold on. Photo by Jim Hodnett. learn about bond By Don Munsch, Editor Dozens of Canute residents turned out for the town hall meeting Tuesday night at the Heritage Center on the school bond issue going before voters Tuesday. Voters will give their yeas or nays to a bond that in- cludes a little over $13 million for a new event center in one proposition and $630,000 for transportation equip- ment in a second proposition. Bond passage would bring a 19.9 percent tax increase, and the bond would carried over 18 years, although it could be come under that 18- year mark. By Ruth Nicolaus, Special Contributor Many patrons at Tuesday meeting, which lasted nearly ABeckham County cowboy won his hometown rodeo last two hours, voiced their concerns about the bond and its weekend. effect on taxpayers. Others discussed the current gym Cody Keathley rode Beutler and Son Rodeo’s bull High and whether it could be renovated. Representatives from Bender for 86 points to best the field of thirty-two bull rid- BWA Architects in Norman, Joe. D. Hall General Con- ers. tractors LLC in Elk City and Stephen H. McDonald & Keathley, 20, grew up in Elk City and moved to Sweetwa- Associates Inc. in Norman spoke to the patrons about the ter at the age of 10. bond and its features. The new event center would be a It was the second time for the cowboy to match up against multipurpose building that could accommodate a num- the bull. He drew the bull at the Pretty Prairie, Kan., rodeo in ber of activities, from graduations to proms to games. July but got bucked off, dislocating a shoulder, and getting Superintendent Jill Henderson greeted the crowd and scraped up. discussed the bond before opening up the question and “T knew he was hard to get by,” Keathley said, “but if 1 got answer portion of the meeting. Around 75 people attend- by him, I’d be a lot ofpoints.” ed the town hall. He searched out Rhett Beutler before the rodeo to talk lap on horseback, “I saw a lot of familiar faces out there. “We started this process about six months ago, because about the bull. The crowd was going wild.” our bonds are about to stop dropping off, and for those of “T talked to Rhett, and he said, go out there and get re- Keathley is a student at Southwestern Oklahoma State you who know school finance, you can’t let your bonds demption,” Keathley said. “The last time I got on him, I got University in Weatherford, competing in college rodeo and completely drop off, you have to have some projects in wrecked out pretty good.” working toward a degree in parks and recreation and law the works ready to go again, ready to get back on the As he took his victory lap after the rodeo, he saw family enforcement. College rodeos don’t start till Sept. 20, books,” she said. and friends in the crowd. See Rodeo highlights page 2. See Canute bond page 5. “When I made the champion run,” he said, of the victory Pioneer Day set for Saturday in Cheyenne The annual Pioneer Day at the Cheyenne City Park this ments. This year’s ceremony is dedicated to thanking those Roll One Room School will be open only from 11 a.m. to year will have new and exciting events for the entire family who have contributed to the heritage of the Museums in the 1 p.m. The Pioneer and Centennial Museums are air-condi- from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, board member James Park. Everyone who has donated and contributed items to tioned for comfortable viewing. Calvert of the Historic Roger Mills Preservation and Devel- the museums is invited to the open recognition ceremony. The Cheyenne FFA will be entertaining with their “Farm- opment Foundation said in a release. At 11:30 am,, activities will be in full swing with goat rop- hand Olympic Contests.” Visitors can also learn about local At 11 a.m., a program will begin in the Park Pavilion by ing, butter churning, kettle cooking, crocheting, treadle sew- history from the Washita Battlefield Exhibit and blacksmith- the Cheyenne High School Band and vocal music depart- ing, cotton activity, a scavenger hunt and a chance to shop in ing from local blacksmiths, Visitors also will have the op- the General Store for pioneer toys, Calvert said. Construct- portunity to create and contribute their cattle brand to the ing a Cup and Ball game will be set up for the children, Pioneer Museum. Fair continues this sponsored by the Western Plains Library System. “Kids are also sure to enjoy the craft corner - where they Concessions of Indian Tacos by the Class of 2021 will be available, and hamburgers will be available by the Boy can make a rag doll, a rope, plus something for our troops,” Scouts. Vendors also will be on the premises selling goods weekend in Sayre Calvert said. “They can also play old-time games sponsored by the Girl Scout Troop. You can also hand-crank ice cream for all to enjoy.” with food booths including snowcones for refreshment. Also at 1 p,m., the Donation Auction will begin with new items such as two OU football Club Level and two OSU By Don Munsch, Editor The Pioneer and Veterans’ Museums, Sleif House and football and two OKC Thunder Club Level event tickets, The Beckham County Fall Free Fair continues today Santa Fe Depot will be open from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The See Pioneer Day page 2. through Saturday at the Beckham County Activity Center Commissioners approve pump (fair barn) in Sayre. The event includes a livestock show, pet parade and lots of exhibits. People may enter the cake, food preservation, home garden, favorite dessert, food preparation and quilt repair, extractor purchase expressive arts, fine arts/crafts, photography, floral culture, contests. All first place finishes in these categories will be judged for Best of Fair. Both 4-H and FFAparticipants will By Don Munsch, Editor Some of the rest of the money from the grant will be used for be involved in the fair. The Elk City City Commission on Tuesday approved electrical and wiring for installation for the extractor and to The fair also includesa Kids Korner Money Scramble funds to repair a pump in one of the wells at the water plant relocate the dryer next to the extractor. The rest of the money [$50], sponsored by the Bank ofWestern Oklahoma, which near Sayre. will be used for a water tank that will be used to fight rural will be Saturday morning. Showmanship, both Junior and Commissioners approved $21,5000 to F&H Drilling Ser- structure fires where there is not a good water source. Senior Division, sponsored by the Beckham County Fair vice Inc. of Elk City during a meeting that had a light agenda. The commission also approved: Board, also will be held. A tasting party, featuring many “It’s just 22 years old and the pump just wore out and we — A purchase of a new, unused 2019 Vermeer BC1500 baked goods, will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The pet had to replace the pump,” said City Manager Lee Litterell. Brush Chipper for the right of way department from Ver- parade will be Saturday afternoon. ‘Also Monday, commissioners approved a purchase of a meer Equipment in the amount of $64,909.90. The brush All indoor exhibits will be judged at 3 p.m. today. Ex- Milnor Extractor, a commercial washer for the Elk City Fire chipper to be replaced is 26 years old. hibit hall doors opento the public at 8 a.m. Saturday. Department/EMS from Arrow Machinery of Oklahoma City. — Purchase of 11 computers and three laptops and mounts For more information, call the Beckham Couny Exten- The machine, whose cost was $11,465, is used to get the from SHI for $17,743.38. sion Office at 580-928-2139. Free fair books can be found at Elk City City Hall lobby. smoke and chemicals out of equipment. The city received a — Payment to Accurate Environmental LLC for testing of $20,000 grant from Phillips 66 to pay for that, Litterell said. Old Vertical Expansion landfill site for $10,690. A Weather tomorrow 98 / 73 Vol. 117, No. 72 75 cents, 10 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com