September 24, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Serving Western Oklahoma »__ Tuesday, September 24, 2019. Hall of Fame members honored in Elk City ership Hall of Fame committee member, in a news release. Nominations come to the selection committee from alumni and community and school personnel. Mason said in the release that after the honorees are in- ducted, “their names will be added to the granite monument in Ackley Park just east of the Carousel and south of the con- cession pavilion. Eventually we hope to create a video kiosk that would tell the stories of each of the inductees which might be at the monument or in the hall of the Pioneer Cen- ter.” Honorees and West’s family members told The Elk City Here’s a rendering of the new softball facility Nancy Menees, Keitha L. Dickerson, John News that were honored and gratified by their inclusion. to be located near the softball 5-plex at Ack- Cooper West Jr. and Gwen Pasby stop for “There’s nothing like being back home and being inducted ley Park West in Elk City. Photo provided.. a picture at a reception at the Pioneer Cen- with these fellow inductees,” Dickerson said. “It’s an awe- some honor. I’m very appreciative.” ter Friday evening. Dickerson, Pasby and J. Cooper West were inducted into the Elk City “T am so humbled — it is unbelievable,” Pasby said, adding Softball building Leadership Hall of Fame. Menees and John Jr. are children of J. Cooper West. Staff photo by that she was grateful for the people who made her who she is. supporters seeking help These days, she said, she moves “from one fun-filled thing Don Munsch. By Don Munsch, Editor to the next.” During her acceptance speech, she encouraged People interested in helping the Elk City High School By Don Munsch, Editor others to stay on their journey, travel it wisely and “give girls softball program pay for a new indoor facility may New Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame members were in- everywhere you can and serve everyone you possibly can.” buy bricks with their names on them to show their support. West’s son John, in an interview, discussed the activities ducted on Friday, with a ceremony at Big Elk Stadium dur- Elk City softball coach Kaleb Murray appeared at the that his father was involved with and said his father pro- EIk City Rotary Club meeting last week to tout the brick ing the Elk City-Altus football game. moted the idea of teamwork. program for the Elk City Elkette Softball Facility. He Inducted were Keitha L. Dickerson, Gwen Pasby and J. “He believed in everybody working together,” John said. was joined by Elkette softball program boosters Tonya Cooper West. Dickerson and Pasby attended the event. West Nancy Menees, West’s daughter, said she appreciated see- O'Brien, the junior high representative, and Angi Wyatt, died in 2014, but family members were here for his honor. A ing her dad being inducted into the Hall of Fame and said he who represents the high school. public reception for the honorees and their families was held embraced community service and always responded when Murray said the new facility would be for everyone in in the Pioneer Center prior to the game. his help was sought. EIk City who plays on a team here, just like the building The Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame was jointly created Profiles of inductees, with information provide by Mason: now that rests off South Washington Street. by the City of Elk City, the Elk City Public Schools and the Dickerson was born, raised and excelled in basketball in “But it’s going to be safer, it’s going to be nicer, it’s Elk City Chamber of Commerce in 2015 with the purpose Elk City. She played at Elk City High School and at Texas going to be something that these girls need and deserve,” of showing students how fellow Elk City students have had Tech University and has played women’s professional bas- Murray said. successful leadership roles not just locally but also at the ketball. She has subsequently served as a college basketball That current building does not have restrooms, showers state and or national levels, said Jim Mason, Elk City Lead- See Hall of Fame page 2. or a locker room, and it does not have heating or cooling. The girls have to travel back and forth from school when Canute High School starts robotics team they use the current building. O’Brien said some work has already been done on the proposed building, which will have 7,200 square feet and be located on the south side of Field 5 at the softball 5-plex at Ackley Park West. “There is an architect that’s been involved,” O’Brien said. “All of that has already been funded and paid for and completed. And then the ground work — the electrical and plumbing — has been donated. So a huge expense has al- ready been taken care of by people in the community.” She said people may put numerous kinds of names on the bricks, such as a business or a family member, or they can memorialize a person. “Just anything you want to put on it, and it will havea lifetime warranty,” she said. Once the building has accumulated 75 percent of its Brian Morris, Canute High School director funding, construction will begin, O’Brien said. of technology and robotics team coordina- The new building, a metal facility, would serve as a way tor, center left and right, chats with robotics to build a culture in Elk City and have something for the team members Emilee Copenhaver and Sky- girls to buy into, Murray said. ler Thompson, left, and Camryn Marshall and “This is a great thing for us,” Murray said. “Because it’s By Don Munsch, Editor Brody Bullard. The robotics program started not wanted, it’s needed. It’s a big need for us.” Emilee Copenhaver looked for something different to ap- his year. Staff photos by Don Munsch. See Softball building page 2. peal to her at Canute High School. She found it in robotics. while Skyler Thompson said he likes “learning how things Robotics competition involve students building and using a “There’s not really anything new that they put into the works, how things are put together.” Camryn Marshall said robot to accomplish certain tasks on a playing field while school that seems interesting to me,” said Copenhaver, a ro- she wanted to try something new. competing against other schools. botics team member. The school added robotics this year, as an elective class, CHS'’s robotics program began with donations, said Brian Her teammates at CHS found something enticing in robot- and the CHS team plans to register for competition at Burk- Morris, director of technology at the school and robotics ics, too. Brody Bullard found robotics ended up being fun, burnett High School in Burkburnett, Texas, on Dec. 14. team coordinator. The CHS program uses robotevents.com, and a team pays Museum to spread its Wings on Saturday ing for awards, such as for design and excellence. Teams an entry fee and then can compete. The entry go toward pay- have to create an engineering notebook and keep records, Aviation aficionados are invited to see Wings over Weath- Many historic warbirds will be participating, including the such as a design or sketch, Morris said. erford, returning Saturday for the third year to the Stafford B-25 Mitchell (“Devil Dog”), a TBM Avenger, a Stearman “They’re just getting started on their engineering note- Air and Space Museum in Weatherford. Biplane and a C-47 (“Boogie Baby”). There will also be a book, but they have to have a copy of all their information,” Admission is only $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and fun bomb train ride, an F-4 Simulator and a kids zone with Morris said. under and free for museum members. Museum admission, a huge inflatable spaceship, a rock wall provided by the Na- The CHS team continues to work on its robot, as members kids zone and aircraft ramp tours are included with event tional Guard and with a gaming trailer brought by the Air are still in the prototyping stages. ticket purchase. Force, the release stated. Wayne Walters, who lives in Canute, provided a $1,000 Patrons will be able to take a flight back in time and see Museum officials said Wings over Weatherford is one of matching donation to ensure the robotics program would be some of the most historic aircraft ever built during this spe- the only war-bird based fly-in events to occur in Western fully funded at the school. With Walters’ donation, Canute cial event, a release from the museum stated. Attendees will Oklahoma, and flights on select historical aircraft will be Robotics was able to secure a V5 Competition Robotics kit be able to purchase rides on historical bombers and biplanes, available. Gates will open at 9 a.m. for museum members from VEX Robotics. The Canute PTO also was meet the pilots and take tours of select warbirds. See Museum page 2. See Robotics page 2. Weather Vol. 117, No. 77 Mail delivery View online ‘ iM CU » tomorrow oe 92 / 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com