October 4, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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y Serving Western Oklahoma Weekend Edition Elk City FFA Bridge construction on takes second Highway 6 continues ih Elk City FFA members traveled to Hollis last week to compete in Greenhand Quiz and Opening & Closing cer- emonies contests. The quiz was limited to freshmen only while O&C is a combination of eighth-graders, freshmen Crews work on the northbound lanes for the ighway 6 bridge over Interstate 40 in Elk City and sophomores into a team of six. One of Elk City’s O&C teams placed second out of 25, FFA teacher Karie Wednesday, Work began on the bridge a little over four months ago. An Oklahoma Department Dillinger said. The team, pictured here from left to right, of Transportation official said he expects the entire project to be done in May. Staff photo by consists of Cooper Patton, Matthew Bales, Jill Meador, Don Munsch Dustee Warnke, Kye Keyes and Matthew Thompson. By Don Munsch, Editor of November. These leadership teams are coached by FFA adviser Rick Motorists and other travelers should have already cel- “That’s our anticipation at this point,” he said. Dillinger, far right, and assisted by FFA vice president ebrated Thanksgiving — or finished with their Thanksgiving Southbound bridge construction should start construction Mason Smith [not pictured]. Their next competition is leftovers — by the time the northbound lanes of the Highway immediately after crews switch traffic to the northbound Oct. 8 at Cheyenne. Submitted photo. 6 bridge over Interstate 40 in Elk City will be done. lanes. Construction on the northbound portion of the Highway 6 “Once we switch it to the northbound lanes, we’ll start bridge should be finished at the end of next month, an Okla- demoing the southbound lanes and then start that process, homa Department of Transportation official said Tuesday. which actually should go faster than the first phase,” Snipes ODOT is building a diverging diamond interchange for traf- said. “I’m sure that people noticed that we had to bring in fic on the bridge. several feet of dirt to bring up that northbound side because Will Snipes, assistant division engineer with ODOT who it was lower than the southbound side, so the southbound is based in Clinton, said the bridge deck should be done on side shouldn’t require as much earth work and should move the northbound portion this week. along a little bit faster, we're hoping anyway.” “By the end of the week, the bridge deck should be placed,” ODOT is on time with its construction schedule and is he said. “We also should be starting the concrete paving this meeting deadlines, he said. week, and that will be essentially everything that you see in “Given a mild winter, we should be right on schedule,” he asphalt right now is going to have concrete on top of it as. said. the final surface. They should start that this week, so we’re The DDI seeks to make traffic run smoother on both sides kinda of ramping up that phase one, or starting the final steps of the road. ODOT said it on its website that the existing to wrap up that phase one.” twin bridges on Highway 6 over Interstate 40 were deemed Snipes said if weather holds out, ODOT officials hope that structurally deficient in 2015, “meaning the roadway is safe traffic is on the new bridge and new sets of lanes by the end See Construction page 2. Ray Parkhurst leads cast members ina dance during a re- Mike Grant from Grant's Auction and Realty hearsal of “All | Re- hollers prices during the live auction Tuesday ally Need to Know | during the Western Oklahoma Family Care Learned in Kindergar- Center's Boots and Bling Gala at Elk City ten,” which continues Convention Center. Staff photo by Don Munsch. its run at the Red Car- Bling brings pet Community The- atre in Elk City this weekend. Staff photo by Don Munsch. in the bucks By Don Munsch, Editor Lake Carpenter made a playful remark to kick off the Review: Cast brings Western Oklahoma Family Care Center’s annual Boots and Bling Gala Tuesday night at the Elk City Convention Cen- ter. “You know, I got to thinking, Boots and Bling, and the goal tonight is to raise some ch-ching,” said Carpenter, the master of ceremonies for the event. The gala featured a live and silent auction that raised ‘Kindergarten’ to life money for the WOFCC, which provides no-charge medical and dental care, benevolent services and educational activi- ties. Sponsors contributed money for the event and many people and businesses sponsored merchandise. “Tt takes everyone in the room to make this night success- ful,” Carpenter said. “We had people who donated items. By Don Munsch, Editor my slaying of the spider, But even before telling the story, | We have people who are doing the food. We have you who Spider. Just the name I hate. felt bad about killing the arachnid. are going to bid and make it all come together. So, it’s a And I have hated those creepy crawlers since I was a boy. Spiders, you see, probably do a get a bad rap, because group effort. It’s a team effort, I might say.” Never been bitten by one, at least to my knowledge. But still, they’re an important comrade to humans as they eat annoy- Carpenter mentioned that WOFCC’s Hope Medical Clin- I avoid them at all costs and if I catch one in my house, it’s ing insects. ic, since January, saw 454 patients, filled 555 prescriptions getting the broom. Those thoughts about spiders spun around my head as I and did 171 lab draws. “Tf you put a dollar figure to that, that’s approximately Last year, a particularly large spider crawled into my watched a vignette about a spider in Red Carpet Community worth about $155,000,” he said, quickly adding it was close house through the front door as I was leaving for work, and Theatre’s rendition of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned to $156,000, “That’s pretty amazing, right, the service that I sprayed it and then swept it outside. in Kindergarten,” based on Robert Fulghum’s book. In the this organization does.” Carpenter also mentioned some And then a strange thing happened: Guilt swept over me. I Spider vignette, performers ask audience members to join in stats from the dental clinic at WOFCC. told this story to my newspaper’s freelance photographer as singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” See Fundraiser page 2. _ we headed out of town to cover a game, and he bristled about See Kindergarten page 2. 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