October 15, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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‘ iy Serving Western Oklahoma ¥ ~ (| Since 1901 i Weekday Edition U.S. Rep. Frank Lu- cas talks to people Thursday at a town New member looks Hall. Lucas discussed forward to serving hall at Elk City City a number of issues By Don Munsch, Editor at the town hall. Staff A desire to serve the commu- photo by Don Munsch. nity prompted Kelsey Merz to want to be on the Elk City Pub- lic Schools board. School board members ap- pointed Merz, 33, to Seat 4 on the board last week. She takes over for Darin Schmidt, who left in September and had served since 2012. He left the board af- alks trade, Trump Kelsey Merz ter he purchased a home out of the district. Originally from Mangum where she went to high school, and ag at town hall Merz attended Oklahoma State University where she earned a degree in finance. Her minor was in accounting. She is currently the human resources director at Great Plains Bank. She has worked at the bank since 2011, the same year By Don Munsch, Editor “You won’t see any comprehensive bill dealing with health she moved to Elk City. U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas predicts regular legislation getting care — it’s just not the environment for that,” he said, adding Merz’s husband Kelby is from Elk City. They have two passed anytime soon in Washington will be “complicated” no bill will occur with border security. Lucas also said an daughters: Emory, 4, who attends pre-kindergarten at Elk because of the impeachment inquiry occurring with Presi- infrastructure bill would not be coming soon either because City Elementary, and Blair, 20 months. dent Donald Trump. of the fractured state of the relationship of the two political Kelsey Merz said her interest in the school board traces Lucas, who serves Oklahoma 3rd District, appeared at a parties in Washington. Plus, he said lawmakers have to find See Member page 2. town hall Thursday afternoon at Elk City City Hall. Outside a Way to pay for any infrastructure spending, and it would of city, school and hospital officials, just a handful of people not be of the magnitude that Trump envisioned. Wrecks injure travelers attended the event. Lucas’ session lasted one hour. He spoke He said he does 32 town hall meetings a year in the dis for a half hour and then took questions for 30 minutes. See Lucas page 2. from out of state By Don Munsch, Editor ECHS Two wrecks in the area last week sent out-of-stat travel- Homecoming ers to hospitals. On Thursday, Lori Hall, 55, of Crittenden County, Ark., was driving a 2018 Western Star Semi when it crashed at Savannah Kauk and Francisco Quezada 5:30 a.m. near the eastbound on-ramp of exit 26 of Inter- were named 2019 state 40 in Beckham County, according to an Oklahoma Elk City High School Highway Patrol release. She was transported by Sinor EMS to Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City. She Homecoming Queen was treated and released. and King at the Elk City Homecoming Her passenger, Scott Lannom, 65, of Collierville, Tenn., also was transported by Sinor EMS to Great Plains Region- before the Elk City al Medical Center in Elk City. He was admitted in stable football game Friday condition with internal trunk injuries. at Big Elk Stadium. Read about the game Hall was going east on Interstate 40 when the vehicle de- parted the roadway to the left, in sports on page 10. striking the cable barrier and then rolling onto the driver Photo by Terri Cher- side, OHP said in the news release. The wreck was caused venka. by driver inattention, OHP said. See Travelers page 2. on former motel propert a i eal ove ie Bit isnt A former motel on East Highway 66 in Elk City remains in a state of disrepair as city leaders try to determine its fate. Staff photo by Don Munsch. By Don Munsch, Editor building detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare to speak at the meeting, as they were out of the country. Elk City City Commissioners last week opted to wait an- and then ordering it to be removed. The commissioners will City Attorney Steven Holloway told the commission about other month before deciding what to do with the abandoned take up the matter again at the mid-November meeting, as his ongoing frustration in trying to work with the property motel building on East Highway 66. they hope the building owners meet with city representatives owners. The building has not been in use for a few years, and the before that meeting to discuss the property. “We have repeatedly asked for a person-to-person, face- commission had an agenda item on Oct. 7 to consider declar- Commissioners heard from a man, John Thomas of Mur- to-face meeting in Elk City with people that could make de- ing the building at 2500 E. Highway 66 to be a dilapidated phy, Texas, representing the owners, who were not available cisions, binding decisions at that,” Holloway said. “We’ve LAU A Weather tomorrow 156 Vol. 117, No. 83 75 cents, 10 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com