October 18, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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- ISNals oN » A \ y Serving r4 ; Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekend Edition Church to have SINUS) celebration Above, a sidewalk on Main Street in Elk City, and inset and page 2, an artist rendering of what the streetscape project would look like. Staff photo by Don Munsch. Pastor Ed Wrather stands in the sanctuary of Fairview Baptist Church. Staff photo by Don Munsch. City officials await word on bid amounts from ODOT By Don Munsch, Editor Fairview Baptist Church will have its 60th anniversary on Oct. 27 with special guests and a meal at the church building at 312 S. Lusk Ave. The event begins with a first session at 9:45 and then one at 10:45 at the church. A 15-minute break will be held By Don Munsch, Editor amount, would be a little over $165,000. ODOT’s share of between those sessions. Elk City City Manager Lee Litterell said the city needs to that amount is $132,528, and the city’s share is $33,132, “Tt has a long history, but I think it’s a good history of hear back from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said Lisa Church, city treasurer. She said there also exists an old church,” said Fairview Baptist pastor Ed Wrather, on bids for the downtown streetscape project. an Oklahoma Water Resources Board grant of $191,000 that mentioning the church’s origins go back to 1894, as the The project began a couple of years ago and will replace the city has, with $175,500 going toward for construction church’s sanctuary was once Ural Baptist Church. the sidewalks downtown, on the first two blocks of Main costs and $15,500 for fees. That church stood southeast of Elk City, according to Street between Third and Fifth streets. Project goals include Litterell said the bid for the work came in at $4 million, so a church history. Members of Ural Baptist Church dis- installing new street lights and self-watering hanging bas- the city would have to come up with the difference between banded, and some of the members joined this church after kets and cleaning up the corners of the blocks so there is less the money available listed above and the amount needed, or that, Wrather said. After the church building moved to the obstruction. about $1.4 million if the bid stayed at $4 million. southwest side of the city, a fellowship hall and classrooms “Tt would include removing of the trees that are downtown “ODOT has gone back to the contractors to work with were eventually added, as was a second wing with a fel- and replacing them with mature trees that would create a them on the bids,” Litterell said. lowship hall, kitchen and more classrooms. canopy on the sidewalks,” said Litterell, who gave an up- A bidder in May came in $1 million over budget, and then “Tt started as a mission of First Baptist Church,” said date of the project last week to Elk City merchants, many of a bidder in September was $2 million over budget, Church Wrather, who was called as the pastor for 1% years ago whom are on Main Street. said. and filled in for a year before becoming pastor, referring to The project is part of a program that was created by ODOT, “We were really hoping to get a lower bid in September, Fairview’s history. Wrather worked in the oil field directly he said. and it didn’t happen,” Church said, “So they went back to before becoming a pastor. “And we contacted them and qualified for a grant to part- both contractors to see why they'll bidding too high.” Jess Rowley was the first mission pastor of Fairview ner with them on this project,” he said. Church and Litterell said they will await word from ODOT Baptist and then he was called as pastor. He was at the The grant was for $699,975. The city would put up about why the bids are arriving so high. Church thinks the See Anniversary page 2. $1,747,773. The architectural work, not included in that See ODOT page 2. ECHS Marching Cheyenne set to Band takes first have a Drag Elk City High School’s band members play at the regional marching contest Tuesday in Lawton. The band earned superior ratings. The band will compete at the state competition in Lawton on Oct. 30, according to the school. Submitted photo by ECHS. Above is a car from last year’s Draggin’ Main in Cheyenne. Photo submitted by Erick Huling. Corey Crutsinger, By Neva Pyatt sales manager at The annual Draggin’ Main in Cheyenne will have activi- Byford Nissan in Elk ties beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, with giveaways beginning City, stands in front at S p.m. People may register at the Rook Theater for free drawings of a 2020 Nissan Ar- that will be done hourly with the final prize being $1,000. mada Platinum at the All activities at Draggin’ Main are free except for food and dealership in Elk City. souvenirs, People may wear their high school letter jacket, The dealership had FFA jacket or dress in any era from the 1950s to the 1980s a grand opening on and enter the fashion contest. First place prize is $100 and Thursday. Staff photo second place prize is $50. The judging for the dress contest will be at 6:30 p.m. by Don Munsch. Every hour in front of the Rook Theater there will be a “Dance-Off” to Chubby Checker’s hit song “The Twist.” Car dealer embraces Elk City Each hourly winner will compete at 9 p.m. at the final Dance- Off. One talented couple will take home a $100 cash prize. Several groups will have food booths including hot dogs, By Don Munsch, Editor grand opening Thursday. pop and specialty drinks from the Cheyenne class of 2022. Randy Byford describes how he took at a job a Cadillac “Once we kind of got our feet on the ground and settled in The Cheyenne Cub Scouts will be selling their Walking car dealership in Oklahoma City on a temporary basis, de- and kind of breathea little bit, we [wanted] to open our door Tacos. The Washita Cowboy Fellowship Church will have tailing how he would work there 90 days and then move on to the community,” said Byford, who lives in Oklahoma pulled pork sandwiches. The Cheyenne-Reydon All Sports to find a job in the agriculture business, City and Comanche, adding that his dealership just wanted Booster Club will be selling orange and black bracelets, But now 36 years later, he’s still in the car business. to meet people and have them enjoy some food and door Bear lanyards, glow sticks, bottled water and drinks. Secu- Byford, who grew up on a pig farm in Comanche, bought prizes at the grand opening. “We’re proud to be in Elk City, rity State Bank will have bouncy houses for the kids and a the Smith Family Nissan dealership in Elk City. Byford Nis- and hope likewise with the rest of the folks there.” free cornhole tournament. san, which has been in business for three months, held its See Byford page 2. See Cheyenne Drag page 2. Weathi Vol. 117, No. 884 Mail delivery View online (UY HUTL 00 WANN ; fomoraw / 42 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com