December 3, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Serving Western Oklahoma ssa tie Weekday Edition Christmas Basket campaign begins By Don Munsch, Editor The Elk City Community Christmas Basket continues its legacy of nearly 100 years of helping families at Christmas time by providing free food. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1926 and was spear- headed by Paul Wade, who published the paper that one day became The Elk City News. He wanted to help those families who would not be able to eat a Christmas din- ner, said Brent Gifford, chairman of the Christmas Basket Committee. The food this year will be distributed on Dec. 21. “And so [Wade] on his own, he bought bags of food, and for five families that first year, he bought meals,” Gifford said. “His intention was to provide them with a Christmas dinner, so he bought turkeys and what went with them for a Christmas dinner and took it to them. People saw that, and so like the next year, he did 10 [families].” The idea caught on, and people started donating money. “So he started running in the paper everybody that gave every year,” Gifford said. “That was something that con- tinued. Everybody that gave money got their name in the paper. From that time, it went on to 10, 15, 20 [families]. Judy Eden sits near a Christmas tree in her Christmas Store in Elk City. The store is open now About 30 is actually when he said I need help with this, I and sells an array of furniture, among other items. Staff photo by Don Munsch. can’t do it alone. And so he asked for the community to come together to provide people to help him.” Christmas Store offers furniture, other goods So people from different churches came forward to help the campaign in various ways. By Don Munsch, Editor she might have to be open after New Year's to get rid ofit. “And now we do anywhere from 300 to 350 boxes,” Gif- Christmas shoppers are used to seeing pop-up stores in the She has stayed busy, she said, and notes everything is half ford said. “In the past, we’ve done up to 500 boxes, during price. malls this time of year, but short-term retailers can also take some of the lean years.” up some space in empty buildings, which is what Judy Eden Shoppers who buy furniture must bring their own mov- Gifford said in a news release that the Christmas Basket did in Elk City. ing equipment and trucks to haul items away. The Christmas is a way to show “the love of God to people in need or Eden’s Christmas Store, at 114 W. Broadway Ave., Store accepts cash and checks only. someone that just needs help this Christmas season.” opened in November and offers an array of Christmas items Eden appreciates the feedback that has come her way. Community Christmas Basket is asking for money, and along with furniture and other goods. The store does not do “T have been very pleased with people’s reactions to the the campaign should receive anywhere from $8,000 to any special ordering. store,” she said, noting people were not bothered to learn the $15,000, Gifford told the News in an interview. The cam- paign estimates it will need about 350 baskets this year, “My goal is to get rid of things, not add more,” Eden said. store would not take credit cards, that they could find a bank and then the food will be purchased. People interested She hopes most everything is sold by Christmas, but she nearby to retrieve money from an ATM. She also enjoyed in receiving a basket may call a hotline number that will said she has a lot of furniture that she wants to sell and thinks See Christmas Store page 2. be released soon for the phone-a-thon, which is done the Cyber Monday brings the digital deals week before [Dec. 9-13] the distribution. “Pepsi delivers [the food} to whatever facility that we need them to for us, and then we’ll inventory it,” Gifford By David Dishman, The Oklahoman in a conversation to realize he puts a lot of time and effort See Christmas Basket page 2. OKLAHOMA CITY - What if you could do all your holi- into his holiday shopping. Throughout the year he will listen day shopping without ever setting foot in a store? for hints dropped by family members as to certain items that Last chance to win a car This might sound far-fetched to some. To others, they may would make a good gift, making note of it for later. The Elk City Rotary Club has announced that people be laughing at you if you still bother to fight the Black Fri- “J definitely try to put a lot of thought into it,” he said. still have a chance to win a new 2019 Ford Mustang in the day crowds because they know there is a less busy, often Once he’s got his list, he’s ready to shop. Christmas Car Giveaway. more convenient way to shop. “About this time of year I start looking for Christmas Less than 100 tickets are still available to be purchased of Online shopping is nothing new, nor is Cyber Monday. stuff,” Tindell said. “That’s when sales start to happen.” the original 375 total tickets, The Monday after Thanksgiving has been dedicated to on- But don’t bother looking for him in line at a store in town. Tickets sell for $100 each and all proceeds from this annu- line shopping and special online-only sales for years. Elec- “As far as Christmas or whatever goes, I save time and al Rotary project stay in Elk City helping such organizations tronics are often the target of Cyber Monday shoppers, but stay at home and look around online and find more than as Meals on Wheels, Christmas in the Park, United Fund and retailers of all kinds now offer discounts and deals. what's in the mall,” Tindell said. Lincoln Teen Center, to name a few. Landis Tindell is an Oklahoma City resident of about two Most merchants now offer some sort of Cyber Monday The Mustang drawing will be held Dec. 14 at Christmas in years who knows the online shopping scene well. He lives deal as nearly every retailer has some sort of online pres- the Park and the winner does not have to be present to win. and works downtown, to make the commute easy, he says. ence. It’s a necessary business practice these days, not a nov- Tickets can be purchased from Elk City Rotarians, Paul Tindell is also a big fan of giving gifts. It doesn’t take long elty to sell through a website, app or otherwise. Jones Drug, Barber-Dyson Food and Currell’s Do It Center. ODOT seeking public input on transportation projects The Oklahoma Depart- drivers to continue to drive planning document required ment projects; includes Oklahoma cities funds are essential for im- ment of Transportation with caution in work zones. by federal guidelines that Tribal transportation proj- and towns in the Fort Smith, proving our transportation wants to hear from the pub- For more information on the details a list of upcoming ects; Ark. area; and system, so we hope Okla- lic about the state’s planned Highway 6 bridge over I-40 projects using federal funds Local government projects Public transit programs homans will take time to transportation projects and project, see https://www. by the state, local and tribal by member communities of administered by ODOT review this plan to see how programs for various modes ok.gov/odot/What%27s_ governments. the Association of Central “The STIP gives the pub- those dollars are going to be of travel over the next four New/I-40_and_SH-6_Di- The FFY 2020 through Oklahoma Governments in lic a great snapshot of the spent.” years, ODOT stated in a re- verging_Diamond_Inter- 2023 STIP includes: the Oklahoma City metro federally-funded _ projects The full proposed STIP lease. change.html Highway and interstate area, the Indian Nations and programs across mul- can be viewed online at Locally, ODOT an- ODOT is currently seek- projects by ODOT; Council of Governments in tiple modes of transportation www.odot.org by clicking nounced last week that the ing feedback on the State- Federal programs admin- the greater Tulsa area, the that they can expect to see the Programs and Projects eastbound Interstate 40 on- wide Transportation Im- istered by ODOT, including Lawton Metropolitan Plan- in their communities during tab and then clicking Trans- ramp from State Highway provement Program for county and small city, rail- ning Organization and the the next few years,” Deputy portation Programs. A print- 6/Main Street is now open Federal Fiscal Year 2020 road crossing safety, active Frontier Metropolitan Plan- Director Dawn Sullivan said ed copy of the STIP can in Elk City. ODOT advises through 2023. The STIP is a transportation and enhance- ning Organization, which in a news release. “Federal See ODOT page 2. mn Weather 58 / 39 Vol. 117, No. 97 Mail delivery View online ‘ IML Hn ll A ll Ss tomorrow 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com