January 3, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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Elk City CAPPs off year with plans for new activity center, continued | growth1 By Don Munsch to have the design process finished by the Editor end of February. The center will include courts viable for basketball and volleyball, Elk City residents began the year by wel- a walking track, multipurpose rooms and coming with a new basketball court with areas to watch television and play cards or the dedication of the Thunder Court at games. Ackley Park West in late January and will Quality of life end the year by dreaming of the next bas- CAPPs will have far-reaching effects, ketball court. Mason said. This court will be inside the new indoor “T think that that really sets our trajecto- activity center, which will offer far more ry for the next several years, many years,” than just a roundball court. Mason said. Jim Mason, director of economic and The most significant impact of CAPPs community development for the city, out is the city being able to provide additions lined a list of major happenings in town in in the community that residents wanted to an end-of-the-year rundown, sent to The improve the quality of life in Elk City. News as a news release. On Monday, he “And it’s also going to help us I think sat down and discussed the city’s accom- in some other ways,” Mason said. “As The new Thunder Court at Ackley Park West was dedicated in late plishments in 2019 and his expectations you know, we're kind of going through a January. New synthetic turf was installed at ballfields, including = 7 for 2020. downturn in the energy sector right now, this baseball field at the 5-Plex, late in 2019. Staff photos by Don The voters’ passage of the Community and I think having that all construction go- Munsch. Action Project Plans in February was the ing on will be beneficial there.” most significant matter affecting Elk City Mason is excited about the activity cen- in 2019, Mason said. The CAPPs plan, ter, and after the design phase is finished, through an extension of the existing Pio- the city will seek bids on it. Construction neer Sales Tax, will offer an array of rec- will take one to perhaps two years’ time. reational and civic improvements, such “Tt’s hard to tell right now,” he said about as the indoor activity center, to be built in the construction time. “We’ll know more Ackley Park West across from Elk City El- when they gett all planned out.” ementary School. In other community happenings, Ma- Elk City City Commissioners got a look SON possesses some concern about a few at the conceptual design drawings of the downtown storefronts being vacant, but indoor activity center at a meeting in No- just about each time there’s been a vacan- vember. John Postic, representing Studio cy, somebody has been interested in filling Architecture in Oklahoma City, said in No- the space. vember that his company tentatively hopes See CAPPS page 2. Students from Elk City, Merritt high Granddaughter of John Wayne to schools on advisory council headline event at museum OKLAHOMA CITY - Two students from ties. OKLAHOMA CITY — Fans of screen explores the similarities and the differ- the Elk City area were named on State Super- Last year’s Student Advisory Council said legend John Wayne can visit Oklahoma ences between the two films. Jeff Bridges, intendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeis- issues important to them were the impor- City next week to hear The Duke’s grand- Josh Brolin and Matt Damon starred in the ter’s 2020 Student Advisory Council. tance of personal financial literacy, increased daughter, Anita La Cava Swift, head- 2010 film. Eduardo Bustillos from Elk City High awareness of student mental health needs and line an evening of food, fun and one of Guests will be greeted by John Wayne’s School and Joshlyn Tomlin from Merritt High how trauma affects chronic absenteeism and Wayne’s most treasured films, “True Grit.” actual “True Grit” costume — shirt, pants, School were named to the list, the Oklahoma student success. Feedback from the Student The event is from 6-9 p.m. Jan. 10 at The jacket, neckerchief, belt, cowboy boots, State Department of Education said in a news Advisory Council has been instrumental in National Cowboy & Western Heritage hat and iconic eye patch. Other treasures release. Hofmeister made the announcement state-level initiatives to provide teachers more Museum in Oklahoma City. include film artifacts including Wayne’s Monday that 104 Oklahoma high school stu- professional development in trauma-informed Swift will make a special guest appear- personal script he used during the produc- dents were named to her 2020 Student Adviso- instruction, replace end-of-course high school ance to give an introduction of the film. tion of the 1969 film — complete with The ry Council, the fifth consecutive year the group testing with ACT or SAT, and pilot Individual Moviegoers will dine on a buffet prepared Duke’s own drawing in the margin — and has been convened to assist Hofmeister and the Career Academic Planning. by The Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City the Best Actor Academy Award he earned Oklahoma State Department of Education in The students, recommended by their dis- and a cash bar will also be available, ac- for “True Grit,” which also starred Kim matters of policy, the release stated. trict superintendents, hail from across Okla- cording to a news release from the Mu- Darby and Glen Campbell. “As we continue to improve public educa- homa and represent rural, urban and suburban seum. Other film artifacts include Kim Dar- tion, it is imperative to gather feedback and schools of all sizes, the release stated. Twenty- In conjunction with the event, movie by’s and Hailee Steinfeld’s Mattie Ross insight directly from Oklahoma students,” four students are returning members who have fans can check out the exhibition “Two costumes, Jeff Bridges’ Rooster Cogburn Hofmeister said in the release. “Each year I served on the council in previous years. Grits - A Peek Behind the Eyepatch,” hat, Matt Damon’s LaBoeuf costume and continue to be touched by the wisdom, hope The first meeting of the Student Advisory which celebrates the 50th anniversary of much more. and compassion of these amazing young peo- Council is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 29 in the 1969 film and the 10th anniversary of After the movie, guests may enjoy a ple who represent their schools and communi- Room 535 of the State Capitol. the 2010 film by the Coen Brothers and See John Wayne page 2. Merritt High School receives monetary donation Domino C-Stores presented Merritt High lab teacher who nominated Merritt, in the projects.” place on social media. School with a donation of $3,880 in Decem- release. The school will use this donation to As part of Fueling the Classroom, Dom- People may now vote on the recipient of ber, part of the company’s third donation forpurchase a 3D printer for its STEM program. ino C-Stores is donating 2 cents per gallon the December donation on the Domino C- the second year in its Fueling the Classroom “['m very pleased and honored that we of fuel purchased with Domino Rewards or Stores Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the Program, an ongoing program to benefit all are able to support our local schools and Shell Fuel Rewards every day. Domino has news release stated. communities within the Domino C-Stores students through the Fueling the Classroom donated over $61,000 to local schools since Domino Food & Fuel is a subsidiary of El- service area, according to a news release program,” said Nancy Jackson, represent- the start of the program in October 2018. mer Smith Oil Company that owns and oper- from Elmer Smith Oil/Domino Incorporated. ing Domino C-Stores, in the release. “I’m A new school will be selected to receive a ates 18 convenience stores across the state of “Merritt Public School is grateful and always so proud to participate in the check donation each month. Schools can be nomi- Oklahoma, the release stated. The company thankful for Domino’s support in Fueling the presentations and see how excited the stu- nated on the company’s website at dominoc- has been family owned and operated since Classroom,” said Sarah Peffer, the STEM dents are at this kind of support for their stores.com/fuelingclass. 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