September 16, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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gy Serving a Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekday Edi Hall of Fame honoree appreciates City leaders: Ivester hometown effect on his life stood out among applicants By Don Munsch, Editor Tom Ivester “rose to the top” when the Elk City City Commission examined the individual who will lead the city forward as the new city manager, Elk City Mayor Nick Archer said. The Elk City City Com- mission looked at 17 ap- plicants for the job, Archer a" said in an email last week. Tom lIvester Tvester, a local attorney, was the interim city manager before being hired as city man- ager last week, and he held the interim position since June. The city commission terminated Lee Litterell, the previous city manager, in June. The commission did a search for a new city manager. The 17 applications, which included Ivester’s, were dis- tributed to Archer and the commission two weeks ago, Archer said. The family of John Barton O’Hara, including his wife, Saundra O’Hara, left, received John’s “T reached out to the candidates that stood out prior honor during halftime of the Elk City High School football game Friday night. Right, Elk City to this meeting and the commissioners did the same,” Mayor Nick Archer, left, congratulates John Paul Smith, the night’s other honoree. Standing he said. “During the scheduled meeting we entered into behind them is Elk City Public Schools board member ‘by McBroom. Photos by Jim Hodnett. the executive session to discuss all of the applicants and their resumes.” By Don Munsch, Editor state and/or national achievement,” according to a news re- He said a handful of those resumes rose to the top from John Paul Smith lauded the people who shaped his life lease from the Elk City Chamber of Commerce. those independent reviews. When the commissioners growing up in Elk City. The Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame was jointly created discussed the resumes further, Ivester “rose to the top,” Smith and John Barton O’Hara were honored as new by the City of Elk City, Elk City Public Schools and the Elk Archer said. members of the Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame Class City Chamber of Commerce in 2015 with the purpose of “He is vested in our community with the leadership of 2020 Friday at Big Elk Stadium during halftime of the providing examples for students to show how fellow stu- dents have had successful leadership roles not just locally and skill set to propel our city forward,” Archer said Elk City-Guymon football game. O’Hara’s family members. but also at the state and/or national levels, according to in- about Ivester. were present to accept his award at the ceremony. He died formation previously provided to The News. Commissioner Cory Spieker said he thought Ivester in 1992. “Everything I do, all of my successes, are basically be- Smith, a 1991 graduate of Elk City High School, currently “seemed to be the package I was looking for.” serves as the Command Chaplain for the 7th Infantry Di- “First, I wanted a well-rounded person that has the cause I’m standing on the shoulders of giants,” Smith said vision at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, serving people skills to handle situations with residents and city just after the ceremony. “I stand on the shoulders of people 14,000 soldiers and leaders. employees,” Spieker said in an email. “Tom’s back- in this community who, many of them have gone before me “This is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Smith said. ground in the National Guard and the state Legislature and many of them are still here. Some of the teachers and “Other honors out there are awesome and I appreciate ev- prepared him for that.” some of the folks within this community who invested me - I erything, but being able to come back home, to receive the Second, Spieker said, it takes a special person to live appreciate that. So tonight, this honor is not just for me, it’s honor in your hometown, is just the most amazing thing. It in Western Oklahoma, as it is not for the “faint of heart. for the people who invested in and supported me.” brings so many emotions because everything I do out there When you try to bring someone froma large city in here, Qualifications for honorees include the inductee having in the world I represent Elk City. I represent this place, and the culture shock normally gets them.” been a resident or having worked in Elk City and ideally to be able to come back here and to be honored by my city Tvester also is not scared of a challenge, Spieker said. having attended Elk City Schools at some point. They must is just amazing.” “No one knows everything, but he will do his research have brought “positive pride and recognition to Elk City for He has family in Elk City, and several relatives joined him and learn and ask questions to figure out the problems he exemplary leadership in their chosen occupation leading to See Honorees page 2. faces,” Spieker said. Lastly, Ivester is trying to be transparent with city City manager responds to business, Spieker said. See Ivester page 2. Crash near Erick lawsuit in Elk City By Shonda Little, Contributing writer Last week, the Beckham County Record reported that kills two people Just a few days prior to when the investors filed this suit, they had hired a law firm based out of Oklahoma City to get the city of Elk City was being sued for negligence by Los a month’s extension in the condemnation hearing. By Don Munsch, Editor Angeles-based real estate investors related to an apartment The city had already agreed to allow the group the ex- Two men were killed in a wreck Thursday morning in complex they own on the 400 block of North State Avenue tra month. However, Ivester said that, unbeknownst to the Beckham County. in Elk City. city or the firm working for that extension, the plaintiffs had Ricky Dowayne Thompkins, 56, of Hollis, the passen- In the court filings, the plaintiffs claimed that the city was hired another firm to film the negligence lawsuit. ger, and Jimmy Darrell Brandon, 58, of Shamrock, Texas, liable for damages to the property for at least $75,000 be- “They were telling us one thing and not telling the law the driver, died at the scene from head injuries suffered in cause of an alleged “sewage back-up event” that they think firm working with us that they were hiring another to file a the crash, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The caused damages to their property. suit,” Ivester said. “Not many lawyers would have argued wreck occurred at an unknown time on Interstate 40 Busi- However, Elk City Manager Tom Ivester said the three in- for the extension if they knew you were going to do that the ness Loop and State Highway 30, approximately 2 miles vestors and their LLC weren't being completely forthcom- same day with a different firm.” west of Erick. ing to the city while they were filing the suit. Prior to the Ivester said the sum they are asking for in damages, The vehicle was going northbound on Highway 30 when filing, the investors had made a claim, which the city’s insur- $75,000, has a special relevance in that it could allow the it failed to stop at the stop sign and then hit a road sign and ance company had rejected. plaintiffs to attempt to move the case to federal court. But then went head on into a tree. Ivester explained the city had listed a hearing to condemn Ivester was clear that he didn’t know if that was their mo- The wreck was investigated by Trooper Matthew Hoff- the property that had been scheduled for the Sept. 8 Com- tive, explaining that is the minimum amount needed to move man, who was assisted by Trooper Pate Gossen and Trooper missioners meeting. to federal court. Darrell Splawa. Vol. 118, No. 74 Weather tomorrow /59 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com