September 15, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 10

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News/Obits September 15, 2021 discussion to the holidays. end, which will be the lighting Chamber the hope is for the project to be completed by Labor Day. Plans for Black Friday and of a tree at city hall. The theme Round Continued from page 1. As for road construction, Of course since this will actu-Small Business Saturday were for Elk City’s Christmas activi- ally be a Department of Trans- discussed: Christmas open ties will be “Hometown Christ- portation project, Ivester says houses will be held Nov. 7 and mas.” Town Ivester says that that project the water lines up to buildings will begin a year after the utili- participating businesses will Chamber Director Susie Cupp there are plans to include the which he estimates will cost ties work with bidding taking be open special hours. Some announced that the final clean- request of penalties for delays businesses also plan to be open ing of the newly renovated in the contract. He also shared September 18 $2,000 - $3,000 for the 12 feet place in fall of 2023. The actual that they intend to invest in for at least a period of time on of waterline to each building. work will once again begin in ‘Thanksgiving Day, the follow- chamber building will be com- low-cost decorations such as 48th Annual Fall Fes- ‘The primary reasoning for this January 2024, after the holi- stamped or colored concrete ing day andSaturday. Full plans pleted at the end of the month. tival, Convention Center is to “just get it done” while day retail season. He clarified and murals on crosswalks. will be shared once confirmed. The next meeting of the Elk the main waterline is replaced. that the road to be replaced Unfortunately, at this point Christmas plans were also dis- City Chamber of Commerce He stated that it will be up to will be cut out by sections Retail Committee will be held September 19 Ivester had to leave the meet- each business to do anything rather than tearing up the en- ing. It was also at this time cussed including the Christ- Wednesday, Oct. 6, same time, mas parade which will be held 48th Annual Fall Fes- beyond that. tire stretch of road and that that the committee switched on Nov. 27 and the planned same place. tival, Convention Center September 21 Western Oklahoma Edu- cation Expo College Fair, Elk City farmer inducted into Oklahoma First Baptist Church Activ- ity Center Conservation Hall of Fame September 24 Jimmy Wayne Smith’s lifelong experience farming cotton helped Pumpkin Patch - Hay- stack Adventures open thru brainstorm revolutionary tires through local machinist October 17th on weekends By Shonda Little oped knowledge, 4 Ag Manu- Smith, my grandfather. Then made joining the family farm possible to get into unless you 1 1/2 miles East of Hwy his son — my dad — stayed facturing was launched. his choice. I'm glad that is were raised in a farming fam- For 65-year-old Elk City on with the family to farm With Hunter joining Smith what he wanted to do, though. ily. The huge benefit for all of 9/152 Intersection farmer Jimmy Wayne Smith, this, and I did the same. Now and his son, the new business good farming practices aren't my son Spencer is farming full was launched four years ago. Our population keeps growing us when these young people merely a noble effort into en- time with me, making him the “At first, we didn’t have a mold, and somebody has to feed all come back to the farm is that September 24 vironmental conservation. It fifth generation.” which is why we didn’t start these people. We need more they are finding new ways to “Clue” Red Carpet Com- is quite literally a wise business Recently Smith was inducted producing them in large num- young people to come back to utilize new technologies in munity Theatre philosophy. into the Oklahoma Conserva- bers immediately. Now we do the profession. It is always im- farm practices." “fm a fourth-generation tion Hall of Fame. His efforts have one. Then Jake and Spen- farmer on this land,” Smith to revolutionize farming, par- cer figured out a cheaper way to make them with that mold September 25 explained. “My family first ticularly for cotton producers, without concluded Cupp. Festival would like to thank the City sacrificing any qual- “Clue” Red Carpet Com- bought this land and came to were impossible not to notice. ity. We are patent-pending on The Fall Festival committee munity Theatre farming it in 1913. To be hon- For the past fifteen years, he that. All the machine work is est, I cannot think of what has also faithfully served on done right here in Elk City, and Continued from page 1. of Elk City, along with Janie’s their first names were at the the local conservation board. the tires are manufactured in Garden Center for decorating. September 26 moment. I always just knew Approximately twenty years Oklahoma. All of the materi- numerous awards in selected Also, thank you to all our vol- “Clue” Red Carpet Com- her as Granny Smith. ‘The first ago, Smith decided to take a als come from America,” Smith booth categories along with unteers and exhibitors. generation that I really had the leap of faith and move Smith gushed. the high school art. Awards to 2021 Elk City Fall Festival munity Theatre chance to know was Leland Family Farms from conven- Locally, the tires are sold be presented in the profession- Committee members in- tional farming to no-till farm- through Western Equipment. al booths category will be Best clude: Ronda Smith, Chair- ing. The decision wasn’t an However, the business’s im- of Show, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place man, Kathy Bell, Emily & Jeff Weekly easy one. He knew it would pact can be felt nationwide, for fine art, photography, pot- Johnson, Katherine Brown, have the benefits of using less with distributors scattered tery, sculpture and fine woods. LaDonna Thomas, Sharon Car- from Canada to Mexican and fuel, hours on equipment and everywhere in between. “Literally thousands of people time. have gone through this annual penter and Susie Cupp. For COVID-19 data “On our farm, we have the event and we'd love to see ev- additional information please But, while traditional tillage 2,500 acres with probably contact the Elk City Chamber farming does require such a about 1,800 of that in cot- eryone from Elk City and the more significant investment of surrounding communities of Commerce at 580-225-0207 money and time, it also comes ton. The rest is sowed to rye come out and have fun with us or email elkcitychambereitl- Staff Report and some grass. Doing no-till, again this year.” net.net. with known methods of killing we use rye as our cover crop. had a total of 3,087 cases with a total of 58 deaths. There are weeds. On Sept. 8 the District five currently 32 active cases with “My dad was still alive when I ‘Then we run just a few head John Horstkoetter of cattle, about 50 mama cows Southwest Oklahoma County 23 of them being newly re- decided to take us to no-till,” and calves. We start doing our Health Departments released ported in the week of Aug. 29 Smith recounted. “He would planting around the 15th of their weekly COVID-19 report ~ Sept. 4. There were no new just shake his head and worry May and stay hooked up with that I was taking a big risk. The for the week of Aug. 29 - Sept. deaths in that time period. traditional method was all he that into June. We then har- 4, Itwas shared that Oklahoma ranked 11 (out of all States and As of Sept. 8, 40.7% of the pop- knew and had worked for him vest our cotton in November ulation in the state of Okla- for his entire life.” and December. January and DC) in the total number of re- February are considered our ported COVID-19 cases in the homa aged 12 years and older Admittedly, the first few years weren't without their bumps slow times in the cotton indus- last seven days with 18,635 were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 47.9% of the and setbacks. However, by year try. But, during that slow time, new cases which is a 5.1% de- these farmers get to really three, Smith was seeing one crease from the week before population aged 12 years and spend time working on their of the major benefits of no- (Aug, 22 - 28). older have received at least one till farming come to life on his equipment for the next year. ‘There were 208 deaths to in- dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. ‘There are so many elements of 2,500-acre farm. clude 14 in SW Oklahoma. The Both the Sayre and Elk City lo- “The no-till farming allows that farming that are beyond your John Joseph Herman started his second career with average age of cases was 39 cations of the Beckham County organic material to really build control — like the weather and Horstkoetter Jr. was born Oc- Exxon Mobile. years. There have been 3,079 up in your soil. It is so much moisture you have. Sometimes Health Department have been tober 11, 1931, to Ethel Alice John and Georgia loved COVID-19 hospital admissions offering walk-ins as well as better for the health of your you may only have one window Caffey Horstkoetter and John traveling and finally retired in in the last 30 days in Oklaho- appointments for administra- soil. You start seeing it was of opportunity for that year, Joseph Herman Horstkoetter 1996. so you got to have your equip- in Shattuck OK. ma. 93.9% (2,891) of hospital your crops get stronger and John referred to himself tion of the COVID-19 vaccine. ment up and running at that Junior (as he was called by admissions in Oklahoma dur- stronger each year. Plus, you family and hometown friends) asa “simple country boy”, ing the last 30 days (as of Sept. For more information, you can time. A breakdown could cost however, he was quite the put a lot fewer hours on your your whole year. So, that is why had four siblings; Doyle Gerald 6) were non-vaccinated; 98 are follow the Beckham County Lavone Horstkoetter, Antonio mathematician and equipment. These days, you under the age of 18 and 25.6% Health Department on Face- can’t buy a new tractor for less farmers stay hooked up busy Eugene Cortez Horstkoetter, always reading, As his of new hospitalizations are book, call them at (580)928- than a couple hundred thou- during that downtime, making Lavon Lelano Benito Horst- granddaughter, Jennifer, said sure their equipment is in the koetter and Latwina Delphele- “Tbelieve he wanted all of us from people who are 44 years 5551 (Sayre) or (580)225-1173 sand dollars, so you want it to best possible shape for the up- of age and younger. (Elk City) or visit vaccinate. last,” Smith said. nia Bonita Horstkoetter. grandkids to be mathemati- coming planting season. What While going to college in cians and mechanics”, As of Sept. 8, Beckham County oklahomagov. As Smith continued to learn that means is the slower time 1950, at age 19, John was John is survived by three the new method, he realized rafted but he wanted to fly so for cotton in January and Feb- brothers, Jackie, Gene, and "ElkCituNews he enlisted in the Air Force. that one element of the trade ruary is our busy time for the As he loved to tell the LD; his two daughters, Pam, could be improved. Brain- tires. That's when the farmers story, John left the Air Force and Karen; seven grandchil- storming with another area are out in their shop and need- after he Korean War was over dren, Shane, Sundi, Jennifer, cotton farmer, the late Danny ing them,” Smith said. in 1953. And while visiting Jonathan, Shad, Shantel, and (USPS # 173-020) Davis of Canute, the two in- Smith is quick to give credit to his grandmother, Mary, in St. Skyler; and ten great grand- 580-225-3000 novators came up with an idea Davis and his two partners, his Louis, met Georgia Lee Baron children, Shaedin, Karson, Ka- for more durable gauge-wheel son Spencer and Hunter. and daughter Pam. John would mryn, Brody, Presley, Mariah, Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC chuckle as he said it was quick 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 tires for planters and air seed- For Smith, farming is more Makayla and Thomas, Olias courtship and took Georgia Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 ers. than a profession. It's a way and Pam to meet his parents. and Asher. “Then we took that to a local of life and a link to his family ‘They then married Christmas Memorial services will be POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 machinist named Jake Hunter. before him. His parents and Eve, 1953. September 20 at 11:30 a.m. at He did the machine work for grandparents toiled alongside John continues the story Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, them right here at home in Elk each other, laboring in blister- saying he realized that he had Fairfield, CA. John (Jr) will SUBSCRIPTIONS City. We were really pleased ing heat and numbing cold to a family, he best have a career, then be interned with his wife, Deliverd by mail: with it. The OEM tires that we turn out a crop. so he re-enlisted in the Air Georgia, at Suisun Fairfield $75/yearly had been using before had to Force. Their first duty station Cemetery. "Spencer went to Sayre Junior was Austin, Texas. John and $50/six months ‘Shonda Little....Staff Writer be replaced pretty well every ‘The family plans on having College and then went and sold Georgia added to their family No refunds on subscriptions. Burgundy Lee Hanrahan... Staf Writer year. I was tired of buying new cars for Barber-Dyson for a few when daughter, Karen Lynn, acelebration of life with fam- tires, and so was Danny. We years," Smith remembered. was born. ily and friends at Strong City editor @ecdailynews.com Neva Pyatt....Advertising Director knew there had to be a better After numerous duty sta- Community Building, Strong sports @ecdailynews.com D'Ann Brasuell..Production Manager way, and Jake lent his exper- “That was probably the best tions stateside and in Japan City, OK when the family has [email protected] tise,” Smith said. thing -- for him to get out and John retired from the Air their traditional reunion May classifieds @ecdailynews.com From that continually devel- see what else is out there. It Force at Fairfield, CA. He then 2022.