December 11, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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PEO offers gift wrapping See PEO page 10. Look for the sign at 118 S. Main at the south entrance to Poppy’s for the PEO gift wrapping shoppe. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. Saturday, December 11, 2021 Weekend Edition Three awarded Quilts of Valor Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a the 2019-20 fiscal year. $17.2 million figure is with in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry Presentation of the Quilts of Valor The district could not find include from left are Marci Grant, Doug Haught, Sterling Moore, Linda Stewart, Shirley May and Carol Ann Batterton. Above, Tom Ivester, Carol Ann Batterton, Washita DAR Regent, and Grayson Irwin who is describing his trip to Hawaii and the fiscal year ended. He Department of Human Services officials are working with Pearl Harbor. Staff photos by D’Ann Brasuell. By Sheryl Ponce around service members and veterans whopayroll/insurance Hunt, have been touched by to the current fiscal year, but war with comfort and healing. 48 years, with 40 of Pictured is Christmas dinner past as they serve communi- In remembrance of Pearl Harbor, on behalf of the Quilts of “I made all three quilts and we are a part of the Star Spangled Valor Foundation, Washita Chapter continues, andSociety a final of the ty members at the annual Community Christmas Dinner. of the national Quilters group in Arapaho, which is part of the National Quilt of Courtesy photo. Courtesy photo. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), three local veter- Valor Foundation. There are twelve in our group. I do it for DAR, ans were honored in a Quilts of Valor Award Ceremony on Tues., we are part of the other group who does it for the Veteran’s Cen- Dec 7th at the Elk City United Methodist Church. The three veter- ans included Shirley May from Sayre, Sterling Moore from Chey- enne and Doug Haught from Elk City. ter, but I do the ones for DAR,” Grant explained. The recipients are usually nominated by family or friends. The three honored at this ceremony were also nominated, each one Everyone welcome Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning Carol Ann Batterton, Washita County Regent of DAR, orga- nized the event that included Marci Grant from Weatherford, and Linda Stewart from Weatherford, and both belong to Star having served the nation in a branch of the military and touched by war. Shirley May entered the Army Reserves in Dec. of 1988, hold- to community said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed flawless, and thatArmy doesn’t Spangle Quilting. Twelve DAR members and 15 to 16 others were present for the presentation. “Tom Ivester gave a speech on Pearl Harbor and ten-year-old ing a rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She served as an and company commander, who trained new soldiers. She was in the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring nurse Christmas dinner Grayson Irwin from Cheyenne but attends Sayre Public Schools Freedom. May also worked with various foreign militaries, caring gave a presentation about his visit to Pearl Harbor. His birthday for people and soldiers in Saudi Arabia as well as a Humanitarian By Sheryl Ponce present this summer was a trip to Hawaii and he visited Pearl mission in Belize. satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to ton – 1978, 1982 and 1984 – and one state For the third year, the Community Christmas Dinner will Harbor, I think with his Grandpa. He got to celebrate with Tom. Moore entered the U.S. Air Force in Dec. of 1973, during He showed some of the things he brought back,” Batterton said. peacetime at the end of the Vietnam War. He was a Second Lieu- take place at the Elk City Convention Center from 4 p.m. to 6 Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national organization founded tenant and then promoted been toaCaptain. coach for He48was yearsC-9 – apilot headand football p.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25th. This is a traditional dinner in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, is dedicated to wrapping a quilt coach for 40 years – and has an overall re that will be provided by Poppy’s Pit and Grill along with desserts cord of 307-147 and See Quilts a playoff pageof2.44- record provided by volunteers. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be pres- 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. ent.“Our Thestrength event isishosted going tobyincrease Westerndramati Oklahoma Family Care Cen- ter cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in McArthur, Executive (WOFCC) under the direction of Liberty Elk City Commissioners approve non-exclusive Director. “This was started three years ago by the Life Community Foundation, a foundation I began for the local homeless. This permit for cable system in regular meeting year, since Life Community has merged with WOFCC, they are hosting it. It is free for everyone and anyone,” said McArthur. She organized Officials the event in Beckham with have County local cut volunteers nearly $1from area million as competitive, but the during internetan interview price point in wasthe veryathletic office at competitive. from their estimated budget this year, with the final ev- churches and organizations. Th ey will give away stockings to The trade off seemed to be the cable services verses the streaming approval eryone and drawof the 2019-20 for three fiscal door yearThe prizes. budget winnerscoming of theindoor the services. Other business before the group included approval of last See Dinner page 2. month’s minutes and the 2022 meeting dates for the commis- sion. It was noted that there will be two Tuesday meetings, one the2019-20 search isbudget at their on to find The accident weeklycoordi an offensive Occurred meeting Monday. The fina just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 around Labor Day and the other around the Fourth of July. The Commissioners approved two change orders for the Ac- tivity Center. The first one was in the amount of $7,300 to Studio Christmas Basket update over to the state by the first of October. Cain tried to repair something under his 1986 Ford F350 Architecture for furniture in the center. The furniture was not The Elk Citygives Christmas excise board the final approval and signs off on it part of the original contract and the group agreed that it would His starting date is the first Monday after Basket, sponsored by the $14K be advisable to go ahead and purchase the furnishings now. Hartman, Elk Beckham City Beckham Ministerial County Alliance Clerk. County Sheriff’s Office, $12K Carter Fire, Elk City Fire, The other change order numberour first seven forphase of the Joe. D CAPSap- continues Hall was County it’sofficials ChristmassaidBas- in April that changes in the budget proved in the amount of $33,879 for adding patio lights outside ket fund raising drive for the $10K the Indoor Activity Center. Mayor Archer explained that at the 2021 Christmas season. $8K tion scheme for the Elk offense. On the de present time there were only minimal lights in the contract and Each year approximately the front of the center would be dimly lit for activities for future $14,000 is needed to provide $6K activities. He said that this change would allow future outdoor baskets for 300 to 350 fami- The county cut $998,696 from its budget, Hartman said $4K events to take place, as well as being safer. The change will come lies in the area. out of the contingency fund, which will have over $200,000 left To date churches have re- $2K The Christmas Tree at city hall is packed with presents for in it after the approval. The commissioners agreed and approved ported department $8467.97orgivenevery official gives their estimate of what to this the Mayor’s Toy Drive, which will be given out Thursday the change. fund.they’re So farneeding for the donations have year,” Hartman said. “The excise evening at the Civic Center. Courtesy photo. They also approved a payment of $501,848.05 to Joe D. Hall, been received from the follow- General Contractors, LLC for CAPPcould Projectstay on the Indoor floor the Activity Cen- ing churches and church orga- By Sheryl Ponce ter, which was a budgeted item. The balance on the contract, after nizations, Westside Church of the payment will be over $5 million. The mayor suggested that Christ, Antioch Christian, Elk The regular meeting of the Elk City Commissioners a.m. with Hot Hash took andplace other commissioners stop by the center to see the progress, that City “We United don’t Methodist, know those Elkfigures yet,” she said. “We’re kind Monday, Dec., 6 at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The agenda was short and they are presently painting the ceiling. City Church of God, Knights included the approval of Ordnance No. 1240, granting a non-ex- Purchase orders FY 21-22 and recurring invoices for Dec. 6 of Columbus, 1st Christian clusive permit to Clarity Telecom, LLC for the construction and were all approved, including those over $10,000. year 1st Women, before and current Baptist Church,year figures and help the county operation of a cable system. In the City Manager’s report, Ivester said the police station and St Matthews. To date During the discussion prior to the approval vote, Mayor Nick “But we’ve made 20 percent cuts; some offices started out with 396 calls weekly, but that is down to the aver- non-matching donations re- Archer noted that this was the third time they have spoked to Lisa Walker $250, Jerry and age of over 400 calls, which includes ambulance, fire and police. ceived by individuals, organi- Clarity, but that it was the first time it has been an actionable Susan Cupp $50, anonymous Police Chief Eddie Holland spoke to the commissioners about the zations, or businesses are as A fire item. thatthat He said burned Tom the Team Ivester, City Chip Manger,Taespoke Kwon to the com- get those final figures from $144. them, A it’sfamily kind ofwhowait and to wishes Oklahoma Municipal League Leadership group that came to Elk follows: Chasten and Brook- Doabout pany building Tuesday bringing fi afternoon ber options to the in theHe town. 1400 recapped the City. Ivester reported that they asked him about returning to Elk lyn Musick $20, John remain anonymous has made discussion, reporting that the entry point would be roughly $50 a definite date set for the Commissioners gaveand theirafinal approval for non-matching the figures donation of City next year and he said they would be welcome. Cindy Bisco $40, William and per month and go up to around 100 gigabytes of service. $10,000. Also, a special thanks He also spoke about replacing the train at the park, although Ester Vernon $25, Paul and fire “Thechief for has fact that the Elk stuckCity with Fire Department. me, was what mentioned he did not have everything in place.first they No weekend in November. The said that they are work- Shonda Currell $50, James to the Philips Family and Mc- injuries occurred. Two people in the build about cities that fi ber is readily accessible to all homes.You can ing toward replacing the track and purchasing a new engine. They andthere, Wanda at least Irwinone$25,account Lisa in Donalds for supplying there,” Hartman said. the seeing escaped unharmed. The main part of the in some of the studies they sited, three to six percent increase have had an individual inspect the track, who said that the track Newton $10, Jerry and Laurie hams that will be included in fire occurred in the hot water heater area. in property value. Th is is also good for our city,” Archer said. Hartman could not provide Ross $20, Victor Weatherly the baskets. an exact figure. The public 75 is children bad.this year.isThat Ivester $12,130. figure in the was up process of from 40 alast getting newyear. track, making The insurance Commissioner company Rick also is Shelton asked investigating. about the comparison of $100, Richard Cobb $100, Dr. See Basket page 2. cable offerings. Archer reported that the cable chanels were not See Commission page 2. 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