March 23, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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\F, Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekday Edition Invasion of Ukraine Brings Kelsey Walters’ Family Home 300,000 refugees in recent days, would interrupt life even more for the children and could make leaving Moldova more difficult if Odesa was attacked,” Walters wrote in a press release explaining the situation. She hopes to return to the farm by early summer, but because the situation is fluid, she had to prepare for whatever may hap- pen. “As we prepared to leave, we did not know whether to pack for a two week vacation to see grandparents or prepare to take any- thing we did not want to lose if we returned to a home that had been bombed. It has been uncertain. It was easier for us to leave now, because I am an agricultural analyst for the government and can work from home. If my husband must flee, it would be easier for one person to leave than trying to get the whole family out,” a she said. Red Dirt Pigeon Club’s 200 mile race from Denton, ‘They left the farm in Chisinau, Moldova by car, going to Bu- Texas to Elk City resulted in a win for David Bell and his charest, Romania. They flew to the US from there. The airspace AU 6708 hen (pictured) in the A race. His cock, AU 6708, over Moldova is closed, therefore they had to drive instead of fly- also won in the B race. They were challenged because ing out of the country. Iurie returned to the family farm and will they had to fly against a head wind. Club members who remain there to care for the crops. entered the race include Charles Wyatt, Dusty Davis, Kelsey met her husband, a Moldovan businessman, while she and Cory Spieker. Courtesy photo. served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova. They married after she completed her service in the corps. With her budgeting skills and degree in ag economics from OSU, and Iurie’s experi- ence trucking grain throughout Moldova, Ukraine and Russia, RCCT ‘My Fair Lady’ ' Sey S : they were able to reorganize a society collective farm called “Kol- Pictured is Kelsey Walters with her family, two-year-old Samantha Jean, eight-year-old Evelina, and husband lu- hoz” into a commercial family farm. Cast Announced She described their operation, “After 10 years they have ex- rie. Courtesy photo. panded the operation to produce corn, sunflower seed, wheat, and canola on over 6 thousand acres on the Southern border be- The third in a series by Sheryl Ponce tween Moldova and Ukraine. Since many of their rented fields are on the border with Ukraine, Iurie must stay in good contact with Canute native, Kelsey Walters and her two daughters, eight- both the Moldovan and Ukrainian border patrol units. On more year-old Evelina (named after her grandmother Evelyn Walters) than one occasion they have needed to negotiate the release of a and two-year-old Samantha Jean (named after her grandmother new tractor operator who had gotten lost and been detained on Jeanelda Smith) returned from their farm in Moldova to her par- his way to plow.” ents’, Wayne and Shawn Walters, home in Canute. The fear that ‘The couple have been able to increase their yields from 27 the Russian invasion of Ukraine could pour into their commu- bushels per acre, using Soviet technology and 80hp Belarus trac- nity made the decision essential for the safety of their family. Her tors to 70 bushels per acre in an average year, with 200 hp Case husband Iurie remains on the family farm to take care of over tractors and attachments. The area’s farming sector is weak, and 35 employees, and prepare for the spring planting of corn and they lack government programs to support the farmers, there- sunflowers. fore, the Moldovans envy the programs Kelsey has promoted to “On Feb. 24th the family awoke to the unmistakable sound of the government through her advocacy work. faraway explosions that they later attributed as coming from the Because the country is one of the smallest and poorest in Eu- town of Podilsk in Ukraine. After overcoming the initial shock as rope, it goes unnoticed compared to neighboring Romania and Russia continues to horrifically attack Ukraine, they have been Ukraine. With eyes on the situation in Ukraine, Moldova is get- able to assess the situation and feel hopeful for Moldova. While ting noticed more, and being known for its wine and black soils. Kelsey and her husband do not feel that Moldova is a direct tar- ‘The citizens speak both Romanian and Russian, but are peaceful get, they are concerned that if nearby Odesa, Ukraine was at- people with traditional values, which is why many of the Ukraini- tacked there would be spillover of wounded, an even bigger flood ans are fleeing to the small country rather than Romania. of refugees and a critical departure of more Moldovans. This See Walters page 2. heightened pressure on Moldova, who has already received over of “My Fair Lady.” Seated Sue Brown, Ashley Arganbright, and Bailey Carpenter. Standing are Andrew Long, Wesley Car Racing is Back Javorsky, Abbie Tillman, and Shane Lively. On the stairs are Melissa Javorsky, Camdon Galeener, Jim Brown, and Emma Ferrero. At the top are Josh Barnett and Brandt Left, Rod Fauver; At right, Arganbright. Courtesy photo. is an example of the Sprint By Sheryl Ponce cars that will be available to rent at the Elk City Motors- Although rehearsals have already begun, the cast of Red Car- ports park. The Sprint cars pet Community Theatre's next production of “My Fair Lady” was will be brought by Fanver. announced early last week. The show will open Sat., April 23, He will also be giving driv- with a matinee performance as well as an evening show. It will ing lessons in them. Photos run from the 23rd and 24th to the 29 through May Ist. Tickets by Jessica Cusik. are on sale now at www.rcct.org. Director of the production is Zach Perry from Clinton, with the help of Elk City’s Josh Barnett. Eliza Doolittle will be played the Elk City track will be a by Melissa Javorsky, an ECPD resource officer. Brandt Argan- challenge because it has been bright will portray Henry Higgins, while Colonel Pickering with shut down. Fauver said that be played by local attorney, Jim Brown. Wesley Javorsky will be By Sheryl Ponce Fauver is moving to Elk to the track. He has plans that since life seems to be return- Freddy Eynsford-Hill, and Ashley Arganbright will be Alfred P. City, bringing his trucking will involve more than owners ing to normal after COVID, he Doolittle. Josh Barnett will be portraying Harry, and Wesley Ja- can make it work for the com- vorsky will be double cast as Jamie. Elk City teacher, Stephanie Elk City Motorsport Park company from California. He bringing their cars out to race Ellis, is going to be Mrs. Pearce, and Christy Dobbs will be Mrs. should be ready for racing this purchased a building on Route munity. each weekend. Eynsford-Hill. Mrs. Higgins will be played by Sue Brown, while racing season. The Elk City 66 to house the company. “We will run some Late “I am going to have sprint Emma Ferrero will be Mrs. Hopkins. The role of George and Pro- Speedway has been shut down “I run trucks from North- cars available for rent, and am Models as a specialty car be- fessor Zoltan Karpathy will be Wade Showers. for the last two years, and at ern California to Texas and looking at a sprint car driving cause there are not that many ‘The ensemble of the show will consist of Cassidy Crabb, of them around. We will have Emma Ferrero, Abbie Tillman, Robin Lakey, Camdon Galeener, the last City Commissioner back, so coming to Elk City just school. In California there was |Andrew Long, Shane Lively, and Bailey Carpenter. meeting, the commissioners made sense to me. The com- a major shift in the ownership open-modified division, a lim- Season tickets are still available and can be purchased on the signed an agreement with Rod pany is doing well, and I have of the race tracks, and to run ited class, and tuner class or theatre’s website, www.rcct.org. The advantage of getting sea- also called modified stock cars. Fauver to lease the race car been a mechanic for the Out- the driving schools, it would be son tickets is that they are offered at a discounted price, along Thave met with a lot of the car track and the remote airplane law Sprint cars,” Fauver said. a loss in revenue. ‘The state be- with the ability to use as many as wanted for each show. If the owners and drivers around membership is for 16 tickets, all of the tickets could be used for field to him. He calls it the Elk He is excited about bring- gan to take control of the race City Motorsport Park and will ing racing back to town, hop- tracks,” Bauver explained. Elk City, getting to know what “My Fair Lady,” or they can be saved for another production in be hosting sprint car racing, ing to make it a family affair He has been around racing has been done and what they the season. that will bring the community and race tracks, so reopening See Racing page 2. rentals and driving lessons. See RCCT page 2. LA Weather tomorrow /39 Vol. 120, No. 24 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com