May 25, 2022 Issue, Page 9 of 34

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, May 25, 2022 Weekday Editi Tortilleria Hernandez Offers Traditional Mexican Products ‘oillr, MEATS School Diploma By Sheryl Ponce By Sheryl Ponce be purchased warm, ready to eat. “We have both whites and Mexicans coming to get food. We Daniel Click was supposed to graduate from Elk City High Last week, Tortilleria Hernandez opened for business and are trying to bring the authentic Mexican flavor to town, with School in 2002. He was born in Elk City, but moved to Amarillo sold some of the authentically Mexican seasoned meats and tor- freshness in mind,” he added. six months after he was born. His father passed away in 1997, tillas. It is located at 302 N. Van Buren Ave. in Elk City and is Gomez said that they also take special orders and can handle after which, his mother moved him back to Elk City. open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on Sundays with hour large groups, but it might depend on the demand and supplies School was hard for Click, he said that he has dyslexia, hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can be reached at 580-339- that are available. The meats are seasoned with a combination making reading and writing hard for him. While he was in high 8014. school, he did believe he could do the work, therefore, he went of citrus fruits like orange juice and limes, with different spices to work at Sonic. Elk City resident, Raul Gomez, is originally from Juarez, Mex- poured on top of them. ico. He is the local owner and is in partnership with his cousin, “It was always in my mind that I knew I could do it, if I “People can call the same day to see what is available. We want had help. With the technology that we have now, I was able to Patricia Lares in Clinton, where they make the flour and corn tor- to provide good customer service. We can talk to people, if they focus. IfI didn’t know a word I could ask ‘Siri’ what the word tillas. “We have fresh tortillas, corn and flour. We also have tradi- have concerns or complaints. We want to take care of them. We was and then understand it. It took two months to do nine tional Mexican products, like sweet bread. We are getting them try to take special orders every day,” Gomez said. courses,” Click said. from the city (Oklahoma City),where we also get the meat every He also offers different types of cheeses. One comes direct- He earned his diploma through Excel High School, which other day. The bakery is a Mexican traditional bakery, and I think ly from Mexico, and the other is made locally. Gomez said the is an online program through Carnegie Library. He completed cheese from Mexico melts well and is in demand. He also offers the nine classes, and received his diploma at the Elk City Com- it is the best in the city,” Gomez said. ‘The meats are pre-seasoned and ready to be cooked. He offers homemade beans and packages of fresh nopales (cactus). missioner’s meeting last Wednesday. fajita chicken and beef, as well as, other types of seasoned pork “I welcome everyone to come in or call to order ahead. We “The hardest thing, I would have to say about the school, was that it wasn’t iOS (Apple) friendly. The pictures that were and beef. The tortillas are brought in fresh each morning and can want to take special care of our customers,” Gomez concluded. on it didn’t load with the wording. But my credits from when I went to high school got to transfer. They looked at what I did. Thad a course manager that helped make my plan to fit gradu- Patrolman Jones Comes to Elk City from Washington ation,” he added. Click now plans on attending college. He will continue with the Excel program, going to Washington Technology Institute. down to a few towns that were why we are here,” he added. people. He served as a sheriff’s Because he graduated through Excel, he will be given a $500 hiring. Then, I sent a message Jones has been with a deputy, with almost 100 patrol See Diploma page 2. to the Chief (Eddie Holland) trainer, but expects to transi- deputies. The responsibilities and really liked his response tion into the field sooner than were wider, and the move to and energy. I liked the kind of the others because of his expe- style, of how they do things. So rience. He has learned about Elk City was a better change for him. ACE Hardware set to begin the geography of the town and “It has been a change with construction early 2023 I came down and interviewed, and things went really well,” the processes that are in place small town policing, but a Jones said. in Elk City. change for the better. I like it. He has been going through “I am feeling pretty good People are real, and I love that Elk Supply Company is pleased to announce the re- a lateral training because of about the training, getting to hospitality. What you see is location of its existing Elk City ACE Home Center to his previous law enforcement know the city and the folks. It going to be what to get, peo- ple talk plainly. I appreciate 2001 S. Main Street. The all-new indoor Home Center background. He had just com- has been the nuts and bolts of pleted an entire training pro- police work I've done before,” that and like it a lot. It’s been containing 90,000 square feet will include a complete cess the previous year, along Jones said. wonderful. It was going to be a repurposing of the Terry’s Furniture building and the By Sheryl Ponce with the full police academy in Although he has not found good change. There are things addition of a drive-thru building materials/lumber- Washington state. Jones also many surprises on the police that seemed cool about the yard. The new facility containing 90,000 square feet New to Elk City, but not has a military background. work side of the position, he whole area. It was kind of ex- will include a retail hardware store of 40,000 square new to law enforcement, Pa- “I was in the army for ten has found a different attitude citing, There have been lots of feet and a building materials/lumberyard of 50,000 trolman Kirby Jones has been years. Then I was in real estate and culture of the people. calls and things like that, but learning the ropes about the for eight years in Washington. “I knew that the people because I’m raising a family square feet. state and Elk City Police De- Thave moved all over the place here would be welcoming, and here, I like it being quiet. I like The project's cost will exceed $5 million and will be partment (ECPD). He moved with the military and moved they would have the hospitali- being involved in the commu- fully funded by Elk Supply Company and without any into the area over a month ago back home (Washington) after ty that they're known for. But nity, so it isn't often boring, public assistance. Construction is slated to begin Jan- that, worked for eight years, even with that knowledge, I because there’s always some- after looking for an Oklahoma thing to do so you can help,” uary 1, 2023. The new Elk City ACE Home Center will community to relocate. then I made a career change was surprised with how wel- employee over 40 associates. “{ started looking at Okla- to law enforcement. I worked coming everyone has been, es- Jones explained. homa in general, and we as a sheriff’s deputy in Wash- pecially to my children. It has He enjoys working the The Home Center will include a free-standing Lawn Gones and his wife) visited a ington State. My wife is from been very nice,” he said. night shift because of the job and Garden Center at the previous location of Long couple times. There were a few this area, so about two years Jones came from a town satisfaction from facing more John Silver's. This Lawn and Garden Center will pro- other places in the country ago we started taking a look ataround 15,000, so a little larg- in progress type of events. vide an extensive plant material offering inclusive of that we were looking at along leaving, to have a better placeer than Elk City, and a county He likes being involved with with Oklahoma. I narrowed it to raise our children. That is of over a quarter of a million See Jones page 2. See ACE page 2. Weather ‘ Vol. 120, No. 41 Mail delivery View online ALAA A somorrow 157 75 cents, 34 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com