June 18, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 16

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a)l yy Serving 5 Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Saturday, June 18, 2022 Weekend Edition Elk City Racetrack Gina Jones’ Readies for July Races Character Hits Home as a Health Nut By Sheryl Ponce “Sweet Delilah's Swim Club” is opening Friday, the 17th, at Elk City’s Red Carpet Community ‘Theatre. Gina Jones will be playing Sheree Hollinger who she describes as a health nut, a fitness gal, and she is characterized with a type “A” personality. She is the captain of the swim team that reunites each year at a cottage in North Carolina. Jones has said that she is like Sheree in her attention to her health and physical activity. She is not quite as bad as Sheree is about her Gina Jones ‘The track is cleaned up and ready to go.; At right, Rod Eauver is pictured at the track. heath food. “T think that she (Sheree) always has good intentions. Even By Sheryl Ponce everything will be in place for the opening race. though she sometimes doesn’t realize that nobody really “When it comes to associations and the different rules packages likes her food or her messing with them. She always does Rod Fauver has been working for the last few months to get for different tracks and cars, we are in the middle of no where. everything with a good heart. I play her like she’s trying her the Elk City Motorsports Park ready for races. Witha lot of help, United States Racing Association (USRA) sanctioning is what best. No malice, even though she’s kind of a pain,” Jones said. the facility is ready, racers are coming onboard, and now the we're going with here. It is a national sanctioning body that is She went on to explain that Sheree is probably someone insurance is in place. The first race is scheduled for July 2nd, and sponsored by Summit Racing, which is a big supply company most people know who is super organized. She is the kind of another one is scheduled for July 3rd. for the country. We will award national points, which is nice person who doesn’t always read the emotional intelligence of Right now the promoter is looking for businesses or individuals because it will bea nationally recognized track, We will have some people. to be the first to partner with him in advertising signage along “The show is a comedy with dramatic, touching parts that is national events. We have a big national event scheduled for the the track. This first year he is offering a special rate that includes like how life really is. Life is usually a comedy,” Jones added. end of October for the limited modifieds. That is going to be the Moving recently to Elk City, Jones is not new to the stage. the cost of the sign and printing. The same low cost will follow second highest paying, limited modified race, in the country,” She was in a couple of shows, “Seussical” and “A Murder is next year for those who jump in now. Fauver explained. Announced,” by Agatha Christy. Jones admitted to not being a Fauver said that there have been so many people interested in the success of the track that he wants to offer this advertising ‘There are other sanctioning bodies that will be running in five singer, but she is a dancer. She even teaches yoga. or six races on the track throughout the year. Each body has their In comparing RCCT to other places she has performed, opportunity to everyone. His background and experience in own rules packages, but they are allowing this track the ability to she said, “It is theater. People are theater people, no matter the racing industry has provided him the knowledge to set the bring other cars in under some division rules packages. They can where you go. They're always there, they are the best kind groundwork for a night of family fun. He has discovered how run at the same time. of people. The theatre itself is great. Yeah, it’s kind of the much the community is ready to race. “We have agreed to pay them separately, so like all the factory same everywhere. People just kind of cobble a theater out of “We have got fans who have been coming out to help us clean something that wasn’t a theater.” up. The City came in here ,and we're trying to get all the dirt laid stocks under, get to run together. No matter what association they are but the USRA guys get paid their purse. Then everybody out and all of the cracks and stuff like that fixed. We've had great See Jones page 2. fans out here trying to help. They're excited, very excited,” Fauver get to see aforrace,” else races the same purse. We are doing this so the fans will he added. said. While they are still working out some details with the liability Fauver’s goal is to bring as many cars to the track as possible, so the fans will get to see a race. Because of his own racing Kat Tate Sees ‘Sweet insurance, he believes the things that need to be done are minor. Some of those items include fencing and barriers, along with placement of individuals and cars in the pits. Over the next few background with the Outlaw Sprint Car circuit, he knows that fans come to see a race, and not just a few cars. He wants to have Delilah Swim Club’ Similar weeks he will be making sure those requirements are fulfilled, so to ‘Steele Magnolia’ See Racetrack page 2. Commissioners Approve New By Sheryl Ponce Budget and Utility Increase Bernadette Sims of “Sweet Delilah Swim Club” is being played by Elk City’s Kat Tate. She believes that her character is similar to “Steel Magnolia’s” Ouiser Boudreaux who was played by Shirley Maclaine. “T would definitely be Ouiser, who is so much down on her luck. She has ano good husband and kids. She is just trying to stay afloat. She's always injured and always has something going on. She has areal self deprecating humor, but she uses her wit as kind Kat Tate of a cushion to get through tough situations,” Tate said. ‘As she prepared for the role, her friends joked with her that she is playing herself, because of the comedic timing that she brings to the stage. “Timing is what I'm good at when it comes to comedy. That Heath Frazier and Nick Archer. is one of my skills. I think I bring a little bit of youth to the show, too. I'm the youngest in the cast by 10 years. I don’t know By Sheryl Ponce in helping with the Lieutenant Govenor’s Turkey Hunt each year. whether the other cast members love it or hate it that I am “He (Frazier) has always gone above and beyond during the younger, I haven't been able to decide,” Tate laughed. The regular mid-month Elk City Commissioners’ meeting annual turkey hunt, and he is willing to help us with all the people She said that although it is a show full of women, it is a show took place Wed. at 2 p.m. in City Hall, where they approved an who have come to town to be involved. It takes a lot of effort. for all audiences. We just wanted to recognize you for your continued support for “It’s a feel good comedy, but it also has real life application, approximately $30 million budget and a utility rate increase. and you will leave, maybe with a tear in your eye. You will also ‘They also approved two animal control ordinances that were everything that you've done to help make that a successful event. have a lot of fun and a lot of laughs,” she added. introduced at the last meeting, as well as a list of dilapidated ‘We have seen and have received a lot of those benefits over the Tate is no stranger to the stage. She has been acting since she buildings determined to be detrimental to the public. last years,” Archer said. was in the sixth grade, doing a couple of shows a year since that Prior to opening the meeting for business, Mayor Nick Archer Immediately after the presentation, Archer opened a public time. Her favorite character was in “The Best Christmas Pageant presented Heath Frazier a small statue of an elk for his dedication See Commission page 2. See Tate page 3. Vol. 120, No. 49 Mail delivery View online aC Te Weather tomorrow 94/75 75 cents, 16 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com