July 16, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma | Since 1901. Archer Looks to the Future By Sheryl Ponce ‘As the dust settles on the primary election win for District 55 State Representative, winner Nick Archer has his priorities in place. He will continue to serve as the Elk City Mayor until he takes the Oath of Office in November. Until that time, he wants to continue to push forward local projects, such as the waterline replacement project and the other things that have helped Elk City grow. Pictured with the 1948 Plymouth Super Coups are Basil Weatherly, Jim Coffey ‘As he approaches his new role, he also has things that he would like to accomplish for western Oklahoma. He seems and museum curator, Charles Wren. Staff photos by Sheryl Ponce.. passionate about doing something with the spaceport in different’ They have gone to Michigan, Missouri, and California, Burns Flat. wherever there is an assembly plant, but they wanted to do some- “My most pressing thing, I think, is that we have to do some- thing different. After a couple of magazines came through, I just thing with the spaceport. With all of the ARPA money that has been distributed to the states, there is a lot of opportunity to picked up the phone and called the president. I said, ‘I live in Elk get that facility up and running to a point where it’s a state City, Oklahoma. We're halfway between Chicago and LA and we and national treasure. We have spent as a state, a lot of invest- have the National Route 66 Museum here in Elk City,” Weatherly ment incentive dollars at the Pryor Mid America Industrial explained. Park. AndI don’t think that there is any way Burns Flat isn’t ‘The president was impressed, took it to the board and the as viable of an area to do something like that, too. I have hope for aerospace, engineering, and those kinds of things there. wheels started turning. Weatherly has been in contact with them With the Lieutenant Governor's Turkey hunt, we've met with since then planning the events. Kratos’ Defense and Security Solutions, and we've met with “They will check in on the 20th, and I'll start doing tours (at the Boeing multiple times. There have been a lot of people who local museum complex) through the day on Wednesday the 20th. have looked at that facility to try to utilize it, and to try to get ‘The evening of the 20th, we will go to the Elks Lodge for sup- something going. It seems like a lot of the aviation equipment there is outdated. That is cost prohibitive to them to get in per. In the morning of the 21st, Thursday, we will do tours here, there and make that place where it could be desirable. I need then we'll leave after lunch and go to Clinton’s Route 66 Museum. to look and try to figure out the process, but it seems to me as By Sheryl Ponce ‘Then we'll come back here and go to Simon's Catch for supper that though there has to be money at the state level that we can use evening at about five o'clock. After supper, we'll go to the Opera and invest in that facility. That would have a huge impact not only on our district, but District 57 and in all of the surround- ‘The Walter P. Chrysler (WPC) National Car Rally will be arriv- House where the Pop Up Theatre is presenting a little play, ‘Love ing communities” Archer said. ing in Elk City next week and stay the rest of the week, taking in Letters, for them. So then Friday, we're going to spend all day “He continued to say that it is a hidden treasure that needs museums and other local attractions. Basil Weatherly began the touring the two museums at Weatherford, the Stafford Museum to be developed and used. process of bringing them to town last January, after the organi- and then the Heartland Museum. At 4:30 p.m. we are going to “[’sahidden gem. There are only 12 Spaceports in the United meet and eat at Lucille’s Roadhouse. Saturday morning at nine States, and we have one of them right there in our district, in zation had not been able to meet for the past two years due to ‘our own backyard to Elk City. If we could get that place going, COVID. They were looking for a new place to go, and he did not o'dock., we will get all the cars together out in front of Doug Gray you could start to provide higher paying jobs because it is go- hesitate in offering Elk City as the host town. Chrysler and snap a group picture. They will come back down- See Archer page 2. “The club usually holds it in different parts of the country. They town Saturday morning 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to have a car show, didn’t have any for two years, and the last one they had was in De- What’s Up in Elk City See Plymouth page 2. troit. The president of the group said, ‘We want to go someplace Longest-serving Elk City Daily News Advertising By Sheryl Ponce Manager passes away With school on the horizon and summer coming to an end, getting in as many activities as possible seems to be a perfect Sharon (Chronkhite) Denney accident. scape in Elk City. way to spend the next few weeks. The Elk City Chamber of passed away surrounded by her ‘That set the tone of Sharon being Commerce calendar is one way of finding out what will be hap- Following her retirement in 2011, pening to mark as must do’s. beloved family in Oklahoma City the ultimate family person, learn- Sharon enjoyed traveling and on July 1, 2022. Denney wanted ing from a young age that family Starting this weekend with KECO’s fishing derby in Ackley spending time with her family. Park and the G & S Gun Show at the Convention Center, and her final celebration to be held was all that mattered to her. She is preceded in death by her only amongst her family and clos- Shortly after graduating from moving onto next week’s First Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible husband Bob, her parents, and est friends, which will be deter- Dunkirk High School in Indiana, school running from July 17th through the 21st, the whole mined at a later date. she married the “love of her life,” her two younger brothers. family has something to do. ‘Those fortunate enough to know Robert Leroy Denney, She is survived by daughter Carnegie Library will host Stuffed Animal Camp on July 21st Sharon would say that was her From this union, the couple was Sherri Newcomb of Oklahoma at 3 p.m,, and Reading Ranger at 4 p.m.. Going into the week- style. She was a “class act,” as mul- blessed with daughter Sherri in City, son Mike Denney and wife end, on July 22nd the Elk City Golf and Country Club will be tiple people commented on social 1964 and Mike in 1970. Val of Edmond, grandsons Baylor hosting the Western Oklahoma Oilmen’s Invitational, and One media, but she never wanted to Shortly after Mike's birth, the Newcomb and Cooper Newcomb Church will begin their “Summer Movies in the Park” series on draw attention to herself. Her life family relocated to Oklahoma. and wife Victoria, all of Elk City, July 22nd with “Sing.” The shows will start at 9 p.m. The other was one well lived, often happily Sharon's lengthy career in west- By Shonda Little putting those she loved before em Oklahoma began with the grandson Colton Denney of Nor- shows will take place on July 29th, “Lady and the Tramp,” and herself to help them advance. Chamber of Commerce. The Elk man and Jake Denney of Stillwa- on August 5th “Overcomer” will be shown. (Editor's note: As a young woman, Shortly before her death, she City Daily News recognized her ter, great-grandchildren, Dallie, ‘The Elk City Motorsports Park will resume races, starting at I was given the privilege to work penneda letter to her children ex- talent. Brynlee, Lakelynn, and Stockton, 7 pm. on July 23rd. The following week the library will have under the management of Sha- plaining that her family’s happi- Sharon was a master of busting and special friend Doug Sinclair. “Carnegie Library All Tales Told - Finer Arts of Oklahoma” at ron Denney. She was a mentor to ness had been her greatest hobby through restrictions placed upon Sharon did not wish for a funeral the Convention Center starting at 11 a.m. on July 28th. Start- me and countless others in ways and joy. women in business then. In fact, and her family intends to honor ing on the 29th downtown merchants will be hosting the an- too big and small to even begin to Sharon was born to Sidney and she was eventually appointed as her wishes. nual “Sizzlin’ Sidewalk Sale,” with participating businesses list. Her devotion to her customers Virginia (Gillespie) on October ECDN’s advertising manager, the ‘The family is aware, though, that open from 8 to 10 in the retail district. It will continue through knew no bounds. For decades, even 31, 1944, in Muncie, Indiana. longest-serving to date. Sharon impacted many lives and Saturday, July 30th. representatives from national cor- Her childhood was marked with Sharon was unstoppable in that tragedy early on when her little way, always willing to sacrifice to devoted herself, maybe at times Going into August, the last Block Party will take place on Au- porations knew to ask specifically gust Sth, as will the last “Summer Movies in the Park.” This for Sharon when they called the brother Bobby was killed at the advance her family. She was also too much, to others. weekend marks the annual state no tax weekend for clothing newspaper. However, her strong age of three in a lumber accident keen to give opportunities to In lieu of flowers, donate to a can- work ethic was rivaled only by her and later when her brother Skip younger women. Her arrival for- cer society or a charity of choice and shoes under $100, the perfect time to load up in back to. deep love ofher family. ) was killed at 16 in a motorcycle ever changed the business land- in her name. See Elk City page 3. Vol. 120, No. 57 aT Te Weather tomorrow 102/74 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com