August 17, 2022 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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2- The Elk City News August 17, 2022 News want to be transparent that business that they see at the Club then introduced the Chamber President Pam Muncrief, who run for three days. Rodeo of Champions board with all of the food trucks and entertainment taking place the million-dollar bond will racetrack or on a race car, This Continued from page 1. praised Cupp for her dedica- member, John Thomas re- outside. not support the seven they is a statistical fact, so if you tion to the community and all ported next. He said that the Weatherly then introduced originally thought it would. He want to advertise a little some- of the activities she is plan- sponsors and donations have Elk City’s Superintendent announced that he has writ- thing with us, let me know and field. ning, She also talked about the helped them put on the rodeo Mike Sparks. He talked about ten a grant through the Clean Executive Director of the Miss Elk City Pageant that will each year. They are going to the Aug. 23rd bond election Air Act to purchase five more Td be happy to get together Chamber Susie Cupp spoke take place on Nov, 19th. have a some of the same activ- electric busses, including a with you. I also look forward for new school buses and the next. She told the members ities, with Bobby Green para- excitement for starting a new charging station. He will not to getting involved on a much “There's change to the rules that the annual Teachers Ap- chuting in the flag, and the year. The district has raised know the outcome of the grant deeper level with the commu- for who can enter the pageant preciation Dinner will be held (Miss Elk City). Now you must Longhorns will also be return- academic growth over the past request until October. Sparks nity. Let's find out what can on Monday, Aug. 15th, at the be 19 years old, and in the past, ing. The rodeo could be adding year because of teacher and encouraged everyone to get we do for the community as a Convention Center. She also it’s always been 18 or a senior a ranch program or wild cow student dedication. out to vote on Aug. 23rd. mentioned the Rodeo Parade in high school. This 19 age has event that will be entertaining “Lwent to every building on ‘The District Chairman of facility.” entry forms were in the mail limited us on who can enter. So for the crowd. Margo Davis will Monday where they were with the Boy Scouts of America, Weatherly went on to in- with this year's theme being we have decided to open the be selling tickets the week pri- their building administrators, Gary Woodrow talked to the troduce Julie Barnett, who is “Wild Wild West.” It will take borders of our competition. It’s or to the Labor Day event out and I saw those teachers work- Chamber members about the directing “Willy Wonka” for place on Saturday, Sept. 3 at always been within a 45-mile of the ticket box on the west ing together. They were saying local Boy Scouts. The num- the Red Carpet Community 10a.m. radius of Elk City, and now side of the rodeo grounds. things like, ‘this is the group bers have been dwindling over ‘Theatre. She encouraged the “On Sept. 17th we will we have opened it up to any- Then David Atkinson talk- the past few years across the of kids, we need to make sure have over 100 antique motor- public to go to the theatre, one who lives west of I-35, the ed about the Leadership Class. we do this for them. This group nation, although local scout- cycles coming in town with the western part of the state. We He said they are on the eighth needs this...’ That was happen- ing has remained strong. The noting that tickets for the pro- Motorcycle Cannonball. We are hoping to attract more can- one with ten members in the ing across the district, and just funding has also slowed, and duction are on sale through will set them up at the muse- didates. The Miss Queen of the class. The class is run by a to see the way they're prepar- they are at 32 percent of what the website. The show will be um, and they want the public West, which is a dual pageant steering committee, with Chief ing for the year is very exciting. they used to collect. They are Sept.16th the 19th and the fol- to come out to see them. The that we have alongside of Miss Eddie Holland and Atkinson So as far as the school traffic, in recovery situation, but he lowing weekend. motorcycles will be anywhere Elk City, is open statewide. We being the co-chairs. The idea is I will say this. We do need bus appreciates the support of the Carter Muncrief from the from the 1930s and up. After are hopeful to have two strong to prepare individuals to take drivers, if anybody would like United Fund and other dona- few hours they will go back to competitions this year,” Mun- on leadership roles in local or- tions. Rotary Club then announced to come driving the bus let me their hotels. We are excited crief said. ganizations in the community, know. We are kind of scram- Cupp then announced that their Cornhole Tournament because we have over 100 ho- Next to report about the as well as positions in city gov- bling,” Sparks said. the Parker Drilling rig is in the that will take place during the tel rooms already booked, and Annual Flea Market was Ken- ernment. This comment led into his process of being painted. They Fall Festival of the Arts. It will that’s wonderful throughout neth Hart. He said that with Fall Festival of the Arts discussion about the need for intend on doing some more be put on bya semi-profession- the city for tourism,” Cupp ex- the help of Ron Nagle and chair, Ronda Smith spoke more buses. The bond issue fun ideas once it gets painted. al tournament provider, but plained. Beverly Jordan they had 77 about the annual event that to be voted on Aug. 23rd will Because the rig is a tourism at- open to everyone. The event She also said that if anyone vendors last year. Since the will take place Sept. 17th and buy five buses, but originally, traction, they are excited it is will support the local Rotary has any newideas or thoughts, renovations of the swimming 18th at the convention center. they announced that it would getting an update. to let her know or stop by their pool, they have had to redo the ‘This will be the 49th year, and buy seven. With the increase Pioneer Center's direc- club's charities, including the new location on the corner of location and vendor spots. It they are already full. The show in the cost going from around tor Justin Ediger then talked Miss Elk City Competition. about the facility and how it Main and Broadway. Cupp will take place on Sept. 30 and will be in the first building, $90,000 to $125,000, they The next speaker of the is a community building. It can be rented, and he encour- morning was Tiffany Ford who aged members of the commu- talked about the Fit and Fun charging station. nity to talk to him about the Bike Run that will take place “T applied for a grant possibilities of activities that Aug. 20th. She said that they from the federal government could be held there. Weatherly have 64 sponsors that will al- through the Clean Air Act and commented about the Summer Jow the event to be totally free, through the Environmental Arts program and how success- which includes free t-shirts for Protection Agency. I will not ful it had been this last sum- know until October whether mer. He thanked the United everyone. They will also be giv- we get it. We still believe we Fund for their support. ing away 13 bikes, thanks to can do about five buses with Elk City’s Motorsports Park the local donations. this bond. I've applied for a Finally, Denise Barr from owner Rod Fauver came to the podium and introduced grant for five more busses. partner, Joe McConnell. Theyhis the Western Oklahoma Alz- ‘They are not going to give you talked about the success of heimer's Collaborative talked any money if you try to go buy the racing program and invit- about the association and the a diesel bus, but they'll pay for ed Chamber members to come assistance their collaborative the whole electric bus and a out to see the races, as well as can give to the community. charging station. So we've ap- partnering with them in the “My collaborative reaches plied for that. Because we could way of billboards at the track. a 60-mile radius. We do not no longer get to seven (busses), “We named it the Elk City leave any Western Oklahoman with this federal money, it will Motorsports Park for a reason. It is because we are putting in sitting on the curb, whether not cost our taxpayers any- they need financial assistance, a go kart track and trying to thing. We don’t have to pay it back. And yet we can still ac- get the kids involved. We're whether they need a support looking at a sand drag track group, or whether they have complish the same thing, and next year to try to bring a festi- a child that is going into the add to our fleet,” Sparks told val attitude. We want to try to the chamber. helping profession that could make the racetrack more than ‘These electric busses would just the dirt track facility,” Fau- be medical or be spiritual. We be used for in-town route bus- ver said. provide a scholarship. We pre- ses. He said this would save McConnell added, “We are sented our first scholarship about 600 to 850 gallons a just a couple of knuckleheads from my collaborative. You will Whether you are in town or of Commerce at the Breakfast Buses year in diesel fuel, and it takes who like race cars. I will leave want to meet my ladies. They out of town, you start running on Friday, he admitted that you with one small statistic into a safety issue.” what the board thought they about six hours to charge one. are the best of western Okla- that is interesting about dirt Continued from page 1. He noted that not only are could purchase with the bond Although Osborne is not track fans. This comes from homa. We would love to part- the repairs costing the district, would not be possible because familiar with electric vehicles, a study that CNN did several ner with y'all to make sure that kids riding them, and whether but the overtime he puts in of rising costs. he believes this would help years ago, but dirt track fans we stamp out Alzheimer's. So they may breakdown. when he goes out to swap out “When we first started the district, “It’s new terri- are surpassed by only one oth- when my girls come by please “I wonder, I mean, I'm al- the broken busses. doing this, we really believed tory, having never dealt with er sport as far as the loyalty of take amoment to talk to them. ways thinking, with some of maybe “A lot of weeks, I put in that we could buy seven bus- anything like that. It is one of the people in the grandstands. ‘They're really cool, and if you these (busses), ‘Are they going could do60away plus hours a week. I es. Just like everything else, those things where you don’t ‘The fans are extremely aware have someone that is in need, to make it there and make it with some of the the prices then went up when have a whole lot to worry that the sport does not happen overtime, and not have all of we first looked at this route without the participation of please reach out to us,” Barr back?’ I'm always waiting for a the headaches if we got some bus cost $90,000 Brand new, about mechanically, but I think sponsors. I mean, NASCAR is said. phone call in the middle of the it will be something different. newer busses,” Osborne said. they’re about $125,000. I want obviously the pinnacle of that, Theodore Hasty from night,” he said. ‘The bond issue will be vot- to be transparent with people. We might have to get some and everybody knows the me- American Family Wellness Osborne believes that pas- I don’t want somebody to say ed on Tues., Aug. 23rd. It is a training.” chanics of businesses on race name was drawn for the $225 sage of the bond issue will help you know, he kept that in his transportation investment to In his final thoughts on the cars works well. When it comes the district get rid of some of replace busses that have been pocket,” Sparks explained. electric busses, he said that if it to dirt track fans, over 78 per- pot, but he was not present to the older busses. in service for 20 years. When He continued to talk about isn’t going to cost the district cent of the people that are sit- win. The amount rolls over to “You won't have to wor- Superintendent Mike Sparks the grant he wrote to pur- anything, “Let’s at least give it ting in the grandstands will go the next meeting to be held on ry about better equipment. spoke to the Elk City Chamber chase five electric busses and a a shot.” out of their way to patronize a Dec. 2nd. Elk CityNews Letter to Editor (USPS # 173-020) ‘The welfare of Oklahoma's rural schools is at risk. Our state nized with many state and national awards, including the Okla- 580-225-3000 economy depends on a thriving rural culture, and that starts with homa Superintendent of the Year in 2020. Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC strong community schools. If Republican voters want to ensure Rural Republican engagement in this primary run-off election 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 that their public schools survive and thrive, they must show up will decide the future of public schools in our state — please make Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 to the polls on August 23rd and vote for Dr. April Grace for State plans to vote for Dr. April Grace on Tuesday, August 23rd. Superintendent of Public Instruction. Erika Wright, Founder POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO Box 964, Elk City, OK 73648 ‘The push to privatize public education will decimate Oklaho- Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition ma’s rural schools. Grace’s opponent has made school voucher 405.630.6538 schemes a central issue of his campaign and publicly supports SUBSCRIPTIONS Josh Umholtz....Publisher special interest efforts to defund Oklahoma's rural schools in a Deliverd by mail: Sheryl Ponce....Staff Writer move to send public tax dollars to private schools with very little $75/yearly $50/six months taxpayer oversight. Grace opposes this strategy. “School Choice” Neva Pyatt...Advertisig Director plans Zadie Eakins...Advertisig Director are the opposite of conservative. Simply put, they are a gov- Send obituaries to No refunds on subscriptions. ernment subsidy for the few and wealthy in metropolitan areas, [email protected] D’Ann Brasuell..Production Manager with no concern for rural children. Naka King...SF/Delivery Schools need real solutions to real issues — we must elect a ECNclassifieds@ elkcitynewsadvertising @gmail.com State Superintendent who has the experience to face these diffi- [email protected] cult issues head on. Dr. Grace brings the most experience - she has been an education leader for 33 years and has been recog- gmail.com