October 19, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 8

Page Text

Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekday Editi Kayak Proposal Presented to Commissioners By Sheryl Ponce At the Oct. 3rd regular Elk City Commissioner's meeting, Mike Ross presented a proposal for kayaks to be placed at the Ackley Park Pond where the lighthouse is located. He told the commissioners that a vendor had contacted him about placing a self-contained caged box of kayaks that would be available for the public to rent. He said that they would be locked and accessed through a QR code scanned with a phone, and the person renting the ves- sel would have to sign a release to have access to a kayak. The City would receive half of the profits, and the manufacturer or vendor would get the other half. The company would service the kayaks and provide life jackets, and Elk City would not need to provide any maintenance or liability. Pictured in front are distant cousins Manuel Alvarez, Spain, and Cindy Wood, Elk City. In back are Alvarez’s co-workers Paola, Jesus, and Anna from Spain. The group traveled to Ft. Worth on business and visited Elk City to see Wood.; After lunch at the ‘The idea is like the rental of scooters that are posted around Country Dove with Cindy Wood, Manuel Alvarez (middle) took his co-workers to visit the Route 66 Museum complex. Here they larger cities and parks. Ross also suggested that if the project are pictured in front of the teepee, Jesus, Alvarez, Paola, and Anna. The group work in the aviation industry and were in Texas worked out well, that it could be expanded to Elk Lake. City on a business trip from Spain. Courtesy photo. Manager Tom Ivester said that he researched the concept and found it to be a positive project. Wood Reunites with Spanish Relative “He (Ross) brought the proposal to me, and I was very, very skeptical. So I looked into it. Oklahoma City implement- ed it about a year and a half ago, and it has been a huge hit. ‘They have had zero accidents with it. The biggest thing I was concerned about was insurance and liability. For instance, if By Sheryl Ponce Wood's grandparents were from the same state in Spain. The a 14-year-old kid goes out there, and pops it (the container) Alvarez name in Spain is common, but the other name, Campa, open, and doesn’t wear the life jacket, what happens? We had Four years ago, Elk City’s Old Town Museum hostess Cindy her mother’s maiden name, was the unusual tie. They discovered the company send their insurance policy, and then we adjusted Wood was greeting guests as they entered the museum, direct- that they must be related in some way because of the location in to what some of the other cities have done. They conformed ing them through the old house and to the rodeo museum when Spain, as well as their common surnames. to what we wanted. They have it where their insurance covers she met a couple from her grandparent’s home state in Spain. ‘Three years ago, Wood along with her son Mark and his wife, it all. Oklahoma City has been doing it for 18 months at both Cecilia and Manuel Alvarez were traveling Route 66 and stopped Beth, traveled to Aviles, Spain, to meet Manuel and Cecilia. Lake Overholser and Lake Hefner, and they haven't had any ac- in Elk City to tour the complex when the three discovered their “I met with them again in Spain. We got together with Cecilia cidents yet,” Ivester explained. ‘Anyone renting the kayak would put up a deposit, and when connection. and Manuel, and his parents and his two children. We had a great it is returned, he/she will get the deposit returned. According “Manuel (Alvarez) was with his wife, Cecilia, and he came in day there. They took us around seeing things in the town,” she to the explanation, the responsibilities would be totally on the to find out what the museum was all about. She was outside on continued. vendor. the phone, so I explained everything to him about the museum. ‘They have remained in contact since the first day they met, Commissioner Rocky Andresen asked about cost to the City, and continued to message through Facebook, keeping up with He said that when his wife comes in, they would decide whether and Ivester said that there is an initial cost of $15,000, but that each other's family. Last week Manuel contacted Wood, saying to go through, I said that’s fine. She came in, he told her about would be all. He added that the money would be taken out of the museum, and they decided to go through. His English was he was in Ft. Worth on business and would be traveling to Okla- the city manager's budget for the project. Elk City would pour very good, but I knew it wasn’t from here, but I just didn’t know homa to see her. a concrete pad that houses the locked cage for the kayaks, but where he’s from. I looked at the sign in book to see where he’s Manuel works in the aviation field, traveling to the Unit- that is the extent of their involvement. from. Seeing the name Alvarez, I told them that was my maiden ed States periodically. This was the first time that he and his ‘There would be eight kayaks in the cage located at the pond. name. I said that both sets of my grandparents are from Spain. co-workers have been able to divert their travel plans to return If the project does not work, the City could have it removed. ‘They asked from where? And I told them Asturias (Spain). From to Elk City. this day, I can still see the look on their face,” Wood said. See Relative page 2. See Kayak page 2. Elk City’s United “ag Methodist Church ks 4 Brings Back the Craft a Show and Bake Sale By Sheryl Ponce After the COVID shutdown, the Elk City United Methodist Women’s Turkey Dinner is bringing back their bake and craft sale. The event will take place on Wed. Oct. 26th at 720 W. Coun- try Club in the church. They will have handmade baked goods along with a variety of locally made craft items for sale. This will include the Rada knives sale. The event will start at 9 a.m. in the Narthex. ‘The turkey dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. The dinner will include turkey and dressing, green beans, salad, cranberry sauce, and pie. The cost is $12, and it will include a drink for those choosing to dine-in. Carry-out orders can be called in after 9 a.m. the morning of Oct. 26th at 580-225-0262. Those orders will be picked up in the youth room from the south parking lot. There is limited dining space, so planning is advisable for this annual event. Pictured from the left are Debra Gholston, Claudene Anspaugh, Carla Garrison, Barbara Thompson, Anita Carpenter, Jan Remember to stop by to shop for the handmade baked and Attocknie, and Virginia Cox. Courtesy photo. crafted items. Weather Vol. 120, No. 82 Mail delivery View online OE tomorrow 79 / 49 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com