February 22, 2023 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Wednesda: February 22, 2023 Aloha Grill Brings Hawaiian Heart to Heart Pregnancy Care Clinic Welcomes New Cuisine to Elk City Executive Director where she started in sales and moved up to be an assistant to the owner and eventually a buyer for the company. "I have always loved the ministry. That is my heart, and I got this phone call, which I call Devine appointments. A friend of mine was telling me about this position being open. The position had been open Laura Nell Hays since August of last year. It was just that quick when I decided Pictured are business partners Lilly Vargas and Luis By Sheryl Ponce I could do something about it. Hernandez.; Aloha Grill interior looking from the dining So I did,” Hays explained. room outside at the corner of 5th Street and Randall. Stajf There will be an open photos by Sheryl Ponce. Hays continued to say that house at Elk City's Heart to her heart is for the broken. Her By Sheryl Ponce “We wrote it down a year ago in March. We wrote everything Heart Pregnancy Care Clinic, life verse is in Isaiah 61. That is down as the idea came, and we put it on paper as we thought located at 500 S. Lusk, on Feb. a chapter in the Bible that talks Last Wednesday Aloha Grill opened their doors at 202 S. Ran- about the menu. Since then, we have changed things because we 27th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to about the blessings that can dall for business. They have been busy and by Saturday afternoon have been getting help from our sales manager Bill Yates with introduce and welcome Laura come for God's people if they they had completely sold out of chicken. Lilly Vargas and her the distributor Cisco out of Oklahoma City. They put us ina class Nell Hays as their new Exec are faithful to Him. business partner Luis Hernandez have been planning the restau- with a chef. They have helped us tremendously. He put us in a utive Director. There will be “Ym also teacher moti- rant for over a year. When the building became available, they class with a chef who teaches us all about how to handle beautiful refreshments, and the com- vated. I love giving parenting knew that it was time to bring something different to Elk City. raw fish for sushi grade tuna. We got the key to the building in munity is welcome to come classes, and then we talk with “We've been creating this menu for a year. It was in our heads, November 2022, and we just now opened,” Vargas noted. out to meet her and see the mothers that are pregnant, We and we would brainstorm many ideas. It initially started back ‘They had to change the kitchen and upgrade the electrical. clinic’s facility. do ultrasounds and all that. home. We are from California, We moved here about three years Vargas wanted to credit the contractors who helped on the re- Hays started her journey And then we walk a mother ago, and we absolutely love it here. We moved here because we model. Those include Culver Electric, Anderson Plumbing, and as the executive director on through the birth of her child. just wanted a peace of mind,” Vargas explained. Luis Bustillo who over saw the construction. It’s just helping people that’s Feb. 1st and has been learn- ing the ropes around the clin- all!’ Hays added. She and her brother, Adrian Calvario, lived here when they ‘The partners are also looking at adding new items to the menu were teenagers in 2009 or 2010. Vargas went into nursing, and during the summer months, as well as having limited additions Part of the position calls he went into construction. They were two teenagers who came to ic. She has been able to meet or specials. They want to introduce different types of fish to the visit their sister, Lucy Garcia. She’s been here about 22 years, and area. The menu now offers Hawaiian Chicken, Chicken Katsu, some of the 34 clients and for her to raise funds to run she has brought the whole family here, little by little. the clinic, and that includes Pork Ribeye, Teriyaki Chicken, Spicy Teriyaki Chicken, anda vari- believes that teamwork is the overseeing things like a 5k “And now that we have kids, I wanted to come back. I want ety of bowls, They also offer an Aloha Salad and Poke Bowl. path to success. something nice for them. I want something calm,” Vargas said. ‘They consider themselves a fast-food, casual restaurant, but it Previously, Hays served as run or walk-a-thons, but their When they came back and began to think about a restaurant, is also a made-to-order restaurant. The food is cooked when the a hospice chaplain for eight big fundraiser is the banquet in November. The name has they wanted something different. They wanted a taste like they found in Los Angeles, Hawaiian barbeque. order is made. There is a drive through window for those who or- years and then worked for changed over the years, but “We were always going to the same franchise in L.A., and we der over the phone. Orders can be made by calling 580-303-4405 Canyon Oilfield Services for never got tired of it. When we moved here, we wanted something Vargas is married to Emmanuel Vargas, and they have three six years. She also worked children, six-year-old Olivia, four-year-old Mia, and three-year- See Hays page 2. different. What is not here? My mom was upset that we didn’t at Cherokee Trading Posts want to do Mexican food. I cook it every day, and I'm done with old Caleb. Hernandez is married to Minerva Calvario, sister to it And there’s so many places that you can get Mexican food. Luis Vargas. and I kept thinking that we wanted something fresh. There are times that I don’t want to cook, and I want something like a nice ‘The Aloha Grill staff includes Amanda Tovar, Jodie Tignor, Amanda Nidey, and parttime Erin Muniz. Vargas said that they FFA and 4-H Get Ready salad or rice with some chicken,” she said. ‘They have chicken four times a week because they want some- are still taking applications for individuals with a strong work ethic. The partners are welcoming the community to try some- thing unique and different. They put their own spin on what they for Beckham County thing lighter, but good. That was when Vargas and Hernandez sat down to make a menu. have known as some favorites in Hawaiian cuisine. Jr. Livestock Show & Premium Auction Leadership Elk City Class IX By Sheryl Ponce Returns from Retreat While the National FFA Week is underway, local FFA and 4-H members are getting their livestock projects ready to show in the Beckham County Jr. Livestock Show and Premium Auc- tion that will begin on Sunday, Feb. 26th, and run through Monday the 27th, and end on the 28th. ‘This year the livestock judges are Scott Smith for the swine, Chis Klassen for cattle, Jimmy Davis for sheep and goats, and David Sharp for poultry. The show officers include Kody Har- rold, Jeremy Justus, Monte Carlson, Dillon Partain, Brandon Williamson, Cody Varnell, Ben Kidd, Koby Cole, and David Brinkley. Although judging does not start on Sunday, the animals EADERSHIP will need to be in place and weighed-in beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Early Monday morning at 8 a.m., the Swine Show will ELK CITY start, followed by the Poultry Show at 1 p.m., and the Broiler Show at 3 p.m. The Cattle Show will take place on Monday at 6pm. On Tuesday the day will begin at 8 a.m. with the Sheep Show, and the Meat Goat Show will start immediately follow- ing the sheep. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a Buyer's Dinner and the Premium Auction will take place at 6:30 p.m. It is noted in their flyer that there will be no live animals in the auction. Pictured are the members of Leadership Elk City Class IX who recently spent the weekend in Norman at their orien- ‘The show division rules include showmanship based on cur- tation retreat led by Dr. Casey Merrifield. In the front are Jennifer Hagerman, Karen Touchstone, Nate Hicks, Shan- rent grade in school. The Swine Showmanship Award will be non Pirus, Amanda Hammond, Susan Featherston, and Greg Britton. In the back are Dylan Anderson, Mike Bawden, Jonathan Butcher, Teresa Kilhoffer, Tahner Loyd, and Randy Smith. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. See Livestock Show page 2. <itummtuimmy Weather, Weather 1/26 Vol. 120, No. 15 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com