April 26, 2023 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, April 26, 202 Weekday Ed Lieutenant Governor Pinnell Welcomes the 35th Annual Turkey Hunt to Elk Cit Wr ‘The finished front entrance to the Red Carpet Community ‘Theatre. Courtesy photo. Williams Company Donates Time and Labor to RCCT Hunters and their guides.; above, Lt Gov. and WTC staff Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. By Shonda Little munities. A lot of people, most of them in western Oklahoma rural parts of our state, get to see how great Oklahoma is and the ‘The Red Carpet Community Theatre received a generous do- By Sheryl Ponce investment that Elk City is making, You're on to something as a nation from a local patron two years ago to replace the roof on community because you've chosen as a community to invest in their building. With that completed, the next thing the theatre ‘The 35th Annual Turkey Hunt was held last Thursday morn- yourselves in a facility like this (Arrowhead Center) that would needed was a fresh coat of paint. Thanks to the Williams Com- ing with six hunters coming to Elk City to try their skills at bring- be worthy of any city in the state of Oklahoma,” Pinnell opened pany’s annual service to their community projects, the painting ing in one turkey each. The event kicked off Wednesday with a his talk. was completed last week. dinner at Simon's Catch, followed by axe throwing at Mountain He went on to talk about how important Route 66 is to the “Every year for a week in April, we (Williams Company em- Man's Axe Throwing and Grub. Then early Thursday morning prosperity of the state and Elk City. ployees) all go out, and volunteer to the community with the they were greeted by local guides to go on the actual hunt. At noon they returned to the Arrowhead Center for a barbe- “We havea lot of the most popular miles and the most famous kind ofprojects we want to work on. We go out to donate our road in the entire world that would be Route 66,” he continued. time and do whatever they're needing us to do,” Robin Lakey que lunch provided by Blue Mountain Smoke. They were greeted “It starts with a trip. It could be a baseball tournament. It could by Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell who spoke to the group of hunters, explained. be someone from Australia hitting Route 66. I don’t care what it guides, and local business leaders. With the help of Troy Jones, who provided the man-lift to is. It could be fishing, or it could be our turkey hunt. Whatever it ‘The hunters included Jeff Willis, Steven Thurston, and An- paint the top eaves of the building along with other donations, is, if can get people to Elk City, you sell it. ButI got to get people drew Starbuck from Maverick, Jeremiah Johnson from Kratos, the project was completed in two days. There were eight em- here first. And that’s why I've been hustling as your lieutenant Jay Shidler from the State Department of Commerce, Chuck governor the last four and a half or five years of telling that sto- ployees that helped with the project, and Lakey said she is still Madsen and his son, Carter, from Blue Sage Services in Beaver. ry. [believe Oklahoma is the best place to live, work, and raise a working on the flower beds. Some of the guides for the hunt were Johnny Brown, Bobby Arm- family. But a lot of people in other states don’t know. They don't For the past two years Williams Company has donated strong, Rick Nolan, John Pickens, Heath Frazier, and Russ Run- know the investment in the quality of life that we've built in the funds to RCT. This season they are being recognized as the dle. main Stage Sponsor. Their banner has been hung in the theatre, state of Oklahoma and in communities like Elk City, if we don’t ‘The Lt. Governor spoke during the luncheon, complimenting recognizing their support of the theatre. do events like the Annual Lieutenant Governor's Turkey Hunt.” Elk City on the investment being made in the Arrowhead Center, Pinnell mentioned that his Chief of Staff, Kirby Smith, (an ‘The theatre’s board of directors are Christy Russell-Dobbs the Aquatic Center, and the upcoming remodeling of the police Elk City High School graduate) is a reason he keeps Elk City in - president, Jim Mason - vice president, Connie Ferrero - trea- and fire stations. “This (the turkey hunt) is all about bringing people to com- See Turkey Hunt page 8. surer, Ashley Arganbright — secretary, Stephanie Ellis, Robin Lakey, Kat Tate, Amy Shepherd, and Jeanna Casebeer. The next production will be “Wait Until Dark” that will open June 16th Museum’s General Store and run through the 18th, then again, the following weekend, June 23rd through the 25th. ‘This summer will be the first children’s camp production of Starts with Donation of Goods “Matilda, Jr.” The applications for the camp are now available at the RCCT’s Facebook page. The production camp is for children By Sheryl Ponce ages 6 through 15, and their technical academy is for ages 12 through 17. It was 2019 when the late See More Photos page 8. Bob Kennemer was contact- ed by the Flying W owner, Max Heckl, from Piedmont, to donate the contents of the general store that sat on the property located north of Elk City. The collection dated from the 1920s to 1940, with some items older and some newer than those dates. The Western Oklahoma Historical Society built the building under the direction of Victor Weather- ly, with the help of the City of Elk City who donated the dirt work. “He (Max Heckl) wanted to mer, wife of Bob, explained. “Cindy (Wood) andI packed helped such as Donnie Jordan know if the museum wanted Once acquiring the store everything in boxes and la- and Mark Hylton, but there the contents or if the museum contents was approved, they beled it. Then Bob and Jim were other men who helped would have a place for it. But had to pack all of the items and Coffey moved everything over moved things. Everything was the stipulation was that it had move them to Elk City. Accord- to Elk City. Some of the things stored in the Farm and Ranch to stay together as one exhibit. ing to Lynn, they accomplished could not be packed, like the Museum. Jim's (Coffey) grand- So Bob contacted the Histor- packing and moving it in two cash register, the coffee grind- sons, Sean and Mark, helped Merritt High School held their Junior/Senior Prom Fri- ical Society and the Museum weeks, which began the week er, and barrels, but the things unload, too,” she continued. day evening and crowned Kellen Lamar King and Serenity Commission, and they both after Christmas. It was cold from the shelves had to be Leverett as their queen. Courtesy photo. approved of it” Lynn Kenne- Withnoheat in the building _ packed. There were others who See Store page 2. Weather “ Vol. 120, No. 36 Mail delivery View online StL tomorrow : / 43 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com