June 17, 2023 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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v, Serving Western Oklahoma 4 Since 1901 Weekend Edition Elk City Grad Creates Oil Elk City Paintings to Elicit Feelings Sales Tax — Pa (| Ae | Numbers Rise By Sheryl Ponce City Manager Tom Ivester shared the released sales tax numbers for June last week. The sales tax is up by four per- cent over this time last year, and the use tax was up by 22 percent. The total sales tax for the month was $1,241,55.65, compared the FY 22 sales tax at $1,190,626. The year-to-date total is $14,636,508.34, which is up by six percent from the FY 22 numbers. When comparing Elk City’s sales tax with surrounding towns with similar populations, Elk City’s taxes are up by 4.3 percent over last year. The next town with comparable gains over last year was Clinton with a gain of 3.5 percent and fol- lowed by Weatherford with 2.7 percent gain over last year. The remainder of the towns showed negative gains over the previ- ous year. Those include Altus with 5.3 percent loss, Woodward my new style,” he continued. with 5.7 percent loss, Sayre with 14.7 percent loss, Yukon had Shirley has a studio at his home in Edmond, but his work is 4.7 percent loss, and El Reno came in with a 6.9 percent loss. displayed at the Contemporary Art Gallery in the Paseao Arts All of the towns suffered a loss in sales tax over the last District in Oklahoma City. He opened there in August oflast year as a guest artist, and he was made a permanent artist in January. month. The results were as follows Elk City with 2.2 percent By Sheryl Ponce “About two weeks ago Mr. (Donnie) Jordan said, ‘Hey, you loss, Clinton had 1.7 percent loss, Weatherford had 5.8 per- want to come in and set up in Elk City” I said, ‘Heck yeah, 20,000 cent loss, Altus suffered an 11.5 percentage loss, Woodward people per year, so I calculated it out using my math skills,” he Earlier in the week the 1994 Elk City High School graduate came in at a 9.2 percent loss, Sayre suffered 22.4 percent loss added. Stephen Shirley debuted his oil paintings at the Route 66 Mu- over last month, Yukon had 6.1 percent loss, and El Reno had seum Complex at the WOHS Building, along with two other local At this point after retirement, Shirley wants to paint fulltime. artists, Randy Haggard, and Rob Norris. Shirley retired from the He has been skeptical at the prospect of not having a full-time 8.6 percent loss. Navy after 20 years where he served as a Surface Warfare Of job, but he said, “I’m going to put my head down and do this.” ‘The only community that reported more sales tax revenue ficer and traveled the world. He then picked up his paintbrush “T've been kind ofleery going full time, or should I get a job? was Yukon with $2,285,581 in the month of June (2023) to grow his art. I'm going to do this, At least for a while, or until I just can’t pay bills anymore,” Shirley laughed. compared to Elk City’s $1,241,556 sales tax income. The While he was at the naval base in Bahrain, Shirley began to study oil painting. Although he took art in high school, he used Since he became a professional artist in January, he has next two closest in sales tax revenue were Weatherford with different mediums, such as pencil and watercolors. As he turned painted 50 oil paintings, and he has sold over half of those. He is $1,018,287, and then Woodward with $1,059,047, followed to oils, he taught himself through YouTube videos, as well as go- in the beginning stages of developing his career as an artist, but by Altus with $1,018,287. The least amount of sales tax rev- ing to art museums in every city he visited. so far has been successful. He commissions work and currently has four that are in line for him to complete. Shirley is working enue was in Sayre with $134,968. “I mean, it really was pretty good back then (in high school). But I was all about baseball, and I just didn’t shift over to oils un- to keep up with inventory, since his art seems to be in demand. When comparing the sales tax rate among Elk City, Clin- til later. I didn’t learn the oils in high school, so I taught myself “[ will paint anything anyone wants. [just have to approve it. ton, and Weatherford, all had 4.5 percent city sales tax. Altus So if they send me something that I don’t think I could paint it, to do oils. And thenIjust loved oils. That's mostly what I do, but has 4.13 percent sales tax, Woodward has four percent sales I still do drawings and watercolors, but I'm so busy with oils now Iwould say no. I do portraits, dogs, cats, or horses. I can literally paint anything,” he said. tax, as does Sayre and Yukon. El Reno's sales tax sits at 4.125 that I can’t get to them now,” Shirley said. Now he has started oil painting, he is a bit looser with the Shirley’s favorite to paint are scenes, but he also likes to paint percentage. brush and he said real realism type of things. It is looser than birds. Once or twice a month he goes to the Contemporary Art ‘The comparison between other towns similar in size to Elk other things he has done. Gallery to work to see what people want. Now he is reflective City seems to be valuable because it shows the community's “It’s looser brushstrokes. I just found that out a couple of about what he is doing, where he has been, and what he wants to paint. commitment to spend their money locally. It could also repre- months ago, and I think it’s because I took a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I saw the art there andI got inspired. So I tried to “I got to see the whole world. I went everywhere, all over the sent how the people of Elk City feel about the town and invest- change the style, and I actually like it. I sold a few paintings with See Shirley page 2. ing their faith in the local merchants. ‘RCCT’s Wait Until Dark’ Brings Chills By Sheryl Ponce ‘The Red Carpet Community Theatre production of the sus- penseful thriller “Wait Until Dark” creates an atmosphere of intrigue and mystery with a talented cast. Directors Christy Russell-Dobbs and Benjamin Dobbs should be credited with the experience to take this cast to a professional quality show that will be noted as a one-of-a-kind production for community the- atre. ‘he storyline is of a newly blind woman, played by Sierra Duke, who outwits three con men that are on the hunt for a doll filled with heroin. One is played by her husband, Alex Duke, while the other two are Shaden Foresman and Joshua Barnett. The blind woman’s husband is played by Zach Perry, and the young neighbor is Emily Barnes. Other actors include Rylee Yeager, Wade Showers, and Harrison Wheeler. Sierra’s ability to navigate the stage as though she is blind is brilliant. Her natural stage presence sets the bar for the entire play. She is supported by the abilities of Foresman, another new- comer to RCCT, to create a sympathetic con man. His talent be- comes evident as he gives the audience the opportunity to root for him to befriend the newly found blind friend. Barnett returns to the RCCT as a sinister crook playing a cop. He shines as a likeable tough guy looking to make a buck off the vulnerable heroine. He can carry-off an authentic New York ac- cent that adds to his character. ‘The mastermind and seemingly evil character that Alex Duke portrays also makes the show a topnotch production. As he ma- See RCCT page 2. Weather )( Vol. 120, No. 51 Mail delivery View online ¢ Le AO $ tomorrow / 74 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com