September 6, 2023 Issue, Page 1 of 6

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Ay v. » Serving m._ Western Oklahoma a Since 1901 Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Weekday Editi Retired Teacher’s Handcrafted Cross Elk City Landsin Church, South of Rome Motorsports Park aes Reschedules Race to Partner with Route 66 Motor Speedway By Sheryl Ponce ‘The Elk City Motorsports Park has announced a schedule Andrea David, who is a friend of his son’s. The story began about change. The Sept. 9th race has been changed to Sept. 16. This ten years ago when Ron Newlin and his wife Allison were intro- duced to Father Andrea through friends of theirs. change will double the USRA Modified features. Along with “Our friends met Father Andrea while playing professional this announcement, Joe McConnell and Rod Fauver have soccer in Italy 30 years ago and have stayed friends ever since. It announced that they are cooperating with the Route 66 Mo- has been a huge blessing ever since we have met Father Andrea tor Speedway in Amarillo to increase the attendance at both. and enjoy his friendship to this day. He tries to come to America tracks, at least once per year, and we make sure to see him while he is here. We were in Rome at the end of 2019, and Father drove up “We are all deeply committed and invested into growing to have dinner and celebrate Rhonda's and my SOth birthday. We our sport. So our two tracks have come to an agreement to fa had dinner overlooking the colosseum in Rome and will forever mutually promote and support each other moving forward,” Pictured is Ed Newlin with a cross similar to the one cherish the memories,” Ron explained. McConnell wrote in his announcement on social media. that went with Father Andrea David to Italy. Staff photo In August, Father came to Texas and visited Ron and Allison. They will start by providing ECMP cars attending the Rt. by Sheryl Ponce. ‘They had dinner once again, along with a group of friends. At this meeting Ron presented Father Andrea one of Ed’s crosses. 66 track one free pit pass on their Sept. 9th race. ECMP will, Father blessed the piece and took it back to Italy with him, where in turn, provide one free pit pass for drivers coming to the Elk By Sheryl Ponce it now resides in Abadia De Fossanova, which is south of Rome. City track on Sept. 16th, 30th, and Oct. 21st. ‘This church is where Saint Thomas Aquinas died and is buried. This type of reciprocity between the tracks will allow Ed continues to bless people with his crosses, not expecting USRA racers more chances to earn points, therefore, build car Sixteen years ago, Ed Newlin retired from teaching in Kan- payment of any kind. He likes making the crosses out of copper sas to return to his Elk City home. Although his last teaching and metal and continues to create new and different styles. The counts at both tracks in Elk City and Amarillo. position was special education, he was an industrial technology one he gave the priest was small because of the weight and space “We're trying to give racers more opportunities to run teacher, teaching woodworking and metal work. Upon retire- flying home, but he has made them in all sizes and shapes. without conflicts and fans the opportunity to see bigger fields ment he began to dabble in making crosses out of metal for fam- Additionally, Newlin has created a lamp out of a metal base- at two great tracks,” he continued to explain. ily and friends. See Newlin page 2. At the end of this season, and as the two track promoters One cross has made it to a church south of Rome with Father begin to plan the 2024 racing schedules, they will try to add some joint Friday and Saturday events. This would include bonuses for combined points from both tracks. It seems to be a win/win for both. “The bottom line is that we promoters need to be more creative and change how we operate in order to grow. We all need to row in the same direction to get the *** boat to move,” McConnell concluded. ‘The love for the sport of racing is what both promoters want to bring to the community. It is the desire to fill the stands and create a racing community along I-40. Bring the cars, bring the speed, bring the food, and the fans will follow. ‘This is the sense of cooperation between tracks that will make both tracks flourish, Community Cassidy Crabb and Lake Carpenter. Cookout Coming Lori Park Takes on Music for RCCT Production By Sheryl Ponce of this combination. “There are a lot of timing music cues. There are music keys to Ackley Park No stranger to musicals or directing musicals, Lori Park, re- with dialogue and lines. It is hard to do with the (musical) track. By Sheryl Ponce turns to Red Carpet Community Theatre to take on the musical It’s easier with a live orchestra, but we don’t have that, so it has director for their production of “Chicago.” Her ability to produce been difficult,” Park said. perfection from casts has given her the reputation that fills the ‘The show is just about to open, and rehearsals have been long. ‘The Elk City Ministerial Alliance announce that they are house of all of the shows she directs. Although she is semi-re- Park said that has been the hardest part of this production. She planning a community cookout on Sunday, Sept. 10th from tired, her love for theatre keeps her motivated to help on this has enjoyed watching the show progress, learning their cues, and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be food, games, inflatables, and production. choreography. other fun things happening at the park. According to the “| mean people love the music in this show, and Lori (Park) “I don’t have the stamina I used to have. It hasn’t been as hard announcement made on the Ministerial Alliance Facebook has been the mastermind of all that music,” director Marji An- getting your hands on now because these people have had some post, it is a sharing vision of the Elk City Christmas Basket derson said. acting experience and some singing experience. The last show I ‘This musical production is heavy in dance, music, and singing. program and how it can be a great evening of fun and fel- According to Park, it is more of a challenge for the actors because See RCCT Page 2. lowship. Weather Vol. 120, No. 71 Mail delivery View online «AQUA tomorrow 9/73 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com