September 30, 2023 Issue, Page 1 of 18

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekend Edition Western Oklahoma Bulls Launch Their Arrival in Elk City DUT, DROUGHT, AND By Sheryl Ponce Museum curator Charles Wren with the exhibit. ‘Dust, Drought, and It is official, Elk City has a semi-pro basketball team called Western Oklahoma Bulls. The mascot is still being decided, but the commitment has been made by President/CEO of OnPoint Hoops, Jonathan Reed. Their launch party took place Wed. morning at 9 a.m. in the Arrowhead Center, with members of Dreams Gone Dry’ the community gathered around to welcome them. Reed, the owner and general manager, opened the presenta- tion by explaining his organization and what he plans to bring Exhibit Opens to Elk City. He said that he plans to hire a head coach for this By Sheryl Ponce Humanities, and Dr. Jess C. team with some experience with pro basketball, someone who Porter from the University is devoted to helping young athletes develop, and someone who On loan from the Okla~ of Arkansas at Little Rock. can put a good product on the floor. homa Historical Society, It has been to 25 states and “We are very excited to be a part of this community. We’re the traveling exhibit, “Dust, is now under the permanent joining the American Basketball Association, which as you Drought, and Dreams Gone care of the Oklahoma Histo- know, is where some of the current NBA teams actually came Dry” has opened at the His- ry Center traveling exhibits torical Society Building in program. from, like the Pacers, the Spurs, the Lakers and the list goes on. It’s about the teams. So, it’s a league with a lot of history. It’s a the National Route 66 Mu- The display features 20 seum Complex. The Western illustrated panels about the league with a history of developing and being innovative. | felt Elk City’s Coach D and Bulls’ player, Blake Owen. Oklahoma Historical Society Plains area prior to, during, like it is a great league to join, with the help of some ofthe peo- is sponsoring the eight-week and after the Dust Bowl. ple here and some of my colleagues. We felt like it was a great fit event in commemoration of There are QR codes that en- for this community,” Reed explained. ‘The team is not affiliated with any particular team in the NBA, the 25th anniversary of the hance the visitor's experi- He said that he is excited to be a part of the Elk City commu- but Reed also indicated that the league could pick players from Transportation Building. ence with selections from the nity. The season runs from Nov. to March, and the actual Final The exhibit was orga- the Bulls. There is a good chance that some of the players could go OSU oral histories, the writ- nized by the American Li- ings of Caroline Henderson, Four and playoff take place in April. He added that he believes the team will make it to the Final Four. See Bulls page 2. brary Association, the Na- tional Endowment for the See Exhibit page 2. WOHS Ready to Kick Off Annual Flea Market Championship Night at the Races re - Doug Haught. There were two additional board members who were added to the committee along with Cory Spieker. Donnie Jordan reported that he is looking for another artist to come into the building, and he is talking to a local artist to return, With the last race rained out, the Elk City Motorsports Park, Beverly Jordan gave an update on the Route 66 Flea Market. with Rod Fauver and Joe McConnell, will be hosting Champi- She said that they will be marking the spaces on Monday morn- onship Night for all divisions. There are 100 points available to ing. There continues to be vendors interested in coming. She also each of the weekend's feature winners, and the standings are explained that the numbers have changed because of the differ- extremely close. Sat., Sept. 30, should bring a night of tough ence in the park layout. Jordan had a map of the spaces that will competitive racing. be numbered. Additionally, she asked for volunteers to man the Races will start one hour earlier with grandstand opening office throughout the weekend. Jordan also said that the parks at 4 p.m. and racing starting at 6 p.m. The pits are open to the department has been extremely helpful. public to get close to the action with an all-access pit pass that ‘There were no docent’s report, museum curator report, or includes the grandstand admission. Pits open at 2 p.m. The Randy Haggard’s monthly museum commission report from the concession stand will be open. In the United States Racing Association (USRA) Ltd. Mod WOHS President Judy Haught. city. Haught gave the archives report. She said that they are still working on uploading the old postcards to the website, but the division, Woodward, OK racer, Jeffrey Kaup (#92) leads 46 committee ran into problems with the process. They will tackle it competitors with a slim, 9-point margin over 2nd place Timmy again after the flea market. Johnson (#76) out of Hydro, OK. Then, the local favorite Har- By Sheryl Ponce In old business, Haught talked about the transportation an- ley Menacher (#007) in third, only 57 points behind Kaup and niversary and the traveling exhibit, “Dust, Drought, and Dreams mathematically, any of the top three have a shot at the title. The Western Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Direc- Gone Dry.” It will be displayed in the Historical Society build- ‘The Sooner Ltd.Modified Series race this weekend will dou- tors met for their regular monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 25th, ing in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the transportation ble as the final points race for the track USA Ltd. Modified track at 11 a.m. in Elk City’s Western Technology Center. President building. It will be on loan for the next eight weeks. championship. Judy Haught called the meeting to order, while vice president, Haught also reported on the Texas Route 66 group that will be Mustang hot shot, Jack Hall (#37) leads the Dirt Dog 305 Doug Haught, gave the invocation. The minutes from the August coming to Elk City on Oct. 6th. They will be parked at the north Sprints with a 56-point cushion over second place Brady Court- meeting were approved, as well as the treasurer's report. pavilion, and she asked for volunteers to help with letting them ney (#13c) from Carnegie. Next on the agenda was standing committee reports. Jim know where to go. So far, she said there will be 90 people in 30 With six wins in nine USA Tuner races, one might think Coffey gave the Farm and Ranch report, saying he would be hav- to 40 cars, a number of motorcycles, and some RVs. They will be lowa Park, Texas's, 16 year old, Kollin Teafatiller would be ing help with the windmill as soon as the weather allowed them touring the museum that afternoon. dominating the points. The thing is that 14 year old Shamrock, to put it up. Haught gave the Blacksmith report. She said that In new business Haught suggested that WOHS have a book TX native, Michael Reyes has finished right behind Kollin in signing fair. The board discussed it and decided that they will all but one race. Consequently, Reyes Is only 52 points behind Lynn Kennemer had donated several items to the Blacksmith have one book signing to celebrate the transportation anniversa- Teafatiller and the championship will not be decided until the Shop, and she would be donating additional items in the future. checkered flag falls on Saturday. ry. On Oct. 10th, there will be a celebration with Lynn Kennemer ‘There was no report about the General Store, therefore, ‘The action has been spectacular in the track’s ECMP Factory Haught moved on to the Hall of Fame report. She asked for vol- unteers to be on the Hall of Fame Committee with chairman See WOHS page 2. See Races page 8. | ill | | | Weather 7/63 Vol. 120, No. 78 Mail delivery View online al l oes70" 13151 Ho tomorrow 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com