December 6, 2023 Issue, Page 8 of 8

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8- The Elk City News December 6, 2023 Rotarians Meet New Miss Elk City Motorsports Park Elk City Director and Hear to Honor Track Champions About the VFW Plight By Sheryl Ponce The ticket for admission includes a spread of grilled and buffet foods, soft drinks, and beer. Rod Fauver and Joe McConnell from the Elk It will be BYOB for anything else that a person City Motorsports Park announced their 2023 might want to drink. They are asking for attend- Track of Champions banquet that will be held ees to pre-pay or RSVP with the number of peo- Dec, 16th, at the Canyon Conference Center, lo- ple coming to the banquet. Prepay at https:// cated at 11552 OK-6 in Elk City. It will begin at 6 p.m. and run until midnight. The cost is $25 if dirtdoggear.com/collections/elk-city-motor- purchased prior to Dec. 8th or $30 at the door. sports-park. Voter Registration Deadline Approaches 15th, December 2023, is the tion agency by the submission ble for elections in Beckham last day to apply for voter reg- deadline. County. If you have moved istration in order to be eligible Applicants will be notified in within the county and need to to vote in the January 9th, writing when their application update your address, you may 2024, Beckham Special, Beck- has been processed. Approved make changes online using the ham County Election Board voters will receive a Voter OK Voter Portal at oklahoma. Secretary Sherron Manning Identification Card in the mail. gov/elections/ovp or complete said today. Some may receive a letter that a Voter Registration Applica- Manning said that persons explains the reason or reasons tion. By Sheryl Ponce who are United States Citizens, the application was not ap- Voter Registration Applica- residents of Oklahoma, and at proved. Manning said those tions can be downloaded from ‘The Elk City Rotary Club met least 17 % years old are eligible who do not receive a response the State Election Board web- to apply for voter registration, within 30 days of submitting site at oklahoma.gov/elections. Thursday, at noon, Nov. 30th, However, you must be at least their application should con- You may also complete a form for their regular weekly meet- 18 years old to vote. tact the County Election Board at your County Election Board. ing. President Lake Carpenter Applications must be received office immediately. Most post offices, tag agencies, called the meeting to order and by the County Election Board ‘The Beckham County Election and public libraries have appli- made announcements about or postmarked no later than Board reminds voters that ap- cations available upon request. upcoming Rotary events. midnight, December 15th, plications must be approved by The Beckham County Election ‘Those include manning Christ- 2023. Applications _post- the County Election Board Sec- Board is located at 306 E. Main mas in the Park on Dec. 16th, marked after that time will be retary in order to vote. St, Sayre, OK and is open from from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and accepted, but will not be pro- Registered voters who have 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Mon- Meals on Wheels during the cessed until after the January moved to Beckham Coun- day through Friday. For ques- month of January. 9, 2024 Election. Applications ty from a different county or tions, please contact the Elec- Carpenter announced the first may also be submitted to any state will need to complete a tion Board at 580-928-3314 motor vehicle agency that is new Voter Registration Ap- or beckhamcountyeelections. speaker, which was Rylee Var- also an official voter registra~ plication in order to be eligi- ok.gov. nell, who is with the Miss Elk City/Miss Queen of the West Pageants. She told the Rotar- ians that she grew up playing Walters Rolls Out Sweeping sports and showing animals. When she told her mother, who was the basketball coach Accreditation Reform Plan in Sayre, that she wanted to compete in pageants, Varnell Ties District Accreditation to Academic Outcomes had to convince both of her parents that it was a good idea. Oklahoma City, Okla - State + According to Oklahoma stat- Arts or Mathematics on state She accomplished this by tell- Superintendent Ryan Wal- ute, the State Board of Educa- assessments, then the district ing them there was scholarship ters announced sweeping and tion must maintain accredita- would receive an academic de- money available for the win- comprehensive accreditation tion standards that “equal or ficiency. reform for Oklahoma schools exceed nationally recognized Growth Criteria: ners. today. The new standards tie accreditation standards to the Upon receiving an academic “L went on to compete for four school district accreditation to extent that the standards are deficiency, districts would then years. I held three titles, so I the academic outcomes of its consistent with an academic be rated on their ability to grow went to Miss Oklahoma three students. results-oriented approach.” their academic performance times, and in this Oklahoma “For too long, Oklahoma Currently, the state of Oklaho- in the relevant subjects year- organization, I gained so many schools have functioned with- ma does not have such an ac- over-year, Districts that suc- friendships. As a sophomore out proper accountability as creditation standard. ceed at increasing their scores (in high school), if you would + ‘This problem can be solved by by 5% or more in the relevant called for in state law,” said have told me that I was going Walters. “We have to shake upcreating academically rigorous subject or subjects year over to stand up here and speak to the status quo and we cannot goals and expectations while year would not receive a down- a roomful of people, I would sit back and not take action maintaining objectivity in the grade in accreditation. have said, “Absolutely not, Rylee Varnell. when we see kids not learning process. The proposed meth- ‘Those districts who fail to I’m not going to speak to any- as they should. We are setting odology would create a new grow year over year by 5% in one.” Now I speak to kids all clear, achievable academic accreditation system linked their relevant subjects would day long and teach them, but people to be involved in the provide the 988 mental health goals for our schools while pro- to academic performance and have their academic deficien- in addition to that, I was able organization; therefore, girls number, and press one to talk viding necessary supports for growth. cies escalated, first to a warn- to graduate with a master’s in born from 2006 to 2010 are to a person qualified to un- schools that need more help. Academic Performance Crite- ing, and then ultimately to educational leadership. So this eligible to compete and win derstand a veteran. The other ‘We will do everything possible ria: a possible probation. Once a organization has a very special scholarships. They will be add- things Hurd talked about were to ensure that every Oklahoma If more than 50% of a dis- district managed to rise above place in my heart because it’s ing a teen pageant, as well as the benefits of being a part of student receives a quality ed- trict’s students perform be- the 50% below basic or above helped transform me into the a younger group of girls. The the VFW. He brought infor- ucation, and I look forward to low grade-level expectations threshold in both subjects, the person that I am today. It has pageant will take place Dec. mation and applications for moving this process forward.” by scoring below the “basic academic deficiency would be given me a goal to be a leader 16th, in the Pioneer Center, at anyone who knows of a veter- Background on Accreditation: threshold in English Language lifted. not only in my school, but also 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. an that may benefit from be- my community,” Varnell said. coming a member of the local Oba Law Day Student Contest Is Now Open The next speaker was Larry Varnell came on the Elk City/ Hurd from the VFW, District VEW. Queen of the West board when 15. He talked about the local The meeting was adjourned, there was a new board in the post’s anniversary and the and Carpenter announced the Do you know an Oklahoma cies, the people rule, and we for Law Day was conceived by works. The board is commu- need to recruit new members. next meeting would be Thurs- student who loves to write, must speak up and vote in elec- the late Hicks Epton, a Wewo- nity oriented, and they would He also talked about the new day, Dec. 7th, at noon, in the draw or create? Encourage tions to maintain democracy ka attorney and OBA past pres- them to enter their work in the and the rule of law.” ident. like to find a way for young dog tags that are available that Elks Lodge. Coloring sheets for pre-K and Oklahoma Bar Association's More information about Law annual Law Day Art and Writ- kindergarteners, writing and Day is available on the OBA ing Contest. The theme for this art prompts for 1st through website at year's contest is “Voices of De- 12th graders and other re- www.okbar.org/lawday. mocracy,” and the deadline for sources are available at The 18,000-member Okla- entries is Jan. 19. www.okbar.org/lawday/con- homa Bar Association, head- “This is the 48th year for this test. Winners will receive fun, educational contest,” said plaques and cash prizes, and all quartered in Oklahoma City, was created by the Oklahoma Norman attorney Ed Wunch, participants will receive a cer- Send to [email protected] OBA Law Day Committee tificate. Submit entries by Jan. Supreme Court to advance the chairperson. “The goal is to 19 to P.O. Box 53036, Oklaho- administration of justice and stimulate discussion and un- ma City, OK 73152. to foster and maintain learn- derstanding of the law among Law Day, a nationwide event ing, integrity, competence, designated by the U.S. Con- public service with a description! young Oklahomans. The theme for gress in 1958, is celebrated and high standards of conduct this year’s contest was selected each year to raise public aware- among Oklahoma's legal com- to recognize that in democra- ness of American law. The idea munity.