December 27, 2023 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma nce 190 Pictured are members of the Board of Directors, Elk City Chamber of Commerce, and staff. From left are Greg Britton, Manny Sanchez, Andrea Wiseman, Mandy Wilson, Darren Schmidt, Tate Finnell, Utah Robinson, David Dyson, Aaron Kauk, Elk City Grad Leads Krista Lovelace, Ricky Nagle, Quint Nichols, Lyndsay Broadbent, Josh Moran, Pam Muncrief, Debbie Dunn, Darrell Dunn, and Alex Alvarez. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. By Sheryl Ponce that includes the kitchen, club, and rental of the facility. She will be handling reserving the building for special events, as well as Jenks High School After the Elk City Golf and Country Club was taken out in the the daily operations of the public part of the dining room and the devastating tornado on May 16th, 2017, the new club house is member's side of the building. Band to Tournament finally open and ready for the community to enjoy. The country “The dining room is set up for anybody, members and dlub’s board of directors held an open house Tues., Dec. 19th, at non-members. Our hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a full menu of Roses Parade 4p.m., and a ribbon cutting with the Elk City Chamber of Com- all day. There is a members’ only lounge, but the public will have merce. By Sheryl Ponce access to everything else. The public will have the same ameni- ‘The total investment in the project was around $1.8 million, ties as the members, that includes drinks and food,” Broadbent which included proceeds from insurance on the tornado damage explained. In 1985 Scott Hillock left Elk City High School to pursue from the previous facility, private donations, and Elk City Golf ‘There is a snack area, the dining room, and a patio that has a music education degree at SWOSU, and he continued to and Country Club funds. The board is coming into the building, fire pits and screens that come down and heaters. When the SMU to obtain a master’s degree in music. In 1992 through debt free and without financing or funding from the City of Elk facility is rented, it includes the patio area. The rental is nego- 2006 he taught at Blanchard High School as their band di- City. rector. After that, he went to Jenks High School, where he ‘The board hired Lyndsay Broadbent to manage the facility, See Club page 8. continues to lead a successful band program. ‘They have been named a Bands of America Grand Nation- al finalist, which means it was one of the top 12 bands in the Commissioners Face Light Agenda country, The Jenks Trojan Pride Marching Band is also a 12- time Bands of America Regional and Super-Regional finalist. ‘They are also a 20-time Oklahoma Bandmaster’s Association After Honoring ECPD Detective State Marching Championships top six finalist. In 2016 they participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, and they will be a participant in the 135th Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1st. This is Hillock’s second time to take the band to appear in the invitational parade. Hillock reported that the concert bands are a four-time Bands of America National Concert Band Festival Honor Group, and they are a six-time Oklahoma Music Educators State Convention Honor group. Jenks is an OSSAA Sweep- stakes Recipient since 1985, and the 2015 Grand Champion for the Inaugural President's Cup National Concert Band In- vitational in Washington DC. “It's a huge honor for the band, and it’s a huge honor for the school. It’s a huge honor for the community because we have been planning for it over the past 18 to 20 months. We have been planning logistically, doing fundraising and we started working on the music so that we're ready for the event,” Hillock said. He will be taking 237 students, 26 chaperones, and 13 band directors on the trip. There will be an additional 200 to Det. Sammy Weygand describes Det. Chatham's heroic response to child endangermenet situation. See Grad page 2. quickly to stop a heinous crime that was about to happen. Cha- Det. Chatham recieves national award presented by tham quickly responded with the task of having a response team, Rocky Andresen breaking in the door, which stopped the criminal act that was about to take place. By Sheryl Ponce ‘This action led to the arrest of the perpetrator who has since pleaded guilty to producing child pornography. He still has Prior to opening a public hearing for a dilapidated building, charges pending in the District Court in Oklahoma. Chatham Commissioner Rocky Andresen presented First Lieutenant De- was nominated for the Merit Award for Excellence and then se- lected for the award by the American Police Hall of Fame. The tective Ray Chatham with a Merit of Honor for Excellent Arrest President of the organization expressed appreciation and con- of the National Awards Program of the American Police Hall of gratulated Chatham for his quick response to the situation. Fame. He commended him for his valor and commitment to see- “It started out with an FBI undercover pretending to be a ingjustice served as evidence of his dedication to serve the public. 12-year-old girl that led them to this guy who was positioning He sets admirable standards for all. After Andresen presented him them in front of the camera, online. We were filing the paper- the commendation and medal, Det. Sammy Weygand went to the work waiting on the court for entry,” ECPD Eddie Holland told podium to talk about the arrest that led to the honor. the commissioners. He said that Ray was contacted by the FBI who was wanting Chatham led the breach to the door and stopped any further assistance with an Internet Crimes Against Children investiga- harm to come to the child. tion. Shortly after that, the Criminal Investigation Division was contacted by the FBI, and was told that the ECPD needed to act See Commission page 2 8 IM 13151 I, Weather tomorrow om 61/ Vol. 120, No.103 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com