January 6, 2024 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekend Edition FCA Sponsors Fitness Authority, Using Representative Archer God’s Word on Fitness and Wellness Talks Aerospace and Other tions that go to FCA. Anyone can donate, and we would appreci- Legislative Goals ate it,” Mouse said. Fitness Authority is learning how to live a well life and a fit life based on the truth of God’s word, using God's truth as guid- ance. She applies scriptures to help her classes understand how God intends for everyone to live a well life. This means the physi- cal, spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of living. “When I was 33, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune dis- ease called Sjogrens. During this time, God led me to His Word instead of a diet. I saw that God allowed me to see how He could use His Word to heal me, not necessarily, the world’s way of heal- ing. I started putting puzzle pieces together to figure out that God led me into those truths,” Mouse added. She met a doctorate of cellular physiology from Baylor Uni- versity in Waco. Mouse met with him, and he taught her the scientific level of how to heal and to block inflammation in her body. When she wrote the study, she wrote the Biblical side of wellness that talks about who humans are and who God is. She said that God creates us to be, and how we can use his By Sheryl Ponce words for healing and truth ona scientific level. She then moved on to the nutritional side of the issue based on Dr. Richard Oklahoma Representative Nick Archer held a proven re- Couey’s findings. He is a professor emeritus from Baylor Uni- cord of representing Western Oklahoma's needs and wants versity and understands things on a cellular level. Couvey works through his partnerships and passage of important legislation in his first term. As he faces another session, he has goals and with sports nutrition and sports medicine at Baylor, so athletes ideas that are championing their way through the legislative can perform at their best level at college. process. Kristi Mouse, FCA Area Representative. ‘The classes are geared so that people may attend each one "In regard to what 2024 looks like, I would say the stage separately or all of them consecutively. She wants to help others has already been set. Education and tax cuts are the items learn what she has experienced in her own health journey. Mouse looked at again. The House passed several tax cuts in the first By Sheryl Ponce half of the 59th (session), Those were hung up for various rea- first learned about what God wants for her, and she backed it up sons in the Senate and never made it to the governor's desk. Fellowship of Christian Athlete's (FCA) Area Representa- with the scientific proof of how it all works together. We were called into a special session this past summer to try tive Kristi Mouse wrote the Fitness Authority program that She wants to encourage everyone to give it a try, see what to address tax cuts, but nothing came to fruition there,” Ar- she used in her church, Lake Point Church in Rockwall, Texas, God wants for individual well-being, and how God’s word can cher explained. help in alll aspects of wellness. Mouse will be leadinga 45-minute He continued to say that over the last couple of weeks, prior to moving to Elk City. She is bringing those classes to the the House Speaker, Charles McCall, released six or eight bills community as part of her role with FCA. It is a seven-week pro- dance fitness class for women that will follow the study, and she that look to cut taxes again. Those bills include a proposal for gram that will begin Jan. 17th, and run through Feb. 28th, ev- said to come dressed comfortably. a quarter percent personal income tax reduction. They are set- ery Wed. starting at 7:30 p.m., with the dance fitness running For those who may have physical limitations, she can adapt ting a flat rate of four and a quarter for two years. from 8 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The classes are for high school students the dance portion of the program to fit every skill or age level. One of the bills that Speaker Pro Temp in the Senate is looking to remove is the state’s portion of the grocery tax. through adults, with no upper age limit. The class will be held in ‘This is open to everyone, not just FCA members or high school “I think when you talk about grocery tax, it's important to the Pioneer Center at Elk City High School. students. Because this is the first time she has offered the pro- note that municipalities also have tax issues. So, when we talk “It was a ministry I wrote, and there was no payment for it. gram since moving to Elk City, she asks that people come out about eliminating the states portion, that doesn’t mean that ‘There is no cost for this program either, but we will take dona- See FCA on page 2. people wouldn't pay tax at all on groceries. It just means that roughly half of the state’s portion will potentially go away if that bill passes,” Archer added. He believes that the municipality taxes are important be- Commissioners Hold First Meeting of 2024 cause they fund the city activities and all of the local govern- ments, Archer does not think that they can eliminate those taxes entirely. Archer believes that there is an obligation to have a bal- By Sheryl Ponce in the balloons, and they were all dropped. It was such creative anced budget, and with that goes fiscal responsibility and strategic investment that goes hand in hand with that bal- work, and well attended,” Ivester said. ‘The Elk City Commission met for their regular meeting Mon- anced budget. Over the past year, there has been a record in- He continued to talk about an accident at the rock yard in- day, Jan. 2nd, at 7 p.m. in City Hall. This first official meeting volving the city’s shuttle that moves the cars and two rail cars. of the new year lasted 18 minutes due to a brief agenda. Mayor ‘The brakes failed on the car owned by the city. No one was in- See Capitol page 2 Cory Spieker called the meeting to order and gave the invocation. jured, but there was a significant amount of damage to the shut- Arrested Aggravated Commissioner Rocky Andresen was the only one absent. tle car. This is not covered by insurance, but the city will be send- ‘The first order of business was the approval of the minutesing the shuttle to Oklahoma City to see about repairs. There is a for the Dec. 20th meeting. Then the commissioners approved the safety investigation being conducted, but he is concerned about purchase of a 2023 KM-8000TEDD-SRC 4-ton asphalt hot box from Crafco, Inc., (through Sourcewell) for the Street Depart- moving rock. ment in the amount of $54,670, which was a budgeted item. City Manager Tom Ivester said that this will allow the street depart- “We don’t really have the ability to move the cars (rail cars) right now, and we can go back to the old way, but there was the Sex Offender ment to keep the asphalt hot, which will stretch the use of hot reason why that didn’t work. There were multiple safety acci- asphalt to possibly fill potholes around the city. dents involved. So we've been in contact with Farm Rail to help 583 of the Oklahoma Statute, ‘The next item on the agenda was the approval of payment move cars,” Ivester explained. Pitts is to register with Lo- to Public Service Company of Oklahoma for material and labor ‘The next report that Ivester gave was about the bids for the cal Law Enforcement within 3 to install three phase upgrades of a transformer at the Elk City new airport terminal and hangar. They are conducting what is days of residing or intending Regional Airport in the amount of $28,403.98. Ivester explained called hard bid projects, which are due Jan. 10th. Over the past to remain for more than 7 con- that this is for upgrades at the airport. They need three phase few years, the city has worked with a construction management secutive days or 14 days in a electricity, which is not currently installed there. Ivester request- bid. There was a pre-bid meeting where four construction com- ed that three phase be brought to the airport, but PSO gave him panies attended, and all of them were from out of town. Ivester 60-day period or longer. two quotes. He was unclear about the quotes but put them on the noted that there has been more interest from local construction Reports and complaints agenda to make sure they could move forward with the installa~ companies recently. from the public began surfac- tion. ‘The bids will be taken as a package; a company can bid only ing of a “sex offender” being With the installation of the three-phase electricity, the air- on the terminal; or a company can bid only on the hanger. Ivester on the Drag during the night plane mechanic at the airport will be able to repair jets in Elk hopes that bids come in at the estimated cost because the grant with local juveniles. An inves- City rather than having him travel to New Mexico for repairs to is only for a certain amount, and any additional cost will be paid tigation began at this time in jets, they will be able to fly to Elk City for maintenance. The com- by the city. He said that the third project is the extension of the missioners continued to item three on the agenda, in which they taxi lane. which Patrolman Quesada took approved payment to PSO to build overhead lines to upgrade the lead and was very thorough Additionally, Ivester received word that there has been tenta- Christopher Pitts single phase to three phase at the Elk City Regional Airport in tive approval of the FAA grant to cover updating the water and e in his documentation of the the amount of $32,568.34. Ivester said this is the second amount sewage at the airport. This would be a 95/5 matching grant for interactions with Pitts over requested for the upgrade. Christopher Lee Pitts time to demonstrate a contin- ‘The commissioners then approved Purchase Orders FY 23-24 utilities. The estimate of this cost was about $350,000. ued pattern and to assure the and recurring invoices for Jan. 2nd, 2024. Ivester began his City Ivester said thatif all goes well, they will vote on it at the next DOB: 12/20/1980 was ar- Manager's Report, discussing indicators in the town’s activities. board meeting, which will then be approved by the aviation com- rested Saturday December case against Pitt would survive “Last year the library started a New Year's Eve noon drop for mission at the end of January. 30, 2023 at 21:48 at the Au- court and the legal process. children. We had 67 who attended last year, and we had 131 at- City treasurer Jennifer Rainey had no report for the com- At no time was the Police De- tend this year. They got pizzas donated by Pizza Hut, and they missioners. There were no public comments, and the meeting toZone in Elk City, Oklahoma did a balloon drop, which they actually put the netting on the adjourned at 7:18 p.m. The next meeting will be the mid-month for Failure To Register as a sex ceiling and filled it with balloons. Then they pulled the string _ regular meeting, at 2 p.m., in city hall. offender, Per Title 57 Section See Pitts page 2. IMUM), al l gaz igist Hlg Went tomorrow = 19/40 YOL120.No.2 75 cents, 8 pgs. ——Malldeivery 580.225.3000 View onne elkcityoknews.com