April 27, 2024 Issue, Page 1 of 5

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Serving Western Oklahoma SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024 Commissioners Approve Over $16 Million for New ECED and ECPD Renovations By Sheryl Ponce Great Plains Bank told the commis- ing. The meeting was then opened or parcel of land lying in part of the ceived for the Elk City Police De- sioners that the bank had purchased with the approval of the minutes NE/4 of Section 34, TL1N, R21W, partment remodeling and the Elk The Elk City Commission met the property at auction, and they from the April 1st meeting. The Beckham County, for .643 acres. City Fire Department construction Wed., April 17th, at 2 p.m, in City are waiting for notification that the commissioners then voted to table City Manager, Tom Ivester, told the in the amount of $16,274,335. Van Hall, to conduct city business dur- sale was completed. He also said that the structure located on BJ Hughes commissioners that this discussion Storm from Joe D. Hall Construc- ing their regular bi-monthly meet- they believe that they have a buyer Access Road until the June 18th began about two and a half years tion was present and spoke to the ing. Mayor Cory Spieker gave the for the property. meeting. They then approved the ago. He was talking about certain ac- commissioners about the bids and invocation and Rod Carver led the Concerning the other structure, structure on S. Adams to be a dilapi- cess roadways they might have, and the expectations for completion. flag salute, which was followed by a on $. Adams, City Inspector Jackie dated building and ordered the re- this parcel came up. This is the area Storm said that both projects will public hearing for dilapidated build- Addington said that he talked to moval of the structure, although she going from Fred’s Restaurant that is be completed by the same contrac- ings. The structures were located at the owner, and she agreed that the will have time to complete it herself. a right of way that extends on the tors. He noted that they had the op- 104 BJ Hughes Access Road and 519 structure needs to be torn down. She ‘The next item on the agenda was ramp going west, which would po- tion to bid on one or both, and the S. Adams. would like more time to research the the approval of a revised offer to tentially allow an access road to be low bidders were the same for both ‘The building on BJ Hughes Access cost of getting that done. Transfer Agreement between the put there. The commissioners ap- projects. He also explained that they Road was the old Beaver Express. No action was taken on either Department of Transportation and proved the transfer. Commissioner Jeff Waters from property since it was a public hear- the City of Elk City for a strip, piece They also approved the bids re- See RENOVATIONS page 3 Elk City Names Teacher of the Year Courtesy photo The 1100 block of N. Randall was closed Monday afternoon where three electrical poles were down. Crews worked several hours to get the poles re- paired and electricity turned on for area residents. Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell Attends Luncheon and Encourages Commerce By Sheryl Ponce and he added that there are more Texans moving to Oklahoma than Oklahomans After a morning of battling the wind moving to Texas. and hunting for turkeys during the “We need more taxpayers, not more 36th Annual Lt. Governor's Turkey taxes inside the state. That is something Hunt, hunters and their guides returned that lam absolutely committed to doing. to Elk Citys Golf and Country Club for The last thing I will mention is the most lunch, Thursday, April 18th, at 11:30 famous road in the entire world, Route a.m., which was catered by Blue Moun- 66,’ Pinnell said. tain Smoke. By noon there had been two He added that the traffic along Route turkeys shot by the son and daughter of 66 brings in sales tax for the city and the two of the guest hunters. Lt. Governor state. Half of all sales tax collected in the Matt Pinnell came in for the lunch with state of Oklahoma goes to a community, his Chief of Staff Kirby Smith. It is the revolution of what is happening Once everyone finished their lunch, right now with Route 66 revitalization. Pinnell spoke to the crowd that included “We are awarding over $6.6 million the hunters, guides, and local businesses every year for Route 66. We started last and community leaders. He said that month when we awarded the first $6.6 in the last migration data that has been million. Were going to award another 6 Courtesy photo collected between June of 2022 to July million in August. We have been talking Pictured is Elk City Public School Superintendent Mike Sparks to Tom (Ivester) and this helps to go out announcing the District’s Teacher of the Year as second grade of 2023, Oklahoma was number nine in ‘teacher Madison Hebert. He also announced Allison Kauk, the caf- the country for net migration growth. to projects. These are real dollars that Sheryl Ponce| Elk City News eteria manager for the Elk City Intermediate School, as the District He emphasized that it makes the state See PINNELL page 2 Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell talks to Elk City about Support Staff of the year. in the top ten in the nation for growth, commerce and the importance of Route 66. 8 il 13151 ee ae Vol. 120, No. 18 75 cents, Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com