September 28, 2024 Issue, Page 12 of 22

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12+ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 The Elk City News Rotarians Get Project Updates from ODOT Engineers By Sheryl Ponce odot.html). town Project, and the other one Randall. They were able to fix the ‘This includes was the Randall bridge that was bridge without doing any replace- ‘The Elk City Rotary Club met the projects hit. He also gave a history of the ments, Once the structural integ- for their regular noon meeting that they have Downtown Project, which was rity was assessed, it was declared last Thursday at the Arrowhead programed for based on a grant that the City of an emergency project. They used Center. President Rob Stephens eight years. Elk City applied for and received a company out of Seattle, Wash- called the meeting to order and WILL SNIPES “When you several years ago. It was a 80/20 ington, to fix the bridge within proceeded with the invocation, are on our percent matching funds federal two weeks. Snipes expected it to flag salute, and Rotary’s Four-Way website, go to our projects, and funding, be completed very soon. Test. The Rotarian of the Day was then the eight-year construction In Feb. 2019, the Downtown Snipes also answered questions Tom Johnson who introduced work plan. You can scroll down, Project had an estimated cost of from the Rotarians. He was asked Will Snipes, PE. the Division 5, and there's an interactive map. $2.1 million for two blocks. That about the trees downtown, and Construction Assistant Division In district five, is our eight-year bid came in at $3.1 million, which he said that they will be leaving Engineer and Jimabel Moore, work plan. That is all the jobs that was 43 percent over the engi- room for the city to replant trees. District 5 Bridge Engineer. we have in the next eight years.” neer’s estimate, They were unable Tom Johnson with Teresa Mullican, past Rotary President visiting He also touched on the down- “When we say district five, Snipes added. to award that grant. The process from Alaska, and Basil Weatherly. town lighting. He said that they that is basically the Southwest In Beckham County the map continued. Snipes said that he bonus for them to get that done must stop based on weather or have not come to a conclusion 11 counties of the state. We are shows about $200 million worth had to rechange the design on the inside of 180 days. So if they do it any other reason the contractor about which lighting will be in- responsible for almost 4000 lane of work in the next eight years. roadway and the city’s plans. in 170, they get 10 days of incen- cannot work, it is not included stalled. There are issues between miles of roadway, almost 800 Snipes also pointed out that the Eventually, Snipes said that tive. If they do in190 days, they in the 400 days. Snipes com- PSO and the City of Elk Ci bridges. I think we're at 790 right plan can change based on the he changed the penalties and re- get penalized for those 10 days pared the project to one around maintaining the lights, bu about now? Snipes began. approval of the ODOT commis- wards for the project. They loos- of $5,000 a day, The other part the police station. They ran into under discussion. He continued to compliment sioners. He also noted that Elk ened up the special provisions in of that is they cannot start those problems with an underground ‘The meeting adjourned when Moore on doing a great job of City’s David Dyson is included the contract. northern two blocks until Janu- petroleum tank The project took there were no more questions inspecting the bridges in the on the commission. The map will “The Northern two blocks ary of 2025, after the holiday sea- longer than expected because of for the engineers. The next Ro- district. Snipes also said that the be updated after the commission- only, from Broadway to I-40 son?’ Snipes said. the unexpected issues. tary meeting will take place on Department of Transportation's ers meet. business, is basically an incentive ‘The key component is the 400 ‘The other project Snipes talked ‘Thursday at noon, in the Elk City work plan can be found on their Snipes talked about two proj- disincentive contract. It's $5,000 days that are chargeable. If they about was the bridge over I-40 on Country Club. website (https://oklahoma.gov/ ects, The first one was the Down- a day penalty and $5,000 a day WOHS Board Meets Fall Festival Vendor Art Awards By Sheryl Ponce the rodeo chutes that are on display. He said that the proj- The Western Oklahoma ect is almost finished, and Historical Society Board of they lack the banner that goes Directors met last Monday for across the top. their regular monthly meeting. Museum board member, President Mike Blevins opened Randy Haggard, told the group the meeting, Jim Coffey gave that they are interviewing cu- the invocation, and then the rators, and they have some po- minutes from the last meeting tential candidates, were approved. The Hall of Fame banquet Treasurer Beverly Jordan will take place Nov. 12th, at gave her report, which was ap- the United Methodist Church proved. The standing reports in Elk City, They are currently were next. The next report taking applications for the Hall was on the Flea Market given of Fame nominees. by Jordan, also. She told the Judy Haught talked about board that it will start next Fri- the archives. They are still day, Oct. 4th, and run through reading letters from a WWII Sunday. They have a total of 82 Leedey veteran. They have not vendors with 112 spaces. She put them on the website yet. is still taking reservations for ‘The next meeting will take spots. Donnie Jordan added place the fourth Monday in that the Elk City Police will be Oct. at WTC in Elk City at 11 patrolling during the weekend. am, Donnie then talked about Letter to the Edi ‘or: YOU MATTER! Just in case no one has told Institute on Drug Abuse. 7.7 you this today... YOU ARE million adults have co-occur- LOVED! YOU ARE VALU- ring mental, and substance ABLE! YOU MATTER! Please use disorders. People with do not ever give up on yourself. mental illness are more likely You are worth fighting for. Sep- to experience a Substance Use tember marks Suicide Preven- Disorder (SUD) than those tion Month —a time to remem- not affected by a mental ill- ber the lives lost to suicide, the ness. According to SAMHSAs millions who have struggled 2022 National Survey on Drug with suicidal thoughts & the Use and Health, approximately individuals, families, and 215 million adults in the Unit- communities that have been ed States have a co-occurring impacted, EVERYONE can disorder. If you or someone play a role in suicide preven- you know is struggling with a tion. Know the warning signs substance use disorder, please of suicide and to offer support. know that help is available and Seek help for yourself or others you can find a treatment pro- by calling or texting 988 or by vider by visiting www.okim- chatting with 988Lifeline.org, ready.org. #SPM2024 ‘The South Western Oklaho- Here area few other warning ma Development Authority is signs of suicide: working on Substance Misuse Increased alcohol and drug, Prevention in 13 counties in use Western Oklahoma, If you are Aggressive behavior interested in getting involved Withdrawal from friends, with these efforts, please con- family and community tact Kendra Dilbeck (kendra@ Dramatic mood swings swoda.org) and she will con- Impulsive or reckless behay- nect you with the coalition co- ior ordinator in your area. You can also visit our website at https:// Help is Available! www.swoda.org/substance- use-prevention-treatment- Ifyou or someone you know and-recovery for more infor- ng with any mental health issues, please do not mation. Our prevention programs wait to get help. Seek help now. are funded by Oklahoma De- Here are some great resources: partment of Mental Health 988 - Oklahomas Mental and Substance Abuse Services, Health Lifeline Substance Abuse and Mental Call or Text at any time to Health Services Administra- talk with someone tion, the Center for Substance Mental Health and Sub- Abuse Prevention, South West- stance Use Disorder can co-oc- cur, According to the National em Oklahoma Development Authority, and local coalitions. Best of Show: 1st Place - LJ Expressions Three Dimensional-Pottery, 2nd Place - Twister Strums Polka Dot Pig Folk Art 2nd Place - Red Elk Enterprises Sculpture, 3rd Place - Playing with Wood Two Dimensional-ine Art, Pho- 3rd Place - Foss Knots& More Fine Woods, Ceramics: 4th Place- Pops Wood Creations tography: 4th place - Nancy's Creations 1st Place - Polka Dot Pig Folk Art