November 9, 2024 Issue, Page 12 of 18

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12+ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024 The Elk City News SW Oklahoma Organizations Received National Association of Development Organizations 2024 Impact Award Washington, DC- The ‘The NADO Impact Awards Southwest Oklahoma De- are presented in honor of the velopment Authority (SWO- late Aliceann Wohlbruck who DA) and the Southwest served as NADOS first execu- Oklahoma Regional Trans- tive director for 24 years as a portation Planning Organi- tireless champion for region- zation (SORTPO) based in al approaches to economic Burns Flat, Oklahoma, has development in rural com- received a 2024 Aliceann munities. — Award-winning Fire Station Construction Wohlbruck Impact Award projects were recognized from the National Associa- during NADO’s 2024 Annual Project on Budget, on Time tion of Development Orga- ‘Training Conference held in nizations (NADO) for their New Orleans, LA on October According to Elk City Fire budget. innovative Regional Trans- 21-24. Chief Kyle Chervenka, the “The project is running portation Planning Com- “This recognition is a tes- new fire station “is progress- smoothly, and we have had munity Engagement Strate- tament to the hard work ing nicely? a great working relationship of SWODA, ASCOG (As- People driving by the build- with both Joe Hall’s construc- SORTPO’s community en- sociation of South Central ing under construction be- tion team and the design team gagement program exempli- Oklahoma Governments), tween Broadway & Sth and at REES Architecture,’ Cher- fies innovative planning and and our local partners. We Walker & Washington can see venka said. local involvement, ensuring are committed to ensuring the skeletal stage of what the ‘The Chief also said that the broad and inclusive partici- that transportation planning fire house will become. property's grounds will con- pation across the 16-county reflects the real needs and “On the north end, you can tinue to be leveled, and work- region in Southwest Okla- priorities of our communi- see the five apparatus bays, ers are trying keep the older homa. By utilizing both cut- ties, said Debora Glasgow, award-winning program cipients consists of 98 proj- and the south end is offic- growth trees in the southwest ting-edge technology and Executive Director of SWO- include: Interactive website ects from 64 organizations es with the tall section in the corner. traditional outreach meth- to encourage public engage- spanning 21 states. These DA. “Our efforts focus on center being the second-floor In April last year, Elk City ods, the program has suc- building relationships with ment, in-person community projects are presented in an mezzanine that will function voters approved repurpos- cessfully integrated public residents, municipal leaders, forums, municipal govern- interactive story map devel- storage area.” Chervenka ing an existing half-cent sales input into regional transpor- and organizations to create ment visits, national com- oped by NADO that includes said. tax and extending it for eight tation planning processes, a future-focused, well-con- munications working group, project summaries, part- ‘The building is on track for years to fund police depart- fostering more connected nected transportation net- and robust stakeholder part- ners, and images. The map a late 2025 completion date. ment and fire station expan- communities and a more re- work” nerships. is available online at nado. ‘The project also remains on sion and upgrades. silient region. Key elements of the ‘The 2024 class of award re- org/2024impactawards/. signage. Now they have small Route 66. CURATOR While she was hesitant to talk about specific goals for the texts, which makes it hard to goes through Elk City, it incor- porates a history for Route 66 ‘As Wray moved to Elk City, his family in Ft. Worth, Tex. Her older sister is Elizabeth Continued from page 1 museum, Wray said that she read for people who may be and the people in Oklahoma. she wants to meet people in the Greene. She and her family live wants people in the commu- visually impaired. She consid- I think that the cars that are community. She loves nature in Logan, Utah. Wray’s young- “Theres something nice nity to become more engaged ers this one of her short-term located here are super cool, as and wants to travel throughout er sister is Kate Erickson . Kate about living in a small town and learn about something in goals. well as the Transportation Mu- the area, hiking and enjoying and her husband also live in and creating a really strong the museum. She also wants ‘The new curator has found seum. I think any person with nature. Wray is also a painter. Logan, community and joining a small to keep guests who are trav- a lot of interesting and cool any hobby or interest can find She specializes in landscapes Because Wray is in and out community. Everyone here has eling through Elk City to also exhibits. Although she did not something of value and inter- in oils but is planning on try- of her office, the best way to been super nice, and very, very become more engaged enough identify one particular exhib- est to them inside the muse- ing her hand a water colors. contact her is through email helpful. Everyone has been of- to tell their friends and family it, she said that there is a great um?’ Wray said. Included in her hobbies are at wraya@elkci She fering to help me, asking me if about the great museum. This Wray plans on research- traveling, reading, and going will be busy planning and be- story to be told about Route 66 Ineed help. IfI ask for some- would include enticing them in Elk City. ing and learning more about to movies. coming acquainted with the thing, they'll get it done right to spend the night in a local “Every object in the muse- Elk City and its history. She Wray’s parents are Mark and museum, the people, and the away, which is amazing” Wray hotel. um holds a story for a person wants to incorporate that into Sarah Wray who live in Mos- community. Send her a note to noted. Wray would like to find a in Elk City, which is very fas- the museum, as well as broad- cow. She has an older broth- welcome Wray to Elk City. better object labeling system or cinating, Because Route 66 en the story of Elk City with er, Josh Wray, who lives with