March 1, 2025 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2025 Weekend Edition Two Vie for Ward Two Commission Spot By Sheryl Ponce er and challenger Mike McFall take on the same questions that The election of a new mayor, were posed to Shannon McAbee ward two commissioner, and and Micah Kilhoffer in the may- ward three commissioner will oral race coverage. FBC Rallies for Others During take place April 1st in Elk City. This is the second of three in- formational exposés from each of the races from the municipal The ward three race between incumbent Rocky Andresen and challenger Nick Lenius will be covered in the March 8th edition Record Cold Snap leadership. Incumbent Rod Carv- of the Elk City News. FNB until 2013. By Sheryl Ponce Living like Jesus did by providing for Rod Carver He currently farms, runs cattle those in need during the freezing weather Rod Carver has lived in Elk City on Carver Farms, last week, the First Baptist Church brought for the past 35 years. He grew up and is partners in the community together to house and feed south of Sayre on a farm until he a couple of oilfield area homeless residents, as well as those went to OSU where he earned a CARVER businesses. without food or warmth. The effort was bachelor’s degree in agriculture He has also called Elk City Community Shelter-FBC economics with business and mar- been president of the Kiwanis Club Elk City. According to their lead pastor, of Elk City and served on the State keting emphasis. He married Carol, Duncan Blackwell, the idea began to gain Department of Agriculture’s Board momentum Friday morning, Feb. 14th, and they have two children. Sydney Loyd who is married to Tahner of Directors for six years. He was with their administrative staff. Those in- one of the four directors and served cluded Blackwell, Aaron Robertson, the Loyd and Rex Carver whose girl- friend is Jessie Haines. Sydney and the Southwest Region of Oklahoma. worship and discipleship pastor; D.J. Wal- What goals do you have for Elk ter, the children’s and family pastor; Cory Tahner have two children, Willow protect people,” Blackwell explained. and Warner. City? Spieker, the student pastor; Jenny Kauk, the business manager; Shelly Tarrant, the In addition to the ministry staff, they When Carver moved back to “I want to see Elk City prosper ministry assistant to the lead pastor; Jean contacted the Deacon body to join their Western Oklahoma, he was of- and grow in ways that will provide Bell, the church hostess; Paula Mikles, the efforts. Blackwell continued to say that fered a job opportunity with First they also contacted the Disaster Relief, National Bank and continued with See CARVER page 3 ministry assistant; Axton Boone, in main- tenance, and Eric Truitt in maintenance. which is a Southern Baptist Convention “It was just really evident to us as a min- Disaster Relief ministry. They go all over istry staff that this was the kind of thing America and around the world to help in ter treatment and that Jesus would do. So He says ‘He’s the bread of life.’ This means He’s the one disaster situations. Members of Elk City’s FBC are also trained as disaster relief lead- Mike McFall collection distri- bution system for that nourishes people, and He actually ers. Those include Richard and Tammy Retired Elk City superintendent, about 12 years. gives life. In a situation like that, where the Dugger, Maurice Wade, and Perry Bronn. They took on the organizational side of Mike McFall, moved to town with “On the side, I weather is quite literally life threatening, the oilfield in 1981. It was only a ran a water testing it seems like the clear thing to do, or the the shelter. The missions committee at the short time afterward that the in- McFALL laboratory called obvious thing to do, that the church would dustry collapsed locally, yet he re- Elk City Environ- step in and try to open an opportunity to See FBC page 9 mained in town to raise his fami- mental. I ran water tests for most of ly and joined the City of Elk City Western Oklahoma municipalities, in 1992. There, he worked at the basically from Woodward to Altus Commissioners Hear Dilapidated Building Codes and Supervisors’ Reports wastewater treatment plant. After six years in that position, he and then Weatherford on west. I am a certified instructor through By Sheryl Ponce done to get it off the list. The commis- Race Track and the Elk City Air Park. was promoted to superintendent. Oklahoma Department Environ- sioners did not act during the public ECPD Chief told the commissioners During that time he went back to mental Quality (DEQ), where I The Elk City Commissioners gath- hearing but continued to open their these bids would be put out soon and school to get his medical technol- teach water and wastewater train- ered for their regular bi-monthly regular meeting. returned by a certain date. They are for ogy degree, but he continued to ing courses,” McFall said. meeting on Wed., Feb. 19, at 2 p.m., They approved the minutes from a one-year lease on either track. work at the wastewater plant for a He retired from the lab business in City Hall. Mayor Cory Spieker gave the Feb. 3rd meeting and then ap- They also approved the Budget total of 20 years. McFall was moved and the City of Elk City, but he con- the invocation, and Rod Carver led proved tabling the property at 309 N. Amendments #1 for F/Y 24-25. Most to an office in City Hall where he the flag salute. Before Spieker opened Boone to be declared dilapidated un- of the amendments were purchase or- was over the water and wastewa- See McFALL page 3 the meeting, they held a public hear- til Aug. 20th, or six months. The next ders rolled over from the prior year, as ing on a dilapidated building as it had item on the agenda was the approval well as some of the new construction, been posted, located at 309 N. Boone. of Resolution 2025-5. A resolution such as the airport, ECPD and ECFD. City Inspector Gary Nix addressed concerning the ARPA State, Local, The next item on the agenda was the commissioners about the proper- Tribal and territorial Fiscal Recovery the approval of the contract for eco- ty, as did the owner who was present Fund Grant. This authorizes the ac- nomic development services between at the meeting. Nix told them that ceptance of the funds, the appropriate the City of Elk City and Strategic Eco- the process was started two- and one- budget amendments, and the execu- nomic Partners, LLC. The owner of half years ago when the owners were tion of all necessary agreements and the company was scheduled to be at replacing the foundation. Nix had related documents. the meeting but was unable to be there been speaking to the owners about The commissioners approved the the clean-up and what needed to be request for proposals for the Elk City See HEAR page 2 Rep. Archer Named Legislator of the Year Shannon and Cameron Rodriguez By Sheryl Ponce ences over the lifespan of family caregivers through education, ad- Third Annual CF Slam Announced OKCare named District 55 Rep- vocacy, and access to resources. By Sheryl Ponce Cameron Rodriguez’s son, Cruz. resentative Nick Archer as their Archer was voted on by the The event is a men’s basketball Legislator of the Year during their members of the organization. Cruz’n for a Cure has an- double elimination tournament Conversations with the Legisla- Some of the organizations that nounced the dates for the Third to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis tors Annual Breakfast at the State represent OKCare include Lions Annual CF Slam Basketball Tour- Foundation, an organization that Capitol. Archer was present to ac- Meadows of Hope, Open Arms nament to take place May 24th, was started to help fund research cept his award. Foster Care, Nightlight Chris- at the Arrowhead Center, located for the foundation. OKCare finds resources for tian Adoptions, Westview Boys’ at 600 Western Dr., in Elk City. The foundation has been in- family caregivers. It is a coalition Home, Lilyfield, TFI, Oklahoma Cruz’n for a Cure is a foundation strumental in helping Cruz have a of resources that come together to Baptist Homes for Children, and that supports research for Cystic improve the supports and experi- Circle of Care, Inc. Fibrosis in honor of Derisha and See SLAM page 2 Weather Vol. Vol. 117,121, No.No. 54 9 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 66 / 46 75 75 cents, cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com