March 29, 2025 Issue, Page 1 of 12

Page Text

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2025 Weekend Edition Whinery Funeral Western Art Service and Cremation Center Up and Running with Third Generation in the Business By Sheryl Ponce Upon graduating from Elk City High School in 1999, Chris Whinery did not be- lieve he would follow his parents and grand- parents into the funeral business, but in 2004, he graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Sci- ence degree in Mortuary Science. He then joined the family business and became the third generation serving the Elk City com- munity. “My family has owned the funeral home since 1961. Papa (A.L. Whinery) originally bought the one (funeral home) in Sayre. He then bought the one in Cheyenne. He sold See WHINERY page 3 Chris Whinery at the control panel of the new crema- tory located in their building on Country Club. The state-of-the-art machine has safety features that make it one of the best on the market. Elk City’s Kevin Kilhoffer is the newest art exhibit at the WOHS building at the Route 66 Museum Complex. His historically accurate western art has been featured in Western Horseman as well as Cowboy and Indian Magazine. He is also one of the artists for the Trail of the Painted Ponies. He currently has seven ponies and is working on two additional ponies. To read more about Kilhoffer’s artwork see the next edition of the GoWest Magazine. City to Continue Cattle Fishing for Jake Brake to Support Rodeo Photographer Operation and Agree to By Sheryl Ponce the mount- ing medical across the state taking pictures of high school sports, as well as go- Broadcast Softball and Elk City High School graduate bills. All raffle ing nationally at PRCA Rodeos. and professional rodeo photogra- tickets for a four-person He holds a PRCA photographers’ card and takes pride in what he Baseball Events pher, Jake Hodnett, had emergen- cy brain surgery a few months ago guided trip does. By Sheryl Ponce to remove a large tumor. Jake and are still on The guide service will also be set his family are eyeing major med- sale, and all of the proceeds will go up at the Farm and Home Expo The Elk City Commissioners met for ical bills, and the community is directly to the Hodnett Family. on April 12th-13th in Elk City, their bi-monthly meeting Wed., March stepping up to help with “Fishing One ticket is $20, and six for Oklahoma, where tickets can also 19th, at 2 p.m., in City Hall. Mayor Cory for Jake Brake” fundraiser. $100. One hundred percent of the be purchased. The ticket drawing Spieker led the invocation, while Rick Bust’n Blues Guide Service is proceeds will go to Jake and his will be held at the beginning of Shelton led the flag salute. Rocky Andresen conducting a ticket raffle for a family to help with medical bills September after the opportuni- was not present for the meeting. They held four-person guided fishing trip to and other expenses. ty to purchase has been offered a public hearing for dilapidated building as help the Hodnett family navigate Jake is known for traveling throughout the summer rodeos. notified for 620 W. 9th Street. City Inspector Gary Nix spoke to the commissioners about the property, but the owner was not present. He told the com- Sports Director Updates Rotarians on Miniature Golf Couse Progress missioners that the property has been a problem for quite some time, and it is con- By Sheryl Ponce to not only work on some great iature golf course. It began in have free reign of the park, run- sidered a drug house. They did not take ac- projects, but also help host September and is scheduled ning from the train to the car- tion but closed the public hearing. As part of the Elk City Rotar- some tournaments and events to be completed by the end of ousel and miniature golf. We’re Spieker opened the meeting for business ians regular meeting, Elk City’s for the new sports center. I also April. Tosh said that they hope really excited to have those kids and the commissioners approved the min- Sports Marketing and Promo- got to do some really fun things, to be completed before the here to enjoy the park,” Tosh utes from the March 3rd, meeting. They then tions Director, Marnie Tosh, like the quirky billboards that school field trips start. said. approved declaring the property at 620 W. talked about the renovation of are on I 40 and near the airport, “On the average, there are The miniature golf course 9th to be dilapidated and ordered the re- the miniature golf course, as they were my little side project about 1000 students per week does not have the obstacles like moval. They tabled the property located at well as other sporting projects that I got to do,” Tosh said. at the park during field trip sea- the old course. It has one hole 1016 W. 8th, until June 2nd. The owner was in the city. The biggest project she has son, and that’s from late April to “I have had the opportunity been involved with is the min- the end of school. Those kiddos See ROTARY page 3 See BROADCAST page 2 Shannon McAbee respectfully asks for your vote for Mayor on Tuesday April 1st. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Authorized and paid for by Basil Weatherly, 1601 N Washington, Elk City, OK 73644 580-821-2795 Weather Vol. Vol. 117,121, No.No. 54 13 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 61 / 38 75 75 cents, cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com