July 12, 2025 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025 Weekend Edition Commissioners Eye Dilapidated Structures and Approve Repairs at the Old Town Museum By Sheryl Ponce tos of the property to the commissioners Oklahoma Department of Transportation the other repairs in the Route 66 Museum claring the structure at 801 W 8th to be a and talked about the ownership of the for certain projects for the Bridge Formula Complex. dilapidated building, detrimental to the The Elk City commissioners met Mon- structure. The current individuals who are Program: City Bridge in Elk City over Elk Assistant ECPD Chief John Cook gave public health, safety and welfare. This was day evening for their bi-monthly meeting caring for the property were there. They Creek on S. Van Buren Ave. .0 miles S of E the commissioners information about the the property discussed in the public hear- at 7 p.m., at City Hall. All commissioners asked for additional time to get their things 7th NBI 20434 Project, State Job. three 2025 Ford Police Interceptor patrol ing. City attorney Ryan Meacham gave his were present. Mayor Micah Kilhoffer gave out of the structure. No action was taken They went on to approve the bid from vehicles that were on the agenda to pur- opinion on the situation with ownership of the invocation, and Rocky Andresen led because it was a hearing. Carlos Zamudio for the Elk City Museum chase for $144,072 at $48,024 each from the structure, as well as the procedure mov- the flag salute. Before the meeting began, The commissioners approved the min- Complex #4 Bruening House repairs in the Barber/Dyson Ford, a budgeted item. They ing forward. The commissioners tabled the they held a public hearing on the structure utes from the last meeting, and they also amount of $23,567. Randy Haggard was approved the purchase as replacement ve- item until the Aug. 4th meeting, located at 801 W. 8th. approved Resolution 2025-14A: A Resolu- present to talk to the commissioners about hicles for the department. City Inspector Gary Nix presented pho- tion between the City of Elk City and the the project, as well as updating them on The next item on the agenda was de- See MUSEUM page 10 Rotarians Get Elk City Head Updates from ECFD Chief Start Opens at Chervenka New Location By Sheryl Ponce By Sheryl Ponce The Elk City Head Start has been located at the Elk City Rotary Club held their regular Elk City Housing Authority for the last 30 years weekly meeting Thursday at noon, in the and now has reopened at 215 W. 12th. The agency Elk City Golf and Country Club where new serves children from birth to five years old living president Greg Britton conducted his first in Elk City by the Southwest Community Action meeting. After announcements and other Group. opening comments, guest speakers were Elk Recently they celebrated the move with an Elk City Fire Chief Kyle Chervenka and Brian City Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon cutting so Pierce. While Chervenka spoke, Pierce was the community could take a tour and enjoy snacks. also there to answer questions. They are currently taking applications for the 2025- Chervenka said that the fire station is look- 2026 school year. To make an application call 580- ing good and on track. It is also on budget. 225-4103 and talk to Marsheila Woods, the Family He goes through the building each morning Advocate, Charlotte Silvers, the School Supervisor, to discuss the project with the construction or any other staff member. managers and workers. He also talked about The local staff includes Silvers as supervisor and the fire department’s recent golf tournament. teacher; Woods as family service worker; Cindy They raised $40,000, which will be used for Turnbill as asst. teacher; Staci Gable as teacher; three AEDs. They have a grant program go- Gracia Shannon as teacher; Paul Luna as cook; and ing for any nonprofits in the community that Julie Wood as cook. needs an AED. Go to the ECFD Facebook page to apply for the grant. They have had eight responses so far. The grants close at the end of July. God Didn’t Tell Anybody to Retire: Other support staff for Head Start include In- grid Gifford as Executive Director; Sheila Clark as Program Director; Kim Rumschlag as Board Chair; Paula Espinosa as Asst. Program Director; The fire department also has a program going on at Elk City High School, where Dr. Spurlock’s 50 Years of Care Come to a Close Shaundra Covey as Housing/ESG/Special Projects Director; JoAnn Hernandez as Senior Nutrition they teach EMR for a year. They introduced By Jeff Johnson Program Director; Stephen Ike as Transportation the program last year for one semester. The Manager; Amy Reyes and Randy Snow as Chief first semester is the EMR program, and the After 50 years as a chiropractor—and 92 years of life— Operations Managers; LeeAnn McKee as Health second semester is the firefighter one. The Dr. Bill Spurlock finally closed his Elk City practice for Manager; Jenna Lou Dakis as Disability Manager; students will all be seniors and graduate with good on July 1. But if you ask him, retirement was never Corina Morales as Family Manager; and Miranda one science credit and have an EMR license in the plans. Espinoza and Angelica Viruegas as Home Based to work at an ambulance agency, as well as a “God didn’t tell anybody to retire. The Bible says you Teachers. firefighter one certification. work six days a week and rest and worship. Didn’t say Chervenka also talked about the fireworks anything about retiring,” Dr. Spurlock said, smiling as display. They have around 1500 tubes and or- he looked around his office, now quiet but still bursting der the fireworks several months in advance. with stories and stacks of old hats. They import them from China. They put a Born “just Bill—not William—in Shenandoah, Iowa,” script into a computer system so they know Spurlock’s path wasn’t a straight one. He taught school, what every tube shoots and when it shoots. served as a chaplain’s assistant in the Army, and even He said they spend around $18,000 on the ran a carpet business before a chance encounter with a display. young, happy chiropractor lit a spark in him. “If some- The department was running about body can be that happy doing his job and helping people, 1500 calls a year, and now they have about that’s what I want,” Spurlock recalled. At age 39, with en- 3000 calls with the same staff. They will be couragement from his wife and support from his three increasing the number with a grant. He daughters, he headed to Palmer College and started also talked about the insurance rating in the area, which helps with homeowner in- See SPURLOCK page 10 surance rates. He also spoke about the grant that will help with equipment and recouping funds spent on the fire station. After Rotarians asked questions, Britton closed the meeting. Rotary meets every Thursday, at noon, in the Federal Funding Freeze Stalls Western Oklahoma Adult Education Elk City Golf and Country Club By Jeff Johnson models, or other flexible pathways. But Budget (OMB). Officials say the review is measured against—raising concerns that for now, one of the region’s most critical intended to “ensure alignment with the the review may be influenced more by For many adults in Western Oklaho- lifelines has been thrown into limbo. administration’s policy priorities,” but no shifting political priorities than by educa- ma, earning a high school diploma or Adult education programs—including timeline has been given for when funds tional outcomes. GED isn’t just a piece of paper—it’s the GED prep, ESL, and workforce readiness will be released. Oklahoma’s share—estimated at $7.3 first real step toward better jobs, bet- classes at Western Technology Centers— While officials have not specified the million—is on hold, leaving programs ter wages, and a better future. Whether have been thrown into uncertainty after a criteria being used in the OMB review, that rely on those funds unable to finalize they’re trying to qualify for a promotion, federal funding freeze took effect on July some national analysts have speculated contracts, hire staff, or pay for materials. enter a college program, or simply set an 1. that the pause may reflect broader de- While programs may continue inter- example for their kids, access to adult ed- The U.S. Department of Education an- bates over immigration, diversity initia- nal planning, they’ve been told to avoid ucation matters. nounced a pause on all Adult Education tives, or the structure of federal education spending any money until official notice Across the country, educators and poli- and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) fund- spending. The lack of specific guidance is given. cymakers are exploring new ways to make ing—roughly $716 million nationwide— from Washington has left state and lo- This delay affects adult learners state- that access easier—whether through due to a programmatic review by the cal administrators uncertain about what CLEP-style testing, credit-for-experience White House Office of Management and standards the programs are now being See FREEZE page 10 Weather Vol. Vol. 117,121, No.No. 54 28 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 88 / 69 75 75 cents cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com