October 25, 2025 Issue, Page 11 of 12

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The Elk City News NEWS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025 • 11 Chamber’s Business Christmas Tree Farm Continues By Sheryl Ponce Each new customer will get a wooden tree that is to be de- Local businesses have created livered to the business by Nov. a Christmas Tree Farm in the 7th, for the business to decorate. park where they can show their The final decorated tree must be support of “Christmas in the ready to be picked up no later Park,” and help to expand the than Nov. 17th. Businesses who north end of Ackley Park’s fes- already have a tree can pick up tivities. The Elk City Chamber the tree to redecorate or touch- of Commerce is inviting others up for the Christmas season. to join the farm with a decorat- Payment must be made by Nov. ed tree placed among the other 7th, and ready for pickup by the businesses’ trees. 18th, no exceptions. They need The cost to sponsor a tree is to have the business name on $150 for the first year, and $100 them; and they need to be paint- annually. The sign-up deadline ed and sealed on both sides with to get started is Oct. 31st. All weather resistant products. To be proceeds go toward the cost of a part of this returning project, the wooden tree, their mainte- sign up at https://docs.google. nance, and Christmas in the Park com/.../1FAIpQLSc4uI8uBi- fund. 1jFt.../viewform MERRITT Congratulations to the JH & 5/6th Cross country teams who finished their season at the Chickasha All Star Meet! Rotarian Travels Route 66 to Raise Awareness and $25,000 for ShelterBox By Shery Ponce pecially the ShelterBoxes’ mission is the box response team member. These children— belief that it is a human’s right people will carry some of these Sporting his 54 Chevy Pickup, it’s easy to to have shelter. The organization things, sometimes on poles, or on Rotarian Don Crost is driving feel pow- goes into disaster zones and con- their backs. They’re incredible. But 2,000 miles to raise $25,000 for erless. But flict zones, to the most remote here’s the thing, and that’s one of ShelterBox Disaster Relief in 2025. with Shel- and hardest places to get every- the reasons it is International. We To top it off, ShelterBox turns 25 terBox, I one shelter as quickly as they started in England. We’re based years old this year, which is a di- found a way to turn that ‘I wish I can. The shelter box that Crost is in England, and then there’s shel- saster relief organization that pro- could do something’ feeling into carrying in the back of his truck ter box USA. Not everybody has vides shelter to those hit with a action. ShelterBox turns tents and is called a shelter kit. It packs a heard of it. That’s why I’m doing disaster. Shelter is the place to feel tools into shelter, essentials, and tent that would put a family back it,” Crost said. safe, stay together, stay healthy and dignity for people who have lost together again for six to eight ShelterBox just received their help children get an education. everything,” Crost explained. people. It includes activity kits for third nomination for a Nobel “We work together in disas- He set out to travel Route 66, children, cooking sets, thermal Peace Prize. They are 100 per- ter-affected communities, whether trying to get donations in com- blankets, mosquito nets, and/or cent charity. To donate follow the it is providing homeless shelters or pleting his goal of raising $25,000 water filtration systems. QR code or go to click the QR Congratulations to our Oilers XC runners: Reed Snodgrass (Fr) and Eiland not. Every disaster is different, and toward the cause. Crost said that “Every disaster is different. Ev- code for a direct ShelterBox dona- Stokes (Fr) Both qualified as individuals for the State meet! the organization is flexible under this journey has sparked conver- ery conflict zone is different. There tion and a link to the blog or this the circumstances. sations to spread the word about is no one size fits all. It is a rigor- URL: https://shelterboxusa.org/ “I see the faces of the victims, es- ShelterBox, one story at a time. ous test to be accepted as a shelter blog/2500-miles-for-25-years. HEMPHILL ROGER MILLS COUNTY, TX COUNTY, OK We proudly support the students, staff and administration at Merritt Schools Great Plains Bank ~ First National Bank Yes Finance SCAN TO VIEW ONLINE 1414 W. 3rd St., Elk City, OK 580.225.1525 LocalLoanGroup.com