November 8, 2025 Issue, Page 1 of 20

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Veteran s INSIDE Celebrating O u r In some of the toughest time s d on our we have calle e. veterans to serv r and ed with hono They have serv inue today. grace and cont veterans to thank our We would like for their current and past sacri fices . Without you endless here today. ld not be we wou Thank you! City 716 W. 3rd St, Elk 580.225.3442 Prod ns nee you TimenMea us! jects re whe Heing Spr ather Aware! e This SafWe Season! Be Be to Serve You! Large Enough To Know You, 3HUVRQDO6HUYLFH´‡³0HWUR7HFKQRORJ\´ Small Enough ³5XUDO able healthcare Quality, afford now. ™ right here, right enue A SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025 Weekend Edition Commission Faces Light Agenda HALL OF FAME By Sheryl Ponce The first item on the agenda was the ap- the National Rt. 66 Building in the amount of The Elk City Commissioners met for their proval of Resolution 2025-17: A Resolution of the City Council of Elk City, authorizing $98,750. This completed the roofing project, which was a bid item. The commissioners ap- Bernice Carter, Leedey’s 105 Years Young regular bi-monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 3rd, at 7 p.m., in the City Hall Chambers. the submission of a grant application to the State of Oklahoma for 911 System Enhance- proved the payment. The commissioners approved the quote Woman, Keeping History Alive Mayor Micah Kilhoffer opened the meeting ment Funding and committing to the re- received from Elk City Powersports for a By Sheryl Ponce with the invocation, and it was followed by quired 20 percent match. This resolution is to UTV for the Wastewater Treatment facility the flag salute led by Rocky Andresen. All add recording equipment to the 911 system, in the amount of $21,028, a budgeted item. Born Aug. 16, 1920, Bernice Carter commissioners were present and prompt- which was approved. The bid was changed to a local business af- has years of influence in Western Okla- ly approved the minutes from the Oct 15th The next item was to approve the payment homa. Living in Leedey, she raised three meeting. to Next Level Roofing for roofing repairs to See AGENDA page 7 daughters. One of those girls has special needs whom she has taken care of for the last 78 years. Carter continues to live on the family farm and drives to Leedey in her 2010 Ford Mercury or her Ford Pick- up. She has left her mark on the com- viewed for the local electrical coop about munity, as well as the rest of Western electricity as it was brought to rural com- Oklahoma. munities. She was also invited to speak Carter received awards for her work to the Leedey history students about the at the Douglas Air Force Base during historical events that took place during WWII. She was invited to the State Cap- her lifetime. She was also interviewed ital to talk about her experiences during the Dust Bowl in 2015, and she was inter- See CARTER page 2 Jim Coffey, A Blessing to Education and Western Oklahoma By Sheryl Ponce Jim Coffey has lived his entire life in Beckham County, where he married New Channel 9 Storm Chaser Estelline and they raised their three chil- dren, James, J., and Julie. They have nine grandchildren and one great grandson. He was the fourth of five children and Introduced to Rotarians the first one to have been born in a hos- pital. Coffey graduated from Sweetwater High School and continued his educa- to return to Beckham County in 1972. By Sheryl Ponce He covers Western and Northwestern He continued to say that he has a tion at Sayre Junior College and achieved Coffey served as the psychometrist in Oklahoma but will cover Central and Facebook page that is live streaming his degree from SWOSU. He earned a Elk City Public Schools for three years The Elk City Rotary Club met for Eastern Oklahoma as he is needed. during storms, as well as on a YouTube master’s degree in counseling from the until he became principal at Longfellow their regular weekly meeting last As Wilson introduced himself, he channel. On the top of his truck there is UCO and obtained his principal certifi- Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, and re- Thursday, at noon, in the Elk City said that he is the father of three chil- a night vision camera that shows every- cation from OSU. tired from Grandview in 1987. Golf and Country Club. The new News dren and a fulltime firefighter. Weath- thing that is sent back to the Channel He began his teaching career in Hom- Channel 9 Storm Chaser, Kyle Wilson, er has been an interest to him since Nine newsroom. iny, then moved to Oklahoma City, only See COFFEY page 2 was introduced by Rotarian, Elk City he was a child and with a background “Some of our basic severe weath- Police Chief Eddie Holland. Wilson is in helping people, he believes this po- er hazards are tornadoes, lightning, a firefighter from Woodward and tak- sition will allow him to help and save ing over the spot from Marty Logan. people. See STORM page 7 Deannie Rule, The Ultimate Volunteer By Sheryl Ponce ECPS Challenges Elementary and Intermediate Deannie Rule has been chosen to be inducted into the Western Oklahoma School Families to Read Together Historical Society’s Hall of Fame because of the impact she has left as an import- ant volunteer in the community. She has By Sheryl Ponce you and your student’s success while help- been a working member of the Western ing us spread the importance of reading Oklahoma Historical Society for a num- Five minutes a day for 30 days read aloud aloud,” the challenge said in the announce- ber of years, having a commitment to challenge was launched by Elk City Public ment. preserving the history of the town and Schools Superintendent Mike Sparks. He The research that backs up the impor- Western Oklahoma. borrowed the idea from a colleague and tance of reading aloud together says that In addition to her numerous volunteer School curriculum guide committees. wants to bring it to Elk City students and it is the single most important thing a par- activities, she is a wife to Jim Rule, and Rule was also chairman for the Elk their families. When a family reads togeth- ent can do to help his or her child prepare they have three children, Natalie, Clint, City High School bond issue; president er, they are encouraged to take a picture or for reading and learning. Additionally, by and Joe. She was PTO president for the of the Elk City Band Boosters for sev- short video of their favorite read aloud mo- reading with a child each day, he or she will Grandview and Pioneer Schools; she eral years; served as a sponsor for two ment and share it on their child’s school’s build a stronger vocabulary, comprehen- established the State Award-winning ECHS Band bowl trips; chairman of Facebook page. Superintendent Mike Sparks explaining the sion skills, and create a love for reading. United Methodist Church finance, mis- volunteer program at Pioneer Elementa- The challenge is also part of the “FOR the reading program to the Elk City Chamber of Twenty minutes of reading each day is Commerce at the Breakfast Club meeting. ry; she helped build several playground Brown and White” unified theme for the most beneficial for the child, but reading projects; and served on Grandview See RULE page 2 year, therefore, there should be a hashtag movement. five minutes can pay huge dividends. It also “#FORTheBrown&White” attached to the “Continue reading aloud for at least five reduces stress and increases focus. There video or photo. Each family is challenged minutes for 30 consecutive days and keep to tag three or more people to join in the using the tags so we can share and celebrate See READ page 2 Carol and Jimmy Spieker, Cheyenne Arapaho Sponsor Chamber Breakfast Club Leaders in the Community By Shery Ponce By Sheryl Ponce in March or April, of 2026,” Lynn said. She continued to talk about the gam- Carol and Jimmy Spieker both went to The Elk City Chamber of Commerce ing amenities and rooms in the proposed Canute High School. He started working held their quarterly Breakfast Club at hotel. They want it to be a family resort for John Deere in 1963 as a technician Great Plains Regional Medical Center atmosphere with various restaurants and then joined the National Guard. early Wed., Oct. 29th. The breakfast was and other activities including a possible After Carol and Jimmy married and he sponsored by Lucky Star Casino and bowling alley. Because of the hotel short- left for basic training, she worked at Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes. Public Re- age in Elk City, they are looking to ex- TG&Y during the day and at the hospi- lations Coordinator, Rachel Lynn, and pand the expected 100 room hotel. The tal at night. Later she did alterations for John Deere was his life. His customers General Manager for Hammon Lucky casino project has been speculated for Fashion Corner and worked for Ken and were lifelong friends for generations, Star Casino, Courtney Island, were there years, and now it will come to fruition, Virgina McElroy at the Bernina Fabric and they still call him for advice. He is a to represent the tribe and talk about the but it will be completed in phases. Shop. She has been a seamstress, making life-long member of the Catholic Church new plans for an Elk City casino. The emcee for the breakfast meeting, cheerleading uniforms and doing alter- and a member of the Elks Lodge. “We have already selected the archi- Basil Weatherly, then moved on with Ex- ations. Carol and Jimmy have supported the tect. They’re working on the design. Cur- Jimmy bought into the Midwest Farm rently, we hope to do a groundbreaking See CHAMBER page 2 Rachel Lynn Supply after the death of Larry Fields. 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