January 10, 2026 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026 Weekend Edition Commissioners Approve Route 66 Monument Agreement By Sheryl Ponce Rocky Andresen led the flag salute. that he hired an attorney to move on to approve the minutes of the well as having to call the police on group about the agreement and that Prior to delving into the agenda, forward in getting the situation Dec. 17th meeting. Afterwards one last week. He recommended there are several monuments being The Elk City Commissioners they held a public hearing concern- taken care of, but it is going to take they went on to table declaring the the structure be removed. constructed in Oklahoma in honor met for their bi-monthly meet- ing the structure located at 214 E. time. He assured the commission- structure at 214 E. 7th to be a dilap- The commissioners continued of the centennial celebration. She ing Monday evening, Jan. 5th, at 7 7th. The property is in probate, and ers that he would do what is neces- idated building in a 4-1 vote until to approve the agreement between said it would be a permanent land- p.m., in City Hall. All commission- the prospective owner was present sary to keep the property clean and April 6th. Andresen cast the no City of Elk City and The Route 66 mark as part of the United States ers were present for the meeting. to give the commissioners an up- safe from the people entering the vote. A resident in the area spoke Centennial Monument Project in Route 66 Centennial Commission. Mayor Micah Kilhoffer opened the date to the process and where he structure. to the commissioners about the the amount of $26,500. Museum meeting with the invocation and is on securing ownership. He said The commissioners then went vagrants being on the property, as curator Anna Wray spoke to the See MONUMENT page 2 ECPS Announces Bridgette Shelton as TOY By Sheryl Ponce Villareal and Cafeteria Manager Amy Andrews for their hard work in the roll Before returning to the classroom, of support staff. Elk City Public School held their annu- The Site Teachers of the Year includ- al staff meeting to announce and honor ed Yedid Ayala as Early Childhood TOY; the district’s Teacher of the Year as High Kimberly Tew as Elementary TOY; School’s Bridgette Shelton. While there Shanna Bruner as Intermediate TOY; was only one district honoree, there were Kacee Schier as Middle School TOY; and several recognized for their dedication Bridgette Shelton as High School TOY. and work “FOR the Brown and White.” Although each year teachers and staff Superintendent Mike Sparks recog- are recognized for their hard work and nized the Support Staff of the Year as dedication, the entire district can honor ECHS Band Home Again Accounts Payable Clerk, Penny Shockey, each other through the award through- who will be retiring at the end of the year. out the year. ECPS staff are truly, “FOR He also recognized Custodian Gloria the Brown and White.” By Sheryl Ponce posted photos and videos memorializ- ing the event. The Elk City High School Band re- Band mom Ashley Laufer said on turned home last weekend from their their Facebook page, “You are all rais- appearance in the Holiday Bowl Pa- ing some great young men and wom- rade and halftime performances in San en. I just wanted parents to know, that Diego. This was their seventh trip to when sent out into the world for a brief participate in a bowl game due to their time without you, they all did so good. excellence as musicians and upstanding I was really proud to be a part of this students. group on the trip. I was really proud of Gloria Villareal Kacee Schier The game aired on FOX network and the kiddos, I know the band staff is and is recorded on Elk City Band Booster’s you should be, too.” Facebook page. They are under the di- Going into different season in band, rection of Tim DeWitt, Kaimi Biscaino, their talent, dedication, and commit- Cassandra Barger, and Philip Phyillaier. ment to the program will show up as Parents who traveled with the group contests pursue. The ECHS band pro- and with the Elk City Band Boosters gram never fails to raise to the top. Penny Shockey Yedid Ayala Shanna Bruner Kimberly Tew Ediger Honored by OkMEA as Exemplary Teacher Bridgette Shelton Amy Andrews By Sheryl Ponce confirmed by the execu- and the All-OkMEA vocal Jazz Quartet. Edi- Executive Director of the Oklahoma Mu- sic Educators Association announced that tive board. Ediger has reached or surpassed each of these ger served on the board of Western Oklaho- ma Choral Directors Association, Oklaho- ma Music Educators Association, and most Adult Students Need Support Justin Ediger will be recognized as the Ok- milestones. He achieved recently as the All-OkMEA All State Mixed By Sheryl Ponce Second Language. Each instructor is MEA’s Exemplary Teacher on Thursday, Jan. his Bachelor of Music Chorus Chair. an Oklahoma certified teacher and has 22nd, during the organization’s Winter Con- Education and went on Among his accomplishments as a choir As part of Western Technology Cen- years of classroom experience teaching ference. The event will be held at the Arvest Justin Ediger to get his Master of Mu- director, his choirs have earned superior ter’s Adult Education program, adult adults, as well as high school, junior high, Convention Center’s Grand Ball Room C, in sic degree from South- rating in district and state contests; ECHS students return to the classroom to or elementary students. Tulsa. western Oklahoma State University. He is a Choir earned OSSAA 4A Sweepstakes 15 complete their high school education by As adults begin to delve into subjects To be presented this award, the teacher co-vocal teacher at Elk City Middle School times; and ECHS has placed over 100 stu- passing the GED or HiSet tests. There are that they may not have seen in years, they must have completed at least 15 years as a and Elk City High School. He is also in his dents in various All-State organizations; and choices as to where to take a class in ef- work in class and online at home. Math music teacher and/or music administrator. 32nd year of teaching, while 29 years in Elk two choirs have appeared at the Winter Con- fort to brush up on his/her skills. Classes and writing seem to be the most chal- The person must have been a member of Ok- City. He administers the Pioneer Center and ference. include Elk City WTC, Burns Flat WTC, lenging subjects to overcome the fear in MEA/NAfME for a minimum of ten years. Kelli O’Hara Performing Arts Theatre. Ediger credits his success and love for cho- Hobart WTC, Cordell Library, Weather- passing the coinciding tests. Once a stu- Additionally, he/she must have demonstrat- Previously, Ediger served on the Executive ral music to his high school choir teachers, ford WTC or Clinton Library. dent works to a point of signing up for a ed excellence in teaching music by evidence Board of the Oklahoma Choral Directors Rodney Bell and Marilyn Meyers at Beaver The instructors for those classes are test, whether it is the HiSet or GED, he/ of achievement in competitions, awards, or Association. There he served as junior high High School. He is married to Jo, and they LeElla Lee in Weatherford and Clinton; she must try to pay for the test. peer or administration statements. The per- chair, jazz chorus chair, and a committee have four adult children – Anna, Drew, Janis Kincaid in Elk City; Darrel Greene While the class and programs are free, son is nominated by his/her peers, recom- member. He was also instrumental in estab- Jonah, and Hannah. All of their children in Hobart, Burns Flat and Cordell; San- mended by OkMEA Awards committee, and lishing the All-OCDA All State Jazz Chorus, achieved OkMEA All-State. di Clark in Elk City teaching English as See SUPPORT page 2 Weather Vol. Vol. 117,122, No.No. 54 2 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 56 / 32 75 75 cents cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com