March 14, 2026 Issue, Page 1 of 14

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The Elk City News INSIDE MARCH 7, 2026 DNESS Ba ttl e Bu sines AD MA 14• SATURDAY, house Battle Business business! “Making your feel like home.” es S of the We appreciate your AD DNES McAlar y MA ATV & Cycle We would like to participation in thank the follo this battle! Chec wing businesse s for their k back each week next round! to see s advance to the 2222 W. 3rd, which businesse 625 N. VanBuren, Elk City, Elk City 580-417-HOM E 8FTUFSO
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They are av- Board of Education met for their valorem tax will historically over in ad valorem money. Right off eraging 88 students a day with the regular monthly meeting Monday, collect approximately $200,000. the top, we would lose a million program, and they have partnered March 9th, at 6 p.m., in the Board Auto license is on pace to over col- dollars,” Sparks explained. with the Arrowhead group. It is Conference Room. With all mem- lect by $60,000. He went on to say that he ex- not a sack lunch, but they are de- bers present, they approved the “If everything were to collect, pects the legislature to do some- livering a real meal. consent agenda that included the you’re looking at somewhere thing on ad valorem, but he was The board then voted to go into minutes from the Feb. 9th minutes around a $4 million cash on hand not sure what it will be. The good executive session, at 6: 07 p.m., to and the financial transactions. at the end of the school year. Now news he gave the board was that discuss the employment of Cin- In the superintendent’s finan- why do I think this is so import- the district is in a good position dy Buckmaster, Robin Coffman, cial report, Superintendent Mike ant? I sent all of you that alert to absorb the shortfall next year, Tony Chauncey, Brian Hunt, Ja- Sparks, told the board that the earlier. At one time, there were but after that the district will be mie McClure, Amanda Friesen, district has brought in almost 133 bills at the Capitol concern- in trouble if they do what Paxton Debra Webb, Richard Moran, $19 million in revenue, and if ev- ing ad valorem taxes. The one that suggested. erything that is left to potentially Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton put out, Sparks also talked about the See APPROVES page 2 City Hosts Drawing for Water Bills By Sheryl Ponce The City of Elk City is offering a chance to win $200 prepaid Visa for residents who sign up for e-statements. According to City Manager, Tom Ivester, there are over 5000 water utility customers and 4600 of them still re- ceive paper bills in the mail. At the last commission meeting, Ivester said that they have been offering e-statements for the last five years. “We are starting off with an incentive activity to see if we get people to switch over to E state- ments. We brainstormed, and we’re doing a giveaway, a $200 prepaid Visa. We’re hoping we can get a majority switched over,” Ivester said. The cost of producing the paper bill, along with the time for staff to process the payments can be lessened with the e-statements and online payments. Sign up to enter the chance to win the $200 prepaid Visa, at City Hall or scan the QR code. The winner will be drawn from all new e-statement accounts. It is a simple way to help the city save paper and post- age, and it is more convenient for customers. Deadline Photos by Alex Alvarez is by April 1st. Canute Trojanetts Are State Champions Community Baby By Alex Alvarez taken the team to the State Tourna- ment but had never won it until this There is no question that the Canute girls team are in a class by themselves in the Class “A” of Oklahoma. Can- year, with wins over Garber for the Area Championship (55-25) to qual- ify for the State Tournament. Then, Shower Features ute, a town of less than 600 people, has an outstanding sports program led by Athletic Director John Gillette the following week, they beat Chey- enne-Reydon 52-30 at the Oklaho- ma Coliseum in the quarterfinals Father’s Corner (AKA J.W. who is also the softball on March 4, followed by a win over coach), and who has recruited great Okarche (56-41) in the semifinals at By Sheryl Ponce coaches like Tatum Ridling, who just Yukon High School on March 6, and took their girls basketball team to win beating #1 ranked Caddo 53-35 with The Beckham County Community Baby Shower the first State Championship for the excellent defense at the Coliseum on is planned for April 10th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at school. March 7. the Western Technology Center located at 301 West- IN the last two years, Tatum Ridling For the first two quarters, it was fairly ern Dr. in Elk City. This is a free event for families has coached a team that has over 50 in Western Oklahoma with wins with less than 8 losses and has See CHAMPS page 2 children from five-years- old and older. The event is being presented by the Beckham County Health Department and Help Inc., food pantry. They are also looking for vendors to set up for the shower. Additionally, there will a “Dad’s Zone” corner for new fathers or those more experienced dads. They will provide information called, “Dad’s Construction Corner.” This will in- clude bonding with a new baby, how to hold a baby, bottle feeding a baby, what is called baby burrito or swaddling techniques, diaper changing, along with nutrition information and instructions. They will have an emphasis that dads are not alone and there is help available for those fathers in need of ECHS Band Earns Superior Ratings support. Mark the calendar for April 10th, to set up a booth or to attend the shower and get valuable information By Sheryl Ponce sight reading in the District Contest last week. The held in Ada the first week of April. The Elk City tradi- and/or giveaways. The Beckham County Health De- contest was held in Elk City’s Kelli O’Hara Fine Arts tion continues to grow with each contest and season. partment stands ready to help, and this is one way they The Elk City High School’s Wind Ensemble and Auditorium. They have paved the way for younger players and oth- are able to disseminate information for young and old- Symphonic won superior ratings in both concert and Both of the bands qualified for state, which will be er bands to follow their lead. er mothers and fathers. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,122, No.No. 54 11 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 58 / 23 75 75 cents cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com