March 21, 2026 Issue, Page 1 of 14

Page Text

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
580.225.6043 0LMBIPNB
*OTVSBODF
"HFODZ “Your Home and Business Water Solutions Homeowners #peoplebeforepro perty Since 1953” Vehicles FREE WATER Farm & Ranch TESTING Life and Health 119 N. Jefferson , 2018 W. 3rd Street 125 E. Main St. ble healthcare Elk City Sayre, OK Quality, afforda right here, right now. Males Avenue ™ Elk City, OK 580-225-2809 501 South L.L. 580.729.8552 Cheyenne, Okla. 73628 580.225.1121 -6PM 580-497-3336 QHFRP Hours: M-F 10AM ZZZUPPKRQOL Ave, Elk City - 3PM 514 N Van Buren Saturday: 10AM TOUCHSTONE pm - 2:00 am Open Daily 4:00 TAX Brown SERVICE SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2026 Weekend Edition ECHS Announce Rotarians Tour ECPD Remodel By Sheryl Ponce Top Students Elk City High School’s 2026 valedictorian has been The Elk City Police Department hosted the Elk announced as Luke Friesen. He is an academic all- City Rotarians as they toured the remodeled facility. stater, and he serves as co-president of National Honor Dispatch Supervisor Leslie Denley, along with Detec- Society, senior class treasurer, Key tive Sam Weyand, greeted the group to show off their Club treasurer, a Special Olympics new work home. As they entered the building, there Unified Partner, and guitar player was an immediate change over the old police station, for the Elk City United Methodist including the dispatch window and lobby. It was larg- Church. He is an active member of er, welcoming, and had a more professional look. Student Council and played on the The tour began in the jail, which was upgraded. Big Elk football team. Friesen is also The drunk tanks appeared to be the same, with the LUKE FRIESEN a multi-year vocal music all-stater, same color scheme. They added a trustee’s kitchen and active in Chamber Choir. Stu- and a separate room. Denley explained that the dis- dent Council and Big Elk football. patch also serves as jailers, with the other staff as their Friesen has been accepted to back-up. They lost four cells to evidence and process- Georgetown University, Belmont ing areas. University and the University of “We actually take care of our trustees. We have a lot Oklahoma. He is currently deciding that want to come over here (from Beckham County where he will attend college this fall. jail) and work, because they do have it pretty good SIERRA SMITH He is the son of Nathan and Aman- over here. This is their room. They’ll get a TV and da Friesen. DVD player, that kind of stuff,” Denley said. Sierra Smith has been named the 2026 salutatorian. The department also changed from the typical or- She has been involved in leadership roles that includes ange clothing for inmates to black and white stripes. being President of FCCLA, Secretary of the Senior Weygand said that all of those coming into the jail Class Committee, and a member of National Honor will be wearing the retro looking clothes, including Society. Smith also serves as a Unified Partner with trustees. He also said that the jail is not being utilized Special Olympics, along with working with the Prom yet, or until dispatch returns to the facility because and Junior Class Committees. they are also the jailers. After graduation, she plans to attend Oklahoma State The tour continued to the dispatch and 911 office. University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing They are capable of having five dispatchers, but now and a career in healthcare. Smsith is the daughter of Ty- they only have two on duty at one time and try to al- ler and Rebecca Smith. ways have three. Denley said that the new 911 capa- bilities are impressive. “This is the new 911 that’s coming in, and the ca- pability of this new one gives a transcript. If I have Director of RCCT’s 60th See TOUR page 2 Anniversary Show, ‘Harvey’ Creates Brilliant Cast of Characters By Sheryl Ponce Director Benjamin Dobbs’ 20-year experience in community theatre once again put together a cohesive cast that portrayed Mary Chase’s “Harvey” characters to perfection. Over the past month they have become more than a cast, but a family that truly made the show brilliant. This has been a special production because it was part of Red Carpet Community Theatre’s first year’s line-up. Although the actors have changed, the spirit of the theatre along with the deep appreciation of com- munity talent, the theatre thrives with quality produc- tions. The show will open, Friday, March 10th, and run See RCCT page 9 ECPS Starts Third Meal By Sheryl Ponce Students now have a third option to eat each day from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with an afterschool meal. Anyone from two-years-old through 18 are eligible to eat a free meal at the Elk City Elementary School. Chil- dren may be dropped off in the half circle on the north side of the school, entering through the east doors from the playground and into the cafeteria. According to the ECPS announcement, parents and daycare providers are welcome to come in and sit with their children during the meal. Additionally, all meals must be eaten in the cafeteria. “For questions, contact ECPS at 580-225-0175. Funding for this program is provided by the USDA,” the announcement said. This is an opportunity for the school to provide an- other free meal for all of the district’s students that are within the age limitations. Canute’s Cotton Boll Motel Sign to Shine Again By Sheryl Ponce row and Viola Pennick. The couple had been cotton farmers, which was where the motel’s name originat- The town of Canute will be celebrating the relight- ed. The motel stayed open until 1993 and later was ing of the Cotton Boll Motel sign Saturday, March purchased by Pat and Cheryl Webb who turned it 21st, at dusk or approximately 8:15 p.m., or earlier. into their private residence. After the official lighting, everyone will move to To be a part of this historical landmark’s sign re- Friends Pizza for a reception. lighting, be at the sign around dusk to see the neon The refurbished sign is part of the Canute Route sign come alive again. It is representative of the life 66 grant and Centennial celebration. Originally, the along Route 66 and will bring tourists to be a part of motel was opened in May 1960, by owners Wood- this nostalgic piece of the Route’s history. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,122, No.No. 54 12 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 76 / 42 75 75 cents cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com