June 26, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Saturday, June 26, 2021 Weekend Edition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Legendary Elk City restaurant to start a taco truck the 2019-20 fiscal year. $17.2 million figure is with in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry The district could not find the fiscal year ended. He Department of Human Services officials are working with Hunt, payroll/insurance to the current fiscal year, but 48 years, with 40 of TJ’s Taco Truck will be a slick black, but will continues, and have imagery that is inspired by its historic roots; Tony Snowder, the creator of the iconic Taco Factory, and his wife Jeanne toast an anni- a final versary. The couple shares children Chad, Jennifer, Toni, Jonathan, Jason and Billie Rae; In her own childhood, Toni remembers beingr raised in the back of the Taco Factory. In the mid- 2000s, she was raising her kids the same way. Courtesy photos. By Shonda Little ity a few blocks west. nected on Facebook at the first of 2019. He was retired from the “My teenage years were spent in there, working aside my dad and Army after twenty years of service. He had been through multiple For months, western Oklahomans have been clamoring to the so many good friends and family. I can’t tell you how many people Later on After deployments. Tuesday we on thehe talked, sheriff’s office decided to FB down come page,for a Manning two- Facebook group TJ’s Taco Factory fans eagerly awaiting the an- have told me that my dad was like a dad to them. We worked hard weeksaid sheriff’s visit officials and never left. had foundmarried We were documents that in July confirmed of 2019. Even nouncement of when their spin-off taco truck would be open. and played hard. It was a good time in all our lives,” LaMar remem- before he came down, I told him how people were constantly bring- Toni (Snowder) LaMar is the namesake of the creator of the bered. ing up how much they missed our family restaurant, but I don’t flawless, and that doesn’t famed Elk City Taco Factory, her father, Tony Snowder. Unlike many fast-food restaurants, the family-owned and oper- think he understood it until he was here. Then he saw how we Though the Taco Factory closed nearly a decade ago, the tasty and ated Taco Factory would keep employees for many years. couldn’t go to the store or eat out and not have someone ask about unique recipes from the iconic fast-food restaurant still have count- The loyalty of their help was matched only by the dedication of it. My sisters and I would make our salsa and queso and sell them less fans yearning for its return. their customers. Along with her siblings, LaMar had been raised in the restaurant. “It’s been almost ten years, and we have people still who stop us See TJ’s page 2. satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to Taco Factory was more than their living — it was their way of life. all the time to ask us when tonwe– are 1978, 1982back. coming and I1984 had – and one thought state about “I remember being a little girl playing on the racks in the back of it for years to start again, but I knew I didn’t want to have a full res- the restaurant,” LaMar recounted. “As soon as we were old enough, taurant,” LeMar said. been a coach for 48 years – a head football Dad had us up there working. Some people might have thought we In the mid-2000s, her coach father for had40 sold Taco– and years Factory. She then has an overallgot re would slack off because our parents owned it, but it made us work the opportunity to take it back over for five years before the cord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- final harder. We took a lot of pride in it. It was kind of part of our iden- closing in 2014. 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. “Our strength is going to increase dramati tity.” LaMar had put the idea of the restaurant to rest until she recon- cally,” he said. “The [players’] confidence in Her father had started the business approximately forty years nected with her new husband, Timon. ago near the corner of Third Street and Randall. “That’s why we are calling it TJ’s,” she laughed. “Our initials are Twenty years later, they sold that property and built a new facil- the same. We had known each other as little kids and then recon- “Color me happy,” says organizer of during an interview in the athletic office at Officials in Beckham County have cut nearly $1 million from their estimated budget this year, with the final approval of the 2019-20 fiscal year budget coming in the Paint the Town Purple Western Oklahoma Alzheimer’s Group has a successful event 31st Annual Foss Lake the2019-20 search isbudget at their on to find The accident weeklycoordi an offensive Occurred meeting Monday. The fina just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 Dunk tanks over to the state by the first of October. are hard to come by, but Christmas in July Festival Cain tried to repair something under his 1986 Ford F350 excise board gives the final approval and signs off on it the His starting date is the firstWestern Monday after A salute to our veterans and Oklahoma Hartman, Beckham Beckham County County Sheriff’s Clerk. Office, Carter Fire, Elk City Fire, our first phase of the Alzheimer’s CAPS County current officials said in military April that changes in the budget Group found Press Release by Elk Neva Pyatt On the de one for a tion scheme for the offense. The 31st Annual Foss Lake Christmas in July Festival is July good cause. 9th and 10th. This event is one of the largest outdoor events in Courtesy photo. western Oklahoma and is fun for the entire family! Friday, July The county cut $998,696 from its budget, Hartman said 9th, all the vendors will be in place by 1:00 p.m. The opening awareness since June 1,” Western said. “But, as you know, our main ceremony honoring our Veterans and current Military will begin week of focus was from Monday, June 14 to Friday, June 18.” at 6department or every p.m. at the Main Stage,official gives north of their estimate the Marina on Cedarof what Point. From the beginning of the week, the group did a Bingo game. they’reAFB The Altus needing Honorfor thewill Guard year,” Hartman present said. “The excise the colors. They did not charge for the bingo cards, but in order to earn a Friday evening will continue with a free concert on the Main stamp, locals had to visit the participating businesses. stage from 8-11 p.m. The Tyler Wilhelm Band and Jordan Cain “We ended up with 45 businesses incould total,”stay on the Western floor the exclaimed. with the Atlantis Aquarius band will both be performing. Bring a Team Chip's students were out in full force. “That is much higher than we have had in previous years. Each lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy the music and the evening. Fri- Western also thanked the four particpating person could take their card into our partner businesses and get a.m. with Hot Hash and day will also be a good time to go thru the vendors who will have a stamp. We had people who went to each business because five “We don’t know those figures yet,” she said. “We’re kind food trucks. Courtesy photo. jewelry, t-shirts, crafts and of course, great food and, the kids stamps were equal to one raffle ticket. Raffle tickets could also be always love the pony rides. These vendors set up on Friday and purchased. The vendors had sales just for our event and donated By Shonda Little willyear stay before until late Saturday and current night, yearsofigures go and and see all the the help fun county things part of their proceeds to us. Going to the retailers, people could they have to offer and check out the food court. earn raffle tickets. The raffle tickets were also available for purchase Last weekend’s “Paint the Town Purple” event has been featured “But the Saturday, we’ve10th, made is 20 percent loaded with cuts; specialsome eventsoffices and activi- at $5 each. We ended up having 24 raffle tickets that came just twice before in the Elk City News. ties beginning with the 6th Annual 5K Fun Run across the Dam from people who visited these vendors.” The hope was to garner public interest. Event coordinator Julie starting at 7 a.m. Check-in begins at 6:15 a.m. at the Foss State A firealso that burned The raffle items were extensive. Western utilized socialthe Team media, the Chip Taeany radio, and Kwonavenue that “We had gift certificates from Mountain Man’s, Keith’s Butcher ParkgetOffice. final thoseThe figures run is from open to it’s kind them,and runners walkers ofof wait and all ages. Dodrum could building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 up participation. The proceeds from the run benefit the Veterans center in Clinton, Foss Commissioners gave their final approval for the figures Shop, Retro Country Clothing, Prairiea Fire, a free definite night date setat the for new the The months-long efforts were successful, Western said, with a State Park and local non-profit charities. Participants will Air BNB in downtown Elk City called the Blue Bird, and massages. high turnout exceeding her wildest expectations. receive a drawstring backpack, a race T-shirt and other goodies. They could also turn in their cards forfirst swagweekend bags. We had coupons in November. fire chief While for the the Western Elk City Oklahoma Fire Department. Alzheimer’s Association No started for AutoBath that can be used in Elk City and Weatherford. Doug Call Dwight Shephard, 580-515-4319, who is the coordinator or its injuries occurred. awareness and Twodrive fundraising people at thein the build beginning of June, the Gray gave us a $500 gift certificate that can be used for mainte- email [email protected] there, at least one account to receive the link in there,” to register Hartman said.on ing week focused escaped unharmed. was June 14-18. The main part of the nance like oil changes. Barber-Dyson also gave two $50 gift cards line. firegroup The occurred in the hot brainstormed water multiple heaterprojects. fundraising area. Hartmanthe Following could not is the 5K Run provide an “Trail Kayak exact Ride” figure.at The public Chinaberry, 75 children thethis for$12,130. sameyear. That One things. figure ofwas the up from 40 donated last that things year.I am most Thehave been “We insurance company doing things for also is and Alzheimer’sinvestigating. brain injury See Purple page 2. See Foss page 2. 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