June 26, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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2 June 26, 2021 News TJ’s ally hopeful for August. It does seem like it is almost ready. Then we will have to get it here from will set up. We have over 3,000 people following the Facebook page. We want it to be a place cials. The same with the fajita meat,” she said. LeMar knows that the taco good at that. My sisters Jennifer and Billie Rae will be big parts of it, as will my nephew Kade. This he loved it that we were giving back to our customers. Com- munity and family are our main Continued from page 1. Florida,” LaMar advised. that is easily accessible to all of truck won’t be a small undertak- has always been a family affair drivers in this. If I hadn’t had so Though the recipes will be the them.” ing. For that reason, she will be for us.” many people through the years through Facebook. He saw same as the Taco Factory, the The Taco Factory menu was leaning on family. LaMar is eager to receive how big that demand was. After truck’s name will be TJ’s Taco extensive. For that reason, La- “The only people who will be feedback from the community constantly asking for us to come that, we started talking about Truck. She is open to eventually Mar won’t be offering every sin- working with us at this point will on what menu items are in the back, I wouldn’t have done this. doing this food truck.” taking it to other western Okla- gle item on a daily basis. be family,” she stated. “My kids, highest demand. She encour- I know there is a lot of work In May, LeMar ordered a food homa communities but plans to “Daily, we will be having Jessica, Alli, and Hagen, will be ages residents to communicate ahead,” she said. truck from a supplier in Florida. focus initially on Elk City. our tacos, burritos, the Fac- helping. Jessica is 24, Alli is 19, with them through their Face- LaMar is hesitant to say ex- She had been told that it “We have had people ask us tory Sandwich, and all our fried and Hagen is almost 18 and go- book page. actly when the taco truck will be would have a two-week turn- to take it to Tulsa or to Dallas,” items like the potato munchers, ing into his senior year at Mer- “Back in the day, my dad received from Florida but is op- around, but COVID-19 compli- LaMar giggled. “We will con- cheese sticks, and nacharitos. ritt High School. My husband would discount the tacos when timistic for August. cations have continued to push sider that at some point, but Things like guacamole and queso has disabilities from all his years the football team had done well. back the timeline. right now, we want to stick to may be daily, but we will see the of service, so his knees might There was one time that they However, when that time “At first, I said we would be our roots. We have had several demand. We will probably either not stand up to a full day in the went down to $.19, and we were does eventually come, she is ex- opening in June. Then that people reach out to us to offer us make a few taco salads to order taco truck. He will be taking care crazy busy. Yeah, it was a deal to cited to greet their devoted fans inched by, and I said July. I’m re- space. I’m not sure yet where we or have days where they are spe- of our bookwork, and he is really where he was losing money, but with a classic menu. Round Elk City Sales Tax Revenue back Purple surpassed their previous year. “I don’t know the final num- bers yet, but I think it is going to pre-pandemic numbers Continued from page 1. to come in above $10,000,” Western said. Town By Shonda Little In the city’s budget, the new approved sales tax allocated to excited about was a $1,800 Though she is grateful that the community embraced the commissioners had noticed that the debt service of the Elk City community credit from Elk- effort, Western also said that June 26 the group is not finished raising As Tom Ivester, city manager 20% of the DTF’s forfeitures go Industrial Authority Sales Tax wood Assisted Living Center. KECO Fishing Derby, for the City of Elk City, dis- through the city to the Beck- The winner of this could use if funds and awareness for this Revenue Bonds Series 2019 cussed the improved sales tax ham County District Attorney’s for their family, but it was also year. from 10% to 15%. Free for children 15 and numbers, he was clear to state Office. giftable. That means the winner “We will have our fundraiser Ivester explained that this is at Moonlight Madness, and that he was cautiously opti- As the DTF covers the entire could get it to many random under. Ackley Park 8 a.m. only related to CAPPs projects residents or split it up between then, during the first two weeks mistic. Now, a year into the job DTF District II, which includes and that the CAPPS ordinance several residents.” of December, we will do gift that he abruptly inherited after other municipalities and coun- former City Manager Lee Lit- ties, Ivester acknowledged had a provision that allowed for Western also noted that wrapping for a donation. We July 2 these changes. some participating partners like will be set up in the Walmart trell was let go by the then city that it could be confusing and “So right now, this will apply Carroll’s Shoe Corner and the parking lot,” she said. Block Party Elk City- commissioners, Ivester’s leader- thought that Glancy could best Vogue Boutique created specific The funds raised will be split ship style has proven to be a explain it. to the ball fields and the activity sales for the group. Downtown Elk City near equal parts combination of He felt Glancy did an excel- center,” he said. between the statewide branch As the main event kicked optimistic pushes for progress lent job of explaining this to the Ivester said that this 5% off on Friday, Western already of the Alzheimer’s Association the future while being prudent commissioners. increase would be to ensure knew the group had raised and the local chapter. July 4 and cautiously prepared. On agenda item two, the more money than the previous “We want to keep half that that the property is maintained On the heels of last year’s his- commissioners approved an year. money here to help these Annual Firework Dis- correctly. families and partially fund toric global pandemic and the agreement for professional ser- The commissioners approved “We got so much support from the community. It was respite care for their caregivers. play, Ackley Park West Texas Intermediary briefly vices between the Southwest- this item. unreal. What ended up being The caregivers don’t have to be traded in the negative, Ivester ern Oklahoma Development for a patient struggling with On agenda item six, the com- my favorite things from Friday wants to be prepared should the Agency (SWODA) and the City dementia, Alzheimer’s, or a city ever be struck by a similar of Elk City for grant writing and missioners approved a payment night was the lighting of the July 24 luminaries brain injury. It can be any long- perfect financial storm, but also administration support in the to Upgrade Business Solutions “I was worried at first that term caregiver. We know that Sizzlin’ Summer Side- doesn’t want the fear of the amount of $15,000. for a “Visit Elk City” webpage people wouldn’t like it, but it those caregivers help with the unknown to inhibit progression “Our former treasurer Elesia and marking development for quality of life for any patients walk Sale - Retail District turned out to create one of in the meantime. Church is with them now, the amount of $12,267. going through this more than the most beautiful parts. We For those reasons, the better- and this is using her services Ivester said this was, in part, bought 60 luminaries. For anything. But those caregivers than-expected May sales tax through them to do our future an effort to make the webpage $5, you could purchase one in also must be able to have some August 6 numbers are giving him opti- grant writing,” Ivester said. more visible in search engines. someone’s memory. It didn’t time off or they will get burned mism that maybe that perfect During Church’s many years have to be someone who had out,” she said. Block party Elk City - The commissioners then financial storm has passed. of service to the City of Elk suffered from Alzheimer’s or a Western also emphasized approved moving $51,300 in that the group will soon restart Downtown Elk City The Elk City commissioner City, she had found and success- brain injury or disease. We had carryover money from last year support groups for families learned these numbers at their fully obtained numerous new people who sent them out for into an account for unplanned victims of cancer or COVID-19. thrust into this frightening regularly scheduled meeting grants for the city. and not budgeted items. This has been a year that has situation. held on Wednesday, June 16, at Agenda item three also “We do need volunteers to Oklahoma No Tax Ivester explained that made us all think about loss. 2 pm in the Commission Cham- related to a grant through the help with the support groups,” Weekend, Clothing and bers at Elk City Hall. FAA/AIP that Church had previ- each year the city sets aside At about 9 pm, as the sun was starting to set, we lit them and Western said. “They have been The meeting started with a ously successfully received for $150,000 should something shut down for a year because footwear under $100.00 - unforeseen like a sewage line sent them off. It was so beauti- prayer and then a flag salute the Elk City Regional Business of COVID-19. We wanted ful,” Western said. Retail District lead by Commissioner Rod Airport. break occur. In the previous everyone to be safe, but those Western said that the group Carver. The commissioners were year, $53,000 remained. had raised approximately families still need that support. Per standard procedure, the asked to approve the oversight Rather than earmarking $6,000. As COVID-19 is finally lifting, commissioners approved the procedures. those funds for something im- As the world reopened and we are restarting the support August 7 minutes for the June 7 meeting. Ivester explained that the city mediately, the commissioners citizens were craving commu- groups. We need those volun- Oklahoma No Tax On the first agenda item, Dis- had multiple ongoing grants decided to add it to this year’s nity engagement, the group teers.” trict II Drug Task Force Director with the FAA for the airport Weekend, Clothing and emergency funds. Chet Glancy gave a presentation for things such as radars and On budget item #8, the com- The Foss Lake Christmas in footwear under $100.00 - Retail District to the commissioners about the agency’s function. Ivester explained that this runway lighting. Ivester acknowledged that most of the airport funding missioner approved budget amendment #2 for the fiscal Foss July Festival was started 31 years ago when some of the was put on the agenda because comes through these grants, year 2020-2021. residents at Foss Lake got to- the commission has two new which is why Elk City can have Ivester said that twice a year, Continued from page 1. gether and decided they wanted August 8 members who had questions a municipal airport that offers the commission looks at these to honor the men and women about how the city’s contribu- more services than typical small amendments in an effort to starting at 10:00 a.m. Meet who had been involved in Des- Oklahoma No Tax tions to the DTF worked. town regional airports. make sure that each dollar is at 9:30 a.m. and bring your own ert Storm. They felt like these “During budget negotiations, On agenda item four, the accounted for. kayak or paddle board. Veterans who served had never Weekend, Clothing and these two new commission- commissioners were asked to “This will be like we had set Continuing Saturday activi- had the kind of recognition that footwear under $100.00 - ers wanted to know how the consider the Elk City ambulance ties, The Foss Lake Little King they deserved. aside $20,000 for the water de- city’s relationship with the DTF billing standard operating pro- and Queen Pageant begins at Three of the men who began Retail District partment that they didn’t use, works. So, I asked Chet to come cedures, including rate changes. 10:30. Check in at 10:00 in the the festival were L. C. Murphy, but the police department went Carman Mikles and Bill Farmer. down and explain it, which “This is simply that we didn’t main stage area. Get an entry he did a good job of. The city have anything written as to over $20,000 on something at the Foss State Park office, In the beginning there was a May 30 houses the DTF, and they are how long before we wrote off else. So the unused money is B & K Bait house, or The Elk lighted boat parade followed by technically under the police de- bad debt, how long we waited to moved to that area, but we City News Paper office at 109 a huge fireworks show. The fes- Baseball and Softball partment as far as our financial turn an account into collections want to make sure the commis- W. Broadway in Elk City. Call tival was only 1 day, which was Seeing Home Tournament, contributions are concerned, or if and how we may mark sioners are aware of it, and we Neva Pyatt, 580-497-6217 for Saturday. In just a few years, but then they also operate inde- down a bill for a patient who note exactly where each dollar additional information. the festival began to grow. Ven- Elk City 5 Plex. pendently,” Ivester explained. doesn’t have insurance,” Ivester The Down Bikers Associa- dors were added, several special was spent,” he said. advised. Ivester gave the commission- tion is sponsoring a Poker Run events were incorporate begin- Ivester added that because ers a positive update on the on Saturday. Registration will ning with a special program the city had not previously CAPPS indoor activity center. begin around noon at the Foss on Friday evening where the had an actual written policy State Park Office. Veterans and current military He said that concrete had been for these and other consider- Washita Woodwork will have people are honored. poured for the walking track. ations, he wanted to advise the a Cornhole Tournament with As the festival grew, The Foss commission of the new written He also noted that ground registration at 12pm and Bags Lake Association began to take (USPS # 173-020) had been broken for the incom- policy and allow them to ap- fly at 2pm. There will be 2 on projects around the lake 580-225-3000 ing Burger King near Walmart prove it. categories, Upper (competitive) with money made from the The item was approved. and that construction is con- - $50 entry and Lower (back- festival. Some of the projects Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC Ivester also said that the tinuing for the Starbucks. yard players) - $30. For more the Association has provided 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 ambulance service is no longer Harbor Freight is going into information contact Clint at include Storm sirens around Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 running a deficit as it has in the the old Stage Building. 580-497-6178 or Lance at 405- the lake, habitats for the fish, past. He explained that the ser- Ivester explained that it is a 638-1778. repair some of the docks, pur- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 vice does make money, but that well-known business for power The festival will have a light- chase feed for the buffalo, while Josh Umholtz because the service is also very tools. ed Boat Parade beginning at they were there, help purchase a SUBSCRIPTIONS costly, the profit is not large Dusk. Contact Cyndy Kreger at Side -scan sonar for Foss Lake, Deliverd by mail: Publisher The commissioners then enough to cover such expenses 580-799-7220 for more infor- which helped solve two 40 year $75/yearly Amy Loynd learned that the sales tax as a new ambulance. mation. The festival will close old cases of missing people, and $50/six months Business Manager revenues came in up, both from “Those new ambulances with a spectacular fireworks annually the Association gives No refunds on subscriptions. Neva Pyatt cost as much as $200,000 or last month and year-to-date. display wrapping up the 31st a sizable donation to the Vet- Advertising Director $250,000,” he said. The amount was $1,242,735. annual Christmas in July Festi- erans Center at Clinton. There [email protected] D’Ann Brasuell On the fifth agenda item, That total was up to about val. This event is sponsored by are numerous other areas that [email protected] Production Manager the commission was asked to $50,000 from the month prior many area companies and busi- Foss Lake Association has been [email protected] Maressa Margerum consider approving changing and $200,000 from the year nesses each year and organized able to help with improvements [email protected] Customer Service Rep the percentage of the voter- before. by dedicated volunteers. thru the years.