August 7, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Western Oklahoma Saturday, Ai st 7, 2021 Weekend Edition Elk City High School FFA teacher Tax free weekend shines bright at annual CareerTech conferencing, winning new STAR award cators honored with a STAR award. “The Spotlight on Teaching Ag awards are an initiative of the Oklahoma State Teaching Ag Results, or STAR, program. The goal of the STAR program is to recruit and retain high-quality, effec- tive agricultural teachers,” the program’s website explains. When Dillinger received the acclaimed prize, she says she was honored and shocked. “T have been teaching ag since 2005 in Guymon,” Dillinger re- counted. “Then my dream came true when we got to come in and teach at Elk City. Following in Larry Long's footsteps was intimi- dating, but he has been more than helpful, and he laid that foun- Oklahomatax free weekend is Friday through Sun- dation for me as a former student. We have been here since 2012. day. Since that time, I have met so many brilliant ag teachers through- Clothing and footwear under $100 will be tax free. out the state. So, to be recognized among them is an incredible Some elligble items include: Shirts, pants, belts, honor. Iam humbled by it and look forward to doing great things coats, diapers and shoes. with our students this year and the future.” As a 2000 graduate from Elk City High School and a recipient of the prestigious Miller Scholarship, Dillinger takes her commit- ment to the community seriously. In doing so, she is excited that she will be unleashing two new City Commission programs within Elk City's FFA this year. By Shonda Little One is the Aquino, which is funded through a CareerTech lot- tery grant. In it, she will be teaching students how to grow pro- votes on several budget items duce without soil. ‘Though it didn’t start out as her original life plan, Elk City “We will just use water. Eventually, we can grow fish in the High School FFA teacher Karie (Smith) Dillinger was a natural tank, and the plants and the fish help provide nutrients for each for the job. other,” Dillinger explained. After all, she was raised by generational western Oklahoma ‘The 20-square foot system is valued at $11,000. Lettuce will farmers and spent many of her formative years in the FFA pro- be their first project. By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan gram of long-time Elk City teacher Larry Long, an icon in his “The second is a tabletop laser, which is a piece of equipment own right. that should bridge my husband’s ag mechanics courses with my ‘The proceedings of the Elk City City Commission were Her dedication to the program was realized during last week’s horticulture-focused courses. Students in my classes can learn to held Monday, August 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission CareerTech convention. Held in Oklahoma City’s new conven- be the expert on a piece of equipment when usually that would Chambers at City Hall. Present were Nick Archer (Mayor); Rick tion center last Monday and Tuesday, Dillinger was present with be the strength of a shop student. This laser can engrave leather, Shelton (Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner Ward 4); Rod Carv- the approximately 400-450 other ag teachers who hail from each wood, plastic and even glass. We ordered an attachment that is er (Commissioner Ward 2); Rocky Andersen (Commissioner corner of the Sooner State. Her husband, Rick, was among them. designed to turn the popular tumblers, but we will use it to cus- After all, he is her partner not only in life and in parenthood tomize vases for our flower arrangements,” she said. Ward 3); Cheryl Sipes (City Clerk) and Jennifer Rainey (City but in the agriculture classroom, too. Surrounded by her peers Dillinger secured this funding, worth $16,000, through a Treasurer). and colleagues, Dillinger was amonga handful of agriculture edu- grant. ‘The meeting began with the invocation led by Mayor Ar- cher followed by the flag salute which was led by Commission- er Rod Carver. Now five generations deep, Beutler ‘The first item on the agenda for the commission to con- sider was the minutes of the meeting held July 21. The item was approved 3-0 (the fourth member, Commissioner Rocky Andersen, didn’t arrive until after this vote). The next item on and Son Rodeo Company mounts the agenda was ordinance no 1235: “an ordinance of the City of Elk City, Oklahoma annexing a 2.089 acre tract of property in the NE % of Section 33, T11N, R21 WIM to the City of Elk up for 83rd presentation of Elk City’s City. The owner of the property was present. The item was approved 4-0. ‘There were five budgeted items that were up for consider- ation during the meeting: Rodeo of Champions 1. The purchase of 10 new body cameras and a docking station from WatchGuard/Motorola Solutions for the police department in the amount of $13,685.00. Two people includ- a reason that they remain ing Chief of Police Eddie Holland spoke in support of this amongst the cream of the crop purchase. It was confirmed that the cameras that would be for the Professional Rodeo replaced would be kept as back-ups. The item was passed 4-0. Cowboys Association (PRCA.) 2. The purchase of 15 desktop computers for “various After all, rodeo is in their departments” (the landfill, city hall, park, youth and family, bloodline as much as it is for airport, street and inspection departments) from Davenport their bucking horses and bulls. Group in the amount of $24,567.00. The existing computers The company started out are around five years old. This item passed 4-0. in 1929 with brothers Ezra, 3. The purchase of eight laptops for “various departments” Lynn and Jake. Oklahoma had (safety department, city clerk, civic center, fire department, only been a state for a brief 22 EMS, school resource officers and museum) from Davenport years. To add even more chal- Group in the amount of $24,277.00. This item was approved lenges, the country was sub- 40. merged in a relentless world- 4, Payment to Rood & Associatesin the amount of $1,500.00 wide economic meltdown with and payment to Lochner in the amount of $16,700.00 for “3- the market panics struck that 40-0027-019-2020 Runway 17-35 MIRLs & Runway 17 & 35 year. 17 #35 2-box PAPIs Weather Observation Equipment. Design “T guess we have known the only” for a total of $18,200.00. There was some confusion highs and the lows from the among the commission as to where this funding was coming start,” the witty 44-year-old from but ultimately it was passed 4-0. cowboy laughed. 5. “Pay application #12 to Joe D Hall General Contrac- Of the three founding tors, LLC for the CAPP Project Elk City Activity Center in the brothers, only Ezra would have amount of $264,138.85.” The commission commented that a child. His son Jiggs would lat- the activity center “looks a lot bigger on the inside than on the Rhett’s father Beutler has already carved his place in the PRCA Hall of Fame. Courtesy er join the company, changing outside.” The city treasurer stated that if this amount was paid, photo. the name to Beutler and Son. a balance would be left of a little over eight million dollars. It By Shonda Little “Tt seems like we stay that to another. This week I got to ‘That tradition has continue was stated that there is currently a wait for the roof to be put way, though,” joked Rhett be home for two days before to unfold into the now fifth on. The item was approved 4-0. With only a mere month Beutler. “We get a little break heading back out on the road.” generation. Jiggs’s son Bennie Among other items on the agenda was “change order remaining before the 83rd Ro- in there in the fall for a few Though putting a high- followed his dad and father’s #5 for the Elk City Indoor Activity Center in the amount of deo of Champions kicks off, weeks when we do our guided charging lineup of prime rodeo footsteps. Rhett, the only son that Bennie and his wife Con- $13,560.00 for Joe D Hall Construction.” City manager Tom Beutler and Son Rodeo is in hunts. Summertime is kind of stock for which the Beutler Ivester reported that this change was for external water an “all hands on deck” kind of the peak of it. We will be fin- family is renowned would be nie share, felt the natural call See Commission page 2. situation. ishing one up before we are off a challenge for many, there's See Beutler page 3. Vol. 119, No. 63 a Te Weather tomorrow al 96/75 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com