December 1, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Weekday Edition Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a “A Million Sparkling Lights” City of Elk City Parks Department Superintendent praises the city’s the 2019-20 fiscal year. park crew for diligent Christmas in the Park effort $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 continues, and a final Left, Thomas Haley and Supervisor Michael Ross put up the glittering reindeer decor.; Above, sisters Autumn and Jo-Lynn Bintz were excited to tell Santa and Mrs. Claus their Christmas wish list; Right, Corey Addington is among the five full-time city employees who have devoted at least six weeks in preparation for Christmas in the Park. Courtesy photos. 48 years, with 40 of Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning By Shonda Little chael Ross and his crew of five for their diligent efforts in trans- said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed forming Ackley Park into a winter wonderland. The annual Christmas in the Park extravaganza has become a her- “I’ve learned a lot about the history of flawless, andin Christmas that doesn’t the Park from alded family tradition for generations of western Oklahomans Basil Weatherly with the Western Oklahoma Historical Society,” and visitors to Elk City. Thorton said. “The Western Oklahoma Historical Society and the In fact, the yearly display boasts a perfect 5-star status on Tri- Chamber of Commerce work great together with the city to make pAdvisor.com. this all happen.” “It was great!! The lights were beautiful, and the kids loved the Naturally, a large project of this size cannot be done overnight. So sparkling satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to lights.” park. It got us all ready for Christmas. It is a must-see in Decem- for the last two months, the crew has spent most of their 40-hour Thorton has overseen one major change in the last five years: the ber. I’m not sure how early they put the lights up every year, but workweek decorating and fixing the seasonal decor. transition to LED lights. I know we were very fortunate to be there when they were out,” a “We started putting out the lights in October,” Thorton recount- “It has been a process phasing out the old iridescent lights for reviewer from Louisiana said in 2014. ed. “That comes out to about six weeks total in preparation, but the new LED lights,” Thorton explained. “The benefit to that is The late Nelda Burch, longtime owner-operator of Burch Print- we also continue throughout December to put out lights and re- the LED lights pull out a lot less electricity. Now, we can have up ton – 1978, 1982 and 1984 – and one state ing, is said to have come up with the idea decades ago. Her fellow pairs strands that have gone down.” to twenty strings for one outlet, whereas before, we could only civic volunteers agreed that the project was worthwhile, growing When asked exactly how many lights are featured in Ackley Park, put three strings into one outlet. The LED lights are also a lot been a coach for 48 years – a head football each and every year since then. Thorton laughed. brighter, so Christmas in the Park continues to improve each coach for 40 years – and has an overall re City of Elk City Parks Department Superintendent Billy Thor- “I’ve never actually counted cord of 307-147them and a one by record playoff one,” of he44-joked. “That See Lights page 2. ton has witnessed that growth for the six years that the city has would be quite the task. 24. He We have played been football at told by our Oklahoma former “Our State. tourism strength is going to increase dramati employed him. Since recently taking over additional tasks at the director that there are over a million and that number adds cally,”up he said. “The [players’] confidence in city’s water department, Thorton praised Parks Supervisor Mi- to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than a million 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 A Christmas Carol set to open this weekend during an interview in the athletic office at 2019-20 budget at their weekly meeting Monday. The fina The accident Occurred just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 at the Red Carpet Community Theatre over to the state by the first of October. Cain tried to repair something under his 1986 Ford F350 the search is on to find an offensive coordi Tickets are still available for the final 2021 play excise board gives the final approval and signs off on it Hartman, Beckham Beckham County County Sheriff’s Clerk. Office, Carter Fire, Elk City Fire, our first phase of the CAPS County officials said in April that changes in the budget By Shonda LittleHis starting date is the first Monday after After previously being rescheduled, the Red Carpet Community Theatre is happy to announce the opening dates for thetion beloved Meadows praises The scheme for the Elk Theoffense. countyOncutthe$998,696 de from its budget, Hartman said classic, A Christmas Carol. The curtains first open at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 3. Big Elks after game The play will then be held again at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2:30 department or every official gives their estimate of what p.m. for Sunday’s matinee. they’re needing for the year,” Hartman said. “The excise By Shonda Little The cast and crew will have their final weekend shows from De- cember 10-12 at the same time. could stay on the floor the Elk City High School Athletic Director praised the Elk City Big Adapted into a play by Charles Ludlam, the script is based upon Elks football team after their heartbreaking loss to the Clinton a.m. with Hot Hash and the famous 1843 Charles Dickens novel by the same name. Red Tornados on Friday. Played at the Southwestern Oklahoma The RCCT’s play flyer declares it, “A family treat for the whole “We don’t know those figures yet,” she said. “We’re kind State University football field in Weatherford, the final score family!” was 17-7. Director Ashley Arganbright, who also serves as the RCCT board Hunt, year however, before and said the score current yeardoesn’t refland figures ect the true help thenail-biter county secretary, agrees. The cast and crew have been diligently prepar- that the game truly was. He praised the community of Elk City ing for the upcoming show since Clue closed in October. for “But coming we’ve made out in 20 percent strong numbers to cuts;support some the offices “Cinderella” “We have about 25 cast members between the leads and smaller team as they went head-to-head against one of Oklahoma 4A roles,” Arganbright said. “We have several cast members who are football’s highest-ranking teams in the state semi-fi nals. get “Th thosehad e kids final figures a great from them, season,” Hunt it’s said,kind of wait noting thatandthe Elk playing more than one role. Our lead is Josh Barnett. Josh is a A fire that burned the Team Chip Tae Kwon City Big Elks football team is expected to have a strong showing teacher at Elk City High School, butahis stage presence definite makes date set for the him Commissioners gave their final approval for the figures Do building Tuesday afternoon in the 1400 for several future seasons. “We have a solid team for next year, a total natural for the theater. I have personally been involved in but we do lose 18 great seniors this year.” Josh Barnett, seen here as Professor Plum in Clue, had community theaters for about ten years. Watchingin first weekend Josh, I would November. Elk City Head Football Coach Dave Meadows also praised the fire his chief for theater the in debut Elk City the Fire last RCCT's Department. No will play honestly think he had been at it just as long. Of course, it helps play. Barnett there, team to aatKECO least one account sideline in there,” reporter Hartman following the said. game. injuries the occurred. lead role Two in of Scrooge people the in the build Carol. Courtesy that he is playing alongside a very talented cast. They have all Christmas Meadows opined that the true 4A state championship game ing escaped unharmed. The main part of the Hartman photo. been dedicated to several weekly rehearsals since we held the had actuallycould been not provide played an exact on Friday, figure. saying thatThe public in he believes fire occurred in the hot water heater area. $12,130. 75 children this year. That figure was up from 40 last year. The insurance company also is investigating. See RCCT page 2. his heart that the best two teams played that night. Clinton goes on to face Tuttle for the state championship. 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