July 6, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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yA Serving S Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, July 6, 2022 Weekday Editi Randy Haggard’s Metal Sculptures Featured at the Museum oo eal RCCT Set Auditions for ‘Willy Wonka’ By Sheryl Ponce The Red Carpet Community Theatre announced that audi- tions for their next production of Roald Dahl's “Willy Wonka” It is a rare opportunity for the public to be able to view a group of Randy Haggard’s metal will take place July 11th and 12th at 7 p.m. in the theatre lo- sculptures without attending an outdoor art show. Seen here is a representation of his ability to weld and his artistic eye for detail.; Titled “The Doctor Who Repairs Himself Has a Fool for cated at 422 N. Jefferson. The show is being directed by Julie a Patient,” this sculpture is located in the entry to the WOHS Education Facility at the Route Barnett and will open September 9th. It will run through the 66 museum. Randy Haggard originally thought to name it Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, but 11th and again the 16th through the 18th. instead put a twist of humor to the piece. Staff photos by Sheryl Ponce. Children auditioning must be at least six years old or old- er. The other participants will be listed as their parts are de- By Sheryl Ponce earned his bachelor’s degree in ever reluctant he may have termined. The final say on all casts will be up to the director. education, majoring in com- been to do that. He did not Those wishing to audition should arrive 15 minutes before au- Since local business H&H mercial art, in 1972. have any other ideas about the ditions begin to fill out audition forms. Each person needs to Electronic’s owner Randy “| majored in commercial direction he wanted to go, so accessories. The store start to be prepared to sing an exert from one of the musical numbers Haggard retired, he is actually art. I was going to be an artist. that is what he did. bring in other merchandise, in- featured in the show. This is a classic musical with singing and returning to his roots in art. Talso got my degree in educa- “When I came back, my Dad cluding CB radios, as they had He has always been an artist, tion. I planned to teach school wanted me to go into business became a hot item in the truck- dancing. Cast members should be prepared with high energy. welding metal sculptures and when I came back. I did my with him, but I wanted to be an ing industry. Each person could be asked to sing, dance and read from the traveling to shows across the student teaching here under artist. I was going to travel the “CB radios became pop- script. state, but it has taken second Lonnie Skelton, and afterI did country. I bought a truck and ular, so we brought a few of ‘The musical is about a chocolatier who guides children and place to running his store. Now my student teaching, I knew I put a little shell camper on it. those in. Everybody wanted their parents on a tour of his chocolate factory. He wants some- he is the featured artist at Elk didn’t want to be a teacher. It Iwas a married (to Janice Mar- them. We couldn't get enough. ‘one to take over his candy empire and uses the tour to find that City’s Route 66 Museum Com- pretty well finalized that plan. tin) without kids. I didn’t have I became a volunteer fireman, plex, in the WOHS Education My dad, (Elvyn Haggard) had anything else to do, and this here in town and I had a real- person. This male character needs to be someone between the Facility, the new building on H&H tire back then, which was art thing probably wasn’t going ly good friend who was cap- ages of 20 and 50. Another character, Candy Man, is a male the west side of the parking a Goodyear dealership here. He to be very lucrative. So that’s tain of the fire station. He was character, ages 20 to 50, who is local candy vendor who leads lot. had a partner. His name was what we did, I ran that (H&H) one of those electronic gurus, the children in rejoicing the benefits of eating candy. Haggard was born and Clyde Heckrodt, that is where with him,” Haggard continued. he could repair the CB’s and Phineous Trout is a reporter covering the “Golden Ticket” raised in Elk City. He graduat- the H&H came from,” he ex- ‘They were in the store to- things like that. We set up a lit- story, he is a male between the ages 20 and 50. Charlie Bucket is ed from Elk City High School plained. gether for two or three years tle room in the store for him, in 1968 and continued his Haggard’s father bought before they began diversifying but we ran out of room,” Hag- amale boy ages nine to 12, whois shy and from a modest home. education at Southwestern out his partner which was the business from not only gard said. He seems to be humble and noncompetitive. He is one of the Oklahoma State University. He when Randy stepped in, how- tires, but added batteries, and See Haggard page 2. See Auditions page 2. Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Susie Cupp, and City Manager, Tom Ivester, sign the shovels used for the eS: se 2: sees Sai qe | Pictured are memberrs of the Elk CityChamber of Commerce, Elk City Commissioners Cory Speiker, Rod Carver, Rocky Andre- sen, Rick Shelton, Susie Cupp, Executive Director of the Chamber, City Treasurer Jennifer Rainey, Director of the Arrowhead Center, Matt Bradshaw with Jim Horsburgh and Nicky Klepczyk from Dobson, Inc. Courtesy photo. Dobson Fiber Expands Fiber Internet in Elk City = s l By Sheryl Ponce is unwavering.” "Elk City Commissioner Rick Shelton signs the shovel and According to Ali Clark, Director of Marketing, the company Director of the Arrowhead Ceneter, Matt Bradshaw waits his Dobson Fiber owns and operates regional fiber-optics net- will be working with the utilities that are already established, but turn. Courtesy photo. works in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. It isan Oklahoma based. will be building their own fiber-optics network. company that is privately owned. They broke ground Wednesday “We typically follow the pattern of whatever utility is already afternoon celebrating the start of construction in Elk City. The there. So if the utilities are on a pole or ona line, we will just at- company will expand its fiber internet to Elk City and Clinton. tach it to the poles. If they are in the ground, we will build in the “We have been serving Oklahomans since 1936 and are excit- ground. The difference between us and in our competitor is that ed to bring these communities the best fiber network and fastest we own our own network. They will build one, and we will build residential speeds offered in the United States. We will be deploy- one in Elk City and Clinton. We own the fiber in Oklahoma, so ing a network that has been designed to offer up to 10 gigabits that is the fiber that’s connecting those communities together” per second to residential customers and 100 gigabits per second Clark explained. to business customers,” said Francisco Maella, CEO at Dobson Fi- ‘They are projecting the system will be completed by mid-2023. ber. “Our commitment to launching innovative products and the ‘They will be completing the project by zones. Individuals can go latest technology to underserved markets throughout Oklahoma See Fiber page 2. City Commissioner Rod Carver. Courtesy photo. Vol. 120, No. 52 View online RUHL HH ladon Weather /75 75 cents, 8 pgs. 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