September 24, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 14

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a Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekend Edition Oklahoma City Philharmonic on the Books for December By Sheryl Ponce ‘The Arts Council of Elk City announced that the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra is slated to be performing on Dec. 14th at the Kelli O'Hara Performing Arts Center or Pioneer Center. Under the musical direction of Alexander Mickelth- wate, the theme is called “Orchestrating Passion.” Several years ago they performed a Christmas show that was a sellout. This show should be the same. They are currently looking for corporate sponsors that will also be awarded spe- cial seating. Contact Basil Weatherly at 580-821-2795 for more information about supporting the show. This show has been deemed a “coming home” show for the holiday season where families gather to make memories that will last a lifetime. The program of holiday favorites and magi- cal sounds of the season seem to bring families home to enjoy each other. This can be one show to put on the calendar as a must do for this Christmas season. ‘The Art's Council needs the support of the community to continue to bring such notable programs to Elk City. This in- cludes making reservations early, donating to the show, and providing corporate sponsorships to make the season glow. Dec. 14th is the date to mark as a family Christmas outing. QR Codes Tell Tourists and Locals About the Town and Events By Sheryl Ponce By Sheryl Ponce High School Watercolor division winners were Sayre's Emily ‘The Elk City Chamber and Convention and Visitors’ Bureau are Easter in first, Jordan Stamper from Sayre was second, third went turning to QR codes to let tourists and others know about what ‘The 49th Annual Fall Festival of the Arts was held last weekend to Kelton’s Ashlyn Akemon, and fourth place went to Sayre’s Sa- is going on around town. This new method of communication al- hosting local vendors, as well as those from across the state. Local vannah Hill. lows more information to be shared with a little box of black im- high school artists were also featured in the festival. The results Graphics I category winners were Kelton’s Stacy Herring in first ages. of high school art were as follows. place, Sayre’s Emily Easter in second, third place went to Maribel QR stands for Quick Response Code, and according to Wiki- ‘The Best of Show in High School Art went to Bianca Rivera Ramirez from Elk City, and in fourth place was Becky Yang from pedia it is a type of barcode invented in 1994 by the Japanese Elk City. Noblitt from Elk City. Other high school winners in the Oil/Acryl- ‘The Graphics II division winners were Sayre’s Caleb Bentley in auto company Denso Wave. It contains information about an ic division were Kash Long from Kelton, Tx., taking first place, item that it is attached to, and sometimes it is a website or an ap- Roquel Lopez from Kelton, took second place, Cheyenne’s Manu- first, Kelton’s Daniel Perez in second, third went to August Pruitt plication. They are used to store data efficiently and can be read el Valdez came in third, and Sayre’s Simone Perry got fourth. See Awards page 2. with an imaging device like a camera. The information is then extracted from the patterns in the code. Because of the efficiency and ability for universal use, the QR Elk City Education Foundation codes are being used more and more at museums, in magazines, and for instructions. They are even being used by UPS as pick-up and delivery information. Kicks Off Fundraising Drive Elk City Chamber and Convention and Visitors’ Bureau has dis- played a “Welcome to your Next Adventure” flyer around town for everyone to access information about activities, attractions, the calendar, events, hotels, restaurants, shops, and their web- site. To access the codes, focus the phone camera or QR code app By Sheryl Ponce grant was for a CNC cutter that was given to the ag department on the QR code, tap the box focused in the camera, and it will go for Mr. and Mrs. Dillinger. It was a plasma cutter,” he said. to the information or website that has what is being looked for. President of the Elk City Education Foundation (ECEF), Darin ‘The Education Foundation was established in 1990 by the late Schmidt, announced the annual foundation fundraising efforts Larry Wade. It is made up of nine board members and two ex- Phones function differently according to brand and version of the have begun. Each year the officers reach out to local businesses officio members who are the superintendent and assistant super- phone, so a person needs to experiment or Google how it works and individuals to donate to the foundation. Their goal is to raise intendent. Since the beginning they have awarded $1,330,958 in with their particular phone. ‘The activities code will go to the Visit Elk City site that says, around $35,000 by the middle of November. grants for specific classroom resources. “All Entertainment.” A person can search what he/she is looking “We hope to award around $67,500 in grants. Last year we The 501(c)(8) was established on Jan. 5, 1990, to raise the for or scroll down to see the different categories. Those include awarded $64,300 in grants or 13 grants. Typically, there are prob- funds for Elk City Public Schools. The first grant that was award- the Centennial Carousel, the Red Carpet Community ‘Theatre, ably 10 to 15 grants, and there are always more grant requests ed that year was in the amount of $2000. Flix on 6 Movie Theater, Elk City Pioneer Center, Elk City Moto- than there are funds,” Schmidt said. “The Foundation has a little over a million and a half dollars, cross Track, and Beutler Brothers Rodeo Arena. He went on to explain the application process. Assistant Su- and we are allowed to give up to half of our annual fundraising, Another example is the hotels’ code. It goes to the “All Lodg- perintendent Cindy Buckmaster coordinates the applications, plus our investment earnings in grants. All of the money is in- ing” site with categories such as hotels, outdoor camping, and RV giving them to three grant readers. Those readers are anonymous, vested in safe investments. We hope with the interest rate envi- camping. Scrolling down the page, it goes to specific hotels with retired teachers who go through the grants and choose the re- ronment that we are seeing now, we'll be able to have investment photos. Click on a specific hotel, and a person will go to that ho- cipients. In January or February, the grants will be awarded in income to award in grants. Interest rates have been low for the tel’s photo that has information, photos, the map, and contacts. an assembly. last few years, so earnings have not been that great. We are hop- For everyone who wants to visit Elle City, it could be valuable in- “The biggest thing I've noticed over the over the past 10 years, ing that over the next few years we will be able to see more and formation about accommodations, since I have been involved, is in the amount of technology we've more of that investment income,” Schmidt said. According to Executive Director of the Chamber, Susie Cupp, added back to the classroom. iPad carts and Chromebooks have ‘The foundation has no expenses, and all the officers are volun- this is the beginning of using the QR codes. They will be expand- been awarded. If we go back and total that up, there has been alot teers donating their time and efforts to bring more resources to ing their use at different sites and locations around town. She of dollars in technology put back into classroom that otherwise the Elk City Public School's classrooms. hopes this will be beneficial to visitors, as well as the community had not been there. Every year we're still short because we are See Fundraising page 2. See OR page 2, still giving out a lot of Chromebooks and iPads. Last year’s big AL Weather tomorrow 88/ Vol. 120, No. 76 75 cents, 14 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com