July 22, 2023 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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v, Serving Western Oklahoma 4 Since 1901 Weekend Edition Commissioners Move Forward with ECPD Renovations and new ECED Facility Pictured is Jonah White at a photo shoot as faculty for a dance studio in Florida. Courtesy photo. Pictured is Katie Archer, REES Archeticts, presenting the plans for the ECPD renovations.; Elk City firefighters and chief eye the proposed plans for their new facility. Staff photo by Sheryl Ponce. By Sheryl Ponce ‘The Elk City Commissioners held their regular meeting Wed., July 19th, at 2 p.m., in City Hall with Mayor Cory Spieker presiding. Commissioner Rod Carver and City Manager Tom Ivester did not attend. Spieker opened the meeting with the in- vocation, and Rocky Andresen led the flag salute. located on the GAS property. Ordinance No. 1258: An Ordinance ‘The first item on the agenda was the approval of Ordinance vacating a Right of Way Easement previously dedicated to the No. 1255: An Ordinance changing the zoning classification ofa City of Elk City: providing that invalidity of a part shall not in- tract of land situated in the West Fairview Addition from R-1, validate the remainder; repealing all Ordinances in conflict here- Single Family Residential District to C-2, Highway Commercial with. The item was tabled by Rocky Andresen, which he said he and Commercial Recreation District. This was introduced at the had concerns about it being an easement issue. The ordinance last meeting as a property on 7th Street and the change was to was introduced at the last meeting without questions, ‘The commissioners approved payment to Softchoice for re- Jonah White dances as a Lost Boy in the Festival of expand a daycare. Fantasy Parade at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Cou’- newal of Microsoft licensing for all departments in the amount of ‘The next item was approval of Ordinance No. 1256: An Or- tesy photo. dinance changing the zoning classification of a tract of land $46,045.68, a budgeted item, The renewal price did not increase fromlast year. The commissioners then approved the purchase of Elk City’s Jonah situated in City Tracts 27-11-21 from I-=1, Light Industrial to C-2, Highway Commercial and Commercial Recreation District. a new unused 2023 Vactor Truck with a camera in the amount of ‘This was also introduced at the last meeting, for the purpose of $588,357. This purchase was not budgeted, but because the two trucks that the city is operating now are old, 20 years old and 14 White to Tour with opening a daycare located east of the Lincoln Teen Center. The commissioners approved Ordinance No. 1257: An Ordi- years old, and in need of repairs. Katie Archer then presented the commissioners with the nance vacating lot lines of Block 21 of the Original Township to proposed renovations for the Elk City Police Department. She ‘Monster High Live’ the City of Elk City: Providing that invalidity ofa part shall not showed diagrams and talked about what changes that the REES invalidate the remainder, repealing all Ordinances in conflict Architect firm is proposing and why. The commissioners ap- herewith. This ordinance was also introduced at the first meet- ing of the month, It is located on the GAS property. ‘The commissioners tabled the next ordinance, which is also See Archer page 2. By Sheryl Ponce Chosen to be one of 11 cast members, Jonah White earned the spot out of 700 who auditioned for the part with ECPS Superintendent Named District “Monster High Live.” The show will begin touring in Sept. in arenas and theatres across North America. To follow the tour, go to www.monsterhighlive.com/events to see the lat- est cities and dates. 12 Administrator of the Year ‘This is a national tour, based on the Mattel doll brand, ‘Monster High!’ I am portraying one of the one of the dolls from the famous movies, the web series, and the doll brand,” White said. By Sheryl Ponce minutes telling them where they were in the book” He will be part of building the show from the ground up Sparks began teaching like he believed the subject should be and starting along the East Coast. ‘They will be doing a few Elk City's Superintendent Mike Sparks and his wife, Michele, taught, which was making the students part of the lesson. performances and then move on to the next town. attended the Oklahoma Association of School Superintendent's “I'm not saying I did a great job, but the kids were part of the “We will be bussed to the next city, and the next day we Conference where he was presented the District 12’s Administra- lesson. The day I was done student teaching, that group of kids will have a day off. Then we hit the ground running the next tor of the Year award. He earned the award by being voted on by gave me this bat (holding the engraved bat). I’ve never forgotten day after that,” he continued, other superintendents within the district. Sparks gives credit for that if we will allow our kids to be a part of the lesson, talk with Although it is a cast of 11, they will be playing in large the award to his staff and their hard work. us and us not talk at them, it works a lot better for all of us. So arena venues. For White, this show will be larger than any- “In all honesty, I would like to think that it (the award) means Tve always kept this,” he said. thing else he has done besides the Civic Center Music Hall in that it is because of the work our teachers and our kids have done. ‘This was Spark’s first experience in the classroom, and that Oklahoma City and with some of the biggest crowds. It’s their gains and the improvements is why somebody's noticing seems to be representative of how he views education. ‘This is a “This is probably some of the biggest crowds I've ever what we're doing as a school district. If getting this award shines lesson in how he leads the district as superintendent. been in front of. At Disney there’s always people, but they’re alight on the great things that our teachers are doing, it is a good “| think my job is to make sure I support the teachers. The going in and out of your shows. All theme parks are like that thing,” Sparks said. other part of this is telling everyone what a great job that Elk because a lot of our shows are outside. It is something that He went on to say that he isn’t the one who gets to be in front City is doing,” he continued. you can watch you, and then walk away from whenever you of the students every day, and he misses that part of his job. He Sparks told the school board how happy he is to live in Elle want,” White said. loved teaching history and being a coach. Sparks was named High City because it is a town that he doesn't worry about leaving his He continued to say that with this show, he will be re- School Teacher of the Year for his district, and he was a District children. They can go anywhere and have fun. He has not found that in other towns, but as he drives through the park or around turning to his Oklahoma City University roots to do it. Teacher of the Year for Anadarko. Those awards were important, “[ will be singing, dancing, and acting, that is using al fac- but he holds a bat given to him by his third hour students at Put- town, he sees kids having fun. “[ grew up in western Oklahoma, and I can remember being ets of my music theater degree. The show is similar to what it nam City High School his most prized award. feels like but on a larger scale. It is the largest scale that I've “In 1994 I was doing my student teaching in a history class at told western Oklahoma was different, I think it’s hard sometimes to explain that to somebody that’s never been here. When I saw gotten to do so far,” he added. Putnam City High School,” Sparks began to explain. “The teacher had the kids read out of the book, then she would wait until she my kid at the 66 Sweet Spot, he was having the time of his life White went to the audition on a public casting call after found a kid that wasn’t paying attention. She would call on him. See White page 2. Of course, he didn’t know where he was. We would spend five See Sparks page 2. LU LHI Weather QQ / 75 Vol. 120, No. 61 Mail delivery View online ATE I aD tomorrow b 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com