March 30, 2024 Issue, Page 1 of 30

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Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekend Edition Crematory Concerns Spark Planning and Zoning Board Hearing and Final Decision Kristi Mouse / un Jalen Momoh SW OK AREA REP SWOSU FCA SW FCA Champions All-Star Banquet Coming Up By Sheryl Ponce SW OK Area Representative, Kristi Mouse, announced the annual FCA Champions All Star Banquet will be held April 14th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Elk City Golf and Coun- Chris Whinery presentation at planning and zoning board. try Club. The public is invited to the event that will honor the coaches and athletes in the area who have been influential on By Sheryl Ponce crematory to the property tory would negatively affect crematory. The ones Dugger and off the field. from the Duggers on Friday, property values and the noise, mentioned were carbon diox- ‘The keynote speaker for the evening will be Jalen Momoh Elk City’s Chris Whinery’s March 22nd. ‘he letter out- traffic, and visual impact could ide (CO2), particulate matter He is a former SWOSU football player and well-known moti- recent permit request concern- lined a series of concerns that diminish the overall quality of (PM), volatile organic com- vational speaker. He has spoken during various FCA events, ing the construction of a cre- they had concerning the con- life. He also wrote that com- pounds (VOCs), Oxides of Ni- including high school and college teams. Momoh also has his matory was the only item on struction of the crematory munity perception would be trogen (NOX), Oxides of Sulfur own brand that includes inspirational and impactful videos the agenda at the Tues, March within the limits of Elk City. a problem because Elk City is (SOX), and Toxic Air Contami- that air every Monday on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and 26th, Elk City Planning and It said that the project poses known to be friendly and fam- nants (TACs). Facebook. The evening will also include the FCA ministry Zoning Board, at 6 p.m., in City significant risks to the com- ily oriented. The project would Dugger concluded the letter through the worship team and talks from local FCA athletic Hall. The area has been zoned munity. alter that image. by asking the board to recon- leaders. C-2, Highway Commercial Johnson read the letter Dugger also said in the sider the permit approval and Mouse is looking for sponsors for the banquet to help con- and Commercial Recreation of protest at the beginning of letter that there should be said that the neighborhood has tinue the momentum of FCA in the area. Those sponsorships District, since 1995. ‘The issue the hearing. Dugger was not alternative locations for the changed since the approval of include $325 food sponsor; $200 gift sponsor for coaches and became under scrutiny with a present to talk on the matter crematory. He urged the the C-2 zoning classification in written protest from Richard directly to the board. Johnson board to consider areas away 1991 See Banquet page 2 and Tammy Dugger of Mar- read the letter in its entirety. from residential zone, parks, After reading the letter, Johnson asked for anyone who Elk City Chamber of tin - Dugger Funeral Home. ‘The concerns Dugger wrote and schools. It should be in a After hearing from both sides included health and environ- commercial area. He was also wished to speak against the of the proposed construction, mental concerns. The letter concerned with regulation proposal to come before the the board voted to approve a stated that crematories emit crematory being located in a pollutants that include mer- and oversight. He said that although it can operate safely board to give them their opin- ion on the subject. Haley Price Commerce Annual Easter Egg C-2 Highway Commercial and cury, particulate matter and under proper regulations, stepped up and told them her Commercial Recreation zon- volatile organic compounds there needs to be overseeing to concerns about the crematory, ing. and the proposed project is protect the community, as well which would be located behind ‘The chairman of the Plan- ning and Zoning Board, Tom near residential areas. ‘The next concern was about as regular monitoring. He also provided a list of her home. “I understood that there Hunt & Shop Hop Johnson, received the letter property values and quality of pollutants that he believed protesting the addition of a life. He believes the crema- would be emitted from the See Spark page 2. ‘The Elk City Chamber of Commerce announces the Annual Elk City Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 30 beginning at lpm in Ackley Park. Children between the ages of 1 - 10 are invited to partici- Restoration Continues at Museum pate in the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt. ‘There will be 12,000 candy-filled eggs hidden in designated ar- eas of Ackley Park. Admission is Free to all participants. Visit the Easter Bunny at Ackley Park for pictures after the Easter Egg Hunt. Families are encouraged to bring their cam- eras. Thank you to the Easter Bunny for always hopping over to help with our egg hunt and thank you to the First Assembly of God Church for volunteering to hide all the eggs and helping us with our age divisions. Also, thank you to the City of Elk City’s Parks Department for their help and the Police Depart- ment for their help starting the hunt. Before the Hunt all kids can visit the Link's Eggstravaganza which will be located directly across from the Carousel in Ack- ley Park from 11am-2pm. The Link's organizers will be giving away free hotdogs, cotton candy and drinks while supplies last. A giant bounce house and games will also be available for kids to enjoy. Also, don’t miss the Annual Shop Hop on Thursday, March Dean Codner working on the Opera House sign 28...watch for the colorful Easter Egg Posters in the windows of the participating businesses. They will be open ‘til 7pm! By Sheryl Ponce Codner had to return to Tonkawa on Monday to start a soft- Shop to win a large Easter basket full of goodies from various ball fence graphics for Northern College. He plans on returning merchants that will be given away on Friday, March 29 at 12:00 In continuing to update and restore the Route 66 and Old in about three weeks to continue some projects that have been pm. You do not have to be present to win and the winner will ‘Town Museum Complex, Dean Codner returned to Elk City for a slated for this spring. be notified. The Easter Bunny will be downtown at Shop Hop Codner’s work has been seen at the airport, and other Route from 5-6:30 pm on the corner of Main & Broadway in front of brief period to repaint the signage at the Opera House. He had to 66 signs in Elk City. Additionally, he has worked on the basket- the Chamber office...bring you cameras! complete the restoration in what seemed like record time, due to ball courts and Chicken Express signs. He is talented in complet- the gusty Western Oklahoma winds. He used a bucket lift to get ing large projects that many times are larger and higher than any For more information, please contact the Elk City Chamber to the top of the sign, which became too dangerous last Sunday. other artists will tackle. of Commerce at 580-225-0207. Vol. 120, No. 14 Weather tomorrow 68 / 49 75 cents, 12 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com