February 8, 2025 Issue, Page 1 of 16

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2025 Weekend Edition Elk City High School Presents ‘Annie’ By Sheryl Ponce door. ‘The cast consists of Annie - Brooks; Pepper - Holly Agu- Aisha, Lucy, and Sofia Espi- ‘This timeless show is filled Lexi Snyder; Oliver Warbucks ilar; July - Addyson Dungan; nosa. ‘The Elk City High School with well known songs, such - Thomas Wiesner; Miss Han- and Duffy - Tatum Grubitz. Make plans to be a part of musical department has been as “Easy Street,” and directed nigan - Sereen Green; Roost- Those in the Ensemble this production and support rehearsing for months and by Allyson Thomas and cho- er - Abner Reyes; Lily St. Re- are Aaliyah Salazar, Brian- the local arts by attending will finally present the show, reographed by Jamie Swart- gis - Valentina Fierro; Grace na Decker, Caylor, Cameron one of the three performanc- “Annie” There are three per- wood, The entire production Farrell - Addison Jones; Bert Olavenson, Christina Muniz, es remaining. Each ticket formances that open Feb. 7th meets the high standards Healy - Connor Beebe; Roos- Jairo Vasquez, Jenna Har- purchases gives these stu- and 8th, at 7 p.m., and a mat- Kelli O'Hara Performing Arts expected from the talented evelt - Mathew Harper; Mol- ris, Lily Ferrell, Luis Arrieta, dents the opportunity to con- inee performance on Feb. 9th Center located at 1221 N. Pi- group of high school musi- ly - Eveyln; Kate - Jasmine Natilee Youngbull, Peyton tinue to be a part of the arts at 3 p.m. These will be at the oneer. Tickets are $10 at the cals. Espinoza; Tessie - Makenzie Webb, Sara Werth, Abigail, in Elk City. Two Throw Their Hats in Mayor Race By Sheryl Ponce McAbee and Micah Killhof- fer will be vying for the of- Elk City residents will be fice. Both individuals have voting for a new mayor on already announced their Tuesday, April Ist. Voter candidacy on social media, registration for this election as well as local podcasts. is March 7th; absentee bal- Each one sat down and lot requests will be March answered questions about 17th; and early voting will Elk City, their goals, and take place March 27th and qualifications for the po- 28th, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. sition, Both of them were Two candidates have de- asked the same questions, clared their intentions to those questions and an- Pictured is Kenneth Hart at the Outdoor Classroom event for area fifth graders in 2021. It is hosted at the North Fork Environmental Education Center run for the office. Shannon swers follow. located just north of town. His service in education continued through his involvement with the Conservation District. Micah Kilhoffer North Fork of Red River Conservation District As a 2002 Elk City High would not School graduate, Micah be able to Announces Kenneth Hart Memorial Scholarship Kilhoffer continued his ed- ucation at SWOSU where | move for- ward with By Sheryl Ponce “Kenneth embodied an attitude of he contributed his expertise as a leader. he was awarded an art the agency service in all areas of his life that is to He gave to others freely and without scholarship. Initially, he [lp gli) unless he ‘The Board of Directors of the North be exemplified” Jimmy Smith, Board wanting acknowledgment for his con- explored various art cours- uu wogeeR ‘Moved and Fork of Red River Conservation Dis- Chairman wrote to the Beckham Coun- tributions. es but ultimately found his earned ad- trict have decided to establish a Ken- ty school districts in his announcement Those eligible to be awarded the passion in parks and recre- ditional credentials. neth Hart Memorial Scholarship to of the scholarship. scholarship must be a senior enrolled ation management, earning He then went to work honor the late Kenneth Hart. He has Hart served as principal of Fairview in a school within Beckham County. his Bachelor of Science de- for the City of Elk City, given his time and service to the com- Elementary School in Elk City for 34 ‘Those districts include Elk City, Erick, gree in the process. Kilhof- hoping to move into the munity by serving on the Conservation years. He also served on numerous oth- fer expressed enthusiasm parks department. He District for 18 years, joining in 2006. er boards in the community, in which See SCHOLARSHIP page 3 for his coursework, which started at the wastewater included a requirement of treatment plant gaining in- 500 internship hours. He valuable experience before Rep. Archer Gives Rotarians Legislative Update completed this at the Unit- seizing the opportunity to ed States Forest Service in become the parks superin- Cheyenne. While he loved the job, he knew that he See KILHOFFER page 3 By Sheryl Ponce Way Test, and announcements. He then cifically, as far as getting some of the state introduced the speaker for the day, who and federal dollars right here in Beckham The Elk City Rotarians met for their was District 55 Representative Nick Ar- County into Elk City. Specifically, we've Shannon McAbee regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 30th, at cher. seen some of that progress, which start- noon in the Elk City Golf and Country “Sve greatly enjoyed serving House Dis- ed with the new terminal and project at As a graduate of Senti- over the Club. President Rob Stephens welcomed trict 55 constituents and people over the the airport. That’ a several million-dollar nel High School, McAbee years into the members and opened the meeting last two years. In my first term, we were continued his education at building with invocation, song, flag salute, the Four able to do quite a bit for the district, spe- See UPDATE page 2 SWOSU where he earned homes. He an accounting degree and | continues obtained his CPA. Out of to renovate Elk City Rotary Celebrates 100 Years of Service college, he went to Ponca McABEE homes, City to work in Conocos build hous- accounting department. es, and remains in the rental By Sheryl Ponce Supreme Court Bar and the Okla- men’ only organization, the group Wanting to return to West- and commercial real estate homa Bar Association. He has been transformed with the times to al- ern Oklahoma, McAbee appraisal business. The Elk City Rotary Club began a Rotarian since 1979. Burton has low women into their group. The took a position with Eden McAbee is the father of in 1925 with Harry C. Powell serv- served as district governor; a Coun- club has been instrumental in es- and Spowls accounting three children. His oldest ing as president. Feb. 13th the group cil on Legislation representative in tablishing several programs for Elk office, then went to Great son, Chase is married to will celebrate their 100 years with a 1992 and 1995; Rotary International City. One of those that began in the Plains Regional Medical Demi, and they have two ROBERT special dinner and meeting in the Foundation Trustee; and a member 1960s was Meals on Wheels, which Center as their control- children, one son, Tucker ‘STEPHENS Elk City Golf and Country Club at of the Board of Directors, serving as. was not funded with state or fed- ler. Three months later he and a daughter, Leighton. 7 p.m., with Ron Burton, former the chair of the Executive Commit- eral money. Another project that was promoted to the Chief ‘They live in Piedmont. His President of Rotary International tee, Administration Committee, and began in the 1960s was franchising Financial Officer. He re- second son is Rhett, who and member of the Rotary Club of Audit Committee. He has received the Miss Queen of the West and the mained in that position for is married to Kammie, and Norman, as the guest speaker. numerous service awards within the Miss Elk City contests. Both of these the next ten years and then they have one girl, Palm- Burton retired as the President organization. major projects remain active, with began appraising real estate. er. They make their home and Chief Executive Officer of the ‘The Elk City Rotarians have been the Elk City Rotarians making a McAbee and his partner, in Woodward. McAbee's University of Oklahoma Founda- a force in community from the be- Jeff Jackson, began buying RON BURTON tion, Inc. He is a member of the U.S. ginning. Although it began as a See 100 page 2 rental property, which grew See McABEE page 3 Happy 100th Birthday Elk City Rotary Club! a Il Il, Weather tomorrow S943 Vol. 121, No. 6 75 cents, Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com