March 8, 2025 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025 Weekend Edition Commissioners Take on Full Agenda to Two Face-Off Approve Projects Progress Payments By Sheryl Ponce the commission about the property, say- ing that the ownership of the property is proved declaring the structure at 800 E. 1st, to be dilapidated without discus- in Ward 3 The Elk City Commissioners met for their regular meeting, Monday evening, March 3rd, at 7 p.m., in City Hall. All in question. The person who owned it passed away, and one relative has been taking care of it, but she is not the legal sion. The structure the commissioners voted on was a mobile home located at 420 S. Elk. The owner and Nix looked Commission Race commissioners were present. Mayor owner. The city attorney told the com- over the structure and both agreed that By Sheryl Ponce each answered the same questions Cory Spieker gave the invocation, and missioners how to proceed with the it need to be removed. The owner will that were asked of the mayoral Rocky Andresen led the flag salute, after issue. No action was taken during the be arranging to have it removed, while On April 1st, Rocky Andresen candidates, as well as the Ward 2 which they opened a public hearing for hearing portion of the meeting. the commissioners approved declaring will defend his position as Ward 3 commissioner race. This is the last a dilapidated building as notified at 800 They then approved the minutes from it to be dilapidated. Commissioner against opponent in the series of races for three of E. 1st. the Feb. 19th, meeting and went on to Nick Lenius. the positions open on the Elk City City Inspector Gary Nix addressed the first item on the agenda. They ap- See AGENDA page 2 The two Elk City residents have Commission. Andresen has Rocky Andresen been active with the youth pro- Being born in Elk City, Rocky grams in Elk City, Andresen was raised in Canute having helped to and graduated from Canute High get soccer start- School. He married Linda Cher- ANDRESEN ed. He worked venka in1971, and they moved on the Summer to Elk City to make their home. Youth Board for four years, and Andresen went to work for PSO during that time they worked in 1972, and retired after 35 years with baseball, swimming, ten- of dedication to the company. nis and other sporting groups PSO was not only his profession in town. He initiated the soccer but his life in Elk City, as well as in program in town. He was also in- Western Oklahoma. volved in the Elk City Jaycees, as About a year after he retired well as spending four years coach- from PSO, he sold insurance with ing baseball, summer baseball, the Western Oklahoma Insurance and recreational soccer. Agency for the following 15 years. What goals do you have for He is now completely retired and Elk City? enjoys following his grandson, “I want Elk City to stay pro- Ryder, on the golf circuit. gressive. I want us to keep moving Roadwork Doesn’t Slow Downtown Growth Rocky and Linda have two children. Jared is married to Gin- forward, we’ve done such a good job here lately being progressive in every aspect, too. I think we with Main Street Market’s Grand Opening ger, and they have one daughter, Meg. Their other child is Jill. She is married to Sean Cowan, and always have to be focused on our youth and what can we do for the By Sheryl Ponce daughter to they have two children, Ryder and Teresa and Palmer. See ANDRESEN page 3 Last Saturday, Magaly Bi- Sergio Queza- eri held the grand opening of da. When Bi- communication her new business, Main Street Market, located at 115 N. Main eri decided to take on the Nick Lenius and transpar- ency. I want Elk in Elk City. She took over BIERI market, her Weatherford High School grad- City to grow, but Memaw’s from Debbie Scott, family jumped uate, Nick Lenius, continued his also to be mind- who wanted to spend more in to fully support her new en- education at SWOSU and grad- ful of its heri- time with her grandchildren. deavor. She was already a ven- uated with a BS in business man- LENIUS tage, and how the The store transitioned to Bieri dor with Memaw’s and her E & agement in 2005. He married community feels, on Feb. 5th, but before they E Garage, which was one rea- Julie 19 years ago, and they have but we’ve got to grow. The way opened, Magaly’s husband son she was ready to take over three children, Nixon, Owen, and to do that and keep everybody Neal, put in several walls for the market. Amberlee. Lenius is the son of happy is to have communication, vendors in the business. “There are 25 vendors, and Russ and Nancy Lenius of Weath- explaining to people why we’re Magaly and Neal are the par- each have a unique style. About erford. doing some of the things and ents of Eliza and Ellie. Magaly See MARKET page 3 In April of 2006, Lenius moved how it cannot only benefit them, is sister to Yajaira Zuniga, and his family to Elk City where he but benefit the community as a worked for the Bank of Western whole.” Oklahoma for eight years. He What changes do you see for St. Matthew’s Fish Fry Starts then went out on his own with an IT company. After ten years he went to work for Great Plains the future of Elk City? “I’d like to see communication be the primary change, and then By Sheryl Ponce their youth. Friday evenings from beans, homemade desserts, and a Bank in 2018, as their IT Security I want to see our city take more 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning March drink. The cost for the dinner is $15 Director, which is his current po- advantage of technologies that For six consecutive Fridays, St. 7th, and continuing March 14th, for adults, $10 for students, and un- sition. When he is not attending are available around the commu- Matthew’s Catholic Church, locat- 21st, 28th, April 4th, and April der five-years-old are free. They will his children’s activities, Lenius can nication pieces. I don’t think we ed at 3001 E. Highway 66 Access 11th. They will serve an all-you- accept cash, checks, and credit cards. be found at the golf course. use our online presence very well, Road, will be offering their annual can-eat fish dinner. Go support St. Matthew’s youth What goals do you have for whether it’s social media or our Fish Fry to the public. Each year The dinner consists of fish, fries, program and get a homecooked, Elk City? See LENIUS page 3 they conduct the fundraiser for hushpuppies, coleslaw, homemade all-you-can-eat meal. “My main goal for Elk City is President Lovell Boasts Great Things Happening at SWOSU By Sheryl Ponce versity was vice-pres- graduates who graduated from Elk City go straight to the hospital to fulfill the Degree Nursing, we have every possible ident Chad Kender High School enrolled, and 22 graduate need. allied health, physical therapy, occupa- The Elk City Rotarians heard about who is responsible for students who graduated from ECHS. “When we think of SWOSU, I’d real- tional therapy, Rad Tech, Medical lab the new pharmacy building, concur- strategic partnerships. Because there is a need for surgical ly like you to think that we are STEM tech, and we’re looking more at adding rent enrollment, and rural health care Lovell began by techs in the medical field, SWOSU has strong, stronger than you could ever respiratory therapy,” Lovell said. at Southwestern Oklahoma University talking about concur- partnered with Great Plains Region- imagine. For a rural institution, just a The university is a rural institution from their president Dr. Diane Lovell LOVELL rent enrollment with al Medical Center to set an agreement little under 600 medically related de- with 5200 students and are STEM during their regular noon meeting last area school districts. for training. The hospital will be pro- grees were issued last year. We have strong. There are a lot of medically re- week. The meeting was opened by Ro- She said that Elk City is third in en- viding classroom space, the lab or sur- given over 600 credentials. That’s every- lated degrees, which is a critical work- tarian president Rob Stephens, then Ba- rollment behind Piedmont and Yukon. gical suite, and SWOSU will provide a thing from a PharmD down to surgical force across the state. Lovell went on to sil Weatherly introduced Lovell as his This year there are 74 Elk City students full-time instructor. The partnership tech. So we have associate degrees, we guest speaker. Joining her from the uni- in concurrent enrollment, 315 under- will give students the opportunity to have doctoral degrees, we have Master’s See SWOSU page 2 Weather Vol. Vol. 117,121, No.No. 54 10 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 77 / 77 75 75 cents, cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com