July 12, 2025 Issue, Page 10 of 12

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NEWS 10• SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025 The Elk City News First Responders Celebrated at August Block Party By Sheryl Ponce local first responders. The ECPD, for wonderful back to school EMS, and ECFD will be there for deals. The next Block Party spon- a meet and greet. Mark the calendar for Aug. 1st. sored by the Elk City Chamber of The weekend of Aug. 1st also Plan to grab a bite, a great deal, Commerce will take place August kicks off the state-wide Tax-Free and meet local heroes. For more 1st. Once again there will be live Weekend. It will be an evening information about the event, music, vendors and food. This is full of fun and great opportu- contact the Elk City Chamber of also an opportunity to meet the nities to shop in the local stores Commerce. Arrowhead Academy Enrollment Open By Sheryl Ponce more. They will also be provid- ing homework help, as well as The new school year is right recreation, team building, and around the corner and the Ar- character development. rowhead Center has announced For those kids interested they that enrollment for the 2025- may also participate in sport- 2026 Arrowhead Academy is ing opportunities, such as vol- now open. They are welcoming leyball, futsal, basketball, and returning and new families to cheer. Now is not the time to the academy, although spots are delay. Apply for this opportuni- SPURLOCK limited and the program fills up quickly. ty to be a part of the Arrowhead community of learning, play- Continued from page 1 To apply for the fall semester, ing, and self-development. The academy offers after go to Elk Sports Facebook page school programs for children For more information call down a new road. and follow the link there, or use the Arrowhead Center or reach Spurlock opened his Elk City in the first through fifth grades. the provided QR code to access There’s hands-on learning in out to Courtland Wood at practice in 1980, choosing the the application. [email protected]. town for its people and feel. “I STEM, art, sign-language, and liked the people. I’ve never been sorry a minute that I came here.” Over four decades, he became part of the fabric of the commu- nity—treating parents, their chil- dren, and eventually their grand- children. His hands-on approach Candidate Filing Begins For extended beyond humans; Spur- lock was known to adjust calves in the backs of pickups and even the occasional dog or family pet Board Of Education whose owners just knew “some- morning flights, weekends at the Candidate filing for the by logging into the OK Voter September 9th. If one candi- thing wasn’t quite right.” airfield, and helping fellow pilots Board of Education for Erick Portal at https://oklahoma. date receives more than 50% Chiropractic care became out of jams or just into a fresh School District begins Mon- gov/election ovp.html. In- of the votes, that candidate a family tradition. “My oldest cup of coffee in Altus. “To me, day, July 28th. formation on the Voter Reg- will be named the elected of- daughter followed in my foot- to go out and fly for an hour and Those who wish to file for istration Verification Form ficial. If only one candidate steps at Palmer [College], prac- a half, looking around at how a Board of Education office must match the information files then they will automat- ticed for 25 years,” Spurlock said, the crops are, what’s going on— must submit a Declaration of provided on the Declaration ically receive appointment of pride unmistakable in his voice. that’s something else. I’ve never Candidacy to the Beckham of Candidacy. office. The walls of his office are lined seen this much rain in June. It’s County Election Board July Sherron Manning, Secre- Declarations of Candidacy with more than 2,000 hats—oil- beautiful. Green is unrealistical- 28th, 29th or 30th, between tary of the Beckham County will be accepted for the fol- field, farm, company, and keep- ly green here.” In the hangar and the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Election Board, reminds can- lowing offices: sakes from decades of Elk City the exam room alike, Dr. Spur- Candidate filing packets are didates that Contests of Can- Erick School District, Of- patients. “Most of these hats lock’s curiosity and willingness available on the State Election didacy must be filed no later fice No. 5 came from patients over the to try something new set him Board website at https://okla- than Friday, August 1st by 5 For more information, years. There’s a lot up here on apart. homa.gov/elect1ons/candi- p.m. and may only be filed contact your County Election the walls that aren’t around any- So what’s next for Dr. Spur- dates/cand1date-filing.html by another candidate for that Board office at 580-928-3314 more,” he said. “History in a very in pitching in wherever some- lock? “I don’t know what’s next,” and at the County Election office. Contests against un- or beckhamcounty@elec- interesting way.” During our con- thing needed doing. he laughed. “I guess I’ll find out Board. opposed candidates may be tions.ok.gov. versation, we joked about calling Spurlock’s love for people is when I get up. I’m not going to In addition to the Declara- filed by contacting the Coun- The Beckham County Elec- the phone numbers on some of matched only by his passion sit up and drink beer and watch tion of Candidacy, candidates ty Election Board. tion Board is located at 306 E. those hats from the boom years, for flight. A licensed pilot since TV. I’ve got things I’d like to do, must also submit a Voter Reg- If more than two candi- Main St., Sayre and is open just to see who might answer in 1959, he has spent years hop- I think, and I’ll just take my time istration Verification Form, dates file for the same Board from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., this town that’s expanded and ping from one small airport to and do what I want.” which can be obtained from of Education seat, a Special Monday through Friday. contracted with the oil business. another, collecting stories and As Elk City says goodbye to a the County Election Board or Election will be held Tuesday, What truly set Dr. Spurlock’s new views of Oklahoma. “I’ve trusted friend, craftsman, neigh- practice apart was his approach been flying since 1959,” he said. bor, and healthcare provider, it’s to care and community. “I want- “About ready to tie that up, too.” not just the end of an era. It’s a immediate resolution, local pro- grams are funded from different ed to have an office my mother could go to and be happy with. I He explained the tradition of “$100 hamburgers”—what pi- reminder of what makes small towns special—a neighbor who FREEZE grams may be forced to reduce offerings or delay fall classes. federal sources. Western Technology Center didn’t go into it for all the mon- lots call flying to another small sticks around, a doctor whose Continued from page 1 airport just for lunch, a perfect story is interwoven with the There is no indication the administrators are monitoring ey schemes. I just wanted to be funds were redirected to other the situation and awaiting fur- a good chiropractor,” he said. He excuse to keep flying, stay sharp, community, and a legacy that wide, many of whom are working and see the ever-changing Okla- will keep on growing, just like programs, such as the recently ther instruction. Until funding is built much of the reception fur- toward high school equivalency homa landscape from above. the hats on the wall and the sto- announced universal free school released, adult education efforts niture himself, always believing or gaining the basic skills needed He recalls a lifetime of early ries that come with them. lunch initiative. The two pro- across the region remain in limbo. for better employment. Without MUSEUM to item ten, which was the property located at 1319 W. 1st, to declare it eral items for the commissioners. He said that the July 4th celebration they’ve had to adjust the pressure coming out. Construction at the airport termi- nal to work for the city. He hopes there any weeknight. And I think with that being consistent and Continued from page 1 a dilapidated building. It had been in Ackley Park was a success with- The numbers at the pool, which that Whittington can do the re- growing, I think fencing is needed tabled since Dec. 2024. The owner out injury, but there were two fire have been hampered by the weath- quired inspections, as well as be the out there for safe reasons,” he said. The next item was tabled un- was present and asked for more incidents, and a couple of warnings er, were from June 9th to July 6th, inspector through the bid process. He also said that because the til the July 16th, meeting because time to remove debris and work on were issued. He also reported that 13,446 people have gone through He will also be able to oversee the World Cup will be held in the Unit- the Change Order #9 from WP the electrical in the house. They ta- they had two tournaments at the the facility. There have been three Animal Control office. ed States, it will be important to Construction LLC for termi- bled it until the Sept. 2nd meeting. 5-plex with 16 softball teams and twilight swims with an average of The treasurer’s report will be giv- have these fields ready. nal construction in the amount The structure located at 114 16 baseball teams. 778 people in attendance. He add- en at the mid-month meeting. Next “I think the soccer board would of $144,973.60 was not firm on Merritt was next on the agenda. It July 22nd the Arrowhead will ed that the numbers at the putt-putt were comments from the public. like to host a local Grand Tourna- pricing. The commissioners did had been tabled since March 4th, host the Thunder Basketball have been quadrupling. Cameron Rodriguez told the in- ment next spring in order to do that approve the following progress 2024. The construction manager camp, and the Cade Davis basket- Ivester will be attending the spectors that the soccer complex and try to capitalize on the events of payments: payment to Lochner was present and talked to the com- ball camp will also be held there. Oklahoma Water Resources Board needs to be updated and repaired. 2026. The year 2026 is just going to for invoice 18429-TO07-11 in the missioners about the progress and Ivester announced that the city meeting on Tuesday, and repre- There are several events that have be a huge year for the United States amount of $4,329.54, a budgeted what they are planning to do next. now has employed an electrician. sentatives from Myers will also be been held in Elk City, and this in general, the 250th anniversary of item; payment to WP Construction They tabled the item until the Oct. Eric McFall has been employed in present. The group will be approv- would help bring in more children the USA, the 100th anniversary of pay app #13 for terminal construc- 6th meeting. the IT department, but since he is ing the water projects that have and their families. the Route 66, and we’re hosting the tion in the amount of $75,629.94, The commissioners approved also a certified electrician, he will been engineered. The city is on the “There’s, I believe, 350 kids local- World Cup. Pretty amazing. Get a budgeted item; and payment to the Purchase Orders from FY 24- be spending half of his time doing agenda for a little over $3.4 million ly that play between Kids Inc., and all three of those in the same year. Lochner for invoice 18429-TO06- 25 and recurring invoices for July, some of the electrical work. in a forgiveness loan. club soccer. 215 from Kids Inc., just But I think it’s going to bring a lot 12 in the amount of $13,832.81, a and they also approved the Pur- There is now a new gray wa- He went on to explain that they this past spring, I think it’s pretty of people to our town, too,” Rodri- budgeted item. chase Orders from FY 25-26 and ter pump installed at the water were required to have an inspection conservative to say that each kid guez added. Item number nine was scratched recurring invoices. treatment plant. Ivester said that service onsite to approve the proj- is bringing probably about four As he ran out of time, and no one because it was the wrong address, City Manager Tom Ivester’s re- it pumps 1,137,741 gallons, which ect. To save money Ivester said they people out with them to the fields, else stepped up to speak, the com- and the commissioners moved on port was next. He touched on sev- with the velocity of the water now, hired Cody Whittington from WP and that puts it over 850 people out missioners adjourned at 7:54 p.m.