April 11, 2026 Issue, Page 1 of 12

Page Text

The Elk City News INSIDE MARCH 7, 2026 DNESS Ba ttl e Bu sines AD MA 14• SATURDAY, house Battle Business business! “Making your feel like home.” es S of the We appreciate your AD DNES McAlar y MA ATV & Cycle We would like to participation in thank the follo this battle! Chec wing businesse s for their k back each week next round! to see s advance to the 2222 W. 3rd, which businesse 625 N. VanBuren, Elk City, Elk City 580-417-HOM E 8FTUFSO
580.225.6043 0LMBIPNB
*OTVSBODF
"HFODZ “Your Home and Business Water Solutions Homeowners #peoplebeforepro perty Since 1953” Vehicles FREE WATER Farm & Ranch TESTING Life and Health 119 N. Jefferson , 2018 W. 3rd Street 125 E. Main St. ble healthcare Elk City Sayre, OK Quality, afforda right here, right now. Males Avenue ™ Elk City, OK 580-225-2809 501 South L.L. 580.729.8552 Cheyenne, Okla. 73628 580.225.1121 -6PM 580-497-3336 QHFRP Hours: M-F 10AM ZZZUPPKRQOL Ave, Elk City - 3PM 514 N Van Buren Saturday: 10AM TOUCHSTONE pm - 2:00 am Open Daily 4:00 TAX Brown SERVICE SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026 Weekend Edition Commissioners Approve Funding for Water Break Repairs and Economic Development Project Plan Ordinance By Sheryl Ponce The Elk City Commissioners met for their regular bi-monthly meeting Monday, April 6th, at 7 p.m., in City Hall. Mayor Micah Kilhoffer gave the invocation, and Jeff Waters led the flag salute before they opened the meeting for a public hearing concern- ing the proposed I-40 Economic Development Project Plan, as advertised. With no discussion, Kilhoffer went on to close the public hearing and start the regular meeting agenda. The commissioners approved the minutes from the March 18th meeting, followed by approving Ordinance No. 1269. The ordinance stated: An ordinance approving and adopting the Elk City I-40 Economic Development Project Plan and its proposed Increment Districts pursuant to the Oklahoma Local Develop- ment Act; designating and adopting Project Area and Increment District “B” as Increment District No. 2, City of Elk City, and American Solar Challenge establishing the date for the creation thereof: deferring the nam- ing and dates of creation of the Increment Districts temporari- ly identified in the Project Plan as Increments “A,” “C,” “E,” “F,” and “G”; adopting certain findings; authorizing the City of Elk City and the Elk City Public Works Authority to carry out and Schedules Stop in Elk City See WATER page 2 By Sheryl Ponce College students will test their en- gineering strategies and endurance in the annual American Solar Challenge race this summer, with Elk City’s Na- They must optimize the solar energy tional Route 66 Museum Complex collection, battery storage, and aero- on their path to the finish line in dynamics to improve the efficiency, Amarillo. Teams will be navigating extend range, and boost the overall at 1,500-mile route across the USA, performances. where they will be facing real-world The challenge is free for spectators driving conditions as they stop at key and open to the public. See this cut- checkpoints. ting-edge solar technology in action. Elk City is on the schedule for July The race starts July 25th, at the Uni- 31st. They will be spending the night versity of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and take off the next morning, Aug. and then then check in at the Sum- The 20” water line main break at 7th and Pioneer that caused 1st, to complete the last leg of the mit Environmental Elementary in Carthage, on July 30th, where they the track sponsor, Brainerd Inter- low pressure or no water for many residents last week. The wa- journey. According to the museum La Crosse, Wisconsin. On July 27th, ter crews responded and worked to do their best to fix this as head to Route 66 Historical Village national Raceway; Gold Sponsors curator, Anna Wray, this will be a they will be checking in at Illinois soon as possible, but they had to bring in contractors to com- in Tulsa. The teams will wind up in MathWorks, Generac, Blue Origin; plete the project, at an emergency cost estimated at $230,000. great opportunity for people to drop State University, and finish Stage 1 Elk City on July 31st and head out the Silver Sponsors Caterpillar Founda- by the museum to greet these college at Southern Illinois University, Ed- next morning. The final finish line tion, MZ, and SunCat Solar; Bronze students, as well as see their solar ve- wardsville, later that day. will be at Arts in the Sunset in Am- Sponsor Stuart Gales; and supporters hicle designs. The teams compete in single-oc- cupant vehicles for efficiency or Stage 2 starts in Edwardsville on July 28th, and they then check in at Missouri S&T in Rolla. They finish at arillo that same day. The American Solar Challenge is Evan Stumpges. For more information contact School Records Broken at put on by Innovators Educational Wray at the museum or follow the multi-occupant vehicles for balance of performance and practicality. Memorial Hall in Carthage, Missou- ri, on July 29th. Stage 3 starts off in Foundation, while the title sponsor is Ekectrek. Other sponsors include race at www.americansolarchallenge. org. Panhandle Track Meet By Sheryl Ponce Benefits Diabetic Detecting Dog Rotarian’s Guest The Elk City High School track teams traveled to Panhandle, Tex., to compete in the 78th Annual Panhandle Relays last Fri- day. The boys won the four by 100 relay and the girls took first in Scheduled for By Sheryl Ponce Elk City Rotarian, Lake Carpenter, brought his the four x 400 relay. The Elkette’s relay team were made up of Brenyn Ball, Addisyn Caldwell, Blakely Ball, and Campbell Garbarino. They broke the daughter Kaysa Carpenter and her dog, Layla, to Accident Victim the Rotary Club’s regular noon meeting last week. They soon became the guest speaker for the day be- ECHS record with a 1:43.32 time. The Elks’ relay team were Mar- cus DeLaRosa, Riley Smith, Luke Thomas, and Rhaziah Reese also broke the ECHS time with a 1:29.54 time. cause of Layla’s special ability to alert when Kaysa’s With the successful teams on the track, Elk City is building its By Sheryl Ponce blood sugar falls below 80 or above 145. reputation as a powerhouse. “She (Layla) will sit in front of me. She is like a On March 14th, Jesse Meyer was in a motor- hunting dog, when they lock on point. She’ll do cycle accident in Elk City. He has had several that, and then she’ll start pawing me. If for some life changing injuries; therefore, friends, fami- reason, it goes on, she will actually start alert bark- ly, and other supporters are planning events to ing. If there is someone in the house, she can help, raise funds in an effort to fight for his recovery. but she’ll actually just start alert barking. She goes On May 3rd, there will be a hamburger lun- off a smell. To us, we obviously don’t feel different, cheon benefit to honor him, from 11 a.m. to but to them, they actually notice a sweet smell, and 2 p.m., at Parties on Purpose, located at 1309 they associate that with treats,” Kaysa explained. Airport Industrial Rd., in Elk City. She also said that it is like a bird dog tracking with The cost of the meal will be by donation, ad- her nose. They usually use standard poodles, which ditionally, there will be a silent auction from 11 is what Layla is, and golden doodles or retrievers. a.m. to 2 p.m. With a live auction that will be- her and actually started alerting on her. I pricked “I got her from the American Diabetic Associa- her finger with my glucometer, and she was actu- gin at 1 p.m. They will also have t-shirts avail- tion. They train them out of Las Vegas, Nevada. They Campbell Garbarino, Blakely Ball Addisyn Caldwell, and Brenyn able for pre-order. ally at an 80. That was really random, but she did. train multiple dogs, send them all across the United Ball. Western Plains Downed Bikers Association She’s alerted on three other people, and actually States, even send them to Europe. You can actually one epileptic person,” Kaysa said. are planning a Benefit Poker Run, also on May send a dog to them, and they’ll test them out, see if 3rd. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., KSU at Lake also said that Layla has a great memory be- they fit the service. So, you could actually possibly cause she comes into his office at Bank of Western 9 a.m., with the last bike in at noon. The route have your dog train there, too,” Kaysa added. stops include Parties on Purpose, Hutches in Oklahoma to get water. The dog remembers exact- Layla was only a one-year-old but sat very qui- ly where he keeps the water and goes into his office Sayre, Martin’s Quick Stop in Cheyenne, Lucky etly next to the young diabetic. Kaysa said that the Star Casino in Hammon, and the final stop when she is thirsty. pup is trained to do her job, but she is also a puppy The Rotarians asked questions about the dog at Parties on Purpose. The entry fee is $20 a that gets to play. They stay alert. When the dog gets hand, and the high hand pays $500, donated and her owner. Layla ignored the attention but was to his/her owner they have been through seven dif- focused on doing her job. She was quiet and proved by Haines Wrecker Service, and the low hand ferent trainers. pays $300, donated by Wilhite Racing. that a one-year-old poodle can remain calm to car- “Layla actually had hit on my little sister. She was ry out her job of making sure her owner remains For more information contact Tom Wilhite feeling really dizzy, and we weren’t sure why. We at 580-799-0434. All proceeds go to support well. Layla goes to work with Kaysa every day at the were getting her some food, but Layla locked in on Bank of Western Oklahoma. Jesse Meyer and his recovery. Riley Smith, Marcus DeLaRosa, Rhaziah Reese, and Luke Thomas. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,122, No.No. 54 15 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 99/70 83 / 60 75 75 cents cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com