April 25, 2026 Issue, Page 9 of 12

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The Elk City News SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 • 9 NEWS RCCT Holds Old Town Museum is Getting New Look Volunteer Day By Sheryl Ponce into a production behind the An Elk City landmark is torical beauty while also making and the trim is Shoji White. Brian, and Dallas, who are do- scenes. The event is come and showing its true colors. it feel inviting,” Wray said. “The A busy summer season is ex- ing all the work on Old Town,” The Red Carpet Community go, as needed. The service to According to museum cura- building sits at the corner of pected for the museum complex Wray said. Theatre is asking the commu- the theatre will be more than tor Anna Wray, the Old Town two busy roads and is one of the because of Route 66’s centenni- The National Route 66 build- nity’s theatre lovers for help. just volunteering to help a Museum has undergone lots of first structures people see when al this year. The Mother Road, ing, the Transportation build- They have scheduled a volun- civic organization. RCCT is a structural work from top to bot- driving by the museum, so it connecting Chicago to Santa ing, and the Bruening House at teer day to get the set and cos- vital source of live theatre and tom, and this is being accompa- needed to be eye catching.” Monica, Calif., opened on No- the museum grounds have also tume house some much need- community involvement that nied by a historically accurate Wray got input from Sara vember 11, 1926. been painted during the past ed repairs and organization. supports the arts. paint job. Cloude, Maxine Jackson, and The Old Town gazebo will year, and several maintenance On Sunday, April 26th, at 9 RCCT is a non-profit or- The building’s new color the rest of the museum team, also undergo repairs and be projects throughout the com- a.m., they will be removing, ganization that functions in- scheme reflects the shades of its and the result represents a lot of painted the same color as the plex have been completed ahead sorting, and organizing sets dependently of local or state original construction. research and thought. museum building. of this year’s busy summer sea- and costumes. They will be governmental support. The “We wanted to restore its his- The new blue is 9134 Delft, “A big shout out to Rusty, son. placing them into temporary funding for the productions storage while the repairs are come from donations, ticket being made to the building. sales, Oklahoma Art Associa- Senate Notes from Sen. Brent Howard | April 17, 2026 This is a time to give back to community theatre while tion grants, or other fundrais- ers. Stop by the theatre to lend being able to see what goes a helping hand. For the first time in many years, idea in the short term, granting too the pension system $306 million, and full $40 million would have to be re- the House, Senate and Governor many COLAs can be a shortsighted the COLA for firefighters will cost paid to the state over time. have agreed to a budget very early in mistake that puts the overall pension $72 million. Both COLAs will further As one of the world’s top wheat the legislative session. This year’s state budget deal included cost-of-living funds in jeopardy. Currently, the Oklahoma Public reduce these systems’ funded ratios. These two systems are also still vastly breeding programs, the Agronomy Research Center is a major contrib- 2026-2027 Oklahoma Agriculture adjustments (COLAs) for retired public employees. These bills were Employee Retirement System and Uniform Retirement System for underfunded, to the point that we are still investing roughly half a billion utor to our agricultural industry. Ap- proximately 70% of Oklahoma wheat Youth Council Application Now Open brought up in the Joint Committee Justices and Judges are over 100% dollars in general revenue each year. production and 13% of nationwide Applications for the 2026- Arthur to help the next genera- on Appropriations and Budget and funded, which made it easy to sup- That’s a significant reason the timing wheat production comes from vari- 27 Agriculture Youth Council are tion of Oklahoma agriculture by the Senate floor for votes this past port COLAs for these retirees. I also isn’t right for these pension adjust- eties developed at OSU. Students and now available for Oklahoma high teaching professional skills, giv- week before advancing to the gover- supported the COLA for retired po- ments. researchers are continually develop- school students entering their se- ing members a behind the scenes nor’s desk. Under these measures that lice officers after learning that their I am a strong believer that our tax ing stronger, more resilient wheat nior year in the fall of 2026! look at agriculture operations and overwhelmingly passed the Legisla- retirement system is 99.2% funded. dollars should fund our taxpayers’ varieties that can withstand drought Members will meet once a offering unique opportunities to ture, state pensioners would receive The votes where I opposed COLAs current and future needs. That’s why I and severe weather. Investing in this month during the school year. meet with industry leaders. a 0%, 3% or 6% COLA based on the pertained to systems that have been voted to support a budget-related bill facility is a promising long-term in- Activities include visits to agri- High school seniors from all number of years since their retire- abused in the past by a pattern of that provides funding for Oklahoma vestment for the state and its wheat cultural companies and organi- Oklahoma counties are eligible to ment. While I am deeply sympathetic unfunded distributions. I could not, State University to update and ex- farmers. zations, opportunities to learn apply. Membership in 4-H/FFA to the inflationary pressures these in good conscience, support COLAs pand its Agronomy Research Center. To contact me at the Capitol, about the legislative process and is not required. retirees are facing, I opposed two of from the Oklahoma Teachers’ Re- Under legislation the Senate passed please write to Senator Brent How- job shadows with industry pro- All applications must be re- these COLAs because the Legisla- tirement System, which is only 80% on Thursday, OSU would be eligible ard, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln fessionals. ceived by 5 pm on May 1. ture’s role in these retirement systems funded, and the Oklahoma Firefight- for a $40 million, interest-free loan Blvd. Room 427, Oklahoma City, The Agriculture Youth Council Applications are available is to ensure the guaranteed payments ers Pension and Retirement System, through the state’s Legacy Capital OK, 73105, email me at Brent.How- was created in 2019 by Oklahoma at https://ag.ok.gov/agricul- are there in perpetuity for all retirees. which is only 74.6% funded. Fund. The university must first raise [email protected], or call (405) 521- Secretary of Agriculture Blayne ture-youth-council/. While COLAs may seem like a good The COLA for teachers will cost $10 million in private capital, and the 5612. Protecting the herd: OSU Extension tips for managing ticks and flies around cattle this spring By Dean Ruhl of the state is where producers ing in the leaf litter,” Cammack cattle are going to consume that until the end of May or the be- should be looking,” Cammack said. “They start to come out, be HORN FLIES mineral and that pesticide prod- ginning of June to maximize the STILLWATER, Okla. – As said. active and look for a host animal As the weather continues uct is going to pass through the benefits of the ear tags and align Oklahoma enters the spring But what’s so concerning to feed on.” to warm up into the summer digestive tract and end up in the with the peak season. months, Dr. Jonathan Cam- about these ticks? There are There are plenty of treat- months, horn flies will also be- manure.” For more area-specific rec- mack, Oklahoma State Universi- several reasons, Cammack said. ment options available. Prod- come a problem for cattle across When horn flies do arrive and ommendations for livestock ty State Extension Specialist for Asian longhorned ticks are a ucts labeled for tick control are the state. As Cammack explains, lay eggs in the manure, the pes- pest management, Cammack livestock entomology and para- non-native species, meaning effective against this species. the southeast portion of Okla- ticide present in it will kill the said to reach out to your local sitology, offers tips for handling Oklahoma doesn’t necessari- Based on published research, homa is the first to begin deal- larvae, Cammack explained. county OSU Extension office. ticks and flies around cattle. ly have natural control options Cammack recommends treat- ing with the flies, which slowly Insecticide ear tags are an- “The Ag educator in each present in its environment. ing animals in the spring as the start moving north throughout other effective way to deal with county is going to have great ASIAN LONGHORNED TICKS This species also reproduces most effective time. As produc- the summer. horn flies. The trick is applying recommendations for what Asian longhorned ticks were asexually through parthenogen- ers prepare cattle for pasture, Horn fly season usually peaks them at the proper time of year, works in that local environ- first documented in the state esis, meaning females can lay using a synthetic pyrethroid in July and August. One of the Cammack explained. ment,” he said. in 2024, with confirmed cases eggs without the added chal- and spraying it onto the animal best things producers can do “Everyone wants to do it OSU Extension uses re- in Craig and Mayes Counties. lenge of finding a mate. This al- where ticks are visible is effec- right now is provide animals during spring break when search-based information to With ticks present in bordering lows tick populations to explode tive. with a feed-through insect they’ve got the extra help that help all Oklahomans solve local states like Arkansas and Mis- quickly, and in states with estab- “As long as you’ve got a py- growth regulator, which is read- might be home from school,” issues and concerns, promote souri, producers in the north- lished populations, thousands rethroid or some other product ily available at any local feed he said. “That’s typically a little leadership and manage resourc- east corner of Oklahoma should of Asian longhorned ticks can labeled for managing ticks in store. too early. Most ear tags are go- es wisely throughout the state›s remain vigilant. be present on a single animal. general, what we’ve seen from “Get a mineral block or min- ing to give about 3-4 months of 77 counties. Most information “Sequoyah County up to Ot- “For this time of year, this laboratory studies is that they eral tub that’s got some sort of control, depending on how hot is available at little to no cost. tawa County, that range of six is when we expect to see that are effective for Asian long- insect growth regulator in it,” it is.” to eight counties in that corner nymphal stage that’s been hid- horned ticks,” Cammack said. Cammack said. “That way, the Ideally, producers should wait