Hall’s big 97 AMW game sparks members Altus in 35-7 learn about win over Jets community heritage SPORTS 9 FREEDOM FLYER 8 Serving Altus and Jackson County for over 112 years The 75¢ ALTUSTIMES.COM AltusTimesWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018 Rising from the ashes Informational Charter meeting loses formal structure and turns tense BY KATRINA GOFORTH [email protected] Thursday night, the Altus City Council held a special meeting at South- west Technology Center to offer information and CHRIS RIFFLE JANICE CAIN answer audience ques- tions about the five char- ter propositions that will be on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Each of the five propositions will be voted on separately. Propositions 3, 4, and 5 would make the chief RAVEN CADE MONTY Rick Carpenter | Altus Times of police, street commis- CLAYSON Altus High School Band Color Guard member Dakota Bevers, left, helps lift Tessa Roman during the band’s performance sioner and city clerk-trea- of Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” during halftime of the Noble football game. The Color Guard enacted a presentation surer appointed positions it created called “Phenix.” During this scene, Phenix rises from the ashes and is reborn. whereas they are now elected by voters every four years. If the voters of Altus pass these proposi- More volunteers needed for Big Day of Serving tions, the elected officials BY RICK CARPENTER determined the city was Last spring, the group zation has hired a con- will answer to the city MIKE RON [email protected] worth investing in. organized the first Ne- tractor to replace a slop- manager, Janice Cain. PATTERSON OSTERHOUTZ The local initiative has hemiah Initiative. More ing roof while others will These were the main The Jackson County its roots in the drought than 130 people volun- repair his bathroom and propositions discussed at “Last Friday we met Ministerial Alliance will from 2012 to 2015. Lo- teered to improve the replace his water heater. the meeting. Members of and the mayor asked me host its second Altus Big cal ministers created a living conditions at 39 Other volunteers will be the audience who wished to convey his regret that Day of Serving on Satur- prayer vigil where they properties. Seventeen removing or cutting back to ask questions were he could not be here,” Rif- day, Oct. 27, from 8 a.m. met weekly to pray for churches and represen- his trees. asked to sign in and write fle said. “There have to be to noon. rain. Once the drought tatives from Altus Air So far, more than 50 questions on a slip of pa- some compromises some- The Alliance created broke in 2015, the group Force Base and a Chris- people have registered by per or ask the questions at times.” the Altus Nehemiah Ini- looked at other things tian motorcycle clubs calling (580) 482-3377. The a podium. After the meeting on tiative whose purpose they could do to make the formed groups to im- organization needs more All city council mem- Thursday night, Smiley is to bring physical and community better. prove those properties. volunteers and you can bers were present except said he believed the meet- spiritual restoration to The Rev. Kevin Baker The organization now show up the day of the Diane Landers and Mayor ing date was set in ill re- homes and neighbor- of Martha Road Baptist has a list of more than event if you haven’t reg- Jack Smiley. gard to himself because hoods as well as individ- Church said the Alliance 60 projects that range istered. Registering helps The meeting began he had told the council he uals and families. The looked at what tangible from mowing lawns to the organization know its with the introduction could not be there. Nehemiah Initiative is a things it could do to im- reconstructing roofs. resources and organize of the moderator, Larry Smiley has been a voice national initiative based prove the quality of life For Saturday’s event, specific projects. On its Shelton, and a slideshow in protest of the way the on biblical character for residents in Altus. He the group will focus on website, www.nehemi- presentation from Coun- City Council and the City Nehemiah’s example of said by working together, seven projects including ah-Altus.org, on Friday it cil member Chris Riffle. of Altus present informa- returning to Jerusalem. the community will have one main project at 421 listed needs for four proj- When Shelton took tion about Charter prop- After evaluating the con- more civic pride and out- Martin Luther King. In ect leaders or churches questions from the audi- ositions to the public. By dition of the city, Nehe- siders will see that good that home, occupied by to help with four homes. ence, he instructed those not presenting informa- miah cast a vision for re- things are happening in a retired Air National asking questions to come tion from the perspective to the podium and limit of the three elected offi- storing the city when he Altus. Guardsman, the organi- SEE SERVING, PAGE 10 their question time to 2 cials, he says the informa- minutes and then wait for tion is manipulative. an answer in their seats. Cade also asked the INDEX Following the guide- council why the Charter lines, Raven Cade of QITC propositions, if passed, Countdown begins OBITUARIES, 2 Studios, a local media and would benefit Altus. WEATHER, 3 broadcasting company, Councilmember Jon asked the council why Kidwell said an unman- COMICS, 4 Smiley was not in atten- aged supervisor could PUZZLES/TV, 5 dance and why the meet- cause problems in the fu- for Candy Cane Cash ing wasn’t rescheduled ture. He gave the example CLASSIFIEDS, 6 for a time when he could of a supervisor with no BY RICK CARPENTER for a drawing for $10,000 and $100 ticket winners FREEDOM FLYER, 8 make the meeting. oversight of his staff. on Dec. 15. Beginning at will be placed back in Shelton answered that The question guidelines [email protected] SPORTS, 9 10 a.m. on that Saturday, the hopper for the $10,000 no one knows why those were quickly abandoned The annual Main the organization will be- drawing. not in attendance weren’t by the audience and not Street Altus Candy Cane gin by drawing one ticket There will be an ad- there. well enforced by the mod- Cash promotion begins in for $1,000 and then draw- ditional $1,000 drawing However, Smiley said erator. Soon, questions 11 days on Sunday, Nov. 4, ing a ticket every 10 min- on Monday, Dec. 17, at 9 he told the council he were asked from across when many downtown utes for $100. The final a.m. You do not need to would have to be gone for the audience who had and Main Street busi- drawing for the $10,000 be present for the final pilot re-certification train- not signed up to ask ques- nesses kick off the holi- ticket will be at 11 a.m. drawing which will be ISSUE 7 ing the week of the meet- tions. day season with a Holi- Winners must be pres- posted on the Main Street VOLUME 113 ing. In a Facebook post Sandy Willis asked, day Open House. ent to claim their prizes Altus Facebook page and that gained momentum in “Can you give us specif- The Candy Cane Cash and will have 6 minutes broadcast over local ra- the community on Thurs- ics? How large are these promotion encourages to claim their prizes at dio stations. day afternoon before the problems?” residents to shop locally the stage in front of the According to Oklaho- meeting, he said the City Though none of the and rewards local pur- City Auditorium, 200 E. administration was made chases by giving tickets Commerce St. All $1,000 SEE CASH, PAGE 10 GRAYSTONE MEDIA GROUP LLC aware of the conflict. SEE MEETING, PAGE 7 Scot Davis Emily Smith Financial Advisor Financial Advisor 417 East Tamarack 417 East Tamarack Altus, OK Altus, OK 580-477-0073 580-477-0073 Adam C Winters, AAMS® Financial Advisor 901 Falcon Road • Altus, OK 580-477-3606 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC Emily Smith www.edwardjones.com Financial Advisor Member SIPC 417 East Tamarack Altus, OK 73521 580-477-0073 IRT-4395D-A 2 • NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018 • THE ALTUS TIMES Cotton fields need some drying time BY RICK CARPENTER fore clearer skies were the longer it is exposed needed a week or so of including Altus, pub- an estimate of bales [email protected] forecast the rest of the to degradation that may sunny dry weather to lishes a weekly newslet- for this year’s crop be- week. affect the quality of the dry the fields and the ter about the season’s cause he said there are Local farmers may be Some area fields have cotton. cotton. cotton crop. It stated too many weather fac- tempted to ask the Jack- been flooded and those When cotton is har- Then cotton pickers that “yield and quality tors right now, and he son County Ministerial that weren’t flooded vested, samples of each and strippers can begin concerns continue to doesn’t know how many Alliance to pray for sun- were still holding more bale that comes out of preparing the cotton for mount with this extend- more cotton acres were shine instead of rain. moisture that was keep- a cotton gin is sent to the gins. Most of last ed period of rain and planted this year versus The Alliance met ing harvesting equip- the USDA to be graded week remained cloudy cold.” last year.