In God We Trust FREE U.S. Postage Paid Hydro, OK Permit #3 Zip Code 73048 BOXHOLDER August 29- September 4, 2018 • 10040 Hwy 54 • Weatherford • (580) 772-5939 • email: [email protected] • www.westokweekly.com • Vol. 4 No. 34 Rodeo of Champions to take place Labor Day Weekend in Elk City Chase Wright Staff Writer The Elk City Rodeo of Champions begins on August 31st at the Beutler Brothers Arena in Elk City. This year marks the 80th annual return of one of the best rodeos in the country. Over the years, Elk City rodeo fans have witnessed numerous renowned riders like World Champion riders J.W. Harris, Will Lowe, Taos Muncy, and Fallon Taylor. Plus, competitors looking to get some great experience before the National Finals Rodeo in December flock to Elk City each year to compete. Last year, roughly 300 cowboys and cowgirls went boot to spur for nearly $64,000 in prize money. The arena, located in Ackley Park, sits next to some fun and historic family-friendly attractions: The Old Town Miniature Golf course, the Centennial Carousel, and the Choctaw Express Miniature Train. These attractions will be open throughout Labor Day weekend for all to enjoy before the Rodeo, which starts at 8 pm each night. The Elk City National Route 66 Museum Complex will also be open over the weekend, from 9 am to 5 pm on both Friday and Saturday, then from 2 pm – 5pm on Sunday. But that’s not all, Elk City has even more planned to keep the fun going. Provided On Saturday, September 1st, beginning at 2 pm the Parade Clinton teacher Sherrie Johnson, winner of Farmers Insurance "Dream Big" $100,000 grant updates the of Champions will march through downtown Elk City. The FACS Ed Food Lab. parade is sponsored by the Elk City Chamber of Commerce and Great Plains Analytical Services. Competitions will Clinton teacher receives grant; Updates FACS Ed Food Lab be held throughout the parade with cash prizes paid to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Parade sponsors would like to Clinton High School teacher Sherrie Johnson was one Foods Lab. encourage people to bring lawn chairs. Also, the Elk City of five recipients, and the first Oklahoma winner, of the With the help from the grant, Sherrie was able to get Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a variety of western- Farmers Insurance “Dream Big” $100,000 grant that everything she needed. The new lab is now a state- themed activities around the park. All Chamber activities allowed her to finally realize her dream of renovating of-the-art, fully-utilized kitchen that blends both are free and open to all. the 1966 Foods Lab. Her proposal was titled “Give traditional and modern cooking techniques. Hopefully, Then, at 10 pm, after the rodeo performances on Friday a student a meal and he eats for a day. Teach him to students and community cooks will be excited to and Saturday night, head to the stage west of the arena for cook and he eats for a lifetime.” With this mindset, begin working in the Lab. Some of the new updates a free concert performed by two amazingly talented bands: she designed a new Foods Lab that would have a new include: high-tech commercial equipment (like Wi-Fi The Read Southall Band on Friday and the Jason Young floor plan, updated appliances, and new age kitchen cooking appliances and a new dishwasher), an indoor Band will take the stage on Saturday night. The concerts technology. Her goal was to give more students and aeroponic gardening system where students will learn are put on by the Elk City Convention & Visitors Bureau. their families the opportunity to learn how to cook to grow herbs and vegetables, and NASA technology Not only will the Rodeo of Champions be featuring some in a fun and controlled environment. After she was for preserving food by extending shelf life to 15-25 of the best riders and performers in the country, you will announced the winner, CHS quickly began working years. These updates should give students and FACS on renovating the old room. Now, they are less than department members a nice location in which to expand (See Rodeo, Page 4) two weeks away from unveiling the new FACS Ed their repertoire while staying ahead of the curve. August 29- September 4, 2018 • WestOK Weekly • Page 2 Aloma Jean Rosamond skilled homemaker, Euvonda was very well known for her She was preceded in death by her parents, William and sewing and cooking. She willingly prepared many meals Lera Armitage; two husbands, Bill Seals and Raymond Memorial services for at the First Baptist Church where she and her family were Rogers; one brother, Vansel; two sisters, Mureta and Norma; Aloma Jean Rosamond, members for many years. She was a tireless caregiver and and one son, Dennis Rogers. 75 year-old Weatherford, advocate for Harold when his health failed, and was an Oklahoma resident, was held example of love and perseverance during that very difficult Friday, August 24, 2018, 10:00 time. Gordon Bruce Stephens A.M. in “The Chapel” of Euvonda is survived by one sister Loretta Rowell of Chapel Services for Gordon Lockstone Funeral Home Oklahoma City, OK; four children: Tom Henderson and Bruce Stephens, former with Ken Gardner officiating. wife Debey of Richardson, TX; Alethea Gibson and Cordell resident were held Aloma was born January husband David of Oklahoma City, OK; Ron Henderson 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, 30, 1943, in Los Angeles, and wife Cindy of Weatherford, OK; and Deb Shaleen and August 22, 2018 in the Kiesau California to M.D. and Minnie husband Dan of San Antonio, TX.; twelve grandchildren; Memorial Chapel, officiated B. (Williams) Fowler and passed away Friday, August 17, twenty-one great grandchildren; and three great great by family and friends. Burial 2018 at Weatherwood Assisted Living in Weatherford. grandchildren. will follow in the Strickland Aloma was raised and attended school in Maud, Oklahoma, She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Eunice Cemetery near Cordell under graduating from Maud High school in 1960. On March Griffin, one infant brother, and her husband, Thomas Harold the direction of the Kiesau-lee 20, 1961, she married Frank Miller Rosamond in St. Louis, Henderson. Funeral Home. Oklahoma and made their home in Weatherford where Mrs. Henderson also leaves behind many other relatives Gordon Bruce Stephens was born May 19, 1960, to Robert they raised their family. Aloma worked as a nurse for Dr. and friends, as well as the compassionate caregivers from Leo Stephens and Eunice (Hines) Stephens in Thomas, Cook’s office. She enjoyed working in her yard, bowling, the Corn Heritage Village and those from Faith Hospice Oklahoma and passed away Friday, August 17, 2018, in his and spending time with family and friends. who cared for her in her final days. Words cannot express Whitney, TX home. Aloma is survived by two sons: Frank Rosamond and our gratitude. Gordon was raised and attended school in Custer City and wife Li-Jin Chew of Alexandria, Virginia and Michael Cordell, OK. He spent several years working in the Oilfield and his wife Sibylle Rosamond of Aguanga, California; Olivia Sue Rogers as a roughneck. He has been a cross country trucker for the one daughter Tammy Renee Rosamond; one brother Phil past 30 years. Fowler of Maud, Oklahoma; and four grandchildren. Graveside services for He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Stephens She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Olivia Sue Rogers, 79 year- and a brother, Roger Keith Stephens. old Edmond resident, were He was a member of the Baptist church; he loved the Euvonda (Griffin) Henderson held Wednesday, August outdoors and Bar-B-Q for family and friends; he enjoyed 22, 2018, at 2:00 P.M. at the fishing, watching movies and playing rock and roll music. Funeral services for Euvonda Greenwood Cemetery with He is survived by his partner in life, Desiree Wilson (Griffin) Henderson, age 91 of Earl Stephenson officiating. and her son Brandon Wilson of Whitney, TX; Corn, OK was held at 2:00 Services are under the daughter Chelsey Marie Stephens of New York; son Beau M. on Friday, August 24, at the direction of Lockstone Blue Stephens of Santa Fe, New Mexico; his mother Eunice First Baptist Church of Fort Funeral Home. Stephens of Edmond, OK; sister Diane Stephens Peoples Cobb with Rev. Jim White Olivia Sue (Armitage) and husband John of Edmond, OK; brother William Robert officiating. Burial followed in Rogers was born March 23, 1939, to William Edgar Stephens and wife Jolene of Custer City, OK; nephew Robert Oak Grove Cemetery in Fort Armitage and Lera (Denney) Armitage in Hydro, Paul Stephens and wife Cheryl and their children, Colton Cobb, under the direction of Oklahoma and passed away on Saturday, August 18, 2018 and Alora all of, Elk City, OK; and a niece, Rani Peoples of Lockstone Funeral Home. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Olivia was raised in Cloud Edmond, OK. Euvonda was born on July Chief, Oklahoma. She later moved to Weatherford in 1947 5, 1927, in Rush Springs, OK to Roy Melvin and Eunice and attended school where she graduated from Weatherford Norma Jean Gemaehlich (Goza) Griffin and died on Monday, August 20, 2018, in High School with the class of 1957. Olivia earned an Corn, OK. Associate Degree at Southwestern State University Funeral Services for Norma Euvonda married Thomas Harold Henderson on May Business School. On August 1960 she married Bill Seals Jean Gemaehlich, 91, lifelong 26, 1945 in Carnegie, OK and they made their home in and they made their home in Victorville, California where Clinton resident will be held will Fort Cobb for most of their lives.