Elections Show Their Consequences – EP2

• Governor: Mike Mazzei (R) beat Cyndi Munson (D), about 52% to 45.8% — Oklahoma’s first new governor in eight years. Republicans swept every statewide race and all six federal seats. (The Oklahoman, Nov. 4)
• SQ 845 (Judicial Nominating Commission changes): REJECTED, roughly 72.5% No. SQ 847 (lower property-assessment caps): REJECTED, about 54.3% No — so the current 3% homestead / 5% other caps stay.
• U.S. Senate: Kevin Hern won the special election. House District 3: Frank Lucas re-elected.
• Clinton’s mayor: Ernie Dowdell beat incumbent David Berrong 1,072–841; Lucas Martinez won Ward 4 over Bobby Stewart 193–90. (Clinton Daily News, Nov. 3 — unofficial)
• Turnout: about 45.7% of registered voters statewide.
• Explainer beat (good podcast material): why so many local races were NOT on the ballot — unopposed candidates are deemed elected under Oklahoma law (26 O.S. §6-102). SD 38’s Rick Vernon, HD 55/57, and the county officers were all decided earlier.
• Say it on air: results are unofficial until certification — county no earlier than today (Nov. 6), state/federal Nov. 10.

Around Sayre

• Felony stop near City Park: suspect wanted out of Greer County arrested after a domestic disturbance where a shot was reportedly fired into a ceiling; nobody hurt; multi-agency teamwork (Sheriff Derek Manning). Second recent out-of-county pickup in Sayre.
• Court case: Dustin Joyner, 47, of Wewoka — stolen 2017 Ford King Ranch, an allegedly fraudulent bill of sale, forgery/concealing/drug allegations, $15,000 bond. ON AIR: allegations only, presumed innocent.
• Sales tax: Sayre $140,897.64, DOWN 1.6% — second straight down month (September was -13.51%) while every neighbor posted double-digit gains. The question for City Hall.
• Council watch: next meeting Tue Nov. 17, 7 p.m. Two open questions: the Oct. 20 agenda/minutes still aren’t posted online, and no status update this year on the $150,000 SWODA/REAP north water tower refurbishment. Route 66 horseshoe sculpture at City Park backed by a $50,000 Project 66 grant.

Around Elk City

• Escofet: a 140-year-old Spanish maker of concrete benches, tables, and facades opened its FIRST U.S. plant in Elk City — 32,000 sq ft, starts at 6 employees, plans 40–60 jobs; two years of site search; Elk City native Jennifer Cain is co-founder/office manager.
• Jimmy Webb homecoming: the Elk City native’s “Great Performances” PBS special filmed at OSU’s McKnight Center — believed to be the first “Great Performances” ever filmed in Oklahoma.
• Animal shelter: $8,025 change order approved; facility moving south of the airport (old juvenile center site); Mayor Kilhoffer said out loud that the timeline frustrates people; plumbing/electrical stage, no completion date yet.
• Sales tax: Elk City $1,521,727.08, up 12% — top of the region.
• Rabid skunk follow-up: anyone who encountered the skunk near Great Plains Regional Medical Center in mid-October should still call the health department (405-426-8710, 24/7).
• Red River Transportation is surveying Saturday bus service — survey decides whether it happens.

Around Clinton

• $33.5 million USDA award to the Foss Reservoir Master Conservancy District to restore the pre-treatment plant — wholesale water for Bessie, Clinton, Hobart, and New Cordell. What it is/isn’t: not a new lake, not a bill cut — it’s the unglamorous plant that keeps taps running. Lands right in the middle of Dowdell’s water/infrastructure campaign theme.
• Route 66 turns 100 on Wednesday, Nov. 11 — Clinton’s projects: Hub City Gateway sign ($968,500 Project 66 grant), Firehouse 66 visitor center ($656,928), Glancy Motor Hotel neon sign ($71,505). Irony beat: the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is CLOSED on Nov. 11 (state holiday) — the highway’s 100th birthday.
• Shooting at a Clinton apartment complex: two injured, one critical as of Oct. 29; an Elk City man arrested. ON AIR: the source did not name him or detail charges — don’t add any.

Around Weatherford

• $3,999,285 state Rural Health Transformation award to SWOSU’s Rural Health Center; centerpiece is a ~$2.5 million robotic surgical system for Weatherford Regional Hospital. The kicker: WRH is the only critical access hospital in Oklahoma still delivering babies (Oklahoma Voice) — keeping births AND complex surgeries local.
• The grant the city turned down: commission declined a $13,800 highway safety grant after Chief Angelo Orefice said it effectively required seatbelt-ticket quotas. Small dollars, big statement — great discussion segment. Right call or missed money?
• Community center: ~$21 million in pledged local match (about $14M sales tax, $5M private, $2M street/alley funds); SWODA writing a TSET Legacy application for up to $20 million; goal ~80% funded before bidding. November commission meeting date still not posted.
• Sales tax: Weatherford $1,333,780.63, up 24%.

Sportsball!

• Weatherford Eagles: 10-0, District 4A-1 champs, outscored opponents 352–74; closest game was the finale, 23–20 over Woodward. Bye this week; playoff opener Fri Nov. 13 at home, opponent TBD (bracket not out yet — don’t guess). Burcham Elementary is collecting rinsed milk jugs to make playoff noisemakers.
• Clinton Red Tornadoes: beat Elk City 42–21 on Oct. 30, 7-2, four straight wins; regular-season finale TONIGHT (Fri Nov. 6), 7 p.m. vs. Douglass at the Tornado Bowl.
• Elk City: 2-7 after the Clinton loss; closes the season TONIGHT at Bethany, 7 p.m. — a pride game for the seniors.
• Sayre: hosts Watonga TONIGHT, 7 p.m. (Senior Night).
• SWOSU soccer awards sweep (landed Thursday night, after the article): Offensive POY Braelee Epp of Weatherford (unanimous; 9 goals, tied for the league lead), Midfielder POY Saoirse Hourigan, Defensive POY Sarahi Delgadillo, Newcomer POY Kinsey Geasland; nine Bulldogs All-GAC. First four-award sweep since 2012; only program in GAC history to do it twice.
• SWOSU soccer semifinal: TODAY, 2 p.m. vs. Ouachita Baptist in Searcy; championship Sunday 1 p.m. if they advance.
• SWOSU football: won Homecoming 37–21 over Arkansas-Monticello (third straight win after an 0-3 start); at Ouachita Baptist Saturday, 1 p.m.

Gossip Corner

• Elk City’s Great Candy Bowl Caper: a grown man emptied a family’s unattended Halloween candy bowl into his kids’ bags on camera; the homeowner protected the kids’ privacy; her 3-year-old offered to share her own candy. “What you do when nobody’s watching is who you are.”
• Sayre: the neighbor who asked for a ride to early voting — and got one, then came back to the thread to say thank you.
• Clinton: “Has the dog Mac ever been found?” — still unanswered. Somebody listening knows.
• Weatherford: the Homecoming parade start-time debate (10 vs. 10:30) — the most Weatherford argument ever.

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