Elk City schools has offered the High School Boys Basketball Coach job to Lucian Bliss, currently the Alva basketball coach. Bliss has accepted and will begin the transition very soon, said Superintendent Buddy Wood.

Bliss has coached Boys basketball for the last 7 years.

He has a Degree in History, Government, Economics and Physical Education.  He is currently employed at Alva Public Schools. Prior to moving to Alva he was the Boys Basketball/Cross Country coach at Canute. 

“Coach Bliss has a love for teaching and coaching, he is very motivated and energetic. I look forward to him and his family joining our community and school system. Mr. Bliss and his wife Rachel have 1 child Logan and are expecting there second child within the next 2-3weeks,” Wood said. 

“I appreciate Mr. Weatherly, Mr. Lewallen and Mr. Butler for their help in the search,” Wood added.

. . .

Oklahoma’s Lt. Governor Todd Lamb heard some local concerns and gave an update on state economic development efforts when he met with a group of local civic leaders at the Chamber of Commerce office Friday.

As the musical strains from the State Fiddlers Convention at the civic center filled the air at the Chamber office, Lamb told everyone at the luncheon how important it is for him to get out of the state capital every now and then. His visit is part of a statewide swing, with stops in Greer and Harmon counties on his schedule also Friday.

Lamb has some ancestors from Canute and Hammon, and said he enjoys getting back to his “western Oklahoma roots.”

“The sun doesn’t rise or set on Oklahoma City and Tulsa,” he said.

Being a small business advocate is part of his job as Lt. Governor, he said, noting that about 90% of Oklahomans are employed by small businesses.

Suggestion and ideas on things that help or impede growth that he gathers on these tours through Oklahoma counties are submitted as feedback to the governor.

David Atkinson of First National Bank pointed out that the state is apparently cancelling the Oklahoma Capital Asset Program, which he said helps the bank to make loans that otherwise would not be possible. Lamb said he hadn’t heard this, and would look into the matter. . .

The annual Baccalaureate service for Elk City High School will be held this Sunday, May 20, in the Pioneer Center.   

Car Show Set, Minus Drag Races

  The 17th annual Red Dirt Rodders Car Show is set for June 2 at Ackley Park, and while the show will be missing a couple of attractions this year, RDR members are promising it will be just as good as ever.

This year, the drag races and burnout contest, which were set for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively, have been canceled. Johnny Smith, president of Red Dirt Rodders, said the show will continue without the drag races our burnout contest. The city, he added, felt those two events were a liability.

“It’s frustrating,” Smith said. “We’ve had those in the past without any problems.”...