CC)--United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma’s 34th annual Chili Cook-Off will be 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. today at Stride Bank Center. Attendees will have an opportunity to taste more than 40 chili recipes. Chili entries will compete in three categories: Judge’s Chili Choice, Best Booth Decorated and Top Dollar Chili. Dan Schiedel, executive director of United Way, said all of the proceeds will benefit the nonprofit’s 14 partner agencies. Tickets can be purchased the door for $10. The cook-off’s theme this year is “Chillin’ with the Superheroes,” and chili, a drink and dessert are included with each ticket.
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PC)--Christian rock band Petra will be in concert 7:00 pm Sunday at Stride Bank Center as one of the stops on Petra's nationwide 50th Anniversary Fall Reunion Tour. The group is regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres and has been referred to as “the world’s most popular Christian rock band.” Tickets are on sale at StrideBankCenter.com or the SBC office on the second floor of the center. Tickets are $30 or $40, plus fees, and groups of 10 or more can get a $5 discount off $30 tickets by calling (580) 616-7381.
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RI)--Residents in the High Lawn, Davis Park, Steel Plant, and Queen City Additions are receiving an essential enhancement to East Chestnut Avenue. The public is invited to a ribbon cutting for the completion of Phase #1 of the East Chestnut Roadway Reconstruction Project on Monday at 9:00 a.m. at the East Chestnut and North 10th Street Intersection.
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FF)--“Ready, Set, GO!!!” is the theme for the 2022 Fall Festival at Willow View Methodist Church in Enid. The free Halloween evening event is designed to appeal to families and children. Activities include inflatable games and numerous other carnival-style games to engage children of all ages and abilities. Candy and prizes will be awarded to all participants, and cotton candy will be handed out as well. Halloween costumes are optional. Fall Festival will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at Willow View Methodist Church, 3525 W. Purdue. The public is invited, and ample parking is available at the church, located two blocks west of Oakwood and Purdue.
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VN)--Volunteers are being sought for Enid Lights Up the Plains and other activities in downtown Enid during the holiday season. Main Street Enid, which organizes Enid Lights Up the Plains, is a volunteer-based organization that needs as many volunteers as possible this year. Executive Director Natalie Rapp said 30,000 people showed up for last year’s event, and with the return of The One, featuring the largest fresh-cut Christmas tree in the world, another huge crowd is expected for this year’s event on Friday November 25. At least 25-30 volunteers are being sought to assist that night. Volunteers are also needed to help decorate on Saturdays in November, and with additional activities throughout the season. There were about 70 volunteers who helped out on one or more occasions last year and even more are needed for this year. A sign-up has been posted on the Main Street Enid Facebook page and website where people can sign up for different time slots. If people want to reach out directly, they can do so by calling (580) 234-1052 and asking for Charlet Ringwald, or by emailing her at charlet@mainstreetenid.org.
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EV)--Early voting begins Wednesday November 2nd for voters in Garfield County. Voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at their County Election Board. Garfield County Election Board Secretary, Coulten Cue, said early voting is open to all voters. Early voting will be available Wednesday November 2nd through Friday November 4th from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday November 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the County Election Board. Early voting is not available at polling locations. Sample ballots can be viewed and downloaded by using the Oklahoma State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal at https://oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Copies also can be picked up at Garfield County Election Board, 903 Failing, during normal business hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sample ballots also will be posted outside every precinct polling place on Election Day so voters can review them before heading casting ballots.
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VD)--Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park has teamed with the city of Enid, My Country 103.1 KOFM, several AMBUCS groups and Visit Enid in displaying yellow ribbons throughout the city during Operation Yellow Ribbon, the weeklong celebration of veterans November 5-12. Operation Yellow Ribbon was created last year but has been in the making for 20, the number of years Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park has adorned cedar trees lining the airport and the Veterans Park entrance with yellow bows to remember and honor fallen heroes and veterans.
*A busy week begins with Ride to Remember Saturday November 5, which will involve local and area motorcycle riders to honor Vietnam Veterans. Every rider who participates will get a set of dog tags with the name of an Oklahoma veteran killed in action and whose name is on the Vietnam Wall replica at Enid Woodring Regional Airport. The Vietnam Remembrance Poker Run begins with $20 registration at 9 a.m. at Woodring Wall of Honor, 1026 S. 66th.
*The official kickoff for the week starts Monday Nov. 7 with a campaign aimed at passing out yellow ribbons in support of military veterans, first responders and active-duty armed forces. An opening ceremony will be 6:30 p.m. at Stride Bank Center and include a proclamation from Enid Mayor George Pankonin, patriotic music, speakers and a yellow ribbon challenge to schools and the community.
*Tuesday Nov. 8 at 10:00 am there will be a special ceremony along Kincade, the road leading to Vance Air Force Base. Two oak trees will be planted, one to honor current military members and one to remember the fallen and families of those missing in action (MIA). Yellow and black ribbons will be tied around those oak trees. Pankonin and Col. Jay Johnson, commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance, will speak.
*Wednesday, Nov. 9, Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park, First Baptist Church of Enid and AM AMBUCS will host a free lunch for veterans from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the church, 401 W. Maine. While the meal is free, reservations are required by Nov. 4 through Visit Enid at (580) 233-3643, ext. 1, or info@visitenid.org. Home school students will be serving and a speaker will be on hand during the event to honor veterans and thank them for their service. Veterans also will receive a goodie bag.
*The biggest event of the week will be the Veterans Day ceremony Friday Nov.11 at 6:30 p.m. at Stride Bank Center arena. The annual Legacy Awards Ceremony honors veterans for their outstanding service to our country and community. Five veterans will be awarded the prestigious Legacy Veteran of the Year Award and one award will recognize a veteran for not only service to their country, but for making a difference serving his or her community. Two of this year’s Legacy honorees planning to attend participated in the D-Day Normandy invasion, she said. The ceremony also will feature entertainment from recording artists The Haynes Sisters, who will perform prior to the ceremony at 6:15. Johns said they sing in 1940s-style, much like the famed Andrews Sisters did during the World War II era. Another highlight of the Veterans Day event will be the opening of the “The Huey, the Workhorse of Vietnam” exhibit. Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park will reveal its Huey aircraft, along with oral history portraits of Oklahoma’s veterans associated with the Huey helicopter.
*Saturday Nov 12, Enid’s Veterans Day Parade begins at 11:00 am and will follow the normal route in downtown Enid along Grand to Randolph and then south on Independence. For information or to enter a float in the parade, contact Enid Noon AMBUCS at (580) 231-7964. Following the parade, static aircraft display, food trucks and vendors will be set up downtown near Stride Bank Center. Each veteran with proof of military service can receive a $7 food truck coupon at an administration booth inside SBC. Also inside Stride Bank Center will be military memorabilia, kids’ activities, vendor booths, aircraft cockpits, an F-4 phantom simulator photo booth and landing contest that will be open to the public for free, a professional Model T assembly demonstration and a patriotic art performance. All inside exhibits will open following the parade. Exhibits and activities, everything for the most part except food and vendor purchases, will be free. Following all the events on Saturday morning and afternoon will be the American Garfieldi Car Show n’ Shine Car Show and Cruise. Registration begins at 6:00 p.m. at Locke Supply parking lot, 1725 N. Van Buren, and the cruise will from be 7:00-11:00 p.m. along Van Buren. Prizes and glow sticks will be handed out during the evening.
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