CC)--Four recently elected and re-elected Enid City Commission members were sworn in Monday during the commission’s meeting. Municipal Judge James Long, administered the Oaths of Office to Enid’s new Mayor David Mason and Ward 1 City Commissioner Judd Blevins, re-elected Ward 2 City Commissioner Derwin Norwood, and incumbent Ward 5 City Commissioner Rob Stallings, whose seat was uncontested. All four city officials will serve four-year terms through May 2027.
A group of about 75 people gathered outside and inside the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Municipal Complex in protest of Commissioner Judd Blevins, who was accused in March 2019 by a publication of having ties to a now defunct white nationalist group. John Gray, chair of Enid Social Justice C which organized Monday’s event “Hate Has No Home Here,” said the group of people was there to make a stand.
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WS)--The city of Enid will continue to host the NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series at least through 2025. The NJCAA on Monday announced the extended contract and an expanded format, moving from 10 teams to 12 teams, for the championship tournament for two-year colleges. David Allen Memorial Ballpark in downtown Enid has been the host of the World Series since 2009. "We look forward to having this World Series in Enid once again," said Brian Luckett, NJCAA senior vice president for external affairs and development. "The city of Enid continuously provides a quality championship experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans, and we are excited for them to carry on that tradition." The 10-day tournament begins on Memorial Day weekend each year, with games continuing through the following week. This year’s 2023 NJCAA World Series will be May 27 through June 2 or June 3 at the Enid ballpark. World Series games typically attract large crowds of both area and visiting baseball fans, with the largest crowd topping 4,000 people.
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SD)--Sidwell Distribution in the 3100 block of South Van Buren, hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the facility on Monday. The facility will serve as a headquarters for a number of the businesses owned by Brady Sidwell. The event featured a live show on location from our sister station My Country 103.1 and a ribbon cutting by Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce. The facility formerly housed Mid America Food Distributor. Sidwell said Chisholm Trail Milling soon will be relocated to the facility from the Strate Center at Autry Technology Center, and Sidwell Farms is now housed at Sidwell Distribution, as well as Sidwell Strategies and 81 Feed and Seed. “If people want a local product, they can call Sidwell Distribution. We will help them source it from various suppliers in the state and be able to store it and distribute it professionally,” Sidwell said. “Restaurants, churches, grocery stores, daycares, but a lot of focus on restaurants and grocery stores. Sidwell said there have already been local partnerships that have been in place at the facility since September and that commercial freezer space is available for any company that may need to rent a space. He said people will be able to come to Sidwell Distribution and purchase items from his companies housed there.
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FH)--Enid Public Schools Superintendent Darrell Floyd has been named the 2023 Oklahoma Association of School Administrators District 3 Superintendent of the Year. OASA has 20 districts that consist of multiple counties. Eligible OASA members are nominated and selected by their peers in their OASA district. Floyd, who retires at the end of June, has served as superintendent for the Enid district since 2014. Floyd will be recognized at the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) summer leadership conference June 14-16, 2023.
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EY)—Enid Public Schools has set the schedule for a number of end of year activities. Enid High School’s 108th annual May Fete celebration, the annual rite of passage into adulthood, will be Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. The celebration takes place at Government Springs Park and begins with the introduction of the May Court. The court and senior class then promenade around the lake to the gazebo to be seated. After everyone is seated, the queen is crowned, followed by entertainment for the queen. The winding of the Maypole follows. This year’s May Fete Queen Saherena Williams and May Herald Tyler Cholerton will lead the seniors’ traditional walk around the park’s lake.
The Tri-State Music Festival will be Wednesday through Friday with the judged performances at venues across Enid. Baccalaureate will be 6:00 p.m. May 14 in the Enid High School auditorium, the EHS Senior Awards Assembly, 6:00 p.m. May 16 in the EHS auditorium, Middle school eighth-grade promotion ceremonies will be May 17 in the EHS gym, with Longfellow at 9:00 a.m., Emerson at 11:00 a.m. and Waller at 6:30 p.m. EHS commencement will be 7:30 p.m. May 19 at Selby Stadium. If it is rained out, graduation will be 10:00 a.m. May 20 at the stadium. If that is rained out, it will be 7:30 p.m. May 20 at Chisholm Trail Expo Center.
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TR)--The public is invited to attend a come-and- go “Thank-You Reception” honoring outgoing Mayor George Pankonin and Ward 1 City Commissioner Jerry Allen to be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Stride Bank Center’s Convention Hall.
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DP)--Enid will observe the National Day of Prayer on Thursday at the Gazebo on the north lawn of the Courthouse. The event will be from 11:55 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Several faith and community leaders will participate in the event. The prayer gathering will represent numerous churches and ministries in Enid and is not affiliated with any one denomination. All people are encouraged to attend and pray. The National Day of Prayer has roots dating back to 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation.
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YWCA Enid on Friday will host its annual event that helps raise awareness of and shows support to survivors and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, put on in partnership with title sponsor Edward Jones Enid Advisors and Main Street Enid, will kick off with day-of registration, shoe-fittings and check-in at 6:00 p.m. during First Friday at downtown Enid’s Gazebo. YWCA Enid will provide men-sized high heels to all adult walkers at check-in. The awareness walk itself will begin at 6:30 p.m., following brief remarks and an announcement by Courtney Dennis, executive director of YWCA Enid. Registration is open and can be done online at https://ywcaenid.com or YWCA Enid’s front desk, located at 525 S. Quincy. The cost for men ages 18 years old and older is $50, and a team of eight men can register at a discounted cost of $350. For more information about Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, contact Dennis by calling (580) 234-7581 or emailing cdennis@ywcaenid.com.
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NM)--Tri-State Music Festival Board of Directors has commissioned a new piece of music for a full concert band to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the festival this year. This new work is titled “Music for a Celebration” and written by well-known Texas composer William Owens and will be premiered by the Tri-State Music Festival Honor Band during the festival’s Grand Concert, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday in the Enid High School auditorium. The upcoming spring festival next week consists of solo and small ensemble competition for voice, wind and string instruments as well as piano. The Marching Band contest will be held in the fall on the first Saturday of October. Admission for the grand concert is $3 for adults, $2 for children and $10 for a family.
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