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Issue #35 USPS #669-480©

“Your Town, Your News, Since 1892”
WATONGA WOODWARD

Texas 4000 Riders Set to

Ride into Town this Week
By Bethany Syzemore
Staff Reporter
making a stop in Watonga the longest charity bike ride in
during the Texas 4000, four the world. Founded by a fight
Bethany@WatongaRepublican.com more riders than 2016. against cancer and a passion

C
ourageous col-
lege students are
biking thousands
of miles in honor
of cancer re-
search and treatment, making
a stop in Watonga on day 9
of 70 on June 11.
A total of 25 riders will be
This is the 13th anniver-
sary of the Texas 4000 with
a total of 70 riders on all
routes.
A bicycle ride that is twice
the length of the Tour De
France, stretching over 4,500
miles from Austin, Texas to
Anchorage, Alaska. This is
for the outdoors.
Each year the University of
Texas seeks and selects stu-
dents that are eager in the
fight against cancer. There is
an 18-month program that
the riders
Eric Warsinskey Watonga Republican
TEXAS 4000 PAGE A3
SEE
Watonga High School graduate Jack Lafferty returns a kickoff
during the first quarter of the Classic Bowl on Sat. June 3, 2017.

Biking for a Lafferty Shines in

Mercy Brisket Classic Bowl XXIX
Thurs. June 8
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Cause Drives By Eric Warsinskey
Delivery Available
Editor-in-Chief
Participant
ited reps.
Lafferty also saw time at
Editor@WatongaRepublican.com
580-623-7211(Ext. 320)
running back, scoring a touch-

R
down on a 17-yard screen

Masonic Pancake
ecent Watonga pass from South Barber quar-
By Chad Waters
High School terback Grant Cantrell. The

Breakfast Benefit
Staff Reporter
graduate Jack second quarter touchdown all
Chad@WatongaRepublican.com
Lafferty had quite but put the game out of reach
the performance as it gave the East a 34-6 lead

Sat. June 10

B
at Classic Bowl XXIX this with 5:51 left in the first half.

7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

iking more than 4,000 miles in just 70 past Saturday night in Wood- The game was never really
days may not be anyone’s ideal pas- ward. close as Classic Bowl Dual

Watonga Senior Center

time. But, for Bailey Bond and a Lafferty started the game at MVPs Matt Harmon and
group of 69 other students from the safety and flourished in a two-

Build a Better
Mason McKee took control of
University of Texas, it’s how they safety defensive scheme. With Classic Bowl XXIX on the first
choose to spend their summer vacations. more freedom to roam on the

World at Your
play from scrimmage.
Seventy students ride from Cedar Parks, Texas, back-end, Lafferty finished
to Anchorage, Alaska, all in the name of fighting with game high 9-tackles and SEE LAFFERTY PAGE B3

Local Library
cancer with the Texas 4000. an interception, despite lim-

WATONGA
Throughout the program, participants do much
more than just ride their bikes.
Summer classes and enter-
Since its creation 13 years ago, the organization

tainment set to begin Mon.

Relay for Life Set for this
has seen tremendous growth. To date, Texas
4000 has raised $7.2 million and more than
June 5th and continue through
$600,000 for this year.

Tues. July 18, 2017.

Each year’s team seems to set the new mark as

Texas 4000
the fundraising powerhouse, breaking all records
Weekend in Watonga
Cookout
in Texas 4000 history.
All the proceeds go to grants for cancer re-
search and support initiatives, and to the Texas
By Bethany Syzemore
Sun. June 11
4000 program. The organization has historically
Staff Reporter
ciety.
given to MD Anderson Cancer Center and Uni-

5:00 p.m.
The Relay for life is an
Bethany@WatongaRepublican.com
versity of Texas at Austin Department of Biomed- event where team members

at the Watonga

T
ical Engineering. take turns walking around a
Before each journey, the riders must go through he annual Blaine

Christian Church
path or track up to 24 hours as
an 18-month training and leadership development County Relay For a fundraiser.
program. Bond applied back in Fall of 2015, be- Life event will be
Burgers and Hot Dogs will
The relay will begin with a
fore starting the program in January of 2016. in Huff-Lorang
BIKING FOR A CAUSE
dinner in celebration for all of

be served at the cookout

Wrestling Center Dedicated

SEE PAGE A4 Park Friday Blaine County’s cancer sur-
evening starting at 6 p.m. and vivors at 6 p.m. Angie Bro-

Your Event Here

ending at 2 a.m.
ALTUS
drick is in charge of the
A total of 13 teams are par- celebration dinner and is serv-

in Watonga Native’s Name

ticipating this year in Blaine ing pulled pork, potato salad,
Contact Kim
County. coleslaw and fixings. The
This family event has a long
at 580-623-4922 or at SEE RELAY FOR LIFE
history and helps raise money PAGE A3
ads@WatongaRepublican.com
for the American Cancer So-

WATONGA
Weekly Average
Wheat Price By Chad Waters
New Reporter Joins the
Staff Reporter
of energy looking up at the Coach Williams has produced

$3.53
Chad@WatongaRepublican.com
gym and seeing one side of the 62 state qualifiers, 21 state

Watonga Republican
stands full and seeing people placers, 15 state champions

F
that I had coached or taught for and 8 All-Americans, as well
ormer Geary years who apparently I made as being named 5A Coach of
wrestler and current some kind of impact on,” the Year in 2010 and 2016.

B
Altus head Williams said. “It was just an Throughout the dedication
wrestling coach awesome experience that ceremony, former wrestlers, ethany Syzemore, presence not only in Watonga,
Nick Williams was 23, a long time but also across Blaine County.
*Average wheat prices in Watonga
meant a lot to me and my fam- fellow wrestling coaches Larry
presented with a proclamation ily.” James of Shawnee, Brandon Canton resident has I look forward to seeing her
over the last 7 days
and a copy of the sign that will Williams began his career at Benson of Duncan and Todd joined the Wa- grow in our newsroom.”
Crop Prices A9
hang above the entrance to the Mangum before taking over Goolsby from the Oklahoma tonga Republican “Bethany is an exceptional
Nick Williams Wrestling Cen- the Madill wrestling reigns Secondary Schools Activity as the paper’s newest Staff Re- writer and will bring more cov-
ter at Altus High School on where he was named the 2A Association, spoke about porter. erage and knowledge to our
Like us on Monday, May 22. “We are pleased to add an- newsroom,” said Chad Waters,
Facebook Coach of the Year in 2002. Coach Williams dedication to
@WatongaNews Members of the Oklahoma He began his career in Altus the sport of wrestling and his other talented writer to our Watonga’s other Staff Reporter
& wrestling community, along in 2004 as a physical education outstanding reputation across newsroom,” said Eric who will work with Bethany to
@WatongaSports with Altus Public Schools fac- teacher and head wrestling not only the state of Oklahoma, Warsinskey, Editor-in-Chief of continue to provide coverage
ulty and members of the Altus coach. He has also coached but also the nation. the Watonga Republican. out of our newsroom.
NEW REPORTER PAGE A3
Follow us on community gathered to recog- “Bethany is a fantastic addition
DEDICATED PAGE A4 SEE
football and golf for Altus. In
SEE
Twitter nize the longtime Altus coach.
@WatongaNews his thirteen-year tenure, at the to our newsroom and will be a
“It was just an instant boost helm of Bulldog Wrestling, big part in extending our local
INDEX
AREA GAS PRICES FORUM A2 SOCIAL A10
The lowest of area gas prices as of 9:00 a.m. Tues. June 6, 2017, according to GasBuddy.com: FEATURED A3 OBITUARIES A11

WATONGA: $2.19 KINGFISHER: $2.12 LOCAL NEWS A4 SPORTS B2

$1 NEWSTAND OUTDOORS A8 EDUCATION B4
GEARY: $2.09 WEATHERFORD: $2.09 HINTON: $2.09 FARM & MINERALS A9 DIVERSIONS B5
USPS #669-480©
VOL. 124 NO. 35 24 PAGES • 2 SECTIONS