The financial picture for the Alva Tourism Committee is looking brighter. Chairman Norville Ritter said tourism tax payments from hotels are up indicating more room rentals. “It looks way better than last year,” he said. “We’re already ahead of last year and have another quarter not on this report.”

Deducting already committed funds, as of the beginning of the meeting the committee showed $594,291.12 in available funds.

All five of the funding requests were repeats from previous years so the committee moved rapidly through the agenda, eventually approving all for the full amount requested.

NWOSU Football Golf Tourament

NWOSU Football Coach Matt Walter requested $5,000 for a golf tournament to raise funds for the football program. This is the same amount as last year and will pay for golf cart rentals and apparel gifts. The tournament is set for May 31 and June 1 and purposely planned to coincide with the Nescatunga Arts Festival. While golf teams are busy competing, their families can attend the festival.

Walter said they already have registered 32 of the maximum 36 teams for the event. Around 60 to 70 percent of registrants are from out of town. The golf tournament attracts NWOSU alumni, and last year they had attendees from Florida and California.

Ritter asked how profits from the tournament will be used and how much they hope to make. Walter said this event raises about $20,000 and overall his funding goal for the football program is $50,000. Some of the money is used for recruitment, bringing players to visit Alva. Committee member Terri Parsons said they have people stay at their motel every year for the event.

Northwest Oklahoma Junior Rodeo

Tyson Kolb of Cherokee spoke to the committee about plans for a two-day junior rodeo at the NWOSU Practice Facility just north of Alva. The non-profit group hosts a two day event, June 8-9 this year, for kids age 19 and under. This is one of the five rodeos held during the summer followed by a final at Cherokee. It’s the third year the NWOJR has included Alva.

The $6,000 requested is the same as last year and covers the stock charge for the event. Ritter asked how rain affected the event last year. Kolb said, “We just fight through it.” Because of the lack of audience seating, people bring their lawn chairs. He said most bring the whole family.

Alva High School Baseball Tournament

Scott Baugh, AHS baseball coach, asked for $3,970 in tourism tax funds for a summer tournament June 21-23 to be played at Crenshaw Field. This is the same amount approved last year. However, rain caused the tournament to be shortened so only $2,920 was needed in 2018. The funds will pay for umpires, prizes and awards, scorekeepers and gate keepers.

This is the fourth year for the tournament and eight high school teams from across Oklahoma and southern Kansas will compete. Ritter asked how much they hope to raise from the event and how it is used. Baugh said this and other programs bring in around $10,000 a year. The money is used to buy balls, helmets and other needed items for the Alva baseball program.

Alva Rotary 4th of July Spectacular

Jesse Kline presented Rotary’s annual request for help with the all-day 4th of July celebration held in Hatfield Park. The requested $20,000 is the same as last year and will be used for fireworks, free meals, bounce houses and toys, BOSS Music, the Menagerie, swimming in the Alva pool and advertising.

All events are free to the public so the club sells sponsorships of fireworks. Kline said if the event is in the black (makes a profit), it’s around $500 to $1,000 and is used toward the next July 4th.

Alva Fire Department Mud Slingers Shootout

The Alva Fire Department is moving their Mud Slingers Shootout to Saturday, June 1, this year. With the Nescatunga Arts Festival, the NWOSU Football Golf Tournament and a tournament at the recreation complex, it’s going to be a busy weekend.

Alva Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Miller said the date was determined through advice from the Oklahoma association. Alva is a good place for competitors to test out their vehicles before hitting the bigger events later in the season. Miller said they tried an early June date last year and had a really good turnout with more trucks.

Last year when they moved the date earlier the fire department didn’t present a request to tourism due to the short time between events. This year they are asking for $4,000, lower than the $5,000 received in 2016. The money will go toward advertisement, portable restrooms, the sanction fee and insurance. Miller said the insurance is bought through the mud run organization which saves them a lot of money.

Comments

After approval of all requests, the meeting was open for comments by tourism committee members. Ritter asked Dr. Charles Tucker, who is a member of the Alva Arena Authority, for any news on the arena. Tucker said they hope to be breaking ground in the next three months.

The next regular tourism committee meeting will be June 19, the third Wednesday of the month.