WATONGA – After years of planning and construction, the Lucky Star Casino now stands as a sleek and modern welcome to Watonga just off Clarence Nash Boulevard. So it’s fitting the remodeled casino, hotel and convention center would play host to the 2021 Watonga Chamber of Commerce banquet, where it was also honored as the Chamber’s 2020 Business of the Year.
Other individuals and businesses awarded Monday evening included:
• Citizen of the Year: Carl King
• Volunteer of the Year: April Woodruff
• New Business of the Year: Ward & Glass LLP
• Business Beautification of the Year: Liberty Theater
Liberty Theater was recognized for the new electronic sign it installed on its marquee, which now functions to inform locals about current events, promote Watonga Eagles athletics, give the time and temperature, and more.
Woodruff’s award came for her work with the Watonga Community Cat Foundation, which finds permanent homes for local cats in need and also works to sterilize feral cats and reduce Watonga’s stray cat population. Citizen of the Year Carl King is a pastor and former teacher who gave a stirring invocation to open the banquet Monday, and whose award prompted an outpouring of love and support from the community both in person and online.
The banquet was attended by many prominent local officials. Watonga Mayor Bill Seitter emceed the event and new City Manager Karrie Beth Little was in attendance, as were several city councilmembers.
Other guests included state Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, state Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, state Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, and Gov. Reggie Wassana of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Wassana and Moore were the keynote speakers for the event.
Wassana spoke about Lucky Star’s expansion, future plans for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and cooperating with communities like Watonga. “This is one of the first events (with a) large group for this casino,” he said.
The renovated Lucky Star casino opened last year, but the adjacent hotel and convention center space remained under construction. Today is the hotel’s first day accepting guests, while the 4,500-square-foot convention room is nearby on the ground floor.
“The growth of the tribe, the growth of Watonga, the growth of this area – we all have to pull together,” Wassana said. “We’re going to try to do our part as much as we can. We’re going to have 200 jobs here (in Watonga). … So we’re always trying to think ahead, and think rationally, about what we can do to make western Oklahoma, as a whole, better.”
Moore’s speech was primarily about Oklahoma’s medical marijuana problems, particularly the illegal land acquisitions occurring in rural areas to cultivate pot plants. Moore, whose district includes portions of southern Blaine County and parts of Beckham, Caddo, Canadian and Custer counties, will be leading an interim study on the problem in advance of next year’s legislative session. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics recently spoke about the issue at a Watonga forum.
Moore also talked about local energy production, saying Watonga is “primed for the next step” into hydrogen energy.
“I think that’s going to be the next wave of the future,” Moore said. “I think that Oklahoma is primed to be in position, in five or six years, to really be a hub of hydrogen energy. I know that’s something that’s kind of foreign to us. I’ve heard a lot about … and I’m excited for the opportunities that provides for all of western Oklahoma, especially Blaine County.”
Watonga Chamber President Melanie McCrary said Monday’s was the largest turnout the Chamber banquet has ever seen. She said the Chamber was “able to accomplish quite a few things” in 2020 despite having to cancel the annual Cheese Festival due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’ve already had a very busy 2021,” McCrary said, “and we look forward to seeing all of you at the Cheese Festival.”
The 2021 Watonga Cheese Festival will be held Oct. 8 and 9.