February 2020

El Reno’s municipal government earned one of its best scores for fiscal soundness, a recent audit shows.

And residents need to put on their thinking caps as the city council agreed to host ward meetings in a run up to a possible capital improvements bond issue. Those were two of the topics discussed during last week’s regular council meeting.

Crawford and Associates, the firm hired to audit the city, reported El Reno scored an 8.4 out of a possible 10 for its financial stability.

Verna Thompson of San Antonio passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. She was born in San Antonio on Oct. 15, 1941.

Verna is survived by her daughter, Stephanie, who with her husband, Scott, gave Verna her grandson, Bennett, and by her son, Andrew.

Graveside service for Rhonda Gail (Clouse) Branch will be held Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. in the El Reno Cemetery. A memorial will follow.

Rhonda passed away the 28th day of January, 2020, at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City after a long illness.

She was born on the 17th day of July, 1962, in Blackwell to Ruth Faye and Fred L. Clouse. She enjoyed the summers when she could camp, fish and host cookouts for her family. She wasn’t afraid of hard work and her family appreciated her sense of humor. She liked to laugh and make others laugh.

Memorial services for Rick Marinelli will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche with Pastor Joel Heckmann officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Rick died Feb. 11, 2020, at his home in El Reno. He was born May 26, 1962, in Uniontown, Pa.

He was the manager of Phoenix Manufacturing in Oklahoma City and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and Storm Riders Harley Davidson Club in Moore.

Services for Tommy Cagle, 72, of El Reno were held Feb. 7 at Wilson Funeral Home, with burial following in the El Reno Cemetery.

See full obit at www.wilsoncares.com.

A graveside service to honor and celebrate the life of Bill Pat Cook will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in the El Reno Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home.

Bill was born Dec. 30, 1940, in Oklahoma City to Lawrence Cook and Dersa Cook, and departed this life on Feb. 10, 2020, in Yukon.

Bill graduated from El Reno High School in 1959, where he excelled in both football and basketball. He loved watching all sports, particularly OU Sooners football and basketball.

Michael Lee Ague, age 43, passed from this life on Feb. 10, 2020. Michael was born July 16, 1976, in Oklahoma City to parents, Treasa and Robert Ague.

Michael loved the outdoors and his family. He enjoyed time spent hunting and fishing with his brother and children. He also loved camping and cookouts. His family and friends will always remember him as a fun-loving person.

OKLAHOMA CITY – With its offense hitting on all cylinders, El Reno High School’s girls basketball team snapped its two-game losing streak here last week with an 84-56 win over Western Heights.

The game was not as close as the final 28-point margin might indicate as El Reno went deep into its bench for the final eight minutes against the Jets starters.

“We’ve still got to work on our defense, it seemed like we stooped down to their level and we need to get back to working harder because in the beginning of the game we were dogging them.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Turning eight third-period steals into an 18-3 run, El Reno High School’s boys basketball team pulled away from Western Heights to return to the win column with a 58-41 decision over the Jets.

The win moved the Class 5A’s 13th-ranked Indians back to even ground for the season at 10-10.

El Reno is now 3-6 in games against Suburban Conference teams and 2-3 in those games counting toward the league championship.

El Reno School Superintendent Craig McVay said he has received threats for allowing two high school students to continue wrestling after they reportedly accepted a plea deal following their involvement in the assault of a junior high student.

The incident that apparently sparked the threats took place May 10, 2019.

McVay said the threats were made by voice mail and by email.

“I’m not sure if it was a death threat, it was a voice mail on my office phone. When I answered it there was one voice that said, ‘Hey McVay, kick those rapists off the team now or else.’