October 2020

Leading the pack

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With three games left in the regular season, the four schools headed for the playoffs from District 5A-1 seem to have been determined, even though the records have been skewed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now what place those teams will fall into the pecking order for the postseason is still far from being finalized, which makes El Reno High School’s game with Ardmore Friday night a must-win for the Indians.

Kolton Hunt and Darius Moore lead teammates onto the field last week

El Reno Walls

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A collection of artists from El Reno, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and around Oklahoma as well as Dallas painted several walls in an alleyway in downtown El Reno last week. The Phase 1 collection is known as the El Reno Walls.

(Tribune photographer/Glen Miller)

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El Reno casts out Demons with trick play

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Stealing a page from Bill Belicheck’s NFL playbook, El Reno High School’s football team rolled out a long-practiced trick play to score a 2-point conversion and a defeat of Duncan in overtime, 43-42.

“It’s like what the Patriots ran in the Super Bowl with Tom Brady. At first we were going to go for just one point and overtime again. Coach Atchison (Chuck) and all of us felt strongly about the play. We have been practicing it for weeks so it was nothing new,” said senior Darius Moore.

Dorian Plumley pushes off a Duncan defender as he rolls out of the pocket

Public Records - October 21

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MARRIAGE LICENSES

Kevin Wayne Rowe, 39; Laura Kay Marcum, 52.

Blake Allen Sockwell, 38; Yetheda Cadelaria Takacs, 28.

Adam Kenneth Hall, 37; Carmen Daniela Sepeda Rodriguez, 33.

Matthew Allan Miller, 27; Shelbi Lynn Reed, 24.

Eric Alajandro Lopez, 24; Alma Adriana Velasco, 26.

Thomas R. McDonough, 60; Elizabeth Jean Kidd, 68.

Spencer Todd Basoco, 33; Deanna Faye Thompson, 26.

Shaun Paul Reid, 28; Karissa Suzanne Williams, 28.

Conner Holland Spradlin, 27; Mikayla Marie Boyanton, 24.

Leona Alexander

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Mary Leona (Blodgett) Alexander, age 94, peacefully stepped into glory with her Lord and Savior, October 17, 2020, at her home in Gladstone, Mo. She was born the first child of Orley Walter Blodgett and Lois Lebearden (Rowland) Blodgett in Cedaredge, Colo., on July 24, 1926.

Leona’s education spanned from Colorado to Idaho, leading to her graduation from Edmond High in Oklahoma. After attending Nells Business School, Leona worked for 14 ½ years for Black, Sivalls and Bryson Inc. in Oklahoma City and Kansas City.

Leona Alexander_obituary

Kenneth Kortemeier

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Kenneth Kortemeier, 72, a lifelong resident of El Reno, peacefully passed away the morning of October 17, 2020, in Oklahoma City. He was born and raised in El Reno to parents, John Detlew Kortemeier and Ruth (Poage) Kortemeier on October 19, 1947.

In 1975, Kenneth met the love of his life, Gloria Ann (Bollinger) Kortemeier, and on April 4, 1975, they became husband and wife. Together they had a beautiful daughter, Christy Kortemeier.

Kenneth Kortemeier_obituary

ER’s bold works of color, art

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What’s being called Phase 1 of a downtown mural project wrapped up last week, as artists from near and far converged on downtown El Reno to turn drab alley walls into works of colorful art.

El Reno Mayor Matt White said the idea to bring the “mural mafia” to town developed from seeing artworks on walls in Oklahoma City and Miami, Okla.

Funding for the project came from the city, local sponsors and the Oklahoma Mural Syndicate.

Local artists combined with those from as far as Tulsa and Dallas to transform the alley walls into canvasses of creativity.

Dylan Bradway blends in a field of pink on a downtown alley wall

City council gives go-ahead to buy mowers

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It would appear El Reno is getting serious about mowing.

On Tuesday evening the city council agreed to purchase several new and rebuilt mowers to be used on parks, at the airport, Lake El Reno and on city rights-of-way.

Assistant City Manager Kent Lagaly and Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Kouba compiled the information presented to the council.

The mowers and related equipment will, as Lagaly said, “help us do a better job” of mowing and maintaining the parks and recreation areas.

Northwest Community Center updates revealed in El Reno Live session

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Some major upgrades are in the works for the Northwest Community Center.

El Reno Mayor Matt White offered this information while fielding questions during the El Reno Live program.

The 30-minute question and answer session between residents and the mayor can be viewed on the city’s Facebook page as well as on the Facebook page of the El Reno Tribune. It has been running weekly. White said it is a way to help keep the public better informed.

Filing period for area school boards to run from Dec. 7-9

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The filing period of local school board races will be Dec. 7-9. Candidates can file at the Canadian County Election Board from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The election board is located at 200 S. Bickford.

El Reno School Board Position No.1, Ward 5 will be open to qualified candidates.

“Ward 5 is all the area south of Old Highway 66 not included in any other ward,” said a statement issued by El Reno Public Schools.

Banner Public School will have two board positions open for filing.

The filing period for Banner is also Dec. 7-9 at the Canadian County Election Board.