January 2021

Body Lawrence T. (Larry) Ortega passed away Jan. 23, 2021, in Oklahoma City. Larry was born Nov. 7, 1939, in Lansing, Mich., and was a longtime resident of El Reno. He was a graduate of Southwestern State College in Weatherford and an Air Force veteran.

Body Graveside services for Florita (Rita) Crawford of El Reno were held Friday in Calumet. Rita passed away Jan. 23, 2021, at St. Anthony’s in Oklahoma City. She was born April 17, 1942, in Geary. She married Larry Crawford on June 7, 1960, in El Reno.

Body Graveside services for Joel Maynard Madbull were held Thursday at the Concho Cemetery with Rev. Eleanor Madbull officiating. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home. Joel died Jan. 24, 2021, in Oklahoma City. He was born Dec. 26, 1963, in Clinton.

Body Doris Jane Griffin, 83, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at her residence. She was born Jan. 14, 1938. She was a graduate of Yukon High School and had lived close to Chattanooga, Tenn., since 2009.

Body A planned 200-unit senior living housing complex got the full support of the El Reno Municipal Planning Commission last week even though some area residents fear the development could create problems, especially related to drainage. Gary Owens Development Inc.

Body Delayed months by COVID-19 precautions handed down by the National Junior College Athletic Association, Redlands Community College opened up the 2020-21 basketball season over the weekend inside a bubble.

Body El Reno Public Schools faculty and staff will join other Canadian County schools in using a third party to administer the COVID-19 vaccination. Superintendent Craig McVay said El Reno will use Passport Health to vaccinate the district’s 400 employees.

Body When host Ardmore was hit with COVID-19 issues, the 2021 District 5A-4 Championships was eventually moved to El Reno and became a three-team race for a state berth.

Body Playing one of the toughest schedules in Class 5A, El Reno High School’s boys basketball team avoided its second three-game losing streak of the season with a 72-45 win over Lawton Eisenhower in the seventh-place game of the Shawnee Invitational.

Body Facing a lineup of three ranked teams, El Reno High School’s girls basketball team rallied from an opening-round loss to win the consolation title at the 2021 Shawnee Invitational.