January 2021

State Sen. Darrell Weaver has filed legislation to require cell phone companies to provide phone location information to law enforcement in emergency situations, such as an abduction.

Senate Bill 272, the “Kelsey Smith Act,” is named for an 18-year-old from Kansas who was abducted from a store parking lot in 2007 and found murdered four days later.

Weaver said law enforcement had been unable to get the cell phone records to locate Kelsey until it was too late.

Canadian County CASA Inc., which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, welcomes volunteers Regina Sabatini and Dannie Mitchell.

The pair completed their advocate training with a court observation and swearing-in by Judge Bob Hughey with the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center.

In all, 20 new volunteers became CASAs in 2020.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the work of CASA has not stopped. New volunteer trainings are currently being held virtually, and videoconferencing remains an option for child visits.

The Canadian County Health Department began a daily COVID-19 vaccination pod last week at El Reno's First Baptist Church. Shots are given from 8 a.m. until noon and both the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots are being administered.

Residents must use the State of Oklahoma's Vaccine Scheduling Portal (vaccinate.oklahoma.gov) to make an appointment.

MIDWEST CITY – El Reno High School’s wrestling team faced an uphill battle from its opening-round matches in the 55th Malcolm Wade Invitational as nine of the 16 teams entered appear in the top 15 of the Class 5A poll. El Reno, one of those ranked teams at No.4, battled through the stacked brackets to place eight wrestlers en route to a fourth-place overall finish with 154 points.

Duncan, tied for second in the state with Glenpool, won the team title with 234 points. The Warriors were second with 190 points and Shawnee third with 165.5 points.

Briana Stevenson gets a boost into the air from teammates, from left, Krystiana Guzman, Samyra Hunter and Analexis Lozano during a stunt at a recent El Reno High School basketball game. EHS cheerleaders and pep band have been practicing social distancing and wearing masks during home games this season.

An El Reno woman has been charged with one count of embezzlement of funds related to an El Reno High School activity.

Kellye Jo Mutzig, 47, was arrested Jan. 11 by Canadian County sheriff’s deputies after an arrest warrant was issued by Judge Charles Gass.

Court records show Mutzig posted a $5,000 bond the same day.

The date of the offense is listed in court documents as being March 9, 2017. The case has been assigned to Judge Paul Hesse.

A private family funeral service for Sue Snyder was held Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at First Christian Church. A public graveside service followed at Red Rock Cemetery in Calumet with Pastor Tara Dew officiating, assisted by Rev. Colton Lott.

Services were under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life for Craig Eugene Joyner, 64, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the Palace Event Center, The Chateau Building, located at 2310 N. Banner Road, El Reno.

Craig was born to Edward and Nettie (Montgomery) Joyner on June 7, 1956, in Oklahoma City.

He passed away peacefully, following a battle against cancer, at home with family at his side.

Joseph F. “Joe” Gatz was born May 26, 1929, on a farm west of Union City, the second child of and first son of John and Dorothy (Wartchow) Gatz. He attended school in Union City, graduating from Union City High School in 1949. In 1951 he was drafted into the Army and served in the infantry in Korea. He was discharged as a sergeant in 1952. On May 19, 1956, he married Laura Jean Jurey.

I’m in transition from journalism to the counseling profession, and I’m working part time in a mental health clinic.

That position qualified me, as a health-care worker, for the first tier of the COVID-19 vaccine. I was able to secure an appointment at the Canadian County Health Department Clinic at the Yukon Community Center Dec. 31.

It was a dreary, chilly day. The line extended through the parking lot. I was glad I was bundled up with a heavy coat, gloves and a stocking cap.