January 2021

The Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve of Kansas City released its latest issue of the quarterly publication the Oklahoma Economist.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some unique dynamics in Oklahoma’s housing sector, as many residents are spending more time in their homes than ever before, according to Chad Wilkerson, branch executive, vice president and economist at the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) Ranch Rodeo has a close relationship with the Children’s Hospital Foundation (CHF) that spans 23 years and entails raising more than $553,500. 

The OCA Ranch Rodeo involves 12 Oklahoma ranch teams that compete in five different events depicting real life activities that happen on the ranch.  The event has affectionately been called “Cowboys Helping Kids” because of the long-standing relationship with Children’s Hospital Foundation.

El Reno High School’s girls basketball team let a key win slip through its fingers last week as Lawton MacArthur scored a basket off an offensive rebound at the buzzer.

The 61-60 non-conference road loss to the Highlanders, ranked fifth in Class 5A, left El Reno with a 5-3 overall record.

The Indians, ranked seventh in the same poll, slipped to 2-2 in games away from Jenks Simmons Field House. The setback to the Highlanders was the first of a six-game road slate for El Reno, which won’t play at home again until Jan. 29.

Kicking off a rough six-game road swing, El Reno High School’s boys basketball team fell to Class 5A's third-ranked Lawton MacArthur for the second time in less than a week.

The 84-62 non-conference setback was the third loss in a row for El Reno, ranked 10th in the same poll. The Indians are now 4-4 on the season and 3-3 in road games.

El Reno High School wrestler Thad Hicks works a pinning move on an opponent from Guthrie during the opening round of the 2021 Malcolm Wade Invitational last week at Carl Albert High School. The event also doubled for the 2021 Suburban Conference Championship. See Saturday’s edition for a wrap-up.

DIVORCES GRANTED

Nikki Michelle Gray vs. Collin Gray.

McKenzie J. Cooper vs. Stedmon T. Cooper.

Crystal Medell vs. Ahmad Ahmad.

Erick T. Patraw vs. Valerie M. Patraw.

Rhonda Kaye Petty vs. Travis Jon Petty.

Victoria Marie McAvoy vs. Rae William McAvoy II.

James D. Thomas vs. Carla J. Carella-Thomas.

Traci Elaine Lambert vs. Chad Joseph Lambert.

Sherri Kay McAninch vs. James Russell McAninch.

Dawn Andrea King vs. Michael Shannon King.

Kevin Alfred Bolinsky vs. Bonnie Lee Bolinsky.

“When polls said only about half of all Americans would take a vaccine, I was saying herd immunity would take 70 to 75 percent,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and public face of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, told the New York Times in December.

“Then, when newer surveys said 60 percent or more would take it, I thought, ‘I can nudge this up a bit,’ so I went to 80, 85.”

Donna Feddersen died peacefully with her husband, Bill by her side on Jan. 13, 2021.

Donna was born Oct. 1, 1931, to Chester and Lemmie Lyon in Gracemont. They later moved to El Reno where she spent the rest of her life until moving with Bill to a senior living facility to be closer to family in Oklahoma City.

Donna graduated from El Reno High School and continued her education in being the best wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, which earned her a master’s degree from her family. She never ran out of love to give to others.

Joseph Gatz died Sunday at his home in El Reno.

Services are pending with Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Based on the number of phone calls flooding into the Canadian County Health Department, residents are eager to get in line to receive one of the two approved COVID-19 vaccines.

According to representatives at the El Reno branch, 700 or more calls are being fielded there each day related to either the disease or the vaccination efforts. The same, if not more, are being answered at the Yukon branch, according to one official, due to the proximity to Oklahoma City.