February 2021

Lorene (Big Eagle) Rolette, Cheyenne-Kiowa, passed away on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the age of 81. She was born to her parents, John Big Eagle and Sarah Ataumbi-Big Eagle in El Reno on Dec. 4, 1939, and given the name Singing Woman.

Sharon Griffin, 78, passed away Feb. 12, 2021. She was born in Pratt, Kan., to George Henry and Anna Marie DeVaney Seely. Sharon is one of six children, Georgia Ann Seely, Thad Seely, Stanley Joe Seely, Martha Marie Bass and Christie Jane Hubbard.

El Reno High School’s wrestling team added four more state qualifiers from day two of the Class 5A West Regional, lifting the Indians total to nine – the most under head coach Tyrone Lewis.

Facing a relentless full-court pressure and a barrage of 3-point baskets from the Oklahoma City Storm, El Reno High School’s boys basketball team looked to have figured out a win in the regular-season finale. Then the rug got pulled out from underneath the Indians.

OKARCHE – For a second straight season, Calumet High School’s boys basketball team has reached the area round without a postseason loss, needing one win to reach the state tourney. Calumet, ranked fifth in Class A, defeated Thomas Fay-Custer 62-46 to win the Area 1, Region C Championship.

OKARCHE - Following in the footsteps of her legendary mom, Cherie Myers, Haley Mitchell has her Okarche High School girls basketball team one win away from a trip back to state. Okarche, ranked eighth in Class A, defeated Woodland 45-34 to win the Area 1, Region C Championship.

Redlands Community College’s basketball teams have hit a few early snags in Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference play, dropping three out of four games. Jay Niehues’ women's team posted the only win, defeating Northern Oklahoma College of Enid 66-61.

In less than 24 months, El Reno has dealt with a killer tornado, torrential rains, a devastating ice storm and now a sub-zero arctic nightmare that left much of the city without water. In his weekly El Reno Live program, Mayor Matt White called on residents to pray.

Like the thousands of El Reno residents dealing with electrical and water outages during the recent winter storms, those in charge of overseeing prisoners on the county, state and federal level were also left out in the cold. “We are in the same boat as other residents in El Reno.

Delayed twice by weather, the first portion of the Class 5A West Regional Wrestling Championships was completed over the weekend, with El Reno High School leading the team chase.