February 2021

Public Records - February 20

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MUNICIPAL COURT

Willi Kiryakakis, Enid, speeding, $165.

Trey Medicine Bear, El Reno, improper turn, $195.

Mark William Johnson, Yukon, speeding, $165.

Jesus Porras Jr., Lookeba, negligent driving, $245.

Emily Nichole Meeks, Kingfisher, speeding, $175.

Fredie Lee Fuston, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

John Lee Bland, Yukon, speeding, $175.

Indians conclude tough road schedule with big fourth period, win by 19 points

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Concluding a brutal road schedule on a positive note, El Reno High School’s boys basketball team defeated Noble 73-54 to get back to even ground for the season.

El Reno’s 19-point win over the Bears lifted Rodney Haydon’s team to 8-8 on the season and 7-7 in games played away from Jenks Simmons Field House.

Ten of those games on the road slate were against ranked teams.

The win over Noble also lifted El Reno to 3-3 in the Suburban Conference standings and 2-2 in games which count toward the league title.

Dorain Plumley scored eight points in the win over Noble

Calumet sweeps district titles

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CALUMET – Shooting 42 percent from the 3-point arc, Calumet High School’s boys basketball team scored 20 or more points in each of the first three periods to win the Class A, Area 1, District 8 Championship.

The Chieftains, ranked fifth in Class A, improved to 14-0 on the season with the 81-64 victory over Oklahoma Bible Academy.

Calumet moves into the regional round and will play Wellston in the semifinals of the Winners Bracket C.

Gunner Snowden jumps past a defender

CHS girls find scoring groove, remain on path to face Okarche

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CALUMET – Following a six-point first period, Calumet High School’s girls basketball team found its scoring groove midway in the second period and kept it going for the final 16 minutes.

Calumet outscored Oklahoma Bible Academy 45-28 over the final 20 minutes to win the Class A, Area I, District 8 Championship.

The 56-49 victory over the Trojans lifted Calumet, ranked 15th in the state, to 10-5 on the season. The Chieftains move to the regional round to face Woodland in the Winners C Bracket semifinals.

Allie Harris dribbles between a pair of defenders

Faucets drip dry as power cut

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Emergency personnel in El Reno were caught off guard just like everyone else when power was cut as part of an effort to conserve energy. And the unexpected power interruption created a domino effect that lasted well into the week.

Fire Chief Jason Duff said fortunately there had been no serious emergencies from Sunday when the arctic temperatures and snow arrived into mid-morning on Tuesday.

However, when OG&E cut power on Monday as part of a multi-state effort to conserve energy, it took the municipal water plant off-line, leaving little to no water pressure.

snow plowing

Home away from Hollywood

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El Reno continues to serve as a setting for the film industry as crews converged across town for the past three weeks for the making of American Underdog. The story is based on the life of former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner.

Directed by the Erwin Brothers, whose film credits include “I Can Only Imagine” and “I Still Believe,” the film used locations on Skyline Drive as well as the Ranger Motel, Swadley’s, downtown and east SH 66 for scenes.

The makers of American Underdog brought a crew of 150 to El Reno

A dream of hope

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Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a series about Cardinal Point. The organization is Canadian County’s Family Justice Center model.

Throughout her life, Cardinal Point CEO Kristie Chandler has been no stranger to trauma, as she knows people who have experienced domestic violence.

She said she has learned more about survivors through their stories than any training she has received.

Cardinal Point staff members Amanda Hillyard, CEO Kristie Chandler and Jennifer Coulson

Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes say renaming Mount Evans would help educate and heal

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Now is the time to educate the youth of both Colorado and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes about the Sand Creek Massacre, tribal representatives recently told commissioners in Clear Creek, Colo.

In November, the Oklahoma-based Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes filed a federal petition to rename Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky, a name significant to both tribes.

In 1864, Colorado’s then-territorial Gov. John Evans is believed to have authorized the Sand Creek Massacre in which American soldiers fired on and killed Cheyenne and Arapaho citizens.

Mount Evans in Colorado

OFBO offering free STEAM curriculum for teachers, parents

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Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO) members are offering free, virtual-based STEAM - science, technology, engineering, art and math curriculum for Oklahoma teachers and parents. 

The group’s “Think Like an Engineer” series offers six interactive lessons that promote hands-on learning and critical thinking.

The content is designed to help middle school students put textbook concepts into hands-on practice.