March 2021

El Reno water woes ‘a perfect storm’

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As city officials continue to learn more about the chain of events that left much of the city and surrounding area with little to no water during a stretch of sub-zero temperatures in mid-February, “a perfect storm” may best describe the ordeal.

Water Consumption_graphic

Arrest made in Hadden shooting

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A 21-year-old El Reno man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Angela Michelle Thompson, police reported.

Jason Lamar Richey was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting that happened March 10 at 402 S. Hadden. The shooting took place just before 9:30 p.m.

Assistant Police Chief Kirk Dickerson said Richey was injured in the incident that reportedly left another person wounded as well. Police did not release information or the name of that person.

Jason Lamar Richey

Donors to match ERPS Foundation donations

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Thanks to some generous donors, every dollar donated to the El Reno Public School Foundation will be matched in a move that is expected to help push the corpus of the nonprofit entity to more than $1 million.

Dana Gibson, longtime foundation board member, said the pool of donors willing to match the donations wish to remain anonymous.

She said no limit has been put on the dollar-for-dollar match. With assets of more than $800,000 and $700,000 of that permanently endowed, the effort could very well boost the foundation above $1 million.

ERPS Foundation Board

Old fairgrounds sent out in style

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The sale of 78 4-H and FFA livestock projects wrapped up last week’s Canadian County Spring Livestock Show.

Mixed emotions from show participants filled the fairgrounds, as the final county stock show took place at the current facility.

Once the curtain came down on this 2021 show in El Reno, spectators and exhibitors shared immense excitement and anticipation for next year’s inaugural Spring Livestock Show at the new state-of-the-art facility, southeast of El Reno at Highway 81 and I-40.

Hudson Lockler leads two competitors around the show ring

Livestock Show and Sale results

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BARROWS

Berkshire

Class 1
Reece Gabel, Mustang FFA, Breed Champion; Jazmine Mayo, Calumet FFA, 2nd.

Class 2
Destiny Searcy, Mustang FFA, 1st; Claire Foreman, Yukon FFA, 2nd; Cooper Newberry, Mustang 4-H, 3rd.

Class 3
Davis Morris, Miller 4-H, 1st; Payton Shelton, Mustang FFA, 2nd.

Class 4
Josie Felton, El Reno FFA, Reserve Breed Champion; Grady Lesperance, El Reno FFA, 2nd.

Chester White
Gage Lesperance, El Reno 4-H, Breed Champion.

Duroc

Madison Shout’s Charolais steer was named Champion Market Steer

Marking the Mother Road

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Mid-March marks 75 years since Nat King Cole recorded what would become the definitive song for people to “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66.”

These days, travelers and Route 66 enthusiasts who “plan to motor west” will have an easier way to spot the Mother Road in Oklahoma.

Revised historical route markers are going up over the next few months along key areas as one of the first visual cues that the state is getting ready for the upcoming Route 66 centennial celebrations in 2026.

Revised historical Route 66 marker

Maple A/B Honor Roll

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Pictured are Maple School’s A/B Honor Roll honorees, front row from left, Erica Niles, Hunter Lorenzen, Grady Menz, Presley Swigart and Karalynn Ellis; second row, Rowdy Penwright, Tace Tech, Graham Phillips, Adison Steffler, Karis Racca, Bella Hart, Aspen Fudge, Emma Brothers, Kennedy Arnold, Ashtyn Stokes, Aydan Steffler, Josh Bass, Ashlynn Reuter and Kallie Parra; third row, McCray Whitman, Sawyer Williams, Bella Stevenson, Aspen Burns, Camden Sears, Bailey Schmidt, Luke Harris, Hernan Blanco, Clara Whitman, Caely Carnott, Kaydence Pawnee, Easton Schmidt, Ashlyn Hardy and Clayton Hudson;

Maple School’s A/B Honor Roll honorees - Feb 2021

Maple A Honor Roll

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Maple A Honor Roll honorees, front row from left, Brennan Ayers, Hayden Rosholt, Audrey Eisenhour, Stone Baker, Rhett Davis, Gavin Basler, Levi Bass, Lane Hudson, Zuri Lewis and Halle Hunt; middle row, Zoey Pawnee, Dominic Steinbruck, Raquel Seymour, Kassidy Ferguson, Garett Moss, Cheyenne Kubicek, Halli Ferguson, Jackson Arnold, Lexi Richardson, Ethan Brooks, Ayden Troncoso and Kaelynn Racca; back row, Lexi Porter, Ellie Shamblin, Emercyn Looper, Davin Shamblin, Maelee Moss, Brantlie Charmasson, Maddie Moss, Skylar Ayers, Pierson Brandley and Quinn Charmasson.

Maple A Honor Roll honorees - Feb 2021

Maple Citizenship

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Pictured are Maple School’s February Citizenship Award winners, front row from left, Hollis Wedman, prekindergarten, Ryker Penwright, first grade, Hunter Lorenzen, third grade, Makenzie Caldwell, second grade, and Laken Meschberger, kindergarten. Back row, Autumn Scott, sixth grade, Alice Park, fifth grade, Skylar Ayers, eighth grade, Cheyenne Kubicek, seventh grade, and Dominic Steinbruck, fourth grade.

Maple School’s February 2021 Citizenship Award winners