April 2021

The state Board of Education came to an unexpected resolution in a four-year-old charter school funding lawsuit Thursday in a move the state superintendent and their attorney say sidesteps the Legislature and violates the state constitution.

Supporters of U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe expected the worst when he took the stage at Saturday’s Oklahoma GOP convention after his popularity had been tested by refusing to vote to challenge the Electoral College decision in January.

El Reno High School February/March Students of the Month, from left, freshmen Ana Montes and Colin Tinsley (not pictured); sophomores Kyston Haines and Madison Patswald; juniors Gavin Crawford and Kylee Chandler (not pictured); seniors Ella McReynolds and Erick Loera Cavario (not pictured).

Eight Okarche students received state medals in seven events during the recent OSSAA State Speech Tournament. This year’s tournament was held virtually with students submitting videos of their qualifying performances. Okarche had a strong showing from members of its junior class.

Canadian County 4-H’ers were among the more than 10,000 4-H and FFA members statewide competing at the recent 2021 Oklahoma Youth Expo in Oklahoma City.

MUNICIPAL COURT Amanda Sue Papke, Hinton, failure to appear warrant, $295. Teresa Marie Rose, Edmond, expired tag, $165. Marissa Lynn Buckman, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295. Caitlin Marie Rottler, El Reno, expired tag, $130.

Graveside services for Clarence R. Sanders of El Reno will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 19, 2021, in the El Reno Cemetery with Minister Herbert L. Sanders III officiating. Services are under the direction of The Funeral Home LLC, Watonga. Clarence passed away April 5, 2021.

Funeral services for John Russell Bleigh will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at First Christian Church with burial to follow in the El Reno Cemetery.

Funeral Mass for Rosemary Fox Hess was held Thursday, April 15, 2021, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial following in the El Reno Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home.  Rosemary was born in El Reno to John W. Fox and Gertrude Shupbach Fox on April 24, 1919.

Cathy Lynne Brown-Diehl was born Feb. 20, 1960, in Oregon. She died April 12, 2021, at her home in El Reno. She was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist church.