May 2021

The University of Central Oklahoma celebrated the achievements of approximately 1,302 graduates during spring 2021 commencement ceremonies May 7-8 at Central’s Wantland Stadium.

Among those local students earning degrees are Kristen Kennedy of Calumet, BS, Funeral Service; Aubreanna Goodblanket, MS, Speech/Language Pathology; Jasmine Craig, BA, Strategic Communication; Shannon Gipson, BS, General Studies; and Jessika Gorrell, BSED, Elementary Education, all of El Reno; and Jordan Cox of Okarche, Magna Cum Laude, BBA, Finance.

LAWSUITS

Midland Credit Management vs. Tray Gilles for $5,078.46 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management vs. Manford Bean for $1,720.49 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Kami Wilkerson for $3,079.21 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Raymond Sinclair for $2,306.73 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Graveside services for Fredie Lee Fuston Jr. will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8 at the El Reno Cemetery with Bishop Mickolas Griffis officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home. 

Fredie was born March 6, 1973, in Okarche.

He graduated from El Reno High School where he was a fullback and linebacker for the El Reno Indians.

He participated in track and field on the shot put and relay teams and also wrestled. His teammates called him “Pop.”

On Thursday, April 29, 2021, Kasey Dawn Working, a loving daughter, sister, wife and mother of three, was tragically taken from this world.

Kasey was born June 6, 1990, in Oklahoma City to Mike Gatz and Carolyn. She was raised by Mike and Debbie in Union City. Kasey graduated from Union City High School in 2008 and received her Special Education Degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2014. She had been teaching special education for seven years in the Mustang School District.

Prayer service for Mable Jean Gassen will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Calumet, with Mass of Christian Burial set for 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Heart with Rev. Cory Stanley and Deacon Max Schwarz officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Okarche under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Graveside service for Ellowene “Rennie” (Bergstrom) Minnix of Corn was held Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Fort Cobb/Oak Grove Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Ray and Martha’s Funeral Home, Anadarko.

Ellowene passed away peacefully May 3, 2021, at the Corn Heritage Village. She was born Nov. 8, 1933, to Raymond and Ester Bergstrom in Mobridge, S.D. Ellowene grew up and attended school in Central City and Spearfish, S.D.

Three pitchers combined for a two-hitter as El Reno High School’s baseball team capped off the regular season with an 8-0 shutout of Santa Fe South.

El Reno, with its second win in the past 10 games, will now take a 14-18 season record into the postseason. It was the third win this season for EHS over Santa Fe South by a combined 16-3 margin.

The Indians were slated to start the Class 5A West Region 1 Championships on Thursday against Lawton Eisenhower in Noble. Southeast is the other team in the four-team bracket, with the winner advancing to state.

OKLAHOMA CITY – El Reno High School boys soccer team’s come-from- behind run to get into the postseason came to a halt last week as the Indians dropped a 4-0 match to Santa Fe South in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs.

El Reno, which had won four of its last six matches to take the fourth seed from District 5A-1, ends its season with a 5-10 record.

PIEDMONT – El Reno High School’s track team split forces last week for the 2021 Suburban Conference Track and Field Championships, with several young thinclads competing in the freshman division.

Gracie Wieland was one of those ninth-graders who dropped down a division and went on to win the 400-meter dash with a time of one minute and 8.3 seconds. She also ran the 300-meter dash, placing fourth with a time of 30.41 seconds.

Ochien Gross joined her classmate with a silver-medal effort in the shot put with a throw of 28 feet.

A strong afternoon round was enough to send two El Reno High School golfers to the 2021 Class 5A Boys State Golf Championships.

Playing in the Class 5A West Regional at Duncan Golf and Tennis Club, Dallon Biswell and Bryan Richardson qualified for state as individual medalists. The pair was among the six golfers not on one of the state-qualifying teams to earn passes.

Richardson carded a 93 during his afternoon round, which was seven shots better than his opening round, to close with a 193.