January 2022

When national media personality Soledad O’Brien took the stage as the keynote speaker for Oklahoma State University’s 2022 MLK Celebration, university officials were promising an “elevating” experience.

In a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic caused upheaval throughout the travel sector, the Oklahoma travel and tourism industry increased its market share of domestic travel and generated $7.1 billion in direct spending by visitors, according to new research by the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation...

Dealing with both COVID-19 and injury voids in its lineup, El Reno High School’s wrestling team continued a grueling dual schedule last week against perennial powerhouse Tuttle.

Both El Reno teams were playing in the Shawnee Invitational this weekend, which is the last regular-season tournament of the year for the Indians.

Three guards combined for 35 points as Calumet High School’s girls basketball team jumped back into the win column with a 43-27 victory over Sentinel in the first round of the West Central Tournament.

Despite posting wins in four of its last five games, including a 51-46 overtime win over Hennessey, Okarche High School’s boys basketball team remains in the 17th spot in the latest Class A poll.

LAWSUITS Velocity Investments LLC vs. William Ordenis for $10,578.50 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees. Jessica Mercer vs. 3J Construction Inc. for an amount in excess of $40,000 for alleged actual damages.

El Reno’s city government is going through a transition period with some employees stepping down, another leaving and still others contemplating early retirement. Several are veterans who will take “years of institutional knowledge” with them.

Delayed weeks by COVID-19, a film crew from Oklahoma City-based Boiling Point Media battled sub-freezing temperatures and blowing snow over the weekend to continue shooting the film The Adventures of Jurassic Pets: The Lost Secrets.

The Union City Fire Department had a sizable fire Jan. 4. A short video posted to the Union City Fire Department Facebook page shows firefighters battling a blaze at an oil field site. Fortunately, there was no collateral damage.