January 2022

Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, is calling for the removal of Don Spencer as the executive director of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association (OK2A) after making comments Paxton said could put the lives of legislators and other elected officials in danger.  

At an event held in Duncan last month, Spencer told the audience, “We win at the ballot box, so we don’t have to go to the ammo box.” Paxton said the comment crossed every conceivable line of decency.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after a bill imposing critical sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project failed to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to advance:

“The Senate had another chance to get it right on Nord Stream 2, but Democrats let this opportunity to stand up to Putin pass us by.

“For years, there has been wide bipartisan support to stop this pipeline from becoming another tool in Putin’s arsenal to further bully his neighbors.

Haven’t settled on resolutions for 2022?

Experts at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation have a few suggestions for healthy commitments you can still check off the list this year.

Get moving

OMRF physician-scientist Hal Scofield, M.D., said adding movement like taking the stairs or a short walk can pay dividends.

“You don’t have to sign up for a marathon,” Scofield said. “The greatest health benefits come from changing habits by small increments that fit your current lifestyle.”

MIDWEST CITY – Missing four starters and losing out on early-round bonus points after a series of byes, El Reno High School’s wrestling team rallied for a second-place finish at the 2022 Malcolm Wade Invitational.

El Reno, ranked second in Class 5A, racked up 199.5 points to finish behind seventh-ranked Guthrie’s 226. The Bluejays were crowned the Suburban Conference champions since the event doubled as the league tourney.

Dominick Havern hit one of two free throws in the waning seconds as El Reno High School’s boys basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 62-59 road win over Class 5A’s 16th-ranked Guthrie.

The victory moved El Reno, ranked 13th in the same poll, to 6-5 on the season. More importantly, it lifted the Indians to 3-1 in the Suburban Conference standings.

El Reno was holding a 61-59 lead but Guthrie was playing for the final shot when Havern got a strip steal, forcing the Bluejays to foul the guard with 1.7 seconds left.

Here’s a critical question for enthusiasts of critical race theory, particularly its growing number of advocates on the religious left: How did MLK do what he did without CRT?

That is, how did the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. manage to accomplish what he did without critical race theory?

MLK preceded CRT, which began its rise in the 1970s, exploding in American universities still later. King was assassinated in 1968.

A few more questions:

How did Rosa Parks do what she did without this very, very narrow ideological theory known as CRT?

Funeral services for Phyllis Carol (Armstrong) Garrison will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21 in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Viewing will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Phyllis passed away Jan. 8, 2022, in Oklahoma City. She was born May 5, 1947, in El Reno to Fellice “Jimmy” and Opal (Fletcher) Armstrong.

Phyllis married Gary Gene Garrison in Gainesville, Texas, on April 22, 1983.

Phyllis worked as a lunch assistant for El Reno Public Schools. She enjoyed shopping, spending time with family and traveling.

Joseph Walter Geis, 89, of Geary, passed away Jan. 14, 2022, in Blanchard. He was born Oct. 21, 1932, in Scotland, Texas, to Lawerence and Anna (Poirot) Geis.

He married Shirley Holdaway on May 30, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and from this union came their children, Joe and Deanna. Their family attended church at Sacred Heart in El Reno.

At the age of 17, Joe was employed with the Rock Island Railroad until his retirement. He enjoyed OU football, playing his guitar, farming, hunting and fishing. He especially loved spending time with his family.

Graveside services for Florene (Beckner) Jacobs were held Monday at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in Okarche. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Florene passed away Jan. 12, 2022. She was born at home Jan. 21, 1931, in Piedmont and grew up on a farm.

Florene attended Piedmont High School and upon graduation, she trained at a comprehensive trade school. After completion, Florene worked as a “Kelly Girl” or temp worker for WesBanco Bank and then 7-Eleven where she stayed on in the corporate offices.

Services for Gregory Lee McKelvey of Minco were held Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Minco, with burial following in the Evergreen Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Greg passed away Jan. 13, 2022, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. He was born Feb. 6, 1949, in Chickasha. Greg was raised in the Minco community, graduating from Minco High School in 1967.

He farmed most of his life. He was a member of First Baptist Church.