May 2022

Walborn inks college deal

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Surrounded by teammates, El Reno High School state medalist Rylee Walborn (second from right) recently signed a national letter of intent to wrestle for St. Mary’s University. The private Catholic university is based in Leavenworth, Kan.

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Good Luck Class of 2022

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El Reno High School held its first-ever graduation ceremony on artificial turf at Memorial Stadium over the weekend.

More than 235 students from the Class of 2022 took part in the ceremony. Twenty-four of those were members of the National Honor Society.

El Reno had 77 students graduate with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

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The Game of Life

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El Reno High School freshman Jacob Lively admits to playing “The Game of Life” before, but never really connected all the nuances of the board game until he experienced the elements in real life.

Through a grant from the K20/Gear Up for the Future program, El Reno High School educators enlisted the help of community businesses and leaders to put on a real-life version of the board game.

“It’s pretty cool. I was a fan of The Game of Life before so this stuff today is pretty cool,” said Lively.

Hernan Blanco spins the chance wheel

Cellular tower plan on hold for 30 days

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A proposal to erect a cell tower in a south El Reno neighborhood was tabled last week by the city council.

Council voted 4-0 to table the request from Tillman Infrastructure, LLC for 30 days so more information could be gathered.

A number of residents attended the council meeting in protest of the proposal.

A spokesman for Tillman said the tower is necessary to provide better 5G service to parts of El Reno.

The tower height would not impact air traffic.

CCJC set for major face-lift

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Canadian County Children’s Justice Center will undergo almost $655,000 in upgrades in the coming months, after commissioners approved two six-figure contracts.

Those contracts were to provide LED upgrades and renovation and refurbishment at Gary E. Miller Canadian County Children’s Justice Center.

Both were made possible through state contracts, Commissioner David Anderson said.

Counties may make major purchases through a bid process or state contracts, as allowed by law, Assistant District Attorney Tommy Humphries said.

El Reno native donates painting to ERFD

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El Reno native George Bramlett presented a painting to honor local firefighters during a ceremony last week.

Bramlett, now of Houston, gave his original artwork titled “The Valor Painting” to the El Reno Fire Department as a show of appreciation for its dedication to the community.

Mayor Matt White welcomed Bramlett back to El Reno and a number of his friends turned out for the ceremony, held inside the Public Safety Center on SW 27th Street.

A 1969 graduate of El Reno High School, Bramlett is a retired Vietnam era veteran.

George Bramlett presented a painting to honor local firefighters

Slane to perform in follies

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El Reno resident Linda Slane will be appearing in the 2022 Oklahoma Senior Follies.

The event will be held this weekend at Hudson Performance Hall, NW Classen High School, Oklahoma City. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Slane has been a regular cast member of the Oklahoma Senior Follies since 2011.

Her forte is comedic acting/singing and performing and she has appeared in various community theater productions including Daddy’s Dying, Who’s Got the Will, Nunsense and Seven Nuns in Las Vegas.

Pebley handed six-year federal conviction for assaulting guard

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A man serving an extensive sentence for a 2020 bank robbery and firearms conviction will spend an additional six years in federal prison for assaulting a guard at the federal prison in El Reno.

United States District Judge Stephen Friot last week sentenced 24-year-old Zachary Gage Pebley to six years, after Pebley pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer while being held at Federal Correctional Institution.

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El Reno secures spots on postseason squads

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El Reno High School’s girls soccer team secured 10 spots on three separate postseason honors teams, including three selections by the prestigious Oklahoma Soccer Coaches Association All-State Committee.

Seniors Caroline Huber, along with sisters Carlie and Kinley Golden were named to the West squad for the Class 5A All-State Game, which will be played June 10 at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa. Game time is 6 p.m.

Carlie Golden uses her upper body to control a pass

Helen Beth Armold Osborne

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Helen Beth Armold Osborne (“Meme”) of El Reno, born April 7, 1946, in El Reno, was called home at age 76 on the evening of Friday, May 13, 2022.

Helen graduated from El Reno High School and continued on to college and began a career as a beautician. She was married to Gary Osborne on Oct. 10, 1970. They were married for 51 years.

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