September 2022

It’s playoff time in Oklahoma for the lower classifications in fast-pitch softball and Union City High School enters the postseason riding an offensive juggernaut.

The Tigers take an eight-game win streak into the Class A, District 29 Championships at Rush Springs having outscored their last four opponents by a 43-10 margin.

Union City’s run margin led to wins over Community Christian (14-2), Calumet (11-5), Riverside Indian School (17-3) and Class B’s fifth-ranked Lookeba-Sickles (1-0).

The highest-ranked Calumet High School baseball team in more than a decade will take a three-game win streak into the playoffs after winning the Hammon Invitational – its second tourney title of the fall season.

Calumet, ranked third in Class B, improved to 19-3 on the season with wins over Canute (No. 5/B) 10-4, Cheyenne/Reydon 10-4 and Duke (No. 20/B) 12-0.

The Chieftains were slated to host the Class B, District 3 Championships to start their playoff run.

Redlands Community College’s soccer team dropped its fourth straight league match last week after a 6-0 road setback to Northern Oklahoma College of Tonkawa.

The loss dropped the Cougars to 1-7 for the season and 1-5 in the NJCAA Region 2 standings.

Redlands had eight shots in the loss, four of those on goal, led by Gladis Avalos with four attempts. Amya Lindsey and Moriah Reed closed with two shots each.

Kaitlynn Runnels allowed two goals in net but logged five saves in a half of work. Haley Inglehart picked up nine saves but allowed four goals.

The old Parkview Hospital building will be razed in early October after a shorthanded El Reno City Council voted to award a contract for its demolition.

With Mayor Matt White and Councilman Tim Robinson absent from last week’s meeting, Councilwoman Tracey Rider chaired the meeting. She was joined by council members Steve Jensen and Pete Stapperfend.

The trio approved a contract with RMR Demo for $372,000 to demolish the more than 60,000-square-foot structure in Adams Park. Built in 1954, the hospital served the El Reno area for some 60 years before being closed.

For the second consecutive year, El Reno High School students are involved in an internship program that gives them a look at what it’s like in the workforce, the goal being to expose them to possible career paths.

The Next Level Internship program is coordinated by Kara Watts and consists of 12 high school students interning at various jobs around town.

Performers from El Reno and across Oklahoma competed in the Third Annual Battle of the Bands event last weekend and a number of artists brought the downtown streets to life with colorful creations, some taking form as visitors looked on.

The event was a partnership between the Centre for the Arts organization as well as the El Reno Arts Council.

The musical portion of the two-day event took place at Petree Plaza, while artists set up their displays on Bickford in front of the historic Centre Theatre.

First Christian Church Marketplace is set for Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include lasagna, chicken alfredo, green beans, salad, bread, dessert and drink.

Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

The Marketplace will feature a Holiday Booth, This-n-That Booth and a Gourmet Shoppe with homemade food items.

Homemade cinnamon rolls will be sold by the dozen or half dozen.

Free face painting will be available for children.

Canadian County is eligible to receive about $400,000 from a settlement with opioid distributors.

Canadian County government officials will use the proceeds toward abatement of the opioid crisis.

In June, Oklahoma reached a $250 million settlement with three companies that distributed opioids in the state – McKesson, Cardinal and AmerisourceBergen.

Funds will be used to prevent and treat opioid addiction, Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor said.