November 2022

Canadian County law enforcement is asking the public for help with apprehending a woman accused of taking the identity of an elderly Mustang woman.

Blessing Brianna Sampson faces a single felony charge of identity theft in Canadian County District Court. Assistant District Attorney Justin Kemp filed the case against Sampson Aug. 31, and Special Judge Charles Gass that day issued a warrant for the 24-year-old’s arrest.

Graveside services for David Lee Herbert will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25 at Pleasant View Cemetery northeast of Union City with Rev. Dick Kurtz officiating.

Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

David died Nov. 19, 2022, at his son’s home in Norman. He was born June 23, 1953, in El Reno where he lived most of his life. He was a 1971 graduate of El Reno High School.

David briefly worked for the Rock Island Railroad before his career at General Motors.

Canadian County commissioners have moved a step closer to permanently closing a dead-end county road.

The one-mile section of Courtney Road between Reno and S.W. 15th is now the responsibility of District 2 Commissioner David Anderson.

It’s a “wise move” for commissioners to “move in the direction of getting rid of a liability,” said Anderson, referring to potential maintenance costs.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a resolution “to begin the statutory process of vacating the right-of-way” in District 2.

Funeral services for Vickey Lynn Lorentz were held Tuesday at the Concho Emergency Response Center. Burial was in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Vickey died Nov. 6, 2022, in Oklahoma City. She was born Nov. 13, 1992, in Clinton. She lived most of her life in Geary but had recently moved to Oklahoma City. During her high school years she was a cheerleader and played basketball and fast-pitch softball at Hinton and Geary high schools.   

Oklahoma Blood Institute is losing hundreds of O negative blood units a month due to recent blood bag shortages.

O negative is the only universal blood type, which means it can be transfused into any blood recipient regardless of blood type.

Blood bags are essential to draw blood from a donor. Without them, OBI is struggling to collect enough O negative blood, and more donors must be recruited to make up for the productivity losses and ensure patient needs are met.

Due to its universality, O negative blood is by far the most in-demand type used by area hospitals.

Funeral services for David Paul Mitchum of Minco were held Monday at First Baptist Church in Minco, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

David passed away Nov. 16, 2022, at the Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon. He was born Nov. 27, 1940, at home in Minco.

David was raised in the Minco community, graduating from Minco High School in 1959. He worked as a corrosion technician for Oklahoma Natural Gas for 37 years until his retirement. He was a member of Minco First Baptist Church.

A big portion of the numbers from El Reno High School’s football season was generated by underclassmen, but head coach Russell Cook is quick to point out their success was spearheaded by senior leadership.

Six of the players from the class of 2023 were honored last week with spots on the 2022 All-District 5A-1 team, including two superlative awards on defense.

Representing El Reno on the senior-only team were Evan Roman Nose, Ryan Sigler, Devonne Smith, Diante Palmer, Nate Karty and James Reveles.

It takes a community to feed the troops.

And that’s essentially what will happen Dec. 4 when El Reno veterans organizations along with others join forces to feed members of the Oklahoma National Guard along with family members.

Some 500 people are expected for the Christmas dinner, a special tribute to those men and women who serve in the Guard.

“Last year the VFW Auxiliary used funds presented to them by Power 100 to pay for the Christmas dinner for the National Guard,” said Nancy Salsman, head of the El Reno VFW Post 382 Auxiliary.

El Reno Scouts took to the streets last week to collect food in the annual Scouting for Food effort.

Beth Griesel, local Scout leader, led the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts in the effort. The result, close to 730 pounds of non-perishable food items were picked up and delivered to The Lord’s Harvest.

The local food ministry, created and operated by Nikki Pruitt, provides food throughout the year to those who may be struggling for whatever reason.

A number of adult volunteers helped in the food collection.

A pair of house fires last week kept crews from the El Reno Fire Department busy for several hours as the blazes happened near a day-care center and a school.

On Tuesday, firemen responded to the 900 block of West London on a structure fire that was classified as “intentional” on the department’s official report.

“This is not the first time we have been called to this property. We’ve had homeless people starting fires in the back yard trying to stay warm,” said El Reno Fire Chief Jason Duff.