December 2022

Russell Wayne Henderson, 61, of El Reno passed away Dec. 20, 2022.

Cremation was under the care of Wilson Funeral Home.

LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Jimmy McKee for $1,063.22 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Bobby Lawless for $1,518.47 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Amanda Day for $1,702.43 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Galaxy International Purchasing LLC vs. Erika Jaggie for $1,228.09 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

El Reno High School’s wrestling team closed out the 2022 portion of its schedule with another brutally tough event, this time heading out of state for the Kansas City Stampede.

The event is billed as one of the top 10 tournaments in the nation and featured 69 schools from 13 different states. El Reno, ranked first in Class 5A, placed 18th overall with 87 points and was one of six Oklahoma schools entered.

The inside-outside combination of Emma Stover and Jalie Rother vaulted Okarche High School’s girls basketball team into the short Christmas break on a five-game win streak.

The Warriors defeated Watonga (79-45) and Oklahoma Bible Academy (71-52) to move to 6-2 on the season.

Okarche heads into the famed Tournament of Champions (Dec. 28-31) having logged six games with 70 or more points on offense.

Calumet High School’s boys basketball team charged into the holiday break riding an eight-game winning streak after defeating Corn Bible Academy 75-34.

The Chieftains, ranked seventh in Class B, improved to 10-1 on the season.

Calumet shot 40 percent from the field after making 27-of-59 (46 percent) shots from 2-point range. The squad hit 5-of-22 3-pointers for 23 percent.

Calumet led in transition points (25-0), paint points (54-16), assists (18-9) and steals (29-5), but was outrebounded 39-36.

Area youth got an early Christmas gift, better yet several gifts, thanks to the efforts of the El Reno Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 151.

Nineteen boys and girls were taken on a shopping spree at the El Reno Walmart as part of the Christmas with a Cop program, which started locally 11 years ago.

“Making the kids happy every year is what this is all about,” said lodge president Kendon Varner, a master patrol officer with the El Reno Police Department.

Growing in popularity, esports is providing opportunities for students to get involved at a scholarly level opposed to traditional sports in schools.

It may also be a big help in keeping some kids in school who otherwise could drift away.

According to the National Education Association website at nea.org, the explosive growth of esports was driven by student interest as 90 percent of teens play video games.

Oklahoma has become a hot spot for filmmakers, and Redlands Community College is giving more students the opportunity to pursue careers in this growing field. Redlands has signed an agreement with United Kingdom-based Coleman Television to provide student internships and to assist in the development of digital video and audio production training micro-credentials and a Certificate of Mastery.

El Reno High School’s cheer and pom squad performed a holiday-themed halftime show during last week’s home basketball games with Piedmont.

From Rebecca Darby’s kindergarten class:

Dear Santa,
Please eat my cookies. I would like a remote control car for Christmas, wait, no, two remote control cars. One for me and one for my brother. I also want a puppy because mine is already broken. I also want a toy that shoots stuff out of it and something more bigger like a toy Santa, wait, two Santas.
Love, Layton

Dear Santa,
I want you to eat my cookies please. I would like a bike for Christmas.
Love, Presley