January 2023

Several annual appointments were finalized as Canadian County commissioners conducted their first meeting of 2023.

Mustang’s David Anderson, the four-term District 2 commissioner, will continue as chairman of the three-member board for this calendar year. Commissioners typically rotate chairmanship, but Anderson agreed Jan. 3 to remain chair for another year since two-thirds of the board has changed since late November.

“The chairman conducts the meetings and does all of the official communication on behalf of the board to anyone who corresponds with us,” Anderson said.

TUSKAHOMA — A Texas developer canceled plans for a $1.5 billion hydroelectric storage project in this southeast Oklahoma river community last week, citing protests from 200 residents and opposition from the Choctaw Nation.

Tomlin Energy LLC proposed using Kiamichi River outflow to produce energy that would stabilize grids in Oklahoma and Texas during extreme weather.

CHARLOTTE – David Carter Blanton, 73, passed away in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, December 30, 2022.

He was born September 5, 1949, in El Reno, Oklahoma, son to Willard Barch Blanton and Greta Elizabeth Carter Blanton.

David was a graduate of El Reno High School, class of 1967, where he was Student Council President, Senior Class President and band Drum Major. He continued his education at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi. He enlisted in the United States Navy upon graduation in 1971.

To the Editor:

I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your coverage on Blessing Baskets.

For several years I helped my grandma help this organization prepare food boxes for those in need in our community.

It feels great helping others in need and our family has received food throughout the years.

Again, thank you for always sharing with us all that Blessing Baskets does to help our community.

James Elliott
Boy Scout Troop 381

Services for Harold Robert Williams of Lawndale, Calif., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at Hazel Dell Baptist Church in Minco, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Harold passed away Dec. 20, 2022, at his home. He was born Sept. 10, 1919, in Minco.

He was a U.S. Army veteran during World War II.

Harold was employed with Jorgensen Steel in Norwalk, Calif., for 40 years until retirement at age 65.

The Tax Foundation recently released its 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index, a popular diagnostic tool which “enables business leaders, government policymakers and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare.” (OCPA research fellows Scott Moody and Wendy Warcholik, formerly of the Tax Foundation, were the co-creators of this index.)

Visitation for Lillie Mae Kappus will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Huber-Benson Funeral Home, with burial following at the El Reno Cemetery. There will be not be a service.

Lillie died Jan. 2, 2023, at her home in El Reno. She was born June 8, 1935, in Mountain View. She graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City and worked as a proof operator for numerous banks in Oklahoma City.

On May 11, 1973, Lillie married Neal Raymond Kappus and moved to El Reno.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Bradley Kyle Burke, San Antonio, speeding, $185.

James Logan Oliver, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Seth Andrew Lambert, El Reno, expired tag, $130.

Iris Janell Gonzalez, El Reno, possession of marijuana, $550.

Marie Littleraven, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

Tura Jean McLaughlin, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

Tyler Minear, El Reno, failure to comply, $145.

Adriana Corrales, El Reno, expired tag, no insurance and driving under suspension, $855.

ANADARKO – Senior James Reveles, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, was one of three players in double digits as El Reno High School’s boys basketball team defeated Class 5A’s 13th-ranked Lawton MacArthur 67-33 to win the 2023 Anadarko Warriors Classic.

El Reno, ranked fourth in Class 5A, was making its second straight tournament championship appearance but claimed its first trophy.

The Indians are winners of four in a row and are now 9-1 after beating Capitol Hill (92-35) and Cache (64-37).

ANADARKO – Reagan Bugaj’s one-handed 3-pointer at half-court sailed wide left as El Reno High School’s girls basketball team suffered a 51-50 loss to Class 5A’s 12th-ranked Lawton MacArthur in the finals of the 2023 Anadarko Warriors Classic.

El Reno, ranked fifth in Class 5A, was making its second tournament championship game this season but settled for runner-up again with the one-point loss. The Indians are now 7-3 on the year after beating Capitol Hill (64-15) and Chickasha (52-42) to make the finals.