February 2023

Calumet, Warriors one win from Elite Eight

Body

Five players posted numbers in double figures as Calumet High School’s boys basketball team defeated Kremlin-Hillsdale 69-50 to win the Class B, Area I, Region A Championships.

The victory extended the Chieftains win streak to 23 games.

Fourth-ranked Calumet now takes a 25-1 record into the Area I championship game on Friday against No.8 Goodwell.

That game will be played in Woodward with the winner moving on to state.

Calumet High School’s boys basketball team won the regional crown

Apprentice program geared to teach C&A language

Body

While the Cheyenne and Arapaho languages are respectively known as endangered, there is a growing desire among those involved in the Cheyenne and Arapaho language program to teach and pass on the knowledge they’ve gained from the few fluent speakers left within the tribes.

With the Arapaho language, also known as an Algonquian language, spoken by less than 1,000 people, most of whom are located in Wyoming, many of the language speakers are over the age of 60.

Jean Fletcher

Etta Dale student struck by vehicle, suffers broken arm

Body

An Etta Dale Junior High student is recovering from injuries suffered after being struck by a vehicle shortly after classes had been released on Feb. 15.

El Reno Police Chief Ken Brown said his department was notified at 3:45 p.m. and responded to Cooney Street and Bickford Avenue – which is the road between the school and the district’s Media Arts Center, according to school officials.

Brown said a 13-year-old was struck by a vehicle driven by a male in his mid-50s.

Etta Dale student struck by vehicle, suffers broken arm_story

Power of 100 picks CFL for donation

Body

Okarche’s Center of Family Love received a boost last week, when Power of 100 Canadian County selected it for a $10,000 donation and its latest HOPE Award.

That donation was made possible through a nomination of the CFL by Power of 100 member Dicki Parks.

CFL was one of 11 nonprofits initially nominated for the distribution, then whittled down to three finalists, which also included Russell-Murray Hospice and Blessing Baskets, both located in El Reno.

Diane Wiebusch and Debbie Denwalt pose for a picture

Flapjacks for cash

Body

El Reno High School’s baseball program held a pancake breakfast fundraiser recently.

More than 300 people were served pancakes and sausage, and in addition to decal and team hat sales, generated $3,200 for the program to use toward expenses.

Flapjacks for cash_story

School board approves 2023-24 district calendar

Body

Several noticeable changes are coming for students, parents and educators after the El Reno School Board unanimously passed the calendar for the 2023-2024 academic term.

Tera Roblyer, Director of Communications and Information Systems for the district, said putting out the calendar in February for the 2023-24 school year is done for planning purposes.

Roar of the crowd

Body

Redlands Community College’s mascot tries to fire up the crowd during a recent home basketball game.

The face under the mascot is El Reno High School alum Campbell Eaton.

Roar of the crowd_story

Convicted sex offender could face added jail time for smuggling drugs

Body

A convicted sex offender could be facing more prison time after being charged with carrying drugs into the Canadian County Jail.

Robert Lowell Sandeen, 40, of Yukon, was charged in Canadian County District Court with bringing contraband into a jail or penal institution.

Assistant District Attorney Walter Mengden alleges Sandeen on Jan. 13 possessed “an item of contraband, specifically marijuana, without authority to do so,” according to the felony charge.

The house that Oklahoma built

Body

Out off a gravel road northeast of the town of Beggs, just past the point county services end, stands the kingdom Perry McDonald built – all thanks to a generally despised tree.

According to McDonald, if state legislators continue on a charge this session to eradicate the eastern redcedar  ―  and only eradicate it  ―  they are making a big mistake and overlooking the potential for jobs, business creation and income for landowners.

Perry McDonald looks over his house