March 2023

George Ray Heupel, a lifelong resident of Okarche, passed away Sunday morning, March 19, 2023, at his home. George was born Feb. 15, 1940, at the Heupel farm homestead in Okarche. George married Carol Bullard in 1961 and had four children, Cynthia, Shelly, Wesley and LaVon.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to provide better access to child care for Oklahoma’s teachers and school employees passed out of the Senate. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, authored Senate Bill 16 to create a pilot program to provide child-care grants to school districts.

Mary Ruth Akers Patman went to her heavenly home on March 17, 2023, surrounded by her family. Mary was born Oct. 20, 1950, to Clifford and Omabelle Akers. She spent her early years in Union City and graduated from Union City High School in 1968.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to provide an across-the-board pay increase for Oklahoma’s teachers and certified school personnel received overwhelming support in the Senate.

U.S. President Joe Biden “stresses that Silicon Valley Bank is not getting a bailout,” The Hill reported on March 13. “No losses will be borne by the taxpayers,” he said of the federal government’s decision to cover depositor losses in excess of $250,000.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens.

LAWSUITS Matthew Claverie vs. Tyrell Thomas, individually, and KLLM Transport Services LLC for an amount in excess of $75,000 for injuries and damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

The inability to avoid big innings by opponents once again haunted El Reno High School’s baseball team as the Indians were swept by the Guthrie Bluejays in District 5A-1 play. El Reno opened the series on the road with a 6-1 setback, before losing 9-1 at the Hub Reed Complex.

Gusting winds played havoc with pitching on both offense and defense last week for Calumet High School’s slow-pitch softball team as the Chieftains split games with Geary and Sentinel.

Bragging rights in the Canadian River baseball rivalry between Union City and Minco will stay on the north banks for another season following the Tigers 12-3 win.