May 2023

A pair of rallies went against Union City High School’s baseball team as the 18th-ranked Tigers dropped back-to-back games in the Class A, Region 2 Championships at Canute.

Union City jumped out to a 7-1 lead of 15th-ranked Hydro-Eakly in the first game, before watching the Bobcats string together an eight-run rally to take the contest by a 9-7 score.

The Tigers fell behind 7-1 to Hominy in an elimination game before mounting a late rally of their own to cut that deficit to two runs. However, the Tigers had their season end with a 7-5 setback to fall to 20-7 overall.

LAWSUITS

Jefferson Capital Systems LLC vs. Brandy Hartless for $7,539.37 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Jennifer Lane for $874.45 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Heather Rogers for $8,133.51 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Kylie Rodgers for $3,740.89 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Marshyl Stennett’s three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning allowed Redlands Community College’s baseball team to avoid being swept by Western Oklahoma State College in a key regional series.

The Pioneers, currently third in the NJCAA Region 2, Division 2 standings, won three games of the series by scores of 3-2, 9-0 and 10-2.

Stennett’s homer carried the Cougars to a 9-8 victory in game three of the series which was played in Altus due to wet conditions at RCC’s Don Brown Field.

If Canadian Valley Technology Center builds a Public Safety Training Center, the idea originated at an El Reno Now breakfast.

That’s what CV Tech Superintendent Dr. Gayla Lutts said at last week’s gathering of El Reno Now. Lutts and Jena Marr, interim president at Redlands Community College, provided updates on what’s happening at their respective schools.

El Reno Now is a quarterly event hosted by Mayor Steve Jensen and El Reno School Superintendent Matt Goucher.

City Manager Matt Sandidge drew laughter when he told last week’s El Reno Now audience that all was right with El Reno now that “Sonic has opened.”

Sandidge said the new restaurant on Sunset Drive was a welcome addition. The store had to be torn down and rebuilt after a motorist ran through the drive-in.

Sandidge also pointed to the major changes at Country Club Square Shopping Center.

“Who can remember what that shopping center looked like 10 years ago,” he asked. “It was a vacant Walmart and not much else.”

Around two dozen El Reno High senior girls gathered for the inaugural Senior Sip event over the weekend.

The event featured guest speakers, tea, brunch and door prizes.

Norma Jean Havener, a longtime resident of El Reno, was born Feb. 9, 1936, in Mullhall. She died on Friday, April 28, 2023.

Norma was a public accountant and a member of Trinity Baptist Church.

Norma is survived by her son, Stephen Dale “Steve” Havener of Leedey; daughter, N’Lisa Jeanine Havener of El Reno; sister, Lila Mae Porter-Pledger of Midwest City; six grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Janice Cox is out to break a record, but she needs your help to get it done.

Cox is an El Reno letter carrier and since 2006 she’s been the coordinator and driving force behind the Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive.

This year’s campaign is set for May 13, with all food collected going to support The Lord's Harvest, El Reno’s food ministry founded and operated by Nikki Pruitt.

Riverside School has been named a Great Expectations Model School.

Riverside Superintendent Lisa Derryberry said the GE achievement will be celebrated by the school at a May 8 gathering. The celebration is set for 1 p.m., and the community is invited to attend.

The Great Expectations Program, founded in 1991, is a research-based educational reform model that brings change and innovation to schools.

Funeral services for Elizabeth Anne Penwright of Crystal River, Fla., will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at Crystal River Village Community Center. Services are under the direction of Heinz Funeral Home, Inverness, Fla.