September 2023

Each step Johnny Hensley took across the parade grounds at Fort Reno was like a step back in time.

While his movement was slow and deliberate, due partly to his battle with cancer after being exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, the Piedmont resident’s eyes were laser-focused on the 330-foot memorial wall set up on the north side of the grounds.

“Do you know if they have the sheet that shows which panels names are on,” asked Hensley, a Navy veteran.

After a few minutes of searching, he found his destination - Panel 16, Lines 90 and 103.

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission next week is expected to consider hiring a contractor to construct a permanent upgrade to the State Highway 66/Banner Road intersection.

Six companies submitted bid proposals that were opened Sept. 14 at Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) headquarters.

Apparent low bidder was Haskell Lemon Group, which submitted a $696,832.15 price – more than 23 percent below the engineer’s $907,830 estimate.

“This project will update the current interchange of SH-66 and Banner Road,” ODOT spokesman Bryce Boyer said.

Hundreds gathered at Fort Reno for the opening ceremony of the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall.

The wall was greeted with sunshine and a U.S. flag that waved in the breeze far above the parade grounds where the wall was set up.

Craig McVay, former El Reno schools superintendent and emcee for the ceremony, said the flag, hoisted close to 100 feet into the air by a ladder truck from the El Reno Fire Department, was no doubt the most expensive flagpole in western Oklahoma.

Canadian County’s elected officials are considering adding Juneteenth to the county’s holiday calendar.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves.

While it is observed as a federal holiday, Juneteenth is not part of the official Canadian County or state of Oklahoma calendars.

Canadian County commissioners are considering a change to the county’s holiday schedule for 2024.

First-year District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider suggested adding Juneteenth at the commissioners weekly meeting Sept. 25.

A Yukon woman has been sentenced to prison for her part in an armed robbery at a truck stop in far west Canadian County.

Hilary Ebera Iannuccilli, 56, recently pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery, conspiracy and trafficking in illegal drugs. Prosecutors had amended count one from first-degree robbery.

Iannuccilli and a co-conspirator on Feb. 19 conspired to rob the clerk at the 108 Food and Fuel Truck Stop, 500 S. Walbaum Road in Geary.

Services for Mary Isabel Hanneman will be held Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, at 2 p.m. in the Huber-Benson Funeral Home Chapel.

Isabel entered heaven on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Norman with her children by her side.

Mary Isabel (Titterington) Hanneman was born Jan. 31, 1927, in El Reno to Samuel and Abigail (Haddock) Titterington. A descendant of immigrants from Northern Ireland, Isabel was proud of her Irish heritage. Named after her grandmothers, she was always known as Isabel and was quick to correct anyone who called her Mary.

There’s an old saying that you don’t really appreciate something until you don’t have it anymore.

We all know that to be true in our personal life with each loss of a lifelong friend or family member.

It’s no secret many newspapers in the United States have closed in recent years. Every time it happens, it feels like losing a lifelong friend or family member.

Joe William McComas passed from this life on Sept. 23, 2023, in El Reno. He was born Dec. 25, 1928, to Grover and Mabel (Jensen) McComas on the farm west of Minco. Joe attended Minco schools, graduating in 1947. He married Arlene (Sis) Feddersen on July 14, 1950, in Union City. They made their home in Minco where they were engaged in farming and ranching their entire lives. They instilled the love of farming in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene, in 2019.