November 2023

Two weeks before bedlam each year, Sacred Heart Catholic School starts selling orange and red footballs for a Bedlam Blessing Baskets Battle.

Footballs start at 25 cents each and can be purchased for any amount.

Proceeds from this battle benefit El Reno’s Blessing Baskets Christmas Basket Program. This program includes gifts for children at Christmas and special food for the families as well. 

Sacred Heart raised $2,152.25 for Blessing Baskets. This year’s winner was OSU with $1,448.75 and OU with $703.50. The real winner was Blessing Baskets.

Selected as Okarche High School’s October Lion and Lioness are seniors Wyatt Pinkerton and Jade Jackson.

OHS October Students of the Month are Arron Osborn, left, and Hunter Mueggenborg.

Maple October Students of the Month, front row from left, Hayes Ferguson, kindergarten; Tyler Williams, first grade; Rhyatt Higgins, pre-kindergarten; Liam Langley, second grade; and Kennedy Prince, third grade; back row, Halle Hunt, sixth grade; John Prince, fifth grade; Everleigh Sears, eighth grade; Lexi Richardson, seventh grade; and Michael Cullen, fourth grade.

Memorial services for Carson Ray Mills of Cogar will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 at Canaan Baptist Church in Minco.

Carson died Oct. 26, 2023. He was born April 21, 1970, in Midwest City.

He grew up in Cogar and attended school in Binger, graduating in 1988. He attended college at Oklahoma State University and El Reno Junior College. He lived in Cogar, Stillwater, El Reno and Shawnee during his life.

Carson was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2020. He continued to stay active with his hobbies until he was no longer able.

El Reno High School’s postseason honors rolled in two by two as the Indians placed a pair of players on each of the three squads making up the 2023 All-Suburban Conference Volleyball Team.

Earning spots on the first team were middle blocker Jewell Graham and utility player Qyra Jones. Second team nods went to defensive specialist Bre Barksdale and setter Emercyn Looper.

Setter Daily Maples and outside hitter Trinity Black earned honorable mention status.

Noel Kent Allen passed away Nov. 6, 2023, at 81 years old. Noel was born Nov. 3, 1942, to parents, Vernon and Ada (Thomas) Allen.

Growing up, Noel attended several schools including Central School, El Reno High School and Redlands Community College, and eventually joined the Army.

El Reno High School alum Caroline Huber was recently named to the 2023 NJCAA All-Region 2 Soccer Team.

A sophomore at Seminole State College, Huber was named to the first team as a defender.

She has made 18 starts for the Trojans, logging four total shots and three assists. Her primary role is a middle defender for SSC.

Seminole defended its NJCAA Region 2 crown as well as winning the South District title. The Trojans, now 19-0-1 on the year, posted a 16-0 record during the regular season in league games.

Services for Richard Byron Whiteman were held Nov. 9 at Huber-Benson Funeral Home with Mark MeGehee officiating. Interment was in the El Reno Cemetery.

Rick passed away Nov. 2, 2023. He was born Aug. 23, 1953, in Okarche. He grew up in El Reno, Oklahoma City and Houston, Texas. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City and attended Oklahoma State Technical Institute specializing in automotive and diesel mechanics. Rick worked at a variety of restaurants in the Oklahoma City area and in construction work.

El Reno High School’s football team topped the 4,000-yard rushing mark last week against Altus.

Services for Verna Lou Wheeler of Yukon were held Nov. 2 at Covenant Community Church in Yukon, with David Ray of Yukon Church of Christ officiating. Interment followed at the Lone Wolf Cemetery.

Services were under the direction of Peoples Cooperative Funeral Home, Lone Wolf.

Verna passed away Oct. 29, 2023. She was born Feb. 13, 1944, in Granite, and graduated from Lone Wolf High School.