November 2023

Union City High School’s girls basketball team earned cross-county bragging rights over rival Calumet recently with a season-opening 62-30 win over the Chieftains.

The Tigers shot 41 percent, making 23-of-49 (47 percent) attempts from 2-point range. Union City was 5-of-19 (26 percent) from the 3-point arc and made just 1-of-4 free throws in the win.

Bree Goad led Union City with 13 points off 5-of-14 shooting, including two 3-pointers, while collecting three rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Fritz Joseph Cerne Jr., 77, of El Reno, passed away Nov. 5, 2023.

Cremation services were under the care of Wilson Funeral Home.

After having its 26-game win streak snapped in last season’s state title game, Calumet High School’s boys basketball team started out on another possible win streak.

The Chieftains kicked off the 2023-24 season with a lopsided 98-33 win over cross-county rival Union City. The Chieftains have now won 21 straight regular-season outings dating back through last year.

Calumet scored 25 points or more in three of the four periods against the Tigers including a 38-point second period leading to a 67-19 halftime lead.

Wake services for Carl Heap of Birds will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, with funeral services at 12 p.m. Saturday, both at the Emergency Response Center in Concho. Burial will follow in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Carl Heap of Birds, whose Cheyenne name was Sun Bear, died Nov. 3, 2023, in Ada.

He was born May 5, 1961, in Wichita, Kan., where he was raised.

Services for Alisha Dawn Kirkland will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Ginger Lemons officiating.

Alisha died Nov. 6, 2023, at her home in El Reno. She was born Feb. 14, 1980, in El Reno.

A lifelong resident, she graduated from El Reno High School in 1999.

Her kindness radiated in her life and work. She loved her job as a senior personal banker working for Interbank for 23 years.

Service members make numerous sacrifices in defense of their countries. While the debts to service members may never be the kind that can be repaid in full, paying tribute to veterans, on Veterans Day and throughout the year, can be a great way to show them just how much their efforts are appreciated.

Veterans Day begins with Armistice Day

Veterans Day is a byproduct of the end of World War I, when Germany and the Allied Nations signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ceasing fighting and establishing terms of peace.

Andrew Von Werder

Mother - Helen Ozella (White) Von Werder was a past Royal Matron of Amaranth.

Father - Master Sgt. August H. Von Werder, U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, 1917-1944, World War I and World War II.

Was a Mason and worked at Fort Reno until its closure.

Brother - Lt. Col. Coleman Von Werder, born June 28, 1928, at Fort Reno. U.S. Army Artillery, 1946-1968, assisted Marines at Battle of Chosin in Korean War.

Brother - William Von Werder, private, USAF, 1952, medical discharge.

Dr. Bryan Blankenship, DDS

Son of Craig and Kim Mittelstaedt.

Oklahoma National Guard

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

2002-2008

Two tours of duty in Iraq.

Ronnie Melton

U.S. Navy - Submarine

1968-71