December 2023

Maple top students

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Maple November Students of the Month, front row, Jensen Gatz, pre-kindergarten; second row from left, Luca Dill, kindergarten; Carder Holden, third grade; Claire Lorenzen, second grade; and Remi Story, first grade; back row, Charlee Charmasson, fourth grade; Rylee Girten, eighth grade; Zuri Lewis, sixth grade; Kaelyn Racca, seventh grade; and Makenzie Caldwell, fifth grade.

Maple SOM_November 2023

Stars of honor

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Maple School OU Stars of Honor recipients, front row, Delaney Sheffel, Mia Trujillo, Abigail Brincefield, Cole Langely, Caleb Blanco, Aniya Chaffin, Harrison Cullen, Ella Ratliff, Zoe Robles, Wager Ferguson, Otis Sears, Hollis Wedman, Elizabeth Eisenhour, Easton Hughey, Jake Wells, Lilly Bollinger, Beau Davis, Payton Haley, Lane Clark and Opal White; back row, Liam Brincefield, Abby Bass, Case Elliott, Kinsley Bonilla, John Prince, Brody Crawford, Lainey Rowell, Emily Thompson, Mackenzie Caldwell, Cale Wedman, Dean Davis, Paylynn Smith, Taylor Dill, Kynlee Shamblin, Ryker Penwright and Lake

Maple School Stars of Honor_December 2023

Riverside November Citizens of the Month

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Riverside November Citizens of the Month, front row, Hunter Elkins, Zain Mills, Will Blackowl, Michael Queen, Camryn Rinehart and Lexi Matias; back row, Kason Ward, Leilani Mullings, Jaxon Ward, Braelynn Hudson, Rafe Rowland, Alivia Ontiveros, Desi Elliott, Leyla O’Daniel, Jett Hudson, Wyatt Mills and Catalina Ramos. Not pictured: Zach Queen.

Riverside November 2023 - Citizens of the Month

Patty Jimerson

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Patty Jean Jimerson passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, 2023, in Norman. She was born Nov. 18, 1936, in Chickasha to Rua and Marvis Choice. She grew up in El Reno, where she attended El Reno High School. During high school, she was a member of the girls quartet, a member of the All-State Choir, and was the Band Queen. She clearly had a wonderful gift of music.

El Reno chains up Bulldogs in first 5A-1 meeting

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One quarter proved to be the difference in a tight contest as El Reno High School’s boys basketball team overcame a slow shooting night to earn its first victory of the season.

El Reno used a 13-2 run in the second period and then outgunned Altus 31-30 in the second half to pull out a 55-43 win over the Bulldogs. The 12-point decision lifted the Indians to 1-1 on the year and in the District 5A-1 standings.

Carter Roman Nose shoots a jumper

Girls survive miscues, fouls to secure ‘ugly’ 59-32 victory

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While Jennifer Douglas will take what she terms an “ugly win” over the alternative, the El Reno High School girls basketball coach knows her team has the skill level to do better.

El Reno overcame 21 turnovers and 20 fouls to defeat Altus 59-32 in its first road contest of the season. The Indians remain atop the District 5A-1 standings at 2-0 heading into this weekend’s Harrah Panthers Classic.

“I’ll take an ugly win but we have got to get better,” said Douglas.

Pauline Black-Harmon eyes the basket while shooting in traffic

Nicholson, Elledge top EHS All-District picks

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El Reno High School’s football team was recently recognized with its first round of postseason honors as six players were named to the 2023 All-District 5A-1 team – a senior-only honor.

Two of those picks were superlative awards as running back Malachi Nicholson was named Offensive Most Valuable Player.

William Elledge was selected as the Linebacker of the Year, sharing the award with Lawton MacArthur’s Jake Caldwell.

El Reno placed three on the first team in offensive linemen Dion Kaulaity and Cade Houston as well as defensive lineman Spencer Davidson.

Malachi Nicholson carries the ball on a sweep play after taking a handoff from quarterback Elijah Fisher

Karen Niles Olive

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Services for Karen D. Niles Olive will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 at First Christian Church with Revs. Colton Lott and Tara Dew officiating. Burial will follow at Buena Vista Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.   

Karen died Dec. 5, 2023, at St. Katharine Drexel Retirement Center in El Reno. She was born Feb. 8, 1938, in El Reno. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Library Science with a minor in Youth Christian Ministry from Phillips University and a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Karen Niles Olive_obituary

El Reno matmen drop first dual of season to Wildcats

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PIEDMONT – Facing one of the busiest weeks on its schedule, El Reno High School’s wrestling team kicked off the first of three ranked road events with a 46-30 dual loss against cross-county rival Piedmont.

The Wildcats, ranked seventh in Class 6A, snapped a three-year losing streak to El Reno – ranked seventh in Class 5A. The loss dropped the Indians to 2-1 on the season.

“They (Piedmont) are better than they have been and we didn’t come to wrestle today.

“We are a young team and we’ve got some injuries but that is no excuse.

Niko Gonzalez attempts to lock in a single-leg takedown of Piedmont’s Brody Heusel

Lester Hacker

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Services for Lester Dewane Hacker of Lake Tawakoni, Texas, a former Minco resident, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 at Hazel Dell Baptist Church. Burial with military honors will follow at the Friendship Cemetery, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.