February 2024

Some 2,800 farmers and ranchers across Canadian County will be celebrated for their work putting food on people’s tables. County commissioners proclaimed Feb. 19-23 as Farm Bureau Week in Canadian County.

Longtime Canadian County farmer and rancher David VonTungeln, who accepted the proclamation, said this annual observance helps promote rural life and agriculture across Oklahoma.

“The Farm Bureau is the largest farm organization in Oklahoma, representing about 80,000 members,” said VonTungeln, secretary of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s board of directors.

El Reno cleaned up at the recent American Quarter Horse Association Awards with two longtime residents winning top honors for their dedication to the industry.

Floyd E. “Butch” Wise was named for the third time as winner of the Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award, while Robin Glenn was named for the first time as the winner of the Mildred N. Vessels Special Achievement Award.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, highlighted the January report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week showing food prices rose nearly 4 percent over the last year.

Maple January Students of the Month, front row from left, Maverick Lorenzen, first grade; Zoe Robles, second grade; Taylor Dill, third grade; Rowyn McKee, kindergarten; and Emery Reuter, pre-kindergarten; back row, Emily Thompson, fourth grade; Garett Moss, seventh grade; Ethan Brooks, eighth grade; Hunter Lorenzen, sixth grade; and Kinsley Bonilla, fifth grade.

LAWSUITS

Nationstar Mortgage LLC vs. Hunter Ross for $99,152.82 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 13, Block 2, Belisle Addition, Yukon.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation vs. Brett Jones and Dyrinda Tyson-Jones for $56,109.14 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 11, Block 163, Westbury Addition, Oklahoma City.

Bank of America N.A. vs. Brian Twyman for $18,506.49 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

I once wrote that “scientists are right about climate change.” I long opposed logging clear-cuts and excessive drilling. I even voted for the Green Party candidate (gasp!) for president. But this longtime supporter of environmentalism has completely abandoned its modern instantiation. Here are five reasons why.

1. Failed climate change predictions

Science is about accurate prediction. If Newton’s theory had failed to predict how apples fall, then it would be useless.

Services for Kenneth Edwin Royster were held Thursday at First Baptist Church in Okarche with Rev. James Inman officiating. Burial was Friday at the Pine Creek Cemetery in Lynchburg, Mo., under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Kenneth died Feb. 10, 2024, in El Reno. He was born March 23, 1935, in Plato, Mo., where he graduated from high school. He was a farmer and also drove for Transcon Trucking. Kenneth was a veteran serving in the U.S. Army and a member of the Okarche First Baptist Church.

Seventy-five days after starting its journey at home, El Reno High School’s girls basketball team made history twice last week with a 43-28 victory over Shawnee on the same Jenks Simmons Field House court.

El Reno’s 15-point win over the Wolves put the finishing touches on a 14-game sweep through the league lineup to lay claim to the first-ever District 5A-1 title.

The victory also capped off El Reno’s regular season with a 23-0 record, marking the first time in school history for an EHS girls team to take an undefeated record into the playoffs.

El Reno High School’s boys basketball team experienced firsthand the old adage that it’s hard to beat the same team three times in one season – let alone four.

The Indians outscored Shawnee 23-13 in the fourth period to rally from a six-point deficit and pulled out a 69-65 win over the Wolves in the final game of the regular season.

Seniors on El Reno High School’s girls basketball team were honored last week prior to the start of the final regular season game.

Each senior was given a wooden jersey-shaped plaque and a Pendleton blanket provided by C&A Tribes District 2 legislators George Woods (Cheyenne) and Kendricks Sleeper (Arapaho).

El Reno would then defeat Shawnee to cap the school’s first girls undefeated regular season.