March 2024

Pauline Black-Harmon sat at the podium in the post-game press conference at Lloyd Noble Center with her cheek resting on the microphone as she wiped away the tears from her eyes.

“It hasn’t hit me yet that that was my last game,” said Black-Harmon.

Her words were spoken through those happy tears which have been decades in the making. The last four years as a starter for El Reno on the state’s biggest stage, the Class 5A state tournament, all under head coach Jennifer Douglas.

Savannah Station Therapeutic Riding Program recently received a huge contribution from the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma (CFO).

Erika Warren, CFO’s director of donor services and programs, presented Savannah Station’s board with a $200,000 gift. The donation will be used to finance a new administration center.

The project is a 3,600-square-foot multi-use administration building. The project will begin in the spring of 2024, with a projected grand opening in early 2025.

With plans to develop a new Canadian County Courthouse complex, commissioners took no action last week on a proposal from the state Department of Human Services to renovate part of a downtown El Reno office for its use.

Commissioners agreed to wait before deciding the future of county-owned property at 100 S. Rock Island.

DHS wants to lease about one-third of the first-floor space inside what is now the Canadian County Health Department building.

The Center of Family Love (CFL) in Okarche will host a Teen Board Block Party on March 30.

The event marks a day of celebration, community engagement and fun for all ages. The event is open to the public.

The Teen Board of CFL is steering this initiative, demonstrating leadership and compassion for the residents who live at the Center.

William Dean Rednose was born Feb. 14, 1957, in Kingfisher to Griffin Anthony Rednose and Elvena Newakis Starr. He did labor on landscaping for a living. He married Leslie Rednose until her passing. They had a baby girl that passed at birth, Summer Dawn Rednose. Years later he married Daisy Bushy until her passing.

William was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Summer Dawn Rednose; his nephew, Christopher Dean Campbell; and wife, Daisy Rednose.

Recent news reports show students at Deer Creek Public Schools licking peanut butter off other individuals’ feet as part of a fundraising event.

Funeral services for Arnold ZumMallen were held Monday, March 11 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche with Rev. Joel Heckmann and Rev. Jeff Klade officiating. Burial followed at St. John’s Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Arnold died March 6, 2024. He was born Oct. 14, 1931, in the El Reno Hospital. He attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Okarche and graduated from Okarche High School in 1949. Arnold was raised on the family farm east of Okarche and started farming with his father in his teen years.

Fresh Anointing Church will host an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 30, beginning at noon.

The hunt is open to all children and will include food and fun.

The church is located at 1300 W. Watts on the corner of Watts and Boynton.

Wake services for Linden Royce “Dim” Blackwolf were held March 8 at the Canton E.R.C. with Pastor Waylan Upchego officiating. Funeral services were held March 9 at the same venue with interment in the Canton Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Pierce Funeral Home, Canton.

NORMAN – A halftime pep talk woke up El Reno High School's defense over the final two periods as the Indians defeated Coweta 47-19 in the semifinals of the Class 5A Girls Oklahoma State High School Basketball Championships.

The 28-point victory, the second of the season over Coweta, moved El Reno to 27-0 on the season and into the championship game for the third time since 2019.