March 2024

Pamela Jo “Pam” Hunt went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 20, 2024, in Edmond, in the care of her family and hospice after a short illness. She was 74.

Pam was born Dec. 29, 1949, at Harvey Clinic in Heavener, Okla., to Holland and Agnes Wright. She married Ron Hunt on Nov. 20, 1992. Pam grew up in Heavener, the fourth of five children. The family moved to El Reno in 1964 when her father went to work for the Rock Island Railroad. She graduated from El Reno High School and El Reno Junior College.

Oklahoma Aerospace Commerce Economic Services (ACES), a division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, will host a free career fair for job seekers. Some of Oklahoma’s leading aerospace companies will host recruitment booths at the career fair to discuss open positions in the industry and provide job search tips for attendees as well as on-the-spot interview opportunities.

The event will be held Wednesday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rose State College in the Jeanie Webb Student Union, 1910 Hudiburg Drive, Midwest City.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Francis Marie Wosika Armstrong, 77, on Feb. 21, 2024.

Marie is survived by her children, son, Tony Billy, and daughter, Tiffany and husband, Steve Schrader; grandchildren, Bryce Billy and Adilyn Schrader; siblings, Diane (Richard) Birdsong, Bill Wosika and Pat (Ralph) Edwards; and many nieces and nephews.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Jean Wosika.   

Marie was a loving mother and her grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader.

Funeral services for Francis Keith Hamilton Jr. were held March 6 at the Concho Emergency Response Center with Pastor Waylan Upchego officiating. Interment followed at the Cantonment Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Pierce Funeral Home, Canton.

Keith passed away Feb. 28, 2024, in El Reno. He was born Nov. 20, 1973, in Albuquerque, N.M., and grew up in El Reno.

El Reno High School’s baseball team was one of four teams to sweep District 5A-1 openers this week, taking two games from Shawnee to remain unbeaten on the season.

The Indians won their home opener over the Wolves by a 13-0 score, then completed the sweep a day later in Shawnee by a 12-4 margin. The series came on the heels of a 15-1 road win over Capitol Hill in the 2024 season opener.

El Reno went 24-of-82 (.293) from the plate for the three games, logging 40 runs and 24 runs batted in.

The Indians took advantage of 21 walks against 19 strikeouts.

Luke Lembke scored his first hat trick of the season as El Reno High School’s boys soccer team defeated Tuttle last week 7-2 at Memorial Stadium.

The win over the Tigers squad, a mix of male and female players, lifted El Reno to 1-1 on the season.

Tuttle, which has not had a soccer program in over five years, had only the one mixed squad.

Lembke got El Reno on the scoreboard first in the 31st minute of the first half when he took a rebound off a missed Alan Gonsalez shot and shot into the lower left corner of the net.

El Reno High School senior Raley Hartley earned a silver medal in the heavyweight division at the 2024 Oklahoma Girls Powerlifting Coaches Association’s state meet held in Durant.

Hartley posted a total weight of 940 pounds to finish 10 pounds behind Fairview’s Seleste Pilado for the gold.

It was an order reversal from the North Regional as Hartley beat Pilado by 5 pounds to take first.

Minutes after his high school career ended, Okarche senior Caden Schieber looked up at the stands at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena and smiled.

At that moment his eyes and mind were not locked on the thousands of fans cheering on the Warriors to the Class A Boys State Championship, but a rather empty Section 317 and a promise made to his grandfather – longtime Okarche head coach Ray West.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Okarche High School’s boys basketball team upheld the age-old adage that defense wins championships, especially if you sprinkle in some consistent offense in the process.

The Warriors (27-4) ended a 45-year title drought by defeating Caddo, the defending state champ, 56-38 in the championship game of the 2024 Class A Oklahoma State High School Basketball Championships.

“I’m so proud of these guys. They represent so many former players and teams. It was an awesome feeling to hear the roar of the crowd when we knew we had it in the bag.