October 2024

Building momentum toward the upcoming postseason, El Reno High School’s volleyball team won its second Suburban Conference outing of the season with a 3-0 home decision over the Guthrie Bluejays.

The 25-21/25-15/25-18 victory moved El Reno to 12-16 for the season and 2-3 in the seven-team Suburban Conference standings with a home match with Del City remaining.

El Reno led the Bluejays in most key statistics but posted 15 fewer unforced errors.

The Indians served at 89 percent on the night and led in ace serves by a 10-8 margin.

CALUMET – The top-ranked team in the polls blasted its way back into the Class B Fall State Baseball Championships as Calumet High School won the Region 1 Championship with a staggering batting average.

The Chieftains hit .525 with 10 extra base hits in wins over Vici (24-6) and ninth-ranked Caney (14-0) to punch its third straight trip to the fall classic and fourth in school history.

Redlands returns home this week to face Seminole State College after closing out a four-match road swing with losses to Eastern Oklahoma (1-0) and Northern Oklahoma of Enid (3-0).

After months of research, fundraising, construction and preparation, Memorial Stadium’s updated Gold Star Plaza was unveiled to applause, tears and gratitude. 

The three new monuments are dedicated to those from El Reno who lost their lives in either World War I, Korea or Vietnam.

The 61 added veterans, including 18 more names related to service in World War II, join the original 44 WWII vets first honored in 2019.

Brian Rukes said he knew the minute the original WWII Gold Star Plaza was dedicated, the journey was not over. 

Brian Rukes said a “last round of orders” for two styles of Gold Star Plaza T-shirts are still available, but not for long. 

Rukes said the T-shirts helped support the additions recently added to the Gold Star Plaza.

He said a shipping option is being offered for an additional, one-time $5 charge regardless of how many shirts are ordered to one mailing address. The shirts are $20 each - any size, style or color - with no additional charge for local pickup.

I made a mistake!

Of course, the first recipe I put in my new column, I left out an ingredient.

Sorry if you cooked Father Mason’s Blue and Gold Spaghetti and it tasted a bit dry!

I left out the cream of chicken soup.

Sample ballots are now available for the Nov. 5 election. Voters can download a sample ballot using the State Election Board OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp or pick up a copy at the Canadian County Election Board during normal business hours.

County election board secretary Allen Arnold reminds voters that sample ballots are specific to each person.

“If the OK Voter Portal indicates that you have no sample ballots available, it means you are not eligible to vote in an upcoming election.

It is impossible to count the number of times we stop each year to celebrate and commemorate special occasions.

It happens every holiday, anniversary, birthday and graduation. We salute veterans, toast friends, host neighbors, praise children and glorify grandchildren.

Roy Gene Tate of Yukon passed away Sept. 28, 2024.

He was born April 13, 1947, in El Reno to Marcus and Capitola (Elliott) Tate. He graduated from El Reno High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. 

Riverside September Citizens of the Month, front row from left, Jordan Lockler, Camryn Rinehart, Westley Wilkerson, Alx Grant, Sassy Brushwood, Jace Abshire and Dax Macias; back row, Arellie Ramos, Lily Smith, Kevin Factor, Bellamy Bateholts, Desi Elliott, Aaliyah Maggard, Hunter Elkins, Alivia Ontiveros, Braelynn Hudson, Dreydan Shawnee, Catalina Ramos, Luke Hudelson and Irelynn O’Daniel.