January 2025

The holiday rush is over, and many people will experience a touch of the winter blues over the next couple of months.

In response to years of feral hogs causing extensive damage to property and agriculture in rural Oklahoma, Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has introduced SB478, the Free to Hunt Feral Hogs Bill, designed to remove all required permits for hunting feral hogs and free Oklahomans to protect their land, crops and livestock from their destructive impact.

Feral hogs cause an estimated $1.5 billion in damage annually across the United States, with Oklahoma bearing $30 to $50 million in losses each year. 

Jack and Alice Robinson of El Reno are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary.

Jack Robinson and Alice Thompson were married Jan. 21, 1955, at El Reno First United Methodist Church.

Robinson is the son of the late Jack and Emma Robinson of El Reno. Alice is the daughter of the late Leniel and Ruth Thompson of El Reno.

Both are El Reno High School graduates. Robinson graduated from Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1957.

You ever heard of a recipe called Tennessee onions? I never had until last week as I was scrolling through TikTok.

Yes, I know, the government is shutting down TikTok, blah, blah, blah. I won’t ever talk about politics in this column so I’ll just leave it at that.

Redlands Community College recently announced students named to the college’s honor rolls for the fall 2024 semester.

Students listed on the President’s Honor Roll have completed 12 or more credit hours and have earned a GPA of not less than 3.8, with no grade less than a B – excluding 0-level courses. 

The Vice President’s Honor Roll lists those completing 12 or more hours of coursework and a GPA of 3.5 to 3.79, with no grade less than a C – excluding 0-level courses.

Lamplighters OHCE of Canadian County met recently at Mount Zion Global Methodist Church for their January meeting.

Carol Stine called the meeting to order, while Patricia Morrison offered the devotional titled “Truly a Wonderful World.”

Maxine Little read minutes from the last meeting and Morrison gave the treasury report.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Stormy Porter, El Reno, trespassing on private property, $245.

Christina Deanne McClure, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Oscar Rodriguez Lozano, El Reno, driving without license issued, $252.

Christine Marie Pannell, Oklahoma City, speeding and driving under suspension, $560.

Marcus Fisher, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Gerald Par Artinian, Weatherford, speeding, $165.

Craig Allen Clemons, Oklahoma City, speeding, $185.

Bryce Gene Hansen, El Reno, failure to stop at red signal, $165.

Surviving stretches of uncharacteristic turnovers and poor shooting, El Reno High School’s girls basketball team passed its first major test in District 5A-1 play with a 55-34 win over Lawton MacArthur.

“We did not play well tonight,” said El Reno head coach Jennifer Douglas.

The 21-point decision extended El Reno’s current win streak to 38 games dating back to last season. The Indians are now 10-0 on the season and 5-0 in District 5A-1.

You have to look past the offensive numbers to see the real reason why El Reno High School’s boys basketball team defeated Lawton MacArthur last week to remain undefeated on the season - defense.

The Indians logged eight blocked shots, three each from Carter Roman Nose and Tre Davis and two from Kason Haydon, while recording 10 steals en route to a 63-39 victory over the Highlanders.

It was a season-low point total for MacArthur, which slipped into third place in the District 5A-1 standings with its first league setback.

Okarche High School basketball players Hunter Mueggenborg (first photo) and Easton Roby (second photo) became the fourth and fifth local players to surpass the 1,000-point career scoring mark during the 2025 Three Rivers Conference Championship last week.