April 2025

OHS rallies past Calumet in 5-4 thriller

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OKARCHE – Ava Meier hit a walk-off double to score Harper White as Okarche High School’s slow-pitch softball team completed a sweep of the Canadian County small schools with a 5-4 win over Calumet.

Okarche, ranked No.17 in Class 3A, moved to 13-8 on the year, while Calumet slipped to 8-10.

The Chieftains tied the game in the top of the seventh when Randy Upchego doubled and scored on a groundout by Jacks Bates.

Calumet catcher Angie De La Torre tags out Okarche base runner Ava Meier at the plate

Redlands stays in playoff hunt with wins over CA, Western

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Redlands Community College’s baseball team went into a four-game series with Murray State with a chance of making the field for the NJCAA Region 2, Division 2 Championships.

The Cougars are 26-24 on the season and 5-15 in the regional standings after splitting a series with Carl Albert and beating Western Oklahoma (21-11). Redlands’ wins over the Vikings were by scores of 14-10 and 9-7 and the losses were 6-3 and 5-2.

Redlands went 57-of-164 (.348) from the plate with 11 doubles.

Goucher recognized by state association

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El Reno’s Matt Goucher has been selected as the Oklahoma Administration School Association’s District 14 Superintendent of the Year.

The honor means Goucher is eligible for the 2025 State Superintendent of the Year Award. 

A selection committee, approved by the OASA Executive Committee, will review and select the next State Superintendent of the Year, said information from the association.

Goucher will be introduced at the Oklahoma City Convention Center during a statewide conference June 12. 

Matt Goucher talks at the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year assembly

Egg hunts

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The Easter bunny made special appearances last week at El Reno Public Schools, giving special education students a chance to hunt for eggs.

Nancy Salsman, who helped coordinate the events, said the kids were excited for the egg hunts.

For some students, it was their first Easter egg hunt, she said.

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Etta Dale teacher selected for studies in Colonial Williamsburg

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OKLAHOMA CITY - Thirty-seven Oklahoma fifth- and eighth-grade teachers have been selected to receive fellowships to attend the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg. 

Those selected include Ashleigh Schaffer, eighth-grade teacher at El Reno’s Etta Dale Junior High School.

The renowned teacher institute takes place in and around Williamsburg, the restored capital city of 18th-century Virginia.

Jury finds Norman man not guilty in shooting death at Halloween party

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A Canadian County jury delivered a not guilty verdict for a man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a man during a Halloween party in El Reno in 2023. 

Delsin Joshua Tsotigh of Norman was 21 at the time of the shooting that took place around 2 a.m. Oct. 28, 2023. He was charged with killing 20-year-old Justin Peyton Davidson of Newcastle.

The incident occurred at 612 Reformatory Road, affidavits from the El Reno Police Department show. 

ER shows off at state Capitol

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City Manager Matt Sandidge and Public Information Officer Lyndsay Bayne were at the state Capitol last week to celebrate Route 66 Day in Oklahoma.

The pair set up an El Reno display showing all the developments planned or in the works along the Mother Road through town.

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell addressed the audience about the importance of Route 66 to the Oklahoma tourism economy.

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Young Guns salute

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Members of the El Reno Young Guns, a 10-and-under youth baseball team, joined El Reno High School baseball players at different positions on the diamond for the national anthem before last week’s game with Weatherford at the Hub Reed Complex.

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Pope Francis dies of natural causes at 88

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Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church, died April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, the Vatican announced.

The Argentine pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, led the church for over 12 years, and always strongly condemned the killing of babies in abortions.

County gala to be held at Expo Center will benefit riding program

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The annual Community Night Gala will be held Friday, May 9 at the Canadian County Expo and Event Center, 3001 Jensen Road East.

Benefiting Savannah Station Therapeutic Riding Program, the gala will be a banquet-style evening featuring a meal, silent auction and live music.

Each year this event benefits a different organization inside Canadian County that meets the needs of the most vulnerable.

The mission of Savannah Station TRP is to “offer hope and healing to people with special needs through the amazing power of the horse.”

Heath Shelton guides SSTRP horse Popcorn around the riding arena