May 2025

Remember

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Barbara O’Neal and Vera Mae Morse slowly walked beside a long row of graves inside the El Reno Cemetery, carefully studying the names on the markers and watching American flags placed nearby waving in the breeze.

The pair stopped at a white granite headstone that listed the name Private Robert A. Morse.

“He was my brother-in-law,” said Morse.

Barbara O’Neal and Vera Mae Morse look over the grave of a family member

Years keep flipping on ER’s Burger Day

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Otis Bruce says it’s probably just history repeating itself.

He figures that’s why El Reno claims to have recently celebrated the 37th Annual Fried Onion Burger Day Festival. Bruce says the 2025 festival was actually the 36th rendition. 

“I think it’s like what happened in 1889,” said Bruce, now retired and former longtime owner of Johnnie’s Grill. “It’s just the Sooners jumping the gun again, only this time it was in 1989.”

Otis Bruce scans the pages of the scrapbook his wife made for him

EHS May honorees

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The El Reno High School May Students of the Month include Grant First, Adalyn Stahlman, Coy Atkins, Brooklyn Black and Yareni Baxcajay.

Also named were Jacob Smith, Serenity Billings and Hezakiya Satepauhoodle.

EHS SOM_May 2025 - 1

Academic scholarships

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El Reno High School graduates Kaden Beverly, seated left, and Riley Ray recently signed scholarship agreements to compete for the Academic Team at Redlands Community College.

The scholarships combined are worth more than $5,000 per semester.

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Kiwanis honors

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The El Reno Kiwanis Club awarded two scholarships to graduating seniors of the Class of 2025.

This year’s recipients were Kaydence Guth and Mikah Watts.

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Okarche names top students

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Okarche High School's May Students of the Month are Katy Creswell, Brianna Mollohan, Holden Schieber, Emory West, Harrison Mueggenborg and Julia Zaragoza.

OHS’ May Lion and Lioness honorees are Andrew Walker and Hannah Carnott.
 

OHS SOM - May 2025

Lamplighters OHCE meet at Mount Zion

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Lamplighters OHCE of Canadian County met recently at Mount Zion Global Methodist Church.

Carol Stine called the meeting to order, while Donna Wehmuller offered a devotional titled “Finding God in the Garden.”

Maxine Little read minutes from the last meeting, with Patricia Morrison giving the treasury report.

Thank-you cards were read from Mercy Home Health expressing appreciation for the gift bags they received on Easter to give to their patients.

Public Records - 5/31/25

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LAWSUITS

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Nancy York for $3,391.26 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Denali Capital LLC vs. Alyssa Damian for $3,781.00 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Synchrony Bank vs. Chelsea Cook for $2,739.98 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Jessica Hogner for $1,349.54 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Letter to the Editor: Buffalo at Adams Park

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To the Editor:

I think the giant buffalo sculpture would be a great eye-catching feature at Adams Park.

The story took me back to when there used to be real buffalo in the fenced enclosure across 66, north of the park. One of them was a big and a bit cantankerous bull. He was noted for making rushes at the fence if someone was walking by. 

One summer, I think about 1960, the bull got out and was on the shoulder of 66 when a pink and white Cadillac with California tourists drove by going east and slowed to look.

A rendering of the large buffalo sculpture being proposed for Adams Park