May 2025

Douglas Oaks

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Services for Douglas Ray Oaks of Minco were held Friday, May 2 at Hazel Dell Baptist Church, with burial following at the Hazel Dell Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Doug died April 27, 2025, in Oklahoma City. He was born June 14, 1972, in El Reno.

He was a lifetime resident of Minco, graduating from Minco High School in 1990. He was an equipment cleaning specialist at Tinker Air Force Base.

Calumet returns to state in search of elusive gold

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A nine-run first inning catapulted Calumet High School’s baseball team back into the Class B Spring State Baseball Championship for a third straight year.

The Chieftains, ranked second in the state, defeated No.15 Vici 16-0 in a five-inning run-rule to secure the state pass by winning the Region 2 Championship.

The Calumet Chieftains won the Region 2 title

All-State honors

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El Reno High’s girls soccer team was slated to start the Class 5A playoffs Tuesday night in Duncan.

During last week’s off week, El Reno had three players named to the Oklahoma Soccer Coaches Association’s Class 5A All-State West Squads.

Senior Ja’Niya Loreto (23) and senior Conley Knapp (8) were first-team picks at forward and midfielder, respectively.

Knapp earned the second highest votes for her position according to head coach Anthony Klipp.

Senior Lilyana Menijavar (15) was selected as an honorable mention All-Stater.

(Tribune photographer/Glen Miller)

Ja’Niya Loreto_story

Medal count drops for thinclads in tough Weatherford outing

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Running against stiff competition from smaller classifications, El Reno High School’s track teams closed out the 2025 regular season with only a handful of medals from the 2025 Weatherford Eagles Invitational.

The El Reno boys took 12th place with 18 points, primarily from Ethan Brooks.

The freshman scored 16 points, 10 of those coming from a victory in the 3,200-meter run.

He posted a time of 10 minutes and 41.43 seconds, which was more than 17 seconds faster than runner-up Keon Lackey of Weatherford.

Ethan Brooks runs a relay leg

Scoring app update leads to un-‘Bear’ able results for El Reno golfer in state bid

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While as a team, El Reno High School missed a ticket to the Class 5A Boys State Golf Championships by 31 shots, Jacen Bear missed an individual pass by a few clicks on a cellphone screen.

Tournaments have been using a cellphone app, approved by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, to keep real-time scores for two seasons.

The data can be viewed by coaches, players or anyone purchasing the app subscription.

The app is being used in conjunction with the standard written scorecard.

Carolyn Highfill

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Vigil for Carolyn Novosad Highfill of The Village will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, May 5, with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Warr Acres with Rev. Cory Stanley officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery in Union City under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home. Visitation for family and friends will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

Burger Day on the grill

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The 37th Annual Burger Day Festival, coordinated by the El Reno Main Street Program and the City of El Reno, will happen Saturday no matter what Mother Nature has in store.

“It will happen rain or shine,” said Main Street Director Heather Brothers.

Not to worry though, said Brothers, careful considerations are being made in case of severe weather threats.

El Reno firefighters prepare to add the top bun to the Big Burger

The Filling Station debut

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Workers with Lingo Construction were busy putting final touches on The Filling Station before the ribbon-cutting and soft opening set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

The City of El Reno captured a grant for $1.2 million from the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission, using the funds to transform the former gas station at 120 S. Choctaw into a visitors center and gift shop.

The Filling Station debut_story

Paxton says work remains in final weeks of session

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State Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, joked with the audience at last week’s El Reno Legislative Breakfast that when Gov. Kevin Stitt and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell are both out of state, he’s the next in line. Paxton, the Senate Pro Tem, becomes the acting Oklahoma governor in their absence. 

The breakfast was hosted by the El Reno Chamber of Commerce and held at Redlands Community College. 

Paxton said that in February when both Stitt and Pinnell were out of state, he took over. 

Lonnie Paxton_story

Safety check

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These two adult Canada geese keep a watch for any passing golfers or carts at Lake Hefner Golf Course as their babies head toward a pond for a swim last week during the NJCAA Central District tourney.

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