May 2025

A celebration of life graveside service for Tommy McMurtray, 67, of El Reno will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 23 at the El Reno Cemetery. 

Tommy passed away Jan. 21, 2025. He was born June 4, 1957, in El Reno to Roy and Charlene McMurtray. He was a retired carpenter. 

Tommy is survived by Michael Avant of El Reno; daughter, Joni Turner of Oklahoma City; sister, Tenna McMurtray and spouse, Mary of El Reno; and brother, Larry McMurtray and spouse, Vicky of Newcastle. 

What does China export to the United States? Items include electronics, machinery, furniture, bedding, clothing, footwear, toys, cars, motorcycles, medical equipment, needles and catheters. There is of course more.    

Becky Sue Vickrey Garlow, 70, passed away peacefully at home in Shawnee on May 14, 2025, surrounded by her adoring family. Becky, affectionately known to her family as “Grammy,” was born to Norma and Eugene Vickrey on May 20, 1954, in Chickasha.

Becky grew up in the farming community of Minco with wonderful parents and brothers, and never lost her love for her farming roots. Becky graduated with honors in the Minco High School Class of 1972, and in 1976 graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology from Oklahoma Baptist University.  

LAWSUITS

Capital One N.A. vs. Nathan Swalve for $2,463.38 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Capital One N.A. vs. Holly Ndungu for $8,836.29 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Capital One N.A. vs. C.S. Potts for $7,042.57 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Crown Asset Management LLC vs. Piper Eaton for $1,364.20 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Bobby Sayadeth for $2,741.32 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Services for Judy Holdaway are pending with Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Judy died May 17, 2025, at her home in El Reno. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – While his quest to win a high medal in the Class 5A Oklahoma State Track and Field Championships fell short, El Reno High School freshman Ethan Brooks made the podium in one of his three events.

Running at Western Heights, Brooks collected five team points after top 10 efforts in the mile and two-mile events.

He also took part in the 800-meter run.

Despite shooting its lowest round of the tourney, eighth-ranked Redlands Community College was unable to pass two Texas programs for a spot in the top 10 at the 2025 NJCAA Women’s Division 1 National Golf Championships.

Playing at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kan., Redlands took 11th place with a 72-hole total of 1,264 after carding a 311 team score over the final 18 holes.

The Cougars other rounds were 322/314/317.

El Reno, in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, will invest more than $2 million to build a new terminal at El Reno Regional Airport. And according to one state aeronautics official, it’s just the beginning. 

Grayson Ardies, executive director of the Aerospace Department, joined with El Reno city officials and others last week to break ground for the new $2.25 million airport terminal. He told the audience gathered under sunny skies to be ready for even more activity at the airport. 

El Reno High School 2025 valedictorians are Skylar Ayers and Maddie Moss.

These students earned this distinction by attaining all A’s during their high school career and taking 13 Pre-AP and AP courses with an AP course in each core subject.

Rylan Fleenor is the 2025 salutatorian. She took the same number of Pre-AP and AP classes and has the next highest GPA.

The three are members of the National Honor Society and the 6X Renaissance Program.

El Reno may soon be adding Canadian County to its Fast Connect Internet customer base. 

On Monday, commissioners agreed to table indefinitely contracting with Cox Communications for Internet service while a new courthouse is being built. 

Commissioner Tom Manske said the county will need buildings hooked to Internet service during the transition into the new courthouse.

During the transition, the county will utilize the former DHS building for administrative purposes.