James (Jim) Ramsey Wiginton went to be with the Lord on Jan. 6, 2026, after a long battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He passed away at his home in Okarche at the age of 72, three days shy of turning 73. He was born Jan. 9, 1953, in Altus to J.L. and Loyce “Sis” (Schnorrenberg) Wiginton.
Norbert David Grellner was born Dec. 29, 1936, in Okarche. He passed away at home in Okarche on Feb. 11, 2026.
Norbert proudly served his country as a member of the 45th Army Infantry Division of the Oklahoma Army National Guard.
Following his military service, he devoted the remainder of his life to farming and ranching. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Kingfisher County Cattleman’s Association.
The smell of sewage was pungent in Teresa Ralls’ Oklahoma City apartment.
Matthew Wayne Scheirer, age 45, born Dec. 24, 1980, in Midwest City, died Feb. 20, 2026, in Warr Acres.
Matthew was preceded in death by his father, George (Butch) Scheirer, and grandparents, Jim and Minnie Scheirer and Truman and Bernadine DeVilliers.
Following runner-up finishes at Little Axe, Dibble and Bethel meets, El Reno High School’s boys powerlifting team placed six lifters in the top five at the recent Chickasha Invitational.
The effort, a tuneup for the Oklahoma Powerlifting Coaches Association’s regional meet, left El Reno in third place in the large school standings with 111 points.
Edmond North (165) and Ardmore (141) had the top two spots, while El Reno edged Woodward (104) and 19 other schools.
El Reno High School will have three lifters in the Oklahoma Girls Powerlifting Coaches Association’s State Championships, which start Monday in Durant.
Competing in the North Regional, Brailynn Pawnee (105) took third place to punch her state ticket with a total weight of 430 pounds. Her best was a 195-pound deadlift, followed by a 155-pound squat and an 80-pound bench.
Izzy Birdsong was fifth in the same weight class with a 370-pound total. The senior had a 155-pound deadlift, a 135-pound squat and an 80-pound bench.
NOBLE - Critical-moment points and an untimely injury kept El Reno High School’s boys wrestling team from adding to its list of qualifiers for this weekend’s Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s Class 5A Wrestling State Championships.
Competing in the 5A West Regional, El Reno collected 85 points to take 10th in the standings.
Three grapplers secured state passes, while three more will serve as alternates.
El Reno High School senior Izzy Birdsong (center) recently signed to play college softball for the Royals of Ecclesia College.
The program plays on the NCAA Division I level and is based in Springdale, Ark.
El Reno High School freshman first baseman Garrett Moss reaches out to glove a pickoff throw to the bag during a preseason game against Clinton last week at the Hub Reed Complex.
El Reno defeated the Red Tornado 9-5, paced by three runs in the fifth inning to break a 3-all tie.
El Reno had two more preseason outings slated before kicking off the 2026 season Monday at home against Midwest City. The two games with the Bombers, one on the road Tuesday, kick off District 5A-1 play for both schools.
All three area small school boys basketball programs remain in the hunt for a state tournament berth with defending champions Calumet and Okarche now one win away from punching Elite Eight tickets.
Calumet captured the Class B1, Area I, Region C title with a 99-44 win over Balko-Forgan for its sixth straight victory.
The Chieftains, ranked second in the state, are now 25-3 on the year and will play No.8 Hammon for the Area I Championship and a direct state pass.
Calumet, needing to win one out of two games, is seeking its 14th trip to state and fourth in a row.
