November 2019

El Reno's city marshal closed Robert’s Grill after the fried-onion burger establishment was inspected by the fire marshal on Sunday.

The business has been ordered shut down, at least temporarily, due to fire, building and property maintenance code violations.

A notice of condemnation said no one could be at the property between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. until the condemnation has been removed. For all other times, people can only be at the property for maintenance or to retrieve personal items.

Joan Patricia Philipp, 83, of Yukon, wife of Rev. Earl Philipp, fell asleep in Jesus on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, in Oklahoma City. Joan was born June 3, 1936, in Evansville, Ind., to the late Chester and Elizabeth (Sackers) Kleinlein. 

While working as business manager at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis, she met her future husband, Earl Philipp, and they were married July 27, 1963, in Kirkwood, Mo. To this union was born their daughter, Adriana R. Philipp, on Feb. 4, 1967.

Robert Leon Dean of Hinton passed away Nov. 23, 2019, at the age of 70. He was born Nov. 22, 1949, in Pauls Valley. Robert graduated from El Reno High School in 1968. He enjoyed going on float trips (especially with his son-in-law, Ronny), fishing and camping with his friends and family. He also enjoyed watching wildlife roam the canyon where he lived.

Going into the 2018-2019 season, El Reno High School girls basketball coach Jennifer Douglas felt the expectations for her program had been raised, but she didn't know for sure how high the bar had been set.

El Reno would go on to shock many critics by not only making a third straight trip to the Class 5A state tourney under Douglas, but reaching the title game for the first time in school history.