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County slow-pitch teams exit playoffs in district rounds

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Canadian County’s three small-school slow-pitch softball teams all exited the postseason in the district round, with Okarche and Union City advancing to the championship round before bowing out.

The Warriors defeated Afton (17-0) and Class 3A’s 16th-ranked Hominy (3-2) to reach the title round of the District 15 Championship.

However, the Bucks rebounded from that one-run loss to oust Okarche with duplicate 3-1 victories.

Breck Bowers connects with a pitch

Williams tops 100 strikeouts for year, Calumet gets tough

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Right-hander Aiden Williams spoiled the christening of Thomas’ new turf field as Union City High School’s baseball team tuned up for the upcoming regional playoffs with a 4-0 win over the Terriers.

Union City, ranked No.9 in Class A-II, moved to 26-7 on the year with the shutout of Thomas/Fay-Custer - ranked 14th in Class A-I.

The Tigers were slated to play in the Region 8 Championships at Stonewall.

Jaxon McCool grimaces as he gets hit in the shoulder by a pitch

City to consider creating its own EMS department

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El Reno will consider parting ways with Pafford Emergency Medical Services at the May 11 city council meeting. 

City Manager Matt Sandidge said he is recommending the city create its own Emergency Medical Services Department.

The proposed 18-member department would provide ambulance and EMS services for El Reno, Sandidge said. The elected city council will make the final decision. 

“Pafford has been a great partner for the past several years, but we believe the city can provide an even higher quality of emergency medical services,” Sandidge said.

It’s Burger Time in ER

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According to event organizers, Tess Maune is set to make Burger Day history Saturday as the first repeat guest emcee at the cooking arena for the world-famous Big Burger. And the El Reno native is not coming alone.

Maune, who emceed the event in the rain a year ago, will be bringing her 5-month-old daughter, Lottie along to make her first “official” Burger Day visit.

Volunteers squirt mustard over the pickles on the Big Burger

Ardies praises El Reno for aviation investments, calls for more aerospace teaching

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Only 1 percent of the aviation jobs in Oklahoma are filled by pilots. The other 99 percent are in areas of work related to flying machines, mostly maintenance and repair, and they come with an average annual salary of $73,000. 

Grayson Ardies said aviation is the best-kept secret in Oklahoma.

It’s his job to get the word out about what he said is the second largest industry in the state.

That’s what he did at last week’s El Reno Now gathering, along with issuing a challenge for El Reno to get more involved in aviation in the area of education. 

Steve Jensen turns the microphone over to Nikki Pruitt

Sports betting bills advance from Oklahoma Senate panel

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans may get to vote to legalize sports betting after years of failed attempts to get it through the state Legislature.

A Senate panel last week passed two sports betting bills, including one that potentially sets the stage for a public vote.

The panel’s decision marked the first time sports betting legislation has advanced out of a Senate committee, said Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, the measures Senate author.

Sports betting bills advance from Oklahoma Senate panel_art