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In the first of two meetings over seven days, Calumet High School’s boys basketball team dropped a 64-60 game to Class A’s top-ranked Hydro-Eakly in the finals of the 2022 West Central Tournament.

Calumet, ranked sixth in the same poll, slipped to 16-5 on the season with the loss to the Bobcats. The Chieftains opened the title run with wins over Thomas/Fay-Custer (64-47) and Burns Flatt/Dill City (46-45).

Matt Snyder was the team’s top scorer for the three games with 55 points, while collecting 24 rebounds, 14 assists, five blocks and three steals.

Taytim Woods scored 14 or more points in all three games as Union City High School’s girls basketball team won the consolation championship at the 2022 Paden Pirates Invitational.

The Tigers moved to 10-8 on the season with a 65-59 win over Carney in the consolation title game.

Union City lost to Sasakwa 50-31 in the opening game before beating Paden’s junior varsity 41-17 in the second round.

Woods had 34 points in the win over Carney and closed the set with 69 points. Mackenzie DeLong followed with 18 points for the tourney, while Bailee Jackson scored 14.

The city of El Reno and the public school district may partner on a master plan related to possibly building some type of community center/sports complex.

Mayor Matt White discussed the issue at last week’s city council meeting. No action was taken by the council because the school board did not address the issue at its meeting the evening before.

The school board had been expected to discuss the idea and consider possible action, but because Superintendent Craig McVay was not able to attend the meeting, the item was pulled from the agenda.

A semi-truck hauling pallets of 9-volt batteries jackknifed Wednesday afternoon and brought traffic on I-40 to a halt.

El Reno Fire Chief Jason Duff said the batteries caught fire.

It took several hours for the scene to be cleared. No injuries were reported, but traffic in both directions came to a halt as heavy smoke poured from the semi-trailer.

Oklahoma City television helicopters covered the traffic snarl from the air.

Reports had the I-40 traffic backed up for five miles. It was about 8 p.m., reports said, before the highway was completely open.

A law enforcement investigation was conducted last week that involved the FBI in Calumet.

An FBI spokesman said he could not provide any information about a Calumet investigation.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, I can’t say anything,” said FBI spokesman Connor Hagan.

“The FBI was involved in a court-authorized law enforcement operation in Calumet, but due to the nature of the investigation, I can’t provide any details at this point of time.”

A Canadian County burn ban has been extended two more weeks.

Canadian County commissioners last week approved continuing the outdoor burning prohibition due to an “extreme fire danger” caused by dry, windy conditions.

The burn ban, which began Dec. 20, is now due to expire at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 31.

Canadian County Emergency Management Director Andrew Skidmore recommended extending the burn ban after hearing from the county’s fire chiefs.

“I emailed all the fire chiefs – rural, volunteer and career fire departments,” Skidmore told commissioners.

Candidate filing will open next week for three seats on the Canadian County Fair Board. The board is comprised of nine members, three serving from each county commissioner district.

Each year, three fair board seats are up for election. This year, incumbents facing re-election are Justin Atkinson of El Reno (District 1), Ken Carpenter of Mustang (District 2) and Dan Wedman of Calumet (District 3).

Candidates will file between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 24 through Friday, Jan. 28 at the Canadian County Clerk’s Office, 201 N. Choctaw.

SSM Health Medical Group said Dr. George Ghata has joined its practice.

Ghata is a primary care physician who specializes in sports medicine.

He will offer care for injuries and conditions and related pain management as well as general illnesses, concussions and exercise-induced asthma in adult and adolescent patients.

He also has extensive experience serving as a team physician for professional and collegiate sports organizations.