Lifestyle

OKLAHOMA CITY – An El Reno church was awarded a grant for close to $54,000 to help fight food insecurity in the community. 

The news was announced this week by Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon.

Wesley United Methodist Church has been awarded $53,904 through the Food Insecurity Grant Program authorized by Senate Bills 1186 and 1192, signed into law over the past two years. 

“Access to healthy nutritious food is literally lifesaving, helping children grow and develop and helping adults stay strong and mentally sharp,” Baker said.

Underwood Oklahoma Home and Community Education held its July meeting recently in the home of Ann Ricketts.

Others attending were Vicki Duncan, Bernita Davis, Janan Fletcher, Delpha Miklautsch and Natalia Valenzuela, along with guest, Ranée Schweitzer.

Valenzuela called the meeting to order with the roll call of “How do you prepare for the holidays?” Handouts on holiday crafts and goodies were handed out and discussed.

Ricketts gave the devotion on “Being Respectful” using I Peter 2:17.

The University of Central Oklahoma recently announced students named to the university’s honor rolls, a distinction given to those who achieve the highest academic standards.

For the spring 2024 semester, 1,523 students were named to the President’s Honor Roll, an honor achieved by those who recorded a straight-A or 4.0 GPA.

In addition, 1,279 students were named to the Dean’s Honor Roll, a list of those who achieved a 3.5 GPA or better for the semester and no grade lower than a B.

Among those local spring 2024 graduates of the University of Central Oklahoma are Katlyn Gore, MPA, Urban Management, Juan Aceves, BFA, Theatre Arts-Performance, Joel Santillano, BS, Biology-Biomedical Sciences, and Jamie Daniels, With Honors, MED, Library Media Education, all of El Reno.

A one-day cooking class for youth is coming to El Reno at the Canadian County Oklahoma State University Extension Center.

There are four chances to take the one-day class for children ages 6 years to 10 years old, either Tuesday, July 16 or Wednesday, July 17, and Wednesday, July 24 or Thursday, July 25. 

The class on July 16 or July 17 is a three-hour class for $15 a child, and the class on July 24 or July 25 is five hours long and the cost is $20.

June 25 marked the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Cavalry Camp at the Cheyenne Agency that later became known as Fort Reno. 

To mark the occasion, Leslie Dietrich, Regent of the Fort Reno Chapter, NSDAR, requested a mayoral proclamation of El Reno Mayor Steven Jensen.

The Board of Historic Fort Reno and the Daughters of the Fort Reno Chapter greeted visitors, served cookies and punch and gave out door prizes along with tours of the Fort Reno Visitors Center Museum. 

Underwood Oklahoma Home and Community Education Group met recently in the home of Vicki Duncan. The meeting was called to order with members Bernita Davis, Delpha Miklautsch and Ann Ricketts present. 

Davis read minutes of the May meeting.

It was decided the club will donate to the 4-H Achievement Awards Banquet.

Members discussed booth entries and volunteer work at the upcoming Canadian County Free Fair, with each member contributing to the Underwood display booth.

The June lesson was on Savory Pies, with lesson pages passed out including several recipes.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University announced the list of graduates for the spring 2024 semester, with a total of 687 students having successfully completed their academic programs, including 173 graduate degrees, 442 baccalaureate degrees and 72 associate degrees.

Among those local graduates are Ashli Robinson, School Counseling, Master of Education, Breanna Ray, General Studies, Associate of Science, Kayli Swigart, Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science in Education, and Kierra Vaughan, Public Health, Bachelor of Science, all of Calumet.

Local Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts retired flags Friday, June 14.

Representatives from VFW Post 382 and American Legion Post 34 were present for the ceremony, said Cody Huber, Adjutant Post 34.

Several members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 382 recently attended the 99th Department of Oklahoma State Convention in Claremore.

The post and auxiliary received multiple awards for their service to the community and veterans: 

♦ Best Overall Promotion of the Americanism Program

♦ Most Outstanding Promotion of Youth Activities  

♦ Certificate of Recognition for Veterans and Military Support Programs

♦ Certificate of Achievement in Mentoring for Leadership