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Editor’s Note: Like every new year, 2023 provided fresh opportunities, challenges and celebrations for many. Others may not view the happenings of the year, now in the rearview mirror, as opportunities, but rather distractions, obstacles and sadly, heartache.

This is our annual look back at the year that was and some of the stories that made headlines. So we say welcome to 2024 and as the song by Robert Earl Keen says … the road goes on forever and the party never ends.

January

A Canadian County judge has ordered a defendant to be held without bail in an El Reno murder case.

Norman’s Delsin Joshua Tsotigh, 21, is housed in the Canadian County Jail after being charged Nov. 9 in Canadian County District Court with first-degree murder – deliberate intent.

Tsotigh allegedly shot to death a Newcastle man in late October at a home in the 600 block of Reformatory Road. Justin Peyton Davidson, 20, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the head.

Ella McReynolds of El Reno is among 13 Oklahoma State University undergraduate students selected as Niblack Research Scholars for the 2023-24 school year, earning an $8,000 scholarship and the opportunity to conduct research with faculty across campus.

McReynolds is majoring in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.

The Niblack Research Scholars Program has been a key part of OSU’s undergraduate research success for 18 years. The program allows these students to perform cutting-edge research in various fields under faculty mentors supervision.

Former Kingfisher and Canadian County prosecutor Eric Epplin will return to District 4 on Jan. 2, as incoming District Attorney Tommy Humphries’ first assistant DA, Humphries said.        

“I am excited to return home to District 4,” Epplin said. “Tommy Humphries is going to be an outstanding district attorney and I am honored that he has invited me back.”   

Jennifer Douglas was full of happiness after unwrapping her presents under the family’s Christmas tree.

Yet there is one gift the El Reno High School girls basketball coach really wanted but will have to wait until March to hopefully have a chance to unwrap – a gold championship ball.

“I would take for sure that present,” said Douglas.

El Reno has been tabbed as one of the odds-on favorites to win the Class 5A state championship and has looked dominating at times over the 2023 portion of the Indians schedule.

Canadian County motorists will start the new year off right when a permanent upgrade to the State Highway 66/Banner Road intersection is due to commence.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has confirmed a Jan. 2 start date for long-awaited improvements to this intersection – which will remain a four-way stop.

“The project will mill and overlay the roads, add additional lighting through the intersection, add rumble strips, new striping and new signs,” ODOT spokesman Bryce Boyer said.

Players from different grade levels for El Reno Public Schools girls basketball program spent the first day of the holiday break helping pack food boxes for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Players were assigned a project aimed to help the Chickasaw Nation’s Packed Promise Program.

They completed 301 boxes of food weighing 9,632 pounds which will provide 8,026 meals according to the food bank.

The Department of Human Services wants to lease part of a county-owned building in downtown El Reno.

County commissioners will obtain construction cost estimates to remodel the building at 100 S. Rock Island, that now houses the Canadian County Health Department.

“DHS has reached out to the county,” said Commissioner David Anderson. “We’re at a point where they’re asking us to engage a contractor, get some estimates together and then tell them what we would lease the space to them for.”