Verilea Elsie Gleichman of Okarche departed this life for heaven on Jan. 21, 2025. Verilea’s birth on Nov. 22, 1936, on the Okarche family farm marked the beginning of a life grounded in faith. Rudolph and Margaret (Henrichs) Meyer welcomed her at the “home place.” 

Verilea’s spiritual journey began with baptism and a confirmation at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Her education at St. John’s parochial school through eighth grade instilled a strong Christian foundation and lifelong relationship with God.

SHAWNEE – All-tournament selection Raegan Bugaj made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1:17 as El Reno High School’s girls basketball team defeated the host team 45-34 in the third-place game of the 2025 Shawnee Invitational.

El Reno improved to 14-1 on the season after having its 41-game win streak snapped a day earlier in a semifinal loss to Yukon (52-48). The Indians extended their program-best win streak in the first round with a blowout win over Northwest Classen (55-8).

Funeral services for Barbara Peek of Tahlequah were held Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services, Oklahoma City, with Steve Hazener officiating. Burial was in the El Reno Cemetery.

Barbara passed away Jan. 23, 2025. She was born June 11, 1947, in Modesto, Calif.

She was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, George Peek, and daughter, Brenda Kirby.

SHAWNEE - An untimely shooting drought spelled the end to El Reno High School’s boys basketball team’s longest win streak in over two decades as the Indians fell to Broken Arrow 55-46 in what proved to be the finals of the 2025 Shawnee Invitational.

With only six teams on the boys side, the event was switched to a round-robin format as both the Indians and Tigers entered the matchup undefeated in their two previous games.