News

Veto Richey, like a lot of young guys, had some big hair in the early 1980s.

Former El Reno High School football coaches Tom Cobble and Rocky Carter remember some of their players like Richey would put a hair net on to help make their helmets fit better.

Richey, back then more commonly known as “Tommy,” was a standout running back for the Indians.

The Indians had a heck of a team. Ran the wishbone and Richey was a fast and powerful halfback. He also had a “can do” attitude that was infectious.

A Moore woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for driving drunk and killing four people in a Canadian County highway collision.

Ashley Louise Ricks, 34, had previously entered “blind” guilty pleas to four counts of first-degree manslaughter in connection with a deadly crash Oct. 17, 2020, on Interstate 40 near mile marker 120.

Ricks admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol and colliding with another vehicle, causing the deaths of Carol Jones, Laura Jones, Zachary Homant and Lily Homant.

El Reno’s Little League wrestling program held an Indian Taco fundraiser Sunday at the old county fairgrounds.

A Canadian County judge has granted the county commissioners’ motion for summary judgment in a negligence suit stemming from a Mustang woman’s fall near the county jail.

District Judge Paul Hesse issued an order Dec. 15 in a lawsuit filed in April 2020 on behalf of plaintiff Pamela Smith against two defendants, the Board of Canadian County Commissioners and the city of El Reno.

ANADARKO – Promising her team they could douse her with water if they won the 2021 Anadarko Warrior Classic, El Reno head coach Jennifer Douglas put up little resistance in the locker room following the game with Millwood.

Douglas’ team defeated the Falcons, ranked 19th in Class 3A, 47-32 in the championship game to complete the three-game weekend sweep and extend their current win streak to six in a row.

A Yukon woman who brought drugs into the Canadian County Jail has pleaded guilty and received a seven-year deferred sentence.

Julie Ann Whiteley, 43, was charged Sept. 28 in Canadian County District Court with possession of contraband in jail (a felony) and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (a misdemeanor).

She also was charged Oct. 26 with unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (both misdemeanors).

MUNICIPAL COURT

Wesley Don Vandiver, Checotah, speeding, $195.

Johnny E. Frost, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Andrea Beaver, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Randolph James Youngbull, Geary, failure to appear warrant, $295.

William Robert Ormsbee, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Bobby R. Vandusen, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

Eunice N. White, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $295.

El Reno Public Schools transitioned to distance learning throughout the district after an outbreak of positive cases for COVID-19.

The district first said students at Hillcrest and Rose Witcher Learning Centers would switch to remote learning on Tuesday, Jan.11.

Two days later, the entire district made the move after outbreaks at the junior high and high school.

In-person classes were expected to resume on Jan. 18, said Assistant Superintendent Matt Goucher.

Both health-care and public school officials are keeping a close eye on incoming data as the Omicron and Delta variants continue to fuel a recent surge in both testing and reported positive cases of the coronavirus.

“I hate COVID-19. It seems to be the same as it’s always been for us. There is no difference from now than it was in March of 2020 or even a year ago.

“We have been speaking with the state health department pretty much every day and we expect an aggressive community-based spread of the virus between now and Feb. 1,” said El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay.

Mike Grimes, a lieutenant with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Investigations Division, has retired after 57 years in law enforcement. His retirement was effective Dec. 31.

Grimes was serving as criminal investigator with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office. He will continue working at the sheriff’s office but in a non-law enforcement capacity and on a part-time basis. His duties will include managing the Aviation Unit, fly missions and handling special projects.