March 2020

El Reno Public Schools Superintendent Craig McVay knows parents and guardians are anxious to hear about the plan to educate the district’s nearly 3,000 students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, as of Thursday, McVay and the rest of the district’s leadership team was still waiting on the Oklahoma State Department of Education to release its mandated framework so El Reno could begin formulating a plan.

If you didn’t get a haircut before Thursday, you may be waiting awhile.

Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a state of emergency last week closing businesses considered non-essential. The order went into effect at midnight Wednesday.

On Wednesday, El Reno issued its own state of emergency, updated from an earlier one proclaimed on March 16.

In the local order, adults over the age of 65 or with underlying health conditions are ordered to stay home, only going out when absolutely necessary for groceries, gas or work in critical infrastructure jobs.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education reports 61 percent of students across the state qualify for either free or reduced lunches, but that number is closer to 80 percent for El Reno Public Schools.

Due to the higher number, El Reno has opted to keep its current delivery method for meals during the COVID-19 outbreak instead of following OSDE recommendations to limit exposure between schools and students for meals.

While COVID-19 has spread pain to every sector of the nation, it has also helped create rumors that El Reno city officials said need to be put to rest.

Mayor and Acting City Manager Matt White said the city is doing its best to follow federal and state guidelines intended to help keep the public safe and hopefully “bend the curve” of the coronavirus.

Some on social media have claimed “big government” is stepping in to take over daily life. Some have suggested there will soon be the need to have a permit to drive a car. White said this isn’t true.

In 1901, the Oklahoma Land Lottery was held to distribute the No Man’s Land in central Oklahoma. 

Two brothers, John and Tom Hedgecock, came from Wellington, Kan., and registered at Fort Reno for the drawing. They received 160 acres near what is today Hinton. In keeping with the requirements, they had three years to clear the land, plant a crop and build a livable structure. They met the requirements. They dug a well and cellar as well. By the time of statehood, they had added five rooms around the perimeter of the large room and had planted fruit and nut trees.

Cade Robert Jameson Worthen was born June 4, 1997, in Oklahoma City to Robert and Melodee Higdon Worthen. He died March 22, 2020, in El Reno. Cade grew up in El Reno where he graduated from El Reno High School and Canadian Valley Technology Center as a diesel mechanic.

If you knew Cade, you knew that he was the light of the room with a big “class clown” personality, a great laugh and a contagious smile. He absolutely loved life.

William Howard Braum of Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores died March 23, 2020, at his home near Tuttle. Bill was born Feb. 11, 1928, in Newton, Kan. He graduated from Emporia High School and the University of Kansas.