May 2020

Memorial graveside services for Dorothy (Dottie) Alzetta Johnson will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2020, in the Geary Cemetery Pavilion with Rev. Charles King and Rev. Ronnie Jacobs officiating. Services are entrusted to Turner Funeral Home.

Dorothy was born Nov. 24, 1968, to Albert Johnson and Cozetta (Brown) Johnson in Oklahoma City, and went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at the age of 51 at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. 

Services for James E. Garrett Jr. were held Monday in the El Reno Cemetery with Chaplain Lonnie Webb officiating. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Mr. Garrett died May 8, 2020, at his home in El Reno. He was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Shawnee. He was president of the Trade and Industrial Club while attending El Reno High School.

After graduating in 1962, Jim served in the U.S. Air Force. He lived in various places including Temple, Texas, and Woodbridge, Va., before returning to El Reno in 1977.

A Mother’s Day parade brought out colorful balloons, fire trucks, a police cruiser and dozens of vehicles decorated with signs telling mothers and grandmothers how much they are loved.

The parade took place Thursday afternoon outside Saint Katharine’s Retirement Center.

Kim Bowles, executive director, said the parade was a way to celebrate Mother’s Day for the residents who have been quarantined since mid-March because of COVID-19. 

This is the first installment in a series looking back at El Reno Public Schools efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Classes for El Reno Public Schools officially ended Friday.

Missing were the normal class parties, hugs, high-fives and gift exchanges between students and teachers. Graduations, the rite of passage to the next higher grade or into adulthood, have either been canceled, postponed or moved to a digital format.

All the things which make the end of school a fun time have been robbed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

El Reno Public Schools Superintendent Craig McVay, along with principals and central office administration, cooked and handed out dinners to district faculty as part of Teacher Appreciation Day. It was also Taco Tuesday which fell on Cinco de Mayo.

It’s been slow. But at least it’s moving now.

El Reno as a whole is creeping back to normal.

This includes businesses like boutique shops, hair salons and restaurants. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with problems in the oil industry, hurt businesses all over the county.

Many mom and pop shops were forced to close their doors, making income difficult to come by. Some stores found a solution through curbside assistance, delivery and online ordering options.

The Canadian County Courthouse and Administration Building will remain closed to the public for at least a while longer.

County commissioners, following the recommendations of District Judge Jack McCurdy and Court Clerk Marie Hirst, said access to the buildings would remain limited.

County Clerk Sherry Murray hinted that access to land records at the Administration Building could soon be available, though changes are likely.

Crews working to build the new Canadian County Fairgrounds will have to find another source for water after the Banner Rural Water District rejected a request to tie into an existing waterline.

Lance Brown, chairman of the Banner district, said the proposal by Lingo Construction would put too much strain on the existing system.

Lingo Construction had requested to add a bulk water meter to an existing 2-inch waterline near Alfadale and Jensen roads. The line would provide access to water for construction purposes at the fairgrounds site.

EL RENO CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
Tuesday – May 12, 2020 – 5:30 p.m.
El Reno City Council Chambers
101 N. Choctaw Avenue

AGENDA

In-Person Attendees:
Matt White, Mayor
Bob Ballhorn, Council Member Ward 2
Tracey Rider, Council Member Ward 4

Teleconference Attendees:
JT Chronister, Vice Mayor, Ward 1
Tim Robinson, Council Member Ward 3

Teleconference Phone Number: 1-346-248-7799
Access Code: 960-0699-8825

Fiscal year 2020 started strong and is approaching its end with an unprecedented world health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of El Reno economic status is austere at this time due to uncertainties in the reopening of businesses as well as a severe slowdown in the oil and gas industry.