El Reno’s Elks Lodge recently helped land a $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant for Blessing Baskets.
Brien Detamore of the Elks presented the grant funds to Rodney Knowles and Donna Dyer of Blessing Baskets. The funds will help support the Summer Food Program that Blessing Baskets operates. The program has helped more than 250 families, providing groceries twice a month.
Oklahoma highway bridge conditions are making the grade by moving from among the worst in the nation to the head of the class, achieving Top 10 status for the first time by ranking ninth, according to the latest data from the Federal Highway Administration.
The state was as low as 49th place in 2004 in national bridge condition rankings due to the number of structurally deficient bridges on the state highway system.
In the middle of August, it’s probably safe to say most people aren’t thinking about staying warm. But most people aren’t firemen, or Jonathan Strahorn.
Strahorn and his fellow firefighters know in a few short months there will be many in El Reno searching for any way possible to keep the cold out and the warm in.
For many, this could be very dangerous to their health.
Strahorn is the El Reno fire marshal and deputy chief. When a structure catches fire, it’s his job to figure out how and why it started.
El Reno’s Grascar Racing kicked back into full throttle last week with racing at the group’s track inside Adams Park North.The racing drew 48 vehicles often driving in close quarters. According to the group’s schedule, the flag drops on racing Saturday, Aug. 15 at high noon.
The new Canadian County Fairgrounds Show Arena and Expo Center will each have upgraded electrical service, but it will come with a cost.
Jacob Lingo, with Lingo Construction, said the architectural firm that is handling the project, Populous, has recommended 400-watt switches for both buildings.
Previously, the county had awarded contracts based on 200-watt switches.
Lingo said the architects had reviewed the plans and determined that more power might be needed than was originally anticipated.
Juanita Elms had some unsettling news from her doctor. She was going to need some further tests. Still, the 83-year-old offered to cook dinner for her friend that Tuesday evening, Aug. 4.
But Charlie Sanders, 91, was not having it.
“He said, ‘No, I’ve been thinking, I don’t want you to cook, I want us to go have a steak,’” she said, recalling their conversation.
Surprised, Juanita reminded Charlie it was Tuesday.
“I’m from a time when people only had steak on a Friday or Saturday night,” said Juanita.
The load being hauled by this semi was a bit too tall Monday as the driver tried to pass under the railroad overpass on Sunset Drive. Police said a pedestrian guard rail was damaged slightly. No significant damage was immediately apparent to the railroad crossing bridge.
El Reno municipal employees will return to a normal work schedule after the city council agreed to end its furlough program that has been in place for about four months.
Council agreed 5-0 on Tuesday evening to instruct City Manager Matt Sandidge to end the system of furloughs that had employees taking a day off every pay period. The furloughs were necessary, the result of a steep decline in local sales tax.
A fundraiser is planned to help a single mother who is battling breast cancer.
Nancy Salsman said the event will be Aug. 22 at the El Reno VFW Post 382, with proceeds helping Tanya Wilson. Wilson works at a local law firm and helps manage the Elks Lodge. The event is being hosted by Coyette and the Haywire Band.
El Reno police were called to the area of East Foreman and North Donald on Aug. 9, just before 2 a.m., after reports of gunshots as well as a possible stabbing.
Police said when officers arrived they found a large group of people. The crowd directed the officers to a nearby alley where they said one person was armed with a gun.
