June 2021

Jennings earns national honor; ER grads score in All-State

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El Reno High School’s Dailey Jennings earned All-American status earlier this month wrestling for Team Oklahoma at the 2021 USA Wrestling 16-and-under National Duals.

Formerly known as the Cadet National Duals, the event was held in Westfield, Ind.

Jennings earned the national honor in Greco-Roman for the Oklahoma Outlaws Blue Squad, which won Pool C with a 49-27 win over Team Idaho. The squad would be the national runner-up after losing a 48-26 Gold-Silver Championship match to Team Minnesota.

Dailey Jennings competes in the 16-and-under National Duals for Team Oklahoma

Back to camping

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After a year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, El Reno began hosting youth summer sports camps.

The EHS girls basketball program was first up with 56 campers, both boys and girls, taking part in a three-day camp.

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Canadian Valley Chapter of Quail Forever to hold fundraising event June 25

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The Second Annual Canadian Valley Chapter of Quail Forever Fundraising Banquet will be held at the Mustang Community Center on Friday, June 25.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. featuring guest speaker Lacey Swope, meteorologist for an Oklahoma City television station.

There will be a catered dinner, live auction, raffles and multiple gun drawings, with proceeds to benefit local efforts for bettering wildlife habitat with a special focus on the pastime of quail and quail hunting.

City will take part in American Rescue Plan

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If the federal government is willing to send the city of El Reno several million dollars, the municipal government is ready to accept it.

City council voted 5-0 last week in support of a resolution called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Mayor Matt White said if the funds are delivered, the city “would wake up one morning and the money would be in our account.”

Route 66 Bike Route

Author with El Reno ties takes darker turn with book

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El Reno native Alan B. Hollingsworth, MD, has penned another book, this one taking a different direction than his previous works that garnered critical acclaim.

NUTSHELL is Hollingsworth’s third book. It was released by Black Rose Writing and will be available in hardcover, softcover and digital formats.

A renowned surgeon specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, Hollingsworth said whether the book will be available in audio form has yet to be determined.

“This is a different genre for me,” Hollingsworth said in a letter.

NUTSHELL book cover

Amity horror

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The street in the 500 block of Amity Lane buckled under the recent high temperatures, according to City of El Reno Streets Superintendent Amy Smith.

Crews began cutting out the section of buckled street on Monday and Smith hopes new concrete can be poured Tuesday and the street reopened by Friday.

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Biking down Route 66

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The roar of engines could be heard for blocks in the downtown area Sunday morning as more than 50 motorcycles rolled through El Reno as part of the 2021 Mother Road Ride/Rally.

The group stopped at the city’s Route 66 Monument for photos before heading back out on the road toward their final destination, California.

See Saturday’s edition for story and photos.

More than 50 motorcycles rolled through El Reno as part of the 2021 Mother Road Ride/Rally

Commissioners blast state’s road funding formula

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A new funding formula passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed into law will reduce the amount Canadian County receives for road and bridge work, county officials say.

Canadian County is due about $327,000 in County Improvements for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) funds, according to estimates provided by the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO).

The funding formula - which especially benefits rural counties with more bad bridges - is not equitable, said District 1 County Commissioner Marc Hader.

Savannah Station to hold grand opening at new Frisco Road site

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Savannah Station Therapeutic Riding Program will hold a grand opening at their new home, located at 13420 Frisco Road, on Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Housed the past five years at Redlands Community College’s Royse Ranch, Savannah Station moved from the El Reno location to its new home north of Yukon in May.

The grand opening program will start with a welcome by Tomas Manske, chairman of the SSTRP Board. Keynote address will be given by Craig McVay, superintendent of El Reno Public Schools.

The stall area at Savannah Station’s new home

Lucas calls for findings in beef industry probe

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Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) joined Congressman Michael Guest (R-MS) and Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL) in sending a bipartisan letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) provide updates or a final report to Congress on the DOJ’s investigations into anti-competitive conduct within the beef industry.

Cattle producers in Oklahoma and across the country have continued to experience volatile livestock markets driven by supply chain disruptions and labor challenges driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and a consolidated beef market.