August 2021

Matt White will not run for re-election. The longtime El Reno mayor made the announcement at last week’s first in-person El Reno Now gathering in 18 months.

White’s term as mayor ends in November of 2022. He said the past 15 years have seen some dramatic changes in El Reno.

“We’ve gotten a lot done,” White told the audience that filled the Public Safety Center off SW 27th Street, a building that came online during his tenure.

Editor’s Note: This is the second part in a series about Ida’s Law, which establishes a liaison to work with law enforcement agencies and families to solve Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons cases throughout Oklahoma. The series explores Ida Beard’s story, legislation history and more.

LaRenda Morgan, governmental affairs liaison and tribal member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, began work on Ida’s Law nearly three years ago.

When the Redlands Community College Student Food Pantry opened a few years ago, it was the goal of Service Learning Director Marcia Shottenkirk to eventually offer fresh foods, milk and other refrigerated items. Now the college has added a custom-built cooler donated by Dairy MAX.

“The food pantry has been such a wonderful resource for students, but we’re excited to add this new option for them,” Shottenkirk said.

One of the last major pieces in Phase One of the Memorial Stadium renovations was installed last week as the massive new scoreboard was hoisted up in the east end
zone.

The board, which was made in Arkansas according to EHS head coach Chuck Atchison, can be lowered when funding for a new video screen is secured.

When summer begins to fade, don’t hang up that gardening trowel just yet. A renewed season of fall vegetables awaits in your own backyard. 

Oklahoma’s mild climate is ideal for fall gardening, and Oklahoma State University Extension provides educational opportunities for both experienced and novice gardeners to extend the growing season. 

To the Editor:

Lori Merhib, your letter to the editor was so well-written and covered every issue that America is now experiencing.

We live in Oklahoma City and take the El Reno paper as well of what’s left of the Daily Oklahoman. It is very doubtful your letter would be printed in that paper.

Opening the football season in what has been deemed zero week by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association has become old hat for El Reno High School’s football team.

The Indians hit the road Friday night to fulfill the away portion of their two-year deal with Cache. It’s the fourth straight year for Chuck Atchison's program to get the early-jump on the season and the Indians have been preparing for the Bulldogs since beginning fall drills.

Having its six-match win streak snapped, El Reno High School’s volleyball team dropped a 25-16/25-17 outing to Lawton MacArthur in the title round of the 2021 EHS Invitational.

El Reno, the defending champion, reached the finals with a 25-16/25-12 win over Duncan in the semifinals.

The Indians were undefeated in pool play with victories over Chickasha (25-12/25-19), Seminole (25-12/25-14) and Guymon (25-16/25-19).

The loss to the Highlanders left the Indians with a 6-1 record after EHS defeated Hennessey (25-12/25-8/25-15) in a tuneup match.

Despite logging nine hits, El Reno High School’s softball team left five base runners stranded in a 12-6 loss to Piedmont in District 5A-2 play.

The loss dropped El Reno to 1-3 on the season and 1-1 in the 5A-2 standings and into third place behind the Wildcats (5-0) and Guthrie (2-0).

El Reno never led in the game, despite tying the score at 1-all in the first on a double by Iliana Ashford, which scored Kira Taber (error).

Piedmont scored two runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings each in addition to a three-run third.