October 2021

In a game marred by penalties, El Reno High School's football team scored points on both sides of the football en route to a 41-8 win over Southeast in a clutch game for both schools in the playoff hunt.

El Reno improved to 3-6 overall with the 33-point win, but more importantly, took over sole possession of fourth place in the District 5A-1 standings at 3-3.

The Indians are now one game ahead of the Spartans and Duncan for the final playoff position and own the head to head tiebreaker over both schools – which are 2-4 going into the final week of the regular season.

As the dust began to settle on the Oklahoma prairie in Indian Territory following the Land Runs of 1889 and 1891, the town of El Reno sprang into existence almost overnight.

With it came the establishment of over 20 saloons and gambling houses. These brought two things to El Reno before the turn of the century – first was money and with it the possibility to fulfill the second thing, which paradoxically was culture.

Canadian County commissioners have been working to establish rules and regulations for new development outside city limits.

But it appears it will take the Oklahoma Legislature to make it happen.

David Wilds recently told commissioners they are the “last line of defense” to oversee housing additions being built in unincorporated areas of Canadian County.

As an example, Wilds cited a large “high-density” development on a quarter-section of previous farmland near Manning and Britton roads.

Gatz Homestead Realty and Estate Sales held its grand opening last week. Kamara Gatz is the broker/owner.

Her father, the late Jerry Bromlow, had his real estate office at the site on Sunset Drive.

El Reno FFA members brought home fifth-place honors in the recent State FFA Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Greenland Quiz Contest. The event was held at Oklahoma State University and featured 50 teams from across Oklahoma.

Tarren Sherman, FFA agriculture instructor, said the fifth-place finish shows the “hard work and dedication of these students.”

Sherman said Katie Lozano Alvarez also competed and received a plaque for being one of only two Chickasha Region Greenhand Quiz Qualifiers.

Canadian County Master Gardener Intern Cindy Irwin shows her garden art ideas at a recent monthly meeting.

Irwin showed some of her gardening ideas to fellow Master Gardeners to demonstrate the ease and whimsy of brightening a garden. She has donated other objects including glass art on display at the local Extension office.
 

I found it a bit ironic that Canadian County commissioners are involved in a discussion about the need for a county building inspector for unincorporated areas.

Last week some people told the commissioners the unincorporated areas of the county are experiencing a surge in new home construction.

They suggested there is a strong need for a county inspector to make sure buildings are put up correctly.

U.S Customs and Border Protection says it has encountered 1.7 million people from 149 countries trying to cross the border illegally.

That’s a record number which has U.S. Sen. James Lankford once again pointing the finger at Biden administration failures to secure the southern border with Mexico.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce has added an agriculture recruiter to its Business Development team, helping the agency in its transition to sector-based recruitment of economic development projects.

Sierra Simpson joins Commerce in this new role.

“Agriculture has been one of Oklahoma’s key industries since statehood,” said Brent Kisling, Commerce executive director.

Mass of Christian Burial for Ronald Irwin Wiewel will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, followed by military honors.

Ron died Oct. 25, 2021, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. He was born April 2, 1944, the second child of Jack and Marie Wiewel.