September 2022

Mark and Vicki Myers were in their 20’s when they moved to East Cavanaugh. In 1983, they built a home in the wooded and secluded area in east El Reno just off Shepard Avenue.

The area is like a wildlife habitat in the middle of town. Vicki said wild turkeys, coyotes, deer and other critters are often seen peaking out from the wooded areas.

Mark would plant seven Maple trees just across from the home they would build and raise their family in. That was some 40 years ago.

Last week, contractors with OG&E cut the Maple trees down.

The 2022 El Reno Fly-In and Community Day drew a near record crowd.

“It was a free event for the public and with the help of our sponsors, it was a good value event for our residents. I think it’s good that we show off our airport and what our community has to offer,” said El Reno City Manager Matt Sandidge.

The El Reno Regional Airport hosted the event, now in its third year, pulling in aviation fans young and old from across Canadian County and the Oklahoma City area.

The Canadian County Sheriff’s Office lost one of its own last week, as 32-year-old deputy Justin Baxter died Sept. 8 of an apparent heart attack.

Sheriff Chris West said while Baxter had not been a long-term CCSO employee, he was hard-working and well-liked.

“He was an asset to the community, to the department – Justin was committed to serving our citizens,” the sheriff said.

“He will be missed.”

For the eighth time, the U.S. Cavalry Association and Museum will host the Annual Bivouac and National Cavalry Competition at historic Fort Reno. The event will run from Sept. 21-24.

Over that four-day period, visitors to Fort Reno can watch active duty U.S. Army Cavalry units from Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, California and Oklahoma compete in a number of equine-related events.

The ultimate prize will be the battle for the Bolte Cup Championship that will crown the top unit on the final day of the event.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senior Kira Taber led off the game with a double to kick-start the Indians offense as El Reno High School’s fast-pitch softball team swept a twinbill from Western Heights last week in district play.

El Reno snapped a two-game losing streak and a five-game slide in league play by defeating the Jets 14-3 and 6-1. The Indians improved to 7-12 for the season.

The sweep moved El Reno to 3-5 in the District 5A-2 standings and into fifth place, a half game back of Guymon for fourth.

El Reno High School’s volleyball team brought home hardware from the recent Noble Invitational, winning the Silver Bracket with a 3-2 overall record. The Indians improved to 8-10 on the season.

El Reno lost to Yukon and Piedmont, ranked fourth in Class 5A, but defeated Amber-Pocasset, Seminole and Noble.

For the five matches, El Reno got 15 kills from Trinity Black, followed by Emma Patswald with 13. Qyra Jones led those in single digits with nine, while Pauline Black-Harmon had four kills.

Jewell Graham, Savannah Robinson and Bailey Denwalt added two kills each.

El Reno’s seventh and eighth grade football teams split with Carl Albert in Suburban Conference play.

For the first time in recent years, El Reno High School’s cross country team fielded teams in both the girls and boys divisions at the 2022 Riverside Invitational in Anadarko.

Running a 3,200-meter course, Cielo Caso Estrada led the girls team with a time of 19 minutes and 16.73 seconds to take 35th overall. Maria Moreno (22:30) crossed in 45th, followed by teammate Jasmin Caso (24:21) in 50th place. Emma Pawnee (25:56) rounded out the El Reno effort in 54th.

Kaydence Thunderbull also ran for El Reno.

Since my two boys were little, I would tell them to “always make the next right choice.”

That comes to mind when I read the story about the possible oil wells to be erected on the land near the Williamstown and Wessex additions as well as South Reno.

The drilling spot is surrounded by homes and the people living in those homes don’t want to have the nuisance and noise of an oil rig, or four, right in their backyards. I don’t think that’s an unusual request. For full disclosure, I am one of those homeowners.

El Reno native Carlie Golden (6) clears the ball through the back of the box as a defensive save during Redlands Community College’s NJCAA Region 2 match against Eastern Oklahoma State College last week at Memorial Stadium.

Looking on are Golden’s teammates, McKenzie Simon (4) and Avery Turner (12).

The Cougars dropped their third straight match by a 2-0 score.

See Wednesday’s edition for a wrap-up.