November 2022

Losing four starters off last year’s Class 5A state runner-up team, head coach Jennifer Douglas understands how people would use the word rebuilding when referring to El Reno High School’s girls basketball team.

Just don’t expect her squad to follow suit.

“Up until now I don’t think people realized what we had coming back or coming up through the pipeline. Everyone wants to say rebuilding because we lost so much, but after talking to the girls, they are not OK with rebuilding.

Coming back to the bench two years ago, head coach Rodney Haydon said it would take time and patience to retool El Reno High School’s boys basketball program back into a state-tournament team.

Tuesday night the Indians head to Shawnee to begin Haydon’s third season of his second stint as head coach with roster pieces that could very well send El Reno back to the Big Eight in Class 5A.

“We for sure have a lot of playing time and experience coming back and several move-ins that could get a lot of playing time. We have a chance to have a lot of depth,” said Haydon.

The Annual El Reno Main Street Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting is set for Dec. 3. The parade through downtown will begin at 11 a.m., with the tree lighting at Petree Plaza to begin at dusk.

The theme this year is Blue Christmas. Blue Christmas is a western Christian tradition that happens on or around the longest night of the year in the Winter Solstice, according to information provided by the organization.

It signifies bringing hope and joy to the community throughout the season.

For more than four decades, Dr. Bill Cole was a valued member of the Oklahoma higher education system, and due to his dedication to students, faculty and staff, he was inducted posthumously into the 2022 Oklahoma Association of Community College Hall of Fame.

“Dr. Cole was a kind, caring and inspiring leader who was committed to helping so many people achieve their educational goals.

Residents driving down Reno Avenue earlier this week got a sneak peak at some of the new displays that will help make up the Lights in Legion Park as city workers began testing miles of colored lights.

The lights will be turned on nightly starting Saturday at 6 p.m. during a special ceremony.

Three Redlands Community College employees were honored by the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges for their contributions to the college.

Scotti Charmasson was named Outstanding Faculty Member, while Eli Zucksworth was recognized as Outstanding Professional Staff Member and Justin DuPris as Outstanding Support Staff Member.

Joyce Ann Ringo Williams, 88, of El Reno, passed away Nov. 18, 2022.

Joyce was born Aug. 7, 1934, in Cloud Chief, Okla. Her family later moved to Grandma and Grandpa Ringo’s farm in Dill City, Okla. Her dad found a job at a service station in Dill City and her mom worked the fields. Joyce’s parents divorced and they later moved to El Reno.

Both her mother and father remarried again. Her dad married Airlene Walters, a wonderful woman, they had one daughter and two sons.

Her mom married a wonderful man, Lewis Willingham, they had one daughter.