November 2022

El Reno Public Schools teacher Jacqueline Smith has been honored for her use of technology in the classroom as well as promoting the importance of community involvement by her students.

The K20 Center at the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC) named Smith, a ninth-grade English teacher at El Reno High School, as a 2022 SKIE (Supporting K20 Innovative Educators) Award recipient for northwest Oklahoma. 

The 11th Annual Canadian County Veterans Day Parade will roll through downtown El Reno Sunday at 3 p.m. A program at 3:30 is scheduled to follow the parade.

Food trucks will be available starting at 2 p.m.

The colorful and patriotic event will feature the Canadian County Veterans of the Year chosen from each community in the county as well as comments from Major Ed Pulido, U.S. Army Retired, a decorated war veteran who struggled back from deep depression after being severely wounded in 2004 by a roadside bomb.

Pulido lost a leg in the explosion.

Football is an intricate part of the American way of life from youth leagues to high schools, college and the professional ranks.

El Reno Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA Troops are starting the annual “Scouting for Food” food drive this Saturday, Nov. 5 with flier distribution. 

Food pickup will be Saturday, Nov. 12.

Residents are asked to please bag up and place non-perishable food items curbside by 8 a.m. that day and a Scout will come pick it up. 

A 22-year-old Oklahoma City man was tazed by El Reno police after he allegedly harassed people trying to attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

The incident took place Oct. 29, just before 4 p.m. Mass was scheduled to start at the church. Reports said Levi James Rishel was found by police in the parking lot of Fine Foods, 120 S. Evans.

The man was reportedly “covered in blood.”

Officers reportedly attempted to verbally de-escalate the situation, but Rishel appeared to be in a state of mental confusion, the report said.

Recent Halloween events brought out kids of all ages wearing some colorful and creative outfits.

Graveside service for Eddie Joe Penwright will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the El Reno Cemetery Pavilion with Rev. Cory Stanley officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Eddie died Oct. 30, 2022, at his home in Calumet. He was born April 5, 1950, in Okarche. 

A new class has taken flight at Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Aviation Structural Technician is for high school juniors and seniors interested in the aerospace maintenance industry. The program was added this fall to help ease the transition from high school to the school’s adult Aviation Maintenance Program.

Instructor Alan Anderson formerly worked as a tactical aircraft maintenance technician primarily on F-16s and F-15s.

Graveside services for Louise R. Williams of Geary were held Wednesday, Nov. 2 in the Geary Cemetery with Rev. Richard Cox officiating. Services were entrusted to Turner Funeral Home.

Louise passed away Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at the Maple Lawn Manor Nursing Home in Hydro at the age of 81. She was born Feb. 24, 1941, in Bennettsville, S.C., to Henry and Suzy (Quick) Rich.

Louise attended Bennettsville High School. She moved to various places including Collinsville, Okla. She and David Williams met while he was working in the Tulsa area.

The Oklahoma Municipal League recently filed an Amicus Brief in a case brought against the city of El Reno related to the right of a municipality to enforce the provision of the Sex Offenders Registration Act.

A suit was brought against the city of El Reno for applying a retroactive application of the Sex Offenders Registration Act. Because the offender was sentenced prior to current changes to the Act, they are not required to follow current law. The offender is being allowed to relocate their residence to a location that would be prohibited if they were convicted today.