March 2023

El Reno Carnegie Library has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. The program, which will enable the library to digitize records, is administered by the Oklahoma Historical Society.

“We’re excited to have been selected to receive this funding,” said Bridget Scheffler, library director.

“With it, we will be able to preserve important pieces of local history and make those items accessible to the public. Without this grant, our project would not have been possible.”

Tucked away in the basement is El Reno High School’s newest entry into the arena of competitive extracurricular activities in Oklahoma – Esports.

While the team is wrapping up its first year of existence, El Reno is already experiencing success usually reserved to more established programs.

Junior Jayden Grauberger has earned a spot in this weekend’s state championships in the Nintendo-based game Super Smash Bros.

“I was not surprised he made it but I think he was surprised he qualified,” said El Reno coach Patrick King.

The buck may have stopped on the desk of President Harry Truman, but the famous slogan plate started in El Reno.

Charley Vogt, who served as city manager in El Reno in the mid-1980s, contacted the Tribune last week after uncovering the information that connects the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution with Truman’s iconic statement.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4 for El Reno Public Schools Office #3, City of Geary Mayor, City of Geary City Clerk-Treasurer, City of Piedmont Mayor, Geary Public Schools Office #3, Okarche Public Schools Office #3, Riverside Public School Office #3, Town of Okarche Board of Trustees Office #1, Town of Okarche Town Clerk and Town of Union City Proposition.

The El Reno School Board race pits Eric Palmer, 33, against Ron Funck, 74.

Charley Vogt spent a couple of years as city manager in El Reno in the mid-1980s. He and his wife, Val, had moved here from Kansas to take the local job. He was young, probably early 30s.

Vogt remembers implementing efforts to help El Reno avoid water rationing during the summer months. Mostly upgrades at the water plant.

He said the times were turbulent with bank failures, the collapse of the oil industry and drought-like summer months.

Three units from the El Reno Fire Department and two from El Reno FCI battled a house fire last week in the 400 block of South Hadden.

Incident reports state the home sustained $10,000 in damage and $8,000 more in contents.

The El Reno Police Department secured a two-block barrier around the blaze.

Athletes in spring sports throughout Canadian County have had to deal with freezing temperatures, high winds and wet weather in the month of March.

Forecasts for the first week of April are calling for warmer temperatures and sunshine but still dealing with the good ole Oklahoma wind.

A three-time world champion barrel racer will be teaching the tricks of the trade during a clinic intended to help provide support for a local horse rescue operation.

Connie Combs, a seven-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo and a Women's Professional Rodeo Association champion, will instruct the camp on behalf of NEXUS Equine.

NEXUS Equine, 6808 S. Manning Road, was founded in 2016 and today cares for some 40 horses that were in danger of being put down because their owners could not afford to care for them.

Bonnie Bell (Matthews) Wilds, 95, lifelong El Reno resident, passed away peacefully at her home on March 27, 2023.

Bonnie was born Jan. 13, 1928, to C.C. Matthews and Myrtle (Lucas) Matthews in El Reno.

Bonnie was a graduate of El Reno High School and attended Oklahoma A&M (OSU) for two years. Her work experience included the telephone company, Ashboook Insurance Agency, J.C. Penney, Dillard’s and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, from which she retired. During her long working career, she was also a farmer’s wife and busy mother. She just loved the farm.

OKLAHOMA CITY – After considering more than 40 candidates from across the nation, the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board has voted unanimously to hire former Oklahoma State Rep. Mike Sanders as executive director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office.

“I’m honored to be asked to serve in such an important role to benefit the state of Oklahoma,” Sanders said.