Note: This is the second article in an effort to look behind the scenes of how Canadian County law enforcement and other entities work to find and stop online predators of children.
There’s an old saying “It takes a village to raise a child.”
In reality, however, not every adult in those villages has the best interest of children at heart. In fact, it’s just the opposite – a dark sadistic opposite.
El Reno High School junior Heath Shelton watches EHS defensive coordinator Michael Pruitt launch a drone to take video of an offensive session.
El Reno kicked off football practice last week and school will open for the 2023-24 term on Thursday.
El Reno residents will get to weigh in on choosing a name for the walking trail at Lake El Reno.
The city council agreed to submit three names for locals to choose from. A social media poll will offer residents these choices: Lakeview Trail, Bison Trail and Sunset Trail.
The names were submitted by residents during an online contest put on by the city. Residents submitted possible names for the trail being developed around the lake. City Manager Matt Sandidge said more than 100 names were submitted. “Some of them were really good, some of them were not,” he said.
County residents will have an opportunity to show off their talents during the Canadian County Free Fair set for Aug. 23-26 at the Canadian County Expo Center, 3001 Jensen Road East.
The entry date to bring entries to the Expo Center is Wednesday, Aug. 23 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Exhibits will be open to the public at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24. Flowers and pies will enter on Friday morning, Aug. 25 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Exhibits will be on public display at the fair through Saturday, Aug. 26, and exhibitors may pick up their items that day from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Canadian County Association for Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) is selling tickets for a beautiful quilt size 72x84. Tickets are $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5.
The quilt will be raffled off on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. at the Family Night Awards program at the new Expo and Events Center, 3001 Jensen Road East. The winner does not have to be present to win.
Nominations are being sought for the Outstanding Canadian County Citizen to be recognized at the upcoming Canadian County Free Fair. As is tradition, the individual will receive the first-place winning cookie jar entered in the fair.
Anyone can nominate a fellow Canadian County resident whom they feel is deserving of this recognition. Please include name of person nominated, address and phone number; name of person submitting nomination and phone number; and two paragraphs describing why this person qualifies for the award.
Wake for Angeline Pedro of El Reno will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, with funeral services at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Both services will be at the Concho Emergency Response Center.
Angeline died Aug. 8, 2023, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. She was born Jan. 21, 1955, in Clinton and was raised in Calumet. She was assistant to the controller for the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes and a member of the Native American Church.
Nikki Pruitt was in a bind last week.
The founder and director of The Lord’s Harvest, the El Reno-based food ministry, had a number of needs that needed to be addressed, but not enough people or helping hands to cover all the bases.
“We had 11 pallets of food come in and our usual help was not available,” Pruitt said.
She said some of the food needed to be moved to the Learning Center at the old Lincoln School. It was needed there to help with the Families with Children summer food program The Lord's Harvest partners with El Reno Blessing Baskets on.
Ted “Wayne” Mehan, also beautifully remembered as Teddy Wayne, Wayne, Papa, Pappy or Dad, was born on August 31, 1946, in Binger, Oklahoma, to his loving parents, Ted Joseph and Felta Lee Mehan.
Ted Wayne Mehan will be remembered by those who knew him and loved him deeply as the most kind and compassionate soul anyone has ever had the honor of knowing.
His gentle and quiet demeanor accompanied by his selfless and passionately hardworking nature was one for the history books.
The El Reno Community Theatre will host its production of “12 Angry Men,” a 1954 teleplay by Reginald Rose that was made into a movie in 1957, directed by Sidney Lumet.
Roger Johnson is directing the local production, with performances scheduled inside the Centre Theatre in downtown El Reno.
Show dates and times are Aug. 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 13 and 20 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available at the box office or online at www.elreno.wellattended.com.
