January 2024

El Reno public education was on full display at last week’s El Reno Now gathering.

The quarterly event is a partnership between the city of El Reno and El Reno Public Schools. It featured a brief update from City Manager Matt Sandidge, but the morning belonged to the local education system.

Superintendent Matt Goucher introduced the site Teachers of the Year as well as the District Teacher of the Year.

He said the school district could not accomplish what it does without the support of the community. “El Reno just gives and gives and gives,” Goucher said.

Canadian County District Court Clerk Marie Hirst will not seek re-election after some 28 years in public service. Now in her 16th year as Canadian County’s elected court clerk, Hirst said last week she will not seek re-election to a fifth, four-year term.

“It’s been a complete honor to have been elected for four terms, and that the voters had that much faith and trust in my knowledge and experience to do the job,” Hirst said.

“It’s been a great ride for the most part.”

El Reno High School girls basketball coach Jennifer Douglas presented senior Pauline Black-Harmon with a plaque last week honoring her accomplishment as EHS’ all-time leading rebounder.

She broke the record set in 1996 by LeAnn Bezner.

Irvin Wesley Heckes died Jan. 16, 2024. Wes, as many called him, was the son of Carl and Thelma Heckes of El Reno.

Mr. Heckes was born at the family farm north of El Reno on Nov. 25, 1939.

A graduate of El Reno High School, Irvin attended Central State University. He joined his father in farming for several years but with the ceasing of farming, he became a press operator for the Oklahoma Journal newspaper, then he became an employee of the Rock Island Railroad.

Shaking off a series of first-half turnovers, El Reno High School’s girls basketball team led Altus wire to wire last week to remain unbeaten on the season.

The Indians moved to 17-0 overall with a 66-39 decision over the Bulldogs and now are the only unbeaten team in Class 5A. It was the Indians 17th straight double-digit win.

El Reno moved to 8-0 in the District 5A-1 standings and remains a game ahead of Shawnee (7-1), which the Indians were slated to host Monday in a makeup game.

El Reno High School guard Carter Roman Nose went into last week’s game against Altus needing 29 points, more than he had scored in any game this season, to reach the 1,000-point career scoring mark.

He needed less than two quarters to reach that mark.

Surpassing his previous season best single game mark by five, Roman Nose scored 31 points in the first half as the Indians jumped back into the win column with a 78-23 victory over the Bulldogs.