March 2024

NORMAN – When it needed points to get going and baskets to maintain the lead in its closest game of the season, El Reno High School's girls basketball team went back to what it does best – attacking the paint.

El Reno senior post player Pauline Black-Harmon and junior Lilly Thomas combined for 37 points, 23 of those coming in the second half, as the Indians defeated Del City 54-48 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Class 5A Girls Oklahoma State High School Basketball Championships.

After months of cleaning pens, feeding animals and showmanship training, Canadian County youth gathered for the 52nd Annual Canadian County Junior Livestock Show and the subsequent Sale of Champions. The Canadian County Expo Center was the site for the colorful event.

This year’s species shown by exhibitors include swine, sheep, goats, cattle and poultry broilers.

The 27th Annual Taste of Sacred Heart delivered in a big way for the El Reno Catholic school.

Organizers said more than $130,000 was raised during the event that featured a live and silent auction, live painting, live music and food.

Ken Reding served as auctioneer for the event.

“We are so grateful to the community for continuing to generously support Sacred Heart Catholic School,” said Holly Eaton, one of the organizers for the annual event.

“Each year we see God’s provision for our school in the success of this event.”

Canadian County voters said yes to having a drink Sunday morning and threw support to the Republican Democrat front-runners in the presidential primaries.

Sales of alcohol before 2 p.m. on Sundays have been illegal since 1985 in Canadian County. Voters said yes to alcohol sales on Sunday mornings.

The unofficial results with 60 of 60 precincts reported showed 10,518 yes votes, or 59.33 percent, to 7,761 no votes, or 40.67 percent, the Oklahoma State Election Board reports.

El Reno Public Schools has contracted with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office to provide a school resource deputy at the high school.

Sheriff Chris West announced the agreement last week. West said his office is working with the Riverside School District as well.

Both school districts applied for and were awarded state-funded grant monies for these positions. 

“I’m honored to be able to provide deputies for both El Reno and Riverside schools.

Representatives from the El Reno Chamber of Commerce along with Mayor Steve Jensen, Vice Mayor David Black and Councilman Pete Stapperfend got an update on when one of El Reno’s newest restaurants is expected to open.

The Shed Grill and Bar at Canadian Square Shopping Center is expected to be open by late April, said owner Brent Snider.

Snider gave the El Reno contingent an update during a tour last week.

The El Reno location will be the restaurant’s third location. It originated in Kingfisher before expanding to Weatherford.

BancFirst hosted last week’s Chamber of Commerce Community Coffee. The bank used the occasion to host a diaper drive to benefit Youth and Family Services.

YFS has been holding its annual diaper drive to help support infants and toddlers involved with the organization’s programs.

Riverside February Citizens of the Month, front row, Lathen Childers, Abel Kerr, Rausten Alexander, Brylonlee WhiteHorse and Sawyer Baker; back row, Brielle Sehon-Orr, Max Spence, Shane Funk, Kevin Factor, Brett Mangold, Yitzel Casanova, Aaliyah Maggard, Jett Marquez, Wyatt Buchanan and Whitney Sneed. Not pictured: Piper Sneed and Montgomery McMahan.

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Julia Kirt won committee passage for her legislation to create a more balanced eviction timeline in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1575 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.

Kaitlin Davis recently drove four hours round-trip from Lawton to Guthrie to check on a 6-year-old girl who was recovering from the flu and visit with her foster parents about how to ease her into upcoming visits with her dad. 

A week earlier, Davis drove more than three hours round-trip to visit a 12-year-old boy who is receiving treatment at Integris Mental Health in Spencer.