September 2024

A three-person race has developed for the Ward 1 El Reno City Council seat. 

Incumbent Amy Neathery will be challenged by Aaron J. Hines and Phillip Church in the Nov. 5 election. The person with the most votes will earn the right to represent Ward 1 during a four-year term. 

Canadian County Election Board information said Hines, who will turn 29 in October, filed Monday morning at 9:02. Neathery followed, filing her official candidacy at 9:49 a.m. Church filed on Wednesday just prior to the 4:30 p.m. deadline. 

Judge Barbara Hatfield’s retirement reception was hosted by Canadian County judges, bailiffs and court reporters. 

District Judge Paul Hesse welcomed Judge Hatfield’s family, friends and clergy and all others in attendance including Canadian County’s retired judges, elected officials and staff, judges from other counties and attorneys who met at the courthouse to thank Judge Hatfield for her 13 years of service as Special Judge and wish her a happy retirement.

District Judge Khristan Strubhar gave the opening remarks.

Transportation and fitness were the focus of a special meeting held by the El Reno City Council last week. 

The council met at noon Aug. 28 to approve resolutions that are expected to lead to new sidewalks on SW 27th Street, as well as major changes to the Elm and South Country Club intersection.

Also, council agreed to move a fitness court the city is partnering with the Cheyenne and Arapaho on a bit further to the west in Adams Park. 

The 70th Annual Canadian County Free Fair attracted 496 exhibitors with an estimated attendance of 14,500. “That ‘70s Show” was the theme of the 2024 fair, which ran Aug. 21-24 at the Canadian County Expo and Event Center, 3001 Jensen Road East.

Fair attendance - which is based on carnival ticket sales - was “very similar to last year,” Canadian County Fair Board Secretary Brad Tipton said.

“It’s the heat on Saturday afternoon that keeps the numbers down,” Tipton said.

The Canadian County Sheriff’s Office hopes to obtain a new armored tactical vehicle for use in crime-fighting efforts.

Sheriff’s officials are seeking a $300,000 grant from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office toward the purchase of a new Lenco Bearcat, a wheeled SWAT vehicle.

County commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the grant application.

The Oklahoma Legislature has provided funds to the Attorney General’s Office to benefit sheriff’s offices across the state, according to Undersheriff Kevin Ward.

On paper, it’s the youngest rivalry for El Reno High School football.

On the field, though, there is no question that the series with Piedmont has become one of the program’s biggest and sometimes heated rivalries.

The two face off Friday at Memorial Stadium with kickoff set for 7 p.m. 

“There is no love lost between El Reno and Piedmont. It’s a good game and our kids look forward to playing this team every year,” said El Reno head coach Russell Cook.

So what makes it such a big rivalry? Is it the short distance between schools (24.4 miles?)

While it was not an error-free performance on either side of the ball, El Reno High School’s football team made the plays it needed to emerge from the U.S. 81 Battle with a 30-13 decision over Chickasha.

The win marked the second straight year for El Reno to kick off a new season with a victory and moved the Indians overall lead in the series with Chickasha to 40-36 in the 76 meetings since 1944.