March 2025

El Reno is adding incentives for residents to tie into its high-speed Internet service as the build-out of the system continues. 

On Tuesday, the city council approved eliminating the $60 installation fee for El Reno Fast Connect and removed the refundable $40 activation fee. And to sweeten the deal, residential customers will get one month free service. Also, additional line construction was modified to 500 feet. 

Assistant City Manager Tim Young said there are now 370 customers using El Reno Fast Connect.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sometimes a team’s best offense is a good defense – even in the state tourney.

Making its first-ever appearance in the Jim Norick Arena a/k/a the Big House, El Reno leaned heavily on its defense to overcome a slow shooting effort to defeat Durant 42-25 in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Class 5A Girls Oklahoma State High School Basketball Championships.

“Our defense did carry us and played a big part in this win. I’m glad we did everything we did to stop the things they were doing,” said El Reno senior Emmary Elizondo.

Carolyn G. Hanneman of Norman, a native of El Reno, has been selected for induction into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.  

She will be presented with a special medal during a March 20 ceremony in Oklahoma City, an annual event of the Oklahoma Historical Society that recognizes individuals for their distinguished contributions to Oklahoma history.

Hanneman is the daughter of the late Ralph and Isabel Hanneman of El Reno, and is a graduate of El Reno High School.  

Chamber of Commerce directors for El Reno, Yukon, Mustang and Piedmont held their annual Quad luncheon at the Canadian County Expo Center.

Some 164 business and county leaders attended the event.

Richland Road is a gravel road south of Northwest Expressway and NW 150th in unincorporated Canadian County. About a dozen homes are on semi-rural acreages in a development known as Gordon’s Hollow. 

Since the homes were built, some residents have lived on water supplied by the City of Piedmont, water that Piedmont purchases from Oklahoma City. 

Gordon’s Hollow is just west of the Oklahoma City western border at Richland Road. 

Residents are wondering if their water could be cut off. 

Sandra Lee Armstrong of Edmond passed away March 1, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Sandie was born in El Reno on March 24, 1945, to Doris Jeanne Cornelius and Stanley Hartley. Her biological father, Stanley, never made it home from World War II. He died in battle in 1944. Her mother, Jeanne, married William Allen Thompson when Sandie was a toddler.

Damrosch Music Club will be presenting a musical program on Wednesday, March 19 at Ellison Avenue Methodist Church.

The program begins at 10 a.m., with a small reception following.

Hillcrest pre-kindergarten Self-Discipline Award recipients are Jackson Schuldt, Abigail Diaz, Miz Dominguez, Nayeli Gutierrez, Olivia Abbe, Braxton Schuldt, Scarlett Rabago, Autumn Flowers, Eli Murray, Ricardo Zamarripa, Everly Norman, Dayana Jaramillo, Willow Hart, Ismael Bonilla and Uriel Ortiz.

Hillcrest kindergarten Self-Discipline Award honorees, include Madilynn Dill, Andrea Gallegos, Samheer Taylor, Indie Graham, Sarahy Gallegos, Aiyanna Patton, Isaiah Avila, Ian Cephas, Mia Mendoza, Samara Lopez, Leilani Kern, Rilynn Richmond, Tyson Johnson and Mackenzie Phillips.

Also included are Erin Hunt, Symphany Scott, Avery Baughman, Kaye’B Howell, Salem Morris, Taytum Harper, Santiago Acevedo, Naomi Pedro, Ximena Espinoza, Layla Mendez, Kyra Boyd, Christian Duran and Parker Felz.

Riverside February Citizens of the Month are Ayzlee Fikes, Harlynn Acuff, Kaitlyn Strider, Payton Stinnett, Naomi Heald, Legend Hatton, David Whitlow, Brantley Findley, Asher Wiggins, Sofia Garza and Matteo Medrano.

Also, Nate Pena, Korbyn Kraft, Maggie Calzada, Tristan Autrey, Gael Saldana, Kelton Mangold and Kynlee Long.