April 2025

The Pride of El Reno, under the guidance of director Shane Johnston and assistant director Ardy Ferrell Jr., have had a busy year with both marching season, sporting events and individual competition.

The full band marched and played at all home games during the 2024 football season and played in the stands during away games – rain or shine.

The band also performed during homecoming, Veterans Day, Christmas and state champion basketball parades. A spirit band played the majority of home basketball games.

El Reno High School’s girls basketball team celebrated repeating as Class 5A state champions with a school-wide assembly and a parade through downtown El Reno last week.

Former El Reno Mayor Matt White has been appointed to serve on the board of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton appointed White.

He attended his first board meeting in February.

Paxton said White brings extensive experience in public service and community development to the board. He served as the mayor of El Reno for 15 years, where he led numerous capital improvement projects and fostered partnerships among various levels of government and the private sector.

The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail for the May 13 Calumet School District Bond Election is approaching.

Applications must be received by the Canadian County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday, April 28.

County election board secretary Allen Arnold said absentee voting is available to all voters and applications can be submitted several ways. 

“In Oklahoma, no excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot and it’s easy to apply.

“Voters can submit their application online, in-person, by fax, mail, or even email,” said Arnold.

A flock of geese flew over Memorial Stadium last week with a full moon illuminating the sky. 

A former principal at a Yukon Christian school has been formally charged with two felony counts stemming from a child sexual abuse material investigation.

Yukon’s Kevin Russell Cobbs, age 55, was charged April 9 in Canadian County District Court with procure/produce/distribute/possess juvenile pornography and peeping tom with photographic/electronic equipment.

This case resulted from a forensic examination of electronic devices that Canadian County sheriff’s deputies seized March 25 from Cobbs’ home, Sheriff Chris West said.

Redlands Community College will host high school juniors from across the area April 23 to experience college life during Junior Day.

The event is set from 9 a.m. to noon and offers students the opportunity to explore academic programs, meet faculty and staff and get a firsthand look at the Redlands campus. Participants will also learn about the college’s concurrent enrollment program, which allows eligible high school students to earn college credit while still in high school.

A member of the House of Representatives is trying to exempt the Federal Aviation Administration Academy in Oklahoma City from any future government shutdowns.

The school churns out thousands of trained air traffic controllers at a time when there’s a national shortage.

Bertha Jean Williams Sanders went to her heavenly home on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

She was born Dec. 20, 1937, to Silas and Opal Williams. She attended Wewoka High School and graduated from Sulphur High School in 1956.

Bertha married Floyd Sanders on Nov. 25, 1955. They lived in Sulphur the first three years of their marriage. In 1958, they moved back to Wewoka before moving to El Reno in 1960 where they made their home.

In November 2024, Bertha moved to a senior living center in Purcell to be closer to Peggy, Paige and Cyndy.

Betty Jean Paxton passed away March 26, 2025, at Integris Hospital in Yukon. She was born May 1, 1935, in Watonga, and was a graduate of Geary High School.

She worked at the Geary Nursing Home for 25 years as a medical technician, office manager and records specialist.

Betty was a lifelong member of Macedonia Baptist Church, where she served as church secretary and deaconess.