June 2025

Shortly after El Reno High School’s loss to Tulsa Memorial in the Class 5A state quarterfinals, seniors Carter Roman Nose and Tre Davis made a slow quiet walk around the corridor of the Jim Norick Arena.

It would be the last time the two 1,000-point career scorers would take the court together.

Coaches voted for more outings from the pair, who combined for 1,016 points in their final season, selecting them to play in two of the state’s elite all-star events, the first being the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association’s All-Star Games Saturday.

While watching the 2025 Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association’s Large School All-State Game, El Reno head coach Jennifer Douglas could not help but have a flashback.

A very happy flashback.

El Reno High School’s Ethan Brooks wrapped up his freshman track season last week with a record-setting performance in the Stars Mile Night event in Oklahoma City.

Running at historic Taft Stadium, Brooks was among the field of 145 thinclads in the high school division. Eighty-six of those runners broke the five-minute mark for the 1,600-meter run, including Brooks.

There were eight heats, each using a pacesetter, with Brooks winning the fourth with a personal-best time of four minutes and 25.25 seconds. He was 4.77 seconds faster than the runner-up.

El Reno is a small, car-loving town that puts on a big classic car festival every year. A Small Town Weekend, set for June 6-8, is expected to attract as many as 10,000 people. The weekend pays tribute over the three days to classic cars and historic Route 66. 

During the festival, visitors will see about 200 highly polished classic autos, witness a cruise along the legendary Route 66, watch their kids compete in Power Wheels and Hot Wheels races, and hope for lots of smoking wheels during the burnout and drag race contests. 

Editor’s Note: El Reno City Council was scheduled to meet June 3 for a budget planning session. Below is a letter from City Manager Matt Sandidge explaining the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1. 

May 22, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Matt Sandidge, City Manager
RE: FY 2026 Budget Message

El Reno residents are weighing in on proposed improvements to Lake El Reno and Adams Park and so far most of the response has been favorable. 

Amy Smith, El Reno’s Field Services Director, said residents took part in an online survey and the results will be compiled and presented to the city council for proposed adoption at an upcoming council meeting. Smith said one more public survey is expected to be presented before the final plan is submitted to the city. 

The city hired Halff, an engineering and design firm, that specializes in municipal projects. 

Beginning Friday night and lasting through Sunday, El Reno’s Route 66 corridor is expected to be buzzing with vehicles of all makes and models for the 27th Annual A Small Town Weekend.

The City of El Reno’s newly opened The Filling Station is expected to be a popular place for photos.

In the late hours of what was functionally its final day of regular session, the Oklahoma Legislature voted in supermajorities to remove Allie Friesen as commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

The inherently tense situation escalated past the point of no return when Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a statement targeting the wife of a senator — leading some legislators to question if the governor was any more fit to lead than Friesen.

Juanita “Nita” Gail King was born Nov. 15, 1962, in Carnegie, Oklahoma, to Geneva Ervin. They moved to Greenfield where Nita attended school.

She married David Christopher Seitter, deceased, in 1977, and their daughter, Shannon was born in 1979.

Nita had been involved in the health-care industry. She loved growing plants, gardening and crafting with driftwood. 

Nita, a longtime resident of El Reno, passed away May 27, 2025, at Integris SW in Oklahoma City after a short illness. 

She was preceded in death by her sister, Anita King. 

In recent rulings, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones of the Western District of Oklahoma has taken diametrically opposite stances regarding requests for plaintiffs in lawsuits to have their identities kept anonymous.

When a lawsuit was recently filed on behalf of illegal immigrants, Jones granted anonymity, saying the plaintiffs had reason to fear being arrested for their illegal activity if identified by name.