July 2025

Eleven youth ages 10 and up recently attended a Kids in the Kitchen class in El Reno.

Participants received hands-on cooking experience making french toast, yeast bread in a bag, grape jelly, strawberry jam, butter and fruit pizza.

The kids decorated fabric aprons and received goody bags filled with a recipe booklet, a cutting board, an Is It Done Yet? magnet and other items.

Some items were donated by the Canadian County Health Department and USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. 

Services for Doris Hamilton will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 at the Concho Emergency Response Center with Rev. Waylan Upchego officiating. Burial will be at the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Doris died July 27, 2025, at her home in El Reno. She was born April 9, 1937, in Geary. She was a homemaker and seamstress.

Doris is survived by her son, Samuel Yellow Eyes of the home; three grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

TULSA – The architect and two keystones of El Reno High School’s historic back-to-back state championships took to the court together one last time.

El Reno head coach Jennifer Douglas served as assistant coach for the West squad in the 2025 Oklahoma Coaches Association’s Large School All-State Girls Basketball Game.

Two of the West starters were El Reno graduates Emmary Elizondo and Lilly Thomas.

Services for Dr. Floyd Patterson Horn, formerly of El Reno, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 at Wesley United Methodist Church with Scott McBee officiating. A family visitation will follow.

Dr. Horn passed away July 26, 2025, in Colleyville, Texas. He was born Dec. 24, 1943, in Winchester, Mass.

He graduated from Winchester High School in 1961 and from Tilton Preparatory in Tilton, N.H., in 1962. Floyd earned a bachelor of science degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Maine in 1966 and a Doctor of Philosophy from West Virginia University in 1970.

The silver anniversary of the Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races drew interest from coast to coast as the Outlaw-style event continues to gain popularity after two and a half decades.

“It went really well. We had good weather and didn't have a whole lot of issues. It was a great weekend.

“I kept waiting for that moment for something to happen and it never did and it turned out fantastic,” said race co-organizer Josh Finnigan.

The 2025 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races drew thousands of spectators to Lake El Reno over the weekend.

More than 50 drivers, including El Reno’s Matt Miller took part in the two-day event.

See Saturday’s edition for a wrap-up.

This group of El Reno youngsters was scouring the downtown area last week as part of a Bear Hunt put on by Project Transformation.

The Bear Hunt involves stuffed bears being placed in the windows of businesses in and around town.

Project Transformation is a summer reading program that headquarters out of Wesley Methodist Church.

A woman who was raped two years ago while being transferred between jails by a sheriff’s deputy has sued the since-fired deputy and county officials in Canadian County District Court.

Attorney Rachel L. Bussett filed the lawsuit on behalf of plaintiff K.C., who was being taken from Bryan County to the Canadian County Jail when she was assaulted by Deputy Wesley Wayne Hunter Jr. inside a sheriff’s office vehicle.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Michael Lowell Bonjour of Mustang has been sentenced to serve 87 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after a previous felony conviction, possession of stolen firearms and possession of an unregistered firearm, said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

According to public records, Bonjour was arrested on state charges by El Reno police in March 2024, when he was discovered to be in possession of a stolen firearm.

The El Reno Animal Shelter, in partnership with the Angel Fund of Oklahoma City, will host a low-cost animal vaccine and microchip clinic. 

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Animal Shelter, 2400 Spur Lane. All pets are welcome, but are required to be either on a leash or in a carrier.