September 2025

PIEDMONT – El Reno High School’s football team imploded in the third period of its top 10 battle with Piedmont, allowing four touchdowns in the frame en route to a 34-0 shutout.

The loss dropped El Reno, ranked No.10 in Class 5A in the Associated Press Oklahoma Prep Football Poll, to 1-1 on the season. Piedmont, ranked fifth in Class 6A-II, moved to 2-0.

Piedmont led 7-0 at the half before scoring on three rushing touchdowns in the third period and a 57-yard punt return. The Wildcats offense rolled up 362 rushing yards on El Reno’s defense and four rushing touchdowns.

Jumping back into league play, El Reno High School’s fast-pitch softball team was held to six hits in a 9-3 road loss to Carl Albert.

The loss dropped El Reno to 3-8 on the season and 0-2 in the District 5A-2 standings for fifth place.

El Reno’s six-hit effort was led by a double from Taylor Acosta. Izzy Birdsong, Maddy Brinkamn, Zoey Pawnee, Kyla Killingsworth and Brailynn Vickery added a single each.

Amalie Kalcevova took the loss from the circle, allowing nine runs off seven hits and two walks. She struck out two batters over six innings.

Losing to archrival Carl Albert in the first round of Gold Bracket play, El Reno High School’s volleyball team exited the Noble Invitational with a 2-2 record.

El Reno, ranked 10th in Class 5A, dropped to 12-9 on the year with the loss to the eighth-ranked Titans. The Indians were second in pool play with a 2-1 mark after straight game wins over Elgin and Del City. The host team defeated EHS 2-0.

El Reno’s animal shelter will be more friendly for its guests after improvements are made. 

City officials gathered with members of the Friends of the El Reno Animal Shelter this week to celebrate the beginning of those improvements.  A groundbreaking was held on Tuesday for the $16,000 project.

Improvements will “transform the 1,400-square-foot yard into a safe, durable and comfortable play space for shelter dogs,” Public Information and Marketing Director Lyndsay Bayne said by email. 

YUKON – United Way of Canadian County (UWCC) kicked off its annual fundraising campaign during the Yukon Chamber Coffee Aug. 29 at the Canadian Valley Technology Center’s Cowan Campus. The funds raised from this year’s campaign will go to support 13 Partner Agencies providing 18 health and human services programs to Canadian County residents.

“UWCC’s advisory board is hard at work raising even more than we did last year for our county,” said Sam Sims, UWCC advisory board president.

Some $5,000 was raised to train and recruit new volunteers at Canadian County CASA’s 2025 Banquet and Awards Ceremony.

CASA – an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates – is dedicated to improving the lives of the children in the Oklahoma foster care system in Canadian County.

The program’s specially trained volunteers strive to become a positive, stable influence for children while ensuring they have a voice in the courts and the services they need for a stable future.

El Reno Carnegie Library received a $350 grant from Oklahoma Humanities to support Let’s Talk About It: Abridged Version. This year’s theme, Hope Amongst Hardship, explores how stories of endurance and resilience remind us that even in the face of difficulty, hope can be found in the ties that bind communities together.

El Reno High School will celebrate its annual All-Sports Homecoming Friday, Sept. 12 before the first home game of the 2025 season against Weatherford.

The downtown parade will start at 12:50 p.m. King and queen coronation will be at 6:15 p.m.

El Reno’s Sacred Heart Catholic School will host its annual David Eaton Memorial Golf Tournament. The four-person scramble is set for Oct. 24 at Crimson Creek Golf Club. 

The 9 a.m. shotgun start will feature cash prizes.

The cost is $80 per person, $320 per team, and includes green fee, cart, mulligan, lunch, range balls and a hole-in-one contest. 

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Holly Eaton by email at school@sacredheartelreno.com or call 405-706-7753.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Jerry Don Smith, who was born Oct. 24, 1952, and passed away Aug. 27, 2025. 

Jerry is remembered as a man who was stubborn in spirit, yet possessed a heart of gold.

Jerry spent most of his childhood in Calumet, where he graduated high school in 1970. He took great joy in watching old westerns and watching Family Feud.