September 2025

The Filling Station Visitor Center invites the community to take part in a special series of amateur radio events as part of Route 66 On the Air 2025.

Licensed ham radio operator Vonnie Meritt (KE5RKC) will be on-site at the Filling Station at several times to connect with fellow operators along the Mother Road.

On Sunday, Sept. 7 at 7 a.m., Meritt will make live radio contact with her friend, pilot Bill Hartsell (W6Y), as part of the first-ever “Route 66 In the Air.”

Joy Keller Dye passed away peacefully Aug. 30, 2025, at St. Katharine’s in El Reno.

She was born Feb. 22, 1936, in Ryan, Oklahoma, to Leonard and Clemma Keller. She was a 1954 graduate of El Reno High School. 

Joy married Darrell Dye on Jan. 1, 1960.

She was a lifelong member of Trinity Baptist Church.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her 16 siblings.

Joy is survived by her children, Carla (Ernie) Lanza, Jamie (Bob) Steinbruck, Curt (Angela) Dye and Steve (Tammy) Dye. 

MUNICIPAL COURT

Nathan Ryan Al-Mufleh, Yukon, speeding, $165.

Teresa Sara Ann Aguilar, Oklahoma City, speeding, $185.

Sandie June Uptain, El Reno, speeding, $175.

Mitchell Allen Harms, Yukon, speeding, $165.

Adam Lyle Cordes, Arapaho, speeding, $185.

Catherine Springer, El Reno, speeding, $175.

Curtis Deon Hawks, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Lucian Dillian Gray, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Henry Colson, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Brittany Michelle Mooney, Calumet, speeding, $165.

March 19, 1927 - August 20, 2025 

Our beautiful mother, Betty Durham Cunningham, age 98, passed away Aug. 20, 2025. A lifetime resident of Oklahoma, she lived in El Reno while pursuing her teacher certification and moved to Oklahoma City to accept a teaching position in 1959.

She taught and was a role model for elementary students in the Oklahoma City school system for nearly 30 years. 

Betty was the widow of Donald W. Cunningham, who died in the service of his country during the Korean Conflict.

Eunice Taylor passed away at the age of 90 in El Reno. She was born Aug. 9, 1935, to Ota R. Sanders and Ruth Stout Sanders. 

Eunice was a 1956 graduate of El Reno High School. After graduation, she was employed at Hartford Insurance for a short time before being married to Leroy Taylor of Bridgeport, Texas.

They made their home in Bridgeport until Leroy’s death. Eunice then moved back to El Reno to be close to family.

Jackie Ebb Maine was born May 1, 1936, in El Reno to Bertha and Ebbie Maine. On Aug. 28, 2025, in El Reno, at the age of 89, Jackie was lovingly welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior. 

A proud graduate of El Reno High School’s Class of 1954, Jackie continued his education at El Reno Junior College before enlisting in the Oklahoma National Guard. As a young child, Jackie was diagnosed with polio, yet he never allowed that challenge to hinder his determination for life. Instead, it shaped in him a quiet strength and perseverance that carried through all his years. 

CHICKASHA – When he took over the reins of direct play-calling in a dual role as offensive coordinator, El Reno High School head football coach Russell Cook promised a more wide-open attack in 2025.

He delivered in his first game out.

El Reno rolled up 457 yards in total offense as the Indians opened up the season with a 42-27 win over Chickasha for its third straight win in the U.S. 81 Battle.

“I told you it would look different,” said Cook.

Riding a strong serving effort, El Reno High School’s volleyball team picked up a 3-0 win over Chickasha in the hard-court version of the U.S. 81 Battle to reach the 10-win mark for a second straight season.

El Reno, now 10-7 on the season, jumped up four spots in the latest Class 5A poll to No.10 with the 25-7/25-13/25-16 win.

The Indians served at 95.8 percent and were 20 percentage points higher than Chickasha. The Indians held the edge in ace serves by a 10-3 margin, led by Radley Miller with four.

Redlands Community College’s cross country team kicked off the 2025 season at the Oklahoma State University Cowboys Preview in Stillwater.

The Cougars had seven runners in the men’s 5,000-meter race, closing in fourth place with 110 points behind Oklahoma State (29), Oklahoma (32) and Tulsa (72).

Redlands had an overall time of 1 hour and 38.47 minutes, which averaged out to 19.45 minutes per entry.

Andres Mandujano led the Cougars in 27th place with an average pace of 5:37.30 leading to his overall time of 17:28.

Though losing four of five games in the last 10 days due to weather, El Reno High School’s fast-pitch softball team was able to squeeze in a 7-1 road win over the Oklahoma City Broncos.

El Reno moved to 3-7 on the season after breaking a 1-all tie with two runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

The seven runs came off a 10-hit effort by the Indians, led by a double each from Brailynn Vickery, Addilinn Johnson and Amalie Kalcevova. Johnson added a triple and led all El Reno batters with three base hits.