September 2025

A benefit dinner supporting the Minco High School softball team will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 at the El Reno Elks Lodge, 415 S. Rock Island. 

Nancy Salsman said the benefit will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

For $10, supporters will receive a dinner of sloppy joes, chips and dessert. All proceeds will go to the players and coaches who were involved in the Sept. 8 bus crash. 

Those wishing to support the effort are asked to pre-order by texting Salsman at 405-641-4282 or leave a voice message if you call. 

Pickup will be in the alley behind the Elks. 

A request for city funds from the Main Street organization was tabled by the city council in a unanimous vote.

The action came during the regular monthly council meeting Tuesday night. 

Council member Amy Neathery made the motion to table the request, drawing a second from Vice Mayor David Black. The motion included instructions for the Main Street leaders to meet with city staff and work out an acceptable agreement. 

Main Street requested $50,000 to help fund the program, the city offered $30,000.

A program operated by El Reno’s Wesley United Methodist Church was honored by the Oklahoma State School Board Association with one of the organization's most distinguished awards. 

The OSSBA selected Wesley in ACTSion for its Barbara Lynch Community Partner Award. The award is given to a community member or organization that actively supports and works with their local school district to help children and their education, the school system and the community. 

Before being demolished to make space for a new Canadian County Courthouse, the former county Administration Building hosted two days of training for law enforcement personnel.

Commissioners this week approved an agreement with the Canadian County Special Operations Team.

The agreement allowed “breaching and destructive training opportunities” this week inside the vacant county-owned structure at 201 N. Choctaw.

Voters in Canadian County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the Oct. 14 El Reno Public Schools, City of Oklahoma City or Hinton Public Schools special elections should apply now, Canadian County Election Board Secretary Allen Arnold said.

Absentee ballots are available to all registered voters, provided they are eligible to vote in the election requested. No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot.

El Reno High School August Students of the Month are Quinn Charmasson, Rhett Davis, Ella Findley, Grant First, Garrett March, Malachi Bilbrey, Addison Kennedy and Bridgette McReynolds.

Maple August Students of the Month are Hazel Resendiz, pre-kindergarten; Cooper Higdon, kindergarten; and Bowen Ellison, first grade.

Also, Abby Bass, sixth grade; Rowyn McKee, second grade; Blaiklyn Barton, fifth grade; Zoe Robles, fourth grade; Creelie Hamons, third grade; Lottie Vise, seventh grade, and Katie Ellis, eighth grade.

The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s recent decision to prevent four teenage boys from playing basketball for Glencoe High School because they transferred into the district, effectively undermining Oklahoma’s open transfer law, has one lawmaker urging his colleagues to dismantle the association and start anew.

“The OSSAA is structured in a way that is unfair to student athletes and families,” said state Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee.

To the Editor:

In July, Dub was diagnosed with cancer and the Haynes Studio nightmare began.

Every day, running to Oklahoma City for tests, scans, treatments, etc. Our anxiety went off the charts because we had commitments that had to be done. 

In stepped the El Reno Tribune and Glen Miller. 

The Tribune contacted Coach Cook and his staff and made all the arrangements, then called us and said “We want to help.”

I can’t tell you how much anxiety they took off our minds. 

To the Editor:

Tuesday night’s City Council meeting was a reminder of how important it is for our community to have clear communication, strong preparation and a shared vision for the future of downtown.

Across the nation, Main Street Programs serve as tools for cities to revitalize their historic districts. When local governments partner with programs like ours — affiliated with Main Street America and the Oklahoma Main Street Center — they unlock access to a wealth of resources.