December 2025

Okarche High School’s boys basketball team, ranked No.1 in Class A, steamrolled its way to the title from the 2025 South Canadian Classic – winning by an average of 54 points.

The Warriors move to 8-0 on the year and now have won 49 straight games dating back to 2023.

Okarche defeated Lookeba-Sickles (99-21) before beating Class B-2’s 13th-ranked Leedey (99-45) and second-ranked Vici (83-53). The Warriors had a total point output of 281-119.

Dear Santa,

I’m so excited for you to come see me this year, I know I’ve been a good boy. I keep asking my mom and dad to come see you at the North Pole but they tell me you’re too hard at work. I would like a real robot this year, I would love that. I will leave you milk and cookies and reindeer food. I love you, Santa.

Love,
Jensen Porter Jones, age 4

Dear Santa,
I am 6 years old and I have been good this year. What I would love most for Christmas is K-Pop demon hunter toys.

Love, Mary Ann

Letters to Santa from Gretchen Fryar’s second-grade class at Rose Witcher:

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I like to play with my brothers. Please wach over my brother in Mexico. I would like a Tamogatchi, new markers, a cupcake, toys and a Pokemon. I love you Santa.

Your friend, Sofia

Dear Santa,
I am sorry I made my litte sis open my presint. But I would like for sum Pokemon cards. I would also we like a VR headset.

Your friend, Dawson

The City of El Reno welcomed area contractors, business owners and community partners last week to the inaugural Coffee & Codes gathering.

The event was held at the NW Community Center and brought together more than 35 people. 

The session included conversation, department updates and relationship-building focused on supporting responsible development across the community, said information provided by city officials.

El Reno Public Schools, in conjunction with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Education Department, recently held a Native American Heritage Night.

The event featured traditional dancers who performed various routines as well as drummers who sang the Arapaho Flag Song and provided dance beats.

City of El Reno employees collected and donated more than 3,000 food items to El Reno Blessing Baskets as part of the city’s annual employee food drive.

The Community Development Department earned top honors in this year’s Food Drive Challenge, contributing 1,330 items. The El Reno Fire Department followed with 1,268 items. All city departments participated, helping surpass the 3,000-item milestone.

City staff delivered the donations to Blessing Baskets. The visit offered a look into the organization’s work supporting families throughout El Reno.

In November 1980, a group of determined women in a study class at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) identified a critical gap in their community: Rape victims had nowhere to turn for emergency support. By February 1981, their vision became a reality when they incorporated as the Women’s Service Center.

The El Reno Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 151 held its annual Christmas with a Cop over the weekend. The event helped buy holiday gifts for area children.

For a third straight year the Colsen Girty Memorial Poker Run made a key donation, this year raising more than $14,000.

See Saturday’s edition for a wrap-up of the event.

Anyone who is in need of assistance shopping for gifts is invited to attend the Christmas Help and Cheer event set for Dec. 20.

Nancy Salsman said the gathering will provide a “warm and welcoming opportunity for families who have been unable to obtain assistance elsewhere to receive Christmas gifts this season.”

The event will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at Cross Bridge Church, 910 S. Reno.

For more information, contact Salsman at 405-641-4284 or email nms_1958@yahoo.com.

A new member has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Canadian County Fair Board.

Yukon’s Chad Detrick, the Project Connect instructor at Canadian Valley Technology Center, was appointed to a District 1 seat on the nine-member fair board.

Detrick replaces Phil Carson, a former District 1 county commissioner who recently resigned from the position after 15 years of volunteer service to the fair board.