February 2026

A mural honoring the life and sacrifice of Sgt. Thomas Duran was created by local artist Sue Bear.

The mural was dedicated Wednesday evening during an El Reno Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting.

Police Chief Ken Brown is seen here cutting the ribbon with Bear at his right. Bear was assisted in the design by artist Allen Sheridan, who goes by the name “Alien.”

The mural is on the east side of a building owned by Donna Stirman.

The mural is dedicated to Duran and El Reno first responders.

The artistic photo of the former Rock Island Railroad office building (first photo) on Watts shows the structure in its final stages just before the demolition was all but complete (second photo).

The century-old building was condemned through a lengthy process involving court action.

The owners of the property, Talala Properties LLC, paid for the demolition which was done by K&M. Calls to K&M seeking more information were not returned by press time.

The 2026 Canadian County Junior Livestock Show rolled over into goat, broilers and sheep divisions.

Three people were injured following an incident at an oil installation near State Highway 37 and South Maple Road. The accident happened around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Reports said the injuries included broken bones and facial abrasions from the accident that happened southwest of El Reno and southeast of Hinton.

Reports said an “uncontrolled pressure release” led to the injuries. 

El Reno Fire Chief Jason Duff said three City of El Reno ambulances were dispatched to the site after emergency vehicles were requested.

A bill aimed at reducing property taxes – which recently passed a state Senate committee – could result in a loss of about $18 million annually to Canadian County.

Senate Bill 1809, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle), would increase the homestead exemption to $5,000 from $1,000 beginning in tax year 2027.

A civil suit filed by a contractor over the Canadian County Courthouse construction bidding process has been dismissed.

On Feb. 18, District Judge Paul Hesse signed an order granting Lingo Construction Services and the Canadian County Public Facilities Authority (CCPFA)’s motions to dismiss the case. A Feb. 20 hearing was stricken from the court docket.

Lingo and the CCPFA were named as defendants in the suit filed Jan. 2 in Canadian County District Court.

A former Mustang High School teacher will be in prison for at least 14.45 years after pleading no contest to six felony counts for his repeated sexual assaults of a high school student between December 2014 and June 2017.

Yukon’s Raymond Thomas Garner, age 63, became a convicted sex offender when he was formally sentenced Feb. 23 in Canadian County District Court.

Jamie Von Tungeln stopped by the Tribune last week and shared this note with me. 

“Most Sundays in 1967 and 1968, our mother, Dorothy Riley, baked this banana bread recipe. It was wrapped in wax paper and aluminum foil and put in a shoe box to mail, always adding a note of encouragement.

Graveside services for Joanne Kraus will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 2 at the El Reno Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Joanne passed away peacefully at her home in El Reno on Feb. 23, 2026. She was born March 29, 1940, in Shawnee.

Joanne dedicated many years working alongside her beloved husband, Henry, at El Reno Aviation before retiring.

She took great pride in their work and in the life they built together. Joanne was a devoted wife, mother and friend. 

To the Editor:

I am so excited to see the Redlands women’s basketball team having a successful and winning season. 

In 1974, Ken Posey asked me if I would help start a women’s basketball team at the then El Reno Junior College. I love kids and sports so of course I said yes. 

He wanted me to play and be his assistant coach. 

Coach Posey contacted some of the girls that were attending classes at the college that played basketball before and signed them up.