February 2026

Duran honored with mural

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.
Duran honored with mural_story

Last whistle

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...
Last whistle_1

Paxton plan could create government angst

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...

Hesse grants motion to dismiss courthouse suit

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.

Ex-teacher sentenced in sexual assault case

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...

Baking up some love one shoebox at a time

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.
Jamie Von Tungeln keeps her mom’s banana bread recipe framed

Joanne Kraus

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.

Letter to the Editor: Redlands women’s basketball

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.