February 2026

Last year, the City of El Reno cited 28 dwellings for safety issues, 23 of them had electrical problems. 

So said Emily Richey, director of Planning and Services for the City of El Reno. 

Richey was speaking at the recent city council meeting. She was explaining how the city wanted to implement a free program intended to help prevent non-compliant remodeling projects before they were started. 

Richey’s proposal was unanimously approved by the council. The ordinance is known as the Pre-Construction Safety Review. It is voluntary and free of charge. 

Centre Theatre for the Arts will present Four Old Broads, a laugh-out-loud comedy directed by Phillip Church. Performances run Feb. 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 22 and March 1 at 2 p.m.

Written by Leslie Kimbell, Four Old Broads follows four spirited residents of a retirement home who refuse to fade quietly into the background. When their peaceful routines are disrupted, these feisty friends take matters into their own hands - leading to outrageous antics, sharp wit and plenty of heart.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has published a new report examining how small towns have successfully used route-based tourism as a valuable strategy for economic development.

The report, titled “The Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity” frames the issue through the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the epic 2,448-mile road trip that crosses eight states from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Four of those states – Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico – lie in the Tenth Federal Reserve District, which the Kansas City Fed serves.

Redlands Community College continues to attract students seeking a degree that prepares them for the workforce or gives them a good foundation for pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

Since the summer of 2023, Redlands has seen a consistent increase in enrollment, including this spring semester which has a total headcount exceeding 2,300 students for an 11.4 percent increase over spring 2025.

“We are thrilled with another semester of growth in enrollment,” said Redlands President Jena Marr.

A new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district has been proposed to stimulate economic growth on Yukon’s east side. A seven-member review committee will consider establishing the TIF district in a designated area along Yukon Parkway between 10th Street and Main Street.

The Yukon City Council appointed Ward 1 council member Rodney Zimmerman to chair the review committee as representative of the city’s governing body, and Craig Nuckols as representative of the planning commission having jurisdiction over the proposed district.

With a variety of rising costs frustrating Oklahoma homeowners, legislative leaders are weighing options for property tax reforms to head off a proposed state question that would exempt homestead properties entirely, dramatically reduce local collections and force local and county governments to shrink their services.

SHAWNEE – In just her second year in the sport of wrestling, El Reno High School junior Seely Chronister extended the school’s streak of state qualifiers to five straight years.

Chronister (135) took fourth place to pace El Reno, which placed 22nd as a team with 35 points despite taking just five grapplers to the Class 6A West Regional Championships.

Keith Harmon Terrell, age 72, passed away Feb. 16, 2026, following a lengthy illness. He was born May 26, 1953, to John and Marjorie Terrell in Kingfisher.

Keith graduated from Dover Public Schools and began a lifelong career in the oilfield. On May 20, 1972, he married the love of his life, Susan Earnheart. Together they built a family and a life defined by hard work, loyalty and love, raising three children, Brian, Leslie and James.

CALUMET – Head and shoulders above anyone else, 20th-ranked Timberlake had the two biggest players on the court - including 6-foot-8 senior post Paxton Glenn.

Calumet had the speed, bench depth and discipline of a defending state champion.

Calumet won out in a big way.

The second-ranked Chieftains improved to 24-3 with a 102-45 win over Timberlake in the semifinals of the Class B1, Area I, Region C Winners Bracket.

El Reno High School’s football program held a signing party for four seniors recently.

Signing (from left) were Omar Tristan, Brad Palmer, Rustyn Cook and Brendon Evans.

Cook signed with Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, while the other three inked with Langston University.