April 2026

The City of El Reno gave the owner of the house at 619 W. Clarke Street another month to show progress is being made before possibly moving forward with demolition. 

The owner, Asky Chiles said he misunderstood what was involved concerning an inspection he agreed to with a city crew and for that reason refused to allow them inside the house. 

The home was condemned in January and scheduled for demolition.

But Chiles has pleaded for the past couple of months for more time to make improvements.

The city council agreed, based on certain conditions.

El Reno officials are singing the praises of the Animal Control Officers who recently earned one of the highest scores for the department’s ability to adopt out animals. 

Police Chief Ken Brown said the ACO crew earned a score of 92 for their ability to find new homes for pets, as well as a willingness to take in unwanted animals and strays. 

Brown made the comments at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. He said the national organization, Best Friends, rates animal shelters in a number of categories.

The Bookmobile hosted by Wesley in ACTSion, the mission team at Wesley United Methodist Church, started a new chapter with a bright teal van that will continue giving thousands of books to El Reno children.

In late 2019, mission co-chair Amy Neathery said she was watching the news and saw a report of a neighboring town introducing a new bookmobile.

An El Reno juvenile found himself spending time at the Children’s Justice Center after he allegedly took a family member’s vehicle without permission and then proceeded to elude police.

Police Chief Ken Brown said the juvenile lost control of the vehicle, wrecking it along I-40 near Radio Road.

The incident happened in the early evening of April 10.

After wrecking the vehicle, the juvenile reportedly ran into a drainage ditch trying to hide.

El Reno High School held its annual prom at the Jenks Simmons Annex.

The event featured a red carpet walk. dancing, photo booth and the naming of the prom royalty.

This year’s prom theme was Great Gatsby.

Funeral services for Glen Edward Hill will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Jenks Simmons Annex in El Reno with Rev. Jim Bob Patman officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Glen died April 13, 2026, at his home in El Reno. He was born June 1, 1939, in Talala, Oklahoma.

He was a delivery man for Rainbow Bread, retiring in 2000. Sports were a huge part of Glen’s life, and he was involved in El Reno Little League sports, coaching baseball, basketball and football for many years. He was an avid OU and El Reno High School sports fan.

The idea is simple: A child who has been sexually abused should only have to tell their story once.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Funding to continue the operation of Oklahoma’s mental health crisis hotline for another year is included in a budget agreement as federal funding is set to end this fall.  

Senate Bill 1164 directs $5.96 million of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services legislative appropriation to a separate account earmarked for the operation of 988. 

El Reno High School’s March Students of the Month are Makenzie Glenn, Kayden Harjo, Annie Kerr, Aubree Alsept and Sharon Moreno.

Also noted are Garett Moss, William Gipson and Ethan Gilleland.

Members of Oklahoma Chapter AE of International P.E.O. met recently with Margaret Price serving as hostess and Barbara Johnson as co-hostess.

Others attending were Christy Eichholz, Lindsey Vise, Janan Fletcher, Cindy Ward, Robin White-Mahone and Anna Rinehart.

Vise read minutes from the previous meeting, with Rinehart offering the devotional from Joshua 1:9.

Price was recognized as a 10-year member of P.E.O. and was presented a certificate of recognition and appreciation.