May 2026

Four young people, three of them from El Reno, were killed in a crash early Friday involving a wrong-way driver along Interstate 40.

Reports from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the accident occurred near Czech Hall in Yukon around 12:30 a.m. 

The three El Reno teenagers killed were Quincy Jones, 19, Brad Palmer, 18, and Haleigh Salazar, 18. Also killed was the driver, 20-year-old Kiercey Hickson from Stillwater.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was taken to Integris Baptist Hospital in critical condition. 

El Reno High School held its graduation Saturday with 240 seniors taking part in the ceremony.

Too many people are allowing their pets to give birth to litters of puppies or kittens and then surrendering the newborn critters to the El Reno Animal Shelter. 

Last week, the city council took steps intended to fix the problem. 

Council voted unanimously to create an ordinance that requires anyone who has surrendered unwanted pets to the shelter to have their adult animals, over 6 months old, spayed or neutered. 

Ward 1 council member Amy Neathery proposed the ordinance, which was endorsed by Police Chief Ken Brown. 

Mayor Steve Jensen said the El Reno City Council will gather at noon on Wednesday in a special meeting to discuss the resignation of City Manager Matt Sandidge. 

Sandidge made the news public last Thursday. He is leaving after six years serving as city manager here to join the private sector. 

Jensen praised Sandidge for creating an atmosphere of progress and stability for El Reno during his tenure. 

The mayor said the council will meet, probably behind closed doors in executive session, to discuss the path moving forward. 

The Canadian County Museum received a “remarkable” signature quilt dating back to the 1920s, offering a unique glimpse into the social and community life of early El Reno.

The quilt was donated by Jane Noland of Joplin, Missouri, who discovered the piece for sale in Vinita, Oklahoma.

At the time of purchase, the quilt bore a simple handwritten tag pinned to it reading, “an El Reno, OK quilt.” 

Noland said when she acquired the quilt, she was not even familiar with the City of El Reno, making the discovery all the more meaningful as her research unfolded.

I do not generally engage on Facebook because I do not see it as the most effective means of communicating on complicated issues.

However, since I have been called out and one of my closest friends was called a liar, I hope you take the time to read my explanation and view on the children’s librarian issue.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2153 into law, opening the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s (OSSAA) decisions to the public eye and ending penalizing student athletes for transferring schools.

House Bill 2153 requires OSSAA to conduct eligibility, rule violation and hardship waiver hearings in meetings that are open to the public and subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

Betty Jean (Cowan) Klingman passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on May 14, 2026. She was born Sept. 26, 1933, in Sterling to Harley and Burtey Cowan.

Betty was a sweet and gentle woman who found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She loved drawing and painting pictures, tending to her garden and spending time at Lake Eufaula. She cherished moments with her family and enjoyed antique shopping, birdwatching, reading and working crossword puzzles. Her warm spirit and quiet kindness will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

LAWSUITS

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Jacquelynn Reasoner for $7,388.75 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Ryan Molloy for $1,657.57 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Janet Wiles for $2,437.62 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Michael Carter for $2,416.71 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

After 10 years in the third-base box as El Reno High School’s head baseball coach, and even more years coaching area youth, it’s hard to pull the wool over the eyes of Keith Hill.

Yet the veteran coach does admit there are times he’s been caught off guard, like last week’s tribute slow-pitch softball tournament held in his honor.

“I was pleasantly surprised. Coach Shamblin (Rusty), Coach Beavers (Gavin) and Coach Michalicka (Bri) worked hard to put all that together.