July 2022

While it does help to have a green thumb, keeping a landscape irrigated is key in successful gardening.

The amount and frequency that gardeners water can make a big difference in plant health. These factors also have an impact on the pocketbook.

Oklahoma is experiencing extreme summer temperatures this year, which can lead gardeners to turn on those outside spigots more often, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist.

Most Oklahoma ponds are green thanks to algae that forms on the water, but just like anything else, too much algae can be a bad thing.

Algae is a normal occurrence in ponds unless it becomes too thick. That is when pond owners are in danger of the most common fish kill scenario – algal die-off. As millions of dead algal cells decompose, dissolved oxygen is rapidly used up, causing fish to suffocate.

Being close to the winner’s circle on several occasions during the Southern Drag Boat Association’s season, only to have the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath them at the last second, El Reno’s Matt and Radley Miller both needed a confidence boost.

What better place to find it than in their own backyard.

The father-daughter duo both won divisional titles at the 2022 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races last weekend on Lake El Reno. While the victories don’t count in the SDBA season points, both agree a win is a win.

Vincent Walker always dreamed of one day playing in a Major League Baseball stadium, but never imagined it would happen before he ever threw a pitch in college.

The El Reno High School graduate was one of 50 players from across the nation and Canada to be selected to the inaugural Native American All-Star Baseball Showcase.

The three-day event was co-sponsored by the 7G Foundation and the Atlanta Braves. It was held inside the MLB franchise’s home stadium – the 41,084-seat Truist Park.

Despite a triple-digit heat wave and the sinking of a boat on the first race of the event, the 2022 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races was deemed a success by race organizers.

Hundreds of race fans flocked to Lake El Reno for the three days of the event.

The first day was open to the public as drivers spent five hours making test passes down the 1,000-foot course.

The final two days were paid admission which drew repeat visitors and newcomers to the event.

Funeral services for Kendall Lee Brown will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2022, at First Pentecostal Church of God in El Reno with Rev. Kevin Fouts officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the El Reno Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Kendall was born Sept. 22, 1938, in Rush Springs to Fred Lee and Mildred Bertha (Sorrels) Brown. He died July 26, 2022, in El Reno at the age of 83.

The 2022 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races wrapped up Sunday at Lake El Reno.

El Reno Carnegie Library did not get much attention when the pandemic was in full swing, but it is back and better than ever.

Back in 2019, the library was renovated with new windows, new paint, new furniture and new carpet. Unfortunately, people were not able to appreciate the makeover for very long.

After COVID hit, the library was forced to reduce its hours and the staffing was small.