News

So what happens if the Cheyenne and Arapaho are successful in finally getting Fort Reno returned to the tribes?

Reggie Wassana has a one-word answer: jobs.

“Someone has to step up and help create an environment that helps build economic opportunity in central and western Oklahoma,” said Wassana, governor of the C&A Tribes. “It can be the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes working with the local communities to help build a promising future for the generations to come. We can’t always rely on the oil and gas industry because it fluctuates up and down.

“The burger must go on,” said Capt. David Baker of the El Reno Fire Department.

“Rain or shine, we have to get it done.”

Grill the world’s biggest onion burger, that is.

El Reno’s Main Street Program held another successful Burger Day Festival as crowds braved rain throughout the grilling process. This was the 36th Annual Fried Onion Burger Day Festival.

The El Reno Chamber of Commerce hosted a National Day of Prayer program last week with both a morning and evening service.

Chamber director Karen Nance said the programs featured music, Scripture readings, flag salutes and various prayers offered by local elected officials and community leaders.

This marked the 73rd year for the National Day of Prayer to be held across the nation. Members of local Boy and Girl Scout troops conducted the Pledge of Allegiance.

Downtown El Reno bustled as food, fun, cars and performers kept 15,000 visitors engaged at the 36th Annual Fried Onion Burger Day Festival last week despite rain throughout much of the day.

Organizers at Wesley United Methodist Church’s 11th Bun Run were happy with having 18 one-mile runners and 105 5K runners. Dr. Dorrie Parrott and Amy Neathery, mission co-chairs, said the $15,500 raised this year will “fund our local and international mission work.”

Wet weather for the 36th Annual El Reno Burger Day Festival did not keep the world’s largest onion-fried burger from hitting the grill to the delight of thousands of hungry visitors.

See Saturday’s edition for more coverage.

Each year, Janice Cox dreams of setting a record for the National Letter Carriers Association Food Drive in El Reno.

And each year she comes up a bit short.

But this Saturday, May 11, is a new drive and maybe, just maybe, that elusive 10,000-pound goal the veteran letter carrier has set in her mind will be achieved.

Cox has been coordinating the Letter Carriers Food Drive in El Reno for the past 18 years. She would love to hit the 10,000-pound mark for donated food items.

Two new windows have been installed at the Historic Fort Reno Visitors Center.

Debra Kauffman, president of Historic Fort Reno Inc. and full-time volunteer, said 23 windows in the building need to be replaced.

“So far, this is only the beginning,” she said.

Levi Davidson holds up his daughter, Poppy J as she blows bubbles from a machine purchased from a vendor at the 36th Annual El Reno Burger Day Festival over the weekend in downtown El Reno.

Dozens of vendors and organizations were on hand to sell various items and promote their businesses or causes.

An eight-member committee has been appointed to help oversee the next phase of Canadian County’s new courthouse construction project.