The 28th Annual A Small Town Weekend started on a roll with Power Wheels and Hot Wheels races for children, followed by a car show and burnout for adults. Organized by the El Reno Cruisers with support from local civic groups, the event combined family entertainment with fundraising for charitable causes.
Young Racers Take the Track
Police Chief Ken Brown will serve as interim El Reno city manager while the city council works to find a replacement for Matt Sandidge.
Sandidge is leaving after six years as manager and three years as assistant manager. He is leaving to take a position in the private sector.
Council voted 5-0 to name Brown the interim manager starting June 20. Sandidge will serve his last day as El Reno manager on June 19. He will be available for consultation until July 10.
Small towns are the engines of Route 66. As one of the highway’s proud destinations, El Reno once again demonstrated why it remains a favorite stop along the Mother Road during the 28th Annual A Small Town Weekend festival.
Drawing approximately 6,500 visitors, it became the biggest Route 66 event in Oklahoma.
In addition to Power Wheels and Hot Wheels competitions, a car show and burnout, the hosting El Reno Cruisers held city-wide cruises and drag racing on Route 66 and added a special Route 66 Centennial event – autocross racing.
Work is expected to begin in the coming weeks on a new $1.5 million bridge on Banner Road, just east of SH 66. The bridge crosses Purcell Creek, which has a history of flooding during heavy rain.
District 1 County Commissioner Tom Manske, along with officials from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, engineers and representatives from Frontier Bridge gathered at the site Tuesday morning to break ground on the project.
Also at the ceremony was a woman whose father was killed in a traffic accident at 66 and Banner.
Craig McVay said Oklahoma must create an eight-year plan for public education, pointing to how a long-term plan for transportation has moved the state from near the bottom to the top when it comes to roads and bridges.
The Families with Children Grocery Program will continue helping local families monthly throughout the summer.
Families interested in receiving groceries can call the Blessing Baskets office at 405-215-9224 to make arrangements for enrollment.
“We anticipate an increase in participation with the rising cost of groceries for families,” said Donna Dyer, Director of Community Relations.
Two candidates who faced off for Canadian County commissioner four years ago are working again to win the seat. Incumbent Tomas Manske won the District 1 seat in 2022 from Marc Hader, a former longtime commissioner.
The Yukon Progress asked them several questions via email, covering specific policies they will address if elected and the reasons voters should trust them with the next term.
Mayor Steve Jensen presented two proclamations to the Fort Reno Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution during a recent El Reno City Council meeting.
The proclamations recognize the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States and National Flag Day, which is observed annually on June 14.
