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It might be hard to believe, but El Reno’s soon to open restaurant, Sonny’s Kitchen and Bar, actually got its start in Washington, D.C.

Expected to open soon at 1515 S. Rock Island, workers are putting the finishing touches on the building, converting it from the VFW Post that hosted all kinds of community events, into a restaurant and bar operated by award-winning chef Andrew Black. 

So how does a star in the culinary world find his way to El Reno? Most likely fate and faith, said Black. 

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell was in El Reno last week along with dozens of other visitors who all made their way to The Filling Station. 

El Reno Public Information and Marketing Manager Lyndsay Bayne said 48 visitors from 15 states as well as the countries of Switzerland, Italy and England made a stop at the local attraction.

Bayne said close to 2,000 domestic and 500 international visitors have made a stop at The Filling Station since Jan. 1 of this year. 

El Reno will celebrate the 38th Annual Burger Day Festival on May 2. 

The downtown is expected to be filled with thousands of people “coming together for food, music, shopping and community,” said Becky Lockler

“It’s something you truly have to experience in person.”

Lockler, El Reno High School teacher and a board member of the newly created Historic Downtown El Reno Foundation, was speaking at last week’s El Reno Now breakfast. 

Two pieces of El Reno Public Schools record $69.5 million bond election, passed last October, are a step closer to turning dirt and pouring concrete.

At the April meeting, the El Reno School Board voted 5-0 to approve the design documents presented by the Larson Design Group for the multi-sport and band buildings at Memorial Stadium.

The board further authorized LDG and Willowbrook Services, the project manager, to proceed to the construction documents phase for both projects.

Ryan Bellgardt doesn’t measure success in blockbuster budgets.

“Don’t think of it as one $30 million movie — think of it as 30 $1 million movies,” said the Oklahoma City filmmaker and co-owner of Boiling Point Media, describing the kind of steady, small-scale production he believes can sustain a local industry.

Maple March Students of the Month are Olivia Tredway, first grade, Poppy Davidson, pre-kindergarten, Opal White, second grade, and Riggs Foster, kindergarten.

Also named are Kane Smith, fourth grade, Maverick Lorenzen, third grade, Laken Meschberger, fifth grade, Daxton Gatz, sixth grade, Jaci Pitchford, seventh grade, and Hunter Lorenzen, eighth grade.

Okarche High School February Students of the Month are Asher Schieber, Hannah Carnott, Harrison Mueggenborg, Belle Schwarz, Maelyn Pinkerton and Jag Mueggenborg.

Okarche High School February Lion and Lioness honorees are seniors Cody Endres and Cami White.