A year ago, El Reno High School’s softball team went on the road and beat higher-seeded Duncan twice to earn a trip to the Class 5A State Championships – the program’s second trip in three seasons.
Now the Indians head into their 2022 season opener Monday against Yukon looking to prove that their 2021 efforts were no fluke.
With temperatures expected to reach near triple digits, El Reno High School’s football team will begin preseason workouts Monday with a non-traditional two-a-days schedule.
“We will practice from 7 to 9 in the mornings, take a break, then return about 9:30 and finish up by 11 a.m.,” said head coach Russell Cook.
As part of its policy for heat-related practices, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) requires every football player to take part in a four-day acclimation period – no matter when they report for drills.
A proposal to build 360 new homes on land zoned Heavy Industrial (I-3) on SE 27th Street did not receive a warm welcome last week from the Municipal Planning Commission.
In the words of MPC member Mike Freeman, it was a matter of “Not this, and not here.”
The majority of the Municipal Planning Commission agreed with Freeman and voted 5-1 to deny the request.
The plan was presented by Brad Reid on behalf of John VonTungeln and focused on 65 acres at 804 SE 27th St. The proposal was to rezone the property to Single Family Residential (R1).
Following the recommendations of the Municipal Authority, the El Reno City Council held a special meeting last week to approve three agenda items which totaled nearly $470,000.
All three items passed, with votes cast by board members Steve Jensen, Peter Stapperfend, Tim Robinson and Mayor Matt White.
Councilwoman Tracey Rider was absent from both the authority and council meetings.
More than half of that total, $254,967, was earmarked for a contract awarded to Haskell Lemon Group.
White abstained from the vote.
After battling triple-digit heat last week for marching practice, El Reno High School band members cooled off with water fights.
Canadian County commissioners are in the process of hiring a new emergency management director.
Andrew Skidmore recently resigned as Canadian County’s emergency manager and safety coordinator, a post he had held since September 2018.
“He went to work for the United Way,” said Commissioner David Anderson. “He left on good terms.
“We’ve heard positive comments from some of the communities about his time here and his service. They appreciated the work he did for them.”
“Hope in the City” is coming to First Assembly of God in El Reno.
The church is partnering with 19 other churches and organizations in the area to distribute a total of 5,000 backpacks filled with school supplies.
The giveaway will be Saturday, Aug. 6 from 8 to 10 a.m., with the El Reno church handing out 250 backpacks.
A pair of El Reno High School’s key players over the past two seasons wrapped up their prep careers the same way they started it together – in the win column.
Tetona Blackowl, who transferred from Calumet prior to the 2020-21 season, and four-year EHS starter Ashlyn Evans-Thompson donned red jerseys to play for the Large West in the 2022 Oklahoma Coaches Association’s All-State Basketball Game.
