News

El Reno High School held its Native American Heritage Night recently during the season-opening basketball games at Jenks Simmons Field House.

The event featured drummers from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes who sang the national anthem in both languages.

Dancers, wearing colorful authentic outfits, performed various routines that reflected their outfits history and culture.

The event capped off a week of events at EHS honoring Native American Heritage Month.

Just in time for the recent Thanksgiving holiday, the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, El Reno Police Department and El Reno Fire Department received homemade pumpkin pies courtesy of students in the BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center.

Students planted pumpkins earlier this year in a large raised bed garden, said Dr. Kristy Ehlers, BlueSTEM director. The resulting crop produced a variety of mature fruit this fall.

Brad Baker will retain his seat on the El Reno Public Schools Board of Education after no one filed against the incumbent, whose current term is set to expire in April.

“I’m very happy to have another term on the El Reno School Board. Elections are always good for both the district and the persons running because it brings out issues that may need to be addressed but that didn’t happen.

“This does not damper my excitement of being on the school board either by running unopposed or an election,” said Baker.

COMANCHE – Three and a half months removed from prison, Kara Chapman is striving to rebuild her life.

The 38-year-old mother works most days waiting tables at a catfish restaurant in Comanche.

On days off, she volunteers with a local food pantry or drives 30 minutes north to visit her four children in Marlow. She hopes to progress through a transitional program and move into a duplex where she can have overnight visits with her kids.

Oklahoma State University 2020 winter wheat variety Butler’s Gold is growing more prominent on the commercial market, and researchers want to ensure that producers know when and how to plant it.

“Wheat producers are interested in the late planting system,” said Amanda Silva, assistant professor and state Extension specialist for small grains.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Joshua David Von Tress and Kory Suzanne Knowlton.

James Ruben Cowns III and Jennifer Lee Bennett.

Gerald Edward Galbreath and Rebecca Gomes.

Bradyn Scott Edwards and Lynnette Eden Lineback Paonessa.

Kayli Cheyenne Strain and Hannah Doris Sue Keeney.

Steven Lemont Purvis and Emily Beth Nixon.

Zachary Adam Merrell and Kailey Rae Morse.

Austin Jacob Miller and Katelyn Rose Shriver.

Garrett Allen Howell and Madison Dion Childers.

John William Davis Jr. and Kamryn Olivia Larman.

Wiping away what she calls “happy tears,” Whitney Sides remembers just how much her son, Colsen Girty, loved the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

“He was going to be president. He was going to give all the homeless people shelter and all the kids presents for Christmas. He had his life lined out,” said Sides.

Ambitious goals the 10-year-old never got to accomplish as he was killed in a car accident July 31, 2021.

El Reno’s American Legion Post 34 and Auxiliary embarks on fundraising efforts throughout the year to help support the Gifts to the Yanks program.

During World War II, comedian Eddie Cantor started a fundraising effort to provide Christmas gifts for American military personnel hospitalized in England because of the war.

His national project was called “Give to a Yank Who Gave,” which precedes the program now named “Gifts for Yanks.”

Nancy Salsman stood quietly in one of the offices at the El Reno Tribune last week as I read the typed note wrapped around the 10 crisp $20 bills which made up the winning bid on the Gifts for the Yanks quilt auction.

Normally I try to take on that tough guy persona and can keep my emotions in check, but as I read each paragraph of the letter, it became clear I was failing – and quickly.

I was not alone.

Both Salsman and Tribune co-publisher Erin Thompson were wiping away tears as this anonymous person’s story was read aloud.