News

Mother Nature respected El Reno’s Memorial Day ceremony, holding off until the local tribute to America’s fallen veterans had all but concluded before rain began to fall.

And a beautiful tribute it was.

A moving performance of the National Anthem by 10-year-old Teira Gonzalas of Macomb, preceded by a quote of G.K. Chesterton offered by Father Lance Warren set the stage for an emotional address from Rep. Ty Burns, a decorated recipient of the Purple Heart.

The city of El Reno is expected to hold a special city council meeting June 8 to consider issuing a permit for the making of the film “Twisters.” City Manager Matt Sandidge said the city has met with representatives of the highly anticipated movie, scheduled for theater release in July of 2024.

An agreement has been signed, sealed and delivered to make State Highway 66 and Banner Road a permanent four-way stop.

Canadian County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to participate with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the four-way stop intersection project. This is a state roadway in Canadian County District 1.

ODOT is due to hire a contractor this fall to make the permanent upgrades.

El Reno’s Gemini Coatings, a 100 percent employee-owned wood coatings manufacturing company, has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Rudd Company Inc., an independently owned wood coatings manufacturer based in Seattle, Wash.

“Rudd Company was established in 1912 and has built trusted brands with a robust product line,” said Chris Hicks, president and CEO of Gemini Coatings.

On the eve of his trial, Canadian County’s former emergency manager was convicted of embezzling state property - but he won’t spend time in prison.

Troy Steven Mead, 50, entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor May 23 in Canadian County District Court.

“I wrongfully appropriated state property while employed as the Canadian County emergency manager,” according to Mead’s signed guilty plea.

Mead received a one-year suspended sentence and will be supervised by the district attorney’s office while on probation.

Drought throughout the Southern Plains has taken its toll on Oklahoma cattle producers over the past two years. Ponds are dry, pastures are brown and cattle herds have been liquidated, especially in western Oklahoma.

Drought Monitor maps from the Oklahoma Mesonet consistently displayed a prominent drought line slashing across the state from northeast to southwest. Now that rain has fallen across much of the state this past month, weary producers wonder if a long-awaited recovery is near.

DIVORCES GRANTED

Faith Nicole Eatmon vs. David Paul Eatmon.

Ashlee Burnett vs. Kameron Oliver.

Heather Dawn Robinson vs. Brock Wayne Robinson.

Jodi Elizabeth Smith vs. Ryan Charles Smith.

Kimberly Dawn Rose vs. Michael Donn Rose.

Gicela A. Rodriguez vs. Fermin Rodriguez Ibarra.

Randall Eugene Bowyer vs. Katherine Ann Hau.

Yolanda G. Costin vs. Dennis Eugene Costin.

Ivan Scott Schweitzer vs. Laci Gayle Schweitzer.

Jamie Leigh-Ann McCraw vs. Shane Patrick McCraw.

The El Reno Tribune’s 2023 Small Town Weekend section contains the following content:

2023 Small Town Weekend schedule

Celebrating 25 years of speed, muscle and bling

Hot Wheels racing to show new track

Come rain or shine, bull riders are among the toughest cowboys to enter any rodeo arena, yet oddly enough, the creator of the fan-favorite Mustache Bash says riders prefer having dry dirt beneath their feet.

And that’s just what they have gotten in El Reno.

For a second straight year, the Mustache Bash bull-riding event has been held at the Denny-Crump Arena featuring an open-air design with an added bonus – a covered arena.

More than $500,000 - that’s the initial cost estimate for a restoration of Canadian County’s historic jail.

Canadian County commissioners authorized construction manager Erick Westfahl to proceed with the bidding phase of a possible $550,000 “rejuvenation” project at the old jail building, which has fallen into disrepair.

Soliciting contractor bids will provide commissioners with “hard numbers” before they decide whether to proceed with renovations – or tear down the building, according to County Commission Chairman Dave Anderson.