News

The historic Fort Reno Visitors Center, shown in this file photo, has received a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile.

The $50,000 grant will go toward replacing outdated windows to ensure the Visitors Center and Museum continues being enjoyed by frequent Route 66 travelers.

The project was submitted by the Historic Fort Reno Visitors Center and Museum.

Each quarter, T-Mobile awards 25 Hometown Grants to small towns with populations of 50,000 or less.

Several blocks of downtown Yukon were closed last week for the filming of a scene in an upcoming epic disaster film.

Yukon’s Main Street, between 3rd and 6th streets, was shut down after dark Dec. 8 as a second unit crew filmed a driving shot for the movie Twisters.

The movie’s cast and director were not present, according to unit publicist Amanda J. Brand.

No interviews or photos of the filming were permitted due to Universal Pictures’ “closed-set” policy and non-disclosure agreements.

Note: Knowing Jolly Old St. Nicholas is a subscriber and reads the El Reno Tribune each edition, the staff decided to help him out and deliver local children’s Letters to Santa in print. Letters will appear over the next few editions but in time for his Christmas Eve flight from the North Pole.

Dear Santa,
My name is Bentin Reed. I am 8 years old. I have been a good boy this year. For Christmas I would like Lucky Charms marshmallows, Lego Sets and Scale 1/32 Fast and the Furious cars. 
Love, Bentin

El Reno is about to set a record.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said 2023 will establish a “record” in the category of new home construction,

“We will set a new record in new residential units,” Sandidge said.

He said the city has issued, so far this year, 163 permits for new home construction.

“Our next highest year was in 2021 with 154 new homes,” he said.

Sandidge said the volume shows there’s obviously interest from home builders in El Reno.

“Despite high interest rates, home builders have kept building,” he said.

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.