News

El Reno could be cut up in redistricting with three state representative districts taking a piece of the community.

Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, told the audience at last week’s Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, growth in Canadian County will cause her House District 60 seat to be less about El Reno and more about the Yukon and Piedmont areas. Baker said the Legislature is scheduled to meet in a special session in November to finalize the redistricting plan.

El Reno High School held its annual all-sports homecoming parade through downtown El Reno last week.

The parade included floats from each of the four classes as well as parade entries from other sports teams, local businesses and past classes.

The EHS band performed and the Heritage Express Trolley carried passengers.

(Tribune photographer/Glen Miller)

El Reno’s Main Street building was named the winner of the Best Facade Rehabilitation under $10,000 at the recent Oklahoma Main Street Awards Banquet.

Main Street programs across the state were celebrated during the 32nd annual event in Oklahoma City.  

The El Reno Main Street office building was constructed in 1920 and housed a number of businesses over the years. The Main Street sign badly needed replacing due to pigeon infestation and the decision was made to use historic photos to determine the appropriate style.

A public hearing is set later this month concerning a petition to annex property into a rural water district between El Reno and Yukon.

The Green Valley Rural Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Management District has consented to a developer’s request to annex a quarter section to build new homes, said El Reno attorney Joseph Weaver.

District 1 County Commissioner Marc Hader said developers “have been looking at” parcels near the Richland community.

“There’s a scarcity of water,” Hader said.

Friday, Oct. 15 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 9 Yukon School Bond Election and City of El Reno Ward 2 Election, said Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold.

Armold said that persons who are U.S. citizens, residents of Oklahoma and at least 17 ½ years old are eligible to apply for voter registration. However, you must be at least 18 years old to vote.

Rising food costs continue to make it challenging for families on limited budgets to put healthy meals on the table, but some relief is on the way.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently recalculated the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) benefits based on family size.

The recalculation will increase SNAP (formerly food stamps) benefits across the nation. In Oklahoma, recipients will receive about $36 extra per person per month.

LAWSUITS

Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust vs. Gerald Keith Hall for $83,736.14 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 2, Block 6, Ranchwood South Addition, Yukon.

Wilmington Savings Fund Society vs. Brian T. Johnson and Tina Johnson for $94,656.48 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lots 5-12, Block 55, Town of Piedmont.

The first El Reno Community Day and Fly-In was hailed as a “great event.” That 2020 celebration of El Reno and aviation attracted an estimated 2,000 people to the El Reno Regional Airport.

Last Saturday, the second such event probably more than doubled that turnout and sent expectations for next year into orbit.

“I think it was just a fantastic day for everyone involved,” said Airport Manager Adam Fox.

Jason Gipson was 23 years old when he spent a year as a U.S. Army Infantryman in Iraq. That was in 2004.

Today, Gipson is 40. He has a wife and daughter. He also has nightmares. That’s why he’s very thankful to have Dale.

Dale is his dog, a soon-to-be 4-year-old mix of lab and pit that helps him make it through the night.

Gipson suffers from PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder. Like many veterans, he saw things in Iraq. He may have had to do things that people probably weren’t created to do.

A 13-year-old Maple School student was airlifted to OU Medical Center Monday after the school bus he was riding in ran off the road and into a ditch.

The boy’s name was not released by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, but reports said he was admitted into the hospital in “good condition” after suffering a leg injury. The child was reportedly pinned inside the bus and had to be extracted by emergency personnel.