News

A 38-year-old El Reno man was killed Friday evening on I-40 after a tire blowout caused his vehicle to roll several times, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

Ryan Hale was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident that happened just after 6 p.m., one mile east of El Reno, near mile marker 127, the OHP said.

El Reno firefighters freed Hale from the 2005 Toyota Camry after he was pinned inside for more than two and a half hours, the OHP said.

Webmaster’s Note: This article has been update with a clarification.

El Reno police are investigating after a man was apparently injured outside a local bar.

Police did not identify the man who was apparently stabbed during an altercation in the parking lot of Vice’s Bar, 1701 E. SH 66. Police said they contacted the man who was being treated at a local medical center. He reportedly suffered lacerations to his chest and right arm.

DIVORCES GRANTED

Luz Maria Martinez vs. Miguel Montante.

Robin A. Funck vs. Roy D. Funck.

Alison Nicole Stroh vs. Tyler Jordan Stroh.

Kylie Payton Wittenbach vs. Austin Troy Pipher.

John Cody Popescu vs. Roya Kashea Popescu.

Jennifer Hedges vs. Jason Hedges.

Ira Christy Banks vs. Brittany Michelle Banks.

Joy Dyer vs. Joel Dyer.

Lara Lynn Davis vs. Craig Allen Davis.

Dayla Diana Hall vs. Marcus Wayne Hall.

Megan Renee Black vs. Joshua Ryan Black.

As city officials continue to learn more about the chain of events that left much of the city and surrounding area with little to no water during a stretch of sub-zero temperatures in mid-February, “a perfect storm” may best describe the ordeal.

A 21-year-old El Reno man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Angela Michelle Thompson, police reported.

Jason Lamar Richey was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting that happened March 10 at 402 S. Hadden. The shooting took place just before 9:30 p.m.

Assistant Police Chief Kirk Dickerson said Richey was injured in the incident that reportedly left another person wounded as well. Police did not release information or the name of that person.

Thanks to some generous donors, every dollar donated to the El Reno Public School Foundation will be matched in a move that is expected to help push the corpus of the nonprofit entity to more than $1 million.

Dana Gibson, longtime foundation board member, said the pool of donors willing to match the donations wish to remain anonymous.

She said no limit has been put on the dollar-for-dollar match. With assets of more than $800,000 and $700,000 of that permanently endowed, the effort could very well boost the foundation above $1 million.

The sale of 78 4-H and FFA livestock projects wrapped up last week’s Canadian County Spring Livestock Show.

Mixed emotions from show participants filled the fairgrounds, as the final county stock show took place at the current facility.

Once the curtain came down on this 2021 show in El Reno, spectators and exhibitors shared immense excitement and anticipation for next year’s inaugural Spring Livestock Show at the new state-of-the-art facility, southeast of El Reno at Highway 81 and I-40.

BARROWS

Berkshire

Class 1
Reece Gabel, Mustang FFA, Breed Champion; Jazmine Mayo, Calumet FFA, 2nd.

Class 2
Destiny Searcy, Mustang FFA, 1st; Claire Foreman, Yukon FFA, 2nd; Cooper Newberry, Mustang 4-H, 3rd.

Class 3
Davis Morris, Miller 4-H, 1st; Payton Shelton, Mustang FFA, 2nd.

Class 4
Josie Felton, El Reno FFA, Reserve Breed Champion; Grady Lesperance, El Reno FFA, 2nd.

Chester White
Gage Lesperance, El Reno 4-H, Breed Champion.

Duroc

Mid-March marks 75 years since Nat King Cole recorded what would become the definitive song for people to “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66.”

These days, travelers and Route 66 enthusiasts who “plan to motor west” will have an easier way to spot the Mother Road in Oklahoma.

Revised historical route markers are going up over the next few months along key areas as one of the first visual cues that the state is getting ready for the upcoming Route 66 centennial celebrations in 2026.