News

Halloween doesn't mix with downed power lines and broken tree limbs, so for those reasons, the city of El Reno is telling residents to trick-or-treat only with family and friends.

Mayor Matt White said Thursday residents are strongly advised not to allow children to go door-to-door Saturday night. White made the comments during the weekly El Reno Live program that runs on Facebook.

White said the annual Spooktacular has been canceled. Main Street, which organizes the colorful event, called it off after El Reno was hit hard by last week’s ice storm.

Canadian County commissioners will seek new options for audio-visual equipment at the new fairgrounds and expo center after rejecting the bids that were submitted for the project.

Commissioners were following the recommendation of fairgrounds director Nathan Smith, who said that all of the bidders had either altered the specifications or had failed to provide the proper bonding information.

Canadian County Commissioner Jack Stewart said he is hoping grants will lead to improved roads in his district. If all goes right, four roads in his district will either be widened and rebuilt or receive an asphalt overlay next summer.

Commissioners last week approved an agreement that allows Stewart, along with other commissioners, to receive funding assistance through the Rural Economic Assistance Program fund, also known as the REAP fund.

Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold said people voting early in the 2020 election were willing to stand in line for hours and in the cold.

The early voting started Thursday morning as lines formed outside the election board in downtown El Reno early and seemed to grow by the minute.

“A person who just voted said they had been in line for two hours,” said Armold.

Computer programmer Gradyn Wursten still updates a project he created to hack his high school homework.

As a sophomore, he used an old MacBook with a cracked screen and bulging battery to write the code that adds shortcuts to Edgenuity — an online education platform used by more than 3 million students.

Despite the cold, El Reno High School’s cheer squad held a pre-game show before the Indians game with Ardmore. The dancers included the young girls from the recent EHS Cheer Clinic. At halftime, El Reno’s youth cheerleaders also performed a routine.

City of El Reno street crews sanded roadways Monday night into Tuesday as Mother Nature pummeled much of the state with a combination of rain, sleet and ice.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said main roads were sanded Monday night. He said rain that arrived early Tuesday did not help, washing away much of the mixture, before the freezing precipitation began to accumulate.

By mid morning Tuesday, Sandidge said crews were waiting for the rain to subside before applying another batch of sand to the streets. Sanding during rain is pointless because it washes away, he said.

El Reno School Superintendent Craig McVay will join Mayor Matt White Thursday afternoon for El Reno Live.

The pair created El Reno Now, a monthly gathering, that was interrupted by COVID-19.

The program was held at the Public Safety Center off SW 27th and featured updates on city and school happenings as well as guest speakers. A banquet held to celebrate the program after its first year and the accomplishments throughout the community raised more than $15,000 for four local nonprofits.    

Voters will go to the polls for the Nov. 3 General Election, City of El Reno Ward 1 Council Member Election and the City of Oklahoma City Special Election.

Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold said voters should keep the following information and tips in mind as the election approaches.

▶ Early voting will be available at the county election board office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Early voting is also available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Two of the most popular student-driven events on the calendar each year at El Reno High School will take place despite COVID-19, but the gatherings will look different than in the past.

El Reno Public Schools Veterans Day and Gifts to the Yanks assemblies will be held virtually.

“We looked for ways in this environment we could still do the events. We don’t ever want to stop doing it and felt like it was in the best interest of everyone to do it virtually.