News

The Canadian County Dolly Parton Imagination Library delivered its 50,000th book this month. The program provides a free book each month to all children under 5 with a home address in Canadian County.

Wesley United Methodist Church serves as the local affiliate for the program, in partnership with the El Reno Carnegie Library.

Wesley celebrated this huge milestone with a visual display in its south lot, a slideshow presentation and gift to all those attending on Sunday, Nov. 23, as well as a display of the sample program books and gold balloons highlighting 50,000.

Frontier Chevrolet presented $5,000 to the Canadian County Sheriff’s Department through the Chevy First Responder Appreciation Program.

The El Reno auto company also presented $5,000 to Riverside Elementary through the Chevy Back-to-School Program.

A tipi was recently raised on the campus of Redlands Community College as part of Native American Heritage Month, made possible through the efforts of the Native American Student Organization. 

The project created a powerful visual reminder of the rich histories and cultural presence of Native American people.

For many students, faculty/staff and community members, seeing the tipi standing on campus sparked conversations about identity, resilience and the importance of representation in higher education spaces. 

Canadian County commissioners rejected bids received for the sale of a remaining portion of the old county fairgrounds property.

The City of El Reno ($251,400) and Matt Miller ($221,500) submitted bids for Parcel A at 220 N. Country Club Road. The bid amounts were well under the appraised value required to accept them.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to reject both bids they opened at their Monday, Nov. 17 regular meeting.

LAWSUITS

American Express National Bank vs. Josh Haskins for $9,522.35 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Deborah Burns for $4,328.68 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Capital One N.A. vs. Armando Ochoa for $8,497.92 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

TD Bank USA N.A. vs. Alyssa Farris for $531.51 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

TD Bank USA N.A. vs. Lara Haney for $1,729.77 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

District Court Judge Paul Hesse has denied all but one parcel of El Reno’s plan to annex land. The ruling was issued Friday afternoon.

According to Canadian County Court documents, the ruling says El Reno has a valid plan to annex Part A of the annexation territory, but the city’s plan to annex the other areas “B thru F” was ruled invalid.

Part A is just south of I-40 and east of U.S. 81. Hesse said the Plaintiffs in the suit did not have standing in that particular area.

El Reno re-elected Steve Jensen as mayor Tuesday night, but sent a new face to serve on the city council as Heather Brothers captured the Ward 2 seat. Jensen will serve his second term as mayor.

A rancher and cattleman, Jensen gathered more than 59 percent of the vote, according to the Canadian County Election Board.

Phillip Church, an El Reno realtor and businessman, picked up a little more than 40 percent of the vote in challenging the incumbent.

The election board said the mayor's race saw Jensen garner 948 votes, compared to Church with 647 votes.

My editor/brother, Ray Dyer asked me to cover the El Reno Now meeting last week because he was headed out of town.

He went with Chaney Haynes, Dallas Curtis and Jay Mauldin to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to watch some football team play a game.

The Canadian County Museum invites families to kick off the holiday season with its annual “Ride the Trolley with Santa” event on Friday, Dec. 5.

This festive tradition offers children a magical opportunity to meet Santa while riding aboard the museum’s historic 1943 Brill Heritage Express Trolley.

During the ride through historic downtown El Reno, children will have time to visit with Santa, share their Christmas wishes and enjoy the charm of this beautifully preserved streetcar.

The City of El Reno will welcome the holiday season with its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. in downtown El Reno. 

This year’s theme, Christmas Kicks on Route 66, celebrates the city’s connection to America’s most iconic highway and marks the second event in El Reno’s Route to Freedom: 12 Months of Celebrations leading into the 2026 Route 66 Centennial.

Residents, businesses, schools and community groups are invited to participate by entering a float, walking group or decorated vehicle.