News

The City of El Reno is bringing back its curbside bulk waste collection to help residents clear out large items conveniently from their homes.

Collections will run from November through December 2025, with one scheduled pass per street.

Residents must place all bulk waste at the curb by 7 a.m. on their scheduled collection day.

Crews will not return to a street after the scheduled pass and are unable to assist with moving items.

Materials can be placed curbside up to one week prior to the assigned pickup date.

STILLWATER – Thirty Oklahoma high school teams showcased their drone-powered search and rescue skills at the inaugural Fly Forward: Search and Rescue State Championship, Oct. 21 at Lake Carl Blackwell in Stillwater.

The daylong event was hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE).

Student teams were challenged by real-life scenarios including locating a downed hiker, an overturned kayaker and a snakebite victim.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority announced that the Oklahoma Work Zone Safe Course, required for all new teen drivers before receiving an Oklahoma driver’s license, will now include a section on impaired driving.

To the Editor: 

I don’t think it matters if you have lived here three to five years, or 30 to 50 years, you have to be pretty impressed with what you see going on all around you. I hate to start naming all of the exciting progress we have seen, and even more in the making, because I am sure to leave something, or someone out, but I think I will have to name a few.

As the county seat of the fastest-growing county in Oklahoma, we have built a great new County Fairgrounds & Expo Center that I think exceeded all of our expectations.

LAWSUITS

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Randy Skinner for $17,000.52 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Tania Landgraf and David Landgraf vs. Allstate Indemnity Company for an amount in excess of $75,000 for alleged actual and punitive damages.

Capital One N.A. vs. John Johnson for $10,344.29 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Karena Johnson for $22,592.64 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Editor’s Note: These remarks and prayers were delivered Sunday evening at the community vigil for Sgt. Thomas Duran by his friend and fellow officer, Lt. James Ramey. Sgt. Duran, a veteran El Reno police officer, was critically injured in a hit-and-run incident that occurred early on Oct. 17.

I would like to thank everyone for being here tonight.

My name is Lt. James Ramey with the El Reno Police Department. I am currently the chaplain for our Fraternal Order of Police.

A statement from Mark Nelson
President, Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police 

With the permission of the Duran family, and at the request of Chief Brown and the El Reno Fraternal Order of Police, I want to update everyone who has been praying and sending well wishes for Sgt. Thomas Duran, a 14-year veteran of the El Reno Police Department.

With demolition of Canadian County’s old administrative office building starting next week, a groundbreaking ceremony for a new county courthouse will be planned for January.

The four-story, 112,407-square-foot courthouse is expected to open by mid-2027.

After recently approving the building’s final design plans, commissioners convened Monday as the Canadian County Public Facilities Authority (CCPFA) to receive an update from their construction manager on the new courthouse project at 201 N. Choctaw.

Collection efforts are under way for El Reno High School’s oldest philanthropic effort, Gifts for the Yanks. The annual Christmas-giving project is only 47 days away.

El Reno is the only known high school in the United States to still take part in the project each year since its creation. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Gifts for the Yanks.

“As a former student and someone who has worked in the district for 35 years, this is the most exciting thing El Reno Public Schools is involved in,” said Superintendent Matt Goucher.