News

It’s become one of the more popular lineup events for A Small Town Weekend and features side-by-side racing without even the hint or smell of gasoline and burning rubber.

No, its not an electric car show, but rather Hot Wheels Racing, which returns for yet another year.

“I would not even begin to guess how many years it’s been going on. I’ve been doing it for the last 10 years or more,” said El Reno Fire Department's David Baker.

Attention all drivers!

If you think you have a car that is fast, powerful, or maybe that ugly duckling with something to prove under the hood, El Reno Police Department Lt. Brian Hickman has a challenge for you.

“Bring it to the burnout. It’s still the cheapest way to burn rubber on the Mother Road and not get in trouble,” said Hickman.

The Route 66 Burnout returns to the event lineup for A Small Town Weekend looking to expand on last year’s car count of 30.

While acknowledging work still needs to be done, El Reno Public Schools Superintendent Matt Goucher said the academic report cards from the state show the district is academically on track following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education released district report cards last month for the first time since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

Goucher reported El Reno’s results, based off testing at the end of the 2021-22 academic year, to the Board of Education during its May meeting.

Stan Tipton can take a hunk of wood and turn it into art. For proof, drive by his home on South Morrison, just across from Joe E. Riley Memorial Softball Field and the old Municipal swimming pool.

What motorists will see is a massive moose, most likely with a saddle on it. Nearby there’s a beer-toting Big Foot and there’s also a bear and a stallion, raring back on its hind legs. All created by Tipton and his chain saw.

More than 20,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have died or been killed in the line of duty since the first recorded death in 1791.

The list includes four Canadian County sheriff’s deputies, who were commemorated Monday morning in a ceremony dedicating a new memorial monument near the entrance to the Canadian County Courthouse.

El Reno’s Blessing Baskets was the recipient of the latest generosity provided by the Power of 100 Canadian County.

The Canadian County women’s organization last week presented a check for $18,000 to the El Reno nonprofit. Donna Dyer, director of community relations for Blessing Baskets, accepted the donation.

The oversized check was presented at the Learning Center where Blessing Baskets was holding its senior citizens monthly grocery distribution.

While they still have a few more days of school remaining, El Reno High School held its graduation ceremony Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

There were 218 seniors making up the Class of 2023.

Speeches were heard from the seven students earning either valedictorian or salutatorian honors.

Memorial Day services will be held in El Reno, Fort Reno and Union City on Monday, May 29.

In El Reno, American Legion Post 34 will direct this year’s service. The Legion and VFW Post 382 alternate coordination of the annual ceremony each year.

Michael Pruitt, acting commander at the American Legion, said the service is set for 11 a.m. at the El Reno Cemetery.

Gaylord News In-depth reporters have spent the past year producing a one-hour television show marking the anniversary of the 2013 Moore and El Reno tornadoes that killed 33 people.

“Hell in the Heartland: 10 Years” examines those traumatic two weeks in May and explores what has happened in the years following the storms that changed Oklahoma forever.