With an unexpected first-round exit in last season’s Class 5A State Championships with a senior-heavy lineup, skeptics expected El Reno High School’s boys basketball team to be facing a major rebuild.

While it’s true there are holes in the starting lineup to fill, head coach Rodney Haydon says his current roster has the potential to make it back to state.

“Absolutely. The schedule will be tough, it was last year, but we’ll be battle-tested and ready to go. We wouldn’t put a product on the floor if we didn’t think we could go to a state tournament,” said Haydon.

Evone Reynolds, age 72, passed away Nov. 25, 2025, in El Reno. She was born May 27, 1953, to Wallace and Maybell Jones, who preceded her in death. 

She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dale Reynolds, whom she married on Nov. 7, 1993, as well as her brothers, Larry and Richard Jones.

Evone grew up in a large and loving family and is survived by her siblings, Tommy Jones, Teresa Vaughan, Lorrie Powell, Loran Jones and Ladonna Moore. 

During an assembly filled with educators and administrators from its seven school sites and central office, El Reno Public Schools announced the 2025-26 District Teacher of the Year prior to the Thanksgiving break.

It’s the third year for the announcement to come before the start of the holiday season.

“We do this now so that the winner can have the opportunity to put their name into the running for the statewide Teacher of the Year.

“As superintendent, it’s my honor to get to announce the District Teacher of the Year,” said El Reno Superintendent Matt Goucher.

Students at El Reno Public Schools First Steps Child Development Center capped off their Harvest Week studies recently with a visit from local farmers Jay Riley and Ryan Sorrels and grain silo owner Brandon Schroeder.

Students got an up-close look at a Holland combine, the largest in Oklahoma, and a smaller John Deere combine and grain cart.

They were also shown samples of harvested soybeans.