Ruth Louise (Wilkerson) Wallace passed away July 20, 2021, in Yukon. Louise was born Dec. 14, 1925, in Banner to parents, Harry Brian Wilkerson and Lulu (Schumacher) Wilkerson. She was a lifetime resident of Canadian County, graduating in 1943 from El Reno High School. After high school she trained as a nurse through the Cadet Nurse Corps program at Western Oklahoma State Hospital in Clinton, graduating in 1946.

Twenty-one positive COVID-19 cases among the cast and orchestra has forced the temporary shutdown of El Reno Community Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast.

ERCT Director Kristin Richardson said the Centre Theatre, which is owned by the city of El Reno but leased to the group, has also been closed until it can be sanitized.

“We have not sanitized the theater yet so it will be shut down until we can get that done. We have ordered the products and are waiting for them to arrive,” said Richardson.

Educating through the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was an 18-month ordeal calling for El Reno Public Schools employees to step up in ways never imagined.

Now the district is saying thank you.

On the recommendation of Superintendent Craig McVay, the El Reno School Board voted 4-0 last week to give every district employee a $1,000 bonus. Board member Brad Baker was absent.

After being closed last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the El Reno municipal swimming pool inside Legion Park has been a popular afternoon playground for young and old.

El Reno Public Schools will offer a free swim day on Tuesday for anyone under the age of 18.

It will be held at the El Reno municipal swimming pool inside Legion Park. The swim session will run from 1 to 5 p.m.

Prior to that, the district will provide a free lunch to anyone under the age of 18. Meal times will be from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.