While the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed the appearance of El Reno High School’s Gifts to the Yanks ceremony this year, it did not dampen the spirit behind one of the school’s oldest traditions.

For 75 consecutive years, EHS students have raised money and then purchased gifts for veterans locked in at the Veterans Hospital in Oklahoma City for the holidays. El Reno is the only known school in the country to have maintained the program without interruption since its inception following World War II.

HARRAH – Returning three years later to the court where he logged his 200th career win during his first stint as head coach, El Reno High School’s Rodney Haydon opened up his second run as the Indians skipper in a big way.

El Reno, ranked ninth in Class 5A, had 12 players score in a lopsided 74-33 win over previously unbeaten Harrah to start the 2020-21 season.

The first tournament weekend of the season for Canadian County’s small school basketball programs netted three trophies including a title for the undefeated Calumet High School boys.

The Chieftains improved to 8-0 on the season with a 61-60 win over Class B’s third-ranked Lomega in the title game of the Canton tournament after the Raiders missed a game-tying free throw late. Calumet, ranked No.4 in Class A, picked up a first-round forfeit by Taloga before defeating Fairview 66-45 to reach the finals.

Canadian County Treasurer Carolyn Leck said because of COVID-19, her office is utilizing a lock-box payment system with the bank for mailed-in payments. 

Leck said the program is “extremely efficient but does take a few more days for a check to clear the bank of origin.”

Leck said the office has installed a drop box in the west wall of the office. She said the drop box is visible from the parking lot. She said the office also has an updated website with more security: https://www.oktaxrolls.com/