El Reno Regional Airport will host its first-ever Fly-In and Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 22, but an unexpected fly-in Monday evening happened when a plane was forced to make an emergency landing near the airport.

The pilot of the single-engine airplane made an emergency landing in farm fields northwest of the airport after encountering instrument trouble.

According to Airport Manager Adam Fox, the pilot told him he was in communication with Wiley Post Airport at the time of the emergency and was diverting to El Reno.

Students come across many teachers throughout their educational journey. However, it takes a special kind of teacher to influence and impact a student’s life, forever leaving a special imprint in their hearts.

Meet Terry Davis.

Davis has been working at Darlington School since 1978, beginning her career there as the school’s very first kindergarten teacher.

Donna Stirman of El Reno grew a watermelon so large she needed help to get it out of her garden.

Son David Stirman and grandson Kyle Stirman came to the rescue and hoisted the 41-pound melon out of the garden.

“I didn’t think that I could lift it out of the garden so I called my son to pick it for me,” said Stirman.

Chances are son and grandson may get to enjoy the fruits of their labor, but Stirman said there’s enough to feed the entire neighborhood.

(Courtesy photos)

Rebuilding. It’s what happens in Oklahoma after devastating storms hit. Like the one that struck El Reno late on May 25, 2019.

That EF-3 tornado claimed two lives, injured more than 30 and destroyed a motel.

It also damaged the Frontier Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep dealership so badly it had to be leveled.

Now, a little more than a year later, the longtime El Reno auto dealer is ready to begin again at the same site, the southeast corner of U.S. 81 and SH 66.