El Reno High School’s sporting programs shifted into high gear Monday morning as the football team kicked off the first of two-a-day practices as the Indians have just 18 days to prepare for the 2020 season opener.

It’s the third fall sport at EHS to begin preseason drills. Softball and volleyball opened last month and are set to kick off the 2020 season on Tuesday.

Rose Witcher Learning Center Principal Sheryl Barnett tries out the new touchless temperature scanner, made by Video Reality, installed at the school. El Reno is one of
the first in the state to get the scanners, two of which were purchased by the district and a third was donated.

See Saturday’s edition for the Back to School Guide for other safety measures the district will be using in return to classes Aug. 20.

The giant hole near the Rock Island overpass reconstruction project will be filled in once the project is complete.

Lisa Salim, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, said the hole was dug to provide dirt for both the detour as well as the ongoing project. After recent heavy rains the area became a small lake, but the water has been removed and work has continued.

Salim said the project is set to be completed by summer of 2021.

“We're pleased with the progress being made and weather permitting, everything should remain on schedule.”

A Canadian County deputy likely suffered a medical episode that caused a crash in February that claimed her life, officials said.

Detective Brian Fowler, an investigator with the Oklahoma City Police Department, said Lt. Shirley Lanning may have suffered a stroke or a transient ischemic attack before the Feb. 14 accident on Northwest Expressway near Morgan Road.