In a world that seems to be on a never-ending roller coaster of pandemics, ugliness and self-absorption, some are trying to remind people that kindness, faith and hope are still worth holding tight to.

Melissa Prigmore, with help from her son, Crozier and others, has been busy planting Spreading Kindness signs in the yards of El Reno residents who believe as she does. Namely, that these virtues are still with us even as the nation is rocked by what seems to be a daily avalanche of unrest.

This year’s Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races will run as scheduled starting Friday night, despite a recent upswing of COVID-19 cases in El Reno and Canadian County.

“We are full steam ahead. You are always worried about it (virus) and we have been hoping to be able to get to the event and get through it,” said event co-organizer Josh Finnigan.

El Reno was hit with storms Friday and Saturday nights and again early Monday morning. Friday’s storms knocked out power to large blocks of residents in the city, with one section near Hillcrest Learning Center not getting power restored for more than 11 hours.

The El Reno City Council will consider appointing a person to fill out the term of Vice Mayor J.T. Chronister.

As Ward 1 council representative, Chronister forfeited the position after missing more than half the meetings in the last several months.

City Attorney Roger Rinehart informed Chronister in a letter last week that he was no longer eligible to serve on the council.