While not running on all cylinders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers could not have been more pleased with the outcome of the 22nd annual A Small Town Weekend.

“Considering the situation with the coronavirus, I think it was as good as it could possibly have been,” said El Reno Cruisers President Allen Conner.

The event schedule was trimmed, but crowds still turned out, said Conner.

The popular Route 66 Burnout as well as the Hot Wheels races and the drag races were not held this year.

While the El Reno High School graduation of 2020 was more than memorable for a number of reasons, another fact will be included in the pages of EHS history.

EHS English instructor Brian Rukes and his students spent more than a year researching the 44 men who died as a result of service in World War II who had attended El Reno public schools. The rededication of Memorial Field in October 2019 in honor of these fallen patriots captured attention far and wide.

It also led to a number of other areas where these men could be honored.

Canadian County officials said they expect to begin seeing foundation work at the site of the new fairgrounds complex later this month.

District 2 County Commissioner David Anderson said the state fire marshal has signed off on the county’s fire safety plan. And the county’s building permit has been issued.

The permit had to be issued by the state fire marshal’s office because the site is in an unincorporated part of the county, just east of El Reno.

It is located at the intersection of Alfadale and Jensen roads.

Voters in Canadian County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the June 30 primary election as well as elections for City of Piedmont Ward 3, City of Piedmont Ward 5, Banner School Board, Riverside School Board, Okarche School Board, Geary School Board and Caddo-Kiowa Tech Center Board Member should apply now, said Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold.

Although the county election board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, Armold said voters who want to vote by absentee ballot should apply early.