Ronald Watson was born December 29, 1943. He was the little brother to four older sisters and one older brother: Helen, Shirley, Betty, Linda and Gene.

Ronald grew up in El Reno where he helped his father and his siblings on the farm, usually picking cotton.

They even went to California to pick cotton for a little while.

Ronald always wanted to be a soldier growing up. His sisters said he always played soldier with his brother. They would dress up in uniforms and play with toy guns, which was why it was not surprising when he left to go fight in Vietnam.

The Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner was held last weekend. The event, sponsored by the El Reno Ministerial Alliance, fed close to 1,000 people, said Brenda Grulkey, one of the event’s longtime organizers.

Grulkey said Mobile Meals director Norman Sheridan along with volunteers prepared and delivered meals for 278 of the organization’s customers.

The dinner was held at the 4-H building at the old Canadian County fairgrounds.

At the dinner, some 688 people were fed, which included homebound and some to-go orders.

El Reno’s VFW Post 382 will provide a free lunch on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, to honor all who have served in the U.S. military.

The taco soup or chicken and dumplings dinner will begin at noon at the VFW, 1515 S. Rock Island.

The Friends of the El Reno Carnegie Library will host an open house at the organization’s new headquarters.

The come-and-go event will be from 4 to 6 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church nursery, 221 S. Barker. Those planning to attend are asked to enter through the east doors.

The Friends of the Library plan their first book sale Nov. 15 and 16.