News

In what has become a Thanksgiving tradition, the El Reno Tribune asked area students how to cook a turkey.

Emily O’Hara’s kindergarten class at Sacred Heart:

El Reno Public Schools Foundation celebrated the lives and achievements of three EHS graduates at its annual Distinguished Alumni Banquet.

In a written welcome, Justin Tate, president of the ERPSF, welcomed those attending the event at the Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Tate said the foundation was started in 1988 and over the years it has provided more than $250,000 in scholarships to El Reno High School graduates. It has also provided more than $550,000 in grant funding to educators.

With the current bond measure set to mature in 2026, the El Reno Public Schools Board of Education voted last week to hire an old friend to direct future needs for the district.

Superintendent Matt Goucher recommended an agreement with Chickasha-based CMS Willowbrook Inc. to become the construction manager for future projects.

The board approved by a 4-0 vote.

It’s called giving back.

On Thursday, Javier and Rosalia Pecina, along with family and friends, plan to hand out, for free, traditional Thanksgiving dinners to anyone and everyone who shows up asking for one. Or in some cases, two.

For the owners of Pecina’s Mexican Cafe, this will be the fourth year to provide Thanksgiving meals to the community. Located at 316 S. Choctaw, the restaurant is tucked inside a small building that regularly sees vehicles parked in front of it during the noon and dinner hours.

More than three years after opening the Canadian County Expo and Event Center, county officials are studying future management and operation of the old county fairgrounds.

The seven-acre property at 220 N. Country Club Road houses the Canadian County OSU Extension Office, Education Building, livestock barn, greenhouse and storage building.

Part of the site is rented for a truck driver training academy and booked regularly for private events.

LAWSUITS

TD Bank USA N.A. vs. Hali Norman for $749.27 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Billy Suttles for $9,098.70 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Tyler Reich for $7,544.68 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Urban Neighborhood vs. Darius Orozco for $5,996.52 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Synchrony Bank vs. Tina Lawerance for $3,210.03 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

El Reno High School held its annual Veterans Day assembly titled “Never Forget and Honor,” with 20 current or former soldiers from different branches of military service in attendance.

The national anthem was sung by the EHS Vocal Choir, while presenters Hattie Eaton and Radley Slimp welcomed guests and presented a history of Veterans Day.

El Reno FFA officers Rylan Fleenor, Aubrey Rakestraw, Sophie Kamm, Josie Felton, Sam Curtis and Casimir Baeriswyl took turns reciting different parts of the poem “So God Made a Soldier.”

Wesley United Methodist Church debuted its new Bookmobile at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

The dinner, which provided more than 800 meals to residents, was held Nov. 4 at the Canadian County Extension Center at the old fairgrounds.

Amy Neathery said all children attending the dinner were permitted to climb into the Bookmobile and pick out a free children’s book. Kids took home approximately 85 books.

Kindergartner Brooks Bengs, an El Reno Public Schools student, was one of the first kids to step into the new Bookmobile.

The effort to raise funds to expand the Gold Star Plaza at Memorial Stadium has gotten off to a fast start after an anonymous donor pledged to match contributions up to $35,000 from now until Dec. 15.

El Reno High School English teacher and school historian Brian Rukes said the donor approached him with the “amazing offer” after Rukes made public the plans to add to the plaza that honors those from El Reno who gave their lives in service to the United States while serving in wars spanning from World War I through Vietnam.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported an 88-year-old El Reno man was killed last week in an accident on I-40, just east of Radio Road.

OHP reports said a 1998 Ford F-150 driven by George Miller left the eastbound lanes of I-40 for an unknown reason. The vehicle struck a fence and came to rest in a ditch.

Miller was taken by Pafford Ambulance to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, but was pronounced deceased there.