News

Attention all drivers!

If you think you have a car that is fast, powerful, or maybe that ugly duckling with something to prove under the hood, El Reno Police Department Lt. Brian Hickman has a challenge for you.

“Bring it to the burnout. It’s still the cheapest way to burn rubber on the Mother Road and not get in trouble,” said Hickman.

The Route 66 Burnout returns to the event lineup for A Small Town Weekend looking to expand on last year’s car count of 30.

While acknowledging work still needs to be done, El Reno Public Schools Superintendent Matt Goucher said the academic report cards from the state show the district is academically on track following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education released district report cards last month for the first time since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

Goucher reported El Reno’s results, based off testing at the end of the 2021-22 academic year, to the Board of Education during its May meeting.

Stan Tipton can take a hunk of wood and turn it into art. For proof, drive by his home on South Morrison, just across from Joe E. Riley Memorial Softball Field and the old Municipal swimming pool.

What motorists will see is a massive moose, most likely with a saddle on it. Nearby there’s a beer-toting Big Foot and there’s also a bear and a stallion, raring back on its hind legs. All created by Tipton and his chain saw.

More than 20,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have died or been killed in the line of duty since the first recorded death in 1791.

The list includes four Canadian County sheriff’s deputies, who were commemorated Monday morning in a ceremony dedicating a new memorial monument near the entrance to the Canadian County Courthouse.

Inscribed on the monument are the names of Sam Farris, Gary Garrison, Justin Baxter and Shirley Lanning, who lost their lives providing service to Canadian County.

El Reno’s Blessing Baskets was the recipient of the latest generosity provided by the Power of 100 Canadian County.

The Canadian County women’s organization last week presented a check for $18,000 to the El Reno nonprofit. Donna Dyer, director of community relations for Blessing Baskets, accepted the donation.

The oversized check was presented at the Learning Center where Blessing Baskets was holding its senior citizens monthly grocery distribution.

LAWSUITS

Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC vs. Roberto Perez Zamora and Yolanda Perez for $205,939.48 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 3, Block 16, Deer Run Addition Section 3, Oklahoma City.

Credit Acceptance Corporation vs. Angela England and Lexie England for $16,811.54 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Innovative Concrete Solutions LLC vs. Concept Design Homes LLC for $16,731.25 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

While they still have a few more days of school remaining, El Reno High School held its graduation ceremony Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

There were 218 seniors making up the Class of 2023.

Speeches were heard from the seven students earning either valedictorian or salutatorian honors.

Memorial Day services will be held in El Reno, Fort Reno and Union City on Monday, May 29.

In El Reno, American Legion Post 34 will direct this year’s service. The Legion and VFW Post 382 alternate coordination of the annual ceremony each year.

Michael Pruitt, acting commander at the American Legion, said the service is set for 11 a.m. at the El Reno Cemetery.

Gaylord News In-depth reporters have spent the past year producing a one-hour television show marking the anniversary of the 2013 Moore and El Reno tornadoes that killed 33 people.

“Hell in the Heartland: 10 Years” examines those traumatic two weeks in May and explores what has happened in the years following the storms that changed Oklahoma forever. 

Initially developed five years ago as part of a student’s service-learning project, the Redlands Community College Student Food Pantry opened its doors to meet the needs of its students who were experiencing food insecurity.

Now, as one of six Oklahoma public colleges and universities selected to receive an inaugural grant through the Oklahoma Hunger-Free Campus Act pilot program, Redlands intends to expand the service and streamline the operation.