News

Lights in Legion will shine brighter than ever after more than two dozen new Christmas displays have been added to the holiday attraction. 

The winter wonderland kickoff party starts at 4 p.m. Saturday and will run until 6 p.m. when the switch is turned and the park transforms into a Christmas extravaganza Clark Griswold would envy.  

El Reno Streets and Parks Superintendent Amy Smith said getting ready for the colorful opening has truly been a community effort.

“Lots of City Hall staff pitched in to help get the park decorated,” Smith said. 

Former Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold was celebrated last week for her nearly four decades of service to area voters.

A retirement party for the former county official gathered about 100 family members, friends, colleagues and officials and featured presentations and fond memories of Armold’s 39 years of service to the county.

Accolades included proclamations from the cities of Yukon, Piedmont and El Reno, including a presentation to the former election board secretary of a key to the city of El Reno.

In what has become a Thanksgiving tradition, the El Reno Tribune asked area students how they would cook their family’s turkey.

Here are their answers:

Anita Hawkins first-grade class at Rose Witcher

First, Walmart, next, oven, then a pan. Cook at 6 degrees for 7 minutes. Serve with green beans. — Andres

First, get a turkey, next, put the turkey in the oven, then cook the turkey. Cook at 15 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve with salt. — Quinton

Author and EHS graduate with the class of 1957, Patricia (Hoffman) Martin recently signed a contract with Talmarc Productions for the filming of her novel, “A Meadowlark Calling,” in the spring of 2023.

It will be part of a new network of family films made for TV.

The book is the true story of a young orphan girl growing to womanhood amidst the hardships of homesteading on the plains of Kansas and Oklahoma in the late 1800s.

Sen. Jack Stewart, R-Yukon, was officially sworn into office last week during a ceremony at the Capitol presided over by Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Darby administered the oath of office.

Stewart was joined by his wife, Jan, his family, friends and supporters.         

“I’m honored to have been chosen to serve as the voice for Senate District 18 and continue my public service to the citizens of Canadian County and the state of Oklahoma.

Canadian County law enforcement is asking the public for help with apprehending a woman accused of taking the identity of an elderly Mustang woman.

Blessing Brianna Sampson faces a single felony charge of identity theft in Canadian County District Court. Assistant District Attorney Justin Kemp filed the case against Sampson Aug. 31, and Special Judge Charles Gass that day issued a warrant for the 24-year-old’s arrest.

Canadian County commissioners have moved a step closer to permanently closing a dead-end county road.

The one-mile section of Courtney Road between Reno and S.W. 15th is now the responsibility of District 2 Commissioner David Anderson.

It’s a “wise move” for commissioners to “move in the direction of getting rid of a liability,” said Anderson, referring to potential maintenance costs.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a resolution “to begin the statutory process of vacating the right-of-way” in District 2.

Oklahoma Blood Institute is losing hundreds of O negative blood units a month due to recent blood bag shortages.

O negative is the only universal blood type, which means it can be transfused into any blood recipient regardless of blood type.

Blood bags are essential to draw blood from a donor. Without them, OBI is struggling to collect enough O negative blood, and more donors must be recruited to make up for the productivity losses and ensure patient needs are met.

Due to its universality, O negative blood is by far the most in-demand type used by area hospitals.

It takes a community to feed the troops.

And that’s essentially what will happen Dec. 4 when El Reno veterans organizations along with others join forces to feed members of the Oklahoma National Guard along with family members.

Some 500 people are expected for the Christmas dinner, a special tribute to those men and women who serve in the Guard.

“Last year the VFW Auxiliary used funds presented to them by Power 100 to pay for the Christmas dinner for the National Guard,” said Nancy Salsman, head of the El Reno VFW Post 382 Auxiliary.

El Reno Scouts took to the streets last week to collect food in the annual Scouting for Food effort.

Beth Griesel, local Scout leader, led the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts in the effort. The result, close to 730 pounds of non-perishable food items were picked up and delivered to The Lord’s Harvest.

The local food ministry, created and operated by Nikki Pruitt, provides food throughout the year to those who may be struggling for whatever reason.

A number of adult volunteers helped in the food collection.