News

The Burger Day Festival is a tribute to the fried onion hamburger, cooked daily in El Reno since the early 1900s. It’s the burger that has helped make the community a destination for food lovers and those trekking along historic Route 66.

Two representatives from the Department of Human Services showed up at Legacy Community Church Thursday evening, attempting to close the day care operating there. An El Reno police officer arrived, apparently assigned to help enforce the DHS mandate.

El Reno’s population is now at 21,000 people and the average household income has jumped to above $67,000, according to information provided by the city government. The overall trade area is close to 40,000 people. Mayor Matt White laid out the numbers during last week’s El Reno Now gathering.

Editor’s Note: Dee Cordry is an El Reno native. He became an agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. His late mother was a teacher in the El Reno Public School System and his late father was circulation manager for the Tribune, as well as working with a local funeral home.

Matt Whetsel, director of Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network, shows off a flier promoting the organization’s upcoming Cinco De Mayo event. Whetsel was at the El Reno Now gathering last week.

DIVORCES GRANTED Calvin Dwayne Holloway vs. Kidist Testfaye Holloway. Paul Davenport vs. Amanda Davenport. Sandra Jean De La Rosa vs. Ulysses De La Rosa. Shane Douglas Denard vs. Casey Davis Denard. Amber Nicole Bickford Lopez vs. Erik Daniel Lopez Calvillo.

Danny Hart said inspectors from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services are no longer welcome at the Community Kids Learning Center at 1201 SW 27th Street.

Two former employees of the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office have filed lawsuits against Sheriff Chris West and the Board of Canadian County Commissioners, alleging they were fired after engaging in protected whistleblower activities. Those former employees are Marty Burns and Chelsea Adkins.

The El Reno Public School Foundation has added some new scholarship programs to its collection. The latest scholarship additions include the Neathery Family Scholarship and the DeLana/Laird Scholarship.

U.S. Sen. James Lankford talks over an issue with one of several city leaders and residents who attended a lunch with the senator at Johnnie’s Grill in El Reno last week.