News

El Reno Municipal Judge Jennifer King administered the oath of office Tuesday night to Mayor Steve Jensen and Ward 2 City Council member Heather Brothers.

El Reno Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts helped collect food from the community several weeks ago in the Annual Scouting for Food Drive.

Scout leader Beth Griesel helps coordinate the annual collection effort and all food gathered is delivered to The Lord’s Harvest.

Nikki Pruitt, founder and director of The Lord’s Harvest, said the Scouts provide an invaluable service to the community.

This year’s collection totaled 1,871 pounds, more than doubling last year’s collection of 614 pounds of non-perishable food.

Canadian County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the death of a man found near Cedar Lake.

Sheriff Chris West said the body of a white male, identified as John Gill, 65, was found facedown Monday night at 5th and Echo Ridge in the Cedar Lake area.

The state medical examiner was called to the scene.

No cause of death had been determined as of Tuesday afternoon.

West said the investigation is ongoing. 

A civil lawsuit filed on behalf of a former inmate who was sexually assaulted while in the custody of the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office has been transferred to federal court.

The attorney for two of the three defendants in the case - Sheriff Chris West and the Board of Canadian County Commissioners - filed a notice of removal of civil action on Dec. 2 in Canadian County District Court.

The proceedings were moved Dec. 4 to the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Dear Santa,
I would like a robot that looks like me. I would like some more Pup Pup dogs, Rainbow dogs and a new watch. I would also like a remote-control robot and 18 picture frames for my bedroom wall. Milk and cookies will be by the tree.

Love, Westin Reed
Age 6

Dear Santa,
I would like some Pup Pup dogs, a new watch. I would like a remote-control robot and a new night light for my bed. Milk and cookies will be by the tree.

Love, Anakin Reed
Age 6

LAWSUITS

Citibank N.A. vs. Daniel Huckabay for $1,819.00 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Citibank N.A. vs. Britt Johnson for $2,502.72 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

First National Bank of Omaha vs. Larue Sloan for $10,056.76 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Bank of America N.A. vs. Trask Eagan for $4,726.15 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

First National Bank of Omaha vs. Ollie Lucy for $8,360.97 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Editor’s Note: This is the second of two parts of the story about 16 Cheyenne and Arapaho children whose remains were reclaimed from the cemetery at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. The United States created the school in the late 1800s as a way to “assimilate” Indian children into the ways of the prevailing culture. The remains of the children were brought home to Concho and in an October ceremony were buried on their native land. 

The holiday season in El Reno officially arrived over the weekend with the annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting.

Victoria Lee said some kind of message hit her several weeks ago. The feeling and thoughts that came over her resulted in her own very personal toy story. 

“A few weeks ago, my heart told me to raise funds for El Reno children’s toys,” Lee said. “Then I asked all my friends and family to donate toys or money to buy them. And they did.”

Lee said the support allowed her to reach “our goal of 100 toys quickly.”

She went on a shopping spree and bought toys for “babies up to teenagers.”

A new twist will be added to El Reno High School’s annual re-creation of Frank Capra’s beloved Christmas-themed movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Now in its sixth year, the production is shifting away from a live radio broadcast format in favor of a live-action production. It will be held inside the EHS auditorium.

“We started the radio broadcast due to COVID-19. This year we wanted to do something different and make it more special,” said director and EHS educator Stacy Haberland.