News

Gatz Homestead Realty and Estate Sales held its grand opening last week. Kamara Gatz is the broker/owner.

Her father, the late Jerry Bromlow, had his real estate office at the site on Sunset Drive.

El Reno FFA members brought home fifth-place honors in the recent State FFA Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Greenland Quiz Contest. The event was held at Oklahoma State University and featured 50 teams from across Oklahoma.

Tarren Sherman, FFA agriculture instructor, said the fifth-place finish shows the “hard work and dedication of these students.”

Sherman said Katie Lozano Alvarez also competed and received a plaque for being one of only two Chickasha Region Greenhand Quiz Qualifiers.

Canadian County Master Gardener Intern Cindy Irwin shows her garden art ideas at a recent monthly meeting.

Irwin showed some of her gardening ideas to fellow Master Gardeners to demonstrate the ease and whimsy of brightening a garden. She has donated other objects including glass art on display at the local Extension office.
 

U.S Customs and Border Protection says it has encountered 1.7 million people from 149 countries trying to cross the border illegally.

That’s a record number which has U.S. Sen. James Lankford once again pointing the finger at Biden administration failures to secure the southern border with Mexico.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce has added an agriculture recruiter to its Business Development team, helping the agency in its transition to sector-based recruitment of economic development projects.

Sierra Simpson joins Commerce in this new role.

“Agriculture has been one of Oklahoma’s key industries since statehood,” said Brent Kisling, Commerce executive director.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

John Thomas Gibson, 45; Nikole Lee Ford, 43.

Jeffrey Douglas Rodzon, 23; Elizabeth Sue Ellyson, 24.

Benjamin Joel Lindsly, 22; Jacey Nicole Parkhurst, 23.

Ralph Lee Nantz, 42; Amanda Rene Guerrero, 37.

Heath Edward Karbs, 50; Tina Rebeckah Karbs, 48.

Jeffrey David Dobbs, 37; Erin Elizabeth Holman, 36.

Kenneth W. Bradford, 71; Kimberly Ann Sanders, 64.

Barjinder Singh, 31; Marcy Dawn Franks, 49.

Cameron Jacob Hall, 18; Lacey Rashelle Colwell, 18.

On Friday night the Pride of El Reno was to play its full marching band contest routine titled “Blackbird” at halftime of the final home football game against Southeast.

It’s a routine band members have been anxious to perform since preliminary work began back in August, but due to COVID-19, has been shown only once before – but not in its full form.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Oklahoma is moving forward and expects greater economic news in the coming months.

Stitt made the comments last week at El Reno Chamber of Commerce’s Eats, Greets and Treats event, held at the Canadian Valley Technology Center.

The Eats, Greets and Treats event was not held last year due to the pandemic, but Karen Nance, executive director for the chamber, said it was time for the community to move closer to a sense of normalcy.

Those interested in becoming the next superintendent of El Reno Public Schools have until Friday to get their resume to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.

Stephanie Hyder, director of executive search services with the OSSBA, outlined the process for the audience at last week’s El Reno Now event.

The OSSBA was contracted by the district to help in the process of selecting a replacement for the retiring Craig McVay.

El Reno superintendent since 2013, McVay announced several months ago this school term would be his last.

Halloween will arrive early as the annual Spooktacular event will host costumed children on Saturday morning, Oct. 30.

Shana Ford, director of El Reno’s Main Street, said the event will run from 11 a.m. to noon and will have children going to participating businesses seeking Halloween treats.

A costume contest will be held at Petree Plaza at noon.

Webmaster’s Note: El Reno’s official Trick-or-Treat will be Sunday, October 31, from 5 - 8 p.m.