Before television or the glow of modern-day high-tech mobile devices, families would gather in their living rooms around radio sets and listen to programs like “Little Orphan Annie” or “The Shadow.”
“As a child I remember sitting in front of an old Ben Franklin stove and listening to my grandparents radio. ‘Who knows? Only the Shadow knows.’ ‘Look, it's a bird, it’s a plane ... it's Superman.’
The Northwest Community Center will get a major overhaul after the El Reno City Council agreed to spend up to $435,000 on renovations.
Council approved the measure 4-0 at its Tuesday evening meeting. Council member Tracey Rider was unable to attend the meeting.
Mayor Matt White said plans for upgrading the community center have been in the works for some time. He said money to pay for the improvements will come from a capital improvements fund.
“We can’t use the money for salaries, it has to be used for projects like this,” White said.
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have purchased property in El Reno just to the north of Redlands Community College. The purchase was reported in the Tribal Tribune, the newspaper owned and operated by the C&A.
Records from the Canadian County assessor show the 4.57 acres were purchased from the estate of Glen Ramsey. Documentary stamps indicate the sale price was $1 million, according to the assessor.
The land fronts Country Club Road and was purchased on Nov. 6.
Plans for a large vehicle recycling operation north of SH 66 and just east of Radio Road got a boost when the El Reno City Council unanimously approved rezoning the property.
Council Industrial LLC plans to use the 148-acre site to recycle vehicles. City officials said the firm is a subsidiary of LKQ, a corporation that is involved in a number of businesses.
Council agreed to rezone the property from Moderate Industrial (I-2) to Heavy Industrial (I-3) with a 4-0 vote. Council member Tracey Rider was not at the meeting.
A special meeting of the Canadian County Water Authority was called to discuss criticisms raised in an article in the El Reno Tribune. The meeting held Monday evening lasted less than 30 minutes.
The meeting was called after longtime board member Jayne Franks and former authority employee Mary Culver complained the authority was not being run in an efficient manner.
The women also questioned whether the board had violated Open Meeting Laws.
El Reno VFW Post 382 is teaming up with Feed the Children to provide groceries to help people during these difficult times.
The event is being billed as “Food For Our Neighbors” and it will be held Tuesday, Dec. 15 beginning at noon at the VFW, 1515 S. Rock Island. Because of COVID-19, this will be a drive-thru program.
Families and the elderly who live in Canadian County who need groceries can pick up groceries at the VFW. This will be a first-come, first-serve event.
Nancy Salsman, VFW Auxiliary president, said the food will be distributed until it’s gone.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford is now home to a machine that makes hypochlorous acid that is used to help disinfectant rooms and buildings during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
SWOSU was made aware of the machine by the Custer County Emergency Management Office, and the equipment was supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Oklahoma Emergency Management Office.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Matthew Gerald Carey, 62; Nanette LaJeanne Nail, 61.
Jacob Alexander Cousins, 22; Erin Casey McCoy, 26.
Logan Allen Penington, 21; Parke Nicole Smith, 21.
Nicholas Ryan Martin, 28; Sacha Marie Wreath, 32.
Michael Anthony Hau, 62; Donna Elaine Beck, 62.
Pedro Perales Salaices, 28; Karina Huizar, 27.
Brady James McCrary, 28; Jacklynn Nicole Boyett, 23.
Braydon Michael Horn, 27; Kaylee Autumn Sorrell, 25.
Allen James Mayberry, 22; Madison Anne Bellah, 22.
Breaking from the past, El Reno’s Main Street held its annual Christmas parade and downtown shopping kickoff event over the weekend but during the daytime.
The city of El Reno will consider entering into a deal with a local charitable organization to help save the historic municipal swimming pool bathhouse at Legion Park. Mayor Matt White made the announcement during Thursday’s El Reno Live program.
