Tess Maune

JENKS, Okla. - A unique program is turning some Oklahoma classrooms into fish hatcheries, giving students hands-on lessons in biology, conservation and water quality. Jenks High School freshman, along with students from 12 other districts, got to visit the Lower Illinois River near Gore during the spring months to release rainbow trout they spent months raising in their biology classroom. “It’s not enough to just look at a diagram,” said Jenks biology teacher Dr. David Lawrence.

If you’ve been thinking about getting back on the water, Oklahoma’s Free Fishing Days offer the perfect opportunity. The annual event returns Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, allowing residents and visitors to fish without purchasing a state fishing license. During an appearance on News On 6, Shawn Gee with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation also highlighted several other outdoor programs and opportunities available throughout the summer.

EL RENO, Okla. - For 100 years, Route 66 has connected people through good food and good company, and in El Reno, that connection is still going strong. For lifelong residents, the Mother Road is more than a highway. It’s part of everyday life, shaping generations of memories and bringing visitors from around the world to this small Oklahoma town. WATCH THE LATEST EPISODE HERE. News 9’s Tess Maune’s hometown is El Reno. Cynthia, her mother, has lived in El Reno most of her life.