July 2020

“American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan,” claims the New York Times.

More controversially, the authors write that U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on the assessment (he denies it) and the piece’s tag line says that his administration “has been deliberating for months” on how to respond (he says the U.S. intelligence community didn't find the claims credible).

It is time for one of the most favored plants to begin producing fruit - it is tomato time at last. Americans eat over 12 million tons of tomatoes each year, making it one of the most popular items on our menu.

LAWSUITS

Citizen Energy III LLC vs. Native Exploration Operating LLC for $10,743.45 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Matthew Hunt and Lauren-Elaine Hunt, as parents of E.H. and N.H., minor children, vs. Guadalupe Torres, as parent of Wendy Pina, a minor, for an amount in excess of $10,000 for alleged injuries and damages.

Michael Thompson and Meredy Thompson vs. K.I.M. Homes and Construction Inc. for an amount in excess of $75,000 for alleged damages.

The city’s recent spike in COVID-19 cases has found its way into the El Reno High School ranks for the first time since the district reopened its sporting venues.

EHS Athletic Director Rodney Haydon said head wrestling coach Tyrone Lewis tested positive for coronavirus July 4.

“Tyrone Lewis tested positive for COVID-19 today,” Haydon said. “He will be quarantined for 14 days and won’t come back until he is cleared. The wrestling facility has been shut down as well for sanitizing and cleaning until further notice.”

Wake service for Helen Ann Campbell was held Thursday at Party Haven in El Reno with Rev. Gerald Panana officiating. Burial was held Friday in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Helen died June 28, 2020, in Tahlequah. She was born Aug. 1, 1952, in Clinton. She lived in El Reno for a brief time before moving to Geary and finally to Clinton where she was currently residing.

She received a bachelor’s degree from Bacone College in Muskogee and master’s degree from NSU in Tahlequah.

While the number of new cases of COVID-19 continues to rise both in El Reno as well as the county’s other larger towns, Canadian County Health Department officials are stopping short of calling the spike a hot spot for the virus.

“I would not say it’s a hot spot but it’s a concern for sure. I know we had a spike of cases but the trend in hospitalizations are not the same as what we were seeing several months ago.

Marie Hirst held on to the Canadian County Court Clerk position, besting challenger Rindie Hunt by about 800 votes in Tuesday’s primary election.

Hirst has served in the position for the past 12 years. Hunt at one time had worked under Hirst in the court clerk’s office.

Unofficial results provided by the Canadian County Election Board had Hirst garnering 7,951 votes, or 52.63 percent, while Hunt captured 7,156, or 47.37 percent.

The primary election was the only one for the court clerk post as both women are Republicans and no Democrats filed.

In December, Halliburton shook the El Reno area when it announced it was leaving its operation on SH 66 and laying off most of the 800 people who worked there. That news, coupled with the collapse of oil prices and then joined by the COVID-19 pandemic created an ocean of economic strain and uncertainty for the area.

So news last week that the Halliburton property has been sold brought an excited reaction from the community.

Canadian County deputies fished a man out of Lake El Reno after he jumped into the water following a high-speed chase that began as an ongoing drug investigation.

Information provided by Sheriff Chris West said investigators were watching a house at 906 S. Duane on June 25 after receiving reports that drugs, especially methamphetamine, were being sold from the residence. Sonny Joseph Phillips was said to be living at the house. Documents show he has an extensive history of drug involvement, dating to 1999.

El Reno police are waiting on a report from the state medical examiner to learn what caused the death of a 29-year-old man.

Assistant Police Chief Major Kirk Dickerson said Kompton Otto Killsnight was found unconscious and unresponsive near the ATV track at Lake El Reno. Officers were called to the scene Friday, June 26 shortly after 3:30 p.m. When they arrived they found citizens performing CPR, trying to revive Killsnight.