July 2020

A request from the parent company of Oklahoma Natural Gas for additional assurances from county officials that they will not build over a gas distribution line at the new county fairgrounds complex was denied last week.

ONG had sought an encroachment agreement on its rights-of-way on the site of the future facilities.

However, attorney Joe Weaver of the Bass Law Firm said the agreement was not needed because the county had already agreed to not build near the pipeline. It does, however, plan to create a parking lot over the pipeline, which is legal.

County officials are hoping to recoup some of the expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money would come from Oklahoma’s portion of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

County commissioners, during their meeting Monday, authorized emergency management director Andrew Skidmore to begin the application process for reimbursement.

This summer seems determined to rival the summer of 2011 when we had record-breaking heat, excruciating long days of humid sweltering and little rainfall, allowing thousands of grasshoppers to thrive.

This year, along with a pandemic, we can add the hazy dust from Africa to the miserable mix.

The fact that dust traveled across the entire Atlantic Ocean to our landlocked state is amazing, and besides being hazy, it has caused breathing problems and those who garden may develop crusty eyes from irritation.

Nearly 270 young artists from across Oklahoma spent a week studying with internationally renowned faculty and celebrity guest artists at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (OSAI).

Among those studying acting was El Reno student Kali Grizzle.

The attendees were selected from over 1,000 applicants during a competitive statewide audition process last winter, and they studied one of eight artistic disciplines: acting, chorus, creative writing, dance, drawing and painting, film and video, orchestra or photography.

Nearly 675,000 Oklahomans cast their ballot Tuesday in an election that will not only have deep ramifications for November’s general election, but also the state’s future. 

In a historic vote, voters in one of the nation’s most conservative states passed a ballot initiative to embrace a key component of former President Barack Obama’s health care plan.

Republican and Democrats, meanwhile, selected, or narrowed down, their nominees for several pivotal congressional and legislative races that will be decided later this year. 

LAWSUITS

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company vs. Deondra Yvette Graham for $11,353.79 for alleged actual damages.

Craig A. Moreland vs. Pelsang Sechang and Brother Luo Inc. for an amount in excess of $75,000 for injuries and damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

Citizen Energy III LLC vs. Red Wolf Acquisitions LLC, Red Wolf Natural Resources LLC and Wells Fargo Bank N.A. for $8,389,439.53 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Prayer service for Dave Merle Klohn was held Thursday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Calumet, with Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at Immaculate Heart with Rev. Cory Stanley officiating. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Mr. Klohn died June 30, 2020, in Van Buren, Ark. He was born June 9, 1950, to Luther Klohn and Dorthy Pritner-Klohn in El Reno.

He graduated from El Reno High School. Dave was a longtime resident of Calumet and a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

Graveside services for Kompton Otto Killsnight of El Reno were held Thursday in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Kompton died June 26, 2020, in El Reno. He was born Oct. 15, 1991, in El Reno and was a lifelong resident of the community.

He was a member of the Native American Church.

Phillip J. “Papa Bear” Brothers passed this life on June 26, 2020, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, at the age of 70 years, four months, 21 days.

Phillip was born Feb. 5, 1950, in Union City to Jay and Ruby May (Neely) Brothers. He was raised and attended school in Union City.