July 2020

A paperwork glitch has slowed progress on designing a waterline that will bring water into the new Canadian County Fairgrounds, officials said Monday.

District 3 County Commissioner Jack Stewart said the Banner Water District will provide water for the new complex, but the county will install its own lines. However, the project must first be engineered and that requires the services of the water district’s engineering firm.

Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday he has tested positive for COVID-19.

During a Zoom press conference, Stitt said he was feeling well overall with a little achiness.

Stitt has isolated himself from his family and will work remotely until cleared. Stitt is the first governor to test positive for the virus.

Contact tracing is ongoing for the governor’s case.

This comes as the Oklahoma State Health Department announced a new record of one day positive test totals at 1,075, bringing the total number of positive test cases in Oklahoma to 22,813 as oh July 15.

The plant kingdom is highly complex and has been the subject of mystical intrigue since the beginning of time.

As with any stationary object, plants must develop an internal ability to protect themselves from all manner of assaults, be it atmospheric or predatory.

Part of their intrigue is their ability to adapt. Plants sprayed with Roundup will become resistant in five generations.

In the mid-70s, scientists were conducting studies on plants by attaching electrodes to them and measuring the plant reactions.

Oklahoma State University recently recognized spring 2020 graduates.

The Underwood Home and Community Education Association of Canadian County met recently at Lake El Reno with Ann Ricketts as hostess.

Neta Liebscher called the meeting to order and led the flag salute. Bernita Davis offered minutes from the previous meeting, with Sue Snyder giving the treasury report.

A motion was passed to place free food items in local blessing boxes.

Members discussed changes in the county fair as well as items to be entered, with some volunteering to assist with fair booths.

As reform efforts take shape and the coronavirus pandemic causes delays within the criminal justice system, Oklahoma’s prison population has steadily declined since early March.

The number of inmates in state and private facilities is down 9.4% over the past four months, from 24,923 on March 9 to 22,580 on July 13.

Overall system capacity dropped from 101% to 89% in the same period, according to Department of Corrections data.

LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Cynthia Ellis for $1,150.80 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Bridgecrest Acceptance Corporation vs. Jeremy Peters and Erin Riley for $5,006.70 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Bridgecrest Acceptance Corporation vs. Christopher Coburn for $8,696.04 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Green Okie LLC vs. Kirby Mason Woolard for an amount not exceeding $10,000 for damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

Services for Paula Jo Scott were held Friday in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Revs. Joe Scott and Jerry Cradduck officiating. Burial followed in the El Reno Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home. 

Paula died July 14, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was born Aug. 26, 1952, in Dumas, Texas.

A longtime resident of El Reno, she worked many years at Park View Hospital. She was a member of the Fresh Anointing Church. 

Just one day after having her program shut down temporarily due to a positive COVID-19 player test, El Reno High School head softball coach Kylee Webb says reopening steps are well under way.

“The majority of the team has gotten tested but we don’t have any results back yet. As far as I know they all went to an urgent care or somewhere to get it (test) covered by insurance. I don't know how many went and got the rapid test,” said Webb.

The El Reno School Board approved the basic framework for the district’s plan to teach children but will have a special meeting to determine the method of instructing students for the upcoming school term.

Students and teachers have not been inside classrooms together since March after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. The school year was completed in a virtual setting district-wide.

“What we intend to do is go back to normal. I know our teachers want to be back in school with the kids and all the health professionals I’ve spoken with say the kids need to be in school.