September 2020

Redlands Community College has been awarded a five-year grant totaling nearly $1.5 million by the U.S. Department of Education that will allow it to expand instructional offerings for Native American students and others interested in agriculture technology-related careers.

In the fall of 2022, Redlands will be adding new courses focusing on agriculture technology including coding, drone operation, robotics and applied automation.

A rubberized flooring will be added to the new Canadian County Fairgrounds Expo Center to help protect horses as they move from the arena to the stalls.

County commissioners, acting as the county’s Public Facilities Authority, voted unanimously to approve the added $34,666 cost for the fairgrounds project.

District 2 Commissioner David Anderson had recommended the additional flooring, which will be placed between the barn columns and the outside wall.

Authorities charged an Oklahoma City man with first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of a clerk at a Canadian County 7-Eleven.

Charges were filed against George Lorenz Way in connection with the Sept. 3 death of Laura Taylor. Way is accused of robbing the store at SW 15th and Mustang Road and then shooting Taylor multiple times when she followed him outside the store. Taylor died at the scene.

KP Harris found more than livestock last week in a field west of his home.

The Okarche teen encountered a black diamond rattlesnake that measured more than 6 feet when he entered the field to feed horses. Harris was able to make quick work of the snake and with help in skinning the creature from an aunt, had the makings of possibly a new belt.

Harris contacted Tom Jones of Kingfisher who makes belts, boots and saddles to inquire about uses for the snakeskin.

His mother, Julie Harris, said there was no way the snake was winding up on the dinner table.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Officials with the Oklahoma State Election Board cautioned voters about a mailing from a Tulsa-based organization, OKVOTE, after state and county election offices received several complaints from voters this week.

El Reno High School’s volleyball team took another step toward the 20-win mark with a 3-0 victory over Class 4A’s 15th-ranked Tuttle last week.

The Indians, ranked fourth in Class 5A, improved to 18-5 on the season.

The match was won at the net as El Reno logged just six ace serves, led by Bailey Denwalt with three, two by Cassie Avendano and one from Avery Blount.

A rabies-infected bat was discovered this week in the area around Bell Cow Lake, located within the Chandler city limits in Lincoln County. This is the second rabies-positive bat found in the area in the past six weeks.

“Oklahoma is seeing more cases of rabies in the state this year than previous years,” State Public Health Veterinarian LeMac’ Morris said. “With more sightings of skunks and bats, this is the perfect time to remind pet owners about the importance of vaccinating family pets, and even livestock.”

Perhaps you have encountered a phenomenon most Oklahomans are familiar with: Cruising south on I-35, as soon as you cross the Red River the road gets noticeably smoother.

The painted lane stripes get a little brighter and the roadside “Welcome to Texas” Visitors Center gleams in the sunlight, a modern and well-maintained reminder of how much more money the Lone Star State spends on public infrastructure than little old Oklahoma.

LAWSUITS

Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing vs. Lisa G. White for $49,617.21 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Melissa D. Crouch vs. Kevin Schuneman and Brittany Schuneman for an amount in excess of $75,000 for injuries and damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Michael A. Beaucourt for $10,152.26 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

D&M Carriers LLC vs. Christiann Lee for $19,900 for damages alleged to have occurred during an automobile accident.

Suellen Varnell Siebert, 74, passed away on September 15, 2020 in her home in Austin, Texas, with her daughters Amy and Evelyn by her side.

Suellen was born in El Reno, Oklahoma on October 16, 1945 to Elsie Ann (Womack) and Charles Edward Varnell.

She graduated from El Reno High School and later from the University of Oklahoma and worked as a registered nurse, with many years at VA hospitals in Oklahoma City and San Antonio and five years in the US Air Force.