January 2021

Sheriff defends D.C. rally participation

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Canadian County Sheriff Chris West said he traveled to the nation’s capitol last week to attend the Save America Rally, because President Donald Trump “has done so much in support of law enforcement during a very difficult time.”

West has been criticized on social media for attending the rally that turned violent and left four people dead, including a police officer, but he said the attacks are out of place.

Chris West spoke with the media Friday afternoon

County’s plan for COVID-19 vaccine enters Phase 2

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Canadian County has entered Phase 2 of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan, even though the overall number of doses administered to qualifying adults remains low.

“It is a large volume of vaccines and we are trying to get them out as quickly as we can,” said District 2 Public Information Officer Maggie Jackson.

Canadian County is part of District 2 along with Alfalfa, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major, Grant, Blaine and Logan counties.

A syringe being filled with the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine

ER housing outlook promising

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Even with the collapse of the oil and gas industry and the debilitating haymaker delivered to the economy by COVID-19, El Reno still managed to issue close to 100 permits for new housing in 2020.

Records provided by the city’s Community Development Department show permits were issued for 90 new residences during 2020. That was a dip from the 125 permits issued for new homes during 2019 and the 132 permits in 2018. But it still shows growth, especially as the area suffered from the pandemic and the decline of the oil patch.

Some 200 homes are expected to be built as part of Crimson Lake Estates

Final look at ... A year like no other

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As 2020 drew to a close, El Reno and the area continued, like the rest of the world, to deal with the impact of COVID-19. But hope was on the way as the promise of the vaccine was just days away. In between, El Reno High School students reminded us of better days like when George Bailey found ZuZu’s petals and Clarence got his wings.

DECEMBER

El Reno Main Street would present the Christmas Experience in downtown El Reno. The event featured the annual Christmas parade, followed by shopping at local stores.

An employee with SSM Health St. Anthony’s gets her first round of the Pfizer vaccine

Vaccine Scheduler Portal available for pre-registration

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Earlier this week, OSDH announced the launch of an online COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduler Portal to notify Oklahomans when they’re eligible to receive the vaccine and provide more information on how to schedule an appointment.  Oklahomans can visit this portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov.

Pre-registration is open for all Oklahomans to enter their personal information to determine their eligibility to receive the vaccine within Oklahoma’s priority phase plan and receive notifications when the vaccine is available to them.

House of Healing mentor honored

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Twenty-two Oklahoma mentors are being recognized by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and their community mentoring organizations during National Mentor Month in January.

The honored mentors were submitted by their respective mentoring organizations across the state, and each received certificates of achievement from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The certificates are being presented in the communities where the mentors volunteer.

Kathy Hill

Primary voting deadline looms

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Friday, Jan. 15 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Feb. 9 State Senate 22 Primary Election, City of OKC Ward 1 Council Member Election, City of OKC Ward 3 Council Member Election and Riverside School Board Member Election, said Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold.

Armold said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.

Josie Irene Cleghorn

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Funeral Mass for longtime El Reno resident Josie Irene Cleghorn will be held Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Lance Warren officiating.

A graveside burial will follow at El Reno Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home. A wake service will be held Sunday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m., also at Sacred Heart.

Josie passed peacefully on Jan. 4, 2021, at St. Katharine Drexel Retirement Center in El Reno. She was born April 26, 1930, in Albuquerque, N.M. Josie attended Albuquerque High School and graduated there in 1948.

Josie Irene Cleghorn_obituary

Carol Mueggenborg

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Graveside service for Carol Ann Mueggenborg will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Kingfisher Cemetery with Darin Hedrick officiating. Viewing will be at Huber-Benson Funeral Home on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Carol died Jan. 4, 2021. She was born March 13, 1944, in Kingfisher where she attended school. During her life she lived Kingfisher, Grapevine, Texas, Seattle, Wash., Milpitas, Calif., Houston, Texas, Madison, Miss., and Coral Springs, Fla., before returning to Oklahoma after retiring to live in Okarche.       

Carol Mueggenborg_obituary