May 2021

Though the school term has ended for El Reno Public Schools, the work to feed thousands of children in the city and beyond is just getting started.

Beginning Monday morning, a dozen district employees will begin cooking, bagging and delivering meals four days a week.

However, the amount of food distributed will cover a period of seven days.

“We will have food for seven days but we will only be working four days,” said ERPS Community Outreach Director Brooke Robertson.

Pulling away from Royse Ranch, Andi Holland teared up as the barn which Savannah Station Therapeutic Riding Program has called home for more than five years grew smaller in the rear view mirror.

“We all got a little emotional about it. It’s where the program got its footing and started to grow and become a respected program. A lot of great things happened in that little barn,” said Holland, Savannah Station’s executive director.

Sacred Heart Catholic School held a fundraising event last week that supporters said turned out to be more than expected.

With COVID-19 disrupting education across the nation and globe, the small El Reno school found a way to keep in-student learning ongoing throughout the just-completed school calendar. Principal Shannon Statton said doing so required a “team effort" and support from throughout the community.

Members of nonprofit service agencies, churches and local and county governments have been meeting regularly to tackle homeless issues in this area.

Rev. Tim Baer, among members of the Canadian County Homeless Task Force, wants to develop a “holistic” transitional housing program rather than open a homeless shelter.

Baer, vicar at Grace Church-Episcopal in Yukon, believes the goal should be to help the homeless “get back on their feet” and move toward “self-sufficiency.”

For several years, Redlands Community College Kids College has provided learning activities for children. This year, instead of the traditional on-campus activities, the college is offering a “Camp in a Box” kit for families to enjoy fun-filled learning activities at home.

“We’ve missed having the kids on campus, but we’re excited about this free learning experience families can enjoy together,” said Marcia Shottenkirk, director of Service Learning at Redlands.

English language phrases known as idioms often are oddly associated with rain.

“It’s raining cats and dogs.”

“Saving for a rainy day.”

“Rain on someone’s parade.”

“When it rains, it pours.”

The latter idiom is a way of life for one Yukon family. The Rains family blessings most often come in threes, and they have poured for 18 years.

Alyssa, Lacey and Maddy Rains are triplets – two identical twins and a fraternal sibling, often referred to in the medical world as “a pair and a spare.”

Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders have announced a state budget agreement that cuts taxes for all Oklahomans, increases school-choice opportunities for families, and leaves state government with more than $1 billion in savings.

“We want Oklahoma to be the state that says, ‘You know what? We’re open for business,’” Stitt said.

“We want to lower taxes in Oklahoma. We want to be business-friendly.”

Twenty students from across Oklahoma have been selected to serve on the 2021-2022 Oklahoma Agriculture Youth Council hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.  

The  council was created by Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur to develop future agricultural leaders in Oklahoma through professional development, industry exposure and experiential learning. The council consists of upcoming high school seniors interested in learning about and representing the agriculture industry from across the state. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, commended the full Senate for overwhelmingly passing Senate Bill 1080, which makes improvements to the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act, but Democrats were crying foul.

The measure will now be taken up by the House after clearing the Senate with a 36-11 majority vote.

The Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program provides tax credits to donors who voluntarily donate funds to support education.

LAWSUITS

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Todd A. Watkins for $9,149.21 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Discover Bank vs. Brandon Prieschl for $5,519.96 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Discover Bank vs. William L. Powell for $3,329.73 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One Bank N.A. vs. Amber N. Vera for $2,994.98 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.