July 2021

All roads leading in and out of the new Canadian County Expo and Event Center will now be under the control and maintenance of county commissioners.

In a 4-0 vote last week, the El Reno City Council deannexed a portion of Jensen Road over to the commissioners, which was the final piece of the new $15.5 million fairgrounds facility not already controlled by the county.

The motion to turn the city’s portion of Jensen Road over to the county was made by Mayor Matt White and seconded by Ward 3 Councilman Tim Robinson. Vice Mayor Bob Ballhorn was the abstaining vote.

For the second time in seven years, El Reno High School will have a graduate on the path to becoming a Major League Baseball player.

Rhett Kouba, who finished up his first season with Dallas Baptist University last month just shy of a berth in the College World Series, was drafted in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

“I had a feeling it could happen in maybe day two or three but I had to wait an extra day and I’m excited to see it finally happen,” said Kouba.

The right-handed pitcher was snagged with the 16th pick in the 12th round by the Houston Astros.

A middle-aged woman avoided drowning in Lake El Reno last week after she was pulled from the water by members of both the El Reno Fire and Police Departments.

“It was a great save. The way she was bobbing up and down, we guesstimate she had about 30 to 45 seconds left before she went under the water,” said El Reno Fire Chief Jason Duff.

The fire department had just completed practice for high and swift water rescue when those skills were put to use. “We were there at the lake but we had left and were back at the station when we got the call,” said Duff.

HINTON ― When the price of crude oil nosedived in the mid-1980s, this rural community halfway between El Reno and Weatherford was in trouble.

Oil rig workers, once flush with cash and eager to spend it at downtown shops and cafés, started leaving in droves. Hinton’s population dropped 14 percent from 1980 to 1990, U.S. Census data shows.

Sales tax revenues for Canadian County filled the coffers for July, with an increase compared to this time last year and last month.

Sales tax revenue for Canadian County for July 2021 is $654,170, compared to $557,946 for July 2020, an increase of $96,224 or 17.24 percent.

Canadian County sales tax revenues continued on an upward climb in June also, compared to this time last year. Use tax revenue for Canadian County in July was $134,096, compared to $98,893 in July 2020 for an increase of $35,203 or 35.6 percent.

Wiley T. Hubbard passed away at his home in Okarche on Monday, July 12, 2021, at the age of 80.

Wiley was born to George and Vada (Hambrook) Hubbard on Sept. 2, 1940. He was raised on the family farm in Altona. Wiley graduated from Omega High School in 1958.

During his high school years, he was very active in FFA and spent many hours on the basketball court. 

Funeral services for Allen Joseph McCracken were held Thursday, July 15, 2021, at Bethel Community Church in Yukon with Ray Rhoton officiating. Services were under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home.

Mr. McCracken entered heaven on Friday, July 9, 2021, at his home surrounded by loved ones. He was born Nov. 26, 1941, in El Reno. Allen served in the Army before entering into the Reserves four years later. He married Judy Kay Cowan on July 20, 1973, and raised their family in Yukon.

Funeral services for Dwight Charles Oaks of Minco were held Friday at the Minco High School Auditorium, with burial with military honors following at the Hazel Dell Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Dwight passed away July 10, 2021, in Muskogee. He was born Dec. 5, 1960, in Oklahoma City. He attended Minco schools, graduating in 1979. Dwight served in the U.S. Army National Guard and worked as a machinist until his retirement after 42 years in 2020. He was a member of Hazel Dell Baptist Church.

Helen Katherine (Stover) King, 94, of El Reno, passed away July 15, 2021, with her family by her side.

Helen was born to the late Henry and Catharina (Wiedemann) Stover on Sept. 25, 1926, in Piedmont. She was married to Clyde P. King on Sept. 4, 1948, and they lived most of their lives in El Reno.

LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. John Caruth for $5,708.46 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

UHG I LLC vs. Jeff Waddle for $3,853.01 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

UHG I LLC vs. Linda Schubert for $4,043.74 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Paul Henderson for $1,166.13 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Tarroya Smith for $860.52 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.