CENTRAL
Overholser: July 6.
Elevation above normal, water low 80s and clearing.
Striped bass (hybrids) slow on crawfish and flukes in the main lake and along shorelines. Channel catfish good on cut bait and worms around points and shorelines. Bluegill good on crickets and worms along shorelines.
NORTHEAST
El Reno Regional Airport has been a busy place.
Last week the airport welcomed youngsters to what is believed to be the first ever aviation camp. It also played host to an international flight crew that specifically chose to train here because of the airport’s grass runway.
The airport is also serving as a flight training center for military aircraft from bases in Oklahoma and Texas. And, a group from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce visited to see what the airport might offer in terms of job creation.
El Reno had a three-day celebration for the Fourth of July.
The Canadian County History Museum museum hosted an evening of celebration last Friday that included fried-onion hamburgers as well as other food concessions and live music.
Vicki Proctor, museum director, said music events may become more common after about 150 people turned out for the evening.
A day later, the city of El Reno held its annual fireworks display at Lake El Reno. Lucky Star Casino held its fireworks display on July 4.
Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, was elected last week as vice chair of the Education Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC).
Baker, a former teacher, currently serves as the chair of the House Common Education Committee.
“What an honor to be elected by my national peers to be vice chair of this important committee,” Baker said.
“Oklahoma has made enormous strides in recent years in funding education and crafting reforms to help improve student outcomes.
The latest medical marijuana shop to sprout in El Reno is the Red Dirt Botanicals located at 1301 S. Choctaw.
The business, owned by Phillip Church and Matt Maune, celebrated its grand opening last week.
The store will be managed by Mike Costin, while Torie Houchin and Tony Spencer will serve as the bud masters for Red Dirt.
Church said the store expects to add employees in the near future.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Church said it’s expected the hours will be expanded.
After a sluggish 2020 due to COVID-19, Canadian County use tax revenues have rebounded through the first half of 2021.
Between January and June, Canadian County has collected $841,775 in use tax income from the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
That’s up 9.6 percent from the $768,024 disbursed to Canadian County for the same six-month period in 2020.
“It’s been running well,” Canadian County Commission Chairman Jack Stewart said.
A new mural will be painted on an outside wall at the Canadian County Health Department’s El Reno office.
Canadian County commissioners have approved a façade easement indenture with the city of El Reno to allow the mural display behind the CCHD building at 100 S. Rock Island.
County Commission Chairman Jack Stewart said the mural may be painted only on the alley side of the building. The mural will have an abstract design, he added.
El Reno police arrested a man June 29 after he was found to be allegedly intoxicated while driving and in the possession of numerous firearms.
Reports said Peter Novak was taken into custody after he allegedly wrecked his vehicle in the parking lot at 1508 W. Elm. Police said Novak’s Audi ran over the curb, causing the airbags in the vehicle to deploy. Police called an ambulance to the scene.
I sometimes wish Independence Day occurred during the school year so students, parents and educators could celebrate America’s birthday, but then I remember that fireworks and school do not mix. Just ask my high school principal about an incident involving firecrackers in the cafeteria. I admit to nothing, but that was back when they paddled, and I still cannot lean too far left in my chair. For some reason, I have never enjoyed fireworks as much afterwards.
Around 75 campers across Oklahoma recently graduated from the SAGE STEAM Camp held at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.
The Southwest Alliance for Girls Enrichment (SAGE) in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts/Humanities and Mathematics (STEAM) Camp was a weeklong, residential
summer camp hosted on SWOSU’s campus for girls who are entering the eighth and ninth grades this fall.
Campers were chosen after being nominated by their teachers and undergoing a phone interview, which evaluated STEAM interest and the need for this opportunity.
