August 2021

For a third straight reporting period, new cases of the COVID-19 virus are on the rise across Canadian County according to numbers released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

The OSDH is updating city numbers every seven days, with the rate of new infections in the county outpacing the number of recoveries by more than a 2-1 margin.

“The OSDH acute disease service is releasing updates weekly at this point,” said Canadian County Health Department spokesperson Maggie Jackson.

A partnership will help create a smooth path for students walking between buildings around El Reno High School for years if not decades to come.

The city of El Reno and El Reno Public Schools agreed to share the cost of demolishing and laying new concrete for walkways around the school building on Watts Street and Choctaw Avenue.

“We had a parent that was concerned over the damage on the walkways around the high school, especially with the ones affecting walking from one building to another.

Bob Ballhorn said he will seek re-election to the Ward 2 seat on the El Reno City Council.

The filing period for the Ward 2 election will be Monday, Aug. 30 through Wednesday, Sept. 1. All filings will be done at the Canadian County Election Board in downtown El Reno. The filing period closes at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 1. The election will be held Nov. 9.

The top vote-getter will be elected to the four-year term.

Ballhorn, who serves as vice mayor, said he is running because he wants to help continue the forward momentum he said El Reno is experiencing.

All intensive and immediate care beds at Canadian County’s only hospital have been filled since mid-July as COVID-19 cases rise.

Teresa Gray, chief hospital executive at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon, has joined other public health officials to ask Canadian County residents to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.

“We have experienced an increase in our COVID-19 positive patients requiring hospitalization beginning around July 14,” Gray said.

The District Attorney’s Office has been hired to oversee and administer Canadian County’s estimated $28 million award of federal stimulus funds.

Canadian County commissioners last week approved a legal and federal funding administration services agreement with the DA’s office in Canadian County. The contract is for $75,000 through the rest of the 2022 fiscal year.

Canadian County is due to receive some $14 million initially and another $14 million in 2022 through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.

HOBART – The Order of the Purple Heart, the oldest American military decoration for military merit, is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who have been killed or wounded in action against enemy forces.

The Purple Heart is also awarded to soldiers who have suffered maltreatment as prisoners of war. Aug. 7 commemorates Purple Heart Day, honoring the nearly 2 million Purple Heart recipients for their sacrifice and dedication to love of country.

Devon Energy donated to 17 organizations in western Oklahoma, including several in Canadian County, as part of its commitment to supporting emergency responders in the company’s operating areas.

“Emergency responders put the community’s needs first on a daily basis, and they must have the proper tools to do their jobs well,” said Lee Courange, Devon superintendent.

“We’re honored to support the people who protect and serve, especially during tough economic times.”

El Reno Tribune photographer Glen Miller captured this photo of Pete the Pelican looking at the rising sun from famed Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, Fla. In the background you can see Pete's other winged friends taking in the view from poles sticking out of the Gulf of Mexico. Miller captured the photo while on his morning run.

City of El Reno worker John Cochran sprays blue-colored weed killer around a drainage opening outside the Denny-Crump Rodeo Arena last week.

High weeds and grass have been keeping the parks department busy this summer.

The Toyota Motor Company is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world.

As of February 2021, the company ranked No.10 on the Forbes Global 500 with revenues of more than $240 billion.

The only other car company ranking ahead of Toyota on the Forbes list is Volkswagen, coming in at No.8. Over the previous year and despite the pandemic, the revenue and profit growth of Toyota have been 1 percent and 12.4 percent, respectively - numbers that should please any shareholder.