November 2021

El Reno Mayor Matt White ripped fellow council members for their support of a rezoning request after turning down what he said was a similar request made in September.

White, on Tuesday night, said race may have been a factor in the earlier decision to deny a zoning change sought by an Hispanic woman, something council member Tracey Rider disagreed with.

“I don’t think race had anything to do with it,” Rider said, after White said “race was mentioned” to him by a person involved in protesting the request.

Challenger Peter Stapperfend defeated Bob Ballhorn in the El Reno City Council Ward 2 race Tuesday.

Stapperfend garnered 108 votes to 48 for Ballhorn.

Stapperfend, 71, is a retired mechanical engineer. This was his first venture into seeking political office.

When he announced his candidacy, Stapperfend said he wants to see more activities for senior citizens in El Reno.

“All we have is the senior citizens center and all they can do there is play cards,” Stapperfend said.

Oklahoma has more horses than just about any other state in the nation. In the top five, according to those in the know.

And while the equine industry is a major contributor to the economy, there are some problems, especially when a horse is no longer suited for its intended purpose.

That's why Rita Hoch and others have created Nexus Equine.

Located on 160 acres at 6608 S. Manning Road, Nexus is a home for horses that need to be “repurposed.”

“This was a perfect turnkey site for us,” said Hoch.

The purchase of land on Southwest 27th Street appears to be part of a plan to build a possible “community center,” according to El Reno Mayor Matt White.

White made the comment near the end of Tuesday’s regular council meeting.

Earlier in the meeting, the council agreed to purchase “approximately 10 acres” from the Davison Family Trust. The purchase price was $490,000.

The Redlands Community College Livestock Judging Team earned top honors as well as several individual awards at the American Royal Livestock Exhibitors contest in Kansas City.

Competing against 27 teams from across the country in the junior college division, the Redlands team was named High Team Overall and placed first in swine, second in sheep and goats, second in reasons and fourth in cattle.

Catholic Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone called out President Joe Biden last week for supporting the abortion “bloodbath” that has destroyed nearly 63 million unborn babies lives in the United States.

The San Francisco archbishop has been outspoken in his criticism of political leaders like Biden who profess to be Catholic while openly advocating for the killing of unborn babies in abortions.

Mayor Matt White made one mistake in the zoning fuss that has created some pretty stout tension at two recent city council meetings.

The issue first surfaced in September when the council voted down a request to rezone four acres in the Riverside Addition of town.

A woman was asking to rezone the property from agriculture to residential because she wanted her family to be able to build three or four homes there.

Last month President Biden flew on Air Force One to Scotland to gather with world leaders, give speeches, make promises, and declare that the U.S. should lead the world on climate change.

Here’s what they left out - the U.S. is already leading the world in clean energy. China and India are the largest carbon producers in the world. It’s not even close. China skipped the climate shindig in Scotland (as did Russia), and India told the conference they’ll start dealing with their carbon output in a few decades.

Pictured are Roblyer Rock Stars honorees.

Riverside October Citizens of the Month, front row from left, Teegan Billings, Abel Kerr, Lillian Fraze, Dax Macias and Camryn Rinehart; middle row, Haley Al-Mufleh, Alx Grant, Dorene Whitehorse, Isaiah Gonzalez, Becky Fraze, Jeremiah Castillo and Calee Thompson; back row, Eden Baughman, Shia Etcitty, Hunter Elkins, Caitlin Smith, Jett Hudson, David Hudelson and Zayda Prince. Not pictured: Leolia Duncan.