December 2021

A lawsuit filed over the death of a longtime Canadian County prisoner has been transferred to federal court.

The civil action, filed on behalf of the husband of jail inmate Lesley Sara Hendrix, has been removed from the Canadian County District Court docket. The case will now be heard in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Attorney Stephen L. Geries represents the defendants, Canadian County commissioners, the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Chris West and jail administrator Kristie Carter.

The El Reno Carnegie Library received a gift from a former resident who greatly admired a former librarian.

Karen Oneth Janovy recently presented the profile drawing of Mrs. G.F. Gateka to librarian Brigette Scheffler.

Janovy created the India ink on paper drawing of Gateka in 1958, while she was a senior at El Reno High School as well as El Reno Junior College.

Janovy, who now lives in Nebraska with her husband, John, was a 1958 graduate of EHS.

As they prepare for a busy 2022, Canadian County election officials hope by next week to finalize revised voting precinct lines.

Nine more polling sites will be needed as the Canadian County Election Board prepares to implement the new boundaries.

Canadian County now has 50 voting precincts in 44 polling places. That will increase to 59 precincts in 53 places starting with the June 28, 2022, primary election.

Canadian County Judge Bob Hughey recently received the 2021 ICWA Award for Judicial Excellence.

The presentation occurred during a statewide program for professionals involved in child welfare cases.

The Court Improvement Program Indian Child Welfare Subcommittee and the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association established the honor to recognize a judge with a career committed to the advancement of the rule of law and the administration of justice for children and families, especially as it relates to the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Ed Zweiacher has released two new calendars featuring his award-winning photography.

Zweiacher, who spent 49 years in Oklahoma higher education, with 41 of those at Redlands Community College, said The Last Dance 2022 calendar will be his final one featuring the historic Darlington Chapel.

Over the years, Zweiacher has photographed the Spanish mission-style chapel at Darlington hundreds of times and in all four seasons. A number of the photographs have won ribbons at both the Canadian County Free Fair as well as the Oklahoma State Fair.

Etta Dale Junior High student Jaron Youngbear, left, sticks out his tongue and shows off some dance moves with the support of the rest of the student section at last week’s El Reno High School basketball games with Bishop McGuinness.

The students were yelling during a timeout.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, has filed legislation to help further improve accountability and transparency of local school district funding.

Senate Bill 1126 would remove the carry-over caps for school district general funds and require those carry-over amounts be reported to the State Department of Education (SDE).

The Hydrogen Production, Transportation and Infrastructure Task Force released a report last week outlining Oklahoma’s potential to capture a share of hydrogen fuel production.

The report gained the praise of Gov. Kevin Stitt.

“Oklahoma has a rich history of energy innovation and I am pleased this report provides opportunities for our state to continue leading the way as the global market explores new forms of energy,” said Stitt. “Oklahoma’s all-of-the-above energy strategy has positioned us well for the future as this industry continues to evolve.”

Pictured are Maple School’s November Citizenship/Students of the Month, front row from left, Luken Meschberger, kindergarten; Brinley Porter, third grade; Drake Rosholt, second grade; Kash Brothers, first grade; and Tyler Williams, pre-kindergarten; back row, Dominic Steinbruck, fifth grade; Bella Hart, eighth grade; Presley Bilderback, sixth grade; Lexi Porter, seventh grade; and Audrey Eisenhour, fourth grade.

Riverside November Citizens of the Month, front row from left, Annelise Blackmon, Bridget Crites, Sean Funk, Grace Baughman and Kyden Christianson; middle row, Timothy Yost, Nataly Arellano, Shayla Altizer, Jose Zuniga, Lexie Fox and Kevin Beamer; back row, Declynn Burdine, Emery Christianson, Auttum McLearen, Daelan Whitehorse, Violet Pope, Kallie Delgado and Valentina Garcia.