May 2022

OKLAHOMA CITY – The fiscal year 2023 state budget agreement includes $32.5 million to completely eliminate the 13-year waiting list for some 5,000 individuals seeking developmental disability services.

Sen. Paul Rosino, chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, said the investment would improve the lives of thousands of Oklahomans.

El Reno has landed Flogistix, a manufactuer of equipment used in the oil and gas industry.

Mims Talton, president and chief executive officer of Flogistix, said the expansion into El Reno means the firm will have 259,000 square feet of manufacturing space at the operation that will be housed in buildings formerly occupied by Halliburton.

The plant is on SH 66, just south of Canadian Valley Technology Center.

A few weeks ago, El Reno and much of Oklahoma was under a severe weather threat, not an unusual occurrence during the spring.

Residents were being warned to be “weather aware” as storms were predicted to bring hail, high winds, heavy rain and the possibility of tornadoes.

So how did volunteers with The Lord’s Harvest react?

Special needs students from El Reno High School and Roblyer Learning Center took a field trip to the Oklahoma City Zoo earlier this month.

For the seventh straight year, food service workers from El Reno Public Schools will be hitting the streets to make sure youth are getting proper meals over the summer break.

Beginning May 23 and running through July 28, anyone ages 18 and under can get two meals per day (breakfast and lunch) from one of the ERPS food service vehicles.

The district will have a route on the west side of El Reno and one serving the east side.

A part-time Canadian County sheriff’s deputy has resigned after being accused of sexually assaulting a female inmate.

Yukon’s David Wayne Loman, 58, was arrested May 13 at his home in Canadian County after an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).

“He has resigned,” Canadian County Sheriff Chris West said. “When this came to my attention, I contacted the OSBI (on April 12) and asked them to investigate it.”

The sexual assault allegations were made by a female who was being moved by vehicle by the former deputy.

Within the span of just over two minutes, Rick Dawson’s life changed.

An Edmond resident who calls Yukon home, Dawson is the owner of Rich Strike, the winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

Everybody loves an underdog story and Rich Strike’s story is among the best. Purchased for $30,000, Rich Strike had one win to his name and was not in the Derby field until the day before the race. Listed as an 80-1 long shot, Rich Strike surged from the back of the field to overtake the favorites and win the Derby.

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma’s newest professional sports team, the Potawatomi Fire, is 14-6 and in fourth place in The Basketball League’s central division in its inaugural season — not bad for a team that is less than a year old. 

“We’re wrapping up our first season with the Potawatomi Fire and we’re excited about how the team and community are investing in each other,” said David Qualls, the Fire’s general manager and designated tribal spokesman for the team.

Graveside services for Kristy Barnes Hamper of El Reno will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 23 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City. Services are under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors.

Kristy died May 13, 2022, peacefully at her home. She was born May 15, 1967.

Kristy is survived by her father, Walter Barnes; brother, Michael Barnes; her daughter, Gracie Hamper and her son, Miles Hamper.

El Reno Kiwanis Club presented $500 scholarships to four members of the El Reno High School graduating class of 2022, from left, Molly Carson, Carlie Golden, Caroline Huber and Julie Holdcraft.