July 2022

Saint Katharine Drexel Retirement Center celebrated its 15th anniversary in late June.

The assisted living and memory care center opened in 2007, built and sponsored in a partnership between Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

The celebration featured music performed by Kelly Almond, as well as onion burgers, corn hole and a water slide for the children who visit loved ones who are residents at Saint Katharine’s.

A mobile health unit offers public health on-the-go across Canadian County.

The Oklahoma State Health Department’s fifth-wheel trailer is typically out three to four days a week, according to Canadian County Health Department (CCHD) Interim Regional Director Maggie Jackson.

“Our goal is to meet people where they are and bring services to be as accessible as possible,” Jackson said.

“We offer all of our public health services.

Although a lawsuit over property damage caused by flooding has been settled, a Canadian County woman is waiting anxiously for county officials to remedy drainage issues near her home.

Rhonda Steenbergen lives between Yukon and El Reno on Jensen Road, west of Manning Road on the south side of Interstate 40.

She was lead plaintiff in a civil action filed in November 2019 in Canadian County District Court alleging negligence by a Canadian County commissioner, county contractors and engineers in a Jensen Road construction project.

July always brings Oklahoma’s hottest days, and the National Weather Service predicts temperatures this year will be well above average. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation experts recommend preparing for those long summer days.

Drink up!

“Dehydration is more than getting thirsty,” said OMRF immunologist Linda Thompson, Ph.D. “It can make many of the body’s processes, like the immune system, run inefficiently. Drink plenty of water, especially when spending time in the heat or drinking sugary or alcoholic beverages.”

While education makes up the lion’s share of Oklahoma’s budget, health and human services represents the second largest category. This week, I want to break down some of the important appropriations we’ve made in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, along with funds we’ve utilized through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to improve health in Oklahoma.

From the boys soccer team picking up trash around the Adams Park fields to the volleyball program stuffing food boxes for Blessing Baskets, El Reno High School’s athletes have been giving back to the community.

The football program, under first-year head coach Russell Cook, was the latest to join the effort with a community day of service.

“El Reno is a great community to live in and has always supported the school and our extracurricular activities. The football team wants to show our appreciation for all that El Reno has done for us.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Lonnie Lee Monaco, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

Rachel Buckley, El Reno, speeding and failure to appear warrant, $440.

Albert Roy Redhat, El Reno, speeding, driving without license issued and failure to appear warrant, $473.

Gregory Scott Hobbs, Shawnee, speeding, $175.

Tanner Lee Leathers, El Reno, transporting open container of beer, $350.

Carillion Elaine Thiessen, Cordell, speeding, $195.

David Leon Penn, El Reno, failure to appear warrant, $245.

The former Halliburton office building will become the new home for the Canadian County Health Department.

County commissioners last week approved spending $6 million in federal stimulus aid to purchase property at 6100 E. Highway 66 for a future Canadian County Health Department location.

The acquisition includes a 32,000-square-foot building on 10 acres in El Reno city limits, on the south side of Highway 66 just west of Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Canadian County will have two new commissioners in January, as Tomas Manske defeated incumbent Marc Hader in the District 1 race and Tracey Rider prevailed to become the next District 3 commissioner in a crowded June 28 primary election.

Commissioner Races

Manske drew 52.39 percent of the vote, compared to Hader’s 47.61 percent. According to the Oklahoma State and Canadian County Election Board offices, 5,972 voters cast a ballot in the District 1 race.

The news that the Canadian County Health Department will be moving out of downtown El Reno does not mean county officials are abandoning the area, said Commissioner Dave Anderson.

Commissioners last week approved spending $6 million to purchase the office building that formerly housed Halliburton on East SH 66. The purchase of the 32,000-square-foot building on 10 acres will be done using federal funds. Those funds were part of the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act, created in response to the COVID pandemic.