January 2023

Canadian County sheriff’s deputies reportedly found 40 kilos of cocaine after stopping a motorist at I-40 and Radio Road.

Sheriff Chris West said on Jan. 17 at around 6:30 p.m., a deputy stopped a gray-colored 2012 GMC SUV with New Jersey plates for a traffic violation.

After making contact with the driver, the deputy learned the vehicle did not belong to him.

Reports said the deputy became suspicious of the driver’s story concerning his travel between Las Vegas, Nev., and New Jersey. 

A new policy has been enacted to help streamline procedures when reimbursing Canadian County personnel for travel expenses.

County elected leaders voted unanimously to adopt the travel policy.

The document will become part of the county’s personnel policy and employee handbook, said Commissioner David Anderson.

“Over the last several months, we have been meeting to discuss the need for a travel policy,” said Anderson, the District 2 commissioner.

Consumers may think about pecans when they’re ready to make a pecan pie or other tasty treat, but this nut is always on the minds of producers in the pecan industry.

Oklahoma pecan producers will focus on pest control in the orchard at the 2023 Pecan Pest Management Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center, 1 John C. Bruton Drive in Shawnee.

Registration is free but required by Feb. 17.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Funding opportunities to enhance the specialty crop industry within Oklahoma are now available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The program is made possible through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Services.

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local, state and federal government entities, for-profit organizations and colleges and universities. To be eligible, projects must: 

► Enhance the competitiveness of an Oklahoma specialty crop 

SHAWNEE — The Oklahoma Mission of Mercy (OkMOM) will hold its 12th annual free, two-day dental clinic.

On Feb. 3 and 4, the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee will transform into a fully-operational dental facility with more than 2,000 dental professionals and general volunteers offering oral health services to people of all ages from across the state – at absolutely no cost to the patient. 

LAWSUITS

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Vicky Lanclos for $1,895.56 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Michelle Russell for $857.95 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Erick Schuldt for $3,145.78 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs. Julie M. Lane for $6,111.90 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

The third time proved to be the charm as El Reno High School’s girls basketball team knocked off two ranked teams in Class 6A en route to the championship at the 2023 Shawnee Invitational.

El Reno, ranked fourth in Class 5A, improved to 12-3 on the season with the three-game sweep, extending its current win streak to five games. The Indians defeated Ardmore 63-26 in the first round, then rallied from 10 points down in the first half to defeat Class 6A’s 15th-ranked Mustang 45-39.

Wake services for Harold William (Willie) Ratterman of Minco were held Monday in the Benson Memorial Chapel in El Reno, with Mass of Christian Burial held on Tuesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Union City, with Rev. Kevin Ratterman officiating.

Burial followed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Union City, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home in Minco.

Willie died Jan. 19, 2023, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon.

The day after snapping a three-game losing streak, El Reno High School’s boys basketball team posted what head coach Rodney Haydon called a “huge win” with a 71-56 decision over Class 6A’s fifth-ranked Choctaw.

The win came in the consolation finals of the 2023 Shawnee Invitational and avenged a one-point loss to the Yellowjackets in the finals of the Harrah tourney in December.

An oversight in the weight assessment process will cost El Reno High School’s wrestling team a trip to the Class 5A Dual State Championships set for next month in Enid.

“We are not going to dual state,” said El Reno Superintendent Matt Goucher.

El Reno, the top-ranked team in Class 5A, won the District 3 Championship outright with victories over Woodward, Southeast and second-ranked Elgin.

The eight district champions across Oklahoma earn a spot in the dual state quarterfinals.