June 2023

“The Industrial Revolution and its consequences,” reads the opening lines of “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski’s notorious manifesto, “have been a disaster for the human race.”

Kaczynski, who recently died in prison, blamed that period of history not just for “severe damage to the natural world,” but for destabilizing society, making life unfulfilling and inflicting indignity and psychological suffering on humankind. Perhaps not entirely in fairness, I fancy I detect a similar tone in Peter Bach’s recent “Letter from London” in CounterPunch.

BETHANY – After having several rally attempts halted in the first game of a doubleheader against Bethany on defensive plays by the Broncos, El Reno’s junior high baseball team got its revenge in the nightcap.

Clinging to a one-run lead and facing a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the final inning, a pitch got away from El Reno’s Ryker Crain.

However, the catcher was able to collect the ball and throw to pitcher Matt Velarde, who was covering home.

LAWSUITS

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Delaney Ravencraft for $1,623.81 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Tina Jaggers for $1,017.14 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Kimberly Hutchins for $1,208.64 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

LVNV Funding LLC vs. Dustin M. Houston for $4,303.59 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Synchrony Bank vs. Sarah Green for $2,682.68 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Ross Seed, 100 S. Choctaw, is again hosting a summer Farmers Market.

Vendors with fresh vegetables, fry bread, homemade salsa, canned and frozen food items, banana bread, and slow-cooked barbecue are set up inside the covered garden area on the west side of the store.

The market is open each Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

The Canadian County Free Fair Board is seeking vendors and food trucks to be a part of the 2023 annual fair.

Held the fourth full week of August at the Canadian County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 3001 Jensen Road East, the annual free fair brings a carnival, shopping, food trucks, concerts, livestock show, competitions and more.

To make this the “best fair in county history,” the fair board is making plans to kick things up a notch or two by bringing in more vendors, said board member Ken Carpenter.

As residents make plans and preparations for the Fourth of July holiday, El Reno city leaders are reminding citizens fireworks are not allowed to be used within city limits. This includes all city parks. Anyone caught shooting off fireworks in town could be hit with a $295 fine. 

“We know everyone is eager to celebrate Independence Day but we ask that our residents do so in a safe manner and respect the prohibition of using fireworks in the city limits, “ said Police Chief Ken Brown.

High school and college students aren’t taking a break this summer as Redlands Community College is seeing a 9.9 percent increase in enrollment for the current eight-week session.

With an increase in several areas, enrollment is up 23.7 percent in concurrent students and 4.8 percent in sophomores.

Oklahoma lawmakers questioned officials with the Commissioners of the Land Office over their $8 million investment in a local company that buys houses in a rent-to-own program for residents who can’t qualify for a mortgage.

Pictured are the youth who took part in the 2023 El Reno High School Volleyball Skills Camp.

Margaret Dianne Cotten of El Reno, known to all as Margie, brought laughter and love into the world from the moment she entered it on March 13, 1964, in Fort Chaffee, Ark. She was surrounded by her loved ones when she passed peacefully on June 18, 2023, in Chickasha, after a courageous battle with Frontotemporal Dementia.