April 2024

In a continued effort to address the state’s workforce needs while maximizing resources, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma and Redlands Community College are expanding their partnership to provide greater career readiness support, increase the number of graduates with associate and bachelor degrees and grow the teacher pipeline.

“We are excited to announce the expansion of our collaborative efforts with Redlands Community College, aimed at enriching educational pathways and fortifying workforce readiness,” said USAO President Kayla Hale.

A building committee with representatives from all Canadian County departments is being formed as development of a new four-story courthouse on North Choctaw moves to the next stage.

Site work is due to start in June 2025, with construction kicking off in September 2025, construction manager Stan Lingo told Canadian County commissioners this week.

The new building should be completed “early in the third quarter” of 2027 before county personnel move into the new site, Lingo said.

One Canadian County officer will win a new four-year term without an election.

Meanwhile, voters will decide who will represent them starting in January 2025 in three other Canadian County elected offices.

Candidate filing was April 3-5 for county sheriff, county clerk, court clerk and District 2 commissioner.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, has become the first Native American to chair the House Appropriations Committee and the first congressional member representing Oklahoma to do so. First elected to Congress in 2003, Cole is the longest-serving Native American in congressional history.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a pair of lawsuits last week against natural gas pipeline firms, alleging the companies helped bid up the price of natural gas to the highest levels in history during a winter storm in February 2021. 

LAWSUITS

American Express National Bank vs. Yvette Crusha for $11,193.34 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

American Express National Bank vs. Josh Walker Homes LLC for $215,302.92 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Valliance Bank vs. Kingdom Home Builders Inc. for $328,630.41 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees and foreclosure of mortgage on Lot 3, Block 19, Montereau Phase 3 Addition, Oklahoma City.

El Reno High School senior Grady Lesperance and his shadow seem to have the same thing on their minds, chasing down a foul ball for an out during a recent home game at the Hub Reed Complex.

El Reno returns to the HRC Tuesday for a single game with Noble before hosting U.S. Grant in a twinbill Wednesday.

MIDWEST CITY ‒ Playing in its final regular-season tournament, El Reno High School’s baseball team posted a 1-3 record against a stout field at the 2024 Bill Tipton Classic hosted by Carl Albert.

El Reno was placed in the Midwest City pool, one of three in the event, going 1-2 with losses to Cache (11-1) and Midwest City (5-4) in eight innings. The win was a 9-1 decision over Del City.

In the cross-bracket game, El Reno dropped a 13-4 decision to Bethany.

El Reno High School’s baseball team held a Little League Night recently at the Hub Reed Complex.

Players from the El Reno Young Guns took the field with their high school partners for the national anthem and then snagged foul balls during the game.

El Reno High School’s girls soccer team clinched a playoff berth last week with a 7-0 road win over Western Heights as the Indians remain locked in a tie for first place in District 5A-2.

The win was El Reno’s fourth straight shutout in league play as the Indians are now 5-0 in the 5A-2 standings and tied with Carl Albert, which visits Memorial Stadium Thursday night.

El Reno currently holds a lead over the Titans in tiebreaker points, 20-17, with Southeast (4-1/12) lurking close behind in third after a loss to Carl Albert last week.