August 2024

The city’s investment in drainage in El Reno appeared to pay off last week when the area experienced heavy rains.

The spillway from Legion Park Pond north carried an estimated 3 inches of rainfall Sunday morning in an efficient manner.

City Manager Matt Sandidge said at last week’s city council meeting he was also pleased the city took emergency measures to correct drainage issues on South Country Club. Crews recently completed a major repair of that area.

Sample ballots are available for the Aug. 27 election. 

Voters can download a sample ballot using the State Election Board OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp or pick up a copy at the Canadian County Election Board during normal business hours.

Canadian County Election Board Secretary Allen Arnold reminds voters that sample ballots are specific to each person. 

Funeral services for Virginia Friesen of El Reno were held Monday, July 22, 2024, in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel with Doyle Kinney officiating. Burial followed in the Parkersburg Cemetery west of Clinton, under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home in Clinton.

Virginia was born May 3, 1951, to Ervin and Daurice Lovelace in Clinton, and she passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in her El Reno home with her daughter by her side.

The Canadian County Sheriff’s Office reported receiving a noticeable spike in calls from citizens concerning a telephone scam they said resurfaces periodically.    

Capt. Adam Flowers said in an email, the scam normally follows this pattern:

The caller tells the person who answered the phone they missed some government function, oftentimes jury duty, or didn’t pay a citation.

Taleigh Gabrielle Davis is a May 2024 graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine.

A 2016 El Reno High School valedictorian, she earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2020.

Dr. Davis is currently completing her residency at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City where she is specializing in neurology.

A Canadian County contractor could face years in prison for allegedly taking $190,203.79 from customers after agreeing to build them custom homes but failing to complete most of the work.

Yukon’s Kevin Dean Baker, 38, was charged Aug. 5 in Canadian County District Court with two counts of embezzlement and one count of pattern of criminal offenses.

The Damrosch Music Club is a group of local area women who love to sing and perform for others. The group invites women of any age who love to sing to join the chorus. 

Damrosch meets every Wednesday of the month beginning Aug. 21 through the second Wednesday in May.

The chorus performs two new musical pieces each month and members are encouraged to sing individual and ensemble numbers as well.

And musicians other than singers are also invited to be a part of the Damrosch Music Club and share their talents.

Funeral services for Samuel “Sammy” Rodriguez were held Aug. 14 at the Turner Funeral Homes Chapel in Hinton, with Pastor Ken Bryant officiating. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Hinton.

Sammy passed away Aug. 6, 2024, in Oklahoma City. He was born Dec. 31, 1960, in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Lookeba-Sickles Schools.

He was a truck driver and a skilled carpenter. 

Sammy is survived by his wife, Teresa of El Reno; his sons, Daniel Rodriguez and Samuel Rodriguez, both of Florida; daughter, Roxanne Thames of Mustang; and six grandchildren.

Descendants of the Zweiacher-Girard family recently gathered at Lake El Reno RV Clubhouse. Family members traveled from across the country to enjoy a day full of food, fun and a crafts auction.

Awards were given for the following: Traveling the farthest - Paul and Carolyn Wheelock from Lewiston, Idaho, at 1,750 miles.

Longest married at 67 years went to Ben and Sue Loganbill. Newlyweds at seven years went to Stacy and Israel Lister.

The oldest family member in attendance was Sue Loganbill at 86, while the youngest member in attendance was Avery Lawson, age 8. 

Canadian County CASA Inc. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recently welcomed its newest volunteers. Cathy Brown, Ashleigh McClung and Eddie Lee made the extraordinary commitment to give their time to help abused and neglected children in our community. Judge Bob Hughey recently swore in the new volunteers and they have just been appointed to their first CASA case.